Illustrated Sterling edition
THE KING'S OWN
THE PIRATE
THE THREE CUTTERS
BY
CAPTAIN FREDERICK MARRYAT
With Introduction by
W. L. COURTNEY, M. A., LL. D.
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
DANA ESTES & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
IF in the case of some novelists it makes little or no difference
what their private life and personal experience have been,
there are many others whose existence we ought to know
with fair intimacy, before we can even begin to understand
their work. Captain Marryat assuredly belongs to the latter
class. If we are to put ourselves at the right point of view
to estimate those novels by which he lives '" Peter Simple,"
" Mr. Midshipman Easy," " The King's Own," and others
whose titles are household names it is necessary to have
some general acquaintance with those stirring times of his
life which lie between 1 806 and 1 8 1 o. Fortunately enough
because the materials for Captain Marryat's life are strangely
scanty he has told us a great deal of his personal history in
" Frank Mildmay." The author energetically denied that he
was in his first published book drawing his own portrait, for
the best of reasons, because his hero is by no means a perfect
young gentleman, such as the ordinary reader would be likely
to take to his heart. Nor, perhaps, would some of the other
personages who figure in the tale be precisely the models
which his contemporaries would gladly accept for themselves.
Let us grant, by all means, that Frank Mildmay is not Frederick
Marryat, and that the officers and messmates with whom he
was brought into contact are not literally and precisely the
comrades of the author's youthful years. The incidents, how-
ever, remain, whatever else we take away, and " The Adven-
tures of a Naval Officer " is full of the experience which was
gained by the spirited young midshipman on board the
under Captain Lord Cochrane, afterwards Earl of
v
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Dundonald. Marryat had run away three times from school
before he attained his ambition, and was allowed to go to sea.
His father, Joseph Marryat, a prosperous man, who was M.P.
for Sandwich and chairman of the committee of Lloyds, does
not seem to have been a very sympathetic parent, and the
youth's schooldays, so far as we can judge from the allusions
to school life in the novels, were anything but happy. It
was in September 1806 that he gained his proud position on
the quarter-deck of the frigate Imperieuse, and he was then
fourteen years old.
For the purposes of a general introduction the early life of
Marryat is all that is of real consequence from the age of
fourteen to the age of thirty-four, when he became a post-
captain, and was given the Companionship of the Bath. The
later period, to the time of his death m 1 848, is by no means
so pleasant to contemplate. It is full of restlessness and
discontent, chequered by not a few disasters- and illnesses, and
embittered by more than an occasional want of money. He
was producing book after book with magnificent prodigality,
and he was enjoying the summer tide of his popularity, but
the materials which made his literary productiveness possible
were all, or nearly all, amassed in the earlier part of his career,
and such happiness and contentment as came in his way were
enjoyed in his early manhood. The first voyages under
Cochrane are in themselves a romance of the ocean. Entering
the navy at a time when, from Trafalgar onwards, it was for
the rest of the great war with France the acknowledged
mistress of the sea, Marryat was equally fortunate in his
ship and his commander. The Imperieuse was one of the
smartest frigates afloat, and Lord Cochrane one of the
most brilliant of English officers. " Mr. Midshipman Easy,"
"Peter Simple," "Frank Mildmay," "The King's Own"
are full of the English Channel, and the Mediterranean, the
coasts of France and Spain, and America and the West Indies.
It was under Cochrane, and afterwards in the Molus, the
Spartan, the Espiegle, the Beaver, and the Rosario, that all
vi
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
the wonderful experiences were gained which were turned
subsequently to such excellent account. On September 30th,
1811, the JEolus was, during a furious gale of wind, laid on her
beam-ends, with top-masts and mizen-masts blown away, and
Marryat succeeded in the perilous bisk of cutting away the
main-yard. The incident is retold in the pages of " Frank
Mildmay." The tremendous shipwreck in " The King's
Own " is also a fragment of real history, of which Lord
Exmouth was the hero. So it is with a host of other inci-
dents, such as the defence of Rosas on the Spanish coast in
the Peninsular War, the capture of the privateer in Almeria
Bay, the accident by which Marryat was knocked down by
the body of the first lieutenant in front of him in a boarding
atfray and very nearly killed by the trampling feet of his
followers, and many other exploits and misfortunes too
numerous to mention. The future novelist had a retentive
memory and a quick eye for useful incidents. If the lines of
his early life had fallen in other places, he might still have
been a novelist, for the writing propensity was very strong
within him : but assuredly his novels would have been very
different.
It will be as well, perhaps, in however cursory a fashion,
to enumerate some of these earlier voyages, on which so
much depends. Not much is to be said about the first
expedition under Lord Cochrane, which began at the end
of 1 806, except that the frigate was very nearly wrecked off
Ushant, and that the cruise was confined to the French
coast. In the second, in September of the next year, the
Imperieuse joined Lord Collingwood's fleet in the Mediter-
ranean, and Marryat gained a good deal of that experience
at Malta which he was afterwards to utilise in the historv
of Mr. Midshipman Easy. From Malta the frigate went to
Corsica, where a dashing action took place with a Maltese
privateer : thence to Toulon, back again to the Ionian Islands,
and finally home. The third of Cochrane's expeditions began
early in 1808, when the Imperieuse was on service off the
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
coast of Spain, and saw many brilliant operations during the
continuance of the Peninsular War. Let it not be forgotten
that his captain made an extraordinary impression on the
young novelist's mind. Lord Cochrane was not perhaps
the most ideal of men, so far as his relations to Parliament
and the Admiralty were concerned, but he was at his best
on the quarter-deck. Marryat has drawn him at least twice,
as Captain M in "The King's Own," and Captain Savage
of the Diomede in " Peter Simple." What especially struck
him was the combination of daring with judgment, ^dauntless
heroism united with the most scrupulous care for human
life. As soon as Cochrane was superseded from the Im-
perleuse, Marryat went through a number of naval adventures
under other captains, in the course of which he made ac-
quaintance with the eastern coast of America, Barbadoes,
and the West Indies. The only important event to chronicle
is the proof of a constitutional weakness which subsequently
was fatal to him. In 1813, while serving in L'Espiegle on
the north coast of South America, he was invalided home,
owing to the breaking of a bloodvessel, a misfortune which
occurred to him a good many times in his subsequent career
until the end came in 1848.
For many reasons the years which elapsed from 1815
onwards may be passed over with but slight mention. After
a marriage with Miss Shairp, in January 1819, he was on
guard duty at St. Helena, at the time when Napoleon was
looking forward to the end of his last imprisonment. In
the Rosario, it was his business to cruise for smugglers. He
made no little use of the knowledge he thus acquired in his
picture of M'Elvina and Captain Debriseau in "The King's
Own." The Burmese War, in 1824 and 1825, afforded many
opportunities for distinction, as a result of which he gained
post rank and a C.B. But in 1830 he resigned the command
of the Ariadne, his last ship, and thenceforward devoted
himself to literature and the management of his private
affairs. He was far more successful, however, as a novelist
viii
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
than as a man of business. Whether in Sussex House,
Hammersmith, or at Langham in Norfolk, he seems steadily
to have lost money partly owing to the failure of a property
in the West Indies but his books brought him in large
sums, and his industry was enormous. From 1830 to 1837,
when he went on a visit to America, he had produced ten
stories "Frank Mildmay," "The King's Own," ''Newton
Forster," "Peter Simple," "Jacob Faithful," "The Pacha of
Many Tales," " Mr. Midshipman Easy," " Japhet in Search
of a Father," "The Pirate and the Three Cutters," and
" Snarlevyow," besides two technical works, one on the
Abolition of Impressment, the other a detailed scheme for
a new code of signals. The tour in Canada and in the
United States led to the publication of " A Diary in America,"
hardly a successful venture, and an admirable story on the
Old Vanderdecken legend, entitled "The Phantom Ship'."
But none of the later stories, evan including " Masterman
Ready," can be compared with those issued between 1830
and 1837, most of which saw the light in the Metropolitan
Magazine, of which Marryat was for some time editor.
" Masterman Ready " is, in reality, the first of a new depart-
ment of b'terature books for children, to which the author
now began to devote himself. Marryat was at Langham
when he poured out, in rapid succession, " The Travels and
Adventures of Monsieur Violet," " The Settlers in Canada,"
"The Mission," "The Children of the New Forest," and
"The Little Savage." "Valerie" seems to have been
written while he was dying. His actual demise was un-
doubtedly hastened by the sad news of the loss of his son,
Lieutenant Frederic Marryat, who perished in the wreck
of the Avenger in the Mediterranean. Our author himself
passed away quietly in the early morning of August 9, 1848.
Marryat's character is not difficult to estimate, despite the
scantiness of the records. His daughter, who gives us the
best picture of him, neither disguises his points of weak-
ness nor ignores his true strength. Like his old commander,
is
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Lord Cochrane, Captain Marryat is obviously at his best on
board ship ; if these naval heroes are put on shore, they are
apt to exhibit a certain explosiveness of temperament which
does not always accord with the best traditions of civilised
society, and which sometimes prevents them from gaining
that general consideration which is their clue. Captain
Marryat had his fair share of squabbles, literary and personal,
and he behaved throughout , them with a spirit a little
too cavalier to be called Christian. We need not trouble
ourselves with incidents which are of no value except to
the picker-up of unconsidered trifles. It is more pleasant
to notice that in his own home, and by his own children,
our author was a good deal more adored than feared. He
had that sublime impolicy in the management of his family
which is often more successful than practical common-sense
would suppose. With a great parade of punitive severity,
he betrayed an engaging amount of paternal weakness. At
the termination of each week at Langham it was his habit to
interview his children, accompanied by their governess, in
order to receive, with such solemnity as he could muster, the
seven days' report of conduct and diligence. The unco guid
received a prize for obvious reasons ; the desperately naughty
also received a prize in order to tempt them to be better,
and, lastly, the governess herself received a prize, in order
that her criticism on this equivocal justice might be fore--
stalled. Of course they all loved him, although they reserved
to themselves a certain liberty of judgment. If a child had
torn its dress, the -culprit went as a matter of course to the
father, who, on one occasion at all events, tore off the major
portion of the skirt in order to take upon his own shoulders
the blame for the misdeed. When a character of this descrip-
tion has to manage an estate in Norfolk, the receipts are not
likely to be excessive ; but the man himself is sure to be
remembered, not only by his tenants and retainers, but also
by the ex-poachers whom he converted into gamekeepers.
It is pleasant to remember such traits as these, because
x
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
they give us the right standpoint from which to estimate
Captain Marryat's literary work. It is not probable that such
a nature could be in the truest sense either artistic or literary.
Of all that goes to the formation of a plot, of constructive
and technical ability, Captain Marry at had but Little share ;
as a rule his novels go on, as it were, of their own accord,
the incidents succeeding each other in prodigal variety, the
dramatis personce coming on and off the scene without any
particular attention to the rules of the game. Of all his
books perhaps two, " The King's Own " and " Snarleyyow,"
are the only ones which betray that preliminary labour of
involution which ought to precede the evolution of the story.
There is a plot undoubtedly in " The King's Own," and there
is some good construction in " Snarleyyow ; " the rest are
flying pages, torn from a naval officer's journal, written
currente calamo, as opportunity and the pressing necessity for
money dictated. On the other hand, because Captain Marryat
was universally popular, he would be almost sure to sympathise
with and understand very different varieties of character.
Next to Dickens, he has drawn men who live in the national
memory. Every schoolboy at all events, every schoolboy of
thirty 'years ago knows, as if they were his own familiar
friends, Mr. Midshipman Easy, Terence O'Brien, Equality
Jack, and the immortal Mr. Chucks.
The sense of fun is more obvious in these novels than the
rarer and more lasting gift of humour. Pages could be quoted
to prove the author's own enjoyment in his creations, and in
those incidents where they figure. Mr. Easy and his reliance
on the articles of war, quoted by Mr. David Hannay in his
admirable little memoir of Frederick Marryat, form an obvious
instance. Apart from this, however, which after all is due
rather to an exuberant temperament than to those qualities
we look for in a novelist, there is a simple straightforward
power of description which cannot be overpraised. It is of
course true that Marryat worked up his own experience into
graphic and descriptive scenes ; but they never show signs of
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
excessive elaboration, they are never strained or theatrical,
and the effect is due rather to a few subtle touches than to
the conscious desire to write purple passages. The club-
hauling of the Diomede in " Peter Simple," the fight between
the Aurora and the Trident in "Midshipman Easy," the
account of the hurricane on the coast of S. Pierre, once
more in " Peter Simple," and the destruction of the French
ship at the end of "The King's Own," are all admirable
examples of a skill which, because it is apparently so easy,
is not the less worthy of praise. What one lacks in Captain
Marryat is not the narrative ability, but the poetic sense.
There is little or no suggestion of that terror and mystery
of the sea which are sometimes found in Victor Hugo and in
the " Pecheur d'Islande " of Pierre Loti.
We must not, however, ask from this novelist more than he
could give us, and he has given us so much, that ingratitude
would be particularly base. As compared, for instance, with
Fenimore Cooper, we see at once his advantage, and although
Mr. Clark Russell has written one book, " The Wreck of the
Grosvenor," which is worthy to stand with Marryat's novels,
on the whole he is a lesser artist. We need not concern our-
selves with the depreciative criticism, either of Carlyle, who
seems to have written of him under an access of bile, or of
Edgar Allan Poe, who declared that his ideas were essentially
mediocre, and the common property of the mob. Washington
Irving, Christopher North, Lockhart, and Thackeray, all in
their various ways did him justice. In the history of English
literature it is the glory of Captain Marryat to stand half-way
between Smollett and Dickens, inferior, it is true, to either
writer, lout still worthily handing on a tradition, and inaugu-
rating in his chivalry of the ocean "a new region," as
Washington Irving said, " of fiction and romance."
W. L, COURTNEY.
January 1896.
xii
INTRODUCTION
ALTHOUGH Captain Marryat's first appearance in the
world of fiction was signalised by the publication in 1 829 of
" The Adventures of a Naval Officer, or Frank Mildmay," there
seems no reason to doubt that " The King's Own " was
composed at an earlier date. It was originally produced in
the Metropolitan Magazine at a time when the author was
getting all that he conld for thoroughly hard and conscien-
tious work, at the remuneration of 16 a sheet very fair
magazine pay. He was offered the editorship about this
period of a new Radical review designed on the lines of
the United Service Journal, but Mr. Bentley's proposals in
this direction were rejected for the editorship of the Metro-
politan, which he assumed in 1832, and in which for four or
five years after this date he allowed the major part of his
work to appear. At what precise time of his life he wrote
" The King's Own " it is difficult to say, but there are one
or two bits of personal history in the story which appear to
prove that he was at the time on active service. In Chapter
xxii., for instance, he says, " I am seated in the after-cabin
of a vessel endowed with as liberal a share of motion as any
in his Majesty's service. Whilst I write, I am holding On by
the table, my legs entwined in the lashings underneath, and
I can barely manage to keep my position before my manu-
script." The rest of the passage is interesting, because it
explains what it was that induced the youthful Marryat to go
to sea. " It was not to escape the drudgery and confinement
of a school, or the admonitions received at home. The
battle of Trafalgar had been fought." After witnessing the
xiii
INTRODUCTION
funeral procession of Lord Nelson the author determined
that he too would, if possible, be buried in the same manner ;
death could have no terrors if followed by so gorgeous a re-
compense. "I had no idea at that time," he adds, "that it was
such a terrible roundabout way to St. Paul's. Here I have
been tossed about in every quarter of the globe for between
twenty and five-and-twenty years, and the dome is almost as
distant as ever. I mean to put up with the family vault;
but I should like very much to have engraved on my coffin,
' Many years Commissioner,' or ' Lord of the Admiralty,' or
' Governor of Greenwich Hospital,' ' Ambassador,' ' Privy
Councillor,' or, in fact, anything but Captain ; for though ac-
knowledged to be a good travelling name, it is a very insigni-
ficant title at the end of our journey." As Captain Marryat
went to sea in 1 806, from twenty to twenty-five years gives us
somewhere about 1828 for the composition of this story.
As distinguished from the other novels, with the possible
exception of " Snarleyyow," " The King's Own " has a definite
plot a tolerably obvious one, it is true, but evidently thought
out, and, in his nai've way, acknowledged by the author
towai'ds the end of the book us a good subject for a novel.
But the boy who has imprinted on his shoulder the broad
arrow which designates him for the king's service, and who is
the heir to a large estate, is more the nominal than the real
hero. William Seymour is, in truth, a somewhat colourless
young man, and, as is the customary rule in Marryat's novels,
the main interest lies in the picturesque incidents and in the
studies of character so plentifully besprinkled over his pages.
More than once Marryat protests against the idea that he is
describing acquaintances of his own, yet there must be a good
deal of Cochrane in Captain M of the Aspasia, and it
is difficult to conceive that a man like Captain Capperbar was
otherwise than a caricature of some well-known personage.
M'Elvina and Debriseau were obviously suggested by Marryat's
own experiences of smugglers. There is a long passage in
Chapter ix v containing notes about the smuggling trade
INTRODUCTION
between the port of Cherbourg and the English coast
Our author is fond of these little disquisitions : he gives
us, for instance, an essay on the way in which Sunday is
kept on board ship, as well as on the various kinds of
courage, which remind us not so much of the practised
novelist as of the thoughtful amateur. But there is perhaps
only one chapter which clearly conveys the suggestion that
" The King's Own " appeared serially in a magazine. Chapter
xxxvii. has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the
story, and looks as if that <l6 a sheet, which was the rate
of emolument, was a consideration of no little importance.
Here is the apology : " It's a very awkward position to have
to write a chapter of sixteen pages without materials for more
than two ; at least I find it so ; " or again, " I think I hear the
reader say, ' All this may be very true, but what has it to do
with the novel ? ' Nothing, I grant, but it has a great deal to
do with making a book, for I have completed a whole chapter
out of nothing."
The most celebrated passage in the work is without doubt
the description of the terrible sea-fight in the midst of a
raging storm between the Aspasia and a French ship, which
occupies Chapters li.-liv. It is an extremely vivid piece
of description, written with all that easy mastery of his
facts which so practised a seaman had at his command. It
is not pure invention, however ; it is a highly elaborated
version of a historical event, of which the hero was Edward
Pellew, Viscount Exmouth. Pellew was in command of
the Indefatigable in company with another frigate, the Amazon,
when, late in the afternoon of the 13th January 1797, he
fell in with the French 74-gun ship, Droits de 1'Homme,
belonging to the fleet which had sailed out of French har-
bours December 16, 1796, and had been dispersed on the
Irish coast. A furious gale was blowing at the time, and the
Droits de IHomme, with her fore and main topmasts carried
away, rolled so heavily that she could not open her lower
deck ports. All through the night the two frigates and the
INTRODUCTION
French vessel waged furious battle in the midst of a hurri-
cane. Just before daybreak the scene of the conflict was in
Audierne Bay, the'wind blowing dead on shore and a heavy
sea rolling in. Pellew's frigate, the Indefatigable, succeeded in
beating out of the Bay, the Amazon and the Droits de I'Homme
both struck on the rocks on the morning of the 14th of
January. The loss of life, according to Professor Laughton,
who has narrated the incident, was differently stated in the
English and French accounts. According to the latter, there
were on board the Droits de I'Homme 1280 men, of whom
960 were saved, 103 killed by the frigates' fire, and 217 lost
in the wreck. The English account is probably exaggerated,
for it declares that out of 1750 on board, 1350 Frenchmen
were lost. Captain Marryat, it will be observed, makes his
combatants wrecked on the Irish coast in very similar fashion,
although in his pages the fight is a duel, and not a triangular
combat.
When "The King's Own " appeared, there was a remarkable
unanimity in praise of Captain Marryat's literary achievement.
It was published in three volumes post-octavo in 1830. The
Edinburgh Review called it an excellent novel, the United
Service Magazine declared that the author might take his
place at the head of the naval novelists of the day. The
Spectator was still more enthusiastic : " The King's Own," it
said, " is perhaps not to be equalled in the whole round of
romance." Certainly it deserves to be classed amongst
Marryat's best works; but its popularity has not been as great
as that of " Peter Simple/' " Mr. Midshipman Easy," and
" Snarleyyow."
W. L. COURTNEY.
January 1896.
xvi
THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER I
However boldly their warm blood was spilt,
Their life was shame, their epitaph was gnilt ;
And this they knew and felt, at least the one,
The leader of the band he had undone,
Who, born for bette~ things, had madly set
His life upon a cast, which lingerd yet.
BYBOX.
_L HERE is perhaps no event in the annals of our history
which excited more alarm at the time of its occurrence, or
has since been the subject of more general interest, than the
Mutiny at the Nore in the year 179". Forty thousand men,
to whom the nation looked for defence from its surround-
ing enemies, and in steadfast reliance upon whose bravery it
lay down every night in tranquillity, men who had dared
everything for their king and country, and in whose breasts
patriotism, although suppressed for the time, could never be
extinguished, irritated by ungrateful neglect on the one
hand, and by seditious advisers on the other, turned the guns
which they had so often manned in defence of the Eng-
lish flag against their own countrymen and their own home,
and, with all the acrimony of feeling ever attending family
quarrels, seemed determined to sacrifice the nation and them-
selves, rather than listen to the dictates of reason and of
conscience.
Doubtless there is a point at which endurance of oppres-
sion ceases to be a virtue, and rebellion can no longer be
considered as a crime ; but it is a dangerous and intricate
problem, the solution of which had better not be attempted.
It must, however, be acknowledged that the seamen, on the
1 A
THE KING'S OWN
occasion of the first mutiny, had just grounds of complaint,
and that they did not proceed to acts of violence until re-
peated and humble remonstrance had been made in vain.
Whether we act in a body or individually, such is the
infirmity and selfishness of human nature, that we often sur-
render to importunity that which we refuse to the dictates of
gratitude, yielding, for our own comfort, to the demands
of turbulence, while quiet unpretending merit is overlooked
and oppressed, until, roused by neglect, it demands as a right
what policy alone should have granted as a favour.
Such was the behaviour, on the part of Government, which
produced the mutiny at the Nore.
What mechanism is more complex than the mind of man ?
And as, in all machinery, there are wheels and springs of
action not apparent without close examination of the interior,
so pride, ambition, avarice, love, play alternately or con-
jointly upon the human mind, which, under their influence,
is whirled round like the weathercock in the hurricane, only
pointing for a short time in one direction, but for that time
steadfastly. How difficult, then, to analyse the motives and
inducements which actuated the several ringleaders in this
dreadful crisis !
Let us, therefore, confine ourselves to what we do really
know to have been the origin of discontent in one of these
men, whose unfortunate career is intimately connected with
this history.
Edward Peters was a man of talent and education. He
had entered on board the in a fit of desperation, to obtain
the bounty for a present support, and his pay as a future pro-
vision for his wife and an only child, the fruit of a hasty and
unfortunate marriage. He was soon distinguished as a person
of superior attainments ; and instead of being employed, as a
landsman usually is, in the afterguard or waist of the ship,
he was placed under the orders of the purser and captain's
clerk as an amanuensis. In this capacity he remained two
or three years, approved of and treateS with unusual respect
by the officers, for his gentlemanlike appearance and be-
haviour: but unfortunately a theft had been committed,
a watch, of trifling value, had been purloined from the
purser's cabin ; and as he was the only person, with the
exception of the servant, who had free ingress and egress ;
2
THE KING'S OWN
suspicion fell upon him the more so as, after every search
that could be made had proved ineffectual, it was supposed
that the purloined property hat! been sent on shore to be
disposed of by his wife, who, with his child, had frequently
been permitted to visit him on board.
Summoned on the quarter-deck cross-examined, and
harshly interrogated called a scoundrel by the captain
before conviction, the proud blood mantled in the cheeks
of one who, at that period, was incapable of crime. The
blush of virtuous indignation was construed into presumjv-
tive evidence of guilt. The captain, a superficial, presum-
ing, pompous, yet cowardly creature, whose conduct assisted
in no small degree to excite the mutiny on board of his own
ship, declared himself quite convinced of Peters's guilt, be-
cause he blushed at the bare idea of being suspected; and
punishment ensued, with all the degradation allotted to an
offence which is never forgiven on board of a man-of-war.
There is, perhaps, no crime that is attended with such
serious consequences on board a ship as theft, A succession
of thefts undiscovered will disintegrate a ship's company,
break up the messes, destroy all confidence and harmony,
and occasion those who have been the dearest friends to
become the greatest enemies : for whom can a person suspect.
when he has lost his property, in so confined a space, but
those who were acquainted with its being in his possession,
and with the place in which it was deposited ? and who
are these but his own messmates, or those in whom he most
confided ? After positive conviction, no punishment can be
too severe for a crime that produces such mischief; but to
degrade a man by corporal punishment, to ruin his character,
and render him an object of abhorrence and contempt, in
the absence of even bare presumptive evidence, was an act
of cruelty and injustice, which could excite but one feeling :
and, from that day, the man who would have gloried in
dying for his country, became a discontented, gloomy, and
dangerous subject
The above effect would have been produced in any man :
but to Peters, whose previous history we have yet to narrate,
death itself would have been preferable. His heart did not
break, but it swelled with contending passions, till it was
burst and riven with wounds never to be cicatrised. Suffering
3
THE KING'S OWN
under the most painful burthen that can oppress a man who
values reputation, writning with the injustice of accusation
when innocent, of conviction without proof, and of punishment
unmerited, it is not to be wondered at that Peters took the
earliest opportunity of deserting from the ship.
There is a particular feeling pervading animal nature, from
which man himself is not exempt. Indeed, with all his
boasted reason, man still inherits too many of the propen-
sities of the brute creation. I refer to that disposition which
not only inclines us to feel satisfaction at finding we have com-
panions in misfortune, but too often stimulates us to increase
the number by our own exertions. From the stupendous
elephant, down to the smallest of the feathered tribe, all
will act as a decoy to their own species when in captivity
themselves ; and, in all compulsory service, which may be
considered a species of captivity, man proves that he is
imbued with the same propensity. Seamen that have been
pressed themselves into the navy are invariably the most
active in pressing others ; and both soldiers and sailors have
a secret pleasure in recapturing a deserter, even at the very
time when they are watching an opportunity to desert them-
selves.
The bonds of friendship seem destroyed when this powerful
and brutal feeling is called into action ; and, as has frequently
occurred in the service before and since, the man who was
selected by Peters as his most intimate friend, the man with
whom he had consulted, and to whom he had confided his
plans for desertion, gave information of the retreat of his
wife and child, from which place Peters was not likely to
be very distant; and thus, with the assistance of this, his
clearest friend, the master-at-arms and party in quest of him
succeeded in his capture.
It so happened, that on the very day on which Peters was
brought on board and put into irons, the purser's servant was
discovered to have in his possession the watch that had been
lost. Thus far the character of Peters was reinstated ; and
as he had declared, at the time of his capture, that the
unjust punishment which he had received had been the
motive of his desertion, the captain was strongly urged by
the officers to overlook an offence which had everything to
be offered in its extenuation. But Captain A was fond
4
THE KING'S OWN
of courts-martial ; he imagined that they added to his con-
sequence, which certainly required to be upheld by adventi-
tious aid. Moreover, the feeling, too often pervading little
minds, that of a dislike taken to a person because you have
injured him, and the preferring to accumulate injustice rather
than to acknowledge error, had more than due weight with
this weak man. A court-martial was held, and Peters was
sentenced to death ; but, in consideration of circumstances,
the sentence was mitigated to that of being " flogged round
the fleet."
Mitigated ! Strange vanity in men, that they should ima-
gine their own feelings to be more sensible and acute than
those of others ; that they should consider that a mitiga-
tion in favour of the prisoner, which, had they been placed
in his situation, they would have declared an accumulation of
the punishment. Not a captain who sat upon that court-
martial but would have considered, as Peters did, that death
was by far the more lenient sentence of the two. Yet they
meant well they felt kindly towards him, and acknowledged
his provocations ; but they fell into the too common error of
supposing that the finer feelings, which induce a man to
prefer death to dishonour, are only to be recognised among
the higher classes ; and that, because circumstances may
have placed a man before the mast, he will undergo punish-
ment, however severe, however degrading, in short, every
" ill that flesh is heir to," in preference to death.
As the reader may not, perhaps, be acquainted with the
nature of the punishment to which Peters was sentenced,
and the ceremonies by which it is attended, I shall enter
into a short description of it.
A man sentenced to be flogged round the fleet receives an
equal part of the whole number of lashes awarded, alongside
each ship composing that fleet. For instance, if sentenced
to three hundred lashes, in a fleet composed of ten sail, he
will receive thirty alongside of each ship.
A launch is fitted up with a platform and shears. It is
occupied by the unfortunate individual, the provost-marshal,
the boatswain, and his mates, with their implements of office,
and armed marines stationed at the bow and stern. When
the signal is made for punishment, all the ships in the fleet
send one or two boats each, with crews cleanly dressed, the
5
THE KING'S OWN
officers in full uniform, and marines under arms. These
boats collect at the side of the ship where the launch is
lying, the hands are turned up, and the ship's company are
ordered to mount the rigging, to witness that portion of the
whole punishment which, after the sentence has been read,
is inflicted upon the prisoner. When he has received the
allotted number of lashes, he is, for the time, released, and
permitted to sit down, with a blanket over his shoulders,
while the boats, which attend the execution of the sentence,
make fast to the launch, and tow it to the next ship in the
fleet, where the same number of lashes are inflicted with
corresponding ceremonies ; and thus he is towed from one
ship to another until he has received the whole of his
punishment.
The severity of this punishment consists not only in the
number of lashes, but in the peculiar manner in which they
are inflicted ; as, after the unfortunate wretch has received
the first part of his sentence alongside of one ship, the blood
is allowed to congeal, and the wounds partially to close,
during the interval which takes place previously to his arrival
alongside of the next, when the cat again subjects him to
renewed and increased torture. During the latter part of
the punishment the suffering is dreadful ; and a man who
has undergone this sentence is generally broken down in con-
stitution, if not in spirits, for the remainder of his life.
Such was the punishment inflicted upon the unfortunate
Peters ; and it would be difficult to decide, at the moment
when it was completed, and the blanket thrown over his.
shoulders, whether the heart or the back of the fainting man
were the more lacerated of the two.
Time can heal the wounds of the body, over which it
holds its empire ; but those of the soul, like the soul itself,
spurn his transitory sway.
Peters from that moment was a desperate man. A short
time after he had undergone his sentence, the news of the
mutiny at Spithead was communicated ; and the vacillation
and apprehensions of the Admiralty, and of the nation at
large, were not to be concealed. This mutiny was apparently
quelled by conciliation ; but conciliation is but a half measure,
and ineffectual when offered from supei'iors to inferiors.
In this world, I know not why, there seems to be but one
6
THE KING'S OWN
seal binding in all contracts of magnitude and that seal is
blood. Without referring to the Jewish .types, proclaiming
that "all things were purified by blood, and without shed-
ding of blood there was no remission," without referring to
that sublime mystery by which these types have been ful-
filled, it appears as if, in all ages and all countries, blood
had been the only seal of security.
Examine the records of history, the revolution of opinion,
the public tumults, the warfare for religious ascendency it
will be found that, without this seal, these were only lulled
for the moment, and invariably recommenced until blood had
made its appearance as witness to "the act and deed."
CHAPTER II
This is a long description, but applies
To scarce five minutes passed before the eyes ;
But yet what minutes ! Moments like to these
Rend men's lives into immortalities.
BYRON.
_L HE mutiny at Spithead was soon followed up by that at
the Nore ; and the ringleader, Parker, like a meteor darting
through the firmament, sprung from nothing, coruscated,
dazzled, and disappeared. The Texel fleet joined, except a
few ships, which the courage and conduct of the gallant
old Admiral Duncan preserved from the contagion. Let me
here digress a little, to introduce to my readers the speech
made by this officer to his ship's company on the first
symptoms of disaffection. It is supposed that sailors are not
eloquent. I assert that, with the exception of the North
American Indians, who have to perfection the art of saying
much in few words, there are few people more eloquent
than sailors. The general object looked for in this world
is to obtain the greatest possible effect with the smallest
power; if so, the more simple the language, the more
matter is condensed, the nearer we approach to perfection.
Flourishes and flowers of rhetoric may be compared to extra
wheels applied to a carriage, increasing the rattling and conv
7
THE KING'S OWN
plexity of the machine, without adding to either the strength
of its fabric or the rapidity of its course.
It was on the 6th of June that the fleet at the Nore was
joined by the Agamemnon, Leopard, Ardent, and other ships
which had separated from Admiral Duncan's fleet. When
the Admiral found himself deserted by part of his own fleet,
he called his own ship's crew together, and addressed them in
the following speech :
" My lads ! I once more call you together with a sorrowful
heart, owing to what I have lately seen, the disaffection of
the fleets : I call it disaffection, for the crews have no
grievances. To be deserted by my fleet, in the face of the
enemy, is a disgrace which, I believe, never before happened
to a British admiral ; nor could I have supposed it possible.
My greatest comfort under God is, that I have been sup-
ported by the officers, seamen, and marines of this ship, for
which, with a heai-t overflowing with gratitude, I request you
to accept my sincere thanks. I flatter myself much good
may result from your example, by bringing those deluded
people to a sense of the duty which they owe, not only to
their king and country, but to themselves.
" The British navy has ever been the support of that
liberty which has been handed down to us by our ancestors,
and which I trust we shall maintain to the latest posterity
and that can only be done by unanimity and obedience.
This ship's company, and others, who have distinguished
themselves by loyalty and good order, deserve to be, and
doubtless will be, the favourites of a grateful nation. They
will also have, from their inward feelings, a comfort which
will be lasting, and not like the floating and false confidence
of those who have swerved from their duty.
" It has often been my pride with you to look into the
Texel, and see a foe which dreaded coming out to meet us.
My pride is now humbled indeed ! our cup has overflown, and
made us wanton the All-wise Providence has given us this
check as a warning, and I hope we shall improve by it. On
Him, then, let us trust, where our only security is to be found.
I find there are many good men among us : for my own part, I
have had full confidence in all in this ship ; and once more
I beg to express my approbation of your conduct.
i: May God ; who has thus far conducted you, continue to
8
THE KING'S OWN
do so ; and may the British navy, the glory and support of
our country, be restored to its wonted splendour, and be
not only the bulwark of Britain, but the terror of the
world.
"But this can only be effected by a strict adherence to
our duty and obedience ; and let us pray that the Almighty
God may keep us in the right way of thinking.
" God bless you all."
At an address so unassuming, and so calculated, from its
simplicity and truth, to touch the human heart, the whole
ship's crew were melted into tears, and declared their re-
solution to adhere to their admiral in life or death. Had all
the ships in the fleet been commanded bv such men as
Admiral Duncan, the mutiny at Spithead would not have
been succeeded by that at the Nore : but the seamen had
no confidence, either in their officers or in those who pre-
sided at the Board of Admiralty ; and distrust of then-
promises, which were considered to be given merely to gain
time, was the occasion of the second and more alarming
rebellion of the two.
The irritated mind of Peters was stimulated to join the
disaffected parties. His pride, his superior education, and
the acknowledgment among his shipmates that he was an
injured man, all conspired to place him in the dangerous
situation of ringleader on board of his own ship, the crew of
which, although it had not actually joined in the mutiny, now
showed open signs of discontent-
But the mine was soon exploded by the behaviour of the
captain. Alarmed at the mutinous condition of the other
ships which were anchored near to him and the svmptoms
of dissatisfaction in his own, he proceeded to an act of un-
justifiable severity, evidently impelled by fear, and not by
resolution. He ordered several of the petty officers and
leading men of the ship to be thrown into irons, because they
were seen to be earnestly talking together on the forecastle,
and recollecting that his conduct towards Peters had been
such as to warrant disaffection, he added him to the number.
The effect of this injudicious step was immediate. The men
came aft hi a body on the quarter-deck, and requested to
know the grounds upon which Peters and the other men
had been placed in confinement; and perceiving alarm in
9
THE KING'S OWN
the countenance of the captain, notwithstanding the resolute
bearing of the officers, they insisted upon the immediate
release of their shipmates. Thus the first overt act of mutiny
was brought on by the misconduct of the captain.
The officers expostulated and threatened in vain. Three
cheers were called for by a voice in the crowd, and three
cheers were immediately given. The marines, who still re-
mained true to their allegiance, had been ordered under
arms ; the first lieutenant of the ship for the captain,
trembling and confused, stood a mere cipher gave the order
for the ship's company to go below, threatening to fire upon
them if the order was not instantaneously obeyed. The
captain of marines brought his men to the " make ready,"
and they were about to present, when the first lieutenant
waved his hand to stop the decided measure, until he had
first ascertained how far the mutiny was general. He stepped
a few paces forward, and requested that every " blue jacket"
who was inclined to remain faithful to his king arid country
would walk over from that side of the quarter-deck upon
which the ship's company were assembled, to the one which
was occupied by the officers and marines.
A pause and silence ensued when, after some pushing
and elbowing through the crowd, William Adams, an elderly
quarter-master, made his appearance in the front, and passed
over to the side where the officers stood, while the hisses of
the rest of the ship's company expressed their disapprobation
of his conduct. The old man just reached the other side of
the deck, when turning round like a lion at bay, with one
foot on the coamings of the hatchway, and his arm raised in
the air to command attention, he addressed them in these
few words :
" My lads, I have fought for my king five-and-thirty years,
and have been too long in his service to turn a rebel in my
old age."
Would it be credited that, after the mutiny had been
quelled, no representation of this conduct was made to
Government by his captain ? Yet such was the case, and such
was the gratitude of Captain A .
The example shown by Adams was not followed the ship's
crew again cheered, and ran down the hatchways, leaving
the officers and marines on deck. They first disarmed the
10
THE KING'S OWN
sentry under the half-deck, and released the prisoners, and
then went forward to consult upon further operations.
They were not long in deciding. A boatswain's mate, who
was one of the ringleaders, piped, " Stand by hammocks ! "
The men ran on deck, each seizing a hammock, and jumping
with it down below on the main-deck. The object of this
manoeuvre not being comprehended, they were suffered to
execute it without interruption. In a few minutes they sent
up the marine whom they had disarmed when sentry over
the prisoners, to state that they wished to speak to the
captain and officers, who, after some discussion, agreed that
they would descend and hear the proposals which the ship's
company should make. Indeed, even with the aid of the
marines, many of whom were wavering, resistance would now
have been useless, and could only have cost them their lives ;
for they were surrounded by other ships who had hoisted the
flag of insubordination, and whose guns were trained ready
to pour in a destructive fire on the least sign of an attempt
to purchase their anchor. To the main-deck they conse-
quently repaired.
The scene which here presented itself was as striking as it
was novel. The after-part of the main-deck was occupied
by the captain and officers, who had come down with the
few marines who still continued steadfast to their duty, and
one sailor only, Adams, who had so nobly stated his deter-
mination on the quarter-deck. The foremost part of the
deck was tenanted by a noisy and tumultuous throng of
seamen, whose heads only appeared above a barricade of
hammocks, which they had formed acioss the deck, and out
of which at two embrasures, admirably constructed, two long
twenty-four pounders, loaded up to the muzzle with grape
and canister shot, were pointed aft in the direction where the
officers and marines were standing a man at the breech of
each gun, with a match in his hand (which he occasionally
blew, that the priming powder might be more rapidly ignited),
stood ready for the signal to fire.
The captain, aghast at the sight, would have retreated,
but the officers, formed of sterner materials, persuaded him
to stay, although he showed such evident signs of fear and
perturbation as seriously to injure a cause in which resolution
and presence of mind alone could avail. The mutineers, at
11
THE KING'S OWN
the suggestion of Peters, had already sent aft their pre-
liminary proposals, which were, that the officers and marines
should surrender up their arms, and consider themselves
under an arrest, intimating at the same time that the first
step in advance made by any one of their party would be the
signal for applying the match to the touch-holes of the guns.
There was a pause and dead silence, as if it were a calm,
although every passion was roused and on the alert ; every
bosom heaved tumultuously, and every pulse was trebled in
its action. The same feeling which so powerfully affects
the truant schoolboy who, aware of his offence, and dreading
the punishment in perspective, can scarce enjoy the rapture
of momentary emancipation acted upon the mutineers, in
an increased ratio, proportioned to the magnitude of their
stake. Some hearts beat with remembrance of injuries and
hopes of vengeance and retaliation ; others with ambition,
long dormant, bursting from its concealed recess ; and many
were actuated by that restlessness which induced them to
consider any change to be preferable to the monotony of
existence in compulsory servitude.
Among the officers, some were oppressed with anxious
forebodings of evil -those peculiar sensations which, when
death approaches nearly to the outward senses, alarm the
heart ; others experienced no feeling but that of manly
fortitude and determination to die, if necessary, like men ;
in others, alas ! in which party, small as it was, the captain
was pre-eminent fear and trepidation amounted almost to
the loss of reason.
Such was the state of the main-deck of the ship at the
moment in which we are now describing it to the reader.
And yet, in the very centre of all this tumult, there was
one who, although not indifferent to the scene around him,
felt interested without being anxious, astonished without
being alarmed. Between the contending and divided parties,
stood a little boy, about six years old. He was the perfection
of childish beauty ; chestnut hair waved in curls on his fore-
head, health glowed on his rosy cheeks, dimples sported over
his face, as he altered the expression of his countenance,
and his large dark eyes flashed with intelligence and anima-
tion. He was dressed in mimic imitation of a man-of-war's
man loose trousers, tightened at the hips, to preclude the
12
THE KING'S OWN
necessity of suspenders and a white duck frock, with long
sleeves and blue collar while a knife, attached to a lanyard,
was suspended round his neck : a light and narrow-brimmed
straw hat on his head completed his attire. At times he
looked aft at the officers and marines ; at others he turned
his eyes forward to the hammocks, behind which the ship's
company were assembled. The sight was new to him, but
he was already accustomed to reflect much, and to ask few
questions. Go to the officers he did not, for the presence of
the captain restrained him. Go to the ship's company he
could not, for the barricade of hammocks prevented him.
There he stood, in wonderment, but not in fear.
There was something beautiful and affecting in the situa-
tion of the boy ; calm, when all around him was anxious
tumult ; thoughtless, when the brains of others were oppressed
with the accumulation of ideas ; contented, where all was dis-
content ; peaceful, where each party that he stood between
was thirsting for each other's blood : there he stood, the
only happy, the only innocent one, amongst hundreds swayed
by jarring interests and contending passions.
And yet he was in keeping, although in such strong con-
trast, with the rest of the picture; for where is the instance
of the human mind being so thoroughly depivaved as not to
have one good feeling left ? Nothing exists so base and vile
as not to have one redeeming quality. There is no poison
without some antidote no precipice, however barren, with-
out some trace of verdure no desert, however vast, without
some spring to refresh the parched traveller, some oasis, some
green spot, which, from its situation, in comparison with sur-
rounding objects, appears almost heavenly ; and thus did
the boy look almost angelic, standing as he did between
the angry exasperated parties on the main-deck of the dis-
organised ship.
After some little time he walked forward, and leaned
against one of the twenty-four pounders that was pointed
out of the embrasure, the muzzle of which was on a level
with, and intercepted by, his little head.
Adams, the quarter-master, observing the dangerous situa-
tion of the child, stepped forward. This was against the
stipulations laid down by the mutineers, and Peters cried
out to him " Heave-to, Adams, or we fire ! " Adams waved
13
THE KING'S OWN
his hand in expostulation, and continued to advance. " Keep
back/' again cried Peters, "or, by , we fire!"
" Not upon one old man, Peters, and he unarmed," replied
Adams ; " I'm not worth so much powder and shot." The
man at the gun blew his match. " For God's sake, for your
own sake, as you value your happiness and peace of mind,
do not fire, Peters!" cried Adams, with energy, "or you'll
never forgive yourself."
" Hold fast the match," said Peters ; " we need not fear
one man;" and as he said this, Adams had come up to the
muzzle of the gun and seized the boy, whom he snatched
up in his arms.
" I only came forward, Peters, to save your own boy,
whose head would have been blown to atoms if you had
chanced to have fired the gun," said Adams, turning short
round, and walking aft with the boy in his arms.
" God in heaven bless you, Adams ' " cried Peters, with
a faltering voice, and casting a look of fond affection at the
child. The heart of the mutineer was at that moment
softened by parental feelings, and he blew the priming off
the touch-hole of the gun, lest an accidental spark should
risk the life of his child, who was now aft with the officers
and their party.
Reader, this little boy will be the hero of our tale.
CHAPTER III
Roused discipline alone proclaims their cause,
And injured navies urge their broken laws.
Pursue we in his track the mutineer.
BYRON.
jyJLAN, like all other animals of a gregarious nature, is
more inclined to follow than to lead. There are few who
are endued with that impetus of soul which prompts them
to stand foremost as leaders in the storming of the breach,
whether it be of a fortress of stone or the more dangerous
one of public opinion, when failure in the one case may
14
THE KING'S OWN
precipitate them on the sword, and in the other consign
them to the scaffold.
In this mutiny there were but few of the rare class re-
ferred to above : in the ship whose movements we have
been describing not one, perhaps, except Peters. There
were many boisterous, many threatening, but no one, except
him, who was equal to the command, or to whom the command
could have been confided. He was, on board of his own ship,
the very life and soul of the mutiny. At the moment de-
scribed at the end of the last chapter, all the better feelings
of his still virtuous heart were in action ; and, by a captain
possessing resolution and a knowledge of human nature,
the mutiny might have been suppressed ; but Captain A ,
who perceived the anxiety of Peters, thought the child
a prize of no small value, and as Adams brought him aft,
snatched the boy from his arms, and desired two of the party
of marines to turn their loaded muskets at his young heart
thus intimating to the mutineers that he would shoot the
child at the first sign of hostility on their part.
The two marines who had received this order looked at
each other in silence, and did not obey. It was repeated by
the captain, who considered that he had hit upon a master-
piece of diplomacy. The officers expostulated; the officer
commanding the party of marines turned away in disgust ;
but in vain : the brutal order was reiterated with threats.
The whole party of marines now murmured, and consulted
together in a low tone.
Willy Peters was the idol and plaything of the whole
crew. He had always been accustomed to remain on board
with his father, and there was not a man in the ship who
would not have risked his life to have saved that of the child.
The effect of this impolitic and cruel order was decisive.
The marines, with the sergeant at their head, and little Willy
placed in security in the centre, their bayonets directed on
the defensive, towards the captain and officers, retreated to
the mutineers, whom they joined with three cheers, as the
child was lifted over the barricade of hammocks, and received
into his father's arms.
" We must now submit to their terms, sir," said the first
lieutenant.
" Any terms, any terms," answered the terrified captain :
15
THE KING'S OWN
" tell them so, for God's sake, or they will fire. Adams, go
forward and tell them we submit."
This order was, however, unnecessary ; for the mutineers,
aware of the impossibility of any further resistance, had
thrown down the barricade of hammocks, and, with Peters at
their head, were coming aft.
" You consent, gentlemen, to consider yourselves under an
arrest ? " inquired Peters of the first lieutenant and officers,
without paying any attention to the captain.
" We do, we do," cried Captain A . " I hope you will
not stain your hands with blood. Mr. Peters, I meant the
child no harm."
" If you had murdered him, Captain A , you could not
have injured him so much as you have injured his father,"
retorted Peters ; " but fear not for your life, sir : that is safe ;
and you will meet all the respect and attention to your
wants that circumstances will permit. We war not with
individuals."
It was a proud moment for Peters to see this man cringing
before him, and receiving with thanks the promise of his life
from one whom he had so cruelly treated. There was a
glorious revenge in it, the full force of which could only be
felt by the granting, not the receiving party : for it could
only be appreciated by one who possessed those fine and
honourable feelings, of which Captain A was wholly
destitute.
If the reader will consult the various records of the times
which we are now describing, he will find that every respect
was personally paid to the officers, although they were de-
prived of their arms. Some of the most obnoxious were sent
on shore, and the intemperate conduct of others produced
effects for which they had only to thank themselves ; but, on
the whole, the remark made by Peters was strictly correct :
"They warred not with individuals," they demanded justice
from an ungrateful country.
It is true that the demands in this mutiny were not so
reasonable as in the preceding ; but where is the man who
can confine himself to the exact balance of justice when his
own feelings are unwittingly thrown into the scale ?
As I before stated, it is not my intention to follow up the
details of this national disgrace, but merely to confine myself
16
THE KING'S OWN
to that part which is connected with the present history.
Peters, as delegate from his ship, met the others, who were
daily assembled, by Parker's directions, on board of the Queen
Charlotte, and took a leading and decided part in the arrange-
ments of the disaffected fleet
But Parker, the ringleader, although a man of talent, was
not equal to the task he had undertaken. He lost sight of
several important features necessary to ensure success in all
civil commotions : such as rapiditv and decision of action,
constant employment being found, and continual excitement
being kept up amongst his followers, to afford no time for
reflection. Those who serve under an established govern-
ment know exactly their present weight in the scale of
worldly rank, and the extent of their future expectations ;
they have accustomed themselves to bound their ambition
accordingly ; and feeling conscious that passive obedience is
the surest road to advancement, are led quietly, here or
there, to be slaughtered at the will and caprice of their
superiors. But the leader of the disaffected against an estab-
lished government has a difficult task. He has nothing to
offer to. his followers but promises. There is nothing on
hand all is expectation. If allowed time for reflection, they
soon perceive that they are acting an humble part in a
dangerous game ; and that even though it be attended with
success, in all probability they will receive no share of the
advantages, although certain of incurring a large proportion
of the risk. The leader of a connected force of the above
description rises to a dangerous height when borne up by the
excitement of the time ; but let it once be permitted to sub-
side, and, like the aeronaut in his balloon, from which the
gas escapes while it is soaring in the clouds, he is precipitated
from his lofty station, and gravitates to his own destruction.
He must be a wonderful man who can collect all the re-
sources of a popular commotion, and bring it to a successful
issue. The reason is obvious everything depends upon the
leader alone. His followers are but as the stones composing
the arch of the bridge by which the gulf is to be crossed
between them and their nominal superiors ; he is the keystone,
upon which the whole depends if completely fitted, render-
ing the arch durable and capable of bearing any pressure ;
but if too small in dimensions or imperfect in conformation,
17 B
THE KING'S OWN
rendering the whole labour futile, and occasioning all the
fabric previously raised to be precipitated by its own weight,
and dispersed in ruin and confusion.
This latter was the fate of the mutiny at the Nore. The
insurrection was quelled, and the ringleaders were doomed to
undergo the utmost penalty of martial law. Among the rest,
Peters was sentenced to death.
In the foremost part of the main-deck of a line-of-battle
ship, in a square room, strongly bulkheaded, and receiving
light from one of the ports, as firmly secured with an iron
grating with no other furniture than a long wooden form
his legs in shackles, that ran upon a heavy iron bar lying on
the deck sat the unfortunate prisoner, in company with three
other individuals his wife, his child, and old Adams, the
quarter-master. Peters was seated on the deck, supporting
himself by leaning against the bulkhead. His wife was lying
beside him, with her face hidden in his lap. Adams occupied
the form, and the child stood between his knees. All were
silent, and the eyes of the three were directed towards one
of the sad company, who appeared more wretched and dis-
consolate than the rest.
" My dear, dear Ellen ! " said Peters mournfully, as a fresh
burst of grief convulsed her attenuated frame.
" Why, then, refuse my solicitations, Edward ? If not for
yourself, listen to me for the sake of your wife and child.
Irritated as your father still may be, his dormant affection
will be awakened when he is acquainted with the dreadful
situation of his only son ; nay, his family pride will never
permit that you should perish by so ignominious a death ;
and your assumed name will enable him, without blushing, to
exert his interest and obtain your reprieve."
"Do not put me to the pain of again refusing you, my
dearest Ellen. I desire to die, and my fate must be a warning
to others. When I reflect what dreadful consequences might
have ensued to the country from our rebellious proceedings.
I am thankful, truly thankful to God that we did not succeed.
I know what you would urge my wrongs, my undeserved
stripes ; I, too, would urge them ; and when my conscience
has pressed me hard, have urged them in palliation ; but I
feel that it is only in palliation, not in justification, that they
can be brought forward. They are no more in comparison
18
THE KING'S OWN
with my crime than the happiness of one individual is to that
of the nation which I assisted to endanger, because one con-
stituting a part of it had, unauthorised, oppressed me. No,
no, Ellen, I should not be happy if I were not to atone for
my faults ; and this wretched life is the only atonement I can
offer. But for you, and that poor child, my dearest and
kindest, I should go to the scaffold rejoicing ; but the thoughts
O God, strengthen and support me!" cried the unhappy
man, hiding his face in his hands.
" Fear not for me, Edward. I feel here." said Ellen, laying
her hand on her heart, "a conviction that we shall soon
meet again. I will urge you no more, love. But the boy
the boy O Edward ! what will become of that dear boy
when we are both gone ? "
" Please God to spare my life, he'll never want a father,"
said old Adams, as the tears found a devious passage down the
furrows of his weather-beaten face.
" What will become of him ? " cried Peters with energy.
" Why, he shall retrieve his father's faults wash out the stain
in his father's character. He shall prove as liege a subject
as I have been a rebellious one. He shall as faithfully serve
his country as I have shamefully deserted it. He shall be
as honest as I have been false ; and oh, may he be as pros-
perous as I have been unfortunate as happy as I have been
miserable. Come hither, boy. By the fond hopes I entertain
of pardon and peace above by the Almighty, in whose
presence I must shortly tremble, I here devote thee to thy
country serve her bravely and faithfully. Tell me, Willy, do
you understand me, and will you promise me this ? "
The boy laid his head upon his father's shoulder, and
answered in a low tone " I will ; " and then, after a short
pause, added, " But what are they going to do with you,
father ? "
" I am going to die for my country's good, my child. If
God wills it, may you do the same, but in a more honourable
manner."
The boy seemed lost in thought, and, after a short time,
quitted his father's side, and sat down on the deck by his
mother, without speaking.
Adams rose, and taking him up, said, " Mavhap you have
that to talk of which wants no listeners. I will take Willv
19
THE KING'S OWN
with me, and give him a little air before I put him in his
hammock. It's but a close hole, this. Good night to you
both, though I'm afeard that's but a wish."
But a wish indeed ! and it was the last that was ever
to close upon the unhappy Peters. The next morning was
appointed for his execution. There are scenes of such con-
summate misery, that they cannot be portrayed without
harrowing up the feelings of the reader, and of these the
climax may be found in a fond wife, lying at the feet of her
husband during the last twelve hours of his mortal career.
We must draw the curtain.
And now, reader, the title of this work, which may have
puzzled you, will be explained : for, intelligible as it may be
to our profession, it may be a mystery to those who are not in
his Majesty's service. The broad-headed arrow was a mark
assumed at the time of the Edwards (when it was considered
the most powerful weapon of attack), as distinguishing the
property of the King, and this mark has been continued
down to the present day. Every article supplied to his
Majesty's service from the arsenals and dockyards is thickly
studded with this mark, and to be found in possession of any
property so marked is a capital offence, as it designates that
property to be the King's own.
When Adams left the condemned cell with Willy, he
thought upon what had passed, and as Peters had devoted
the boy to his king and countiy, he felt an irresistible desire
to mark him. The practice of tattooing is very common in
the navy ; and you will see a sailor's arm covered with
emblems from the shoulder to the wrist his own initials,
that of his sweetheart, the crucifix, Neptune, and mermaids
being huddled together, as if mythology and Scripture were
one and the same thing. Adams was not long in deciding,
and telling our little hero that his father wished it, he easily
persuaded him to undergo the pain of the operation, which
was performed on the forecastle, by pricking the shape of the
figure required with the points of needles, and rubbing the
bleeding parts with wet gunpowder and ink. By these simple
means the form of a broad-headed arrow, or the King's mark,
was, in the course of an hour, indelibly engraved upon the
left shoulder of little Willy, who was then consigned to his
hammock.
20
THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER IV
The strife was o'er, the vanquished had their doom ;
The mutineers were crushed, dispersed, or ta'en,
Or lived to deem the happiest were the slain.
BYRON.
JL HE day broke serenely but brightly, and poured in a stream
of light through the iron grating of the cell where Peters and
his wife lay clasped in each other's amis, not asleep, but torpid,
and worn out with extreme suffering. Peters was the first to
break the silence, and gently moved Ellen as he called her
by her name. She had not for some time lifted up her head,
which was buried in his bosom, and she was not aware that
the darkness had been dispelled. She raised her head at his
summons, and as the dazzling light burst upon her sunken
eyes, so did the recollection that this was the fatal morning
flash upon her memory.
With a shriek, she again buried her face in the bosom of
her husband. " Ellen, as you love me," said Peters, " do not
distress me in my last hour. I have yet much to do before
I die, and require your assistance and support. Rise, my
love, and let me write to my father ; I must not neglect the
interest of our child."
She rose tremblingly, and, turning back from her face her
beautiful hair, which had been for so many days neglected,
and was now moistened with her tears, reached the materials
required by her husband, who, drawing towards him the
wooden form to serve him as a table, wrote the following
letter, while his wife sat by him with a countenance of idiotic
apathy and despair :
"DEAR FATHER, Yes, still dear father, Before you cast
your eyes upon these characters, you will be childless. Your
eldest boy perished nobly in the field of honour : your
youngest and last will this morning meet an ignominious
but deserved death on the scaffold. Thus will you be
childless; but if your son does meet the fate of a traitor,
still the secret is confined to you alone, and none will imagine
21
THE KING'S OWN
that the unhappy Peters, ringleader of a mutinous ship, was
the scion of a race who have so long preserved an unblemished
name. Fain would I have spared you this shock to your
feelings, and have allowed you to remain in ignorance of my
disgrace ; but I have an act of duty to perform to you and to
my child towards you, that your estates may not be claimed
and pass away to distant and collateral branches ; towards
my child, that he may eventually reclaim his rights. Father,
I forgive you, I might say But no ; let all now be buried
in oblivion; and as. you peruse these lines, and think on
my unhappy fate, shed a tear in memory of the once happy
child you fondled on your knee, and say to your heart, ' 1
forgive him.'
" I have dedicated my boy to his king and country. If you
forgive me, and mean to protect your grandchild, do not
change the career in life marked out for him : it is a solemn
compact between my God and me ; and you must fulfil this
last earnest request of a dying man, as you hope for future
pardon and bliss.
" His distracted mother sits by me ; I would entreat you
to extend your kindness towards her, but I fear she will soon
require no earthly aid. Still, soothe her last moments with
a promise to protect the orphan, and may God bless you for
your kindness. Your affectionate son, EDWARD."
Peters had scarcely finished this letter when Adams, with
the boy in his arms, was admitted. " I come for final orders,
Peters, and to tell you what I did last night to this boy.
He is real stuff, never winced. You said he was to be the
king's, and I thought you would like that he should be
marked as such. There is no mistaking this mark, Peters,"
continued Adams, baring the boy's shoulder, and showing the
impression of the broad-headed arrow, which now appeared
angry and inflamed, as it always is for some days after the
operation. " I did not mention that I was going to do it,
because Ellen then might not have liked it : but I hope
you do."
"Many, many thanks," answered Peters; and opening his
letter, which was folded, but not sealed, he added a postscript,
pointing out the mark by which the boy would be identified.
" You could not have done me a greater favour, Adams ; and
THE KING'S OWN
now you must promise me one more, which is to look after
my poor Ellen when "
" I understand, my good fellow, and I will," replied Adams.
" There is the chaplain outside, who is all ready for service if
you would like to see him." continued the old man, passing
his hands over his humid eves.
" Ask him to come in, Adams ; he is a good man, and an
honour to his profession. I shall be glad to see him."
Adams went to the door, and soon returned with the
chaplain. He saluted Peters, who respectfully bowed to
him, and said : " I have long made my peace with God and
man, sir, and am as well prepared to die as sinful mortal
can be, in faith and charity with all men. Many thank-
to you, sir, for your kindness ; but, sir, you may be of use
here yet Can you" and his voice faltered, "can you,
sir, help that poor young woman ? Cannot you reason her
into some kind of tranquillity, some degree of submission to
God's will? Oh, do that, sir, and you will confer a favour
on me indeed."
The chaplain approached Ellen, who lay on the deck in a
state of mental stupefaction, and, addressing her in mild
accents, persuaded her to rise and take a seat on the form :
he kindly contrived to bring it forward to the iron-grated
port, so that she could not witness the motions of Peters,
and, with a low, yet energetic and persuasive voice, attempted
to reason her into patience and resignation. His efforts were
in vain. She occasionally looked upon him with a vacant
stare, but her thoughts were elsewhere During the period.
Peters had time to shave himself and dress in clean attire,
preparatory to being summoned to his fate.
The time was approaching fast ; one bell after eight o'clock,
designating the half hour, had struck ; at two bells (nine
o'clock) he was to be summoned to his doom. The clergy-
man rose from his useless endeavours. "Let us pray," said
he, and sank upon his knees. Peters. Adams, and the child
followed his example; and, last of all, poor Ellen, who
seemed to recover her recollection, sank on her knees, but,
unable to keep her position, fell towards the clergyman, who,
as he supported her in his arms, poured forth a fervent and
eloquent appeal in behalf of the one who was about to appear
in the presence of his Maker, and of those who were left
IS
THE KING'S OWN
in tribulation behind. It was scarcely over when the door
opened, and the provost-marshal claimed his prisoner.
The prayer of the chaplain seemed to ring in Ellen's ears,
and she remained supported by the worthy man, muttering
parts of it at intervals, during which time the limbs of her
husband were freed from the shackles. All was ready ; and
Peters, straining the child to his bosom in silence, and casting
one look at his dear Ellen, who still remained in a state of
stupefaction, denied himself a last embrace (though the effort
wrung his heart), rather than awaken her to her misery. He
quitted the cell, and the chaplain, quietly placing Ellen in the
arms of Adams, followed, that he might attend and support
Peters in his last moments.
The prisoner was conducted on the quarter-deck previously
to being sent forward to execution. His sentence was read
by Captain A ; and the remark may perhaps be con-
sidered uncharitable, but there certainly appeared to be an
ill-concealed satisfaction in his countenance as he came to
that part where it stated that the prisoner was to " suffer
death." Peters heard it read with firmness, and asked per-
mission to address the ship's company. This was at first re-
fused by the captain ; but, at the request of the officers, and
the assurance of the chaplain that he would vouch for the
language of Peters being such as would have a proper
tendency to future subordination on the part of the ship's
company, it was assented to. Bowing first to the captain and
officers, Peters turned to the ship's company, who were
assembled on the booms and gangway, and addressed them
as follows :
" Shipmates, the time may come when our country shall be
at peace, and your services no longer be required. Then,
when you narrate to your children the events of this unhappy
mutiny, do not forget to add instruction to amusement by
pointing out to them that it ended in the disgrace and death
of the ringleaders. Tell them that, in your presence, one of
them acknowledged on the quarter-deck the justice of his
sentence, and returned thanks to his Majesty for his kindness
in pardoning others who had been led into the same error.
Tell them to do their duty, to fight nobly for their king and
country, and warn them by our example
At this moment Willy, who had eluded the vigilance of old
24,
THE KING'S OWN
Adams, who was occupied in supporting the inanimate Ellen,
pushed his way between the legs of the marines, who were
drawn up in ranks on the quarter-deck, and, running to his
father, laid hold of the loose sailor's trousers in which he was
attired, and looked anxiously and inquisitively in his face.
Peters' voice faltered ; he attempted to continue his address
to the men, but could not ; and waving his hand, and point-
ing to the child, in mute explanation of the cause, after
struggling in vain against the overflowings of a father's heart,
he bent over the boy and burst into tears.
The effect was electrical. The shock was communicated to
all ; not an eye but was dimmed ; sobs were heard in the
crowd ; the oldest officers turned away to conceal their
emotions ; the younger, and more fresh in heart, covered
their faces and leant against the bulwarks ; the marines
forgot their discipline, and raised their hands from their sides
to wipe their eyes. Many a source, long supposed to be
hermetically sealed, was reopened, many a spring long dry
reflowed rapidly ; even Captain A was moved.
By a singular coincidence, the grouping of the parties at
this moment was nearly the same as when we first introduced
our little hero to the reader, the officers and marines on the
after part of the deck, the ship's company forward, and little
Willy standing between the two. Again he appears in the
same position : but what a change of feeling had taken
place ! As if he had been a little spirit of good, waving his
fairy talisman, evil passions, which in the former scene were
let loose, had retired to their darkest recesses, and all the
better feelings of humanity were called forth and displayed
in one universal, spontaneous, and unfeigned tribute to the
melancholy and affecting scene.
The silence was first broken by Willy "Where are you
going, father ; and why do you wear that nightcap ? "
u I am going to sleep, child, to an eternal sleep ! God
bless and protect you," said Peters, taking him up and kiss-
ing him. "And now, sir, I am ready," continued Peters,
who had recovered his self-possession. "Captain A , I
forgive you, as I trust to be forgiven myself. Mr. ,"
said he, addressing the first-lieutenant, " take this child by
the hand, and do not permit him to come forward remember
he is the ' King's Own.' " Then, bowing to the chaplain,
25
THE KING'S OWN
who had scarcely recovered from the effects that the scene
had produced upon him, and looking significantly at the
provost-marshal, Peters bent his steps forward by the gangway
the noose was fastened the gun fired, and in a moment
all was over.
Loud as was the report of the gun, those who were ap-
pointed to the unpleasant duty of running aft with the rope
on the main-deck, which swung Peters to the yard-arm,
heard a shriek that even that deafening noise could not
overpower. It was the soul of Ellen joining that of her
husband and, before the day closed, their bodies were con-
signed to the same grave
"Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are
at rest."
CHAPTER V
Lord of himself, that heritage of woe.
BYRON.
v/UR novel may, to a certain degree, be compared to one of
the pantomimes which rival theatres annually bring forth for
the amusement of the holiday children. We open with dark
and solemn scenes, introducing occasionally a bright image,
which appears with the greater lustre from the contrast
around it ; and thus we proceed, until Harlequin is fairly
provided with his wand, and despatched to seek his adven-
tures by land and by sea. To complete the parallel, the
whole should wind up with a blaze of light and beauty,
till our dazzled eyes are relieved, and the illusion disappears,
at the fall of the green curtain, which, like the " FINIS " at
the end of the third volume, tells us that all is over.
We must, however, be allowed to recapitulate a little in
this chapter, previously to launching our hero upon the
uncertain and boisterous sea of human life. It will be
necessary, for the correct development of the piece, that
the attention of the reader should be called to the history
of the grandfather of our hero.
Admiral De Courcy was the lineal descendant of an ancient
26
THE KING'S OWN
and wealthy family, of high aristocratic connection. He had
the misfortune, at an early age, to lose his father, to be an
only child, and to have a very weak and doting mother.
Add to all these, that he was the heir to a large entailed
property, and the reader will acknowledge that even the best-
disposed child stood a fair chance of being spoiled.
But young De Courcy was not a well-disposed child ; he
was of a violent, headstrong, and selfish disposition, and was
not easily to be checked by the firmest hand. He advanced
to man's estate, the cruel tyrant of a fond and foolish mother
and the dislike of all around him. His restless disposition,
backed by the persuasions of his mother to the contrary,
induced him to enter into the naval service. At the time
we are now describing, the name of a bov often appeared
on the books of a man-of-war when the boy himself was at
school or at home with his friends ; if there were any regula-
tions to the contrary, they were easily surmounted by interest.
The consequence was that, without any knowledge of his
profession, without having commenced his career by learning
to obey before he was permitted to command, at the early
age of eighteen years, young De Courcy was appointed
captain of a fine frigate ; and, as the power of a captain
of a man-of-war was at that time almost without limit,
and his conduct without scrutiny, he had but too favour-
able an opportunity of indulging his tyrannical propensi-
ties. His caprice and violence were unbounded, his cruelty
odious, and his ship was designated by the sobriquet of The
Hell Afoat.
There are, however, limits to the longest tether; and as no
officer would remain in the ship, and the desertion of the men
became so extensive that a fine frigate lay useless and un-
manned, the Government at last perceived the absolute neces-
sity of depriving of command one who could not command
himself. The ship was paid off, and even the interest of
Captain De Courcy, powerful as it was, could not obtain
further employment for him. Having for some time been in
possession of his large property, Captain De Courcy retired to
the hall of his ancestors, with feelings of anger against the
Government, which his vindictive temper prompted him to
indulge by the annoyance of all around him ; and, instead of
diffusing joy and comfort by the expenditure of his wealth,
27
THE KING'S OWN
he rendered himself odious by avarice, a vice the more con-
temptible as it was unexpected at so early an age.
But, much as he was an object of abhorrence, he was more
an object of pity. With a handsome exterior, and with
fascinating manners, of high birth and connections, with 3
splendid fortune, in short, with every supposed advantage
that the world could give, he was, through the injudicious-
conduct of a fond mother, whose heart he had broken, the
most miserable of beings. He was without society, for he
was shunned by the resident gentlemen in the neighbour-
hood. Even match-making mothers, with hearts indurated
by interest, and with a string of tall daughters to provide for,
thought the sacrifice too great, and shuddered at an alliance
with Captain De Courcy. Avoided by the tenants of his large
estates, whose misfortunes met with no compassion, and whose
inability to answer the demands of the rent-day we-re followed,
up with immediate distress and seizure, abhorred by his
own household, who, if their services were not required,
vanished at his approach, or, if summoned, entered the door
of his room trembling, he was an isolated and unhappy
being, a torment to himself and to others. Wise, indeed,
was Solomon when he wrote, that "he who spared the rod
spoiled the child."
The monotony of a life whose sole negative enjoyment con-
sisted in the persecution of others, induced Captain De Courcy
to make occasional excursions to the different watering-places ;
and whether that, to a certain degree, he was schooled by
banishment from society at home, or that he had no oppor-
tunity of displaying his diabolical temper, his prepossessing
appearance and well-known riches made him a great favourite
in these marts for beauty. An amiable girl was unfortunate
enough to fix his attention, and a hasty proposal was as
hastily accepted by her friends, and quietly acquiesced in by
herself. She married, and was miserable until released from
her heedless engagement by death.
There are those who excuse a violent temper in a man, and
consider it no obstacle to happiness in the marriage life.
Alas ! may they never discover the fatal error in their own
union ! Even with the best-hearted and most fondly attached,
with those who will lavish every endearment, acknowledge
their fault, and make every subsequent effort to compensate
THE KING'S OWN
for the irritation of the moment, violence of temper must
prove the bane of marriage bliss. Bitter and insulting ex-
pressions have escaped, unheeded at the time, and forgotten
by the offending party ; but, although forgiven, never to be
forgotten by the other. Like barbed arrows, they have
entered into the heart of her whom he had promised before
God to love and to cherish, and remain there they must, for
they cannot be extracted. Affection may pour balm into the
wounds and soothe them for a time, and, while love fans
them with his soft wings, the heat and pain may be unper-
ceived; but passion again asserts his empire, and upon his
rude attack these ministering angels are forced from their
office of charity, and woman kind, devoted woman looks
inwardly with despair upon her wounded and festering
heart.
Hurried as she was to an early tomb, the unfortunate wife
of Captain De Courcy had still time to present him with two
fine boys, whose infantine endearments soothed his violence ;
and, as long as they showed no spirit of resistance, they were
alternately fondled and frightened. But children are not
blind, and the scenes which continually occurred between
their parents, the tears of their mother, and the remarks
made in their presence by the domestics, soon taught them
to view their father with dread. Captain De Courcy per-
ceived that he was shunned by his children, the only beings
whom he had endeavoured (as far as his temper would permit)
to attach to him. They were dismissed to school at a very
early age, and were soon treated by their father in the same
harsh manner as all those who had the misfortune to be
under his baneful protection. They returned home at holiday
time with regret, and the recommencement of their scholastic
duties was a source of delight. The mother died, and all at
home was desolate. The violence of their father seemed to
increase from indulgence ; and the youths, who were verging
into manhood, proved that no small portion of the parent's
fiery disposition had been transmitted to them, and showed
a s-pirit of resistance which ended in their ruin.
William, the eldest of the boys, was, as it were, by birth-
right, the first to fall a victim to his father's temper. Struck
senseless and bleeding to the ground for some trifling indis-
cretion, as be lay confined to his bed for many subsequent
29
THE KING'S OWN
days, he formed the resolution of seeking his own fortune
rather than submit to hourly degradation. At the period at
which this occurred, many years previously to the one of
which we are now writing, the East India Company had but
a short time received its charter, and its directors were not
the proud rulers which they have since become. It never
was calculated that a company, originally consisting of a few
enterprising merchants, could ever have established them-
selves (even by the most successful of mischievous arts) the
controllers of an immense empire, independent of, and
anomalous to, the constitution of England ; or that privileges,
granted to stimulate the enterprise of individuals, would have
been the ground of a monopoly, which, like an enormous
incubus, should oppress the nation from the throne to the
cottage. They gladly accepted the offers of all adventurers ;
and at that period there was as much eagerness on their
part to secure the services of individuals, as there is now on
the part of applicants to be enrolled on the books of the
Company.
William, without acquainting his father, entered into an
engagement with the Company, signed it, and was shipped
off, with many others, who, less fortunate, had been nefari-
ously kidnapped for the same destination. He arrived in
India, rose to the rank of captain, and fell in one of the
actions that were fought at this time. The letter which
William left on the table, directed to his father, informing
him of the step he had been induced to take, was torn to
atoms and stamped upon with rage ; and the bitter maledic-
tion of the parent was launched with dreadful vehemence
upon the truant son, in the presence of the one who remained.
And yet there was one man before whom this haughty
and vindictive spirit quailed, and who had the power to
soften, although not wholly to curb, his impetuosity, one
who dared to tell him the truth, expose to him the folly and
wickedness of his conduct, and meet the angry flash of his
eye with composure, one whose character and office secured
him from insult, and who was neither to be frightened nor
diverted from his purpose of doing good. It was the vicar of
the parish, who, much as he disliked the admiral (for Captain
De Courcy had latterly obtained the rank by seniority on the
list), continued his visits to the hall, that he might appeal for
30
THE KING'S OWN
the unfortunate. The admiral would willingly have shaken
him off, but his attempts were in vain. The vicar was firm
at his post, and often successfully pleaded the cause of his
parishioners, who were most of them tenants of the admiral.
He was unassisted in his parochial duties by the curate, a
worthy, but infirm and elderly man, fast sinking into his
grave, and whom, out of Christian charity, he would not re-
move from his situation, as it would have deprived him of the
means of support.
Edward, the younger brother, naturally sought that happi-
ness abroad which was denied him at home. The house of
the curate was one of his most favourite resorts, for the old
man had a beautiful and only daughter, poor Ellen, whose
fate we have just recorded. It is sufficient for the present
narrative to state that these two young people loved and
plighted their troth ; that for two years they met with joy
and parted with regret, until the approaching dissolution of
the old curate opened their eyes to the dangerous position in
which they were placed. He died, and Edward, who be-
held her whom he loved thrown unprotected and penniless
on the world, mustered up the courage of desperation to state
to his father the wishes of his heart.
A peremptory order to leave the house or abandon Ellen
was the immediate result ; and the indignant young man
quitted the roof, and persuaded the unhappy and fond girl
to unite herself to him by indissoluble ties in a neighbouring
parish, before the vicar had possession of the facts or the
opportunity to dissuade him from so imprudent a step. He
immediately proceeded to the hall, with a faint hope of
appeasing the irritated parent ; but his endeavours were
fruitless, and the admiral poured forth his anathema against
his only child.
Edward now took his wife to a village some miles distant,
where by their mutual exertions they contrived for some
time to live upon their earnings ; but the birth of their
first child, the hero of this tale, and the expenses attending
her sickness, forced him at last (when all appeals to his father
proved in vain) to accept the high bounty that was offered
for men to enter into his Majesty's service, which he did
under the assumed name of Edward Peters.
SI
THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER VI
1 disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood.
The barbarous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved,
As him. SHAKESPEARE.
J.N a lofty room, the wainscoting of which was of dark oak,
with a high mantelpiece, elaborately carved in the same wood
with groups of dead game and flowers, and a few choice
pictures let into the panels, upon an easy-chair that once
had been splendid with morocco and gold, sat a man of
about fifty years of age ; but his hair was grey and his face
was indented with deep lines and furrows. He was listening
with impatience to the expostulations of one who stood
before him, and shifted his position from time to time, when
more than usually annoyed with the subject. It was Admiral
De Courcy and the vicar of the parish, who was persuading
him to be merciful.
The subject of this discourse was, however, dismissed by
the entrance of a servant, who presented to the admiral, upon
a large and massive salver, a letter brought, as he stated, by a
seafaring man. The admiral lifted up his glasses to examine
the superscription. "From my worthless vagabond of a
son ! " exclaimed he, and he jerked the letter into the fire
without breaking the seal.
" Surely, sir," rejoined the vicar, "it would be but justice to
hear what he has to offer in extenuation of a fault too severely
punished already. He is your only son, sir, and why not forgive
one rash act ? Recollect, sir, that he is the heir to this property,
which, being entailed, must of necessity devolve upon him."
" Curses on the bare thought," answered the admiral with
vehemence. " I hope to starve him first."
" May the Almighty show more mercy to you, sir, when
you are called to your account, than you have shown to an
imprudent and hasty child. We are told that we are to for-
give, if we hope to be forgiven. Admiral De Courcy, it is
32
THE KING'S OWN
my duty to ask you, do you expect (and if so, upon what
grounds) to be forgiven yourself?"
The admiral looked towards the window and made no reply.
The letter, which had been thrown into the grate, was not
yet consumed. It had lit upon a mass of not yet ignited coal,
and lay there blackening in the smoke. The vicar perceived
it, and walking to the fireplace, recovered the letter from its
perilous situation.
" If you do not choose to read it yourself, admiral if you
refuse to listen to the solicitations of an only child, haA r e you
any objection that I should open the letter, and be acquainted
with the present condition of a young man who, as you know,
was always dear to me ? "
"None, none," replied the admiral sarcastically. "You
may read it, and keep it too, if you please."
The vicar, without any answer to this remark, opened the
letter, which, as the reader may probably imagine, was the one
written by Edward Peters on the morning of his execution.
" Merciful Heaven ! " exclaimed the man of religion, as
he sat down to recover from the shock he had received.
" Unfortunate boy ! "
The admiral turned round, astonished at the demeanour of
the clergyman, and (it would appear) as if his conscience had
pressed him hard, and that he was fearful that his cruel wish,
expressed but a few minutes before, had been realised. He
turned pale, but asked no questions. After a short time the
vicar rose, and, with a countenance of more indignation than
the admiral or others had ever seen, thus addressed him :
" The time may come, sir, nay, I prophesy that it will
come, when the contents of this letter will cause you bitterly
to repent your cruel and unnatural conduct to your son. The
letter itself, sir, I cannot entrust you with. In justice to
others, it must not be put into your hands ; and after your
attempt to commit it to the flames, and your observation that
I might read and keep it too, I feel justified in retaining it.
A copy of it, if you please, I will send you, sir."
" I want neither copy nor original, nor shall I read them
if you send them, good sir," answered the admiral, pale with
anger.
" Fare you well, then, sir. May God turn your heart I "
So saying, the vicar left the room with a determination not
33 c
THE KING'S OWN
to enter it again. His first inquiry was for the person who
had brought the letter, and he was informed that he still
waited in the hall. It was old Adams, who had obtained
leave of absence for a few days, that he might fulfil the last
request of Peters. The clergyman here received a second
shock, from the news of the death of poor Ellen, and listened
with the deepest interest to Adams' straightforward account
of the whole catastrophe.
The first plan that occurred to the vicar was to send for
the child, and take charge of him himself; but this was nega-
tived, not only by Peters' letter, but also by old Adams, who
stated his determination to retain the child until claimed
by legal authority. After mature deliberation, he considered
that the child would be as much under an All-seeing Eye on
the water as on the land, and that, at so early an age, he was
probably as well under the charge of a trustworthy old man
like Adams as he would be elsewhere. He therefore re-
quested Adams to let him have constant accounts of the boy's
welfare, and to apply to him for any funds that he might
require for his maintenance ; and wishing the old man fare-
well, he set off for the vicarage, communing with himself as
to the propriety of keeping the circumstance of the boy's
birth a secret, or divulging it to his grandfather, in the
hopes of eventually inducing him to acknowledge and to
protect him.
CHAPTER VII
To the seas presentlye went our lord admiral,
With knights couragious and captains full good ;
The brave Earl of Essex, a prosperous general,
With him prepared to pass the salt flood.
At Plymouth speedilye took tliey ship valiantlye,
Braver ships never were seen under sayle,
With their fair colours spread, and streamers o'er their head:
Now, bragging foemen, take heed of your tayle.
Old Ballad, 1596.
JVxANY and various were the questions that were put by
our little hero to Adams and others relative to the fate of
his parents. That they were both dead was all the information
34
THE KING'S OWN
that he could obtain ; for, to the honour of human nature,
there was not one man in a ship's company composed of
several hundred who had the cruelty to tell the child that
his father had been hanged. It may, at first, appear strange
to the reader that the child himself was not aware of the
fact from what he had witnessed on the morning of execu-
tion ; but it must be recollected that he had never seen an
execution before, and had therefore nothing from which to
draw such an inference. All he knew r was, that his father
was on the quarter-deck with a night-cap on, and that he
told him that he w r as going to sleep. The death of his
mother, whose body he was not permitted to see, was quite
as unintelligible, and the mystery which enveloped the whole
transaction added no little to the bereavement of the child,
who, as I have before stated, from his natural talent and
peculiar education, was far more reBective and advanced than
children usually are.
Adams returned to his little charge with pleasure ; he had
now a right to adopt the child and consider him as his own.
In the ship, the boy was such an object of general, sympathy,
that not only many of the men, but some of the officers, would
gladly have taken him, and have brought him up. The name
of his father was, by general consent, never mentioned, espe-
cially as Adams informed the officers and men that Peters
had been a "pursers name" adopted by the child's father,
and that, although the clergyman had stated this, he had not
entmsted him with the real name that the child was entitled
to bear. As, therefore, our little hero was not only without
parents, but without name, he was rechristened by Adams
by the cognomen of the " King's Own," and by that title, or
his Christian name, Willy, was ever afterwards addressed, both
by officers and men.
There is an elasticity supplied to the human mind by Un-
erring Wisdom, that enables us, however broken down by
the pressure of misfortune, to recover our cheerfulness after
a while, and resign ourselves to the decrees of Heaven. It
consoles the widow ; it supports the bereaved lover, who had
long dwelt upon anticipated bliss ; it almost reconciles to her
lot the fond and forsaken girl whose heart is breaking.
Unusually oppressed as Willy was with the loss of those to
whom he had so fondly clung from his birth, in a few months
35
THE KING'S OWN
he recovered his wonted spirits, and his cheeks again played
with dimples, as his flashing eye beamed from under his long
eyelashes. He attached himself to the old quarter-master,
and seldom quitted him ; he slept in his hammock ; he stood
by his side when he was on deck at his duty, steering the
ship ; and he listened to the stories of the good old man, who
soon taught him to read and write. For three years thus
passed his life, at the end of which period he had arrived at
the age of nine years.
After a long monotony of blockade service, the ship was
ordered to hoist the flag of a commodore, who was appointed
to the command of an expedition against the western coast
of France, to create a diversion in favour of the Vendeari
chiefs. Captain A , whether it was that he did not like
to receive a superior officer on board of his ship, or that he
did not admire the service upon which she was to be em-
ployed, obtained permission to leave his ship for a few months
for the restoration of his health, to the great joy of the officers
and crew ; and an acting captain of well-known merit was
appointed in his stead.
The squadron of men-of-war and transports was collected,
the commodore's flag hoisted, and the expedition sailed with
most secret orders, which, as usual, were as well known to the
enemy, and everybody in England, as they were to those by
whom they were given. It is the chai-acteristic of our nation,
that we scorn to take any unfair advantage or reap any
benefit by keeping our intentions a secret. We imitate the
conduct of that English tar who, having entered a fort, and
meeting a Spanish officer without his sword, being providen-
tially supplied with two cutlasses himself, immediately offered
him one, that they might engage on fair terms.
The idea is generous, but not wise. But I rather imagine
that this want of secrecy arises from all matters of importance
being arranged by Cabinet councils. In the multitude of
counsellors there may be wisdom, but there certainly is not
secrecy. Twenty men have probably twenty wives, and it
is therefore twenty to one but the secret transpires through
that channel. Further, twenty men have twenty tongues ;
and much as we complain of women not keeping secrets, I
suspect that men deserve the odium of the charge quite as
much, if not more, than women do. On the whole, it is forty
36
THE KING'S OWN
to one against secrecy, which, it must be acknowledged, are
long odds.
On the arrival of the squadron at the point of attack, a
few more days were thrown away, probably upon the same
generous principle of allowing the enemy sufficient time for
preparation. Troops had been embarked, with the intention
of landing them, to make a simultaneous attack with the
shipping. Combined expeditions are invariably attended with
delay, if not with disagreement. An officer commanding
troops, who, if once landed, would be as decided in his move-
ments as Lord Wellington himself, does not display the same
decision when out of his own element. From his peculiar
situation on board, his officers and men distributed in
different ships, the apparent difficulties of debarkation, easily
remedied, and despised by sailors, but magnified by lands-
men, from the great responsibility naturally felt in a situa-
tion where he must trust to the resources of others, and
where his own, however great, cannot be called into action,
he will not decide without much demur upon the steps to
be taken; although it generally happens that the advice
originally offered by the naval commandant has been acceded
to. Unless the military force required is very large, marines
should invariably be employed, and placed under the direc-
tion of the naval commander.
After three or four days of pros and coiis, the enemy had
completed his last battery, and as there was then no rational
excuse left for longer delay, the debarkation took place, with-
out any serious loss on our side, except that of one launch, full
of the Regiment, which was cut in halves by the enemy's
shot. The soldiers, as they sank in the water, obeyed the
orders of the sergeant, and held up their cartouch-boxes,
that they might not be wetted two seconds sooner than
necessary, held fast their muskets, and, without stirring
from the gunnels of the boat, round which they had been
stationed, w r ent down in as good order as could be expected,
each man at his post, with his bayonet fixed. The sailors,
not being either so heavily caparisoned or so well drilled,
were guilty of a saute qui petit, and were picked up by other
boats. The officer of the regiment stuck to his men, and it
is to be hoped that he marched the whole of his brave de-
tachment to heaven, as he often had before to church. But
37
THE KING'S OWN
we must leave the troops to form on the beach as well as they
can, and the enemy's shot will permit, and retire on board.
The commodore's arrangement had been punctually com-
plied with. The ships that were directed to cover the landing
of the troops knocked down many of the enemy, and not a
great many more of our own men. The stations of the other
ships were taken with a precision deserving of the highest
encomiums ; and there is no doubt that, had not the enemy
had the advantage of stone walls, they must have had the
worst of it, and would have been well beaten.
The commodore himself, of course, took the post of honour.
Anchored with springs on his cables, he alternately engaged
a heavy battery on his starboard bows, a much heavier, backed
by a cidadel, throwing shells, on his beam, and a masked
battery on his quarter, which he had not reckoned upon.
The latter was rather annoying, and the citadel threw shells
with most disagreeable precision. He had almost as much to
do as Lord Exmouth at Algiers, although the result was not
so fortunate.
A ship engaging at anchor, with very little wind, and that
wind lulled by the percussion of the air from the report of
the guns, as it always is, has the disadvantage of not being
able to disengage herself of the smoke, which rapidly accumu-
lates and stagnates as it were between the decks. Under
these circumstances you repeatedly hear the order passed
upon the main and lower deck of a line-of-battle ship to
point the guns two points abaft the beam, point-blank, and so
on. In fact, they are as much in the dark as to the external
objects as if they were blindfolded ; and the only comfort to
be derived from this serious inconvenience is, that every
man is so isolated from his neighbour that he is not put in
mind of his own danger by witnessing the death of those
around him, for they may fall three or four feet from him
without his perceiving it; so they continue to fire as
directed, until they are either sent down to the cockpit
themselves, or have a momentary respite from their exertions,
when, choked with smoke and gunpowder, they go aft to th,e
scuttle-butt to remove their parching thirst. So much for
the lower and main deck. We will now ascend to the quarter-
deck, where we shall find old Adams at the conn, and little
Willy standing behind him.
38
THE KING'S OWN
The smoke is not so thick here but that you may perceive
the commodore on the poop, walking a step or two to star-
board, and then turning^ short round to port. He is looking
anxiously through his glass at the position of the troops, who
are ashore to storm the batteries, hoping to see a diversion in
our favour made by them, as the affair becomes serious. By
a singular coincidence, the commandant of the troops en
shore is, with his telescope, looking anxiously at the shipping.
hoping the same thing from the exertions of the navy. The
captain of marines lies dead upon the poop ; both his legs-
have been shot off by a spent shot. He is left there, as no
surgeon can help him; and there are two signalmen lying
dead alongside him.
On the hammock-nettings of the quarter-deck stands the
acting captain of the ship, erect, and proud in bearing, with
an eye of defiance and scorn as he turns towards the enemy.
His advice was disregarded, but he does his duty proudly
and cheerfully. He is as cool and unconcerned as if he were
watching the flying-fish as they rise from the bows of the ship
when running down the tropics, instead of the enemy's shot.
as they splash in the water alongside, or tear open the timbers
of the vessel and the bodies of his crew. The men still ply
their half-manned guns ; but they are exhausted with fatigue.
and the bloody deck proves that many have been dismissed
from their duty. The first-lieutenant is missing ; you will
find him in the cockpit. They have just finished taking up
the arteries of his right arm, which has been amputated ;
and the Scotch surgeon's assistant, who for cuany months
bewailed the want of practice, and who, for having openly
expressed his wishes on that subject, had received a sound
thrashing from the exasperated midshipmen, is now compli-
menting the fainting man upon the excellent stump that they
have made for him ; while fifty others, dying or wounded, with
as much variety as Homer's heroes, whose blood, trickling from
them in several rivulets, pours into one general lake at the
lowest level of the deck, are anxiously waiting their turn, and
distract the purser's steward by their loud calls, in every direc-
tion at the same time, for the tin-pot of water, with which he
is relieving their agonising thirst.
A large shark is under the counter; he is so gorged with
human flesh that he can scarcely move his tail in the tinged
THE KING'S OWN
water, and he now hears the sullen plunges of the bodies, as
they are launched through the lower-deck port, with perfect
indifference. " Oh, what a glorious thing's a battle ! "
But to return to our particular narrative. As we men-
tioned before, the citadel threw shells with remarkable pre-
cision, and every man who had been killed on the quarter
deck of the commodore's ship, towards which the attention
of the enemy was particularly directed, had been laid low
by these horrible engines of modern warfare. The action
still continued, although the fire on both sides had evidently
slackened, and the commodore's glass had at several intervals
been fruitlessly directed towards the troops on shore, when
accident brought about a change in favour of our countrymen.
Through some unknown cause, the magazine of the enemy's
largest battery exploded, and buried the fabric with its
tenants in one mass of ruin. The enemy were panic-struck
with their misfortune, our troops and sailors inspired with
fresh courage, and the fire was recommenced with three
cheers and redoubled vigour. The troops pushed on, and
succeeded in taking possession of the masked battery, which
had so long and so effectually raked the commodore.
A few minutes after this had occurred the citadel recom-
menced its fire, and a shell, descending with that terrific
hissing peculiar to itself alone, struck the main-bitts on the
quarter-deck, and, rolling aft, exploded. Its fragments scat-
tered death around, and one piece took the hat off the
head of little Willy, who was standing before Adams, and
then buried itself in the old man's side. He staggered for-
ward, and fell on the coils of rope near the companion-hatch ;
and when the men came to assist him below, the pain of
moving was so intense that he requested to be left where
he was, that he might quietly breathe his last.
Willy sat down beside his old friend, holding his hand.
"A little water, boy quick, quick ! " It was soon procured
by the active and affectionate child, who, indifferent to the
scene around him, thought only of administering to the wants
and alleviating the misfortune of his dearest friend. Adams,
after he had drunk, turned his head round, apparently re-
vived, and said, in a low and catching voice, as if his powers
were fast escaping, " Willy, your father's name was not Peters.
I do not know what it was ; but there is a person who does,
40
THE KING'S OWN
and who takes an interest in your welfare. He lives
in "
At this moment another shell bounded through the rigging
and fell within a few feet of the spot where Willy and old
Adams were speaking. Willy, who was seated on a coil of
rope supporting the head of his benefactor, no sooner perceived
the shell as it rolled towards the side, with its fuse pouring out
a volume of smoke, than, recollecting the effects of the former
explosion, rather than the danger of the attempt, he ran to-
wards it, and not being able to lift it, sank down on his knees,
and with astonishing agility, succeeded in rolling it overboard,
out of the larboard entering-port, to which it was near. The
shell plunged into the water, and, before it had descended many
feet, exploded with a concussion that was communicated to
the ship fore and aft. Our hero then resumed his station by
the side of Adams, who had witnessed what had taken place.
" You have begun well, my boy," said the old man faintly,
" There's ne'er a man in the ship would have done it. Kiss
me, boy."
The child leaned over the old man and kissed his cheek,
clammy with the dews of death. Adams turned a little on
one side, uttered a low groan, and expired.
CHAPTER VIII
Now dash'd upon the billow,
Our opening timbers creak,
Each fears a watery pillow.
To cling to slippery shronds
Each breathless seaman crowds,
As she lay
Till the day
In the Bay of Biscay O ! Sea Song.
As it will only detain the narrative, without being at all
necessary for its development, I shall not dwell upon the
results of the engagement, which was soon after decided,
with very indifferent success on our side. The soldiers were
41
THE KING'S OWN
re embarked, the ships hauled out of reach of the enemy's guns,
and a council of war summoned ; on which it was agreed,
nem. can., that no more was to be done. The despatches
were sent home ; they certainly differed a little, but that was
of no consequence. The sum total of killed and wounded
was excessively gratifying to the nation, as it proved that there
had been hard fighting. By-the-bye, John Bull is rather
annoying in this respect ; he imagines that no action can
be well fought unless there is a considerable loss. Having
no other method of judging of the merits of an action, he
appreciates it according to the list of killed and wounded. A
merchant in toto, he computes the value of an object by what
it has cost him, and imagines that what is easily and cheaply
obtained cannot be of much value. The knowledge of this
peculiar mode of reasoning on his part has very often induced
officers to put down very trifling contusions, such as a prize-
fighter would despise, to swell up the sum total of the loss
to the aggregate of the honest man's expectations.
To proceed. As usual in cases of defeat, a small degree of
accusation and recrimination took place. The army thought
that the navy might have beaten down stone ramparts ten
feet thick ; and the navy wondered why the army had not
walked up the same ramparts, which were thirty feet per-
pendicular. Some of the ships accused others of not having
had a sufficient number of men killed and wounded ; and the
boats' crews, whenever they met on shore, fought each other
desperately, as if it were absolutely necessary, for the honour
of the country, that more blood should be spilt. But this
only lasted three weeks, when a more successful attempt
made them all shake hands, and wonder what they had been
squabbling about.
There was, however, one circumstance which occurred
during the action that had not been forgotten. It had been
witnessed by the acting captain of the ship, and had been
the theme of much comment and admiration among the officers
and men. This was the daring feat of our little hero in rolling
the shell over the side. Captain M (the new commander),
as soon as his more important avocations would permit, made
inquiries among the officers (being himself a stranger in the
ship) relative to Willy. His short but melancholy history
was soon told, and the disconsolate boy was summoned from
42
THE KING'S OWN
under the half-deck, where he sat by the body of Adams,
which, with many more, lay sewed up in his hammock and
covered over with the union-jack, waiting for the evening, to
receive the rites of Christian burial, before being committed
to the deep.
Knowing that Adams had been his only protector, a feeling
of compassion for the bereaved and orphan boy. and admiration
of his early tokens of bravery, induced Captain M , who
never formed a resolution in haste, or abandoned it if once
formed, to take the boy under his own protection, and to place
him as an officer on that quarter-deck upon which he had so
distinguished himself. Willy, in obedience to orders received,
stood by the captain, with his hat in his hand.
" What is your name, my boy r " said the captain, passing
a scrutinising glance over his upright and well-proportioned
figure.
Willy, sir."
" And what's your other name ? "
" King's Own, sir."
This part of the boy's history was now explained by the
second-lieutenant, who was in command in consequence of
the first-lieutenant being wounded.
" He must have a name." replied the captain. " William
King's Own will not do. Is he on the books ? "
" No, sir, he is not ; shall I put him down as William
Jones or William Smith ? "
"No, no; those are too common. The boy has neither
father, mother, nor name, that we know of: as we may,
therefore, have a choice of the latter for him, let it be a good
one. I have known a good name make a man's fortune with
a novel-reading girl. There is a romance in the boy's history ;
let him have a name somewhat romantic also."
" Ay, ay, sir," replied the lieutenant. " Here, marine, tell
my boy to bring up one of the volumes of the novel in my
cabin."
The book made its appearance on the quarter-deck.
" Perhaps, sir, we mav find one here," said the lieutenant,
presenting the book to the captain.
The captain smiled as he took the book. " Let us see,"
said he, turning over the leaves " ' Delamere ! ' that's too
puppyish. ' Fortescue ! ' don't like that ' Seymour ! ' Yes,
43
THE KING'S OWN
ihat will do. It's not too fine, yet aristocratic and pretty.
Desire Mr. Hinchen, the clerk, to enter him on the books as
Mr. William Seymour, midshipman. And now, youngster, I
will pay for your outfit and first year's mess ; after which I
hope your pay and prize-money will be sufficient to enable you
to support yourself. Be that as it may, as long as you do
credit to my patronage I shall not forget you."
Willy, with his straw hat in one hand, and a superero-
gatory touch of his curly hair with the other, made a scrape
with his left leg, after the manner and custom of seafaring
people ; in short, he made the best bow that he could, ob-
serving the receipt that had been given him by his departed
friend Adams. D'Egville might have turned up his nose at
it, but Captain M was perfectly satisfied, for, if not an
elegant, it certainly was a grateful bow.
Our young officer was not sent down to mess in the berth
of the midshipmen. His kind and considerate captain was
aware that a lad who creeps in at the hawse-holes i.e., is
promoted from before the mast was not likely to be favour-
ably received in the midshipmen's mess, especially by that
part of the community who, from their obscure parentage,
would have had least reason to complain. He was therefore
consigned to the charge of the gunner.
Sincere as were the congratulations of the officers and men,
Willy was so much affected with the loss of his fond guar-
dian, that he received them with apathy, and listened to
the applause bestowed upon his courage with tears that flowed
from the remembrance of the cause which had stimulated him
to the deed. At the close of the day he saw the body of his
old friend committed to the deep with quivering lips and
aching brow, and as it plunged into the clear wave, felt as
if he was left alone in the world, and had no one to love and
to cling to.
We do not give children credit for the feelings which they
possess, because they have not, at their early age, acquired
the power of language to express them correctly. Treat a
child as you would an equal, and in a few months you. will
find that the reason of his having until then remained
childish was because he had heretofore been treated as a
being of inferior capacity and feelings. True it is that at
an early age the feelings of children are called forth by what
44
THE KING'S OWN
we consider as trifles ; but we must recollect, in humility,
that our own pursuits are as vain, as trifling, and as selfish
" We are but children of a larger growth."
The squadron continued to hover on the French coast,
with a view of alarming the enemy, and of making a more
fortunate attempt if opportunity occurred. Early in the
morning of the fourth day after Willy had been promoted to
the quarter-deck, a large convoy of chassc-marees (small coast-
ing-vessels, lugger rigged) were discovered rounding a low
point not three miles from the squadron. A general signal
to chase was immediately thrown out, and in half-an-hour
the English men-of-war were in the midst of them, pouring
broadside after broadside upon the devoted vessels, whose
sails were lowered in every direction in token of submission.
The English men-of-war reminded you of so many hawks
pouncing upon a flight of small birds ; and the vessels, with
their lowered sails just flapping with the breeze, seemed like
so many victims of their rapacity, who lay fluttering on the
ground, disabled or paralysed with terror. Many escaped
into shoal water, others ran ashore, some were sunk, and
about twenty taken possession of by the ships of the squadron.
They proved to be part of a convoy laden with wine, and
bound to the Garonne.
One of the c/iasse-marees, being a larger vessel than the
rest, and laden with wine of a better quality, was directed
by the commodore to be sent to England ; the casks of wine
on board of the others were hoisted into the different ships,
and distributed occasionally to the crews. Captain M
thought that the departure of the prize to England would
be a favourable opportunity to send our hero to receive his
outfit, as he could not well appear on the quarter-deck as
an officer without his uniform. He therefore directed the
master's mate, to whose charge the prize was about to be
confided, to take William with him, and wrote to his friends
at Portsmouth, whither the vessel was directed to proceed,
to fit him out with the requisite articles, and send him back
by the first ship that was directed to join the squadron. The
prize was victualled, the officer received his written orders,
was put on board with our hero and three men, and parted
company with the squadron.
The master's mate, who was directed to take the vessel to
45
THE KING'S OWN
Portsmouth, was the spurious progeny of the first-lieutenant
of a line-of-battle ship and a young woman who attended
the bumboat which supplied the ship's company with
necessaries and luxuries, if they could afford to pay for them.
The class of people who obtain their livelihood by these
means, and who are entirely dependent upon the navy for
their subsistence, are naturally anxious to secure the good-
will of the commanding officers of the ships, and usually
contrive to have on their establishment a pretty-looking
girl, who, although very reserved to the junior officers of the
ship, is all smiles to the first-lieutenant, and will not stand
upon trifles for the benefit of her employer. Beauty for
men gold for women ! Such are the glittering baits em-
ployed in this world to entice either sex from the paths of
duty or discretion.
The service was indebted to this species of bribery for the
officer in question. The interest of his supposed father was
sufficient to put him on the quarter-deck, and the profits
of his mother, who, having duly served her apprenticeship,
had arrived to the dignity of bumboat woman herself, and
was a fat, comely matron of about forty years of age, were
more than sufficient to support him in his inferior rank. His
education and natural abilities were not, however, of that
class to procure him either friends or advancement, and he
remained in the capacity of master's mate, and was likely
long to continue so, unless some such event as a general
action should include him in a promotion which would be
regulated by seniority. He was a mean-looking, vulgar
little man, with a sharp face and nose the latter very red,
from the constant potations of not only his own allowance,
but of that of every youngster in the ship whom he could
bully or cajole.
His greatest pride and his constant study was " slang,"
in which he was no mean proficient. He always carried in
his pocket a colt (i.e., a foot and a half of rope, knotted at
one end, and whipped at the other), for the benefit of. the
youngsters, to whom he was a most inordinate tyrant. He
could fudge a day's work, which he sent in with the rest
of the midshipmen, and which proofs of theoretical know-
ledge of their profession were in those days little attended
to ; but he was very ignorant, and quite unfit to take charge
46
THE KING'S OWN
of any vessel. Captain M , who, as we before stated,
had joined the ship as acting captain., and had not had
time to ascertain the merits or demerits of the officers, had
given the prize to his charge because he was the senior
mate of the ship.
The prize had scarcely trimmed her sails and shaped her
course, when Mr. Bullock, the master's mate, called our
hero to him, and addressed him in the following elegant
phraseology :
"Now, you rebellious spawn touch your hat. you young
whelp" (knocking off poor Willy's only hat, which flew to
leeward and went overboard) "mind what I say, for I
mean to be as good as a father to you. You're not an officer
yet and if you were, it would be all the same so no capers,
no airs. You see I've only three men in the vessel besides
myself; they are in three watches; so your duty will be
to attend to me in the cabin. You'll mull my claret; I
always drinks a noggin every half-hour to keep the wind
out, and if it an't ready and an't good do you see this ? "
Staking the colt out of his pocket) " Stop ; you'd better
feel it at once, and then, when you knows what the taste
of it is, you'll take care how you're slack in stays." So saying,
he administered three or four hearty cuts on the back and
shoulders of our hero, who had been sufficiently drilled into
the manners and customs of a man-of-war to know the value
of the proverb, " The least said, the soonest mended."
A spigot had been already inserted into one of the casks of
claret which were lashed on deck ; and, as the small vessel
was very uneasy in the heavy swell of the Bay of Biscay, our
hero had sufficient employment in watching the pot of claret,
and preventing it from being upset by the motion of the
vessel, as it was constantly heating on the stove in the cabin.
This potation was regularly presented by Willy every half-
hour, as directed, to his commanding officer, who, if it was
too sweet, or not sweet enough, or if he could not drink the
whole, invariably, and much to the annoyance of our hero,
threw the remainder into his face, telling him that was his
share of it
This arrangement continued in fall force for three days and
three nights ; for Willy was roused up five or six times every
night to administer the doses of mulled claret which Mr.
47
THE KING'S OWN
Bullock had prescribed for himself, who seemed, thin and
meagre as he was, to be somewhat like a bamboo in his
structure (i.e., hollow from top to bottom), as if to enable him
to carry the quantity of fluid that he poured down his throat
during the twenty-four hours. As for intoxicating him, that
appeared to be impossible ; from long habit, he seemed to be
like a stiff ship that careened to her bearings, and would
sooner part company with her masts than heel any farther.
On the fourth day a strong gale sprang up from the north-
west, and the sea ran very high. The chasse-maree, never
intended to encounter the huge waves of the Bay of Biscay,
but to crawl along the coast and seek protection from them
on the first indication of their fury, labouring with a heavy
cargo, not only stowed below, but on the decks, was not
sufficiently buoyant to rise on the summits of the waves,
which made a clean breach over her, and the men became
exhausted with the wet and the inclemency of the season.
On the third day of the gale, and seventh since they had parted
company with the fleet, a squall brought the mainmast by
the board; the foresail was lowered to close-reef, when a
heavy sea struck the vessel, and pouring a torrent over her
decks, swept overboard the three men who were forward
reefing the sail. Mr. Bullock, the master's mate, was at the
helm ; Willy, as usual, down below, attending the mulled
claret, which had been more than ever in request since the
bad weather had come on.
The mate quitted the helm, and ran forward to throw a
rope to the seamen who were struggling in the water with
the wreck to leeward. He threw one, which was seized by
two of them (the other had sunk) ; and as soon as they had
hold of it and it became taut from their holding on, he
perceived, to his dismay, that he had stood on the remaining
part of the coil, and that it had encircled itself several times
round his body, so that the men were hauling him overboard.
11 Let go, let go, or I'm overboard ! " was a useless exclama-
tion to drowning men : they held on, and the mate too held
on by the rigging for his life, the efforts of the drowning
men dragging him at last from off his legs, and keeping his
body in a horizontal position, as they hauled at his feet, and
he clung in desperation to the lee-shrouds. " Willy, Willy,
a knife quick, quick!" roared the mate in his agony.
48
THE KING'S OWN
Willy, who, hearing his name called, and followed up by the
" Quick, quick," had no idea that anything but the mulled
claret could demand such unusual haste, stopped a few
seconds to throw in the sugar and stir it round before he
answered the summons. He then started up the hatchway
with the pot in his hand.
But these few seconds had decided the fate of Mr. Bullock,
and as Willy's head appeared up the hatchway, so did that of
Mr. Bullock disappear as he sank into a grave so dissonant
to his habits. He had been unable to resist any longer the
united force of the drowning men, and Willy was just in time
to witness his submersion, and find himself more destitute
than ever. Holding on by the shroud with one hand, with the
pot of mulled claret in the other, Willy long fixed his eyes on
the spot where his tyrannical shipmate had disappeared from
his sight, and forgetting his persecution, felt nothing but sorrow
for his loss. Another sea, which poured over the decks of
the unguided vessel, roused him from his melancholy reverie,
and he let go the pot, to cling with both hands to the rig-
ging as the water washed over his knees ; then, seizing a
favourable opportunity, he succeeded in regaining the cabin
of the vessel, where he sat down and wept bitterly bitterly
for the loss of the master's mate and men, for he had an
affectionate and kind heart bitterly for his own forlorn and
destitute situation. Old Adams had not forgotten to teach
him to say his prayers, and Willy had been accustomed to
read the Bible, which the old man explained to the best of his
ability. The vessel laboured and groaned as she was buffeted
by the waves, the wind howled, and the sea struck her trem-
bling sides and poured over her decks. In the midst of this
wild discord of the elements, the small voice of the kneeling
child, isolated from the rest of the world, and threatened
soon to be removed from it, was not unheard or unheeded
by an omniscient and omnipotent God, who has said that not
a sparrow should fall to the ground without His knowledge,
and has pointed out of how much more value are we than
many sparrows.
Willy ended his devotions and his tears, and, feeling wet
and cold, recollected that what would warm his departed
friend the mate would probably have the same effect upon
huii. He crawled up the companion-hatch with another tin
49 D
THE KING'S OWN
pot, and having succeeded in obtaining some wine from the
cask, returned to the cabin. Having warmed it over the fire,
and sugared it according to the well-practised receipt of Mr.
Bullock, he drank more of it than, perhaps, in any other situa-
tion he would have done, and lying down in the standing
bed-place at the side of the cabin, soon fell into a sound sleep.
CHAPTER IX
And there he went ashore without delay,
Having no custom-honse nor quarantine
To ask him awkward questions on the way
About the time and place where he had been :
He left his ship to be hove down next day.
Don Juan.
J_ HE prize vessel, at the time when she carried away her
masts, had gained considerably to the northward of Ushant,
although the master's mate, from his ignorance of his profes-
sion, was not aware of the fact. The wind, which now blew
strongly from the N.W., drove the shattered bark up the
Channel, at the same time gradually nearing her to the
French coast. After twenty-four hours' driving before the
storm, during which Willy never once awoke from his torpor,
the vessel was not many leagues from the port of Cherbourg.
It was broad daylight when our hero awoke ; and after some
little time necessaiy to chase away the vivid effects of a
dream, in which he fancied himself to be on shore, walking
in the fields with his dear mother, he recollected where he
was and how he was situated. He ascended the companion-
ladder and looked around him. The wind had nearly spent
its fury, and was subsiding fast ; but the prospect was cheer-
less a dark wintry sky and rolling sea, and nothing living in
view except the sea-bird that screamed as it skimmed over
the white tops of the waves. The mizzen of the vessel was
still hoisted up, but the sheet had disengaged itself from the
belaying-pin, and the sail had been rent from the bolt-rope
by the storm. Part of it was blown away, and the rest, jagged
and tattered at its extremities from constant buffeting, napped
"mournfully to and fro" with the heavy rolling of the vessel.
Willy, holding only the companion-hatch, scanned the hori-
50
THE KING'S OWN
zon in every point of the compass in hopes of succour, but for
a long while in vain. At last his keen eye detected a small
vessel, under a single close-reefed sail, now rising on the tops
of the waves, now disappearing in the deep trough of the sea.
She was sloop-rigged, and running down towards him.
In a quarter of an hour she had neared to within a mile,
and Willy perceived with delight that the people were on
deck, and occasionally pointing towards him. He ran down
below, and opening the chest of Mr. Bullock, which was not
locked, took a liberty which he would never have dared to
contemplate during that worthy officer's lifetime, viz., that of
putting forth one of his two best white shirts, reserved for
special occasions. This he took on deck, made it fast to a
boat-hook staff, and hoisted as a signal of distress. He did
also mechanically lift his hand to his head with the intention
of waving his hat, but he was reminded, by not finding it
there, that it had been the first votive offering which had
been made to appease the implacable deities presiding over
the winds and waves. The vessel closed with him, hove-to to
windward, and after some demur, a small boat, capable of
holding three persons, was hoisted over the gunnel, and two
hands, jumping into her, rowed under the stern of the wreck.
"You must jump, my lad; there's no going alongside a
craft, without any sail to steady her, in such a sea as this.
Don't be afraid. We'll pick you up."
Willy, who had little fear in his composition, although he
could not swim, leaped from the taffrail of the vessel into the
boiling surge, and immediately that he rose to the surface was
rescued by the men, who, seizing him by the waistband of the
trousers, hauled him into the boat and threw him down in the
bottom under the thwarts. Then, without speaking, they re-
sumed their oars and pulled to the other vessel, on board of
which they succeeded in establishing our hero and themselves,
although the boat was stove in the attempt and cast adrift as
useless.
Willy's teeth chattered and his whole frame trembled with
the cold as he went aft to the captain of the sloop, who was
sitting on deck wrapped up in a rough white great-coat, with
his pipe in his mouth. The captain was a middle-sized, slightly-
made young man, apparently not more than twenty-five years
old. His face was oval, with a remarkably pleasing expression;
51
THE KING'S OWN
his eyes small and brilliant ; and notwithstanding the rough-
ness of his outward attire, there was a degree of precision in the
arrangement of his hair and whiskers which proved that witli
him neatness was habitual. He had a worsted mitten on his
left hand ; the right, which held his pipe, was bare, and
remarkably white and small. Perceiving the situation of the
boy, he called to one of the men, "Here, Phillips, take this
poor devil down and put something dry on him, and give him
a glass of brandy ; when he's all right again, we'll find out
from him how he happened to be adrift all by himself, like a
bear in a washing-tub. There, go along with Phillips, boy."
"He's of the right sort," said one of the men who had
brought him on board, casting his eyes in the direction of our
hero, who was descending the companion. " I thought so
when I see'd him have his wits about him to hoist the signal.
He made no more of jumping overboard than a Newfoundland
dog -never stopped two seconds to think on't."
"We shall soon see what he is made of," replied the
captain, relighting his pipe, which had been allowed to go
out during the time that they were rescuing Willy and the
men from the boat when she returned.
Willy was soon provided with more comfortable clothing ;
and whether it was or was not from a whim of Phillips, who
had been commissioned to rig him out, he appeared on deck
the very picture of the animal which he had been compared
to by the sailor. Thick woollen stockings, which were longer
than both his legs and thighs, a pair of fisherman's well-
greased boots, a dark Guernsey frock that reached below
his knees, and a rough pea-jacket that descended to his
heels, made him appear much broader than he was high.
A red woollen nightcap completed his attire, which, although
anything but elegant, was admirably calculated to assist the
brandy in restoring the circulation.
" Here he is, captain, all a-tanto, but not very neat," said
Phillips, shoving Willy up the hatchway ; for he was so en-
cumbered with the weight of his new apparel that he never
could have ascended without assistance. "I have -stowed
away some spirits in his hold, and he no longer beats the
devil's tattoo with his grinders."
" Now, my lad," said the captain, taking his pipe out of
his mouth, "tell me what's your name, what you are, and
52
THE KING'S OWN /
how you came to be adrift in that barky. Tell me the truth
be honest, always be honest ; it's the best policy."
Now, it rather unfortunately happened for Willy that
these two first questions were rather difficult for him to
answer. He told his story with considerable hesitation
believed his name was Seymour believed he was a midship-
man. He was listened to without interruption by the cap-
tain and crew of the vessel, who had gathered round to hear
him "spin his yarn." When he had finished, the captain,
looking Willy very hard in the face, thus addressed him :
" My little friend, excuse me, but I have some slight know-
ledge of the world, and I therefore wish that you had not
forgotten the little advice I gave you, as a caution, before
you commenced your narrative. Did not I say, Be honest ?
You believe you are an officer believe your name to be Sey-
mour. I tell you, my lad, in return, that I don't believe a
word that you say ; but, however, that's of no consequence.
It requires reflection to tell a lie, and I have no objection
to a little invention, or a little caution with strangers. All
that about the battle was very clever ; but still, depend upon
it, honesty's the best policy. When we are better acquainted
I suppose we shall have the truth from you. I see the land
on the lee-bow ; we shall be into Cherbourg in an hour,
when I expect we shall come to a better understanding."
The Sainte Vierge for such was the name of the vessel,
which smelt most insufferably of gin, and, as our readers may
probably have anticipated, was a smuggler, running between
Cherbourg and the English coast soon entered the port,
and having been boarded by the officers of the Douane (who
made a very proper distinction between smuggling from and
to their own territories), came to an anchor close to the mole.
As soon as the vessel was secured the captain went below,
and in a few minutes reappearing, dressed in much better
taste than one-half of the saunterers in Bond Street, went
on shore to the cabaret where he usually took up his quarters,
taking with him our hero, whose strange attire, so peculiarly
contrasted with that of the captain's, was a source of great
amusement to the sailors and other people who were assem-
bled on the quay.
" Ah, man capitaine, charm de vous revoir. Buvons un coup,
,'cst-ce pas?" said the proprietor of the cabaret, presenting
53
THE KING'S OWN
? bottle of prime French brandy and a liquor-glass to the
captain as he entered.
" Heureux voyage, n'est-ce pas, Monsieur ? "
" a va bien," replied the captain, throwing the glass of liquor
down his throat. " My apartments, if you please, and a bed for
this lad. Tell Mr. Beaujou, the slopseller, to come here directly
with some clothes for him. Is Captain Debriseau here ? "
" He is, sir, lost all his last cargo obliged to throw over
in deep water."
" Never mind ; he ran the two before ; he can afford it."
" Ah ! but Captain Debriseau is in a very bad humour
nevertheless. He called me an old cheat this morning; c'est
incroyable."
"Well, present my compliments to him, and say that I
request the honour of his company, if he is not otherwise
engaged. Come, youngster."
The landlord of the cabaret ushered the captain of the
sloop and our hero, with many profound bows, into a low,
dark room, with only one window, the light from which was
intercepted by a high wall not four feet distant. The
floor was paved with tiles; the table was deal, not very
clean ; and the whitewashed walls were hung around with
stiff drawings of several smuggling vessels, whose superior
sailing, and consequent good fortune, had rendered them
celebrated in the port of Cherbourg. The straw had been
lighted under some logs of wood on the hearth, which as yet
emitted more smoke than flame ; a few chairs, an old battered
sofa, and an upright press completed the furniture.
" I knew your beautiful sloop long before she came in
there's no mistaking her; and I ordered the apartment de
Monsieur to be prepared. C'est un joli appartement, n'est-ce
pas, Monsieur ? So retired ! " With some forbearance, but
with great judgment, the beauty of the prospect was not
expatiated upon by the obsequious landlord.
" It will do to smoke and eat in, Mons. Picardon, and that
is all that I require. Now bring pipes and tobacco, and take
my message to Captain Debriseau."
The latter gentleman and the pipes were ushered in at the
same moment.
" M'Elvina, my dear fellow, I am glad to see that you
have had better luck than I have had this last trip. Curses on
54
THE KING'S OWN
the cutter. Sacristie ! " continued Captain Debriseau, who was
a native of Guernsey, " the wind favoured her three points
after we were about, or I should have doubled him ay, and
have doubled the weight of the leathern bag too. Sacre nom de
Die* ! " continued he, grinding his teeth and pulling a handful
of hair out of his rough head, which could have spared as
much as Absalom used to poll, " que $a me fait bisquer."
" Bah ! laissez aller, man ami sit down and take a pipe,"
rejoined our captain. " This is but pettifogging work at the
best ; it won't pay for the means of resistance. My lugger
will be ready in May, and then I'll see what a revenue cutter
is made of. I was at Ostend last Christmas, and saw her.
By Jove ! she's a beauty ! She was planked above the
watermark then^ and must be nearly ready for launching by
this time. 1*11 pass through the Race but once more ; then
adieu to dark nights and south-west gales, and huzza for a
row of teeth, with the will, as well as the power, to bite.
Sixteen long nines, my boy ! "
"Quickreturns, though quick returns, messmate," answered
Debriseau, referring to the Cherbourg system of smuggling,
which, being his own means of livelihood, he did not like to
hear disparaged.
For the benefit of those who have no objection to unite a
little information with amusement, I shall here enter into a
few remarks relative to the smuggling carried on between
the port of Cherbourg and our own coast, premising that my
readers have my entire approbation to skip over a page or
two if they are not anxious to know anything about these
nefarious transactions.
The port of Cherbourg, from its central situation, is better
adapted than any other in France for carrying on this trade
with the southern coast of England. The nearest port to it,
and at which, therefore, the smuggling is principally carried
on, is the Bill of Portland, near to the fashionable watering-
place of Weymouth.
The vessels employed in this contraband trade, of which
gin is the staple commodity, are generally small luggers or
sloops, from forty to sixty tons burthen. In fine summer
weather row-boats are occasionally employed ; but as the not
is only of twenty-four hours' duration, the dark nights and
south-west gales are what are chiefly depended upon.
55
THE KING'S OWN
These vessels are not armed with an intention to resist ; if
they are perceived by the cruisers or revenue vessels before
they arrive on the English coast, and are pursued, they are
obliged (if not able to escape, from superior sailing) to throw
over their cargo in " deep water," and it is lost. The cargo
is thrown overboard to avoid the penalty and imprisonment
to which it would subject the crew, as well as the confiscation
of the vessel and cargo. If they reach the English coast, and
are chased by the revenue vessels, or have notice by signals
from their agents on shore that they are discovered, and cannot
land their cargoes, they take the exact bearings and distances
of several points of land, and with heavy stones sink their tubs
of spirits, which are always strung upon a hawser like a row
of beads. There the cargo is left, until they have an oppor-
tunity of going off in boats to creep for it, which is by dragging
large hooks at the bottom until they catch the hawser and
regain possession of their tubs. Such is the precision with
which their marks are taken, and their dexterity from continual
practice, that they seldom fail to recover their cargo. The
profits of this conti-aband trade are so great, that if two cargoes
are lost, a third safely landed will indemnify the owners.
I must now observe, much to the discredit of the parties
who are concerned, that this contraband trade is not carried
on by individuals, but by a company ; one hundred pound
shares are taken of " a speculation," the profits of which are
divided yearly ; and many individuals residing on the coast,
who would be thought incapable of lending themselves to
^uch transactions, are known to be deeply interested.
The smuggling from Havre and Ostend, &c., is confined to
the coast of Ireland and the northern shores of England ; the
cargoes are assorted and of great value ; and as the voyage
and risk are greater, they are generally fast-sailing vessels,
well manned and armed, to enable them to offer resistance,
when the disparity of force is not too great on their side.
Cipjain M'Elvina had taken up the smuggling trade
between Cherbourg and Portland to keep himself employed
until a fine lugger of sixteen guns, the command of 'which
had been promised to him, and which was intended to run
between Havre and the coast of Ireland, should be ready ;
whereas Captain Debriseau had been all his life employed
in the Cherbourg trade, and had no intention of quitting it.
56
THE KING'S OWN
" Out what have you got there, Mac ? " said Debriseau,
pointing with his pipe to our hero, who sat on the leathern
sofa, rolled up in his uncouth attire. " Is it a bear or a boy ? "
" A boy that I picked up from a wreck. I am thinking
what I shall do with him ; he is a smart, bold lad."
"By Jupiter!" rejoined Debriseau, "I'll make him my
Ganymede, till he grows older."
Had Willy been as learned in mythology as Captain
Debriseau, he might have informed him that he had served
in that capacity in his last situation under Mr Bullock ; but
although the names, as appertaining to a ship, were not un-
known to him, yet the attributes of the respective parties
were a part of his education that old Adams had omitted.
" He will be fit for anything," rejoined our captain, "if he
will only be honest."
" M'Elvina," said Debriseau, "you always have these words
in your mouth, ' Be honest.' Now as, between ourselves, I do
not think that either you or I are leading very honest lives,
allow me to ask you why you continually harp upon honesty
when we are alone ? I can easily understand the propriety
of shamming a little before the world."
" Debriseau, had any other man said half as much, I would
have started my grog in his face. It's no humbug on my
part. I mean it sincerely ; and, to prove it, I will now give
you a short sketch of my life ; and after you have heard it,
I have no doubt but that you will acknowledge, with me, the
truth of the old adage, that ' Honesty is the best policy.' "
But Captain M'Elvina must have a chapter to himself.
CHAPTER X
He hath as fine a hand at picking a pocket as a woman, and is as
nimble-fingered as a juggler. If an unlucky session does not cut the
i ope of his life, I pronounce he will be a great man in history. Beggar's
Opera.
IT is an old proverb that 'one half of the world do not know
//'.'? the other half live.' Add to it, nor where they live, and
it will be as true. There is a class of people, of whose exist-
ence the public are too well aware, but of whose resorts and
57
THE KING'S OWN
manners and customs among their own fraternity they are
quite as ignorant now as they were one hundred years back.
Like the Chinese and the castes of the East, they never change
their profession, but bequeath it from father to son, as an en-
tailed estate from which they are to derive their subsistence.
The class to which I refer consists of those members of the
community at large who gain their livelihood by inserting
their hands into the pockets of other people. Not but that
all the world are doing the same thing, and have, since the
creation ; but then it is only as amateurs ; the class that I
refer to do it professionally, which, you must observe, makes
a wide difference. From this class I am lineally descended,
and at an early age was duly initiated into all the mysteries
of my profession. I could filch a handkerchief as soon as I
was high enough to reach a pocket, and was declared to be a
most promising child.
"I must do my father and mother the justice to acknow-
ledge, that while they initiated me in the mysteries of my
future profession, they did not attempt to conceal that there
were certain disagreeable penalties attached to ' greatness ; '
but when prepared from our earliest years, we look forward
to our fate with resignation ; and, as I was invariably told,
after my return from some daring feat, that my life would be
a short and a merry one, I was not dismayed at the words of
my prophetic mother, who observed, ' Patrick, my boy, if you
don't wish to bring my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave,
promise me to confine yourself to picking pockets ; you will
then only be transported. But if you try your hand at higher
work, you'll be hung before you're twenty.' My father, when
I returned with a full assorted cargo, and emptied my pockets
into his hands with as much rapidity as I had transferred the
contents of others into my own, used to look at me with a
smile of pride and satisfaction, and shaking his head, would
exclaim, ' Pat, you'll certainly be hung.'
" Accustomed, therefore, from my infancy to consider
twenty summers, instead of threescore years and ten, as the
allotted space of my existence, I looked forward to my exit
from this world by the new drop with the same placidity as
the nobleman awaits the time appointed for the entrance of
his body into the vault containing the dust of his ancestors.
At the age of eleven years I considered myself a full-grown
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man, dared all that man could do, and was a constant but
unwilling attendant upon the police-office, where my youth,
and the promises of my mother that I should be reformed,
assisted by showers of tears on her part, and by apparent
ingenuousness on mine, frequently pleaded in my favour with
the prosecutors.
" I often lamented, when at that early age, that my want
of education prevented me from attempting the higher walks
of our profession ; but this object of my ambition was gained
at last I had taken a pocket-book from a worthy Quaker,
and, unfortunately, was perceived by a man at a shop-window,
who came out, collared and delivered me into the hands of
the prim gentleman. Having first secured his property, he
then walked with me and a police-officer to Bow Street. My
innocent face and my tears induced the old gentleman, who
was a member of the Philanthropic Society, not only not to
prefer the charge against me, but to send me to the institution
at Blackfriars Road.
" I made rapid progress under their tuition, and after three
years' close application on my part, and continual inculcation
on the part of my instructors of the distinction between meum
and tttum, I was considered not only a very clever boy, but a
reformed character. The Quaker gentleman who had placed
me in the institution, and who was delighted with the suc-
cessful results of his own penetration, selected me as his
servant, and took me home."
"Well, I'm glad you were so soon reformed," said De-
briseau. " Where the devil's my handkerchief? "
"Oh, I've not got it," answered M'Elvina, laughing.
" But you are as much mistaken now as the Quaker was at
that time. A wild beast may be tamed, and will remain
so provided he be not permitted again to taste blood.
