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diff --git a/8647-0.txt b/8647-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e678d54 --- /dev/null +++ b/8647-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19479 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Afloat And Ashore, by James Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Afloat And Ashore + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8647] +This file was first posted on July 29, 2003 +Last Updated: March 11, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AFLOAT AND ASHORE *** + + + + +Produced by Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreaders Team (www.pgdp.net) + + + + + + + + +AFLOAT AND ASHORE + +A SEA TALE + + + +By James Fenimore Cooper + + + +“Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits.” _Two Gentlemen of Verona_ + + + +PREFACE. + +The writer has published so much truth which the world has insisted was +fiction, and so much fiction which has been received as truth, that, in +the present instance, he is resolved to say nothing on the subject. Each +of his readers is at liberty to believe just as much, or as little, +of the matter here laid before him, or her, as may suit his, or her +notions, prejudices, knowledge of the world, or ignorance. If anybody +is disposed to swear he knows precisely where Clawbonny is, that he +was well acquainted with old Mr. Hardinge, nay, has often heard him +preach--let him make his affidavit, in welcome. Should he get a little +wide of the mark, it will not be the first document of that nature, +which has possessed the same weakness. + +It is possible that certain captious persons may be disposed to inquire +into the _cui bono?_ of such a book. The answer is this. Everything +which can convey to the human mind distinct and accurate impressions +of events, social facts, professional peculiarities, or past history, +whether of the higher or more familiar character, is of use. All that +is necessary is, that the pictures should be true to nature, if not +absolutely drawn from living sitters. The knowledge we gain by our +looser reading, often becomes serviceable in modes and manners little +anticipated in the moments when it is acquired. + +Perhaps the greater portion of all our peculiar opinions have their +foundation in prejudices. These prejudices are produced in consequence +of its being out of the power of any one man to see, or know, every +thing. The most favoured mortal must receive far more than half of all +that he learns on his faith in others; and it may aid those who can +never be placed in positions to judge for themselves of certain phases +of men and things, to get pictures of the same, drawn in a way to give +them nearer views than they might otherwise obtain. This is the greatest +benefit of all light literature in general, it being possible to render +that which is purely fictitious even more useful than that which is +strictly true, by avoiding extravagancies, by pourtraying with fidelity, +and, as our friend Marble might say, by “generalizing” with discretion. + +This country has undergone many important changes since the commencement +of the present century. Some of these changes have been for the better; +others, we think out of all question, for the worse. The last is a fact +that can be known to the generation which is coming into life, by report +only, and these pages may possibly throw some little light on both +points, in representing things as they were. The population of the +republic is probably something more than eighteen millions and a half +to-day; in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred, it was but a +little more than five millions. In 1800, the population of New-York was +somewhat less than six hundred thousand souls; to-day it is probably a +little less than two millions seven hundred thousand souls. In 1800, +the town of New-York had sixty thousand inhabitants, whereas, including +Brooklyn and Williamsburg, which then virtually had no existence, +it must have at this moment quite four hundred thousand. These are +prodigious numerical changes, that have produced changes of another +sort. Although an increase of numbers does not necessarily infer an +increase of high civilization, it reasonably leads to the expectation +of great melioration in the commoner comforts. Such has been the result, +and to those familiar with facts as they now exist, the difference will +probably be apparent in these pages. + +Although the moral changes in American society have not kept even +pace with those that are purely physical, many that are essential have +nevertheless occurred. Of all the British possessions on this continent, +New-York, after its conquest from the Dutch, received most of the social +organization of the mother country. Under the Dutch, even, it had some +of these characteristic peculiarities, in its patroons; the lords of the +manor of the New Netherlands. Some of the southern colonies, it is true, +had their caciques and other semi-feudal, and semi-savage noblesse, but +the system was of short continuance; the peculiarities of that section +of the country, arising principally from the existence of domestic +slavery, on an extended scale. With New-York it was different. A +conquered colony, the mother country left the impression of its own +institutions more deeply engraved than on any of the settlements that +were commenced by grants to proprietors, or under charters from the +crown. It was strictly a royal colony, and so continued to be, down to +the hour of separation. The social consequences of this state of things +were to be traced in her habits unlit the current of immigration became +so strong, as to bring with it those that were conflicting, if not +absolutely antagonist. The influence of these two sources of thought is +still obvious to the reflecting, giving rise to a double set of social +opinions; one of which bears all the characteristics of its New England +and puritanical origin, while the other may be said to come of the +usages and notions of the Middle States, proper. + +This is said in anticipation of certain strictures that will be likely +to follow some of the incidents of our story, it not being always +deemed an essential in an American critic, that he should understand +his subject. Too many of them, indeed, justify the retort of the man +who derided the claims to knowledge of life, set up by a neighbour, +that “had been to meetin' and had been to mill.” We can all obtain some +notions of the portion of a subject that is placed immediately before +our eyes; the difficulty is to understand that which we have no means of +studying. + +On the subject of the nautical incidents of this book, we have +endeavoured to be as exact as our authorities will allow. We are fully +aware of the importance of writing what the world thinks, rather than +what is true, and are not conscious of any very palpable errors of this +nature. + +It is no more than fair to apprize the reader, that our tale is not +completed in the First Part, or the volumes that are now published. +This, the plan of the book would not permit: but we can promise those +who may feel any interest in the subject, that the season shall not +pass away, so far as it may depend on ourselves, without bringing the +narrative to a close. Poor Captain Wallingford is now in his sixty-fifth +year, and is naturally desirous of not being hung up long on the +tenter-hooks of expectation, so near the close of life. The old +gentleman having seen much and suffered much, is entitled to end his +days in peace. In this mutual frame of mind between the principal, and +his editors, the public shall have no cause to complain of unnecessary +delay, whatever may be its rights of the same nature on other subjects. + +The author--perhaps editor would be the better word--does not feel +himself responsible for all the notions advanced by the hero of this +tale, and it may be as well to say as much. That one born in the +Revolution should think differently from the men of the present day, in +a hundred things, is to be expected. It is in just this difference of +opinion, that the lessons of the book are to be found. + + + + +AFLOAT AND ASHORE. + + + +CHAPTER I. + + “And I--my joy of life is fled, + My spirit's power, my bosom's glow; + The raven locks that grac'd my head, + Wave in a wreath of snow! + And where the star of youth arose, + I deem'd life's lingering ray should close, + And those lov'd trees my tomb o'ershade, + Beneath whose arching bowers my childhood play'd.” + MRS. HEMANS. + + +I was born in a valley not very remote from the sea. My father had been +a sailor in youth, and some of my earliest recollections are connected +with the history of his adventures, and the recollections they excited. +He had been a boy in the war of the revolution, and had seen some +service in the shipping of that period. Among other scenes he witnessed, +he had been on board the Trumbull, in her action with the Watt--the +hardest-fought naval combat of that war--and he particularly delighted +in relating its incidents. He had been wounded in the battle, and bore +the marks of the injury, in a scar that slightly disfigured a face, +that, without this blemish, would have been singularly handsome. My +mother, after my poor father's death, always spoke of even this scar +as a beauty spot. Agreeably to my own recollections, the mark scarcely +deserved that commendation, as it gave one side of the face a grim and +fierce appearance, particularly when its owner was displeased. + +My father died on the farm on which he was born, and which descended to +him from his great-grandfather, an English emigrant that had purchased +it of the Dutch colonist who had originally cleared it from the woods. +The place was called Clawbonny, which some said was good Dutch others +bad Dutch; and, now and then, a person ventured a conjecture that it +might be Indian. Bonny it was, in one sense at least, for a lovelier +farm there is not on the whole of the wide surface of the Empire State. +What does not always happen in this wicked, world, it was as good as +it was handsome. It consisted of three hundred and seventy-two acres of +first-rate land, either arable, or of rich river bottom in meadows, and +of more than a hundred of rocky mountain side, that was very tolerably +covered with wood. The first of our family who owned the place had built +a substantial one-story stone house, that bears the date of 1707 on one +of its gables; and to which each of his successors had added a little, +until the whole structure got to resemble a cluster of cottages thrown +together without the least attention to order or regularity. There were +a porch, a front door, and a lawn, however; the latter containing half a +dozen acres of a soil as black as one's hat, and nourishing eight or +ten elms that were scattered about, as if their seeds had been sown +broad-cast. In addition to the trees, and a suitable garniture of +shrubbery, this lawn was coated with a sward that, in the proper +seasons, rivalled all I have read, or imagined, of the emerald and shorn +slopes of the Swiss valleys. + +Clawbonny, while it had all the appearance of being the residence of an +affluent agriculturist, had none of the pretension of these later times. +The house had an air of substantial comfort without, an appearance that +its interior in no manner contradicted. The ceilings, were low, it is +true, nor were the rooms particularly large; but the latter were warm +in winter, cool in summer and tidy, neat and respectable all the year +round. Both the parlours had carpets, as had the passages and all the +better bed-rooms; and there were an old-fashioned chintz settee, well +stuffed and cushioned, and curtains in the “big parlour,” as we called +the best apartment,--the pretending name of drawing-room not having +reached our valley as far back as the year 1796, or that in which my +recollections of the place, as it then existed, are the most vivid and +distinct. + +We had orchards, meadows, and ploughed fields all around us; while the +barns, granaries, styes, and other buildings of the farm, were of solid +stone, like the dwelling, and all in capital condition. In addition to +the place, which he inherited from my grandfather, quite without any +encumbrance, well stocked and supplied with utensils of all sorts, my +father had managed to bring with him from sea some fourteen or fifteen +thousand dollars, which he carefully invested in mortgages in the +county. He got twenty-seven hundred pounds currency with my mother, +similarly bestowed; and, two or three great landed proprietors, and +as many retired merchants from York, excepted, Captain Wallingford was +generally supposed to be one of the stiffest men in Ulster county. I do +not know exactly how true was this report; though I never saw anything +but the abundance of a better sort of American farm under the paternal +roof, and I know that the poor were never sent away empty-handed. It as +true that our wine was made of currants; but it was delicious, and there +was always a sufficient stock in the cellar to enable us to drink +it three or four years old. My father, however, had a small private +collection of his own, out of which he would occasionally produce +a bottle; and I remember to have heard Governor George Clinton, +afterwards, Vice President, who was an Ulster county man, and who +sometimes stopped at Clawbonny in passing, say that it was excellent +East India Madeira. As for clarets, burgundy, hock and champagne, they +were wines then unknown in America, except on the tables of some of +the principal merchants, and, here and there, on that of some travelled +gentleman of an estate larger than common. When I say that Governor +George Clinton used to stop occasionally, and taste my father's Madeira, +I do not wish to boast of being classed with those who then composed +the gentry of the state. To this, in that day, we could hardly aspire, +though the substantial hereditary property of my family gave us a local +consideration that placed us a good deal above the station of ordinary +yeomen. Had we lived in one of the large towns, our association would +unquestionably have been with those who are usually considered to be one +or two degrees beneath the highest class. These distinctions were much +more marked, immediately after the war of the revolution, than they are +to-day; and they are more marked to-day, even, than all but the most +lucky, or the most meritorious, whichever fortune dignifies, are willing +to allow. + +The courtship between my parents occurred while my father was at home, +to be cured of the wounds he had received in the engagement between the +Trumbull and the Watt. I have always supposed this was the moving cause +why my mother fancied that the grim-looking scar on the left side of +my father's face was so particularly becoming. The battle was fought in +June 1780, and my parents were married in the autumn of the same year. +My father did not go to sea again until after my birth, which took place +the very day that Cornwallis capitulated at Yorktown. These combined +events set the young sailor in motion, for he felt he had a family to +provide for, and he wished to make one more mark on the enemy in +return for the beauty-spot his wife so gloried in. He accordingly got a +commission in a privateer, made two or three fortunate cruises, and was +able at the peace to purchase a prize-brig, which he sailed, as master +and owner, until the year 1790, when he was recalled to the paternal +roof by the death of my grandfather. Being an only son, the captain, as +my father was uniformly called, inherited the land, stock, utensils and +crops, as already mentioned; while the six thousand pounds currency +that were “at use,” went to my two aunts, who were thought to be well +married, to men in their own class of life, in adjacent counties. + +My father never went to sea after he inherited Clawbonny. From that +time down to the day of his death, he remained on his farm, with +the exception of a single winter passed in Albany as one of the +representatives of the county. In his day, it was a credit to a man to +represent a county, and to hold office under the State; though the abuse +of the elective principle, not to say of the appointing power, has +since brought about so great a change. Then, a member of congress was +_somebody_; now, he is only--a member of congress. + +We were but two surviving children, three of the family dying infants, +leaving only my sister Grace and myself to console our mother in her +widowhood. The dire accident which placed her in this, the saddest of +all conditions for a woman who had been a happy wife, occurred in the +year 1794, when I was in my thirteenth year, and Grace was turned of +eleven. It may be well to relate the particulars. + +There was a mill, just where the stream that runs through our valley +tumbles down to a level below that on which the farm lies, and empties +itself into a small tributary of the Hudson. This mill was on our +property, and was a source of great convenience and of some profit to +my father. There he ground all the grain that was consumed for domestic +purposes, for several miles around; and the tolls enabled him to fatten +his porkers and beeves, in a way to give both a sort of established +character. In a word, the mill was the concentrating point for all the +products of the farm, there being a little landing on the margin of +the creek that put up from the Hudson, whence a sloop sailed weekly +for town. My father passed half his time about the mill and landing, +superintending his workmen, and particularly giving directions about the +fitting of the sloop, which was his property also, and about the gear +of the mill. He was clever, certainly, and had made several useful +suggestions to the millwright who occasionally came to examine and +repair the works; but he was by no means so accurate a mechanic as he +fancied himself to be. He had invented some new mode of arresting the +movement, and of setting the machinery in motion when necessary; what +it was, I never knew, for it was not named at Clawbonny after the fatal +accident occurred. One day, however, in order to convince the millwright +of the excellence of this improvement, my father caused the machinery +to be stopped, and then placed his own weight upon the large wheel, in +order to manifest the sense he felt in the security of his invention. +He was in the very act of laughing exultingly at the manner in which the +millwright shook his head at the risk he ran, when the arresting power +lost its control of the machinery, the heavy head of water burst into +the buckets, and the wheel whirled round carrying my unfortunate father +with it. I was an eye-witness of the whole, and saw the face of my +parent, as the wheel turned it from me, still expanded in mirth. There +was but one revolution made, when the wright succeeded in stopping +the works. This brought the great wheel back nearly to its original +position, and I fairly shouted with hysterical delight when I saw my +father standing in his tracks, as it might be, seemingly unhurt. Unhurt +he would have been, though he must have passed a fearful keel-hauling, +but for one circumstance. He had held on to the wheel with the tenacity +of a seaman, since letting go his hold would have thrown him down a +cliff of near a hundred feet in depth, and he actually passed between +the wheel and the planking beneath it unharmed, although there was only +an inch or two to spare; but in rising from this fearful strait, his +head had been driven between a projecting beam and one of the buckets, +in a way to crush one temple in upon the brain. So swift and sudden had +been the whole thing, that, on turning the wheel, his lifeless body +was still inclining on its periphery, retained erect, I believe, in +consequence of some part of his coat getting attached, to the head of +a nail. This was the first serious sorrow of my life. I had always +regarded my father as one of the fixtures of the world; as a part of the +great system of the universe; and had never contemplated his death as +a possible thing. That another revolution might occur, and carry the +country back under the dominion of the British crown, would have seemed +to me far more possible than that my father could die. Bitter truth now +convinced me of the fallacy of such notions. + +It was months and months before I ceased to dream of this frightful +scene. At my age, all the feelings were fresh and plastic, and grief +took strong hold of my heart. Grace and I used to look at each other +without speaking, long after the event, the tears starting to my eyes, +and rolling down her cheeks, our emotions being the only communications +between us, but communications that no uttered words could have made so +plain. Even now, I allude to my mother's anguish with trembling. She +was sent for to the house of the miller, where the body lay, and arrived +unapprised of the extent of the evil. Never can I--never shall I forget +the outbreakings of her sorrow, when she learned the whole of the +dreadful truth. She was in fainting fits for hours, one succeeding +another, and then her grief found tongue. There was no term of +endearment that the heart of woman could dictate to her speech, that was +not lavished on the lifeless clay. She called the dead “her Miles,” “her +beloved Miles,” “her husband,” “her own darling husband,” and by such +other endearing epithets. Once she seemed as if resolute to arouse +the sleeper from his endless trance, and she said, solemnly, +“_Father_--dear, _dearest_ father!” appealing as it might be to the +parent of her children, the tenderest and most comprehensive of all +woman's terms of endearment--“Father--dear, dearest father! open your +eyes and look upon your babes--your precious girl, and noble boy! Do not +thus shut out their sight for ever!” + +But it was in vain. There lay the lifeless corpse, as insensible as +if the spirit of God had never had a dwelling within it. The principal +injury had been received on that much-prized scar; and again and again +did my poor mother kiss both, as if her caresses might yet restore +her husband to life. All would not do. The same evening, the body +was carried to the dwelling, and three days later it was laid in the +church-yard, by the side of three generations of forefathers, at a +distance of only a mile from Clawbonny. That funeral service, too, made +a deep impression on my memory. We had some Church of England people +in the valley; and old Miles Wallingford, the first of the name, a +substantial English franklin, had been influenced in his choice of a +purchase by the fact that one of Queen Anne's churches stood so near +the farm. To that little church, a tiny edifice of stone, with a +high, pointed roof, without steeple, bell, or vestry-room, had three +generations of us been taken to be christened, and three, including +my father, had been taken to be buried. Excellent, kind-hearted, +just-minded Mr. Hardinge read the funeral service over the man whom +his own father had, in the same humble edifice, christened. Our +neighbourhood has much altered of late years; but, then, few higher than +mere labourers dwelt among us, who had not some sort of hereditary claim +to be beloved. So it was with our clergyman, whose father had been +his predecessor, having actually married my grand-parents. The son had +united my father and mother, and now he was called on to officiate at +the funeral obsequies of the first. Grace and I sobbed as if our +hearts would break, the whole time we were in the church; and my poor, +sensitive, nervous little sister actually shrieked as she heard the +sound of the first clod that fell upon the coffin. Our mother was spared +that trying scene, finding it impossible to support it. She remained at +home, on her knees, most of the day on which the funeral occurred. + +Time soothed our sorrows, though my mother, a woman of more than common +sensibility, or, it were better to say of uncommon affections, never +entirely recovered from the effects of her irreparable loss. She had +loved too well, too devotedly, too engrossingly, ever to think of a +second marriage, and lived only to care for the interests of Miles +Wallingford's children. I firmly believe we were more beloved because +we stood in this relation to the deceased, than because we were her own +natural offspring. Her health became gradually undermined, and, three +years after the accident of the mill, Mr. Hardinge laid her at my +father's side. I was now sixteen, and can better describe what passed +during the last days of her existence, than what took place at the +death of her husband. Grace and I were apprised of what was so likely to +occur, quite a month before the fatal moment arrived; and we were not +so much overwhelmed with sudden grief as we had been on the first great +occasion of family sorrow, though we both felt our loss keenly, and my +sister, I think I may almost say, inextinguishably. Mr. Hardinge had +us both brought to the bed-side, to listen to the parting advice of our +dying parent, and to be impressed with a scene that is always healthful, +if rightly improved. “You baptized these two dear children, good Mr. +Hardinge,” she said, in a voice that was already enfeebled by physical +decay, “and you signed them with the sign of the cross, in token of +Christ's death for them; and I now ask of your friendship and pastoral +care to see that they are not neglected at the most critical period of +their lives--that when impressions are the deepest, and yet the most +easily made. God will reward all your kindness to the orphan children +of your friends.” The excellent divine, a man who lived more for others +than for himself, made the required promises, and the soul of my mother +took its flight in peace. + +Neither my sister nor myself grieved as deeply for the loss of this last +of our parents, as we did for that of the first. We had both seen so +many instances of her devout goodness, had been witnesses of so great a +triumph of her faith as to feel an intimate, though silent, persuasion +that her death was merely a passage to a better state of existence--that +it seemed selfish to regret. Still, we wept and mourned, even while, +in one sense, I think we rejoiced. She was relieved from, much bodily +suffering, and I remember, when I went to take a last look at her +beloved face, that I gazed on its calm serenity with a feeling akin to +exultation, as I recollected that pain could no longer exercise dominion +over her frame, and that her spirit was then dwelling in bliss. Bitter +regrets came later, it is true, and these were fully shared--nay, more +than shared--by Grace. + +After the death of my father, I had never bethought me of the manner +in which he had disposed of his property. I heard something said of his +will, and gleaned a little, accidentally, of the forms that had been +gone through in proving the instrument, and of obtaining its probate. +Shortly after my mother's death, however, Mr. Hardinge had a free +conversation with both me and Grace on the subject, when we learned, +for the first time, the disposition that had been made. My father had +bequeathed to me the farm, mill, landing, sloop, stock, utensils, crops, +&c. &c., in full property; subject, however, to my mother's use of +the whole until I attained my majority; after which I was to give her +complete possession of a comfortable wing of the house, which had every +convenience for a small family within itself, certain privileges in the +fields, dairy, styes, orchards, meadows, granaries, &c., and to pay +her three hundred pounds currency, per annum, in money. Grace had four +thousand pounds that were “at use,” and I had all the remainder of the +personal property, which yielded about five hundred dollars a-year. As +the farm, sloop, mill, landing, &c., produced a net annual income of +rather more than a thousand dollars, besides all that was consumed in +housekeeping, I was very well off, in the way of temporal things, for +one who had been trained in habits as simple as those which reigned at +Clawbonny. + +My father had left Mr. Hardinge the executor, and my mother an executrix +of his will, with survivorship. He had also made the same provision +as respected the guardians. Thus Grace and I became the wards of the +clergyman alone on the death of our last remaining parent. This was +grateful to us both, for we both truly loved this good man, and, +what was more, we loved his children. Of these there were two of ages +corresponding very nearly with our own; Rupert Hardinge being not quite +a year older than I was myself, and Lucy, his sister, about six months +younger than Grace. We were all four strongly attached to each other, +and had been so from infancy, Mr. Hardinge having had charge of my +education as soon as I was taken from a woman's school. + +I cannot say, however, that Rupert Hardinge was ever a boy to give his +father the delight that a studious, well-conducted, considerate and +industrious child, has it so much in his power to yield to his parent. +Of the two, I was much the best scholar, and had been pronounced by +Mr. Hardinge fit to enter college, a twelvemonth before my mother died; +though she declined sending me to Yale, the institution selected by my +father, until my school-fellow was similarly prepared, it having been +her intention to give the clergyman's son a thorough education, in +furtherance of his father's views of bringing him up to the church. This +delay, so well and kindly meant, had the effect of changing the whole +course of my subsequent life. + +My father, it seems, wished to make a lawyer of me, with the natural +desire of seeing me advanced to some honourable position in the State. +But I was averse to anything like serious mental labour, and was +greatly delighted when my mother determined to keep me out of college a +twelvemonth in order that my friend Rupert might be my classmate. It is +true I learned quick, and was fond of reading; but the first I could not +very well help, while the reading I liked was that which amused, rather +than that which instructed me. As for Rupert, though not absolutely +dull, but, on the other hand, absolutely clever in certain things, +he disliked mental labour even more than myself, while he liked +self-restraint of any sort far less. His father was sincerely pious, and +regarded his sacred office with too much reverence to think of bringing +up a “cosset-priest,” though he prayed and hoped that his son's +inclinations, under the guidance of Providence, would take that +direction. He seldom spoke on the subject himself, but I ascertained his +wishes through my confidential dialogues with his children. Lucy seemed +delighted with the idea, looking forward to the time when her brother +would officiate in the same desk where her father and grandfather had +now conducted the worship of God for more than half a century; a period +of time that, to us young people, seemed to lead us back to the dark +ages of the country. And all this the dear girl wished for her brother, +in connection with his spiritual rather than his temporal interests, +inasmuch as the living was worth only a badly-paid salary of one +hundred and fifty pounds currency per annum, together with a small +but comfortable rectory, and a glebe of five-and-twenty acres of very +tolerable land, which it was thought no sin, in that day, for the +clergyman to work by means of two male slaves, whom, with as many +females, he had inherited as part of the chattels of his mother. + +I had a dozen slaves also; negroes who, as a race, had been in the +family almost as long as Clawbonny. About half of these blacks were +singularly laborious and useful, viz., four males and three of the +females; but several of the remainder were enjoying _otium_, and not +altogether without _dignitate_, as heir-looms to be fed, clothed and +lodged, for the good, or evil, they had done. There were some small-fry +in our kitchens, too, that used to roll about on the grass, and +munch fruit in the summer, _ad libitum;_ and stand so close in the +chimney-corners in cold weather, that I have often fancied they must +have been, as a legal wit of New York once pronounced certain eastern +coal-mines to be, incombustible. These negroes all went by the +patronymic of Clawbonny, there being among them Hector Clawbonny, Venus +Clawbonny, Caesar Clawbonny, Rose Clawbonny--who was as black as a +crow--Romeo Clawbonny, and Julietta, commonly called Julee, Clawbonny; +who were, with Pharaoh, Potiphar, Sampson and Nebuchadnezzar, all +Clawbonnys in the last resort. Neb, as the namesake of the herbiferous +king of Babylon was called, was about my own age, and had been a sort of +humble playfellow from infancy; and even now, when it was thought proper +to set him about the more serious toil which was to mark his humble +career, I often interfered to call him away to be my companion with +the rod, the fowling-piece, or in the boat, of which we had one that +frequently descended the creek, and navigated the Hudson for miles at a +time, under my command. The lad, by such means, and through an off-hand +friendliness of manner that I rather think was characteristic of my +habits at that day, got to love me as a brother or comrade. It is not +easy to describe the affection of an attached slave, which has blended +with it the pride of a partisan, the solicitude of a parent, and the +blindness of a lover. I do think Neb had more gratification in believing +himself particularly belonging to Master Miles, than I ever had in any +quality or thing I could call my own. Neb, moreover liked a vagrant +life, and greatly encouraged Rupert and myself in idleness, and a +desultory manner of misspending hours that could never be recalled. +The first time I ever played truant was under the patronage of Neb, +who decoyed me away from my books to go nutting on the mountain stoutly +maintaining that chestnuts were just as good as the spelling-book, or +any primer that could be bought in York. + +I have forgotten to mention that the death of my mother, which occurred +in the autumn, brought about an immediate change in the condition of our +domestic economy. Grace was too young, being only fourteen, to preside +over such a household, and I could be of little use, either in the way +of directing or advising. Mr. Hardinge, who had received a letter to +that effect from the dying saint, that was only put into his hand the +day after the funeral, with a view to give her request the greater +weight, rented the rectory, and came to Clawbonny to live, bringing with +him both his children. My mother knew that his presence would be of the +greatest service to the orphans she left behind her; while the money +saved from his own household expenses might enable this single-minded +minister of the altar to lay by a hundred or two for Lucy, who, at his +demise, might otherwise be left without a penny, as it was then said, +cents not having yet come much into fashion. + +This removal gave Grace and me much pleasure, for she was as fond of +Lucy as I was of Rupert, and, to tell the truth, so was I, too. Four +happier young people were not to be found in the State than we thus +became, each and all of us finding in the arrangement exactly the +association which was most agreeable to our feelings. Previously, we +only saw each other every day; now, we saw each other all day. At night +we separated at an early hour, it is true, each having his or her room; +but it was to meet at a still earlier hour the next morning, and to +resume our amusements in company. From study, all of us were relieved +for a month or two, and we wandered through the fields; nutted, gathered +fruit, or saw others gather it as well as the crops, taking as much +exercise as possible in the open air, equally for the good of our +bodies, and the lightening of our spirits. + +I do not think vanity, or any feeling connected with self-love, misleads +me, when I say it would have been difficult to find four young people +more likely to attract the attention of a passer-by, than we four were, +in the fall of 1797. As for Rupert Hardinge, he resembled his mother, +and was singularly handsome in face, as well as graceful in movements. +He had a native gentility of air, of which he knew how to make the most, +and a readiness of tongue and a flow of spirits that rendered him an +agreeable, if not a very instructive companion. I was not ill-looking, +myself, though far from possessing the striking countenance of my +young associate. In manliness, strength and activity, however, I had +essentially the advantage over him, few youths of my age surpassing me +in masculine qualities of this nature, after I had passed my twelfth +year. My hair was a dark auburn, and it was the only thing about my +face, perhaps, that would cause a stranger to notice it; but this hung +about my temples and down my neck in rich ringlets, until frequent +applications of the scissors brought it into something like subjection. +It never lost its beauty entirely, and though now white as snow, it +is still admired. But Grace was the one of the party whose personal +appearance would be most likely to attract attention. Her face beamed +with sensibility and feeling, being one of those countenances on which +nature sometimes delights to impress the mingled radiance, sweetness, +truth and sentiment, that men ascribe to angels. Her hair was lighter +than mine; her eyes of a heavenly blue, all softness and tenderness; +her cheeks just of the tint of the palest of the coloured roses; and her +smile so full of gentleness and feeling, that, again and again, it +has controlled my ruder and more violent emotions, when they were fast +getting the mastery. In form, some persons might have thought Grace, in +a slight degree, too fragile, though her limbs would have been delicate +models for the study of a sculptor. + +Lucy, too, had certainly great perfection, particularly in figure; +though in the crowd of beauty that has been so profusely lavished on the +youthful in this country, she would not have been at all remarked in +a large assembly of young American girls. Her face was pleasing +nevertheless; and there was a piquant contrast between the raven +blackness of her hair the deep blue of her eyes, and the dazzling +whiteness of her skin. Her colour, too, was high, and changeful with +her emotions. As for teeth, she had a set that one might have travelled +weeks to meet with their equals; and, though she seemed totally +unconscious of the advantage, she had a natural manner of showing them, +that would have made a far less interesting face altogether agreeable. +Her voice and laugh, too, when happy and free from care, were joyousness +itself. + +It would be saying too much, perhaps, to assert that any human being was +ever totally indifferent to his or her personal appearance. Still, I do +not think either of our party, Rupert alone excepted, ever thought on +the subject, unless as it related to others, down to the period Of which +I am now writing. I knew, and saw, and felt that my sister was far more +beautiful than any of the young girls of her age and condition that I +had seen in her society; and I had pleasure and pride in the fact. I +knew that I resembled her in some respects, but I was never coxcomb +enough to imagine I had half her good-looks, even allowing for +difference of sex. My own conceit, so far as I then had any--plenty of +it came, a year or two later--but my own conceit, in 1797, rather ran +in the direction of my athletic properties, physical force, which was +unusually great for sixteen, and stature. As for Rupert, I would not +have exchanged these manly qualities for twenty times his good looks, +and a thought of envy never crossed my mind on the subject. I fancied +it might be well enough for a parson to be a little delicate, and a good +deal handsome; but for one who intended to knock about the world as I +had it already in contemplation to do, strength, health, vigour, courage +and activity, were much more to be desired than beauty. + +Lucy I never thought of as handsome at all. I saw she was pleasing; +fancied she was even more so to me than to any one else; and I never +looked upon her sunny, cheerful and yet perfectly feminine face, without +a feeling of security and happiness. As for her honest eyes, they +invariably met my own with an open frankness that said, as plainly as +eyes could say anything, there was nothing to be concealed. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + “Cease to persuade, my loving Proteus; + Home-keeping youth have ever homely wits;-- + I rather would entreat thy company + To see the wonders of the world abroad.” + _Two Gentlemen of--Clawbonny._ + + +During the year that succeeded after I was prepared for Yale, Mr. +Hardinge had pursued a very judicious course with my education. Instead +of pushing me into books that were to be read in the regular course of +that institution, with the idea of lightening my future labours, which +would only have been providing excuses for future idleness, we went back +to the elementary works, until even he was satisfied that nothing more +remained to be done in that direction. I had my two grammars literally +by heart, notes and all. Then we revised as thoroughly as possible, +reading everything anew, and leaving no passage unexplained. I learned +to scan, too, a fact that was sufficient to make a reputation for a +scholar, in America, half a century since. {*] After this, we turned our +attention to mathematics, a science Mr. Hardinge rightly enough +thought there was no danger of my acquiring too thoroughly. We mastered +arithmetic, of which I had a good deal of previous knowledge, in a +few weeks, and then I went through trigonometry, with some of the more +useful problems in geometry. This was the point at which I had arrived +when my mother's death occurred. + +{Footnote *: The writer's master taught him to scan Virgil in 1801. +This gentleman was a graduate of Oxford. In 1803, the class to which the +writer then belonged in Yale, was the first that ever attempted to +scan in that institution. The quantities were in sad discredit in this +country, years after this, though Columbia and Harvard were a little in +advance of Yale. All that was ever done in the last college, during the +writer's time, was to scan the ordinary hexameter of Homer and Virgil.] + +As for myself, I frankly admit a strong disinclination to be learned. +The law I might be forced to study, but practising it was a thing +my mind had long been made up never to do. There was a small vein of +obstinacy in my disposition that would have been very likely to carry +me through in such a determination, even had my mother lived, though +deference to her wishes would certainly have carried me as far as the +license. Even now she was no more, I was anxious to ascertain whether +she had left any directions or requests on the subject, either of which +would have been laws to me. I talked with Rupert on this matter, and +was a little shocked with the levity with which he treated it. “What +difference can it make to your parents, _now_,” he said, with an +emphasis that grated on my nerves, “whether you become a lawyer, or a +merchant, or a doctor, or stay here on your farm, and be a farmer, like +your father?” + +“My father had been a sailor,” I answered, quick as lightning. + +“True; and a noble, manly, gentleman-like calling it is! I never see a +sailor that I do not envy him his advantages. Why, Miles, neither of us +has ever been in town even, while your mother's boatmen, or your own, as +they are now, go there regularly once a-week. I would give the world to +be a sailor.” + +“You, Rupert! Why, you know that your father in tends, or, rather, +wishes that you should become a clergyman.” + +“A pretty appearance a young man of my figure would make in the pulpit, +Miles, or wearing a surplice. No, no; there have been two Hardinges +in the church in this century, and I have a fancy also to the sea. I +suppose you know that my great-grandfather was a captain in the navy, +and _he_ brought _his_ son up a parson; now, turn about is fair play, +and the parson ought to give a son back to a man-of-war. I've been +reading the lives of naval men, and it's surprising how many clergymen's +sons, in England, go into the navy, and how many sailors' sons get to be +priests.” + +“But there is no navy in this country now--not even a single +ship-of-war, I believe.” + +“That is the worst of it. Congress _did_ pass a law, two or three years +since, to build some frigates, but they have never been launched. +Now Washington has gone out of office, I suppose we shall never have +anything good in the country.” + +I revered the name of Washington, in common with the whole country, but +I did not see the _sequitur_. Rupert, however, cared little for logical +inferences, usually asserting such things as he wished, and wishing such +as he asserted. After a short pause, he continued the discourse. + +“You are now substantially your own master,” he said, “and can do as you +please. Should you go to sea and not like it, you have only to come back +to this place, where you will be just as much the master as if you had +remained here superintending cattle, cutting hay, and fattening pork, +the whole time.” + +“I am not my own master, Rupert, any more than you are yourself. I am +your father's ward, and must so remain for more than five years to come. +I am just as much under his control as you, yourself.” + +Rupert laughed at this, and tried to persuade me it would be a good +thing to relieve his worthy fether of all responsibility in the affair, +if I had seriously determined never to go to Yale, or to be a lawyer, +by going off to sea clandestinely, and returning when I was ready. If I +ever was to make a sailor, no time was to be lost; for all with whom he +had conversed assured him the period of life when such things were best +learned, was between sixteen and twenty. This I thought probable enough, +and I parted from my friend with a promise of conversing further with +him on the subject at an early opportunity. + +I am almost ashamed to confess that Rupert's artful sophism nearly +blinded my eyes to the true distinction between right and wrong. If Mr. +Hardinge really felt himself bound by my father's wishes to educate me +for the bar, and my own repugnance to the profession was unconquerable, +why should I not relieve him from the responsibility at once by assuming +the right to judge for myself, and act accordingly? So far as Mr. +Hardinge was concerned, I had little difficulty in coming to a +conclusion, though the profound deference I still felt for my father's +wishes, and more especially for those of my sainted mother, had a hold +on my heart, and an influence on my conduct, that was not so easily +disposed of. I determined to have a frank conversation with Mr. +Hardinge, therefore, in order to ascertain how far either of my parents +had expressed anything that might be considered obligatory on me. My +plan went as far as to reveal my own desire to be a sailor, and to see +the world, but not to let it be known that I might go off without his +knowledge, as this would not be so absolutely relieving the excellent +divine “from all responsibility in the premises,” as was contemplated in +the scheme of his own son. + +An opportunity soon occurred, when I broached the subject by asking Mr. +Hardinge whether my father, in his will, had ordered that I should be +sent to Yale, and there be educated for the bar. He had done nothing of +the sort. Had he left any particular request, writing, or message on the +subject, at all? Not that Mr. Hardinge knew. It is true, the last had +heard his friend, once or twice, make some general remark which would +lead one to suppose that Captain Wallingford had some vague expectations +I might go to the bar, but nothing further. My mind felt vastly relieved +by these admissions, for I knew my mother's tenderness too well to +anticipate that she would dream of absolutely dictating in a matter +that was so clearly connected with my own happiness and tastes. When +questioned on this last point, Mr. Hardinge did not hesitate to say that +my mother had conversed with him several times concerning her views, as +related to my career in life. She wished me to go to Yale, and then +to read law, even though I did not practise. As soon as this, much was +said, the conscientious servant of God paused, to note the effect on +me. Reading disappointment in my countenance, I presume, he immediately +added, “But your mother, Miles, laid no restraint on you; for she knew +it was _you_ who was to follow the career, and not herself. 'I should as +soon think of commanding whom he was to marry, as to think of forcing, a +profession on him,' she added. 'He is the one who is to decide this, and +he only. We may try to guide and influence him, but not go beyond this. +I leave you, dear sir, to do all you think best in this matter, certain +that your own wisdom will be aided by the providence of a kind Master.'” + +I now plainly told Mr. Hardinge my desire to see the world, and to be a +sailor. The divine was astounded at this declaration, and I saw that he +was grieved. I believe some religious objections were connected with +his reluctance to consent to my following the sea, as a calling. At any +rate, it was easy to discover that these objections were lasting +and profound. In that day, few Americans travelled, by way of an +accomplishment, at all; and those few belonged to a class in society so +much superior to mine, as to render it absurd to think of sending, +me abroad with similar views. Nor would my fortune justify such +an expenditure. I was well enough off to be a comfortable and free +housekeeper, and as independent as a king on my own farm; living in +abundance, nay, in superfluity, so far as all the ordinary wants were +concerned; but men hesitated a little about setting up for gentlemen at +large, in the year 1797. The country was fast getting rich, it is true, +under the advantages of its neutral position; but it had not yet been +long enough emancipated from its embarrassments to think of playing the +nabob on eight hundred pounds currency a-year. The interview terminated +with a strong exhortation from my guardian not to think of abandoning my +books for any project as visionary and useless as the hope of seeing the +world in the character of a common sailor. + +I related all this to Rupert, who, I now perceived for the first +time, did not hesitate to laugh at some of his father's notions, as +puritanical and exaggerated. He maintained that every one was the best +judge of what he liked, and that the sea had produced quite as fair a +proportion of saints as the land. He was not certain, considering the +great difference there was in numbers, that more good men might not be +traced in connection with the ocean, than in connection with any other +pursuit. + +“Take the lawyers now, for instance, Miles,” he said, “and what can you +make out of them, in the way of religion, I should like to know? They +hire their consciences out at so much _per diem_, and talk and reason +just as zealously for the wrong, as they do for the right.” + +“By George, that is true enough, Rupert. There is old David Dockett, I +remember to have heard Mr. Hardinge say always did double duty for his +fee, usually acting as witness, as well as advocate. They tell me he +will talk by the hour of facts that he and his clients get up between +them, and look the whole time as if he believed all he said to be true.” + +Rupert laughed at this sally, and pushed the advantage it gave him by +giving several other examples to prove how much his father was mistaken +by supposing that a man was to save his soul from perdition simply +by getting admitted to the bar. After discussing the matter a little +longer, to my astonishment Rupert came out with a plain proposal that +he and I should elope, go to New York, and ship as foremastlads in some +Indiaman, of which there were then many sailing, at the proper season, +from that port. I did not dislike the idea, so far as I was myself +concerned; but the thought of accompanying Rupert in such an adventure, +startled me. I knew I was sufficiently secure of the future to be able +to risk a little at the present moment; but such was not the case with +my friend. If I made a false step at so early an age, I had only to +return to Clawbonny, where I was certain to find competence and a home; +but, with Rupert, it was very different. Of the moral hazards I ran, +I then knew nothing, and of course they gave me no concern. Like all +inexperienced persons, I supposed myself too strong in virtue to be +in any danger of contamination; and this portion of the adventure was +regarded with the self-complacency with which the untried are apt +to regard their own powers of endurance. I thought myself morally +invulnerable. + +But Rupert might find it difficult to retrace any serious error made +at his time of life. This consideration would have put an end to the +scheme, so far as my companion was concerned, had not the thought +suggested itself that I should always have it in my own power to aid my +friend. Letting something of this sort escape me, Rupert was not slow in +enlarging on it, though this was done with great tact and discretion. He +proved that, by the time we both came of age, he would be qualified to +command a ship, and that, doubtless, I would naturally desire to invest +some of my spare cash in a vessel. The accumulations of my estate alone +would do this much, within the next five years, and then a career of +wealth and prosperity would lie open before us both. + +“It is a good thing, Miles, no doubt,” continued this tempting sophist, +“to have money at use, and a large farm, and a mill, and such things; +but many a ship nets more money, in a single voyage, than your whole +estate would sell for. Those that begin with nothing, too, they tell me, +are the most apt to succeed; and, if we go off with our clothes only, we +shall begin with nothing, too. Success may be said to be certain. I like +the notion of beginning with nothing, it is so American!” + +It is, in truth, rather a besetting weakness of America to suppose +that men who have never had any means for qualifying themselves for +particular pursuits, are the most likely to succeed in them; and +especially to fancy that those who “begin poor” are in a much better way +for acquiring wealth than they who commence with some means; and I was +disposed to lean to this latter doctrine myself, though I confess I +cannot recall an instance in which any person of my acquaintance has +given away his capital, however large and embarrassing it may have been, +in order to start fair with his poorer competitors. Nevertheless, there +was something taking, to my imagination, in the notion of being the +fabricator of my own fortune. In that day, it was easy to enumerate +every dwelling on the banks of the Hudson that aspired to be called a +seat, and I had often heard them named by those who were familiar with +the river. I liked the thought of erecting a house on the Clawbonny +property that might aspire to equal claims, and to be the owner of a +_seat_; though only after I had acquired the means, myself, to carry out +such a project. At present, I owned only a _house_; my ambition was, to +own a _seat_. + +In a word, Rupert and I canvassed this matter in every possible way +for a month, now leaning to one scheme, and now to another, until I +determined to lay the whole affair before the two girls, under a solemn +pledge of secrecy. As we passed hours in company daily, opportunities +were not wanting to effect this purpose. I thought my friend was a +little shy on this project; but I had so much affection for Grace, and +so much confidence in Lucy's sound judgment, that I was not to be turned +aside from the completion of my purpose. It is now more than forty years +since the interview took place in which this confidence was bestowed; +but every minute occurrence connected with it is as fresh in my mind as +if the whole had taken place only yesterday. + +We were all four of us seated on a rude bench that my mother had caused +to be placed under the shade of an enormous oak that stood on the most +picturesque spot, perhaps, on the whole farm, and which commanded a +distant view of one of the loveliest reaches of the Hudson. Our side of +the river, in general, does not possess as fine views as the eastern, +for the reason that all our own broken, and in some instances +magnificent back-ground of mountains, fills up the landscape for our +neighbours, while we are obliged to receive the picture as it is set in +a humbler frame; but there are exquisite bits to be found on the western +bank, and this was one of the very best of them. The water was as placid +as molten silver, and the sails of every vessel in sight were hanging +in listless idleness from their several spars, representing commerce +asleep. Grace had a deep feeling for natural scenery, and she had a +better mode of expressing her thoughts, on such occasions, than is usual +with girls of fourteen. She first drew our attention to the view by one +of her strong, eloquent bursts of eulogium; and Lucy met the remark +with a truthful, simple answer, that showed abundant sympathy with +the sentiment, though with less of exaggeration of manner and feeling, +perhaps. I seized the moment as favourable for my purpose, and spoke +out. + +“If you admire a vessel so much, Grace,” I said, “you will probably be +glad to hear that I think of becoming a sailor.” + +A silence of near two minutes succeeded, during which time I affected to +be gazing at the distant sloops, and then I ventured to steal a glance +at my companions. I found Grace's mild eyes earnestly riveted on +my face; and, turning from their anxious expression with a little +uneasiness, I encountered those of Lucy looking at me as intently as if +she doubted whether her ears had not deceived her. + +“A sailor, Miles!”--my sister now slowly repeated--“I thought it settled +you were to study law.” + +“As far from that as we are from England; I've fully made up my mind to +see the world if I can, and Rupert, here--” + +“What of Rupert, here?” Grace asked, a sudden change again coming over +her sweet countenance, though I was altogether too inexperienced to +understand its meaning. “_He_ is certainly to be a clergyman--his dear +father's assistant, and, a long, long, _very_ long time hence, his +successor!” + +I could see that Rupert was whistling on a low key, and affecting to +look cool; but my sister's solemn, earnest, astonished manner had more +effect on us both, I believe, than either would have been willing to +own. + +“Come, girls,” I said at length, putting the best face on the matter, +“there is no use in keeping secrets from _you_--but remember that what +I am about to tell you _is_ a secret, and on no account is to be +betrayed.” + +“To no one but Mr. Hardinge,” answered Grace. “If you intend to be a +sailor, he ought to know it.” + +“That comes from looking at our duties superficially,” I had caught this +phrase from my friend, “and not distinguishing properly between their +shadows and their substance.” + +“Duties superficially! I do not understand you, Miles. Certainly Mr. +Hardinge ought to be told what profession you mean to follow. Remember, +brother, he now fills the place of a parent to you.” + +“He is not more _my_ parent than Rupert's--I fancy you will admit that +much!” + +“Rupert, again! What has Rupert to do with your going to sea?” + +“Promise me, then, to keep my secret, and you shall know all; both you +and Lucy must give me your words. I know you will not break them, when +once given.” + +“Promise him, Grace,” said Lucy, in a low tone, and a voice that, even +at that age, I could perceive was tremulous. “If we promise, we shall +learn everything, and then may have some effect on these headstrong boys +by our advice.” + +“Boys! _You_ cannot mean, Lucy, that Rupert is not to be a +clergyman--your father's assistant; that Rupert means to be a sailor, +too?” + +“One never knows what boys will do. Let us promise them, dear; then we +can better judge.” + +“I do” promise you, Miles, “said my sister, in a voice so solemn as +almost to frighten me. + +“And I, Miles,” added Lucy; but it was so low, I had to lean forward to +catch the syllables. + +“This is honest and right,”--it was honest, perhaps, but very +wrong,--“and it convinces me that you are both reasonable, and will be +of use to us. Rupert and I have both made up our minds, and intend to be +sailors.” + +Exclamations followed from both girls, and another long silence +succeeded. + +“As for the law, hang all law!” I continued, hemming, and determined to +speak like a man. “I never heard of a Wallingford who was a lawyer.” + +“But you have _both_ heard of Hardinges who were clergymen,” said Grace, +endeavouring to smile, though the expression of her countenance was so +painful that even now I dislike to recall it. + +“And sailors, too,” put in Rupert, a little more stoutly than I thought +possible. “My father's grandfather was an officer in the navy.” + +“And _my_ father was a sailor himself--in the navy, too.” + +“But there is no navy in this country now, Miles,” returned Lucy, in an +expostulating tone. + +“What of that? There are plenty of ships. The ocean is just as big, and +the world just as wide, as if we had a navy to cover the first. I see no +great objection on that account--do you, Ru?” + +“Certainly not. What we want is to go to sea, and that can be done in an +Indiaman, as well as in a man-of-war.” + +“Yes,” said I, stretching myself with a little importance. “I fancy an +Indiaman, a vessel that goes all the way to Calcutta, round the Cape +of Good Hope, in the track of Vasquez de Gama, isn't exactly an Albany +sloop.” + +“Who is Vasquez de Gama?” demanded Lucy, with so much quickness as to +surprise me. + +“Why, a _noble_ Portuguese, who discovered the Cape of Good Hope, and +first sailed round it, and then went to the Indies. You see, girls, even +_nobles_ are sailors, and why should not Rupert and I be sailors?” + +“It is not that, Miles,” my sister answered; “every honest calling +is respectable. Have you and Rupert spoken to Mr. Hardinge on this +subject?” + +“Not exactly--not spoken--hinted only--that is, blindly--not so as to be +understood, perhaps.” + +“He will _never_ consent, boys!” and this was uttered with something +very like an air of triumph. + +“We have no intention of asking it of him, Grace. Rupert and I intend to +be off next week, without saying a word to Mr. Hardinge on the subject.” + +Another long, eloquent silence succeeded, during which I saw Lucy bury +her face in her apron, while the tears openly ran down my sister's +cheek. + +“You _do_ not--_cannot_ mean to do anything so cruel, Miles!” Grace at +length said. + +“It is exactly because it will not be cruel, that we intend to do +it,”--here I nudged Rupert with my elbow, as a hint that I wanted +assistance; but he made no other reply than an answering nudge, which +I interpreted into as much as if he had said in terms, “You've got +into the scrape in your own way, and you may get out of it in the same +manner.” “Yes,” I continued, finding succour hopeless, “yes, _that's_ +just it.” + +“What is just it, Miles? You speak in a way to show that you are not +satisfied with yourself--neither you nor Rupert is satisfied with +himself, if the truth were known.” + +“I not satisfied with _myself!_ Rupert not satisfied with _himself!_ +You never were more mistaken in your life, Grace. If there ever were two +boys in New York State that _were_ well satisfied with themselves, they +are just Rupert and I.” + +Here Lucy raised her face from the apron and burst into a laugh, the +tears filling her eyes all the while. + +“Believe them, dear Grace,” she said. “They are precisely two +self-satisfied, silly fellows, that have got some ridiculous notions in +their heads, and then begin to talk about 'superficial views of duties,' +and all such nonsense. My father will set it all right, and the boys +will have had their talk.” + +“Not so last, Miss Lucy, if you please. Your father will not know a +syllable of the matter until you tell him all about it, after we +are gone. We intend 'to relieve him from all responsibility in the +premises.'” + +This last sounded very profound, and a little magnificent, to my +imagination; and I looked at the girls to note the effect. Grace was +weeping, and weeping only; but Lucy looked saucy and mocking, even while +the tears bedewed her smiling face, as rain sometimes falls while the +sun is shining. + +“Yes,” I repeated, with emphasis, “'of all responsibility in the +premises.' I hope that is plain English, and good English, although I +know that Mr. Hardinge has been trying to make you both so simple in +your language, that you turn up your noses at a profound sentiment, +whenever you hear one.” + +In 1797, the grandiose had by no means made the deep invasion into the +everyday language of the country, that it has since done. Anything of +the sublime, or of the recondite, school was a good deal more apt to +provoke a smile, than it is to-day--the improvement proceeding, as +I have understood through better judges than myself, from the great +melioration of mind and manners that is to be traced to the speeches in +congress, and to the profundities of the newspapers. Rupert, however, +frequently ornamented his ideas, and I may truly say everything +ambitious that adorned my discourse was derived from his example. I +almost thought Lucy impertinent for presuming to laugh at sentiments +which came from such a source, and, by way of settling my own +correctness of thought and terms, I made no bones of falling back on my +great authority, by fairly pointing him out. + +“I thought so!” exclaimed Lucy, now laughing with all her heart, though +a little hysterically; “I thought so, for this is just like Rupert, +who is always talking to me about 'assuming the responsibility,' and +'conclusions in the premises,' and all such nonsense. Leave the boys to +my father, Grace, and he will 'assume the responsibility' of 'concluding +the premises,' and the whole of the foolish scheme along with it!” + +This would have provoked me, had not Grace manifested so much sisterly +interest in my welfare that I was soon persuaded to tell _her_--that +minx Lucy overhearing every syllable, though I had half a mind to tell +her to go away--all about our project. + +“You see,” I continued, “if Mr. Hardinge knows anything about our plan, +people will say he ought to have stopped us. 'He a clergyman, and not +able to keep two lads of sixteen or seventeen from running away and +going to sea!' they will say, as if it were so easy to prevent two +spirited youths from seeing the world. Whereas, if he knew nothing about +it, nobody can blame him. That is what I call 'relieving him from the +responsibility.' Now, we intend to be off next week, or as soon as the +jackets and trowsers that are making for us, under the pretence of +being boat-dresses, are finished. We mean to go down the river in the +sail-boat, taking Neb with us to bring the boat back. Now you know +the whole story, there will be no occasion to leave a letter for Mr. +Hardinge; for, three hours after we have sailed, you can tell him +everything. We shall be gone a year; at the end of that time you may +look for us both, and glad enough shall we all be to see each other. +Rupert and I will be young men then, though you call us boys now.” + +This last picture a good deal consoled the girls. Rupert, too, who had +unaccountably kept back, throwing the labouring-oar altogether on me, +came to the rescue, and, with his subtle manner and oily tongue, began +to make the wrong appear the right. I do not think he blinded his own +sister in the least, but I fear he had too much influence over mine. +Lucy, though all heart, was as much matter-of-fact as her brother was a +sophist. He was ingenious in glozing over truths; she, nearly unerring +in detecting them. I never knew a greater contrast between two human +beings, than there was between these two children of the same parents, +in this particular. I have heard that the son took after the mother, in +this respect, and that the daughter took after the father; though Mrs. +Hardinge died too early to have had any moral influence on the character +of her children. + +We came again and again to the discussion of our subject during the next +two or three days. The girls endeavoured earnestly to persuade us to ask +Mr. Hardinge's permission for the step we were about to undertake; +but all in vain. We lads were so thoroughly determined to “relieve the +divine from all responsibility in the premises,” that they might as well +have talked to stones. We knew these just-minded, sincere, upright girls +would not betray us, and continued obdurate to the last. As we expected, +as soon as convinced their importunities were useless, they seriously +set about doing all they could to render us comfortable. They made +us duck bags to hold our clothes, two each, and mended our linen, +stockings, &c., and even helped to procure us some clothes more suited +to the contemplated expedition than most of those we already possessed. +Our “long togs,” indeed, we determined to leave behind us, retaining +just one suit each, and that of the plainest quality. In the course of +a week everything was ready, our bags well lined, being concealed in +the storehouse at the landing. Of this building I could at any moment +procure the key, my authority as heir-apparent being very considerable, +already, on the farm. + +As for Neb, he was directed to have the boat all ready for the +succeeding Tuesday evening, it being the plan to sail the day after the +Wallingford of Clawbonny (this was the name of the sloop) had gone on +one of her regular trips, in order to escape a pursuit. I had made all +the calculations about the tide, and knew that the Wallingford would go +out about nine in the morning, leaving us to follow before midnight. It +was necessary to depart at night and when the wharf was clear, in order +to avoid observation. + +Tuesday was an uneasy, nervous and sad day for us all, Mr. Hardinge +excepted. As the last had not the smallest distrust, he continued calm, +quiet, and cheerful as was his wont. Rupert had a conscience-stricken +and furtive air about him, while the eyes of the two dear, girls were +scarcely a moment without tears. Grace seemed now the most composed +of the two, and I have since suspected that she had had a private +conversation with my ingenious friend, whose convincing powers were of +a very extraordinary quality, when he set about their use in downright +earnest. As for Lucy, she seemed to me to have been weeping the entire +day. + +At nine o'clock it was customary for the whole family to separate, after +prayers. Most of us went to bed at that early hour, though Mr. Hardinge +himself seldom sought his pillow until midnight. This habit compelled +us to use a good deal of caution in getting out of the house, in which +Rupert and myself succeeded, however, without discovery, just as the +clock struck eleven. We had taken leave of the girls in a hasty manner, +in a passage, shaking hands, and each of us kissing his own sister, +as he affected to retire for the night. To own the truth, we were much +gratified in finding how reasonably Grace and Lucy behaved, on the +occasion, and not a little surprised, for we had expected a scene, +particularly with the former. + +We walked away from the house with heavy hearts, few leaving the +paternal roof for the first time, to enter upon the chances of the +world, without a deep sense of the dependence in which they had hitherto +lived. We walked fast and silently, and reached the wharf in less than +half an hour, a distance of near two miles. I was just on the point of +speaking to Neb, whose figure I could see in the boat, when I caught a +glimpse of two female forms within six feet of me. There were Grace and +Lucy, in tears, both waiting our arrival, with a view to see us depart! +I confess I was shocked and concerned at seeing these two delicate girls +so far from their home, at such an hour; and my first impulse was to see +them both safely back before I would enter the boat; but to this neither +would consent. All my entreaties were thrown away, and I was obliged to +submit. + +I know not exactly how it happened, but of the fact I am certain; odd as +it may seem, at a moment like that, when about to separate, instead of +each youth's getting his own sister aside to make his last speeches, and +say his last say to, each of us got his friend's sister aside. I do not +mean that we were making love, or anything of the sort; we were a little +too young, perhaps, for that; but we obeyed an impulse which, as Rupert +would have said, “produced that result.” + +What passed between Grace and her companion, I do not know. As for Lucy +and myself, it was all plain-sailing and fair dealing. The excellent +creature forced on me six gold pieces, which I knew had come to her as +an heirloom from her mother, and which I had often heard her declare +she never meant to use, unless in the last extremity. She knew I had but +five dollars on earth, and that Rupert had not one; and she offered me +this gold. I told her Rupert had better take it; no, _I_ had better take +it. I should use it more prudently than Rupert, and would use it for +the good of both. “Besides, you are rich,” she said, smiling through her +tears, “and can repay me--I _lend_ them to you; to Rupert I should have +to _give_ them.” I could not refuse the generous girl, and took the +money, all half-joes, with a determination to repay them with interest. +Then I folded her to my heart, and kissed her six or eight times with +fervour, the first time I had done such a thing in two years, and tore +myself away. I do not think Rupert embraced Grace, but I confess I do +not know, although we were standing within three or four yards of each +other, the whole time. + +“Write, Miles--write, Rupert,” said the sobbing girls leaning forward +from the wharf, as we shoved off. It was not so dark but we could see +their dear forms for several minutes, or until a bend in the creek put a +dark mass of earth between us and them. + +Such was the manner of my departure from Clawbonny, in the month of +September, 1797. I wanted a few days of being seventeen; Rupert was +six months older, and Neb was his senior, again, by near a twelvemonth. +Everything was in the boat but our hearts. Mine, I can truly say, +remained with the two beloved creatures we left on the wharf; while +Rupert's was betwixt and between, I fancy--seldom absolutely deserting +the dear tenement in which it was encased by nature. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + “There's a youth in this city, it were a great pity + That he from our lasses should wander awa'; + For he's bonny and braw, weel-favoured witha', + And his hair has a natural buckle and a'. + His coat is the hue of his bonnet so blue; + His pocket is white as the new-driven snaw; + His hose they are blue, and his shoon like the slae, + And his clean siller buckles they dazzle us a'.” + BURNS. + + +We had selected our time well, as respects the hour of departure. It was +young ebb, and the boat floated swiftly down the creek, though the high +banks of the latter would have prevented our feeling any wind, even +if there were a breeze on the river. Our boat was of some size, +sloop-rigged and half-decked; but Neb's vigorous arms made her move +through the water with some rapidity, and, to own the truth, the lad +sprang to his work like a true runaway negro. I was a skilful oarsman +myself, having received many lessons from my father in early boyhood, +and being in almost daily practice for seven mouths in the year. The +excitement of the adventure, its romance, or what for a short time +seemed to me to be romance, and the secret apprehension of being +detected, which I believe accompanies every clandestine undertaking, +soon set me in motion also. I took one of the oars, and, in less than +twenty minutes, the Grace & Lucy, for so the boat was called, emerged +from between two, high, steep banks, and entered on the broader bosom of +the Hudson. + +Neb gave a half-suppressed, negro-like cry of exultation, as we shot +out from our cover, and ascertained that there was a pleasant and fair +breeze blowing. In three minutes we had the jib and mainsail on the +boat, the helm was up, the sheet was eased off, and we were gliding +down-stream at the rate of something like five miles an hour. I took the +helm, almost as a matter of course; Rupert being much too indolent to do +anything unnecessarily, while Neb was far too humble to aspire to such +an office while Master Miles was there, willing and ready. In that day, +indeed, it was so much a matter of course for the skipper of a Hudson +river craft to steer, that most of the people who lived on the banks +of the stream imagined that Sir John Jervis, Lord Anson, and the other +great English admirals of whom they had read and heard, usually amused +themselves with that employment, out on the ocean. I remember the hearty +laugh in which my unfortunate father indulged, when Mr. Hardinge once +asked him how he could manage to get any sleep, on account of this +very duty. But we were very green, up at Clawbonny, in most things that +related to the world. + +The hour that succeeded was one of the most painful I ever passed in my +life. I recalled my father, his manly frankness, his liberal bequests in +my favour, and his precepts of respect and obedience; all of which, it +now seemed to me, I had openly dishonoured. Then came the image of my +mother, with her love and sufferings, her prayers, and her mild but +earnest exhortations to be good. I thought I could see both these +parents regarding me with sorrowful, though not with reproachful +countenances. They appeared to be soliciting my return, with a species +of silent, but not the less eloquent, warnings of the consequences. +Grace and Lucy, and their sobs, and admonitions, and entreaties to +abandon my scheme, and to write, and not to remain away long, and all +that tender interest had induced two warm-hearted girls to utter at +our parting, came fresh and vividly to my mind. The recollection proved +nearly too much for me. Nor did I forget Mr. Hardinge, and the distress +he would certainly feel, when he discovered that he had not only lost +his ward, but his only son. Then Clawbonny itself, the house, the +orchards, the meadows, the garden, the mill, and all that belonged to +the farm, began to have a double value in my eyes, and to serve as so +many cords attached to my heart-strings, and to remind me that the rover + +“Drags at each remove a lengthening chain.'” + +I marvelled at Rupert's tranquility. I did not then understand his +character as thoroughly as I subsequently got to know it. All that he +most prized was with him in the boat, in fact, and this lessened his +grief at parting from less beloved objects. Where Rupert was, there was +his paradise. As for Neb, I do believe his head was over his shoulder, +for he affected to sit with his face down-stream, so long as the hills +that lay in the rear of Clawbonny could be at all distinguished. This +must have proceeded from tradition, or instinct, or some latent negro +quality; for I do not think the fellow fancied _he_ was running away. He +knew that his two young masters were; but he was fully aware he was my +property, and no doubt thought, as long as he staid in my company, he +was in the line of his legitimate duty. Then it was _my_ plan that he +should return with the boat, and perhaps these backward glances were no +more than the shadows of coming events, cast, in his case, _behind_. + +Rupert was indisposed to converse, for, to tell the truth, he had eaten +a hearty supper, and began to feel drowsy; and I was too much wrapped up +in my own busy thoughts to solicit any communications. I found a sort of +saddened pleasure in setting a watch for the night, therefore, which had +an air of seaman-like duty about it, that in a slight degree revived +my old taste for the profession. It was midnight, and I took the first +watch myself, bidding my two companions to crawl under the half-deck, +and go to sleep. This they both did without any parley, Rupert occupying +an inner place, while Neb lay with his legs exposed to the night air. + +The breeze freshened, and for some time I thought it might be necessary +to reef, though we were running dead before the wind. I succeeded in +holding on, however, and I found the Grace & Lucy was doing wonders in +my watch. When I gave Rupert his call at four o'clock, the boat was just +approaching two frowning mountains, where the river was narrowed to +a third or fourth of its former width; and, by the appearance of the +shores, and the dim glimpses I had caught of a village of no great size +on the right bank, I knew we were in what is called Newburgh Bay. This +was the extent of our former journeyings south, all three of us having +once before, and only once, been as low as Fishkill Landing, which lies +opposite to the place that gives this part of the river its name. + +Rupert now took the helm, and I went to sleep. The wind still continued +fresh and fair, and I felt no uneasiness on account of the boat. It is +true, there were two parts of the navigation before us of which I had +thought a little seriously, but not sufficiently so to keep me awake. +These were the Race, a passage in the Highlands, and Tappan Sea; both +points on the Hudson of which the navigators of that classical stream +were fond of relating the marvels. The first I knew was formidable only +later in the autumn, and, as for the last, I hoped to enjoy some of its +wonders in the morning. In this very justifiable expectation, I fell +asleep. + +Neb did not call me until ten o'clock. I afterwards discovered that +Rupert kept the helm for only an hour, and then, calculating that from +five until nine were four hours, he thought it a pity the negro should +not have his share of the glory of that night. When I was awakened, it +was merely to let me know that it was time to eat something--Neb would +have starved before he would precede his young master in that necessary +occupation--and I found Rupert in a deep and pleasant sleep at my side. + +We were in the centre of Tappan, and the Highlands had been passed in +safety. Neb expatiated a little on the difficulties of the navigation, +the river having many windings, besides being bounded by high mountains; +but, after all, he admitted that there was water enough, wind enough, +and a road that was plain enough. From this moment, excitement kept us +wide awake. Everything was new, and everything seemed delightful. The +day was pleasant, the wind continued fair, and nothing occurred to mar +our joy. I had a little map, one neither particularly accurate, nor very +well engraved; and I remember the importance with which, after having +ascertained the fact myself, I pointed out to my two companions the +rocky precipices on the western bank, as New Jersey! Even-Rupert was +struck with this important circumstance. As for Neb, he was actually in +ecstasies, rolling his large black eyes, and showing his white teeth, +until he suddenly closed his truly coral and plump lips, to demand what +New Jersey meant? Of course I gratified this laudable desire to obtain +knowledge, and Neb seemed still more pleased than ever, now he had +ascertained that New Jersey was a State. Travelling was not as much +of an every-day occupation, at that time, as it is now; and it was, in +truth, something for three American lads, all under nineteen, to be able +to say that they had seen a State, other than their own. + +Notwithstanding the rapid progress we had made for the first few hours +of our undertaking, the voyage was far from being ended. About noon the +wind came out light from the southward, and, having a flood-tide, we +were compelled to anchor. This made us all uneasy, for, while we were +stationary, we did not seem to be running away. The ebb came again, at +length, however, and then we made sail, and began to turn down with the +tide. It was near sunset before we got a view of the two or three +spires that then piloted strangers to the town. New York was not the +“commercial emporium” in 1796; so high-sounding a title, indeed, scarce +belonging to the simple English of the period, it requiring a very +great collection of half-educated men to venture on so ambitious an +appellation--the only emporium that existed in America, during the +last century, being a slop-shop in Water street, and on the island of +Manhattan. _Commercial_ emporium was a flight of fancy, indeed, that +must have required a whole board of aldermen, and an extra supply of +turtle, to sanction. What is meant by a _literary_ emporium, I leave +those editors who are “native and to the _manor_ born,” to explain. + +We first saw the State Prison, which was then new, and a most imposing +edifice, according to our notions, as we drew near the town. Like the +gallows first seen by a traveller in entering a strange country, it was +a pledge of civilization. Neb shook his head, as he gazed at it, with a +moralizing air, and said it had a “wicked look.” For myself, I own I +did not regard it altogether without dread. On Rupert it made less +impression than on any of the three. He was always somewhat obtuse on +the subject of morals.{*] + +{Footnote *: It may be well to tell the European who shall happen to +read this book, that in America a “State's Prison” is not for prisoners +of State, but for common rogues: the term coming from the name borne by +the local governments.] + +New York, in that day, and on the Hudson side of the town, commenced +a short distance above Duane street. Between Greenwich, as the little +hamlet around the State Prison was called, and the town proper, was an +interval of a mile and a half of open fields, dotted here and there with +country-houses. Much of this space was in broken hills, and a few piles +of lumber lay along the shores. St. John's church had no existence, and +most of the ground in its vicinity was in low swamp. As we glided +along the wharves, we caught sight of the first market I had then ever +seen--such proofs of an advanced civilization not having yet made their +way into the villages of the interior. It was called “The Bear,” from +the circumstance that the first meat ever exposed for sale in it was of +that animal; but the appellation has disappeared before the intellectual +refinement of these later times--the name of the soldier and statesman, +Washington, having fairly supplanted that of the bear! Whether this +great moral improvement was brought about by the Philosophical Society, +or the Historical Society, or “The Merchants,” or the Aldermen of New +York, I have never ascertained. If the latter, one cannot but admire +their disinterested modesty in conferring this notable honour on the +Father of his country, inasmuch as all can see that there never has been +a period when their own board has not possessed distinguished members, +every way qualified to act as god-fathers to the most illustrious +markets of the republic. But Manhattan, in the way of taste, has never +had justice done it. So profound is its admiration for all the higher +qualities, that Franklin and Fulton have each a market to himself, in +addition to this bestowed on Washington. Doubtless there would have +been Newton Market, and Socrates Market, and Solomon Market, but for +the patriotism of the town, which has forbidden it from going out of +the hemisphere, in quest of names to illustrate. Bacon Market +would doubtless have been too equivocal to be tolerated, under any +circumstances. Then Bacon was a rogue, though a philosopher, and markets +are always appropriated to honest people. At all events, I am rejoiced +the reproach of having a market called “The Bear” has been taken away, +as it was tacitly admitting our living near, if not absolutely in, the +woods. + +We passed the Albany basin, a large receptacle for North River craft, +that is now in the bosom of the town and built on, and recognized in it +the mast-head of the Wallingford. Neb was shown the place, for he was to +bring the boat round to it, and join the sloop, in readiness to return +in her. We rounded the Battery, then a circular stripe of grass, with +an earthen and wooden breastwork running along the margin of the +water, leaving a narrow promenade on the exterior. This brought us to +White-Hall, since so celebrated for its oarsmen, where we put in for a +haven. I had obtained the address of a better sort of sailor-tavern in +that vicinity, and, securing the boat, we shouldered the bags, got a boy +to guide us, and were soon housed. As it was near night, Rupert and +I ordered supper, and Neb was directed to pull the boat round to the +sloop, and to return to us in the morning; taking care, however, not to +let our lodgings be known. + +The next day, I own I thought but little of the girls, Clawbonny, or Mr. +Hardinge. Neb was at my bed-side before I was up, and reported the Grace +& Lucy safe alongside of the Wallingford, and expressed himself ready to +wait on me in my progress in quest of a ship. As this was the moment of +action, little was said, but we all breakfasted, and sallied forth, in +good earnest, on the important business before us. Neb was permitted +to follow, but at such a distance as to prevent his being suspected of +belonging to our party--a gentleman, with a serving-man at his heels, +not being the candidate most likely to succeed in his application for a +berth in the forecastle. + +So eager was I to belong to some sea-going craft, that I would not stop +even to look at the wonders of the town, before we took the direction +of the wharves. Rupert was for pursuing a different policy, having an +inherent love of the genteeler gaieties of a town, but I turned a deaf +ear to his hints, and this time I was master. He followed me with some +reluctance, but follow he did, after some remonstrances that bordered +on warmth. Any inexperienced eye that had seen us passing, would have +mistaken us for two well-looking, smart young sailor-boys, who had +just returned from a profitable voyage, and who, well-clad, tidy and +semi-genteel, were strolling along the wharves as _admirateurs_, not to +say critics, of the craft. _Admirateurs_ we were, certainly, or _I_ was, +at least; though knowledge was a point on which we Were sadly deficient. + +The trade of America was surprisingly active in 1797. It had been preyed +upon by the two great belligerents of the period, England and France, +it is true; and certain proceedings of the latter nation were about to +bring the relations of the two countries into a very embarrassed state; +but still the shipping interest was wonderfully active, and, as a whole, +singularly successful. Almost every tide brought in or took out ships +for foreign ports, and scarce a week passed that vessels did not arrive +from, or sail for, all the different quarters of the world. An Indiaman, +however, was our object; the voyage being longer, the ships better, and +the achievement greater, than merely to cross the Atlantic and return. +We accordingly proceeded towards the Fly Market, in the vicinity of +which, we had been given to understand, some three or four vessels of +that description were fitting out. This market has since used its wings +to disappear, altogether. + +I kept my eyes on every ship we passed. Until the previous day, I had +never seen a square-rigged vessel; and no enthusiast in the arts ever +gloated on a fine picture or statue with greater avidity than my soul +drank in the wonder and beauty of every ship I passed. I had a large, +full-rigged model at Clawbonny; and this I had studied under my father +so thoroughly, as to know the name of every rope in it, and to have some +pretty distinct notions of their uses. This early schooling was now +of great use to me, though I found it a little difficult, at first, +to trace my old acquaintances on the large scale in which they now +presented themselves, and amid the intricate mazes that were drawn +against the skies. The braces, shrouds, stays and halyards, were all +plain enough, and I could point to either, at a moment's notice; but +when it came to the rest of the running rigging, I found it necessary to +look a little, before I could speak with certainty. + +Eager as I was to ship, the indulgence of gazing at all I saw was so +attractive, that it was noon before we reached an Indiaman. This was a +pretty little ship of about four hundred tons, that was called the John. +Little I say, for such she would now be thought, though a vessel of her +size was then termed large. The Manhattan, much the largest ship out of +the port, measured but about seven hundred tons; while few even of +the Indiamen went much beyond five hundred. I can see the John at this +moment, near fifty years after I first laid eyes on her, as she then +appeared. She was not bright-sided, but had a narrow, cream-coloured +streak, broken into ports. She was a straight, black-looking craft, +with a handsome billet, low, thin bulwarks, and waistcloths secured +to ridge-ropes. Her larger spars were painted the same colour as her +streak, and her stern had a few ornaments of a similar tint. + +We went on board the John, where we found the officers just topping off +with the riggers and stevedores, having stowed all the provisions and +water, and the mere trifle of cargo she carried. The mate, whose name +was Marble, and a well-veined bit of marble he was, his face resembling +a map that had more rivers drawn on it than the land could feed, winked +at the captain and nodded his head towards us as soon as we met his eye. +The latter smiled, but did not speak. + +“Walk this way, gentlemen--walk this way, if you please,” said Mr. +Marble, encouragingly, passing a ball of spun-yarn, all the while, to +help a rigger serve a rope. “When did you leave the country?” + +This produced a general laugh, even the yellow rascal of a mulatto, who +was passing into the cabin with some crockery, grinning in our faces +at this salutation. I saw it was now or never, and determined not to be +brow-beaten, while I was too truthful to attempt to pass for that I was +not. + +“We left home last night, thinking to be in time to find berths in one +of the Indiamen that is to sail this week.” + +“Not _this_ week, my son--not till _next_,” said Mr. Marble, jocularly. +“Sunday is _the_ day. We run from Sunday to Sunday--the better day, the +better deed, you know. How did you leave father and mother?” + +“I have neither,” I answered, almost choked. “My mother died a few +months since, and my father, Captain Wallingford, has now been dead some +years.” + +The master of the John was a man of about fifty, red-faced, +hard-looking, pock-marked, square-rigged, and of an exterior that +promised anything but sentiment. Feeling, however, he did manifest, +the moment I mentioned my father's name. He ceased his employment, came +close to me, gazed earnestly in my face, and even looked kind. + +“Are you a son of Captain Miles Wallingford?” he asked in a low +voice--“of Miles Wallingford, from up the river?” + +“I am, sir; his only son. He left but two of us, a son and a daughter; +and, though under no necessity to work at all, I wish to make this Miles +Wallingford as good a seaman as the last, and, I hope, as honest a man.” + +This was said manfully, and with a spirit that must have pleased; for +I was shaken cordially by the hand, welcomed on board, invited into the +cabin, and asked to take a seat at a table on which the dinner had +just been placed. Rupert, of course, shared in all these favours. Then +followed the explanations. Captain Robbins, of the John, had first gone +to sea with my father, for whom I believe he entertained a profound +respect. He had even served with him once as mate, and talked as if he +felt that he had been under obligations to him. He did not question +me very closely, seeming to think it natural enough that Miles +Wallingford's only son should wish to be a seaman. + +As we sat at the table, even, it was agreed that Rupert and I should +join the ship, as green hands, the very next morning, signing the +articles as soon as we went on shore. This was done accordingly, and I +had the felicity of writing Miles Wallingford to the roll d'equipage, to +the tune of eighteen dollars per month--seamen then actually receiving +thirty and thirty-five dollars per month--wages. Rupert was taken also, +though Captain Robbins cut _him_ down to thirteen dollars, saying, in +a jesting way, that a parson's son could hardly be worth as much as the +son of one of the best old ship-masters who ever sailed out of America. +He was a shrewd observer of men and things, this new friend of mine, and +I believe understood “by the cut of his jib” that Rupert was not likely +to make a weather-earing man. The money, however, was not of much +account in our calculations; and lucky enough did I think myself in +finding so good a berth, almost as soon as looked for. We returned to +the tavern and staid that night, taking a formal leave of Neb, who was +to carry the good news home, as soon as the sloop should sail. + +In the morning a cart was loaded with our effects, the bill was +discharged, and we left the tavern. I had the precaution not to go +directly alongside the ship. On the contrary, we proceeded to an +opposite part of the town, placing the bags on a wharf resorted to by +craft from New Jersey, as if we intended to go on board one of them. The +cartman took his quarter, and drove off, troubling himself very little +about the future movements of two young sailors. Waiting half an hour, +another cart was called, when we went to the John, and were immediately +installed in her forecastle. Captain Robbins had provided us both with +chests, paid for out of the three months' advance, and in them we found +the slops necessary for so long a voyage. Rupert and I immediately put +on suits of these new clothes, with regular little round tarpaulins, +which so much altered us in appearance, even from those produced by our +Ulster county fittings, that we scarce knew each other. + +Rupert now went on deck to lounge and smoke a segar, while I went aloft, +visiting every yard, and touching all three of the trucks, before I +returned from this, my exploring expedition. The captain and mates and +riggers smiled at my movements, and I overheard the former telling his +mate that I was “old Miles over again.” In a word, all parties seemed +pleased with the arrangement that had been made; I had told the officers +aft of my knowledge of the names and uses of most of the ropes; and +never did I feel so proud as when Mr. Marble called out, in a loud +tone-- + +“D'ye hear there, Miles--away aloft and unreeve them fore-top-gallant +halyards, and send an end down to haul up this new rope, to reeve a +fresh set.” + +Away I went, my head buzzing with the complicated order, and yet I had +a very tolerable notion of what was to be done. The unreeving might +have been achieved by any one, and I got through with that without +difficulty; and, the mate himself helping me and directing me from the +deck, the new rope was rove with distinguished success. This was the +first duty I ever did in a ship, and I was prouder of it than of any +that was subsequently performed by the same individual. The whole time +I was thus occupied, Rupert stood lounging against the foot of the +main-stay, smoking his segar like a burgomaster. His turn came next, +however, the captain sending for him to the cabin, where he set him at +work to copy some papers. Rupert wrote a beautiful hand, and he wrote +rapidly. That evening I heard the chief-mate tell the dickey that the +parson's son was likely to turn out a regular “barber's clerk” to the +captain. “The old man,” he added, “makes so many traverses himself on a +bit of paper, that he hardly knows at which end to begin to read it; and +I shouldn't wonder if he just stationed this chap, with a quill behind +his ear, for the v'y'ge.” + +For the next two or three days I was delightfully busy, passing half the +time aloft. All the sails were to be bent, and I had my full share in +the performance of this duty. I actually furled the mizen-royal with my +own hands--the ship carrying standing royals--and it was said to be very +respectably done; a little rag-baggish in the bunt, perhaps, but secured +in a way that took the next fellow who touched the gasket five minutes +to cast the sail loose. Then it rained, and sails were to be loosened to +dry. I let everything fall forward with my own hands, and, when we came +to roll up the canvass again, I actually managed all three of the royals +alone; one at a time, of course. My father had taught me to make a +flat-knot, a bowline, a clove-hitch, two half-hitches, and such sort of +things; and I got through with both a long and a short splice tolerably +well. I found all this, and the knowledge I had gained from my +model-ship at home of great use to me; so much so, indeed, as to induce +even that indurated bit of mortality, Marble, to say I “was the ripest +piece of green stuff he had ever fallen in with.” + +All this time, Rupert was kept at quill-driving. Once he got leave to +quit the ship--it was the day before we sailed--and I observed he went +ashore in his long-togs, of which each of us had one suit. I stole away +the same afternoon to find the post-office, and worked up-stream as far +as Broadway, not knowing exactly which way to shape my course. In that +day, everybody who was anybody, and unmarried, promenaded the west side +of this street, from the Battery to St. Paul's Church, between the hours +of twelve and half-past two, wind and weather permitting. There I +saw Rupert, in his country guise, nothing remarkable, of a certainty, +strutting about with the best of them, and looking handsome in spite of +his rusticity. It was getting late, and he left the street just as I saw +him. I followed, waiting until we got to a private place before I would +speak to him, however, as I knew he would be mortified to be taken for +the friend of a Jack-tar, in such a scene. + +Rupert entered a door, and then reappeared with a letter in his hand. +He, too, had gone to the post-office, and I no longer hesitated about +joining him. + +“Is it from Clawbonny?” I asked, eagerly. “If so, from Lucy, doubtless?” + +“From Clawbonny--but from Grace,” he answered, with a slight change of +colour. “I desired the poor girl to let me know how things passed off, +after we left them; and as for Lucy, her pot-hooks are so much out of +the way, I never want to see them.” + +I felt hurt, offended, that my sister should write to any youngster but +myself. It is true, the letter was to a bosom friend, a co-adventurer, +one almost a child of the same family; and I had come to the office +expecting to get a letter from Rupert's sister, who had promised, while +weeping on the wharf, to do exactly the same thing for me; but there +_is_ a difference between one's sister writing to another young man, and +another young man's sister writing to oneself. I cannot even now explain +it; but that there _is_ a difference I am sure. Without asking to see a +line that Grace had written, I went into the office, and returned in a +minute or two, with an air of injured dignity, holding Lucy's epistle in +my hand. + +After all, there was nothing in either letter to excite much +sensibility. Each was written with the simplicity, truth and feeling of +a generous-minded, warm-hearted female friend, of an age not to distrust +her own motives, to a lad who bad no right to view the favour other than +it was, as an evidence of early and intimate friendship. Both epistles +are now before me, and I copy them, as the shortest way of letting the +reader know the effect our disappearance had produced at Clawbonny. That +of Grace was couched in the following terms: + + +DEAR RUPERT: + +Clawbonny was in commotion at nine o'clock this morning, and well it +might be! When your father's anxiety got to be painful, I told him the +whole, and gave him the letters. I am sorry to say, he wept. I wish +never to see such a sight again. The tears of two such silly girls as +Lucy and I, are of little account--but, Rupert, to behold an aged man +we love and respect like him, a minister of the gospel too, in tears! It +was a hard sight to bear. He did not reproach us for our silence, saying +he did not see, after our promises, how we could well do otherwise. I +gave your reasons about “responsibility in the premises;” but I don't +think he understood them. Is it too late to return? The boat that +carried you down can bring you back; and oh! how much rejoiced shall +we all be to see you! Wherever you go, and whatever you do, boys, for I +write as much to one as to the other, and only address to Rupert because +he so earnestly desired it; but wherever you go, and whatever you do, +remember the instructions you have both received in youth, and how much +all of us are interested in your conduct and happiness. + +Affectionately, yours, + +GRACE WALLINGFORD. + +To Mr. Rupert Hardinge. + + +Lucy had been less guarded, and possibly a little more honest. She wrote +as follows: + + +DEAR MILES: + +I believe I cried for one whole hour after you and Rupert left us, and, +now it is all over, I am vexed at having cried so much about two such +foolish fellows. Grace has told you all about my dear, dear father, who +cried too. I declare, I don't know when I was so frightened! I thought +it _must_ bring you back, as soon as you hear of it. What will be done, +I do not know; but _something_, I am certain Whenever father is in +earnest, he says but little. I know he is in earnest _now_. I believe +Grace and I do nothing but think of you; that is, she of _you_, and I +of Rupert; and a little the other way, too--so now you have the whole +truth. Do not fail, on any account, to write before you go to sea, if +you _do_ go to sea, as I hope and trust you will not. + +Good-bye. + + +LUCY HARDINGE. + +To Mr. Miles Wallingford. + +P.S. Neb's mother protests, if the boy is not home by Saturday night, +she will go after him. No such disgrace as a runaway ever befel her or +hers, and she says she will not submit to it. But I suppose we shall see +_him_ soon, and with him _letters_. + + +Now, Neb had taken his leave, but no letter had been trusted to his +care. As often happens, I regretted the mistake when it was too late; +and all that day I thought how disappointed Lucy would be, when she came +to see the negro empty-handed. Rupert and I parted in the street, as he +did not wish to walk with a sailor, while in his own long-togs. He did +not _say_ as much; but I knew him well enough to ascertain it, without +his speaking. I was walking very fast in the direction of the ship, +and had actually reached the wharves, when, in turning a corner, I +came plump upon Mr. Hardinge. My guardian was walking slowly, his face +sorrowful and dejected, and his eyes fastened on every ship he passed, +as if looking for his boys. He saw me, casting a vacant glance over +my person; but I was so much changed by dress, and particularly by the +little tarpaulin, that he did not know me. Anxiety immediately drew his +look towards the vessels, and I passed him unobserved. Mr. Hardinge +was walking _from_, and I _towards_ the John, and of course all my risk +terminated as soon as out of sight. + +That evening I had the happiness of being under-way, in a real +full-rigged ship. It is true, it was under very short canvass, and +merely to go into the stream. Taking advantage of a favourable wind and +tide, the John left the wharf under her jib, main-top-mast staysail, and +spanker, and dropped down as low as the Battery, when she sheered into +the other channel and anchored. Here I was, then, fairly at anchor in +the stream, Half a mile from any land but the bottom, and burning to see +the ocean. That afternoon the crew came on board, a motley collection, +of lately drunken seamen, of whom about half were Americans, and the +rest natives of as many different countries as there were men. Mr. +Marble scanned them with a knowing look, and, to my surprise, he told +the captain there was good stuff among them. It seems he was a better +judge than I was myself, for a more unpromising set of wretches, as to +looks, I never saw grouped together. A few, it is true, appeared well +enough; but most of them had the air of having been dragged through--a +place I will not name, though it is that which sailors usually quote +when describing themselves on such occasions. But Jack, after he has +been a week at sea, and Jack coming on board to duty, after a month of +excesses on shore, are very different creatures, morally and physically. + +I now began to regret that I had not seen a little of the town. In 1797, +New York could not have had more than fifty thousand inhabitants, +though it was just as much of a paragon then, in the eyes of all good +Americans, as it is today. It is a sound patriotic rule to maintain that +_our_ best is always _the_ best, for it never puts us in the wrong. I +have seen enough of the world since to understand that we get a great +many things wrong-end foremost, in this country of ours; undervaluing +those advantages and excellencies of which we have great reason to be +proud, and boasting of others that, to say the least, are exceedingly +equivocal. But it takes time to learn all this, and I have no intention +of getting ahead of my story, or of my country; the last being a most +suicidal act. + +We received the crew of a Saturday afternoon, and half of them turned in +immediately. Rupert and I had a good berth, intending to turn in and out +together, during the voyage; and this made us rather indifferent to +the movements of the rest of our extraordinary associates. The kid, at +supper, annoyed us both a little; the notion of seeing one's food in +a round _trough_, to be tumbled over and cut from by all hands, being +particularly disagreeable to those who have been accustomed to plates, +knives and forks, and such other superfluities. I confess I thought of +Grace's and Lucy's little white hands, and of silver sugrar-toogs, and +of clean plates and glasses, and table-cloths--napkins and silver forks +were then unknown in America, except on the very best tables, and not +always on them, unless on high days and holidays--as we were going +through the unsophisticated manipulations of this first supper. +Forty-seven years have elapsed, and the whole scene is as vivid to my +mind at this moment, as if it occurred last night. I wished myself one +of the long-snouted tribe, several times, in order to be in what is +called “keeping.” + +I had the honour of keeping an anchor-watch in company with a grum old +Swede, as we lay in the Hudson. The wind was light, and the ship had a +good berth, so my associate chose a soft plank, told me to give him a +call should anything happen, and lay down to sleep away his two hours in +comfort. Not so with me. I strutted the deck with as much importance as +if the weight of the State lay on my shoulders--paid a visit every five +minutes to the bows, to see that the cable had not parted, and that the +anchor did not “come home”--and then looked aloft, to ascertain that +everything was in its place. Those were a happy two hours! + +About ten next morning, being Sunday, and, as Mr. Marble expressed it, +“the better day, the better deed,” the pilot came off, and all hands +were called to “up anchor.” The cook, cabin-boy, Rupert and I, were +entrusted with the duty of “fleeting jig” and breaking down the coils of +the cable, the handspikes requiring heavier hands than ours. The anchor +was got in without any difficulty, however, when Rupert and I were +sent aloft to loose the fore-top-sail. Rupert got into the top via the +lubber's hole, I am sorry to say, and the loosing of the sail on both +yard-arms fell to my duty. A hand was on the fore-yard, and I was next +ordered up to loose the top-gallant-sail. Canvass began to fall and open +all over the ship, the top-sails were mast-headed, and, as I looked down +from the fore-top-mast cross-trees, where I remained to overhaul the +clew-lines, I saw that the ship was falling off, and that her sails +were filling with a stiff north-west breeze. Just as my whole being was +entranced with the rapture of being under-way for Canton, which was then +called the Indies, Rupert called out to me from the top. Ha was pointing +at some object on the water, and, turning, I saw a boat within a hundred +feet of the ship. In her was Mr. Hardinge, who at that moment caught +sight of us. But the ship's sails were now all full, and no one on deck +saw, or at least heeded, the boat. The John glided past it, and, the +last I saw of my venerated guardian, he was standing erect, bare-headed, +holding both arms extended, as if entreating us not to desert him! +Presently the ship fell off so much, that the after-sails hid him from +my view. + +I descended into the top, where I found Rupert had shrunk down out of +sight, looking frightened and guilty. As for myself, I got behind the +head of the mast, and fairly sobbed. This lasted a few minutes, when an +order from the mate called us both below. When I reached the deck, the +boat was already a long distance astern, and had evidently given up the +idea of boarding us. I do not know whether I felt the most relieved or +pained by the certainty of this fact. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + “There is a tide in the affairs of men, + Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune + Omitted, all the voyage of their life + Is bound in shallows, and in miseries. + On such a full sea are we now afloat; + And we must take the current when it serves, + Or lose our ventures.” + Brutus--Julius Caesar. + + +In four hours from the time when Rupert and I last saw Mr. Hardinge, the +ship was at sea. She crossed the bar, and started on her long journey, +with a fresh north-wester, and with everything packed on that she would +bear. We took a diagonal course out of the bight formed by the coasts of +Long Island and New Jersey, and sunk the land entirely by the middle +of the afternoon. I watched the highlands of Navesink, as they vanished +like watery clouds in the west, and then I felt I was at last fairly +out of sight of land. But a foremast hand has little opportunity for +indulging in sentimen, as he quits his native shore; and few, I fancy, +have the disposition. As regards the opportunity, anchors are to be got +in off the bows, and stowed; cables are to be unbent and coiled down; +studding-gear is to be hauled out and got ready; frequently boom-irons +are to be placed upon the yards, and the hundred preparations made, that +render the work of a ship as ceaseless a round of activity as that of a +house. This kept us all busy until night, when the watches were told off +and set. I was in the larboard, or chief-mate's watch, having actually +been chosen by that hard-featured old seaman, the fourth man he named; +an honour for which I was indebted to the activity I had already +manifested aloft. Rupert was less distinguished, being taken by the +captain for the second-mate's watch, the very last person chosen. That +night Mr. Marble dropped a few hints on the subject, which let me into +the secret of these two selections. “You and I will get along well +together, I see that plainly, Miles,” he said, “for there's quicksilver +in your body. As for your friend in t'other watch, it's all as it should +be; the captain has got one hand the most, and such as he is, he is +welcome to him. He'll blacken more writing paper this v'y'ge, I reckon, +than he'll tar down riggin'.” I thought it odd, however, that Rupert, +who had been so forward in all the preliminaries of our adventure, +should fall so far astern in its first practical results. + +It is not my intention to dwell on all the minute incidents of this, my +first voyage to sea, else would it spin out the narrative unnecessarily, +and render my task as fatiguing to the reader, as it might prove to +myself. One occurrence, however, which took place three days out, +must be mentioned, as it will prove to be connected with important +circumstances in the end. The ship was now in order, and was at least +two hundred leagues from the land, having had a famous run off the +coast, when the voice of the cook, who had gone below for water, was +heard down among the casks, in such a clamour as none but a black can +raise, with all his loquacity awakened. + +“There's _two_ niggers at that work!” exclaimed Mr. Marble, after +listening an instant, glancing his eye round to make certain the mulatto +steward was not in the discussion. “No _one_ darkey ever could make all +that outcry. Bear a hand below, Miles, and see if Africa has come aboard +us in the night.” + +I was in the act of obeying, when Cato, the cook, was seen rising +through the steerage-hatch, dragging after him the dark poll of another +black, whom he had gripped by the wool. In an instant both were on +deck, when, to my astonishment, I discovered the agitated countenance of +Nebuchadnezzar Clawbonny. Of course the secret was out, the instant the +lad's glistening features were recognised. + +Neb, in a word, had managed to get on board the ship before she hauled +out into the stream, and lay concealed among the water-casks, his +pockets crammed with ginger-bread and apples, until discovered by the +cook, in one of his journeys in quest of water. The food of the lad had +been gone twenty-four hours, and it is not probable the fellow could +have remained concealed much longer, had not this discovery taken place. +The instant he was on deck, Neb looked eagerly around to ascertain how +far the ship had got from the land, and, seeing nothing but water on +every side of him, he fairly grinned with delight. This exasperated Mr. +Marble, who thought it was adding insult to injury, and he gave the lad +a cuff on the ear that would have set a white reeling. On Neb, however, +this sharp blow produced no effect, falling as it did on the impregnable +part of his system. + +“Oh! you're a nigger, be you?” exclaimed the mate, waxing warmer +and warmer, as he: fancied himself baffled by the other's powers of +endurance. “Take that, and let us see if you're full-blooded!” + +A smart rap on the shin accompanying these words, Neb gave in on the +instant. He begged for mercy, and professed a readiness to tell all, +protesting he was not “a runaway nigger”--a term the mate used while +applying the kicks. + +I now interfered, by telling Mr. Marble, with all the respect due from +a green hand to a chief-mate, who Neb really was, and what I supposed to +be his motives for following me to the ship. This revelation cost me a +good deal in the end, the idea of Jack's having a “waiting-man” on board +giving rise to a great many jokes at my expense, during the rest of the +voyage. Had I not been so active, and so _willing,_ a great source of +favour on board a ship, it is probable these jokes would have been much +broader and more frequent. As it was, they annoyed me a good deal; +and it required a strong exercise of all the boyish regard I really +entertained for Neb, to refrain from turning-to and giving him a sound +threshing for his exploit, at the first good occasion. And yet, what was +his delinquency compared to my own? He had followed his master out of +deep affection, blended somewhat, it is true, with a love of adventure; +while, in one sense, I had violated all the ties of the heart, merely to +indulge the latter passion. + +The captain coming on deck, Neb's story was told, and, finding that no +wages would be asked in behalf of this athletic, healthy, young negro, +he had no difficulty in receiving him into favour. To Neb's great +delight, he was sent forward to take his share on the yards and in the +rigging, there being no vacancy for him to fill about the camboose, or +in the cabin. In an hour the negro was fed, and he was regularly placed +in the starboard-watch. I was rejoiced at this last arrangement, as +it put the fellow in a watch different from my own, and prevented his +officious efforts to do my work. Rupert, I discovered, however, profited +often by his zeal, employing the willing black on every possible +occasion. On questioning Neb, I ascertained that he had taken the boat +round to the Wallingford, and had made use of a dollar or two I had +given him at parting, to board in a house suitable to his colour, until +the ship was ready for sea, when he got on board, and stowed himself +among the water-casks, as mentioned. + +Neb's apparition soon ceased to be a subject of discourse, and his +zeal quickly made him a general favourite. Hardy, strong, resolute, and +accustomed to labour, he was early of great use in all the heavy drags; +and aloft, even, though less quick than a white would have been, he got +to be serviceable and reasonably expert. My own progress--and I say +it without vanity, but simply because it was true--was the subject of +general remark. One week made me familiar with the running gear; and, by +that time, I could tell a rope by its size, the manner in which it led, +and the place where it was belayed, in the darkest night, as well as the +oldest seaman on board. It is true, my model-ship had prepared the way +for much of this expertness; but, free from all seasickness, of which I +never had a moment in my life, I set about learning these things in +good earnest, and was fully rewarded for my pains. I passed the +weather-earing of the mizen-top-sail when we had been out a fortnight, +and went to those of the fore and main before we crossed the line. The +mate put me forward on all occasions, giving me much instruction in +private; and the captain neglected no opportunity of giving me useful +hints, or practical ideas. I asked, and was allowed to take my regular +trick at the wheel, before we got into the latitude of St. Helena; and +from that time did my full share of seaman's duly on board, the nicer +work of knotting, splicing, &c., excepted. These last required a little +more time; but I am satisfied that, in all things but judgment, a clever +lad, who has a taste for the business, can make himself a very useful +and respectable mariner in six months of active service. + +China voyages seldom produce much incident. If the moment of sailing +has been judiciously timed, the ship has fair winds much of the way, +and generally moderate weather. To be sure, there are points on the long +road that usually give one a taste of what the seas sometimes are; but, +on the whole, a Canton voyage, though a long one, cannot be called a +rough one. As a matter of course, we had gales, and squalls, and the +usual vicissitudes of the ocean, to contend with, though our voyage to +Canton might have been called quiet, rather than the reverse. We were +four months under our canvass, and, when we anchored in the river, +the clewing up of our sails, and getting from beneath their shadows, +resembled the rising of a curtain on some novel scenic representation. +John Chinaman, however, has been so often described, particularly of +late, that I shall not dwell on his peculiarities. Sailors, as a class, +are very philosophical, so far as the peculiarities and habits of +strangers are concerned, appearing to think it beneath the dignity of +those who visit all lands, to betray wonder at the novelties of any. +It so happened that no man on board the John, the officers, steward +and cook excepted, had ever doubled the Cape of Good Hope before this +voyage; and yet our crew regarded the shorn polls, slanting eyes, long +queues, clumsy dresses, high cheek-bones, and lumbering shoes, of the +people they now saw for the first time, with just as much indifference +as they would have encountered a new fashion at home. Most of them, +indeed, had seen, or fancied they had seen, much stranger sights in the +different countries they had visited; it being a standing rule, +with Jack to compress everything that is wonderful into the “last +voyage”--that in which he is engaged for the present time being usually +set down as common-place, and unworthy of particular comment. On this +principle, _my_ Canton excursion _ought_ to be full of marvels, as it +was the progenitor of all that I subsequently saw and experienced as a +sailor. Truth compels me to confess, notwithstanding, that it was one +of the least wonderful of all the voyages I ever made, until near its +close. + +We lay some months in the river, getting cargo, receiving teas, nankins, +silks and other articles, as our supercargo could lay hands on them. +In all this time, we saw just as much of the Chinese as it is usual for +strangers to see, and not a jot more. I was much up at the factories, +with the captain, having charge of his boat; and, as for Rupert, he +passed most of his working-hours either busy with the supercargo ashore, +or writing in the cabin. I got a good insight, however, into the uses +of the serving-mallet, the fid, marlinspike and winch, and did something +with the needle and palm. Marble was very good to me, in spite of his +nor-west face, and never let slip an occasion to give a useful hint. +I believe my exertions on the outward-bound passage fully equalled +expectations, and the officers had a species of pride in helping to make +Captain Wallingford's son worthy of his honourable descent. I had taken +occasion to let it be known that Rupert's great-grandfather had been +a man-of-war captain; but the suggestion was met by a flat, refusal to +believe it from Mr. Kite, the second-mate, though Mr. Marble remarked +it _might_ be so, as I admitted that both his father and grandfather had +been, or were, in the Church. My friend seemed fated to achieve nothing +but the glory of a “barber's clerk.” + +Our hatches were got on and battened down, and we sailed for home early +in the spring of 1798. The ship had a good run across the China Sea, +and reached the Indies in rather a short passage. We had cleared all +the islands, and were fairly in the Indian Ocean, when an adventure +occurred, which was the first really worthy of being related that we met +in the whole voyage. I shall give it, in as few words as possible. + +We had cleared the Straits of Sunda early in the morning, and had made +a pretty fair run in the course of the day, though most of the time in +thick weather. Just as the sun set, however, the horizon became clear, +and we got a sight of two small sail seemingly heading in towards +the coast of Sumatra, proas by their rig and dimensions. They were so +distant, and were so evidently steering for the land, that no one gave +them much thought, or bestowed on them any particular attention. Proas +in that quarter were usually distrusted by ships, it is true; but the +sea is full of them, and far more are innocent than are guilty of any +acts of violence. Then it became dark soon after these craft were seen, +and night shut them in. An hour after the sun had set, the wind fell to +a light air, that just kept steerage-way on the ship. Fortunately, the +John was not only fast, but she minded her helm, as a light-footed girl +turns in a lively dance. I never was in a better-steering ship, most +especially in moderate weather. + +Mr. Marble had the middle watch that night, and of course I was on deck +from midnight until four in the morning. It proved misty most of the +watch, and for quite an hour we had a light drizzling rain. The ship, +the whole time, was close-hauled, carrying royals. As everybody seemed +to have made up his mind to a quiet night, one without any reefing or +furling, most of the watch were sleeping about the decks, or wherever +they could get good quarters, and be least in the way. I do not know +what kept me awake, for lads of my age are apt to get all the sleep they +can; but I believe I was thinking of Clawbonny, and Grace, and Lucy; for +the latter, excellent girl as she was, often crossed my mind in those +days of youth and comparative innocence. Awake I was, and walking in +the weather-gangway, in a sailor's trot. Mr. Marble, he I do believe was +fairly snoozing on the hen-coops, being, like the sails, as one might +say, barely “asleep.” At that moment I heard a noise, one familiar to +seamen; that of an oar falling in a boat. So completely was my mind bent +on other and distant scenes, that at first I felt no surprise, as if we +were in a harbour surrounded by craft of various sizes, coming and going +at all hours. But a second thought destroyed this illusion, and I looked +eagerly about me. Directly on our weather-bow, distant perhaps a cable's +length, I saw a small sail, and I could distinguish it sufficiently well +to perceive it was a proa. I sang out “Sail ho! and close aboard!” + +Mr. Marble was on his feet in an instant. He afterwards told me that +when he opened his eyes, for he admitted this much to me in confidence, +they fell directly on the stranger. He was too much of a seaman to +require a second look, in order to ascertain what was to be done. “Keep +the ship away--keep her broad off!” he called out to the man at the +wheel. “Lay the yards square--call all hands, one of you--Captain +Robbins, Mr. Kite, bear a hand up; the bloody proas are aboard us!” The +last part of this call was uttered in a loud voice, with the speaker's +head down the companion-way. It was heard plainly enough below, but +scarcely at all on deck. + +In the mean time, everybody was in motion. It is amazing how soon +sailors are wide awake when there is really anything to do! It appeared +to me that all our people mustered on deck in less than a minute, most +of them with nothing on but their shirts and trowsers. The ship was +nearly before the wind, by the time I heard the captain's voice; and +then Mr. Kite came bustling in among us forward, ordering most of the +men to lay aft to the braces, remaining himself on the forecastle, and +keeping me with him to let go the sheets. On the forecastle, the strange +sail was no longer visible, being now abaft the beam; but I could hear +Mr. Marble swearing there were two of them, and that they must be the +very chaps we had seen to leeward, and standing in for the land, at +sunset. I also heard the captain calling out to the steward to bring him +a powder-horn. Immediately after, orders were given to let fly all our +sheets forward, and then I perceived that they were waring ship. Nothing +saved us but the prompt order of Mr. Marble to keep the ship away, by +which means, instead of moving towards the proas, we instantly began to +move from them. Although they went three feet to our two, this gave us a +moment of breathing time. + +As our sheets were all flying forward, and remained so for a few +minutes, it gave me leisure to look about. I soon saw both proas, and +glad enough was I to perceive that they had not approached materially +nearer. Mr. Kite observed this also, and remarked that our movements had +been so prompt as “to take the rascals aback.” He meant, they did not +exactly know what we were at, and had not kept away with us. + +At this instant, the captain and five or six of the oldest seamen began +to cast loose all our starboard, or weather guns, four in all, and +sixes. We had loaded these guns in the Straits of Banca, with grape and +canister, in readiness for just such pirates as were now coming down +upon us; and nothing was wanting but the priming and a hot logger-head. +It seems two of the last had been ordered in the fire, when we saw the +proas at sunset; and they were now in excellent condition for service, +live coals being kept around them all night by command. I saw a cluster +of men busy with the second gun from forward, and could distinguish the +captain pointing it. + +“There cannot well be any mistake, Mr. Marble?” the captain observed, +hesitating whether to fire or not. + +“Mistake, sir? Lord, Captain Robbins, you might cannonade any of the +islands astarn for a week, and never hurt an honest man. Let 'em have +it, sir; I'll answer for it, you do good.” + +This settled the matter. The loggerhead was applied, and one of our +sixes spoke out in a smart report. A breathless stillness succeeded. +The proas did not alter their course, but neared us fast. The captain +levelled his night-glass, and I heard him tell Kite, in a low voice, +that they were full of men. The word was now passed to clear away all +the guns, and to open the arm-chest, to come at the muskets and pistols. +I heard the rattling of the boarding-pikes, too, as they were cut adrift +from the spanker-boom, and fell upon the deck. All this sounded very +ominous, and I began to think we should have a desperate engagement +first, and then have all our throats cut afterwards. + +I expected now to hear the guns discharged in quick succession, but they +were got ready only, not fired. Kite went aft, and returned with three +or four muskets, and as many pikes. He gave the latter to those of the +people who had nothing to do with the guns. By this time the ship was on +a wind, steering a good full, while the two proas were just abeam, and +closing fast. The stillness that reigned on both sides was like that +of death. The proas, however, fell a little more astern; the result of +their own manoeuvring, out of all doubt, as they moved through the water +much faster than the ship, seeming desirous of dropping into our wake, +with a design of closing under our stern, and avoiding our broad-side. +As this would never do, and the wind freshened so as to give us four +or five knot way, a most fortunate circumstance for us, the captain +determined to tack while he had room. The John behaved beautifully, +and came round like a top. The proas saw there was no time to lose, and +attempted to close before we could fill again; and this they would have +done with ninety-nine ships in a hundred. The captain knew his vessel, +however, and did not let her lose her way, making everything draw again +as it might be by instinct. The proas tacked, too, and, laying up much +nearer to the wind than we did, appeared as if about to close on our +lee-bow. The question was, now, whether we could pass them or not before +they got near enough to grapple. If the pirates got on board us, we were +hopelessly gone; and everything depended on coolness and judgment. The +captain behaved perfectly well in this critical instant, commanding a +dead silence, and the closest attention to his orders. + +I was too much interested at this moment to feel the concern that I +might otherwise have experienced. On the forecastle, it appeared to +us all that we should be boarded in a minute, for one of the proas was +actually within a hundred feet, though losing her advantage a little +by getting under the lee of our sails. Kite had ordered us to muster +forward of the rigging, to meet the expected leap with a discharge of +muskets, and then to present our pikes, when I felt an arm thrown around +my body, and was turned in-board, while another person assumed my place. +This was Neb, who had thus coolly thrust himself before me, in order +to meet the danger first. I felt vexed, even while touched with the +fellow's attachment and self-devotion, but had no time to betray either +feeling before the crews of the proas gave a yell, and discharged some +fifty or sixty matchlocks at us. The air was full of bullets, but they +all went over our heads. Not a soul on board the John was hurt. On our +side, we gave the gentlemen the four sixes, two at the nearest and two +at the sternmost proa, which was still near a cable's length distant. As +often happens, the one seemingly farthest from danger, fared the worst. +Our grape and canister had room to scatter, and I can at this distant +day still hear the shrieks that arose from that craft! They were +like the yells of fiends in anguish. The effect on that proa was +instantaneous; instead of keeping on after her consort, she wore short +round on her heel, and stood away in our wake, on the other tack, +apparently to get out of the range of our fire. + +I doubt if we touched a man in the nearest proa. At any rate, no noise +proceeded from her, and she came up under our bows fast. As every gun +was discharged, and there was not time to load them, all now depended on +repelling the boarders. Part of our people mustered in the waist, +where it was expected the proa would fall alongside, and part on the +forecastle. Just as this distribution was made, the pirates cast their +grapnel. It was admirably thrown, but caught only by a ratlin. I saw +this, and was about to jump into the rigging to try what I could do to +clear it, when Neb again went ahead of me, and cut the ratlin with his +knife. This was just as the pirates had abandoned sails and oars, and +had risen to haul up alongside. So sudden was the release, that twenty +of them fell over by their own efforts. In this state the ship passed +ahead, all her canvass being full, leaving the proa motionless in her +wake. In passing, however, the two vessels were so near, that those aft +in the John distinctly saw the swarthy faces of their enemies. + +We were no sooner clear of the proas than the order was given, “ready +about!” The helm was put down, and the ship came into the wind in a +minute. As we came square with the two proas, all our larboard guns were +given to them, and this ended the affair. I think the nearest of the +rascals got it this time, for away she went, after her consort, both +running off towards the islands. We made a little show of chasing, but +it was only a feint; for we were too glad to get away from them, to +be in earnest. In ten minutes after we tacked the last time, we ceased +firing, having thrown some eight or ten round-shot after the proas, and +were close-hauled again, heading to the south-west. + +It is not to be supposed we went to sleep again immediately. Neb was +the only man on board who did, but he never missed an occasion to eat or +sleep. The captain praised us, and, as a matter of course in that day, +he called all hands to “splice the main-brace.” After this, the watch +was told to go below, as regularly as if nothing had happened. As for +the captain himself, he and Mr. Marble and Mr. Kite went prying about +the ship to ascertain if anything material had been cut by what +the chief-mate called “the bloody Indian matchlocks.” A little +running-rigging had suffered, and we had to reeve a few new ropes in the +morning; but this terminated the affair. + +I need hardly say, all hands of us were exceedingly proud of our +exploit. Everybody was praised but Neb, who, being a “nigger,” was in +some way or other overlooked. I mentioned his courage and readiness to +Mr. Marble, but I could excite in no one else the same respect for the +poor fellow's conduct, that I certainly felt myself. I have since lived +long enough to know that as the gold of the rich attracts to itself the +gold of the poor, so do the deeds of the unknown go to swell the fame of +the known. This is as true of nations, and races, and families, as it is +of individuals; poor Neb belonging to a proscribed colour, it was not +in reason to suppose he could ever acquire exactly the same credit as a +white man. + +“Them darkies do sometimes blunder on a lucky