fk i "/A \A ^ BERKELEY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA S L b L: r ^ O)^ Ao STaleB of tjfje ®teatt, AND ESSAYS POR THE FORECASTLE: CONTAINING MATTERS AND INCIDENTS HUMOROUS, PATHETIC BOMANTIQ AND SENTIMENTAL ILLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVIN(1». ft ** And, he will tell Strange tales, good Sir, that, by my halidom, Will make you ope your ears, and marvel much — Or haply laugh an hour by Shrewsbury clock. " Ou> Plat. By hawser martingale BOSTON*: J. S. LOCKE & CO LOAN STACK (J^2: PEEP ACE.^'^'^ The matter contained in this work was written at intervals during the past few years. Many of the stories and essays were originally published in the Boston Mercantile Journal, and met with such favor from the public, from landsmen as well as from seamen, as to induce the author to revise them, and consent to their re-pubhcation. Some of these articles were intended to be merely amus- ing ; others were intended to impress on the mind of the reader the duties of a seaman, and a man on shore as well as on the ocean; and others again, were designed to inculcate principles of sound morality. Most of the narratives were founded on fact, and it is believed that they contain nothing which can be reasonably objected to on the score of propriety or virtue. It will be seen that the conversations on ship-board, which are frequently detailed m these pages, are free from all language, allusions, or phrases, bordering on indelicacy or profanity, and which are often put into the mouth of the sailor, to the great dis- gust, of course, of all readers whose minds are well disciplined. The author considered this necessary^, not only from respect to the moral sense of the community, but in justice to the sailor. That profanity is common, too common, among those who traverse the ocean, he reluctantly admits, but 658 IV '^nSFACIj. it is by no means universal, nor is it so disgust- ingly abundant as it would appear, judging from the productions of many of the popular writers of the day, who undertake to give a literal transcript of conversation among our hardy tars, and who seem to think a sailor " cannot ope His mouth, but out their comes an oath ; " and that profanity is required to give spirit, to give spice to the dialogues. Among the Tales which are here presented to the public, illustrative of life at sea, are interwoven chapters of a different character; essays, which, prompted by a sincere wish to promote the wel- fare of seamen, are designed to awaken in their bosoms a sense of their moral duties. In these essays, the author has endeavored to point out the shoals and quicksands, and rocks, both sunken and in sight, which lie in the fair- way channel of life, and has introduced some sailing directions, by which these dangers may be avoided. He has here undertaken to lay down some rules for their conduct, which, if they should be truly observed, will, he believes, tend to elevate in the scale of socifity this useful class of men, whose conduct and language have been so strangely misrepre- sented, and whose character is so little understood. The plan which is here adopted, of introducing moral essays of a grave and serious cast among tales and anecdotes, which, relating to spirit-stir- ring or humorous scenes and events, are intended to contribute chiefly to the amusement of the reader, may at first appear novel, and perhaps re- pugnant to good taste But there can be little PREFACE. V doubt that reflection will convince the reader of the propriety of the measure. In this arrangement, the author has acted according to the advice of Sir Thomas More, a distinguished philosopher, and a truly good man. He says, '• even some sick men ^ill take no medicine, unless some pleasant thing is put among their potations ; although, perhaps, it may be somewhat hurtful, yet the physicians suffer them to have it. So, because many will not hearken to serious and grave documents, except they be mingled with some fable or jest, therefore reason willeth us to do the hke." The writer of this volume is one who has passed a considerable portion of his life on the ocean, having for upwards of twenty years pursued the occupation of a mariner. He made his first voyage, as cabin-boy, at the age of fifteen, and has passed through every grade of a seafaring life iMany a happy day he has passed in the forecastle of a good merchant ship, commanded by good officers, and navigated by a crew of steady, active, and ambitious young men. Of course, he puts forth no claim to literary excellence, and is pre- pared to meet with rough handling from the critics, but he does claim to "know every rope in the ship," and to be particularly familiar with what- ever is ordinarily connected with a nautical life. And, if a perusal of the following tales and essays will charm away a single care, or smooth, only temporarily, the wrinkle on the anxious brow, oi cause a single noble-hearted Yankee mariner to reflect on his moral nature, and to resolve to abandon the evil habits into which he may have unconsciously fallen, their publication will not be in vain VI PREFACE. My little bark is now ready to set forth on her perilous voyage. Her sails are all spread, and the streamers are gayly flying aloft. Whether she will meet with prosperous breezes, and be wafted pleasantly along to the desired haven, or have to struggle with adverse gales, and perhaps eventually founder in the stormy seas, yet remains concealea in the womb of time. But a true sailor seldom indulges in despondency. If prudent, he will always be prepared for the worst, while, at the same time, he will confidently look forward to favorable breezes, sunny climes, and a prosperous voyage. J. S S. CHARACTER OF A SAIJ.OR. Os commencing a series of essays and sketches of nau- tical scenes and adventures, it may not be inipro})t.r to attempt to give a description of the character of a sailoi '« the Merchant service. A thorough-going sailor, that is, one who has been bred to the sea, and from his boyhood rocked on the ocean, whose features are case-hardened and bronzed by contin- ued exposure to the tropical sun, and the storms and tem- pests of a less genial climate — a genuine "old salt," — is a being with whose character the generality of landsmen are unacquainted. He is a species by himself — a creature in whom good and evil are so intimately blended, that it is exceedingly difficult to tell which predominates. Accord- ingly we find that by some persons, Jack is looked upon as a harmless, kind-hearted being, fond of his joke and his glass of grog, yet respected for his bravery, benevolence and sterling honesty. By others he is regarded as a sort of caricature of humanity, abandoned to the worst of hab- its, and a votary of vices which disgrace mankind : a [)oor, degraded* being, who should be avoided as if his presence contaminated the atmosphere. But if a sailor is regarded by the landsman as an object of pity or aversion. Jack is by no means backward in reciprocating the compliment — and a man who cannot work a Turk's head, make a dia- mond knot, haul out the weather earing when reefing toj)- gails^ or steer his trick when scudding in a gale of wir d, is often looked upon by the unsophisticated mariner us a Icnoxv-nc thing, who can elicit no other feeling than compus- sie nearly a quarter of a century ago. The ships of Great Britain, the boasted "wooden walls of Old En^and," were manned by impressed seamen, — by men who were taken by force from merchant ships on the wide ocean, or perhaps torn from the bosom of their families in the towns where they resided, tied neck and heels, treated with the most wanton abuse, conveyed on board vessels of war, and compelled to do their duty as seamen, and to fight gallantly the naval battles of Great Britain. The seamen who manned the national ships of Great Britain, during the last sanguinary wars of that government, were, at least three quarters of them, pressed men — and it I were to say nine tenths, I should probably come neSlrer the truth. These men were kidnapped, or attacked and overcome by superior force, and conveyed on board against their wills, and yet such is the virtue of discipline, that no seamen in the world conducted better when in presence of an enemy, than these outraged and persecuted men ; these slaves, subjected to abuse and punishments, far sur- passing in cruelty, the punishments inflicted on the legroes in the West Indies, by the most inhuman masters Nor was it the seamen of Great Britain only, who were liable to be impressed in this shameful manner — and hurried into captivity — into bondage of the worst description. A captain of a British ship of war, if short manned, conceiv- ed himself justified in seizing on seamen of any nation, wherever they could be found, on the land or on the ocean. No flag was a protection against the horrors of impress- Vicnt. Merchant ships sailing under their national banner a* ?> TALES OF THE OCEAN. « at j)eace witli Great Britain, were boarded oy British men of war, their officers treated with insult and contempt — ■ their vessels searched — and their most able men forcibly carried away to fight the battles of Great Britain ! Hence the crew of a British ship of war was generally composed of the most heterogenous materials — and conversed in a gicat variety of languages. About one half of the men were Enghsh, Irish and Scotch, the remainder were com- posed of seamen belonging principally to nations with which Great Britain was at peace — such as Swedes, Prussians, Dutch, Norwegians, Italians and Portuguese — with a sprink- ling of Danes, Spaniards and Frenchmen — and I blush while I write it, not a few Americans ! Yes ! it is a well known fact that a great number of free born Americans, while sailing in vessels engaged in lawful pursuits, and carrying at their peak the American flag, the beautiful emblem of liberty, were dragged from their ships at the command of ruffians in the guise of British officers — their cries for justice were unheeded — and their asser- tions of being American citizens were treated with ridicule and scorn. Their country could not protect them — and they were forced over the side, hurried on board ships of war — and compelled to serve the king of Great Britain, or oe flogged unmercifully at the gangway — a singular altern- ative for an American citizen ! Within a few years great improvement has been introdu- ced into the British navy, so far as relates to the treatment of seamen. They are now regarded as somewhat approx- inating towards human beings. But at the time to whicli /ve refer, seamen were treated in the most barbarous man- tier. They 'were punished with the utmost severity for the /nost trifling and venial offences — and the ordinary orders of the officers were enforced with oaths, menaces and blows. Indeed, an English ship of war more resembled a floating pandemonium than a congregation of Christian beings. It was therefore natural that American seamen should entertain an unconcjuerable repugnance to entering into the British navy, and I have seen many a brave fellow thrown into a violent perspiration at the bare allusion to the possi- bility of such an event. But when a British ship of war IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN. 19 1 hove in sight,— hoisted her colors— fired a gun as a signal to heave to — and was about sending her boat on board, a scene of confusion, of consternation would ensue on board an American ship, which can be better imagined than described. Those of the crew who had good protections, that is, well certified and legal documents, showing that they were citizens of other countries than Great Britain, looked pale and alarmed, and trembled with apprehensioo, well knowing that many of the British officers were pro* verbially unscrupulous in these matters, and that casesi had occurred, where the "protection" of a young and fine looking seaman, a native of I^qw England, had been torn in pieces and tossed into the sea: the offiser who dared the act, declaring that he cared not for their protections, that he wanted some good men, and he cared not a far- thing whether they were Englishmen or Yankees ! But those poor fellows, who had by some misfortune lost their protections, or who, being natives of Great Britain, could not procure any, and many such were on board American marchant ships at that p3riod, as well as at the pres3nt time, suffered agonies which it was painful to behold. I have seen them run to the captain with grief and apprehension imprinted in the most ghastly char- acters on their countenances, and declare with oaths that they were Americans; and beg, entreat him on their bended knees, not to give them up, but to save them from the dreadful fate of impressment onboard an English man of war. Poor fellows ! They forgot for the mom3nt that the captain's representations or interference in their be- half would be bootless ! It was sometimes the case that the seamen without pro- tections, were stowed away, that is, secreted in soma part of the ship, where it was thought they might lie concealed until the visit was over. This ruse., however, seldom suc- ceeded, as the boarding officer, usually an old hand at this business, was apt to suspsct from the small number of the crew, the evasion of the captain to answer questions, the number of chests in the forecastle, or some other cirr cumstances, the true state of the case ; and his men, who were picked for the occasion, were ordered to search the ship. This was generally done in an effectual manner. 80 TALES OF THE OCEAN They vis^.ed every part of the ship to which they could penetrate, and thrust their bayonets into dark holes^ water casks, boxes, bags, &c., where it was possible that a man might be concealed. Many a poor fellow, through the fcai of being stabbed in his lurking place has been induced to cry out for quarter, when he would be bundled forthwith unce/emoniously into the boat, with a few hearty kicks, and a multiplicity of curses. I once knew a first rate seaman, who having no protection, on the occasion of the vessel to which he belonged having been visited by a man of war's boat, stow himself away in the lower part of the pump well, and although this place was examined by the boarding party, and bayonets and cutlasses thrust through various crevices, to ascertain if any flesh and blood were there deposited, he nobly resolved to risk his life, and to endure without shrhd^ing, or a cry of agony, any wounds that he might receive, rather than be doomed to serve on board a man of war. He escaped not scathless, but better than he had reason to expect, having received only a single severe prick of a bayonet in his shoulder. In the year 1810, a brig belonging to Salem, was over- hauled by a British cruiser on the South American coast. The crew were composed of Americans, athletic, fine look- ing fellows. But the cruiser was in want of hands — and the boarding oflicer ordered two of the seamen to pack up their duds, and go into the boat. The men were thunder- struck — and the captain remonstrated in the strongest terms against such an unjust and .atrocious act The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders, and coolly said that it was needless to multiply words about it — for the men he must have — and notwithstanding their protections, he be- lieve^l they were Englishmen ! There seemed to be no alternative — for with a man of war on the ocean, as well as a pirate, might often makes right. One of the men silently resigned himself to his fate — although he was well aware that it was a dreadful one. The other, whose name was Barnes — a noble looking fellow of six feet in height, and of fine proportions, protested against the course adopt- ed by the Englishman, declarmg himself to be a native American citizen, and entitled to the privileges of an American. The officer however, was inexorable, and find- ing jiis orders reluctantly obeyed, was about to proceed to IMPRESSMENT 0? SEAMEN. 21 ase force, when Barnes took his clasp knife from his pocket opened it, and grasping it in his left hand, drew it across the palm of his right hand — then dropping the knife, he seized the fingers, and with a wrench forced them back, until they lay parallel with the wrist, in the direction of the eibow — at the same time exclaiming to the astonished officer, " Now take me, if you like, on board your rascally craft — I shall be a cripple for life." An American brig, belonging to Portsmouth, N. IL, was once in Demarara, discharging her cargo, when she was boarded by a boat from a gun brig lying at anchor at no great distance. The crew were mustered, and their pro- tections exammed — and one New Hampshire boy, of a noble and fearless spirit, and' though young in years, of a vigorous frame, was ordered into the boat. He perempto- rily refused to obey the order. The officer, in a great rage, collared the youthful seaman, but was instantly laid sprawl- ing by a well directed blow of his fist. The boat's crew Tushed to the assistance of their officer, and the spirited American was finally overpowered, pinioned, thrown into the boat, and conveyed on board the British brig. The lieutenant complained to his commanding officer of the insult he had received from the stalwart Yankee, and his battered face corroborated his statement. The commander at once decided that such insolence demanded exemplary punishment — and that the young Yankee required, on his first entrance into the service, a lesson which might be of use to him hereafter. Accordingly the offi^nder was lashed to a gun, by the inhnman satellites of tyranny, and his back was bared to the lash. Before a blow was struck, he repeated his dec- laration that he was an AniCrican citizen, and tlie sworn foe of tyrants. He demanded his release — and assured the captain in the most solemn and impressive manner, that if he persisted in punishing him like the vilest male- factor, for vindicating his rigiits as an American citizen, the act would never be forgiven — but that his revenge would be certain and terrible. The captain laughed aloud at what he regarded an impotent menace — and gave tho signal to the boatswain's mate The white skin of the young American was soon cruelly mangled, and the blows fell thick'y anfJ heavily on the quivering flesh. He bore 22 TALES OF THE OCEAN. the infliction of this barbarous punishment without a mur mur or a groan ; and when the signal was given for the executionof to cease, although the skin was hanging in strips on his back, w^hich* was thickly covered with clotted blood, he showed no disposition to faint or to falter. Hia face was somewhat paler than it was wont to be — but his lips were compressed, as if he were summoning determina- tion to his aid, and his dark eyes shot forth a brilliant gleam, showing that his spirit was unsubdued, and that he was bent on revenge, even if his hfe should be the forfeit. His bonds were loosened, and he arose from his humilia- ting posture. He glared fiercely around. The captain was standing within a few paces of him, with a demoniac grin upon his features, as if he enjoyed to the bottom of his soul the disgrace and the tortures inflicted on the poor Yankee. The hapless sufferer saw that smile of exultation • — and that moment decided the fate of his op[)ressor With the activity, the ferocity, q,nd almost the strength of a tiger, the mutilated American sprang upon the tyrant, and grasped him where he stood, surrounded by his officers, wh(j for the moment seemed paralyzed with astonishment — and before they could recover their senses and hasten to the assistance of their commander, the flogged American had borne him to the gangway, and then clutching him by tlie throat with one hand, and firmly embracing him with the other, despite his struggles, he leaped with him into the turbid waters of the Demarara ! They parted to receive the tyrant and his victim — then closed over t'^^m, and neither was ever afterwards seen. Both had passed to their fast account — " Unanointed, unannealed, With all their imperfections on their heads." But a brighter day has dawned upon the British navy. Tho odious system of impressment is abolished — never again, I hope, to be adopted. The seamen are no longer re^irded as slaves for life — and although flogging is still practiced on board the English ships,their condition is Tar better than when impressment was the order of the day. If Great Britain should again engage in a war, the practice of impressing seamen may again be introduced into the navy. If so, it IS to be hoped that it will be confined to British seamen. May the American flag always protect American seamen JACK WILSON, OR THE SAILOR'S DEPARTURE, In the last chapter I endeavored to describe the sysieiw of impressment, as practised in the British Navy, a quarter of a century ago — and which was one of the prominent causes of the war between Great Britain and the United States. In this, and perhaps the succeeding number, I shall endeavor to illustrate, in the simple narrative of Jack Wilson, some of the practical operations of the system, so far as it related to Americans. In a beautiful hamlet, situated about fifteen miles from the sea-board, in the state of New Hampshire, resided, about twenty-five years ago, a worthy farmer, named Chf- ford. He was a frugal, industrious, hard-working man — much beloved and respected by his fellow townsmen — and having a good farm, consisting of fifty or sixty acres of ar- able land, besides pasturage and woodland, he was as truly independent as most mortals can ever expect to be in this dependent world. The other members of his family consisted of his wife, and his daughter Katharine, his only child. Katharine, or Kate Clifford, as she was usually called, was a beautiful girl, about eighteen years of age,*at the time when this narrative commences, with laughing black eyes, rosy cheeks, and a mouth about which the»-e always lurked a roguish dimpled smile. Her form was rather ro- bust, but symmetrical, and her movements were marked with a grace, a freedom of action, which would have exci- ted the admiration and envy of the corsetted and tight-laced city belles. She was the personification of the Goddess of Health, in her appearance — and what was of greater val- ue, possessed virtuous principles, and a kind and affection ^te heart. In a word, she was a New England Farmer's daughter, and of course was the idol of her parents In- 1 26 TALES OF THE OCEAN deed her good humor, her kindness, her warm feehngs, hei frank and open disposition, to say nothing of her beauty, caused her to become a universal favorite in the village — and it was predicted by more than one, that the youth who could win her affections, and call her by the name of wife, would be fortunate indeed. It is not therefore a remarkable circumstance, that al the time at which our story commences, there should have been various aspirants for her hand. Every Sabbath after- noon, several suspicious looking youths, arrayed in thcii go-to-meeting vestments, and wearing their Sunday faces, might be seen in the neighborhood of Lieutenant Clifford's, mansion, striving to catch a glimpse of the belle of the vil- lage ; and every Sabbath evening, while the family were ' gathered around the old fashioned fireside, visitors would drop in, one after another, ostensibly to inquire after Lieu- tenant Clifford's health ; but it happened, oddly enough, that those friends of the worthy farmer were almost all ol them young men, who had not yet bowed at Hymen's shrine — and wjiile they talked with the farmer and his wife, their eyes were bent in the direction of the lovely Kate, who sat in the corner, looking as demurely as a nun, and affected not to believe that she was the " cynosure of every eye." At the husking frolics, however, Kate's sedateness would vanish ; and she would enter into all the spirit of the occa- sion. The joke would pass briskly around — and her mu- sical laugh, when the red ears were produced by some fortunate swain, rang merrily through the barn, and struck a chord of sympathy in the bosoms of her admirers. Among the youths who sought to gain the affections of the fair Katharine, was Simon Elwell. He was a young farmer of industrious habits and a comely person — and had inherited from his father a handsome property. lie lived with his widowed mother in the old mansion, situated at only a few hundred rods from the house of Lieutenant Clifford. Indeed their farms adjoined each other. Katha- rine's parents were well pleased with the prospect of a growing attachment between the young couple — who. ol course, had from infancy been intimately acquainted with each other. Kate was not, as the phrase is, " in love" JACK WILSON. 2'i «nth Simon Elwell, but she had no objection to his pferson or his character, and probably would have preferred him to her other numerous suitors, and have married him, with a reasonable prospect of dornestic happiness, if a circumstance had not transpired which changed the current of her feel- ings and her destiny. One day there happened to be a quilting match at En- sign Frazer's — and all the matrons and damsels in the neighborhood were invited. In the evening, after the la- bors of the day were over, the young men made their ap- pearance, carefully decked out in their best suits. On their entrance they looked exceedingly shy and modest — but were all the tune laughing in their sleeves, at the anti- cipation of a glorious frolic. And they were not disappoint- ed. Their reserve soon wore off — merriment and glee *vas the watchword — all were in fine spirits — pleased with themselves, and what was of more importance, anx- ious to please others. Among the invited guests on this memorable occasion, was Jack Wilson. He was a native of the village, and was always much liked for his noble and generous spirit. A liking for adventure, and an enterprising disposition had induced him to quit the peaceful walks of rural Ufe, and to enter on a more busy and eventful scene. He had now just returned from his second voyage to Europe, a spright- ly, robust, whole-souled sailor, whose heart was buoyant with hope — whose hand was open to the needy — and who cherished nought like care, but *' DofTd the world aside and bade it pass." The frank and' jovial manner of Jack Wilson, with his mnnly form, and sea-faring costume, for he seemed proud of wearing '• the jacket of blue," made this son of Neplune a favorite at once among the girls. Indeed, he was tlie life and soul of the party, and when the game of "' Ibrfcits" was played, none redeemed their pledges, especially where kissing was the penalty, with a heartier good will than Jack Wilson. Many of the swains there present, eyed the good humored sailor askant, with a scowl, expressive of feelings allied to envy, jealousy and hatred ; and Avhile they wished him tossing about in the Bay of Biscay, or reefing topsail? ^O 'lALES OF THE OCEAN. in it quail off Cape Horn, instead of " cutting up shines," in a lountry village, and stealing the too susceptible hearts of the fairest maidens, they declared that they could not for the life of them see any thing about him so very attract- ive. Jack Wilson, however, was a man of taste, so far as the ladies were concerned, — and it was not long before he rather neglected some of the charmers present, and was on the most intimate terms with Katharine Clifford. She seemed flattered with the preference, and a flirtation com- menced between them, which gave much offence to cer- tain fastidious young ladies present, who at the same time were spreading all their snares to captivate the handsome rover ! As to Simon Elwell, he regarded this extraordina- ry intimacy between the gallant sailor and the girl of his heart, with feelings akin to grief and indignation — and when towards the close of the evening, the party stood up for a contra dance, whife Sally Ramsey and Ned Walton sang a tune with capital effect — and Jack Wilson with Kate Clifford for a partner, executed the double shufl^e in the sailor style — poor Simon felt that his case was a des- perate one — and looked alternately red with anger, and pale with mortification. When the party broke up. Jack Wilson obtained without difficulty, permission to wait upon the fair Katherine home. The distance was not far, but from some inexplicable cause, a considerable time elapsed before they reached the door of Lieutenant Cl'fford's hospitable mansion. What passed in this interval Wars licvt;^ exactly known. There is every reason, however, to believe that Jack made the best use of his time — for on many successive evenings after that memorable night. Jack visited the fair Katharine at her father's house, where he was always received as a wel- come guest. It may not be considered- wonderful that an honest, frank-hearted, good looking young sailor, although he had little money in his pockets, should find means to wind himself around the heart of a simple country girl — but how he was able, in the course of a few short weeks to gain the favor also of the old folks, is a problem which I never could «olve. Perhaps he gained their affections as Othello gained Desdemona's, by spinning them tough yarns about " UJie Cannibals that each other eat ; The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads. Do grow beneath their shoulders." JACK WILSON. y9 At all events, Jack managed it somehow to his satisfac- tion — for he had hardly been at home three weeks, before the Town Clerk announced in a document regularly signed and attested, and placed in a conspicuous position in the entrance of the church, the astounding information that marriage was intended between Jack Wilson and Katharine Clifford ! This was an event which created quite an ex* citement in the village, and furnished the gossips wath food for more than a fortnight. The character and conduct of all parties were freely scanned and dissected. Kate Clif- ford was alternately pitied and blamed for uniting her for- tune with that of a careless, unsteady, roving sailor, here to-day and gone to-morrow, when she might have selected a husband from among the likeliest youths in the village ; — and the old folks were with as little ceremony pronounced *' fools," for receiving for a son-in-law a scapegrace, with- out property or expectations — being the only son of a poor and widowed w^oman. As for Simon Elwell, he was sad and solemn for many a day. At one time he thought of giving Jack Wilson a sound thrashing — this, he imagined, would bring peace to his troubled spirit — but he was de- terred from this rash and unjustifiable act, by the reflection that in a fair set-to. Jack's strength and activity were such, that he would undoubtedly come off conqueror. Simon, therefore, chewed the cud of bitter fancy in silence. But he was a philosopher, and sought to console himself by working doubly hard, and early and late, in clearing up and draining a patch of land which had been a bog, cover- ed with bushes and well saturated with water from time immemorial — and also with the idea which he now gladly cherished, that Kate Chfford was an artful hussy, and no great things after all. Jack Wilson and Kate Cliflford were married ; and the }0uths and maidens of the village danced merrily at the wedding. It was a joyous time, and the married folks uni- versally declared that they had never seen a likelier couple united in matrimony, since they themselves stood up before the minister of the parish, on a similar joyful occasion. After the ceremony was performed, and it was not execut- ed in a hurry, as is too often the case in these degenerate days, Parson Jones gave the youthful votaries c* Hymen 3* 30 TALES OF THE OCEAN. some excellent advice — the young men kissed the beauti- ful bride, who appeared quite timid and mteresting — ccyn- gratulations poured in upon the new married couj)le, and at a late hour in the evening the party retired to their res- pective homes, the young men secretly resolving to lose no time in following the wholesome example thus set them by Jack Wilson, and the young women entertaining still high- er notions, if possible, of the dignity and importance of the married state. It was arranged that the young couple should for a time, at least, take up their abode at Lieutenant Clifford's. The Lieutenant tried hard to induce Jack to give up the sea- faring life, and to assist him in cultivating his farm ; and notwithstanding Katharine seconded his arguments with her eloquent looks, Jack declared his unalterable determi- nation to pursue the vocation which he had chosen, although he looked forward with dismay to the time wlien he should be compelled to separate from his young, his beautiful and affectionate wife, and regretted that it was not in his power to take Kate with him on his next voyage — but he wisely concluded that a ship's forecastle was not exactly the place for a virtuous and delicate female. Jack Wilson had performed his last voyage with Captain Thompson, an estimable shipmaster, who sailed out of Bos- ton. He had taken quite a fancy to Jack, offered to instruct him In navigation, and promised to put him in a fair way of soon becoming master of a ship. Captain Thompson was then in Boston, awaiting the building of a new vessel, which was to be employed in the South Amer- ican trade. He had promised to send word to Jack, when he was ready for sea, and Jack on his part agreed to be ready at a moment's warning. In less than six weeks after the celebration of the wedding, the unwished-for letter ar- rived. The new brig Rabican was loaded, and ready for sea, bound to the port of San Salvador, and Capt. Thomp- son expressed a hope that his friend Jack would lose no time in hastening to Boston and signing the shipping paper. It was a hard task for Jack to tear himself from the genlle and affectionate Katharine, and more than once when his young wife looked up in his face with a fond and 'impJoring look, a tear standing in her eye, he made up his JACK WriiSON. mind to relinquish his hazardous occupation, which would separate hirn from the being whom he tenderly loved, and settle down quietly on shore as a farmer, with Kate, a guardian spirit, keeping a constant watch over his happi- ness. But he had for many years cherished dreams of wild adventure, and wonderful success in life, the prompt- ings of an ardent and ambitious spirit which he fondly hoped would be realized. Besides, he had chosen his Oti- cupation — that of a mariner ; and firmness and energy were conspicuous traits in his character. It was a lovely morning in May ; the sun rose brightly in the heavens — the birds sang sweetly among the trees, disturbed with no anxious anticipations of parting with their mates — all nature seemed to rejoice — the very at- mosphere seemed redolent with hope and joy, when the stage for Boston drove rapidly up to the door. The houi had arrived when Jack was compelled to bid a reluctant farewell to his beautiful wife. He endeavored to console her with the reflection that only a few short months would pass away, ere he should return and again clasp her to his bosom. He had parted from his mother only a few mo- ments before — but much as he loved his mother, and Jack was a dutiful and affectionate son, he found it was harder to part with his wife — and something seemed to whisper him that he should encounter years of suffering and peril before they should meet again. She placed in his hand her parting gift, a silk purse which she had netted in her happiest hours, when seated by the side of her husband. He imprinted a long, a lingering kiss upon her ruby lips — dashed a tear from his eye, and with a convulsifli effort, sprang into the carriage. As the coach slowly pr«.>ceeded up a steep hill, which would soon interpose its summit be- tween our hero and the home of his Katharine, he sum- moned courage to take a last look at the spot where all his hopes and joys were centered. He saw her standing on the door stone, in the precise attitude in which he left her. She waved her kerchief in token of recognition — the dri- ver cracked his whip — the stage whirled rapidly down the hill, and Jack Wilson began to think, with one of the preuoc chevaliers of olden times, that the world was divided into two parts — where she was, and where she was not. Jack Wilson reached Boston in due season, and joined his ship. He was not a man to lounge idly about board- ing houses, spending his money in dissipation. He looked for preferment in his business, and was aware that sobriety, mdustry and integrity, were passports to respectability in every employment. In a few days the Rabican cleared at the custom house, and sailed for the Brazils. As the ship passed the high lands of Cape Cod, about four o'clock in the afternoon, Jack leaned over the gunwale to take a last look at the sterile coast, and sighed as he bade his native land farewell. His heart smote him as he thought of his folly in persisting in his resolution to follow a nautical life, full of hardships and dangers, far away from the society of those whom he esteemed and respected. He was by no means naturally of a desponding character, yet he could hardly help regretting that he had left a home, which Kate Clifford had invested with all the charms of domestic hap- piness. He was pursuing these pensive reflections, and al- ternately indulging in vain regrets and pleasing reminiscen- ces, when the order was given to set the studding sails on the larboard side, the wind having veered to the North West — and the bustle incident to the occasion soon drove from his head all thoughts of home. The Rabican pursued her way to the eastward — it be- ing necessary, as our readers are probably aware, for ves- sels to get well to the eastward before they proceed so far south as to fall in with the trade winds — otherwise they will be in danger of getting to leeward of cape St. Roque, — and to weather the cape by beating against the trade wind and current, is a hopeless case. A vessel in such a dilemma is therefore compelled to return to the northward, until she gets into the latitude of the variable winds, and then try again. Nothing remarkable happened in the early part of the passage ; the ship bounded merrily on, the wind being generally fair, and Jack had recovered his spir- its, and was the hfe of the crew. When Saturday night came round, and the crew were collected around the can of grog on the forecastle, no one pledged the old-fashioned toast of Siveethearis and Wives, with more earnestness and warmth of feeling than Jack Wilson. One morning, ere the Rabican had been a month at sea, JACK WILSON 33 the cry of " Land ho ! " resounded through the ship, before the sun had risen above the horizon — and far in the east •could be seen the dim and irregular outline of the lofty St. Anthony, one of the Cape de Verd Islands. Soon after, the words " Sail ho ! " were heard from aloft — and directly In the wake of the Rabican, a lofty looking ship was seen, evidently steering in the same direction. The Rabican was a good sailer, but the stranger overhauled her fast — from which circumstance, as well as from her taunt rig, there could be little doubt that the vessel astern was a man-of- war. In a couple of hours, however, the doubt, if there were any, was changed into certainty. As soon as the ship came within range, she yawed to windward, showing a tier of ports, and let fly a thirty-two pound shot, which sang and whistled right merrily as it passed over the Rabican, and fell into the water, nearly a quarter of a mile ahead ; at the same time, the flag of Great Britain was hoisted at the frigate's mizen peak. Captain Thompson, somewhat alarmed at tlfe unceremonious salute of the stranger, took in his studding sails, and rounded the ship to At that time the relations existing between Great Britain and the United States, were not of the most amicable char- acter — and our ships were often insulted on the high seas — and our seamen impressed.* They have since been threshed into better manners. But as the Rabican had sailed from an American port, and was bound for a country at peace with Great Britain — and as all the crew were undoubted Americans, Captain Thompson anticipated no difliculty — and was anxious that the ceremony of boarding should be despatched as quickly as possible. He accord- ingly received the oflicer, when he came along side m the fiigjite's cutter, with great politeness. But his conduct was not reciprocated — the officer censured him, and abused him in the presence of his crew, for daring to continue his course when chased by an English frigate — compelling her at last to fire a shot in order to remind him of his duty, "But," continued the English lieutenant, "you hove to just in the nick of time ; the captain had given orders to lufl' and pour a broadside into the stupid Yankee — thai would have tickled your catastrophe to some purpose." He then examined the ship's papers — and finding every 34 TALE«* OF THE OCEAN. thing as it sKould be — furnishing no pretext for searching the vessel, he ordered the crew to be summoned aft — an- nouncing with an oath, that His Majesty's Frigate Free- booter, was ordered to the East India station — and that it was highly desirable she should pick up a few hands by the way. " I dare say, my fine fellow," said he, clapping Capl. Thompson with insolent familiarity on the back, " that you liave some of King George's subjects on board." This, Captain Thompson stoutly denied, declaring that every man on board was a native of New England. " Well," said the lieutenant, " let us see the men and thsir protections. We will soon settle that matter." The crew were ordered aft, and formed in a line on the quarter deck — where they were severely scrutinized by the boarding officer, and their protections examined. The looks, the language of the seamen, and the conformity of their size, complexion and scars to their protections, were convincing proofs that all the crew were genuine Yankees. But the officer was not to be so easily balked of his prey. He was pleased with the appearance of Jack W^ilson, whose symmetrical figure showed that he possessed unusual strength and activity — and pointing him out to the caj^tain — "That fellow," said the kidnapper, " is an Englishman ! and must go in the boat ! " The officer had fully determined that Jack Wilson should make one of the crew of the British ship of war Freebooter ; and to all the protestations of the captain that Jack was an American, and to all the representations of Jack oi the injustice and cruelty of such a proceeding, and of the insult which would thus be offiired to the American flag, by stealing an American citizen from an American ship, on the high seas, the only answer was a grim smile, and an omi nous shake of the head. " Tom Smith," said the lieutenant, addressing the cox swain of the cutter, at the same time giving him a signifi- cant wink — " Did you ever see Ihis chap before ? " ^* Certainly I have, sir," exclaimed Tom Smith. " IJis name is Clem Watkins. He was captain of the fore top on board of the old Bulli/ Buffian (Bellerophon) — and a right clever fellow he was too — only I recollect that he once got three dozen while lying in Algeziras Bay for letting ihe fore-top-gallant yard come down by the run." JACK WILSON. 35 'You hear that, my friend," said the officer to ihe captain. " He is an Englishman, and a deserter. It is useless to multiply words about it — besides, I must bear a hand, and return to the frigate. Tom Smith, step down into me forecastle, and bundle together the fellow's duds. Watkins, go in the boat." Jack Wilson would have done much at that time to ha\e preserved his life or his liberty — for neither had ever been so precious in his estimation as since he had wedded Kath- arine Clifford. He saw that his case was a desperate one, but he bravely resolved never to yield up his personal liberty without a struggle. He told the lieutenant that he would 710^ go on board — that he was an American citizen — and if he attempted to impress him, it should be at his peril. The British officer laughed — drew his hanger, and backed by his myrmidons, attacked him. A scuffle ensued — Wilson's shipmates stood aloof, like a pack of cowards as they were — and Jack had to face a host of foes. The lieutenant soon got his eyes handsomely bunged up, and one or tw^o of his satellites were laid spraw^ling — but Jack received a severe cut across the forehead with the cutlass, and was knocked down by a blow on the head from a stretcher, wielded by a brawny left-handed man-of-war's- man. His arms were pinioned — and he was unceremo- niously tossed into the cutter along side. '* Farewell, Captain Thompson," said Wilson, as the boat shoved off from the gangway of the Rabican. " I have a favor to ask of you, which I know you will grant. When you return to Boston, go and see Katharine — tell her as gently as you can of the misfortune which has befallen me — but tell her not to despair — for we shall meet again. My case is not so desperate, after all — and many months will not elapse, before I shall free myself of the chains of slav( ry which are now thrown around me — and return to her on the wings of affection." Jick would have said more, but he was interruoted by a shout of uproarious laughter from the crew of the cutter. The idea of Jack's attachment to his wife was diverting enough — but iiis hopes of escaping from the Freebooter in the course of a few months, or even years, when the station S6 TALES OJ THE OCEAN. to wliich he was ordered was taken into consideration^ seemed to these rough and unfeehng nien-of-war's-nicn, so ludicrously absurd, that they could not contain their risible faculties even in presence of their officer. Jack Wilson was thus forcibly conveyed on board a British frigate — which immediately made sail for the port of her destination in the East Indies. Before the sun went down, the Freebooter's top gallant sails could hardly be seen from the deck of the Rabican. " Poor Jack ! " sighed Captain Thompson, as he slowly paced the deck — " Inn fate is a hard one." m»f^ JACK WILSON, PART II. THE SAILOR'S RETURN. Katharine Wilson was fondly attached to her husband His handsome features, his graceful form, and frank and easy manners, with the air of mterest, which in the eyes of a youthful maiden is always attached to the gallant spirits who voluntarily brave perils by sea and by land, had first won her heart — while his affectionate disposition, his gen- erous nature, and his sterling integrity, increased her affec- tion and secured her respect. He was her beau ideal of human perfection ; and the regret, the deep-seated sorrow which the young wife experienced, when her truant husband parted from her, almost in the honey-moon, to encounter dangers on the mighty deep, may be more easily imagined than described. But there are few ills of life for which time does not bring a panacea — and although when the " stage drove off, carrying with it the dearest friend which she had on earth, she was overwhelmed with grief, and refused all consolation, in a few days the natural buoyancy of her spirits prevailed, and she listened to the whisperings of Hope, and gazed fondly on the images of joy to which the enchantress pointed in the distance. Her thoughts, however, sleeping or waking, centred on her husband, and although she attended to her domestic duties with unre- mitting assiduity, and lost no opportunity of administering to the happiness of her parents, who loved her as fondly as ^ver parents loved a child, she was constantly looking forward to the return of her husband, as to the brightest hour of her existence. The Rabican was expected to be absent from eight to twelve months, according to circumstances — and the *' Ma- nne Lists" in the newspapers were scanned with great 4(J TALES OV THE 0( YAN. care oy Katharine, in the expectation that they would furniah her with occasional intelligence o ' the progress and safety of the ship, in whose fortunes she now took so deep an interest. But t}.ie Rabican, on her outward passage, was not spoken by any homeward bound vessels, much to Kate's vexation and disappointment. In a few months she began to expect letters from her husband — but no letters came. At length, one day, to her great jcy, while exam- ining the shipping department of a Boston newspaper, she saw that the Rabican had arrived at Bahia in a passage of sixty-five .days from Boston. Now she should certainly receive letters from Jack Wilson — and day after day she visited the post office on the arrival of the mail, but re- turned slowly to her home, sad and disappointed. She consoled herself with the idea that Jack had written, but that the letters had miscarried. Time passed away, and the return of the Rabican was daily expected. A year had effected an astonishing change m the condition and characterof Katharine Clifford. From a lively, good humored, laughing, hoydenish girl, she was transformed into a sedate matron — a wife, who had tasted the cup of matrimonial happiness, to have it dashed from her lips — a mother, who gazed upon her new-born son with all a young mother's pride and fondness. She regarded him as a new tie of affection, and eagerly looked forward to the blissful hour when she could present him to her husband. The Rabican arrived in Boston. The news sent a thrill of joy through the frame of Katharine. Her husband had returned ! She should soon be pressed to his Heart ! And she fondly hoped that they would never again be separated, except by death — for she secretly resolved to use all her influence with Jack, to quit the seas forevei. While she was thus anticipating one of the ricnest enjoyments of which human nature is capable, seated m the front parlor of her father's house, with her infant smiling in her lap, a \eUer from Captain Thompson was leceived, informing her that her husband had been taken with violence from his ship, and impressed on board an English man-of-war ! In a few days, Captain Thompson himself, with a kindness ^f feeling characteristic of the profession to which he be- JACK WILSON. 4i longed, hastened to the young wife and mother, agreeably io Jack Wilsoh's request, and communicated all the details of the barbarous transaction. This was a dreadful blow to Katharine, and one for which she was entirely unprepared. She had often heard her husband speak of the horrors of impressment — and now that he was forcibly seized, and carried on board of an English frigate, bound for the distant East Indi«?s, whose unhealthy climate was proverbial, she felt, notwith- standing the hopes held out to her in her husband's mes- sage, that he was lost to her forever. Years passed ciway, and nothing was heard of Jack Wilson. An American vessel arrived at Boston from Bom- bay, and brought intelligence that the frigate Freebooter had lost more than half her crew by the cholera, which broke out on board. Katharine fully believed that if the life of her husband had been preserved, he would have returned to his home, or have found some means of com- municating to her the grateful intelligence. And she re- luctantly acquiesced in the general belief that Jack Wilson had fallen a victim to a system of relentless tyranny, ad- verse to the precepts of civilization, the laws of nations, and the laws of God. And deeply did she lament the loss of her husband, and bitterly did she rail against a govern- ment, which could look quietly on, while its citizens were ruthlessly seized, when peaceat)ly pursuing their avoca- tions upon the high seas, and carried into slavery of the most cruel and degrading kind. Katharine was still beautiful — and being regarded as a young and blooming widow, the heir-expectant to a hand- some property, it is not surprising, that eligible opportunities were offered her of again changing her condition in life — but she could not banish from her mind the remembrance of her gallant sailor — and when she looked upon the countenance of her son, and saw there the living miniature of his father, she would give free vent to her tears — and declared that she could never wed again. Even the suit of Simon Elwell, whom she had always esteemed for his good qualities, and who still cherished the affection which he had entertained for her before her marriage, was kindly bul decidedly rejected. Indeed, notwithstanding the proverl^ial 4* 4^ TALES OF THE DCF.AN, volatility and inconstancy of woman, it is highly probabk hat Katharine Wilson would never have married again, if her father had not been attacked with a severe and fatai. illness, which decided her destiny. On his death-bed; feeling the destitute condition of his daughter, left upon the wide world without a protector, he oesought her, as hig last request, to give her hand to his friend and*neighbor, Simon Elwell. It is strange what a propensity for match' making is often manifested by persons who are about quitting all the sorrows and pleasures of life — it is some- times productive of good, but is often the cause of many years of affliction to the living. In this case, however, it seemed likely to conduce to the happiness of both parties, Simon loved Katharine with an ardent affection — and Katharine, although love was out of the question, respected and esteemed him — and if she had been required 'to choose again a partner for life, would probably have pre* ferred him to any of her admirers. They were married in the chamber of the dying man, whose last moments were solaced with the reflection that he had secured the happiness of his child. # # # # # # . It was about sixteen years after the commencement of our narrative, that one cold morning in December, a poor, forlorn-looking object, miserably clad in the garb of a mariner, was seen advanoing with tottering steps, on the road leading from Boston, towards Dover, N. H. This was Jack Wilson — but he did not resemble the Jack Wil- feon whom I have introduced to my readers. A long series of sufferings, and exposures in a tropical climate, and hardships, had destroyed his constitution, and brought on premature old age. His figure was no longer erect and graceful, a youthful Apollo, but bent with infirmit'es — his complexion was no longer ruddy, the very emblem of health, but bronzed by exposure to the sun, and sallow frora disease — his features were no longer regular and hand- some, exciting the envy of one sex, and the admiration of the other, but his visage was disfigured by a hideous scar^ caused by a sabre cut which he had received on boarding a piratical proa, on the coast of Sumatra — his'hair was no longer dark and glossy, but grizzled and thin— and bis JACK WILSON. r^i tountenance no longer beamed with good humor, as if ne were at peacu with himself and all the world, but was clouded with care and sorrow. His noble spirit had been broken with the lash, and a smile had been a stranger to his features for many a long day. After an absence of several years, he was about returning to his native home. He had become so accustomed to misfortune, that he 'no longer anticipated any pleasure. What changes had oc- curred during his absence, he knew not ; but he was anx- ious to learn something of the fate of his mother, and of the fair being to whom, in his youth, he had plighted his vows of affection at the holy altar. He was prepared for the worst, for hope had long been a stranger to his bosom. The Freebooter, on board which frigate Jack Wilson had been pressed, proceeded to the East Indies — and it was not long before he attempted to redeem the promise he had made of escaping from his thraldom. He was recaptured, and cruelly flogged. He twice afterwards repeated the experiment, but was unsuccessful. When he was appre- hended the last time, he was triecl by a court martial, and sentenced to be Jlogged through the fleet ! His defence, — that of being an American citizen, — although urged with much eloquence, did not avail him ; and he was com- pelled to submit to this dreadfnl punishment, which is a refinement on the cruelties inflicted by savages on their captured enemies. For his repeated attempts to escape, he was regarded with dislike by the officers, and was treated with m.uch wanton cruelty and oppression. When the Freebooter returned to England, Jack was transferred to another sliip, and in this manner had served on board several of his Britannic Majesty's vessels. He had been ill several actions by sea and by land, and had received a number of wounds ; he had been several times attacked with diseases incident to a tropical climate, among others oy cholera and yellow fever ; he had been subjected to contumely and abuse, until his kind feelings and affecticna were paralysed within his bosom. At length, after having been severely punished for some neglect of duty, he made his escape from a sloop-of-war, while she was lying at anchor in Batavia roads, swam a mile and a quarter to an American vessel, in spite of the sharks which escorted 44 TALES OF THE OCEAN. him on his way, was snugly stowed away by the gen- erous-hearted crew, until the vessel sailed for New York, and had at last returned to his native land, a decrepit, broken-down man-of-war's man, destitute of money, and even of clothes, and, so far as he knew, without a single friend in the wide world. But although Jack Wilson was but a wreck of his former self, his heart was as noble and generous as ever. • Worn out with fatigue, Jack Wilson reached the con- fines of the little village in which he v/as born, about six o'clock in the evening. The wind blew furiously from the north-east, and a severe snow storm had commenced. Having passed many years in a warm climate, and being but thinly clad, the wintry wind chilled his frame ; but he trudged slowly onward, anxious to hear tidings of ihose dear ones whose memory he still cherished in the inmost recesses of his heart. When within a mile of the village, he was overtaken by a good-looking youth, who, seeing, from Jack's rig, that he was a sailor, and that he was fa- tigued with travel, addressed him in tones of kindness, and asked him how far he was travelling. " To the next tavern," said Jack. " I have walked a long distance to-day, and feel the need of rest and refresh- ment.'' " From your dress, you must be a sailor," said the youth. " I always liked sailors, for my father was a sailor ; and if you will go home with me, I know my mother will be glad to see you, and to give you a supper and a bed." ^' Where is your father? " said Jack. '' Oh," answered the kind-hearted lad, '' he died in the East Indies a good many years ago." , *' What was his name ?" asked Jack. " Jack Wilson," returned the youth. '' He was pressed on board an English man-of-war before I was born, and never returned." Jjick started as if a bullet had entered his breast. This, then, was his son — the son of his loved Katharine ! He grasped the hand of the youth, and eagerly asked, '^ Your Tiother ! your mother ! what of her ? She is still living, you say ! and where ? " *' My mother," answered the boy, surprised at the man- JACK WILSON. 46 nei of his companion, '* married again some years after my father's death, and now lives with her husband, Mr. El well, in yonder white house," pointing to a large and handsome mansion, about a hundred rods further on their path. " Your mother married again ! " exclaimed our weather- beaten mariner ; " then," added he, in a low tone, '* all the hopes which began to gather around my heart are again blasted, and blasted forever." This was an event which Jack Wilson had dreaded ; for he could not persuade himself that Katharine, with hei personal charms, and surrounded by powerful influences, would remain for so many years faithful to the memory of the husband of her youth, who she had no longer reason to believe was in the land of the living ; and, with a mag- nanimity characteristic of American tars, he had resolved, although with a painful effort, to conceal his name, if he found his gloomy anticipation realised, and resume the occupation to which so many years of his^life had been devoted. He felt that his sands were nearly run, and, if he could not add to the happiness of her he loved, resolved not to be the means of making hei miserable. But his mother ! He wished to know her fate. '* Did your father leave no parents ? " asked he of his son. "Only a another," answered the youth, "and she died about six years ago, and lies buried in the church-yard, by the side of her husband. I often visit her grave j for I dearly loved my grandmother." " You are a noble boy," said Jack ; " and your mother, you say, still feels an interest in those who follow a sea- faring life ? " " Yes," replied the lad. " I have often heard her say that a sailor in distress should always find a friend in her. You appear to be tired ; the snow falls thicker and faster. It is yet some distance to the tavern ; you cannot do better than to go with me. My father and mother both will be glad to entertain you for the night." Jack followed his son into the dwelling-house of Simon Elwell. There was an air of comfort and prosperity about tho 40 TALES OF THE OCEAN. establishment, which is often witnessed among our New England farmers. A fire burnt briskly on the hearth , Simon El well, a good-looking, intelligent farmer, hardly past the meridian of life, was seated in the mid'st of his family, with two of his youngest children on his knee ; and Katharine, a comely, motherly-looking dame, was briskly engaged in making preparations for the evening repast. " Father," said the lad, as he ushered the woe-worn stranger into the room where the family were assembled, "on my way from Colonel Veasey's, I overtook a seafaring man. He appears to have been unfortunate, and is almost perishing with the cold. I told him that you and mother would give him a kind reception, and he has very wisely accepted my invitation." " You have acted quite right, my son," said Mr. Elwell. " My friend," continued he, addressing Jack, " I am glad to see you. Take a seat near the fire, and make yourself comfortable." '' Yes," said Mrs. Elwell, " we are always glad to extend our hospitalities to those adventurous men who expose themselves to all the perils of ocean, to furnish us with the necessaries and luxuries of life. They meet with hardships enough on the seas, and have a claim- upon the kindness of landsmen, which should never be disallowed." Supper was soon ready, and Jack took a seat at the table. Every thing was conducted with the utmost propriety. It Avas evident that Simon Elwell loved and respected hi? wife ; and Katharine, united to a worthy man, who could appreciate her excellence, and*-surrounded by a group of cherubs, could hardly be otherwise than happy. " Oh," said Jack to himself, as he gazed once more upon the handsome features of the woman to whom he had plighted his marriage vows, '' what a treasure I have lost^ I cannot bear to witness even her happiness with another." He had eaten nothing since the day before ; but he had no appetite. He felt sick at his heart, and a tear started In his eye. Katharine saw, with the keenness of a woman's percep- tion, the sorrow of her guest. She addressed him in the most kind and gentle manner, and endeavored to discover tlie cause of his distress. He listened to her a few moments JACK WILSON. 