Then all his ferocious propensities will reappear, and prove
that his education has been thrown away. So it was with
me. At first I felt no desire to return to my old employ-
ment, and had not my master trusted me too much, I might
have remained honest You often hear masters exclaiming
against the dishonesty of servants. I know it to be a feet
that most of them have been made dishonest by the careless-
ness of their employers in having allowed temptations to
lie in their way which were too strong to be resisted. My
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THK .KING'S OWN
master used to send me up to his bureau for small sums
which he required out of a yellow canvas bag full of gold
and silver. I am convinced that he frequently used to give
me the key, when in company with his friends, in order
that, after I had left the room, he might tell my history
and prove the beneficial effects of the society. One day the
yellow bag and I both disappeared.
" I threw off the modest grey coat in which I was equipped,
and soon procured more fashionable attire. I looked in the
glass and scarcely knew myself; I had, therefore, no fear
of being recognised by my former master. Not wishing to be
idle, I hired myself out as tiger and valet to a young noble-
man, who was spending ten thousand pounds a year upon
an allowance of seven hundred. He was a complete roue,
and I must gratefully own that I learnt a great deal from
him, independently of the secret of tying my neckcloth cor-
rectly; but we soon parted."
" How was that ? " said Debriseau, knocking the ashes out
of his pipe.
" Why, he had several diamond rings, and as he only wore
two or three at a time, I sported the others at our parties.
A malicious fellow, who was envious of the dash I cut, observed
in my hearing that it was impossible to tell real stones from good
paste. I took the hint, and one by one the diamonds vanished
and paste usurped their places. Shortly after, the creditors,
not being able to touch my master's money or his person,
seized his effects, and the diamond rings were almost the only
articles which escaped. My master, who always looked out
for a rainy day, had collected these rings as a sort of stand-
by, to ' raise the wind ' when required. By ill luck he took
them to the same jeweller who had been employed by me
to substitute the paste, and to whom I had sold the real
stones. He came home in a great rage, accused me of dis-
honesty, and sent for a constable. I told him that I did not
consider his conduct to be that of a gentleman, and wished
him good morning. I had indeed intended to quit him, as he
was done up, and only waited his return to tell him so. I had
moved my trunks, accordingly, before he was out of bed. I be-
lieve a few of his suits and some of his linen were put in with
mine in my extreme haste ; but then he owed me wages.
"When I wished his lordship good morning, I certainly
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imagined that I had little more to learn, bat I must acknow-
ledge that I was mistaken. I knew that there was a club
established for sen-ants out of place, and had been a sub-
scriber for two years, as there were many advantages arising
from it, independently of economy. I was now a member
by right, which as long as I was in place I was not. To
this club I repaired, and I soon found that I, who fancied
myself perfect, was but a tyro in the profession. It was a
grand school certainly, and well organised. We had our
president, vice-president, auditors of accounts, corresponding
members, and our secretary. Our seal was a bunch of green
poplar rods, with 'Service if no inheritance ' as a motto.
" But not to weary you with a life of adventures which
would fill volumes, I shall merely state that I was in place,
out of place, following up my profession in every way with
great credit among our fraternity, until one day I found
myself, after a tedious confinement in Newgate, decorated
with a yellow jacket and pair of fetters, on board of a vessel
of three hundred tons burthen, bound to New South Wales.
We sailed for Sydney, where I had been recommended, by
the gentleman in a large wig, to remain seven years for
change of air. The same night that the vessel came into
the Cove, having more liberty than the rest of my shipmates
(from my good behaviour during the passage), I evaded the
sentry, and slipping down by the cable into the water,
swam to a ship lying near, which, I had been informed, was
to sail on the ensuing day for India.
" The captain, being very short of hands, headed me up in
a qpsk ; and, although the vessel was not permitted to sail
until very strict search had been made for me, I was not
discovered, and it was supposed that I had been drowned in
making the attempt Aware that it would not be good for
my health to return previously to the expiration of the seven
years, I determined to learn a new profession that of a sailor,
for which I always had a predilection ; besides, it quieted my
conscience as to the impropriety of not submitting to the just
punishment of the law, as you will acknowledge that seven
years at sea and seven years' transportation are one and the
same thing. From Batavia I went to Calcutta, and worked
before the mast in the country vessels to Bombay and the
Persian Gulf for four years when I thought myself capable of
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caking higher rank in the service, if I could get it, especially
as I had picked up sufficient navigation to be able to work
the ship's reckoning.
"At Calcutta I obtained a situation as second mate of a
fast-sailing schooner employed in the smuggling of opium into
China, and, after three voyages, rose to the office of chief
mate. Had I remained another voyage I should have been
captain of the vessel ; but my seven years were out, and I
was anxious to return to England and look the ' Robin Red-
breasts ' boldly in the face. I had saved enough money to
pay my passage, and was determined to go home like a
gentleman, if I had not exactly gone out in that character.
What little cash remained after my passage was paid I lost
at play to an army officer who was returning in the same
ship.
" When I landed at Portsmouth, I retained a suit of ' long
togs/ as we call them, and disposing of all the rest of my
stock to the Jews, I started for London. On my arrival I
found that my father and mother were both dead, and I was
meditating upon my future course of life, when an accident
determined me. I picked up a pocket-book." (Here Captain
Debriseau eyed him hard.) " I know what you mean," con-
tinued M'Elvina, " but it was on the pavement, and not in a
pocket, as you would imply by your looks. It was full of slips
and scraps of paper of all sorts, which I did not take the
trouble to read. The only available articles it contained
were three one-pound notes. The owner's name and address
were written on the first blank leaf. I cannot tell what
possessed me, but I had an irresistible desire to be honest
once in my life, and the temptation to be otherwise not being
very great, I took the pocket-book to the address, and arrived
at the house just as the old gentleman to whom it belonged
was giving directions to have it advertised. He was in evi-
dent perturbation at his loss, and I came just at the fortunate
moment. He seized his book with rapture, examined all the
papers, and counted over the bills and notes.
" ' Honesty is a scarce commodity, young man/ said he as
he passed the leathern tongue of the book through the strap.
' You have brought me my book without waiting till a reward
was offered. I desired my clerk to offer twenty guineas in
the advertisement ; I will now give you a larger sum.' He
THE KING'S OWN
sat down, opened a cheque-book, and wrote me a draft on his
banker. It was for one hundred pounds ! I was profuse in
my acknowledgments, while he replaced his book in his inside
pocket and buttoned up his coat. ' Honesty is a scarce com-
modity, young man/ repeated he ; ( call here to-morrow at one
o'clock, and I will see if I can be of any further sen ice to you.'
" I returned to my lodgings in a very thoughtful mood. I
was astonished at the old man's generosity, and still more at
my having honestly obtained so large a sum. I went to bed,
and reflected on what had passed. The words of the old
gentleman still rang in my ears ' Honesty is a scarce com-
modity.' I communed with myself. Here have I been
nearly all my life exercising all my talents, exerting all my
energies, in dishonest practices, and when did I, even at the
most successful hit, obtain as much money as I have by an
honest act ? I recalled the many days of anxious waiting
that I had found necessary to accomplish a scheme of fraud
the doubtful success the necessity of satisfying my associates
the inability of turning into ready money the articles pur-
loined until the hue-and-cry was over the trifling sum which
I was obliged to take from the purchasers of stolen articles,
who knew that I was at their mercy the destitute condition
I occasionally was in, and the life of constant anxiety that I
had led. These reflections forced the truth upon my mind
that there was more, in the end, to be gained by honesty than
by roguery.
" Once convinced, I determined to lead a new life, and
from that moment I assumed as my motto, ' Honesty is the
best policy.' Do you hear, youngster? always be honest."
CHAPTER XI
Through tattered clothes small vices do appear ;
Robes and furred gowns hide all. Lear.
W ILLY, who was tired out with the extreme mental and
bodily exertion that he had undergone, gave no answer to
M'Elvina's injunction, except a loud snore, which satisfied
the captain that his caution in this instance was not heard.
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" Well," said Debriseau after a short pause, " how long did
this honest fit last ? "
"What do you mean? How long did it last? Why, it
has lasted, Captain Debriseau it has lasted until now ; and
shall last, too, as long as this frame of mine shall hold to-
gether. But to proceed. The next morning I called upon
the old gentleman according to his request. He again told
me 'honesty was a scarce commodity.' I could have in-
formed him that it had always been so with me, but I kept
my own counsel. He then asked me what were my pro-
fession and pursuits. Now, as I had two professions to
choose between, and as my last was considered to be just as
abundant in the commodity he prized so much, as my former
one was known to be deficient, I replied that I was a sea-
faring man. 'Then I may find some employment for you,'
replied the old gentleman ; and having put several questions
to me as to the nature of the service I had seen, he desired
me to take a walk till three o'clock, when he would be happy
to see me at dinner. 'We'll then be able to have a little
conversation together without being overheard.'
" I was exact to my appointment, and my old friend, who
was punctuality itself, did not allow me to remain in the
parlour two minutes before dinner was on the table. As
soon as it was over, he dismissed the servant-girl who at-
tejided, and turned the key in the door. After sounding me
on many points during a rapid discussion of the first bottle
of port, he proceeded to inform me that a friend of his
wanted a smart fellow as captain of a vessel, if I would like
the employment. This suited me; and he then observed
that I must have some notion of how officers were managed,
as I had been in the China trade, and that he thought that
the vessel was to be fpnployed in the contraband trade on
the English coast.
"This startled me a little, for I was afraid that the old
gentleman was laying a trap for my newly acquired com-
modity ; and I was about to refuse with some slight show of
indignation, when I perceived a change in his countenance
indicative of disappointment ; so I only demurred until he
had sufficient time to prove that there was no dishonesty
in the transaction, when, being convinced that he was in
earnest, I consented. Before the second bottle was finished
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I found out that it was not for a friend, but for himself, and
for one of his own vessels, that he was anxious to procure a
smart captain ; and that he had a large capital embarked in
the concern, which was very profitable. The pocket-book
which I had returned was of no little importance ; had it
fallen into other hands, it might have told tales.
"I have now been three years in the old gentleman's
employ, and a generous, good master he has been ; and his
daughter is a sweet, pretty girl. I lost my last vessel, but not
until she had cleared him 10,000; and now the old gentle-
man is building me another at Havre. Not to be quite idle,
I have in the meantime taken command of one of their sloops ;
for the old gentleman has a good many shares in the specu-
lation, and his recommendations are always attended to."
" Void, Monsieur Beaujou, avec les habits," said the maitre
(Tauberge, opening the door and ushering in the marchand
des modes maritimes with a huge bundle.
" Now then, boy, rouse out/' said M'Elvina, shaking our
hero for a long while, without any symptoms of recovering
him from his lethargy.
" Try him on the other tack," said the captain, lifting him
off the sofa and placing him upright on his legs.
" There's no sugar in it yet," said Willy, who was dreaming
that he was supplying the mulled claret to the old master's
mate.
" Ah ! " said Debriseau, laughing, " he thinks his mamma is
giving him his tea."
" The lying little rascal told me this morning that he had
no mother. Come, Mr. William Seymour, I believe" (mimick-
ing) " officer, I believe. Oh, you're a nice, honest boy. Have
you a mother, or do you tell fibs in your sleep as well as
awake ? ' Be honest.' "
The last words, that Willy had heard repeated so often
during the day, not only unsealed his eyes, but recalled to his
recollection where he was.
" Now, my youngster, let us rig you out ; you recollect you
stated that you were going home for your outfit, and now
I'll give you one, that you may have one fib less on your
conscience."
By the generosity of M'Elvina, Willy was soon fitted with
two suits of clothes, requiring little alteration, and Mr.
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THE KING'S OWN
Beaujou, having received a further order for a supply of shirts
and other articles necessary to complete the outfit, made his
bow and disappeared.
The two captains resumed their chairs, and our hero again
coiled himself on the sofa, and in one minute was as sound
asleep as before.
" And now, M'Elvina," resumed Debriseau, " I should like
to know by what arguments your employer contrived to recon-
cile your present vocation with your punctilious regard for
honesty. For I must confess, for my own part, that although
I have followed smuggling as a livelihood, I have never
defended it as an honest calling, and have looked forward
with occasional impatience to the time when I should be able
to leave it off."
" Defend it ' Why, I'll just repeat to you the arguments
used by the old gentleman. They convinced me. As I said
before, I am always open to conviction. Captain Debriseau,
you will acknowledge, I trust, that laws are made for the
benefit of all parties, high and low, rich and poor ? "
''Granted."
"You'll allow, also, that law-makers should not be law-
breakers ; and that if they are so, they cannot expect that
others will regard what they disregard themselves?"
" Granted also."
" Once more by the laws of our country, the receiver is as
bad as the thief, and they who instigate others to commit an
offence are equally guilty with the offending party,"
" It cannot be denied," replied Debriseau.
"Then you have acceded to all the propositions that I
wish, and we shall come to an undeniable and mathematical
conclusion. Observe, law-makers should not be law-breakers.
Who enacted these laws ? the aristocracy of the nation, seated
in their respective Houses, the Lords and the Commons. Go,
any night you please, to the Opera, or any other place of
public resort in which you can have a view of their wives and
daughters. I'll stake my existence that every female there
shall be dizened out in some contraband article of dress not
one but shall prove to be a receiver of smuggled goods, and,
therefore, as bad as those whom they have instigated to
infringe the laws of their country. If there were no demand
there would be no supply."
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* Surely they don't all drink gin ? " replied Debriseau.
" Drink gin ! You're thinking of your d d Cherbourg
trade ; your ideas are confined. Is there nothing smuggled
besides gin ? Now, if the husbands and fathers of these ladies
those who have themselves enacted the laws wink at their
infringement, why should not others do so ? The only distinc-
tion between the equally offending parties is, that those who are
in power who possess all the comforts and luxuries which
this world can afford who offend the laws from vanity and
caprice, and entice the needy to administer to their love of
display, are protected and unpunished ; while the adventurous
seaman, whose means of supporting his family depend upon
his administering to their wishes, or the poor devil who is
unfortunately detected with a gallon of spirits, is thrown into
jail as if he were a felon. There cannot be one law for the
rich and another for the poor, Debriseau. When I hear that
the wives of the aristocracy have been seized by the revenue
officers, and the contraband articles which they wear have
been taken off their backs, and that they have been sentenced
to twelve months' imprisonment by a committal from the
magistrate, then and not till then will I acknowledge our
profession to be dishonest."
" Very true," said Debriseau ; " it shows the folly of men
attempting to make laws for their masters."
" Is it not shocking," continued M'Elvina, " to reflect upon
the conduct of the magistrate who has just sentenced per-
haps four or five unhappy wretches to a dungeon for an
offence against these laws? He leaves the seat of justice,
and returns to the bosom of his family. Hear his wife"
(mimicking) " Well, my dear, you're come at last ; dinner
has been put back this half-hour. I thought you would never
have finished with those odious smugglers.' 'Why, my love,
it was a very difficult case to prove ; but we managed it at
last, and I have signed the warrant for their committal to
the county jaiL They're sad, troublesome fellows, these
smugglers.' Now look at the lady : ' What dress is that you
put on to greet your husband ? ' ' Gros de Naples de Lyon.'
'The lace it is trimmed with?' 'Valenciennes.' 'Your
gloves, madam ? ' ' Fabrique de Paris.' ' Your ribands, your
shoes, your handkerchief?' All, all contraband. Worthy
magistrate, if you would hold the scales of justice with an
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even hand, make out one more mittimus before you sit down to
table. Send your wife to languish a twelvemonth in company
with the poor smugglers, and then ' to dinner with what appe-
tite you may.' And now, Debriseau, have I convinced you that
I may follow my present calling, and still say, ' Be honest ' ? "
" Why, yes, I think we both may ; but would not this evil
be removed by free trade ?"
" Heaven forbid ! " replied M'Elvina, laughing ; " then there
would be no smuggling."
CHAPTER XII
Love me, love my dog.
Proverb.
J.T is the misfortune of those who have been in constant
habits of deceit that they always imagine others are attempt-
ing the same dishonest practices. For some time M'Elvina
felt convinced that our little hero had swerved from truth in
the account which he gave of himself; and it was not until
after repeated catechisings, in which he found that, strange
and improbable as the narrative appeared, Willy never altered
from or contradicted his original statement, that he believed
the boy to be as honest and ingenuous -as might have been
inferred from his prepossessing countenance.
To this conviction, however, did he arrive at last ; and our
hero who seemed no sooner to have lost one protector than
to have the good fortune to find another became the
favourite and companion of his new captain, instead of his
domestic, as had been originally contemplated. A lad of
Willy's age, who is treated with kindness and consideration,
is soon attached, and becomes reconciled to any change of
circumstances. It was a matter of indifference to our hero
whether he was on the quarter-deck of a man-of-war or in
the cabin of a smuggling sloop. Contented with his present
lot, with the happy thoughtlessness of youth, he never per-
mitted the future to disturb his repose or affect his digestion.
Willy had been nearly a month at Cherbourg when
M'Elvina's sloop took in another cargo. " Willy," said
M'Elvina one evening as they sat together in the apartment
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THE KING'S OWN
at the cabaret, "to-morrow I shall, in all probability, sail for
the English coast. I have been thinking what I shall do
with you. I do not much like parting with you : but, on
reflection, I think it will be better that I should leave you
behind. You can be of no use, and may be in the way if we
should be obliged to take to our boat."
Willy pleaded hard against this arrangement. " I never
have a friend but I lose him directly," said the boy, and the
tears started into his eyes.
" I trust you will not lose me, my dear fellow." replied
M'Elvina, moved at this proof of affection ; " but I must ex-
plain to you why I leave you. In the first place," added he,
laughing, "with that mark on your shoulder, it would be
felony without benefit of clergy for you to be found in mv
possession ; but of that I would run the risk. My serious
reasons are as follow : If this trip proves fortunate, I shall
not return to Cherbourg. I have business of importance in
London, which may require my presence for some weeks in
that metropolis and its vicinity. I told you before that I am
about to take the command of a very different vessel from
this paltry sloop, and upon a more dangerous service. In
four or five months she will be ready to sail, and during that
time I shall be constantly on the move, and shall hardly
know what to do with you. Now, Willy, you are not aware
of the advantages of education I am ; and as mine was
given to me by strangers, so will I in return bestow as much
upon you as I can afford. You must, therefore, go to school
until my return. You will at least acquire the French language,
and you will find that of no little use to you hereafter."
W'illy, accustomed to discipline and to breathe the air of
passive obedience, submitted without raising any more objec-
tions. Debriseau joined, and they all three sallied forth to
make arrangements for placing our hero en pension where
they had been recommended. Having effected this, they
agreed to lounge on the Place d'Armes till sunset, when they
took possession of one of the benches. M'Elvina and
Debriseau lighted their cigars and puffed away in silence,
while Willy amused himself with watching the promenaders
as they passed in review before him.
They had not remained there many minutes when a poodle-
dog, bten tendu, and white as a sheep from the river before
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THE KING'S OWN
the day of shearing, walked up to them with an air of
sagacious curiosity, and looked M'Elvina steadfastly in the
face. M'Elvina, taking his cigar from his mouth, held it to
the dog, who ran up to it, as if to smell it ; the lighted end
coming in contact with his cold nose induced the animal to
set up a loud yell and retreat to his master much faster than
he came, passing first one fore-paw and then the other over
his nose, to wipe away the pain, in such a ridiculous manner
as to excite loud merriment, not only from our party on the
bench, but also from others who had witnessed the scene.
" So much for curiosity," said M'Elvina, continuing his
mirth. The proprietor of the dog, a young Frenchman,
dressed very much en calicot, did not, however, seem quite
so much amused with this practical joke ; he cocked his hat
fiercely on one side, raised his figure to the utmost of its
height, and walking up en grand militaire, addressed M'Elvina
with " Comment, monsieur, vans avez fait une grande betise-la ;
vous m'insultez "
" I think I had better not understand French," said
M'Elvina aside to Debriseau; then turning to the French-
man with a grave face and air of incomprehension " What
did you say, sir ? "
" Ah ! you are Inglisman. You not speak French ? "
M'Elvina shook his head and began to puff away at his
cigar.
" Den, sare, if you not speak de French language, I speak
de Inglis like von natif, and I tell you, sare, que vous m'avez
insulte. Got for dam ! you burnt my dog nose ; vat you
mean, sare ? "
" The dog burnt his own nose," answered M'Elvina mildly.
" Vat you mean ? De dog burnt his own nose ! How is a
dog cap-able to burn his own nose ? Sare, you put de cigar
to my dog nose. I must have de satisfaction or de apology
tout de suite."
" But, sir, I have not insulted you."
" Sare, you insult my dog ; he is von and de same ting
mon chien est un chien de sentiment. He feel de affront all de
same vid me ; I feel de affront all de same vid him. Vous
naves qu'd choisir, monsieur."
" Between you and your dog ? " answered M'Elvina. " Well,
then, I'd rather fight the dog."
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" Bah ! fight de dog. De dog cannot fight, sare ; maisje fttu
son maitre et son ami, and I \ r ill fight for him."
"Well, then, monsieur, I did insult your dog, I must ac-
knowledge, and I will give him the satisfaction which you
require."
" And how vill you give de satisfaction to de dog ? "
" Why, sir, you said just now that he was un chien de beau-
coup de sentiment. If he is so, he will accept and properly
appreciate my apology."
" Ah, sare ! " replied the Frenchman, relaxing the stern
wrinkles of his brow, " c'est bien dit ; you will make de apology
to de dog. Sans doute he is de principal ; I am only de second.
C'est -une affaire arrangee. Moustache, viens id, Moustache "
(the dog came up to his master). " Monsieur est tres-fdche de
t' avoir brule lenez."
" Monsieur Moustache," said M'Elvina, taking off his hat
with mock gravity to the dog, who seemed determined to
keep at a respectful distance, "je vous demande mille excuses."
"Ah ! que c'est charmant .'" cried some of the fair sex, who,
as well as the men, had been attracted by, and were listening
to the dispute. "Que Monsieur r Anglais est drole ; et voyez
Moustache, comme il a Fair content, f 'raiment c'est un chien
d' esprit. Allez, Moustache," said his master, who was now all
smiles, " donnez la patte a monsieur donnez done. Ah, sare !
he forgive you, I am very sure ; il n'a pas de malice. But he is
afraid of de cigar. De burnt shild dred de vater, as your great
Shakespeare say."
" Cest un chien de talent ; il atbeaucoup de sentiment. Je suit
bienfdche de Favoir blesse, monsieur."
" Et monsieur parle Francois ? "
" I should esteem myself fortunate if I spoke your language
as well as you do mine," replied M'Elvina in French.
This compliment, before so many bystanders, completely
won the heart of the vain and choleric Frenchman.
" Ah, sare ! you are too complaisant, I hope I shall have de
pleasure to make your acquaintance. Je mappelle Monsieur
Auguste de Poivre, J'ai Fkonneur de vous presenter une carte
d'adresse. I live on de top of my mother's sur FentresoL
My mother live on de ground rez-de-chaussee. Madame
ma mere will be delighted to receive a monsieur of so much
vit and *dresse." So saying, away went Monsieur Auguste
71
THE KING'S OWN
de Poivre, followed by Moustache, who was "all von and de
same ting."
" Well, we live and learn," said M'Elvina, laughing, as soon
as the Frenchman was at a little distance ; " I never thought
that I should have made an apology to a dog."
"Oh, but," replied Debriseau, "you forget that he was un
chien de sentiment."
"You may imagine, from my behaviour, that I consider
him a wiser puppy than his master, for he ran away from
fire, whereas his master tried all he could to get into it.
Some of our countrymen would have humoured him, and
turned a comedy into a tragedy. I set a proper value on
my life, and do not choose to risk it about trifles."
" There has been more than one valuable life thrown away
about a dog in my remembrance," said Debriseau. " I think
you behaved in a sensible manner to get rid of the affair as
you did, but you would have done better not to have burnt
the dog's nose."
"Granted," replied M'Elvina ; "the more so as I have
often remarked that there is no object in the world, except
your children or your own self, in which the meum is so power-
ful and the tuum so weak. You caress your own dog, and
kick a strange one; you are pleased with the clamorous
barking of your own cur, and you curse the same noise
from another. The feeling is as powerful almost as that of
a mother, who thinks her own ugly cub a cherub compared
to others, and its squallings the music of the spheres. It is
because there is no being that administers so much to the
self-love of his master. He submits with humility to the blows
inflicted in the moment of irritation and licks the hand that
corrects. He bears no revengeful feelings, and is ready to fondle
and caress you the moment that your good-humour returns.
He is, what man looks in vain for among his kind, a faithful
friend, . without contradiction the veri/ perfection of a slave.
The abject submission on his part, which would induce you to
despise him, becomes a merit when you consider his courage,
his fidelity, and his gratitude. I cannot think what Mahomet
was about when he pronounced his fiat against them as unclean."
" Well," said Debriseau, " I agree with Mahomet that they
are not clean, especially puppies. There's that little beast at
Monsieur Picardon's ; I declare "
72
THE KING'S OWN
" Pooh ! " interrupted M'Elvina, laughing, " I aon't mean it
in that sense. I mean that, in a despotic country, the conduct
of a dog towards his master should be held up as an example
for imitation ; and I think that the banner of the Moslem
should have borne the dog, instead of the crescent, as an
emblem of blind fidelity and tacit submission."
"That's very true," said Debriseau; "but, nevertheless, I
wish mademoiselle's puppy were either taught manners or
thrown over the quay."
" Ce nest pas un chien de sentiment," replied M'Elvina, laugh-
ing. " But it is nearly dark. Allans an cabaret."
They returned to the inn ; and the wind on the ensuing
morning blowing strong from a favourable quarter, Willy and
Debriseau accompanied M'Elvina down to the mole, from
whence he embarked on board of the sloop, which was
already under way, and in the course of an hour was out
of sight
On the following day Captain Debriseau accompanied
Willy to the pension, where our hero remained nearly five
months, occasionally visited by the Guernsey captain when
he returned from his smuggling trips, and more rarely re-
ceiving a letter from M'Elvina, who had safely landed his
cargo, and was latterly at Havre, superintending the fitting
out of his new vessel Our hero made good progress during
the few months that he remained at the pension, and when
M'Elvina returned to take him away, not only could speak
the French language with fluency, but had also made con-
siderable progress in what Sir W. C used to designate
in his toast as "the three R's" viz., "Reading, 'Kiting,
and 'Rithmetic."
The lugger which had been built for M'Elvina by his em-
ployer was now ready, and bidding farewell to Debriseau,
who continued in the Cherbourg trade, our hero and his
protector journeyed en diligence to Havre.
THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER XIII
Through the haze of the night a bright flash now appearing,
" Oh, ho ! " cried Will Watch, " the Philistines bear down ;
Bear a hand, my tight lads, ere we think about sheering,
One broadside pour in, should we swim, boys, or drown."
Sea Song.
, Willy, what do you think of La Belle Susanne?" said
M'Elvina as they stood on the pier, about a stone's-throw
from the vessel, which lay with her broadside towards them.
Not that M'Elvina had any opinion of Willy's judgment, but,
from the affectionate feeling which every sailor imbibes for
his own ship, he expected gratification even in the admira-
tion of a child. The lugger was certainly as beautiful a
model of that description of vessel as had ever been launched
from a slip. At the distance of a mile, with the sea running,
it was but occasionally that you could perceive her long
black hull, so low was she in the water, and so completely
were her bulwarks pared down; yet her breadth of beam
was very great and her tonnage considerable, as may be
inferred when it is stated that she mounted sixteen long
brass nine-pounders and was manned with one hundred and
thirty men. But now that she was lying at anchor in
smooth water, you had an opportunity of examining, with the
severest scrutiny, the beautiful run of the vessel as she sat
graceful as a diver, and appeared, like that aquatic bird, ready
to plunge in at a moment and disappear under the wave
cleft by her sharp fore-foot and rippling under her bows.
" When shall we sail ? " inquired Willy, after bestowing
more judicious encomiums upon the vessel than might be
expected.
"To-morrow night, if the wind holds to the southward.
We took in our powder this morning. Where were you
stationed at quarters on board the - ? "
" Nowhere. I was not on the ship's books until a day or
two before I left her."
" Then you must be a powder-monkey with me ; you can
hand powder up, if you can do nothing else."
74
THE KING'S OWN
"I can do more/' replied Willy proudly; "I can roll
shells overboard."
"Ay, ay, so you can; I forgot that. I suppose I must put
you on the quarter-deck,, and make an officer of you, as
Captain M intended to do."
" I mean to stand by you when we fight," said Willy,
taking M'Elvina's hand.
" Thank you ; that may not be so lucky. I'm rather super-
stitious ; and, if I recollect right, your old friend Adams
had that honour when he was killed."
The name of old Adams being mentioned made Willy
silent and unhappy. M'Elvina perceived it ; the conversa-
tion was dropped, and they returned home.
A few days afterwards La Belle Susanne sailed, amidst the
shouts and vivas of the multitude collected on the pier, and a
thousand wishes for " succes " and ' ' bon voyage," the builder
clapping his hands and skipping with all the simial ecstasy
of a Frenchman at the encomiums lavished upon his vessel
as she cleaved through the water with the und eviating
rapidity of a barracouta. But the vivas, and the shouts, and
the builder, and the pier that he capered on were soon out
of sight, and our hero was once more confiding in the track-
less and treacherous ocean.
"Well, she does walk," said Phillips, who had followed the
fortunes of his captain, and was now looking over the quarter
of the vessel. " She must be a clipper as catches us with the
tacks on board ! Right in the wind's eye too ; clean full.
By the powers ! I believe if you were to lift her, she would
lay a point on the other side of the wind."
"Get another pull of the fore-halyards, my lads," cried
M'Elvina. ''These new ropes stretch most confoundedly.
There, belay all that ; take a severe turn, and don't come up
an inch."
The breeze freshened, and the lugger flew through the
water, dashing the white spray from her bows into the air,
where it formed little rainbows as it was pierced by the
beams of the setting sun.
" We shall have a fine night, and light weather towards the
morning, I think," said the first-mate, addressing M'Elvina
" I think so too. Turn the hands up to muster by the
quarter-belL We'll load the guns as soon as the lights are
75
THE KING'S OWN
out ; let the gunner fill forty rounds, and desire the carpenter
to nail up the hatchway-screens. Let them be rolled up and
stopped. We'll keep them up for a, full due, till we return to
Havre."
The crew of the lugger were now summoned on deck by
the call of the boatswain, and having been addressed by
Captain M'Elvina upon the absolute necessity of activity and
preparation in a service of such peculiar risk, they loaded the
guns and secured them for the night.
The crew consisted of about eighty or ninety Englishmen,
out of the full complement of one hundred and thirty men ;
the remainder was composed of Frenchmen and other Con-
tinental adventurers. Although the respective countries were
at variance, the subjects of each had shaken hands, that
they might assist each other in violating the laws. The quiet
and subordination of a king's ship were not to be expected
here, loud and obstreperous mirth, occasional quarrelling, as
one party, by accident or intention, wounded the national
pride of the other. French, English, and Irish, spoken
alternately or at the same moment, created a degree of
confusion which proved that the reins of government were
held lightly by the captain in matters of small importance ;
but although there was a general freedom of manner and
independence of address, still his authority was acknowledged
and his orders implicitly obeyed. It was a ship's company
.vhich pulled every way, as the saying is, when there was
nothing to demand union ; but let difficulty or danger appear,
and all their squabbling was forgotten, or reserved for a
more seasonable opportunity ; then they all pulled together,
those of each nation vying in taking the lead and setting an
example to the other.
Such was the crew of 'the lugger which M'Elvina com-
manded, all of whom were picked men, remarkable for their
strength and activity.
As the first-mate had predicted, the wind fell light after
midnight, and at dawn of day the lugger was gliding through
the smooth water at the rate of three or four miles an hour,
shrouded in a thick fog. The sun rose, and had gained
about twenty degrees of altitude, when M'Elvina beat to
quarters, that he might accustom his men to the exercise
of the guns. The rays of the sun had not power to pierce
76
THE KING'S OWN
through the fog ; and, shorn of his beams, he had more the
appearance of an overgrown moon, or was, ; i s Phillips quaintly
observed, "like a man disguised in woman's attire."
The exercise of the guns had not long continued, when
the breeze freshened up and the fog began partially to
disperse. Willy, who was perched on the roundhouse abaft,
observed a dark mass looming through the mist on the
weather beam. " Is that a vessel ? " said Willy, pointing it
out to the first-mate, who was standing near M'EIvina.
" Indeed it is, my boy," replied the mate ; " you've a sharp
eye of your own."
M'Elvina's glass was already on the object. " A cutter right
before the wind, coming down to us ; a Government vessel
of some sort or another, I'll swear. I trust she's a revenue
cruiser; I have an account to settle with those gentlemen.
Stay at your quarters, my lads ; hand up shot and open the
magazine ! "
The powerful rays of the sun, assisted by the increasing
wind, now rolled away the fog from around the vessels,
which had a perfect view of each other. They were distant
about two miles, and the blue water was strongly rippled by
the breeze which had sprung up. The lugger continued her
course on a wind, while the cutter bore down towards her
with all the sail she could throw out. The fog continued to
clear away, until there was an open space of about three or
four miles in diameter. But it still remained folded up in
deep masses, forming a wall on every side, which obscured
the horizon from their sight. It appeared as if nature had
gratuitously cleared away a sufficient portion of the mist, and
had thus arranged a little amphitheatre for the approaching
combat between the two vessels
" His colours are up, sir. Revenue stripes, by the Lord ! "
cried Phillips.
" Then all's right," replied M'EIvina
The cutter had 'now run down within half-a-mile of the
lugger, who had continued her course with the most perfect
nonchalance, when she rounded-to. The commander of the
vessel, aware, at the first discovery of the lugger, that she
could be no other than an enemy, who would most probably
give him some trouble, had made every preparation for the
engagement.
77
THE KING'S OWN
"Shall we hoist any colours, sir?" said the first-mate to
M'Elvina.
"No; if we hoist English, he will not commence action
until he has made the private signal, and all manner of par-
leying, which is quite unnecessary. He knows what we are
well enough."
"Shall we hoist a French ensign, sir?" -
" No ; I'll fight under no other colours than those of old
England, even when I resist her authority."
A long column of white smoke now rolled along the sur-
face of the water as the cutter, who had waited in vain for
the colours being hoisted, fired the first gun at her antago-
nist. The shot whizzed between the masts of the lugger
and plunged into the water a quarter of a mile to leeward.
" A vous, monsieur ! " roared out a French quarter-master
on board of the lugger, in imitation of the compliments which
take place previously to an assaut d'armes, at the same time
taking off his hat and bowing to the cutter.
"Too high, too high, good Mr. Searcher," said M'Elvina,
laughing ; " depress your guns to her water-line, my lads,
and do not fire until I order you."
The remainder of the cutter's broadside was now dis-
charged at the lugger, but the elevation being too great,
the shot whizzed over, without any injury to her crew ; the
main-halyards were, however, shot away, and the yard and
sail fell thundering down on the deck.
" Be smart, my lads, and bend on again ; it's quite long
enough. Up with the sail and we'll return the compliment."
In less than a minute the tie of the halyards, which had
been divided close to the yard, was hitched round it, and
the sail again expanded to the breeze. " Now, my lads, re-
member, don't throw a shot away; fire when you're ready."
The broadside of the lugger was poured into the cutter,
with what effect upon the crew could not be ascertained ;
but the main-boom was cut in half, and the outer part of it
fell over the cutter's quarter and was dragged astern by the
clew of the sail.
" It's all over with her already," said the first-mate to
M'Elvina ; and as the cutter payed off before the wind
another broadside from her well-manned antagonist raked her
fore and aft. The cutter hauled down her jib, eased off her
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THE KING'S OWN
&re-sheet, and succeeded in again bringing her broadside to
bear. The action was now maintained with spirit, but much
to the disadvantage of the cutter, who was not only inferior
in force, but completely disabled from the loss of her main-
boom.
After an exchange of a dozen broadsides M 'El vina shot
the lugger ahead, and tacking under his adversary's bows,
raked him a second time. The commander of the revenue
vessel, to avoid a repetition of a similar disaster, payed his
vessel off before the wind, and returned the fire as they came
abreast of each other; but in these manoeuvres the lugger
obtained the weather-gage. It was, however, a point of
little consequence as matters then stood. In a few more
broadsides the cutter was a complete wreck, and unable to
return the fire of her opponent. Her fore-stay and halyards
had been cut away, her fore-sail was down on deck, and her
jib Iving overboard under her bows.
" I think that will do," said M 'El vina to the first-mate.
" We had better be off now, for our guns will be sure to bring
down some of the cruisers ; and if she surrendered, I could
not take possession of her. Let's give her a parting broad-
side and three cheers."
M'Elvina's orders were obeyed ; but not one gun was
returned by the cutter. " Starboard a little ; keep her away
now, and we'll close and stand ahead of her, that she may
read our name on the stem. It's a pity they should not
know to whom they are indebted. They'll not forget La
Belle Susanne."
The cutter had not been left a mile astern before the breeze
freshened and the fog began rapidly to disperse ; and Phillips,
who continued at the conn, perceived through the haze a
large vessel bearing down towards them.
" High time that we were off, indeed, captain ; for there's
a cruiser, if I mistake not. A gun here is the same to the
cruiser as a splash in the water is to the ground-sharks at
Antigua; up they all come to see what's to be had. We
shall have a dozen of them above the horizon before two
hours are above our heads."
M -El vina, who had his glass fixed upon the vessel, soon
made her out to be a frigate, coming down under a press of
sail, attracted, as Phillips had remarked, by the reports of the
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THE KING'S OWN
guns. What made the affair more serious was, that she was
evidently bringing down a strong breeze, which the lugger,
although steering large, had not yet obtained. Moreover,
the fog had dispersed in all directions, and the frigate neared
them fast.
" B 1 the cutter ! " said the first-mate ; " we shall pay
dearly for our lark."
"This is confoundedly unlucky/' replied M'Elvina; "she
brings the wind down with her, and won't part with a breath
of it. However, ' faint heart never won fair lady.' Keep her
away two points more. Clap everything on her. We'll weathci
her yet."
The breeze that ran along the water in advance of the
frigate now began to be felt by the lugger, who again dashed
the foaming water from her bows as she darted through the
wave ; but it was a point of sailing at which a frigate has
always an advantage over a small vessel; and M'Elvina
having gradually edged away, so as to bring the three masts
of his pursuer apparently into one, perceived that the frigate
was rapidly closing with him.
The crew of the lugger, who had been all merriment at the
successful termination of the late combat (for not one man
had been killed or severely wounded), now paced the deck,
or looked over the bulwark with serious and foreboding
aspects ; the foreigners, particularly, began to curse their
fate, and considered their voyage and anticipated profits at
an end. M'Elvina, perceiving their discontent, ordered tii?
men aft and addressed them :
" My lads, I have often been in a worse scrape, and have
weathered it ; nor do I know but what we may yet manage
to get out of this, if you will pay strict attention to my orders
and behave in that cool and brave manner which I have reason
to expect from you. Much, if not all, depends upon whether
the captain of that frigate is a ' new hand ' or not. If he is an
old Channel -groper, we shall have some difficulty ; but, how-
ever, we will try for it, and if we do not succeed, at least we
shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we did our best
both for ourselves and our employers."
M'Elvina then proceeded to explain to his crew the man-
oauvre that he intended to practise to obtain the weather-ga^
of the frigate, upon which their only chance of escape would
80
THE KING'S OWN
the men returned to their stations, if not con-
tented, at least with increased confidence in their captain,
and strong hopes of success.
As the day closed the frigate was within a mile of the
lugger, and coming up with her hand over hand. The breeze
was strong, and the water was no longer in ripples, but curled
over in short waves to the influence of the blast. The frigate
yawed a little ; the smoke from her bow-chaser was followed
by an instantaneous report, and the shot dashed into the
water close under the stem of the lugger. " Sit down under
the bulwarks; sit down, my lads, and keep all fast," said
M'EJvina. " Hell soon be tired of that ; he has lost more
than a cable's-length already." M-Elvina was correct in his
supposition ; the commander of the frigate perceived that he
had lost too much ground by deviating from his course, and
the evening was closing in. He fired no more. Both vessels
continued their course, the smuggler particularly attentive in
keeping the three masts of her pursuer in one, to prevent her
from firing into her, or to oblige her to drop astern if she did.
Half-an-hour more, and as the sun's lower limb touched
the horizon the frigate was within musket-shot of the lugger,
and the marines, who had been ordered forward, commenced
a heavy fire upon her, to induce her to lower her sails and
surrender ; but in vain. By the directions of their captain,
the men sheltered themselves under the bulwarks, and the
vessel continued her course, with all her sails expanded to
the breeze,
A few minutes more and she was right under the bows of
the frigate, who now prepared to round-to and pour a broad-
side into her for her temerity. M'Elvina watched their
motions attentively, and as the frigate yawed-to with all her
sails set, he gave the order to lower away ; and the sails of
the lugger were in an instant down on the deck, in token of
*' Helm hard a-lee, now ; keep a little bit of the mizzen
up, Phillips ; they won't observe it."
"Marines, cease firing; hands, shorten sail and clear away
the first cutter," were the orders given on board the frigate,
and distinctly heard by the smugglers ; but the heavy press
of sail that the frigate was obliged to carry to come up with
the chase was not so soon to be reduced as that of a small
81 F
THE KING'S OWN
vessel ; and as she rounded-to with studding-sails below
and aloft, she shot past the lugger, and left her on her
quarter.
" Now's your time, my men. Hoist away the jib-sheet to
windward." The lugger payed off as the wind caught the
sail. " All's right. Up with the lugs."
The order was obeyed as an order generally is by men
working for their escape from what they most dreaded
poverty and imprisonment ; and before the frigate could
reduce her sails, which were more than she could carry on a
wind, the lugger had shot away on her weather quarter, and
was a quarter of a mile in advance. The frigate tacked after
her, firing gun after gun, but without success. Fortune
favoured M'Elvina ; and the shades of night soon hid the
lugger from the sight of her irritated and disappointed pur-
suers. A long career was before La Belle Susanne ; she was
not to be taken that time.
CHAPTER XIV
A fisherman he had been in his youth ;
But other speculations were, in sooth,
Added to his connection with the sea,
Perhaps not so respectable, in truth.
He had an only daughter.
Don Juan.
IN OT possessing a prompter's whistle, we must use, as a sub-
stitute, the boatswain's call, and at his shrill pipe we change
the scene to a back-parlour in one of the most confined streets
at the east end of England's proud and wealthy metropolis.
The dramatis personce are an elderly and corpulent personage,
with as little of fashion in his appearance as in his residence,
and a young female of about twenty years of age, with ex-
pressive and beautiful features, but wanting " the damask on
the cheek," the true value of which the fair sex so well
appreciate that, if not indebted for it to nature, they are too
apt to resort to art for an unworthy imitation.
82
THE KING'S O\V$
The first-mentioned of these two personages was busy exa-
mining, through his spectacles, some papers which lay on the
table before him, occasionally diverted from his task by the
pertinacity of some flies, which seemed to have taken a par-
ticular fancy to his bald forehead and scalp, which, in spite of
his constant brushing off, thev thought proj>er to consider as
a pleasant and smooth sort of coursing-plain, placed there
(probably in their ideas) solely for their anuisement. Part of
a decanter of wine and the remains of a dessert crowded the
small table at which he sat, and added to the general air of
confinement which pervaded the whole.
" It's very hot, my dear. Open the window and let us have
a little air."
"Oh, father ! " replied the young woman, who rose to throw
up the sash, "you don't know how I pine for fresh air. How
long do you intend to continue this life of constant toil and
privation ?"
" How long, my dear ? Why, I presume you do not wish
to starve ; you would not be very well pleased if. when you
applied for money, as you do every week at least, I were to
tell you that the bag was empty."
" Oh, nonsense ; I know better, father. Don't think so
poorly of me as to attempt to deceive me in that way."
" And pray, Miss Susan, what do you know r " said the old
gentleman, looking up at her through his spectacles as she
stood by the side of his chair.
" I know what you have taught me, sir. Do you recollect
explaining to me the nature of the Funds, what was the
meaning of the National Debt, all the varieties of stock, and
what interest thev all bore ? "
"Well, and what then?"
" Why, then, father, I have often seen the amounts of the
dividends which you have received every half-year, and have
heard your orders to Wilmott to reinvest in the Funds.
Now, your last half-year's dividend in the Three per Cents, was
let me see oh 8+1, 14s. 6d., which, you know, doubled,
makes itself an income of "
" And pray, Miss Susan, what business have you with all
this ? " retorted her father, half pleased, half angry.
"Why, father, you taught me yourself, and thought me
very stupid because I did not comprehend it as soon as you
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THE KING'S OWN
expected," answered Susan, leaning over and kissing him ,
" and now you ask me what business I have to know it."
"Well, well, girl, it's very true," said the old man, smiling;
" but allowing that you are correct, what then ? "
" Why then, father, don't be angry if I say that it appears
to me that you have more money now than you can spend
while you live, or know to whom to leave it when you die.
What, then, is the use of confining yourself in a dirty, narrow
street, and toiling all day for no earthly advantage ? "
" But how do you know that I have nobody to leave my
money to, Susan ? "
" Have you not repeatedly said that you have no relations
or kin that you are aware of except me ; that you were once
a sailor before the mast an orphan, bound apprentice by the
parish ? Whom, then, have you except me ? and if you con-
tinue here much longer, father, I feel convinced that you will
not have me ; you will have no one. If you knew how tired
I am of looking out at this horrid brick wall ; how I long for
the country, to be running among the violets and primroses ;
how I pine for relief from this little dungeon. Oh ! what
would I give to be flying before the breeze in the lugger
with M'Elvina ! "
" Indeed, Miss ! " replied old Hornblow, whom the reader
may recognise as the patron of our smuggling captain.
" Well, father, there's no harm in saying so. I want freedom.
I feel as if I could not be too free ; I should like to be blown
about in a balloon. Oh ! why don't you give up business, go
down to the seaside, take a pretty little cottage, and make
yourself and me happy ? I fancy the sea-breeze is blowing in
my face and all my ringlets out of curl. I shall die if I stay
here much longer; I shall indeed, father."
Repeated attacks of this nature had already sapped the
foundation, and a lovely and only daughter had the influence
over her father's heart to wh,ich she was entitled.
" Well, well, Susan, let M'Elvina wind up the accounts of
this vessel, and then I will do as you wish ; but I cannot turn
him adrift, you know."
"Turn Captain M'Elvina adrift ! No; if you did, father
" I presume that you would be very much inclined to take
him in tow eh, Miss ? "
" I shall never act without attending to your advice and
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consulting your wishes, my dear father," answered Susan, the
suffusion of her unusually pale cheeks proving that she re-
quired but colour to be perfectly beautiful.
And here the conversation dropped. Old Hornblow had
long perceived the growing attachment between his daughter
and M'Elvina, and the faithful and valuable services of the
latter, added to the high opinion which the old man had of
his honesty which, to do M'Elvina justice, had been most
scrupulous had determined him to let things take their own
course. Indeed, there was no one with whom old Homblow was
acquainted to whom he would have entrusted his daughter's
happiness with so much confidence as to our reformed captain.
A sharp double tap at the street-door announced the post,
and in a few minutes after this conversation the clerk ap-
peared with a letter for old Hornblow, who, pursuant to the
prudent custom of those days, had his coimting-house on the
ground-floor of his own residence, which enabled him to go
to his dinner, and return to his business in the evening.
Nowadays we are all above our business, and live above our
means (which is in itself sufficient to account for the general
distress that is complained of) ; and the counting-house is
deserted before dusk, that we may arrive at our residences
in Russell Square or the Regent's Park in time to dress for
a turtle-dinner at six o'clock, instead of a mutton-chop or
single joint, enfamille, at two.
But to return. Old Hornblow put on his spectacles (which
were on the table since they had been removed from his
nose by Susan when she kissed him), and examined the post-
mark, seal, and superscription, as if he wished to tax his in-
genuity with a guess previously to opening the letter, which
would have saved him all that trouble, and have decided
the point of scrutiny, viz., from whom it came.
" M'Elvina, I rather think," said he, musing ; " but the
post-mark is Plymouth. How the deuce The two
first lines of the letter were read, and the old man's counte-
nance fell. Susan, who had been all alive at the mention of
M'Elvina' s name, perceived the alteration in her father's looks.
" No bad news, I hope, my dear father ? "
" Bad enough," replied the old man, with a deep sigh ;
" the lugger is taken by a frigate, and sent into Plymouth."
" And Captain M'Elvina he's not hurt, I hope ? "
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" No, I presume not, as he has written the letter, and says
nothing about it."
Satisfied upon this point, Susan, who recollected her father's
promise, was undutiful enough, we are sorry to say, to allow
her heart to bound with joy at the circumstance. All her
fond hopes were about to be realised, and she could hardly
refrain from carolling the words of Ariel, "Where the bee
sucks, there lurk I ; ' but fortunately she remembered that
other parties might not exactly participate in her delight.
Out of respect for her father's feelings, she therefore put on a
grave countenance, in sad contrast with her eyes, which joy
had brilliantly lighted up.
"Well, it's a bad business," continued old Hornblow.
" Wilmott 1 " (The clerk heard his master's voice, and came
in.) " Bring me the ledger. Let me see Belle Susanne.
I wonder why the fool called her by that name, as if I had
not one already to take money out of my pocket. Oh ! here
it is folio 59 continued; folio 100, 129, 147 not balanced
since April last year. Be quick, and strike me out a rough
balance-sheet of the lugger."
"But what does Captain M'Elvina say, father?"
"What does he say? Why, that he is taken. Haven't
I told you so already, girl ? ' ' replied old Hornblow, in
evident ill-humour.
" Yes, but the particulars, my dear father 1 "
"Oh, there's only the fact, without particulars says he
will write more fully in a day or two."
" I'll answer for him that it was not his fault, father ; he
has always done you justice."
" I did not say that he had not ; I'm only afraid that
success has made him careless it's always the case."
" Yes," replied Susan, taking up the right cue, " as you
say, father, he has been very successful."
" He has," replied the old man, recovering his serenity a
little, " very successful indeed I dare say it was not his fault."
The clerk soon made his appearance with the rough balance-
sheet required. It did more to restore the good-humour of
Ihe old man than even the soothing of his daughter.
" Oh ! here we are La Belle Susanne Dr, to .
Total, 14,864, 14s. 3d. Contra - Cr. 27,986, l6s. 8d.
Balance to profit and loss, 13,122, 2s. 5d. Well, that's not
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so very bad in less than three years. I think I may afford
to lose her."
"Why, father," replied Susan, leaning over his shoulder
and looking archly at him, "'tis a fortune in itself, to a
contented person."
But as, independently of M'Elvina's letter not being suf-
ficiently explicit, there are other circumstances connected
with his capture that are important to our history, we shall
ourselves narrate the particulars.
For more than two years M'Elvina, by his dexterity and
courage, and the fast sailing of his vessel, had escaped all his
pursuers and regularly landed his cargoes. During this time
Willy had made rapid progress under his instruction, not onlv
in his general education, but also in that of his profession.
One morning the lugger was off Cape Clear, on the coast of
Ireland, when she discovered a frigate to windward, the
wind, weather, and relative situations of the two vessels being
much the same as on the former occasion when M'Elvina,
by his daring and judicious manoeuvre, had effected his
escape. The frigate chased, and soon closed-to within a
quarter of a mile of the lugger, when she rounded-to and
poured in a broadside of grape, which brought her fore-yard
down on deck. From that moment such an incessant fire of
musketry was poured in from the frigate that every man on
board of M'Elvina's vessel who endeavoured to repair the
mischief was immediately struck down. Any attempt at
escape was now hopeless. When within two cables'-lengtl,
the frigate hove to the wind, keeping the lugger under her
lee, and continued a fire of grape and musketry into her until
the rest of her sails were lowered down.
The crew of the smuggler, perceiving all chance in their
favour to be over, ran down below to avoid the fire and
secure their own effects. The boats of the frigate were soon
on board of the lugger, and despatched back to her with
M'Elvina and the chief officers. Willy jumped into the boat
and was taken on board with his patron.
The captain of the frigate was on the quarter-deck ; and
as he turned round, it occurred to Willy that he had seen
his face before, but when or where he could not exactly
call to mind ; and he continued to scrutinise him as he
paced up and down the quarter-deck, revolving in his
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THE KING'S OWN
mind where it was that he had encountered that peculiar
countenance.
His eye, so fixed upon the captain that it followed him
up and down as he moved, at last was met by that of the
latter, who, surprised at finding so small a lad among the
prisoners, walked over to the lee-side of the quarter-deck
and addressed him with " You're but a young smuggler,
my lad ; are you the captain's son ? "
The voice immediately recalled to Willy's recollection
every circumstance attending their last meeting, and who
the captain was. He answered in the negative with a smile.
" You've a light heart, youngster. Pray, what's your
name ? "
" You said that my name was to be Seymour, sir," replied
Willy, touching his hat.
" Said his name was to be Seymour ! What does the
boy mean ? Good heavens ! I recollect," observed Captain
M , for it was he. " Are you the boy that I sent horo^
in the chasse-maree, to be fitted out for the quarter-deck ? "
" Yes, sir."
"And how long have you been on this praiseworthy
service ? "
" Ever since, sir," replied our hero, who had little idea
of its impropriety.
La Belle Susanne was as renowned for her fast sailing and
repeated escapes from the cruisers as Captain M'Elvina and
his crew were for their courage and success. The capture
of the vessel had long been a desideratum of the English
Government ; and Captain M , although gratified at her
falling into his hands, was not very well pleased to find that
a lad whom he had intended to bring forward in the service
should, as he supposed, have voluntarily joined a party who
had so long bid defiance to the laws and naval force of the
country. His countenance assumed an air of displeasure, and
he was about to turn away without any further remarks,
when M'Elvina, who perceived how matters stood, and felt
aware that Willy's future prospects were at stake, stepped
forward, and respectfully addressing the captain, narrated
in few words the rescue of Willy from the wreck, and added
that the boy had been detained by him, and had had no
opportunity of leaving the vessel, which had never anchored
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po
indeed true, that he had always evaded explaining to the
boy the real nature of the service upon which the lugger was
employed ; from which it may be interred that, notwithstand-
ing M'Elvina's defence of smuggling in a former chapter,
he was not quite so well convinced in his own mind of its
propriety as he would have induced Debriseau to suppose.
The assertions of M'Elvina turned the scale again in Willy's
favour ; and after he had answered the interrogatories of
the captain relative to the fate of Mr. Bullock and the rest of
the men in the prize, Captain M , who, although severe,
was not only just but kind-hearted, determined that his
former good intentions relative to our hero should still re-
main in force.
" Well, Mr. Seymour, you have seen a little service, and
your captain gives you a high character as an active and
clever lad. As you have been detained against your will,
I think w r e may recover your time and pay. I trust, how-
ever, that you will in future be employed in a more honourable
manner. We shall, in all probability, be soon in port, and
till then you must remain as you are, for I cannot trust you
again in a prize."
As our hero was in a new ship, the officers and ship's com-
pany of which were not acquainted with his history, except
that he had been promoted for an act of gallantly by Captain
M , he was favourably received by his messmates. The
crew of the lugger were detained as prisoners on board of the
frigate, and the vessel, in charge of one of the officers, was
ordered to keep company, Captain M having determined
to return into port, and not wishing to lose sight of his valu-
able prize.
" You have a very fine ship's company, Captain M'Elvina,"
observed Captain M . " How many of them are English ? "
" About eighty ; and as good seamen as ever walked a
plank."
Captain M ordered the crew of the lugger aft of the
quarter-deck, and put the question to them whether they
would not prefer entering his Majesty's service to the confine-
ment of a prison ; but at the moment they felt too indignant
at having been captured by the frigate to listen to the proposal,
arid refused to a man. Captain M turned away disap-
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pointed, surveying the fine body of men with a covetous eye
as they were ranged in a line on his quarter-deck. He felt
what a prize they would be to him, if he could have added
them to his own ship's company ; for at that time it was
almost impossible to man the number of ships which were
employed in an effective manner.
" Will you allow me to try what I can do for you, sir ?" said
M'Elvina, as the men disappeared from the quarter-deck to
their former station as prisoners. Having received the nod of
assent on the part of Captain M , M'Elvina went down to
the men, who gathered round him. He forcibly pointed out
co them the advantages of the proposal, and the good chance
they had of enriching themselves by the prize-money they
would make in a frigate which could capture such a fast-sailing
vessel as the lugger. He also dwelt upon the misery of the
prison which awaited them ; but what decided them was the
observation that, in all probability, they would not be per-
mitted (now that seamen were in such request) to remain in
prison, but would be drafted in several ships, and be separated,
whereas by now entering for Captain M they would all
remain shipmates as before.
Having obtained their unanimous consent, M'Elvina, with
a pleased countenance, came aft, followed by his men, and
informed Captain M that they had agreed to enter for
his ship. " Allow me to congratulate you, sir, on your good
fortune, as you will yourself acknowledge it to be when you
find out what an addition they will be to your ship's company."
" I am indebted to you for your interference, sir," replied
Captain M , "and shall not prove ungrateful. Your con-
duct in this affair makes me inclined to ask another favour.
I believe you can give me some valuable information, if you
choose. Whether you are inclined to do so I am not yet sure,
but I now think that you will."
" You will find me an Englishman, body and soul, sir ; and
although I have, in defence of my profession, been occasionally
necessitated to choose between capture and resistance, I can
most conscientiously say that every shot I have fired against
my own countrymen has smitten me to the heart " (and this
assertion was true, although we have no time to analyse
M'Elvina's feelings at present). " I am not bound by honour,
nor have I the least inclination, to conceal any information I
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may have obtained when in the French ports. I went there
to serve my purposes, and they allowed me to do so to serve
their own. I never would (although repeatedly offered bribes)
bring them any information relative to the proceedings of our
own country, and I shall most cheerfully answer your questions ;
indeed, I have information which I would have given you
before now, had I not felt that it might be supposed I was
actuated more by a view of serving myself than my country.
I only wish, Captain M , that you may fall in with a
French frigate before I leave your ship, that I may prove to
you that I can fight as well for old England as I have done in
defence of property entrusted to my charge."
"Then do me the favour to step down into the cabin," said
Captain M .
Captain M and M'Elvina were shut up in the after-
cabin for some time, and the information received by Captain
M was so important that he determined not to anchor.
He put all the French prisoners on board of the lugger at the
entrance of the Sound, and sending in a boat to take out the
major part of the men who had charge of her, he retained
M-Elvina on board of the frigate, and made all sail for the
French coast.
CHAPTER XV
That which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have.
SHAKSPEARE.
5UT we must return on shore, that we may not lose sight
of the grandfather of our hero, who had no idea that there
was a being in existence who was so nearly connected
with him.
The time had come when that information was to be given ;
for, about six weeks previous to the action we have described
in which Adams, the quarter-master, was killed, Admiral De
Courcy was attacked by a painful and mortal disease. As
long as he was able to move about, his irritability of temper,
increased by suffering, rendered him more insupportable than
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ever ; but he was soon confined to his room, and the progress of
the disease became so rapid that the medical attendants con-
sidered it their duty to apprise him that all hopes of recovery
must now be abandoned, and that he must prepare himself for
the worst.
The admiral received the intelligence with apparent com-
posure, and bowed his head to the physicians as they quitted
his room. He was alone, and left to his own reflections,
which were not of the most enviable nature. He was seated,
propped up in an easy-chair, opposite the large French
window, which commanded a view of the park. The sun was
setting, and the long-extended shadows of the magnificent
trees which adorned his extensive domain were in beautiful
contrast with the gleams of radiant light, darting in long
streaks between them on the luxuriant herbage. The cattle,
quietly standing in the lake, were refreshing themselves after
the heat of the day, and the deer lay in groups under the
shade or crouching in their lairs, partly concealed by the
underwood and fern. All was in repose and beauty, and the
dying man watched the sun, as it fast descended to the
horizon, as emblematical of his race, so shortly to be sped.
He surveyed the groups before him ; he envied even the
beasts of the field and the reclaimed tenants of the forest,
for they at least had of their kind, with whom they could
associate ; but he, their lord and master, was alone alone in
the world, without one who loved or cared for him ; without
one to sympathise in his sufferings and administer to his
wants, except from interested motives ; without one to soothe
his anguish and soften the pillow of affliction and disease ;
without one to close his eyes or shed a tear now that he
was dying.
His thoughts naturally reverted to his wife and children.
He knew that two of these individuals, out of three, were in
the cold grave and where was the other ? The certain
approach of death had already humanised and softened his
flinty heart. The veil that had been drawn by passion be-
tween his conscience and his guilt was torn away. The past
rushed upon his memory with dreadful rapidity and truth, and
horrible conviction flashed upon his soul, as he unwillingly
acknowledged himself to be the murderer of his wife and
child. Remorse, as usual, followed, treading upon the heels
THE KING'S OWN
of conviction such remorse that, in a short space, the agony
became insupportable.
After an ineffectual struggle of pride, he seized the line
which was attached to the bell-rope, and when his summons
was obeyed, desired that the vicar might be immediately
requested to come to him.
Acquainted with the admiral's situation, the vicar had
anxiously waited the summons which he was but too well
aware would come, for he knew the human heart, and the
ciy for aid which the sinner in his fear sends forth. He was
soon in the presence of the admiral, for the first time since
the day that he quitted the house with the letter of the
unfortunate Peters in his possession. The conversation which
ensued between the agitated man, who had existed only for
this world, and the placid teacher, who had considered it (as
he inculcated) as only a preparation for a better, was too
long to be here inserted. It will be sufficient to say that
the humbled and terrified wretch, the sufferer from disease,
and greater sufferer from remorse, never could have been
identified with the once proud and overbearing mortal who
had so long spurned at the precepts of religion and turned
a deaf ear to the mild persuasions of its apostle.
"But that letter!" continued the admiral in a faltering
voice " what was it ? I have yet one child alive. Oh ! send
immediately for him, and let me implore his forgiveness for
my cruelty."
" That letter, sir, was written but one hour previously to
his death."
" His death ! " cried the admiral, turning his eyes up to
the ceiling. " God have mercy on me 1 then I have murdered
him also. And how did he die ? Did he starve, as I ex-
pressed in my horrid, horrid wish ? "
" No, sir ; his life was forfeited to the offended laws of his
country."
" Good God, sir ! " hastily replied the admiral, whose ruling
passion pride returned for the moment, " you do not mean
to say that he was hanged ? "
" Even so ; but there" is the letter which he wrote read it."
The admiral seized the letter in his tremulous hand, and
devoured every word as he perused it. He let it fall on his
knees, and said in a subdued voice, " My God ! my God !
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THE KING'S OWN
and he asked forgiveness, and forgives me ! Then, with
frantic exclamation, he continued " Wretch that I am ;
would that I had died for thee, my son, my son ! " and
clasping his hands over his head, he fell back in a state
of insensibility.
The vicar, much affected with the scene, rang the bell for
assistance, which was obtained ; but the wretched man had
received a shock which hastened his dissolution. He was
too much exhausted to sit upright, and they were obliged
to carry him to the bed from which he never rose again.
As soon as he was sufficiently recovered to be able to con-
verse, he waved the servants from the room, and resumed in
a faltering voice
" But, sir, he mentions his child my grandchild. Where
is he ? Can I see him ? "
" I am afraid not, sir," replied the vicar, who then entered
into a recital of the arrangements which had taken place,
and the name of the ship on board of which our hero had
been permitted to remain, under the charge of Adams, the
quarter-master.
The admiral listened to the recital of the vicar without
interruption, and as soon as it was finished, to the great joy
of the worthy pastor, expressed the most anxious wish to
make every reparation in his power. Aware that difficulties
might arise from the circumstance of our hero's existence
not being suspected by his collateral heirs, who had for some
time considered as certain their ultimate possession of his
large entailed property, he directed a will to be immediately
drawn up, acknowledging his grandchild, and leaving to him
all his personal property, which was very considerable ; and
praying the vicar to take upon himself the office of guardian
to the boy a request which was cheerfully complied with.
The admiral would not listen to the repeated requests of the
vicar to take the repose which his excited and sinking frame
required until the necessary document had been drawn out,
signed, and duly witnessed When all was complete he fell
back on the pillow, in such a state of exhaustion as threatened
immediately to terminate his career. It was late when the
vicar took his leave, after having administered some little
consolation to the repentant and dying man, and promised to
call upon him early on the ensuing morning.
THE KING'S OWN
But the vicar had other duties to perform, which induced
him to defer his visit until the following noon. Others were
sick, others were dying, and needed spiritual consolation ;
and he made no distinction between the rich and the poor.
The physicians had expressed their opinion that the admiral
might linger for many days, and the vicar thought that
advantage might be derived from his being left for a short
time to his own reflections, and to recover from the state of
exhaustion arising from the communications of the preceding
evening. When he arrived at the hall the windows were
closed Admiral De Courcy was no more.
Reader, you shall hear how he died. It was about two
o'clock in the morning that he awoke from an uneasy slumber,
and felt his end approaching. The old crone who had been
hired as a nurse to watch at night was fast asleep in her
chair. The rushlight had burned low down in the socket,
and, through the interstices of its pierced shade, threw a
feeble and alternate light and shadow over the room. The
mouth of the dying man was glued together from internal
heat, and he suffered from agonising thirst. He murmured for
relief, but no one answered. Again and again he attempted
to make his careless attendant acquainted with his wants, but
in vain. He stretched out his arm and moved the curtains
of the bed, that the noise of the curtain-rings upon the iron
rods might have the effect, and then fell back with exhaus-
tion, arising from the effort which he had made.
The old beldame, who for money was willing to undertake
the most revolting offices, and who, without remuneration,
was so hardened, by her constant familiarity with disease and
death, that she was callous and insensible to the most earnest
supplication, woke up at the noise which the curtain-rings had
made, and opened the curtain to ascertain what was required.
Long experience told her at once that all would soon be over,
and she was convinced that her charge would never rise or
speak again.
This was true ; but the suffering man (his arm lying outside
of the bedclothes and his elbow bent upwards) still pointed
with his finger to his parched mouth, with a look of entreaty
from his sinking eyes. The old fiend shut the curtains, and
the admiral waited with impatience for them to reopen with
the drop of water " to cool his parched tongue," but in vain.
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THE KING'S OWN
Leaving him to his fate, she hobbled about the room to secure
a golden harvest, before others should make their appearance
and share it with her. His purse was on the table ; she re-
moved the gold which it contained, and left the silver ; she
chose that which she imagined to be the most valuable of the
three rings on the dressing-table ; she detached one seal from
the chain of his watch. She then repaired to the wardrobe
and examined its contents. One of her capacious pockets was
soon filled with the finest cambric handkerchiefs, all of which
she first took the precaution to open and hold up to the light,
rejecting those which were not of the finest texture. The silk
stockings were the next articles that were coveted ; they were
unfolded one by one, and her skinny arm passed up, that the
feet might be extended by her shrivelled hands, to ascertain
whether they were darned or not; if so, they were rejected.
The wardrobe was on the opposite side of the bed, and on
that side, the curtains had not been closed. The dying man
had still enough sight left to perceive the employment of his
attendant. What must have been his feelings ! He uttered
a deep groan, which startled the old hag, and she repaired to
the bedside to examine the state of her charge.
Again he pointed with his finger to his mouth, and again she
returned to her employment, without having rendered the
assistance which he required. His eyes followed and his finger
still pointed. Having ransacked every drawer and secured
all that she dared take, or that her pockets could contain, she
rang the bell for the servants of the house ; then pulling out
her handkerchief, ready to put to her eyes in token of sym-
pathy, she sat down on her easy-chair to await their coming.
In the meanwhile the eyes of the unfortunate man gradu-
ally turned upward ; his vision was gone, but his agonising
thirst continued to the last ; and when the retainers of the
family came in he was found dead, with his finger still point-
ing in the same direction.
With -ordinary minds, there is something so terrible in death,
something so awful in the dissolution of the elements of our
frame, something so horrible in the leap into the dark abyss,
that it requires all the powers of a fortified spirit, all the en-
couragement of a good conscience, and all the consolations
of religion and of faith to enable us to muster any degree of
resolution for the awful change. But if aught can smooth
THE KING'S OWN
the pillow, can chase away from the terrified spirit the doubt
and depression by which it is overwhelmed, it is the being
surrounded and attended by those who are devoted and en-
deared to us. When love and duty, and charity and sym-
pathy hover round the couch of the departing, fainting hope
is supported by their presence, and the fleeting spirit, directed
by them, looks upward to the realms from which these heaven-
born passions have been permitted to descend on earth, to
cheer us through our weary pilgrimage.
What, then, had Admiral De Courcy to support him in his
last moments ? A good conscience ? faith ? hope ? love ?
duty ? or even sympathy ? Wanting all, he breathed his
last. But let us
Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all ;
Close up his eyes, and draw the curtains close,
And let us all to meditation.
The vicar affixed seals upon the drawers, to secure the re-
mainder of the property (for the example of the old nurse had
been followed by many others), and having given directions
for the funeral, returned to his own home.
The second day after the admiral's death, a carriage and
four drove furiously up the avenue and stopped at the en-
trance door. The occupants descended, and rang the bells
with an air of authority ; the summons was answered by
several of the male domestics, who were anxiously looking
out for the new proprietor of the domain. A tall man, of
very gentleman-like appearance, followed by a mean-looking
personage in black, walked in, the latter, as he followed, pro-
claiming the other to the servants as the heir-at-law and
present owner of the property. By this time the whole
household were assembled, lining the hall for the visitors to
pass, and bowing and curtseying to the ground. The vicar,
who had expected the appearance of these parties, had left
directions that he might be immediately acquainted with their
arrival. On receipt of the information, he proceeded to the
hall, and was ushered into the library, where he found them
anxiously awaiting his arrival, that the seals might be with-
drawn which had been placed upon the drawers.
"Whom have I the honour of addressing, sir?" said the
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THE KING'S OWN
vicar to the taller of the two, whom he presumed, by his
appearance, to be the superior.
"Sir," replied the little man in a pompous manner, "you
are speaking to Mr. Rainscourt, the heir-at-law of this entailed
property."
" I am sorry, truly sorry, sir," replied the vicar, "that from
not having been well informed, you should be subjected to
such severe disappointment. I am afraid, sir, that the grand-
child of Admiral De Courcy will have a prior claim."
The two parties started from their chairs and looked at
each other in amazement.
"The grandchild!" replied the little man; "never even
heard that there was such a person."
" Very probably, sir ; but I have long known it, and so
did Admiral De Courcy, as you will perceive when you read
his will, which is in my possession, as guardian to the child,
and upon the strength of which office I have put seals upon
the property."
The parties looked aghast.
"We must inquire into this," replied the legal adviser, for
such he was.
" I am ready to give you any information you may require,"
replied the vicar. " I have here copies of the marriage certi-
ficate of the parents and the register of baptism of the child,
the originals of which you will find in the parish church
of , not five miles distant ; and I can most satisfactorily
prove his identity, should that be necessary."
"And where is the grandchild ?"
" At sea, on board a man-of-war, at the dying request
of his father, who determined that he should be brought up
for the service. Would you like to see the late admiral's
will ? "
The tall gentleman bowed assent, and it was read. Having
been carefully examined by the lawyer, as well as the other
documents in the vicar's possession, all appeared so clear
and conclusive that he unwillingly acknowledged to his em-
ployer, in a whisper, that there was no chance of setting the
will aside. Pallid with the revulsion of feelings from hope
to despair, the pretender to the estates ordered the horses
to be brought out, and on their being announced, with a
slight bow to the vicar, retired from the library.
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THE KING'S OWN
But outside, the state of affairs was altered by the servants
having overheard the conversation. No one was attentive
enough to open the door to let out those whom they had so
obsequiously admitted, and one of the postillions was obliged
to dismount to shut up the chaise after they had entered it.
Such is the deference shown respectively to those who are,
or are not, the real heirs-at-law.
CHAPTER XVI
On deck five hundred men did dance,
The stoutest they could find in France.
We with two hundred did advance,
On board of the Arethusa.
Our captain hailed the Frenchman " Ho ! "
The Frenchman then cried out " Hallo ! "
"Bear down, d'ye see,
To our admiral's lee ; "
"No, no," says the Frenchman, "that can't be ;"
"Then I must lug you along with me,"
Says the saucy Arethusa.
Sea Song.
J. HE information received from M'Elvina, which induced
Captain M not to anchor, was relative to a French frigate
of the largest class, that he had great hopes of falling in with.
She was lying in the harbour of Brest, waiting for a detach-
ment of troops which had been ordered to embark, when she
was to sail for Rochefort, to join a squadron intended to make
a descent upon some of our colonies. Previously to M'Elvina's
sailing from the port of Havre, the prefect of that arrondisse-
ment had issued directions for certain detachments to march
on a stated day to complete the number of troops ordered
on board.
M'Elvina had sure data from which to calculate as to thi
exact period of embarkation, and was also aware that the frigate
had orders to sail to the port of rendezvous the first favourable
wind after the embarkation had taken place. In two days the
Aspasia, for that was the name of the frigate commanded by
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Captain M , was off Ushant, and the captain, taking the
precaution to keep well off the land during the daytime, only
running in to make the lights after dark, retained his position
off that island until the wind shifted to the northward. He
then shaped a course so as to fall in with the French coast,
about thirty miles to the southward of the harbour of Brest.
It was still dark when Captain M , having run his distance,
shortened sail and hove-to in the cruising ground which
M'Elvina had recommended ; and so correct was the calcula-
tion, as well as the information, of the captain of the smugglers,
that at daybreak, as the frigate lay with her head in-shore,
with the wind at N.N.W., a large vessel was descried under
the land, a little on her weather-bow. After severely scrutinis-
ing the stranger for some minutes with his glass, which he
now handed to M'Elvina
" That's she, indeed, I believe," said Captain M .
" A large frigate, with studding-sails set, standing across
our bows," cried out the first lieutenant from the mast-
head.
" She'll try for the Passage du Raz ; we must, cut her off,
if we can. Hands, make sail."
The hands were summoned up by the shrill pipe of the
boatswain and his mates ; but it was quite unnecessary, as the
men had already crowded on deck upon the first report which
had been communicated below, and were in clusters on the
forecastle and gangways.
" Topmen, aloft 1 loose top-gallant sails and royals ; clear
away the flying-jib," were orders that were hardly out of the
mouth of the first lieutenant, breathless with his rapid descent
from aloft, when the gaskets were off and the sails hung flutter-
ing from the yards. In another minute the sheets were home,
the sails hoisted and trimmed, and the Aspasia darted through
the yielding waves, as if the eagerness of pursuit which
quickened the pulses of her crew had been communicated
from them like an electric shock to her own frame, and she
were conscious that her country demanded her best exertions.
" Pipe the hammocks up, Mr. Hardy," said Captain M
to the first lieutenant ; " when they are stowed, we will beat
to quarters."
" Ay, ay, sir. Shall we order the fire out in the galley ? "
" When the cocoa is ready, not before ; there will be plenty
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THE KING'S OWN
of time for the people to get their breakfast. How does the
land bear, Mr. Pearce ? "
"Saint Island about S.E. by S., eight or nine miles, sir,"
replied the master.
" If so, I think we shall cut him off, and then ' fight he
must.'"
Both frigates had hoisted their colours in defiance, and as
they were steering for the same point, they neared each other
fast ; the French vessel, with his starboard studding-sails, run
ning for the entrance of the narrow passage, which he hoped
to gain, and the Aspasia close-hauled to intercept him, and at
the same time to avoid the dangerous rocks to leeward, far
extending from Saint Island, whose name they bore.
" Have the men had their breakfast, Mr Hardy ? " said
the captain.
"The cocoa was in the tub, sir," answered the first
lieutenant, "ready for serving out, but they started it all
in the lee-scuppers. They wanted the tub to fill it with
shot."
Captain M smiled at the enthusiasm of his crew,
but the smile was suddenly checked as he reflected that
probably many of the fine fellows would never breakfast
again.
" If not contrary to your regulations, Captain M ," said
M'Elvina, "as the crew of the Susanne have not yet been
incorporated with your ship's company, may I request that
they may be stationed together, and that I may be permitted
to be with them ? "
"Your suggestion is good," replied the captain, "and I
am obliged to you for the offer. They shall assist to work
the quarter-deck carronades, and act as boarders and sail-
trimmers. Mr. Hardy, let the new men be provided with
cutlasses, and fill up any vacancies in the main-deck quarters
from some of our own men who are at present stationed at
the quarter-deck guns."
The frigates were now within gunshot of each other, and
it was impossible to say which vessel would first attain the
desired goal. The foremost guns of the respective ships,
which had been trained forward, were reported to bear upon
the enemy, and both commanders were aware that " knocking
away a stick " i.e., the shots striking the masts or yards of
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THE KING'S OWN
her opponent, so as to occasion them to fall would decide
the point. At the very time that Captain M was giving
directions to fire the main-deck guns as they would bear, the
first shot from his antagonist whizzed over his head, and the
action commenced, each party attempting to cripple his
opponent by firing high at his masts and rigging. The frigates
continued to engage, until they had closed-to within half a
mile of each other, when the main-topmast of the Frenchman
fell over the side.
This decided the point as to his escape through the passage,
which he had made his utmost exertions to effect, in pursuance
of the peremptory orders which he had received. He now
hauled his wind on the same tack as the Aspnsia, pouring in
his starboard broadside as he rounded-to. The manoeuvre
was good, as he thereby retained his weather-gage, and the
wreck of his topmast having fallen over his larboard side, he
had his starboard broadside, which was all clear, and directed
towards his opponent. Moreover, he forced the Aspaxia to
follow him into the bay formed between the Bee du Raz
and the Bee du Chere, where she would in all probability
receive considerable damage from the batteries which lined
the coast.
Captain M was aware of all this ; but his only fear was
that his enemy should run on shore, and prevent his carrying
him into port. The Aspasia was soon abreast of her opponent,
and their broadsides were exchanged, when Captain M ,
who wished to bring the action to a speedy conclusion, shot
his vessel ahead, which he was enabled to do, from his supe-
riority of sailing, after the main-topmast of the French
frigate had been shot away. It was his intention not to have
tacked until he could have fetched his antagonist, but the
galling fire of the batteries, which now hulled him every time,
induced him to go about, and as he was in stays, a raking
shot entered the cabin windows, and in its passage along
the main-deck added ten men to his list of killed and
wounded.
Again the frigates, on the opposite tacks, poured in their
broadsides ; the fore-yard of the Frenchman was divided in
the slings, and fell, hanging by the topsail sheets and lifts
and tearing the sails, which fell over the forecastle guns, and
caught fire as they were discharged at the same moment
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THE KING'S OWN
Nor did the Aspasia suffer less, for her mizzen-topmast was shot
through, and her starboard anchor, cut from her bows, fell
under her bottom and tore away the cable (a short range of
which Captain M had had the precaution to have on
deck, as they fought so close in-shore). This threw the men
at the guns into confusion, and brought the ship up in the
wind. The cable was at last separated, and flew out of the
hawse-hole after the anchor, which plunged to the bottom ;
but this was not effected until, like an enormous serpent, it
had enfolded in its embraces three or four hapless men, who
were carried with dreadful velocity to the hawse-hole, where
their crushed bodies for a time stopped it from running out,
and gave their shipmates an opportunity of dividing it with
their axes.
Order was eventually restored, and the Aspasia, who had
been raked by her active opponent during the time that she
was thrown up in the wind, continued her course, and as she
passed the stern of the French frigate, luffed up and returned
the compliment. The latter, anxious in his crippled state for
the support of the batteries, which had already seriously in-
jured his opponent, continued to forge in-shore.
" We shall weather her now ; 'bout ship, Mr. Pearce.
Recollect, my lads," said Captain M , when the ship was
about, " you'll reserve your fire till we touch her sides ;
then all hands to board."
The Aspasia ranged up on the weather quarter of her
antagonist, Pearce, the master, conning her by the captain's
directions, so that the fore-chains of the French vessel should
be hooked by the spare anchor of the Aspasia. The enemy,
who, in his disabled state, was not in a situation to choose
whether he would be boarded or not, poured in a double-
shotted and destructive broadside ; and it was well for
Captain M that his ship's company had received the rein-
forcement which they had from the Susanne, for the French
frigate was crowded with men, and being now within pistol-
shot, the troops, who were so thick on deck as to impede
the motions of each other, kept up an incessant fire of
musketry, cutting the Aspasia's running rigging, riddling her
sails, and disabling her men.
" Hard a-port now ! " cried Pearce, and the vessels came in
collision, the spare anchor in the Aspasia's fore-chains catching
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THE KING'S OWN
and tearing away the backstays and lanyards of the enemy's
fore-rigging, and with a violent jerk bringing down the
fore-topmast to windward. At this moment the reserved
broadside of the Aspasia was discharged, and the two frigates
heeled over opposite ways from the violent concussion of the
air in the confined space between them. While yet en-
veloped in the smoke the men flew up on deck, as they had
been previously directed by Captain M , who leaped upon
the quarter-deck hammocks of his own frigate, and holding
with one hand by the mizzen-topmast backstay, with his
sword in the other, waving to encourage his men, waited a
second or two for the closing of the after-parts of the vessels
before he led on his boarders.
The smoke rolled away through the masts of the French
frigate, and discovered her captain, with equal disregard to
his safety, in nearly a similar position on the hammock rails
of his own vessel. The rival commanders were not six feet
apart when the main-chains of the two vessels crashed as
they came in collision. The French captain drew a pistol
from his belt and levelled it at Captain M , whose fate
appeared to be certain ; when at the critical moment a hat,
thrown from the quarter-deck of the Aspasia right into the
face of the Frenchman, blinded him for a moment, and his
pistol went off without taking effect.
"Capital shot that, Willy !" cried M'Elvina, as he sprang
from the hammocks with his sword, " giving point " in ad-
vance, and while still darting through the air with the impetus
of his spring, passing it through the body of the French cap-
tain, who fell back on his own quarter-deck, while M'Elvina,
fortunately for himself, dropped into the chains, for, had he a
hundred lives, they would have fallen a sacrifice to the exasper-
ated Frenchmen. But the smugglers had followed M'Elvina;
and Captain M , with the rest of his ship's company, were
thronging like bees in the rigging, hammocks, and chains
of their opponent. From the destructive fire of the French
troops many an English seaman fell dead, or, severely wounded,
was reserved for a worse fate that of falling overboard
between the ships, and at the heave of the sea being
crushed between their sides. Many a gallant spirit was
separated from its body by this horrid death as the strife
continued.
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M'Elvina kills the French Captain.
THE KING'S OWN
Possession was at length gained of the quarter-deck, but
the carnage was not to cease. The French trcops, stationed
in the boats on the booms, formed a sort of pyramid, vomiting
incessant fire ; and the commandant had had the sagacity to
draw up three lines of his men, with their bayonets fixed, from
one side of the vessel to the other, abreast of the gangways,
forming a barrier, behind which the crew of the French frigate
had retreated, and which was impenetrable to the gallant crew
of the Aspaxia, who were only provided with short cutlasses.
Captain M , as he saw his men falling on every side.
and every attempt to force a passage unsuccessful, although
accompanied with heavy loss of lives, found himself, as it
were, in a trap. To force his way through appeared impos-
sible ; to retreat was against his nature. M'Elvina, who had
been fighting by his side, perceived the awkward and danger-
ous predicament they were in, and his ready talent suggested
a remedy. Calling out loudly, " Susannes ! away there-
follow me 1 " an order instantlv obeyed by his men, he disap-
peared with them over the hammocks, leaping back upon the
quarter-deck of the Aspasia.
" Curses on the smuggler, he has run for it. At them again,
my Britons, never mind," cried the first lieutenant, leading on
the men against the phalanx of bayonets. But it was not as
the first lieutenant had supposed, for before the cutlasses of
the seamen had time again to strike fire upon the steel points
which opposed their passage, M'Elvina reappeared in the fore-
rigging of the French vessel, followed by his smugglers, who
attacked the French troops in the rear, with a loud yell and
an impetuosity that was irresistible. The diversion was an-
nounced by a cheer from Captain M and his party abaft,
who, rushing upon the bayonets of the Frenchmen, already in
confusion from the attack of M'Elvina, forced them down on
the main-deck, ai,d in a few minutes the hatches were secured
over the remainder of the crew, and the tricoloured ensign
disappeared from the gaff, and announced to the spectators
in the batteries on shore that " Britannia ruled the naves."
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CHAPTER XVII
Brave hearts ! to Britain's pride
Once so faithful and so true,
On the deck of fame that died
With the gallant, good Riou,
Soft sigh the winds of heaven o'er their grave !
While the billow mournful rolls,
And the mermaid's song condoles,
Singing glory to the souls
Of the brave ! CAMPBELL.
H.ASTY congratulations between the survivors of the vic-
lorious party were exchanged as they proceeded to obey the
orders which were issued by Captain M , who directed
their attention to the relief of the wounded, lying in heaps
upon the deck, in many instances nearly smothered with the
dead bodies which had fallen upon them, and which their own
exhausted powers would not permit them to remove. The
task of separation of those who were past all mortal aid from
those who might still derive benefit from surgical assistance
was as tedious as it was afflicting. No distinction was made
between the rival sufferers, but as they came to hand, English
or French, they were carefully conveyed to the half-decks of
the respective ships, the surgeons of which were in readiness
to receive them, their shirt-sleeves turned up to the elbows
and hands and arms stained with blood, proving that they had
already been actively employed in the duties of their profession.
On the foremost part of the larboard side of the French
frigate's quarter-deck, where Captain M and his crew
had boarded, the dead and dying lay in a heap, the summit
of which was level with the tops of the carronades that they
were between, and an occasional low groan from under the
mass intimated that some were there who were dying more
from the pressure of the other bodies than from the extent
of their own wounds.
Captain M , although he had lost much blood and was
still bleeding profusely, would not leave the deck until he had
collected a party to separate the pile, and many were relieved
who in a few minutes more would have been suffocated.
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THE KING'S OWN
At the bottom of the heap was the body of the gallant
French captain ; and Captain M was giving directions to
the first lieutenant to have it carried below, when Willy, who
was earnestly looking about the deck, brushed up against the
latter, who said to him
"Come, youngster, out of the way ; you're no use here."
" Has any one seen my hat ? " interrogated the boy as he
obeyed the order and removed to a short distance.
" Here it is, my bantam," said one of the boatswain's mates,
who had discovered it as they removed the body of the French
captain, under which it had lain, jammed as flat as a pancake.
" Then it was to you that I was indebted for that well-timed
assistance," said Captain M , taking the hat from the
boatswain's mate, and restoring it as well as he could to its
former shape before he put it on Willy's head
Willy looked up in the captain's face and smiled assent as
he walked away.
" A good turn is never lost," observed Captain M ;
"and the old fable of the mouse and the lion is constantly
recurring to make us humble. If I had not put that boy
on the quarter-deck, I should in all probability have made a
vacancy. It was remarkable presence of mind on his part."
We have not broken in upon our narrative to state that
during the scene we have described, Mr. Pearce, the master,
had succeeded in putting both vessels before the wind, although
they still were hugged in each other's embraces, as if they had
always been the best friends in the world, and they were now
out of the reach of the enemy's batteries, which (as soon as
they perceived the unfavourable results of the action) had
commenced firing with red-hot balls, emblematical of their
wrath.
When the wounded had been carried below and placed in
comparative comfort on board of their respective ships the
dead bodies were next examined. Those of the French (with
the exception of that of the captain) were launched overboard,
while those of the English were carried to their own frigate,
the only instance in which any difference was shown between
the rival sufferers. The hatches were then removed, and
the French ^officers, having delivered up their swords, were
permitted to remain on deck upon parole, while the men were
secured down below in the fore and main holds of the Aspasia..
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THE KING'S OWN
the hatchways being covered over with a strong splinter-
netting, that they might not be deprived of fresh air in their
crowded situation. The charge of the prize having been
confided to the first lieutenant and fifty men, the two ships
were separated and laid-to, to repair the damages sustained
in the conflict.
Captain M , whose wounds were not serious, had de-
scended for a short time to have them washed and dressed.
His anxiety to put his ship in an efficient state and get clear
of the bay previous to bad weather coming on had induced
him to return on deck as soon as he had taken a little refresh-
ment.
M'Elvina had also cleansed himself from the gore with
which he had been begrimed, and having applied to the
surgeon to assuage the pain of a severe cut which he had
received on his shoulder, came upon the quarter-deck with his
arm in a sling, dressed with his usual precision and neatness.
He touched his hat to Captain M , with whom he had not
communicated since he had quitted him on the quarter-deck
of the French frigate to create the fortunate diversion in
favour of the boarders.
" Captain M'Elvina," said Captain M , taking his hand
and shaking it warmly, " I can hardly express how much I am
obliged to you for your conduct this day. You may be assured
that, upon my return, I shall not fail to make a proper repre-
sentation of it to Government. I only wish that there was any
situation in my ship that could induce you to remain."
" Thank you, Captain M ," replied M'Elvina, smiling ;
"but, although on a smaller scale, I have long been accus-
tomed to command, and I should be very sorry that a vacancy
should occur in the only situation I would accept."
"I expected an answer to that effect," replied Captain
M . " However, you have this day nobly redeemed your
character, and silenced any imputations of hostility to your
country that might be thrown upon you in consequence of your
late employment, and I sincerely congratulate you."
" Captain M , as you are kind enough to express friendly
feelings towards me, may I request that they may be shown
by the interest you take in young Seymour ? I cannot but
approve his following the honourable career marked out for
him, and my regret at parting with one who has so entwined
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himself round my heart will be considerably lessened by the
assurance that you will be his friend and protector. Any
" Not one word upon that score," replied Captain M ;
" the boy saved my life this day by his unusual presence of
mind, and I shall watch over him as if he were my own child."
"His education?"
" Shall be attended to, I pledge you my honour to do him
every justice."
M'Elvina bowed, and walked away to the other side of the
quarter-deck ; the idea of parting with Willy was always pain-
ful to him, and weak with the loss of blood, he was afraid that
the emotion would be perceived, which he now felt less able
to control.
Thus it is with proud man. He struggles to conceal effects
arising from feelings which do honour to his nature, but feels
no shame when he disgraces himself by allowing his passions
to get the better of his reason, and all because he would
not be thought womanish I I'm particularly fond of crying
myself.
The list of killed and wounded was brought up by the
second lieutenant (the duty of the first, who was in charge
of the prize, having devolved upon him), the former having
been ascertained by mustering the ship's company, the latter
from the report of the surgeon.
A deep sigh escaped from the breast of the captain as he
looked down at the total. " Forty-four killed ; sixty-seven
wounded ! This is heavy indeed. Poor Stevenson, I thought
he was only wounded."
" Since dead, sir," replied the second lieutenant ; " we have
lost a pleasant messmate."
"And his Majesty a valuable officer/' replied the captain.
" I am afraid his mother will feel it in more ways than one ;
he supported her, I think."
" He did, sir. Will you not give an acting order to one
of the young gentlemen ? " (It was the third lieutenant over
whom they were lamenting,)
" Yes, make it out for Mr. Robertson."
" He's in the list, sir."
" What ! killed ? So he is, poor fellow ! Well, then Mr.
Wheatley, let it be made out for him."
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" Ay, ay, sir."
It was not until the ensuing day that the loss of the
enemy could be ascertained. Crowded as were her decks with
troops, it was enormous. Not only the first and second captains,
second lieutenant, and seven junior officers of the frigate had
fallen, but eleven officers of the detachment of soldiers sent
on board of her. The total loss appeared to be one hundred
and forty-seven killed and one hundred and eighty-four
wounded, out of an aggregate of nearly nine hundred men.
In a few days the Aspasia and her prize arrived at Plymouth,
the English colours proudly waving over the tricoloured flag
of her late opponent, and both vessels ran into Hamoaze
amidst the cheers of thousands of spectators assembled upon
Mount Wise and Mount Edgecomb to greet their gallant and
successful defenders. Captain M immediately proceeded
to London, where the representation which he made of
M'Elvina's conduct was followed by an order for his immediate
release ; and M'Elvina, taking an affectionate leave of Willy,
with a parting injunction to be honest, set off to report to
old Hornblow and his daughter Susan all the circumstances
attending the capture of his lugger, and the events which had
subsequently ensued.
CHAPTER XVIII
So, poverty at home and debts abroad,
My present fortune bad, my hopes yet worse !
What will become of me ?
SOUTHERON'S Isabella.
HE gentleman who had supposed himself the next heir to
the entailed property vacant by the demise of Admiral De
Courcy, and whose hasty visit and departure from Hall
we have mentioned in a previous chapter, was a third cousin
of the deceased. His history is short. He had squandered
away the personal property left him by his father, and his
family estate, which was of greater extent than value, was
mortgaged for even more than it was worth. He had latterly
subsisted by borrowing large sums of money at exorbitant
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interest, upon the expectancy of succeeding to the property of
Admiral De Courcy. The result of his visit to the hall was,
therefore, unsatisfactory in more ways than one, and before
he had arrived at his own residence his obsequious little friend
in black had reminded him of certain bonds which were in his
possession, and assumed a tone and demeanour towards his
client very different from that in which he had addressed the
supposed inheritor of the large property of D- , intimating
in very plain terms that some speedy arrangement must be made.
Rainscourt, who had nothing left except the old castle on
his property at Galway, his manorial rights, and the unbounded
attachment and devotion of the wild tenants, who looked upon
him as their feudal chieftain, felt convinced that he had no
resource but to escape from his numerous creditors, who would
not hesitate to put him in durance, and whose impatience had
been with difficulty restrained until the death of the admiral.
The speedy arrangement upon which he determined was to
set off immediately for Ireland, and by regaining his castle,
defy legal authority, if there could be found any that would
be rash enough to attempt his person w r hen encircled by his
lawless retainers.
As he descended from the chaise at the handsomely
furnished lodgings in the west end of the metropolis which
he had engaged, his companion informed him with a haughty
air that he would have the honour of paying his respects on
the ensuing noon ; while Rainscourt, with his usual indifference
to money, dismissed the post-boys with a handsome gratuity,
although there were not many guineas left in his purse, and
then proceeded up to the drawing-room on the first floor,
where his wife and only daughter were anxiously awaiting
his arrival.
Mrs. Rainscourt, still a fine and elegant woman, had in her
youth been remarkable for her great personal attractions, and
for two seasons had been considered as the belle of the Irish
metropolis. She was at that period a Ligh-spirited and gene-
rous-minded girl, easily provoked and as easily appeased,
proud of her beauty and her accomplishments, which her
worldly-minded parents were in hopes would be bartered
for a coronet. Rainscourt was also at that time one of the
handsomest, if not the handsomest man in Ireland, with
the advantage of polished manners, talent, and ancient birth.
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THE KING'S OWN
Received and courted in every society, he was as indefatig-
able in squandering away his property as the parents of Mrs.
Rainscourt were in trying to obtain an advantageous estab-
lishment for their daughter. Rainscourt was proud and
overbearing in disposition ; vain to excess of his personal
advantages, he considered himself irresistible with the other
sex. He had seen and admired his future spouse, but still,
as he required an alliance which would enable him to indulge
in his extravagance, and as her parents were aware that
Rainscourt was, or would soon be, a ruined man, in all pro-
bability they would never have come in contact, but have
rolled in different orbits, more consonant to their views and
their happiness, had it not occurred that, at a large and
convivial party, Rainscourt's vanity had been piqued by
his companions, who told him that he never could obtain
the hand of Miss , whose parents aspired to a higher
connection. Piqued at this remark, and flushed with the
wine that had been freely circulated, he offered to stake a
considerable sum that he would succeed before a certain
allotted time. The wager was accepted. Rainscourt courted
without affection, and by his assiduities and feigned attach-
ment, ultimately succeeded in persuading the fond girl to
destroy all the golden visions of her parents and resign
herself to his arms, where he assured her that competence
and love would be found more than commensurate to a
coronet and neglect.
They eloped ; all Dublin was in an uproar for three days.
Rainscourt received the amount of his bet and the congratu-
lations of his friends, and for a short time he and his wife
lived together without any serious fracas. The first that
occurred proceeded from an anonymous letter, evidently
written by some envious and disappointed female, acquaint-
ing Mrs. Rainscourt with all the circumstances attending the
bet, to which she had been sacrificed. This mortifying news
was received with showers of tears and some upbraiding,
for Mrs. Rainscourt really loved her husband ; and although
patched up by Rainscourt's protestations as to the falsehood
of the accusation, it sunk deep into her heart, and was but
the forerunner of future misery.
Rainscourt soon became tired of a woman whom he had
never loved ; cursed his own vanity, that had induced him
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to saddle himself with such an encumbrance as a wife ; and
by alternate violence and moroseness, irritated her feelings
and roused her spirit. Neglect on his part produced indif-
ference on her side, and as the means of gaiety and expense
melted away, so did all respect and esteem for each other.
An extravagant man seldom makes a good husband ; he
becomes embarrassed, and his circumstances prey upon his
mind and sour his temper. A woman who has, before
marriage, been the admiration of the metropolis is not very
likely to prove a good wife. She still sighs for the adulation
that she received, and which from habit has become neces-
sary to her, and would exact from the man for whom she
has given up the world all the attention that she has lost by
the sacrifice.
Mr. and Mrs. Rainscourt were joined, but they were not
one. Like many others in this world of error, their marriage
might be typified by a vial, of which one half had been
filled with oil and the other with water, having a cork in its
mouth, which confined them and forced them to remain in
contact, although they refused to unite. The fruit of this
marriage was one daughter, now about six years old.
" Well, Mr. Rainscourt, all is well, I hope ; and may I not
kiss my daughter and congratulate her upon being one of
the largest heiresses in the kingdom ? "
"You may, if you please, madam."
"May, if I please? Why, is it not so, Mr, Rainscourt?"
replied the lady, startled at the moody brow of her husband
as he threw himself on the sofa.
Now, Rainscourt would not have so immediately answered
the question, but he was determined that his spouse should
participate in those pangs of disappointment which swelled
his own breast ; as a partner of all his joys, she was, of course,
fully entitled to an equal proportion of his cares.
" No, rnadam, it is not so."
"Surely you are trifling with ie, Mr. Rainscourt; is not
the admiral dead ? "
" Yes, madam, and his grandchild is alive."
" His grandchild ! " cried the lady in alto, pallid with vexa-
tion and disappointment. " Well, Mr. Rainscourt, this is
another specimen of your usual prudence and foresight.
What man in his senses would not have ascertained such a
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fact previous to ' squandering away his whole property and
leaving his daughter a beggar ? "
" I think, madam, if the property has been squandered, as
you term it, that you have assisted me in so doing. At all
events, the property was my own ; for I cannot exactly recollect
that you increased it one shilling when I married you."
"Certainly not much, Mr. Rainscourt, except, indeed, the
amount of the bet. I consider that as my marriage portion,"
replied the lady, with a sneer.
" Never made a worse bet in my life," replied the gentleman,
throwing his legs upon the sofa.
" Perhaps not," replied his wife, with offended seriousness.;
" but recollect, Mr. Rainscourt, that you have no one to blame
but yourself; you were not deceived. I might have been
happy might have met with sincerity and reciprocal affec-
tion. Your conduct towards me was an act of cruelty, which
would have called forth some compunction in the breast of
my bitterest enemy; and yet, unoffending, I was heartlessly
sacrificed to your vanity."
" Say, rather, to your own, which blinded you, or you would
have been able to discriminate better."
Mrs. Rainscourt burst into tears. Before her emotion could
be controlled, her husband, who was hardened to these scenes
of alternate anger and grief, either was or pretended to be in
a sound sleep.
The little girl had nestled close to her mother at the ebullition
of her feelings, and waited in silence until it was exhausted.
" Why, mamma, I thought you said we should be so happy
now."
" Did I, my dear ? " replied Mrs. Rainscourt mournfully.
" Yes, you did, and told me that we should have a fine
house in London, and that we should not go back to the old
castle again. I was sorry for that, though. Where shall we
go now, mamma ? "
" God knows, my child ; you must ask your father."
" Papa's asleep, and I must not wake him. I do hope we
shall go back to the castle."
"Then you'll have your wish, my love," replied Mr. Rains-
court, rousing up, "for I start this very evening."
" Are we to go with you, Mr. Rainscourt ? " asked Mrs.
Rainscourt calmly; "or are we to be left here ?"
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" As you please ; but I must be off, for that little scoundrel
T threatened me with a visit to-morrow morning as I
got out of the chaise, and I am aware that he will not come
without a companion or two."
"T ! What T ? Your friend T ! that you
brought from Dublin with you, and who professes so much
admiration and esteem your own factotum?"
" Yes, my own factotum snivelling little scoundrel. But,
however, there's no time to be lost. You have some jewels,
my dear, and other articles of value ; you had better pack
them up and consign them to me as soon as possible. You
may then take your choice go with me now, or follow me in
a day or two. They cannot arrest you."
"I am aware of that, Mr. Rainscourt," replied the lady;
" but as I may not have the means of following, my daughter
and I will, if you please, become a part of your travelling en-
cumbrance, as well as the jewels and other articles of value."
" Be it so," replied the gentleman, who perfectly understood
her sarcastic meaning, but did not think it advisable to retort
at the moment ; " one post-chaise will carry us all ; but we
must leave town at twelve o'clock this night. If I recollect
right, we are asked to a rout at Lady G 's ? "
" We are ; but pray, Mr. Rainscourt, how am I to get ready
so soon ? The servants must be paid ; all the bills must be
called in."
" If you wait until I can pay all the bills, you must wait till
eternity, perhaps. Pack up everything of value that is portable,
without the knowledge of the servants ; your jewels you can
have upon your own person, or in a pocket, if you ever wear
one. Order the carriage, dress, and we will both go to the
rout. I shall leave word with Roberts to bring me any letters
which may be sent, telling him that the admiral is not dead
yet, although hourly expected ; nothing has transpired to the
contrary. I can slip away from the rout and write the letter
myself, which I will send by a porter. When I go home, and
the chaise which I shall order is at the door, I will put Emily
in it, and call for you at Lady G 's. The servants may
suspect something, but it will then be too late."
Danger will unite those who are at variance. Mrs. R.
entered readily into the proposed arrangements, which neces-
sity imposed upon them, and in a few hours father, mother,
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and daughter were on their way to Ireland, leaving the house-
rent, butchers', bakers', chandlers', and all other bills, of no
trifling sum-total, to be paid at some more favourable oppor-
tunity. The servants indemnified themselves as well as they
could by seizing what was left and cursing the elopers ; and
the obsequious little gentleman in black vowed vengeance as
he quitted the deserted mansion, to which he had paid his
promised visit in the morning, with a particular friend or two,
to enforce his arguments with Mr. Rainscourt.
CHAPTER XIX
Pal. Have you provided me here half-a-dozen sufficient men 1
Shot. Marry have we, sir.
Pal. Let me see them, I beseech you.
Shed. Where's the roll ! where's the roll !
Let them appear as I call. SHAKSPEARE.
-A.S the reader will have a more intimate acquaintance with
them hereafter, I must now enter into some description of
the characters of the captain and officers with whom our
hero was fated to be a shipmate. To begin with the captain,
who has already made his appearance in the course of these
pages :
Captain M was the son of a north-country gentleman
one of the numerous class still existing in this world who
have inherited large ideas and small fortunes. As usual, the
latter were got rid of much sooner than the former. The
consequence was, that although young M was an only
son, it was considered advisable that he should be brought
up to some profession. The naval service was selected by
himself, and approved of by his father, who, although he
had no money, had some interest ; that is to say, he bad power-
ful and wealthy connections, who, for their own sakes, rather
than have to support their young relation, would exert them-
selves to make him independent.
M rose to the rank of post-captain as fast as his friends
could wish, and did credit to their patronage. Having once
obtained for him the highest rank that the profession could
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offer, until he became an admiral from seniority, they thought
that they had done enough ; and had it not been that Cap-
tain M , by his zeal and abilities, had secured a personal
interest at the Board, he might have languished on half-pay ,
but his services were appreciated, and he was too good an
officer not to be employed. His father was dead, and the
payment of debts which he had contracted, and the purchase
of an annuity for his mother, had swallowed up almost all the
prize-money which Captain M - , who had been very suc-
cessful, had realised ; but he was single from choice, and
frugal from habit. His pay and the interest of the small
remains of prize-money in the Funds were more than ade-
quate to his wants. He was enthusiastic in his profession,
and had the bad taste to prefer a fine ship to a fine lady.
Having entered the service at a later period than was usual,
he had the advantage of an excellent education, which, being
naturally of a serious disposition and fond of reading, he had
very much improved by study. As an officer he was a perfect
master of his profession, both in theory and practice, and was
what is termed afloat "all for the service." Indeed, this
feeling was so powerful in him that, like Aaron's rod, it
swallowed up all the rest. If there was any blemish in his
character, it was in this point. Correct himself, he made no
allowance for indiscretion ; inflexibly severe, but always just,
he in no instance ever spared himself, nor would he ever be
persuaded to spare others. The rules and regulations of the
service, as laid down by the Board of Admiralty and the
articles of war, were as rigidly observed by him, and exacted
from others, as if they had been added to the Decalogue ;
and any deviation or neglect was sure to bring down repri-
mand or punishment upon the offender, whether it happened
to be the senior lieutenant or the smallest boy in the ship's
company.
But with all his severity, so determined was Captain M
to be just that he never would exercise the power without
due reflection. On one occasion, in which the conduct of a
sailor had been very offensive, the first lieutenant observed
that summary punishment would have a very beneficial effect
upon the ship's company in general. "Perhaps it might,
Mr. H ," replied he ; " but it is against a rule which I
have laid down, and from which I never deviate. Irritated
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as I am at this moment with the man's conduct, I may per-
haps consider it in a more heinous light than it deserves, and
be guilty of too great severity. I am liable to error subject,
as others, to be led away by the feelings of the moment and
have therefore made a compact with myself never to punish
until twenty-four hours after the offence has been committed ;
and so repeatedly, when at the time I have settled in my
mind the quantum of punishment that the offender, should
receive, have I found, upon reflection, which delay has given
time for, reasons to mitigate the severity, that I wish, for the
benefit of the service, that the Admiralty would give a stand-
ing order to that effect."
Such was the character of Captain M . It hardly need
be added, after the events already narrated of this history,
that he was a man of undaunted bravery. In his person he
was tall, and rather slight in figure. His features were regular,
but there was a sternness in his countenance and lines of
deep thought on his brow which rendered the expression
unpleasing. It was only when he smiled that you would have
pronounced him handsome ; then he was more than hand-
some, he was fascinating,
Mr. Bully, the first lieutenant (who was the second lieu-
tenant in the ship in the action with the French frigate), was
an officer who well understood his duty. He had the merit
of implicitly obeying all orders ; and considering the well-
known fact that a first lieutenant has always sufficient cause
to be put out of temper at least twenty times during the
twelve hours, he was as good-tempered as a first lieutenant
could possibly be. He had entered the service when very
young, and being of humble extraction, had not had any
advantage of education. In person he was short and thick-
set, and having suffered severely from the smallpox during
his infancy, was by no means prepossessing in his outward
appearance.
The second lieutenant, whose name was Price, was a good-
looking young man, who kept his watch and read Shakspeare.
He was constantly attempting to quote his favourite author ;
but, fortunately for those who were not fond of quotations,
his memory was very defective.
Mr. Courtenay, the third lieutenant, was a little, bilious-
looking personage, who, to use the master's phraseology, was
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never quite happy unless he was d d miserable. He was
full of misfortunes and grievances, and always complaining or
laughing at his real or imaginary disasters ; but his complaint
would often end in a laugh, or his mirth terminate in a whine.
You never could exactly say whether he was in joke or in
earnest. There was such a serio-comic humour about him,,
that one side of his countenance would express pleasure, while
the other indicated vexation. There seemed to be a per-
petual war in his composition of good-humour versus bile,
both of which were most unaccountably blended in the same
temperament.
According to seniority, Mr. Pearce, the master, is the next
to be introduced to the reader. In external appearance a
rough, hard-headed north -country man, but with an un-
promising exterior, he was a man with sense and feeling.
He had every requisite for his situation : his nerves wei*e like
a chain-cable ; he was correct and zealous in his duty, and
a great favourite of the captain's, who was his countryman.
He was about fifty years of age, a married man, with a large
family.
The surgeon, whose name was Macallan, was also most
deservedly a great favourite with Captain M ; indeed,
there was a friendship between them, grown out of long
acquaintance with each other's worth, inconsistent with and
unusual in a service where the almost despotic power of the
superior renders the intimacy of the inferior similar to the
smoothing with your hand the paw of a lion, whose fangs, in
a moment of caprice, may be darted into your flesh. He was
a slight-made, spare man, of about thirty-five years of age,
and had graduated and received his diploma at Edinburgh
an unusual circumstance at that period, although the educa-
tion in the service was so defective that the medical officers
were generally the best informed in the ship. But he was
more than the above ; he was a naturalist, a man of profound
research, and well infonned upon most points ; of an amiable
and gentle disposition, and a sincere Christian.
It would naturally be inferred that those whose profession
it is to investigate the human frame, and constantly have
before their eyes the truth that we are fearfully and wonder-
fully made, would be more inclined than others to acknowledge
the Infinite wisdom and power. But this is too often found
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not to be the case, and it would appear as if the old scholium,
that " too much familiarity breeds contempt," may be found
to act upon the human mind even when in communion with
the Deity. With what awe does the first acquaintance with
death impress us ! What a thrill passes through the living
as it bends over the inanimate body from which the spirit
has departed 1 the clay that returns to the dust from which
it sprung, the tenement that was lately endued with volition
and life, the frame that exhibited a perfection of mechanism,
deriding all human power and confounding all human ima-
gination, now an inanimate mass, rapidly decomposing, and
soon to become a heap of corruption 1
Strong as the feeling is, how evanescent it becomes when
once familiarised ! It has no longer power over the senses,
and the soldier and sailor pillow themselves on the corpse
with perfect indifference, if not with a jest. So it is with
those who are accustomed to post-mortem arrangements, who
wash and lay out the body previous to interment.
Yet, although we acknowledge that habit will remove the
first impressions of awe, how is it that the minute investi-
gation upon which conviction ought to be founded should
too often have the contrary effect from that which it should
produce ? Is it because mystery, the parent of awe, is in a
certain degree removed ?
Faith, says the Apostle, is the evidence of things not
seen. There would be no merit in believing what is perfectly
evident to the senses. Yet some would argue that the
evidence ought to be more clear and palpable. If so, would
not the awe be also removed, and would religion gain by it ?
We have enough imparted to convince us that all is right ;
and is not that which is hidden or secret purposely intended
to produce that awe, without which the proud mind of man
would spurn at infinite wisdom ?
The above digression had nearly caused me to omit that
Macallan had one peculiar failing. His language, from long
study, had been borrowed from books more than- from men ;
and when he entered upon his favourite science of natural
history, his enthusiasm made him more pedantic in his style
and pompous in his phraseology than ever. But who is
perfect ?
The purser, O'Keefe, was an elderly man, very careful of
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the pounds, shillings, and pence. He was afflicted with an
incurable deafness, which he never thought proper to acknow-
ledge, but catching at a word or two in the sentence, would
frame his answer accordingly, occasioning frequent mirth to
his messmates, whom he imagined were laughing with and
not at him. For the present I shall pass over the rest of the
officers, with the exception of the boatswain, whose character
was of a very peculiar nature.
He was a man who had long been considered as one of the
best boatswains in the service, and had been applied for by
Captain M . He used his cane with severity, but had
always some jest at hand to soften down the smart of the
blow, and was very active in his own person, setting an
example to the men. It had, however, happened that, about
a year before he joined, Mr. Hardsett had been induced by
his wife to go with her to a conventicle which the rising sect
of Methodists had established at the port where she resided ;
and whether it was that his former life smote his conscience
or that the preacher was unusually powerful, he soon became
one of the most zealous of his converts. He read nothing
but his Bible, which employed all his leisure hours, and he
was continually quoting it in his conversation. But he was
not exactly a Methodist, taking the cognomen in the worst
or the best interpretation ; he was an enthusiast and a fanatic,
notwithstanding which he contrived that his duty towards his
Maker should not interfere with that of boatswain of the
ship. Captain M regretted the man's bigotry ; but as he
never tried to make any converts and did his duty in his
situation, the captain did not attempt to interfere with his
religious opinions, the more so as he was convinced that
Hardsett was sincere.
The Aspasia was but a short time in harbour, for the
captain was anxious to add to the laurels which he had
already won, and having reported the ship ready for sea,
received an order to proceed to the West India station. The
frigate was unmoored, the blue-peter hoisted, and the fore-
topsail loosened as the signal for departure ; and after lying
a short time with her anchor "shot stay apeak," Captain
M came on board, the anchor was run up to the bows, and
once more the frigate started, like an armed knight in search
of battle and adventure.
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It was two o'clock in the afternoon, and the tenants of
the gun-room had assembled to their repast. " Now all my
misery is about to commence," cried Courtenay, as he took
his seat at the gun-room table, on which the dinner was
smoking in all the variety of pea-soup, Irish stew, and boiled
mutton with caper sauce.
" Indeed ! " said the master. " Pray, then, what is it
that you have been grumbling about ever since you have
joined the ship ? "
" Psha ! they were only petty vexations, but now we are
at sea. I shall be sea-sick. I am always obliged to throw
off the accumulation of bile whenever I go out of harbour."
" I say, doctor," replied Pearce, " can you stop up the leak
in that little gentleman's liver ? He's not content to keep a
hand-pump going to get rid of his bile when in harbour, but
it seems that he requires the chain-pumps to be manned
when he goes to sea."
" Chain-pumps ! " exclaimed Courtenay, shuddering, and
drawing back his head with a grimace at the idea of such a
forcible discharge, and then looking round at his messmates
with one of his serio-comic faces.
" Pumps ! ay," said Price ; " you remember Shakspeare in
the ' Tempest,' he says dear me I
"Come, Price," said Courtenay, "don't make me sick
before my time ; it's unkind. You don't know what an ana-
logy there is between spouting and sea-sickness. In both
cases you throw up what is nauseous, because your head or
your stomach is too weak to retain it. Spare me, then, a
quotation, my dear fellow, till you see me in the agony of
Nature ' aback,' and then one will be of service in assisting
her efforts to ' box off.' I say, Billy Pitt, did you stow away
the two jars of pickled cabbage in my cabin ? "
We must here break off the conversation to introduce this
personage to the reader. He was a black, who ran away,
when quite a lad, from his master at Barbadoes, and entered
on board of a man-of-war. Macallan, the surgeon, had taken
a fancy to him, and he had been his servant for some years,
following him into different ships. He was a very intelligent
and singular character. Macallan had taught him to read
and write, and he was not a little proud of his acquirements.
He was excessively good-humoured, and a general favourite
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of the officers and ship's company, who used to amuse them-
selves with his peculiarities and allow him a greater freedom
than usual. But Billy's grand forte, in his own opinion, was
a lexicographer. He had a small Entick's dictionary., which
he always carried in his jacket-pocket, and nothing gave him
so much pleasure as any one referring to him for the meaning
of a hard word, which, although he could not always explain
correctly, he certainly did most readily. Moreover, he was,
as may be supposed, very fond of interlarding his conversa-
tion with high-sounding phraseology, without much regard
as to the context.
Although Billy Pitt was the doctor's servant, Courtenay,
who had taken a great fancy to him, used to employ him as
his own, to which, as the doctor was not a man who required
much attendance himself and was very good-natured, no
objection had been raised.
We must repeat the question
" I say, Billy Pitt, did you stow away the two jars of pickled
cabbage in my cabin ? "
" No, sar, I no hab 'em to stow. Woman say that Mr.
Kartney not pay for the pickled onun say quite incongrous
send any more."
" Not pay for the onions ! No, to be sure I didn't ; but 1
gave her a fresh order, which is the same thing." (Price laid
down the potato which he was in the act of peeling, and
stared at Courtenay with astonishment.) " Well, to a London
tradesman it is, I can assure you."
" It may be, but I cannot conceive how. If you owe me
ten shillings, I can't consider borrowing ten more the same
thing as paying the first."
" Pooh ' you do not understand these things."
" I do not, most certainly," replied the master, resuming
his potato.
" And so you haven't got them ? " resumed Courtenay to
the servant.
" No, sar. She say Massa Kartney owe nine shillings for
onuns, and say I owe farteen for 'baccy, and not trust us any
more. I tell just as she say, sir. Gentleman never pay for
anything. She call me d d nigger, and say like massa
like man. I tell her not give any more rhoromantade, and
walk out of shop."
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" Well, how cursed annoying ! Now, I never set my mind
upon anything but I'm disappointed. One might as well be
Sancho in the Isle of Barataria. I think I'll go up to the
captain and ask him to heave-to while I send for them. Do
you think he would, master, eh ? " said Courtenay in affected
simplicity of interrogation.
" You had better try him," replied Pearce, laughing.
" Well, it would be very considerate of him, and pickled
cabbage is the only thing that cures my sea-sickness." (Per-
ceiving Price about to speak)" Stop now it's no use
there's not a word about pickled cabbage in Shakspeare."
" I did not say that there was," retorted Price ; " but
there's 'beef without mustard,' and that will be your case
now."
" And there's 'Write me down an ass,' " replied Courtenay,
who was not a little vexed at the loss of his favourite con-
diment.
"Did you hear what Courtenay said of you, O'Keefe?"
continued Price, turning to the purser.
" Yes yes I know hand him over a glass ; but this is
not a clane one. Steward, will you bring a clane wine-
glass ? "
The rest laughed, while Courtenay proceeded -
" Why, O'Keefe, you hear better than ever. I say, doctor,
you must put me in the sick list ; I'm not fit to take charge
of a watch."
" If you'll prove that to me," replied Macallan, " I certainly
will report you."
"Well, I'll prove it to you in five seconds. I'm just in
that state, that if everything in the ship was to go overboard
to the devil I shouldn't care. Now, with such a feeling of
indifference a person is not fit to be trusted with the charge
of a watch."
"That you're not fit to be trusted with the charge of a
watch, as you state it yourself, I shall not deny," replied
Macallan ; " but I consider that to be a complaint for which
you ought rather to be put o/f the list than on it."
" Ha ! ha ! ha 1 I say, Courtenay, you know what Shak-
speare says ' Tis the curse of service,' that that '
"All hands, 'bout ship !" now resounded through the ship
as it was repeated in the variety of basses of the boatswain
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and his mates at either hatchway, one of the youngsters of
the watch running down at the same time to acquaint the
officers, in his shrill falsetto, with that which had been roared
out loud enough to startle even the deaf purser. The first
lieutenant, followed by the master, brushed by him, and was
up the ladder before his supererogatory communication could
be delivered.
" How cursed annoying 1 " cried Courtenay. " I was just
feeling a little better, and now I shall be worse than ever."
" You recollect in the ' Tempest,' " said Price, " where
Shakspeare says "
" Forecastle, there ! " roared out Captain M from the
quarter-deck in a voice that was distinctly heard below.
" By Jove ! you'd better skip for it, or you'll have what
Captain M says. He's hailing your station," said
Courtenay, laughing a piece of advice immediately acted
upon by Price, who was up the ladder and on the forecastle
in a few seconds. " And I must go up too. How cursed
annoying to be stationed in the waist ! Nothing to do, ex-
cept to stop my ears against the infernal stamp-and-go of
the marines and after-guards over my head ; sweet music to
a first lieutenant, but to me discord most horrible. I could
stamp with vexation."
" Had you not better go first and stamp afterwards ? "
observed the surgeon drily.
" I think I had, indeed," replied Courtenay, as he bolted
out of the gun-room door. " Cursed annoying ; but the
captain is such a bilious subject."
CHAPTER XX
This chair shall be my state, this dagger my sceptre, and this
cushion my crown. Henry IV., Part L
W E must now descend to the steerage, where our hero is
seated in the berth, in company with a dozen more (as they
designated themselves, from the extreme heat of their domi-
cile) perspiring young heroes, who were amusing themselves
with crunching hard biscuits, and at the same time a due
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proportion of those little animals of the scaribee tribe de-
nominated weevils, who had located themselves in the un-
leavened bread, and which the midshipmen declared to be
the only fresh meat which they had tasted for some time.
Captain M 's character stood so high at the Admiralty,
that the major part of the young aspirants who had been com-
mitted to his charge were of good family and connections.
At that time few of the aristocracy or gentry ventured to
send their sons into the navy, whereas at present none but
those classes can obtain admission.
A better school for training young officers could not have
been selected, and the midshipmen's berth of the Aspasin
was as superior to those in other ships as Captain M was
himself to the generality of his contemporary captains in the
service. But 1 cannot pay these young men the compliment
to introduce them one by one, as I did the gun-room officers.
It would be an anomaly unheard of. I shall, therefore, with
every respect for them, describe them just as I want them.
It was one bell after eight o'clock; a bottle of ship's rum, a
black-jack of putrid water, and a tin bread-basket are on the
table, which is lighted with a tallow-candle of about thirteen
to the pound.
" I say, Mr. Jerry Sneak, what are you after there ? What
are you foraging for in that locker ? " said one of the oldsters
of the berth to a half -starved, weak -looking object of a
youngster, whose friends had sent him to sea with the hopes
of improving his stamina.
" What for ? Why, for my supper, if you must know. D'ye
think I look too fat ? I stowed it away before I went on deck,
that it might not fall into your ravenous maw."
" Mind your stops, my Jack of the Bonehouse, or I shall shy
a biscuit at your head."
" Do, and prove your bravery ; it will be so very courageous,
I suppose you will expect to be gazetted for it."
The youngster who had been dignified with the above
sobriquet, and who made these replies, was certainly a most
miserable-looking object, and looked as if a top-gallant breeze
would have blown him to atoms. But if his body was weak,
his tongue was most powerful. He resorted to no other
weapon, and used that skilfully. He was a species of Thersites,
and no dread of punishment could control his railing. He
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THE KING'S OWN
offered no resistance, but bent down like the reed and resumed
his former position as soon as the storm was over. His keen
and sarcastic remarks, although they occasionally subjected him
to chastisement, to a certain degree served him as a defence,
for he could always raise a laugh at the expens-e of the
individual whom he attacked, with the formidable weapon
which he had inherited direct from his mother.
The oldster before mentioned put his hand into the bread-
basket and seized a handful of the biscuit. " Now I'll bet you
a glass of grog that you don't throw a biscuit at my head,"
cried Jerry, with a sneer.
" Done," replied the oldster, throwing the contents of his
hand at Jerry with all his force.
"I'll just trouble you for that glass of grog, for you've lost,"
said the youngster, taking it up from the table where it stood
before the oldster; "you've only thrown some pieces, and
not a biscuit ; " and following up his words with deeds, he
swallowed down the whole contents of the tumblei*, which he
replaced very coolly before his opponent.
" Fair bet, and fairly lost,'' cried the rest of the berth,
laughing.
"You scarecrow! you're not worth thrashing," said the
oldster angrily.
" Why, that's exactly what I have been trying to impress
upon your memory ever since I have joined the ship. There's
no credit to be gained by licking a half-starved wretch like I
am ; but there's Bruce, now " (pointing to one of the oldsters,
between whom and his opponent a jealousy subsisted) ; " why
don't you lick him ? There would be some credit in that.
But you know better than to try it."
"Do I ? " retorted the oldster, forgetting himself in the
heat of the moment.
"Yes, you do," replied Bruce, jumping up in defiance ; and
there was every appearance of a disturbance, much to the
delight of Jerry, who, provided that they fought, was quite
indifferent which party was the victor. But a fortunate
interruption took place by the appearance of the master-
at-arms.
" Nine o'clock, gentlemen, if you please ; the lights must
be put out."
" Very well, master-at-arms/' replied one of the oldsters.
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THE KING'S OWN
The master-at-arms took his seat on a chest close to the
door of the berth, aware that a second summons, if not a
third, would be requisite before his object was attained.
In a few minutes he again put his head into the berth
" Nine o'clock, gentlemen, if you please. I must report you
to the first lieutenant."
"Very well, By field ; it shall be out in a minute."
The master-at-arms resumed his station on the chest out-
side.
" Why, it's Saturday night," cried Bruce. " Sweethearts
and wives, my boys, though I believe none of us are troubled
with the latter. Forster, pass the rum."
" I'll pass the bottle, and you may make a bull of it, if you
choose.'
" Confound it, no more grog, and Saturday night. I must
drink ' Auld lang syne/ by heavens I "
The master-at-arms again made his appearance. " Gentle-
men, you must put the light out."
"Stop one minute, Byfield. Let us see whether we can
get any more rum."
The excuse appeared reasonable to the jack in office, and
he disappeared.
" Boy, tell Billy Pitt I want him."
Billy Pitt had turned in, but was soon roused out of his
hammock and made his appearance at the berth-door with
only his shirt on that he was sleeping in.
" You want me, Massa Bruce ? "
" Billy, my beau, you know everything. We sent for you
to tell us what's the meaning of a repartee ? "
" Repartee, sir repartee ! stop a bit Eh I tell you,
sir. Suppose you call me dam nigger, then I call you one
dam dirty white-livered son of a b ; dat a repartee,
sir."
"Capital, Billy; you shall be a bishop. But, Billy, has
your master got any rum in his cabin ? "
"Which massa, sir? Massa Courtenay or Massa Doctor?"
" Oh ! Courtenay, to be sure, The surgeon never has
any."
"Yes, sar, I tink he have a little."
" Be quick, Billy, and fetch it. I will give it you back at
the tub to-morrow."
a 28
THE KING'S OWN
" Suppose you forget, sar, you put me in very fine predical-
ament. Massa Courtenay look dam blue no, he not look
blue, but he look dam yellow," replied Billy, showing his
white teeth as he grinned.
"But I won't forget, Billy, upon my honour."
"Well, honour quite enough between two gentlemen, I
go fetch the bottle."
Billy soon reappeared with a quart bottle of rum, just as
three bells were struck. " By gad I I rattle the bottle as I
take him out wake Mr. Courtenay he say, dam black
fellow he make everything adrift cursed annoying, he say,
and go to sleep again."
"Really, gentlemen, 1 cannot wait any longer," resumed
the master-at-arms ; " the lights must be reported, or I shall
be in disgrace."
" Very true, Byfield ; you are only doing your duty. Will
you take a glass of grog ? "
" If you please," replied Mr. Byfield, taking off his hat.
" Your health, gentlemen."
"Thank you," replied the midshipmen. "Tank you, sir,"
replied also Billy Pitt.
"Well, Billy, what's the last word you read in your
dictionary ? "
" Last word ? Let me see oh ! commission, sar. You
know dat word ? "
" Commission I We all know what that is, Billy, and shall
be glad to get it too, by-and-by."
" Yes, sar ; but there are two kind of commission. One
you want, obliged to wait for ; one I want, always have at
once commission as agent, sar."
"Oh, I understand," replied Bruce; "five per cent, on
the bottle, eh?"
"Five per cent not make a tiff glass of grog, Massa
Bruce."
" Well then, Billy, you shall have ten per cent.," replied
the midshipman, pouring him out a north-wester. "Will
that do?"
The black had the politeness to drink the health of all
the gentlemen of the berth separately before he poured the
liquor down his throat. ft Massa Bruce, I tink doctor got a
little rum in his cabin."
129 I
THE KING'S OWN
" Go and fetch it, Billy ; you shall have it back to-morrow."
" Honour, Mr. Bruce."
" Honour, Mr. Pitt."
"Ten per cent., Massa Bruce," continued Billy, grinning.
"Ten per cent, is the bargain."
^ " I go see."
Another quart bottle made its appearance ; and the agent,
"having received his commission, made his bow, and returned
to his hammock.
" I do really think upon my word that that black
scoundrel would sell his own mother for a stiff
glass of grog," observed a youngster of the name of
Prose, a cockney, who drawled out his words, which, " like
a wounded snake, dragged their slow length along."
"The lights, gentlemen, if you please," resumed the
master-at-arms, putting his head again into the door.
"Another commission," said Jerry; "a tax upon. light.