idee,” answered Mr. Marble +to one of my earnest representations, “and I've known chaps among 'em +that were almost as knowing as dullish whites; but everything out of the +common way with 'em is pretty much chance. As for Neb, however, I will +say this for him; that, for a nigger, he takes things quicker than any +of his colour I ever sailed with. Then he has no sa'ce, and that is a +good deal with a black. White sa'ce is bad enough; but that of a nigger +is unbearable.” + +Alas! Neb. Born in slavery, accustomed to consider it arrogance to think +of receiving even his food until the meanest white had satisfied his +appetite, submissive, unrepining, laborious and obedient--the highest +eulogium that all these patient and unobtrusive qualities could obtain, +was a reluctant acknowledgment that he had “no sa'ce.” His quickness +and courage saved the John, nevertheless; and I have always said it, and +ever shall. + +A day after the affair of the proas, all hands of us began to brag. Even +the captain was a little seized with this mania; and as for Marble, +he was taken so badly, that, had I not known he behaved well in the +emergency, I certainly should have set him down as a Bobadil. Rupert +manifested this feeling, too, though I heard he did his duty that night. +The result of all the talk was to convert the affair into a very heroic +exploit; and it subsequently figured in the journals as one of the deeds +that illustrate the American name. + +From the time we were rid of the proas, the ship got along famously +until we were as far west as about 52°, when the wind came light from +the southward and westward, with thick weather. The captain had been +two or three times caught in here, and he took it into his head that the +currents would prove more favourable, could he stand in closer to the +coast of Madagascar than common. Accordingly, we brought the ship on +a bowline, and headed up well to the northward and westward. We were a +week on this tack, making from fifty to a hundred miles a day, expecting +hourly to see the land. At length we made it, enormously high +mountains, apparently a long distance from us, though, as we afterwards +ascertained, a long distance inland; and we continued to near it. The +captain had a theory of his own about the currents of this part of the +ocean, and, having set one of the peaks by compass, at the time the land +was seen, he soon convinced himself, and everybody else whom he tried to +persuade, Marble excepted, that we were setting to windward with visible +speed. Captain Robbins was a well-meaning, but somewhat dull man; and, +when dull men, become theorists, they usually make sad work with the +practice. + +All that night we stood on to the northward and westward, though Mr. +Marble had ventured a remonstrance concerning a certain head-land that +was just visible, a little on our weather-bow. The captain snapped his +fingers at this, however; laying down a course of reasoning, which, +if it were worth anything, ought to have convinced the mate that the +weatherly set of the current would carry us ten leagues to the southward +and westward of that cape, before morning. On this assurance, we +prepared to pass a quiet and comfortable night. + +I had the morning watch, and when I came on deck, at four, there was no +change in the weather. Mr. Marble soon appeared, and he walked into the +waist, where I was leaning on the weather-rail, and fell into discourse. +This he often did, sometimes so far forgetting the difference in +our stations _afloat_--not _ashore_; _there_ I had considerably the +advantage of him--as occasionally to call me “sir.” I always paid +for this inadvertency, however, it usually putting a stop to the +communications for the time being. In one instance, he took such prompt +revenge for this implied admission of equality, as literally to break +off short in the discourse, and to order me, in his sharpest key, to go +aloft and send some studding-sails on deck, though they all had to be +sent aloft again, and set, in the course of the same watch. But offended +dignity is seldom considerate, and not always consistent. + +“A quiet night, Master Miles”--_this_ the mate _could_ call me, as +it implied superiority on his part--“A quiet night, Master Miles,” + commenced Mr. Marble, “and a strong westerly current, accordin' +to Captain Robbins. Well, to my taste gooseberries are better than +currents, and _I'd_ go about. That's my manner of _generalizing_.” + +“The captain, I suppose, sir, from that, is of a different opinion?” + +“Why, yes, somewhatish,--though I don't think he knows himself exactly +what his own opinion is. This is the third v'y'ge I've sailed with the +old gentleman, and he is half his time in a fog or a current. Now, it's +his idee the ocean is full of Mississippi rivers, and if one could +only find the head of a stream, he might go round the world in it. More +particularly does he hold that there is no fear of the land when in a +current, as a stream never sets on shore. For my part, I never want any +better hand-lead than my nose.” + +“Nose, Mr. Marble?” + +“Yes, nose, Master Miles. Haven't you remarked how far we smelt the +Injees, as we went through the islands?” + +“It is true, sir, the Spice Islands, and all land, they say--” + +“What the devil's that?” asked the mate, evidently startled at something +he _heard_, though he appeared to _smell_ nothing, unless indeed it +might be a rat. + +“It sounds like water washing on rocks, sir, as much as anything I ever +heard in my life!” + +“Ready about!” shouted the mate. “Run down and call the captain, +Miles--hard a-lee--start everybody up, forward.” + +A scene of confusion followed, in the midst of which the captain, +second-mate, and the watch below, appeared on deck. Captain Robbins took +command, of course, and was in time to haul the after-yards, the ship +coming round slowly in so light a wind. Come round she did, however, +and, when her head was fairly to the southward and eastward, the captain +demanded an explanation. Mr. Marble did not feel disposed to trust his +nose any longer, but he invited the captain to use his ears. This all +hands did, and, if sounds could be trusted, we had a pretty lot of +breakers seemingly all around us. + +“We surely can go out the way we came in, Mr. Marble?” said the captain, +anxiously. + +“Yes, sir, if there were no _current_; but one never knows where a +bloody current will carry him in the dark.” + +“Stand by to let go the anchor!” cried the captain. “Let run and clew +up, forward and aft. Let go as soon as you're ready, Mr. Kite.” + +Luckily, we had kept a cable bent as we came through the Straits, and, +not knowing but we might touch at the Isle of France, it was still bent, +with the anchor fished. We had talked of stowing the latter in-board, +but, having land in sight, it was not done. In two minutes it was +a-cock-bill, and, in two more, let go. None knew whether we should find +a bottom; but Kite soon sang out to “snub,” the anchor being down, +with only six fathoms out. The lead corroborated this, and we had the +comfortable assurance of being not only among breakers, but just near +the coast. The holding-ground, however, was reported good, and we went +to work and rolled up all our rags. In half an hour the ship was snug, +riding by the stream, with a strong current, or tide, setting exactly +north-east, or directly opposite to the captain's theory. As soon as +Mr. Marble had ascertained this fact, I overheard him grumbling about +something, of which I could distinctly understand nothing but the words +“Bloody cape--bloody current.” + + + +CHAPTER V. + + “They hurried us aboard a bark; + Bore us some leagues to sea; where they prepared + A rotten carcass of a boat, not rigg'd, + Nor tackle, sail, nor mast: the very rats + Instinctively had girt us--” + _Tempest._ + + +The hour that succeeded in the calm of expectation, was one of the most +disquieting of my life. As soon as the ship was secured, and there no +longer remained anything to do, the stillness of death reigned among +us; the faculties of every man and boy appearing to be absorbed in the +single sense of hearing--the best, and indeed the only, means we then +possessed of judging of our situation. It was now apparent that we were +near some place or places where the surf was breaking on land; and +the hollow, not-to-be-mistaken bellowings of the element, too plainly +indicated that cavities in rocks frequently received, and as often +rejected, the washing waters. Nor did these portentous sounds come from +one quarter only, but they seemed to surround us; now reaching our +ears from the known direction of the land, now from the south, the +north-east, and, in fact, from every direction. There were instances +when these moanings of the ocean sounded as if close under our stern, +and then again they came from some point within a fearful proximity to +the bows. + +Happily the wind was light, and the ship rode with a moderate strain +on the cable, so as to relieve us from the apprehension of immediate +destruction. There was a long, heavy ground-swell rolling in from, the +south-west, but, the lead giving us, eight fathoms, the sea did not +break exactly where we lay; though the sullen washing that came to our +ears, from time to time, gave unerring notice that it was doing so quite +near us, independently of the places where it broke upon rocks. At one +time the captain's impatience was so goading, that he had determined to +pull round the anchorage in a boat, in order to anticipate the approach +of light; but a suggestion from Mr. Marble that he might unconsciously +pull into a roller, and capsize, induced him to wait for day. + +The dawn appeared at last, after two or three of the longest hours +I remember ever to have passed. Never shall I forget the species of +furious eagerness with which we gazed about us. In the first place, we +got an outline of the adjacent land; then, as light diffused itself more +and more into the atmosphere, we caught glimpses of its details. It was +soon certain we were within a cable's length of perpendicular cliffs +of several hundred feet in height, into whose caverns the sea poured at +times, producing those frightful, hollow moanings, that an experienced +ear can never mistake. This cliff extended for leagues in both +directions, rendering drowning nearly inevitable to the shipwrecked +mariner on that inhospitable coast. Ahead, astern, outside of us, and +I might almost say all around us, became visible, one after another, +detached ledges, breakers and ripples; so many proofs of the manner in +which Providence had guided us through the hours of darkness. + +By the time the sun appeared, for, happily, the day proved bright +and clear, we had obtained pretty tolerable notions of the critical +situation in which we were placed by means of the captain's theory of +currents. The very cape that we were to drift past, lay some ten leagues +nearly dead to windward, as the breeze then was; while to leeward, far +as the eye could reach, stretched the same inhospitable, barrier of rock +as that which lay on our starboard quarter and beam. Such was my first +introduction to the island of Madagascar; a portion of the world, of +which, considering its position, magnitude and productions, the mariners +of Christendom probably know less than of any other. At the time of +which I am writing, far less had been learned of this vast country +than is known to-day, though the knowledge of even our own immediate +contemporaries is of an exceedingly limited character. + +Now that the day had returned, the sun was shining on us cheerfully, and +the sea looked tranquil and assuring, the captain became more pacified. +He had discretion enough to understand that time and examination were +indispensable to moving the ship with safety; and he took the wise +course of ordering the people to get their breakfasts, before he set +us at work. The hour that was thus employed forward, was passed aft in +examining the appearance of the water, and the positions of the reefs +around the ship. By the time we were through, the captain had swallowed +his cup of coffee and eaten his biscuit; and, calling away four of the +most athletic oarsmen, he got into the jolly-boat, and set out on the +all-important duty of discovering a channel sea-ward. The lead was kept +moving, and I shall leave the party thus employed for an hour or more, +while we turn our attention in-board. + +Marble beckoned me aft, as soon as Captain Robbins was in the boat, +apparently with a desire to say something in private. I understood the +meaning of his eye, and followed him down into the steerage, where all +that was left of the ship's water was now stowed, that on deck having +been already used. The mate had a certain consciousness about him that +induced great caution, and he would not open his lips until he had +rummaged about below some time, affecting to look for a set of blocks +that might be wanted for some purpose or other, on deck. When this +had lasted a little time, he turned short round to me, and let out the +secret of the whole manoeuvre. + +“I'll tell you what, Master Miles,” he said, making a sign with a finger +to be cautious, “I look upon this ship's berth as worse than that of a +city scavenger. We've plenty of water all round us, and plenty of rocks, +too. If we knew the way back, there is no wind to carry us through it, +among these bloody currents, and there's no harm in getting ready for +the worst. So do you get Neb and the gentleman”--Rupert was generally +thus styled in the ship--“and clear away the launch first. Get +everything out of it that don't belong there; after which, do you put +these breakers in, and wait for further orders. Make no fuss, putting +all upon orders, and leave the rest to me.” + +I complied, of course, and in a few minutes the launch was clear. While +busy, however, Mr. Kite came past, and desired to know “what are you at +there?” I told him 'twas Mr. Marble's orders, and the latter gave his +own explanation of the matter. + +“The launch may be wanted,” he said, “for I've no notion that jolly-boat +will do to go out as far as we shall find it necessary to sound. So I am +about to ballast the launch, and get her sails ready; there's no use in +mincing matters in such a berth as this.” + +Kite approved of the idea, and even went so far as to suggest that it +might be well enough to get the launch into the water at once, by way of +saving time. The proposition was too agreeable to be rejected, and, to +own the truth, all hands went to work to get up the tackles with a will, +as it is called. In half an hour the boat was floating alongside +the ship. Some said she would certainly be wanted to carry out the +stream-anchor, if for nothing else; others observed that half a dozen +boats would not be enough to find all the channel we wanted; while +Marble kept his eye, though always in an underhand way, on his main +object. The breakers we got in and stowed, filled with _fresh_ water, by +way of ballast. The masts were stepped, the oars were put on board, +and a spare compass was passed dawn, lest the ship might be lost in the +thick weather, of which there was so much, just in that quarter of the +world. All this wars said and done so quietly, that nobody took the +alarm; and when the mate called out, in a loud voice, “Miles, pass a +bread-bag filled and some cold grub into that launch--the men may be +hungry before they get back,” no one seemed to think more was meant than +was thus openly expressed. I had my private orders, however, and managed +to get quite a hundred-weight of good cabin biscuit into the launch, +while the cook was directed to fill his coppers with pork. I got some of +the latter _raw_ into the boat, too; _raw_ pork being food that sailors +in no manner disdain. They say it eats like chestnuts. + +In the mean time, the captain was busy in his exploring expedition, on +the return from which he appeared to think he was better rewarded than +has certainly fallen to the lot of others employed on another expedition +which bears the same name. He was absent near two hours, and, when +he got back, it was to renew his theory of what Mr. Marble called his +“bloody currents.” + +“I've got behind the curtain, Mr. Marble,” commenced Captain Robbins, +before he was fairly alongside of the ship again, whereupon Marble +muttered “ay! ay! you've got behind the rocks, too!” “It's all owing to +an eddy that is made in-shore by the main current, and we have stretched +a _leetle_ too far in.” + +Even I thought to myself, what would have become of us had we stretched +a _leetle_ further in! The captain, however, seemed satisfied that he +could carry the ship out, and, as this was all we wanted, no one was +disposed to be very critical. A word was said about the launch, which +the mate had ordered to be dropped astern, out of the way, and the +explanation seemed to mystify the captain. In the meanwhile, the pork +was boiling furiously in the coppers. + +All hands were now called to get the anchor up. Rupert and I went aloft +to loosen sails, and we staid there until the royals were mast-headed. +In a very few minutes the cable was up and down, and then came the +critical part of the whole affair. The wind was still very light, and +it was a question whether the ship could be carried past a reef of rocks +that now began to show itself above water, and on which the long, heavy +rollers, that came undulating from the south-western Atlantic, broke +with a sullen violence that betrayed how powerful was the ocean, even +in its moments of slumbering peacefulness. The rising and falling of its +surface was like that of some monster's chest, as he respired heavily in +sleep. + +Even the captain hesitated about letting go his hold of the bottom, with +so strong a set of the water to leeward, and in so light a breeze. +There was a sort of bight on our starboard bow, however, and Mr. Marble +suggested it might be well to sound in that direction, as the water +appeared smooth and deep. To him it looked as if there were really an +eddy in-shore, which might hawse the ship up to windward six or eight +times her length, and thus more than meet the loss that must infallibly +occur in first casting her head to seaward. The captain admitted the +justice of this suggestion, and I was one of those who were told to go +in the jolly-boat on this occasion. We pulled in towards the cliffs, and +had not gone fifty yards before we struck an eddy, sure enough, which +was quite as strong as the current in which the ship lay. This was +a great advantage, and so much the more, because the water was of +sufficient depth, quite up to the edge of the reef which formed the +bight, and thus produced the change in the direction of the set. +There was plenty of room, too, to handle the ship in, and, all things +considered, the discovery was extremely fortunate. In the bottom of the +bight we should have gone ashore the previous night, had not our ears +been so much better than our noses. + +As soon as certain of the facts, the captain pulled back to the ship, +and gladdened the hearts of all on board with the tidings. We now manned +the handspikes cheerily, and began to heave. I shall never forget the +impression made on me by the rapid drift of the ship, as soon as the +anchor was off the bottom, and her bows were cast in-shore, in order +to fill the sails. The land was so near that I noted this drift by the +rocks, and my heart was fairly in my mouth for a few seconds. But the +John worked beautifully, and soon gathered way. Her bows did not not +strike the eddy, however, until we got fearful evidence of the strength +of the true current, which had set us down nearly as low as the reef +outside, to windward of which it was indispensable for us to pass. +Marble saw all this, and he whispered me to tell the cook to pass the +pork into the launch at once--hot to mind whether it were particularly +well done, or not. I obeyed, and had to tend the fore-sheet myself, for +my pains, when the order was given to “ready about.” + +The eddy proved a true friend, but it did not carry us up much higher +than the place where we had anchored, when it became necessary to +tack. This was done in season, on account of our ignorance of all the +soundings, and we had soon got the John's head off-shore again. Drawing +a short distance ahead, the main-top-sail was thrown aback, and the ship +allowed to drift. In proper time, it was filled, and we got round once +more, looking into the bight. The manoeuvre was repeated, and this +brought us up fairly under the lee of the reef, and just in the position +we desired to be. It was a nervous instant, I make no doubt, when +Captain Robbins determined to trust the ship in the true current, and +run the gauntlet of the rocks. The passage across which we had to steer, +before we could possibly weather the nearest reef was about a cable's +length in width, and the wind would barely let us lay high enough +to take it at right-angles. Then the air was so light, that I almost +despaired of our doing anything. + +Captain Robbins put the ship into the current with great judgment. She +was kept a rap-full until near the edge of the eddy, and then her helm +was put nearly down, all at once. But for the current's acting, in one +direction, on her starboard bow, and the eddy's pressing, in the other, +on the larboard quarter, the vessel would have been taken aback; but +these counteracting forces brought her handsomely on her course again, +and that in a way to prevent her falling an inch to leeward. + +Now came the trial. The ship was kept a rap-full, and she went steadily +across the passage, favoured, perhaps, by a little more breeze than had +blown most of the morning. Still, our leeward set was fearful, and, as +we approached the reef, I gave all up. Marble screwed his lips together, +and his eyes never turned from the weather-leeches of the sails. +Everybody appeared to me to be holding his breath, as the ship rose on +the long ground-swells, sending slowly ahead the whole time. We passed +the nearest point of the rocks on one of the rounded risings of the +water, just touching lightly as we glided by the visible danger. The +blow was light, and gave little cause for alarm. Captain Robbins now +caught Mr. Marble by the hand, and was in the very act of heartily +shaking it, when the ship came down very much in the manner that a man +unexpectedly lights on a stone, when he has no idea of having anything +within two or three yards of his feet. The blow was tremendous, throwing +half the crew down; at the same instant, all three of the topmasts went +to leeward. + +One has some difficulty in giving a reader accurate notions of the +confusion of so awful a scene. The motion of the vessel was arrested +suddenly, as it might be by a wall, and the whole fabric seemed to be +shaken to dissolution. The very next roller that came in, which would +have undulated in towards the land but for us, meeting with so large a +body in its way, piled up and broke upon our decks, covering everything +with water. At the same time, the hull lifted, and, aided by wind, sea +and current, it set still further on the reef, thumping in a way +to break strong iron bolts, like so many sticks of sealing-wax, and +cracking the solid live-oak of the floor-timbers as if they were made of +willow. The captain stood aghast! For one moment despair was painfully +depicted in his countenance; then he recovered his self-possession and +seamanship. He gave the order to stand by to carry out to windward the +stream-anchor in the launch, and to send a kedge to haul out by, in the +jolly-boat. Marble answered with the usual “ay, ay, sir!” but before he +sent us into the boats, he ventured to suggest that the ship had bilged +already. He had heard timbers crack, about which he thought there could +be no mistake. The pumps were sounded, and the ship had seven feet water +in her hold. This had made in about ten minutes. Still the captain would +not give up. He ordered us to commence throwing the teas overboard, in +order to ascertain, if possible, the extent of the injury. A place was +broken out in the wake of the main-hatch, and a passage was opened +down into the lower-hold, where we met the water. In the mean time, a +South-Sea man we had picked up at Canton, dove down under the lee of the +bilge of the ship. He soon came back and reported that a piece of +sharp rock had gone quite through the planks. Everything tending to +corroborate this, the captain called a council of all hands on the +quarter-deck, to consult as to further measures. + +A merchantman has no claim on the services of her crew after she is +hopelessly wrecked. The last have a lien in law, on the ship and cargo, +for their wages; and it is justly determined that when this security +fails, the claim for services ends. It followed, of course, that as soon +as the John was given over, we were all our own masters; and hence the +necessity for bringing even Neb into the consultation. With a vessel of +war it would have been different. In such a case, the United States +pays for the service, ship or no ship, wreck or no wreck; and the seaman +serves out his term of enlistment, be this longer or shorter. Military +discipline continues under all circumstances. + +Captain Robbins could hardly speak when we gathered round him on the +forecastle, the seas breaking over the quarter-deck in a way to render +that sanctuary a very uncomfortable berth. As soon as he could command +himself, he told us that the ship was hopelessly lost. How it had +happened, he could not very well explain himself, though he ascribed +it to the fact that the currents did not run in the direction in which, +according to all sound reasoning, they ought to run. This part of the +speech was not perfectly lucid, though, as I understood our unfortunate +captain, the laws of nature, owing to some inexplicable influence, had +departed, in some way or other, from their ordinary workings, expressly +to wreck the John. If this were not the meaning of what he said, I did +not understand this part of the address. + +The captain was much more explicit after he got out of the current. He +told us that the island of Bourbon was only about four hundred miles +from where we then were, and he thought it possible to go that distance, +find some small craft, and come back, and still save part of the cargo, +the sails, anchors, &c. &c. We might make such a trip of it as would +give us all a lift, in the way of salvage, that might prove some +compensation for our other losses. This sounded well, and it had at +least the effect to give us some present object for our exertions; it +also made the danger we all ran of losing our lives, less apparent. To +land on the island of Madagascar, in that day, was out of the question. +The people were then believed to be far less civilized than in truth +they were, and had a particularly bad character among mariners. +Nothing remained, therefore, but to rig the boats, and make immediate +dispositions for our departure. + +Now it was that we found the advantage of the preparations already made. +Little remained to be done, and that which was done, was much better +done than if we had waited until the wreck was half full of water, +and the seas were combing in upon her. The captain took charge of the +launch, putting Mr. Marble, Rupert, Neb, myself and the cook, into the +jolly-boat, with orders to keep as close as possible to himself. Both +boats had sails, and both were so arranged as to row in calms, or +head-winds. We took in rather more than our share of provisions and +water, having two skillful caterers in the chief-mate and cook; and, +having obtained a compass, quadrant, and a chart, for our portion of +the indispensables, all hands were ready for a start, in about two hours +after the ship had struck. + +It was just noon when we cast off from the wreck, and stood directly +off the land. According to our calculations, the wind enabled us to run, +with a clean full, on our true course. As the boats drew out into the +ocean, we had abundant opportunities of discovering how many dangers we +had escaped; and, for my own part, I felt deeply grateful, even then, as +I was going out upon the wide Atlantic in a mere shell of a boat, at the +mercy we had experienced. No sooner were we fairly in deep water, than +the captain and mate had a dialogue on the subject of the currents +again. Notwithstanding all the difficulties his old theory had brought +him into, the former remained of opinion that the true current set to +windward, and that we should so find it as soon as we got a little +into the offing; while the mate was frank enough to say he had been of +opinion, all along, that it ran the other way. The latter added that +Bourbon was rather a small spot to steer for, and it might be better to +get into its longitude, and then find it by meridian observations, than +to make any more speculations about matters of which we knew nothing. + +The captain and Mr. Marble saw things differently, and we kept away +accordingly, when we ought to have luffed all we could. Fortunately the +weather continued moderate, or our little boat would have had a bad time +of it. We outsailed the launch with ease, and were forced to reef in +order not to part company. When the sun set, we were more than twenty +miles from the land, seeing no more of the coast, though the mountains +inland were still looming up grandly in the distance. I confess, when +night shut in upon us, and I found myself on the wide ocean, in a boat +much smaller than that with which I used to navigate the Hudson, running +every minute farther and farther into the watery waste, I began to think +of Clawbonny, and its security, and quiet nights, and well-spread board, +and comfortable beds in a way I had never thought of either before. As +for food, however, we were not stinted; Mr. Marble setting us an example +of using our teeth on the half boiled pork, that did credit to his +philosophy. To do this man justice, he seemed to think a run of four +hundred miles in a jolly-boat no great matter, but took everything as +regularly as if still on the deck of the John. Each of us got as good a +nap as our cramped situations would allow. + +The wind freshened in the morning, and the sea began to break. This made +it necessary to keep still more away, to prevent filling at times, or +to haul close up, which might have done equally well. But the captain +preferred the latter course, on account of the current. We had ticklish +work of it, in the jolly-boat, more than once that day, and were +compelled to carry a whole sail in order to keep up with the launch, +which beat us, now the wind had increased. Marble was a terrible fellow +to carry on everything, ship or boat, and we kept our station admirably, +the two boats never getting a cable's length asunder, and running most +of the time within hail of each other. As night approached, however, a +consultation was held on the subject of keeping in company. We had now +been out thirty hours, and had made near a hundred and fifty miles, by +our calculation. Luckily the wind had got to be nearly west, and we were +running ahead famously, though it was as much as we could do to keep the +jolly-boat from filling. One hand was kept bailing most of the time, and +sometimes all four of us were busy. These matters were talked over, and +the captain proposed abandoning the jolly-boat altogether, and to take +us into the launch, though there was not much vacant space to receive +us. But the mate resisted this, answering that he thought he could +take care of our boat a while longer, at least. Accordingly, the old +arrangement was maintained, the party endeavouring to keep as near +together as possible. + +About midnight it began to blow in squalls, and two or three times we +found it necessary to take in our sails, our oars, and pull the boat +head to sea, in order to prevent her swamping. The consequence was, +that we lost sight of the launch, and, though we always kept away to +our course as soon as the puffs would allow, when the sun rose we saw +nothing of our late companions. I have sometimes thought Mr. Marble +parted company on purpose, though he seemed much concerned next morning +when he had ascertained the launch was nowhere to be seen. After looking +about for an hour, and the wind moderating, we made sail close on the +wind; a direction that would soon have taken us away from the launch, +had the latter been close alongside when we first took it. We made good +progress all this day, and at evening, having now been out fifty-four +hours, we supposed ourselves to be rather more than half-way on the road +to our haven. It fell calm in the night, and the next morning we got the +wind right aft. This gave us a famous shove, for we sometimes made six +and seven knots in the hour. The fair wind lasted thirty hours, during +which time we must have made more than a hundred and fifty miles, it +falling nearly calm about an hour before dawn, on the morning of the +fourth day out. Everybody was anxious to see the horizon that morning, +and every eye was turned to the east, with intense expectation, as the +sun rose. It was in vain; there was not the least sign of land visible. +Marble looked sadly disappointed, but he endeavoured to cheer us up with +the hope of seeing the island shortly. We were then heading due east, +with a very light breeze from the north-west. I happened to stand up in +the boat, on a thwart, and, turning my face to the southward, I caught a +glimpse of something that seemed like a hummock of land in that quarter. +I saw it but for an instant; but, whatever it was, I saw it plain +enough. Mr. Marble now got on the thwart, and looked in vain to catch +the same object. He said there was no land in that quarter--could be +none--and resumed his seat to steer to the eastward, a little north. I +could not be easy, however, but remained on the thwart until the +boat lifted on a swell higher than common, and then I saw the brown, +hazy-looking spot on the margin of the ocean again. My protestations +now became so earnest, that Marble consented to stand for an hour in +the direction I pointed out to him. “One hour, boy, I will grant you, +to shut your mouth,” the mate said, taking out his watch, “and that you +need lay nothing to my door hereafter.” To make the most of this hour, I +got my companions at the oars, and we all pulled with hearty good-will. +So much importance did I attach to every fathom of distance made, that +we did not rise from our seats until the mate told us to stop rowing, +for the hour was up. As for himself, he had not risen either, but kept +looking behind him to the eastward, still hoping to see land somewhere +in that quarter. + +My heart beat violently as I got upon the thwart, but there lay my hazy +object, now never dipping at all. I shouted “land ho!” Marble jumped +up on a thwart, too and no longer disputed my word. It was land, he +admitted, and it must be the island of Bourbon, which we had passed to +the northward, and must soon have given a hopelessly wide berth. We went +to the oars again with renewed life, and soon made the boat spin. All +that day we kept rowing, until about five in the afternoon, when we +found ourselves within a few leagues of the island of Bourbon, where +we were met by a fresh breeze from the southward, and were compelled to +make sail. The wind was dead on end, and we made stretches under the lee +of the island, going about as we found the sea getting to be too heavy +for us, as was invariably the case whenever we got too far east or west. +In a word, a lee was fast becoming necessary. By ten, we were within a +mile of the shore, but saw no place where we thought it safe to attempt +a landing in the dark; a long, heavy sea setting in round both sides of +the island, though the water did not break much where we remained. At +length the wind got to be so heavy, that we could not carry even our +sail double-reefed, and we kept two oars pulling lightly in, relieving +each other every hour. By daylight it blew tremendously, and glad enough +were we to find a little cove where it was possible to get ashore. I had +then never felt so grateful to Providence as I did when I got my feet on +_terra-firma_. + +We remained on the island a week, hoping to see the launch and her crew; +but neither appeared. Then we got a passage to the Isle of France, on +arriving at which place we found the late gale was considered to have +been very serious. There was no American consul in the island, at +that time; and Mr. Marble, totally without credit or means, found it +impossible to obtain a craft of any sort to go to the wreck in. We were +without money, too, and, a homeward-bound Calcutta vessel coming in, we +joined her to work our passages home, Mr. Marble as dickey, and the rest +of us in the forecastle. This vessel was called the Tigris, and belonged +to Philadelphia. She was considered one of the best ships out of +America, and her master had a high reputation for seamanship and +activity. He was a little man of the name of Digges, and was under +thirty at the time I first knew him. He took us on board purely out of +a national feeling, for his ship was strong-handed without us, having +thirty-two souls, all told, when he received us five. We afterwards +learned that letters sent after the ship had induced Captain Digges to +get five additional hands in Calcutta, in order to be able to meet the +picaroons that were then beginning to plunder American vessels, even +on their own coast, under the pretence of their having violated certain +regulations made by the two great belligerents of the day, in Europe. +This was just the commencement of the _quasi_ war which broke out a few +weeks later with France. + +Of all these hostile symptoms, however, I then knew little and cared +less. Even Mr. Marble had never heard of them and we five joined the +Tigris merely to get passages home, without entertaining second thoughts +of running any risk, further than the ordinary dangers of the seas. + +The Tigris sailed the day we joined her, which was the third after we +reached Mauritius, and just fifteen days after we had left the wreck. We +went to sea with the wind at the southward, and had a good run off +the island, making more than a hundred miles that afternoon and in the +course of the night. Next morning, early, I had the watch, and an order +was given to set top-gallant studding-sails. Rupert and I had got into +the same watch on board this vessel, and we both went aloft to reeve the +gear. I had taken up the end of the halyards, and had reeved them, and +had overhauled the end down, when, in raising my head, I saw two small +lug-sails on the ocean, broad on our weather-bow, which I recognised in +an instant for those of the John's launch. I cannot express the feeling +that came over me at that sight. I yelled, rather than shouted, “Sail +ho!” and then, pushing in, I caught hold of a royal-backstay, and was on +deck in an instant. I believe I made frantic gestures to windward, for +Mr. Marble, who had the watch, had to shake me sharply before I could +let the fact be known. + +As soon as Marble comprehended me, and got the bearings of the boat, he +hauled down all the studding-sails, braced sharp up on a wind, set the +mainsail, and then sent down a report to Captain Digges for orders. Our +new commander was a humane man, and having been told our whole story, he +did not hesitate about confirming all that had been done. As the people +in the launch had made out the ship some time before I saw the boat, the +latter was running down upon us, and, in about an hour, the tiny sails +were descried from the deck. In less than an hour after this, our +mainyard swung round, throwing the topsail aback, and the well-known +launch of the John rounded-to close under our lee; a rope was thrown, +and the boat was hauled alongside. + +Everybody in the Tigris was shocked when we came to get a look at the +condition of the strangers. One man, a powerful negro, lay dead in +the bottom of the boat; the body having been kept for a dreadful +alternative, in the event of his companions falling in with no other +relief. Three more of the men were nearly gone, and had to be whipped on +board as so many lifeless bales of goods. Captain Robbins and Kite, both +athletic, active men, resembled spectres, their eyes standing out of +their heads as if thrust from their sockets by some internal foe; and +when we spoke to them, they all seemed unable to answer. It was not +fasting, or want of food, that had reduced them to this state, so much +as want of water. It is true, they had no more bread left than would +keep body and soul together for a few hours longer; but of water they +had tasted not a drop for seventy odd hours! It appeared that, during +the gale, they had been compelled to empty the breakers to lighten the +boat, reserving only one for their immediate wants. By some mistake, +the one reserved was nearly half-empty at the time; and Captain Robbins +believed himself then so near Bourbon, as not to go on an allowance +until it was too late. In this condition had they been searching for the +island quite ten days, passing it, but never hitting it. The winds had +not favoured them, and, the last few days, the weather had been such as +to admit of no observation. Consequently, they had been as much out of +their reckoning in their latitude, as in their longitude. + +A gleam of intelligence, and I thought of pleasure, shot athwart the +countenance of Captain Robbins, as I helped him over the Tigris's side. +He saw I was safe. He tottered as he walked, and leaned heavily on me +for support. I was about to lead him aft, but his eye caught sight of a +scuttlebutt, and the tin-pot on its head. Thither he went, and stretched +out a trembling hand to the vessel. I gave him the pot as it was, with +about a wine-glass of water in it This he swallowed at a gulp, and then +tottered forward for more. By this time Captain Digges joined us, and +gave the proper directions how to proceed. All the sufferers had +water in small quantities given them, and it is wonderful with what +expressions of delight they received the grateful beverage. As soon as +they understood the necessity of keeping it as long as possible in their +mouths, and on their tongues, before swallowing it, a little did them a +great deal of good. After this, we gave them some coffee, the breakfast +being ready, and then a little ship's biscuit soaked in wine. By such +means every man was saved, though it was near a month before all were +themselves again. As for Captain Robbins and Kite, they were enabled to +attend to duty by the end of a week, though nothing more was exacted of +them than they chose to perform. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + “The yesty waves + Confound and swallow navigation up.” + _Macbeth._ + + +Poor Captain Robbins! No sooner did he regain his bodily strength, than +he began to endure the pain of mind that was inseparable from the +loss of his ship. Marble, who, now that he had fallen to the humbler +condition of a second-mate, was more than usually disposed to be +communicative with me, gave me to understand that our old superior had +at first sounded Captain Digges on the subject of proceeding to the +wreck, in order to ascertain what could be saved; but the latter had +soon convinced him that a first-rate Philadelphia Indiaman had something +else to do besides turning wrecker. After a pretty broad hint to this +effect, the John, and all that was in her, were abandoned to their fate. +Marble, however, was of opinion that the gale in which the launch came +so near being lost, must have broken the ship entirely to pieces, giving +her fragments to the ocean. We never heard of her fate, or recovered a +single article that belonged to her. + +Many were the discussions between Captain Robbins and his two mates, +touching the error in reckoning that had led them so far from their +course. In that day, navigation was by no means as simple a thing as it +has since become. It is true, lunars were usually attempted in India +and China ships; but this was not an every-day affair, like the present +morning and afternoon observations to obtain the time, and, by means of +the chronometer, the longitude. Then we had so recently got clear of the +islands, as to have no great need of any extraordinary head-work; and +the “bloody currents” had acted their pleasure with us for eight or ten +days before the loss of the ship. Marble was a very good navigator, +one of the best I ever sailed with, in spite of the plainness of his +exterior, and his rough deportment; and, all things considered, he +treated his old commander with great delicacy, promising to do all he +could, when he got home, to clear the matter up. As for Kite, he knew +but little, and had the discretion to say but little. This moderation +rendered our passage all the more agreeable. + +The Tigris was a very fast ship, besides being well-found. She was a +little larger than the John, and mounted twelve guns, nine-pounders. In +consequence of the additions made to her crew, one way and another, she +now mustered nearer fifty than forty souls on board. Captain Digges had +certain martial tastes, and, long before we were up with the Cape, he +had us all quartered and exercised at the guns. He, too, had had an +affair with some proas, and he loved to converse of the threshing he had +given the rascals. I thought he envied us our exploit, though this might +have been mere imagination on my part, for he was liberal enough in his +commendations. The private intelligence he had received of the relations +between France and America, quickened his natural impulses; and, by the +time we reached St. Helena, the ship might have been said to be in good +fighting order for a merchantman. We touched at this last-mentioned +island for supplies, but obtained no news of any interest. Those who +supplied the ship could tell us nothing but the names of the Indiamen +who had gone out and home for the last twelvemonth, and the prices of +fresh meat and vegetables. Napoleon civilized them, seventeen years +later. + +We had a good run from St. Helena to the calm latitudes, but these +last proved calmer than common. We worried through them after a while, +however, and then did very well until we got in the latitude of the +Windward Islands. Marble one day remarked to me that Captain Digges +was standing closer to the French island of Guadaloupe than was at all +necessary or prudent, if he believed in his own reports of the danger +there existed to American commerce, in this quarter of the ocean. + +I have lived long enough, and have seen too much of men and things, to +fancy my country and countrymen right in all their transactions, merely +because newspapers, members of congress, and fourth of July orators, +are pleased to affirm the doctrine. No one can go much to sea without +reading with great distrust many of the accounts, in the journals of +the day, of the grievous wrongs done the commerce of America by the +authorities of this or that port, the seizure of such a ship, or the +imprisonment of some particular set of officers and men. As a rule, +it is safer to assume that the afflicted parties deserve all that has +happened to them, than to believe them immaculate; and, quite likely, +much more, too. The habit of receiving such appeals to their sympathies, +renders the good people of the republic peculiarly liable to impositions +of this nature; and the mother who encourages those of her children who +fetch and carry, will be certain to have her ears filled with complaints +and tattle. Nevertheless, it is a fact beyond all dispute, that the +commerce of the country was terribly depredated on by nearly all the +European belligerents, between the commencement of the war of the French +revolution and its close. So enormous were the robberies thus committed +on the widely extended trade of this nation, under one pretence or +another, as to give a colouring of retributive justice, if not of moral +right, to the recent failures of certain States among us to pay their +debts. Providence singularly avenges all wrongs by its unerring course; +and I doubt not, if the facts could be sifted to the bottom, it would +be found the devil was not permitted to do his work, in either case, +without using materials supplied by the sufferers, in some direct or +indirect manner, themselves. Of all the depredations on American trade +just mentioned, those of the great sister republic, at the close of the +last century, were among the most grievous, and were of a character +so atrocious and bold, that I confess it militates somewhat against my +theory to admit that France owns very little of the “suspended debt;” + but I account for this last circumstance by the reparation she in part +made, by the treaty of 1831. With England it is different. She drove us +into a war by the effects of her orders in council and paper blockades, +and compelled us to expend a hundred millions to set matters right. I +should like to see the books balanced, not by the devil, who equally +instigated the robberies on the high seas, and the “suspension” or +“repudiation” of the State debts; but by the great Accountant who keeps +a record of all our deeds of this nature, whether it be to make money +by means of cruising ships, or cruising scrip. It is true, these rovers +encountered very differently-looking victims, in the first place; but it +is a somewhat trite remark, that the aggregate of human beings is pretty +much the same in all situations. There were widows and orphans as +much connected with the condemnation of prizes, as with the prices of +condemned stock; and I do not see that fraud is any worse when carried +on by scriveners and clerks with quills behind their ears, than when +carried on by gentlemen wearing cocked hats, and carrying swords +by their sides. On the whole, I am far from certain that the +account-current of honesty is not slightly--honesty very _slightly_ +leavens either transaction--in favour of the non-paying States, as men +do sometimes borrow with good intentions, and fail, from inability, +to pay; whereas, in the whole course of my experience, I never knew a +captor of a ship who intended to give back any of the prize-money, if he +could help it. But, to return to my adventures. + +We were exactly in the latitude of Guadaloupe, with the usual breeze, +when, at daylight, a rakish-looking brig was seen in chase. Captain +Digges took a long survey of the stranger with his best glass, one that +was never exhibited but on state occasions, and then he pronounced +him to be a French cruiser; most probably a privateer. That he was a +Frenchman, Marble affirmed, was apparent by the height of his top-masts, +and the shortness of his yards; the upper spars, in particular, being +mere apologies for yards. Everybody who had any right to an opinion, was +satisfied the brig was a French cruiser, either public or private. + +The Tigris was a fast ship, and she was under top-mast and top-gallant +studding-sails at the time, going about seven knots. The brig was on an +easy bowline, evidently looking up for our wake, edging off gradually as +we drew ahead. She went about nine knots, and bade fair to close with us +by noon. There was a good deal of doubt, aft, as to the course we ought +to pursue. It was decided in the end, however, to shorten sail and let +the brig come up, as being less subject to cavils, than to seem to avoid +her. Captain Digges got out his last letters from home, and I saw him +showing them to Captain Robbins, the two conning them over with great +earnestness. I was sent to do some duty near the hencoops, where they +were sitting, and overheard a part of their conversation. From the +discourse, I gathered that the proceedings of these picaroons were often +equivocal, and that Americans were generally left in doubt, until +a favourable moment occurred for the semi-pirates to effect their +purposes. The party assailed did not know when or how to defend himself, +until it was too late. + +“These chaps come aboard you, sometimes, before you're aware of what +they are about,” observed Captain Robbins. + +“I'll not be taken by surprise in that fashion,” returned Digges, after +a moment of reflection. “Here, you Miles, go forward and tell the cook +to fill his coppers with water, and to set it boiling as fast as he can; +and tell Mr. Marble I want him aft. Bear a hand, now, youngster, and +give them a lift yourself.” + +Of course I obeyed, wondering what the captain wanted with so much hot +water as to let the people eat their dinners off cold grub, rather than +dispense with it; for this was a consequence of his decree. But we +had not got the coppers half-filled, before I saw Mr. Marble and Neb +lowering a small ship's engine from the launch, and placing it near the +galley, in readiness to be filled. The mate told Neb to screw on the +pipe, and then half a dozen of the men, as soon as we got through with +the coppers, were told to fill the engine with sea-water. Captain Digges +now came forward to superintend the exercise, and Neb jumped on the +engine, flourishing the pipe about with the delight of a “nigger.” The +captain was diverted with the black's zeal, and he appointed him captain +of the firemen on the spot. + +“Now, let us see what you can do at that forward dead eye, darky,” said +Captain Digges, laughing. “Take it directly on the strap. Play away, +boys, and let Neb try his hand.” + +It happened that Neb hit the dead-eye at the first jet, and he showed +great readiness in turning the stream from point to point, as ordered. +Neb's conduct on the night of the affair with the proas had been told +to Captain Digges, who was so well pleased with the fellow's present +dexterity, as to confirm him in office. He was told to stick by the +engine at every hazard. Soon after, an order was given to clear for +action. This had an ominous sound to my young ears, and, though I have +no reason to suppose myself deficient in firmness, I confess I began to +think again of Clawbonny, and Grace, and Lucy; ay, and even of the mill. +This lasted but for a moment, however, and, as soon as I got at work, +the feeling gave me no trouble. We were an hour getting the ship ready, +and, by that time, the brig was within half a mile, luffing fairly up on +our lee-quarter. As we had shortened sail, the privateer manifested no +intention of throwing a shot to make us heave-to. She seemed disposed to +extend courtesy for courtesy. + +The next order was for all hands to go to quarters. I was stationed in +the main-top, and Rupert in the fore. Our duties were to do light work, +in the way of repairing damages; and the captain, understanding that we +were both accustomed to fire-arms, gave us a musket a-piece, with orders +to blaze away as soon as they began the work below. As we had both stood +fire once, we thought ourselves veterans, and proceeded to our stations, +smiling and nodding to each other as we went up the rigging. Of the two, +my station was the best, since I could see the approach of the brig, the +mizen-top-sail offering but little obstruction to vision after she got +near; whereas the main-top-sail was a perfect curtain, so far as +poor Rupert was concerned. In the way of danger, there was not much +difference as to any of the stations on board, the bulwarks of the ship +being little more than plank that would hardly stop a musket-ball; and +then the French had a reputation for firing into the rigging. + +As soon as all was ready, the captain sternly ordered silence. By this +time the brig was near enough to hail. I could see her decks quite +plainly, and they were filled with men. I counted her guns, too, and +ascertained she had but ten, all of which seemed to be lighter than +our own. One circumstance that I observed, however, was suspicious. Her +forecastle was crowded with men, who appeared to be crouching behind the +bulwarks, as if anxious to conceal their presence from the eyes of those +in the Tigris. I had a mind to jump on a back-stay and slip down on +deck, to let this threatening appearance be known; but I had heard some +sayings touching the imperative duty of remaining at quarters in face of +the enemy, and I did not like to desert my station. Tyroes have always +exaggerated notions both of their rights and their duties, and I had +not escaped the weakness. Still, I think some credit is due for the +alternative adopted. During the whole voyage, I had kept a reckoning, +and paper and pencil were always in my pocket, in readiness to catch a +moment to finish a day's work. I wrote as follows on a piece of +paper, therefore, as fast as possible, and dropped the billet on the +quarter-deck, by enclosing a copper in the scrawl, _cents_ then being +in their infancy. I had merely written--“The brig's forecastle is filled +with armed men, hid behind the bulwarks!” Captain Digges heard the fall +of the copper, and looking up--nothing takes an officer's eyes aloft +quicker than to find anything coming out of a top!--he saw me pointing +to the paper. I was rewarded for this liberty by an approving nod. +Captain Digges read what I had written, and I soon observed Neb and the +cook filling the engine with boiling water. This job was no sooner done +than a good place was selected on the quarter-deck for this singular +implement of war, and then a hail came from the brig. + +“Vat zat sheep is?” demanded some one from the brig. + +“The Tigris of Philadelphia, from Calcutta _home_. What brig is _that_?” + +“_La Folie--corsair Français_. From vair you come?” + +“From Calcutta. And where are _you_ from?” + +“Guadaloupe. Vair you go, eh?” + +“Philadelphia. Do not luff so near me; some accident may happen.” + +“Vat you call '_accident_?' Can nevair hear, eh? I will come _tout +près_.” + +“Give us a wider berth, I tell you! Here is your jib boom nearly foul of +my mizen-rigging.” + +“Vat mean zat, bert' vidair? eh! _Allons, mes enfants, c'est le +moment_!” + +“Luff a little, and keep his spar clear,” cried our captain. “Squirt +away, Neb, and let us see what you can do!” + +The engine made a movement, just as the French began to run out on +their bowsprit, and, by the time six or eight were on the heel of the +jib-boom, they were met by the hissing hot stream, which took them _en +echelon_, as it might be, fairly raking the whole line. The effect +was instantaneous. Physical nature cannot stand excessive heat, unless +particularly well supplied with skin; and the three leading Frenchmen, +finding retreat impossible, dropped incontinently into the sea, +preferring cold water to hot--the chances of drowning, to the certainty +of being scalded. I believe all three were saved by their companions +in-board, but I will not vouch for the fact. The remainder of the +intended boarders, having the bowsprit before them, scrambled back upon +the brig's forecastle as well as they could, betraying, by the +random way in which their hands flew about, that they had a perfect +consciousness how much they left their rear exposed on the retreat. A +hearty laugh was heard in all parts of the Tigris, and the brig, +putting her helm hard up, wore round like a top, as if she were scalded +herself.{*] + +{Footnote *: This incident actually occurred in the war of 1798] + +We all expected a broadside now; but of that there was little +apprehension, as it was pretty certain we carried the heaviest battery, +and had men enough to work it. But the brig did not fire, I suppose +because we fell off a little ourselves, and she perceived it might +prove a losing game. On the contrary, she went quite round on her heel, +hauling up on the other tack far enough to bring the two vessels exactly +_dos à dos_. Captain Digges ordered two of the quarter-deck nines to be +run out of the stern-ports; and it was well he did, for it was not in +nature for men to be treated as our friends in the brig had been served, +without manifesting certain signs of ill-humour. The vessels might have +been three cables' lengths asunder when we got a gun. The first I knew +of the shot was to hear it plunge through the mizen-top-sail, then +it came whistling through my top, between the weather-rigging and the +mast-head, cutting a hole through the main-top-sail, and, proceeding +onward, I heard it strike something more solid than canvass. I thought +of Rupert and the fore-top in an instant, and looked anxiously down on +deck to ascertain if he were injured. + +“Fore-top, there!” called out Captain Digges. “Where did that shot +strike?” + +“In the mast-head,” answered Rupert, in a clear, firm voice. “It has +done no damage, sir.” + +“Now's your time, Captain Robbing--give 'em a reminder.” + +Both our nines were fired, and, a few seconds after, three cheers arose +from the decks of our ship. I could not see the brig, now, for the +mizen-top-sail; but I afterwards learned that we had shot away her gaff. +This terminated the combat, in which the glory was acquired principally +by Neb. They told me, when I got down among the people again, that the +black's face had been dilated with delight the whole time, though he +stood fairly exposed to musketry, his mouth grinning from ear to ear. +Neb was justly elated with the success that attended this exhibition of +his skill, and described the retreat of our enemies with a humour and +relish that raised many a laugh at the discomfited privateersman. It is +certain that some of the fellows must have been nearly parboiled. + +I have always supposed this affair between la Folie and the Tigris to +have been the actual commencement of hostilities in the _quasi_ war +of 1798-9 and 1800. Other occurrences soon supplanted it in the public +mind; but we of the ship never ceased to regard the adventure as one of +great national interest. It did prove to be a nine days' wonder in the +newspapers. + +From this time, nothing worthy of being noted occurred, until we reached +the coast. We had got as high as the capes of Virginia, and were running +in for the land, with a fair wind, when we made a ship in-shore of us. +The stranger hauled up to speak us, as soon as we were seen. There was +a good deal of discussion about this vessel, as she drew near, between +Captain Digges and his chief-mate. The latter said he knew the vessel, +and that it was an Indiaman out of Philadelphia, called the Ganges, a +sort of sister craft to our own ship; while the former maintained, if it +were the Ganges at all, she was so altered as scarcely to be recognised. +As we got near, the stranger threw a shot under our fore-foot, and +showed an American pennant and ensign. Getting a better look at her, we +got so many signs of a vessel-of-war in our neighbour, as to think +it wisest to heave-to, when the other vessel passed under our +stern, tacked, and lay with her head-yards aback, a little on our +weather-quarter. As she drew to windward, we saw her stern, which had +certain national emblems, but no name on it. This settled the matter. +She was a man-of-war, and she carried the American flag! Such a thing +did not exist a few months before, when we left home, and Captain Digges +was burning with impatience to know more. He was soon gratified. + +“Is not that the Tigris?” demanded a voice, through a trumpet, from the +stranger. + +“Ay, ay! What ship is that?” + +“The United States' Ship Ganges, Captain Dale; from the capes of the +Delaware, bound on a cruise. You're welcome home, Captain Digges; we may +want some of your assistance under a cockade.” + +Digges gave a long whistle, and then the mystery was out. This proved +to be the Ganges, as stated, an Indiaman bought into a new navy, and the +first ship-of-war ever sent to sea under the government of the country, +as it had existed since the adoption of the constitution, nine years +before. The privateers of France had driven the republic into an +armament, and ships were fitting out in considerable numbers; some +being purchased, like the Ganges, and others built expressly for the new +marine. Captain Digges went on board the Ganges, and, pulling an oar +in his boat, I had a chance of seeing that vessel also. Captain Dale, +a compact, strongly-built, seaman-like looking man, in a blue and white +uniform, received our skipper with a cordial shake of the hand, for +they had once sailed together, and he laughed heartily when he heard the +story of the boarding-party and the hot water. This respectable officer +had no braggadocia about him, but he intimated that it would not be +long, as he thought, before the rovers among the islands would have +their hands full. Congress was in earnest, and the whole country was +fairly aroused. Whenever that happens in America, it is usually to take +a new and better direction than to follow the ordinary blind impulses +of popular feelings. In countries where the masses count for nothing, +in the every-day working of their systems, excitement has a tendency to +democracy; but, among ourselves, I think the effect of such a condition +of things is to bring into action men and qualities that are commonly of +little account, and to elevate, instead of depressing, public sentiment. + +I was extremely pleased with the manly, benevolent countenance of +Captain Dale, and had half a desire to ask leave to join his ship on the +spot. If that impulse had been followed, it is probable my future life +would have been very different from what it subsequently proved. I +should have been rated a midshipman, of course; and, serving so early, +with a good deal of experience already in ships, a year or two would +have made me a lieutenant, and, could I have survived the pruning of +1801, I should now have been one of the oldest officers in the service. +Providence directed otherwise; and how much was lost, or how much +gained, by my continuance in the Tigris, the reader will learn as we +proceed. + +As soon as Captain Digges had taken a glass or two of wine with his +old acquaintance, we returned to our own ship, and the two vessels made +sail; the Ganges standing off to the northward and eastward, while +we ran in for the capes of the Delaware. We got in under Cape May, or +within five miles of it, the same evening, when it fell nearly calm. A +pilot came off from the cape in a row-boat, and he reached us just at +dark. Captain Robbins now became all impatience to land, as it was of +importance to him to be the bearer of his own bad news. Accordingly, +an arrangement having been made with the two men who belonged to the +shore-boat, our old commander, Rupert and myself, prepared to leave the +ship, late as it was. We two lads were taken for the purpose of +manning two additional oars, but were to rejoin the ship in the bay, if +possible; if not, up at town. One of the inducements of Captain Robbins +to be off, was the signs of northerly weather. It had begun to blow a +little in puffs from the north-west; and everybody knew, if it came on +to blow seriously from that quarter, the ship might be a week in getting +up the river, her news being certain to precede her. We hurried off +accordingly, taking nothing with us but a change of linen, and a few +necessary papers. + +We got the first real blast from the north-west in less than five +minutes after we had quitted the Tigris's side, and while the ship was +still visible, or, rather, while we could yet see the lights in her +cabin-windows, as she fell off before the wind. Presently the lights +disappeared, owing, no doubt, to the ship's luffing again. The symptoms +now looked so threatening, that the pilot's men proposed making an +effort, before it was too late, to find the ship; but this was far +easier said than done. The vessel might be spinning away towards Cape +Henlopen, at the rate of six or seven knots; and, without the means of +making any signal in the dark, it was impossible to overtake her. I do +believe that Captain Robbins would have acceded to the request of +the men, had he seen any probability of succeeding; as it was, there +remained no alternative but to pull in, and endeavour to reach the land. +We had the light on the cape as our beacon, and the boat's head was kept +directly for it, as the wisest course for us to pursue. + +Changes of wind from south-east to north-west are very common on the +American coast. They are almost always sudden; sometimes so much so, as +to take ships aback; and the force of the breeze usually comes so +early, as to have produced the saying that a “nor'-wester comes butt-end +foremost.” Such proved to be the fact in our case. In less than half +an hour after it began to blow, the wind would have brought the most +gallant ship that floated to double-reefed topsails, steering by, and +to reasonably short-canvass, running large. We may have pulled a mile +in this half hour, though it was by means of a quick stroke and great +labour. The Cape May men were vigorous and experienced, and they did +wonders; nor were Rupert and I idle; but, as soon as the sea got up, it +was as much as all four of us could do to keep steerage-way on the boat. +There were ten minutes, during which I really think the boat was kept +head to sea by means of the wash of the waves that drove past, as we +barely held her stationary. + +Of course, it was out of the question to continue exertions that were +as useless as they were exhausting. We tried the expedient, however, of +edging to the northward, with the hope of getting more under the lee of +the land, and, consequently, into smoother water; but it did no good. +The nearest we ever got to the light must have considerably exceeded a +league. At length Rupert, totally exhausted, dropped his oar, and fell +panting on the thwart. He was directed to steer, Captain Robbins taking +his place. I can only liken our situation at that fearful moment to the +danger of a man who is clinging to a cliff its summit and safety almost +in reach of his hand, with the consciousness that his powers are fast +failing him, and that he must shortly go down. It is true, death was not +so certain by our abandoning the effort to reach the land, but the +hope of being saved was faint indeed. Behind us lay the vast and angry +Atlantic, without an inch of visible land between us and the Rock of +Lisbon. We were totally without food of any sort, though, luckily, there +was a small breaker of fresh water in the boat. The Cape May men had +brought off their suppers with them, but they had made the meal; +whereas the rest of us had left the Tigris fasting, intending to make +comfortable suppers at the light. + +At length Captain Robbins consulted the boatmen, and asked them what +they thought of our situation. I sat between these men, who had been +remarkably silent the whole time, pulling like giants. Both were young, +though, as I afterwards learned, both were married; each having a wife, +at that anxious moment, waiting on the beach of the cape for the return +of the boat. As Captain Robbins put the question, I turned my head, +and saw that the man behind me, the oldest of the two, was in tears. I +cannot describe the shock I experienced at this sight. Here was a man +accustomed to hardships and dangers, who was making the stoutest and +most manly efforts to save himself and all with him, at the very +moment, so strongly impressed with the danger of our situation, that his +feelings broke forth in a way it is always startling to witness, when +the grief of man is thus exhibited in tears. The imagination of this +husband was doubtless picturing to his mind the anguish of his wife at +that moment, and perhaps the long days of sorrow that were to succeed. +I have no idea he thought of himself, apart from his wife: for a finer, +more manly resolute fellow, never existed, as he subsequently proved, to +the fullest extent. + +It seemed to me that the two Cape May men had a sort of desperate +reluctance to give up the hope of reaching the land. We were a strong +boat's crew, and we had a capital, though a light boat; yet all would +not do. About midnight, after pulling desperately for three hours, my +strength was quite gone, and I had to give up the oar. Captain +Robbins confessed himself in a very little better state, and, it being +impossible for the boatmen to do more than keep the boat stationary, and +that only for a little time longer, there remained no expedient but to +keep off before the wind, in the hope of still falling in with the ship. +We knew that the Tigris was on the starboard tack when we left her, and, +as she would certainly endeavour to keep as close in with the land as +possible, there was a remaining chance that she had wore ship to keep +off Henlopen, and might be heading up about north-north-east, and laying +athwart the mouth of the bay. This left us just a chance--a ray of hope; +and it had now become absolutely necessary to endeavour to profit by it. + +The two Cape May men pulled the boat round, and kept her just ahead of +the seas, as far as it was in their power; very light touches of the +oars sufficing for this, where it could be done at all. Occasionally, +however, one of those chasing waves would come after us, at a racer's +speed, invariably breaking at such instants, and frequently half-filling +the boat. This gave us new employment, Rupert and myself being kept +quite half the time bailing. No occupation, notwithstanding the danger, +could prevent me from looking about the cauldron of angry waters, in +quest of the ship. Fifty times did I fancy I saw her, and as often +did the delusive idea end in disappointment. The waste of dark waters, +relieved by the gleaming of the combing seas, alone met the senses. +The wind blew directly down the estuary, and, in crossing its mouth, we +found too much swell to receive it on our beam, and were soon compelled, +most reluctantly though it was, to keep dead away to prevent swamping. +This painful state of expectation may have lasted half an hour, the boat +sometimes seeming ready to fly out of the water, as it drifted before +the gale, when Rupert unexpectedly called out that he saw the ship! + +There she was, sure enough, with her head to the northward and +eastward, struggling along through the raging waters, under her fore and +main-top-sails, close-reefed, and reefed courses, evidently clinging to +the land as close as she could, both to hold her own and to make good +weather. It was barely light enough to ascertain these facts, though +the ship was not a cable's length from us when first discovered. +Unfortunately, she was dead to leeward of us, and was drawing ahead so +fast as to leave the probability she would forereach upon us, unless +we took to all our oars. This was done as soon as possible, and away +we went, at a rapid rate, aiming to shoot directly beneath the Tigris's +lee-quarter, so as to round-to under shelter of her hull, there to +receive a rope. + +We pulled like giants. Three several times the water slapped into us, +rendering the boat more and more heavy; but Captain Bobbins told us to +pull on, every moment being precious. As I did not look round--_could_ +not well, indeed--I saw no more of the ship until I got a sudden glimpse +of her dark hull, within a hundred feet of us, surging ahead in the +manner in which vessels at sea seem to take sudden starts that carry +them forward at twice their former apparent speed. Captain Robbins had +begun to hail, the instant he thought himself near enough, or at the +distance of a hundred yards; but what was the human voice amid the music +of the winds striking the various cords, and I may add _chords_, in the +mazes of a square-rigged vessel's hamper, accompanied by the base of +the roaring ocean! Heavens! what a feeling of despair was that, when the +novel thought suggested itself almost simultaneously to our minds, that +we should not make ourselves heard! I say simultaneously, for at the +same instant the whole five of us set up a common, desperate shout to +alarm those who were so near us, and who might easily save us from the +most dreadful of all deaths--starvation at sea. I presume the fearful +manner in which we struggled at the oars diminished the effect of our +voices, while the effort to raise a noise lessened our power with the +oars. We were already to leeward of the ship, though nearly in her wake, +and our only chance now was to over take her. The captain called out +to us to pull for life or death, and pull we did. So frantic were our +efforts, that I really think we should have succeeded, had not a sea +come on board us, and filled us to the thwarts. There remained no +alternative but to keep dead away, and to bail for our lives. + +I confess I felt scalding tears gush down my cheeks, as I gazed at the +dark mass of the ship just before it was swallowed up in the gloom. +This soon occurred, and then, I make no doubt, every man in the +boat considered himself as hopelessly lost. We continued to bail, +notwithstanding; and, using hats, gourds, pots and pails, soon cleared +the boat, though it was done with no other seeming object than to avert +immediate death. I heard one of the Cape May men pray. The name of his +wife mingled with his petitions to God. As for poor Captain Robbins, +who had so recently been in another scene of equal danger in a boat, he +remained silent, seemingly submissive to the decrees of Providence. + +In this state we must have drifted a league dead before the wind, the +Cape May men keeping their eyes on the light, which was just sinking +below the horizon, while the rest of us were gazing seaward in ominous +expectation of what awaited us in that direction, when the hail of “Boat +ahoy!” sounded like the last trumpet in our ears. A schooner was passing +our track, keeping a little off, and got so near as to allow us to be +seen, though, owing to a remark about the light which drew all eyes to +windward, not a soul of us saw her. It was too late to avert the blow, +for the hail had hardly reached us, when the schooner's cut-water came +down upon our little craft, and buried it in the sea as if it had been +lead. At such moments men do not think, but act. I caught at a bob-stay, +and missed it. As I went down into the water, my hand fell upon some +object to which I clung, and, the schooner rising at the next instant, I +was grasped by the hair by one of the vessel's men. I had hold of one of +the Cape May men's legs. Released from my weight, this man was soon in +the vessel's head, and he helped to save me. When we got in-board, and +mustered our party it was found that all had been saved but Captain +Robbins. The schooner wore round, and actually passed over the wreck of +the boat a second time; but our old commander was never heard of more! + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + “Oh! forget not the hour, when through forest and vale + We returned with our chief to his dear native halls! + Through the woody Sierra there sigh'd not a gale, + And the moonbeam was bright on his battlement walls; + And nature lay sleeping in calmness and light, + Round the house of the _truants_, that rose on our sight.” + MRS. HEMANS. + + +We had fallen on board an eastern coaster, called the Martha Wallis, +bound from James' River to Boston, intending to cross the shoals. Her +watch had seen us, because the coasters generally keep better look-outs +than Indiamen; the latter, accustomed to good offings, having a trick +of letting their people go to sleep in the night-watches. I made a +calculation of the turns on board the Tigris, and knew it was Mr. +Marble's watch when we passed the ship; and I make no question he was, +at that very moment, nodding on the hencoops--a sort of trick he had. +I cannot even now understand, however, why the man at the wheel did +not hear the outcry we made. To me it appeared loud enough to reach the +land. + +Sailors ordinarily receive wrecked mariners kindly. Our treatment on +board the Martha Wallis was all I could have desired, and the captain +promised to put us on board the first coaster she should fall in with, +bound to New York. He was as good as his word, though not until more +than a week had elapsed. It fell calm as soon as the north-wester blew +its pipe out, and we did not get into the Vineyard Sound for nine days. +Here we met a craft the skipper knew, and, being a regular Boston and +New York coaster, we were put on board her, with a recommendation to +good treatment The people of the Lovely Lass received us just as we had +been received on board the Martha Wallis; all hands of us living aft, +and eating codfish, good beef and pork, with duff (dough) and molasses, +almost _ad libitum_. From this last vessel we learned all the latest +news of the French war, and how things were going on in the country. The +fourth day after we were put on board this craft, Rupert and I landed +near Peck's Slip, New York, with nothing on earth in our possession, but +just in what we stood. This, however, gave us but little concern--I had +abundance at home, and Rupert was certain of being free from want, both +through me and through his father. + +I had never parted with the gold given me by Lucy, however. When we got +into the boat to land at the cape, I had put on the belt in which I kept +this little treasure, and it was still round my body. I had kept it as a +sort of memorial of the dear girl who had given it to me; but I now saw +the means of making it useful, without disposing of it altogether. I +knew that the wisest course, in all difficulties, was to go at once to +head-quarters. I asked the address of the firm that owned, or rather +_had_ owned the John, and proceeded to the counting-house forthwith. I +told my story, but found that Kite had been before me. It seems that the +Tigris got a fair wind, three days after the blow, that carried her up +to the very wharves of Philadelphia, when most of the John's people had +come on to New York without delay. By communications with the shore at +the cape, the pilot had learned that his boat had never returned, and +our loss was supposed to have inevitably occurred. The accounts of +all this were in the papers, and I began to fear that the distressing +tidings might have reached Clawbonny. Indeed, there were little obituary +notices of Rupert and myself in the journals, inserted by some hand +piously employed, I should think, by Mr. Kite. We were tenderly treated, +considering our _escapade_; and _my_ fortune and prospects were dwelt on +with some touches of eloquence that might have been spared. + +In that day, however, a newspaper was a very different thing from what +it has since become. Then, journals were created merely to meet the +demand, and news was given as it actually occurred; whereas, now, the +competition has produced a change that any one can appreciate, when it +is remembered to what a _competition in news_ must infallibly lead. In +that day, our own journals had not taken to imitating the worst features +of the English newspapers--talents and education are not yet cheap +enough in America to enable them to imitate the best--and the citizen +was supposed to have some rights, as put in opposition to the press. The +public sense of right had not become blunted by familiarity with abuses, +and the miserable and craven apology was never heard for not enforcing +the laws, that nobody cares for what the newspapers say. Owing to +these causes, I escaped a thousand lies about myself, my history, my +disposition, character and acts. Still, I was in print; and I confess +it half-frightened me to see my death announced in such obvious letters, +although I had physical evidence of being alive and well. + +The owners questioned me closely about the manner in which the John +was lost, and expressed themselves satisfied with my answers. I then +produced my half-joes, and asked to borrow something less than their +amount on their security. To the latter part of the proposition, +however, these gentlemen would not listen, forcing a check for a +hundred dollars on me, desiring that the money might be paid at my own +convenience. Knowing I had Clawbonny, and a very comfortable income +under my lee, I made no scruples about accepting the sum, and took my +leave. + +Rupert and I had now the means of equipping ourselves neatly, though +always in sailor guise. After this was done, we proceeded to the Albany +basin, in order to ascertain whether the Wallingford were down or not. +At the basin we learned that the sloop had gone out that very forenoon, +having on board a black with his young master's effects; a lad who was +said to have been out to Canton with young Mr. Wallingford, and who was +now on his way home, to report all the sad occurrences to the family in +Ulster. This, then, was Neb, who had got thus far back in charge of our +chests, and was about to return to slavery. + +We had been in hopes that we might possibly reach Clawbonny before +the tidings of our loss. This intelligence was likely to defeat the +expectation; but, luckily, one of the fastest sloops on the river, a +Hudson packet, was on the point of sailing, and, though the wind held +well to the northward, her master thought he should be able to turn +up with the tides, as high as our creek, in the course of the next +eight-and-forty hours. This was quite as much as the Wallingford could +do, I felt well persuaded; and, making a bargain to be landed on the +western shore, Rupert and I put our things on board this packet, and +were under way in half an hour's time. + +So strong was my own anxiety, I could not keep off the deck until we had +anchored on account of the flood; and much did I envy Rupert, who had +coolly turned in as soon as it was dark, and went to sleep. When the +anchor was down, I endeavoured to imitate his example. On turning out +next morning, I found the vessel in Newburgh Bay, with a fair wind. +About twelve o'clock I could see the mouth of the creek, and the +Wallingford fairly entering it, her sails disappearing behind the trees, +just as I caught sight of them. As no other craft of her size ever went +up to that landing, I could not be mistaken in the vessel. + +By getting ashore half a mile above the creek, there was a farm-road +that would lead to the house by a cut so short, as nearly to bring us +there as soon as Neb could possibly arrive with his dire, but false +intelligence. The place was pointed out to the captain, who had +extracted our secret from us, and who good-naturedly consented to do all +we asked of him. I do think he would have gone into the creek itself, +had it been required. But we were landed, with our bag of clothes--one +answered very well for both--at the place I have mentioned, and, taking +turn about to shoulder the wardrobe, away we went, as fast as legs could +carry us. Even Rupert seemed to feel on this occasion, and I do think he +had a good deal of contrition, as he must have recollected the pain he +had occasioned his excellent father, and dear, good sister. + +Clawbonny never looked more beautiful than when I first cast eyes on +it, that afternoon. There lay the house in the secure retirement of its +smiling vale, the orchards just beginning to lose their blossoms; the +broad, rich meadows, with the grass waving in the south wind, resembling +velvet; the fields of corn of all sorts; and the cattle, as they stood +ruminating, or enjoying their existence in motionless self-indulgence +beneath the shade of trees, seemed to speak of abundance and considerate +treatment. Everything denoted peace, plenty and happiness. Yet this +place, with all its blessings and security, had I wilfully deserted to +encounter pirates in the Straits of Sunda, shipwreck on the shores +of Madagascar, jeopardy in an open boat off the Isle of France, and a +miraculous preservation from a horrible death on my own coast! + +At no great distance from the house was a dense grove, in which Rupert +and I had, with our own hands, constructed a rude summer-house, fit to +be enjoyed on just such an afternoon as this on which we had returned. +When distant from it only two hundred yards, we saw the girls enter the +wood, evidently taking the direction of the seat. At the same moment I +caught a glimpse of Neb moving up the road from the landing at a snail's +pace, as if the poor fellow dreaded to encounter the task before him. +After a moment's consultation, we determined to proceed at once to the +grove, and thus anticipate the account of Neb, who must pass so near the +summer-house as to be seen and recognised. We met with more obstacles +than we had foreseen or remembered, and when we got to a thicket close +in the rear of the bench, we found that the black was already in the +presence of his two “young mistresses.” + +The appearance of the three, when I first caught a near view of them, +was such as almost to terrify me. Even Neb, whose face was usually as +shining as a black bottle, was almost of the colour of ashes. The poor +fellow could not speak, and, though Lucy was actually shaking him to +extract an explanation, the only answer she could get was tears. These +flowed from Neb's eyes in streams, and at length the fellow threw +himself on the ground, and fairly began to groan. + +“Can this be shame at having run away?” exclaimed Lucy, “or does it +foretell evil to the boys?” + +“He knows nothing of _them_, not having been with them--yet, I am +terrified.” + +“Not on my account, dearest sister,” I cried aloud; “here are Rupert and +I, God be praised, both in good health, and safe.” + +I took care to remain hid, as I uttered this, not to alarm more than one +sense at a time; but both the girls shrieked, and held out their arms. +Rupert and I hesitated no longer, but sprang forward. I know not how it +happened, though I found, on recovering my self-possession, that I was +folding Lucy to my heart, while Rupert was doing the same to Grace. This +little mistake, however, was soon rectified, each man embracing his +own sister, as in duty bound, and as was most decorous. The girls shed +torrents of tears, and assured us, again and again, that this was the +only really happy moment they had known since the parting on the +wharf, nearly a twelvemonth before. Then followed looks at each other, +exclamations of surprise and pleasure at the changes that had taken +place in the appearance of all parties, and kisses and tears again, in +abundance. + +As for Neb, the poor fellow was seen in the road, whither he had fled +at the sound of my voice, looking at us like one in awe and doubt. Being +satisfied, in the end, of our identity, as well as of our being in the +flesh, the negro again threw himself on the ground, rolling over and +over, and fairly yelling with delight. After going through this process +of negro excitement, he leaped up on his feel, and started for the +house, shouting at the top of his voice, as if certain the good +intelligence he brought would secure his own pardon--“Master Miles come +home!--Master Miles come home!” + +In a few minutes, quiet was sufficiently restored among us four, +who remained at the seat, to ask questions, and receive intelligible +answers. Glad was I to ascertain that the girls had been spared the news +of our loss. As for Mr. Hardinge, he was well, and busied, as usual, in +discharging the duties of his holy office. He had told Grace and Lucy +the name of the vessel in which we had shipped, but said nothing of the +painful glimpse he had obtained of us, just as we lifted our anchor, to +quit the port. Grace, in a solemn manner, then demanded an outline +of our adventures. As Rupert was the spokesman on this occasion, +the question having been in a manner put to him as oldest, I had an +opportunity of watching the sweet countenances of the two painfully +interested listeners. Rupert affected modesty in his narration, if he +did not feel it, though I remarked that he dwelt a little particularly +on the shot which had lodged so near him, in the head of the Tigris's +foremast. He spoke of the whistling it made as it approached, and the +violence of the blow when it struck. He had the impudence, too, to speak +of my good-luck in being on the other side of the top, when the shot +passed through my station; whereas I do believe that the shot passed +nearer to me than it did to himself. It barely missed me, and by all +I could learn Rupert was leaning over by the top-mast rigging when it +lodged. The fellow told his story in his own way, however, and with so +much unction that I observed it made Grace look pale. The effect on Lucy +was different. This excellent creature perceived my uneasiness, I half +suspected, for she laughed, and, interrupting her brother, told +him, “There--that's enough about the cannon-ball; now let us hear of +something else.” Rupert coloured, for he had frequently had such frank +hints from his sister, in the course of his childhood; but he had too +much address to betray the vexation I knew he felt. + +To own the truth, my attachment for Rupert had materially lessened with +the falling off of my respect. He had manifested so much selfishness +during the voyage--had shirked so much duty, most of which had fallen on +poor Neb--and had been so little of the man, in practice, whom he used +so well to describe with his tongue--that I could no longer shut my eyes +to some of his deficiencies of character. I still liked him; but it was +from habit, and perhaps because he was my guardian's son, and Lucy's +brother. Then I could not conceal from myself that Rupert was not, in a +rigid sense, a lad of truth. He coloured, exaggerated, glossed over and +embellished, if he did not absolutely invent. I was not old enough then +to understand that most of the statements that float about the world +are nothing but truths distorted, and that nothing is more rare than +unadulterated fact; that truths and lies travel in company, as described +by Pope in his Temple of Fame, until-- + +“This or that unmixed, no mortal e'er shall find.” + +In this very narration of our voyage, Rupert had left false impressions +on the minds of his listeners, in fifty things. He had made far more +of both our little skirmishes, than the truth would warrant, and he had +neglected to do justice to Neb in his account of each of the affairs. +Then he commended Captain Robbins's conduct in connection with the loss +of the John, on points that could not be sustained, and censured him for +measures that deserved praise. I knew Rupert was no seaman--was pretty +well satisfied, by this time, he never would make one--but I could not +explain all his obliquities by referring them to ignorance. The manner, +moreover, in which he represented himself as the principal actor, on all +occasions, denoted so much address, that, while I felt the falsity of +the impressions he left, I did not exactly see the means necessary to +counteract them. So ingenious, indeed, was his manner of stringing facts +and inferences together, or what _seemed_ to be facts and inferences, +that I more than once caught myself actually believing that which, in +sober reality, I knew to be false. I was still too young, not quite +eighteen, to feel any apprehensions on the subject of Grace; and was too +much accustomed to both Rupert and his sister, to regard either with any +feelings very widely different from those which I entertained for Grace +herself. + +As soon as the history of our adventures and exploits was concluded, we +all had leisure to observe and comment on the alterations that time had +made in our several persons. Rupert, being the oldest, was the least +changed in this particular. He had got his growth early, and was only +a little spread. He had cultivated a pair of whiskers at sea, which +rendered his face a little more manly--an improvement, by the way--but, +the effects of exposure and of the sun excepted, there was no very +material change in his exterior. Perhaps, on the whole, he was improved +in appearance. I think both the girls fancied this, though Grace did not +say it, and Lucy only half admitted it, and that with many reservations. +As for myself, I was also full-grown, standing exactly six feet in my +stockings, which was pretty well for eighteen. But I had also spread; a +fact that is not common for lads at that age. Grace said I had lost all +delicacy of appearance; and as for Lucy, though she laughed and blushed +she protested I began to look like a great bear. To confess the truth, +I was well satisfied with my own appearance, did not envy Rupert a jot, +and knew I could toss him over my shoulder whenever I chose. I stood the +strictures on my appearance, therefore, very well; and, though no +one was so much derided and laughed at as myself, in that critical +discussion, no one cared less for it all. Just as I was permitted to +escape, Lucy said, in an under tone-- + +“You should have staid at home, Miles, and then the changes would have +come so gradually, no one would have noticed them, and you would have +escaped being told how much you are altered, and that you are a _bear_.” + +I looked eagerly round at the speaker, and eyed her intently. A look of +regret passed over the dear creature's face, her eyes looked as penitent +as they did soft, and the flush that suffused her countenance rendered +this last expression almost bewitching. At the same instant she +whispered--“I did not really mean _that_.” + +But it was Grace's turn, and my attention was drawn to my sister. A year +had made great improvements in Grace. Young as she was, she had lost +much of the girlish air, in the sedateness and propriety of the young +woman. Grace had always something more of these last than is common; but +they had now completely removed every appearance of childish, I might +almost say of girlish, frivolity. In person, her improvement was great; +though an air of exceeding delicacy rather left an impression that such +a being was more intended for another world, than this. There was ever +an air of fragility and of pure intellectuality about my poor sister, +that half disposed one to fancy that she would one day be translated to +a better sphere in the body, precisely as she stood before human eyes. +Lucy bore the examination well. She was all woman, there being nothing +about _her_ to create any miraculous expectations, or fanciful pictures; +but she was evidently fast getting to be a very lovely woman. Honest, +sincere, full of heart, overflowing with the feelings of her sex, gentle +yet spirited, buoyant though melting with the charities; her changeful, +but natural and yet constant feelings in her, kept me incessantly +in pursuit of her playful mind and varying humours. Still, a more +high-principled being, a firmer or more consistent friend, or a more +accurate thinker on all subjects that suited her years and became her +situation, than Lucy Hardinge, never existed. Even Grace was influenced +by her judgment, though I did not then know how much my sister's mind +was guided by her simple and less pretending friend's capacity to +foresee things, and to reason on their consequences. + +We were more than an hour uninterruptedly together, before we thought +of repairing to the house. Lucy then reminded Rupert that he had not yet +seen his father, whom she had just before observed alighting from his +horse at the door of his own study. That he had been apprised of the +return of the runaways, if not prodigals, was evident, she thought, by +his manner; and it was disrespectful to delay seeking his forgiveness +and blessing. Mr. Hardinge received us both without surprise, and +totally without any show of resentment. It was about the time +he expected our return, and no surprise was felt at finding this +expectation realized, as a matter of course, while resentment was almost +a stranger to his nature. We all shed tears, the girls sobbing aloud; +and we were both solemnly blessed. Nor am I ashamed to say I knelt +to receive that blessing, in an age when the cant of a pretending +irreligion--there is as much cant in self-sufficiency as in hypocrisy, +and they very often go together--is disposed to turn into ridicule the +humbling of the person, while asking for the blessing of the Almighty +through the ministers of his altars; for kneel I did, and weep I did, +and, I trust, the one in humility and the other in contrition. + +When we had all become a little calm, and a substantial meal was placed +before us adventurers, Mr. Hardinge demanded an account of all that had +passed. He applied to me to give it, and I was compelled to discharge +the office of an historian, somewhat against my inclination. There was +no remedy, however, and I told the story in my own simple manner, and +certainly in a way to leave very different impressions from many of +those made by the narrative of Rupert. I thought once or twice, as I +proceeded, that Lucy looked sorrowful, and Grace looked surprised. I do +not think I coloured in the least, as regarded myself, and I know I did +Neb no more than justice. My tale was soon told, for I felt the whole +time as if I were contradicting Rupert, who, by the way, appeared +perfectly unconcerned--perfectly unconscious, indeed--on the subject of +the discrepancies in the two accounts. I have since met with men who +did not know the truth when it was even placed very fairly before their +eyes. + +Mr. Hardinge expressed his heartfelt happiness at having us back again, +and, soon after, he ventured to ask if we were satisfied with what we +had seen of the world. This was a home question, but I thought it best +to meet it manfully. So far from being satisfied, I told him it was my +ardent desire to get on board one of the letters-of-marque, of which +so many were then fitting out in the country, and to make a voyage to +Europe. Rupert, however, confessed he had mistaken his vocation, and +that he thought he could do no better than to enter a lawyer's office. +I was thunderstruck at this quiet admission of my friend, of his +incapacity to make a sailor, for it was the first intimation I heard +of his intention. I had remarked a certain want of energy, in various +situations that required action, in Rupert, but no want of courage; and +I had ascribed some portion of his lassitude to the change of condition, +and, possibly, of food; for, after all, that godlike creature, man, is +nothing but an animal, and is just as much influenced by his stomach and +digestion as a sheep, or a horse. + +Mr. Hardinge received his son's intimation of a preference of +intellectual labours to a more physical state of existence, with a +gratification my own wishes did not afford him. Still, he made no +particular remark to either at the time, permitting us both to enjoy our +return to Clawbonny, without any of the drawbacks of advice or lectures. +The evening passed delightfully, the girls beginning to laugh heartily +at our own ludicrous accounts of the mode of living on board ship, and +of our various scenes in China, the Isle of Bourbon, and elsewhere. +Rupert had a great deal of humour, and a very dry way of exhibiting it; +in short, he was almost a genius in the mere superficialities of life; +and even Grace rewarded his efforts to entertain us, with laughter to +tears. Neb was introduced after supper, and the fellow was both censured +and commended; censured for having abandoned the household gods, and +commended for not having deserted their master. His droll descriptions +of the Chinese, their dress, pigtails, shoes and broken English, +diverted even Mr. Hardinge, who, I believe, felt as much like a boy on +this occasion, as any of the party. A happier evening than that which +followed in the little _tea_-parlour, as my dear mother used to call it, +was never passed in the century that the roof had covered the old walls +of Clawbonny. + +Next day I had a private conversation with my guardian, who commenced +the discourse by rendering a sort of account of the proceeds of my +property during the past year. I listened respectfully, and with some +interest; for I saw the first gave Mr. Hardinge great satisfaction, and +I confess the last afforded some little pleasure to myself. I found that +things had gone on very prosperously. Ready money was accumulating, and +I saw that, by the time I came of age, sufficient cash would be on hand +to give me a ship of my own, should I choose to purchase one. From that +moment I was secretly determined to qualify myself to command her in the +intervening time. Little was said of the future, beyond an expression +of the hope, by my guardian, that I would take time to reflect before I +came to a final decision on the subject of my profession. To this I said +nothing beyond making a respectful inclination of the head. + +For the next month, Clawbonny was a scene of uninterrupted merriment and +delight. We had few families to visit in our immediate neighbourhood, +it is true; and Mr. Hardinge proposed an excursion to the Springs--the +country was then too new, and the roads too bad, to think of +Niagara--but to this I would not listen. I cared not for the +Springs--knew little of, and cared less for fashion--and loved Clawbonny +to its stocks and stones. We remained at home, then, living principally +for each other. Rupert read a good deal to the girls, under the +direction of his father; while I passed no small portion of my time +in athletic exercises. The Grace & Lucy made one or two tolerably long +cruises in the river, and at length I conceived the idea of taking the +party down to town in the Wallingford. Neither of the girls had ever +seen New York, or much of the Hudson; nor had either ever seen a ship. +The sloops that passed up and down the Hudson, with an occasional +schooner, were the extent of their acquaintance with vessels; and I +began to feel it to be matter of reproach that those in whom I took so +deep an interest, should be so ignorant. As for the girls themselves, +they both admitted, now I was a sailor, that their desire to see a +regular, three-masted, full-rigged ship, was increased seven-fold. + +Mr. Hardinge heard my proposition, at first, as a piece of pleasantry; +but Grace expressing a strong desire to see a large town, or what was +thought a large town in this country, in 1799, and Lucy looking wistful, +though she remained silent under an apprehension her father could not +afford the expense of such a journey, which her imagination rendered a +great deal more formidable than it actually proved to be, the excellent +divine finally acquiesced. The expense was disposed of in a very simple +manner. The journey, both ways, would be made in the Wallingford; and +Mr. Hardinge was not so unnecessarily scrupulous as to refuse passages +for himself and children in the sloop, which never exacted passage-money +from any who went to or from the farm. Food was so cheap, too, as to +be a matter of no consideration; and, being entitled legally to receive +that at Clawbonny, it made no great difference whether it were taken on +board the vessel, or in the house. Then there was a Mrs. Bradfort in +New York, a widow lady of easy fortune, who was a cousin-german of Mr. +Hardinge's--his father's sister's daughter--and with her he always staid +in his own annual visits to attend the convention of the Church--I beg +pardon, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, as it is now _de rigueur_ +to say; I wonder some ultra does not introduce the manifest improvement +into the Apostles' Creed of saying, “I believe in the Holy Protestant +Episcopal Catholic Church, &c.”--but, the excellent divine, in his +annual attendance on the convention, was accustomed to stay with his +kinswoman, who often pressed him to bring both Lucy and Grace to +see her; her house in Wall street being abundantly large enough to +accommodate a much more numerous party. “Yes,” said Mr. Hardinge, “that +shall be the arrangement. The girls and I will stay with Mrs. Bradfort, +and the young men can live at a tavern. I dare say this new City Hotel, +which seems to be large enough to contain a regiment, will hold even +_them_. I will write this very evening to my cousin, so as not to take +her by surprise.” + +In less than a week after this determination, an answer was received +from Mrs. Bradfort; and, the very next day, the whole party, Neb +included, embarked in the Wallingford. Very different was this passage +down the Hudson from that which had preceded it. Then I had the sense of +error about me, while my heart yearned towards the two dear girls we had +left on the wharf; but now everything was above-board sincere, and by +permission. It is scarcely necessary to say that Grace and Lucy were +enchanted with everything they saw. The Highlands, in particular, threw +them both into ecstasies, though I have since seen so much of the world +as to understand, with nearly all experienced tourists, that this is +_relatively_ the worst part of the scenery of this beautiful river. When +I say _relatively_, I mean as comparing the _bolder_ parts of our stream +with those of others--speaking of them as _high lands_--many other +portions of this good globe having a much superior _grandeur_, while +very few have so much lovely river scenery compressed into so small a +space as is to be found in the other parts of the Hudson. + +In due time we arrived in New York, and I had the supreme happiness of +pointing out to the girls the State's Prison, the Bear Market, and the +steeples of St. Paul's and Trinity-_old_ Trinity, as it was so lately +the fashion to style a church that was built only a few years before, +and which, in my youth, was considered as magnificent as it was +venerable. That building has already disappeared; and another edifice, +which is now termed splendid, _vast_, and I know not what, has +been reared in its place. By the time this is gone, and one or two +generations of buildings have succeeded, each approaching nearer to the +high standard of church architecture in the old world, the Manhattanese +will get to understand something of the use of the degrees of comparison +on such subjects. When that day shall arrive, they will cease to be +provincial, and--not till then. + +What a different thing was Wall street, in 1799, from what it is to-day? +Then, where so many Grecian temples are now reared to Plutus, were rows +of modest provincial dwellings; not a tittle more provincial, however, +than the thousand meretricious houses of bricks and marble that have +since started up in their neighbourhood, but far less pretending, +and insomuch the more creditable. Mrs. Bradfort lived in one of these +respectable abodes, and thither Mr. Hardinge led the way, with just as +much confidence as one would now walk into Bleeker street, or the Fifth +Avenue. Money-changers were then unknown, or, if known, were of so +little account that they had not sufficient force to form a colony and +a league by themselves. Even the banks did not deem it necessary to be +within a stone's throw of each other--I believe there were but two--as +it might be in self-defence. We have seen all sorts of expedients +adopted, in this sainted street, to protect the money-bags, from the +little temple that was intended to be so small as only to admit the +dollars and those who were to take care of them, up to the edifice that +might contain so many rogues, as to render things safe on the familiar +principle of setting a thief to catch a thief. All would not do. The +difficulty has been found to be unconquerable, except in those cases in +which the homely and almost worn-out expedient of employing honest men, +has been resorted to. But, to return from the gossipings of old age to +an agreeable widow, who was still under forty. + +Mrs. Bradfort received Mr. Hardinge in a way to satisfy us all that she +was delighted to see him. She had prepared a room for Rupert and myself, +and no apologies or excuses would be received. We had to consent to +accept of her hospitalities. In an hour's time, all were established, +and I believe all were at home. + +I shall not dwell on the happiness that succeeded. We were all too young +to go to parties, and, I might almost add, New York itself was too young +to have any; but in the last I should have been mistaken, though there +were not as many _children's_ balls in 1799, perhaps, after allowing for +the difference in population, as there are to-day. If too young to be +company, we were not too young to see sights. I sometimes laugh as I +remember what these were at that time. There was such a museum as would +now be thought lightly of in a western city of fifteen or twenty years' +growth--a circus kept by a man of the name of Ricketts--the theatre +in John street, a very modest Thespian edifice--and a lion, I mean +literally the beast, that was kept in a cage quite out of town, that +his roaring might not disturb people, somewhere near the spot where the +_triangle_ that is called Franklin _Square_ now is. All these we saw, +even to the theatre; good, indulgent Mr. Hardinge seeing no harm in +letting us go thither under the charge of Mrs. Bradfort. I shall never +forget the ecstasy of that night! The novelty was quite as great to +Rupert and myself as it was to the girls; for, though we had been to +China, we had never been to the play. + +Well was it said, “Vanity, vanity--all is vanity!” He that lives as long +as I have lived, will have seen most of his opinions, and I think I +may add, _all_ his tastes, change. Nothing short of revelation has +a stronger tendency to convince us of the temporary character of our +probationary state in this world, than to note for how short a period, +and for what imperfect ends, all our hopes and success in life have been +buoying us up, and occupying our minds. After fifty, the delusion begins +to give way; and, though we may continue to live, and even to be happy, +blind indeed must be he who does not see the end of his road, and +foresee some of the great results to which it is to lead. But of all +this, our quartette thought little in the year 1799. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + “Thou art the same, eternal sea! + The earth hath many shapes and forms + Of hill and valley, flower and tree; + Fields that the fervid noontide warms, + Or Winter's rugged grasp deforms, + Or bright with Autumn's golden store; + Thou coverest up thy face with storms, + Or smilest serene--but still thy roar + And dashing foam go up to vex the sea-beat shore.” + LUNT. + + +I had a free conversation with my guardian, shortly after we reached +town, on the subject of my going to sea again. The whole country was +alive with the armament of the new marine; and cocked-hats, blue coats +and white lapels, began to appear in the streets, with a parade that +always marks the new officer and the new service. Now, one meets +distinguished naval men at every turn, and sees nothing about their +persons to denote the profession, unless in actual employment afloat, +even the cockade being laid aside; whereas in 1799 the harness was put +on as soon as the parchment was received, and only laid aside to turn +in. Ships were building or equipping in all parts of the country; and it +is matter of surprise to me that I escaped the fever, and did not apply +to be made a midshipman. Had I seen another captain who interested me +as much as Captain Dale, I make no doubt my career would have been +quite different: but, as things were, I had imbibed the prejudice that +Southey, in his very interesting, but, in a professional sense, very +worthless, life of Nelson, has attributed to that hero--“aft, the more +honour; forward, the better man.” Thus far, I had not got into the +cabin-windows, and, like all youngsters who fairly begin on the +forecastle, felt proud of my own manhood and disdain of hazards and +toil. I determined, therefore, to pursue the course I had originally +pointed out to myself, and follow in the footsteps of my father. + +Privateers were out of the question in a war with a country that had +no commerce. Nor do I think I would have gone in a privateer under any +circumstances. The business of carrying on a warfare merely for gain, +has ever struck me as discreditable; though it must be admitted +the American system of private-armed cruisers has always been more +respectable and better conducted than that of most other nations. This +has been owing to the circumstance that men of a higher class than +is usual in Europe, have embarked in the enterprises. To a +letter-of-marque, however, there could be no objection; her regular +business is commerce; she arms only in self-defence, or, if she capture +anything, it is merely such enemies as cross her path, and who would +capture her if they could. I announced to Mr. Hardinge, therefore, my +determination not to return to Clawbonny, but to look for a berth in +some letter-of-marque, while then in town. + +Neb had received private instructions, and my sea dunnage, as well as +his own, was on board the Wallingford--low enough the wreck had reduced +both to be--and money obtained from Mr. Hardinge was used to purchase +more. I now began to look about me for a ship, determined to please my +eye as to the vessel, and my judgment as to the voyage. Neb had orders +to follow the wharves on the same errand. I would sooner trust Neb +than Rupert on such a duty. The latter had no taste for ships; felt no +interest in them; and I have often wondered why he took a fancy to go +to sea at all. With Neb it was very different. He was already an expert +seaman; could hand, reef and steer, knot and splice, and was as useful +as nine men in ten on board a vessel. It is true, he did not know when +it became necessary to take in the last reef--had no notion of stowing +a cargo so as to favour the vessel, or help her sailing; but he would +break out a cask sooner than most men I ever met with. There was too +much “nigger” in him for head-work of that sort, though he was ingenious +and ready enough in his way. A sterling fellow was Neb, and I got in +time to love him very much as I can conceive one would love a brother. + +One day, after I had seen all the sights, and had begun to think +seriously of finding a ship, I was strolling along the wharves on the +latter errand, when I heard a voice I knew cry put, “There, Captain +Williams, there's just your chap; he'll make as good a third-mate as can +be found in all America.” I had a sort of presentiment this applied +to me, though I could not, on the instant, recall the speaker's +name. Turning to look in the direction of the sounds, I saw the +hard countenance of Marble, alongside the weather-beaten face of a +middle-aged shipmaster, both of whom were examining me over the nettings +of a very promising-looking armed merchantman. I bowed to Mr. Marble, +who beckoned me to come on board, where I was regularly introduced to +the master. + +This vessel was called the Crisis, a very capital name for a craft in a +country where crisises of one sort or another occur regularly as often +as once in six months. She was a tight little ship of about four hundred +tons, had hoop-pole bulwarks, as I afterwards learned, with nettings +for hammocks and old junk, principally the latter; and showed ten +nine-pounders, carriage-guns, in her batteries. I saw she was loaded, +and was soon given to understand that her shipping-articles were then +open, and the serious question was of procuring a third-mate. Officers +were scarce, so many young men were pressing into the navy; and Mr. +Marble ventured to recommend me, from near a twelvemonth's knowledge of +my character. I had not anticipated a berth aft quite so soon, and yet I +had a humble confidence in my own ability to discharge the duty. Captain +Williams questioned me for fifteen or twenty minutes, had a short +conversation with Mr. Marble alone, and then frankly offered me the +berth. The voyage was to be round the world, and it took my fancy at the +very sound. The ship was to take a cargo of flour to England; there, she +was to receive a small assorted cargo for the North-West Coast, and some +of the sandal-wood islands; after disposing of her toys and manufactures +in barter, she was to sail for Canton, exchange her furs, wood and other +articles for teas, &c., and return home. To engage in this voyage, I +was offered the berth I have mentioned, and thirty dollars a-month. The +wages were of little moment to me, but the promotion and the voyage +were of great account. The ship, too, carried out letters-of-marque and +reprisal with her, and there were the chances of meeting some Frenchman +in the European waters, at least. + +I examined the vessel, the berth I was to occupy, made a great many +shy glances at the captain, to ascertain his character by that profound +expedient, analyzing his looks, and finally determined to ship, on +condition Neb should be taken as an ordinary seaman. As soon as Marble +heard this last proposal, he explained the relation in which the black +stood to me, and earnestly advised his being received as a seaman. The +arrangement was made accordingly, and I went at once to the notary and +signed the articles. Neb was also found, and he was shipped too; this +time regularly, Mr. Hardinge attending and giving his sanction to what +was done. The worthy divine was in excellent spirits, for that very day +he had made an arrangement with a friend at the bar to place Rupert in +his office, Mrs. Bradfort insisting on keeping her young kinsman in her +house, as a regular inmate. This left on the father no more charge than +to furnish Rupert with clothes, and a few dollars of pocket-money. But I +knew Rupert too well to suppose he would, or could, be content with the +little he might expect from the savings of Mr. Hardinge. I was not in +want of money. My guardian had supplied me so amply, that not only had +I paid my debt to the owners of the John, and fully equipped myself for +the voyage, but I actually possessed dollars enough to supply all my +probable wants during the expected absence. Many of the officers and men +of the Crisis left behind them orders with their wives and families to +receive their wages, in part, during their absence, as letters from +time to time apprised the owners that these people were on board, and +in discharge of their several duties. I determined on giving Rupert the +benefit of such an arrangement. First presenting him with twenty dollars +from my own little store, I took him with me to the counting-house, +and succeeded, though not without some difficulty, in obtaining for my +friend a credit of twenty dollars a-month, promising faithfully to repay +any balance that might arise against me in consequence of the loss of +the ship, or of any accident to myself. This I was enabled to do on the +strength of my credit as the owner of Clawbonny; for, as is usual in +these cases, I passed for being much richer than I really was, though +far from being poor. + +I will acknowledge that, while I felt no reluctance at making this +arrangement in favour of Rupert, I felt mortified he should accept it. +There are certain acts we may all wish to perform, and, yet, which +bring regrets when successfully performed. I was sorry that _my_ friend, +Lucy's brother, Grace's admirer--for I was quick enough in perceiving +that Rupert began to entertain fancies of that sort--had not pride +enough to cause him to decline receiving money which must be earned by +the sweat of my brow, and this, moreover, in a mode of life he had +not himself sufficient resolution to encounter a second time. But he +accepted the offer, and there was an end of it. + +As everything was alive in 1798, the Crisis was ready to sail in three +days after I joined her. We hauled into the North river, as became +the dignity of our voyage, and got our crew on board. On the whole, we +mustered a pretty good body of men, ten of them being green; fellows who +had never seen the ocean, but who were young, healthy and athletic, and +who promised to be useful before a great while. Including those aft, we +counted thirty-eight souls on board. The ship was got ready in hopes of +being able to sail of a Thursday, for Captain Williams was a thoughtful +man, and was anxious to get the ship fairly at sea, with the first work +done, previously to the next Sabbath. Some small matters, however, could +not be got through with in time; and, as for sailing of a Friday, that +was out of the question. No one did that in 1798, who could help it. +This gave us a holiday, and I got leave to pass the afternoon and +evening ashore. + +Rupert, Grace, Lucy and I took a long walk into the country that +evening; that is, we went into the fields, and along the lanes, for +some distance above the present site of Canal street. Lucy and I walked +together, most of the time, and we both felt sad at the idea of so long +a separation as was now before us. The voyage might last three years; +and I should be legally a man, my own master, and Lucy a young woman of +near nineteen, by that time. Terrible ages in perspective were these, +and which seemed to us pregnant with as many changes as the life of a +man. + +“Rupert will be admitted to the bar, when I get back,” I casually +remarked, as we talked the matter over. + +“He will, indeed,” the dear girl answered. “Now you _are_ to go, Miles, +I almost regret my brother is not to be in the ship; you have known each +other so long, love each other so much, and have already gone through +such frightful trials in company.” + +“Oh! I shall do well enough--there'll be Neb; and as for Rupert, I think +he will be better satisfied ashore than at sea. Rupert is a sort of a +natural lawyer.” + +By this I merely meant he was good at a subterfuge, and could tell his +own story. + +“Yes, but Neb is not Rupert, Miles,” Lucy answered, quick as thought, +and, I fancied, a little reproachfully. + +“Very true--no doubt I shall miss your brother, and that, too, very +much, at times; but all I meant in speaking of Neb was, as you know, +that he and I like each other, too, and have been through just the same +trials together, you understand, and have known each other as long as I +can remember.” + +Lucy was silent, and I felt embarrassed, and a little at a loss what to +say next. But a girl approaching sixteen, and who is with a youth who +possesses her entire confidence, is not apt to be long silent. Something +she will say; and how often is that something warm with natural feeling, +instinct with truth, and touching from its confiding simplicity! + +“You will sometimes think of us, Miles?” was Lucy's next remark, and it +was said in a tone that induced me to look her full in the face, when I +discovered that her eyes were suffused with tears. + +“Of that you may be _very_ certain, and I hope to be rewarded in kind. +But, now I think of it, Lucy, I have a debt to pay you, and, at the same +time, a little interest. Here are the half-joes you forced me to take +last year, when we parted at Clawbonny. See, they are exactly the same +pieces; for I would as soon have parted with a finger, as with one of +them.” + +“I had hoped they might have been of use to you, and had quite forgotten +them. You have destroyed an agreeable illusion.” + +“Is it not quite as agreeable to know we had no occasion for them? No, +here they are; and, now I go with Mr. Hardinge's full approbation, you +very well know I can be in no want of money. So, there is your gold; and +here, Lucy, is some interest for the use of it.” + +I made an effort to put something into the dear girl's hand as I +spoke, but all the strength I could properly apply was not equal to the +purpose. So tightly did she keep her little fingers compressed, that I +could not succeed without a downright effort at force. + +“No--no--Miles,” she said hurriedly--almost huskily; “that will never +do! I am not Rupert--you may prevail with him; never with _me_!” + +“Rupert! What can Rupert have to do with such a thing as this locket? +Youngsters don't wear lockets.” + +Lucy's fingers separated as easily as an infant's, and I put my little +offering into her hand without any more resistance. I was sorry, +however, to discover that, by some means unknown to me, she had become +acquainted with the arrangement I had made as respected the twenty +dollars a month. I afterwards ascertained that this secret had leaked +out through Neb, who had it from one of the clerks of the counting-house +who had visited the ship, and repeated it to Mrs. Bradfort's black maid, +in one of his frequent visits to the house. This is a common channel of +information, though it seldom proves as true as it did in this instance. + +I could see that Lucy was delighted with her locket. It was a very +pretty ornament, in the first place, and it had her own hair, that of +Grace, Rupert, and my own, very prettily braided together, so as to form +a wreath, made like a rope, or a grummet, encircling a combination of +letters that included all our initials. In this there was nothing that +was particular, while there was much that was affectionate. Had I not +consulted Grace on the subject, it is possible I should have been less +cautious, though I declare I had no thought of making love. All this +time I fancied I felt for, and trusted Lucy as another sister. I was +shrewd enough to detect Rupert's manner and feeling towards my own +sister, and I felt afraid it was, or soon would be, fully reciprocated; +but as to imagining myself in love with Lucy Hardinge, or any one else, +the thought never crossed my mind, though the dear girl herself so often +did! + +I saw Lucy's smile, and I could not avoid noticing the manner in +which, once or twice, unconsciously to herself, I do believe, this +simple-minded, sincere creature, pressed the hand which retained the +locket to her heart; and yet it made no very lively impression on my +imagination at the time. The conversation soon changed, and we began to +converse of other things. I have since fancied that Grace had left us +alone in order that I might return the half-joes to Lucy, and offer +the locket; for, looking round and seeing the latter in its new owner's +hand, while Lucy was bestowing on it one of the hundred glances of +grateful pleasure it received that afternoon, she waited until we came +up, when she took my arm, remarking, as this was to be our last evening +together, she must come in for her share of the conversation. Now, I +solemnly affirm that this was the nearest approach to anything like a +love-scene that had ever passed between Lucy Hardinge and myself. + +I would gladly pass over the leave-taking, and shall say but little +about it. Mr. Hardinge called me into his room, when we got back to the +house. He spoke earnestly and solemnly to me, recalling to my mind many +of his early and most useful precepts. He then kissed me, gave me his +blessing, and promised to remember me in his prayers. As I left him, and +I believe he went on his knees as soon as my back was turned, Lucy was +waiting for me in the passage. She was in tears, and paler than common, +but her mind seemed made up to sustain a great sacrifice like a woman. +She put a small, but exceedingly neat copy of the Bible into my hand, +and uttered, as well as emotion would permit--“There, Miles; _that_ +is _my_ keepsake. I do not ask you to think of _me_ when you read; but +think of _God_.” She then snatched a kiss, and flew into her room and +locked the door. Grace was below, and she wept on my neck like a child, +kissing me again and again, and calling me “her brother--her dear, her +_only_ brother.” I was obliged actually to tear myself away from Grace. +Rupert went with me to the ship, and passed an hour or two on board. +As we crossed the threshold, I heard a window open above my head, and, +looking up, I saw Lucy, with streaming eyes, leaning forward to say, +“Write, Miles--write as often as you possibly can.” + +Man must be a stern being by nature, to be able to tear himself from +such friends, in order to encounter enemies, hardships, dangers and +toil, and all without any visible motive. Such was my case, however, +for I wanted not for a competency, or for most of those advantages +which might tempt one to abandon the voyage. Of such a measure, the +possibility never crossed my mind. I believed that it was just as +necessary for me to remain third-mate of the Crisis, and to stick by the +ship while she would float, as Mr. Adams thinks it necessary for him to +present abolition petitions to a congress, which will not receive them. +We both of us, doubtless, believed ourselves the victims of fate. + +We sailed at sun-rise, wind and tide favouring. We had anchored off +Courtlandt street, and as the ship swept past the Battery I saw Rupert, +who had only gone ashore in the pilot's boat at day-light, with two +females, watching our movements. The girls did not dare to wave their +handkerchiefs; but what cared I for that--I knew that their good wishes, +kind wishes, tender wishes, went with me; and this little touch of +affection, which woman knows so well how to manifest, made me both happy +and sad for the remainder of the day. + +The Crisis was an unusually fast ship, faster even than the Tigris; +coppered to the bends, copper-fastened, and with a live-oak frame. No +better craft sailed out of the republic. Uncle Sam had tried to purchase +her for one of his new navy; but the owners, having this voyage in view, +refused his tempting offers. She was no sooner under her canvass, than +all hands of us perceived we were in a traveller; and glad enough were +we to be certain of the fact, for we had a long road before us. This, +too, was with the wind free, and in smooth water; whereas those who knew +the vessel asserted her _forte_ was on a bowline and in a sea-that is to +say, she would sail relatively faster than most other craft, under the +latter circumstances. + +There was a strange pleasure to me, notwithstanding all I had suffered +previously, all the risks I had run, and all I had left behind me, in +finding myself once more on the broad ocean. As for Neb, the fellow was +fairly enraptured. So quickly and intelligently did he obey his orders, +that he won a reputation before we crossed the bar. The smell of the +ocean seemed to imbue him with a species of nautical inspiration, and +even I was astonished with his readiness and activity. As for myself, I +was every way at home. Very different was this exit from the port, from +that of the previous year. Then everything was novel, and not a little +disgusting. Now I had little, almost nothing, to learn--literally +nothing, I might have said, were it not that every ship-master has +certain _ways_ of his own, that it behooves all his subordinates to +learn as quickly as possible. Then I lived aft, where we not only +had plates, and table-cloths, and tumblers, and knives and forks; but +comparatively _clean_ articles of the sort. I say comparatively, the two +other degrees being usually wanting in north-west traders. + +The Crisis went to sea with a lively breeze at south-west, the wind +shifting after she had got into the lower bay. There were a dozen sail +of us altogether, and in our little fleet were two of Uncle Sam's men, +who felt disposed to try their hands with us. We crossed the bar, all +three of us, within a cable's length of each other, and made sail +in company, with the wind a trifle abaft the beam. Just as Navesink +disappeared, our two men-of-war, merchantmen altered, hauled up on +bowlines, and jogged off towards the West Indies, being at the +time about a league astern of us. This success put us all in high +good-humour, and had such an effect on Marble in particular, that he +began to give it as his opinion that our only superiority over them +would not be found confined to sailing, on an experiment. It is very +convenient to think favourably of one's self, and it is certainly +comfortable to entertain the same notion as respects one's ship. + +I confess to a little awkwardness at first, in acting as an officer. +I was young, and commanded men old enough to be my father--regular +sea-dogs, who were as critical in all that related to the niceties of +the calling, as the journalist who is unable to appreciate the higher +qualities of a book, is hypercritical on its minor faults. But a few +days gave me confidence, and I soon found I was obeyed as readily as the +first-mate. A squall struck the ship in my watch, about a fortnight out, +and I succeeded in getting in sail, and saving everything, canvass and +spars, in a way that did me infinite service aft. Captain Williams +spoke to me on the subject, commending the orders I had given, and +the coolness with which they had been issued; for, as I afterwards +understood, he remained some time in the companion-way, keeping the +other two mates back, though all hands had been called, in order to see +how I could get along by myself in such a strait. On this occasion, I +never saw a human being exert himself like Neb. He felt that my honour +was concerned. I do really think the fellow did two men's duty, the +whole time the squall lasted. Until this little incident occurred, +Captain Williams was in the habit of coming on deck to examine the +heavens, and see how things were getting on, in my night-watches; but, +after this, he paid no more visits of this sort to me, than he paid to +Mr. Marble. I had been gratified by his praises; but this quiet mode of +showing confidence, gave me more happiness than I can express. + +We had a long passage out, the wind hanging to the eastward near three +weeks. At length we got moderate southerly breezes, and began to travel +on our course. Twenty-four hours after we had got the fair wind, I had +the morning watch, and made, as the day dawned, a sail directly abeam of +us, to windward, about three leagues distant, or just hull down. I +went into the main-top, and examined her with a glass. She was a ship, +seemingly of about our own size, and carrying everything that would +draw. I did not send word below until it was broad daylight, or for +near half an hour; and in all that time her bearings did not vary any +perceptible distance. + +Just as the sun rose, the captain and chief-mate made their appearance +on deck. At first they agreed in supposing the stranger a stray English +West-Indiaman, bound home; for, at that time, few merchant vessels were +met at sea that were not English or American. The former usually sailed +in convoys, however; and the captain accounted for the circumstance that +this was not thus protected, by the fact of her sailing so fast. +She might be a letter-of-marque, like ourselves, and vessels of that +character did not take convoy. As the two vessels lay exactly abeam of +each other, with square yards, it was not easy to judge of the sparring +of the stranger, except by means of his masts. Marble, judging by the +appearance of his topsails, began to think our neighbour might be a +Frenchman, he had so much hoist to the sails. After some conversation on +the subject, the captain ordered me to brace forward the yards, as far +as our studding-sails would allow, and to luff nearer to the stranger. +While the ship was thus changing her course, the day advanced, and our +crew got their breakfast. + +As a matter of course, the strange ship, which kept on the same line +of sailing as before, drew ahead of us a little, while we neared her +sensibly. In the course of three hours we were within a league of her, +but well on her lee-quarter. Marble now unhesitatingly pronounced her +to be a Frenchman, there being no such thing as mistaking the sails. To +suppose an Englishman would go to sea with such triangles of royals, he +held to be entirely out of the question; and then he referred to me to +know if I did not remember the brig “we had licked in the West Indies, +last v'y'ge, which had just such r'yals as the chap up there to +windward?” I could see the resemblance, certainly, and had remarked the +same peculiarity in the few French vessels I had seen. + +Under all the circumstances, Captain Williams determined to get on the +weather-quarter of our neighbour, and take a still nearer look at him. +That he was armed, we could see already; and, as near as we could make +out, he carried twelve guns, or just two more than we did ourselves. All +this was encouraging; sufficiently so, at least, to induce us to make a +much closer examination than we had yet done. + +It took two more hours to bring the Crisis, fast as she sailed, on +the weather-quarter of her neighbour, distant about a mile. Here our +observations were much more to the purpose, and even Captain +Williams pronounced the stranger to be a Frenchman, “and, no doubt, a +letter-of-marque, like ourselves.” He had just uttered these words, +when we saw the other vessel's studding-sails coming down her royals and +top-gallant-sails clewing up, and all the usual signs of her stripping +for a fight. We had set our ensign early in the day, but, as yet, had +got no answering symbol of nationality from the chase. As soon as she +had taken in all her light canvass, however, she clewed up her courses, +fired a gun to windward, and hoisted the French _tri-color_, the most +graceful flag among the emblems of Christendom, but one that has been as +remarkably unsuccessful in the deeds it has witnessed on the high seas, +as it has been remarkable for the reverse on land. The French have not +been wanting in excellent sailors--gallant seamen, too; but the results +of their exploits afloat have ever borne a singular disproportion to the +means employed--a few occasional exceptions just going to prove that the +causes have been of a character as peculiar, as these results have, +in nearly all ages, been uniform. I have heard the want of success in +maritime exploits, among the French, attributed to a want of sympathy, +in the nation, with maritime things. Others, again, have supposed that +the narrow system of preferring birth to merit, which pervaded the whole +economy of the French marine, as well as of its army, previously to the +revolution, could not fail to destroy the former, inasmuch as a man +of family would not consent to undergo the toil and hardships that +are unavoidable to the training of the true seaman. This last reason, +however, can scarcely be the true one, as the young English noble has +often made the most successful naval officer; and the marine of France, +in 1798, had surely every opportunity of perfecting itself, by downright +practice, uninjured by favouritism, as that of America. For myself, +though I have now reflected on the subject for years, I can come to no +other conclusion than that national character has some very important +agency--or, perhaps, it might be safer to say, _has_ had some very +important agency--through some cause or other, in disqualifying France +from becoming a great naval power, in the sense of skill; in that of +mere force, so great a nation must always be formidable. Now she +sends her princes to sea, however, we may look for different results. +Notwithstanding the fact that an Englishman, or an American, rarely went +alongside of a Frenchman, in 1798, without a strong moral assurance of +victory, he was sometimes disappointed. There was no lack of courage in +their enemies, and it occasionally happened that there was no lack of +skill. Every manifestation that the experience of our captain could +detect, went to show that we had fallen in with one of these exceptions. +As we drew nearer to our enemy, we perceived that he was acting like +a seaman. His sails had been furled without haste or confusion; an +infallible evidence of coolness and discipline when done on the eve of +battle, and signs that the watchful seaman, on such occasions, usually +notes as unerring indications of the sort of struggle that awaits him. +It was consequently understood, among us on the quarter-deck, that we +were likely to have a warm day's work of it. Nevertheless, we had gone +too far to retreat without an effort, and we began, in our turn, to +shorten sail, in readiness for the combat. Marble was a prince of a +fellow, when it came to anything serious. I never saw him shorten sail +as coolly and readily as he did that very day. We had everything ready +in ten minutes after we began. + +It was rare, indeed, to see two letters-of-marque set-to as coolly, +and as scientifically as were the facts with the Crisis and _la Dame +de Nantes;_ for so, as we afterwards ascertained, was our antagonist +called. Neither party aimed at any great advantage by manoeuvring; but +we came up alongside of “The Lady,” as our men subsequently nick-named +the Frenchman, the two vessels delivering their broadsides nearly at +the same instant. I was stationed on the forecastle, in charge of the +head-sheets, with orders to attend generally to the braces and the +rigging, using a musket in moments that were not otherwise employed. +Away went both my jib-sheet blocks at the beginning, giving me a very +pretty job from the outset. This was but the commencement of trouble; +for, during the two hours and a half that we lay battering _la Dame de +Nantes_, and she lay battering us, I had really so much to attend to in +the way of reeving, knotting, splicing, and turning in afresh, that I +had scarcely a minute to look about me, in order to ascertain how the +day was going. I fired my musket but twice. The glimpses I did manage +to take were far from satisfactory, however; several of our people being +killed or wounded, one gun fairly crippled by a shot, and our rigging +in a sad plight. The only thing encourag'ng was Neb's shout, the fellow +making it a point to roar almost as loud as his gun, at each discharge. + +It was evident from the first that the Frenchman had nearly twice as +many men as we carried. This rendered any attempt at boarding imprudent, +and, in the way of pounding, our prospects were by no means flattering. +At length I heard a rushing sound over my head, and, looking up, I saw +that the main-top-mast, with the yards and sails, had come down on +the fore-braces, and might shortly be expected on deck. At this point, +Captain Williams ordered all hands from the guns to clear the wreck. At +the same instant, our antagonist, with a degree of complaisance that +I could have hugged him for, ceased firing also. Both sides seemed to +think it was very foolish for two merchantmen to lie within a cable's +length of each other, trying which could do the other the most harm; and +both sides set about the, by this time, very necessary duty of repairing +damages. While this was going on, the men at the wheel, by a species of +instinctive caution, did their whole duty. The Crisis luffed all she +was able, while _la Dame de Nantes_ edged away all she very conveniently +could, placing more than a mile of blue water between the two vessels, +before we, who were at work aloft, were aware they were so decidedly +running on diverging lines. + +It was night before we got our wreck clear; and then we had to look +about us, to get out spare spars, fit them, rig them, point them, +and sway them aloft. The last operation, however, was deferred until +morning. As it was, the day's work had been hard, and the people really +wanted rest. Rest was granted them at eight o'clock; at which hour, +our late antagonist was visible about a league distant, the darkness +beginning to envelope her. In the morning the horizon was clear, owing +to the repulsion which existed in so much force between the two vessels. +It was not our business to trouble ourselves about the fate of our +adversary, but to take heed of our own. That morning we go' up our +spars, crossed the yards, and made sail again. We had several days' +work in repairing all our damages; but, happening to be found for a long +voyage, and well found, too, by the end of a week the Crisis was in as +good order as if we had not fought a battle. As for the combat, it was +one of those in which either side might claim the victory, or not, as it +suited tastes. We had very ingenious excuses for our failure, however; +and I make no doubt the French were just as ready, in this way, as we +were ourselves. + +Our loss in this engagement amounted to two men killed outright, and to +seven wounded, two of whom died within a few days. The remaining wounded +all recovered, though the second-mate, who was one of them, I believe +never got to be again the man he had been. A canister-shot lodged near +his hip, and the creature we had on board as a surgeon was not the hero +to extract it. In that day, the country was not so very well provided +with medical men on the land, as to spare many good ones to the sea. +In the new navy, it was much the fashion to say, “if you want a leg +amputated, send for the carpenter; he _does_ know how to use a saw, +while it is questionable whether the doctor knows how to use anything.” + Times, however, are greatly altered in this respect; the gentlemen +who now compose this branch of the service being not only worthy of +commendation for their skill and services, but worthy of the graduated +rank which I see they are just now asking of the justice of their +country, and which, as that country ordinarily administers justice, I am +much afraid they will ask in vain. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + “If we + Cannot defend our own door from the dog, + Let us be worried; and our nation lose + The name of hardiness, and policy.” + _Henry V._ + + +The combat between the Crisis and _la Dame de Nantes_ took place +in 42.37'.12” north latitude, and 34.16'.43” west longitude, from +Greenwich. This was very near the centre of the northern Atlantic, and +gave us ample time to get our ship in good condition before we drew +in with the land. Shortly after the affair, the wind came out light at +northeast, forcing us down nearer to the Bay of Biscay than was at all +convenient, when bound to London. The weather grew foggy, too, which is +not usual on the coast of Europe, with the wind at east, and the nights +dark. Just a fortnight after the action, I was awakened early one +morning by a rough shake of the shoulder from Marble, who had the watch, +but who was calling me at least an hour before the time. “Bear a hand +and turn out,” he said; “I want you on deck, Mr. Wallingford.” I obeyed, +of course, and soon stood in the presence of the chief-mate, rubbing my +eyes diligently, as if they had to be opened by friction. + +It was just six bells, or seven o'clock, and one of the watch was on the +point of making the bell proclaim as much, when Mr. Marble ordered him +not to strike the hour. The weather was thick, or rather foggy, and the +wind light, with very little sea going. All this I had time to notice, +to listen to the unusual order about the bell, and to gape twice, before +the male turned to me. He seized my arm, carried me on the lee side +of the quarter-deck, shook his finger at a vacant spot in the fog, and +said-- + +“Miles, my boy, down yonder, within half a mile of this very spot, is +our friend the Frenchman!” + +“How is it possible you can know that, Mr. Marble?” I demanded in +surprise. + +“Because I have seen him, with these two good-looking eyes of mine. This +fog opens and shuts like a playhouse-curtain, and I got a peep at the +chap, about ten minutes since. It was a short look, but it was a sure +one; I would swear to the fellow in any admiralty court in Christendom.” + +“And what do you intend to do, Mr. Marble? We found him a hard subject +in clear weather; what can we do with him in thick?” + +“That depends on the old man; his very natur' is overlaid by what +has happened already, and I rather think he will be for a fresh +skrimmage”--Marble was an uneducated Kennebunk man, and by no means +particular about his English. “There'll be good picking in that French +gentleman, Master Miles, for those who come in at the beginning of the +plunder!” + +The chief-mate then told me to go below and turn up all hands, making as +little rumpus about it as possible. This I did; and when I returned +to the deck, I found the fingers of Marble going again, with Captain +Williams for his auditor, just as they had gone to me, a few minutes +earlier. Being an officer, I made no scruples about joining the party. +Marble was giving his account of the manner in which he had momentarily +seen the enemy, the canvass he was under, the course he was steering, +and the air of security that prevailed about him. So much, he insisted +he had noted, though he saw the ship for about twenty seconds only. All +this, however, might be true, for a seaman's eye is quick, and he has +modes of his own for seeing a great deal in a brief space of time. +Marble now proposed that we should go to quarters, run alongside of the +Frenchman, pour in a broadside, and board him in the smoke. Our success +would be certain, could we close with him without being seen; and +it would be almost as certain, could we engage him with our guns by +surprise. The chief-mate was of opinion we had dosed him in the other +affair, in a way to sicken him; this time we should bring him to with a +round turn! + +The “old man” was pleased with the notion, I saw at a glance; and I +confess it took my fancy also. We all felt very sore at the result +of the other attempt, and here it seemed as if fortune gave us a good +occasion for repairing the evil. + +“There can be no harm in getting ready, Mr. Marble,” the captain +observed; “and when we are ready ourselves we shall know better what to +think of the matter.” + +This was no sooner said, than away we went to clear ship. Our task was +soon done; the tompions were got out, the guns cast loose, ammunition +was brought up, and a stand of grape was put in over the shot in every +piece in both batteries. As the men were told the motive, they worked +like dray-horses; and I do not think we were ten minutes before the ship +was ready to go into action, at a moment's notice. + +All this time, Captain Williams refused to keep the ship away. I believe +he wanted to get a look at our neighbour himself, for he could not but +foresee what might be the consequences, should he run down in the fog, +and engage a heavier vessel than his own, without the ceremony of a +hail. The sea was covered with Englishmen, and one of their cruisers +might not very easily pardon such a mistake, however honestly made. But +preparation seems to infer a necessity for performance. When everything +was ready, all eyes were turned aft in a way that human nature could +hardly endure, and the captain was obliged to yield. As Marble, of all +on board, had alone seen the other vessel, he was directed to conn the +Crisis in the delicate operation she was about to undertake. + +As before, my station was on the forecastle. I had been directed to +keep a bright look-out, as the enemy would doubtless be first seen from +forward. The order was unnecessary, however, for never did human beings +gaze into a fog more anxiously, than did all on board our ship on this +occasion. Calculating by the distance, and the courses steered, we +supposed ten or fifteen minutes would bring us square alongside of Mr. +Marble's ship; though some among us doubted his having seen any vessel +at all. There was about a five-knot breeze, and we had all our square +sails set, knowing it was necessary to go a little faster than our +adversary, to catch up with him. The intense expectation, not to say +anxiety, of such a scene, is not easily described. The surrounding fog, +at times, seemed filled with ships; but all vanished into _thick_ air, +one after another, leaving nothing but vapour. Severe orders had been +given for no one to call out, but, the moment the ship was seen, for +the discoverer to go aft and report. At least a dozen men left their +quarters on this errand, all returning in the next instant, satisfied +they had been deceived. Each moment, too, increased the expectation; for +each moment must we be getting nearer and nearer to her, if any vessel +were really there. Quite twenty minutes, however, passed in this manner, +and no ship was seen. Marble continued cool and confident, but the +captain and second-mate smiled, while the people began to shake their +heads, and roll the tobacco into their cheeks. As we advanced, our own +ship luffed by degrees, until we had got fairly on our old course again, +or were sailing close upon the wind. This change was made easily, the +braces not having been touched; a precaution that was taken expressly to +give us this advantage. When we found ourselves once more close upon +the wind, we gave the matter up forward, supposing the mate had been +deceived. I saw by the expression of the captain's face that he was +about to give the order to secure the guns, when, casting my eyes +forward, there was a ship, sure enough, within a hundred yards of us! +I held up both arms, as I looked aft, and luckily caught the captain's +eye. In an instant, he was on the forecastle. + +It was easy enough to see the stranger now. There he was in the +fog, looking mystical and hazy; but there he was, under his +main-top-gallant-sail, close-hauled, and moving ahead in all the +confidence of the solitude of the ocean. We could not see his hull, or +so faintly as only to distinguish its mass; but from his tops up, +there was no mistaking the objects. We had shot away the Frenchman's +mizen-royal-mast. It was a pole, and there the stump stood, just as it +was when we had last seen him on the evening of the day of the combat. +This left no doubt of the character of our neighbour, and it at once +determined our course. As it was, we were greatly outsailing him, but +an order was immediately given to set the light staysails. As Captain +Williams passed aft, he gave his orders to the men in the batteries. +In the mean time, the second-mate, who spoke very good New York French, +came upon the forecastle, in readiness to answer the expected hail. As +the Crisis was kept a little free, in order to close, and as she sailed +so fast, it was apparent we were coming up with the chase, hand over +hand. + +The two ships were not more than a hundred feet asunder when +the Frenchmen first saw us. This blindness was owing to several +circumstances. In the first place, ten men look forward in a ship, +where one looks aft. Those who looked aloft, too, were generally on +the quarter-deck, and this prevented them from looking astern. Then the +Frenchman's crew had just gone to their breakfasts, most of them eating +below. She was so strong-handed, moreover, as to give a forenoon's watch +below, and this still left many of the sluggards in their hammocks. In +that day, even a French ship-of-the-line was no model of discipline or +order, and a letter-of-marque was consequently worse. As it afterwards +appeared, we were first seen by the mate of the watch, who ran to the +taffrail, and, instead of giving an order to call all hands, he hailed +us. Mr. Forbank, our second-mate, answered; mumbling his words so, that, +if they were bad French, they did not sound like good English. He got +out the name “Le Hasard, de Bordeaux,” pretty plainly, however; and this +served to mystify the mate for a few seconds. By the end of that time, +our bows were doubling on the Frenchman's quarter, and we were sheering +into him so fast as quite to distract the Nantes man. The hail had been +heard below, however, and the Frenchmen came tumbling up by the dozen, +forward and aft. + +Captain Williams was a prime seaman, and one of the coolest men that +ever lived. Everything that day was done at precisely the proper moment. +The Frenchman attempted to keep off, but our wheel was so touched as to +keep us lapping in nearly a parallel line with them, the whole time; and +our forward sails soon becalmed even their mainsail. Of course we +went two feet to their one. Marble came on the forecastle, just as our +cat-head was abreast of “The Lady's” forward-rigging. Less than a minute +was required to take us so far forward, and that minute was one of great +confusion among the French. As soon as Marble got on the forecastle, he +made a signal, the ensign was run up, and the order was given to fire. +We let fly all five of our nine-pounders, loaded with two round and a +stand of grape, at the same moment. At the next instant, the crash of +the ships coming foul of each other was heard. Marble shouted “Come on, +boys!” and away he, and I, and Neb, and all hands of us, went on board +of the Frenchman like a hurricane. I anticipated a furious hand to hand +conflict; but we found the deck deserted, and had no difficulty whatever +in getting possession. The surprise, the rush, and the effect of the +broadside, gave us an easy victory. The French captain had been nearly +cut in two by a nine-pound shot, moreover, and both of the mates were +severely wounded. These accidents contributed largely to our success, +causing the enemy to abandon the defence as hopeless. We had not a soul +hurt. + +The prize proved to be the ship I have mentioned, a letter-of-marque, +from Guadaloupe, bound to Nantes. She was a trifle larger than the +Crisis, mounted twelve French nines, and had eighty-three souls on board +when she sailed. Of these, however, no less than twenty-three had been +killed and wounded in our previous affair with her, and several were +absent in a prize. Of the wounded, nearly all were still in their +hammocks. Among the remainder, some sixteen or eighteen suffered by our +close and destructive broadside on the present occasion, reducing the +efficient part of her crew to about our own numbers. The vessel was +new and valuable, and her cargo was invoiced at something like sixty +thousand dollars, having some cochineal among it. + +As soon as assured of our victory, the Crisis's main-top-sail was braced +aback, as well as it could be, and her helm put down. At the same time, +the Dame was kept away, and the two ships went clear of each other. +Little injury had been done by the collision, or the grinding; and, in +consequence of our guns having been so much shotted, no damage whatever +was done the lower masts of the prize. The shot had just force enough to +pass through the bulwarks, make splinters, and to lodge. This left both +vessels in good condition for going into port. + +At first it was determined to leave me in _la Dame de Nantes,_ as +prize-master, with directions to follow the Crisis into Falmouth, +whither she was bound for orders. But, on further examination, it was +discovered that the crew of an American brig was on board the prize as +prisoners; _la Dame de Nantes_ having captured the vessel only two days +before we met the former the first time, taken out her people, manned +her, and ordered her for Nantes. These Americans, including the master +and two mates, amounted to thirteen souls in all, and they enabled us +to make a different disposition of the prize. The result of an hour or +two's deliberations was as follows: + +Our old second-mate, whose hurt was likely to require better care than +could be had on the North-west Coast, was put on board the French ship +as prize-master, with orders to make the best of his way to New York. +The master and chief-mate of the American brig agreed to act under him, +and to assist in carrying _la Dame_ across the ocean. Three or four +of our invalids were sent home also, and the liberated Americans took +service for the passage. All the French wounded were left in the ship, +under the charge of their own surgeon, who was a man of some little +merit, though a good deal of a butcher, as was too much the fashion of +that day. + +It was dark before all the arrangements were made, when _la Dame de +Nantes_ turned short round on her heel, and made sail for America. Of +course our captain sent in his official report by her, and I seized a +moment to write a short letter to Grace, which was so worded as to be +addressed to the whole family. I knew how much happiness a line from me +would bestow, and I had the pleasure to inform them, also, that I was +promoted to be second-mate--the second-mate of the American brig having +shipped as my successor in the rank of third-officer. + +The parting on the wide ocean, that night, was solemn, and, in some +respects, sad. We knew that several who were in _la Dame de Nantes_ +would probably be left behind, as she travelled her long, solitary +path, in the depths of the ocean; and there were the chances that she, +herself, might never arrive. As respects the last, however, the odds +were in her favour, the American coast being effectually cleared of +French privateers by that time; and I subsequently received eleven +hundred and seventy-three dollars for my share in that exploit. How I +was affected by the circumstance, and what I did with the money, will +appear in the sequel. + +The Crisis made sail on a bowline, at the same moment her prize filled +away for America; Miles Wallingford a much more important personage than +he had been a few hours before. We put the prisoners below, keeping a +good watch over them, and hauled off to the northward and westward, in +order to avoid any French cruisers that might be hovering on their own +coast. Captain Williams seemed satisfied with the share of glory he had +obtained, and manifested no further disposition to seek renown in arms. +As for Marble, I never knew a man more exalted in his own esteem, than +he was by the results of that day's work. It certainly did him great +credit; but, from that hour, woe to the man who pretended to dispute +with him concerning the character of any sail that happened to cross our +path. + +The day after we parted company with our prize, we made a sail to the +westward, and hauled up to take a look at her, the wind having shifted. +She was soon pronounced to be an American; but, though we showed our +colours, the stranger, a brig, manifested no disposition to speak us. +This induced Captain Williams to make sail in chase, more especially +as the brig endeavoured to elude us by passing ahead, and the run was +pretty nearly on our course. At 4, P. M. we got near enough to throw a +nine-pound shot between the fellow's masts, when the chase hove-to, and +permitted us to come up. The brig proved to be the prize of _la Dame +de Nantes_, and we took possession of her forthwith. As this vessel was +loaded with flour, pot and pearl ashes, &c., and was bound to London, I +was put in charge of her, with a young man of my own age, of the name of +Roger Talcott, for my assistant, having six men for my crew. Of course +the Frenchmen, all but one who acted as cook and steward excepted, were +received on board the Crisis. Neb went with me, through his own and my +earnest entreaties, though spared by Marble with great reluctance. + +This was my first command; and proud enough did I feel on the occasion, +though almost dying with the apprehension of doing something wrong. My +orders were, to make the Lizard light, and to crawl along up-channel, +keeping close in with the English coast; Captain Williams anticipating +instructions to go to the same port to which the Amanda (the brig) was +bound, and expecting to overtake us, after he had called at Falmouth +for his orders. As the Crisis could go four feet to the Amanda's three, +before sunset our old ship was hull down ahead of us. + +When I took charge of the deck the next morning, I found myself on the +wide ocean, with nothing in sight, at the age of eighteen, and in the +enemy's seas, with a valuable vessel to care for, my way to find into +narrow waters that I had never entered, and a crew on board, of whom +just one-half were now on their first voyage. Our green hands had +manifested the aptitude of Americans, and had done wonders in the way of +improvement; but a great deal still remained to be learned. The Crisis's +complement had been too large to employ everybody at all sorts of work, +as is usually done in a merchant-vessel with her ordinary number of +hands and the landsmen had to take their chances for instruction. +Notwithstanding, the men I got were stout, healthy, willing and able to +pull and haul with the oldest salts. + +By the arrangement that had been made, I was now thrown upon my own +resources. Seamanship, navigation, address, prudence, all depended on +me. I confess I was, at first, nearly as much depressed by the novelty +and responsibility of my command, as Neb was delighted. But it is +surprising how soon we get accustomed to changes of this sort. The first +five or six hours set me quite at my ease, though it is true nothing +occurred in the least out of the usual way; and, by the time the sun +set, I should have been happy, could I have got over the uneasiness +produced by the darkness. The wind had got round to south-west, and blew +fresh. I set a lower and a top-mast studding-sail, and by the time the +light had entirely vanished, the brig began to drag after her canvass in +a way to keep me wide awake. I was at a loss whether to shorten sail +or not. On the one hand, there was the apprehension of carrying away +something; and, on the other, the fear of seeming timid in the eyes of +the two or three seamen I had with me. I watched the countenances of +these men, in order to glean their private sentiments; but, usually, +Jack relies so much on his officers, that he seldom anticipates evils. +As for Neb, the harder it blew, the greater was his rapture. He appeared +to think the wind was Master Miles's, as well as the ocean, the brig, +and himself. The more there was of each, the richer I became. As for +Talcott, he was scarcely as good a seaman as myself, though he was +well-educated, had good manners, was well-connected, and had been my +original competitor for the office of third-mate. I had been preferred +only through the earnest recommendations of Marble. Talcott, however, +was as expert a navigator as we had in the ship, and had been placed +with me on that account; Captain Williams fancying two heads might prove +better than one. I took this young man into the cabin with me, not only +as a companion, but to give him consideration with the people forward. +On shore, though less fortunate in the way of state, he would have been +considered as fully my equal in position. + +Talcott and myself remained on deck together nearly the whole of the +first night and the little sleep I did get was caught in a top-mast +studding-sail that lay on the quarterdeck, and which I had determined +not to set, after rowsing it up for that purpose. When daylight +returned, however, with a clear horizon, no increase of wind, and +nothing in sight, I was so much relieved as to take a good nap until +eight. All that day we started neither tack nor sheet, nor touched a +brace. Towards evening I went aloft myself to look for land, but without +success, though I knew, from our observation at noon, it could not be +far off. Fifty years ago the longitude was the great difficulty with +navigators. Both Talcott and myself did very well with the lunars, it is +true; but there was no chance to observe, and even lunars soon get out +of their reckoning among currents and tides. Glad enough, then, was I to +hear Neb sing but “Light ahead!” from the fore-top-sail-yard. This was +about ten o'clock. I knew this light must be the Lizard, as we were too +far to the eastward for Scilly. The course was changed so as to bring +the light a little on the weather-bow; and I watched for its appearance +to us on deck with an anxiety I have experienced, since, only in the +most trying circumstances. Half an hour sufficed for this, and then I +felt comparatively happy. A new beginner even is not badly off with +the wind fresh at south-west, and the Lizard light in plain view on +his weather-bow, if he happen to be bound up-channel. That night, +consequently, proved to be more comfortable than the previous. + +Next morning there was no change, except in the brig's position. We were +well in the channel, had the land as close aboard as was prudent, and +could plainly see, by objects ashore, that we were travelling ahead at a +famous rate. We went within a mile of the Eddystone, so determined was +I to keep as far as possible from the French privateers. Next morning we +were up abreast of the Isle of Wight; but the wind had got round to the +southward and eastward, becoming much lighter, and so scant as to bring +us on a taut bowline. This made England a lee-shore, and I began to be +as glad to get off it, as I had lately been to hug it. + +All this time, it will easily be understood that we kept a sharp +look-out, on board the brig, for enemies. We saw a great many sail, +particularly as we approached the Straits of Dover, and kept as much +aloof from all as circumstances would allow. Several were evidently +English vessels-of-war, and I felt no small concern on the subject of +having some of my men impressed; for at that period, and for many years +afterwards, ships of all nations that traded with the English lost many +of their people by this practice, and the American craft more than any +other. I ascribed to our sticking so close to the coast, which we did +as long as it was at all safe, the manner in which we were permitted to +pass unnoticed, or, at least, undetained. But, as we drew nearer to the +narrow waters, I had little hope of escaping without being boarded. In +the mean while, we made short stretches off the land, and back again, +all one day and night, working slowly to the eastward. We still met with +no interruption. I was fast getting confidence in myself; handling the +Amanda, in my own judgment, quite as welt as Marble could have done +it, and getting my green hands into so much method and practice, that I +should not have hesitated about turning round and shaping our course +for New York, so far as the mere business of navigating the vessel was +concerned. + +The lights on the English coast were safe guides for our movements, and +they let me understand how much we made or lost on a tack. Dungeness was +drawing nearer slowly, to appearances, and I was beginning to look +out for a pilot; when Talcott, who had the watch, about three in the +morning, came with breathless haste into the cabin, to tell me there was +a sail closing with us fast, and, so far as he could make her out in the +darkness, she was lugger-rigged. This was startling news indeed, for it +was almost tantamount to saying the stranger was a Frenchman. I did not +undress at all, and was on deck in a moment. The vessel in chase was +about half a mile distant on our lee-quarter, but could be plainly +enough distinguished, and I saw at a glance she was a lugger. There were +certainly English luggers; but all the traditions of the profession had +taught me to regard a vessel of that particular rig as a Frenchman. I +had heard of privateers from Dunkirk, Boulogne, and various other ports +in France, running over to the English coast in the night, and making +prizes, just as this fellow seemed disposed to serve us. Luckily, our +head was toward the land, and we were looking about a point and a +half to windward of the light on Dungeness, being also favoured with a +flood-tide, so far as we could judge by the rapid drift of the vessel to +windward. + +My decision was made in a minute. I knew nothing of batteries, or where +to seek protection; but there was the land, and I determined to make for +it as fast as I could. By keeping the brig a good full, and making +all the sail she could carry, I thought we might run ashore before the +lugger could get alongside us. As for her firing, I did not believe she +would dare to attempt that, as it might bring some English cruiser on +her heels, and France was some hours' sail distant. The fore and mizen +top-gallant-sails were set as fast as possible, the weather-braces +pulled upon a little, the bowlines eased, and the brig kept a rap-full. +The Amanda was no flyer, certainly; but she seemed frightened as much +as we were ourselves, that night. I never knew her to get along so fast, +considering the wind; and really there was a short time when I began to +think she held her own, the lugger being jammed up as close as she could +be. But this was all delusion, that craft coming after us more like a +sea-serpent than a machine carried ahead by canvass. I was soon certain +that escape from such a racer by sailing, was altogether out of the +question. + +The land and light were now close aboard us, and I expected every moment +to hear the brig's keel grinding on the bottom. At this instant I caught +a faint glimpse of a vessel at anchor to the eastward of the point, and +apparently distant about a quarter of a mile. The thought struck me that +she might be an English cruiser, for they frequently anchored in such +places; and I called out, as it might be instinctively, “luff!” Neb +was at the helm, and I knew by his cheerful answer that the fellow was +delighted. It was lucky we luffed as we did, for, in coming to the wind, +the vessel gave a scrape that was a fearful admonisher of what would +have happened in another minute. The Amanda minded her helm beautifully, +however, and we went past the nearest land without any further hints, +heading up just high enough to fetch a little to windward of the vessel +at anchor. At the next moment, the lugger, then about a cable's length +from as, was shut in by the land. I was now in great hopes the Frenchman +would be obliged to tack; but he had measured his distance well, and +felt certain, it would seem, that he could lay past. He reasoned, +probably, as Nelson is _said_ to have reasoned at the Nile, and as some +of his captains unquestionably _did_ reason; that is, if there was water +enough for us, there was water enough for him. In another minute I saw +him, jammed nearly into the wind's eye, luffing past the point, and +falling as easily into our wake as if drawn by attraction. + +All this time, the night was unbroken by any sound. Not a hail, nor a +call, our own orders excepted, and they had been given in low tones, had +been audible on board the Amanda. As regards the vessel at anchor, she +appeared to give herself no concern. There she lay, a fine ship, and, +as I thought, a vessel-of-war, like a marine bird asleep on its proper +element. We were directly between her and the lugger, and it is possible +her anchor-watch did not see the latter. The three vessels were not more +than half a cable's length asunder; that is, we were about that distance +from the ship, and the lugger was a very little farther from us. Five +minutes must determine the matter. I was on the brig's forecastle, +anxiously examining all I could make out on board the ship, as her size, +and shape, and rig, became slowly more and more distinct; and I hailed-- + +“Ship ahoy!” + +“Hilloa! What brig's that?” + +“An American, with a French privateer-lugger close on board me, directly +in my wake. You had better be stirring!” + +I heard the quick exclamation of “The devil there is!” “Bloody Yankees!” + came next. Then followed the call of “All hands.” It was plain enough +my notice had set everything in motion in that quarter. Talcott now +came running forward to say he thought, from some movements on board the +lugger, that her people were now first apprised of the vicinity of the +ship. I had been sadly disappointed at the call for all hands on board +the ship, for it was in the manner of a merchantman, instead of that of +a vessel-of-war. But we were getting too near to remain much longer in +doubt. The Amanda was already sweeping up on the Englishman's bows, not +more than forty yards distant. + +“She is an English West-Indiaman, Mr. Wallingford,” said one of my +oldest seamen; “and a running ship; some vessel that has deserted or +lost her convoy.” + +“Do you _know_ anything of the lugger?” demanded an officer from on +board the ship, in a voice that was not very amicable. + +“No more than you see; she has chased me, close aboard, for the last +twenty minutes.” + +There was no reply to this for a moment, and then I was asked--“To tack, +and give us a little chance, by drawing him away for a few minutes. We +are armed, and will come out to your assistance.” + +Had I been ten years older, experience in the faith of men, and +especially of men engaged in the pursuit of gain, would have prevented +me from complying with this request; but, at eighteen, one views these +things differently. It did appear to me ungenerous to lead an enemy in +upon a man in his sleep, and not endeavour to do something to aid the +surprised party. I answered “ay, ay!” therefore, and tacked directly +alongside of the ship. But the manoeuvre was too late, the lugger coming +in between the ship and the brig, just as we began to draw ahead again, +leaving him room, and getting a good look at us both. The Englishman +appeared the most inviting, I suppose, for she up helm and went on board +of him on his quarter. Neither party used their guns. We were so near, +however, as plainly to understand the whole, to distinguish the orders, +and even to hear the blows that were struck by hand. It was an awful +minute to us in the brig. The cries of the hurt reached us in the +stillness of that gloomy morning, and oaths mingled with the clamour. +Though taken by surprise, John Bull fought well; though we could +perceive that he was overpowered, however, just as the distance, and the +haze that was beginning to gather thick around the land, shut in the two +vessels from our view. + +The disappearance of the two combatants furnished me with a hint how +to proceed. I stood out three or four minutes longer, or a sufficient +distance to make certain we should not be seen, and tacked again. In +order to draw as fast as possible out of the line of sight, we kept the +brig off a little, and then ran in towards the English coast, which was +sufficiently distant to enable us to stand on in that direction some +little time longer. This expedient succeeded perfectly; for, when we +found it necessary to tack again, day began to dawn. Shortly after, we +could just discern the West-Indiaman and the lugger standing off the +land, making the best of their way towards the French coast. In 1799, it +is possible that this bold Frenchman got his prize into some of his +own ports, though three or four years later it would have been a nearly +hopeless experiment. As for the Amanda, she was safe; and Nelson did not +feel happier, after his great achievement at the Nile, than I felt at +the success of my own expedient. Talcott congratulated me and applauded +me; and I believe all of us were a little too much disposed to ascribe +to our own steadiness and address, much that ought fairly to have been +imputed to chance. + +Off Dover we got a pilot, and learned that the ship captured was the +Dorothea, a valuable West-Indiaman that had stolen away from her convoy, +and come in alone, the previous evening. She anchored under Dungeness at +the first of the ebb, and, it seems, had preferred taking a good night's +rest to venturing out in the dark, when the flood made. Her berth was a +perfectly snug one, and the lugger would probably never have found her, +had we not led her directly in upon her prey. + +I was now relieved from all charge of the brig; and a relief I found it, +between shoals, enemies, and the tides, of which I knew nothing. That +day we got into the Downs, and came-to. Here I saw a fleet at anchor; +and a pretty stir it made among the man-of-war's-men, when our story was +repeated among them. I do think twenty of their boats were alongside +of us, to get the facts from the original source. Among others who thus +appeared, to question me, was one old gentleman, whom I suspected of +being an admiral. He was in shore-dress, and came in a plain way; the +men in his boat declining to answer any questions; but they paid him +unusual respect. This gentleman asked me a great many particulars, and +I told him the whole story frankly, concealing or colouring nothing. He +was evidently much interested. When he went away, he shook me cordially +by the hand, and said--“Young gentleman, you have acted prudently and +well. Never mind the grumbling of some of our lads; they think only of +themselves. It was your right and your duty to save your own vessel, if +you could, without doing anything dishonourable; and I see nothing wrong +in your conduct. But it's a sad disgrace to us, to let these French +rascals be picking up their crumbs in this fashion, right under our +hawse-holes.” + + + +CHAPTER X. + + “How pleasant and how sad the turning tide + Of human life, when side by side + The child and youth begin to glide + Along the vale of years: + The pure twin-being for a little space, + With lightsome heart, and yet a graver face. + Too young for woe, though not for tears.” + ALLSTON. + + +With what interest and deference most Americans of any education +regarded England, her history, laws and institutions, in 1799! There +were a few exceptions--warm political partisans, and here and there +an individual whose feelings had become embittered by some particular +incident of the revolution--but surprisingly few, when it is recollected +that the country was only fifteen years from the peace. I question if +there ever existed another instance of as strong provincial admiration +for the capital, as independent America manifested for the mother +country, in spite of a thousand just grievances, down to the period +of the war of 1812. I was no exception to the rule, nor was Talcott. +Neither of us had ever seen England before we made the Lizard on +this voyage, except through our minds' eyes; and these had presented +quantities of beauties and excellencies that certainly vanished on a +nearer approach. By this I merely mean that we had painted in too high +colours, as is apt to be the case when the imagination holds the pencil; +not that there was any unusual absence of things worthy to be commended. +On the contrary, even at this late, hour, I consider England as a +model for a thousand advantages, even to our own inappreciable selves. +Nevertheless, much delusion was blended with our admiration. + +English history was virtually American history; and everything on the +land, as we made our way towards town, which the pilot could point out, +was a source of amusement and delight. We had to tide it up to London, +and had plenty of leisure to see all there was to be seen. The Thames is +neither a handsome, nor a very magnificent river; but it was amazing to +witness the number of vessels that then ascended or descended it. +There was scarce a sort of craft known to Christendom, a few of the +Mediterranean excepted, that was not to be seen there; and as for the +colliers, we drifted through a forest of them that seemed large enough +to keep the town a twelvemonth in fire-wood, by simply burning their +spars. The manner in which the pilot handled our brig, too, among the +thousand ships that lay in tiers on each side of the narrow passage we +had to thread, was perfectly surprising to me; resembling the management +of a coachman in a crowded thoroughfare, more than the ordinary working +of a ship. I can safely say I learned more in the Thames, in the way of +keeping a vessel in command, and in doing what I pleased with her, +than in the whole of my voyage to Canton and back again. As for Neb, +he rolled his dark eyes about in wonder, and took an occasion to say to +me--“He'll make her talk, Masser Miles, afore he have done.” I make +no doubt the navigation from the Forelands to the bridges, as it was +conducted thirty years since, had a great influence on the seamanship of +the English. Steamers are doing away with much of this practice, though +the colliers still have to rely on themselves. Coals will scarcely pay +for tugging. + +I had been directed by Captain Williams to deliver the brig to her +original consignee, an American merchant established in the modern +Babylon, reserving the usual claim for salvage. This I did, and that +gentleman sent hands on board to take charge of the vessel, relieving me +entirely from all farther responsibility. As the captain in his letter +had, inadvertently I trust, mentioned that he had put “Mr. Wallingford, +his _third_ mate,” in charge, I got no invitation to dinner from the +consignee; though the affair of the capture under Dungeness found its +way into the papers, _viâ_ Deal, I have always thought, with the +usual caption of “Yankee Trick.” Yankee trick! This phrase, so often +carelessly used, has probably done a great deal of harm in this country. +The young and ambitious--there are all sorts of ambition, and, among +others, that of being a rogue; as a proof of which, one daily hears +people call envy, jealousy, covetousness, avarice, and half of the +meaner vices, ambition--the young and _ambitious_, then, of this +country, too often think to do a _good_ thing, that shall have some of +the peculiar merit of a certain other good thing that they have heard +laughed at and applauded, under this designation. I can account in no +other manner for the great and increasing number of “Yankee tricks” that +are of daily occurrence among us. Among other improvements in taste, +not to say in morals, that might be introduced into the American press, +would be the omission of the histories of these rare inventions. As +two-thirds of the editors of the whole country, however, are Yankees, +I suppose they must be permitted to go on exulting in the cleverness +of their race. We are indebted to the Puritan stock for most of our +instructors--editors and school-masters--and when one coolly regards the +prodigious progress of the people in morals, public and private virtue, +honesty, and other estimable qualities, he must indeed rejoice in the +fact that our masters so early discovered “a church without a bishop.” + +I had an opportunity, while in London, however, of ascertaining that +the land of our fathers, which by the way has archbishops, contains +something besides an unalloyed virtue in its bosom. At Gravesend we took +on board _two_ customhouse officers, (they always set a rogue to watch +a rogue, in the English revenue system,) and they remained in the +brig until she was discharged. One of these men had been a gentleman's +servant, and he owed his place to his former master's interest. He was a +miracle of custom-house integrity and disinterestedness, as I discovered +in the first hour of our intercourse. Perceiving a lad of eighteen in +charge of the prize, and ignorant that this lad had read a good deal of +Latin and Greek under excellent Mr. Hardinge, besides being the heir +of Clawbonny, I suppose he fancied he would have an easy time with him. +This man's name was Sweeney. Perceiving in me an eager desire to see +everything, the brig was no sooner at her moorings, than he proposed a +cruise ashore. It was Sweeney who showed me the way to the consignee's, +and, that business accomplished, he proposed that we should proceed on +and take a look at St. Paul's, the Monument, and, as he gradually found +my tastes more intellectual than he had at first supposed, the +wonders of the West End. I was nearly a week under the pilotage of the +“Admirable Sweeney.” After showing me the exteriors of all the things of +mark about the town, and the interiors of a few that I was disposed to +pay for, he descended in his tastes, and carried me through Wapping, its +purlieus and its scenes of atrocities. I have always thought Sweeney was +sounding me, and hoping to ascertain my true character, by the course he +took; and that he betrayed his motives in a proposition which he finally +made, and which brought our intimacy to a sudden close. The result, +however, was to let me into secrets I should probably have never learned +in any other manner. Still, I had read and heard too much to be easily +duped; and I kept myself not only out of the power of my tempter, but +out of the power of all that could injure me, remaining simply a curious +observer of what was placed before my eyes. Good Mr. Hardinge's lessons +were not wholly forgotten; I could run away from him, much easier than +from his precepts. + +I shall never forget a visit I made to a house called the Black Horse, +in St. Catherine's Lane. This last was a narrow street that ran across +the site of the docks that now bear the same name; and it was the resort +of all the local infamy of Wapping. I say _local_ infamy; for there were +portions of the West End that were even worse than anything which a mere +port could produce. Commerce, that parent of so much that is useful to +man, has its dark side as everything else of earth; and, among its other +evils, it drags after it a long train of low vice; but this train +is neither so long nor so broad as that which is chained to the +chariot-wheels of the great. Appearances excepted, and they are far less +than might be expected, I think the West End could beat Wapping out +and out, in every essential vice; and, if St. Giles be taken into the +account, I know of no salvo in favour of the land over the sea. + +Our visit to the Black Horse was paid of a Sunday, that being the +leisure moment of all classes of labourers, and the day when, being +attired in their best, they fancied themselves best prepared to appear +in the world. I will here remark, that I have never been in any portion +of Christendom that keeps the Sabbath precisely as it is kept in +America. In all other countries, even the most rigorously severe in +their practices, it is kept as a day of recreation and rest, as well as +of public devotion. Even in the American towns, the old observances are +giving way before the longings or weaknesses of human nature; and Sunday +is no longer what it was. I have witnessed scenes of brawling, blasphemy +and rude tumult, in the suburbs of New York, on Sundays, within the +last few years, that I have never seen in any other part of the world +on similar occasions; and serious doubts of the expediency of the +high-pressure principle have beset me, whatever may be the just +constructions of doctrine. With the last I pretend not to meddle; but, +in a worldly point of view, it would seem wise, if you cannot make men +all that they ought to be, to aim at such social regulations as shall +make them as little vile as possible. But, to return to the Black Horse +in St. Catherine's Lane--a place whose very name was associated with +vileness. + +It is unnecessary to speak of the characters of its female visiters. +Most of them were young, many of them were still blooming and handsome, +but all of them were abandoned. “I need tell you nothing of these +girls,” said Sweeney, who was a bit of a philosopher in his way, +ordering a pot of beer, and motioning me to take a seat at a vacant +table--“but, as for the men you see here, half are house-breakers and +pickpockets, come to pass the day genteelly among you gentlemen-sailors. +There are two or three faces here that I have seen at the Old Bailey, +myself; and how they have remained in the country, is more than I can +tell you. You perceive these fellows are just as much at their ease, and +the landlord who receives and entertains them is just as much at _his_ +ease, as if the whole party were merely honest men.” + +“How happens it,” I asked, “that such known rogues are allowed to go at +large, or that this inn-keeper dares receive them?” + +“Oh! you're a child yet, or you would not ask such a question! You must +know, Master Wallingford, that the law protects rogues as well as honest +men. To convict a pickpocket, you must have witnesses and jurors to +agree, and prosecutors, and a sight of things that are not as plenty +as pocket-handkerchiefs, or even wallets and Bank of England notes. +Besides, these fellows can prove an alibi any day in the week. An alibi, +you must know--” + +“I know very well what an alibi means, Mr. Sweeney.” + +“The deuce you do!” exclaimed the protector of the king's revenue, +eyeing me a little distrustfully. “And pray how should one as young as +you, and coming from a new country like America, know that?” + +“Oh!” said I, laughing, “America is just the country for +_alibis_--everybody is everywhere, and nobody anywhere. The whole nation +is in motion, and there is every imaginable opportunity for _alibis_.” + +I believe I owed the development of Sweeney's “ulterior views” to +this careless speech. He had no other idea of the word than its legal +signification; and it must have struck him as a little suspicious that +one of my apparent condition in life, and especially of my years, should +be thus early instructed in the meaning of this very useful professional +term. It was a minute before he spoke again, having been all that time +studying my countenance. + +“And pray, Master Wallingford,” he then inquired, “do you happen to know +what _nolle prosequi_ means, too?” + +“Certainly; it means to give up the chase. The French lugger under +Dungeness entered a _nolle prosequi_ as respects my brig, when she found +her hands full of the West-Indiaman.” + +“So, so; I find I have been keeping company all this time with a knowing +one, and I such a simpleton as to fancy him green! Well, that I should +live to be done by a raw Jonathan!” + +“Poh, poh, Mr. Sweeney, I can tell you a story of two of our naval +officers, that took place just before we sailed; and then you will learn +that all hands of us, on the other side of the Big Pond, understand +Latin. One of these officers had been engaged in a duel, and he found it +necessary to lie hid. A friend and shipmate, who was in his secret, came +one day in a great hurry to tell him that the authorities of the State +in which the parties fought had entered a _nolle prosequi”_ against +the offenders. He had a newspaper with the whole thing in it, in print. +“What's a _nolle prosequi_, Jack?” asked Tom. “Why, it's Latin, to be +sure, and it means some infernal thing or other. We must contrive to +find out, for it's half the battle to know who and what you've got to +face.” “Well, you know lots of lawyers, and dare show your face; so, +just step out and ask one.” “I'll trust no lawyer; I might put the +question to some chap who has been fee'd. But we both studied a little +Latin when boys, and between us we'll undermine the meaning.” Tom +assented, and to work they went. Jack had the most Latin; but, do all +he could, he was not able to find a “_nolle_” in any dictionary. After +a great deal of conjecture, the friends agreed it must be the root of +“knowledge,” and that point was settled. As for “_prosequi_” it was +not so difficult, as “sequor” was a familiar word; and, after some +cogitation, Jack announced his discoveries. “If this thing were in +English, now,” he said, “a fellow might understand it. In that case, I +should say that the sheriff's men were in “pursuit of knowledge;” that +is, hunting after _you_; but Latin, you remember, was always an inverted +sort of stuff, and that '_pro_' alters the whole signification. The +paper says they've '_entered_ a _nolle prosequi;_' and the 'entered' +explains the whole. 'Entered a nolle' means, have entered on the +knowledge, got a scent; you see it is law English; 'pro' means 'how,' +and 'sequi,' 'to give chase.' The amount of it all is, Tom, that they +are on your heels, and I must go to work and send you off, at once, two +or three hundred miles into the interior, where you may laugh at them +and their 'nolle prosequis' together.” {*] + +{Footnote *: There is said to be foundation for this story.] + +Sweeney laughed heartily at this story, though he clearly did not take +the joke, which I presume he fancied lay concealed under an American +flash language; and he proposed by way of finishing the day, to carry me +to an entertainment where, he gave me to understand, American officers +were fond of sometimes passing a few minutes. I was led to a Wapping +assembly-room, on entering which I found myself in a party composed of +some forty or fifty cooks and stewards of American vessels, all as black +as their own pots with partners of the usual colour and bloom of English +girls I have as few prejudices of colour as any American well can +have; but I will confess this scene struck me as being painfully out of +keeping. In England, however, nothing seemed to be thought of it; and +I afterwards found that marriages between English women, and men of all +the colours of the rainbow, were very common occurrences. + +When he had given me this ball as the climax of his compliments, Sweeney +betrayed the real motive of all his attentions. After drinking a pot of +beer extra, well laced with gin, he offered his services in smuggling +anything ashore that the Amanda might happen to contain, and which I, +as the prize-master, might feel a desire to appropriate to my own +particular purposes. I met the proposal with a little warmth, letting my +tempter understand that I considered his offer so near an insult, that +it must terminate our acquaintance. The man seemed astounded. In the +first place, he evidently thought all goods and chattels were made to be +plundered, and then he was of opinion that plundering was a very +common “Yankee trick.” Had I been an Englishman, he might possibly have +understood my conduct; but, with him, it was so much a habit to fancy +an American a rogue, that, as I afterwards discovered, he was trying +to persuade the leader of a press-gang that I was the half-educated and +illegitimate son of some English merchant, who wished to pass himself +off for an American. I pretend not to account for the contradiction, +though I have often met with the same moral phenomena among his +countrymen; but here was as regular a rogue as ever cheated, who +pretended to think roguery indigenous to certain nations, among whom his +own was not included. + +At length I was cheered with the sight of the Crisis, as she came +drifting through the tiers, turning, and twisting, and glancing along, +just as the Amanda had done before her. The pilot carried her to +moorings quite near us; and Talcott, Neb and I were on board her, +before she was fairly secured. My reception was very favourable, Captain +Williams having seen the account of the “Yankee trick” in the papers; +and, understanding the thing just as it had happened, he placed the most +advantageous construction on all I had done. For myself, I confess I +never had any misgivings on the subject. + +All hands of us were glad to be back in the Crisis again. Captain +Williams had remained at Falmouth longer than he expected, to make +some repairs that could not be thoroughly completed at sea, which alone +prevented him from getting into the river as soon as I did myself. Now +the ship was in, we no longer felt any apprehension of being impressed, +Sweeney's malignancy having set several of the gang upon the scent after +us. Whether the fellow actually thought I was an English subject or not, +is more than I ever knew; but I felt no disposition myself to let +the point be called in question, before my Lord Chief Justice of a +Rendezvous. The King's Bench was more governed by safe principles, in +its decisions, than the gentlemen who presided in these marine courts of +the British navy. + +As I was the only officer in the ship who had ever seen anything of +London, my fortnight's experience made me a notable man in the cabin. It +was actually greater preferment for me than when I was raised from third +to be second-mate. Marble was all curiosity to see the English capital, +and he made me promise to be his pilot, as soon as duty would allow time +for a stroll, and to show him everything I had seen myself. We soon got +out the cargo, and then took in ballast for our North-West voyage; the +articles we intended to traffic with on the coast, being too few and too +light to fill the ship. This kept us busy for a fortnight, after which +we had to look about us to obtain men to supply the places of those +who had been killed, or sent away in _la Dame de Nantes_. Of course +we preferred Americans; and this so much the more, as Englishmen were +liable to be pressed at any moment. Fortunately, a party of men that had +been taken out of an American ship, a twelvemonth before, by an English +cruiser, had obtained their discharges; and they all came to London, +for the double purpose of getting some prize-money, and of obtaining +passages home. These lads were pleased with the Crisis and the voyage, +and, instead of returning to their own country, sailor-like, they +took service to go nearly round the world. These were first-rate +men--Delaware-river seamen--and proved a great accession to our force. +We owed the windfall to the reputation the ship had obtained by her +affairs with the letter-of-marque; an account of which, copied from the +log-book and a little embellished by some one on shore, he consignee had +taken care should appear in the journals. The history of the surprise, +in particular, read very well; and the English were in a remarkably good +humour, at that time, to receive an account of any discomfiture of a +Frenchman. At no period since the year 1775, had the American character +stood so high in England as it did just then; the two nations, for a +novelty, fighting on the same side. Not long after we left London, +the underwriters at Lloyd's actually voted a handsome compliment to an +American commander for capturing a French frigate. Stranger things have +happened than to have the day arrive when English and American fleets +may be acting in concert. No one can tell what is in the womb of time; +and I have lived long enough to know that no man can foresee who will +continue to be his friends, or a nation what people may become its +enemies. + +The Crisis at length began to take in her bales and boxes for the +North-West Coast, and, as the articles were received slowly, or a few +packages at a time, it gave us leisure for play. Our captain was in +such good humour with us, on account of the success of the outward-bound +passage, that he proved very indulgent. This disposition was probably +increased by the circumstance that a ship arrived in a very short +passage from New York, which spoke our prize; all well, with a smacking +southerly breeze, a clear coast, and a run of only a few hundred miles +to make. This left the almost moral certainty that _la Dame de Nantes_ +had arrived safe, no Frenchman being likely to trust herself on that +distant coast, which was now alive with our own cruisers, going to or +returning from the West Indies. + +I had a laughable time in showing Marble the sights of London. We began +with the wild beasts in the Tower, as in duty bound; but of these our +mate spoke very disparagingly. He had been too often in the East “to +be taken in by such animals;” and, to own the truth, the cockneys were +easily satisfied on the score of their _menagerie_. We next went to +the Monument; but this did not please him. He had seen a shot-tower in +America--there was but one in that day--that beat it out and out as to +height, and he thought in beauty, too. There was no reasoning against +this. St. Paul's rather confounded him. He frankly admitted there was no +such church at Kennebunk; though he did not know but Trinity, New +York, “might stand up alongside of it.” “Stand up along side of it!” I +repeated, laughing. “Why, Mr. Marble, Trinity, steeple and all, could +stand up in it--_under_ that dome-and then leave more room in +this building than all the other churches in New York contain, put +altogether.” + +It was a long time before Marble forgave this speech. He said it was +“unpatriotic;” a word which was less used in 1799 than it is used +to-day, certainly; but which, nevertheless, _was_ used. It often meant +then, as now, a thick and thin pertinacity in believing in provincial +marvels; and, in this, Marble was one of the most patriotic men with +whom I ever met. I got him out of the church, and along Fleet street, +through Temple Bar, and into the Strand, however, in peace; and then we +emerged into the arena of fashion, aristocracy and the court. After a +time, we worked our way into Hyde Park, where we brought up, to make our +observations. + +Marble was deeply averse to acknowledging all the admiration he really +felt at the turn-outs of London, as they were exhibited in the Park, of +a fine day, in their season. It is probable the world elsewhere never +saw anything approaching the beauty and magnificence that is here daily +seen, at certain times, so far as beauty and magnificence are connected +with equipages, including carriages, horses and servants. Unable to find +fault with the _tout ensemble_, our mate made a violent attack on the +liveries. He protested it was indecent to put a “hired man”--the word +_help_ never being applied to the male sex, I believe, by the most +fastidious New England purist--in a cocked hat; a decoration that +ought to be exclusively devoted to the uses of ministers of the gospel, +governors of States, and militia officers. I had some notions of the +habits of the great world, through books, and some little learned +by observation and listening; but Marble scouted at most of my +explanations. He put his own construction on everything he saw; and I +have often thought, since, could the publishers of travels have had the +benefit of his blunders, how many would have profited by them. Gentlemen +were just then beginning to drive their own coaches; and I remember, +in a particular instance, an ultra in the new mode had actually put his +coachman in the inside, while he occupied the dickey in person. Such +a gross violation of the proprieties was unusual, even in London; but +there sat Jehu, in all the dignity of cotton-lace, plush, and a cocked +hat. Marble took it into his head that this man was the king, and no +reasoning of mine could persuade him to the contrary. In vain I pointed +out to him a hundred similar dignitaries, in the proper exercise of +their vocation, on the hammer-cloths; he cared not a straw--this was not +showing him one _inside_; and a gentleman inside of a carriage, who wore +so fine a coat, and a cocked hat in the bargain, could be nothing less +than some dignitary of the empire; and why not the king! Absurd as all +this will seem, I have known mistakes, connected with the workings of +our own institutions, almost as great, made by theorists from Europe. + +While Marble and I were wrangling on this very point, a little +incident occurred, which led to important consequences in the end. +Hackney-coaches, or any other public conveyance, short of post-chaises +and post-horses, are not admitted into the English parks. But +glass-coaches are; meaning by this term, which is never used in America, +hired carriages that do not go on the stands. We encountered one of +these glass-coaches in a very serious difficulty. The horses had +got frightened by means of a wheelbarrow, aided probably by some bad +management of the driver, and had actually backed the hind-wheels of the +vehicle into the water of the canal. They would have soon had the whole +carriage submerged, and have followed it themselves, had it not been +for the chief-mate and myself. I thrust the wheelbarrow under one of +the forward-wheels, just in time to prevent the final catastrophe; while +Marble grasped the spoke with his iron gripe, and, together, he and the +wheelbarrow made a resistance that counterbalanced the backward tendency +of the team. There was no footman; and, springing to the door, I aided a +sickly-looking, elderly man--a female who might very well have been his +wife, and another that I took for his daughter--to escape. By my agency +all three were put on the dry land, without even wetting their feet, +though I fared worse myself. No sooner were they safe, than Marble, +who was up to his shoulders in the water, and who had made prodigious +efforts to maintain the balance of power, released his hold, the +wheelbarrow gave way at the same moment, and the whole affair, coach and +horses, had their will, and went, stern foremost, overboard. One of the +horses was saved, I believe, and the other drowned; but, a crowd +soon collecting, I paid little attention to what was going on in the +carriage, as soon as its cargo was discharged. + +The gentleman we had saved, pressed my hand with fervour, and Marble's, +too; saying that we must not quit him--that we must go home with him. To +this we consented, readily enough, thinking we might still be of use. As +we all walked towards one of the more private entrances of the Park, I +had an opportunity of observing the people we had served. They were very +respectable in appearance; but I knew enough of the world to see that +they belonged to what is called the middle class in England. I thought +the man might be a soldier; while the two females had an air of great +respectability, though not in the least of fashion. The girl appeared to +be nearly as old as myself, and was decidedly pretty. Here, then, was an +adventure! I had saved the life of a damsel of seventeen, and had only +to fall in love, to become the hero of a romance. + +At the gate, the gentleman stopped a hackney-coach, put the females in, +and desired us to follow. But to this we would not consent, both being +wet, and Marble particularly so. After a short parley, he gave us an +address in Norfolk Street, Strand; and we promised to stop there on our +way back to the ship. Instead of following the carriage, however, we +made our way on foot into the Strand, where we found an eating-house, +turned in and eat a hearty dinner each, the chief-mate resorting to some +brandy in order to prevent his taking cold. On what principle this is +done, I cannot explain, though I know it is often practised, and in all +quarters of the world. + +As soon as we had dined and dried ourselves, we went into Norfolk +street. We had been told to ask for Major Merton, and this we did. The +house was one of those plain lodging-houses, of which most of that part +of the town is composed: and we found the Major and his family in the +occupation of the first floor, a mark of gentility on which some stress +is laid in England. It was plain enough, however, to see that these +people were not rolling in that splendour, of which we had just seen so +much in the Park. + +“I can trace the readiness and gallantry of the English tar in your +conduct,” observed the Major, after he had given us both quite as warm +a reception as circumstances required, at the same time taking out his +pocket-book, and turning over some bank-notes. “I wish, for your sakes, +I was better able than I am to reward you for what you have done; but +twenty pounds is all I can now offer. At some other time, circumstances +may place it in my power to give further and better proofs of my +gratitude.” + +As this was said, the Major held two ten-pound notes towards Marble, +doubtless intending that I should receive one of them, as a fair +division of the spoils. Now, according to all theory, and the +established opinion of the Christian world, America is _the_ avaricious +country; the land, of all others, in which men are the most greedy of +gain; in which human beings respect gold more, and themselves less, than +in any other portion of this globe. I never dispute anything that is +settled by the common consent of my fellow-creatures, for the simple +reason that I know the decision must be against me; so I will concede +that money _is_ the great end of American life--that there is little +else to live for, in the great model republic. Politics have fallen into +such hands, that office will not even give social station; the people +are omnipotent, it is true; but, though they can make a governor, they +cannot make gentlemen and ladies; even kings are sometimes puzzled to do +that; literature, arms, arts, and fame of all sorts, are unattainable in +their rewards, among us as in other nations, leaving the puissant dollar +in its undisturbed ascendency; still, as a rule, twenty Europeans can +be bought with two ten-pound Bank of England notes, much easier than two +Americans. I leave others to explain the phenomenon; I only speak of the +_fact_. + +Marble listened to the Major's speech with great attention and respect, +fumbling in his pocket for his tobacco-box, the whole time. The box was +opened just as the Major ended, and even I began to be afraid that +the well-known cupidity of Kennebunk was about to give way before the +temptation, and the notes were to be stowed alongside of the tobacco but +I was mistaken. Deliberately helping himself to a quid, the chief-mate +shut the box again, and then he made his reply. + +“Quite ginerous in you, Major,” he said, “and all ship-shape and right. +I like to see things done just in that way. Put up the money; we thank +you as much as if we could take it, and that squares all accounts. I +would just mention, however, to prevent mistakes, as the other idee +might get us impressed, that this young man and I are both born +Americans--he from up the Hudson somewhere, and I from York city, +itself, though edicated down east.” + +“Americans!” resumed the Major, drawing himself up a little stiffly; +“then _you_, young man,” turning to me, and holding out the notes, of +which he now seemed as anxious to be rid, as I had previously fancied +he was sorry to see go--“_you_ will do me the favour to accept of this +small token of my gratitude.” + +“It is quite impossible, sir,” I answered, respectfully. “We are not +exactly what we seem, and you are probably deceived by our roundabouts; +but we are the first and second officers of a letter-of-marque.” + +At the word “officers,” the Major drew back his hand, and hastily +apologised. He did not understand us even then, I could plainly see; +but he had sufficient sagacity to understand that his money would not be +accepted. We were invited to sit down, and the conversation continued. + +“Master Miles, there,” resumed Marble, “has an estate, a place called +Clawbonny, somewhere up the Hudson; and he has no business to be sailing +about the world in jacket and trowsers, when he ought to be studying +law, or trying his hand at college. But as the old cock crows, the young +'un l'arns; his father was a sailor before him, and I suppose that's the +reason on't.” + +This announcement of my position ashore did me no harm, and I could see +a change in the deportment of the whole family--not that it had ever +treated me haughtily, or even coldly; but it now regarded me as more +on a level with itself. We remained an hour with the Mertons, and I +promised to repeat the call before we sailed. This I did a dozen times, +at least; and the Major, finding, I suppose, that he had a tolerably +well-educated youth to deal with, was of great service in putting me in +a better way of seeing London. I went to both theatres with the family, +taking care to appear in a well-made suit of London clothes, in which I +made quite as respectable a figure as most of the young men I saw in the +streets. Even Emily smiled when she first saw me in my long-togs, and I +thought she blushed. She was a pretty creature; gentle and mild in her +ordinary deportment, but full of fire and spirit at the bottom, as +I could see by her light, blue, English eye. Then she had been +well-educated; and, in my young ignorance of life, I fancied she knew +more than any girl of seventeen I had ever met with. Grace and Lucy were +both clever, and had been carefully taught by Mr. Hardinge; but the +good divine could not give two girls, in the provincial retirement of +America, the cultivation and accomplishments that were within the reach +of even moderate means in England. To me, Emily Merton seemed a marvel +in the way of attainments; and I often felt ashamed of myself, as I +sat at her side, listening to the natural and easy manner in which she +alluded to things, of which I then heard for the first time. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + “Boatswain!” + “Here, master: what cheer?” + “Good: speak to the mariners; fall to 't + Yarely, or we run ourselves aground: bestir, bestir.” + _Tempest._ + + +As Captain Williams wished to show me some favour for the manner in +which I had taken care of the brig, he allowed me as much time ashore +as I asked for. I might never see London again; and, understanding I +had fallen into good company, he threw no obstacle in the way of +my profiting by it. So careful was he, indeed, as to get one of the +consul's clerks to ascertain who the Mertons were, lest I should become +the dupe of the thousands of specious rogues with which London abounds. +The report was favourable, giving us to understand that the Major had +been much employed in the West Indies, where he still held a moderately +lucrative, semi-military appointment, being then in England to settle +certain long and vexatious accounts, as well as to take Emily, his only +child, from school. He was expected to return to the old, or some other +post, in the course of a few months. A portion of this I gleaned from +Emily herself, and it was all very fairly corroborated by the account of +the consul's clerk. There was no doubt that the Mertons were persons of +respectable position; without having any claims, however, to be placed +very high. From the Major, moreover, I learned he had some American +connexions, his father having married in Boston. + +For my part, I had quite as much reason to rejoice at the chance which +threw me in the way of the Mertons, as they had. If I was instrumental +in saving their lives, as was undeniably the case, they taught me more +of the world, in the ordinary social sense of the phrase, than I had +learned in all my previous life. I make no pretensions to having seen +London society; that lay far beyond the reach of Major Merton himself, +who was born the son of a merchant, when merchants occupied a much lower +position in the English social scale than they do to-day, and had +to look to a patron for most of his own advancement. But, he was a +gentleman; maintained the notions, sentiments, and habits of the caste; +and was properly conscious of my having saved his life when it was in +great jeopardy. As for Emily Merton, she got to converse with me +with the freedom of a friend; and very pleasant it was to hear pretty +thoughts expressed in pretty language, and from pretty lips. I could +perceive that she thought me a little rustic and provincial; but I had +not been all the way to Canton to be brow-beaten by a cockney girl, +however clever and handsome. On the whole--and I say it without vanity, +at this late day--I think the impression left behind me, among these +good people, was favourable. Perhaps Clawbonny was not without its +influence; but, when I paid my last visit, even Emily looked sorrowful, +and her mother was pleased to say they should all miss me much. The +Major made me promise to hunt him up, should I ever be in Jamaica, or +Bombay; for one of which places he expected to sail himself, with his +wife and daughter, in the course of a few months. I knew he had had +one appointment, thought he might receive another, and hoped everything +would turn out for the best. + +The Crisis sailed on her day; and she went to sea from the Downs, a week +later, with a smacking southerly wind. Our Philadelphians turned out +a noble set of fellows; and we had the happiness of beating an English +sloop-of-war, just as we got clear of the channel, in a fair trial of +speed. To lessen our pride a little, a two-decker that was going to the +Mediterranean, treated us exactly in the same manner, only three days +later. What made this last affair more mortifying, was the fact that +Marble had just satisfied himself, and all hands, that, a sloop-of-war +being the fastest description of vessel, and we having got the better +of one of them, it might be fairly inferred we could outsail the whole +British navy. I endeavoured to console him, by reminding him that +“the race was not always to the swift.” He growled out some sort of an +answer, denouncing all sayings, and desiring to know out of what book I +had picked up that nonsense. + +I have no intention of dwelling on every little incident that occurred +on the long road we were now travelling. We touched at Madeira, and +landed an English family that went there for the benefit of an invalid; +got some fruit, fresh meat and vegetables, and sailed again. Our next +stopping-place was Rio, whither we went for letters from home, the +captain being taught to expect them. The ship's letters were received, +and they were filled with eulogiums on our good conduct, having been +written after the arrival of _la Dame de Nantes;_ but great was my +disappointment on finding there was not even a scrawl for myself. + +Our stay at Rio was short, and we left port with a favourable slant of +wind, running as far north as 50°, in a very short time. As we drew near +to the southern extremity of the American continent, however, we +met with heavy weather and foul winds. We were now in the month that +corresponds to November in the northern hemisphere, and had to double +The Horn at that unpropitious season of the year, going westward. There +is no part of the world of which navigators have given accounts so +conflicting, as of this celebrated passage. Each man appears to have +described it as he found it, himself, while no two seem to have found +it exactly alike. I do not remember to have ever heard of calms off +Cape Horn; but light winds are by no means uncommon, though tempests are +undoubtedly the predominant characteristic. Our captain had already +been round four times, and he held the opinion that the season made no +difference, and that it was better to keep near the land. We shaped +our course accordingly for Staten Land, intending to pass through the +Straits of Le Maire and hug the Horn, as close as possible, in doubling +it. We made the Falkland Islands, or West Falkland rather, just as the +sun rose, one morning, bearing a little on our weather-quarter, with the +wind blowing heavily at the eastward. The weather was thick, and, what +was still worse, there was so little day, and no moon, that it was +getting to be ticklish work to be standing for a passage as narrow +as that we aimed at. Marble and I talked the matter over, between +ourselves, and wished the captain could be persuaded to haul up, and +try to go to the eastward of the island, as was still possible, with the +wind where it was. Still, neither of us dared propose it; I, on account +of my youth, and the chief-mate, as he said, on account of “the old +fellow's obstinacy.” “He likes to be poking about in such places,” + Marble added, “and is never so happy as when he is running round the +ocean in places where it is full of unknown islands, looking for sandal +wood, and bêche-la-mar! I'll warrant you, he'll give us a famous time of +it, if he ever get us up on the North-West Coast.” Here the consultation +terminated, we mates believing it wiser to let things take their course. + +I confess to having seen the mountains on our weather-quarter disappear, +with melancholy forebodings. There was little hope of getting any +observation that day; and to render matters worse, about noon, the +wind began to haul more to the southward. As it hauled, it increased in +violence, until, at midnight, it blew a gale; the commencement of such a +tempest as I had never witnessed in any of my previous passages at sea. +As a matter of course, sail was reduced as fast as it became necessary, +until we had brought the ship down to a close-reefed main-top-sail, the +fore-top-mast staysail, the fore-course, and the mizen-staysail. This +was old fashioned Canvass; the more recent spencer being then unknown. + +Our situation was now far from pleasant. The tides and currents, in that +high latitude, run with great velocity; and, then, at a moment when it +was of the greatest importance to know precisely where the ship was, we +were left to the painful uncertainty of conjecture, and theories +that might be very wide of the truth. The captain had nerve enough, +notwithstanding, to keep on the larboard tack until daylight, in the +hope of getting in sight of the mountains of Terra del Fuego. No one, +now, expected we should be able to fetch through the Straits; but it +would be a great relief to obtain a sight of the land, as it would +enable us to get some tolerably accurate notions of our position. +Daylight came at length, but it brought no certainty. The weather was +so thick, between a drizzling rain, sea-mist and the spray, that it was +seldom we could see a league around us, and frequently not half a mile. +Fortunately, the general direction of the eastern coast of Terra del +Fuego, is from north-west to south-east, always giving us room to ware +off shore, provided we did not unexpectedly get embarrassed in some one +of the many deep indentations of that wild and inhospitable shore. + +Captain Williams showed great steadiness in the trying circumstances in +which we were placed. The ship was just far enough south to render it +probable she could weather Falkland Islands, on the other tack, could we +rely upon the currents; but it would be ticklish work to undertake such +a thing, in the long, intensely dark nights we had, and thus run the +risk of finding ourselves on a lee shore. He determined, therefore, to +hold on as long as possible, on the tack we were on, expecting to get +through another night, without coming upon the land, every hour now +giving us the hope that we were drawing near to the termination of the +gale. I presume he felt more emboldened to pursue this course by the +circumstance that the wind evidently inclined to haul little by little, +more to the southward, which was not only increasing our chances of +laying past the islands, but lessened the danger from Terra del Fuego. + +Marble was exceedingly uneasy during that second night. He remained on +deck with me the whole of the morning watch; not that he distrusted +my discretion in the least, but because he distrusted the wind and the +land. I never saw him in so much concern before, for it was his habit to +consider himself a timber of the ship, that was to sink or swim with the +craft. + +“Miles,” said he, “you and I know something of these 'bloody currents,' +and we know they take a ship one way, while she looks as fiercely the +other as a pig that is dragged aft by the tail. If we had run down the +50th degree of longitude, now, we might have had plenty of sea-room, and +been laying past the Cape, with this very wind; but, no, the old fellow +would have had no islands in that case, and he never could be happy +without half-a-dozen islands to bother him.” + +“Had we run down the 50th degree of longitude,” I answered, “we should +have had twenty degrees to make to get round the Horn; whereas, could +we only lay through the Straits of Le Maire, six or eight of those very +same degrees would carry us clear of everything.” + +“Only lay through the Straits of Le Maire, on the 10th November, or what +is the same thing in this quarter of the world, of May, and with +less than nine hours of day-light! And such day-light, too! Why, our +Newfoundland fogs, such stuff as I used to eat when a youngster and +a fisherman, are high noon to it! Soundings are out of the question +hereabouts; and, before one has hauled in the deep-sea, with all its +line out, his cut-water may be on a rock. This ship is so weatherly and +drags ahead so fast, that we shall see _terra firma_ before any one has +a notion of it. The old man fancies, because the coast of Fuego trends +to the north-west, that the land will fall away from us, as fast as we +draw towards it. I hope he may live long enough to persuade all hands +that he is right!” + +Marble and I were conversing on the forecastle at the time, our eyes +turned to the westward, for it was scarcely possible for him to look in +any other direction, when he interrupted himself, by shouting +out--“hard up with the helm--spring to the after-braces, my lads--man +mizen-staysail downhaul!” This set everybody in motion, and the captain +and third-mate were on deck in a minute. The ship fell off, as soon as +we got the mizen-staysail in, and the main-topsail touching. Gathering +way fast, as she got the wind more aft, her helm threw her stern up, +and away she went like a top. The fore-topmast staysail-sheet was +tended with care, and yet the cloth emitted a sound like the report of +a swivel, when the sail first filled on the other tack. We got the +starboard fore-tack forward, and the larboard sheet aft, by two +tremendously severe drags, the blocks and bolts seeming fairly to +quiver, as they felt the strains. Everything succeeded, however, and +the Crisis began to drag off from the coast of Terra del Fuego, of a +certainty; but to go whither, no one could precisely tell. She headed +up nearly east, the wind playing about between south-and-by-east, and +south-east-and-by-south. On that course, I own I had now great doubt +whether she could lay past the Falkland Islands, though I felt persuaded +we must be a long distance from them. There was plenty of time before us +to take the chances of a change. + +As soon as the ship was round, and trimmed by the wind on the other +tack, Captain Williams had a grave conversation with the chief-mate, on +the subject of his reason for what he had done. Marble maintained he had +caught a glimpse of the land ahead--“Just as you know I did of la Dame +de Nantes, Captain Williams,” he continued, “and seeing there was no +time to be lost, I ordered the helm hard up, to ware off shore.” I +distrusted this account, even while it was in the very process of coming +out of the chief mate's mouth, and Marble afterwards admitted to me, +quite justly; but the captain either was satisfied, or thought it +prudent to seem so. By the best calculations I afterwards made, I +suppose we must have been from fifteen to twenty leagues from the +land when we wore ship; but, as Marble said, when he made his private +confessions, “Madagascar was quite enough for me, Miles, without +breaking our nose on this sea-gull coast; and there may be 'bloody +currents' on this side of the Cape of Good Hope, as well as on the +other. We've got just so much of a gale and a foul wind to weather, and +the ship will do both quite as well with her head to the eastward, as +with her head to the westward.” + +All that day the Crisis stood on the starboard tack, dragging through +the raging waters as it might be by violence; and just as night shut in +again, she wore round, once more, with her head to the westward. So +far from abating, the wind increased, and towards evening we found it +necessary to furl our topsail and fore-course. Mere rag of a sail as the +former had been reduced to, with its four reefs in, it was a delicate +job to roll it up. Neb and I stood together in the bunt, and never did +I exert myself more than on that occasion. The foresail, too, was a +serious matter, but we got both sails in without losing either. Just as +the sun set, or as night came to increase the darkness of that gloomy +day, the fore-topmast-staysail went out of the bolt-rope, with a report +that was heard all over the ship; disappearing in the mist, like a cloud +driving in the heavens. A few minutes later, the mizen-staysail was +hauled down in order to prevent it from travelling the same road. The +jerks even this low canvass occasionally gave the ship, made her tremble +from her keel to her trucks. + +For the first time, I now witnessed a tempest at sea. Gales, and pretty +hard ones, I had often seen; but the force of the wind on this occasion, +as much exceeded that in ordinary gales of wind, as the force of these +had exceeded that of a whole-sail breeze. The seas seemed crushed, the +pressure of the swooping atmosphere, as the currents of the air went +howling over the surface of the ocean, fairly preventing them from +rising; or, where a mound of water did appear, it was scooped up and +borne off in spray, as the axe dubs inequalities from the log. In less +than an hour after it began to blow the hardest, there was no very +apparent swell--the deep breathing of the ocean is never entirely +stilled--and the ship was as steady as if hove half out, her lower +yard-arms nearly touching the water, an inclination at which they +remained as steadily as if kept there by purchases. A few of us were +compelled to go as high as the futtock-shrouds to secure the sails, but +higher it was impossible to get. I observed that when I thrust out a +hand to clutch anything, it was necessary to make the movement in such +a direction as to allow for lee-way, precisely as a boat quarters the +stream in crossing against a current. In ascending it was difficult to +keep the feet on the ratlins, and in descending, it required a strong +effort to force the body down towards the centre of gravity. I make no +doubt, had I groped my way up to the cross-trees, and leaped overboard +my body would have struck the water, thirty or forty yards from the +ship. A marlin-spike falling from either top, would have endangered no +one on deck. + +When the day returned, a species of lurid, sombre light was diffused +over the watery waste, though nothing was visible but the ocean and the +ship. Even the sea-birds seemed to have taken refuge in the caverns of +the adjacent coast, none re-appearing with the dawn. The air was full +of spray, and it was with difficulty that the eye could penetrate as far +into the humid atmosphere as half a mile. All hands mustered on deck, as +a matter of course, no one wishing to sleep at a time like that. As for +us officers, we collected on the forecastle, the spot where danger would +first make itself apparent, did it come from the side of the land. It +is not easy to make a landsman understand the embarrassments of our +situation. We had had no observations for several days, and had been +moving about by dead reckoning, in a part of the ocean where the tides +run like a mill-tail, with the wind blowing a little hurricane. Even +now, when her bows were half submerged, and without a stitch of canvass +exposed, the Crisis drove ahead at the rate of three or four knots, +luffing as close to the wind as if she carried after-sail. It was +Marble's opinion that, in such smooth water, do all we could, the vessel +would drive towards the much-dreaded land again, between sun and sun of +that short day, a distance of from thirty to forty miles. “Nor is this +all, Miles,” he added to me, in an aside, “I no more like this 'bloody +current,' than that we had over on the other side of the pond, when we +broke our back on the rocks of Madagascar. You never see as smooth water +as this, unless when the wind and current are travelling in the same +direction.” I made no reply, but there all four of us, the captain and +his three mates, stood looking anxiously into the vacant mist on our +lee-bow, as if we expected every moment to behold our homes. A silence +of ten minutes succeeded, and I was still gazing in the same direction, +when by a sort of mystic rising of the curtain, I fancied I saw a +beach of long extent, with a dark-looking waste of low bottom extending +inland, for a considerable distance. The beach did not appear to +be distant half a knot, while the ship seemed to glide along it, as +compared with visible objects on shore, at a rate of six or eight miles +the hour. It extended, almost in a parallel line with our course, too, +as far as could be seen, both astern and ahead. + +“What a strange delusion is this!” I thought to myself, and turned to +look at my companions, when I found all looking, one at the other, as if +to ask a common explanation. + +“There is no mistake here,” said captain Williams, quietly. “That is +_land_, gentlemen.” + +“As true as the gospel,” answered Marble, with the sort of steadiness +despair sometimes gives. “What is to be done, sir?” + +“What _can_ be done, Mr. Marble?--We have not room to ware, and, of +the two, there seems, so far as I can judge more sea-room ahead than +astern.” + +This was so apparent, there was no disputing it. We could still see the +land, looking low, chill, and of the hue of November; and we could +also perceive that ahead, if anything, it fell off a little towards the +northward, while astern it seemingly stretched in a due line with our +course. That we passed it with great velocity, too, was a circumstance +that our eyes showed us too plainly to admit of any mistake. As the ship +was still without a rag of sail, borne down by the wind as she had been +for hours, and burying to her hawse-holes forward, it was only to a +racing tide, or current of some sort, that we could be indebted for our +speed. We tried the lead, and got bottom in six fathoms! + +The captain and Marble now held a serious consultation; That the ship +was entering some sort of an estuary was certain, but of what depth, how +far favoured by a holding ground, or how far without any anchorage at +all, were facts that defied our inquiries. We knew that the land called +Terra del Fuego was, in truth, a cluster of islands, intersected +by various channels and passages, into which ships had occasionally +ventured, though their navigation had never led to any other results +than some immaterial discoveries in geography. That we were entering one +of these passages, and under favourable circumstances, though so purely +accidental, was the common belief; and it only remained to look out for +the best anchorage, while we had day-light. Fortunately, as we drove +into the bay, or passage, or what ever it was, the tempest lifted +less spray from the water, and, owing to this and other causes, the +atmosphere gradually grew clearer. By ten o'clock, we could see fully +a league, though I can hardly say that the wind blew less fiercely than +before. As for sea, there was none, or next to none; the water being as +smooth as in a river. + +The day drew on, and we began to feel increased uneasiness at the +novelty of our situation. Our hope and expectation were to find some +anchorage; but to obtain this it was indispensable also to find a +lee. As the ship moved forward, we still kept the land in view, on our +starboard hand, but that was a lee, instead of a weather shore; the +last alone could give our ground-tackle any chance, whatever, in such +a tempest. We were drawing gradually away from this shore, too, which +trended more northerly, giving us additional sea-room. The fact that we +were in a powerful tide's way, puzzled us the most. There was but one +mode of accounting for the circumstance. Had we entered a bay, the +current must have been less, and it seemed necessary there should be +some outlet to such a swift accumulation of water. It was not the mere +rising of the water, swelling in an estuary, but an arrow-like glancing +of the element, as it shot through a pass. We had a proof of this last +fact, about eleven o'clock, that admitted of no dispute. Land was seen +directly ahead, at that hour, and great was the panic it created. A +second look, however, reassured us, the land proving to be merely a +rocky islet of some six or eight acres in extent. We gave it a berth, +of course, though we examined closely for an anchorage near it, as we +approached. The islet was too low and too small to make any lee, nor did +we like the looks of the holding-ground. The notion of anchoring there +was consequently abandoned; but we had now some means of noting our +progress. The ship was kept a little away, in order to give this island +a berth, and the gale drove her through the water at the rate of seven +or eight knots. This, however, was far from being our whole speed, the +tide sweeping us onward at a furious rate, in addition. Even Captain +Williams thought we must be passing that rock at the rate of fifteen +knots! + +It was noon, and there was no abatement in the tempest, no change in +the current, no means of returning, no chance of stopping; away we +were driven, like events ruled by fate. The only change was the gradual +clearing up of the atmosphere, as we receded from the ocean, and got +farther removed from its mists and spray. Perhaps the power of the gale +had, in a small degree, abated, by two o'clock, and it would have been +possible to carry some short sail; but there being no sea to injure us, +it was unnecessary, and the ship continued to drive ahead, under bare +poles. Night was the time to dread. + +There was, now, but one opinion among us, and that was this:--we thought +the ship had entered one of the passages that intersect Terra del Fuego, +and that there was the chance of soon finding a lee, as these channels +were known to be very irregular and winding. To run in the night seemed +impossible; nor was it desirable, as it was almost certain we should be +compelled to return by the way we had entered, to extricate ourselves +from the dangers of so intricate a navigation. Islands began to appear, +moreover, and we had indications that the main passage itself, was +beginning to diminish in width. Under the circumstances, therefore, it +was resolved to get everything ready, and to let go two anchors, as soon +as we could find a suitable spot. Between the hours of two and four, the +ship passed seventeen islets, some of them quite near; but they afforded +no shelter. At last, and it was time, the sun beginning to fall very +low, as we could see by the waning light, we saw an island of some +height and size ahead, and we hoped it might afford us a lee. The +tide had changed too, and that was in our favour. Turning to windward, +however, was out of the question, since we could carry no sail, and the +night was near. Anchor, then, we must, or continue to drive onward in +the darkness, sheered about in all directions by a powerful adverse +current. It is true, this current would have been a means of safety, by +enabling us to haul up from rocks and dangers ahead, could we carry any +canvass; but it still blew too violently for the last. To anchor, then, +it was determined. + +I had never seen so much anxiety in Captain Williams's countenance, +as when he was approaching the island mentioned. There was still light +enough to observe its outlines and shores, the last appearing bold and +promising. As the island itself may have been a mile in circuit, it made +a tolerable lee, when close to it. This was then our object, and the +helm was put to starboard as we went slowly past, the tide checking our +speed. The ship sheered into a sort of roadstead--a very wild one it +was--as soon as she had room. It was ticklish work, for no one could +tell how soon we might hit a rock; but we went clear, luffing quite near +to the land, where we let go both bowers at the same instant. The ship's +way had been sufficiently deadened, by throwing her up as near the wind +as she could be got, and there was no difficulty in snubbing her. The +lead gave us seven fathoms, and this within pistol-shot of the shore. We +knew we were temporarily safe. The great point was to ascertain how +the vessel would tend, and with how much strain upon her cables. To +everybody's delight, it was found we were in a moderate eddy, that drew +the ship's stern from the island, and allowed her to tend to the wind, +which still had a fair range from her top-sail yards to the trucks. +Lower down, the tempest scuffled about, howling and eddying, and +whirling first to one side, and then to the other, in a way to prove how +much its headlong impetuosity was broken and checked by the land. It is +not easy to describe the relief we felt at these happy chances. It +was like giving foothold to some wretch who thought a descent of the +precipice was inevitable. + +The ship was found to ride easily by one cable, and the hands were sent +to the windlass to heave up the other anchor, as our lead told us, we +had rocks beneath us, and the captain was afraid of the chafing. The +larboard-bower anchor was catted immediately, and there it was left +suspended, with a range of cable overhauled, in readiness to let go at a +moment's notice. After this, the people were told to get their suppers. +As for us officers, we had other things to think of. The Crisis +carried a small quarter-boat, and this was lowered into the water, the +third-mate and myself manned its oars, and away we went to carry the +captain round the ship, in order that he might ascertain the soundings, +should it be necessary to get under way in the night. The examination +was satisfactory, on all points but one; that of the holding-ground; and +we returned to the vessel, having taken good care to trust ourselves in +neither the wind nor the current. An anchor-watch was set, with a mate +on deck, four hours and four hours, and all hands turned in. + +I had the morning watch. What occurred from seven o'clock (the captain +keeping the dog-watches himself,) until a few minutes before four, I +cannot tell in detail, though I understood generally, that the wind +continued to blow in the same quarter, though it gradually diminished in +violence, getting down to something like a mere gale, by midnight. The +ship rode more easily; but, when the flood came in, there was no longer +an eddy, the current sucking round each side of the island in a very +unusual manner. About ten minutes before the hour when it was my regular +watch on deck, all hands were called; I ran on deck, and found the ship +had struck adrift, the cable having parted. Marble had got the vessel's +head up to the wind, under bare poles as before, and we soon began to +heave in the cable. It was found that the mischief had been done by +the rocks, the strands being chafed two-thirds through. As soon as the +current took the vessel's hull with force, the cable parted. We lost our +anchor, of course, for there was no possible way of getting back to the +island at present, or until the ebb again made. + +It wanted several hours of day, and the captain called a council. He +told us, he made no doubt that the ship had got into one of the Terra +del Fuego passages, guided by Providence; and, as he supposed we must +be almost as far south as Staten Land, he was of opinion we had made +an important discovery! Get back we could not, so long as the wind held +where it was, and he was disposed to make sail, and push the examination +of the channel, as far as circumstances would allow. Captain Williams +had a weakness on this point, that was amiable and respectable perhaps, +but which hardly comported with the objects and prudence of a +trading ship-master. We were not surprised, therefore, at hearing his +suggestion; and, in spite of the danger, curiosity added its impulses to +our other motives of acquiescing. We could not get back as the wind then +was, and we were disposed to move forward. As for the dangers of the +navigation, they seemed to be lessening as we advanced, fewer islands +appearing ahead, and the passage itself grew wider. Our course, however, +was more to the southward bringing the ship close up by the wind, once +more. + +The morning promised to be lighter than we had found the weather for +several days, and we even experienced some benefit from the moon. The +wind, too, began to back round to the eastward again, as we approached +the dawn; and we got the three top-sails, close-reefed, the fore-course, +and a new fore-top-mast stay-sail, on the ship. At length day +appeared, and the sun was actually seen struggling among dark masses of +wild-looking, driving clouds. For the first time since we entered those +narrow waters, we now got a good look around us. The land could be seen +in all directions. + +The passage in which we found the Crisis, at sunrise on the morning of +the second of these adventurous days, was of several leagues in width; +and bounded, especially on the north, by high, precipitous mountains, +many of which were covered with snow. The channel was unobstructed; +and not an island, islet, or rock, was visible. No impediment to our +proceeding offered, and we were still more encouraged to push on. The +course we were steering was about south-south-west, and the captain +predicted we should come out into the ocean to the _westward_ of the +Straits of Le Maire, and somewhere near the Cape itself. We should +unquestionably make a great discovery! The wind continued to back round, +and soon got to be abaft the beam. We now shook our reefs out, one after +another, and we had whole topsails on the vessel by nine o'clock. This +was carrying hard, it must be owned; but the skipper was determined to +make hay while the sun shone. There were a few hours, when I think +the ship went fifteen knots by the land, being so much favoured by +the current. Little did we know the difficulties towards which we were +rushing! + +Quite early in the day, land appeared ahead, and Marble began to predict +that our rope was nearly run out. We were coming to the bottom of a +deep bay. Captain Williams thought differently; and when he discovered +a narrow passage between two promontories, he triumphantly predicted our +near approach to the Cape. He had seen some such shape to the mountains +inland, in doubling the Horn, and the hill-tops looked like old +acquaintances. Unfortunately we could not see the sun at meridian, +and got no observation. For several hours we ran south-westerly, in a +passage of no great width, when we came to a sudden bend in our course, +which led us away to the north-west. Here we still had the tide with us, +and we then all felt certain that we had reached a point where the ebb +must flow in a direction contrary to that in which we had found it, in +the other parts of the passage. It followed, that we were now halfway +through to the ocean, though the course we were steering predicted a +sinuous channel. We were certainly not going now towards Cape Horn. + +Notwithstanding the difficulties and doubts which beset us, Captain +Williams packed on the ship, determined to get ahead as fast as he +could, while there was light. It no longer blew a gale, and the wind was +hauling more to the southward again. It soon got to be right aft, and +before sunset it had a little westing in it. Fortunately, it moderated, +and we set our main-sail and top-gallant-sails. We had carried a lower +and top-mast studding-sails nearly all day. The worst feature in our +situation, now, was the vast number of islands, or islets, we met. The +shore on each side was mountainous and rude, and deep indentations were +constantly tempting us to turn aside. But, rightly judging that the set +of the tide was a lair index to the true course, the captain stood on. + +The night that followed was one of the most anxious I ever passed. We +were tempted to anchor a dozen times, in some of the different bays, of +which we passed twenty; but could not make up our minds to risk another +cable. We met the flood a little after sunset, and got rid of it before +morning. But the wind kept hauling, and at last it brought us fairly on +a taut bow-line; under top-gallant-sails, however. We had come too far +to recede, or now would have been the time to turn round, and retrace +our steps. But we hoped every moment to reach some inclination south, +again, that would carry us into the open sea. We ran a vast many chances +of shipwreck, passing frightfully near several reefs; but the same good +Providence which had so far protected us, carried us clear. Never was I +so rejoiced as when I saw day returning. + +We had the young ebb, and a scant wind, when the sun rose next day. It +was a brilliant morning, however, and everybody predicted an observation +at noon. The channel was full of islands, still, and other dangers +were not wanting; but, as we could see our way, we got through them all +safely. At length our course became embarrassed, so many large islands, +with passages between them, offering on different sides. One headland, +however, lay before us; and, the ship promising to weather it, we held +on our way. It was just ten o'clock as we approached this cape, and we +found a passage westward that actually led into the ocean! All hands +gave three cheers as we became certain of this fact, the ship tacking as +soon as far enough ahead, and setting seaward famously with the tide. + +Captain Williams now told us to get our quadrants, for the heavens were +cloudless, and we should have a horizon in time for the sun. He was +anxious to get the latitude of our discovery. Sure enough, it so fell +out, and we prepared to observe; some predicting one parallel, some +another. As for the skipper himself, he said he thought we were still to +the eastward of the Cape; but he felt confident that we had come out to +the westward of Le Maire. Marble was silent; but he had observed, and +made his calculations, before either of the others had commenced the +last. I saw him scratch his head, and go to the chart which lay on the +companionway. Then I heard him shout-- + +“In the Pacific, by St. Kennebunk!”--he always swore by this pious +individual when excited--“We have come through the Straits of Magellan +without knowing it!” + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + “Sound trumpets, ho!--weigh anchor--loosen sail-- + The seaward-flying banners chide delay; + As if't were heaven that breathes this kindly gale, + Our life-like bark beneath it speeds away.--” + PINKNEY. + + +The stout ship Crisis had, like certain persons, done a good thing +purely by chance, Had her exploit happened in the year 1519, instead of +that of 1800, the renowned passage we had just escaped from would +have been called the Crisis Straits, a better name than the mongrel +appellation it now bears; which is neither English, nor Portuguese. The +ship had been lost, like a man in the woods, and came out nearer home, +than those in her could have at all expected. The “bloody currents” + had been at the bottom of the mistake, though this time they did good, +instead of harm. Any one who has been thoroughly lost on a heath, or in +a forest, or, even in a town, can comprehend how the head gets turned on +such occasions, and will understand the manner in which we had mystified +ourselves. + +I shall remember the feelings of delight with which I looked around me, +as the ship passed out into the open ocean, to my dying day. There lay +the vast Pacific, its long, regular waves rolling in towards the coast, +in mountain-like ridges, it is true, but under a radiant sun, and in +a bright atmosphere. Everybody was cheered by the view, and never did +orders sound more pleasant in my ears, than when the captain called out, +in a cheerful voice, “to man the weather braces.” This command was given +the instant it was prudent; and the ship went foaming past the last cape +with the speed of a courser. Studding-sails were then set, and, when +the sun was dipping, we had a good offing, were driving to the northward +under everything we could carry, and had a fair prospect of an excellent +run from the neighbourhood of Terra del Fuego, and its stormy seas. + +It is not my intention to dwell on our passage along the western coast +of South America. A voyage to the Pacific was a very different thing in +the year 1800, however, from what it is to-day. The power of Spain was +then completely in the ascendant, intercourse with any nation but the +mother country, being strictly prohibited. It is true, a species of +commerce, that was called the “forced trade on the Spanish Main” existed +under that code of elastic morals, which adapts the maxim of “your +purse or your life” to modern diplomacy, as well as to the habits of +the highwayman. According to divers masters in the art of ethics now +flourishing among ourselves, more especially in the atmosphere of the +journals of the commercial communities, the people that “_can_ trade +and _won't_ trade, _must be made to trade_.” At the commencement of the +century, your mercantile moralists were far less manly in the avowal of +their sentiments, though their practices were in no degree wanting in +the spirit of our more modern theories. Ships were fitted out, armed, +and navigated, on this just principle, quite as confidently and +successfully as if the tongue had declared all that the head had +conceived. + +Guarda-Costas were the arguments used, on the other side of this knotty +question, by the authorities of Spain; and a very insufficient argument, +on the whole, did they prove to be. It is an old saying, that vice is +twice as active as virtue; the last sleeping, while the former is hard +at work. If this be true of things in general, it is thrice true as +regards smugglers and custom-house officers. Owing to this circumstance, +and sundry other causes, it is certain that English and American vessels +found the means of plundering the inhabitants of South America, at the +period of which I am writing, without having recourse to the no longer +reputable violence of Dampier, Wood, Rogers, or Drake. As I feel bound +to deal honestly with the reader, whatever I may have done by the +Spanish laws, I shall own that we made one or two calls, as we proceeded +north, shoving ashore certain articles purchased in London, and taking +on board dollars, in return for our civility. I do not know whether I +am bound, or not, to apologize for my own agency in these irregular +transactions--regular, would be quite as apposite a word--for, had I +been disposed to murmur, it would have done my morals no good, nor the +smuggling any harm. Captain Williams was a silent man, and it was +not easy to ascertain precisely what he _thought_ on the subject of +smuggling; but, in the way of _practice_, I never saw any reason to +doubt that he was a firm believer in the doctrine of Free Trade. As for +Marble, he put me in mind of a certain renowned editor of a well-known +New York journal, who evidently thinks that all things in heaven and +earth, sun, moon, and stars, the void above and the caverns beneath us, +the universe, in short, was created to furnish materials for newspaper +paragraphs; the worthy mate, just as confidently believing that coasts, +bays, inlets, roadsteads and havens, were all intended by nature, as +means to run goods ashore wherever the duties, or prohibitions, rendered +it inconvenient to land them in the more legal mode. Smuggling, in +his view of the matter, was rather more creditable than the regular +commerce, since it required greater cleverness. + +I shall not dwell on the movements of the Crisis, for the five months +that succeeded her escape from the Straits of Magellan. Suffice it to +say, that she anchored at as many different points on the coast; that +all which came up the main-hatch, went ashore; and all that came +over the bulwarks, was passed down into the run. We were chased by +_guarda-costas_ seven times, escaping from them on each occasion, with +ease; though we had three little running fights. I observed that Captain +Williams was desirous of engaging these emissaries of the law, as easily +as possible, ordering us to fire altogether at their spars. I have since +thought that this moderation proceeded from a species of principle that +is common enough--a certain half-way code of right and wrong--which +encouraged him to smuggle, but which caused him to shrink from taking +human life. Your half-way rogues are the bane of honesty. + +After quitting the Spanish coast, altogether, we proceeded north, with +the laudable intention of converting certain quantities of glass-beads, +inferior jack-knives, frying-pans, and other homely articles of the same +nature, into valuable furs. In a word, we shaped our course for that +district which bids fair to set the mother and daughter by the ears, one +of these days, unless it shall happen to be disposed of _à la Texas_, +or, what is almost as bad, _à la Maine_, ere long. At that time the +whole north-west coast was unoccupied by white men, and I felt no +scruples about trading with the natives who presented themselves with +their skins as soon as we had anchored, believing that they had the best +right to the country and its products. We passed months in this traffic, +getting, at every point where we stopped, something to pay us for our +trouble. + +We went as far north as 53°, and that is pretty much all I ever knew of +our last position. At the time, I thought we had anchored in a bay on +the main land, but I have since been inclined to think it was in one +of the many islands that line that broken coast. We got a very secure +berth, having been led to it by a native pilot who boarded us several +leagues at sea, and who knew enough English to persuade our captain that +he could take us to a point where sea-otter skins might be had for the +asking. Nor did the man deceive us, though a more unpromising-looking +guide never had charge of smuggling Christians. He carried us into a +very small bay, where we found plenty of water, capital holding-ground, +and a basin as smooth as a dock. But one wind--that which blew from the +north-west--could make any impression on it, and the effects of +even that were much broken by a small island that lay abreast of the +entrance; leaving good passages, on each side of it, out to sea. The +basin itself was rather small, it is true, but it did well enough for a +single ship. Its diameter may have been three hundred yards, and I never +saw a sheet of natural water that was so near a circle. Into a place +like this, the reader will imagine, we did not venture without taking +the proper precautions. Marble was sent in first, to reconnoitre and +sound, and it was on his report that Captain Williams ventured to take +the ship in. + +At that time, ships on the North-West Coast had to use the greatest +precautions against the treachery and violence of the natives. This +rendered the size of our haven the subject of distrust; for, lying in +the middle of it, where we moored, we were barely an arrow's flight from +the shore, in every direction but that which led to the narrow entrance. +It was a most secure anchorage, as against the dangers of the sea, but +a most insecure one as against the dangers of the savages. This we all +felt, as soon as our anchors were down; but, intending to remain only +while we bartered for the skins which we had been told were ready +for the first ship that should offer, we trusted to vigilance as our +safeguard in the interval. + +I never could master the uncouth sounds of the still more uncouth +savages of that distant region. The fellow who carried us in had a name +of his own, doubtless, but it was not to be pronounced by a Christian +tongue, and he got the _sobriquet_ of the Dipper from us, owing to the +manner in which he ducked at the report of our muskets, which had been +discharged by Marble merely with the intention to renew the cartridges. +We had hardly got into the little basin, before the Dipper left us, +returning in an hour, however, with a canoe loaded to the water's edge, +with beautiful skins, and accompanied by three savages as wild-looking, +seemingly as fierce, and certainly as avaricious as he was himself. +These auxiliaries, through various little circumstances, were known +among us that same afternoon, by the several appellations of Smudge, +Tin-pot, and Slit-nose. These were not heroic names, of a certainty, but +their owners had as little of the heroic in their appearance, as +usually falls to the lot of man in the savage state. I cannot tell the +designation of the tribes to which these four worthies belonged, nor do +I know any more of their history and pursuits than the few facts which +came under my own immediate observation. I did ask some questions of the +captain, with a view to obtain a few ideas on this subject, but all +he knew was, that these people put a high value on blankets, beads, +gun-powder, frying-pans, and old hoops, and that they set a remarkably +low price on sea-otter skins, as well as on the external coverings +of sundry other animals. An application to Mr. Marble was still less +successful, being met by the pithy answer that he was “no naturalist, +and knew nothing about these critturs, or any wild beasts, in general.” + Degraded as the men certainly were, however, we thought them quite +good enough to be anxious to trade with them. Commerce, like misery, +sometimes makes a man acquainted with strange bed-fellows. + +I had often seen our own Indians after they had become degraded by their +intercourse with the whites and the use of rum, but never had I beheld +any beings so low in the scale of the human race, as the North-Western +savages appeared to be. They seemed to me to be the Hottentots of our +own continent. Still they were not altogether without the means of +commanding our respect. As physical men they were both active and +strong, and there were gleams of ferocity about them, that all their +avarice and art could not conceal. I could not discover in their usages, +dress, or deportment, a single trace of that chivalrous honour which +forms so great a relief to the well-established cruelty of the warrior +of our own part of the continent. Then, these sea-otter dealers had some +knowledge of the use of fire-arms, and were too well acquainted with the +ships of us civilized men to have any superstitious dread of our power. + +The Dipper, and his companions, sold us one hundred and thirty-three +sea-otter skins the very afternoon we anchored. This, of itself, was +thought to be a sufficient reward for the trouble and risk of coming +into this unknown basin. Both parties seemed pleased with the results +of the trading, and we were given to understand that, by remaining +at anchor, we might hope for six or eight times our present number of +skins. Captain Williams was greatly gratified with the success with +which he had already met, and having found that all the Dipper had +promised came true, he determined to remain a day or two, in his present +berth, in order to wait for more bargains. This resolution was no sooner +communicated to the savages than they expressed their delight, sending +off Tin-pot and Slit-nose with the intelligence, while the Dipper +and Smudge remained in the ship, apparently on terms of perfect +good-fellowship with everybody on board. The gentry of the North-West +Coast being flagrant thieves, however, all hands had orders to keep +a good look-out on our two guests, Captain Williams expressing his +intention to flog them soundly, should they be detected in any of their +usual light-fingered dexterity. + +Marble and myself observed that the canoe, in which the messengers left +us, did not pull out to sea, but that it entered a small stream, or +creek, that communicated with the head of the bay. As there was no duty +on board, we asked the captain's permission to explore this spot; and, +at the same time, to make a more thorough examination of our haven, +generally. The request being granted, we got into the yawl, with four +men, all of us armed, and set out on our little expedition. Smudge, a +withered, grey-headed old Indian, with muscles however that resembled +whip-cord, was alone on deck, when this movement took place. He watched +our proceedings narrowly, and, when he saw us descend into the boat, +he very coolly slipped down the ship's side, and took his place in the +stern-sheets, with as much quiet dignity as if he had been captain. +Marble was a good deal of a ship's martinet in such matters, and he did +not more than half like the familiarity and impudence of the procedure. + +“What say you, Miles,” he asked, a little sharply, “shall we take this +dried ourang-outang ashore with us, or shall we try to moisten him a +little, by throwing him overboard'!” + +“Let him go, by all means, Mr. Marble. I dare say the man wishes to be +of use, and he has only a bad manner of showing it.” + +“Of use! He is worth no more than the carcase of a whale that has been +stripped of its blubber. I say, Miles, there would be no need of the +windlass to heave the blanket off of this fish!” + +This professional witticism put Marble in good humour with himself, and +he permitted the fellow to remain. I remember the thoughts that passed +through my mind, as the yawl pulled towards the creek, on that occasion, +as well as if it had all occurred yesterday. I sat looking at the +semi-human being who was seated opposite, wondering at the dispensation +of Divine Providence which could leave one endowed with a portion of the +ineffable; nature of the Deity, in a situation so degraded. I had seen +beasts in cages that appeared to me to be quite as intelligent, and +members of the diversified family of human caricatures, or of the +baboons and monkeys, that I thought were quite as agreeable objects to +the eye. Smudge seemed to be almost without ideas. In his bargains, he +had trusted entirely to the vigilance of the Dipper, whom we supposed to +be some sort of a relation; and the articles he received in exchange +for his skins, failed to arouse in his grim, vacant countenance, the +smallest signs of pleasure. Emotion and he, if they had been acquainted, +now appeared to be utter strangers to each other; nor was this apathy in +the least like the well-known stoicism of the American Indian; but had +the air of downright insensibility. Yet this man assuredly had a soul, +a spark of the never-dying flame that separates man from all the other +beings of earth! + +The basin in which the Crisis lay was entirely fringed with forest. The +trees in most places even overhung the water, forming an impenetrable +screen to everything inland, at the season when they were in leaf. Not a +sign of a habitation of any sort was visible; and, as we approached the +shore, Marble remarked that the savages could only resort to the place +at the moments when they had induced a ship to enter, in order to trade +with them. + +“No--no,” added the mate, turning his head in all directions, in +order to take a complete survey of the bay; “there are no wigwams, or +papooses, hereabouts. This is only a trading-post; and luckily for us, +it is altogether without custom-house officers.” + +“Not without smugglers, I fancy, Mr. Marble, if contriving to get other +people's property without their knowledge, can make a smuggler. I never +saw a more thorough-looking thief than the chap we have nick-named the +Dipper. I believe he would swallow one of our iron spoons, rather than +not get it!” + + +“Ay, there's no mistake about him, 'Master Mile,' as Neb calls you. But +this fellow here, hasn't brains enough to tell his own property from +that of another man. I would let him into our bread-lockers, without +any dread of his knowing enough to eat. I never saw such a vacancy in a +human form; a down-east idiot would wind him up in a trade, as handily +as a pedlar sets his wooden clocks in motion.” + +Such was Marble's opinion of the sagacity of Mr. Smudge; and, to own +the truth, such, in a great measure, was my own. The men laughed at the +remarks--seamen are a little apt to laugh at chief-mates' wit--and their +looks showed how thoroughly they coincided with us in opinion. All this +time, the boat had been pushing ahead, and it soon reached the mouth of +the little creek. + +We found the inlet deep, but narrow and winding. Like the bay itself, +it was fringed with trees and bushes, and this in a way to render it +difficult to get a view of anything on the land; more especially as +the banks were ten or fifteen feet in height. Under the circumstances, +Marble proposed that we should land on both sides of the creek, and +follow its windings on foot, for a short distance, in order to get a +better opportunity to reconnoitre. Our dispositions were soon made. +Marble and one of the boat's crew, each armed, landed on one side of +the inlet, while Neb and myself, similarly provided, went ashore on the +other. The two remaining men were ordered to keep abreast of us in the +boat, in readiness to take us on board again, as soon as required. + +“Leave that Mr. Smudge in the boat, Miles,” Marble called out across the +creek, as I was about to put foot on the ground. I made a sign to that +effect to the savage, but when I reached the level ground on the top of +the bank, I perceived the fellow was at my elbow. It was so difficult to +make such a creature understand one's wishes, without the aid of speech, +that, after a fruitless effort or two to send him back by means of +signs, I abandoned the attempt, and moved forward, so as to keep the +whole party in the desired line. Neb offered to catch the old fellow +in his arms, and to carry him down to the yawl; but I thought it more +prudent to avoid anything like violence. We proceeded, therefore, +accompanied by this escort. + +There was nothing, however, to excite alarm, or awaken distrust. We +found ourselves in a virgin forest, with all its wildness, dampness, +gloomy shadows, dead and fallen trees, and unequal surface. On my side +of the creek, there was not the smallest sign of a foot-path; and Marble +soon called out to say, he was equally without any evidences of the +steps of man. I should think we proceeded quite a mile in this manner, +certain that the inlet would be a true guide on our return. At length a +call from the boat let us know there was no longer water enough to float +it, and that it could proceed no farther. Marble and myself descended +the banks at the same moment, and were taken in, intending to return in +the yawl. Smudge glided back to his old place, with his former silence. + +“I told you to leave the ourang-outang behind,” Marble carelessly +observed, as he took his own seat, after assisting in getting the boat +round, with its head towards the bay. “I would rather have a rattlesnake +for a pet, than such a cub.” + +“It is easier said than done, sir. Master Smudge stuck to me as close as +a leech.” + +“The fellow seems all the better for his walk--I never saw him look half +as amiable as he does at this moment.” + +Of course this raised a laugh, and it induced me to look round. For +the first time, I could detect something like a human expression in the +countenance of Smudge, who seemed to experience some sensation a little +akin to satisfaction. + +“I rather think he had taken it into his head we were about to desert +the coppers,” I remarked, “and fancied he might lose his supper. Now, he +must see we are going back, he probably fancies he will go to bed on a +full stomach.” + +Marble assented to the probability of this conjecture, and the +conversation changed. It was matter of surprise to us that we had met +no traces of anything like a residence near the creek, not the smallest +sign of man having been discovered by either. It was reasonable to +expect that some traces of an encampment, at least, would have been +found. Everybody kept a vigilant look-out at the shore as we descended +the creek; but, as on the ascent, not even a foot-print was detected. + +On reaching the bay, there being still several hours of day-light, +we made its entire circuit, finding nowhere any proof of the former +presence of man. At length, Marble proposed pulling to the small wooded +island that lay a little without the entrance of the haven, suggesting +that it was possible the savages might have something like an encampment +there, the place being more convenient as a look-out into the offing, +than any point within the bay itself. In order to do this, it was +necessary to pass the ship; and we were hailed by the captain, who +wished to know the result of our examinations. As soon as he learned our +present object, he told us to come alongside, intending to accompany us +to the island in person. On getting into the boat, which was small and +a little crowded by the presence of Smudge, Captain Williams made a sign +for that personage to quit the yawl. He might as well have intimated +as much to one of the thwarts! Laughing at the savage's stupidity, or +obstinacy, we scarce knew which to term it, the boat was shoved off, and +we pulled through the entrance, two hundred yards outside perhaps, until +our keel grated against the low rocks of this islet. + +There was no difficulty in landing; and Neb, who preceded the party, +soon gave a shout, the proof that he had made some discovery. Every +man among us now looked to his arms, expecting to meet an encampment +of savages; but we were disappointed. All that the negro had discovered +were the unequivocal traces of a former bivouac; and, judging from a +few of the signs, that of no very recent occupation. The traces were +extensive, covering quite half of the interior of the island; leaving +an extensive curtain of trees and bushes, however, so as completely to +conceal the spot from any eyes without. Most of the trees had been burnt +down, as we at first thought, in order to obtain fuel; but, farther +examination satisfied us, that it had been done as much by accident, as +by design. + +At first, nothing was discovered in this encampment, which had every +appearance of not having been extensively used for years, though the +traces of numerous fires, and the signs of footsteps, and a spring +in the centre, indicated the recent occupation, of which I have just +spoken. A little further scrutiny, however, brought to light certain +objects that we did not note without much wonder and concern. Marble +made the first discovery. It was impossible for seamen to mistake the +object, which was the head of a rudder, containing the tiller-hole, and +which might have belonged to a vessel of some two hundred and fifty, +or three hundred tons. This set all hands of us at work, and, in a few +minutes we found, scattered about, fragments of plank, top-timbers, +floor-timbers, and other portions of a ship, all more or less burnt, and +stripped of every particle of metal. Even the nails had been drawn by +means of perseverance and labour. Nothing was left but the wood, which +proved to be live-oak, cedar and locust, the proofs that the unfortunate +craft had been a vessel of some value. We wanted no assurance of this, +however, as none but a North-West trader could well have got as high up +the coast, and all vessels of that class were of the best description. +Then the locust, a wood unknown to the ship-builders of Europe, gave +us the nearly certain assurance that this doomed craft had been a +countryman. + +At first, we were all too much occupied with our interesting discovery +to bethink us of Smudge. At length, I turned to observe its effect on +the savage. He evidently noted our proceedings; but his feelings, if the +creature had any, were so deeply buried beneath the mask of dullness, +as completely to foil my penetration. He saw us take up fragment +after fragment, examine them, heard us converse over them, though in a +language he could not understand, and saw us throw them away, one after +another, with seemingly equal indifference. At length he brought a +half-burned billet to the captain, and held it before his eyes, as if he +began to feel some interest in our proceedings. It proved to be merely +a bit of ordinary wood, a fragment of one of the beeches of the forest +that lay near an extinguished pile; and the act satisfied us all, the +fellow did not comprehend the reason of the interest we betrayed. He +clearly knew nothing of the strange vessel. + +In walking around this deserted encampment, the traces of a pathway to +the shore were found. They were too obvious to be mistaken, and led us +to the water in the passage opposite to that by which the Crisis had +been carried in by the Dipper, and at a point that was not in view from +her present anchorage. Here we found a sort of landing, and many of the +heavier pieces of the wreck; such as it had not been thought necessary +to haul up to the fires, having no metal about them. Among other things +of this sort, was a portion of the keel quite thirty feet long, the +keelson bolts, keelson, and floor-timbers all attached. This was the +only instance in which we discovered any metal; and this we found, +only because the fragment was too strong and heavy to be manageable. +We looked carefully, in all directions, in the hope of discovering +something that might give us an insight into the nature of the disaster +that had evidently occurred, but, for some time without success. At +length I strolled to a little distance from the landing, and took a seat +on a flat stone, which had been placed on the living rock that faced +most of the island, evidently to form a resting-place. My seat proved +unsteady, and in endeavouring to adjust it more to my mind, I removed +the stone, and discovered that it rested on a common log-slate. This +slate was still covered with legible writing, and I soon had the whole +party around me, eager to learn the contents. The melancholy record was +in these precise words: viz.