47 nith eager atteniion — for her voice and nanner reminded him of the bUssful days, which had long since passed away, never to return. But when she ceased, and Simon Elwell spoke, the charm was dissolved. Jack Wilson abrupt^ arose, — "I have a long journey," said he, 'Uo go — and I may not tarry by the way — I must bid you good night." He seized Katharine by the hand. " Farewell," said he, in a tremulous voice, " God will reward you for youi kindness to a poor unfortunate sailor, who has now not one friend on earth — may sorrow ever be a stranger to youi bosom." He could say no more. The tears coursed rapidly down his furrowed cheek. He pressed the hand which he held in his, to his lips — seized his hat, and rushed madly from the room. As he pursued his way towards the village meeting-house, the steeple of which could be seen in the distance, he sobbed aloud. Simon Elwell and his wife were astonished at the con- duct of the stranger. They feared that he labored under a derangement of the mental system — and Katharine was much pleased when her eldest son, who seemed to feel a lively interest in the fate of the unknown wanderer, an- nounced his intention of hastening after him, and guiding him on his way to the village tavern. The snow had done falling, the clouds were breaking away, and the wind blew with violence from the north- west, as Jack Wilson, with a heavy heart, proceeded down the road towards the village. Before he had accomplished half the distance, he was overtaken by his son, who kindly offered to accompany him on the way. " My noble boy ! " said Jack ; " any man might wel' be proud of such a son — and I should even be willing to lin- ger still a time longer in this troublous world, provided 1 could be near you, and were capable of advising you, and instructing you in your duties towards your fellow men and your God. But it cannot be. Show me the way to a public house. Perhaps that there I can obtain a lodging for the night. We will then part — you to enjoy all the bliss of a virtuous mother's affection — and I to com muae with the spirits of another world." 48 TALES OF THE OCEAN. Tho youtn was now convinced that the stiangei waj defanged, but he waded with him through the snow, ii, defiance of the freezing wind, until they reached the door- stone of the public house. "Here," said Jack, " I can ob- tain shelter. They will hardly turn away an old sailor from their door on such a night as this, even if I am un- able to pay them for their hospitality." He drew from his bosom a silken purse — but it con- tained not a single coin. " Here," said he, '' my son, for J will caL you such, take this, and preserve it in remem- Drance of an old sailor. It is a gage of affection which I have carried nearest my heart for many a long year. J have no further use for it now." The boy took the purse in silence. " You told me," continued he, " that your father's name was Wilson — Avhat is your given name ? " "Jack," replied the lad, " they call me Jack Wilson." "Jack Wilson ! " exclaimed the unfortunate man* — and he threw his arms around' the neck of the astonished boy and kissed him — " Jack Wilson ! may God Almighty ever bless you ! " The boy returneJ to his home, wondering at the strange conduct of this singular man. But the unhappy victim of the barbarous system of impressment, did not enter the tavern. He directed his steps towards the church-yard ! He knelt upon the spot where the remains of his parents were buried — and prayed to his God for forgiveness of his sins. His heart was seared with disappointment — and his frame was chilled with the fierce northern blast. In the morning he was found stretched lifeless on the grave of his mother ! The particulars of this mournful event soon circulated through the village. When it was told to Katharine El- well, a new light seemed to burst upon her. She asked her son for the purse which was given him by the strangei the night before. It was old, and much faded. She saw marked upon the edge the letters J. W. — and then Kath- arine knew that the poor, forlorn, decrepit and destitute sailor was no other than her first husband ! SAILORS ON SHORE. 84ILOU LANDLORDS. BAD HABITS. AN INCIDENT. — !«- PORTANCE OF GOOD BOARDING HOUSES. A sailor's life is proverbially a hard one — his toils and sufferings are great — and one would naturally suppose that at the end of a long and perilous voyage, he would take care of the small pittance which he had earned — or at least expend it in providing himself with some useful appendages, in gaining some useful information, or in the enjoyment of some rational amusement, which might at the same time relax his mind, and furnish him with instruction that would prove useful to him in after life. But we re- gret to say, that very few sailors are actuated by any con- siderations of this kind. They seem to have no thought beyond the present moment — and they often seek for pleasure in the indulgence of the sensual appetites, at the expense of all that is moral or intellectual. The sailor too, frequently divides his time between his boarding house, which is often kept by a sharper or a pick- pocket, a grog shop, and a brothel. He associates with the vilest of the vile, and sacrifices alternately at the shrine of Intemperance and Licentiousness, until the land- lord, and other kindred spirits, have possessed themselves of his last dollar, when a ship is provided for him, and with hardiy a suit of clothes upon his. back — with little in his chest save a bottle of rum, which *his compassionate land- lord has given him in lieu of a wardrobe and other neces- saries — with nerves unstrung, and a frame debilitated with debauchery, he is conveyed in a carriage, or a handcart, unable to walk, on board the ship — and not unfrequently dragged by violent hands up the gangway. This is a true picture — and this man, who thus voluntarily .degrades himself beneath the level of a brute, claims to possess intellectual and moral faculties, which elevate him above 52 TALES 01 THE OCEAN. every other class of living beings, and are intended U conduce to his happiness on earth. It is to be regretted that the sailor who possesses so many noble qualities, which might elevate him in the scale of manhood, should thus needlessly and foolishly cast himself away. It is true that he is beset with temptations on every side. The v Je and the worthless, instigated by the demon of mischief or cupidity, are ready to tempt him from his duty — to lure him from the paths of sobriety^ virtue, and honor. But he should nobly prove himself a man, and exert the attribute of manhood — and by assum- •ing a degree of firmness and independence of character, which seldom forsake him on other occasions, rise superior to the arts and devices employed by the land-sharks to en- trap him, and furnish a proof that the sailor may be brave and generous — and at the same time, sober and virtuous. We hardly know a character more contemptible — more despicable — more deserving of opprobrium, than the sailor landlord, who takes advantage of the easy temper, the weakness, the ignorance, or credulity of the sailor, to strip him of his small pittance, the hard-earned meed of services for a long voyage. Yet how often is this done, and haply repeated, until the hungry leech becomes fattened on the spoils, which by a swindling process deserving of heavy punishment, he has gathered from his unsuspicious guests. When a ship enters a port, one of these detestable swind- lers hastens orl board, with a battle of rum under his jacket, which is too often a passport of welcome to the forecastle. The contents of the bottle are freely distribu- ted, until some of his victims are unable to assist in bring- ing the ship to anchor. They feel grateful to him for his kind and disinterested attentions, accompany him to his house, redolent of the fumes of alcohol — and are bound to him body and soul. By a little art, and promptly an- swering their demands for liquor, he manages them at will — convinces them that he is their best friend, purchases their little necessaries — oifers to take their money and act as their banker ! Every thing goes on smoothly for a few days. The fated victim, adroitly managed, is rendered incapable of attending to his own concerns — he is alter nately a worshippei of intemperance and licentiousness — SAILORS ON SHORE. 63 he revels in sensuality, with many mistaken men, the beau ideal of heaven — until after a few days have elapsed, he is suddenly awakened from his dream of bliss, by his kind and friendly landlord, who hands him his bill, showing a balance against him to a considerable amount. The wretched dupe stares, objects, protests. He is certain that he has not yet expended one half the sum, with which he is charged — but the landlord produces his books, where 5* 64 TALES OF THE OCEAN. every article is fairly entered — and furthermore assur(;s the crest-fallen tar, that the greater part of the articles were called for while too drunk to be able to recollect the circumstances, and he can produce evidence of the fact — for his bar keeper, or some worthless lounger, who is de- pendent on him for a glass of grog, is always ready to swear to whatever the landlord says. The poor sailor, without money, without friends, with his frame debilitated by sensuality, and his mental faculties clouded by intem- peiance, has no resource, but to stop suddenly in his career, accept the first voyage, which may offer, making the best terms with his insatiate landlord which he can. Nor does he learn wisdom from experience, the same system of de- ception and roguery is practised at every return to port, unto the end of the chapter. A case illustrating the rapacity and heartlessness of some of these sailor landlords, was communicated to me, not long since, which is only one of many instances of a simi- lar nature, whicii are daily taking place. Jesse Wilkins, as worthy a tar as ever trod a ratlin, some five or six years since had boarded in an intemperate board- ing-house, and entrusted his wages to the hands of the landlord. The consequence was, that in a week or two he was bundled off to sea in debt, even after the landlord had secured his advance wages. He again returned, and expressed a wish to '^ square up " with the landlord, and put up somewhere else ; but the shark succeeded in mak- ing him drunk, and again he secured his wages. For two weeks he was kept in a state of utter intoxication, and when he became sobered he found himself in the Navy Yard, without a cent in his pocket, or a second shirt in his wardrobe. But consoling himself with the old adage, " what's done, cannot- be mended," he made himself at home, and soon forgot the impositions of his landlord. The landlord had shipped him when in a state of intoxica- tion, and pocketed his advance wages, and deprived him of his clothes. In short, Wilkins served on board the U. S. ship of war Erie, during her cruise, and then returned to this port. Again he fell into the clutches of the same rapacious monster, who again succeeded in obtaining his wages, about three hundred dollars, and in a few weeks bundled him to sea, drunk, and in debt. Again he return- SAILORS ON SHOR*. 55 ed, and was again robbed. But by Si)tiie extraordinary means Wilkins became sober, and emphatically declared that he would not drink any more grog — and called upon the landlord to furnish him with money to buy clothes. The landlord informed him that he (Wilkins) was indebted to him twenty dollars. This, Wilkins pronounced a false- hood, and demanded his wages — which so irritated the landlord, that he caused his boarder to be imprisoned for debt. He had been in jail for four or five weeks, when ths landlord had him conveyed on board of a ship, without even asking his consent, and secured his advance wages, fifteen dollars. Wilkins was happy to be rid of the land, and therefore offered no objection, but went the voyage. He at last returned, having conducted himself during the voyage to the entire satisfaction of the captain and officers, with whom he had sailed. The landlord was on the. look- out for the friendless mariner, who resolving to profit by experience, determined to be duped no more, and become a sober man. In vain did the landlord invite him to drink, *' and make it all up ; " recollections of his former misfortunes, through indulging in drunkenness, had made too lasting an impression upon his mind for the landlord to erase. Burning with revenge, the wretch unjustly chai'ged Wilkins with a debt of fifty dollars, and had his wages stopped. This had such an effect upon the oppressed and unfortunate man, thjit he lost sight of his well-formed resolution, and, as it were, endeavored to flee from him- self. He again freely indulged in tHe use of ardent spirits, and consequently soon became an easy prey to every designing villain ! The villany of many of the sailor landlords in our com- mercial towns is proverbial, so unblushingly odious is theii conduct towards seamen — and it is strange that seamen will suffer themselves to be duped and robbed in open day. So glaringly barefaced are the impositions practised upon them, that it seems almost incredible, that any class of men who are citizens of the civilized community, should suffer themselves to be imposed upon again and again, by these dregs of creation. The landlord of a boarding-house for sailors, has it in his power to effect much evil, or much good. He should be a man of intelligence and honesty — able to advise his 5G TALES OF THE OCEAN. boarders in cases of emergency — and at all timeg esiroiia of restraining, instead of stimnlating their sensual passions. He should be the sailor^ s friend — and feel desirous of see- ing the sailor take that respectable rank in society, to which the nature of his occupation would entitle him. Such a man could be instrumental in doing much good — and might snatch many a noble fellow from the whirlpools of sensual vice, which threaten to engulf him. Why then will not the sailor seek to dwell during the few weeks which he remains on shore after a voyage, with a landlord of this description? Such men are to be found now in all our principal maritime towns, at the head of boarding-houses, where neatness, order, temperance, and propriety prevail — where the sailor may gain after his hardships a haven, in which he can, for a few weeks at least, find rest and tranquillity — where he can recruit his broken spirits — gain information of passing events, and pass his hours in social converse with some worthy men, or in storing his mind with literary wealth, all of which would tend to improve his character, and advance his happiness — instead of living in the house of a blackguard — and vainly seeking for pleasure m the haunts of dissipation and vice. Such houses as we have. described, we repeat, are to be found in almost every port — and if the sailor would appreciate their value, and prefer a residence in them to the dens of robbery and infa- my, which are too often miscalled Sailoro^ Boarding- Houses — they would^soon multiply in the land — and the sailor would find a home and friends in every port. We do not wish to be understood as saying that all sailors are such as we have above described. There are some who wish, during the short time they remain on shore, to take up their abode in a well ordered mansion — the residence of an honest and respectable family. But such houses, until within a few years, the sailor has found it extremely difficult to procure — and has often, against his will, been compelled to apply for board to those sailor landlords, who make it their business to prey on the generous and unsus- pecting sailor — and keep a house where disorder, intoxica- tion, and profanity reign paramount. This is one important cause of the moral degradation of seamen — and it is the duty of every true friend of the mariner to use his eiforts and influence to remove this evil. IMPROVIDENCE 01* SAILORS Sailors are proverbially improvident. Their wages are gcrnerally low — perhaps more so than almost any class of men in the community ; and one would imagine that what was gained by so much toil, and in the face of every dan- ger, would be taken good care of, or at least expended in a manner which would contribute to their comforts, not only now, but at some nuurc day. It is perhaps singular that 68 TALES OF THE OCLA.^. those who navigate the seas for a livelihood^ snould care so little for the fnture, or be so reluctant to provide against coming e\rents. Jack Thompson was asked why he made a practice of spending all his money at the end of a voyage ? why he did not save something for hard times and squally weather ? " Why," said Jack, "I detest hard times, and let those who like squally weather, provide against its coming. B#t for me, good luck, a clear sky and bright sunshine forever. Hurrah ! " This answer of Jack's, who, by the way, died in the Alms House, is characteristic of the sailor, and will serve as a fair specimen of a sailor's logic, when requested to turn his attention to this important subject. His money comes hard, but goes easy — and indeed I have known sailors devise very ingenious expedients for circu- lating their rhino, when apprehensive that they would not be able to spend all their money in a given time. I have known men-of-war's men, who when paid off after a long voyage, and having some two hundred dollars put into their hands as their just dues, have been so exceedingly foolish as to charter a hackney coach at an enormous price, and drive about the city, or into the neighboring towns, and whenever they met with a group of boys and girls, they would throw among them a handful of dollars. [See illus- tration on title page.] They would also twist five dollar bills into the shape of segars, and smoke them, with all tho gravity of a Spaniard ! Jack's jovial times, however, would be very short — for two or three hundred dollars will not go far in such foolish frolics as these. And his kind and benevolent landlord, and numerous disinterested friends of both sexes, are but to6 desirous of lending him all the aid in their power to fleece him of the limited amount of funds he possesses. In a marvellously short time poor Jack finds his treasures, which he thought were inexhaustible, all gone. He is laughed at for his folly, by those who were benefited by his munificence, and he is coolly ordered to furnish himself with a ship without delay — and not be lounging about on shore, without the means of paying his board. The honest tar, although mortified and indignant at such treatment, dares not resent it — he is in the hands of the Philistines — and sneaks off to sea, with feelings quite dif- fer *8nt from those which he cherished only a few days before IMPROVIDENCE OF SAILORS, 69 Owing to this culpable improvidence, which cannot be too severely censured, sailors, whenever they meet with a reverse of fortune, and are deprived of their usual health, or the use of their limbs, being entirely destitute of funds of their own, must depend on public or private charity for sustenance and support. Nothing can be more humiliating than this. Is not this reflection enough to inspire every high-spirited and noble-hearted sailor with a determination to save the portion of his earnings which he can well spare, to be an aid and a solace to him in the day of adversity? It is true, that, if sick, the sailor is entitled to admission into the Marine Hospital, having bought the right by pay- ing twenty cents a month of his wages for years. Here, however, he can remain but a»few months, at the end of which time, if not dangerously ill of some acute complaint, he is turned out, perhaps a cripple or an invalid, on an unfeeling and unpitying world, without money, without friends, — for the man who is penniless has no friends, of course, — in ill health, disappointed and discouraged. Thus the unfortunate being, possessed, perhaps, of a noble spirit, who would willingly risk his own life in promoting the fortunes or happiness of others, is compelled to solicit assistance from a cold-hearted and uncharitable world, or die a miserable death, unlamented and unknown. The excellent and well-known institutions called Sav- ings Banks are now established in all our principal towns, and are, indeed, of incalculable benefit to those classes of the community who depend on manual labor for subsistence, and who are not familiar with operations of a pecuniary nature. Some of these institutions are established ex- pressly for the benefit of seamen ; and, at the close of a long voyage, the mariner can here deposit any portion of his wages, with an assurance that it will be perfectly safe, constantly accumulating, and restored to him whenever called for. The amount thus deposited can be nicreased at the end of every succeeding voyage, piovided that no unusual misfortunes occur, without any diminution of comfort, or even luxury. And if a sailor should deposit annually $100 in a Savings Bank for ten years, and there are few Who have it not in their power so to do, the prin- cipal and interest, at the end of that time, would amount 6C TALES OF THE OCEAIT. to a goodly sum, and would secure to the sailor the bless- ings of independence. How much better is such a dispo- sition of the wages for laborious and dangerous service than to cause it to be distributed among swindling land- lords, gamblers, and harlots, at the expense of all the moral feelings, and at the sacrifice of health, reputation, and happiness ' THE PIRATE OFF CAPE ST. ANTONIO In the year 1822, being in New York, and looking for 3 voyage, I shipped on board the good brig Hyacintha, bound to the West Indies and New Orleans, and sailed in a few lays after. The Hyacintha was commanded by a young man, named Samuel Lindall, a native of New England. He was a good sailor, having had considerable experience at sea, and a skilful navigator — and if he had not been subjected to petticoat government, and a little deficient in what the phrenologists call the organ of firmness, I have no doubt would have proved an excellent and gallant shipmaster. But unfortunately for him, and indeed for all on board, he was just wedded to a young and beautiful girl, who appeared ardently attached to him : and her love was warmly reciprocated on his part. In the first week of the honey moon, he was obliged to embark on this voyage to the West Indies ; and his youthful and fond wife declared that she would accompany him : that nothing should separate her from her husband : that she would willingly brave the storms of the ocean, the diseases of tropical climates, and even the dangers of piracy, which, at that time, Avas not unfrequent in the West Indies, rather than her dear Sammy should proceed on his voyage with- out her. The owner's consent was reluctantly obtained : a state room hastily fitted up, and the loving fair one, with a buoyant step, a light heart, and eyes beamhig with joy and triimph, accompanied her husband on bvard, and em- barked in the Hyacintha. She was but a girl, however — a petted, spoiled darling of indulgent parents, accustomed to have her own way, and the child of impulse and caprice. It was soon, mani- fest that she exercised unbounded influence over her hus band — and the interest of the owners was not promoted 6 62 TALES OF THE OCEAN. by her presence on board. The sailors, although ordina rily admirers of pretty women, and possessed of a good stock of natural gallantry, often wished that she had con- tinued making preserves, or mending stockings in her worthy parent's cottage on the banks of the Connecticut, instead of coming on boardf and taking charge of the Hy- acintha; for Mrs. Ellen Lindall, after she recovered from her sickness, was to all intents and purposes, master of the brig. If there blew a fresh breeze, and the buoyant vessel dashed gloriously along on its way to her destined port, with every sail doing its duty, Mrs. Ellen was afraid lest the masts would be carried away, or that the vessel would founder, or that some dreadful accident would happen — and her husband, who seemed to live only to anticipate her wishes, would immediately shorten sail, and double reef the topsails when it was blowing i)nly a stiff- royal breeze, to the great mortification of the officers and crew. If a vessel were seen on the horizon, which is sometimes an event of no little importance on the ocean, with a child- ish eagerness, she would insist on our speaking the stranger — and many a mile did we sail directly out of our proper track, in order to gratify her wishes. Nor was she always contented with simply speaking it ; without taking into consideration the state of the weather, she would often express a wish to put a letter on board, if bound to the United States, or to procure some fruit or knicknacks, if recently from some port in the West Indies. The captain could not say her nay, and in mora than one instance the boat's crew came within an ace of being drowned, while endeavoring to comply with her unreasonable wishes. I never shall forget how prettily she pouted for a whole day, because an East Indiaman, with a fair wind and a cracking Dreeze, refused to shorten sail and heave to, until we could put a letter on board, and obtain some rare curiosities from that distant part of the world. In a word, all her actions were stamped with selfishness. She regarded the gratifica- tion of her own wishes as paramount to every other earthly consideration, and captain Lindall had not firmness and decision enough to refuse to comply with her most capri- cious requests. We were bound to St. Thomas. But as we passed very THE PIRATR OFF CAPE ST. ANTONIO. 63 near the island of St. Bartholomew, the town, built on the shores of a little bay, which penetrated some distance inland, presented a charmuig appearance to the eyes of the fair Ellen, and she insisted on our running in and coming to anchor." The captain remonstrated with her as long as he dared, assuring her that such a proceeding would be a fatal blow to his insurance, in case the vessel were after- wards lost. But it is seldom of any use to talk reason to a pretty woman — and the captain was compelled to comp y with the entreaties, uttered in the most musical voice of the lovely Ellen. On the following day we sailed for St, Thomas, and in. a fortnight from that time, we were pass- ing through the Mona passage, and along the south side of St. Domingo, on our way to New Orleans. At that time the seas in the neighborhood of Cuba were infested with murderous pirates, and many sad tales were told of their rapacity and wanton cruelty. Accordingly, before we left New York, the owner put on board two twelve pound carronades, with carti^idges and ball, two swivels, a dozen muskets, boarding pikes, &c. We muster- ed twelve men all told. Our chief mate, Zenas Thompson, a genuine Yankee, was a man of powerful frame, great resolution, and undaunted courage — he was a true sailor, and was loved and respected by every man ihi board. His sailor-like honesty and frankness, often urged him to ex- press pretty freely, his disapprobation of the measures adopted by captain Lindall, in compliance with the whims of his pretty wife. For this reason, he was by no means a favorite with the lady. Our second mate was a young man belonging to Massachusetts, named Willis. He was active, vigorous, and full of animal spirits. The crew was composed of Yankees, and consisted of eight as genuine sailors, and brave and honest fellows, as ever slushed a top- mast, or handled a marlinspike. The cook was a stout, athletic, black fellow, a native of Boston. With such officers, and such a crew, to say nothing of the captain and his wife, it was thought that we should be more than a match for any piratical boat, or even small armed vessel that might attack us. Aftei we left St. Thomas, being bound to New Orleans, and our course lying along the south side of Cuba, as fai 64 TALES OF THE OCEAN. as Cape St. Antonio, Mr. Thompson suggested to the cap tain the propriety of getting our arms and ammunition ready for use, in case we were attacked. The captain admitted the propriety of the measure, and as his wife no farther opposed it, than to say that she hoped they would have no occasion to use fire arms while she was on board, the guns were got ready for action, and every preparation was made to give the pirates a warm reception, ia case they thought proper to molest us. We passed merrily on our way, with a pleasant breeze from the eastward, the regular trade wind. The influence of Mrs. Lindall over her husband did not seem to diminish, but rather increased. The poor man soon became appa- rently reconciled to her assumption of authority over him, and no longer even made a show of disputing any of her thoughtless suggestions or plans. The mates were for- bidden to walk the quarter deck in the night, for fear of disturbing her slumbers — and for the same reason, the sailors were forbidden to indulge in their accustomed cheerful song, while engaged in pulling and hauling on the quarter deck. The holy-stone and scrubbing brush, made music by no means pleasing to madam's ears, and therefore were seldom used. Mr. Thompson bore these annoyanc^es with the patience of a philosopher. He appeared to com- fort himself with the idea, that a few weeks only would elapse, before he should be in an American port, and he would have an opportunity of changing his situation. The crew, however, were less disposed to submit to all the inconveniences and extra labors, which were imposed upon them, in consequence of this lady's being on board — md it required all the authority and energy of Mr. Thomp- son to prevent insubordination, and perhaps revolt. We passed along the south side of Cuba, keeping a good •:>ffing from the isle of Pines, and hauled up for the passage mto the Gulf of Mexico, which lies between Cape Latouche on the main land, and Cape St. Antonio, the western ex- tremity of Cuba. We entered the Gulf of Mexico^ without having encountered any suspicious sail, and captain Lindall. who had evidently felt exceedingly uneasy, while cruising in the^e waters, which were notoriously infested with pi rates recovered his usual cheerfulness, and laughed aiu^ THE PKIATE OFH .APE ST. ANTONIO. 65 joked with his better Iialf, assuring her that we had now passed all danger, and that there was no longer any thing to be apprehended from pirates. It was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and Cape St. Antonio was still in sight, bearing about S. E. by S., when a man who was employed aloft, sang out, " sail ho ! " *' Where away ? " said Mr. Thompson. '' On the lee beam," returned the man at the mast head. There was a fine breeze to the eastward at the time — and as all our ideas of pirates were associated with the isle of Pines and Cape St. Antonio, no one thought of looking to leeward. But there was now plainly to be seen a long, rakish-looking schooner, not more than six or seven miles off, steering on a wind with her starboard tacks aboard evidently with the design of cutting us off. The captain took a long look at her with his glass, and then without Baying a word, handed it to Mr. Thompson. But I ob- served that his pale and dejected countenance, furnished a strong contrast with the cheerful smiles which decked his visage only a few moments before. " What do you think of her ? " said captain Lindall in a faltering voice. " Why," said Mr. Thompson, " she is rather a suspicious looking craft, to be sure, but she may be a vessel from the Mexican coast, working out into the Gulf Stream. I think it would be best to take in the studding sails, and haul our wind — and if she is a pirate we may possibly get clear of her." " If she is a pirate," said captain Linda^, " that will be of little use, for she will sail two knots to our one, on a wind. However we'll try it, at all events." The orders were given, and in a few minutes the Hya- cintha was braced sharp up, and moving along close-hauled, at the rate of four or five knots. At this moment the bear- ings of the suspicious sail were taken, to ascertain whether she increased or diminished her distance. For a few mo- ments we were in an unenviable state of suspense — but it was soon ascertained beyond a doubt that the schooner Wcis head-reaching us rapidly, and at the- same time was eating us out of the wind. " Poor Hawser," said I to myself, ** it is a gone case with you." 6* 66 TALES OF THE OCEAN^ " Capt. Lmdall, that schooner is coming up with us,* said Mr. Thompson, " and I can see by the glass that hei decks are full of men. She is a pokerish looking craft and there's no knowing what she is after. Had we not better call all hands to quarters, get our guns in readiness, and prepare for a desperate defence ? " " Why," said the captain, " if that fellow be a pirate, he is doubtless well armed, and it would be madness to at- tempt any resistance. He has men enough on board to eat us without salt, and doubtless he has several large guns, perhaps a Long Tom, as well as small arms. What do you think of it, my Ellen ? " continued the captain, turn- ing to his pretty wife, whose cheeks, fear had robbed of tbpir wonted roses. "Oh," said the really lovely woman, "do not fight, f beg of you. If you do, I know we shall all be killed." "' There's no help for it," said Mr. Thompson. " If we cannot beat that fellow off, we shall have our throats cut before two hours. The pirates have shown no quarter lately, but have sworn to murder in cold blood every American who is so unfortunate as to fall into their hands. Every man has his peculiar taste, but for my own part, I had rather die grappling with my enemy, than be deliber- ately stabbed and thrown overboard after I have surren- dered. Call all hands there, forward ! " added he, in a voice of thunder. The petted beauty looked into her husband's face, and burst into tears. . But captain Lindall saw from his mate's determined mannei that all the lion was roused within him, and that he was* resolved to sell his life dearly. He saw that he could not comply with the wishes of his wife, and surrender his vessel without resistance ; and he well knew that if any resistance were made, death to all on board, must be the inevitable result, if taken. He therefore issued or- iers to get the brig in readiness for an engagement. And I. really believe that if his wife had not been on board, or if before the commencement of the engagement he had bun- dled her down into the run, and clapped on the scuttle, he would have stood the deck, and fought the pirate like a man. Cut Mr. Thompson seemed in his element. All hands were on deck in a trice, and although not more than one THE PIRATE OFF CAPE ST. ANTOMO. Gl ar two had ever heard the whistling of a bullet, they all declared they would stand by him as long as there was a shot in the locker. The cook filled his coppers with salt water, declaring that he would give tiieni a warm rece})tion — the large guns were loaded with round shot and lan- grage, and the swivels with musket balls. The small arms were also loaded, and the boarding pikes and cutlasses got ready for the occasion. Meanwhile the schooner was gaining upon us fas^ It was plain that she sailed two feet to our one, and when she had got about two points forward of our larboard beam, she tacked; heading towards us. When she fell into our wake she was not more than two miles distant, at which time she again tacked and stood directly for us. We were all watch- ing her with much anxiety, for although her movements were somewhat suspicious, it was by no means certain tliat the schooner was one of the bloody, piratical vessels that infested the coast of Cuba. While we were all intently gazing on the schooner, our countenances alternately ex- pressing hopes and fears, she fired a gun, the shot fioru which struck the water about twenty rods astern. For a moment the hull of the schooner was obscured by the smoke, but when it cleared away, we saw displayed at her main peak, the piratical black flag ! My heart quailed within me at that sight — and I believe that I was not the only person on board who wished him- self safely deposited on terra firma. When Mrs. Lindall became aware of the undoubted character of our pursuer, her fortitude entirely forsook her. She accused her husband of imprudence in taking her with him on such a dangerous voyage — and herself .of folly in running such a fearful risk She declared that she should be killed — but refused t( leave the deck unless her husband accompanied her. Cap- tain Lindall knew not what to do. Firmness of purpose and decision were not prominent traits in jiis character. It is in such an emergency as this, that a man of energy and determination will make his power be felt. Mr. Thompson represented to his superior officer the propriety of relieving the deck of the lady ; and urged him to induce her either by threats or persuasion to go below. But tJ^e lady, although completely overcome with terror, seemed 68 TALES OF THE OCEAN. n sensible U the danger to which she would be exposed by remaining on deck — and declared that nothing on earth ghould part her from her husband. She clung to him in frantic agony, and said she would on her bended knees sue to the pirate for mercy. There are few things, which exercise a more potent in- fluence over the mind of man, than the sight of beauty iu distress — a lovely woman in tears, will do more to change the purp:)ses of determined men, than rude menaces or the prospect of imminent peril. Captain Lindall was evident- ly losing all inclination to fight — and the crew began to look as if they had no objections to suspend the prepara- tion for an engagement. Mr. Thompson, at once saw how matters stood, and addressed the crew in the following pithy harangue : "■ My brave fellows, that pirate is overhauling us very fast — his intention is doubtless to take possession of our ves- sel — and if we allow him to do it, he will cut all our throats, or make us walk the plank. He can do no more if we resist as long as we are able to make any resistance. We have guns and ammunition, and although few in numbers, we may do much if we go heartily to work, and possibly be able to cripple our antagonist, or beat him off. We have our choice to fight with some prospect of success, or to give up the ship without striking a blow, with the certainty of being afterwards massacred in cold blood. Brave men cannot hesitate a moment as to the course they ought to adopt in such an emergency. What say you men?" "We'll fight," responded they, with one voice — "we'll light and beat the scoundrels off — or die at our guns, like true \ankee sailors." " That's enough," said the mate, "every man to his sta-' tior, and be upon the alert my boys, for we have a tough job to execute." He then larned to captain Lindall, who was still suppoi t- ing his wife on the quarter deck. " Captain Lindall," said he, " your wife must ^q:o below." " Mast go below, Mr. Thompson ?" " Yes, sir, I say must go below. This is no timt; for a man to pick his woids. Her presence on deck can be of no use to herself, and only tends to discourage the crew, and the sooner the deck is cleared of her, the better. " THE PIRATE OFF CAPE ST. ANTONIO. 6<^ " \'ery well, sir, I shall remember this language — and the time will come when you shall account for it. But Ellen, my love, perhaps you had better go down into the cabin " added he, addressing his wife. " JNo, no," murmured his wife, "I cannot go below, or *if I do, you must go with me." " I will assist you down into the cabin, my dear, but vnu must be aware that my post as commander of this vesse', is on the quarter deck, and you would not wish me to desert my duty." The lady said nothing, but looked unutterable things. At that moment the pirate fired another shot, which came ratding among the rigging over our heads. Captain Lindall took the arm of his lady, and partly by force, and pardy by persuasion, hurried her below — while the poor woman, amid hysterical sobs, shrieked " we shall all be killed ! we £.hall all be killed ! but husband, you shall not leave me." "I hope he'll stay with you until after the action," muttered Mr. Thompson, " he would only help to cumber the deck, wifhout doing any good. Now, men, to your stations ; and let us do our duty." The small arms were all loaded, each with an ounce ball and seven buck shot, and were given into the charge of two long-limbed Yankees from " down east," who had orders to reserve their fire until they received directions from the mate, and then to blaze away at the enemy as fast as they could, taking good aim. A steady, careful, and brave old sailor was placed at the helm, the boarding pikes were got in readiness for lise, in case they should be wanted, the two big guns were both run out on the larboard side, lashings cast off, primed, and matche? lighted, and were given in charge of the second mate, who, although he had never witnessed an engagement, exhibited much coolness and determination of character, and was evidently resolved to die at his guns, rather than be taken by the pirates. The top gallant sails were taken in, and the courses hauled up, that there should be no obstruction in the way of working ship, and the cook had his boilers well filled with water, and a roaring fire be- neath them. In the mean time the pirate was overhauling us fa.«t. 70 TAliE? OF THT. 0(;EaN He followed nearly in the wake of the Ilyacintha, evidenih with a design of carrying her by boarding on the lee quarter, and occasionally sending over us a shot from " Long Tom," which made more noise than execution. In the course of a short time the piratical schooner had ranged up to within half pistol shot — but not a gun had been fired from the Hyacintha. The. captain of the schooner now appeared on the forecastle. He was a stout, ferocious- ooking fellow, with bushy whiskers : a bandanna handker- chief was bound round his head, two pistols were stuck in a belt which encircled his body, in his right hand lie grasped a cutlass, which he brandished in a menacing manner, while he \\e\d in his left the speaking trumpet through which he hailed the Hyacintha, ordering us, in toferable English, to heave to immediately and haul down our colors, or every soul should be put to death. These orders not being comi)lied with, as Mr. Thompson continued walking the quarter deck without apparently paying any attention to the demands of the big-whiskered pirate, this gentleman turned to his crew, find gave some orders, pointing at the same time towards the brig in the most significant manner. In an instant the bowsprit and jio-boom of the schooner was filled with men, armed to the teeth, and prepared for boarding. " Now," said Mr. Tliompson, " is our time. Mr. Jarvis be all ready with your guns, to pour it into him when I keep her away, in a style which will astonish him. Hard up your helm, Tom ! Square the after yards, men !" The brig wore short round upon her heel — and the manoeuvre was executed so suddenly and unexpectedly, that the pirate had no time to guard against the consequen- ces, and before her position could be materially changed, our guns were both brought to bear upon the schooner in a faking position, and were fired when at tlio distance of not more than twenty yards. The execution was tremendouj* The jib-boom and bowsprit were completely stri[)ped of the s<*cundrels, who were f)repared to board us and cut oui throats. Many of them fell into the sea and perished Wome few, badly wounded with pieces of langrage, clung to the rigging, and crflwled in on deck, howling piteously. The captain ^f the pirate was truly n.ttonished — for he THE F.uATE OFF CAPE ST. ANTONIO nao n^ suspicion that we intended to make any resistance but lie saw that there was no time to be lost, for our small arms were at this time picking off those of his men whom the big guns had spared. The schooner had fallen off consid- erably also, and ranging ahead at the same time, her jib boom ffassed between our fpre and main masts, and she became for a few moments fixed in that position. The pirate captain called upon his men to follow him, and rushed out upon the bowsprit, supported by about twenty as desperate fellows as ever handled a cutlass or stubbed an honest man with a stiletto. But we were prepared for them, and as the leader of the pirates sprang upon our deck, he was thrust through the body with a boarding pike, directed by the nervous arm of the mate — others were shot off by our small arms, which did excellent service, a few reachea the deck of the Hyacintha, and a contest commenced hand to hand with our men ; but before either side had gained any advantage, the cook rushed from his galley with a bucket of scalding water in one hand and a sauce pan in the other, with which he distributed his favors so liberally among the pirates, that they soon lost all relish for fighting, and either jumped overboard, or were cut down by our brave fellows while they were capering like madmen about the deck, and howhng in agony. The deck was hardly cleared of these scoundrels, when the schooner became disengaged from the brig, and dropped astern. In this position, they gave us a volley of musketry, which compliment we answered by the contents of our swivels, that helped somewhat to swell the list of the killed and wounded on board the pirate. The few who were left able to perform any duty, exerted themselves to get the schooner on a wind, and although we continued tc peppei them with bullets, and round shot from our big guns, as bng as they continued within reach, they were soon ena- bled by their superiority of sailing to range so far ahead that we found it useless to continue firing. The schooner escaped, but her loss in killed and wounded must have been very great. When she first came along side, from forty to fifty men could be seen on her deck — when she hauled off, there were hardly half a dozen men able to do duty. During the whole of the engageinent, captain Lin dab 7 74 T4LES OF THE OCEAN. and his lady kept the cabin. We could occasionally, dur Ing intervals in the roar of musketry and cannon, hear the hysterical screams of the lady, and the exhortations of her husband to be composed. But as we gave the pirate our warm salute with the swivels, we heard proceeding from the cabin a deep and piercing shriek of anguish, which seemed to thrill through every heart ; after which all was still. When the engagement was terminated, and the" pirate had got out of reach of our guns, Mr. Thompson put Ills head down the companion-way, and called out that the battle was over ; but no answer was returned ! Alaimed, ho descended the steps, and entered the cabin, followed by myself, and some others of the ship's company, and there a sight presented itself, which will never be erased from my memory. Upon the cabin floor, in the midst of a pool of gore, were extended the forms of captain Lindall and his lovely wife, both apparently without sensation. We has- tened to render assistance, but found that a musket ball had passed through the ill-fated captain's throat, from which wound the blood was still welhng ; the jugular vein had been divided, and hfe had fled forever. His wife was still alive, having fallen in a swoon upon the dead body of her husband. But it was with much difliculty that we were able to restore her to her senses, and then her grief was so violent that it would surpass the power of language to describe it. We subsequently learned that captain Lindall attempted several times to come on deck during the engagement ; but was prevented by his wife, who clinging to his neck, partly by force, and partly by her entreaties and tears, induced liim to remain. During the latter part of the action he was sitting in an arm chair, holding his Ellen in his afms, and attempting to quiet her apprehensions, when the piratea after passing astern of the brig fired a volley of musketry. One of the balls entered the cabin window, grazed tlie cheek of the fainting fair one, and passed through her hus- band's neck, who fell to the floor and expired without a gioan It was then she uttered that piercing shriek, which seems even now to be ringing in my ears. It is singular that captain Lindall was the only man, pn our side, killed in this desperate engagement. Had he THE PIRATE OFF CAPE ST. ANTONIO. 75 fallen while bravely defending his vessel against the at .acks of a band of murdering pirates, his memory would have been fondly cherished by his shipmates and his friends. His untimely fate was a striking illustration of the impro- priety of placing meft of weak minds, deficient in energy and resolution, in responsible situations, where not only riches, but lives are at stake. Mr. Thompson rciceived a slight cut on the forehead from a cutlass, during the action on the decks of the Hyacintha ; and one of the crew was phot through the shoulder with a pistol bullet, from the ef- fects of which wound he with difficulty recovered. Our rigging was much cut lip, and the mainmast received an ugly wound, by a shot from the " long Tom," before we came to close action We met with no difficulty, however, in proceeding to New Orleans, whither we arrived in about a week after our action with the pirates. Mrs. Lindall having lost her husband under such melan- choly circumstances, ere the honey-moon had hardly waned, continued for a long time (three weeks at least,) inconsola- ble. She finally took passage for New York, in a packet, where she arrived without having met with any remarkable adventure, and before six months were passed away, she had again plighted her faith to a young gentleman, a lawyer — she declared she would have nothing more to do with sailors ; and ere twelve months had elapsed from the death of her husband, she had drowned all her sorrows in the sea of matrimony. A SCENE IN MONTE VIDEO. It was in the month of July, 1819, that I happened to be in the port of Monte Video. * A cruel and bloody war at that time raged between the authorities of Monte Video, and Artegas, a 'chieftain, unpolished and uneducated, but whose native shrewdness and valor commanded the admi- ration of the wild and half savage inhabitants of the Banda Oriental, and whose ambition prompted him to place himself at their head and declare for independence. At that time the "rights of man" were but httle regarded at Monte Video. Despotism, oppression, martial law and its attend- ant evils triumphed over liberty and justice. Americans were objects of especial dislike, not only in consequence of the freedom and happiness, which it was known reigned in their country, but because their privateers, under the flag of Artegas, who owned not a ship or a seaport, with com- missions bearing his seal and signature, were roving over the ocean, and capturmg every Portuguese vessel, they fell in with ; Americans, were therefore, viewed by the inhabi tants of the various ports in the Brazils with distrust — they were dishked, and were not unfrequently treated with insult and indignity. At this time there were two or three American vessek lying in the harbor of Monte Video, there being peace oetween the United States and Portugal. One of these vessels was the beautiful and very fast-sailing brig Ariel, commanded by a very worthy, but high spirited Yankee, named Richardson, belonging to a port in Massachusetts Bay. In consequence of the reasons, to which I have dluded, he had -met with difficulty at the custom house, which was with some trouble settled by the assistance of some English and Portuguese merchants of the place, and he had taken his cargo on board, cleared at the custom house, and was ready for sea. On the morning of his intended ileparture, as he was getting up his anchor, and A SCENE IN MONTE VIDEO 77 making sail, a boat from the guard ship came along-side ; an officer sprang on board, and informed him that two soldiers had deserted from the barracks the night before, and there was reason to believe that they were secreted on board his vessel. Capt. Richardson, who knew that there was a severe penalty attached to an offence of this kind, conscious of his innocence, told the officer, that there must be some mistake in the matter, as the men could not be on board — but he was, of course, welcome to search. The search took place, and after a little while, the deserters were found, stowed away in the fore peak ! having been brought off the night before by some of the crew, who were qp shore on liberty ; and of course without the consent or knowledge of the captain or mates. This discovery put a stop to all preparations for sea — the cable was again payed out, and the sails furled. Captain Richardson was, with little ceremony ordered into the boat, and was conveyed on shore, where a guard of soldiers took charge of him, and escorted him to the presence of the Admiral of the Port, a part of whose duty it was to take cognizance of such matters. The Admiral was a fierce, swarthy-looking man, of short stature, but a powerful frame — a frown of malignity constantly rested upon his brow, and he delighted in the wanton exercise of the almost unlimited power, with which, at that time, he was invested. He delighted in acts of tyranny, and knew, or cared nothing for the principles of justice. When the offehding American was brought before him, and his crime explained, a gleam of savage joy for a moment lighted up his countenance, which soon, however, gave place to a scowl of fearful import. He listened with impa- tience to the testimony of the boarding officer, who stated the facts of the case ; he would listen to no explanation from captain Richardson, who loudly and repeatedly disclaim- ed any criminal intent, or knowledge of the act. But this said the Admiral, was altogether useless ; enough was proved to convict him of an attempt to carry away from Monte Video, two Portuguese soldiers, in contempt of the laws prohibiting such an act — and he conceived that it was his duty to inffict upon him exemplary punishment, as a salutary warning to others. Without further ceremony, he 7* 78 TALES OF THE OCEAN. ordered the astonished American to be conveyed to the quay, or public landing place, lashed to a gun on the battery, and severely flogged on his bare back ! The sentence was executed upon captain Richardson, in the most unfeeling manner — his back was shockingly lac- erated — but he bore his sufferings, amid the jeers and shouts of the populace, who were present, without a mur- mur or a groan. When the executioner had performed his duty, he was freed from his fetters and insultingly told by tlie Port Admiral himself, who had witnessed the punishment^ that ne might now go on board his vessel and proceed to sea, carrying with him a token of Portuguese justice I Richardson answered him but by a look, breathing scorn and defiance, and hastened into his boat, whicn was waiting for him at the landing place. As his men rowed him on board, he said not a word, but the convulsive twitches of his features, showed that although all was fair without, the passions were busily at work within. He went into his cabin and changed his clothes, disguising himself in such a manner, that he could not easily be recognized. He loaded a pistol with two balls, and put it in his pocket, and went on deck. He then caused the brig to be got under weigh ; and ordered the mate, who was a faithful and intel- ligent officer, to proceed over the bar, and heave to, for a couple of hours ; and if he, the captain, did not return on board within that time, to make the best of his way for the port in the United States, to which he was bound. He then ordered his gig, a small but beautiful four-oared boat to be lowered and manned, and proceeded on shore. It was about ten o'clock in the forenoon, when captain Richardson landed at the quay. He told his men that they must remain in the boat, ready to shove off" "and pull for their hves, at a moment's warning. The men, who were attached to their commander, promised the most implicit obedience to his orders, at the same time declaring that they were willing to peril their lives in his defence, if necessary. He sprang on shore, but owing to the alteration in his dress, he was not recognised by any persons on the quay, although all remarked his hurried gait, and the fierce and determined expression of his countenance. He looked around him for the Admiral of the Port, the tyrant, who had punished him A SCENE IN MONTE VIDEO. - 81 unjustly, and as he thought, disgraced him forever, unless he could wipe out the stain on his honor, with the heart's blood of his enemy. At this 'time the Admiral was stand- ing near the walls of the battery, in the midst of a group of officers, to whom he was, apparently with much savage glee relating the morning's adventure. Richardson advanc- ed towards tlie group, with his hand in his pocket, resting on the butt of his cocked pistol. When within a few paces of his enemy, he drew forth the weapon, pointed it at the Admiral's head with unerring aim, and pulled the trigger — at the same time exclaiming, in a voice rendered by the impulse of revenge, almost preternaturally loud and clear, ^ Die, Tyrant, Die 1 " The bullet sped, and did its work. It lodged in the brain of the Admiral, who fell to the ground, a corpse ! Richardson turned, and rushed towards his boat, aware that that was his only chance for escape. But the great work of vengeance was accomplished, and whether he now lived or died was with him comparatively of trifling consid- eration. However, he resolved to strive as long as possible for his Hfe. Some soldiers who witnessed the deed, has- tened to intercept him in his flight, but R^ichardson, who was at all times a powerful man, and who now seemed endued with superhuman strength, caught the bayonet by his hand, as it was directed to his bosom, and wrenched the musket to which it was attached, from the grasp of its owner, then wielding it as a club, he felled every one who dared to impede his retreat, until he reached his boat, into which he bounded, and ordered his men to give way with all their strength — and in an almost incredible brief space "i^ time after he had gratified his revenge, he was a hundred yards from the quay, proceeding with astonishing velocity towards his vessel ! The officers had by this time recovered from their stupor, into which they had been thrown by this unexpected and daring act. They now gave the word to the soldiers to fire at the boat ; and the bullets whistled around the heads of Richardson and his gallant crew ; but he, nowise daunted, rose in the stern seats, and while with one hand he grasped the tiller and directed the course of the boat, he shook the other clenched hand in defiance, at the oflllcers. 82 TALES OF THE OCEAN. Bolrfiers and citizens, who by this time had crowded ir hDuiense numbers to the landing place. Boats were now manned from the quay, and from the guard-ship, and sent off after the retreating boat, But liichi?rdson had got the start of his foes, and dashed across the shoals at the entrance of the harbor, in the direction of h:s brig. His mate had literally obeyed his instructions, and the Ariel was lying to, with all sail set, but with her main-top sail to the mast, just clear of the shoals, and out of gun-shot. He reached the deck with his brave nienj unharmed ; the gig was hoisted up, the jib set, and the after yards filled ; and as the beautiful brig rapidly glided away from his pursuers, captam Richardson cast a look upon the towers of Monte Video, fast lessening in the dis^r/ice : — " Farewell," said he, " I shall never return hitlier I have been deeply injured, but that injury has been fearfully avenged." THE HAUNTED SHIP. " Hark ! " said old Tom Tiller to his watdimate, one dark, stormy night, while the brig Porcupine was dashing through the gulf stream under short sail, and puffing and blowing like a porpoise. "Did you hear nothing? I thought 1 heard the sound of a fiddle." " A fiddle ? " said Seth Williams, " why, what put that into your head ? 