Billy Pitt has the best right to it."
A second glass of grog was poured out, and the bribe dis-
appeared down Mr. Byfield's gullet.
"Now we'll put the light out," said one of the oldsters,
covering the candlestick with a hat.
" If you will put your candle into my lantern," observed
the obsequious master-at-arms, " I can then report the lights
out. Of course you will allow it to remain there ? "
The suggestion was adopted, and the light was reported
out to the first lieutenant at the very moment that it was
taken out of the lantern again and replaced in the candle-
stick. The duplicate supply began to have its effect upon
our incipient heroes, who commenced talking of their friends.
Bruce, a fine, manly, honourable Scotchman, had the peculi-
arity of always allying himself when half drunk to the royal
house who formerly sat upon the throne of England ; but
when quite intoxicated, he was so treasonable as to declare
himself the lawful king of Great Britain. Glass after glass
increased his propinquity to the throne, till at last he seated
himself on it, and the uproar of the whole party rose to that
height that the first lieutenant sent out desiring the mid-
shipmen immediately to retire to their hammocks.
" Send me to bed ! ' Proud man, dressed in a little brief
authority.' If the Lord's anointed had been respected, he,
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with millions, would be now bending the knee to me. Well,
if I can't be king of all England, at least I'll be king in this
berth. Tell me/' cried Bruce, seizing the unfortunate Prose
by the collar, " am I not king ? "
" Why according to the best of my belief," said
Prose, " I should rather be inclined to think that
you are not the king."
" Am not, base slave ! " cried Bruce, throwing him on the
deck, and putting his foot on his chest.
"No if I die for it I don't care but if you are not
king I must own that you are one of my thirty
tyrants," drawled out Prose, half suffocated with the pressure.
" I do declare," cried Jerry, imitating Prose's drawl,
" that he has squeezed a pun out of you."
" Am not I king ? " resumed Bruce, seizing Jerry, who had
advanced within reach to laugh at Prose.
"I feel that you ought to be," replied Jerry; "and I don't
doubt your lineal descent, for you have all the dispositions
of the race from which you claim descent. A boon, your
gracious majesty," continued Jerry, bending on one knee.
" Thou shalt have it, my loyal subject," replied Bruce, who
was delighted with the homage, " even (as Ahasuerus said to
Esther) to the half of my kingdom."
" God forbid that I should deprive your majesty of that,"
replied Jerry, smiling at the idea of halving nothing. " It
is only to request that I may not keep the middle watch
to-night."
" Rise, Jerry ; you shall not keep a night-watch for a fort-
night."
" I humbly thank your most gracious majesty," replied the
astute boy, who was a youngster of the watch of which Bruce
was mate.
As the reader may be amused with the result of this
promise, he must know that Bruce, who did not recollect
what had passed, when he perceived Jerry not to be on
deck, sent down for him. The youngster on his appearance
claimed his promise ; and his claim was allowed by Bruce,
rather than he would acknowledge himself to have been
intoxicated. Jerry, upon the strength of the agreement,
continued for more than the prescribed time to sleep in
every night-watch, until, aware that he was no longer safe,
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THE KING'S OWN
he thought of an expedient which would probably ensure him
one night longer, and prevent a disagreeable interruption of
his dreams. Prose, whose hammock was hung up next the
hatchway, had a bad cold, and Jerry thought it prudent to
shift his berth, that he might not be found.
" It's the draught from the hatchway that makes your cold
so bad, Prose ; you'll never get well while you sleep there.
I will give you my inside berth until it is better ; 'tis really
quite distressing to hear you cough."
" Well, now, Jerry, that's what I call very good-natured of
you. I have not had such a friendly act done towards me
since I joined the ship, and I do assure you, Jerry, that I
shall not be ungrateful ; I shall not forget it."
It happened that, on the very night that Prose exchanged
berths with Jerry, Bruce made his calculation that the fort-
night had elapsed three days back ; and although he felt
himself bound in honour to keep his promise, yet, feeling
rather sore at being overreached, he now ordered the quarter-
master to cut Jerry's hammock down by the head. This was
supposed to be done, and poor Prose, who had just fallen
asleep after keeping the previous watch, awoke with a stun-
ning sensation, and found his feet up at the beams and his
head on the deck ; while Jerry, who had been awakened by
the noise, was obliged to cram the sheets into his mouth that
his laughter might be unperceived.
" Well, now, I do declare, this is too bad ; I most certainly
will complain to the captain to-morrow morning, as sure as
my name is Prose. Sentry, bring me a light, and assist me
to get my hammock up again ; I will not put up with this
treatment, I do declare ; " and so saying, Prose once more
resumed his position in his precarious dormitory.
But during our digression the berth has become empty
some walking, and others, particularly his majesty, reeling to
bed. So we shall close this chapter, from which the reader
may perceive that, even in the best-regulated ships, there
is more going on in a midshipmen's berth than a captain is
acquainted with, or that comes between heaven and his
philosophy.
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CHAPTER XXI
With leave, Bassanio, I am half yourself, and I must freely have the
half of anything that this same paper brings you. SHAKSPEARE.
rp
J_ HE castle which had been built by the ancestors of Mr.
Rainscourt, and which, in feudal times, had been one of
strength and importance, was about two miles from the town
of , in the county of Galway, on the west coast of
Ireland ; and, as Mr. Rainscourt had correctly surmised when
he returned to it, no officer could be found who was bold
enough to venture his life by an attempt at caption, sur-
rounded as he was by a savage and devoted peasantry, who
had no scruples at bloodshed. Immured within its walls,
with little to interest, and no temptation to expend money,
Mr. and Mrs. Rainscourt lived for nearly two years, indulging
their spleen and discontent in mutual upbraidings, their
feelings towards each other, from incessant irritation, being
now rather those of hatred than any other term that could
be applied. The jewels of Mrs. Rainscourt, and eveiy other
article that could be dispensed with, had been sold, and the
purse was empty. The goodwill of the tenants of the mort-
gaged property had for some time supplied the ill-assorted
couple with the necessaries of life ; every day added to their
wants, to their hatred, and their despair.
They were seated at the table, having finished a dinner off
some game which Mr. Rainscourt had procured with his gun,
and which had been their fare, with little variety, ever since
the shooting season had commenced, when the old nurse, the
only domestic they retained probably the only one who
would remain with them without receiving wages made her
appearance. "And sure there's a letter for the master;
Barney, the post-boy, is just bringing it."
" Well, where is it ? " replied Rainscourt.
" He says that it's two thirteens that must be paid for it,
and the dirty spalpeen of a postmaster told him not to give
you the letter without the money for it in his fist."
" Tell Barney to step in here. Have you two shillings, Mrs.
Rainscourt ? "
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THE KING'S OWN
"Not one, Mr, Rainscourt," replied the lady gloomily.
The nurse reappeared with Barney.
" Well, Barney, where's the letter ? " said Mr. Rainscourt
"Let me look at it."
" Sure, your honour, it's not me that's refusing it ye ; but
the master tould me ' Barney,' says he, ' if you give his
honour the letter without the two thirteens in your fist, it's a
good bating that I'll give ye when ye come back.' "
" Well, but, Barney, let me look at it, and see by the post-
mark where it's from. I shall know directly whether I will
take it up or not."
" And suppose that your honour should wish to open
the letter ? It's not for gentlemen like ye to be standing
against the temptation ; and then, the two thirteens, your
honour."
" Well, Barney, since you won't trust me, and I have no
money, you must take the letter back. It might bring me
good news; I have had nothing but bad of late."
" And sure enough it might bring you good news. Then
your honour shall take the letter, and I'll take the bating ; "
and the good-natured lad pulled out the letter from his pocket,
and gave it to Rainscourt.
Rainscourt, who first wished to ascertain whether it was
one of his usual dunning correspondents, examined the post-
mark and handwriting of the superscription, that he might
return it unopened, and save poor Barney from the beating
which he had volunteered to receive for his sake ; but the
hand was unknown to him, and the post-mark was so faint
and illegible that he could not decipher it. He looked into
the sides of the letter, and the few words which he could
read whetted his curiosity.
"I'm afraid, Barney, that I must open it."
" Good luek to your honour, then, and may it prove so."
The letter was opened, and the contents threw a gleam of
pleasure, which had been rarely seen of late, on the brow of the
reader. His wife had watched his countenance. " Barney,"
cried Rainscourt with delight, " call to-morrow, and I'll give
you a guinea."
"Sure your honour's in luck, and me too," replied Barney,
grinning, and backing out of the room. '-I'll go take my
bating at once."
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THE KING'S OWN
But, to explain the contents of this letter, we must narrate
events of which we have lost sight in following up the naval
career of our hero.
About three weeks after the death of Admiral de Courcy,
the line-of-battle ship in which old Adams had sailed with
our hero under his protection returned into port. The vicar,
who anxiously awaited her arrival, immediately proceeded
there, that he might claim Willy in the capacity of his
guardian. Having obtained the address of Captain M ,
he called upon him, and opened his case by requesting
that the boy might be permitted to come on shore. He
was proceeding to narrate the change which had taken
place in his ward's prospects, when he was interrupted by
Captain M , who, first detailing the death of old Adams
and the conduct of Willy, stated that he had sent the boy
home in the prize for an outfit. It was with great feeling
that Captain M was forced to add the apparent certainty
that the vessel, which had never been heard of, had foundered
at sea. Shocked at the intelligence, which was communi-
cated at a moment when his heart was expanded at the
idea of having been instrumental in repairing the injustice
and neglect which had been shown towards his protege,
the vicar, not caring to mention to a stranger the family
particulars upon which his request had been grounded,
withdrew, without even giving his name or address. Three
years afterwards, when, as we have narrated, our hero again
made his appearance, Captain M had no clue to guide
him by which he might communicate the intelligence of
his recovery to one whom he naturally concluded did not
make such inquiries without having some interest in our
hero's welfare.
The vicar in the meantime, although he had every reason
to believe that Willy was no more, resorted to every means
that his prudence could suggest to ascertain the positive fact.
For many months the most strict inquiries were set afloat by
his agents whether a captured vessel had been wrecked on
the French coast. The prisoners at Verdun and other depots
were examined ; rewards were offered by emissaries in France
for the discovery of the boy, but without success. Having
waited two years, all hope became extinct, and the letter now
received by Mr. Rainscourt was from the vicar, acquainting
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THE KING'S OWN
him with the circumstances, and surrendering up the property
to him as next-of-kin.
" Pray, Mr. Rainscourt, may I ask the contents of a letter
the perusal of which not only makes you so generous, but im-
plies that you expect to have the means of being so ? "
When happy ourselves, especially when unexpectedly so,
we feel kindly disposed towards others. For a moment Rains-
court seemed to have forgotten all his differences with his
wife ; and he as readily imparted to her his good fortune as
he had, on a previous occasion, his disappointment.
"My dear Clara, the grandchild is dead, and we have
possession of the property."
" My dear Clara ! " Such an epithet had never been used
since the first week of their marriage. Overcome by the
joyful intelligence, but more overcome by the kind expres-
sion of her husband, which recalled the days when she fondly
loved, Mrs. Rainscourt burst into tears, and throwing herself
down with her face on his knees, poured out, in sobs, her
gratitude to Heaven and her revived affection for her
husband.
Their daughter Emily, now ten years old, astonished at so
unusual a scene, ran up, impelled as it were by instinct, and
completed the family group by clinging to her father. Rains-
court, who was affected, kissed the brow of the child, and
congratulated her on becoming an heiress.
" I never knew before that money would do so much good,"
observed the child, referring to the apparent reconciliation of
her parents.
Mrs. Rainscourt rose from her position and sat down at the
table, leaning her face upon her hands. " I am afraid that it
has come too late," said she mournfully, as she recalled the
years of indifference and hostility which had preceded.
Mrs. Rainscourt was correct in her supposition. Respect
and esteem had long departed, and without their aid truant
love was not to be reclaimed. The feeling of renewed attach-
ment was as transient as it was sudden.
"I must be off to England immediately," observed the
husband. "I presume that I shall have no difficulty in
obtaining money from the bank when I show this letter.
Old will be ready enough to thrust his notes into my
hands now."
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THE KING'S OWN
" Shall we not go with you, Mr. Rainscourt ? "
"No; you had better remain here till I have arranged
matters a little. I must settle with three cursed money-
lenders, and take up the bonds from J . Little scoundrel !
he'll be civil enough."
"Well, Mr. Rainscourt, it must, I suppose, be as you de-
cide ; but neither Emily nor I are very well equipped in our
wardrobes, and you will not be exactly competent to execute
our commissions."
" And therefore shall execute none."
" Do you, then, mean to leave us here in rags and beggary
while you are amusing yourself in London ? " replied Mrs.
Rainscourt with asperity. " With your altered circumstances,
you will have no want of society, either male or female," con-
tinued the lady, with an emphasis upon the last word, " and
a wife will probably be an encumbrance."
" Certainly not such a . kind and affectionate one as you
have proved, my dear," replied the gentleman sarcastically ;
" nevertheless, I must decline the pleasure of your company
till I have time to look about me a little."
"Perhaps, Mr. Rainscourt, now that you will be able to
afford it, you will prefer a separate establishment ? If so, I
am willing to accede to any proposition you may be inclined
to make."
"That's a very sensible remark of yours, my dear, and
shall receive due consideration."
" The sooner the better, sir," replied the piqued lady, as
Mr. Rainscourt quitted the room.
" My dear child," said Mrs. Rainscourt to her daughter,
"you see how cruelly your father treats me. He is a bad
man, and you must never pay attention to what he says."
" Papa told me just the same of you, mamma," replied the
girl, "yesterday morning when you were walking in the
garden."
" Did he ? The wretch, to set my own child against me ! "
cried Mrs. Rainscourt, who had just been guilty of the
very same offence which had raised her choler against her
husband.
IS?
THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER XXII
The Queen of night, whose vast command
Rules all the sea and half the land ;
And over moist and crazy brains,
In high spring-tides at midnight reigns.
Hudibras.
AMONG the millions who,, on the hallowed and appointed
day, lay aside their worldly occupations to bow the knee to
the Giver of all good, directing their orisons and their
thoughts to one mercy-beaming Power, like so many rays of
light concentrated into one focus, I know no class of people
in whose breasts the feeling of religion is more deeply im-
planted than the occupants of that glorious specimen of
daring ingenuity a man-of-war. It is through His works
that the Almighty is most sincerely reverenced, through
them that His infinite power is with deepest humility
acknowledged. The most forcible arguments, the most
pathetic eloquence from the pulpit, will not affect so
powerfully the mind of man as the investigation of a blade
of grass, or the mechanism of the almost imperceptible insect.
If, then, such is the effect upon mankind in general, how
strong must be the impressions of those who occupy their
business in the great waters ! These men " see the works
of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep." They behold
Him in all His magnificence, in all His beauty, in all His
wrath, in all His vastness, in all His variety. Unassisted by
theory, they practically feel that God is great, and their
worship, although dumb, is sincere
I am aware that it is the idea of many that sailors have
little or no religion, and their dissolute conduct when
thrown on shore is certainly a strong argument in support
of this opinion ; but they must not be so partially judged.
Those who are constantly mixed with the world, and ex-
posed to its allurements, are subject to a continual struggle
against their passions, which they are more enabled to
restrain, as temptation so rapidly succeeds temptation that
one destroys the other effacing it from their recollection
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THE KING'S OWN
before they have had time to mature their embryo guilt.
But in our floating monasteries, where rigid discipline and
active duties allow only the thoughts to ramble to that
society which never has been intended to be abandoned;
the passions are naturally impelled towards that world
whose temptations are so much increased by long and
unnatural seclusion.
In the mountain lake, whose waters are daily increasing,
all is unruffled till their own weight has forced its boundaries,
and the roaring cataract sweeps everything before it. Such
is the licentious and impetuous behaviour of the sailor on
shore. But on board he is a different being, and appears
as if he were without sin and without guile. Let those,
then, who turn away at his occasional intemperance be
careful how they judge. They may "thank God that they
are not as that publican," and yet be less justified when
weighed in that balance where, although Justice eyes the
beam, Mercy is permitted to stand by, and throw into
the scale her thousand little grains to counterpoise the
mass of guilt.
Religion in a sailor (I mean by the term a common sea-
man) is more of an active than a passive feeling. It does
not consist in reflection or self-examination. It is in ex-
ternals that his respect to the Deity is manifest, Witness
the Sunday on board of a man-of-war ; the care with which
the decks are washed, the hauling taut and neat coiling
down of the ropes, the studied cleanliness of person, most
of which duties are performed on other days, but on this
day are executed with an extra precision and attention on
the part of the seamen, because it is Sunday. Then the
quiet decorum voluntarily observed ; the attention to Divine
service, which would be a pattern to a congregation on
shore ; the little knots of men collected, in the afternoon,
between the guns, listening to one who reads some serious
book ; or the solitary quartermaster poring over his
thumbed Testament as he communes with himself all
prove that sailors have a deep-rooted feeling of religion,
I once knew a first lieutenant receive a severe rebuke
from a ship's company. This officer, observing the men
scattered listlessly about the forecastle and waist of the
frigate on a fine Sunday evening, ordered the fiddler up
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THE KING'S OWN
that they might dance. The ship's company thanked him
for his kindness, but stated that they had not been accus-
tomed to dance on that day, and requested that the music
might be sent below.
The Sunday on board a man-of-war has another ad-
vantage over the Sabbath on shore : it is hallowed
throughout. It commences with respect and reverence,
and it ends with the same. There is no alehouse to resort
to, where the men may become intoxicated ; no allurements
of the senses to disturb the calm repose of the mind, the
practical veneration of the day, which bestows upon it a
moral beauty.
It was on the evening of such a day of serenity, after the
hammocks had been piped down and the watch mustered,
that Captain M was standing on the gangway of the
Aspasia in conversation with Macallan, the surgeon. It was
almost a calm ; the sails were not asleep Avith the light airs
that occasionally distended them, but flapped against the
lofty masts with the motion communicated to the vessel by
the undulating wave. The moon, nearly at her full, was high
in the heavens, steering for the zenith in all her beauty,
without one envious cloud to obscure the refulgence of her
beams, which were reflected upon the water in broad and
wavering lines of silver. The blue wave was of a deeper
blue so clear and so transparent, that you fancied you could
pierce through a fathomless perspective, and so refreshing, so
void of all impurity, that it invited you to glide into its
bosom.
" How clear the moon shines to-night ; to-morrow, I think,
will be full moon."
" It would be well," observed the surgeon in reply to the
remark of the captain, " to request the officer of the watch
not to permit the men to sleep on the upper deck. We shall
have many of them moon-blind."
" I have often heard that effect of the moon in the tropics
mentioned, but have never seen it. In what manner does it
affect the eyes ? "
" The moon can act but in one way, sir," replied Macallan
" by attraction. The men who are affected see perfectly
well in broad daylight, but as soon as it is dusk their powers
of vision are gone altogether. At the usual time at which
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the hammocks are piped down they will not be able to dis-
tinguish the numbers. I have had sixty men in one ship in
the situation I have described."
"We ridicule the opinion of the ancients relative to the
powers of this planet," observed the captain ; " but at the
same time I have often heard more ascribed to her influence
than the world in general are inclined to credit. That she
regulates the tides is, I believe, the only point upon which
there is now no scepticism."
" There has been scepticism even upon that, sir. Did you
ever read a work entitled ' Theory of the Tides ' ? I can,
however, state some other points, from observation, in which
the moon has power."
" Over lunatics, I presume ? "
" Most certainly ; and why not, therefore, over those who
are rational ? We observe the effect more clearly in the
lunatic, because his mind is in a state of feverish excitement ;
but if the moon can act upon the diseased brain, it must also
have power, although less perceptible, over the mind which
is in health. I believe that there is an ebb and flow of power
in our internal mechanism corresponding to the phases of
the moon ; I mean, that the blood flows more rapidly, and
the powers of nature are more stimulated, at the flood and
full than at the ebb and neap, when a reaction takes place
in proportion to the previous acceleration. Dr. Mead has
observed that, of those who are at the point of death, nine
out of ten quit this world at the ebb of the tide. Does not
this observation suggest the idea that Nature has relaxed
her efforts during that period, after having been stimulated
during the flood ? Shakspeare, who was a true observer of
Nature, has not omitted this circumstance ; speaking of the
death of Falstaff, Mrs. Quickly observes, ' It was just at the
turn of the tide.' "
" Well, but, Mr. Macallan, laying aside hypothesis, what
have you ascertained, from actual observation, besides that
which we term moon-blindness?"
" The effect of the moon upon fish and other animal
matter hung up in its rays at night. If under the half-
deck, they would remain perfectly sweet and eatable ; but
if exposed to the moon's rays in the tropics, they will, in
the course of one night, become putrid and unwholesome.
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They emit no smell, but when eaten will produce diarrhoea,
almost as violent as if you had taken poison."
"I have heard that stated also by seamen/' said the
captain, "but have never witnessed it."
" A remarkable and corroborative instance occurred when
I was in the bay of Annapolis/' resumed the surgeon. " I
was becalmed in a small vessel, and amused myself with
fishing. I pulled up several herrings, but to my astonish-
ment they were putrid and sodden an hour or two after
they were dead. I observed the circumstance to one of the
fishermen, who informed me that several hundred barrels,
taken at a fishery a few miles off, had all been spoiled in
the same manner. I asked the reason, and the answer was,
that ' they had been spawned at the full of the moon.'
How far the man was correct I know not; but he stated
that the circumstance had occurred before, and was well
known to the older fishermen."
"Very singular," replied Captain M . "We are too
apt to reject the whole because we have found a part
to be erroneous. That the moon is not the Hecate for-
merly supposed, I believe ; but she seems to have more
power than is usually ascribed to her. Is that seven bells
striking ? "
" It is, sir ; the time has slipped rapidly away. I shall
wish you good-night."
"Good-night," replied Captain M , who for some time
after the departure of the surgeon continued leaning over
the rail of the entering-port in silent contemplation of the
glassy wave, until the working of his mind was expi'essed
in the following apostrophe :
"Yes placid and beautiful as thou art, there is foul
treachery in thy smile. Who knows but that one day thou
mayest in thy fury demand as a victim the form which thou
so peaceably reflectest ? Ever-craving epicure ! thou must
be fed with the healthy and the brave. The gluttonous
earth preys indiscriminately upon the diseased carcasses of
age, infancy, and manhood ; but thou must be more daintily
supplied. Health and vigour ; prime of life and joyous
heart ; high-beating pulse and energy of soul ; active bodies
and more active minds such is the food in which thou
delightest; and with such dainty fare wilt thou ever be
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supplied, until the Power that created thee, with the other
elements, shall order thee to pass away."
The bell struck eight, and its sharp peals, followed by
the hoarse summoning of the watch below by the boat-
swain's mates, disturbed his reverie, and Captain M
descended to his cabin.
And now, readei', I shall finish this chapter. You may
perhaps imagine that I have the scene before me, and am
describing from Nature ; if so, you are in error. I am seated
in the after-cabin of a vessel, endowed with as liberal a
share of motion as any in his Majesty's service ; whilst I
write I am holding on by the table, my legs entwined in
the lashings underneath, and I can barely manage to keep
my position before my manuscript. The sea is high, the
gale fresh, the sky dirty, and threatening a continuance of
what our transatlantic descendants would term a pretty-
considerable-tarnation-strong blast of wind. The top-gallant-
yards are on deck, the masts are struck, the guns double-
breeched, and the bulwarks creaking and grinding in most
detestable regularity of dissonance as the vessel scuds and
lurches through a cross and heavy sea. The main T deck is
afloat ; and from the careless fitting of the half-ports at the
dockyard, and neglect of caulking in the cants, my fore-cabin
is in the same predicament. A bubbling brook changing its
course, ebbing and flowing as it were with the rolling of the
ship, is dashing with mimic fury against the trunks secured
on each side of the cabin.
I have j ust been summoned from my task in consequence
of one of the battens which secured my little library having
given way to the immoderate weight of learning that pressed
upon it; and as my books have been washed to and fro, I
have snatched them from their first attempts at natation.
Smith's " Wealth of Nations " I picked up 'first, not worth a
fig > " Don Juan " I have just rescued from a second ship-
wreck, with no other Hey-day (Haidee) to console him than
the melancholy one extracted from me with a deep sigh as
J received his shattered frame. Here's Burton's "Anatomy
of Melancholy," in a very melancholy plight indeed ; and
(what a fashionable watering-place my cabin has turned to !)
here's Burke's " Peerage," with all the royal family and
aristocracy of the kingdom, taking a dip, and a captain of a
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THE KING'S OWN
man-of-war, like another Sally Gunn, pulling them out. So
you perceive my description has been all moonshine
" My wishes have been fathers to my thoughts."
My bones are sore with rocking. Horace says that he
had a soul of brass who first ventured to sea; I think a
body of iron very necessary to the outfit. My cot is swing-
ing and jerking up to the beams, as if the lively scoundrel
was some metamorphosed imp mocking at me. "Sarve you
right what did you 'list for ? " Very true why did I ? -
Well, anxious as I am to close this chapter, and to close
my eyes, I will tell you, reader, what it was that induced
me to go to sea. It was not to escape the drudgery and
confinement of a school, or the admonitions received at
home. The battle of Trafalgar had been fought 1 recollect
the news being brought down by the dancing-master when
I was at school ; but although I knew that eighteen or
twenty sail of the line had been captured, yet, never having
seen a vessel larger than a merchant-ship at London Bridge,
I had very imperfect ideas on the subject except that it
must have been a very glorious affair, as we had a whole
holiday in consequence. But when I returned home, I
witnessed the funeral procession of Lord Nelson; and as
the triumphal car upon which his earthly remains were
borne disappeared from my aching eye, I felt that death
could have no terrors if followed by such a funeral; and
I determined that I would be buried in the same manner.
This is the fact; but I am not now exactly of the same
opinion. I had no idea at that time that it was such a
terrible roundabout way to St. Paul's. Here I have been
tossed about in every quarter of the globe for between
twenty and five-and-twenty years, and the dome is almost
as distant as ever.
1 mean to put up with the family vault; but I should
like very much to have engraved on my coffin " Many years
Commissioner," or "Lord of the Admiralty," or "Governor
of Greenwich Hospital," " Ambassador," " Privy Councillor,"
or, in fact, anything but Captain ; for though acknowledged
to be a good travelling name, it is a very insignificant title
at the end of our journey. Moreover, as the author of
'-' Pelham " says, " I wish somebody would adopt me."
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CHAPTER XXIII
When his pockets were lined, why, his life should be mended,
The laws he had broken he'd never break more.
Sea Song,
v/N his return to London, M'Elvina immediately repaired
to the residence of his patron, that he might enter into
the necessary explanations relative to the capture of the
vessel and the circumstances which had produced his release
from the penalties and imprisonment to which he had been
subjected by his lawless career. Previous, however, to
narrating the events which occurred upon his arrival, it will
be advisable to offer some remarks relative to M'Elvina, which,
when they have been suggested to the reader, will serve to
remove much of the apparent inconsistency of his character.
That a person who, from his earliest childhood, had been
brought up to fraud and deceit should, of his own accord,
and so suddenly, return to honesty, may at first appear
problematical. But let it be remembered that M'Elvina
was not in the situation of those who, having their choice
of good and evil, had preferred the latter. From infancy
he had been brought up to, and had heard every encomium
upon, dishonesty, without having one friend to point out
to him the advantages of pursuing another course. The
same spirit of emulation which would have made him
strenuous in the right path, urged him forward in his
career of error. If, after his discharge from the Philan-
thropic School, he had had time to observe the advantages
in practice of those maxims which had only been inculcated
in theory, it is not improbable that he might have reformed ;
this, however, was prevented by the injudicious conduct
of his master.
But although the principles which had been instilled were
not sufficiently powerful, unassisted by reflection, to resist
the force of habit, the germ, smothered as it was for the
time, was not destroyed ; and after M'Elvina's seven years'
servitude in a profession remarkable for candour and sincerity,
and in which he had neither temptation nor opportunity to
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THE KING'S OWN
return to his evil courses, habit had been counteracted by
habit. The tares and wheat were of equal growth. ' his
is substantiated by the single fact of his inclination to be
honest when he found the pocket-book. A confirmed rogue
would never have thought of returning it, even if it had not
been worth five shillings. It is true, if it had contained
hundreds, in his distressed circumstances, that the tempta-
tion might have been too strong ; but this remark by 110
means disproves the assertion, that he had the inclination
to be honest. " There is a tide in the affairs of men," and
it was on this decision between retaining or returning the
pocket-book that depended the future misery or welfare of
M'Elvina. Fortunately the sum was not sufficient to turn
the nicely-balanced scale, and the generosity of old Horn-
blow confirmed the victory on the side of vii'tue. I do not
mean to assert that, for some time subsequent to this trans-
action, M'Elvina was influenced by a religious, or even a
moral feeling. It was rather by interested motives that he
was convinced ; but convinced he was ; and whether he
was proud of his return to comparative virtue, or found it
necessary to refresh his memory, his constant injunctions to
others to be honest (upon the same principle that a man who
tells a story repeatedly eventually believes it to be true)
assisted to keep him steadfast in his good resolutions.
Upon the other points of his character it will be un-
necessary to dilate. For his gentlemanly appearance and
address he was indebted to Nature, who does not always
choose to acknowledge the claims which aristocracy thinks
proper to assert, and occasionally mocks the idea by bestow-
ing graces on a cottager which might be envied by the
inhabitants of a palace. Of M'Elvina it may with justice be
asserted that his faults were those of education his courage,
generosity, and many good qualities were his own.
M'Elvina, who knew exactly at what hour of the day his
patron would be abroad, took the precaution of not going
to the house until the time at which he would be certain to
find Susan, as usual, in the little parlour, alone, and occupied
with her needle or her book. The street-door had just been
opened by the maid to receive some articles of domestic use
which a tradesman had sent home ; and M'Elvina, putting
his finger to his lips to ensure the silence of the girl, who
THE KING'S OWN
would have run to communicate the welcome intelligence
of his arrival, stepped past her into the passage, and found
the door of the little parlour. Gently admitting himself,
he discovered Susan, whom he had not disturbed, sitting
opposite to the window with her back towards him. He
crept in softly behind her chair. She was in deep thought ;
one hand rested on her cheek, and the other held the pen
with which she had been arranging the accounts of the
former week, to submit them, as usual, to her father on the
Monday evening. Of whom and what she was thinking was,
however, soon manifested to M'Elvina ; for she commenced
scribbling and drawing with her pen on the blotting-paper
before her, until she at last wrote several times, as if she
were practising to see how it would look as a signature,
" SUSAN M'ELVINA."
" SUSAN M'ELVINA."
" SUSAN M'ELVINA."
Although delighted at this proof that he was occupying
her thoughts, M'Elvina had the delicacy to retire unper-
ceived, and Susan, as if recollecting herself, slightly coloured
as she twisted up the paper and threw it under the grate ;
in doing which she perceived M'Elvina, who still remained
at the door. A cry of surprise, a deep blush of pleasure
over her pale face, and a hand frankly extended, which
M'Elvina could with difficulty resist the impulse to raise to
his lips, were followed up by the hasty interrogation of
" Why, your arm is in a sling ? You did not say that you
were hurt when you wrote from Plymouth ? "
" It was not worth mentioning, Susan it's almost well ;
but tell me, how did your father bear the loss of the vessel ?"
" Oh, pretty well ! But, Captain M'Elvina, you could
not have done me a greater favour, or my father a greater
kindness. He has now wound up his affairs, and intends to
retire from all speculation. He has purchased a house in
the country, and I hope, when we go there, that I shall be
more happy, and have better health than I have had of late."
" And what is to become of me ? " observed M'Elvina
gravely.
" Oh, I don't know ; you are the best judge of that."
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THE KING'S OWN
" Well, then, I will confess to you, Susan, that I am just as
well pleased that all this has taken place as you are ; for I
am not sorry to give up a profession respecting which, be-
tween ourselves, I have lately had many scruples of con-
science. I have not saved much, it is true ; but I have
enough to live upon, as long as I have no one to take care of
except myself."
" You raise yourself in my opinion by saying so," replied
Susan ; " although it is painful to me to condemn a practice
which impeaches my father. Your courage and talents may
be better applied. Thank God that it is all over."
" But, Susan, you said that you hoped to have better health.
Have you not been well ? "
" Not very ill," replied Susan, " but I have had a good
deal of anxiety. The loss of the vessel your capture has
affected my father, and of course has worried me."
The discourse was now interrupted by old Homblow, who
had returned home to his dinner. He received M'Elvina in
the most friendly manner, and they sat down to table.
After dinner, M'Elvina entered into a minute detail of all
that had occurred, and, as far as he was concerned, with a
modesty which enhanced his meritorious conduct.
Susan listened to the narrative with intense interest ; and
as soon as it was over retired to her room, leaving old Horn-
blow and M'Elvina over their bottle.
" Well, M'Elvina, what do you mean to do with yourself? "
said the old man. " You know that Susan has at last per-
suaded me into retiring from business. I have just concluded
the purchase of a little property near the seaside, about seven
miles from the village of , in Norfolk it adjoins the
great Rainscourt estate. You know that part of the coast."
" Very well, sir ; there is a famous landing-place there, on
the Rainscourt estate. It was formerly the property of
Admiral De Courcy."
" Ah ! we don't mean to smuggle any more, so that's no
use. I should not have known that it was near the Rains-
court property, only they inserted it in the particulai-s of sale
as an advantage ; though I confess I do not see any particular
advantage in a poor man living too near a rich one. But
answer my question what are you going to do with your-
self? If I can assist you, M'Elvina, I will."
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THE KING'S OWN
" I do not intend to go to sea any more."
" No ! what then ? I suppose you would like to marry,
and settle on shore ? Well, if I can assist you, M'Elvina,
I will."
"You could, indeed, assist me there, sir."
" Oh ! Susan, I suppose. Nay, don't colour up ; I've seen
it long enough, and if I had not meant that it should be
so, I should have put an end to it before. You are an honest
man, M'Elvina, and I know nobody to whom I would give
my girl sooner than to you."
" You have, indeed, removed a weight from my mind, sir,
and I hardly know how to express my thanks to you for
your good wishes ; but I have yet to obtain your daughter's
consent."
" I know you have ; you cannot expect that she will
anticipate your wishes as I have done. But as I wish this
business to be decided at once, I shall send her down to you,
and I'll take a walk in the meantime. All I can say is, that
if she says she has no mind to you, don't you believe her, for
I know better."
" Susan ! " said old Hornblow, going to the door.
" Yes, father."
" Come down, my dear, and stay with Captain M'Elvina.
I am obliged to go out."
Old Hornblow reached down his hat, put on his spencer,
and departed ; while Susan, whose heart told her that so
unusual a movement on her father's part was not without
some good reason, descended to the parlour with a quickened
pulse.
" Susan ! " said M'Elvina, who had risen from his chair to
receive her as soon as he heard her footsteps, " I have much
to say to you, and I must be as brief as I can, for my mind is
in too agitated a state to bear with much temporising. Do
me the favour to take a chair, and listen while I make you
acquainted with what you do not know."
Susan trembled, and the colour flew from her cheeks as
she sat down on the chair which M'Elvina handed to her.
"Your father, Susan, took me by the hand at the time
that I was in great distress, in consequence of my having
pleased him by an act of common honesty. You know how
kind and considerate a patron he has been to me since, and
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THE KING'S OWN
I have now been in his employ some years. This evening he
has overpowered me with a weight of gratitude, by allowing
me to aspire to that which I most covet on earth, and has
consented to my robbing him, if I can, of his greatest treasure.
You cannot mistake what I mean. But previous to my
requesting an answer on a point in which my future happi-
ness is involved, I have an act of justice to perform towards
you, and of conscience towards myself, which must be ful-
filled. It is to be candid, and not allow you to be entrapped
into an alliance with a person of whose life you, at present,
know but the fair side.
" First, let me state to you, Susan, that my parentage is
as obscure as it well can be ; and secondly, that the early
part of my life was as vicious. I may, indeed, extenuate it
when I enter into an explanation, and with great justice ;
but I have now only stated the facts generally. If you
wish me to enter into particulars, much as I shall blush at
the exposure, and painful as the task assigned will be, I
shall not refuse, even at the risk of losing all I covet by
the confession; for much as my happiness is at stake, I
have too sincere a regard for you to allow you to contract
any engagement with me without making this candid avowal.
Now, Susan, answer me frankly whether, in the first place,
you wish me to discover the particulars of my early life ; in
the next place (if you decline hearing them), whether after
this general avowal you will listen to any solicitations on
my part to induce you to unite your future destiny with
mine ? "
" Captain M'Elvina, I thank you for your candour," replied
Susan, " and will imitate you in my answer. Your obscure
parentage cannot be a matter of consideration to one who
has no descent to boast of. That you have not always been
leading a creditable life, I am sorry for more sorry because
I am sure it must be a source of repentance and mortification
to you ; but I have not an idle curiosity to wish you to
impart that which would not tend to my happiness to
divulge. I did once hear an old gentlewoman, who had
been conversant with the world, declare that if every man
was obliged to confess the secrets of his life before marriage,
few young women would be persuaded to go up to the altar.
I hope it is not true ; but whether it is or not, it does not
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exactly bear upon the subject in agitation. I again thank
you for your candour, and disclaim all wish to know any
further. I believe I have now answered your question."
" Not yet, Susan ; you have not yet answered the latter
part of it."
" What was it ? I don't recollect."
" It was," said M'Elvina, picking up the piece of twisted
paper which Susan had thrown under the grate, " whether
you would listen to my entreaties to sign your name in future
as on this paper ? "
" Oh, M'Elvina/' cried Susan ; " how unfair, how ungene-
rous ! Now I detest you ! "
" I'll not believe that. I have your own handwriting to
the contrary, and I'll appeal to your father."
" Nay, rather than that, you have set me an example of
candour, and shall profit by it. Promise me, M'Elvina,
always to treat me as you have this day, and here is my
hand."
" Who would not be honest to be so rewarded ? " replied
M'Elvina, as he embraced the blushing girl.
"Ah, all's right, I perceive," cried old Hornblow, who had
opened the door unperceived. " Come, my children, take
my blessing ; long may you live happy and united."
CHAPTER XXIV
He was a shrewd philosopher,
And had read every text and gloss over,
Whatever sceptic could inquire for,
For every why he had a ivherefore.
He could reduce all things to acts,
And knew their nature by abstracts.
Hudibras.
CAPTAIN M was not unmindful of the promise which
he had made to M'Elvina relative to our hero ; and when
he returned to the ship he sent for Macallan, the surgeon,
aud requested as a personal favour that he would superin-
tend Willy's education and direct his studies.
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THE KING'S OWN
Macallan was too partial to Captain M to refuse, and
fortunately had imbibed a strong regard for Willy, whose
romantic history, early courage, and amiability of disposition
had made him a general favourite. Macallan, therefore,
willingly undertook the tuition of a boy who combined
energy of mind with docility of disposition and sweetness
of temper. There could not have been selected a person
better qualified than the surgeon for imparting that general
knowledge so valuable in after-life, and under his guid-
ance Willy soon proved that strong intellectual powers were
among the other advantages which he had received from
Nature.
The Aspasia flew before the trade-winds, and in a few
weeks arrived at Barbadoes, where Captain M found
orders left by the admiral of the station, directing him to
survey a dangerous reef of rocks to the northward of Porto
Rico, and to continue to cruise for some weeks in that
quarter after the service had been performed. In three
days the frigate was revictualled and watered ; and the
officers had barely time to have their sea arrangements
completed, before the frigate again expanded her canvas
to a favourable breeze. In a few hours the island was
left so far astern as to appear like the blue mist which
so often deceives the expectant scanner of the horizon.
" You Billy Pitt ! is all my linen come on board ? "
"Yes, sar," replied Billy, who was in Courtenay's cabin;
"I make bill out; just now cast up multerpication of
whole."
" I'm afraid you very often use multiplication in your addi-
tion, Mr. Billy."
" True bill, sar," replied Billy, coming out of the cabin, and
handing a paper to Courtenay.
What's this ? nineteen tarts ! Why, you black thief, I
never had any tarts."
"Please let me see, sar," said Billy, peering .over his
shoulder. " Yes, sar, all right I count 'em. Tell washer-
woman put plenty of tarch in collar."
" Shirts, you nigger ! why don't you learn to spell with
that dictionary of yours ? "
' Know how to spell very well, sar," replied Billy haughtily ;
" that my way spell ' tarts' "
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THE KING'S OWN
" ' Fourteen tockin, seventeen toul.' You do know how to
spell to a T."
" Massa Courtenay, doctor not write same way you write."
" Well, Mr. Billy."
"You not write same way me ebery gentleman write
different hand. Now, if ebery gentleman write his own way,
why not ebery gentleman spell his own way ? Dat my way
to spell, sar," continued Billy, very much affronted.
"I can't argue with you now, Mr. Billy there's one
bell after four striking, and I have hardly had a glass of
wine, from your bothering me. Upon my soul, it's excessively
annoying."
" One bell, Mr. Courtenay ! " cried Jerry at the gun-room
door; " Mr. Price will thank you to relieve him."
" I say, Mr. Prose," continued Jerry, as he passed through
the steerage to return on deck, " I'll just trouble you to hand
your carcass up as soon as convenient."
" Directly, Jerry I will but my tea is so hot."
" Well then, leave it, and I'll drink it for you," replied Jerry,
ascending the ladder.
" Well, Mr. G , did you tell Mr. Courtenay ? " inquired
Price.
"Yes, sir," replied Jerry.
" What did he say ? "
" He said, ' Pass the bottle, sir,' " replied Jerry, touching his
hat, and not changing a muscle of his countenance, although
delighted with the vexation that appeared in that of the tired
lieutenant as he walked away forward.
For two or three days the frigate sailed between the
islands, which reared their lofty crests abruptly from the
ocean like the embattlements of some vast castle which
had been submerged to the water's edge. Her progress
was slow, as she was only indebted to the land or sea
breezes as they alternately blew, and was becalmed at the
close of the day, during the pause between their relieving
each other from their never-ceasing duty. Such was the
situation of the Aspasia on the evening of the third day.
The scene was one of those splendid panoramas which are
only to be gazed upon in tropical climes. The sun was
near setting ; and as he passed through the horizontal streaks
of vapour, fringed their narrow edges with a blaze of glory
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THE KING'S OWN
strongly in contrast with the deep blue of the zenith,, re-
flected by the still wave in every quarter, except where
the descending orb poured down his volume of rays, which
changed the sea into an element of molten gold. The
frigate was lying motionless in the narrow channel between
two of the islands., the high mountains of which, in deep
and solemn shade, were reflected in lengthened shadows,
extending to the vessel's sides, and looking downwards
you beheld the "mountains bowed." Many of the officers
were standing abaft admiring the beauty of the scene,
but not giving vent to their feelings from an inward
consciousness of inability to do justice to it in their ex-
pressions.
Macallan first broke the silence. " Who would imagine,
Courtenay, that ere yonder sun shall rise again a hurricane
may exhaust its rage upon a spot so calm, so beautiful as this,
Avhere all now seems to whisper peace ? "
The remark was followed by a noise like that proceeding
from a distant gun. " Is it pace you mane, doctor ? " said
one of the midshipmen, from the sister kingdom. " By the
powers, there's ' war to the knife ' already. Look," continued
he, pointing with his finger in a direction under the land,
" there's a battle between the whale and the thrasher."
The remark of the midshipman was correct, and the whole
party congregated on the taffrail to witness the struggle
which had already commenced. The blows of the thrasher,
a large fish of the same species as the whale, given with
incredible force and noise on the back of the whale, were
now answered by his more unwieldy antagonist, who lashed
the sea with fury in his attempts to retaliate upon his more
active assailant ; and while the contention lasted, the water
was in a foam.
In a few minutes the whale plunged and disappeared.
" He has had enough of it," observed the master, " but
the thrasher will not let him off so easily. He must come up
to breathe directly, and you'll find the thrasher yard-arm and
yard-arm with him again."
As the master observed, the whale soon reappeared ; and the
thrasher, who had closely pursued him, as if determined to
make up for lost time, threw himself out of the water and
came down upon the whale, striking him with tremendous
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THE KING'S OWN
force upon the shoulder. The whale plunged so perpendicu-
larly that his broad tail was many feet upraised in the air,
and the persecuted animal was seen no more.
" That last broadside settled him," said Courtenay.
" Sunk him too, I think," cried Jerry.
" Strange," observed Courtenay, addressing Macallan, " that
there should be such an antipathy between the animals. The
West Indians assert, that at the same time the thrasher
attacks him above, the sword-fish pierces him underneath if
so, it must be very annoying."
" I have heard the same story, but have never myself seen
the sword-fish," replied Macallan ; " it is, however, very pos-
sible, as there is no animal in the creation that has so many
enemies as the whale."
" A tax on greatness," observed Jerry ; " I'm glad it goes
by bulk. Mr. Macallan," continued he, " you're a philosopher,
and I have heard you argue that whatever is, is right will
you explain to my consummate ignorance, upon what just
grounds the thrasher attacks that unoffending mass of
blubber?"
"I'll explain it to you," said Courtenay, laughing. "The
whale, who has just come from the northward, finds himself in
very comfortable quarters here, and has no wish to heave up
his anchor and proceed on his voyage round Cape Horn. The
thrasher is the port-admiral of the station, and his blows are so
many guns to enforce his orders to sail forthwith."
"Thank you, sir," answered Jerry sarcastically, "for your
very ingenious explanation ; but I do not see why his guns
should be shotted. Perhaps Mr. Macallan will now oblige
me by his ideas on the subject."
" How far these islands may be the Capua to the whale,
which Mr. Courtenay presumes, I cannot say," answered the
surgeon pompously ; " but I have observed that all the
cetaceous tribe are very much annoyed by vermin which
adhere to their skins. You often see the porpoises and
smaller fish of this class throw themselves into the air, and
fall flat on the water, to detach the barnacles and other
parasitical insects which distress them. May it not be that
the whale, being so enormous an animal, and not able to
employ the same means of relief, receives it from the blows
of the thrasher?"
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THE KING'S OWN
" Bravo, doctor ! Why, then, the thrasher may be con-
sidered as a medical attendant to the whale ; and from the
specimen we have witnessed of his humanity, a naval practi-
tioner, I have no doubt," added Jerry.
" Very well, Mr. Jerry ; if ever you come under my hands,
you shall smart for that."
" Very little chance, doctor ; I'm such a miserable object,
that even disease passes by me with contempt. If I ever
am in your list, I presume it will be for a case of plethora,"
replied Jerry, spanning his thin waist.
" Young gentlemen, get down directly. What are you all
doing there on the taffrail ? " bawled out the first Lieutenant,
who had just come up the ladder.
" We've been looking at a sea-bully," said Jerry, in a tone
of voice sufficiently loud to excite the merriment of those
about him without being heard by the first lieutenant.
" What's the joke ? " observed Mr. Bully, coming aft as
the midshipmen were dispersing.
"Some of Mr. J 's nonsense," replied the surgeon.
This answer not being satisfactory, the first lieutenant took
it for granted, as people usually do, that the laugh was
against himself, and his choler was raised against the offend-
ing party.
" Mr. J ! Ay, that young man thinks of anything but
his duty. There he is, playing with the captain's dog ; and
his watch, I'll answer for it, or he would not be on deck.
Mr. J ," continued the first lieutenant to Jerry, who was
walking up and down to leeward, followed by a large New-
foundland dog, " is it your watch ? "
" Yes, sir," replied Jerry, touching his hat.
" Then why are you skylarking with that dog ? "
" I am not skylarking with the dog, sir. He follows me
up and down. I believe he takes me for a bone."
" I am not surprised at it," replied the first lieutenant,
laughing.
The surgeon, who remained abaft, was now accosted by
Willy, who had been amusing himself leaning over the side of
a boat which had been lowered down by the first lieutenant
to examine the staying of the masts, and catching in a tin
pot the various minute objects of natural history which passed
by as the frigate glided slowly along.
J56
THE KING'S OWN
"What shell is this, Mr. Macallan, which I have picked
up ? It floated on the surface of the water by means of
these air-bladders which are attached to it.' t '
" That shell, Willy," replied Macallan, who, mounting his
favourite hobby, immediately spouted his pompous truths,
"is called by naturalists the lanthina fragilis, perhaps the
weakest and most delicate in its texture which exists, and
yet the only one * which ventures to contend with the
stormy ocean. The varieties of the nautili have the same
property of floating on the surface of the water, but they
seldom are found many miles from land. They are only
coasters in comparison with this adventurous little navigator,
which alone braves the Atlantic, and floats about in the same
fathomless deep which is ranged by the devouring shark and
lashed by the stupendous whale. I have picked up these
little sailors nearly one thousand miles from the land. Yet
observe, it is his security ; his tenement, of such thin texture
to enable him to float with greater ease, would not be able
to encounter the rippling of the wave upon the smoothest
beach."
" What use are they of? "
" Of no direct use that I know of, William ; but if it has
no other use than to induce you to reflect a little, it has not
been made in vain. All created things are not applicable to
the wants or the enjoyment of man ; but their examination
will always tend to his improvement. When you analyse
this little creature in its domicile, and see how wonderfully
it is provided with all means necessary for its existence ;
when you compare it with the thousand varieties upon the
beach, in all of which you will perceive the same Master
hand visible, the same attention in providing for their wants,
the same minute and endless beauty of colour and of form
you cannot but acknowledge the vastness and the magnifi-
cence of the Maker. In the same manner, the flowers and
shrubs, which embellish, as they cover the earth, are not all
so much for use as they are for ornament. What human in-
genuity can approach to the perfection of the meanest effort
of the Almighty hand ? Has it not been pointed out in the
* I am aware that there are two or three other pelagic shells, bat
at the time of this narrative they were not known.
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THE KING'S OWN
Scriptures, ' Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow ;
they toil not, neither do they spin : and yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one
of these.' Never debate in your mind, Willy, of what use
are these things which God has made ; for of what use, then,
is man, the most endowed and the most perverse of all
creation, except to show the goodness and the forbearance
of the Almighty ? You may hereafter be inclined to debate
why noxious reptiles and ferocious beasts, that not only are
useless to man, but a source of dread and of danger, have
been created. They have their inheritance upon earth as
well as man, and combine with the rest of animated nature
to show the power, and the wisdom, and the endless variety
of the Creator. It is true that all animals were made for
our use ; but recollect, that when man fell from his perfect
state, it was declared, ' In the sweat of thy brow thou shalt
eat bread.' Are trackless forests and yet unexplored regions
to remain without living creatures to enjoy them until they
shall be required by man ? And is man, in his fallen state,
to possess all the earth and its advantages, without labour
without fulfilling his destiny? No. Ferocious and noxious
animals disappear only before cultivation. It is part of the
labour to which he has been sentenced, that he should rend
them out as the ' thistle and the thorn ; ' or drive them to
those regions which are not yet required by him, and of
which they may continue to have possession undisturbed."
Such was the language of Macallan to our hero, whose
thirst for knowledge constantly made fresh demands upon
the surgeon's fund of information ; and pedantic as his
language may appear, it contained important truths, which
were treasured up by the retentive memory of his pupil.
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THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER XXV
How frail, how cowardly is woman's mind 1
Yet when strong jealousy inflames the soul,
The weak will roar, and calms to tempests roll.
LEE'S Rival Queens.
DUT we must now follow up the motions of Mr. Rainscourt,
who quitted the castle, and travelling with great diligence,
once more trod the pavement of the metropolis, which he
had quitted in equal haste but under very different cir-
cumstances. The news of his good fortune had preceded
him, and he received all that homage which is invariably
shown to a man who has many creditors and the means
of satisfying all their demands. As he had prophesied,
the little gentleman in black was as obsequious as could
be desired, and threw out many indirect hints of the
pleasure he should have in superintending Mr. Rainscourt's
future arrangements ; and by way of reinstating himself
in his good graces, acquainted him with a plan for reduc-
ing the amount of the demands that were made upon
him. Rainscourt, who never forgave, so far acceded to
the lawyer's wishes as to permit him to take that part of
the arrangements into his hands ; and after Mr J had
succeeded in bringing the usurers to reasonable terms
when all had been duly signed and sealed, not only were
his services declined for the future, but the servants were
desired to show him the street-door.
As his wife had remarked, Rainscourt found no difficulty
in making friends of all sorts, and of both sexes ; and he
had launched into a routine of gaiety and dissipation, in
which he continued for several months, without allowing
his wife and daughter to interrupt his amusements, or to
enter his thoughts. He had enclosed an order upon the
banker at soon after his arrival in London, and he
considered that he had done all that was requisite. Such
was not, however, the opinion of his wife to be immured
in a lonely castle in Ireland was neither her intention
nor her taste. Finding that repeated letters were un-
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THE KING'S OWN
answered, in which she requested permission to join him,
;tnd pointed out the necessity that Emily, who was now
nearly twelve years old, should have the advantages of
tuition which his fortune could command, she packed up
a slender wardrobe, and in a week arrived in London
with Emily, and drove up to the door of the hotel to
which Rainscourt had directed that his letters should be
addressed.
Rainscourt was not at home when she arrived. Announc-
ing herself as his wife, she was shown upstairs into his
apartments, a minute survey of which, with their contents,
was immediately made ; and the notes and letters which
were carelessly strewed upon the tables, and all of which
she took the liberty to peruse, had the effect of throw-
ing Mrs. Rainscourt into a transport of jealousy and in-
dignation. The minutes appeared hours, and the hours
months, until he made his appearance, which he at last
did, accompanied by two fashionable roues w r ith whom he
associated.
The waiters, who happened not to be in the way as he
ascended the stairs, had not announced to him the arrival
of his wife, who was sitting on the sofa in her bonnet and
shawl, one hand full of notes and letters, the superscriptions
of which were evidently in a female hand, and the other
holding her handkerchief, as if prepared for a scene. One
leg was crossed over the other, and the foot of the one
that was above worked in the air up and down with the
force of a piston of a steam-engine, indicative of the propel-
ling power within, when Rainscourt, whose voice was heard all
the way upstairs, arrived at the landing-place, and in answer
to a question of one of his companions replied
" Go and see her ! Not I ; I'm quite tired of her. By
Jove, I'd as soon see my wife ; " and as he finished the
sentence, entered the apartment, where the unexpected
appearance of Mrs. Rainscourt made him involuntarily ex-
claim, "Talk of the devil "
"And she appears, sir," replied the lady, rising, and
making a profound courtesy.
" Pooh, my dear," replied Rainscourt, embarrassed and
unwilling that a scene should take place before his com-
panions, "I was only joking."
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THE KING'S OWN
"Good morning, Rainscourt," said one of his friends ; " I'm
afraid that I shall be de trop."
"And I'm off too, my dear fellow, for there's no saying
how the joke may be taken," added the other, following his
companion out of the room.
Emily ran up to her father and took his hand ; and Rains-
court, who was as much attached to his daughter as his
selfish character would permit, kissed her forehead. Both
parties were for a short time silent. Both preferred to await
the attack rather than commence it ; but in a trial of for-
bearance of this description, it may easily be supposed that
the gentleman gained the victory. Mrs. Rainscourt waited
until she found that she must either give vent to her feelings
by words, or that her whole frame would explode ; and the
action commenced on her side with a shower of tears, which
ended in violent hysterics. The first were unheeded by her
husband, who always considered them as a kind of scaling
her guns previous to an engagement ; but the hysterics
rather baffled him. In his own house, he would have rung
for the servants and left them to repair damages ; but at
an hotel, an eclat was to be avoided, if possible.
" Emily, my dear, go to your mother ; you know how to
help her."
" No, I do not, papa," said the child, crying ; " but Norah
used to open her hands."
Rainscourt's eyes were naturally directed to the fingers
of his wife, in which he perceived a collection of notes and
letters. He thought it might be advisable to open her
hand, if it were only to recover these out of her possession.
What affection would not have induced him to do, interest
accomplished. He advanced to the sofa, and attempted to
open her clenched hands ; but whether Mrs. Rainscourt's
hysterics were only feigned, or of such violence as to defy
the strength of her husband, all his efforts to extract the
letters proved ineffectual, and after several unavailing at-
tempts he desisted from his exertions. 4
" What else is good for her, Emily ? "
" Water, papa, thrown in her face ; shall I ring for some ? "
" No, my dear ; is there nothing else we can do ? "
" Oh yes, papa, unlace her stays."
Rainscourt, who was not very expert as a lady's maid,
161 L
THE KING'S OWN
had some difficulty in arriving at the stays through the
folds of the gown, el cetera, the more so as Mrs. Rainscourt
was very violent in her movements, and he was not a little
irritated by sundry pricks which he received from those
indispensable articles of dress which the fair sex are neces-
sitated to use, pointing out to us that there are no roses
without thorns. When he did arrive at the desired encase-
ment, he was just as much puzzled to find an end to what
appeared, like the Gordian knot, to have neither beginning
nor end. Giving way to the natural impatience of his
temper, he seized a penknife from the table, to divide it
a tAlexandre. Unfortunately, in his hurry, instead of insert-
ing the knife on the inside of the lace, so as to cut to him,
he cut down upon it, and not meeting with the resistance
which he expected, the point of the knife entered with no
trifling force into the back of Mrs. Rainscourt, who to
his astonishment immediately started on her legs, crying,
" Would you murder me, Mr. Rainscourt ? help, help ! "
"It was quite accidental, my dear," said Rainscourt, in
a soothing tone, for he was afraid of her bringing the
whole house about her ears. "I really am quite shocked
at my own awkwardness."
" It quite recovered you, though, mamma," observed Emily,
with great simplicity, and for which remark, to her astonish-
ment, she was saluted with a smart box on the ear.
" Why should you be shocked, Mr. Rainscourt ? " said the
lady, who, as her daughter had remarked, seemed wonderfully
recovered from the phle-6acAr-omy which had been adminis-
tered "why should you be shocked at stabbing me in the
back ? Have I not wherewithal in my hand to stab me a
thousand times in the heart ? Look at these letters, all of
which I have read ! You had, indeed, reason to leave me in
Galway ; but I will submit to it no longer. Mr. Rainscourt,
I insist upon an immediate separation."
" Why should we quarrel, then, my dear, when we ar~ both
^of one mind ? Now do me the favour to sit down and talk the
matter over quietly. What is it that you require ? "
" First, then, Mr. Rainscourt, an acknowledgment on your
part that I am a most injured and most ill-treated woman."
" Granted, my dear, if that will add to your happiness ; I
certainly have never known your value."
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THE KING'S OWN
" Don't sneer, sir, if you please. Secondly, a handsome
allowance, commensurate with your fortune."
" Granted, with pleasure, Mrs. Rainscourt."
"Thirdly, Mr. Rainscourt, an extra allowance for the
education and expenses of my daughter, who will remain
under my care."
" Granted also. "
" Further, Mr. Rainscourt, to keep up appearances, I wish
one of the mansions on your different estates in England
to be appropriated for our use. Your daughter ought to
be known, and reside on the property of which she is the
future heiress."
"A reasonable demand, which I accede to. Is there
anything further ? "
" Nothing of moment ; but, for Emily's sake, I should wish
that you should pay us an occasional visit, and, generally
speaking, keep up appearances before the world."
" That I shall be most happy to do, my dear, and shall
always speak of you as I feel, with respect and esteem. Is
there anything more, Mrs. Rainscourt ? "
" There is not ; but I believe that if I had been ten times
more exorbitant in my demands," replied the lady, with
pique, " that you would have granted them for the pleasure
of getting rid of me." ^
" I would indeed, my dear," replied Rainscourt ; " you may
command me in anything, except my own person."
" I require no other partition, sir, than that of your fortune."
" And of that, my dear, you shall, as I have declared, have
a liberal share. So now, Mrs. Rainscourt, I think we can
have no further occasion for disagreement. The property
in Norfolk, where Admiral De Courcy resided, is a beautiful
spot, and I request you will consider it as your headquarters.
Of course, you will be your own mistress when you feel
inclined to change the scene. And now, as all may be con-
sidered as settled, let us shake hands, and henceforward be
good friends."
Mrs. Rainscourt gave her hand and sealed the new con-
tract, but ill-treated as she had been at variance with her
husband for years and now convinced that she had been
outraged in the tenderest point, still her heart leaned towards
the father of her child. The hand that now was extended in
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THE KING'S OWN
earnest of future separation, reminded her of the day when
she had offered it in pledge of future fidelity and love, and
had listened with rapture to his reciprocal obligation. She
covered her face with her handkerchief, which was soon
moistened with her tears.
Such is woman ! To the last moment she cherishes her
love, pure as an emanation from the Deity. In the happy
days of confidence and truth, it sheds a halo round her
existence ; in those of sorrow and desertion, memory, guided
by its resistless power, like the gnomon of the dial, marks
but those hours which were sunny and serene.
However, Mrs. Rainscourt soon found out that an unlimited
credit upon the banker was no bad substitute for a worthless
husband ; and assisted by her pride, she enjoyed more real
happiness and peace of mind than she had done for many
years. During her stay in London, Rainscourt occasionally
paid his respects, behaved with great kindness and propriety,
and appeared not a little proud of the expanding beauty
of his daughter. Mrs. Rainscourt not only recovered her
spirits, but her personal attractions; and their numerous
acquaintance wondered what could possess Mr. Rainscourt to
be indifferent to so lively and so charming a woman. In
a few weeks the mansion was ready to receive them, and
Mj-s. Rainscourt, with Emily and a numerous establishment,
quitted the metropolis to take up their abode in it for the
ensuing summer.
CHAPTER XXVI
Pericles, That's your superstition.
Sailor. Pardon us, sir. With us at sea it still hath been observed,
and we are strong in earnest. SHAKSPEAEB.
J. HE weather was fine and the water smooth on the morn-
ing when the Aspasia arrived at the reef which, although
well known to exist, had been very incorrectly laid down ;
and Captain M thought it advisable to drop his anchor
in preference to lying off and on so near to dangers which
might extend much farther than he was aware. The frigate
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THE KING'S OWN
was, therefore,, brought up in eighteen fathoms, about two
miles from that part of the reef which discovered itself
above water.
The captain and master undertook the survey; but any
officers who volunteered their assistance, or midshipmen
who wished to profit by the opportunity of gaining a practical
knowledge of maritime surveying, were permitted to join the
party, another boat having been lowered down for their
accommodation. Hector, the captain's Newfoundland dog,
was flying about the decks mad with delight, as he always
was when a boat was lowered down, as he anticipated the
pleasure of a swim. Captain M , who had breakfasted,
and whose boat was manned alongside, came on deck ; when
the dog fawning on him, he desired that his broad leather
collar, with the ship's name in large brass letters riveted
round it, should be taken off, that it might not be injured
by the salt water. Jerry, who was on deck, and received the
order, asked the captain for the key of the padlock which
secured it, and Captain M handed him his bunch of
keys, to which it had been affixed, and desiring him to take
the collar off and return the keys to him, descended again
to his cabin.
Jerry soon dispossessed the dog of his collar, and ripe for
mischief, went down to the midshipmen's berth, where he
found Prose alone, the rest being all on deck or scattered
about the ship. Prose was the person that he wanted, being
the only one upon whom he could venture a practical joke
without incurring more risk than was agreeable. Jerry com-
menced by fixing the collar round his own neck, and said,
"I wish I could get promotion. Now, if the situation of
captain's dog was only vacant, I should like the rating
amazingly. I should soon get fat then, and I think I should
look well up in this collar."
" Why, Jerry, that collar certainly does look as if it was
made for you ; it's rather ornamental, I do declare."
" I wish I had a glass to see how it looks. I would try it
on you, Prose, but you've such a bull neck that it wouldn't
go half round it."
"Bull neck, Jerry why, I'll lay you sixpence that my
neck's almost as small as yours ; and I'll lay you a shilling
that the collar will go round my neck."
THE KING'S OWN
" Done ; now let's see recollect the staple must go into
the hole, or you lose," said Jerry, fixing the collar round
Prose's neck, and pretending that the staple was not into
the hole of the collar until he had inserted the padlock,
turned and taken out the key.
"Well, I do declare I've lost, Prose. I must go and get
you the shilling," continued Jerry, making his escape out
of the berth, and leaving Prose with the collar so tight under
his chin that he could scarcely open his mouth. Jerry
arrived on the quarter-deck just as the captain was stepping
into the boat, and he went up to him, and touching his hat,
presented him with the bunch of keys.
" Oh, thank you, Mr. Jerry ; I had forgotten them," said
Captain M , descending the side and shoving off.
" Whose clothes are these hanging on the davit-guys ? "
said Mr. Bully, who had given order that no clothes were to
be drying after eight o'clock in the morning.
" I believe that they are Mr. Prose's, sir, though I am not
sure," answered Jerry, who knew very well that they were
not, but wished that Prose should be sent for.
" Quartermaster, tell Mr. Prose to come up to me di-
rectly."
Jerry immediately ran down to the berth.
"Well now, Jerry, this is too bad, I do declare. Come,
take it off again, that's a good fellow."
" Mr. Prose," said the quartermaster, " the first lieutenant
wants you on deck directly."
" There now, Jerry, what a mess I might have been in !
Where's the key ? "
" I have not got it," replied Jerry ; " the captain saw me
on the quarter-deck, and took the bunch of keys away
Vith him."
" What 1 is the captain gone away ? I do declare, now,
this is too bad," cried Prose, in a rage.
"Too bad! why, man, don't be angry it's a distinc-
tion. Between me and the first lieutenant, you are created
a knight of the Grand Cross. 1 gave you the collar,
and he has given you the order, which I recommend you
to comply with, without you wish further elevation to the
-head."
Mr. Prose, the first lieutenant wants you immediately,"
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THE KING'S OWN
said the quartermaster, who had been despatched to him
again.
"Why, how can I go up with a dog's collar round my
neck ? "
" I'm sorry, very sorry indeed, Prose. Never mind say it
was me."
" Say it was you ! Why, so it was you. I'd better say
that I'm sick."
" Yes, that will do. What shall your complaint be ?
a lock-jaw ? I'll go up and tell Mr. Bully shall I ? "
" Do tell him I'm not well."
Jerry went up accordingly. " Mr. Prose is not well, sir
he has a sort of lock-jaw."
" I wish to God you had the same complaint, sir," replied
tne first lieutenant, who owed him one. " Macallan, is Mr.
Prose ill?"
"Not that I know of; he has not applied to me. I'll go
down and see him before I go on shore."
Macallan came up laughing, but he recovered his serious-
ness before Bully perceived it.
"Well, doctor?"
"Mr. Prose is certainly not very fit to come on deck in
his present state," said Macallan, who then descended the
side, and the boat, which had been waiting for him, shoved
off. But this time Jerry was caught in his own trap.
"Mr. J , where is the dog's collar? it must be oiled
and cleaned," said the first lieutenant.
" Shall I give it to the armourer, sir ? " replied Jerry.
" No, bring it up to me."
Jerry went down, and returned in a few minutes. "I
cannot find it, sir; I left it in the berth when I came on
deck."
"That's just like your usual carelessness, Mr. J .
Now go up to the mast-head, and stay there till I call you
down."
Jerry, who did not like the turn which the joke had
taken, moved up with a very reluctant step at the rate of
about one ratline in ten seconds.
" Come, sir, what are you about ? start up."
" I'm no up-start, sir," replied Jerry to the first lieutenant
a sarcasm which hit so hard that Jerry was not called
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THE KING'S OWN
down till dark ; and long after Prose had, by making interest
with the captain's steward, obtained the keys and released
his neck from its enthralment.
The party in the second boat were landed on the reef,
and while the rest were attending to the survey, Macallan
was employed in examining the crevices of the rocks, and
collecting the different objects of natural history which pre-
sented themselves. The boat was sent on board, as it was
not required until the afternoon, when the gun-room officers
were to return to dinner. The captain's gig remained on
shore, and the coxswain was employed by Macallan in re-
ceiving from him the different shells and varieties of coral
with which the rocks were covered.
" Take particular care of this specimen," said the surgeon,
as he delivered a bunch of corallines into the hands of
Marshall, the coxswain.
" I ax your pardon, Mr. Macallan, but what's the good of
picking up all this rubbish ? "
" Rubbish ! " replied the surgeon, laughing ; " why, you
don't know what it is. What do you think those are which
I just gave you?"
" Why, weeds are rubbish, and these be only pieces of sea-
weed."
" They happen to be animals."
" Hanimals ! " cried the coxswain, with an incredulous
smile ; " well, sir, I always took 'em to be weggittables. We
live and larn, sure enough. Are cabbage and hingions
hanimals too?"
" No," replied the surgeon, much amused, " they are not,
Marshall ; but these are. Now take them to the boat, and
put them in a safe place, and then come back."
" I say, Bill, look ye here," said the coxswain to one of
the sailors, who was lying down on the thwarts of the
boat, holding up the coral to him in a contemptuous
manner, "what the hell d'ye think this is? Why, it's a
hanimal ! "
"A what?"
" I'll be blow'd if the doctor don't say it's a hanimal ! "
"No more a hanimal than I am," replied the sailor,
laying his head down again on the thwarts and shutting
his eyes.
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THE KING'S OWN
In a few minutes Marshall returned to the surgeon, who,
tired with clambering over the rocks, was sitting down to
rest himself a little. "Well, Marshall, I hope you have
not hurt what I gave into your charge."
" Hurt 'em ! why, sir, a'ter what you told me, I'd as
soon have hurt a cat." /
"What, you are superstitious on that point, as seamen
generally are."
" Super what, Mr. Macallan ? I only knows that they
who ill-treats a cat comes worst off. I've proof positive
of that since I have been in the service. I could spin you
a yarn."
" Well now, Marshall, pray do. Come, sit down here ;
I am fond of proof positive. Now, let me hear what you
have to say, and I'll listen without interrupting you."
The coxswain took his seat as Macallan desired, and
taking the quid of tobacco out of his cheek, and laying it
down on the rock beside him, commenced as follows :
"Well now, d'ye see, Mr. Macallan, I'll just exactly tell
you how it was, and then I leaves you to judge whether a
cat's to be sarved in that way. It was when I belonged
to the Survellanty frigate, that we were lying in Cawsand
Bay awaiting for sailing orders. We hadn't dropped the
anchor more than a week, and there was no liberty ashore.
Well, sir, the purser found out that his steward was a bit
of a rascal, and turns him adrift. The ship's company
knew that long afore ; for it was not a few that he had
cheated, and we were all glad to see him and his traps
handed down the side. Now, sir, this here fellow had a
black cat but it warn't at all like other cats. When it was
a kitten they had cut off his tail close to its starn, and his
ears had been shaved off just as close to his figure-head,
and the hanimal used to set up on his hind legs and fight
like a rabbit. It had quite lost its natur, as it were, and
looked for all the world like a little imp of darkness. It
always lived in the purser's steward's room, and we never
seed him but when we went down for the biscuit and flour
as was sarving out. "*
" Well, sir, when this rascal of a steward leaves the ship,
he had no natural affection for his cat, and he leaves him
on board, belonging to nobody ; and the steward as comes
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THE KING'S OWN
in his p*ace turns him out of the steward's room ; so the
poor jury-rigged little devil had to take care of itself.
"We all tried to coax it into one berth or the other,
but the poor brute wouldn't take to nobody. You know,
sir, a cat doesn't like to change, so he wandered about
the ship mewing all day and thieving all night. At last
he takes to the master's cabin and makes a dirt there,
and the master gets very savage, and swears that he'll kill
him if ever he comes athwart him.
"Now, sir, you knows it's the natur of cats always to
make a dirt in the same place reason why, God only
knows ; and so this poor black devil always returns to the
master's cabin, and makes it, as it were, his headquarters.
At last the master, who was as even-tempered an officer
as ever I sailed with, finds one day that his sextant case
is all of a smudge ; so being touched in a sore place, he
gets into a great rage, and orders all the boys of the ship
to catch the cat; and after much ado the poor cat was
catched, and brought aft into the gun-room. ' Now, then,
P ,' said the master to the first lieutenant, ' will you
help kill the dirty beast ? ' and the first lieutenant, who
cared more about his lower deck being clean than fifty
human beings' lives, said he would ; so they called the
sargant o' marines, and orders him to bring up two ship's
muskets and some ball cartridge, and they goes on deck
with the cat in their arms.
" Well, sir, when the men saw the cat brought up on
deck, and hears that he was to be hove overboard, they
all congregates together upon the lee gangway, and gives
their opinions on the subject ; and one says, ' Let's go
and speak to the first lieutenant ; ' and another says, ' He'll
put you on the black list ; ' and so they don't do nothing
all except Jenkins, the boatswain's mate, who calls to
a waterman out of the main-deck port, and says, ' Water-
man,' says he, f when they heaves that cat overboard, do
you pick him up and I'll give you a shilling ; ' and the
waterman says as how he would, for you see, sir, the men
didn't know that the muskets ha4 been ordered up to
shoot the poor beast.
" Well, sir, the waterman laid off on his pars, and the men,
knowing what Jenkins had done, were content. But when
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THE KING'S OWN
the sargant o' marines comes up and loads the muskets with
ball cartridges, then the men begins to grumble ; howsomever,
the master throws the cat overboard off the lee-quarter, and
the waterman, as soon as he sees her splash in the water,
backs astarn to take her into the boat, but the first lieutenant
tells him to get out of the way if he doesn't want a bullet
through his boat so he pulls ahead again. The master fires
first, and hits the cat a clip on the neck, which turns her half
over, and the first lieutenant fires his musket, and cuts the
poor hanimal right in half by the backbone, and she sprawls
a bit, and then goes down to the bottom. e Capital shots
both,' says the first lieutenant ; ' he'll never take an observa-
tion of your sextant again, master ; ' and they both laughs
heartily, and goes down the ladder to get their dinner.
" Well, sir, I never seed a ship's company in such a farmant,
or such a nitty kicked up 'tween decks in my life : it was
almost as bad as a mutiny ; but they piped to grog soon a'ter,
and the men goes to their berths and talks the matter over
more coolly, and they all agrees that no good would come to
the ship a'ter that, and very melancholy they were, and
couldn't forget it.
" Well, sir, our sailing orders comes down the next day, and
the first cutter is sent on shore for the captain, and six men
out of ten leaves the boat, and I'm sure that it warn't for
desartion, but all along of that cat being hove overboard and
butchered in that way for three on 'em were messmates of
mine for you know, sir, we talks them matters over, and if
they had had a mind to quit the sarvice, I should have know'd
it. The captain was as savage as a bear with a sore head,
and did nothing but growl for three days afterwards, and it
was well to keep clear on him, for he snapped right and left
like a mad dog. I never seed him in such a humour afore,
except once when he had a fortnight's foul wind.
' ' Well, sir, we had been out a week, when we falls in with
a large frigate, and beats to quarters. We expected her to
be a Frenchman ; but as soon as she comes within gunshot
she hoists the private signal, and proves to be the Semiramus,
and our senior officer. The next morning, cruising together,
we sees a vessel in-shore, and the Semiramus stands in on
the larboard tack, and orders us by signal to keep away, and
prevent his running along the coast. The vessel finding that
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THE KING'S OWN
she couldn't go no way, comes to an anchor under a battery
of two guns ; and then the commodore makes the signal for
boats manned and armed to cut her out.
" Well, sir, our first lieutenant was in his cot, on his beam
ends, with the rheumatiz, and couldn't go on sarvice ; so the
second and third lieutenants, and master, and one of the mid-
shipmen, had command of our four boats, and the commodore
sent seven of his'n. The boats pulled in, and carried the
vessel in good style, and there never was a man hurt. As
many boats as could clap on her took her in tow, and out she
came at the rate of four knots an hour. I was coxswain of
the pinnace, which was under the charge of the master,
and we were pulling on board, as all the boats weren't wanted
to tow ; and we. were about three cables' length ahead of the
vessel, when I sees her aground upon a rock, that nobody
knows nothing about, on the starboard side of the entrance
of the harbour; and I said that she were grounded to the
master, who orders us to pull back to the vessel to assist 'em
in getting her off again.
" Well, sir, we gets alongside of her, and finds that she
was off again, having only grazed the rock, and the boats
towed her out again with a rally. Now the Frenchmen were
firing at us with muskets, for we had shut in the battery, and
as we were almost out of the musket-shot, the balls only
pitted in the water, ^without doing any harm and I was
a-standing with the master on the starn-sheets, my body being
just between him and the beach where they were a-firing
from. It seemed mortally impossible to hit him, except
through me. Howsomever, a bullet passes between my arm
just here and my side, and striked him dead upon the
spot. There warn't another man hit out of nine boats' crews,
and I'll leave you to guess whether the sailors didn't declare
that he got his death all along of murdering the cat.
" Well, sir, the men thought, as he had fired first, that now
all was over ; only Jenkins, the boatswain's-mate, said ' that
he warn't quite sure of that.' We parts company with the
commodore the next day, and the day a'ter, as it turned out, we
falls in with a French frigate. She had the heels of us, and
kept us at long balls, but we hoped to cut her off from running
into Brest if a slant o' wind favoured us, and obligating her
to fight, whether or no. Tom Collins, the first lieutenant, was
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THE KING'S OWN
still laid up in his cot with the rheumaticks, but when he hears
of a French frigate he gets up and goes on deck ; but when
he gets there he tips us a faint and falls down on the carronade
slide, and his hat rolled off his head into the waist. He tried, but
he was so weak that he couldn't get up on his sticks again.
"Well, sir, the captain goes up to him, and says something
about zeal, and all that, and tells him he must go down
below again, because he's quite incapable, and orders the
men at the foremost carronades to take him to his cot. Now,
sir, just as we were handing him down the ladder for I was
captain of the gun a shot comes in at the second port, and
takes off his skull as he lays in our arms, and never hurts
another man. He was dead in no time ; and what was more
curious, it was the only shot that hit the frigate. The
Frenchman got into Brest, so it was no action after all.
" So you see, Mr. Macallan, in two scrummages only two
men were killed out of hundreds, and they were the two who
had killed the cat ! Now, that's what I calls proof positive,
for I seed it all with my own eyes ; and I should like to
know whether you could do the same with regard to that
thing being a hanimal ?"
" I will, Marshall ; to-morrow you shall see that with your
own eyes."
"To-morrow come never!"* muttered the coxswain, re-
placing the quid of tobacco in his cheek.
CHAPTER XXVH
And, lo ! while he was expounding, in set terms, the most abstruse
of his pious doctrines, the head of the tub whereon the good man
stood gave way, and the preacher was lost from before the eyes of the
whole congregation. Life of the Rev. Mr. Smith, S.S.
I^EYMOUR, who was always the companion of Captain
M whenever either instruction or amusement was to
be gained, now quitted the surveying party to join Macallan,
* The phraseology of sailors has been so caricatured of late, that
I am afraid my story will be considered as translated into English,
Seamen, however, must decide which is correct.
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THE KING'S OWN
who still continued seated on the rocks, reflecting upon the
remarkable coincidence which the coxswain had narrated,
sufficient in itself to confirm the superstitious ideas of the
sailors for another century. His thoughts naturally reverted
to the other point, in which seafaring men are equally bigoted
the disastrous consequences of " sailing on a Friday ; " the
origin of which superstition can easily be traced to early
Catholicism, when, out of respect for the day of universal
redemption, they were directed by their pastors to await the
"morrow's sun." "Thus," mentally exclaimed Macallan,
" has religion degenerated into superstition ; and that which,
from the purity of its origin, would have commanded our
respect, is now only deserving of our contempt. It is by the
motives that have produced them that our actions must be
weighed. That which once was an offering of religious
veneration and love, is now a tribute to superstition and to
fear. Well, Seymour," said he, addressing his companion,
" how do you like surveying ? "
" Not much ; the sun is hot, and the glare so powerful that
I am almost blind. What a pity it is that we had not some
trees here to shade us from the heat ! I should like to plant
some for the benefit of those who may come after us."
"A correct feeling on your part, my boy; but no trees
would grow here at present there is no soil."
" There is plenty of some sort or other in the part where
we have been surveying."
" Yes, the sand thrown up by the sea, and the particles of
shells and rock which have been triturated by the wave, or
decomposed by the alternate action of the elements ; but
there is no vegetable matter, without which there can
be no vegetable produce. Observe, Willy, the skeleton
of this earth is framed of rocks and mountains, which
have been proudly rearing their heads into the clouds, or
lying in dark majesty beneath the seas, since the creation
of the world, when they were fixed by the Almighty
architect to remain till time shall be no more. Over
them we find the wrecks of a former world once as
beautiful, as thickly peopled, but more thoughtless and
more wicked than the present which was hurled into
one general chjios, and its component, but incongruous,
parts amalgamated in awful mockery by the Deluge that
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THE KING'S OWN
tremendous evidence of the wrath of Heaven. But it has
long passed away ; and o'er the relics of former creation,
o'er the kneaded mass of man in his pride, of woman in
her beauty, of arts in their splendour, of vice in her zenith,
and of virtue in her tomb, we are standing upon another,
teeming with life, and yielding forth her fruits in the
season as before. But, Willy, the supports of life are not
to be found in primeval rocks or antediluvial remains. It
is from the superficial covering, the thin crust with which
the earth is covered, composed of the remains of former
existence, of the breccia of exhausted nature, that animal
creation derives its support ; and it is the grand axiom of
the universe, that 'animal life can only be supported by
animal remains.' From the meanest insect that crawls
upon the ground to man in his perfection, life is supported
and continued by animal and vegetable food ; ,.nd it is
only the decayed matter returned to the earth which en-
ables the lofty cedar to extend its boughs, or the lowly
violet to exhale its perfume. This is a world of eternal
reproduction and decay one endless cycle of the living
preying on the dead a phoanix yearly, daily, and hourly
springing from its ashes, in renewed strength and beauty.
The blade of grass, which shoots from the soil, flowers,
casts its seed, and dies, to make room for its offspring,
nourished by the relics of its parent, is a type of the never-
changing law, controlling all Nature, even to man himself,
who must pass away to make room for the generation which
is to come."
The boat which, returning from the ship, appeared like
a black speck on the water, indicated that the dinner-hour
was at hand ; and Price and the purser, who had come on
shore with Macallan, now joined him and Willy, who were
sitting down on the rocks at the water's edge.
"Well, Macallan," said Price, "it's a fine thing to be a
philosopher. What is that which Milton says ? Let me
see ! sweet something divine philosophy I forget the
exact words. Well, what have you caught ? "
" If you've caught nothing, doctor, you're better off than
I am," said the purser, wiping his brow, " for I've caught
a headache."
" I have been very well amused," replied Macallan.
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THE KING'S OWN
"Ay, I suppose, like what's-his-name in the forest you
recollect ? "
"No, indeed, I do not."
"Don't you? Bless my soul you know, sermons in
stones, and good in everything. I forget how the lines run.
Don't you recollect, O'Keefe ? " continued Price, speaking
loud in the purser's ear.
" No, I never collect. I don't understand these things,"
replied the purser, taking his seat by Macallan, and address-
ing him " I cannot think what pleasure there can be in
poking about the rocks, as you do."
" It serves to amuse me, O'Keefe."
" Abuse you, my dear fellow ! Indeed I never meant it
I beg your pardon you mistook me."
"It was my fault. I did not speak sufficiently loud.
Make no apology."
" Too proud to make an apology ! No, indeed I only
asked what amusement you could find ? that's all."
"What amusement?" replied Macallan, rising from his
seat, annoyed at these repeated attacks from all quarters
upon his favourite study. " Listen to me, and I will ex-
plain to you how investigation is the parent of both amuse-
ment and instruction. What is this rock that I am standing
on ? Has it remained here for ages to be dashed by the
furious ocean ? or has it lately sprung from the depths,
from the silent labour of the indefatigable zoophites ? Look
at its sides ; behold the variety of marine vegetation with
which it is loaded. Are they of the class of the ulvae,
confervae, or fuci ? to be welcomed as old acquaintance,
or, hitherto unnoticed, to be added to the catalogue of
Nature's endless stores ? And what are those corals that,
like mimic tenants of the forest, extend their graceful
boughs ! Look at the variety of shells which are adhering
to its sides. Observe the patellae with what tenacity they
cling to save themselves from being washed into the deep
water, and being devoured by the fishes that are playing
in its chasms ! What a source of endless amusement, what
a field for deep reflection, is there in the investigation of
this one little rock ! When you contemplate the instinct
of the different species, the powers given to them, so
adapted to their wants and their privations, is not the
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THE KING'S OWN
eye delighted, is not the mind enlarged, and are not the
feelings harmonised ? Study the works of the creation,
and you turn a desert into a peopled city, a barren rock
into a source of admiration and delight. Nay, search into
Nature for a few minutes, and you rise a better man. Dive
into "
What the conclusion of the doctor's rhapsody may have
been is not known ; for, stamping too energetically upon the
seaweed on the edge of the rock, his foot slipped, and he
disappeared, with the perpendicular descent and velocity of
a deep sea lead, into the water alongside of it.
Marshall, the coxswain, who had been astonished at his
speech, to which he had listened with mouth open for want
of comprehension, quite forgot the respect due to an officer
at this unexpected finale.
" Watch, there, watch 1 " cried the man, and then threw
himself down and rolled in convulsions of laughter. Price
and Willy, whose mirth was almost as excessive, did, how-
ever, run to his assistance, and caught him by the collar as
he rose again to the surface, for it was considerably out of
his depth ; while the deaf purser, whose eyes had been fixed
on the ground, in deep attention to catch the doctor's words,
and whose ears were not sufficiently acute to hear the splash,
looked up as they were going to his assistance, and asked
with surprise, " Where's the doctor ? "
The sides of the rock were so slippery that the united
efforts of Price and Seymour (whose powers were much
enfeebled from extreme mirth) were not sufficient to haul
Macallan upon terra Jirma. " Marshall, come here directly,
sir, and help us," cried Willy an order which the coxswain,
who was sufficiently recovered, immediately obeyed.
" Give me your hand, Mr. Macallan," said the man, as the
surgeon was clinging to the seaweed ; " it's no use holding
on by them slippery hanimals. Now, then, Mr. Price all
together."
" Ay, and as soon as you please," called out the malicious
boatkeeper of the gig ; " I seed a large shark but a minute
ago."
" Quick quick ! " roared the surgeon, who already ima-
gined his leg encircled by the teeth of the ravenous
animal.
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THE KING'S OWN
By their united efforts Macallan was at last safely landed
and after much sputtering, blowing, and puffing, was about
to address the coxswain in no very amicable manner, when
the purser interrupted him.
" By the powers, doctor, but you took the right way to
have a close examination of all those fine things which you
were giving us a catalogue of; but now give us the re-
mainder of your speech you gave us a practical illustration
of diving."
" What sort of sensation was it, doctor ? " said Price. " You
recollect Shakspeare and ' O, methinks what pain it was to
drown ' Let me see something "
" Pray don't tax your memory, Price ; it's something like
our country past all further taxation."
" That's the severest thing you've said since we've sailed
together. You're out of humour, doctor. Well, you know
what Shakspeare says : ' There never yet was found a
philosopher ' something about the toothache. I forget
the words."
These attacks did not at all tend to restore the equa-
nimity of the doctor's temper, which, it must be acknow-
ledged, had some excuse for being disturbed by the events
of the morning ; but he proved himself a wise man, for he
made no further reply. The boat pulled in, and the party
returned on board ; and when Macallan had divested himself
of his uncomfortable attire, and joined his messmates at the
dinner-table, he had recovered his usual serenity of dis-
position, and joined himself in the laugh which had been
created at his expense.
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THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER XXVIII
A man must serve his time to every trade,
Save censure. Critics all are ready made.
Take hackneyed jokes from Miller, got by rote,
With just enough of learning to misquote ;
A mind well skilled to find or forge a fault,
A turn for punning call it Attic salt :
Fear not to lie, 'twill seem a lucky hit,
Shrink not from blasphemy, 'twill pass for wit,
Care not for feeling, pass your proper jest,
And stand a critic 1 hated, yet caressed.
BYRON.
_L HE survey was continued. One morning, after a fatiguing
walk from point to point, occasionally crossing from one islet
to the others in the boats, the party collected under a pro-
jecting rock, which screened them from the rays of the ver-
tical sun, and the repast, Avhich had been brought from the
ship in the morning, was spread before them. The party
consisted of Captain M ; Pearce, the master ; the surgeon,
who had accompanied them to explore the natural produc-
tions of the reef; and the confidential clerk of Captain
M , a man of the name of Collier, who had been many
years in his service, and who was now employed in noting
down the angles taken with the theodolite.
Tired with the labours of the morning, Captain M
did not rise immediately after their meal had been despatched,
but entered into conversation with the surgeon, who was
looking over the memoranda which he had made relative
to the natural history of the reef.
" Do you intend to write a book, Mr. Macallan, that you
have collected so many remarks ? "
" Indeed I do not, sir. I have no ambition to be an
author."
The clerk, who was very taciturn in general, and seldom
spoke unless on points connected with his duty, joined the
conversation by addressing the surgeon.
"It's a service of danger, sir, and you must be prepared
to meet the attacks both of authors and reviewers."
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THE KING'S OWN
" Of reviewers I can imagine/' replied Macallan ; "but why
of authors ?"
" That depends very much whether you tread over beaten
ground or strike into a new path. In the latter case you
will be pretty safe from both, as the authors will be indifferent,
and the reviewers, in all probability, incapable."
"And why if I enter upon a beaten track, which, I
presume, infers a style of writing in which others have
preceded me ? "
" Because, sir, when a new author makes his appearance,
he is much in the same situation as a strange dog entering
a kennel preoccupied by many others. He is immediately
attacked and worried by the rest, until, either by boldly
defending himself, or pertinaciously refusing to quit, he even-
tually obtains a domiciliation, and becomes an acknowledged
member of the fraternity."
" Why, Mr. Collier," observed the captain, " you seem to
be quite aufait as to literary arrangements."
" I ought to be, sir," replied the clerk ; " for in the course of
my life I have attempted to become an author, and practised
as a reviewer."
" Indeed ! And did you fail in your attempt at authorship ? "
" My work was never printed, sir, for no bookseller would
undertake to publish it. I tried the whole town ; no man
would give himself the trouble to look over the MS. It
was said that the public taste was not that way, and that
it would not do. At last I received a letter of introduction
from an old acquaintance to his uncle, who was a literary
character. He certainly did read some parts of my per-
formance."
" And what then ? "
" Why, sir, he shook his head told me with a sneer that,
as an author, I should never succeed; but he added, with
a sort of encouraging smile, that from some parts of the
MS. which he had perused he thought that he could find
employment for me in the reviewing line, if I chose to
undertake it.
" My pride was hurt, and I answered that I could not
agree with him, as I considered that it required the ability
to write a book yourself to enable you to decide upon the
merits of others."
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" Well, I must say' that I agree with you,," replied the
captain. "Proceed in your story, for I am interested."
" My friend answered, ' By no means, my dear sir ; a d d
bad author generally makes a very good reviewer. Indeed,
sir, to be candid with you, I never allow any gentleman to
review for me unless he has met with a misfortune similar
to yours. It is one of the necessary qualifications of a good
reviewer that he should have failed as an author ; lor with-
out the exacerbated feelings arising from disappointment, he
would not possess gall sufficient for his task, and nis con-
science would stand in his way when he was writing against
it, if he were not spurred on by the keen probes of envy.' "
" And he convinced you ? "
"My poverty did, sir, if he did not. I worked many
months for him ; but I had better have earned my bread as
a common labourer."
" Reviews ought to pay well, too," observed Macallan :
" they are periodicals in great demand."
"They are so," replied Captain M ; "and the reasons
are obvious. Few people take the trouble to think for
thlmselves ; but, on the contrary, are very glad to find
others who will think for them. Some cannot find time
to read, others will not find it. A review removes all
these difficulties gives the busy world an insight into what
is going on in the literary world, and enables the lounger
not to appear wholly ignorant of a work the merits of which
may happen to be discussed. But what is the consequence ?
That seven-eighths of the town are led by the nose by this
or that periodical work, having wholly lost sight of the
fact that reviews are far from being gospel. Indeed, I
do not know any set of men so likely to err as reviewers.
In the first place, there is no class of people so irascible,
so full of party feeling, so disgraced by envy, as authors ;
hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness seem to preside
over science. Their political opinions step in, and increase
the undue preponderance ; and, to crown all, they are
more influenced by money, being proverbially more in
want of it than others. How, then, is it to be expected
that reviews can be impartial ? I seldom read them myself,
as I consider that it is better to know nothing than to be
misled."
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" And if it is a fair question, Mr. Collier/' continued Captain
M , "in what manner were you employed ? "
" I am almost ashamed to tell you, sir I was a mere
automaton, a machine, in the hands of others. A new
publication was sent to me, with a private mai'k from my
employer, directing the quantum of praise or censure which
it was to incur. If the former were allotted to it, the best
passages were selected ; if condemned to the latter, all the
worst. The connecting parts of the review were made up
from a commonplace book, in which, by turning to any
subject, you found the general heads and extracts from
the works of others, which you were directed to alter, so
as to retain the ideas, but disguise the style, that it might
appear original."
" Are you aware of the grounds of praise or abuse ? for it
appears that those who directed the censure did not read the
publications ? "
"The grounds were various. Books printed by a book-
seller to whom my master had a dislike were sure to be
run down ; on the contrary, those published by his connec-
tions or friends were as much applauded. Moreover* the
influence of authors who were afraid of a successful rival in
their own line, often damned a work."
" But you do not mean to say that all reviews are conducted
with such want of principle ? "
" By no means. There are many very impartial and clever
critiques. The misfortune is, that unless you read the work
that is reviewed, you cannot distinguish one from the other."
" And pray, what induced you to abandon this creditable
employment ? "
" A quarrel, sir. I had reviewed a work with the private
mark of approval, when it was found out to be a mistake, and
I was desired to review it with censure. I expected to be paid
for the second review as well as for the first. My employer
thought proper to consider it all as one job, and refused so
we parted."
" Pretty tricks in trade, indeed ! " replied Captain M .
" Why, Mr. Collier, you appear to have belonged to a gang
of literary bravoes, whose pens, like stilettoes, were always
ready to stab, in the dark, the unfortunate individuals who
might be pointed out to them by interest or revenge."
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" I acknowledge the justice of your remarks, sir ; all that
I can offer in my defence is, the excuse of the libeller to
Cardinal Richelieu ' Ilfaut vivre, monsieur.' "
" And I answer you, with the Cardinal ' Je ne vois pas
la necessite,' " replied Captain M , with a smile, as he
rose to resume his labours.
CHAPTER XXIX
He fell, and, deadly pale,
Groaned out his soul.
MILTON.
JL'O, mamma, come here/' said Emily, as she was looking
out of the window of an inn on the road, where they had
stopped to take some refreshment " do come and see
what a pretty lady is in the chariot which has stopped at
the door."
Mrs. Rainscourt complied with her daughter's request, and
acknowledged the justice of the remark when she saw the
expressive countenance of Susan (now Mrs. M'Elvina), who
was listening to the proposal of her husband that they
should alight and partake of some refreshment. Susan
consented, and was followed by old Hornblow, who, pulling
out his watch from his white cassimere femoralia, which he
had continued to wear ever since the day of the wedding,
declared that they must stop to dine.
" This country air makes one confoundedly hungry," said
the old man ; " I declare I never had such an appetite in
Cateaton Street. Susan, my dear, order something that won't
take long in cooking a beef-steak, if they have nothing
down at the fire."
Mrs. Rainscourt, who was as much prepossessed with the
appearance of M'Elvina as with that of his wife, gave vent
to her thoughts with " I wonder who they are ! " Her maid,
who was in the room, took this as a hint to obtain the
gratification of her mistress's curiosity as well as her own,
and proceeded accordingly on her voyage of discovery. In
a few minutes she returned, having boarded the Abigail of
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Mrs. M'Elvina just as she was coming to an anchor inside the
bar; and having made an interchange of intelligence, with
a rapidity incredible to those who are not aware of the
velocity of communication between this description of people,
re-entered the parlour, to make a report to her commanding
officer precisely at the same moment that Susan's maid was
delivering her cargo of intelligence to her own mistress.
"They are a new-married couple, ma'am, and their name
is M'Elvina," said the one.
" The lady is a Mrs. Rainscourt, and the young lady is her
daughter, and a great heiress/' whispered the other.
" They have purchased the hunting box close to the
Hall, and are going there now," said the first.
"They live at the great park, close to where you are
going, ma'am," said the second.
" The old gentleman's name is Hornblow. He is the
lady's father, and as rich as a Jew, they say," continued Mrs.
Rainscourt's maid.
" Mrs. Rainscourt don't live with her husband, ma'am ;
by all accounts he's a bad 'un," continued the Abigail of
Susan.
The publicity of the staircase of a hotel is very con-
venient for making an acquaintance ; and it happened that,
just after these communications had been made, Emily was
ascending the stairs as Mrs. M'Elvina was going down to
join her husband and father at the dinner table. The
smiling face and beaming eyes of Emily, who evidently
lingered to be spoken to, were so engaging, that she soon
found her way into the room which the M'Elvinas were
occupying.
Mrs. Rainscourt was not sorry to find that she was to have
for neighbours a couple whose appearance had so prepossessed
her in their favour. As she expected that her society would
be rather confined, she did not suffer to escape the favourable
opportunity which presented itself of making their acquaint-
ance. As they were returning to their vehicles, Emily ran
to Mrs. M'Elvina to wish her good-bye, and Mrs. Rainscourt
expressed her thanks for the notice they had taken of her
daughter. A few minutes' conversation ended in "hoping
to have the pleasure of making their acquaintance as soon
as they were settled."
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The carriages drove off, and we shall follow that of the
M'Elvinas, which arrived at its destination late in the
evening, without any accident.
The cottage-ornee (as all middle-sized houses with verandas
and French windows are now designated) which Hornblow
had purchased was, for a wonder, quite as complete as de-
scribed in the particulars of sale. It had the sloping lawn
in front ; the three acres (more or less) of plantation and
pleasure ground, tastefully laid out, and planted with thriving
young trees; the capital walled gardens, stocked with the
choicest fruit trees, in full bearing ; abundant springs of the
finest water ; stabling for six horses ; cow-house, cart-house,
farmyard, and complete piggery. The dimensions of the
conservatory and rooms in the interior of the house were
quite correct ; and the land attached to it was according to
"the accompanying plan," and divided into parcels, desig-
nated by the rural terms of " Homestead," " Lob's-pound,"
" Eight-acre-meadow," " Little-orchard field," &c. &c.
In short, it was a very eligible purchase, and a very
pretty and retired domicile ; and when our party arrived,
the flowers seemed to yield a more grateful perfume, the
trees appeared more umbrageous, and the verdure of the
meadows of a more refreshing green, from the contrast
with so many hours' travelling upon a dusty road during
a sultry day.
" Oh, how beautiful these roses are ! Do look, my dear
father."
"They are, indeed," replied old Hornblow, delighted at
the happy face of his daughter; "but I should like some
tea, Susan I am not used to so much jumbling. I feel
tired, and shall go to bed early."
Tea was accordingly prepared, soon after which the old
gentleman rose to retire.
"Well," said he, as he lighted his chamber-candle, "I
suppose I am settled here for life ; but I hardly know
what to do with myself. I must make acquaintance with
all the flowers and all the trees ; the budding of the spring
will make me think of grandchildren, the tree clothed in
its beauty of you, and the fall of the leaf of myself. I
must count the poultry, and look after the pigs, and see
the cows milked. I was fond of the little parlour in
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THE KING'S OWN
Cateaton Street, because I had sat in it so long; and I
suppose that I shall get fond of this place too, if I find
enough to employ and amuse me. But you must be quick
and give me a grandchild, Susan, and then I shall nurse
him all day long. Good-night God bless you, my dear
good-night."
" Good-night, my dear sir," replied Susan, who had coloured
deeply at the request which he had made.
" Good-night, M'Elvina, my boy ; this is the first night
we pass under this roof; may we live many happy years
in it;" and old Hornblow left the room and ascended the
stairs.
M'Elvina had encircled Susan's waist with his arm, and
was probably about to utter some wish in unison with
that of her father, when the noise of a heavy fall sounded
in their ears.
" Good Heaven ! " cried Susan, " it is my father who has
fallen downstairs."
M'Elvina rushed out ; it was but too true. The stair-
carpet had not yet been laid down, and his foot had slipped
at the uppermost step. He was taken up senseless, and
when medical advice was procured, his head and his spine
were found to be seriously injured. In a few days, during
which he never spoke, old Hornblow was no more. Thus
the old man, like the prophet of old, after all his toiling,
was but permitted to see the promised land ; and thus
are our days cut short at the very moment of realising our
most sanguine expectations.
Reader, let us look at home. Shall I, now thoughtlessly
riding upon the agitated billow, with but one thin plank
between me and death, and yet. so busy with this futile
work, be permitted to bring it to a close ? The hand which
guides the flowing pen may to-morrow be stiff; the head
now teeming with its subject may be past all thought ere
to-morrow's sun is set ay, sooner ' And you, reader, who
may so far have had the courage to proceed in the volumes
without throwing them away, shall you be permitted to
finish your more trifling task ? or, before its close, be hurried
from this transitory scene where fiction ends, and the spirit,
re-endowed, will be enabled to raise its eyes upon the
lightning beams of unveiled truth ?
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CHAPTER XXX
And if you chance his shipp to borde,
This counsel I must give withall.
Ballad of Sir Andrew Barton, 1560.
Discretion
And hardy valour are the twins of honour,
And, nursed together, make a conqueror I
Divided, but a talker.
BEAUMONT and FLETCHER.
1 HE . survey having been completed, Captain M , in
pursuance of the orders which he had received, weighed his
anchor, and proceeded to cruise until the want of provisions
and water should compel him to return into port. For many
days the look-out men at the mastheads were disappointed
in their hopes of reporting a strange sail, the chase or capture
of which would relieve the monotony of constant sky and
water, until, one Sunday forenoon, as Captain M was
performing divine service, the man at the masthead hailed
the deck with " A strange sail on the weather-bow ! "
The puritan may be shocked to hear that the service was
speedily, although decorously, closed ; but Captain M was
aware from the fidgeting of the ship's company upon the
capstan bars, on which they were seated, that it would be
impossible to regain their attention to the service, even if
he had felt inclined to proceed ; and he well knew that
any worship of God in which the mind and heart were not
engaged was but an idle ceremony, if not a solemn mockery.
The hands were turned up, all sail was made, and in an
hour the stranger was to be seen with the naked eye from
the fore-yard.
" What do you make of her, Mr. Stewart ? " said the first
lieutenant to him, as he sat aloft with his glass directed
towards the vessel.
"A merchant ship, sir, in ballast."
"What did he say, Jerry?" inquired Prose, who stood by
him on the gangway.
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THE KING'S OWN
" A French vessel, deeply laden, Prose."
" Bravo, Jerry ! " said Prose, rubbing his hands. " We
shall get some prize-money, I do -declare."
"To be sure we shall. It will give us twenty pounds at
least for a midshipman's share, for her ccrgo must be sugar
and coffee. Only, confound it, one has to wait so long for
it. I'll sell mine, dog-cheap, if any one will buy it. Will
you, Prose ? "
" Why, Jerry, I don't much like speculation ; but, now, what
would you really sell your chance for ? "
" I'll take tdh pounds for it. We're certain to come up
with her."
" Ten pounds ! No, Jerry, that is too much. I'll tell you
what, I'll give you five pounds."
" Done," replied Jerry, who was aware that a vessel in
ballast would not give him thirty shillings, if Captain \I
sent her in, which was very unlikely. " Where's the
money ? "
" Oh, you must trust to my honour ; the first port we go
into, I pledge you my word that you shall havejt."
" I don't doubt your word, or your honour, the least,
Prose ; but still I should like to have the money in my
hand. Could you not borrow it ? Never mind it's a
bargain."
In two hours the frigate had neared the stranger so as to
distinguish her water-line from the deck, and on hoisting
her ensign and pendant the vessel bore down to her.
"She has hoisted English colours, sir," reported Stewart
to the captain.
What, Stewart ! did you say that she had hoisted English
colours ? " inquired Prose, with an anxious face.
" Yes, you booby, I did."
"Well, now, I do declare," cried Prose, with dismay, "if
I haven't lost five pounds."
The vessel ran under the stern of the frigate, and re-
quested a boat to be sent on board, as she had intelligence
to communicate. The boat returned, and acquainted Captain
M that the vessel had been boarded and plundered by
a French privateer schooner, which had committed great
depredation in that quarter, and that it was not above eight
hours that she had left her and made sail towards Porto
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THE KING'S OWN
Rico, taking out two merchants, who were passengers. The
boat was immediately hoisted up, and all sail made in the
direction of the island, which was not above fifteen leagues
distant. As the day closed in, their eyes were gratified by
the sight of the schooner, becalmed close in under the land.
Perceiving the frigate in pursuit of her, and unable to escape,
she came to an anchor in a small and shallow bay, within
a cable's length of the beach. Captain M , having run
his ship as close in as the depth of water would permit,
which was between two and three miles of her, so as to
render her escape impossible, came to an anchor, signifying
to his officers his determination to cut her out with his boats
on the ensuing day.
The officers who were to be entrusted with the command
of the boats, and the crews which were to be employed
on the service, were selected, and mustered on the quarter-
deck previous to the hammocks being piped down, that
the former might hold themselves in readiness, and that
the latter might remain in their hammocks during the
night. All was anxiety for the sun to rise again upon those
who were about to venture in the lottery, where the prizes
would be honour, and the blanks death. There w r ere but
few whose souls were of that decided brute composition that
they could sleep through the whole of the tedious night.
They woke and "swore a prayer or two, then slept again. '
The sun had not yet made his appearance above the horizon,
although the eastern blush announced that the spinning
earth would shortly whirl the Aspasia into his presence,
when the pipes of the boatswain and his mates, with the
summons of " All hands ahoy up all hammocks ! " were
obeyed with the alacrity so characteristic of English seamen
anticipating danger. The hammocks were soon stowed,
and the hands turned up. " Out boats ! " The yard tackles
and stays were hooked, and the larger boats from the booms
descended with a heavy splash into the water, which they
threw out on each side of them as they displaced it with
their weight ; while the cutters from the quarter-davits
were already lowered down, and were being manned under
the cheins.
Broad daylight discovered the privateer, who, aware of
their intentions, had employed the night in taking every
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THE KING'S OWN
precaution that skill could suggest to repel the expected
attack ; secured with cables and hawsers, extending from
each bow and quarter her starboard broadside directed to
seaward her boarding netting triced up to the lower
rigging and booms, connected together, rigged out from
the sides, to prevent them from laying her on board. There
was no wind ; the sea was smooth as glass ; and the French
colours, hoisted in defiance at each masthead, hung listlessly
down the spars, as if fainting for the breeze which would
expand them in their vigour. She was pierced for eight
ports on a side ; and the guns, which pointed through them,
with the tompions out, ready to shower destruction upon
her assailants, showed like the teeth of the snarling wolf
who stands at bay, awaiting the attack of his undaunted
pursuers.
The boats had received their guns, which were fixed on
slides, so as to enable them to be fired over the bows without
impeding the use of the oars ; the ammunition and arm-
chests had been placed in security abaft.
The sailors, with their cutlasses belted round their waists,
and a pistol stuck in their girdles, or in a becket at the
side of the boat, ready to their hands; the marines, in pro-
portion to the number which each boat could carry, sitting
in the stern-sheets, with their muskets between their legs,
and their well-pipeclayed belts for bayonet and cartouch-
box crossed over their old jackets, half dirt, half finery
all was ready for shoving off, when Captain M desired
the officers whom he had appointed to the expedition to
step down into his cabin. Bully, the first lieutenant, was
unwell with an intermittent fever, and Captain M , at
the request of Macallan, would not accede to his anxiety
to take the command. Price, Courtenay, Stewart, and three
other midshipmen were those who had been selected for
the dangerous service.
" Gentlemen," said Captain M , as they stood round
the table in the fore-cabin waiting for his communication,
" I must call your attention to a few points which it is
my wish that you should bear in remembrance, now that
you are about to proceed upon what will, in all likelihood,
prove to be an arduous service. This vessel has already
done so much mischief, that I conceive it my duty to
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THE KING'S OWN
capture her if possible ; and although there is no service
in which, generally speaking, there is so great a sacrifice
of life, in proportion to the object to be attained, as that
which is generally termed f cutting out,' yet rather than
she should escape, to the further injury of our trade, I have
determined to have recourse to the measure.
" But, gentlemen (and to you, Mr. Price, as commanding
the expedition, I particularly address myself), recollect
that, even in this extreme case, without proper arrange-
ment, we may not only purchase our victory too dear,
but may even sacrifice a number of lives without succeed-
ing in our attempt. Of your courage I have not the least
doubt ; but let it be remembered, that it is something
more than mere animal courage which I expect in the
behaviour of my officers. If nothing more were required,
the command of these boats might be as safely entrusted
to any of the foremast men, who, like the bull-dogs of our
country, will thrust their heads into the lion's jaw with
perfect indifference.
" What I require, and expect, and will have, from every
officer who looks for promotion from my recommendation,
is what I term -conduct; by which I would imply that
coolness and presence of mind which enable him to calculate
chances in the midst of danger, to take advantage of a
favourable opportunity in the heat of an engagement, and
to restrain the impetuosity of those who have fallen into the
dangerous error of despising their enemy. Of such conduct
the most favourable construction that can be put upon it is,
that it is only preferable to indecision.
" In a service of this description, even with the greatest
courage and prudence united, some loss must necessarily be
expected to take place, and there is no providing against un-
foreseen accidents ; but if I find that, by rash and injudicious
behaviour, a greater sacrifice is made than' there is a neces-
sity for, depend upon it that I shall not fail to let that officer
know the high value at which I estimate the life of a British
sailor. With this caution I shall now give you my ideas
as to what appears the most eligible plan of ensuring success.
I have made a rough sketch on this paper, which will assist
my explanation."
Capta : n M then entered into the plan of attack,
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THE KING'S OWN
pointing out the precautions which should be taken, &c., and
concluded by observing, that they were by no means to
consider themselves as fettered by what he had proposed,
but merely to regard them as hints to guide their conduct,
if found preferable to any others which might be suggested
by the peculiarity of the service, and the measures adopted
by the enemy. The officers returned on deck, and descended
into their respective boats, where they found many of the
younger midshipmen, who, although not selected for the
service, had smuggled themselves into the boats that they
might be participators in the conflict. Captain M ,
although he did not send them on the service, had no
objection to their going, and therefore pretended not to see
them when hp looked over the side and desired the boats
to shove off. Directly the order was given, the remainder
of the ship's company mounted the rigging and saluted them
with three cheers.
The boats' crews tossed their oars white the cheers were
given, and returned the same number. The oars again
descended into the water, and the armament pulled in for
the shore.
CHAPTER XXXI
Conquest pursues, where courage leads the way.
GARTH.
J. HE glasses of Captain M and the officers who re-
mained on board of the frigate were anxiously pointed
towards the boats, which in less than half-an-hour had arrived
within gun-shot of the privateer. "There is a gun from
her," cried several of the men at the same moment, as the
smoke boomed along the smooth water. The shot dashed
up the spray under the bows of the boats, and ricochetting
over them, disappeared fci the wave about half a mile
astern.
The boats, which previously had bef$f pulling in all to-
gether, and without any particular order, now separated and
formed a line abreast, so that there was less chance of the
shot taking effect than when they were before en masse.
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THE KING'S OWN
"Very good, Mr. Price/' observed the captain, who had
his eye fixed on them through his glass.
The boats continued their advance towards the enemy,
who fired her two long guns, both of which she had brought
over to her starboard side, but though well directed, the
shot did not strike any of her assailants.
" There's grape, sir," said the master, as the sea was torn
and ploughed up with it close to the launch, which with
the other boats was now within a hundred yards of the
privateer.
"The launch returns her fire," observed Captain M .
" And there's blaze away from the pinnace and the barge,"
cried one of the men, who stood on the rattlings ef the
main rigging. " Hurrah, my lads ' keep it up," continued
the man in his feeling of excitement, which, pervading
Captain M as well as the rest of the crew, received
no check, though not exactly in accordance with the strict
routine of the service.
The combat now became warm ; gun after gun from the
privateer was rapidly fired at the boats, who were taking
their stations previous to a simultaneous rush to board.
The pinnace had pulled away towards the bow of the
privateer; the barge had taken up a position on the
quarter ;. the launch remained on her beam, firing round
and grape from her eighteen-pounder carronade with a
rapidity that almost enajbtled her to return gun for gun to
her superiorly-armed antagonist. Both the cutters were
under her stern, keeping up an incessant fire of musketry,
with which they were now close enough to annoy the
enemy.
" A gun from the rock close to the barge, sir ! " reported
the signalman.
"I expeete.d as much," observed Captain M to the
officers standing near him.
"One of the cutters has winded, sir; she's stretching
out for the shore," cried the master
" Bravo ! that's decided and without waiting for orders.
Who commands that boat ? " inquired Captain M .
" It's the first cutter Mr Stewart, sir."
The cutter was on shore before the gun could be re-
loaded and fired a second time. The crew, with the
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THE KING'S OWN
officer at their head, were seen to clamber up the rock.
In a minute they returned, and jumping into the boat,
pulled off to give their aid to the capture of the vessel.
" He has spiked the gun, I am certain," observed Captain
Before the cutter could regain her station, the other
boats were summoned by the bugle in the launch, and
with loud cheering, pulled up together to the attack.
The booms which had been rigged out to prevent them
from coming alongside, already shot through by the grape
from the launch, offered but little resistance to the impetus
with which the boats were forced against them ; they
either broke in two, or sank under water.
" There's board ! Hurrah ! " cried all the men who re-
mained in the Aspasia, cheering those who heard them not.
But I must transport the reader to the scene of slaughter ;
for if he remains on board of the Aspasia, he will distinguish
nothing but fire and smoke. Don't be afraid, ladies, if I
take you on board of the schooner -" these our actors are
all air, thin air," raised by the magic pen for your amuse-
ment. Come, then, fearlessly with me and view the
scene of mortal strife. The launch has boarded on the
starboard gangway, and it is against her that the crew of
the privateer have directed their main efforts.
The boarding nettings cannot be divided, and the men
are thrown back, wounded or dead, into the boat. The
crew of the pinnace are attempting the bows with in-
different success. Some have already fallen a sacrifice to
their valour ; none have yet succeeded in gaining a foot-
ing on deck, while the marines are resisting with their
bayonets the thrusts of the boarding pikes which are pro-
truded through the ports. Courtenay has not yet boarded
in the barge, for on pulling up on the quarter he perceived
that, on the larboard side of the vessel, the boarding nettings
had either been neglected to be properly triced up, or
had been cut away by the fire from the boats. He has
pushed alongside to take advantage of the opening, and
the two cutters have followed him. They board with
little resistance the enemy are too busy repelling the
attacks on the other side and as his men pour upon
the privateer's deck, the crews of the launch and pinnace,
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tired with their vain endeavours to divide the nettings,
and rendered desperate by their loss, have run up the fore
and main rigging above the nettings and thrown themselves
down, cutlass in hand, into the melee below, careless of
the points of the weapons which may meet them in their
descent. Now is the struggle for life or death !
Courtenay, who was daring as man could be, but not of
a very athletic frame, reclimbed from the main chains of
the vessel, into which he had already once fallen, from
one of his own seamen having inadvertently made use of
his shoulder as a step to assist his own ascent. He was
overtaken by Robinson, the coxswain of the cutter, who
sprang up with all the ardour and activity of an English
sailor who "meant mischief," and pleased with the energy
of his officer (forgetting at the moment the respect due
to his rank), called out to him by the sobriquet with which
he had been christened by the men " Bravo, Little Bilious !
that's your sort."
" What's that, sir ? " cried Courtenay, making a spring so
as to stand on the plane-sheer of the vessel at the same
moment with the coxswain, and seizing him by the collar
" I say, Robinson, what do you mean by calling me ' Little
Bilious ' ? " continued the lieutenant, wholly regardless of the
situation they were placed in. The coxswain looked at him
with surprise, and at the same moment parried off with
his cutlass a thrust of a pike at Courtenay, which in all
probability would otherwise have prevented his asking any
more questions ; then without making any answer, sprang
down on the deck into the midst of the affray.
" You, Robinson, come back," cried Courtenay after him.
" D d annoying Little Bilious, indeed ! " continued he, as,
following the example of the coxswain, he proceeded to vent
his bile, for the present, on the heads of the Frenchmen.
In most instances of boarding, but more especially in
boarding small vessels, there is not much opportunity for
what is termed hand-to-hand fighting. It is a rush for the
deck ; breast to breast, thigh to thigh, foot to foot, man
wedged against man, so pressed on by those behind that
there is little possibility of using your cutlass except by
driving your antagonist's teeth down his throat with the hilt.
Gunshot wounds, of course, take place throughout the whole
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THE KING'S OWN
of the combat, but those from the sabre and the cutlass are
generally given and received before the close, or after the
resistance of one party has yielded to the pertinacity and
courage of the other. The crews of the barge and cutters
having gained possession of the deck in the rear of the
enemy, the affair was decided much sooner than it other-
wise would have been ; for the French fought with despera-
tion, and were commanded by a most gallant and enterprising
captain. In three minutes the crew of the privateer were
either beaten below or forced overboard, and the colours
hauled down from the mast-heads announced to Captain
M and the rest of the Aspasias crew the welcome
intelligence that the privateer was in the possession of
their gallant shipmates. The hatches were secured, and the
panting Englishmen for a few minutes desisted from their
exertions that they might recover their breath ; after which
Price gave directions for the cables and hawser to be cut,
and the boats to go ahead and tow the vessel out.
" They are firing musketry from the shore ; they've just hit
one of our men," said the coxswain of the pinnace.
"Then cast off, and bring your gun to bear astern. If
you do not hit them, at least they will not be so steady
in their aim. As soon as we are out of musket-shot, pull
out to us."
The order was executed, whilst the other boats towed the
privateer towards the frigate. In a few minutes they were
out of musket-shot ; the pinnace returned, and they had
leisure to examine into the loss which they had sustained
in the conflict.
The launch had suffered most; nine of her crew were
either killed or wounded. Three seamen and four marines
had suffered in the other boats. Twenty-seven of the
privateer's men were stretched on the decks, either dead or
unable to rise. Those who had not been severely hurt had
escaped below with the rest of the crew.
Price was standing at the wheel, his sabre not yet
sheathed, with Courtenay at his side, when his inveterate
habit returned, and he commenced
" ' I do remember, when the fight was done ' "
"So do I, and devilish glad that it's over," cried Jerry,
coming forward from the taffrail with a cutlass in hand,
19(5
THE KING'S OWN
which, although he could wield, he could certainly not have
done much execution with.
" Why, how came you here, Mr. Jerry ? " inquired Courtenay.
" Oh ! Stewart brought me in his boat, with the hopes of
getting rid of me; but I shall live to plague him yet."
" You are not hurt, Seymour, I hope ? " said Price to our
hero, who now joined the party, and whose clothes were
stained with blood.
" No," replied Seymour, smiling. " It's not my blood it's
Stewart's. I have been binding up his head ; he has a very
deep cut on the forehead, and a musket-ball in his neck, but
I think neither of the wounds is of much consequence."
"Where is he?"
" In the cutter. I desired them to put the wounded men
in her, out of the launch, and to pull on board at once.
Was not I right ? "
" Yes, most assuredly. I should have thought of it myself."
" Well, Jerry," said Seymour, laughing, " how many did
you "
" I did not count them ; but if you meet with any chaps
with deeper wounds than usual, put them down to me. Do
you know, Mr. Price, you are more indebted to me than you
may imagine for the success of this affair ? "
" How, Mr. Jerry ? I should like to know, that I may
prove my gratitude ; ' eleven out of the thirteen ' you paid,
I've no doubt."
" It was not altogether that I frightened them more
than I hurt them ; for when they would have returned the
blows from this stalwart arm," said Jerry, holding out the
member in question, which was about the thickness of a
large carrot, " I immediately turned edgeways to them, and was
invisible. They thought that they had to deal with either a
ghost or a magician, and, depend upon it, it unnerved them."
"' Approach thou like' what is it?" resumed Price; "some-
thing ' Hence, horrible shadow, unreal mockery, hence ! ' "
" Pretty names to be called in reward of my services,"
cried Jerry. " I presume this is a specimen of the gratitude
you were talking about. Well, after all, to take a leaf out
of your book, Mr. Price, I consider that the better part of
valour is discretion. Now, that fellow Stewart, he actually
gave them his head to play with, and I am not sorry that
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THE KING'S OWN
he has had it broken, for I calculate that I shall be saved
at least a dozen thrashings by some of his hot blood being
let out ' the King's poor cousin ' ' ~
" By-the-bye, I quite forgot where's Robinson, the cox-
swain of the cutter ? " demanded Courtenay.
" Between the guns forward seriously hurt, poor fellow, I
am afraid," answered Seymour.
" I'm very sorry for that I'll go and see him I wish to
speak with him," replied Courtenay, walking forward.
Robinson was lying near the long brass gun, which was
pointed out of the foremost port, his head pillowed upon
the body of the French captain, who had fallen by his hand
just before he had received his mortal wound. A musket-
ball had entered his groin and divided the iliac artery ; he
was bleeding to death nothing could save him. The cold
perspiration on his forehead and the glassy appearance of
his eye too plainly indicated that he had but a few minutes
to live. Courtenay, shocked at the condition of the poor
fellow, who was not only the most humorous, but one of
the ablest seamen in the ship, knelt down on one knee
beside him and took his hand.
" How do you feel, Robinson ? are you in much pain ? "
"None at all, sir, thank ye," replied the man faintly;
"but the purser may chalk me down DD. as soon as he
pleases. I suppose he'll cheat government out of our day's
grub though," continued the man, with a smile.
Courtenay, aware of the truth of the first observation,
thought it no kindness to attempt to deceive a dying man
with hopes of recovery in his last moments ; he therefore
continued : " Can I be of any service to you, Robinson ? Is
there anything I can do when you are gone ? "
"Nothing at all, sir. I've neither chick nor child, nor
relation that I know of. Yes, there is one thing, sir, but
it's on the bloody side : the key of the mess chest is in my
trousers pocket ; I wish you'd recollect to have it taken
out and given to John Williams you must wait till I'm
dead, for I can't turn myself just now."
" It shall be attended to," replied Courtenay.
" And, Mr. Courtenay, remember me to the captain."
" Is there anything else ? " continued Courtenay, who per-
ceived that the man was sinking rapidly.
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THE KING'S OWN
"Nothing nothing, sir," replied Robinson very faintly.
"Good-bye, God bless you, sir; I'm going fast now."
" But, Robinson," said Courtenay, in a low, soothing voice,
bending nearer to him, " tell me, my good fellow I am not the
least angry tell me, why did you call me ' Little Bilious ' ? "
The man turned his eyes up to him, and a smile played upon
his features, as if he were pleased with the idea of disappointing
the curiosity of his officer. He made no answer ; his head
fell back, and in a few seconds he had breathed his last.
" Poor fellow, he is gone ! " said Courtenay with a deep sigh,
as he rose up from the body. " Never answered my question
too. Well," continued he, as he walked slowly aft, "now
that's what I consider to be most excessively annoying."
By this time the privateer had been towed under the stern
of the frigate, and a hawser was sent on board to secure her
astern. Price and the other officers returned on board, where
they were well received by Captain M , who thanked them
for their exertions. The wounded had been some time under
the hands of Macallan, and fresh crews having been ordered
into the boats, they returned to the privateer. The hatches
were taken off and the prisoners removed to the frigate.
The name of the prize was the Estelle, of two hundred
tons burthen, mounting fourteen guns, and having on board,
at the commencement of the attack, her full complement of
one hundred and twenty-five men.
CHAPTER XXXII
Many with trust, with doubt few are undone.
LORD BEOOK.
Doubt wisely : in strange way
To stand inquiring right, is not to stray ;
To run wrong, is.
DONNE.
WHEN the hatches were taken off on board of the
privateer, the prisoners, as they came up, were handed into
the boats. Jerry stood at the hatchway, with his cutlass in
his hand, making his sarcastic remarks upon them as they
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THE KING'S OWN
appeared. A short interval had elapsed after it was sup-
posed that everybody had come from below, when a tall,
thin personage, in the dress of a landsman, crawled up the
hatchway.
" Halloo ! " cried Jerry ; " Mr. Longtogs, who have we
here ? Why, he must be the padre. I say, mounseer, je
very much suspect <jue vous $tes what they call a Father
Confessor, n'est-ce pas ? Devilish good idea. A privateer
with a parson ! What's your pay, mounseer ? a tenth, of
course. Little enough too for looking after the souls of such
a set of d d rascals. Well, mounseer, vous ctes prisonnier,
without benefit of clergy, so hop into that boat. Why, con-
found it, here's another 1" continued Jerry, as a second made
his appearance. " He's the clerk, of course, as he follows the
parson. Come, Mont' Arrivo Jack 1 What a cock-eye the
rascal has ! "
During this elegant harangue, which was certainly meant
for his own ' amusement more than for their edification,
as Jerry had no idea but that they were belonging to the
privateer, and of course could riot comprehend him, both
the parties looked at him, and at each other, with astonish-
ment, until the first who had appeared addressed the
latter with, " I say, Paul, did you ever see such a thing
before ? D n it, why he's like a sixpenny fife more noise
than substance."
Jerry at once perceived his mistake, and recollected that
the master of the vessel which they had boarded had
mentioned that two English merchants had been taken out
of her by the privateer with the hopes of ransom; but
nettled with the remark which had been made, he retorted
with
" Well, I'd recommend you not to attempt to play upon
me, that's all."
" No, I don't mean, for I should only make you squeak "
""You are the two gentlemen who were detained by the
privateer, I presume," said Pearce, the master, who had
come on board to superintend the necessary arrangements
previous to her being sent in.
" We are, sir, and must introduce ourselves. My name is
Mr. Peter Capon ; that of my friend, designated by that
young gentleman as Cock-eye, is Mr. Paul Contract. Will
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you oblige us with a boat to go on board of the frigate, that
we may speak to the captain?"
" Most certainly. Jump into the first cutter there. I am
sorry you have been so unpleasantly situated, gentlemen.
Why did not you come on deck before ? "
Peter did not state the real ground, which was to secure
their property, which was below, from being plundered by
the privateer's crew ; but wishing to pay off Jerry for his
impertinence, replied
"Why, we did look up the hatchway several times, but
there was something so awful, and, I may say so, un-English-
like, in the appearance of that officer, with his drawn sword,
that we were afraid ; we could not imagine into whose
hands the vessel had fallen we thought it had been captured
by the Yahoos."
" Houyhnhnms, more likely. You'll find I'm -a bit of a
horse," replied Jerry, in a passion.
" By Jove, then, you're only fit for the hounds," observed
the gentleman with oblique vision ; " I should order you "
"Would you? Well, now I'll order you, sir," replied the
youngster, whose anger made Jiim quite forget the presence
of his commanding officer " have the goodness to step into
that boat."
" And I shall order you, Mr. J ," observed the master,
with asperity " I order you to go into that boat, and take
these gentlemen on board, and to hold your tongue."
" Ay, ay, sir. This way, sir," said Jerry to Mr. Peter,
making him a polite bow, and pointing to the boat at the
gangway; "in that direction, sir, if you please," continued
Jerry, bowing to Mr. Paul, and pointing to the quarter of
the vessel.
" And why in that direction, sir ? " observed Pau) ; "I am
going on board of the frigate."
" I know it, sir ; it was considerate on my part : I was
allowing for the angle of obliquity in your vision. You would
have exactly fetched the boat."