-- + +“The American brig Sea-Otter, John Squires, master, _coaxed_ into this +bay, June 9th, 1797, and seized by savages, on the morning of the 11th. +Master, second-mate, and seven of the people killed on the spot. Brig +gutted first, then hauled up _here_, and burnt to the water's edge for +the iron. David King, first-mate, and six others, viz., George Lunt, +Henry Webster, Stephen Stimpson and John Harris, seamen, Bill Flint, +cook, and Peter Doolittle, boy, still living, but God only knows what is +to be our fate. I shall put this slate beneath the stone I now sit on, +in the hope it may one day let our friends learn what has happened.”-- + +We looked at each other, astounded. Both the captain and Marble +remembered to have heard that a brig in this trade, called the +Sea-Otter, was missing; and, here, by a communication that was little +short of miraculous, we were let into the secret of her disappearance. + +“_Coaxed_ in--” repeated the captain, running his eye over the writing, +which had been thus singularly preserved, and that, in a situation where +one would think it might have been discovered a thousand times.--“Yes, +yes--I now begin to understand the whole matter. If there were any wind, +gentlemen, I would go to sea this very night.” + +“That would be hardly worth our while, Captain Williams,” the chief-mate +answered, “since we are now on our guard, and I feel pretty certain that +there are no savages in our neighbourhood. So far, the Dipper and his +friends have traded with us fairly enough, and it is likely they have +more skins to dispose of. This chap, whom the people have christened +Smudge, takes matters so coolly, that I hardly think he knows anything +about the Sea-Otter, which may have been cut off by another gang, +altogether.” + +There was good reason in these remarks, and they had their effect on the +captain. The latter, however, determined to put Smudge to the proof, +by showing him the slate, and otherwise bringing him under such +a cross-examination as signs alone could effect. I dare say, an +indifferent spectator would have laughed at witnessing our efforts to +confound the Indian. We made grimaces, pointed, exclaimed, hallooed, +swore, and gesticulated in vain. Smudge was as unmoved at it all, as the +fragment of keel to which he was confronted. The fellow either did not, +or would not understand us. His stupidity defied our tests; and Marble +gave the matter up in despair, declaring that “the beast knows nothing +of anything, much less of the Sea-Otter.” As for the slate, he did not +seem to have the smallest notion what such a thing meant. + +We returned to the ship, carrying with us the slate, and the report +of our discoveries. All hands were called, and the captain made us +a speech. It was sufficiently to the point, though it was not in the +least, of the “God-like” character. We were told how ships were lost +by the carelessness of their crews; reminded we were on the North-West +Coast, where a vessel with a few boxes of beads and bales of blankets, +to say nothing of her gunpowder, firearms, and metals, was as valuable, +as a vessel laden with gold dust would be in one of our own ports. +Vigilance, while on watch, and obedience to the orders of the vessel, in +the event of an alarm, were the principal things dwelt on. By observing +these two great requisites, we should all be safe enough; whereas, by +disregarding them, we should probably share the fate of the people of +the brig, of which we had just discovered some of the remains. + +I will confess, I passed an uncomfortable night. An unknown enemy +is always a formidable enemy; and I would rather have fought three +_guarda-costas_ at once, than lie where we did, in a bay as smooth as +a looking-glass, surrounded by forests as silent as a desert, and in a +well-armed ship, that was prepared at all points, to meet her foes, even +to her boarding-nettings. + +Nothing came of it all. The Dipper and Smudge eat their supper with the +appetites of injured innocence, and slept like tops. If guilty, we +all agreed that they must be utterly destitute of consciences. As for +ourselves, we were on the alert until near morning, the very moment when +the danger would probably be the greatest, provided there were any at +all; and then weariness overcame all who were not on the look-out, and +some who were. Still, nothing happened. The sun returned to us in due +season, gilding the tree-tops with its beams; our little bay began to +bask in its glory, and with the cheerfulness that usually accompanies +such a scene, vanished most of our apprehensions for the moment. A night +of reflection had quieted our fears, and we all woke up next morning, as +indifferent to the fate of the Sea-Otter, as was at all decent. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + “The monarch mind--the mystery of commanding, + The godlike power--the art Napoleon, + Of winning, fettering, moulding, wielding, banding + The hearts of millions, till they move as one; + Thou hast it.” + HALLECK--_Red Jacket_. + + +Smudge and the Dipper behaved admirably all next day. Beef, pork and +bread--those great desiderata of life, which the European is apt to say +form the _primum mobile_ of American existence--seemed to engross their +thoughts; and when they were not eating, they were busy with sleep. At +length we grew ashamed of watching such mere animals, and turned +our thoughts to other subjects. We had understood the Dipper, that +eight-and-forty hours must elapse before we might expect to see any more +skins; and Captain Williams, passing from alarm to extreme security, +determined to profit by a lovely day, and send down, or rather strip, +all three of the top-masts, and pay some necessary attention to their +rigging. At nine o'clock, accordingly, the hands were turned-to, and +before noon the ship was pretty thoroughly _en deshabille_. We sent as +little down as possible, keeping even the top-sail-yards aloft, though +without their lifts or braces, steadying them by guys; but the top-masts +were lowered as far as was found possible, without absolutely placing +the lower yards on the hammock-cloths. In a word, we put the ship in the +most unmanageable position, without absolutely littering our decks. The +security of the haven, and the extreme beauty of the weather, emboldened +the captain to do this; apprehension of every sort appearing to have +quite taken leave of him. + +The work proceeded merrily. We had not only a strong crew, but we had +a good crew; and our Philadelphians were in their element, the moment +there was a question of the rigging. By sunset, the chafes were +examined, and parcelled, and served anew; and the top-mast rigging was +all got up and put over the mast-heads again, and everything was ready +to sway upon in the morning. But an uncommonly active day required a +good night's rest; and the people were all ordered to turn in, as soon +as they had supped. The ship was to be left to the vigilance of the +captain and the three mates, during the night. + +The anchor-watch was set at eight, and ran from two hours, to two +hours. My turn commenced at midnight, and was to last until two; Marble +succeeding me from two until four, when all hands were to be called +to get our sticks aloft. When I turned out at twelve, I found the +third-mate conversing, as well as he could, with the Dipper; who, with +Smudge, having slept so much of the day, appeared disposed to pass the +night in smoking. + +“How long have these fellows been on deck?” I asked of the third-mate, +as he was about to go below. + +“All my watch; I found them with the captain, who passed them over to +me for company. If that chap, the Dipper, only knew anything of a human +language, he would be something of society; but I'm as tired of making +signs to him, as I ever was with a hard day's work.” + +I was armed, and felt ashamed of manifesting fear of an unarmed man. +Then the two savages gave no additional cause of distrust; the Dipper +having taken a seat on the windlass, where he was smoking his pipe +with an appearance of philosophy that would have done credit to +the gravest-looking baboon. As for Smudge, he did not appear to be +sufficiently intellectual to smoke; an occupation that has at least +the merit of affecting the air of wisdom and reflection. I never could +discover whether your great smokers were actually wiser than the rest of +the race, or not; but, it will be admitted, they occasionally seem to +be so. It was a pity Smudge did not have recourse to the practice, as it +might have given the fellow an appearance of sometimes cogitating. As it +was, while his companion was enjoying his pipe at the windlass, he kept +strolling about the deck, much as a pig would have wandered in the same +place, and seemingly with the same object. + +I took charge of the decks with a very lively sense of the peculiarity +of our situation. The security that prevailed on board struck me as +unnatural; and yet I could detect no particular reason for immediate +alarm. I might be thrown overboard or murdered by the two savages on +deck, it was very true; but of what use would it be to destroy me, +since they could not hope to destroy all the rest on board without being +discovered. The night was star-lit, and there was little chance of a +canoe's approaching the ship without my seeing it; a circumstance that, +of itself, in a great measure, removed the danger. I passed the first +quarter of an hour in reflecting on these things; and then, as use +accustomed me to my situation, I began to think less of them, and to +revert to other subjects. + +Clawbonny, Grace, Lucy, and Mr. Hardinge, often rose before my mind's +eye, in those distant seas. It was seldom I passed a tranquil watch +at night, without revisiting the scenes of my boyhood, and wandering +through my own fields, accompanied by my beloved sister, and her quite +as well beloved friend. How many hours of happiness had I thus passed on +the trackless wastes of the Pacific and the Atlantic; and with how much +fidelity did memory recall the peculiar graces, whether of body or mind, +of each of the dear girls in particular! Since my recent experience in +London, Emily Merton would occasionally adorn the picture, with her more +cultivated discourse and more finished manner; and yet I do not remember +to have ever given her more than a third place on the scale of my +admiration. + +On the present occasion I was soon lost in ruminations on the past, and +in imagining events for the future. I was not particularly expert at +building castles in the air; but what youth of twenty, or maiden of +sixteen, never reared some sort of a fabric of this nature? These +fanciful structures are the results of inexperience building with the +materials of hope. In my most imaginative moments, I could even fancy +Rupert an industrious, staid lawyer, adorning his profession, and +rendering both Lucy and Grace happy. Beyond this, it was not easy for +the human faculties to conceive. + +Lucy sang sweetly. At times, her songs fairly haunted me, and for hours +I could think of nothing but their tender sentiment and their touching +melody. I was no nightingale myself, though I sometimes endeavoured to +hum some one of the airs that floated in my recollection, like beautiful +visions of the past. This night, in particular, my thoughts recurred +to one of these songs that told of affection and home; and I stood, for +several minutes, leaning over the railing forward, humming the tune to +myself, while I endeavoured to recall not only the words, but the sweet +voice that was wont to give them so much thrilling pathos. I did this +sometimes at Clawbonny; and time and again had Lucy placed her soft +little hand on my mouth, as she would laughingly say, “Miles, Miles! do +not spoil so pretty a song! You will never succeed with music, so work +the harder with your Latin.” Sometimes she would steal behind me--I +fancied I could hear her breathing at my shoulder, even as I leaned +over the rail--and would apply her hand slyly to my lips, in her many +attempts of this nature. So vivid did one of these scenes become, that +I thought I really felt the soft smooth hand on my mouth, and I was +actually about to kiss it, when something that was smooth enough, +certainly, but which was very far from being soft, passed between my +teeth, and I felt it drawn so tight as completely to prevent my calling +out. At the same moment, my arms were seized from behind, and held as if +grasped by a vice. Turning, as well as I was able, I found that rascal +Smudge had been breathing within an inch of my ear, while he passed the +gag; and the Dipper was busy in lashing my arms together behind my back. +The whole had been done so suddenly, and yet with so much skill, that I +was a helpless prisoner, as it might be, in a single instant! + +Resistance being as much out of my power as it was to give any alarm, I +was soon secured, hands and feet, and placed carefully in the waist, a +little out of the way; for I probably owed my life solely to the wish +of Smudge to keep me as his slave. From that instant every appearance +of stupidity vanished from this fellow's countenance and manner, and +he became the moving spirit, and I might say the soul, of all the +proceedings of his companions. As for myself, there I sat, lashed to a +spar, utterly unable to help myself, an unwilling witness of all that +followed. I felt the imminent danger of our situation, but I think I +felt the disgrace of having such a surprise occur in my watch, more even +than the personal risks I ran! + +In the first place, I was disarmed. Then, the Dipper took a lantern +which stood on the binnacle, lighted it, and showed it, for half +a minute, above the taffrail. His signal must have been instantly +answered, for he soon extinguished the light, and moved about the deck, +in attentive watchfulness to seize any straggler, who might happen to +come on deck. Little fear of that, however, weariness chaining the men +to their berths as closely as if they had been bolted down with iron. I +now expected to see the fellows fill the yawl with effects, and run away +with them, for, as yet, I could not believe that two men would have the +hardihood to attack such a ship's company as ours. + +I reckoned without my host. It might have been ten minutes after I was +seized, that dark-looking figures began to climb the ship's sides, +until more than thirty of them were on her decks. This was done so +noiselessly, too, that the most vigilant attention on my part gave no +notice of their approach, until they stood among us. All these men were +armed; a few with muskets; others with clubs, and some with bows and +arrows. So far as I could discover, each had some sort of a knife, and a +few had hatchets, or tomahawks. To my great regret, I saw that three or +four were immediately stationed at the companion-way, aft, and as many +more at the booby-hatch, forward. This was effectually commanding the +only two passages by which the officers and men would be likely to +ascend, in the event of their attempting to come on deck. It is true, +the main hatch, as well as that of the steerage, was used by day, +but both had been covered over night, and no one would think of using +either, unless aware of the danger that existed on deck. + +I suffered a good deal, both from the gag and the ropes that bound my +limbs, and yet I hardly thought of the pain, so intense was my curiosity +as to what was to follow. After the savages were all on board, the first +quarter of an hour passed in making their dispositions, Smudge, the +stupid, inanimate, senseless Smudge, acting as leader, and manifesting +not only authority, but readiness and sagacity. He placed all his people +in ambush, so that, one appearing from below, would not at once be +apprized of the change that had taken place on deck, and thus give the +savages time to act. After this, another quarter of an hour passed, +during which the fall of a pin might almost have been heard, so +profound was the silence. I shut my eyes in this terrific interval, and +endeavoured to pray. + +“On deck, here--forward, there!” said a voice suddenly, that, at once, +I knew to be the captain's. I would have given the world to be able to +answer, in order to warn him of the danger, but this was impossible. I +did groan, and I believe the captain heard me; for he moved away from +the cabin-door, and called out “Mr. Wallingford--where have you got to, +Mr. Wallingford?” He was without his hat, having come on deck half-clad, +simply to ascertain how went the night, and it makes me shudder, even +now, to write about the blow that fell on his unprotected skull. It +would have felled an ox, and it crushed him on the spot. The caution of +his murderers prevented his falling, however, for they did not wish to +alarm the sleepers below; though the plash on the water that followed, +could not fail to reach ears which took in every sound with the avidity +of mine. Thus perished Captain Williams, a mild, well-meaning man, an +excellent seaman, and one whose principal fault was want of caution. I +do not think the water was necessary to complete his fate, as nothing +human could have survived such a blow. + +Smudge had been the principal actor in this frightful scene; and, as +soon as it was over, he caused his men to return to their ambushes. I +now thought the officers and men were to be murdered, in this manner, +as one by one they appeared on deck. It would soon be time for Marble +to turn out, though there was the hope he might not unless called, and +I could not do this office, situated as I was. But, I was mistaken. +Instead of enticing any men on deck, the savages pursued a different +course. Having destroyed the captain, they closed the doors of the +companion-way, drew over the booby-hatch, and adopted the safe expedient +of making all below prisoners. This was not done altogether without +noise, and the alarm was evidently given by the means taken to secure +the fastenings. I heard a rush at the cabin-doors, which was soon +followed by one at the booby-hatch; but Smudge's ingenuity had been +sufficient to prevent either from being successful. + +As soon as certain that their prisoners were safe, the savages came and +loosened the ropes of my arms sufficiently to put me more at my ease. +They removed those which bound my feet entirely, and, at the same +instant, the gag was taken from my mouth. I was then led to the +companionway, and, by a sign, given to understand I might communicate +with my friends below. In the management of all this, I found that +Smudge, the semi-human, dull, animal-seeming Smudge, was at the head. +I also came to the conclusion my life was to be spared, for a time at +least, and for some purpose that, as yet, baffled my conjectures. I did +not call out immediately, but waited until I heard a movement on the +ladder, when I complied with the orders of my captors and masters. + +“Mr. Marble,” I cried, loud enough to be heard below, “is that you?” + +“Ay, ay--and is that you, Master Miles?” + +“This is I. Be cautious how you act, Mr. Marble. The savages are in +possession of the upper deck, and I am their prisoner. The people are +all below, with a strong watch at the fore-scuttle.” + +I heard a long, low whistle, within the companion-way doors, which it +was easy enough to interpret into an expression of the chief-mate's +concern and wonder. For myself, I saw no use in attempting concealment, +but was resolved to speak out fully, even though it might be at the risk +of betraying some of my feelings to my captors, among whom I thought +it probable there might be more than one who understood something of +English. + +“We miss Captain Williams below here,” Marble resumed, after a short +delay. “Do you know anything of his movements?” + +“Alas! Mr. Marble--poor Captain Williams can be of no service to any of +us, now.” + +“What of him?” was demanded in a clear, full voice and as quick as +lightning. “Let me know, at once.” + +“He has been killed by a blow from a club, and is thrown overboard.” + +A dead silence followed, and it lasted near a minute. + +“Then it has fallen to my duty to decide what is to be done!” Marble +at length exclaimed. “Miles, are you at liberty?--dare you say what you +think?” + +“I am held here, by two of the savages, whose prisoner I certainly am. +Still, Mr. Marble, they encourage me to speak, but I fear some among +them understand what we say.” + +There was another pause, during which the mate was doubtless reflecting +on the best course to pursue. + +“Harkee, Miles,” Marble continued, “we know each other, and can tell +what is meant without blabbing. How old are you, out there, on deck.” + +“Quite thirty years, Mr. Marble--and good stout years they are, too.” + +“Well provided for, with sulphur and the pills, or only with Indian +tools, such as our boys sometimes play with?” + +“A little of the first--half-a-dozen, perhaps; with some of the last, +and a plenty of carvers.” + +An impatient push from the Dipper warned me to speak plainer, and +satisfied me that the fellow could comprehend what passed, so long as we +confined ourselves to a straight, forward discourse. This discovery had +the effect to put me still more on my guard. + +“I understand you, Miles,” Marble answered, in a thoughtful manner; “we +must be on our guard. Do you think they mean to come below?” + +“I see no signs at present--but _understanding_--” emphasizing the +word, “is more general than you imagine, and no secrets must be told. My +advice is 'Millions for defence, and not a cent for tribute.'” + +As this last expression was common in the mouths of the Americans of the +day, having been used on the occasion of the existing war with France, I +felt confident it would be understood. Marble made no answer, and I +was permitted to move from the companion-way, and to take a seat on the +hen-coops. My situation was sufficiently remarkable. It was still dark; +but enough light fell from the stars to permit me to see all the swarthy +and savage forms that were gliding about the decks, and even to observe +something of the expression of the countenances of those, who, from time +to time, came near to stare me in the face. The last seemed ferociously +disposed; but it was evident that a master-spirit held all these wild +beings in strict subjection; quelling the turbulence of their humours, +restraining their fierce disposition to violence, and giving concert and +design to all their proceedings. This master-spirit was Smudge! Of the +fact, I could not doubt; his gestures, his voice, his commands, giving +movement and method to everything that was done. I observed that he +spoke with authority and confidence, though he spoke calmly. He was +obeyed, without any particular marks of deference, but he was obeyed +implicitly. I could also see that the savages considered themselves as +conquerors; caring very little for the men under hatches. + +Nothing material occurred until day dawned. Smudge--for so I must +continue to call this revolting-looking chief, for want of his true +name--would permit nothing to be attempted, until the light became +sufficiently strong to enable him to note the proceedings of his +followers. I subsequently ascertained, too, that he waited for +reinforcements, a yell being raised in the ship, just as the sun +appeared, which was answered from the forest. The last seemed fairly +alive with savages; nor was it long before canoes issued from the creek, +and I counted one hundred and seven of these wretches on board the ship. +This was their whole force, however, no more ever appearing. + +All this time, or for three hours, I had no more communication with +our own people. I was certain, however, that they were all together, a +junction being easy enough, by means of the middle-deck, which had no +other cargo than the light articles intended for the north-west trade, +and by knocking down the forecastle bulk-head. There was a sliding board +in the last, indeed, that would admit of one man's passing at a time, +without having recourse to this last expedient. I entertained no doubt +Marble had collected all hands below; and, being in possession of plenty +of arms, the men having carried their muskets and pistols below with +them, with all the ammunition, he was still extremely formidable. What +course he would pursue, I was obliged to conjecture. A sortie would +have been very hazardous, if practicable at all; and it was scarcely +practicable, after the means taken by Smudge and the Dipper to secure +the passages. Everything, so far as I was concerned, was left to +conjecture. + +The manner in which my captors treated me, excited my surprise. As soon +as it was light, my limbs were released, and I was permitted to walk +up and down the quarter-deck to restore the circulation of the blood. A +clot of blood, with some fragments of hair, marked the spot where poor +Captain Williams had fallen; and I was allowed to dash a bucket of water +over the place, in order to wash away the revolting signs of the murder. +For myself, a strange recklessness had taken the place of concern, and +I became momentarily indifferent to my fate. I expected to die, and I +am now ashamed to confess that my feelings took a direction towards +revenge, rather than towards penitence for my past sins. At times, I +even envied Marble, and those below, who might destroy their enemies +at a swoop, by throwing a match into the magazine. I felt persuaded, +indeed, it would come to that before the mate and men would submit to +be the captives of such wretches as were then in possession of the deck. +Smudge and his associates, however, appeared to be perfectly indifferent +to this danger, of the character of which they were probably ignorant. +Their scheme had been very cunningly laid; and, thus far, it was +perfectly successful. + +The sun was fairly up, and the savages began to think seriously of +securing their prize, when the two leaders, Smudge and the Dipper, +approached me in a manner to show they were on the point of commencing +operations. The last of these men I now discovered had a trifling +knowledge of English, which he had obtained from different ships. Still +he was a savage, to all intents and purposes, the little information +thus gleaned, serving to render his worst propensities more dangerous, +rather than, in any manner, tempering them. He now took the lead, +parading all his men in two lines on the deck, making a significant +gesture towards his fingers, and uttering, with emphasis, the word +“count.” I did count the wretches, making, this time, one hundred and +six, exclusively of the two leaders. + +“Tell him, down there”--growled the Dipper, pointing below. + +I called for Mr. Marble, and when he had reached the companion-way, the +following conversation took place between us: + +“What is it now, Miles, my hearty?” demanded the chief-mate. + +“I am ordered to tell you, sir, that the Indians number one hundred and +eight, having just counted them, for this purpose.” + +“I wish there were a thousand, as we are about to lift the deck from the +ship, and send them all into the air. Do you think they can understand +what I say, Miles?” + +“The Dipper does, sir, when you speak slow and plain. He has only half a +notion of what you now mean, as I can see by his countenance.” + +“Does the rascal hear me, now?--is he anywhere near the companion-way?” + +“He does, and is--he is standing, at this moment, on the larboard side +of the companion-way, kneeling one knee, on the forward end of the +hen-coop.” + +“Miles”--said Marble, in a doubting sort of a voice. + +“Mr. Marble--I hear what you say.” + +“Suppose--eh--lead through the companion-way--eh--what would happen to +_you?_” + +“I should care little for that, sir, as I've made up my mind to be +murdered. But it would do no good, just now, and might do harm. I will +tell them, however, of your intention to blow them up, if you please; +perhaps _that_ may make them a little shy.” + +Marble assented, and I set about the office, as well as I could. Most +of my communication had to be made by means of signs; but, in the end, +I succeeded in making the Dipper understand my meaning. By this man the +purport was told to Smudge, in terms. The old man listened with grave +attention, but the idea of being blown up produced no more effect on +him, than would have been produced by a message from home to tell him +that his chimney was on fire, supposing him to have possessed such a +civilized instrument of comfort. That he fully comprehended his friend, +I could see by the expression of his ourang-outang-looking countenance. +But fear was a passion that troubled him very little; and, sooth to say, +a man whose time was passed in a condition as miserable as that in which +he habitually dwelt, had no great reason to set a very high value on +his life. Yet, these miserable wretches never commit suicide! That is +a relief reserved rather for those who have become satiated with human +enjoyments, nine pampered sensualists dying in this mode, for one poor +wretch whose miseries have driven him to despair. + +I was astonished at seeing the intelligence that gleamed in the +baboon-like face of Smudge, as he listened to his friend's words. +Incredulity was the intellectual meaning in his eye, while indifference +seemed seated in his whole visage. + +It was evident the threat had made no impression, and I managed to let +Marble understand as much, and that in terms which the Dipper could not +very well comprehend. I got no answer, a death-like stillness reigning +below decks, in lieu of the bustle that had so lately been heard there. +Smudge seemed struck with the change, and I observed he was giving +orders to two or three of the elder savages, apparently to direct a +greater degree of watchfulness. I confess to some uneasiness myself, +for expectation is an unpleasant guest, in a scene like that, and more +especially when accompanied by uncertainty. + +Smudge now seemed to think it time to commence his operations in +earnest. Under the direction of the Dipper a quantity of line was thrown +into the yawl, studding-halyards, and such other rope of convenient size +as could be found in the launch, and the boat was towed by two or +three canoes to the island. Here the fellows made what seamen call a +“guess-warp,” of their rope; fastening one end to a tree, and paying +out line, as the yawl was towed back again to the ship. The Dipper's +calculation proved to be sufficiently accurate, the rope reaching from +the vessel to the tree. + +As soon as this feat was accomplished, and it was done with sufficient +readiness, though somewhat lubberly, twenty or thirty of the savages +clapped on the warp, until they had tautened it to as great a strain as +it would bear. After this they ceased pulling, and I observed a search +around the galley in quest of the cook's axe, evidently with a design to +cut the cables. I thought this a fact worth communicating to Marble, and +I resolved to do so at the risk of my life. “The Indians have run a line +to the island, and are about to cut the cables, no doubt intending to +warp the ship ashore; and that, too, at the very spot where they once +had the Sea-Otter.” + +“Ay, ay--let them go on; we'll be ready for them in time,” was the only +answer I received. + +I never knew whether to ascribe the apathy the savages manifested to +this communication, to a wish that the fact might be known to the people +below, or to indifference. They certainly proceeded in their movements +with just as much coolness as if they had the ship all to themselves. +They had six or eight canoes, and parties of them began to move round +the vessel, with precisely the same confidence as men would do it in a +friendly port. What most surprised me were the quiet and submission to +orders they observed. At length the axe was found secreted in the +bows of the launch, and Marble was apprised of the use to which it was +immediately applied, by the heavy blows that fell upon the cables. + +“Miles,” said the chief-mate--“these blows go to my heart! Are the +blackguards really in earnest?” + +“The larboard bower is gone, sir, and the blows you now hear are on the +starboard, which is already half in two--that finishes it; the ship now +hangs only by the warp.” + + +“Is there any wind, boy?” + +“Not a breath of it in the bay, though I can see a little ripple on the +water, outside.” + +“Is it rising or falling water, Miles?” + +“The ebb is nearly done--they'll never be able to get the ship up on the +shelving rock where they had the Sea-Otter, until the water rises ten or +twelve feet.” + +“Thank God for that! I was afraid they might get her on that accursed +bed, and break her back at once.” + +“Is it of any importance to us, Mr. Marble? What hope can we have of +doing anything against such odds, and in our circumstances?” + +“The odds I care nothing for, boy. My lads are screwed up so tight, +they'd lick the whole North-West Coast, if they could only get on deck +without having their fashion-pieces stove in. The circumstances, I +allow, must count for a great deal.” + +“The ship is moving fast towards the island--I see no hope for us, Mr. +Marble!” + +“I say, Miles, it is worth some risk to try and save the craft--were +it not for fear of you, I would have played the rascals a trick half an +hour since.” + +“Never mind me, sir--it was my fault it has happened, and I ought to +suffer for it--do what duty and discretion tell you is best.” + +I waited a minute after this, in intense expectation, not knowing what +was to follow, when a report made me fancy for an instant some attempt +was making to blow up the deck. The wails and cries that succeeded, +however, soon let me into the real state of the case. A volley of +muskets had been fired from the cabin-windows, and every individual in +two canoes that were passing at the time, to the number of eleven, +were shot down like bullocks. Three were killed dead, and the remainder +received wounds that promised to be mortal. My life would have been the +instant sacrifice of this act, had it not been for the stern authority +of Smudge, who ordered my assailants off, with a manner and tone that +produced immediate compliance. It was clear I was reserved for some +peculiar fate. + +Every man who could, rushed into the remaining canoes and the ship's +yawl, in order to pick up the killed and wounded, as soon as the nature +of the calamity was known. I watched them from the taffrail, and soon +ascertained that Marble was doing the same from the windows below me. +But the savages did not dare venture in a line with a fire that had +proved so fatal, and were compelled to wait until the ship had moved +sufficiently ahead to enable them to succour their friends, without +exposing their own lives. As this required some distance, as well as +time, the ship was not only left without a canoe, or boat of any sort, +in the water, but with only half her assailants on board of her. Those +who did remain, for want of means to attack any other enemy, vented +their spite on the ship, expending all their strength in frantic efforts +on the warp. The result was, that while they gave great way to the +vessel, they finally broke the line. + +I was leaning on the wheel, with Smudge near me, when this accident +occurred. The tide was still running ebb, and with some strength; and +the ship was just entering the narrow passage between the island and the +point that formed one termination of the bay, heading, of course, +toward the tree to which the warp had been secured. It was an impulsive +feeling, rather than any reason, that made me give the vessel a sheer +with the helm, so as to send her directly through the passage, instead +of letting her strike the rocks. I had no eventual hope in so doing, +nor any other motive than the strong reluctance I felt to have the good +craft hit the bottom. Luckily, the Dipper was in the canoes, and it +was not an easy matter to follow the ship, under the fire from her +cabin-windows, had he understood the case, and been disposed to do +so. But, like all the rest in the canoes, he was busy with his wounded +friends, who were all carried off towards the creek. This left me master +of the ship's movements for five minutes, and by that time she had drawn +through the passage, and was actually shooting out into the open ocean. + +This was a novel, and in some respects an embarrassing situation. It +left a gleam of hope, but it was a hope without a direction, and almost +without an object. I could perceive that none of the savages on board +had any knowledge of the cause of our movement, unless they might +understand the action of the tide. They had expected the ship to be run +ashore at the tree; and here she was gliding into the ocean, and was +already clear of the passage. The effect was to produce a panic, and +fully one-half of those who had remained in the ship, jumped overboard +and began to swim for the island. I was momentarily in hope all +would take this course; but quite five-and-twenty remained, more from +necessity than choice, as I afterwards discovered, for they did not know +how to swim. Of this number was Smudge, who probably still remained to +secure his conquest. It struck me the moment was favourable, and I went +to the companion-way, and was about to remove its fastenings, thinking +the ship might be recovered during the prevalence of the panic. But a +severe blow, and a knife gleaming in the hands of Smudge, admonished me +of the necessity of greater caution. The affair was not yet ended, +nor was my captor a man as easily disconcerted as I had incautiously +supposed. Unpromising as he seemed, this fellow had a spirit that fitted +him for great achievements, and which, under other circumstances, might +have made him a hero. He taught me the useful lesson of not judging of +men merely by their exteriors. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + _Court_--“Brother John Bates, is not that the morning which + breaks yonder?” + _Bates_.--“I think it be; but we have no great cause to desire + the approach of day.” + _Will_.--“We see yonder the beginning of the day; but I think + we shall never see the end of it----” + _Henry V._ + + +The ship did not lose her steerage-way. As soon as past the point of the +island, a gentle southerly breeze was felt; and, acting on the spars and +hull, it enabled me, by putting the helm a little up, to keep her head +off shore, and thus increase her distance from the bay. The set of the +tide did more for her than the wind, it is true; but the two, acting in +unison, carried her away from the coast at a rate that nearly equalled +two knots in the hour. This was slow moving, certainly, for a vessel in +such a strait; but it would require fifteen or twenty minutes for the +canoes to return from the creek, and make the circuit of the island by +the other channel. By that time we should be near half a mile at sea. + +Smudge, beyond a question, understood that he was in a dilemma, though +totally ignorant of some of the leading difficulties of his case. It was +plain to me he could not comprehend why the ship took the direction of +the offing, for he had no conception of the power of the rudder. Our +tiller worked below, and it is possible this circumstance mystified him, +more small vessels in that day managing their helms without the aid of +the wheel, than with it. At length the movement of the vessel became too +palpable to admit of further delay; and this savage approached me, with +a drawn knife, and a manner that proved natural affection had not been +the motive of his previous moderation. After flourishing his weapon +fiercely before my eyes, and pressing it most significantly, once or +twice, against my breast, he made signs for me to cause the ship to +turn round and re-enter the port. I thought my last moment had come, but +naturally enough pointed to the spars, giving my master to understand +that the vessel was not in her usual trim. I believe I was understood +as to this part of my excuses, it being too apparent that our masts and +yards were not in their usual places, for the fact to be overlooked even +by a savage. Smudge, however, saw that several of the sails were bent, +and he pointed to those, growling out his threats, should I refuse to +set them. The spanker, in particular, being near him, he took hold of +it, shook it, and ordered me to loosen it forthwith. + +It is scarcely necessary to say, I obeyed this order with secret joy. +Casting loose the brails, I put the out-hauler in the hands of a dozen +of the savages, and set the example of pulling. In a minute we had +this sail spread, with the sheet a little eased off. I then led a party +forward, and got the fore and main stay-sails on the ship. To these +were added the mizen stay-sail, the only other piece of canvass we could +show, until the top-masts were fidded. The effect of these four sails, +however, was to add at least another knot to the way of the ship, and +to carry her out sooner to a point where she felt the full force of the +light breeze that was blowing from the south-east. By the time the four +sails were set, we were fully a quarter of a mile from the island, every +instant getting more fairly into the true currents of the air. + +Smudge watched me with the eyes of a hawk. As I had obeyed his own +orders in making sail, he could not complain of that; but the result +evidently disappointed him. He saw we were still moving in the wrong +direction, and, as yet, not a canoe was visible. As for these last, now +the vessel had way on her, I was not without hopes of being able to +keep them exposed to the fire from the cabin-windows, and, finally, of +getting rid of them by drawing off the land to a distance they would +not be likely to follow. The Dipper, however, I was aware, was a bold +fellow--knew something of vessels--and I was determined to give a hint +to Marble to pick _him_ off, should he come within range of his muskets. + +In the meantime the alarm and impatience of Smudge and his companions, +very sensibly increased. Five minutes were an age in the circumstances +in which they were placed, and I saw that it would soon be necessary +to adopt some new expedient, or I might expect to be sacrificed to the +resentment of these savages. Necessity sharpens the wits, and I hit upon +a scheme which was not entirely without the merit of ingenuity. As it +was, I suppose I owed my life to the consciousness of the savages, that +they could do nothing without me. + +Smudge, with three or four of the fiercest of his companions, had begun +again to menace me with the knife, making signs, at the same time, for +me to turn the ship's head towards the land. I asked for a little room, +and then describing a long circle on the deck, pointing to the four +sails we had set, and this in a way to tell them that under the canvass +we carried, it would be necessary to go a great distance in order to +turn round. When I had succeeded in communicating this idea, I forthwith +set about giving them to understand that by getting up the top-masts, +and making more sail, we might return immediately. The savages +understood me, and the explanation appearing reasonable to them, they +went aside and consulted together. As time pressed, it was not long +before Smudge came to me with signs to show him and his party how to get +the remainder of the sails set. Of course, I was not backward in giving +the desired information. + +In a few minutes, I had a string of the savages hold of the mast-rope, +forward, a luff-tackle being applied. As everything was ready aloft, all +we had to do was to pull, until, judging by the eye, I thought the +spar was high enough, when I ran up the rigging and clapped in the fid. +Having the top-mast out of the way, without touching any of its rigging, +I went down on the fore-yard, and loosened the sail. This appeared +so much like business, that the savages gave sundry exclamations of +delight; and, by the time I got on deck, they were all ready to applaud +me as a good fellow. Even Smudge was completely mystified; and when I +set the others at work at the jeer-fall to sway up the fore-yard, he was +as active as any of them. We soon had the yard in its place, and I went +aloft to secure it, touching the braces first so as to fill the sail. + +The reader may rest assured I did not hurry myself, now I had things in +so fair a way. I could perceive that my power and importance increased +with every foot we went from the land; and the ship steering herself +under such canvass, the wheel being a trifle up, there was no occasion +for extraordinary exertion on my part. I determined now to stay aloft as +long as possible. The yard was soon secured, and then I went up into the +top, where I began to set up the weather-rigging. Of course, nothing was +very thoroughly done, though sufficiently so for the weather we had. + +From the top I had a good view of the offing, and of the coast for +leagues. We were now quite a mile at sea, and, though the tide was no +longer of any use to us, we were drawing through the water quite at the +rate of two knots. I thought that the flood had made, and that it took +us a little on our lee-bow, hawsing us up to windward. Just as I had got +the last lanyard fastened, the canoes began to appear, coming round +the island by the farther passage, and promising to overtake us in the +course of the next twenty minutes. The crisis demanded decision, and I +determined to get the jib on the ship. Accordingly, I was soon on deck. + +Having so much the confidence of the savages, who now fancied their +return depended on me, I soon had them at work, and we had the stay set +up in two or three minutes. I then ran out and cast off the gaskets, +when my boys began to hoist at a signal from me. I have seldom been so +happy as when I saw that large sheet of canvass open to the air. The +sheet was hauled in and belayed as fast as possible, and then it +struck me I should not have time to do any more before the canoes would +overtake us. It was my wish to communicate with Marble. While passing +aft, to effect this object, I paused a moment to examine the movement of +the canoes; old Smudge, the whole time, expressing his impatience that +the ship did not turn round. I make no doubt I should have been murdered +a dozen times, had I lives enough, were it not that the savages felt how +dependent they were on me, for the government of the vessel. I began +to see my importance, and grew bold in proportion. As for the canoes, +I took a look at them through a glass, They were about half-a-mile +distant; had ceased paddling, and were lying close together, seemingly +in consultation. I fancied the appearance of the ship, under canvass, +had alarmed them, and that they began to think we had regained the +vessel, and were getting her in sailing condition again, and that it +might not be prudent to come too near. Could I confirm this impression, +a great point would be gained. Under the pretence of making more sail, +in order to get the ship's head round, a difficulty I had to explain to +Smudge by means of signs some six or eight times, I placed the savages +at the _main_-top-mast mast-rope, and told them to drag. This was a +task likely to keep them occupied, and what was more, it kept them all +looking forward, leaving me affecting to be busied aft. I had given +Smudge a segar too, to put him in good humour, and I had also taken the +liberty to light one for myself. + +Our guns had all been primed, levelled, and had their tompions taken out +the night before, in readiness to repel any assault that might be made. +I had only to remove the apron from the after-gun, and it was ready to +be discharged. Going to the wheel, I put the helm hard up, until our +broadside bore on the canoes. Then glancing along my gun, until I saw +it had a tolerable range, I clapped the segar to the priming, springing +back to the wheel, and putting the helm down. The explosion produced a +general yell among the savages, several of whom actually leaped into the +chains ready to go overboard, while Smudge rushed towards me, fiercely +brandishing his knife. I thought my time had come! but, perceiving +that the ship was luffing fast, I motioned eagerly forward, to draw the +attention of my assailant in that quarter. The vessel was coming-to, and +Smudge was easily induced to believe it was the commencement of turning +round. The breathing time allowed me to mystify him with a few more +signs; after which, he rejoined his people, showed them exultingly the +ship still luffing, and I make no doubt, he thought himself, and induced +the rest to think, that the gun had a material agency in producing all +these apparent changes. As for the canoes, the grape had whistled +so near them, that they began to paddle back, doubtless under the +impression, that we were again masters of the ship, and had sent them +this hint to keep aloof. + +Thus far I had succeeded beyond my most sanguine expectations; and +I began to entertain lively hopes of not only saving my life, but of +recovering the command of the vessel. Could I manage to get her out +of sight of land, my services would be so indispensable, as almost to +insure success. The coast was very low, and a run of six or eight hours +would do this, provided the vessel's head could be kept in the right +direction. The wind, moreover, was freshening, and I judged that the +Crisis had already four knots way on her. Less than twenty miles would +put all the visible coast under water. But, it was time to say something +to Marble. With a view to lull distrust, I called Smudge to the +companion-way, in order that he might hear what passed, though I felt +satisfied, now that the Dipper was out of the ship, not a soul remained +among the savages, who could understand a syllable of English, or knew +anything of vessels. The first call brought the mate to the door. “Well, +Miles; what is it?”--he asked--“what meant the gun, and who fired it?” + +“All right, Mr. Marble. I fired the gun to keep off the canoes, and it +has had the effect I wished.” + +“Yes; my head was out of the cabin-window at the time, for I believed +the ship was waring, and thought you had given up, and were going back +into port. I saw the roundshot strike within twenty fathoms of the +canoes, and as for the grape, some of it flew beyond them. Why, we are +more than half a league from the land, boy!--Will Smudge stand that much +longer?” + +I then told Marble precisely how we were situated on deck, the sail we +were under, the number of savages we had on board, and the notion the +savages entertained on the subject of turning the ship round. It is not +easy to say which listened with the most attention, Marble, or Smudge. +The latter made frequent gestures for me to turn the ship towards the +coast, for by this time she had the wind abeam again, and was once more +running in a straight line. It was necessary, on more accounts than one, +to adopt some immediate remedy for the danger that began to press on me +anew. Not only must Smudge and his associates be pacified, but, as the +ship got into the offing, she began to feel the ground-swell, and her +spars, aloft, were anything but secure. The main-top-mast was about +half-up, and it was beginning to surge and move in the cap, in a way I +did not like. It is true, there was not much danger yet; but the wind +was rising, and what was to be done, ought to be done at once. I was +not sorry, however, to perceive that five or six of the savages, Smudge +among the number, began to betray signs of sea-sickness. I would have +given Clawbonny, at the moment, to have had all the rascals in rough +water! + +I now endeavoured to make Smudge understand the necessity of my having +assistance from below, both to assist in turning the vessel, and in +getting the yards and masts into their places. The old fellow shook his +head, and looked grave at this. I saw he was not sick enough yet, to +be indifferent about his life. After a time, however, he pronounced the +names of Neb and Yo, the blacks having attracted the attention of the +savages, the last being the cook. I understood him, he would suffer +these two to come to my assistance, provided it could be done without +endangering his own ascendency. Three unarmed men could hardly be +dangerous to twenty-five who were armed; and then I suspected that he +fancied the negroes would prove allies to himself, in the event of a +struggle, rather than foes. As for Neb, he made a fatal mistake; nor was +he much nearer the truth in regard to Joe-or Yo, as he called him--the +cook feeling quite as much for the honour of the American flag, as the +fairest-skinned seaman in the country. It is generally found, that the +loyalty of the negroes is of proof. + +I found means to make Smudge understand the manner in which these two +blacks could be got on deck, without letting up the rest. As soon as he +fairly comprehended the means to be used, he cheerfully acquiesced, and +I made the necessary communication to Marble. A rope was sent down, +over the stern-boat, to the cabin-windows, and Neb took a turn round his +body; when he was hauled up to the gunwale of the boat, into which he +was dragged by the assistance of the savages. The same process was used +with Joe. Before the negroes were permitted to go aloft, however, Smudge +made them a brief oration, in which oracular sentences were blended with +significant gestures, and indications of what they were to expect, +in the event of bad behaviour. After this, I sent the blacks into the +main-top, and glad enough I thought they were both to get there. + +Thus reinforced, we had the main-top-mast fidded in a very few minutes. +Neb was then directed to set up the rigging, and to clear away the yard, +so it might be got into its place. In a word, an hour passed in active +exertions, at the end of which, we had everything rove, bent, and in +its place, on the main-mast, from the top-mast-head to the deck. The +top-gallant-mast was lying fore and aft in the waist, and could not +then be touched; nor was it necessary. I ordered the men to loosen both +sails, and to overhaul down their rigging. In the eyes of Smudge, this +looked highly promising; and the savages gave a yell of delight when +they saw the top-sail fairly filled and drawing. I added the main-sail +to the pressure, and then the ship began to walk off the coast, at a +rate that promised all I hoped for. It was now necessary for me to stick +by the wheel, of the uses of which Smudge began to obtain some notions. +At this time, the vessel was more than two leagues from the island, and +objects began to look dim along the coast. As for the canoes, they +could no longer be seen, and chasing us any farther was quite out of the +question. I felt that the crisis was approaching. + +Smudge and his companions now became more and more earnest on the +subject of turning the ship round. The indistinctness of the land began +seriously to alarm them, and sea-sickness had actually placed four of +their number flat on the deck. I could see that the old fellow himself +was a good deal affected, though his spirit, and the risks he ran, kept +him in motion, and vigilantly on the watch. It was necessary to seem to +do something; and I sent the negroes up into the fore-top, to get the +top sail-yard in its place, and the sail set. This occupied another +hour, before we were entirely through, when the land was getting nearly +_awash_. As soon as the mizen-top-sail was set, I braced sharp up, and +brought the ship close upon the wind. This caused the Indians to wilt +down like flowers under a burning sun, just as I expected; there being, +by this time, a seven-knot breeze, and a smart head-sea on. Old Smudge +felt that his forces were fast deserting him, and he now came to me, +in a manner that would not be denied, and I felt the necessity of doing +something to appease him. I got the savages stationed as well as I +could, hauled up the main-sail, and put the ship in stays. We tacked +better than I could have believed possible, and when my wild captors saw +that we were actually moving in the direction of the land, again, their +delight was infinite. Their leader was ready to hug me; but I avoided +this pleasure in the best manner I could. As for the consequences, I +had no apprehensions, knowing we were too far off to have any reason to +dread the canoes, and being certain it was easy enough to avoid them in +such a breeze. + +Smudge and his companions were less on the alert, as soon as they +perceived the ship was going in the proper direction. They probably +believed the danger in a measure over, and they began to yield a little +to their physical sufferings. I called Neb to the wheel, and leaning +over the taffrail, I succeeded in getting Marble to a cabin-window, +without alarming Smudge. I then told the mate to get all his forces in +the forecastle, having observed that the Indians avoided that part of +the vessel, on account of the heavy plunges she occasionally made, and +possibly because they fancied our people were all aft. As soon as the +plan was understood, I strolled forward, looking up at the sails, and +touching a rope, here and there, like one bent on his ordinary duty. +The savage stationed at the fore-scuttle was as sick as a dog, and with +streaming eyes, he was paying the landsmen's tribute to the sea. The +hatch was very strong, and it was secured simply by its hasp and a bit +of iron thrust through it. I had only to slip my hand down, remove the +iron, throw open the hatch, when the ship's company streamed up on deck, +Marble leading. + +It was not a moment for explanations. I saw, at a glance, that the mate +and his followers regarded the situation of the ship very differently +from what I did myself. I had now been hours with the savages, had +attained a little of their confidence, and knew how dependent they +were on myself for their final safety; all of which, in a small degree, +disposed me to treat them with some of the lenity I fancied I had +received from them, in my own person. But, Marble and the crew had been +chafing below, like caged lions, the whole time, and, as I afterwards +learned, had actually taken an unanimous vote to blow themselves up, +before they would permit the Indians to retain the control of the +vessel. Then poor Captain Williams was much beloved forward, and his +death remained to be avenged. I would have said a word in favour of my +captors, but the first glance I got at the flushed face of the mate, +told me it would be useless. I turned, therefore, to the sick savage +who had been left as a sentinel over the fore-scuttle, to prevent his +interference. This man was armed with the pistols that had been taken +from me, and he showed a disposition to use them. I was too quick in my +motions, however, falling upon him so soon as to prevent one who was not +expert with the weapons from using them. We clenched, and fell on the +deck together, the Indian letting the pistols fall to meet my grasp. + +As this occurred, I heard the cheers of the seamen; and Marble, shouting +out to “revenge Captain Williams,” gave the order to charge. I soon had +my own fellow perfectly at my mercy, and got him so near the end of the +jib downhaul, as to secure him with a turn or two of that rope. The +man made little resistance, after the first onset; and, catching up +the pistols, I left him, to join in what was doing aft. As I lay on the +deck, I heard several plunges into the water, and then half-a-dozen of +most cruelly crushing blows succeeded. Not a shot was fired by either +party, though some of our people, who had carried all their arms below +the night the ship was seized, used their pikes with savage freedom. +By the time I got as far aft as the main-mast, the vessel was our +own. Nearly half the Indians had thrown themselves into the sea; the +remaining dozen had either been knocked in the head like beeves, or were +stuck, like so many porkers. The dead bodies followed the living into +the sea. Old Smudge alone remained, at the moment of which I have +spoken. + +The leader of the savages was examining the movements of Neb, at the +moment the shout was raised; and the black, abandoning the wheel, threw +his arms round those of the old man, holding him like a vice. In this +situation he was found by Marble and myself, who approached at the same +instant, one on each side of the quarter-deck. + +“Overboard with the blackguard!” called out the excited mate; “overboard +with him, Neb, like a trooper's horse!” + +“Hold--” I interrupted, “spare the old wretch, Mr. Marble;--he spared +me.” + +A request from me would, at any moment, outweigh an order from the +captain, himself, so far as the black was concerned, else Smudge would +certainly have gone into the ocean, like a bundle of straw. Marble +had in him a good deal of the indifference to bodily suffering that is +generated by habit, and, aroused, he was a dangerous, and sometimes a +hard man; but, in the main, he was not cruel; and then he was always +manly. In the short struggle which he had passed, he had actually +dropped his pike, to knock an Indian down with his fist; bundling the +fellow through a port without ceremony, ere he had time to help himself. +But he disdained striking Smudge, with such odds against him; and he +went to the helm, himself, bidding Neb secure the prisoner. Glad of this +little relief to a scene so horrible, I ran forward, intending to bring +my own prisoner aft, and to have the two confined together, below. But +I was too late. One of the Philadelphians had just got the poor wretch's +head and shoulders through the bow-port, and I was barely in time to see +his feet disappear. + +Not a cheer was given for our success. When all was over, the men stood +gazing at each other, stern, frowning, and yet with the aspects of those +who felt they had been, in a manner, disgraced by the circumstances +which led them to the necessity of thus regaining the command of their +own vessel. As for myself, I ran and sprang upon the taffrail, to look +into the ship's wake. A painful sight met me, there! During the minute +or two passed in the brief struggle, the Crisis had gone steadily ahead, +like the earth moving in its orbit, indifferent to the struggles of the +nations that are contending on its bosom. I could see heads and arms +tossing in our track for a hundred fathoms, those who could not swim +struggling to the last to preserve their existence. Marble, Smudge and +Neb, were all looking in the same direction, at that instant. Under an +impulse I could not control, I ventured to suggest that we might yet +tack and save several of the wretches. + +“Let them drown, and be d----d!” was the chief-mate's sententious +answer. + +“No--no--Masser Mile,” Neb ventured to add, with a remonstrating shake +of the head--“dat will nebber do--no good ebber come of Injin. If you +don't drown him, he sartain drown you.” + +I saw it was idle to remonstrate; and by this time one dark spot, after +another, began to disappear, as the victims sank in the ocean. As for +Smudge, his eye was riveted on the struggling forms of his followers, in +a manner to show that traces of human feeling are to be found, in some +aspect or other, in every condition of life. I thought I could detect +workings of the countenance of this being, indurated as his heart had +become by a long life of savage ferocity, which denoted how keenly he +felt the sudden destruction that had alighted on his tribe. He might +have had sons and grandsons among those struggling wretches, on whom +he was now gazing for the last time. If so, his self-command was almost +miraculous; for, while I could see that he felt, and felt intensely, not +a sign of weakness escaped him. As the last head sunk from view, I could +see him shudder; a suppressed groan escaped him; then he turned his face +towards the bulwarks, and stood immovable as one of the pines of his own +forests, for a long time. I asked Marble's permission to release the old +man's arms, and the mate granted it, though not without growling a few +curses on him, and on all who had been concerned in the late occurrences +on board the ship. + +There was too much duty to be done, to render all secure, to suffer +us to waste much time in mere sympathy. All the top-mast rigging, +backstays, &c., had to be set up afresh, and gangs were sent about +this duty, forward and aft. The blood was washed from the decks, and a +portion of the crew got along the top-gallant-masts, and pointed them. +The topsails were all close-reefed, the courses hauled up, the spanker +and jib taken in, and the ship hove-to. It wanted but two hours of +sunset when Mr. Marble had got things to his mind. We had crossed +royal-yards, and had everything set that would draw, from the trucks +down. The launch was in the water towing astern; the ship was then about +a mile from the southern passage into the bay, towards which she was +steering with the wind very much as it had been since an hour after +sunrise, though slightly falling. Our guns were loose, and the crew was +at quarters. Even I did not know what the new captain intended to do, +for he had given his orders in the manner of one whose mind was too +immovably made up, to admit of consultation. The larboard battery was +manned, and orders had been given to see the guns on that side levelled +and ready for firing. As the ship brushed past the island, in entering +the bay, the whole of this broadside was delivered in among its bushes +and trees. We heard a few yells, in reply, that satisfied us the grape +had told, and that Marble had not miscalculated the position of some of +his enemies, at least. + +When the ship entered the little bay, it was with a moderate and steady +movement, the breeze being greatly broken by the forests. The main-yard +was thrown aback, and I was ordered into the launch, with its crew +armed. A swivel was in the bows of the boat, and I pulled into the +creek, in order to ascertain if there were any signs of the savages. In +entering the creek, the swivel was discharged, according to orders, and +we soon detected proofs that we disturbed a bivouac. I now kept loading +and firing this little piece into the bushes, supporting it with +occasional volleys of musketry, until pretty well satisfied that we had +swept the shore effectually. At the bivouac, I found the canoes, and our +own yawl, and what was some little revenge for what had happened, I also +found a pile of no less than six hundred skins, which had doubtless been +brought to trade with us, if necessary, in order to blind-our eyes until +the favourable moment for the execution of the conspiracy should offer. +I made no scruple about confiscating these skins, which were taken on +board the ship. + +I next went to the island, on which I found one man dying with a +grape-shot wound, and evidence that a considerable party had left it, +as soon as they felt our fire. This party had probably gone outside the +island, but it was getting too late to follow. On my return, I met the +ship coming out, Captain Marble being determined not to trust her +inside another night. The wind was getting light, and, the tides running +fiercely in that high latitude, we were glad to make an offing again +while there was still day. The success with the skins greatly mollified +the new captain, who declared to me that, after he had hanged Smudge in +sight of his own shores, he should “feel something like himself again.” + +We passed the night under our top-sails, standing off and on, with the +wind steady, but light, at the southward. Next morning, the duty of +the ship went on as usual, until the men had breakfasted, when we stood +again into the bay. This time, we hove-to so as to get one of the buoys, +when we dropped the stream, leaving the top-sails set. We then hove up +the anchor, securing the range of cable that was bent to it. Both of the +anchors, and their ranges of cable, were thus recovered; the ends of the +last being entered at the hawse-holes, and the pieces spliced. This work +may have occupied us four hours; after which, the stream-anchor was +hove up, catted and fished. Marble then ordered a whip rove at the +fore-yard-arm. + +I was on the quarter-deck when this command was suddenly given. I wished +to remonstrate, for I had some tolerably accurate notions of legality, +and the rights of persons. Still, I did not like to say anything; for +Captain Marble's eye and manner were not the least in the trifling mood, +at that instant. The whip was soon rove, and the men stood looking aft, +in silent expectation. + +“Take that murdering blackguard forward, fasten his arms behind his +back, place him on the third gun, and wait for orders,” added our new +captain, sternly. + +No one dared hesitate about obeying these orders, though I could see +that one or two of the lads disliked the business. + +“Surely,” I ventured to say, in a low voice, “you are not in earnest, +Mr. Marble!” + +“_Captain_ Marble, if you please, Mr. Wallingford. I am now master of +this vessel, and you are her chief-mate. I intend to hang your friend +Smudge, as an example to the rest of the coast. These woods are full of +eyes at this moment; and the sight they'll presently see, will do more +good than forty missionaries, and threescore and ten years of preaching. +Set the fellow up on the gun, men, as I ordered. This is the way to +generalize with an Indian.” + +In a moment, there stood the hapless wretch, looking about him with an +expression that denoted the consciousness of danger, though it was not +possible he could comprehend the precise mode of his execution. I went +to him, and pressed his hand, pointing upward, as much as to say his +whole trust was now in the Great Spirit. The Indian understood me, for +from that instant he assumed an air of dignified composure, like one +every way prepared to meet his fate. It is not probable, with his +habits, that he saw any peculiar hardship in his own case; for he +had, doubtless, sacrificed many a prisoner under circumstances of less +exasperation than that which his own conduct had provoked. + +“Let two of the 'niggers' take a turn with the end of the whip round the +chap's neck,” said Marble, too dignified to turn Jack Ketch in person, +and unwilling to set any of the white seamen at so ungracious an office. +The cook, Joe, and another black, soon performed this revolting duty, +from the odium of which a sailor seldom altogether escapes. + +I now perceived Smudge looking upward, seeming to comprehend the nature +of the fate that awaited him. The deeply-seated principle within him, +caused a dark shadow to pass over a countenance already so gloomy and +wrinkled by suffering and exposure; and he turned his look wistfully +towards Marble, at whose command each order in succession had been +obeyed. Our new captain caught that gaze, and I was, for a single +moment, in hope he would relent, and let the wretch go. But Marble had +persuaded himself he was performing a great act of nautical justice; nor +was he aware, himself, how much he was influenced by a feeling allied to +vengeance. + +“Sway away!” he called out; and Smudge was dangling at the yard-arm in a +few seconds. + +A block of wood could not have been more motionless than the body of +this savage, after one quivering shudder of suffering had escaped it. +There it hung, like a jewel-block, and every sign of life was soon taken +away. In a quarter of an hour, a man was sent up, and, cutting the rope, +the body fell, with a sharp plunge, into the water, and disappeared. + +At a later day, the account of this affair found its way into the +newspapers at home. A few moralists endeavoured to throw some doubts +over the legality and necessity of the proceedings, pretending that more +evil than good was done to the cause of sacred justice by such disregard +of law and principles; but the feeling of trade, and the security of +ships when far from home, were motives too powerful to be put down by +the still, quiet remonstrances of reason and right. The abuses to which +such practices would be likely to lead, in cases in which one of the +parties constituted himself the law, the judge, and the executioner, +were urged in vain against the active and ever-stimulating incentive of +a love of gold. Still, I knew that Marble wished the thing undone when +it was too late, it being idle to think of quieting the suggestions +of that monitor God has implanted within us, by the meretricious and +selfish approbation of those who judge of right and wrong by their own +narrow standard of interest. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + _1st Lord_.--“Throca movonsas, cargo, cargo, cargo.” + _All_.--“Cargo, cargo, villianda par corbo, cargo.” + _Par_.--“O! ransome, ransome:--Do not hide mine eyes” + _1st Sold_.--“Boskos Thromuldo boskos.” + _Par_.--“I know you are the Muskos' regiment, + And I shall lose my life for want of language.--” + _All's Well That Ends Well._ + + +The Crisis was tacked, as soon as the body of Smudge was cut down, and +she moved slowly, her crew maintaining a melancholy silence, out of +the little haven. I never witnessed stronger evidence of sadness in the +evolutions of a vessel; the slow and stately departure resembling that +of mourners leaving the grave on which they had just heard the fall of +the clod. Marble told me afterwards, he had been disposed to anchor, +and remain until the body of poor Captain Williams should rise, as it +probably would within the next forty-eight hours; but the dread of a +necessity of sacrificing more of the natives, induced him to quit the +fatal spot, without paying the last duties to our worthy old commander. +I always regretted we did not remain, for I think no Indian would have +come near us, had we continued in the harbour a month. + +It was high-noon when the ship once more issued into the broad bosom +of the Pacific. The wind was at south-east, and as we drew off from the +land, it came fresh and steady. About two, having an offing of ten or +twelve miles, orders were issued to set all the larboard studding-sails, +and we stood to the southward and westward under a press of canvass. +Every one saw in this change, a determination to quit the coast; nor did +we regret the measure, for our trade had been quite successful, down to +the moment of the seizure, but could hardly be prosperous after what +had passed. I had not been consulted in the affair at all, but the +second-mate having the watch, I was now summoned to the cabin, and let +into the secret of our future movements. I found Marble seated at the +cabin table, with Captain Williams's writing-desk open before him, and +sundry papers under examination. + +“Take a seat, Mr. Wallingford,” said the new master, with a dignity and +manner suited to the occasion. “I have just been overhauling the old +man's instructions from the owners, and find I have done right in +leaving these hang-gallows rascals to themselves, and shaping our +course to the next point of destination. As it is, the ship has done +surprisingly well. There are $67,370 good Spaniards down in the run, and +that for goods which I see are invoiced at just $26,240; and when +you consider that no duties, port-charges, or commissions are to be +deducted, but that the dollars under our feet are all our own, without +any drawbacks, I call the operation a good one. Then that blundering +through the Straits, though it must never be talked of in any other +light than a bold push for a quick passage, did us a wonderful deal of +good, shoving us ahead near a month in time. It has put us so much ahead +of our calculations, indeed, that I would cruise for Frenchmen for five +or six weeks, were there the least probability that one of the chaps was +to the westward of the Horn. Such not being the fact, however, and there +still being a very long road before us, I have thought it best to push +for the next point of destination. Read that page of the owner's idees, +Mr. Wallingford, and you will get their advice for just such a situation +as that in which we find ourselves.” + +The passage pointed out by Captain Marble was somewhat parenthetical, +and was simply intended to aid Captain Williams, in the event of his not +being able to accomplish the other objects of his voyage. It had a +place in the instructions, indeed, solely on account of a suggestion of +Marble's himself, the project being one of those favourite schemes of +the mate, that men sometimes maintain through thick or thin, until they +get to be ruling thoughts. On Captain Williams it had not weighed a +feather; his intention having been to proceed to the Sandwich Islands +for sandalwood, which was the course then usually pursued by North-West +traders, after quitting the coast. The parenthetical project, however, +was to touch at the last island, procure a few divers, and proceed in +quest of certain islands where it was supposed the pearl fishery would +succeed. Our ship was altogether too large, and every way too expensive, +to be risked in such an adventure, and so I told the ex-mate without any +scruple. But this fishery was a “fixed idea,” a quick road to wealth, +in the new captain's mind, and finding it in the instructions, though +simply as a contingent course, he was inclined to regard it as the great +object of the voyage. Such it was in his eyes, and such it ought to be, +as he imagined, in those of the owners. + +Marble had excellent qualities in his way, but he was not fit to command +a ship. No man could stow her better, fit her better, sail her better, +take better care of her in heavy weather, or navigate her better; and +yet he wanted the judgment necessary to manage the property that must +be committed to his care, and he had no more ideas of commercial thrift, +than if he had never been employed in any of the concerns of commerce. +This was, in truth, the reason he had never risen any higher in his +profession, the mercantile instinct--one of the liveliest and most acute +to be found in natural history--forewarning his different owners that he +was already in the berth nature and art had best qualified him to fill. +It is wonderful how acute even dull men get to be, on the subject of +money! + +I own my judgment, such as it was at nineteen, was opposed to the +opinion of the captain. I could see that the contingency contemplated +by the instructions had not arisen, and that we should be acting more in +conformity with the wishes of the owners, by proceeding to the Sandwich +Islands in quest of sandal-wood, and thence to China, after a cargo +of teas. Marble was not to be convinced, however, though I think my +arguments shook him a little. What might have been the result, it is +difficult to say, had not chance befriended the views of each of us, +respectively. It is proper to add, that Marble availed himself of +this opportunity to promote Talcott, who was brought into the cabin as +third-mate. I rejoiced greatly in this addition to our little circle on +the quarter-deck, Talcott being a man of education, much nearer my own +age than the two others, and united to me by unusual ties since our +common adventure in the prize. I was not only rejoiced to be able to +associate with him, but to hear him called _Mr_. Talcott. + +We had a long, but mild, passage to the Sandwich Islands. This group +occupied a very different place, in the opinions of the world, in the +year 1800, from that it fills to-day. Still it had made some small +advances in civilization since the time of Cook. I am told there are +churches, taverns, billiard-tables, and stone dwellings in these islands +now, which are fast turning to the Christian religion, and obtaining the +medley of convenience, security, vice, roguery, law and comfort, that is +known as civilization. It was far different then, our reception being +by men who were but a small degree removed from savages. Among those +who first came on board us, however, was the master of an American brig, +belonging to Boston, whose vessel had got on a reef, and bilged. He +intended to remain by the wreck, but wished to dispose of a considerable +amount of sandal-wood that was still in his vessel, and for the safety +of which he was under great concern, as the first gale of wind might +scatter it to the winds of the ocean. If he could obtain a fresh stock +of goods to trade on, he proposed remaining on the islands until another +vessel belonging to the same owners, which was expected in a few +months, should arrive, on board which vessel he intended to embark +with everything he could save from the wreck, and such wood as he could +purchase in the interim. Captain Marble rubbed his hands with delight, +when he returned from a visit to the wreck, his arrangements all +completed. + +“Luck is with us, Master Miles,” he said, “and we'll be off for them +pearl fisheries next week. I have bought all the sandal-wood in the +wreck, paying in trumpery, and at prices only about double Indian trade, +and we will heave up, and carry the ship round to the wreck, and begin +to take in this afternoon. There is capital holding-ground inside the +reef, and the ship can be safely carried within a hundred fathoms of her +cargo!” + +All turned out as Marble had hoped and predicted, and the Crisis was +back at her anchorage in front of the village, which is now the city of +Honolulu, within the week named. We got our supply of hogs, and having +procured four of the best divers going, we sailed in quest of Captain +Marble's Eldorado of pearls. I was less opposed to the scheme than I +had been, for we were now so much in advance of our time, that we could +afford to pass a few weeks among the islands, previously to sailing for +China. Our course was to the south-west, crossing the line in about 170° +west longitude. There was a clear sea, for more than a fortnight, while +we were near the equator, the ship making but little progress. Glad +enough was I to hear the order given to turn more to the northward +again; for the heat was oppressive, and this was inclining towards our +route to China. We had been out from Owyhee, as it was then usual +to call the island where Cook was killed--Hawaii, as it is called +to-day--we had been out from this island, about a month, when Marble +came up to me one fine, moon-light evening, in my watch, rubbing +his hands, as was his custom when in good humour, and broke out as +follows:-- + +“I'll tell you what, Miles,” he said, “you and I have been salted down +by Providence for something more than common! Just look back at all our +adventures in the last three years, and see what they come to. Firstly, +there was shipwreck over here on the coast of Madagascar,” jerking his +thumb over a shoulder in a manner that was intended to indicate about +two hundred degrees of longitude, that being somewhat near our present +distance from the place he mentioned, in an air line; “then followed +the boat business under the Isle of Bourbon, and the affair with the +privateer off Guadaloupe. Well, as if that wern't enough, we ship +together again in this vessel, and a time we had of it with the French +letter-of-marque. After that, a devil of a passage we made of it through +the Straits of Magellan. Then came the melancholy loss of Captain +Williams, and all that business; after which we got the sandal-wood out +of the wreck, which I consider the luckiest transaction of all.” + +“I hope you don't set down the loss of Captain Williams among our luck, +sir!” + +“Not I, but the stuff is all logged together, you know; and, in +overhauling for one idee, in such a mess, a fellow is apt to get hold +of another. As I was saying, we have been amazingly lucky, and I expect +nothing else but we shall discover an island yet!” + +“Can that be of any great service to us? There are so many owners ready +to start up and claim such discoveries, that I question if it would do +us any great benefit.” + +“Let them start up--who cares for them; we'll have the christening, and +that's half the battle. Marble Land, Wallingford Bay, Talcott Hills, and +Cape Crisis, would look well on a chart--ha! Miles?” + +“I have no objection to see it, sir.” + +“Land ho!” cried the look-out on the forecastle. + +“There it is now, by George!” cried Marble, springing forward--“I +overhauled the chart half an hour since, and there ought to be nothing +within six hundred miles of us.” + +There it was, sure enough, and much nearer to us than was at all +desirable. So near, indeed, that the wash of the breakers on the reef +that so generally lies off from the low coral islands of the Pacific, +was distinctly audible from the ship. The moon gave a strong light, it +is true, and the night was soft and balmy; but the air, which was very +light, blew directly towards this reef, and then there were always +currents to apprehend. We sounded, but got no bottom. + +“Ay, this is one of your coral reefs, where a man goes on the rocks from +off soundings, at a single jump,” muttered Marble, ordering the ship +brought by the wind on the best tack to haul off shore. “No notice, and +a wreck. As for anchoring in such a place, a fellow might as well run a +line out to Japan; and, could an anchor find the bottom, the cable would +have some such berth as a man who slept in a hammock filled with open +razors.” + +All this was true enough; and we watched the effect of our change of +course with the greatest anxiety. All hands were called, and the men +were stationed, in readiness to work the ship. But, a few minutes +satisfied us, the hope of clawing off, in so light an air, was to the +last degree vain. The vessel set in fast towards the reef, the breakers +on which now became apparent, even by the light of the moon; the certain +sign they were fearfully near. + +This was one of those moments in which Marble could show himself to be +a true man. He was perfectly calm and self-possessed; and stood on the +taffrail, giving his orders, with a distinctness and precision I had +never seen surpassed. I was kept in the chains, myself, to watch the +casts of the lead. No bottom, however, was the never-failing report; +nor was any bottom expected; it being known that these reefs were quite +perpendicular on their seaward side. The captain called out to me, +from time to time, to be active and vigilant, as our set inshore was +uncontrollable, and the boats, if in the water, as the launch could not +be for twenty minutes, would be altogether useless. I proposed to lower +the yawl, and to pull to leeward, to try the soundings, in order to +ascertain if it were not possible to find bottom at some point short of +the reef, on which we should hopelessly be set, unless checked by some +such means, in the course of the next fifteen or twenty minutes. + +“Do it at once, sir,” cried Marble. “The thought is a good one, and does +you credit, Mr. Wallingford.” + +I left the ship in less than five minutes, and pulled off, under the +ship's lee-bow, knowing that tacking or waring would be out of the +question, under the circumstances. I stood up in the stern-sheets, and +made constant casts with the hand-lead, with a short line, however, as +the boat went foaming through the water. The reef was now plainly +in sight, and I could see, as well as hear, the long, formidable +ground-swells of the Pacific, while fetching up against these solid +barriers, they rolled over, broke, and went beyond the rocks in angry +froth. At this perilous instant, when I would not have given the poorest +acre of Clawbonny to have been the owner of the Crisis, I saw a spot +to leeward that was comparatively still, or in which the water did +not break. It was not fifty fathoms from me when first discovered; and +towards it I steered, animating the men to redoubled exertions. We were +in this narrow belt of smooth water, as it might be in an instant, and +the current sucked the boat through it so fast, as to allow time to make +but a single cast of the lead. I got bottom; but it was in six fathoms! + +The boat was turned, and headed out again, as if life and death depended +on the result. The ship was fortunately within sound of the voice, +steering still by the wind, though setting three feet towards the reef, +for one made in the desired direction; and I hailed. + +“What now, Mr. Wallingford?” demanded Marble, as calmly as if anchored +near a wharf at home. + +“Do you see the boat, sir?” + +“Quite plainly;--God knows you are near enough to be seen.” + +“Has the ship steerage-way on her, Captain Marble?” + +“Just that, and nothing more to boast of.” + +“Then ask no questions; but try to follow the boat. It is the only hope; +and it may succeed.” + +I got no answer; but I heard the deep, authoritative voice of Marble, +ordering the “helm up,” and the men “to man the weather-braces.” I could +scarcely breathe, while I stood looking at the ship's bows, as they fell +off, and noted her slow progress ahead. Her speed increased sensibly, +however, and I kept the boat far enough to windward to give the vessel +room fairly to enter the pass. At the proper moment, we moved towards +the inlet, the Crisis keeping more and more away, in order to follow. +I was soon in the pass itself, the water breaking within ten fathoms on +each side of me, sending portions of its foam, to the very blades of our +oars; but the lead still gave me six fathoms. At the next cast, I got +ten; and then the shin was at the point where I had just before found +six. Two breakers were roaring behind me, and I pulled round, and waited +for the ship, steering to the southward, sounding as I went. I could +see that the ship hauled up, and that I was already behind the reef. +Straining my voice, I now called out-- + +“Anchor, sir--bear a hand and anchor, as soon as possible.” + +Not a word came back; but up went the courses, followed by the +top-gallant-sails, after which down went the jib. I heard the fore and +main-top-sail-halyards overhauling themselves, spite of the roar of the +breakers, and then the ship luffed into the wind. Glad enough was I to +hear the heavy plunge of one of the bowers, as it fell from the cathead +into the water. Even then I remained stationary, to note the result. The +ship took her scope of cable freely, after which I observed that she was +brought up. The next moment I was on board her. + +“A close shave, Mr. Wallingford,” said Marble, giving me a squeeze of +the hand, that said more for his feelings than any words such a being +could utter; “and many thanks for your piloting. Is not that land I see, +away here to leeward--more to the westward, boy?” + +“It is, sir, beyond a doubt. It must be one of the coral islands; and +this is the reef that usually lies to seaward from them. There is the +appearance of trees ashore!” + +“It's a discovery, youngster, and will make us all great names! +Remember, this passage I call 'Miles's Inlet;' and to the reef, I give +the name of 'Yawl Reef.'” + +I could not smile at this touch of Marble's vanity, for concern left +me no thoughts but for the ship. The weather was now mild and the bay +smooth; the night was fine, and it might be of the last importance to +us to know something more of our situation. The cable might chafe off, +probably _would_, so near a coral reef; and I offered to pull in towards +the land, sounding as I went, and otherwise gaining the knowledge that +might be necessary to our security. After a little reflection, the +captain consented, ordering me to take provisions and water in the boat, +as the duty might detain me until morning. + +I found the bay between the reef and the island about a league in +_breadth_, and across its entire _width_, the soundings did not vary +much from ten fathoms. The outer barrier of rock, on which the sea +broke, appeared to be an advanced wall, that the indefatigable little +insects had erected, as it might be, in defence of their island, which +had probably been raised from the depths of the ocean, a century or two +ago, by some of their own ancestors. The gigantic works completed by +these little aquatic animals, are well known to navigators, and give us +some tolerably accurate notions of the manner in which the face of the +globe has been made to undergo some of its alterations. I found the land +easy of access, low, wooded, and without any sign of habitation. The +night was so fine that I ventured inland, and after walking more than +a mile, most of the distance in a grove of cocoa and bananas, I came +to the basin of water that is usually found in the islands of this +particular formation. The inlet from the sea was at no great distance, +and I sent one of the men back to the yawl, with orders for the boat +to proceed thither. I next sounded the inlet and the bay, and found +everywhere a sandy bottom, and about ten fathoms of water. As I +expected, the shoalest spot was the inlet; but in this, which I sounded +thoroughly, there was nowhere less than five. It was now midnight; and +I should have remained on the island until morning, to make further +surveys by daylight, had we not seen the ship, under her canvass, and +so much nearer to us than we had supposed possible, as to satisfy me she +was drifting in fast towards the land. Of course I did not hesitate, but +pulled on board. + + +It was as I suspected. The rocks so near the reef had chafed off the +cable; the ship struck adrift, and Marble was under his canvass waiting +my return, in order to ascertain where he might anchor anew. I told him +of the lagoon in the centre of the island, and gave him every assurance +of there being water enough to carry in any craft that floats. My +reputation was up, in consequence of the manner the ship had been taken +through the first inlet, and I was ordered to conn her into this new +haven. + + +The task was not difficult. The lightness of the wind, and uncertainty +about the currents proving the only source of embarrassment, I succeeded +in finding the passage, after a short trial; and sending the boat ahead, +under Talcott, as an additional precaution, soon had the Crisis floating +in the very centre of this natural dock. Sail was shortened as we came +in, and the ship made a flying moor; after which we lay as securely, at +if actually in some basin wrought by art. It is my opinion, the +vessel would have ridden out the hardest gale, or anything short of a +hurricane, at single anchor, in that place. The sense of security was +now so strong upon us, that we rolled up our canvass, set an anchor +watch of only one man, and turned in. + +I never laid my head down, on board ship, with greater satisfaction, +than I did that night. Let the truth be frankly stated. I was perfectly +satisfied with myself. It was owing to my decision and vigilance that +the ship was saved, when outside the reef, out of all question; and +I think she would have been lost after she struck adrift, had I +not discovered her present berth. There she was, however, with land +virtually all round her, a good bottom, plenty of water, and well +moored. As I have said already, she could not be better secured in an +artificial dock. In the midst of the Pacific, away from all custom-house +officers, in a recently discovered and uninhabited island, there was +nothing to fear. Men sleep soundly in such circumstances, and I should +have been in a deep slumber in a minute after I was in my berth, had not +Marble's conversation kept me awake, quite unwillingly on my part, +for five minutes. His state-room door was open, and, through it, the +following discourse was held. + +“I think, on the whole,” commenced the captain, “it will be better to +_generalize_ a little more,”--this was a favourite expression of the +ex-mate's, and one he often used without exactly knowing its application +himself.--“Yes, to generalize a little more; it shall be Marble Land, +Wallingford Bay, Yawl, Reef, _Talcott_ Inlet, Miles's Anchorage--and a +d----d bad anchorage it was, Miles; but, never mind, we must take the +good with the bad, in this wicked world.” + +“Very true, sir; but as for taking that anchorage, you must excuse me, +as I shall never take it again.” + +“Perhaps not. Well, this is what I call comfort--ha! Talcott?--Is +Talcott asleep, Miles?” + +“He and the second-mate are hard at it, sir--full and by, and going ten +knots,” I muttered, wishing my tormentor in Japan, at the moment. + +“Ay; they are rackers at a sleep! I say, Miles, such a discovery as +this will make a man's fortune! The world generalizes in discoveries, +altogether, making no great matter of distinction between your +Columbuses, Cooks, or Marbles. An island is an island and he who first +discovers it, has the credit. Poor Captain Williams! He would have +sailed this ship for a whole generation, and never found anything in the +way of novelty.” + +“Except the Straits--” I muttered very indistinctly, breathing deep and +hard. + +“Ay, that _was_ an affair! Hadn't you and I been aboard, the ship never +would have done that. We are the very offspring of luck! There was the +affair of the wreck off Madagascar--there are bloody currents in the +Pacific, too, I find, Miles.” + +“Yes, sir--hard-a-weather--” + +“The fellow's dreaming. One word, boy, before you cut loose from all +reason and reflection. Don't you think it would be a capital idea to +poke in a little patriotism among the names; patriotism goes so far +in our part of the world. Congress Rocks would be a good title for the +highest part of the reef, and Washington Sands would do for the landing +you told me of. Washington should have a finger in the pie.” + +“Crust isn't down, sir.” + +“The fellow's off, and I may as well follow, though it is not easy to +sleep on the honour of a discovery like this. Good night, Miles!” + +“Ay, ay! sir.” + +Such was the account Marble afterwards gave me of the termination of the +dialogue. Sleep, sleep, sleep! Never did men enjoy their rest more than +we did for the next five hours, the ship being as silent as a church on +a week-day, during the whole time. For myself, I can safely say I heard +nothing, or knew nothing, until I was awakened by a violent shake of the +shoulder. Supposing myself to have been aroused for an ordinary watch at +sea, I was erect in an instant, and found the sun's rays streaming into +my face, through the cabin-windows. This prevented me, for a moment, +from seeing that I had been disturbed by Captain Marble himself. The +latter waited until he perceived I could understand him, and then he +said, in a grave, meaning manner-- + +“Miles, there is a mutiny in the ship! Do you understand me, Mr. +Wallingford?--a bloody mutiny!” + +“A mutiny, Captain Marble! You confound me, sir--I had thought our +people perfectly satisfied.” + +“Umph! One never knows whether the copper will come up head or tail. I +thought, when I turned in last night, it was to take the surest nap I +ever tasted afloat; and here I awake and find a mutiny!” + +I was on my feet and dressing in an instant, as a matter of course, +having first gone to the berths of the two other mates, and given each a +call. + +“But how do you know this, Captain Marble?” I resumed, as soon as there +was a chance. “I hear no disturbance, and the ship is just where we left +her,” glancing through the cabin-windows; “I think you must be mistaken, +sir.” + +“Not I. I turned out, ten minutes since, and was about to go on deck to +get a look at your basin, and breathe the fresh air, when I found the +companion-doors fastened, precisely Smudge-fashion. I suppose you will +allow that no regular ship's company would dare to fasten the officers +below, unless they intended to seize the craft.” + +“This is very extraordinary! Perhaps some accident has befallen the +doors. Did you call out, sir?” + +“I thumped like an admiral, but got no answer. When on the point of +trying the virtue of a few kicks, I overheard a low laugh on deck, +and that let me into the secret of the state of the nation at once. +I suppose you will all admit, gentlemen, when sailors laugh at their +officers, as well as batten them down, that they must be somewhat near a +state of mutiny.” + +“It does look so, indeed, sir. We had better arm the moment we are +dressed, Captain Marble.” + +“I have done that already, and you will each find loaded pistols in my +state-room.” + +In two minutes from that moment, all four of us were in a state for +action, each man armed with a brace of ship's pistols, well-loaded and +freshly primed. Marble was for making a rush at the cabin-doors, at +once; but I suggested the improbability of the steward or Neb's being +engaged in any plot against the officers, and thought it might be well +to ascertain what had become of the two blacks, before we commenced +operations. Talcott proceeded instantly to the steerage, where the +steward slept, and returned in a moment to report that he had found him +sound asleep in his berth. + +Reinforced by this man, Captain Marble determined to make his first +demonstration by way of the forecastle, where, by acting with caution, a +surprise on the mutineers might be effected. It will be remembered that +a door communicated with the forecastle, the fastenings of which were on +the side of “'twixt decks.” Most of the cargo being in the lower hold, +there was no difficulty in making our way to this door, where we stopped +and listened, in order to learn the state of things on the other side of +the bulkhead. Marble had whispered to me, as we groped our way along in +the sort of twilight which pervaded the place, the hatches being on and +secured, that “them bloody Philadelphians” must be at the bottom of the +mischief, as our old crew were a set of as “peaceable, well-disposed +chaps as ever eat duff (dough) out of a kid.” + +The result of the listening was to produce a general surprise. Out +of all question, snoring, and that on no small scale of the gamut of +Morpheus, was unequivocally heard. Marble instantly opened the door, and +we entered the forecastle, pistols in hand. Every berth had its tenant, +and all hands were asleep! Fatigue, and the habit of waiting for calls, +had evidently kept each of the seamen in his berth, until that instant. +Contrary to usage in so warm a climate, the scuttle was on, and a trial +soon told us it was fast. + +“To generalize on this idee, Miles,” exclaimed the captain, “I should +say we are again battened down by savages!” + +“It does indeed look so, sir; and yet I saw no sign of the island's +being inhabited. It may be well, Captain Marble, to muster the crew, +that we may learn who's who.” + +“Quite right--do you turn 'em up, and send 'em all aft into the cabin, +where we have more daylight.” + +I set about awaking the people, which was not difficult, and in a few +minutes everybody was sent aft. Following the crew, it was soon found +that only one man was missing, and he was the very individual whom we +had left on deck, when we had all gone below on securing the ship. Every +soul belonging to the vessel was present in the cabin, or steerage, but +this solitary man--Philadelphians and all! + +“It can never be that Harris has dared to trifle with us,” said Talcott; +“and yet it does look surprisingly like it.” + +“Quite sure, Miles, that Marble Land is an uninhabited island?” said the +captain, interrogatively. + +“I can only say, sir, that it is as much like all the other uninhabited +coral islands we have passed, as one pea is like another; and that there +were no signs of a living being visible last night. It is true, we saw +but little of the island, though to all appearances there was not much +to see.” + +“Unluckily, all the men's arms are on deck, in the arm-chest, +or strapped to the boom or masts. There is no use, however, in +dillydallying against one man; so I will make a rumpus that will soon +bring the chap to his bearings.” + +Hereupon Marble made what he called a rumpus in good earnest. I thought, +for a minute, he would kick the cabin-doors down. + +“'Andzomelee-'andzomelee,” said some one on deck. “Vat for you make so +much kick?” + +“Who the devil are you?” demanded Marble, kicking harder than ever. +“Open the cabin-doors, or I'll kick them down, and yourself overboard.” + +“Monsieur--sair,” rejoined another voice, “_tenez_--you air +_prisonnier_. _Comprenez-vous_--prisonair, eh?” + +“These are Frenchmen, Captain Marble,” I exclaimed, “and we are in the +hands of the enemy.” + +This was astounding intelligence; so much so, that all had difficulty in +believing it. A further parley, however, destroyed our hopes, little by +little, until we entered into an arrangement with those on deck, to the +following effect: I was to be permitted to go out, in order to ascertain +the real facts of our situation; while Marble and the remainder of the +crew were to remain below, passive, until the result should be reported. +Under this arrangement, one of the cabin-doors was opened, and I sallied +forth. + +Astonishment almost deprived me of the power of vision, when I looked +around me. Quite fifty armed white men, sailors and natives of France, +by their air and language, crowded round me, as curious to see me, as I +could possibly be to see them. In their midst was Harris, who approached +me with an embarrassed and sorrowful air-- + +“I know I deserve death, Mr. Wallingford,” this man commenced; “but +I fell asleep after so much work, and everything looking so safe and +out-of-harm's-way like; and when I woke up, I found these people on +hoard, and in possession of the ship.” + +“In the name of wonder, whence come they, Harris? is there a French ship +at the island?” + +“By all I can learn and see, sir, they are the crew of a wrecked +letter-of-marque--an Indiaman of some sort or other; and finding a good +occasion to get off the island, and make a rich prize, they have helped +themselves to the poor Crisis--God bless her! say I, though she is now +under the French flag, I suppose.” + +I looked up at the gaff, and, sure enough, there was flying the +_tri-color!_ + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + “The morning air blows fresh on him:” + “The waves dance gladly in his sight;” + “The sea-birds call, and wheel, and skim--” + “O, blessed morning light!” + “He doth not hear their joyous call; he sees + No beauty in the wave, nor feels the breeze.” + DANA. + + +Truth is, truly, often stranger than fiction. The history of the +circumstances that brought us into the hands of our enemies will fully +show this. La Pauline was a ship of six hundred tons, that carried +letters-of-marque from the French government. She sailed from France a +few weeks after we had left London, bound on a voyage somewhat similar +to our own, though neither sea-otter skins, sandal-wood, nor pearls, +formed any part of her contemplated bargains. Her first destination was +the French islands off Madagascar, where she left part of her cargo, +and took in a few valuables in return. Thence she proceeded to the +Philippine Islands, passing in the track of English and American +traders, capturing two of the former, and sinking them after taking out +such portions of cargo as suited her own views. From Manilla, la Pauline +shaped her course for the coast of South America, intending to leave +certain articles brought from France, others purchased at Bourbon, the +Isle of France, and the Philippines, and divers bales and boxes found in +the holds of her prizes, in that quarter of the world, in exchange for +the precious metals. In effecting all this, Monsieur Le Compte, her +commander, relied, firstly, on the uncommon sailing of his ship; +secondly, on his own uncommon boldness and dexterity, and thirdly on the +well-known disposition of the South Americans to smuggle. Doubloons and +dollars taking up but little room, he reserved most of the interior of +his vessel, after his traffic on the “Main,” for such property as might +be found in the six or eight prizes he calculated, with certainty, +on making, after getting to the eastward of the Horn. All these +well-grounded anticipations had been signally realized down to a period +of just three months to a day, prior to our own arrival at this unhappy +island. + +On the night of the day just mentioned, la Pauline, without the smallest +notice of the vicinity of any danger, running in an easy bowline, and +without much sea, had brought up on another part of the very reef from +which we had made so narrow an escape. The rocks being coral, there +was little hope for her; and, in fact, they appeared through her bottom +within two hours after she struck. The sugars taken in at the Isle of +France, as a ground tier of ballast, were soon rendered of doubtful +value, as a matter of course, but the weather remaining pleasant, +Captain Le Compte succeeded, by means of his boats, in getting +everything else of value on the island, and forthwith set about breaking +up the wreck, in order to construct a craft that might carry himself and +his people to some civilized land. Having plenty of tools, and something +like sixty men, great progress had been made in the work, a schooner of +about ninety tons being then so far completed, as to be nearly ready to +be put in the water. Such was the state of things, when, one fine night, +we arrived in the manner already related. The French kept constant +look-outs, and it seems we were seen, a distant speck on the ocean, just +as the sun set, while the low trees of the island eluded our vigilance. +By the aid of a good night-glass, our movements were watched, and a boat +was about to be sent out to warn us of our danger, when we passed within +the reef. Captain Le Compte knew the chances were twenty to one that +we were an enemy, and he chose to lie concealed to watch the result. As +soon as we had anchored within the basin, and silence prevailed in the +ship, he manned his own gig, and pulled with muffled oars up under our +bows, to reconnoitre. Finding everything quiet, he ventured into the +fore-chains, and thence on deck, accompanied by three of his men. He +found Harris, snoring with his back supported against a gun-carriage, +and immediately secured him. Then, it only remained to close the +forescuttle and the cabin-doors, and to fasten them, to have us all +prisoners below. The boat was sent for more men, and hours before any of +us in the berths were awake, the ship had effectually changed masters. +Harris told our story, and the captors knew our whole history, from the +day of sailing down to the present time. + +Much of this I learned in subsequent conversations with the French, but +enough of it was related to me then, to let me understand the outlines +of the truth. My eyes also let me into many secrets. I found the island, +by day-light, substantially as I had supposed it to be. It was not so +large, however, as it had seemed to me by the aid of the moon, though +its general character was the same. The basin in which the ship lay +might have covered a hundred and fifty acres in extent, the belt of land +which encircled it, varying in breadth from a quarter of a mile to three +miles. Most of the island was an open grove, lying at an elevation of +from ten to thirty feet above the ocean; and we ascertained there were +several springs of the sweetest water on it. Nature, by one of its +secret processes, had covered the earth with a beautiful short grass; +and the French, with their usual attention to the table, and their +commendable activity, had already several materials for salads, &c., +in full growth. String-beans might be had for asking, and _petits pois_ +were literally a drug. I saw the tents of the French, extending in a +line beneath the shades of the trees; and there was la Petite Pauline +(the schooner) on her ways, actually undergoing the process of receiving +her first coat of paint. As for la Pauline, herself, I could just +discover her lower mast-heads, inclining at an angle of forty-five +degrees from the perpendicular, through a vista in the trees. + +There was a good-humoured common sense in all the proceedings of Mons. +Le Compte, that showed he was a philosopher in the best sense of the +word. He took things without repining himself, and wished to make others +as happy as circumstances would allow. At his suggestion, I invited +Marble on deck; and, after making my own commander acquainted with the +state of the facts, we both listened to the propositions of our captor. +Mons. Le Compte, all his officers, and not a few of his men, had been +prisoners, some time or other, in England, and there was no difficulty +in carrying on the negotiations in our mother tongue. + +“_Votre bâtiment_--your _sheep_, shall become French--_bien +entendu_”--commenced our captor--“vid her _cargaison--rig,_ and +_tout cela. Bien; c'est convenu._ I shall not exact _rigueur_ in _mes +conditions._ If you shall have _possible_ to take your _sheep_ from +_nous autres Français_--_d'accord._ Every man for himself _et sa +nation._ Zere is the _pavillion Français_--and zere it shall fly, so +long as we shall not help--_mais--parole d'honneur_, ze prize come +cheep, and shall be sell very dear--_entendez vous? Bien._ Now, sair, I +shall put you and all your peepl' on ze island, vere you shall take our +place, while we take your place. Ze arm shall be in our hand, while ze +sheep stay, but we leave you _fusils, poudre et tout cela_, behind.” + +This was nearly verbatim, the programme of capitulation, as laid down by +Captain Le Compte. As for Marble, it was not in his nature to acquiesce +in such an arrangement, without much cavilling and contention. But _cui +bono?_ We were in Mons. le Compte's hands; and, though disposed to deal +very handsomely by us, it was easy enough to see he was determined +to make his own conditions. I succeeded, at last, in making Marble +understand that resistance was useless; and he submitted, though with +some such grace as a man, who has not been mesmerized, submits to +an amputation--those who _have,_ are said rather to delight in the +amusement. + +The terms of the capitulation--and they differed but little from +surrendering at discretion--were no sooner agreed to, than our people +were ordered into the forecastle, whence they were transferred to the +boats, in readiness to be sent ashore. All the chests, and private +effects, were moved out, in the most honourable manner, and sent into la +Pauline's boats, which lay prepared to receive them. As for us officers, +we were put in the gig, Neb and the cabin steward being charged with the +duty of looking after our private property. When everybody, the blacks +excepted, was in a boat, we shoved off, and proceeded towards the +landing, as chop-fallen and melancholy a party as ever took possession +of a newly-discovered country. Marble affected to whistle, for he was +secretly furious at the _nonchalance_ manifested by Captain Le Compte; +but I detected him in getting parts of Monny Musk and the Irish +Washerwoman, into the same strain. To own the truth, the ex-mate was +morally much disturbed. As for myself, I considered the affair as an +incident of war, and cared much less. + +“_Voila, messieurs_,” exclaimed Monsieur Le Compte, flourishing his arm, +with an air of unsurpassed generosity; “you shall be master here, so +soon after we shall go away, and take our leetl' property wid us!” + +“He's d----d generous, Miles,” growled Marble, in my ear. “He'll leave +us the island, and the reef, and the cocoa-nuts, when he has gone off +with our ship, and her cargo. I'll bet all I'm worth, he tows off his +bloody schooner, in the bargain.” + +“There is no use in complaining, sir; and by keeping on good terms with +the French, we may fare the better.” + +The truth of this was soon apparent. Captain Le Compte invited us all to +share his breakfast, and we repaired to the tent of the French +officers, with that purpose. In the mean time, the French sailors were +transferring the few articles they intended to carry away, to the ship, +with the generous object of leaving their own tents to the immediate +occupation of us prisoners. As Monsieur Le Compte's plan was to proceed +to the Spanish Main, in order to complete his contemplated traffic in +that quarter, no sooner were the tents prepared, than the French began +also to ship such articles of their own, as it had originally been +proposed to exchange for Spanish dollars. In the mean time, we sat down +to breakfast. + +“_C'est la fortune de guerre!_--vat you call fortune of war, +_messieurs_,” observed Captain Le Compte, whirling the stick in a vessel +of chocolate, in a very artistical manner, all the while. “_Bon--c'est +excellente--Antoin--_” + +Antoin appeared in the shape of a well-smoked, copper-coloured +cabin-boy. He was told to take a small pitcher of the chocolate, with +Captain Le Compte's compliments to _mademoiselle_, and to tell her there +was now every prospect of their quitting the island in a very few days, +and of seeing _la belle France_, in the course of the next four or five +months. This was said in French, and rapidly, with the vehemence of one +who felt all he uttered, and more too but I knew enough of the language +to understand its drift. + +“I suppose the fellow is generalizing on our misfortunes, in his d----d +lingo,” growled Marble; “but, let him look out--he's not home yet, by +many a thousand miles!” + +I endeavoured to explain it all to Marble; but it was useless; he +insisted the Frenchman was sending chocolate from his own table, to his +crew, in order to play the magnifico, on the score of his own good luck. +There was no use in “kicking against the pricks,” and I let Marble enjoy +the pleasure of believing the worst of his captor; a sort of Anglo-Saxon +propensity, that has garnished many a page in English and American +history--to say nothing of the propensities and histories of others, +among the great family of nations. + +When breakfast was over, Monsieur Le Compte led me aside, in a walk +under the trees, to explain his views and intentions. He gave me to +understand I had been selected for this communication, on account of his +observing the state of mind of my captain. I also comprehended a little +French, which was quite convenient in a conversation with one who +interlarded his English so much with phrases taken from his mother +tongue. I was given to understand that the French would put the schooner +into the water that very evening, and that we should find her masts, +rigging, and sails all fitted for her. With activity, she could be ready +to quit the island in a fortnight, at the farthest. A portion of our own +provisions would be landed, as better suited to our habits than those +which had been taken from la Pauline, while a portion of the last would +be transferred to the Crisis, for the same reason, as applied to the +French. As for water-casks, &c., they were all arranged; everything, of +the sort having been taken from the wreck, with little or no difficulty, +immediately after the loss of the ship. In a word, we should have little +more to do, than to step the masts, rig our craft, stow her hold, and +proceed at once to the nearest friendly port. + +“I zink you shall go to Canton,” added Monsieur Le Compte. “Ze distance +shall not be much more than to Sout' America; and zere you shall find +plenty of your _compatriotes_. Of course, you can sleep and go _chez +vous_--vat you call 'home,' with _toute la facilité_. Oui--_cet +arrangement est admirable._” So the arrangement might appear to him, +though I confess to a decided 'preference to remaining in the “blind +Crisis,” as our men had got to call her, after her blundering through +the Straits of Magellan. “_Allons!_” exclaimed the French captain, +suddenly. “We are near ze tent of Mademoiselle--we shall go and demand +how she carry herself _ce beau matin!_” On looking up, I saw two small +tents within fifty yards of us. They were beautifully placed, in the +midst of a thicker portion of the grove than usual, and near a spring of +the most exquisitely limpid water I ever beheld. These tents were made +of new canvass, and had been fashioned with care and skill. I could see +that the one we first approached was carpeted over, and that it had +many of the appliances of a comfortable abode. Mons. Le Compte, who +was really a good-looking fellow under forty, put on his most amiable +appearance as he got near the canvass-door; and he hemmed once or twice, +as respectfully as he could, by way of letting his presence be known. +In an instant, a maid-servant came out to receive him. The moment I laid +eyes on this woman, it struck me her face was familiar, though I could +not recall the place, or time, where, or when, we had before met. The +occurrence was so singular, that I was still ruminating on it, when I +unexpectedly found myself standing in the tent, face to face with Emily +Merton and her father! We recognised each other at a glance, and, to +Mons. Le Compte's amazement, hearty greetings passed between us, as old +acquaintances. Old acquaintances, however, we could scarce be called; +but, on an uninhabited island in the South Seas, one is glad to meet any +face that he has ever met before. Emily looked less blooming than when +we had parted, near a twelvemonth before, in London; but she was still +pretty and pleasing. Both she and her father were in mourning, and, the +mother not appearing, I at once guessed the truth. Mrs. Merton was an +invalid when I knew her, though I had not anticipated for her so speedy +a death. I thought Captain Le Compte appeared vexed at my reception. +Still, he did not forget his good manners; and he rose, saying he would +leave me with my friends to make mutual explanations, while he proceeded +to overlook the duty of the day. On taking his leave, I was not +pleased to see him approach and kiss Emily's hand. The act was done +respectfully, and not entirely without grace; but there were a feeling +and manner in it that could not well be mistaken. Emily blushed, as she +wished him good morning, and turning to look at me, in spite of a kind +of dog-in-the-manger sensation, I could not forbear smiling. + +“Never, Mr. Wallingford, never!” Emily said, with emphasis, the instant +her admirer was out of hearing. “We are at his mercy, and must keep +terms with him; but I can never marry a _foreigner_.” + +“That is poor encouragement for Wallingford, my dear,” said her father, +laughing, “should he happen to take a fancy to you himself.” + +Emily looked confused, but, what, for the circumstances, was better +still, she looked concerned. + +“I am sure, dear sir,” she answered, with a quickness I thought +charming, “I am sure Mr. Wallingford will not suppose I meant +anything so rude. Then, he is no importunate suitor of mine, like this +disagreeable Frenchman, who always seems to me more like a Turkish +master, than like one who really respects a woman. Besides--” + +“Besides what, Miss Merton?” I ventured to ask, perceiving that she +hesitated. + +“Besides, Americans are hardly foreigners to _us_,” added Emily, +smiling; “for we have even American relatives, you know, father.” + +“Quite true, my dear, and came near being Americans ourselves. Had +my father established himself where he married, as had been his first +intention, such would have been our national character. But, Mons. Le +Compte has given us a moment to tell our stories to each other, and I +think it will not be a very long moment. Let one of us commence, if we +wish the offices done without unpleasant listeners.” + +Emily urged me to begin, and I did not hesitate. My story was soon told. +Major Merton and his daughter understood all about the capture of the +ship in the basin, though they were ignorant of the vessel's name. I +had only to relate our voyage on the main, and the death of Captain +Williams, therefore, to have my whole story told. I made it all the +shorter, from an impatience to hear the circumstances which had thrown +my friends into their present extraordinary position. + +“It seems extraordinary enough, beyond doubt,” Major Merton began, the +moment I left him an opening by my closing remark, “but it is all very +simple, when you commence at the right end of the sad story, and follow +events in the order in which they occurred.” + +“When you left us in London, Wallingford, I supposed we were on the +point of sailing for the West Indies, but a better appointment soon +after offering in the East, my destination was changed to Bombay. It +was important that I should reach my port at as early a day as possible; +and, no regular Indiaman being ready, I took passage in a licensed +running vessel, a ship of no size, or force. Nothing occurred until we +had got within three or four days' sail of our port, when we fell in +with la Pauline, and were captured. At first, I think Captain Le Compte +would have been willing to let me go on parole, but no opportunity +offered, and we went with the ship to Manilla. While there, the +melancholy loss happened, which, no doubt, you have comprehended from +our mourning; and I was strongly in hopes of making some arrangements +that would still enable me to save my situation. But, by this time, +Monsieur Le Compte had become an open admirer of Emily, and I suppose it +is hopeless to expect any liberation, so long as he can invent excuses +to frustrate it.” + +“I trust he does not abuse his power, in any way, and annoy Miss Merton +with importunities that are unpleasant to her.” + +Emily rewarded me for the warmth with which I spoke, with a sweet smile +and a slight blush. + +“Of that I cannot accuse him, in one sense at least,” resumed Major +Merton. “Mons. Le Compte does all for us that his sense of delicacy can +suggest; and it was not possible for passengers to be more comfortable, +or retired, on board ship, than we were in the Pauline. That vessel had +a poop, and its cabin was given up entirely to our use. At Manilla, I +was permitted to go at large, on a mere verbal assurance of returning; +and, in all other particulars, we have been treated as well as +circumstances would very well allow. Nevertheless, Emily is too young +to admire a suitor of forty, too English to admire a foreigner, and too +well-born to accept one who is merely a merchant sailor--I mean one who +is nothing, and has nothing, but what his ship makes him, or can give +him.” + +I understood Major Merton's distinction; he saw a difference between the +heir of Clawbonny, pursuing his adventures for the love of the sea, and +a man who pursued the sea as an adventurer. It was not very delicately +made, but it was pretty well, as coming from an European to an American; +the latter being assumed _ex gratia_, to be a being of an inferior +order, morally, politically, physically, socially and in every other +sense, but the pecuniary. Thank Heaven! the American dollar is admitted, +pennyweight for pennyweight, to a precedency immediately next to that +of the metal dollar of Europe. It even goes before the paper _thaler_ of +Prussia. + +“I can readily imagine Miss Merton would look higher than Captain +Le Compte, for various reasons,” I answered, making a sort +of acknowledgment for the distinction in my favour, by bowing +involuntarily, “and I should hope that gentleman would cease to be +importunate as soon as convinced he cannot succeed.” + +“You do not know a Frenchman, Mr. Wallingford,” rejoined Emily. “He is +the hardest creature on earth to persuade into the notion that he is not +adorable.” + +“I can hardly believe that this weakness extends as far as the sailors,” + said I, laughing. “At all events, you will be released the instant you +reach France.” + +“Sooner too, I trust, Wallingford,” resumed the father. “These Frenchmen +can have it their own way, out here in the solitude of the Pacific; but, +once in the Atlantic, I shall expect some British cruiser to pick us up, +long ere we can reach France.” + +This was a reasonable expectation, and we conversed about it for some +time. I shall not repeat all that passed; but the reader can have no +difficulty in understanding, that Major Merton and myself communicated +to each other every fact that was likely to be of interest to men in our +situation. When I thought it prudent to take my leave, he walked some +distance with me, holding his way to a point on the outer side of the +island, where I could get a view of the wreck. Here he left me, for the +moment, while I proceeded along the beach, ruminating on all that had +passed. + +The process by which nature uses her materials to found islands in the +midst of oceans like the Pacific, is a curious study. The insect that +forms the coral rock, must be an industrious little creature, as there +is reason to think that some of the reefs that have become known to +navigators within the last sixty or seventy years, have since been +converted into islands bearing trees, by their labours. Should the work +go on, a part of this vast sea will yet be converted into a continent; +and, who knows but a railroad may yet run across that portion of our +globe, connecting America with the old world? I see that Captain Beechy, +in his voyage, speaks of a wreck that occurred in 1792, on a _reef_, +where, in 1826, he found an island near three leagues long, bearing tall +trees. It would be a curious calculation to ascertain, if one family of +insects can make an island three leagues long, in thirty-four years, how +many families it would take to make the grading of the railroad I have +mentioned. Ten years since, I would not have ventured a hint of this +nature, for it might have set speculation in motion, and been the +instrument of robbing more widows and orphans of their straitened +means; but, Heaven be praised! we have at length reached a period in the +history of the country, when a man may venture on a speculation in the +theory of geography without incurring the risk of giving birth to some +wild--if not unprincipled--speculation in dollars and cents. + +As I drew near the outer shore of the island, opposite to the wreck, +I came unexpectedly on Marble. The poor fellow was seated on a raised +projection of coral rock, with his arms folded, and, was in so thorough +a brown study, that he did not even hear my footsteps in approaching, +though I purposely trod heavily, in order to catch his ear. Unwilling to +disturb him, I stood gazing at the wreck myself, for some little time, +the place affording a much better view of it than any other point from +which it had met my eye. The French had made far greater inroads upon +their vessel, than the elements. She had struck to leeward of the +island, and lay in a spot where, indeed, it might take years to break +her entirely up, in that placid sea. Most of her upper works, however, +were gone; and I subsequently discovered that her own carpenters had +managed to get out even a portion of her floor-timbers, leaving the +fabric bound together by those they left. Her lower masts were standing, +but even her lower yards had been worked up, in order to make something +useful for the schooner. The beach, at no great distance, was still +strewed with objects brought from the reef, and which it had not yet +been found necessary to use. + +At length a movement of mine attracted Marble's attention, and he turned +his head towards me. He seemed glad I had joined him, and expressed +himself happy, also, that he saw me alone. + +“I have been generalizing a little on our condition, Miles,” he said, +“and look at it which end forward I may, I find it bad enough; almost +enough to overcome me. I loved that ship, Mr. Wallingford, as much as +some folks love their parents--of wife or children, I never had any--and +the thought that she has fallen into the hands of a Frenchman, is too +much for my natur'. Had it been Smudge, I could have borne up against +it; but, to haul down one's colours to a wrack, and a bloody French +wrack, too, it is superhuman!” + +“You must remember all the circumstances, Captain Marble, and you will +find consolation. The ship was surprised, as we surprised the Lady of +Nantes.” + +“That's just it--put that on a general principle, now, and where are +you? Surprisers mustn't be surprised. Had we set a quarter-watch, sir, +it never could have happened; and nothing less than a quarter-watch +should have been set in a strange haven. What mattered it, that it +was an uninhabited island, and that the ship was land-locked and +well-moored, and the holding-ground was capital? It is all of no +account when you come to look at the affair in the way of duty. Why, old +Robbins, with his rivers in the ocean, would never have been caught in +this miserable manner.” + +Then Marble fairly gave in, placed his two hard hands on his face, and +I could see tears trickling from beneath them, as if water were squeezed +from a stone. + +“The chances of the sea, Captain Marble,” I said, greatly shocked at +such an exhibition, coming from such a quarter--“the chances of the +sea are sometimes too much for the best sailors. We should look at this +loss, as we look at the losses occasioned by a gale--then there is some +hope left, after all.” + +“I should like to know what--to me, there is no land ahead.” + +“Surprisers may not only be surprised, but they may carry on their old +trade again, and surprise once more, in their turn.” + +“What do you mean by that, Miles,” said Marble, looking up eagerly, and +speaking as quick as lightning; “are you generalizing, or have you any +particular project in view?” + +“Both, Sir. Generalizing, so far as taking the chances of war are +concerned, and particularizing, as to a certain notion that has come +into my head.” + +“Out with the last, Miles--out with it, boy; the Lord made you for +something uncommon.” + +“First, let me know, Captain Marble, whether you have had any further +conversation with Monsieur Le Compte? whether he has said any more on +the subject of our future proceedings?” + +“I just left the grinning rascal--these amiable smiles of his, Miles, +are only so many grins thrown into our faces to let us feel his good +luck; but, d--n him, if I ever get home, I'll fit out a privateer and be +after him, if there's a fast-going schooner to be had in all America for +love or money. I think I'd turn pirate, to catch the villain!” + +Alas! poor Marble. Little would he, who never got higher than a mate, +unless by accident, be likely to persuade your cautious ship-owners to +intrust him with a vessel of any sort, to go tilting against wind-mills +afloat, in that fashion. + +“But, why go to America for a schooner, Captain Marble, when the French +are polite enough to give us one here, exactly where we are?” + +“I begin to understand you, boy. There is a little consolation in the +idee, but this Frenchman has already got my commission, and without the +document we should be no better than so many pirates.” + +“I doubt that, sir, even were a ship to act generally, provided she +actually sailed with a commission, and lost it by accident. Commissions +are all registered, and proof of our character could be found at home.” + +“Ay, for the Crisis, but not for this 'Pretty Polly'”--for so Marble +translated Petite Pauline--“The commission is only good for the vessel +that is named in it.” + +“I don't know that, Captain Marble. Suppose our ship had been sunk in an +action in which we took our enemy, could we not continue our voyage in +the prize, and fight anything that came in our way, afterwards?” + +“By George, that does look reasonable. Here was I just threatening to go +out as a pirate, yet hesitating about taking my own.” + +“Do not the crews of captured vessels often rise upon their captors, and +recapture their own vessels? and were any of them ever called pirates? +Besides, nations at war authorise almost every sort of hostile act +against their enemies.” + +“Miles, I have been mistaken--you _are_ a good seaman, but natur' meant +you for a lawyer! Give me your hand, boy; I see a gleam of hope ahead, +and a man can live on less hope than food.” + +Marble then told me the substance of the conversation he had held +with Captain Le Compte. The latter had expressed a sudden and violent +impatience to be off--I understood the cause in a moment; he wished to +separate Emily from her old acquaintance, as soon as possible--intending +to put the schooner into the water for us, that very afternoon, and +to sail himself in the morning. This was a sudden resolution, and the +French were moving heaven and earth to carry it into effect. I confess +to some little regret at hearing it, for it was pleasant to meet the +Mertons in that unexpected manner, and the influence of woman in such a +solitude is unusually great. I now told Marble of my discovery, and when +he had got through with his expressions of wonder, I carried him to +the tents, and led him into the presence of his old acquaintances. In +consequence of this visit, I enjoyed another half hour's _tête à tête_ +with Emily, Marble soon taking the Major to walk with him, beneath the +trees. + +We were both recalled to a sense of our real situation, by the +reappearance of Monsieur Le Compte. I cannot say that our conqueror +behaved in the least unhandsomely towards us, notwithstanding his +evident jealousy. He had the tact to conceal most of his feelings, and +owing either to liberality or to art, he assumed an air of generous +confidence, that would be much more likely to touch the feelings of the +maid he sought, than any acts of severity. First asking permission of +Miss Merton, he even invited us, and himself, to dine with the Major, +and, on the whole, we had an agreeable entertainment. We had turtle and +champaigne, and both of a quality that was then out of the reach of all +the aldermen of London or New York; begging pardon of the Sir Peters and +Sir Johns of Guildhall, for putting them, in any sense, on a level with +the “gentleman from the Fourth Ward” or “the gentleman from the Eleventh +Ward;” though, if the truth must be told, the last very often eat the +best dinners, and drink, out of all comparison, the best wines. Who +pays, is a fact buried in the arcana of aldermanic legerdemain. It was +late before we left the table, though Monsieur Le Compte quitted us +early. + + +At five o'clock precisely we were summoned to witness the launch. +Champaigne and claret had brought Marble into good humour, nor was I at +all out of spirits, myself. Emily put on her hat, and took her parasol, +just as she would have done at home, and accepting my arm, she walked to +the ship-yard, like all the rest of us. Getting her a good place for the +sight, I accompanied Marble to take a look at the “Pretty Poll,” which +had not as yet attracted as much of our attention as she ought. I had +suggested to him the probability of an occasion offering to rise upon +the Frenchman, while their attention was taken up with the schooner; but +Monsieur Le Compte warily kept quite half his men in the ship, and this +put the attempt out of the question, since the guns of the Crisis would +have swept any part of the island. + +The French mechanics deserved great credit for the skill they had +manifested in the construction of _La Petite Pauline._ She was not +only a safe and commodious craft for her size, but, what was of great +importance to us, her lines promised that she would turn out to be a +fast sailer. I afterwards ascertained that Captain Le Compte had been +her draftsman, possessing not only much taste for, but a good deal of +practice in, the art. The ship in which the Merton's had taken passage +to Bombay, had the copper for a teak-built frigate and sloop of war +in her, and this had been transferred, among; other articles, to +la Pauline, before the prize was burned. Availing himself of this +circumstance, Monsieur Le Compte had actually coppered his schooner, and +otherwise he had made her as neat and commodious as possible. I make no +doubt he intended to surprise his friends at Marseilles, by showing what +clever mariners, wrecked on an island of the Pacific, could do, on +an emergency. Then, doubtless, he found it pleasant to linger on this +island, eating fresh cocoa-nuts, with delicious turtle, and making love +to Emily Merton. Some of the charms of “Pretty Poll” were fairly to be +attributed to the charms of the young lady. + +The men began to wedge up, the moment we were all present, and this +portion of the labour was _soon_ completed. Monsieur Le Compte then took +his station in the head of the schooner. Making a profound bow to Emily, +as if to ask her permission, the signal was given; the spur-shores were +knocked away, and the little craft slid off into the water so easily, +making so little ripple as she shot a hundred fathoms into the bay, as +to give the assurance she would prove a fast vessel. Just as she was +water-borne, Le Compte dashed a bottle against the tiller, and shouted, +at the top of his voice, “_succés à la Belle Emelie._” + +I turned to Emily, and saw by the blush that she understood French, +while the manner in which she pouted her pretty plump lip betrayed the +humour in which the compliment had been received. + +In a few minutes, Captain Le Compte landed, and, in a set speech, he +gave up the schooner to our possession. We were told not to consider +ourselves as prisoners, our captain handsomely admitting that he had +gained no laurels by his victory. + +“We shall go away good friend,” he concluded, “mais, suppose we shall +meet, and _nos dux republique_ shall not be at peace, then each must +fight for _son pavillion!