't is nothing but the creaking of the trysail gaflf, as the sail swings to windward, Vvhen we gjet into the trough of the sea." " I believe you are right," said Tom, "' and I am glad of it. But I thought it was a fiddle at first, and was not a little startled." " Why," said Enoch Evans, " how could you be so silly as to suppose that a fiddle could get on board the brig — when you well know there is not one, in all Hkehhood, within some hundreds of miles. And even if there was a fiddle playing, I do n't see why it should startle you — there is no harm in a fiddle that I know of." " You think so, youngster ? " replied old Tom. " But I have s€en the time when the sound of a fiddle would have startled you, bold as you think yourself. When I was in the old ship Narcissa, I heard fiddling enough to last me all my life time — and that, from no mortal hand." " Well, Tom," said Williams, " I have often heard that sonietliing mysterious took place on board that ship during her last voyage. You were on board and know all about it — we have yet a long watch before us, and suppose you spin us the yarn, just for the sake of killing time." " Aye, do," added Evans, " it will keep us wide awake, and I should like to hear it much." " Say you so, shipmate ? " replied Tom. " Well, I 've no objection. I do 'nt suppose you '11 believe it, but I cannot help that, nevertheless it is true, every word of it " 84 TALES OF THE OCEAN. Tom shifted his position somewhat — placed w'thm his iaws a monstrous mass of the Virginia weed, and leaning against the weather windlass bitts, commenced his narrative as follows . " You must know thai about the year itf id, i found myself adrift in the Isle of France, having been discharged from the brig Calthorp, which put in in distress, and was condemned. With the rest of my shipmates, I was looking out for a chance to get home, when the ship Narcissa, captain Wilbur, arrived from Batavia, bound to New York . Captain Wilbur's object was to procure a supply of water, and fresh provisions. " The next night after the ship anchored in the roads, three of her crew made their escape in the jolly boat to the shore, and disappeared in the interior, and could not afterwards be found ; and notwithstanding there were many curious stories told about the captain, and of matters and things on board, I was so anxious to set my foot on my native soil once more, that I gladly seized the opportunity, and shipped on board, at a hundred dollars by the run foi New York. None of my shipmates could be prevailed upon to accompany me, nor could captain Wilbur ship another hand in the place, and was compelled to proceed on his voyage with a deficient crew. " I was then just in the prime of life, when the blood circulates briskly in the veins, and I had no objection to a little frolic and fun occasionally. But I found the crew of the Narcissa to be the reverse of a mirth-loving set. From the captain down to the cabin boy, they looked as grave and solemn, and were almost as mute as so many mummies ; such a glum set of fellows, I never fell in with before nor since. I puzzled myself to discover the cause of theii which if it did not do him any good, could not do him much harm. But I was deceived. About a week after we left Boston, we were running along to the S. S. W. with square yards, and under double reefed topsails, with a stiff gale from the northward. It was about five o'clock P. M. when captain Dogfish came on deck. There was a wildness in his eye, and a want of steadiness in his gait, "^^hich convinced me at once that he was under the influ- ence of more than one glass of liquor, and I thought we tohoiTld have to stand by" for squalls. •' Mr. Jones," said the captain, speaking to the second niat6, who had the watch, "heave the log, and see how fasT Si tie goes." '' The log was hove, and Mr. Jones reported that slie was reeling it off at the rate of nine and a half knots. "Only nine and a half!" said captain Dogfish, "she must go faster than that. Call all hands and make sail. Let the reefs out of the topsails, and set the top gallan* sails." THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN. 103 '*Aye, aye, sir," said Mr. Jones, but he stared rather hard at the captain for all that, as much as to say, he thought it was a time for taking in instead of making more sail. However, all hands were on deck in a trice, the reefs were soon out, the fore aiid main-top gallant sails set, and the Paladm staggered along, making a crooked wake, and tearing up the water in fine style, groaning and creaking in every timber. "Mr. Barry," said captain Dogfish, to the chief mate, " I believe she will bear the fore-top-mast studding sail, let us try her." *' Mr. Barry knew that it was useless to reason witli a drunken man, and* went to work to set the studding sail. Alter a good deal of labor the sail was hoisted up, but before the tack could be hauled out, the sheet parted, and the sail was in ribbons before you could say Jack Robin- son. Another sail was then bent on, and after much labor, was set, but while the captain was enjoying the sight, and pacmg the deck, exulting in the idea of carrying studding sails in a gale of wind, the ship took a wide yaw to wind- ward, the boom broke short off by the iron, and, before you could sing out " hard up," away went our top-mast over the side. " Oaptain Dogfish flew into a violent rage, declared it was the fault of the man at the wheel, old Sam Tomp- kins, knocked him down with the capstan bar, and cut more monkey shines about the deck, while we were clear ing the wreck, than you could shake a stick at. But the fit W21S soon over ; for after having cut out work enough to last all hands through the night and th'e following day, he went below, took another horn and turned in ; and nothing more was heard from him until the next morning, when the steward called him ta breakfast at eight o'clock. He looked foolish enough when he came on deck, and saw the effects of his conduct, and for several days he kept piotty steady ; but when we were about making the land off Abaco, and during our passage around the Isaacs, and the Bahama Bank, he got into his old habits. *' I have often thought it strange that captains, or mates* of vessels, if they want to have a good blow-out, don't take a time when there is pleasant weather, and plenty c£ lO'l TALES OF THE ciCSAX sea-room If they get boozy at such times, although they may do many foolish things, and torment poor Jack not a little, they can hardly lose the ship, or carry away the spars. But you will ahnost always find it the case, that a captain who is fond of a good stitfener of grog will be sure tc get naif seas over during a heavy gale of wind, .or when ap- proaching a dangerous coast, where the navigation is diffi- cult, and when, if ever, a navigator ought to have a clear Jjead and all his wits about him. I have no great opmion of a man who requires to fortify himself with "Dutch courage" in the shape of rum and brandy, when the lives of all on board are depending upon him. Such a man should never have command of a ship. "However, after running some sever^ risks, we reached Havana, where things went on pretty well for some time, until one day, the 22d of February, Washington's h'lr'-A day, captain Dogfish having dined ashore and got well primed with Madeira and Champagne, came on board about fiv3 o'clock in the afternoon, and ordered the mates to get the guns ready to fire a salute ! Mr. Barry told him it was against the regulations of the port of Havana for a merchantman to fire a gun in the harbor, and that if he attempted to fire a salute, it would kick up a tremendous row. " Don't tell me about rows," said captain Dogfish; "this le Washington's birth day, and I intend these sulky Span- iards shall know it. Therefore, prepare the guns, and get up your cartridges, and we '11 astonish these fellows with our rejoicings." "We had on board four twelve pound carronades, which we accordingly went to work to get ready for talking patriotism; but it took us some time, as the gun-tackles and breechings were stowed away in the half deck. In the meantime, the captain, brim full of wine and mischief, was storming about deck yi great wrath at the delay, and uttering oaths that would choke an "old salt." As soon as the guns were well loaded, he gave the word to fire, and slap went ofl^" the four carronades nearly at the same time, to the astonishment not only of the Spaniards, but of every Englishman. Frenchman and American in port ! They could not conceive what was to nay on board the oM Paladin. THE DRUNKEN XJAPTAIN. 107 ^^ Load away my boys," said captain Dogfish, ' we will give them a real republican salute of thirteen guns, and one for each of the states besides, and I should like to see the man, Spaniard or Englishman, who will dare to say that I have no right to fire a salute on Washington's birth day." So saying, he threw himself into a boxing attitude, smote his two fists together, jumped nearly a fathom towards the main top, and as he came down, shouted loud enough to be heard nearly all over the liar- bDr — " Hurrah for Washington. What d'ye think of that, my fine fellows ? Ha ? " "But his jig was soon up, for, from want of practice, not being very expert at loading the great guns, before we could get ready for a second discharge, a boat from the guard ship, another from the admiral's ship, and one from the custom house, filled with men, dashed along side, and just as the match was about to be applied for the second time, our deck was filled with armed Spaniards, uttering horrid imprecations, and looking as if they could eat us without salt. It was unnecessary for them to ask what we were kicking up such a bobbery for. Captain Dogfish's looks, and his rage at being interrupted in this ungentle- manly manner, told the whole story. He was ordered into one of the boats ; and on his showing some reluctance to obey, declaring that he would see them hanged first, and then he wouldn't, half a dozen swarthy-looking fellows pounced upon him, and notwithstanding his cries, his kicks, and his struggles, they tumbled him head over heels into the boat, pinioned his arms, and carried him off" in triumph^ leaving a guard on board to prevent any further violatior of the laws ! They clapped him into a dismal cell in the common jail, where he was compelled to remain a week or ten days, by which time he was sober enough ; and by the active interference of the American consul, and tht payment of a pretty heavy sum, by way of smart money, he got clear, and returned on boar'd. But he never fin- ished the salute. " Things went on pretty well for some time after this. But captain Dogfish got to be well known by his mad actiojis, and he found it difficult to get a freight for Europe, although vessels were in demand : and he finally accepted 108 TALES OF THE OCEAN. *i freight for Boston. But before we left Havana, Mi Barry, our chief mate, was so disgusted with the captain' conduct, that he left the ship, and in his stead there came on board a Mr. Wilson, whose appearance 1 did not like at all, and if I could have got rid of the voyage, without running away, a thing which every real sailor will scorn to do, I should have been glad of the chance. But I knew that was impossible, so I determined to make the best of it; comforting myself with the idea that the passage would not be a long one, at all events. •'• We sailed from Havana some time in the month cf April, and although I was not on board over twenty days, It was the most unpleasant passage I §ver passed at sea, I have sailed in a leaky ship, have been put on short al- lowance, had bad provisions, have rounded Cape Horn twice, returned from Archangel once late in the season, and have sailed with know-nothing ignoramuses, and full- blooded tyrants, yet you may rely upon it, shipmates, that there is nothing among the many ills of life, so sad and disheartening, as to be obliged to make a passage with a drunken captain." '• I can testify to that tact," said O'Darby, the boatswain, L h:\ve tried it to my sorrow." '^ So have I," said Sam Nelson. '* Well," continued Ned Rollins, "to make a long story short, we sailed from Havana, and how we ever got clear of the Bahamas, the Lord only knows. For captain Dog- fish, as if he meant to make up t\)r lost time, began to stimulate as soon as ever we got outside of the Moro, and the wiiy he used up the old Cogniac and Madeira, for he piided himself on being a gejitlemaii, and using gentle- manly driidvs, was enough to astonish a real old soaker. And we soon found to our sorrow that our new mate, Mr. \\~i!son, was not behindhand in such matters. There was no order, or method, or discipline on board, but al undance of swearing, halloing, fighting and flogging. And the only peace we had was during those times when the cap- tain and mate both together got so drunk that they were incapable of tormenting the crew. This, however, seldom happened, for they managed pretty regularly, to get drunk, watch and watch. THE DRUNK i:n captain. 109 * The first nigrit out from Havana, we found ourselves all at once in tne white water ^ on tlie Florida shore, and if Bob Reeftackle, had not noticed it, as he went out on the bowsprit to loose the flying jib, in five minutes more there world have been an end of our voyage. The captain was bel^w at the time, well primed, and he got into a great rage when he came on deck, and found the danger we had so narrowly escaped ; for alter we went about, we hove U e lead, and found only five fathoms of water! He al used Mr. Wilson, who had the watch on deck, like a {)ickj)ocket ; and called him a drunken rascal. Mr. Wilson declared he was no more drunk than himself, and he spoke the truth. The captain knocked him down, and ordered him below ; but the next morning explanations were given, and it was all made up. " The next night, while we were sailing along comforta- bly with a free wind, all at once we found ourselves among the small islands on the Great Bahama Bank, and how we ever got clear,- 1 never could find out, but by dint of sheer good luck, we got into the gulf again. On the fourth day ot' our passage we found ourselves among the breakers off Cape (Jarnaverel. The old ship struck twice pretty heav- ily, but fortunately for us, passed over, for if she had stuck, all on board must have been lost. " In passing along the Gulf Stream, we had some tough squalls, and sometimes every stitch of canvas would be Liken in, and the vessel would lay like a l(»g on the water, and after the squall had passed, then it was make sail in a hurry. At other times, when the captain was well fortified with grog, he would carry all sail until the squall struck us, and then there was a considerable fluttering of kites, and noise and confusion, I'll assure you. Every thing would be let go by the run. More than once we got caught aback, and I had made up my mind that the old bhip must go down stern foremost, but she always boxed oil", and we were saved, which 1 felt -was more than we deserved. What with thumping on the Carnavercl shoals, and ^training the ship by carrying sail, she leaked badly, requiring one hand at the pump almost all the time ; and this, added to our other duties, and our rascally treatment, /.aused us to lead rather unhappy lives, and I believe if ve 10 no .ALES OF THE OCEAN. had been rut a week longer, there would have been 8 revolt ai]*ong the crew, and that we should have taken possession, and put the captain and chief mate in irons and kept them there, at any rate until they had got sober, and promised better behavior. There is nothing more annoying to a rational being, than to be obliged to obey the unreasonable orders, and extravagant whims of a drunken man. It goes right against the grain." ^- So it does," said O'Darby. *' However, we kept a stiff upper lip, hoping that the voyage would soon be at an end, until we reached the en- trance of the South Channel. Here as we were gettmg into rather daftigero us navigation, the captain thought proper to take on board an extra allowance of steam, in order to quicken his ideas ; and the chief mate of course followed his example. The second mate, Mr. Jones, kept pretty sober, considering ; but he was a weak, timid fellow, did not know much, and was mightily afraid of the captain. There was nobody on board fit to take charge of the ship, and I thought if we succeeded in getting safe into Boston harbor, it would be more than we deserved. The captain ordered the lead to be cast every half hour, and at every sound he would change the course. The wind was about South East, and the weather looked rather greasy, but he steered first to the North, then N. W., then N. E. &c. until finally it would puzzle a Boston lawyer, let alone a Philadelphia one, to tell us where we were. " Night came on, and while I was at the wheel, and we were running to the N. N. W., at the rate of five or six knots, one of the men on the forecastle shouted out — " Breakers ahead ! " I put the helm hard up at once ; but it was of no use, we were right in the midst of the break- ers. The captain was evidently much frightened, and capered about the deck like a French dancing-master. He gaT/e orders to hoist out the long-boat, and coming across the mate the moment after — " You drunken rascal you,'' said he, '< why didn't you keep a better look out?" and gave him a rap across his pate with his speaking truaapet, which knocked him as flat as a flounder ! We expected every moment to strike ; but just as we were about to hoisi •»ut the boat, the water grew smooth again, and as T had THE DRUNKEN CAPTAIN. Ill Lecn thro'jgh the South Channel several times, 1 told the captain that it must be Fishing Rip, wliich we had just passed over, as there was always a heavy tide-rip upon it. which in a fresh gale could be heard some miles. '* Do you think I don't know where we are, you scoun- drel ? " said he. '' Things have come to a pretty pass, indeed, if such ragamuffins as you are to teach me my duty." And without further ceremony he served me ah he did the chiei mate ; and I inwardly resolved to interfere no more, if I saw the ship going to destruction head fore- most. " We were two days sailing about in the channel, oi near it, sometimes running free, ^.nd sometimes close- hauled, on the starboard tack, unid we got on George's Bank, and then on the larboard tack, until we got among the rips off Nantucket or Chatham. At last captain Dog- fish declared that he knew by the soundings, we had passed the pitch of the cape, and ordered the yards to be squared, and the ship to be steered VV. N. W. for Boston. I felt rejoiced at this, for I knew if we kept this course long, we should be brought up somewhere all standing, which would be better, even at the worst, than to be drifting about in a leaky ship, commanded by a miserable, dnniken brute. Night came on, and we were still stivering it off at a great late towards the land. The weather was rather thick, and as we could not see a great distance, some on board were not a little apprehensive as to the result. " All at once, a man sung out from the fore-topsail yard, " Light, ho ! about a point on the starboard bow." " I see it from off the deck," said Mr. Jones. " It is a fixed light, and must be on Cape Cod. Put your helm hard a-port, or we shall be ashore." " Steady your helm ! " roared the captain, in a voice of thunder. " What's that you say, Mr. Jones 1 Do ycu dai-e tc alter the ship's course, without consulting me ? " " Why, sir " said the second mate in a most deprecating tone, " there is Cape Cod light right ahead, and as we cannot see it far this thick weather, we must be very near the land." *' You are a know-nothing blockhead," retorted the cap- tain, "and for the value of a chaw of tobacco, 1 would 112 TALES OF THE OCEAN. chuck you overboard at once. I see the light now myself It is a revolving light — it is Boston light. Mr. Wilson show a lantern for a pilot." *' Mr. Wilson was too far gone, just then, to look after a lantern, he was busily engaged in sleeping off the eflects of two or three heavy caulkers of old Hollands, which he had stowed away beneath his jacket. " The captain, although he could talk as fast, swear as heartily, and shout as loud as ever, could hardly stand, and certainly was not able to judge whether the light before us was single, double, revolving or fixed, and after what he had just told the second mate, we felt no disposition to rry to set him right on the subject. But we were convinced that the light must be Cape Cod light, and that if our course was not altered in less than fifteen minutes, we should be ashore on Cape Cod beach. There was something of a sea on, and there was evidently a heavy storm brewing. So we all resolved to get ready when she struck to spring overboard, and make desperate exertions for our lives. "In the meantime, the steward had displayed a light in the rigging, and the captain was walking fore and aft the quarter deck, launching oath after oath against the lazy pilots who would not make their appearance, when the ship rose high on a heavy roller, and the next moment we were slap ashore hard and fast on the back of Cape Cod I '* The shock threw us off our legs. We sprang up, however, and before another breaker struck us, we sprang overboard and struck out for the beach, which we could then see, not more than twenty or thirty yards off ; and although we got pretty well ducked, and not a little fright- oned by two or three combers that rolled over us before we got ashore, we finally reached the beach in safety, although much exhausted. '* A heavy gale came on soon afterwards, and the next morning on looking for the Paladin, we found her driven well up on the beach, but full of water, and half buried in the sand ; and her old bones probably lay there to this day Captain Dogfish was never heard of after the ship struck ; he was probably washed overboard immediately, but being incapable, by drunkenness, of using his limbs, he was un- ^^oiibtedly drowned. After the gale subsided, the bodies 0/ 114 TALES OF THE OCEAN. the chief mate and steward were found floating about in the cabin. • " Such was the end of the Paladin ; a noble ship, which the underwriters had to pay for, with all her cargo, consist- ing mostly of coffee and sugar, merely -because the man selected to take charge of her, although a good sailor and navigator, would get drunk ! " " Well, Ned," said Sam Nelson, '' you may think your- self lucky to get off so \ve\\. Many a poor fellow has lost the number of his mess, and many an underwriter has had to come down with the shiners, merely because the captain or mates of a merchantman would indulge in the sad habit of drinking spirits or wine. So far as my knowledge ex- tends, there is precious little difference. It is bad enough for a fore-inast-hand to get drunk ; it is still worse for a mate ; but of all things that inhabit the earth, there is notic- ing I more heartily despise than a Drunken Captain." "I agree v/ith you there, entirely, my hearty," said O'Darby, the boatswain. LICENTIOUSNESS I HAVE said that the vices of intemperance and lic.en tioiisness were common to sea-faring men in all parts of the W3rld. This is proverbially the case. It is these vices which lay the foundation of the ruin of many excellent seamen, and which make them a by-word of disgrace. Intemperance and licentiousness generally go hand in hand together. When one of these demons is seen, the other is seldom far off It is difficult to say which of them has proved most detrimental to the mariner. Of intem- perance I have already spoken, and I would now raise the voice of a friend to warn the mariner to shun the dangeious rocks of licentiousness, which lie in the fair way of the channel of life ; and which when the beacon fires of virtue and reason were not burning, have swamped many a gal- lant vessel. Reason was given man to enable him to control his pas- sions, place a check upon his animal propensities, and to seek enjoyments in other sources than in the gratification of the brutal appetites of his nature. But the licentious man treats the counsels of reason with contempt, scoffs at the wliolesome precepts of morality and religion, and places himself, by his own voluntary act, on a level with the brute. He passes that time which should be spent in rational pur- suits, with a class of females, who have openly renounced all pretensions to virtue, who are outcasts from the society of tiie pious and good, who scoff at modesty, that richest attribute of the female character, who embrace a life of shame, and subsist by ministering to the weaknesses and vices of the other sex. The licentious man spends his money, the recompense for encountering many a fearful peril on the ocean, in bartering for the smiles and favors of a harlot, who sells her faded "charms to the highest bidder and gains a wretched livelihood by pursuing a professioi 'lamped with the scorching brand of infamv. 116 TALKS OF THE OCEAN By yielding himself to the indulgence of these guilt)) pleasures, by associating with the priestesses who sacrifice at the altar of licentiousness, his mind will soon become weakened, his morals destroyed, and his constitution im- paired ; as if the judgment of an offended Deity hung over the wretch who dares to violate thus openly one of the prominent laws of nature and religion, he will sooner or later contract a filthy, painful and oft-times incurable diseas'3, which will make existence a burden to others, as well as to himself, and which, if it should not prove the direct means of carrying him to the grave, will very often weaken the sys^m and lay the foundation of other diseases, which wili eventually prove fatal. The vice of licentiousness, whether practised by either sex, is infamous. The woman who is known to have departed from the paths of virtue, is justly debarred the privilege forever, of again mingling with the chaste and virtuous of her sex. And although the man, who delivers himself up to licentiousness, may in the eyes of the world, be a less guilty being than the fair and frail female, who has, perhaps, fallen before his seductive arts, yet he is, nevertheless, equally deserving of opprobrium, having sinned against the laws of God and man, and should be visited with the contempt and scorn of every good member of society. Indeed, in the present age, the man who looks for happiness n the gratification of the baser appetites, who is not ashamed o exliibit his person in a brothel, that den of infamy, ie, )ften regarded as a worthless being, entitled to no res})ect lor confidence from his fellow men. And would tluit it Aere always thus. Then let the sailor have due regard to the principles of )ure morality, and also show that he feels some soHcitude for his character and standing in society. Let him ikj :onger be the habitual inmate of brothels. No longer \vA it be said that in every populous maritime city in the Union, hundreds, and in our larger cities, thousands, of these p(.«or. miserable, vicious and abandoned prostitutes, are encour- aged to pursue their dreadful course of guilt, by the money which is given them by our sea- faring men. For it cannot be denied that by pursuing the vile pathway of licentioiis ness, seamen injure not only ihemselves, but otriers, nn;! LICENTIOUSNESS. 117 aro the cause of tlie immense number of prostitutes, which are found in our large maritime towns, a disgrace to civil- ized Ife. Many thousands of females, who are now earning Dy the basest and most depraved means, a wretched exist- ence, estranged from their friends, and the respectable portion of the community, would in all probability, were it not for the laxitv in the moral habits of liie sfea-faring population, be now pursuing some honest, perhaps respect- able occupation and would never have lost their caste in society. Let the sailor abandon the society of the aban- doned, and seek the society of virtuous women, whose pure and edifying conversation and heavenly-beaming smile, the attendants on innocence, will exercise a wholesome influ- ence over his conduct, and urge him onward in the paths of virtue and happiness. A sailor* should always have a home. His organization, mental or physical, is not so peculiar, as to prevent his indulgence in domestic joys. If he has a mother or sisters, they must take a deep interest in his welfare, and would rejoice to correspond with him when absent, and would greet him with the hallowed kiss of affection, whenever he could make it convenient to visit the home of his youth. These are ties which bind a man to happiness and virtue ; and should be broken only by death. When a mariner forgets the relations and ties, which were once so dear to him, and prefers to his once quiet and happy home, the boarding-house kept by some hungry shark of a landlord, who is anxious only to brutahze his boarders, or the infa- mous abode of some wretched female, whose n!ind is polluted, and who has given herself up to the worst of vices, there is little hope of him ; he descends rapidly, but surely, into the very sink of degradation and ruin. Tiiere is no reason why a sailor should deprive himself of tne joys of a married life. A virtuous and industrious wife would exert a beneficent influence ever his conduct, and like a guardian angel save him from the quicksands ol intemperance, or the dark whirlpools of licentiousness, 'nstruct him to live for others, and ensure his own happiness by contributing to the happiness of those who ought to be dearer to him than hfe. I have often heard it said that a sail or has no business; with a vvife ; that the man, who passes 1 18 TALES OF THE OC^:\iy. three fourths at least of his time on the ocean, or awaj from his home and his native land, should not burden him- self with a wife, but should remain free and untrammeled as the wind which wafts him across the seas, with no one to rejoice in his prosperity, or bewail his misfortunes. This, however, is a great mistake. If the married life confer happiness, and who will dare to deny it, why should the sailm- be debarred access to joys, which are not vithheld from the rest of mankind ? The affections of a ^ irtuous woman, are one of the greatest blessings which Providence can bestow. They are a treasure beyond price, which can be appreciated by the seaman as well as the landsman. When away from home he feels in his heart, that there is one kind being, who is interested in his welfare, and is offering up prayers to heaven for his safety ; who will share with him the favors of fortune, and be a solace and comforter to him in the hour of trouble ; who will welcome him to his home, with unfeigned delight, and partake with him the cup of life, whether of weal or of woe. This remembrance sheds a moral purity, a holier atmosphere around him. If he possess a spark of conscientious feeling, or any sense of honor, this reflection will act as a charm to secure him from evil habits, and cause him to • ... resist with but little effort, all the temptations to immorahty, which abound in every foreign port. The thoughts of his wife and children will stimulate him to action, and bring out all the energy of his character. He will be ambitious to gain a name not only for correctness of moral conduct, but for industry and attention to his duty, and will receive the certain reward, the confidence of his employers. We repeat it, there cannot be a greater error, than that a sailor should shun the state of matrimony, as if destruc- tion lurked within it, and wander through the world alonCj without one kind friend to cheer him on his way ; a prey to the hungry harpies, which cluster around him, and lure him from the paths of virtue. A landsman should gel married as early as it is convenient, but a sailor should get .narried early at all events. THE SAILOR IN A SEPULCHRE. It was a dark and stormy night in November, 1810 The scud flew rapidly across the firmament. The wind blew in gusts ; and whistled and howled merrily through the rigging, as the beautiful ship Packet of Boston, com- manded by captain Bacon, rode gallantly at anchor in the river Mersey, opposite the great commercial city of Liver- pool, in England. The top-gallant yards were on deck and the top-gjijlant masts housed ; the topsail and lower yards were braced sharp up ; we had a good scope of our small bower cable out, with a heavy anchor and good hold- ing ground ; our best bower was hanging by a single stopper, and although the tide rushed like a mill-sluice past the vessel, and the tempest blew at times with fearful energy, the noble ship rode with perfect safety ; and little danger was apprehended of getting adrift, unless some coaster, or other vessel, not so well provided as ourself with ground tackle, came down athwart our hawse. An anchor watch was set ; two in a watch, with orders to keep a good look- out ; to call the pilot at slack water, if the gale increased ; and to let go tlie best bower, under foot, at the Icasl symptom of dragging our anchor. My waichmate at thi^ time, happened to be Martifi Schultz, an honest Dutchman, and a thorough-going hiil intelligent " old salt." He had sailed under the flags of most of the nations in Europe ; could speak a variety of languages indifferently well ; and was now satisfying certain queries, which had existed for some years in his fnind, respecting the usage in the American merchant service. After pacing the deck, engaged in desultory conversatioi* for a single glass, I begged Martin to while away the re 120 TALES OF THE OCEAN nriJiiiider of our watch, an hour and a half, by reciting sonit one of the many strange adventures which he must have met with, in the cour«e of his eventful hfe. " Well," said Martin, " I will tell you a httle occurrence. »vhich happened to me about fifteen years ago, and whicfi made such an impression on my mind, that I shall never forget it to my dying day." Thus saying, JSIaitin put a new quid, of mammoth size, into his mouth, hemmed two or three times, took a look over the bows to see that all was light, and commenced his narrative as follows : — " You must know, youngster, that I was once attached to a sloop, that run as a packet between London and Edin ourgh ; I was then a lively, harurn scarum chap, up to any thing, and had no contemptible opinion of myself. The master, however, took a liking to me, and although the ]y in that loathsome cell, I should have been a fit inmate for a mad-house for life. I absolutely wept for joy. As soon as I recovered my scattered senses, and by breathing the comparatively pure atmosphere, had-regained a little strength", I took possession 16* THE SAILOR IN A SEPULCHRE. 13 w of the lantern, and leisurely left the church, the door of which the first brace of robbers, in their hurr}^, had left open. I reached the street without difficulty, and had not proceeded far, before I fell in with a watchman, to whom I communicated my story. He led me to the watch-house, and then hastened to secure the church from the depreda- tions of any other gang of villains. " Seated before a good fire, I had leisure to reflect on the events of the night ; and I must confess that I felt heartily ashamed of my conduct. I had suffered myself to be most egregiously duped, and could hardly muster courage to go on board the packet, and give an account of my adventures. But there was no alternative ; therefore, borrowing from the captain of the watch a great coat, hat and pair of shoes, IS soon as the sun appeared above the horizon, I wended ny way towards the pier. The captain was thunderstruck t the intelligence I gave him of the loss of the mail, and mmediately took measures to discover the individuals who lad thus surreptitiously obtained possession of it. In this lowever, he was disappointed. I could not point out the house, where the first scene in •the drama was enacted, as *he street was a long one, and all the houses looked alike. ")n the next day, all the letters which contained neithei noney nor drafts, were sent to the post office ; the others were never afterwards heard of." " But Martin," said I, " you have forgotten your ship- mate, J.i''k Wiggin. What became of him ? " •' v^ii," said Martin, "Jack was picked up at about twelve o'clock at night, in the hiiddle of the street by a watchman. We both shared the same fate, with only this difference, that Jack was ejected through the front door, while I must have been tossed out of a back window. '* This adventure was a dear-bought, but useful lesson io me, I believe it saved me from many an awkward scrape, for I was never so easily gulled afterwards. But, Hawsei, it is four bells, and time that we were relieved. Strike the bell, and rous*^ out Jack Thompson aiid lutle Daniel.'^ THE DUEL AT SEA. That mode of giving and receiving satisfaction for an uijury, termed duelling, is practised onl f among the most honorable men, and an individual who has been so fortu- nate as to figure as a principal in an ^' affair of honor" if he escape with life, is supposed to carry about with hira forever after, a diploma of his honorable conduct and feel- ings. The following relation of an event, which occurred nearly twenty years ago, will serve to illustrate fully the character of the honorable system of duelling, as practised in modern times. It was in the year 1819, that the brig Arabella sailed from the port of New York for the island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies. She was commanded by Cornelius Barnacle, a rough son of Neptune, who embraced a nautical life at a very early age, and who had gone through all the different grades, from cabin-boy to captain. He was a thorough sailor, and it was this quality which gained him the confi- dence of his employers, for he possessed hardly any other quality which ought to have recommended him to the favor of ^ny respectable or honest man, being bmtal, ill- bred, and tyrannical. Outboard of his vessel he was a real despot, and exetcised almost as much authority, and was as cruel and capricious as an eastern pacha. He was also Biidly given to intemperance ; or to speak more correctly, although he was seldom drunk, he was never sober ; keep- ing a pretty " taut skin " -the whole of the time. It may easily be imagined, that with such a commander a crew must have led an uneasy life. He wag what is technically called a ''tauter," and nothing delighted him so much as to fire heavy vollies of oaths and menaces at liis men. He would sometimes stand on the break of the quarter-deck, for hours together, during a gale of wind, and give orders through his speaking trumpet about taking ir THE DUEL AT SEA. 133 sail, *accompanied witli the most horrid imprecations and threats. He was consequently feared and heartily hated by every man on board. The chief mate, Mr. Hodgkins, was an " old salt/' who could drink his allowance without wincing, and who tried hard to give satisfaction to his comryander, by flatter- ing his prejudices and indulging his extravagant whims. J'he second mate, Mr. Green, was a young man of gentle deportment and pleasing exterior. His appearance and conduct formed a singular contrast with the harsh counte- nance and repulsive manners of his surly commander. There was also an old gentleman on board, named McKenzie, or, as he was called, major McKenzie, who had passed many years of his life in the West Indies, and who was nevei better pleased than when joining captain Barnacle, in his deep potations of old Madeira or brandy sling. He was reputed wealthy, having been engaged in some highly lucrative voyages, traflicking in human flesh, between Porto Rico and the coast of Africa. Arthur Melvin was the supercargo. He was a young gentleman of a well cultivated mind, and of a kind, amiable disposition ; the only and almost adored son of a widow lady, who was a distant relation of the owner of the Arabella. Born and educated in Massachusetts, he early imbibed a spirit of enterprise ; and familiar with tlie theory of mercantile operations, he now embarked on his first voyage, to turn his knowledge to some practical purpose, and to lay the foundation of his fortunes. He was a noble- hearted fellow, possessing an open hand, and a buoyant epirit ; and no one, with a spark of humanity in his bosom, could know him without loving him. But Mr. Melvin was unpleasandy situated on board the Aiabella. Captain Barnacle was incensed at the idea of fxjmg placed under the control of a supercargo, a young man who had never had his hands in a tar bucket, or been sprinkled with salt water, and omitted no opportunity, mdirectly, of mortifying his feeHngs. It was evidently his intention to make the situation of the supercargo an unen- viable one, and he succeeded but too well. Captain Barnacle and major McKenzie seemed to under- stand each other remarkably well ; they sat Jong at tabic. 12 4: TALES OF THE OCEAN. drank deep, indulged in ribald jests, and noisy songs, at wiiich Mr. Melvin was so much disgusted that he would seldom remain at table a moment after he had finished his dinner, but infinitely preferred pacing the quarter deck, or conversing with the mates, and endeavoring to gain some knowledge of seamanship and navigation. The winds were light and unfavorable during the early part of the passage, which threatened to be of an utiusual length. It was the twenty first day after leaving New York that the brig was not far from the island of Barbuda, running do^vn for St. Barts, when late in the afternoon, captain Barnacle came on deck accompanied by major McKenzie, both pretty well excited by the generous liquor. At this time Mr. Green was teaching the supercargo to make a diamond knot. Captain Barnacle advanced towards them, and in a very abrupt manner, with an oath, advised his second ofHcer to attend to his duty, and to look after the vessel. Mr. Green made some remarks in a respectful manner, explanatory of his conduct ; at which the captain, the native ferocity of whose disposition was increased by copious draughts of brandy, flew into a great rage, rushed upon his officer and knocked him down ; then seizing a rope's end, he was proceeding to give him a severe and summary chastisement, when Mr. Melvin thought it time to interfere*. He caught the infuriated Barnacle by the arm, begging him to be calm, and listen to reason, assuring him that he, the supercargo, was more in fault than the second officer. Barnacle, thus interrupted while in the act of inflicting a disgraceful punishment on his officer, turned towards the supercargo with a countenance glowing with ire. His eyes seemed lighted up with a demoniac fury. He shook off the grasp ol Melvin with a convulsive movement. " I know it,'' said he. " It is you who are spoiling my officers and crew a beardless stripling, a needy ship's cousin, who, unable to gain your livelihood on shore, are taking the bread out of the mouths of better men than yourself. Scoundrel ! I will learn you to lay your hands on me. Take that 1 " at the same time dealing the supercargo a severe blow in the face. The violence of tlie blow caused Melvin to stagger back- wards a few steps against the fife-rail, which prevented him THE DUEL AT SEA. 137 from falling on the deck. His hand involuntarily grasped an iron belaying-pin, which was loose in the rairl, and as the captain pressed forward to .repeat the blow, Melvin 'mechanically raised the belaying-pin, and brought it down with such force against Barnacle's cranium, that that worthy involuntarily measured his length on the deck. Barnacle, who was at first stunned by the blow, in a few moments recovered his physical faculties, but seemed in- spired with the fury of a madman. He rushed to the com- panion-way, and called aloud to the steward to tring him his pistols. " There is a mutiny on board ! " said he, " and, quick, give me my pistols, that I may shoot the ringleader through the head." He got possession of his pistols, and would undoubtedly have put his threat into instant execu- tion, if he had not been restrained by McKenzie, who, partly by force, and partly by entreaties, induced him to desist from his murderous purpose. *' Captain Barnacle," said McKenzie, " you are a man of honor; and I have no doubt that Mr. Melvin is also a man of honor. A mutual but deadly affront has been given, which, according to the rules of modern chivalry, can only be effaced by blood. There is no alternative. You must fight." "Fight?" reiterated Barnacle, "I will fight the rascal who struck me on board my own vessel, in the presence of the ship's company, at any time, the sooner the better, with any weapon from a cambric needle to a forty-two pounder." " Pooh, nonsense ! " said McKenzie, " you must fight with pistols, and fight like gentlemen, like men of honor. Mr. Melvin, I supf)ose that, of course, you have no objec- tion to giving captain Barnacle satisfaction." '' Captain Barnacle first insulted me," said Melvin ; " he struck me, and I returned the blow. But if he thinks himself injured, I will give him satisfaction whenever we reach the shore." " I like your spirit, my good fellow," replied McKenzie, * but we cannot wait for that. There is nothing '.ike doing business off-hand. Therefore I think you and the captain had better take a shot at each other, in a gentlemanly way, oefore you turn in. You will sleep all the better for it." There was something in the idea of fighting a duel, 12* 8 TALES or THE OCEA.^. repugnant to !Melvin's feelings. It was af. variance with the principles of morality and religion, which had early been taught him by the most excellent of mothers. But he felt deeply the bitter and repeated taunts and insults of his comniander. He was also goaded on by the artful and cold hearted McKenzie, and dreaded to be thought a coward. Besides, he perhaps felt a secret exultation at tht; thought of being able to prove himself a man of hoTwr ; and in an evil hour he acceded to McKenzie's arrange- ments for a duel. It was agreed that the " affair of honor " should take place on the quarter-deck, and should be fought with the captain's pistols. The parties should be placed fronting each other, on different sides of the deck, about seven or eight paces apart. McKenzie acted as the captain's yrienr/ on the occasion, and Mr. Hodgkins acted in the same capacity towards Melvin. McKenzie was to give the word, viz : " Fire — one — two — three.'^ The parties were to discharge their pistols after the word fire, and before the word three should be pronounced. Barnacle was an excellent shot with a pistol, having often pmctised for amusement, and it was reported that he once shot a man off of the maintopsail-yard-arm by way of experiment, because he did not haul out the weather ear-ring, when reefing top- sails, as quickly as was required. But as for Melvin, he had never fired a pistol half-a-dozen times in his hfe. The preparations were soon completed, and the parties look their respective stations with the weapons of death in their hands. The crew gazed upon these murderous arrangements in silent horror. '^I'hey detested their tyrant captain, and were strongly attached to Melvin, appreciating his many excellent qualities ; but such was the power oi disc'pline, intermingled with a fear of captain Barnacle^ that they dared not interfere, but remained silent spectators of the approaching tragedy. McKenzie gave the word. But at the word ^ fire,' Melvin, pressing his finger too hard upon the hair-trigger of his pistol, discharged it before he nad raised it to a horizontal position, and the ball entered •he deck near his feet. A 'gleam of satisfaction, such as we might suppose would visit tlie features of a fiend, who anticipated success in his efforts to lure a christian into the THE DUEL AT SEA. paths of guilt, now lighted up the swarthy countCLance o! Barnacle. Ere McKenzie had slowly pronounced the words one, two, three, he took a deliberate and deadly aim at the noble youth, who stood before him, fired, and the unfortunate Melvin fell to the deck, being pierced in the side by a pistol bullet ! He placed his hand on his wound — ^' It is all o-ver," exclaimed he, " and my poor mother ! where will she liiiG •comfort now? And Adela, what will become of hei;,? O God, pardon me for this sinful act." lie then sprang convulsively to his feet, apparently the prey cf intolerable mental and physical suffering, and before any one could support him, he sunk again to the deck, a bleeding corpse I " You have finished him handsomely," said the major, coolly, addressing captain Barnacle. " Poor fellow ! He showed a noble spirit, any how." •' It is better him than me," said Barnacle. " But we had better draw up a statement of the affair, in order to prove to the satisfaction of every honorable man, that the du3l was conducted throughout according to the strictest principles of honor. '^ The statement was drawn up and signed by the two seconds, " both honorable men." The body of the hapless and imprudent Melvin was committed to the deep, and in a few days we reached our destined port. It was soon rumored in St. Thomas's that the supercargo of the Arabella had been killed in a duel ; but as he fell in an affair of honor, fighting with an honorable man, of course no further notice was taken of the transaction. It is probable that captain Barnacle thought his emplojer and the friends of JMelvin at home miizht view the matter in a light somewhat dillerent, and b}' the assistance of the hoary-headed old scoundrel, McKenzie, he procured a situa.tion as master oi a Guineaman, out of St. Johns, Porto Rico. He continutru to act according to I is idea of the character of an honor- able man, and was a few years afterwaid^- hanged at New Orleans for piracy 1 TOBACCO A MONO the habits, which are often urged as a reproaen to seamen, and which certainly may be considered reprehensi^ ble when indulged in to a certain extent, may be inchided an inordinate use of tobacco. There may be nothing absolute- ly vicious, criminal, or immoral, in using tobacco, but it may nevertheless be justly considered an expensive, an useless and an unnatural habit. The inveterate smoker or tobacco- chewer is a slave to this propensity, and if deprived only for a few days of this loathsome weed, he becomes queru- lous, irritable, peevish and miserable, and in order to enjoy again the luxury of this poisonous vegetable, he would part with any of his worldly possessions, or place his hfe in almost any hazard. And what is the nature of the substance, which yields so much satisfaction to the sailor and the landsman ? It is a plant reared by the labor of slaves, of the most revolting character, nauseous to the taste, and offensive to the stomach, and the juice of which when introduced into the veins, operates as a potent poison, and destroys life. It is long before an individual can become accustomed to its use j and the free use of this filthy narcotic is a forcible illustra- tion of the power of habit to triumph even over the laws of nature. Nothing can be more disgusting than tobacco, when first introduced into the mouth ; and the youth, wh o deems that " chewing tobacco " is an evidence of man* hood, and is ambitious of becoming able to squirt tobacco- juice around in a right-manful manner, has to endure much discomfort, and make many wry faces and frightful grima- ces before he can turn over his quid in the true sailor style, and discharge a platoon of " old soldiers," in the course of a single watch. By perseverance, however, which would be better manifested in a better cause, he will soon become expert, and in the course of a short time may reasonably expect to be able to masticate as much of the filthy TOBACCO 141 vegetable, scatter as much of the juice, and sufler as much inconvenience when the supply is exhausted, as the oldest " old salt " on board. Where, within the whole range even of imagination, shah we loo.k for a more disgusting object than a beaidless youth making his first attempt at imitation, into the elevating and purifying habit of tobacco chewing. Mark the air of manly independence with which he brandishes his first " plug," before introducing it into his loathing palate ; and then the steady perseverance, with which he continues to roll and masticate the bitter morsel, till he feels its eiiervating, relax- ing eflTects throughout his whole system ; then the swim- ming head, the cold, clammy perspiration on the brow, the deadly paleness of the features, and the nauseating stomach, all unite in exciting for him the sympathy of the veteran tobacco-chewer ; while the non-smoking, non-tobacco- chewing gentry turn away from him with cold, unfeeling disgust. But, no thanks to them, he soon recovers, and by dint of resolution, soon becomes a thorough-going quid. He can hold up his head, in the company of his shipmates, and ask, like a man, for a " chaw of tobacco." It is useless to tell him of its weakening, nerve-destroying tendency ; he is convinced there is nothing in it, and proudly avers tiiat none but old women and cowardly men ever found fault with this manly habit. After all it requires no inconsider- able quantum of moral courage, to attempt to discountenance the use of this ** sweetest " of mother earth's productions,* when it is notorious that not only sailors, but most of her heroes, statesmen, legislators, and lawgivers, are so delighted with it, that they would as soon relinquish their highest honors as their tobacco-box. And what benefit does the sailor derive from this habit of chewing tobacco. Does it strengthen his frame ? No. Does it satisfy hunger or thirst ? No. Does it preserve his health ? No. Does it add to his stock of general knowledge? No. Does it help to fill his purse? No. Does it in reality make him more of a man ? No. It does no good, but in many cases doubtless does immense evil ; while it communicates only a negative kind of pleasure, that is, it satisfies a longing to whicli the indulgence in the habit * has alone given birth. There can be nf '>r3akfast in the forecastle, amused themselves with con- jectures on what was the object of so much fuss and preparation. After a long discussion, they coincided in opinion with a shrewd *'old salt," tliat it was captain (iuiddle's intention to hoist out the mizen-mast ! Break fastj however, was despatched in haste, both in the fore castle and the cabin, and all hands were again mustered afi, ready for undertaking the formidable labor, wliicli it was evident captain Quiddle had cut out for them. " Now, Mr. Jarvis," said captain Qiiiddle, in that de(-ided, but suppressed tone, which a man employs, when about to 1.^ 146 TALES OF THE OCEAN. eomniunicate some appalling intelligence, or OAhort tc deeds of difficulty and desperation, *' take two or tliree ol the smartest hands with you, with handspikes and crow- bars, and clap the slings round that monstrous old chaiv oj tobacco, which is deposited beneath the fife-rail ! then, Mr. Russell, we'll hook on all the purchases, take the falls to the windlass and capstan, and merrily bouse away. If the ♦hing is possible, we '11 have that " old soldier" overboard in the course of an hour, for at present it only cumbers the quarter deck, presents an unsightly object to the eye, and outrageously offends my sense of smelhng!" So saying, the captain pointed to a disgusting demi-masticated mass of the Virginia weed, which was deposited on the quarter deck, of a size which would have done credit to the javi^s of a Gargantua. The " Old Soldier " was thrown overboard, and the crew were taught a lesson which they never forgot ; a worn out quid, or even a cataract of tobacco juice never after- wards polluted the quarter deck of the Columbus during tlie voyage. THE FISHERMAN One of the most violent and destructive gales which evei occurred on tlie American coast, commenced on the 1 1 th of October, 1806. Many ships foundered at sea, or were driven on shore, and with their crews were entirely lost. The tide rose to an unprecedented height, and great damage was done to the shipping in all the principal seaports o( New England. This memorable storm lasted three days, and came on so unexpectedly, that many of the fishing boats in Massachu- setts Bay, were prevented from making a harbor, as is their usual custom, and were driven upon some of the rocks, reefs or shoals, which line the <)oast from Mount Desert to Cape Cod, and were never heard of more. On the morning of the previous day. Skipper Tarbell, a veteran fisherman, left port in a pink-stern of about fifte^ tons, for the purpose of catching cod and halibut for the Newbury port market. He was accompanied by his two sons, one of eighteen, the other of sixteen years of age. The wind was south-west when they passed the bar, and the weather was so serene that the skipper resolved to make a straight wake for Cashe's Ledge, a well known rocky shoal of small extent, situate about seventy miles from Newburyport. Tarbell was successful in procuring a large fare ; but the wind died away in the afternoon, and left him becalmed in the midst of Massachusetts Bay. The little bark was drifted about by the currents during the greater part of the succeeding night. Suddenly a thick haze gathered around the horizon, which gradually increas- ing, dimmed the lustre of the stars. Then small clouds, of a black and portentous aspect, began to appear- in the east, and soon a ripple in the water denoted the approaching breeze. The boat was put before the wind, the sails were set wing-and-wing, and the anxious skipper, who now fore- •aw the coming tempest, and regieited his distan'^e from a 148 TALES OF thp: ocean. harbor, watched the progress of his fragile vessel through the water, as she gallantly scudded along, and had strong hopes of making the land, and being able to shape his course for a roadstead before the storm set in. The breeze rapidly freshened. The weather .ooked dark end threatening, and a bad-looking squall rising, to wind- ward, induced the skipper to attempt to gather in his sails for the purpose of reefing ; but as soon as they were lowered to the deck, and before they could be confined by a gasket, the storm burst upon them in all its ,fury. The sails were stripped into ribbons, and scattered in every direction. The little boat for a short time seemed to be madly urged through the water, but the sea began to rise, and the turbu- lent combers intercepted the action of the wind. It soon became impossible to scud, and patting the helm hard down, the boat came hull to. the wind ; but having no sail to steady her, she lay in the trough of the sea, and was drifted about at the mercy of the winds and the waves. Day at length broke in the- east, and exposed more fully to view the horrors of their situation. The surface of the sea, agitated by the tempest, was by this time divided into vvaves of a frightful altitude ; which following each other With wonderful regularity, threatened every instant .to engulf the frail vessel which yet rode buoyant on their crests. But dense volumes of spray from the white-capped, combing billows would with short intervals rise to the mast- head, enveloping the fairy craft in a portentous shower of dazzling whiteness, drenching the hapless mariners, and filling the deck with water. Th« atmosphere was surcharged with spoon-drift, and with rain from the dark and lieavy clouds, which flitted across the zenith, like well-trained coursers straining to reach the winning-post, and spreading a thick and impervious veil over objects at the distance oJ a furlong from the vessel. Tarbell gazed with a seaman's eye on the gloomy pros- pect around him, and was fully aware of all the difficulties and dangers of his situation. His only hope was founded on the reflection, that having a good ofling, the tempest was so violent, its fury would in all probability be spent before it could drift him into danger. But for hours the wind blew with undhninished violence, and the '^oaf »vaa THE FISHERMAN. 