The indignation of- Mr Paul was now at its height ; and
Pearce, the master, who was much annoyed at Jerry's ex-
cessive impertinence, which he knew Captain M would
never have overlooked, detained the boat for a minute while
h-s wrote a few lines to Price, requesting him to send the
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THE KING'S OWN
bearer of it to the masthead, upon delivery, for his imper-
tinent conduct. " Mr. J , take this on board, and deliver
it from me to the commanding officer."
"Ay, ay, sir," replied Jerry. "Shove ofFthere^ forward."
Mr. Peter looked Jerry earnestly in his face for some time
as they were pulling on board.
" Well now, d n it, I like you, if it's only for your excessive
impudence."
" A negative sort of commendation, but I believe it the
only one that he has," replied the other, in a surly tone.
" Highly flattered, sir," replied Jerry to Mr. Peter, " that
you should perceive anything to induce you to like me ; but
I am sorry I cannot return the compliment, for I really can-
not perceive anything to like you for. As for your friend
there, I can only say that I detest all crooked ways. In bow
forward ! way enough. Now, gentlemen, with your per-
mission, I'll show you the road," said the youngster, climbing
up the side.
Jerry, who had some suspicion that the note was not in his
favour, took the liberty, as it was neither sealed nor wafered,
of reading it under the half-deck while Price was showing
the two gentlemen into the cabin. Not to deliver a note on
service was an offence for which Captain M would have
dismissed him from the ship; but to be perched up, like
a monkey, at the masthead, in the afternoon, after having
fought like a man in the morning, was very much against the
grain. At any other time he would have cared little about
it. He went upon deck again, where he found Prose on the
gangway. "Well, Prose, my boy, how are you ? "
" Why, upon my soul, Jerry, I am tired to death. Seven
times have I been backward and forward to that abominable
privateer, and now my tea is ready, and I am ordered to go
again for these gentlemen's things."
" Well, that is hard. I will go for you, Prose, shall I ?
Where's the boat?"
" All ready, alongside. Well, now, it's very kind of you,
Jerry, I do declare."
Jerry laid hold of the man-ropes, and began to descend
the side ; and then, as if recollecting himself of a sudden,
said, "Oh. by-the-bye, I had nearly forgot Here's a note
from the master to Mr. Price. Give it him, Prose."
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THE KING'S OWN
"Yes, Jerry, I will," replied Prose, walking over to the
side of the quarter-deck where Price was carrying on the
duty, while Jerry made all the haste he could, and shoved
off in the boat.
"A note, sir, from Mr. Pearce, the master."
"Hum," said Price, running it over. "Mr. Prose, go up
to the masthead, and stay there till I call you down."
" Sir ! " replied Prose, aghast.
" No reply, sir up immediately."
" Why, sir, it was
" Another word, sir, and I'll keep you there all night,"
cried Price, walking forward in furtherance of the duty he
was carrying on.
" Well, now, I do declare ! What have I done ? " said
Prose, with a whimpering voice, as he reluctantly ascended
the main-rigging, not unperceived by Jerry, who was watch-
ing the result as he pulled on board of the privateer.
" Come on board for these gentlemen's clothes, sir," said
Jerry, reporting himself to Mr. Pearce, who, not a little sur-
prised to see him, inquired
" Did Mr. Price receive my note ? "
"Yes, sir, he did."
" Why, I requested him to masthead you ! "
"Many thanks, sir, for your kindness," replied the young-
ster, touching his hat.
Pearce, who was annoyed that his request should not
have been complied with, stated his feelings on the subject
to Price when he returned to the ship in the evening.
Price declared that he had sent Prose to the masthead,
and had not called him down until eight o'clock. The affair
was thus explained, and Jerry was pardoned for the ingenuity
of his ruse de guerre ; while all the comfort that was received
by the unfortunate Prose was being informed, on the ensuing
morning, that it was all a mistake.
The prize being now ready, Captain M desired Courte-
nay to take charge of it, and select two of the midshipmen
to accompany him. His choice fell upon Seymour and Jerry ;
the latter being selected rather for his own amusement than
for his qualities as an officer. The distance to Jamaica, to
which island he was directed to proceed, and from thence
with his crew to obtain a passage to Barbadoes, was not
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great, and Captain M did not like to have the frigate
short-manned ; he was therefore not allowed to take more
than ten seamen with him, five prisoners being sent on
board to assist in navigating the vessel. Mr. Capon and Mr.
Contract, at their own request, went as passengers.
In the afternoon, as soon as the provisions were on board,
Courtenay received his written orders, and in a few hours
the frigate was out of sight. They had barely time to stow
away everything in its place and make the necessary arrange-
ments, when a heavy N.E. swell, and lowering horizon, pre-
dicted a continuance of the fair wind, and plenty of it. So
it proved ; the wind increased rapidly, and the men found
it difficult to reduce the canvas in sufficient time. Before
dark .the wind blew with considerable force, not steadily,
but in fitful gusts ; and the sun, as he descended in the
wave, warned them, by his red and fiery aspect, to prepare
for an increase of the gale. The schooner flew before it
under her diminished sail, rolling gunwale-to in the deep
trough, or lurching heavily as her weather-quarter was borne
up aloft by the culminating swell. All was secured for the
night ; the watch was set, and Seymour walked the deck,
while Courtenay and the rest went below, and at an early
hour retired to their beds.
Among other reasons for selecting our hero as one of his
assistants, Courtenay was influenced by his perfect knowledge
of the French language, which might prove useful in communi-
cating with the French prisoners who were sent on board to
assist in working the vessel. Jerry had also boasted of his
talent in that way, as he wished to go in the prize ; and
although the reader, from the specimen which he has had,
may not exactly give credit to his assertions, yet Courtenay,
who had never heard him, believed that he was pretty well
acquainted with the language.
But soon after they had parted with the frigate, when
Courtenay desired the French prisoners to lay hold of the
ropes and assist in shortening sail, they all refused. Seymour
was not on deck at the time ; he had been desired to super-
intend the arrangements below; and although he had been
informed of their conduct, he had not yet spoken to the
prisoners. Two of them were sitting aft under the lee of
the weather-bulwark, as Seymour was walking the deck to
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THE KING'S OWN
and fro. They were in earnest conversation when Seymour
stopped near to them, carelessly leaning over the weather-
quarter, watching the long following seas, when he overheard
one say to the other " Taisez, peut-etre quil nous entend."
" Nous verrons," replied the other, who immediately rose
and addressed Seymour in French relative to the weather.
What he had previously heard induced our hero to shake
his head and continue to look over the weather-quarter, and
as Seymour only answered in the English negative to a
further interrogation, the prisoners did not think it worth
while to remove out of his hearing, but satisfied with his
not being able to comprehend them, sat down again and
resumed their conversation. The lurching of the vessel was
a sufficient reason for not walking the deck ; but Seymour,
to remove all suspicion, took another turn or two, and then
again held on by the ropes close by the Frenchmen. The
wind blew too fresh to permit him to catch more than an
occasional sentence or two of their conversation ; but what
he heard made him more anxious to collect more.
" Ils ne sont que seize, avec ce petit misere," observed one,
" et nous sommes ' Here the rest of the sentence was lost.
Seymour reckoned up the English on board, and found that,
with Billy Pitts, whom Macallan had allowed Courtenay to
take with him as his steward, they exactly amounted to that
number. The latter epithet he considered, justly enough,
to be bestowed upon his friend Jerry. A few minutes after-
wards he intercepted " They'll throw us overboard if we
do not succeed ; we'll throw them overboard if we do."
" Courage, mon ami, il ny aura pas de difficulte ; notis sommes
trop forts," replied the other, as, terminating their conversa-
tion, they rose and walked forward.
It was evident to our hero that something was in agitation ;
but at the same time it appeared perfectly incomprehen-
sible that six prisoners should have even formed the idea of
attempting the recapture of a vessel manned with sixteen
Englishmen, and that they should consider themselves so
strong as to ensure success. Determined to report what he
had heard to Courtenay, Seymour walked the remainder of
his watch, was relieved, and went below to his hammock.
The wind had increased during the night ; but as it was
fair, and the sky clear, and the sun shone bright, the breeze
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THE KING'S OWN
was rather a matter of congratulation when they met at
breakfast in the morning, although Peter and Paul com-
plained of the violent motion of the vessel having taken
away their appetite. Seymour reported to Courtenay the
fragments of the conversation which he had overheard ; and
insane as appeared to be the idea of recapture, the latter
agreed with him that it demanded caution on their parts;
but as it would appear very opposite to the English character
to take open measures against six prisoners, when they were
so numerous, lie contented himself with desiring all the arms
and ammunition to be stowed in the cabin, and gave orders
that the prisoners, as they refused to work, should not be
allowed to come on deck after dusk, and then gave the
affair no further thought. Seymour was aware that, although
it was his duty to report the circumstance, he had no right
to press the matter upon Courtenay, who was to be supposed
the best judge; still he was not satisfied. He had an un-
accountable foreboding that all was not right. He turned
the subject in his mind until dinner was announced by Billy
Pitts, which put an end to his reverie.
The violent jerking motion of the vessel made it no easy
task to retain a position at table, which was securely lashed
As for placing on it the whole of the dinner at once, de-
canters, &c., that would have been certain destruction ; a
plate and spoon for their soup was all which Billy Pitts, who
was major-domo, would trust them with. Paul, who was not
the best sailor in the world, had secured to himself the seat
to windward, and it consequently fell to his lot to help the
pea-soup, which was placed at the weather-side of the table.
To save time and breakage two important things in a sea-
mess they all held their own plates, which they thrust in
towards the tureen from the different quarters of the table
to receive their supply. Paul, having helped those nearest
to him, rose from his chair that he might see to fill the plates
on the other side of the tureen. He was leaning over, his
centre of gravity being considerably beyond the perpen-
dicular, when a heavy sea struck the vessel and threw her
nearly on her beam-ends, pitching Paul right over the table
to leeward. With the tureen, which he did not forget to
take with him, he flew into Jerry's arms, and they rolled
together on the floor. The contents of the tureen were
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THE KING'S OWN
rapidly deposited in the open bosom of Jerry, who dis-
engaged himself from the embraces of his enemy as fast as
he could, amidst the laughter of his companions.
" Well, you asked for soup/' observed Courtenay.
" Yes, and my friend has helped me very liberally," replied
Jerry, who was not at all out of humour, except when he
was foiled with his own weapons. In the meantime, Paul,
who was a little stunned with the blow he had received on
his head, had continued on the floor rolling in the pea-soup,
and was just attempting to get on his legs.
" You've got it all to yourself there, Mr. Paul. As you
seem to like it, perhaps you would prefer a spoon," said
Jerry, offering him one at the same time.
" I say, Paul, what a capital harlequin you would make,"
observed Peter.
Paul, who had recovered his legs, and now clung on by
the table, looked an answer horribly asquint, as if he did not
admire the joke ; but he resumed his seat at the table.
The remainder of the dinner was brought down without
further accident occurring ; and by the time it was over, as
the bottle had to be passed round, and everybody was obliged
to drink off immediately, and put his wine-glass inside his
waistcoat to save it from perdition, they all were very merry
and happy before the repast had been concluded. "There,"
said Jerry, stroking himself down when he had finished his
cheese, as if he were a Falstaff, "a kitten might play with
me now."
" More than one dare do with me," rejoined Peter, " for I'm
cursedly inclined to shoot the cat."
But as the second evening closed in, the sky was loaded
with heavy clouds the scud flew wildly past them the
sea increased to mountains high and the gale roared
through the rigging of the schooner, which was now im-
pelled before it under bare poles. They were really in
danger. The hatches were battened down fore and aft
the ports were knocked out to allow the escape of the
water, which poured over in such volumes as would other-
wise have swamped the vessel and Courtenay and his
crew remained on deck until dawn of day, when the
violence of the gale seemed to have abated.
Courtenav desired Seymour and Jerry to turn in, and
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relieve him at eight o'clock. Our hero and Jerry went
down into the cabin, where they found the two passengers,
who, although they had not come on deck during the
night, had not retired to bed. Peter was sitting up to
windward on the locker, looking very pale and very sea-
sick. Paul was on the cabin-floor, with one hand holding
on by the leg of the table, and a bottle of brandy in the
other. His prayer-book he had abandoned during a fright,
and it was washing about in the lee-scuppers. Jerry was
delighted, but put on a rueful face.
"Well," observed Paul, who was nearly frightened out
of his wits, " how is it now ? "
" Worse and worse," replied Jerry ; " there's nine inches
water in the well."
" Oh, my God ! " cried Paul, who was not very au fait
at nautical technicalities raising one eye up to heaven,
while the other appeared to rest upon the bottle of
brandy.
" But why don't you turn in ? " said Jerry ; " we can go
to the bottom just as comfortably in bed as anywhere else."
" I agree with you," replied Peter, who had often been
at sea, and knew very well that all was right by the two
midshipmen coming off deck. "My mother prophesied
that I never should die in my bed, but I'm determined
that I will."
"You had better turn in, Mr. Paul," said Seymour
kindly; "I'll ring for the steward."
Billy Pitt made his appearance. "By gad, gentlemen,
the d d schooner under water."
" Under water ! " cried Paul, with dismay. The bottle
was applied to his mouth, as if he was determined to leave
as little room as possible for the element which he expected
instantaneously to be struggling in.
With the assistance of Billy, Paul was placed in one of
the standing bed-places at the side of the cabin, Jerry
put his brandy-bottle at the side of his pillow ; kindly in-
forming him that he would have an opportunity of taking
a few more swigs before he went down, for the water was
only up to her bends at present. Peter was already in
the cot next to him, and Seymour and Jerry turned in,
without taking off their clothes, in Courtenay's bed on the
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other side of the cabin. Before they had fallen asleep,
they heard Paul cry out, " Peter ! Peter ! "
" Well, what do you want ? "
" Do you think there are any hopes ? "
Peter, who wished to frighten his companion, replied
gravely, "I am afraid not; but, Paul, I've just been re-
flecting upon the subject. Here we are, two men con-
siderably on the wrong side of forty. We have enjoyed
our youth, which is the happiest period of our life. We
are now fast descending the hill to old age, decrepitude, and
disease what avails a few more years, allowing that we
are spared this time ? Don't you perceive the comfort of
my observations ? "
Paul groaned, and made no answer ; but even the creaking
of the timbers could not disguise the repeated cleck-cleck-
cleck as the brandy from the bottle gurgled down his
throat
CHAPTER XXXIII
Two striplings, lads more like to run
Than to commit such slaughter.
Cymbdine,
JL HE gales of wind in the tropical climates are violent
while they last, but are seldom of long duration. Such
was the case in the present instance ; for it subsided in
a few hours after daylight ; and the schooner, that had been
propelled before it, was now sheltered under the lee of
the island of St. Domingo, and, with all her canvas spread,
was gliding through a tranquil sea. Again hey were
collected round the dinner table, to a more quiet repast
than they had hitherto enjoyed since they had come or.
board. Paul had not quite recovered his spirits, although
when he went on deck, just before the dinner was announced,
he was delighted at the sudden change which had taken
place ; but the mirth of his companions at his expense was
not received in very good part.
After dinner finding himself in a better humour, he
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THE KING'S OWN
turned to Peter, and addressed him "I say, Peter, I made
no answer to your remarks last night, when we expected to
go down ; but I have since had time deliberately to weigh
your arguments, and I should like you to explain to me
where the comfort was that you so strenuously pointed out,
for hang me if I can discover it."
Seymour again had charge of the first watch ; and not-
withstanding that the orders for the prisoners to remain
below after dark had been communicated to them, he
observed that, on one pretence or other, they occasionally
came on deck, and repeatedly put their heads above the
hatchway. This conduct reminded him of the conversation
which he had overheard, and again it was the subject of
his thoughts. Captain M had one day observed to
him that if there was no duty going on, he could not
employ himself in a more useful manner when he was
walking the deck than by placing himself, or the ship,
in difficult situations, and reflecting upon the most eligible
means of relief. " Depend upon it/' observed Captain
M , "the time will come when you will find it of use
to you ; and it will create for you a presence of mind,
in a sudden dilemma, which may be the salvation of your-
self and the ship you are in."
Seymour, remembering this injunction, reflected upon
what would be the most advisable steps to take in case of
the French prisoners attempting to recapture during his
watch on deck. That there were but six it was very true ;
but at the same time, during the night watches there were
but five English seamen and the officer of the watch on
deck. Should the Frenchmen have the boldness to -attempt
to regain possession of the vessel, there was no doubt that,
if the watch could be surprised, the hatches would be secured
over those below. What should be the steps, in such a case,
that he ought to take ?
Such were the cogitations of Seymour when midnight was
reported, and Jerry was summoned to relieve the deck
which he did not do, relying upon our hero's good-nature,
until past one bell. Up he came with his ready apology,
" I really beg your pardon, my dear fellow, but I had not a
wink of sleep last night."
" Never mind, Jerry, I am not at all sleepy. I had been
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thinking about these French prisoners I cannot get their
conversation out of my head."
" Why, I did not like it myself when I heard of it,"
replie'l Jerry. " I hope they won't attempt it in my watch ;
it would not give them much trouble to launch me over the
quarter I should skim away, ' flying light,' like a lady's
bonnet."
" What would you do, Jerry, if you perceived them rush-
ing aft to retake the vessel ? " inquired Seymour, who was
aware of his ready invention.
" Skim up the rigging like a lamplighter, to be sure.
Not that it would be of much use if they gained the day,
except to say a few prayers before I went astern."
" Well, that was my idea ; but I thought that if one had
a musket and ammunition up there, a diversion might be
created in favour of those below^for the prisoners have no
firearms."
"Very true," replied Jerry; "we might puzzle them not
a little."
" Now, Jerry, suppose we were to take that precaution,
for I do not like their manoeuvres during my watch. It
will do no harm, if it does no good. Suppose you fetch
two muskets and cartouch-boxes from the cabin I'll take
one and secure it in the fore-cross-trees, and you do the
same at the main ; for Courtenay is too proud to keep an
armed watch."
Jerry agreed to the proposal, and brought up the muskets
and ammunition. Seymour gave him a stout fox to lash the
musket ; and taking another himself, they both ascended the
rigging at the same time, and were busy securing the muskets
up and down at the head of the lower masts, when they heard
a sudden rush upon deck beneath them.
It was dark, though not so dark but they could distinguish
what was going on, and they perceived that their thoughts
had but anticipated the reality. " The French are up ! "
roared the man at the wheel, to rouse those below, as well
as the watch, who were lying about the decks ; but to the
astonishment of the youngsters aloft, as well as of the men
on deck, not six, but about twenty Frenchmen, armed with
cutlasses, made their appearance. The hatches were over
and secured in a minute ; and the unarmed English on deck
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were then attacked by the superior force. It was with
agonised feelings that Seymour and Jerry heard the scuffle
which took place ; it was short ; and plunge after plunge
into the water, alongside, announced the death of each
separate victim. The man at the wheel struggled long ;
he was of an athletic frame ; but overpowered by numbers,
he was launched over the taffrail. The French, supposing
that the remainder of the crew were below, placed sentries
over the hatches, that they might not be forced, and then
collected together abaft, altering the course of the vessel for
St. Domingo.
It will be necessary to explain the sudden appearance of
so many Frenchmen. When the captain of the privateer
was occupied during the night previous to the attack with
his several plans of defence, he also arranged one for the
recapture of the vessel in case of their being overpowered.
With this in view, he had constructed a platform in the hold,
on which a tier of casks was stowed, and under which there
was sufficient space for fifteen or twenty men to lie concealed.
When the privateer's men had been driven below, and the
hatches secured over them, fifteen, armed with cutlasses,
concealed themselves in this place, with the hopes of re-
capturing the vessel from the prize-master after she should
have parted company with the frigate. The prisoners who
had been sent on board to assist in navigating the schooner
to Jamaica, had communicated with them unperceived after
dark. As all the English were fatigued from having been
on deck during the previous night, the middle watch was
proposed for the attempt, which had thus far been attended
with success.
Seymour and Jerry remained quiet at the mastheads ; for
although they did not attempt to communicate with each
other for fear of discovery, they both rightly judged that
it would be best to remain till daylight; by which time
some plans would have been formed by the party below,
which their situation would enable them materially to assist.
Nearly four hours elapsed previous to the dawning of the
day, during which interval Jerry had ample time to say some
of those prayers which he spoke of, and which it was to be
supposed that they both did not fail to offer up in their
perilous situation.
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As soon as the day began to break, Jerry, who had not
yet loaded his musket lest he might be heard, thought it
time to prepare for action. He primed, and put in his cart-
ridge, in the ramming down of which a slight ringing of the
ramrod against the muzzle attracted the notice of one of the
Frenchmen, who, looking up, after a short time, exclaimed,
" Diable ! c'est monsieur misere qui est Id ! "
Jerry levelled with a steady aim, and the bullet passed
through the broad chest of the Frenchman, who rolled upon
the deck.
" Now, they may chant your miserere," cried the youngster.
A second shot from the fore-cross-trees laid another French-
man alongside of his companion.
" Comment ! diable ! nous serous abimes par ces enjans Id ; il
faut monter."
The muskets were again loaded, and again each boy
brought down his bird before the Frenchmen could decide
upon their operations. It was a case of necessity that the
youngsters should be attacked ; but it was a service of no
little danger, and of certain destruction to one, who must
fall a sacrifice that the other might be able to secure the
youngster before he had time to reload his musket. Two
of the most daring flew to the main-rigging, one ascending
to windward and the other to leeward. Seymour, who per-
ceived their intentions, reserved his nre until he saw the
one in the weather-rigging fall by Jerry's musket ; he then
levelled at the one to leeward, who dropped into the lee-
chains, and from thence into the sea. Thus had six French-
men already fallen by the coolness and determination of two
boys, one but fourteen, and the other not sixteen years old.
A short consultation ended in the Frenchmen resorting
to the only measures likely to be attended with success.
Leaving three to guard the hatchways, the remaining twelve,
divided into four parties, began to mount both fore and
main-rigging, to windward and to leeward, at the same time.
The fate of Jerry and Seymour now appeared to be decided.
They might each kill one man more, and then would have
been hurled into the sea. But during the consultation,
Seymour, who anticipated this movement, and had a knife
in his pocket, divided the lanyards of the lee topmast rigging,
and running up the weather side with his musket and ammu-
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THE KING'S OWN
nition, as soon as he had gained the topmast cross-trees,
hauled up the lee rigging after him, thus gaining a position
that would admit but one person mounting up to him at a
time. He called to Jerry, pointing out what he had done,
that he might do the same ; but unfortunately Jerry had
not a knife, and could not. He contented himself with
climbing up to the topmast cross-trees, to which he was
followed by two of the Frenchmen. Jerry levelled his
musket, and passed his bullet through the skull of one of
his pursuers, whose heavy fall on the deck shook the schooner
fore and aft; and then, aware that nothing more could be
done, pitched his musket overboard that they might not
gain possession of it, and climbing with a nimbleness suited
to the occasion up to the masthead, descended by the
top-gallant stay to the fore-topmast cross-trees, and joined
Seymour in the presence of the exasperated Frenchmen,
who now, unable to reach either of them, were at a non-
plus. " I say, monsieur, no catchee, no habbee," cried
Jerry, laughing, and putting his hand to his side from loss
of breath.
But we must now acquaint the reader with what is going
on below. The surprise of Courtenay when he found the
hatches down and the deck in possession of the French,
was removed when the men who had been secured with
him stated that, as they lay in their hammocks, they had
been awakened by a large body of men running up the
hatchway. He now perceived that there must have been
men concealed in the hold of the vessel. The struggle on
deck, the splashing in the water, all had been plainly heard
below ; they were aware of the fate of their shipmates, and
did not expect to see daylight again until they were handed
up as prisoners in a French port.
The feelings of Courtenay were not enviable. He upbraided
himself for having, by his want of prudence, lost the vessel
and sacrificed the lives of the two midshipmen and five
seamen who had the watch on deck. The party below
consisted of Courtenay, Peter and Paul, Billy Pitts, and
five seamen; and a consultation was held as to their pro-
ceedings. To regain the vessel and avenge the death of
their shipmates, or to perish in the attempt, was the deter-
mination of the lieutenant He was aware that the French
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had no firearms ; and amply supplied as they were, he would
have cared little for their numbers if once on deck ; but
how to get on deck was the problem. To set fire to the
vessel, and rush up in the flames to scuttle her or to
blow her up, and all go down together, were each proposed
and agitated.
Peter's plan was considered as the most feasible. He
suggested that one-half of the cabin table, which was
divided in two, should be placed upon the other, so as to
raise it up to the coamings of the skylight-hatch ; on the
upper table to place a pound or two of powder, which, from
the ascending principle of explosion, would blow off the
skylight and grating without injuring the . vessel below.
Then, with their muskets loaded and bayonets fixed, to
jump on the table, and from thence, if possible, gain the
deck. This was agreed to, and the preparations were well
forward when the report of Jerry's musket was heard
another succeeded, and they were perplexed. H;;d the
Frenchmen firearms ? and if so, what could they be firing
at? The falling of the bodies on deck, and the indistinct
curses of the Frenchmen, puzzled them even more. " What
can it be ? " observed Courtenay.
"I recollect now," said Paul, "as I lay awake I saw young
devil-skin pass my bed with a musket I wondered what it
was for."
" Then, probably, he has gained the rigging with it, and is
safe," cried Courtenay intuitively. "Be quick ! Where's the
powder ? Take that candle further off."
The train was laid as the muskets continued to be dis-
charged ; they removed from the cabin; it was fired, and
the skylight was blown up, killing the Frenchman who
guarded the hatchway, at the very moment that the French-
men were in the rigging, puzzled with the manoeuvres of
Seymour and the escape of Jerry.
Courtenay and his party rushed into the cabin, mounted
the table, and were on deck before the smoke had cleared
away ; and the Frenchmen, who had not had time to descend
the rigging, were at their mercy. Mercy they were not
entitled to. They had shown none to the unarmed English,
whom they had wantonly thrown into the sea when they had
overpowered them, and were now thirsting for the blood of
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the two boys. No mercy was shown to them. As they
dropped one by one from the rigging, wounded or dead, they
were tossed into the wave, as an expiatory sacrifice to the
manes of the murdered Englishmen. In a few minutes the
carnage was over. Seymour and Jerry descended from their
little fortalice aloft, and were warmly greeted by their friends
as they reached the deck.
" Really, Mr. Paul," said Jerry, shaking his proffered hand,
"this is quite an unexpected pleasure."
" Well, I never thought that I could possibly like you,"
answered the other.
"Well," observed Jerry, "it has quite stopped my
growth."
" But not 'your tongue, I hope," replied Peter ; " that
would be a pity. Now explain to us how it all happened."
Jerry entered into the detail with his accustomed humour,
while Courtenay walked aft with Seymour, to have a more
sober narrative of the transactions which we have described,
and which afforded ample matter for conversation until the
prize was brought to an anchor in Port Royal harbour, where
Courtenay and his crew were ordered a passage to Barbadoes
in a frigate that had orders to proceed there in a few days ;
and Mr. Peter Capon and Mr. Paul Contract went on shore,
declaring that until a mail-coach ran between there and
England they would never leave the island and again sub-
ject themselves to the charming vicissitudes of a seafaring
existence.
CHAPTER XXXIV
For the execution of all form, observance, ceremony, subordination,
and the like, even though, while he compels obedience, he may get
himself privately laughed at, commend me to our governor, Don
Fabricio. Humours of Madrid.
AN a few days, Courtenay, with the prize crew of the
Aspasia, sailed for Barbadoes in the frigate which had been
ordered to receive them for a passage. The frigate was
commanded by one of the most singular characters in the
service. He was a clever man, a thorough sailor, and well
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acquainted with the details and technicalities of the profession
a spirited and enterprising officer, but of the most arbitrary
disposition. So well was he acquainted with the regulations
of the service, that he could hedge himself in so as to ensure
a compliance with the most preposterous orders, or draw
the officer who resisted into a premunire which would risk
his commission.
In a profession where one man is embarked with many,
isolated from the power whence he derives his own, where
his fiat must be received without a murmur by hundreds
who can reason as well as himself, it is absolutely requisite
that he should be invested with an authority amounting to
despotism. True it is that he is held responsible to his
superiors for any undue exercise of this authority ; but
amongst so many to whom it is confided, there must be some
who, from disposition or the bad example of those under
whom they have served, will not adhere to the limits which
have been prescribed. This, however, is no reason for
reducing that authority, which, as you govern wholly by
opinion, is necessary for the discipline which upholds the
service ; but it is a strong reason for not delegating it to
those who are not fit to be entrusted.
Captain Bradshaw had many redeeming qualities. Op-
pressor as he was, he admired a spirit of resistance in an
officer when it was shown in a just cause, and, upon reflection,
was invariably his friend, for he felt that his own natural
temperament was increased by abject obedience. Raynal,
I think it is, has said that " the pride of men in office arises
as much from the servility of their inferiors or expectants
as from any other cause." In our service they are all '
inferiors, and all expectants. Can it then be surprising that
a captain occasionally becomes tyrannical ? But Captain
Bradshaw was not naturally tyrannical: he had become
so because, promoted at an early age, he had never be.en
afterwards opposed ; no one contradicted him ; every one
applauded his jokes, and magnified his mirth into wit. He
would try by a court-martial an officer who had committed
a slight error, and on the same day would open his purse
and extend his patronage to another whom he knew not,
but had been informed that he was deserving, and had no
friends. To his seamen he was as lavish with his money as
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THE KING'S OWN
he was with the cat. He would give a man a new jacket
one day, and cut it to pieces on his back with a rope's end
on the next. Yet it was not exactly inconsistency it was
an eccentricity of character, not natural, but created by the
service. The graft was of a worse quality than the parent
stock, and the fruit was a compound of the two. The sailors,
who are of the most forgiving temper in the world, and will
pardon a hundred faults for one redeeming quality, declared
that " he warn't a bad captain after all.
His violent and tyrannical disposition made him constantly
at variance with his officers, and continual changes took
place in his ship ; but it was observed, that those who had
left him from a spirited resistance were kindly received and
benefited by his patronage, while those who submitted were
neglected. Like a pretty but clever woman, who is aware
that flattery is to be despised, and yet, from habit, cannot
exist without it, so Captain Bradshaw exacted the servility
which he had been accustomed to, yet rewarded not those
by whom it was administered. All the midshipmen pro-
moted on the station had to pass through the ordeal of
sailing with Captain Bradshaw, who generally had a vacancy;
and it certainly had a good effect upon those young men
who were inclined to presume upon their newly acquired
rank; for they were well schooled before they quitted his
ship.
When Courtenay and his party went on board of the
frigate, the first lieutenant, master, and surgeon, indignant
at language which had been used to them by the captain,
refused to dine in the cabin when they were invited by the
steward, who reported to Captain Bradshaw that the officers
would not accept his invitation.
" Won't they, by G d ? I'll see to that. Send my clerk
here."
The clerk made his appearance with an abject bow.
"Mr. Powell, sit down and write as I dictate," said
Captain Bradshaw, who, walking up and down the fore-
cabin, composed a memorandum, in which, after a long
preamble, the first lieutenant, master, and surgeon were
directed to dine with him every day until further orders.
Captain Bradshaw, having signed it, sent for the first lieu-
tenant, and delivered it himself into his hands.
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" Ferguson ! Bradly ! " cried the first lieutenant, entering
the gun-room with the paper in his hand, " here's something
for all three of us a positive order to dine with the skipper
every day until he gets tired of our company."
"I'll be hanged if I do," replied the surgeon. "I'll put
myself in the sick-list."
"And if I am obliged to go, I'll not touch anything/'
rejoined the master. "There's an old proverb, 'You may
lead a horse to the pond, but you can't make him drink.' "
" Whatever we do," replied Roberts, the first lieutenant,
"we must act in concert; but I have been long enough in
the service to know that we must obey first, and remonstrate
afterwards. That this is an unusual order, I grant, nor do I
know by what regulations of the service it can be enforced ;
but at the same time I consider that we run a great risk in
refusing to obey it. Only observe, in the preamble, how
artfully he inserts 'appearance of a conspiracy, tending to
bring him into contempt ; ' and again, ' for the better dis-
cipline of his Majesty's service, which must invariably suffer
when there is an appearance of want of cordiality between
those to whom the men must look for an example.' Upon
my soul, he's devilish clever. I do believe he'd find out a
reason for drawing out all our double teeth if he was
inclined,, and prove it was all for the benefit of his Majesty's
service. Well, now, what's to be done ? "
"Why, what's your opinion, Roberts?"
" Oh, mine is to go ; and if you will act with me, he won't
allow us to dine with him a second time."
"Well, then, I agree," replied the surgeon.
" And so must I, then, I presume ; but, by heavens, it's
downright tyranny and oppression."
" Never mind ; listen to me. Let's all go, and all behave
as ill as we can be as unmannerly as bears abuse every-
thing be as familiar as possible, and laugh in his face. He
cannot touch us for it, if we do not go too far and he'll not
trouble us to come a second time."
Their plans were arranged ; and at three o'clock they
were ushered into the cabin with one of the midshipmen
of the ship and Jerry, who, as a stranger, had been honoured
with an invitation. Captain Bradshaw, whose property was
equal to his liberality, piqued himself upon keeping a good
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THE KING'S OWN
table ; his cook was an artiste, and his wines were of the
very best quality. After all, there was no great hardship
in dining with him, but " upon compulsion ! " no. The
officers bowed. The captain, satisfied with their obedience,
intended, although he had brought them there by force, to
do the honours of his table with the greatest urbanity.
" Roberts," said he, " do me the favour to take the foot
of the table. Doctor, here's a chair for you. Mr. Bradly,
come round on this side. Now then, steward, off covers
and let us see what you have for us. Why, youngster, does
your captain starve you ? "
" No, sir," replied Jerry, who knew what was going on ;
" but he don't give me a dinner every day."
" Humph ! " muttered the captain, who thought Mr. Jerry
very free upon so short an acquaintance.
The soup was handed round ; the first spoonful that
Roberts took in his mouth he threw out on the snow-white
deck, crying out as soon as his mouth was empty, " O
Lord ! "
" Why, -what's the matter ? " inquired the captain.
"So cursed hot, I've burnt my tongue."
"Oh, that's all! steward, wipe up that mess," said the
captain, who was rather nice in his eating.
" Do you know Jemmy Cavan, sir, at Barbadoes ? " in-
quired the doctor.
" No, sir, I know no Jemmies," replied Captain Bradshaw,
surprised at his familiar address.
" He's a devilish good fellow, sir, I can tell you. Wheii
he gets you on shore, he'll make you dine with him every
day, whether or not. He'll take no denial."
c< Now, that's what I call a d d good fellow ; you don't
often meet a chap like him," observed the master.
Captain Bradshaw felt that he was indirectly called a chap,
which did not please him.
" Mr. Bradly, will you take some mutton ? "
" If you please," said the master.
" Roberts, I'll trouble you to carve the saddle of mutton."
The first lieutenant cut out a slice, and taking it on the
fork, looked at it suspiciously, and then held his nose
over it.
" Why, what's the matter ? "
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THE KING'S OWN
" Rather high, sir, I'm afraid."
"Oh, I smell it here/' said Jerry, who entered into the
joke.
" Indeed ! Steward, remove that dish ; fortunately, it is
not all our dinner. What will you take, Mr. Bradly ? "
"W r hy, really, I seldom touch anything but the joint.
I hate your kickshaws, there's so much pawing about them.
I'll wait, if you please; in the meantime, I'll drink a glass
of wine with you, Captain Bradshaw."
"The devil you will!" was nearly out of the captain's
mouth at this reversal of the order of things ; but he
swallowed it down, and answered in a surly tone, " With
great pleasure, sir."
"Come, doctor, let you and I hob and nob," said the first
lieutenant. They did so, and clicked their glasses together
with such force as to break them both, and spill the wine
upon the fine damask table-cloth. Jerry could contain
himself no longer, but burst out into a roar of laughter,
to the astonishment of Captain Bradshaw, who never had
seen a midshipman thus conduct himself at his table before ;
but Jerry could not restrain his inclination for joining with
the party, although he had no excuse for his behaviour.
" Bring some wine-glasses, steward ; and you'll excuse me,
gentlemen, but I will thank you not to try the strength of
them again," said Captain Bradshaw, with a very majestic air.
" Now, Mr. Ferguson, I shall be happy to take a glass of
wine with you. What will you have? There's sherry and
Moselle."
" I prefer champagne, if you please," answered the surgeon,
who knew that Captain Bradshaw did not produce it except
when strangers were at the table.
Captain Bradshaw restrained his indignation, and ordered
champagne to be brought.
" I'll join you," cried the first lieutenant, shoving in his
glass.
" Come, younker, let you and I have a glass cosy together,"
said Jerry to the midshipman, who, frightened at what was
going on, moved his chair a little further from Jerry, and
then looked first at him and then at the captain.
"Oh, pray take a glass with the young gentleman," said
Captain Bradshaw, with mock politeness.
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"Come, steward, none of your half allowance, if you
please," continued the impertinent Jerry. " Now, then, my
cock, here's towards you, and 'better luck still.' "
Captain Bradshaw was astonished. " I say, youngster,
did Captain M ever flog you ? "
"No, sir," replied Jerry demurely, perceiving that he
had gone too far ; " he always treats his officers like gentle-
men."
"Then I presume, sir, when they are on board of his
ship that they conduct themselves as gentlemen."
This hint made Jerry dumb for some time ; the officers,
however, continued as before. The surgeon dropped his
plate, full of damascene tart, on the deck. The first
lieutenant spilt his snuff on the table-cloth, and laid his snuff-
box on the table, which he knew to be the captain's
aversion; and the master requested a glass of grog, as the
rotgut French wines had given him a pain in the bowels.
Captain Bradshaw could hardly retain his seat upon the
chair, upon which he fidgeted right and left. He perceived
that his officers were behaving in a very unusual manner,
and that it was with a view to his annoyance ; yet it was
impossible for him to take notice of breaking glasses, and
finding fault with the cookery, which they took care to do,
sending their plates away before they had eaten a mouthful
with apparent disgust ; neither could he demand a court-
martial for awkwardness or want of good manners at his
own table. He began to think that he had better have left
out the ''everyday until further orders" in the memorandum,
as rescinding it immediately would have been an acknow-
ledgment of their having gained the victory; and as
to their going on in this way, to put up with it was
impossible.
The dinner was over, and the dessert placed on the table.
Captain Bradshaw passed the bottles round, helping himself
to Madeira. Roberts took claret, and as soon as he had
tasted it, " I beg your pardon, Captain Bradshaw," said he,
" but this wine is corked."
" Indeed ! Take it away, steward, and bring another
bottle."
Another was put on the table.
" I hope you will find that better, Mr. Roberts," said the
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captain, who really thought that what he stated had been
the case.
" Yes," replied the first lieutenant ; " for the description
of wine, it's well enough."
" What do you mean, sir ? Why, it's Chateau Margaux of
the first growth."
" Excuse me, sir," replied the officer, with an incredulous
smile ; " they must have imposed upon you."
Captain Bradshaw, who was an excellent judge of wine,
called for a glass, and pouring out the claret, tasted it. " I
must differ from you, sir ; and, moreover, I have no better."
" Then I'll trouble you to pass the port, doctor, for I really
cannot drink that stuff."
"Do you drink port, Mr. Bradly ?" said the captain, with
a countenance as black as a thunder-cloud.
"No, not to-day; I am not well in my inside; but I'll
punish the port to-morrow."
"So will I," said the surgeon.
"And as I am not among the privileged," added Jerry,
who had already forgotten the hint, " I'll take my whack
to-day."
" Perhaps you may," ooserved the captain drily.
The officers now began to be very noisy, arguing among
themselves upon points of service and taking no notice
whatever of the captain. The master, in explanation, drew
a chart, with wine, upon the polished table, while the first
lieutenant defended his opinion with pieces of biscuit, laid
at different positions during which two more glasses were
demolished.
The captain rang, and ordered coffee in an angry tone.
When the officers had taken it, he bowed stiffly, and wished
them good evening.
There was one dish which was an object of abhorrence to
Captain Bradshaw. The first lieutenant, aware of it, as they
rose to depart, said, " Captain Bradshaw, if it's not too great
a liberty, we should like to have some tripe to-morrow. We
are all three very partial to it."
"So am I," rejoined Jerry.
Captain Bradshaw could hold out no longer. " Leave the
cabin immediately, gentlemen. By heavens, you shall never
put your legs under my table again."
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"Are we not to dine here to-morrow, sir?" replied the
first lieutenant with affected surprise ; " the order says, ' every
day.' "
"Till further orders/' roared the captain; "and now you
have them, for I'll be d d if ever you dine with me
again."
The officers took their departure, restraining their mirth
until they gained the gun-room ; and Jerry was about to
follow, when Captain Bradshaw caught him by the arm.
" Stop, my young gentleman, you've not had your 'whack '
yet."
" I've had quite sufficient, sir, I thank you," replied Jerry ;
"an excellent dinner -many thanks to your hospitality."
"Yes, but I must now give you your dessert."
" I've had my dessert and coffee too, sir," said Jerry, trying
to escape.
"But you have not had your chasse-cafe, and I cannot
permit you to leave the cabin without it. Steward, desire
a boatswain's mate to bring his cat, and a quartermaster to
come here with seizings."
Jerry was now in a stew the inflexible countenance of
Captain Bradshaw showed that he was in earnest. However,
he held his tongue until the operators appeared, hoping that
the captain would think better of it.
" Seize this young gentleman up to the breech of the gun,
quartermaster ! "
"Will you oblige me, sir, by letting me know my
offence J "
" No, sir. "
" I do not belong to your ship," continued Jerry. " If I
have done wrong, Captain M is well known to be a strict
officer, and will pay every attention to your complaint."
" I will save him the trouble, sir."
Jerry was now seized up, and every arrangement made
preparatory to punishment. " Well, sir," resumed Jerry, " it
must be as you please; but I know what Captain M
will say."
"What, sir?"
"That you were angry with your officers, whom you could
not punish, and revenged yourself upon a poor boy."
" Would he ? Boatswain's mate, where's your cat ? "
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"Here, sir; how many tails am I to use?"
" Oh, give him the whole nine."
" Why, your honour," replied the man in a compassionate
tone, " there's hardly room for them there."
Jerry, who, when his indignation was roused, cared little
what he said, and defied consequences, now addressed the
captain.
" Captain Bradshaw, before you commence, will you allow
me to tell you what I will call you after the first lash ? "
"What, sir?"
"What!" cried Jerry, with scorn "why, if you cut me
to pieces, and turn me out of the service afterwards, I will
call you a paltry coward, and your own conscience, when you
are able to reflect, will tell you the same."
Captain Bradshaw started back with astonishment at such
unheard-of language from a midshipman ; but he was pleased
with the undaunted spirit of the boy perhaps he felt the
truth of the observation. At all events, it saved Jerry. After
a short pause the captain said
" Cast him loose ; but observe, sir, never let me see your
face again while you are in the ship ! "
" No, nor any other part of me, if I can help it," replied
Jerry, buttoning up his clothes, and making a precipitate
escape by the cabin-door.
CHAPTER XXXV
The air no more was vital now,
But did a mortal poison grow.
The lungs, which used to fan the heart, \
Served only now to fire each part ;
What should refresh, increased the smart. )
And now their very breath,
The chiefest sign of life, became the cause of death !
SPRAT, Bishop of Rochester.
J_ HE Aspasia did not drop her anchor in Carlisle Bay until
three weeks after the arrival of the frigate which brought up
Courtenay and the prize crew; but she had not been idle,
having three valuable prizes, which she had captured in
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company. Courtenay immediately repaired on board of his
ship, to report to Captain M the circumstances which
had occurred connected with the loss of his five men. He
was too honourable to attempt to disguise or palliate the facts ;
on the contrary, he laid all the blame upon himself, and en-
hanced the merits of the two midshipmen. Captain M ,
who admired his ingenuous confession, contented himself with
observing that he trusted it would be a caution to him during
his future career in the service. To Seymour and Jerry he
said nothing, as he was afraid that the latter would presume
upon commendation; but he treasured up their conduct in
his memory, and determined to lose no opportunity that might
offer to reward them. Courtenay descended to the gun-room,
where he was warmly greeted by his messmates, who crowded
round him to listen to his detail of the attempt to recapture.
"Well," observed Price, "it appears we have had a narrow
chance of losing a messmate."
" Narrow chance lose two, sar," replied Billy Pitts ; " you
forgit, sar, I on board schooner ! "
" Oh, Billy, are you there ? How does the dictionary
come on ? "
" Come on well, sar ; I make a corundum on Massa Doctor
when on board schooner."
" Made a what ? a corundum ! What can that be ? "
" It ought to be something devilish hard," observed
Courtenay.
"Yes, sar, debblish hard find out. Now, sar why
Massa Macallan like a general ? "
" I'm sure I can't tell. We give it up, Billy."
"Then, sar, I tell you. Because \\efeelossifer."
" Bravo, Billy ! Why, you'll write a book soon. By-
the-bye, Macallan, I must not forget to thank you for the
loan of that gentleman ; he has made himself very useful,
and behaved very well."
" Really, Massa Courtenay, I tought I not give you satis-
faction."
" Why so, Billy ? "
" Because, sar, you never give me present not one
dollar."
"He has you there," said Price; "you must fork out."
"Not a rap the nigger had perquisites. I saw the
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English merchants give him a handful of dollars before they
left the vessel."
" Ah ! they real gentlemen, Massa Capon and Massa
dam'um name I forgot."
"And what am I,' then, you black thief?"
" Oh ! you, sar, you very fine officer," replied Billy, quit-
ting the gun-room.
Courtenay did not exactly like the answer but there
was nothing to lay hold of. As usual, when displeased, he
referred to his snuff-box, muttering something, in which the
word " annoying " could only be distinguished.
The breeze from the windsail blew some of the snuff
out of the box into the eyes of Macallan.
" I wish to heaven you would be more careful, Courtenay,"
cried the surgeon, in an angry tone, and stamping with
the pain.
" I really beg your pardon," replied Courtenay ; " snuffing's
a vile habit I wish I could leave it off."
" So do your messmates," replied the surgeon ; " I can-
not imagine what pleasure there can be in a practice in
itself so nasty, independent of the destruction of the olfac-
tory powers."
" It's exactly for that reason that I take snuff; I am con-
vinced that I am a gainer by the loss of the power of smell."
" I consider it ungrateful, if not wicked, to say so,"
replied the surgeon gravely. "The senses were given to
us as a source of enjoyment."
"True, doctor," answered Courtenay, mimicking the lan-
guage of Macallan ; " and if I were a savage in the woods,
there could not be a sense more valuable, or affording so
much gratification, as the one in question. I should rise with
the sun, and inhale the fragrance of the shrubs and flowers,
offered up in grateful incense to their Creator, and I should
stretch myself under the branches of the forest tree, as
evening closed, and enjoy the faint perfume with which
they wooed the descending moisture after exhaustion from
the solar heat. But in civilised society, where men and
things are packed too closely together, the case is widely
different ; for one pleasant, you encounter twenty offensive
smells ; and of all the localities for villainous compounds, a
ship is indubitably the worst. I therefore patronise ' baccy,"
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which, I presume, was intended for our use, or it would
not have been created."
fl But not for our abuse."
" Ah ! there's the rock that we all split upon and I, with
others, must plead guilty. The greatest difficulty in this
world is, to know when and where to stop. Even a philo-
sopher like yourself cannot do it. You allow your hypothesis
to whirl in your brain, until it forms a vortex which swallows
up everything that comes within its influence. A modern
philosopher, with his hypothesis, is like a man possessed with
a devil in times of yore ; and it is not to be cast out by any
human means that I know of."
"As you please," replied Macallan, laughing; "I only
deprecated a bad habit."
" An hypothesis is only a habit a habit of looking through
a glass of one peculiar colour, which imparts its hue to all
around it. We are but creatures of habit. Luxury is nothing
more than contracting fresh habits, and having the means of
administering to them ergo, doctor, the more habits you
have to gratify, the more luxuries you possess. You luxuriate
in the contemplation of Nature Price in quoting, or trying
to quote, Shakspeare Billy Pitts in his dictionary I in
my snuff-box ; and surely we may all continue to enjoy our
harmless propensities without interfering with each other ;
although I must say that those still-born quotations of our
messmate Price are most tryingly annoying."
" And so is a pinch of snuff in the eye, I can assure you,"
replied Macallan.
"Granted ; but we must ' give and take,' doctor."
"In the present case, I don't care how much you take,
provided you don't give," rejoined Macallan, recovering
his good-humour.
A messenger from Captain M , who desired to speak
with Macallan, put an end to the conversation.
" Mr. Macallan," said Captain M , when the surgeon
came into the cabin to receive his commands, " I am sorry
to find, from letters which I have received, that the yellow
fever is raging in the other islands in a most alarming
manner, and that it has been communicated to the squadron
on the station. I am sorry to add, that I have received
a letter from the governor here, informing me that it has
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made its appearance at the barracks. I am afraid that we
have little chance of escaping so general a visitation. As
it is impossible to put to sea, even if my orders were not
decisive to the contrary, are there not some precautions
which ought to be taken ? "
"Certainly, sir. It will be prudent to fumigate the
lower deck ; it has already been so well ventilated and
whitewashed, that nothing else can be done ; we must
hope for the best."
" I do so," replied Captain M ; " but my hope is
mingled with anxious apprehensions, which I cannot con-
trol. We must do all we can, and leave the rest to
Providence."
The fears of Captain M were but too well grounded.
For some days no symptoms of infection appeared on
board of the Aspasia ; but the ravages on shore, among the
troops, were to such an extent, that the hospitals were
filled, and those who were earned in might truly be said
to have left hope behind. Rapid as was the mortality, it was
still not rapid enough for the admittance of those who were
attacked with the fatal disease ; and as the bodies of fifteen
or twenty were, each succeeding evening, borne unto the
grave, the continual decrease of the military cortege which
attended the last obsequies told the sad tale that those
who, but a day or two before, had followed the corpses of
others, were now carried on their own biers.
Other vessels on the station, which had put to sea from
the different isles, with the disappointed expectation of
avoiding the contagion, now came to an anchor in the
bay, their crews so weakened by disease and death that
they could with difficulty send up sufficient men to furl
their sails. Boat after boat was sent on shore to the naval
hospital, loaded with sufferers, until it became so crowded
that no more could be received. Still the Aspasia, from
the precautions which had been taken in fumigating and
avoiding all unnecessary contact with the shipping and
the shore, had for nearly a fortnight escaped the infection ;
but the miasma was at last wafted to the frigate, and in
the course of one night fifteen men, who were in health
the preceding evening, before eight o'clock on the follow-
ing morning were lying in their hammocks under the half-
THE KING'S OWN
deck. Before the close of that day the number of patients
had increased to upwards of forty. The hospitals were so
crowded that Captain M agreed with Macallan that
it would be better that the men should remain on board.
The frigate was anchored with springs on her cable, so
as always to be able to warp her stern to the breeze ; the
cabin bulkheads on the main-deck and the thwart-ship
bulkheads below were removed, and the stern windows
and ports thrown open to admit a freer circulation of air
than could have been obtained by riding with her head
to the sullen breeze, which hardly deigned to fan the
scorching cheeks of the numerous and exhausted patients.
The numbers on the list daily increased, until every part of
the ship was occupied with their hammocks, and the surgeon
and his assistants had scarcely time to relieve one by exces-
sive bleeding, and consign him to his hammock, before another,
staggering and fainting under the rapid disease, presented
himself, with his arm bared, ready for the lancet. More
blood was thrown into the stagnant water of the bay than
would have sufficed to render ever verdant the laurels of many
a well-fought action (for our laurels flourish not from the dew of
heaven, but must be watered with a sanguine stream) ; and,
alas ! too soon more bodies were consigned to the deep than
would have been demanded from the frigate in the warmest
proof of courage and perseverance in her country's cause.
It is a scene like this which appals the sailor's heart. It
is not the range of hammocks on the main-deck, tenanted by
pale forms, with their bandages steeped in gore ; for such is
the chance of war, and the blood has flowed from hearts
boiling with ardour and devotion. If not past cure, the
smiles and congratulations of their shipmates alleviate the
anguish and fever of the wound; if past all medical relief,
still the passage from this transitory world is soothed by the
affectionate sympathy of their messmates, by the promise to
execute their last wishes, by the knowledge that it was in
their country's defence they nobly fell. 'Tis not the chance
of wreck, or of being consigned, unshrouded, to the dark
wave, by the treacherous leak, or overwhelming fury of the
storm. 'Tis not the "thought-executing fire." Every and
all of these they are prepared and are resigned to meet, as
ills to which their devious track is heir. But when disease,
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in its most loathsome form and implacable nature, makes its
appearance when we contemplate, in perspective, our own
fate in the unfortunate who is selected, like the struggling
sheep dragged from the hurdled crowd to be pierced by
the knife of the butcher when the horror of infection be-
comes so strong that we hold aloof from administering the
kind offices of relief to our dearest friends ; and, eventually
prostrated ourselves, find the same regard for self pervades
the rest, and that there is no voluntary attendance then the
sight of the expiring wretch, in his last effort, turning his head
over the side of his hammock, and throwing off the dreadful
black vomit, harbinger of his doom 'tis horrible! too horrible !
And the anxiety which we would in vain suppress the
reckless laugh of some, raised but to conceal their fear from
human penetration the intoxicating draught, poured down
by others to dull the excited senses the follies of years
reviewed in one short minute our life, how spent how
much to answer for ! a world how overvalued a God how
much neglected ! the feeling that we ought to pray, the
inclination that propels us to do so, checked by the mistaken
yet indomitable pride which puts the question to our man-
hood, " Will ye pray in fear, when ye neglected it in fancied
security ? " Down, stubborn knees ! Pride is but folly to-
wards men insanity towards God !
But why dwell upon such a scene ? Let it suffice to state
that seventy of the Aspasia's men fell victims to the baneful
climate, and that many more, who did recover, were left in
such a state of exhaustion as to require their immediate
return to their native shores. Except O'Keefe, the purser,
all the officers whom I have introduced to the reader escaped.
Three from the midshipmen's berth, who had served their
time, and who for many months had been drinking the toast
of " A bloody war and sickly season," fell a sacrifice to their
own thoughtless and selfish desire ; and the clerk, who
anticipated promotion when he heard that the purser was
attacked, died before him.
When all was over, Jerry observed to Prose, " Well, Prose,
'it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good.' We have had
not one single thrashing during the sickness ; but I suppose,
now that their courage is returned, we must prepare for both
principal and interest."
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"Well now, Jerry, I do declare that's very likely, but I
never thought of it before."
The large convoys of merchantmen that came out supplied
the men that were required to man the disabled ships ; and
transports brought out cargoes from the depots to fill up
the skeleton ranks of the different companies. Among the
various blessings left us in this life of suffering is forgetful-
ness of past evils ; and the yellow fever was in a short time
no longer the theme of dread, or even of conversation.
" Well, Tom, what sort of a place is this here West
Hinges ? " inquired a soldier who had been just landed from
a transport, of an old acquaintance in the regiment whom
he encountered.
" Capital place, Bill," returned the other to his interroga-
tion; "plenty to drink, and always a-dry."
But as I do not wish to swell my narrative, and have no
doubt but the reader will be glad to leave this pestilential
climate, I shall inform him that for three years the Aspaula
continued on the station, daily encountering the usual risks of
battle, fire, and wreck ; and that at the end of that period the
health of Captain M was so much injured, by the climate
and his own exertions, that he requested permission to quit
the station.
CHAPTER XXXVI
Sir Bash. This idol of my heart is mj own wife !
Love. Your own wife ?
Sir Bash. Yes, my own wife. 'Tis all over with me : I am undone.
The Way to Keep Him.
us something new " Such was the cry of men at
the time of the Prophet, and such it will continue until all
prophecies are accomplished, all revelations confirmed. Man
is constant in nought but inconsistency. He is directed to
take pattern from the industrious bee, and lay up the sweet
treasures which have been prepared for his use ; but he
prefers the giddy flight of the butterfly, pursuing his idle
career from flower to flower, until, fatigued with the rapidity
of his motions, he reposes for a time, and revolves in his
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mind where he shall bend his devious way in search of
"something new."
This is the fatal propensity by which our first parents fell,
and which, inherited by us, is the occasion of our follies and
our crimes. "Were man but constant, he were perfect;"
but that he cannot be. He is aware of the dangers, the
hardships of travel of the difference between offices per-
formed by an interested and heartless world, and the sweet
ministering of duty and affection. He feels that home,
sweet home, is the heaven of such imperfect bliss as this
world can bestow; yet wander he must, that he may ap-
preciate its value; and although he hails it with rapture,
soon after his return it palls upon him, and he quits it again
in search of variety. Thus is man convinced of the beauty
of Virtue, and acknowledges the peace that is to be found in
her abode ; yet propelled by the restless legacy of our first
parents, he wanders into the entangled labyrinths of vice,
until, satisfied that all is vexation, he retraces his steps in
repentance and disgust. Thus he passes his existence in
sinning, repenting, and sinning again, in search of " some-
thing new."
When Mr. Rainscourt was first separated from his wife, he
felt himself released from a heavy burden, which had op-
pressed him for years ; or as if fetters, which had been long
riveted, had been knocked off; and he congratulated himself
upon his regained liberty. Plunging at once into the depths
of vice and dissipation, he sought pleasure after pleasure,
variety upon variety all that life could offer, or money
purchase ; and for a time thought himself happy. But there
are drawbacks which cannot be surmounted, and he who
wholly associates with the vicious must, more than any
other, be exposed to the effects of depravity. He found man
more than ever treacherous and ungrateful woman more
than ever deceiving indulgence, cloying debauchery, ener-
vating and his constitution and his spirits exhausted by
excess. Satiated with everything, disgusted with everybody,
he sought for " something new."
For more than two years he had not seen, and had hardly
bestowed a thought upon, his wife and daughter, who still
continued to reside at the mansion at . Not knowing
what to do with himself, it occurred to him that the country
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air might recruit his health ; and he felt a degree of interest,
if not for his wife, at least for his daughter. He determined,
therefore, to pay them a visit. The horses were ordered, and
to the astonishment of Mrs. Rainscourt, to whom he had
given no intimation of his whim, and who looked upon a visit
from her husband in her retirement as a visionary idea,
Rainscourt made his appearance just as she was about
to sit down to dinner, in company with the M'Elvinas
and the vicar, who had become one of her most intimate
associates.
If Rainscourt was pleased with the improvement of Emily,
who was now more than fourteen years old, how much more
was he astonished at the appearance of his wife, who, to his
eyes, seemed even handsomer, if possible, than on the day
when he had led her to the altar. For more than two years,
content, if not perfect happiness, had been Mrs. Rainscourt's
lot. She had recovered her health, her bloom, and her spirits,
and not having had any source of irritation, her serenity of
temper had been regained ; and Mrs. Rainscourt, to whose
extreme beauty, from assuetude, he had before been blind,
now appeared to him, after so long an absence, quite a different
person from the one whom he had quitted with such indiffer-
ence ; and as he surveyed her he seemed to feel that freshness
of delight unknown to vitiated minds, except when successful
in their search after " something new."
But Rainscourt was not altogether wrong in his idea that
his wife was quite a different personage from the one which
he had quitted. The vicar, who was acquainted with her
situation, had not failed in his constant exertions for the
improvement of mankind ; he had, by frequent conversation,
and inculcation of our Christian duties, gradually softened
her into a charitable and forgiving temper ; and now that she
had no opportunity of exercising them, she had been made
acquainted with the passive forbearance and humility con-
stituting a part of the duties of a wife. She met her
husband with kindness and respect; while his daughter, who
flew into his arms, proved that she had not been prepossessed
against him, as he anticipated. Pleased with his reception,
and with the company that he happened to meet, Rainscourt
experienced sensations which had long been dormant ; and
it occurred to him that an establishment with such an
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elegant woman as Mrs. Rainscourt at the head, and his
daughter's beauty to grace it, would not only be more
gratifying, but more reputable, than the course of life which
he had lately pursued. He made himself excessively agree-
able was pleased with the benevolent demeanour of the
vicar thought Susan a lovely young woman, and M'Elvina
a delightful companion ; and when he retired to the chamber
prepared for his reception, wondered that he had never
thought of paying them a visit before.
It had been the intention of Rainscourt to have trespassed
upon his wife's hospitality for one night only, and then
have taken his departure for some fashionable watering-place ;
but there seemed to be such an appearance of renewed
friendship between him and Mrs. Rainscourt, that an invi-
tation was given by the vicar, for the whole party, on
the ensuing day, to meet at the vicarage ; and this was
followed up by another from M'Elvina, for the day afterwards,
at his cottage. This decided Mr. Rainscourt to remain there
a day or two longer. But when the time of his departure
arrived, Rainscourt was so pleased with his new acquaintance,
so delighted with his daughter, and, to his astonishment, so
charmed by his wife, that he could not tear himself away.
Women are proverbially sharp-sighted in all where the
heart is concerned, and Mrs. Rainscourt soon perceived that
the admiration of her husband was not feigned. Gratified
to find that she had not yet lost her attractions, and either
from a pardonable feeling of revenge at his desertion, or to
prove to him that he was not aware of what he had rejected,
she exerted all her powers to please ; she was not only
amiable, but fascinating ; and after a sojourn of three weeks,
which appeared but as many days, Rainscourt was reluctantly
compelled to acknowledge to himself that he was violently
enamoured of his discarded wife. He now felt that he should
assume a higher station in society by being at the head of his
own establishment, and that his consequence would be in-
creased by the heiress of so large a property residing under
his protection ; and he thought that, if he could persuade
Mrs. Rainscourt to live with him again, he could be happy,
and exercise with pleasure the duties of a father and a husband.
Neither the vicar nor M'Elvina were ignorant of his feelings ;
and the former, who recollected that those whom God has
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joined no man should put asunder, had made up his mind to
bring the affair, if possible, to a happy issue ; and Rainscourt,
who perceived the influence which the vicar possessed over his
wife, determined to request that he would act as a mediator.
The vicar was delighted when Rainscourt called upon him
one morning and unfolded his wishes. To reconcile those
who had been at variance, to restore a husband to his wife, a
father to a daughter, was the earnest desire of the good man's
heart. He accepted the office with pleasure ; and in the
course of the afternoon, while Rainscourt called upon the
M'Elvinas, that he might be out of the way, proceeded upon
his mission of peace and goodwill.
Mrs. Rainscourt, who was not surprised at the intelligence,
listened to the vicar attentively, as he pointed out the neces-
sity of forgiveness, if she hoped to be forgiven of the con-
viction, in his own mind, that her husband was reformed
of the unpleasant remarks to which a woman who is separated
from her husband must always be subjected of the proba-
bility that the faults were not all on his side, and of the
advantage her daughter would derive from their reunion : to
which he entreated her to consent.
Mrs. Rainscourt was moved to tears. The conflict between
her former love and her outraged feelings the remembrance
of his long neglect, opposed to his present assiduities the
stormy life she had passed in his company, and her repose of
mind since their separation weighed and balanced against
each other so exactly that the scale would turn on neither
side. She refused to give any decided answer, but requested
a day or two for reflection ; and the vicar, who recollected
the adage, that, in an affair of the heart, " the woman who
deliberates is lost," left her with a happy presage that his
endeavours would be crowned with success. But Mrs. Rains-
court would not permit her own heart to decide. It was a
case in which she did not consider that a woman was likely
to be a correct judge ; and she had so long been on intimate
terms with M'Elvina, that she resolved to lay the case before
him, and be guided by his opinion.
The next day Mrs. Rainscourt went to the cottage alone,
and having requested Susan to exclude all visitors, entered
into a full detail of all the circumstances which had occurred
previous to her separation from her husband, and the de-
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cision that she was now called upon to make, from his
importunity.
Susan, who felt that she was unable to advise in a case of
such importance to Mrs. Rainscourt's future happiness, imme-
diately referred the matter to M'Elvina.
His answer was decided. " I should be sorry, Mrs. Rains-
court, to give ari opinion in opposition to that of the worthy
vicar, did I not conceive that his slight knowledge of the
world would, in this instance, tend to mislead both himself
and you. Before Mr. Rainscourt had remained here a week,
I prophesied, as Susan will corroborate, that this proposal
would be made. Aware of his general character, and of the
grounds of your separation, I took some pains to ingratiate
myself, that I might ascertain his real sentiments ; and with
regret I express my conviction, that his prepossession in your
favour, strong as it really is at present, will but prove tran-
sitory, and that possession would only subject you to future
insults. He is not reformed ; but satiated with other en-
joyments, and fascinated with your attractions, his feelings
towards you are those of renewed inclination, and not arising
from conviction or remorse at his unprincipled career. Yon
are happy at present your refusal may, by stimulating his
attentions, increase your happiness ; but if you yield, it will
only be a source of misery to you both. Such is my opinion.
Do not let him know that I have influenced you, or it will
interrupt an intimacy which I shall follow up, I trust, to
your advantage ; therefore, give no answer at present, nor
while he remains here, for I perceive that he is a violent
man when thwarted in his wishes. Demand a fortnight's
consideration after he is gone, and then you will be able to
decide from reflection, without being biassed against your
own judgment, by his workings upon feelings which, to the
honour of women, when the heart is concerned, spurn at the
cold reasonings of prudence and worldly wisdom."
The advice of the man of the world prevailed over that of
the man of God ; and Rainscourt, after waiting in town with
impatience for the answer, received a decided but kind
refusal. He tore the letter into fragments with irdignation,
and set off for Cheltenham, more violently in love with his
wife than he was before her rejection of him.
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CHAPTER XXXVII
Great Negative I how vainly would the wise
Inquire, define, distinguish, teach, devise,
Didst thou not stand to point their dull philosophies.
ROCHESTER'S Ode to Nothing.
OHOULD you feel half as tired with reading as I am with
writing, I forgive you with all my heart if you throw down
the book and read no more. I have written too fast I
have quite sprained my imagination for you must know
that this is all fiction, every word of it. Yet I do not
doubt but there are many who will find out who the char-
acters are meant for, notwithstanding my assertion to the
contrary. Well, be it so. It's a very awkward position to
have to write a chapter of sixteen pages, without materials
for more than two; at least, I find it so. Some people
have the power of spinning out a trifle of matter, covering
a large surface with a grain of ore ; like the goldbeater, who
out of a single guinea will compose a score of books. I
wish I could.
Is there nothing to give me an idea? I've racked my
sensorium internally to no purpose. Let me look round
the cabin for some external object to act as a fillip to an
exhausted imagination. A little thing will do. Well,
here's an ant. That's quite enough. Commengonx.
" Home-keeping youths have ever homely wits," they say ;
but much as travel by land may enlarge the mind, it never
can be expanded to the utmost of its capabilities until it
has also peregrinated by water. I believe that not only
the human intellect, but the instinct of brutes, is enlarged
by going to sea.
The ant which attracted my attention is one of a nest
in my cabin, whose labours I often superintend ; and I
defy any ant in any part of the four continents, or wherever
land may be, to show an equal knowledge of mechanical
power. I do not mean to assert that there is originally a
disproportion of intellect between one animal and another of
the same species ; but I consider that the instinct of animals
THE KING'S OWN
is capable of expansion, as well as the reason of man. The
ants on shore would, if it were required, be equally assisted
by their instinct, I believe ; but not being required, it is not
brought into play, and therefore, as I before observed, they
have not the resources of which my little colony at present
are in possession.
Now I will kill a cockroach for them ; there is no difficulty
in finding one, unfortunately for me, for they know everything
that I have. There never was a class of animals so indiffe-
rent to their fare, whether it be paper, or snuff, or soap, or
cloth. Like Time, they devour everything. The scoundrels
have nearly demolished two dozen antibilious pills. I hope
they will remember Dr. Vance as long as they live.
Well, here's one a fine one. I throw his crushed car-
cass on the deck, and observe the ants have made their nest
in the beams over my head, from which I infer that the said
beams are not quite so sound as they should be. An ant has
passed by the carcass, and is off on a gallop to give notice.
He meets two or three, stops a second, and passes on. Now
the tide flows; it's not above a minute since I threw the
cockroach down, and now it is surrounded by hundreds. What
a bustle ! what running to and fro ! They must be giving
orders. See, there are fifty at least, who lay hold of each
separate leg of the monster, who in bulk is equal to eight
thousand of them. The body moves along with rapidity,
and they have gained the side of the cabin. Now for the
ascent. See how those who hold the lower legs have quitted
them, and pass over to assist the others at the upper. As
there is not room for all to lay hold of the creature's legs,
those who cannot, fix their forceps round the bodies of the
others, double-banking them, as we call it. Away they go,
up the side of the ship a steady pull, and all together. But
now the work becomes more perilous, for they have to convey
the body to their nest over my head, which is three feet from
the side of the ship. How can they possibly carry that im-
mense weight, walking with their heads downwards, and
clinging with their feet to the beams ? Observe how care-
fully they turn the corner what bustle and confusion in
making their arrangements ! Now they start. They have
brought the body head-and-stern with the ship, so that all
the legs are exactly opposed to each other in the direction
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in which they wish to proceed. One of the legs on the fore-
side is advanced to its full stretch, while all the others remain
stationary. That leg stops, and the ants attached to it hold
on with the /est, while another of the foremost legs is ad-
vanced. Thus they continue until all the foremost are out,
and the body of the animal is suspended by its legs at its full
stretch. Now one of the hindmost legs closes in to the body,
while all the others hold on now another, and another, each
in their turn ; and by this skilful manoeuvre they have con-
trived to advance the body nearly an inch along the ceiling.
One of the foremost legs advances again, and they proceed as
before. Could your shore-going ants have managed this ? I
have often watched them when a boy, because my grand-
mother used to make me do so ; in later days, because I
delighted in their industry and perseverance ; but alas ! in
neither case did I profit by their example.
" Now, Freddy," the old lady would say, giving her spec-
tacles a preparatory wipe, as she basked in a summer evening's
sun after a five o'clock tea, " fetch a piece of bread and butter,
and we will see the ants work. Lord bless the boy, if he
hasn't thrown down a whole slice. Why do you waste good
victuals in that way ? Who do you think's to eat it after
it has been on the gravel ? There, pinch a bit off and throw
it down. Put the rest back upon the plate it will do for
the cat."
But these ants were no more to be compared to mine than
a common labourer is to the engineer who directs the mechani-
cal powers which raise mountains from their foundation. My
old grandmother would never let me escape until the bread
and butter was in the hole, and what was worse, I had then
to listen to the moral inference which was drawn, and which
took up more time than the ants did to draw the bread and
butter all about industry, and what not a long story, partly
her own, partly borrowed from Solomon ; but it was labour
in vain. I could not understand why, because ants like bread
and butter, I must like my book. She was an excellent old
woman ; but nevertheless, many a time did I have a fellow-
feeling with the boy in the caricature print, who is sitting
with his old grandmother and the cat, and says, " I wish one
of us three were dead. It an't I and it an't you, pussy."
Well, she died at last, full of years and honour ; and I was
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summoned from school to attend her funeral. My uncle was
much affected, for she had been an excellent mother. She
might have been so ; but I, graceless boy, could not perceive
her merits as a grandmother, and showed a great deal of forti-
tude upon the occasion. I recollect a circumstance attendant
upon her funeral which, connected as it was with a subse-
quent one, has since been the occasion of serious reflection
upon the trifling causes which will affect the human mind
when prostrate under affliction. My grandmother's remains
were consigned to an old family vault not far from the river.
When the last ceremonies had been paid, and the coffin was
being lowered into the deep receptacle of generations which
had passed away, I looked down, and it was full of water,
nearly up to the arch of the vault. Observing my surprise,
and perceiving the cause, my uncle was much annoyed at the
circumstance; but it was too late the cords had been re-
moved, and my grandmother had sunk to the bottom. My
uncle interrogated the sexton after the funeral service was
over.
" Why, sir, it's because it's high-water now in the river ; she
will be all dry before the evening."
This made the matter worse. If she was all a-dry in the
evening, she would be all afloat again in the morning. It
was no longer a place of rest, and my uncle's grief was much
increased by the idea. For a long while afterwards he
appeared uncommonly thoughtful at spring tides.
But although his grief yielded to time, the impression was
not to be effaced. Many years afterwards a fair cousin was
summoned from the world before she had time to enter upon
the duties imposed upon the sex, or be convinced, from pain-
ful experience, that to die is gain. It was then I perceived
that my uncle had contracted a sort of post-mortem hydro-
phobia. He fixed upon a church, on the top of a hill, and
ordered a vault to be dug, at a great expense, out of the solid
chalk, under the chancel of the church. There it would not
only be dry below, but even defended from the rain above.
It was finished, and (the last moisture to which she was ever
to be subjected) the tears of affection were shed over her
remains by those who lost and loved her. When the cere-
mony was over, my uncle appeared to look down into the
vault with a degree of satisfaction. " There," said he, " she
24-1 Q
THE KING'S OWN
will lie as dry as possible till the end of time." And I really
believe that this conviction on his part went further to console
him than even the aid of religion or the ministering of affec-
tion. He often commented upon it, and as often as he did
so, I thought of my old grandmother and the spring tides.
I had an odd dream the other night about my own burial
and subsequent state, which was so diametrically opposite to
my uncle's ideas of comfort, that I will relate it here.
I was dead ; but either from politeness or affection, I knew
not which, the spirit still lingered with the body, and had not
yet taken its flight, although the tie between them had been
dissolved. I had been killed in action ; and the first lieutenant
of the ship, with mingled feelings of sorrow and delight
sorrow at my death, which was a tribute that I did not expect
from him, and delight at his assumed promotion, for the
combat had been brought to a successful issue read the
funeral service which consigned me and some twenty others,
sewed up in hammocks, to the deep, into which we descended
with one simultaneous rush.
1 thought that we soon parted company from each other,
and, all alone, I continued to sink, sink, sink, until at last I
could sink no deeper. I was suspended, as it were : I had
taken my exact position in the scale of gravity, and I lay
floating upon the condensed and buoyant fluid, many hundred
fathoms below the surface. I thought to myself, " Here, then,
am I to lie in pickle until I am awakened." It was quite
dark, but by the spirit I saw as plain as if it were noonday ;
and I perceived objects in the water, which gradually increased
in size. They were sharks in search of prey. They attacked
me furiously ; and as they endeavoured to drag me out of
my canvas cerements, I whirled round and round as their flat
noses struck against my sides. At last they succeeded. In a
moment I was dismembered without the least pain, for pain
had been left behind me in the world from which I had been
released. One separated a leg with his sharp teeth, and
darted away north ; another an arm, and steered south ; each
took his portion, and appeared to steer away in a different
direction, as if he did not wish to be interrupted in his
digestion.
" Help yourselves, gentlemen, help yourselves," mentally
exclaimed I; "but if Mr. Young is correct in his 'Night
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Thoughts/ where am I to fumble for my bones when they
are to be forthcoming ? " Nothing was left but my head, and
that, from superior gravity, continued to sink, gyrating in its
descent, so as to make me feel quite giddy ; but it had not
gone far before one, who had not received his portion, darted
down upon it perpendicularly, and as the last fragment of
me rolled down his enormous gullet, the spirit fled, and all
was darkness and oblivion.
But I have digressed sadly from the concatenation of ideas.
The ant made me think of my grandmother, my grandmother
of my uncle, my uncle of my cousin, and her death of my
dream, for " We are such stuff as dreams are made of, and our
little lives are rounded with a sleep." But I had not finished
all I had to say relative to the inferior animals. When on
board of a man-of-war, not only is their instinct expanded,
but they almost change their nature from their immediate
contact with human beings, and become tame in an incredibly
short space of time. Man had dominion given unto him over
the beasts of the field ; the fiercest of the feline race will not
attack, but avoid him, unless goaded on by the most imperious
demands of hunger ; and it is a well-known fact, that there i:;
a power in the eye of man to which all other animals quail.
What, then, must it be to an animal who is brought on board,
and is in immediate collision with hundreds, whose fearless
eyes meet his in every direction in which he turns, and whose
behaviour towards him corresponds with their undaunted
looks ? The animal is subdued at once. I remember a
leopard which was permitted to run loose after he had been
three days on board, although it was thought necessary to
bring him in an iron cage. He had not been in the ship
more than a fortnight, when I observed the captain of the
after-guard rubbing the nose of the animal against the deck
for some offence which he had committed.
" Why, you have pretty well brought that gentleman to his
bearings," observed I; "he's as tame as a puppy."
" Tame ! why, sir, he knows better than to be otherwise. I
wish the Hemp'rer of Maroccy would send us on board a cock
rhinoceros we'd tame him in a week."
And I believe the man was correct in his assertion.
The most remarkable change of habit that I ever witnessed
was in a wether sheep, on board of a frigate, during the last
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war. He was one of a stock which the captain had taken
on board for a long cruise, and being the only survivor, during
the time that the ship was refitting he had been allowed to
run about the decks, and had become such a favourite with the
ship's company, that the idea of his being killed, even when
short of fresh provisions, never even entered into the head of
the captain. Jack, for such was his cognomen, lived entirely
with the men, being fed with biscuit from the different messes.
He knew the meaning of the different pipes of the boatswain's
mates, and always went below when they piped to breakfast,
dinner, or supper. But amongst other peculiarities, he would
chew tobacco and drink grog. Is it to be wondered, therefore,
that he was a favourite with the sailors ? That he at first did
this from obedience is possible ; but, eventually, he was as fond
of grog as any of the men ; and when the pipe gave notice of
serving it out, he would run aft to the tub, and wait his turn
for an extra half-pint of water was, by general consent, thrown
into the tub when the grog was mixed, that Jack might have
his regular allowance. From habit, the animal knew exactly
when his turn came. There were eighteen messes in the ship ;
and as they were called, by the purser's steward or sergeant
of marines, in rotation first mess, second mess, &c. after the
last mess was called Jack presented himself at the tub and
received his allowance.
Now, it sometimes occurred that a mess, when called, would
miss its turn, by the man deputed to receive the liquor not
being present ; upon which occasion the other messes were
served in rotation, and the one who had not appeared to the
call was obliged to wait till after all the rest ; but a circum-
stance of this kind always created a great deal of mirth ; for
the sheep, who knew that it was his turn after the eighteenth,
or last mess, would butt away any one who attempted to
interfere ; and if the party persevered in being served before
Jack, he would become quite outrageous, flying at the offender,
and butting him forward into the galley, and sometimes down
the hatchway, before his anger could be appeased from which
it would appear that the animal was passionately fond of
spirits. This I consider as great a change in the nature of a
ruminating animal as can well be imagined.
I could mention many instances of this kind, but I shall re-
serve them till 1 have grown older ; then I will be as garrulous
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THE KING'S OWN
as Montaigne. As it is, I think I hear the reader say, " All
this may be very true, but what has it to do with the novel ? "
Nothing, I grant ; but it has a great deal to do with making a
book, for I have completed a whole chapter out of nothing.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
-And with a flowing sail
Went a-bounding for the island of the free,
Towards which the impatient wind blew half a gale ;
High dashed the spray, the bows dipped in the sea.
BYRON.
AFTER a run of six weeks the Aspasia entered the Channel.
The weather, which had been clear during the passage home,
now altered its appearance ; and a dark sky, thick fog, and
mizzling, cold rain intimated their approach to the English
shore. But relaxed as they had been by three years' endur-
ance of a tropical sun, it was nevertheless a source of con-
gratulation, rather than complaint ; for it was " regular
November Channel weather," and was associated with their
propinquity to those homes and firesides, which would be
enhanced in value from the ordeal to be passed before they
could be enjoyed.
" Hah !" exclaimed an old quartermaster, who had served
the earlier part of his life in a coaster, as he buttoned his
pea-jacket up to the throat ; " this is what I calls something
like ; none of your d d blue skies here."
Such is the power of affection, whether of person or of
things, that even faults become a source of endearment.
As the short day closed, the Aspasia, who was running be-
fore the wind and slanting rain, which seemed to assist her
speed with its gravity, hove to, and tried for soundings.
" Well, Stewart, what's the news ? " said one of the mid-
shipmen, as he entered the berth ; the drops of rain, which
hung upon the rough exterior of his greatcoat, glittering like
small diamonds, from the reflection of the solitary candle,
which made darkness but just visible.
"News," replied Stewart, taking off his hat with a jerk, so
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THE KING'S OWN
as to besprinkle the face of Prose with the water that had
accumulated on the top of it, and laughing at his sudden
start from the unexpected shower ; " why, as the fellows roar
out with the second edition of an evening paper, ' Great news,
glorious news ! ' and all comprised in a short sentence :
Soundings in seventy -four fathoms ; grey sand and shells."
" Huzza ! " answered the old master's mate.
" Now for three cheers, and then for the song."
The three cheers having been given with due emphasis,
if not discretion, they all stood up round the table. " Now,
my boys, keep time. Mr. Prose, if you attempt to chime
in with your confounded nasal twang, I'll give you a-
squeeze."
" For England, when, with favouring gale,
Our gallant ship up channel steered,
And, scudding under easy sail,
The high blue western land appeared,
To heave the lead the seaman sprung,
And to the watchful pilot sung,
By the deep nine."
The song, roared out in grand chorus by the midship-
men, was caught up, after the first verse, by the marines
in their berth, close to them ; and from them passed along
the lower deck as it continued, so that the last stanzas
were sung by nearly two hundred voices, sending forth a
volume of sound that penetrated into every recess of the
vessel, and entered into the responsive bosoms of all on
board, not excepting the captain himself, who smiled, as
he bent over the break of the gangway, at what he would
have considered a breach of subordination in the ship's
company, had not he felt that it arose from that warm
attachment to their country which had created our naval
pre-eminence.
The song ended with tumultuous cheering fore and aft,
and not until then did the captain send down to request
that the noise might be discontinued. As soon as it was
over, the grog was loudly called for in the midshipmen's
berth, and made its appearance.
" Here's to the white cliffs of England," cried one, drink-
ing off his tumbler, and turning it upside down on the table.
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THE KING'S OWN
Here's to the Land of Beauty."
"Here's to the Emerald Isle."
" And here's to the Land of Cakes," cried Stewart, drinking
off his tumbler, and throwing it over his shoulder.
" Six for one for skylarking," cried Prose.
"A hundred for one, you d d cockney, for all I care."
No no no," cried all the berth ; " not one for one."
"You shall have a song for it, my boys," cried Stewart,
who immediately commenced, with great taste and execution,
the beautiful air
" Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And the days o' auld lang syne ? "
" Well, I've not had my toast yet," said Jerry, when the
applause at the end of the song had discontinued : " Here's
to the shady side of Pall Mall."
" And I suppose," said Stewart, giving Prose a slap on the
back, which took his breath away, " that you are thinking of
Wapping, blow you."
"I think I have had enough of whopping since I've been
in this ship," answered Prose.
"Why, Prose, you're quite brilliant, I do declare," observed
Jerry. " Like a flint, you only require a blow from Stewart's
iron fist to emit sparks. Try him again, Stewart. He's like
one of the dancing dervishes in the ' Arabian Nights ' : you
must thrash him to get a few farthings of wit out of him."
" I do wish that you would keep your advice to yourself,
Jerry."
" My dear Prose, it's all for the honour of Middlesex that
I wish you to shine. I'm convinced that there's a great
deal of wit in that head of yours, but it's confined, like the
kernel in a nut : there's no obtaining it without breaking
the shell. Try him again, Stewart."
" Come, Prose, I'll take your part, and try his own receipt
upon himself. I'll thrash him till he says something witty."
" I do like that amazingly," replied Jerry. " Why, if I
do say a good thing, you'll never find out. I shall be
thrashed to all eternity. Besides, I'm at too great a distance
from you."
" What do you mean ? "
" Why, I'm like some cows ; I don't give down my milk
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THE KING'S OWN
without the calf is alongside of me. Now, if you were on
this side of the table "
" Which I am," replied Stewart, as he sprang over it, and
seizing Jerry by the neck. "Now, Mr. Jerry, say a good
thing directly."
" Well, promise me to understand it. We are just in the
reverse situation of England and Scotland after the battle
of Culloden."
" What do you mean by that, you wretch ? " cried Stewart,
whose wrath was kindled by the reference.
"Why, I'm in your clutches, just like Scotland was. a
conquered country."
" You lie, you little blackguard," cried Stewart, pinching
Jerry's neck till he forced his mouth open ; " Scotland was
never conquered."
"Well, then," continued Jerry, whose bile was up, as soon
as Stewart relaxed his hold, " I'm like King Charles in the
hands of the Scotch. How much was it that you sold him
for ? "
Jerry's shrivelled carcass sounded like a drum from the
blow which he received for this second insult to Stewart's
idolised native land. As soon as he could recover his speech,
"Well, haven't I been very witty? Are you content, or will
you have some more ? or will you try Prose, and see whether
you can draw blood out of a turnip ? "
Stewart, who seemed disinclined to have any more elegant
extracts from Jerry, resumed his former seat by Prose, who
appeared to be in deep reflection.
" Well, Prose, are you thinking of your friends in Cheap-
side ? "
" And suppose I am, Stewart ? We have the same feelings
in the city that you have in the heather ; and although I do
not, like you, pretend to be allied to former kings, yet one
may love one's father and mother, brothers and sisters, with-
out being able to trace back to one's great-great-grandfather.
I never disputed your high pretensions ; why, then, interfere
with my humble claims to the common feelings of humanity ? "
"I am rebuked, Prose," replied Stewart; "you shall have
my glass of grog for that speech, for you never made a better.
Give me your hand, my good fellow."
" I am glad that you, at last, show some symptoms of
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reason," observed the still indignant Jerry, standing close to
the door. " I have some hopes of your Majesty yet, after
such an extraordinary concession on your part. You must
have great reason to be proud that you are able to trace your
pedigree up to a border chieftain, who sallied forth on the
foray when the spurs were dished up for his dinner ; or, in
plain words, went a cattle-stealing, and robbing those who
could not resist. It might then be considered a mark of
prowess ; but times are altered now ; and if your celebrated
ancestor lived in the present time, why " (continued Jerry,
pointing his finger under his left ear), " he would receive what
he well deserved, that's all."
" By Him that made me, get out of my reach, if you do not
wish me to murder you ! " cried Stewart, pale with rage.
" I took care of that," replied Jerry, "before I ventured to
give my opinion; and now that I'm ready for a start, I'll give
you a piece of advice. Trace your ancestors as far back as
you can, as long as they have continued to be honest men
if you don't stop there you are a fool " and Jerry very pru-
dently made his escape at the conclusion of his sentence.
"The hour of retribution will come," cried Stewart after
Jerry, as the latter sprang up the ladder ; but it did not, for
when they met next morning it was to feast their eyes upon
the chalky cliffs of the Isle of Wight, as the Aspasia steered
for the Needles. There are two events on board of a man-of-
war, after which injuries are forgotten, apologies are offered
and received, intended duels are suppressed, hands are
exchanged in friendship, and goodwill drives away long-
cherished animosity. One is, after an action ; another, upon
the sight of native land after a protracted absence.
Jerry fearlessly ranged up alongside of Stewart as he looked
over the gangway.
" We shall be at anchor by twelve o'clock."
" You may bless your stars for it," replied Stewart with a
significant smile.
The Aspasia now ran through the Needles, and having suc-
cessively passed by Hurst Castle, Cowes, and the entrance
to Southampton Water, brought up at Spithead in seven
fathoms. The sails were furled, the ship was moored, the
boat was manned, and Captain M went on shore to report
himself to the port admiral, and deliver his despatches.
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THE KING'S OWN
When the boat returned, it brought off letters which had
been waiting the arrival of the ship. One informed Jerry of
the death of his father, and of his being in possession of
a fortune which enabled him to retire from the service.
Another, from the Admiralty, announced the promotion of
Stewart to the rank of lieutenant ; and one from M'Elvina to
our hero, inviting him to take up his quarters at his house as
long as the service would permit, stating that Captain M
had been written to, to request that he might be allowed
leave of absence.
As soon as Captain M had received an answer from the
Admiralty, he returned on board, and acquainted his officers
that he had obtained leave to remain on shore for some time
for the re-establishment of his health, and that another captain
would be appointed to the ship. He turned the hands up,
and addressed the ship's company, thanking them for their
good behaviour while under his command, and expressing his
hopes that upon his reappointment he should find them all
alive and well. The first lieutenant, to his great surprise and
delight, was presented with his rank as commander, which
Captain M had solicited from the Admiralty. The men
were dismissed, and Captain M , bidding farewell to his
officers, descended the side and shoved off. As soon as the
boat was clear of the frigate, the men, without orders, ran up,
and manning the shrouds, saluted him with three farewell
cheers. Captain M took off his hat to the compliment,
and muffling up his face with his boat-cloak to conceal his
emotion, the boat pulled for the shore.
Seymour, who was in the boat, followed his captain to the
inn, who informed him that he had obtained his discharge
into a guardship, that his time might go on, and leave of
absence for two months, which he might spend with his friend
M'Elvina. Captain M then dismissed him with a friendly
shake of the hand, desiring him to write frequently, and to
draw upon his agent if he required any pecuniary assistance.
Seymour's heart was full, and he could not answer his kind
protector. He returned on board, and bidding farewell to his
messmates, the next evening he had arrived at the cottage of
M'Elvina. That his 1'eception was cordial, it is hardly neces-
sary to state. M'Elvina, whose marriage had not been blessed
with a family, felt towards our hero as if he was his own child ;
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THE KING'S OWN
and Susan was delighted with the handsome exterior and
winning manners of the lad, whose boyish days had often been
the theme of her husband's conversation.
If the reader will take the trouble to reckon with his
fingers, he will find that William Seymour is now sixteen
years old. If he will not, he must take my word for it ; and
it may also be as well to inform him that Miss Rainscourt is
more than fourteen. I am the more particular in mentioning
these chronological facts, because in the next chapter I intend
to introduce the parties to each other.
CHAPTER XXXIX
A strong bull stands, threat'ning furious war ;
He flourishes his horns, looks sourly round,
And, hoarsely bellowing, traverses his ground.
BLACKMORB.
IT was on the second day after the arrival of Seymour that
Emily, who was not aware of the addition to the party at the
cottage, proceeded on foot through the park and field adjacent
to pay Susan a visit. She was attended by a man-servant in
livery, who carried some books, which Mrs. M'Elvina had ex-
pressed a desire to read. When Emily had arrived at the last
field, which was rented by a farmer hard by, she was surprised
to perceive that it was occupied by an unpleasant tenant, to
wit, a large bull ; who on their approach commenced pawing
the ground, and showing every symptom of hostility. She
r' ckened her pace, and as the animal approached, found that
had gained much nearer to the stile before her than to
the one which she had just passed over, and frightened as
she was, she determined to proceed. The servant who accom-
panied her manifested more fear than she did. As the bull
approached, Emily, who had heard what precautions should
be taken in a similar exigence, turned her face towards the
animal, and walked backwards to the stile. The domestic
seemed determined to preserve the exact station which his
duty and respect required, and kept himself behind his young
mistress. As, however, the bull advanced, and seemed inclined
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THE KING'S OWN
to charge upon them, his fears would not permit him to
remain in that situation, and throwing down the books, he
took to his heels, and ran for a gap in the hedge. By this
manoauvre, Emily was left to make any arrangements she
pleased with the infuriated animal.
But the bull had no quarrel with a lady, dressed in a white
muslin frock ; he had taken offence at the i - ed plush inexpres-
sibles, which were a part of the family livery, and immedi-
ately ran at the servant, passing Emily without notice. The
terrified man threw himself in an agony of fright into the gap,
but was so paralysed with fear that he had no strength to force
his passage through. With his head and shoulders on the
other side of the hedge, there he stuck on his hands and knees,
offering a fair target to the bull, who flew at it with such
violence that he forced him several yards into the opposite
field. Senseless and exhausted, he lay there more from fear
than injury, while the roaring bull paced up and down the
hedge, with his tail in the air, attempting in vain to force a
passage in pursuit of the object of his detestation.
The mind of woman is often more powerful than her frame,
and the one will bear up against circumstances in which the
other will succumb. Thus it was with Emily, who reached
the stile, clambered over it with difficulty, and attaining
the house of M'Elvina, which was but a few yards distant, felt
that her powers failed her as soon as exertion was no longer
required. With difficulty she perceived with her swimming
eyes that there was a gentleman in the parlour ; and faintly
exclaiming, " O Mr. M'Elvina ! " fell senseless into the arms
of William Seymour.
Mr. and Mrs. M'Elvina were not at home ; they had walked
to the vicarage ; and Seymour, who was very busy finishing a
sketch of the Aspasia for his hostess, had declined accompany-
ing them in their visit. His surprise at finding a young lady
in his arms may easily be imagined ; but great as was his
surprise, his distress was greater, from the extreme novelty of
the situation. It was not that he was unaccustomed to female
society: on the contrary, his captain had introduced him
everywhere in the different ports of the colonies in which they
had anchored ; and perhaps there is no better society, although
limited, than is to be met with at the table of a colonial
governor. But here it was quite different. He had been
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THE KING'S OWN
habituated to follow in the wake, as the lady governess made
sail for the dining-room, the whole fleet forming two lines
abreast in close order, and then coming to an anchor, in
beautiful precision, to attack the dinner, which surrendered at
discretion. He had been habituated to the ball-room, where
the ladies glided over the chalked floor, like so many beautiful
yachts plying in Southampton Water on a fine day ; he had
tried his rate of sailing down the middle of a country dance
with some fair partner, and tacked and wore as required to
the mazes of poussette and right and left. This was all plain
sailing ; but the case was now quite different. Here was a
strange sail, who had not even shown her number, taken aback
in stays, and on her beam-ends in a squall.
Seymour knew nothing about fainting. Sometimes a man
had fits on board a ship (although invariably discharged when
it was known) ; but the only remedy in a man-of-war, in such
cases, was to lay the patient down between the guns, and let
him come -to at his own leisure. It was impossible to act so
in this case ; and Seymour, as he bent over the beautiful pale
countenance of Emily, felt that he never could be tired of hold-
ing her in his arms. However, as it was necessary that some-
thing should be done, he laid her down on the sofa, and seizing
the bell-rope, pulled it violently for assistance. The wire had
been previously slackened, and the force which Seymour used
brought down the rope without ringing the bell. There was
but one in the room ; and not choosing to leave Emily, he was
again compelled to rely on his own resources. What was good
for her ? W T ater ? There was none in the room, except what
he had been painting with, and that was desperately discoloured
with the Indian ink. Nevertheless, he snatched up his large
brush which he used for washing-in his skies, and commenced
painting her face and temples with the discoloured water, but
without producing the desired effect of reanimation.
What next ? Oh, salts and burnt feathers ; he had read of
them in a novel. Salts he had none, burnt feathers were to be
procured. There were two live birds, called cardinals, belong-
ing to Mrs. M'Elvina, in a cage near the window, and there
was also a stuffed green parrot in a glass case. Seymour showed
his usual presence of mind in his decision. The tails of the
live birds would in all probability grow again, that of the
stuffed parrot never could. He put his hand into the cage,
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THE KING'S OWN
and seizing the fluttering proprietors, pulled out both their
long tails, and having secured the door of the cage, thrust the
ends of the feathers into the fire, and applied them, frizzing
and spluttering, to the nostrils of Emily. But they were re-
placed in the fire again and again, until they would emit no
more smoke, and Emily still continued in a state of insensi-
bility. There was no help for it the parrot, which he knew
Mrs. M f Elvina was partial to, must be sacrificed. A blow
with the poker demolished the glass, and the animal was
wrenched off its perch, and the tail inserted between the
bars of the grate. But burnt feathers were of no use ; and
Seymour, when he had burnt down the parrot's tail to the
stump, laid it upon the table in despair.
He now began to be seriously alarmed, and the beauty of
the object heightened his pity and commiseration. His
anxiety increased to that degree that, losing his presence of
mind, and giving way to his feelings, he apostrophised the
inanimate form, and hanging over it with the tenderness of
a mother over her lifeless child, as a last resource kissed its
lips again and again with almost frantic anxiety. At the
time of his most eager application of this last remedy,
M'Elvina and Susan entered the room, without his being
aware of their approach.
The parrot on the table, with his tail still burning like a
slow match, first caught their eyes ; and as they advanced
further in, there was Seymour, to their astonishment, kissing
a young lady to whom he had never been introduced, and
who appeared to be quite passive to his endearments.
" Seymour ! " cried M'Elvina, " what is all this ? "
" I'm glad you've come ; I cannot bring her to. I've tried
everything."
" So it appears. Why, you've smothered her she's black
in the face," replied M'Elvina, observing the marks of the
Indian ink upon Emily's cheek.
Susan, who immediately perceived the condition of Emily,
applied her salts, and desired M'Elvina to call the women.
In a few minutes, whether it was that the remedies were
more effectual, or Nature had resumed her powers, Emily
opened her eyes, and was carried upstairs into Mrs.
M'Elvina's room.
We must return to the servant, who, with no other injury
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than a severe contusion of the os coccygis, from the frontal
bone of the bull, recovered his senses and his legs at the same
moment, and never ceased exerting the latter until he arrived
at Hall, where he stated, what indeed he really be-
lieved to be the case, that Miss Emily had been gored to
death by the bull ; asserting at the same time, what was
equally incorrect, that he had nearly been killed himself
in attempting her rescue. The tidings were communicated
to Mrs. Rainseourt, who, frantic at the intelligence, without
bonnet or shawl, flew down the park towards the fields,
followed by all the servants of the establishment, armed with
guns, pitchforks, and any other weapons that they could
obtain at the moment of hurry and trepidation. They arrived
at the field ; the bull was there, waiting for them at the
stile, for he had observed them at a distance, and as he was
now opposed to half-a-dozen pair of inexpressibles, instead of
one, his wrath was proportionally increased. He pawed the
ground, bellowed, and made divers attempts to leap the stile,
which, had he effected, it is probable that more serious
mischief would have occurred. The whole party stood aghast ;
while Mrs Rainseourt screamed, and called for her child
her child ; and attempted to recover her liberty from the
arms of those who held her, and rush into the field to her
own destruction.
The farmer to whom the animal belonged had heard his
bellowing on the first assault, and had come out to ascertain
the cause. He was just in time to behold the footman pushed
through the hedge, and to witness the escape of Emily into
the house of M'Elvina. Intending to remove the animal, he
returned to his dinner, when his resumed bellowing summoned
him again, and perceiving the cause, he joined the party, and
addressing Mrs. Rainseourt, "The young lady is all safe,
ma'am, in the gentleman's house yonder. The brute's quiet
enough ; it's all along of them red breeches that angers him.
A bull can't abide 'em, ma'am."
" Safe, do you say ? Thank God. Oh, take me to her."
"This way, ma'am, then," said the farmer, leading her
round the hedge to the cottage of M'Elvina by a more
circuitous way.
Susan had just called up M'Elvina, and Seymour was again
left to himself in the parlour, when Mrs. -Rainseourt, bursting
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THE KING'S OWN
from those who conducted her, tottered in, and sank exhausted
on the sofa. Seymour, to whom the whole affair was a
mystery, and who had been ruminating upon it, and upon
the sweet lips which he had pressed, in utter astonishment
cried out, " What ! another ? " Not choosing, in this instance.,
to trust to his own resources, he contented himself With again
shoving the parrot's tail between the bars, and as he held it
to his patient's nose, loudly called out for .M'Elvina, who,
summoned by his appeals, with many others entered the
room, and relieved him of his charge, who soon recovered,
and joined her daughter in the room upstairs.
The carriage had been sent for to convey Mrs. Rainscourt
and her daughter home. When they came down into the
parlour, previous to their departure, Seymour was formally
introduced, and received the thanks of Mrs. Rainscourt for
the attention which he had paid to her daughter, and a
general invitation to the Hall.
Emily, to whom Susan had communicated the panacea to
which Seymour had ultimately resorted, blushed deeply as
she .smiled her adieux ; and our hero, as the carriage whirled
away, felt a sensation as new to him as that of Cymon when
ignited by the rays of beauty which flashed from the sleeping
Iphigenia.
CHAPTER XL
Idiots only will be cozened twice.
DRYDEN.
SEYMOUR did not fail to profit by the invitation extended
by Mrs. Rainscourt, and soon became the inseparable com-
panion of Emily. His attentions to her were a source of
amusement to the M'Elvinas and her mother, who thought
little of a flirtation between a midshipman of sixteen and ;i
girl that was two years his junior. The two months' leave
of absence having expired, Seymour was obliged to return to
the guardship, on the books of which his name had been
enrolled. It was with a heavy heart that he bade farewell
to the M'Elvinas. He had kissed away the tears of separation
from the cheeks of Emily, and their young love, unalloyed
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THE KING'S OWN
as that between a brother and sister, created an uneasy sen-
sation in either heart which absence could not remove.
When our hero reported himself to the commanding officer
of the guardship, he was astonished at his expressing a total
ignorance of his belonging to her, and sent down for the clerk
to know if his name was on the books.
The clerk, a spare, middle-sized personage, remarkably
spruce and neat in his attire, and apparently about forty
years of age, made his appearance with the open list under
his arm, and with a humble bow to the first lieutenant, laid
it upon the capstan-head, and running over several pages
from the top to the bottom with his finger, at last discovered
our hero's name.
" It's all right, young gentleman," said the first lieutenant.
"Take him down to the berth, Mr. Skrimmage, and intro-
duce him. You've brought your hammock, of course, and it
is to be hoped that your chest has a good lock upon it ; if
not, I can tell you you'll not find all your clothes tally with
your division list by to-morrow morning. But we cannot help
these things here. We are but a sort of a 'thoroughfare,'
and every man must take care of himself."
Seymour thanked the first lieutenant for his caution, and
descended with the clerk, who requested him to step into
his private cabin previous to being ushered into the gun-
room, where the midshipmen's mess was held, and of which
Mr. Skrimmage filled the important post of caterer. " Mrs.
Skrimmage, my dear," said Seymour's conductor, " allow me
to introduce to you Mr. Seymour." The lady courtesied with
great affectation and an air of condescension, and requested
our hero to take a chair ; soon after which Mr. Skrimmage
commenced, " It is the custom, my dear sir, in this ship, for
every gentleman who joins the midshipmen's berth to put
down one guinea as entrance money, after which the sub-
scription is restricted to the sum of five shillings per week,
which is always paid in advance. You will therefore oblige
me by the trifling sum of six-and-twenty shillings previous
to my introducing you to your new messmates. You will
excuse my requesting the money to be paid now, which, I
assure you, does not arise from any doubt of your honour ;
but the fact is, being the only member of the mess who can
be considered as stationary, the unpleasant duty of caterer
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THE KING'S OWN
has devolved upon me, and I have lost so much money by
young gentlemen leaving the ship in a hurry, and forgetting
to settle their accounts, that it has now become a rule, which
is never broken through."
As soon as Mr. Skrimmage had finished his oration, which
he delivered in the softest and most persuasive manner,
Seymour laid down the sum required, and having waited, at
the clerk's request, to see his name, and sum paid, entered
in the mess-book by Mrs. Skrimmage, he was shown into the
gun-room, which he found crowded with between thirty and
forty midshipmen, whose vociferations and laughter created
such a din as to drown the voice of his conductor, who cried
out, " Mr. Seymour, gentlemen, to join the mess," and then
quitted the noisy abode, which gave our hero the idea of
Bedlam broke loose.
On one side of the gun-room a party of fifteen or twenty
were seated cross-legged on the deck in a circle, stripped to
their shirts, with their handkerchiefs laid up like ropes in
their hands. A greatcoat and a sleeve-board, which they
had borrowed from the marine tailor, who was working on
the main-deck, lay in the centre, and they pretended to be
at work with their needles on the coat. It was the game of
goose, the whole amusement of which consisted in giving
and receiving blows. Every person in the circle had a name
to which he was obliged to answer immediately when it was
called, in default of which he was severely punished by all
the rest. The names were distinguished by colours, as Black
Cap, Red Cap ; and the elegant conversation, commenced by
the master tailor, ran as follows ; observing that it was carried
on with the greatest rapidity of utterance :
That's a false stitch whose was it ? "
" Black Cap."
" No, sir, not me, sir."
"Who, then, sir?"
" Red Cap."
"You lie, sir."
"Who, then, sir?"
"Blue Cap, Blue Cap."
"You lie, sir."
" Who, then, sir ? "
"Yellow Cap, Yellow Cap."
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Yellow Cap unfortunately did not give the lie in time,
for which he was severely punished, and the game then
continued.
But the part of the game which created the most mirth
was providing a goose for the tailors, which was accomplished
by some of their confederates throwing into the circle any
bystander who was not on his guard, and who, immediately
that he was thrown in, was thrashed and kicked by the
whole circle until he could make his escape. An attempt
of this kind was soon made upon Seymour, who being well
acquainted with the game, and perceiving the party rushing
on him to push him in, dropped on his hands and knees, so
that the other was caught in his own trap by tumbling over
Seymour into the circle himself, from which he at last escaped,
as much mortified by the laugh raised against him as with
the blows which he had received.
Seymour, who was ready to join in any fun, applied for
work, and was admitted among the journeymen.
" What's your name ? "
" Dandy Grey Russet Cap," replied Seymour, selecting a
colour which would give him ample time for answering, to
his call.
" Oh, I'll be d d but you're an old hand," observed one
of the party, and the game continued with as much noise
as ever.
But we must leave it and return to Mr. Skrimmage, who
was a singular, if not solitary, instance of a person in one of
the lowest grades of the service having amassed a large
fortune. He had served his time under an attorney, and
from that situation, why or wherefore the deponent sayeth
not, shipped on board a man-of-war in the capacity of a
ship's clerk. The vessel which first received him on board
was an old fifty-gun ship of two decks, a few of which re-
mained in the service at that time, although they have long
been dismissed and broken up. Being a dull sailer, and fit
for nothing else, she was constantly employed in protecting
large convoys of merchant vessels to America and the West
Indies. Although other men-of war occasionally assisted her
in her employ, the captain of the fifty-gun ship, from long
standing, was invariably the senior officer, and the masters
of the merchant vessels were obliged to go on board his
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THE KING'S OWN
ship to receive their convoy instructions, and a distinguishing
pennant, which is always given without any fee.
But Skrimmage, who had never been accustomed to deliver
up any paper without a fee when he was in his former pro-
fession, did not feel inclined to do so in his present. Make
a direct charge he dare not he therefore hit upon a ruse
de guerre which effected his purpose. He borrowed from
different parties seven or eight guineas, and when the masters
of merchant vessels came on board for their instructions, he
desired them to be shown down into his cabin, where he
received them with great formality, and very nicely dressed.
The guineas were spread upon the desk, so that they might
be easily reckoned.
"Sit down, captain; if you please, favour me with your
name and that of your ship." As he took these down, he
carelessly observed, " I have delivered but seven copies of
the instructions to-day as yet."
The captain having nothing to do in the meantime, naturally
cast his eyes round the cabin and was attracted by the guineas,
the number of which exactly tallied with the number of in-
structions delivered. It naturally occurred to him that they
were the clerk's perquisites of office.
What is the fee, sir ? "
"Whatever you please some give a guinea, some two."
A guinea was deposited ; and thus with his nest-eggs, Mr.
Skrimmage, without making a direct charge, contrived to
pocket a hundred guineas, or more, for every convoy that was
put under his captain's charge. After four years, during which
he had saved a considerable sum, the ship was declared unser-
viceable, and broken up, and Mr. Skrimmage was sent on board
of the guardship, where his ready wit immediately pointed out
to him the advantages which might be reaped by permanently
belonging to her, as clerk of the ship and caterer of the mid-
shipmen's berth. After serving in her for eight years, he was
offered his rank as purser, which he refused upon the plea of
being a married man, and preferring poverty with Mrs. S
to rank and money without her. At this the reader will not be
astonished when he is acquainted, that the situation which he
held was, by his dexterous plans, rendered so lucrative, that in
the course of twelve years, with principal and accumulating
interest, he had amassed the sum of 15,000.
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THE KING'S OWN
A guardship is a receiving-ship for officers and men, until
they are enabled to join, or are drafted to, their respective
ships. The consequence is, that an incessant change is taking
place a midshipman sometimes not remaining on board of
her for more than three days before an opportunity offers of
joining his ship. In fact, when we state that, during the war,
upwards of one thousand midshipmen were received and sent
away from a guardship in the course of twelve months, we
are considerably within the mark. Now, as Mr. Skrimmage
always received one guinea as entrance to the mess and a
week's subscription in advance, and, moreover, never spent
even the latter, or had his accounts examined, it is easy to
conceive what a profitable situation he had created for him-
self. Mrs. Skrimmage, also, was a useful helpmate ; she
lived on board, at little expense, and by her attention to the
dear little middies and their wearing apparel, who were sent
on board to join some ship for the first time, added very con-
siderably to his profits.
Her history was as follows. It had three eras : she had
been a lady's-maid in town ; and in this situation acquiring a
few of the practices of " high life," she had become something
else on the town ; and, finally, Mrs. Skrimmage. With a view
of awing his unruly associates into respect, Mr. Skrimmage (as
well as his wife) was particularly nice in his dress and his con-
versation, and affected the gentleman, as she did the lady :
this generally answered pretty well ; but sometimes unpleasant
circumstances would occur, to which his interest compelled
Mr. Skrimmage to submit. It may be as well here to add,
that, at the end of the war, Mr. Skrimmage applied for his
promotion for long service, and obtaining it, added his purser's
half-pay to the interest of his accumulated capital, and retired
from active service.
The steward and his boy entering the gun-room with two
enormous black tea-kettles, put an end to the boisterous
amusement. It was the signal for tea.
" Hurrah for Scaldchops ! " cried the master tailor, rising
from the game, which was now abandoned. A regiment of
cups and saucers lined the two sides of the long table, and a
general scramble ensued for seats.
"I say, Mr. Cribbage," cried an old' master' s-mate to the
caterer, who had entered shortly after the tea-kettles, and
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assumed his place at the end of the table, " what sort of stuff
do you call this ? "
" What do you mean to imply, sir ? " replied Mr. Skrimmage,
with a pompous air.
" Mean to ply ? why, I mean to ply, that there's d d
little tea in this here water ; why, I've seen gin as dark a
colour as this."
" Steward," said Mr. Skrimmage, turning his head over his
shoulder towards him, "have you not put the established
allowance into the teapot ? "
" Yes, sir," replied the steward ; " a teaspoonful for every
gentleman, and one for coming up."
"You hear, gentlemen," said Mr. Skrimmage.
" Hear ! yes, but we don't taste. I should like to see it
sarved out," continued the master' s-mate.
" Sir," replied Mr. Skrimmage, " I must take the liberty to
observe to you, that that is a responsibility never entrusted to
the steward. The established allowance is always portioned
out by Mrs. Skrimmage herself."
" D n Mrs. Skrimmage," said a voice from the other
end of the table.
" What ! " cried the indignant husband ; " what did I hear ?
Who was that ? "
"'Twas this young gentleman, Mr. Caterer," said a mali-
cious lad, pointing to one opposite.
" Me, sir ? " replied the youngster, recollecting the game
they had just been playing; "you lie, sir."
Who then, sir ? "
" Black Cap Black Cap," pointing to another.
" I d n Mrs. Skrimmage ! You lie, sir."
" Who then, sir ? "
"Red Cap Red Cap."
" I d n Mrs. Skrimmage ? You lie, sir."
And thus was the accusation bandied about the table, to
the great amusement of the whole party except the caterer,
who regretted having taken any notice of what had been said.
" Really, gentlemen, this behaviour is such as cannot be
tolerated," observed Mr. Skrimmage, who invariably preferred
the suaviter in modo. " As caterer of this berth
" It is your duty to give us something to eat," added one
of the midshipmen.
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"Gentlemen, you see what there is on the table; there
are rules and regulations laid down, which cannot be deviated
from, and "
" And those are, to starve us. I've paid six-and-twenty
shillings, and have not had six-and-twenty mouthfuls in the
three days that I have been here. I should like to see your
accounts, Mr. Caterer."
" Bravo ! let's have his accounts/' roared out several of the
party.
" Gentlemen, my accounts are ready for inspection, and will
bear, I will venture to assert, the most minute investigation ;
but it must be from those who have a right to demand it,
and I cannot consider that a person who has only been in
the ship for three days has any pretence to examine them."
" But I have been in the ship three weeks," said another,
"and have paid you one pound sixteen shillings. I have a
right, and now I demand them ; so let us have the accounts
on the table, since we can get nothing else."
"The accounts the accounts!" were now vociferated for
by such a threatening multitude of angry voices, that Mr.
Skrimmage turned pale with alarm, and thought it advisable
to bend to the threatening storm.
" Steward, present the gentlemen's respects to Mrs. Skrim-
mage, and request that she will oblige them by sending in
the mess account-book. You understand the gentlemen's
respects to Mrs. Skrimmage."
"D n Mrs. Skrimmage/' again cried out one of the
midshipmen, and the game of goose was renewed with the
phrase, until the steward returned with the book.
" Mrs. Skrimmage 's compliments to the gentlemen of the
gun-room mess, and she has great pleasure in complying with
their request ; but in consequence of her late indisposition,
the accounts are not made up further than to the end of last
month."
This was the plan upon which the wily clerk invariably
acted, as it put an end to all inquiry ; but the indignation
of the midshipmen was not to be controlled, and as they
could not give it vent in one way, they did in another.
" Gentlemen," said one of the oldest of the fraternity,
imitating Mr. Skrimmage's style, " I must request that you
will be pleased not to kick up such a d d row, because I
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wish to make a speech ; and I request that two of you will.be
pleased to stand sentries at the door, permitting neither ingress
nor egress, that I may ' spin my yarn ' without interruption.
" Gentlemen, we have paid our mess-money, and we have
nothing to eat. We have asked for the accounts, and we are
put off with ' indisposition.' Now, gentlemen, as there can be
no doubt of the caterer's honour, I propose that we give him
a receipt in full."
" And here's a pen to write it with," cried out another,
holding up the sleeve-board with which they had been play-
ing the game.
"Then, gentlemen, are you all agreed to cobb the caterer?"
The shouts of assent frightened Mr. Skrimmage, who
attempted to make his escape by the gun-room door, but
was prevented by the two sentries, who had been placed
there on purpose. He then requested to be heard to be
allowed to explain ; but it was useless. He was dragged
to the table, amidst an uproar of laughter and shouting.
" Extreme bad headaches " " Mrs. Skrimmage" " nervous "
"ample satisfaction " "conduct like gentlemen " "com-
plain to first lieutenant " -were the unconnected parts of his
expostulation which could be distinguished. He was ex-
tended across the table, face downwards ; the lappels of his
coat thrown up, and two dozen blows with the sleeve-board
were administered with such force that his shrieks were even
louder than the laughter and vociferation of his assailants.
During the infliction, the noise within was so great that
they did not pay attention to that which was outside, but as
soon as Mr. Skrimmage had been put on his legs again, and
the tumult had partially subsided, the voice of the master-
at-arms requesting admittance and the screaming of Mrs.
Skrimmage were heard at the door, which continued locked
and guarded. The door was opened, and in flew the lady.
" My Skrimmage ! my Skrimmage ! what have the brutes
been doing to you ? Oh, the wretches ! " continued the lady,
panting for breath, and turning to the midshipmen, who had
retreated from her "you shall all be turned out of the
service you shall that you shall. We'll see we'll write
for a court-martial ay, you may laugh, but we will. Con-
tempt to a superior officer clerk and caterer, indeed ! The
service has come to a pretty pass you villains ! You may
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grin I'll tear the eyes out of some of you, that I will. Come,
Mr. Skrimmage, let us go on the quarter-deck and see if
the service is to be trifled with. Dirty scum indeed
and the lady stopped for want of breath, occasioned by the
rapidity of her utterance.
" Gentlemen," said the master-at-arms, as soon as he could
obtain hearing, " the first lieutenant wishes to know the
reason why you are making such a noise ? "
" Our compliments to Mr. Phillips, and we have been settling
the mess-account, and taking the change out of the caterer."
" Yes," continued Mrs. Skrimmage, " you villains, you have,
you paltry cheats you blackguards you warm in - you scum
of the earth you grinning monkeys you! don't put your
tongue into your cheek at me, you you beast you ill-looking
imp,or I'll write the ten commandments on your face I will
ay, that I will cowardly set of beggars " (No more breath.)
" I'll tell you what, marm," rejoined the old master's-mate,
" if you don't clap a stopper on that jaw of yours, by George,
we'll cobb you."
" Cobb me ! you will, will you ? I should like to see you.
I dare you to cobb me, you wretches ? "
" Cobb her, cobb her ! " roared out all the midshipmen, who
were irritated at her language ; and in a moment she was
seized by a dozen of them, who dragged her to the table.
Mrs. Skrimmage struggled in vain, and there appeared every
chance of the threat being put in force.
" Oh is this the way to treat a lady ? Skrimmage ! help,
help!"
Skrimmage, who had been battered almost to stupefaction,
roused by the call of his frightened wife, darted to her, and
throwing his arm round her waist " Spare her, gentlemen,
spare her for mercy's sake, spare her or," continued he, in a
faltering voice, "if you will cobb her, let it be over all."
The appeal in favour of modesty and humanity had its due
weight; and Mr. and Mrs. Skrimmage were permitted to
leave the gun-room without further molestation. The lady,
however, as soon as she had obtained the outside of the gun-
room door, forgetting her assumed gentility, turned back, and
shaking her fist at her persecutors, made use of language
with a repetition of which we will not offend our readers
and then, arm-in-arm with her husband, quitted the gun-room.
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" ' Mrs. Skrimmage's compliments to the gentlemen of the
gun-room mess,' " cried one of the midshipmen, mimicking,
which was followed by a roar of laughter, when the quarter-
master again made his appearance.
" Gentlemen, the first lieutenant says that all those who are
waiting for a passage round to Plymouth are to be on deck
with their traps immediately. There's a frigate orderedround
she has the blue-peter up, and her topsails are sheeted home."
This put an end to further mischief, as there were at least
twenty of them whose respective ships were on that station.
In the meantime, while they were getting ready, Mr. Skrim-
mage having restored the precision of his apparel, proceeded
to the quarter-deck and made his complaint to the first lieu-
tenant; but these complaints had been repeatedly made
before, and Mr. Phillips was tired of hearing them, and was
aware that he deserved his fate. Mr. Skrimmage was there-
fore silenced with the usual remark, " How can I punish these
young men,if they are in the wrong, who slip through my fingers
immediately ? the parties you complain of are now going
down the side. Why don't you give up the caterership ? "
But this, for the reasons before stated, did not suit Mr.
Skrimmage, who returned below. For a day or two the
mess was better supplied, from fear of a repetition of the dose ;
after that, it went on again as before.
CHAPTER XLI
All desperate hazards couraee do create,
As he plays frankly who has least estate.
DBYDEN.
It were all one,
That I should love a bright particular star,
And think to wed it.
SHAKSPEARE.
I^EYMOUR was soon weary of the endless noise and con-
fusion to which he was subjected on board of the guardship,
and he wrote to Captain M , requesting that he might be
permitted to join some Vessel on active service until the
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period should arrive when the former would be enabled to
resume the command of his ship. The answer from his
patron informed him, that the time of his renewal of his pro-
fessional duties would be uncertain, not having hitherto de-
rived much benefit from his return to England ; that as the
Aspasia was daily expected to arrive from the mission on
which she had been despatched, and would then remain on
Channel service, ready to be made over to him as soon as his
health should be re-established, he would procure an order
for him to join her as soon as she arrived. He pointed out to
him that he would be more comfortable on board a ship in
which he had many old messmates and friends than in any
other, to the officers of which he would be a perfect stranger ;
that, in the meantime, he had procured leave of absence for
him, and requested that he would pay him a visit at his cot-
tage near Richmond, to the vicinity of which place he had
removed by the advice of his medical attendants.
Seymour gladly availed himself of this opportunity of seeing
his protector, and after a sojourn of three weeks, returned to
Portsmouth to join the Aspasia, which had, for some days,
been lying at Spithead. Most of the commissioned, and
many of the junior, officers who had served in the West
Indies were still on board of her, anxiously waiting for the
return of Captain M- , whose value as a commanding
officer w r as more appreciated for the change which had taken
place. Seymour was cordially greeted by his former ship-
mates, not only for his own sake, but from the idea that his
having rejoined the frigate was but a precursor of the reap-
pearance of Captain M himself.
There is, perhaps, no quality in man partaking of such
variety, and so difficult to analyse, as courage, whether it be
physical or mental, both of which are not only innate, but to
be acquired. The former, and the most universal, is most
capriciously bestowed ; sometimes, although rarely, Nature
has denied it altogether. We have, therefore, in the latter
instance, courage nil, as a zero, courage negative, half-way up,
and courage positive, at the top, which may be considered as
" blood heat," and upon this thermometrical scale the animal
courage of every individual may be placed. Courage nil, or
cowardice, needs no explanation. Courage negative, which is
the most common, is that degree of firmness which will enable
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a person to do his duty when danger comes to him ; he will
not avoid danger, but he will not exactly seek it. Courage
positive, when implanted in a man, will induce him to seek
danger, and find opportunities of distinguishing himself where
others can see none. Courage negative is a passive feeling,
and requires to be roused. Courage positive is an active and
restless feeling, always on the look-out.
An extreme susceptibility, and a phlegmatic indifference
of disposition, although diametrically in opposition to each
other, will produce the same results ; in the former, it is
mental, in the latter, animal courage. Paradoxical as it
may appear, the most certain and most valuable description
of courage is that which is acquired from the fear of shame.
Further, there is no talent which returns more fold than
courage, when constantly in exercise ; for habit will soon
raise the individual whose index is near to zero, to the
degree in the scale opposite to courage negative ; and the
possessor of courage negative will rise up to that of courage
positive ; although, from desuetude, they will again sink
to their former position.
It is generally considered that men are naturally brave ;
but as, without some incentive, there would be no courage,
I doubt the position. I should rather say that we were
naturally cowards. Without incitement, courage of every
description would gradually descend to the zero of the scale ;
the necessity of some incentive to produce it, proves that
it is "against nature." As the ferocity of brutes is occa-
sioned by hunger, so is that of man by " hungering " after
the coveted enjoyments of life, and in proportion as this
appetite is appeased, so is his courage decreased. If you
wish animals to fight, they must not be over-fed ; and if a
nation wishes to have good officers, it must swell their pride
by decorations, and keep them poor. There are few who
do not recollect the answer of the soldier to his general,
who had presented him with a purse of gold in reward of
a remarkable instance of gallantry, and who, a short time
afterwards, requiring something extremely hazardous to be
attempted, sent for the man, and expressed his wish that he
would volunteer. " General," said he, " send a man who
has NOT GOT a purse of gold."
The strongest incitement to courage is withdrawn by the
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possession of wealth. Other worldly possessions also affect
it. Lord St. Vincent, when he heard that any captain had
married, used to observe emphatically, "that he was d d
for the service " no compliment to the officer, but a very
handsome one to the sex, as it implied that their attractions
were so great that we could not disengage ourselves from
our thraldom or, in fact, that there were 110 such things
as bad or scolding wives.
Finally, this quality, which is considered as a virtue, and
to entitle us to the rewards bestowed upon it by the fair
sex, who value it above all others, is so wholly out of our
control, that when suffering under sickness or disease it
deserts us ; nay, for the time being, a violent stomach-ache
will turn a hero into a poltroon.
So much for a dissertation on courage, which I should
not have ventured to force upon the reader, had it not been
to prepare him for the character which I am about to intro-
duce ; and when it is pointed out how many thousands of
officers were employed during the last war, I trust it will
not be considered an imputation upon the service, by assert-
ing that there were some few who mistook their profession.
The acting captain of the Aspasia, during the early part
of his career in the service (had there been such a ther-
mometer as I have described, by which the heat of tempera-
ment in the party would have been precisely ascertained), on
placing its bulb upon the palm of his hand, would have forced
the mercury something between the zero and courage nega-
tive, towards the zero "more yes than no," as the Italian
said ; but now that he was a married man, above fifty years
of age, with a large family, he had descended in the scale
to the absolute zero.
It may, then, be inquired, why he requested to be em-
ployed during the war? Because he liked full pay and
prize-money when it could be obtained without risk, and
because his wife and family were living on shore in a very
snug little cottage at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, which
cottage required nothing but furniture and a few other trifles
to render it complete. Marriage had not only subtracted from
the courage of this worthy officer, but, moreover, a little from
his honesty. Captain Capperbar (for such was his name) should
have been brought up as a missionary, for he could convert
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anything, and expend more profusely than any Bible Society.
The name by which he had christened his domicile was pro-
bably given as a sort of salve to his conscience. He called
it the " Ship ; " and when he signed his name to the expense
books of the different warrant officers, without specifying the
exact use to which the materials were applied, the larger
proportions were invariably expended, by the general term,
for "Ship's use." He came into harbour as often as he could,
always had a demand for stores to complete, and a defect or
two for the dockyard to make good ; and the admiral, who was
aware of Mrs. Capperbar being a near resident, made every
reasonable allowance for his partiality to Spithead. But we had
better introduce the captain, sitting at his table in the fore-
cabin, on the day of his arrival in port, the carpenter having
obeyed his summons.
" Well, Mr. Cheeks, what are the carpenters about ? "
"Weston and Smallbridge are going on with the chairs
the whole of them will be finished to-morrow."
"Well?"
" Smith is about the chest of drawers, to match the one in
my Lady Capperbar's bedroom."
" Very good. And what is Hilton about ? "
" He has finished the spare-leaf of the dining-table, sir ; he
is now about a little job for the second lieutenant."
" A job for the second lieutenant, sir ? How often have I
told you, Mr. Cheeks, that the carpenters are not to be em-
ployed, except on ship's duty, without my special permission."
"His standing bedplace is broke, sir; he is only getting
out a chock or two."
" Mr. Cheeks, you have disobeyed my most positive orders.
By-the-bye, sir, I understand you were not sober last night."
" Please your honour," replied the carpenter, " I wasn't
drunk I was only a little fresh."
"Take you care, Mr. Cheeks. Well, now, what are the
rest of your crew about ? "
" Why, Thompson and Waters are cutting out the pales for
the garden, out of the jib-booms; I've saved the heel to
return."
" Very well ; but there won't be enough, will there ? "
"No, sir, it will take a hand-mast to finish the whole."
" Then we must expend one when we go out again. We can
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carry away a topmast, and make a new one out of the hand-
mast at sea. In the meantime, if the sawyers have nothing
to do, they may as well cut the palings at once. And now, let
me see oh! the painters must go on shore, to finish the attics."
" Yes, sir, but my Lady Capperbar wishes the jealorvsees to
be painted vermilion ; she says, it will look more rural."
" Mrs. Capperbar ought to know enough about ship's stores
by this time, to be aware that we are only allowed three
colours. She may choose or mix them as she pleases ; but as
for going to the expense of buying paint, I can't afford it.
What are the rest of the men about ? "
" Repairing the second cutter, and making a new mast for
the pinnace."
" By-the-bye that puts me in mind of it have you ex-
pended any boat's masts?"
"Only the one carried away, sir."
"Then you must expend two more. Mrs. C has just
sent me off a list of a few things that she wishes made while
we are at anchor, and I see two poles for clothes-lines. Saw
off the sheave-holes, and put two pegs through at right angles
you know how I mean."
" Yes, sir. What am I to do, sir, about the cucumber frame ?
My Lady Capperbar says that she must have it, and I haven't
glass enough they grumbled at the yard last time."
" Mrs. C must wait a little. What are the armourers
about ? "
"They have been so busy with your work, sir, that the
arms are in a very bad condition. The first lieutenant said
yesterday that they were a disgrace to the ship."
" Who dared say that ? "
"The first lieutenant, sir."
"Well, then, let them rub up the arms, and let me know
when they are done, and we'll get the forge up."
"The armourer has made six rakes, and six hoes, and the
two little hoes for the children ; but he says he can't make
a spade."