_” + +This was a good concluding sentiment, for such a scene. Immediately +after the Mertons and their domestics, of whom there were a man and +a woman, embarked, I took leave of them on the beach, and, either my +observation, or my vanity, induced me to think Emily got into the boat +with reluctance. Many good wishes were exchanged, and the Major called +out to us, “we shall meet again, gentlemen--there has been a Providence +in our previous intercourse. Adieu, until _then_.” + +The French were now in a great bustle. Most of the articles they +intended to carry away were already on board the ship; and, by the time +it was dusk, they had closed their communication with the land. When +Captain Le Compte took his leave of us, I could not but thank him for +his many civilities. He had certainly dealt generously by us, though +I still think his sudden departure, which made us fall heirs to many +things we otherwise might not have so done, was owing to his wish to +remove Emily Merton, as quickly as possible, from my sight. + +At daylight next morning, Neb came to the officers' tents to say, the +ship was getting her anchors. I was up and dressed in a moment. The +distance to the inlet was about a mile, and I reached it, just as the +Crisis was cast. In a few minutes she came sweeping into the narrow +pass, under her topsails, and I saw Emily and her father, leaning over +the hammock-cloths of the quarter-deck. The beautiful girl was so near, +that I could read the expression of her soft eyes, and I fancied they +were filled with gentle concern. The Major called out, “God bless you, +dear Wallingford”--then the ship swept past, and was soon in the outer +bay. Half an hour later, or before I left the spot, she was at sea, +under everything that would draw from her trunks down. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + “I better brook the loss of brittle life, + Than those proud titles thou hast won of me; + They wound my thoughts, worse than thy sword my flesh.” + SHAKESPEARE + + +Half-way between this inlet and the ship-yard, I found Marble, standing +with his arms folded, gazing after the receding ship. His countenance +was no longer saddened; but it was fierce. He shook his hand menacingly +at the French ensign, which was flying at our old gaff, and said-- + +“Ay, d----n you, flutter away; you quiver and shake now like one of +your coxcombs pigeon-winging; but where will you be this day two months? +Miles, no man but a bloody Frenchman would cast away a ship, there where +this Mister Count has left the bones of his vessel; though _here_, where +we came so nigh going, it's a miracle any man could escape. Hadn't we +brought the Crisis through that opening first, he never would have dared +to go out by it.” + +I confess I saw little about Monsieur Le Compte's management but skill +and good seamanship; but nothing is more painful to most men than to +admit the merit of those who have obtained an advantage over them. +Marble could not forget his own defeat; and the recollection jaundiced +his eyes, and biassed his judgment. + +“I see our people are busy, already, sir,” I remarked, by way of drawing +the captain's attention to some other subject. “They have hauled the +schooner up to the yard, and seem to be getting along spars for shores.” + +“Ay, ay--Talcott has his orders; and I expect you will bestir yourself. +I shall step the masts myself, and you will get all the rigging ready +to be put into its place, the moment it is possible. That Frenchman +calculated, he told me to my face, that we might get to sea in a +fortnight; I will let him see that a set of Yankees can rig and stow his +bloody schooner, in three days, and then leave themselves time to play.” + +Marble was not a man of idle vaunts. He soon had everybody at work, with +a system, order, silence, and activity, that proved he was master of +his profession. Nor was the language which might sound so boastful to +foreign ears, altogether without its justification. Forty Americans +were a formidable force; and, well directed, I make no doubt they would +accomplish far more than the ordinary run of French seamen, as they were +governed and managed in the year 1800, and, counting them man for man, +would have accomplished in double the time. Our crew had now long acted +together, and frequently under the most trying circumstances; and +they showed their training, if men ever did, on the present occasion. +Everybody was busy; and we had the shears up, and both masts stepped, in +the course of a few hours. By the time the main-mast was in, I had +the fore-mast rigged, the jib-boom in its place, the sprit-sail yard +crossed--everything carried a spar under its bowsprit then--and the +lower yard up. It is true, the French had got everything ready for us; +and when we turned the hands to, after dinner, we actually began to +strike in cargo, water, provisions, and such other things, as it was +intended to carry away. At dusk, when we knocked off work, the Emily +looked like a sea-going craft, and there was every prospect of our +having her ready for sea, by the following evening. But, the duty had +been carried on, in silence. Napoleon said there had been more noise +made in the little schooner which carried him from l'Orient to Basque +Roads, than was made on board the line-of-battle ship that conveyed him +to St. Helena, during the whole passage. Since that memorable day, the +French have learned to be silent on board ship, and the fruits remain to +be seen. + +That night, Marble and myself consulted together on the aspect of +things--or, as he expressed it, “we generalized over our prospects.” + Monsieur Le Compte had done one thing which duty required of him. He +did not leave us a kernel of the gunpowder belonging to either ship; nor +could we find a boarding-pike, cutlass, or weapon of any sort, except +the officers' pistols. We had a canister of powder, and a sufficiency +of bullets for the last, which had been left as, out of an _esprit de +corps_, or the feeling of an officer, which told him we might possibly +need these means to keep our own crew in order. Such was not the fact, +however, with the particular people we happened to have; a more orderly +and reasonable set of men never sailing together. But, Monsieur Le +Compte knew it was his duty to put it out of their power to trouble us, +so far as it lay in his; but, at the same time, while he left us the +means of safety, he provided against our doing any further injury to his +own countrymen. In this he had pretty effectually succeeded, so far as +armament was concerned. + +The next morning I was up with the appearance of the dawn, and, having +suffered much from the heat the preceding day, I walked to a suitable +spot, threw off my clothes, and plunged into the basin. The water was +transparent almost as air; and I happened to select a place where the +coral grew within a few yards of the surface. As I dove, my eye fell on +a considerable cluster of large oysters that were collected on the rock, +and, reaching them, I succeeded in bringing up half a dozen that clung +to each other. These dives I repeated, during the next quarter of an +hour, until I had all the oysters, sixty or eighty in number, safe on +the shore. That they were the pearl oysters, I knew immediately; and +beckoning to Neb, the fellow soon had them snug in a basket, and put +away in a place of security. The circumstance was mentioned to Marble, +who, finding no more heavy drags to be made, ordered the Sandwich +Islanders to take a boat and pass a few hours in their regular +occupation, on account of the owners--if, indeed, the last had any +further claim on our services. These men met with tolerable success, +though, relatively, nothing equal to mine. What, just then, was of far +more importance, they made a discovery of an arm-chest lying on the +bottom of the basin, at the anchorage of the Crisis, and which had +doubtless been sunk there by the French. We had all la Pauline's boats +but the captain's gig. I went in one of them with a gang of hands, and, +the divers securing a rope to the handles of the chest, we soon got it +in. It turned out to be one of the arm-chests of the Crisis, which the +French had found in their way and thrown overboard, evidently preferring +to use weapons to which they were accustomed. They had done better by +carrying the chest out to sea, and disposing of it in fifty or a hundred +fathom water. + +The prize was turned over to the gunner, who reported that it was the +chest in which we kept our cutlasses and pistols, of both of which there +was a sufficient supply to give every man one of each. There were also +several horns of powder, and a bag of bullets; but the first was ruined +by the water. As for the arms, they were rubbed dry, oiled, and put away +again in the chest, after the last had stood a whole day, in the hot +sun, open. Thus, through the agency of men brought for a very different +purpose, we were put in possession of the means of achieving the +exploit, which might now be said to form the great object of our lives. + +That day we got everything on board the schooner that it was thought +desirable to take with us. We left much behind that was valuable, it is +true, especially the copper; but Marble wisely determined that it was +inexpedient to put the vessel deeper than good ballast-trim, lest it +should hurt her sailing. We had got her fairly to her bearings, and this +was believed to be as low as was expedient. It is true, a great deal +remained to be stowed; the deck being littered, and the hold, the +ground-tier excepted, in great confusion. But our bread, water, beef, +pork, and other eatables, were all there, and in abundance; and, though +not to be had for the asking, they were still to be had. The sails were +bent, and the only anchor, la Pauline's stream, with her two largest +kedges, was on our bows. While in this condition, Marble gave the +unexpected order for all hands to come on board, and for the shore-fasts +to be cast off. + +Of course, there was no dissenting to so positive a command. We had +signed new shipping-articles for the schooner, extending the engagements +made when we entered on board the Crisis, to this new vessel, or any +other she might capture. The wind was a steady trade, and, when we +showed our main-sail and jib to it, the little craft glided athwart the +basin like a duck. Shooting through the pass, Marble tacked her twice, +as soon as he had an offing; and everybody was delighted with the +quickness with which she was worked. There was barely light enough to +enable us to find our way through the opening in the reef; and, just +thirty-eight hours after the Crisis sailed, we were on her track. We had +only conjecture to guide us as to the ship's course, with the exception +of the main fact of her having sailed for the west coast of South +America; but we had not failed to notice that she disappeared in the +north-east trades on a bow-line. We put the schooner as near as possible +on the same course, making a proper allowance for the difference in the +rig of the two vessels. + +The distance run that night, satisfied us all that Mons. Le Compte was +a good draftsman. The schooner ran 106 miles in twelve hours, against +a very respectable sea, which was at least ten or fifteen more than the +Crisis could have done under the same circumstances. It is true, that +what was close-hauled for her, was not close-hauled for us; and, in this +respect, we had the advantage of her. Marble was so well pleased with +our night's work, that when he came on deck next morning, the first +thing he did was to order a bottle of rum to be brought him, and then +all hands to be called. As soon as the people were up, he went forward, +got into the head, and commanded every body to muster on the forecastle. +Marble now made a speech. + +“We have some good, and some bad luck, this v'y'ge, men,” he said; “and, +when we generalize on the subject, it will be found that good luck has +usually followed the bad luck. Now, the savages, with that blackguard +Smudge, knocked poor Captain Williams in the head, and threw him +overboard, and got the ship from us; then came the good luck of getting +her back again. After this, the French did us that unhandsome thing: +now, here comes the good luck of their leaving us a craft that will +overhaul the ship, when I needn't tell _you,_ what will come of it.” + Here all hands, as in duty bound, gave three cheers. “Now, I neither +sail nor fight in a craft that carries a French name. Captain Count +christened the schooner the--Mr. Wallingford will tell you her exact +name.” + +“_La Belle Emélie,_” said I, “or the Beautiful Emily.” + +“None of your belles for me, nor your Beautiful Emilys either,” cried +Marble, smashing the bottle over the schooner's nose; “So here goes +three cheers again, for the 'Pretty Poll,' which was the name the craft +was born to, and the name she shall bear, as long as Moses Marble sails +her.” + +From that moment, the schooner was known by the name of the “Pretty +Poll.” I met with portions of our crew years afterwards, and they always +spoke of her by this appellation; sometimes familiarly terming her the +“Poll,” or the “Polly.” + +All the first day out, we were busy in making ourselves comfortable, and +in getting the Polly's trim. We succeeded so well in this last, that, +according to our calculations, we made a knot an hour more than the +Crisis could have done under the same circumstances, fast as the ship +was known to be. As the Crisis had about thirty-eight hours the start +of us, and ran, on an average, about seven knots the hour for all that +time, it would require about ten days to overtake her. Of course this +could only happen, according to our own calculations, when we were from +eighteen hundred to two thousand miles from the island. For my own part, +I sincerely hoped it would not occur at all, at sea; feeling satisfied +our only chances of success depended on surprise. By following the +vessel into some port, it might be possible to succeed; but, for an +unarmed schooner to attack a ship like the Crisis, with even a large +crew on board; it seemed rashness to think of it. Marble, however, would +not listen to my remonstrances. He insisted we had more than powder +enough to load all our pistols half-a-dozen times each, and, laying the +ship plump aboard, the pistols would do the rest. I was silenced, quite +as a matter of course, if not convinced. + +The fifth day out, Neb came to me, saying--“Master Miles, somet'ing must +be done wid 'em 'ere 'ysters! Dey smell, onaccountable; and de people +swear dey will t'row 'em overboard, if I don't eat 'em. I not hungry +enough for _dat_, sir.” + +These were the pearl oysters, already mentioned, which had been +hastening to dissolution and decomposition, by the heat of the hold. As +the captain was as much concerned in this portion of the cargo, as I was +myself, I communicated the state of things to him, and he ordered the +bags and barrels on deck, forthwith. It was well something was done, or +I doubt not a disease would have been the consequence. As decomposition +was the usual process by which to come at the treasures of these +animals, however, everything was exactly in the state we wished. + +An uninterested observer would have laughed, at seeing the employment +of the quarter-deck, for the next four hours. Marble, and the two mates, +attacked a barrel belonging to the captain, while Neb and I had my own +share to ourselves. It was a trying occupation, the odour far exceeding +in strength that of the Spice Islands. We stood it, however--for +what will not man endure for the sake of riches? Marble foresaw the +difficulties, and had once announced to the mates that they then would +“open on shares.” This had a solacing influence, and amid much mirth and +sundry grimaces, the work went on with tolerable rapidity. I observed, +however, that Talcott threw one or two subjects, that doubtless were +tougher than common, overboard, after very superficial examinations. + +The first seven oysters I examined, contained nothing but seed pearl, +and not many of these. Neb opened, and I examined; and the latter +occupation was so little to my taste, that I was just on the point of +ordering the whole lot thrown overboard, when Neb handed me another. +This oyster contained nine beautiful pearls, of very uniform dimensions, +and each about as large as a good-sized pea. I dropped them into a bowl +of fresh water, whence they came out sweet, pearly, and lustrous. They +were of the sort known as the “white water,” which is the kind +most prized among Christian nations, doubtless on account of their +harmonizing so well with the skins of their women. No sooner was my +luck known, than it brought all the other “pearl fishermen” around me; +Marble, with his nostrils plugged with oakum, and a quid of tobacco in +his mouth, that was as large as a small potatoe. + +“By George, Miles, that looks like business,” the captain exclaimed, +going back to his work, with renovated zeal, “though it is a calling fit +only for hogs and scavengers! Did I embark in it largely, I would keep +as many clerks as a bank. What do you suppose now, these nine chaps may +be worth?” + +“Some fifty dollars, or thereabouts--you see, sir, they are quite +large--much larger than it is usual to see our women wear.” + +The ninth of my oysters produced eleven pearls, and all about the size +and quality of the first. In a few minutes I had seventy-three just such +pearls, besides a quantity of seed pearl. Then followed a succession of +barren shells; a dozen not giving a pearl. The three that succeeded them +gave thirty-one more; and another yielded four pearls, each of which +was as large as a small cherry. After that, I got one that was almost +as large as a common hickory-nut, and six more of the size of the +cherry-sized pearls. In addition to these, I got in all, one hundred and +eighty-seven of the size of peas, besides a large handful of the seed +pearl. I afterwards ascertained, that the pearls I had thus obtained +were worth in the market about eighteen hundred dollars; as they were +far more remarkable for their beauty, than for their size. + +Notwithstanding the oakum plugs, and the tobacco, and the great quantity +of shells his divers had found, for they had brought up something like +two hundred and fifty oysters in the course of the day, the party of the +captain found in all, but thirty-six pearls, the seed excepted; though +they obtained some beautiful specimens among the shells. From that +moment, Marble discontinued the trade, and I never heard him say +anything more on the subject of pursuing it. My own beauties were put +carefully away, in reserve for the time when I might delight the eyes +of certain of my female friends with them. I never intended to sell one, +but they were very precious to me on other accounts. As for the crew, +glad enough were they to be rid of such uncomfortable shipmates. As I +gazed on the spotless and lustrous pearls, and compared them with the +revolting tenements from which they had just been redeemed, I likened +them to the souls of the just escaping from their tenements of clay, to +enjoy hereafter an endless existence of purity. + +In the meantime, the Pretty Poll continued to find her way along miles +and miles of the deserted track across the Pacific. Marble had once +belonged to a Baltimore clipper, and he sailed our craft probably much +better than she would have been sailed by Mons. Le Compte, though that +officer, as I afterwards learned, had distinguished himself in command +of a lugger-privateer, in the British Channel. Our progress was +generally from a hundred and fifty to two hundred and twenty miles in +twenty-four hours; and so it continued to be for the first ten days, or +the period, when, according to our own calculations, we ought to be near +the Crisis, had that vessel steered a course resembling our own. For +my own part, I neither wished nor expected to see the ship, until we +reached the coast of South America, when we might ascertain her position +by communicating with the shore. As for the _guarda-costas_, I knew we +could easily elude them, and there might be a small chance of regaining +the vessel, something like the way in which we had lost her. But +Marble's impatience, and the keenness with which he felt our disgrace, +would not make terms even with the elements; and I do believe, he would +have run alongside of the Crisis in a gale of wind, could he have come +up with her. The chance of our having sailed so far, however, on a line +so nearly resembling that of the chase as to bring us together, was so +very small, that few of us thought it worth our consideration. + +On the morning of the eleventh day, the look-out we had kept on the +fore-top-sail-yard, sang out “Sail-ho!” Marble and myself were soon on +the yard, there being nothing visible from the deck. The upper +sails, top-gallant-sails, and royals of a ship were visible on our +weather-quarter, distant from fifteen to twenty miles. As we were now +in the track of whalers, of which there were a good many in that part of +the Pacific, I thought it was probable this was one; but Marble laughed +at the notion, asking if I had ever heard of a whaler's carrying royals +on her cruising ground. He affirmed it was the Crisis, heading the same +way we were ourselves, and which had only got to windward of us, by +keeping a better luff. We had calculated too much on the schooner's +weatherly qualities, and had allowed her to fall off more than was +necessary, in the night-watches. + +The Pretty Poll was now jammed up on a wind, in the hope of closing +with the chase in the course of the night. But the wind had been growing +lighter and lighter for some hours, and by noon, though we had neared +the chase so much as to be able to see her from deck, there was every +prospect of its falling calm; after which, in the trades, it would +be surprising if we did not get a blow. To make the most of our time, +Marble determined to tack, when we had just got the chase a point off +our weather-bow. An hour after tacking, an object was seen adrift on the +ocean, and keeping away a little to close with it, it was ascertained to +be a whale-boat, adrift. The boat was American built, had a breaker of +water, the oars, and all the usual fittings in it; and the painter +being loose, it had probably been lost, when towing in the night, in +consequence of having been fastened by _three_ half-hitches. + +The moment Marble ascertained the condition of this boat, he conceived +his plan of operations. The four Sandwich Islanders had been in whalers, +and he ordered them into the boat, put in some rum, and some food, gave +me his orders, got in himself, and pulled ahead, going off at five knots +the hour, leaving the schooner to follow at the rate of two. This was +about an hour before sunset; and by the time it was dark, the boat had +become a mere speck on the water, nearly half-way between us and the +ship, which was now some fifteen miles distant, heading always in the +same direction. + +My orders had been very simple. They were, to stand on the same course, +until I saw a light from the boat, and then tack, so as to run on a +parallel line with the ship. The signal was made by Marble about nine +o'clock. It was immediately answered from the schooner. The light in the +boat was concealed from the ship, and our own was shown only for a few +seconds, the disappearance of Mr. Marble's telling us in that brief +space, that our answer was noted. I tacked immediately; and, taking +in the fore-sail, stood on the directed course. We had all foreseen a +change in the weather, and probably a thunder-squall. So far from its +giving Marble any uneasiness, he anticipated the blow with pleasure, +as he intended to lay the Crisis aboard in its height. He fancied that +success would then be the most certain. His whole concern was at not +being able to find the ship in the darkness; and it was to obviate this +difficulty that he undertook to pilot us up to her in the manner I have +just mentioned. + +After getting round, a sharp look-out was kept for the light. We caught +another view of it, directly on our weather-beam. From this we inferred +that the ship had more wind than we felt; inasmuch as she had materially +altered her position, while we had not moved a mile since we tacked. +This was on the supposition that Marble would endeavour to follow the +movements of the ship. At ten, the tempest broke upon us with tropical +violence, and with a suddenness that took everybody by surprise. A +squall had been expected; but no one anticipated its approach for +several hours; and we had all looked for the return of the whale-boat, +ere that moment should come. But, come it did, when least expected; the +first puff throwing our little schooner down, in a way to convince us +the elements were in earnest. In fifteen minutes after the first blast +was felt, I had the schooner, under a reefed foresail, and with that +short canvass, there were instants, as she struggled up to the summit of +the waves, that it seemed as if she were about to fly out of the water. +My great concern, however, was for the boat, of which nothing could now +be seen. The orders left by Marble anticipated no such occurrence +as this tempest, and the concert between us was interrupted. It was +naturally inferred among us, in the schooner, that the boat would +endeavour to close, as soon as the danger was foreseen; and, as this +would probably be done, by running on a converging line, all our efforts +were directed to keeping the schooner astern of the other party, in +order that they might first reach the point of junction. In this manner +there _was_ a chance of Marble's finding the schooner, while there was +little of our finding the boat. It is true, we carried several lights; +but as soon as it began to rain, even a bonfire would not have been seen +at a hundred yards. The water poured down upon us, as if it fell from +spouts, occasionally ceasing, and then returning in streams. + +I had then never passed so miserable a night; even that in which Smudge +and his fellows murdered Captain Williams and seized the ship, being +happiness in comparison. I loved Marble. Hardy, loose, in some respects, +and unnurtured as he was in others, the man had been steadily my friend. +He was a capital seaman; a sort of an instinctive navigator; true as the +needle to the flag, and as brave as a lion. Then, I knew he was in his +present strait on account of mortified feeling, and the rigid notions he +entertained of his duty to his owners. I think I do myself no more than +justice, when I say that I would gladly have exchanged places with him, +any time that night. + +We held a consultation on the quarter-deck, and it was determined that +our only chance of picking up the boat, was by remaining as nearly as +possible, at the place where her crew must have last seen the schooner. +Marble had a right to expect this; and we did all that lay in our power +to effect the object; waring often, and gaining on our tacks what +we lost in coming round. In this manner we passed a painful and most +uncomfortable night; the winds howling about us a sort of requiem for +the dead, while we hardly knew when we were wallowing in the seas or +not, there being so much water that came down from the clouds, as nearly +to drown us on deck. + +At last the light returned, and soon after the tempest broke, appearing +to have expended its fury. An hour after the sun had risen, we got the +trade-wind again, the sea became regular once more, and the schooner was +under all her canvass. Of course, every one of us officers was aloft, +some forward, some aft, to look out for the boat; but we did not see her +again. What was still more extraordinary, nothing could be seen of the +ship! We kept all that day cruising around the place, expecting to find +at least the boat; but without success. + +My situation was now altogether novel to me. I had left home rather more +than a twelvemonth before, the third officer of the Crisis. From this +station, I had risen regularly to be her first officer; and now, by a +dire catastrophe, I found myself in the Pacific, solely charged with the +fortunes of my owners, and those of some forty human beings. And this, +too, before I was quite twenty years old. + +Marble's scheme of attacking the ship had always seemed to me to be wild +and impracticable. This was while it was _his_ project, not my own. I +still entertained the same opinion, as regards the assault at sea; but +I had, from the first, regarded an attempt on the coast as a thing much +more likely to succeed. Then Emily, and her father, and the honour of +the flag, and the credit I might personally gain, had their influence; +and, at sunset, all hope of finding the boat being gone, I ordered sail +made on our course. + +The loss of the whale-boat occurred when we were about two thousand +miles from the western coast of South America. We had a long road before +us, consequently; and, as I had doubted whether the ship we had seen +was the Crisis, it was necessary to be in motion, if anything was to be +effected with our old enemies. The reader may feel some desire to know +in what manner my succession to the command was received by the people. +No man could have been more implicitly obeyed. I was now six feet and an +inch in height, of a powerful and active frame, a good seaman, and had +the habit of command, through a twelvemonth's experience. The crew knew +me, having seen me tried, from the weather-earings down; and it is very +likely I possessed more of their confidence than I deserved. At all +events, I was as implicitly obeyed as if I had sailed from New York at +their head. Everybody regretted Marble; more, I think, than we regretted +poor Captain Williams, though it must have been on account of the manner +we saw him disappear, as it might be, from before our eyes; since, of +the two, I think the last was the most estimable man. Nevertheless, +Marble had his strong points, and they were points likely to take +with seamen; and they had particularly taken with us. As for the four +Sandwich Islanders, I do not know that they occupied any of our minds at +all. We had been accustomed to regard them as strange beings, who came +from that ocean to which they had thus suddenly returned. + +Fifteen days after the loss of the whale-boat, we made the peaks of the +Andes, a very few degrees to the southward of the equator. From some +casual remarks made by the French, and which I had overheard, I had been +led to believe they intended to run for Guayaquil, or its vicinity; +and I aimed at reaching the coast near the same point. We had been in, +ourselves, at several bays and roadsteads, moreover, on this part of +the shore, on our way north; and I felt at home among them. We +had acquaintances, too, who could not fail to be of use to us; and +everything conspired to render this an advantageous land-fall. + +On the evening of the twenty-ninth day after quitting the island, we +took the schooner into an open roadstead, where we had carried on some +extensive traffic in the ship, about eight months before, and where I +fancied we should still be recognised. As was expected, we had scarcely +anchored, before a Don Pedro Something, a fellow with a surprising +string of names, came off to us in a boat, in order to ascertain who we +were, and what we wanted. Perhaps it would be better to say, what we had +that _he_ wanted. I knew the man at a glance, having delivered to him, +myself, three boat-loads of goods, and received a small bag of doubloons +in exchange. A very few words, half-English, half-Spanish, served to +renew our acquaintance; and I gave our old friend to understand that I +was in search of the ship, from which I had been separated on some extra +duty. After beating the bush to discover all he could, the Don Pedro +gave me to understand that _a_ ship had gone in behind an island that +was only ten miles to the southward of us, that very afternoon; that he +had seen her himself, and had supposed she might be his old friend the +Crisis, until he saw the French ensign at her gaff. This was sufficient, +and I made inquiries for a pilot. A man qualified to carry us to the +place was found in one of the boatmen. As I feared the news of the +arrival of a schooner might be carried to the ship, much as we had +got our intelligence, no time was lost, but we were under-way by ten +o'clock. At midnight we entered the pass between the main and the +island; there I got into a boat, and pulled ahead, in order to +reconnoitre. I found the ship lying close under a high bluff, which made +a capital lee, and with every sign about her of tranquillity. Still, I +knew a vessel that was always in danger from the _guarda-costas_, and +which relied on the celerity of its movements for its safety, would have +a vigilant look-out. Accordingly, I took a cool and careful examination +of the ship's position, landing and ascending the bluff, in order to +do this at my ease. About two o'clock in the morning, I returned to the +schooner. + +When I put my foot on the Polly's deck again, she was quite near the +point, or bluff, having set down towards it during my absence. All hands +were on deck, armed, and in readiness. Expectation had got to be so +keen, that we had a little difficulty in keeping the men from cheering; +but silence was preserved, and I communicated the result of my +observations in as few words as possible. The orders were then given, +and the schooner was brought under short sail, for the attack. We were +so near our side of the bluff, while the ship lay so near the other, +that my principal apprehension was of falling to leeward, which might +give the French time to muster, and recollect themselves. The canvass, +accordingly, was reduced to the fore-sail, though the jib, main-sail, +and top-sail were all loose, in readiness to be set, if wanted. The +plan was to run the ship aboard, on her starboard-bow, or off-side, +as respected the island; and to do this with as little of a shock as +possible. + +When everything was ready, I went aft, stood by the man at the helm, and +ordered him to bear up. Neb placed himself just behind me. I knew it was +useless to interfere, and let the fellow do as he pleased. The pilot had +told me the water was deep, up to the rocks of the bluff; and we hugged +the land as close as possible, in rounding the point. At the next moment +the ship was in sight, distant less than a hundred fathoms. I saw we had +good way, and, three minutes later, I ordered the fore-sail brailed. At +the same instant I walked forward. So near were we, that the flapping of +the canvass was heard in the ship, and we got a hail. A mystified +answer followed, and then crash came our bows along those of the Crisis. +“Hurrah! for the old craft!” shouted our men, and aboard we tumbled in +a body. Our charge was like the plunge of a pack of hounds, as they leap +through a hedge. + +The scene that followed was one of wild tumult. Some twenty pistols were +fired, and a good many hard blows were struck; but the surprise secured +us the victory. In less than three minutes, Talcott came to report to me +that our lads had complete possession of the deck, and that the French +asked for quarter. At first, the enemy supposed they had been seized by +a _guarda-costa_, for the impression had been general among them that we +intended to quit the island for Canton. Great was the astonishment +among them when the truth came to be known. I heard a great many +“_sacr-r-r-es!_” and certain other maledictions in low French, that it +is scarcely worth while to repeat. + +Harris, one of the-Philadelphians, and the man who had got us into the +difficulty by falling asleep on his watch, was killed; and no less +than nine of our men, myself among the number, were hurt in this brisk +business. All the wounds, however, were slight; only three of the +injuries taking the parties off duty. As for the poor fellow who fell, +he owed his death to risking too much, in order to recover the ground he +had lost. + +The French fared much worse than ourselves. Of those killed outright, +and those who died before morning, there were no less than sixteen; our +fellows having fired a volley into a group that was rushing on deck, +besides using their cutlasses with great severity for the first minute +or two. This was on the principle that the first blow was half the +battle. There were few wounded; most of those who fell being cut or +thrust at by several at the same time--a species of attack that left +little chance for escape. Poor Mons. Le Compte was found stone-dead at +the cabin-doors, having been shot in the forehead, just as he put his +foot on the deck. I heard his voice once in the fray, and feared it +boded no good; but the silence which succeeded was probably caused by +his just then receiving the fatal bullet. He was in his shirt. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + _1st Witch_. “Hail!” + _2d Witch_. “Hail!” + _3d Witch_. “Hail!” + _1st Witch_. “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.” + _2d Witch_. “Not so happy, yet much happier.” + MACBETH. + + +I hope I shall be believed in saying, if Marble had been with us when +we retook the ship, I should have been perfectly happy. He was not, +however, and regret was left to mingle in our triumph. I had a hasty +interview with Major Merton that night, and communicated all that was +necessary to quiet the apprehensions of his daughter. Emily was in her +state-room, and had been alarmed, as a matter of course; but when she +learned that all was over, and had terminated successfully, her fears +yielded to reason. Of course, both she and her father felt it to be a +great relief that they were no longer prisoners. + +We were no sooner fairly in command of our old ship, again, than I had +all hands called to get the anchor. We hove up, and passed out to sea +without delay, it being necessary to cover our movements with as much +mystery as possible, in order to prevent certain awkward demands from +the Spanish government, on the subject of the violation of neutral +territory. A hint from Major Merton put me on my guard as respected this +point, and I determined to disappear as suddenly as we had arrived, +in order to throw obstacles in the way of being traced. By day-light, +therefore, both the ship and schooner were four leagues from the +land, and on the “great highway of nations;” a road, it may be said in +passing, that was then greatly infested by foot-pads and other robbers. + +Just as the sun rose, we buried the dead. This was done decently, and +with the usual ceremony, the triumph of victory giving place to the sad +reflections that are so apt to succeed to the excited feelings of most +of our struggles. I saw poor Le Compte disappear from sight with regret, +and remembered his recent hopes, his generous treatment, his admiration +of Emily, and all that he had so lately thought and felt, as a warning +of the fragile nature of life, and that which life can bestow. Thus +terminated an acquaintance of a month; but a month that had been +pregnant with incidents of great importance to myself. + +It now became necessary to decide on our future course. I had the ship, +just as the French got her from us, with the addition of those portions +of their own cargo with which they had intended to trade on the coast of +South America. These consisted of silks and various fancy articles, with +a little wine, and would be nearly as valuable at home as they were in +Spanish America. I was strongly averse to smuggling, and the ship having +already followed out her original instructions on this point, I saw no +necessity for pursuing the ungrateful trade any further. Could I return +to the island, and get the articles of value left on it by the French, +such as the copper they had not used, and divers pales received from +the Bombay ship, which had been abandoned by us all under a tent, more +profit would accrue to my owners than by any illicit commerce we could +now possibly carry into effect on the coast. + +While Talcott, and the new chief-mate, and myself were discussing these +points, the cry of “sail ho!” was heard. A large ship had suddenly hove +up out of the morning's mist, within a mile of us, and I thought, at +first, we had got under the guns of a Spanish man-of-war. A second look +at her, however, satisfied us all, that, though heavy and armed, she was +merely one of those clumsy traders that sailed, periodically, from the +colonies to Spain. We went to quarters, and cleared ship, but made no +effort to avoid the stranger. The Spaniards, of the two, were the most +uneasy, I believe, their country being then at war with England; but we +spoke each other without coming to blows. As soon as the strangers saw +the American ensign, they expressed a wish to communicate with us; and, +unwilling to let them come on board us, I volunteered a visit to the +Spanish captain. He received me with formal politeness, and, after some +preliminary discourse, he put into my hands some American newspapers, +which contained a copy of the treaty of peace between the United States +and France. On looking over the articles of this new compact, I found +that, had our recapture of the Crisis been delayed to that very day, +at noon, it would have been illegal. The two nations, in fact, were at +peace, when the French seized the ship, but the customary provisions as +to captures in distant seas, just brought us within the saving clauses. +Such is war, and its concomitants! + +In the course of half an hour's conversation, I discovered that the +Spaniard intended to touch at Valparaiso, and called, in order to get +men, his own having suffered, up the coast, with the small-pox. His ship +was large, carried a considerable armament, and he should not deem her +safe from the smaller English cruisers, unless he doubled the Cape much +stronger handed than he then was. I caught at the idea, and inquired +what he thought of Frenchmen? They would answer his purpose, for France +and Spain had a common enemy, and nothing would be easier than to send +the French from Cadiz to Marseilles. A bargain was consequently struck +on the spot. + +When I got back on board the Crisis, I had all the prisoners mustered on +deck. They were made acquainted with the offers of the Spanish captain, +with the fact that peace now existed between our respective countries, +and with the chance that presented itself, so opportunely, for them to +return home. The proposition was cheerfully accepted, anything being +better than captivity. Before parting, I endeavoured to impress on the +French the necessity of prudence on the subject of our recapturing the +Crisis in Spanish waters, inasmuch as the circumstance might induce an +inquiry as to what took the ship there; it being well understood that +the mines were the punishment of those who were taken in the contraband +trade in that quarter of the world. The French promised fairly. +Whether they kept their words I never knew, but, if they did not, no +consequences ever followed from their revelations. In such a case, +indeed, the Spanish government would be very apt to consider the +question one that touched the interests of smugglers alike, and to feel +great indifference between the parties. At all events, no complaints +were ever made to the American government; or, if made, they never +reached my ears, or those of my owners. It is most probable nothing was +ever said on the subject. + +About noon we had got rid of our prisoners. They were allowed to take +away with them all their own effects, and, as usually happens in such +cases, I make little doubt some that belonged to other persons. The +ships then made sail, each on her own course; the Spaniard running down +the coast, while we spread our studding-sails for the island. As soon as +this was done, I felt relieved from a great burthen, and had leisure +to think of other matters. I ought to mention, however, that I put the +second-mate, or him who had become chief-mate by my own advancement, in +command of the “Pretty Poll,” giving him two experienced seamen as his +own mates, and six men, to sail her. This made Talcott the Crisis' first +officer, and glad was I to see him in a station a little suited to his +attainments. + +That evening, just as the sun was setting, I saw Emily again, for the +first time since she had stood leaning over the rail as the Crisis shot +through the inlet of the lagoon. The poor girl was pale, and it was +evident, while she could not but rejoice at her liberation, and her +release from the solicitations of the unfortunate Le Compte, that his +death had cast a shade of sadness over her pretty features. It could not +well be otherwise, the female breast ever entertaining its sympathies +for those who submit to the influence of its owner's charms. Then, poor +Le Compte had some excellent qualities, and he treated Emily, as she +admitted to me herself, with the profoundest respect, and delicacy. +His admiration could scarce be an offence in _her_ eyes, however +disagreeable it proved, in certain points of view. + +Our meeting partook of the character of our situation, being a mixture +of melancholy and happiness. I rejoiced in our success, while I +regretted Marble, and even our late enemies, while the Major and his +daughter could not but remember all the gloomy particulars of their +late, and, indeed, of their present position. + +“We seem to be kept, like Mahomet's coffin, sir,” Emily observed, as +she looked affectionately at her father, “suspended between heaven and +earth--the Indies and America--not knowing on which we are to alight. +The Pacific is our air, and we are likely to breathe it, to our heart's +content.” + +“True, love--your comparison is not an unhappy one. But, Wallingford, +what has become of Captain Marble in these stirring times? You have not +left him, Sancho Panza like, to govern Barritaria, while you have come +to recover his ship?” + +I told my passengers of the manner in which our old friend had +disappeared, and inquired if anything had been seen of the whale-boat, +or the schooner, on the night of the tropical tempest. + +“Nothing”--answered the Major. “So far from expecting to lay eyes on the +'Beautiful Emily,' again, we supposed you would be off for Canton by the +end of the fortnight that succeeded our own departure. At least, that +was poor Le Compte's version of the matter. I am certain however, that +no sail was seen from this ship, during the whole passage; nor, had we +any storm like that you have described. More beautiful weather, I never +met at sea.” + +Upon this, I sent for the log-book, and ascertained, by day and date, +that the Crisis was not within fifty leagues of the spot, where +we encountered the thunder-squall. Of course the ship we saw was a +stranger; most probably a whaler. This destroyed any little hope that +was left concerning Marble's fate. + +But it is time I should mention a _galanterie_ of poor Le Compte's. He +was well provided with shipwrights--better, indeed, than with seamen--as +was apparent by the readiness with which he had constructed the +schooner. During the passage from Marble Land, he had set these workmen +about building a poop on the Crisis' quarter-deck, and I found the work +completed. There was a very pretty, airy cabin, with two state-rooms +communicating with light quarter-galleries, and everything that is +customary with such accommodations. Furniture had been made, with French +dexterity and taste, and the paint was just dry to receive it. Emily and +her father were to take possession of these new accommodations the very +day succeeding that in which the ship fell again into our hands. This +alteration was not such as I would have made, as a seaman; and I wonder +Mons. Le Compte, who had the gauntlet to run through the most formidable +navy in the world, should have ventured on it, since it sensibly +affected the ship's sailing on a wind. But, now it was peace, I cared +little about it, and determined to let it remain, so long, at least, as +Miss Merton continued on board. + +That very night, therefore, the Major occupied one of the state-rooms, +and his daughter the other. Imitating poor Le Compte's gallantry, I gave +them a separate table, though I took quite half my meals with them, by +invitation. Emily did not absolutely dress my wound, a flesh injury in +the shoulder, that office falling to her father's share, who had seen +a good deal of service, and was familiar with the general treatment of +hurts of this nature; but she could, and did, show many of those gentle +and seductive attentions, that the tenderness of her sex can alone +bestow, with full effect, on man. In a fortnight my hurt was cured, +though Emily had specifics to recommend, and advice to bestow, until we +were both ashamed to allude to the subject any longer. + +As for the passage, it was just such a one as might be expected to +occur, in the trades of the Pacific. The ship was under studding-sails +nearly the whole time, making, day in and day out, from a hundred and +twenty to two hundred miles in the twenty-four hours. The mates kept the +watches, and I had little to do, but to sit and chat with the Major and +his daughter, in the cool, airy cabin, that Le Compte had provided for +us; listen to Emily's piano, which had been transferred from the prize, +and subsequently saved from the wreck; or read aloud out of some of the +two or three hundred beautifully bound, and sweetly-scented volumes +that composed her library. In that day, people read Pope, and Young, and +Milton, and Shakspeare, and that sort of writers; a little relieved +by Mrs. Radcliffe, and Miss Burney, and Monk Lewis, perhaps. As for +Fielding and Smollet, they were well enough in their place, which was +not a young lady's library, however. There were still more useful books, +and I believe I read everything in the ship, before the voyage ended. +The leisure of a sea-life, in a tranquil, well-ordered vessel, admits +of much study; and books ought to be a leading object in the fitting +out that portion of a vessel's equipment which relates chiefly to the +welfare of her officers and crew. + +Time passed pleasantly enough, with a young fellow who had certainly +some reason to be satisfied with his own success thus far in life, and +who could relieve the tedium of ship's duty in such society. I cannot +say I was in love, though I often thought of Emily when she was not +before my eyes, and actually dreamt of her three times, in the +first fortnight after the re-capture of the ship. What was a little +remarkable, as I conceive, I often found myself drawing comparisons +between her and Lucy, though I hardly knew why, myself. The result was +very much after this sort;--Emily had vastly the advantage in all that +related to art, instruction, training--I am wrong, Mr. Harding had given +his daughter a store of precise, useful knowledge, that Emily did not +possess; and then I could not but see that Lucy's tact in moral feeling, +was much of the highest order of the two. But, in purely conventional +attainments, in most that relates to the world, its usages, its finesse +of feeling and manner, I could see that Emily was the superior. Had +I known more myself, I could have seen that both were provincial--for +England, in 1801, was but a province, as to mere manners, though on a +larger scale than America is even now--and that either would have been +remarked for peculiarities, in the more sophisticated circles of the +continent of Europe. I dare say, half my own countrymen would have +preferred Lucy's nature to the more artificial manner of Emily; but, +it will not do to say that even female deportment, however delicate and +feminine nature may have made it, cannot be improved by certain general +rules for the government of that which is even purely conventional. On +the whole, I wished that Lucy had a little of Emily's art, and Emily a +good deal more of Lucy's nature. I suppose the perfection in this sort +of thing is to possess an art so admirable that it shall appear to be +nature, in all things immaterial, while it leaves the latter strictly in +the ascendant, in all that is material. + +In person, I sometimes fancied Emily was the superior, and, sometimes, +when memory carried me back to certain scenes that had occurred during +my last visit to Clawbonny, that it was Lucy. In complexion, and perhaps +in eyes, the English girl beat her rival; possibly, also, in the teeth; +though Lucy's were very even and white; but, in the smile, in the +outline of the face, most especially in the mouth, and in the hands, +feet, and person generally, I think nine judges in ten would have +preferred the American. One peculiar charm was common to both; and it is +a charm, though the strongest instance I ever saw of it in my life, +was in Italy, that may be said to belong, almost exclusively, to the +Anglo-Saxon race: I mean that expression of the countenance which so +eminently betokens feminine purity and feminine tenderness united; the +look which artists love to impart to the faces of angels. Each of the +girls had much of this; and I suppose it was principally owing to their +heavenly blue eyes. I doubt if any woman with black, or hazel eyes +notwithstanding all the brilliancy of their beauty, ever possessed this +charm in the higher degree. It belonged to Grace even more than to Lucy +or Emily; though, of the two last, I think the English girl possessed +it, in a slight degree, the most, so far as it was connected with mere +shading and colour; while the American exhibited the most of it, in +moments of feeling and emotion. Perhaps, this last advantage was owing +to Lucy's submitting most to nature, and to her impulses. It must be +remembered, however, that I had not seen Lucy, now, for near two +years; and two of the most important years of a young female's life, as +respected her personal appearance. + +As relates to character, I will not now speak as plainly as I shall be +called on to do, hereafter. A youth of twenty is not the best judge of +such things, and I shall leave events to tell their own story, in this +particular. + +We had been at sea a fortnight, when happening to allude to the pearl +fishery, I bethought me of my own prizes. A ship that carries a +numerous crew, is a sort of _omnium gatherum_, of human employments. +For ordinarily manned craft, seamen are necessary; but ships of war, +privateers and letters-of-marque, can afford, as poor Marble +would express it, to generalize. We had several tradesmen in the +Crisis--mechanics, who found the restraints of a ship necessary for +their own good--and, among others, we happened to have a goldsmith. This +man had offered to perforate my pearls, and to string them; an operation +to which I consented. The fellow had performed his task as well as could +be desired, and supplying from his own stores a pair of suitable clasps, +had formed the whole into a simple, but as beautiful a necklace, as I +ever laid eyes on. He had put the largest pearl of all directly in +the centre, and then arranged the remainder, by placing several of the +smaller together separated by one of the second size, until the whole +formed a row that would much more than encircle my own neck, and which, +of course, would drop gracefully round that of a female. + +When I produced this beautiful ornament, one that a woman of rank +might have coveted, Emily did not endeavour to conceal her admiration. +Unaccustomed, herself, to the higher associations of her own country, +she had never seen a necklace of the same value, and she even fancied +it fit for a queen. Doubtless, queens usually possess much more precious +pearls than those of mine, and yet it was to be supposed they would not +disdain to wear even such as they. Major Merton examined the necklace +carefully, and I could see by his countenance, he was surprised and +pleased. + +On the whole, I think it may be questioned, if any other man enjoys +as many _physical_ advantages with the same means, as the Americans. +I speak more of his habits, than of his opportunities; but I am of +opinion, after seeing a good deal of various parts of the world, that +the American of moderate fortune has more physical indulgences than any +other man. While this is true, however, as a whole, there are certain +points on which he signally fails. He fails _often_, when it comes to +the mere outward exhibition; and it is probable there is not a single +well-ordered household--meaning for the purposes of comfort and +representation united--in the whole country. The particular deficiency, +if deficiency it be, applies in an almost exclusive degree to the use +of precious stones, jewelry, and those of the more valuable metals in +general. The ignorance of the value of precious stones is so great, that +half the men, meaning those who possess more or less of fortune, do +not even know the names of those of the commoner sorts. I doubt, if one +educated American in twenty could, even at this moment, tell a sapphire +from an amethyst, or a turquoise from a garnet; though the women are +rather more expert as lapidaries. Now, I was a true American in this +respect; and, while I knew I possessed a very beautiful ornament, I had +not the smallest idea of its value, as an article of commerce. With the +Major it was different. He had studied such things, and he had a taste +for them. The reader will judge of my surprise, therefore, when I heard +him say:-- + +“That necklace, in the hands of Rundle and Bridges, would bring a +thousand pounds, in London!” + +“Father!” exclaimed Emily. + +“I do think it. It is not so much the size of the pearls, though these +largest are not common even in that particular, but it is their extreme +beauty; their colour and transparency--their _water_, as it is called.” + +“I thought that a term applied only to diamonds”--observed Emily, with +an interest I wished she had not manifested. + +“It is also applied to pearls--there are pearls of what is called the +'white water,' and they are of the sort most prized in Europe. The +'yellow water' are more esteemed among nations of darker skins; I +suppose that is the secret. Yes, I think if you send this necklace to +London, Wallingford, you will get six or eight hundred pounds for it.” + +“I shall never sell it, sir--at least, not as long as I can avoid it.” + +I saw that Emily looked at me, with an earnestness for which I could not +account. + +“Not sell it!--” repealed her father--“Why, what in the name of Neptune +can _you_ do with such an ornament?” + +“Keep it. It is strictly my own. I brought it up, from the bottom of the +sea, with my own hands; removed the pearls from what the editors would +call their 'native homes' myself, and I feel an interest in them, that I +never could feel in any ornament that was purchased.” + +“Still, this will prove rather an expensive taste. Pray, What interest +do you obtain for money, in your part of the world, Wallingford?” + +“Six per cent., in New York, sir, perhaps, on the better sort of +permanent securities.” + +“And how much is sixty pounds sterling, when turned into dollars?” + +“We usually say five for one, though it is not quite that; from +two hundred and eighty to two hundred and ninety, all things +considered--though two hundred and sixty-six, nominally, or +thereabouts.” + +“Well, even two hundred and sixty-six dollars a year, is a good deal for +a young man like you to pay, for the pleasure of saying he owns a pearl +necklace that he cannot use.” + +“But it cost me nothing, sir, and of course I can lose nothing by it.” + +“I rather think you will lose what I tell you, if the ornament can be +sold for that sum. When a man has property from which he might derive an +income, and does not, he is, in one sense, and that the most important, +a loser.” + +“I have a sister, Major Merton; I may possibly give it to her--or, +should I marry, I would certainly give it to my wife.” + +I could see a smile struggling about the mouth of the major, which I +was then too young, and I may add, too American, to understand. The +incongruity of the wife of a man of two thousand, or five and twenty +hundred dollars a-year, wearing two years' income round her neck, or of +being magnificent in only one item of her dress, household, or manner +of living, never occurred to my mind. We can all laugh when we read of +Indian chiefs wearing uniform-coats, and cocked-hats, without any other +articles of attire; but we cannot imagine inconsistencies in our own +cases, that are almost as absurd in the eyes of highly sophisticated and +conventional usages. To me, at that age, there was nothing in the least +out of the way, in Mrs. Miles Wallingford's wearing the necklace, her +husband being unequivocally its owner. As for Emily, she did not smile, +but continued to hold the necklace in her own very white, plump hand, +the pearls making the hand look all the prettier, while the hand +assisted to increase the lustre of the pearls. I ventured to ask her to +put the necklace on her neck. She blushed slightly, but she complied. + +“Upon my word, Emily,” exclaimed the gratified father, “you become each +other so well, that I am losing a prejudice, and begin to believe even a +poor man's daughter may be justified in using such an ornament.” + +The sight was certainly sufficient to justify anything of the sort. The +dazzling whiteness of Miss Merlon's skin, the admirable outlines of +her throat and bust, and the flush which pleasure gave her cheeks, +contributed largely to the beauty of the picture. It would have been +difficult to say, whether the charms of the woman ornamented the pearls, +or those of the pearls ornamented the woman! I remember I thought, at +the time, my eyes had never dwelt on any object more pleasing, than was +Miss Merton during the novelty of that spectacle. Nor did the pleasure +cease, on the instant; for I begged her to continue to wear the necklace +during the remainder of the day; a request with which she had the good +nature to comply. Which was most gratified by this exhibition, the young +lady or myself, it might be difficult to say; for there is a mutual +satisfaction in admiring, and in being admired. + +When I went into the cabin to say good-night, I found Emily Merton, with +the necklace in her hand, gazing at it, by the light of a powerful lamp, +with eyes as liquid and soft as the pearls themselves. I stood still to +admire her; for never before had I seen her so bewitchingly beautiful. +Her countenance was usually a little wanting in intellectual expression, +though it possessed so much of that which I have described as _angelic_; +but, on this occasion, _it seemed to me_, to be full of ideas. Can it +be possible, whispered conceit--and what very young man is entirely free +from it--can it be possible, she is now thinking how happy a woman Mrs. +Miles Wallingford will one day be?--Am I in any manner connected with +that meditating brow, that reflecting air, that fixed look, that pleased +and yet doubting expression? + +“I was about to send for you, Captain Wallingford,” said Emily, the +instant she saw me, and confirming my conceited conjectures, by blushing +deeper than I had seen her before, in the whole of that blushing, +sensitive, and enjoyable day; “about to send for you, to take charge of +your treasure.” + +“And could you not assume that much responsibility, for a single night?” + +“'T would be too great--it is an honour reserved for Mrs. Wallingford, +you know.” + +This was smilingly said, I fancied sweetly and kindly, and yet it was +said not altogether without something that approached to an _équivoque_; +a sort of manner that the deep, natural feeling of Grace, and +needle-like truth of Lucy had rendered unpleasant to me. I took the +necklace, shook the young lady's hand for good-night--we always did +that, on meeting and parting for the day--paid my compliments to the +father, and withdrew. + +I was dressing next morning, when Neb came bolting into my state-room, +with his Clawbonny freedom of manner, his eyes looking lobsters, and +_his_ necklace of pearl, glittering between a pair of lips that +might have furnished a cannibal two famous steaks. As soon as fairly +established in command, I had brought the fellow aft, berthing him +in the steerage, in order to have the benefit of more of his personal +service than I could obtain while he was exclusively a foremast Jack. +Still, he kept his watch; for it would have been cruel to deprive, him +of that pleasure. + +“Oh! Masser Mile!” exclaimed the black, as soon as he could speak; “'e +boat!--'e boat!” + + +“What of the boat?--Is any one overboard?” + +“'E whale-boat, sir!--Poor Captain Marble--'e whale-boat, sir!” + +“I understand you, Neb--go on deck, and desire the officer of the watch +to heave-to the ship, as soon as it is proper; I will come up, the +instant I can.” + +Here, then, I thought, Providence has brought us on the track of the +unfortunate whale-boat; and we shall doubtless see the mutilated remains +of some of our old companions--poor Marble, doubtless, from what Neb +said--well, the will of God be done. I was soon dressed; and, as I went +up the cabin-ladder, the movement on deck denoted the nature of the +excitement that now prevailed generally, in the ship. Just as I reached +the quarter-deck, the main-yard swung round, and the sails were brought +aback. The whole crew was in commotion, and it was some little time +before I could learn the cause. + +The morning was misty, and the view round the ship, until within a few +minutes, had been confined to a circle of less than a mile in diameter. +As the sun rose, however, the mist broke away gradually, and then the +watch caught a view of the whale-boat mentioned by Neb. Instead of being +floating about on the ocean, with the remains of its unfortunate crew +lying in its bottom, as I had expected to see it, when I caught the +first glimpse of the unlooked-for object, it was not a mile distant, +pulling briskly for us, and containing not only a full, but a strong and +an animated crew. + +Just at that instant, some one cried out “Sail-ho!” and sure enough, a +ship was seen some four or five miles to leeward, a whaler evidently, +turning to windward, under easy canvass, in order to rejoin her boat, +from which she had lately been separated by the night and the fog. +This, then, was no more than a whaler and her boat; and, on sweeping the +horizon with a glass, Talcott soon discovered, a mile to windward of the +boat, a dead whale, with another boat lying by it, in waiting for the +approach of the ship, which promised to fetch as far to windward, on its +next tack. + +“They desire to speak us, I suppose, Mr. Talcott,” I remarked. “The ship +is probably an American; it is likely the captain is in the boat, and he +wishes to send letters or messages home.” + +A shout came from Talcott, at the next instant--then he cried out-- + +“Three cheers, my lads; I see Captain Marble in that boat, as plainly as +I see the boat itself!” + +The cheers that followed, were a spontaneous burst of joy. They reached +the approaching boat, and gave its inmate an earnest of his reception. +In three more minutes. Marble was on the deck of his old ship. For +myself, I was unable to speak; nor was poor Marble much better off +though more prepared for the interview. + +“I knew you, Miles; I knew you, and the bloody 'Pretty Poll,'” he at +last got out, the tears running down his cheeks like water, “the moment +the fog lifted, and gave me a fair glimpse. They've got her--yes--d----n +her--God bless her, I mean--they've got her, and the bloody Frenchmen +will not go home with _that_ feather in their caps. Well, it couldn't +have happened to a cleverer fellow; and I'm just as happy as if I had +done it myself!” + +There he stood, sound, safe, and sturdy as ever; and the four Sandwich +Islanders were all in the boat, just as well as if they had never +quitted the ship. Every man of the crew had to shake hands with Marble, +congratulations were to be exchanged, and a turbulent quarter of an hour +passed, before it was possible to get a coherent account from the man of +what had befallen him. As soon as practicable, however, he motioned for +silence, and told his own story aloud, for the benefit of all hands. + +“You know how I left you, men,” Marble commenced, swabbing his eyes and +cheeks, and struggling to speak with something like an appearance of +composure, “and the errand on which I went. The last I saw of you was +about half an hour before the gust broke. At that time I was so near the +ship, as to make out she was a whaler; and, nothing doubting of being +in sight of you in the morning, I thought it safer to pull alongside of +_her_, than to try to hunt for the schooner in the dark. I found an old +shipmate in the whaler's captain, who was looking for a boat that had +struck adrift the night before; and both parties were pleased. There was +not much time for compliments, however, as you all know. The ship bore +up to speak you, and then she bore up, again and again, on account of +the squalls. While Mr. Wallingford was probably hugging the wind in +order to find _me_, we were running off to save our spars; and next +morning we could see nothing of you. How else we missed each other, is +more than I can say; for I've no idee you went off and left me out here, +in the middle of the ocean--” + +“We cruised for you, within five miles of the spot, for a whole day!” I +exclaimed, eagerly. + +“No, no--Captain Marble,” the men put in, in a body, “we did all that +men could do, to find you.” + +“I know it! I could swear to it, without a word from one of you. Well, +that's the whole story. We could not find you, and I stuck by the ship +as a matter of course, as there was no choice between that and jumping +overboard; and here has the Lord brought us together again, though we +are every inch of five hundred miles from the place where we parted.” + +I then took Marble below, and related to him all that had occurred since +the separation. He listened with the deepest interest, manifesting +the strongest sympathy in our success. Nothing but expressions of +gratification escaped him, until I remarked, as I concluded my account-- + +“And here is the old ship for you, sir, just as we lost her; and glad am +I to see her once more in so good hands.” + +“Who put that bloody poop on her, you or the Frenchman, Miles?” + +“The Frenchman. Now it is peace, however, it is no great matter; and the +cabin is very convenient for the Major and his daughter.” + +“It's just like 'em! Spoiling the neatest quarter-deck on the ocean, +with a bloody supernumerary cabin!” + +“Well, sir, as you are master now, you can have it all cut away again, +if you think proper.” + +“I! I cut away anything! I take the command of this ship from the man +who has so fairly won it! If I do, may I be d----d!” + +“Captain Marble! You astonish me by this language, sir; but it +is nothing more than a momentary feeling, of which your own good +sense--nay, even your duty to the owners--will cause you to get rid.” + +“You never were more mistaken in your life, Master Miles Wallingford,” + answered Marble, solemnly. “I thought of all this the moment I +recognised the ship, and that was as soon as I saw her; and my mind +was made up from that instant. I cannot be so mean as to come in at the +seventh hour, and profit by your courage and skill. Besides, I have no +legal right to command here. The ship was more than twenty-four hours in +the enemy's hands, and she comes under the usual laws of recapture and +salvage.” + +“But the owners, Captain Marble--remember there is a cargo to be taken +in at Canton, and there are heavy interests at stake.” + +“By George, that would make me so much the more firm. From the first, I +have thought matters would be better in your hands than mine; you have +an education, and that's a wonderful thing, Miles. As to sailing a ship, +or stowing her, or taking care of her in heavy weather, or finding my +way across an ocean, I'll turn my back on no man; but it's a different +thing when it comes to figures and calculations.” + +“You disappoint me greatly in all this, sir; we have gone through so +much together--” + +“We did not go through _the recapture of this vessel_ together, boy.” + +“But it was _your_ thought, and, but for an accident, would have been +your _deed_.” + +“I don't know that; I have reflected coolly in the matter, after I got +over my mortification; and I think we should have been flogged, had +we attacked the French at sea. Your own plan was better, and capitally +carried out. Harkee, Miles, this much will I do, and not a jot more. +You are bound to the island, I take it for granted, to pick up odds and +ends; and then you sail for Canton?” + +“Precisely--I am glad you approve of it, as you must by seeing into it +so readily.” + +“Well, at the island, fill up the schooner with such articles as will be +of no use at Canton. Let her take in the copper, the English goods, and +the like of that; and I will carry her home, while you can pursue the +v'y'ge in the ship, as you alone have a right to do.” + +No arguments of mine could turn Marble from his resolution. I fought +him all day on the subject, and at night he was put in command of the +“Pretty Poll,” with our old second-mate for his first officer. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + “Thou shalt seek the beach of sand, + Where the water bounds the elfin land; + Thou shalt watch the oozy brine + Till the sturgeon leaps in the light moonshine.” + DRAKE. + + +There is but a word to say of the whaler. We spoke her, of course, and +parted, leaving her her boat. She passed half an hour, close to us, and +then went after her whale. When we lost sight of her, she was cutting +in the fish, as coolly as if nothing had happened. As for ourselves, we +made the best of our way for the island. + +Nothing worth relating occurred during the remainder of the passage. +We reached our place of destination ten days after we found Marble; +and carried both the ship and schooner into the lagoon, without any +hesitation or difficulty. Everything was found precisely as we had +left it; two months having passed as quietly as an hour. The tents were +standing, the different objects lay where they had been hastily dropped +at our hurried departure, and everything denoted the unchangeable +character of an unbroken solitude. Time and the seasons could alone have +produced any sensible alteration. Even the wreck had neither shifted her +bed, nor suffered injury. There she lay, seemingly an immovable fixture +on the rocks, and as likely to last, as any other of the durable things +around her. + +It is always a relief to escape from the confinement of a ship, even if +it be only to stroll along the vacant sands of some naked beach. As soon +as the vessels were secured, we poured ashore in a body, and the people +were given a holiday. There was no longer an enemy to apprehend; and +we all enjoyed the liberty of movement, and the freedom from care that +accompanied our peculiar situation. Some prepared lines and commenced +fishing; others hauled the seine; while the less industriously disposed +lounged about, selected the fruit of the cocoa-nut tree, or hunted +for shells, of which there were many, and those extremely beautiful, +scattered along the inner and outer beaches, or lying, visible, just +within the wash of the water. I ordered two or three of the hands to +make a collection for Clawbonny; paying them, as a matter of course, for +their extra services. Their success was great; and I still possess the +fruits of their search, as memorials of my youthful adventures. + +Emily and her maid took possession of their old tents, neither of +which had been disturbed; and I directed that the necessary articles of +furniture should be landed for their use. As we intended to remain eight +or ten days at Marble Land, there was a general disposition to make +ourselves comfortable; and the crew were permitted to bring such things +ashore as they desired, care being had for the necessary duties of the +ships. Since quitting London, we had been prisoners, with the short +interval of our former visit to this place, and it was now deemed wisest +to give the people a little relaxation. To all this, I was advised by +Marble; who, though a severe, and so often seemingly an obdurate man, +was in the main disposed to grant as much indulgence, at suitable +moments, as any officer I ever sailed with. There was an ironical +severity, at times, about the man, which misled superficial observers. +I have heard of a waggish boatswain in the navy, who, when disposed to +menace the crew with some of his official visitations, used to cry out, +“Fellow-citizens, I'm coming among you;” and the anecdote never recurs +to my mind, without bringing Marble back to my recollection. When in +spirits, he had much of this bitter irony in his manner; and his own +early experience had rendered him somewhat insensible to _professional_ +suffering; but, on the whole, I always thought him a humane man. + +We went into the lagoon, before the sun had risen; and before the +breakfast hour of those who lived aft, we had everything landed that +was necessary, and were in possession of our tents. I had ordered Neb to +attend particularly to the wants of the Mertons; and, precisely as the +bell of the ship struck eight, which, at that time of day, meant +eight o'clock, the black came with the major's compliments, inviting +“_Captain_” Wallingford and “_Captain_” Marble to breakfast. + +“So it goes, Miles,” added my companion, after promising to join the +party in a few moments. “This arrangement about the schooner leaves us +both captains, and prevents anything like your downhill work, which is +always unpleasant business. _Captain_ Marble and _Captain_ Wallingford +sound well; and I hope they may long sail in company. But natur' or art +never meant me for a captain.” + +“Well, admitting this, where there are _two_ captains, one must outrank +the other, and the senior commands. You should be called _Commodore_ +Marble.” + +“None of your pleasantry, Miles,” returned Marble, with a severe look +and a shake of the head; “it is by your favour, and I hope by your +good opinion, that I am master of even that little, half-blooded, part +French, part Yankee, schooner. It is my second, and I think it will be +my last command. I have generalized over my life, upon a large scale, +within the last ten days, and have come to the conclusion that the Lord +created me to be your mate, and not you to be mine. When natur' means +a man for anything partic'lar, she doesn't set him adrift among human +beings, as I was set adrift.” + +“I do not understand you, sir--perhaps you will give me an outline of +your history; and then all will be plain.” + +“Miles, oblige me in one particular--it will cost you no great struggle, +and will considerably relieve my mind.” + +“You have only to name it, sir, to be certain it will be done.” + +“Drop that bloody _sir_, then; it's unbecoming now, as between you and +me. Call me Marble, or Moses; as I call you, Miles.” + +“Well, be it so. Now for this history of yours, which you have promised +to give me, by the way, any time these two years.” + +“It can be told in a few words; and I hope it may be of service. A human +life, properly generalized on, is at any time as good as most sermons. +It is full of what I call the morality of idees. I suppose you know to +what I owe my names?” + +“Not I--to your sponsors in baptism, like all the rest of us, I +suppose.” + +“You're nearer the truth than you may imagine, this time, boy. I was +found, a child of a week old, they tell me, lying in a basket, one +pleasant morning, in a stone-cutter's yard, on the North River side of +the town, placed upon a bit of stone that was hewing out for the head of +a grave, in order, as I suppose, that the workmen would be sure to +find me, when they mustered at their work. Although I have passed for a +down-easter, having sailed in their craft in the early part of my life, +I'm in truth York born.” + +“And is this all you know of your origin, my dear Marble?” + +“All I _want_ to know, after such a hint. A man is never anxious to make +the acquaintance of parents who are afraid to own him. I dare say, now, +Miles, that _you_ knew, and loved, and respected _your_ mother?” + +“Love, and respect her! I worshipped her, Marble; and she deserved it +all, if ever human being did!” + +“Yes, yes; I can understand _that_,” returned Marble, making a hole in +the sand with his heel, and looking both thoughtful and melancholy. “It +must be a great comfort to love and respect a mother! I've seen them, +particularly young women, that I thought set quite as much store by +their mothers, as they did by themselves. Well, no matter; I got into +one of poor Captain Robbins's bloody currents at the first start, and +have been drifting about ever since, just like the whale-boat with which +we fell in, pretty much as the wind blew. They hadn't the decency to pin +even a name--they might have got one out of a novel or a story-book, you +know, to start a poor fellow in life with--to my shirt; no--they just +set me afloat on that bit of a tombstone, and cast off the standing part +of what fastened me to anything human. There they left me, to generalize +on the 'arth and its ways, to my heart's content.” + +“And you were found next morning, by the stone-cutter, when he came, +again, to use his chisel.” + +“Prophecy couldn't have better foretold what happened. There I was +found, sure enough; and there I made my first escape from destruction. +Seeing the basket, which it seems was one in which he had brought his +own dinner, the day before, and forgotten to carry away with him, he +gave it a jerk to cast away the leavings, before he handed it to the +child who had come to take it home, in order that it might be filled +again, when out I rolled on the cold stone. There I lay, as near the +grave as a tomb-stone, when I was just a week old.” + +“Poor fellow--you could only know this by report, however. And what was +done with you?” + +“I suppose, if the truth were known, my father was somewhere about +that yard; and little do I envy the old gentleman his feelings, if he +reflected much, over matters and things. I was sent to the Alms-House, +however; stone-cutters being nat'rally hard-hearted, I suppose. The fact +that I was left among such people, makes me think so much the more, +that my own father must have been one of them, or it never could have +happened. At all events, I was soon rated on the Alms-House books; and +the first thing they did was to give me some name. I was No. 19, for +about a week; at the age of fourteen days, I became Moses Marble.” + +“It was an odd selection, that your 'sponsors in baptism' made!” + +“Somewhat--Moses came from the scriptur's, they tell me; there being a +person of that name, as I understand, who was turned adrift pretty much +as I was, myself.” + +“Why, yes--so far as the basket and the abandonment were concerned; +but he was put afloat fairly, and not clapped on a tomb-stone, as if to +threaten him with the grave at the very outset.” + +“Well, Tombstone came very near being my name. At first, they thought of +giving me the name of the man for whom the stone was intended; but, that +being Zollickoffer, they thought I never should be able to spell it. +Then came Tombstone, which they thought melancholy, and so they called +me Marble; consaiting, I suppose, it would make me _tough._” + +“How long did you remain in the Alms-House, and at what age did you +first go to sea?” + +“I staid among them the public feeds, until I was eight years old, and +then I took a hazy day to cut adrift from charity. At that time, Miles, +our country belonged to the British--or they treated it as if it did, +though I've heard wiser men than myself say, it was always our own, the +king of England only happening to be our king--but I was born a British +subject, and being now just forty, you can understand I went to sea +several years before the revolution.” + +“True--you must have seen service in that war, on one side, or the +other?” + +“If you say _both_ sides, you'll not be out of the way. In 1775, I was +a foretop-man in the Romeny 50, where I remained until I was transferred +to the Connecticut 74--” + +“The what?” said I, in surprise. “Had the English a line-of-battle ship +called the Connecticut?” + +“As near as I could make it out: I always thought it a big compliment +for John Bull to pay the Yankees.” + +“Perhaps the name of your ship was the Carnatic? The sounds are not +unlike.” + +“Blast me, if I don't think you've hit it, Miles. Well, I'm glad of +it, for I run from the ship, and I shouldn't half like the thought of +serving a countryman such a trick. Yes, I then got on board of one +of our sloops, and tried my hand at settling the account with my old +masters. I was taken prisoner for my pains, but worried through the war +without getting my neck stretched. They wanted to make it out, on board +the old Jarsey, that I was an Englishman, but I told 'em just to prove +it. Let 'em only prove where I was born, I said, and I would give it +up. I was ready to be hanged, if they could only prove where I was born. +D----, but I sometimes thought I never _was_ born, at all.” + +“You are surely an American, Marble? A Manhattanese, born and educated?” + +“Why, as it is not likely any person would import a child a week old, to +plant it on a tombstone, I conclude I am. Yes, I must be _that_; and +I have sometimes thought of laying claim to the property of Trinity +Church, on the strength of my birth-right. Well, as soon as the war was +over, and I got out of prison, and that was shortly after you were born, +Captain Wallingford, I went to work regularly, and have been ever since +sarving as dickey, or chief-mate, on board of some craft or other. If +I had no family bosom to go into, as a resting-place, I had my bosom to +fill with solid beef and pork, and that is not to be done by idleness.” + +“And, all this time, my good friend, you have been living, as it might +be, alone in the world, without a relative of any sort?” + +“As sure as you are there. Often and often, have I walked through the +streets of New York, and said to myself, Among all these people, there +is not one that I can call a relation. My blood is in no man's veins, +but my own.” + +This was said with a bitter sadness, that surprised me. Obdurate, and +insensible to suffering as Marble had ever appeared to me, I was not +prepared to find him giving such evidence of feeling. I was then young, +but now am old; and one of the lessons learned in the years that have +intervened, is not to judge of men by appearances. So much sensibility +is hidden beneath assumed indifference, so much suffering really exists +behind smiling countenances, and so little does the exterior tell the +true story of all that is to be found within, that I am now slow to +yield credence to the lying surfaces of things. Most of all had I +learned to condemn that heartless injustice of the world, that renders +it so prompt to decide, on rumour and conjectures, constituting itself a +judge from which there shall be no appeal, in cases in which it has not +taken the trouble to examine, and which it had not even the power to +examine evidence. + +“We are all of the same family, my friend,” I answered, with a good +design at least, “though a little separated by time and accidents.” + +“Family!--Yes, I belong to my own family. I'm a more important man in +my family, than Bonaparte is in his; for I am all in all; ancestors, +present time and posterity!” + +“It is, at least, your own fault you are the last; why not marry and +have children?” + +“Because my parents did not set me the example,” answered Marble, almost +fiercely. Then clapping his hand on my shoulder, in a friendly way, +as if to soothe me after so sharp a rejoinder, he added in a gentler +tone--“Come, Miles, the Major and his daughter will want their +breakfasts, and we had better join them. Talking of matrimony, there's +the girl for you, my boy, thrown into your arms almost nat'rally, as one +might say.” + +“I am far from being so sure of that. Marble.” I answered, as both began +to walk slowly towards the tent “Major Merton might hot think it an +honour, in the first place, to let his daughter marry a Yankee sailor.” + +“Not such a one as myself, perhaps; but why not one like you? How +many generations have there been of you, now, at the place you call +Clawbonny?” + +“Four, from father to son, and all of us Miles Wallingfords.” + +“Well, the old Spanish proverb says 'it takes three generations to make +a gentleman;' and here you have four to start upon. In _my_ family, all +the generations have been on the same level, and I count myself old in +my sphere.” + +“It is odd that a man like you should know anything of old Spanish +proverbs!” + +“What? Of _such_ a proverb, think you, Miles? A man without even a +father or mother--who never had either, as one may say--and he not +remember such a proverb! Boy, boy, I never forget anything that so +plainly recalls the tomb-stone, and the basket, and the Alms-House, and +Moses, and the names!” + +“But Miss Merton might object to the present generation,” I resumed, +willing to draw my companion from his bitter thoughts, “however +favourably disposed her father might prove to the last.” + +“That will be your own fault, then. Here you have her, but on the +Pacific Ocean, all to yourself; and if you cannot tell your own story, +and that in a way to make her believe it, you are not the lad I take you +for.” + +I made an evasive and laughing answer; but, being quite near the tent +by this time, it was necessary to change the discourse. The reader may +think it odd, but that was the very first time the possibility of my +marrying Emily Merton ever crossed my mind. In London, I had regarded +her as an agreeable acquaintance, with just as much of the colouring of +romance and of the sentimental about our intercourse, as is common with +youths of nineteen and girls a little younger; but as nothing more. When +we met on the island, Emily appeared to me like a friend--a _female_ +friend--and, of course, one to be viewed with peculiarly softened +feelings; still, as only a friend. During the month we had just passed +in the same ship, this tie had gradually strengthened; and I confess +to a perfect consciousness of there being on board a pretty girl in +her nineteenth year, of agreeable manners, delicate sentiments, and +one whose presence gave the Crisis a charm she certainly never enjoyed +during poor Captain Williams's time. Notwithstanding all this, there +was something--though what that something was, I did not then know +myself--which prevented me from absolutely falling in love with my fair +guest. Nevertheless, Marble's suggestion was not unpleasant to me; but, +on the other hand, it rather conduced to the satisfaction of my present +visit. + +We were kindly received by our hosts, who always seemed to remember the +commencement of our acquaintance, when Marble and myself visited them +together. The breakfast had a little of the land about it; for Mons. +Le Compte's garden still produced a few vegetables, such as lettuce, +pepper-grass, radishes, &c.; most of which, however, had sown +themselves. Three or four fowls, too, that he had left on the island +in the hurry of his departure, had begun to lay; and Neb having found a +nest, we had the very unusual treat of fresh eggs. I presume no one will +deny that they were sufficiently “country-laid.” + +“Emily and myself consider ourselves as old residents here,” the Major +observed, as he gazed around him, the table being set in the open air, +under some trees; “and I could almost find it in my heart to remain on +this beautiful island for the remainder of my days--quite, I think, were +it not for my poor girl, who might find the society of her old father +rather dull work, at her time of life.” + +“Well, Major,” said Marble, “you have only to let your taste be known, +to have the ch'ice among all our youngsters to be her companion. There +is Mr. Talcott, a well-edicated and mannerly lad enough, and of good +connexions, they tell me; and as for Captain Wallingford here, I will +answer for _him_. My life on it, he would give up Clawbonny, and the +property on which he is the fourth of his name, to be king, or Prince of +Wales of this island, with such company!” + +Now, it was Marble, and not I, who made this speech; and yet I heartily +wished it unsaid. It made me feel foolish and I dare say it made me +look foolish; and I know it caused Emily to blush. Poor girl! she, who +blushed so easily, and was so sensitive, and so delicately situated--she +was entitled to have more respect paid to her feelings. The Major and +Marble, however, took it all very coolly, continuing the discourse as if +nothing out of the way had been said. + +“No doubt--no doubt,” answered the first; “romance always finds votaries +among young people, and this place may well excite romantic feelings in +those who are older than these young men. Do you know, gentlemen, that +ever since I have known this island, I have had a strong desire to pass +the remainder of my days on it? The idea I have just mentioned to you, +therefore, is by no means one of a moment's existence.” + +“I am glad, at least, dear sir,” observed Emily, laughing, “that the +desire has not been so strong as to induce you to make formal proposals +on the subject.” + +“You, indeed, are the great obstacle; for what could I do with a +discontented girl, whose mind would be running on balls, theatres, and +other amusements? We should not have even a church.” + +“And, Major Merton,” I put in, “what could you, or any other man, do +with _himself_, in a place like this, without companions, books, or +occupation ?” + +“If a conscientious man, Miles, he might think over the past; if a wise +one, he would certainly reflect on the future. I should have books, +since Emily and I could muster several hundred volumes between us; and, +_with_ books, I should have companions. What could I do? I should +have everything to create, as it might be, and the pleasure of seeing +everything rising up under my own hand. There would be a house to +construct--the materials of that wreck to collect--ropes, canvass, +timber, tar, sugar, and divers other valuables that are still out on the +reef, or which lie scattered about on the beach, to gather together, and +save against a rainy day. Then I would have a thought for my poultry; +and possibly you might be persuaded to leave me one or two of these +pigs, of which I see the French forgot half a dozen, in their haste to +cheat the Spaniards. Oh! I should live like a prince and be a prince +_regnant_ in the bargain.” + +“Yes, sir, you would be captain and all hands, if that would be any +gratification; but I think you would soon weary of your government, and +be ready to abdicate.” + +“Perhaps so, Miles; yet the thought is pleasant to me: but for this +dear girl, it would be particularly so. I have very few relatives; the +nearest I have being, oddly enough, your own country-people, gentlemen. +My mother was a native of Boston, where my father, a merchant, married +her; and I came very near being a Yankee myself, having been born but a +week after my parents landed in England. On my father's side, I have not +five recognised relatives, and they are rather distant; while those on +my mother's are virtually all strangers. Then I never owned a foot of +this earth on which we live, in my life--” + +“Nor I,” interrupted Marble, with emphasis. + +“My father was a younger son; and younger sons in England are generally +lack-lands. My life has been such, and, I may add, my means such, that +I have never been in the way of purchasing even enough earth to bury me +in; and here, you see, is an estate that can be had for asking. How much +land do you fancy there is in this island, gentlemen? I mean, apart +from the beach, the sands and rocks; but such as has grass, and bears +trees--ground that might be tilled, and rendered productive, without +much labour?” + +“A hundred thousand acres,” exclaimed Marble, whose calculation was +received with a general laugh. + +“It seems rather larger to me, sir,” I answered, “than the farm at +Clawbonny. Perhaps there may be six or eight hundred acres of the +sort of land you mention; though the whole island must contain several +thousands--possibly four, or five.” + +“Well, four or five thousand acres of land make a good estate--but, as +I see Emily is getting frightened, and is nervous under the apprehension +of falling heir to such extensive possessions, I will say no more about +them.” + +No more _was_ said, and we finished our breakfasts, conversing of the +past, rather than of the future. The Major and Marble went to stroll +along the groves, in the direction of the wreck; while I persuaded Emily +to put on her hat and stroll--the other way. + +“This is a singular notion of my father's,” my fair companion remarked, +after a moment of musing; “nor is it the first time, I do assure you, +on which he has mentioned it. While we were here before, he spoke of it +daily.” + +“The scheme might do well enough for two ardent lovers,” said I, +laughing; “but would scarcely be Wise for an elderly gentleman and his +daughter. I can imagine that two young people, warmly attached to +each other, might get along in such a place for a year or two, without +hanging themselves; but I fancy even love would tire out, after a while, +and they would set about building a boat, in which to be off.” + +“You are not very romantic, I perceive, Mr. Wallingford,” Emily +answered, and I thought a little reproachfully. “Now, I own that to my +taste, I could be happy anywhere--here, as well as in London, surrounded +by my nearest and dearest friends.” + +“Surrounded! Ay, that would be a very different matter. Let me have your +father, yourself, honest Marble, good Mr. Hardinge, Rupert, dear, dear +Grace, and Lucy, with Neb and some others of my own blacks, and I should +ask no better home. The island is only in twenty, has plenty of shade +some delicious fruits, and Would be easily tilled--one might do here, I +acknowledge, and it would be pleasant to found a colony.” + +“And who are all these people you love so well, Mr. Wallingford, that +their presence would make a desert island pleasant?” + +“In the first place, Major Merton is a half-pay officer in the British +service, who has been appointed to some civil station in India”--I +answered, gallantly. “He is a respectable, agreeable, well-informed +gentleman, a little turned of fifty, who might act as Judge and +Chancellor. Then he has a daughter--” + +“I know more of her and her bad qualities than you do yourself, +_Sire_--but who are Rupert, and Grace, and Lucy--_dear, dear_ Grace, +especially?” + +“Dear, _dearest_ Grace, Madam, is my sister--my _only_ sister--all the +sister I ever can have, either by marriage, or any other means, and +sisters are usually _dear_ to young men, I believe.” + +“Well--I knew you had a sister, and a _dear_ sister, but I also knew you +had but one. Now as to Rupert--” + +“He is not another sister, you may be well assured. I have mentioned +to you a friend from childhood, who went to sea with me, at first, but, +disliking the business, has since commenced the study of the law.” + +“That, then, is Rupert. I remember some such touches of his character, +but did not know the name. Now, proceed on to the next--” + +“What, Neb!--You know _him_ almost as well as I do myself. He is yonder +feeding the chickens, and will save his passage money.” + +“But you spoke of another--that is--was there not a Mr.--, Hardinge was +the name, I think?” + +“Oh! true--I forgot Mr. Hardinge and Lucy, though they would be two of +the most important of the colonists. Mr. Hardinge is my guardian, +and will continue to be so a few months longer, and Lucy is his +daughter--Rupert's sister--the old gentleman is a clergyman, and would +help us to keep Sundays as one should, and might perform the marriage +ceremony, should it ever be required.” + +“Not much danger of that, I fancy, on your _desert_ island--your +Barrataria”--observed Miss Merton, quickly. + +I cannot explain the sensitiveness of certain young ladies on such +points, unless it be through their consciousness. Now, had I been +holding this idle talk with Lucy, the dear, honest creature would have +laughed, blushed ever so little, possibly, and nodded her head in frank +assent; or, perhaps, she would have said “oh! certainly,” in a way to +show that she had no desire to affect so silly a thing as to wish one to +suppose she thought young people would not get married at Marble Land, +as well as Clawbonny, or New York. Miss Merton, however, saw fit to +change the discourse, which soon turned on her father's health. On this +subject she was natural and full of strong affection. She was anxious to +get the Major out of the warm latitudes. His liver had been touched in +the West Indies, but he had hoped that he was cured, or he never would +have accepted the Bombay appointment. Experience, however, was giving +reason to suspect the contrary, and Emily wished him in a cold climate +as soon as possible, and that with an earnestness that showed she +regarded all that had been said about the island as sheer pleasantry. +We continued the conversation for an hour when, returning to the tent, +I left my fair companion with a promise to be as active as possible, in +order to carry the ship into a higher latitude. Still I did not deem the +island a particularly dangerous place, notwithstanding its position; the +trades and sea breezes, with its ample shades, rendering the spot one of +the most delightful tropical abodes I had ever been in. + +After quitting Emily, I went to join Marble, who was alone, pacing a +spot beneath the trees, that poor Le Compte had worn into a path, and +which he had himself called his “quarter-deck.” + + +“This Major Merton is a sensible man, Miles,” the ex-mate began, as +soon as I dropped in alongside of him, and joined in his semi-trot; +“a downright, sensible sort of a philosopher-like man, accordin' to my +notion.” + +“What has he been telling you, now, that has seized your fancy so much +stronger than common?” + +“Why, I was thinking of this idee of his, to remain on the island, and +pass the remainder of the v'y'ge here, without slaving day and night to +get up two or three rounds of the ladder of promotion, only to fall down +again.” + +“And did the Major speak of such things? I know of no disappointments of +his, to sour him with the world.” + +“I was not speaking for Major Merton, but for myself, Miles. To tell +you the truth, boy, this idee seems just suited to me, and I have almost +made up my mind to remain behind, here, when you sail.” + +I looked at Marble with astonishment; the subject on which the Major had +spoken in pleasantry, rather than with any real design of carrying his +project into execution, was one that my old messmate regarded seriously! +I had noted the attention with which he listened to our discourse, +during breakfast, and the strong feeling with which he spoke at the +time, but had no notion of the cause of either. I knew the man too well, +not to understand, at once, that he was in sober earnest, and had too +much experience of his nature, not to foresee the greatest difficulty +in turning him from his purpose. I understood the true motive to be +professional mortification at all that occurred since he had succeeded +Captain Williams in command; for Marble was much too honest and too +manly, to think for a moment of concealing his own misfortunes behind +the mantle offered by my success. + +“You have not thought of this matter sufficiently, my friend,” I +answered, evasively, knowing the folly of attempting to laugh the +matter off--“when you have slept on it a night, you will see things +differently.” + +“I fancy not, Miles. Here is all I want, and just what I want. After +you have taken away everything that can be required for the vessels, or +desirable to the owners, there will be enough left to keep me a dozen +lives.” + +“It is not on account of food, that I speak--the island alone in its +fruits, fish and birds, to say nothing as to the seeds, and fowls, and +pigs, we could leave you, would be sufficient to keep fifty men; +but, think of the solitude, the living without object, the chances of +sickness--the horrible death that would follow to one unable to rise and +assist himself, and all the other miseries of being alone. Depend on +it, man was not created to live alone. Society is indispensable to him, +and--” + +“I have thought of it all, and find it entirely to my taste. I tell you, +Miles, I should be exactly in my sphere, in this island, and that as a +hermit. I do not say I should not like _some_ company, if it could +be yourself, or Talcott, or the Major, or even Neb; but no company is +better than bad; and as for asking, or _allowing_ any one to stay with +me, it is out of the question. I did, at first, think of keeping the +Sandwich Islanders; but it would be bad faith, and they would not be +likely to remain quiet, after the ship had sailed. No, I will remain +alone. You will probably report the island when you get home, and that +will induce some vessel, which may be passing near, to look for me, so I +shall hear of you all, every four or five years.” + +“Gracious heaven! Marble, you cannot be serious in so mad a design?” + +“Just look at my situation, Miles, and decide for yourself. I am without +a friend on earth--I mean nat'ral friend--I know what sort of friend you +are, and parting with you will be the toughest of all--but I have not a +relation on the wide earth--no property, no home no one to wish to see +me return, not even a cellar to lay my head in. To me all places are +alike, with the exception of this, which, having discovered, I look upon +as my own.” + +“You have a _country_, Marble; and that is the next thing to family and +home--overshadows all.” + +“Ay, and I'll have a country here. This will be America, having been +discovered by Americans, and in their possession. You will leave me the +buntin', and I'll show the stars and stripes of a 4th of July, just as +you will show 'em, in some other part of the world. I was born Yankee, +at least, and I'll die Yankee, I've sailed under that flag, boy, ever +since the year '77, and will not sail under another you may depend on +it.” + +“I never could justify myself to the laws for leaving a man behind me in +such a place.” + +“Then I'll run, and that will make all right. But, you know well enough, +boy, that leaving a captain is one thing, and leaving a man another.” + +“And what shall I tell all your acquaintances, those who have sailed +with you so often and so long, has become of their old ship-mate?” + +“Tell 'em that the man who was once _found_, is now _lost_,” answered +Marble, bitterly. “But I am not such a fool as to think myself of +so much importance as you seem to imagine. The only persons who will +consider the transaction of any interest will be the newspaper gentry, +and they will receive it only as _news_, and thank you about half as +much as they would for a murder, or a robbery, or the poisoning of a +mother and six little children.” + +“I think, after all, you would scarcely find the means of supporting +yourself,” I added, looking round in affected doubt; for I felt, at each +instant, how likely my companion was to adhere to his notion, and this +from knowing him so well. “I doubt if the cocoa is healthy, all the year +round, and there must be seasons when the trees do not bear.” + +“Have no fear of that sort. I have my own fowling-piece, and you will +leave me a musket, or two, with some ammunition. Transient vessels, +now the island is known, will keep up the supply. There are two hens +setting, at this moment, and a third has actually hatched. Then one of +the men tells me there is a litter of pigs, near the mouth of the bay. +As for the hogs and the poultry, the shell-fish and berries will keep +them; but there are fifteen hogsheads of sugar on the beach, besides +thirty or forty more in the wreck, and all above water. There are casks +of beans and peas, the sea-stores of the French, besides lots of other +things. I can plant, and fish, and shoot, and make a fence from the +ropes of the wreck, and have a large garden, and all that a man can +want. Our own poultry, you know, has long been out; but there is still a +bushel of Indian-corn left, that was intended for their feed. One quart +of that, will make me a rich man, in such a climate as this, and with +soil like that on the flat between the two groves. I own a chest of +tools, and am, ship-fashion, both a tolerable carpenter and blacksmith; +and I do not see that I shall want for anything. You _must_ leave half +the things that are scattered about, and so far from being a man to +be pitied, I shall be a man to be envied. Thousands of wretches in the +greatest thoroughfares of London, would gladly exchange their crowded +streets and poverty, for my solitude and abundance.” + +I began to think Marble was not in a state of mind to reason with, and +changed the subject. The day passed in recreation, as had been intended; +and next morning we set about filling up the schooner. We struck in all +the copper, all the English goods, and such portions of the Frenchman's +cargo as would be most valuable in America. Marble, however, had +announced to others his determination to remain behind, to abandon the +seas, and to turn hermit. As his first step, he gave up the command of +the Pretty Poll, and I was obliged to restore her, again, to our old +third-mate, who was every way competent to take care of her. At the end +of the week, the schooner was ready, and despairing of getting Marble +off in _her_, I ordered her to sail for home, viâ Cape Horn; giving +especial instructions not to attempt Magellan. I wrote to the owners, +furnishing an outline of all that had occurred, and of my future plans, +simply remarking that Mr. Marble had declined acting out of motives of +delicacy, since the re-capture of the ship; and that, in future, their +interests must remain in my care. With these despatches the schooner +sailed. Marble and I watched her until her sails became a white speck on +the ocean, after which she suddenly disappeared. + +As for the ship, she was all ready; and my only concern now was +in relation to Marble. I tried the influence of Major Merton; but, +unfortunately, that gentleman had already said too much in favour of our +friend's scheme, in ignorance of its effect, to gain much credit when +he turned round, and espoused the other side. The arguments of Emily +failed, also. In fact, it was not reason, but feeling that governed +Marble; and, in a bitter hour, he had determined to pass the remainder +of his days where he was. Finding all persuasion useless, and the +season approaching when the winds rendered it necessary to sail, I was +compelled to yield, or resort to force. The last I was reluctant to +think of; nor was I certain the men would have obeyed me had I ordered +them to use it. Marble had been their commander so long, that he might, +at any moment, have re-assumed the charge of the ship; and it was not +probable his orders would have been braved under any circumstances that +did not involve illegality, or guilt. After a consultation with the +Major, I found it necessary to yield to this whim, though I did so with +greater reluctance than I ever experienced on any other occasion. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + “Pass on relentless world! I grieve + No more for all that thou hast riven! + Pass on, in God's name--only leave + The things thou never yet hast given.--” + LUNT. + + +After every means had been uselessly exhausted to persuade Marble from +his design, it only remained to do all we could to make him comfortable +and secure. Of enemies, there was no danger, and care was not necessary +for defence. We got together, however, some of the timber, planks and +other materials, that were remaining at the shipyard, and built him a +cabin, that offered much better shelter against the tropical storms that +sometimes prevailed, than any tent could yield. We made this cabin +as wide as a plank is long, or twelve feet, and some five or six feet +longer. It was well sided and tightly roofed, having three windows and a +door. The lights of the wreck supplied the first, and her cabin-door the +last. We had hinges, and everything that was necessary to keep things in +their place. There was no chimney required, fire being unnecessary for +warmth in that climate; but the French had brought their camboose +from the wreck, and this we placed under a proper covering at a short +distance from the hut, the strength of one man being insufficient to +move it. We also enclosed, by means of ropes, and posts made of the ribs +of the wreck, a plot of ground of two acres in extent, where the land +was the richest and unshaded, so as to prevent the pigs from injuring +the vegetables; and, poor Marble knowing little of gardening, I had a +melancholy pleasure in seeing the whole piece dug, or rather hoed up, +and sown and planted myself, before we sailed. We put in corn, potatoes, +peas, beans, lettuce, radishes, and several other things, of which +we found the seeds in the French garden. We took pains, moreover, to +transport from the wreck, many articles that it was thought might prove +of use, though they were too heavy for Marble to handle. As there +were near forty of us, all busy in this way for three or four days, we +effected a great deal, and may be said to have got the island in order. +I felt the same interest in the duty, that I should in bestowing a child +for life. + +Marble, himself, was not much among us all this time. He rather +complained that I should leave him nothing to do, though I could see +he was touched by the interest we manifested in his welfare. The French +launch had been used as the means of conveyance between the wreck +and the beach, and we found it where it had been left by its original +owners, anchored to-leeward of the island, and abreast of the ship. It +was the last thing I meddled with and it was my care to put it in such a +state that, at need, it might be navigated across that tranquil sea, to +some other island, should Marble feel a desire to abandon his solitude. +The disposition I made of the boat was as follows:-- + +The launch was large and coppered, and it carried two lug-sails. I had +both masts stepped, with the yards, sails, sheets, &c. prepared, and put +in their places; a stout rope was next carried round the entire boat, +outside, and a few inches below the gunwale, where it was securely +nailed. From this rope, led a number of lanyards, with eyes turned into +their ends. Through these eyes I rove a sort of ridge-rope, leading it +also through the eyes of several stancheons that were firmly stepped on +the thwarts. The effect, when the ridge-rope was set up, was to give +the boat the protection of this waist-cloth, which inclined inboard, +however, sufficiently to leave an open passage between the two sides, of +only about half the beam of the boat. To the ridge-rope and lanyards, +I had tarpaulins firmly attached, tacking their lower edges strongly to +the outer sides of the boat. By this arrangement, when all was in its +place, and properly secured, a sea might break, or a wave slap against +the boat, without her taking in much water. It doubled her security in +this particular, more than answering the purposes of a half-deck and +wash-board. It is true, a very heavy wave might carry all away; but very +heavy waves would probably fill the boat, under any circumstances. Such +a craft could only find safety in her buoyancy; and we made her as safe +as an undecked vessel very well could be. + +Marble watched me while I was superintending these changes in the +boat, with a good deal of interest; and one evening--I had announced an +intention to sail next morning, the Major and Emily having actually gone +on board--that evening, he got my arm, and led me away from the spot, +like a man who has urgent business. I could see that he was much +affected, and had strong hopes he intended to announce a change of +purpose. His hand actually trembled, the whole time it grasped my arm. + +“God bless you! Miles--God bless you, dear boy!” he said, speaking with +difficulty, as soon as we were out of earshot from the others. “If any +being could make me pine for the world, it would be such a friend as +you. I could live on without father or mother, brother or sister, ship +or confidence of my owners, good name even, were I sure of meeting such +a lad as yourself in only every thousandth man I fell in with. But, +young as you are, you know how it is with mankind; and no more need +be said about it. All I ask now is, that you will knock off with this +'making him comfortable,' as you call it, or you'll leave me nothing +to do for myself. I can fit out that boat as well as e'er a man in the +Crisis, I'd have you to know.” + +“I am well aware of that, my friend; but I am not so certain that you +_would._ In that boat, I am in hopes you will follow us out to sea, and +come on board again, and take your old place as master.” + +Marble shook his head, and I believe he saw by my manner that I had +no serious expectations of the sort I named. We walked some distance +farther, in silence, before he again spoke. Then he said suddenly, and +in a way to show how much his mind was troubled-- + +“Miles, my dear fellow, you must let me hear from you!” + +“Hear from me! By what means, pray? You cannot expect the +Postmaster-General will make a mail-route between New York and this +island?” + +“Poh! I'm getting old, and losing my memory. I was generalizing on +friendship, and the like of that, and the idee ran away with me. I know, +of course, when you are out of sight, that I shall be cut off from the +rest of the world--probably shall never see a human face again. But what +of that? My time cannot be long now, and I shall have the fish, fowls +and pigs to talk to. To tell you the truth, Miles. Miss Merton gave me +her own Bible yesterday, and, at my request, she pointed out that part +which gives the account about Moses in the bulrushes, and I've just been +looking it over: it is easy enough, now, to understand why I was called +Moses.” + +“But Moses did not think it necessary to go and live in a desert, or on +an uninhabited island, merely because he was found in those bulrushes.” + +_“That_ Moses had no occasion to be ashamed of his parents. It was +fear, not shame, that sent him adrift. Nor did Moses ever let a set of +lubberly Frenchmen seize a fine, stout ship, like the Crisis, with a +good, able-bodied crew of forty men on board her.” + +“Come, Marble, you have too much sense to talk in this manner. It is, +fortunately, not too late to change your mind; and I will let it be +understood that you did so at my persuasion.” + +This was the commencement of a final effort on my part to induce my +friend to abandon his mad project. We conversed quite an hour, until +I had exhausted my breath, as well as my arguments, indeed; and all +without the least success. I pointed out to him the miserable plight he +must be in, in the event of illness; but it was an argument that had +no effect on a man who had never had even a headach in his life. As for +society, he cared not a straw for it when ashore, he often boasted; +and he could not yet appreciate the effects of total solitude. Once or +twice, remarks escaped him as if he thought it possible I might one +day return; but they were ventured in pleasantry, rather than with any +appearance of seriousness. I could see that the self-devoted hermit had +his misgivings, but I could obtain no verbal concession from him to that +effect. He was reminded that the ship must positively sail next day, +since it would not do to trifle with the interests of the owners any +longer. + +“I know it, Miles,” Marble answered, “and no more need be said on the +subject. Your people are through with their work, and here comes Neb to +report the boat ready to go off. I shall try my hand ashore to-night, +alone; in the morning, I suppose you would like to take an old shipmate +by the hand for the last time, and you will nat'rally look for me at the +water-side. Good-night! Before we part, however, I may as well thank you +for the supply of clothes I see you have put in my hut. It was scarcely +wanted, as I have enough needles and thread to supply a slop-shop; and +the old duck left by the French will keep me in jackets and trowsers for +the remainder of my days. Good-night, my dear boy! God bless you--God +bless you!” + +It was nearly dark, but I could see that Marble's eyes looked moist, and +feel that his hand again trembled. I left him, not without the hope +that the solitude of this night, the first in which he had been left by +himself, would have the effect to lessen his desire to be a hermit. +When I turned in, it was understood that all hands were to be called at +daylight, and the ship unmoored. + +Talcott came to call me, at the indicated moment. I had made him +chief-mate, and taken one of the Philadelphians for second officer; a +young man who had every requisite for the station, and one more than +was necessary, or a love of liquor. But, drunkards do tolerably well +on board a ship in which reasonable discipline is maintained. For that +matter, Neptune ought to be a profound moralist, as youths are very +generally sent to sea to cure most of the ethical flings. Talcott was +directed to unmoor, and heave short. As for myself, I got into a boat +and pulled ashore, with an intention of making a last and strong appeal +to Marble. + +No one was visible on the island when we reached it. The pigs and fowls +were already in motion, however, and were gathering near the door of the +hut, where Marble was accustomed to feed them about that hour; the fowls +on _sugar_, principally. I proceeded to the door, opened it, entered the +place, and found it empty! Its late inmate was then up, and abroad. He +had probably passed a sleepless night, and sought relief in the fresh +air of the morning. I looked for him in the adjacent grove, on the outer +beach, and in most of his usual haunts. He was nowhere visible. A little +vexed at having so long a walk before me, at a moment when we were so +much pressed for time, I was about to follow the grove to a distant part +of the island, to a spot that I knew Marble frequented a good deal, when +moody; but my steps were arrested by an accidental glance at the lagoon. +I missed the Frenchman's launch, or the boat I had: myself caused to be +rigged with so much care, the previous day, for the intended hermit's +especial advantage. This was a large boat; one that had been constructed +to weigh a heavy anchor; and I had left her, moored between a grapnel +and the shore, so securely, as to forbid the idea she could have been +moved, in so quiet a time, without the aid of hands. Rushing to the +water, I got into my own boat, and pulled directly on board. + +On reaching the ship, a muster of all hands was ordered. The result +proved that everybody was present, and at duty. It followed that Marble, +alone, had carried the boat out of the lagoon. The men who had had the +anchor-watches during the past night, were questioned on the subject; +but no one had seen or heard anything of a movement in the launch. Mr. +Talcott was told to continue his duty, while I went aloft myself, to +look at the offing. I was soon in the main-top-mast cross-trees, where +a view was commanded of the whole island, a few covers excepted, of all +the water within the reef, and of a wide range without. Nowhere was the +boat or Marble to be seen. It was barely possible that he had concealed +himself behind the wreck, though I did not see how even this could be +done, unless he had taken the precaution to strike the launch's masts. + +By this time, our last anchor was aweigh, and the ship was clear of +the bottom. The top-sails had been hoisted before I went aloft, and +everything was now ready for filling away. Too anxious to go on deck, +under such circumstances, and a lofty position being the best for +ascertaining the presence of rocks, I determined to remain where I was, +and conn the ship through the passes, in my own person. An order was +accordingly given to set the jib, and to swing the head-yards, and get +the spanker on the ship. In a minute, the Crisis was again in motion, +moving steadily towards the inlet. As the lagoon was not entirely free +from danger, coral rocks rising in places quite near the surface of the +water, I was obliged to be attentive to the pilot's duty, until we +got into the outer bay, when this particular danger in a great measure +disappeared. I could then look about me with more freedom. Though we so +far changed our position, as respected the wreck, as to open new views +of it, no launch was to be seen behind it. By the time the ship reached +the passage through the reef, I had little hope of finding it there. + +We had got to be too familiar with the channels, to have any difficulty +in taking the ship through them; and we were soon fairly to windward of +the reef. Our course, however, lay to leeward; and we passed round the +southern side of the rocks, under the same easy canvass, until we got +abreast, and within half a cable's length of the wreck. To aid my own +eyes, I had called up Talcott and Neb; but neither of us could obtain +the least glimpse of the launch. Nothing was to be seen about the wreck; +though I took the precaution to send a boat to it. All was useless. +Marble had gone out to sea, quite alone, in the Frenchman's launch; and, +though twenty pairs of eyes were now aloft, no one could even fancy that +he saw anything in the offing, that resembled a boat. + +Talcott and myself had a private interview on the subject of Marble's +probable course. My mate was of opinion, that our friend had made the +best of his way for some of the inhabited islands, unwilling to remain +here, when it came to the pinch, and yet ashamed to rejoin us. I could +hardly believe this; in such a case, I thought he would have waited +until we had sailed; when he might have left the island also, and nobody +been the wiser. To this Talcott answered that Marble probably feared our +importunities; possibly, compulsion. It seemed singular to me, that a +man who regretted his hasty decision, should adopt such a course; +and yet I was at a loss to explain the matter much more to my own +satisfaction. Nevertheless, there was no remedy. We were as much in the +dark as it was possible to be with a knowledge of the circumstance that +the bird had flown. + +We hovered around the reef for several hours, most of which time I +passed in the cross-trees, and some of it on the royal-yard. Once, +I thought I saw a small speck on the ocean, dead to windward, that +resembled a boat's sail; but there were so many birds flying about, and +glancing beneath the sun's rays, that I was reluctantly compelled to +admit it was probably one of them. At meridian, therefore, I gave the +order to square away, and to make sail on our course. This was done +with the greatest reluctance, however, and not without a good deal of +vaciliation of purpose. The ship moved away from the land rapidly, and +by two o'clock, the line of cocoa-nut trees that fringed the horizon +astern, sunk entirely beneath the rolling margin of our view. From that +moment, I abandoned the expectation of ever seeing Moses Marble again, +though the occurrence left all of us sad, for several days. + +Major Merton and his daughter were on the poop, nearly the whole of this +morning. Neither interfered in the least; for the old soldier was too +familiar with discipline to venture an opinion concerning the management +of the ship. When we met at dinner, however, the conversation naturally +turned on the disappearance of our old friend. + +“It is a thousand pities that pride should have prevented Marble from +acknowledging his mistake,” observed the Major, “and thus kept him from +getting a safe passage to Canton, where he might have left you, and +joined another ship had he thought it necessary.” + +“Where we shall do the same thing, I suppose, dear sir,” added +Emily, with a manner that I thought marked, “and thus relieve Captain +Wallingford from the encumbrance of our presence.” + +“Me!