149 drifting towards the shore at the rate of three knots an hour. As the gloom of night gathered around them, the skipper explaine 1 to his sons the hopelessness of their situ- ation. A dangerous coast lay at no great distance under their lee, and nothing but a miracle could save them from the awful fate with which they were threatened. To retard this fate, perhaps for a few moments, by f)resenting a less surface to the action of the wind, the masts were cut away. The boat was now but a hulk, tumbling and plunging about on the surface of the water, the sport of the raging elements that were warring against each other. The old man and his sons, knowing that no farther exertions on their part would avail to preserve theirjives, retired to the cuddie, communed with their own hearfs, put their trust in an all-seeing and merciful God, and resolutely awaited the awful moment when their frail bark would be swallowed up by the foaming breakers, dr dashed to pieces on the rocks. The feelings of these three individuals, as firmly braced against the bulkheads and ceiling of the cabin, they gazed upon each other's countenances by the pale and fitful light of the binnacle lamp, although not expressed by vain lamentations, by moans and sighs and tears, were not of an enviable description, and can hardly be conceived by those spoiled children of fortune, who have never buffeted with the storms and vicissitudes of hfe. It was a little after midnight, when the increasing agita- tion of the boat, and the tremendous roar of the billows, told a fearful tale to those hapless mariners. They were now convinced that they were in the neighborhood of the breakers, and that their last moments were rapidly approach- ing. Resolving, however, to make one desperate struggle for their fives, they stripped themselves of their outward garments, gathered .a handkerchief tightly around their loins, gave each other a hearty but expressive shake of the hand, and planted themselves in the companion-way, ready the moment the vessel was stranded, to cast themselves among the breakers, and endeavor to save their fives by swimming. For about fifteen minutes the howfing of the suives around theiif was absolutely deafening, and more than (rc-e 13* U TALES OF THE OCEAN. (he youths, believing that the time had arrived, would have cast themselves into the sea, but were beld back by their father. To their utter astonishment the waves suddenly subsided, although the tempest roared around them with unabated fury. The old fisherman, no longer fearful of being swept overboard, rushed upon deck, and by a cast of the hand-lead ascertained that they were in only five fathoms of water ! They immediately let go both anchors, payed out to the better ends of the cables, and found to their inexpressible joy, that after dragging a short distance, the vessel was a' length brought up. Where they were they knew not ; and it seemed a circumstance totally inexplicable, that such an astonishing change should be so suddenly produced on the THE FISHERMAN. 151 surface of the ocean. But it mattered not ; they were safe ! and on their knees 'with grateful hearts returned thanks to a kind and gracious Providence. The next morning the astonished mariners, through the thick veil of rain and mist which the gale was continually driving in from the sea, gazed from their anchorage upon the houses, the steeples, and wharves of a large commercial town. It was the town of Newburyport ! On that event- ful night they had been forced by the winds and waves ovei the bar at the mouth of the harbor, through a narrow channel, highly dangerous for vessels even in pleasant weather. If their course had varied a few rods only on either side, no human power could have saved them from destruction ! A STRATAGEM OF WAR Stratagie, as well as force, is among all nations considered justifiable in war, but whether the conduct which is embra- ced in the anecdote which we are about to relate, should be considered strictly in accordance with the moral principles which ought to regulate the actions of men, we leave to casuists to decide. During the early part of the last war with Great Britaioj a small brig, mounting about ten sixes, with a crew of forty or fifty men, sailed fron^New England as a letter-of-marque, with permission to cruise as a privateer for a certam length of time, and capture prizes from the enemy. While cruising in the latitude of the homeward-bound West huiiamen, the brig one morning fell in with a large ship, to which she gave chase, but the captain, an " old sea-dog," on reconnoitering her through his spy-glass, was satisfied that she mounted too many guns to contend" with, with any prospect of success, and hauled off, much to the dissatis- faction of the crew^ who attributed his conduct to want of spirit and courage. In fact, they were not backward in exhibiting their feelings, and the word coward was more than once bandied about the ship in the hearing of. the captain. A few days afterwards the brig fell in with another vessel. Every stitch of canvas was spread, and just at night, the chase was made out to be a large West Indiaman, aj»pa- rently well armed and manned, and looking like an " ugly customer." " Now," said the Yankee captain to his crew, " I wish you to hsten, men, to what I am going to say. I heard some of you muttering something, not long since, about cowards, and to oblige you, I will give you an oppor- tunity of testing tfie courage of every man on board. You see that ship ahead. She is pierced for twenty-four guns, and probably carries sixteen at least, of heavy metal Thai A STKATAGKM OF WAR. 153 Bi.jp shail bt my prize before two hours. So look out for Btjualls. If some of you don't lose the number of your mess, I 'm mistaken. But mind ye, no • backing out. Cowards, ha ! " The crew looked rather blank at this pithy harangue, but dared not remonstrate. TIk y were caught in their own Ui'ih, and resolved to fight it out like men. Night came on, but they still kept sight of the Englisn- man. It was about half past eight in the evening, when they ranged up within hail, on tlie weather quarter of their more bulky antagonist, who had every man at quarters, evidently prepared for a brush, and with his high bulwarks, 154 TALES OF THE OCEAN. and numerous deck lanthorns, presented rather a formida- ble appearance. The captain of the brig seized his s})eaking trumpet, and in a peremptory manner, hailed the stranger. " Ship ahoy ! " " Hallo ! " " Heave too, and I '11 send my boat on board." " What brig is that, pray ? " " The United States brig Argus ! " '^ Ay, ay, sir 1 " John Bull thought it would be madness to contend witn the U. S. brig Argus, which was well known to be a crack sloop of vyar of twenty guns, and accordingly backed his main top-sail, without further parley. Tlie Yankees were thunderstruck at their captain's impudence. But the quarter boat was lowered, and officered and manned imme- diately, in true man-of-war style. The American officer ascended the gang-way of the English ship, with a " swab " on his shoulder. " What ship is this ? " said he, in an authoritative tone, as soon as he reached the deck. " The English sliip Caernavon Castle, sir, from Barbadoes, bound to Bristol," returned the Englishman, submissively. " Then, sir, you will please to step into the boat, with your papers, and return with me on board the Argus. Mr Simpson," said he to the captain's clerk, who filled the post of a middy on this occasion, " I leave you with the men in charge of the ship ! you will proceed to put the prisoners in irons ready to be transferred to the Argus.*' When the British captain arrived along-side the Argus, he was astonished at her diminutive size ; when he got on board, he saw at once that he had been duped ; but it was then too late to remedy the evil. ** Sir," said he to the Yankee captain, more in anger than in sorrow, "you told me this vessel was the United States brig Argus." " And I told you the truth, sir. Her name is the Argus, and she belongs to the United States 1 " SCENES IN HAVANA IN 1822 V^^HEN general Yives was appointed tc the office of governor general of Cuba, some twelve or fifteen years ago, the condition of the police, and the morals of th« people, were at the lowest ebb. The coast was lined with pirates, whose blood-thirsty depredations received no check from the civil authorities ; robberies were frequent in the harbor as well as on shore ; gangs of armed ruffians boldly parading the streets and attacking dwellings where monej^'or jewels were deposited, or boarding some vessel at anchor, in the night, and carrying off every thing valuable, and perhaps wounding or murdering some of the crew. Assas- sinations were frequent in the streets of Havana ; and bands of mounted brigands would sometimes enter the city from the interior, and commit acts of violence and rapine, frequently without molestation ; but sometimes they would be opposed by the city guard, and sanguinary engagements would take place in the streets of Havana. Scarcely a morning passed that the dead body of some helpless being could not be seen, with a deep wound inflicted by a stiletto or a Spanish knife, in the bosom, exposed in front of the cathedral, that it might be recognized by some individual, and conveyed to his friends to receive the ritea of sepulture. When Vives was appointed to the government of the ifandj he displayed an energy of character and a disposi- t: Jii to reform abuses, which reflects upon his character the highest honor. The system of piracy was broken up ; tha brigands were exterminated ; and life and property became comparatively safe. He did much toward establishing an efficient police ; and although after he nad carried his im- provements to a certain point, he suffeicd his energies to relax ; yet, as he was the means of eflectiiig an astonishing change in the moral as well as civil condition of the peooie. 156 SCENES IN HAVANA. and did it at a great personal risk, his name should a wayi be mentioned with respect by the inhabitants of Cuba^ and all foreigners, v»^ho enjoyed the benefits of his praise-worthy conduct I happened to be in Havana during the summer of 1822, a short time before General Vives assumed the reins of the government ; and the cases of shameful violation of all laws, human and divine, both nightly and 4^ily, covertly and openly, were numerous and appalling. I will relate a few instances, that my readers may see, that when Vives was appointed to the office of governor general of Cuba, he could not boast of having obtamed a sinecure. An American shipmaster belonging to Boston, had occa- sion to visit the Reglas, an island in the harbor, from whence molasses, honey, &c., are generally furnished to American vessels. Being a stranger, he landed at the wrong quay, and left his boat, to go to the head of the wharf to make enquiries. He had hardly turned the corner, when he was seized by the collar, by two ferocious-looking men, one of whom held a knife to his throat, making, at the same time, some expressive though by no means grace- ful gestures, but without speaking a word. A third very adroitly took possession of his watch, turned his pocket inside out, and picked up a few half doubloons, a pencil case, &c., which had fallen from them. His coat, of fine bioadcloth, and hat, a handsome drab, were next doomed to change proprietors ; when with the finishing . ceremony of a sturdy kick en derriere, he was dismissed, and returned chop-fallen to his boat, to the great astonishment of his crew, having been absent less than five minutes ! Several American gentlemen undertook one afternoon to make an excursion along the beach to the eastward of the Moro castle, in search of marine shells, which were said to be abundant in that place. As this beach is distant two or three miles from Havana, and there being hardly any inhabitants in the neigliborhood, they anticipated no rude and inhospitable treatment ; and left the different vessels, which they commanded, or which they regarded as their temporary homes, well dressed, personable-looking men, in fine spirits, and ready for any frolic. They returned in ibout two hours, almost in a state of nature ; having met TALES OF THE OCEAN. 157 \*^ith a hand of savage-looking feliows, who did not take the trouble to examine their pockets ; but stripped them, with the exception jf a single garment, of all their clothes ! In this state they were compelled to return to the landing place, nearest to one of their ships, an object of much 'ruriosity to the few Spanish women and children wnom f.'jey met; and when the boat landed they returned on board, with woe-begone countenances and saddened hearts ; wiser if not better for the result of t'jeir researches in ti^at branch of natural history called conchology. 14 158 ^ SCENES IN HAVANA. Several instances occurred during that summer of vesse.s^ anchored at the Reglas, taking in cargoes of molasses, being attacked and plundered in the night by bands of piratical wretches. In every instance the crews made their escape by swimming, or concealed themselves in the hold, where they were not discovered. These vessels were of course unarmed, which circumstance was known to the pirates, whose cowardice was as remarkable as their propensity for villany. A brig belonging to some port in Maine, w^as lying at the Reglas, when one morning about 3 o'clock, the watch hastened below with the alarming intelligence that a boat filled with Spaniards was coming along side, f n a moment afterwards they were on deck, and the officers and crew, justly alarmed for their lives, escaped from the cabin windows into the long boat, that was fastened to the stern ; cut the painter and went on board another vessel. But the cook of the brig, a surly, athletic negro, who owed the Spaiyards a grudge for what he conceived to be ill- treatment while on shore the previous Sunday, armed himself with a caiving knife, and concealed himself behind the steerage stairs. After the pirates had struck a light, they hastened below for plunder. The leader had hardly reached the floor, ere the * carying-knife of the cook was sheathed in his body, and he fell, giving utterance to a horrible oath. The cook then sprung into the water from the cabin window, and swam to the nearest vessel. In the morning, the captain returned on board, where he found much wanton destruction of property. The floor of the steerage was stained with blood ; which was also traced up the stej>s, across the deck to the gangway ; showing that the pirates had conveyed away the bleeding victim of the cook's revenge. The captain was aware that it was useless to complkin to the authorities, or to solicit any protection for himself and vessel, and fearing that he would again be visited by these villains, for the purpose of taking a sangui- nary revenge for the death of their comrade, he haste ne(i his departure, and left the harbor before he had completed his cargo. A brig belonging to Bristol, R.. I., had cleared at the custom house, and was to sail on the following morning. Captain Bishop had ordered a good watch to be kept an TALES OF THE OCEAN 159 Asual ; but towards day-break in the morning, while lying in his berth in the open after cabin, he was awakened by loud whispers, apparently in his immediate vicinity. He had presence of mind enough to keep perfectly still, and soon became aware that some of these piratical scoundrels were entering the cabin window, within a few feet of hij head. He reached up his hand, and grasped a large hcise pistol, well primed, and loaded with some of the best ghzed gunpowder and an ounce ball. He fortunately succeeded in cocking the pistol without alarming the pirates, who did not dream that such a formidable weapon, in me hands ui 160 SCENES IN HAVANA. a brave and determined man, was about to scatter deatli and terror among them. Captain Bishop enjoyed the advantage of being able to note their movements, while they were unable to witness his. He watched his opportu- nity, and as soon as one had silently entered the window and was crawling on the transom, and another had so far entered, as to bring his head in a line with the body of the first, he presented his pistol, placing the muzzle within a few inches of the breast of one of the pirates, and fired The bullet did its work ; and passed through the body ol one of the villains, and lodged in the head of th'3 other ! Captain Bishop then rushed on deck with a second pistol in his hand, followed by his mates, who were awakened by the report. On looking over the stern, they beheld a large row boat with fourteen men, pulling rapidly away from the brig. They mustered a light and went below, where they found the two Spaniards dead upon the transom ! Captain Bishop at once decided on the proper course to be adopted He knew that if the affair were reported to the propei authorities, he should be detained, and perhaps subjected to much trouble and expense, if not thrown into prison. He therefore tumbled the pirates overboard from the cabin window without ceremony ; and strictly enjoined upon his crew to avoid mentioning the occurrence. As soon as the sun rose above the eastern horizon, he left the harbor of Havana, for a country where the lives and property of the citizens, were secured by the laws of the land. The boatmen in the harbor were, many of them, unprin- cipled scoundrels, who gladly seized every opportunity in the then relaxed state of the laws, to rob ; and were by no means scrupulous about committing the crime of murder also. An American supercargo, Mr. Dillon, at twilight one evening, had occasion to go on board his ship from " the Punto," a suburb of the city, near the point which forms the western side of the entrance into the harbor. He stepped into a boat which lay at the wharf, and pointed to the ship ; the fellow seized his oars, and began to pull towards her, Mr. Dillon sitting in the stern and steering with the tiller. When the boat had traversed about hall the distance between the shore and the ship, the boatman TALES OF THE OCEAN. 163 disc^>ntinued rowing, laid in his oars very carefully, and in answer to the remonstrances of his defenceless passenger^ he unsheathed his Spanish knife, and rose from his seat , evidently with the intention of committing the double crime of murder and robbery. The American saw that it was a critical moment ; he was fortunately a man of courage and resolution, and possessed muscle as well as nerve. His thoughts naturally reverted to some means of defence, and he found, much to his surprise and joy, that the tiller with "^hich he steered the boat, was loose, and could be unship- ped ; a circumstance which had probably escaped the recollection of the boatman. As the latter advanced towards his destined victim, and raised his knife with the apparent intention of plunging it in his bosom, Mr. Dillon aimed a tremendous blow at the villain's head with the tiller, which took effect. It knocked him senseless on the gunwale of the boat, from whence he was tumbled with little ceremony into the waters of the bay, which immedi- ately closed over him. Mr. Dillon took the oar, and paddled alongside his ship, and after setting the boat adrift, he hastened on board, feeling grateful to Providence, for having preserved him from the knife of the murderer. In the fall of 1822, a schooner arrived in Havana from Connecticut, being principally laden with fruit and vegetables. As usual, the dealers in these articles hastened on board, and bargained with the captain for the different portions of the cargo which they wanted. One Spaniard took a great fancy to a lot of apples. After some delay, a bargain was struck, and in order to secure them, he paid for them on the spot, with the understanding that he would send a boat for theifi the next day. The boat did not come. Several days passed, and nothing was heard from the Spaniard, Meanwhile the apples, exposed to the steam of the hold m that warm climate, were rapidly decaying. When the purchaser at last came on board to take possession of his property, he looked exceedingly blank on ascertaining their deplorable condition ; about one half being rotten ; and the remainder presenting an appearance by no means healthy. He positively refused to take the apples, called the captain a cheat, and insisted on his returning the money which he had received for them. This, of course, the captain refused to 164 SCENES IN HAVANA. do ; but it was to no purpose that he told hini it was a faif bargain, and that if he had not sold them to him, he could have sold them to others the same day, or the day following^ at the same, or perhaps at an advanced price. The Span- iard would not be pacified, and went away muttering dark threats of revenge. On the following night the captain was troubled with indigestion, and could not sleep. Towards day-break, aftor laying some hours awake, he arose, and throwing over his shoulders a dark calico dressing gown, ascended on deck. The night was exceedingly pleasant, the stars twinkled in the sky, and not a breath of wind ruffled the surface of the water. After pacing the quarter deck a few minutes, he seated himself at the after part of the quarter deck, beneath the awning. He had not been seated long, when he saw what he conceived to be a strange fish swimming around the schooner, at a little distance. He narrowly watched its motions, though without stirring from his position ; and was not a little surprised when he saw it swim towards the gangway, and raise itself out of water ! His surprise, however, was changed into terror, when he saw stepping over the side, a naked Spaniard with a long knife in his hand. He remained mute and motionless ; and narrowly watched the movements of this mysterious intruder. The Spaniard looked cautiously around, as if to see if the watch were not alarmed ; and then with a light and noiseless step proceeded toward the companion-way, or entrance to the cabin, down which he soon disappeared. The captain very shrewdly conjectured that his motive was not a good one, that he probably designed mischief, and recollected the dark mutterings of vengeance which were uttered by thp Sj)an- iard on the previous morning. He looked round for some \ve!ii)on, but could find none excepting a junk bottle, partly filled with lamp oil, which was deposited in the binnacle Wiih this in his hands, he placed himself leaning over the ..>mpani*on-way, in an attitude which would enable him to give his visitor a striking proof of his regard and hospitable feelings, whenever he was disposed to issue from the cabin. A few moments only elapsed when the Spaniard, altogether unconscious of the welcome reception which the captain had prepared for him, cautiously ascended the steps. Hig TALES OF THE OCEA.N. 165 hejid just made its appearance above the scuttle, when the captain gave him a blow on his bare cranium \7ith the cor- ner of the bottle, that would have felled an ox ' The Spaniard rolled heavily to the bottom of the steps ; the captain stepped to the sky-light, told his mate what he had done, and ordered the cook to procure a light. On exam- ination it was found that the midnight assassin had received a due rew^ard for his villany. His skull was shockingly fractured ; and after a brief consultation, it was determined to commit his body to the deep ; which was effected with" out the performance of the Roman Catholic rites. ^ On afterwards examining his berth, it was found that the vindictive villain in his eagerness to assassinate the man^ whom he fancied had wronged him, had stabbed the bed clothes in several places ! The body was perfectly naked, with the hair short cropped, and the skin carefully oiled, to a^isist him doubtless, in eluding the grasp of his pursuers.. CROSSING THE EQUINOCTIAL LINE, I BELIEVE that the time-honored custom of introducir.g to old Neptune and his suite, the persons who for the first time in their hves, cross the equinoctial line, is now nearly abolished. But until within a quarter of a century, the oc- casion of crossing the line was one of no little impor tance ; it was a jubilee on board ship, which was looked forward to with eagerness by the jolly old tars, who had already shaken hands with the god of the ocean ; and with fear and trembling by the youths who were about to enter for the first time the favorite domains of old Neptune. The ceremonies on these occasions varied according to the character of the crew, of the commander of the vessel, or of the poor fellows about to undergo the unpleasant and dreaded process of an introduction. They were generally of a harmless, but amusing character ; sometimes, however, the wit was coarse and offensive ; and instances are related where the joke v/as carried to such a length upon individ- uals who were foohshly reluctant to be operated upon, whether passengers or belonging to the crew, that the farce had well nigh been converted into a tragedy. I have known sailors who had such a dread of the mysterious ceremonies, which they supposed were performed on these occasionsj that no circumstances would induce them to ship on board a vessel bound on a voyage to the southward of the lino. The events which occurred at the time I first crossed the equinoctial, were of a nature rather unusual for a landsman, and exciting ; and made such a deep impression on my mind, thr.t it will probably never be erased by the hand of time. It will serve as a pretty fair specimen of the pro- ceedings on these extraordinary occasions. I was then a seaman on board the brig Clarissa, of Salem, captain Page, on a voyage to Maranham and Para. It was the 6th of May, A. D. 1810, when we crossed the line. The weather was remarkably pleasant ; scarcely a cloud TALES OF THE OCEAN. gjjpearod above the horizon ; the wind was lign-, but favor- able ; propelUng the brig towards her destined port at the rate of two or three knots. As there were several of the crew who had never before been in the precincts of old Neptune, the arrangements for the introduction were made with great care, and studiously concealed from the party more immediately concerned. It happened to be my trick at the helm from 10 till 12 o'clock in the forenoon. As it drew near the meridian, the captain, as usual, busied himself in taking the altitude of the sun. After he had w^orked the observation, he exclaimed with well affected surprise, addressing himself to the second mate ; " Mr. Fairfield, we are ahnost up with the line ; we must keep a sharp look out, or old Neptune will be aboard before we are aware Send a man aloft, and let us know if any thing is in sight," "Ay, ay, sir," answered Mr. Fairfield, with a gravity becoming the occasion ; and it was not long before Bift Collins sung out from the fore top-gallant-mast-head, " safl ho ! " " Where away ? " said the captain. " About two points on the weather bow ; steering right for us." " What does she look like ? " " Like a small sail-boat." " It's all right," said the captain, " you may come down. That," said he, turning to the mates, " must be old Neptune, He will soon be on board of us ; let the men get their dm- ners in all haste, that we may be prepared to receive the old fellow with becoming respect." Those of us with whom it was supposed old . Neptun* wished particularly to communicate, hardly knew whal r make of all this. We began to suspect that scxne*" i^-u was in the wind, particularly as Ben Backstay, ar Ot.. Triton, who on ordinary occasions was hardly ever kr^^i, to relax the rigidity of his facial muscles, "grinned honibl} a ghastly smile," during the whole time we were ca/in§ dmner. After dinner all hands were turned to, as usual and I remarked that the captain was very busy with hi? spy-glass, trying to make out the boat, which was still invis' ible to the naked eye from the deck. The luckless wighti who had never before visited a region so far south, were 168 CROSSING THE EQ,UINOCTlAL LINE. ordered by the chief mate to descend into the fore peaW for the purpose of securing some water casks ; but no sooner were we fairly in the forecastle than the scuttle was closed and fastened, and we were imprisoned as safely and as snug as a bevy of rats in a trap ! There was now a great trampling on deck ; a running to and fro as if some matter of great importance was in hand. It was evident that the ceremonies usually attendant on crossing the line, were not to be dispensed with for our especial accommodation, as we had previously been indu- ced to expect. We accordingly felt very awkward, and must have looked exceedingly foolish, as seated on our chests we awaited in silence, the result of all these formid- able preparations. Probably an hour had elapsed, when we heard a heavy trampling over our heads ; and soon after the brig w as hailed through a speaking trumpet, in a deep, rough voice, which seemed to proceed from' beneath the bows, and the following dialogue took place between the captain and old Neptune, at the top of their lungs. Neptune — O, the brig aho-o-y ! Captain — Ho, ho, hallo-o-o ! Neptune — Have you got any strangers on board ? Captain — Ay, ay ! Neptune — How many ? Captain — Three or four young lads who are anxious to ose their beards, and obtain a passport. Neptune — Very well, I am pleased to hear it. Heave io, and 1 '11 come on board and trim their whiskers for them ;n fine style. The trampling on deck was now transferred to the gang- ^'ay ; and we could distinctly hear the loud and ostentatious greeting which the captain gave to his nautical majesty. *' Come," said old Neptune, "I'm in something of a hurry ; and anxious to despatch my business, as I have several other vessels to look after before night. Bring my children along, one at a time, and I will soon give them a free passport for life to navigate my waters." It seemed to me that the voice of old Neptune sounded vvondro^sly like that of Ben Backstay ; and struck with the extraordinary coincidence, I had less dread of the myste- TALES OF THE OCEAN. 169 riou3 operation which was about to take place ; and when the second mate appeared at the scuttle and ordered one of us to come on deck, I pressed eagerly forward and present- ed myself for that purpose. I was blindfolded and led into the waist, and made to ascend a sort of platform, where I was seated on a bench ; and various questions were propo- sed to me, as to my name, age, birth-place, &c., all of which I answered in the most respectful manner. " You are a hkely lad," said his majesty, " I want such subjects, and I shall always be glad to be of service to you. But my most important duty remains to be performed. You must be shaved. Pass along the tools ; barber, handle the brush." My chin, and indeed the greater portion of my face, was then plastered over with a composition, made of tar and train oil, laid on nice and thick with a huge tar-brush. Neptune then asked me if I had ever been shaved before, to which I answered, " no." " Speak louder," said old Neptune, " I am rather thick of hearing." Upon which, being a little nettled at what was going on, I opened my mouth to its utmost capacity, and bawled out, " no-o-o-o ! " It would have been better for me to have kept my lips closed, for I had hardly opened then;, before the person who enacted the part of the barber, thrust the filthy tar- brush half way down my throat, to my great annoyance However, I had sense enough to know that it would be bootless to complain, and swallowed the joke, not the brush, in silence, though not without making some horrible grimaces. The process of shaving was next commenced. The razor was fabricated from an iron hoop, notclied like a handsaw. This was drawn over my face not in the most gen- tle and delicate manner ; blood followed every scrape, and I have never complained of a rough razor since that time. For several days my face looked as if I had been engaged in a combat a la outrance with a host of cats ; and to add to my mortification, I could hear the captain, mates, and a portion of my shipmates, giggling around me, jis if they were hugely tickled at the aspect of the various ruefu contortions of my visage. 17U CROSSING THE EQUINOCTIAL LINE. After Ihis operation wa? completed, Neptune said It wa« necessary for me to pledge myself to adopt certain rules and regulations for my conduct through hfe. " Now, open your mouth well, and speak loud. Will you pledge your- self never to eat brown bread when you can get white, unless indeed, you should like the brown bread best ? " " I do," said I, keeping my lips as firmly closed as possi- ble, suspicious of some trick. " Speak louder, my son, and more distinctly," said Nep- tune. " Will you pledge yourself never to go on foot when you can ride ? unless you should prefer to walk ? " *• 1 do," said I, still compressing my lips. " This will never do. Give my son a speaking trumpet," said the god of the waters, " that he may answer me in shipshape fashion. Will you pledge yourself never to kiss the inaid, when you can kiss the mistress, unless, indeed, you should like the maid the best." I put the speaking trumpet to my lips, elevating it at 5n angle of about forty-five degrees, and provoked with, the pertinacity of the god, opened wide my mouth, for the purpose of bellowing out " I do," when some mischievous rascal, emptied into the tunnel-shaped trumpet, a bucket of Rait water 1 This was more than I had bargained for, and i was not prepared to receive it. My mouth and throat were filled with the briny liquid, and to save myself from suffocation, I was compelled to swallow a considerable quantity. I threw the trumpet aside, and doggedly declared through my closed teeth, that I would answer no more questions. " You are quite right," said old Neptune ; " and I have no n^.orc questions to propose to you. You have shown your- self worthy to be admitted into the number of my adopted children. Take off the bandage from his eyes, and give him his passport 1 " A person then approached to untie the handkerchief, and at the same moment the plank on which I was seated, was knocked away, and I found myself over head and ears m the water 1 I thought at first that I was overboard, and was not a little alarmed. My feet, however, struck the bottom, and on looking around I found myself paddling about in the ship's long boat, which had been filled, and fitted up for the occasion 1 TALES OF THE OCEAN. 173 1 scrambled out amid the jeers and Iiorse-Iaughs of the jovial sons of Neptune, who surrounded me ; and on looking around for that Deity, I found him in the person ol Ben Backstay, who was so metamorphosed that were it not for his voice, I should hardly have been able to recognize him. His face was hideously painted, in a style wJiith would have commanded the admiration of the most finished dandy in King Keokuck's tribe. On his head he wore a sort of coronet made of gulf weed ; a string of large, but common-looking cowries were fastened around his neck , his brawny shoulders and arms were bare, but tattooed in various places with India ink. A sort of a mantle made of a Maltese blue and red blanket was attached to his wajs^ which like the highland kilt, descended hardly to his kn€ es ; in one hand he held his trumpet, and in the other his tridi !nt, a huge pair of five pronged grains ! Such was the Neptune of the hour ; and I joined vrith alacrity the remainder of his adopted sons, in eliciting spprt from my uninitiated shipmates. They were all shaved succession, various ingenious expedients being resorted in order to vary somewhat the diversion. Our frolic laste until after the going down of the sun, and I have seldom witnessed more wit, good humor, or better practical jokes, than on the occasion of my first crossing the equinoctial line. THE SPIRIT BIRD Si»^F. twenty years ago, I sailed from Boston in ine good brig Nightingale, of about 200 tons burthen, com- manded by Nicodemus Melville, Esq. and bound on a voyao^e to Demerara. The fore-mast hands consisted ol six able seamen, besides myself; but this being only my second voyage, I was rated as an ordinary seaman. We were all strangers to each other, and being but young in years, and still younger in knowledge of tlie world and human nature, I naturally felt solicitous to learn something of the diaracters of the men with whom I was destined in all human probability to associate almost exclusively, for several months. I soon ascertained, to my satisfaction, that my shipmates, with one exception, were real jovial, honest, single-hearted tars, men of iron frames, who could crack their joke, toss off their glass of grog, spin a long yarn, and handle a marling-spike or a hand-spike, as knowingly and gracefully as any *' old salts," that ever sailed on blue water. But there was one man on board, who shipped under the name of Jim- Thompson, whose appearance and conduct puzzled me exceedingly, and in a short time became the theme of con\ersation among all hands. He did not seem inclined to associate with the rest of the crew, he never asked a question, and when addressed, he answered only in monosyllables. He was never seen to smile, and from his pallid cheeks, his restless eye, and sombre countenance, it Wiis evident that anguish was preying on his heart. But Thompson was a thorough seaman. He was athletic and active, and indefatigable in the performance of his duties. If all hands were called, Thompson was on deck in an instant, and if the word was passed to reef toi)sails, he sprung aloft like a cat, and was at the weather earmg, before the yard was clued down on the cap. If a top- gallant-sail was to be furled, or a top-gallant-yard or mast TALES OF THE OCEAN. to be sent down in a gale of wind, Thompson was in the cross-trees, before any other man was in the rigging Indeed he seemed always desirous to be employed about something, and the more laborious or hazardous his occupa- tion, the better he seemed pleased. He partook of the ship's fare but sparingly, and never drank his grog. The first day after leaving ^ort, his allowance was handed him by the steward, and much to the astonishment of that sable functionary, he seized the glass, and hurled it with its contents, overboard, muttering something between his teeth about " poisonous, murderous liquor." " A queer chap, that," said Jack Robine, " to toss his grog overboard. If he had only passed it this way, I would have stowed it in a snug locker, where it would never have come athwart his hawse. I say, steward, 'tis a pity such good stuff should he lost. So in future, just hand me over that fellow's allowance." Jack Robine sagely concluded that something was wrong in Thompson's upper works, otherwise he would never have refused his grog : and as temperance ships were not in vogue in those days, the rest of the crew were pretty much of Jack's opinion. In about a fortnight, we reached the " horse latitudes," and Thompson's demeanor was still the cause of much speculation among the crew. He was seldom known to turn into his berth in his watch below, and when he caught a nap on a chest, or on the windlass-end, he would mutter some incoherent sentences to himself, and in a few minutes awake with a convulsive start Although he still evinced stength and activity in the performance of his various duties, yet his flesh had gradually wasted away, and he resembled an animated skeleton, more than a being of flesh and blood. One day before we got into the regular trade winds, we were steering to the southward with a light air on our quarter. The sea was smooth, with the exception of a long rolling swell, which came every now and then from the North West. Every rag was hung out to catch the scanty breeze, but the sails flapped heavily against the mast, and the brig moved through the water only at ihe sluggish rate of about a knot and a half. Thompson was at the helm The mate and the remainder of the watch 176 THE SPIRIT BIRD. were vaiiously employed in different parts of the ship, the captain was sitting reading on the quarter deck, under the shade of the try-sail. Suddenly, Thompson was heard to exclaim, " Great God ! he has come for me at last." The captain on looking up saw a large bird somewhat resembling a man-of-war bird, but having a head like an owl, hover- ing over the quarter deck. He told the steward to pasa him his fowling piece ; but before this could be done, the bird was no longer within shot, having flown about a quartei of a mile ahead of the brig and then quietly alighted on th< water. The captain went forward, hoping to get a shot at the bird from the forecastle. He ordered the helmsman to steer directly for his intended victim, and when witiiin about thirty yards, he fired, the charge of duck shot struck the water all around the bird, and laid him sprawHng. Anxious to get him on board, some of the watch jumped into the chain-wales, others into the bowsprit shrouds and bobstays. In a few minutes, the singularly looking animal was under our bows, hands were eagerly stretched forth to grasp him, when apparently, with a convulsive effort, he recovered his natural position in the water, stretched out hia wings, and, to the unspeakable astonishment of the crew deliberately flew away ! Thompson saw this strange scene from the quarter deck, and exclaimed, " captain Melville, it is of no use to fire at that bird, you only waste your powder and shot, you can never hit it." " I '11 try once more, at all events," replied the captain. His fowling piece was again loaded. Meanwhile the strange animal had flown a few hundred yards ahead, and again settled down quietly on the water. As the ship drew near, the captain again fired. But the bird rose from the water evidently uninjured, and after soaring majestically over the quarter deck, flew away to the windward, until ott of sight. " I understand it all," said Thompson in a tremulous voice, while the sweat of agony stood in large drops on hia forehead. " Captain Melville, you might fire at that bird till doomsday, and you would not hurt a feather of its wing. That bird is my father's spirit^ and I know why he has come. Well, 1 am ready." As he uttered these words, bis eyes seemed to be lighted up with an unearthly fire. TALES OF THE OCEAN. 179 " What do yoi: mean, Thompson ? " said the astonished captain in a soothing tone. Your father's spirit 1 What nonsense is this. Come, let's have no more of such foolish talk." " Call it not foolish, captain Melville. It is truth what 1 say. That bird which you shot at twice, and which flew away uninjured, is my poor murdered father's spirit. Yes, the old man has come for me at last ; and it will not be long before I join him." " Why, this is worse than folly, Thompson, it is madness* What .do you mean ? What can I understand by such incoherent language ? " " Captain Melville, I know that I am not always in my right mind. My brain is seared to the centre, but I am not mad now. I have something which lies heavy at my heart, and which I should like to get clear of. I wish to make my sia« known to the world, and I ask it as a favor that you will let all hands be called. I have a dismal tale •to tell, and should like to have my shipmates hear it. It may do them some good; at any rate it can do nobody harm." There was no need of calling all hands, for we were all then standing in the waist, trying to catch the strange dis- course which was passing between Thompson and the captain, and quickly obeyed the mate's signal, and gathered around Thompson on the quarter deck, who thus com- menced his tale : " My father was a respectable farmer in New Hampshire, and I was his only son. But I was from my youth possess- ed of a fierce ungovernable temper, and when about fifteen years of age, my father having laid the ox-goad over my shoulders for some trifling fault, I took a solemn and wicked oath I would never work on his farm again, and that at some future day, I would be revenged ; and fear fully have I kept my oath. I ran away, and went to sea For eight years I was absent from home, during which 1 had visited almost all parts of the habitable globe. By this time my revengeful feelings became softened down, and J U'ished once more to behold my parents, particularly my mother, wlio was always kind and indulgent. I according- y returned to my native village. I saw my parents, 180 THE SPIRIT BIRD. sojourned with them for several weeks, and notliing occurred to damp the pleasure of my visit, until one fatal evening I accompanied my father to a husking frolic in the neighborhood. The flowing bowl, accursed be its pernicious contents, passed briskiy around, and by the time our work was completed, about midnight, we all became somewhat mofe than merry. Indeed, my father had so far partaken of the intoxicating draught, that he could hardly walk, and 1 was obhged to support him on his way home, although my brain whirled round, and I could hardly 'wnlk steadily myself. '' When we had got about half way home, we came to a cross road, which my father insisted was the right path ; anu no argument on my part could convince him that he was wrong. With all the pertinacity of a drunken man, he insisted on pursuing that route, and when I attempted to prevent him, he struck me a violent blow on the face. This roused the demon within me. " Ha ! " said I, " old man, a blow ! You will find to your sorrow that I am a man now, and no longer to be abused by you as I was when a boy." Upon which I struck my poor inebriated father to the earth with a blow of my fist ; and then the recollection of former injuries unrevenged, rushing in my mind, I seized a stake from the fence and struck him several times over the head, as he lay on the ground. " But the fatal crime was hardly committed, ere I bitterly repentea what I had done. I called him by name, he returned no answer. I hung over his body, and saw by the light of the moon, the blood streaming from his disfigur- ed visage. I would then have given worlds to have recalled liim to life, for an awful voice seemed to whisper in my fvir, '* He is your Father^' I felt of his head, but alas ! I found that his skull was crushed, and the grating of tl e hones sounded harshly on my ear. I then knew that he 4vas dead, and had received his death blow from the hand of his son ! ** I took the corpse in my arms and wept over it for more man an hour. At length I felt the necessity of doing something to avoid incurring the suspicion of guilt, and I carried it to the foot of the precipice which was near, where I laid it among some rocks, and then proceeded to TALES OF THE OCEAN. 181 the house. I entered without noise, and retired to my room, but not to sleep. In the morning my mother entered my apartment and inquired for my father. I affected great surprise and alarm at his absence, and assured her that he having manifested a great desire to get home, had out- walked me, and I thought he was snugly deposited in bed before I arrived. I called upon some of the neighbors, and requested their assistance to search for my father, wh(f in due time was found at the bottom of the precipice, with his skull frightfully fractured. No suspicions rested on me, and the old man was laid in the grave. Since that time, I have never known comfort, a worm has been gnawing at my heart. I see my father in my dreams, and sometimes when I am awake he stands before me. I thought if I could quit the scene of my guilt, the image of my murdered parent would no longer haunt me. But no, he is constant- ly with me. Last night, while I sat upon the windlass, I fell into a drowse,. and saw him in the shape of the bird, that flitted around us to-day, and he whispered in my ears, * your time has come.' " Such was the tale of blood told by the wretched Thompson, and although we all felt detestation at the unnatural crime of which he had been guilty, we could not help pitying the miserable wretch. While we were listening to the parracide's confession, dark, double-headed clouds rose above the horizon, and the appearance of the heavens betokened the approach of a heavy squall. Preparations were made accordingly The royals and top-gallant sails were furled, the courses hauled up, the top-sails clued down upon the caps, and the reef-tackles hauled out. Ere these precautionary measures were fully executed, the dark cloud had reached the zenith, the flashes of lightning were frequent and vi\id, and the deep-toned thunder muttered fearfully in the distance. Soon a ripple was seen on the water, followed b^ a ridge of miniature waves, which breaking as soon as formed, presented the appearance of a moving sheet of foam. " Now mind your helm, my lad," said the captain in a clear and distinct tone, to the helmsman who had relieved Thompson, " keep her right before it." 16 THE SPIRIT BIRD The squall struck the brig on the starboard quarter. *^ Starboard your helm, hard a starboard," shouted captain Melville. *' Hard a starboard, sir," responded the man at the helm ; and in a few minutes the brig was booming along before the wind, which blew with the violtnce of a hurricane, at the rate of nine knots. The rain fell in torrents, and what with the roaring of the waves, the howling and whistling of the tempest, the dazzling brilliancy of the chain lightnina which seemed to play around the masts, and the echoing peals of thunder, the scene was absolutely trrrif ■. The TALES OF THE OCEAN. til rilling tale told by the self-accused parricide was for a while forgotten. But suddenly a strange and awful voi.ee was heard, which sounded louder than the conflict of the elements, as if uttered by the spirit of the storm ; " my father <;alls me, my poor, dear, murdered father ; I come, 1 come." Then with a wild and prolonged shriek of agony which even now rings in my ears, the maniac Thompson sprang on the quarter-rail, and ere any one could prevent the fearful act, he threw himself into the foaming ocean. No human efforts could save him. He rose in the eddying wake, and with his body half out of water, with agony of the most intense description depicted on his ghastly features, he gave another shrill and dying scream, then sunk to rise no more. In half an hour after this event, the clouds broke away, the hurricane was hushed, the sun shone forth in all its wonted splendor, the brig was ploughing her way towards her destined port, impelled by a genial breeze, when, fabu- lous as It may appear, two birds, similar to the one that was flying around us previous to the storm, made their appear-- ance. They alighted for a few moments on the main-top- ^llant yard, and perhaps it is unnecessary to state that they were not this time molested by the captain. They hovered awhile over the quarter-deck, took a few circles around the ship, then flew away to windward, and we never saw them more. k.^ THE BAHAMA BANKS. A MONO the remarkable natural curiosities on the globe, may be included the enormous plains covered with sand, ol an extent almost eqjialling the sterile deserts in Africa and Asia, which lie under the water, to the eastward of the coast of Florida and the gulf stream ; and which are known by the names of the little Bahama, the great Bahama, and the Salt Key banks. The Little Bahama bank extends from Maranilla Reef, in lat. 27 deg. 50 min. N. and long. 79 deg. 1 1 min. west, to the island of Abaco, the south-eastern extremity of which is in lat. 25 deg. 54 min. and long. 77 deg. 16 min. It is about 75 miles across, from east to west ; and is bounded by the Atlantic ocean on the east, and the gulf stream on the west, and occupies a space of about 8000 square miles The Little Bahama Bank is nearly level ; the water varying from one to three fathoms in depth. It is lined on the eastern side with a multitude of small islands and rocks ; and a few islands and rocks occasionally appear in different parts of the bank ; among which the most considerable are the Grand Bahama, and Abaco ; neither of which are inhabited. The Great Bahama bank is about 330 miles in length ; extending from N. lat. 26, and W. long. 79, in a south-east direction. The average breadth is about 100 miles, tins covering a space of about 30,000 square miles. On the eastern extremity of this bank are a number of low islands, the principal of which are Hetera, New Providence, St. Salvador and Exuma. On the western edge bordering on the gulf stream, are the Isaacs, the Beminis, and a variety of small islands and rocks, which have no permanent inhabitants. The usual route for vessels not too deeply laden, from the American ports north of the gulf of Mexico, to Matan- TALES OF THE OCEAN. zas and Havana, also to ports in the gulf of Mexico, is across tiie northern section of the Great Bahama hank. This route is also frequently adopted by vessels from Europe. After passing the southern point of the island of Abaco, which is well known from a singular appearance, caused by the action of the waves upon the rocks, probably for many centuries, and distinguished by the appellation of " the hole in the wall," the navigator should proceed westerly about 40 miles, which will bring him up with the Berry Islands, a cluster of beautiful islands, covered with treua and verdure, but uninhabited, excepting temporarily by a few individuals from New Providence, in search of fish, and turtle, with which the beaches abound. Passing round the westernmost of these islands, if the vessel does not draw more than 12 feet of water, the navigator leaves the New Providence channel, and steers in a southern direction for the Great Bahama bank, which is at once known by the singular appearance of the water, that in consequence of the fine coral sand, of which the bottom is composed, resembles an ocean of milk ! The surface is perfectly smooth ; and the depth is not more than three fathoms, and in some places, when about half way over the bank, near what is called the middle ground, only 13 or 14 feet ; but the ship ploughs her way onward for a distance of eighty or ninety miles in perfect security, with her keel within a distance of from 3 feet to perhaps six inches of the bottom. Crossing the Bahama, presents one of the most interest- ing appearances which can be witnessed by the curious traveler. Not a speck of land can be seen from the mast- head, and the water is so perfectly transparent, that every pebble, or piece of sponge which lies on the bottom, may be distinctly seen. In some places, especially in a direction diflering a little from the regular channel way, large black spots are seen, which contrasted with the astonishing white- ness of the bottom in the vicinity, presents a singular and alarming appearance. These black spots are caused by marine vegetables, principally sponge, adhering to the rocks on the bottom, and are carefully avoided by the vigilant mariner. There is never any sea on the banks, excepting during vi )lent gales, which are not frequent in these parts ; but when they do occur, the agitation of the water renders 16^ THE BAHAMA BANK. the situation of the ^ essels crossing, very precarious ; and they are not unfrequently bilged* by striking against the hard bottom. This bottom being composed principally of particles of fine white sand, particularly in the fair channel way, and being destitute of marine vegetation, affords but slight temptation to the great variety of Msh, which are to be found in tropical climes, and it is seldom that fish of any kind are seen in crossing the great Bahama bank, although in the neighborhood of the Keys, they are caught in great abundance. Even the voracious shark is rarely seen. The only fish which seems habitually to frequent this part of thn tropical sea, is the Barracooter. Birds also appear to have abandoned this spot, although many varieties of marine birds are always seen among the neighboring islands, or sporting on the surface of the gulf stream. ^ The currents in the deep water in the neigliborhood of the bank, aio very strong, particularly in the gulf stream, which bounds It on the westerly side. On the bank the currents are inconsiderable, and irregular, and depend altogether on the strength and continuation of the wind. A regular tide is perceptible, but there can be no doubt that the depth of the water varies at different tunes, according to the prevalence of the wind. The channel across the Bafiama, is reasonably wide, say several miles : and with a fair wind, it is seldom that a vessel with a draught of water less than twelve feet meets with difficulty. If the wind is ahead, or becomes light and baffling, it is proper to anchor immediately ; otherwise a vessel is apt to depart from the direct course, and may get involved among the shoals, which extend a long way off the ship keys on the east, or on the middle ground on the west of the channel. As the soundings on eitlier side are near y the same, it is exceedingly difiicult for the bewildered mar- iner when entangled among these shoals, to extricate himself, and it is often the case that his attempts only serv ^^mm.. "^ BILL DEADEYE AND THE ANACONDA. 197 the sounds of the music, and the shouts of the people, 'ooked kindly at Bill, as much as to say, ' I am glad to see you, my fine fellow, you'll make a dish fit for an alderman.' He slowly uncoiled himself, and gradually, as if debatmg some point within himself, approached his companion, who stood firm on his feet, regarding his voracious enemy with a look of the most sovereign contempt. The Anaconda, however, was not to be put out of countenance oy BilPs looks, and after regarding the unfortunate sailor for a few minutes, as if to see whether such a hairy-looking mass of mortality was eatable or not, he made a spring and fastened upon Bill's shoulder, at the same time striving to pass a few turns round his body. " Bill uttered a yell, caused partly by pain from the mon- ster's bite, and partly by surprise. * Ye are there, are ye ? ' said he. * Never mind, two can play at that my hearty.' Saying which, he grasped the Anaconda by the neck, and began t^ exert that prodigious strength for which he was so remarkable ; and a struggle ensued which lasted more than half a glass, without intermission; during which time, they kicked up such a dust that nothing could be seen in the cage. "At the end of about fifteen minutes, however, the struggle ceased, the dust soon cleared away, and every eye was directed towards the cage, to view the result of the contest. I looked, and rubbed my eyes, and looked again. It was all over." " Poor Bill," exclaimed Ben Rollins, interrupting Tom, " the Anaconda swallowed him then ? " " You were never more mistaken in your life," re?umed Tom. " Bill knew a trick worth two of that, and swal- lowed the Anaconda ! " 17* THE UNLUCKY SHIP; OR NED SPANKER'S STORY. PART I. THE SHIP HOPE. ENCOUNTER WITH AN ICEBERG. AN INCI- DENT IN THE BRITISH CHANNEL. *' Keep a good look-out there ahead," said the second 'mate of the ship Harold, one night, in the middle watch. '' Aye, aye, sir," said Sam Starboard. " Well, as 1 was saying, the old Nonsuch was always an unlucky ship.^' " Unlucky ? that's all my eye," said Simon Shroudknot. *' Fm no believer in unlucky ships. Luck depends alto- gether on circumstances. A ship may be lucky to-day and unlucky to-morrow, lucky this voyage and wrecked the next. What do you mean by unlucky? " '' Why," said Sam, ''she lost overboard the second mate and two hands, the last voyage, w^hile taking a double reef in the fore-top-sail. The skipper was no sailor, and did not spill the sail, the bight of it flew up, caught over their heads, and whippe4 them off the yards before you could say, ' stand from under ; ' and the voyage before, one of the best men on board died of yellow fever in Havana." " If she lost overboard part of her crew last voyage," said Simon, turning his quid, " the chances are that she will lose none the next. I should like to have shipped in Ir^r. This talk about unlucky ships is all a hum." '' That's your opinion, is it ? " said old Ned Spanker. *' The time may come, my lad, when you will be a believer in lucky and unlucky ships. If you had met in the course of your life with as many severe scrapes as I have, had seen as many prime fellows become food for fishes, and as many noble vessels stranded on a lee shore, or swamped m the wide ocean, you would not be so fond of laughing THE UNLUCKY SHIP. 199 and sneering at unlucky ships. If I thoaght we had time, I could tell you of one ship, the Hope ; and a hopeless old craft she was, though I was in her three voyages, as long as she lasted, and she was always in some unlucky scrape or other, bad luck to her." '^ That's right, Dick," exclaimed Sam Starboard, '' tell us about the old Hope. There is plenty of time ; 'tis only three bells yet. The wind is settled on the quarter, and the lively craft skims along like a flying-fish. We sha'n; start a brace or bowline this watch, I know." " Well," said old Dick, " I have no objection to tell you something about the Hope ; she was the most unlucky ship that I ever set my foot aboard of. It is said that when the tree was felled, which was afterwards wrought into her keel, it took a cant the wrong way, and killed one of the wood- cutters who cut it down, and grievously wounded another. While the ship was on the stocks, one man fell down the hatchway and broke his neck, and at another time a staging gave way, and seriously injured several of the workmen. When she was -to be launched, great preparations were made, and people came from a great distance to see her. After a great fuss, the blocks were knocked away, and she gently slid along the ways, about half her length, and then seemed disinclined to go farther, stopped, resting her bows on the ways, and her stern in the mud. There she stuck fast, and it took a week, and an immense deal of labor to get her off. What little beauty she had was spoiled, for she was hogged forever after. However, she was got safe and sound round to Boston it last, a cargo was put on board, and she was fitted for sea. I shipped on board of her, for I was but a lad at that time, and was anxious to learn something in a new vessel. We were bound to Antwerp, and sailed in the month of June. Captain Jones was an excellent man, and my ship- mates were a fine set of fellows. It being a season when there is usually abundance of ice on the Banks of New- foundland, the captain, with a degree of prudence rather anusua..