" Then I'll take his warrant away, by Heaven ! since he
does not know his duty. That will do, Mr. Cheeks. I shall
overlook your being in liquor, this time ; but take care send
the boatswain to me."
"Yes, sir," and the carpenter quitted the cabin.
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"Well, Mr. Hurley/' said the captain, as the boatswain
stroked down his hair, as a mark of respect, when he entered
the cabin, " are the cots all finished ? "
" All finished, your honour, and slung, except the one for
the babby. Had not I better get a piece of duck for that ? "
" No, no number seven will do as well ; Mrs. C wants
some fearnought, to put down in the entrance hall."
" Yes, your honour."
" And some cod-lines laid up for clothes-lines."
" Yes, your honour."
" Stop, let me look at my list' Knife-tray, meat-screen,
leads for window-sashes ' ah ! have you any hand-leads not
on charge ? "
" Yes, your honour, four or five."
" Give them to my steward. ' Small chair for Ellen
canvas for veranda.' Oh ! here's something else have you
any painted canvas ? "
" Only a waist-hammock-cloth, sir, ready fitted."
" We must expend that ; ' no old on charge.' Send it on
shore to the cottage, and I shall want some pitch."
" We've lots of that, your honour."
"That will do, Mr. Hurley; desire the sentry to tell my
steward to come here."
" Yes, your honour." (Exit boatswain, and enter steward.)
This personage belonged to the party of marines who had
been drafted into the ship for Captain Capperbar's economical
propensities would not allow him to hire a servant brought up
to the situation, who would have demanded wages independent
of the ship's pay. Having been well drilled at barracks, he
never answered any question put to him by an officer without
recovering himself from his usual " stand-at-ease " position
throwing shoulders back, his nose up in the air, his arms down
his sides, and the palms of his hands flattened on his thighs.
His replies were given with all the brevity that the question
would admit, or rapid articulation on his own part would
enable him to confer,
" Thomas, are the sugar and cocoa ready to go on shore ? "
"Yes, sir."
' Don't forget to send that letter to Mr. Gibson for the tea
dozen port and sherry."
" No, sir."
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" When it comes on board, you'll bring it on shore a dozen
at a time in the hair trunk."
"Yes, sir."
< Mind you don't let any of the hay peep outside."
"No, sir."
" Has the cooper finished the washing-tubs ? "
"Yes, sir."
" And the smaU kids ? "
" No, sir."
" Have you inquired among the ship's company for a
gardener ? "
" Yes, sir ; there's a marine kept the garden of the major in
the barracks."
" Don't forget to bring him on shore.
" No, sir."
" Recollect, too, that Mrs. Capperbar wants some vinegar
the boatswain's is the best and a gallon or two of rum and
you must corn some beef. The harness cask may remain on
shore, and the cooper must make me another."
"Yes, sir."
" Master Henry's trousers are they finished yet ? "
" No, sir ; Spriggs is at them now. Bailly and James are
making Miss Ellen's petticoats."
" And the shoes for Master John are they finished ? "
"Yes, sir."
" And Master Henry's ? "
" No, sir. Wilson says that he has lost Master Henry's
measure."
" Careless scoundrel ! he shall have four-water grog for a
week ; and, steward, take three bags of bread on shore, and
forty pounds of flour."
" Yes, sir."
"That's all. Oh no don't forget to send some pease on
shore for the pig."
" No, sir," and the steward departed to execute his variety
of commissions.
The present first lieutenant of the Aspasia, who upon the
promotion of the former had been selected by Captain M
previous to his quitting the ship, was an excellent officer and
a pleasant, light-hearted messmate, very superior in talent and
information to the many.
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The conduct of Captain Capperbar was a source of annoy-
ance to him, as he frequently could not command the services
of the different artificers when they were required for the ship.
He had, however, been long enough in the service to be aware
that it was better to make the best of it than to create enemies
by impeaching the conduct of his superior officer. As the com-
mand of Captain Capperbar was but temporary, he allowed him
to proceed without expostulation, contenting himself with turn-
ing his conduct into a source of conversation and amusement.
" Well, Prose, how do you like the new skipper?" inquired
Seymour, soon after his arrival on board.
" Why, I do declare, I can hardly tell. He's a very good-
tempered man, but he don't exactly treat us midshipmen as
if we were officers or gentlemen ; and as for his wife, she is
really too bad. I am sent every day on shore to the cottage,
because I belong to the captain's gig. They never ask me
to sit down, but set me to work somehow or another. The
other day he had a boat's crew on shore digging up a piece
of ground for planting potatoes, and he first showed me how
to cut the eyes, and then gave me a knife and ordered me to
finish the whole bag which lay in the field, and to see that the
men worked properly at the same time. I never cut potatoes
into little bits before, except at table after they were boiled."
" Well, that was too bad ; but, however, you'll know how to
plant potatoes in future there's nothing like knowledge."
" And then he sends the nurse and children for an airing,
as he calls it, oh the water, and I am obliged to take them.
I don't like pulling maid-servants about."
"That's quite a matter of taste, Prose; some midshipmen do."
" What do you think Mrs. Capperbar asked me to do the
other day ? "
" I'm sure I can't guess."
" Why, to shell peas."
" Well, did you oblige her ? "
" Why, yes, I did ; but I did not like it and the other
day the captain sent me out to walk with the nurse and
children, that I might carry Master Henry if he was tired."
"They have observed the versatility of your genius."
" She made me hunt the hedges for a whole morning after
eggs, because she was convinced that one of the hens laid
astray."
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" Did you find any ? "
" No ; and when I came back to tell her so, she got into
a rage, and threatened to make the captain flog me."
"The devil she did !"
" A devil she is," continued Prose. " She I'uns about the
house ' Captain Capperbar ' this ' Captain Capperbar ' that
' I will ' ' I will not' ' I insist ' 'I am determined.'
But," continued Prose, " as you belonged to the captain's
gig before, you will of course take her again, and I shall be
very glad to give the charge up to you."
" Not for the world, my dear Prose ; what may ensure your
promotion would be my ruin. I never nursed a child or
shelled a pea in my life ; the first I should certainly let fall,
and the second I probably should eat for my trouble. So
pray continue at your post of honour, and I will go for the
fresh beef every morning as you were accustomed to do when
we were last in port."
Captain M did not receive the immediate benefit which
he had anticipated from a return to his native land. Bath,
Cheltenham, Devonshire, and other places were recommended
one after the other by the physicians, until he was tired of
moving from place to place. It was nearly two years before
he felt his health sufficiently re-established to resume the
command of the Aspasia, during which period the patience
of his officers was nearly exhausted ; and not only was all the
furniture and fitting up of the cottage complete, but Captain
Capperbar had provided himself with a considerable stock of
materials for repairs and alterations. At last a letter from
the captain to Macallan gave the welcome intelligence that
he was to be down at Portsmouth in a few days, and that the
ship was ordered to fit for foreign service.
We must not omit to mention here, that during these two
years Seymour had been able to procure frequent leave of
absence, which was invariably passed at the M'Elvinas' ; and
that the terms of intimacy on which he was received at the
Hall, and his constant intercourse with Emily, produced an
effect which a more careful mother would have guarded
against. The youth of eighteen and the girl of sixteen had
feelings very different from those which had actuated them
on their first acquaintance ; and Seymour, who was staying
at the M'Elvinas' when the expected arrival of Captain M
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was announced, now felt what pain it would be to part with
Emily. The intelligence was communicated in a letter from
Prose, when he was sitting alone with M'Elvina, and the bare
idea of separation struck him to the heart.
M'Elvina, who had often expressed his opinion on the sub-
ject to his wife, had been anxious that our hero should be sent
on a foreign station, before he had allowed a passion to take
so deep a root in his heart, that to eradicate it would be a
task of great effort and greater pain. Aware from the flushed
face of Seymour of what was passing within, he quietly intro-
duced the subject, by observing that in all probability his
favourite, Emily, would be married previous to his return
pointing out that an heiress of so large a property would have
a right to expect to unite herself with one in the highest rank
of society.
Seymour covered his face with his hands as he leant over
the table. He had no secrets from M'Elvina, and acknow-
ledged the truth of the observation. " I have brought up the
subject, my dear boy," continued M'Elvina, " because I have
not been blind, and I am afraid that you will cherish a feeling
which can only end in disappointment. She is a sweet girl ;
but you must, if possible, forget her. Reflect a moment. You
are an orphan, without money and without family, although
not without friends., which you have secured by your own
merit ; and you have only your courage and your abilities to
advance you in the service. Can it, then, be expected that
her parents would consent to a union ; or would it be honour-
able in you to take any advantage of her youthful preposses-
sion in your favour, and prevent her from reaping those
advantages that her fortune and family entitle her to?"
Seymour felt bitterly the j ustice of the remark ; a few tears
trickled through his fingers, but his mind was resolved. He
had thought to have declared his love before his departure,
and have obtained an acknowledgment on her part ; but he
now made a firm resolution to avoid and to forget her. " I
shall follow your advice, my dear sir, for it is that of a friend
who is careful of my honour ; but if you knew the state of
mind that I am in ! -How foolish and inconsiderate have I
been ! I will not see her again."
" Nay, that would be acting wrongly ; it would be quite
unpardonable, after the kindness which you have received
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from Mrs. Rainscourt, not to call and wish them farewell.
You must do it, Seymour. It will be an exertion, I acknow-
ledge ; but if I mistake not his character, not too great a one
for William Seymour. Good-night, my dear boy."
On the ensuing morning Seymour, who had fortified him-
self in his good resolutions, walked to the Hall to announce
his approaching departure on foreign service, and to take his
farewell, his last farewell, of Emily. He found the carriage
at the door, and Mrs. Rainscourt, in her pelisse and bonnet,
about to pay a visit at some distance. She was sorry at the
information, for Seymour was a great favourite, and delayed
her departure for a quarter of an hour to converse with him ;
at the end of which Emily, who had been walking, came into
the library. Communicating the intelligence to her daughter,
Mrs. Rainscourt then bade him farewell, and expressing many
wishes for his health and happiness, was handed by him into
the carriage, and drove off, leaving Seymour to return to the
library, and find himself the very position he had wished to
avoid alone with Emily.
Emily Rainscourt was at this period little more than six-
teen years old ; but it is well known that in some families, as
in some countries, the advance to maturity is much more rapid
than in others. Such was the case with our heroine, who,
from her appearance, was generally supposed to be at least
two years older than she really was, and in her mind she was
even more advanced than in her person.
Seymour returned to the library, where he found Emily
upon the sofa. Her bonnet had been thrown off, and the
tears that were coursing down her cheeks were hastily brushed
away, at his entrance. He perceived it, and felt his case to
be still more embarrassing.
" When do you go, William ? " said Emily, first breaking
silence.
" To-morrow morning. I have called to return my thanks
to your mother, and to you, for your kindness to me ; I shall
ever remember it with gratitude."
Emily made no answer, but a deep sigh escaped.
" I shall," continued Seymour, " be away perhaps for years,
and it is doubtful if ever we meet again. Our tracks in life
are widely different. I am an orphan, without name or
connection or even home, except through the kindness of
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my friends : they were right when, in my childhood, they
christened me the ' King's Own/ for I belong to nobody
else. You, Miss Rainscourt " (Emily started, for it was the
first time that he had ever called her so after the first week of
their acquaintance), " with every advantage which this world
can afford, will soon be called into society, in which I never
can have any pretence to enter. You will in all probability
form a splendid connection before (if ever) we meet again.
You have my prayers, and shall have them when seas divide
us, for your happiness."
Seymour was so choked by his feelings that he could say
no more and Emily burst into tears.
" Farewell, Emily ! God in heaven bless you," said Sey-
mour, recovering his self-possession.
Emily, who could not speak, offered her hand. Seymour
could not control himself; he pressed her lips with fervour,
and darted out of the room. Emily watched him, until he
disappeared at the winding of the avenue, and then sat clown
and wept bitterly. She thought that he was unkind, when
he ought to have been most fond on the eve of a protracted
absence. He might have stayed a little longer. He had
never behaved so before ; and she retired to her room, with
her heart panting with anguish and disappointment. She
felt how much she loved him, and the acknowledgment was
embittered by the idea that this feeling was not reciprocal.
The next morning, when the hour had passed at which
Seymour had stated that he was to leave the spot, Emily
bent her steps to the cottage, that she might, by conversation
with her friend Mrs. M'Elvina, obtain, if possible, some clue
to the motives which had induced our hero to behave as we
have narrated.
Susan was equally anxious to know in what manner Sey-
mour had conducted himself, and soon obtained from Emily
the information which she required. She then pointed out
to her, as her husband had done to Seymour, the improba-
bility, if not impossibility, of any happy result to their in-
timacy, and explained the honourable motives by which
Seymour had been actuated the more commendable, as his
feelings on the subject were even more acute than her own.
The weeping girl felt the truth of her remarks, as far as the
justification of Seymour was attempted. Satisfied with the
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knowledge that he loved her,, she paid little attention to the
more prudent part of the advice, and made a resolution in
his favour, which, as well as her attachment (unlike most
others formed during the freshness of the heart), through
time and circumstance, absence on his part, temptations on
hers, continued steadfast and immovable to the last.
CHAPTER XLII
First Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears ;
Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud,
Their children's cries unheard.
MILTON.
ONCE more the Aspasia flew upon the wings of the northern
gale to secure her country's dominion over far-distant seas;
and many an anxious eye, that dwelt upon the receding shore,
and many an aching heart, that felt itself severed from home
and its endearments, did she carry away in her rapid flight.
Some there were to whom the painful reflection presented itself
"Shall I e'er behold those cherished shores again?" This,
however, was but a transitory feeling, soon chased away by
Hope, who delights to throw her sunny beams on the distance,
while she leaves the foreground to the dark reality of life.
All felt deeply, but there was none whose mental sufferings
could be compared with those of Seymour.
Captain M opened his sealed orders, and found that
he was directed to proceed forthwith to the East Indies.
He had been prepared for this, by indirect hints given to
him by the First Lord of the Admiralty. There is nothing
so tedious as making a passage, and of all others, that to
the East Indies is the most disagreeable, especially at the
time of which we are writing, when Sir H. Popham had not
added the Cape of Good Hope to the colonial grandeur of
the country so that, in fact, there was no resting-place for
the wanderer, tired with the unvarying monotony of sky and
water. We shall therefore content ourselves with stating,
that at the end of three months his Majesty's ship Aspasia
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dropped her anchor in Kedgeree Roads, and the captain of
the same pilot schooner who had taken charge of her off the
Sand-heads was put in requisition to convey Captain M
and his despatches up to Calcutta. Courtenay, Macallan,
and Seymour were invited to be of the party ; and the next
morning they shifted on board the pilot schooner, and com-
menced the ascent of the magnificent and rapid Hoogly.
The pilot captain, who, like all those who ply in this
dangerous and intricate navigation, had been brought up to
it from his youth, was a tall gaunt personage, of about fifty
years of age, and familiar in his manner. Whether he had
found some difficulty in keeping in check the passengers
from the Indiamen whom he had been in the habit of taking
up to Calcutta (whose spirits were, in all probability, rather
buoyant upon their first release from the confinement of a
tedious passage), or whether from a disposition naturally
afraid of encroachment, he was incessantly informing you
that " he was captain of his own ship." Although in all
other parts he was polite, yet upon this he paid no respect to
persons, as the Governor-General and his staff, much to their
amusement, and occasionally to their annoyance, found to be
the case when they ascended the river under his charge.
" Happy to see you on board, Captain M . Hope you
will make yourself comfortable, and call for everything you
want. Boy, take this trunk down into the state cabin.
Happy to see you, gentlemen, and beg you will consider
yourselves quite at home at the same time beg to observe
that I'm captain of my own ship."
" So you ought to be," replied Captain M , smiling,
"if your ship was no larger than a nutshell. I'm captain of
my own ship, I can assure you."
"Very glad we agree upon that point, Captain M .
Young gentleman," continued he, addressing himself to Courte-
nay, "you'll oblige me by not coming to an anchor on my hen-
coops. If you wish to sit down, you can call for a chair."
" Rather annoying," muttered Courtenay, who did not
much like being called " young gentleman."
" A chair for the young gentleman," continued the captain
of the schooner. " Starboard a little, Mr. Jones there is
rather too much cable out, till the tide makes stronger. I
presume you are not used to kedging, captain. It's H very
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pretty thing, as you will acknowledge. Starboard yet. Give
her the helm quick, Mr. Thompson. Why, sir, do you know
that I was once very nearly on shore on the tail of this very
bank, because a young lady, who was going up to Calcutta,
would take the helm ? The mate could not prevent her
she refused to let it go ; and when I commanded her, told
me., with a laugh, that she could steer as well as I could. I
was obliged to prove to her, in rather an unpleasant manner,
that I was captain of my own ship."
"Why, you did not flog her, did you, captain ?"
" Why, no, not exactly that ; but I was obliged to jerk
the wheel round so quick, that I sprained both her wrists
before she had time to let it go. It very near produced a
mutiny. The girl fainted, or pretended to do so, and all the
gentlemen passengers were in high wrath little thinking,
the fools, that I had saved their lives by what they called my
barbarity. However, I told them, as soon as the danger was
over, that I was captain of my own ship. Sweet pretty girl
too, she was. We were within an inch of the bank, the tide
running like a sluice, and should have turned the turtle the
moment that we had struck. Such a thing as carrying polite-
ness too far. If I had not twisted the wheel out of her hands as
I did, in two minutes more the alligators would have divided
her pretty carcass, and all the rest of us to boot. No occasion
for that, Captain M . There's plenty of black fellows for
them floating up and down all day long, as you will see."
" They throw all their dead into the river, do they not ? "
" All, sir. This is a continuation of the sacred river, the
Ganges, and they believe that it ensures their going to heaven.
Have you never been in India before ? "
Never."
" Nor these three gentlemen ? "
"Neither of them."
" Oh, then," cried the captain, his face brightening up at
the intelligence, as it gave him an opportunity of amusing his
passengers ; " then, perhaps, you would not object to my
explaining things to you as we go along ? "
" On the contrary, we shall feel much indebted to you."
" Observe," said the captain, looking round as if to find an
object to decide him where to begin " do you see that body
floating down the river with the crow perched upon it, and
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that black thing flush with the water's edge which nears it
so fast that's the head of an alligator ; he is in chase of it."
The party directed their attention to the object ; the alli-
gator, which had the appearance of a piece of black wood
floating down the stream, closed with the body ; his upper
jaw rose clear out of the water, and descended upon his prey,
with which he immediately disappeared under the muddy
water.
" By the Lord, Mr. Crow, but you'd a narrow chance, then,"
observed the captain ; " you may thank your stars that you
did not lose your life as well as your breakfast. Don't you
think so, young gentleman ? " continued the captain, address-
ing Courtenay.
" I think," observed Courtenay, " that Mr. Crow was not
exactly captain of his own ship."
"Very true, sir. That point of land which we are just
shutting in, Captain M , is the end of Saugor Island,
famous for Bengal tigers, and more famous once for the
sacrifice of children. You have heard of it ? "
" I have heard of it ; but if you have ever witnessed the
scene, I shall be obliged by your narration."
" I did once, Captain M , but nothing would ever induce
me to witness it again. I am very glad that Government has
put a stop to it by force. You are aware that the custom
arose from the natives attempting to avert any present or
anticipated calamity, by devoting a child to propitiate the
deity. On a certain day they all assembled in boats, with
their victims, attended by their priests and music, and deco-
rated with flowers. The gaiety of the procession would have
induced you to imagine that it was some joyous festival,
instead of a scene of superstition and of blood. It would
almost have appeared as if the alligators and sharks were
aware of the exact time and place, from the numbers that
were collected at the spot where the immolation took place.
My blood curdles now when I think of it. The cries of the
natives, the shouting and encouraging of the priests, the
deafening noise of the tom-toms, mixed with the piercing,
harsh music of the country, the hurling and tossing of the
poor little infants into the water, and the splashing and con-
tention of the ravenous creatures as they tore them limb from
limb, within a few feet of their unnatural parents the whole
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sea tinged with blood, and strewed with flowers ! The very
remembrance is sickening to me.
" One circumstance occurred, more horrid than all the rest.
A woman had devoted her child but she had the feelings of
a mother, which were not to be controlled by the blindest
superstition. From time to time she had postponed the ful-
filment of the vow until the child had grown into a woman
for she was thirteen years old, which in this country is the
marriageable age. Misfortune came on, and the husband was
told by the priests that the deity was offended, and that the
daughter must be sacrificed, or he would not be appeased.
She was a beautiful creature for a native, and was to have
been married about the very time that she was now to be
sacrificed. I see her now she was dark in complexion, as
they all are, but her features were beautifully small and
regular, and her form was perfect symmetry. They took off
the gold ornaments with which she was decorated, and in
their avarice removed her garments, as she implored and
entreated on her knees in vain. The boat that she was in
was closer to the shore than the others, and in shallow water.
They forced her over the gunwale ; she alighted on her feet,
the water being up to her middle, and, by a miracle, escaped,
before a shark or alligator could reach her, and gained the
beach. 1 thought that she was saved, and felt more happy
than if I had received a lac of rupees. But no they landed
from the boats, and pushed her into the water with long
poles, while she screamed for pity. A large alligator swam
up to her, and she fell senseless with fright, just before he
received her in his jaws. So I don't think the poor creature
suffered much after that, although the agony of anticipation
must have been worse than the reality. That one instance
affected me more than the scores of infants that were sacrificed
to Moloch."
Distressing as the narrative was, there was a novelty and
interest in it, and a degree of feeling unexpectedly shown by
the captain of the pilot vessel, that raised him in the opinion
of Captain M , who became anxious to obtain further
information.
" They consider the river as sacred do you imagine that
they consider the alligators to be so ? "
" I rather think that they do, sir, although I only iudge
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THE KING'S OXVN
from what I have seen, as I have read nothing about it. At
all events, the presence of an alligator will not prevent them
from performing a customary duty of their religion, which is,
bathing in the sacred river. The people come down to bathe
at the different ghauts, and if an alligator takes one of them
down, it will not prevent the others from returning the next
morning, even if one was to be taken away each succeeding
day. I rather think that, in the discharge of a sacred duty,
they consider all accidents of this kind as according to the
will of the deity, and a sort of passport to heaven. A party
of murderous villains turned this feeling of their countrymen
to good account at a ghaut up the country. The natives had
bathed there for centuries without any accident on record,
when one day a woman disappeared under the water from
amongst the rest, and every day for many weeks the same
untoward circumstance occurred. It was supposed to be an
alligator, but it was afterwards ascertained that this party of
thieves had concealed themselves in the jungle on the oppo-
site side of the river, which at that part was deep, but not
very wide, and had a rope with a hook to it extended under
water to the ghaut, where the people bathed. Some of the
gang mingled with the bathers, and slipping down under
water, made the rope fast to the legs of one of the women,
who was immediately hauled under the water by his comrades
concealed on the opposite side. You may be wondering why
the rascals took so much trouble ; but, sir, the women of this
country, especially those of high caste and who are rich, wear
massive gold bangles upon their arms and legs, besides orna-
ments of great value on other parts of their person, and they
never take them off when they bathe, as they are fastened on
so as not to be removed. It was from the observation that
this supposed alligator was very nice in his eating, as he in-
variably took away a Brachmany or a Rajahpoot girl, that the
plot was discovered. We are now abreast of the Diamond
Harbour, a sad, unhealthy place, I can assure you. Port a
little, Mr. Jones give five or six fathoms more cable ; we
drag too fast. This is a very dangerous corner that we are
turning now. When we are about eight miles above we shall
bring up and go to dinner. I beg your pardon, young gentle-
man, but I'll thank you to leave the compasses alone. You'll
excuse me, but I command this vessel."
284.
THE KING'S OWN
The pilot schooner rounded the point in safety, and in less
than an hour brought up abreast of a large village. The
captain stated that before dinner was over the tide would be
too slack to go further on, and that he should remain there
during the ebb, and not weigh till early the next morning.
If, therefore, Captain M and the gentlemen felt inclined
to take a stroll after dinner, a boat was at their service.
This was gladly assented to, and when dinner was over the
captain of the schooner ordered the boat to be manned, and
at the request of Captain M accompanied them on
shore. On their landing, the flocking together of the inhabi-
tants, and the noise of the music, announced that something
more than usual was going on. On inquiry, the pilot captain
informed them that the rajah of the village, who had as-
cended the river to perform his vows at some distant shrine,
had not returned at the time that he was expected, and that
the natives were afraid that some accident had occurred,
and were in consequence propitiating the deity.
" You will now have an opportunity of beholding a very
uncommon sight, which is the propitiatory dance to Shivu.
There is no occasion for hurrying on so fast, young gentle-
man," continued the captain to Courtenay ; " they will con-
tinue it till midnight."
" How excessively annoying that ' captain of his own ship '
is," observed Courtenay to Macallan. "'Young gentleman !'
as if he could not see my epaulet."
" And yet there is nothing particularly to be affronted
about. You have a very youthful appearance, and surely
you are not displeased at being called a gentleman."
" Why, no ; but that is the reason why I am annoyed,
because I cannot take it up."
The party soon arrived at the site of the performance, which
was on a small arena at the foot of a pagoda. The pagoda,
which was not large, was evidently of very ancient date, and
the carvings in bas-relief, which were continued round on its
sides, representing processions in honour of the deity, were of
a description much superior to the general execution of the
Hindoos. The summit had bowed to time ; perishable art had
yielded to eternal nature a small tree of the acacia species
had usurped its place, and as it waved its graceful boughs to
the breeze, appeared like a youthful queen reigning over and
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THE KING'S OWN
protecting the various shrubs and plantswhich luxuriated in the
different crevices of the building. The dance was performed
by about fifteen men, who were perfectly naked, their long
hair falling below their waists. They went through a variety
of rapid and strange evolutions, with a remarkable degree of
precision, throwing about their hands and arms, and distorting
their bodies, even to their fingers, in a dexterous and almost
terrific manner. Sometimes they would suddenly form a circle,
and with a simultaneous jerk of their heads throw their long
hair, so that the ends would for a moment all meet together
in the centre ; at other times rolling their heads upon their
shoulders with such astonishing velocity, that the eye was
dazzled as they flew round and round, their hair radiating and
diverging like the thrumbings of a mop when trundled by
some strong-limbed housemaid. Their motions were regulated
by the tom-toms, while an old Brahmin, with a ragged white
beard, sat perched over the door of the pagoda, and with a
small piece of bamboo struck upon the palm of his left hand,
as he presided over the whole ceremony. After a few minutes
of violent exertion he gave the signal to stop, and the per-
formers, reeking with perspiration from every pore, bound
up their wet hair over their foreheads, and made room for
another set, who repeated the same evolutions.
" Is this religion ? " inquired Seymour of Macallan, with
some astonishment.
" That is a difficult question to answer in a few words. We
must hope that it will be acceptable as such, for its votaries
are at least sincere."
" Oh ! no one can deny the warmth of their devotion,"
observed Courtenay drily.
The extreme heat and effluvia from the crowds of natives
who witnessed the performance,, forced Captain M and
his companions unwillingly to abandon a scene so novel to a
European. At the proposal of their conductor, they agreed
to continue their walk to the outskirts of the village.
" I have often been ashore at this village," said the captain,
" for they make the small mats here which are much in re
quest at Calcutta, and I have frequent commissions for them. I
can show you a novelty, if you wish, but I warn you that it will
not l>e a very agreeable sight. The nullah that runs up here
frequently leaves the dead bodies on the bank. It is now half-
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THE KING'S OWN
ebb, and if you wish to be introduced to vultures and jackals, I
can show you plenty. But prepare yourself for a disgusting
sight, for these animals do not congregate without a cause."
"To prey on the dead bodies, I presume ?" replied Captain
M ; " but as I have never seen these animals in their
wild state, my curiosity bears down any anticipation of disgust.
Let me not, however, influence those who do not feel inclined
to encounter it."
" After witnessing that dance," observed Courtenay, taking
a pinch of snuff, " I am fully prepared for any supper it is
impossible to be more disgusting."
Macallan and Seymour having expressed a wish to proceed,
the pilot captain led the way, observing, " These animals are
very necessary in the climates to which they are indigenous .
they do the duty on shore which the alligators do in the
water that of public scavengers. The number of bodies
that are launched into the Ganges is incredible. If a Hindoo
is sick, he is brought down to the banks by his relatives, and
if he does not recover, is thrown into the river. It is said,
indeed, that if they are known to have money, their relatives
do not wait till nature tires with their own exertions, but
stop their mouths with clay, to prevent the possibility of
recovery. There is a strong eddy round this point, and the
bodies are swept into the nullah, and lie dry at the ebb."
" What do you call a nullah ? " inquired Seymour.
" A nullah means a creek."
" I was so stupidly proud that I did not like to ask ; but as
Seymour has set the example," added Courtenay, " pray what
is a ghaut?"
" A landing-place. See, there are some vultures perched
upon that tree," continued the pilot captain, as they ascended
the bank of the nullah. As soon as they arrived at the
top they perceived, to their horror, seven or eight bodies
lying in the mud, surrounded by vultures and jackals, who
indiscriminately mingled together, were devouring them.
As they approached, the jackals retreated, looking re-
peatedly back, and sometimes facing round to the party, as if
to inquire why they disturbed them in their repast. The
vultures, on the contrary, did not attempt to move, until
Macallan approached to within a few feet, and then those
who could retired a few yards, or took their stations on the low
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THE KING'S OWN
branches of a tree close by, where others, who were already
satiated, were sitting with drooping wings waiting for a return
of appetite to recommence their banquet ; others were so
gorged, that they could riot walk away. With their wings
trailing in the mud, and their beaks separated as if gasping for
breath, their brilliant eye dulled from repletion there they
remained, emitting an effluvium so offensive, that the numerous
skeletons and the mingled remains of mortality were pleasing
compared to such disgusting specimens of living corruption.
The party viewed the scene for a minute or two without
speaking, and then turned away by common consent, and did
not break silence until they had left it far behind.
"I begin to think," said Courtenay, taking out his box,
" that even a savage may occasionally have an excuse for taking
snuff Did you ever, in your whole life, come in contact with
such a stench? Positively it has impregnated my snuff.
There's a strong twang of the vulture in it," continued he,
emptying the contents of the box upon the ground. " Now,
that's -what I consider cursedly annoying."
" We have indeed both seen and heard enough for one day,"
observed Captain M , as they entered the boat. " Many
thanks to you, Mr. , for your attention to our wishes."
" Not at all, Captain M . I am only sorry that my sights
have not been as agreeable as they are novel ; but when you
arrive at Calcutta you will find novelty combined with
pleasure."
After three days, which appeared to have fled with extra
rapidity, from the constant amusement derived from the anec-
dotes and information imparted by the pilot captain, they
sailed up Garden Reach with a fine breeze ; and the city of
palaces, the only one that deserves its name, burst in all its
splendour upon their sight.
But I am not about to describe it : reader, do not be alarmed.
It is not in my province as a novel-writer, and I make it a
rule never to interfere witli anybody else, if I can avoid it.
Captain Hall, who has already done North and South America
and Loo Choo, will, I have no doubt, be here by-and-by, taking
Africa in his way ; and as I can make up my three volumes of
fiction without trespassing upon his matter of fact, I refer you
to his work, when it appears, for a description of this gorgeous
monument of rapine, this painted seoulehre of crime.
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CHAPTER XLIII
The unwieldy elephant,
To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed
His lithe proboscis.
MILTON.
CAPTAIN M remained but a few days at Calcutta,
where he perceived little difference between the society and
that of England, remarking only that the gentlemen were
more hospitable, and the ladies drank more beer. But I am
trespassing, notwithstanding my promise to the contrary at
the end of the last chapter. I will therefore be off at once,
before I am decidedly guilty of a breach of faith. The
Aspasia's orders were to join the admiral, who had quitted
the Bay of Bengal and proceeded to Bombay to avoid the
monsoon, which was about to set in ; and as there was no
time to be lost, Captain M did not touch at Madras, but
made all possible haste to gain the tranquil side of the penin-
sula. The Governor-General had requested that he would call
at Travancore, to deliver a letter and complimentary present
to the reigning queen, who held her possessions tributary to
our Government.
The Aspasia anchored off the town, and was shortly after-
wards boarded by one of the ministers of the queen, a vene-
rable Mussulman, who brought a boatload of compliments and
vegetables. He was accompanied by one or two others, among
whom was a very indifferent interpreter. Captain M ,
who was anxious to join the admiral, excused himself on the
plea of ill health from delivering the present and letter in
person, and expressed his wish to the deputy that he would
take them in charge, stating that his services were required
elsewhere ; he requested that an answer to the letter might
be sent on board as soon as possible. This was explained
through the interpreter, and Captain M then inquired
what time would probably elapse before the answer would be
sent. The reply was, in a week or ten days.
" Ask him," said Captain M , " whether it cannot be
sent to-morrow morning, as I am anxious to proceed ? "
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After an exchange of several sentences between the inter-
preter and the deputy, who observed the most imperturbable
gravity, the former replied to Captain M ,
" He say no, sar. Little people, like you and me, write
letter very quick, all in one minute. Great people, like king
and queen, not possible write letter less than week or ten days.
Not fashion this country, sar."
The pi-esents being placed in the boat, and the letter pre-
sented on a silver salver, the deputy made a low salaam, and
depai'ted. Captain M , aware that all attempts to hasten
them would be useless, made no further remarks on the subject.
The next morning the same grave personage came on board,
attended by the interpreter and his suite, with many compli-
ments from their royal mistress, who had sent a present for the
captain. During the time of the delivery and interpretation of
the message, the natives who rowed in his boat handed up a
large black monkey, with a long white beard extending over
his chin and shoulders. The animal, who did not seem well
pleased with his change of situation, and who was naturally of
a vicious temperament, flew round and round the length of his
tether, catching at the trousers of the sailors with his paws and
teeth, and using the latter without the least ceremony.
"Queen say, sar Many compliments, and tell you it very
high caste monkey very high caste, indeed, sar very fine
present, sar."
"It may be," observed Captain M to the first lieu-
tenant ; " but I wish she had saved herself the trouble. I
must not refuse it ; and what can we do with the brute ? "
"It will amuse the men, sir; he seems to have plenty of
devil in him."
" Oh ! " roared Prose, " I do declare he has bit a piece out
of my leg. High caste, indeed. I should like to give him a
high cast overboard."
" Really, Prose, that's not so bad," observed Seymour.
" Jerry was correct in his assertion that you had plenty of wit,
only it required strong measures to extract it from you."
" Queen say, sar, write letter in five or six days, and say,
suppose Captain Saib and officers come on shore, order every-
body go hunt tiger. Queen tell people make everything
proper. Very fine tiger-hunt, sar."
Captain M , who was convinced that he must patiently
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await their own time, did not expostulate at the delay. Not
wishing to avail himself of the offer, he requested the officers
would consider themselves at liberty to accept the invitation,
which was intended as a compliment, and therefore ought not
to be refused.
A large party was formed, who on the ensuing day, accom-
panied by the deputy and his suite, and provided with fowling-
pieces and muskets, landed at the town, where they were
received by a few tom-toms and some hundreds of spectators.
On their arrival at a house which had been prepared for their
reception, they found a splendid breakfast awaiting them, to
which they did as ample justice as a celebrated traveller to
that which welcomed him at New York, although they did
not, like him, revel to satiety, by plunging into oceans of tea
and coffee.
Again the talents of the interpreter were called into action,
to explain the reason why her Majesty could not receive them,
which he did by laying his hand across what medical men
would term the abdominal region (or, as Mrs. Ramsbottom
would have said, "her abominable region"), and informing
them that the queen was not well there. The party required
no further explanation. They expressed their regrets, finished
their breakfast, and then stated themselves ready to proceed.
"Game not come yet, sar game not come till to-morrow."
" Well, then, we must go to it," replied Courtenay.
" Ah, gentleman not understand shoot in this country," con-
tinued the interpreter, who then, with some difficulty, contrived
to make them understand that about four thousand men had
been summoned to drive the game close to the town, and that,
to ensure a sufficiency of sport, the sweep which they had
taken was so great, that they would not close in till the next
morning. He added, that as, perhaps, they would like to see
the jungle to which the game was to be driven, horses and
elephants had been prepared, and refreshments would be
provided at any spot where they might wish to alight.
Macallan, who had provided himself with his hammers and
other implements requisite in the pursuit of his favourite
sciences, mineralogy and geology, was not sorry for the delay,
and the remainder of the party were satisfied with the idea of
a pleasant excursion. Previous to their setting off, a variety
of performers were ordered in to amuse them with feats of
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juggling and address, which would have been acknowledged,
if seen in England, to have far surpassed those of the celebrated
Ramoo Samee and his associates. Amongst the rest, the
majestic attitudes of the dancing snakes particularly attracted
the attention of Macallan, who expressed to the interpreter
his wish to procure one of the species (the famed cobra di
capella), with the fangs not extracted. The interpreter, after
a few words with the deputy, informed the doctor, with his
usual politeness, " that all the snakes in the country were at
the service of the gentleman ; but take care not let bite,
because very high caste snake."
" What do they mean by calling the animals of the country
high caste ? " inquired Seymour of Macallan. " I thought it
was a term only applied to the Brachmins and Rajahpoots."
" Both the monkey and the snake arc indirectly worshipped
by these people," replied the doctor, "as their supposed
deities are represented to have assumed these forms. The
more vicious, or the more venomous, the higher they rank.
The cobra di capella is, I believe, the most venomous serpent
that exists."
" I do declare that that monkey deserves his rank," ob-
served Prose. " I can hardly walk, as it is."
" Well, but you can ride, Prose, and here are the horses."
The horses, with three elephants, two with howdahs on
their backs, and the other loaded with a large tent, were
now paraded before the door. ; each horse was attended by
his syce, or groom, who never quitted him, but fanned away
the flies with a chowry or whisk, formed of a horse's tail.
They were beautiful animals, but much too spirited for some
of the party, who felt alarm at the very anticipation of the
difficulty they would have in retaining their seats.
Prose, who had never been twice in his life on the back
of any animal, was in sad trepidation ; he looked first at
the horses, who were plunging and rearing in the hands
of the syces, who could with difficulty restrain their im-
patience, and then at the elephants, whose stupendous size,
nourishing probosces, projecting tusks, and small, keen eyes,
equally filled him with dismay.
" I do declare," observed Prose, affecting an extra limp,
"my leg is very bad. I think
"Come, come, Mr. Prose, no hauling off; no leg-bail, if
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you please," said Courtenay, who, with Seymour, was already
mounted upon a spirited Arabian ; " take your choice but
go you must."
"Well, then, if I must, which would you advise me to
take ? "
" Take a horse," said Seymour, laughing ; " of two evils,
always choose the least."
" Take an elephant, Mr. Prose," cried Courtenay ; " his
size is double, but he'll give you less trouble."
" Why, that's a rhyme, I do declare ; but how shall I get
upon his back ? "
"Oh, he'll take you up in his trunk, and put you on."
" Indeed he shall not," cried Prose, retreating some paces.
" I say, Mr. Interpreter, how am I to get on the top of that
great beast ? "
"As you please, sar. Suppose you like get up before, he
lift up his leg for you to climb up. Suppose you like to get
up behind, he not say nothing. Suppose you wish go up his
middle, you ab ladder.
"Well, then, Mr. Interpreter, I shall feel very much
obliged to you for a ladder."
A ladder was brought. Prose and Macallan, with his im-
plements, ascended to the howdah, fixed on the back of the
enormous brute. The remainder of the party being ready,
they set off, accompanied by the deputy, the interpreter, and
several other handsomely attired natives, who out of compli-
ment to the officers had been ordered to attend them. The
country, like most parts of India near to the coast, consisted
of paddy or rice fields, under water, diversified with inter-
secting patches of jungle and high trees. Occasionally they
passed a deeper pool, where the buffaloes, with only their
horns and tips of their noses to be seen, lay, with the whole
of their enormous carcasses hid under the muddy water, to
defend themselves from the attacks of the mosquitoes and
the powerful rays of the sun.
" Look at the buffaloes, Prose."
" Where, Seymour ? I can't see any. I never saw a
buffalo in my life. It's like an ox, an't it ? "
" It's very like a whale," replied Courtenay.
At this moment one of the herd, startled at the near ap-
proach of the cavalcade, rose from the stagnant pool where
THE KING'S OWN
he had been lying, and presented his immense carcass, covered
with mud, to Prose's wondering eyes.
" Lord, Molly, what a fish ! " exclaimed Courtenay, with
affected surprise, alluding to an old-standing naval joke.
" Now, is that a fish ? " cried Prose, a little alarmed.
" Well, I do declare ! I say, Mr. Interpreter, what is that
thing ?"
Call him buffalo, sar."
" Well, I do declare ! I always thought that buffaloes
were animals that lived on shore."
" Nothing like travelling, Mr. Prose," observed Courtenay ;
" you'll know a buffalo, now, if ever you happen to hook one
when you are fishing out of the fore-chains."
"And you'll remember a high-caste monkey, if ever you
meet with one again," added Seymour.
" That I shall, all the days of my life.'
The country as they proceeded inland materially altered
its features. Forests of large trees and fragments of rocks
met their view instead of the paddy-fields which they had
left behind ; and Macallan now wished to descend, that he
might collect geological specimens. Explaining his reasons,
he desired the interpreter to order the elephant to stop.
" Suppose gentleman want stones, elephant give them,"
replied the interpreter; "no occasion for Saib to get off;"
and explaining the doctor's wishes to the conductor of the
elephant, the knowledge of which occasioned a laugh among
the natives, who could not conceive why the doctor should
want the stones, he continued, " Now, sar, you point any
stone you want."
The doctor did so ; and the conductor speaking to the
elephant, the proboscis of the sagacious animal immediately
handed up the one pointed out to his conductor, who passed
it to Macallan.
For more than an hour the doctor amused himself with
breaking and examining the different specimens presented to
him, until he passed by an isolated mass, whose component
parts, glittering in the sun, made him anxious to obtain a
specimen. It was a large rock, about the size of six elephants,
and the doctor pointed to it.
" Ah, sar, " interrupted the interpreter, " elephant very
strong beast, but no lift that."
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THE KING'S OWN
ee I did not imagine that lie would, but I must dismount to
examine it/' replied Macallan gravely., who was absorbed in
his scientific pursuits.
The elephant stopped ; and the doctor, not aware of the
great height, attempted to slip down his side ; he succeeded
in* reaching the ground, not exactly on his feet, to the great
amusement of the party. Regardless of trifles when in
pursuit of science, he desired Prose to throw him down his
bag of implements, and proceeded to the object of his investi-
gation, which appeared to him so peculiar, that he requested
the others to continue their excursion, and leave him to be
picked up on their return.
"Ah, massa ! like stop this place ?" said the interpreter.
"Yes," replied the doctor.
" Do you really intend to remain here ? " inquired Courtenay.
" I do ; it is a very remarkable specimen of cinnamon-stone,
and I must procure some of it if possible."
"Well, I do declare," said Prose; "I thought cinnamon
grew upon trees. Doctor, I should like to stay with you, for
this beast does shake me so, I'm quite sore and I've such
a stitch in my side."
Prose accordingly prepared to descend, and was recom-
mended by the interpreter to slide down by the hind leg of
the animal.
" He won't kick, will he ? "
" Elephant no kick, sar," and Prose descended in safety,
while the remainder of the party continued their excursion.
The doctor walked several times round the rock to find a
point upon which he would be able to make some impression
with his implements ; but the fragment, which had probably
remained there since the Deluge, without having been hon-
oured by a visit from a naturalist, was worn quite smooth
by time, and presented no acute angle, within reach, upon
which his hammer could make any impression ; nor could he
climb it, for it rose from its base in almost a perpendicular
line. The more he scrutinised, the more anxious was he to
obtain specimens, and he determined to blast the rock. Being
prepared with a couple of short crowbars and a flask of gun-
powder, he fixed upon a corner, which appeared more assail-
able than the rest, and commenced his laborious occupation.
" Can I assist you, Mr. Macallan ? " inquired Prose.
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" You can indeed, Mr. Prose. Now, observe ; continue
driving the end of the crowbar straight into this hole until
you have made it about nine or ten inches deep ; that will
be sufficient. I will make another on the other side."
Prose commenced his labour, and for a few minutes worked
with due emphasis ; but he soon found out that he had
volunteered to a most fatiguing task. He stopped at last
for want of breath.
" Well, Mr. Prose," inquired the doctor, from the other side
of the rock, observing that he had ceased from his labour,
" how do you get on ? "
" I wish to Heaven I had never got off," muttered Prose,
" for this is worse than the elephant."
But the doctor was an enthusiast, a description of person
who never tires, and he judged of others by himself.
" How far have you got now, Mr. Prose ? "
" Oh, I think I have got an inch and a half good," answered
Prose, quite exhausted.
" No more ! " exclaimed Macallan ; " why, you must work
harder, or we never shall blast it."
" I have been blasting it in my heart," thought Prose, " for
these last ten minutes," and he resumed his labour.
" You know nothing of mineralogy ? " inquired the doctor,
after a silence of a few minutes.
" This is my first lesson, doctor," answered Prose, out loud ;
and muttering in continuation, " I do declare it shall be the
last."
"It's a very amusing study," continued Macallan; "but
like most others, rather dry at first."
" Anything but drv," thought Prose, wiping his face with
his handkerchief.
" I shall be happy to give you any information in my power,"
said Macallan ; " but you must be attentive nothing is to be
obtained without labour."
" I'm sure mineralogy is not," retorted Prose, throwing
down his crowbar from exhaustion.
Fortunately for Prose, by the directions of the interpreter
the baggage elephant who carried the tent, and the natives
accompanying it, now halted opposite to the rock, on the side
where Prose was; for the wish expressed by Macallan to remain
there had been construed by the interpreter as a selection of
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THE KING'S OWN
the place where the refreshments should be prepared. One of
the natives, perceiving what Prose was about when he threw
away the crowbar, offered his assistance, which was readily
accepted, and the labour was continued.
" Well, Mr. Prose, how do you get on now ? "
"Oh ! capitally."
" Don't you find it very warm ? " continued Macallan, who
stopped to wipe the streams of perspiration from his own face.
" Oh no," answered Prose, chuckling.
" Well, I do, I can assure you," answered the doctor, who,
not wishing to show symptoms of flagging while Prose was
working so hard, recommenced his labour.
Another quarter of an hour, and the doctor was quite ex-
hausted ; wishing for an excuse to leave off himself, he called
again to Prose
" Ant you tired, Mr. Prose ? "
" Not the least, doctor."
" Oh, but you must be you had better rest yourself a little."
"Thank you, but I'm not the least tired."
Another five minutes. " Well, Mr. Prose, I really give you
great credit for your perseverance. Let me see how deep you
are," said Macallan, who could find no other excuse for being
the first to abandon his task.
But Prose, who was not exactly a fool, determined not to
lose his credit with ythe doctor ; pushing aside the native, he
took the crowbar from him, and before the doctor had walked
round, was again hard at work.
" Upon my honour I give you great credit," observed the
panting Macallan, as he witnessed the effects of the labour.
" But," observed Prose, " why should we work this way
when there are a parcel of black fellows doing nothing ?
Here, I say, you chap, come and punch here," continued he,
pointing the crowbar to the native, who immediately resumed
his labour. " You call another, Mr. Macallan, and make him
work for you."
"Well thought of, Mr. Prose," answered the doctor, and
another native being put in requisition, in less than an hour
the rock was perforated to the depth required, without the
least appearance of fatigue or even heat upon the skins of the
temperate Hindoos. In the meantime the tent was erected
the mats and carpets spread, the fires lighted, and the repast
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THE KING'S OWN
preparing by the cooks who were in attendance. The doctor,
who was absorbed in his views, heeded it not, and had j ust
finished the charging and priming of the rock when the caval-
cade returned from their excursion.
Well, doctor, how do you get on ? " inquired Courtenay.
Oh, I'm all ready, and you had better remove to a little
distance, as I'm about to fire my trains."
' Fire your trains ! Why, what have you been about ? "
' I am going to blast the rock."
'The devil you are then I'm off," cried Courtenay, who with
Seymour retreated from the well-known effects of gunpowder.
The natives who accompanied them also retired, although not
aware of the nature of the operation. The interpreter under-
stood "gentlemen make fireworks," and reported accordingly.
The doctor lighted his matches and withdrew, followed by
Prose, who forgot his limp upon this occasion. The mines
exploded, splitting large fragments from the rock, and shak-
ing it from its base.
" Capital ! " exclaimed the doctor, who as soon as the
smoke had cleared away ran up, and was in ecstasies at the
variety and brilliancy of the specimens which were now
exposed to his eager view.
But in his enthusiasm the doctor quite overlooked the
mischief which he had occasioned. One large fragment had
struck the tent to the ground ; others had scattered the
cooking utensils, with their contents, and wounded the unfortu-
nate cooks ; while the affrighted elephant had completed the
demolition by trotting over the whole, his trunk raised high
in the air, uttering shrill cries, and regardless of the admoni-
tions of his conductor. All was confusion and dismay.
The natives when they witnessed the damage were asto-
nished. A long consultation took place between them as to
what the doctor meant ; at last it was decided by the grave
deputy that it was intended as a compliment to them for
all fireworks were compliments in that country. They there-
fore salaamed with great good-humour; but the English
knew better, and commenced a violent attack on Macallan,
who was still absorbed in collecting specimens, and quite
unconscious of the mischief which he had created.
" You've not only destroyed our dinner," continued Courte-
nay, " but you've killed three cooks, and wounded seven more."
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" Is it possible ! " cried Macallan with dismay, throwing
away his specimens with as much haste as he had seized upon
them, and running in the direction of the men reported to be
hurt. Fortunately for his peace of mind Courtenay's list of
killed was all invention, and the wounded were reduced to
two, which the doctor conscientiously reported under the head
of "slightly."
There was no help but to proceed to town, and wait until
another repast could be provided. This was soon done, aiul
the interpreter, with a double salaam, informed the doctor,
that " if gentleman wish blow up another tent, deputy have
one ready for him next day."
"Well, now, I do declare these people are very polite,"
observed Prose ; " but I hope that if you do, doctor, you will
not make me a party to it. I would never have punched so
hard at that hole if I thought that it was to have blown up
my own dinner."
" You're right, Mr. Prose," answered Courtenay. " The
doctor did not treat us according to the Scriptures. We
asked for bread, and he gave us a stone rather annoying too,
after a long ride. But, however, as the game is to come to us
to-morrow, we had better be up early to receive it in due form
so good-night."
CHAPTER XLIV
Now shall ye see
Our Roman hunting.
SHAKSPEAEE.
Never did I hear
Such gallant chidiug ; for besides the groves,
The skies, the fountains, ev'ry region near
Seemed ail one mutual cry. 1 never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder !
SHAKSPEARE.
AT an early hour, Courtenay and his companions started with
their attendants for the scene of action. Several elephants,
as well as horses, had been provided, that the officers might
mount them when they arrived, and fire from their backs
THE KING'S OWN
with more deliberate aim. In less than two hours they
reached the spot which they had surveyed the day before.
The game, which had been driven from jungle to jungle for
many miles round, was now collected together in one large
mass of underwood and low trees, three sides of which were
surrounded by the natives, who had been employed in the
service, and who had been joined by many hundreds from
the town and neighbouring villages. As soon as the party
arrived, those who were on horseback dismounted, took their
stations upon the howdahs of the elephants, and collected
at the corner of that side of the jungle at which the animals
were to be driven out. The scene was one of the most
animating and novel description. Forty or fifty of the superior
classes of natives, mounted upon fiery Arabians, with their
long, glittei'ing boar-spears in their hands, and above one
hundred on foot, armed with muskets, surrounded the
elephants upon which the officers were stationed. The people
who were waiting round the jungle, silent themselves, and
busy in checking the noise and impatience of the dogs, held
in leashes, whose deep baying was occasionally answered by
a low growl from the outskirts of the wood, now received the
order to advance. Shouts and yells, mixed with the barking of
the dogs, were raised in deafening clamour on every side. The
jungle, which covered a space of fifteen or twenty acres, and
which had hitherto appeared but slightly tenanted, answered as
if endued with life, by waving its boughs and rustling its bushes
in every direction, although there was nothing to be seen.
As they advanced, beating with their long poles, and pre-
serving a straight and compact line, through which nothing
could escape, so did the jungle before them increase its motion ;
and soon the yells of thousands of men were answered by the
roars and cries of thousands of brute animals. It was not,
however, until the game had been driven so near to the end
of the jungle at which the hunters were stationed, and until
they were huddled together so close that it could no longer
contain them, that they unwillingly abandoned it. The most
timorous, the rabbit and the hare, and all the smaller tribes,
first broke cover, and were allowed to pass unnoticed ; but
they were soon followed by the whole mass, who, as if by
agreement among themselves, had determined at once to
decide their fate.
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Crowded in incongruous heaps, without any distinction of
species or of habits, now poured out the various denizens of
the woods deer in every variety, locking their horns in
their wild confusion ; the fierce wild-boars, bristling in their
rage ; the bounding leopards ; the swift antelope, of every
species ; the savage panthers ; jackals, and foxes, and all the
screaming and shrieking infinities of the monkey tribe. Occa-
sionally amongst the dense mass could be perceived the huge
boa-constrictor, rolling in convolutions now looking back
with fiery eyes upon his pursuers, now precipitating his flight ;
while the air was thronged with its winged tenants, wildly
screaming, and occasionally dropping down dead witli fear.
To crown the whole, high in the expanse a multitude of
vultures appeared, almost stationary on the wing, waiting for
their share of the anticipated slaughter. And as the beasts
threw down and rolled over each other in their mad career,
you might have fancied, from the universal terror which pre-
vailed, that it was a day of judgment to which the inhabitants
had been summoned.
It was not a day of mercy. The slaughter commenced ;
shot after shot laid them in the dust, while the natives, on
their Arabians, charged with their spears into the thickest of
the crowd, regardless of the risk which they encountered from
the muskets of other parties. The baying of the large dogs,
who tore down their victims, the din occasionally increased
by the contention and growls of the assailed, the yells of the
natives, and the shrill cries of the elephants, raised in
obedience to their conductors to keep the more ferocious
animals at a distance, formed a scene to which no pen can
do justice. In a few minutes all was over ; those who had
escaped were once more hid, panting, in the neighbouring
jungles, while those who had fallen covered the ground, in
every direction, and in every variety.
" Very fine tiger-hunt, sar," observed the interpreter to
Courtenay, with exultation.
"Very fine indeed. Seymour, this is something like a battue.
What would some of your English sportsmen have given to
have been here ? But, interpreter, I don't see any tigers."
" Great tigers ? No, sar, no great tiger in this country.
Call dis tiger," said the man, pointing with his finger to a
prostrate leopard.
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Such is the case the regal Bengal tiger, as well as his rival
the lion, admits of no copartnership in his demesnes. On the
banks of the impetuous rivers of India he ranges alone the
jungles which supply his wants, and permits them not to be
poached by inferior sportsmen. Basking his length in the sun,
and playing about his graceful tail, he prohibits the intrusion
of the panther or the leopard. His majestic compeer seems
to have entered into an agreement with him, that they shall
not interfere with each other's manorial rights, and where you
find the royal tiger, you need not dread the presence of the
lion. Each has established his dominion where it has pleased
him, both respecting each other, and leaving the rest of the
world to be preyed upon by their inferiors.
" Well, Prose, how many did you kill ? "
"Why, to tell you the truth, Seymour, I never fired my
musket. I was so astonished and so frightened that I could
not ; I never believed that there were so many beasts in the
whole universe."
" I am convinced," observed Macallan, " that I saw an
animal hitherto undescribed I fired at it, but an antelope
bounded by as I pulled my trigger, and received the ball I
never regretted anything so much in my life. Did you see it?"
" I saw a number of most indescribable animals," replied
Courtenay ; " but let us descend and walk over the field of
slaughter."
The party dismounted, and for some time amused themselves
with examining the variety of the slain. The deer and ante-
lopes were the most plentiful ; but on enumeration, nine
panthers and leopards, and fifteen wild boars, headed the list.
Prose and Seymour were walking side by side, when they
perceived a monkey sitting on the ground, with a most piti-
ful face ; it was of a small variety, with a long tail ; it made
no effort to escape as they approached it, but, on the contrary,
appeared to court their notice, by looking at them with a
melancholy air, and uttering loud cries as if in pain.
" Poor little fellow," said Seymour, apostrophising the
animal, " it looks as if it were a rational being. Where are
you hurt ? "
The monkey, as if it were a rational being, looked down
at one of his hind legs, and put his finger into the wound
where the ball had entered.
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"Well, now, I do declare," said Prose, "but the poor beast
understands you."
Seymour examined the leg without any resistance on the
part of the monkey, who continued to look first at the wound
and then in their faces, as if to say, "Why did you do it ? "
" Macallan, come here," ejaculated Seymour, " and see if
you can assist this poor little fellow."
Macallan came up and examined the wound. " I think it
will recover ; the bone is not broken, and no vital part is
touched. We'll bandage it up and take him home."
" How very like a human being it is," .observed Courtenay ;
" it appears only to want speech it's 'really excessivel} 7
annoying."
" Rather mortifying to our pride, I grant," replied Macallan.
"That's exactly what I mean."
Seymour tore up his handkerchief for bandages, and the
monkey was consigned to the care of a native. (Par parenthesc,
it eventually recovered ; and from the peculiarity of its his-
tory, and the request of Seymour, was allowed by Captain
M to remain on board of the frigate, where it became a
great favourite. High Caste, on the contrary, disappeared a
few days after his reception, having been thrown overboard by
some of the people that he had bitten, and Captain M made
no inquiries after him. So much for the two monkeys.)
By this time the natives had collected the game, which was
carried in procession before the officers- the leopards and
panthers, which they skinned and rudely stuffed with gra:;:;
in an incredibly short time, leading the procession, followed
by the wild boars, deer, and antelopes, each carried between
two men, slung under bamboos which rested on their shoulders.
The procession having passed in review before them, con-
tinued its course to the town, followed by crowds of people
who had come out to join the sport.
" Gentlemen like dine here ? " inquired the interpreter ;
" soon make dinner ready, but no ab tent."
" Thanks to you, doctor, they won't trust us with another.
I vote we dine here ; for I am hungry enough to eat a buffalo,
without anchovy sauce-r eh, Mr. Prose ? Let us dine under
yon acacia on the little mount. There is a fine breeze blow-
ing, and plenty of shade from the tree."
Courtenay's proposal was agreed to, and the interpreter
THE KING'S OWN
gave the directions. He then told the doctor, that if Saib
wished to see snake-man, he come now, and bring very fine
snake.
The man made his appearance, holding in his hand a small
earthen chatty, or pot, in which he had confined the snake,
covered over with a linen rag. He exchanged a few sentences
with the interpreter, who explained that " man not afraid of
bite of snake, and if gentleman give him rupee, he let snake
bite him man eat herb, same as little beast that kill
snake."
"Oh, that plant that the ichneumon resorts to when
bitten," exclaimed Macallan. "This will be a most curious
fact, and I must witness it. Interpreter, tell him that I will
reward him handsomely."
"How does he catch the snakes?" inquired Seymour.
" Blow little pipe, sar," replied the interpreter, pointing to
a small reed, perforated with five or six holes, suspended by
a string to the man's neck ; "snake like music."
He then proceeded to explain the manner of taking the
snakes, which was effected by lying down close to the hole
where the snake was, and by playing a few soft notes with
the pipe. The snake, attracted by the sound, puts his head
out of the hole, and is immediately firmly grasped by the
neck, by which he is held until his fangs are extracted, by
jerking them out with a piece of rag, held for him to bite at.
"Strange," observed Courtenay, "that snakes should be
fond of music, and still stranger that people should have
discovered it."
"And yet it has long been known perhaps from time
immemorial," answered Macallan. " The comparisons of Scrip-
ture are all derived from eastern scenery and eastern customs.
Do you not recollect the words of the Psalmist, who compareth
the wicked to the deaf adder, who ' will not hearken to the
voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely ' ? "
" I recollect it now," answered Courtenay ; " from which I
infer, that as snakes are not caught for nothing, they danced
before King Solomon."
" Perhaps they did, or at least in his time."
The man carefully removed the cloth from the top of the
chatty, and watching his opportunity, seized the snake by the
neck, who immediately wound itself round his arm. Holding
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it in that position, he rapidly chewed leaves which he had
wrapped in the cloth which encircled his loins. After having
laid a heap of the masticated leaves near him, he swallowed a
large quantity, and then applied the head of the snake to his
left ear, which the animal immediately bit so as to draw blood.
It was a cobra di capella of the largest size, being nearly six
feet long. As soon as the snake had bitten him he replaced
it in the chatty, and at the same time that he continued to
swallow the leaves, rubbed the wounded part with some of the
heap which he had masticated and laid down beside him.
There was a silence, and a degree of painful anxiety, on
the part of the spectators during the process. The man ap-
peared to be sick and giddy, and lay clown, but gradually
recovered, and making a low salaam, received his largess,
handed the snake, in the chatty, to Macallan, and departed.
" A most curious fact an excessively curious fact," observed
the doctor, putting up his tablets, and a handful of the leaves,
which he had taken the precaution to obtain.
"Now, gentlemen, dinner all ready," observed the in-
terpreter.
The dinner had been spread out on the little mount pointed
out by Courtenay. It rose isolated from the plain to the
height of about thirty feet, with a steep and regular ascent on
every side. The summit was flat, and in the centre the acacia
waved its graceful and pendent flowers to the breeze, each
moment altering the position of the bright spot of sunshine
which pierced through its branches and reflected on the grass
beneath. The party (consisting of the officers of the ship, the
grave deputy, and his immediate suite, about fifteen in number),
whose appetites were keen from their morning exercise and
excitement, gladly hailed the summons, and seating them-
selves in a circle round the viands, which were spread under
the tree, crossed their legs, after the Mahometan custom, and
made a furious attack upon the provender.
Macallan, to secure his newly-acquired treasure, hung the
chatty, by its string, upon one of the long thorns of the acacia,
and then took his seat with the rest. Ample justice having
been done to what had been placed before them, mirth and
good-humour prevailed. Courtenay had just persuaded the
grave old deputy to break through the precepts of his religion
and partake of the forbidden cup, in the shape of a tumbler of
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Madeira, when the chatty, which the doctor had suspended
aloft, by the constant waving of the tree to the wind, worked
off the thorn, and falling down in the very centre of the circle,
smashed into atoms, and the cobra di capella met their gaze,
reared upon the very tip of his tail, his hood expanded to the
utmost in his wrath, hissing horribly, and darting out his forked
tongue wavering, among the many, upon whom first to dart.
Never was a convivial party so suddenly dispersed. For
one, and but one, moment they were all paralysed ; no one
attempted to get up and run away then, as if by a simul-
taneous thought, they all threw themselves back, tossing
their heels over their heads, and continuing their eccentric
career. Mussulmen and Europeans all tumbled backwards,
heels over heads, down the descent, diverging in every point
of the compass, until they reached their respective situations
at the bottom of the mount, while the cobra di capella still
remained in his menacing attitude, as if satisfied with the
universal homage paid to his dreadful powers.
They all recovered their legs (as they had gained the
bottom of the hill) about the same time. Courtenay and
Seymour, now that the danger was over, were convulsed with
laughter Macallan in amazement Prose, with his eyes
starting out of his head, uttering his usual " I do declare "-
the deputy as grave as ever and the remainder, fortunately,
more frightened than they were hurt.
One of the native servants put an end to the scene by
reascending the hill with a long bamboo, with which he
struck the animal to the ground, and subsequently despatched
him. By this time all had recovered from their alarm, and
in a few minutes their seats were resumed. The doctor, who
was vexed at the loss of his snake, commenced an examina-
tion of the body, and was still more mortified to find that the
wily Hindoo had deceived him, the venomous fangs having
been already extracted.
" It is positively a fact," observed he to Courtenay, in ill-
humour, "he has cheated me."
" A most curious fact," replied Courtenay, shrugging up his
shoulders, and lowering the corners of his mouth. " Now,
Macallan, what's the use of your memoranda about time of
biting, appearance of patient, &c. ? Allow, for once, that
there are some things which are ' excessively annoying,' "
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The party soon after remounted, and proceeded to the
town. The next morning they repaired on board, and the
queen having, at last, concocted the letter of thanks, the
Aspasia weighed and proceeded to Bombay.
CHAPTER XLV
An you like a ready knave, here is one of most approved convenience :
he will cheat you, moreover, to your heart's content. If you believe me
not, try him. The Colony, 1635.
_L HE Aspasia continued her passage with light but favour-
able winds. As the ship made but little progress, Captain
M stood into Goa Bay, as he passed by that relic of
former grandeur and prosperity alas ! like the people who
raised it, how fallen from its "high estate." The town still
covers the same vast extent of ground ; the churches still
rear their heads above the other buildings in their beautiful
proportions ; the Palace of the Inquisition still lours upon
you in its fanatical gloom and massive iron bars. But where
is the wealth, the genius, the enterprise, the courage, and
religious enthusiasm which raised these majestic piles ? A
scanty population of mixed Hindoo and Portuguese blood, or
of half-converted Indians, are the sole occupiers of this once
splendid city of the East. Read the history of the Moors
when in Spain, their chivalry and their courage, their learn-
ing and advancement in the arts and now view their de-
graded posterity on the African coast. Reflect upon the
energy and perseverance of the Spaniards at the time when
they drove out those conquerors of their country after a
struggle of so many years, their subsequent discovery and
possession of a western world and behold them now. Turn
to the Portuguese, who, setting an example of perseverance
and activity to the nations of Europe, in vessels in which we
should now think it almost insanity to make the attempt,
forced their passage round the Stormy Cape, undeterred by
disasters or by death, and grasped the empire of the East
what are they in the scale of nations now ?
How rapid these transitions ! Two hundred years have
scarcely rolled away other nations, with the fabrics they have
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raised, have been precipitated to the dust ; but they have
departed, full of years, and men and things have run their
race together. But here, the last in all their splendour,
while the energies of the former have decayed, remain ; and
where have we a more melancholy picture of humanity, either
in an individual or in a nation, than when we survey the body
that has outlived the mind ?
Since the world began, history is but the narrative of king-
doms and states progressing to maturity or decay. Man him-
self is but an epitome of the nations of men. In youth, all
energy ; in prime of life, all enterprise and vigour ; in senility,
all weakness and second childhood. Then, England, learn
thy fate from the unerring page of time. Sooner or later, it
shall arrive that thou shalt be tributary to some nation
hitherto, I trust, unborn ; and thy degenerate sons shall
read that liberty was once the watchword of the isle, and
yet not even feel a longing to be free.
As the Aspasia lay nearly becalmed at the entrance of the
harbour, a small boat, rowed by two men, pulled towards her,
and the occupant of the stern-sheets, as he came alongside,
stated in bad English that he brought "present for captain,"
and was allowed to come up the side by the first lieutenant,
who was on deck. He was a native friar, and disgusting as
the dress is when worn by an European in a northern clime,
it appeared still more so enveloping a black under the torrid
zone. He carried a little covered basket in his hand, and
stated that he had been sent by the superior of the convent,
which he pointed to, on the headland at the mouth of the
harbour. The first lieutenant went down into the cabin and
reported to the captain.
" A present ! " observed Captain M ; " I hope it is
not a monkey ' Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.' "
The first lieutenant, who had forgotten his Latin, made no
answer, but returned on deck, where he was shortly after
followed by Captain M
The sable votary of St. Francis made his bow, and opening
the lid of his basket, pulled out a cabbage with a long stal :
and four or five nagging leaves, but no heart to it. " Superior
send present to Inglez capitown." And having laid it care-
fully on the carronade slide, fumbled in his pocket for some
time, and eventuallv produced a dirty sheet of paper, on
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which, written in execrable English, was a petition to assist
the wants of the convent.
" I expected as much," observed Captain M , smiling,
as he ran over the ridiculous wording of the petition.
" Desire the purser's steward to get up a bag of biscuit,
and put into the boat."
The bread was handed on the gangway, when the friar,
observing it, went up to the captain, and said, " Superior like
rum, sar ; suppose you no rum, teng like money."
" Perhaps he may," replied Captain M ; " but it is
against my rules to give the first, and if I recollect right,
against those of your order to receive the second."
Finding that nothing more was to be obtained, the friar
was about to depart, when perceiving the cabbage lying un-
noticed where he had deposited it, he observed, " Capitown,
11011 quer cabbage not want ? "
"Not particularly," replied Captain M , surveying it
with rather a contemptuous smile.
"Then take it ashore, plant it again do for 'nother ship ;"
and he replaced the present in his basket, made his bow,
and departed.
Reader,' cabbages are scarce articles in India. I have seen
them at Pondicherry, growing in flower-pots, as curious exotics.
Two days afterwards the Aspasia came to an anchor at
Bombay, and having saluted the admiral, Captain M
went on shore to pay his respects in person. The ship was
soon crowded with a variety of people, who came off to solicit
the washing, &c., of the officers. The gun-room officers had
just finished their dinner, and the cloth had been removed,
when our friend Billy Pitts entered, introducing a slim
personage, attired in a robe of spotless white, with the dark
turban peculiar to the Parsees, and bringing in his hand a
small basket of fruit.
" Massa Courtenay, here mulatta fellow want to speak to
officers. Call himself Dubash look in dictionary, and no
such word in English language."
" It means a washerman, I suppose," observed Price.
" No, sir," answered the man for himself, with a graceful
bow, " not a washerman, but at same time get all your clothes
washed. Dubash go to market, supply gentlemen with every-
thing they want run everywhere for them bring off meal
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and fish, and everything else everybody have dubash here
I dubash to all the ships come here got very good cer-
tificate, sir/' continued the Parsee, drawing a thin book from
his vest, and presenting it to Courtenay with a low bow.
"Well, Mr. Dubash, let us see what your character may
be," said Courtenay, opening the book.
" Yes, sir, you please to read them, and I go speak to young
gentlemen before other dubash come on board ; I bring gentle-
men little fruit," and laying the basket respectfully on the
table, with another low salaam the man quitted the gun-room.
Courtenay read for a minute, and then burst into a fit of
laughter. "Very good certificates, indeed/' observed he;
"only hear
"1st. 'This is to certify that Hommajee Baba served the
gun-room mess of his Majesty's ship Flora, and cheated us
most damnably.
(Signed) "< PETER HICKS, 1st Lieut.
"' JONAS SMITH, Purser.'
" 2nd. ' Hommajee Baba served me as dubash during my
stay in this port. He is a useful fellow, but a great scoundrel.
I gave him one half of his bill, and he was perfectly satisfied.
I recommend others to do the same.
(Signed) " ' ANDREW THOMPSON,
Company's ship Clio.'
" 3rd. ' I perfectly agree with the above remarks ; but as
all the other dubashes are as great thieves, and not half so
intelligent, I conscientiously recommend Hommajee Baba.
(Signed) " ' PETER PHILLIPS,
Captain Honbl. Company's cruiser Vestal.'
"4th. < Of all the scoundrels that I ever had to deal with
in this most rascally quarter of a most knavish world, Hom-
majee Baba is the greatest. Never give him any money, as
he will find it ; but when you go away, pay him one-third of
his bill, and you will still have paid him too much.
(Signed) " ' BILLY HELFLAME,
Captain H.M.S. Spitfire.' "
About a dozen pages of the book were filled with certifi-
cates to the above effect, which the dubash, although he
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spoke English fluently, not being able to read, considered, as
he had been informed at the time, to be decidedly in his
favour. They were so far valuable, that they put new-comers
upon their guard, and prevented much extortion on the part
of the said Hommajee.
When the laughter had to a degree subsided, Billy Pitts
was the first to exclaim, " D n black villain I think so,
when he come to me ; not like cut of um jib
" ' Who steals my purse, steals trash,' " spouted Price.
"'Cause you never have money, Mr. Price," cried Billy,
interrupting him.
" Silence, sir ' But he who filches from me my good name,
robs me of that of that
" Rob you of what, sar ? "
" Silence, sir," again cried Price " c robs me of that ' what
is it ? that d d black thief has put it out of my head
" I not the thief, sar Massa Price, you always forget end
of your story."
"I'll make an end of you directly, sir, if you're not off."
"No! don't kill Billy," observed Courtenay; "it's bad
enough to have murdered Shakspeare. Well, but now, it's
my opinion that we ought to employ this fellow, and take
the advice that has been given to us in this book."
Courtenay's proposal was assented to, and on his return
Hommajee Baba was installed in office.
The next morning, Seymour, Courtenay, and Macallan went
on shore to meet an old acquaintance of the latter, who had
called upon him on his arrival. By his advice they left the
ship before the sun had risen, that they might be enabled to
walk about, and view the town and its environs, without
being incommoded by the heat. They reached the long
plain close to the sea, upon which the admiral and many
others, according to the custom of the English inhabitants,
were residing in capacious tents ; not such tents as have been
seen in England, but impervious to the heat and rain, covering
a large extent of ground, divided into several apartments, and
furnished like any other residence. The broad expanse of
ocean which met their view was unruffled, and the beach
was lined with hundreds, standing on their carpets spread
upon the sand, with their faces turned towards the east. As
the sun rose in splendour above the horizon, they all pros-
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trated themselves in mute adoration, and continued in that
position until his disc had cleared the water's edge ; they
then rose, and throwing a few flowers into the rippling wave,
folded up their carpets and departed.
" Who are those people, and of what religion ? " demanded
Seymour.
" They are Parsees, a remnant of the ancient Persians the
Guebres, or worshippers of fire. As you have witnessed, they
also adore the sun. They came here long since to enjoy their
tenets, free from persecution. They are the most intelligent
race that we have. Many of them were princes in their own
country, and are now men of unbounded wealth. They have
their temples here, in which the sacred fire is never permitted
to go out. If by any chance or negligence it should become
extinct, it must be relighted from heaven alone. We have
no lightning here, and they send to Calcutta, where there is
plenty at the change of the monsoon, and bring it round with
great ceremony."
" In other points, are their customs different from the
Hindoos ? "
" Yes ; their women are not so immured ; you will meet
plenty of them when you return to town. They are easily
distinguished by their fair complexions, and the large thin
gold rings, with three or four pearls strung upon them, worn
in a hole perforated through the nostril, and hanging below
their mouths."
" And what are those immense towers on the other side of
the bay ? "
" They were built by the Parsees, as depositories for the
dead ; on the summit is a wide iron grating, upon which the
bodies are laid to be devoured by the birds of prey ; when
stripped, the bones fall through the iron bars into the recep-
tacle below. They never bury their dead. But breakfast
must be ready, so we had better return. You have much to
see here. The caves of Elephanta and Canara are well worthy
of your attention, and I shall be happy to attend you when
you feel inclined to pay a visit to them."
They did not fail to profit by the offer, and before the week
had passed away they had witnessed those splendid monu-
ments of superstition and idolatry. The Aspasia received her
orders, and Hommajee Baba, being paid the due proportion
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of his bill, received his certificate from Courtenay in the usual
form, and so far from being affronted, requested the honour
of being again employed in their services if ever they should
return to Bombay.
CHAPTER XLVI
These are not foes
With whom it would be safe to strive in honour.
They will repay your magnanimity,
Assassin-like, with secret stabs.
ANON.
JL HE strength of the monsoon had blown over, and Captain
M , in pursuance of his orders, beat across the Bay of
Bengal for the Straits of Sumatra, where he expected to fall in
with some of the enemy's privateers, who obtained their sup-
plies of water in that direction. After cruising for six weeks
without success, they fell in with an armed English vessel, who
informed them that she had been chased by a large pirate
proa, and had narrowly escaped acquainting Captain M
with the islet from which she had sallied out in pursuit of
them, and to which she had in all probability returned.
Captain M , naturally anxious to scour the seas of these
cruel marauders, who showed no quarter to those who had the
misfortune to fall into their hands, determined to proceed in
quest of this vessel ; and after a week's unsuccessful reconnoitre
of the various islets which cover the seas in that quarter, one
morning discovered her from the masthead on his weather
beam, sailing and rowing down towards the frigate to ascertain
whether she was a vessel that she might venture to attack.
The Aspasia was disguised as much as possible, and the
pirates were induced to approach within a distance of two
miles, when, perceiving their mistake, they lowered their
sails, and turning the head of their vessel in the opposite
direction, pulled away from the frigate right in the wind's
eye. The breeze freshened, and all possible sail was crowded
on the Aspasia to overtake them, and although at the close
of the day they had not neared her much, the bright moon
enabled them to keep the vessel in view during the night.
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Early in the morning (the crew being probably exhausted
from their incessant labour) she kept away for some islets
broad upon the Aspasias weather bow, and came to an anchor
in a small cove between the rocks, which sheltered her from
the guns of the frigate.
Captain M considered it his duty at all risks to destroy
the proa ; and hoisting out the boats, he gave the command
to his first lieutenant, with strict injunctions how to deal with
such treacherous and ferocious enemies. The launch was
under repair at the time, and could not be employed ; but
the barge, pinnace, and two cutters were considered fully
adequate to the service. Courtenay was second in command,
in the pinnace ; Seymour had charge of one cutter ; and at his
own particular request, Prose was entrusted with the other.
" I do declare, I think that I should like to go," observed
Prose, when he first heard that the vessel was to be cut out.
"Why, you ought, Prose," replied Seymour; "you have
never been on service yet."
" No ; and you and I are the only two passed midshipmen
in the ship." (Seymour and Prose had both passed their
examination when the Aspasia was at Bombay.) " I think
that I have a right to one of the boats."
So thought the first lieutenant when he made his applica-
tion, and he obtained the command accordingly.
The boats shoved off as soon as the men had swallowed
their breakfasts, and in less than an hour were but a short
distance from the proa, which proved to be one of the largest
size. A discharge of langrage from one of the two long brass
guns mounted on her prow flew amongst the boats, without
taking effect. A second discharge was more destructive,
three of the men in the boat which Prose commanded being
struck down bleeding under the thwarts, the oars, which they
had not relinquished their hold of when they fell, being
thrown high up in air.
" Halloa ! I say all catching crabs together ! " cried Prose.
"Caught something worse than a crab, sir," replied the
coxswain. " Wilson, are you much hurt ? "
" The rascals have let daylight in, I'm afraid," answered
the man faintly.
" Well, I do declare I'd no idea the poor fellows were
wounded. Coxswain, take one of the oars, and I'll steer the
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boat, or we shall never get alongside. I say, Mr. Jolly, can't
you pull ? "
"Yes, sir, upon a pinch," answered the marine whom he
addressed, laying his musket on the stern-sheets, and taking
one of the unmanned oars.
" Well, there now, give way."
But the delay occasioned by this mishap had left the cutter
far astern of the other boats, who, paying no attention to her,
had pulled alongside and boarded the vessel. The conflict
was short, from the superior numbers of the English and the
little difficulty in getting on board of a vessel with so low
a gunwale. By the time that Prose came alongside in the
cutter, the pirates were either killed or had been driven below.
Prose jumped on the gunwale, flourishing his cutlass from
the gunwale he sprung on the deck, which was not composed
of planks, as in vessels in general, but of long bamboos,
running fore and aft, and lashed together with rattans ; and
as Prose descended upon the rounded surface, which happened
where he alighted to be slippery with blood, his feet were
thrown up, and he came down on the deck in a sitting posture.
"Capital jump, Mr. Prose," cried Cxmrteiiay; "but you
have arrived too late to shed your blood in your country's
cause very 7 annoying, an't it ? "
" O Lord ! O Lord ! I do declare oh oh oh ! " roared
Prose, attempting to recover his feet, and then falling down
again.
" Good heavens, what's the matter, Prose ? " cried Seymour,
running to his assistance.
" O Lord ! O Lord ! another ! oh ! " again cried Prose,
making a half-spring from the deck, from which he was now
raised by Seymour, who again inquired what was the matter.
Prose could not speak he pointed his hand behind him, and
his head fell upon Seymour's shoulder.
" He's wounded, sir," observed one of the men who had
joined Seymour, pointing to the blood which ran from the
trousers of Prose in a little rivulet. " Be quick, Mr. Seymour,
and get on the gunwale, or they'll have you too." The fact
was, that the deck being composed of bamboos, as already
described, one of the pirates below had passed his creese
through the spaces between them into Prose's body when
he came down on deck in a sitting posture, and had repeated
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the blow when he failed to recover his feet after the first
wound.
One of the seamen who had not provided himself with
shoes now received a severe wound ; and after Prose had been
handed into one of the boats, a consultation was held as to the
most eligible method of proceeding.
It was soon decided that it would be the extreme of folly to
attack such desperate people below, where they would have a
great advantage with their creeses over the cutlasses of the sea-
men; and as there appeared no chance of inducing them to come
up, it was determined to cut the cables and tow the vessel
alongside of the frigate, who could sink her with a broadside.
The cables were cut, and a few men being left on board to
guard the hatchways, the boats commenced towing out ; but
scarcely had they got way on her when, to their astonishment,
a thick smoke was followed by the flames bursting Out in every
direction, consuming all on board with a rapidity that seemed
incredible. From the deck the fire mounted to the rigging,
thence to the masts and sails ; and before the boats could be
backed astern to take them out, those who had been left were
forced to leap into the sea to save themselves from the devour-
ing element The pirates had themselves set fire to the vessel.
Most of them remained below, submitting to suffocation with
sullen indifference. Some few, in the agony of combustion,
were perceived through the smoke to leap overboard, and
seek in preference a less painful death. The boats laid upon
their oars, and witnessed the scene in silence and astonishment.
" Desperate and determined to the last," observed the first
lieutenant.
In a very few minutes the proa, whose fabric was of the
slightest materials, filled and went down. The last column of
smoke, divided from her by the water, ascended in the air as
she sank down below, and nought remained but a few burnt
fragments of bamboo, which lay floating on the wave. A few
seconds after the vessel had disappeared one of the pirates
rose to the surface.
" There is a man alive yet," observed Courtenay. " Let us
save him if we can."
The boat, by his directions, pulled a few strokes of the oars,
and having rather too much way, shot ahead, so as to bring the
man close to the counter of the boat. Courtenay leaned over
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the gunwale to haul him in ; the malignant wretch grasped him
by the collar with his left hand, and with his right darted his
creese into Courtenay's breast ; then, as if satisfied, with an
air of mingled defiance and derision, immediately sank under
the bottom of the pinnace, and was seen no more.
" Ungrateful viper ' " murmured Courtenay, as he fell into
the arms of his men.
The boats hastened back to the frigate. They had but
few men hurt, except those mentioned in our narrative ; but
the wounds of Courlen;iy and of Prose were dangerous. The
creeses of the pirates had been steeped in the juice of the pine-
apple, which, when fresh applied, is considered as a deadly
poison. The Axpasia soon afterwards anchored in Madras
Roads, and a removal to a more invigorating clime was pro-
nounced essential to the recovery of the two officers Cour-
tenay and Prose were invalided and sent home in an East
Indiaman, but it was many months before they were in a state
of convalescence. Captain M gave an acting order as
lieutenant to Seymour, and when he joined the admiral,
expressed himself so warmly in his behalf, that it was not
superseded ; and our hero now walked the quarter-deck as
third lieutenant of H.M.'s ship Aspasia.
If the reader is not by this time tired of India, I am. To
narrate all that occurred would far exceed the limits of this
work. I shall therefore confine myself to stating that, after
three years, Captain M quitted the country, having during
his stay gained much in reputation, but lost more in constitu-
tion. When we return to the frigate, she will be well advanced
on her passage home.
CHAPTER XL VII
When souls which should agree to will the same-
To have one common object for their wishes,
Look diff'rent ways, regardless of each other,
Think what a train of wretchedness ensnee !
ROWE.
DUT we must return to England, ur we shall lose sight of
the Rainscourt family, in which much that is interesting hay
occurred since our hero's absence in the East
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Mr. Rainscourt made occasional visits to the Hall with the
hope of inducing his wife to break through her resolution, and
once more to reside with him under the same roof; but in this
he could not succeed ; for although Mrs. Rainscourt received
him with kindness and urbanity, she was too well aware, by
information received from many quarters, of the life of excess
which he indulged in, ever again to trust her happiness in his
keeping. Nevertheless, pursuing his point with an obstinacy
that seemed surprising, Rainscourt always was to be found at
the watering-place to which Mrs. Rainscourt might remove for
change of scene ; and for nearly five years from the time when
he first paid a visit to his once neglected wife, did he continue
to press his suit. The fact was, that so far from tiring, his
anxiety to effect the reunion was constantly on the increase,
from the general admiration which was bestowed upon Emily
when she made her appearance in public ; and Rainscourt felt
that his house would be more resorted to, and his company be
more courted, if he could have under his immediate protection
one who had beauty sufficient to satisfy the most fastidious,
and a certainty of ultimate wealth exceeding the views of the
most interested.
It was two years or more after the departure of Seymour,
that Mrs. Rainscourt and Emily determined upon passing
the autumnal months at Cheltenham, accompanied by the
M'Elvinas. A few days after their arrival, Mr. Rainscourt
made his appearance. He was now determined, if possible,
to bring his suit to an issue. Some months back he had
formed the plan which he thought most likely to succeed.
This was to repair and refurnish the castle in Galway, and
persuade Mrs. Rainscourt to pass a few weeks there, when he
hoped that, having her in a more isolated position, she might
be induced to accede to his wishes. Workmen had been em-
ployed for some time repairing the exterior of the ancient pile ;
the interior had been embellished under the guidance of a
man of taste, and without any regard to expense. Splendid
furniture had already been forwarded from London ; so that
Mr. Rainscourt's agent had written to him that in a few weeks
the castle would be ready for his reception.
Upon his arrival at Cheltenham, Mr. Rainscourt astonished
everybody by his splendid equipage. His carriages, his stud,
and the whole of his establishment were quite unique. On
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the other hand, Mrs. Rainscourt and her daughter were equally
objects of curiosity, not likely to pass unnoticed in such a place
as Cheltenham, where people have nothing else to do but talk
candal and to drink salt water as a punishment.
The arrival of a pretty heiress increased very much the flow
of bile in the young ladies, and in their mammas, who did not
bring them to Cheltenham merely to drink the waters. The
gentlemen, moreover, did not admire being so totally eclipsed
by Mr. Rainscourt, who rendered insignificant what, previous
to his appearance, had been considered "to be quite the
thing." The ladies would talk of nothing but Mr. Rainscourt
and his equipage and such a handsome man, too. But on
the whole, the females were the most annoyed, as there
threatened to be a stagnation in the market until this said
heiress was disposed of. Gentlemen who had been attentive
more than a week, who had been asked twice to dinner, and
who had been considered to have nibbled a sufficient time to
ensure their eventually taking the bait, had darted in full
liberty in the direction of the great heiress. Young ladies who
were acknowledged to have the most attractions, pecuniary or
personal, who simpered and smiled to twenty young philan-
derers, as they took their morning glass, now poured down
their lukewarm solution in indignant solitude if Mrs. Rains-
court and her daughter made their appearance on the pro-
menade. Real cases of bile became common ; and the fair
sex, in despair, although they did not, as they were evidently
requested by the conduct of the gentlemen, "to a nunnery
go," to preserve their complexions, were necessitated to repair
to the pump.
" Don't you think that Miss Rainscourt's nose is rather too
straight ? " asked a young lady, with one on her own face that
had a strong tendency towards the pug
" Indeed, I do not," replied a light-hearted Irish girl,
" although she has put ours out of joint, as they call it. I
only wish I'd her face or her fortune either the one or the
other and I wouldn't be coming to Cheltenham after a
husband the gentlemen should trot over to Ireland."
" How very odd that Mr. and Mrs. Rainscourt should not
live together such good friends as they seem to be."
' ' Oh, I know the reason of that ; I was told it yester-
day by Lady Wagtail. It was a runaway match, and they
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happened to be related within the canonical law they are both
Roman Catholics and the Pope found it out, and ordered
them to be separated, upon pain of excommunication."
" Indeed ! "
" Yes, and Mr. Rainscourt is waiting for a licence from the
Conclave a dispensation, they call it. They say it is expected
from Rome next post, and then they can be united again
immediately."
" What beautiful horses Mr. Rainscourt drives ! "
" Yes, that curricle, with the greys and the outriders, is
quite superb. He always drives through the turnpike, I
observe."
To be sure he does. Why, they say that he has 40,000
r : . r ear."
And the whole is entailed upon his daughter."
' Every farthing of it."
" And who are those M'Elvinas ? What an odd name ! "
" Oh, I can tell you. Mrs. Fitzpatrick says that he is of a
very ancient Irish family they are very rich. Mr. M'Elviria
made his fortune in India by a speculation in opium, and his
wife was the only daughter of a stockbroker in the city, who
died worth a plum."
"No. 4 a little warm, if you please, Mrs. Bishop."
" Yes, miss."
About a fortnight after his arrival, Rainscourt received the
intelligence from his agent that everything was complete at
the castle, and he determined to go over himself to examine
it previous to communicating his interested act of gallantry
to his wife. He proposed to M'Elvina, with whom he was
on very friendly terms, to accompany him, and M'Elvina was
decided in accepting the offer in consequence of Mr. Rains-
court's having informed him that a large property, contiguous
to his own, which had almost from time immemorial been in
possession of the M'Elvina family, was now for sale, the last
possessor having gambled the whole of it away.
" It may be worth your while," continued he, "if you are
inclined to possess landed property, to look at it; as my
agent informs me that it will be disposed of very cheap, and
will give you good interest for your money."
M'Elvina had long wished to live in Ireland, from which
country he derived his descent, and he could not but feel
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that some untoward recognition might possibly take place in
such a place of numerous resort as Cheltenham, by which
some of the passages in his early career might be exposed.
This appeared to be a chance which might not again present
itself, and he gladly consented to accompany Rainscourt in
his excursion. After an absence of three weeks they returned.
The castle had been fitted out in a style of lavish expenditure
and taste, and Rainscourt could find little to improve or add.
The property which M'Elvina went over to examine, suited
him both in price and in situation ; and having consulted
his wife, who cordially acquiesced in his view, he wrote
to Mr. Rainscourt' s agent, requesting him to conclude the
purchase.
Rainscourt now determined upon making his last effort for
a resumption of marital rights. Having introduced the con-
versation by stating in minute detail the alterations and im-
provements which he had made at the castle, he then informed
Mrs. Rainscourt that he had been to that expense in the hope
that she would take possession of it for the remainder of the
autumn.
"If," said he, "you knew the pleasure it would give me
once more to see you surrounded with every luxury, in the
place where we formerly resided in poverty if you knew the
joy which your presence would diffuse among your affectionate
tenants, and the anxiety with which they are expecting your
appearance for I must acknowledge that I promised them
that you should gladden them with your return you would
not refuse the request I have made."
But Rainscourt had not calculated well. If there was any
spot of which the reminiscences were peculiarly painful to
his wife, it was the castle in Galway. It was there that she
had been treated with severity and contempt it was there *
that she had been cruelly deserted by her husband when he
was restored to affluence. With the bitter feelings attendant
upon these recollections, Mrs. Rainscourt penetrated into the
motives which had induced her husband to act, and the balance
was more than ever against his cause. " If you have fitted
up the castle to oblige me. Mr. Rainscourt, I return you my
grateful thanks for your kindness and consideration ; but I
do not think that I could enter the castle with pleasure ;
there are so many more painful than agreeable remembrances
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connected with it, that I had rather decline going there the
more so AS I consider it too secluded for Emily."
"But not too secluded, Mrs. Rainscourt," replied her hus-
band, dropping on one knee, " for me to beseech pardon for
my errors, and prove the sincerity of my repentance. Let me
conjure you to allow it to be the scene of the renewal of my
love and my admiration, as it unfortunately was of my folly
and indifference."
" Mr. Rainscourt, this interview must be decisive. Know,
once for all, that such a reconciliation as you would desire
never can or shall take place. Spare me the pain of recapitu-
lation. It is enough to say that, once thrown from you, I
cannot nor will not be resumed at your pleasure and fantasy.
Although injured in the tenderest point, I forgive all that has
passed, and shall be happy to receive you as a friend, in private
as well as in public ; but all attempts to obtain more will only
meet with mortification and defeat. Rise, Mr. Rainscourt;
take my hand in friendship it is offered with cordiality ; but
if you again resume the subject of this meeting, I shall be
forced to deny myself to you when you call."
Rainscourt turned pale as he complied with her request.
He had humiliated himself to no purpose. Mortified pride,
mingled with rejected passion, formed a compound of deadly
hate, which raged with fury against the late object of his
desire. He commanded himself sufficiently to stammer out
his regrets, and promised not again to introduce the subject ;
and lifting up the offered hand respectfully to his lips, he
quitted her presence to meditate upon revenge.
The liberal settlements which he had made at the time of
separation were too firmly secured to be withheld. To remove
his daughter was the next idea which presented itself; but
** that could not be effected. Emily was of a resolute disposition,
and would not consent to leave her mother ; and an appeal to
Chancery would show how unfit a person he was to have the
responsible charge of a young woman. The night was passed
in anxious meditation, and before the morning his plans were
arranged. Nothing could be accomplished by force ; he must
therefore resort to address he would be more than ever
attentive, and trust to time and opportunity for the gratification
of his revenge.
The parties continued at Cheltenham ; and Mr. Rainscourt,
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following up his plan, made an avowal to his wife that he had
now abandoned all hopes of success, and would not importune
her any more. He only requested that she would receive him
on those terms of intimacy in which consisted the present
happiness of his life. Mrs. Rainscourt, who, although she had
resolution sufficient to refuse him, felt great struggles in her
own mind to decide the victory in favour of prudence, now
leaned more favourably towards her husband than before. His
assiduity for years his indifference to money in fitting up the
castle to please her his humiliation when he kneeled to her-
his subsequent humble expressions of regret his polite atten-
tion, notwithstanding his repulse and, added to all these, her
gratified pride all tended to soften her heart ; and it is more
than probable that in a few months she would have thought
him sufficiently punished to have acceded to his wishes but
it was fated to be otherwise.
One morning Rainscourt called in his curricle, and as the
horses stood at the door, champing their bits, and tossing their
heads as they were held by the dismounted grooms, Mrs. Rains-
court, who was looking out of the window with her husband,
and whose heart was fast warming towards him (for the tide
once turned, the flow of affection is rapid), playfully observed,
" Mr. Rainscourt, you often take Emily out with you in your
curricle, but you have never offered to take me ; I presume you
think that I am too old."
" Indeed, Mrs. Rainscourt, if I had thought that you would
have ventured, Emily would not so often have been seated at
my side. If not too late, and you will pardon my negligence,
oblige me by permitting me to drive you now."
" I don't know whether I ought to do so ; but as married
ladies have been from time immemorial forced from the field
by their daughters, I believe I shall submit to the affront and
accept your offer."
" I feel much flattered," replied he, "by your kind acquies-
cence ; but you must allow me to desire my grooms to take
these horses out, and put the others to, which are much
quieter. It will be a delay of only a few minutes."
Mrs. Rainscourt smiled, and quitted the room to prepare for
her excursion, while Rainscourt descended to the street door.
" William, drive to the stables ; take these horses out, and
put in the two others."
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"The others, sir," replied the man with surprise ; "what !
Smolensko and Pony-towsky ?"
" Yes be smart, and bring them round as soon as you can."
" Why, sir, the two young 'uns have never been in together
yet Smolensko's but a rum customer when aside of a steady
horse ; and as for Pony-towsky, he jibs just as bad as ever."
" Never mind put them in and bring them round."
" Then I'd better tie up the dog, sir, for they can't neither
of them abide him."
" Never mind they must be accustomed to him ; so let
the dog follow as usual. Be quick ; " and Rainscourt returned
to the house.
" Sam, I can't for the life of me fancy what master's at
to-day," said William, who had delivered his horse over to the
other groom, and had mounted the curricle to drive it to the
stable. " If he means to drive them two devils together,
there's no road in England wide enough for him."
" I'm sure I can't tell," replied the other.
" No man in his senses would do it unless, indeed, he's
going to drive his wife."
"Why, hardly that, for they say he wants to marry her
again."
" Marry his wife again ! no, no, Bill ; master's too wide
awake for that."
The curricle reappeared at the door ; Rainscourt handed
in his wife, and the horses set off, tightly reined by Rains-
court, and flying to and fro from the pole, so as to alarm Mrs.
Rainscourt, who expressed a wish to alight.
" They are only fresh at first starting, my dear ; they will be
quiet directly."
" Look there ! " observed one of the promenaders ; " there's
Rainscourt driving his wife in the curricle."
"Oh, then, the bull has arrived, you may depend upon it."
As they spoke, the dog made a spring at the horses' heads ;
they plunged violently, and shortly after set off at full speed.
Rainscourt could not have stopped them if he had wished
it ; but the fact was, that he had entered the curricle deter-
mined to hazard his own life rather than not gratify his
revenge. All that was left for him was to guide them, and
this he did so that the near wheel came in contact with a
post. The horses, with the pole and broken traces, continued
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their rapid career, leaving Rainscourt, his wife, and the frag-
ments of the vehicle in the road.
Rainscourt's plan had been successful. Although much
contused by the fall, he was not severely injured. Mrs.
Rainscourt, who had been thrown out with more violence
over the head of her husband, was taken up with a fractured
skull, and in a few minutes breathed her last.
CHAPTER XLVIII
Oh, for a forty -parson power to chant
Thy praise, Hypocrisy ! Oh, for a hymn
Loud as the virtues thou dost loudly vaunf^
Not practise !
BYRON.
Hypocrisy, the thriving'st calling,
The only saint's-bell that rings all in :
A gift that is not only able
To domineer among the rabble,
But by the law 's empowered to rout,
And awe the greatest that stand out.
Hudibras.
ALL-PERVADING essence, whose subtle spirit hath become
a part component of everything this universe contains power
that presidest over nations and countries, kingdoms and cities,
courts and palaces, and every human tenement, even to the
lowly cot leaven of the globe, that workest in the councils
of its princes, in the reasonings of its senates, in the atmos-
phere of the court, in the traffic of the city, in the smiles of
the enamoured youth, and in the blush of the responding
maid thou that clothest with awe the Serjeant's coif and the
bishop's robe thou that assistest at our nurture, our educa-
tion, and our marriage, our death, our funeral, and habili-
ments of woe all hail !
" Chameleon spirit at once contributing to the misery of
our existence and adding to its fancied bliss at once detested
and a charm, to be eschewed and to be practised that, with
thy mystic veil, dimmest the bright beauty of virtue, and
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concealest the dark deformity of vice imperishable, glorious,
and immortal HUMBUG ! Hail !
" Thee I invoke and thus, with talismanic pen, commence
7 spells and charge thee, in the name of courtiers' bows,
great men's promises, of bribery oaths, of woman's smiles,
and tears of residuary legatees
" Appear !
" By thy favourite works thy darling sinking fund the
blessings of free-trade thy joint-stock companies the dread
of Popery the liberality of East India Directors, and the
sincerity of West India philanthropists
" Descend !
" By the annual pageants by the Lord Mayor's show, and
reform in Parliament by Burdett's democracy, and the first
of April by explanations, and calls for papers by Bartlemy
fair, and the minister's budget
" Come
" By lawyers' consultations, and Chancery delay public
meetings, and public dinners loyal toasts, and ' three times
three' lady patronesses, and lords directors and by the
decoy subscription of the chair
" Descend !
" By the nolo episcopari of the Bishops
Come !
"By newspaper puffs, and newspaper reports by patent
medicines, and portable dressing-cases, wine-merchant's
bottles, ne-plus-ultra corkscrews H t's corn, C tt'-s
maize, W 's blacking, and W 's champagne
" Appear !
" By thy professional followers, the fashionable tailors,
hair-dressers, boot-makers, milliners, jewellers all the auc-
tioneers, and all the bazaars
" Come to my aid !
" By thy interested worshippers by shuffling W e, by
Z M y, Lawyer S ns, W m S th, T 1
B n, Sir G r M'G r, and Dom M 1
" Appear !
"By thy talented votaries
" Descend !
"Still heedless ! Then by the living B m, and the
shade of C g, come !
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" Rebellious and wayward spirit ! I tell thee, come thou
must, whether thou art at a council to wage a war in which
thousands shall perish, or upon the padding of a coat, by
which, unpaid for, but one-ninth part of a man shall suffer
whether thou art forging the powerful artillery of woman
against unarmed man, and directing the fire from her eye,
which, like that of the Egyptian queen, shall lose an empire
or art just as busy in the adjustment of the bustle 1 of a
lady's-maid appear thou must. There is one potent spell,
one powerful name, which shall force thee trembling to my
presence. Now
"By all that is contemptible
" By all his patriotism, his affection for the army and the
navy by his flow of eloquence, and his strength of argument
by the correctness of his statements, and the precision of
his arithmetic by his sum tattle, and by Joey H e himself
" Appear ! "
[Humbug descends, amidst a discharge of Promethean and
copperplate thunder.
" 'Tis well ! Now perch upon the tip, and guide my pen,
and contrive that the wickedness and hypocrisy of the indi-
vidual may be forgotten in the absurdity of the scene."
The grooms made no scruple, after the catastrophe, to state
all that had passed between them and their master ; it was
spread through Cheltenham with the usual rapidity of all
scandal, in a place where people have nothing to do but to
talk about each other. The only confutation which the report
received, was the conduct of Mr. Rainscourt. He was posi-
tively inconsolable he threw himself upon the remains, declar-
ing that nothing should separate him from his dear dear Clara.
The honest old curate, who had attended Mrs. Rainscourt in
her last moments, had great difficulty, with the assistance of
the men-servants, in removing him to another chamber on the
ensuing day. Some declared that he repented of his unkind
behaviour, and that he was struck with remorse ; the females
1 I am not certain whether I spell this modern invention correctly ;
if not, I must plead ignorance. I have asked several ladies of my ac-
quaintance, who declare that they never heard of such a thing, which,
perhaps, the reader will agree with me is all humbug.
THE KING'S OWN
observed, that men never knew the value of a wife until they
lost her; others thought his grief was all humbug, although
they acknowledged at the same time that they could not find
out any interested motives to induce him to act such a part.
But when Mr. Rainscourt insisted that the heart of the
deceased should be embalmed, and directed it to be enshrined
in an urn of massive gold, then all Cheltenham began to think
that he was sincere at least all the ladies did ; and the
gentlemen, married or single, were either too wise or too
polite to offer any negative remark when his conduct was
pronounced to be a pattern for all husbands. Moreover, Mr.
Potts, the curate, vouched for his sincerity, in consequence of
the handsome gratuity which he had received for consigning
Mrs. Rainscourt to the vault, and the liberal largess to the poor
upon the same occasion. " How could any man prove his
sincerity more?" thought Mr. Potts, who, blinded by gratitude,
forgot that although in affliction our hearts are softened to-
wards the miseries of others, on the other hand, we are quite
as (if not more) liberal when intoxicated with good fortune.
Be it as it may, the conduct of Mr. Rainscourt was pro-
nounced most exemplary. All hints and surmises of former
variance were voted scandalous, and all Cheltenham talked of
nothing but the dead Mrs. Rainscourt, the living Mr. Rains-
court, the heart, and the magnificent gold urn.
" Have you heard how poor Mr. Rainscourt is ? " was the
usual question at the pump, as the ladies congregated to pour
down No. 3 or No. 4. in accordance with the directions of
the medical humbugs.
" More resigned they say he was seen walking after dark."
" Was he, indeed ? to the churchyard, of course. Poor dear
man ! "
" Miss Emily's maid told my Abigail last night, that she looks
quite beautiful in her mourning. But I suppose she will not
come on the promenade again before she leaves Cheltenham."
She ought not," replied a young lady who did not much
ove of so handsome an heiress remaining at Cheltenham,
dll be very incorrect if she does ; some one ought to tell
her so."
With the exception of Mr. Potts, no one had dared to break
in upon the solitude of Mr. Rainscourt, who had remained th?
whole day upon the sofa, Avith the urn on the table before him,
328
approve
" It wil
THE KING'S -OWN
and the shutters closed to exclude the light. The worthy curate
called upon him every evening, renewing his topics of consola-
tion, and pointing out the duty of Christian resignation. A
deep sigh ! a heavy Ah ! or a long-drawn Oh ! were all the
variety of answers that could be obtained for some days. But
time does wonders; and Mr. Rainscourt at last inclined an
ear to the news of the day, and listened with marked atten-
tion to the answers which he elicited from the curate, by his
indirect questions, as to what the world said about him.
" Come, come, Mr. Rainscourt, do not indulge your grief
any more. Excess becomes criminal. It is my duty to tell
you so, and yours to attend to me. It is not to be expected
that you will immediately return to the world and its amuse-
ments ; but as there must be a beginning, why not come
and take your family dinner to-day with Mrs. Potts and me ?
Now let me persuade you she will be delighted to see you
we dine at five. A hot joint nothing more."
Rainscourt, who was rather tired of solitude, refused in such
a way as to induce the worthy curate to reiterate his invitation,
and at length, with great apparent unwillingness, consented.
The curate sat with him until the dinner hour, when, leaning
on the pastor's arm, Rainscourt walked down the street in
all the trappings of his woe, and his eyes never once raised
from the ground.
" There's Mr. Rainscourt ! There's Mr. Rainscourt ! " whis-
pered some of the promenaders who were coming up the street.
"No ! that's not him."
" Yes it is, walking with Mr. Potts ! Don't you see his
beautiful large dog following him ? He never walks without
it. An't it a beauty ? It's a Polygar dog from the East
Indies. His name is Tippoo."
The house of the curate was but a short distance from the
lodgings occupied by Mr. Rainscourt. They soon entered, and
were hid from the prying eyes of the idle and the curious.
" I have persuaded Mr. Rainscourt to come and take a
family dinner with us, my dear."
" Quite delighted to see him," replied Mrs. Potts, casting a
sidelong angry glance at her husband.
Mr. Rainscourt made a slight bow, and threw himself on
the sofa, covering his face with his hand, as if the light was
hideous.
THE KING'S OWN
Mrs. Potts took the opportunity of escaping by the door,
beckoning to her husband as soon as she was outside.
" And I will go and decant the wine. Quite in the family
way, Mr. Rainscourt no ceremony. You'll excuse me/' con-
tinued the curate, as he obeyed the summons of his wife, like
a schoolboy ordered up to be birched.
" Well, my dear ? " interrogated Mr. Potts humbly, as soon
as the door was closed. But Mrs. Potts made no reply, until
she had led her husband to such a distance from the parlour
as she imagined would prevent Mr. Rainscourt from being
roused by the high pitch to which she intended to raise her
voice.
" I do declare, Mr. Potts, you are a complete fool. Saturday
all the maids washing and ask him to dinner ! There's
positively nothing to eat. It really is too provoking."
" Well, my dear, what does it matter ? The poor man will
in all probability not eat a bit he is so overcome."
"So over-fiddlesticked ! " replied the lady. " Grief never
hurts the appetite, Mr. Potts ; on the contrary, people care
more then about a good dinner than at other times. It's the
only enjoyment they can have without being accused by the
world of want of feeling."
" Well, you know better than I, my dear ; but I really think
that if you were to die I could not eat a bit."
" And I tell you, Mr. Potts, I could, if you were to die to-
morrow. So stupid of you ! Sally, run and take off the table-
cloth it's quite dirty ; put on one of the fine damask."
" They will be very large for the table, ma'am."
" Never mind be quick, and step next door, and ask the
old German to come in and wait at table. He shall have a
pint of strong beer."
Sally did as she was bid. Mr. Potts, whose wine had been
decanted long before, and Mrs. Potts, who had vented her
spleen upon her husband, returned into the parlour together.
" My dear Mr. Potts is so particular about decanting his
wine," observed the lady, with a gracious smile, as she entered ;
" he is so long about it, and scolds me so if ever I wish to
do it for him."
Mr. Potts was a little surprised at the last accusation ; but
as he had long been drilled, he laughed assent. A tedious
half-hour during which the lady had all the conversation to
THE KING'S OWN
herself, for the curate answered only in monosyllabic com-
pliance, and Rainscourt made no answer whatever elapsed
before dinner was announced by the German mercenary who
had been subsidised.
" Meinheer, de dinner was upon de table."
" Come, Mr. Rainscourt," said the curate, in a persuasive
tone.
Rainscourt got up, and without offering his arm to the lady,
who had her own bowed out in readiness, stalked out of the
room by the side of Mr. Potts, followed by his wife, who by
her looks seemed to imply that she considered that the demise
of one woman was no excuse for a breach of politeness towards
another.
The covers were removed two small soles (much too small
for three people) and a dish of potatoes. " Will you allow
me to offer you a little sole, Mr. Rainscourt ? I am afraid
you will have a very poor dinner."
Rainscourt bowed in the negative, and the soles disap-
peared in a very short time between the respective organs of
mastication of Mr. and Mrs. Potts.
The dishes of the first course were removed ; and the
German appeared with a covered dish, followed by Sally, who
brought some vegetables, and returned to the kitchen for more.
" I'm afraid you will have a very poor dinner," repeated the
lady. " Take off the cover, Sneider. Will you allow me to
help you to a piece of this ? "
Rainscourt turned his head round to see if the object
offered was such as to tempt his appetite, and beheld a
smoking bullock's heart !
" My wife, my wife ! " exclaimed he, as he darted from his
chair ; and covering his face as if to hide from his sight the
object which occasioned the concatenation of ideas, attempted
to run out of the room.
But his escape was not so easy. In his hurried movement
he had entangled himself with the long table-cloth that
trailed on the carpet, and, to the dismay of the party, every-
thing that was on the table was swept off in his retreat ; and
as he had blindfolded himself, he ran with such force against
the German, who was in the act of receiving a dish from
Sally, that precipitating him against her, they both rolled
prostrate on the floor.
331
THE KING'S OWN
" Ah, mein Got, mein Got ! " roared the German, as his
face was smothered with the hot stewed peas, a dish of which
he was carrying as he fell on his back.
" Oh, my eye, my eye ! " bellowed Sally, as she rolled upon
the floor.
" My wife, my wife ! " reiterated Rainscourt, as he trampled
over them, and secured his retreat.
" And oh, my dinner, my dinner ! " ejaculated the curate,
as he surveyed the general wreck.
" And oh, you fool, you fool, Mr. Potts ! " echoed the lady,
with her arms akimbo, " to ask such a man to dine with you ! "
" Well, I had no idea that he could have taken it so much
to heart," replied the curate meekly.
But we must follow Rainscourt, who whether really agitated
by the circumstance, or aware that it would be bruited abroad,
thought that a display of agitation would be advisable pro-
ceeded with hurried steps to the promenades, where he
glided through the thoughtless crowd with the silent rapidity
of a ghost. Having sufficiently awakened the curiosity of the
spectators, he sank down on one of the most retired benches,
with his eyes for some time thrown up in contemplation of
the fleecy clouds, beyond which kind spirits are supposed to
look down and weep over the follies and inconsistencies of an
erring world. Casting his eyes to earth, he beheld horror
upon horrors the detested bullock's heart, which his great
Polygar dog had seized during the confusion of the dinner
scene, and had followed him out with it in his mouth. Find-
ing it too hot to carry immediately after its seizure, he hac'
for a time laid it down and had just arrived with it. There
he was, not a foot from the bench, his jaws distended with
the prize, tossing up his head as if in mockery of his master,
and wagging his long feathered tail.
Rainscourt again made a precipitate retreat to his own lodg-
ings, accompanied by the faithful animal, who, delighted at the
unusual rapidity of his master's movements, bounded before him
with his treasure, of which he was much too polite to think of
making a repast until a more seasonable opportunity. Rains-
court knocked at the door ; as soon as it was opened the dog
bounced up before him, entering the chamber of woe, and
crouching under the table upon which the golden urn was
placed, with the heart between his paws, saluted his master with
SB*
THE KING'S OWN
a rap or two of his tail on the carpet, and commenced his
dinner.
The servant was summoned,, and Rainscourt, without look-
ing at either the urn, the dog, or the man, cried in an angry
tone, "Take that heart and throw it away immediately."
"Sir!" replied the domestic, with astonishment, who did
not observe the dog and his occupation.
"Throw it away immediately, sir do you hear?"
" Yes, sir," replied the man, taking the urn from the table,
and quitting the room with it, muttering to himself as he
descended the stairs, "I thought it wouldn't last long."
Having obeyed his supposed instructions, he returned " If
you please, sir, where am I to put the piece of plate ? "
"The piece of plate !" Rainscourt turned round, and be-
held the vacant urn. It was too much that evening he
ordered the horses, and left Cheltenham for ever.
Various were the reports of the subsequent week. Some
said that the fierce dog had broken open the urn, and de-
voured the embalmed heart. Some told one story some
another ; and before the week was over, all the stories had
become incomprehensible.
In one point they all agreed that Mr. Rainscourt's grief
was all humbug.
" 'Tis well ! Thou hast 'done thy spiriting gently,' or, for
thy tardy coming, I would have sentenced thee to the task of
infusing thy spirit into the consistent Eldon, or into Arthur
Duke of Wellington where, like a viper at a file, thou
shouldest have tortured thyself in vain."
333
THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER XLIX
There leviathan,
Hugest of living creatures, on the deep,
Stretched like a promontory, sleeps or swims.
MILTON.
CONGRATULATE me, reader, that, notwithstanding I have
been beating against wind and tide, that is to say, writing this
book, through all the rolling and pitching, headache and indi-
gestion, incident to the confined and unnatural life of a sailor, I
have arrived at my last chapter. You may be surprised at this
assertion, finding yourself hi the middle of the third volume ;
but such is the fact. Doubtless you have imagined that,
according to the usual method, I had begun at the beginning,
and would have finished at the end. Had I done so, this
work would not have been so near to a close as, thank
Heaven, it is at present. At times I have been gay, at
others, sad ; and I am obliged to write according to my
humour, which, as variable as the wind, seldom continues in
one direction. I have proceeded with this book as I should
do if I had had to build a ship. The dimensions of every
separate piece of timber I knew by the sheer-draught which
lay before me. It therefore made no difference upon which
I began, as they all were to be cut out before I bolted them
together. I should have taken them just as they came to
hand, and sorted them for their respective uses. My keel is
laid on the slips, and my stern is raised ; these will do for
futtocks these for beams. I lay those aside for riders ; and
out of these gnarled and twisted pieces of oak, I select my
knees. It is of little consequence on which my adze is first
employed. Thus it was that a fit of melancholy produced the
last half of the third volume ; and my stern-post, transoms,
and fashion-pieces were framed out almost before my floor-
timbers were laid. But you will perceive that this is of no
consequence. All are now bolted together ; and with the
exception of a little dubbing away here and there, a little
gingerbread work, and a coat of paint, she is ready for launch-
ing. Now all is ready. Give me the bottle of wine and,
334
THE KING'S OWN
as she rushes into the sea of public opinion, upon which her
merits are to be ascertained, I christen her " THE KING'S OWN."
And now that she is afloat, I must candidly acknowledge
that I am not exactly pleased with her. To speak technically,
her figure-head is not thrown out enough. To translate this
observation into plain English, I find, on turning over the
different chapters, that my hero, as I have often designated
him, is not sufficiently the hero of my tale. As soon as he is
shipped on board of a man-of-war, he becomes as insignifi-
cant as a midshipman must unavoidably be from his humble
situation. I see the error- yet I cannot correct it, without
overthrowing all " rules and 1'egulations," which I cannot per-
suade myself to do, even in a work of fiction. Trammelled as
I am by "the service," I can only plead guilty to what it is
impossible to amend without commencing de novo- for every-
thing and everybody must find their level on board of a king's
ship. Well, I've one comfort left Sir Walter Scott has never
succeeded in making a hero ; or, in other words, his best
characters are not those which commonly go under the desig-
nation of "the hero." I am afraid there is something irre-
claimably insipid in these prevx chevaliers.
But I must go in search of the Aspasia. There she is, with
studding-sails set, about fifty miles to the northward of the
Cape of Good Hope ; and I think that when the reader has
finished this chapter, he will be inclined to surmise that the
author, as well as the Aspasia, has most decidedly " doubled
the Cape." The frigate was standing her course before a
light breeze, at the rate of four or five knots an hour, and
Captain M was standing at the break of the gangway,
talking with the first lieutenant, when the man stationed at
the masthead called out, " A rock on the lee-bow ! " The
Telemaque shoal, which is supposed to exist somewhere to
the southward of the Cape, but whose situation has never
been ascertained, had just before been the subject of their
conversation. Startled at the intelligence, Captain M
ordered the studding-sails to be taken in, and hailing the
man at the masthead, inquired how far the rock was distant
from the ship.
" I can see it off the fore-yard," answered Pearce, the
master, who had immediately ascended the rigging upon the
report.
335
THE KING'S OWN
The first lieutenant now went aloft, and soon brought it
down to the lower ratlines. In a few minutes it was distinctly
seen from the deck of the frigate.
The ship's course was altered three or four points, that no
risk might be incurred ; and Captain M , directing the
people aloft to keep a sharp look-out for any change in the
colour of the water, continued to near the supposed danger
in a slanting direction.
The rock appeared to be about six or seven feet above the
water's edge, with a base of four or five feet in diameter. To
the great surprise of all parties, there was no apparent change
in colour to indicate that they shoaled their water ; and it
was not until they hove-to within two cables' length, and the
cutter was ordered to be cleared away to examine it, that
they perceived that the object of their scrutiny was in motion.
This was now evident, and in a direction crossing the stern of
the ship.
" I think that it is some kind of fish," observed Seymour ;
" I saw it raise its tail a little out of the water."
And such it proved to be, as it shortly afterwards passed
the ship within half a cable's length. It was a large sper-
maceti whale, on the head of which some disease had formed
an enormous spongy excrescence, which had the appearance of
a rock, and was so buoyant that, although the animal made
several attempts as it approached the ship, it could not sink
under water. Captain M , satisfied that it really was as we
have described, again made sail, and pursued his course.
" It is very strange and very important," observed he, " that
a disease of any description can scarcely be confined to one
individual, but must pervade the whole species. This circum-
stance may account for the many rocks reported to have been
seen in various parts of the southern hemisphere, and which
have never been afterwards fallen in with. A more complete
deception I never witnessed."
" Had we hauled off sooner, and not have examined it, I
should have had no hesitation in asserting most confidently
that we had seen a rock," answered the first lieutenant.
Captain M went below, and was soon after at table
with the first lieutenant and Macallan, who had been invited
to dine in the cabin. After dinner, the subject was again
introduced. " I have my doubts, sir," observed the first
336
THE KING'S OWN
lieutenant, " whether I shall ever venture to tell the story in
England. I never should be believed."
Le vrai nest pas toujours le vraisemblable," answered Captain
M ; "and I am afraid that too often a great illiberality
is shown towards travellers, who, after having encountered
great difficulties and dangers, have the mortification not to
be credited upon their return. " Although credulity is to be
guarded against, I do not know a greater proof of ignorance
than refusing to believe anything because it does not exactly
coincide with one's own ideas. The more confined these
may be, from want of education or knowledge, the more in-
credulous people are apt to become. Two of the most enter-
prising travellers of modern days, Bruce and Le Vaillant, were
ridiculed and discredited upon their return. Subsequent
travellers, who went the same track as the former, with a
view to confute, were obliged to corroborate his assertions ;
and all who have followed the latter have acknowledged the
correctness of his statements."
" Your observations remind me of the story of the old
woman and her grandson," replied the first lieutenant. " You
recollect it, I presume ? "
"Indeed I do not," said Captain M ; "pray favour me
with it."
The first lieutenant then narrated, with a considerable
degree of humour, the following story :
" A lad who had been some years at sea returned home to
his aged grandmother, who was naturally curious to hear his
adventures. 'Now, Jack,' said the old woman, 'tell me all
you've seen, and tell me the most wonderful things first.'
" f Well, granny, when we were in the Red Sea, we anchored
close to the shore, and when we hove the anchor up, there
was a chariot wheel hanging to it.'
" ' Oh ! Jack, Pharaoh and his host were drowned in the
Red Sea, you know ; that proves the Bible is all true. Well,
Jack, and what else did you see ? '
" ' Why, granny, when I was in the West Indies, I saw whole
mountains of sugar, and the rivers between them were all rum.'
" ( True, true,' said the old woman, smacking her lips ; ' we
get all the sugar and rum from there, you know. Pray, Jack,
did you ever see a mermaid ? '
" ' Why, no, granny, but I've seen a merman.'
337 Y
THE KING'S OWN
"'Well, let's hear, Jack.'
" ' Why, granny, when we anchored to the northward of St.
Kitt's one Sunday morning, a voice called us from alongside,
and when we looked over, there was a merman just come to
the top of the water ; he stroked down his hair, and touched
it, as we do our hats, to the captain, and told him that he
would feel much obliged to him to trip his anchor, as it had
been let go just before the door of his house below, which
they could not open in consequence, and his wife would be
too late to go to church.'
" ' God bless me ! ' says the old woman ; ' why, they're Chris-
tians, I do declare ! And now, Jack, tell me something more.'
" Jack, whose invention was probably exhausted, then told
her that he had seen hundreds of fish flying in the air.
" ' Come, come, Jack/ said the old woman, ' now you're
bamming me don't attempt to put such stories off on your
old granny. The chariot wheel I can believe, because it is
likely ; the sugar and rum I know to be true ; and also the
merman, for I have seen pictures of them. But as for fish
flying in the air, Jack that's a lie.' "
"Excellent," said Captain M . "Then the only part
that was true she rejected, believing all the monstrous lies
that he had coined."
" If any unknown individual," observed Macallan, "and not
Captain Cook, had reported the existence of such an animal as
the ornithorhynchus, or duck-billed platypus, without bringing
home the specimen as a proof, who would have credited his
statement ? "
"No one," replied Captain M . "Still, such is the
scepticism of the present age, that travellers must be content
with having justice done to them after they are dead."
" That's but cold comfort, sir," replied the first lieutenant,
rising from the table, which movement was immediately fol-
lowed by the remainder of the guests, who bowed, and quitted
the cabin.
. NOTE. It is singular that the almost incredible story in the above
chapter is, perhaps, the only real fact in the whole book. It will be
found in the log of the ship, and signed by all the officers ; and yet
many of my readers will be inclined to reject this, and believe a con-
siderable portion of the remainder of the composition to have been
drawn from living characters, if so, they will be like the old woman.
338
THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER L
Cym. Guiderius had
Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star.
Bd. This is he,
Who hath upon him still that stamp.
SHAKSPEARE.
WHEN Mr. Rainscourt left Cheltenham, he wrote a hasty
note to the M'Elvinas, requesting that they would take charge
of Emily, whose presence would be necessary at the Hall ;
and when they had arranged their own affairs, would bring
her with them over to Ireland, where it was his intention to
reside for some time. A few days after Rainscourt had quitted
Cheltenham, Emily, who since her mother's death had re-
mained with the M'Elvinas, was accompanied by them to that
home which, for the first time, she returned to with regret.
It may be inquired by the reader whether Rainscourt was
not harassed by his conscience. I never heard that he showed
any outward signs. Conscience has been described as a
most importunate monitor, paying no respect to persons, and
making cowards of us all. Now, as far as I have been able to
judge from external evidence, there is not a greater courtier
than conscience. It is true that, when in adversity, he up-
braids us, and holds up the catalogue of our crimes so close
to our noses, that we cannot help reading eveiy line. It is
true that, when suffering with disease, and terrified with the
idea of going we know not where, he assails the enfeebled
mind and bodv, and scares away the little resolution we have
left. But in the heyday of youth, in the vigour of health,
with the means of administering to our follies, and adding
daily and hourly to our ci'imes, " he never mentions hell to
ears polite." In fact, he never attacks a man who has more
than ten thousand a year. Like a London tradesman, he
never presents his bill as long as you give him fresh orders
that will increase it ; but once prove yourself to be " cleaned
out," by no longer swelling the amount, and he pounces upon
you, and demands a post-obit bond upon the next world
which, like all others, will probably be found very disagree-
339
THE KING'S OWN
able and inconvenient to liquidate. Conscience, therefore,
is not an honest sturdy adviser, but a sneaking scoundrel,
who allows you to run into his debt, never caring to tell you,
as a caution, but rather concealing your bill from you, as long
as there is a chance of your increasing its length satisfied
that, eventually, he must be paid in some shape or other.
The M'Elvinas, who could not leave Emily by herself, took
up their abode at the Hall until the necessary arrangements
had been completed, and then removed with her to the cot-
tage, that they might attend to their own affairs. Emily was
deeply affected at the loss of her mother. She had always
been a kind and indulgent friend, who had treated her more
as an equal than as one subject to authority and control.
The M'Elvinas were anxious to remove Emily from the Hall,
where every object that presented itself formed a link of
association with her loss, and trifles in themselves would
occasion a fresh burst of grief from the affectionate and
sorrowful girl. And she may be pardoned when I state, that
perhaps the bitterest tears which were shed were those when
she threw herself on that sofa where she had remained after
the abrupt departure of William Seymour.
The vicar hastened to offer his condolence ; and finding
that Emily was as resigned as could be expected, after a long
visit walked out with M'Elvina, that he might have a more
detailed account of the unfortunate event. M'Elvina related
it circumstantially, but without communicating the suspicions
which the story of the grooms had occasioned, for he was
aware that the vicar was too charitable to allow anything
but positive evidence to be of weight in an accusation so
degrading to human nature.
" It is strange," observed the vicar very gravely, " but it
seems as if a fatality attended the possessors of this splendid
estate. The death of Admiral de Courcy was under most
painful circumstances, without friend or relation to close his
eyes ; it was followed by that of his immediate heir, who was
drowned as soon almost as the property devolved to him and
I, who was appointed to be his guardian, never beheld my
charge ; now we have another violent death of the possessor
and all within the space of twelve or thirteen years. You
have probably heard something of the singular history of the
former heir to the estate ? "
340
THE KING'S OWN
" I heard you state that he was drowned at sea, but nothing
further."
" Or, rather, supposed to be, for we never had proof posi-
tive. He was sent away in a prize, which never was heard
of; and although there is no confirmation of the fact, I have
no doubt but he was lost. I do not know when I was so
much distressed as at the death of that child. There was
a peculiarity of incident in his history, the facts of which I
have not as yet communicated to any one, as there are certain
points which even distant branches of the family may wish
to keep concealed ; yet, upon a promise of secrecy, Mr.
M'Elvina, I will impart them to you."
The promise being given, the vicar commenced with the
history of Admiral de Courcy his treatment of his wife and
children the unfortunate marriage, and more unfortunate
demise of Edward Peters, or rather of Edward de Courcy
the acknowledgment of his grandson by Admiral de Courcy
on his deathbed the account of Adams his death the
boy being sent away in a prize, and drowned at sea. " I
have all the particulars in writing," continued the good man,
" and the necessary documents ; and his identity was easy to
be proved by the mark of the broad-arrow imprinted on his
shoulder by old Adams."
" Heavens ! is it possible ? " exclaimed M'Elvina, grasping
the arm of the vicar.
What do you mean ? "
Mean ! I mean that the boy is alive has been in your
company within the last two years."
That boy ? "
; Yes, that boy that boy is William Seymour."
' Merciful God ! how inscrutable are Thy ways ! " exclaimed
the vicar, with astonishment and reverence. "Explain tome,
my dear sir how can you establish your assertion ? "
If the reader will refer back to the circumstance of the
vicar calling upon Captain M , he will observe that, upon
being made acquainted with the loss of the child, he was so
much shocked that he withdrew without imparting the par-
ticulars to one who was a perfect stranger ; and, on the other
hand, Captain M , when Seymour again made his appear-
ance, after an interval of three years, not having been put in
possession of these facts, or even knowing the vicar's address
341
THE KING'S OWN
or name, had no means of communicating the intelligence of
the boy's recovery.