--call your delightful society anything but an enumbrance, I beg of +you, Miss Merton,” I rejoined in haste. + +“Now, that Mr. Le Compte has furnished this comfortable cabin, and +you are no longer at any inconvenience to yourselves, I would not be +deprived of the advantage and pleasure of this association, for more +than I dare mention.” + +Emily looked gratified; while her father appeared to me to be +thoughtful. After a brief pause, however, the Major resumed the +discourse. + +“I should certainly feel myself bound to make many apologies for the +trouble we are giving,” he said, “especially, since I understand from +Wallingford, he will not accept, either for himself or his owners, +anything like compensation even for the food we consume, were it not +that we are here by constraint, and not by any agency of our own. As +soon as we reach Canton, however, I shall feel it a duty to get on board +the first English ship that will receive us.” + +I stole a glance at Emily, but could not understand the expression of +her countenance, as she heard this announcement. Of course, I made an +earnest protest against the Major's doing anything of the sort; and yet +I could not well find any sufficient reason for urging him to remain +where he was, beyond my own gratification. I could not go to either +England, or Bombay; and I took it for granted Major Merton wished to +proceed, at once, to one, if not to both of these places. We conversed, +a little generally perhaps, on the subject for some time longer; and +when I left the cabin, it struck me, Emily's melancholy had, in no +degree, lessened. + +It is a long road to traverse over half of the Pacific. Weeks and weeks +were thus occupied; Talcott and myself profiting by every suitable +occasion, to enjoy the advantages of the association chance had thus +thrown in our way. I make no doubt I was greatly benefited by my +constant communications with the Mertons; the Major being a cultivated, +though not a particularly brilliant, man; while I conceive it to +be utterly impossible for two young men, of our time of life and +profession, to be daily, almost hourly, in the company of a young woman +like Emily Merton, without losing some of the peculiar roughness of +the sea, and getting, in its place, some small portion of the gentler +qualities of the saloon. I date a certain _a plomb_, an absence of +shyness in the company of females, from this habitual intercourse +with one of the sex who had, herself, been carefully educated in +the conventionalities of respectable, if not of very elegant or +sophisticated society. + +At length we reached the China seas, and falling in to windward, we made +a quick run to Canton. It now became necessary for me to attend to the +ship and the interests of my owners; suffering my passengers to land +at Whampoa, with the understanding we were to meet before either party +sailed. I soon disposed of the sandal-wood and skins, and found no +difficulty in procuring teas, nankins, china-ware, and the other +articles pointed out, in the instructions to poor Captain Williams. +I profited by the occasion, also, to make certain purchases on my own +account, that I had a presentiment would be particularly agreeable +to the future mistress of Clawbonny, let that lady turn out to be +whomsoever she might. The dollars obtained on the west coast of South +America enabled me to do this; my instructions giving the necessary +authority to use a few of them on private account. My privilege as +master rendered all proper. + +In a word, the residence of six or eight weeks at Canton, proved a very +advantageous affair for those whose money was embarked in the Crisis. +Sandal-wood and sea-otter skins brought particularly high prices; while +teas, and the manufactures of the country, happened to be low. I had no +merit in this; not a particle; and yet I reaped the advantage, so far as +advantage was connected with the mere reputation of the voyage; success +being of nearly as great account in commerce, as in war. It is true, +I worked like a dog; for I worked under an entirely novel sense of +responsibility, and with a feeling I am certain that could never have +oppressed me in the care of my own property; and I deserved some portion +of the credit subsequently obtained. At all events, I was heartily +rejoiced when the hatches were on, and the ship was once more ready for +sea. + +It now became a duty, as well as a pleasure, to seek Major Merton, whom +I had seen but once or twice during the last two months. He had passed +that time at Whampao, while I had been either at the factories, or +on board. The Major was occupied when I called; and Emily received me +alone. When she learned that I was ready to sail for home, and had +come to take my leave, it was easy to see that she was uneasy, if +not distressed. I felt unhappy at parting too, and perhaps I had less +scruple about saying as much. + +“God only knows, Miss Merton, whether we are ever to be permitted to see +each other again,” I remarked, after the preliminary explanations had +been made. + +The reader will remember that I am now an old man, and that vanity no +longer has any of that influence over me which it might be supposed +to possess over one of more juvenile hopes and feelings; that I relate +facts, without reference to their effect on myself, beyond the general +salvo of some lingering weaknesses of humanity. I trust, therefore, I +shall be understood in all my necessary allusions to the estimation in +which I was apparently held by others. Emily fairly started when I +made this remark concerning the probable duration of the approaching +separation, and the colour left her cheek. Her pretty white hand +shook, so that she had difficulty in using her needle; and there was an +appearance of agitation and distress about the charming girl, that I had +never before witnessed in one whose manner was usually so self-possessed +and calm. I _now_ know the reason why I did not throw myself on my +knees, and beg the charming girl to consent to accompany me to America, +though I wondered at myself afterwards, when I came to reflect coolly +on all that passed, for my stoicism. I will not affirm that I fancied +Emily's agitation to be altogether owing to myself; but I confess to +an inability to account for it, in any other manner, as agreeable +to myself. The appearance of Major Merton at that instant, however, +prevented everything like a scene, and probably restored us both to +a consciousness of the necessity of seeming calm. As for the Major, +himself, he was evidently far from being unconcerned, something having +occurred to disturb him. So very apparent was this, that I commenced the +discourse by asking if he were unwell. + +“Always _that,_ I fear, Miles,” he answered; “my physician has just told +me frankly, unless I get into a cold climate as soon as possible, my +life will not be worth six months' purchase.” + +“Then sail with me, sir,” I cried, with an eagerness and heartiness that +must have proved my sincerity. “Happily, I am not too late to make the +offer; and, as for getting away, I am ready to sail to-morrow!” + +“I am forbidden to go near Bombay,” continued the Major, looking +anxiously at his daughter; “and that appointment must be abandoned. If I +could continue to hold it, there is no probability of a chance to reach +my station this half-year.” + +“So much the better for me, sir. In four or five months from this +moment, I will land you in New York, where you will find the climate +cold enough for any disease. I ask you as friends--as guests--not as +passengers; and to prove it, the table of the upper cabin, in future, +shall be mine. I have barely left room in the lower cabin to sleep or +dress in, having filled it with my own private venture, as is my right.” + +“You are as generous as kind, Miles; but what will your owners think of +such an arrangement?” + +“They have no right to complain. The cabin and passengers, should any +of the last offer, after deducting a very small allowance for the ship's +portion of the food and water, are mine by agreement. All the better +food I find at my own charge; and, should you insist on remunerating the +owners for the coarser, or such as they find, you can do so, it will be +less than a hundred dollars, at the most.” + +“On these conditions, then, I shall thankfully profit by your offer; +attaching, however, one more that I trust you may be permitted to +fulfil. It is important to me that I reach England--can you touch at St. +Helena?” + +“Willingly, if it be your wish. The health of the crew, moreover, may +render it desirable.” + +“There, then, I will quit you, if an opportunity offer to proceed to +England. Our bargain is made, dear Miles; and to-morrow I shall be ready +to embark.” + +I think Emily never looked more beautiful than she did while listening +to this arrangement. It doubtless relieved her mind on the painful +subject of her father's health, and I fancied it relieved it also on the +subject of our own immediate separation. Months must elapse before we +could reach St. Helena; and who could foresee what those months might +bring forth? As I had a good deal to do at such a moment, I took my +leave, with my feelings lightened, as it might be, of a burthen. The +reader will at once infer, I was in love. But he will be mistaken. I was +not in love; though my imagination, to use a cant phrase of some of the +sects, was greatly exercised. Lucy, even then, had a hold of my _heart_ +in a way of which I was ignorant myself; but it was not in nature for a +youth, just approaching his majority, to pass months and months, almost +alone, in the society of a lovely girl who was a year or two his junior, +and not admit some degree of tenderness towards her in big feelings. The +circumstances were sufficient to try the constancy of the most faithful +swain that ever lived. Then, it must be remembered that I had never +professed love to Lucy--was not at all aware that she entertained any +other sentiment towards me than that she entertained towards Rupert; +whereas Emily--but I will not prove myself a coxcomb on paper, whatever +I might have been, at the moment, in my own imagination. + +Next day, at the appointed hour, I had the happiness to receive my old +passengers. It struck me that Talcott was as much gratified as I was +myself; for he, too, had both pleasure and improvement in Emily Morton's +society. It has often been said that the English East-India ships are +noted for quarrelling and making love. The quarrels may be accounted for +on the same principle as the love-making, viz., propinquity; the same +proximity producing hostility in whose sterner natures, that, in others +of a gentler cast, produces its opposite feeling. We sailed, and it is +scarcely necessary to tell the reader how much the tedium of so long a +voyage, and the monotony of a sea-voyage, was relieved by the graces +and gentle intercourse of our upper cabin. The other apartment being so +crowded and hot, I passed most of my time in the poop, which was both +light and airy. Here I generally found the father and daughter, though +often the latter alone. I played reasonably well on the flute and +violin, and had learned to accompany Emily on her piano, which, it will +be remembered, Mons. Le Compte had caused to be transferred from the +Bombay ship to his own vessel, and which had subsequently been saved +from the wreck. + +Talcott played also on the flute, far better than I did myself; and we +frequently made a trio, producing very respectable sea-music--better, +indeed, than Neptune often got for his smiles. In this manner, then, +we travelled our long road, sometimes contending with head-winds and +cross-seas, sometimes becalmed, and sometimes slipping along at a rate +that rendered everybody contented and happy. + +In passing the Straits of Sunda, I related to Major Merton and Emily the +incidents of the John's affair with the proas, and her subsequent loss +on the island of Madagascar; and was rewarded by the interest they +took in the tale. We all spoke of Marble, as indeed we often did, and +expressed our regrets at his absence. The fate of my old shipmate was +frequently discussed among us, there being a great diversity of opinion +on the subject. As for the Major, he thought poor Marble must be lost +at sea, for he did not perceive how any one man could manage a boat all +alone by himself. Talcott, who had juster notions of what a seaman could +do, was of opinion that our late commander had run to leeward, in the +hope of finding some inhabited island, preferring the association of +even cannibals, when it came to the trying moment, to total solitude. +I thought he had gone to windward, the boat being so well equipped for +that service, and that Marble was in the expectation of falling in with +some of the whalers, who were known to be cruising in certain latitudes. +I was greatly struck, however, by a remark made by Emily, on the evening +of the very day when we passed the Straits of Sunda. + +“Should the truth be ever known, gentlemen,” she said, “I am of opinion +it will be found that poor Mr. Marble only left the island to escape +from your importunities, and returned to it after the ship disappeared; +and that he is there at this moment, enjoying all the happiness of a +hermit.” + +This might be true, and from that hour the thought would occasionally +recur to my mind. As I looked forward to passing at least several more +years at sea, I secretly determined to ascertain the fact for myself, +should occasion ever offer. In the mean time, the Crisis had reached a +part of the ocean where, in those days, it was incumbent on those who +had the charge of a ship to keep a vigilant look-out for enemies. It +seems we were not fated to run the gauntlet of these pirates entirely +unharmed. + +Early on the following morning, I was awoke by Talcott's giving me a +hearty shake of the shoulder. + +“Turn out at once, Captain Wallingford,” cried my mate, “the rascals are +closing around us like crows about a carcase. As bad luck will have it, +we have neither room nor breeze, to spare. Everything looks like a busy +morning for us, sir.” + +In just three minutes from that moment, I was on deck, where all hands +were soon collected, the men tumbling up, with their jackets in their +hands. Major Merton was already on the poop, surveying the scene with a +glass of his own; while the two mates were clearing away the guns, +and getting the ship in a state to make a suitable defence. To me, the +situation was altogether novel. I had been six times in the presence of +enemies before, and twice as commander; but never under circumstances +that called so imperiously for seamanship and good conduct. The ocean +seemed covered with enemies, Major Merton declaring that he could count +no less than twenty-eight proas, all full of men, and some of them armed +with artillery. These chaps were ahead, astern, to windward, and to +leeward; and, what was worse, they had just wind enough to suit their +purposes, there being about a five-knot breeze. It was evident that +the craft acted in concert, and that they were desperately bent on +our capture, having closed around us in this manner in the night. +Nevertheless, we were a warm ship for a merchantman; and not a man in +the Crisis betrayed any feeling that indicated any other desire than a +wish to resist to the last. As for Neb, the fellow was in a broad grin, +the whole time; he considered the affair as a bit of fun. Yet this negro +was afraid to visit certain places about the farm in the dark, and could +not have been induced to cross a church-yard alone, under a bright sun, +I feel well persuaded. He was the oddest mixture of superstitious dread +and lion-hearted courage, I ever met with in my life. + +It was still early, when the proas were near enough to commence serious +operations. This they did, by a nearly simultaneous discharge of about a +dozen guns, principally sixes, that they carried mounted in their bows. +The shot came whistling in among our spars and rigging, literally from +every direction, and three struck, though they were not of a size to do +any serious injury. Our people were at quarters, having managed to man +both batteries, though it left scarcely any one to look after the braces +and rigging, and none but the officers with small-arms. + +Mr. Merton must have felt that he and his daughter's liberty, if not +their lives, were in the keeping of a very youthful commander; still, +his military habits of subordination were so strong, he did not venture +even a suggestion. I had my own plan, and was just of an age to think +it derogatory to my rank, to ask advice of any one. The proas were +strongest ahead and on both bows, where they were collecting to the +number of near twenty, evidently with the intention of boarding, should +an opportunity offer; while, astern, and on our quarter, they were much +fewer, and far more scattered. The reason of all this was apparent by +our course, the pirates naturally supposing we should continue to stand +on. + +Orders were given to haul up the mainsail and to man the spanker-brails. +The men were taken from the starboard battery, exclusively, to perform +this work. When all was ready, the helm was put up, and the ship was +brought as short round on her heel, as possible, hauling up, on an +easy bowline, on the other tack. In coming round, we delivered all our +larboard guns among the crowd of enemies, well crammed with grape; and +the distance being just right for scattering, this broadside was not +without effect. As soon as braced up, on the other tack, we opened +starboard and larboard, on such of the chaps as came within range; +clearing our way as we went. The headmost proas all came round in chase; +but, being from half a mile to a mile astern, we had time to open a way +out of the circle, and to drive all the proas who were now ahead of +us, to take refuge among the crowd of their fellows. The manoeuvre was +handsomely executed; and, in twenty minutes we ceased firing, having all +our enemies to the westward of us, and in one group: this was an immense +advantage, as it enabled us to fight with a single broadside, prevented +our being raked, and rendered our own fire more destructive, by exposing +to it a more concentrated, and, at the same time, a larger object. I +ought to have said before, that the wind was at the southward. + +The Crisis now tacked, setting the courses and royals. The ship lay up +well, and the proas having collected around their admiral, there was a +prospect of her passing to windward of everything. Six of the fellows, +however, seemed determined to prevent this, by hauling close on a wind, +and attempting to cross our bows, firing as they did so. The ship stood +on, apparently as if to intercept them; when, finding ourselves near +enough, we kept away about three points, and swept directly down in the +very centre of the main body of the proas. As this was done, the enemy, +taken by surprise, cleared a way for us, and we passed the whole of +them, delivering grape and canister, as fast as we could deal it out. In +the height of the affair, and the thickest of the smoke, three or four +of the proas were seen quite near us, attempting to close; but I did not +think it necessary to call the people from the guns, which were worked +with great quickness, and did heavy execution. I fancy the pirates found +it hotter than they liked, for they did not keep on with us; though our +lofty sails gave us an advantage, and would have enabled us to leave +them, had they pursued a different course. As it was, we were clear of +them, in about five minutes; and the smoke beginning to rise, we soon +got a view of what had been done in that brief space. In order to +increase our distance, however, we still kept away, running pretty fast +through the water. + +By the confusion which prevailed among the pirates, the rascals had been +well peppered. One had actually sunk, and five or six were round the +spot, endeavouring to pick up the crew. Three more had suffered in +their spars, and the movements indicated that all had enough. As soon as +satisfied of this, I hauled the ship up to her course, and we continued +to leave the cluster of boats, which remained around the spot where +their consort had gone down. Those of the fellows to windward, however, +did not seem disposed to give it up, but followed us for two hours, by +which time the rest of their flotilla were hull down. Believing there +was now plenty of room, I tacked towards these persevering gentry, when +they went about like tops, and hauled off sharp on a wind. We tacked +once more to our course, and were followed no further. + +The captain of a pepper ship afterwards told me, that our assailants +lost forty-seven men, mostly killed, or died of their hurts, and that +he had understood that the same officer commanded the Crisis that had +commanded the “John,” in _her_ affair, near the same spot. We had some +rigging cut, a few of our spars slightly injured, and two men hurt, one +of whom happened to be Neb. The man most hurt died before we reached +the Cape, but more from the want of surgical assistance, than from the +original character of his wound. As for Neb, he went to duty before we +reached St. Helena. For my part, I was surprised one of the proas did +not get down his throat, his grin being wide enough, during the whole +affair, to admit of the passage of a two-decker. + +We went into the island, as had been agreed, but no ship offering and +none being expected soon, it became necessary for my passengers to +continue on with us to New York. Emily had behaved uncommonly well in +the brush with the pirates, and everybody was glad to keep her in the +ship. The men swore she brought good luck, forgetting that the poor girl +must have met with much ill-luck, in order to be in the situation in +which she was actually placed. + +Nothing occurred on the passage from St. Helena to New York, worthy of +being specially recorded. It was rather long, but I cannot say it was +unpleasant. At length our reckoning told us to look out for land. The +Major and Emily were on deck, all expectation, and ere long we heard the +welcome cry. A hazy cloud was just visible on our lee-bow. It grew more +and more dense and distinct, until it showed the hues and furrows of a +mountain-side. The low point of the Hook, and the higher land beyond, +then came in view. We glided past the light, doubled the Spit, and got +into the upper bay, just an hour before the sun of a beautiful day in +June was setting. This was in the year of our Lord 1802. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + “Drink! drink! to whom shall we drink? + To a friend or a mistress?--Come, let me think! + To those who are absent or those who are here? + To the dead that we loved, or the living still dear? + Alas! when I look I find none of the last! + The present is barren--let's drink to the past.” + PAULDING. + + +Though strictly a Manhattanese as a sailor, I shall not run into +rhapsody on the subject of the beauties of the inner or outer bay of +this prosperous place. No man but one besotted with provincial conceit +could ever think of comparing the harbour of New York with the Bay of +Naples; nor do I know two places, that have the same great elements of +land and water that are less alike. The harbour of New York is barely +pretty; not a particle more, if quite as much; while the Bay of Naples +is almost what its owners so fondly term it, “a little bit of heaven, +fallen upon earth.” On the other hand, however, Naples, as a haven, is +not to be mentioned in the same breath with the great American mart, +which, _as a port_, has no competitor within the circle of my +knowledge, Constantinople alone excepted. I wish my semi-townsmen, the +Manhattanese, could be persuaded of these facts, as, when they _do_ +brag, as the wisest of mortals sometimes will, they might brag of their +strong, and not of their weak points, as is now too often the case. + +The Major, Emily and myself, stood on the poop, regarding the scene, as +the ship glided onward, before a good south-east breeze. I watched the +countenances of my companions with interest, for I had the nervousness +of a tyro and a provincial, on the subject of the opinions of the people +of other lands, concerning everything that affected my own. I could +see that the Major was not particularly struck; and I was disappointed, +_then_, whatever may be my opinion _now_. Emily better answered my +hopes. Whether the charming girl really felt the vast contrast between a +view of the unbroken expanse of the ocean, and the scene before her, +or was disposed to please her host, she did not hesitate to express +delight. I let her understand how much I was gratified; and thus +our long, long voyage, and that, so far as degrees of longitude were +concerned, nearly embraced the circuit of the earth, may be said to have +terminated with the kindest feelings. + +The ship was off Bedlow's, and the pilot had begun to shorten sail, +when a schooner crossed our fore-foot, beating down. I had been too +much occupied with the general movement of the bay, to notice one small +craft; but, this vessel happening to tack quite near us, I could not but +turn my eyes in her direction. At that instant I heard a shout from Neb, +who was furling one of the royals. It was one of those irrepressible +“nigger gollies” that often escaped from the fellow involuntarily. + +“What do you mean by that uproar, on the mizen-royal yard,” I called out +angrily--for the _style_ of my ship had now become an object of concern +with me. “Keep silence, sir, or I'll find a way to instruct you in the +art.” + +“Lord!--masser Mile--” cried the negro, pointing eagerly towards the +schooner--“there go Pretty Poll.” + +It was our old craft sure enough, and I hailed her, incontinently. + +“Pretty Polly, ahoy!” + +“Halloo!” + +“Where are you bound, sir; and when did that schooner get in from the +Pacific?” + +“We are bound to Martinique--The Poll got home from the South Seas about +six months since. This is her third voyage to the West Indies, since.” + +Here then was the certainty that the cargo sent home, and the letter +with it, were all safe. I must be expected, and the owners would soon +hear of my arrival. We were not kept long in doubt; for, as the ship +entered the Hudson, a boat approached, and in her were two of the +principal members of our firm. I had seen them, and that is all; but +my own letters, and the report of the officer who brought home the +schooner, had told them all about me. Could Nelson, after his victory +of the Nile, have walked into the King of England's private cabinet +with the news of his own success, his reception would not have been more +flattering than that I now received. I was “Captain Wallingforded” at +every sentence; and commendations were so intermixed with inquiries +about the value of the cargo, that I did not know which to answer first. +I was invited to dine the very next day by both the gentlemen in the +same breath; and when I raised some objections connected with the duty +of the ship, the invitations were extended from day to day, for a week. +So very welcome is he who brings us gold! + +We went alongside of a North River wharf, and had everything secure, +just as the sun was setting. The people were then allowed to go ashore +for the night. Not a soul of them asked for a dollar; but the men walked +up the wharf attended by a circle of admiring landlords, that put them +all above want. The sailor who has three years' pay under his lee, is +a sort of Rothschild on Jack's Exchange. All the harpies about our lads +knew that the Crisis and her teas, &c. were hypothecated to meet their +own ten and twenty dollar advances. + +I dressed myself hurriedly, and ordered Neb to imitate my example. One +of the owners had kindly volunteered to see Major Merton and Emily to +a suitable residence, with an alacrity that surprised me. But the +influence of England, and Englishmen, in all America, was exceedingly +great forty years since. This was still more true in New York, than in +the country generally; and a half-pay English Major was a species of +nobleman among the better sort of Manhattanese of that day. How many of +these quasi lords have I seen, whose patents of nobility were merely +the commissions of captains and lieutenants, signed by the Majesty of +England! In that day--it is nonsense to deny it--the man who had served +_against_ the country, provided he was a “British officer,” was a better +man than he who had served in our own ranks. This was true, however, +only as regarded _society;_ the ballot-boxes, and the _people_, giving +very different indications of their sentiments on such subjects. Nor +is this result, so far as New York was concerned, as surprising as, at +first sight, it may possibly appear. Viewed as a class, the gentry of +New York took sides with the crown. It is true, that the portion of +this gentry which might almost be called _baronial_--it was strictly +_manorial_--was pretty equally divided, carrying with them their +collaterals; but the larger portions of this entire class of the elite +of society took sides with the crown; and the peace of '83 found no +small part of them in possession of their old social stations; the +confiscations affecting few beyond the most important, and the richest +of the delinquents. I can give an instance, within my own immediate +knowledge, of the sort of justice of these confiscations. The head of +one of the most important of all the colonial families, was a man of +indolent habits, and was much indisposed to any active pursuits. This +gentleman was enormously rich, and his estates were confiscated and +sold. Now this attainted traitor had a younger brother who was actually +serving in the British army in America, his regiment sharing in the +battles of Bunker Hill, Brandywine, Monmouth, &c. But the Major was a +younger son; and, in virtue of that republican merit, he escaped the +consequences of his adhesion to the service of the crown; and after +the revolution, the cadet returned to his native country, took quiet +possession of a property of no inconsiderable amount, while his senior +passed his days in exile, paying the bitter penalty of being rich in a +revolution. It was a consequence of the peculiarities first mentioned, +that the Manhattanese society set so high a value on English connection. +They still admired, as the provincial only can admire; and they +worshipped, as the provincial worships; or, at a safe distance. The +strange medley of truth, cant, selfishness, sophistry and good faith, +that founded the political hostility to the movements of the French +revolution, had as ardent believers in this country, as it had in +England itself; and this contributed to sustain the sort of feeling +I have described. Of the fact, there can be no doubt, as any one will +testify who knew New York society forty years ago. + +No wonder then, that Major Merton and Emily fared well, on their sudden +arrival in the country. Some romance, moreover, was attached to their +adventures; and I had no great reason to give myself any anxiety on +their account. There was little doubt of their soon being much more at +home, than I could hope to be, though in my native land. + +Neb soon reported himself ready for shore-duty, and I ordered him to +follow me. It was my intention to proceed to the counting-house of the +owners, to receive some letters that awaited me, and, after writing +short answers, to despatch the black at once to Clawbonny, with the +intelligence of my return. In 1802, the Battery was the court-end of +the town, and it was a good deal frequented by the better classes, +particularly at the hour at which I was now about to cross it. I have +never returned from a voyage, especially to Europe, without being +particularly struck with two things in the great Western Emporium--since +the common councils and the editors insist on the word--viz., the +provincial appearance of everything that meets the eye, and the beauty +of the younger females; meaning, however, by the last, the true, native, +portion of the population, and not the throng from Ireland and Germany, +who now crowd the streets; and who, certainly, as a body, are not in +the least remarkable for personal charms. But an American can tell an +American, man or woman, as soon as he lays eyes on either; and there +were few besides native girls on the Battery at the time of which I +am writing. As there were many children taking their evening walk, +and black servants were far more common than now, Neb had his share of +delights, too, and I heard him exclaim “Golly!” twice, before we reached +the centre of the Battery. This exclamation escaped him on passing as +many sable Venuses, each of whom bridled up at the fellow's admiration, +and doubtless was as much offended as the sex is apt to be on such +occasions. + +I must have passed twenty young women, that evening, either of whom +would induce a youth to turn round to look again; and, for the moment, I +forgot my errand. Neither Neb nor I was in any hurry. We were strolling +along, in this manner, gazing right and left, when a party approached, +under the trees, that drew all my attention to itself. In front walked +a young man and young woman, who were dressed simply, but with a taste +that denoted persons of the better class. The former was remarkable for +nothing, unless it might be a rattling vivacity, of which large doses +were administered to his fair companion, who, seemingly, swallowed it +less reluctantly than doses of another sort are so often received. At +least, I thought so, while the two were at a distance, by the beautiful +glistening teeth that were shining like my own spotless pearls, between +lips of coral. The air, beauty, figure, and, indeed, all connected with +this singularly lovely young creature, struck my imagination at once. It +was not so much her beauty, though that was decided and attractive, as +the admixture of feminine delicacy with blooming health; the walk, so +natural and yet so full of lightness and grace; the laugh, so joyous +and still so quiet and suited to her sex; and the entire air and manner, +which denoted equally, buoyant health and happiness, the gracefulness +of one who thought not of herself, and the refinement which is quite as +much the gift of native sentiment, as the fruit of art and association. +I could not tell what her companion was saying; but, as they approached, +I fancied them acknowledged lovers, on whom fortune, friends, and +circumstances smiled alike. A glance aside told me that even Neb was +struck by the being before him, and that he had ceased looking at the +sable Venuses, to gaze at this. + +I could not keep my gaze off the face of this lovely creature, who did +not let me get a good look of her dark-blue eyes, however, until I +was quite near, when they were naturally turned towards the form that +approached. For a few seconds, while in the very act of passing, we +looked intently at each other, and the charm said to be possessed by +certain animals, was not more powerful than was our mutual gaze. In this +manner we had actually passed each other, and I was still in a sort of +mystified prance, when I heard suddenly, in a voice and tone that caused +every nerve to thrill within me, the single word-- + +“Miles!” + +Turning, and taking another look, it was impossible any longer to +mistake. Lucy Hardinge stood before me, trembling, uncertain, her face +now pale as death, now flushed to scarlet, her hands clasped, her look +doubting, eager, shrinking, equally denoting hope and fear, and all +so blended, as to render her the most perfect picture of female truth, +feeling, diffidence, and natural modesty, I had ever beheld. + +“Lucy--is it--_can_ it be possible!--It is then _you_, I thought so +gloriously beautiful, and that without knowing you, too.” + +I take it for granted, had I studied a week, I should not have composed +a more grateful salutation than this, which burst forth in a way that +set all the usual restraints of manners at defiance. Of course, I felt +bound to go through with the matter as prosperously as I had commenced, +and in spite of the publicity of the place, in spite of half a dozen +persons, who heard what passed, and had turned, smiling, to see what +would come next, in spite of the grave-looking gentleman who had so +lately been all vivacity and gaiety, I advanced, folded the dear girl to +my heart, and gave her such a kiss, as I'll take upon myself to say, she +had never before received. Sailors, usually, do not perform such +things by halves, and I never was more in earnest in my life. Such a +salutation, from a young fellow who stood rather more than six feet in +his stockings, had a pair of whiskers that had come all the way from the +Pacific with very little trimming, and who possessed a manliness about +him of which mere walking up and down Broadway would have robbed a young +Hercules, had the effect to cover poor Lucy with blushes and confusion. + +“There--that will do, Miles,” she said, struggling to get free--“a +truce, I pray you. See, yonder are Grace and my father, and Rupert.” + +There they all were, sure enough, the whole family having come out, to +take an evening walk, in company with a certain Mr. Andrew Drewett, +a young gentleman who was a fellow-student of Rupert's, and who, as I +afterwards ascertained, was a pretty open admirer of Rupert's sister. +There was a marked difference in the manner in which I was received by +Grace and Lucy. The first exclaimed “Miles!” precisely as the last had +exclaimed; her colour heightened, and tears forced themselves into her +eyes, but she could not be said to blush. Instead of first manifesting +an eagerness to meet my salute, and then shrinking sensitively from +it, she flung her delicate arms round my neck, without the slightest +reserve, both arms too, kissed me six or eight times without stopping, +and then began to sob, as if her heart would break. The spectators, who +saw in all this the plain, honest, natural, undisguised affection of +a sister, had the good taste to walk on, though I could see that their +countenances sympathised with so happy a family meeting. I had but a +moment to press Grace to my heart, before Mr. Hardinge's voice drew my +attention to him. The good old man forgot that I was two inches taller +than he was himself; that I could, with ease, have lifted him from the +earth, and carried him in my arms, as if he were an infant; that I +was bronzed by a long voyage, and had Pacific Ocean whiskers; for he +caressed me as if I had been a child, kissed me quite as often as Grace +had done, blessed me aloud, and then gave way to his tears, as freely +as both the girls. But for this burst of feeling on the part of a +grey-headed old clergyman, I am afraid our scene would not altogether +have escaped ridicule. As it was, however, this saved us. Clergymen were +far more respected in America, forty years ago, than they are to-day, +though I think they have still as much consideration here as in most +other countries; and the general respect felt for the class would have +insured us from any manifestations of the sort, without the nature and +emotion which came in its aid. As for myself, I was glad to take refuge +in Rupert's hearty but less sentimental shake of the hand. After this, +we all sought a seat, in a less public spot, and were soon sufficiently +composed to converse. As for the gentleman named Drewett, he waited long +enough to inquire of Lucy who I was, and then he had sufficient tact to +wish us all good evening. I overheard the little dialogue which produced +this explanation. + +“A close friend, if not a near relation, Miss Hardinge?” he observed, +inquiringly. + +“Oh, yes,” answered the smiling, weeping girl, with the undisguised +truth of her honest nature--“both friend and relative.” + +“May I presume to ask the name?” + +“The name, Mr. Drewett!--Why it is Miles--dear Miles--you surely have +heard us speak of Miles--but I forget; you never were at Clawbonny--is +it not a most joyful surprise, dearest, dearest Grace!” + +Mr. Andrew Drewett waited, I thought, with most commendable patience for +Grace to squeeze Lucy's hand, and to murmur her own felicitations, when +he ventured to add-- + +“You were about to say something, Miss Hardinge?” + +“Was I--I declare I have forgotten what it was. Such a surprise--such a +joyful, blessed surprise--I beg pardon, Mr. Drewett--ah. I remember now; +I was about to say that this is Mr. Miles Wallingford, of Clawbonny, the +gentleman who is my father's ward--Grace's brother, you know.” + +“And how related to yourself, Miss Hardinge?” the gentleman continued, a +little perseveringly. + +“To me! Oh! very, very near--that is--I forget so much this +evening--why, not at all.” + +It was at this moment Mr. Drewett saw fit to make his parting +salutations with studied decorum, and to take his leave in a manner so +polite, that, though tempted, I could not, just at the moment, stop the +current of my feelings, to admire. No one seemed to miss him, however, +and we five, who remained, were soon seated in the spot I have +mentioned, and as much abstracted from the scene around us, as if we had +been on the rustic bench, under the old elm, on the lawn--if I dare +use so fine a word, for so unpretending a place--at Clawbonny. I had my +station between Mr. Hardinge and Grace, while Lucy sat next her +father, and Rupert next to my sister. My friend could see me, without +difficulty, owing to his stature, while I saw the glistening eyes of +Lucy, riveted on my face, as leaning on her father's knee, she bent her +graceful form forward, in absorbed attention. + +“We expected you; we have not been taken _altogether_ by surprise!” + exclaimed good Mr. Hardinge, clapping his hand on my shoulder, as if +to say he could now begin to treat me like a man. “I consented to come +down, just at this moment, because the last Canton ship that arrived +brought the intelligence that the Crisis was to sail in ten days.” + +“And you may judge of our surprise,” said Rupert, “when we read the +report in the papers, 'The Crisis, _Captain Wallingford_.'” + +“I supposed my letters from the island had prepared you for this,” I +observed. + +“In them, you spoke of Mr. Marble, and I naturally concluded, when it +came to the pinch, the man would resume the command, and bring the ship +home. Duty to the owners would be apt to induce him.” + +“He did not,” I answered, a little proudly perhaps, forgetting poor +Marble's probable situation, for an instant, in my own vanity. “Mr. +Marble understood well, that if I knew nothing else, I knew how to take +care of a ship.” + +“So it seems, my dear boy, indeed, so it doth seem!” said Mr. Hardinge, +kindly. “I hear from all quarters, you conduct commended; and the +recovery of the vessel from the French, was really worthy of Truxtun +himself.” + +At that day, Truxtun was the great gun of American naval idolatry, and +had as much local reputation, as Nelson himself enjoyed in England. The +allusion was a sore assault on my modesty; but I got along with it, as +well as I could. + +“I endeavoured to do my duty, sir,” I answered, trying not to look at +Lucy, and seem meek; “and it would have been a terrible disgrace to have +come home, and been obliged to say the French got the ship from us, when +we were all asleep.” + +“But you took a ship from the French, in that manner, and kept her too!” + said a soft voice, every intonation of which was music to me. + +I looked round and saw the speaking eyes of Lucy, just clear of the grey +coat of her father, behind which she instinctively shrank, the instant +she caught my glance. + +“Yes,” I answered, “we did something of that sort, and were a little +more fortunate than our enemies. But, you will recollect we were much +favoured by the complaisance of poor Monsieur Le Compte, in leaving us a +schooner to work our mischief in.” + +“I have always thought that part of your story, Miles, a little +extraordinary,” observed Mr. Hardinge; “though I suppose this +Frenchman's liberality was, in some measure, a matter of necessity, out +there, in the middle of the Pacific.” + +“I hardly think you do Captain Le Compte justice, sir. He was a +chivalrous fellow, and every way a gallant seaman. It is possible, +he was rather more in a hurry than he might have been, but for his +passengers--that is all--at least, I have always suspected that the wish +to have Miss Merton all to himself, induced him to get rid of us as soon +as possible. He evidently admired her, and could have been jealous of a +dead-eye.” + +“Miss Merton!” exclaimed Grace. “Jealous!” + +“Miss Merton!” put in Rupert, leaning forward, curiously. + +“Miss Merton! And jealous of dead-eyes, and wishing to get rid of us!” + said Mr. Hardinge, smiling. “Pray who is Miss Merton? and who are the +_us_? and what are the dead-eyes?” + +Lucy was silent. + +“Why, sir, I thought I wrote you all about the Mertons. How we met them +in London, and then found them prisoners to Monsieur Le Compte; and that +I intended to carry them to Canton, in the Crisis!” + +“You told us some of this, certainly; but, though you may have written +'all about' a _Major_ Merton, you _forgot_ to tell us 'about _all_ +the Mertons. This is the first syllable I have ever had about a _Miss_ +Merton. How is it, girls--did Miles speak of any one but the Major, in +his letter?” + +“Not a syllable to me, sir, of any young lady, I can assure you,” + replied Grace, laughing. “How was it to you, Lucy?” + +“Of course he would not tell me that which he thought fit to conceal +from his own sister,” said Lucy, in a low voice. + +“It is odd I should have forgotten to mention her,” I cried, +endeavouring to laugh it off. “Young men do not often forget to write +about young ladies.” + +“This Miss Merton is young, then, brother?” + +“About your own age, Grace.” + +“And handsome--and agreeable--and accomplished?” + +“Something like yourself, my dear.” + +“But handsome, I take it for granted, Miles,” observed Mr. Hardinge, +“by the manner in which you have omitted to speak of her charms, in your +letters!” + +“Why sir, I think most persons--that is the world in general--I mean +such as are not over-fastidious, would consider Miss Merton particularly +handsome--agreeable in person and features, I would be understood to +say.” + +“Oh! you are sufficiently explicit; everybody can understand you,” added +my laughing guardian, who had no more thought of getting me married to +his own daughter, than to a German princess of a hundred and forty-five +quarterings, if there are any such things; “some other time we will have +the particulars of her eyes, hair, teeth, &c., &c.” + +“Oh! sir, you may save me the trouble, by looking at her yourself, +to-morrow, since she and her father are both here.” + +“_Here!_” exclaimed all four in a breath; Lucy's extreme surprise +extorting the monosyllable from her reserve, even a little louder than +from the rest. + +“Certainly, here; father, daughter, and servants; I dare say I omitted +to speak of the servants in my letters, too; but a poor fellow who has +a great deal to do, cannot think of everything in a minute. Major Merton +has a touch of the liver complaint; and it would not do to leave him +in a warm climate. So, no other chance offering, he is proceeding to +England, by the way of America.” + +“And how long had you these people on board your ship, Miles?” Grace +asked, a little gravely. + +“Actually on board, with myself, about nine months, I should think; but +including the time in London, at Canton, and on the island, I should +call our acquaintance one of rather more than a year's standing.” + +“Long enough, certainly, to make a young lady sufficiently obvious to a +young gentleman's memory, not to be forgotten in his letters.” + +After this pointed speech, there was a silence, which Mr. Hardinge broke +by some questions about the passage home from Canton. As it was getting +cool on the Battery, however, we all moved away, proceeding to Mrs. +Bradfort's. This lady, as I afterwards discovered, was much attached to +Lucy, and had insisted on giving her these opportunities of seeing the +world. She was quite at her ease in her circumstances, and belonged to +a circle a good deal superior to that into which Grace and myself could +have claimed admission, in right of our own social position. Lucy had +been well received as her relative, and as a clergyman's daughter; and +Grace on her own account, as I afterwards learned. It would be attaching +too much credit to Clawbonny, to say that either of the girls had not +improved by this association; though it was scarcely possible to make +Grace more feminine and lady-like than she had been made by nature. +The effect on Lucy was simply to put a little reserve on her native +frankness, and sturdy honesty; though candour compels me to say, that +mingling with the world, and, especially the world to which they had +been introduced by Mrs. Bradfort, had certainly increased the native +charm of manner that each possessed. I began to think Emily Merton so +far from possessing any advantage over the two girls, might now improve +a little herself, by associating with them. + +At the house, I had to tell my whole story, and to answer a multitude of +questions. Not a syllable more was said about Miss Merton; and even Lucy +had smiles to bestow and remarks to make, as before. When we got to the +lights, where the girls could remove their shawls and hats, I made each +of them stand before me, in order to ascertain how much time had altered +them. Grace was now nineteen; and Lucy was only six months her junior. +The greatest change was in the latter. Her form had ripened into +something as near as possible to girlish perfection. In this respect she +had the advantage of Grace, who was a little too slight and delicate; +whereas, Lucy, without any of the heaviness that so often accompanies +a truly rounded person, and which was perhaps a slight defect in +Emily Merton's figure, was without an angle of any sort, in her +entire outline. Grace, always so handsome, and so intellectual in the +expression of her countenance, had improved less in this respect, than +Lucy, whose eyes had obtained a tenderness and feeling that rendered +them, to me, even more attractive than those of my own dear sister. In +a word, any man might have been proud, at finding two such admirable +creatures interested in him, as interested, every look, smile, syllable, +and gesture of these dear girls, denoted they were in me. + +All this time, Neb had been overlooked. He had followed us to the house, +however, and was already engaged in a dark-coloured flirtation with a +certain Miss Chloe Clawbonny, his own second-cousin, in the kitchen; a +lady who had attracted a portion of his admiration, before we sailed, +and who had accompanied her young mistress to town. As soon as it was +ascertained the fellow was below, Lucy, who was quite at home in her +kinswoman's house, insisted on his being introduced. I saw by the +indulgent smile of Mrs. Bradfort, that Lucy was not exceeding her +conceded privileges, and Neb was ordered up, forthwith. Never was there +a happier fellow than this 'nigger' appeared to be, on that occasion. He +kept rolling his tarpaulin between his fingers, shifting his weight from +leg to leg, and otherwise betraying the confusion of one questioned by +his betters; for, in that day, a _negro_ was ready enough to allow he +had his betters, and did not feel he was injured in so doing. At the +present time, I am well aware that the word is proscribed even in the +State's Prisons; everybody being just as good as everybody else; though +some have the misfortune to be sentenced to hard labour, while others +are permitted to go at large. As a matter of course, the selections made +through the ballot-boxes, only go to prove that “one man is as good as +another.” + +Our party did not separate until quite late. Suppers were eaten in 1802; +and I was invited to sit down with the rest of the family, and a gay +set we were. It was then the fashion to drink toasts; gentlemen giving +ladies, and ladies gentlemen. The usage was singular, but very general; +more especially in the better sort of houses. We men drank our wine, +as a matter of course; while the ladies sipped theirs, in that pretty +manner in which females moisten their lips, on such occasions. After a +time, Mrs. Bradfort, who was very particular in the observance of forms, +gaily called on Mr. Hardinge for his toast. + + +“My dear Mrs. Bradfort,” said the divine, good-humouredly, “if it were +not in your own house, and contrary to all rule to give a person who is +present, I certainly should drink to yourself. Bless me, bless me, whom +shall I give? I suppose I shall not be permitted to give our new Bishop, +Dr. Moore?” + +The cry of “No Bishop!” was even more unanimous than it is at this +moment, among those who, having all their lives dissented from episcopal +authority, fancy it an evidence of an increasing influence to join in a +clamour made by their own voices; and this, moreover, on a subject that +not one in a hundred among them has given himself the trouble even to +skim. Our opposition--in which Mrs. Bradfort joined, by the way--was of +a very different nature, however; proceeding from a desire to learn what +lady Mr. Hardinge could possibly select, at such a moment. I never saw +the old gentleman so confused before. He laughed, tried to dodge the +appeal, fidgeted, and at last fairly blushed. All this proceeded, not +from any preference for any particular individual of the sex, but from +natural diffidence, the perfect simplicity and nature of his character, +which caused him to be abashed at even appearing to select a female +for a toast. It was a beautiful picture of masculine truth and purity! +Still, we would not be put off; and the old gentleman, composing his +countenance five or six times in vain efforts to reflect, then looking +as grave as if about to proceed to prayer, raised his glass, and said-- + +“Peggy Perott!” + +A general laugh succeeded this announcement, Peggy Perott being an +old maid who went about tending the sick for hire, in the vicinity of +Clawbonny, and known to us all as the ugliest woman in the county. + +“Why do you first insist on my giving a toast, and then laugh at it +when given?” cried Mr. Hardinge, half-amused, half-serious in his +expostulations. “Peggy is an excellent woman, and one of the most useful +I know.” + +“I wonder, my dear sir, you did not think of adding a sentiment!” cried +I, a little pertly. + +“And if I had, it would have been such a one as no woman need be ashamed +to hear attached to her name. But enough of this; I have given Peggy +Perott, and you are bound to drink her”--that we had done already; “and +now, cousin, as I have passed through the fiery furnace--” + +“Unscathed?” demanded Lucy, laughing ready to kill herself. + +“Yes, unscathed, miss: and now, cousin, I ask of you to honour us with a +toast.” + +Mrs. Bradfort had been a widow many years, and was fortified with the +panoply of her state. Accustomed to such appeals, which, when she was +young and handsome, had been of much more frequent occurrence than of +late, she held her glass for the wine with perfect self-possession, +and gave her toast with the conscious dignity of one who had often been +solicited in vain “to change her condition.” + +“I will give you,” she said, raising her person and her voice, as if to +invite scrutiny, “my dear old friend, good Dr. Wilson.” + +It was incumbent on a single person to give another who was also single; +and the widow had been true to the usage; but “good Dr. Wilson” was a +half-superannuated clergyman, whom no one could suspect of inspiring +anything beyond friendship. + +“Dear me--dear me!” cried Mr. Hardinge, earnestly; “how much more +thoughtful, Mrs. Bradfort, you are than myself! Had I thought a moment, +_I_ might have given the Doctor; for I studied with him, and honour him +vastly.” + +This touch of simplicity produced another laugh--how easily we all +laughed that night!--and it caused a little more confusion in the +excellent divine. Mrs. Bradfort then called on me, as was her right; +but I begged that Rupert might precede me, he knowing more persons, and +being now a sort of man of the world. + +“I will give the charming Miss Winthrop,” said Rupert, without a +moment's hesitation, tossing off his glass with an air that said, “how +do you like _that?_” + +As Winthrop was a highly respectable name, it denoted the set in which +Rupert moved; and as for the young lady I dare say she merited his +eulogium, though I never happened to see her. It was something, however, +in 1802, for a youngster to dare to toast a Winthrop, or a Morris, or +a Livingston, or a de Lancey, or a Stuyvesant, or a Beekman, or a Van +Renssellaer, or a Schuyler, or a Rutherford, or a Bayard, or a Watts, or +a Van Cortlandt, or a Verplanck, or a Jones, or a Walton, or any of +that set. They, and twenty similar families, composed the remnant of +the colonial aristocracy, and still made head, within the limits of +Manhattan, against the inroads of the Van--something elses. Alas! alas! +how changed is all this, though I am obliged to believe it is all for +the best. + +“Do _you_ know Miss Winthrop?” I asked of Grace, in a whisper. + +“Not at all; I am not much in that set,” she answered, quietly. “Rupert +and Lucy have been noticed by many persons whom I do not know.” + +This was the first intimation I got, that my sister did not possess all +the advantages in society that were enjoyed by her friend. As is always +the case where it is believed to be our _loss_, I felt indignant at +first; had it been the reverse, I dare say I should have fancied it all +very right. Consequences grew out of these distinctions which I could +not then foresee, but which will be related in their place. Rupert now +called on Grace for her toast, a lady commonly succeeding a gentleman. +My sister did not seem in the least disconcerted: but, after a moment's +hesitation, she said-- + +“Mr. Edward Marston.” + +This was a strange name to me, but I afterwards ascertained it belonged +to a respectable young man who visited Mrs. Bradfort's, and who stood +very well with all his acquaintances. I looked at Rupert, to note the +effect; but Rupert was as calm as Grace herself had been, when he gave +Miss Winthrop. + +“I believe I have no one to call upon but you, Miles,” said Grace, +smiling. + +“Me! Why, you all know I am not acquainted with a soul. Our Ulster +county girls have almost all gone out of my recollection; besides, no +one would know them here, should I mention twenty.” + +“You strangely forget, brother, that most of us are Ulster county folk. +Try if you can recall no young lady--” + +“Oh! easily enough, for that matter; a young fellow can hardly have +lived nine months in the same cabin with Emily, and not think of her, +when hard pushed; I will give you, Miss Emily Merton.” + +The toast was drunk, and I thought Mr. Hardinge looked thoughtful, like +one who had a guardian's cares, and that Grace was even grave. I did +not dare look at Lucy, though I could have toasted her all night, had it +been in rule to drink a person who was present. We began to chat again, +and I had answered some eight or ten questions, when Mrs. Bradfort, much +too precise to make any omissions, reminded us that we had not yet been +honoured with Miss Lucy Hardinge's toast. Lucy had enjoyed plenty +of time to reflect; and she bowed, paused a moment as if to summon +resolution, and then mentioned-- + +“Mr. Andrew Drewett.” + +So, then, Lucy Hardinge toasted this Mr. Drewett--the very youth with +whom she had been in such animated discourse, when I first met the +party! Had I been more familiar with the world, I should have thought +nothing of a thing that was so common; or, did I understand human nature +better, I might have known that no sensitive and delicate woman would +betray a secret that was dear to her, under so idle a form. But I +was young, and ready myself to toast the girl I preferred before the +universe; and I could not make suitable allowances for difference of sex +and temperament. Lucy's toast made me very uncomfortable for the rest +of the evening; and I was not sorry when Rupert reminded me that it was +eleven, and that he would go with me to a tavern, in order to look for a +room. + +The next morning was passed in transacting the business of the ship. I +found myself much noticed among the merchants and ship-masters; and one +of my owners took me on 'Change, that I might see and be seen. As the +papers had spoken of the recapture of the Crisis, on the arrival of the +Pretty Poll, and had now each an article on the arrival of the ship, +I had every reason to be satisfied with my reception. There are men so +strong in principle, as well as intellect, I do suppose, that they can +be content with the approbation of their own consciences, and who can +smile at the praises or censure of the world, alike; but I confess to +a strong sympathy with the commendation of my fellow-creatures, and as +strong a distaste for their disapprobation. I know this is not the way +to make a very great man; for he who cannot judge, feel and act for +himself, will always he in danger of making undue sacrifices to the +wishes of others; but you can have no more of a cat than the skin; and +I was sufficiently proud at finding myself a miniature hero, about the +lower end of Wall-street, and in the columns of the newspapers. As for +these last, no one can complain of their zeal in extolling everything +national. To believe them, the country never was wrong, or defeated, or +in a condition to be defeated, except when a political opponent could be +made to suffer by an opposite theory; and then nothing was ever +right. As to fame, I have since discovered they consider that of each +individual to be public property, in which each American has a part and +parcel--the editors, themselves, more than the man who has thrown +the article into the common lot. But I was young in 1802, and even a +paragraph in my praise in a newspaper had a certain charm for me, that I +will not deny. Then I _had_ done well, as even my enemies, if I had any +must have admitted. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + “Ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats, and + water-rats, water-thieves, and land-thieves; I mean pirates; and + then, there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks: the man is, + notwithstanding, sufficient;--three thousand ducats;--I think I may + take his bond.”--_Shylock_. + + +I saw Grace, and Lucy, and Rupert, and good Mr. Hardinge, every day; but +I could not find time to call on the Mertons, until near the close of a +week. I then paid them a visit, and found them glad to see me, but not +at all in want of my attentions to make them comfortable. The Major had +exhibited his claims to the British consul, who happened to be a native +Manhattanese, and was well-connected, a circumstance that then gave +him an influence in society, that his commission alone would not have +conferred. Colonel Barclay, for so was this gentleman called, had taken +the Mertons by the hand, as a matter of course; and his example being +followed by others, I found that they were already in the best circle of +the place. Emily mentioned to me the names of several of those with whom +she had exchanged visits; and I knew at once, through Lucy's and Grace's +conversation, and from my own general knowledge of the traditions of the +colony and state, that they were among the leading people of the land, +socially if not politically; a class altogether above any with whom +I had myself ever associated. Now, I knew that the master of a +merchantman, whatever might be his standing with his owner, or +consignee, or the credit he had gained among his fellows, was not likely +to get admission into this set; and there was the comfortable prospect +before me, of having my own sister and the two other girls I admired +most and loved best in the world--next to Grace, of course--visiting +round in houses, of which the doors were shut against myself. This is +always unpleasant, but in my case it turned out to be more. + +When I told Emily that Grace and Lucy were in town, and intended coming +to see her that very morning, I thought she manifested less curiosity +than would have been the case a month before. + +“Is Miss Hardinge a relative of Mr. Rupert Hardinge, the gentleman +to whom I was introduced at dinner, yesterday,” she demanded, after +expressing the pleasure it would give her to see the ladies. + +I knew that Rupert had dined out the day before, and, there being no one +else of the same name, I answered in the affirmative. + +“He is the son of a respectable clergyman, and of very good connections, +I hear.” + +“The Hardinges are so considered among us; both Rupert's father and +grandfather were clergymen, and his great-grandfather was a seaman--I +trust _you_ will think none the worse of him, for that.” + +“A sailor! I had supposed, from what some of those present said--that +is, I did not know it.” + +“Perhaps they told you that his great-grandfather was a _British +officer?_” + +Emily coloured, and then she laughed faintly; admitting, however, that I +had guessed right. + +“Well, all this was true,” I added, “though he was a sailor. Old Captain +Hardinge--or Commodore Hardinge, as he used to be called, for he once +commanded a squadron--was in the English navy.” + +“Oh! that sort of a sailor!”--cried Emily, quickly--“I did not know that +it was usual to call gentlemen in the navy, seamen.” + +“They would make a poor figure if they were not, Miss Merton--you might +as well say that a judge is no lawyer.” + +This was enough, however, to satisfy me that Miss Merton no longer +considered the master of the Crisis the first man in the world. + +A ring announced the arrival of the two girls. They were shown up, and +I soon had the satisfaction of seeing these three charming young women +together. Emily received her two guests very courteously, and was +frank--nay warm--in the expression of her gratitude for all that I had +done for herself and her father. She even went back so far as to speak +of the occurrence in the Park, at London, and was gracious enough to +declare that she and her parents owed their lives to my interference. +All this gave her listeners great pleasure, for I believe neither ever +tired of hearing my praises. After this opening, the conversation turned +on New York, its gaieties, and the different persons known to them +mutually. I saw that the two girls were struck with the set Miss Merton +was in, which was a shade superior even to that of Mrs. Bradfort's, +though the fusion which usually accompanies that sort of thing, brought +portions of each circle within the knowledge of the other. As the +persons named were utter strangers to me, I had nothing to say, and +sat listening in silence. The opportunity was improved by comparing the +girls with each other. + +In delicacy of appearance, Grace and Lucy each had the advantage of the +English beauty. Their hands and feet were smaller, their waists finer, +and their _tournures_, generally, I thought the most pleasing. Emily +had the advantage in complexion, though her colour had less fineness and +delicacy. Perhaps her teeth were the most brilliant; though Grace and +Lucy, particularly the latter, had very fine teeth. The English girl's +shoulders and bust, generally, would have been more admired than those +of most American--particularly than most New York--girls; but it was not +possible to surpass those of Lucy. As a whole, Emily's countenance +had the most spirit, Lucy's the most finesse and feeling. I make +no comparison with the expression of Grace's countenance, which was +altogether too remarkable for its intellectual character, to be included +in anything like a national classification. I remember I thought, as +they sat there in a row conversing frankly and cheerfully together, Lucy +the handsomest, in her pretty neat morning-dress; while I had my doubts +whether Emily would not have extorted the most applause in a ball-room. +This distinction is mentioned, because I believe it national. + +The visit lasted an hour; for I had expressed a wish to all parties that +they would become acquainted, and the girls seemed mutually pleased. As +they chatted, I listened to the tones of their voices, and fancied, +on the whole, that Emily had slightly the advantage in intonation and +accent; though it was scarcely perceptible, and it was an advantage that +was attended by a slight sacrifice of the charm of natural utterance. +She was a little more artificial in this respect than her companions, +and insomuch less pleasing though, had the comparison been made with the +Manhattan _style_ of the present day, the odds would have been immensely +in her favour. In 1802, however, some attention was still paid to the +utterance, tones of voice, and manner of speaking of young ladies. The +want of it all, just now, is the besetting vice of the whole of +our later instruction of the sex; it being almost as rare a thing +now-a-days, to find a young American girl who speaks her own language +gracefully, as it is to find one who is not of pleasing person. + +When the young ladies parted, it was with an understanding that they +were soon to meet again. I shook hands with Emily, English fashion, and +took my leave at the same time. + +“Well, Miles,” said Grace, as soon as we were in the street, “you have +certainly been of service to a very charming young woman--I like her, +excessively.” + +“And you, Lucy--I hope you agree with Grace, in thinking my friend, +Emily Merton, a charming young woman.” + +Lucy did not speak as frankly, or as decidedly as Grace, so far as +manner was concerned; though she coincided in words. + +“I am of the same opinion,” she said, in a tone that was far less +cheerful than her usually very cheerful manner. “She is one of the +loveliest creatures I ever saw--and it is no wonder--” + +“What is no wonder, dear?” asked Grace, observing that her friend +hesitated to proceed. + +“Oh! I was about to say something silly, and had better not finish the +speech. But, what a finished manner Miss Merton possesses;--do you not +think so, Grace?” + +“I wish she had a little less of it, dear; that is precisely what I +should find fault with in her deportment. It _is_ manner; and, though we +all must have some, it strikes me it ought not to be seen. I think all +the Europeans we saw in town, last winter, Lucy, had more or less of +this manner.” + +“I dare say it would seem so to _us_; notwithstanding, it may be very +agreeable to those who are used to it--a thing to miss, when one gets +much accustomed to it.” + +As Lucy made this remark, I detected a furtive and timid glance at +myself. I was mystified at the time, and was actually so silly as to +think the dear girl was talking at me, and to feel a little resentment. +I fancied she wished to say, “There, Master Miles, you have been in +London, and on a desert island in the South Seas--the very extremes +of human habits--and have got to be so sophisticated, so very +un-Clawbonnyish, as to feel the necessity of a _manner_, in the young +ladies with whom you associate.” The notion nettled me to a degree that +induced me to pretend duty, and to hurry down to the ship. Whom should +I meet, in Rector Street, but Mr. Hardinge, who had been across to the +Hudson in search of me. + +“Come hither, Miles,” said the excellent old man, “I wish to converse +with you seriously.” + +As Lucy was uppermost in my thoughts at the moment, I said to +myself--“What can the dear old gentleman have to say, now?” + +“I hear from all quarters the best accounts of you, my dear boy,” Mr. +Hardinge continued, “and I am told you make a very superior seaman. +It is a feather in your cap, indeed, to have commanded an Indiaman a +twelve-month before you are of age. I have been conversing with my old +friend John Murray, of the house of John Murray and Sons, one of the +very best merchants in America, and he says 'push the boy ahead, when +you find the right stuff in him. Get him a ship of his own, and that +will put him on the true track. Teach him early to have an eye to his +own interests, and it will make a man of him, at once.' I have thought +the matter over, have had a vessel in my eye, for the last month, and +will purchase her at once, if you like the plan.” + +“But, have I money enough for such a thing, my dear sir--after having +sailed in the John, and the Tigris, and the Crisis, I should not like to +take up with any of your B's, No. 2.” + +“You have forgotten to mention the 'Pretty Poll,' Miles,” said the +divine, smiling. “Be under no fear, however, for your dignity; the +vessel I have in treaty, is all you could wish, they tell me, having +made but one voyage, and is sold on account of the death of her owner. +As for money, you will remember I have thirteen thousand dollars of your +income invested in stocks, and stocks that cost but ten. The peace has +brought everything up, and you are making money, right and left. How +have your own pay and private venture turned out?” + +“Perfectly well, sir. I am near three thousand dollars in pocket, and +shall have no need to call on you, for my personal wants. Then I have +my prize-money to touch. Even Neb, wages and prize-money, brings me nine +hundred dollars. With your permission, sir, I should like to give the +fellow his freedom.” + +“Wait till you are of age, Miles, and then you can do as you please. I +hold four thousand dollars of your invested money, which has been paid +in, and I have placed it in stocks. Altogether, I find we can muster, +in solid cash, more than twenty thousand dollars, while the price of the +ship, as she stands, almost ready for sea, is only fifteen. Now, go and +look at the vessel; if you like her, I will close the bargain at once.” + +“But, my dear Mr. Hardinge, do you think yourself exactly qualified to +judge of the value of a ship?” + +“Poh! poh! don't imagine I am so conceited as to purchase on my own +knowledge. I have taken some of the very best advice of the city. +There is John Murray, to begin with--a great ship-holder, himself--and +Archibald Gracie, and William Bayard--all capital judges, have taken an +interest in the affair. Three others of my friends have walked round to +look at the vessel, and all approve--not a dissenting voice.” + +“May I ask, sir, who have seen her, besides the gentlemen you have +named? they, I admit, are, indeed, good judges.” + +“Why?--why--yes--do you happen to know anything of Dr. Benjamin Moore, +now, Miles?” + +“Never heard of him, sir, in my life; but a physician can be no great +judge of a ship.” + +“No more of a physician than yourself, boy--Dr. Benjamin Moore, the +gentleman we elected Bishop, while you were absent--” + +“Oh! he you wished to toast, instead of Miss Peggy Perott--” cried I, +smiling. “Well, what does the Bishop think of her--if he approve, she +_must_ be orthodox.” + +“He says she is the handsomest vessel he ever laid eyes on, Miles; and +let me tell you, the favourable opinion of so good a man as Dr. Moore, +is of value, even though it be about a ship.” + +I could not avoid laughing, and I dare say most of the readers will +also, at this touch of simplicity; and yet, why should not a Bishop know +as much of ships, as a set of ignoramuses who never read a theological +book in their lives, some of them not even the Bible, should know about +Bishops? The circumstance was not a tittle more absurd than many that +are occurring daily before our eyes, and to which, purely from habit, we +submit, very much as a matter of course. + +“Well, sir,” I replied, as soon as I could, “I will look at the ship, +get her character, and give you an answer at once. I like the idea, for +it is pleasant to be one's own master.” + +In that day, $15,000 would buy a very excellent ship, as ships went. +The vessel I was taken to see, was coppered and copper-fastened, +butt-bolted, and she measured just five hundred tons. She had a great +reputation as a sailer, and what was thought a good deal of in 1802, +was Philadelphia built. She had been one voyage to China, and was little +more than a year old, or the best possible age for a vessel. Her name +was the “Dawn,” and she carried an “Aurora” for her figure-head. Whether +she were, or were not inclined to Puseyism, I never could ascertain, +although I can affirm she had the services of the Protestant Episcopal +Catholic Church read on board her afterwards, on more than one occasion. + +The result of my examination and inquiries was favourable, and, by the +end of the week, the Dawn was purchased. The owners of the Crisis were +pleased to express their regrets, for they had intended that I should +continue in the command of their vessel, but no one could object to +a man's wishing to sail in his own employment. I made this important +acquisition, at what was probably the most auspicious moment of American +navigation. It is a proof of this, that, the very day I was put in +possession of the ship, good freights were offered to no less than four +different parts of the world. I had my choice between Holland, France, +England, and China. After consulting with my guardian, I accepted that +to France, which not only paid the best, but I was desirous of seeing +more of the world than had yet fallen to my share. I could make a voyage +to Bordeaux and back in five months, and by the end of that time I +should be of age, and consequently my own master. As I intended to have +great doings at Clawbonny on that occasion, I thought it might be well +not to go too far from home. Accordingly, after shipping Talcott and the +Philadelphian, whose name was Walton, for my mates, we began to take in +cargo, as soon as possible. + +In the meantime, I bethought me of a visit to the paternal home. It was +a season of the year, when most people, who were anybodies, left town, +and the villas along the shores of the Hudson had long been occupied. +Mr. Hardinge, too, pined for the country and his flock. The girls had +had enough of town, which was getting to be very dull, and everybody, +Rupert excepted, seemed anxious to go up the river. I had invited the +Mertons to pass part of the summer at the farm, moreover, and it was +time the invitation should be renewed, for the Major's physicians had +advised him to choose some cooler residence than the streets of a hot +close town could furnish, during the summer months. Emily had been +so much engrossed with the set into which she had fallen, since her +landing, and which it was easy for me to see was altogether superior +to that in which she had lived at home, that I was surprised at the +readiness with which she urged her father to redeem his promise. + +“Mr. Hardinge tells me, sir, that Clawbonny is really a pretty spot,” + she said, “and the country around it is thought to be very healthy. You +cannot get answers from home (she meant England) for several months, and +I know Captain Wallingford will be happy to receive us. Besides, we are +pledged to accept this additional favour from him.” + +I thought Major Merton felt some of my own surprise at Emily's +earnestness and manner, but his resistance was very feeble. The old +gentleman's health, indeed, was pretty thoroughly undermined, and I +began to have serious doubts of his living even to return to Europe. He +had some relatives in Boston, and had opened a correspondence with them, +and I had thought, more than once, of the expediency of apprising them +of his situation. At present however nothing better could be done than +to get him into the country. + +Having made all the arrangements with the others, I went to persuade +Rupert to be of the party, for I thought it would make both Grace and +Lucy so much the happier. + +“Miles, my dear fellow,” said the young student, gaping, “Clawbonny is +certainly a capitalish place, but, you will admit it is somewhat stupid +after New York. My good kinswoman, Mrs. Bradfort, has taken such a fancy +to us all, and has made me so comfortable--would you believe it, boy, +she has actually given me six hundred a year, for the last two years, +besides making Lucy presents fit for a queen. A sterling woman is she, +this cousin Margaret of ours!” + +I heard this, truly, not without surprise; for, in settling with my +owners, I found Rupert had drawn every cent to which he was entitled, +under the orders I had left when I last went to sea. + +As Mrs. Bradfort was more than at her ease, however, had no nearer +relative than Mr. Hardinge, and was much attached to the family, I had +no difficulty in believing it true, so far as the lady's liberality was +concerned. I heartily wished Rupert had possessed more self-respect; but +he was, as he was! + +“I am sorry you cannot go with us,” I answered, “for I counted on you to +help amuse the Mertons--” + +“The Mertons!--Why, surely, they are not going to pass the summer at +Clawbonny!” + +“They quit town with us, to-morrow. Why should not the Mertons pass the +summer at Clawbonny?” + +“Why, Miles, my dear boy, you know how it is with the world--how it is +with these English, in particular. They think everything of rank, you +know, and are devotees of style and appearance, and all that sort of +thing, you know, as no one understands better than myself; for I pass +most of my time in the English set, you know.” + +I did not _then_ understand what had come over Rupert, though it is all +plain enough to me, _now_. He had, truly enough, got into what was then +called the English set. Now, there is no question, that, so far as the +natives, themselves, were concerned, this was as good a set as ever +existed in his country; and, it is also beyond all cavil, that many +respectable English persons, of both sexes, were occasionally found in +it; but, it had this great defect:--_every_ Englishman who wore a +good coat, and had any of the slang of society, made his way into the +outskirts, at least, of this set; and Rupert, whose own position was not +yet thoroughly confirmed, had fallen a great deal into the association +of these accidental comers and goers. They talked large, drank deep, and +had a lofty disdain for everything in the country, though it was very +certain they were just then in much better company where they were, +than they had ever been at home. Like most tyroes, Rupert fancied these +blustering gentry persons to imitate; and, as they seldom conversed +ten minutes without having something to say of my Lord A----or Sir John +B----, persons they had _read_ of, or seen in the streets, he was weak +enough to imagine they knew all about the dignitaries of the British +Empire. As Rupert was really a gentleman, and had good manners +naturally, it was a grievous thing to see him fashioning himself anew, +as it might be, on such very questionable models, + +“Clawbonny is not a stylish place, I am ready to allow,” I answered, +after a moment of hesitation; “still it is respectable. There is a good +farm, a valuable mill, and a good, old, comfortable, straggling, stone +house.” + +“Very true, Miles, my dear fellow, and all as dear to me, you know, as +the apple of my eye--but _farmish_--young ladies like the good +things that comes from farms, but do not admire the homeliness of the +residence. I speak of young English ladies, in particular. Now, you +see, Major Merton is a field-officer, and that is having good rank in a +respectable profession, you know--I suppose you understand, Miles, that +the king puts most of his sons into the army, or navy--all this makes a +difference, you understand?” + +“I understand nothing about it; what is it to me where the king of +England puts his sons?” + +“I wish, my dear Miles, if the truth must be said, that you and I had +been a little less boyish, when we were boys, than happened to be the +case. It would have been all the better for us both.” + +“Well, I wish no such thing. A boy should be a boy, and a man a man. I +am content to have been a boy, while I was a boy. It is a fault in this +country, that boys fancy themselves men too soon.” + +“Ah! my dear fellow, you _will_ not, or _do_ not understand me. What I +mean is, that we were both precipitate in the choice of a profession--I +retired in time, but you persevere; that is all.” + +“You did retire in season, my lad, if truth is what you are after; for, +had you staid a hundred years on board ship, you never would have made a +sailor.” + +When I said this, I fancied I had uttered a pretty severe thing. Rupert +took it so coolly, however, as to satisfy me at once, that he thought +differently on the subject. + +“Clearly, it is not my vocation. Nature intended me for something +better, I trust, and I mistook a boyish inclination for a taste. A +little experience taught me better, and I am now where I feel I ought to +be. I wish, Miles, you had come to the study of the law, at the time you +went to sea. You would have been, by this time, at the bar, and would +have had a definite position in society.” + +“I am very glad I did not. What the deuce should I have done as a +lawyer--or what advantage would it have been to me, to be admitted to +the bar?” + +“Advantage!--Why, my dear fellow, every advantage in the world. You know +how it is, in this country, I suppose, in the way of society, my dear +Miles?” + +“Not I--and, by the little I glean from the manner you sheer about in +your discourse, I wish to know nothing. Do young men study law merely to +be genteel?” + +“Do not despise knowledge, my boy; it is of use, even in trifles. Now, +in this country, you know, we have very few men of mere leisure--heirs +of estates, to live on their incomes, as is done in Europe; but, +nine-tenths of us must follow professions, of which there are only +half-a-dozen suitable for a gentleman. The army and navy are nothing, +you know; two or three regiments scattered about in the woods, and +half-a-dozen vessels. After these, there remain the three learned +professions, divinity, law and physic. In our family, divinity has run +out, I fear. As for physic, 'throw physic to the dogs,' as Miss Merton +says--” + +“Who?” I exclaimed, in surprise. “'Throw physic to the dogs'--why that +is Shakspeare, man!” + +“I know it, and it is Miss Emily Merlon's, too. You have made us +acquainted with a charming creature, at least, Miles, by this going to +sea. Her notions on such subjects are as accurate as a sun-dial.” + +“And, has Miss Emily Merton ever conversed with you, on the subject of +_my_ profession, Rupert?” + +“Indeed, she has; and regretted it, again and again. You know as well +as I do, Miles, to be a sailor, other than in a navy, is not a _genteel_ +profession!” + +I broke out into a fit of laughter, at this remark. It struck me as +infinitely droll, and as somewhat silly. I knew my precise position +in society, perfectly; had none of the silly swaggering about personal +merit, and of “one man's being as good as another,” that has since got +into such general use among us; and understood perfectly the useful +and unavoidable classifications that take place in all civilized +communities, and which, while they are attended by certain disadvantages +as exceptions, produce great benefits as a whole, and was not disposed +at all to exaggerate my claims, or to deny my deficiencies. But, the +idea of attaching any considerations of _gentility_ to my noble, manly, +daring profession, sounded so absurd, I could not avoid laughing. In a +few moments, however, I became grave. + +“Harkee, Rupert,” said I: “I trust Miss Merton does not think I +endeavoured to mislead her as to my true position, or to make her think +I was a greater personage than I truly am?” + +“I'll not answer for that. When we were first acquainted, I found she +had certain notions about Clawbonny, and your _estate_, and all that, +which were rather English, you know. Now, in England an _estate_ gives a +man a certain consideration, whereas land is so plenty with us, that we +think nothing of the man who happens to own a little of it. _Stock_, +in America, as it is so much nearer ready-money, is a better thing than +land, you know.” + +How true was this, even ten years since; how false is it to-day! +The proprietor of tens of thousands of acres, was, indeed, under the +paper-money _regime_, a less important man than the owner of a handful +of scrip, which has had all its value squeezed out of it, little by +little. That was truly the age when the representative of property was +of far more importance than the property itself; and all because the +country existed in a fever, that set everything in motion. We shall see +just such times, again, I fear. + +“But what had Emily Merton to do with all this?” + +“Miss Merton? Oh! she is English, you know, and felt as English persons +always do, at the sound of acres. I set it all right, however, and you +need be under no concern.” + +“The devil you did! And, pray, in what manner was this done? _How_ was +the matter set right?” + +Rupert took the segar from his mouth, suffered the smoke to issue, by +a small, deliberate jet, cocking his nose up at the same time as if +observing the stars, and then deigned to give me an answer. Your smokers +have such a disdainful, ultra-philosophical manner, sometimes! + +“Why, just in this way, my fine fellow. I told her Clawbonny was a +_farm_, and not an _estate_, you know; that did a good deal, of itself. +Then, I entered into an explanation of the consideration of farmers +in this country, you know, and made it all as plain as A B C. She is a +quick girl, is Emily, and takes a thing remarkably soon.” + +“Did Miss Merton say anything to induce you to suppose she thought the +less of me, for these explanations.” + +“Of course not--she values you, amazingly--quite worships you, _as a +sailor_--thinks you a sort of merchant-captain Nelson, or Blake, or +Truxtun, and all that sort of thing. All young ladies, however, are +exceedingly particular about professions, I suppose you know, Miles, as +well as I do myself.” + +“What, Lucy, Rupert?--Do you imagine Lucy cares a straw about my not +being a lawyer, for instance?” + +“Do I?--out of all question. Don't you remember how the girls +wept--Grace as well as Lucy--when we went to sea, boy. It was all on +account of the _un_gentility of the profession, if a fellow can use such +a word.” + +I did not believe this, for I knew Grace better, to say the least; and +thought I understood Lucy sufficiently, at that time, to know she wept +because she was sorry to see me go away. Still, Lucy had grown from a +very young girl, since I sailed in the Crisis, into a young woman, and +might view things differently, now, from what she had done three years +before. I had not time, however, for further discussion at that moment, +and I cut the matter short. + +“Well, Rupert, what am I to expect?” I asked; “Clawbonny, or no +Clawbonny?” + +“Why, now you say the Mertons are to be of the party I suppose I shall +have to go; it would be inhospitable else. I do wish, Miles, you would +manage to establish visiting relations with some of the families on the +other side of the river. There are plenty of respectable people within a +few hours' sail of Clawbonny.” + +“My father, and my grandfather, and my great-grand-father, managed, as +you call it, to get along, for the last hundred years, well enough on +the west side; and, although we are not quite as genteel as the _east_, +we will do well enough. The Wallingford sails early in the morning, to +save the tide; and I hope your lordship will turn out in season, and not +keep us waiting. If you do, I shall be _ungenteel_ enough to leave you +behind.” + +I left Rupert with a feeling in which disgust and anger were blended. +I wish to be understood, more particularly as I know I am writing for a +stiff-necked generation. I never was guilty of the weakness of decrying +a thing because I did not happen to possess it myself. I knew my own +place in the social scale perfectly; nor was I, as I have just said, in +the least inclined to fancy that one man was as good as another. I knew +very well that this was not true, either in nature or in the social +relations; in political axioms, any more than in political truths. At +the same time, I did not believe nature had created men unequal, in the +order of primogeniture from male to male. Keeping in view all the facts, +I was perfectly disposed to admit that habits, education, association, +and sometimes chance and caprice, drew distinctions that produced great +benefits, as a whole; in some small degree qualified, perhaps, by cases +of individual injustice. This last exception, however, being applicable +to all things human, it had no influence on my opinions, which were +sound and healthful on all these points; practical, common-sense-like, +and in conformity with the decisions of the world from the time of Moses +down to our own, or, I dare say, of Adam himself, if the truth could be +known; and, as I have said more than once in these rambling memoir's, +I was not disposed to take a false view of my own social position. I +belonged, at most, to the class of small proprietors, as they existed in +the last century, and filled a very useful and respectable niche between +the yeoman and gentleman, considering the last strictly in reference to +the upper class of that day. Now, it struck me that Emily Merton, with +her English notions, might very well draw the distinctions Rupert had +mentioned; nor am I conscious of having cared much about it, though she +did. If I were a less important person on _terra firma_, with all the +usages and notions of ordinary society producing their influence, than I +had been when in command of the Crisis, in the centre of the Pacific, so +was Miss Merton a less important young lady, in the midst of the beauty +of New York, than she had been in the isolation of Marble Land. This I +could feel very distinctly. But Lucy's supposed defection did more than +annoy me. I felt humbled, mortified, grieved. I had always known that +Lucy was better connected than I was myself, and I had ever given Rupert +and her the benefit of this advantage, as some offset to my own and +Grace's larger means; but it had never struck me that either the brother +or sister would be disposed to look down upon us in consequence. The +world is everywhere--and America, on account of its social vicissitudes, +more than most other countries--constantly exhibiting pictures of the +struggles between fallen consequence and rising wealth. The last may, +and does have the best of it, in the mere physical part of the strife; +but in the more moral, if such a word can be used, the quiet ascendency +of better manners and ancient recollections is very apt to overshadow +the fussy pretensions of the vulgar aspirant, who places his claims +altogether on the all-mighty dollar. It is vain to deny it; men ever +have done it, and probably ever will defer to the past, in matters of +this sort--it being much with us, in this particular, as it is with our +own lives, which have had all their greatest enjoyments in bygone +days. I knew all this--felt all this--and was greatly afraid that Lucy, +through Mrs. Bradfort's influence, and her town associations, might have +learned to regard me as Captain Wallingford, of the merchant-service, +and the son of another Captain Wallingford of the same line in life. I +determined, therefore, to watch her with jealous attention, during the +few days I was to remain at Clawbonny. With such generous intentions, +the reader is not to be surprised if I found some of that for which I so +earnestly sought--people being very apt to find precisely the thing for +which they look, when it is not lost money. + +The next morning we were all punctual, and sailed at the proper hour. +The Mertons seemed pleased with the river, and, having a fresh southerly +wind in our favour, with a strong flood-tide, we actually landed at +the mill the same afternoon. Everything is apt to be agreeable when the +traveller gets on famously; and I thought I never saw Emily in better +spirits than she was when we first reached the top of the ascent that +lies above the landing. I had given her my arm, as due to hospitality, +while the others got up as they could; for I observed that Rupert +assisted no one. As for Lucy, I was still too much vexed with her, and +had been so all day, to be as civil as I ought. We were soon at a point +that commanded a view of the house, meadows, orchards and fields. + +“This, then, is Clawbonny!” exclaimed Emily, as soon as I pointed +out the place to her. “Upon my word, a very pretty farm, Captain +Wallingford. Even prettier than you represented it to be, Mr. Rupert +Hardinge.” + +“Oh! I always do justice to everything of Wallingford's, you know. We +were children together, and became so much attached in early life, that +it's no wonder we remain so in these our later days.” + +Rupert was probably nearer the truth than he imagined, when he made this +speech; my regard for him, by this time, being pretty much reduced +to habit; and certainly it had no increase from any fresh supplies of +respect. I began to hope he might not marry Grace, though I had formerly +looked forward to the connection as a settled thing. “Let him get Miss +Merton, if he can,” I said to myself: “it will be no great acquisition, +I fancy, to either side.” + +How different was it with his father, and, I may add, with Lucy! The old +gentleman turned to me, with tears in his eyes; pointed to the dear old +house, with a look of delight; and then took my arm, without reference +to the wants of Miss Merton, and led me on, conversing earnestly of my +affairs, and of his own stewardship. Lucy had her father's arm, on the +other side; and the good divine was too much accustomed to her, to mind +the presence of his daughter. Away we three went, therefore, leading the +way, while Rupert took charge of Emily and Grace. Major Merton followed, +leaning on his own man. + +“It is a lovely--it is a lovely spot, Miles,” said Mr. Hardinge; “and +I do most sincerely hope you will never think of tearing down that +respectable-looking, comfortable, substantial, good old-fashioned house, +to build a new one.” + +“Why should I, dear sir? The house, with an occasional addition, all +built in the same style, has served us a century, and may very well +serve another. Why should I wish for more, or a better house?” + +“Why, sure enough? But, now you are a sort of a merchant, you may grow +rich, and wish to be the proprietor of a _seat_.” + +The time had been, when such thoughts often crossed my mind; but I +cared less for them, then. To own a _seat_, was the great object of +my ambition in boyhood; but the thought had weakened by time and +reflection. + +“What does Lucy think of the matter? Do I want, or indeed deserve, a +better house?” + +“I shall not answer either question,” replied the dear girl, a little +saucily, I thought. “I do not understand your wants, and do not choose +to speak of your deservings. But I fancy the question will be settled +by a certain Mrs. Wallingford, one of these days. Clever women generally +determine these things for their husbands.” + +I endeavoured to catch Lucy's eye, when this was said, by leaning a +little forward myself; but the girl turned her head in such a manner as +prevented my seeing her face. The remark was not lost on Mr. Hardinge, +however, who took it up with warmth, and all the interest of a most pure +and disinterested affection. + +“I suppose you _will_ think of marrying one of these days, Miles,” he +said; “but, on no account, marry a woman who will desert Clawbonny, or +who would wish materially to alter it. No good-hearted woman, indeed--no +_true_-hearted woman--would ever dream of either. Dear me! dear me! the +happy days and the sorrowful days--the gracious mercies of Providence, +and the chastening afflictions--that I myself have seen, and felt, and +witnessed, under these same roofs!” + +This was followed by a sort of enumeration of the events of the last +forty years, including passages in the lives of all who had dwelt at the +farm; the whole concluding with the divine's solemnly repeating--“No, +no! Miles; do not think, even, of marrying a woman who would wish you to +desert, or materially alter, Clawbonny.” + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + “If thou be'st rated by thy estimation, + Thou dost deserve enough; and yet enough + May not extend so far as to the lady.” + _Merchant of Venice_. + + +Next morning, I was early afoot, and I found Grace as much alive to the +charms of home, as I was myself. She put on a gypsy, and accompanied me +into the garden, where to my surprise, I found Lucy. It looked like old +times to be in that spot, again, with those two dear girls. Rupert alone +was wanting to complete the picture; but, I had an intimate conviction +that Rupert, as he had been at least, could never come within the +setting of the family group again. I was rejoiced, however, to see Lucy, +and more so, just where I found her, and I believe told her as much with +my eyes. The charming girl looked happier than she had appeared the day +before, or for many previous days indeed, and I felt less apprehension +than of late, concerning her having met with any agreeable youth of a +more _genteel_ profession than that of a merchant-captain. + +“I did not expect to find you here, Miss Lucy,” cried Grace, “eating +half-ripe currants, too, or my eyes deceive me, at this early hour in +the morning. It is not twenty minutes since you were in your own room, +quite unadorned.” + +“The green fruit of dear Clawbonny is better than the ripe fruit of +those vile New York markets!” exclaimed Lucy, with a fervour so natural +as to forbid any suspicion of acting. “I should prefer a Clawbonny +potatoe, to a New York peach!” + +Grace smiled, and, as soon as Lucy's animation had a little subsided, +_she_ blushed. + +“How much better would it be, Miles,” my sister resumed, “could you be +induced to think and feel with us, and quit the seas, to come and live +for the rest of your days on the spot where your fathers have so long +lived before you. Would it not, Lucy?” + +“Miles will never do _that_,” Lucy answered, with emphasis. “Men are +not like us females who love everything we love at all, with our whole +hearts. Men prefer wandering about, and being shipwrecked, and left on +desert islands, to remaining quietly at home, on their own farms. No, +no; you'll never persuade Miles to do _that_.” + +“I am not astonished my brother thinks desert islands such pleasant +abodes, when he can find companions like Miss Merton on them.” + +“You will remember, sister of mine, in the first place, that Marble Land +is very far from being a desert island at all; and, in the next, that I +first found Miss Merton in Hyde Park, London; almost in the canal, for +that matter.” + + +“I think it a little odd that Miles never told us all about this, in his +letters, at the time, Lucy. When young gentlemen drag young ladies out +of canals, their friends at home have a right to know something of the +matter.” + +How much unnecessary misery is inflicted by unmeaning expressions like +this. Grace spoke lightly, and probably without a second thought about +the matter; but the little she said, not only made me thoughtful and +uneasy, but it drove everything like a smile from the usually radiant +countenance of her friend. The conversation dragged; and soon after, we +returned together to the house. + +I was much occupied that morning, in riding about the place with Mr. +Hardinge, and in listening to his account of his stewardship, With +the main results I was already acquainted--nay, possessed them in the +Dawn,--but the details had all to be gone over, with the most minute +accuracy. A more simple-minded being there was not on earth than Mr. +Hardinge; and, that my affairs turned out so well was the result of the +prosperous condition of the country at that day, the system my father +had adopted in his life-time, and the good qualities of the different +agents he had chosen, every one of whom remained in the situation in +which he was at the sad moment of the fatal accident at the mill. Had +matters really depended on the knowledge and management of the most +excellent divine, they would soon have been at sixes and sevens. + +“I am no believer in miracles, my dear Miles,” observed my guardian, +with amusing self-complacency; “but I do think a change has been wrought +in me, to meet the emergencies of a situation, in which the interests of +two orphans have been so suddenly intrusted to my guidance and care. God +be thanked! everything prospers; your affairs, as well as those of +my dear Grace. It is wonderful, boy, how a man of my habits has been +directed in his purchases of wheat, for instance; I, who never bought +a bushel until the whole responsibility of your mills fell upon my +shoulders I take no credit to myself for it--no credit to myself!” + +“I hope the miller has not been backward, my dear sir, in giving you all +the assistance in his power.” + +“Morgan?--yes; he is always ready, and you know I never forget to send +him into the market to both buy and sell. Really, his advice has been +so excellent, that to me it has the appearance of being almost +miraculous--prophetic, I should say, were it not improper. We should +avoid all exaggeration in our gratitude, boy.” + +“Very truly, sir. And in what manner have you managed to get along so +well with the crops, on the place, itself?” + +“Favoured by the same great adviser, Miles. It is really wonderful, +the crops we have had; and the judgment that has been so providentially +shown in the management of the fields, as well as of the mills!” + +“Of course, sir, old Hiram (Neb's uncle) has always been ready to give +you his aid?--Hiram has a great deal of judgment, in his way.” + +“No doubt--no doubt--Hiram and I have done it all, led by a Providential +counsel. Well, my boy, you ought to be satisfied with your earthly lot; +for every thing seems to prosper that belongs to you. Of course, you +will marry, one of these days, and transmit this place to your son, as +it has been received from your fathers?” + +“I keep that hope in perspective, sir; or, as we sailors say, for a +sheet-anchor.” + +“Your hope of salvation, boy, is your sheet-anchor, I trust. +Nevertheless, we are not to be too hard on young men, and must let them +have a little romance in their compositions. Yes, yes; I trust you will +not become so much wedded to your ship, as not to think of taking a +wife, one of these days. It will be a happy hour to me, when I can see +another Mrs. Miles Wallingford at Clawbonny. She will be the third; for +I can remember your grandmother.” + +“Can you recommend to me a proper person to fill that honourable +station, sir?” said I, smiling to myself, and exceedingly curious to +hear the answer. + +“What do you think of this Miss Merton, boy? She is handsome, and that +pleases young men; clever, and that pleases old ones; well-educated, +and that will last, when the beauty is gone; and, so far as I can judge, +amiable; and that is as necessary to a wife, as fidelity. _Marry no +woman, Miles, that is not amiable!_” + +“May I ask _what_ you call amiable, sir?--And, when that question is +answered, I may venture to go so far as to inquire _whom_ you call +amiable?” + +“Very sensible distinctions, and such as are entitled to fair answers; +at least the first. I do not call levity, amiability; nor mere +constitutional gaiety. Some of the seemingly most light-hearted women +I have ever known, have been anything but amiable. There must be an +unusual absence of selfishness,--a person must live less for herself, +than others--or rather, must find her own happiness in the happiness of +those she loves, to make a truly amiable woman. Heart and principle +are at the bottom of what is truly amiable; though temperament and +disposition undoubtedly contribute. As for the whom, your own sister +Grace is a truly amiable young woman. I never knew her do anything to +hurt another's feelings in my life.” + +“I suppose you will admit, sir, I cannot very well marry Grace?” + +“I wish you could, with all my heart--yes, with all my heart! Were not +you and Grace brother and sister, I should consider myself well quit of +the responsibility of my guardianship, in seeing you man and wife.” + +“As that is out of the question, I am not without hopes you can mention +another who will do just as well, so far as I am concerned.” + +“Well, there is this Miss Merton--though I do not know her well enough +to venture absolutely on a recommendation. Now, I told Lucy, no later +than yesterday, while we were on the river, and as you were pointing out +to Miss Merton the forts in the Highlands, that I thought you would +make one of the handsomest couples in the state--and, moreover, I told +her--bless me, how this corn grows! The plants will be in tassel in +a few days, and the crop must turn out most beneficent--truly, +truly--there is a providence in all things; for, at first, I was for +putting the corn on yonder hill-side, and the potatoes here; but old +Hiram was led by some invisible agency to insist on this field for the +corn, and the hill-side for the potatoes--and, now, look, and see what +crops are in promise! Think of a nigger's blundering on such a thing?” + +In 1802, even well-educated and well-intentioned clergymen had no +scruples in saying “nigger.” + +“But, sir, you have quite forgotten to add what else you told Lucy?” + +“True--true--it is very natural that you should prefer hearing me talk +about Miss Merton, to hearing me talk about potatoes--I'll tell _that_ +to Lucy, too, you may depend on it.” + +“I sincerely hope you will do no such thing, my dear sir,” I cried, in +no little alarm. + +“Ah! that betrays guilt--consciousness, I should say; for what guilt can +there be in a virtuous love?--and rely on it, both the girls shall know +all about it. Lucy and I often talk over your matters, Miles; for she +loves you as well as your own sister. Ah! my fine fellow, you blush at +it, like a girl of sixteen! But, there is nothing to be ashamed of, and +there is no occasion for blushes.” + +“Well, sir, letting my blushes--the blushes of a shipmaster!--but +setting aside my blushes, for mercy's sake _what more_ did you tell +Lucy?” + +“What more? Why I told her how you had been on a desert island, quite +alone as one might say, with Miss Merton, and how you had been at sea, +living in the same cabin as it were, for nine months; and it would be +wonderful--wonderful, indeed, if two so handsome young persons +should not feel an attachment for each other. Country might make some +difference, to be sure--” + +“And station, sir?--What do you think would be the influence of the +difference of station, also?” + +“Station!--Bless me, Miles; what difference in station is there between +you and Miss Merton; that it should cause any obstacle to your union?” + +“You know what it is, sir, as well as I do myself. She is the daughter +of an officer in the British army, and I am the master of a ship. You +will admit, I presume, Mr. Hardinge, that there is such, a thing as a +difference in station?” + +“Beyond all question. It is exceedingly useful to remember it; and +I greatly fear the loose appointments of magistrates and other +functionaries, that are making round the country, will bring all our +notions on such subjects into great confusion. I can understand that one +man is as good as another in _rights_, Miles; but I cannot understand +he is any _better_, because he happens to be uneducated, ignorant, or a +blackguard.” + +Mr. Hardinge was a sensible man in all such distinctions, though so +simple in connection with other matters. + +“You can have no difficulty, however, in understanding that, in New +York, for instance, I should not be considered the equal of Major +Merton--I mean socially, altogether, and not in personal merit, or the +claims which years give--and of course, not the equal of his daughter?” + +“Why--yes--I know what you mean, now. There may be some little +inequality in that sense, perhaps; but Clawbonny, and the ship, and the +money at use, would be very apt to strike a balance.” + +“I am afraid not, sir. I should have studied law, sir, had I wished to +make myself a gentleman.” + +“There are lots of vulgar fellows getting into the law, Miles--men who +have not half your claims to be considered gentlemen. I hope you do not +think I wished you and Rupert to study law in order to make gentlemen of +you?” + +“No, sir; it was unnecessary to take that step as regards Rupert, who +was fully born in the station. Clergymen have a decided position all +over the world, I believe; and then you are extremely well connected +otherwise, Mr. Hardinge. Rupert has no occasion for such an +assistance--with me it was a little different.” + +“Miles--Miles--this is a strange fancy to come over a young man in your +situation--and who, I am afraid, has been the subject of envy, only too +often, to Rupert!” + +“If the truth were known, Mr. Hardinge, I dare say both Rupert and Lucy, +in their secret hearts, think they possess advantages, in the way of +social station, that do not belong to Grace and myself.” + +Mr. Hardinge looked hurt, and I was soon sorry that I had made this +speech. Nor would I have the reader imagine that what I had said, +proceeded in the least from that narrow selfish feeling, which, under +the blustering pretension of equality, presumes to deny the existence +of a very potent social fact; but simply from the sensitiveness of +feelings, which, on this subject, were somewhat in danger of becoming +morbid, through the agency of the most powerful passion of the +human heart--or, that which has well been called the master-passion. +Nevertheless, Mr. Hardinge was much too honest a man to deny a truth, +and much too sincere to wish even to prevaricate about it, however +unpleasant it might be to acknowledge it, in all its unpleasant +bearings. + +“I now understand you, Miles; and it would be idle to pretend that +there is not some justice in what you say, though I attach very little +importance to it, myself. Rupert is not exactly what I could wish him to +be in all things, and possibly _he_ may be coxcomb enough, at times, +to fancy he has this slight advantage over you,--but, as for Lucy, I'll +engage she never thinks of you but as a second brother--and that she +loves you exactly as she loves Rupert.” + +Mr. Hardinge's simplicity was of proof, and it was idle to think of +making any impression on it. I changed the subject, therefore, and this +was easily enough done, by beginning again to talk about the potatoes. I +was far from being easy, nevertheless; for I could not avoid seeing that +the good divine's restlessness might readily widen the little breach +which had opened between his daughter and myself. + +That day, at dinner, I discovered that Grace's winter in town had led +to a sensible melioration of the domestic economy; most especially as +related to the table. My father and mother had introduced some changes, +which rendered the Clawbonny household affairs a little different from +those of most other of the Ulster county families near our own class; +but their innovations, or improvements, or whatever they might be +called, were far from being as decided as those introduced by their +daughter. Nothing, perhaps, sooner denotes the condition of people, than +the habits connected with the table. If eating and drinking be not done +in a certain way, and a way founded in reason, too, as indeed are nearly +all the customs of polished life, whatever may be the cant of the ultras +of reason--but, if eating and drinking be not done in a certain way, +your people of the world perceive it sooner than almost anything else. +There is, also, more of common sense and innate fitness, in the usages +of the table, so long as they are not dependent on mere caprice, than +in almost any other part of our deportment; for everybody must eat, and +most persons choose to eat decently. I had been a little nervous on the +subject of the Mertons, in connection with the Clawbonny table, I will +confess; and great was my delight when I found the breakfast going off +so well. As for the Major, himself by no means familiar with the higher +classes of his own country, he had that great stamp of a gentleman, +simplicity; and he was altogether above the cockney distinctions of +eating and drinking; those about cheese and malt liquors, and such +vulgar niceties; nor was he a man to care about the silver-forkisms; but +he understood that portion of the finesse of the table which depended +on reason and taste, and was accustomed to observe it. This I knew from +near a twelve month's intercourse, and I had feared we might turn out to +be a little too rustic. + +Grace had made provisions against all this, with a tact and judgment for +which I could have worshipped her. I knew the viands, the vegetables, +and the wines would all be good of their kind, for in these we seldom +failed; nor did I distrust the cookery, the _English_-descended families +of the Middle States, of my class, understanding that to perfection; +but I feared we should fail in those little incidents of style +and arrangement, and in the order of the service, that denote a +well-regulated table. This is just what Grace had seen to; and I found +that a great revolution had been quietly effected in this branch of our +domestic economy during my absence; thanks to Grace's observations while +at Mrs. Bradfort's. + +Emily seemed pleased at dinner, and Lucy could again laugh and smile. +After the cloth was removed, the Major and Mr. Hardinge discussed a +bottle of Madeira, and that too of a quality of which I had no reason to +be ashamed; while we young people withdrew together to a little piazza, +that was in the shade at that hour, and took seats, for a chat. Rupert +was permitted to smoke, on condition that he would not approach +within fifteen feet of the party. No sooner was this little group thus +arranged, the three girls in a crescent, than I disappeared. + +“Grace, I have not yet spoken to you of a necklace of pearls possessed +by your humble servant,” I cried, as my foot again touched the +piazza.--“I would not say a word about it--” + +“Yet, Lucy and I heard all about it--” answered Grace with provoking +calmness, “but would not ask to see it, lest you should accuse us of +girlish curiosity. We waited your high pleasure, in the matter.” + +“You and Lucy heard I had such a necklace!” + +“Most unquestionably; I, Grace Wallingford, and she, Lucy Hardinge. I +hope it is no infringement on the rights of Mr. Miles Clawbonny”--so +the girls often called me, when they affected to think I was on my +high-ropes--“I hope it is no infringement on the rights of Mr. Miles +Clawbonny to say as much.” + +“And pray how _could_ you and Lucy know anything about it?” + +“That is altogether another question; perhaps we may accord an answer, +after we have seen the necklace.” + +“Miss Merton told us, Miles,” said Lucy, looking at me with gentleness, +for she saw I really wished an answer; and what could Lucy Hardinge ever +refuse me, that was right in itself when she saw my feelings were really +interested? + +“Miss Merton? Then I have been betrayed, and the surprise I anticipated +is lost.” + +I was vexed, and my manner must have shown it in a slight degree. Emily +coloured, bit her lip, and said nothing; but Grace made her excuses with +more spirit than it was usual for _her_ to show. + +“You are rightly punished, Master Miles,” she cried; “for you had no +business to anticipate surprises. They are vulgar things at best, and +they are worse than that when they come from a distance of fifteen +thousand miles--from a brother to a sister. Besides, you have surprised +us sufficiently once, already, in connection with Miss Merton.” + +“I!” I exclaimed. + +“Me!” added Emily. + +“Yes, I and me; did you tell us one word about her, in your letters? +and have you not now both surprised and delighted us, by making us +acquainted with so charming a person? I can pardon such a surprise, on +account of its consequences; but nothing so vulgar as a surprise about +pearls.” + +Emily blushed now; and in her it was possible to tell the difference +between a blush and the suffusion that arose from a different feeling; +but she looked immensely superior to anything like explanations. + +“Captain Wallingford”--how I disliked that _Captain_--“Captain +Wallingford can have but little knowledge of young ladies,” she said, +coldly, “if he supposes such pearls as he possesses would not form the +subject of their conversation.” + +I was coxcomb enough to fancy Emily was vexed that I had neglected to be +more particular about her being on the island, and her connection with +the ship. This might have been a mistake; however. + +“Let us see the pearls, Miles; and that will plead your apology,” said +Lucy. + +“There, then--your charming eyes, young ladies, never looked on pearls +like those, before.” + +Female nature could not suppress the exclamations of belight that +succeeded. Even Rupert, who had a besetting weakness on the subject +of all personal ornaments, laid aside his segar, and came within the +prescribed distance, the better to admire. It was admitted all round, +New York had nothing to compare with them. I then mentioned that they +had been fished up by myself from the depths of the sea. + +“How much that adds to their value!” said Lucy, in a low voice, but in +her warm, sincere manner. + +“That was getting them _cheap_, was it not, Miss Wallingford?” inquired +Emily, with an emphasis I disliked. + +“Very; though I agree with Lucy, it makes them so much the more +valuable.” + +“If Miss Merton will forget my charge of treason, and condescend to put +on the necklace, you will all see it to much greater advantage than at +present. If a fine necklace embellishes a fine woman, the advantage is +quite reciprocal. I have seen my pearls once already on her neck, and +know the effect.” + +A wish of Grace's aided my application, and Emily placed the ornaments +around her throat. The dazzling whiteness of her skin gave a lustre to +the pearls that they certainly did not previously possess. One scarcely +knew which to admire the most--the ornaments, or their setting. + +“How very, very beautiful they are _now!_” cried Lucy, in generous +admiration. “Oh! Miss Merton, pearls should ever be your ornaments.” + +“_Those_ pearls, you mean, Lucy,” put in Rupert, who was always +extremely liberal with other people's means; “the necklace ought never +to be removed.” + +“Miss Merton knows their destination,” I said, gallantly, “and the terms +of ownership.” + +Emily slowly undid the clasp, placed the string before her eyes, and +looked at it long and silently. + +“And what is this destination, Miles? What these terms of ownership?” my +sister asked. + +“Of course he means them for you, dear,” Lucy remarked in haste. “For +whom else can he intend such an ornament?” + +“You are mistaken, Miss Hardinge. Grace must excuse me for being a +little selfish this time, at least. I do not intend those pearls for +Miss Wallingford, but for Mrs. Wallingford, should there ever be such a +person.” + +“Upon my word, such a double temptation, my boy, I Wonder Miss Merton +ever had the fortitude to remove them from the enviable position they +so lately occupied,” cried Rupert, glancing meaningly towards Emily, who +returned the look with a slight smile. + +“Of course, Miss Merton understood that my remark was ventured in +pleasantry,” I said stiffly, “and not in presumption. It was decided, +however, when in the Pacific, that these pearls ought to have that +destination. It is true, Clawbonny is not the Pacific, and one may be +pardoned for seeing things a little differently _here_, from what they +appeared _there_. I have a few more pearls, however, very inferior in +quality I confess, to those of the necklace; but, such as they are, I +should esteem it a favour, ladies, if you would consent to divide them +equally among you. They would make three very pretty rings, and as many +breast-pins.” + +I put into Grace's hands a little box containing all the pearls that had +not been placed on the string. There were many fine ones among them, and +some of very respectable size, though most were of the sort called seed. +In the whole, there were several hundreds. + +“We will not balk his generosity,” said Grace, smiling--“so, Miss +Merton, we will separate the pearls into three parcels, and draw lots +for them. Here are handsome ornaments among them!” + +“They will have one value with you, at least, Grace, and quite likely +with Lucy, while they might possibly possess another with Miss Merton. I +fished up every one of those pearls with my own hands.” + +“Certainly, that will give them value with both Lucy and me, dearest +Miles, as would the simple fact that they are your gift--but what is to +give them their especial value with Miss Merton?” + +“They may serve to remind Miss Merton of some of her hair-breadth +escapes, of the weeks passed on the island, and of scenes that, a +few years hence, will probably possess the colours of a dream, in her +recollection.” + +“_One_ pearl I will take, with this particular object”--said Emily, with +more feeling than I had seen her manifest since she had got back into +the world, “if Miss Wallingford will do me the favour to select it.” + +“Let it be enough for a ring, at least,” Grace returned, in her own +sweetest manner. “Half a dozen of the finest of these pearls, of which +one shall be on Miles' account, and five on mine.” + +“On those conditions, let it then be six. I have no occasion for pearls +to remind me how much my father and my self owe to Captain Wallingford.” + +“Come, Rupert,” added Grace; “you have a taste in these things, let +us have your aid in the selection.” Rupert was by no means backward in +complying, for he loved to be meddling in such matters. + +“In the first place,” he said, “I shall at once direct that the number +be increased to seven; this fine one in the centre, and three on each +side, gradually diminishing in size. We must look to quality, and not to +weight, for the six puisne judges, as we should call them in the courts. +The Chief Justice will be a noble-looking fellow, and the associates +ought to be of good quality to keep his honour's company.” + +“Why do you not call your judges 'my lords,' as we do in England, Mr. +Hardinge?” inquired Emily, in her prettiest manner. + +“_Why,_ sure enough! I wish with all my heart we did, and then a man +would have something worth living for.” + +“Rupert!” exclaimed Lucy, colouring--“you know it is because our +government is republican, and that we have no nobles among us. Nor +do you say exactly what you think; you would not be 'my lord,' if you +could.” + +“As I never shall be a 'my lord,' and I am afraid never a 'your +honour'--There, Miss Merton--there are numbers two and three--observe +how beautifully they are graduated as to size.” + +“Well, 'your honour,'” added Grace, who began to be a little uneasy at +the manner Rupert and Emily exhibited towards each other--“well, 'your +honour,' what is to come next?” + +“Numbers four and five, of course--and here they are, Miss Merton; as +accurately diminished, as if done by hand. A beautiful ring it will +make--I envy those who will be recalled to mind, by so charming an +object.” + +“You will now be one of those yourself, Mr. Hardinge”--observed Emily, +with great tact--“for you are fully entitled to it, by the trouble you +are giving yourself, and the taste and judgment you possess.” + +Lucy looked petrified. She had so long accustomed herself to think +of Grace as her future sister, that the open admiration expressed in +Rupert's countenance, which was too manifest to escape any of us, first +threw a glimmering of light on suspicions of the most painful nature. I +had long seen that Lucy understood her brother's character better than +any of us--much better, indeed, than his simple-minded father; and, +as for myself, I was prepared to expect anything but consistency and +principle in his conduct. Dearly as I prized Lucy, and by this time +the slight competition that Emily Merton had presented to my fancy, +had entirely given way to the dear creature's heart, and nature,--but, +dearly as I prized Lucy, I would greatly have preferred that my sister +should not marry her brother; and, so far from feeling resentment on +account of his want of fidelity, I was rather disposed to rejoice at +it. I could appreciate his want of merit, and his unfitness to be the +husband of such a woman as Grace, even at my early age; but, alas! I +could not appreciate the effects of his inconstancy on a heart like that +of my sister. Could I have felt as easy on the subject of Mr. Andrew +Drewett, and of my own precise position in society, I should have cared +very little, just then, about Rupert, and his caprices. + +The pearls for the ring were soon selected by Rupert, and approved of +by Grace, after which I assumed the office of dividing the remainder +myself. I drew a chair, took the box from Rupert, and set about the +task. + +“I shall make a faithful umpire, girls,” I observed, as pearl after +pearl was laid, first on one spot, then on another--“for I feel no +preference between you--Grace is as Lucy; Lucy is as Grace, with me.” + +“That may be fortunate, Miss Hardinge, since it indicates no preference +of a particular sort, that might require repressing,” said Emily, +smiling significantly at Lucy. “When gentlemen treat young ladies +as sisters, it is a subject of rejoicing. These sailors need severe +lessons, to keep them within the rules of the land.” + +Why this was said, I did not understand; but Rupert laughed at it, as +if it were a capital thing. To mend the matter, he added, a little +boisterously for him-- + +“You see, Miles, you had better have taken to the law--the ladies cannot +appreciate the merits of you tars.” + +“So it would seem,” I returned, a little drily, “after all Miss Merton +has experienced and seen of the trade.” + +Emily made no reply, but she regarded her pearls with a steadiness that +showed she was thinking more of their effect than that of either her own +speech or mine. I continued to divide the pearls, and soon had the work +complete. + +“What am I to do, now?”--I asked--“Will you draw lots, girls, or will +you trust to my impartiality?” + +“We will certainly confide in the last,” answered Grace. “The division +is so very equitable that I do not well see how you can defraud either.” + +“That being the case, this parcel is for you, Lucy; and, Grace, that is +your's.” + +Grace rose, put her arms affectionately around my neck, and gave me one +of the hundred kisses that I had received, first and last, for presents +of one sort and another. The deep attachment that beamed in her +saint-like eyes, would of itself have repaid me for fifty such gifts. +At the moment, I was almost on the point of throwing her the necklace +in the bargain; but some faint fancies about Mrs. Miles Wallingford +prevented me from so doing. As for Lucy, not a little to my surprise, +she received the pearls, muttered a few unintelligible words, but did +not even rise from her chair. Emily seemed to tire of this, so she +caught up her gypsy, said the evening was getting to be delightful, and +proposed a walk. Rupert and Grace cheerfully acquiesced, and the three +soon left the place, Lucy preparing to follow, as soon as a maid could +bring her hat, and I excusing myself on the score of business in my own +room. + +“Miles”--said Lucy, as I was about to enter the house, she herself +standing on the edge of the piazza on the point of following the party, +but holding towards me the little paper box in which I had placed her +portion of the pearls. + +“Do you wish me to put them away for you, Lucy?” + +“No, Miles--not for _me_--but for _yourself_--for Grace--for _Mrs. Miles +Wallingford_, if you prefer that.” + +This was said without the slightest appearance of any other feeling than +a gentle request. I was surprised, and scarce knew what to make of it; +at first, I refused to take the box. + +“I hope I have done nothing to merit this, Lucy?” I said, +half-affronted, half-grieved. + +“Remember, Miles,” the dear girl answered--“we are no longer children, +but have reached an age when it is incumbent on us to respect +appearances a little. These pearls must be worth a good deal of money, +and I feel certain my father, when he came to think of it, would scarce +approve of my receiving them.” + +“And this from _you_, dear Lucy!” + +“This from me, dear Miles,” returned the precious girl, tears glistening +in her eyes, though she endeavoured to smile. “Now, take the box, and we +will be just as good friends as ever.” + +“Will you answer me one question, as frankly and as honestly as you used +to answer all my questions?” + +Lucy turned pale and she stood reflecting an instant before she spoke. + +“I can answer no question before it is asked,” was at length her answer. + +“Have you thought so little of my presents as to have thrown away the +locket I gave you, before I sailed for the North-West coast?” + +“No, Miles; I have kept the locket, and shall keep it as long as I live. +It was a memorial of our childish regard for each other; and, in that +sense, is very dear to me. You will let me keep the locket, I am sure!” + +“If it were not you, Lucy Hardinge, whom I know to be truth itself, I +might be disposed to doubt you, so many strange things exist, and so +much caprice, especially in attachments, is manifested here, ashore!” + +“You need doubt nothing I tell you, Miles--on no account would I deceive +you.” + +“That I believe--nay, I see, it is your present object to _undeceive_ +me. I do not doubt anything you tell me, Lucy. I wish I could see that +locket, however; show it to me, if you have it on your person.” + +Lucy made an eager movement, as if about to produce the locket; then she +arrested the impetuous indication, while her cheeks fairly burned with +the blushes that suffused them. + +“I see how it is, Lucy--the thing is not to be found. It is mislaid, the +Lord knows where, and you do not like to avow it.” + +The locket, at that moment, lay as near the blessed creature's heart +as it could be placed; and her confusion proceeded from the shame of +letting that fact be known. This I could not see, and consequently did +not know. A very small and further indication of feeling on my part, +might have betrayed the circumstance; but pride prevented it, and I took +the still extended box, I dare say in a somewhat dramatic manner. Lucy +looked at me earnestly; I saw it was with difficulty that she kept from +bursting into tears. + +“You are not hurt, Miles?” she said. + +“I should not be frank if I denied it. Even Emily Merton, you saw, +consented to accept enough pearls for a ring.” + +“I did perceive it; and yet, you remember, she felt the impropriety of +receiving such large gifts from gentlemen. Miss Merton has gone through +so much, so much in your company, Miles, that no wonder she is willing +to retain some little memorial of it all, until--” + +She hesitated; but Lucy chose not to finish the sentence. She had been +pale; but her cheeks were now like the rose, again. + +“When Rupert and I first went to sea, Lucy, you gave me your little +treasure in gold--every farthing you had on earth, I fancy.” + +“I am glad I did, Miles; for we were very young, then, and you had been +so kind to me, I rejoice I had a little gratitude. But, we are now in +situations,” she added, smiling so sweetly, as to render it difficult +for me to refrain from catching her in my arms, and folding her to my +heart; “that place both of us above the necessity of receiving aid of +this sort.” + +“I am glad to hear this--though _I_ shall never part with the dear +recollection of the half-joes.” + +“Or I with that of the locket. We will retain these, then, as keepsakes. +My dear Mrs. Bradfort, too, is very particular about Rupert or myself +receiving favours of this sort, from any but herself. She has adopted +us, in a manner; and I owe to her liberality, the means of making the +figure I do. Apart from that, Miles, we are all as poor as we have ever +been.” + +I wished Rupert had half his sister's self-respect and pride of +character. But he had not; for in spite of his kinswoman's prohibitions, +he had not scrupled to spend nearly three years of the wages that +accrued to me as third-mate of the Crisis. For the money I cared not a +stiver; it was a very different thing as to the feeling. + +As for Lucy, she hastened away, as soon as she had induced me to accept +the box; and I had no choice but to place all the pearls together, and +put them in Grace's room, as my sister had desired me to do with her own +property before proceeding on her walk. + +I determined I would converse confidentially with Grace, that very +evening, about the state of affairs in general, and if possible, learn +the worst concerning Mr. Andrew Drewett's pretensions. Shall I +frankly own the truth? I was sorry that Mrs. Bradfort had made Lucy +so independent; as it seemed to increase the chasm that I fancied was +opening between us. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + “Your name abruptly mentioned, casual words + Of comment on your deeds, praise from your uncle, + News from the armies, talk of your return, + A word let fall touching your youthful passion + Suffused her cheek, called to her drooping eye + A momentary lustre.” + + +I had no difficulty in putting my project of a private interview with +Grace, in execution in my own house. There was one room at Clawbonny, +that, from time immemorial, had been appropriated exclusively to the use +of the heads of the establishment; It was called the “family room,” as +one would say “family-pictures” or “family--plate.” In my father's time, +I could recollect that I never dreamed of entering it, unless asked +or ordered; and even then, I always did so with some such feeling as I +entered a church. What gave it a particular and additional sanctity +in out eyes, also, was the fact that the Wallingford dead were always +placed in their coffins, in this room, and thence they were borne to +their graves. It was a very small triangular room, with the fire-place +in one corner, and possessing but a single window, that opened on a +thicket of rose-bushes, ceringos, and lilacs. There was also a light +external fence around this shrubbery, as if purposely to keep listeners +at a distance. The apartment had been furnished when the house was +built, being in the oldest part of the structures, and still retained +its ancient inmates. The chairs, tables, and, most of the other +articles, had actually been brought from England, by Miles the First, as +we used to call the emigrant; though, he was thus only in reference to +the Clawbonny dynasty, having been something like Miles the Twentieth, +in the old country. My mother had introduced a small settee, or some +such seat as the French would call a _causeuse;_ a most appropriate +article, in such a place. + +In preparation for the interview I had slipped into Grace's hand a piece +of paper, on which was written “meet me in the family-room, precisely at +six!” This was sufficient; at the hour named, I proceeded to the room, +myself. The house of Clawbonny, in one sense, was large for an American +residence; that is to say, it covered a great deal of ground, every one +of the three owners who preceded me, having built; the two last leaving +entire the labours of the first. My turn had not yet come, of course; +but the reader knows already that I, most irreverently, had once +contemplated abandoning the place, for a “seat” nearer the Hudson. In +such a _suite_ of constructions, sundry passages became necessary, and +we had several more than was usual at Clawbonny, besides having as many +pairs of stairs. In consequence of this ample provision of stairs, the +chambers of the family were totally separated from those of all the rest +of the house. + +I began to reflect seriously, on _what_ I had to say, and _how_ it +was to be said, as I walked through the long passage which led to the +“family-room,” or the “triangle,” as my own father had nicknamed the +spot. Grace and I had never yet held what might be termed a family +consultation; I was too young to think of such a thing, when last at +home, and no former occasion had offered since my return. I was still +quite young, and had more diffidence than might have been expected in +a sailor. To me, it was far more embarrassing to open verbal +communications of a delicate nature, than it would have been to work a +ship in action. But for this _mauvaise honte_, I do think I should have +been explicit with Lucy, and not have parted from her on the piazza, as +I did, leaving everything in just as much doubt as it had been before a +word passed between us. Then I entertained a profound respect for Grace; +something more than the tenderness of a brother for a sister; for, +mingled with my strong affection for her, was a deference, a species +of awe of her angel-like character and purity, that made me far more +disposed to receive advice from her, than to bestow it. In the frame of +mind which was natural to all these blended feelings, I laid my hand on +the old-fashioned brass latch, by which the door of the “triangle” + was closed. On entering the room, I found my sister seated on the +“causeuses,” the window open to admit air, the room looking snug but +cheerful, and its occupant's sweet countenance expressive of care, not +altogether free from curiosity. The last time I had been in that room, +it was to look on the pallid features of my mother's corpse, previously +to closing the coffin. All the recollections of that scene rushed upon +our minds at the same instant; and taking a place by the side of Grace, +I put an arm around her waist, drew her to me, and, receiving her head +on my bosom, she wept like a child. My tears could not be altogether +restrained, and several minutes passed in profound silence. No +explanations were needed; I knew what my sister thought and felt, and +she was equally at home as respects my sensations. At length we regained +our self-command, and Grace lifted her head. + +“You have not been in this room since, brother?” she observed, half +inquiringly. + +“I have not, sister. It is now many years--many for those who are as +young as ourselves.” + +“Miles, you will think better about that 'seat,' and never abandon +Clawbonny--never destroy this blessed room!” + +“I begin to think and feel differently on the subject, from what I once +did. If this house were good enough for our forefathers, why is it not +good enough for me. It is respectable and comfortable, and what more do +I want? + +“And so warm in winter, and so cool in summer; with good thick stone +walls; while everything they build now is a shingle palace! Besides, +you can add your portion, and each addition has already been a good +deal modernized. It is so pleasant to have a house that partakes of the +usages of different periods!” + +“I hardly think I shall ever abandon Clawbonny, my dear; for I find it +growing more and more precious as other ties and expectations fail me.” + +Grace drew herself entirely from my arms, and looked intently, and, as I +fancied, anxiously at me, from the other corner of the settee. Then she +affectionately took one of my hands, in both her own, and pressed it +gently. + +“You are young to speak of such things, my dear brother,” she said with +a tone and air of sadness, I had never yet remarked in her voice and +manner; “much too young for a man; though I fear we women are born to +know sorrow!” + +I could not speak if I would, for I fancied Grace was about to make some +communications concerning Rupert. Notwithstanding the strong affection +that existed between my sister and myself, not a syllable had ever been +uttered by either, that bore directly on our respective relations with +Rupert and Lucy Hardinge. I had long been certain that Rupert, who was +never backward in professions, had years before spoken explicitly to +Grace, and I made no doubt they were engaged, though probably subject +to some such conditions as the approval of his father and myself; +approvals, that neither had any reason for supposing would be +withheld. Still, Grace had never intimated anything of the sort, and +my conclusions were drawn from conjectures founded as I imagined on +sufficient observation. On the other hand, I had never spoken to Grace, +of my love for Lucy. Until within the last month, indeed, when jealousy +and distrust came to quicken the sentiment, I was unconscious myself +with how much passion I did actually love the dear girl; for, previously +to that, my affection had seemed so much a matter of course, was united +with so much that was fraternal, in appearance at least, that I had +never been induced to enter into an inquiry as to the nature of this +regard. We were both, therefore, touching on hallowed spots in our +hearts, and each felt averse to laying bare the weakness. + +“Oh! you know how it is with life, Grace,” I answered, with affected +carelessness, after a moment's silence; “now all sun-shine, and now all +clouds--I shall probably never marry, my dear sister, and you, or your +children, will inherit Clawbonny; then you can do as you please with the +house. As a memorial of myself, however, I will leave orders for stone +to be got out this fall, and, next year, I will put up the south wing, +of which we have so much talked, and add three or four rooms in which +one will not be ashamed to see his friends.” + +“I hope your are ashamed of nothing that is at Clawbonny, now, Miles--as +for your marrying, my dear brother, that remains to be seen; young men +do not often know their own minds on such a subject, at your age.” + +This was said, not altogether without pleasantry, though there was a +shade of sadness in the countenance of the beloved speaker, that +from the bottom of my heart I wished were not there. I believe Grace +understood my concern, and that she shrunk with virgin sensitiveness +from touching further on the subject, for she soon added-- + +“Enough of this desponding talk. Why have you particularly desired to +see me, here, Miles?” + +“Why? Oh! you know I am to sail next week, and we have never been +here--and, now we are both of an age to communicate our thoughts to each +other--I supposed--that is--there must be a beginning of all things, and +it is as well to commence now, as any other time. You do not seem more +than half a sister, in the company of strangers like the Mertons, and +Hardinges!” + +“Strangers, Miles! How long have you regarded the last as strangers?” + +“Certainly not strangers in the way of acquaintance, but strangers to +our blood. There is not the least connection between us and them.” + +“No, but much love; and love that has lasted from childhood. I cannot +remember the time when I have not loved Lucy Hardinge.” + +“Quite true--nor I. Lucy is an excellent girl, and one is almost certain +of always retaining a strong regard for _her_. How singularly the +prospects of the Hardinges are changed by this sudden liking of Mrs. +Bradfort!” + +“It is not sudden, Miles. You have been absent years, and forget how +much time there has been to become intimate and attached. Mr. Hardinge +and Mrs. Bradfort are sister's children; and the fortune of the last, +which, I am told, exceeds six thousand a-year, in improving real estate +in town, besides the excellent and valuable house in which she lives, +came from their common grandfather, who cut off Mrs. Hardinge with a +small legacy, because she married a clergyman. Mr. Hardinge is Mrs. +Bradfort's heir-at-law, and it is by no means unnatural that she should +think of leaving the property to those who, in one sense, have as good a +right to it as she has herself.” + +“And is it supposed she will leave Rupert her heir?” + +“I believe it is--at least--I think--I am afraid--Rupert himself +imagines it; though doubtless Lucy will come in for a fair share. The +affection of Mrs. Bradfort for Lucy is very strong--so strong, indeed, +that she offered, last winter, openly to adopt her, and to keep her with +her constantly. You know how true and warm-hearted a girl Lucy is, and +how easy it is to love her.” + +“This is all new to me--why was not the offer accepted?” + +“Neither Mr. Hardinge nor Lucy would listen to it. I was present at the +interview in which it was discussed, and our excellent guardian thanked +his cousin for her kind intentions; but, in his simple way, he declared, +as long as life was spared him, he felt it a duty to keep his girl; or, +at least, until he committed her to the custody of a husband, or death +should part them.” + +“And Lucy?” + +“She is much attached to Mrs. Bradfort, who is a good woman in the main, +though she has her weaknesses about the world, and society, and such +things. Lucy wept in her cousin's arms, but declared she never could +leave her father. I suppose you do not expect,” added Grace, smiling, +“that _she_ had anything to say about a husband.” + +“And how did Mrs. Bradfort receive this joint declaration of resistance +to her pleasure, backed, as the last was, by dollars?” + +“Perfectly well. The affair terminated by Mr. Hardinge's consenting to +Lucy's passing each winter in town, until she marry. Rupert, you know, +lives there as a student at law, at present, and will become established +there, when admitted to the bar.” + +“And I suppose the knowledge that Lucy is likely to inherit some of +the old Bleecker estate, has not in the least diminished her chance +of finding a husband to remove her from the paternal custody of her +father?” + +“No husband could ever make Lucy anything but Mr. Hardinge's daughter; +but you are right, Miles, in supposing that she has been sought. I am +not in her secrets, for Lucy is a girl of too much principle to make a +parade of her conquests, even under the pretence of communicating them +to her dearest friend--and in that light, beyond all question, does she +regard me; but I feel as morally certain as one can be, without actually +knowing the facts, that Lucy refused _one_ gentleman, winter before +last, and three last winter.” + +“Was Mr. Andrew Drewett of the number?” I asked, with a precipitation of +which I was immediately ashamed. + +Grace started a little at the vivacity of my manner, and then she +smiled, though I still thought sadly. + +“Of course not,” she answered, after a moment's thought, “or he would +not still be in attendance. Lucy is too frank to leave an admirer in +doubt an instant after his declaration is made, and her own mind made +up; and not one of all those who, I am persuaded, have offered, has ever +ventured to continue more than a distant acquaintance. As Mr. Drewett +never has been more assiduous than down to the last moment of our +remaining in town, it is impossible he should have been rejected. I +suppose you know Mr. Hardinge has invited him here?” + +“Here? Andrew Drewett? And why is he coming here?” + +“I heard him ask Mr. Hardinge's permission to visit us here; and you +know how it is with our dear, good guardian--the milk of human kindness +himself, and so perfectly guileless that he never sees more than is said +in such matters, it was impossible he could refuse. Besides, he likes +Drewett, who, apart from some fashionable follies, is both clever and +respectable. Mr. Drewett has a sister married into one of the best +families on the other side of the river, and is in the habit of coming +into the neighbourhood every summer; doubtless he will cross from his +sisters house to Clawbonny.” + +I felt indignant for just one minute, and then reason resumed its sway. +Mr. Hardinge, in the first place, had the written authority, or request, +of my mother that he would invite whom he pleased, during my minority, +to the house; and, on that score, I felt no disapprobation. But it +seemed so much like braving my own passion, to ask an open admirer of +Lucy's to my own house, that I was very near saying something silly. +Luckily I did not, and Grace never knew what I suffered at this +discovery. Lucy had refused several offers--that was something; and I +was dying to know what sort of offers they were. I thought I might at +least venture to ask that question. + +“Did you know the four gentlemen that you suppose Lucy to have refused?” + said I, with as indifferent an air as I could assume, affecting to +destroy a cobweb with my rattan, and even carrying my acting so far as +to make an attempt at a low whistle. + +“Certainly; how else should I know anything about it? Lucy has never +said a word to me on the subject; and, though Mrs. Bradfort and I +have had our pleasantries on the subject, neither of us is in Lucy's +secrets.” + +“Ay, your pleasantries on the subject! That I dare say. There is no +better fun to a woman than to see a man make a fool of himself in this +way; little does _she_ care how much a poor fellow suffers!” + +Grace turned pale, and I could see that her sweet countenance became +thoughtful and repentant. + +“Perhaps there is truth in your remark, and justice n your reproach, +Miles. None of us treat this subject with as much, seriousness as it +deserves, though I cannot suppose any woman can reject a man whom she +believes to be seriously attached to her, without feeling for him. +Still, attachments of this nature affect your sex less than ours, and +I believe few men die of love. Lucy, moreover, never has, and I believe +never would encourage any man whom she did not like; this principle must +have prevented any of that intimate connection, without which the heart +never can get much interested. The passion that is produced without +any exchange of sentiment or feeling, Miles, cannot be much more than +imagination or caprice.” + +“I suppose those four chaps are all famously cured, by this time, then?” + said I, pretending again to whistle. + +“I cannot answer for that--it is so easy to love Lucy, and to love her +warmly. I only know they visit her no longer, and, when they meet her in +society, behave just as I think a rejected admirer would behave, when he +has not lost his respect for his late flame. Mrs. Bradfort's fortune +and position may have had their influence on two; but the others I think +were quite sincere.” + +“Mrs. Bradfort is quite in a high set, Grace--altogether above what we +have been accustomed to?” + +My sister coloured a little, and I could see she was not at her ease. +Still, Grace had too much self-respect, and too much character, ever to +feel an oppressive inferiority, where it did not exist in essentials; +and she had never been made to suffer, as the more frivolous and vain +often suffer, by communications with a class superior to their own; +especially when that class, as always happens, contains those who, +having nothing else to be proud of, take care to make others feel their +inferiority. + +“This is true, Miles,” she answered; “or I might better say, both are +true. Certainly I never have seen as many well-bred persons as I meet +in her circle--indeed, we have little around us at Clawbonny to teach +us any distinctions in such tastes. Mr. Hardinge, simple as he is, is so +truly a gentleman, that he has not left us altogether in the dark as to +what was expected of us; and I fancy the higher people truly are in the +world, the less they lay stress on anything but what is substantial, in +these matters.” + +“And Lucy's admirers--and Lucy herself--” + +“How, Lucy herself?” + +“Was she well received--courted--admired? Met as an equal, and treated +as an equal? And you, too?” + +“Had you lived more in the world, Miles, you would not have asked the +question. But Lucy has been always received as Mrs. Bradfort's daughter +would have been received; and as for myself, I have never supposed it +was not known exactly who I am.” + +“_Captain_ Miles Wallingford's daughter, and _Captain_ Miles +Wallingford's sister,” said I, with a little bitterness on each +emphasis. + +“Precisely; and a girl proud of her connections with both,” rejoined +Grace, with strong affection. + +“I wish I knew one thing, Grace; and I think I _ought_ to know it, too.” + +“If you can make the last appear, Miles, you may rest assured you shall +know it, if it depend on me.” + +“Did any of these gentry--these soft-handed fellows--ever think of +offering to _you_?” + +Grace laughed, and she coloured so deeply--oh! how heavenly was her +beauty, with that roseate tint on her cheek!--but she coloured so +deeply, that I felt satisfied that she, too, had refused her suitors. +The thought appeased some of my bitter feelings, and I had a sort of +semi-savage pleasure in believing that a daughter of Clawbonny was not +to be had for the asking, by one of that set. The only answers I got +were these disclosures by blushes. + +“What are the fortune and position of this Mr. Drewett, since you are +resolved to tell me nothing of your own affairs?” + +“Both are good, and such as no young lady can object to. He is even said +to be rich.” + +“Thank God! _He_ then is not seeking Lucy in the hope of getting some of +Mrs. Bradfort's money?” + +“Not in the least. It is so easy to love Lucy, for Lucy's sake, that +even a fortune-hunter would be in danger of being caught in his own +trap. But Mr. Drewett is above the necessity of practising so vile a +scheme for making money.” + +Here, that the present generation may not be misled, and imagine +fortune-hunting has come in altogether within the last twenty years, +I will add that it was not exactly a trade, in this country--a regular +occupation--in 1802, as it has become, in 1844. There were such things +then, certainly, as men, or women, who were ready to marry anybody who +would make them rich; but I do not think theirs was a calling to which +either sex served regular apprenticeships, as is practised to-day. +Still, the business was carried on, to speak in the vernacular, and +sometimes with marked success. + +“You have not told me, Grace,” I resumed, “whether you think Lucy is +pleased, or not, with the attentions of this gentleman.” + +My sister looked at me intently, for a moment, as if to ascertain how +far I could, or could not, ask such a question with indifference. It +will be remembered that no verbal explanations had ever taken place +between us, on the subject of our feelings towards the companions of our +childhood, and that all that was known to either was obtained purely +by inference. Between myself and Lucy nothing had ever passed, indeed, +which might not have been honestly referred to our long and early +association, so far as the rules of intercourse were concerned, though I +sometimes fancied I could recall a hundred occasions, on which Lucy +had formerly manifested deep attachment for myself; nor did I doubt +her being able to show similar proofs, by reversing the picture. This, +however, was, or I had thought it to be, merely the language of the +heart; the tongue having never spoken. Of course, Grace had nothing but +conjecture on this subject, and alas! she had begun to see how possible +it was for those who lived near each other to change their views on such +subjects; no wonder, then, if she fancied it still easier, for those who +had been separated for years. + + +“I have not told you, Miles,” Grace answered, after a brief delay, +“because it would not be proper to communicate the secrets of my friend +to a young man, even to you, were it in my power, as it is not, since +Lucy never has made to me the slightest confidential communication, of +any sort or nature, touching love.” + +“Never!” I exclaimed--reading my fancied doom in the startling fact; for +I conceived it impossible, had she ever really loved me, that the +matter should not have come up in conversation between two so closely +united--“Never! What, no girlish--no childish preference--have you never +had no mutual preferences to reveal?” + +“Never”--answered Grace, firmly, though her very temples seemed +illuminated--“Never. We have been satisfied with each other's affection, +and have had no occasion to enter into any unfeminine and improper +secrets, if any such existed.” + +A long, and I doubt not a mutually painful pause succeeded. + +“Grace,” said I, at length--“I am not envious of this probable accession +of fortune to the Hardinges, but I think we should all have been much +more united--much happier--without it.” + +My sister's colour left her face, she trembled all over, and she became +pale as death. + +“You may be right, in some respects, Miles,” she answered, after a time. +“And, yet, it is hardly generous to think so. Why should we wish to +see our oldest friends; those who are so very dear to us, our excellent +guardian's children, less well off than we are ourselves? No doubt, no +doubt, it may seem better to _us_, that Clawbonny should be the castle +and we its possessors; but others have their rights and interests as +well as ourselves. Give the Hardinges money, and they will enjoy every +advantage known in this country--more than money can possibly give +us--why, then, ought we to be so selfish as to wish them deprived of +this advantage? Place Lucy where you will, she will always be Lucy; and, +as for Rupert, so brilliant a young man needs only an opportunity, to +rise to anything the country possesses!” + +Grace was so earnest, spoke with so much feeling, appeared so +disinterested, so holy I had almost said, that I could not find, in my +heart, the courage to try her any farther. That she began to distrust +Rupert, I plainly saw, though it was merely with the glimmerings of +doubt. A nature as pure as her's, and a heart so true, admitted with +great reluctance, the proofs of the unworthiness of one so long loved. +It was evident, moreover, that she shrunk from revealing her own great +secret, while she had only conjectures to offer in regard to Lucy; +and even these she withheld, as due to her sex, and the obligations of +friendship. I forgot that I had not been ingenuous myself, and that +I made no communication to justify any confidence on the part of my +sister. That which would have been treachery in her to say, under this +state of the case, might have been uttered with greater frankness on +my own part. After a pause, to allow my sister to recover from her +agitation, I turned the discourse to our own more immediate family +interests, and soon got off the painful subject altogether. + +“I shall be of age, Grace.” I said, in the course of my explanations, +“before you see me again. We sailors are always exposed to more chances +and hazards than people ashore; and, I now tell you, should anything +happen to me, my will may be found in my secretary; signed and sealed, +the day I attain my majority. I have given orders to have it drawn up +by a lawyer of eminence, and shall take it to sea with me, for that very +purpose.” + +“From which I am to infer that I must not covet Clawbonny,” answered +Grace, with a smile that denoted how little she cared for the fact--“You +give it to our cousin, Jack Wallingford, as a male heir, worthy of +enjoying the honour.” + +“No, dearest, I give it to _you_. It is true, the law would do this for +me; but I choose to let it be known that I wish it to be so. I am aware +my father made that disposition of the place, should I die childless, +before I became of age; but, once of age, the place is all mine; and +that which is all mine, shall be all thine, after I am no more.” + +“This is melancholy conversation, and, I trust, useless. Under +the circumstances you mention, Miles, I never should have expected +Clawbonny, nor do I know I ought to possess it. It comes as much from +Jack Wallingford's ancestors, as from our own; and it is better it +should remain with the name. I will not promise you, therefore, I will +not give it to him, the instant I can.” + +This Jack Wallingford, of whom I have not yet spoken, was a man of +five-and-forty, and a bachelor. He was a cousin-german of my father's, +being the son of a younger brother of my grandfather's, and somewhat of +a favourite. He had gone into what was called the new countries, in that +day, or a few miles west of Cayuga Bridge, which put him into Western +New York. I had never seen him but once and that was on a visit he paid +us on his return from selling quantities of pot and pearl ashes in town; +articles made oh his new lands. He was said to be a prosperous man, and +to stand little in need of the old paternal property. + +After a little more conversation on the subject of my will, Grace and I +separated, each more closely bound to the other, I firmly believed, +for this dialogue in the “family room.” Never had my sister seemed more +worthy of all my love; and, certain I am, never did she possess more of +it. Of Clawbonny she was as sure, as my power over it could make her. + +The remainder of the week passed as weeks are apt to pass in the +country, and in summer. Feeling myself so often uncomfortable in the +society of the girls, I was much in the fields; always possessing the +good excuse of beginning to look after my own affairs. Mr. Hardinge took +charge of the Major, an intimacy beginning to spring up between these +two respectable old men. There were, indeed, so many points of common +feeling, that such a result was not at all surprising. They both loved +the church--I beg pardon, the Holy Catholic Protestant Episcopal Church. +They both disliked Bonaparte--the Major hated him, but my guardian +hated nobody--both venerated Billy Pitt, and both fancied the French +Revolution was merely the fulfilment of prophecy, through the agency +of the devils. As we are now touching upon times likely to produce +important results, let me not be misunderstood. As an old man, aiming, +in a new sphere, to keep enlightened the generation that is coming into +active life, it may be necessary to explain. An attempt has been made +to induce the country to think that Episcopalian and tory were something +like synonymous terms, in the “times that tried men's souls.” This is +sufficiently impudent, _per se_, in a country that possessed Washington, +Jay, Hamilton, the Lees, the Morrises, the late Bishop White, and so +many other distinguished patriots of the Southern and Middle States; +but men are not particularly scrupulous when there is an object to be +obtained, even though it be pretended that Heaven is an incident of that +object. I shall, therefore, confine my explanations to what I have said +about Billy Pitt and the French. + +The youth of this day may deem it suspicious that an Episcopal +divine--_Protestant_ Episcopal, I mean; but it is so hard to get the use +of new terms as applied to old thoughts, in the decline of life!--may +deem it suspicious that a Protestant Episcopal divine should care +anything about Billy Pitt, or execrate Infidel France; I will, +therefore, just intimate that, in 1802, no portion of the country dipped +more deeply into similar sentiments than the descendants of those who +first put foot on the rock of Plymouth, and whose progenitors had just +before paid a visit to Geneva, where, it is “said or sung,” they had +found a “church without a bishop, and a state without a king.” In a +word, admiration of Mr. Pitt, and execration of Bonaparte, were by no +means such novelties in America, in that day, as to excite wonder. For +myself, however, I can truly say, that, like most Americans who went +abroad in those stirring times, I was ready to say with Mercutio, “a +plague on both your houses;” for neither was even moderately honest, or +even decently respectful to ourselves. Party feeling, however, the most +inexorable, and the most unprincipled, of all tyrants, and the bane of +American liberty, notwithstanding all our boasting, decreed otherwise; +and, while one half the American republic was shouting hosannas to +the Great Corsican, the other half was ready to hail Pitt as the +“Heaven-born Minister.” The remainder of the nation felt and acted as +Americans should. It was my own private opinion, that France and England +would have been far better off, had neither of these worthies ever had a +being. + +Nevertheless, the union of opinion between the divine and the Major, was +a great bond of union, in friendship. I saw they were getting on well +together, and let things take their course. As for Emily, I cared very +little about her, except as she might prove to be connected with Rupert, +and through Rupert, with the happiness of my sister. As for Rupert, +himself, I could not get entirely weaned from one whom I had so much +loved in boyhood; and who, moreover, possessed the rare advantage +of being Lucy's brother, and Mr. Hardinge's son. “Sidney's sister, +Pembroke's mother,” gave him a value in my eyes, that he had long ceased +to possess on his own account. + +“You see, Neb,” I said, towards the end of the week, as the black and +I were walking up from the mill in company, “Mr. Rupert has altogether +forgotten that he ever knew the name of a rope in a ship. His hands are +as white as a young lady's!” + +“Nebber mind dat, Masser Mile. Masser Rupert nebber feel a saterfaction +to be wracked away, or to be prisoner to Injin! Golly! No gentleum to be +envy, sir, 'em doesn't enjoy _dat!_” + +“You have a queer taste. Neb, from all which I conclude you expect to +return to town with me, in the Wallingford, this evening, and to go out +in the Dawn?” + +“Sartain, Masser Mile! How you t'ink of goin' to sea and leave nigger at +home?” + +Here Neb raised such a laugh that he might have been heard a hundred +rods, seeming to fancy the idea he had suggested was so preposterous as +to merit nothing but ridicule. + +“Well, Neb, I consent to your wishes; but this will be the last voyage +in which you will have to consult me on the subject, as I shall make out +your freedom papers, the moment I am of age.” + +“What dem?” demanded the black, quick as lightning. + +“Why, papers to make you your own master--a free man--you surely know +what that means. Did you never hear of free niggers?” + +“Sartin--awful poor debble, dey be, too. You catch Neb, one day, at +being a free nigger, gib you leave to tell him of it, Masser Mile!” + +Here was another burst of laughter, that sounded like a chorus in +merriment. + +“This is a little extraordinary, Neb! I thought, boy, all slaves pined +for freedom?” + +“P'rhaps so; p'rhaps not. What good he do, Masser Mile, when heart and +body well satisfy as it is. Now, how long a Wallingford family lib, +here, in dis berry spot?”--Neb always talked more like a “nigger,” when +within hearing of the household gods, than he did at sea. + +“How long? About a hundred years, Neb--just one hundred and seven, I +believe; to be accurate.” + +“And how long a Clawbonny family, at 'e same time, Masser Mile?” + +“Upon my word, Neb, your pedigree is a little confused, and I cannot +answer quite as certainly. Eighty or ninety, though, I should think, at +least; and, possibly a hundred, too. Let me see--you called old Pompey +your grand-father; did you not, Neb?” + +“Sart'in--berry good grandfader, too, Masser Mile. Ole Pomp a won'erful +black!” + +“Oh! I say nothing touching the quality--I dare say he was as good as +another. Well, I think that I have heard old Pompey's grandfather was an +imported Guinea, and that he was purchased by my great-grandfather about +the year 1700.” + +“Dat just as good as gospel! Who want to make up lie about poor debble +of nigger? Well, den, Masser Mile, in all dem 1700 year, did he ebber +hear of a Clawbonny that want to be a free nigger? Tell me dat, once, +an' I hab an answer.” + +“You have asked me more than I can answer, boy; for, I am not in the +secret of your own wishes, much less in those of all your ancestors.” + +Neb pulled off his tarpaulin, scratched his wool, rolled his black eyes +at me, as if he enjoyed the manner in which he had puzzled me; after +which he set off on a tumbling excursion, in the road, going like a +wheel on his hands and feet, showing his teeth like rows of pearls, and +concluding the whole with roar the third, that sounded as if the hills +and valleys were laughing, in the very fatness of their fertility. The +physical _tour de force,_ was one of those feats of agility in which Neb +had been my instructor, ten years before. + +“S'pose I free, who do sich matter for you, Masser Mile?” cried Neb, +like one laying down an unanswerable proposition. “No, no, sir,--I +belong to you, you belong to me, and we belong to one anodder.” + +This settled the matter for the present, and I said no more. Neb was +ordered to be in readiness for the next day; and at the appointed hour, +I met the assembled party to take my leave, on this, my third departure +from the roof of my fathers. It had been settled the Major and Emily +were to remain at the farm until July, when they were to proceed to the +Springs, for the benefit of the water, after living so long in a hot +climate. I had passed an hour with my guardian alone, and he had no +more to say, than to wish me well, and to bestow his blessing. I did not +venture an offer to embrace Lucy. It was the first time we had parted +without this token of affection; but I was shy, and I fancied she +was cold. She offered me her hand, as frankly as ever, however, and I +pressed it fervently, as I wished her adieu. As for Grace, she wept +in my arms, just as she had always done, and the Major and Emily shook +hands cordially with me, it being understood I should find them in New +York, at my return. Rupert accompanied me down to the sloop. + +“If you should find an occasion, Miles, let us hear from you,” said +my old friend. “I have a lively curiosity to learn something of the +Frenchmen; nor am I entirely without the hope of soon gratifying the +desire, in person.” + +“You!--If you have any intention to visit France, what better +opportunity, than to go in my cabin? Is it business, that will take you +there?” + +“Not at all; pure pleasure. Our excellent cousin thinks a gentleman of a +certain class ought to travel; and I believe she has an idea of getting +me attached to the legation, in some form or other.” + +This sounded so odd to me! Rupert Hardinge, who had not one penny to rub +against another, so lately, was now talking of his European tour, and of +legations! I ought to have been glad of his good fortune, and I fancied +I was. I said nothing, this time, concerning his taking up any portion +of my earnings, having the sufficient excuse of not being on pay myself. +Rupert did not stay long in the sloop, and we were soon under way. I +looked eagerly along the high banks of the creek, fringed as it was with +bushes, in hopes of seeing Grace, at least; nor was I disappointed. +She and Lucy had taken a direct path to the point where the two waters +united, and were standing there, as the sloop dropped past. They both +waved their handkerchiefs, in a way to show the interest they felt in +me; and I returned the parting salutations by kissing my hand again +and again. At this instant, a sail-boat passed our bows, and I saw +a gentleman standing up in it, waving his handkerchief, quite as +industriously as I was kissing my hand. A look told me it was Andrew +Drewett, who directed his boat to the point, and was soon making his +bows to the girls in person. His boat ascended the creek, no doubt with +his luggage; while the last I saw of the party it was walking off in +company, taking the direction of the house. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + “Or feeling--, as the storm increases, + The love of terror nerve thy breast, + Didst venture to the coast: + To see the mighty war-ship leap + From wave to wave upon the deep, + Like chamois goat from steep to steep, + Till low in valley lost.” + ALLSTON. + + +Roger Talcott had not been idle during my absence. Clawbonny was so dear +to me, that I had staid longer than was proposed in the original plan; +and I now found the hatches on the Dawn, a crew shipped, and nothing +remaining but to clear out. I mean the literal thing, and not the slang +phrase, one of those of which so many have crept into the American +language, through the shop, and which even find their way into print; +such as “charter coaches,” “on a boat,” “on board a stage,” and other +similar elegancies. “_On_ a boat” always makes me--, even at my present +time of life. The Dawn was cleared the day I reached town. + +Several of the crew of the Crisis had shipped with us anew, the poor +fellows having already made away with all their wages and prize-money, +in the short space of a month! This denoted the usual improvidence of +sailors, and was thought nothing out of the common way. The country +being at peace, a difficulty with Tripoli excepted, it was no longer +necessary for ships to go armed. The sudden excitement produced by the +brush with the French had already subsided, and the navy was reduced to +a few vessels that had been regularly built for the service; while the +lists of officers had been curtailed of two-thirds of their names. +We were no longer a warlike, but were fast getting to be a strictly +commercial, body of seamen. I had a single six-pounder, and half a +dozen muskets, in the Dawn, besides a pair or two of pistols, with just +ammunition enough to quell a mutiny, fire a few signal-guns, or to kill +a few ducks. + +We sailed on the 3rd of July. I have elsewhere intimated that the +Manhattanese hold exaggerated notions of the comparative beauty of +the scenery of their port, sometimes presuming to compare it even with +Naples; to the bay of which it bears some such resemblance as a Dutch +canal bears to a river flowing through rich meadows, in the freedom and +grace of nature. Nevertheless, there _are_ times and seasons when the +bay of New York offers a landscape worthy of any pencil. It was at one +of these felicitous moments that the Dawn cast off from the wharf, and +commenced her voyage to Bordeaux. There was barely air enough from the +southward to enable us to handle the ship, and we profited by a morning +ebb to drop down to the Narrows, in the midst of a fleet of some forty +sail; most of the latter, however, being coasters. Still, we were a +dozen ships and brigs, bound to almost as many different countries. The +little air there was, seemed scarcely to touch the surface of the water; +and the broad expanse of bay was as placid as an inland lake, of a +summer's morning. Yes, yes--there are moments when the haven of New York +does present pictures on which the artist would seize with avidity; but, +the instant nature attempts any of her grander models, on this, a +spot that seems never to rise much above the level of commercial +excellencies, it is found that the accessaries are deficient in +sublimity, or even beauty. + +I have never seen our home waters so lovely as on this morning. The +movements of the vessels gave just enough of life and variety to the +scene to destroy the appearance of sameness; while the craft were too +far from the land to prevent one of the most unpleasant effects of +the ordinary landscape scenery of the place--that produced by the +disproportion between the tallness of their spars, and the low character +of the adjacent shores. As we drew near the Narrows, the wind increased; +and forty sail, working through the pass in close conjunction, +terminated the piece with something like the effect produced by a +_finale_ in an overture. The brightness of the morning, the placid +charms of the scenery, and the propitious circumstances under which I +commenced the voyage, in a commercial point of view, had all contributed +to make me momentarily forget my private griefs, and to enter cheerfully +into the enjoyment of the hour. + +I greatly disliked passengers. They appealed to me to lessen the dignity +of my position, and to reduce me to the level of an inn-keeper, or +one who received boarders. I wished to command a ship, not to take in +lodgers; persons whom you are bound to treat with a certain degree of +consideration, and, in one sense, as your superiors. Still, it had too +much of an appearance of surliness, and a want of hospitality, to refuse +a respectable man a passage across the ocean, when he might not get +another chance in a month, and that, too, when it was important to +himself to proceed immediately. In this particular instance, I became +the dupe of a mistaken kindness on the part of my former owners. These +gentlemen brought to me a Mr. Brigham--Wallace Mortimer Brigham was his +whole name, to be particular--as a person who was desirous of getting to +France with his wife and wife's sister, in order to proceed to Italy +for the health of the married lady, who was believed to be verging on +a decline. These people were from the eastward, and had fallen into +the old error of Americans, that the south of France and Italy had +residences far more favourable for such a disease, than our own country. +This was one of the provincial notions of the day, that were entailed on +us by means of colonial dependency. I suppose the colonial existence is +as necessary to a people, as childhood and adolescence are to the man; +but, as my Lady Mary Wortley Montagu told her friend, Lady Rich--“Nay; +but look you, my dear madam, I grant it a very fine thing to continue +always fifteen; _that_, everybody must approve of--it is quite fair: +but, indeed, indeed, one need not be five years old.” + +I was prevailed on to take these passengers, and I got a specimen of +their characters even as we dropped down the bay, in the midst of the +agreeable scene to which I have just alluded. They were _gossips_; and +that, too, of the lowest, or personal cast. Nothing made them so happy +as to be talking of the private concerns of their fellow-creatures; and, +as ever must happen where this propensity exists, nine-tenths of what +they said rested on no better foundation than surmises, inferences drawn +from premises of questionable accuracy, and judgments that were entered +up without the authority, or even the inclination, to examine witnesses. +They had also a peculiarity that I have often remarked in persons of +the same propensity; most of their gossiping arose from a desire to +make apparent their own intimacy with the private affairs of people of +mark--overlooking the circumstance that, in thus making the concerns of +others the subjects of their own comments, they were impliedly admitting +a consciousness of their own inferiority; men seldom condescending thus +to busy themselves with the affairs of any but those of whom they +feel it to be a sort of distinction to converse. I am much afraid +good-breeding has more to do with the suppression of this vice, than +good principles, as the world goes. I have remarked that persons of a +high degree of self-respect, and a good tone of manners, are quite free +from this defect of character; while I regret to be compelled to say +that I have been acquainted with divers very saintly _professors_, +including one or two parsons, who have represented the very _beau ideal_ +of scandal. + +My passengers gave me a taste of their quality, as I have said, before +we had got a mile below Governor's Island. The ladies were named Sarah +and Jane; and, between them and Wallace Mortimer, what an insight did +I obtain into the private affairs of sundry personages of Salem, in +Massachusetts, together with certain glimpses in at Boston folk; all, +however, referring to qualities and facts that might be classed among +the real or supposed. I can, at this distant day, recall Scene 1st, Act +1st, of the drama that continued while we were crossing the ocean, with +the slight interruption of a few days, produced by sea-sickness. + +“Wallace,” said Sarah, “did you say, yesterday, that John Viner had +refused to lend his daughter's husband twenty thousand dollars, to get +him out of his difficulties, and that he failed in consequence?” + +“To be sure. It was the common talk through Wall Street yesterday, and +everybody believes it”--there was no more truth in the story, than in +one of the forty reports that have killed General Jackson so often, in +the last twenty years. “Yes, no one doubts it--but all the Viners are +just so! All of us, in our part of the world, know what to think of the +Viners.” + +“Yes, I suppose so,” drawled Jane. “I've heard it said this John Viner's +father ran all the way from the Commons in Boston, to the foot of State +Street, to get rid of a dun against this very son, who had his own +misfortunes when he was young.” + +“The story is quite likely true in part,” rejoined Wallace, “though it +can't be _quite_ accurate, as the old gentleman had but one leg, and +_running_ was altogether out of the question with _him_. It was probably +old Tim Viner, who ran like a deer when a young man, as I've heard +people say.” + +“Well, then, I suppose he ran his horse,” added Jane, in the same quiet, +drawling tone. “_Something_ must have run, or they never would have got +up the story.” + +I wondered if Miss Jane Hitchcox had ever taken the trouble to ascertain +who _they_ were! I happened to know both the Viners, and to be quite +certain there was not a word of truth in the report of the twenty +thousand dollars, having heard all the particulars of the late failure +from one of my former owners, who was an assignee, and a considerable +creditor. Under the circumstances, I thought I would hint as much. + +“Are you quite sure that the failure of Viner & Co. was owing to the +circumstance you mention, Mr. Brigham?” I inquired. + +“Pretty certain. I am '_measurably acquainted_' with their affairs, and +think I am tolerably safe in saying so.” + +Now, “measurably acquainted” meant that he lived within twenty or thirty +miles of those who _did_ know something of the concerns of the house in +question, and was in the way of catching scraps of the gossip that fell +from disappointed creditors. How much of this is there in this good +country of ours! Men who live just near enough to one another to feel +the influence of all that rivalry, envy, personal strifes and personal +malignancies, can generate, fancy they are acquainted, from this +circumstance, with those to whom they have never even spoken. One-half +the idle tales that circulate up and-down the land, come from authority +not one tittle better than this. How much would men learn, could they +only acquire the healthful lesson of understanding that _nothing_, +which is much out of the ordinary way, and which, circulates as received +truths illustrative of character, is true in _all_ its material parts, +and very little in _any_. But, to return to my passengers, and that +portion of their conversation which most affected myself. They continued +commenting on persons and families by name, seemingly more to keep their +hands in, than for any other discoverable reason, as each appeared to +be perfectly conversant with all the gossip that was started; when +Sarah casually mentioned the name of Mrs. Bradfort, with some of whose +_supposed_ friends, it now came out, they had all a general visiting +acquaintance. + +“Dr. Hosack is of opinion she cannot live long, I hear,” said Jane, with +a species of fierce delight in killing a fellow-creature, provided it +only led to a gossip concerning her private affairs. “Her case has been +decided to be a cancer, now, for more than a week, and she made her will +last Tuesday.” + +“Only last Tuesday!” exclaimed Sarah, in surprise. “Well, I heard +she had made her will a twelvemonth since, and that she left all her +property to young Rupert Hardinge; in the expectation, some persons +thought, that he might marry her.” + +“How could that be, my dear?” asked the husband; “in what would she be +better off for leaving her own property to her husband?” + +“Why, by law, would she not? I don't exactly know how it would happen, +for I do not particularly understand these things; but it seems natural +that a woman would be a gainer if she made the man she was about to +marry her heir. She would have her thirds in his estate, would she not?” + +“But, Mrs. Brigham,” said I, smiling, “is it quite certain Mrs. Bradfort +wishes to marry Rupert Hardinge, at all?” + +“I know so little of the parties, that I cannot speak with certainty in +the matter, I admit, Captain Wallingford.” + +“Well, but Sarah, dear,” interposed the more exacting Jane, “you are +making yourself unnecessarily ignorant. You very well know how intimate +we are with the Greenes, and they know the Winters perfectly well, who +are next-door neighbours to Mrs. Bradfort. I don't see how you can say +we haven't good means of being 'measurably' well-informed.” + +Now, I happened to know through Grace and Lucy, that a disagreeable old +person, of the name of Greene did live next door to Mrs. Bradfort; +but, that the latter refused to visit her, firstly, because she did not +happen to like her, and secondly, because the two ladies belonged to +very different social circles; a sufficient excuse for not visiting +in town, even though the parties inhabited the same house. But, the +Brighams, being Salem people, did not understand that families might +reside next door to each other, in a large town, for a long series of +months, or even years, and not know each other's names. It would not be +easy to teach this truth, one of every-day occurrence, to the inhabitant +of one of our provincial towns, who was in the habit of fancying he had +as close an insight into the private affairs of all his neighbours, as +they enjoyed themselves. + +“No doubt we are all as well off as most strangers in New York,” + observed the wife; “still, it ought to be admitted that we may +be mistaken. I have heard it said there is an old Mr. Hardinge, a +clergyman, who would make a far better match for the lady, than his son. +However, it is of no great moment, now; for, when our neighbour +Mrs. John Foote, saw Dr. Hosack about her own child, she got all the +particulars out of him about Mrs. Bradfort's case, from the highest +quarter, and I had it from Mrs. Foote, herself.” + +“I could not have believed that a physician of Dr. Hosack's eminence +and character would speak openly of the diseases of his patients,” I +observed, a little tartly, I am afraid. + +“Oh! he didn't,” said Sarah, eagerly--“he was as cunning as a fox, +Mrs. Foote owned herself, and played her off finely; but Mrs. Foote +was cunninger than any half-dozen foxes, and got it all out of him by +negations.” + +“Negations!” I exclaimed, wondering what was meant by the term, though I +had understood I was to expect a little more philosophy and metaphysics, +not to say algebra, in my passengers, than usually accompanied +petticoats in our part of the world. + +“Certainly, _negations_” answered the matron, with a smile as complacent +as that which usually denotes the consciousness of intellectual +superiority. “One who is a little practised, can ascertain a fact as +well by means of negatives as affirmatives. It only requires judgment +and use.” + +“Then Mrs. Bradfort's disease is only ascertained by the negative +process?” + +“So I suppose--but what does one want more,” put in the husband;--“and +that she made her will last week, I feel quite sure, as it was generally +spoken of among our friends.” + +Here were people who had been in New York only a month, looking out for +a ship, mere passengers as it might be, who knew more about a family +with which I had myself such an intimate connection, than its own +members. I thought it no wonder that such a race was capable of +enlightening mankind, on matters and things in general. But the game did +not end here. + +“I suppose Miss Lucy Hardinge will get something by Mrs. Bradfort's +death,” observed Miss Jane, “and that she and Mr. Andrew Drewett will +marry as soon as it shall become proper.” + +Here was a speculation, for a man in my state of mind! The names were +all right; some of the incidents, even, were probable, if not correct; +yet, how could the facts be known to these comparative strangers? +Did the art of gossiping, with all its meannesses, lies, devices, +inventions, and cruelties, really possess so much advantage over the +intercourse of the confiding and honest, as to enable those who practise +it to discover facts hidden from eye-witnesses, and eye-witnesses, too, +that had every inducement of the strongest interest in the issue, not +to be deceived? I felt satisfied, the moment Mrs. Greene's name was +mentioned, that my passengers were not in the true New York set; and, +justly enough, inferred they were not very good authority for one +half they said; and, yet, how could they know anything of Drewett's +attachment to Lucy, unless their information were tolerably accurate? + +I shall not attempt to repeat all that passed while the ship dropped +down the bay; but enough escaped the gossips to render me still more +unhappy than I had yet been, on the subject of Lucy. I could and did +despise these people; that was easy enough; but it was not so easy +to forget all that they said and surmised. This is one of the causes +attendant on the habit of loose talking; one never knowing what +to credit, and what not. In spite of all my disgust, and a firm +determination not to contribute in any manner to the stock in trade +of these people, I found great difficulty in evading their endless +questions. How much they got out of me, by means of the process of +negations, I never knew; but they got no great matter through direct +affirmatives. Something, however, persons so indefatigable, to whom +gossiping was the great aim of life, must obtain, and they ascertained +that Mr. Hardinge was my guardian, that Rupert and I had passed our +boyhoods in each other's company, and that Lucy was even an inmate of my +own house the day we sailed. This little knowledge only excited a desire +for more, and, by the end of a week, I was obliged to submit to devices +and expedients to pump me, than which even the thumbscrew was scarcely +more efficient. I practised on the negative system, myself, with a +good deal of dexterity, however, and threw my inquisitors off, very +handsomely, more than once, until I discovered that Wallace Mortimer, +determined not to be baffled, actually opened communications with Neb, +in order to get a clearer insight into my private affairs. After this, +I presume my readers will not care to hear any more about these gentry, +whose only connection with my life grew out of the misgivings they +contributed largely to create in my mind, touching the state of Lucy's +affections. This much they did effect, and I was compelled to submit +to their power. We are all of us, more or less, the dupes of knaves and +fools. + +All this, however, was the fruits of several weeks' intercourse, and +I have anticipated events a little, in order to make the statements in +connection. Meeting a breeze, as has been said already, the Dawn got +over the bar, about two o'clock, and stood off the land, on an easy +bowline, in company with the little fleet of square-rigged vessels that +went out at the same time. By sunset, Navesink again dipped, and I was +once more fairly at sea. + +This was at the period when the commerce of America was at its height. +The spirit shown by the young Republic in the French affair had +commanded a little respect, though the supposed tendencies of the new +administration was causing anything but a cordial feeling towards the +country to exist in England. That powerful nation, however, had made a +hollow peace with France the previous March, and the highway of nations +was temporarily open to all ships alike; a state of things that +existed for some ten months after we sailed. Nothing to be apprehended, +consequently, lay before me, beyond the ordinary dangers of the ocean. +For these last, I was now prepared by the experience of several years +passed almost entirely on board ship, during which time I had encircled +the earth itself in my peregrinations. + +Our run off the coast was favourable, and the sixth day out, we were +in the longitude of the tail of the Grand Bank. I was delighted with my +ship, which turned out to be even more than I had dared to hope for. +She behaved well under all circumstances, sailing even better than she +worked. The first ten days of our passage were prosperous, and we were +mid-ocean by the 10th of the month. During this time I had nothing to +annoy me but the ceaseless _cancans_ of my passengers. I had heard the +name of every individual of note in Salem; with certain passages in his +or her life, and began to fancy I had lived a twelvemonth in the place. +At length, I began to speculate on the reason why this morbid propensity +should exist so much stronger in that part of the world than in any +other I had visited. There was nothing new in the disposition of the +people of small places to gossip, and it was often done in large towns; +more especially those that did not possess the tone of a capital. Lady +Mary Wortley Montagu and Horace Walpole wrote gossip, but it was spiced +with wit, as is usual with the scandal of such places as London and +Paris; whereas this, to which I was doomed to listen, was nothing more +than downright impertinent, vulgar, meddling with the private affairs +of all those whom the gossips thought of sufficient importance to talk +about. At Clawbonny, we had our gossip too, but it was innocent, seldom +infringed much on the truth, and usually respected the right of every +person to possess certain secrets that might remain inviolate to the +world. No such rules prevailed with my passengers. Like a certain editor +of a newspaper of my acquaintance, who acts as if he fancied all things +in heaven and earth were created expressly to furnish materials +for “paragraphs,” they appeared to think that everybody of their +acquaintance existed for no other purpose than to furnish them food +for conversation. There must have been some unusual cause for so +much personal _espionnage_, and, at length, I came to the following +conclusion on the subject. I had heard that church government, among the +puritans, descended into all the details of life; that it was a part of +their religious duty to watch over each other, jog the memories of the +delinquents, and serve God by ferreting out vice. This is a terrible +inducement to fill the mind with the motes of a neighbourhood, and the +mind thus stowed, as we sailors say, will be certain to deliver cargo. +Then come the institutions, with their never-ending elections, and the +construction that has been put on the right of the elector to inquire +into all things; the whole consummated by the journals, who assume a +power to penetrate the closet, ay, even the heart,--and lay bare its +secrets. Is it any wonder, if we should become, in time, a nation of +mere gossips? As for my passengers, even Neb got to consider them as so +many nuisances. + +From some cause or other, whether it was having these loose-tongued +people on board or not, is more than I can say, but certain it is, about +the time Salem was handsomely cleaned out, and a heavy inroad had been +made upon Boston, that the weather changed. It began to blow in gusts, +sometimes from one point of the compass, sometimes from another, until +the ship was brought to very short canvass, from a dread of being caught +unprepared. At length, these fantasies of the winds terminated in a +tremendous gale, such as I had seldom then witnessed; and such, indeed, +as I have seldom witnessed since. It is a great mistake to suppose that +the heaviest weather occurs in the autumnal, spring, or winter months. +Much the strongest blows I have ever known, have taken place in the +middle of the warm weather. This is the season of the hurricanes; and, +out of the tropics, I think it is also the season of _the_ gales. It +is true; these gales do not return annually, a long succession of years +frequently occurring without one; but, when they do come, they may be +expected, in our own seas, in July, August, or September. + +The wind commenced at south-west, on this occasion, and it blew fresh +for several hours, sending us ahead on our course, at the rate of eleven +knots. As the sea got up, and sail was reduced, our speed was a little +diminished perhaps; but we must have made more than a hundred miles in +the first ten hours. The day was bright, cloudless, genial, and even +bland; there being nothing unpleasant in the feeling of the swift +currents of the air, that whirled past us. At sunset I did not quite +like the appearance of the horizon; and we let the ship wade through +it, under her three top-sails, single-reefed, her fore-course, and +fore-top-mast staysail. This was short canvass, for a vessel that had +the wind nearly over her taffrail. At nine o'clock, second reefs were +taken in, and at ten, the mizen-top-sail was furled. I then turned in, +deeming the ship quite snug, leaving orders with the mates to reduce the +sail, did they find the ship straining, or the spars in danger, and to +call me should anything serious occur. I was not called until daylight, +when Talcott laid his hand on my shoulder, and said, “You had better +turn out, Captain Wallingford; we have a peeler, and I want a little +advice.” + +It was a peeler, indeed, when I reached the deck. The ship was under +a fore-course and a close-reefed main-top-sail, canvass that can be +carried a long time, while running off; but which, I at once saw, was +quite too much for us. An order was given immediately, to take in the +top-sail. Notwithstanding the diminutive surface that was exposed, the +surges given by this bit of canvass, as soon as the clews were eased off +sufficiently to allow the cloth to jerk, shook the vessel's hull. It was +a miracle that we saved the mast, or that we got the cloth rolled up +at all. At one time, I thought it would be necessary to cut it from +the yard. Fortunately the gale was steady, this day proving bright and +clear, like that which had preceded. + + +The men aloft made several attempts to hail the deck, but the wind blew +too heavily to suffer them to be heard. Talcott had gone on the yard +himself, and I saw him gesticulating, in a way to indicate there was +something ahead. The seas were running so high that it was not easy +to obtain much of a look at the horizon; but, by getting into the +mizen-rigging, I had a glimpse of a vessel's spars, to the eastward of +us, and directly on our course. It was a ship under bare poles, +running as nearly before us as she could, but making most fearful yaws; +sometimes sheering away off to starboard, in a way to threaten her with +broaching-to; then taking a yaw to port, in which I could see all three +of her masts, with their yards pointed nearly at us. I got but one +glimpse of her hull, as it rose on a sea, at the same instant with the +Dawn, and it actually appeared as if about to be blown away, though I +took the stranger to be a vessel at least as large as we were ourselves. +We were evidently approaching her fast, though both vessels were going +the same way. + +The Dawn steered beautifully, one of the greatest virtues in a ship, +under the circumstances in which we were then placed. A single man was +all that we had at the wheel, and he controlled it with ease. I could +see it was very different with the ship ahead, and fancied they had made +a mistake on board her, by taking in all their canvass. Talcott and the +gang aloft, had not got out of the top, however, before we had a hint +that it would be well to imitate the stranger's prudence. Though our +vessel steered so much better than another, no ship can keep on a +direct line, while running before the wind, in a heavy sea. The waves +occasionally fly past a vessel, like the scud glancing through the +air; then, they seem to pause, altogether, as if to permit the ship to +overtake them. When a vessel is lifted aft by one of these torrents of +rushing waters, the helm loses a portion of its power; and the part +of the vast machine that first receives the impulse, seems intent on +exchanging places with the bows, vessels often driving sideways before +the surges, for spaces of time that are exceedingly embarrassing to +the mariner. This happens to the best-steering ships, and is always one +source of danger in very heavy weather, to those that are running off. +The merit of the Dawn was in coming under command again, quickly, and +in not losing so much of the influence of her helm, as is frequently the +case with wild-steering craft. I understand there is a sloop-of-war now +in the navy, that is difficult to get through a narrow passage, in a +blow, in consequence of her having this propensity to turn her head +first one way, then another, like a gay horse that breaks his bridle. + +The hint given, just as Talcott was quitting the top, and to which there +has been allusion, was given under the impulsion of one of these +driving seas. The Dawn still carried her fore-topmast stay-sail, a small +triangular piece of stout canvass, and which was particularly useful, +as leading from the end of the bowsprit towards the head of the +fore-top-mast, in preventing her from broaching-to, or pressing up with +her bows so near the wind, as to produce the danger of seas breaking +over the mass of the hull, and sweeping the decks. The landsman will +understand this is the gravest of the dangers that occur at sea, in very +heavy weather. When the ship is thrown broadside to the sea, or comes +up so as to bring the wind abeam, or even forward of the beam, as in +lying-to, there is always risk from this source. Another clanger, which +is called pooping, is of a character that one who is ignorant of +the might of the ocean when aroused, would not be apt to foresee. It +proceeds from the impetuous velocity of the waves, which, rushing ahead +so much faster than the vessel that is even driving before the gale, +breaks against the quarter, or stern, and throws its masses of water +along the deck, in a line with its keel. I suppose the President steamer +to have been lost by the first of these two dangers, as will appear in +the following little theory. + +There is no doubt that well-constructed steamers are safer craft, the +danger from fire excepted, than the ordinary ship, except in very heavy +weather. With an ordinary gale, they can contend with sufficient power; +but, it is an unfortunate consequence of their construction, that +exactly as the danger increases, their power of meeting it diminishes. +In a very heavy swell, one cannot venture to resort to a strong head of +steam, since one wheel may be nearly out of water, while the other is +submerged, and thus endanger the machinery. Now, the great length of +these vessels renders it difficult to keep them up to the wind, or head +to sea, the safest of all positions for a vessel in heavy weather, while +it exposes them to the additional risk of having the water break aboard +them near the waist, in running dead before it. In a word, I suppose a +steamer difficult to be kept out of the trough, in very heavy weather; +and no vessel can be safe in the trough of the seas, under such +circumstances; one of great length less so than others. This is +true, however, only in reference to those steamers which carry the +old-fashioned wheel; Erricson's screw, and Hunter's submerged wheels, +rendering steam-ships, in my poor judgment, the safest craft in the +world. + +The Dawn was overtaken by the seas, from time to time; and, then, like +everything else that floats, she yawed, or rather, had her stern urged +impetuously round, as if it were in a hurry to get ahead of the bows. +On these occasions, the noise made by the fore-top-mast stay-sail, as +it collapsed and filled, resembled the report of a small gun. We had +similar reports from the fore-sail, which, for moments at a time, was +actually becalmed, as the ship settled into the trough; and then became +distended with a noise like that of the shaking of a thousand carpets, +all filled with Sancho Panzas, at the same instant. As yet, the cloth +and gear had stood these violent shocks admirably; but, just as +Talcott was leading his party down, the ship made one of her side-long +movements; the stay-sail filled with a tremendous report, and away it +flew to leeward, taken out--of the bolt-rope as if it had been cut by +shears, and then used by the furies of the tempest. Talcott smiled, as +he gazed at the driving canvass, which went a quarter of a mile before +it struck the water, whirling like a kite that has broken its string, +and then he shook his head. I disliked, too, the tremendous surges of +the fore-sail, when it occasionally collapsed and as suddenly filled, +menacing to start every bolt, and to part every rope connected with +block or spar. + +“We must get in that fore-course, Mr. Talcott,” I said, “or we shall +lose something. I see the ship ahead is under bare-poles, and it were +better we were as snug. If I did not dislike losing such a wind, it +would be wiser to heave-to the ship; man the buntlines and clew-garnets, +at once, and wait for a favourable moment.” + +We had held on to our canvass too long; the fault of youth. As I had +determined to shorten sail, however, we now set about it in earnest, and +with all the precautions exacted by the circumstances. Everybody that +could be mustered, was placed at the clew-lines and buntlines, with +strict orders to do his best at the proper moments. The first-mate went +to the tack, and the second to the sheet. I was to take in the sail +myself. I waited for a collapse; and then, while the ship was buried +between two mounds of water, when it was impossible to see a hundred +yards from her in any direction, and the canvass was actually dropping +against the mast I gave the usual orders. Every man hauled, as if for +life, and we had got the clews pretty well up, when the vessel came out +of the cavern into the tempest, receiving the whole power of the gale, +with a sudden surge, into the bellying canvass. Away went everything, as +if the gear were cobwebs. At the next instant, the sail was in ribands. +I was deeply mortified, as well as rendered uneasy, by this accident, as +the ship ahead unquestionably was in full view of all that happened. + +It was soon apparent, however, that professional pride must give place +to concern for the safety of the vessel. The wind had been steadily +increasing in power, and had now reached a pass when it became necessary +to look things steadily in the face. The strips of canvass that remained +attached to the yard, with the blocks and gear attached, threshed about +in a way to threaten the lives of all that approached. This was only at +the intervals when the ship settled into the troughs; for, while under +the full influence of the gale, pennants never streamed more directly +from a mast, than did these heavy fragments from the fore-yard. It was +necessary to get rid of them; and Talcott had just volunteered to go +on the yard with this end, when Neb sprang into the rigging without an +order, and was soon beyond the reach of the voice. This daring black had +several narrow escapes, more especially from the fore-sheet blocks; +but he succeeded in cutting everything adrift, and in leaving nothing +attached to the spar, but the bolt-rope of the head of the sail. It is +true, little effected this object, when the knife could be applied, the +threads of the stout canvass snapping at the touch. + +As soon as the ship was under bare poles, though at the sacrifice of two +of her sails, I had leisure to look out for the other vessel. There she +was, more than half a mile ahead of us, yawing wildly, and rolling her +lower yard-arm, to the water's edge. As we drew nearer, I got better +glimpses of this vessel, which was a ship, and as I fancied, an English +West Indiaman, deep-loaded with the produce of the islands. Deep-loaded +as I fancied, for it was only at instants that she could be seen at all, +under circumstances to judge of this fact; sometimes her hull appearing +to be nearly smothered in the brine, and then, again, her copper +glistening in the sun, resembling a light vessel, kept under the care of +some thrifty housewife. + +The Dawn did not fly, now all her canvass was gone, as fast as she had +previously done. She went through the water at a greater rate than the +vessel ahead; but it required an hour longer to bring the two ships +within a cable's length of each other. Then, indeed, we got a near view +of the manner in which the elements can play with such a mass of wood +and iron as a ship, when in an angry mood. There were instants when I +fancied I could nearly see the keel of the stranger for half its length, +as he went foaming up on the crest of a wave, apparently ready to quit +the water altogether; then again, he would settle away into the blue +abyss, hiding everything beneath his tops. When both vessels sunk +together, no sign of our neighbour was visible, though so near. We came +up after one of these deep plunges into the valleys of the ocean, and, +to our alarm, saw the English ship yawing directly athwart our course, +and within fifty fathoms of us. This was about the distance at which +I intended to pass, little dreaming of finding the other ship so +completely in our way. The Englishman must have intended to come a +little nearer, and got one of those desperate sheers that so often ran +away with him. There he was, however; and a breathless minute followed, +when he was first seen. Two vehicles dashing along a highway, with +frightened and run-away teams, would not present a sight one-half as +terrific as that which lay directly before our eyes. + +The Dawn was plunging onward with a momentum to dash in splinters, did +she strike any resisting object, and yawing herself sufficiently to +render the passage hazardous. But the stranger made the matter ten-fold +worse. When I first saw him, in this fearful proximity, his broadside +was nearly offered to the seas, and away he was flying, on the summit of +a mountain of foam, fairly crossing our fore-foot. At the next moment, +he fell off before the wind, again, and I could just see his tops +directly ahead. His sheer had been to-port, our intention having been to +pass him on his starboard side; but, perceiving him to steer so wild, +I thought it might be well to go in the other direction. Quick as the +words could be uttered, therefore, I called out to port the helm. This +was done, of course; and just as the Dawn felt the new influence, the +other vessel took the same sheer, and away we both went to starboard, +at precisely the same instant. I shouted to right our helm to “hard +a-starboard,” and it was well I did; a minute more would have brought us +down headlong on the Englishman. Even now we could only see his hull, at +instants; but the awful proximity of his spars denoted the full extent +of the danger. Luckily, we hit on opposite directions, or our common +destruction would have been certain. But, it was one thing, in that +cauldron of a sea, to determine on a course, and another to follow it. +As we rose on the last wave that alone separated us from the stranger, +he was nearly ahead; and as we glanced onward, I saw that we should +barely clear his larboard quarter. Our helm being already a starboard, +no more could be done. Should he take another sheer to port, we must +infallibly cut him in twain. As I have said, he had jammed his helm +to-port, and slowly, and with a species of reluctance, he inclined a +little aside. Then we came up, both ships rolling off, or our yards must +have interlocked, and passing his quarter with our bows, we each felt +the sheer at the same instant, and away we went asunder, the sterns of +the ships looking at each other, and certainly not a hundred feet apart. +A shout from Talcott drew me to our taffrail, and standing on that of +our neighbour, what or whom should I see waving his hat, but the red +countenance of honest Moses Marble! + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + “At the piping of all hands, + When the judgment signal's spread-- + When the islands and the lands, + And the seas give up the dead, + And the south and the north shall come; + When the sinner is dismay'd, + And the just man is afraid, + Then heaven be thy aid, + Poor _Tom_.'” + BRAINARD. + + +The two ships, in the haste of their respective crews to get clear of +each other, were now running in the troughs; and the same idea would +seem to have suggested itself to me and the other master, at the same +instant. Instead of endeavouring to keep away again, one kept his helm +hard a-port, the other as hard a-starboard, until we both came by the +wind, though on opposite tacks. The Englishman set his mizen-stay-sail, +and though he made bad weather of it, he evidently ran much less risk +than in scudding. The seas came on board him constantly; but not in a +way to do any material damage. As for the Dawn, she lay-to, like a +duck, under bare poles. I had a spare stay-sail, stopped up in her +mizen-rigging, from the top down, and after that the ship was both easy +and dry. Once in a while, it is true, her bows would meet some fellow +heavier than common, and then we got a few hogsheads of water forward; +but it went out to leeward as fast as it came in to windward. At the +turn of the day, however, the gale broke, and the weather moderated +sensibly; both sea and wind beginning to go down. + +Had we been alone, I should not have hesitated about bearing up, getting +some sail on the ship, and running off on my course, again; but, the +desire to speak the stranger, and have some communication with Marble, +was so strong, that I could not make up my mind to do so. Including +myself, Talcott, Neb, the cabin-steward, and six of the people forward, +there were ten of us on board, who knew the ex-mate; and, of the +whole ten, there was not a dissenting voice concerning his identity. +I determined, therefore, to stick by the Englishman, and at least have +some communication with my old friend. As for myself, I own I loved +Marble, uncouth and peculiar as he sometimes was. I owed him more +than any other man living, Mr. Hardinge excepted; for he had made me a +seaman, having been of use to me professionally, in a hundred ways. Then +we had seen so much in company, that I regarded him as a portion of my +experience, and as, in some measure, identified with my own nautical +career. + +I was afraid at one moment, that the Englishman intended to remain as +he was, all night; but, about an hour before sunset, I had the +gratification to see him set his fore-sail, and keep off. I had wore +round, two hours before, to get the Dawn's head on the same tack +with him, and followed under bare poles. As the stranger soon set his +main-top-sail close reefed, and then his fore, it enabled us to make +a little sail also, in order to keep up with him. This we did all that +night; and, in the morning, both ships were under everything that would +draw, with a moderate breeze from the northward, and no great matter of +sea going. The English vessel was about a league to leeward of us, and +a little ahead. Under such circumstances, it was easy to close. +Accordingly, just as the two ships' companies were about to go to +breakfast, the Dawn ranged up under the lee-quarter of the stranger. + +“What ship's that?” I hailed, in the usual manner. + +“The Dundee; Robert Ferguson, master--what ship's that?” + +“The Dawn; Miles Wallingford. Where are you from?” + +“From Rio de Janeiro, bound to London. Where are _you_ from?” + +“From New York, to Bordeaux. A heavy blow we have just had of it.” + +“Quite; the like of it, I've not seen in many a day. You've a pratty +sea-boat, yon!” + +“She made capital weather, in the late gale, and I've every reason to be +satisfied with her. Pray, haven't you an American on board, of the name +of Marble? We fancied that we saw the face of an old shipmate on your +taffrail, yesterday, and have kept you company in order to inquire after +his news.” + +“Ay, ay,” answered the Scotch master, waving his hand. “The chiel will +be visiting you prasently. He's below, stowing away his dunnage; and +will be thanking you for a passage home, I'm thinking.” + +As these words were uttered, Marble appeared on deck, and waved his hat, +again, in recognition. This was enough; as we understood each other, the +two ships took sufficient room, and hove-to. We lowered our boat, and +Talcott went alongside of the Dundee, in quest of our old shipmate. +Newspapers and news were exchanged; and, in twenty minutes, I had the +extreme gratification of grasping Marble once more by the hand. + +My old friend was too much affected to speak, for some little time. +He shook hands with everybody, and seemed as much astonished as he was +delighted at finding so many of us together again; but not a syllable +did he utter for several minutes. I had his chest passed into the +cabin, and then went and took my seat alongside of him on the hen-coops, +intending to hear his story, as soon as he was disposed to give it. But, +it was no easy matter to get out of ear-shot of my passengers. During +the gale, they had been tongue-tied, and I had a little peace; but, +no sooner did the wind and sea go down, than they broke out in the old +spot, and began to do Boston, in the way they had commenced. Now, Marble +had come on board, in a manner so unusual, and it was evident a +secret history was to be revealed, that all three took post in the +companion-way, in a manner to render it impossible anything material +could escape them. I knew the folly of attempting a change of position +on deck; we should certainly be followed up; and, people of this class, +so long as they can make the excuse of saying they heard any part of a +secret, never scruple about inventing the portions that happen to escape +their ears. Consequently, I desired Marble and Talcott to follow me; +and, incontinently, I led the way into the main-top. I was obeyed, the +second-mate having the watch, and all three of us were soon seated with +our legs over the top-rim, as comfortable as so many gossips, who had +just finished their last cups, have stirred the fire, and drawn their +heads together to open a fresh-budget. Neither Sarah nor Jane could +follow us, thank God! + +“There, d--n 'em” said I, a little pointedly; for it was enough to +make a much more, scrupulous person swear, “we've got the length of the +main-rigging between us, and I do not think they'll venture into the +top, this fine morning, in order to overhear what shall be said. It +would puzzle even Wallace Mortimer to do that, Talcott.” + +“If they do,” observed Talcott, laughing, “we can retreat to the +cross-trees, and thence to the royal-yard.” + +Marble looked inquisitive, but, at the same time, he looked knowing. + +“I understand,” he said, with a nod; “three people with six sets of +ears--is it not so, Miles?” + +“Precisely; though you only do them credit by halves, for you should +have added to this inventory forty tongues.” + +“Well, that is a large supply. The man, or woman, who is so well +provided, should carry plenty of ballast. However, as you say, they're +out of hail now, and must guess at all they repeat, if repeating it can +be called.” + +“Quite as much as nine-tenths of what they give as coming from others,” + observed Talcott. “People never can tell so much of other person's +affairs, without bailing out most of their ideas from their own +scuttle-butts.” + +“Well, let them go to--Bordeaux--” said I, “since they are bound there. +And now, my dear Marble, here we are, and dying to know all that has +happened to you. You have firm friends in Talcott and myself; either of +us, ready to give you his berth for the asking.” + +“Thank'ee, my dear boys--thank'ee, with all my heart and soul,” returned +the honest fellow, dashing the moisture from his eyes, with the back +of his hand. “I believe you would, boys; I do believe you would, one or +both. I am glad, Miles, you came up into this bloody top, for I wouldn't +like to let your reg'lar 'long-shore harpies see a man of my time of +life, and one that has been to sea, now, man and boy, close on to forty +years, with as much blubber about him, as one of your right whales. +Well--and now for the log; for I suppose you'll insist on overhauling +it, lads?” + +“That we shall; and see you miss no leaf of it. Be as particular as if +it were overhauled in an insurance case.” + +“Ay; they're bloody knaves, sometimes, them underwriters; und a fellow +need be careful to get his dues out of them--that is to say, _some_; +others, ag'in, are gentlemen, down to their shoe-buckles, and no sooner +see a poor shipwrecked devil, than they open their tills, and begin to +count out, before he has opened his mouth.” + +“Well, but your own adventures, my old friend; you forget we are dying +with curiosity.” + +“Ay--your cur'osity's a troublesome inmate, and will never be quiet as +long as one tries to keep it under hatches; especially female cur'osity. +Well, I must gratify you; and so I'll make no more bones about it, +though its giving an account of my own obstinacy and folly. I reckon, +now, my boys, you missed me the day the ship sailed from the island?” + +“That we did, and supposed you had got tired of your experiment before +it began,” I answered, “so were off, before we were ourselves.” + +“You had reason for so thinking; though you were out in your reckoning, +too. No; it happened in this fashion. After you left me, I began to +generalize over my sitiation, and I says to myself, says I, 'Moses +Marble, them lads will never consent to sail and leave you here, on this +island, alone like a bloody hermit,' says I. 'If you want to hold on,' +says I, 'and try your hand at a hermitage,' says I, 'or to play +Robinson Crusoe,' says I, 'you must be out, of the way when the Crisis, +sails'--boys, what's become of the old ship? Not a word have I heard +about her, yet!” + +“She was loading for London, when we sailed, her owners intending to +send her the same voyage over again.” + +“And they refused to let you have her, Miles, on account of your youth, +notwithstanding all you did for them?” + +“Not so; they pressed me to keep her, but I preferred a ship of my own. +The Dawn is my property, Master Moses!” + +“Thank God! then there is one honest chap among the owners. And how did +she behave? Had you any trouble with the pirates?” + +Perceiving the utter uselessness of attempting to hear his own story +before I rendered an account of the Crisis, and her exploits, I gave +Marble a history of our voyage, from the time we parted down to the day +we reached New York. + +“And that scaramouch of a schooner that the Frenchman gave us, in his +charity?” + +“The Pretty Poll! She got home safe, was sold, and is now in the +West-India trade. There is a handsome balance, amounting to some +fourteen hundred dollars, in the owners' hands, coming to you from +prize-money and wages.” + +It is not in nature, for any man to be sorry he has money. I saw by +Marble's eyes, that this sum, so unusually large for him to possess, +formed a new tie to the world, and that he fancied himself a much +happier man in possessing it. He looked at me earnestly, for quite a +minute, and then remarked, I make no doubt with sincere regret-- + +“Miles, if I had a mother living, now, that money might make her old +age comfortable! It seems that they who have no mothers, have money, and +they who have no money, have mothers.” + +I waited a moment for Marble to recover his self-command, and then urged +him to continue his story. + +“I was telling you how I generalized over my sitiation,” resumed the +ex-mate, “as soon as I found myself alone in the hut. I came to the +conclusion that I should be carried off by force, if I remained till +next day; and so I got into the launch, carried her out of the lagoon, +taking care to give the ship a berth, went through the reef, and kept +turning to windward, until day-break. By that time, the island was quite +out of sight, though I saw the upper sails of the ship, as soon as you +got her under way. I kept the top-gallant-sails in sight, until I made +the island, again; and as you went off, I ran in, and took possession of +my dominions, with no one to dispute my will, or to try to reason me out +of my consait.” + +“I am glad to hear you term that notion a conceit, for, certainly, it +was not reason. You soon discovered your mistake, my old mess-mate, and +began to think of home.” + +“I soon discovered, Miles, that if I had neither father, nor mother, +brother nor sister, that I had a country and friends. The bit of marble +on which I was found in the stone-cutter's yard, then seemed as dear to +me as a gold cradle is to a king's son; and I thought of you, and all +the rest of you--nay, I yearned after you, as a mother would yearn for +her children.” + +“Poor fellow, you were solitary enough, I dare say--had you no amusement +with your pigs and poultry?” + +“For a day or two, they kept me pretty busy. But, by the end of a week, +I discovered that pigs and poultry were not made to keep company with +man. I had consaited that I could pass the rest of my days in the bosom +of my own family, like any other man who had made, his fortune and +retired; but, I found my household too small for such a life as that. My +great mistake was in supposing that the Marble family could be happy in +its own circle.” + +This was said bitterly, though it was said drolly, and, while it made + +Talcott and myself laugh, it also made us sorry. + +“I fell into another mistake, however, boys,” Marble continued, “and +it might as well be owned. I took it into my head that I should be all +alone on the island, but I found to my cost, that the devil insisted on +having his share. I'll tell you how it is, Miles; a man must either look +ahead, or look astarn; there is no such thing as satisfying himself +with the present moorings. Now, this was my misfortune; for, ahead I +had nothing to look forward to; and astarn, what comfort had I in +overhauling past sins!” + +“I think I can understand your difficulties, my friend; how did you +manage to get rid of them?” + +“I left the island. You had put the Frenchman's launch in capital +condition, and all I had to do was to fill up the breakers with fresh +water, kill a hog and salt him away, put on board a quantity of biscuit, +and be off. As for eatables, you know there was no scarcity on the +island, and I took my choice. I make no doubt there are twenty hogsheads +of undamaged sugars, at this very moment, in the hold of that wreck, +and on the beach of the island. I fed my poultry on it, the whole time I +staid.” + +“And so you abandoned Marble Land to the pig's and the fowls?” + +“I did, indeed, Miles; and I hope the poor creaturs will have a +comfortable time of it. I gave 'em what the lawyers call a quit-claim, +and sailed two months to a day after you went off in the Crisis.” + +“I should think, old shipmate, that your voyage must have been as +solitary and desperate as your life ashore.” + +“I'm amazed to hear, you say that. I'm never solitary at sea, one has +so much to do in taking care of his craft; and then he can always look +forward to the day he'll get in. But this generalizing, night and day, +without any port ahead, and little comfort in looking astarn, will soon +fit a man for Bedlam. I just: weathered Cape Crazy, I can tell you, +lads; and that, too, in the white water! As for my v'y'ge being +desperate, what was there to make it so, I should like to know?” + +“You must have been twelve or fifteen hundred miles from any island +where you could look forward to anything like safety; and that is a +distance one would rather not travel all alone on the high seas.” + +“Pshaw! all consait. You're getting notional, Miles, now you're a master +and owner. What's a run of a thousand or fifteen hundred miles, in a +tight boat, and with plenty of grub and water? It was the easiest matter +in the world; and if it warn't for that bloody Cape Horn, I should have +made as straight a wake for Coenties' Slip, as the trending of the land +would have allowed. As it was, I turned to windward, for I knew the +savages to leeward weren't to be trusted. You see, it was as easy as +working out a day's work. I kept the boat on a wind all day, and long +bits of the night, too, until I wanted sleep; and then I hove her to, +under a reefed mainsail, and slept as sound as a lord. I hadn't an +uncomfortable moment, after I got outside of the reef again; and the +happiest hour of my life was that in which I saw the tree-tops of the +island dip.” + +“And how long were you navigating in this manner, and what land did you +first make?” + +“Seven weeks, though I made half a dozen islands, every one of them just +such a looking object as that I had left. You weren't about to catch +me ashore again in any of them miserable places! I gave the old boat a +slap, and promised to stick by her as long as she would stick by me, and +I kept my word. I saw savages, moreover, on one or two of the islands, +and gave them a berth, having no fancy for being barbacued.” + +“And where did you finally make your land-fall?” + +“Nowhere, so; far as the launch was concerned. I fell in with a Manilla +ship, bound to Valparaiso, and got on board her; and sorry enough was I +for the change, when I came to find out how they lived. The captain +took me in, however, and I worked my passage into port. Finding no ship +likely to sail soon, I entered with a native who was about to cross the +Andes, bound over on this side, for the east coast. Don't you remember, +Miles, monsters of mountains that we could see, a bit inland, and +covered with snow, all along the west side of South America? You must +remember the chaps I mean?” + +“Certainly--they are much too plain, and objects much too striking, ever +to be forgotten, when once seen.” + +“Well them's the Andes; and rough customers they be, let me tell you, +boys. You know there is little amusement in a sailor's walking on the +levellest 'arth and handsomest highways, on account of the bloody ups +and downs a fellow meets with; and so you may get some idee of the time +we had of it, when I tell you, had all the seas we saw in the last +blow been piled on top of each other, they would have made but a large +pancake, compared to them 'ere Andes. Natur' must have outdone herself +in making 'em; and when they were thrown together, what good comes of +it all? Such mountains might be of some use in keeping the French and +English apart; but you leave nothing but bloody Spaniards on one side +of them Andes, and find bloody Spaniards and Portugeese on the other. +However, we found our way over them, and brought up at a place called +Buenos Ayres, from which I worked my passage round to Rio in a coaster. +At Rio, you know, I felt quite at home, having stopped in there often, +in going backward and forward.” + +“And thence you took passage in the Dundee for London, intending to get +a passage home by the first opportunity?” + +“It needs no witch to tell that. I had to scull about Rio for several +months, doing odd jobs as a rigger, and the like of that, until, finding +no Yankee came in, I got a passage in a Scotchman. I'll not complain of +Sawney, who was kind enough to me as a shipwrecked mariner; for that was +the character I sailed under, hermits being no way fashionable among us +Protestants, though it's very different among them Catholic chaps, I can +tell you. I happened to mention to a landlady on the road, that I was +a sort of a hermit on his travels; when I thought the poor woman would +have gone down on her knees and worshipped me.” + +Here then was the history of Moses Marble, and the end of the colony +of Marble Land, pigs and poultry excepted. It was now my turn to be +examined. I had to answer fifty curious inquiries, some of which I +found sufficiently embarrassing. When, in answer to his interrogatories, +Marble learned that the Major and Miss Merton had actually been left at +Clawbonny, I saw the ex-mate wink at Talcott, who smiled in reply. Then, +where was Rupert, and how came on the law? The farm and mills were not +forgotten; and, as for Neb, he was actually ordered up into the top, in +order that there might be another shake of the hand, and that he might +answer for himself. In a word, nothing could be more apparent than the +delight of Marble at finding himself among us once more. I believed even +then, that the man really loved me; and the reader will remember how +long we had sailed together, and how much we had seen in company. More +than once did my old shipmate dash the tears from his eyes, as he spoke +of his satisfaction. + +“I say, Miles--I say, Roger,” he cried--“this is like being at home, and +none of your bloody hermitages! Blast me, if I think, now, I should +dare pass through a wood all alone. I'm never satisfied unless I see +a fellow-creatur', for fear of being left. I did pretty well with the +Scotchman, who _has_ a heart, though it's stowed away in oatmeal, but +_this_ is _home._ I must ship as your steward, Miles, for hang on to you +I will.” + +“If we ever part, again, until one or both go into dock, it will be your +fault, my old friend. If I have thought of you once, since we parted, +I have dreamed of you fifty times! Talcott and I were talking of you in +the late gale, and wondering what sail you would advise us to put the +ship under.” + +“The old lessons have not all been forgotten, boys; it was easy enough +to see that. I said to myself, as you stood down upon us, 'that chap +has a real sea-dog aboard, as is plain by the manner in which he has +everything snug, while he walks ahead like an owner in a hurry to be +first in the market.'” + +It was then agreed Marble should keep a watch; whenever it suited him, +and that he should do just as he pleased aboard. At some future day, +some other arrangement might be made, though he declared his intention +to stick by the ship, and also announced a determination to be my +first-mate for life, as soon as Talcott got a vessel, as doubtless he +would, through the influence of his friends, as soon as he returned +home. I laughed at all this, though I bade him heartily welcome, and +then I nick-named him commodore, adding that he should sail with me +in that capacity, doing just as much, and just as little duty as he +pleased. As for money, there was a bag of dollars in the cabin, and he +had only to put his hand in, and take what he wanted. The key of the +locker was in my pocket, and could be had for asking. Nobody was more +delighted with this arrangement than Neb, who had even taken a fancy to +Marble, from the moment when the latter led him up from the steerage of +the John, by the ear. + +“I say, Miles, what sort of bloody animals are them passengers of +your's?” Marble next demanded, looking over the rim of the top, down +at the trio on deck, with a good deal of curiosity expressed in his +countenance. “This is the first time I ever knew a ship-master driven +aloft by his passengers, in order to talk secrets!” + +“That is because you never sailed with the Brigham family, my friend. +They'll pump you till you suck, in the first twenty-four hours, rely on +it. They'll get every fact about your birth, the island where you first +saw me, what you have been about, and what you mean to do; in a word, +the past, present, and future.” + +“Leave me to overlay their cur'osity,” answered the ex-mate, or new +commodore--“I got my hand in, by boarding six weeks with a Connecticut +old maid, once, and I'll defy the keenest questioner of them all.” + +We had a little more discourse, when we all went below, and I introduced +Marble to my passengers, as one who was to join our mess. After this, +things went on in their usual train. In the course of the day, however, +I overheard the following brief dialogue between Brigham and Marble, the +ladies being much too delicate to question so rough a mariner. + +“You came on board us, somewhat unexpectedly, I rather conclude, Captain +Marble?” commenced the gentleman. + +“Not in the least; I have been expecting to meet the Dawn, just about +this spot, more than a month, now.” + +“Well, that is odd! I do not comprehend how such a thing could well be +foreseen?” + +“Do you understand spherical trigonometry, sir?” + +“I cannot say I am at all expert--I've looked into mathematics, but have +no great turn for the study.” + +“It would be hopeless, then, to attempt to explain the matter. If you +had your hand in at the spherical, I could make it all as plain as the +capstan.” + +“You and Captain Wallingford must be somewhat old acquaintances, I +conclude?” + +“Somewhat,” answered Marble, very drily. + +“Have you ever been at the place that he calls Clawbonny? A queer name, +I rather think, Captain!” + +“Not at all, sir. I know a place, down in the Eastern States, that was +called Scratch and Claw, and a very pretty spot it was.” + +“It's not usual for us to the eastward, to give names to farms and +places. It is done a little by the Boston folk, but they are notional, +as everybody knows.” + +“Exactly; I suppose it was for want of use, the chap I mean made out no +better in naming his place.” + +Mr. Brigham was no fool; he was merely a gossip. He took the hint, and +asked no more questions of Marble. He tried Neb, notwithstanding; but +the black having his orders, obeyed them so literally, that I really +believe we parted in Bordeaux, a fortnight later, without any of the +family's making the least discovery. Glad enough was I to get rid of +them; yet, brief as had been our intercourse, they produced a sensible +influence on my future happiness. Such is the evil of this habit of +loose talking, men giving credit to words conceived in ignorance and +uttered in the indulgence of one of the most contemptible of all our +propensities. To return to my ship. + +We reached Bordeaux without any further accident, or delay. I discharged +in the usual way, and began to look about me, for another freight. It +had been my intention to return to New York, and to keep the festivities +of attaining my majority, at Clawbonny; but, I confess the discourse of +these eternal gossips, the Brighams, had greatly lessened the desire to +see home again, so soon. A freight for New York was offered me, but I +postponed an answer, until it was given to another ship. At length an +offer was made me to go to Cronstadt, in Russia, with a cargo of +wines and brandies, and I accepted it. The great and better informed +merchants, as it would seem, distrusted the continuance of the hollow +peace that then existed, and a company of them thought it might be well +to transfer their liquors to the capital of the czar, in readiness for +contingencies. An American ship was preferred, on account of her greater +speed, as well as on account of her probable neutral character, in the +event of troubles occurring at any unlooked-for moment. The Dawn took in +her wines and brandies accordingly, and sailed for the Baltic about +the last of August. She had a long, but a safe passage, delivering the +freight according to the charter-party, in good condition. While at +Cronstadt, the American consul, and the consignees of an American ship +that had lost her master and chief-mate by the smallpox, applied to +me to let Marble carry the vessel home. I pressed the offer on my old +friend, but he obstinately refused to have anything to do with the +vessel. I then recommended Talcott, and after some negotiation, the +latter took charge of the Hyperion. I was sorry to part with my mate, to +whom I had become strongly attached; but the preferment was so clearly +to his advantage, that I could take no other course. The vessel being +ready, she sailed the day after Talcott joined her; and, sorry am I to +be compelled to add, that she was never heard of, after clearing the +Cattegat. The equinox of that season was tremendously severe, and it +caused the loss of many vessels; that of the Hyperion doubtless among +the rest. + +Marble insisted on taking Talcott's place, and he now became my +chief-mate, as I had once been his. After a little delay, I took in +freight on Russian government account, and sailed for Odessa. It was +thought the Sublime Porte would let an American through; but, after +reaching the Dardanelles, I was ordered back, and was obliged to leave +my cargo in Malta, which it was expected would be in possession of its +own knights by that time, agreeably to the terms of the late treaty. +From Malta I sailed for Leghorn, in quest of another freight. I pass +over the details of these voyages, as really nothing worthy of being +recorded occurred. They consumed a good deal of time; the delay at the +Dardanelles alone exceeding six weeks, during which negotiations were +going on up at Constantinople, but all in vain. In consequence of +all these detentions, and the length of the passages, I did not +reach Leghorn until near the close of March, I wrote to Grace and Mr. +Hardinge, whenever a favourable occasion offered, but I did not get a +letter from home, during the whole period. It was not in the power of +my sister or guardian--_late_ guardian would be the most accurate +expression, as I had been of age since the previous October--to write, +it being impossible for me to let them know when, or where, a letter +would find me. It followed, that while my friends at home were kept +tolerably apprised of my movements, I was absolutely in the dark as +respected them. That this ignorance gave me great concern, it would be +idle to deny; yet, I had a species of desperate satisfaction in keeping +aloof, and in leaving the course clear to Mr. Andrew Drewett. As +respects substantials, I had sent a proper power of attorney to Mr. +Hardinge, who, I doubted not, would take the same care of my temporal +interests he had never ceased to do since the day of my beloved mother's +death. + +Freights were not offering freely at Leghorn, when the Dawn arrived. +After waiting a fortnight, however, I began to take in for America, and +on American account. In the meantime, the cargo coming to hand slowly, +I left Marble to receive it, and proceeded on a little excursion in +Tuscany, or Etruria, as that part of the world was then called. I +visited Pisa, Lucca, Florence, and several other intermediate towns. At +Florence, I passed a week looking at sights, and amusing myself the best +way I could. The gallery and the churches kept me pretty busy, and the +reader will judge of my surprise one day, at hearing my own name uttered +on a pretty high key, by a female voice, in the Duomo, or Cathedral of +the place. On turning, I found myself in the presence of the Brighams! I +was overwhelmed with questions in a minute. Where had I been? Where was +Talcott? Where was the ship? When did I sail, and whither did I sail? +After this came the communications. _They_ had been to Paris; had +seen the French Consul, and had dined with Mr. R. N. Livingston, then +negotiating the treaty of Louisiana; had seen the Louvre; had been to +Geneva; had seen the Lake; had seen Mont Blanc; had crossed Mont Cenis; +had been at Milan; Rome; had seen the Pope; Naples; had seen Vesuvius; +had been at Paestum; had come back to Florence, and _nous voici!_ Glad +enough was I, when I got them fairly within the gates of the City of the +Lily. Next came America; from which part of the world they received such +delightful letters! One from Mrs. Jonathan Little, a Salem lady then +residing in New York, had just reached them. It contained four sheets, +and was full of _news._ Then commenced the details; and I was compelled +to listen to a string of gossip that connected nearly all the people of +mark, my informants had ever heard of in the great _Commercial_ Emporium +that was to be. How suitable is this name! Emporium would not have been +sufficiently distinctive for a town in which “the merchants” are all in +all; in which they must have the post-office; in which they support the +nation by paying all the revenue; in which the sun must shine and the +dew fall to suit their wants; and in which the winds, themselves, may +be recreant to their duty, when they happen to be foul! Like the Holy +Catholic Protestant Episcopal Church, Trading Commercial Trafficking +Emporium should have been the style of such a place; and I hope, ere +long, some of the “Manor Born” genii of that great town, will see the +matter rectified. + +“By the way, Captain Wallingford,” cut in Jane, at one of Sarah's +breathing intervals, that reminded me strongly of the colloquial +Frenchman's “_s'il crache il est perdu,_” “You know something of poor +Mrs. Bradfort, I believe?” + +I assented by a bow. + +“It was just as we told you,” cried Sarah, taking her revenge. “The poor +woman is dead! and, no doubt, of that cancer. What a frightful disease! +and how accurate has our information been, in all that affair!” + +“I think her will the most extraordinary of all,” added Mr. Brigham, +who, as a man, kept an eye more to the main chance. “I suppose you have +heard all about her will, Captain Wallingford?” + +I reminded the gentleman that this was the first I had ever heard of the +lady's death. + +“She has left every dollar to young Mr. Hardinge, her cousin's son;” + added Jane, “cutting off that handsome, genteel, young lady his sister, +as well as her father, without a cent”--in 1803, they just began to +speak of _cents_, instead of farthings--“and everybody says it was so +cruel!” + +“That is not the worst of it,” put in Sarah. “They _do_ say, Miss +Merton, the English lady that made so much noise in New York--let me +see, Mr. Brigham, what Earl's grand-daughter did we hear she was?--” + +This was a most injudicious question, as it gave the husband an +opportunity to take the word out of her mouth. + +“Lord Cumberland's, I believe, or some such person---but, no matter +whose. It is quite certain, General Merton, her father, consents to let +her marry young Mr. Hardinge, now Mrs. Bradfort's will is known; and, as +for the sister, he declares he will never give her a dollar.” + +“He will have sixteen thousand dollars a year,” said Jane, with +emphasis. + +“Six, my dear, six”--returned the brother, who had reasonably accurate +notions touching dollars and cents, or he never would have been +travelling in Italy; “six thousand dollars a year, was just Mrs. +Bradfort's income, as my old school-fellow Upham told me, and there +isn't another man in York, who can tell fortunes as true as himself. He +makes a business of it, and don't fail one time in twenty.” + +“And is it quite certain that Mr. Rupert Hardinge gets all the fortune +of Mrs. Bradfort?” I asked, with a strong effort to seem composed. + +“Not the least doubt of it, in the world. Everybody is talking about +it; and there cannot well be a mistake, you know, as it was thought the +sister would be an heiress, and people generally take care to be pretty +certain about that class. But, of course, a young man with that fortune +will be snapped up, as a swallow catches a fly. I've bet Sarah a pair of +gloves we hear of his marriage in three months.” + +The Brighams talked an hour longer, and made me promise to visit them +at their hotel, a place I could not succeed in finding. That evening, I +left Florence for Leghorn, writing a note of apology, in order not to be +rude. Of course, I did not believe half these people had told me; but +a part, I made no doubt, was true. Mrs. Bradfort was dead, out of all +question; and I thought it possible she might not so far have learned to +distinguish between the merit of Lucy, and that of Rupert, to leave her +entire fortune to the last. As for the declaration of the brother that +he would give his sister nothing, that seemed to me to be rather strong +for even Rupert. I knew the dear girl too well, and was certain she +would not repine; and I was burning with the desire to be in the field, +now she was again penniless. + +What a change was this! Here were the Hardinges, those whom I had known +as poor almost as dependants on my own family, suddenly enriched. I +knew Mrs. Bradfort had a large six thousand a year, besides her own +dwelling-house, which stood in Wall Street, a part of the commercial +emporium that was just beginning to be the focus of banking, and all +other monied operations, and which even then promised to become a +fortune of itself. It is true, that old Daniel M'Cormick still held his +levees on his venerable stoop, where all the heavy men in town used to +congregate, and joke, and buy and sell, and abuse Boney; and that the +Winthrops, the Wilkeses, the Jaunceys, the Verplancks, the Whites, the +Ludlows, and other families of mark, then had their town residences in +this well-known street; but coming events were beginning “to cast their +shadows before,” and it was easy to foresee that this single dwelling +might at least double Rupert's income, under the rapid increase of the +country and the town. Though Lucy was still poor, Rupert was now rich. + +If family connection, that all-important and magical influence, could +make so broad a distinction between us, while I was comparatively +wealthy, and Lucy had nothing, what, to regard the worst side of the +picture, might I not expect from it, when the golden scale preponderated +on her side. That Andrew Drewett would still marry her, I began to fear +again. Well, why not? I had never mentioned love to the sweet girl, +fondly, ardently as I was attached to her; and what reason had I for +supposing that one in her situation could reserve her affections for a +truant sailor? I am afraid I was unjust enough to regret that this piece +of good fortune should have befallen Rupert. He must do something for +his sister, and every dollar seemed to raise a new barrier between us. + +From that hour, I was all impatience to get home. Had not the freight +been engaged, I think I should have sailed in ballast. By urging the +merchants, however, we got to sea May 15th, with a full cargo, a portion +of which I had purchased on my own account, with the money earned by +the ship, within the last ten months. Nothing occurred worthy of notice, +until the Dawn neared the Straits of Gibraltar. Here we were boarded +by an English frigate, and first learned the declaration of a new war +between France and England; a contest that, in the end, involved in +it all the rest of christendom. Hostilities had already commenced, the +First Consul having thrown aside the mask, just three days after we left +port. The frigate treated us well, it being too soon for the abuses that +followed, and we got through the pass without further molestation. + + +As soon as in the Atlantic, I took care to avoid everything we saw, +and nothing got near us, until we had actually made the Highlands of +Navesink. An English sloop-of-war, however, had stood into the angles of +the coast, formed by Long Island and the Jersey shore, giving us a +race for the Hook. I did not know whether I ought to be afraid of this +cruiser, or not, but my mind was made up, not to be boarded if it could +be helped. We succeeded in passing ahead, and entered the Hook, while +he was still a mile outside of the bar. I got a pilot on the bar, as was +then very usual, and stood up towards the town with studding-sails +set, it being just a twelvemoth, almost to an hour, from the day when +I passed up the bay in the Crisis. The pilot took the ship in near +Coenties slip, Marble's favourite berth, and we had her secured, and her +sails unbent before the sun set. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + “With look like patient Job's, eschewing evil; + With motions graceful as a bird's in air; + Thou art, in sober truth, the veriest devil + That ere clinched fingers in a captive's hair.” + HALLECK. + + +There was about an hour of daylight, when I left the compting-house of +the consignees, and pursued my way up Wall Street to Broadway. I was +on my way to the City Hotel, then, as now, one of the best inns of +the town. On Trinity Church walk, just as I quitted the Wall Street +crossing, whom should I come plump upon in turning, but Rupert Hardinge? +He was walking down the street in some little haste, and was +evidently much surprised, perhaps I might say startled, at seeing me. +Nevertheless, Rupert was not easily disconcerted, and his manner at once +became warm, if not entirely free from embarrassment. He was in deep +mourning; though otherwise dressed in the height of the fashion. + +“Wallingford!” he exclaimed--it was the first time he did not call +me “Miles,”--“Wallingford! my fine fellow, what cloud did you drop +from?--We have had so many reports concerning you, that your appearance +is as much a matter of surprise, as would be that of Bonaparte, himself. +Of course, your ship is in?” + +“Of course,” I answered, taking his offered hand; “you know I am wedded +to her, for better, for worse, until death or shipwreck doth us part.” + +“Ay, so I've always told the ladies--'there is no other matrimony in +Wallingford,' I've said often, 'than that which will make him a ship's +husband.' But you look confoundedly well--the sea agrees with you, +famously.” + +“I make no complaint of my health--but tell me of that of our friends +and families? Your father--” + +“Is up at Clawbonny, just now--you know how it is with him. No change of +circumstances will ever make him regard his little smoke-house looking +church, as anything but a cathedral, and his parish as a diocese. Since +the great change in our circumstances, all this is useless, and I often +_think_--you know one wouldn't like to _say_ as much to _him_--but I +often _think_, he might just as well give up preaching, altogether.” + +“Well, this is good, so far--now for the rest of you, all. You meet my +impatience too coldly.” + +“Yes, you _were_ always an impatient fellow. Why, I suppose you need +hardly be told that I have been admitted to the bar.” + +“That I can very well imagine--you must have found your sea-training of +great service on the examination.” + +“Ah! my dear Wallingford--what a simpleton I was! But one is so apt to +take up strange conceits in boyhood, that he is compelled to look +back at them in wonder, in after life. But, which way are you +walking?”--slipping an arm in mine--“if up, I'll take a short turn +with you. There's scarce a soul in town, at this season; but you'll +see prodigiously fine girls in Broadway, at this hour, +notwithstanding--those that belong to the other sets, you know; those +that belong to families that can't get into the country among the +leaves. Yes, as I was saying, one scarce knows himself, after twenty. +Now, I can hardly recall a taste, or an inclination, that I cherished +in my teens, that has not flown to the winds. Nothing is permanent in +boyhood--we grow in our persons, and our minds, sentiments, affections, +views, hopes, wishes, and ambition; all take new directions.” + +“This is not very flattering, Rupert, to one whose acquaintance with you +may be said to be altogether boyish.” + +“Oh! of course I don't mean _that._ Habit keeps all right in such +matters; and I dare say I shall always be as much attached to you, as I +was in childhood. Still, we are on diverging lines, now, and cannot for +ever remain boys.” + +“You have told me nothing of the rest,” I said, half choked, in my +eagerness to hear of the girls, and yet unaccountably afraid to ask. +I believe I dreaded to hear that Lucy was married. “How, and where is +Grace?” + +“Oh! Grace!--yes, I forgot her, to my shame, as you would naturally wish +to inquire. Why, my dear _Captain,_ to be as frank as one ought with so +old an acquaintance, your sister is not in a good way, I'm much afraid; +though I've not seen her in an age. She was down among us in the autumn, +but left town for the holidays, for them she insisted on keeping at +Clawbonny, where she said the family had always kept them, and away she +went. Since then, she has not returned, but I fear she is far from well. +You know what a fragile creature Grace ever has been--so American!--Ah! +Wallingford! our females have no constitutions--charming as angels, +delicate as fairies, and all that; but not to be compared to the English +women in constitutions.” + +I felt a torrent of fire rushing through my blood, and it was with +difficulty I refrained from hurling the heartless scoundrel who leaned +on my arm, into the ditch. A moment of reflection, however, warned me +of the precipice on which I stood. He was Mr. Hardinge's son, Lucy's +brother; and I had no proofs that he had ever induced Grace to think he +loved her. It was so easy for those who had been educated as we four +had been, to be deceived on such a point, that I felt it unsafe to do +anything precipitately. Friendship, _habit_, as Rupert expressed it, +might so easily be mistaken for the fruits of passion, that one might +well be deceived. Then it was all-important to Grace's self-respect, to +her feelings, in some measure to her character, to be careful, that I +suppressed my wrath, though it nearly choked me. + +“I am sorry to hear this,” I answered, after a long pause, the +deep regret I felt at having such an account of my sister's health +contributing to make my manner seem natural; “very, _very_ sorry to hear +it. Grace is one that requires the tenderest care and watching; and I +have been making passage after passage in pursuit of money, when I am +afraid I should have been at Clawbonny, discharging the duties of a +brother. I can never forgive myself!” + +“Money is a very good thing, Captain,” answered Rupert, with a smile +that appeared to mean more than the tongue expressed--“a surprisingly +good thing is money! But you must not exaggerate Grace's illness, which +I dare say is merely constitutional, and will lead to nothing. I hope +your many voyages have produced their fruits?” + +“And Lucy?” I resumed, disregarding his question concerning my own +success as an owner. “Where and how is she?” + +“Miss Hardinge is in town--in her own--that is, in _our_ house--in Wall +Street, though she goes to _the place_ in the morning. No one who +can, likes to remain among these hot bricks, that has a pleasant +country-house to fly to, and open to receive him. But I forgot--I have +supposed you to know what it is very likely you have never heard?” + +“I learned the death of Mrs. Bradfort while in Italy, and, seeing you in +black, at once supposed it was for her.” + +“Yes, that's just it. An excellent woman has been taken from us, and, +had she been my own mother, I could not have received greater kindnesses +from her. Her end, my dear Wallingford, was admitted by all the clergy +to be one of the most edifying known in the place for years.” + +“And Mrs. Bradfort has left you her heir? It is now time to congratulate +you on your good fortune. As I un-understand her estate came through +females to her, and from a common ancestor of hers and yours, there is +not the slightest reason why you should not be gratified by the bequest. +But Lucy--I hope she was not _altogether_ forgotten?” + +Rupert fidgeted, and I could see that he was on tenter-hooks. As I +afterwards discovered, he wished to conceal the real facts from the +world; and yet he could not but foresee that I would probably learn them +from his father. Under all the circumstances, therefore, he fancied +it best to make me a confidant. We were strolling between Trinity and +Paul's church walks, then the most fashionable promenade in town; and, +before he would lay open his secret, my companion led me over by the +Oswego Market, and down Maiden Lane, lest he might betray himself to the +more fashionable stocks and stones. He did not open his lips until clear +of the market, when he laid bare his budget of griefs in something that +more resembled his old confidential manner, than he had seen fit to +exhibit in the earlier part of our interview. + +“You must know, Miles,” he commenced, “that Mrs. Bradfort was a very +peculiar woman--a very peculiar sort of a person, indeed. An, excellent +lady, I am ready to allow, and one that made a remarkably edifying and; +but one whose peculiarities, I have understood, she inherited with her +fortune. Women _do_ get the oddest conceits into their heads, you know, +and American women before all others; a republic being anything but +favourable to the continuation of property in the same line. Miss +Merton, who is a girl of excellent sense, as you well know yourself, +Miles, says, now, in England I should have succeeded, quite as a matter +of course, to _all_ Mrs. Bradfort's real estate.” + +“You, as a lawyer--a common law lawyer-can scarcely require the opinion +of an Englishwoman to tell you what the English laws would do in a +question of descent.” + +“Oh! they've a plaguey sight of statutes in that country, as well as +ourselves. Between the two, the common law is getting to be a very +uncommon sort of a law. But, to cut the matter short, Mrs. Bradfort made +a _will_.” + +“Dividing her property equally between you and Lucy, I dare say, to Miss +Merton's great dissatisfaction.” + +“Why, not just so, Miles--not exactly so; a very capricious, peculiar +woman was Mrs. Bradfort--” + +I have often remarked, when a person has succeeded in throwing dust into +another's eyes, but is discarded on being found out, that the +rejected of principle is very apt to accuse his former dupe of being +_capricious_; when, in fact, he has only been _deceived_. As I said +nothing, however, leaving Rupert to flounder on in the best manner he +could, the latter, after a pause, proceeded-- + +“But her end was very admirable” he said, “and to the last degree +edifying. You must know, she made a will, and in that will she left +everything, even to the town and country houses, to--my sister.” + +I was thunder-struck! Here were all my hopes blown again to the winds. +After a long pause, I resumed the discourse. + +“And whom did she leave as executor?” I asked, instantly foreseeing the +consequences should that office be devolved on Rupert, himself. + +“My father. The old gentleman has had his hands full, between your +father and mother, and Mrs. Bradfort. Fortunately, the estate of the +last is in a good condition, and is easily managed. Almost entirely +in stores and houses in the best part of the town, well insured, a few +thousands in stocks, and as much in bonds and mortgages, the savings +from the income, and something like a year's rents in bank. A good seven +thousand a year, with enough surplus to pay for repairs, collection and +other charges.” + +“And all this, then, is Lucy's!” I exclaimed, feeling something like the +bitterness of knowing that such an heiress was not for me. + +“Temporarily; though, of course, I consider Lucy as only my trustee for +half of it. You know how it is with the women; they fancy all us young +men spendthrifts, and, so, between the two, they have reasoned in this +way--'Rupert is a good fellow at bottom; but Rupert is young, and he +will make the money fly--now, I'll give it all to you, Lucy, in my will, +but, of course, you'll take care of your brother, and let him have half, +or perhaps two-thirds, being a male, at the proper time, which will be, +as soon as you come of age, and _can_ convey. You understand Lucy is but +nineteen, and _cannot_ convey these two years.” + +“And Lucy admits this to be true?--You have proof of all this?” + +“Proof! I'd take my own affidavit of it. You see it is reasonable, and +what I had a right to expect. Everything tends to confirm it. Between +ourselves, I had quite $2000 of debt; and yet, you see, the good +lady did not leave me a dollar to pay even my honest creditors; a +circumstance that so pious a woman, and one who made so edifying an end, +would never think of doing, without ulterior views. Considering Lucy as +my trustee, explains the whole thing.” + +“I thought Mrs. Bradfort made you an allowance, Rupert; some $600 a +year, besides keeping you in her own house?” + +“A thousand-but, what is $1000 a year to a fashionable man, in a town +like this. First and last, the excellent old lady, gave me about $5000, +all of which confirms the idea, that, at the bottom, she intended me +for her heir. What woman in her senses, would think of giving $5000 to +a relative to whom she did not contemplate giving _more_? The thing is +clear on its face, and I should certainly go into chancery, with anybody +but Lucy.” + +“And Lucy?--what says she to your views on the subject of Mrs. +Bradfort's intentions?” + +“Why, you have some acquaintance with Lucy--used to be intimate +with her, as one might say, when children, and know something of her +character”--This to me, who fairly worshipped the earth on which the +dear girl trod!--“She never indulges in professions, and likes to take +people by surprise, when she contemplates doing them a service--” this +was just as far from Lucy's natural and honest mode of dealing, as it +was possible to be--“and, so, she has been as mum as one who has lost +the faculty of speech. However, she never speaks of her affairs to +others; _that_ is a good sign, and indicates an intention to consider +herself as my trustee; and, what is better still, and more plainly +denotes what her conscience dictates in the premises, she has empowered +her father to pay all my debts; the current income and loose cash, being +at her disposal, at once. It would have been better had she given me the +money, to satisfy these creditors with it, for I knew which had waited +the longest, and were best entitled to receive the dollars at once; but, +it's something to have all their receipts in my pocket, and to start +fair again. Thank Heaven, that much is already done. To do Lucy justice, +moreover, she allows me $1500 a year, _ad interim_. Now, Miles, I've +conversed with you, as with an old friend, and because I knew my father +would tell you the whole, when you get up to Clawbonny; but you will +take it all in strict confidence. It gives a fashionable young fellow so +silly an air, to be thought dependent on a sister; and she three years +younger than himself! So I have hinted the actual state of the case, +round among my friends; but, it is generally believed that I am in +possession already, and that Lucy is dependent on me, instead of my +being dependent on her. The idea, moreover, is capital for keeping off +fortune-hunters, as you will see at a glance.” + +“And will the report satisfy a certain Mr. Andrew Drewett?” I asked, +struggling to assume a composure I was far from feeling. “He was all +attention when I sailed, and I almost expected to hear there was no +longer a Lucy Hardinge.” + +“To tell you the truth, Miles, I thought so, too, until the death of +Mrs. Bradfort. The mourning, however, most opportunely came to put a +stop to anything of the sort, were it even contemplated. It would be so +awkward, you will understand, to have a brother-in-law before everything +is settled, and the trust is accounted for. _Au reste_--I am very well +satisfied with Andrew, and let him know I am his friend; he is well +connected; fashionable; has a pretty little fortune; and, as I sometimes +tell Lucy, that he is intended for her, as Mrs. Bradfort, no doubt, +foresaw, inasmuch as his estate, added to just one-third of that of +our dear departed cousin, would just make up the present income. On my +honour, now, I do not think the difference would be $500 per annum.” + +“And how does your sister receive your hints?” + +“Oh! famously--just as all girls do, you know. She blushes, and +sometimes she looks vexed; then she smiles, and puts up her lip, and +says 'Nonsense!' and 'What folly!' 'Rupert, I'm surprised at you!' and +all that sort of stuff, which deceives nobody, you'll understand, not +even her poor, simple, silly brother. But, Miles, I must quit you now, +for I have an engagement to accompany a party to the theatre, and was on +my way to join them when we met. Cooper plays, and you know what a lion +_he_ is; one would not wish to lose a syllable of his Othello.” + +“Stop, Rupert--one word more before we part. From your conversation, I +gather that the Mertons are still here?” + +“The Mertons! Why, certainly; established in the land, and among its +tip-top people. The Colonel finds his health benefited by the climate, +and he has managed to get some appointment which keeps him among us. He +has Boston relatives, moreover, and I believe is fishing up some claims +to property in that quarter. The Mertons here, indeed! what would New +York be without the Mertons!” + +“And my old friend the Major is promoted, too--you called him Colonel, I +think?” + +“Did I? I believe he is oftener called _General_ Merton, than anything +else. You must be mistaken about his being only a Major, Miles; +everybody here calls him either Colonel, or General.” + +“Never mind; I hope it is as you say. Good-bye, Rupert; I'll not betray +you, and--” + +“Well-you were about to say--” + +“Why, mention me to Lucy; you know we were acquainted when children. +Tell her I wish her all happiness in her new position, to which I do +not doubt she will do full credit; and that I shall endeavour to see her +before I sail again.” + +“You'll not be at the theatre this evening? Cooper is well worth +seeing--a most famous fellow in Othello!” + +“I think not. Do not forget to mention me to your sister; and so, once +more, adieu!” + +We parted--Rupert to go towards Broadway, at a great pace, and I to +lounge along, uncertain whither to proceed. I had sent Neb to inquire if +the Wallingford were down, and understood she would leave the basin at +sunrise. It was now my intention to go up in her; for, though I attached +no great importance to any of Rupert's facts, his report concerning my +sister's health rendered me exceedingly uneasy. Insensibly I continued +my course down Maiden Lane, and soon found myself near the ship. I went +on board, had an explanation with Marble, gave some orders to Neb, and +went ashore again, all in the course of the next half-hour. By a sort of +secret attraction, I was led towards the Park, and soon found myself at +the door of the theatre. Mrs. Bradfort had now been dead long enough to +put Lucy in second mourning, and I fancied I might get a view of her in +the party that Rupert was to accompany. Buying a ticket, I entered and +made my way up into the Shakspeare box. Had I been better acquainted +with the place, with the object in view I should have gone into the pit. + +Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, it was a very full house. +Cooper's, in that day, was a name that filled every mouth, and he seldom +failed to fill every theatre in which he appeared. With many first-rate +qualifications for his art, and a very respectable conception of his +characters, he threw everything like competition behind him; though +there were a few, as there ever will be among the superlatively +intellectual, who affected to see excellencies in Fennel, and others, +to which this great actor could not aspire. The public decided against +these select few, and, as is invariably the case when the appeal is made +to human feelings, the public decided right. Puffery will force into +notice and sustain a false judgment, in such matters, for a brief space; +but nature soon asserts her sway, and it is by natural decisions that +such points are ever the most justly determined. Whatever appeals to +human sympathies, will be answered by human sympathies. Popularity too +often gains its ascendency behind the hypocrite's mask in religion; +it is usually a magnificent mystification in politics; it frequently +becomes the patriot's stalking-horse, on which he rides to power; in +social life, it is the reward of empty smiles, unmeaning bows, and +hollow squeezes of the hand; but with the player, the poet, and all +whose pursuits bring them directly in contact with the passions, the +imagination and the heart, it is the unerring test of merit, with +certain qualifications connected with the mind and the higher finish of +pure art. It may be questioned if Cooper were not the greatest actor of +his day, in a certain range of his own characters. + +I have said that the house was full. I got a good place, however; though +it was not in the front row. Of course I could only see the side boxes +beneath, and not even quite all of them. My eyes ran eagerly over them, +and I soon caught a glimpse of the fine, curling hair of Rupert. He +sat by the side of Emily Merton, the Major--I knew he was a colonel or +general, only by means of a regular Manhattan promotion, which is so apt +to make hundreds of counts, copper captains, and travelling prodigies of +those who are very small folk at home--the Major sat next, and, at his +side, I saw a lady, whom I at once supposed to be Lucy. Every nerve in +my system thrilled, as I caught even this indistinct view of the +dear creature. I could just see the upper part of her face, as it was +occasionally turned towards the Major; and once I caught that honest +smile of hers, which I knew had never intentionally deceived. + +The front seat of the box had two vacant places. The bench would hold +six, while it had yet only four. The audience, however, was still +assembling, and, presently, a stir in Lucy's box denoted the arrival +of company. The whole party moved, and Andrew Drewett handed an elderly +lady in, his mother, as I afterwards ascertained, and took the other +place himself. I watched the salutations that were exchanged, and +understood that the new comers had been expected. The places had been +reserved for them, and old Mrs. Drewett was doubtless the _chaperone;_ +though, one having a brother and the other a father with her, the two +young ladies had not hesitated about preceding the elderly lady. They +had come from different quarters of the town, and had agreed to meet at +the theatre. Old Mrs. Drewett was very particular in shaking hands with +Lucy, though I had not the misery of seeing her son go through the same +ceremony. Still he was sufficiently pointed in his salutations; and, +during the movements, I perceived he managed to get next to Lucy, +leaving the Major to entertain his mother. All this was natural, and +what might have been expected; yet, it gave me a pang that I cannot +describe. + +I sat, for half an hour, perfectly inattentive to the play, meditating +on the nature of my real position towards Lucy. I recalled the days of +childhood and early youth; the night of my first departure from home; my +return, and the incidents accompanying my second departure; the affair +of the locket, and all I had truly felt myself, and all that I had +supposed Lucy herself to feel, on those several occasions. Could it be +possible I had so much deceived myself, and that the interest the dear +girl had certainly manifested in me had been nothing but the fruits +of her naturally warm and honest heart--her strong disposition to +frankness-habit, as Rupert had so gently hinted in reference to +ourselves? Then I could not conceal from myself the bitter fact that I +was, now, no equal match for Lucy, in the eyes of the world. While she +was poor, and I comparatively rich, the inequality in social station +might have been overlooked; it existed, certainly, but was not so very +marked that it might not, even in that day, be readily forgotten; but +now, Lucy was an heiress, had much more than double my own fortune--had +a fortune indeed; while I was barely in easy circumstances, as persons +of the higher classes regarded wealth. The whole matter seemed reversed. +It was clear that a sailor like myself, with no peculiar advantages, +those of a tolerable education excepted, and who was necessarily so much +absent, had not the same chances of preferring his suit, as one of +your town idlers; a nominal lawyer, for instance, who dropped in at his +office for an hour or two, just after breakfast, and promenaded Broadway +the rest of the time, until dinner; or a man of entire leisure, like +Andrew Drewett, who belonged to the City Library set, and had no other +connection with business than to see that his rents were collected and +his dividends paid. The more I reflected, the more humble I became, he +less my chances seemed and I determined to quit the theatre, at once. +The reader will remember that I was New York born and bred, a state +of society in which few natives acted on the principle that “there +was nothing too high to be aspired to, nothing too low to be done.” + I admitted I had superiors, and was willing to defer to the facts and +opinions of the world as I knew it. + +In the lobby of the building, I experienced a pang at the idea of +quitting the place without getting one look at the face of Lucy. I was +in an humble mood, it is true, but that did not necessarily infer a +total self-denial. I determined, therefore, to pass into the pit, with +my box-check, feast my eyes by one long gaze at the dear creature's +ingenuous countenance, and carry away the impression, as a lasting +memorial of her whom I so well loved, and whom I felt persuaded I should +ever continue to love. After this indulgence, I would studiously avoid +her, in order to release my thoughts as much as possible from the +perfect thraldom in which they had existed, ever since I had heard +of Mrs. Bradfort's death. Previously to that time, I am afraid I +had counted a little more than was becoming on the ease of my own +circumstances, and Lucy's comparative poverty. Not that I had ever +supposed her to be in the least mercenary--this I knew to be utterly, +totally false--but because the good town of Manhattan, even in 1803, +was _tant soit peu_ addicted to dollars, and Lucy's charms would not +be likely to attract so many suitors, in the modest setting of a poor +country clergyman's means, as in the golden frame by which they had been +surrounded by Mrs. Bradfort's testamentary devise, even supposing Rupert +to come in for quite one half. + +I had no difficulty in finding a convenient place in the pit; one, from +which I got a front and near view of the whole six, as they sat ranged +side by side. Of the Major and old Mrs. Drewett it is unnecessary to say +much. The latter looked as all dowager-like widows of that day used to +appear, respectable, staid, and richly attired. The good lady had come +on the stage during the revolution, and had a slightly military air--a +_parade_ in her graces, that was not altogether unknown to the _èlèves_ +of that school. I dare say she could use such words as “martinets,” + “mowhairs,” “brigadiers,” and other terms familiar to her class. Alas! +how completely all these little traces of the past are disappearing from +our habits and manners! + +As for the Major, he appeared much better in health, and altogether +altered in mien. I could readily detect the influence of the world on +him; He was evidently a so much greater man in New York than he had +been whew I found him in London, that it is not wonderful he felt the +difference. Between the acts, I remarked that all the principal persons +in the front rows were desirous of exchanging nods with the “British +officer,” a proof that he was circulating freely in the best set, and +had reached a point, when “not to know him, argues yourself unknown.” + {*] + +{Footnote *: The miserable moral dependence of this country on Great +Britain, forty years since, cannot well be brought home to the present +generation. It is still too great, but has not a tithe of its former +force. The writer has himself known an Italian Prince, a man of family +and of high personal merit, pass unnoticed before a society that was +eager to make the acquaintance of most of the “agents” of the Birmingham +button dealers; and this simply because one came from Italy and the +other from England. The following anecdote, which is quite as true as +any other fact in this work, furnishes a good example of what is meant. +It is now a quarter of a century since the writer's first book appeared. +Two or three months after the publication, he was walking down Broadway +with a friend, when a man of much distinction in the New York circles +was passing up, on the other side-walk. The gentleman in question caught +the writer's eye, bowed, and _crossed the street_, to shake hands and +inquire after the author's health. The difference in years made this +attention marked. “You are in high favour,” observed the friend, as the +two walked away, to “have ---- pay you such a compliment--your book must +have done this.” “Now mark my words--I have been puffed in some English +magazine, and ---- knows it.” The two were on their way to the author's +publishers, and, on entering the door, honest Charles Wiley put a puff +on the book in question into the writer's hand! What rendered the whole +more striking, was the fact that the paragraph was as flagrant a puff +as was ever written, and had probably been paid for, by the English +publisher. The gentleman in question was a man of talents and merit, +but he had been born half a century too soon, to enjoy entire mental +independence in a country that had so recently been a colony.] + +Emily certainly looked well and happy. I could see that she was +delighted with Rupert's flattery, and I confess I cared very little +for his change of sentiment, or his success. That both Major and Emily +Merton were different persons in the midst of the world and in the +solitudes of the Pacific, was as evident as it was that I was a +different personage in command of the Crisis, and in the pit of the Park +theatre. I dare say, at that moment. Miss Merton had nearly forgotten +that such a man as Miles Wallingford existed, though I think she +sometimes recalled the string of magnificent pearls that were to +ornament the neck of his wife, should he ever find any one to have him. + +But, Lucy, dear, upright, warm-hearted, truth-telling, beloved Lucy! all +this time, I forget to speak of her. There she sat in maiden loveliness, +her beauty still more developed, her eye as beaming, lustrous, feeling, +as ever, her blush as sensitive, her smile as sweet, and her movements +as natural and graceful. The simplicity of her half-mourning, too, added +to her beauty, which was of a character to require no further aid from +dress, than such as was dependent purely on taste. As I gazed at her, +enthralled, I fancied nothing was wanting to complete the appearance, +but my own necklace. Powerful, robust man as I was, with my frame +hardened by exposure and trials, I could have sat down and wept, after +gazing some time at the precious creature, under the feeling produced +by the conviction that I was never to renew my intercourse with her, on +terms of intimacy at least. The thought that from day to day we were to +become more and more strangers, was almost too much to be borne. As it +was, scalding tears forced themselves to my eyes, though I succeeded +in concealing the weakness from those around me. At length the tragedy +terminated, the curtain dropped, and the audience began to move about. +The pit which had, just before, been crowded, was now nearly empty, and +I was afraid of being seen. Still, I could not tear myself away, but +remained after nine-tenths of those around me had gone into the lobbies. + +It was easy, now, to see the change which had come over Lucy's position, +in the attentions she received. All the ladies in the principal boxes +had nods and smiles for her and half the fashionable-looking young men +in the house crowded round her box, or actually entered it to pay their +compliments. I fancied Andrew Drewett had a self-satisfied air that +seemed to say, “you are paying your homage indirectly to myself, in +paying it to this young lady.” As for Lucy, my jealous watchfulness +could not detect the smallest alteration in her deportment, so far as +simplicity and nature were concerned. She appeared in a trifling degree +more womanly, perhaps, than when I saw her last, being now in her +twentieth year; but the attentions she received made no visible change +in her manners. I had become lost in the scene, and was standing in a +musing attitude, my side face towards the box, when I heard a suppressed +exclamation, in Lucy's voice. I was too near her to be mistaken, and it +caused the blood to rush to my heart in a torrent. Turning, I saw the +dear girl, with her hand extended over the front of the box, her face +suffused with blushes, and her eyes riveted on myself. I was recognised, +and the surprise had produced a display of all that old friendship, +certainly, that had once existed between us, in the simplicity and truth +of childhood. + +“Miles Wallingford!” she said, as I advanced to shake the offered +hand, and as soon as I was near enough to permit her to speak without +attracting too much attention--“_you_ arrived, and _we_ knew nothing of +it!” + +It was plain Rupert had said nothing of having seen me, or of our +interview in the street. He seemed a little ashamed, and leaned forward +to say-- + +“I declare I forgot to mention, Lucy, that I met Captain Wallingford as +I was going to join the Colonel and Miss Merton. Oh! we have had a long +talk together, and it will save you a history of past events.” + +“I may, nevertheless, say,” I rejoined, “how happy I am to see Miss +Hardinge looking so well, and to be able to pay my compliments to my old +passengers.” + +Of course I shook hands with the Major and Emily, bowed to Drewett, was +named to his mother, and was invited to enter the box, as it was not +quite in rule to be conversing between the pit and the front rows. I +forgot my prudent resolutions, and was behind Lucy in three minutes. +Andrew Drewett had the civility to offer me his place, though it was +with an air that said plain enough “what do _I_ care for _him_--he is +a ship-master, and I am a man of fashion and fortune, and can resume my +seat at any moment, while the poor fellow can only catch his chances, as +he occasionally _comes into port_.” At least, I fancied his manner said +something like this. + +“Thank you, Mr. Drewett,” said Lucy, in her sweetest manner. “Mr. +Wallingford and I are very, _very_ old friends,--you know he is Grace's +brother, and you have been at Clawbonny”--Drewett bowed, civilly +enough--“and I have a thousand things to say to him. So, Miles, take +this seat, and let me hear all about your voyage.” + +As half the audience went away as soon as the tragedy ended, the second +seat of the box was vacated, and the other gentlemen getting on it, to +stretch their limbs, I had abundance of room to sit at Lucy's side, +half facing her, at the same time. As she insisted on hearing my story, +before we proceeded to anything else, I was obliged to gratify her. + +“By the way, Major Merton,” I cried, as the tale was closed, “an old +friend of yours, Moses Marble by name, has come to life again, and is at +this moment in New York.” + +I then related the manner in which I had fallen in with my old mate. +This was a most unfortunate self-interruption for me, giving the Major +a fair opportunity for cutting into the conversation. The orchestra, +moreover, giving notice that the curtain would soon rise for the +after-piece, the old gentleman soon got me into the lobby to hear the +particulars. I was supremely vexed, and I thought Lucy appeared sorry; +but there was no help for it, and then we could not converse while the +piece was going on. + +“I suppose you care little for this silly farce,” observed the Major, +looking in at one of the windows, after I had gone over Marble's affair +in detail. “If not, we will continue our walk, and wait for the ladies +to come out. Drewett and Hardinge will take good care of them.” + +I assented, and we continued to walk the lobby till the end of the act. +Major Merton was always gentleman-like; and he even behaved to me, as +if he remembered the many obligations he was under. He now communicated +several little facts connected with his own circumstances, alluding +to the probability of his remaining in America a few years. Our chat +continued some time, my looks frequently turning towards the door of the +box, when my companion suddenly observed-- + +“Your old acquaintances the Hardinges have had a lucky wind-fall--one, I +fancy, they hardly expected, a few years Since.” + +“Probably not; though the estate has fallen into excellent hands,” I +answered. “I am surprised, however, that Mrs. Bradfort did not leave +the property to the old gentleman, as it once belonged to their common +grandfather, and he properly stood next in succession.” + +“I fancy she thought the good parson would not know what to do with it. +Now, Rupert Hardinge is clever, and spirited, and in a way to make a +figure in the world; and it is probably in better hands, than if it had +been left first to the old gentleman.” + +“The old gentleman has been a faithful steward to me, and I doubt not +would have proved equally so to his own children. But, does Rupert get +_all_ Mrs. Bradfort's property?” + +“I believe not; there is some sort of a trust, I have heard him say; and +I rather fancy that his sister has some direct or reversionary interest. +Perhaps she is named as the heir, if he die without issue. There _was_ a +silly story, that Mrs. Bradfort had left everything to Lucy; but I +have, it from the best authority, that _that_ is not true--” The idea of +Rupert Hardinge's being the “best authority” for any thing; a fellow +who never knew what unadulterated truth was, from the time he was in +petticoats, or could talk!