^ determined to keep to the southward of the banks, until Ave had passed to the eastward of them, not expecting, of course, to find ice in the Gulf Stream. Accordingly we bowled meriily along, with a fair breeze, the captain con- ZUO TALES OF THE OCEAN. pratuladng himself on his resolution to keep well to the southward ; and we considered ourselves so safe, that we hardly thought it necessary to keep a look-out. Within a wee i after we left Boston, the sky was c»ear and unclouded, with the wind about N, W., blowing a* moderate breeze; we had all the studding sails set on the starboard side, and were jogging along at the rate of about four and a half or five knots. At twelve o'clock, when the watch was called, the captain ordered the man at the wheel to keep her east, which, allowing two points for variation, would make her course good E. N. E. We had been steering E. S. E. before, and expecting that we had passed the southern tail of the Grand Bank, he kept her away, intending to make a straight wake for the English Channel, if the wind continued fair. It was my first trick at the wheel. When I was relieved at four bells, I walked forward on the forecastle, and took a look under the lee bow ; the crew were walking on the weather side of the main deck, or napping on the wmdlass. All at once, 1 thought I saw a large white body or something close-aboanl of us, ahead. I thought I must be deceived, and rubbed my eyes, and looked again. It was still there, and I bawled out with all my might and main, " keep her away." The crew sprang forward, and saw the alarming object, and several voices exclaimed with startling energy, " Ice Ho ! hard up your helm 1 Starboard, hard a starboard ! " The helmsman promptly obeyed the directions given, but it was too late ! The iceberg rising forty or fifty feet out of tlie ocean, appeared right under the bows. In another moment the ship struck th^ huge body with a tremendous shock, and quivered to her kelson. The bowsprit was broken oflf close to the gammoning, and thrust in on deck ; the cut- water was demolished, and the stem and several timber heads were started. The watch below rushed out of the forecastle, and the captain was on the quarter deck in a jiffey ; and for a minute the scene looked rather alarming, and great confusion prevailed; the studding sail booms were cracking against the sides of the ice mountain ; the sails were shaking and slatting with great violence ; the foremast was tottering to and fro, and we expected every moment to see it go overboard. THE UNLUCKY SHIP Fortunately the shi i struck the leeward part of the ice- bergs and aftpr stopping. for a moment, and trembling as if with indignai »n at the severe check, which she had so unceremoniously received, she gathered fresh way, and shot clear of the danger. But a new alarm now pervaded the minds of the crew. One of the men, who stood half paa^alyzed near the forecastle, seemed to recover his senses, and suddenly exclaimed, " the water is rushing in through the bows." " The ship is sinking," " she is going down head first," " out with the long boat," exclaimed others, and they commenced running about the deck like madmen. The captain was a man of great determination and presence of mind. He was a little startled at first, as who would not be, to be roused in Uiis manner from his sleep, when dreaming, perhaps, of fc'r weather and sunshine at home ? But he soon recovered the complete command of all his faculties. " Silence there, forward," shouted he. "Mr. Tileston," (that was the name of the chief mate,) " take two hands, and oflf with the fore hatches, and get ready to heave overboard cargo. Mr. Bannister, brail up the foresail, lay the yards exactly square, take in those studding sails, clue up the top-gallant sails, and then rig the pumps. Keer her northeast, right before it," said he to the man at the wheel ; " and now, steward, bring me a lantern." His orders were obeyed, and the confident, cool and. determined conduct of the captain, seemed to inspire the crew with fresh courage. The captain went down into the forecastle. He was soon convinced that the mishap was a serious one, and that the ship leaked badly, although there was perhaps no immediate danger. If we could have hove the ship to, it would doubtless have lessen- ed the leak, but in that case the foremast would inevitably ha^e gone over the side. But we soon got her under easy mil, and commenced throwing overboard cargo, which -consisted principally of sugar and coffee. All hands work- ed with a will, for we knew that our very existence de- oended on our exertions, and in a few hours the ship was so much lightened, that the leak was comparatively incon- fiiderable, the principal damage being in the upper works. We afterwards rigged out a jury bowsprit as well as we could, and secured the foremast. The wind continuing 202 TAJ Eb OF THE OCEAN. fair from the westward, and a heavy sea on, u e coulc not return to l^oston, as we otherwise should iiave done. We kept on our course for tlie Enghsh channel ; by fothering a sail, and putting it over the bows, we managed to reduce the leak, and keep the ship above water ; and in about three weeks after the accident occurred, we arrived at Fal- mouth without meeting any further disaster. Here it was necessary to go to work and repair her, and a jiretty job it was, I assure you, my lads. We dischargctl all the cargo, and then found her bows so much shattered that it was necessary to heave her out, that the carpenters might get at her bottom. Every preparation was made, the falls were taken to the capstans, and we hove away merrily, but unfortunately just as the keel made its appear- ance, the sweet creature took a cant, the relieving tackles broke, and she turned turtle, and filled in three fathoms of water I Here was a nice kettle of fish, and it was a long time before, with much trouble, we got her up again. By this time the crew were heartily tired of their bargain, and already began to talk of her as the unlucky Hope. We succeeded in tinkering her at last, and I rather think the underwriters had to pay a pretty heavy bill. We took our cargo again on board, bade good bye to friend Fox, the American consul, a fine old quaker codger, and pursued our course through the English channel, towards. Antwerp. The second night after leaving Falmouth, we were jogging along at the rate of about four or five knots, with the wind from the westward. We saw the land before night, but a thick fog set in afterwards, and we could hardly see the jib- boom end. The captain ordered her to be steered E. S. E. Q course, which, if made true, would have carried us clear of all dangers. In the first watch, say about five bells, 1 was walking the main deck.; the captain had gone below, after ordering the mate to keep a good look-out, and to cal. him at eight bells ; the mate was leaning over the weather Quarter rail. I noticed that the sea became very smooth, and some other circumstances, or perhaps some mysterious presentiment caused me to think that we were getting Uyo near the land. I mentioned this to Dick Grummet, who shrugged his should "^rs, and said tnp.t it was none of our THE UNLUCKV SHIP. 203 ousiness if we wert;. 1 then walked up to tx- mate, who [ vorily believe, was snoozing at his post. " Mr. Tileston/ said I, very respectfully, " 1 am afraid we are getting too near the land, don't you think we had better get a cast of the lead? " Tileston was one of those self-sufficient men, who think they know every thing, and that other persons know nothing ; accordingly my proposal did not meet his approbation. " Heave a cast of the lead," said he, with a laugh of derision, "here in the middle of the English channel ? my good fellow, attend to your own duty, and E 11 take care of mine. How does she head ? " shouted he to the helmsman. " E. S. E. sir," said the man at the wheel. " Keep her so." We continued this course for fifteen or twenty minutes longer. I was far from being easy, and looked with all my eyes, as if I expected to penetrate the fog. All at once, I thought I could hear a distant rumbling ifoise, as of yurf rolling upon the beach. I listened, and the noise continued ; I waited a few minutes longer, and was so convinced that we were very near the land, and in imminent danger, that I roused the mate again, notwithstanding the rebuff I had previously met with. " Mr. Tileston," said I, " I am very much mistaken, or I hear the surf. There sir 1 did you hear that ? " *' Ned Spanker," said the mate, " I should like to know what you are driving at. You are either trying to cut up some shines on board this ship, or you are a double-distilled fool. In either case it will do you no harm to go up on to the main-topsail yard, and rig out the lee top-gallant stud- ding sail boom." *' Ay, ay, sir," replied I, doggedly, and 1 inwardly resolved tfj say nothing more to the mate, if I saw the ship rushing to destruction with a fair wind, and a spring tide. I wer t aloft, and took the ma in -top-gallant studding sail halliards from the top, and shinned up to the top-gallant -mast head ; while reeving them I cast my eyes ahead, for I could look over the fore-top-gallant yard, when I saw a scene which filled my bosom with affright. It seemu that tl.'e fog, which was so dense near the surface of the water, did not extend BO fiigh as the top-gallant-mast head, and I saw with 204 TALES or THE OCEAN. Startling distinctness, looming up, the land of old England, as it appeared to me, but a few cables length on the lee bow ! Forgetting the resolution I had previously formed, 1 bawled out to the top of my lungs, " land ho ! land close aboard, on the lee bow ; " and then without stopping to reeve the halliards, I hastened down on deck by the top- gallant backstay. I recollect the circumstance well, for I blistered my hands so, that I was unable to do any work for a week afterwards. The mate was now fairly roused. He sprang to the wheel, and put the helm hard a port. " Pass the lead along there, men," said he. Before this could be done, and before the ship had fallen off two points from her course, she struck hard on a sandy shoal, which makes off a short distance from the shore in the neighborhood of Fairlee. The shock awoke the captain, who hastened on deck. " What is all this, Mr. Williams ? " said he. " We are hard and fast ashore, sir.'* " Have you seen the land ? " " No, sir, but Ned says it can be seen off the top-gallant yard." The men mustered on deck, muttering about the "un- lucky tool." Luckily, the wind had been from the south- ward for some days, and quite light ; consequently, there was but little sea on, and the ship did not strike heavily. The captain ordered the sails to be clewed up and furled, which was done in sharp order, I '11 assure you, for nothing stimulates a man to exertion like danger, as I have good reason to know. We next cleared away the long boat and got it out ; took in the small bower anchor, and a pretty good quantity of cable, and carried it out astern. We then got a messenger upon it and took it to the capstan. Not withstanding we were unlucky in getting ashore, yet it was lucky after all, that we went on at the time we did, it being nearly low water, and on the ebb tide. By the time we got the anchor out, and ready for heaving, the tide turned, and without any extraordinary exertion, in a couple of hours we found ourselves afloat in three fathoms of water, without ha'dng experienced any great damage excepting the loss of THE UNLUCKY SHIP. 205 our false keel. We kept on our course, and arrived at Antwerp, meeting with no further disaster, excepting getting foul of a Dutch galliot while at anchor off Flushing, by which ^e lost our jib-boom and martingale, and injured our cutwater While we lay in Antwerp, five of our best seamen ran away, leaving their wages behind, declaring that although they liked the captain, and the usage on board, yet they would not risk their lives in such an unlucky ship. For my part, I luughed at them, and talked as foolishly about such thingi as Shroudknot does. But I soon had reason to applaud their conduct. Other men were shipped in their stead, and in a fortnight after we arrived, we were ballasted and again ready for sea, bound for Charleston, S. C' When Ned Spanker had proceeded thus far in his nar- rative, the man at the wheel sung out, " eight bells." " Eight bells," bawled the mate, opening and rubbing his eyes ; " call the watch." •* Call the watch ! " responded the crew. And the watch were called accordingly. " Never mind, Ned," said Simon Shroudknot, " you shall give us the rest of the yarn to-morrow night." TniinmimtltlilD THE UNLUCKY SHIP PART II. THE SQ,UALL. A MOURNFUL INCIDENT. MUTUAL ASTOW- ISHMENT. The next evening, in thp dog watch, several of the crew ot the Harold gathered around Dick Trysail, and urged hiro to spin a few fathoms more of his " unlucky " yarn, which h(; commenced the niglit previous. Dick, nothing loth, resumed the thread of his narrative. '' We sailed from Antwerp the 17th of July, having on board captain Gray and three of the crew of the ship Stan- hope, of Charleston, S. C, which ship was condemned as unseaworthy at Antwerp. Captain Gray was a noble fellow, a real sailor's friend. He was about twenty-eight years old, of a fine fiirure, and prepossessing countenance. He was none of your sweet-scented gentry, who having climbed into the ship through the cabin windows, loathe the -smell of tar, and turn up their noses at the sight of a bronzed and weather-beaten son of old Neptune. He could crack a joke, spin a yarn, and, at a pinch, 3ip his fingers into the tar-bucket, for he never prided himself on his white and delicate hands, as some of the holiday skippers do in these times. He was brave and undaunted in the hour of danger, and such a man will alw^s cherish the gentler affections. He had been married about two years, and dearly d'd he lo/e his wife and child. He often spoke of them in teima oi rapture, and eagerly looked forward to the time when he should join them on his native shore. Such was captain Charles Granby Gray, and never shall I forget his open, generous, smiling countenance. We passed out through the Duerloo passage, and down the English channel with a cracking breeze. Learning wisdom from experience, the captain hardly closed his eyes until the rocks of Scilly bore E. N. E. ; notwithstanding THE UNLUCKY SHIP. 207 lyhich, we were one night within an ace of being run dow n by an Enghsh West Indiaman, who was working his way Uj) the channel. It was not merely a " touch and go," ioi we carried away our spanker boom and our stern davits. After this, nothing occurred worth telling, until we were in the longitude of the Western Islands, where y'^>u know it is apt to be rather squally at times. One night we were jogging along very pleasantly at the rate of about five knots, the wind was on the weather beam, rather light, and we had royals, and fore and main topmast and top-gallant studding sails set. When the watch was called at twelve o'clock, il was my trick at the wheel ; the mate crawled lazily up (jn deck, and after exchanging a few words with the second officer, he looked into the binnacle, then stretching his liead over the quarter rail, he seemed to be considering for a few moments the state of the weather. There was not a cloud to be seen in that direction ; and he apparently arrived at a satisfactory result, for after taking a few turns on the quarter deck, he threw himself down on the weather hen-coop, and soon gave evidence that although his mental faculties might be in a state of repose, his lungs were in excellent order, altliough they did not work quite so smoothly as could be wished. My attention was soon attracted by the appearance of a cloud on the lee bow, wJiich seemed to be gathering and rising in the northwest. And before it had struck twobells; J gently jogged the mate, and told him I thought the weather looked rather suspicious under the lee. He raised himself and after looking at the appearance of the weather for a moment, gruffly observed : " th^ weather is well enough, 1 have been /boking at those clouds this half hour. Keep your eyes open, mind your helm, and steer small." lie then quietly settled himself down into a snooze. The clouds grew blacker and blacker, but seemed to rest for a while within an oar's length of the h "^rizon. Suddenly the wind died away, and the sails flapped against the mast with every roll of the ship. The immense black mass to leeward began to rise rapidly, and formed an enormous and wild-looking arch, one extremity of which seemed to rest on the ocean, in the direction of the starboard cat-head ; the other bore about two ;>oints on tlie quarter. I saw at once 208 TALES OF THE OCEAN. that there was trouble coming, and I again roused the mate with the intelligence that a heavy squall was close at hand. He jumped upon his feet, and the sight to leeward brought him to his senses instantly. He was not distinguished for his coolness and presence of mind in the hour of danger, and he now issued his orders without taking into consider- ation the impossibility of their being ah executed with the handful of men who composed the larboard watch. " For- ward, there ! Clue up the royals. Haul down the flying jib. Lay up and haul in the top-gallant studding sails. Clue the top-gallant sails down on the cap. Stand by to haul in the main top mast studding sail. Call all hands I " This last order was obeyed instantly, and the unwelcome words, " all hands ahoy ! squall, ho ! " uttered in a loud and portentous tone, soon brought on deck the whole crew. The captain and second mate, also hearing the confusion, rushed up the companion-way. At this moment it was a perfect calm. The captain saw the danger of our situation, and gave orders to " haul up the mainsail ; brail up the spanker ; let go the bowlines ; stand by to brace round the yards." The words were hardly out of his mouth before we heard die roaring of the approaching hurricane on the water. " Let go the halliards fore and aft," added he with startling energy. Before his orders could be executed, the squall struck the ship. It came butt-end foremost, and gave us a fearful shock. Crack went the studding-sail booms, the jib-boom was carried away in the cap, and such a fearful fluttering of canvas, I never heard before. " Bear a hand, and let go the tacks and sheets, and brace round the yards." But the sails were pressed so closely against the masts and rigging that nothing could be started : the lop-gallant and topsail halliards were let go, but the yards f ould not come down ; the ship gathered stern way, and Ay over on her broadside. " Starboard, hard a starboard," exclaimed the captain, but the action of the water on the rudder was so strong, that it would have required the strength of a Hercules to move the wheel. Gloom and despair now reigne^ in every heart. The water was already rushing in through the cabin windows, and we expected every moment that the ship would go down THE UNLUCKY SHIP 200 Btern forimost, and to add to the horrors of our situation, the night was inconceivably dark, and the rain fell in torrents. W hat with the howling and whistling of the wind through the rigging, the roaring and clashing of the short combing waves, the shouts of the captain and the mates, which could be heard in defiance of the strife of the elements, the prospect of instant death before us, I assure you, shipmates, that my situation at that time was not of the most agreeable kind ; and I should have much rather been on dry land, even if I had been up to the ears in a mud-puddle. However, this state of things could not last forever. The ship would not fall-off before the wind, and while some of us were vainly attempting to brail up the spanker, and others were trying to brace round the after yards, a sudden gust of wind struck us, and nearly laid us on our beam ends, when crack, off went our three topmasts close by the caps. The ship righted a httle, and lost her stern way. We then managed to get her before the wind, which soon abated, when we luffed her up, and lay to till morning. When the day broke what a melancholy sight presented itself! All the spars and sails, with the exception of the coursers and spanker were towing along side. The watei had rushed into the cabin windows, flooding the cabin, berths and state rooms, injuring books and papers to a great amount, and storing the nold with a good supply of salt water. The ballast not being properly secured, had shifted, and the ship had rather an ungraceful heel to port. We turned to, and after a long spell pumped her out, and then went to work with a will to clear the wreck. The weather, fortunately, proved pleasant, and in a few days we got up a jury topmast, and by dint of a little contrivance, succeeded in putting her in tolerable trim. Captain Gray rendered us excellent service by his advice and his labors during this rather trying period, for he was a thorough sailor, and I have often regretted that he took passage in that " unlucky ship." A few days after this accident, we fell in with a vessel from New York, bound to Gibraltar, from which we pro- cured a topmast, and a few other spars, and the ship began to look like herself again. Nothing extraordinary happened after this until we neared the land. The ship ',vas ahead 18* 21C TALES OF THE OCEAN. ' of her reckoning, for chronometers were not so common in those clays as at present, and our captam never thought of using a thermometer when in the gulf stream. One morn- ing when day broke, the ship was running along with a cracking breeze from the eastward, and a following sea ; the second mate had the morning watch ; as daylight increas- ed, he jvent forward to rouse the men to wash down tho decks, when he saw breakers ahead. " Call all hands," said he. " Starboard your helm ; lay aft, men, and brace up the yards." All hands ran on deck in a moment; the yards were braced sharp up, and when the captain hurried up from below, the shoals oft* Cape Roman, with the foaming waves dashing over them, were within a few cables' length distance. Then there was hurry and confusion on board with a witness. It was necessary to take in the light kites, which were streaming and fluttering in the wind. The poor fellow who was sent up aloft to furl tiie main royal, by some means lost his hold, and fell from the top-gallant-masthead into the water. " A man overboard ! " was then the dreadful cry. No combination of words strikes such a chill to the heart of a sailor ; and every man of course left the work he was en- gaged in, and ran to the side of tlie vessel. The poor fellow rose to the surOice, and stretched out his arms implor- ingly towards the ship. The plea could not be resisted, and although we were in imminent danger of being drifted on the shoals, and were anxious to claw off' as fast as pos- sible, yet the word was given to " back the maintopsail, and lower away the quarter boat." Captain Gray sprang into the boat and cut away the lashings ; he was soon followed by four young and fearless sailors, and regardless of the heavy sea, which set heavily towards the shore, they pulled away after the poor fellow. His head could be seen occa- sionally bobbing up above the waves, and i' tils not long before they^ seized him by the hair of the head and, hauled him into the boat. Meanwhile the ship v/as drifting rapidly towards the breakers, and the captain was pacing the quarter deck with rapid strides, every now and then waving his hal to the men in the boat, and by other gestures urging them to make haste. But although there was not much difficulty in reaching the man who was lost overboard, yet it proved THE UNLUCKY SHIP. 213 • a serious undertaking to return. The boat fell rapidly to leeward, and the anxiety of the captain increased. " Give way, my good fellows," shouted he through his speaking trumpet. But they were far out of hearing, and exerting themselves with all their power. We saw that they rather lost ground, and were drawing near the verge of the breakers. " Hard up the he.m," said the captain. " Shiver the after yards ; we will make a desperate attempt to save them." Before the order was executed, and as the ship was falling off before the wind, the conviction came across his mind, that the attempt was useless, and would only risk the lives of others. " Hold on, men," said he. " Shift your helm, Jarvis ; we cannot run down to them without getting among the breakers and losing ship, cargo, and the hves of all on board. My good fellows," added he with startling energy, " if I could save your lives by sacrificing my own, heaven is my witness I would do it in a moment." He had hardly concluded the sentence, when a long rolling wave, which increased in magnitude as it neared the shoal water, struck the boat, which filled and capsized. It is now twenty-seven years since I first went to sea, and I have never witnessed a scene, which made such a dismal impression on my mind. The five seamen were never seen after the boat swamped. Poor fellows 1 they died in a good cause, and the dark blue wave was their winding sheet, but captain Gray, as the combing wave rushed towards hii 4, was seen to spring upon the gunwale of the boat and jump towapds the ship. He was an excellent swimmer, and struggled long and powerfully for life. But we could render him 110 assistance, and as the captain gave the aecessary orders to fill away the main-topsail, for we were close upon the breakers, we saw the noble fellow, exhausted by his powerful efforts, sink beneath the waves ! In a few days after this sad disaster, which cast a gloom o\er the ship's company, we arrived off" the harbor of Charleston, passed over the bar w'thout striking, and made the ship fast along side of Magwood's wharf. The story of our disasters got abroad, and the Hope was 214 TALES 01 THE OCEAN. 8Gon known as the unlucJcy ship. A freight soon oHered fo* Liverpool, but when read.y for sea, it was found exceedingly difficult to procure a crew. I liked the ship and the usage on board, although the chief mate was rather a thick- . headed and sleepy fellow, and concluded to try my \ick ih her again, thinking all this talk about lucky and milucky Bhi])s to be mere fol-de-rol. After being detained a fe%\ days, a crew was shipped on extra wages, and we sailed lof Liverpool. We had fine weather for about three weeks, and met with no misfortune, and I began to think that the ship woul.l perhaps prove a lucky one at last, when one afternoon off the Western Islands, the ship jogging along on a wind with a light breeze from the eastward, and drizzling rain, a man on the forecasde sung out that there was a whale on the lee-bow. We looked in that direction, and there sure enough, at the distance of two or three cables' length, reposed upon the surface of the water an enormous whale. He seemed to have very little motion, and perhaps was taking a nap, or ruminating on some important project. A sudden whim seized the mate. "Keep her away, Jack," said he to the helmsman, "and let us wake up that fellow." " Ay, ay, sir." " So, steady, that will do ; we '11 plump him just abaft the shoulders." And the thoughtless fellow rubbed his hands with great glee, and chuckled at the idea of asto7iish ing the huge monster. The ship being kept off the wind, gathered fresh w^ay, and in a few moments went stem on to tl>e broadside of the quiet unsuspecting animal ! The shock was tremendous Ulie sh'p trembled in every part, and the momentary recoE was I ear carrying away all our spars. The whale was astonished. The design of the mate succeeded to a charm ; he was completely aroused, and probably being an honest whale, and not willing to remain in our debt, he resolved to astonish us also. He accord- ingly hfted his fluke when going down, and gave us a gentle tap across the bows, which served as a lasting lesson to every man on board, never to disturb a sperm whale for thcj purpose of gratifying a maliaaus or a miscliievous propensity THE tJNLUCKY SHIP. 217 THe greatest weight of the blow fell on the starboard side and cut through the gunwale, plank-shear, and timbers, nearly down to the water's edge, carried away the lashings of our sheet-anchor, which was never seen afterwards, nearly unshipped the bowsprit, parted the main-stay, started every seam in the fore part of the deck, and rendered the forecastle untenable for the remainder of the passage. But llie greatest sufferer was our poor mate, who was standing h)f)king over the bows, laughing heartily at the time the blow was struck. The whale, as if the animal knew who was the cause of such uncivil treatment, struck him with his tail in an oblique direction with such force as to send ^ him half a cable's length from the ship, into the water to leeward. The poor fellow sunk to rise no more, paying a heavy penalty for his mis timed pleasantry. We reached Holyhead in about a fortnight after this accident, which strengthened the prejudices against the ship in the minds of the crew. In going into the Queen's dock, the pilot run us on to the pier head, in the most clumsy manner possible, and carried away our cutwater for the third time. After the cargo was discharged, and the ship repaired, we left Liverpool, bound for New York. On the passage home, we met with head winds and heavy gales. We had a long passage, and lost overboard an unfortunate chap, who was furhng the jib in a squall. We arrived at New York at last with ship strained, and leaking badly, sails split, hull rusty, and rigging out of order." When old Ned had got thus far in his narrative, the wind having veered aft, orders were given to square the yards and set studding-sails, and he was compelled to defer the rcmHinder of his yarn to another opportunity. THE UNLUCKY SHIP. PART III. llia WATER SPOUT. THE COMPLAISANT. THE END Of THE HOPE. A TEW evenings after Ned Spanker had described lo hit BJiipmates the encounter between the unlucky ship Hope, and the sperm whale, the weather-beaten crew gathered around the old tar again to listen to him, while, comfortably coiled up on the heel of the bowsprit, he related to attentive ears the conclusion of his yarn about the disasters which happened many years before to the unlucky ship. "When the old ship reached New York, I believe there was not a man belonging to her, who had not determined to give her a wide berth forever after, unless it might be captain Jones, who having a large family depending on him for support, was willing to run some little risk for the pur- pose of continuing in good employment. In a few weeks the Hope was ready for sea with a full cargo on board, bound for the Mediterranean. Captain Jones engaged a couple of excellent mates, in place of his former officers, who plumply refused to sail with him again, and after much persuasion, I was induced to ship again with him before the mast. On the following day we passed Sandy Hook with a rattling breeze, and ^'ere once more on the broad ocean. On the third night alter leaving port, we reached the gulf stream. It was dark and squally, and the ship was working her way to the eastward, under easy sail. The royals and top-gallant sails were furled, the flying jib taken in, and mainsail hauled up. The topsail halliards were all clear, the coils being thrown upon deck, and men stationed at hand to let all fly at a moment's warning, for alttjoiigh the wind was liglit, it looked as if it might blow a hurricxine without requiring much ti;ne for the preparation, and it wa8 so baflling, and the clouds Imng so heavy all around Uid THE UNLUCB. S«ilP 219 horizon, that no calculation could be made about the quartei from which a furious squall might arise. The lightning, too, lighted up the heavens, serving only to render the gloom more conspicuous, and the deep-toned rumblings of tlie thunder were heard at a distance. At eight o'clock, when the watch was called, captain Jones told the first officer, Mr. Sampson, to take a couple of reefs in the topsails, hand the jib and the mainsail, and haul up the foresail. " We'll make her snug for the night," said the captain, " for I do not like the looks of the weather, it wears a tremendous aspect, and this gulf is an ugly place, the squalls sometimes strike a vessel very heavily, and the first notice you have of it is to find your vessel on her beam ends. It may blow an Eagt India typhoon in five minutes, or there may not be wind enough to keep the sails asleep, during the whole night. There 's no knowing what the weather will be, but it is always best to be on the safe side." *' There's no denying that," said Mr. Sampson, and turning to the second mate, who had just crawled up the companion-way, " Mr. Watkins," said he, " muster all hands to reef topsails." "Tumble up there, men, tumble up, and take in sail," exclaimed Mr. Watkins. " Stand by the weather-main and main-topsail braces 1 " shouted Mr, Sampson. ** Let go the main-top bowHne, slack away the lee braces handsomely, and round in to windward. Luff, Daniel, luff, and shake her. So, steady ! Let go the main-topsail halliards ! Avast hauling with your braces, belay all ! Now man your cluelines, and get the yard down on the cap. That 's it, my lads, up with the buntlines, and out with the reef-tackles. That will do with your buntlines. Another pull with that weather reef- tackle. Belay that. Now lay aloft, and take in a couple of reefs, my men ! " No sooner said than done, when the rigging was let go, the reef-tackles and buntlines overhauled, and the yard hoisted up. The main-topsail was served in the same way, the mizen-topsail was handed, the spanker was reefed, the* jib was hauled down, the foresail hauled up, and the ship was soon lying very uneasy in the short, rough, cross sea, 220 TALES OF THE OCEAN. which is almrtot, at hearing such unfeminine sounds issue from such \ veiy lips, but before I could decide on what course to pursue, I was roused to a sense of my real condition, by a rough grasp of the shoulder from Jirn Bickford, who at the same time bawled in my ear, '* Ned Spanker, rouse and bitt! ail hands are called. Thers's somethmg serious to pay on deck." I awoke, and Nancy, with her smiling face, and rough voice, no longer haunted my imagination. I jumped out of my berth, caught my jacket in one hand, and my tar* paulin in the other, and hastened on deck, where the scene which awaited me, was such as would have astonished a landsman, and made me almost wish that my dream had been realized, even if Nancy had been transformed into a boatswain, so far as her voice was concerned. *' I say, Ned," abruptly asked Simon ShroudKnot, " what became of the girl ? Did you ever marry her ? " Ned shook his head. " Did you ever pop the question ? " said Simon. "No, I tell you!" answered Ned. "She proved a faithless jade, and when I returned home some six or eight months afterwards, I found her married to a tall, smooth- faced fellow, who could not tell the difference between the jib-boom of a ship, and the main-top-bowline. Indeed, I doubt if he ever saw salt water. 1 took an early opportu- nity to pick a quarrel with the lubber, however, and bunged up both his eyes, and flattened his nose, after the true sailor fashion. His beauty was spoiled for one week at least, of that I am positive." "Come," said Sam Starboard, "you are steering wide off your course ; you forget that you are telling us about^^^the scrape which you had in the gulf stream, in the ship Hope." " Well, well," said Ned, " there's time enough yet before the watch is called. As I was saying, when I went on deck, the wind was blowing right merrily, and the rain was falling in drops as big as a man's fist, the ship was scudding along before it in handsome style, and it was as much as I could do to get aft. I think I never saw the weather look worse m my life. 19* 222 TALES OF THE OCEAN. " There 't a waterspout after us, my good fellows " said captain Jones, as we mustered on the quarter deck, " and we must give it the slip if we can. Man the braces both sides. Be alive men for once, or you won't have long to live after the present hour. If that waterspout comes over us, it will capsize, and perhaps sink us. Starboard your helm. Jack ! So, steady." The ship was running off before the wind under reefed topsails, at the rate of eight or nine knots. I looked astern, and saw about a point on the larboard quarter, a black, misshapen body, which seemed to reach from the heavens down to the surface of the sea. Although it was very dark, this mass could easily be distinguished from the thick clouds, which shut out the stars and covered the whole of the beautiful sky. It moved towards us with fearful rapid- ity, being much fleeter in the race than our unlucky ship. The captain kept his eye fixed alternately on the water- spout and the compass in the binnacle, for the purpose of ascertaining the precise course which this unwelcome visiter was taking. A minute had hardly elapsed, during which every man on board breathed harder and oftener than he was wont to do, while his suspense amounted to agony, when captain Jones determined on his plan of pro- ceeding, and it was full time, for the waterspout was but a few hundred yards off, and came rushing towards us like a ferocious monster, intent on mischief. " Hard-a-port your helm," cried the captain. " Brace up the yards! Hold on to windward, that will do, belay ! Meet her with your helm." And as the ship came gradu- ally to the wind, she luckily shot across the hawse of the waterspout, which swept closely along under our stern, spattering the water in our very faces, and tearing, and roar- ing, and making as much commotion, as the cataract of Niagara would have done, if it had cast itself loose from its moorings among the lakes, and taken a pleasure trip across the wide ocean. We watched its progress with the most thrilling interest, and as soon as it got a little on our larboard quarter, when it was evident that it would not come on board, captain Jones screamed out in the most exultmg, and at the same time in the most grateful tone of voice, that I ever heard come from the lips of a human being, '' thank Ihe God above us, my brave fellows, that we are safe." THE UNLUCKY SHIP. 223 I was young at the time, and am willing to confess, that, while the waterspout was coming towards us, in common with the rest of my shipmates, I was sadly frightened. Indeed it was a dreadful moment, and one calculated to shake the nerves of the most firm and courageous tar, who ever took a draught from the medicine chest of old Nep- tune. Indeed, the whole scene on that memorable night, might well be called sublime ; at any rate there was pre- cious little beauty about it. There were the dark, heavy- looking clouds, piled up on each other near the horizon, or lianging loosely overhead, portending a fearful conflict among the elements ; there was the wind, which came ia fitful and unsteady gusts, whistling and singing in mourn- ful cadence among the blocks and the rigging ; there was the agitated and furrowed face of the ocean, which had been lashed to fury by the successive storms, and lighted up in every direction by the inimmerable brilliant phos- phorescent particles, in which it is well known to you all, the waters of the gulf stream abound ; there was the zigzag hghtning, which every few seconds seemed to envelope the whole of the heavens and earth in a frightful-looking livid garment ; and there was the giant column, darker, much darker than the dark clouds around us, reaching from the clouds and resting on the waters, which threatened instant- ly to sweep our whole ship's company into eternity." " But, Ned," said Simon Shroudknot, " why did not captain Jones fire off one of the big guns, or a musket ? 1 have always heard that when a waterspout comes nearer than is particularly desirable, a well directed shot will scatter it to atoms in an instant." '* The faat is," said Ned, *' we had not a gun on board, of any description, excepting a pair of pops, belonging to the captain, and which I suppose, he never thought of at the time. But old captain Wallis, who knew a thing or two, used to say that a pistol well charged with powder, was as good for the purpose of scattering a waterspout, as a long eighteen pounder, doLible-shotted. He always in- sisted upon it that it was the noise, the concussion of the air, produced by a loud and sudden sound, which caused the waterspout to tumble to pieces, and that if a ship were IhreatentKl to be overwhelmed by one of these things and 224 TALES OF THE OCEAN. had no firo arms on board, it could be demolished with equal ease, by simply raising a large plank on its end, and letting it fall heavily on deck. 1 intend to try the experi- ment, if I should ever again meet with an opportunity." ^' These waterspouts are curious things." said Sam Star- board. " I wonder that we never see them on land ! " '^ For the same reason," said Ned Spanker, wh9 seemed to have studied the theory of waterspouts with more atten- tion than any thing else, *' that you never meet with a whirlwind at sea. The truth is, a waterspout is a whirl- wind on the water. I recollect that when I was lying in the roads of Whampoa, a whirlwind passed over the adja- cent country, it uprooted trees, tore down fences, and un- roofed houses, spreading terror among all the inhabitants as it passed along. But as soon as it reached the water, it caused a tremendous commotion in old ocean's dominions, and in less than five minutes, instead of a whirlwind, there Was one of the most majestic and beautiful-looking water- spouts that ever was seen." A few nights after our adventure with the waterspout, which frightened all hands so, we were overhauled by a pretty severe gale of wind. While lying to under a reefed foresail and mizen-stay-sail, the second mate sent me aloft to make fast the main-topsail, which was getting loose on the weather yard arm. I secured the sail with a spare gasket, and lingered a few minutes on the cap to enjoy all the beauty of the storm. The waves, urged by the furious .gale, were combing around us in majestic style, and some of them even took a great fancy to come on board. The ship was rocking to and fro, and every now and then took^ a lee lurch, which made every timber in her bottom quiver. Nevertheless, as our ship was a good sea-boat, and we had plenty of sea-room, I, of course, felt not the slightest ap prehension of danger. I had concluded my survey of the wind and the weather, an;l after making some philosophical reflections, such as would naturally occur to a young sailor, while witnessing the strife of the elements, was about to come down on deck, .vhen I carelessly cast my eyes aloft, and there, on the fore- top-gallant-mast head, I saw a sight which struck terror to my soul. On the very summit of the mast on ♦he trucy THE UNLUCKY SHIP. 225 itself, a huge ball of fire ! It seemed to be a mass of un- earthly light, of a livid hue, which shed a d smal radiance around. The rain fell in torrents at times, bat it quenched it not, and the heaviest gusts of wind served neither to extinguish it, nor to increase its brilliancy. It kept its station, unmoved, shining terribly through the storm, as if it were a messenger sent by some superior power, to warn the crew of the ill-fated ship of some dreadful disastf r, which was impending over their heads. I was but a boy at the time, as you already know, and had not the slightest doubt that this light, which appeared thus suddenly at the dead of night, in the inidst of a furious storm, and on a spot where it could never have been placed by the hand of man, was of supernatural origin. My feel- ings, accordingly, were not of the most comfortable descrip- tion. I shuddered in every limb, a cold sweat stood upon my brow, a strange giddiness, a sickness came over me, and I had hardly strength to hold on to the futtock shrouds, as I slowly descended to the deck." " Why, I suppose it was nothing but a complaisant,''^ said old sour-faced Jack. " So the mate told me," continued Ned Spanker, " after I came down and pcfinted it out to him. He laughed at me for a green-horn, who was frightened at nothing. And I felt much relieved when I found that these balls of fire at the mast-head of a ship, were by no means of unfre- quent occurrence. The captain accounted for them by supposing that they were formed of particles of jelly, blown out of the water during the storm, and which clung to the rigging, but gradually ascended until they reached the truck, where they held on for a time, and then disappeared. But how such a mass of fire could be blown out of the water, I must confess I could not very well understand. But be that as it may, the sight of one of these same corn- plaisants in a dark night, in the midst of the ocean, witK the wind howling round you, and the waves breaking over you, is not of a character calculated to eiriiven one's spirits and chase away gloomy thoughts. When the watch was called, the complaisant was still there, and old Jack Ratling, who had been nine voyages round the Cape of Good Hop?, gave his head an ominous 226 TALES OF THE OCEAN. shake when he saw it. " My lads," said he, ''that fellow is not keeping watch at the mast-head for nothing ; three times only in my life, have I seen one of these complaisants at sea, and each time it proved the forerunner of a sad disaster. I tell you plainly, I don't like the looks of that fellow ; we must look out for squalls. Before three days something serious will happen." Some of my shipmates looked rather sober at Jack's prediction, and I among the rest, for I could not convince myself that the presence of our brilliant visitor portended good. The rest of the ship's company, however, with the recklessness of evil which is characteristic of seamen^ laughed heartily at Jack's whim. The gale soon after- Wards subsided, the complaisant disappeared, and nothing more was thought oi the stranger who had visited us so unexpectedly. On the second night after this event had taken place, the wind blew fresh from the south-west, with a considerable sea running. There was nr moon, and bodies of clouds following each other in rapid succession, shutout the light of the stars. It was five hells in the first watch, and when the log was hove at len o'clock, the ship was spinning it along at a great rate, for nine knots and a half were taken off the r;el. Captain Jones was walking the quarter deck, rubbing his hands wUh great glee, now speaking to the man at the wheet, who hb.( as much as he could do to steer the old craft, and now casting an eye aloft to see how the top- gallant mast and top masts stood affected by the breeze. Mr. Watkins, the second mate, was quietly walking- the v/eather side of the main deck, and occasionally taking a long and lingering glance around the horizon to windward, as if he wished to prove to the captain, beyond all doubt, that he was a vigilant officer, while if the captain had not b<^en on deck, he would have been comfortably seated on the hen-coop, t-Azi.^ a regular snooze. " Those hen-coops are rascally things," said Simon Shroudknot, " and have seduced many a good officer to neglect his duty." The watch on deck, continued Ned, without heeding the interruption, were variously employed ; the wind being well ali, it was good weather on he forecastle, and two ot THE UNLUCKY SHIP. 229 them were stretched out on the softest planks they could find, and sleeping as if for a wager ; two others were snugly Btowed away on the spars to leeward of the longboat. Jack Saunders was at the wheel, and as for myself I was seated on the windlass end, my head resting against the bits, with the cape of my monkey-jacket for a pillow, my eyes closed, and my senses steeped in sweet forgetfulness. Every now and then, Mr. Watkins, to show that he was active in the performance of his duty, would bawl out, *' Keep a good look-out there ahead ! " To which Dick Jarvis, who was enjoying himself on the deck of the fore- castle, would reply by grunting out, mechanically, " Ay, ay, sir," and then turn over and take another nap. The ship's company, however, were soon effectually roused, for the deep tones of a loud and manly voice, wero heard coming from the waters on the lee bow. Every man was on his feet in an instant, and eagerly gazing towar.i the quarter from which the voice proceeded, and there we beheld to our great consternation, a huge black mass, rapidly coming towards us, as if determined to sweep us to destruction ! " Sail ho ! on the lee bow ! Hard-a-starboard your nelra ! " was shouted with frightful energy by the hands on the fore- castle. *' Port your helm, or we shall run you down ! " was now heard with astonishing distinctness from the stranger. But it was too late, the helm was already put hard-a-starboard! The Hope still dashing madly through the water, fell off about a couple of points, and the strange ship came thun- dering on with the wind on the larboard beam. Her helm was also unfortunately jammed hard-a-starboard. All hands were by this time on deck, for danger quickens a man's energies surprisinorly. We saw that a dreadful concussion could not be avoided by any mortal power, and loud were the screams of apprehension which rose from the deck of that ill-fated ship. We were only a moment in suspense, but that moment seemed an eternity of misery. The huge black mass, which proved to be an enormous timber ship bound to Halifax, from Grenada, seemed swept rapidly towards us by some mysterious agency. Captain Jones, half frantic, rushed forward, uttering wild apd 230 TALES OF THE OCEAN. disjointed exclamations, and waving his hands, as if he expected in this way to avert the dreadful danger. It was in that moment that men, habitually sinful and profane, sought for protection in a superior power, and loudly called upon their God for mercy ! But in vain. The ship came thundering on like a race-horse at full speed, and when she struck our doomed craft in the waist, just abaft the fore chains, she must have been going at the rate of ten knots at least. It was a mighty and a fearful shock, which hurled every man to the deck, and the attendant consequences were terrible. The whole side of the Hope was crushed in, she swung around, and for a moment lay alongside of the mightier stranger. It was then that there arose from her docks those deep and piercing cries of despair, which are never heard so long as a ray of hope clings to the heart ; and which, if once heard, are never afterwards for- gotten. Before any assistance could be tendered to the noble souls on board of her, she filled and disappeared, and soon the wails and agonized shrieks of her hapless and fated crew were heard no more, or were blended with the moanings and roarings of the winds and waves. I was saved almost by a miracle. When the vessels came in contact, I was standing, stupified with fear and wonder, on the starboard side of the main deck, near the gangway. The bowsprit and the cutwater of the strange ship were carried away, and as the ships separated, by an instinctive impulse, I caught hold of some of the hamper from the bowsprit, and was dragged overboard. I still clung to the rigging, with all the desperation of a drown- ing man. Fortunately the shock acting upon the starboan. DOW of the English vessel, brought her up into the wind, and her main-topsail was thrown aback, and her way stopped^ as soon as the crew could recover from the aston- ishmei t which, for a time, paralyzed all their exertions. As soon as I could get my head above water, I set up a shout which attracted immediate attention, and they assisted me on board, and gave me a passage to Halifax." '' Were none of the others of the crew ever heard of afterwards?" said Simon Shroudknot. " Never ! " said Ned. '' Poor fellows, they all went down with the ill-fated Hope, heaven have mercy on their souh.' THE UNLUCKY SHIP. 231 " And all this," peevishly muttered sour-faced Jack, ^' was owing to a neglect of keeping a good look-out ahead. Give nio old captain Nat Deadeye, for my money ! He would allow his men time enough below to sleep, as they always had watch and watch, but he would never suffer one of them to. close an eye on deck. If there were not a good look-out at all times from the forecastle as well as the quarter deck, you might expect heavy squalls. The men used to grumble, as it surely is a pleasant thing to calk a little during the night in fine weather, but after talking the matter over for a couple of weeks, they allowed that he was right. And I verily believe that if other captains followed old captain Deadeye's example, so far as relates to this matter, we should hear of fewer disasters at sea." "No doubt of it," said Simon Shroudknot, "for after all, the great secret of success in life, whether on sea or on shore, is to keep a Goob look-out ahead." HOW TO ROUSE THE WATCH ON DECK. After Ned Spanker had finished his long yarn about the unlucky ship Hope, to which the hardy crew of the Harold listened with much apparent satisfaction, old sour- faced Jack said that the latter part of Ned's story reminded him of an occurrence in which he had acted a part a few years before. " You know, shipmates," said Jack, " that some of our West India traders, belonging to * down east,' are very apt to neglect keeping a 'look-out ahead' during the night time. I once belonged to the ship Nonsuch, captain Sea- gull, and we sailed from Portland, bound to Demerara, with a cargo, consisting of lumber and Yankee notions, and we had the sleepiest set of men on board, that I ever met with, and 1 have fallen in with some pretty persevering sleepers in my day. But I verily believe that some of these long- limbed, yawning Yankees, from ' down east,' would sleep with their heads in a bucket of water, especially if it were their watch on deck. One night about ten days after leaving port, we were crossing the pleasant latitudes of the trade winds, with all sail set, close-hauled, when the captain took it into his head to go on deck. It was about four bells in the middle watch ; he found the ship, under the influence of a light breeze, comfortably plougliing her way along towards the south, at the rate of two or three knots, and every man on deck was fast asleep ! The mate, and he was a smart fellow enough too, when he was awake, was enjoying a right royal nap on the weather hen-coop ; the ' man at the helm ' desirous of following such a laudable example, had nippered the tiller rope with a rope yarn, and stretched himself comfortably on the quarter deck, and the other two men of the watch had deposited their carcasses on a couple of soft white pine boards, and were snoring away like good fellows, as if sleeping for a wager 1 now TO ROUSE THE WATCH ON DECK. 233 The captain saw with a glance the lay of the land, and being a fuiniy dog withal, resolved to have some sport. He went quietly to work, and unrove the tiller rope, unsliipped the tiller, and (juietly placed it in the small boat at the stern. He then took from the companion-way his large speaking trumpet, which was only used on extraordinary occasionSj went forward, and passed out to the end of the flying-jib- boom, and hailed the ship with the whole strength of hia lungs, and his, voice was none of the smallest ; " ship ahoy-oy ! " said he, " hard up your helm 1 hard up . haid up, or I shall run you down ! " His horrible bawling awakened the watch, and the men who were enjoying themselves on the soft pine boards when they should fiave been keeping an eye ahead and under the lee, half frightened out of their senses, and imagining of course, that it came from on board a strange vessel, about coming down upon them, repeated the order, *' hard up your helm ! " The mate jumped off the hen-coop, and without stopping to rub his peepers, screamed out like a madman, " hard up your helm 1 " By this time the helmsman himself had recovered his wandering senses, and had raised himself upon his legs. He loudly responded to the general cry of " hard up your helm ! " and sprung with unwonted energy to execute the order, but his astonishment may be more easily imagined than described, when he found that the " helm " had disap- peared ! The captain was meanwhile bawling out from the end of the flying-jib-boom, until he was black in the face, " why don't you put your helm hard up ! hard up ! hard-a-port at once, or I shall cut you down to the water's edge ! " The men in the waist repeated the orders " hard up , " and ran forward to see what was to pay. The mate turned , to assist the helmsman, shouting out, *' hard up your helm, you sleepy-headed lubber ! hard up at once ! " But he was thunderstruck when he found that the tiller was missing, and floundered about like a struck dolphin. By this time, the watch below, of which I was one, came tunning on deck to see what was the cause of such a hulla- bulloo, and a scene of alarm and confusion ensued, which 20* L34 TALES OF THE OCEAN. went a leetle beyond any thing I ever saw before or since. It was, however, at last put an end to by captain Seagull, who came* in from the jib-boom, in an agony of laughter. As soon as he v/as able to speak, he soundly rated the watch for their neglect of duty, and he never had occasion to complain of a failure to keep a good look-out afterwards. I don't know how it operated on the rest of the ship's company .after that voyage, but for myself I can say, thai from that time to this, I dislike to see any man take a nap in h s watch on deck. He can be employed to better ad- vantage. And as for the officer of the watch, it makes me feel, somehow, feverish and ugly all over, when I see hirn taking a cruise to Noddle's Island,, when he should be looking after the wind and the weather, twigging the man at the wheel, and seeing that the rest of the watch are wide awake ; I never allow a mate of a vessel to sleep on deck, when I am in his watch." '* How can you help it ? " asked Ned Spanker. " I 've sailed with some mates, who would sleep in their watch, in spite of all that a smarter fellow than you could do." " I don't know that," continued Jack. " I 've cured at least half a dozen sleepy officers of J;his lazy and dangerous habit. As soon as they would quietly compose themselves to a nap, something on deck or aloft would be very apt to give way, and they would have to rouse and bitt. Some- times the main sheet would get off the elect to which it v/as belayed, and the mate and all the watch would be required to haul it aft. Sometimes the binnacle lamp would get out of order very suddenly, and the mate and the steward would be occupied a good half hour in trimming it so that it would burn ; sometimes a pair of studding-sail halliards would tumble out of the top, and give the officer of the watch a thump on the back, or a gentle pat on the head, to remind him of his duty, while, leaning against the fiferail, with his head hanging down on his breast, he was quietly entering the land of Nod. I generally contrived to cure this habit in the officer of my watch, before we had been out a week, and that without much difficulty. But old Bob Ed- wards, who was second mate of the Rambler, gave me no little trouble ; he was the most persevering sleeper that I ever met wdth, and the only way I could learn him to keep HOW TO ROUSE THE WATCH ON DECK. /5 his peepers open until it was his turn to turn in, was by sousing him with a bucket of water, from alongside, and making him beheve that it came in over the waist, and was the top of a heavy sea. I tried this experiment several times, and with good success. He thought it hard and strange, that go where he would, on tlie weather or the lee side, on the quarter deck or the waist, he could not close his eyes on deck in his watch, without getting half drowned in a few minutes after. He was finally obliged to give up the attempt, and I sometimes thought that he half susj)ect- ed me of having a finger more in the matter than old Neptune, but be that as ij^ may, he said nothing about it, but concluded after a while, that it was better to keep wide awaJke than to get thoroughly ducked." EXAMPLES OF SAILORS ABROAD. Persons who follow a sea- faring life, are occasionally ir the habit of visiting every portion of the habitable globe Their business frequently leads them among the less inform- ed, the uncivilized portion of mankind. And it is here that the examples taught by the white men, who mingle with the natives, may have a mighty influence on their conduct. The white man is soon known to possess a mind of a higher order than the savage, and is by him looked up to as a superior being. If the moral feelings of the white man correspond with his intellectual power, the 'nfluence which he may thus exercise will be unbounded. But if, as we fear is often the case, the savage finds that the white man seeks to deceive him, is dishonest, cunning, licentious and intemperate, he can no longer respect him, although it is possible he may fear his power. The ignorant, untutored savage can discriminate between good and ill, and akhough he, perhaps, has never cultivated the moral sentiments, he will despise from the bottom of his heart, the pale-faced stranger, who allows the animal passions to predominate over the nobler faculties of the mind. If you take away goodness, you will deprive intellect of half its force It is therefore evident that our sailors who visit those countries should be men, who are correct in their moral conduct, and thus be able to set before the savage a copy for his imitation, not a picture for his abhorrence. Is this the case ? We much fear that it is not. The Bailor when visiting a country inhabited by uncivilized man, IS loo apt lo regard the inhabitants as barbarians, rude and ignorant, with whom it is not necessary to observe strict rules of morality or even to regard the common decencies of life. They are too f.pt under such circumstances, to EXAMPLES OF SAILORS ABROAD. 