" I must now, sir," said M'Elvina to the vicar, " return the
confidence which you have placed in me, under the same
promise of secrecy, by making you acquainted with some
particulars of my former life, at which I acknowledge I have
reason to blush, and which nothing but the interests of
William Seymour would have induced me to disclose."
M'Elvina then acknowledged his having formerly been
engaged in smuggling his picking up the boy from the
wreck his care of him for three years the capture of his
vessel by Captain M , and the circumstances that had
induced Captain M to take the boy under his protection.
The mark was as legible as ever, and there could be no doubt
of his identity being satisfactorily established.
The vicar listened to the narration with the interest which
it deserved, and acknowledged his conviction of the clearness
of the evidence by observing
"This will be a heavy blow to our dear Emily."
"Not a very heavy one, I imagine," replied M'Elvina, who
immediately i*elieved the mind of the worthy man by com-
municating the attachment between them, and the honour-
able behaviour of Seymour.
" How very strange this is ! " replied the vicar. " It really
would be a good subject for a novel. I only trust that, like
all inventions of the kind, it may end as happily."
"I trust so too; but let us now consider what must be
done."
" I should advise his being sent for immediately."
" And so should I ; but I expect, from the last accounts
which I received from him, that the ship will have left her
station to return home before our letters can arrive there.
My plan is, to keep quiet until his return. The facts are
known, and can be established by us alone. Let us imme-
diately take such precautions as our legal advisers may think
requisite, that proofs may not be wanting in case of our
sudden demise ; but we must not act until he arrives in the
country, for Mr. Rainscourt is a difficult and dangerous person
to deal with."
" You are right," replied the vicar. " When do you leave
this for Ireland ? "
S42
THE KING'S OWN
" In a few days, but I shall be ready to appear the moment
that I hear of the ship's arrival. In the meantime, I shall
make the necessary affidavits, in case of accident."
M'Elvina and the vicar separated. M'Elvina, like a dutiful
husband, communicated the joyful intelligence to his wife,
and his wife, to soothe Emily under her affliction, although
she kept the secret, now talked of Seymour. In a few days
the arrangements were made the cottage was put into an
agent's hands to be disposed of; and quitting with regret
an abode in which they had passed some years of unalloyed
happiness, they set off for Galway, where they found Rains-
court on their arrival. Consigning his daughter to his care,
they removed to their own house, which was on the property
which M'Elvina had purchased, and about four miles distant
from the castle. M'Elvina's name was a passport to the
hearts of his tenants, who declared that the head of the
house had come unto his own again. That he had the true
eye of the M'Elvinas there was no mistaking, for no other
family had such an eye. That his honour had gladdened
their hearts by seeing the property into the ould family
again as ould a one as any in ould Ireland.
M'Elvina, like a wise man, held his tongue ; and then they
talked of their misfortunes of the bad potato crop of
arrears of rent one demand was heaped upon another,
until M'Elvina was ultimately obliged to refer them all to
the agent, whom he requested to be as lenient as possible.
Emily was now reinstated in the castle where she had
passed the first years of her existence, and found that all
in it was new, except her old nurse, Norah. The contiguity
of the M'Elvinas was a source of comfort to her, for she could
not admire the dissipated companions of her father. Her
life was solitary; but she had numerous resources within
herself, and the winter passed rapidly away.
In the spring she returned to London with her father,
who proudly introduced his daughter. Many were the solici-
tations of those who admired her person, or her purse. But
in vain : her heart was pre-engaged ; and it was with pleasure
that she returned to Ireland^ after the season was over, to
renew her intimacy with the M'Elvinas, and to cherish, in
her solitude, the remembrance of the handsome and high-
minded William Seymour.
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THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER LI
And now, with sails declined,
The wandering vessel drove before the wind ;
Tossed and retossed aloft, and then alow ;
Nor port they seek, nor certain course they know,
But every moment wait the coming blow.
>BYDEN.
.1 HREE days after the Aspasia had taken a fresh departure
from the Western Isles, a thick fog came on, the continuance
of which prevented them from ascertaining their situation by
the chronometer. The wind, which blew favourably from the
south-east, had by their dead reckoning driven them as far
north as the latitude of Ushant, without their once having
had an opportunity of finding out the precise situation of
the frigate. The wind now shifted more to the eastward,
and increasing to a gale, Captain M determined upon
making Cape Clear, on the southern coast of Ireland ; but
having obtained sights for the chronometers, it was discovered
that they were far to the westward of the reckoning, and had
no chance of making the point of land which they had in-
tended. For many days they had to contend against strong
easterly gales, with a heavy sea, and had sought shelter under
the western coast of Ireland.
The weather moderating, and the wind veering again to
the southward, the frigate's head was put towards the shore,
that they might take a fresh departure ; but scarcely had
they time to congratulate themselves upon the prospect of
-soon gaining a port, when there was every appearance of
another gale coming on from the south-west. As this was
from a quarter which, in all probability, would scarcely allow
the frigate to weather Mizen-head, she was hauled off on
the larboard tack, and all sail put on her which prudence
would permit in the heavy cross sea, which had not yet
subsided.
" We shall have it all back again, I am afraid, sir," observed
the master, looking to windward at the horizon, which, black
as pitch, served as a background to relieve the white curling
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THE KING'S OWN
tops of the seas. " Shall we have the trysails up, and bend
them ? "
"The boatswain is down after them now, Pearce," said the
first lieutenant.
" The weather is indeed threatening," replied the captain,
as he turned from the weather gangway, where he had been
standing, and wiped the spray from his face, with which the
atmosphere was charged ; " and I perceive that the glass is
very low. Send the small sails down out of the tops ; as soon
as the staysail is on her, lower the gaff, and furl the spanker ;
the watch will do. When we go to quarters, we'll double-
breech the guns. Let the carpenter have his tarpaulins ready
for battening down ; send for the boatswain, and let the boats
on the booms be well secured. Is that eight bells striking ?
Then pipe to supper first ; and, Mr. Hardy," added Captain
M , as he descended the companion-ladder. " they may
as well hook the rolling-tackles again."
" Ay, ay, sir," replied Hardy, as the captain disappeared.
" I say, master, the skipper don't like it ; I'll swear that by
his look as he turned from the gangway. He was as stern
as the figure-head of the Mars."
"That's just his way ; if even the elements threaten him,
he returns the look of defiance."
"He does so," replied the master, who appeared to be
unusually grave (as if in sad presentiment of evil). " I've
watched him often. But it's no use they mind but one."
" Very true neither can you conciliate them by smiling ;
the only way to look is to look sharp out. Eh, master ? "
said the first lieutenant, slapping him familiarly on the back.
" Come, no skylarking, Hardy ; it's easy to tell the skipper
isn't on deck. I expect as much sleep to-night as a dog vane
- these south-westers generally last their three days."
" I am glad to hear that," said Merrick, a youngster with
an oval laughing face, who, being a favourite with both the
officers, had ventured to the weather-side of the quarter-deck
in the absence of the captain.
" And why, Mr. Merrick ? " inquired the master.
" Oh, it's my morning watch to-morrow. We shall be all
snug ; no sails to trim, no sails to set, and no holystoning the
deck nothing to do but to keep myself warm under the
weather bulwarks."
345
THE KING'S OWN
" Ah, you idle scamp/' said the first lieutenant, smiling.
" So, young man, you Avish us to be on deck all night, that
you may have nothing to do in the morning. The day will
come when you will know what responsibility is," retorted
Pearce.
" If you're up all night, sir," replied the boy, laughing,
"you'll want a cup of coffee in the morning watch. I shall
come in for my share of that, you know."
" Ah, well, it's an ill wind that blows nobody good," ob-
served Pearce ; " but you are young to be selfish."
" Indeed, I am not selfish, sir," replied the boy, hurt at
the rebuke from one who had been kind to him, and to whom
he was attached. " I was only joking. I only meant," con-
tinued he, feeling deeply, but not at the moment able to
describe his feelings " I only said oh ! d n the coffee."
" And now you are only swearing, I suppose," replied the
master.
" Well, it's enough to make a saint swear to be accused of
being selfish, and by you too."
" Well, well, youngster, there's enough of it you spoke
without thinking. Go down to your tea now, and you shall
have your share of the coffee to-morrow, if there is any."
After supper the watch was called, and the directions given
by the captain to the first lieutenant were punctually obeyed.
The drum then beat to quarters earlier than usual ; the guns
were doubly secured ; the dead-lights shipped abaft ; the
number of inches of water in the well made known by the
carpenter ; the sobriety of the men ascertained by the officers
stationed at their respective guns ; and everything that was
ordered to be executed, or to be held in readiness, in the
several departments, reported to the captain.
" Now, Mr. Hardy, we'll make her all snug for the night.
Furl the fore and mizen topsail, and close-reef the main-
that, with the foresail, fore-staysail, and trysail, will be enough
for her."
" Had we not better reef the foresail, sir ? " said Pearce.
" I suspect we shall have to do it before twelve o'clock, if we
do not now."
" Very right, Mr. Pearce ; we will do so. Is the main-
trysail bent ? "
" All bent, sir, and the sheet aft."
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THE KING'S OWN
"Then beat a retreat, and turn the hands up shorten sail."
This duty was performed, and the hammocks piped down
as the last glimmering of daylight disappeared.
The gale increased rapidly during the first watch. Large
drops of rain mingled with the spray, distant thunder rolled to
windward, and occasional gleams of lightning pierced through
the intense darkness of the night. The officers and men of
the watches below, with sealed eyes and thoughtless hearts,
were in their hammocks, trusting to those on deck for security.
But the night was terrific, and the captain, first lieutenant,
and master, from the responsibility of their situations, con-
tinued on deck, as did many of the officers termed idlers, such
as the surgeon and purser, who, although their presence was
not required, felt no inclination to sleep. By four o'clock in
the morning the gale was at its height. The lightning darted
through the sky in every direction, and the thunder-claps for
the time overpowered the noise of the wind as it roared
through the shrouds. The sea, striking on the fore-channels,
was thrown aft with violence over the quarter-deck and waist
of the ship, as she laboured through the agitated sea.
" If this lasts much longer we must take the foresail off
of her, and give her the main-staysail," said Hardy to the
master.
"We must, indeed," replied the captain, who was standing
by them ; " but the day is breaking. Let us wait a little
ease her, quartermaster."
" Ease her it is, sir."
At daylight, the gale having rather increased than shown
any symptoms of abating, the captain was giving directions
for the foresail to be taken off, when the seaman who was
stationed to look out on the lee-gangway cried out, " A sail
on the lee-beam ! "
"A sail on the lee-beam, sir !" reported the officer of the
watch to the captain, as he held on by a rope Avith one hand,
and touched his hat with the other.
" Here, youngster, tell the sentry at the cabin door to give
you my deck glass," said Captain M to Merrick, who was
one of the midshipmen of the morning watch.
"She's a large ship, sir main and mizen masts both gone,"
reported Hardy, who had mounted up three or four ratlines cf
the main-rigging.
347
THE KING'S OWN
The midshipman brought up the glass; and the captain,
first passing his arm round the fore-brace to secure himself
from falling to leeward with the lurching of the ship, as soon
as he could bring the strange vessel into the field of the glass
exclaimed, " A line-of-battle ship, by Heavens ! and if I am
any judge of a hull, or the painting of a ship, she is no English-
man." Other glasses were now produced, and the opinion of
the captain was corroborated by that of the officers on deck.
" Keep fast the foresail, Mr. Hardy. We'll edge down to
her. Quartermaster, see the signal halyards all clear."
The captain went down to his cabin, while the frigate was
kept away as he directed, the master standing at the conn.
He soon came up again : " Hoist No. 3 at the fore, and No. 8
at the main. We'll see if she can answer the privatfe signal."
It was done, and the frigate, rolling heavily in the trough
of the sea, and impelled by the furious elements, rapidly
closed with the stranger. In less than an hour they were
within half a mile of her ; but the private signal remained
unanswered.
" Now then, bring her to the wind, Mr. Pearce," said Captain
M , who had his glass upon the vessel.
The frigate was luffed handsomely tothe wind, not however
without shipping a heavy sea. The gale, which during the
time that she was kept away before the wind had the appear-
ance, which it always has, of having decreased in force, now
that she presented her broadside to it roared again in all
its fury.
" Call the gunner clear away the long gun forward try
with the rammer whether the shot has started from the cart-
ridge, and then fire across the bows of that vessel."
The men cast loose the gun, and the gunner, taking out the
bed and coin to obtain the greatest elevation to counteract
the heel of the frigate, watched the lurch, and pitched the
shot close to the forefoot of the disabled vessel, who immedi-
ately showed French colours over her weather-quarter.
" French colours, sir ! " cried two or three at a breath.
" Beat to quarters, Mr. Hardy," said Captain M .
" Shall we cast loose the main-deck guns ? "
" No, no that will be useless ; we shall not be able to fire
them, and we may have them through the sides. We'll try
her with the carronades."
348
THE KING'S OWN
It was easy to perceive, without the assistance of a glass,
that the men on board the French line-of-battle ship were
attempting, in no very scientific manner, to get a jury-mast up
abaft, that by putting after-sail on her they might keep their
vessel to the \v r ind. The foresail they dared not take off, as
without any sail to keep her steady, the remaining mast would
in all probability have rolled over the side ; but without after-
sail the ship would not keep to the wind, and the consequence
was, that she was two points off the wind, forging fast through
the water, notwithstanding that the helm was hard a-lee.
" Where are we now, Mr. Pearce ? " interrogated the cap-
tain " about eight or nine leagues from the land ?"
" Say seven leagues, sir, if you please," replied the master,
" until I can give you an exact answer," and he descended
the companion-ladder to work up his reckoning.
" She's leaving us, Mr. Hardy ; keep more away, and run
abreast of her. Now, my lads, watch the weather roll round
and grape don't throw a shot away aim at the quarter-deck
ports. If we can prevent her from getting up her jury-masts,
she is done for."
" As for the matter of that," said the quartermaster, who
was captain of one of the quarter-deck guns, " we might save
our shot. They haven't nous enough to get them up if left
all to themselves however, here's a slap at her."
The frigate had now closed within three cables' length of
the line-of-battle ship, and considering the extreme difficulty
of hitting any mark under such disadvantages, a well-directed
fire was thrown in by her disciplined seamen. The enemy
attempted to return the fire from the weather main-deck guns,
but it was a service of such difficulty and danger, that he more
than once abandoned it. Two or three guns disappearing from
the ports, proved that they had either rolled to leeward, or
had been precipitated down the hatchways. This was indeed
the case, and the French sailors were so much alarmed from
the serious disasters that had already ensued, that they either
quitted their quarters, or, afraid to stand behind the guns when
they were fired, no aim was taken, and the shots were thrown
away. Had the two ships been equally manned, the disadvan-
tage, under all the misfortunes of the Frenchman, would have
been on the side of the frigate ; but the gale itself was more
than sufficient employment for the undisciplined crew of the
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THE KING'S OWN
Kne-of-battle ship. The fire from the frigate was kept up
with vigour, although the vessel lurched so heavily, as often
to throw the men who were stationed at the guns into the
lee scuppers, rolling one over the other in the water with which
the decks were floated ; but this was only a subject of merri-
ment, and they resumed their task with the careless spirit of
British seamen. The fire, difficult as it was to take any precise
aim, had the effect intended, that of preventing the French
vessel from rigging anything like a jury-mast. Occasionally
the line-of-battle ship kept more away, to avoid the grape, by
increasing her distance ; but the frigate's course was regu-
lated by that of her opponent, and she continued her galling
pursuit.
CHAPTER LII
Heaven's loud artillery began to play,
And wrath divine in dreadful peals convey ;
) Darkness and raging winds their terrors join,
And btorms of rain with storms of fire combine.
Some run ashore upon the shoaly land.
BLACXMORE.
J_T was no time for man to war against man. The powers of
Heaven were loose, and in all their fury. The wind howled,
the sea raged, the thunder stunned, and the lightning blinded.
The Eternal was present in all His majesty ; yet pigmy mortals
were contending. But Captain M was unmoved, unawed,
unchecked ; and the men, stimulated by his example, and care-
less of everything, heeded not the warring of the elements.
" Sit on your powder-box and keep it dry, you young
monkey," said the quartermaster, who was captain of the gun,
to the lad who had the cartridge ready for reloading it. The
fire upon the French vessel was warmly kept up, when the
master again came on deck, and stated to the captain that
they could not be more than four leagues from a dead lee-
shore, which, by keeping away after the French vessel, they
must be nearing fast.
" She cannot stand this long, sir. Look to windward the
gale increases there is a fresh hand at the 'bellows.' "
350
THE KING'S OWN
The wind now redoubled its fury, and the rain, that took a
horizontal instead of a perpendicular direction from the force
of the wind, fed the gale instead of lulling it. The thunder
rolled ; and the frigate was so drenched with water, that the
guns were primed and reprimed, without the fire communicat-
ing to the powder, which in a few seconds was saturated with,
the rain and spray. This was but of little consequence, as
the squall and torrents of rain had now hid the enemy from
their sight. " Look out for her, my men,, as soon as the squall
passes over," cried Captain M .
A flash of lightning, that blinded them for a time, was fol-
lowed by a peal of thunder, so close that the timbers of the
ship trembled with the vibration of the air. A second hostile
meeting of electricity took place, and the fluid darted down
the side of the frigate's mainmast, passing through the quarter-
deck in the direction of the powder magazine. Captain M ,
the first lieutenant, master, and fifty or sixty of the men were
struck down by the violence of the shock. Many were killed,
more wounded, and the rest, blinded and stunned, staggered
and fell to leeward with the lurching of the vessel. Gradually
those who were only stunned recovered their legs, and amongst
the first was the captain of the frigate. As soon as he could
recall his scattered senses, with his usual presence of mind lie
desired the "fire-roll" to be beat by the drummer, and sent
down to ascertain the extent of the mischief. A strong sul-
phureous smell pervaded the ship, and flew up the hatchways ;
and such was the confusion, that some minutes elapsed before
any report could be made. It appeared that the electric fluid
had passed close to the spirit-room and after-magazine, and
escaped through the bottom of the vessel. Before the report
had been made, the captain had given directions for taking
the wounded down to the surgeon, and the bodies of the dead
under the half-deck. The electric matter had divided at the
foot of the mainmast, to which it had done no injury ; one
part, as before mentioned, having gone below, while the other,
striking the iron bolt that connected the lower part of the
main-bitts, had thence passed to the two foremast quarter-deck
carronades, firing them both off at the same moment that it
killed and wounded the men who were stationed at them.
The effects of the lightning were various. The men who were
close to the foot of the mainmast, holding on by the ropes
351
THE KING'S OWN
belayed to the main-bitts, were burnt to a cinder, and their
blackened corpses lay smoking in the remnants of their clothes,
emitting an overpowering ammoniacal stench. Some were
only wounded in the arm or leg ; but the scathed member
was shrivelled up, and they were borne down the hatchway,
howling with intolerable pain. The most awful effects were
at the guns. The captains of the two carronades, and several
men that were near them, were dead ; but had not the equi-
poise of the bodies been lost by the violent motion of the ship,
their dreadful fate would not have been immediately perceived.
Not an injury appeared every muscle was fixed to the same
position as when the fluid entered the same expression of
countenance, the eye like life as it watched the sight on the
gun, the body bent forward, the arm extended, the fingers still
holding the lanyard attached to the lock. Nothing but pal-
pable evidence could convince one that they were dead.
The boy attending with his powder-box, upon which he
had sat by the directions of the captain of the gun, was de-
sired by Captain M to jump up and assist the men in
carrying down the wounded. He sat still on his box, sup-
ported between the capstan and the stanchions of the com-
panion hatchway, his eyes apparently fixed upon the captain,
but not moving in obedience to the order, although repeated
in an angry tone. He was dead 1
During the confusion attending this catastrophe, the guns
had been deserted. As soon as the wounded men had been
taken below, the captain desired the boatswain to pipe to
quarters, for the drummer when called to beat the "fire-roll "
had been summoned to his last account. The guns were
again manned, and the firing recommenced ; but a want of
energy, and the melancholy silence which prevailed, evidently
showed that the men, although they obeyed, did not obey
cheerfully.
"Another pull of the fore-staysail, Mr. Hardsett," cried
Captain M through his speaking-trumpet.
" Ay, ay, sir clap on him, my lads," replied the boatswain,
holding his call between his teeth, as he lent the assistance of
his powerful frame to the exertions of the men. The sheet was
aft, and belayed, and the boatswain indulged in muttered quota-
tions from the Scriptures : " He bringeth forth the clouds
from the ends of the world, and sendeth forth lightnings,
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THE KING'S OWN
with rain ; bringing the winds out of His treasuries. He smote
the first-born of Egypt."
The first lieutenant and master were in close consultation to
windward. The captain stood at the lee-gangway, occasionally
desiring the quartermaster at the conn to alter the course,
regulating his own by that of his disabled enemy.
" I'll speak to him, then," exclaimed Pearce, as the con-
ference broke up, and he went over to leeward to the captain.
" Captain M , I have had the honour to serve under you,-
command some time, and I trust you will allow that I have
never shown any want of zeal in the discharge of my
duty ? "
" No, Mr. Pearce," replied the captain, with a grave smile ;
"without compliment, you never have."
" Then, sir, you will not be affronted at, or ascribe to un-
worthy motives, a remark which I wish to make ? "
" Most certainly not ; as I am persuaded that you will never
make any observation inconsistent with your duty, or infringing
upon the rules of the service."
" Then, sir, with all due submission to you, I do think, and
it is the opinion of the other officers as well, that our present
employment, under existing circumstances, is tempting, if not
insulting, the Almighty. Look at the sky, look at the raging
sea, hear the wind, and call to mind the effects of the lightning
not one half-hour since. When the Almighty appears in all His
wrath, in all His tremendous majesty, is it a time for us poor
mortals to be at strife ? What is our feeble artillery, what is the
roar of our cannon, compared to the withering and consuming
artillery of Heaven ? Has He not told us so ? and do not
the ship's company, by their dispirited conduct since the vessel
was struck, acknowledge it ? The officers all feel it, sir. Is
it not presumptuous with all due submission, sir, is it not
wicked?"
" I respect your feelings as a Christian and as a man,"
replied Captain M ; "but I must differ with you. That
the Almighty power appears, I grant ; and I feel, as you do,
that God is great, and man weak and impotent. But that
this storm has been raised that this thunder rolls that this
lightning has blasted us, as a warning, I deny. The causes
emanate from the Almighty ; but He leaves the effects to
the arrangements of Nature, which is governed by imniut-
353 z
THE KING'S OWN
able laws. Had there been no other vessel in sight, this
lightning would still have struck us ; and this storm will not
cease, even if we were to neglect what I consider a duty to
our country."
The master touched his hat and made no answer. It was
now about one o'clock, and the horizon to leeward, clearing up
a little, showed the land upon the lee-beam.
" Land ho ! " cried one of the men.
" Indeed," observed the captain to the master ; " we are
nearer than you thought."
" Something, sir, perhaps ; but recollect how many hours you
have kept away after this vessel."
"Very true," rejoined the captain; "and the in-draught
into the bargain. I am not surprised at it."
"Shall we haul our wind, sir? we are on a- dead lee-
shore."
" No, Mr. Pearce, not until the fate of that vessel is
decided."
" Land on the weather-bow ! " reported the boatswain.
" Indeed ! " said the captain ; " then the affair will soon be
decided."
The vessels still continued their course in a slanting direction
towards the land, pursuer and pursued running on to destruc-
tion ; but although various indirect hints were given by the
first lieutenant and others, Captain M turned a deaf ear.
He surveyed the dangers which presented themselves, and
frowned upon them, as if in defiance.
CHAPTER LIII
An universal cry resounds aloud,
The sailors run in heaps, a helpless crowd ;
Art fails, and courage falls ; no succour near ;
As many waves, as many deaths appear.
OVID. Drydcn's Translation.
ILOWEVER we may be inclined to extend our admiration
to the feelings of self-devotion which governed the conduct
of Captain M , it cannot be a matter of surprise that the
35*
THE KING'S OWN
officers of the frigate did not coincide with his total indiffer-
ence to self in the discharge of his duty. Murmur they did
not ; but they looked at each other, at the captain, and at
the perilous situation of the vessel in silence, and with a
restless change of position that indicated their anxiety.
Macallan was below attending to the wounded men, or he
would probably have been deputed by the others to have
remonstrated with the captain. A few minutes more had
elapsed, when the master again addressed him.
" I am afraid, sir, if we continue to stand on, that we shall
lose the frigate," said he, respectfully touching his hat.
" Be it so," replied Captain M ; " the enemy will lose
a line-of-battle ship ; our country will be the gainer when the
account is balanced."
" I must be permitted to doubt that, sir ; the value of the
enemy's ship is certainly greater ; but there are other con-
siderations."
" What are they ? "
" The value of the respective officers and ships' companies,
which must inevitably share the fate of the two vessels. The
captain of that ship is not worth his salt. It would be politic
to let him live, and continue to command. His ship witl
always be ours, when we want it ; and in the event of a
general action, he would make a gap in the enemy's line
which might prove of the greatest importance. Now, sir,
without drawing the parallel any further without taking
into consideration the value of the respective officers and
men I must take the liberty of observing that, on your
account alone, England will be no gainer by the loss of both
vessels and crews."
"Thank you for the compliment, which, as it is only
feather-weight, I will allow to be thrown into the scale. But
I do not agree with you. I consider war but as a game of
chess, and will never hesitate to sacrifice a knight for a
castle. Provided that castle is lost, Mr. Pearce," continued
the captain, pointing to the French vessel, " this little
frigate, if necessary, shall be knight-errant enough to bear
her company."
" Very good, sir," replied Pearce, again touching his hat ;
" as master of this ship, I considered it my duty to state mjr
opinion."
355
THE KING'S OWN
" You have done your duty, Mr. Pearce, and I thank you
for it ; but I have also my duties to perform. One of them is,
not to allow the lives of one ship's company, however brave
and well-disciplined (and such I must allow to be the one I
have the honour to command), to interfere with the general
interests of the country we contend for. When a man enters
his Majesty's service, his life is no longer to be considered
his own ; it belongs to his king and country, and is at their
disposal. If we are lost, there will be no great difficulty in
collecting another ship's company in old England as brave
and as good as this. Officers as experienced are anxiously
waiting for employment ; and the Admiralty will have no
trouble in selecting and appointing as good, if not a better
captain."
The contending ships were now about two cables' length
from each other, with a high rocky coast, lashed with a tre-
mendous surf, about three-quarters of a mile to leeward. The
promontory extended about two points on the weather-bow of
the frigate, and a low sandy tongue of land spread itself far
out on her weather-quarter, so that both vessels were com-
pletely embayed. The line-of-battle ship again made an
attempt to get up some after-sail ; but the well-directed fire
of the frigate, whenever she rose on the tops of the moun-
tainous waves, which at intervals hid the hulls of both vessels
from each other, drove the Frenchmen from their task of
safety, and it was now evident that all command of her was
lost. She rolled gunwale under, and her remaining mast
went by the board.
"Nothing can save her now, sir," replied the master.
" No," replied the captain ; "we have done our work, and
must now try to save ourselves."
" Secure the guns be smart, my lads, you work for your
lives. We must put the mainsail on her, Mr. Pearce, and
claw off if we can."
The master shook his head. " Hands by the clue-garnets
and buntlines man the mainsheet let go those leech-lines,
youngster haul aboard."
" It's a pity, too, by G d," said the captain, looking
over the hammock-rails at the French vessel, which was
now running before the wind right on to the shore " eight
or nine hundred poor devils will be called to their last
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THE KING'S OWN
account in the course of a few minutes. I wish we could
save them."
"You should have thought of that before, sir/' said the
master, with a grave smile at this reaction of feeling on the
part of the captain. " Nothing can save them, and I am afraid
that nothing but a slant of wind or a miracle can help our-
selves."
" She has struck, sir, and is over on her broadside," said
the quartermaster, who was standing on the carronade
slide.
" Mind your conn, sir ; keep your eyes on the weather-leech
of the sail, and not upon that ship," answered the captain,
with asperity.
In the meantime the mainsail had been set by the first
lieutenant, and the crew, unoccupied, had their eyes directed
for a little while upon the French vessel, which lay on her
beam-ends, enveloped in spray ; but they also perceived what,
during the occupation and anxiety of action, they had not had
leisure to attend to, namely, the desperate situation of their
own ship. The promontory was now broad on the weather
bow, and a reef of rocks, partly above water, extended from it
to leeward of the frigate. Such was the anxiety of the ship's
company for their own safety, that the eyes of the men were
turned away from the stranded vessel, and fixed upon the
rocks. The frigate did all that a gallant vessel could do,
rising from the trough of the sea, and shaking the water from
her, as she was occasionally buried forecastle under, from the
great pressure of the sail, cleaving the huge masses of the
element with her sharp stem, and trembling fore and aft with
the violence of her own exertions. But the mountainous waves
took her with irresistible force from her chesstree, retarding
her velocity, and forcing her each moment nearer to the
reef.
" Wear ship, Mr. Hardy," said the captain, who had not
spoken one word since he rebuked the quartermaster ; " we
have but just room."
The master directed the man at the wheel to put helm
up in a firm but subdued tone, for he was at that moment
thinking of his wife and children. The ship had just
paid off and gathered fresh way, when she struck upon
a sunken rock. A loud and piercing cry from the ship's
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THE KING'S OWN
company was followed by an enormous sea striking the
frigate on the counter, at once heeling her over and forcing
her ahead, so that she slipped off from the rock again into
deep water.
" She's off again, sir," said the master.
" It's God's mercy, Mr. Pearce ! Bring her to the wind
as soon as you can," replied the captain, with composure.
But the carpenter now ran up the hatchway, and with
a pallid face and hurried tone, declared that the ship was
filling fast, and could not be kept afloat more than a few
minutes.
" Going down ! going down ! " was spread with dreadful
rapidity throughout the ship, and all discipline and subordina-
tion appeared to be at an end.
Some of the men flew to the boats hoisted up on the quarters,
and were casting loose the ropes which secured them, with
hands that were tremulous with anxiety and fear.
" Silence there, fore and aft ! " roared the captain, in the full
compass of his powerful voice. " Every man to his station.
Come out of those boats directly."
All obeyed except one man, who still continued to cast
loose the gripes.
" Come out, sir," repeated the captain.
" Not I, by G d ! " replied the sailor coolly,
The boarding-pikes, which had been lashed round the
spanker-boom, had been detached, either from the shot of
the enemy or some other means, and were lying on the deck
close to the cabin skylight. The captain seizing one, and
poising it brandished over his head, a third time ordered the
sailor to leave the boat.
" Every man for himself, and God for us all ! " was the cool
answer of the refractory seaman.
The pike flew, and entered the man's bowels up to the
hilt. The poor wretch staggered, made a snatch at the davit,
missed it, and fell backwards over the gunwale of the boat
iiito the sea.
" My lads," said Captain M , emphatically addressing
the men, who beheld the scene with dismay, " as long as one
plank, ay, one toothpick, of this vessel swims, I command, and
will be obeyed. Quartermaster, put the helm up. I have
but few words to say to you, my men. The vessel is sinking,
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" The Captain a third time ordered the sailor to leave the boat."
THE KING'S OWN
and we must put her on the reef boats are useless. If she
hangs together, do you hang to her as your only chance. And
now farewell, my brave fellows, for we are not all likely to
meet again. Look out for a soft place for her, Mr. Pearce, if
you can."
" I see but one spot where there is the least chance of her
being thrown up, sir. Starboard a little steady ! so," were
the cool directions of the master, as the ship flew with increased
velocity to her doom. The captain stood on the carronade
slide, from which he had addressed the men. His mien was
firm and erect not a muscle of his countenance was observed
to change or move, as the sailors watched it as the barometer
of their fate. Awed by the dreadful punishment of the muti-
neer, and restrained by their long habits of discipline, they
awaited their doom in a state of intense anxiety, but in
silence.
All this latter description, however, was but the event of
about two minutes which had barely expired, when the
frigate dashed upon the reef!
CHAPTER LIV
Thon, God of this great vast, rebuke those surges which wash both
heaven and hell ; and Thou that hast upon the winds command, bind
them in brass, having called them from the deep. SHAKSPEAKE.
rp
-I HE shock threw the men off their feet as they raised an
appealing cry to Heaven, which was mocked by the howling
of the wind and the roar of the waters. The masts, which
were thrown out from their steps, waved once, twice, and then
fell over the sides with a crash, as an enormous sea broke over
the vessel, forcing her further on the rocks, and causing every
timber and knee in her to start from its place. The masts, as
they fell, and the sea, that at the same moment poured over
like an impetuous cataract, swept away thirty or forty of the
seamen into the boiling element under the lee. Another and
another shock from the resistless and furious waves decided
the fate of the resolute captain and master. The frigate parted
amidships. The fore-part of her, which was firmly wedged on
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THE KING'S OWN
the rocks, remained. The quarter-deck and after-part turned
over to the deep water, and disappeared. An enormous surge
curled over it as it went down, and as if disappointed at
not being able to wreak its fury upon that part of the
vessel which, by sinking, had evaded it, it drove in revenge
upon the remainder, forcing it several yards higher upon the
reef.
Two-thirds of the ship's company were now gone the cap-
tain, the master, and the major part of the officers and men
being on the quarter-deck when the ship divided. The cry
of the drowning was not heard amidst the roaring of the ele-
ments. The behaviour of the captain and the officers at this
dreadful crisis has not been handed down ; but if we may
judge from what has already been narrated, they met their
fate like British seamen.
The fore-part of the ship still held together, and, fortu-
nately for the survivors, heeled towards the land, so as to afford
some protection from the force of the seas, which dashed over it
at each succeeding swell of the billows. Daylight left them,
and darkness added to the despair and horror of nearly one
hundred wretches, who felt at each shock, which threatened
to separate the planks and timbers, as if Death was loudly
knocking to claim the residue of his destined victims. Not one
word was exchanged ; but secured with ropes to the belaying-
pins and other parts of the forecastle where they could pass
their lashings, they clung and huddled together, either ab-
sorbed in meditation or wailing with despair. Occasionally,
one who had supported himself in a difficult and painful
position, stimulated with the faint hopes of life, to which we
all so fondly and so foolishly cling, would find that his strength
was exhausted, and that he could hold no longer. After
vainly imploring those near him to allow him to better his
condition by a slight personal sacrifice on their part (an appeal
that received no answer), he would gradually loose his hold,
and drop into the surge that was commissioned by Death to
receive his prey.
There are situations in human life of such powerful
excitement, and in which the mechanism of the human
frame becomes so rapid in its motion, that the friction of
a few days will wear it out. The harrowed feelings of these
poor creatures on the wreck, during the short time that
360
THE KING'S OWN
they remained, had a greater effect in undermining the
constitution than many years of laborious occupation on
shore.
Fellow-countrymen, if you are at all interested with the
scenes I am now describing, and which, if you have any
feeling, you must be (however imperfect the description),
let the author, a sailor himself, take this favourable oppor-
tunity of appealing to you in behalf of a service at once your
protection and your pride. For its sake, as well as your own,
listen not to those who, expatiating upon its expense, and
silent upon its deserts, would put a stop to hardly-earned
promotion, and blast with disappointment the energies of
the incipient hero. And may those to whom the people at
large have delegated their trust, and in whom they have
reposed their confidence, treat with contempt the calcula-
tions, and miscalculations, of one without head and without
heart!
Daylight again, as if unwillingly, appeared, and the
wild scud flew past the dark clouds, that seemed to
sink down with their heavy burdens till they nearly
touched the sea. The waves still followed each other
mountains high ; the wind blew with the same violence ;
and as the stormy petrels flew over the billows, indicating
by their presence that the gale would continue, the un-
fortunate survivors looked at each other in silence and
despair.
I know not whether all seamen feel as I do ; but I have
witnessed so many miraculous escapes, so many sudden re-
verses, so much, beyond all hope and conception, achieved
by a reliance upon Providence and your own exertions, that
under the most critical circumstances I never should despair.
If struggling in the centre of the Atlantic, with no vessel in
sight, no strength remaining, and sinking under the wave
that boiled in my ear, as memory and life were departing
still, as long as life did remain, as long as recollection held
her seat, I never should abandon Hope never believe that
it is all over with me till I awoke in the next world, and
found it confirmed.
What would these men have valued their lives at in
the morning ? Yet at noon a change took place : the
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THE KING'S OWN
weather evidently moderated fast; and silence, that had
reigned for so many hours, lost his empire, and the
chances of being saved began to be calculated. A reef
of rocks, many of them above water, over which the
breakers still raged, lay between the wreck and the shore,
and the certainty of being dashed to pieces precluded all
attempts at reaching it till the weather became more
moderate and the sea less agitated. But when might that
be ? and how long were they to resist the united attacks of
hunger and fatigue ?
The number of men still surviving was about seventy.
Many, exhausted and wounded, were hanging in a state of
insensibility by the ropes with which they had secured them-
selves. That our hero was among those who remained need
hardly be observed, or there would have been a close to this
eventful history. He was secured to the weather-side of the
foremast-bitts, supported on the one side by the boatswain,
and on the other by Price, the second lieutenant, next to
whom was the captain of the forecastle, one of the steadiest
and best seamen in the ship, who had been pressed out of
a West Indiaman, in which he had served in the capacity of
second mate.
Our hero had often turned round with an intention to
speak to Price ; but observing that he sat crouched with his
face upon his hands and knees, he waited until his messmate
should raise his head up, imagining that he was occupied
in secret prayer. Finding that he still continued in the
same position, Seymour called to him several times. Not
receiving any answer, he extended his arm and shook Price
by the coller, fearing that he had swooned from cold and
fatigue.
Price slowly raised his head, and looking at Seymour,
answered not. His vacant stare and wild eye proclaimed at
once that reason had departed. Still, as it afterwards appeared,
his ruling passion remained ; and from that incomprehensible
quality of our structure, which proves that the mind of man
is more fearfully and wonderfully made than the body, the
desertion of one sense was followed by the return of another.
His memory was perfect, now that his reason was gone. Sur-
veying the scene around him, he began with all the theatrical
THE KING'S OWN
action which the ropes that secured him would permit, to
quote his favourite author :
"'Blow winds, and crack your cheeks rage blow,
You cataracts and burricanoes, spout '
" ' Poor Tom's a-cold ' " then, shuddering, he covered up
his face, and resumed his former position.
" Is this a time for spouting profane plays, Mr. Price ? "
said the fanatical boatswain, who was not aware of the poor
man's insanity. " Hold your peace, and call not judgment
on our heads, and I prophesy that we shall be saved. 'The
waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly ; but yet the
Lord who dwelleth on high is mightier.' "
Silence ensued, which after a few minutes was interrupted
by Seymour lamenting over the fate of Captain M and
the rest of the ?rew who had perished.
" Well, they are in heaven before this, I hope ! " observed
Robinson, the captain of the forecastle.
" ' Many are called, but few chosen,' " rejoined the boat-
swain, who appeared by the flashing of his eye to be in n.
state of strong excitement. " No more in heaven than you
would be, if the Almighty was pleased to cut you off in His
wrath."
" Where then, Mr. Hardsett ? " inquired Robinson. " Surely
not in "
" I know I know," cried Price, who again lifted up his
head, and with a vacant laugh commenced singing
" Nothing of him that doth fade
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea nymphs hourly ring his knell I
Hark ! now I hear them ding-dong-bell."
" For shame, Mr. Price ! " interrupted the boatswain.
" Ding-dong ding-dong-bell."
"Mr. Price, what does the Scripture say? 'Judgments
are prepared for scorners,' " continued the boatswain with
vehemence.
Price had resumed his former attitude, and made no answer.
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THE KING'S OWN
As soon as the interruption of the lieutenant had ceased,
Robinson resumed his interrogatory to the boatswain : " Where
then ? not in hell, I hope."
"Ay," returned the latter, "in the fire that is never
quenched, and for ever and ever."
" I hope not," replied Robinson ; " I may deserve punish-
ment, and I know I do. I've been overhauling my log-book
while the sea here has been dashing over my bows and wash-
ing my figure-head ; and there are some things I wish I could
forget ; they will rise up in judgment against me ; but surely
not for ever ? "
" You should have thought of that before, my good fellow.
I am sorry for you sorry for all those who have perished,
for they were good seamen, and in the worldly service have
done well. I was reflecting the other day whether, out of
the whole navy, I should be able to muster one single ship's
company in heaven."
" Well, Mr. Hardsett, it's my firm opinion, that when the
hands are turned up for punishment in the next world, we
shall be sarved out according to our desarts. Now, that's my
belief; and I shan't change it for yours, Mr. Hardsett, for I
thinks mine the more comfortable of the two."
" It won't do, Robinson ; you must have faith."
" So I have, in God's mercy, boatswain."
" That won't do. Yours is not the true faith."
" Mayhap not, but I hope to ride it put with it nevertheless,
for I have it well backed with hope ; and if I still drive,"
said Robinson, musing a short time "why, I have charity
as a sheet-anchor to bring me up again. It's long odds but
our bodies will soon be knocked to shivers in those breakers,
and we shall then know who's right and who's wrong. I
see small chance of our saving ourselves, unless indeed we
could walk on the sea, and there was but One that ever did
that."
" Had the apostle had faith, he would not have sunk,"
rejoined the boatswain.
" Have you, then, more faith than the apostle ? "
" I have, thanks be to Jehovah, the true faith," cried the
boatswain, raising his eyes and hands to heaven.
" Then walk on shore," said the captain of the forecastle.,
looking him steadfastly in the face.
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THE KING'S OWN
Stimulated by the request, which appeared to put his
courage as a man, and his faith as a Christian, to the test,
and at the moment fanatic even to insanity, the boat-
swain rose, and casting off the ropes which he had wound
round his body, was about to comply with Robinson's
request.
A few moments more, and the raging sea would have
received him, had not our hero, in conjunction with the
captain of the forecastle, held him down with all his power.
"We doubt not your faith, Mr. Hardsett," said Seymour,
" but the time of miracles is past. It would be self-murder.
He who raised the storm will, in His own good time, save us,
if He thinks fit."
Price, who had listened to the conversation, and had
watched the motions of the boatswain, who was casting off
the lashings which had secured him, had, unperceived, done
the same, and now jumped upon his legs, and collared the
astonished boatswain, roaring out
" Zounds, show me what thou'lt do !
Woul't weep ? woul't fight ? woul't fast ? woul't teax thyself? "
Why, he's mad ! " exclaimed the terrified boatswain, who
was not far off the point himself.
" Mad 1 " resumed Price,
" Not a soul
But felt a fever of the mad, and played
Some tricks of desperation.
The king's son, Ferdinand,
With hair upstarting (then like reeds, not hair),
Was the first man that leaped ; cried, Hell is empty
And all the devils are here ! "
As the maniac finished the last words, before they could
be aware of his intention, he made a spring from the deck
over the bulwark, and disappeared under the wave. The
boatswain, who had been diverted from his fanatical attempt
by the unexpected attack of Price more than by the remon-
strances of his companions, resumed his position, folding his
arms, and casting his eyes to heaven. The captain of the
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THE KING'S OWN
forecastle was silent, and so was our hero ; the thoughts oi
the two were upon the same subject eternity.
Eternity ! the only theme that confuses, humbles, and
alarms the proud intellect of man. What is it ? The human
mind can grasp any denned space, any denned time, how-
ever vast ; but this is beyond time, and too great for the
limited conception of man. It had no beginning, and can
have no end. It cannot be multiplied, it cannot be divided,
it cannot be added unto you may attempt to subtract from
it, but it is useless. Take millions and millions of years from
it, take all the time that can enter into the compass of your
imagination, it is still whole and undiminished as before
all calculation is lost. Think on the brain becomes heated,
and oppressed with a sensation of weight too powerful for it
to bear ; Reason totters in her seat, and you rise with the
conviction of the impossibility of the creature attempting to
fathom the Creator humiliated with the sense of your own
nothingness, and impressed with the tremendous majesty of
the Deity.
Time is Man Eternity is God !
CHAPTER LV
Thou art perfect, then, that our ship hath touched upon the deserts
of Bohemia 1
Ay, my lord, and fear we have landed in ill time.
Winter's Tale.
-A. BOUT midnight the moon burst through the clouds, which
gradually rolled away to the western horizon, as if they had
been furled by some invisible spirits in the air. The wind,
after several feeble gusts, like the last breathings of some
expiring creature unwilling to loosen the " silver cord," sub-
sided to a calm. It then shifted round to the eastward. The
waves relaxed in their force until they did little more than
play upon the side of the wreck, so lately the object of their
fury. The dark shadows of the rocks were no longer relieved
by the white foam of the surf, which had raged among them
with such violence. Before morning all was calm, and the
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THE KING'S OWN
survivors, as they shrunk and shivered in their wet garments,
encouraged each other with the prospect of a speedy termina-
tion to their sufferings on the reappearance of daylight. The
sun rose in splendour, and seemed, as he darted his searching
rays through the cloudless expanse, to exclaim in his pride,
"Behold how I bring light and heat, joy and salvation, to
you late despairing creatures ! " The rocks of the reef above
water, which had previously been a source of horror, and had
been contemplated as the sure engines of their destruction,
were now joyfully reckoned as so many resting-spots for those
who were about to attempt to reach the land.
The most daring and expert swimmers launched themselves
into the water and made for the nearest cluster of rocks, with
difficulty gaining a footing on them, after clinging by the dark
and slippery sea-weed which covered their tops, like shaggy
hair on the heads of so many emerging giants. The waving
of the hands of the party who had succeeded in gaining the
rocks, encouraged a second to follow ; while others, who could
not swim, were busily employed in searching for the means of
supporting themselves in the water, and floating themselves
on shore. Self, that had predominated, now lost its ground.
Those who had allowed their shipmates to perish in attempt-
ing to gain the same place of security as themselves, without
an effort in their favour, or one sigh for their unlucky fate,
now that hope was revived almost to a certainty of deliver-
ance, showed as much interest in the preservation of others
lying in a state of exhaustion as they did for their own. The
remaining officers recovered their authority, which had been
disregarded, and the shattered fragment of the Aspasia
reassumed their rights of discipline and obedience to the
last. In a few hours, sick, disabled, and wounded were all
safely landed, and the raft which had been constructed
returned to the wreck, to bring on shore whatever might be
useful.
Our hero, who was the only officer who had been saved,
with the exception of the boatswain, had taken upon himself
the command, and occupied himself with the arrangements
necessary for the shelter and sustenance of his men. A range
of barren hills, abruptly rising from the iron-bound coast,
covered with large fragments and detached pieces of rock,
without any symptom of cultivation, or any domesticated
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THE KING'S OWN
animal in sight which might imply that human aid was not
far distant, met the eye of Seymour, as he directed it to every
point, in hopes of succour for his wounded and exhausted
companions. One of the men, whom he had sent to recon-
noitre, returned in a few minutes, stating, that behind a
jutting rock, which he pointed to with his finger, not two
hundred yards distant, he had discovered a hut, or what in
Ireland is termed a shealing, and that there appeared to be
a bridle road from it leading over the mountain. To this
shelter our hero determined to remove his disabled men, and
in company with the boatswain and the man who had re-
turned with the intelligence, set off to examine the spot.
Passing the rock, he perceived that the hut, which bore every
sign, from its smokeless chimney and air of negligence and
decay, to have been some time deserted, stood upon a piece
of ground, about an acre in extent, which had once been
cultivated, but was now luxuriant with a spontaneous
crop of weeds and thistles. He approached the entrance,
and as the rude door creaked upon its hinges when he
threw it open, was saluted by a faint voice, which cried,
" Qui va Ui ? "
" Why, there's Irishmen inside," observed the sailor.
"Frenchmen rather, I should imagine," replied our hero,
as he entered and discovered seven or eight of the unfortu-
nate survivors of the French line-of-battle ship, who had
crawled there, bruised, cut, and apparently in the last state
of exhaustion.
" Bon jour, camarade," said one of them, with difficulty
raising himself on his elbow " As-tu d' eau-de-vie ? "
" I am afraid not," replied Seymour, looking with com-
passion on the group, all of which had their eyes directed
towards him, although from their wounds and bruises they
were not able to turn their bodies. " We are shipwrecked as
well as you."
" What ! did you belong to that cursed frigate ? "
" We did," replied Seymour, " and there are but few of us
alive to tell the tale."
" Vive la France ! " cried the Frenchman ; "puisqu'elle na
pas ('chappce- je n'ai plus des regrets."
" Viva, viva ! " repeated the rest of the French party in
faint accents.
THE KING'S OWN
" Et mot, je meurs content I " murmured one, who in a few
seconds afterwards expired.
" Are you the only survivors ? " demanded Seymour.
"All that are left," replied the spokesman of the party,
" out of eight hundred and 6fty men Sacristie as-tu d' eau-
de-vie ? "
" I hardly know what we have ; something has been saved
from the wreck," replied Seymour, " and shall cheerfully be
shared with you with all the assistance we can afford. We
were enemies, but we are now brothers in affliction. I
must quit you to bring up our wounded men ; there is
sufficient room, I perceive, for all of us. Adieu, pour le
moment ! "
" Savez-vous que c'est tin braise gar$on ce lieutenant-la I " ob-
served the Frenchman to his companions, as Seymour and his
party quitted the hut
Seymour returned to the beach, and collecting his men,
found the survivors to consist of forty-four seamen and marines,
the boatswain and himself. Of these, fifteen were helpless,
from wounds and fractured limbs. The articles which had
been collected were a variety of spars and fragments of wood,
some of the small sails which had been triced up in the
rigging, one or two casks of beef and pork, and a puncheon
of rum, which had miraculously steered its course between
the breakers, and had been landed without injury. The sails,
which had been spread out to dry, were first carried up to
form a bed for the sick and wounded, who in the space of an
hour were all made as comfortable as circumstances would
admit, a general bed having been made on the floor of the
hut, upon which they and the wounded Frenchmen shared
the sails between them. The spars and fragments were then
brought up, and a fire made in the long-deserted hearth, while
another was lighted outside for the men to dry their clothes.
The cask of rum was rolled up to the door, and a portion,
mixed with the water from a rill that trickled down the sides
of the adjacent mountain, served out to the exhausted parties.
The seamen, stripping off their clothes, and spreading them
out to dry before the fire which had been made outside
collected into the hut to shield their naked bodies from the
inclemency of the weather.
The spirits, which had been supplied with caution to the
869 2A
THE KING'S OWN
survivors of the French vessel, had been eagerly seized by the
one who had first addressed our hero, and in half-an-hour he
seemed to be quite revived. He rose, and after trying his
limbs, by moving slowly to and fro, gradually recovered the
entire use of them ; and by the time that the circulation of
his blood had been thoroughly restored by a second dose of
spirits, appeared to have little to complain of. He was a
powerful, well-looking man, with a large head covered with
a profusion of shaggy hair. Seymour looked at him earnestly,
and thought lie could not well be mistaken, long as it was
since they had been in company.
" Excuse me, but I th'nk we once met at Cherbourg. Is
not your name Debriseau ? "
" Sacristie !" replied the Frenchman, seizing himself by the
hair, "je suis connu ! And who are you ? "
" Oh ! now I'm sure it's you," replied Seymour, laughing ;
'' that's your old trick do you not recollect the boy that
Captain M'Elvina took off the wreck ?"
" Ah, man ami Seymour, I believe midshipman, I believe,"
cried Debriseau. " Est-cc done vous ? Mais, won Dieu, que c'esi
diole" (again pulling his hair as he grinded his teeth) " un
diabh cle rencontre I"
"And how is it that you have been on bourd of a French
man-of-war ? "
" How I Oh, I was unlucky after M'Elvina went away,
and I thought on reflection, notwithstanding his arguments,
that it was a dishonest sort of concern. Being pretty
well acquainted with the coasts, I shipped on board as
pilot."
" But, Debriseau, are you not a native of Guernsey, which
is part of the British dominions ? "
" Bah 1 it's all one, moh ami ; we islanders are like the bat
in the fable beast or bird, as it suits us we belong to either
country. For my own part, I have a strong national affection
for both."
The conversation was here interrupted by the entrance
of the boatswain, who had remained outside in charge
of the cask of rum, upon which he had seated himself,
occupied with his Bible. " Here's assistance coming, Mr.
Seymour. There's at least twenty or thirty men descending
the hill."
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THE KING'S OWN
" Hurrah for old Ireland ' they are the boys that will
look after a friend in distress," shouted Conolly, one oi
the seamen, who thus eulogised his own countrymen as
he hung naked over the fire.
CHAPTER LYT
With dauntless hardihood
And brandished bladi rush on him,
And shed the luscious liquor on the ground,
. . . though he and his cursed crew
Fierce sign of battle make, and menace high.
MILTON.
J_ HE information received from Mr. Hardsett induced our
hero to break off his conversation with Debriseau, and he
immediately quitted the hut. A party of men, wild in theiv
appearance and demeanour, were bounding down through the
rocks, flourishing their bludgeons over their heads, with loud
shouts. They soon arrived within 'a few yards of the shealing,
and to the astonishment of Seymour and the boatswain, who
with a dozen more had resumed their clothes, seemed to
eye them with hostile rather than with friendly glances.
Their intentions were, however, soon manifested by their
pouncing upon the habiliments of the seamen which were
spread out to dry, holding them rolled up under one arm,
while they flourished their shillelahs in defiance with the
other.
" Avast there, my lads ! " cried the boatswain ; " why are
you meddling with those clothes ? "
A shout, with confused answers in Irish, was the incompre-
hensible reply.
" Conolly/' cried Seymour, " you can speak to them. Ask
them what they mean ? "
Conolly addressed them in Irish, when an exchange of a few
sentences took place.
" Bloody end to the rapparees ! " said Conolly, turning to
our hero. " It's helping themselves they're a'ter, instead of
helping us. They say all that comes on shore from a wreck is
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their own by right, and that they'll have it. They asked me
what was in the cask, and I told them it was the cratur, sure
enough, and they say that they must have it, and everything
else, and that if we don't give it up peaceably, they'll take
the lives of us."
Seymour, who was aware that the surrender of the means
of intoxication would probably lead to worse results, turned to
his men, who had assembled outside of the hut, and had armed
themselves with spars and fragments of the wreck on the first
appearance of hostility, and directed them to roll the cask
of rum into the hut and prepare to act on the defensive.
The English seamen, indignant at such violation of the
laws of hospitality, and at the loss of their clothes, imme-
diately complied with his instructions, and with their blood
boiling, were with difficulty restrained from commencing the
attack.
A shaggy - headed monster, apparently the leader of
the hostile party, again addressed Conolly in his own
language.
"It's to know whether ye'll give up the cask quietly,
or have a fight for it. The devil a pair of trousers will
they give back, not even my own, though I'm an Irishman,
and a Galway man to boot. By J s, Mr. Seymour, it's
to be hoped ye'll not give up the cratur without a bit of
a row."
" No," replied Seymour. " Tell them that they shall not
have it, and that they shall be punished for the theft they
have already committed."
" You're to come and take it/' roared Conolly, in Irish, to
the opposing party.
"Now, my lads," cried Seymour, "you must fight hard
for it they will show little mercy if they gain, the
day."
The boatswain returned his Bible to his breast, and seizing
the mast of the frigate's jolly-boat, which had been thrown up
with the other spars, poised it with both hands on a level with
his head, so as to use the foot of it as a battering-ram, and
stalked before his men.
The Irish closed with loud yells, and the affray commenced
with a desperation seldom to be witnessed. Many were the
wounds given and received, and several of either party were
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THE KING'S OWN
levelled in the dust The numbers were about even ; but the
weapons of the Irish were of a better description, each man
being provided with his own shillelah of hard wood, which he
had been accustomed to wield. But the boatswain did great
execution as he launched forward his mast, and prostrated
an Irishman every time with his cool and well-directed aim.
After a few minutes' contention the Englishmen were beaten
back to the shealing, where they rallied, and continued to stand
at bay. Seymour, anxious at all events that the Irish should
not obtain the liquor, directed Robinson, the captain of the
forecastle, to go into the hut, take the bung out of the cask,
and start the contents. This order was obeyed, while the
contest was continued outside, till M'Dermot, the leader of
the Irish, called off his men, that they might recover their
breath for a renewal of the attack.
"If it's the liquor you want," cried Conolly to them,
by the direction of Seymour, "you must be quick about it.
There it's all running away through the doors of the
shealing."
This announcement had, however, the contrary effect to that
which Seymour intended it should produce. Enraged at the
loss of the spirits, and hoping to gain possession of the cask
before it was all out, the Irish returned with renewed violence
to the assault, and drove the English to the other side of the
shealing, obtaining possession of the door, which they burst
in to secure their prey. About eight or ten had entered
and had seized upon the cask, which was not more than half
emptied, when the liquor, which had run out under the door
of the hut, communicated in its course with the fire that had
been kindled outside. With the rapidity of lightning the flame
ran up the stream that continued to flow, igniting the whole
of the spirits in the cask, which blew up with a tremendous
explosion, darting the fiery liquid over the whole interior, and
communicating the flame to the thatch and every part of the
building, which was instantaneously in ardent combustion. The
shrieks of the poor disabled wretches, stretched on the sails, to
which the fire had communicated, and who were now lying in
a molten sea of flame like that described in Pandemonium by
Milton ; the yells of the Irish inside of the hut, vainly attempt-
ing to regain the door, as they writhed in their flaming apparel,
which, like the shirt of Nessus, ate into their flesh ; the burning
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THE KING'S OWN
thatch which had been precipitated in the air, and now de-
scended in fiery flakes upon the parties outside, who stood
aghast at the dreadful and unexpected catastrophe ; the
volumes of black and suffocating smoke which poured out
from every quarter formed a scene of horror to which no pen
can do adequate justice. But all was soon over. The shrieks
and yells had yielded to suffocation, and the flames, in their
fury, had devoured everything with such rapidity, that they
subsided for the want of further aliment. In a few minutes
nothing remained but the smoking walls and the blackened
corpses which they encircled.
Ill-fated wretches ! ye had escaped the lightning's blast
ye had been rescued from the swallowing wave and little
thought that you would encounter an enemy more cruel still
your fellow-creature man.
The first emotions of Seymour .and his party, as soon as they
had recovered from the horror which had been excited by the
catastrophe, were those of pity and commiseration ; but their
reign was short
Revenge impatient rose,
And threw his blood-stained sword in thunder down.
The smoking ruins formed the altar at which he received
their vows, and stimulated them to the sacrifice of further
victims. Nor did he fail to inspire the breasts of the other
party, indignant at the loss of their companions, and dis-
appointed at the destruction of what they so ardently
coveted.
Debriseau, who had played no idle game in the previous
skirmish, was the first who rushed to the attack. Crying out,
with all the theatrical air of a Frenchman, which never deserts
him, even in the agony of grief, " Mes braves compagnons, vous
seres venges ! " he flew at M f Dermot, the leader of the Irish
A brand of half-consumed wood, with which he aimed at
M'Dermot's head, broke across the bludgeon which was raised
to ward the blow. Debriseau closed ; and clasping his arms
rotmd his neck, tore him with his strong teeth with the power
and ferocity of a tiger, and they rolled together in the dust,
covered with the blood which poured in streams, and struggling
for mastery and life. An American, one of the Aspasia's crew,
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THE KING'S OWN
now closed in the same way with another of the Irish despera-
does, and as they fell together, twirling the side-locks on the
temples of his antagonist round his fingers to obtain a fulcrum
to his lever, he inserted his thumbs into the sockets of his
eyes, forced out the balls of vision, and left him in agony and
in darkness.
" The sword of the Lord ! " roared the boatswain, as he
fractured the skull of a third with the mast of the boat,
which with herculean force he now whirled round his
head.
" Fight, Aspasias you fight for your lives/' cried Seymour,
who was everywhere in advance, darting the still burning end
: f the large spar into the faces of his antagonists, who recoiled
with suffocation and pain. It was, indeed, a struggle for life :
the rage of each had mounted to delirium. The English
sailors, stimulated by the passions of the moment, felt neither
pain nor fatigue from their previous sufferings. The want of
weapons had been supplied by their clasp knives, to which the
Irish had also resorted, and deadly wounds were given and
received.
M'Dermot, the Irish leader, had just gained the mastery of
Debriseau, bestriding his body and strangling him, with his
fingers so fixed in his throat that they seemed deeply to have
entered into the flesh. The Guernsey man was black in the
face, and his eyes starting from their sockets ; in a few
minutes he would have been no more, when the mast in the
hands of the boatswain descended upon the Irishman's head,
and dashed out his brains. At the same moment one of the
Irishmen darted his knife into the side of Seymour, who fell,
streaming with his own blood. The fate of their officer, which
excited the attention of the seamen, and the fall of M'Dermot,
on the opposite side, to whose assistance the Irish immediately
hastened, added to the suspension of their powers from want
of breath, produced a temporary cessation of hostilities.
Dragging away their killed and wounded, the panting anta-
gonists retreated to the distance of a few yards from each
other, tired, but not satisfied with their revenge, and fully
intending to resume the strife as soon as they had recovered
the power. But a very few seconds had elapsed, when they
were interrupted by a third party ; and the clattering of
horses' hoofs was immediately followed by the appearance of
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a female on horseback, who, galloping past the Irishmen,
reined up her steed, throwing him on his haunches, in
his full career, in the space between the late contending
parties.
" 'Tis the daughter of the House ! " exclaimed the Irishmen
in consternation.
There wanted no such contrast as the scene described to
add lustre to her beauty, or to enhance her charms. Fair as
the snow-drift, her cheeks mantling with the roseate blush of
exercise and animation ; her glossy hair, partly uncurled, and
still played with by the amorous breeze, hanging in long
ringlets down her neck ; her eye, which alternately beamed
with pity or flashed with indignation, as it was directed to
one side or the other ; her symmetry of form, which the
close riding-dress displayed ; her graceful movements, as
she occasionally restrained her grey palfrey, who fretted to
resume his speed all combined with her sudden and unex-
pected appearance to induce the boatswain and his men to
consider her as superhuman.
"She's an angel of light!" muttered the boatswain to
himself.
She turned to the Irish, and in an energetic tone addressed
them in their own dialect. What she had said was unknown
to the English party, but the effect which her language pro-
duced was immediate. Their weapons were thrown aside, and
they hung down their heads in confusion. They made an
attempt to walk away, but a few words from her induced
them to remain.
The fair equestrian was now joined by two more, whose
pace had not been so rapid ; and the boatswain, who had been
contemplating her with astonishment as she was addressing
the Irish, now that she was about to turn towards him
recollected that some of his men were not exactly in a
costume to meet a lady's eye. He raised his call to his
mouth, and with a sonorous whistle cried out, " All you
without trousers behind shealing, hoy ! " an order immedi-
ately obeyed by the men who had been deprived of their
habiliments.
Conolly, who had understood the conversation which had
taken place, called out in Irish, at the same time as he walked
round behind the walls, " I think ye'll be after giving us our
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duds now, ye dirty spalpeens, so bring 'um wid you quick ; "
a request which was immediately complied with, the clothes
being collected by two of the Irish, and taken to the men
who had retired behind the walls of the shealing.
Mr. Hardsett was not long in replying to her interrogations,
and in giving her an outline of the tragical events which had
occurred, while the ladies, trembling with pity and emotion,
listened to the painful narrative.
" Are you the only officer, then, of the frigate that is left ? "
" No, madam," replied the boatswain ; " the third lieutenant
is here ; but there he lies, poor fellow, desperately wounded
by these men, from whom we expected to have had relief."
" What was the name of your frigate ? "
"The Aspasia, Captain M ."
" O Heaven ! " cried the girl, catching at the collar of the
boatswain's coat in her trepidation.
" And the wounded officer's name ? "
" Seymour."
A cry of anguish and horror escaped from all the party as
the beautiful interrogatress tottered in her seat, and then fell
off into the arms of the boatswain.
In a few seconds, recovering herself, she regained her feet.
"Quick, quick lead me to him."
Supported by Hardsett, she tottered to the spot where
Seymour lay, with his eyes closed, faint and exhausted with
loss of blood, attended by Robinson and Debriseau.
She knelt down by his side, and taking his hand, which she
pressed between her own, called him by his name.
Seymour started at the sound of the voice, opened his eyes,
and in the beauteous form which was reclining over him
beheld his dear, dear Emily.
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CHAPTER LVII
Ah me ! what perils do environ
The man that meddles with cold iron ;
What plaguy mischiefs and mishaps
To dog him still with after-claps.
Hudibrca.
J.HE melancholy loss of lives which we have detailed,
occurred upon a reef of rocks close to Cape , on the coast
of Galway, and not four miles from the castle and property
held by Mr. Rainscourt. The intelligence had been communi-
cated to M'Elvina by some of his tenants early in the morning
of the day on which the survivors had gained the shore. The
western gales, sweeping the Atlantic, and blowing with such
fury on the coast, would not permit any vegetation or culture
so near the beach ; but when once past the range of hills
which exposed their rugged sides as barriers to the blast, the
land was of good quality, and thickly tenanted. The people
were barbarous to an excess, and as they had stated, claimed
a traditionary right to whatever property might be thrown
up from the numerous wrecks which took place upon the
dangerous and iron-bound coast. This will account for the
tragical events of the day.
When M'Elvina was informed of vessels having been
stranded, he immediately went up to the castle to procure the
means of assistance, which were always held there in readi-
ness, and as many of Rainscourt's people as could be collected.
This, however, required some little delay ; and Emily, shocked
at the imperfect intelligence which had been conveyed to
her, determined to ride down immediately, in company with
Mrs. M'Elvina and a young friend who was staying with her
during her father's absence. On their arrival at the sea-
range of hills, the explosion of the shealing, and subsequent
conflict between the parties, met their eyes. Emily's fears
and knowledge of the Irish peasantry immediately suggested
the cause, and aware of her influence with the Rainscourt
tenants, she made all the haste that the roads would permit
to arrive at the spot, galloping down the hill in so bold
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and dexterous a style, that her companions neither could
nor would have dared to keep pace with her. How
fortunate was her arrival need hardly be observed, as in
all probability the English seamen would eventually have
been sacrificed to the cupidity and resentment of the
natives.
" William, do you know me ? " whispered Emily, as the
tears ran down her cheeks, and her countenance betrayed
the anguish of her mind.
Seymour pressed the small white hand that trembled in
his own, and a faint smile illuminated his features ; but the
excitement at the appearance of Emily was too great the
blood again gushed from his wound, his eyes closed, and his
head fell on his shoulder, as he swooned from the loss of blood.
"O God, preserve him !" cried Emily, clasping her hands,
and raising her eyes to heaven, and then sinking down in
mental and fervent prayer
"My dear M'Elvina, I am so glad that you have come at
last," said Susan, bursting into tears, " Look at whose side
Emily is kneeling 'tis William Seymour, dying."
"Seymour!" cried M'Elvina, who had but that moment
arrived; but aware of the importance of prompt assistance,
he called for the basket containing the restorati/es, and
gently removing Emily, he took her situation by the side
of our wounded hero.
To strip off his clothes, examine the wound, bandage it so
as to prevent a further loss of blood, and pour down his throat
some diluted wine, was the work of a few minutes. Seymour,
who had only fainted, reopened his eyes, and soon showed
the good effects of M'Elvina's presence of mind.
" M'Elvina is it not? Did not I see Emily ?"
" Yes, you did, my dear fellow ; but keep quiet. I do not
think your wound is dangerous."
" I am better now, M'Elvina much better ; but I must
see Emily."
M'Elvina thought it advisable to accede to his wish, and
returned to his wife, who was supporting the fainting girl
A glass of water, the assurance that Seymour would do well
if not too much agitated, and a promise exacted from her to
say but little, was followed by an interview which had a
reviving effect upon both.
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THE KING'S OWN
Medical practitioners, who dive into the inmost recesses of
the human frame in pursuit of knowledge, and who search
through the mineral and vegetable kingdom for relief, when
will you produce a balm so healing, a specific so powerful,
an elixir so instantaneous or restorative as joy ?
M'Elvina was in the meantime occupied in preparations
for removing the wounded, and portioning out food and
necessaries to the rest of the party. When he beheld the
sad relics in the shealing, and heard from the boatswain the
tragical events of the day, his indignation was beyond bounds.
Seven Frenchmen, fifteen Englishmen, and eight Irishmen
had been burnt alive ; three Englishmen and five Irishmen
had been killed in the affray; making, independently of
many severely wounded, a total of thirty-eight who had
perished on this disastrous morning.
The Irish who had attacked them were all tenants of the
property belonging either to him or Rainscourt ; an immediate
notice to quit was given to them on the spot, and the dreadful
word emigration thundered in their ears. This brought
them on their knees, with such crying and beseeching, such
uncouth and ridiculous gestures, as almost to create a laugh
among the English seamen who were witnesses to the
scene.
" Well, if them ain't funny beggars, I'll be blowed," cried
one of the English seamen.
" Just the way wid 'em," observed Conolly, " all honey or
all vinegar there's never a good turn they won't do ye now.
If it had not been for the ' cratur,' there wouldn't have been
this blow-up."
But to continue. The bodies of the dead in the shealing
were consigned to the earth as they lay, the four walls com-
posing a mausoleum where animosity was buried. The corpses
of M'Dermot and the Irish who had been killed in the con-
flict were removed by their friends, that they might be
waked. By the direction of M'Elvina, the wounded English
were carried up by their former antagonists to the small
town at the foot of the castle, where surgical assistance
was to be obtained. Seymour was placed on a sort of bier
that had been constructed for him, Emily and her com-
panions riding by his side ; and the cavalcade wound up
the hill, the rear brought up by Mr. Hardsett and the
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remainder of the English crew. In two hours all were at
their respective destinations ; and Seymour, who had been
examined by the surgeon upon his arrival at the castle, and
whose wound had been pronounced by no means dangerous,
was in bed and fast asleep, Susan and Emily watching by
his side.
Debriseau, who had recognised his quondam friend M'Elvina,
and perceived by his appearance, and the respect that was
shown to him, that he had been more fortunate in his career
since they had parted than he had himself, from a proud feel-
ing of the moment did not make himself known. That
M'Elvina, who had no idea of meeting him in such a quarter,
should not, in the hurry of the scene, distinguish his former
associate, covered as he was with dust and blood, and having
the appearance more of a New Zealand warrior than of any
other living being, was not surprising and Debriseau joined
the English party in the rear of the cavalcade, and remained
with them at the town, while M'Elvina and the rest of the
cortege continued their route to the castle with the wounded
Seymour.
As soon as our hero's wound had been dressed, and the
favourable opinion of the surgeon had been pronounced,
M'Elvina rode down to the town to make arrangements for
the board and lodging of the English seamen. It was then
that he was asked by Mr. Hardsett, what was to be done with
the Frenchman who had been saved.
" Where is he ? " demanded M'Elvina.
Debriseau was summoned to the magistrate, and having
cleaned himself of the dust and gore, was immediately re-
cognised.
" Debriseau ! " exclaimed M'Elvina, with astonishment and
a look of displeasure.
" Even so, Captain M'Elvina," replied Debriseau haughtily ;
" you do not seem very well pleased at meeting an old
acquaintance."
" Captain Debriseau, will you do me the favour to step on
one side with me. I will ' be honest ' with you," continued
M'Elvina to the Guernseyman, when they were out of hearing
of the boatswain and the rest, "and confess that, although I
wish you well, I was not pleased at meeting with you here.
You addressed me as Captain M'Elvina that title has long
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been dropped. I did once confide to you the secret of my
former life, and will own, what I little imagined at the time,
that I have in consequence put it into your power to do me
serious injury. You must now listen to me, while I give you
a sketch of my memoirs from the time that we parted at
Cherbourg."
M'Elvina then entered into a short history of what the
reader is acquainted with. "Judge, then, Debriseau/' pursued
he, " if, after what has passed, I could ' honestly ' say that I
was glad to see you who not only, by your presence, reminded
me of my former irregularities, but had the "means, if you
thought proper, of acquainting my friends and acquaintances
with what I wish I could forget myself."
"Captain I beg your pardon Mr. M'Elvina," replied
Debriseau, with dignity, " I will be as honest as you. I am
here without a sous, and without a shirt, and when I leave
this, I know not where to lay my hand upon either ; but
rather than betray a confidence reposed in me, rather than
injure one who always was my friend, or, what is still more
unworthy, attempt to work upon your fears to my own
advantage, I would suffer death, nay, more Sacristie I
would sooner turn custom-house officer. No, no, M'Elvina
Je suis Franqais, moi bah, I mean I am a true Englishman.
Never mind what I am all countries are alike, if a man's
heart is in the right place. I sincerely wish you joy of your
good fortune, and know nobody that in my opinion deserves
it more. I shall go to prison with some resignation now that
I know you have been so 'fortunate; and do me not the
injustice to imagine that you will ever be troubled by either
seeing or hearing from me."
" I waited for this answer, Debriseau : had you made any
other, I would have run the risk and defied you ; nothing
would have induced me to have offered to bribe your silence.
But I rejoice in your honest and manly conduct ' Honesty
is the best policy,' Debriseau. I can now offer, and you can
accept, without blushing on either side, that assistance which
I have both the power and will to grant. There is no
occasion for your going to prison. I make the returns as
magistrate, and as you are an English subject, will be
answerable for the omission. We are too far from the world
here to have any questions asked. And now let me know
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how I can be of any service to you, for my purse and interest
you may command."
Well, then, to tell you the truth, I am fit for nothing on
shore. I must have another vessel, if I can get one."
" Not a smuggling vessel, I hope," replied M'Elvina gravely.
"I should prefer it certainly. Why, there's no harm in
smuggling, if I recollect your arguments right," replied
Debriseau, smiling. " Do you remember the night that you
convinced me ? "
" I do, very well," said M'Elvina ; " but I have reconsidered
the subject, and I have one little remark to make, which
will upset the whole theory; which is, that other people
acting wrong cannot be urged as an excuse for our own
conduct. If it were, the world would soon be left without
virtue or honesty. You may think me scrupulous ; but I am
sincere. Cannot you hit upon something else ? "
"Why, I should have no objection to command a fine
merchant vessel, if I could obtain such a thing."
" That you shall/' replied M'Elvina ; " and to make sure
of it, and render you more independent, you shall be part
owner. Consider it as une affaire arrangee. And now allow
me to offer you the means of improving your personal appear-
ance I presume the leathern bag is empty ? "
" Bah ! a long while ago After I had lost my vessel, I
made up to Mademoiselle Picardon ; I thought it would not
be a bad speculation- but she never forgave me kicking that
dirty puppy downstairs little beast 1 "
" Ah 1 you forget some of my remarks," replied M'Elvina,
laughing " ' Love me, love my dog.' Now oblige me by
accepting this ; and, Debriseau (excuse me), there's a capital
barber in this street. Au reooir."
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CHAPTER LVHI
Under his lordship's leave, all must be mine.
MIDDLETON.
THE first moments of leisure that M'Elvina could obtain
from his duties were employed in writing to the vicar, inform-
ing him of the reappearance of Seymour under such peculiar
circumstances, and requesting his immediate presence, that
our hero's claims to the property of Admiral de Courcy might
be established. As before observed, Rainscourt was not at
the castle, nor was he expected for some days, having accepted
an invitation to join a shooting party some miles distant. A
letter was despatched to him by his daughter, detailing
the circumstances of the shipwreck, stating that the
wounded officer was in the castle, and that, in consequence,
until his return Mrs. M'Elvina would remain as her com-
panion.
Although the wound that Seymour had received had been
pronounced by the surgeon not to be of a dangerous tendency,
still he did not recover so rapidly as might have been ex-
pected from his youth and excellent constitution. The fact
was, that all his love for Emily, who was constantly at his
side, and could not conceal her regard for him, had returned
with tenfold violence. The same honourable principle which
had before decided him that of not taking advantage of
her prepossession in his favour, and permitting her to throw
away herself and her large fortune upon one of unknown
parentage and penniless condition militated against his
passion, and caused such a tumult of contending feelings, as
could not but affect a person in his weak state. A slow
fever came on, which retarded the cure, and even threatened
more serious consequences.
Madame de Stae'l has truly observed, that love occupies
the whole life of a woman. It is not therefore surprising
that women should be more skilful in detecting the symptoms
of it in others. Mrs. M'Elvina, with the usual penetration
of her sex, discovered what was passing in the mind of
Seymour, and communicated her suspicions to her husband,
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As for some days the health of our hero rather declined than
improved, M'Elvina determined to entrust him with the
secret of his birth, which, by removing all difficulties, he
imagined would produce a beneficial effect. But there was
one point which JVTElvina could not conceal from our hero,
which was the melancholy fact of his father having, under
an assumed name, fallen a sacrifice to the offended laws
of his country ; and the knowledge of this had so serious an
effect upon Seymour, as almost to neutralise the joy arising
from the rest of the communication. The first question
which he asked himself was, whether Emily would or ought
to marry a man whose father had perished by so ignominious
a death ; and now that all other impediments to his making
her an offer of his hand were removed, whether that circum-
stance alone would not be an insuperable bar to their union.
Agitated by these conflicting doubts, Seymour passed a sleep-
less night, and on the ensuing morning his fever had alarm-
ingly increased. This was observed by the surgeon, who
stated that he could not account for it, except by suppos-
ing that there was something heavy on the mind of his
patient, which, unless removed, would retard, if not prevent,
recovery.
Susan, who with her husband had imagined that the dis-
closure which had taken place would have had a beneficial
effect, hastened to the sick-chamber, and soon persuaded our
hero to make her a confidante of his doubts and fears. " There
is but one who can satisfy you on that point, my dear William,"
replied she ; " for although I feel convinced that I can answer
for her, it is not exactly a case of proxy M'Elvina will be
here directly, and then I will obtain his permission to disclose
the whole to Emily, and you will have the answer from her
own lips."
In the course of the forenoon Emily was made acquainted
with the eventful history of our hero's birth and parentage,
of her no longer being an heiress, of his ardent love
for her, and of the fears that he entertained upon the
subject.
" I am only sorry for one thing," replied Emily, " that he
did not ask me to marry him when I thought that I was an
heiress ; now, if I accept him, I am afraid it may be thought
oh, if you knew how I have loved him, how I have thought
385 2B
THE KING'S OWN
of him when far away/' cried the sobbing girl, " you would
not no one would think me capable of interested motives.
I am so glad the property is his/' continued Emily, looking
up, and smiling through her tears.
" Why, my dear Emily, if you begin to make difficulties,,
we shall be worse than ever. There never was a more
fortunate occurrence than this attachment between you
and Seymour. It reconciles all difficulties, puts an end to
all Chancery suits, and will shower general happiness, when
some at least must have been made miserable. Come with
me William is very feverish this morning : you only can do
him good."
Mrs. M'Elvina led the agitated girl into the sick-chamber,
and whispering to Seymour that Emily knew all, and that
all was well, was so very imprudent as to allow her feelings
to overcome her sense of chaperonism, and left them
together.
I am aware that I now have a fair opportunity of inserting
a most interesting conversation, full of ohs and ahs, dears and
sweets, &c., which would be much relished by all misses of
seventeen or thereabouts; but as I do not write novels for
them, and the young couple have no secrets to which the
reader is not already a party, I shall leave them to imagine
the explanation, with all its concomitant retrospections and
anticipations, softened with tears and sweetened with kisses ;
and as the plot now thickens, change the scene to the dress-
ing-room of Rainscourt, who had now just risen at his usual
hour, viz., between two and three in the afternoon. His
French valet is in attendance shaving him and dressing his
hair, and communicating what little intelligence he has been
enabled to collect for his master's amusement.
" Monsieur has not seen the young officer who was
wounded ? "
" No ; I wonder why they brought him up here. What
sort of a person is he ? "
" C'est un joli garqon, monsieur, avec Fair bien distingue. I
carried in the water this morning when his wound was
dressed, for I had the curiosity to see him c'est un diable
de blessure and the young officer has a very singular mark
on his right shoulder, like comment I'appelez-vous ? pied du
corbeau."
THE KING'S OWN
Rainscourt started under the operation of the razor; he
remembered the mark of the grandchild, so minutely de-
scribed by the vicar.
" Pardon, monsieur, ce nest pas ma faute," said the valet,
applying a napkin to stanch the blood which flowed from his
master's cheek.
"It was not/' replied Rainscourt, recovering himself; "I
had a slight spasm."
The operation was continued, and fortunately had just been
finished when the valet resumed " Et rappelez-vous Monsieur
le Vicaire de . // est arrive hier au soir, on a visit to Mr.
M'Elvina."
" The devil he is I " replied Rainscourt, springing from his
chair at the corroborating incident to his previous ground of
alarm.
The astonished countenance of the valet restored the
master to his senses. " Bring me my coffee I am nervous
this morning."
But Rainscourt had not long to endure suspense. He had
barely finished his toilet, when he was informed that the
vicar, M'Elvina, and some other gentlemen were below, and
wished to speak to him. Rainscourt, anxious to know the
worst, descended to the library, where he found the parties
before mentioned accompanied by Debriseau and a legal
gentleman. We shall not enter into details. To the dismay
of Rainscourt, the identity of our hero was established beyond
all doubt, and he felt convinced that eventually he should
be forced to surrender up the property. His indignation
was chiefly levelled at M'Elvina, whom he considered as the
occasion of the whole, not only from having rescued our hero
from the wreck, but because it was by his assertions, corro-
borated by Debriseau, that the chain of evidence was clearly
substantiated. M'Elvina, who from long acquaintance had
a feeling towards Rainscourt which his conduct did not
deserve, waited only for his acknowledgment of our hero's
claim to communicate the circumstance of the attachment
between the young people, which would have barred all
further proceedings, and have settled it in an amicable
arrangement.
"Well, gentlemen," observed Rainscourt, "if you can
satisfactorily prove in a court of justice all you have now
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stated, I shall of course bow to its decision; but you must
excuse me if, out of regard to my daughter, I resist until the
assertions can be substantiated on oath. You cannot expect
otherwise."
"We do not expect otherwise, Mr. Rainscourt," replied
M'Elvina ; " but we think it will not be necessary that it
should go into court."
" Mr. M'Elvina," interrupted Rainscourt angrily, " I wish
no observations from you. After your intimacy with the
family, particularly with my daughter, who, by your means,
will probably forfeit all her prospects, I consider your conduct
base and treacherous. You'll excuse my ringing the bell for
the servant to show you the door."
M'Elvina turned pale with rage. "Then, sir, you shall
have no suggestions from me. Come, gentlemen, we will
retire," continued M'Elvina, now determined that Rains-
court should be left in ignorance for the present ; and the
parties quitted the room, little contemplating that such direful
consequences would ensue from this trifling altercation.
CHAPTER LIX
Was there ever seen such villainy,
So neatly plotted, and so well performed,
Both held in hand, and flatly both beguiled ?
Jew of Malta.
J. HE feelings of Rainscourt were worked up to desperation
and madness. As soon as the party had quitted the room,
he paced up and down, clenching his fists and throwing
them in the air, as his blood boiled against M'Elvina, whom
he considered as his mortal enemy. To send him a challenge,
with the double view of removing him and his testimony
and at the same time of glutting his own revenge, was the
idea that floated uppermost in his confused and heated brain.
To surrender up the estates; to be liable for the personal
property which he had squandered ; to sink at once from
affluence to absolute pauperism, if not to incarceration it
was impossible. He continued his rapid movement to and
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fro, dividing his thoughts between revenge and suicide, when
a tap at the door roused him from his gloomy reveries. It
was the surgeon who attended Seymour ; he came to pay
his respects, and make a report of his patient's health to
Rainscourt, whom he had not seen since his return to the
castle.
' ' Your most obedient, sir. I am sorry that my patient was
not so well when I saw him this morning. I hope to find him
better when I go upstairs."
" Oh ! " replied Rainscourt, a faint gleam of deliverance
from his dilemmas shining upon his dark and troubled
mind.
" Yes, indeed," replied the medical gentleman, who, like
many others, made the most of his cases to enhance the value
of his services ; like Tom Thumb, who " made the giants
first, and then killed them " " a great deal of fever, indeed ;
I do not like the symptoms. But we must see what we can
do."
" Do you think that there is any chance of his not recover-
ing?" asked Rainscourt, with emphasis.
" It's hard to say, sir ; many much worse have recovered,
and many not so ill have been taken off. If the fever abates,
all will go well ; if it does not, we must hope for the best,"
replied the surgeon, shrugging up his shoulders.
" Then he might die of the wound, and fever attend-
ing it ? "
" Most certainly he might. He might be carried off in
twenty-four hours."
" Thank you for your visit, Mr. B ," replied Rains-
court, who did not wish for his further company. " Good
morning."
" Good morning, sir," replied the surgeon, as Rainscourt
politely bowed him out of the room.
Rainscourt again paced up and down. " He might die of
this fever and wound in twenty-four hours. There could
be nothing surprising in it ; " and as he cogitated, the demon
entered his soul. He sat down and pressed his hands to
his burning temples, as he rested his elbows on the table
many minutes, perplexed in a chaotic labyrinth of evil
thoughts, till the fiend pointed out the path which must
be pursued.
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He summoned the old nurse. Those who have lived in,
or are acquainted with the peculiarities and customs of, the
sister kingdom, must know that the attachment of the lower
Irish to their masters amounts to almost self-devotion. Norah
had nursed Rainscourt at her breast, and remaining in the
family, had presided over the cradle of Emily ; adhering to
Rainscourt in his poverty, and now, in the winter of her days,
basking in the sun of his prosperity.
" The blessings of the day upon the master," said the old
woman, as she entered.
Rainscourt locked the door. " Norah," said he, " I have
bad news to tell you. Are you aware that the castle is no
longer mine ? "
" The castle no longer yours ! Och hone," replied the old
woman, opening her eyes wide with astonishment.
" That I am a beggar, and shall be sent to prison ? "
" The master to prison Och hone ! "
" That my daughter is no longer an heiress, but without
a shilling ? "
"The beautiful child without a shilling Och hone ! "
"That you will have to leave be turned out of the
castle ? "
" Me turned out of the castle Och hone ! "
" Yes, Norah, all this will take place in a few days."
" And who will do it ? "
" Why, the young man upstairs, whose life we are saving.
So much for gratitude."
" Gratitude ! Och hone and so young and so beautiful,
too, as he is."
" But he may die, Norah."
"Sure enough he may die," replied the old woman,
brightening up at the idea. "It's a bad fever that's on
him."
" And he may recover, Norah."
" Sure enough he may recover/' replied she mournfully ;
; 'he's but young blood."
" Now, Norah, do you love your master ? do you love your
young mistress ? "
" Do I love the master and the mistress ? " replied the
old woman indignantly ; " and it's you that's after asking
me such a question I "
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" Can you bear to see us turned out of house and home
to be cast on the wide world with poverty and rags ? Will
you permit it, when, by assisting me, you can prevent
it?"
" Can I bear it ? will I assist ? tell me the thing that
you'd have me do, that's all."
"I said that the wounded person might die Norah, he
must die."
The old woman looked up earnestly at Rainscourt's face,
as if to understand him. " I see ! " then remaining with her
head down for some time, as if in cogitation, she again looked
up. " Will Father O'Sullivan give me absolution for that ? "
" He will he shall I will pay for ten thousand masses for
your soul over and above."
" But what would you have me do so young and so beau-
tiful, too ! I'll think over it to-night. I never sleep much
now, the rats are so troublesome."
" Rats ! " cried Rainscourt ; "why not get some arsenic ? "
" Arsenic ! " echoed the old woman ; " is it arsenic for the
rats you mean?"
" Yes," replied Rainscourt significantly ; " for all sorts of
rats -those who would undermine the foundation of an ancient
house."
"Sure it's an old house, that of the Rainscourts," replied
the nurse; "but I'm giddy a little I'll think a bit." In
a second or two her face brightened up a little. "Why
don't you marry the two together ? Such a handsome couple
as they'd be ! "
" Marry, you old fool ! Do you think, now that he is aware
that all the property is his, that he would marry Emily, with-
out a sixpence ? No no."
" True and it's the arsenic you want, then ? And you're
sure that the priest will give absolution ? "
" Sure," replied Rainscourt, out of patience ; " come to me
at daylight to-morrow morning."
"Well, I'll think about it to-night when I'm asleep. And
so young, and so beautiful, too. Och hone ! " murmured the
old woman, as she unlocked the door, and with tremulous
gait quitted the room.
Rainscourt, left to himself, again became the prey to con-
flicting passions. Although his conscience had long been
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proof against any remorse at the commission of the everyday
crimes which stained the earth, yet it recoiled at meditated
^nurder. More than once he determined to leave it all to
chance, and if Seymour did recover, to fly the country with
all the money he could raise ; but the devil had possession,
and was not to be cast out.
The door was again opened, and Emily, radiant with happi-
ness after the interview with Seymour, in which she had
plighted and received the troth of her beloved, entered the
room.
"My dear father, Mr. Seymour is so much better this
evening."
" Would he were in his grave ! " replied Rainscourt
bitterly.
Emily had come in at the request of Seymour to state to
her father what had taken place, but his violent exclamation
deterred her. She thought that it was not a favourable
moment, and she retired, wishing him good-night, with no
small degree of indignation expressed in her countenance at
his iniquitous wish. She retired to her chamber; her anger
was soon chased away by the idea that it was for her sake
that her father was so irritated, and that to-morrow all would
be well. Bending to her Creator in gratitude and love, and
not forgetting Seymour in her orisons, she laid her head upon
her pillow, and visions of future happiness filled her dreams in
uninterrupted succession.
Enjoy them, beautiful and innocent one ! Revel in them,
if it were possible, to satiety, for they are thy last enjoyment.
How much would the misery of this world be increased, if
we were permitted to dive into futurity. The life of a man
is a pilgrimage in error and in darkness. The ignis fafuus
that he always pursues always deceives him ; yet he is warned
in vain at the moment of disappointment, he resolves, sees
another, and pursues again. The fruit is turned to ashes in
his mouth at the fancied moment of enjoyment warning
succeeds warning disappointment is followed up by disap-
pointment every grey hair in his head may be considered as
a sad memento of dear-bought yet useless experience still
he continues, spurred on by Hope, anticipating everything,
in pursuit of nothing, until he stumbles into his grave, and
all is over.
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Little did M'Elvina and the vicar think what the conse-
quences would be of their leaving Rainscourt in his wrath.
Little did Rainscourt and the nurse imagine how dreadful and
how futile would be the results of their wicked intentions.
Little did the enamoured and guileless pair, who now
slumbered in anticipated bliss, contemplate what, in the
never-ceasing parturition of time, the morrow would bring
forth.
Early in the morning, Rainscourt, who was awake, and who
had not taken off his clothes, was startled by a low tapping at
his door. It was the nurse.
" Well," said Rainscourt hastily, " have you procured what
we were talking of ? "
" I have indeed ; but
" No buts, Norah, or we part for ever. Where is it ? Who
is with him ? "
" One of the women. I tould her I would nurse him after
daylight."
" When does he take his fever draughts ? "
" Every two hours Och hone, he'll take but one more.
So young, and so beautiful, too."
" Silence, fool ; go and send the other woman- to bed, and
then bring in one of the draughts."
The old nurse turned back as she was hobbling away
*' And the absolution ? "
"Away, and do as I order you," cried Rainscourt, with
violence.
" Blessed Jesus, don't talk so loud ! It's the whole house
will hear you," said the hag beseechingly, as she left the
room.
She returned with the draught. Rainscourt poured in the
powder, and shook it with desperation.
" Now this is the first draught he must take ; give it him
directly."
" Och hone ! " cried the old woman, as she received the
vial in her trembling hands.
" Go, and come back and tell me when he has taken it."
Norah left the room. Rainscourt waited her return in a
state of mind so horribly painful, that large drops of perspira-
tion poured from his forehead. At one moment he would
have recalled her the next beggary stared him in the feet,
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THE KING'S OWN
and his diabolical resolution was confirmed. His agony of
suspense became so intense, that he could wait no longer.
He went to the door of the sick-chamber, and opening it
gently, looked in.
The old woman was sitting down on the floor, crouched,
with her elbows on her knees, and her face and head covered
over with her cloak. The noise of the hinges startled her ;
she uncovered her head and looked up. Rainscourt made
signs to her, inquiring whether he had taken the draught.
She shook her head. He pointed his finger angrily, desiring
her to give it. The old woman sank on her knees and held
up her hands in supplication. Rainscourt beckoned her out
she followed him to his own room.
" Do you see these pistols ? " said Rainscourt " they are
loaded. Immediately obey my orders promise me, on your
soul, that you will, or you shall be the occasion of your
master's death. Swear ! " continued he, putting one of the
pistols to his ear and his finger to the trigger.
" I will do it on my soul I will, master dear," cried
Norah. " Only put away the pistols, and if he were thou-
sands more beautiful, and if my soul is to be burnt for ever,
I'll do it."
Again she returned to the chamber of the victim, fol-
lowed by Rainscourt, who stood at the door to fortify her
resolution.
Seymour was awoke by the old beldame from a dream
in which the form of Emily blessed his fancy to take the
fatal draught now poured out and presented to him. Ac-
customed to the febrifuge at certain hours, he drank it off in
haste, that he might renew his dreaming happiness. " What
is it ? It burns my throat ! " cried Seymour.
" It's not the like of what you have taken before," said the
old woman, shuddering as she offered him some water to take
the taste away.
" Thank you, nurse," said Seymour, as he again sank on his
pillow.
39*
THE KING'S OWN
CHAPTER LX
Hor. You see he is departing.
Corn. Let me come to him ; give me him as he is. If he be turned
to earth, let me but give him one hearty kiss, and you shall put us both
into one coffin. WEBSTER,
J.T was but a few minutes after the scene described in the
last chapter, that Emily awoke from her slumbers, and chid
the sun for rising before her As soon as she was dressed,
she descended to inquire after the health of him whose fate
was now entwined with her own. She gently opened the
door of the room. The shutters were yet closed, but the
sun poured his rays through the chinks, darting, in spite
of the obstruction, a light which rendered the night-lamp
useless. The curtains of the bed were closed, and all was
quiet. Norah sat upon the floor, her eyes fixed upon the
ceiling with wild and haggard look, and as she passed the
beads which she was telling from one finger to the other (her
lips in rapid and convulsive motion, but uttering no sound), it
appeared as if she thought the remnant of her life too short
for the prayers which she had to offer to the throne above.
Emily, having in vain attempted to catch her eye, and
fearful of waking Seymour, tripped gently across, and pushed
the nurse by the shoulder, beckoning her out of the chamber.
Norah followed her mistress into an opposite room, when
Emily, who had been alarmed by the behaviour of the old
woman, spoke in a low and hurried tone. " Good heavens,
what is the matter, Norah ? You look so dreadful. Is he
worse ? "
" Och hone ! " said the nurse, her thoughts evidently
wandering.
" Tell me, nurse answer me, is he worse ? "
"I don't know," replied Norah ; "the doctor will tell."
" O God, he's worse I'm sure he is," cried Emily, burst-
ing into tears. " What will become of me if my dear, dear
Seymour "
" Your dear Seymour ? " cried the startled Norah.
" Yjes, my dear Seymour. I did not tell you I love him,
THE KING'S OWN
nurse he loves me we have plighted our troth ; and if he
dies, what will become of me ? " continued the sobbing girl.
" Och hone ! and is it the truth, and the real truth, that
you're telling me, and was he to be your husband ? "
" Was he ! he is, Norah. What did you mean by was he ? "
cried Emily, in hurried accents, seizing the old woman by the
wrist, with a look of fearful anxiety.
" Did 1 say, was he ? I did, sure enough, and it's true too.
I thought to do my darling a service, and I cared little for my
own soul. So young, and so beautiful, too. And it's a nice
pair ye would have made. And it's I that have kilt him !
Och hone ! " cried Norah, wringing her withered hands.
" Killed him, Norah ! What have you done ? tell me
directly," screamed Emily, shaking the old hag with all her
force. " Quick ! "
The old nurse seemed to have all the violence of her
mistress's feelings communicated to her as she cried out,
with a face of horror, "It was all for ye that I did it. It's
the master that made me do it. He said my darling would
be a beggar. It's the poison for the rats he's taken. Och,
och hone ! " and the old woman sank on the floor, covering
up her head, while Emily flew shrieking out of the room.
When M'Elvina and his party quitted the castle, they
returned to M'Elvina's house. " I cannot but pity Mr.
Rainscourt," observed the vicar ; " indeed, I wish that, not-
withstanding his violence, we had not quitted him without
making the communication."
"So do I," replied M'Elvina; "but the injustice of his
accusation prevented me ; and I must confess that I have
some pleasure in allowing him to remain twenty-four hours
in suspense longer than that, not even my revenge has
stomach for."
"I am afraid," observed Debriseau, "that we have done
unwisely. The violence and selfishness of the man's character
are but too well known, and Seymour is in his power."
" Do not be so uncharitable, sir," replied the vicar gravely.
" Mr. Rainscourt, with all his faults, is incapable of anything
so base as what you have hinted at."
" I trust I have done him injustice," replied Debriseau ;
"but I saw that in his eye, during the interview, which
chilled my blood when I thought of your young friend."-
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THE KING'S OWN
"At all events, when I go tip to-morrow morning to see
how Seymour is, I think it will be right to inform Mr. Rains-
court of the facts. I shall be there by daylight. Will you
accompany me, sir ? " said M'Elvina to the vicar.
" With pleasure/' replied the other ; and from this ar-
rangement the vicar and M'Elvina were at the castle, and
had sent their cards in to Mr. Rainscourt at the very
time that Emily had beckoned the old nurse out of the
chamber.
As long as the deed still remained to be done, the
conflict between the conscience and the evil intentions of
Rainscourt had been dreadful ; but now that it was done,
now that the Rubicon had been passed, to listen to the
dictates of conscience was useless ; and worn - out as
it had been in the struggle, and further soothed by the
anticipation of continued prosperity, it no longer had the
power to goad him. In short, conscience for the time
had been overcome, and Rainscourt enjoyed after the
tempest a hollow and deceitful calm, which he vainly
hoped would be continued.
When M'Elvina and the vicar were announced, he
thought it prudent to receive them. The bottle of brandy,
to which he had made frequent applications during the
morning, was removed ; and having paid some slight atten-
tion to his person, he requested that they would walk up
into his dressing-room. When they entered, the violence
of the preceding day was no longer to be perceived in
his countenance, which wore the appearance of mental
suffering. The consciousness of guilt was mistaken for
humility, and the feelings of both M'Elvina and the vicar
were kindly influenced towards Rainscourt.
"Mr. Rainscourt," said the former, "we pay you this
early visit that we may have the pleasure of relieving
your mind from a weight which it is but too evident
presses heavily upon it. We think, when you hear what
we have to impart, you will agree with us, that there will
be no occasion for litigation or ill-will. Mr. Seymour and
Cir daughter have repeatedly met before this, and have
g been attached to each other; and although Mr.
Seymour was too honourable to make your daughter an
offer at the time that he was friendless and unknown, yet
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THE KING'S OWN
the very first moment after he became acquainted with
the change in his circumstances he made a proposal, and
was accepted. I presume there can be no objections to the
match ; and allow us, therefore, to congratulate you upon so
fortunate a termination of a very unpleasant business."
Rainscourt heard it all it rang in his ears it was
torture, horrible torture. When they thought that his eye
would beam with delight, it turned glassy and fixed ; when
they thought that his features would be illumined with
smiles, they were distorted with agony ; when they thought
that his hands would be extended to seize theirs, offered
in congratulation, they were clenched with the rigidity of
muscle of the drowning man.
The vicar and M'Elvina looked at him and each other
in dismay ; but their astonishment was not to last. The
door burst open, and the frantic and shrieking Emily flew
into the room, exclaiming, ft They have murdered him !
O God ! they have poisoned him. My father my father
how could you do it?" continued the girl, as she sank
without animation on the floor.
The vicar, whose brain reeled at the dreadful intelligence,
had scarcely power to move to the assistance of Emily ; while
M'Elvina, whose feelings of horror were mingled with indig-
nation, roughly seized Rainscourt by the collar, and detained
him his prisoner.
" I am so," calmly replied Rainscourt, who, stunned by the
condition of his daughter, the futility and blindness of his
measures, and the unexpected promulgation of his guilt,
offered no resistance. " Had you made your communication
yesterday, sir, this would not have happened. I surrender
m self up to justice. You have no objection to my retiring
a few minutes to my bedroom, till the officers come I
have papers to arrange?"
M'Elvina acceded ; and Rainscourt, bowing low for the
attention, went into the adjoining room and closed the door.
A few seconds had but elapsed when the report of a pistol
was heard. M'Elvina rushed in, and found Rainscourt dead
upon the floor, the gorgeous tapestry besprinkled with the
blood and brains of the murderer and the suicide.
One more scene and all is over. Draw up the curtain,
and behold the chamber in which, but the evening before,
398
THE KING'S OWN
two souls, as pure as ever spumed the earth and flew to
heaven two forms, perfect as ever Nature moulded in
her happiest mood two hearts, that beat responsive with-
out one stain of self two hands, that plighted troth,
and vowed and meant to love and cherish, with all that
this world could offer in possession health, wealth, power
of intellect and cultivated minds Joy and Love hand
in hand smiling on the present Hope, with her gilded
wand, pointing to futurity all vanished ! And in their
place, standing like funeral mourners, at each corner of
the bed, Misery Despair Agony and Death ! Woe,
woe, too great for utterance all is as silent, as horribly
silent, as the grave yawning for its victim.
M'Elvina and Susan are supporting the sufferer in his
last agonies ; and as he writhes, and his beseeching eyes
are turned towards them, supply the water, which but
for a moment damps the raging fire within.
The surgeon has retired from his useless and painful task
habituated to death, but not to such a scene as this.
The vicar, anxious to administer religious balm, knows that
in excruciating torture his endeavours would be vain, and the
tears roll down his cheeks as he turns away from a sight
which his kind heart will not allow him to behold.
Emily is on her knees, holding Seymour's hand, w T hich
even in his agony he attempts not to remove. Her face is
lying down upon it, that she may not behold his sufferings.
She speaks not moves not weeps not all is calm deceit-
ful calm her heart is broken !
And there he lies " the young, the beautiful, the brave "
in one short hour to be
" A thing
O'er which the raven flaps her funeral wing."
THE PIRATE. THE THREE CUTTERS
INTRODUCTION
J^O prolific a writer as Captain Marryat must needs be a little
unequal, and even his most fervent admirers would probably
admit that in " The Pirate " and The Three Cutters " he falls
very far below the level of " Midshipman Easy." Careless
as he shows himself at all times in construction, and indif-
ferent as to the methods whereby he gets his heroes on to
the high sea and into the track of desperate adventures, he
does not often make such unblushing use of the doctrine of
coincidence as in the first of the two stories presented here
together. Possibly readers sixty years since were more
credulous and less sophisticated. It would be difficult now
to find a similar instance of this method of treatment, unless,
perhaps, in the hardiest of Christmas Annuals ; even the
voracious appetite of the fourth form schoolboy would, we
fear, reject such simple fare, and probably not unjustly de-
scribe its successor as " rot." For " The Three Cutters " is
farce pure and simple, and "The Pirate," perhaps, finds its
closest modern parallel in the contemporary comic opera.
Where else are we likely to find twin babies lost at sea, and
saved to become, one a lieutenant in his Majesty's Navy,
and the other the supposed son of a pirate captain, seeking
each his fortune upon one of a pair of twin-built schooners,
the Enterprise, of his Majesty's service, and the Avenger, sailing
under the redoubtable black flag? It only requires a few
v
INTRODUCTION
for the suggestive allusion, we incline to the incongruous
juxtaposition, and who shall judge of the respective merits of
the old and new humour?
"The Three Cutters" needs little introduction, andprobably
at no time aroused any very keen interest. It affords Captain
Marryat an opportunity of eulogising yachting as a pastime,
and delivering his soul of certain sentiments not wholly
adverse to smuggling. For the rest, the fortunes of the
yacht, the smuggling schooner, and the revenue cutter yield
but a mild degree of entertainment ; and though the gentle-
man smuggler, dressed in the clothes of the noble lord, wins
the heart of the fastidious widow, it must be confessed that
to modern readers he does not appear a very romantic or
heroic figure.
W. L. C.
December 1896.
CONTEXTS
PAGE
MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR XI
THE PIRATE
CHAP.
I. THE BAY OF BISCAY 1
II. THE BACHELOR ... .... 7
III. THE GALE 16
IV. THE LEAK 21
V. THE OLD MAID ....... 29
VI. THE MIDSHIPMAN 37
vn. SLEEPER'S BAY 42
VIII. THE ATTACK . . ... .53
IX. THE CAPTURE 61
X. THE SAND-BANK 78
XI. THE ESCAPE 84
XII. THE LIEUTENANT 93
XIII. THE LANDING 100
XIV. THE MEETING . . . . . . -112
XV. THE MISTAKE 122
ix
CONTENTS
OHAP.
XVI. THE CAICOS ....... 132
XVII. THE TRIAL . . . . 145
XVIII. CONCLUSION . . . 158
THE THREE CUTTERS
I. CUTTER THE FIRST . . . . . 169
II. CUTTER THE SECOND ...... 181
III. CUTTER THE THIRD ...... 188
IV. PORTLAND BILL ....... 195
V. THE TRAVESTIE ....... 204
VI. THE SMUGGLING YACHT ..... 215
VII. CONCLUSION ....... 222
MEMOIR
CAPTAIN FREDERICK MARRYAT
K.N., C.B., T.R.S., F.L.S.
AND CHEVALIER OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR
FREDERICK MARRYAT was bom ioth July 1792, in
London. He was second son of the late Joseph Marryat,
Esq., of Wimbledon House, Surrey, an eminent West India
merchant, M.P. for Sandwich, and Colonial Agent for the island
of Grenada, by Charlotte, third daughter of the late Fred.
Geyer, Esq., a distinguished American loyalist, who suffered
severely from the steadiness of his attachment to the cause of
Great Britain during the struggle with her revolted colonies.
The family trace their descent from Le Sieur Thos. Marri-
atte, a Protestant native of Normandy, and an officer in the
Huguenot army (under Admiral Coligny), who having escaped
the massacre of St. Bartholomew, 24th August 1572, fled to
England with the loss of all his property.
The subject of our memoir, having acquired the rudiments
of education at an academy in the immediate vicinity of the
metropolis, was sent to a classical school at Ponder's End,
kept by a Mr. Freeman. It is to be hoped that the disci-
pline of the school described by the hero of his earliest novel,
is no true picture of the treatment he experienced at Ponder's
End; but the following anecdote suggests that whatever
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
punishments may have been in course of infliction at that
seat of learning, he was likely to have come in for his due
share of them. The master, coming into the school one day,
saw young Marryat standing upon his head. Surprised at
this reversal of the ordinary practice of mortals, he inquired
the reason of it, when the lad with audacious readiness
replied, " I had been trying for three hours to learn my lesson
on my feet, but I couldn't ; so I thought I'd try whether I
couldn't learn it on my head." There is no reason to doubt
him when he says, " Superior in capacity to most of my
school-fellows, I seldom took the pains to learn my lesson
previous to going up with my class. I was too proud not
to keep pace with my equals, and too idle to do more." But
he acknowledges that besides "a little Latin and less Greek,"
he made some proficiency in mathematics and algebra.
Withdrawn from this school, he was placed with a teacher
of mathematics in London, under whose tuition he remained
a year, and on the 23rd September 1806, he entered the
navy as a midshipman on board the Imperieuse, forty-four
guns, commanded by the illustrious Lord Cochrane. During
his service under this gallant officer, which lasted till the
18th October 1809, he took part in more than fifty engage-
ments, in which many ships of war and merchantmen were
cut out, off the coast of France and in the Mediterranean.
Having chased a ship into the Bay of Arcupon, which
sought safety under a battery, Lord Cochrane resolved to cut
her out, and young Marryat was one of the boarding party.
He followed closely the first lieutenant who headed the
expedition, and who at length, after his party had sustained
a severe loss, succeeded in gaining the deck of the enemy.
He had scarcely done so when, struck by thirteen musket
balls, he fell back a corpse, knocking down his follower in
his fall, who was trampled on and almost suffocated by his
shipmates, who, burning to revenge their leader, rushed for-
ward with impetuous bravery.
The vessel captured, an examination took place of the
xii
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
bodies of the killed and wounded. Marryat was numbered
among the former, and being in a state of stupor, was unable
to deny the doom assigned to him. But soon arrived the
surgeon and his assistants, and with them came a midshipman
who bore no ood will to Marryat. This worthy youth, seeing
the supposed lifeless body of his comrade, gave it a slight
kick, saying, " Here is a young cock that has done crowing !
Well, for a wonder, this chap has cheated the gallows ! "
This salutation, with its comment, revived the almost ex-
piring energies of the other, who faintly exclaimed, "You
are a liar ! " a retort which, notwithstanding the melancholy
scene around, produced a roar of laughter.
Shortly after this he was engaged in a rather " untoward "
enterprise. His ship fell in with a vessel of suspicious
appearance. It was under French colours, which it soon
hauled down, showing no others, and threatening to fire into
the English ship if it attempted to board her. Upon this
she was boarded and taken, with a loss of twenty-six killed
and wounded on her side, and of sixteen on ours; and not
till then was it discovered that she was a Maltese privateer,
and a friend, who had made a like mistake in supposing her
opponent to be French. After this unfortunate mistake the
Imptrieuse proceeded to Malta.
It was while lying in this harbour that one night a mid-
shipman a son of the celebrated William Cobbett fell
overboard. Young Marryat jumped in after him, and held
him up till a boat was lowered to their assistance. For this
daring and humane act he received a certificate from Lord
Cochrane.
The road from Barcelona to Gerona, which latter place
was besieged by the French, had been completely com-
manded by them, for they had possession of the castle of
Mongat. On the 31st July 1808, Marryat had a hand in
the reduction and levelling of that fortress, which, together
with the rock on which it stood, was blown up, and the road,
being thereby filled with fragments, was rendered impassable
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
to artillery without a heavy loss of men. The garrison con-
sisted of two officers and sixty-nine men, of whom two were
killed, seven wounded, and the rest taken prisoners. This
proceeding greatly delayed the transmission of the enemy's
stores and provisions which were designed for their opera-
tions in Catalonia ; so much so, indeed, that on one occasion
the French general was under the necessity of abandoning
the whole of his artillery and field ammunition. During
these operations Marryat was twice wounded, and he a third
time sustained injury in the defence of the castle of Rosas,
under Lord Cochrane. On the arrival of the Impe'rieuse in
the bay, she perceived that the castle of Trinidad the main-
taining of which was essential to the preservation of the main
fortress had been so hotly bombarded by the enemy, that
the British portion of the garrison had withdrawn from it.
Lord Cochrane, therefore, taking with him a party of officers
and seamen, amongst whom was Mr. Marryat, went on shore,
and defended the fortress for some days indeed, until the
main fortress was taken, notwithstanding that the castle, by
this time a complete ruin, was attacked, sword in hand, by
1200 chosen men of the enemy.
On the 3()th of December following, he assisted in taking,
in the harbour of Cadaques, after a short action of the
enemy's batteries, two national vessels and twelve merchant-
men laden with wheat for the garrison of Barcelona.
When Lord Cochrane proceeded against the boom con-
structed by the enemy, before he sent in the fire-ship to
attack the French fleet in the Basque Roads, Mr. Marryat
was in one of the explosion vessels, commanded by Captain
Ury Johnson, which his lordship led for that purpose. For
his gallantry on that occasion he received a certificate from
Captain Johnson, who brought his services under the notice
of the Admiralty, and for his whole conduct in the Mediter-
ranean he was recommended in Lord Cochrane's despatches.
The log of the Centaur, 74, flag-ship of Sir Samuel Hood,
attests that in September 1810, while cruising off Toulon, he
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.'
jumped overboard and saved the life of a seaman named John
Mowbray, who had fallen from the main-top; and in 1811,
when on his passage to join the JEolus, on the American
station, he leaped overboard and endeavoured to save a sea-
man named John Walker, but did not succeed in doing so.
But we must give this incident in his own words : " One of
the fore-topmen, drawing water in the chains, fell overboard ;
the alarm was instantly given, and the ship hove to. I ran
upon the poop, and, seeing that the man could not swim,
jumped overboard to save him. The height from which I
descended made me go very deep in the water, and when I
arose I could perceive one of the man's hands. I swam
towards him: but, O God! what was my horror, when I found
myself in the midst of his blood. I comprehended in a
moment that a shark had taken him, and expected that every
instant my own fate would be like his. I wonder I had not
sank with fear: I was nearly paralysed. The ship, which had
been going six or seven miles an hour, was at some distance,
and I gave myself up for gone. I had scarcely the power
of reflection, and was overwhelmed with the sudden, awful,
and, as I thought, certain approach of death, in its most
horrible shape. In a moment I recollected myself; and I
believe the actions of five years crowded into my mind in as
many minutes. I prayed most fervently, and vowed amend-
ment, if it should please God to spare me. I was nearly a
mile from the ship before I was picked up ; and when the
boat came alongside with me, three large sharks were under
the stern. These had devoured the poor sailor, and, for-
tunately for me, had followed the ship for more prey, and
thus left me to myself."
Whilst in the JEolus, he jumped overboard and saved the
life of a boy, for which he received a certificate from Captain
Lord James Townshend ; nor was this the sole testimonial
of approbation accorded to him by that gallant officer. He
had previously been mainly instrumental in saving the frigate
from shipwreck during a tremendous hurricane off Cape
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
Malabar, on the 30th September 1811. The JEolus was laid on
her beam-ends, and her top-masts and mizen-masts had been
blown over the side, when the question arose, who would be
daring enough to venture aloft, and cut away the wreck of
the main-topmast and the main-yard, "which was hanging up
and down, with the weight of the topmast and topsail-yard
resting upon it." We must let the captain tell how he con-
ducted himself in this case of awful suspense and dismay :
" Seizing a sharp tomahawk, I made signs to the captain that
I would attempt to cut away the wreck, follow me who dared.
I mounted the weather-rigging : five or six hardy seamen
followed me : sailors will rarely refuse to follow when they
find an officer to lead the way. The jerks of the rigging
had nearly thrown us overboard, or jammed us with the
wreck. We were forced to embrace the shrouds with arms
and legs ; and anxiously, and with breathless apprehension
for our lives, did the captain, officers, and crew gaze on us
as we mounted, and cheered us at every stroke of the toma-
hawk. The danger seemed passed when we reached the
catharpens, where we had foot-room. We divided our work,
some took the lanyards of the topmast-rigging, I, the slings
of the mainyard. The lusty blows we dealt were answered
by corresponding crashes, and at length, down fell the
tremendous wreck over the larboard gunwale. The ship
felt instant relief; she righted, and we descended amidst the
cheers and congratulations of most of our shipmates." For
this heroic deed, Lord James Townshend, one of whose ship's
company he had previously saved, gave him a certificate,
and reported him to have " conducted himself with so much
courage, intrepidity, and firmness, as to merit his warmest
approbation."
When he belonged to the Spartan, he was put in com-
mand of a boat, and cut out the Morning Star and Polly,
privateers, from Haycock's Harbour, and likewise a revenue
cutter and two privateers in Little River.
Mr. Marryat obtained his promotion as lieutenant io 1812,
xvi
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARUYAT, R.N.
and in the following year was appointed to I'Espiegle, Captain
J. Taylor, in the West Indies. Whilst on service in this
vessel, he once more risked his life to save a sailor named
Jacob Small, who had fallen overboard in a heavy sea, but
was unsuccessful on account of the time it required to bring
the vessel to and lower a boat to assist him. Lieutenant
Marryat was picked up, utterly exhausted, more than a mile '
and a half from I'Espiegle. Having burst a blood-vessel, he
was left behind in the West Indies, in sick quarters, and after
a time was sent home invalided.
In January 1814, he joined the Newcastle, 58, Captain Lord
George Stuart, and led an expedition which was despatched
to cut out four vessels off New Orleans. This he did with
the loss of one officer and twelve men. He acquired his
commander's rank in 1815, and in 1818 invented a life-
boat, which was highly approved by the Royal Humane
Society, and obtained their gold medal, with their warmest
thanks for his services in saving human life. In the year
1822, Captain Marryat published "Suggestions for the Abo-
lition of the Present System of Impressment in the Naval
Service," in which pamphlet he pointed out the propriety
of all merchant vessels carrying apprentices proportioned to
their tonnage, instead of West Indiamen only, as was then
the case. A few months after its appearance his Majesty's
Ministers put his suggestion in force, taking the scale pro-
posed by Captain Marryat with but little, if any, alteration.
In 1820, he commanded the Beacon sloop, at St. Helena,
from which he exchanged into the Roserio, 1 8 guns ; and in
this vessel he brought home duplicate despatches, announcing
the death of Napoleon. He was now actively engaged in
the Preventive Service, in which he effected thirteen seizures.
Captain Marryat's next appointment was in March 1823, to
the Lame, 20 guns, in which he sailed to the East Indies,
and remained there until the Burmese war in 1825. He was
fully employed as senior officer of the naval forces, the order
of Commodore Grant being that none should interfere wfth
xvii b
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
or supersede him. Sir Archibald Campbell, the commander-
in-chief, was received on board the Larne at Calcutta, and
Commander Marryat led the attack at Rangoon. His able,
gallant, and zealous co-operation in this affair, where he was
the senior naval officer from May until the middle of
September 1824, during which period he had to perform
duties of no common character, and the very important
services he rendered to the East India Company as com-
mander of an armament sent against Bassein, are detailed in
an official narrative of the naval operations in Ava. Captain
Marryat was often thanked for his services by the Supreme
Government and other high authorities in India, every opera-
tion which he arranged or conducted having been attended
with complete success ; he likewise received the thanks
of both Houses of Parliament in common with his brother
officers, his rank alone precluding him from being individually
named on that occasion. He now proceeded to Penang and
Calcutta, returning to Rangoon in December 1824, and in
the following February sailed with the late Sir Robert Sale,
of glorious memory, on an expedition to reduce the territory
of Bassein. On his return in April, having successfully per-
formed his perilous duty, he was promoted to a death vacancy,
and commanded the Tees, which, on her arrival in England,
he paid off.
Captain Marryat commanded the Ariadne in the Channel
and Western Islands, from November 1828 to November
1830. He was twice thanked for his services in the Burmese
war by the Governor-General of India, received three letters
of thanks from Sir Archibald Campbell, commander-in-chief
of the forces, and was five times recommended by him. He
was likewise thanked for his expedition with Sir Robert Sale,
and was three times recommended and thanked by Commodore
Coe. In June 1825, he received the decoration of C.B., and
an honour, a record of which must not be omitted he was
presented with a medal by that admirable institution, the
Humane Society, for his daring and humane exertions to save
xviii
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
the lives of so many men. That Society has not on its list a
name so worthy of honour as that of Marryat.
In 1837, the captain published "A Code of Signals for
the Use of Vessels employed in the Merchant Service."
That admirable invention is now in use in the royal and
mercantile service, not only of this country but of foreign
nations. He twice received the thanks of the Shipowners'
Society for it, and, the publication having been translated
into French in 1840, was brought under the notice of
Louis Philippe, from whom he received the gold cross of
the Legion of Honour. It was also translated into Dutch
and Italian.
In connection with this royal distinction we have a story
to relate, which we are sorry to feel ourselves constrained to
tell, because it presents our late king in a light in which it
is not pleasant, and has not been customary, to regard him.
William IV. had read and had been delighted with " Peter
Simple." It was likely that so true and striking a picture
of naval life and manners would have captivated a sailor.
He expressed a wish to see the author, who was standing in
an ante-room. The king came forth, and observing him,
asked a gentleman in waiting who he was. The captain
overheard the question, and said, addressing the gentleman,
" Tell his Majesty I am Peter Simple." Upon this the king
came forward and received him graciously. Some time after
this his Majesty was waited upon by a distinguished member
of the Government, to request permission for the captain to
wear the order conferred upon him by the King of the
French, and to obtain, if not further promotion, some higher
distinction for one who had so long and ably served his
country. The former request was granted as a matter of
course ; and as to the latter, the king said, " You best know
his services ; give him what you please." The Minister was
about to retire, when his Majesty called him back. " Marryat !
Marryat ! by-the-bye, is not that the man who wrote a book
against the impressment of seamen?" "The same, your
xix
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
Majesty." "Then he shan't wear the order, and he shall
have nothing," said his Majesty.
Every reader will make his own comment upon this. The
work in question had been written by a man who had the
best interests and the honour of his profession at heart, who
had done much to maintain them, and whom the late Earl
of Dundonald best known as Lord Cochrane, the hero
of Basque Roads in a letter recently written, has thus
characterised : " He was brave, zealous, intelligent, and
even thoughtful, yet active in the performance of his
duties." It is painful to expose one act of injustice on the
part of a sovereign whose nature, in the main, was manly.,
upright, and generous.
In 1829 Captain Marryat turned his attention to author-
ship, and in the following year resigned the command of
the Ariadne. Having published the "Naval Officer, or Frank
Mildmay," the reception of which gave him great encourage-
ment, he set to work with an earnestness and a zeal which
he brought to all his undertakings. " The King's Own,"
" Peter Simple," and "Jacob Faithful," followed each other in
rapid succession. To these he added in the course of a few
years, "Japhet in Search of a Father ;" "Newton Forster; "
" Midshipman Easy ; " " The Pacha of many Tales ; " "Joseph
Rushbrook, or The Poacher ; " " The Phantom Ship ; "
" Snarleyyow, or The Dog Fiend ; " " Percival Keene ; "
" The Pirate and Three Cutters ; " " Masterman Ready ; "
"Poor Jack;" "The Privateersman ; " "The Mission, or
Scenes in Africa ; " " The Settlers in Canada ; " " Olla
Podrida ; " " Diary in America " (in two parts) ; " Monsieur
Violet's Adventures." All these works obtained a con-
siderable popularity, and even gained the author a reputation
which very few modern writers of fiction have succeeded in
acquiring. From 1832 to 1836 he was likewise editor of the
Metropolitan Magazine, in which some of his works of fiction
were first produced.
It would be unprofitable to dwell upon the genius of
XX
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
Marryat as a novelist. His merits lie upon the surface, and
are obvious to every man, woman, and child, who take up
one of his works and find themselves unable to lay it down
again. He tells plainly and straightforwardly a story,
tolerably well constructed, of diversified incidents, alive with
uncommon characters, and, as his experience was large and
had been acquired over a wide expanse, he had always some-
thing to tell which would excite curiosity or rivet attention.
He had one quality in common with great men, and in which
men of finer genius than himself have been deficient, a
thorough manliness of heart and soul, which, by clearly showing
him what he was able to accomplish, preserved him against
the perpetration of that sublime nonsense and drivelling cant
which now-a-days often pass for fine writing and fine senti-
ment. " Peter Simple " has been pronounced his best novel ;
but we confess we like " Jacob Faithful " at least as well ;
although we think it would have been better if the Dominie
had been mitigated, who is rather an extravagance than an
original, and if that passage had been discarded in which the
parish-boy tells us he reads Tacitus and Horace at a charity-
school.
His " Diary in America " gave great offence on the other
side of the Atlantic. We do not know whether the captain
ever regretted it, but it was an ill-advised publication, and
was certain, from its tone as well as its matter, to wound
deeply a gallant and sensitive people, who, say what some
few may to the contrary, are anxious to stand well in the
estimation of the mother-country. But that this work was
written with malice prepense against the Americans we can-
not believe, for the author's venerable mother is a native of
the United States; and it may be pleasing to our brother
Jonathan to know, what we are pretty certain is the fact,
that from that lady he inherited the energy of will and the
vigour of mind which he displayed in all the actions of his
life.
Captain Marryat had been seriously ill for more than a
xxi
MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN MARRYAT, R.N.
year, from the bursting of a succession of blood-vessels, which
forbade all hope of his recovery, and on the 9th of August
1848 his sufferings were brought to a termination.
He married Catharine, daughter of Sir Stephen Shairp,
formerly Charge d' Affaires at the court of Russia, by whom
he left six children. Two of his sons were in the navy. The
elder, a lieutenant, bade fair to prove himself a worthy son
of his father : he jumped overboard and saved the life of a
seaman in the Tagus, and his exertions at the wreck of the
Syphax were of the most heroic kind ; but he perished with
nearly the whole of his crew in the wreck of the Avenger,
on the coast of Africa, in 1 847. The younger son, Frank S.
Marryat, displayed great talents as a hydrographer, and be-
came midshipman on board her Majesty's ship Samarang,
surveying vessel. He published in 1848 a splendid volume,
entitled " Borneo and the Indian Archipelago, with drawings
of costumes and scenery, being a narrative of his surveying
cruise," which was too expensive to be successful, and, as a
commercial speculation, failed. He died at Kensington Gore,
September 1855, at the age of 29- One of Captain Marryat's
daughters, Emilia Marryat, has lately commenced authorship,
as a writer of Novels and Juvenile Stories.
May 1869.
THE PIRATE
THE PIRATE
CHAPTER I
THE BAY OF BISCAY
IT was in the latter part of the month of June, of the year
179 , that the angry waves of the Bay of Biscay were
gradually subsiding, after a gale of wind as violent as it was
unusual during that period of the year. Still they rolled
heavily ; and, at times, the wind blew up in fitful, angry
gusts, as if it would fain renew the elemental combat ; but
each effort was more feeble, and the dark clouds which had
been summoned to the storm, now fled in every quarter
before the powerful rays of the sun, who burst their masses
asunder with a glorious flood of light and heat ; and, as he
poured down his resplendent beams, piercing deep into the
waters of that portion of the Atlantic to which we now refer,
with the exception of one object, hardly visible, as at crea-
tion, there was a vast circumference of water, bounded by
the fancied canopy of heaven. We have said, with the ex-
ception of one object ; for in the centre of this picture, so
simple, yet so sublime, composed of the three great elements,
there was a remnant of the fourth. We say a remnant, for
it was but the hull of a vessel, dismasted, water-logged, its
upper works only floating occasionally above the waves, when
a transient repose from their still violent undulation per-
mitted it to reassume its buoyancy. But this was seldom;
one moment it was deluged by the seas, which broke as they
THE PIRATE
poured over its gunwale ; and the next, it rose from its
submersion, as the water escaped from the portholes at its
sides.
How many thousands of vessels how many millions of
property have been abandoned, and eventually consigned
to the all-receiving depths of the ocean, through ignorance
or through fear! What a mine of wealth must lie buried
in its sands ! what riches lie entangled amongst its rocks, or
remain suspended in its unfathomable gulf, where the com-
pressed fluid is equal in gravity to that which it encircles,
there to remain secured in its embedment from corruption
and decay, until the destruction of the universe and the
return of chaos ! Yet, immense as the accumulated loss
may be, the major part of it has been occasioned from an
ignorance of one of the first laws of nature, that of specific
gravity. The vessel to which we have referred was, to all
appearance, in a situation of as extreme hazard as that of a
drowning man clinging to a single rope-yarn ; yet, in reality,
she was more secure from descending to the abyss below
than many gallantly careering on the waters, their occupants
dismissing all fear, and only calculating upon a quick arrival
into port.
The Circassian had sailed from New Orleans, a gallant and
well-appointed ship, with a cargo, the major part of which
consisted of cotton. The captain was, in the usual accepta-
tion of the term, a good sailor ; the crew were hardy and
able seamen. As they crossed the Atlantic, they had en-
countered the gale to which we have referred, were driven
down into the Bay of Biscay, where, as we shall hereafter
explain, the vessel was dismasted, and sprang a leak, which
baffled all their exertions o keep under. It was now five
days since the frightened crew had quitted the vessel in two
of her boats, one of which had swamped, and every soul
that occupied it had perished ; the fate of the other was
uncertain.