--“As I _know_ there is a trust, though one of +no great moment; I presume Lucy has some contingent interest, subject, +most probably, to her marrying with her brother's approbation, or some +such provision. The old lady was sagacious, and no doubt did all that +was necessary.” + +It is wonderful how people daily deceive themselves on the subject +of property; those who care the most about it, appearing to make the +greatest blunders. In the way of bequests, in particular, the lies that +are told are marvellous. It is now many years since I learned to take +no heed of rumours on such subjects, and least of all, rumours that come +from the class of the money-gripers. Such people refer everything to +dollars, and seldom converse a minute without using the word. Here, +however, was Major Merton evidently Rupert's dupe; though with what +probable consequences, it was not in my power to foresee. It was clearly +not my business to undeceive him; and the conversation, getting to be +embarrassing, I was not sorry to hear the movement which announced the +end of the act. At the box door, to my great regret, we met Mrs. Drewett +retiring, the ladies finding the farce dull, and not worth the time lost +in listening to it. Rupert gave me an uneasy glance, and he even dragged +me aside to whisper--“Miles, what I told you this evening, is strictly a +family secret, and was entrusted to a friend.” + +“I have nothing to do with your private concerns, Rupert--” I +answered,--“only, let me expect you to act honourably, especially when +women are concerned.” + +“Everything will come right, depend on it; the truth will set everything +right, and all will come out, just as I predicted.” + +I saw Lucy looking anxiously around, while Drewett had gone to order the +carriages to advance, and I hoped it might be for me. In a moment I was +by her side; at the next, Mr. Andrew Drewett offered his arm, saying, +her carriage “stopped the way.” We moved into the outer lobby, in a +body, and then it was found that Mrs. Drewett's carriage was up first, +while Lucy's was in the rear. Yes, Lucy's carriage!--the dear girl +having come into immediate possession of her relative's houses, +furniture, horses, carriages, and everything else, without reserve, just +as they had been left behind by the last incumbent, when she departed +from the scene of life, to lie down in the grave. Mrs. Bradfort's arms +were still on the chariot, I observed, its owner refusing all Rupert's +solicitations to supplant them by those of Hardinge. The latter took his +revenge, however, by telling everybody how generous he was in keeping a +carriage for his sister. + +The Major handed Mrs. Drewett in, and her son was compelled to say good +night, to see his mother home. This gave me one blessed minute with +Lucy, by herself. She spoke of Grace; said they had now been separated +months, longer than they ever had been before in their lives, and that +all her own persuasions could not induce my sister to rejoin her +in town, while her own wish to visit Clawbonny had been constantly +disappointed, Rupert insisting that her presence was necessary, for so +many arrangements about business. + +“Grace is not as humble as I was, in old times, Miles,” said the dear +girl, looking me in the face, half sadly, half reproachfully, the light +of the lamp falling full on her tearful, tender eyes, “and I hope you +are not about to imitate her bad example. She wishes us to know she has +Clawbonny for a home, but I never hesitated to admit how poor we were, +while you alone were rich.” + + +“God bless you, Lucy!” I whispered, squeezing her hand with fervour--“It +cannot be _that_--have you heard anything of Grace's health?” + +“Oh! she is well, I know--Rupert tells me _that_, and her letters are +cheerful and kind as ever, without a word of complaint. But I _must_ +see her soon. Grace Wallingford and Lucy Hardinge were not born to live +asunder. Here is the carriage; I shall see you in the morning, Miles--at +breakfast, say--eight o'clock, precisely.” + +“It will be impossible--I sail for Clawbonny with the first of the +flood, and that will make at four. I shall sleep in the sloop.” + +Major Merton put Lucy into the carriage; the good-nights were passed, +and I was left standing on the lowest step of the building gazing after +the carriage, Rupert walking swiftly away. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + “Hear me a little; + For I have only been silent so long, + And given way unto this course of fortune, + By noting of the lady: I have mark'd + A thousand blushing apparitions start + Into her face; a thousand innocent shames + In angel whiteness bear away those blushes--” + SHAKESPEARE + + +I reached the Wallingford before eleven, where I found Neb in attendance +with my trunks and other effects. Being now on board my own craft, +I gave orders to profit by a favourable turn in the wind, and to get +under-way at once, instead of waiting for the flood. When I left the +deck, the sloop was above the State Prison, a point towards which +the town itself had made considerable progress since the time I first +introduced it to the reader. Notwithstanding this early start, we did +not enter the creek until about eight in the morning of the second day. + +No sooner was the vessel near enough, than my foot was on the wharf, and +I began to ascend the hill. From the summit of the latter I saw my late +guardian hurrying along the road, it afterwards appearing that a stray +paper from town had announced the arrival of the Dawn, and that I was +expected to come up in the sloop. I was received with extended hands, +was kissed just as if I had still been a boy, and heard the guileless +old man murmuring his blessings on me, and a prayer of thankfulness. +Nothing ever changed good Mr. Hardinge, who, now that he could command +the whole income of his daughter, was just as well satisfied to live on +the three or four hundreds he got from his glebe and his parish, as he +ever had been in his life. + +“Welcome back, my dear boy, welcome back!” added Mr. Hardinge, his +voice and manner still retaining their fervour. “I said you _must_--you +_would_ be on board, as soon as they reported the sloop in sight, for +I judged your heart by my own. Ah! Miles, will the time ever come when +Clawbonny will be good enough for you? You have already as much money as +you can want, and more will scarce contribute to your happiness.” + +“Speaking of money, my dear sir,” I answered, “while I have to +regret the loss of your respectable kinswoman, I may be permitted +to congratulate you on the accession to an old family property--I +understand you inherit, in your family, all of Mrs. Bradfort's +estate-one valuable in amount, and highly acceptable, no doubt, as +having belonged to your ancestors.” + +“No doubt--no doubt--it is just as you say; and I hope these unexpected +riches will leave us all as devout servants of God, as I humbly trust +they found us. The property, however, is not mine, but Lucy's; I need +not have any reserve with you, though Rupert has hinted it might be +prudent not to let the precise state of the case be known, since it +might bring a swarm of interested fortune-hunters about the dear girl, +and has proposed that we rather favour the notion the estate is to be +divided among us. This I cannot do directly, you will perceive, as it +would be deception; but one may be silent. With you, however, it is +a different matter, and so I tell you the truth at once. I am made +executor, and act, of course; and this makes me the more glad to see +you, for I find so much business with pounds, shillings and pence draws +my mind off from the duties of my holy office, and that I am in danger +of becoming selfish and mercenary. A selfish priest, Miles, is as odious +a thing as a mercenary woman!” + +“Little danger of your ever becoming anything so worldly, my dear sir. +But Grace-you have not mentioned my beloved sister?” + +I saw Mr. Hardinge's countenance suddenly change. The expression of joy +instantly deserted it, and it wore an air of uncertainty and sadness. A +less observant man than the good divine, in all the ordinary concerns +of life, did not exist; but it was apparent that he now saw something to +trouble him. + +“Yes, Grace,” he answered, doubtingly; “the dear girl is here, and all +alone, and not as blithe and amusing as formerly. I am glad of your +return on her account, too, Miles. She is not well, I fear; I would have +sent for a physician last week, or the moment I saw her; but she insists +on it, there is no need of one. She is frightfully beautiful, Miles! You +know how it is with Grace--her countenance always seemed more fitted for +heaven than earth; and now it always reminds me of a seraph's that was +grieving over the sins of men!” + +“I fear, sir, that Rupert's account, then, is true, and that Grace is +seriously ill?” + +“I hope not, boy--I fervently pray not! She is not as usual--_that_ is +true; but her mind, her thoughts, all her inclinations, and, if I may +so express it, her energies, seem turned to heaven. There has been an +awakening in the spirit of Grace, that is truly wonderful. She reads +devout books, meditates, and, I make no doubt, prays, from morn till +night. This is the secret of her withdrawal from the world, and her +refusing of all Lucy's invitations. You know how the girls love each +other--but Grace declines going to Lucy, though she knows that Lucy +cannot come to her.” + +I now understood it all. A weight like that of a mountain fell upon my +heart, and I walked on some distance without speaking. To me, the words +of my excellent guardian sounded like the knell of a sister I almost +worshipped. + +“And Grace--does she expect me, now?” I at length ventured to say, +though the words were uttered in tones so tremulous, that even the +usually unobservant divine perceived the change. + +“She does, and delighted she was to hear it. The only thing of a worldly +nature that I have heard her express of late, was some anxious, sisterly +wish for your speedy return. Grace loves you, Miles, next to her God!” + +Oh! how I wished this were true, but, alas! alas! I knew it was far +otherwise! + +“I see you are disturbed, my dear boy, on account of what I have said,” + resumed Mr. Hardinge; “probably from serious apprehensions about your +sister's health. She is not well, I allow; but it is the effect of +mental ailments. The precious creature has had too vivid views of +her own sinful nature, and has suffered deeply, I fear. I trust, my +conversation and prayers have not been without their effect, through the +divine aid, and that she is now more cheerful--nay, she has assured me +within half an hour, if it turned out that you were in the sloop, she +should be happy!” + +For my life, I could not have conversed longer on the painful subject; +I made no reply. As we had still a considerable distance to walk, I was +glad to turn the conversation to other subjects, lest I should become +unmanned, and sit down to weep in the middle of the road. + +“Does Lucy intend to visit Clawbonny, this summer?” I asked, though it +seemed strange to me to suppose that the farm was not actually Lucy's +home. I am afraid I felt a jealous dislike to the idea that the dear +creature should have houses and lands of her own; or any that was not to +be derived through me. + +“I hope so,” answered her father, “though her new duties do not leave +Lucy as much her own mistress as I could wish. You saw her, and her +brother, Miles, I take it for granted?” + +“I met Rupert in the street, sir, and had a short interview with the +Mertons and Lucy at the theatre. Young Mr. and old Mrs. Drewett were of +the party.” + +The good divine turned short round to me, and looked as conscious and +knowing as one of his singleness of mind and simplicity of habits could +look. Had a knife penetrated my flesh, I could not have winced more than +I did; still, I affected a manner that was very foreign to my feelings. + +“What do you think of this young Mr. Drewett, boy?” asked Mr. Hardinge, +with an air of confidential interest, and an earnestness of manner, +that, with him, was inseparable from all that concerned his daughter. +“Do you approve?” + +“I believe I understand you, sir;--you mean me to infer that Mr. Drewett +is a suitor for Miss Hardinge's hand.” + +“It would be improper to say this much, even to you, Miles, did not +Drewett take good care, himself, to let everybody know it.” + +“Possibly with a view to keep off other pretenders”--I rejoined, with a +bitterness I could not control. + +Now, Mr. Hardinge was one of the last men in the world to suspect evil. +He looked surprised, therefore, at my remark, and I was probably not +much out of the way, in fancying that he looked displeased. + +“That is not right, my dear boy,” he said, gravely. + +“We should try to think the best and not the worst, of our +fellow-creatures.”--Excellent old man, how faithfully didst thou +practise on thy precept!--“It is a wise rule, and a safe one; more +particularly in connection with our own weaknesses. Then, it is but +natural that Drewett should wish to secure Lucy; and if he adopt no +means less manly than the frank avowal of his own attachment, surely +there is no ground of complaint.” + +I was rebuked; and what is more, I felt that the rebuke was merited. As +some atonement for my error, I hastened to add-- + +“Very truly, sir; I admit the unfairness of my remark, and can +only atone for it by adding it is quite apparent Mr. Drewett is not +influenced by interested motives, since he certainly was attentive to +Miss Hardinge previously to Mrs. Bradfort's death, and when he could not +possibly have anticipated the nature of her will.” + +“Quite true, Miles, and very properly and justly remarked. Now, to you, +who have known Lucy from childhood, and who regard her much as Rupert +does, it may not seem so very natural that a young man can love her +warmly and strongly, for herself, alone--such is apt to be the effect of +brotherly feeling; but I can assure you, Lucy is really a charming, as +we all know she is a most excellent, girl!” + +“To whom are you speaking thus, sir! I can assure you, nothing is easier +than for me to conceive how possible it is for any man to love your +daughter. As respects Grace, I confess there, is a difference--for +I affirm she has always seemed to me too saintly, too much allied to +Heaven already, to be subject herself, to the passions of earth.” + +“That is what I have just been telling you, and we must endeavour to +overcome and humanize--if I may so express it--Grace's propensity. There +is nothing more dangerous to a healthful frame of mind, in a religious +point of view, Miles, than excitement--it is disease, and not faith, nor +charity, nor hope, nor humility, nor anything that is commanded; but our +native weaknesses taking a wrong direction, under a physical impulse, +rather than the fruits of repentance, and the succour afforded by the +spirit of God. We nowhere read of any excitement, and howlings and +waitings among the apostles.” + +How could I enlighten the good old man on the subject of my sister's +malady? That Grace, with her well-tempered mind, was the victim of +religious exaggeration, I did not for a moment believe; but that she had +had her heart blighted, her affections withered, her hopes deceived, by +Rupert's levity and interestedness, his worldly-mindedness and vanity, I +could foresee, and was prepared to learn; though these were facts not +to be communicated to the father of the offender. I made no answer, but +managed to turn the conversation towards the farm, and those interests +about which I could affect an interest that I was very far from feeling, +just at that moment. This induced the divine to inquire into the result +of my late voyage, and enabled me to collect sufficient fortitude to +meet Grace, with the semblance of firmness, at least. + +Mr. Hardinge made a preconcerted signal, as soon as he came in view of +the house, that apprised its inmates of my arrival; and we knew, while +still half a mile from the buildings, that the news had produced a great +commotion. All the blacks met us on the little lawn--for the girls, +since reaching womanhood, had made this change in the old door-yard--and +I had to go through the process of shaking hands with every one of them. +This was done amid hearty bursts of laughter, the mode in which the +negroes of that day almost always betrayed their joy, and many a +“welcome home, Masser Mile!” and “where a Neb got to, dis time, Masser +Mile?” was asked by more than one; and great was the satisfaction, when +I told his generation and race that the faithful fellow would be up with +the cart that was to convey my luggage. But, Grace awaited me. I broke +through the throng, and entered the house. In the door I was met by +Chloe, a girl about my own sister's age, and a sort of cousin of Neb's +by the half-blood, who had been preferred of late years to functions +somewhat resembling those of a lady's maid. I say of the half-blood; +for, to own the truth, few of the New York blacks, in that day, could +have taken from their brothers and sisters, under the old _dictum_ of +the common law, which declared that none but heirs of the whole blood +should inherit. Chloe met me in the door-way, and greeted me with one +of her sweetest smiles, as she curtsied, and really looked as pleased +as all my slaves did, at seeing their _young_ master again. How they +touched my heart, at times, by their manner of talking about “_ole_ +Masser, and _ole_ Missus,” always subjects of regret among negroes who +had been well treated by them. Metaphysicians may reason as subtly as +they can about the races and colours, and on the aptitude of the black +to acquire, but no one can ever persuade me out of the belief of their +extraordinary aptitude to love. As between themselves and their masters, +their own children and those of the race to which they were subject, I +have often seen instances which have partaken of the attachment of +the dog to the human family; and cases in which the children of their +masters have been preferred to those of their own flesh and blood, were +of constant occurrence. + +“I hope you been werry well, sah, Masser Mile,” said Chloe, who had some +extra refinement, as the growth of her position. + +“Perfectly, my good girl, and I am glad to see you looking so well--you +really are growing handsome, Chloe.” + +“Oh! Masser Mile---you so droll!--now you stay home, sah, long time?” + +“I am afraid not, Chloe, but one never knows. Where shall I find my +sister?” + +“Miss Grace tell me come here, Masser Mile, and say she wish to see you +in de family-room. She wait dere, now, some time.” + +“Thank you, Chloe; and do you see that no one interrupts us. I have not +seen my sister for near a year.” + +“Sartain, sah; all as you say.” Then the girl, whose face shone like a +black bottle that had just been dipped in water, showed her brilliant +teeth, from ear to ear, laughed outright, looked foolish, after which +she looked earnest, when the secret burst out of her heart, in the +melodious voice of a young negress, that did not know whether to laugh +or to cry--“Where Neb, Masser Mile? what he do now; de _fel_-ler!” + +“He will kiss you in ten minutes, Chloe; so put the best face on the +matter you are able.” + +“_Dat_ he wont--de sauce-box---Miss Grace teach me better dan _dat_.” + +I waited to hear no more, but proceeded towards the triangular little +room, with steps so hurried and yet so nervous, that I do not remember, +ever before to have laid my hand on a lock in a manner so tremulous--I +found myself obliged to pause, ere I could muster resolution to open the +door, a hope coming over me that the impatience of Grace would save me +the trouble, and that I should find her in my arms before I should +be called on to exercise any more fortitude. All was still as death, +however, within the room, and I opened the door, as if I expected to +find one of the bodies I had formerly seen in its coffin, in this +last abiding place above ground, of one dead. My sister was on the +_causeuse_, literally unable to rise from debility and agitation. I +shall not attempt to describe the shock her appearance gave me. I +was prepared for a change, but not one that placed her, as my heart +instantly announced, so near the grave! + +Grace extended both arms, and I threw myself at her side, drew her +within my embrace, and folded her to my heart, with the tenderness with +which one would have embraced an infant. In this situation we both wept +violently, and I am not ashamed to say that I sobbed like a child. I +dare say five minutes passed in this way, without either of us speaking +a word. + +“A merciful and all gracious God be praised! You are restored to me in +time, Miles!” murmured my sister, at length. “I was afraid it might be +too late.” + +“Grace!--Grace!--What means this, love?--my precious, my only, my most +dearly beloved sister, why do I find you thus?” + +“Is it necessary to speak, Miles?--cannot you see?--_do_ you not see, +and understand it all?” + +The fervent pressure I gave my sister, announced how plainly I +comprehended the whole history. That Grace could ever love, and forget, +I did not believe; but, that her tenderness for Rupert--one whom I knew +for so frivolous and selfish a being, should reduce her to this terrible +state, I had not indeed foreseen as a thing possible. Little did I then +understand how confidingly a woman loves, and how apt she is to endow +the being of her choice with all the qualities se could wish him to +possess. In the anguish of my soul I muttered, loud enough to be heard, +“the heartless villain!” + +Grace instantly rose from my arms. At that moment, she looked more like +a creature of heaven, than one that was still connected with this wicked +world. Her beauty could scarcely be called impaired, though I dreaded +that she would be snatched away from me in the course of the interview; +so frail and weak did it appear was her hold of life. In some respects +I never saw her more lovely than she seemed on this very occasion. +This was when the hectic of disease imparted to the sweetest and most +saint-like eyes that were ever set in the human countenance, a species +of holy illumination. Her countenance, now, was pale and colourless; +however, and her look sorrowful and filled with reproach. + +“Brother,” she said, solemnly, “this _must_ not be. It is not what God +commands--it is not what I expected from you--what I have a right to +expect from one whom I am assured loves me, though none other of earth +can be said to do so.” + +“It is not easy, my sister, for a man to forget or forgive the wretch +who has so long misled you--misled us all, and then turned to another, +under the impulse of mere vanity.” + +“Miles, my kind and manly brother, listen to me,” Grace rejoined, +fervently pressing one of my hands in both of hers, and scarcely able to +command herself, through alarm. “All thoughts of anger, of resentment, +of pride even, must be forgotten. You owe it to my sex, to the dreadful +imputations that might otherwise rest on my name--had I anything to +reproach myself with as a woman. I could submit to _any_ punishment; but +surely, surely, it is not a sin so unpardonable to be unable to command +the affections, that I deserve to have my name, after I shall be dead, +mixed up with rumours connected with such a quarrel. You have lived +as brothers, too--then there is good, excellent, truthful, pious +Mr. Hardinge; who is yet _my_ guardian, you know; and Lucy, dear, +true-hearted, faithful Lucy--” + +“Why is not dear, true-hearted, faithful Lucy, here, watching over you, +Grace, at this very moment?” I demanded, huskily. + +“She knows nothing of my situation--it is a secret, as well as its +cause, from all but God, myself, and you. Ah! I knew it would be +impossible to deceive your love, Miles! which has ever been to me, all +that a sister could desire.” + +“And Lucy! how has _her_ affection been deceived?--Has she too, eyes +only for those she has recently learned to admire?” + +“You do her injustice, brother. Lucy has not seen me, since the great +change that I can myself see has come over me. Another time, I will +tell you all. At present I can only say, that as soon as I had certain +explanations with Rupert, I left town, and have studiously concealed +from dear Lucy the state of my declining health. I write to her weekly, +and get answers; everything passing between us as cheerfully, and +apparently, as happily as ever. No, do not blame Lucy; who, I am +certain, would quit everything and everybody to come to me, had she the +smallest notion of the truth. On the contrary, I believe she thinks I +would rather not have her at Clawbonny, just at this moment, much as +she knows I love her; for, one of Lucy's observation and opportunities +cannot but suspect the truth. Let me lie on your breast, brother; it +wearies me to talk so much.” + +I sat holding this beloved sister in my arms, fully an hour, neither of +us speaking. I was afraid of injuring her, by further excitement, and +she was glad to take refuge in silence, from the feelings of maiden +shame that could not be otherwise than mingled with such a dialogue. As +my cheek leaned on her silken hair, I could see large tears rolling down +the pallid cheeks; but the occasional pressure of the hands, told me +how much she was gladdened by my presence. After some ten or fifteen +minutes, the exhausted girl dropped into feverish and disturbed +slumbers, that I would have remained motionless throughout the night +to maintain. I am persuaded it was quite an hour before this scene +terminated. Grace then arose, and said, with one of her most angelic +smiles-- + +“You see how it is with me, Miles--feeble as an infant, and almost +as troublesome. You must bear with me, for you will be my nurse. One +promise I must have, dearest, before we leave this room.” + +“It is yours, my sister, let it be what it may; I can now refuse you +nothing,” said I, melted to feminine tenderness. “And yet, Grace, since +_you_ exact a promise, _I_ have a mind to attach a condition.” + +“What condition, Miles, can you attach, that I will refuse? I consent to +everything, without even knowing your wishes.” + +“Then I promise not to call Rupert to an account for his conduct---not +to question him--nay, even not to reproach him,” I rejoined, enlarging +my pledges, as I saw by Grace's eyes that she exacted still more. + +The last promise, however, appeared fully to satisfy her. She kissed my +hand, and I felt hot tears falling on it. + +“Now name your conditions, dearest brother,” she said, after a little +time taken to recover herself; “name them, and see how gladly I shall +accept them all.” + +“I have but one--it is this. I must take the complete direction of the +care of you--must have power to send for what physician I please, what +friends I please, what advice or regimen I please!” + +“Oh! Miles, you _could_ not--_cannot_ think of sending for _him_!” + +“Certainly not; his presence would drive me from the house. With that +one exception, then, my condition is allowed?” + +Grace made a sign of assent, and sunk on my bosom again, nearly +exhausted with the scene through which she had just gone. I perceived it +would not do to dwell any longer on the subject we had been alluding to, +rather than discussing; and for another hour did I sit sustaining that +beloved form, declining to speak, and commanding silence on her part. At +the end of this second little sleep, Grace was more refreshed than she +had been after her first troubled repose, and she declared herself able +to walk to her room, where she wished to lie on her own bed until the +hour of dinner. I summoned Chloe, and, together, we led the invalid to +her chamber. As we threaded the long passages, my sister's head rested +on my bosom, her eyes were turned affectionately upward to my face, and +several times I felt the gentle pressure of her emaciated hands, given +in the fervour of devoted sisterly love. + +I needed an hour to compose myself, after this interview. In the privacy +of my own room, I wept like a child over the wreck of the being I had +left so beautiful and perfect, though even then the canker of doubt had +begun to take root. I had yet her explanations to hear, and resolved to +command myself so far as to receive them in a manner not to increase the +pain Grace must feel in making them. As soon as sufficiently calm, I +sat down to write letters. One was to Marble. I desired him to let the +second-mate see the ship discharged, and to come up to me by the return +of the sloop. I wished to see him in person, as I did not think I could +be able to go out in the vessel on her next voyage, and I intended him +to sail in her as master. It was necessary we should consult together +personally. I did not conceal the reason of this determination, though +I said nothing of the cause of my sister's state. Marble had a list of +physicians given him, and he was to bring up with him the one he could +obtain, commencing with the first named, and following in the order +given. I had earned ten thousand dollars, nett, by the labours of the +past year, and I determined every dollar of it should be devoted to +obtaining the best advice the country then afforded. I had sent for such +men as Hosack, Post, Bayley, M'Knight, Moore, &c.; and even thought of +endeavouring to procure Rush from Philadelphia, but was deterred from +making the attempt by the distance, and the pressing nature of the +emergency. In 1803, Philadelphia was about three days' journey from +Clawbonny, even allowing for a favourable time on the river; with a +moderately unfavourable, five or six; whereas the distance can now be +passed, including the chances of meeting the departures and arrivals of +the different lines, in from twelve to fifteen hours. Such is one of the +prodigious effects of an improved civilization; and in all that relates +to motion, and which falls short of luxury, or great personal comfort, +this country takes a high place in the scale of nations. That it is as +much in arrears in other great essentials, however, particularly in +what relates to tavern comforts, no man who is familiar with the better +civilization of Europe, can deny. It is a singular fact, that we have +gone backward in this last particular, within the present century, and +all owing to the increasingly gregarious habits of the population. But +to return to my painful theme, from which, even at this distance of +time, I am only too ready to escape. + +I was on the point of writing to Lucy, but hesitated. I hardly knew +whether to summon her to Clawbonny or not. That she would come, and that +instantly, the moment she was apprised of Grace's condition, I did not +in the least doubt. I was not so mad as to do her character injustice, +because I had my doubts about being loved as I had once hoped to be. +That Lucy was attached to me, in one sense, I did not in the least +doubt; this, her late reception of me sufficiently proved; and I could +not question her continued affection for Grace, after all the latter had +just told me. Even did Lucy prefer Andrew Drewett, it was no proof she +was not just as kind-hearted, as ready to be of service, and as true in +her friendship, as she ever had been. Still, she was Rupert's sister, +must have penetration enough to understand the cause of Grace's illness, +and might not enter as fully into her wrongs as one could wish in a +person that was to watch the sick pillow. I resolved to learn more that +day, before this portion of my duty was discharged. + +Neb was summoned, and sent to the wharf, with an order to get the +Wallingford ready to sail for town at the first favourable moment. The +sloop was merely to be in ballast, and was to return to Clawbonny with +no unnecessary delay. There was an eminent, but retired physician of +the name of Bard, who had a country residence on the other bank of +the Hudson, and within a few hours' sail from Clawbonny. I knew his +character, though I was not acquainted with him, personally. Few of us +of the right bank, indeed, belonged to the circles of the left, in +that day; the increasing wealth and population of the country has since +brought the western side into more notice. I wrote also to Dr. Bard, +inclosing a cheque for a suitable fee; made a strong appeal to his +feelings--which would have been quite sufficient with, such a man--and +ordered Neb to go out in the Grace and Lucy, immediately, to deliver the +missive. Just as this arrangement was completed, Chloe came to summon me +to my sister's room. + +I found Grace still lying on her bed, but stronger, and materially +refreshed. For a moment, I began to think my fears had exaggerated the +danger, and that I was not to lose my sister. A few minutes of close +observation, however convinced me, that the first impression was the +true one. I am not skilled in the theories of the science, if there be +any great science about it, and can hardly explain, even now, the true +physical condition of Grace. She had pent up her sufferings in her own +bosom, for six cruel months, in the solitude of a country-house, living +most of the time entirely alone; and this, they tell me, is what few, +even of the most robust frames, can do with impunity. Frail as she had +ever seemed, her lungs were sound, and she spoke easily and with almost +all her original force, so that her wasting away was not the consequence +of anything pulmonary. I rather think the physical effects were to +be traced to the unhealthy action of the fluids, which were deranged +through the stomach and spleen. The insensible perspiration was affected +also, I believe; the pores of the skin failing to do their duty. I dare +say there is not a graduate of the thousand and one medical colleges of +the country, who is not prepared to laugh at this theory, while unable +quite likely to produce a better,--so much easier is it to pull down +than to build up; but my object is merely to give the reader a +general idea of my poor sister's situation. In outward appearance, her +countenance denoted that expression which the French so well describe, +by their customary term of “_fatigué_,” rather than any other positive +indication of disease--Grace's frame was so delicate by nature, that a +little falling away was not as perceptible in her, as it would have been +in most persons; though her beautiful little hands wanted that fulness +which had rendered their taper fingers and roseate tint formerly so very +faultless. There must have been a good deal of fever, as her colour +was often higher than was formerly usual. It was this circumstance +that continued to render her beauty even unearthly, without its +being accompanied by the emaciation so common in the latter stages of +pulmonary disease, though its tendency was strongly to undermine her +strength. + +Grace, without rising from her pillow, now asked me for an outline of my +late voyage. She heard me, I make no doubt, with real interest, for all +that concerned me, in a measure concerned her. Her smile was sweetness +itself, as she listened to my successes; and the interest she manifested +in Marble, with whose previous history she was well acquainted, was +not less than I had felt myself, in hearing his own account of his +adventures. All this delighted me, as it went to prove that I had +beguiled the sufferer from brooding over her own sorrows; and what +might not be hoped for, could we lead her back to mingle in the ordinary +concerns of life, and surround her with the few friends she so tenderly +loved, and whose absence, perhaps, had largely contributed to reducing +her to her present state? This thought recalled Lucy to my mind, and the +wish I had to ascertain how far it might be agreeable to the latter, to +be summoned to Clawbonny. I determined to lead the conversation to this +subject. + +“You have told me, Grace,” I said, “that you send and receive letters +weekly, to and from Lucy?” + +“Each time the Wallingford goes and comes; and that you know is weekly. +I suppose the reason I got no letter to-day was owing to the fact that +the sloop sailed before her time. The Lord High Admiral was on board; +and, like wind and tide, _he_ waits for no man!” + +“Bless you--bless you, dearest sister--this gaiety removes a mountain +from my heart!” + +Grace looked pleased at first; then, as she gazed wistfully into +my face, I could see her own expression change to one of melancholy +concern. Large tears started from her eyes, and three or four followed +each other down her cheeks. All this said, plainer than words, that, +though a fond brother might be momentarily deceived, she herself +foresaw the end. I bowed my head to the pillow, stifled the groans that +oppressed me, and kissed the tears from her cheeks. To put an end to +these distressing scenes, I determined to be more business-like in +future, and suppress all feeling, as much as possible. + +“The Lord High Admiral,” I resumed, “is a species of Turk, on board +ship, as honest Moses Marble will tell you, when you see him, Grace. +But, now for Lucy and her letters--I dare say the last are filled with +tender secrets, touching such persons as Andrew Drewett, and others of +her admirers, which render it improper to show any of them to me?” + +Grace looked at me, with earnestness, as if to ascertain whether I was +really as unconcerned as I affected to be. Then she seemed to muse, +picking the cotton of the spotless counterpane on which she was lying, +like one at a loss what to say or think. + +“I see how it is,” I resumed, forcing a smile; “the hint has been +indiscreet. A rough son of Neptune is not the proper confidant for the +secrets of Miss Lucy Hardinge. Perhaps you are right; fidelity to each +other being indispensable in your sex.” + +“It is not that, Miles. I doubt if Lucy ever wrote me a line, that you +might not see--in proof of which, you shall have the package of her +letters, with full permission to read every one of them. It will be like +reading the correspondence of another _sister_!” + +I fancied Grace laid an emphasis on the last word she used; and I +started at its unwelcome sound--unwelcome, as applied to Lucy Hardinge, +to a degree that I cannot express. I had observed that Lucy never used +any of these terms, as connected with me, and it was one of the reasons +why I had indulged in the folly of supposing that she was conscious of +a tenderer sentiment. But Lucy was so natural, so totally free from +exaggeration, so just and true in all her feelings, that one could not +expect from her most of the acts of girlish weakness. As for Grace, she +called Chloe, gave her the keys of her secretary, and told her to bring +me the package she described. + +“Go and look them over, Miles,” said my sister, as I received the +letters; “there must be more than twenty of them, and you can read half +before the dinner hour. I will meet you at table; and let me implore you +not to alarm good Mr. Hardinge. He does not believe me seriously ill; +and it cannot benefit him or me, to cause him pain.” + +I promised discretion, and hastened to my own room, with the precious +bundle of Lucy's letters. Shall I own the truth? I kissed the papers, +fervently, before they were loosened, and it seemed to me I possessed a +treasure, in holding in my hand so many of the dear girl's epistles. I +commenced in the order of the date, and began to read with eagerness. +It was impossible for Lucy Hardinge to write to one she loved, and not +exhibit the truth and nature of her feelings. These appeared in every +paragraph in which it was proper to make any allusions of the sort. +But the letters had other charms. It was apparent, throughout, that the +writer was ignorant that she wrote to an invalid, though she could not +but know that she wrote to a recluse. Her aim evidently was to amuse +Grace, of whose mental sufferings she could not well be ignorant. Lucy +was a keen observer, and her epistles were filled with amusing comments +on the follies that were daily committed in New York, as well as in +Paris, or London. I was delighted with the delicate pungency of her +satire, which, however, was totally removed from vulgar scandal. There +was nothing in these letters that might not have been uttered in a +drawing-room, to any but the persons concerned; and yet they were filled +with a humour that rose often to wit, relieved by a tact and taste that +a man never could have attained. Throughout, it was apparent to me, +Lucy, in order to amuse Grace, was giving a full scope to a natural +talent--one that far surpassed the same capacity in her brother, being +as true as his was meritricious and jesuitical--which she had hitherto +concealed from us all, merely because she had not seen an occasion fit +for its use. Allusions in the letters, themselves, proved that Grace +had commented on this unexpected display of observant humour, and had +expressed her surprise at its existence. It was then as novel to my +sister as it was to myself. I was struck also with the fact, that +Rupert's name did not appear once in all these letters. They embraced +just twenty-seven weeks, between the earliest and the latest date; and +there were nine-and-twenty letters, two having been sent by private +conveyances; her father's, most probably, he occasionally making the +journey by land; yet no one of them contained the slightest allusion to +her brother, or to either of the Mertons. This was enough to let me know +how well Lucy understood the reason of Grace's withdrawal to Clawbonny. + +“And how was it with Miles Wallingford's name?” some of my fair readers +may be ready to ask. I went carefully through the package in the course +of the evening, and I set aside two, as the only exceptions in which my +name did not appear. On examining these two with jealous care, I found +each had a postscript, one of which was to the following effect: “I see +by the papers that Miles has sailed for Malta having at last left those +stubborn Turks. I am glad of this, as one would not wish to have the +excellent fellow shut up in the Seven Towers, however honourable it may +have been.” The other postscript contained this: “Dear Miles has got to +Leghorn, my father tells me, and may be expected home this summer. +How great happiness this will bring you, dearest Grace, I can well +understand; and I need scarcely say that no one will rejoice more to see +him again than his late guardian and myself.” + +That the papers were often looked over to catch reports of my movements +in Europe, by means of ships arriving from different parts of the world, +was apparent enough; but I scarce knew what to make of the natural and +simply affectionate manner in which my name was introduced. It might +proceed from a wish to gratify Grace, and a desire to let the sister +know all that she herself possessed touching the brother's movements. +Then Andrew Drewett's name occurred very frequently, though it was +generally in connection with that of his mother, who had evidently +constituted herself a sort of regular _chaperone_ for Lucy, more +especially during the time she was kept out of the gay world by her +mourning. I read several of these passages with the most scrupulous +attention, in order to detect the feeling with which they had been +written; but the most practised art could not have more successfully +concealed any secret of this sort, than Lucy's nature. This often proves +to be the case; the just-minded and true among men daily becoming the +profoundest mysteries to a vicious, cunning, deceptive and selfish +world. An honest man, indeed, is ever a parodox to all but those who see +things with his own eyes. This is the reason that improper motives are +so often imputed to the simplest and seemingly most honest deeds. + +The result was, to write, entreating Lucy to come to Clawbonny; first +taking care to secure her father's assent, to aid my request. This was +done in a way not to awaken any alarm, and yet with sufficient strength +to render it tolerably certain she would come. On deliberate reflection, +and after seeing my sister at table, where she ate nothing but a light +vegetable diet, and passing the evening with her, I thought I could not +do less in justice to the invalid or her friend. I took the course with +great regret on several accounts; and, among others, from a reluctance +to appear to draw Lucy away from the society of my rival, into my own. +Yet what right had I to call myself the rival or competitor of a man +who had openly professed an attachment, where I had never breathed a +syllable myself that might not readily be mistaken for the language of +that friendship, which time, and habit, and a respect for each other's +qualities, so easily awaken among the young of different sexes? I had +been educated almost as Lucy's brother; and why should she not feel +towards me as one? + +Neb went out in the boat as soon as he got his orders and the +Wallingford sailed again in ballast that very night. She did not remain +at the wharf an hour after her wheat was out. I felt easier when these +duties were discharged, and was better prepared to pass the night in +peace. Grace's manner and appearance, too, contributed to this calm; +for she seemed to revive, and to experience some degree of earthly +happiness, in having her brother near her. When Mr. Hardinge read +prayers that night, she came to the chair where I stood, took my hand +in hers, and knelt at my side. I was touched to tears by this act of +affection, which spoke as much of the tenderness of the sainted and +departed spirit, lingering around those it had loved on earth, as of the +affection of the world. I folded the dear girl to my bosom, as I left +her at the door of her own room that night, and went to my own pillow, +with a heavy heart. Seamen pray little; less than they ought, amid the +rude scenes of their hazardous lives. Still, I had not quite forgotten +the lessons of childhood, and sometimes practised on them. That night I +prayed fervently, beseeching God to spare my sister, if in his wisdom it +were meet; and I humbly invoked his blessings on the excellent divine, +and on Lucy, by name. I am not ashamed to own it, let who may deride the +act. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + “Wherever sorrow is, relief would be; + If you do sorrow at my grief in love, + By giving love, your sorrow and my grief + Were both extermin'd.” + _As You Like It._ + + +I saw but little of Grace, during the early part of the succeeding day. +She had uniformly breakfasted in her own room, of late, and, in the +short visit I paid her there, I found her composed, with an appearance +of renewed strength that encouraged me greatly, as to the future. Mr. +Hardinge insisted on rendering an account of his stewardship, that +morning, and I let the good divine have his own way; though, had he +asked me for a receipt in full, I would cheerfully have given it to him, +without examining a single item. There was a singular peculiarity about +Mr. Hardinge. No one could live less for the world generally; no one was +less qualified to superintend extensive worldly interests, that required +care, or thought; and no one would have been a more unsafe executor in +matters that were intricate or involved: still, in the mere business of +accounts, he was as methodical and exact, as the most faithful banker. +Rigidly honest, and with a strict regard for the rights of others, +living moreover on a mere pittance, for the greater part of his life, +this conscientious divine never contracted a debt he could not pay. What +rendered this caution more worthy of remark, was the fact that he had a +spendthrift son; but, even Rupert could never lure him into any weakness +of this sort. I question if his actual cash receipts, independently of +the profits of his little glebe, exceeded $300 in any one year; yet, +he and his children were ever well-dressed, and I knew from observation +that his table was always sufficiently supplied. He got a few presents +occasionally, from his parishioners, it is true; but they did not +amount to any sum of moment. It was method, and a determination not to +anticipate his income, that placed him so much above the world, while he +had a family to support; whereas, now that Mrs. Bradfort's fortune was +in the possession of his children, he assured me he felt himself quite +rich, though he scrupulously refused to appropriate one dollar of the +handsome income that passed through his hands as executor, to his own +uses. It was all Lucy's, who was entitled to receive this income even +in her minority, and to her he paid every cent, quarterly; the sister +providing for Rupert's ample wants. + +Of course, I found everything exact to a farthing; the necessary papers +were signed, the power of attorney was cancelled, and I entered fully +into the possession of my own. An unexpected rise in the value of flour +had raised my shore receipts that year to the handsome sum of nine +thousand dollars. This was not properly income, however, but profits, +principally obtained through the labour of the mill. By putting all my +loose cash together, I found I could command fully $30,000, in addition +to the price of the ship. This sum was making me a man quite at my ease, +and, properly managed, it opened a way to wealth. How gladly would I +have given every cent of it, to see Grace as healthy and happy as she +was when I left her at Mrs. Bradfort's, to sail in the Crisis! + +After settling the figures, Mr. Hardinge and I mounted our horses, and +rode over the property to take a look at the state of the farm. Our +road took us near the little rectory and the glebe; and, here, the +simple-minded divine broke out into ecstasies on the subject of the +beauties of his own residence, and the delight with which he should now +return to his ancient abode. He loved Clawbonny no less than formerly, +but he loved the rectory more. + +“I was born in that humble, snug, quiet old stone cottage, Miles,” he +said, “and there I lived for years a happy husband and father, and I +hope I may say a faithful shepherd of my little flock. St. Michael's, +Clawbonny, is not Trinity, New York, but it may prove, on a small scale +as to numbers, as fitting a nursery of saints. What humble and devout +Christians have I known to kneel at its little altar, Miles, among whom +your mother, and your venerable old grandmother, were two of the best. +I hope the day is not distant when I shall meet there another Mrs. Miles +Wallingford. Marry young, my boy; early marriages prove happier than +late, where there are the means of subsistence.” + +“You would not have me marry, until I can find a woman whom I shall +truly love, dear sir?” + +“Heaven forbid! I would rather see you a bachelor to my dying day. But +America has enough females that a youth, like you, could, and indeed +ought to love. I could direct you to fifty, myself.” + +“Well, sir, _your_ recommendations would have great weight with me. I +wish you would begin.” + +“That I will, that I will, if you wish it, my dear boy. Well, there is +a Miss Hervey, Miss Kate Hervey, in town; a girl of excellent qualities, +and who would just suit you, could you agree.” + +“I recollect the young lady; the greatest objection I should raise +to her, is a want of personal attractions. Of all Mrs. Bradfort's +acquaintances, I think she was among the very plainest.” + +“What is beauty, Miles? In marriage, very different recommendations are +to be looked for by the husband.” + +“Yet, I have understood you practised on another theory; Mrs. Hardinge, +even as I recollect her, was very handsome.” + +“Yes, that is true,” answered the good divine, simply; “she was so; but +beauty is not to be considered as an _objection_. If you do not relish +the idea of Kate Hervey, what do you say to Jane Harwood--there is a +pretty girl for you.” + +“A pretty girl, sir, but not for me. But, in naming so many young +ladies, why do you overlook your own daughter?” + +I said this with a sort of desperate resolution, tempted by the +opportunity, and the direction the discourse had taken. When it was +uttered, I repented of my temerity, and almost trembled to hear the +answer. + +“Lucy!” exclaimed Mr. Hardinge, turning suddenly to towards me, and +looking so intently and earnestly in my face, that I saw the possibility +of such a thing then struck him, for the first time. “Sure enough, +why should you not marry Lucy? There is not a particle of relationship +between you, after all, though I have so long considered you as brother +and sister. I wish we had thought of this earlier, Miles; it would be +a most capital connection--though I should insist on your quitting the +sea. Lucy has too affectionate a heart, to be always in distress for an +absent husband. I wonder the possibility of this thing did not strike +me, before it was too late; in a man so much accustomed to see what is +going on around me, to overlook this!” + +The words “too late,” sounded to me like the doom of fate; and had my +simple-minded companion but the tithe of the observation which he so +much vaunted, he must have seen my agitation. I had advanced so far, +however, that I determined to learn the worst, whatever pain it might +cost me. + +“I suppose, sir the very circumstance that we were brought up together +has prevented us all from regarding the thing as possible. But, why 'too +late,' my excellent guardian, if we who are the most interested in the +thing should happen to think otherwise?” + +“Certainly not too late, if you include Lucy, herself, in your +conditions; but I am afraid, Miles, it is 'too late' for Lucy.” + +“Am I to understand, then, that Miss Hardinge is engaged to Mr. Drewett? +Are her affections enlisted in his behalf?” + +“You may be certain of one thing, boy, and that is, if Lucy be engaged, +her affections are enlisted--so conscientious a young woman would never +marry without giving her heart with her hand. As for the fact, however, +I know nothing, except by inference. I do suppose a mutual attachment to +exist between her and Andrew Drewett.” + +“Of course with good reason, sir. Lucy is not a coquette, or a girl to +encourage when she does not mean to accept.” + +“That's all I know of the matter. Drewett continues to visit; is +as attentive as a young man well can be, where a young woman is +as scrupulous as is Lucy about the proper forms, and I infer they +understand each other. I have thought of speaking to Lucy on the +subject, but I do not wish to influence her judgment, in a case where +there exists no objection. Drewett is every way a suitable match, and I +wish things to take their own course. There is one little circumstance, +however, that I can mention to you as a sort of son, Miles, and which I +consider conclusive as to the girl's inclinations--I have remarked that +she refuses all expedients to get her to be alone with Drewett--refuses +to make excursions in which she must be driven in his curricle, or to go +anywhere with him, even to the next door. So particular is she, that +she contrives never to be alone with him, even in his many visits to the +house.” + +“And do you consider that as a proof of attachment?--of her being +engaged? Does your own experience, sir, confirm such a notion?” + +“What else can it be, if it be not a consciousness of a passion--of an +attachment that she is afraid every one will see? You do not understand +the sex, I perceive, Miles, or the finesse of their natures would be +more apparent to you. As for my experience, no conclusion can be drawn +from that, as I and my dear wife were thrown together very young, all +alone, in her mother's country house; and the old lady being bed-ridden, +there was no opportunity for the bashful maiden to betray this +consciousness. But, if I understand human nature, such is the secret of +Lucy's feelings towards Andrew Drewett. It is of no great moment to you, +Miles, notwithstanding, as there are plenty more young women to be had +in the world.” + +“True, sir; but there is only one Lucy Hardinge!” I rejoined with a +fervour and strength of utterance that betrayed more than I intended. + +My late guardian actually stopped his horse this time, to look at me, +and I could perceive deep concern gathering around his usually serene +and placid brow. He began to penetrate my feelings, and I believe they +caused him real grief. + +“I never could have dreamed of this!” Mr. Hardinge at length exclaimed: +“Do you really love Lucy, my dear Miles?” + +“Better than I do my own life, sir--I almost worship the earth she +treads on--Love her with my whole heart, and have loved, I believe, if +the truth were known, ever since I was sixteen--perhaps I had better +say, twelve years old!” + +The truth escaped me, as the torrent of the Mississippi breaks through +the levee, and a passage once open for its exit, it cleared a way for +itself, until the current of my feelings left no doubt of its direction. +I believe I was a little ashamed of my own weakness, for I caused my +horse to walk forward, Mr. Hardinge accompanying the movement, for +a considerable distance, in a profound, and, I doubt not, a painful +silence. + +“This has taken me altogether by surprise, Miles,” my late guardian +resumed; “altogether by surprise. What would I not give could this have +been known a year or two since! My dear boy, I feel for you, from the +bottom of my heart, for I can understand what it must be to love a girl +like Lucy, without hope. Why did you not let this be known sooner--or, +why did you insist on going to sea, having so strong a motive for +remaining at home?” + +“I was too young, at that time, sir, to act on, or even to understand +my own feelings. On my return, in the Crisis, I found Lucy in a set +superior to, that in which I was born and educated, and it would have +been a poor proof of my attachment to wish to bring her down nearer to +my own level.” + +“I understand you, Miles, and can appreciate the generosity of your +conduct; though I am afraid it would have been too late on your return +in the Crisis. That was only a twelvemonth since, and, then, I rather +think, Andrew Drewett had offered. There is good sense in your feeling +on the subject of marriages in unequal conditions in life, for they +certainly lead to many heart-burnings, and greatly lessen the chances +of happiness. One thing is certain; in all such cases, if the inferior +cannot rise to the height of the superior, the superior must sink to the +level of the inferior. Man and wife cannot continue to occupy different +social positions; and, as for the nonsense that is uttered on such +subjects, by visionaries, under the claim of its being common sense, it +is only fit for pretending theories, and can have nothing to do with +the great rules of practice. You were right in principle, then, Miles, +though you have greatly exaggerated the facts of your own particular +case.” + +“I have always known, sir, and have ever been ready to admit, that +the Hardinges have belonged to a different class of society, from that +filled by the Wallingfords.” + +“This is true, but in part only; and by no means true to a degree that +need have drawn any impassable line between you and Lucy. You forget how +poor we then were, and bow substantial a benefit the care of Clawbonny +might have been to my dear girl. Besides, you are of reputable descent +and position, if not precisely of the gentry; and this is not a country, +or an age, to carry notions of such a nature beyond the strict bounds +of reason. You and Lucy were educated on the same level; and, after all, +that is the great essential for the marriage connection.” + +There was great good sense in what Mr. Hardinge said; and I began to see +that pride, and not humility, might have interfered with my happiness. +As I firmly believed it was now too late, however, I began to wish +the subject changed; for I felt it grating on some of my most sacred +feelings. With a view to divert the conversation to another channel, +therefore, I remarked with some emphasis, affecting an indifference I +did not feel-- + +“What cannot be cured, must be endured, sir; and I shall endeavour to +find a sailor's happiness hereafter, in loving my ship. Besides, were +Andrew Drewett entirely out of the question, it is now 'too late,' in +another sense, since it would never do for the man who, himself at his +ease in the way of money, hesitated about offering when his mistress was +poor, to prove his love, by proposing to Mrs. Bradfort's heiress. +Still, I own to so much weakness as to wish to know, before we close +the subject for ever, why Mr. Drewett and your daughter do not marry, if +they are engaged? Perhaps it is owing only to Lucy's mourning?” + +“I have myself imputed it to another cause. Rupert is entirely dependent +on his sister, and I know Lucy so well as to feel certain--some +extraordinary cause not interposing--that she wishes to bestow half her +cousin's fortune on her brother. This cannot be done until she is of +age, and she wants near two years of attaining her majority.” + +I made no answer; for I felt how likely this was to be true. Lucy +was not a girl of professions, and she would be very apt to keep a +resolution of this nature, a secret in her own breast, until ready to +carry it into execution. No more passed between Mr. Hardinge and myself, +on the subject of our recent conversation; though I could see my +avowal had made him sad, and that it induced him to treat me with more +affection, even, than had been his practice. Once or twice, in the +course of the next day or two, I overheard him soliloquizing--a habit to +which he was a good deal addicted--during which he would murmur, “What a +pity!”--“How much to be regretted!”'--“I would rather have him for a son +than any man on earth!” and other similar expressions. Of course, these +involuntary disclosures did not weaken my regard for my late guardian. + +About noon, the Grace & Lucy came in, and Neb reported that Dr. Bard was +not at home. He had left my letter, however, and it would be delivered +as soon as possible. He told me also that the wind had been favourable +on the river, and that the Wallingford must reach town that day. + +Nothing further occurred, worthy of notice. I passed the afternoon with +Grace, in the little room; and we conversed much of the past, of our +parents in particular, without adverting, however, to her situation, any +further than to apprise her of what I had done. I thought she was not +sorry to learn I had sent for Lucy, now that I was with her, and it +was no longer possible her illness could be concealed. As for the +physicians, when they were mentioned, I could see a look of tender +concern in Grace's eyes, as if she regretted that I still clung to the +delusion of hoping to see her health restored. Notwithstanding these +little drawbacks, we passed a sweet eventide together. For more than an +hour, Grace lay on my bosom, occasionally patting her hand on my cheeks, +as the child caresses its mother. This was an old habit of hers, and it +was one I was equally delighted and pained to have her resume, now we +were of the age and stature of man and woman. + +The next day was Sunday, and Grace insisted on my driving her to church. +This was done, accordingly, in a very old-fashioned, but very easy +Boston chaise, that had belonged to my mother, and with very careful +driving. The congregation, like the church-edifice of St. Michael's, was +very small, being confined, with some twenty or thirty exceptions, to +the family and dependants of Clawbonny. Mr. Hardinge's little flock was +hedged in by other denominations on every side, and it was not an easy +matter to break through the barriers that surrounded it. Then he was not +possessed with the spirit of proselytism, contenting himself with aiding +in the spiritual advancement of those whom Providence had consigned +to his care. On the present occasion, however, the little building was +full, and that was as much as could have happened had it been as large +as St. Peter's itself. The prayers were devoutly and fervently read, and +the sermon was plain and filled with piety. + +My sister professed herself in no manner wearied with the exertion. +We dined with Mr. Hardinge, at the Rectory, which was quite near the +church; and the irreverent, business-like, make-weight sort of look, of +going in to one service almost as soon as the other was ended, as if +to score off so much preaching and praying as available at the least +trouble, being avoided, by having the evening service commence late, she +was enabled to remain until the close of the day. Mr. Hardinge rarely +preached but once of a Sunday. He considered the worship of God, and the +offices of the church, as the proper duties of the day, and regarded his +own wisdom as a matter of secondary importance. But one sermon cost him +as much labour, and study, and anxiety, as most clergymen's two. His +preaching, also, had the high qualification of being addressed to +the affections of his flock, and not to its fears and interests. He +constantly reminded us of God's _love_, and of the _beauty_ of holiness; +while I do not remember to have heard him allude half a dozen times in +his life to the terrors of judgment and punishment, except as they were +connected with that disappointed love. I suppose there are spirits that +require these allusions, and the temptations of future happiness, +to incite their feelings; but I like the preacher who is a Christian +because he feels himself _drawn_ to holiness, by a power that is of +itself holy; and not those who appeal to their people, as if heaven and +hell were a mere matter of preference and avoidance, on the ground of +expediency. I cannot better characterize Mr. Hardinge's preaching, than +by saying, that I do not remember ever to have left his church with a +sense of fear towards the Creator; though I have often been impressed +with a love that was as profound as the adoration that had been +awakened. + +Another calm and comparatively happy evening was passed, during which I +conversed freely with Grace of my own intentions, endeavouring to revive +in her an interest in life, by renewing old impressions, and making her +participate in my feelings. Had I been with her from the hour spring +opened, with its renewal of vegetation, and all the joys it confers +on the innocent and happy, I have often thought since, I might have +succeeded. As it was, she listened with attention, and apparently with +pleasure, for she saw it served to relieve my mind. We did not separate +until I insisted Grace should retire, and Chloe had made more than one +remonstrance about her young mistress's exceeding the usual time. On +leaving my sister's chamber, the negress followed me with a light, lest +I should fall, among the intricate turnings, and the ups and downs of +the old building. + +“Well, Chloe,” I said, as we proceeded together, “how do you find Neb? +Does he improve by this running about on the ocean--especially do you +think he is tanned?” + +“De _fel_-ler!” + +“Yes, he is a fellow, sure enough, and let me tell you, Chloe, a very +capital fellow, too. If it can be of any advantage to him in your favour +to know the truth, I will just say a more useful seaman does not sail +the ocean than Neb, and that I consider him as of much importance as the +main-mast?” + +“What be _dat_, Masser Mile?” + +“I see nothing, Chloe--there are no spooks at Clawbonny, you know.” + +“No, sah! What b'e t'ing Neb like, _fel_-ler?” + +“Oh! I ask your pardon--the main-mast, you mean. It is the most +important spar in the ship, and I meant that Neb was as useful as that +mast. In battle, too, Neb is as brave as a lion.” + +Here Chloe could stand it no longer; she fairly laughed outright, +in pure, natural admiration of her suitor's qualities. When this was +performed, she ejaculated once more “De _feller_!”--dropped a curtsey, +said “Good night, Masser Mile,” and left me at my own door. Alas! +alas!--Among the improvements of this age, we have entirely lost +the breed of the careless, good-natured, affectionate, faithful, +hard-working, and yet happy blacks, of whom more or less were to be +found in every respectable and long-established family of the State, +forty years ago. + +The next day was one of great anxiety to me. I rose early, and the first +thing was to ascertain the direction of the wind. In midsummer this was +apt to be southerly, and so it proved on that occasion. Neb was sent to +the point, as a look-out; he returned about ten, and reported a fleet +of sloops, in sight. These vessels were still a long distance down +the river, but they were advancing at a tolerable rate. Whether the +Wallingford were among them, or not, was more than could yet be told. +I sent him back to his station, as soon as he had eaten; and unable to +remain quiet in the house, myself, I mounted my horse, and rode out into +the fields. Here, as usual, I experienced the happiness of looking at +objects my ancestors loved to regard, and which always have had a strong +and near interest with me. + +Perhaps no country that ever yet existed has been so little understood, +or so much misrepresented, as this America of ours. It is as little +understood, I was on the point of saying, at home as it is abroad, and +almost as much misrepresented. Certainly its possessors are a good +deal addicted to valuing themselves on distinctive advantages that, in +reality, they do not enjoy, while their enemies declaim about vices and +evils from which they are comparatively free. Facts are made to suit +theories, and thus it is that we see well-intentioned, and otherwise +respectable writers, constantly running into extravagances, in order to +adapt the circumstances to the supposed logical or moral inference. +This reasoning backwards, has caused Alison, with all his knowledge +and fair-mindedness, to fall into several egregious errors, as I have +discovered while recently reading his great work on Europe. He says we +are a migratory race, and that we do not love the sticks and stones that +surround us, but quit the paternal roof without regret, and consider +the play-grounds of infancy as only so much land for the market. He +also hazards the assertion, that there is not such a thing as a literal +farmer,--that is a tenant, who _farms_ his land from a landlord--in all +America. Now, as a rule, and comparing the habits of America with those +of older countries, in which land is not so abundant, this may be +true; but as literal fact, nothing can be less so. Four-fifths of the +inhabited portion of the American territory, has a civilized existence +of half a century's duration; and there has not been time to create the +long-lived attachments named, more especially in the regions that +are undergoing the moral fusion that is always an attendant of a new +settlement. That thousands of heartless speculators exist among us, who +do regard everything, even to the graves of their fathers, as only so +much improvable property, is as undeniable as the fact that they are +odious to all men of any moral feeling; but thousands and tens of +thousands are to be found in the country, who _do_ reverence their +family possessions from a sentiment that is creditable to human nature. +I will not mention Clawbonny, and its history, lest I might be suspected +of being partial; but it would be easy for me to point out a hundred +families, embracing all classes, from the great proprietor to the plain +yeoman, who own and reside on the estates of those who first received +them from the hand of nature, and this after one or two centuries of +possession. What will Mr. Alison say, for instance, of the Manor of +Rensselear? A manor, in the legal sense it is no longer, certainly, +the new institutions destroying all the feudal tenures; but, as mere +property, the late Patroon transmitted it as regularly to his posterity, +as any estate was ever transmitted in Europe. This extensive manor lies +in the heart of New York, a state about as large and about as populous +as Scotland, and it embraces no less than three cities in its bosom, +though their sites are not included in its ownership, having been +exempted by earlier grants. It is of more than two centuries' existence, +and it extends eight-and-forty miles east and west, and half that +distance, north and south. Nearly all this vast property is held, at +this hour, of the Van Rensselears, as landlords, and is farmed by their +tenants, there being several thousands of the latter. The same is true, +on a smaller scale, of the Livingston, the Van Cortlandt, the Philipse, +the Nicoll, and various other old New York estates, though several were +lost by attainder in the revolution. I explain these things, lest any +European who may happen to read this book, should regard it as fiction; +for, allowing for trifling differences, a hundred Clawbonnys are to be +found on the two banks of the Hudson, at this very hour.{*] + +{Footnote *: Even the American may learn the following facts with some +surprise. It is now about five-and-twenty years since the writer, as +tenant by the courtesy, came into possession of two farms, lying within +twenty-three miles of New York, in each of which there had been three +generations of tenants, and as many of landlords, _without a scrap of a +pen having passed between the parties_, so far as the writer could ever +discover, receipts for rent excepted! He also stands in nearly the +same relation to another farm, in the same county, on which a lease for +ninety years is at this moment running, one of the covenants of which +prescribes that the tenant shall “frequent divine service _according to +the Church of England_, when opportunity offers.” What an evidence +of the nature of the tyranny from which our ancestors escaped, more +especially when it is seen that the tenant was obliged to submit to this +severe exaction, in consideration of a rent that is merely nominal!] + +But, to return to the narrative. + +My curiosity increased so much, as the day advanced, that I rode towards +the point to look for the sloop. There she was, sure enough; and there +was Neb, too, galloping a young horse, bare-back, to the house, with the +news. I met him with an order to proceed to the wharf with the chaise, +while I dashed on, in the same direction myself, almost devoured with an +impatience to learn the success of my different mission's as I galloped +along. I could see the upper part of the Wallingford's sails, gliding +through the leaves that fringed the bank, and it was apparent that she +and I would reach the wharf almost at the same instant. Notwithstanding +all my anxiety, it was impossible to get a glimpse of the vessel's deck. + +I did not quit the saddle until the planks of the wharf were under the +horse's hoofs. Then I got a view of the sloop's decks, for the first +time. A respectable-looking, tall, slender, middle-aged man, with a +bright dark eye, was on the quarter-deck, and I bowed to him, inferring +at once that he was one of the medical gentlemen to whom I had sent the +message. In effect, it was Post, the second named on my list, the first +not being able to come. He returned my bow, but, before I could alight +and go on board to receive him, Marble's head rose from the cabin, and +my mate sprang ashore, and shook me cordially by the hand. + +“Here I am, Miles, my boy,” cried Marble, whom, off duty, I had +earnestly begged to treat me with his old freedom, and who took me at my +word--“Here I am, Miles, my boy, and farther from salt-water than I have +been in five-and-twenty years. So this is the famous Clawbonny! I cannot +say much for the port, which is somewhat crowded while it contains but +one craft; though the river outside is pretty well, as rivers go. D'ye +know, lad, that I've been in a fever, all the way up, lest we should get +ashore, on one side or the other? your having land on both tacks at once +is too much of a good thing. This coming up to Clawbonny has put me in +mind of running them straits, though we _have_ had rather better weather +this passage, and a clearer horizon. What d'ye call that affair up +against the hill-side, yonder, with the jig-a-merree, that is turning in +the water?” + +“That's a mill, my friend, and the jig-a-merree is the very wheel on +which you have heard me say my father was crushed.” + +Marble looked sorrowfully at the wheel, squeezed my hand, as if to +express sorrow for having reminded me of so painful an event, and then +I heard him murmuring to himself--“Well, _I_ never had a father to lose. +No bloody mill _could_ do me _that_ injury.” + +“That gentleman on the quarter-deck,” I remarked, “is a physician for +whom I sent to town, I suppose.” + +“Ay, ay--he's some such matter, I do suppose; though I've been +generalizing so much about this here river, and the manner of sailing +a craft of that rig, I've had little to say to him. I'm always a better +friend to the cook than to the surgeon. But, Miles, my lad, there's a +rare 'un, in the ship's after-cabin, I can tell you!” + +“That must be Lucy!”--and I did not stop to pay my compliments to the +strange gentleman, but almost leaped into the vessel's cabin. + +There was Lucy, sure enough, attended by a respectable-looking elderly +black female, one of the half-dozen slaves that had become her's by +the death of Mrs. Bradfort. Neither spoke, but we shook hands with +frankness; and I understood by the anxious expression of my companion's +eye, all she wished to know. + +“I really think she seems better, and certainly she is far more +cheerful, within his last day or two,” I answered to the appeal. +“Yesterday she was twice at church, and this morning, for a novelty, she +breakfasted with me.” + +“God be praised!” Lucy exclaimed, with fervour. Then she sat down and +relieved her feelings in tears. I told her to expect me again, in a few +minutes, and joined the physician, who, by this time, was apprised of my +presence. The calm, considerate manner of Post, gave me a confidence I +had not felt for some days; and I really began to hope it might still be +within the power of his art to save the sister I so dearly loved. + +Our dispositions for quitting the sloop were soon made, and we ascended +the hill together, Lucy leaning on my arm. On its summit was the +chaise, into which the Doctor and Marble were persuaded to enter, Lucy +preferring to walk. The negress was to proceed in the vehicle that had +been sent for the luggage, and Lucy and I set out, arm and arm, to walk +rather more than a mile in company, and that too without the presence of +a third person. Such an occurrence, under any other circumstances +than those in which we were both placed, would have made me one of the +happiest men on earth; but, in the actual situation in which I found +myself, it rendered me silent and uncomfortable. Not so with Lucy; ever +natural, and keeping truth incessantly before her eyes, the dear girl +took my arm without the least embarrassment, and showed no sign of +impatience, or of doubt. She was sad, but full of a gentle confidence in +her own sincerity and motives. + +“This is dear Clawbonny, again!” she exclaimed, after we had walked in +silence a short distance. “How beautiful are the fields, how fresh the +woods, how sweet the flowers! Oh! Miles, a day in such a spot as this, +is worth a year in town!” + +“Why, then, do you, who have now so much at your command, pass more than +half your time between the heated bricks of Wall Street, when you know +how happy we should all be to see you, here, among us, again?” + +“I have not been certain of this; that has been the sole reason, of my +absence. Had I known I should be welcome, nothing would have induced me +to suffer Grace to pass the last six sad, sad, months by herself.” + +“Known that you should be welcome! Surely you have not supposed, Lucy, +that _I_ can ever regard you as anything but welcome, here?” + +“I had no allusion to _you_--thought not of you, Miles, at +all”--answered Lucy, with the quiet manner of one who felt she +was thinking, acting, and speaking no more than what was perfectly +right--“My mind was dwelling altogether on Grace.” + +“Is it possible you could doubt of Grace's willingness to see you, at +all times and in all places, Lucy!” + +“I have doubted it--have thought I was acting prudently and well, in +staying away, just at this time, though I now begin to fear the decision +has been hasty and unwise.” + +“May I ask _why_ Lucy Hardinge has come to so singular and violent an +opinion, as connected with her bosom friend, and almost sister, Grace +Wallingford?” + +“That _almost sister_! Oh! Miles, what is there I possess which I would +not give, that there might be perfect confidence, again, between you +and me, on this subject; such confidence as existed when we were boy and +girl-children, I might say.” + +“And what prevents it? Certain I am the alienation does not, cannot come +from me. You have only to speak, Lucy, to have an attentive listener; +to ask, to receive the truest answers. What can, then, prevent the +confidence you wish?” + +“There is _one_ obstacle--surely, Miles, you can readily imagine what I +mean?” + +'Can it be possible Lucy is alluding to Andrew Drewett!'--I thought to +myself. 'Has she discovered my attachment, and does she, will she, can +she regret her own engagement?' A lover who thought thus, would not be +apt to leave the question long in doubt. + +“Deal plainly with me, I implore of you, Lucy,” I said solemnly. “One +word uttered with your old sincerity and frankness may close a chasm +that has now been widening between us for the last year or two. What is +the obstacle you mean?” + +“I have seen and felt the alienation to which you allude quite as +sensibly as you can have done so yourself, Miles,” the dear girl +answered in her natural, simple manner, “and I will trust all to your +generosity. Need I say more, to explain what I mean, than mention the +name of Rupert?” + +“What of him, Lucy!--be explicit; vague allusions may be worse than +nothing.” + + +Lucy's little hand was on my arm, and she had drawn its glove on account +of the heat. I felt it press me, almost convulsively, as she added--“I +do, I _must_ think you have too much affection and gratitude for my dear +father, too much regard for me, ever to forget that you and Rupert once +lived together as brothers?” + +“Grace has my promise already, on that subject. I shall never take the +world's course with Rupert, in this affair.” + +I heard Lucy's involuntary sob, as if she gasped for breath; and, +turning, I saw her sweet eyes bent on my face with an expression of +thankfulness that could not be mistaken. + +“I would have given the same pledge to you, Lucy, and purely on your +own account. It would be too much to cause you to mourn for your +brother's--” + +I did not name the offence, lest my feelings should tempt me to use too +strong a term. + +“This is all I ask--all I desire, Miles; bless you--bless you! for +having so freely given me this assurance. Now my heart is relieved from +this burthen, I am ready to speak frankly to you; still, had I seen +Grace--” + +“Have no scruples on account of your regard for womanly feeling--I know +everything, and shall not attempt to conceal from you, that disappointed +love for Rupert has brought my sister to the state she is in. This might +not have happened, had either of us been with her; but, buried as she +has been alone in this place, her wounded sensibilities have proved too +strong for a frame that is so delicate.” + +There was a pause of a minute, after I ended. + +“I have long feared that some such calamity would befall us,” Lucy +answered, in a low, measured tone. “I think you do not understand Grace +as well as I do, Miles. Her mind and feelings have a stronger influence +than common over her body; and I fear no society of ours, or of others, +could have saved her this trial. Still, we must not despair, It is +a trial--that is just the word; and by means of tenderness, the most +sedulous care, good advice, and all that we two can do to aid, there +must yet be hope. Now there is a skilful physician here, he must be +dealt fairly by, and should know the whole.” + +“I intended to consult you on this subject--one has such a reluctance to +expose Grace's most sacred feelings!” + +“Surely it need not go quite as far as that,” returned Lucy, with +sensitive quickness, “something--_much_--must be left to conjecture; but +Dr. Post must know that the mind is at the bottom of the evil; though +I fear that young ladies can seldom admit the existence of such a +complaint, without having it attributed to a weakness of this nature.” + +“That proceeds from the certainty that your sex has so much heart, Lucy; +your very existence being bound up in others.” + +“Grace is one of peculiar strength of affections--but, Miles, we will +talk no further of this at present. I scarce know how to speak of my +brother's affairs, and you must give me time to reflect. Now we are at +Clawbonny again, we cannot long continue strangers to each other.” + +This was said so sweetly, I could have knelt and kissed her shoe-ties; +and yet so simply, as not to induce misinterpretation. It served to +change the discourse, however, and the remainder of the way we talked +of the past. Lucy spoke of her cousin's death, relating various little +incidents to show how much Mrs. Bradfort was attached to her, and how +good a woman she was; but not a syllable was said of the will. I was +required, in my turn, to finish the narrative of my last voyage, which +had not been completed at the theatre. When Lucy learned that the +rough seaman who had come in the sloop was Marble, she manifested great +interest in him, declaring, had she known it during the passage, that +she would have introduced herself. All this time, Rupert's name was not +mentioned between us; and I reached the house, feeling that something +like the interest I had formerly possessed there, had been awakened in +the bosom of my companion. She was, at least, firmly and confidingly my +friend. + +Chloe met Lucy at the door with a message--Miss Grace wanted to see +Miss Lucy, alone. I dreaded this interview, and looked forward to being +present at it; but Lucy begged me to confide in her, and I felt bound to +comply. While the dear girl was gone to my sister's room, I sought the +physician, with whom I had a brief but explicit conference. I told this +gentleman how much Grace had been alone, permitting sorrow to wear +upon her frame, and gave him to understand that the seat of my sister's +malady was mental suffering. Post was a cool, discriminating man, and +he ventured no remark until he had seen his patient; though I could +perceive, by the keen manner in which his piercing eye was fixed on +mine, that all I said was fully noted. + +It was more than an hour before Lucy reappeared. It was obvious at a +glance that she had been dreadfully agitated, and cruelly surprised at +the condition in which she had found Grace. It was not that disease, +in any of its known forms, was so very apparent; but that my sister +resembled already a being of another world, in the beaming of her +countenance--in the bright, unearthly expression of her eyes--and in the +slightness and delicacy of the hold she seemed, generally, to have on +life. Grace had always something of this about her--_much_, I might +better have said; but it now appeared to be left nearly alone, as her +thoughts and strength gradually receded from the means of existence. + +The physician returned with Lucy to my sister's room, where he passed +more than an hour; as long a time, indeed, he afterwards told me +himself, as he thought could be done without fatiguing his patient. +The advice he gave me was cautious and discreet. Certain tonics were +prescribed; we were told to endeavour to divert the mind of our precious +charge from her sources of uneasiness, by gentle means and prudent +expedients. Change of scene was advised also, could it be done without +producing too much fatigue. I suggested the Wallingford, as soon as this +project was mentioned. She was a small sloop, it is true, but had two +very comfortable cabins; my father having had one of them constructed +especially in reference to my mother's occasional visits to town. The +vessel did little, at that season of the year, besides transporting +flour to market, and bringing back wheat. In the autumn, she carried +wood, and the products of the neighbourhood. A holiday might be granted +her, and no harm come of it. Dr. Post approved the idea, saying frankly +there was no objection but the expense; if I could bear that, a better +plan could not possibly be adopted. + +That night we discussed the matter in the family circle, Mr. Hardinge +having come from the Rectory to join us. Everybody approved of the +scheme, it was so much better than leaving: Grace to pine away by +herself in the solitude of Clawbonny. + +“I have a patient at the Springs,” said Dr. Post, “who is very anxious +to see me; and, to own the truth, I am a little desirous of drinking the +waters myself, for a week. Carry me to Albany, and land me; after which +you can descend the river, and continue your voyage to as many places, +and for as long a time, as the strength of Miss Wallingford, and your +own inclinations, shall dictate.” + +This project seemed excellent in all our eyes; even Grace heard it with +a smile, placing herself entirely in our hands. It was decided to put it +in practice. + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + “And she sits and gazes at me, + With those deep and tender eyes,... + Like the stars, so still and saint-like, + Looking downward from the skies.” + --LONGFELLOW + + +The next morning I set about the measures necessary for carrying out our +plan. Marble was invited to be of the party, the arrangements concerning +the ship, allowing of his absence for a few days; Once engaged, he was +of infinite service, entering into the plan as my mate. The regular +skipper was glad to have a furlough; and I retained on board no one of +the proper crew but the river-pilot; a man who could not be dispensed +with; By this arrangement, we cleared the cabin from company that was +not desirable for the circumstances. Neb, and three of the Clawbonny +blacks, were delighted to go on such an excursion, and all were more +or less familiar with the little duty that would be required of them. +Indeed, Marble, Neb and myself, were every way able to take care of the +vessel. But we chose to have plenty of physical force; and a cook was +indispensable. Clawbonny supplied the latter, in the person of old Dido +of that ilk. + +By noon, the whole party were ready to embark. Grace was driven to the +wharf, and she walked on board the sloop, supported by Lucy and myself; +more, however, from solicitude than from absolute necessity. Every +precaution, however, was taken by order of the physician to prevent +anything like excitement; the blacks, in particular, who would have +followed “Miss Grace” to the water's edge, being ordered to remain at +home. Chloe, to her manifest satisfaction, was permitted to accompany +her “young mistress,” and great was her delight. How often that day, +did the exclamation of “de feller,” escape her, as she witnessed Neb's +exploits in different parts of the sloop. It was some little time before +I could account for the black's superfluous activity, imputing it to +zeal in my sister's service; but, in the end, I discovered Grace had to +share the glory with Chloe. + +No sooner was everybody on board than we cast off. The jib was soon +up; and under this short sail, we moved slowly out of the creek, with a +pleasant southerly breeze. As we passed the point, there stood the +whole household arrayed in a line, from the tottering grey-headed +and muddy-looking negro of seventy, down to the glistening, jet-black +toddling things of two and three. The distance was so small, it was +easy to trace even the expressions of the different countenances, which +varied according to the experience, forebodings, and characters of +the different individuals. Notwithstanding the sort of reverential +attachment all felt for “Miss Grace,” and the uncertainty some among +these unsophisticated creatures must have experienced on the subject +of her health, it was not in nature for such a cluster of “niggers” + to exhibit unhappiness, at a moment when there were so many grounds of +excitement. The people of this race know nothing of the _word,_ perhaps; +but they delight in the _thing_, quite as much as if they did nothing +but electioneer all their lives. Most pliant instruments would their +untutored feelings make in the hands of your demagogue; and, possibly, +it may have some little influence on the white American to understand, +how strong is his resemblance to the “nigger,” when he gives himself up +to the mastery of this much approved mental power. The day was glorious; +a brighter sun never shining in Italy, or on the Grecian islands; the +air balmy; the vessel was gay to the eye, having been painted about +a month before, and every one seemed bent on a holiday; circumstances +sufficient in themselves, to make this light-hearted race smiling and +happy. As the sloop went slowly past, the whole line doffed their hats, +or curtsied, showing at the same time a row of ivory that shone like +so many gay windows in their sable faces. I could see that Grace was +touched by this manifestation of interest; such a field-day in the +Clawbonny corps not having occurred since the first time my mother went +to town, after the death of my father. Fortunately, everything else was +soothing to my sister's spirits; and, so long as she could sit on the +deck, holding Lucy's hand, and enjoy the changing landscape, with +her brother within call, it was not possible she should be altogether +without happiness. + +Rounding the point, as we entered the river, the Wallingford eased-off +sheet, set a studding-sail and flying-top-sail, and began to breast the +Hudson, on her way towards its sources. + +In 1803, the celebrated river we were navigating, though it had all the +natural features it possesses to-day, was by no means the same picture +of moving life. The steam-boat did not appear on its surface until four +years later; and the journeys up and down its waters, were frequently a +week in length. In that day, the passenger did not hurry on board, just +as a bell was disturbing the neighbourhood, hustling his way through a +rude throng of porters, cart-men, orange-women, and news-boys, to save +his distance by just a minute and a half, but his luggage was often sent +to the vessel the day before; he passed his morning in saying adieu, +and when he repaired to the vessel, it was with gentleman-like leisure, +often to pass hours on board previously to sailing, and not unfrequently +to hear the unwelcome tidings that this event was deferred until the +next day. How different, too, was the passage, from one in a steam-boat! +There was no jostling of each other, no scrambling for places at table, +no bolting of food, no impertinence manifested, no swearing about +missing the eastern or southern boats, or Schenectady, or Saratoga, +or Boston trains, on account of a screw being loose, nor--any other +unseemly manifestation that anybody was in a hurry. On the contrary, +wine and fruit were provided, as if the travellers intended to enjoy +themselves; and a journey in that day was a _festa_. No more embarked +than could be accommodated; and the company being selected, the cabin +was taken to the exclusion of all unwelcome intruders. Now, the man who +should order a bottle of wine to be placed at the side of his plate, +would be stared at as a fool; and not without reason altogether, for, +did it escape the claws of his _convives_ and the waiters, he would +probably reach the end of his journey before he could drink it. In +1803, not only did the dinner pass in peace, and with gentleman-like +deliberation; not only were the cooler and the fruit taken on deck, +and the one sipped and the other eaten at leisure, in the course of an +afternoon, but in the course of many afternoons. Passages were certainly +made in twenty-four hours in the sloops; but these were the exceptions, +a week being much more likely to be the time passed in the enjoyment of +the beautiful scenery of the river. The vessel usually got aground, once +at least, and frequently several times in a trip; and often a day, or +two, were thus delightfully lost, giving the stranger an opportunity +of visiting the surrounding country. The necessity of anchoring, with a +foul wind, on every opposing tide, too, increased these occasions, thus +lending to the excursion something of the character of an exploring +expedition. No--no--a man would learn more in one passage, up or down +the Hudson, forty years since, than can be obtained by a dozen at the +present time. I have a true seaman's dislike for a steam-boat, and +sometimes wish they were struck out of existence; though I know it is +contrary to all the principles of political economy, and opposed to what +is called the march of improvement. Of one thing, however, I feel quite +certain; that these inventions, coupled with the gregarious manner +of living that has sprung up in the large taverns, is, as one of our +writers expresses it, “doing _wonders_ for the manners of the people;” + though, in my view of the matter, the wonder is, that they have any +left. + +There might have been thirty sail in sight, when the Wallingford got +fairly into the river, some turning down on a young ebb, making their +fifteen or twenty miles in six hours, and others like ourselves, +stealing along against it, at about the same rate. Half a dozen of these +craft were quite near us, and the decks of most of those which were +steering north, had parties including ladies, evidently proceeding to +the “Springs.” I desired Marble to sheer as close to these different +vessels as was convenient, having no other object in view than +amusement, and fancying it might aid in diverting the thoughts of my +sister from her own sorrows, to the faces and concerns of others. The +reader will have no difficulty in understanding, that the Wallingford, +constructed under the orders of an old sailor, and for his own uses, was +a fast vessel. In this particular she had but one or two competitors on +the river; packets belonging to Hudson, Poughkeepsie and Sing-Sing. She +was now only in fair ballast-trim, and being admirably provided +with sails, in the light wind we had, she actually went four feet to +most-of-the-other-vessels-in-sight's three. My request to Marble--or, +order, as he chose to call it--was easily enough complied with, and we +were soon coming up close on the quarter of a sloop that had its decks +crowded with passengers who evidently belonged to the better class; +while, on its forecastle were several horses, and a carriage; customary +accompaniments to such a scene in that day. + +I had not been so happy in a long time, as I felt at that moment. Grace +was better, as I fancied at least, and it was certain she was more +composed and less nervous than I had seen her since my return; and this +of itself was removing the weight of a mountain from my heart. There was +Lucy, too, her rounded cheek rosy with the pleasure of the moment, full +of health, and with eyes that never turned on me that they did not +beam with confidence and kindness--the sincerest friendship, if not +love--while every look, movement, syllable or gesture that was directed +towards Grace, betrayed how strongly the hearts of these two precious +creatures were still knit together in sisterly affection. My guardian +too seemed happier than he had been since our conversation on the state +of my own feelings towards his daughter. He had made a condition, that +we should all--the doctor excepted--return to Clawbonny in time for +service on the ensuing Sunday, and he was then actually engaged in +looking over an old sermon for the occasion, though not a minute passed +in which he did not drop the manuscript to gaze about him, in deep +enjoyment of the landscape. The scene, moreover, was so full of repose, +that even the movements of the different vessels scarce changed its +Sabbath-like character. I repeat, that I had not felt so perfectly happy +since I held my last conversation with the Salem Witches, in The Duomo +of Firenze. + +Marble was excessively delighted with the behaviour of the Wallingford. +The latter was a sloop somewhat smaller than common, though her +accommodations were particularly commodious, while she was sparred on +the scale of a flyer. Her greatest advantage in the way of sailing, +however, would have been no great recommendation to her on a wind; for +she was nearly start light, and might not have been able to carry full +sail in hard November weather, even on the Hudson--a river on which +serious accidents have been known to occur. There was little danger in +mid-summer, however; and we went gliding up on the quarter of the Gull +of Troy, without feeling concern of any sort. + +“What sloop is that?” demanded the skipper of the Gull, as our boom-end +came within a fathom of his rail, our name being out of his view. + +“The Wallingford of Clawbonny, just out of port, bound up on a party of +pleasure.” + +Now, Clawbonny was not then, nor is it now, what might be called a legal +term. There was no such place known in law, beyond the right which usage +gives; and I heard a low laugh among the passengers of the Gull, as they +heard the homely appellation. This came from the equivocal position my +family occupied, midway between the gentry and yeomanry of the State, +as they both existed in 1803. Had I said the sloop came from near +Coldenham, it would have been all right; for everybody who was then +anybody in New York, knew who the Coldens were; or Morrisania, the +Morrises being people of mark; or twenty other places on the river: but +the Wallingfords were as little known as Clawbonny, when you got fifteen +or twenty miles from the spot where they had so long lived. This is just +the difference between obscurity and notoriety. When the latter extends +to an entire nation, it gives an individual, or a family, the note that +frees them entirely from the imputation of existing under the first +condition; and this note, favourably diffused through Christendom, forms +a reputation--transmitted to posterity, it becomes fame. Unfortunately, +neither we nor our place had even reached the first simple step in +this scale of renown; and poor Clawbonny was laughed at, on account of +something Dutch that was probably supposed to exist in the sound--the +Anglo-Saxon race having a singular aptitude to turn up their nose's at +everything but their own possessions, and everybody but themselves. I +looked at Lucy, with sensitive quickness, to see how she received this +sneer on my birth-place; but, with her, it was so much a matter of +course to think well of everything connected with the spot, its name as +well as its more essential things, that I do not believe she perceived +this little sign of derision. + +While the passengers of the Gull felt this disposition to smile, it +was very different with her skipper; his Dutch pilot, whose name was +Abrahamus Van Valtenberg, but who was more familiarly known as 'Brom +Folleck, for so the children of New Netherlands twisted their cognomens +in converting them into English;{*] the black cook, the mulatto +steward, and the “all hands,” who were one man and a boy. There had been +generations of sloops which bore the name of Watlingford, as Well as +generations of men, at Clawbonny; and this every river-man knew. In +point of fact, we counted four generations of men, and six of sloops. +Now, none of these vessels was worthy of being mentioned, but this which +my father had caused to be built; but she had a reputation that extended +to everybody on the river. The effect of all this was to induce the +skipper of the Gull to raise his hat, and to say-- + +“That, then, I suppose is Mr. Wallingford himself--you are welcome back +on the river; I remember the time well, when your respected father would +make that boat do anything but talk. Nothing but the new paint, which +is different from the last, prevented me from knowing the sloop. Had I +taken a look at her bows, this couldn't have happened.” + +{Footnote *: A story is told of a Scotchman of the name of +Farquharson,--who settled among the High Dutch on the Mohawk, sometime +previously to the Revolution; where, unable to pronounce his name, the +worthy formers called him Feuerstein (pronounced Firestyne). The son +lived and died under this appellation; but the grandson, removing to a +part of the country where English alone was spoken, chose to anglisise +his name; and, by giving it a free translation, became Mr. Flint!] + +This speech evidently gave me and my vessel an estimation with the +passengers of the Gull that neither had enjoyed the moment before. There +was some private conversation on the quarter-deck of the other vessel, +and, then, a highly respectable and gentleman-like looking old man, came +to the rail, bowed, and commenced a discourse. + +“I have the pleasure of seeing Captain Wallingford, I believe,” he +remarked, “with whom my friends, the Mertons, came passengers from +China. They have often expressed their sense of your civilities,” he +continued, as I bowed in acquiescence, “and declare they should ever +wish to sail with you, were they again compelled to go to sea.” + +Now, this was viewing my relation to the Mertons in any point of view +but that in which I wished it to be viewed, or indeed was just. Still +it was natural; and the gentleman who spoke, a man of standing and +character, no doubt fancied he was, saying that which must prove +particularly acceptable to me; another proof how dangerous it is to +attempt to decide on other men's feelings or affairs. I could not +decline the discourse; and, while the Wallingford went slowly past +the Gull, I was compelled to endure the torment of hearing the Mertons +mentioned, again and again, in the hearing of Lucy and Grace; on the +nerves of the latter of whom I knew it must be a severe trial. At length +we got rid of this troublesome neighbour, though not until Lucy and her +father were recognised and spoken to by several of the ladies in the +other party. While my late guardian and his daughter were thus engaged, +I stole a glance at my sister. She was pale as death, and seemed anxious +to go below, whither I led her, most happily, I have every reason to +think, as things turned out. + +When the Wallingford had left the Gull some little distance astern, +I returned to the deck, and Lucy went to take my place by the side of +Grace's berth. She reappeared, however; in a very few minutes, saying +that my sister felt an inclination to rest herself, and might fall +asleep. Feeble, almost, as an infant, these frequent slumbers had become +necessary, in a measure, to the patient's powers. Chloe coming up soon +after with a report that her young mistress seemed to be in a doze, we +all remained on deck, in order not to disturb her. In this manner, half +an hour passed, and we had drawn quite near to another sloop that was +going in the same direction with ourselves. At this moment, Mr. Hardinge +was deeply immersed in his sermon, and I perceived that Lucy looked at +him, from time to time, as if she expected to catch his eye. I fancied +something distressed her, and yet it was not easy to imagine exactly +what it could be. + +“Do you not intend to go nearer the other sloop?” Lucy at length +inquired, alluding to the vessel that was almost in a line with us; but +to which I had ordered Neb to give a respectable berth. + +“I thought the gossip of the last quite sufficient; but, if you like +these interviews, certainly.” + +Lucy seemed embarrassed; she coloured to her temples, paused a moment, +and then added, affecting to laugh--and it was so seldom Lucy affected +anything, but this time she _did_ affect to laugh--as she said-- + +“I _do_ wish to go near that sloop; though it is not exactly for the +reason you suppose.” + +I could see she was distressed, though it was not yet easy to imagine +the cause. Lucy's requests were laws to me, and Neb was ordered to sheer +down on the quarter of this second sloop, as we had done on that of +the first. As we drew near, her stern told us that she was called the +“Orpheus of Sing-Sing,” a combination of names that proved some wag had +been connected with the christening. Her decks had also a party of both +sexes on them, though neither carriage nor horses. All this time, +Lucy stood quite near me, as if reluctant to move, and when we were +sufficiently near the sloop, she pressed still nearer to my side, in the +way in which her sex are apt to appeal to those of the other who possess +their confidence, when most feeling the necessity of support. + +“Now, Miles,” she said, in an under tone, “_you_ must 'speak that +sloop,' as you call it; I can never hold a loud conversation of this +sort, in the presence of so many strangers.” + +“Very willingly, Lucy; though you will have the goodness to let me know +exactly what I am to say.” + + +“Certainly--begin then, in your sailor fashion, and when that is done, I +will tell you what to add.” + +“Enough--Orpheus, there?” I called out, just raising my voice +sufficiently to be heard. + +“Ay, ay,--what's wanted?” answered the skipper, taking a pipe from his +mouth, as he leaned with his back against his own tiller, in a way that +was just in accordance with the sleepy character of the scene. + +I looked at Lucy, as much as to say, “what next?” + +“Ask him if Mrs. Drewett is on board his sloop--_Mrs._ Andrew Drewett, +not _Mr._--The old lady, I mean,” added the dear girl, blushing to the +eyes. + +I was so confounded--I might almost add appalled, that it was with great +difficulty I suppressed an exclamation. Command myself, I did, however, +and observing that the skipper was curiously awaiting my next question, +I put it. + +“Is _Mrs_. Andrew Drewett among your passengers, sir?” I inquired with a +cold distinctness. + +My neighbour nodded his head, and spoke to some of his passengers, most +of whom were on the main-deck, seated on chairs, and concealed from us, +as yet, by the Wallingford's main-sail, her boom being guyed out on the +side next the Orpheus, with its end just clear of her quarter. + +“She is, and wishes to know who makes the inquiry?” returned the +Sing-Sing skipper, in the singsong manner in which ordinary folk repeat +what is dictated. + +“Say that Miss Hardinge has a message to Mrs. Drewett from Mrs. Ogilvie, +who is on board that other sloop,” added Lucy, in a low, and, as I +thought, tremulous tone. + +I was nearly choked; but made out to communicate the fact, as directed. +In an instant I heard the foot of one who leaped on the Orpheus's +quarter-deck, and then Andrew Drewett appeared, hat in hand, a face +all smiles, eyes that told his tale as plain as any tongue could have +uttered it, and such salutations as denoted the most perfect intimacy. +Lucy took my arm involuntarily, and I could feel that she trembled. The +two vessels were now so near, and everything around us was so tranquil, +that by Lucy's advancing to the Wallingford's quarter-deck, and +Drewett's coming to the taffrail of the Orpheus, it was easy to converse +without any unseemly raising of the voice. All that had been said +between me and the skipper, indeed, had been said on a key but little +higher than common. By the change in Lucy's position, I could no longer +see her face; but I knew it was suffused, and that she was far from +being as composed and collected as was usual with her demeanour. All +this was death to my recent happiness, though I could not abstain from +watching what now passed, with the vigilance of jealousy. + +“Good-morning,” Lucy commenced, and the words were uttered in a tone +that I thought bespoke great familiarity, if not confidence; “will you +have the goodness to tell your mother that Mrs. Ogilvie begs she will +not leave Albany until after her arrival. The other sloop, Mrs. Ogilvie +thinks, cannot be more than an hour or two after you, and she is very +desirous of making a common party to--ah! there comes Mrs. Drewett,” + said Lucy, hastily interrupting herself, “and I can deliver my message, +myself.” + +Mrs. Drewett coming aft at this instant, Lucy certainly did turn to +her, and communicated a message, which it seems the lady in the Gull had +earnestly requested her to deliver in passing. + +“And now,” returned Mrs. Drewett, when Lucy had ceased, first civilly +saluting me, “and now, my dear Lucy, we have something for you. So +sudden was your departure, on the receipt of that naughty letter,” + my letter, summoning the dear girl to the bed-side of her friend, +was meant, “that you left your work-box behind you, and, as I knew it +contained many notes besides bank-notes, I would not allow it to be +separated from me, until we met. Here it is; in what manner shall we +contrive to get it into your hands?” + +Lucy started, and I could see that she both felt and looked anxious. +As I afterwards learned, she had been passing a day at Mrs. Drewett's +villa, which joined her own, both standing on the rocks quite near to +that spot which a mawkish set among us is trying to twist from plain +homely, up-and-down, old fashioned Hell Gate, into the exquisite and +lackadaisical corruption of _Hurl_ Gate--Heaven save the mark! What puny +piece of folly and affectation will they attempt next?--but Lucy was +paying this visit when she received my letter, and it appears such +was her haste to get to Grace, that she quitted the house immediately, +leaving behind her a small work-box, _unlocked_, and in it various +papers that she did not wish read. Of course, one of Lucy's sentiments +and tone, could hardly suspect a lady, and Mrs. Drewett was strictly +that, of rummaging her box or of reading her notes and letters; but +one is never easy when such things can be supposed to be in the way of +impertinent eyes. There are maids as well as mistresses, and I +could see, in a moment, that she wished the box was again in her own +possession. Under the circumstances, therefore, I felt it was time to +interfere. + +“If your sloop will round-to, Mr. Drewett,” I remarked, receiving a cold +salutation from the gentleman, in return for my own bow, the first sign +of recognition that had passed between us, “I will round-to, myself, and +send a boat for the box.” + +This proposal drew all eyes towards the skipper, who was still leaning +against his tiller, smoking for life or death. I was not favourably +received, extorting a grunt in reply, that any one could understand +denoted dissent. The pipe was slowly removed, and the private opinion of +this personage was pretty openly expressed, in his Dutchified dialect. + +“If a body coult get a wint for der askin', dis might do very well,” he +said; “but nobody rounts-to mit a fair wind.” + +I have always remarked that they who have used a dialect different +from the common forms of speech in their youth, and come afterwards to +correct it, by intercourse with the world, usually fall back into their +early infirmities in moments of trial, perplexity, or anger. This is +easily explained. Habit has become a sort of nature, in their childhood, +and it is when most tried that we are the most natural. Then, this +skipper, an Albany--or Al_bon_ny man, as he would probably have styled +himself, had got down the river as far as Sing-Sing, and had acquired +a tolerable English; but, being now disturbed, he fell back upon his +original mode of speaking, the certain proof that he would never give +in. I saw at once the hopelessness of attempting to persuade one of his +school, and had begun to devise some other scheme for getting the box on +board, when to my surprise, and not a little to my concern, I saw Andrew +Drewett, first taking the box from his mother, step upon the end of our +main-boom, and move along the spar with the evident intention to walk +as far as our deck and deliver Lucy her property with his own hands. +The whole thing occurred so suddenly, that there was no time for +remonstrance. Young gentlemen who are thoroughly in love, are not often +discreet in matters connected with their devotion to their mistresses. +I presume Drewett saw the boom placed so favourably as to tempt him, and +he fancied it would be a thing to mention to carry a lady her work-box +across a bridge that was of so precarious a footing. Had the spar lain +on the ground, it would certainly have been no exploit at all to for any +young man to walk its length, carrying his arms full of work-boxes; but +it was a very different matter when the same feat had to be performed +on a sloop's boom in its place, suspended over the water, with the +sail set, and the vessel in motion. This Drewett soon discovered, for, +advancing a step or two, he grasped the topping-lift, which luckily for +him happened to be taut, for a support. All this occurred before there +was time for remonstrance, or even for thought. At the same instant Neb, +in obedience to a sign previously given by me, had put the helm down a +little, and the boom-end was already twenty feet from the quarter-deck +of the Orpheus. + +Of course, all the women screamed, or exclaimed, on some key or other. +Poor Mrs. Drewett hid her face, and began to moan her son as lost. I did +not dare look at Lucy, who remained quiet as to voice, after the first +involuntary exclamation, and as immovable as a statue. Luckily her face +was from me. As Drewett was evidently discomposed, I thought it best, +however, to devise something not only for his relief, but for that +of Lucy's box, which was in quite as much jeopardy as the young man, +himself; more so, indeed, if the latter could swim. I was on the point +of calling out to Drewett to hold on, and I would cause the boom-end +to reach over the Orpheus's main-deck, after which he might easily drop +down among his friends, when Neb, finding some one to take the helm, +suddenly stood at my side. + +“He drop dat box, sartain, Masser Mile,” half-whispered the negro; “he +leg begin to shake already, and he won'erful skear'd!” + +“I would not have that happen for a good deal--can you save it, Neb?” + +“Sartain, sir. Only hab to run out on 'e boom and bring it in, and gib +it Miss Lucy; she mighty partic'lar about dat werry box, Masser Mile, as +I see a hundrer time, and more too.” + +“Well, lay out, boy, and bring it in,--and look to your footing, Neb.” + + +This was all Neb wanted. The fellow had feet shaped a good deal like +any other aquatic bird, with the essential difference, however, that no +small part of his foundation had been laid abaft the perpendicular of +the tendon Achilles, and, being without shoes, he could nearly encircle +a small spar in his grasp. Often and often had I seen Neb run out on a +top-sail-yard, the ship pitching heavily, catching at the lift; and +it was a mere trifle after that, to run out on a spar as large as the +Wallingford's main-boom. A tolerably distinctive scream from Chloe, +first apprised me that the negro was in motion. Looking in that +direction, I saw him walking steadily along the boom, notwithstanding +Drewett's loud remonstrances, and declarations that he wanted no +assistance, until he reached the spot where the young gentleman stood +grasping the lift, with his legs submitting to more tremour than was +convenient. Neb now grinned, looked as amiable as possible, held out his +hand, and revealed the object of his visit. + +“Masser Mile t'ink 'e gentleum better gib _me_ Miss Lucy box”--said Neb, +as politely as he knew how. + +I believe in my soul that Drewett could have kissed Neb, so glad was he +to obtain this little relief. The box was yielded without the slightest +objection, Neb receiving it with a bow; after which the negro turned +round as coolly as if he were on the deck, and walked deliberately and +steadily in to the mast. He stopped an instant just at the small of the +spar, to look back at Drewett, who was saying something to pacify his +mother; and I observed that, as he stood with his heels in a line, the +toes nearly met underneath the boom, which his feet grasped something in +the manner of talons. A deep sigh reached my ear, as Neb bounded lightly +on deck, and I knew whence it came by the exclamation of-- + +“De _fel_-ler!” + +As for Neb, he advanced with his prize, which he offered to Lucy with +one of his best bows, but in a way to show he was not conscious of +having performed any unusual exploit. Lucy handed the box to Chloe, +without averting her eyes from Drewett, in whose situation she +manifested a good deal more concern than I liked, or fancied he +deserved. + +“Thank you, Mr. Drewett,” she said, affecting to think the box had been +recovered altogether by his address; “it is now safe, and there is no +longer any necessity for your coming here. Let Mr. Wallingford do what +he says”--I had mentioned in a low voice, the practicability of my own +scheme--“and return to your own sloop.” + +But, two things now interposed to the execution of this very simple +expedient. The first was Drewett's pride, blended with a little +obstinacy, and the other was the “Al_bon_ny” skipper's pride, blended +with a good deal of obstinacy. The first did not like to retreat, after +Neb had so clearly demonstrated it was no great matter to walk on the +boom; and the latter, soured by the manner in which we had outsailed +him, and fancying Andrew had deserted to get on board a faster vessel, +resented the whole by sheering away from us to the distance of a hundred +yards. I saw that there remained but a single expedient, and set about +adopting it without further delay. + +“Take good hold of the lift, Mr. Drewett, and steady yourself with both +hands; ease away the peak halyards to tauten that lift a little more, +forward. Now, one of you stand by to ease off the guy handsomely, and +the rest come aft to the main-sheet. Look out for yourself, Mr. Drewett; +we are about to haul in the boom, when it will be a small matter to get +you in, upon the taffrail. Stand by to luff handsomely, so as to keep +the boom as steady as possible.” + +But Drewett clamorously protested against our doing anything of the +sort. He was getting used to his situation, and intended to come in +Neb-fashion, in a minute more. All he asked was not to be hurried. + +“No--no--no--touch nothing I entreat of you, _Captain_ Wallingford”--he +said, earnestly. “If that black can do it, surely I ought to do it, +too.” + +“But the black has claws, and you have none, sir; then he is a sailor, +and used to such things, and you are none, sir. Moreover, he was +barefooted, while you have got on stiff, and I dare say slippery boots.” + +“Yes, the boots _are_ an encumbrance. If I could only throw them off, I +should do well enough. As it is, however, I hope to have the honour of +shaking you by the hand, Miss Hardinge, without the disgrace of being +helped.” + +Mr. Hardinge here expostulated, but all in vain; for I saw plainly +enough Drewett was highly excited, and that he was preparing for a +start. These signs were now so apparent that all of us united our voices +in remonstrances; and Lucy said imploringly to me--“_Do_ not let him +move, Miles--I have heard him say he cannot swim.” + +It was too late. Pride, mortified vanity, obstinacy, love, or what you +will, rendered the young man deaf, and away he went, abandoning the +lift, his sole protection. I saw, the moment he quitted his grasp, that +he would never reach the mast, and made my arrangements accordingly. I +called to Marble to stand by to luff; and, just as the words passed my +lips, a souse into the water told the whole story. The first glance at +poor Drewett's frantic manner of struggling told me that Lucy was really +aware of his habits, and that he could not swim. I was in light duck, +jacket and trowsers, with seaman's pumps; and placing a foot on the +rail, I alighted alongside of the drowning young man, just as he went +under. Well assured he would reappear, I waited for that, and presently +I got a view of his hair, within reach of my arm, and I grasped it, in +a way to turn him on his back, and bring his face uppermost. At this +moment the sloop was gliding away from us, Marble having instantly put +the helm hard down, in order to round-to. As I afterwards learned, the +state of the case was no sooner understood in the other sloop, than the +Al_bon_-ny men gave in, and imitated the Wallingford. + +There was no time for reflection. As soon as Drewett's hair was in my +grasp, I raised his head from the water, by an effort that forced me +under it, to let him catch his breath; and then relaxed the power by +which it had been done, to come up myself. I had done this to give him a +moment to recover his recollection, in the hope he would act reasonably; +and I now desired him to lay his two hands on my shoulders, permit his +body to sink as low as possible and breathe, and trust the rest to +me. If the person in danger can be made to do this, an ordinarily +good swimmer could tow him a mile, without any unusual effort. But the +breathing spell afforded to Drewett had the effect just to give him +strength to struggle madly for existence, without aiding his reason. On +the land, he would have been nothing in my hands; but, in the water, the +merest boy may become formidable. God forgive me, if I do him injustice! +but I have sometimes thought, since, that Drewett was perfectly +conscious who I was, and that he gave some vent to his jealous distrust +of Lucy's feelings towards me. This may be all imagination; but I +certainly heard the words “Lucy” “Wallingford,” “Clawbonny,” “hateful,” + muttered by the man, even as he struggled there for life. The advantage +given him, by turning to allow him to put his hands on my shoulders, +liked to have cost me dear. Instead of doing as I directed, he grasped +my neck with both arms, and seemed to wish to mount on my head, forcing +his own shoulders quite out of water, and mine, by that much weight, +beneath it. It was while we were thus placed, his mouth within an inch +or two of my very ear, that I heard the words muttered which have been +mentioned. It is possible, however, that he was unconscious of that +which terror and despair extorted from him. + +I saw no time was to be lost, and my efforts became desperate. I first +endeavoured to swim with this great encumbrance; but it was useless. +The strength of Hercules could not long have buoyed up the under body +of such a load, sufficiently to raise the nostrils for breath; and the +convulsive twitches of Drewett's arms were near strangling me. I must +throw him off, or drown. Abandoning the attempt to swim, I seized his +hands with mine, and endeavoured to loosen his grasp of my neck. Of +course we both sank while I was thus engaged; for it was impossible to +keep my head above water, by means of my feet alone, with a man of some +size riding, from his shoulders up, above the level of my chin. + +I can scarcely describe what followed. I confess I thought ho longer of +saving Drewett's life, but only of saving my own. We struggled there in +the water like the fiercest enemies, each aiming for the mastery, as, if +one were to live, the other must die. We sank, and rose to the surface +for air, solely by my efforts, no less than three times; Drewett getting +the largest benefits by the latter, thus renewing his strength; while +mine, great as it was by nature, began gradually to fail. A struggle so +terrific could not last long. We sank a fourth time, and I felt it was +not to rise again, when relief came from an unexpected quarter. From +boyhood, my father had taught me the important lesson of keeping my +eyes open under water. By means of this practice, I not only _felt_, but +_saw_ the nature of the tremendous struggle that was going on. It +also gave me a slight advantage over Drewett, who closed his eyes, by +enabling me to see how to direct my own exertions. While sinking, as I +believed, for the last time, I saw a large object approaching me in the +water, which, in the confusion of the moment, I took for a shark, though +sharks never ascended the Hudson so high, and were even rare at New +York. There it was, however, swimming towards us, and even descending +lower as if to pass beneath, in readiness for the fatal snap. Beneath it +did pass, and I felt it pressing upward, raising Drewett and myself to +the surface. As I got a glimpse of the light, and a delicious draught of +air, Drewett was drawn from my neck by Marble, whose encouraging voice +sounded like music in my ears. At the next instant my shark emerged, +puffing like a porpoise; and then I heard-- + +“Hole on, Masser Mile--here he nigger close by!” + +I was dragged into the boat, I scarce knew how, and lay down completely +exhausted; while my late companion seemed to me to be a lifeless corpse. +In a moment, Neb, dripping like a black river god, and glistening like a +wet bottle, placed himself in the bottom of the boat, took my head into +his lap, and began to squeeze the water from my hair, and to dry my face +with some one's handkerchief--I trust it was not his own. + +“Pull away, lads, for the sloop,” said Marble, as soon as everybody was +out of the river. “This gentleman seems to have put on the hatches for +the last time--as for Miles, _he_'ll never drown in fresh water.” + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Afloat And Ashore, by James Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AFLOAT AND ASHORE *** + +***** This file should be named 8647-0.txt or 8647-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/6/4/8647/ + +Produced by Project Gutenberg Online Distributed +Proofreaders Team (www.pgdp.net) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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