237 ih-ow off all restraints, give loose to their passions, fill even the ^a^ages with disgust, dishonor themselv(\s, disgrace the nation which they represent, and thus instead of paving the way for free and unreserved communication with the Indian, prove an insuperable bar to civilization. • It will thus be seen that the bearing of the sailor when abroad is always of the greatest importance, and should fcTery where be characterized by frankness, benevolence, decorum and virtue. This conduct is particularly necessary when holding communication with the savage. The sailor might thus pave the way for the missionary or the philan- thropist, who would be able to instruct them still farther in their rehgious and moral duties ; whereas now, the savage soon sees enough oT the white man, and is more disposed to drive him from his territories or take his life, than to receive from his lips the lessons of advice or the precepts of morality. It is self-evident that before a person can be successful in instructing others, whether children or adults, he must be respected ; and he cannot be respected, either by the white man or the savage, unless he strictly fulfils b\s moral duties. An American sailor when abroad should recollect that he is 5! representative of his countrymen, and that it is in his power to convey to those among whom he mingles, a favorable impression of the general conduct, manners and morals of his countrymen, or to excite their prejudice iipainst the name of an American, by a bearing unjustifiably incorrect, ungentlemanly or immoral. And this considera- tion alone, if he have a proper love for his country, and a due regard for the character of an American, will be suffi- '"ient to induce him to be circumspect in his actions, and desirous of gaining a good name among foreigners, whetfier tiivilized or barbarous, whether christians or pagans. But there are nobler and better motives to influence the conduct of the seaman when acting in some sort as the I ppresentative of his countrymen in a distant land. A correct sense of moral duty, a wish to act correctly, wherever he may be placed, or in whatever circumstanros, a regard to his own character and happiness, and welfare in a futuie state. But 1 regret to state that it is often the case that when abroad, the sailor is influenced by none ni 238 TALES OF THE OCEAN. ihese motives. He gives the reins to his passions, and acta as impulse directs him. He seems to think that no notice ii taken of his conduct, that he is observed neither by tiic eye of man or the all-seeing eye of God. DUELLING mjIVJklj " SATISFACTION IN SOUTH AMERI ^A. A DUEL WrrU HARPOONS. HOW TO TREAT A CHALLENGE. Many cases of duelling, as well as nearly all cases o( brawls or rencounters, which are settled with knives or pistolii on the sj)ot, have their origin in a free use of intoxicatuig drinks. The sober man is compelled to answer for the sins of the drunkard ; and many an individual has been called upon when sober, to account for deeds committed or lan- guage uttered when in his cups, over which, if the veil of oblivion could be drawn, he would willingly part with his right hand. Duels are often caused by irritating and insult- ing language when under the excitement of intoxicating drinks ; and one important step towards repressing the prac- tice of duelling, would be to banish intoxicating drinks from the tables of " men of honor." A few years ago, there was a gentleman of New England, of Massachusetts, who was well educated, accomplished, and possessed of many excellent qualities, which endeared iiim to a large circle iff relations and friends. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in the course of trade^ visited one of the ports of South America. One Sunday afternoon he dined with a large party of gentlemen on shore, chiefly English and American. The brandy bottle was reg-arded with partiality, and the wine cup passed merrily round. Bacchanalian songs were sung, jovial tales were told, and enjoyment was the order of the day. An English naval officer, who was present, and whose ideas of propriety were rendered quite indefinite by the libations whicK he had poured out to the "jolly god," at length proposed 8 toast, which was objected to by our young American, on the ground that it was offensive and indecorous. The officer, being a mnn of undoubted honor, of course toot umbrage at this, u..d some angry words passed between thf parties. The . company had drank themselves into ihs^ 240 TALES OF THE OCEAN. happy state, when the prospect of a brawl oi a duel, so far from seeming improper or disgraceful, appears particularly to harmonize with the feehngs, and so far from interfering to produce a better state of feeling between the parties, took different sides, and succeeded in widening the breach between them. Arrangements were soon made to give and receive mutual satisfaction, as it is technically called, with- out delay. Pistols and seconds were procured with little iilliculty, and the whole party adjourned to a court in the rear of the house, which was fixed upon to be the theatre for the enactment of the tragedy. These unhappy men, who a few minutes before were on the most friendly terms with each other, now eagerly sought each other's life. " Blood, his heart's blood must atone for this injury," was the exclamation of both the parties as they took their ground, their features distorted with fury, and exiiibiting all the evil passions which we suppose must be engraven on the visages of fiends. They fought at the distance of six paces from each other, fired simultaneously, and both balls took effect. The American was shot through the breast, and died on the spot. The Englishman received his antagonist's ball in the upper part of the cranium, which shattered his skull, and produced a concussion of the brair, which terminated in insanity, and this miserable victim of false honor was afterwards confined in a mad-house, a raving lunatic, without any prospect of recovery. And such is often the nature of the satisfaction given and receiv- ed for using insulting language when under the influence of intoxicating drinks ! Perhaps some of my readers may have heard of tho story of the duel between old captain Lovett of New Bed- ford, and the English officer in Demerara. It has been variously related, but the only true version is as follows : Captain Zachariah Lovett, after having performed sf v- eral whalin» voyages to the Pacific, foujid himself in com- mand of a ^mall brig belonging to New York, on a voyage to Demerara. He was a worthy man, and a good specimen of a Yankee sailor ; his heart was full of the milk of human kindness, but he possessed a noble spirit, and would neither give nor take an insult. While his little brig Cinderilla, lay at anchor in Deirerara DUELLING, 241 nver, cai)tain Lovett one afternoon entered a cofTee liouse, where he met with a friend, and they amused themselves by knocking the balls about in the billiard room. Soon after, and before the game was half finished, some English iniHtary oflicers entered, one of whom, captain Bigbee, stepped up to captain Lovett, who was arrayed in a very plain, not to say ordinary costume, and with a bullying aii demanded the table, as himself and his brother officers wished to play a match. Captain Lovett gave the red-coated gentleman a stern look, but replied with courtesy, that he and his friend had engaged thc3 table, and would play out their game, after which, if the gentlemen wished to play, it was at their service. " But we can't wait " said captain Bigbee, in an insolent tone. " You must wait," coolly replied captain Lovett. " But we shall do no such thing," exclaimed the surly Briton. " we came here to play billiards, and have no idea o( being disappointed by a couple of fellows who hardly know a mace from a cue, or a ball from the pocket. It will take you all tlie afternoon to finish the game, so clear out." Captain Lovett and his friend played on. " Come," continued the officer, " enough of this ; marker, place the balls." Saying which, with a most impudent air, he seized one of the balls which captain Lovett's opponent 'had just driven into the pocket, and caught up another one which was near him. The matter was growing serious. Captain Lovett's eye flashed fire, for although he had mingled a good deal among qiiakers, and respected that moral sect for their humility ?nd quiet demeanor, he was no non-resistant man himself, fl? dropped his cue, and doubled up a fist of portentous «ize. "Put those balls upon the table, you scoundrel," ex- claimed he, im|)eratively, " and leave the room." " Who do you call scoundrel, you Yankee blackguard ? Do you know you are talking to one of his majesty's offi- cers? Take that for your impertinence," at the same time suiting the action to the word, and giving captain Lovett a smart rap across the shoulders with his cue. But in an instant he received a blow on his forehead, exactly where 21 242 TALES OF THE OCEAN. phrenologists locate the organ of eventuality, which would have felled an ox, and submissively acknowledged the favor by measuring his length upon the floor ! Ilis brother officers, who were with him, had the good sense to see that Bigbee was to blame, and although they looked rather black at the Yankees, they widely forebore to molest them further, but assisted the stunned bully to another lOom, where, by the help of some restoratives, he Boon recovered his senses. His rage and mortification at the result of the rencounter, knew no bounds, and with many a bitter oath he declared he would have satisfaction. Before captain Lovett left the coftee house, a billet was handed him by lieutenant James, which proved to be a challenge, a peremptory challenge, from captain Bigbee, in which it was insisted that arrangements should be made for an early meeting, that he might have an opportunity to wash off the affront he had received, in captain Lovett's heart's blood. Captain Lovett smiled when he saw such manifestations of christian spirit. "Tell captain Bigbee," said he, ''that I will not baulk him. He shall have the opportunity he so earnestly seeks. Although not a fighting man, I am famil- iar with the duel laws, and if he will be to-morrow morning on the bank of the green canal, near the South Quay, rather a secluded spot, he shall have satisfaction to his heart's content." Lieutenant James bowed politely, and withdrew. Cap- tain Lovett went on board the Cinderilla soon after, and ordered his mate, Mr. Starbuck, also a veteran whale-hunter, to select the two best harpoons, have them nicely ground, and fitted, as an opportunity might offer on the morrow, of Striking a porpoise. Mr. Starbuck obeyed his superior officer with alacrity, although he wondered not a little why caj)tain Lovett expected to find porpoises in Demerara river. The next morning, as soon as all hands were called, captain Lovett ordered the boat to be manned, and request- ed Mr. Starbuck to take the two harpoons, to each of which some eight or ten fathoms of rattling stuff were attached, and accompany him on shore. In a few moments the boat reached the South Quay, where captain Lovett was met by several of his countrymen, who had been attracted to the "* DUELLING. 243 gpot by the rumor of the duel, as well as several merchants and other inhabitants of the place. They one and all re- monstrated with captain Lovett for his folly in consenting to fight with the English military bully, who was represented as a practised duellist, an expert swordsman, and an unri- valled marksman with a pistol, being sure of his man at twelve paces. Captain Lovett, however, did not show Ihe least inclination to back out, but on the contrary seemed more eager for the engagement. " I 'II give that quarrelsome fellow a lesson," said he, " which will be of service to him, and which he will never forget, as long as his name is Bigbee Tiie challenger, with his forehead ornamented with a large patch to cover the impression left by the Yankee knuckles, and his swollen eyes dimly twinkling with anger and mortification through two huge, livid circles, accompa- nied by his second, soon made his appearance. He was followed by a servant with a pistol case, and an assortment of swords. He bowed stiffly to captain Lovett, and lieu- tenant James, approaching the Yankee, asked him if he was willing to fight with swords ; " if so," said he, " I believe we can suit you. We have brought with us the small sword, a neat, gentlemanly weapon ; the cut-and-thrust, good in a melee, and which will answer indifferently well in a duel, and the broadsword or cutlass, which is often pre- ferred by those who are deficient in skill in the use of arms. My friend, captain Bigbee, is equally expert with either You have only to choose. As the challenged party, you have an undoubted right to select your arms." "Of that privilege I am well aware," replied captain Lovett, " and mean to avail myself of it. I shall not figh* with swords." " I expected as much," resumed lieutenant James, * and have brought with me a beautiful pair of duelling pistols, with long barrels, rifle bores, and hair triggers. What dis- tance shall I measure off? " " Eight paces." " Only eight paces ! " cried lieutenant James, a liltlo surprised. " O, very well," and he measured it off, and placed his man at his post. Then advancing to captain l*ovetl, he presented him with a pistol. " [ do not fight with pistols ' " 244 a ALES 5F THE OcEANT " Not fight with pistols, after having refused to fighl uith swords? What brought you here then ? " " To fight ! " shouted Lovett in a thundering voice, which made the British officers start. " I Am the cliallenged party, and have a right to choose my weapons, according to the laws of the duello^ all the world over, and you may rely upon it I shall not select weapons with which I am not familiar, and with which my antagonist has been prac- tising all his life. Such a proceeding on my part, is not only not required by the rules of honor, which after all, is a mere chimera, but would be contrary to all the dictates of conmion sense. No, I shall fight with the weapons of honorable warfare to which / have ever been accustomed. Swords and pistols, indeed ! '' *' But, my dear sir," cried the astonished lieutenant, " we must proceed according to rule in this business. What weapons have you fixed upon ? " And in fancy's eye he beheld before him a huge blunderbuss, loaded with buck shot. Captain Lovett said nothing, but beckoned to Mr. Star- buck, who approached him with great alacrity, bearing the two harpoons. He seized one of the formidable weapons, and thrust it into the hands of Bigbee, who seemed abso- lutely paralyzed with astonishment. " My weapon," said he, '' is the javelin^ such as the Grecian and Roman knights often fought with in olden times! a weapon, which no man who challenges another, can refuse to fight with at the present day, unless he pos- sess a mean and craven spirit." Thus saying, he took the station which had been as- signed him, at eight paces distant from his startled antag- onist. He coolly bared his sinewy arm, grasped the har- poon, and placed himself in an attitude. " 1 '11 bet," said he, casting a triumphant look upon his friends, " a smoked herring against a sperm whale, that I '11 drive the harpoon through that fellow's midrifi the first throw, and will finish him without the aid of the lance. Mr. Starbuck," fiercely continued captain Lovett, in a loud and rough voice, such as is seldom heard, excepting on board a Nantucket whal- mg vessel, when a shoal of whales js in sight, '' stand by to haul that fallow in ' " DUELLING. 247 TLe mate grasped the end of the line, his eyes beaming with as much expectation and delight, as if he was steering a bdat bow on to an eighty barrel whale, while captain Lovett poised his harpoon with both hands, keenly eyed the British captain, shouted m a tremendous voice, " now Fou IT," and drew back his arm as if in the act of throwing the fatal iron ! The Englishman was a brave man, which is not always the case with bullies, and he had often marched without flinching, up to the mouth of a cannon. And if he had been met in a single combat with an adversary armed with a sword or a pistol, or even a dagger or a Queen's arm, he would have borne himself manfully. Indeed, he had already acijuired an unenviable notoriety as a duellist, and had killed his man. But the harpoon was a weapon with which he was altogether unacquainted, and the loud and exulting tones of the Yankee captain's voice sounded liks a summons to his grave. And when he saw the stalwart Yankee raise the polished iron, and pause for an instant, a^ if concentrating all his strength to give the fatal blow, a panic terror seized him, his limbs trembled, his feature j were of a ghastly pallor, and the cold sweat stood in largu drops on his forehead. He had not strength to raise hij weapon, and when his grim opponent shouted, 'now.foi< IT,' and shook his deadly spear, the Brkish officer, forget- ting his vows of chitalry, his reputation as an officer, anc^ his lionor as a duellist, threw his harpoon on the ground, fairly turned his back to his enemy, and fled like a fright- ened courser from the field, amid the jeers, the jibes, anci tlie hurrahs of the multitude assembled by this tim» on the spot ! Captain Bigbee's duelling days were over. No man would fight with him after his adventure with the Yankee lie was overwhelmed with insult and ridicule, and soon found it advisable to change into another regimeni. But his story got there before him, and he was soon sent to M^ovenlry' as a disgraced man. He was compelled, although with great reluctance, to quit the service, and it may with great truth be said, that he never forgot the lesson he had received from the veteran whaler, so long as his r.ame w^as Bigbee 248 • TALES OF THE OCEAN. We havo always admired the moral courage exhibited b* an old American shipmaster once in New Orleans. Captain Norton was passing along one of the streets, towards evening wlicn he saw a young and " honorable " native of the place, offjring insult to a beautiful and well-dressed female, who was trying to escape from him in vain. With all the galkntry of an American sailor, captain Norton hastened to her rescue, regardless of the conse(iuences to himself. The youth was indignant that any one should interfere in his amusements, and did not conffne his demonstrations to words. He made a blow at captain Norton, who caught it on his left arm, and returned it by a facer, which laid him jrfostrate on the pavement ! The young man was connected with some rich and re- spectable families in the place, and, as was to be expected from a man of honor and spirit, he resented such uncere- monious treatment, an^ after ascertaining the name and address of the champion of the insulted fair one, he sneaked off, declaring with a disgusting oath that he would have satisiaction. Accordingly the worthy shipmaster was waited on the next day by a gentleman, who brought a hostile message, couched in the mo&t lady-like and affectionate terms, re- questing vn early meeting. Captain Norton ascertained where the young gentleman, who was so eager to take his life, was at that time waiting an ans\^er to his message, when he expressed an intention to have an interview with him immediately. With him to execute and to resolve were synonymous terms, and he forthwith proceeded to a noted coffee house, where he found the man whom he had felled to the ground the evening before, pacing the coffee room with hasty stops. He immediately addressed him — " You have sent me a challenge to fight a duel, which I peremptorily revise to accept. I have no idea of exposing my own life to attacks from any rash and hair-brained youth, who may be willing to expose his own to an equal risk. In the first place I am not so disgusted with the world, as to wish to quit it at the present time. In the next place, I live for othei's than myself, and my death would carry sorrow and desolaliMn into a large and happy family. Besides this, I wish you (i istinctly to understand that to hO w JELLING. 24S# my hand against my fellow man in a duel, would be contrary to the moral and religious principles, by which 1 profess to guide the actions of my life. You acted last evening in a manner unworthy of a man of honor, and I gave you a lesson which I hope you will long remember, and so far from regretting what I have done, 1 should doubtless repeat the offence, if the same provocation were again offered, i dare not fight a duel, but T am always prepared to defend myself against the attacks of bullies and assassins.'' The sturdy seaman went his way in peace. He was a man of true courage, a quality which is never witnessed in a d/>«llist. AN ADVENTURE IN MARSEILLES. In the year 1829, I happened to be at Marseilles, in command of a fine ship, and with a valuable cargo of Louisiana cotton at my disposal. Charles the Tenth was then seated on the throne of France ; and, notwithstanding the events of the previous quarter of a century ought to have taught discretion to a king of France, he put no restraint on feelings emanating from a dark, gloomy, illiberal and tyrannical spirit, but began to show the cloven hoof of DESPOTISM 1 1'he despotic acts of his reign are now a matter of history ; and when I saw them detailed in the Parisian and rrovincial journals, without a word of comment, I could not conceal my indignation ; and being from nature of a frank, open disposition, always disregarding the doctrine of expediency, I could not avoid expressing pretty freely, my opinions respecting a monarch, whose course threatened to undo all that the revolution had accomplished, and to enslave, body and mind, a gallant and mighty people. Born and nurtured amid our republican institutions, I regarded with a sort of horror, the attacks of this misguided monarch on the liberty of the press which I had always been led to believe was the palladium of the rights of man, and the criterion of a nation's freedom. My invectives, accordingly were frequent and loud, without respect to time, place, or company. And, more than once, while I was, in earnest language, renwnstrating in a mixed assembly of the subjects of King Charles, against their folly and stupidity, in thus allowing the collar to be riveted about their necks, I have seen a Frenchman arise from his seat, his checks livid with anger or consternation, and with an ominous shake of the bead quit the apartment AN ADVENTURE IN MARSEILLES 251 I was repeatedly cautioned to be more guarded in my remarks, but in vain. I told those who remonstrated \vitli me, that although the liberty of the press had been success- fully assailed, it would be impossible to curtail the liberty of speech ; and that the successor of Louis XVI., despot as he was, would never dare to revive lettres de cachet and the Bastile. It was gravely predicted, however, by nioro than one of my friends, that I should get myself into trouble, by the freedom of my language ; and I wa s told, that it would be indeed singular, if, before I left port, 1 were not waited on by a file of gens d'armes, with an oi der for my arrest. But never having been in the habit of indulg- ing anticipations of evil, I laughed at the predictions of my friends. One morning, on returning from a distant quarter of the city, whither I had gone on business, I was infoimed by monsieur P., one of the firm whom I had selected to transact my commercial business in the port, that tlie Direc- teur of the Post, a functionary of no trifling importance, had called at the counting-room, for the express purpose of having an interview with me. His business, he said, was of great importance; but he refused to communicate it to any one but " monsieur Martingale." Monsieui P., said that the matter looked mysterious, and not a little iilarming ; he thought it must be connected with the "treasonable" language, in which I had often indulged towards thf; gov- ernment of France, and advised me to lose no time in proceeding to the dwelling-house of the Directeur, agreeably to the directions which that gentleman had k ft. The matter appeared not a little mysterious to mo, also. L' an agent of the Police had been seeking for nrn, I' could have assigned a satisfactory reason ; but why the postmaster should be so anxious to see me, to have a private inter\\ew with me, I was unable to fathom. However, having some business which required my presence on board my ship, 1 concluded to despatch that first, and then endeavor to solve the enigma, by proceeding to the Directeur's house. As 1 was proceeding along the quay, I met monsieur S., the partner of monsieur P. He seemed much agitated when he saw me. " Martingale, my dear fellow," said he, " 1 fear you have got yourself into an ugly scrape." 252 TALES OF THE OCEAN. "Why?" said I. " One of the clerks of the post office, sent by the Direo- teur, has been looking every where for you, with instructions to bring you to the Directeur's house immediately. I fear that this portends you no good." " Well," said I, " I am going on board my ship now, but shall afterwards go to the Directeur's, and endeavor to learn the meaning of all this. The satellites of despotism cannot more than imprison or hang me at any rate." I went on board my ship. My mate came towards me, with terror stamped on his countenance. " Captain Mart- ingale," said he, " a messenger from the post office has just left the ship." " A messenger from the post office ! " said I. " Well, what did he want ? " "He said that the Directeur of the Post was desirous of seeing you, on very urgent business ; and he had orders to take you to the Directeur's house. There is certainly some mischief brewing." " Well; then," said I, " the sooner I find out the nature of it, the better." And as soon as I had transacted the business which took me on board, I started off for the Di- recteur's house. On my way, I passed a ship chandler's store, where I was in the habit of passing, occasionally, a few leisure moments. Several of my friends, masters and supercargoes of American ships, saw me approach, and rushed out en masse to meet me. " Martingale ! " said they, " we have bad news for you." " What is the matter ? " said I. " A messenger from the post office department has been here after you. He seemed much disappointed at not find- ing you, and muttered away, in his outlandish jargon at a great rate. He finally left word that the J)irecteur wished to see you without dflay, on matters of importance ; and that if you knew when you were well off, you would lose no time in complying with his wishes." I told them that I was on my way to the Directeur's house, that I felt no little curiosity to know why he was taking so much pains to have an interview with so humble a person as myself, and was determined to ascertain with all possible despatch. Captain Johnson, a noble, deter- AM ADVENTURE IN MARSEILLES. miried fellow, offered to accompany me. This offer, how- ever, I declined, lest it might bring him into trouble. Captain Smith told me, with an affectionate and energetic shake of the hand, whicii almost brought tears into my eyes, that if I wanted assistance of any kind, to send to him, and if it was in the power of man to befriend me, I should not rely on him in vain. Mr. Brown, the supercargo of the shif) Nonsuch, advised me with much earnestness, to be circumspect in my interview with the Directeur, to curb the [iiitural energy of my feelings, and to be respectful in my language and demeanor, but above all to keep rfiy temper. They all took leave of me with saddened looks, as if days, weeks, or perhaps years, might elapse ere we should meet again. And I must confess that my own mind was not altogether at ease ; the forebodings of my friends, created, by a sort of sympathy, a gloom upon my spirits, and as I wended my lonely way towards that part of the city in which the super- intendent of the post office department in Marseilles, resided, notwithstanding the natural buoyancy of my spirits, I could not but feel some misgivings as to the result of my interview with this functionary. I reached the dwelling-house which was pointed out to me as the a'bode of the Directeur. It was a good looking building in a populous section of the city. I knocked loudly at the door, it was opened by a servant, who, in answer to my enquiry for the Directeur, requested me to follow him up stairs. He ushered mc into a parlor, which was handsomely furnished. At the further end of the apartment, a gentleman, the dreaded Directeur himself, was pacing backward and forward, with hasty steps, as if his feelings were deeply agitated. lie was a man whose stature was about six feet two inches high, and of herculean proportions. From the length of his stiff, black beard, at least a week had elapsed since he had submitted his chin to tonsorial operations. There was nothing prepossessing in his appearance ; indeed, at the tiem, being perhaps somewhat prejudiced against him, I thought he had a real hang-dog look, and should have instinctively avoided him, had I met him in a dark, narrow lonely /Jtreet, or in a wilderness. 22 254 . TALES OF THE OCEAN. Assuming for the occasion a peremptory air, I addiessed him in his own language, *' Monsieur, I understand that you wish to have an interview with me." " Ah 1 Captaine Martingale, I presume ! " said he in a gruff tone, making a slight bow. I bowed assent. He looked at me steadily for a moment, and I thought I could perceive mischief lurking in his countenance. He tlien, without saying any thing more, took from his pocket a large key, and very coolly walked to the other end of the apartment, applied it to the lock of an iron door, which he opened, then turning to me, he said, in a manner, dignified, yet evidently intended to be civil, " Entrez, Monsieur.^* I saw that a flight of stone steps led from the door which he had just opened, to some room or rooms on the basement story, and I could not help asking myself what object the Directeur could have in view, in conducting me to an apartment so secluded. Did he intend to confine me in a prison ? The affair wore rather an alarming aspect. But 1 was resolved not to be deprived of my liberty without due legal process, so long as I was able to defend it. I had no arms on my person, save a knife, with two* blades, in my pantaloons pocket ! I instantly seized the knife, opened the largest blade, and held it firmly, with my hand still in my pocket, prepared for a desperate struggle, if I should see that violence were intended. The Directeur perceived that I hesitated, and with a ghastly smile, and an impatient wave of the hand, repeated his invitation. I passed the door, and while descending a narrow stair- case, my alarm was not diminished by seeing the Directeur lock the door tlirough which we had just passed, and put the key in his pocket. He then led the way to a dark and gloomy apartment, which was scantily furnished, and lighted only by two small grated windows. A small table, on which was a writing desk, open and covered with papers, stood in the middle of the room. He pushed a chair towards me, at the same time saying, " Asseyez vous, Monsieur." (Be seated, sir.) I took a seat accordingly, wondering not a little at what would be the termination of this singular adventure. But AN ADVENTURE IN MARSEILLES. 255 1 had by this time screwed my courage up tc the st /eking point, and was prepared for aught whieh might occur. The Directeur fixed his eyes on me for a moment as if he intended to read my inmost souh He then took up a bundle of papers, and very dehberately proceeded to select one from the bundle, which to my astonishment, he held towards me, at the same time asking me if it did not belong to me, and was not in my hand writing ! *' ^o the murder is out," thought I to myself, '■'■ I have been fool enough to express my opinions in wi'ting, my letter has been intercepted by this vigilant and unscrupulous agent of the tyrant, and I suppose I must pay a heavy penalty for my imprudence." I was vainly endeavoring to recal to memory the precise document, containing a record of my truly republican feelings, which the post-master probably held in his hand, when, observing my confusion and hesitation, he opened and placed it before me, saying in a sharp tone, " Is that yours, sir ? " I tremblingly cast my eyes over the writing. My ap- prehensions immediately vanished. 1 had liked to have laughed outright. This formidable paper was no treasona- ble document or cabalistic formula, bearing on its front fine and imprisonment ; it was neither more nor less than a copy of an invoice of twenty bales of New Orleans cotton, belonging to myself, and consigned to a mercantile house in Marseilles 1 A mountain was removed from my breast. In the most bland tones which I could command, I assured the Directeur that the paper was mine, that I had dropped it a few days before on the quay, but that as it was of little importance, I had not troubled myself to look for it. " If it be yours, take it," said he. " It was found on the quay, by a person who did not understand the English language, and who handed it to me." I put it into my pocket. The Directeur arose, unlocked the door whicli led into the yard of the Malle Posle, and with many congees on both sides, we took leave of each other. I could not but remark, however, as I bade the Directeur adieu, that the expression of his countenance had marvellously changed in the course of a few minutes. When I first saw him, he wore the look of a thorough 256 TALES OF VHE OCEAN. paced knave ; when 1 parted with him, he seemed quite an honest, respectable looking sort of a personage. My friendi were much amused at listening to my account of his nriys- teriously ushering me into his sanctum sanctorum, for tlie purpose of restoring to me a document as valueless as a pbce of waste paper. JONATHAN IN SEARCH OF A WIFE, NEHEMIAH CLOVER'S STORY It was a clear moonlight night in the English channel, as the American ship Ariosto, with a lovely south-westorly breeze, studding-sails out, and royals set, was gallantly dashing along on her way through the straits of Dover, into the North Sea. The Foreland lights shone brightly on tho larboard bow, and the chalky cliffs of old Albion, silvered by the moon-beams, and the smooth waters around, bearing on their bosom many a gallant vessel, formed a picturesque and romantic scene. The watch on deck were gathered on the forecastle, some intently gazing over the lee-bow upon the English coast, as if a thousand pleasing associa- tions were connected with a view of the native soil of their ancestors, others were pacing the deck, holding counsel with themselves, or watching with apparent interest the maniBuvres of the different vessels that were beating down, the channel. All at once Tim Williams broke the silence, which had for at least half a glass, reigned on the forecastle. " Come, shipmates," said he, *' I'll tell you what it is, this is a real Quaker meeting, and duller music than I like. We can haul our jawing tacks on board, and be keeping a good look-out at the same time. I say, Miah, old fellow ! open your clam-shell, and give us a yarn." The latter part of this harangue was addressed to a tall, raw-boned, green-looking youth, named Nehemiah Clover, who, tired of driving his father's team, or holding the plough, or handling the scythe, on one of the best farms in tho Granite State, in an evil hour had exchanged the life of a farmer for that of a sailor, and bitterly did he rue his folly. This was his first voyage, and he determined that it should be his last, for he often declared that the duties of a sailor did not accord with his genius. He had an insuperable dislike to keeping watch on a dark, rainy, windy night, ha 22* 258 TALES OF THE OCEAN. detested the idea c. *'='l^ing in top-gallant sails during a severe squall, and as to reefing topsails, the very thought of it was enough to give him an ague fit. He resolved that if he should be so fortunate as to reach his father's farm-house in safety, that nothing should ever induce hira to go within sight of salt water again. *' A yarn ? " said Nehemiah, '' I know nothing about y5ur sailors' yarns." ^ We don't want a sailor's yarn," said Tim Williams^ '* we want a yarn that smells not of salt water or the tar- tucket, but of the sod. Give us a country st«ry, and try to be useful for once in your life." The rest of the watch joined Tim in his earnest request that Nehemiah should edify or amuse them, with some pas- sages of rural life. There was no way left for him to escape. '^ Well," said Nehemiah, "if I must, I must, I suppose. But I don't know what to tell you about." " O tell us something about the girls," said Tim, '' if you can think of nothing better." " Well, I guess I will," rejoined Nehemiah. " Fli tell you a story about cousin Jonathan Brown's courtship." "That's it, my hearty. Jonathan Brown's courtship forever ! Let's have it without any further palaver." Thus exhorted, Nehemiah Clover hemmed two or three times to clear his pipes, while his shipmates cluste^d around him, and then began as follows : "Jonathan Brown was one of the likeliest fellows who resided in the pleasant village of Nemochink, in the year of our Lord 1830. He was about six and twenty years of age, of an athletic figure, and iron constitution ; and he had t!ie reputation of being able to mow over moie acres of land, or lay up more rods of stone wall in a day, than any lad in those parts. " His father had been dead about three years and a half, and had left the bulk of his property, consisting of a large dwelling-house, a spacious barn and out-houses, and a flourishing farm, to his beloved son Jonathan. His youngef sister lived with him, and his mother acted in quality of house-keeper. " After his father's death every thing went on smoothly enough foi a t'me ; but at length the old lady unwisely JONATHAN IN SEARCH OF A WIFE. 259 aimed at despotic authority, and expressed a resolution to regulate the household affairs, without regard to the con- venience or wishes of her son. Jonathan bore it patiently enough for a few months, but one day after a violent dispute with his maternal parent, respecting the propriety of killing and salting down a favorite porker, before or after Thanks- giving, Jonathan undutifully declared that he would live so no longer, and cruelly destroyed all the old lady's dreams of dominion, by expressing a determination to get a wife. " It was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of the 14th of November, when Jonathan Brown proceeded to put himself in decent trim ; and when the rich harvest of his chin and upper lip had been gathered, when his hair was smoothly combed, and he was attired in his best broadcloth coat and untalkaboutables, with silver watch and waistcoat to match, he was as decent a looking and personable sort of a man as one would see in a summer's day. *' As he sighing left his native home upon this most im- portant expedition, he communed with himself: * I never had much acquaintance with the gals about in these parts, and I don't know as any of them will have me. 'Tis but trying, arter all, and if one won't, who knows but another will. There 's 'Squire Jones's daughter Nabby. She 's a real fine gal, I'll try her first. They say deacon Thomp- son's son has a sneaking notion arter her, but I don't believe it. Maybe she 'II think herself too much of a lady for me ; but she look'd so pretty last Sunday at meeting in her new bonnei, that it shan't be my fault if she does not become Mrs. Brown. But if she 's fool enough to say * nay,' there 's Nancy Tompkins, who has lately returned from visiting her rich uncle in Boston. She 's used to gen- teel society, is quite a lady, been educated at a boarding school, and will make me a flashy wife. I don't believe she 's got a beau yet ; and I dare say will be glad of such a chance. Then there 's Peggy Pipkin, the prettiest gal in all the town. To be sure there 's always some sparks arter her, and some folks do tell strange stories of her, but I don't believe them though. I dare say I can have her And if the worst comes to the worst, there 's Sally Johnson. She 's no great beauty, it is true ; but she is a good girl, ftnd has been well brought up, and will make any man a 260 TALES OF THE OCEAN. capital wife. By jingo,* exclaimed Jonathan, who by tliis time had worked himself into a complete matrimonial passion, 'I'll strike a bargain with one of them, before I enter my own doors again ! ' As he expressed this praise- \i orthy resolution, he reached the door of 'Squire Jondfe s nouse. " He found the inmates, Mrs. Jones, her blooming daughter Nabby, and her three younger daughters, all busily engaged in preparing 'good things' for tea. He was soon aware that he had arrived at an unlucky moment, for he was not welcomed by Mrs. Jones with her accus- tomed cordiality. And from Nabby's appearance, being tricked out in all her Sunday finery, it was plain that some more important person or persons were expected to partake with them of their evening meal. However, he seated himself, and began to joke with Nabby on her looks : ' I swow now, Nabby, you look right-down handsome. You are a beauty, Nabby, there 's no two ways about it ; I don't believe the President ever had such a pretty little gal for his wife in all his life.' " Although Nabby giggled a little, she did not seem par- ticularly flattered by these complimentary remarks, but her face beamed with a most bewitching smile when the noise of a carriage was heard, and Simon Thompson, in a dash- ing gig, drove into the yard. " * Heigho ! ' sighed Jonathan, ' I see how the cat jumps. If I had only been a week or two sooner, there might have been some chance. However, I won't quit the house till I've popped the question, if I do, I'll be darn'd ! and if I get the bag, 't won't kill me.' " Simon Thompson was received by the ladies in their kindest manner, but poor Jonathan was treated with killing coldness, which made him feel rather queer. But he travely resolved to bring the matter to issue ; and accord- ingly when Nabby left the room to attend to some house- hold duties, Jonathan rose, and much to the surprise of all, and to the great annoyance of Simon, followed her to another apartment. " ' Nabby,' said Jonathan, ' I've been thinking about taking a v;ife. Mother 's got so tarnation cross that I can't •ive sc no longer, and there 's no gal in all these parts that JONATHAN IN SEARCH OF A WIFE. 201 I like half so well as I do you ; and if you '11 have me, don't stand shilly shally about it, but say so at once, and 1 don't believe that you '11 ever have cause to repent it.' '"Nabby bhished to the eyes. 'Mr. Brown,' she stam- mered out, after biting her thumb nails for a few moments, * 1 am much obliged to you for your good opinion, but 1 fear that it is out of my power to contribute to your liap- piness. I hope you '11 find a partner more deserving than poor Nabby Jones. At any rate, you can't marry me, fui 1 — am — already — engaged ! ' " * Wheugh ! ' whistled Jonathan, ' but there now, I thought so. You are going to marry that young dandy in t'other room. Well, I don't believe he '11 make you half so good a husband as I should, but if you like him better, I '11 say no more about it. I 've a dreadful good mind to lick him though. Good bye, Nabby.' " ' Well,' said Jonathan, as he trudged slowly along the road which led to the venerable mansion of General Tomp- kins, ' the game 's up ! but who would believe that such a cute and slick gal as Nabby Jones would throw herself away upon that sneaking puppy, Simon Thompson ! Nev- er mind, there's as good fish in the sea as ever was caught ; and 't is hard if I can't toll one to my net.' As he made this consoling reflection, he founcf himself standing on the door-steps of General Tompkins' house. " Jonathan cast rather a suspicious glance upon the well-polished brass knocker, which had been aflixed to the general's door since Nancy's return from Boston : ' that 's as much as to say,' quoth he to himself, ' that no one should enter here without knocking.' " He lifted the knocker and gave a thundering rap. A little girl came to the door. ' Is your sister Nancy at home, Hannah ? ' " ' I don't know for sartin, but I '11 see.' '' ' Strange ! ' thought Jonathan, ' that she should not know whether her sister 's at home or not.' " ' Nancy ! ' screamed the little girl, on opening the par- lor door, in a key so loud that Jonathan heard every word, * Mr. Jonathan Brown is at the door, and asks for you Shall I tell him you 're at home ? ' *' ' 1 suppose you must let the booby in,' answejed tha 2t>2 TALES OF THE OCEAN. accomplished young lady, ' I wonder what is his business with me.' *' ' He 's dressed up in his Sunday clothes, and perhaps he has come a sparking ! ' "'Booby!' muttered Jonathan to himself. 'But if I ever get madam under my thumb, I '11 make her change her tone 1 guess.' *^ Our hero entered the room. The accomplished young lady laid down the last new novel, and received him in the most approved fash-.onable style. * Too much formality by half,^ thought Jonathan ; ' but never mind, she 's tarnation pretty.' '' Our * booby ' was at fiist a little abashed; but as he was playing a desperate game, he screwed his courage up to the sticking point, and conversed with as much ease and elegance as could be expected. Nancry, with true female adroitness, turned the conversation into a channel which she thought would exhibit her wonderful* accomplishments to the best advantage. She talked long and learnedly of poetry and music, but could scarcely conceal her contempt when her lovelorn swain honestly declared that his favorite tunes were Wells and Old Hundred, and that the only poem he had ever read in his life was a fourth of July oration ! '^ At length Hannah left the room, and Jonathan, with a degree of trepidation which may easily be conceived, broke the ice : *' Nancy, I s'pose you can guess what I came here for this evening. The long and the short of the matter is this ; mother is growing old and feeble, and is n't quite so cute at milking and making butter and cheese, and doing other odd chores about the house, as she used to be, and I have come to the resolution of getting married before win- ter sets in Now, Nancy, I want a good, smart, and hand- some wife i Every body says you are a plaguey pretty gal, and I know you were a real smart one before yoi. went to Boston two years ago j and so, if you will have me, say so at once, and there 's my hand, the hand of a true New-England farmer.' " It is impossible to describe the indignation and scorn which shone in the black eyes of the lovely Nancy Tomp- kins, at this unceremonious proposal. She looked at hhu for a moment in silence, as if trying to annihilate the pre- JONATHAN IN SEARCH OF A WIFE. 26fi sumptnous youth with a frown. At length her feelings found vent in words. '' '^Mr. Brown ! ' said she, * I am almost struck speechless with astonishment, at your presumption in supposing that Nancy Tompkins is to be wooed and won by any man in tliis abrupt, off-hand manner. A long series of attentions of the most tender and delicate nature, alone would induce me to exchange my present state of celibacy, for the joys and the sorrows, the blisses and disquietudes of a wedded life. And furthermore, the youth who will be fortunate enough to gain my virgin affections, must be well-educated, Mr. Brown. He must be acquainted with the Waverley novels, Mr. Brown. He must write poetry, and be able to appreciate my performance on the piano, Mr. Brown. And he must love me ardently and devotedly, and be able to support me in a style of gentility, to which you or your humdrum connexions, have never been accustomed, Mr. Brown. And as for milking your dirty cows, or making your filthy butter and cheese, I would have you to know that I consider such things beneath me, Mr. Brown. You are mistaken in your estimation of my character, sir. Or do you fancy yourself the grand Signior, who has only to drop his handkerchief at the feet of whomsoever his fancy may happen to dictate ? Your impertinence, sir, is unparal- leled ; and I am absolutely struck dumb with amazement ! ' '' Poor Jonathan was thunderstruck at the temper which the lovely fair one displayed in this speech, and the volu- bility with which it was delivered. At the first pause, he neized his hat, and left the house Avithout uttering a word. *' ' Mistaken, sure enough ! ' said Jonathan to himself, as he retreated from the entry, and turned down a lane which led to captain Pipkin's farm-house : ' what a tongue the jade has, and what a lucky escape from death ! for if I should marry her, I should not live six weeks, she would scold me to death in short metre.' " He found Peggy Pipkin looking as blooming as a rose. She seemed delighted to see Mr. Brown, and the old folks took the hint, and went to bed in good season. Jonathan hitched his chair nearer and nearer, and he and the fair Peggy were soon on the best terms in the world. " * Peggy,' said he, * you are a tarnation pretty gal, J 23 266 TALES OF THE OCEAN. swow now, if you an't a real beauty. I should like to have you, I '11 be darn'd if I should n't ! ' "'Now, Mr. Brown, don't be talking so foolish, you make me blush to hear you ! * '' ' I declare, Peggy, I'm serious. Them pretty, rosy lips were made on purpose to be kiss'd, and I '11 be darn'd if I don't have a buss.' " ' Come, none of that, Mr. Brown. I never let the fellers come so near me as that. Keep your distance, I tell you. If you go to be rude, Mr. Brown, I '11 hoi — .^ " ' Don't be vex'd, Peggy. You 're so pretty, I believe I must have one buss, I swow I will.' " Here a struggle commenced : ' Jonathan, you mustn't act so, an't you ashamed of yourself. Let me alone ; I declare now, I '11 holler ! I will, I sartainly will,' mur- mured the coy maiden, almost out of breath. " Jonathan being a novice in love affairs, was somewhat alarmed at these reiterated threats, and thought he had gone too far. Not caring to alarm the family merely for a kiss, he was about to relinquish the attack, when her brother Tim, who occupied a bed in an adjoining room, and had been quietly listening to the interesting discussion between the lovers, bawled out, 'don't mind what she says, Mr. Brown. She always says she '11 holler, but she never does J *' This was a damper. Peggy blushed a deeper scarlet ; and Jonathan, whose passion was suddenly extinguished by this interesting piece of information, sprung from the lovely Peggy's side, and with a cool ' good night. Miss Pipkin,' left the house. '' ' So then,' soliloquized the youth, as he wended his way towards the snug cottage where Sally Johnson lived, * the stories that I heard told about that gal are true as gos- pel arter all. But who 'd have thought it, and she look'd go plague y pretty too.' *^ It was nearly half past nine o'clock, when our hero reached Mr. Johnson's door. He entered without knock- ing, perceiving a light in the kitchen, and found no one lip but Sally, who was very busily engaged in knitting by the fireside. Sally seemed astonished to behold Jonathan Brown at that time in the evening, but rose immediately, md reached him a chair. JONATHAN IN SEARCH OF A WIFE. 267 My father, Mr. Brown,^ said she, * has just g.one to bed ] but if your business is urgent, I '11 call him ; ' and she moved towards the door. ** ' Stop, Sally,' exclaimed Jonathan, * my business is urgent, I confess ; but it isn't 'xactly with your father. I didn't come all the way here at this late hour to chat with him I guess. I came here to see you ! ' " ' To see me 1 Bless me, Mr. Brown, what can you want with me at this lime o' night ? ' " ' Sit down here, Sally, and I '11 tell you all about it.* " Sally sat down. Jonathan drew his chair towards her, and hemmed two or three times, to clear his throat or con- centrate his ideas, I never could learn precisely which ; and Sally looked up in his face, with expectation depicted on her intelligent and" not unhandsome countenance. " ' You know how lonely like I live down in yonder big house, Sally.' '' ' Lonely ? how can you say so, Mr. Brown, when your own mother and a dear little sister lives with you.' *' • That 's true,' continued Jonathan ; ' but a mother is not always just such a companion as I like. Besides, win- ter 's coming on, and, somehow, I'm afeard I shall — sleep a cold — these long winter nights.' " ' Sleep a cold ! La, Mr. Brown, what 's all that to me i" " ' Why, Sally, if you must know, I 've taken a kind of ' fancy to you, and believe that you would make me a right down good sort of a wife.' " ' Me, Mr. Brown ! What for pity's sake made you think of me ? ' exclaimed the not offended fair one, ' when there are so many prettier gals, who may be had for the asking.' " ' Why, Sally, I always know^ed you to be a clever, in- dustrious gal, and as to beauty, by jingo, I believe you aro as pretty as any of them. Besides, I 've found out that all is not gold that glitters. So, tell me, Sally, whether you '11 h§ive me or no.' " ' I do declare, Jonathan Brown, I won't tell you a word about it to-night. This is a fine way to come a courting, and pop the question almost at first sight. 1 don't know whether I '11 have you or no.' 268 TALES OF THE OCEAN. " < Well, Sally, perhaps I 'm rather too abrupt, but I 'm a plain, strait for'ard sort of a feller, and can't see th? use, when my mind 's made up, to let slip such a sHck opportu- nity of declaring it. Besides, as I told you before, the long winter evenings are' coming on, and arter we 're mar- ried, we can set up together, and court every night in the week, if we like.' " ' That 's true, Jonathan. I didn't think of that. Well, then, I guess I '11 try to make up my mind to havo you.' " * That 's my own dear Sally ! Hurrah ! I 've got a wif(^ at last ! Now let 's seal the contract.' So saying, ho planted a hearty kiss upon her ruby lips. *' They were married a few weeks after this eventful evening, and Sally made Jonathan an excellent house- keeper and an affectionate wife. Whether he defrauded her of her due of being courted during the long winter rveni/igs, I have never been able to learn." A CHAPTER ON MUSQUETOES. I PRESUME that all my readers are well acquainted with tlie nature and appearance of these little insects, which are to be found in greater or less quantities, at certain seasons, in every part of the habitable globe ; therefore no particu- lar description of them will be necessary. New England is i\^vored with their presence, and of late years they appear to be in greater abundance than formerly. A friend who visited Hopkinton Springs not long since, gives a sad ac- count of the number and voracity of the musquetoes at that pleasant spot ; sleeping or waking, he was constantly surrounded by the affectionate little creatures, and while some sweetly serenaded him, others fanned him with their tiny wings, while some, fearing he should suffer from plethora, in the gentlest manner possible punched the skin, and kindly extracte4 the redundant humors. Thanks to a roving life, I have been pretty well used to attacks from these blood-thirsty animals, and am able to testify from experience, that they are to be found in many countries, in greater quantities, and endowed with a mucli more ferocious nature, than in New England. Where the country is low, and pools or marshes abound, well filled or saturated with fresh water, and the climate is also sultry and warm, musquetoes will multiply in great abundance. 1 have had convincing proofs of their abundance, and of their ''sanguinary temperaments," in Batavia, in Demerara, and Nieu Diep. Indeed the country of the Dutchman in the old and new world, in the east or the west, is the country of canals and musquetoes. In some parts of the West Indies and the Spanish Main, I have found them singularly plentiful and affectionate. And in Para, situated on one of the mouths of the Amazon, near the equator, I have actually seen the atmosphere look dull and gloomy, aa with a fog, in consequence of the multitudes of those insects who were sporting in it, and using all their art to try the 270 TALES 01 THE OCEAN. flavor of a live Yankee. They luckily fly low, keeping near the surface of the earth or sea, and by ascending the rigging of a ship on the water, or climbing a lofty tree on the land, you are safe from their attacks. For several weeks in succession, T have slept every night u\ a ship's fore-top, in order to disappoint them of their expected banquet. I have also m.et with these noxious creatures in great numbers, and in warhke costume, on the Dwina, in 64 de- grees north latitude, on a voyage to Archangel. They attacked the ship's company on the passage up the river with such boldness, being evidently exceedingly hungry, that they absolutely drove them from the deck, compelling them to keep aloft m the tops and cross-trees, under pain of being phlebotomized in a most ample and unpleasant manner. New Orleans and vicinity is a famous place for niusque- toes, as any one can tell who has passed a week in that place. Their name is legion ; they* are a set of blood- thirsty wretches, and even musquetoe bars are not sufficient to protect one from their annoyance. These " bars," how- ever, do good service, and keep at a respectable distance, myriads of insects who otherwise would be revelling in your best blood. I am glad to perceive by late advices from that quarter, that the grand jury of New Orleans have presented the musquetoes in that vicinity as a nuisance^ and have with much humanity recommended musquetoe bars for the inmates of the prisons, doubtless thinking that an exposure without defence to the attacks of these bold and hungry insects, is a punishment too great for even the most hardened convict, to say nothing of the prisoner, who has not yet been convicted of any crime. I well recollect of having once been run ashore by the ignorance of a pilot, on the bar at the south east pass, about a couple of miles below the Balize, at the entrance of the river Mississippi. We were compelled to remain there for two whole days in the month of June, with a number of passengers on board, and no musquetoe bars! The torments which we all sufferjed, were indescribable ; but having been long inured to the attacks of these vora- cious rascals, I probablj? sutfered much less than others on A CHAPTER ON MUSQ,UETOES. 