We said that the crew had deserted the vessel, but we
2
THE BAY OF BISCAY
did not assert that every existing being had been removed out
of her. Had such been the case,, we should not have taken up
the reader's time in describing inanimate matter. It is life
that we portray,, and life there still was in the shattered hull
thus abandoned to the mockery of the ocean. In the caboo.se
of the Circassian, that is, in the cooking-house secured on deck,
and which fortunately had been so well fixed as to resist the
force of the breaking waves, remained three beings a man,
a woman, and a child. The two first-mentioned were of that
inferior race which have, for so long a period, been procured
from the sultry Afric coast, to toil, but reap not for them-
selves ; the child which lay at the breast of the female was
of European blood, now, indeed, deadly pale, as it attempted
in vain to draw sustenance from its exhausted nurse, down
whose sable cheeks the tears coursed, as she occasionally
pressed the infant to her breast, and turned it round to lee-
ward to screen it from the spray which dashed over them
at each returning swell. Indifferent to all else, save her
little charge, she spoke not, although she shuddered with
the cold as the water washed her knees each time that the
hull was careened into the wave. Cold and terror had pro-
duced a change in her complexion, which now wore a yellow,
or sort of copper hue.
The male, who was her companion, sat opposite to her
upon the iron range which once had been the receptacle
of light and heat, but was now but a weaiy seat to a drenched
and worn-out wretch. He, too, had not spoken for many
hours ; with the muscles of his face relaxed, his thick lips
pouting far in advance of his collapsed cheeks, his high cheek-
bones prominent as budding horns, his eyes displaying little
but their whites, he appeared to be an object of greater
misery than the female, whose thoughts were directed to
the infant and not unto herself. Yet his feelings were still
acute, although his faculties appeared to be deadened by
excess of suffering.
" Eh, me ! " cried the negro woman faintly, after a long
THE PIRATE
silence, her head falling back with extreme exhaustion. Her
companion made no reply, but, roused at the sound of her
voice, bent forward, slid open the door a little, and looked
out to windward. The heavy spray dashed into his glassy
eyes, and obscured his vision ; he groaned, and fell back into
his former position. " What you tink, Coco ? " inquired the
negress, covering up more carefully the child, as she bent
her head down upon it. A look of despair, and a shudder
from cold and hunger, were the only reply.
It was then about eight o'clock in the morning, and the
swell of the ocean was fast subsiding. At noon the warmth
of the sun was communicated to them through the planks
of the caboose, while its rays poured a small stream of vivid
light through the chinks of the closed panels. The negro
appeared gradually to revive ; at last he rose, and with some
difficulty ^contrived again to slide open the door. The sea
had gradually decreased its violence, and but occasionally
broke over the vessel ; carefully holding on by the door-
jambs, Coco gained the outside, that he might survey the
horizon.
"What you see, Coco?" said the female, observing from
the caboose that his eyes were fixed upon a certain quarter.
" So help me God, me tink me see something ; but ab so
much salt water in um eye, me no see clear," replied Coco,
rubbing away the salt which had crystallised on his face
during the morning.
"What you tink um like, Coco ? "
"Only one bit cloud," replied he, entering the caboose,
and resuming his seat upon the grate with a heavy sigh.
" Eh, me ! " cried the negress, who had uncovered the
child to look at it, and whose powers were sinking fast.
" Poor lilly Massa Eddard, him look very bad indeed him
die very soon, me fear. Look, Coco, no ab breath."
The child's head fell back upon the breast of its nurse,
and life appeared to be extinct.
" Judy, you no ab milk for piccaninny ; suppose um ab no
THE BAY OF BISCAY
milk, how can live ? Eh ! stop, Judy, me put lilly finger in
um mouth ; suppose Massa Eddard no dead, him pull."
Coco inserted his finger into the child's month, and felt
a slight drawing pressure. "Judy/' cried Coco, "Massa
Eddard no dead yet. Try now, suppose you ab lilly drop
oder side."
Poor Judy shook her head mournfully, and a tear rolled
down her cheek ; she was aware that nature was exhausted.
" Coco," said she, wiping her cheek with the back of her
hand, " me give me heart blood for Massa Eddard ; but no
ab milk all gone."
This forcible expression of love for the child, which was
used by Judy, gave an idea to Coco. He drew his knife
out of his pocket, and very coolly sawed to the bone of his
forefinger. The blood flawed and trickled down to the
extremity, which he applied to the mouth of the infant.
"See, Judy, Massa Eddard suck him not dead," cried
Coco, chuckling at the fortunate result of the experiment, and
forgetting at the moment their almost hopeless situation.
The child, revived by the strange sustenance, gradually
recovered its powers, and in a few minutes it pulled at the
finger with a certain degree of vigour.
" Look, Judy, how Massa Eddard take it," continued
Coco. " Pull away, Massa Eddard, pull away. Coco ab
ten finger, and take long while suck em all dry." But the
child was soon satisfied, and fell asleep in the arms of
Judy.
"Coco, suppose you go see again," observed Judy. The
negro again crawled out, and again he scanned the horizon.
" So help me God, dis time me tink, Judy yes, so help
me God, me see a ship !" cried Coco joyfully.
"Eh!" screamed Judy faintly, with delight; "den Massa
Eddard no die."
"Yes, so help me God he come dis way!" and Coco,
who appeared to have recovered a portion of his former
strength and activity, clambered on the top of the caboose,
5
THE PIRATE
where he sat, cross-legged, waving his yellow handkerchief,
with the hope of attracting the attention of those on board;
for he knew that it was very possible that an object floating
little more than level with the water's surface might escape
notice.
As it fortunately happened, the frigate, for such she was,
continued her course precisely for the wreck, although it had
not been perceived by the look-out men at the mast-heads,
whose eyes had been directed to the line of the horizon. In
less than an hour our little party were threatened with a new
danger, that of being run over by the frigate, which was now
within a cable's length of them, driving the seas before her
in one widely extended foam, as she pursued her rapid and
impetuous course. Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortu-
nately attracted the notice of the men who were on the bow-
sprit, stowing away the foretopmast-staysail, which had been
hoisted up to dry after the gale.
" Starboard, hard! " was roared out.
" Starboard it is," was the reply from the quarter-deck,
and the helm was shifted without inquiry, as it always is on
board of a man-of-war, although, at the same time, it behoves
people to be rather careful how they pass such an order, with-
out being prepared with a subsequent and most satisfactory
explanation.
The topmast studding-sail flapped and fluttered, the fore-
sail shivered, and the jib filled as the frigate rounded to, nar-
rowly missing the wreck, which was now under the bows,
rocking so violently in the white foam of the agitated waters,
that it was with difficulty that Coco could, by clinging to the
stump of the mainmast, retain his elevated position. The
frigate shortened sail, hove-to, and lowered down a quarter-
boat, and in less than five minutes Coco, Judy, and the in-
fant, were rescued from their awful situation. Poor Judy,
who had borne up against all for the sake of the child,
placed it in the arms of the officer who relieved them, and
then fell back in a state of insensibility, in which condition
6
THE BACHELOR
she was carried on board. Coco, as he took his place in the
stern-sheets of the boat, gazed wildly round him, and then
broke out into peals of extravagant laughter, which con-
tinued without intermission, and were the only replies which
he could give to the interrogatories of the quarter-deck,
until he fell down in a swoon, and was entrusted to the
care of the surgeon.
CHAPTER II
THE BACHELOR
the evening of the same day on which the child and
the two negroes had been saved from the wreck by the
fortunate appearance of the frigate, Mr. Witherington, of
Finsbury Square, was sitting alone in his dining-room,
wondering what could have become of the Circassian, and
why he had not received intelligence of her arrival. Mr.
Witherington, as we said before, was alone ; he had his port
and his sherry before him ; and although the weather was
rather warm, there was a small fire in the grate, because,
as Mr. Witherington asserted, it looked comfortable. Mr.
Witherington having watched the ceiling of the room for
some time, although there was certainly nothing new to be
discovered, filled another glass of wine, and then proceeded
to make himself more comfortable by unbuttoning three more
buttons of his waistcoat, pushing his wig further off his head,
and casting loose all the buttons at the knees of his breeches ;
he completed his arrangements by dragging towards him
two chairs within his reach, putting his legs upon one while
he rested his arm upon the other. And why was not Mr.
Witherington to make himself comfortable ? He had good
health, a good conscience, and eight thousand a year.
Satisfied with all his little arrangements, Mr. Witherington
sipped his port wine, and putting down his glass again, fell
THE PIRATE
back in his chair, placed his hands on his breast, interwove his
fingers ; and in this most comfortable position recommenced
his speculations as to the non-arrival of the Circassian.
We will leave him to his cogitations while we introduce
him more particularly to our readers.
The father of Mr. Witherington was a younger son of one
of the oldest and proudest families in the West Riding of
Yorkshire : he had his choice of the four professions allotted
to younger sons whose veins are filled with patrician blood
the army, the navy, the law, and the Church. The army did
not suit him, he said, as marching and counter-marching
were not comfortable ; the navy did not suit him, as there
was little comfort in gales of wind and mouldy biscuit ;
the law did not suit him, as he was not sure that he would
be at ease with his conscience, which would not be comfort-
able ; the Church was also rejected, as it was, with him,
connected with the idea of a small stipend, hard duty, a
wife and eleven children, which were anything but comfort-
able. Much to the horror of his family he eschewed all the
liberal professions, and embraced the offer of an old back-
slider of an uncle, who proposed to him a situation in his
banking-house, and a partnership as soon as he deserved it ;
the consequence was, that his relations bade him an indignant
farewell, and then made no further inquiries about him : he
was as decidedly cut as one of the female branches of the
family would have been had she committed a. faux pas.
Nevertheless, Mr. Witherington senior stuck diligently to
his business, in a few years was partner, and, at the death
of the old gentleman, his uncle, found himself in possession
of a good property, and every year coining money at his
bank.
Mr. Witherington senior then purchased a house in Fins-
bury Square, and thought it advisable to look out for a wife.
Having still much of the family pride in his composition,
he resolved not to muddle the blood of the Witheringtons
by any cross from Cateaton Street or Mincing Lane ; and
8
THE BACHELOR
after a proper degree of research, he selected the daughter
of a Scotch earl, who went to London with a bevy of nine
in a Leith smack to barter blood for wealth. Mr. Withering-
ton being so unfortunate as to be the first comer, had the
pick of the nine ladies by courtesy ; his choice was light-
haired, blue-eyed, a little freckled, and very tall, by no
means bad-looking, and standing on the list in the family
Bible No. IV. From this union Mr. Witherington had issue ;
first, a daughter, christened Moggy, whom we shall' soon have
to introduce to our readers as a spinster of forty-seven ; and
second, Antony Alexander Witherington, Esquire, whom we
just now have left in a very comfortable position, and in a
very brown study.
Mr. Witherington senior persuaded his son to enter the
banking-house, and, as a dutiful son, he entered it every
day : but he did nothing more, having made the fortunate
discovery that " his father was born before him ; " or, in
other words, that his father had plenty of money, and would
be necessitated to leave it behind him.
As Mr. Witherington senior had always studied comfort,
his son had early imbibed the same idea, and carried his
feelings, in that respect, to a much greater excess : he
divided things into comfortable and uncomfortable. One
fine day, Lady Mary Witherington, after paying all the house-
hold bills, paid the debt of Nature ; that is, she died : her
husband paid the undertaker's bill, so it is to be presumed
that she was buried.
Mr. Witherington senior shortly afterwards had a stroke
of apoplexy, which knocked him down. Death, who has no
feelings of honour, struck him when down. And Mr. Wither-
ington, after having laid a few days in bed, was by a second
stroke laid in the same vault as Lady Mary Witherington ;
and Mr. Witherington junior (our Mr. Witherington) after
deducting 40,000 for his sister's fortune, found himself in
possession of a clear 8000 per annum, and an excellent
house in Finsbury Square. Mr. Witherington considered this
9
THE PIRATE
a comfortable income, and he therefore retired altogether
from business.
During the lifetime of his parents he had been witness to
one or two matrimonial scenes, which had induced him to put
down matrimony as one of the things not comfortable ; there-
fore he remained a bachelor.
His sister Moggy also remained unmarried ; but whether
it was from a very unprepossessing squint which deterred
suitors, or from the same dislike to matrimony as her brother
had imbibed, it is not in our power to say. Mr. Witherington
was three years younger than his sister; and although he
had for some time worn a wig, it was only because he con-
sidered it more comfortable. Mr. Witherington's whole char-
acter might be summed up in two words eccentricity and
benevolence ; eccentric he certainly was, as most bachelors
usually are. Man is but a rough pebble without the attrition
received from contact with the gentler sex ; it is wonderful
how the ladies pumice a man down to a smoothness which
occasions him to roll over and over with the rest of his
species, jostling but not wounding his neighbours, as the
waves of circumstances bring him into collision with them.
Mr. Witherington roused himself from his deep reverie,
and felt for the string connected with the bell-pull, which it
was the butler's duty invariably to attach to the arm of his
master's chair previous to his last exit from the dining-room ;
for, as Mr. Witherington very truly observed, it was very
uncomfortable to be obliged to get up and ring the bell ;
indeed, more than once Mr. Witherington had calculated the
advantages and disadvantages of having a daughter about
eight years old who could ring the bell, air the newspapers,
and cut the leaves of a new novel.
When, however, he called to mind that she could not
always remain at that precise age, he decided that the
balance of comfort was against it.
Mr. Witherington having pulled the bell again, fell into
a brown study.
10
THE BACHELOR
Mr. Jonathan, the butler, made his appearance; but ob-
serving that his master was occupied, he immediately stopped
at the door, erect, motionless, and with a face as melancholy
as if he was performing mute at the porch of some departed
peer of the realm; for it is an understood thing, that the greater
the rank of the defunct the longer must be the face, and, of
course, the better must be the pay.
Now, as Mr. Witherington is still in profound thought, and
Mr. Jonathan will stand as long as a hackney-coach horse,
we will just leave them as they are, while we introduce the
brief history of the latter to our readers. Jonathan Trapp
has served as fooi-boy, which term, we believe, is derived
from those who are in that humble capacity receiving a
quantum suff. of the application of the feet of those above
them to increase the energy of their service; then as foot-
maw, which implies that they have been promoted to the
more agreeable right of administering instead of receiving
the above dishonourable applications; and lastly, for pro-
motion could go no higher in the family, he had been raised
to the dignity of butler in the service of Mr. Witherington
senior. Jonathan then fell in love, for butlers are guilty of
indiscretions as well as their masters: neither he nor his fair
flame, who was a lady's-maid in another family, notwith-
standing that they had witnessed the consequences of this
error in others, would take warning; they gave warning, and
they married.
Like most butlers and ladies'-maids who pair off, they set
up a public-house; and it is but justice to the lady's-maid to
say, that she would have preferred an eating-house, but was
overruled by Jonathan, who argued, that although people
would drink when they were not dry, they never would eat
unless they were hungry.
_Now, although there was truth in the observation, this is
certain, that business did not prosper: it has been surmised
that Jonathan's tall, lank, lean figure injured his custom, as
people .are but too much inclined to judge of the goodness of
11
THE PIRATE
the ale by the rubicund face and rotundity of the landlord ;
and therefore inferred that there could be no good beer
where mine host was the picture of famine. There certainly
is much in appearances in this world ; and it appears, that in
consequence of Jonathan's cadaverous appearance, he very
soon appeared in the Gazette; but what ruined Jonathan
in one profession procured him immediate employment in
another. An appraiser, upholsterer, and undertaker, who
was called in to value the fixtures, fixed his eye upon
Jonathan, and knowing the value of his peculiarly lugubrious
appearance, and having a half-brother of equal height, offered
him immediate employment as a mute. Jonathan soon forgot
to mourn his own loss of a few hundreds in his new occupa-
tion of mourning the loss of thousands ; and his erect, stiff,
statue-like carriage, and long melancholy face, as he stood at
the portals of those who had entered the portals of the next
world, were but too often a sarcasm upon the grief of the
inheritors. Even grief is worth nothing in this trafficking
world unless it is paid for. Jonathan buried many, and at
last buried his wife. So far all was well ; but at last he
buried his master, the undertaker, which was not quite so
desirable. Although Jonathan wept not, yet did he express
mute sorrow as he marshalled him to his long home, and
drank to his memory in a pot of porter as he returned from
the funeral, perched, with many others, like carrion crows on
the top of the hearse.
And now Jonathan was thrown out of employment from
a reason which most people would have thought the highest
recommendation. Every undertaker refused to take him,
because they could not match him. In this unfortunate
dilemma, Jonathan thought of Mr. Witherington junior; he
had served and he had buried Mr. Witherington his father,
and Lady Mary his mother ; he felt that he had strong
claims for such variety of services, and he applied to
the bachelor. Fortunately for Jonathan, Mr. Witherington's
butler-incumbent was just about to commit the same folly as
12
THE BACHELOR
Jonathan had done before, and Jonathan was again installed,
resolving in his own mind to lead his former life, and have
nothing more to do with ladies'-maids. But from habit
Jonathan still carried himself as a mute on all ordinary
occasions never indulging in an approximation to mirth,
except when he perceived that his master was in high spirits,
and then rather from a sense of duty than from any real
hilarity of heart.
Jonathan was no mean scholar for his station in life, and,
during his service with the undertaker, he had acquired the
English of all the Latin mottoes which are placed upon the
hatchments ; and these mottoes, when he considered them
as apt, he was very apt to quote. We left Jonathan standing
at the door; he had closed it, and the handle still remained
in his hand. " Jonathan,' said Mr. Witherington, after a
long pause " I wish to look at the. last letter from New
York ; you will find it on my dressing-table."
Jonathan quitted the room without reply, and made his
reappearance with the letter.
" It is a long time that I have been expecting this
vessel, Jonathan," observed Mr. Witherington, unfolding the
letter.
" Yes, sir, a long while ; tempusfugit." replied the butler
in a low tone, half shutting his eyes.
" I hope to God no accident has happened," continued
Mr. Witherington ; " my poor little cousin and her twins !
e'en now that I speak, they may be all at the bottom of
the sea."
" Yes, sir," replied the butler ; " the sea defrauds many
an honest undertaker of his profits."
" By the blood of the Witheringtons ! I may be left
without an heir, and shall be obliged to marry, which would
be very uncomfortable."
"Very little comfort," echoed Jonathan "my wife is
dead. In ccelo quies."
" Well, we must hope for the best ; but this suspense is
13
THE PIRATE
anything but comfortable," observed Mr. Witherington, after
looking over the contents of the letter for at least the
twentieth time.
" That will do, Jonathan ; I'll ring for coffee presently ; "
and Mr. Witherington was again alone and with his eyes
fixed upon the ceiling.
A cousin of Mr. Witherington, and a very great favourite
(for Mr. Witherington, having a large fortune, and not having
anything to do with business, was courted by his relations),
had, to a certain degree, committed herself; that is to say,
that, notwithstanding the injunctions of her parents, she had
fallen in love with a young lieutenant in a marching regiment,
whose pedigree was but respectable, and whose fortune was
anything but respectable, consisting merely of a subaltern's
pay. Poor men, unfortunately, always make love better than
those who are rich, because, having less to care about, and
not being puffed up with their own consequence, they are
not so selfish, and think much more of the lady than of
themselves. Young ladies, also, who fall in love, never
consider whether there is sufficient " to make the pot boil "
probably because young ladies in love lose their appetites,
and, not feeling inclined to eat at that time, they imagine
that love will always supply the want of food. Now, we
will appeal to the married ladies whether we are not right
in asserting that, although the collation spread for them and
their friends on the day of the marriage is looked upon with
almost loathing, they do not find their appetites return with
interest soon afterwards. This was precisely the case with
Cecilia Witherington, or rather Cecilia Templemore, for she
had changed her name the day before. It was also the case
with her husband, who always had a good appetite, even
during his days of courtship ; and the consequence was, that
the messman's account, for they lived in barracks, was, in
a few weeks, rather alarming. Cecilia applied to her family,
who very kindly sent her word that she might starve ; but,
the advice neither suiting her nor her husband, she then
14
THE BACHELOR
wrote to her cousin Antony, who sent her word that he would
be most happy to receive them at his table, and that they
should take up their abode in Finsbury Square. This was
exactly what they wished ; but still there was a certain
difficulty ; Lieutenant Templemore's regiment was quartered
in a town in Yorkshire, which was some trifling distance from
Finsbury Square ; and to be at Mr. Witherington's dinner-
table at 6 P.M., with the necessity of appearing at parade
every morning at 9 A.M., was a dilemma not to be got out
of. Several letters were interchanged upon this knotty sub-
ject ; and at last it was agreed that Mr. Templemore should
sell out, and come up to Mr. Witherington with his pretty
wife. He did so, and found that it was much more comfort-
able to turn out at nine o'clock in the morning to a good
breakfast than to a martial parade. But Mr. Templemore
had an honest pride and independence of character which
would not permit him to eat the bread of idleness, and
after a sojourn of two months in most comfortable quarters,
without a messman's bill, he frankly stated his feelings to
Mr. Witherington, and requested his assistance to procure
for himself an honourable livelihood. Mr. Witherington,
who had become attached to them both, would have remon-
strated, observing that Cecilia was his own cousin, and that
he was a confirmed bachelor; but, in this instance, Mr.
Templemore was firm, and Mr. Witherington very unwillingly
consented. A mercantile house of the highest respectability
required a partner who could superintend their consignments
to America. Mr. Witherington advanced the sum required ;
and in a few weeks Mr. and Mrs. Templemore sailed for
New York.
Mr. Templemore was active and intelligent ; their affairs
prospered ; and in a few years they anticipated a return to
their native soil with a competence. But the autumn of the
second year after their arrival proved very sickly ; the yellow
fever raged ; and among the thousands who were carried off
Mr. Templemore was a victim, about three weeks after his
15
THE PIRATE
wife had been brought to bed of twins. Mrs. Templemore
rose from her couch a widow and the mother of two fine
boys. The loss of Mr. Templemore was replaced by the
establishment with which he was connected, and Mr.
Witherington offered to his cousin that asylum which, in
her mournful and unexpected bereavement, she so much
required. In three months her affairs were arranged ; and
with her little boys hanging at the breasts of two negro
nurses for no others could be procured who would under-
take the voyage Mrs. Templemore, with Coco as male
servant, embarked on board of the good ship Circassian, A 1,
bound to Liverpool.
CHAPTER III
THE GALE
J. HOSE who, standing on the pier, had witnessed the proud
bearing of the Circassian as she gave her canvas to the winds,
little contemplated her fate : still less did those on board ;
for confidence is the characteristic of seamen, and they have
the happy talent of imparting their confidence to whomsoever
may be in their company. We shall pass over the voyage,
confining ourselves to a description of the catastrophe.
It was during a gale from the north-west, which had con-
tinued for three days, and by which the Circassian had been
driven into the Bay of Biscay, that, at about twelve o'clock at
night, a slight lull was perceptible. The captain, who had re-
mained on deck, sent down for the chief mate. " Oswald,"
said Captain Ingram, "the gale is breaking, and I think be-
fore morning we shall have had the worst of it. I shall lie
down for an hour or two : call me if there be any change."
Oswald Bareth, a tall, sinewy-built, and handsome specimen
of transatlantic growth, examined the whole circumference
of the horizon before he replied. At last his eyes were
THE GALE
steadily fixed to leeward : " I've a notion not, sir/' said he ;
" I see no signs of clearing off to leeward : only a lull for
relief, and a fresh hand at the bellows, depend upon it."
"We have now had it three days," replied Captain Ingram,
"and that's the life of a summer's gale."
" Yes," rejoined the mate; "but always provided that it
don't blow black again. I don't like the look of it, sir ; and
have it back we shall, as sure as there's snakes in Virgiimy."
" Well, so be if so be," was the safe reply of the captain.
"You must keep a sharp look-out, Bareth, and don't leave
the deck to call me ; send a hand down."
The captain descended to his cabin. Oswald looked at the
compass in the binnacle spoke a few words to the man at
the helm gave one or two terrible kicks in the ribs to sonic
of the men who were caulking sounded the pump- well put
a fresh quid of tobacco into his cheek, and then proceeded
to examine the heavens above. A cloud, much darker and
more descending than the others, which obscured the firma-
ment, spread over the zenith, and based itself upon the
horizon to leeward. Oswald's eye had been fixed upon it
but a few seconds, when he beheld a small lambent gleam of
lightning pierce through the most opaque part ; then another,
and more vivid. Of a sudden the wind lulled, and the Cir-
cassian righted from her careen. Again the wind howled,
and again the vessel was pressed down to her bearings by its
force ; again another flash of lightning, which was followed
by a distant peal of thunder.
" Had the worst of it, did you say, captain ? I've a notion
that the worst is yet to come," muttered Oswald, still watch-
ing the heavens.
"How does she carry her helm, Matthew?" inquired
Oswald, walking aft.
"Spoke a-weather."
" I'll have that trysail off of her, at any rate," continued the
mate. " Aft, there, my lads ! and lower down the trysail.
Keep the sheet fast till it's down, or the flogging wilJ frighten
17 B
THE PIRATE
the lady-passenger out of her wits. Well, if ever I own a
craft, I'll have no women on board. Dollars shan't tempt
me."
The lightning now played in rapid forks ; and the loud
thunder, which instantaneously followed each flash, proved its
near approach. A deluge of slanting rain descended the
wind lulled roared again then lullefl shifted a point or
two, and the drenched and heavy sails flapped.
" Up with the helm, Mat ! " cried Oswald, as a near flash of
lightning for a moment blinded, and the accompanying peal
of thunder deafened, those on deck. Again the wind blew
strong it ceased, and it was a dead calm. The sails hung
down from the yards, and the rain descended in perpendicular
torrents, while the ship rocked to and fro in the trough of the
sea, and the darkness became suddenly intense.
" Down, there, one of you ! and call the captain," said
Oswald. " By the Lord ! we shall have it. Main braces
there, men, and square the yards. Be smart ! That topsail
should have been in," muttered the mate ; " but I'm not
captain. Square away the yards, my lads ! " continued he ;
" quick, quick ! there's no child's play here ! "
Owing to the difficulty of finding and passing the ropes to
each other, from the intensity of the darkness, and the deluge
of rain which blinded them, the men were not able to execute
the order of the mate so soon as it was necessary ; and before
they could accomplish their task, or Captain Ingram could
gain the deck, the wind suddenly burst upon the devoted
vessel from the quarter directly opposite to that from which
the gale had blown, taking her all aback, and throwing her
on her beam-ends. The man at the helm was hurled over
the wheel ; while the rest, who were with Oswald at the
main-bits, with the coils of ropes, and every other article on
deck not secured, were rolled into the scuppers, struggling
to extricate themselves from the mass of confusion and the
water in which they floundered. The sudden revulsion
awoke all the men below, who imagined that the ship was
18
THE GALE
foundering; and, from the only hatchway not secured, they
poured up in their shirts with their other garments in their
hands, to put them on if fate permitted.
Oswald Bareth was the first who clambered up from to
leeward. He gained the helm, which he put hard up. Cap-
tain Ingram and some of the seamen also gained the helm.
It is the rendezvous of all good seamen in emergencies of
this description ; but the howling of the gale the blinding
of the rain and salt spray the seas checked in their running
by the shift of wind, and breaking over the ship in vast
masses of water the tremendous peals of thunder and the
intense darkness which accompanied these horrors, added to
the inclined position of the vessel, which obliged them to
climb from one part of the deck to another, for some time
checked all profitable communication. Their only friend, in
this conflict of the elements, was the lightning (unhappy,
indeed, the situation in which lightning can be welcomed as
a friend) ; but its vivid and forked flames, darting down upon
every quarter of the horizon, enabled them to perceive their
situation ; and, awful as it was, when momentarily presented
to their sight, it was not so awful as darkness and uncertainty.
To those who have been accustomed to the difficulties and
dangers of a sea-faring life, there are no lines which speak
more forcibly to the imagination, or prove the beauty and
power of the Greek poet, than those in the noble prayer of
Ajax:
" Lord of earth and air,
O king ! O father 1 hear my humble prayer.
Dispel this cloud, the light of heaven restore ;
Give me to see and Ajax asks no more.
If Greece must perish we thy will obey ;
But let us perish in the face of day ! "
Oswald gave the helm to two of the seamen, and with his
knife cut adrift the axes, which were lashed round the
mizen-mast in painted canvas covers. One he retained for
himself the others he put into the hands of the boatswain
19
THE PIRATE
and the second mate. To speak so as to be heard was almost
impossible, from the tremendous roaring of the wind ; but the
lamp still burned in the binnacle, and by its feeble light
C'aptain Ingram could distinguish the signs made by the
mate, and could give his consent. It was necessary that the
ship should be put before the wind, and the helm had no
power over her. In a short time the lanyards of the mizen
rigging were severed, and the mizen-mast went over the
side, almost unperceived by the crew on the other parts of
the deck, or even those near, had it not been from blows
received by those who were too close to it, from the falling
of the topsail sheets and the rigging about the mast.
Oswald, with his companions, regained the binnacle, and
for little while watched the compass. The ship did not pay
off, and appeared to settle down more into the water. Again
Oswald made his signs, and again the captain gave his assent.
Forward sprang the undaunted mate, clinging to the bulwark
and belaying-pins, and followed by his hardy companions,
until they had all three gained the main channels. Here,
their exposure to the force of the breaking waves, and the
stoutness of the ropes yielding but slowly to the blows of the
axes, which were used almost under water, rendered the
service one of extreme difficulty and danger. The boatswain
was washed over the bulwark and dashed to leeward, where
the lee-rigging only saved him from a watery grave. Un-
subdued, he again climbed up to windward, rejoined and
assisted his companions. The last blow was given by Oswald
the lanyards flew through the dead-eyes and the tall mast
disappeared in the foaming seas. Oswald and his companions
hastened from their dangerous position, and rejoined the
captain, who, with many of the crew, still remained near the
wheel. The ship now slowly paid off and righted. In a few
minutes she was flying before the gale, rolling heavily, and
occasionally striking upon the wrecks of the masts, which she
towed with her by the lee-rigging.
Although the wind blew with as much violence as before,
THE LEAK
still it was not with the same noise, now that the ship was
before the wind with her after-masts gone. The next service
was to clear the ship of the wrecks of the masts ; but,
although all now assisted, but little could be effected until
the day had dawned, and even then it was a service of danger,
as the ship rolled gunwale under. Those who performed the
duty were slung in ropes, that they might not be washed
away; and hardly was it completed, when a heavy roll,
assisted by a jerking heave from a sea which struck her on
the chesstree, sent the foremast over the starboard cathead.
Thus was the Circassian dismasted in the gale.
CHAPTER IV
THE LEAK
1 HE wreck of the foremast was cleared from the ship ; the
gale continued ; but the sun shone brightly and warmly.
The Circassian was again brought to the wind. All danger
was now considered to be over, and the seamen joked and
laughed as they were busied in preparing jury-masts to
enable them to reach their destined port.
" I wouldn't have cared so much about this spree," said
the boatswain, " if it warn't for the mainmast ; it was such
a beauty. There's not another stick to be found equal to
it in the whole length of the Mississippi."
"Bah! man/' replied Oswald; "there's as good fish in
the sea as ever came out of it, and as good sticks growing
as ever were felled ; but I guess we'll pay pretty dear for
our spars when we get to Liverpool but that concerns the
owners."
The wind, which at the time of its sudden change to the
southward and eastward had blown with the force of a
hurricane, now settled into a regular strong gale, such as
sailors are prepared to meet and laugh at. The sky was
21
THE PIRATE
also bright and clear, and they had not the danger of a lee
shore. It was a delightful change after a night of darkness,
danger, and confusion ; and the men worked that they
might get sufficient sail on the ship to steady her, and enable
them to shape a course.
" I suppose, now that we have the trysail on her forward,
the captain will be for running for it," observed one who was
busy turning in a dead-eye.
" Yes," replied the boatswain ; " and with this wind on our
quarter we shan't want much sail, I've a notion."
" Well then, one advantage in losing your mast you
haven't much trouble about the rigging."
" Trouble enough, though, Bill, when we get in," replied
another gruffly ; " new lower rigging to parcel and sarve,
and every block to turn in afresh."
"Never mind, longer in port I'll get spliced."
" Why, how often do you mean to get spliced, Bill ?
You've a wife in every State, to my sartin knowledge."
"I arn't got one at Liverpool, Jack."
" Well, you may take one there, Bill ; for you've been sweet
upon that nigger girl for these last three weeks."
" Any port in a storm, but she won't do for harbour duty.
But the fact is, you're all wrong there, Jack : it's the babbies
I likes I likes to see them both together, hanging at the
niggers' breasts, I always think of two spider-monkeys
nursing two kittens."
" I knows the women, but I never knows the children. It's
just six of one and half-a-dozen of the other ; ain't it, Bill ? "
" Yes ; like two bright bullets out of the same mould. I
say, Bill, did any of your wives ever have twins ? "
" No ; nor I don't intend, until the owners give us double
pay-"
" By-the-bye," interrupted Oswald, who had been standing
under the weather bulk-head, listening to the conversation,
and watching the work in progress, "we may just as well
see if she has made any water with all this straining and
22
THE LEAK
buffeting. By the Lord ! I never thought of that. Carpenter,
lay down your adze and sound the well."
The carpenter, who, notwithstanding the uneasiness of
the dismasted vessel, was performing his important share of
the work, immediately complied with the order. He drew
up the rope-yarn, to which an iron rule had been suspended,
and lowered down into the pump-well, and perceived that
the water was dripping from it. Imagining that it must
have been wet from the quantity of water shipped over all,
the carpenter disengaged the rope-yarn from the rule, drew
another from the junk lying on the deck, which the seamen
were working up, and then carefully proceeded to plumb the
well. He hauled it up, and, looking at it for some moments
aghast, exclaimed, " Seven feet water in the hold, by G d !"
If the crew of the Circassian, the whole of which were on
deck, had been struck with an electric shock, the sudden
change of their countenances could not have been greater
than was produced by this appalling intelligence.
Heap upon sailors every disaster, every danger which can
be accumulated from the waves, the wind, the elements, or
the enemy, and they will bear up against them with a
courage amounting to heroism. All that they demand is,
that the one plank " between them and death " is sound, and
they will trust to their own energies, and will be confident
in their own skill : but spring a leak, and they are half para-
lysed ; and if it gain upon them they are subdued ; for when
they find that their exertions are futile, they are little better
than children.
Oswald sprang to the pumps when he heard the carpenter's
report. " Try again, Abel it cannot be : cut away that
line ; hand us here a dry rope-yarn."
Once more the well was sounded by Oswald, and the
result was the same. " We must rig the pumps, my lads,"
said the mate, endeavouring to conceal his own fears ; " half
this water must have found its way in when she was on her
beam-ends."
23
THE PIRATE
This idea, so judiciously thrown out, was caught at by
the seamen, who hastened to obey the order, while Oswald
went down to acquaint the captain, who, worn-out with
watching and fatigue, had, now that danger was considered
to be over, thrown himself into his cot to obtain a few hours'
repose.
" Do you think, Bareth, that we have sprung a leak ? " said
the captain earnestly. " She never could have taken in that
quantity of water."
"Never, sir," replied the mate; "but she has been so
strained, that she may have opened her top-sides. I trust
it is no worse."
" What is your opinion, then ? "
"I am afraid that the wreck of the masts have injured
her ; you may recollect how often we struck against them
before we could clear ourselves of them ; once, particularly,
the mainmast appeared to be right under her bottom, I
recollect, and she struck very heavy on it."
"Well, it is God's will; let us get on deck as .fast as
we can."
When they arrived on deck, the carpenter walked up to
the captain, and quietly said to him, " Seven feet three, sir."
The pumps were then in full action ; the men had divided,
by the direction of the boatswain, and, stripped naked to the
waist, relieved each other every two minutes. For half-an-
hour they laboured incessantly
This was the half-hour of suspense : the great point to be
ascertained was, whether she leaked through the top-sides,
and had taken in the water during the second gale ; if so,
there was every hope of keeping it under. Captain Ingram
and the mate remained in silence near the capstern, the
former with his watch in his hand, during the time that the
sailors exerted themselves to the utmost. It was ten minutes
past seven when the half-hour had expired ; the well was
sounded and the line carefully measured Seven feet six
inches ! So that the water had gained upon them, notwith-
24
THE LEAK
standing that they had plied the pumps to the utmost of
their strength.
A mute look of despair was exchanged among the crew,
but it was followed up by curses and execrations. Captain
Ingram remained silent, with his lips compressed.
" It's all over with us ! " exclaimed one of the men.
" Not yet, my lads ; we have one more chance," said
Oswald. "I've a notion that the ship's sides have been
opened by the infernal straining of last night, and that she
is now taking it in at the top-sides generally ; if so, we have
only to put her before the wind again, and have another good
spell at the pumps. When no longer strained, as she is now
with her broadside to the sea, she will close all up again."
" I shouldn't wonder if Mr. Bareth is not right," replied
the carpenter ; " however, that's my notion, too."
" And mine," added Captain Ingram. " Come, my men !
never say die while there's a shot in the locker. Let's try
her again." And, to encourage the men, Captain Ingram
threw off his coat and assisted at the first spell, while Oswald
went to the helm and put the ship before the wind.
As the Circassian rolled before the gale, the lazy manner
in which she righted proved how much water there was in
the hold. The seamen exerted themselves for a whole hour
without intermission, and the well was again sounded eight
feet/
The men did not assert that they would pump no longer ;
but they too plainly showed their intentions by each resuming
in silence his shirt and jacket, which he had taken off at the
commencement of his exertions.
" What's to be done, Oswald ? " said Captain Ingram, as
they walked aft. " You see the men will pump no longer ;
nor, indeed, would it be of any use. We are doomed."
" The Circassian is, sir, I am afraid," replied the mate :
" pumping is of no avail ; they could not keep her afloat till
daybreak. We must therefore trust to our boats, which I
believe to be all sound, and quit her before night."
25
THE PIRATE
"Crowded boats in such a sea as this !" replied Captain
Ingram, shaking his head mournfully.
" Are bad enough, I grant ; but better than the sea itself.
All we can do now is to try and keep the men sober, and if
we can do so it will be better than to fatigue them uselessly ;
they'll want all their strength before they put foot again
upon dry land if ever they are so fortunate. Shall I speak
to them ? "
" Do, Oswald," replied the captain ; " for myself I care
little, God knows; but my wife my children ! "
" My lads," said Oswald, going forward to the men, who
had waited in moody silence the result of the conference
"as for pumping any Jonger it would be only wearing out
your strength for no good. We must now look to our boats ;
and a good boat is better than a bad ship. Still this gale
and cross-running sea are rather too much for boats at present ;
we had therefore better stick to the ship as long as we can.
Let us set to with a will and get the boats ready, with pro-
visions, water, and what else may be needful, and then we
must trust to God's mercy and our own endeavours."
"No boat can stand this sea," observed one of the men.
" I'm of opinion, as it's to be a short life, it may as well be a
merry one. What d'ye say, my lads ? " continued he, appeal-
ing to the men.
Several of the crew were of the same opinion ; but Oswald,
stepping forward, seized one of the axes which lay at the
main-bits, and going up to the seaman who had spoken, looked
him steadfastly in the face
"Williams," said the mate, "a short life it may be to all of
us, but not a merry one ; the meaning of which I understand
very well. Sorry I shall be to have your blood, or that of
others, on my hands ; but as sure as there's a heaven, I'll
cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts to break
into the spirit-room. You know I never joke. Shame upon
you ! Do you call yourselves men, when, for the sake of a
little liquor now, you would lose your only chance of getting
26
THE LEAK
drunk every day as soon as we get on shore again ? There's
a time for all things ; and I've a notion this is a time to be
sober."
As most of the crew sided with Oswald, the weaker party
were obliged to submit, and the preparations were com-
menced. The two boats on the booms were found to be in
good condition. One party was employed cutting away the
bulwarks, that the boats might be launched over the side, as
there were no means of hoisting them out. The well was
again sounded. Nine feet water in the hold, and the ship
evidently settling fast. Two hours had now passed, and the
gale was not so violent ; the sea, also, which at the change of
wind had been cross, appeared to have recovered its regular
run. All was ready ; the sailors, once at work again, had, in
some measure, recovered their spirits, and were buoyed up
with fresh hopes at the slight change in their favour from
the decrease of the wind. The two boats were quite large
enough to contain the whole of the crew and passengers ; but,
as the sailors said among themselves (proving the kindness of
their hearts), " What was to become of those two poor babbies,
in an open boat for days and nights, perhaps ? " Captain
Ingram had gone down to Mrs. Templemore, to impart to
her their melancholy prospects ; and the mother's heart, as
well as the mother's voice, echoed the words of the seamen,
" What will become of my poor babes ? "
It was not till nearly six o'clock in the evening that all was
ready : the ship was slowly brought to the wind again, and
the boats launched over the side. By this time the gale
was much abated ; but the vessel was full of water, and was
expected soon to go down.
There is no time in which coolness and determination are
more required than in a situation like the one in which we
have attempted to describe. It is impossible to know the
precise moment at which a water-logged vessel, in a heavy
sea, may go down ; and its occupants are in a state of mental
fever, with the idea of their remaining in her so late that
27
THE PIRATE
she will suddenly submerge, and leave them to struggle in
the wave. This feeling actuated many of the crew of the
Circassian, and they had already retreated to the boats. All
was arranged ; Oswald had charge of one boat, and it was
agreed that the larger should receive Mrs. Templemore and
her children, under the protection of Captain Ingram. The
number appointed to Oswald's boat being completed he
shoved off, to make room for the other, and laid to to leeward,
waiting to keep company. Mrs. Templemore came up with
Captain Ingram, and was assisted by him into the boat. The
nurse, with one child, was at last placed by her side ; Coco was
leading Judy, the other nurse, with the remaining infant
in her arms ; and Captain Ingram, who had been obliged
to go into the boat with the first child, was about to return
to assist Judy with the other, when the ship gave a heavy
pitch, and her forecastle was buried in the wave ; at the
same time the gunwale of the boat was stove by coming
in contact with the side of the vessel. " She's down, by
G d ! " exclaimed the alarmed seamen in the boat, shoving
off to escape from the vortex.
Captain Ingram, who was standing on the boat's thwarts
to assist Judy, was thrown back into the bottom of the boat ;
and before he could extricate himself, the boat was separated
from the ship, and had drifted to leeward.
" My child ! " screamed the mother ; " my child ! "
" Pull to again, my lads ! " cried Captain Ingram, seizing
the tiller.
The men, who had been alarmed at the idea that the ship
was going down, now that they saw that she was still afloat,
got out the oars and attempted to regain her, but in vain
they could not make head against the sea and wind. Further
and further did they drift to leeward, notwithstanding their
exertions ; while the frantic mother extended her arms, im-
ploring and entreating. Captain Ingram, who had stimulated
the sailors to the utmost, perceived that further attempts
THE OLD MAID
" My child ! my child ! " screamed Mrs. Templemore,
standing up, and holding out her arms towards the vessel.
At a sign from the captain, the head of the boat was veered
round. The bereaved mother knew that all hope was gone,
and she fell down in a state of insensibility.
CHAPTER V
THE OLD MAID
v/NE morning, shortly after the disasters which we have
described, Mr. Witherington descended to his breakfast-room
somewhat earlier than usual, and found his green morocco
easy-chair already tenanted by no less a personage than
William the footman, who, with his feet on the fender, was
so attentively reading the newspaper that he did not hear his
master's entrance. " By my ancestor, who fought on his
stumps ! but I hope you are quite comfortable, Mr. William ;
nay, I beg I may not disturb you, sir."
William, although as impudent as most of his fraternity,
was a little taken aback : " I beg your pardon, sir, but Mr.
Jonathan had not time to look over the paper."
"Nor is it required that he should, that I know of, sir."
" Mr. Jonathan says, sir, that it is always right to look over
the deaths, that news of that kind may not shock you."
"Very considerate, indeed."
" And there is a story there, sir, about a shipwreck."
" A shipwreck ! where, W 7 illiam ? God bless me ! where
is it?"
" I am afraid it is the same ship you are so anxious about,
sir the 1 forget the name, sir."
Mr. Witherington took the newspaper, and his eye soon
caught the paragraph in which the rescue of the two negroes
and child from the wreck of the Circassian was fully detailed.
" It is indeed ! " exclaimed Mr. Witherington. " My poor
29
THE PIRATE
Cecilia in an open boat ! one of the boats was seen to go
down perhaps she's dead merciful God ! one boy saved.
Mercy on me ! where's Jonathan ? "
" Here, sir," replied Jonathan, very solemnly, who had just
brought in the eggs, and now stood erect as a mute behind
his master's chair, for it was a case of danger, if not of death.
"I must go to Portsmouth immediately after breakfast
shan't eat, though appetite all gone."
" People seldom do, sir, on these melancholy occasions,"
replied Jonathan. " Will you take your own carriage, sir, or
a mourning coach ? "
"A mourning coach at fourteen miles an hour, with two
pair of horses ! Jonathan, you're crazy."
" Will you please to have black silk hatbands and gloves
for the coachman and servants who attend you, sir ? "
" Confound your shop ! no ; this is a resurrection, not a
death : it appears that the negro thinks only one of the boats
went down."
" Mora omnia vincit," quoth Jonathan, casting up his eyes.
" Never you mind that ; mind your own business. That's
the postman's knock see if there are any letters."
There were several ; and amongst the others there was one
from Captain Maxwell, of the Eurydice, detailing the circum-
stances already known, and informing Mr. Witherington that
he had despatched the two negroes and the child to his
address by that day's coach, and that one of the officers, who
was going to town by the same conveyance, would see them
safe to his house.
Captain Maxwell was an old acquaintance of Mr. Wither-
ington had dined at his house in company with the Temple-
mores, and therefore had extracted quite enough information
from the negroes to know where to direct them.
" By the blood of my ancestors ! they'll be here to-night,"
cried Mr. Witherington ; " and I have saved my journey. What
is to be done ? better tell Mary to get rooms ready : d'ye
hear, William ; beds for one little boy and two niggers."
30
THE OLD MAID
" Yes, sir/' replied William ; " but where are the blaci
people to be put ? "
" Put ! I don't care ; one may sleep with cook, the other
with Mary."
" Very well, sir, I'll tell them," replied William, hasten-
ing away, delighted at the row which he anticipated in the
kitchen.
" If you please, sir," observed Jonathan, " one of the negroes
is, I believe, a man."
"Well, what then?"
"Only, sir, the maids may object to sleep with him."
" By all the plagues of the Witheringtons ! this is true ;
well, you may take him, Jonathan you like that colour."
" Not in the dark, sir," replied Jonathan, with a bow.
"Well then, let them sleep together; so that affair is
settled."
"Are they man and wife, sir?" said the butler.
"The devil take them both' how should I know? Let
me have my breakfast, and we'll talk over the matter by-
and-by."
Mr. Witherington applied to his eggs and muffin, eating
his breakfast as fast as he could, without knowing why ; but
the reason was that he was puzzled and perplexed with the
anticipated arrival, and longed to think quietly over the
dilemma, for it was a dilemma to an old bachelor. As soon
as he had swallowed his second cup of tea he put himself
into his easy-chair, in an easy attitude, and was very soon
soliloquising as follows :
" By the blood of the Witheringtons ! what am I, an old
bachelor, to do with a baby, and a wet-nurse as black as
the ace of spades, and another black fellow in the bargain ?
Send him back again ! yes, that's best ? but the child woke
every morning at five o'clock with its squalling obliged to
kiss it three times a day pleasant ! and then that nigger of
a nurse thick lips kissing child all day, and then holding
it out to me ignorant as a cow if child has the stomach-
31
THE PIRATE
ache she'll cram a pepper-pod clown its throat West India
fashion children never without the stomach-ache my poor,
poor cousin ! what has become of her and the other child,
too ? wish they may pick her up, poor dear ! and then she
will come and take care of her own children don't know
what to do great mind to send for sister Moggy but she's
so fussy won't be in a hurry. Think again."
Here Mr. Witherington was interrupted by two taps at
the door.
" Come in," said he ; and the cook, with her face as red as
if she had been dressing a dinner for eighteen, made her
appearance without the usual clean apron.
" If you please, sir," said she, curtseying, " I will thank you
to suit yourself with another cook."
" Oh, very well," replied Mr. Witherington, angry at the
interruption.
"And if you please, sir, I should like to go this very day
indeed, sir, I shall not stay."
" Go to the devil! if you please," replied Mr. Witherington
angrily ; "but first go out and shut the door after you."
The cook retired, and Mr. Witherington was again alone.
" Confound the old woman what a huff she is in ! won't
cook for black people, I suppose yes, that's it."
Here Mr. Witherington was again interrupted by a second
double tap at the door.
"Oh ! thought better of it, I suppose. Come in."
It was not the cook, but Mary, the housemaid, that
entered.
" If you please, sir," said she, whimpering, " I should wish
to leave my situation."
" A conspiracy, by heavens ! Well, you may go."
"To-night, sir, if you please," answered the woman.
" This moment, for all I care ! " exclaimed Mr. Witherington
in his wrath.
The housemaid retired ; and Mr. Witherington took some
time to compose himself.
32
THE OLD MAID
" Servants all going to the devil in this country," said he
at last; "proud fools won't clean rooms after black people,
I suppose yes, that's it, confound them all, black and
white ! here's my whole establishment upset by the arrival
of a baby. Well, it is very uncomfortable what shall I do ?
send for sister Moggy ? no, I'll send for Jonathan."
Mr. Witherington rang the bell, and Jonathan made his
appearance.
" What is all this, Jonathan ? " said he ; " cook angry
Mary crying both going away what's it all about ? "
" Why, sir, they were told by William that it was your
positive order that the two black people were to sleep with
them ; and I believe he told Mary that the man was to sleep
with her."
" Confound that fellow ! he's always at mischief ; you know,
Jonathan, I never meant that."
" I thought not, sir, as it is quite contrary to custom,"
replied Jonathan.
"Well then, tell them so, and let's hear no more about it."
Mr. Witherington then entered into a consultation with
his butler, and acceded to the arrangements proposed by
him. The parties arrived in due time, and were properly
accommodated. Master Edward was not troubled with the
stomach-ache, neither did he wake Mr. Witherington at five
o'clock in the morning ; and, after all, it was not very
uncomfortable. But, although things were not quite so
uncomfortable as Mr. Witherington had anticipated, still they
were not comfortable ; and Mr. Witherington was so annoyed
by continual skirmishes with his servants, complaints from
Judy, in bad English, of the cook, who, it must be owned,
had taken a prejudice against her and Coco, occasional illness
of the child, et ccetera, that he'" found his house no longer
quiet and peaceable. Three months had now nearly passed,
and no tidings of the boats had been received ; and Captain
Maxwell, who came up to see Mr. Witherington, gave it as
his decided opinion that they must have foundered in the
33 c
THE PIRATE
gale. As, therefore, there appeared to be no chance of Mrs.
Templemore coming to take care of her child, Mr. Wither-
ington at last resolved to write to Bath, where his sister
resided, and acquaint her with the whole story, requesting
her to come and superintend his domestic concerns. A few
days afterwards he received the following reply :
"BATH, August.
"Mv DEAR BROTHER ANTONY, Your letter arrived safe to
hand on Wednesday last, and I must say that I was not a
little surprised at its contents; indeed, I thought so much
about it that I revoked at Lady Betty Blabkin's whist-party,
and lost four shillings and sixpence. You say that you have
a child at your house belonging to your cousin, who married
in so indecorous a manner. I hope what you say is true;
but, at the same time, I know what bachelors are guilty of;
although, as Lady Betty says, it is better never to talk or
even to hint about these improper things. I cannot imagine
why men should consider themselves, in an unmarried state,
as absolved from that purity which maidens are so careful to
preserve ; and so says Lady Betty, with whom I had a little
conversation on the subject. As, however, the thing is done,
she agrees with me that it is better to hush it up as well
as we can.
" I presume that you do not intend to make the child your
heir, which I should consider as highly improper; and,
indeed, Lady Betty tells me that the legacy-duty is ten per
cent, and that it cannot be avoided. However, I make it a
rule never to talk about these sort of things. As for your
request that I will come up and superintend your establish-
ment, I have advised with Lady Betty on the subject, and
she agrees with me that, for. the honour of the family, it is
better that I should come, as it will save appearances. You
are in a peck of troubles, as most men are who are free-livers,
and are led astray by artful and alluring females. However,
as Lady Betty says, ' the least said, the soonest mended,'
34,
THE OLD MAID
" I will, therefore, make the necessary arrangements for
letting my house, and hope to join you in about ten days ;
sooner, I cannot, as I find that my engagements extend to
that period. Many questions have already been put to me
on this unpleasant subject ; but I always give but one answer,
which is, that bachelors will be bachelors ! and that, at all
events, it is not so bad as if you were a married man : for I
make it a rule never to talk about, or even to hint about
these sort of things, for, as Lad}' Betty says, ' Men will get
into scrapes, and the sooner things are hushed up the better.'
So no more at present from your affectionate sister,
" MARGARET WITHERINGTON.
" P.S. Lady Betty and I both agree that you are very
right in hiring two black people to bring the child into your
house, as it makes the thing look foreign to the neighbours,
and we can keep our own secrets. M. W."
" Now, by all the sins of the Witheringtons, if this is not
enough to drive a man out of his senses ! Confound the
suspicious old maid ! I'll not let her come into this house.
Confound Lady Betty, and all scandal-loving old tabbies like
her ! Bless me ! " continued Mr. Witherington, throwing the
letter on the table, with a deep sigh, " this is anything but
comfortable."
But if Mr. Witherington found it anything but comfort-
able at the commencement, he found it unbearable in the
sequel.
His sister Moggy arrived, and installed herself in the house
with all the pomp and protecting air of one who was the
saviour of her brother's reputation and character. When the
child was first brought down to her, instead of perceiving at
once its likeness to Mr. Templemore, which was very strong,
she looked at it and at her brother's face with her only eye,
and shaking her finger, exclaimed
" Oh, Antony ! Antony ! and did you expect to deceive
35
THE PIRATE
me ? the nose the mouth exact Antony, for shame ! fie,
for shame ! "
But we must hurry over the misery that Mr. Withering-
ton's kindness and benevolence brought upon him. Not a
day passed scarcely an hour, without his ears being galled
with his sister's insinuations. Judy and Coco were sent back
to America ; the servants, who had remained so long in his
service, gave warning one by one, and, afterwards, were
changed as often almost as there was a change in the moon.
She ruled the house and her brother despotically ; and all
poor Mr. Witherington's comfort was gone until the time
arrived when Master Edward was to be sent to school. Mr.
Witherington then plucked up courage, and after a few
stormy months drove his sister back to Bath, and once more
found himself comfortable.
Edward came home during the holidays, anil was a great
favourite ; but the idea had become current that he was the
son of the old gentleman, and the remarks made were so
unpleasant and grating to him, that he was not sorry, much
as he was attached to the boy, when he declared his inten-
tion to choose the profession of a sailor.
Captain Maxwell introduced him into the service ; and
afterwards, when, in consequence of ill-health and exhaustion,
he was himself obliged to leave it for a time, he procured for
his protege other ships. We must, therefore, allow some years
to pass away, during which time Edward Templemore pursues
his career, Mr. Witherington grows older and more particular,
and his sister Moggy amuses herself with Lady Betty's re-
marks, and her darling game of whist.
During all this period no tidings of the boats, or of Mrs.
Templemore and her infant, had been heard ; it was there-
fore naturally conjectured that they had all perished, and
they were remembered but as things that had been.
THE MIDSHIPMAN
CHAPTER VI
THE MIDSHIPMAN
JL HE weather-side of the quarter-deck of H.M. frigate
Unicorn was occupied by two very great personages : Captain
Plumbton, commanding the ship, who was very great in width
if not in height, taking much more than his allowance of the
deck, if it were not that he was the proprietor thereof, and
entitled to the lion's share. Captain P. was not more than
four feet ten inches in height; but then he was equal to that
in girth : there was quite enough of him, if he had only been
rolled out. He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs
stuck into the arm-holes of his waistcoat, so as to throw his
shoulders back and increase his horizontal dimensions. He
also held his head well aft, which threw his chest and stomach
well forward. He was the prototype of pomposity and good-
nature, and he strutted like an actor in a procession.
The other personage was the first lieutenant, whom Nature
had pleased to fashion in another mould. He was as tall as
the captain was short as thin as his superior was corpulent.
His long, lanky legs were nearly up to the captain's shoulders;
and he bowed down over the head of his superior, as if he
were the crane to hoist up, and the captain the bale of goods
to be hoisted. He carried his hands behind his back, with
two fingers twisted together ; and his chief difficulty appeared
to be to reduce his own stride to the parrot march of the
captain. His features were sharp and lean as was his body,
and wore every appearance of a cross-grained temper.
He had been making divers complaints of divers persons,
and the captain had hitherto appeared imperturbable. Cap-
tain Plumbton was an even-tempered man, who was satisfied
with a good dinner. Lieutenant Markitall was an odd-
tempered man, who would quarrel with his bread and
butter.
37
THE PIRATE
" Quite impossible, sir/' continued the first lieutenant, " to
carry on the duty without support."
This oracular observation, which, from the relative forms
of the two parties, descended as it were from above, was
replied to by the captain with a " Very true."
"Then, sir, I presume you will not object to my putting
that man in the report for punishment ? "
" I'll think about it, Mr. Markitall." This, with Captain
Plumbton, was as much as to say, No.
" The young gentlemen, sir, I am sorry to say, are very
troublesome."
" Boys always are," replied the captain.
" Yes, sir ; but the duty must be carried on, and I cannot
do without them."
"Very true midshipmen are very useful."
" But I'm sorry to say, sir, that they are not. Now, sir,
there's Mr. Templemore ; I can do nothing with him he
does nothing but laugh."
" Laugh ! Mr. Markitall, does he laugh at you ? "
" Not exactly, sir ; but he laughs at everything. If I send
him to the mast-head, he goes up laughing ; if I call him
down, he comes down laughing ; if I find fault with him, he
laughs the next minute : in fact, sir, he does nothing but
laugh. I should particularly wish, sir, that you would speak
to him, and see if any interference on your part "
" Would make him cry eh ? better to laugh than cry in
this world. Does he never cry, Mr. Markitall ? "
" Yes, sir, and very unseasonably. The other day, you
may recollect, when you punished Wilson the marine, whom
I appointed to take care of his chest and hammock, he was
crying the whole time ; almost tantamount at least an in-
direct species of mutiny on his part, as it implied "
" That the boy was sorry that his servant was punished ; I
never flog a man but I'm sorry myself, Mr. Markitall."
" Well, I do not press the question of his crying that I
might look over ; but his laughing, sir, I must beg that you
38
THE MIDSHIPMAN
will take notice of that. Here he is, sir,, coming up the hatch-
way. Mr. Templemore, the captain wishes to speak to you."
Now, the captain did not wish to speak to him, but, forced
upon him as it was by the first lieutenant, he could do 110 less.
So Mr. Templemore touched his hat, and stood before the
captain, we regret to say, with such a good-humoured, sly,
confiding smirk on his countenance, as at once established
the proof of the accusation, and the enormity of the offence.
" So, sir," said Captain Plumbton, stopping in his peram-
bulation, and squaring his shoulders still more, " I find that
you laugh at the first lieutenant."
" I, sir ? " replied the boy, the smirk expanding into a
broad grin.
" Yes ; you, sir," said the fii'st lieutenant, now drawing up
to his full height ; " why, you're laughing now, sir."
" I can't help it, sir it's not my fault ; and I'm sure it's
not yours, sir," added the boy demurely.
"Are you aware, Edward Mr. Templemore, I mean of
the impropriety of disrespect to your superior officer ? "
" I never laughed at Mr. Markitall but once, sir, that I can
recollect, and that was when he tumbled over the messenger."
" And why did you laugh at him then, sir ? "
" I always do laugh when any one tumbles down," replied
the- lad ; " I can't help it, sir."
" Then, sir, I suppose you would laugh if you saw me
rolling in the lee-scuppers ? " said the captain.
" Oh ! " replied the boy, no longer able to contain himself,
'' I'm sure I should burst myself with laughing I think I
see you now, sir."
" Do you, indeed ! I'm very glad that you do not ; though
I'm afraid, young gentleman, you stand convicted by your
uwn confession."
' ' Yes, sir, for laughing, if that is any crime ; but it's not in
the Articles of War."
" No, sir ; but disrespect is. You laugh when you go to
: he mast-head."
THE PIRATE
" But I obey the order, sir, immediately do I not, Mr.
Markitall?"
" Yes, sir, you obey the order ; but, at the same time, your
laughing proves that you do not mind the punishment."
" No more I do, sir. I spend half my time at the mast-
head, and I'm used to it now."
" But, Mr. Templemore, ought you not to feel the disgrace
of the punishment ? " inquired the captain severely.
"Yes, sir, if I felt I deserved it I should. I should not
laugh, sir, if you sent me to the mast-head," replied the boy,
assuming a serious countenance.
" You see, Mr. Markitall, that he can be grave," observed
the captain.
" I've tried all I can to make him so, sir," replied the first
lieutenant ; " but I wish to ask Mr. Templemore what he
means to imply by saying, ' when he deserves it.' Does he
mean to say that I have ever punished him unjustly ?"
" Yes, sir," replied the boy boldly ; " five times out of six
I am mast-headed for nothing and that's the reason why
I do not mind it."
" For nothing, sir ! Do you call laughing nothing ? "
t( I pay every attention that I can to my duty, sir ; I
always obey your orders ; I try all I can to make you pleased
with me but you are always punishing me."
" Yes, sir, for laughing, and, what is worse, making the
ship's company laugh."
"They 'haul and hold' just the same, sir I think they
work all the better for being merry."
" And pray, sir, what business have you to think ? " replied
the first lieutenant, now very angry. "Captain Plumbton,
as this young gentleman thinks proper to interfere with me
and the discipline of the ship, I beg you will see what effect
your punishing may have upon him."
"Mr. Templemore," said the captain, "you are, in the
first place, too free in your speech, and, in the next place,
too fond of laughing. There is, Mr. Templemore, a time for
40
THE MIDSHIPMAN
all things a time to be merry, and a time to be serious.
The quarter-deck is not the fit place for mirth."
"I'm sure the gangway is not," shrewdly interrupted
the boy.
" No you are right, nor the gangway ; but you may laugh
on the forecastle, and when below with your messmates."
" No, sir, we may not ; Mr. Markitall always sends out if
he hears us laughing."
" Because, Mr. Templemore, you're always laughing."
" I believe I am, sir ; and if it's wrong I'm sorry to dis-
please you, but I mean no disrespect. I laugh in my sleep
I laugh when I awake I laugh when the sun shines I
always feel so happy ; but though you do mast-head me,
Mr. Markitall, I should not laugh, but be very sorry, if any
misfortune happened to you."
" I believe you would, boy I do indeed, Mr. Markitall,"
said the captain.
' s\ ell, sir," replied the first lieutenant, "as Mr. Temple-
more appears to be aware of his error, I do not wish to press
my complaint I have only to request that he will never
laugh again."
" You hear, boy, what the first lieutenant says ; it's very
reasonable, and I beg I may hear no more complaints. Mr.
Markitall, let me know when the foot of that foretopsail
will be repaired I should like to shift it to-night."
Mr. Markitall went down under the half-deck to make
the inquiry.
"And, Edward," said Captain Plumbton, as soon as the
lieutenant was out of ear-shot, " I have a good deal more to
say to you upon this subject, but I have no time now. So
come and dine with me at my table, you know, I allow
laughing in moderation."
The boy touched his hat, and with a grateful, happy
countenance, walked away.
We have introduced this little scene, that the reader may
form some idea of the character of Edward Templemore
41
THE PIRATE
He was indeed the soul of mirth, good-humour, and kindly
feelings towards others ; he even felt kindly towards the first
lieutenant, who persecuted him for his risible propensities.
We do not say that the boy was right in laughing at all
times, or that the first lieutenant was wrong in attempting
to check it. As the captain said, there is a time for all
things, and Edward's laugh was not always seasonable; but
it was his nature, and he could not help it. He was joyous
as the May morning ; and thus he continued for years,
laughing at everything pleased with everybody almost
universally liked and his bold, free, and happy spirit un-
checked by vicissitude or hardship.
He served his time was nearly turned back when he was
passing his examination for laughing, and then went laughing
to sea again was in command of a boat at the cutting-out of
a French corvette, and when on board was so much amused
by the little French captain skipping about with his rapier,
which proved fatal to many, that at last he received a pink
from the little gentleman himself, which laid him on deck.
For this affair, and in consideration of his wound, he obtained
his promotion to the rank of lieutenant was appointed to
a line-of-battle ship in the West Indies laughed at the
yellow fever was appointed to the tender of that ship, a
fine schooner, and was sent to cruise for prize-money for
the admiral, and promotion for himself, if he could, by any
fortunate encounter, be so lucky as to obtain it
CHAPTER VII
SLEEPER'S BAY
the western coast of Africa there is a small bay, which
has received more than one name from its occasional visitors.
That by which it was designated by the adventurous Portu-
guese, who first dared to cleave the waves of the Southern
42
SLEEPER'S BAY
Atlantic, has been forgotten with their lost maritime pre-
eminence ; the name allotted to it by the woolly-headed
natives of the coast has never, perhaps, been ascertained ; it
is, however, marked down in some of the old English charts
as Sleeper's Bay.
The mainland which, by its curvature, has formed this
little dent, on a coast possessing, and certainly at present
requiring few harbours, displays, perhaps, the least inviting
of all prospects ; offering to the view nothing but a shelving
beach of dazzling white sand, backed with a few small
hummocks beat up by the occasional fury of the Atlantic
gales arid, bare, and without the slightest appearance of
vegetable life. The inland prospect is shrouded over by
a dense mirage, through which here and there are to be dis-
covered the stems of a few distant palm-trees, so broken and
disjoined by refraction that they present to the imagination
anything but the idea of foliage or shade. The water in the
bay is calm and smooth as the polished mirror ; not the
smallest ripple is to be heard on the beach, to break through
the silence of nature ; not a breath of air sweeps over its
glassy surface, which is heated with the intense rays of a
vertical noonday sun, pouring down a withering flood of light
and heat ; not a sea-bird is to be discovered wheeling on its
flight, or balancing on its wings as it pierces the deep with
its searching eye, ready to dart upon its prey. All is silence,
solitude, and desolation, save that occasionally may be seen
the fin of some huge shark, either sluggishly moving through
the heated element, or stationary in the torpor of the mid-
day heat. A sight so sterile, so stagnant, so little adapted to
human life, cannot well be conceived, unless, by flying to
extremes, we were to portray the chilling blast, the trans-
fixing cold, and " close-ribbed ice " at the frozen poles.
At the entrance of this bay, in about three fathoms water,
heedless of the spring cable which hung down as a rope
which had fallen overboard, there floated, motionless as death,
a vessel whose proportions would have challenged the unani-
43
THE PIRATE
mous admiration of those who could appreciate the merits of
her build, had she been anchored in the most frequented and
busy harbour of the universe. So beautiful were her lines,
that you might almost have imagined her a created being
that the ocean had been ordered to receive, as if fashioned
by the Divine Architect, to add to the beauty and variety of
His works ; for, from the huge leviathan to the smallest of
the finny tribe from the towering albatross to the boding
petrel of the storm where could be found, among the
winged or finned frequenters of the ocean, a form more
appropriate, more fitting, than this specimen of human skill,
whose beautiful model and elegant tapering spars were now
all that could be discovered to break the meeting lines of
the firmament and horizon of the offing.
Alas ! she was fashioned, at the will of avarice, for the aid
of cruelty and injustice, and now was even more nefariously
employed. She had been a slaver she was now the far-
famed, still more dreaded, pirate schooner, the Avenger.
Not a man-of-war which scoured the deep but had her
instructions relative to this vessel, which had been so success-
ful in her career of crime not a trader in any portion of the
navigable globe but whose crew shuddered at the mention of
her name, and the remembrance of the atrocities which had
been practised by her reckless crew. She had been every-
where in the east, the west, the north, and the south,
leaving a track behind her of rapine and of murder. There
she lay in motionless beauty, her low sides were painted
black, with one small, narrow riband of red her raking
masts were clean scraped her topmasts, her cross-trees,
caps, and even running-blocks, were painted in pure white.
Awnings were spread fore and aft to protect the crew from
the powerful rays of the sun ; her ropes were hauled taut ;
and in every point she wore the appearance of being under
the control of seamanship and strict discipline. Through the
clear smooth water her copper shone brightly ; and as you
looked over her taffrail down into the calm blue sea, you
44
SLEEPER'S BAY
could plainly discover the sandy bottom beneath her, and the
anchor which then lay under her counter. A small boat
floated astern, the weight of the rope which attached her
appearing, in the perfect calm, to draw her towards the
schooner.
We must now go on board, and our first cause of surprise
will be the deception relative to the tonnage of the schooner,
when viewed from a distance. Instead of a small vessel of
about ninety tons, we discover that she is upwards of two
hundred ; that her breadth of beam is enormous ; and th;;t
those spars, which appeared so light and elegant, are of
unexpected dimensions. Her decks are of narrow fir planks,
without the least spring or rise ; her ropes are of Manilla
hemp, neatly secured to copper belay ing-pins, and coiled
down on the deck, whose whiteness is well contrasted with
the bright green paint of her bulwarks : her capstern and
binnacles are cased in fluted mahogany, and ornamented
with brass ; metal stanchions protect the skylights, and the
bright muskets are arranged in front of the mainmast, while
the boarding-pikes are lashed round the mainboom.
In the centre of the vessel, between the fore and main
masts, there is a long brass 32-pounder fixed upon a carriage
revolving in a circle, and so arranged that in bad weather it
can be lowered down and housed; while on each side of her
decks are mounted eight brass guns of smaller calibre and
of exquisite workmanship. Her build proves the skill of
the architect; her fitting-out, a judgment in which nought
has been sacrificed to, although everything has been directed
by, taste ; and her neatness and arrangement, that, in the
person of her commander, to the strictest discipline there is
united the practical knowledge of a thorough seaman. How,
indeed, otherwise could she have so long continued her
lawless yet successful career? How could it have been
possible to unite a crew of miscreants, who feared not God
nor man, most of whom had perpetrated foul murders, or had
been guilty of even blacker iniquities ? It was because he
THE PIRATE
who commanded the vessel was so superior as to find in her
no rivalry. Superior in talent, in knowledge of his profes-
sion, in courage, and, moreover, in physical strength which
in him was almost herculean unfortunately he was also
superior to all in villainy, in cruelty, and contempt of all
injunctions, moral and Divine.
What had been the ' early life of this person was but im-
perfectly known. It was undoubted that he had received an
excellent education, arid it was said that he was of an ancient
border family on the banks of the Tweed : by what chances
he had become a pirate by what errors he had fallen from
his station in society, until he became an outcast, had never
been revealed ; it was only known that he had been some
years employed in the slave-trade previous to his seizing this
vessel and commencing his reckless career. The name by
which he was known to the crew of the pirate vessel was
" Cain," and well had he chosen this appellation ; for, had
not his hand for more than three years been against every
man's, and every man's hand against his ? In person he was
about six feet high, with a breadth of shoulders and of chest
denoting the utmost of physical force which, perhaps, has
ever been allotted to man. His features would have been
handsome had they not been scarred with wounds ; and,
strange to say, his eye was mild and of a soft blue. His
mouth was well formed, and his teeth of a pearly white ; the
hair of his head was crisp and wavy, and his beard, which he
wore, as did every person composing the crew of the pirate,
covered the lower part of his face in strong, waving, and
continued curls. The proportions of his body were perfect ;
but from their vastness they became almost terrific. His
costume was elegant, and well adapted to his form; linen
trousers, and untanned yellow leather boots, such as are
made at the Western Isles ; a broad-striped cotton shirt ; a
red Cashmere shawl round his waist as a sash ; a vest em-
broidered in gold tissue, with a jacket of dark velvet, and
pendent gold buttons, hanging over his left shoulder, after
46
SLEEPER'S BAY
the fashion of the Mediterranean seamen ; a round Turkish
skull-cap, handsomely embroidered, a pair of pistols, and a
long knife in his sash, completed his attire.
The crew consisted in all of 165 men, of almost every
nation ; but it was to be remarked that all those in authority
were either Englishmen or from the northern countries ; the
others were chiefly Spaniards and Maltese. Still there were
Portuguese, Brazilians, negroes, and othei's, who made up the
complement, which at the time we now speak of was increased
by twenty-five additional hands. These were Kroumen, a
race of blacks well knoAvn at present, who inhabit the coast
near Cape Palmas, and are often employed by our men-of-war
stationed on the coast to relieve the English seamen from
duties which would be too severe to those who were not
inured to the climate. They are powerful, athletic men,
good sailors, of a happy, merry disposition, and, unlike other
Africans, will work hard. Fond of the English, they generally
speak the language sufficiently to be understood, and are very
glad to receive a baptism when they come on board. The
name first given them they usually adhere to as long as they
live ; and you will now on the coast meet with a Blucher,
a Wellington, a Nelson, &c., who will wring swabs, or do
any other of the meanest description of work, without feeling
that it is discreditable to sponsorials so grand.
It is not to be supposed that these men had voluntarily
come on board of the pirate ; they had been employed in
some British vessels trading on the coast, and had been taken
out of them when the vessels were burnt, and the Europeans
of the crews murdered. They had received a promise of
reward, if they did their duty ; but, not expecting it, they
waited for the earliest opportunity to make their escape.
The captain of the schooner is abaft with his glass in his
hand, occasionally sweeping the offing in expectation of a
vessel heaving in sight ; the officers and crew are lying down,
or lounging listlessly about the decks, panting with the
extreme heat, arid impatiently waiting for the sea-breeze to
47
THE PIRATE
fan their parched foreheads. With their rough beards and
exposed chests, and their weather-beaten fierce countenances,
they form a group which is terrible even in repose.
We must now descend into the cabin of the schooner.
The fittings-up of this apartment are simple : on each side is
a standing bed-place ; against the after bulkhead is a large
buffet, originally intended for glass and china, but now loaded
with silver and gold vessels of every size and description,
collected by the pirate from the different ships which he had
plundered ; the lamps are also of silver, and evidently had
been intended to ornament the shrine of some Catholic saint.
In this cabin there are two individuals, to whom we shall
now direct the reader's attention. The one is a pleasant-
countenanced, good-humoured Krouman, who had been
christened " Pompey the Great " ; most probably on account
of his large proportions. He wears a pair of duck trousers;
the rest of his body is naked, and presents a sleek, glossy
skin, covering muscles which an anatomist or a sculptor would
have viewed with admiration. The other is a youth of
eighteen, or thereabouts, with an intelligent, handsome coun-
tenance, evidently of European blood. There is, however,
an habitually mournful cast upon his features ; he is dressed
much in the same way as we have described the captain, but
the costume hangs more gracefully upon his slender, yet
well-formed limbs. He is seated on a sofa, fixed in the fore
part of the cabin, with a book in his hand, which occasionally
he refers to, and then lifts his eyes from, to watch the
motions of the Krouman, who is busy in the office of steward,
arranging and cleaning the costly articles in the buffet.
" Massa Francisco, dis really fine ting," said Pompey, hold-
ing up a splendidly embossed tankard, which he had been
rubbing.
"Yes," replied Francisco gravely ; "it is indeed, Pompey."
" How Captain Cain come by dis ? "
Francisco shook his head, and Pompey put his finger up to
his mouth, his eyes, full of meaning, fixed upon Francisco.
48
SLEEPER'S BAY
At this moment the personage referred to was heard
descending the companion-ladder. Pompey recommenced
rubbing the silver, and Francisco dropped his eyes upon the
book.
What was the tie which appeared to bind the captain to
this lad was not known ; but, as the latter had always ac-
companied, and lived together with him, it was generally
supposed that he was the captain's son ; and he was as often
designated by the crew as young Cain as he was by his
Christian name of Francisco. Still it was observed that
latterly they had frequently been heard in altercation,
and that the captain was very suspicious of Francisco's
movements.
" I beg I may not interrupt your conversation," said Cain,
on entering the cabin ; " the information you may obtain
from a Krouman must be very important."
Francisco made no reply, but appeared to be reading his
book. Cain's eyes passed from one to the other, as if to read
their thoughts.
" Pray what were you saying, Mr. Pompey ? "
" Me say, Massa Captain ? me only tell young M ssa dis
very fine ting ; ask where you get him Massa Francisco no
tell."
" And what might it be to you, you black scoundrel ? "
cried the captain, seizing the goblet, and striking the man
with it a blow on the head which flattened the vessel, and
at the same time felled the Krouman, powerful as he was,
to the deck. The blood streamed, as the man slowly rose,
stupefied and trembling from the violent concussion. With-
out saying a word, he staggered out of the cabin, and Cain
threw himself on one of the lockers in front of the standing
bed-place, saying, with a bitter smile, " So much for your
intimates, Francisco ! "
"Rather, so much for your cruelty and injustice towards
an unoffending man," replied Francisco, laying his book on
the table. " His question was an innocent one for he
49 D
THE PIRATE
knew not the particulars connected with the obtaining of
that flagon."
" And you, I presume, do not forget them ? Well, be it
so, young man ; but I warn you again as I have warned you
often nothing but the remembrance of your mother has
prevented me, long before this, from throwing your body
to the sharks."
" What influence my mother's memory may have over you,
I know not ; I only regret that, in any way, she had the
misfortune to be connected with you."
"She had the influence," replied Cain, "which a woman
must have over a man when they have for years swung in
the same cot ; but that is wearing off fast. I tell you so
candidly ; I will not even allow her memory to check me,
if I find you continue your late course. You have shown
disaffection before the crew you have disputed my orders
and I have every reason to believe that you are now plotting
against me."
"Can I do otherwise than show my abhorrence," replied
Francisco, "when I witness such acts of horror, of cruelty
cold-blooded cruelty, as lately have been perpetrated ? Why
do you bring me here ? and why do you now detain me ? All
I ask is, that you will allow me to leave the vessel. You are
not my father ; you have told me so."
" No, I am not your father ; but you are your mother's
son."
" That gives you no right to have power over me, even if
you had been married to my mother; which "
" I was not."
" I thank God ; for marriage with you would have been
even greater disgrace."
" What ! " cried Cain, starting up, seizing the young man
by the neck, and lifting him off his seat as if he had been a
puppej ; "but no I cannot forget your mother." Cain re-
leased Francisco, and resumed his seat on the locker.
"As you please," said Francisco, as soon as he had re-
50
SLEEPER'S BAY
covered himself; "it matters little whether I am brained by
your own hand, or launched overboard as a meal for the
sharks ; it will be but one more murder."
" Mad fool ! why do you tempt me thus ? " replied Cain,
.again starting up, and hastily quitting the cabin.
The altercation which we have just described was not
unheard on deck, as the doors of the cabin were open, and
the skylight removed to admit the air. The face of Cain
was flushed as he ascended the ladder. He perceived his
chief mate standing by the hatchway, and many of the men,
who had been slumbering abaft, with their heads raised on
their elbows, as if they had been listening to the conversation
below.
" It will never do, sir," said Hawkhurst, the mate, shaking
his head.
" No," replied the captain ; " not if he were my own son.
But what is to be done ? he knows no fear."
Hawkhurst pointed to the entering port.
" When I ask your advice, you may give it," said the
captain, turning gloomily away.
In the meantime, Francisco paced the cabin in deep
thought. Young as he was, he was indifferent to death ; for
he had no tie to render life precious. He remembered his
mother, but not her demise ; that had been concealed from
him. At the age of seven he had sailed with Cain in a
slaver, and had ever since continued with him. Until lately,
he had been led to suppose that the captain was his father.
During the years that he had been in the slave-trade, Cain
had devoted much time to his education ; it so happened
that the only book which could be found on board of the
vessel, when Cain first commenced teaching, was a Bible
belonging to Francisco's mother. Out of this book he learned
to read ; and, as his education advanced, other books were
procured. It may appear strange that the very traffic in
which his reputed father was engaged did not corrupt the
bov's mind ; but, accustomed to it from his infancy, he had
THE PIRATE
considered these negroes as another species an idea fully
warranted by the cruelty of the Europeans towards them.
There are some dispositions so naturally kind and in-
genuous that even example and evil contact cannot debase
them : such was the disposition of Francisco. As he gained .
in years and knowledge, he thought more and more for him-
self, and had already become disgusted with the cruelties
practised upon the unfortunate negroes, when the slave-
vessel was seized upon by Cain and converted into a pirate.
At first, the enormities committed had not been so great ;
vessels had been seized and plundered, but life had been
spared. In the course of crime, however, the descent is rapid :
and as, from information given by those who had been released,
the schooner was more than once in danger of being captured,
latterly no lives had been spared ; and but too often the
murders had been attended with deeds even more atrocious.
Francisco had witnessed scenes of horror until his young
blood curdled : he had expostulated to save, but in vain.
Disgusted with the captain and the crew, and their deeds of
cruelty, he had latterly expressed his opinions fearlessly, and
defied the captain ; for, in the heat of an altercation, Cain
had acknowledged that Francisco was not his son.
Had any of the crew or officers expressed but a tithe of
what had fallen from the bold lips of Francisco, they would
have long before paid the forfeit of their temerity ; but
there was a feeling towards Francisco which could not be
stifled in the breast of Cain it was the feeling of association
and habit. The boy had been his companion for years ; and
from assuetude had become, as it were, a part of himself.
There is a principle in our nature which, even when that
nature is most debased, will never leave us that of requiring
something to love, something to protect and watch over : it
is shown towards a dog, or any other animal, if it cannot be
lavished upon one of our own species. Such was. the feeling
which so forcibly held Cain towards Francisco ; such was the
feeling which had hitherto saved his life.
52
THE ATTACK
After having paced up and down for some time, the youth
took his seat on the locker which the captain had quitted :
his eye soon caught the head of Pompey, who looked into the
cabin and beckoned with his finger.
Francisco rose, and, taking up a flagon from the buffet
which contained some spirits, walked to the door, and, with-
out saying a word, handed it to the Krouman.
" Massa Francisco," whispered Pompey, " Pompey say all
Kroumen say suppose they nm away, you go too ? Pompey
say all Kroumen say suppose they try to kill you ? Xebber
kill you while one Krouman alive."
The negro then gently pushed Francisco back with his
hand, as if not wishing to hear his answer, and hastened for-
ward on the berth deck.
CHAPTER VIII
THE ATTACK
IN the meantime, the sea-breeze had risen in the offing, and
was sweeping along the surface to where the schooner was
at anchor. The captain ordered a man to the cross-trees,
directing him to keep a good look-out, while he walked the
deck in company with his first mate.
"She may not have sailed until a day or two later," said
the captain, continuing the conversation ; " I have made
allowance for that, and depend upon it, as she makes the
eastern passage, we must soon fall in with her ; if she does
not heave in sight this evening by daylight, I shall stretch
out in the offing ; I know the Portuguese well. The sea-
breeze has caught our craft ; let them run up the inner jib,
and see that she does not foul her anchor."
It was now late in the afternoon, and dinner had been
sent into the cabin ; the captain descended, and took his
seat at the table with Francisco, who ate in silence. Once
53
THE PIRATE
or twice the captain, whose wrath had subsided, and whose
kindly feelings towards Francisco, checked for a time, had
returned with greater force, tried, but in vain, to rally him
into conversation, when " Sail ho ! " was shouted from the
mast-head.
"There she is, by G d!" cried the captain, jumping
from, and then, as if checking himself, immediately resuming,
his seat.
Francisco put his hand 'to his forehead, covering his eyes
as his elbow leant upon the table.
" A large ship, sir ; we can see down to the second reef
of her topsails," said Hawkhurst, looking down the skylight.
The captain hastily swallowed some wine from a flagon,
cast a look of scorn and anger upon Francisco, and rushed
on deck.
" Be smart, lads ! " cried the captain, after a few seconds'
survey of the vessel through his glass ; " that's her : furl
the awnings, and run the anchor up to the bows : there's
more silver in that vessel, my lads, than your chests will
hold ; and the good saints of the churches at Goa will have
to wait a little longer for their gold candlesticks."
The crew were immediately on the alert ; the awnings
were furled, and all the men, stretching aft the spring cable,
walked the anchor up to the bows. In two minutes more
the Avenger was standing out on the starboard tack, shaping
her course so as to cut off the ill-fated vessel. The breeze
freshened, and the schooner darted through the smooth
water with the impetuosity of a dolphin after its prey. In
an hour the hull of the ship was plainly to be distinguished ;
but the sun was near to the horizon, and before they could
ascertain what their force might be, daylight had disappeared.
Whether the schooner had been perceived or not, it was
impossible to say ; at all events, the cou'rse of the ship had
not been altered, and if she had seen the schooner, she
evidently treated her with contempt. On board the Avenger,
they were not idle ; the long gun in the centre had been
M
THE ATTACK
cleared from the incumbrances which surrounded it, the
other guns had been cast loose, shot handed up. and every-
thing prepared for action, with all the energy and discipline
of a man-of-war. The chase had not been lost sight of, and
the eyes of the pirate captain were fixed upon her through
a night-glass. In about an hour more the schooner was
within a mile of the ship, and now altered her course so
as to range up within a cable's length of her to leeward.
Cain stood upon the gunwale and hailed. The answer was
in Portuguese.
" Heave to, or I'll sink you ! " replied he in the same
language.
A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and
a heavy volley of muskets from the Portuguese, was the
decided answer. The broadside, too much elevated to hit
the low hull of the schooner, was still not without effect
the foretopmast fell, the jaws of the main-gaff were severed,
and a large proportion of the standing as well as the running
rigging came rattling down on her decks. The volley of
musketry was more fatal : thirteen of the pirates were
wounded, some of them severely.
" Well done, John Portuguese ! " cried Hawkhurst ; " by
the holy poker ! I never gave you credit for so much pluck."
" Which they shall dearly pay for," was the cool reply of
Cain, as he still remained in his exposed situation.
" Blood for blood ! if I drink it," observed the second mate,
as he looked at the crimson rivulet trickling down the fingers
of his left hand from a wound in his arm "just tie my hand-
kerchief round this, Bill."
In the interim, Cain had desired his crew to elevate their
guns, and the broadside was returned.
" That will do, my lads : starboard ; ease off the boomsheet ;
let her go right round, Hawkhurst we cannot afford to lose
our men."
The schooner wore round, and ran astern of her opponent.
The Portuguese on board the ship, imagining that the
55
THE PIRATE
schooner, finding she had met with unexpected resistance,
had sheered off, gave a loud cheer.
" The last you will ever give, my fine fellows ! " observed
Cain, with a sneer.
In a few moments the schooner had run a mile astern of
the ship.
" Now then, Hawkhurst, let her come to and about ; man
the long gun, and see that every shot is pitched into her,
while the rest of them get up a new foretopmast, and knot
and splice the rigging."
The schooner's head was again turned towards the ship ;
her position was right astern, about a mile distant or rather
more ; the long 32-pounder gun amidships was now regularly
served, every shot passing through the cabin windows, or
some other part of the ship's stern, raking her fore and aft.
In vain did the ship alter her course, and present her broad-
side to the schooner ; the latter was immediately checked in
her speed, so as to keep the prescribed distance at which the
carronades of the ship were useless, and the execution from
the long gun decisive. The ship was at the mercy of the
pirate ; and, as may be expected, no mercy was shown. For
three hours did this murderous attack continue, when the
gun, which, as before observed, was of brass, became so heated
that the pirate captain desired his men to discontinue.
Whether the ship had surrendered or not it was impossible
to say, as it was too dark to distinguish : while the long gun
was served, the foretopmast and main-gaff had been shifted,
and all the standing and running rigging made good ; the
schooner keeping her distance, and following in the wake of
the ship until daylight.
We must now repair on board of the ship : she was an
Indiaman ; one of the very few that occasionally are sent out
by the Portuguese government to a country which once
owned their undivided sway, but in which, at present, they
hold but a few miles of territory. She was bound to Goa,
and had on board a small detachment of troops, a new
56
THE ATTACK
governor and his two sons, a bishop and his niece, with her
attendant. The sailing of a vessel with such a freight was
a circumstance of rare occurrence, and was, of course, generally
bruited about long before her departure. Cain had, for some
months, received all the necessary intelligence relative to her
cargo and destination ; but, as usual with the Portuguese of
the present day, delay upon delay had followed, and it was
not until about three weeks previous that he had been assured
of her immediate departure. He then ran down the coast
to the bay we have mentioned that he might intercept her ;
and, as the event had proved, showed his usual judgment and
decision. The fire of the schooner had been most destructive ;
many of the Indiaman's crew, as well as of the troops, had
been mowed down one after another ; until at last, finding
that all their efforts to defend themselves were useless, most
of those who were still unhurt had consulted their safety,
and hastened down to the lowest recesses of the hold to
avoid the raking and destructive shot. At the time that the
schooner had discontinued her fire to allow the gun to cool,
there was no one on deck but the Portuguese captain and
one old weather-beaten seaman who stood at the helm.
Below, in the orlop-deck, the remainder of the crew and the
passengers were huddled together in a small space : some
were attending to the wounded, who were numerous ; others
were invoking the saints to their assistance ; the bishop, a
tall, dignified person, apparently nearly sixty years of age,
was kneeling in the centre of the group, which was dimly
lighted by two or three lanterns, at one time in fervent
prayer, at another, interrupted, that he might give absolution
to those wounded men whose spirits were departing, and
who were brought down and laid before him by their com-
rades. On one side of him knelt his orphan niece, a young
girl of about seventeen years of age, watching his countenance
as he prayed, or bending down with a look of pity and tearful
eyes on her expiring countrymen, whose last moments were
gkddened by his holy offices. On the other side of the
57
THE PIRATE
bishop stood the governor, Don Philip de Ribiera, and his
two sons, youths in their prime, and holding commissions in
the king's service. There was melancholy on the brow ot
Don Ribiera ; he was prepared for, and he anticipated, the
worst. The eldest son had his eyes fixed upon the sweet
countenance of Teresa de Silva that very evening, as they
walked together on the deck, had they exchanged their vows
that very evening they had luxuriated in the present, and
had dwelt with delightful anticipation on the future. But
we must leave them and return on deck.
The captain of the Poi'tuguese ship had walked aft, and
now went up to Antonio, the old seaman, who was standing
at the wheel.
" I still see her with the glass, Antonio, and yet she has
not fired for nearly two hours ; do you think any accident
has happened to her long gun ? if so, we may have some
chance."
Antonio shook his head. "We have but little chance,
I am afraid, my captain ; I knew by the ring of the gun,
when she fired it, that it was brass ; indeed, no schooner
could carry a long iron gun of that calibre. Depend upon it,
she only waits for the metal to cool and daylight to return :
a long gun or two might have saved us ; but now, as she has
the advantage of us in heels, we are at her mercy."
" What can she be a French privateer ? "
" I trust it may be so ; and I have promised a silver
candlestick to St. Antonio that it may prove no worse : we
then may have some chance of seeing our homes again ; but
I fear not."
" What, then, do you imagine her to be, Antonio?"
"The pirate which we have heard so much of."
" Jesu protect us ! we must then sell our lives as dearly as
we can."
" So I intend to do, my captain," replied Antonio, shifting
the helm a spoke.
The day broke, and showed the_schooner continuing her
58
THE ATTACK
pursuit at the same distance astern, without any apparent
movement on board. It was not until the sun was some
degrees above the horizon that the smoke was again seen to
envelop her bows, and the shot crashed through the timbers
of the Portuguese ship. The reason for this delay was, that
the pirate waited till the sun was up to ascertain if there
were any other vessels to be seen, previous to his pouncing
on his quarry. The Portuguese captain went aft and hoisted
his ensign, but no flag Avas shown by the schooner. Again
whistled the ball, and again did it tear up the decks of the
unfortunate ship : many of those who had reascended to
ascertain what was going on, now hastily sought their former
retreat.
" Mind the helm, Antonio," said the Portuguese captain ;
" I must go down and consult with the governor."
" Never fear, my captain ; as long as these limbs hold
together, I will do my duty," replied the old man, exhausted
as he was by long watching and fatigue.
The captain descended to the orlop-deck, where he found
the major part of the crew and passengers assembled.
" My lords," said he, addressing the govemor and bishop,
" the schooner has not shown any colours, although our own
are hoisted. I am come down to know your pleasure.
Defence we can make none ; and I fear that we are at the
mercy of a pirate."
" A pirate ! " ejaculated several, beating their breasts, and
calling upon their saints.
" Silence, my good people, silence," quietly observed the
bishop ; " as to what it may be best to do," continued he,
turning to the captain, " I cannot advise ; I am a man of
peace, and unfit to hold a place in a council of war. Don
Ribiera, I must refer the point to you and your sons.
Tremble not, my dear Teresa; are we not under the pro-
tection of the Almighty."
" Holy Virgin, pity us ! " exclaimed Teresa.
" Come, my sons/' said Don Ribiera, " we will go on deck
THE PIRATE
and consult : let not any of the men follow us ; it is useless
risking lives which may yet be valuable."
Don Ribiera and his sons followed the captain to the
quarter-deck, and with him and Antonio they held a consul-
tation.
" We have but one chance/' observed the old man, after
a time ; " let us haul down our colours as if in submission ;
they will then range up alongside, and either board us from
the schooner, or from their boats ; at all events, we shall find
out what she is, and, if a pirate, we must sell our lives as
dearly as we can. If, when we haul down the colours, she
ranges up alongside, as I expect she will, let all the men be
prepared for a desperate struggle."
"You are. right, Antonio," replied the governor; "go aft,
captain, and haul down the colours ! let us see what she
does now. Down, my boys ! and prepare the men to do
their duty."
As Antonio had predicted, so soon as the colours were
hauled down, the schooner ceased firing and made sail. She
ranged up on the quarter of the ship, and up to her main
peak soared the terrific black flag ; her broadside was poured
into the Indiaman, and before the smoke had cleared away
there was a concussion from the meeting sides, and the
bearded pirates poured upon her decks.
The crew of the Portuguese, with the detachment of
troops, still formed a considerable body of men. The sight
of the black flag had struck ice into every heart, but the
feeling was resolved into one of desperation.
" Knives, men, knives ! " roared Antonio, rushing on to
the attack, followed by the most brave.
" Blood for blood ! " cried the second mate, aiming a blow
at the old man.
"You have it," replied Antonio, as his knife entered the
pirate's heart, while, at the same moment, he fell and was
himself a corpse.
The struggle was deadly, but the numbers and ferocity of
60
THE CAPTURE
the pirates prevailed. Cain rushed forward followed by
Hawkhurst, bearing down all who opposed them. With
one blow from the pirate-captain, the head of Don Ribiera
was severed to the shoulder; a second struck down the
eldest son, while the sword of Hawkhurst passed through the
body of the other. The Portuguese captain had already
fallen, and the men no longer stood their ground. A general
massacre ensued, and the bodies were thrown overboard as
fast as the men were slaughtered. In less than five minutes
there was not a living Portuguese on the bloody decks of the
ill-fated ship.
CHAPTER IX
THE CAPTURE
X ASS the word for not a man to go below, Hawkhurst!"
said the pirate-captain.
"I have, sir; and sentries are stationed at the hatchways.
Shall we haul the schooner off? "
"No, let her remain; the breeze is faint alreadv : we
shall have a calm in half-an-hour. Have we lost many
men ? "
" Only seven, that I can reckon ; but we have lost Wallace "
(the second mate).
" A little promotion will do no harm," replied Cain ; "take
a dozen of our best men and search the ship, there are others
alive yet. By-the-bye, send a watch on board of the schooner ;
she is left to the mercy of the Kroumen, and "
"One who is better out of her," replied Hawkhurst.
"And those we find below " continued the mate.
"Alive!"
" True ; we may else be puzzled where to find that portion
of her cargo which suits us," said Hawkhurst, going down
the hatchway to collect the men who were plundering on
the main deck and in the captain's cabin.
61
THE PIRATE
" Here, you Maltese ! up, there ! and look well round if
there is anything in sight," said the captain, walking aft.
Before Hawkhurst had collected the men and ordered
them on board of the schooner, as usual in those latitudes,
it had fallen a perfect calm.
Where was Francisco during this scene of blood ? He
had remained in the cabin of the schooner. Cain had more
than once gone down to him, to persuade him to come on
deck and assist at the boarding of the Portuguese, but in
vain his sole reply to the threats and solicitations of the
pirate was
" Do with me as you please I have made up my mind
you know I do not fear death as long as I remain on board
of this vessel, I will take no part in your atrocities. If you
do respect my mother's memory, suffer her son to seek an
honest and honourable livelihood."
The words of Francisco were ringing in the ears of Cain
as he walked up and down on the quarter-deck of the Portu-
guese vessel, and, debased as he was, he could not help
thinking that the youth was his equal in animal and his
superior in mental courage. He was arguing in his own mind
upon the course he should pursue with respect to Francisco,
when Hawkhurst made his appearance on deck, followed by
his men, who dragged up six individuals who had escaped the
massacre. These were the bishop ; his niece ; a Portuguese
girl, her attendant ; the supercargo of the vessel ; a sacristan ;
and a servant of the ecclesiastic : they were hauled along the
deck and placed in a row before the captain, who cast his
eyes upon them in severe scrutiny. The bishop and his
niece looked round, the one proudly meeting the eye of Cain,
although he felt that his hour was come ; the other carefully
avoiding his gaze, and glancing round to ascertain whether
there were any other prisoners, and if so, if her betrothed
was amongst them ; but her eye discovered not what she
sought it was met only by the bearded faces of the pirate
crew, and the blood which bespattered the deck,
62
THE CAPTURE
She covered her face with her hands.
"Bring that man forward/' said Cain, pointing to the
servant. " Who are you ? "
"A servant of my lord the bishop."
" And you ? " continued the captain.
"A poor sacristan attending upon my lord the bishop."
" And you ? " cried he to a third.
"The supercargo of this vessel."
" Put him aside, Hawkhurst ! "
"Do you want the others?" inquired Hawkhurst signi-
ficantly.
" No."
Hawkhurst gave a signal to some of the pirates, who led
away the sacristan and the servant. A stifled shriek and a
heavy plunge in the water were heard a few seconds after.
During this time the pirate had been questioning the super-
cargo as to the contents of the vessel, and her stowage, when
he was suddenly interrupted by one of the pirates, who, in a
hurried voice, stated that the ship had received several shot
between wind and water and was sinking fast. Cain, who
was standing on the slide of the carronade with his sword in
his hand, raised his arm and struck the pirate a blow on the
head with the hilt, which, whether intended or not, fractured
his skull, and the man fell upon the deck.
" Take that, babbler, for your intelligence ; if these men
are obstinate, we may have worked for nothing."
The crew, who felt the truth of their captain's remark,
did not appear to object to the punishment inflicted, and the
body of the man was dragged away.
"What mercy can we expect from those who show no
mercy even to each other ? " observed the bishop, lifting his
eyes to heaven.
" Silence ! " cried Cain, who now interrogated the super-
cargo as to the contents of the hold the poor man answered
as well as he could " the plate ! the money for the troops
where are they ? "
63
THE PIRATE
"The money for the troops is in the spirit-room, but of
the plate I know nothing ; it is in some of the cases belong-
ing to my lord the bishop."
" Hawkhurst ! down at once to the spirit-room and see
to the money ; in the meantime I will ask a few questions
of this revei-end father."
" And the supercargo do you want him any more ? "
" No ; he may go."
The poor man fell down on his knees in thankfulness at
what he considered his escape : he was dragged away by the
pirates, and it is scarcely necessary to add that in a minute
his body was torn to pieces by the sharks, who, scenting
their prey from a distance, were now playing in shoals around
the two vessels.
The party on the quarter-deck were now (unperceived by
the captain) joined by Francisco, who, hearing from the
Krouman, Pompey, that there were prisoners still on board,
and amongst them two females, had come over to plead the
cause of mercy.
" Most reverend father," observed Cain, after a short pause,
"you have many articles of value in this vessel ?"
" None," replied the bishop, " except this poor girl ; she
is, indeed, beyond price, and will, I trust, soon be an angel
in heaven."
" Yet is this world, if what you preach be true, a purgatory
which must be passed through previous to arriving there,
and that girl may think death a blessing compared to what
she may expect if you refuse to tell me what I would know.
You have good store of gold and silver ornaments for your
churches where are they ? "
"They are among the packages entrusted to my care."
" How many may you have in all ? "
" A hundred, if not more."
"Will you deign to inform me where I may find what I
require ?"
"The gold and silver are not mine,, but are the property
64
THE CAPTURE
of that God to whom they have been dedicated," replied the
bishop.
" Answer quickly ; no more subterfuge, good sir. Where
is it to be found?"
" I will not tell, thou blood-stained man ; at least, in this
instance, there shall be disappointment, and the sea shall
swallow up those earthly treasures to obtain which thou hast
so deeply imbrued thy hands. Pirate ! I repeat it, I will
not tell."
"Seize that girl, my lads !" cried Cain ; "she is yours, do
with her as you please."
" Save me ! oh, save me ! " shrieked Teresa, clinging to
the bishop's robe.
The pirates advanced and laid hold of Teresa. Francisco
bounded from where he stood behind the captain, and dashed
away the foremost.
" Are you men?" cried he, as the pirates retreated. " Holy
sir, I honour you. Alas ! I cannot save you," continued
Francisco mournfully. "Yet will I try. On my knees
by the love you bore my mother by the affection you once
bore me do not commit this horrid deed. My lads ! " con-
tinued Francisco, appealing to the pirates, "join with me
and entreat your captain; ye are too brave, too manly, to
injure the helpless and the innocent above all, to shed the
blood of a holy man, and of this poor trembling maiden."
There was a pause even the pirates appeared to side with
Francisco, though none of them dared to speak. The muscles
of the captain's face quivered with emotion, but from what
source could not be ascertained.
At this moment the interest of the scene was heightened.
The girl who attended upon Teresa, crouched on her knees
with terror, had been casting her fearful eyes upon the men
which composed the pirate crew ; suddenly she uttered a
scream of delight as she discovered among them one that
she well knew. He was a young man, about twenty five
years of age, with little or no beard. He had been her lover
65 E
THE PIRATE
in his more innocent days; and she, for more than a year,
had mourned him as dead, for the vessel in which he sailed
had never been heard of. It had been taken by the pirate,
and, to save his life, he had joined the crew.
" Filippo ! Filippo ! " screamed the girl, rushing into his
arms. " Mistress ! it is Filippo ; and we are safe."
Filippo instantly recognised her ; the sight of her brought
back to his memory his days of happiness and of innocence ;
and the lovers were clasped in each other's arms.
" Save them ! spare them ! by the spirit of my mother !
I charge you," repeated Francisco, again appealing to the
captain.
" May God bless thee, thou good young man ! " said the
bishop, advancing and placing his hand upon Francisco's
head.
Cain answered not ; but his broad expanded chest heaved
with emotion when Hawkhurst burst into the group.
" We are too late for the money, captain ; the water is
already six feet above it. We must now try for the
treasure."
This intelligence appeared to check the current of the
captain's feelings.
" Now, in one word, sir," said he to the bishop, " where is
the treasure ? Trifle not, or, by Heaven
"Name not Heaven," replied the bishop; "you have had
my answer."
The captain turned away, and gave some directions to
Hawkhurst, who hastened below.
" Remove that boy," said Cain to the pirates, pointing
to Francisco. "Separate those two fools," continued he,
looking towards Filippo and the girl, who were sobbing in
each other's 'arms.
" Never ! " cried Filippo.
" Throw the girl to the sharks ! Do you hear ? Am I to
be obeyed ? " cried Cain, raising his cutlass.
Filippo started up, disengaged himself from the girl, and
66
THE CAPTURE
drawing his knife, rushed towards the captain to plunge it in
his bosom.
With the quickness of lightning the captain caught his up-
lifted hand, and,, breaking his wrist, hurled him to the deck.
" Indeed ! " cried he, with a sneer.
" You shall not separate us," said Filippo, attempting to rise.
" I do not intend it, my good lad," replied Cain. " Lash
them both together and launch them overboard."
This order was now obeyed ; for the pirates not only
quailed before the captain's cool courage, but were indignant
that his life had been attempted. There was little occasion
to tie the unhappy pair together ; they were locked so fast
in each other's arms that it would have been impossible
almost to separate them. In this state they were carried to
the entering. port, and cast into the sea.
" Monster ! " cried the bishop, as he heard the splash,
" thou wilt have a heavy reckoning for this."
" Now bring these forward," said Cain, with a savage voice.
The bishop and his niece were led to the gangway.
"What dost thou see, good bishop?" said Cain, pointing
to the discoloured water, and the rapid motion of the fins of
the sharks, eager in the anticipation of a further supply.
" I see ravenous creatures after their kind," replied the
bishop, " who will, in all probability, soon tear asunder these
poor limbs; but I see no monster like thyself. Teresa,
dearest, fear not ; there is a God, an avenging God, as well
as a rewarding one."
But Teresa's eyes were closed she could not look upon
the scene.
" You have your choice ; first torture, and then your body
to those sharks for your own portion ; and as for the girl,
this moment I hand her over to my crew."
" Never ! " shrieked Teresa, springing from the deck and
plunging into the wave.
There was a splash of contention, the lashing of tails, until
the water was in a foam, and then the dark colour gradually
67
THE PIRATE
cleared away, and nought was to be seen but the pure blue
wave and the still unsatiated monsters of the deep.
" The screws the screws ! quick ! we'll have the secret
from him," cried the pii'ate captain, turning to his crew,
who, villains as they were, had been shocked at this last
catastrophe. " Seize him ! "
" Touch him not ! " cried Francisco, standing on the ham-
mock nettings ; ff touch him not ! if you are men."
Boiling with rage, Cain let go the arm of the bishop, drew
his pistol, and levelled it at Francisco. The bishop threw up
the arm of Cain as he fired ; saw that he had missed his aim,
and clasping his hands, raised his eyes to heaven in thankful-
ness at Francisco's escape. In this position he was collared
by Hawkhiirst, whose anger overcame his discretion, and who
hurled him through the entering port into the sea.
" Officious fool ! " muttered Cain, when he perceived what
the mate had done. Then, recollecting himself, he cried,
"Seize that boy and bring him here."
One or two of the crew advanced to obey his orders ; but
Pompey and the Kroumen, who had been attentive to what
was going on, had collected round Francisco, and a scuffle
ensued. The pirates, not being very determined, nor very
anxious to take Francisco, allowed him to be hurried away
in the centre of the Kroumen, who bore him safely to the
schooner.
In the meantime Hawkhurst, and the major part of the
men on board of the ship, had been tearing up the hold to
obtain the valuables, but without success. The water had
now reached above the orlop-deck, and all further attempts
were unavailing. The ship was settling fast, and it became
necessary to quit her, and haul off the schooner, that she
might not be endangered by the vortex of the sinking vessel.
Cain and Hawkhurst, with their disappointed crew, returned
on board the schooner, and before they had succeeded in
detaching the two vessels a cable's length, the ship went
down with all the treasure so coveted. The indignation and
68
1 Never ! ' shrieked Teresa, springing from the deck and plunging
into the wave."
THE CAPTURE
rage which were expressed by the captain as he rapidly
walked the deck in company with his first mate his violent
gesticulations proved to the crew that there was mischief
brewing. Francisco did not return to the cabin ; he remained
forward with the Kroumen, who, although but a small portion
of the ship's company, were known to be resolute and not to
be despised. It was also observed that all of them had sup-
plied themselves with arras, and were collected forward,
huddled together, watching every motion and manoeuvre,
and talking rapidly in their own language. The schooner
was now steered to the north-westward under all press of
saij. The sun again disappeared, but Francisco returned not
to the cabin he went below, surrounded by the Kroumen,
who appeared to have devoted themselves to his protection.
Once during the night Hawkhurst summoned them on deck,
but they obeyed not the order ; and to the expostulation of
the boatswain's mate, who came down, they made no reply.
But there were many of the pirates in the schooner who
appeared to coincide with the Kroumen in their regard for
Francisco. There are shades of villainy in the most profli-
gate of societies ; and among the pirate's crew some were
not vet wholly debased. The foul murder of a holy man
the cruel fate of the beautiful Teresa and the barbarous
conduct of the captain towards Filippo and his mistress, were
deeds of an atrocity to which even the most hardened were
unaccustomed. Francisco's pleadings in behalf of mercy were
at least no crime ; and yet they considered that Francisco
was doomed. He was a general favourite ; the worst-dis-
posed of the pirates, with the exception of Hawkhurst, if
they did not love, could not forbear respecting him; although
at the same time they felt that if Francisco remained en
board the power even of Cain himself would soon be de-
stroyed. For many months Hawkhurst, who detested the
youth, had been most earnest that he should be sent out of
the schooner. Now he pressed the captain for his removal
in any way, as necessary for their mutual safety, pointing out
THE PIRATE
to Cain the conduct of the Kroumen, and his fears that a large
proportion of the ship's company were equally disaffected.
Cain felt the truth of Hawkhurst's representation, and he went
down to his cabin to consider upon what should be done.
It was past midnight when Cain, worn-out with the con-
flicting passions of the day, fell into an uneasy slumber. His
dreams were of Francisco's mother she appeared to him
pleading for her son, and Cain " babbled in his sleep." At
this time Francisco, with Pompey, had softly crawled aft,
that they might obtain, if they found the captain asleep, the
pistols of Francisco, with some ammunition. Pompey slipped
in first, and started back when he heard the captain's voice.
They remained at the cabin door listening. " No no/'
muttered Cain, "he must die unless plead not, woman !
I know I murdered thee plead not, he dies ! "
In one of the sockets of the silver lamp there was a
lighted wick, the rays of which were sufficient to afford a
dim view of the cabin. Francisco, overhearing the words of
Cain, stepped in, and walked up to the side of the bed.
" Boy ! plead not," continued Cain, lying on his back and
breathing heavily "plead not woman! to-morrow he
dies." A pause ensued, as if the sleeping man was listening
to a reply. " Yes ; as I murdered thee, so will I murder him."
" Wretch ! " said Francisco, in a low, solemn voice, " didst
thou kill my mother ? "
" I did I did ! " responded Cain, still sleeping.
"And why?" continued Francisco, who, at this acknow-
ledgment on the part of the sleeping captain, was careless
of discovery.
" In my mood she vexed me," answered Cain.
" Fiend ; thou hast then confessed it ! " cried Francisco
in a loud voice, which awoke the captain, who started up ;
but before his senses were well recovered, or his eyes open
so as to distinguish their forms, Pompey struck out the light,
and all was darkness : he then put his hand to Francisco's
mouth, and led him out of the cabin.
7Q
THE CAPTURE
"Who's there ? who's there ? " cried Cain.
The officer in charge of the deck hastened down. " Did
you call, sir ? "
" Call ! " repeated the captain. " I thought there was some
one in the cabin. I' want a light that's all," continued he,
recovering himself, as he wiped the cold perspiration from
his forehead.
In the meantime Francisco, with Pompey, had gained his
former place of refuge with the Kroumen. The feelings of
the young man changed from agony to revenge ; his object
in returning to the cabin to recover his weapons had been
frustrated, but his determination now was to take the life of
the captain if he possibly could. The following morning the
Kroumen again refused to work or go on deck ; and the state
of affairs was reported by Hawkhurst to his chief. The mate
now assumed another tone ; for he had sounded not the
majority but the most steady and influential men on board,
who, like himself, were veterans in crime.
"It must be, sir; or you will no longer command this
vessel. I am desired to say so."
" Indeed ! " replied Cain, with a sneer. " Perhaps you
have already chosen my successor?"
Hawkhurst perceived that he had lost ground, and he
changed his manner. " I speak but for yourself : if you do
not command this vessel I shall not remain in her ; if you
quit her, I quit also ; and we must find another."
Cain was pacified, and the subject was not renewed.
"Turn the hands up," at last said the captain. The
pirate crew assembled aft.
" My lads, I am sorry that our laws oblige me to make an
example ; but mutiny and disaffection must be punished. I
am equally bound as yourselves by the laws which we have
laid down for our guidance while we sail together ; and you
may believe that in doing my duty in this instance I am
guided by a sense of justice, and wish to prove to you that
I am worthy to command. Francisco has been with me
71
THE PIRATE
since he was a child ; he has lived with me, and it is painful
to part with him ; but I am here to see that our laws are
put in force. He has been guilty of repeated mutiny and
contempt, and he must die."
" Death ! death ! " cried several of the pirates in advance ;
" death and justice ! "
" No more murder ! " said several voices from behind.
" Who's that that speaks ? "
" Too much murder yesterday no more murder ! " shouted
several voices at once.
" Let the men come forward who speak," cried Cain, with
a withering look. No one obeyed this order. " Down, then,
my men ! and bring up Francisco."
The whole of the pirate crew hastened below, but with
different intentions ; some were determined to seize Fran-
cisco, and hand him over to death others to protect him.
A confused noise was heard the shouts of " Down and seize
him ! " opposed to those of " No murder/ No murder ! "
Both parties had snatched up their arms ; those who sided
with Francisco joined the Kroumen, whilst the others also
hastened below to bring him on deck. A slight scuffle
ensued before they separated, and ascertained by the sepa-
ration the strength of the contending parties. Francisco,
perceiving that he was joined by a large body, desired his
men to follow him, went up the fore-ladder, and took pos-
session of the forecastle. The pirates on his side supplied
him with arms, and Francisco stood forward in advance.
Hawkhurst, and those of the crew who sided with him, had
retreated to the quarter-deck, and rallied round the captain,
who leaned against the capstern. They were then able to
estimate their comparative strength. The number, on the
whole, preponderated in favour of Francisco ; but on the
captain's side were the older and more athletic of the crew,
and, we may add, the moi'e determined. Still, the captain
and Hawkhurst perceived the danger of their situation, and
it was thought advisable to parley for the present, and wreak
THE CAPTURE
their vengeance hereafter. For a few minutes there was a
low consultation between both parties ; at last Cain advanced.
" My lads," said he, addressing those who had rallied
round Francisco, " I little thought that a firebrand would
have been cast in this vessel to set us all at variance. It
was my duty, as your captain, to propose that our laws should
be enforced. Tell me, now, what is it that you wish. I am
only here as your captain, and to take the sense of the whole
crew. I have no animosity against that lad ; I have loved
him I have cherished him ; but like a viper, he has stung
nie in return. Instead of being in arms against each other,
ought we not to be united ? I have, therefore, one proposal
to make to you, which is this : let the sentence go by vote,
or ballot, if you please ; and whatever the sentence may be,
I shall be guided by it. Can I say more ? "
" My lads," replied Francisco, when the captain had done
speaking, " I think it better that you should accept this
proposal rather than that blood should be shed. My life is
of little consequence ; say, then, will you agree to the vote,
and submit to those laws, which, as the captain says, have
been laid down to regulate the discipline of the vessel ? "
The pirates on Francisco's side looked round among their
party, and, perceiving that they were the most numerous,
consented to the proposal ; but Hawkhurst stepped forward
and observed : " Of course the Kroumen can have no votes,
as they do not belong to the vessel."
This objection was important, as they amounted to twenty-
five, and, after that number was deducted, in all probability,
Francisco's adherents would have been in the minority. The
pirates with Francisco objected, and again assumed the atti-
tude of defence.
" One moment," said Francisco, stepping in advance ; " be-
fore this point is settled, I wish to take the sense of all of you
as to another of your laws. I ask you, Hawkhurst, and all
who are now opposed to me, whether you have not one law,
which is Blood for blood ? "
73
THE PIRATE
"Yes yes," shouted all the pirates.
"Then let your captain stand forward, and answer to my
charge, if he dares."
Cain curled his lip in derision, and walked within two yards
of Francisco.
"Well, boy, I'm here ; and what is your charge ? "
" First I ask you, Captain Cain, who are so anxious that
the laws should be enforced, whether you acknowledge that
' Blood for blood ' is a just law ? "
" Most just : and, when shed, the party who revenges is
not amenable."
" 'Tis well : then, villain that thou art, answer Didst thou
not murder my mother ? "
Cain, at this accusation, started.
" Answer the truth, or lie like a recreant ! " repeated
Francisco. " Did you not murder my mother ? "
The captain's lips and the muscles of his face quivered, but
he did not reply.
" Blood for blood ! " cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol ?t
Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck.
Hawkhurst and several of the pirates hastened to the
captain, and raised him.
"She must have told him last night," said Cain, speaking
with difficulty, as the blood flowed from the wound.
" He told me so himself," said Francisco, turning round to
those who stood by him.
Cain was taken down into the cabin. On examination, his
wound was not mortal, although the loss of blood had been
rapid and very great. In a few minutes Hawkhurst joined
the party on the quarter-deck. He found that the tide had
turned more in Francisco's favour than he had expected ; the
law of "Blood for blood" was held most sacred : indeed, it
was but the knowledge that it was solemnly recognised, and
that, if one pirate wounded another, the other was at liberty
to take his life, without punishment, which prevented constant
affrays between parties, whose knives would otherwise have
74
THE CAPTURE
been the answer to every affront. It was a more debased law
of duelling, which kept such profligate associates on good
terms. Finding, therefore, that this feeling predominated,
even among those who were opposed to Francisco on the
other question, Hawkhurst thought it advisable to parley.
"Hawkhurst," said Francisco, " I have but one request to
make, which, if complied with, will put an end to this con-
tention ; it is, that you will put me on shore at the first land
that we make. If you and your party engage to do this,
I will desire those who support me to return to their
obedience."
"I grant it," replied Hawkhurst ; "and so will the others.
Will you not, my men ? "
" Agreed agreed upon all sides," cried the pirates, throw-
ing away their weapons, and mingling with each other as if
they had never been opposed.
There is an old saying that there is honour amongst
thieves ; and so it often proves. Every man in the vessel
knew that this agreement would be strictly adhered to ; and
Francisco now walked the deck with as much composure as if
nothing had occurred.
Hawkhurst, who was aware that he must fulfil his promise,
carefully examined the charts when he went down below,
came up and altered the course of the schooner two points
more to the northward. The next morning he was up at the
mast-head nearly half-an-hour, when he descended and again
altered the course. By nine o'clock a low sandy island
appeared on the lee bow ; when within half a mile of it he
ordered the schooner to be hove-to, and lowered down the
small boat from the stern. He then turned the hands up.
" My lads, we must keep our promise, to put Francisco on
shore at the first land which we made. There it is ! " And
a malicious smile played on the miscreant's features as he
pointed out to them the barren sand-bank, which promised
nothing but starvation and a lingering death. Several of the
crew murmured ; but Hawkhurst was supported by his own
75
THE PIRATE
party, and had, moreover, taken the precaution quietly to
remove all the arms, with the exception of those with which
his adherents were provided.
" An agreement is an agreement ; it is what he requested
himself, and we promised to perform. Send for Francisco."
"I am here, Hawkhurst ; and I tell you candidly, that,
desolate as is that barren spot, I prefer it to remaining in
your company. I will bring my chest up immediately."
" No no ; that was not a part of the agreement," cried
Hawkhurst.
" Every man here has a right to his own property. I
appeal to the whole of the crew."
" True true," replied the pirates ; and Hawkhurst found
himself again in the minority.
" Be it so."
The chest of Francisco was handed into the boat.
" Is that all ? " cried Hawkhurst.
" My lads, am I to have no provisions or water ? " inquired
Francisco.
" No," replied Hawkhurst.
" Yes yes," cried most of the pirates.
Hawkhurst did not dare put it to the vote ; he turned
sulkily away. The Kroumen brought up two breakers of
water, and some pieces of pork.
" Here, massa," said Pompey, putting into Francisco's hand
a fishing-line with hooks.
" Thank you, Pompey ; but I had forgot that book in the
cabin you know which I mean."
Pompey nodded his head, and went below ; but it was
some time before he returned, during which Hawkhurst
became impatient. It was a very small boat which had been
lowered down ; it had a lug-sail and two pair of sculls in it,
and was quite full when Francisco's chest and the other
articles had been put in.
" Come ! I have no time to wait," said Hawkhurst ; " in
the boat ! "
76 \
THE CAPTURE
Francisco shook hands with many of the crew, and wished
all of them farewell. Indeed, now that they beheld the
poor lad about to be cast on a desolate island, even those
most opposed to him felt some emotions of pity. Although
they acknowledged that his absence was necessary, yet they
knew his determined courage; and with them that quality
was al \vays\a strong appeal.
" Who will row this lad ashore, and bring the boat off? "
"Not I," replied one; "it would haunt me ever after-
wards."
So they all appeared to think, for no one volunteered.
Francisco jumped into the boat.
" There is no room for any one but me ; and I will rov/
myself on shore," cried he. " Farewell, my lads ! farewell ! "
"Stop! not so; he must not have the boat he may
escape from the island," cried Hawkhurst.
"And why shouldn't he, poor fellow?" replied the men.
" Let him have the boat."
"Yes yes, let him have the boat;" and Hawkhurst was
again overruled.
" Here, Massa Francisco here de book."
" What's that, sir ? " cried Hawkhurst, snatching the book
out of Pompey's hand.
" Him, massa, Bible." Francisco waited for the book.
"Shove off!" cried Hawkhurst.
" Give me my book, Mr. Hawkhurst ! "
" No ! " replied the malignant rascal, tossing the Bible over
the taffrail ; " he shall not have that. I've heard say that
there is consolation in it for the afflicted."
Francisco shoved off his boat, and seizing his sculls, pushed
astern, picked up the book, which still floated, and laid it to
dry on the after-thwart of the boat. He then pulled in for
the shore. In the meantime the schooner had let draw her
fore-sheet, and had already left him a quarter of a mile
astern. Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she was
hull-down to the northward.
77
THE PIRATE
CHAPTER X
THE SAND-BANK
_l HE first half-hour that Francisco was on this desolate spot
he watched the receding schooner ; his thoughts -were un-
connected and vague. Wandering through the various scenes
which had passed on the decks of that vessel, and recalling
to his memory the different characters of those on board
of her, much as he had longed to quit her disgusted as he
had been with those with whom he had been forced to
associate still, as her sails grew fainter and fainter to his
view, as she increased her distance, he more than once felt
that even remaining on board of her would have been pre-
ferable to his present deserted lot. " No, no ! " exclaimed
he, after a little further reflection, " I had rather perish here,
than continue to witness the scenes which I have been
forced to behold."
He once more fixed his eyes upon her white sails, and
then sat down on the loose sands, and remained in deep and
melancholy reverie until the scorching heat reminded him
of his situation ; he afterwards rose and turned his thoughts
upon his present situation, and to what would be the
measures most advisable to take. He hauled his little boat
still farther on the beach, and attached the painter to one
of the oars, which he fixed deep in the sand ; he then pro-
ceeded to survey the bank, and found that but a small portion
was uncovered at high water; for, trifling as was the rise
of the tide, the bank was so low that the water flowed almost
over it. The most elevated part was not more than fifteen
feet above high-water mark, and that was a small knoll of
about fifty feet in circumference.
To this part he resolved to remove his effects ; he returned
to the boat, and having lifted out his chest, the water, the
provisions, with the other articles which he had obtained, he
78
THE SAND-BANK
dragged them up, one by one, until they were all collected
at the spot he had chosen. He then took out of the boat
the oars and little sail, which, fortunately, had remained in
her. His last object, to haul the little boat up to the same
spot, was one which demanded all his exertion ; but, after
considerable fatigue, he contrived, by first lifting round her
bow, and then her stern, to effect his object.
Tired and exhausted, he then repaired to one of the
breakers of water and refreshed himself. The heat, as the
day advanced, had become intolerable ; but it stimulated him
to fresh exertion. He turned over the boat, and contrived
that the bow and stern should rest upon two little hillocks,
so as to raise it above the level of the sand beneath it two
or three feet ; he spread out the sail from the keel above,
with the thole-pins as pegs, so as to keep off the rays of the
sun. Dragging the breakers of water and the provisions
underneath the boat, he left his chest outside ; and having
thus formed for himself a sort of covering which would
protect him from the heat of the day and the damp of the
night, he crept in to shelter himself until the evening.
Although Francisco had not been on deck, he knew pretty
well whereabouts he then was. Taking out a chart from his
chest, he examined the coast to ascertain the probable dis-
tance which he might be from any prospect of succour. He
calculated that he was on one of a patch of sand-banks off
the coast of Loango, and about seven hundred miles from
the Isle of St. Thomas the nearest place where he might
expect to fall in with a European face. From the coast
he felt, certain that he could not be more than forty or
fifty miles at the most ; but could he trust himself among
the savage natives who inhabited it ? He knew how ill
they had been treated by Europeans ; for, at that period,
it was quite as common for the slave-trader to land and
take away the inhabitants as slaves by force, as to pur-
chase them in the more northern territories : still, he
might be fortunate enough to fall in with some trader on
79
THE PIRATE
the coast, as there were a few who still carried on a barter
for gold-dust and ivory.
We do not know we cannot conceive a situation much
more deplorable than the one we have just described to have
been that of Francisco. Alone without a chance of assist-
ance with only a sufficiency of food for a few days, and cut
off from the rest of his fellow-creatures, with only so much
terra jirma as would prevent his being swallowed up by the
vast, unfathomable ocean, into which the horizon fell on every
side around him ! And his chance of escape how small !
Hundreds of miles from any from whom he might expect
assistance, and the only means of reaching them a small boat
a mere cockle-shell, which the first rough gale would
inevitably destroy.
Such, indeecj, were the first thoughts of Francisco ; but
he soon recovered from his despondency. He was young,
courageous, and buoyant with hope ; and there is a feeling
of pride of trust in our own resources and exertions, which
increases and stimulates us in proportion to our danger and
difficulty ; it is the daring of the soul proving its celestial
origin and eternal duration.
So intense was the heat that Francisco almost panted for
sufficient air to support life, as he lay under the shade of
the boat during the whole of that day ; not a breath of wind
disturbed the glassy wave all nature appeared hushed into
one horrible calm. It was not until the shades of night were
covering the solitude that Francisco ventured forth from his
retreat ; but he found little relief ; there was an unnatural
closeness in the air a suffocation unusual even in those climes.
Francisco cast his eyes up to the vault of heaven, and was
astonished to find that there were no stars visible a grey mist
covered the whole firmament. He directed his view down-
wards to the horizon, and that, too, was not to be defined ; there
was a dark bank all around it. He walked to the edge of the
sand-bank ; there was not even a ripple the wide ocean ap-
peared to be in a trance, in a state of lethargy or stupor.
80
THE SAND-BANK
He parted the hair from his feverish brow, and once more
surveying the horrible, lifeless, stagnant waste, his soul
sickened, and he cast himself upon the sand. There he lay
for many hours in a state bordering upon wikl despair. At
last he recovered himself, and, rising to his knees, he prayed
for strength and submission to the will of Heaven.
When he was once more upon his feet, and had again
scanned the ocean, he perceived that there was a change
rapidly approaching. The dark bank on the horizon had
now risen higher up ; the opaqueness was everywhere more
dense ; and low murmurs were heard as if there was wind
stirring aloft, although the sea was still glassy as a lake.
Signs of some movement about to take place were evident,
and the solitary youth watched and watched. And now the
sounds increased, and here and there a wild thread of air
whence coming, who could tell ? and as rapidly disappearing
would ruffle, for a second, a portion of the stagnant sea.
Then came whizzing sounds and moans, and then the
rumbling noise of distant thunder loud and louder yet
still louder a broad black line is seen sweeping along the
expanse of water fearful in its rapidity it comes! and the
hurricane burst, at once and with all its force, and all its
terrific sounds, upon the isolated Francisco.
The first blast was so powerful and so unexpected that it
threw him down, and prudence dictated to him to remain in
that position, for the loose sand was swept off and whirled in
such force as to blind and prevent his seeing a foot from him ;
he would have crawled to the boat for security, but he knew
not in which direction to proceed. But this did not last ;
for now the water was borne up upon the strong wings of the
hurricane, and the sand was rendered firm by its saturation
with the element.