271 board. The expedients which were devised by sundry of my companions, to escape the depredations of these blood- letting animals, were various, and some of them not a little ingenious and amusing. We several times kindled a fire on the floor of the cabin, into which we threw quantities of pitch and brimstone, causing a smoke so dense and disa- grecab'e, as to suffocate not only all the m usque toes who were present, but threatening to shorten the days of the sagacious bipeds themselves, who had executed this wise plan to free the vessel of an intolerable nuisance. After the flames had expired, and the thick volumes of smoke and the fumes of tne brimstone had in a great measure es- caped through the companion-way, skylight, and windows, on entering the cabin it would be found that millions ot these creatures had been strewed lifeless on the cabin floor, and berths, and transom, to say nothing of the immense numbers which had been reduced to cinders, (small ones) in the flames. These signs of destruction were viewed with a grim satisfaction, as showing that we had at least been gloriously revenged upon our enemy if we had not succeeded in exterminating the whole race. But we soon found to our sorrow that so far from exterminating our enemy, we had not succeeded in producing the slightest apparent reduction of their numbers. We were compelled to leave open the windows and the entrances into the cabin, in order to procure a little fresh air, without which we should have died the death of the prisoners in the celebrated Black Hole at Calcutta ; and through the avenues, as soon as the smoke had escaped, poured in a constant stream of these winged pests, who, hungry and lean, attacked all whom they met, without regard to age or condition, with a vigor, a spirit, a determination, which convinced us they were re- solved to revel in our best blood, not only as a sokce to their appetites, but in order to punish us for making such a desperate and successful onslaught on their comrades. For my single self I was generally pretty successful m avoiding the attacks of the enemy by resorting to the somewhat desperate expedient, with the thermometer at 93, of rolling myself up in a thick Dutch blanket, and de- fying them to do their worst. The enemy, seeing me thus lesolved, would magnanimously leave me to my rest, ^d 272 TALES OF THE OCEAN. turn thei; attention to my companions, whom they at- tacked through the night with a perseverance and success worthy of a better cause. The tossings, the turnings, the groans, the ravings, the shrieks, the execrations, and the prayers, through the hve-long night, of the poor fellows, who were thus persecuted with a relentless vigor, were enough to excite sympathy in the heart of a grindstone ; and I shall probably retain an association of no very pleasant character, connected with the sight, or even the name of a musquetoe, as long as I hve. The plagues were as plenty on the deck as in the cabin, U) which was added the unwholesomeness of the night air. One of our passengers, however, who entertained a much greater aversion toward musquetoes, than, as it will appear, they did toward him, cunningly loosened the spanker, a sail which was resting furled, fore and aft the quarter deck, and quietly ensconsced himself within its folds, closing every aperture, and inwardly chuckling at his good fortune in having thus succeeded in eluding the enemy. But, as he afterwards told us, his joy was of short duration. He had forgotten that there was a reef-band in the sail, and one of the eye-let holes happened to be near his head ; he had hardly time to close his eyes, in the expectation of forget- ting his troubles in a short nap, when one of the enemy poked his proboscis through the eye-let hole, shouting out at ihe same time, in shrill and loud tones, " Here he is ! here he is 1 " The alarm thus sounded, thousands rushed to the assistance of their comrade, echoing the welcome cry, " Here he is ! here he is ! " His place was invaded, he was attacked on every side ; and muttering in a gruff tone, certain abrupt sentences, which did not reflect much credit on his patience, piety, or philosophy, he made a hasiy retreat. The mate of the brig was a worthy native of Cape Cod, and is now a much respected shipmaster from this port. He was furious in his denunciations of them, and always arranged and conducted the unsuccessful plans for smoking them out of the cabin. At such times it was a sight worth seeing to behold him by the dim and shadowy light, stand- ing amid the smoke, replenishing the fire with combustibles, with the perspiration oozing from every pore, and a grim A CHAPTER OS MU&QljJ!.rOES. 273 smile on his countenance, as if exulting in the deed of death, whicli, with a remorseless haml, he was about to exe- cute. Mr. R.'s great anxiety appeared to be to guard his feet and ancles from the savage attacks of the foe. Wheth- er, hke Achilles, he was more vulnerable in the heel, than any other part, we know not, but he often declared that if he could contrive some mode by which his feet would be secure from their burrowing snouts, he could endure their assaults on other parts of his person, with truly stoic philos- ophy. I advised him to wear boots. lie gladly caught at the hint, and encased his feet in a clumsy pair of cow- nide boots, which reached to his knees. But after wearing them the greater part of the day, he declared, almost with tears in his eyes, that they were no protection ! that the musquetoes regarded them no more than they would muslin socks ; and persisted in his assertion, notwithstanding the arguments we urged to show the impossibihty of the thing. On the following day, a thought suddenly occurred to him, upon which he immediately acted. He resolved to encase his feet and legs in tarred parcelling. Accordingly he cut several long strips of old canvas, about three or four inches wide, gave it a good coat of fresh tar, and like a surgeon banda- ging a broken limb, began at his toes, and worked upwards to above his knees, covering his feet and legs with two or three thicknesses of this tarred canvas. After a suitable trial, he declared this expedient was successful, and strongly urged others to try it, but without success ; all preferring the evil, bad as it was, to the remedy. He kept on his singular brogans, however, until we passed Cape Florida, and the last musquetoe h'ad been burnt or smoked out of the cabin, when he stripped the canvas from his feet and legs, and " Richard was himself again." Notwithstanding this little insect is at times so troub e» some, it must be confessed that there are some redeeming traits in his character. He is bold, frank and honest ; free and easy in his manners ; despising duplicity ; not troubled with mauvais honte, but disposed to familiarity even on the earliest acquaintance. Although an entire stranger to youi name or your person, when he first sees you, he will seize you with much energy by the hand or any other part more convenient, and give you a convincing proof of his attach- 274 TALES OF THE OCEAN. ment for your person. He vs fond of music also, and whi!8 he sticketh closer to you than a brother, is ever and anon trying to lull your sensec into forgetfulness by a display ol his musical powers. Upon mature deliberation, however, and after having well weighed the pros and cons, we are ct opinion, and we do not hesitate to publish it, although it may subject us to the eternal enmity of these vindictive little insects, that their evil qualities preponderate in the gcale over their good qualities, and that they are very justly* regarded as a plague, a torment to mahkind; A YANKEE TAUGHT A LESSON IN ROGUERY. The slaves on the plantations, generally, in the Wesi India islands, are remarkable for their skill and proficiency in the art of lying and stealing. Owing probably to their ignorant and degraded condition, their perception of right and wrong is not particularly acute ; and according to their system of morality, there is no disgrace attached to a negro, who deceives or steals from a white man. It is, however, seldom the case that they steal from each other. In their little communities, each consisting of from two to four hun- dred individuals, at different ages, and both sexes, public opinion exercises its usual influence, and such is their idea of the principles of moral rectitude, that the same negro who would be extolled and honored for committing a daring and successful theft on the property of a white man, would be shunned, despised, and perhaps summarily punished, for stealing even a trifle from a slave. Measures, therefore, of the most precautionary character are always adopted on the plantation to guard ag-ainst the eflfects of the indulgence of this propensity on the part of the slaves ; but notwithstand- mg all the care and vigilance of the overseers, and the additional protection of locks and bars in great abundance, Buch is the skill and ingenuity of some individuals among th*s oppressed and persecuted race, that they often succeed tn purloining from their masters to a considerable extent , and by dint of downright lying, generally succeed in csca ping from the dreadful punishment which would inevitably attend the discovery of the theft. The following story, which is well authenticated, and the leading incidents of which, may have been before published, furnishes a pretty good illustration of the wonderful proficiency of the slaves in the act of thieving. 276 TALES OF THE OCEAN. A iiihiiber of years since, an American brig was I}ing at anchor in the httle harbor of Grenville, on the eastern sid** of the fertile island of Grenada. The captain of the brig whose name was Watson, was one day dining with Mr. M'Crimmon, the manager of the Belmont estate, when the subject of negro thieving was discussed ; and a number of instances were mentioned, which the incredulous Yankee evjnced no disposition to beheve. At length sornewha! nettled at his want of faith, M'Crimmon offered to bet Watson a hogshead of Muscovado sugar against two dozen of North Carolina hams, that he would send one or more negroes on board his vessel that very night, who would steal hvs matress, &c., out of his berth, notwithstanding all the precautions, which he might adopt to prevent it. The wager was of course accepted, and captain Watson hastened on board at an early hour to take measures for gaining his wager. M'CrimmoUj meanwhile, summoned the head dri- ver of the estate, and merely explained to him the nature of the wager, relying upon his judgment for selecting from among the slaves on the plantation, proper agents for the enterprise. Captain Watson advised with his mate, and sagely con- cluded that as the brig was lying at anchor in the midst of the harbor, and the night would in all probability be clear and unclouded, if a good look-out were kept, the sable thieves could be discovered before they reached the vessel, and arrested, if proper measures were adopted. Acco»-dingly the crew were divided into two watches, as at sea, each watch in charge of one of the mates, with orders to keep a sharp look-out in every direction ; and at an early hour, captain W atson went below and turned in ; shrewdly imagining that it would puzzle even the most dexterous thieves to steal his bedding from beneath him, without his knowledge. The first watch passed away, and nothing material took place Eight bells were then struck ; the chief mate and iris watch were relieved by tlie second mate ; and the cap- tain without leaving his berth, listened to the report of his oliicer ; chuckling at the bright prospect of earning a hogs- head of Muscovado so pasily. At about 3 o'clock in the aiornino:, the second mate, who was on the look-out neai A YANKEE TAUGHT A LESSON IN ROGl'ERY. 277 the starboard gangway saw a ripple on the water at some distance, and soon after, a black mass resembling the head of an individual, was seen gradually approaching the vessel. lie concluded, of course, that the thief was swimming to- wards the brig ; and ordered the men to keep motionless and silent, and watch the proceedings of the equivocal- looking object. It soon appeared that the suspicions of the mate were correct ; the black mass was the head of a negro 24 278 TALES OF THE OCEAN He swam slowly towards the vessel, and then cautiously swam around it twice, as if desirous of ascertaining wliether any persons were on the look-out. His scrutiny was appa- rently satisfactory, for he then approached the gangway, laid hold of the manropes, and slowly ascended the ladder. While standing for a moment on the gunwale, he exhibited the brawny limbs, and muscular proportions of a stalwart negro, entirely naked. He jumped down upon the deck of the brig, and was instantly seized by the second mate and two or three athletic seamen ; and although he struggled desperately to escape from their clutches, he was finally subdued and his arms firmly pinioned. The mate, delight- ed at having not only prevented the accomplishment of M'Crimmon's design, but of having secured his agent, could not contain his joy, and shouted loudly, " We 've got the rascal, we 've got him safe enough ! Captain Watson, you've gained your wager, for we 've caught the thief." The captain, hearing this joyful intelligence, hastei^ed on deck ; and hardly a minute elapsed ere the whole crew collected around the poor captive, who seemed quite chap- fallen at the failure of his enterprise, and begged in piteous accents that they wd\ild let him go, for that massa M'Crirn- mon would give him a good flogging for allowing himself to be taken. Captain Watson laughed heartily at the success of his plans, but would not free his prisoner ; ordering him to be bound hand and foot, and vigilantly guarded until morning, when, as he said, he intended to take him ashore as a trophy of his victory, and to have a good laugh at the Scotchman for supposing that the natives of any country, be they black or be they white, could outwit a true-blooded Yankee. After talking the matter over with his mates, and seeing Quashee fairly disposed of, he went below to finish his nap, but his surprise, his mortification, his horror, may be imag* ined, when he found that his matress, pillow, sheets, and counterpane all were missing. While he was on deck, surrounded by his crew, examining the poor fellow who had been captured, a canoe, with a couple of blacks paddled softly under the stern, and one of the blacks entenng the deserted cabin, soon disrobed the starboard berth of its fur- niture, which was safely conveyed on shore without discovery ; A YANKEE TAUGHT A LESSON IN ROGUERY. 279 Captain Watson, the next morning, took his captive on shore ; and at the house of the manager of the Behnont estate, he found his bed and bedding safely deposited be- neath the piazza. He soon after reluctantly sent on shore the two dozen hams, and acknowledged that even the Yan- kees were no match Wdsi Indies. for roguery, with the negroes of the THE DUTY OF OFFICERS. A YOUNG man, when he chooses a sea-farmg hfe, and boldly embarks to encounter the storms and dangers of the deep, if he possess a proper ambition, will look forward to the time when he shall receive the meed .of his good conduct, and arrive at the top of his profession. He will keep that one point constantly in view, and all his studies, his conduct, his thoughts by day, and his dreams by night, should be how to qualify himself for exercising the arduous and responsible duties of a ship-master. If he be active and intelligent, respectful in his deportment, and correct in his morals, he will soon bid farewell to the forecastle, where he has doubtless passed many happy hours, and ascend the next step on his way to the summit. The situation of an officer is by no means a pleasant one in itself, but after all, this depends in a great measure on the character of the individual who exercises the duties A man may make himself comparatively happy or miserable in any situation in life. The duties of an officer are various and responsible, and in order to perform them satisfactorily, he must devote his time, and all his talents to the service of his employers. He must enter on his office with zeal, with a determination to leave no honest means untried to promote their interest ; and thus while he performs a duty, acquire their confidence and esteem. I shall enumerate some of what I consider the principal duties of an officer of a ship, and such as will, if accomplished, ensure him the confidence of his employers, and conduct him to honor and fortune. An officer of a ship should always treat his superior officers and captain with respect. He should endeavor to^anticipate their wishes, and endeavor to further their views, and not, as is too often the case, appear desirous of placing obstacles THE DUTY OF OFFICERS. 281 in the way of any scheme, proposed by his superiors, which requires more than ordinary management, unusual attention, or a double share of elbow-grease. He should deliver his orders to the men under his com- mand, in a clear, loud voice, using as few words, and as little circumlocution as possible, and should be paiticularjy careful that the men fully comprehend his orders in every* particular, before they attempt to carry them into execution. A litde attention to this point will save hard thoughts, hard words, and a world of trouble. ^ He should treat the men under his charge as rational beings, as if they had souls to be saved, and not as brutes\ who possess not the attributes of reason. At the same time he should remember that it is his duty to command, and their province to obey. He should cause himself to be respected by the crew, and endeavor by his dignified, just and proper conduct, to make this respect voluntary on the part of the men under his command. He should not quietly submit to any insolence, or lan- guage, or looks approximating towards it, but check at once and decidedly all manifestations of resistance to his author- ity. He is unfit for the station of an officer, who cannot without difficulty enforce his commands. He should study economy in the management of the work; look out for the property on board, the stores of various kinds, provisions and water, and see that none are unnecessarily expended. He should for the time identify his own interest with that of his employer ; and upon this rule regulate his expenditures so far as they may be affected by his course of conduct. He should be aware of the great importance of method, find endeavor to impress others with its value, both by pre- cept and example. He should have a place for every tiling, and be prepared for any emergency which might occur. U (he ship should be capsized in a squall, he should know where to find an axe, with which to cut away the masts. In carrying on work, either at sea or in the harbor, much vyill depend on the manner of planning and conducting it. A calculation should be made by which the greatest amount of labor may be performed with the least possible fatigue. I have seen some mates of vessels, who by a little method- 24* 282 TALES OF THE OCEAN. ical arrangement, would execute more work, and with less lablo^kirig 292 TALES OF THL OCEAN. object, floating on the water, at not more than » oJt^ , i length distance. My heart beat quicker. Can it bw k U' * ? whispered I to myself. No ; it was too small for u \ ^ t. What can it be ? As the day advanced, and i&ft^?ss cleared up, I found it was a huge loggerhead tu'de, f;ist asleep on the surface of the water. He must have been six or eight feet in length, and probably weighed five or si^ hundred pounds. I no sooner saw him than 1 felt that Providence had not altogether forsaken poor Dick. I de- termined that the turtle, or Scrabbling Jack, as I afterwarda called him, should take me in tow ! " I soon arranged all my plans ; indeed, there was no time to lose ; for his turtleship might soon awake, and would be off as soon as he caught sight of my ugly phiz. I knew from what I heard the captain say on the day I fell over- board, that I could not be far from the island of Hi. Paul's, and that it must bear somewhere about west ; for the wind had been blowing all the time from the eastward ; and I knew that the current always sets nearly due west in the Atlantic, when near the equator. It is well enough for a fore-mast hand to know such things sometimes. I thought if I could get a lift of fifteen or twenty miles or more, as the case might be, it might bring me witliin sight of St. Paul's ; or if it carried me to the westward of that island, I should then be nearer to the track of vessels bound home from the East Indies or the Brazils. " I accordingly bade farewell to my hen-coop, which had rendered me such excellent service ; seized the grainse in one hand, and with the other I paddled off gently towards my unsuspecting friend ; I swam up under his stern, and while with one hand I threw the bite of the grainse line carefully over his head, with the other I grabbed him fast by the tail I " The turtle was astonished at such rude treatment, whicli perhaps awoke him from a dream of bliss. He did not know what sort of a creature it was that had such fast hold of him, and thought it was best to make tracks as fast as possible. He tried to make a plunge, and jf 1 had not been aware of the kind of capers which these stupid ani- mals cut on such occasions, I should have been in a sad fix, and glad enough to mount my hen-coop again. But I knew the nature of the beast, ha zing once belonged to a tuitle 293 Jl 3op, owned in New Providence ; and as the old fellow was about to dive, I caught hold of his hind flippers, and bearing my whole weight upon them, and he patldling with all his might at the same time, he could not for the Boul of him get his head, much less his huge body, under water ; but off he went at the rate of five or six knots, dragging me after him ! " I managed to steer him indifferently well, by pusliing one flipper and pulling the other, and shaped the course due west, as near as I could judge from the bearing of the sun. I passed the rope around my body beneath the armpits, lest at any moment, overcome with fatigue, I might let go my hold ; and I soon found great advantage *.n so doing, for Scrabbling Jack, after two or three fruitless attempts to get rid of his companion, swam quietly and rapidly along on the top of the water, without trying to dive below. Once, indeed, as I was off my guard, and perhaps nodding, having had but precious little sleep for the previous four nights, he took an unfair advantage, and down he went ! Before I knew what the rascal was about, we were both of us eight or ten feet under water ! But I soon brought hira up to the surface again, and was more careful afterwards. " Scrabbling Jack clawed off at a fine rate ; but before many hours, I was tired enough of clinging to him, and steering him in the right direction. He was something like a pig in his disposition, and wanted to go every way but the way I had determined that he should go. By four o'clock in the afternoon, I was nearly ready to give up ; for besides the trouble of keeping him in the right track, this being dragged through the water at such a rate* is by no means so pleasant an operation as one would be likely at first to imagine. I bitterly regretted having left my hen- coop, and began to calculate how much longer I could hold out, when my heart was gladdened with the sight of an object on the larboard bow, which at first I took to be a vessel ; but as we approached it fast, I soon found to my unspeakable satisfaction that it was land, the island of St. Paul's ! And never was the sight of land more welcome to the tempest-tost mariner after a six months' passage fom India, than it was to me at that moment, " My only fear was that Scrabbling Jack would give out ■ 25* 294 TALES OF THE OCEAN. for he began to breathe hard. I did him injustice, for he was bottom to the back bone, and did not relax in his ex- ertioifs. 'About six o'clock in the evening, he carried me safe and sound al -ng side of a jutting rock on the island. The sea was smooth, and there was little or no surf. I stepped ashore without difficulty ; having first taken the liberty to make a rope fast to one of my companion's fins ; for I was not yet quite prepared to part company with him. I made fast the other end to a large rock, and then com- pletely overcome with weariness, with hunger, and with joy at this unexpected termination of my sufferings, I threw myself flat on the rock, and blubbered aloud, like a sea-sick cabin boy. " I did not remain lopg in that situation ; but soon arose and clambered up the rocks, to see if I could find any thing which would do to e -t; and I was not long at ^ los^ for the island was almost covered with birds ; there were boo- bies, noddies, gulls, man-of-war birds, &c., in abundance. I soon caught one, twisted his neck, and made a hearty supper, and as I was also rather thirsty, I crawled up on a high part of the island, out of the reach of the spray, where I found some tolerably good fresh water in the hollows of the rocks. I then laid down, and soon fell asleep ; nor did I awake until the sun had risen above the horizon. ^' I looked around for a sail, but none was in sight. I then went to work to secure Scrabbling Jack, for I would not have lost him for his weight in gold. I found him safe enough ; and built a sort of a pen with fragments of rock, into which, with considerable difficulty, I managed to put my useful friend and shipmate. I found plenty of eggs on the island, and I could knock over as many birds as I wanted any day ; with mygrainse, I could catch some excel- lent fish, which sported in abundance along side the rocks. I found salt in 'great plenty, made by the heat of the sun. The worst of it was I could not strike a fire. I had heard tell of Indians and other savage folks getting fire by rubbing together two dry sticks. I found some dry wood on the island, but whether it had been too long soaked in salt wa- ter, or I had not the knack of it, I know not, but I rubbed and rubbed till I was tired and the wood was hot, but not a spark of fire could I get, or even a symptom of smoke. DICK TRYSAIL S SOLITARY CRUISE. 295 But by salting my fish and birds, and broiling them hi the hot s'ln, (and the sun shone hot and heavy on that island, I'll tell ye, lads,) I got along very well. I had enough, such as it was, and was a thousand times better off than when riding a-horseback on the hen-coop. " Every morning early, I went up to the highest point on the i^and, and searched along the horizon for vessels ; but it is not often the case that vessels pass within sight of St. Paul's. I had been on the island, like a second Robinson Crusoe, for about six weeks, when one morning I belield far in the northeast a ship steering to the southward, uiider a crowd of sail. The wind was light, and she was not going along at the rate of more than two or three knots, but I feared that she would not pass quite so near the island as I could wish. Nevertheless, I bent the few garments which I had, to a pole that I found among the rocks, and stuck it up on the highest pinnacle of the island. But my signal was not seen from the ship j she kept on her course, passing within eight or nine miles, without heaving-to, or lowering a boat. I could not bear the idea of remaining for six weeks, or perhaps months, longer on that desolate spot, and thought that I ought to risk something to get aboard the ship. " My plan was formed in a moment. I dowsed my flags, hastened down to the sea-side, roused out my old friend Scrabbling Jack, got him fairly into the Atlantic ocean, caught hold of his hind flippers, and off" we went ! I knew that unless he had grown lazy by leading an inactive life on shore, and good living, for I gave him plenty of prog, he would overhaul the ship before night, unless the wind fresh- ened ; and if it did, I should have to make the best of my v/ay back to my island again. Every thing fully answered my expectations ; the wind did not freshen, and Scrabbling Jack scrabbled faster than ever, and when it was about four o'clock, I was almost within hail of the ship. " At this moment, I thought I perceived some commotion on board. There was a running about the decks ; and soon I saw the captain standing on the taff'erel with a musket in his hand, one of his officers along side of him with a har- poon, and several of the crew with boarding pikes. T after- 'vards learned that this was owing to.a man alofi having 296 TALES OF THE OCEAN. sung out, ' Sea-serpent, ho ! right astern, coming up witli us hand over hand.' I thought this was a most inhospita- ble leception, after having gone through dangers and suffer- ings which do not fall to the lot of every one ; and as soon as I got within hail, seeing the captain about to bring his musket to a present, I shouted out as loud as I could roar, and my lungs were always pretty good, ' Ship ahoy ! ' ^' The captain was astonished; and as we were close upon the equinoctial line, many of the crew believed that old Neptune himself was really coming on board, or at the least had «ent an ambassador to see that all wtis right. And in- deed our appearance was rather out of the common way. First came Scrabbling Jack himself, clawing away at a great rate, evidently with a design to come along side ; and then just behind him was seen the head of poor Dick Trysail ! I had lost my cap when I fell overboard from the Durin- darte, and no two hairs on my head*were standing in the same direction. My beard had not been shaved for seven weeks, and my face, never of the handsomest, was now as brown as a berry. '' The captain hardly knew what to make of our appear- ance, and I hailed again, * Ship ahoy ! ' ^ " ' Hallo ! ' shouted the captain in a trembling voice. *^ * Stand by with a rope ; I am coming along side.' *' * Who are you, and what do you want ? ' screamed the captain, half frightened to death. ' If you come along side I '11 shoot you. Stand by, boys,' said he to his crew. " l^e matter was now growing serious. ' And is this the way,' shouted I, ' that you receive a poor fellow, yoa fall in with in the midst of the wide ocean, and who has been living among sharks, and dolphins, and turtles, and other -^'ild beasts, until he is tired ? For shame ! give us a rope, and when I come on board, you will have one real Yankee sailor on board at any rate.' " By this time the captain was pretty well convinced that 1 was neither fish nor reptile, nor old Neptune himself, but ft real christian being, although he could not imagine how I came adrift in those latitudes. The ship was luffed up into the wind, and a rope was thrown overboard. I quitted my hold of my old friend, and down he went without stopping t > say farewell. I sighed as he disappeared, for he had u '.iMi... .1 II II I ; DICK trysail's solitary Cr%,.ISE. 299 been a good friend and faithful servant, ani I had l^een long attached to him. I caught hold of the rope, and was a moment after standing on the deck of the ship Trinculo, captain Reenells, from New York, bound to Para. "If the officers and crew were astonished to see me, they were still more astonished to hear my story, and if they had not seen me actually holding on to Scrabbling Jack, J really believe they would never have believed half what I told them. However, they treated me kindly, and I felt much happier as well as safer on board the Trincuio, than when I was riding the old hen-coop. I was on board about a fort- night, when, off the north coast of the Brazils, we fell in with an American ship, which proved to be the Durindarte! We made a signal, and she hove to. She was from Ma- ranham, bound to Boston. We hoisted out the boat, and I went on board with the captain. I n6ver saw a ship's company so astonished to see an old shipmate as were the crew of the Durindarte. They had given me up for lost ; and thought that I was long ago stowed away in Davy Jones's locker. But they missed a figure, and right glad were they to see me again. I returned home to Boston in the Durindarte, and received wages for the whole voyage ; even for the three weeks when I was cutting shines in the neighborhood of St. Paul's. So, then, shipmates, you have my story ; and you see it is not much of a story, after all. But it shows that courage and resolution will accomplish much ; that when danger threatens us, it is best to keep a stiff upper lip; and that a man's fortunes «re seldom so bad but that they may be worse." " It is rather an astonishing story, I confess," said Bill Jones. "But do you mean to say that it is all irue?'^ abided he, with a purser's grin. " Come, none of your half-laughs," said Dick. '*^ Every u 3rd of it is as true as Bowditch's Navigator, or Blunt 'i C-oast Pilot." DUTIES OF A SHIPMASTER. There are few more arduous and responsible situat ona in life, than that of the master of a snip. His duties are various : and some of them are of the most complicated kind, requiring a combination of physical and mental facul- ties more difficult to meet with than is generally supposed. Within ten or a dozen years past, an idea seems to have prevailed among many of our respectable ship-owners, that a man may execute indifferently well, the duties of a ship- master, without being very familiar with navigation or seamanship ! It is thought that if he has been one or two voyages as clerk or supercargo, and has watched the ma- noeuvres on board, and has good natural sense, he ought to be qualified to take charge of a good ship, on a distant voyage ; especially if a mate, who is an old and thorough sailor, can be engaged to accompnny him on the voyage, in the capacity of " dry nurse." There can hardly be any thing more erroneous than this. A man cannot learn the character of seamen, a book hard to read, and the various duties of a sliipmaster in so short a time ; although he is seldom candid enough to acknowl- edge his ignofance, notwithstanding it may bc» obvious to every one on board. The natural and inevitable conse- quence is, that the crew will not respect him as they would a genuine sailor, who is familiar with his duty ; and to increase the difficulty, he will in all likelihood become more tenacious ol his authority, in proportion as he is unfitted for his station. Confidence is entertained by neither party • and high words, insolence, blows, revolts, and mutinies are frequently the consequence of this ill-judged proceeding. Besides this, a shipmaster, who is not a sailor, although he may succeed marvellously well in pleasant weather, will always find difficulty in any great and important emergency. It is during a heavy gale of wind on a lee shore ; when dismasted or capsized at sea ; passing through dangerous DUTIES OF A SHIPMASTER. 301 channeiS in the night ; meeting with a long succession of head winds, thus causing a long and tedious passage, that the worth of a thorough-going sailor will be manifested. In my humble opinion, underwriters have had to pay millions of dollars, during the last ten or fifteen years, in consequence of the incapacity or ignorance, so far as nautical knowledge is concerned, of shipmasters. What would be the effect of appointing to the office of a judge of a high judicial tribu- nal, an individual who had never practised at the bar, or •tudied the laws of his country ! or a surgeon to a ship of war, who had all his life wielded the pen in a counting-room ' or of giving the place of cashier of a bank to one who knows nothing of figures or book-keeping ! or of employing a man to build a house, who is a tolerable barber, but knows nothing of the mechanic arts ! It is equally preposterous to give the command of a merchant ship, bound on a dis- tant voyage, with much property on board, and many valu- able lives, to an individual, who, although he may be a good merchant, has had but limited experience in nautical life. Indeed no man should, under ordinary circumstances, be appointed to command a ship, unless he is a sailor ; has had his hand in the tar-bucket, and knows how to handle a marlinspike. So long as the present system is pursued, there is little encouragement for a man to seek to qualify himself for a shipmaster. After toiling for many years, and when he thinks he is about to reach the goal of his hopes, he finds himself outstripped in the race, by a beardless youth, who has never been more than one or two passages to sea ; and who, perhaps, has never had a ducking in salt water. This is the very essence of injustice on the part of our ship-owners ; and is calculated to produce an effect Ijpon our commerce, of a nature by no means beneficial. A master of a ship is supreme when he paces the deck of his own vessel. He is a despot, as much so as Mahmoud the Sultan of th^^ east. If he attends to his duties, he will exercise an unbounded influence on the comfort and con- dition, physical and moral, of all on board. If he is tyran- nical, capricious and cruel, he will make his ship a receptacle of wn'.tchedness. He will harass the men with lator, de- prive them of a sufficiency of sleep, cut short their allow- ance of provisions and water; and debase and mortify them 2t) 302 DUTIES OF A SHIPMASTER. with menaces, curses and blows. Such a man should nevfn be entrusted with the command of a ship ; he should hardly be suffered to dwell among the civilized portion of the hu- man race. He is a bad man ; and a merchant should never give such a man, although he may be capable of transacting business correctly, the power of controlling the happiness, 1 may say the fate of any portion of his fellow men. On the other hand, if a shipmaster is kind and benevo- lent, as well as intelligent, skilful and decided, harmony and good feeling will almost always prevail on board. 1 have .heard it said that gratitude is not an inmate of the bosom of the sailor ; but I do not believe in the truth ol the state- ment. Sailors, excepting now and then an inveterate old grumbler, are susceptible of all the finer feelings of the hu- man heart ; and when treated as rational beings, as vien, who are sensible of fatigue, hunger, thirst and cold, they are not only aware of the fact, but they feel the emotions of gratitude. A shipmaster should view the men, who have voluntarily placed themselves under his charge, as entitled to his pro- tection and advice. He should exact prompt obedience from his crew ; but at the same time should remember that he has it in his power not only to contribute tc their phvsi- cal comfort, but to exert a moral influence over them, and may be the means of making them pleased and contented with their present condition, and also of improvmg their characters in after life. No opportunity should be lost of exerting this influence ; and the shipm.aster, who cherishes philanthropic feelings, will experience in the autumn of life the purest pleasure at the recollection of the good which he may have done in this way. A timely admonition, en- forced by the example of a worthy man, in a superior station of life, may in some cases produce an extraordinary effect. Some shipmasters think it necessary in order to contno their crews and establish proper discipline on board, to enact the characters of bullies ; and keep continually quarrelling witn their men, using the most abusive and profane language, accompanied with blows ; forgetting that to strike a man, who, owing to the circumstances in which he is placedj cannot resist, is far from being a mark of. courage. Such TALES OF THE OCEAN. 303 a man, who rules by brute force, will find it difficult to enforce order and obedience on board his vessel ; his men may at the moment obey liim, but it will be with reluctance ; and scowling brows, sulky looks, and occasionally mutinous language and deeds, will not be a rare thing on board the ship. Corporal punishment, should very rarely, I may say never be resorted to. It is almost always administered in a passion ; and the effect produced on the person pumshec*^ or the remainder of the crew is far from salutary. If men ire disobedient and disorderly, which, when properly gov- erned, will seldom be the case ; if they exhibit the slightest disposition to mutiny, put them in irons, and keep them there, until they are aware of tneir improper behavior, and acknowledge the justice of the punishment. The captain of a ship has a greater responsibility than any other person on board, and of course should be more constantly on the alert than any other one. If he makes a short passage, he will enjoy the credit of it ; if a long pas- sage, he will bear the blame ; and if he is aware of the important station which he occupies, and is resolved to exe- cute faithfully the duties he will himself see to, and direct many things, which are often left altogether to the care of his officers. He should know at all times precisely the state of the weather, and the exact quantity of canvas which is spread. He should be on deck on the approach of any squall, or expected change of weather. He should knoiv that his officers are vigilant, and the crew attentive ; and during the night, lie should not accustom himself to sleep for ten or twelve hours undisturbed in his state-room, as is sometimes the case, but should frequently in the course of the night be up and witness with his own eyes what is going on on deck. And in making the land in a dark night, or when running in a narrow sea, as the English or Irish ciiannel, the gulf of Finland, &c., he should trust to no one but himself; in which case he will never be deceived. These rules should be observed, whatever may be the char- acter of his officers, and by attendmg to them many a long {tixssage might have been shortened one third ; and many a good ship might have been saved from shipwreck. A shipmaster should not only be a thorough seaman, bul ihould also be well acquainted with navigation ; that is, he 304 DUTIES OF A SHIPMASTER. should be able to ascertain very nearly the exact situation of the ship at any time, not only by dead-reckoning, but by lunar observations and chronometer. He should be a man possessing a large fund of general knowledge ; and be par- ticularly versed in subjects connected v^^ith mercantile transactions; he should possess a good deal of what is usually termed common sense, and a good judgment. He should not be deficient in physical courage ; if he is, he will be placed in disadvantageous situations on many occa- sions ; and should possess more than an ordinary share of firmness, prompt decision of character, and presence of mind in danger or difficulty. He should also be well ac- quainted with the human character, and able to penetrate tjie motives of human actions. He should be well-bred and polite, especially in his intercourse with strangers ; this will give him an important advantage over the boor and the brute. He should be well acquainted with the maritime laws of his own country, and with the most important commercial rules and regulations abroad. American shipmasters are generally intelligent ; perhaps more so than are to be found in any other part of the world. They manage their ships with great skill, navigate them with precision ; and are generally more successful and short in their passages than others. This character is universally allowed them ; and may they long continue to deserve it. But there are undoubtedly many exceptions to this general rule ; and I have sometimes seen men in charge of vessels, who were, either from education, habit, or moral principle, altogether unfit to be entrusted with the property, the lives or happiness of others. While the careful, active, capable, and intelligent shipmaster, is an honor to his profession, and is every where esteemed ; a brutal, drunken, or ignorant shipmaster, is one of the most execrable objects in creation ; nnd the merchant, who will continue to employ such a per- son, knowing him to be such, neglects an important moral duty, and is deserving of unmitigated censure. fn his intercourse with foreigners, a shipmaster should always- be urbane and polite, particularly with those mdivid- uals who are vested with authority. The effect is wonderlul which kind and gentlemanly treatment will have upon all classes of mankind ; it will often disarm resentment, and TALES OF THE OCEAN •^05 make friends of those, who would otherwise be eneniio*}. 11 a master of a*hip is courteous in his demeanor and evi- dently desirous to treat with respect the officers whose duty it is to examine his papers, and attend to his business; he will possess an astonishing advantage over one, who is surly in his conduct, unsocial in his habits ; and wlia would if he dared, treat with contempt the perhaps rude and uiipohshed officers of the government, in whose dominions he chances to be. It should be recollected that the good opinion and kind offices of any individual may at certain times be useful ; and that an individual holding a very humble office, may have it in his power to facilitate or re- tard your business, to relieve your difficulties in a certain degree, or involve you still farther in trouble, agreeably to his inclination. Besides, kind words cost nothing ; a gen- tlemanly deportment can never be disadvantageous. If one cares little for it on his own account, let him show some regard for the honor of his country, whose citizens he represents. It is one of the most important duties of a master, to see before he leaves port, to the quantity and quality of provi- sions and water provided for the voyage. The provisions should be of a wholesome kind ; and the water fresh and pure^ and care should be taken to keep it so ; as there is nothing more unpleasant at sea than bad water. The quantity should be sufficient to last at least one hundred days, if bound across the Atlantic, without making it necessary to put the crew or passengers on short allowance. For want of foresight in this particular, crews and passengers on ' board of vessels which have lost their sails or some of their spars, or met with a long series of gales of wind directly ni their teeth, have suffered every thing but death ; and in some cases even death itself in a lingering and dreadful form. Such neglect on the part of a master of a sliip is altogether unjustifiable. No man can be certain of making a short passage ; and if through carelessness or cujjirlity, the crew and passengers are deprived of their usual allow- ance of provisions and water, and are condemned to suffer ings inconceivable to those who have never been deprived of their regular meals, the individua', whether captain or owner, who was the ened the book. It was a copy of the sacred scriptures I On a blank leaf at the commencement of the volume, was written, "Alexander McDermot; a mother's gift." This, then, was the voltime which he had treasured so carefully, and had read with so much attention on each Sabbath-day. With this volume was associated a mother's love ; and one day in the week, the Sabbath-day, he had set apart to commune with his own heart ; to recall the happy scenes of childhood, aiid cherish that holy affection which nature has implanted in the heart of a son. But the papers ! What secret would they disclose ? Would they furnish the key to unlock the mystery of his misanthropy ? I opened them ; they consisted of four letters ; two of which, dated Leith, in Scotland, nearly twenty years before the time of which I speak, were written in a neat female hand, and breathed the tenderest affection. They were evidently the production of a young lady, who Oad captivated McDermot by her charms, in early life, when all things look gay and joyous ; and Hope, deceiving en- chantress, points to visions of bliss. They were signed, " yours eternally, Caroline Graham." The next letter was one from his mother, of a date sub- sequent to the others only a few months, and communicating the astounding and unwelcome information that Caroline Graham had forgotten her vows of love ; and, after a siege of three days, had surrendered at discretion to a young and handsome officer belonging to a Highland regiment, about to embark for the continent ! The letter concluded with some remarks, which were intended to be of a consolatory character ; and an urgent request that her son would return home, and again cheer her widowed heart with his presence. Beneath the signature was written, in McDermot's hand, evidently immediately after the letter was received, "•! shall never again return to the home of my youth." The fourth le.ter was from a friend of the family, dated about a year qUer the letter from his mother was written; and communicating the intelligence of the death of his only parent. 316 JOHN SMITH. Here then was the elucidation of the mystei/. Here was the cause of all that was strange in his character ; within the bosom of McDermot there once undoubtedly beal \ noble and generous heart, fond, tender, and confiding But he ITad risked all his fortunes in a single ship, and she had perished in the waves. He was a disappointed man'; and unjustly found fault with the world for his disappoint- ment ; and was ever after inclined to distriist his fellow men. He had passed through life with a seared and blighted heart ; apparently insensible to all the fine feelings which ennoble mankind. He never sought for enjoyment, but merely struggled for existence. Disappointed affection had destroyed all tlie ambition in his soul ; and while he secretly cherished feelings and affections highly honorable to human nature, he acted the part of a churlish, morose misanthrope. How often in the course of our pilgrimage through life, we meet with men, whose feelings we cannot understand, bul whose story, if truly told, would disarm us of resentment and elicit s) mpathy for their woes 1 ENCOUNTER WITH A PIRATE, Times of difficulty and danger show the stamina of a man's character ; bring forth all his energies, and often convert a bold, blustering, talkative, huge-whiskered fellow, into a trembling poltroon ; and a modest, retiring, milk-and- water-looking personage, into a hero, full of resolution and daring. I have seen enough of the world to know, that it is impossible to ascertain a man's character, so far as intre- pidity or presence of mind is concerned, by witnessing his actions in the common occurrences of Hfe, or listening to his conversation. Indeed, few men can form a correct estimate of their own characters, in this respect, who have not found themselves placed in critical situations, to be ex- tricated from which, required both coolness and courage. There is a very worthy man, an old shipmaster, by the way, now in business in this city, who is one of the most mild, unassuming, and worthy men, with whom I was ever acquainted. He is respected and esteemed by every body, not for being a Drawcansir, or a fire-eater ; but for his quiet, peaceable, gentlemanly demeanor, and intrinsic worth. He was once placed in a situation, where his stamina was proved ; and his coolness and courage on that occasion, saved himself and his crew from being ruthlessly murdered by a band of pirates. Captaiii A. was bound to Havana, in Cuba, in a brig belonging to Boston. It was some fifteen or eighteen years ago, when piracies were so common in the West Indies ; and after, in revenge for being harassed by armed vessels, these blood-thirsty, but cowardly scoundrels, adopted the practice of cutting the throats of every man on board the American vessels, which they captured. One afternoon, after he had passed the Double-Hearled-Shot Keys, and was drawing up with his destined port, with the high, sin- g'alar-looking mountain, called " the Pan of Matanzas," iu 27* 318 ENCOUNTER ;VITH A PIRATE. Bight, he saw a large, and suspicious-looking boat, or felucca, *'ull of men, coming out of the old Bahania channel, and standing directly towards him. By the aid of his glass, he discovered enough to convince him that the small vessel was a Cuba pirate ; one of the villanous nest, which infested those seas, and found a snug harbor, and congenial spirits, among the numerous islands which line the north side of the island, to the eastward of Matanzas. The predicament in which he found himseH was rather an awkward one, and somewhat unpleasant ; especially as he had not lived long enough to be tired of his lease of life, and had a wife and children depending on him for sympathy and support. His vessel was deeply laden, the wiiid was light, and it was impossible for him to escape by. taking to his heels. Again, he had no cannon or swivels o i board ; his only arms being half a dozen muskets and f\ pair of pistols. His crew, too, consisted in addition to hi nself and his two mates, of only four or five men, one or t\fo boys, and a negro cook ; therefore he could not expect to terrify his enemy by numbers, or a warlike display. But he was a man of decision, and was not long in detcrminin;^ oi^ his course. He called till hands, and told them in plain terms that a pirate was approaching, and by reminding them of some appalling events which had occurred in those seas, within the twelve previous months, convinced them that the object of the pirate was not more to plunder the vessel than to murder the crew. The dreadful fate of captain? Grover of Boston, and the unfortunate men with him, was still fresh in the memory of the ship's company. He told them that their case was a desperate one ; that if the pirates got pos- session of the vessel, they would at once murder every man on bor.rd ; that resistance, whatever might J^e the result, could not inc/ease their danger ; and that it was possible, although not very probable, that by using their small arms, they m'g'it be able to beat off their assailants. At any rate, he rer./arked, they would have the satisfaction of dying while pobly engaged in defending their lives. He conclu- ded hy teiLing them that after duly weighing the whole matter, lie had come to the determination to defend the brig against the pirates as long as he cruld stand, and he TALES OF THE OCEAN. 3.19 expected them to support him gallantly on the occasion. The men, who were true-hearted Yankees, and did not relish the idea of being massacred in cold blood by a set of sanguinary Spaniards, caught a portion of. the spirit of their commander, and declared in the most emphatic manner, that they would stand by him to the last. Captain A. ordered the muskets to be carefully loaded with buck-shot, and made arrangements for having them properly discharged at the proper time. He caused alljhe hatchets, axes, harpoons, &c. to be collected, to be used as * weapons to repel any attempts to board, and gave directions to his officers and men, liow to act in any emergency which might arise. In the meantime, propelled by a light wind from the eastward, and sweeps, the felucca drew nearer and nearer. She was a wicked-looking craft, full of men ; and it was soon seen, through the glass, that they were as villanous a looking set of fellows as ever went unhanged ; and well armed with muskets, pistols and cutlasses. Captain A. kept on his course, being determined to pay no attention to the felucca, unless he was fired upon, or an attempt should be made to board ; in which case he wisely resolved to spoil as many of their sinister-looking physiognomies as it was in his power to do. The felucca soon came within hail ; and the second mate and two men, to whose charge the muskets had been en- trusted, were impatiently waiting the order from the captain to fire ; when the pirate, who caught a glimpse of the muskets, and did not altogether like the quiet and unosten- tatious manner of doing business on board the brig, laid upon his oars, and in a fierce tone, and in broken English, ordered the brig to back her main-topsail and heave to. No attention was paid to this order ; but the brig moved slowly on her course, with the wind on the larboard beam. The captain of the pirate, an active-looking, truculent^- visaged scoundrel, with a bandanna handkerchief tied around his head, his belt stuffed with pistols, and a hanger in his hand, again hailed the brig, declaring that if the main-top- sail was not hove to the mast, immediately, he would board with his crew, and cut the throat of every man on board. Caj tain A replied in a resolute and manly tone, as if he 320 ENCOUNTER WITH A PIRATR. had well weighed the consequences of his actions , " ! kn iv» that you intend to cut our throats, if possible. Tiiis }ou will do, if you can, whether we heave to or not. But }oi! will never take this vessel while I live. 1 have arms, and ana determined to defend her to the last." The pirate, finding what kind of a man he had to dea. with, undertook to reason with him ; to employ * moral suasion,' an excellent thing on proper occasions. He urged upon him the folly, the madness of offering any resistance * promising him not only his life, but good treatment for all TALKS OF THE OCEAN. 321 hands, if he would surrender without any more trouble ; but assuring him of dying a dreadful deatli, provided he made any resistance. He concluded this persuasive harangue, by pointing with his skinny finger to his band of luffians, 20 or 30 in number ; while a demoniac grin distorted his swarthy features. Captain A. replied with a degree of sang froidy which seemed to astonish the Spaniard, that he was fully prepared for any villany which he might attempt to execute ; and advised him to sheer off', while he could do it with safety. The Spaniard consulted with two or three ugly-looking fellows who stood near him ; and then urged the most dreadful threats to induce captain A. to surrender to him the possession of the vessel. Captain A. remained silent. The pirate then absolutely foamed with anger, and abused our Yankee friend, who stood quietly on the quarter-deck, with a speaking trumpet in one hand, and a musket in the other, with the most opprobrious epithets, which either the English or the Spanish language could furnish. Captain A. listened to him for some time in silence. At length he sternly told the pirate captain that if he did not immediately sheer off', and allow him to proceed on his voyage without further interruption, he would give him a volley of musketry without further ceremony ! The pirate captain for a moment, appeared undecided how to act ; he seemed reluctant to relinquish the prize, which he regarded as already within his grasp, but he felt that the Yankee would be as good as his word, and he knew that the effects of a well-directed volley of musketry ipon his crew, all huddled together in the body of the boat, would be anything but agreeable ; and when he saw the Yankee captain bring his men to the present, he embraced the wisest and the safest alternative, luft'ed his vessel to the wind, and still muttering diabolical threats and horrid im- precations, he crawled off* to windward as fast as his sweeps and sails would carry him ! Captain A. kept on his course, and the next morning arrived safely at Matanzas, and although during the singular scene which occurred, he had exhibited no sign of trepida- tion, or an absence of presence of mind, but on th(j con trarj- appeared perfectly calm and collected, yet his bosom ENCOL'NTiiR WITH A PIRATE. was relieved of a weighty load, when he found that hi» unwelcome visitor had departed ; and he silently thanked his Maker for extending towards liim a protecting hand. Captain A. was thus successtul in extricating himself from the hands of these pirates, solely by an exhibition of quali- ties which every man should cherish, as they may be of the greatest service, when he least expects it. I will venture to say that not one man in a hundred, placed in the. situation of this gentleman, would have been so successful ; for dis- cn)tion as well as courage, is sometimes necessary, in onlei to triumph over difficulties. But although it is generally an advantage to be brave fcnd collected in the hour of danger, it is sometimes the case that cowardice will prove a protection, and an exhibi- tion of arrant poltroonry will be attended with the most beneficial results. I well recollect a case in point ; but my friends often caution me against spinning my yarns too long; and therefore I shall reserve my illustration iof inothdr chapter. COWARDICE SOMETIMES A PROTECTION In the last chapter, I endeavored to give an illustration of the great importance of courage and presence of mind, in cases of difficulty and danger. I also stated that cow- anlice was sometimes a protection, and that an exhibition of arrant poltroonry had been known to be attended with the most beneficial results. A year or two previous^ to the time at which the event related in the last chapter occurred, and before the pirates on the coast of Cuba had adopted the horrid custom of murdering' in cold blood the crews of every vessel that they boarded ; a brig loaded with lumber, belonging to an eastern port, was bound to Matanzas. The brig had enter- ed the beautiful bay, at the further extremity of which is the harbor, early in the morning, and was beating in against the land breeze, and had worked up to within a couple of miles of the shipping, when a long, black barge suddenly appeared cc^ning from the mouth of a river on the eastern side of the bay. The barge looked like an appendage to a man-of-war, and was pulled by eight men, two sitting in tlie stern seats, and all looking quite peaceable, insomuch that the captain of the brig suspected no harm, until the boat pulled up under his quarter, when several muskets wer^ presented, and he was told in tolerably good English, and in a very emphatic manner, to heave to. There were no guns on board the brig, nor indeed arms o( any description, and the captain, although somewhat astonished, and not remarkably well pleased at receiving such peremptory orders, conceived that he had no alterna- tive, but promptly laid the main-topsail to the mast. He was now aware that he had got into bad company ; that he ^iad failed among thieves, among pirates, and that he waa entire / at their mercy. 'S2A COWJ^RDICE SOMETIMES A PROTECTION. The rascals pulled along-side, and soon scrambled on deck, each armed with pistols and a cutlass. They were a gentlemanly set of cut-throats, and instead of slitting the windpipes of the crew, set themselves and their captives at work to get the brig out of the bay as soon as possible The main-topsail was filled, the helm was put up, the yards squared, and as the wind still blew a good breeze from the south, there seemed to be no difficulty in the way, and under the management of the pirates, the brig ran out of the bay much faster than she beat in against the land breeze. The wKole of this occurrence was witnessed from the decks of the vessels, principally American, lying at anchoi in the harbor, and of course, producea no little excitement, as the vessel had approached so near as to be recognised, and the character of the captors was also correctly surmised. A hurried consultation was held by several shipmasters, the result of which was a determinStion to man and arm several boats, and start off in pursuit of the pirate, expecting that the land breeze would not long continue, and that they might be able to come up with and re-capture the brig, while becalmed in the offing, previous to the settmg m of the regular trade wind. With a courage and promptitude characteristic of Amer ican seamen, the plan was projected, and measures were adopted to carry it into execution. Three or four of the fastest boats in the harbor were selected for this purpose, and they were manned at once by volunteers from the American masters, mates and seamen then in port. Well supplied with small arms, and stimulated by a wish to rescue their countrymen from the power of the pirates, which they resolved to do or perish in the attempt, they pushed off, and pulled with a will down the bay. But in spite of their zeaL a considerable time was occupied in preparations, and b'efore the flotilla was ready to depart on the expedition, the brig had got several miles the start, and with a good breeze had disappeared round Point Maya. The little band of adventurers, however, animated by a noble spirit of humanity, which deserved success, kept on their way, and when they reached the extreme point of the t)ay, and ihe sea was open before them, they saw a brig eomo miles distant in the north west, uhich appealed to ha TALES OF THE OCEAN, 32i becalmed between the land and sea breezes. The brig was lumber loaded, and evidently an American vessel, belonging to the New England States, and not doubting for an instant that this was the vessel which had fallen into the hands of the pirates, the on6 which they were determined to re-capture, the boats' crews looked to their fire-arms, and pulled away wilh redoubled energy. But it happened that the vessel which was seen becalmed in the distance, was not the brig which had been captured hy the pirates ! She was commanded by captain Benyon, a man who passed for a paragon of valor ; who used big words, and sported big whiskers. Before sailing on the voyage to which we allude, he had supplied his vessel abundantly with arms and ammunition, and on the eve of sailing he had made a great parade of his swivels, his mus- kets, his cutlasses and boarding pikes ^j, and had been more than once heard to declare with a furious and sanguinary look, that nothing would give him greater gratification than to have a brush with the pirates who infested the shores ol Cuba ; promising to ' tickle their catastrophes ' in the most approved style. But captain Benyon found it an easier thing to talk than to act ; to threaten at a distance than to put HTs threats into execution. As he advanced nearer to his destined port, and drew towards the seas which were infested with Spanish pirates, his indomitable courage gradually oozed away, and ie deeply regretted having provided himself with arms, as .iie fear of shame or the gallantry of his officers and crew, might compel him to use them, should he be attacked by these marauders. Such was the vessel, and such was the captain, which v^^jis now becalmed off* the bay of Matanzas. On that .noriiiug, before the sun had appeared above the horizon, c'-aplain Benyon was on the look-out for pirates. He swept the horizon with his glass, and not a vessel or a boat was to be seen, with the exception of a deep laden drogher man- aged by three negroes, close in shore, running down the coast towards Havana, and which caused him much anxiety and alarm, until he ascertained beyond a doubt, by her dis- appearance behind a head-land, that no very desperate onslaught was to be expected from that vessel. It wa? 28 326 COWARDICE SOMETIMES A PKOTECTION about 7 o'clock in the morning, when he saw a brig, appa rently American, come»out of Matanzas bay, and keeping close in shore, under all sail, and urged onward by a fine southerly breeze, follow in the wake of the drogher. An hour passed by, and the land breeze had died away, when he beheld with a degree of consternation more easily con ceived than described, several boats, full of men, pulling with all their might and power towards his devoted vessel ' * He scrutinized them closely with his glass, and what con firmed his suspicions that they were pirates, he saw thai they were armed ; as the rays of the sun fell upon the boats, he beheld the gleam of polished muskets, and the flash of sabres ; and gave himself up for lost. He saw them as they approached, after holding a short consultation together, making arrangements for boarding his vessel on eacli gang- way and on each bow, at the same time ; and a more des- perate, ferocious, bloody-minded looking set of villains, he thought he had never beheld ! His officers and his crew saw the advance of the boats with any thing but indifference ; and as they had plenty of arms and ammunition, and were not deficient in physical strength, or true-blue-Yankee energy and courage, they, of course, expected a brush, and looked to their valiant cap- tain for the requisite orders to prepare for battle. The orders, however, were not given ; captain Benyon was still there, but the hero had disappeared ; even the fierce curl of his whiskers had vanished. In a faltering voice, and with a despairing look, he remarked, that it would be worse than useless to contend against such odds ; that the pirates would carry them by boarding in spite of the most desperate resist- ance ; and that their doom would be certain death, provided they should make an unsuccessful attempt to beat off tl e cut- thi oats. To the great mortification of his crew, he announced his intention of surrendering to the pirates without firing a gun ! The brave fellows in the boats, who were prepared to fire a volley and then board under cover of the smoke, were astonished when they drew near and beheld no indications of pirates on the decks of the brig ; but in their stead, ap- peared some six or eight honest-looking fellows, whose countenances exhibited marks of the most intense astonish- TALES OF THE OCEAN. 327 ment Thinking there must be some mistake, or that the pirates, after plundering, might have deserted the brig ; at the same time resolving to guard against treachery, they withheld their fire, but dashed along-side, as had been pre- viously concerted, and boarded her gallantly, carrying her in a twinkling, with pistols in their belts, and cutlasses in their hands ; to the great dismay of captain Benyon, who submissively entreated for quarter, declaring that they had surrendered, and had never thought of making any resist- 4nce. " Then you deserve to be keel-hauled, all hands cf you ? " exclaimed captain Morgan, who by this time had discovered the mistake, and who recognised in captain B. an old ac- quaintance. " If you took us for pirates, and I must confess we are rather a piratical-looking set, you deserve to be keel- hauled for not blowing us sky high before we got along side. But never mind ; give us your hand, old fellow ; we wont quarrel with you for sparing us this time, any how But I would advise you not to be so easy with pirates in future. To trust to the mercy of these scoundrels, is to lean on a broken reed." An explanation followed ; and it became evident that the brig which had been seen running down to leeward, keep- ing close in shore, must have been the one which the pirates had captured in the bay. As tliey had got so much the start, and as the sea-breeze was just setting in strong, of course it would have been folly to pursue them, and they resolved to make themselves comfortable where they were. The joy of captain B. when he found that the ferocious, murderous-looking men in the boats, were not pirates, but countrymen and friends, knew no bounds. He was trans- ported at once from Tartarus to Elysium ; and declared, like " honest Jack FalstafF," and with about as much truth, that it w^as instinct, not cowardice, which prompted his conduct on that occasion. With a fresh breeze from the northeast, the brig entered the bay with half a dozen boats in tow, and their crews on deck ; and within an hour and a half was safely at anchor in the harbor of Matanzas. It may not be improper to remark that the brig which had been captured in the morning, was carried down the 'ioast, and anchored behind a point of land close in shore COWABDICE SOMETIMES A PROTECTION. A portion of her cargo was landed in boats, and all the money, clothing, and articles of value, which coald be found on board, were taken away. The captain, officers, and crew were abused, and shockingly maltreated, but none ol them were killed. As night approached, the pirates all left the vessel, cut the cables, and went ashore. The cap- tain and crew with great exertions, got sail on the brig, just in time to prevent her from going on tlie rocks ; and the next morning went into Havana. A WHALE ADVErsTURE IN THE PACIFIC, Whoever has read captain Scoresby's na ratives, tan perhaps form some idea of the perils of the whale fishery. Fearful scenes are often witnessed by those adventurous men, who in the midst of the open and turbulent ocean, in a frail skiff, dare to attack that fierce and powerful monster of the deep, the sperm whale. Were faithful records kept and published, of the eventful and dangerous scenes, which are every month, almost every day, witnessed in the south- ern seas, by our bold and enterprising fellow citizens of Nantucket and New Bedford, they would be read with a thrilling interest ; and the resolution and intrepidity of our American whalers would be duly appreciated. The follow ing narrative of one who has passed many years of his life in this eventful and dangerous occupation, and which I give almost in the original language of the narrator, will serve in some degree, to illustrate the courage, hardihood, and per- severance of our American whalemen ; and the nature ol some of the perils to which they are exposed. " It was a fine morning in the year 1818 or *19, I forget exactly which, nor does it much matter, I was then on board an American whaHng vessel on the coast of Peru, in latitude of about seven degrees south, when all hands w( re aroused by the loud and thrilling cry from the mast-head of * There she blows ! ' By the time the usual questions of ' Where away?' * How far off?' &c. were answered, the whales were declared to be of the sperm species ; and tlie captain in an eager and soul-cheering voice g^ave orders that the boats should be got ready immediately, adding, * there is a noble fellow not far off; I can see'him from off deck ; be lively, lads, be lively.' Every man on board exerted himself to the utmost, and al was excitement and expecta- 330 A WHALE ADVENTURE IN THE PACIFIC. tion ; for nearly two months had passed away since ouf eyes had been blessed with the sight of a sperm whale. '' I was assisting one of the crew, a Gay Head Indian, in putting the line into the starboard boat, when all at once he ceased his labor, and looking me full in the face, said in a serious tone, ' 1 tell you what it is, Davy, we shall get stove to-day.' " * Nonsense ! ' was my reply ; ' you are always croaking, and conjurmg up some bad thing or other to happen.' But my curiosity being somewhat excited to know how ho got Buch an idea, I added in a milder tone, * What makes you think we shall get stove to-day, Jo ? ' " * Oh,' said my dark-complexioned shipmate, * It 's of no use to tell you anything about it; you don't believe in dreams.' " * Oh, ho ! it 's a dream then, is it ? Well tell us, I beg of you, what your dream was about ? ' " * Why,' resumed Jo, ' I dreamed while I was sleeping in my berth in the morning watch, that I was riding in a wagon, an elegant wagon, which I borrowed from squire Mooney ' " * Well,' I exclaimed impatiently, * what has all that to do with getting stove ? ' ** * Do Davy, keep your tongue still for one minute, and 1 will tell you all about it,' said Jo, deploringly ; * I was riding in the wagon, which was drawn along by a great black hoise ' " ' Are you sure he was black, Jo ? That is an important point.' " * O ! you are enough to provoke a saint,' said Jo, ' to say nothing of a savage ; I won't tell you any more.' ' * Pshaw ! I was only joking ; Let 's have it at once ; we shall lower the boats in a few minutes, for I see the captain coming down from aloft ; heave ahead.' " * Well, the black horse started off with me at a tremen- dous rate, and I tried to stop him, but could not do it. At last I gave him a rank sheer out of the road, in order to run him foul of the fence. He seemed to understand what I was up to, for just as I succeeded in getting him out of the road, he lifted up his heels, and .' " At this n oment the captain stepped on. the rail ; Come TALES OF THE OCEAN Doys,* said he, * lower away ! lower away ! we can go faster with the boats.' The remainder of Jo's dream was defer- red until another opportunity ; down went the boats, and off we went. " I was in the captain's boat ; and we soon got along- side the big whale ; but going rather too near the corner of his flukes, when the iron entered the back of the monster, he rolled from the boat, and with the tip of his tail, gently drilled a small hole through her* bottom ! We managed to ke?p the boat from filling, by stuffing one or two jackets into the crevice ; and the mate's boat being close at hand, we put our hne into her, and pulled for the ship, which was only about a mile distant, coming up. As we started, the captain said to the mate, Mr. Coffin, don't go too near that fellow until you see nte leave the ship in the other boat.' We were able to man but two boats at a time. " * Ay, ay, sir,' said Mr. Coffin ; but before we had got half way to the ship, he had two waifs set ; a signal that his boat was also stove in ! '' ' O ! ' exclaimed the captain in a bitter tone ; * Mr. Coffin, if you had only obeyed my orders, you would not have stove your boat ; Give way, boys ; give way ! ' " At length we reached the ship in safety ; lowered the waist boat with all possible despatch, shoved off, and reach- ed the mate just as his boat had filled. She was badly stove, by a blow from the fluke of the whale, just as the mate was planting a couple of irons into him ; one end was nearly knocked to pieces, but by getting all of tliem into the other end, the crew managed to keep her afloat until we came to their help. We took the mate's boat in tow and carried her to the ship, where we hoisted her in ; we did the same to the starboard boat, the captain's, wh VJi was first struck, and stopped the hole as well as we could, by nailing a piece of tarred canvas over it ; we then shoved oft' in the waist-boat which lay along side ; leaving the mate to get the craft, that is the lines, harpoons and lances, into the starboard boat, and follow us as soon as possible. " The whale was lying still on the surface of the water ; we pulled up to him, and the captain planted another har- poon into him solid. This did not seem to affect him much ; m we approached to lance him. We soon got near enough 332 A WHALE ADVENTUKr. IN THE PACIFIC. to dart the lance ; but the captain preferred the surer met . od of setting, and held his hand for a moment. But just as he was about to set the lance into his vitals, the wicked monster rolled head up, opened wide his ponderous jaws, and made towards the boat ! The captain darted the lance into his throat with great force, which seemed to astonish him a good deal, and caused him to close his jaws just clear of the head of the boat*/ He then settled right down in th3 water, and in a moment after came up directly under, umid-ships. The next thing 1 recollect, was that we were all tumbled out of her together neck and heels, in the most unceremonious manner I " I swam under water a considerable distance, until it began to look light overhead, when I came up close along side a part of the boat, for it was now in two pieces, which were at least thirty feet apart, bottom upwards. I got upon the part of the wreck lying near me, and was chuckling at my good fortune, when, much to my consternation, I beheld the veteran spermr^eti lying close along side of me, quite still, apparently satisfied for the moment with the mischief he liad done. But I did not like this neighborly conduct on his part, and feared that he might again take a notion for a mouthful, in which case I should be rather in his way ; so I thought I would remove to a farther distance ; and accordingly jumped ofT, and without looking around me, swam to leeward as fast as possible, until I heard the mate's voice, who had just arrived on the scence of action with the starboard bOat, hailing me, ' Holloa, Davy, where are you bound to on that tack if the wind stands ? ' *' ^ No where, in particular,' I replied ; ' I am only trying to get out of the whale's way, and remove temptation from his path.' " In the meantime a black feHov/, half frightened to death, kept singing out in ji voice which must have echficd the whale exceedingly; 'O! pick me up, , pick me up. The whale is after me ; tlie whale will have me ; O, pick me up ! ' " The mate told him to hold his noise, and swim for the boat, whicli he did. Meanwhile the captain and the rest ol the boat's crew had clung to the other part of the Ix^al : and all of us were fortunately saved, and conveyed ur board the ship. TALE 3 OF THE OCEAN. 33p " A consultation was then held of what was best to be , done. We did not like to sneak off, and leave our harpoons and lances in our old enemy. But we had only one boat that would float, and that was patched with canvas. The ship, however, was to windward of the whale, who still lay quiet on the surface of the water, as if unconcernedly waiting for the result of our deliberations. At last the cap- tain said, * Square away the yards, and we '11 try him, with the ship.' " At this time the wind was rather light, and*the sea quite smooth, so we had a pretty good chance to take an obser- vation of the huge monster as he lay entirely motionless on the surface of the ocean. He soon appeared to think, how- ever, that we were getting rather nearer to him than good breeding warranted, and rolled over, turned round, and came slowly towards us. As we passed him, he assumed a terrific attitude, standing nearly perpendicularly in the water, roHing himself around, snapping his huge jaws together, and, much to our consternation, trying to get hold of some part of the ship ! But as there was, fortunately, nothing on which he could bring his jaws to bear, he was tlnable to do us any harm ; though he looked really ugly, I assure you. Our officers, who were all prepared with lances to finish him, were so flustrated at his appearance, that their attack upon him did not amount to much. He carried off one lance in the bunch of his neck, and one harpoon in his back, which were darted at him as we passed along. " ' We '11 try him again,' shouted the captain, nothing daunted. * Brace up the yards.' " Accordingly the yards were sharp braced up, and the ship brought to the wind. We made a short board, weath- ered our old customer, and then ran directly for him. But he knew what he was about ; and when we had got within half a ship's length of him, he settled dov*'n in the water, and came up again just out of reach astern. We luffed to the wind, and tried him again, but he served us the same trick. " When we found that we could effect nothing wich the ship, a boat was sent off to pick up the pieces of the waist- boat which had been stove to pieces ; and the lance-pole which had been thrust into the monster's throat, was found 336 A WHALE ADVENTURE IN THE PACIFIC floating on the water, split and shattered from end to end We then went to work to repair our larboard boat, nailed some rough boards over the hole in her bows, which we covered with tarred canvas, so that she floated indifferently well ; then fixed lances in the sterns of both boats, and embarked to attack the monster again, who was now repos- ing quietly at about the distance of a mile to windwaid of tlie ship. *' We rowed up near him, then laid the boats round, and went stAn on towards him. When within about three boat's length of the whale, he caught sight of us, veered about so as to place his head in the direction of the boats, and then came towards us, looking as if he did not intend us any good. Not liking this hostile movement, as soon as we perceived it, we stopped backing the boats, and pulled from him with all our energy and strength. We soon gained upon him, and when we got to a respectable distance, he stopped, and we ceased pulling. We again tried to ap- proach him slily on the starboard quarter, but we could not do it, he was wide awake. A third time we tried it, with no better success ; indeed, the captain's boat was within an ace of being crushed by his monstrous jaws. " It was now near night, and we had been nearly all day engaged in combating a single sperm whale. We lay for a whije on our oars, gazing at the rascal ; and few of us could resist the conviction that that would be our share of him. At last the mate, who could not bear the thoughts of losing him, said * We can toll him down to leeward, and try him again with the ship.' " The captain gave one long and lingering look at the whale, and then grufl^y exclaimed, ' You may toll him down, if you please, Mr. Coffin, but for my part, I have done with him.' " We went on board, squared away the yards, and left liim, and the monster remained master of the field of battle, after stav^g all our boats, with five harpoons, two lances, and one line fastened to him ! He was the only large whale we fastened to on the voyage, which we did not succeed in getting along side. •' On the following night it was my first watch on deck. Jo and I were in the same watch. So after we got seated TALES OF THE OCEAN. 337 nn the windlass, I said, * Jo, what became of your black norse and wagon ? ' " ' Tfie horse Hfted up his heels and knocked it into flin- lers ' said Joe, 'exactly as that fellow did the gig/ (a com- Kon term for tlie waist-boat)." 2 EDWARD AND ISABEL AN ADVENTURE IN THE RIO DE LA PLATA. Whoever has passed up the harrbor of New York from Sandy Hook, must recollect on the Long Island sliore, nearly opposite the Quarantine ground at Staten Island, a beautiful villa, with verandahs and porticoes, surrounded with shrub- bery, with the grounds immediately' attached o it laid out with much taste and elegance. It is, or was some years ago, a truly romantic-looking spot, commanding a complete view of the towers, and steeples, and domes of the great commercial city, on one side, and the entrance of the harbor on the other, and the dark surface of the troubled Atlantic in the distance. It appeared to be just such a place as a sailor would love to live in, a welcome harbor where quiet might be found. Indeed, one could hardly associate care or discomfort with such a charming residence. It is a number of years since, when lying wind-bound in the roads near Staten Island, I ordered the jolly-boat to be rigged, and crossed over to the opposite shore, that I might take a near survey of the dwelling, which looked so capti- vating at a distance, and as I advanced towards it, I could not help wishing, that after encountering a few more of the gales and adverse storms of life, fate would hold in store for me a snug little harbor like the one before me, where 1 could let go my sheet-anchor, and remain moored in safety during the few remaining years of my life. Alas, there is no such good fortune in store for Hawser Martingale ! I landed on a little wharf which jutted into the bay, and advanced through a winding path towards the house. The appearance of the buildings and the grounds, on a closet inspection, fully equalled my expectations ; and in the beau- tiful flowers in the bow windows, and the rare exotics, brought from their homes in the far distant tropics, sweetl) arranged in the front avenue, I recognised the refined taste TALES OF THE OCEAN. 339 and beautifying hancr of woman. I longed to know if the inhabitants of this fairy palace resembled in person, man ners, and character, the pictures that my imagination, which be it said en passant, has often played me some scurvy tricks, presented to my view. All remained silent; I felt that I was an intruder, and was about moving away from the fragrant jessamine, behind which I had snugly ensconced myself, when I heard the sound of carriage-wheels rapidly approaching the avenue In a moment after, a handsome equipage drove up to the gT.te, from which ahghted a gentleman, who was yet in the dawn of manhood. He was tall and finely formed, and health and contentment shone in his manly countenance. He sprang from the vehicle, and was rushing towards the door, when he was met by one of the loveliest creatures tlmt ever haunted the fancy of the most imaginative artist, or visionary poet. It was a young and lovely woman, whose eyes of ebon hue, beaming with affection and pleasure, coal- black hair, dark, yet transparent complexion, and the im- passioned feeUngs displayed on her expressive features, all betrayed that she was a daughter of the south. She was evidently a wife and a mother, for a little cherub, smiling with delight, clung to her robe, as, obeying the impulse of a warm and devoted heart, she hastened to greet the return of her husband. " O, Edward, I am so glad you are come," said the sylph- like beauty in a gentle and musical voice, as she put her arm within that of the fortunate man, who had won her for his own, and who, I could perceive, wore her next his heart. " Happiness dwells in that mansion, and the jewels are worthy of the casket," said I to myself, as I returned to my ship. After I got on board, I walked the quarter-deck thought- fully for some time. My chief mate, Mr. Wiggins, was an old sea-dog, whom I had shipped in New York ; and while gazing on the romantic villa, and in my mind's eye dwelling on the lovely vision which a short time since had passed before me, and which I could hardly believe other than a fantasy, I remarked to him, that I would give much to know who were the fortunate possessors of the beautiful house and grounds which I pointed out to him on the opposite shore. 340 EDWARD AND ISABEL,. ^•Thf^t? ' said Mr. Wiggins, "Why that's the plac« where Ned WilHams hves, and his handsome Spanish wife." " Then he is a sailor, Mr. Wiggins,' of exultation. I exclaimed in a tone " Every inch of him," continued Mr. Wiggins, " he er. tered at the hawse hole, and worked his way up to be chief mate of a noble ship. We were shipmates together during the last voyage which he made as second mate, about seven years ago. But Ned was always a lucky dog. He is rich TALES OF THE OCEAN 341 now, and will never have occasion to handle a tarred rope, or get a ducking in salt water again." My curiosity was now fairly roused, and after about two hours of direct and cross-questioning, I managed to get out of Mr. Wiggins the most important particulars of Ned Williams's adventures, which I shall succinctly relate n my own language. Edward Williams was the son of poor but honest parents^ who resided in a pleasant village in the state of Connecticut. At the age of fourteen he found himself alone in the A^orld, without parents, without fortune, and consequently without friends. He had a tolerably good English education, such as is afforded by our common schools, but what was of greater value, he had been early trained in the paths of rectitude. His parents had not neglected their most impor- tant duty towards their child, but had inculcated on his mind from his earliest years the lessons of virtue. Friend- less, and forlorn, Ned Williams one morning in the month of May, with all his worldly goods tied up in a pocket hand- kerchief, left his native village on a pilgrimage to the city of New York, to "seek his fortune." He was young, strong and active, and hope beat high* in his bosom. He was determined to go to sea, and .although commencing at the lowest round, he was determined to climb to the top of the ladder. It has been well said that a good face is a letter of re commendation. Ned found it so, and was not long in pro curing a situation as cabin boy in a vessel bound to a southern port and Europe. He did his duty faithfully ; and on the next voyage shipped before the mast. He went a number of voyages in this capacity, and acquired a full knowledge of the practical duties of a seaman. His conduct was always such as to cause him to be respected by his shipmates, and treated with kindness and confidence by the officers. Nor did he neglect to cultivate his mind while engaged in the duties of his humble station. He purchased useful books, and studied them in his leisure hours. And thus, with a little occasional assistance from his officers, which was never grudgingly bestowed, he acquired a thorough knowledge of navigation. He avoided bad company when on shore, and shunned the rocks of intemperance, 29* 342 EDWARD AND ISABEL. which have caused the wreck of many a gallant bark» and in his early years i>repared himself to act well his part in any station of life, to which he might be called. He was only nineteen years of age, when, being in Havana, captain Smith, of the ship Charlemagne, lost his second mate by yellow fever, and Ned Williams was recommended by his captain for the vacant berth. He accepted the situation thus offered him, and although captain Smith was an odd sort of a man, cross-grained, and contrary as a mule, Ned got along with him remarkably well, and sailed with him three voy- ages in that capacity, at the end of which time he was promo- ted to the rank of chief officer, and began to think himself of some consequence in the world. One step more, and he should be at the top of the ladder, to which his eye was alwaya fixed ; for all his efforts were directed by a noble ambition. Ned was the only mate who ever sailed with captain Smith more than one voyage. But without sacrificing his independence, he contrived to humor his whims, and give him satisfaction. He soon found that the old man was the victim of strong prejudices, and could never bear contra- diction, hardly ever assenting to any proposition which was advanced by another, and when advice was voluntarily offered, he invariably rejected it with a sneer, and pursued with wonderful pertinacity, a different course. He.was the principal owner o'f the Charlemagne, and consequently there was no one to control his actions. But he knew how to appreciate the good qualities of Edward Williams^ who was always faithful and diligent in the discharge of his duties, and upon whose seamanship, activity, and vigilance in peiilous times, he could always depend. And Ned, on tne other hand, respected the old man for the many good qualities, both of the head and the heart, which he really possessed. The Charlemagne sailed for Buenos Ayres, and captain Smith secretly determined that this should be his last voyage to sea, and that if the ship returned in safety, he would give her up to Ned Williams, who had served him with so much zeal and good will. Nothing material happened on the passage out. But about a fortnight after reaching Buenos Ayres, and while lying at anchor in the outer rpsds, about six or seven miles TALES OF THE OCEAN. 343 from the city, a furious gale commenced from the southeast, wliich lasted thirty-six hours, in the course of which the ship dragged her anchors, and was in great danger of drift- ing on a shoal. By the active exertions of Mr. Williams, however, she was saved ; but the long-boat, which was fas- tened to the ship's stern by the painter and a stout hawser, was lost ; the ropes had chafed off by the uneasy motion of the boat during the gale, and, much to the mortification of our friend Edward, away she went up the river ! When captain Smith heard of this loss, he was in a great passion ; he sent for Mr. Williams to come on shore, and after a long consultation, during which, more than once, Edward was on the point of saying or doing something, which would have brought on an open rupture between him and the captain, it was finally concluded that he should take a guide on the following day, and proceed on horseback up the river, for the purpose of discovering the long-boat, as it had doubtless drifted ashore on that side of the river on which the city was situated. Accordingly, after making suitable preparations, Edwaid started the next morning, mounted on a stout horse, and accompanied by a Frenchman, who had resided some years in the country, and was acquainted with the lay of the land in that neighborhood, and the language of the people. They soon left the city, and passed along the banks of the river, sometimes on a hard smooth beach, and sometimes on a level road. Wlien they came to a small river or an inlet, they followed it for a considerable distance, to satisfy them- selves whether the long-boat had not been taken possession of and secreted, but they saw nothing of the boat. They passed numerous herds of cattle, feeding in the green pasture, attended by the Gauchos in their picturesque costume, who greeted them kindly as they rode by. They also passed a number of humble and solitary cabins ; several clusters of dwellings, and some beautiful seats, surrounded by luxuriant shrubbery and fruit trees, which seemed the abodes of wealth, if not of contentment. They rode rap- idly, and made many enquiries of the rudS peasants as they passed along ; but owing to their many deviations from the straight path, they did not reach Asconches until about two o'clock in the afternoon, although it is only about thirty 344 FDWARD AND ISABEL,. miles distfint from Buenos Ayres. Their horses were jaded^ and they themselves stood in need of a httle rest and refreshment ; they therefore concluded to make sometliing of a halt ; besides it would have been useless to have gone farther, as the river makes a great bend at this place, and the boat, if it had not sunk, must have been swept ashore somewhere between Buenos Ayres and Asconches. It was late in the afternoon before they set out on their return, and Pedro, such was the Spanish name of the French giiide, urged the importance of carrying pretty taut sail, in order to reach Buenos Ayres before dark. And he told some horrible tales of robbery and murders, which had been committed on foreigners and others, in the vicinity of Buenos Ayres, when returning to that city in the evening, after a pleasure jaunt in the country. But it happened, unfortu- nately, that Ned Williams's horse grew lame, and soon dis- regarded the intimations of both the whip and the spur. Pedro became more impatient as the sun sank down in the west, and at length very plainly told his companion, that nothing would induce him to remain out of the city after lark, that he wished him well, and hoped he would get safe to the city, but that he was resolved to take care of number one, and as his horse was still comparatively fresh and vigorous, he would push on, and try to reach the city before dark. Remonstrances were unavailing ; Pedro gave his horse a hearty cut on the shoulder, and off the beast started on a canter, leaving Williams in no very enviable plight. But Edward, although indignant at -such a base desertion on the part of his guide, was not a man to be easily dis- heartened. He seldom indulged in gloomy anticipations, and being young and vigorous, and withal armed with a brace of pocket pistols, he felt but little apprehension of danger, and plodded along towards the city on his jaded beast as well as he could. The shades of darkness fell around him, and he was still eight or ten miles from the city of Buenos Ayres. To increase his perplexities he soon ascertained that *he had lost his way, and his horse gave evident tokens of being " done up." At length the poor animal stumbled against a piece of wood in the oad, fell, and obstinately refused to get up. 7* rA-^^\7 TALES OF THE OCEAN. 347 This conduct on the part of the horse, placed Edward in an extremely awkward situation. After a few minutes re- flection, however, he concluded to leave the beast to his fate, and to travel along the road on foot, until he reached some habitation, where he would solicit of the owner, in as choice Spanish as he could muster for the occasion, shelter for the night. • As he journeyed on, he soon became aware that he was passing the cultivated grounds belonging to some beautiful villa, and at length he beheld through a vista in the shrub- bery, a light, which appeared to proceed from a large build- ing. He soon reached a gateway, which he found open ; two horses were tied to a tree on the outside of the gate, and werd pawing the ground and stamping with impatience. While he stood in the gateway, undetermined whether to proceed up the avenue or not, a sound reached his ears, which decided his course in an instant. It was a thrilling scream ; evidently uttered by a female in distress. He hesitated no longer, but grasping a pistol in his right hand, he obeyed the impulse of his noble nature, and bounded up the avenue. As Edward Williams approached the mansion, the screams were redoubled, and it was evident by the stifled sounds which occasionally met his ear, that attempts were making to suppress by violence the cries for assistance of some hapless woman. Williams leaped on the verandah, he found the front door open, and guided by the voice, he passed through a large hall, and entered an apartment from which the screams proceeded. He there beheld a scene which roused all the lioTi within him ; a young and lovely woman, loosely clad in her evening garments, with her hair dishevelled, and scattered over her alabaster shoulders, and distress strongly imprinted on her features, was struggling with almost a giant's might, against two swarthy, ruffian- looking fellows, who were exerting all their strength to force her from the apartment. " What 's the meaning of all this ? " demanded Williams m good, pure English, and in no very gentle accent, as he stood within the apartment ; " Villains 1 stand aside ; release that lady instantly, or I will put a bullet tlirough youi heads!"' 345 EDWARD ANI ISABEL. " Oh; help ! help ! generous stranger," exclaimed the lady, as soon as she heard the voice of the young Ameri- can ; '"' Rescue me from these vile men, and God will ever bless you." One of the Spaniards uttered some loud and menacing expressions in the Spanish language, and made some violent gestures, as if to warn Williams to quit the apartment. But seeing that they had no effect, he left the lady in the hands of his companion, drew his sword, and rushed madly at the youth, whose presence was so unexpected and unwelcome. WiUiams, however, finding that matters were becoming serious, and that the Spaniard would not listen to reason, but was determined to massacre him, as well as to carry off a lady without her consent, coolly presented his pistol, and proved himself a man of his word, by lodging a bullet in the brain of the enraged ravisher. The other villain, seeing the fate of his comrade, released the lady and fled from the room, but as he passed through the hall, he received the contents of Edward's second pistol in his back, which he acknowledged by a hideous howl. This, however, hardly checked his speed, for he fled down the avenue, mounted one of the horses, and galloped away. Ned Wilhams, now havjng discomfited the enemy, turned his attention to the lady, whom he found reclining on a settee, pale, trembling and faint. She revived, however, as her deliverer approached, and with earnest and eloquent language, which came from the heart, she poured out her gratitude to the courageous youth, for having so nobly, so bravely rescued her from the machinations of a villain. She was in truth a beautiful creiature, and had not yet seen eighteen summers, and as the young American gazed upon her graceful figure, her dark and lustrous eyes, which in a Spanish maiden may be truly called the " windows of the soul," and her lovely features, on which were imprinted in glowing colors, the feelings of gratitude she cherished, when he listened to the music of her voice, and knew from the language which she uttered, that she was the child of simplicity, dehcacy and refinement ; he felt that the brilHant beauty before him was the arbiter of his destiny ; and his bosom throbbed with emotions to which he had hitherto been a stranger. But this was no time for the indulgence TALES OF THE OCEAN. 349 of such feelings. He knew not what otaer dangers threat- ened the fair being before him ; but he felt tliat he was willing to brave any peril, and able to vanquish any odds, to preserve her from danger or insult. " The person whom you have killed," said she, as she glanced at the stiffened corpse extended on the floor, " is my cousin, Don Manuel de Costa. His conduct has embit- tered my hfe for many months. And this night, this very night," and she shuddered as she uttered the words, " if a kind Providence had not sent you to my rescue, my fate would have been a dreadful one indeed." A sound of voices was now heard in the avenue, as ol persons approaching. Edward seized the sword of the Spaniard, to whom he had given his quietus, and placed himself on the defensive. It proved, however, to be some of the domestics belonging to the house. " Look here, Pedro," said the fair maiden, in the Spanish language, pointing to the body of Don Manuel, as a faithful old servant approached. " Lopez has proved faithless, and I have been beset with villains. But thanks to the prompt interposition of this generous stranger, villany has met with its reward." Arms were soon procured, and under the direction of Williams, preparations were made for defending the house, provided the ruflian who escaped, should return with a body of his comrades, to avenge the death of his employer. After these arrangements were concluded, Edward begged of the lovely girl who was seated beside him, to enlighten him in relation to the extraordinary scenes v/hich had -just taken place, and in which he had so unexpectedly acted a prominent part. Her name was Isabel. Her father was an Englishman named Sinclair, who had resided in Buenos Ayres for many years, engaged in mercantile transactions. In early life ho hnd been captivated by the charms of a Spanish girl, the daughter of a proud Hidalgo, who, after some opposition, consented to their marriage. But the wife of Sinclair died soon after she had given birth to Isabel, and her husband who was attached to her by the strongest ties of affection, faithful lo her memory, had never married again. He dearly loved his dau<2:hter, w'lo was the miniature image o< 30 .*550 EDWARD AND ISABEI his beautiful wife, and spared no labor or expense to instruc: her in the various branches of knowledge suitable to her condition, and to endow her with those accomplishments, which are regarded as an ornament to the sex. Mr. Sinclair was successful in his business, and acquired a large fortune ; and as Isabel improved in beauty as she advanced in years, he came to the determination to close his business in Buenos Ayres, and return with his daughter and his wealth to England, his native country, from which he had been absent upwards of twenty years. He was, besides, urged to this course by the conduct of a son of his wife's elder brother, Don Manuel de Costa, a young man of profligate habits and depraved character, who, inspired by a wish to inherit Mr. Sinclair's fortune, or really captivated by the charms of his fair cousin, had avowed a passion for Isabel, who was well acquainted with his character, and despised him from the bottom of her heart. Finding all his attempts to gain the consent of the parent, or the daughter, to an accomplishment of his wishes, fruitless, and that the impassioned language and advances with which he continued to persecute his cousin, were treated with scorn, he appar- ently relinquished his designs, and no longer troubled her with his presence. But Mr. Sinclair heard that Don Manuel had declared with an oath, that the haughty Isabel Sinclair should yet be glad to become his bride. These circumstances urged Mr. Sinclair to hasten his departure. He converted his property into money, trans- mitted a large portion of it to England, and was about concluding the sale of his country estate, pleasantly situated but a few miles from Buenos Ayres, on the banks of the La Plata, when he was attacked with a violent fever, which in spite of the assistance of the ablest physicians, and the prayers and tears of his daughter, who hardly quitted his bedside during his illness, proved fatal in less than a week after the commencement of the attack. Isabel was thus left an orphan. Death had robbed her of her best, and almost her only friend ; of her father, who during hU life, had filled by her side, the place of instructor, guide, com panion and friend. Mr. Clary, a merchant of Buenos Ayres, and a friend of her father's, kindly assisted Isabel during her misfortunes, TALES OF THE OCEAN. 351 and took charge of the business which her father had left unfinished. But to add to her distress, Don Manuel, now that his cousin was robbed by death of her only protector, renewed his importunities for her iiand, and on being again rejected with contempt, swore a deadly oath that he would yet humble her proud spirit, and be amply avenged. It was only a few weeks after this that he attempted to carry his atrocious and dishonorable designs into effect. Isabel still resided at the country seat, which had belonged to her father ; and one evening, when most of the domes- tics were attending the ceremony of a wedding which took place at the villa of a gentleman a couple of miles off, Don Manuel won over to his interest, a faithless seryant'of his cousin's, who opened the doors of the dwelling, and while Isabel, in disliabille, was engaged in her apartment, awaiting the return of her household, Don Manuel accompanied by an unprincipled valet, the minister of his pleasures, and abettor in all his deeds of infamy and guilt, entered the house, and penetrated to the apartment of the unconscious Isabel, with the design of forcibly conveying her to a place at some distance, where he had made the necessary arrange- ments for compelling her to succumb to his wishes. He was frustrated in his villanous design by the prompt and gallant interference of the brave American sailor, as we have already related. Early the next morning, Isabel left the place which was endeared to her l)y many f)leasing and melancholy associa- tions, and proceeded to the city, accompanied by Edward, and some faithful domestics. She found a hospitable wel- come from Mr. Clary, the old friend of her father, with whom she had always been a favorite, and Edward seeing her safely deposited with those who would vigilantly watch over her safety, went to find captain Smith, and report his adventures during his unsuccessful search for the long-boat. But he said not a word of Isabel, for he was acquainted with the old man's peculiarities ; he knew that captain Smith abhorred the Spaniards, and the descendants of Spaniards, and that it would be folly to attempt by argument, to remove his prejudices. Edward Williams, however, continued to visit the shore, frequently, and had many interesting interviews with the 352 EDWARD AND ISABEL. fair Isabel. It is needless to prolong this part of my nar- rative, lie was young, brave and generous, with a warm' and susceptible heart. She was accomplished, and lovely as the brightest vision that ever swept across the imagina- tion of the youthful poet. He had rendered her a service, which entitled him to all her gratitude. She, although lich and beautiful, was destitute of her natural guardians, surrounded with dangers, and in need of a protector. The result may be easily anticipated. Vows of pure affection, and eternal fidelity, were interchanged. Mr. Clary was made acquainted with the state of their affections, and after a long conversation with Edward, he becanie satisfied with the rectitude of his principles, and consented to their union. It was desirable, for many reasons, that their nuptials should take place immediately, and they should proceed to America, in the Charlemagne ; but, in order to effect this object, some little management was ne- cessary. Captain Smith disliked to be troubled with passen- gers, and was particularly opposed to female passengers. There was but little gallantry in his composition ; he thought that woman, though not altogether an useless commodity, was at best, an unprofitable one ; and the less one had to do with her the better. One day, about a week before the Charlemagne was ex- pected to sail, captain Smith visited the ship, and was told by Mr. Williams, that a person had come on board the day before, for the f)urpose of engaging the passage of a lady and her servant to New York. " And what answer did you give him ? " enquired captain Smith. " Why, of course, knowing your aversion to female pas- sengers, and also that there was no state-room which a lady could occupy, unless I gave up my own. which I did not feel inclined to do, I told him at once, that the lady could not be accommodated with a passage 1 " " You did, did ye ? " gruffly exclaimed captain Smith, " 1 should like to know what right you had to refuse perempto- rily the application for a passage to New York, without consiilting me! " " Why," replied Mr. Williams, " as I was acquainted m\h your mind in relation to these matters, I thought it TALES OF THE OCEAN. 353 unnecessary to trouble you. I knew you would not receive her on board," " You knew nothing of the kind, sir ; " rejoined captain Smith, in a rage. " Nothing would give me greater pleas- ure, than to have an agreeable passenger on board. Yes, even a lady, sir, in spite of your half laughs ; and if she still wishes to go, she shall go ; and more than that, she shall occupy your state-room, sir ; and you shall sleep in one of the after berths. Who is the lady, sir ? and where can she be found ? " Williams could hardly dissemble his satisfaction at the course which matters were taking, although he tried to look as sulky as possible. He gave the required information in as ungracious a style as he could assume ; adding, " You may fill the cabin full of women passengers, for what I care." On the evening before the Charlemagne was expected to sail, Edward Williams, neatly arrayed in his best costume, as fine a looking fellow, as ever walked the quarter deck of a merchantman, or vowed at the altar to protect and cherish through life, a pure and lovely being, who had quitted all her kindred for him, went ashore in the pinnace, for the ostensible object of bringing the lady on board. He has- tened to Mr. Clary's house, where a small company were assembled ; and his Isabel clad in a bridal robe 6f snowy whiteness, her heart agitated with various conflicting emo- tions, was awaiting his arrival. The ceremony, which forever united the fortunes of the young and brave Ameri- can, with those of the beautiful Spaniard, was performed by the chaplain of a British man-of-war, then in port ; and never were vows pledged at the holy altar with more sincer- ity and truth, than passed between this youthful couple, on this most important event of their lives. They took a hasty farewell of their assembled friends ; and Edward, intoxicated with delight, and seeing only visions of bliss in the future, led his fair bride to the quay. They embarked in the pinnace, and were soon on board the Chailemagne. Isabel wept as she left the land of her birth, which still contained the remains of her parents; the land where she had passed many blissful days. She was now on the eve of departing for a strange country ; to take up her residence among a strange people. But when she 30^ 354 EDWARD AND ISABEL.. looked on her husband, and saw in his manly features, and in his affectionate smile, the guarantee of his integrity and his love, she could not doubt or despond ; but also indulged in a dream of happiness. The Charlemagne sailed for New York. Captain Smith was delighted with his fair passenger. Indeed, he must have been a brute to have regarded the amiable and ingen- uous Isabel, with feelings of dislike. But nearly half the passage was performed, and the old Triton had repeatedly declared that he loved Isabel, like a daughter, and should always consider Ned Williams as a son, before he was made acquainted with the real state of affairs, and of the ingenious trick which had been practised upon him. He affected to be exceedingly indignant at the advantages which had thus been taken of his imperfections, but soon became reconciled to the events which had actually taken place, and before the ship arrived in the harbor of New York, he declared in the most emphatic language of a sailor, that the first son which blessed the marriage of the happy couple, should be his heir I And he kept his word. Edward Williams sailed from New York for Buenos Ay res,, a poor, yet honest sailor, destitute of near kindred, and with hardly a friend in the world. Yet his heart beat high with hope, for he had determined to be guided in all his actions, by a strict moral principle, to do his duty to man and his Creator, in this life, according to his knowledge, and trust to Providence for the remainder. He returned, accompanied by a charming, accomplished, and virtuous wife, and the possessor of abundant riches ! After safely investing his property, consisting of money, the proceeds of the sale of the late Mr. Sinclair's villa, and jewels, he made arrangements to recover the property that had been remitted to England ; which was effected without difficulty. He then purchased the delightful spot, on Long Island, which had attracted my attention, and there erected a dwelhng, resembling in its external aspect, as well as its interior arrangements, the beautiful villa, in which, on that eventful night, he had first met with Isabel Sinclair. Edward Williams, soon after, entered into commercial pursuits, and was generally respected for his intelligence and probity. When I saw the happy couple, at the entrance TALES OF THE OCEAN. 355 of their romantic summer residence, attended by a little fairy, who seemed to be administering to their happiness, four years had ghded away smce they had exchanged their vows at the aUar of Hymen. They had become more fully acquainted with each other's worth ; and the affection which had bound them to each other, had not, in the slight- est degree, diminished ; but promised to continue, unabated, until the end of life. HOW TO MAKE A RUSSIAN SANS CULOTTE. I LIKE a good dog, either at sea, or on shore. He is a fond, faithful, affectionate, and sensible creature, and I could never find in my heart to do him an injury. I never knew a man of truly benevolent feelings, who did not hke dogs. A dog is a pleasant companion at all times, and in times of emergency a useful friend. He will stick by his master in times of peril, when two-legged animals, claiming the attribut:;s of humanity, will sneak cowardly away. A number of years ago, I was an officer on board a ship belonging to Salem, lying in the outer-roads of Pernam- huco, bound to Archangel. On the eve of leaving port, llie captain went alongside the guard-ship, to exhibit his clearance and other papers, and as he was about shoving off from the ship's side, one of the petty officers asked him if he wanted a dog? Captain P. said, yes, he would like a good dog very well. Accordingly a dingy-cole red, dirty, lean, and hungry brute was forthwith tumbled into the boat, and with his prize, the captain returned on board .he Diomcde. The animal, although of. tolerable size, ap- 356 HOW TO MAKE A RUSSIAN SANS CULOTTE. peared to be one of the most humble and spiritless beings of the brute creation. He would take Kicks and cuffs from the meanest fellow oq board, apparently as a matter of course, without manifesting any signs of resentment, and a look from one in authority would cause him to crouch down upon the deck, the very personification of timidity. In consequence of his lamb-like disposition, and inoffensive deportment, the sailors named him Tiger. And Captain P. was occasionally joked during the passage on account of the amiable character of his watch-dog, which was re- garded as a truly Portuguese prize. The captain, however, insisted that he liked a good-natured dog, and that Tiger would answer the purpose of frightening the Russians, and keeping thieves at a distance, as well as a more ferocious brute. After a long passage, we arrived at the entrance of the river Dwina, but Tiger, although rather more disposed to familiarity than at first, appeared as humble aTid pacific as ever, and was as generally despised by the crew. When the pilot, a long-bearded Russian, came on board. Tiger seemed disposed to regard him with much curiosity, and 1 thought exhibited some symptoms of distrust, insomuch that the pilot was actually alarmed, and while Tiger was busily snuffling the atmosphere in the vicinity of his leg- gings, he requested me to call the dog away ; which I did, although I was much amused at the idea of associating ferocity with such a harmless being as my humble canine friencf. Tiger obeyed, but he gave the pilot a look, which was not altogether* amiable, and which I hardly knew what to make of. We anchored off* the lower town, among the shipping, and in a few moments, a boat came alongside, and a Rus- sian, with a long beard, and rather filthy apparel, although a man of some note in the place, ascended the gangway. I stepped forward from the quarter deck to receive him, and Tiger followed me, casting a wistful eye towards the gang- way. The poor fellow stepped from the gunwale down upon deck, and on the instant, Tiger, without saying a word, or even uttering a grunt of discontent, seized the wrist of the Muscovite between his teeth, and compressed it in a manner whirJh was exceedingly painful to his feelings . TALES OF THE OCEAN. 357 The man roared and bellowed in agony, and poured forth such a volley of crooked and barbarous polysyllables, thai 1 was really alarmed for the integTity of his throat. To rescue him from the lamb-like Tiger, was, however, my first object, but it was with great difficulty I could make the brute relinquish his hold. The Russian received a serious wound, and was in a great rage, nothing would pac?fy him but the death of the dog, which, after this biting evidence of his hatred to the Russians, we were unwilling to consent to. Complaint was made to the authorities, and after con- siderable negotiation, the matter was compromised, by an agreement on the part of the captain, to keep Tiger chain- ed all day in a part of the ship, where he could not harm any Russian who might come on board ; and to loose him only a few hours bordering on midnight. Accordingly Tiger was chained to a ring-bolt in the tafferel, and, as a matter of course, became more savage than ever. His hatred to the Russians, one and all, seemed to be unconquerable, and he took no pains to conceal it. If a boat with Russians on board, passed near the ship, he declared his hostility, in looks and language by no means equivocal. And at night, when he had the range of the deck, he would watch at the gangway, an hour at a time, evidently with the expectation of being able to gratify his uncharitable feelings towards the Russians, by grabbing them as they came over the side. But Tiger was doomed to disappointment. When he was chained, the Russians came cautiously on board, after enquiring if the ferocious beast was secured, and never dared to go near the quarter deck, and during the night, they avoided the ship, as if she had been infected with the plague. No inducement could have prevailed upon one of them, to have stepped upon the deck of the ship while Tiger was at liberty. Once, and once only, had Tiger an opportunity to gratify, in s. very limited degree, his feeling of hostihty towards the in- oflfensive Muscovites. A large pram, or lighter, had been alongside, to receive car^o, and had shoved off, leaving one of the crew of tlie pram, on board the ship. As the pram was dropping astern, the lighter-man saw that his only chance of getting on board, was to run aft and jump from the quarter deck. 358 HOW lU MAKE A RUbSlAN SANS CULOTTE. His feurs of losing his passage, caused him for the momeiil to forget that such an animal as Tiger was on board. He rushed aft; Tiger saw him coming, and his eyes glistened in eager expectation, the long hair of his neck stood erect, and his sharp and white teeth were fully and frightfully developed. The Russian stepped upon the tafferel before he thought of the dog; a chasm of several feet intervened between him and the deck of the pram ; he saw Tiger about to make a fierce spring towards him, and fear gave him a new impulse. But he was rather too late ; Tiger grabbed the terrified Russian by his nether garment, just as he was taking the fearful jump ; fortunately for the poor fellow, it was old and of weak texture ; he landed on the deck of the pram, having received some deep-seated testi- monials of Tiger's affection ; but he was stripped to the heels of the principal garment which he wore, and stood on the deck of his vessel a veritable Russian sans culoite ! The Russian was half frightened to death, and the pain ud the fear combined, extracted from him a hideous and prolonged yell, and his features, screwed and knotted up into an indescribable expression, and the horror which was depicted on the countenance of his companions, contrasted with the gratified looks and laughing countenances of the mischief-loving Yankees, formed altogether a scene which will remain forever impressed on my memory. But Tiger should not be forgotten in the tableau, who stood on the tafferel, holding the tattered garment between his teeth, and waggirig his tail in triumph 1 Death of Jack Wilson in the Churchyard. See page 43. 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