Francisco felt that he was drenched, and he ivised his
head. All he could discover was, that the firmament was
mantled with darkness, horrible from its intensity, and that
the sea was in one extended foam boiling everywhere, and
81 F
THE PIRATE
white as milk but still smooth, as if the power of the wind
had compelled it to be so ; but the water had encroached,
and one half Ihe sand-bank was covered with it, while over
the other the foam whirled, each portion chasing the other
with wild rapidity.
And now the windows of heaven were opened, and the
rain, mingled with the spray caught up by the hurricane,
was dashed and hurled npon the forlorn youth, who still lay
where he had been first thrown down. But of a sudden, a
wash of water told him that he could there remain no longer :
the sea was rising rising fast ; and before he could gain a
few paces on his hands and knees, another wave, as if it
chased him in its wrath, repeated the warning of his extreme
danger, and he was obliged to rise on his feet and hasten to
the high part of the sand-bank, where he had drawn up his
boat and his provisions.
Blinded as he was by the rain and spray, he could dis-
tinguish nothing. Of a sudden he fell violently ; he had
stumbled over one of the breakers of water, and his head
struck against his sea-chest. Where, then, was the 'boat ?
It was gone ! it must have been swept away by the fury of
the wind. Alas, then all chance was over ! and if not washed
away by the angry waters, he had but to prolong his exist-
ence but a few days, and then to die. The effect of the
blow he had received on his forehead, with the shock of
mind occasioned by the disappearance of the boat, over-
powered him, and he remained for some time in a state of
insensibility.
When Francisco recovered, the scene was again changed :
the wide expanse was now in a state of wild and fearful com-
motion, and the waters roared as loud as did the hurricane.
The whole sand-bank, with the exception of that part on
which he stood, was now covered with tumultuous foam, and
his place of refuge was occasionally invaded, when some vast
mass, o'erlording the other waves, expended all its fury even
to his feet. Francisco prepared to die !
82
THE SAND-BANK
But gradually the darkness of the heavens disappeared,
and there was no longer a bank upon the horizon, and
Francisco hoped - alas ! hoped what ? that he might be
saved from the present impending death to be reserved for
one still more horrible ; to be saved from the fury of the
waves, which would swallow him up, and in a few seconds
remove him from all pain and suffering, to perish for want
of sustenance under a burning sun ; to be withered to be
parched to death calling in his agonv for water ; and as
Francisco thought of this he covered his face with his hands,
and prayed, " O God, Thy will be done ! but in Thy mercy,
raise, still higher raise the waters ! "
But the waters did not rise higher. The howling of the
wind gradually decreased, and the foaming seas had obeyed
the Divine injunction they had gone so far, but no farther !
And the day dawned, and the sky cleared ; and the first red
tints, announcing the return of light and heat, had appeared
on the broken horizon, when the eyes of the despairing youth
were directed to a black mass on the tumultuous waters. It
was a vessel, with but one mast standing, rolling heavily, and
running before the gale right on for the sand-bank where he
stood; her hull, one moment borne aloft and the next dis-
appearing from his view in the hollow of the agitated waters.
"She will be dashed to pieces!" thought Francisco; "she
will be lost! they cannot seethe bank!" And he would
have made a signal to her, if he had been able, to warn
her of her danger, forgetting at the time his own desolate
situation.
As Francisco watched, the sun rose bright and joyous over
this scene of anxiety and pain. On came the vessel flying
before the gale, while the seas chased her as if they would
fain overwhelm her. It was fearful to see her scud agonis-
ing to know that she was rushing to destruction.
At last he could distinguish those on board. He waved
his hand, but they perceived him not ; he shouted, but his
voice was borne away by the gale. On came the vessel, as
THE PIRATE
if doomed. She was within two cables' length of the bank
when those 011 board perceived their danger. It was too
late ! -they had rounded her to another, and another wave
hurled her towards the sand. She struck ! her only re-
maining mast fell over the side, and the roaring waves
hastened to complete their work of destruction and of
death !
CHAPTER XI
THE ESCAPE
Jc RANCISCO'S eyes were fixed upon the vessel, over which
the sea now broke with terrific violence. There appeared
to be about eight or nine men on her deck, who sheltered
themselves under the weather bulwarks. Each wave, as it
broke against her side and then dashed in foam over her,
threw her, with a convulsive jerk, still further on the sand-
bank. At last she was so high up that their fury was partly
spent before they dashed against her frame. Had the vessel
been strong and well-builthad she been a collier coasting
the English shores there was a fair chance that she might
have withstood the fury of the storm until it had subsided, and
that by remaining on board the crew might have survived ;
but she was of a very different mould, and, as Francisco
justly surmised, an American brig, built for swift sailing, very
sharp, and, moreover, very slightly put together.
Francisco's eyes, as may easily be supposed, were never
removed from the only object which could now interest him
the unexpected appearance and imminent danger of his
fellow-creatures at this desolate spot. He perceived that
two of the men went to the hatches and slid them over to
leeward ; they then descended, and although the seas broke
over the vessel, and a large quantity of water must have
poured into her, the hatches were not put on again by those
who remained on deck. But in a few minutes this mystery
84
THE ESCAPE
was solved ; one after another, at first, and then by dozens,
poured forth, out of the hold, the kidnapped Africans who
composed her cargo. In a short time the decks were covered
Avith them : the poor creatures had been released by the
humanity of two English sailors, that they might have the
same chance with themselves of saving their lives. Still, no
attempt was made to quit the vessel. Huddled together,
like a flock of sheep, with the wild waves breaking over
them, there they all remained, both European and African ;
;;nd as the heavy blows of the seas upon the sides of the
vessel careened and shook her, they were seen to cling, in
every direction, with no distinction between the captured
and their oppressors.
But this scene was soon changed ; the frame of the vessel
could no longer withstand the violence of the waves, and as
Francisco watched, of a sudden it was seen to divide amid-
ships, and each portion to turn over. Then was the struggle
for life ; hundreds were floating on the raging element and
wrestling for existence, and the white foam of the ocean was
dotted by the black heads of the negroes who attempted to
gain the bank. It was an awful, terrible scene, to witness
so many at one moment tossed and dashed about by the
waves so many fellow-beings threatened with eternity. At
one moment they were close to the beach, forced on to it
by some tremendous wave ; at the next, the receding water
and the undertow swept them all back ; and of the many
who had been swimming one half had disappeared to rise no
more. Francisco watched with agony as he perceived that
the number decreased, and that none had yet gained the
shore. At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's
sail which were near him, and hastened down to the spot to
afford such succour as might be possible ; nor were his efforts
in vain. As the seas washed the apparently inanimate bodies
on shore, and would then have again swept them away to
return them in mockery, he caught hold of them and
dragged them safe on the bank, and thus did he continue
85
THE PIRATE
his exertions until fifteen of the bodies of the negroes were
spread upon the beach. Although exhausted and senseless
they were not dead, and long before he had dragged up the
last of the number, many of those previously saved had,
without any other assistance than the heat of the sun,
recovered from their insensibility.
Francisco would have continued his task of humanity, but
the parted vessel had now been riven into fragments by the
force of the waves, and the whole beach was strewed with
her timbers and her stores, which were dashed on shore by
the waters, and then swept back again by the return. In a
short time the severe blows he received from these fragments
disabled him from further exertion, and he sank exhausted
on the sand ; indeed, all further attempts were useless. All
on board the vessel had been launched into the sea at the
same moment, and those who were not now on shore were
past all succour. Francisco walked up to those who had
been saved : he found twelve of them were recovered and
sitting on their hams ; the rest were still in a state of insensi-
bility. He then went up to the knoll where his chest and
provisions had been placed, and, throwing himself down by
them, surveyed the scene.
The wind had lulled, the sun shone brightly, and the sea
was much less violent. The waves had subsided, and, no
longer hurried on by the force of the hurricane, broke
majestically and solemnly, but not with the wildness and
force which, but a few hours before, they had displayed.
The whole of the beach was strewed with the fragments of
the vessel, with spars and water-casks ; and at every moment
was to be observed the corpse of a negro turning round and
round in the froth of the wave, and then disappearing.
For an hour did he watch and reflect, and then he walked
again to where the men who had been rescued were sitting,
not more than thirty yards from him ; they were sickly,
emaciated forms, but belonging to a tribe who inhabited the
coast, and who having been accustomed from their infancy
86
THE ESCAPE
to be all the day in the water, had supported themselves
better than the other slaves, who had been procured from the
interior, or the European crew of the vessel, all of whom had
perished.
The Africans appeared to recover fast by the heat of the
sun, so oppressive to Francisco, and were now exchanging a
few words with each other. The whole of them had revived,
but those who were most in need of aid were neglected by
the others. Francisco made signs to them, but they under-
stood him not. He returned to the knoll, and pouring out
water into a tin pan from the breaker, brought it down to
them. He offered it to one, who seized it eagerly ; water
was a luxury seldom obtained in the hold of a slave-vessel.
The man drank deeply, and would have drained the cup, but
Francisco prevented him, and held it to the lips of another.
He was obliged to refill it three times before they had all
been supplied: he then brought them a handful of biscuit and
left them, for he reflected that, without some precautions,
the whole sustenance would be seized by them and devoured.
He buried half a foot deep, and covered over with sand, the
breakers of water and the provisions, and by the time he had
finished this task, unperceived by the negroes, who still
squatted together, the sun had sunk below the horizon.
Francisco had already matured his plans, which were, to
form a raft out of the fragments of the vessel, and with the
assistance of the negroes attempt to gain the mainland. He
lay down, for the second night, on this eventful spot of
desolation, and commending himself to the Almighty pro-
tection, was soon in a deep slumber.
It was not until the powerful rays of the sun blazed on the
eyes of the youth that he awoke, so tired had he been with
the anxiety and fatigue of the preceding day, and the sleep-
less harrowing night which had introduced it. He rose and
seated himself upon his sea-chest: how different was the
scene from that of yesterday ! Again the ocean slept, the
sky was serene, and not a cloud to be distinguished through-
87
THE PIRATE
out the whole firmament ; the horizontal line was clear, even,
and well denned : a soft breeze just rippled over the dark
blue sea, which now had retired to its former boundary, and
left the sand-bank as extended as when first Francisco had
been put on shore. But here the beauty of the landscape
terminated : the foreground was horrible to look upon ; the
whole of the beach was covered with the timbers of the
wreck, with water-casks and other articles, in some parts
heaped and thrown up one upon another ; and among them
lay jammed and mangled the bodies of the many who had
perished. In other parts there were corpses thrown up high
and dry, or still rolling and turning to the rippling wave ; it
was a scene of desolation and of death.
The negroes who had been saved were all huddled up
together, apparently in deep sleep, and Francisco quitted his
elevated position and walked down to the low beach, to
survey the means which the disaster of others afforded him
for his own escape. To his great joy he found not only
plenty of casks, but many of them full of fresh water, pro-
visions also in sufficiency,, and, indeed, everything that could
be required to form a raft, as well as the means of support
for a considerable time for himself and the negroes who had
survived. He then walked up to them and called to them,
but they answered not, nor even moved. He pushed them,
but in vain ; and his heart beat quick, for he was fearful that
they were dead from previous exhaustion. He applied his
foot to one of them, and it was not until he had used force,
which in any other case he would have dispensed with, that
the negro awoke from his state of lethargy and looked
vacantly about him. Francisco had some little knowledge of
the language of the Kroumen, and he addressed the negro
in that tongue. To his great joy he was answered in a
language which, if not the same, had so great an affinity to
it that communication became easy. With the assistance of
the negro, who used still less ceremony with his comrades, the
remainder of them were awakened, and a palaver ensued.
88
THE ESCAPE
Francisco soon made them understand that they were to
make a raft and go back to their own country ; explaining to
them that if they remained there, the water and provisions
would soon be exhausted, and they would all perish. The
poor creatures hardly knew whether to consider him a super-
natural being or not ; they talked among themselves ; they
remarked at his having brought them fresh water the day
before ; they knew that he did not belong to the vessel in
which they had been wrecked, and they were puzzled.
Whatever might be their speculations they had one good
effect, which was, that they looked upon the youth as a
superior and a friend, and most willingly obeyed him. He
led them up to the knoll, and, desiring them to scrape away
the sand, supplied them again with fresh water and biscuit.
Perhaps the very supply, and the way in which it was given
to them, excited their astonishment as much as anything.
Francisco ate with them, and, selecting from his sea-chest
the few tools in his possession, desired them to follow him.
The casks were collected and rolled up ; the empty ones
arranged for the raft ; the spars were hauled up and cleared
of the rigging, which was carefully separated for lashings ;
the one or two sails which had been found rolled up on the
spars were spread out to dry ; and the provisions and articles
of clothing, which might be useful, laid together on one side.
The negroes worked willingly and showed much intelligence;
before the evening closed everything which might be avail-
able was secured, and the waves now only tossed about lifeless
forms, and the small fragments of timber which could not be
serviceable.
It would occupy too much time were we to detail all the
proceedings of Francisco and the negroes for the space of
four days, during which they laboured hard. Necessity is
truly the mother of invention, and many were the ingenious
resources of the party before they could succeed in forming
a raft large enough to carry them and their provisions, with
a mast and sail well secured. At length it was accomplished;
8'J.
THE PIRATE
and on the fifth day Francisco and his men embarked, and,
having pushed clear of the bank with poles, they were at
last able to hoist their sail to a fine breeze, and steer for the
coast before the wind at the rate of about three miles an
hour. But it was not until they had gained half a mile from
the bank that they were no longer annoyed by the dreadful
smell arising from the putrefaction of so many bodies, for to
bury them all would have been a work of too great time.
The last two days of their remaining on the island, the,
effluvia had become so powerful as to be a source of the
greatest horror and disgust even to the negroes.
But before night, when the raft was" about eight leagues
from the sand-bank, it fell calm, and continued so for the
next day, when a breeze sprang up from the south-east, to
which they trimmed their sail with their head to the north-
ward.
This wind, and the course steered, sent them off from the
land, but there was no help for it ; and Francisco felt grate-
ful that they had such an ample supply of provisions and
water as to enable them to yield to a few days' contrary wind
without danger of want. But the breeze continued steady
and fresh, and they were now crossing the Bight of Benin ;
the weather was fine and the sea smooth ; the flying-fish rose
in shoals and dropped down into the raft, which still forced
its way through the water to the northward.
Thus did Francisco and his negro crew remain for a fort-
night floating on the wide ocean, without any object meeting
their view. Day after day it was the same dreary " sky and
water," and by the reckoning of Francisco they could not be
far from the land, when, on the fifteenth day, they perceived
two sail to the northward.
Francisco's heart bounded with joy and gratitude to
Heaven ; he had no telescope to examine them, but he
steered directly for them, and, about dark, he made them
out to be a ship and a schooner hove-to.
As Francisco scanned them, surmising what they might be.,
90
THE ESCAPE
the sun set behind the two vessels, and after it had sunk
below the horizon their forms were, for a few minutes,
delineated with remarkable precision and clearness. There
could be no mistake. Francisco felt convinced that the
schooner was the Avenger ; and his first impulse was to run
to the sweep with which they were steered, and put the
head of the raft again to the northward. A moment's
reflection determined him to act otherwise ; he lowered
down his sail that he might escape observation, and watched
the motions of the vessels during the few minutes of light
which remained. That the ship had been captured, and
that her capture had been attended with the usual scene of
outrage and violence, he had no doubt. He Avas now about
four miles from them, and just as they were vanishing from
his straining eyes he perceived that the schooner had made
all sail to the westward. Francisco, feeling that he was then
secure from being picked up by her, again hoisted his sail
with the hope of reaching the ship, which, if not scuttled, he
intended to remove on board of, and then make sail for the
first port on the coast. But hardly had the raft regained her
way when the horizon was lighted up, and he perceived that
the pirates had set fire to the vessel. Then it was useless to
proceed towards her ; and Francisco again thought of putting
the head of the raft to the northward, when the idea struck
him, knowing the character and cruelty of the pirates, that
there might be some unfortunate people left on board to
perish in the flames. He therefore continued his course,
watching the burning vessel ; the flames increased in violence,
mounting up to the masts and catching the sails one after
another. The wind blew fresh, and the vessel was kept
before the wind a circumstance that assured Francisco that
there were people on board. At first she appeared to leave
the raft, but as her sails, one after another, were consumed
by the element, so did she decrease her speed, and Francisco,
in about an hour, was close to her and under her counter.
The ship was now one mass of fire from her bows to her
THE PIRATE
mainmast; a volume of flame poured from her main hold,
rising higher than her lower masts, and ending in a huge
mass of smoke carried by the wind ahead of her ; the quarter-
deck was still free from fire, but the heat on it was so intense
that those on board were all collected at the taffrail ; and
there they remained, some violent, others in mute despair ;
for the Avengers people, in their barbarity, had cut away and
destroyed all the boats to prevent their escape. From the
light thrown round the vessel those on board had perceived
the approach of Francisco to their rescue, and immediately
that it was under the counter, and the sail lowered, almost
all of them had descended by ropes, or the stern ladder, and
gained a place in her. In a few minutes, without scarcely
an exchange of a word, they were all out of the brig, and
Francisco pushed off just as the flames burst from the cabin
windows, darting out in a horizontal line like the tongues of
fiery serpents. The raft, now encumbered with twelve more
persons, was then steered to the northward ; and as soon as
those who had been saved had been supplied with some
water, which they so much -needed, Francisco obtained the
intelligence which he desired. The ship was from Cartha-
gena, South America ; had sailed from thence to Lisbon with
a Don Cumanos, who had large property up the Magdalen
river. He had wished to visit a part of his family at Lisbon,
and from thence had sailed to the Canary Isles, where he
also had property. In their way from Lisbon to South
America they had been beaten by stress of weather to the
southward, and afterwards had been chased by the Avenger;
being a very fast sailer she had run down several degrees
before she had been captured. When the pirate took
possession, and found that she had little or no cargo of value
to them, for her hold was chiefly filled with furniture and
other articles for the use of Don Cumanos, angry at their
disappointment, they had first destroyed all their boats and
tlien set fire to the vessel, taking care not to leave her until
all chance of the fire being put out was hopeless. And thus
92
THE LIEUTENANT
had these miscreants left innocent and unfortunate people
to perish.
Francisco heard the narrative of Don Cumanos, and then
informed him in what manner he had left the schooner, and
his subsequent adventures. Francisco was now very anxious
to make the land, or obtain succour from some vessel. The
many who were now on board, and the time that he had
already been at sea, obliged him to reduce the allowance of
water. Fortune favoured him after all his trials; on the
third day a vessel hove in sight, and they were seen by
her. She made sail for them, and took them all on board.
It was a schooner trafficking on the coast for gold-dust
and ivory ; but the magnificent offers of Don Cumanos in-
duced them to give up their voyage and run across the
Atlantic to Carthagena. To Francisco it was of little
moment where he went, and in Don Cumanos he had found
a sincere friend.
" You have been my preserver," said the Spaniard, " allow
me to return the obligation come and live with me."
As Francisco was equally pleased with Don Cumanos, he
accepted the offer ; they all arrived safely at Carthagena,
and from thence proceeded to his estate on the Magdalen
river.
CHAPTER XII
THE LIEUTENANT
VV HEN we last mentioned Edward Templemore we stated
that he was a lieutenant of the admiral's ship on the West
India station, commanding the tender. Now the name of
the tender was the Enterprise : and it was singular that she
was one of two schooners built at Baltimore, remarkable for
their beauty and good qualities ; yet how different were their
employments ! Both had originally been built for the slave-
trade ; now one hoisted the English pennant, and cruised
93
THE PIRATE
as the Enterprise; the other threw out the black flag, and
scoured the seas as the Avenger.
The Enterprise jvas fitted much in the same way as we have
already described her sister vessel that is, with one long
brass gun amidships, and smaller ones for her broadside.
But in the numbers of their crew there was a great disparity ;
the Enterprise not being manned with more than sixty-five
English sailors, belonging to the admiral's ship. She was
employed, as most admiral's tenders usually were, sometimes
carrying a tender made for a supply of provisions, or a
tender of services, if required, from the admiral ; or, if not
particularly wanted, with the important charge of a tender
billet-dotuc to some fair friend. But this is a tender subject
to touch upon. In the meantime it must be understood that
she had the same commission to sink, burn, and destroy, as
all other of his Majesty's vessels, if anything came in her
way ; but as she usually carried despatches, the real import-
ance of which were, of course, unknown, she was not to go
out of her way upon such service.
Edward Tempi emore did, however, occasionally go a little
out of his way, and had lately captured a very fine privateer,
after a smart action, for which he anticipated his promotion ;
but the admiral thought him too young, and therefore gave
the next vacancy to his own nephew, who, the admiral quite
forgot, was much younger.
Edward laughed when he heard of it upon his arrival at
Port Royal ; and the admiral, who expected that he would
make his appearance pouting with disappointment, when he
came up to the Penn to report himself, was so pleased with
his good humour that he made a vow that Templemore
should have the next vacancy ; but this he also quite forgot,
because Edward happened to be, at the time it occurred, on
a long cruise and " out of sight out of mind " is a proverb so
well established, that it may be urged as an excuse for a person
who had so many other things to think of as the admiral en-
trusted with the command of the West India station.
94
THE LIEUTENANT
Lieutenant Templemore had, in consequence, commanded
the Enterprise for nearly two years, and without grumbling ;
for he was of a happy disposition, and passed a very happy
sort of life. Mr. Witherington was very indulgent to him,
and allowed him to draw liberally ; he had plenty of money
for himself or for a friend who required it, and he had plenty
of amusement. Amongst other diversions, he had fallen most
desperately in love ; for, in one of his trips to the Leeward
Isles (so called from their being to windward) he had suc-
coured a Spanish vessel, which had on board the new
Governor of Porto Rico, with his family, and had taken upon
himself to land them on that island in safety ; for which
service the English admiral received a handsome letter, con-
cluding with the moderate wish that his Excellency might
live a thousand years, and Edward Templemore an invita-
tion to go and see them whenever he might pass that way ;
which, like most general invitations, was as much a compli-
ment as the wish which wound up the letter to the admiral.
It did, however, so happen that the Spanish governor had
a very beautiful and only daughter, carefully guarded by a
duenna, and a monk who was the depositary of all the sins of
the governor's establishment ; and it was with this daughter
that Edward Templemore fell into the heresy of love.
She was, indeed, very beautiful ; and, like all her country-
women, was ardent in her affections. The few days that she
was on board the schooner with her father, during the time
that the Enterprise convoyed the Spanish vessel into port,
were quite sufficient to ignite two such inflammable beings
as Clara d'Alfarez and Edward Templemore. The monk had
been left on board of the leaky vessel ; there was no accom-
modation in the schooner for him or the duenna, and Don
Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez was too busy
with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter.
When they were landed, Edward Templemore was .asked
to their residence, which was not in the town, but at a lovely
bay on the south side of the island. The town mansion was
95
THE PIRATE
appropriated to business and the ceremony of the court : it
was too hot for a permanent abode, and the governor only
went there for a few hours each day.
Edward Templemore remained a short time at the island,
and at his departure received the afore-mentioned letter
from the father to the English admiral, and an assurance of
unalterable fidelity from the daughter to the English lieu-
tenant. On his return he presented the letter, and the
admiral was satisfied with his conduct.
When ordered out to cruise, which he always was when
there was nothing else to do, he submitted to the admiral
whether, if he should happen to near Porto Rico, he could
not leave an answer to the Spanish governor's letter ; and
the admiral, who knew the value of keeping up a good
understanding with foreign relations, took the hint, and gave
him one to deliver, if convenient. The second meeting was,
as may be supposed, more cordial than the first on the part
of the young lady ; not so, however, on the part of the
duenna and holy friar, who soon found out that their charge
was in danger from heretical opinions.
Caution became necessary; and as secrecy adds a charm
to an amour, Clara received a long letter and a telescope
from Edward. The letter informed her that, whenever he
could, he would make his appearance in his schooner off
the south of the island, and await a signal made by her
at a certain window, acknowledging her recognition of his
vessel. On the night of that signal he would land "in his
boat and meet her at an appointed spot. This was all very
delightful ; and it so happened that Edward had four or fi ve
limes contrived, during the last year, to meet Clara without
discovery, and again and again to exchange his vows. It was
agreed between them that when he quitted the station, she
would quit her father and her home, and trust her future
happiness to an Englishman and a heretic.
It may be a matter of surprise to some of our readers that
the admiral should not have discovered the frequent visits
96
THE LIEUTENANT
of the Enterprise to Porto Rico, as Edward was obliged to
bring- his log for examination every time that he returned ;
but the admiral 'was satisfied with Edward's conduct, and
his anxiety to cruise when there was nothing else for him
to do. His logs were brought on shore to the admiral's
secretary, carefully rolled and sealed up. The admiral's
secretary threw the packages on one side, and thought no
more of the matter, and Edward had always a ready story
to tell when he took his seat at the admiral's dinner-table ;
besides, he is a very unfit person to command a vessel who
does not know how to write a log that will bear an investiga-
tion. A certain latitude is always allowed in every degree
of latitude as well as longitude.
The Enterprise had been despatched to Antigua, and
Edward thought this an excellent opportunity to pay a
visit to Clara d'Alfarez : he therefore, upon his return, hove-
to oft" the usual headland, and soon perceived the white
curtain thrown out of the window.
" There it is, sir," said one of the midshipmen who was
near him for he had been there so often that the whole
crew of the Enterprise were aware of his attachment "she
has shown her flag of truce."
" A truce to your nonsense, Mr. Warren," replied Edward,
laughing; "how came you to know anything about.it?"
"I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that
I shall have to go on shore and wait for you to-night."
" That's not unlikely ; but let- draw the foresheet ; we must
now get behind the headland."
The youngster was right : that evening, a little before
dark, he attended his commander on shore, the Enterprise
lying to with a lantern at her peak.
"Once more, dearest Clara!" said Edward, as he threw
off her long veil and pressed her in his arms.
"Yes, Edward, once more but I am afraid only once
more ; for my maid, Inez, has been dangerously ill, and has
confessed to Friar Ricardo. I fear ranch that, in her fright
97 o
THE PIRATE
(for she thought that she was dying), she has told all. She is
better now."
" Why should you imagine so, Clara ? "
" Oh, you know not what a frightened fool that Inez is
when she is ill ! Our religion is not like yours."
" No, dear, it is not ; but I will teach you a better."
" Hush, Edward, you must not say that. Holy Virgin !
if Friar Ricardo should hear you ! I think that Inez must
have told him, for he fixes his dark eyes upon me so earnestly.
Yesterday he observed to me that I had not confessed."
" Tell him to mind his own business."
" That is his business, and I was obliged to confess to
him last night. I told him a great many things, and then
he asked if that was all. His eyes went through me. I
trembled as I uttered an untruth, for I said it was."
" I confess my sins but to my Maker, Clara ! and I confess
my love but to you. Follow my plan, dearest ! "
" I will half obey you, Edward. I will not tell my love."
"And sins you have none, Clara; so you will obey me
in all."
" Hush, Edward, you must not say that. We all have
sins ; and oh ! what a grievous sin they say it is to love you,
who are a heretic ! Holy Virgin, pardon me ! but I could
not help.it."
"If that is your only sin, dearest, I can safely give you
absolution."
"Nay, Edward, don't joke, but hear me. If Inez has
confessed, they will look for me here, and we must not meet
again at least not in this place. You know the little bay
behind the rock, it is not much farther off, and there is a
cave where I can wait : another time it must be there."
"It shall be there, dearest; but is it not too near the
beach ? will you not be afraid of the men in the boat, who
must see you."
"But we can leave the beach. It is Ricardo alone that
I am in dread of, and the Donna Maria. Merciful Heaven !
THE LIEUTENANT
should ray father know it all, we should be lost be separated
for ever ! " and Clara laid her forehead on Edward's shoulder,
as her tears fell fast.
" There is nought to fear, Clara. Hush ! I heard a rustling
in those orange-trees. Listen ! "
" Yes ! yes ! " whispered Clara hastily ; " there is some one.
Away ! dear Edward, away ! "
Clara sprang from his side, and hastened up the grove.
Edward made his retreat, and, flying down the rocky and
narrow path through the underwood, was soon on the beach
and into his boat. The Enterprise arrived at headquarters,
and Edward reported himself to the admiral.
" I have work for you, Mr. Templemore," said the admiral ;
"you must be ready to proceed on service immediately.
We've found your match."
" I hope I may find her, sir," replied the lieutenant.
" I hope so, too ; for, if you give a good account of her,
it will put another swab on your shoulder. The pirate
schooner, which has so long infested the Atlantic, has been
seen and chased off Barbadoes by the Amelia ; but it appears
that there is not a vessel in the squadron which can come near
her unless it be the Enterprise. She has since captured two
West Indiamen, and was seen steering with them towards
the coast of Guiana. Now, I am going to give you thirty
additional hands, and send you after her."
" Thank you, sir," replied Edward, his countenance beam-
ing with delight.
" How soon will you be ready ? " inquired the admiral.
"To-morrow morning, sir."
" Very good. Tell Mr. Hadley to bring me the order
for the men and your sailing orders, and I will sign them ;
but recollect, Mr. Templemore, you will have an awkward
customer. Be prudent brave I know you to be."
Edward Templemore promised everything, as most people
do in such cases ; and before the next evening the Enterprise
was well in the offing, under a heavy press of saiL
99
THE PIRATE
CHAPTER XIII
THE LANDING
_L HE property of Don Cumanos, to which he had retired
with his family, accompanied by Francisco, extended from
the mouth of, to many miles up, the Magdalen river. It was
a fine alluvial soil, forming one vast strip of rich meadow,
covered with numerous herds of cattle. The house was not
a hundred yards from the banks of this magnificent stream,
and a small but deep creek ran up to the adjacent buildings ;
for Don Cumanos had property even more valuable, being
proprietor of a gold mine near the town of Jambrano, abont
eight miles farther up, and which mine had latterly become
exceedingly productive. The ore was brought down the
river in boats, and smelted in the outhouses near the creek
to which we have just referred.
It will be necessary to observe that the establishment of
the noble Spaniard was numerous, consisting of nearly one
hundred persons, employed in the smelting-house or attached
to the household.
For some time Francisco remained here happy and con-
tented ; he had become the confidential supervisor of Don
Cumanos' household, proved himself worthy of a trust so
important, and was considered as one of the family.
One morning, as Francisco was proceeding down to the
smelting-house to open the hatches of the small decked boats
which had arrived from Jambrario with ore, and which were
invariably secured with a padlock by the superintendent
above, to which Don Cumanos had a corresponding key, one
of the chief men informed him that a vessel had anchored off
the mouth of the river the day before, and weighed again
early that morning, and that she was now standing off and on.
" From Carthagena, probably, beating up," replied Fran-
cisco.
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THE LANDING
"Valga me Dios, if I know that, sir/' said Diego. "I
should have thought nothing about it ; but Giacomo and
Pedro, who went out to fish last night, as usual, instead of
coming back before midnight, have not been heard of since."
" Indeed ! that is strange. Did they ever stay so long
before ?"
" Never, sir ; and they have fished together now for seven
years."
Francisco gave the key to the man, who opened the locks
of the hatches, and returned it.
"There she is!" cried the man; the head-sails making
their appearance as the vessel opened to their view from the
projecting point distant about four miles. Francisco directed
his eye towards her, and, without further remark, hastened
to the house.
" Well, Francisco," said Don Cumanos, who was stirring a
small cup of chocolate, "what's the news this morning ?"
"The Nostra Senora del Carmen and the Aguilla have
arrived, and I have just unlocked the hatches. There is a
vessel off the point which requires examination, and I have
come for the telescope."
" Requires examination ! Why, Francisco ? "
" Because Giacomo and Pedro, who went fishing last night,
have not returned, and there are no tidings of them."
" That is strange ! But how is this connected with the
vessel ? "
" That I will explain as soon as I have had an examination
of her," replied Francisco, who had taken up the telescope,
and was drawing out the tube. Francisco fixed the glass
against the sill of the window, and examined the vessel some
time in silence.
" Yes ! by the living God, it is the Avenger, and no other ! "
exclaimed he, as he removed the telescope from his eye.
" Eh ? " cried Don Cumanos.
"It is the pirate vessel the Avenger I'll forfeit my life
upon it ! Don Cumanos, you must be prepared. I know that
101
THE PIRATE
they have long talked of a visit to this quarter, and anticipate
great booty, and they have those on board who know the
coast well. The disappearance of your two men convinces
me that they sent up their boats last night to reconnoitre, and
have captured them. Torture will extract the information
which the pirates require, and I have little doubt but that
the attack will be made when they learn how much bullion
there is at present on your premises."
" You may be right," replied Don Cumanos thoughtfully ;
" that is, provided you are sure that it is the pirate vessel."
" Sure, Don Cumanos ! I know every timber and plank in
her; there is not a rope nor a block but I can recognise.
At the distance of four miles, with such a glass as this, I can
discover every little variety in her rigging from other craft.
I will swear to her," repeated Francisco, once more looking
through the telescope.
" And if they attack, Francisco ? "
"We must defend ourselves, and, I trust, beat them off.
They will come in their boats, and at night. If they were
to run in the schooner by daylight and anchor abreast of us,
we should have but a poor chance. But they little think
that I am here, and that they are recognised. They will
attack this night, I rather think."
" And what do you then propose, Francisco ? "
"That we should send all the females away to Don
Teodoro's it is but five miles and call the men together as
soon as possible. We are strong enough to beat them off if
we barricade the house. They cannot land more than from
ninety to one hundred men, as some must remain in charge
of the schooner ; and we can muster quite as many. It may
be as well to promise our men a reward if they do their
duty."
" That is all right enough ; and the bullion we have
here ? "
" Here we had better let it remain ; it will take too much
time to remove it, and, besides, will weaken our force by the
102
THE LANDING
men who must be in charge of it. The outhouses must be
abandoned, and everything which is of consequence taken
from them. Fire them they will, in all probability. At all
events we have plenty of time before us, if we begin at
once."
" Well, Francisco, I shall make you commandant, and
leave the arrangements to you, while I go and speak to
Donna Isidora. Send for the men and speak to them ;
promise them rewards, and act as if you were ordering upon
your own responsibility."
"I trust I shall prove myself worthy of your confidence,
sir," replied Francisco.
" Carambo ! " exclaimed the old Don, as he left the room ;
" but it is fortunate you are here. We might all have been
murdered in our beds."
Francisco sent for the head men of the establishment, and
told them what he was convinced they would have to expect ;
and he then explained to them his views. The rest were all
summoned ; and Francisco pointed out to them the little
mercy they would receive if the pirates were not repulsed,
and the rewards which were promised by Don Cumanos if
they did their duty.
Spaniards are individually brave ; and, encouraged by
Francisco, they agreed that they would defend the property
to the last.
The house of Don Cumanos was well suited to resist an
attack of this description, in which musketry only was ex-
pected to be employed. It w r as a long parallelogram of stone
walls, with a wooden veranda on the first floor, for it was
only one story high. The windows on the first story were
more numerous, but at the basement there were but two, and
no other opening but the door in the whole line of building.
It was of a composite architecture, between the Morisco ar 1
the Spanish. If the lower part of the house, which was 01
stone, could be secured from entrance, the assailants would,
of course, fight under a great disadvantage. The windows
103
THE PIRATE
below were first secured by piling a heavy mass of stones
in the interior of the rooms against them, rising to the
ceiling from a base like the segment of a pyramid, extending
to the opposite side of the chamber ; and every preparation
was made for effectually barricading the door before night.
Ladders were then fixed to ascend to the veranda, which was
rendered musket-proof nearly as high as its railings, to protect
the men. The Donna Isidora, and the women of the estab-
lishment, were in the afternoon despatched to Don Teodoro's;
and, at the request of Francisco, joined to the entreaties of
Donna Isidora, Don Cumanos was persuaded to accompany
them. The Don called his men, and telling them that he
left Francisco in command, expected them to do their duty ;
and then shaking hands with him, the cavalcade was soon
lost in the woods behind the narrow meadows which skirted
the river.
There was no want of muskets and ammunition. Some
were employed casting bullets, and others in examining the
arms which had long been laid by. Before evening all was
ready ; every man had received his arms and ammunition ;
the flints had been inspected ; and Francisco had time to pay
more attention to the schooner, which had during the day
increased her distance from the land, but was not again
standing in for the shore. Half-an-hour before dusk, when
within three miles, she wore round and put her head to the
offing.
"They'll attack this night," said Francisco, "I feel almost
positive : their yards and stay-tackles are up, all ready for
hoisting out the long-boat."
" Let them come, seiior ; we will give them a warm recep-
tion," replied Diego, the second in authority.
It was soon too dark to perceive the vessel. Francisco and
Diego ordered every man, but five, into the house ; the door
was firmly barricaded, and some large pieces of rock, which
had been rolled into the passage, piled against it. Francisco
then posted the five men down the banks of the river, at a
104
THE LANDING
hundred yards' distance from each other, to give notice of the
approach of the boats. It was about ten o'clock at night
when Francisco and Diego descended the ladder and went to
examine their outposts.
"Senor," said Diego, as he and Francisco stood on the
bank of the river, "at what hour is.it your idea that these
villains will make their attempt ? "
"That is difficult to say. If the same captain commands
them who did when I was on board of her, it will not be
until after the moon is down, which will not be till midnight ;
but should it be any other who is in authority, they may not
be so prudent."
" Holy Virgin ! senor, were you ever on board of that
vessel ? "
"Yes, Diego, I was, and for a long while too; but not
with my own good will. Had I not been on board I never
should have recognised her."
" Very true, senor ; then we may thank the saints that you
have once been a pirate."
" I hope that I never was that, Diego," replied Francisco,
smiling ; " but I have been a witness to dreadful proceedings
on board of that vessel, at the remembrance of which, even
now, my blood curdles."
To pass away the time, Francisco then detailed many scenes
of horror to Diego which he had witnessed when on board of
the Avenger ; and he was still in the middle of a narrative when
a musket was discharged by the farthermost sentinel.
" Hark, Diego ! "
Another, and another, nearer and nearer to them, gave
the signal that the boats were close at hand. In a few
minutes the men all came in, announcing that the pirates
were pulling up the stream in three boats, and were less than
a quarter of a mile from the landing-place.
" Diego, go to the house with these men, and see that all
is ready," said Francisco. "I will wait here a little longer;
but do not fire till I come to you."
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THE PIRATE
Diego and the men departed, arid Francisco was left on
the beach alone.
In another minute the sound of the oars was plainly dis-
tinguishable, and Francisco's ears were directed to catch, if
possible, the voices. "Yes," thought he, "you come with
the intentions of murder and robbery, but you will, through
me, be disappointed." As the boats approached, he heard
the voice of Hawkhurst. The signal muskets fired had told
the pirates that they were discovered, and that in all proba-
bility they would meet with resistance ; silence was, there-
fore, no longer of any advantage.
" Oars, my lads ! oars ! " cried Hawkhurst.
One boat ceased rowing, and soon afterwards the two
others. The whole of them were now plainly seen by Fran-
cisco, at the distance of about one cable's length from where
he stood ; and the clear still night carried the sound of their
voices along the water.
" Here is a ci'eek, sir," said Hawkhurst, " leading up to
those buildings. Would it not be better to land there, as,
if they are not occupied, they will prove a protection to us
if we have a hard fight for it ? "
" Very true, Hawkhurst," replied a voice, which Francisco
immediately recognised to be that of Cain.
"He is alive, then," thought Francisco, "and his blood is
not yet upon my hands."
" Give way, my lads ! " cried Hawkhurst.
The boats dashed up the creek, and Francisco hastened
back to the house.
"Now, my lads," said he, as he sprang up the ladder, "you
must be resolute ; we have to deal with desperate men. I
have heard the voices of the captain and the chief mate; so
there is no doubt as to its being the pirate. The boats are
up the creek and will land behind the out-buildings. Haul
up these ladders, and lay them fore and aft on the veranda ;
and do not fire without taking a good aim. Silence ! my
men silence ! Here they come."
106
THE LANDING
The pirates were now seen advancing from the out-
buildings in sti-ong force. In the direction in which they
came, it was only from the side of the veranda, at which not
more than eight or ten men could be placed, that the enemy
could be repulsed. Francisco therefore gave orders that as
soon as some of the men had fired they should retreat and
load their muskets, to make room for others.
When the pirates had advanced half-way to the house, on
the clear space between it and the out-buildings, Francisco
gave the word to fire. The volley was answered by another,
and a shout from the pirates, who, with Hawkhurst and Cain
at their head, now pressed on, but not until they had received
a second discharge from the Spaniards, and the pirates had
fired in retimi. As the Spaniards could not at first fire a
volley of more than a dozen muskets at a time, their oppo-
nents imagined their force to be much less than it really was.
They now made other arrangements. They spread them-
selves in a semicircle in front of the veranda, and kept up a
continued galling fire. This was returned by the party under
Francisco for nearly a quarter of an hour; arid as all the
muskets were now called into action, the pirates found out
that they had a more formidable enemy to cope with than they
had anticipated.
It was now quite dark, and not a figure was to be distin-
guished, except by the momentary flashing of the firearms.
Cain and Hawkhurst, leaving their men to continue the
attack, had gained the house, and a position under the
veranda. Examining the windows and door, there appeared
but little chance of forcing an entrance ; but it immediately
occurred to them that under the veranda their men would not
be exposed, and that they might fire through the wooden
floor of it upon those above. Hawkhurst hastened away, and
returned with about half the men, leaving the others to
continue their attack as before. The advantage of this
manoeuvre was soon evident. The musket-balls of the pirates
pierced the planks, and wounded many of the Spaniards
107
THE PIRATE
severely ; and Francisco was at last obliged to order his men
to retreat into the house, and fire out of the windows.
But even this warfare did not continue ; for the supporting
pillars of the veranda being of wood, and very dry, they were
set fire to by the pirates. Gradually the flames wound round
them, and their forked tongues licked the balustrade. At
last the whole of the veranda was in flames. This was a
great advantage to the attacking party, who could now dis-
tinguish the Spaniards without their being so clearly seen
themselves. Many were killed and wounded. The smoke
and heat became so intense in the upper story that the men
could no longer remain there ; and, by the advice of Francisco,
they retreated to the basement of the house.
" What shall we do now, senor ? " said Diego, with a grave
face.
" Do ? " replied Francisco ; " they have burnt the veranda,
that is all. The house will not take fire ; it is of solid stone :
the roof indeed may ; but still here we are. I do not see
that they are more advanced than they were before. As soon
as the veranda has burnt down, we must return above, and
commence firing again from the windows."
" Hark, sir ! they are trying the door."
" They may try a long while ; they should have tried the
door while the veranda protected them from our sight. At
soon as it is burnt, we shall be able to drive them away from
it. I will go up again and see how things are."
" No, senor ; it is of no use. Why expose yourself now
that the flames are so bright ? "
" I must go and see if that is the case, Diego. Put all the
wounded men in the north chamber, it will be the safest, and
more out of the way."
Francisco ascended the stone staircase, and gained the
upper story. The rooms were filled with smoke, and he
could distinguish nothing. An occasional bullet whistled past
him. He walked towards the windows, and sheltered himself
behind the wall betwe n them.
108
THE LANDING
The flames were not so violent, and the heat more bearable.
In a short time a crash, and then another, told him that the
veranda had fallen in. He looked through the window. The
mass of lighted embers had fallen down in front of the house,
and had, for a time, driven away the assailants. Nothing was
left of the veranda but the burning ends of the joists fixed in
the wall above the windows, and the still glowing remains of
the posts which once supported it.
But the smoke from below now cleared away, and the
discharge of one or two muskets told Francisco that he was
perceived by the enemy.
" The roof is safe," thought he, as he withdrew from the
window; "and now I do not know whether the loss of the
veranda may not prove a gain to us."
What were the intentions of the pirates it was difficult to
ascertain. For a time they had left off firing, and Francisco
returned to his comrades. The smoke had gradually cleared
away, and they were able to resume their positions above ; but
as the pirates did not fire, they, of course, could do nothing,
as it was only by the flashing of the muskets that the enemy
was to be distinguished. No further attempts were made at
the door or windows below ; and Francisco in vain puzzled
himself as to the intended plans of the assailants.
Nearly half-an-hour of suspense passed away. Some of
the Spaniards were of opinion that they had retreated to
their boats and gone away, but Francisco knew them better.
All he could do was to remain above, and occasionally look
out to discover their motions. Diego, and one or two more,
remained with him ; the other men were -kept below, that
they might be out of danger.
" Holy Francis ! but this has been a dreadful night, senor '
How many hours until daylight ? " said Diego.
" Two hours at least, I should think," replied Francisco ;
"but the affair will be decided before that."
" The saints protect us ! See, senor, are they not
coming ? "
109
THE PIRATE
Francisco looked through the gloom, in the direction of
the out-buildings, and perceived a group of men advancing.
A few moments and he could clearly make them out.
" Yes, truly, Diego ; and they have made ladders, which
they are carrying. They intend to storm the windows.
Call them up ; and now we must fight hard indeed."
The Spaniards hastened up and filled the room above,
which had three windows in the front, looking towards the
river, and which had been sheltered by the veranda.
<e Shall we fire now, senor ? "
" No no ; do not fire till your muzzles are at their hearts.
They cannot mount more than two at a time at each window.
Recollect, my lads, that you must now fight hard, for your
lives will not be spared ; they will show no quarter and
no mercy."
The ends of the rude ladders now made their appearance
above the sill of each window. They had been hastily, yet
firmly, constructed ; and were nearly as wide as the windows.
A loud cheer was followed by a simultaneous mounting of
the ladders.
Francisco was at the centre window, when Hawkhurst made
his appearance, sabre in hand. He struck aside a musket
aimed at him, and the ball whizzed harmless over the broad
water of the river. Another step, and he would have been
in, when Francisco fired his pistol ; the ball entered the left
shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he dropped his hold. Before he
could regain it, a Spaniard charged at him with a musket,
and threw him back. He fell, bearing down with him one
or two of his comrades, who had been following him up the
ladder.
Francisco felt as if the attack at that window was of little
consequence after the fall of Hawkhurst, whose voice he had
recognised ; and he hastened to the one on the left, as he
had heard Cain encouraging his men in that direction. He
was not wrong in his conjecture ; Cain was at the window,
attempting to force an entrance, but was opposed by Diego
110
THE LANDING
and other resolute men. But the belt of the pirate captain
was full of pistols, and he had already fired three with effect.
Diego and the two best men were wounded, and the others
who opposed him were alarmed at his giant proportions.
Francisco rushed to attack him ; but what was the force of
so young a man against the herculean power of Cain ? Still
Francisco's left hand was at the throat of the pirate, and the
pistol was pointed in his right, when a flash of another pistol,
fired by one who followed Cain, threw its momentary vivid
light upon the features of Francisco, as he cried out, " Blood
for blood ! " It was enough ; the pirate captain uttered a yell
of terror at the supposed supernatural appearance ; and he
fell from the ladder in a fit amongst the still burning embers
of the veranda.
The fall of their two chiefs, and the determined resistance
of the Spaniards, checked the impetuosity of the assailants.
They hesitated ; and they at last retreated, bearing away
with them their wounded. The Spaniards cheered, and, led
by Franchco, followed them down the ladders, and in their
turn became the assailants. Still the pirates' retreat was
orderly : they fired, and retired rank behind rank successively.
They kept the Spaniards at bay, until they had arrived at the
boats, when a charge was made, and a severe conflict ensued.
But the pirates had lost too many men, and, without their
commander, felt dispirited. Hawkhurst was still on his legs,
and giving his orders as coolly as ever. He espied Francisco,
and rushing at him, while the two parties were opposed
muzzle to muzzle, seized him by his collar and dragged him
in amongst the pirates. " Secure him, at all events ! " cried
Hawkhurst, as they slowly retreated and gained the out-
houses. Francisco was overpowered and hauled into one of
the boats, all of which in a few minutes afterwards were
pulling with all their might to escape from the muskets of
the Spaniards, who followed the pirates by the banks of the
river, annoying them in their retreat.
Ill
THE PIRATE
CHAPTER XIV
THE MEETING
1 HE pirates returned to their vessel discomfited. Those
on board, who were prepared to hoist in ingots of precious
metal, had to receive nought but wounded men, and many
of their comrades had remained dead on the shore. Their
captain was melancholy and downcast. Hawkhurst was badly
wounded, and obliged to be carried below as soon as he came
on board. The only capture which they had made was their
former associate Francisco, who, by the last words spoken by
Hawkhurst as he was supported to his cabin, was ordered to
be put in irons. The boats were hoisted in without noise,
and a general gloom prevailed. All sail was then made
upon the schooner, and when day dawned she was seen by
the Spaniards far away to the northward.
The report was soon spread through the schooner that
Francisco had been the cause of their defeat ; and although
this was only a surmise, still, as they considered that had
he not recognised the vessel the Spaniards would not have
been prepared, they had good grounds for what had swelled
into an assertion. He became, therefore, to many of them,
an object of bitter enmity, and they looked forward with
pleasure to his destruction, which his present confinement
they considered but the precursor of.
" Hist ! Massa Francisco," said a low voice near to where
Francisco sat on the chest. Francisco turned round and
beheld the Krouman, his old friend.
" Ah ! Pompey, are you all still on board ? " said Francisco.
" All ! no," replied the man, shaking his head ; " some die
some get away only four Kroumen left. Massa Francisco,
how you come back again ? Everybody tink you dead. I
say no, not dead ab charm with Lim ab book."
" If that was my charm, I have it still," replied Francisco,
112
THE MEETING
taking the Bible out of his vest ; for, strange to say, Francisco
himself had a kind of superstition relative to that Bible, and
had put it into his bosom previous to the attack made by the
pirates.
" Dat very good, Massa Francisco ; den you quite safe.
Here come Johnson he very bad man. I go away."
In the meantime Cain had retired to his cabin with feelings
scarcely to be analysed. He was in a bewilderment. Not-
withstanding the wound he had received by the hand of
Francisco, he would never have sanctioned Hawkhurst put-
ting him on shore on a spot which promised nothing but a
lingering and miserable death. Irritated as he had been by
the young man's open defiance, he loved him loved him
much more than he was aware of himself; and when he had
recovered sufficiently from his wound, and had been informed
where Francisco had been sent on shore, he quarrelled with
Hawkhurst, and reproached him bitterly and sternly, in
language which Hawkhurst never forgot or forgave. The
vision of the starving lad haunted Cain, and rendered him
miserable. His affection for him, now that he was, as he
supposed, lost for ever, increased with tenfold force ; and
since that period Cain had never been seen to smile. He
became more gloomy, more ferocious than ever, and the men
trembled when he appeared on deck.
The apparition of Francisco after so long an interval, and
in such an unexpected quarter of the globe, acted as we
have before described upon Cain. When he was taken to
the boat he was still confused in his ideas, and it was not
until they were nearly on board that he perceived that this
young man was indeed at his side. He could have fallen on
his neck and kissed him ; for Francisco had become to him a
capture more prized than all the wealth of the Indies. But
one pure, good feeling was unextinguished in the bosom of
Cain ; stained with every crime with his hands so deeply
imbrueJ in blood at enmity with all the rest of the world,
that one feeling burnt bright and clear, and was not to be
113 H
THE PIRATE
quenched. It might have proved a beacon-light to steer him
back to repentance and to good works.
But there were other feelings which also crowded upon
the mind of the pirate captain. He knew Francisco's firm-
ness and decision. By some inscrutable means, which Cain
considered as supernatural,, Francisco had obtained the know-
ledge, and had accused him, of his mother's death. Would
not the affection which he felt for the young man be met
with hatred and defiance ? He was but too sui-e that it
would. And then his gloomy, cruel disposition would re-
assume its influence, and he thought of revenging the attack
upon his life. His astonishment at the reappearance of
Francisco was equally great, and he trembled at the sight
of him, as if he were his accusing and condemning spirit.
Thus did he wander from one fearful fancy to another, until
he at last summoned up resolution to send for him.
A morose, dark man, whom Francisco had not seen when
he was before in the schooner, obeyed the commands of the
captain. The irons were unlocked, and Francisco was brought
down into the cabin. The captain rose and shut the door.
" I little thought to see you here, Francisco," said Cain.
"Probably not," replied Francisco boldly, "but you have
me again in your power, and may now wreak your ven-
geance."
" I feel none, Francisco ; nor would I have suffered you
to have been put on shore as you were, had I known of it.
Even now that our expedition has failed through your
means, I feel no anger towards you, although I shall have
some difficulty in preserving you from the enmity of others.
Indeed, Francisco, I am glad to find that you are alive, and
I have bitterly mourned your loss ; " and Cain extended his
hand.
But Francisco folded his arms, and was silent.
"Are you then so unforgiving?" said the captain. "You
know that I tell the truth."
" I believe that you state the truth, Captain Cain, for you
114
THE MEETING
are too bold to lie ; and, as far as I am concerned, you have
all the forgiveness you may wish : but I cannot take that
hand ; nor are our accounts yet settled."
" What would you more ? Cannot we be friends again ?
I do not ask you to remain on board. You are free to go
where you please. Come, Francisco, take my hand, and let
us forget what is past."
"The hand that is imbrued with my mother's blood, per-
haps ! " exclaimed Francisco. " Never ! "
" Not so, by G d ! " exclaimed Cain. " No, no ; not
quite so bad as that. In my mood I struck your mother ;
I grant it. I did not intend to injure her, but I did, and she
died. I will not lie that is the fact. And it is also the
fact that I wept over her, Francisco ; for I loved her as I do
you." (" It was a hasty, bitter blow, that," continued Cain,
soliloquising, with his hand to his forehead, and unconscious
of Francisco's presence at the moment. " It made me what
I am, for it made me reckless.") "Francisco," said Cain,
raising his head, " I was bad, but I was no pirate when your
mother lived. There is a curse upon me ; that which I
love most I treat the worst. Of all the world, I loved your
mother most; yet did she from me receive much injury, and
at last I caused her death. Next to your mother, whose
memory I at once revere and love, and tremble when I think
of (and each night does she appear to me), I have loved you,
Francisco, for you, like her, have an angel's feelings ; yet
have 1 treated you as ill. You thwarted me, and you were
right. Had you been wrong, I had not cared ; but you were
right, and it maddened me. Your appeals by day your
mother's in my dreams "
Francisco's heart was softened ; if not repentance, there was
at least contrition. " Indeed I pity you," replied Francisco.
" You must do more, Francisco ; you must be friends with
me," said Cain, again extending his hand.
" I cannot take that hand, it is too deeply dyed in blood/'
replied Francisco.
J15
THE PIRATE
" Well, well, so would have said your mother. But hear
me, Francisco," said Cain, lowering his voice to a wjiisper,
lest he should be overheard ; " I am tired of this life per-
haps sorry for what I have done I wish to leave it have
wealth in plenty concealed where others know not. Tell me,
Francisco, shall we both quit this vessel, and live together
happily and without doing wrong? You shall share all,
Francisco. Say, now, does that please you ? "
"Yes; it pleases me to hear that you will abandon your
lawless life, Captain Cain : but share your wealth I cannot,
for how has it been gained ? "
" It cannot be returned, Francisco ; I will do good with it.
I will indeed, Francisco. I will repent;" and again the
hand was extended.
Francisco hesitated.
" I do, so help me God ! I do repent, Francisco ! " ex-
claimed the pirate captain.
" And I, as a Christian, do forgive you all," replied Fran-
cisco, taking the still extended hand. " May God forgive
you too ! "
" Amen ! " replied the pirate solemnly, covering his face
up in his hands.
In this position he remained some minutes, Francisco
watching him in silence. At last the face was uncovered,
and, to the surprise of Francisco, a tear was on the cheek
of Cain and his eyes suffused with moisture. Francisco no
longer waited for the hand to be extended ; he walked up
to the captain, and taking him by the hand, pressed it
warmly.
" God bless you, boy ! God bless you ! " said Cain ; " but
leave me now."
Francisco returned on deck with a light and grateful heart.
His countenance at once told those who were near him that
he was not condemned, and many who dared not before take
notice of, now saluted him. The man who had taken him
out of irons looked round ; he was a creature of Hawkhurst,
116
THE MEETING
and he knew not how to act. Francisco observed him, and,
with a wave of the hand, ordered him below. That Francisco
was again in authority was instantly perceived, and the first
proof of it was, that the new second mate reported to him
that there was a sail on the weather bow.
Francisco took the glass to examine her. It was a large
schooner under all sail. Not wishing that any one should
enter the cabin but himself, he went down to the cabin-door
and knocked before he entered, and reported the vessel.
" Thank you, Francisco ; you must take Hawkhurst's duty
for the present it shall not be for long ; and fear not that
I shall make another capture. I swear to you I will not,
Francisco. But this schooner I know very well what she
is ; she has been looking after us some time ; and a week
ago, Francisco, I was anxious to meet her, that I might shed
more blood. Now I will do all I can to avoid her, and escape.
I can do no more, Francisco. I must not be taken."
"There I cannot blame you. To avoid her will be easy,
I should think ; the Avenger outsails everything."
" Except, I believe, the Enterprise, which is a sister vessel.
By heaven ! it's a fair match," continued Cain, his feelings
of combativeness returning for a moment; "and it will look
like a craven to refuse the fight : but fear not, Francisco I
have promised you, and I shall keep my word."
Cain went on deck, and surveyed the vessel through the
glass.
" Yes, it must be her," said he aloud, so as to be heard
by the pirates ; " she has been sent out by the admiral on
purpose, full of his best men. What a pity we are so short-
handed ! "
"There's enough of us, sir," observed the boatswain.
" Yes," replied Cain, " if there was anything but hard
blows to be got ; but that is all, and I cannot spare more
men. Ready about !" continued he, walking aft.
The Enterprise, for she was the vessel in pursuit, was then
about five miles distant, steering for the Avenger, who was
J17
THE PIRATE
on a wind. As soon as the Avenger tacked, the Enterprise
took in her topmast studding-sail, and hauled her wind. This
brought the Enterprise well on the weather-quarter of the
Avenger, who now made all sail. The pirates, who had had
quite enough of fighting, and were not stimulated by the
presence of Hawkhurst, or the wishes of their captain, now
showed as much anxiety to avoid as they usually did to seek
a combat.
At the first trial of sailing between the two schooners there
was no perceptible difference ; for half-an-hour they both
continued on a wind, and when Edward Templemore examined
his sextant a second time, he could not perceive that he had
gained upon the Avenger one cable's length.
" We will keep away half a point," said Edward to his
second in command. " We can afford that, and still hold
the weather-gage."
The Enterprise was kept away, and increased her speed :
they neared the Avenger more than a quarter of a mile.
" They are nearing us," observed Francisco ; " we must
keep away a point."
Away went the Avenger, and would have recovered her
distance, but the Enterprise was again steered more off" the
wind.
Thus did they continue altering their course until the
studding-sails below and aloft were set by both, and the
position of the schooners was changed ; the Enterprise now
being on the starboard instead of the larboard quarter of
the Avenger. The relative distance between the two schooners
was, however, nearly the same, that is, about three miles
and a half from each other; and there was every prospect
of a long and weary chase on the part of the Enterprise, who
again kept away a point to near the Avenger. Both vessels
were now running to the eastward.
It was about an hour before dark that another sail hove
in sight right ahead of the Avenger, and was clearly made
out to be a frigate. The pirates were alarmed at this
118
THE MEETING
unfortunate circumstance, as there was little doubt but that
she would prove a British cruiser ; and, if not, they had
equally reason to expect that she would assist in their
capture. She had evidently perceived the two schooners,
and had made all sail, tacking every quarter of an hour so
as to keep her relative position. The Enterprise, who had
also made out the frigate, to attract her attention, although
not within range of the Avenger, commenced firing with
her long gun.
"This is rather awkward," observed Cain.
"It will be dark in less than an hour," observed Francisco;
"and that is our only chance."
Cain reflected a minute.
" Get the long gun ready, my lads ! We will return her
fire, Francisco, and hoist American colours ; that will puzzle
the frigate, at all events, and the night may do the rest."
The long gun of the Avenger was ready.
" I would not fire the long gun," observed Francisco ; " it
will show our force, and will give no reason for our attempt
to escape. Now, if we were to fire our broadside guns, the
difference of report between them and the one of large
calibre fired by the other schooner would induce them to
think that we are an American vessel."
"Very true," replied Cain; "and, as America is at peace
with all the world, that our antagonist is a pirate. Hold
fast the long gun, there, and unship the starboard ports.
See that the ensign blows out clear."
The Avenger commenced firing an occasional gun from
her broadside, the reports of which were hardly to be heard
by those on board of the frigate ; while the long gun of the
Enterprise reverberated along the water, and its loud resonance
was swept by the wind to the frigate to leeward.
Such was the state of affairs when the sun sank down in
the wave, and darkness obscurei the vessel s from each other
sight, except with the assistance of the night-telescopes.
" What do you ; repose to c'o, Captain Cajn f " said Francisco.
THE PIRATE
" I have made up my mind to do a bold thing. I will run
down to the frigate, as if for shelter ; tell him that the other
vessel is a pirate, and claim his protection. Leave me to
escape afterwards; the moon will not rise till nearly one
o'clock."
" That will be a bold ruse indeed ; but suppose you are
once under her broadside, and she suspects you ? "
"Then I will show her my heels. I should care nothing
for her and her broadside if the schooner was not here. "
In an hour after dark the Avenger was close to the frigate,
having steered directly for her. She shortened sail gradually,
as if she had few hands on board ; and, keeping his men out
of sight, Cain ran under the stern of the frigate.
"Schooner ahoy ! What schooner is that ? "
"Eliza of Baltimore, from Carthagena," replied Cain, round-
ing to under the lee of the man-of-war, and then continuing :
" That vessel in chase is a pirate. Shall I send a boat on
board ? "
" No ; keep company with us."
" Ay, ay, sir," replied Cain.
" Hands about ship ! " now resounded with the boatswain's
whistle on board of the frigate, and in a minute they were
on the other tack. The Avenger also tacked and kept close
under the frigate's counter.
In the meantime Edward Templemore and those on board
of the Enterprise, who, by the course steered, had gradually
neared them, perceiving the motions of the two other vessels,
were quite puzzled. At one time they thought they had made
a mistake, and that it was not the pirate vessel ; at another
they surmised that the crew had mutinied and surrendered to
the frigate. Edward hauled his wind, and steered directly
for them, to ascertain what the real facts were. The captain
of the frigate, who had never lost sight of either vessel, was
equally astonished at the boldness of the supposed pirate.
" Surely the rascal does not intend to board us ? " said
he to the first lieutenant.
120
THE MEETING
" There is no saying, sir ; you know what a character he
has ; and some say there are three hundred men on board,
which is equal to our ship's company. Or perhaps, sir, he
will pass to windward of us, and give us a bi'oadside, and
be off in the wind's eye again."
"At all events we will have a broadside ready for him,"
replied the captain. " Clear away the starboard guns, and
take out the tompions. Pipe starboard watch to quarters."
The Enterprise closed with the frigate to windward, in-
tending to run round her stern and bring to on the same
tack.
" He does not shorten sail yet, sir," said the first lieutenant,
as the schooner appeared skimming along about a cable's
length on their weather bow.
" And she is full of men, sir," said the master, looking
at her through the night-glass.
" Fire a gun at her ! " said the captain.
Bang ! The smoke cleared away, and the schooner's fore-
topsail, which she was in the act of clewing up, lay over her
side. The shot had struck the foremast of the Enterprise,
and cut it in two below the catharpings. The Enterprise was,
for the time, completely disabled.
" Schooner ahoy ! What schooner is that ? "
" His Majesty's schooner Enterprise."
" Send a boat on board immediately."
" Ay, ay, sir."
" Turn the hands up ! Shorten sail ! "
The top-gallant and courses of the frigate were taken in,
and the mainsail hove to the mast.
" Signalman, whereabouts is that other schooner now ? "
" The schooner, sir ? On the quarter," replied the signal-
man, who, with everybody else on board, was so anxious about
the Enterprise that they had neglected to watch the motions
of the supposed American. The man had replied at random,
and he now jumped upon the signal-chests abaft to look for
her. But she was not to be seen. Cain, who had watched
121
THE PIRATE
all that passed between the other two vessels, and had been
prepared to slip off at a moment's warning, as soon as the
gun was fired at the other schooner, had wore round and
made all sail on a wind. The night-glass discovered her half
a mile astern ; and the ruse was immediately perceived.
The frigate filled and made sail, leaving Edward to return
on board for there was no time to stop for the boat tacked,
and gave chase. But the Avenger was soon in the wind's eye
of her ; and at daylight was no longer to be seen.
In the meantime, Edward Templemore had followed the
frigate as soon as he could set s:ul on his vessel, indignant
at his treatment, and vowing that he would demand a court-
martial. About noon the frigate rejoined him, when matters
were fully explained. Annoyed as they all felt at not having
captured the pirate, it was unanimously agreed, that by his
audacity and coolness he deserved to escape. It was found
that the mast of the Enterprise could be fished and scarfed,
so as to enable her to continue her cruise. The carpenters
of the frigate were sent on board ; and in two days the
injury was repaired, and Edward Templemore once more went
in pursuit of the Avenger.
CHAPTER XV
THE MISTAKE
_l HE Avenger stood under a press of sail to the northward.
She had left her pursuers far behind ; and there was not a
speck on the horizon, when, on the second morning, Francisco,
who had resumed his berth in the captain's cabin, went up
on deck. Notwithstanding the request of Cain, Francisco
refused to take any part in the command of the schooner,
considering himself as a passenger, or prisoner on parole.
He had not been on deck but a few minutes, when he
observed the two Spanish fishermen, belonging to the estab-
lishment of Don Cumanos, conversing together forward. Their
122
THE MISTAKE
capture had quite escaped his memory, and he went forward
to speak to them. Their surprise at seeing him was great,
until Francisco informed them of what had passed. They
then recounted what had occurred to them, and showed
their thumbs, which had been put into screws to torture from
them the truth. Francisco shuddered, but consoled them by
promising that they should soon be at liberty, and return to
their former master.
As Francisco returned from forward, he found Hawkhurst
on the deck. Their eyes met and flashed in enmity. Hawk-
hurst was pale from loss of blood, and evidently suffering;
but he had been informed of the apparent reconciliation
between Francisco and the captain, and he could no longer
remain in his bed. He knew, also, how the captain had
avoided the combat with the Enterprise ; and something told
him that there was a revolution of feeling in more than one
point. Suffering as he was, he resolved to be a spectator of
what passed, and to watch narrowly. For both Francisco
and Cain he had imbibed a deadly hatred, and was watching
for an opportunity to wreak his revenge. At present they
were too powerful ; but he felt that the time was coming
when he might be triumphant.
Francisco passed Hawkhurst without speaking.
"You are at liberty again, I see/' observed Hawkhurst
with a sneer.
" I am not, at all events, indebted to you for it," replied
Francisco haughtily ; "nor for my life either."
" No, indeed ; but I believe that I am indebted to you for
this bullet in my shoulder," replied the mate.
" You are," replied Francisco coolly.
"And depend upon it, the debt shall be repaid with
usury."
" I have no doubt of it, if ever it is in your power ; but I
fear you not."
As Francisco made this reply, the captain came up the
ladder. Hawkhurst turned away and walked forward.
123
THE PIRATE
"There is mischief in that man, Francisco/' said the
captain in an undertone ; " I hardly know whom to trust ;
but he must be watched. He is tampering Avith the men,
and has been for some time ; not that it is of much conse-
quence, if he does but remain quiet for a little while. The
command of this vessel he is welcome to very soon ; but if
he attempts too early "
" I have those I can trust to," replied Francisco. " Let us
go below."
Francisco sent for Pompey the Krouman, and gave him
his directions in the presence of the captain. That night,
to the surprise of all, Hawkhurst kept his watch ; and, not-
withstanding the fatigue, appeared every day to be rapidly
recovering from his wound.
Nothing occurred for several days, during which the
Avenger still continued her course. What the captain's in-
tentions were did not transpire; they were known only to
Francisco.
"We are very short of water, sir," reported Hawkhurst one
morning ; " shall we have enough to last us to where we are
going ? "
" How many days of full allowance have we on board ? "
" Not above twelve at the most."
"Then we must go on half allowance," replied Cain.
" The ship's company wish to know where we are going,
sir."
" Have they deputed you to ask the question ?"
"Not exactly, sir; but I wish to know myself," replied
Hawkhurst, with an insolent air.
" Turn the hands up," replied Cain ; " as one of the ship's
company under my orders, you will, with the others, receive
the information you require."
The crew of the pirate collected aft.
"My lads," said Cain, " I understand, from the first mate,
that you are anxious to know where you are going? In
reply, I acquaint you, that having so many wounded men on
124
THE MISTAKE
board, and so much plunder in the hold, I intend to repair to
our rendezvous when we were formerly in this part of the
world the Caicos. Is there any other question you may
wish to ask of me ? "
"Yes," replied Hawkhurst ; "we wish to know what your
intentions are relative to that young man, Francisco. We
have lost immense wealth ; we have now thirty men wounded
in the hammocks, and nine we left dead on the shore ; and I
have a bullet through my body ; all of which has been occa-
sioned by him. We demand justice ! "
Here Hawkhurst was supported by several of the pirates;
and there were many voices which repeated the cry of
" Justice ! "
"My men! you demand justice, and you shall have it,"
replied Cain. " This lad you all know well ; I have brought
him up as a child. He has always disliked our mode of life,
and has often requested to leave it, but has been refused.
He challenged me by our own laws, e Blood for blood !
He wounded me ; but he was right in his challenge, and
therefore I bear no malice. Had I been aware that he was
to have been sent on shore to die with hunger, I would not
have permitted it. What crime had he committed ? None ;
or, if any, it was against me. He was then sentenced to
death for no crime, and you yourselves exclaimed against it.
Is it not true ?"
" Yes yes," replied the majority of the pirates.
" By a miracle he escapes, and is put in charge of another
man's property. He is made a prisoner, and now you de-
mand justice. You shall have it. Allowing that his life is
forfeit for this offence, you have already sentenced him, and
left him to death unjustly, and therefore are bound in justice
to give his life in this instance. I ask it, my men, not only
as his right, but as a favour to your captain."
" Agreed ; it's all fair ! " exclaimed the majority o/ the
pirate's crew.
" My men, I thank you/' replied Cain ; " and in return, as
THE PIRATE
soon as we arrive at the Caicos, my share of the plunder on
board shall be divided among you."
This last observation completely turned the tables in favour
of the captain ; and those who had joined Hawkhurst now
sided with the captain. Hawkhurst looked like a demon.
" Let those who choose to be bought off take your money,"
replied he ; " but / mill not. Blood for blood I will have ;
and so I give you warning. That lad's life is mine, and have
it I will ! Prevent me, if you can ! " continued the mate,
holding up his clenched hand, and shaking it almost in the
pirate captain's face.
The blood mantled even to the forehead of Cain. One
moment he raised himself to his utmost height, then seizing
a handspike which lay near, he felled Hawkhurst to the
d,eck.
"Take that for your mutiny ! " exclaimed Cain, putting his
foot on Hawkhurst's neck. " My lads, I appeal to you. Is
this man worthy to be in command as mate ? Is he to
live ? "
" No ! no ! " cried the pirates. " Death ! "
Francisco stepped forward. " My men, you have granted
your captain one favour ; grant me another, which is the life
of this man. Recollect how often he has led you to con-
quest, and how brave and faithful he has been until now !
Recollect that he is suffering under his wound, which has
made him irritable. Command you he cannot any longer, as
he will never have the confidence of your captain ; but let
him live, and quit the vessel."
" Be it so, if you agree," replied Cain, looking at the men ;
" I do not seek his life."
The pirates consented. Hawkhurst rose slowly from the
deck, and was assisted below to his cabin. The second mate
was then appointed as the first, and the choice of the man to
fill up the vacancy was left to the pirate cre\v.
For three days after this scene all was quiet and orderly
on board of the pirate. Cain, now that he had more fully
126
1 Take that for your mutiny ! ' exclaimed Cain, putting his foot
on Hawkhurst's neck."
THE MISTAKE
made up his mind how to act, imparted to Francisco his
plans ; and his giving up to the men his share of the booty
still on board was, to Francisco, an earnest of his good in-
tentions. A cordiality, even, a kind of feeling which never
existed before, was created between them ; but of Francisco's
mother, and the former events of his own life, the pirate
never spoke. Francisco more than once put questions on the
subject ; the answer was, " You shall know some of these days,
Francisco, but not yet ; you would hate me too much ! "
The Avenger was now clear of the English isles, and with
light winds running down the shores of Porto Rico. In the
evening of the day on which they had made the land, the
schooner was becalmed about three miles from the shore, and
the new first mate proposed that he should land in the boat
and obtain a further supply of water from a fall which they
had discovered with the glasses. As this was necessary, Cain
gave his consent, and the boat quitted the vessel full of
breakers.
Now it happened that the Avenger lay becalmed abreast of
the country seat of Don d' Alfarez, the governor of the island.
Clara had seen the schooner ; and, as usual, had thrown out
the white curtain as a signal of recognition ; for there was no
perceptible difference, even to a sailor, at that distance, be-
tween the Avenger and the Enterprise. She had hastened
down to the beach, and hurried into the cave, awaiting the
arrival of Edward Templemore. The pirate boat landed at
the very spot of rendezvous, and the mate leaped out of the
boat. Clara flew to receive her Edward, and was instantly
seized by the mate, before she discovered her mistake.
" Holy Virgin ! who and what are you ? " cried she,
struggling to disengage herself.
"One who is very fond of a pretty girl!" replied the
pirate, still detaining her.
" Unhand me, wretch ! " cried Clara. " Are you aware
whom you are addressing ? "
" Not I ! nor do I care," replied the pirate.
1*7
THE PIRATE
"You will perhaps, sir, when you learn that I am the
daughter of the governor!" exclaimed Clara, pushing him
away.
" Yes, by heavens ! you are right, pretty lady, I do care ;
for a governor's daughter will fetch a good ransom, at all
events. So come, my lads, a little help here ; for she is as
strong as a young mule. Never mind the water, throw the
breakers into the boat again ; we have a prize worth
taking ! "
Clara screamed ; but she was gagged with a handkerchief
and lifted into the boat, which immediately rowed back to
the schooner.
When the mate came on board and reported his capture,
the pirates were delighted at the- prospect of addition to
their prize-money. Cain could not, of course, raise any
objections ; it would have been so different from his general
pi-actice, that it would have strengthened suspicions already
set afloat by Hawkhurst, which Cain was most anxious just
then to remove. He ordered the girl to be taken down into
the cabin, hoisted in the boat, and the breeze springing up
again, made sail.
In the meantime Francisco was consoling the unfortunate
Clara, and assuring her that she need be under no alarm,
promising her protection from himself and the captain.
The poor girl wept bitterly, and it was not until Cain came
down into the cabin and corroborated the assurances of Fran-
cisco that she could assume any degree of composure ; but to
find friends when she had expected every insult and degrada-
tion for Francisco had acknowledged that the vessel was
a pirate was some consolation. The kindness and attention
of Francisco restored her to comparative tranquillity.
The next day she confided to him the reason of her coming
to the beach, and her mistake with regard to the two vessels,
and Francisco and Cain promised her that they would them-
selves pay her ransom, and not wait until she heard from her
father. To divert her thoughts Francisco talked much about
128
THE MISTAKE
Edward Templemore, and on that subject Clara could always
talk. Every circumstance attending the amour was soon
known to Francisco.
But the Avenger did not gain her rendezvous as soon as she
expected. When to the northward of Porto Rico an English
frigate bore down upon her, and the Avenger was obliged to
run for it. Before the wind is always a schooner's worst
point of sailing, and the chase was continued for three days
before a fresh wind from the southward,, until they had
passed the Bahama Isles.
The pirates suffered much from want of water, as it was
necessary still further to reduce their allowance. The frigate
was still in sight, although the Avenger had dropped her
astern when the wind became light, and at last it subsided
into a cairn, which lasted two days more. The boats of the
frigate were hoisted out on the eve of the second day to
attack the schooner, then distant five miles, when a breeze
sprang up from the northward, and the schooner being then
to windward, left the enemy hull down.
It was not until the next day that Cain ventured to run
again to the southward to procure at one of the keys the
water so much required. At last it was obtained, but with
difficulty and much loss of time, from the scantiness of the
supply, and they again made sail for the Caicos. But they
were so much impeded by contrary winds and contrary
currents that it was not until three weeks after they had
been chased from Porto Rico that they made out the low
land of their former rendezvous.
We must now 7 return to Edward Templemore in the Enter-
prise, whom we left off the coast of South America in search
of the Avenger, which had so strangely slipped through their
fingers. Edward had examined the whole coast, ran through
the passage and round Trinidad, and then started off to the
Leeward Isles in his pursuit. He had spoken every vessel
he met with without gaining any information, and had at
last arrived off Porto Rico.
129 1
THE PIRATE
This was no time to think of Clara ; but, as it was not out
of his way, he had run down the island, and as it was just
before dark when he arrived off that part of the coast where
the governor resided, he had hove-to for a little while, and
had examined the windows : but the signal of re-cognition
was not made, and after waiting till dark he again made sail,
mad with disappointment, and fearing that all had been dis-
covered by the governor ; whereas the fact was, that he had
only arrived two days after the forcible abduction of Clara.
Once more he directed his attention to the discovery of the
pirate, and after a fortnight's examination of the inlets and
bays of the Island of St. Domingo without success, his pro-
visions and water being nearly expended, he returned, in no
very happy mood, to Port Royal.
In the meantime the disappearance of Clara had created
the greatest confusion in Porto Rico, and upon the examination
of her attendant, who was confronted by the friar and the
duenna, the amour of her mistress was confessed. The
appearance of the Avenger off the coast on that evening con-
firmed their ideas that the Donna Clara had been carried off
by the English lieutenant, and Don Alfarez immediately
despatched a vessel to Jamaica, complaining of the outrage,
and demanding the restoration of his daughter.
This vessel arrived at Port Royal a few days before the
Enterprise, and the admiral was very much astonished. He
returned a very polite answer to Don Alfarez, promising an'
investigation immediately upon the arrival of the schooner,
and to send a vessel with the result of the said investigation.
" This is a pretty business," said the admiral to his secre-
tary. " Young madcap ! I sent him to look after a pirate,
and he goes after the governor's daughter ! By the lord
Harry, Mr. Templemore, but you and I shall have an account
to settle."
" I can hardly believe it, sir," replied the secretary ; " and
yet it does look suspicious. But on so short an acquaint-
ance "
130
THE MISTAKE
" Who knows that, Mr. Hadley ? Send for his logs, and
let us examine them ; he may have been keeping up the
acquaintance."
The logs of the Enterprise were examined, and there were
the fatal words Porto Rico, Porto Rico, bearing in even*
division of the compass, and in every separate cruise, nay,
even when the schooner was charged with despatches.
" Plain enough," said the admiral. '' Confounded young
scamp, to embroil me in this way ! Not that his marrying
tl>e girl is any business of mine ; but I will punish him for
disobedience of orders, at all events. Try him by a court-
martial, by heavens ! "
The secretary made no reply : he knew very well that the
admiral would do no such thing.
" The Enterprise anchored at daylight, sir," reported the
secretaiy as the admiral sat down to breakfast.
" And where's Mr. Templemore ? "
" He is outside in the veranda. They have told him below
of what he has been accused, and he swears it is false. I
believe him, sir, for he appears half mad at the intelligence."
" Stop a moment. Have you looked over his log ? "
" Yes, sir. It appears that he was off Porto Rico on the
19th ; but the Spanish governor's letter says that he was there
on the 17th, and again made his appearance on the 19th.
I mentioned it to him, and he declares upon his honour that
he was only there on the 19th, as stated in his log."
" Well, let him come in and speak for himself."
Edward came in, in a state of great agitation.
" Well, Mr. Templemore, you have been playing pretty
tricks ! What is all this, sir ? Where is the girl, sir the
governor's daughter? "
" Where she is, sir, I cannot pretend to say ; but I feel
convinced that she has been carried off by the pirates."
" Pirates ! Poor girl, I pity her ! and I pity you too,
Edward. Come, sit down here, and tell me all that has
happened."
131
THE PIRATE
Edward knew the admiral's character so well, that he
immediately disclosed all that had passed between him and
Clara. He then stated how the Avenger had escaped him by
deceiving the frigate, and the agreement made with Clara
to meet for the future on the beach, with his conviction that
the pirate schooner, so exactly similar in appearance to the
Enterprise, must have preceded him at Porto Rico, and have
carried off the object of his attachment.
Although Edward might have been severely taken to task,
yet the admiral pitied him, and therefore said nothing about
his visits to Porto Rico. When breakfast was over he ordered
the signal to be made for a sloop of war to prepare to weigh,
and the Enterprise to be revictualled by the boats of the
squadron.
" Now, Edward, you and the Comus shall sail in company
after this rascally pirate, and I trust you will give me a good
account of her, and also of the governor's daughter. Cheer
up, my boy ! depend upon it they will try for ransom before
they do her any injury."
That evening the Enterprise and Comus sailed on their ex-
pedition, and having run by Porto Rico and delivered a letter
to the governor, they steered to the, northward, and early the
next morning made the land of the Caicos, just as the Avenger
had skirted the reefs and bore up for the narrow entrance.
"There she is!" exclaimed Edward; "there she is, by
heavens !" making the signal for the enemy, which was im-
mediately answered by the Comus.
CHAPTER XVI
THE CAICOS
J_ HE small patch of islands called the Caicos, or Cayques,
is situated about two degrees to the northward of St. Domingo,
and is nearly the southernmost of a chain which extends up
to the Bahamas. Most of the islands of this chain are un-
132
THE CAICOS
inhabited, but were formerly the resort of piratical vessels,
the reefs and shoals with which they are all surrounded
afforded them protection from their larger pursuers, and the
passages through this dangerous navigation being known only
to the pirates who frequented them, proved an additional
security. The largest of the Caicos islands forms a curve,
like an opened horse-shoe, to the southward, with safe and
protected anchorage when once in the bay on the southern
side ; but, previous to arriving at the anchorage,- there are
coral reefs, extending upwards of forty miles, through which
it is necessary to conduct a vessel. This passage is extremely
intricate, but was well known to Hawkhurst. who had hitherto
been pilot. Cain was not so well acquainted with it, and it
required the greatest care in taking in the vessel, as, on
the present occasion, Hawkhurst could not be called upon
for this service. The islands themselves for there were
several of them were composed of coral rock ; a few cocoa-
trees raised their lofty heads where there vas sufficient earth
for vegetation, and stunted brushwood rose up between the
interstices of the rocks. Eut the chief peculiarity of the
islands, and which rendered them suitable to those who
frequented them, was the numerous caves with which the
rocks were perforated, some above high-water mark, but the
majority with the sea-water flowing in and out of them, in
some cases merely rushing in, and at high water filling deep
pools, which were detached from each other when the tide
receded, in others with a sufficient depth of water at all
times to allow you to pull in with a large boat. It is hardly
necessary to observe how convenient the higher and dry
caves were as receptacles for articles which were intended
to be concealed until an opportunity occurred for disposing
of them.
In our last chapter we stated that, just as the Avenger had
entered the passage through the reefs, the Cormis and Enter-
prise hove in sight and discovered her; but it will be necessary
to explain the positions of the vessels. The Avenger had
133
THE PIRATE
entered the southern channel, with the wind from the south-
ward, and had carefully sounded her way for about four miles,
under little or no sail.
The Enterprise and Comus had been examining Turk's
Island, to the eastward of the Caicos, and had passed to the
northward of it on the larboard tack, standing in for the
northern point of the reef, which joined on to the great
Caicos Island. They were, therefore, in a situation to inter-
cept the Avenger before she arrived at her anchorage, had it
not been for the reefs which barred their passage. The only
plan which the English vessels could act upon was to beat to
the southward, so as to arrive at the entrance of the passage,
when the Enterprise would, of course, find sufficient water to
follow the Avenger; for, as the passage was too narrow to
beat through, and the wind was from the southward, the
Avenger could not possibly escape. She was caught in a
trap ; and all that she had to trust to was the defence which
she might be able to make in her stronghold against the force
which could be employed in the attack. The breeze was
fresh from the southward, and appeared inclined to increase,
when the Comus and Enterprise made all sail, and worked, in
short tacks, outside the reef.
On board the Avenger the enemy and their motions were
clearly distinguished, .and Cain perceived that he was in an
awkward dilemma. That they would be attacked he had no
doubt; and although, at any other time, he would almost
have rejoiced in such an opportunity of discomfiting his
assailants, yet now he thought very differently, and would
have sacrificed almost everything to have been able to avoid
the rencontre, and be permitted quietly to withdraw himself
from his associates, without the spilling of more blood. Fran-
cisco was equally annoyed at this unfortunate collision ; but
no words were exchanged between him and the pirate captain
during the time that they were on deck.
It was about nine o'clock, when having safely passed
nearly half through the channel, that Cain ordered the
134,
THE CAICOS
kedge-anchor to be dropped; and sent down the people to
their breakfast. Francisco went down into the cabin, and
was explaining their situation to Clara, when Cain entered.
He threw himself on the locker, and appeared lost in deep
and sombre meditation.
" What do you intend to do ? " said Francisco.
" I do not know ; I will not decide myself, Francisco,"
replied Cain. " If I were to act upon my own judgment,
probably I should allow the schooner to remain where she is.
They can only attack in the boats, and, in such a case, I do
not fear ; whereas, if we run right through, we allow the
other schooner to follow us, without defending the passage ;
and we may be attacked by her in the deep water inside,
and overpowered by the number of men the two vessels will
be able to bring against us. On the other hand, we certainly
may defend the schooner from the shore as well as on board ;
but we are weak-handed. I shall, however, call up the ship's
company and let them decide. God knows, if left to me I
would not fight at all."
" Is there no way of escape ? " resumed Francisco.
" Yes, we might abandon the schooner ; and this night,
when they would not expect it, run with the boats through
the channel between the great island and the north Cayque :
but that I dare not propose, and the men would not listen to
it ; indeed, I very much doubt if the enemy will allow us
the time. I knew this morning, long before we saw those
vessels, that my fate would be decided before the sun went
down."
" What do you mean ? "
"I mean this, Francisco," said Cain; "that your mother,
who always has visited me in my dreams whenever anything
(dreadful now to think of!) was about to take place,
appeared to me last night ; and there was sorrow and pity
in her sweet face as she mournfully waved her hand, as if
to summon me to follow her. Yes, thank God ! she no longer
looked upon me as for many years she has done."
135
THE PIRATE
Francisco made no answer ; and Cain again seemed to be
lost in meditation.
After a little while Cain rose, and taking a small packet
from one of the drawers, put it into the hands of Francisco.
" Preserve that/' said the pirate captain ; " should any acci-
dent happen to me it will tell you who was your mother ; and
it also contains directions for finding treasure which I have
buried. I leave everything to you, Francisco. It has been
unfairly obtained ; but you are not the guilty party, and there
are none to claim it. Do not answer me now. You may find
friends, whom you will make after I am gone, of the same
opinion as I am. I tell you again, be careful of that packet."
" I see little chance of it availing me," replied Francisco.
" If I live, shall I not be considered as a pirate ? "
" No, no ; you can prove the contrary."
" I have my doubts. But God's will be done ! "
" Yes, God's will be done ! " said Cain mournfully. " I
dared not have said that a month ago." And the pirate
captain went on deck, followed by Francisco.
The crew of the Avenger were summoned aft, and called
upon to decide as to the measures they considered to be
most advisable. They preferred weighing the anchor and
running into the bay, where they would be able to defend
the schooner, in their opinion, much better than by remain-
ing where they were.
The crew of the pirate schooner weighed the anchor, and
continued their precarious course ; the breeze had freshened,
and the water was in strong ripples, so that they could no
longer see the danger beneath her bottom. In the mean-
time, the sloop of war and Enterprise continued to turn to
windward outside the reef.
By noon the wind had considerably increased, and the
breakers now turned and broke in wild foam over the coral
reefs in every direction. The sail was still more reduced on
board the Avenger, and her difficulties increased from the
rapidity of her motion.
136
THE CAICOS
A storm-jib was set, and the others hauled down ; yet
even under this small sail she flew before the wind.
Cain stood at the bowsprit, giving his directions to the
helmsman. More than once they had grazed the rocks and
were clear again. Spars were towed astern, and every means
resorted to, to check her way. They had no guide but the
breaking of the wild water on each side of them.
" Why should not Hawkhurst, who knows the passage so
well, be made to pilot us ? " said the boatswain to those who
were near him on the forecastle.
" To be sure ! let's have him up ! " cried several of the
crew ; and some of them went down below.
In a minute they reappeared with Hawkhurst, whom they
led forward. He did not make any resistance, and the crew
demanded that he should pilot the vessel.
" And suppose I will not ? " said Hawkhurst coolly.
"Then you lose your passage, that's all," replied the boat-
swain. " Is it not so, my lads ? " continued he, appealing to
the crew.
" Yes ; either take us safe in, or overboard," replied
several.
" I do not mind that threat, my lads," replied Hawkhurst ;
"you have all known me as a good man and true, and it's not
likely that I shall desert you now. Well, since your captain
there cannot save you, I suppose I must ; but," exclaimed he,
looking about him, " how's this ? We are out of the passage
already. Yes and whether we can get into it again I
cannot tell."
"We are not out of the passage," said Cain; "you know
we are not."
" Well then, if the captain knows better than I, he had
better take you through," rejoined Hawkhurst.
But the crew thought differently, and insisted that Hawk-
hurst, who well knew the channel, should take charge. Cain
retired aft, as Hawkhurst went out on the bowsprit.
"I will do my best, my lads," said Hawkhurst; "but
137
THE PIRATE
recollect, if we strike in trying to get into the right channel,
do not blame me. Starboard a little starboard yet steady,
so there's the true passage, my lads ! " cried he, pointing to
some smoother water between the breakers ; " port a little
steady."
But Hawkhurst, who knew that he was to be put on shore
as soon as convenient, had resolved to lose the schooner,
even if his own life were forfeited, and he was now running
her out of the passage on the rocks. A minute after he had
conned her, she struck heavily again and again. The third
time she struck, she came broadside to the wind and heeled
over ; a sharp coral rock found its way through her slight
timbers and planking, and the water poured in rapidly.
During this there was a dead silence on the part of the
marauders.
" My lads," said Hawkhurst, " I have done my best, and
now you may throw me overboard if you please. It was not
my fault, but his," continued he, pointing to the captain.
" It is of little consequence whose fault it was, Mr. Hawk-
hurst," replied Cain ; " we will settle that point by-and-by ;
at present we have too much on our hands. Out boats, men!
as fast as you can, and let every man provide himself with
arms and ammunition. Be cool ! the schooner is fixed hard
enough, and will not go down ; we shall save everything
by-and-by."
The pirates obeyed the orders of the cap l ain. The three
boats were hoisted out and lowered down. In the first were
placed all the wounded men and Clara d'Alfarez, who was
assisted up by Francisco. As soon as the men had provided
themselves with arms, Francisco, to protect Clara, offered to
take charge of her, and the boat shoved off.
The men-of-war had seen the Avenger strike on the rocks,
and the preparations of the crew to take to their boats. They
immediately hove-to, hoisted out and manned their own boats,
with the hopes of cutting them off before they could gain the
island and prepare for a vigorous defence ; for, although the
138
THE CAICOS
vessels could not approach the reefs, there was sufficient
water in many places for the boats to pass over them.
Shortly after Francisco, in the first boat, had shoved off
from the Avenger, the boats of the men-of-war were darting
through the surf to intercept them. The pirates perceived
this, and hastened their arrangements ; a second boat soon
left her, and into that Hawkhurst leaped as it was shoving
off. Cain remained on board, going round the lower decks
to ascertain if any of the wounded men were left ; he then
quitted the schooner in the last boat and followed the others,
being about a quarter of a mile astern of the second, in which
Hawkhurst had secured his place.
At the time that Cain quitted the schooner, it was difficult
to say whether the men-of-war's boats would succeed in in-
tercepting any of the pirates' boats. Both parties exerted
themselves to their utmost ; and when the first boat, with
Francisco and Clara, landed, the headmost of the assailants
was not much more than half a mile from them ; but shallow
water intervening there was a delay, which was favourable
to the pirates. Hawkhurst landed in his boat as the launch
of the Comus fired her eighteen-pound carronade. The last
boat was yet two hundred yards from the beach, when
another shot from the Comus s launch, which had been unable
hitherto to find a passage through the reef, struck her on the
counter, and she filled and went down.
"He is gone!" exclaimed Francisco, who had led Clara
to a cave, and stood at the mouth of it to protect her;
" they have sunk his boat no, he is swimming to the
shore, and will be here now, long before the English
seamen can land."
This was true. Cain was breasting the water manfully,
making for a small cove nearer to where the boat was sunk
than the one in which Francisco had landed with Clara and
the wounded men, and divided from the other by a ridge
of rocks which separated the sandy beach, and extended some
way into the water before they were submerged. Francisco
139
THE PIRATE
could easily distinguish the pirate captain from the other
men, who also were swimming for the beach ; for Cain was
far ahead of them, and as he gained nearer to the shore
he was shut from Francisco's sight by the ridge of rocks.
Francisco, anxious for his safety, climbed up the rocks and
was watching. Cain was within a few yards of the beach
when there was a report of a musket ; the pirate captain
was seen to raise his body convulsively half out of the water
he floundered the clear blue wave was discoloured he
sank, and was seen no more.
Francisco darted forward from the rocks, and perceived
Hawkhurst standing beneath them with the musket in his
hand, which he was recharging.
"Villain!" exclaimed Francisco, "you shall account for
this."
Hawkhurst had reprimed his musket and shut the pan.
" Not to you," replied Hawkhurst, levelling his piece, and
taking aim at Francisco.
The ball struck Francisco on the breast ; he reeled back
from his position, staggered across the sand, gained the cave,
and fell at the feet of Clara.
" O God ! " exclaimed the poor girl, " are you hurt ? who is
there, then, to protect me ? "
"I hardly know," replied Francisco faintly; and, at inter-
vals, " I feel no wound. I feel stronger ; " and Francisco put
his hand to his heart.
Clara opened his vest, and found that the packet given to
Francisco by Cain, and which he had deposited in his breast,
had been struck by the bullet, which had done him no injury
further than the violent concussion of the blow notwith-
standing he was faint from the shock, and his head fell upon
Clara's bosom.
But we must relate the proceedings of those who were
mixed up in this exciting scene. Edward Templemore had
watched from his vessel, with an eager and painful curiosity,
the motions of the schooner her running on the rocks, and
140
THE CAICOS
the subsequent actions of the intrepid marauders. The long
telescope enabled him to perceive distinctly all that passed,
and his feelings were increased into a paroxsym of agony when
his straining eyes beheld the white and fluttering habiliments
of a female for a moment at the gunwale of the stranded
vessel her descent, as it appeared to him, nothing loth, into
the boat the arms held out to receive, and the extension of
hers to meet those offered. Could it be Clara ? Where was
the reluctance, the unavailing attempts at resistance, which
should have characterised her situation ? Excited by feel-
ings which he dared not analyse, he threw down his glass, and
seizing his sword, sprang into his boat, which was ready
manned alongside, desiring the others to follow him. For
once, and the only time in his existence when approaching
the enemy, did he feel his heart sink within him a cold
tremor ran through his whole frame, and as he called to mind
the loose morals and desperate habits of the pirates, horrible
thoughts entered his imagination. As he neared the shore,
he stood up in the stern-sheets of the boat, pale, haggard,
and with trembling lips ; and the intensity of his feelings
would have been intolerable but for a more violent thirst for
revenge. He clenched his sword, while the quick throbs of
his heart, seemed, at every pulsation, to repeat to him his
thoughts of blood ! blood ! blood ! He approached the small
bay and perceived that there was a female at the mouth of
the cave nearer and nearer, and he was certain that it was
his Clara her name was on his lips when he heard the two
shots fired one after another by Hawkhurst he saw the
retreat and fall of Francisco when, madness to behold ! he
perceived Clara rush forward, and there lay the young man
supported by her, and with his head upon her bosom.
Could he believe what he saw ? could she really be his
betrothed ! Yes, there she was, supporting the handsome
figure of a young man, and that man a pirate she had
even put her hand into his vest, and was now watching over
his reviving form. Edward could bear no more ; he covered
141
THE PIRATE
his eyes, and now, maddened with jealousy, in a voice of
thunder, he called out
" Give way, my lads ! for your lives, give way ! "
The gig was within half-a-dozen strokes of the oar from
the beach, and Clara, unconscious of wrong, had just taken
the packet of papers from Francisco's vest, when Hawkhurst
made his appearance from behind the rocks which separated
the two little sandy coves. Francisco had recovered his
breath, and, perceiving the approach of Hawkhurst, he
sprang upon his feet to recover his musket ; but, before he
could succeed, Hawkhurst had closed in with him, and a
short and dreadful struggle ensued. It would soon have
terminated fatally to Francisco, for the superior strength of
Hawkhurst had enabled him to bear down the body of his
opponent with his knee, and he was fast strangling him
by twisting his handkerchief round his throat, while Clara
shrieked, and attempted in vain to tear the pirate from him.
As the prostrate Francisco was fast blackening into a corse,
and the maiden screamed for pity, and became frantic in
her efforts for his rescue, the boat dashed high up on the
sand ; and, with the bound of a maddened ti^er, Edward
sprang upon Hawkhurst, tearing him down on his back, and
severing his wrist with his sword-blade until his hold of Fran-
cisco was relaxed, and he wrestled in his own defence.
" Seize him, my lad ! " said Edward, pointing with his left
hand to Hawkhurst ; as with his sword directed to the
body of Francisco he bitterly continued, " This victim is
mine / " But, whatever were his intentions, they were
frustrated by Clara's recognition, who shrieked out, " My
Edward ! " sprang into his arms, and was immediately in
a state of insensibility.
The seamen who had secured Hawkhurst looked upon
the scene with curious astonishment, while Edward waited
with mingled feelings of impatience and doubt for Clara's
recovery, he wished to be assured by her that he was
mistaken, and he turned again and again from her face to that
142
THE CA1COS
of Francisco, who was fast recovering. During this painful
suspense, Hawkhurst was bound and made to sit down.
" Edward ! dear Edward ! " said Clara, at last, in a faint
voice, clinging more closely to him ; " and am I then rescued
by thee, dearest ! "
Edward felt the appeal ; but his jealousy had not yet
subsided.
Who is that, Clara ? " said he sternly.
"It is Francisco. No pirate, Edward, but my preserver."
" Ha, ha ! " laughed Hawkhurst, with a bitter sneer,, for he
perceived how matters stood.
Edward Templemore turned towards him with an inquir-
ing look.
" Ha, ha ! " continued Hawkhurst ; " why, he is the captain's
son ! No pirate, eh r Well, what will women not swear to,
to save those they dote upon !"
" If the captain's son," said Edward, " why were you con-
tending ? "
" Because just now I shot his scoundrel father."
" Edward ! " said Clara solemnly, " this is no time for
explanation, but, as I hope for mercy, what I have said is
true ; believe not that villain."
*' Yes," said Francisco, who was now sitting up, " believe
him when he says that he shot the captain, for that is true ;
but, sir, if you value your own peace of mind, believe nothing
to the prejudice of that young lady."
" I hardly know what to believe," muttered Edward
Templemore ; " but, as the lady says, this is no time for ex-
planation. W T ith your permission, madam," said he to Clara,
" my coxswain will see you in safety on board of the schooner,
or the other vessel, if you prefer it ; my duty will not allow
me to accompany you."
Clara darted a reproachful yet fond look on Edward, as,
with swimming eyes, she was led by the coxswain to the boat,
which had been joined by the launch of the Comus, the crew
of which were with their officers, wading to the beach. The
143
THE PIRATE
men of the gig remained until they had given Hawkhurst
and Francisco in charge of the other seamen, and then shoved
off with Clara for the schooner. Edward Templemore gave
one look at the gig as it conveyed Clara on board, and order-
ing Hawkhurst and Francisco to be taken to the launch, and
a guard to be kept over them, went up, with the remainder
of the men, in pursuit of the pirates.
During the scene we have described, the other boats of
the men-of-war had landed on the island, and the Avenger's
crew, deprived of their leaders, and scattered in every
direction, were many of them slain or captured. In about
two hours it was supposed that the majority of the pirates
had been accounted for, and the prisoners being now very
numerous, it was decided that the boats should return
with them to the Comus, the captain of which vessel, as
commanding-officer, would then issue orders as to their future
proceedings.
The captured pirates, when mustered on the deck of the
Comus, amounted to nearly sixty, out of which number one-
half were those who had been sent on shore wounded, and
had surrendered without resistance. Of killed there were
fifteen ; and it was conjectured that as many more had been
drowned in the boat when she was sunk by the shot from
the carronade of the launch. Although, by the account
given by the captured pirates, the majority were secured, yet
there was reason to suppose that some were still left on the
island concealed in the caves.
As the captain of the Comus had orders to return as soon as
possible, he decided to sail immediately for Port Royal with
the prisoners, leaving the Enterprise to secure the remainder,
if there were any, and recover anything of value which
might be left in the wreck of the Avenger, and then to
destroy her.
With the usual celerity of the service these orders were
obeyed. The pirates, among whom Francisco was included,
were secured, the boats hoisted up, and in half-an-hour the
144
THE TRIAL
Comus displayed her ensign, and made all sail on a
wind, leaving Edward Templemore, with the Enterprise,
at the back of the reef, to perform the duties entailed
upon him ; and Clara, who was on board of the schooner
to remove the suspicion and jealousy which had arisen in
the bosom of her lover.
CHAPTER XVII
THE TRIAL
iN a week, the Comus arrived at Port Royal, and the captain
went up to the Penn to inform the admiral of the successful
result of the expedition.
"Thank God," said the admiral, "we have caught these
villains at last ! A little hanging will do them no harm.
The captain, you say, was drowned ? "
" So it is reported, sir," replied Captain Manly ; " he was
in the last boat which left the schooner, and she was sunk
by a shot from the launch."
" I am sorry for that ; the death was too good for him.
However, we must make an example of the rest ; they must
be tried by the Admiralty Court, which has the jurisdiction
of the high seas. Send them on shore, Manly, and we wash
our hands of them "
" Very good, sir ; but there are still some left on the island,
we have reason to believe, and the Enterprise is in search of
them."
" By-the-bye, did Templemore find his lady ? "
" Oh yes, sir ; and all's right, I believe : but I had very
little to say to him on the subject"
"Humph !" replied the admiral. "I am glad to hear it.
Well, send them on shore, Manly, to the proper authorities.
If any more be found, they must be hung afterwards when
Templemore brings them in. I am more pleased at having
145 K
THE PIRATE
secured these scoundrels than if we had taken a French
frigate."
About three weeks after this conversation., the secretary
reported to the admiral that the Enterprise had made her
number outside ; but that she was becalmed, and would not
probably be in until the evening.
" That's a pity," replied the admiral ; " for the pirates are
to be tried this morning. He may have more of them on
board."
" Very true, sir ; but the trial will hardly be over to-day :
the judge will not be in court till one o'clock at the soonest."
" It's of little consequence, certainly ; as it is, there are so
many that they must be hanged by divisions. However, as
he is within signal distance, let them telegraph ' Pirates now
on trial.' He can pull on shore in his gig, if he pleases."
It was about noon on the same day that the pirates, and
among them Francisco, escorted by a strong guard, were
conducted to the court-house and placed at the bar. The
court-house was crowded to excess, for the interest excited
was intense.
Many of them who had been wounded in the attack upon
the property of Don Cumanos, and afterwards captured, had
died in their confinement. Still forty-five were placed at
the bar ; and their picturesque costume, their bearded faces,
and the atrocities which they had committed, created in
those present a sensation of anxiety mingled with horror and
indignation.
Two of the youngest amongst them had been permitted
to turn king's evidence. They had been on board of the
Avenger but a few months ; still their testimony as to the
murder of the crews of three West India ships, and the
attack upon the property of Don Cumanos, was quite sufficient
to condemn the remainder.
Much time was necessarily expended in going through the
forms of the court ; in the pirates answering to their various
names; and, lastly, in taking down the detailed evidence of
146
THE TRIAL
the above men. It was late when the evidence was read
over to the pirates, and they were asked if they had anything
to offer in their defence. The question was repeated by the
judge; when Hawkhurst was the first to speak. To save
himself he cou!d scarcely hope ; his only object was to prevent
Francisco pleading his cause successfully, and escaping the
same disgraceful death.
Hawkhurst declared that he had been some time on board
the Avenger, but that he had been taken out of a vessel and
forced to serve against his will, as could be proved by the
captain's son, who stood there (pointing to Francisco), who
had been in the schooner since her first fitting out : that he
had always opposed the captain, who would not part with
him, because he was the only one on board who was com-
petent to navigate the schooner : that he had intended to
rise against him, and take the vessel, having often stimulated
the crew so to do ; and that, as the other men, as well as the
captain's son, could prove, if they chose, he actually was in
confinement for that attempt when the schooner was entering
the passage to the Caicos ; and that he was only released
because he was acquainted with the passage, and threatened
to be thrown overboard if he did not take her in : that, at
every risk, he had run her on the rocks ; and aware that the
captain would murder him, he had shot Cain as he was
swimming to the shore, as the captain's son could prove ;
for he had taxed him with it, and he was actually struggling
with him for life, when the officers and boats' crew separated
them, and made them both prisoners : that he hardly expected
that Francisco, the captain's son, would tell the truth to save
him, as he was his bitter enemy, and in the business at the
Magdalen river, which had been long planned (for Francisco
had been sent on shore under the pretence of being wrecked,
but, in fact, to ascertain where the booty was, and to assist
the pirates in their attack), Francisco had taken the oppor-
tunity of putting a bullet through his shoulder, which was
well known to the other pirates, and Francisco could not
147
THE PIRATE
venture to deny. He trusted that the court would ordet
the torture to Francisco, and then he would probably speak
the truth ; at all events, let him speak now.
When Hawkhurst had ceased to address the court, there
was an anxious pause for some minutes. The day was fast
declining, and most parts of the spacious court-house were
already deeply immersed in gloom ; while the light, sober,
solemn, and almost sad, gleamed upon the savage and reck-
less countenances of the prisoners at the bar. The sun had
sunk down behind a mass of heavy yet gorgeous clouds,
fringing their edges with molten gold. Hawkhurst had
spoken fluently and energetically, and there was an appear-
ance of almost honesty in his coarse and deep-toned voice.
Even the occasional oaths with which his speech was garnished,
but which we have omitted, seemed to be pronounced more
in sincerity than in blasphemy, and gave a more forcible im-
pression to his narrative.
We have said, that when he concluded there was a profound
silence ; and amid the fast-falling shadows of the evening,
those who were present began to feel, for the first time, the
awful importance of the drama before them, the number of
lives which were trembling upon the verge of existence,
depending upon the single word of " Guilty." This painful
silence, this harrowing suspense, was at last broken by a
restrained sob from a female ; but, owing to the obscurity
involving the body of the court, her person could not be
distinguished. The wail of woman so unexpected for who
could there be of that sex interested in the fate of these
desperate men? touched the heart of its auditors, and ap-
peared to sow the first seeds of compassionate and humane
feeling among those who had hitherto expressed and felt
nothing but indignation towards the prisoners.
The judge upon the bench, the counsel at the bar, and
the jury impannelled in their box, felt the force of the
appeal ; and it softened down the evil impression created
by the address of Hawkhurst against the youthful Francisco.
148
THE TRIAL
The eyes of all were now directed towards the one doubly
accused accused not only by the public prosecutor, but
even by his associate in crime and the survey was favour-
able. They acknowledged that he was one whose personal
qualities might indeed challenge the love of woman in his
pride, and her lament in his disgrace ; and as their regard
was directed towards him, the sun, which had been obscured,
now pierced through a break in the mass of clouds, and threw
a portion of his glorious beams from a window opposite upon
him, and him alone, while all the other prisoners who sur-
rounded him were buried more or less in deep shadow. It
was at once evident that his associates were bold yet com-
monplace villains men who owed their courage, their only
virtue perhaps, to their habits, to their physical organisation,
or the influence of those around them. They were mere
human butchers, with the only adjunct that, now that the
trade was to be exercised upon themselves, they could bear
it with sullen apathy a feeling how far removed from true
fortitude ! Even Hawkhurst, though more commanding than
the rest, with all his daring mien and scowl of defiance,
looked nothing more than a distinguished ruffian. With the
exception of Francisco, the prisoners had wholly neglected
their personal appearance ; and in them the squalid and
sordid look of the mendicant seemed allied with the ferocity
of the murderer.
Francisco was not only an exception, but formed a beautiful
contrast to the others ; and as the evening beams lighted up
his figure, he stood at the bar, if not with all the splendour
of a hero of romance, certainly a most picturesque and in-
teresting personage, elegantly if not richly attired.
The low sobs at intervals repeated, as if impossible to be
checked, seemed to rouse and call him to a sense of the
important part which he was called upon to act in the tragedy
there and then performing. His face was pale, yet composed ;
his mien at once proud and sorrowful ; his eye was bright,
yet his glance was not upon those in court, but far away,
149
THE PIRATE
fixed, like an eagle's, upon the gorgeous beams of the setting
sun, which glowed upon him through the window that was
in front of him.
At last the voice of Francisco was heard, and all in that
wide court started at the sound deep, full, and melodious
as the evening chimes. The ears of those present had, in
the profound silence, but just recovered from the harsh, deep-
toned, and barbarous idiom of Hawkhurst's address, when
the clear, silvery, yet manly voice of Francisco riveted their
attention. The jury stretched forth their heads, the counsel
and all in court turned anxiously round towards the prisoner,
even the judge held up his forefinger to intimate his wish for
perfect silence.
" My lord and gentlemen/' commenced Francisco, " when
I first found myself in this degrading situation, I had not
thought to have spoken or to have uttered one word in my
defence. He that has just now accused me has recommended
the torture to be applied ; he has already had his wish, for
what torture can be more agonising than to find myself
where I now am ? So tortured, indeed, have I been through
a short yet wretched life, that I have "often felt that anything
short of self-destruction which would release me would be a
blessing ; but within these few minutes I have been made to
acknowledge that I have still feelings in unison with my
fellow-creatures ; that I am not yet fit for death, and all too
young, too unprepared to die : for who would not reluctantly
leave this world while there is such a beauteous sky to love
and look upon, or while there is one female breast who holds
him innocent, and has evinced her pity for his misfortunes ?
Yes, my lord ! mercy, and pity, and compassion, have not yet
fled from earth ; and therefore do I feel I am too young to
die. God forgive me ! but I thought they had for never
have they been shown in those with whom by fate I have
been connected ; and it has been from this conviction that I
have so often longed for death. And now may that righteous
God who judges us not here, but hereafter, enable me to
150
THE TRIAL
prove that I do not deserve an ignominious punishment from
my fellow-sinners men !
" My lord, I know riot the subtleties of the laws, nor the
intricacy of pleadings. First, let me assert that I have never
robbed ; but I have restored unto the plundered . I have
never murdered ; but I have stood between the assassin's
knife and his victim. For this have I been hated and reviled
by my associates, and for this is my life now threatened by
those laws against which I never have offended. The man
who last addressed you has told you that I am the pirate
captain's son; it is the assertion of the only irreclaimable
and utterly remorseless villain among those who now stand
before you to be judged the assertion of one whose glory,
whose joy, whose solace, has been blood-shedding.
" My lord, I had it from the mouth of the captain himself,
previous to his murder by that man, that I was not his son.
His son ! thank God, not so. Connected with him and in
his power I was most certainly and most incomprehensibly.
Before he died, he delivered me a packet that would have
told me who I am ; but I have lost it, and deeply have I felt
the loss. One only fact I gained from him whom they would
call my father, which is, that with his own hand he slew
yes, basely slew my mother."
The address of Francisco was here interrupted by a low
deep groan of anguish, which startled the whole audience.
It was now quite dark, and the judge ordered the court to be
lighted previous to the defence being continued. The im-
patience and anxiety of those present were shown in low
murmurs of communication until the lights were brought in.
The word "Silence " from the judge produced an immediate
obedience, and the prisoner was ordered to proceed.
Francisco then continued his address, commencing with
the remembrances of his earliest childhood. As he warmed
with his subject he became more eloquent ; his action
became energetical without violence ; and the pallid and
modest youth gradually grew into the impassioned and in-
151
THE PIRATE
spired orator. He recapitulated rapidly, yet distinctly and
with terrible force, all the startling events in his fearful life.
There was truth in the tones of his voice, there was convic-
tion in his animated countenance, there was innocence in
his open and expressive brow.
All who heard believed ; and scarcely had he concluded
his address, when the jury appeared impatient to rise and
give their verdict in his favour. But the judge stood up,
and addressing the jury, told them that it was his most
painful duty to remind them that as yet they had heard
but assertion, beautiful and almost convincing assertion truly ;
but still it was not proof
" Alas ! " observed Francisco, " what evidence can I bring
forward, except the evidence of those around me at the
bar, which will not be admitted ? Can I recall the dead
from the grave ? Can I expect those who have been
murdered to rise again to assert my innocence ? Can I
expect that Don Cumanos will appear from distant leagues
to give evidence on my behalf? Alas ! he knows not how
I am situated, or he would have flown to my succour. No,
no ; not even can I expect that the sweet Spanish maiden,
the last to whom I offered my protection, will appear in such
a place as this to meet the bold gaze of hundreds ! "
" She is here ! " replied a manly voice ; and a passage was
made through the crowd ; and Clara, supported by Edward
Templemore, dressed in his uniform, was ushered into the
box for the witnesses. The appearance of the fair girl, who
looked round her with alarm, created a great sensation. As
soon as she was sufficiently composed she was sworn, and gave
her evidence as to Francisco's behaviour during the time that
she was a prisoner on board of the Avenger. She produced the
packet which had saved the life of Francisco, and substantiated
a great part of his defence. She extolled his kindness and
his generosity ; and when she had concluded every one asked
of himself, " Can this young man be a pirate and a murderer ? "
The reply was, " It is impossible."
152
THE TRIAL
" My lord/' said Edward Templemore, " I request permission to
ask the prisoner a question. When I was on board of the wreck
of the Avenger, I found this book floating in the cabin. I wish
to ask the prisoner whether, as that young lady has informed
me, it is his ? " And Edward Templemore produced the Bible.
" It is mine," replied Francisco.
" May I ask you by what means it came into your pos-
session ? "
" It is the only relic left of one who is now no more. It
was the consolation of my murdered mother ; it has since
been mine. Give it to me, sir; I may probably need its
support now more than ever."
" Was your mother murdered, say you ? " cried Edward
Templemore, with much agitation.
" I have already said so ; and I now repeat it."
The judge again rose, and recapitulated the evidence to
the jury. Evidently friendly to Francisco, he was obliged
to point out to them, that although the evidence of the
young lady had produced much which might be offered in
extenuation, and induce him to submit it to his Majesty,
in hopes of his gracious pardon after condemnation, yet, that
many acts in which the prisoner had been involved had en-
dangered his life, and no testimony had been brought forward
to prove that he had not, at one time, acted with the pirates,
although he might since have repented. They would, of
course, remember that the evidence of the mate, Hawkhurst,
was not of any value, and must dismiss any impression which
it might have made against Francisco. At the same time
he had the unpleasant duty to point out, that the evidence
of the Spanish lady was so far prejudicial, that it pointed
out the good terms subsisting between the young man and
the pirate captain. Much as he was interested in his fate,
he must reluctantly remind the jury, that the evidence on
the whole was not sufficient to clear the prisoner; and he
considered it their duty to return a verdict of guilty against
all the prisoners at the bar.
153
THE PIRATE
" My lord," said Edward Templemore, a few seconds after
the judge had resumed his seat, "may not the contents of
this packet, the seal of which I have not ventured to break,
afford some evidence in favour of the prisoner ? Have you
any objection that it should be opened previous to the jury
delivering their verdict ? "
" None," replied the judge ; " but what are its supposed
contents ? "
"The contents, my lord/' replied Francisco, "are in the
writing of the pirate captain. He delivered that packet into
my hands previous to our quitting the schooner, stating that
it would inform me who were my parents. My lord, in my
present situation I claim that packet, and refuse that its con-
tents shall be read in court. If I am to die an ignominious
death, at least those who are connected with me shall not
have to blush at my disgrace, for the secret of my parentage
shall die with me."
" Nay nay ; be ruled by me," replied Edward Temple-
more, with much emotion. " In the narrative, the hand-
writing of which can be proved by the king's evidence, there
may be acknowledgment of all you have stated, and it will
be received as evidence ; will it not, my lord ? "
"If the handwriting is proved, I should think it may,"
replied the judge ; " particularly as the lady was present
when the packet was delivered, and heard the captain's
assertion. Will you allow it to be offered as evidence, young
man ? "
"No, my lord," replied Francisco; "unless I have per-
mission first to peruse it myself. I will not have its contents
divulged, unless I am sure of an honourable acquittal. The
jury must deliver their verdict."
The jury turned round to consult, during which Edward
Templemore walked to Francisco, accompanied by Clara, to
entreat him to allow the packet to be opened ; but Francisco
was firm against both their entreaties. At last the foreman
of the jury rose to deliver the verdict. A solemn and awful
154
THE TRIAL
rilence prevailed throughout the court; the suspense was
paint'ii! U> a degree.
"My lord," said the foreman of the jury, "our verdict
is "
" Stop, sir ! " said Edward Templemore, as he clasped one
arm round the astonished Francisco, and extended the other
towards the foreman. " Stop, sir ! harm him not ! for he is
my brother ! "
" And my preserver ! " cried Clara, kneeling on the othef
side of Francisco, and holding up her hands in supplication.
The announcement was electrical ; the foreman dropped
into his seat ; the judge and whole court were in mute
astonishment. The dead silence was followed by confusion,
which, after a time, the judge in vain attempted to put a
stop to.
Edward Templemore, Clara, and Francisco, continued to
form the same group ; and never was there one more beauti-
ful. And now that they were together, every one in court
perceived the strong resemblance between the two young
men.
Francisco's complexion was darker than Edward's, from his
constant exposure, from infancy, to tropical sun ; but the
features of the two were the same.
It was some time before the judge could obtain silence in
the court ; and when it had been obtained, he was himself
puzzled how to proceed.
Edward and Francisco, who had exchanged a few words,
were now standing side by side.
" My lord," said Edward Templemore, " the prisoner con-
sents that the packet shall be opened."
"I do," said Francisco mournfully; "although I have but
little hope from its contents. Alas ! now that I have every-
thing to live for now that I cling to life, I feel as if every
chance was gone ! The days of miracles have passed ; and
nothing but the miracle of the reappearance of the pirate
captain from the grave can prove my innocence."
155
THE PIRATE
" He reappears from the grave to prove thine innocence,
Francisco!" said a deep, hollow voice, which startled the
whole court, and most of all Hawkhurst and the prisoners at
the bar. Still more did fear and horror distort their counte-
nances when into the witness-box stalked the giant form of
Cain.
But it was no longer the figure which we have described in
the commencement of this narrative ; his beard had been re-
moved, and he was pale, wan, and emaciated. His sunken
eyes, his hollow cheek, and a short cough, which interrupted
his speech, proved that his days were nearly at a close.
" My lord," said Cain, addressing the judge, " 1 am the
pirate Cain, and was the captain of the Avenger! Still am I
free ! I come here voluntarily, that I may attest the inno-
cence of that young man ! As yet, my hand has not known
the manacle, nor my feet the gyves ! I am not a prisoner,
nor included in the indictment, and at present my evidence
is good. None know me in this court, except those whose
testimony, as prisoners, is unavailing ; and therefore, to save
that boy, and only to save him, I demand that I may be
sworn."
The oath was administered with more than usual solemnity.
" My lord, and gentlemen of the jury, I have been in court
since the commencement of the trial, and I declare that
every word which Francisco has uttered in his own defence
is true. He is totally innocent of any act of piracy or
murder ; the packet would, indeed, have proved as much :
but in that packet there are secrets which I wished to remain
unknown to all but Francisco ; and, rather than it should
be opened, I have come forward myself. How that young
officer discovered that Francisco is his brother I know not ;
but if he also is the son of Cecilia Templemore, it is true.
But the packet will explain all.
"And now, my lords, that my evidence is received, I am
content; I have done one good deed before I die, and I
surrender myself, as a pirate and a foul murderer, to justice.
156
THE TRIAL
True, my life is nearly closed thanks to that villain there;
but I prefer that I should meet that death I merit,, as an
expiation of my many deeds of guilt."
Cain then turned to Hawkhurst, who was close to him, but
the mate appeared to be in a state of stupor ; he had not re-
covered from his first terror, and still imagined the appearance
of Cain to be supernatural.
"Villain!" exclaimed Cain, putting his mouth close to
Hawkhurst's ear ; " doubly d d villain ! thou'lt die like a
dog, and unrevenged ! The boy is safe, and I'm alive ! "
" Art thou really living ? " said Hawkhurst, recovering from
his fear.
" Yes, living yes, flesh and blood ; feel, wretch ! feel this
arm, and be convinced ; thou hast felt the power of it before
now," continued Cain sarcastically. " And now, my lord, I
have done ; Francisco, fare thee well ! I loved thee, and
have proved my love. Hate not then my memory, and for-
give me yes, forgive me when I'm no more," said Cain,
who then turned his eyes to the ceiling of the court-house.
" Yes, there she is, Francisco ! there she is ! and see,"
cried he, extending both arms above his head, " she smiles
upon yes, Francisco, your sainted mother smiles and
pardons "
The sentence was not finished ; for Hawkhurst, when
Cain's arms were upheld, perceived his knife in his girdle,
and, with the rapidity of thought, he drew it out, and passed
it through the body of the pirate captain.
Cain fell heavily on the floor, while the court was again
in confusion. Hawkhurst was secured, and Cain raised from
the ground.
"I thank thee, Hawkhurst!" said Cain, in an expiring
voice ; " another murder thou hast to answer for ; and you
have saved me from the disgrace, not of the gallows, but of
the gallows in thy company. Francisco, boy, farewell ! " and
Cain groaned deeply, and expired.
Thus perished the renowned pirate captain, who in his
157
THE PIRATE
life had shed so much blood, and whose death produced
another murder. " Blood for blood ! "
The body was removed ; and it now remained but for the
jury to give their verdict. All the prisoners were found
guilty, with the exception of Francisco, who left the dock
accompanied by his newly-found brother, and the congratula-
tions of every individual who could gain access to him.
CHAPTER XVIII
CONCLUSION
OUR first object will be to explain to the reader by what
means Edward Templemore was induced to surmise that in
Francisco, whom he had considered as a rival, he had found
a brother ; and also to account for the reappearance of the
pirate Cain.
In pursuance of his orders, Edward Templemore had
proceeded on board of the wreck of the Avenger ; and while
his men were employed in collecting articles of great value
which were on board of her, he had descended into the cabin,
which was partly under water. Here he had picked up a
book floating near the lockers, and on examination found it
to be a Bible.
Surprised at seeing such a book on board of a pirate, he
had taken it with him when he returned to the Enterprise,
and had shown it to Clara, who immediately recognised it as
the property of Francisco. The book was saturated with the
salt water, and as Edward mechanically turned over the
pages, he referred to the title-page to see if there was any
name upon it. There was not ; but he observed that the
blank or fly-leaf next to the binding had been pasted down,
and that there was writing on the other side. In its present
state it was easily detached from the cover; and then, to
his astonishment, he read the name of Cecilia Templemore
158
CONCLUSION
his own mother. He knew well the history; how he had
been saved, and his mother and brother supposed to be lost ;
and it may readily be imagined how great was his anxiety
to ascertain by what means her Bible had come into the
possession of Francisco. He dared not think Francisco was
his brother that he was so closely connected with one he
still supposed to be a pirate : but the circumstance was
possible ; and although he had intended to have remained a
few days longer, he now listened to the entreaties of Clara,
whose peculiar position on board was only to be justified by
the peculiar position from which she had been rescued, and
returning that evening to the wreck he set fire to her, and
then made all sail for Port Royal.
Fortunately he arrived, as we have stated, on the day of
the trial ; and as soon as the signal was made by the admiral
he immediately manned his gig, and taking Clara with him,
in case her evidence might be of use, arrived at the court-
house when the trial was about half over.
In our last chapter but one, we stated that Cain had been
wounded by Hawkhurst, when he was swimming on shore,
and had sunk ; the ball had entered his chest, and passed
through his lungs. The contest between Hawkhurst and
Francisco, and their capture by Edward, had taken place on
the other side of the ridge of rocks, in the adjacent cove, and
although Francisco had seen Cain disappear, and concluded
that he was dead, it was not so ; he had again risen above
the water, and dropping his feet and finding bottom, he con-
trived to crawl out, and wade into a cave adjacent, where he
lay down to die.
But in this cave there was one of the Avenger's boats, two
of the pirates, mortally wounded, and the four Kroumen,
who had concealed themselves there with the intention of
taking no part in the conflict, and as soon as it became dark
of making their escape in the boat, which they had hauled
up dry into the cave.
Cain staggered in, recovered the dry land, and fell.
159
THE PIRATE
Pompey, the Krouman, perceiving his condition, went to his
assistance and bound up his wound, and the stanching of the
blood soon revived the pirate captain. The other pirates
died unaided.
Although the island was searched in every direction, this
cave, from the water flowing into it, escaped the vigilance of
the British seamen ; and when they re-embarked with the
majority of the pirates captured, Cain and the Kroumen were
undiscovered.
As soon as it was dark Cain informed them of his inten-
tions ; and although the Kroumen would probably have left
him to his fate, yet, as they required his services to know
how to steer to some other island, he was assisted into the
stern-sheets, and the boat was backed out of the cave.
By the directions of Cain they passed through the passage
between the great island and the northern Caique, and before
daylight were far away from any chance of capture.
Cain had now to a certain degree recovered, and knowing
that they were in the channel of the small traders, he pointed
out to the Kroumen that, if supposed to be pirates, they
would inevitably be punished, although not guilty, and that
they must pass off as the crew of a small coasting-vessel
which had been wrecked. He then, with the assistance of
Pompey, cut off his beard as close as he could, and arranged
his dress in a more European style. They had neither water
nor provisions, and were exposed to a vertical sun. Fortu-
nately for them, and still more fortunately for Francisco, on
the second day they were picked up by an American brig
bound to Antigua.
Cain narrated his fictitious disasters, but said nothing about
his wound, the neglect of which would certainly have occa-
sioned his death a very few days after he appeared at the
trial, had he not fallen by the malignity of Hawkhurst.
Anxious to find his way to Port Royal, for he was indif-
ferent as to his own life, and only wished to save Francisco,
he was overjoyed to meet a small schooner trading between
160
CONCLUSION
the islands, bound to Port Royal. In that vessel he obtained
a passage for himself and the Kroumen, and had arrived
three days previous to the trial, and during that time had
remained concealed until the day that the Admiralty Court
assembled.
It may be as well here to remark that Cain's reason for not
-wishing the packet to be opened was, that among the other
papers relative to Francisco were directions for the recovery
of the treasure which he had concealed, and which, of course,
he wished to be communicated to Francisco alone.
We will leave the reader to imagine what passed between
Francisco and Edward after the discovery of their kindred,
and proceed to state the contents of the packet, which the
twin-brothers now opened in the presence of Clara alone.
We must, however, condense the matter, which was very
voluminous. It stated that Cain, whose real name was Charles
Osborne, had sailed in a fine schooner from Bilboa, for the
coast of Africa, to procure a cargo of slaves ; and had been
out about twenty-four hours when the crew perceived a boat,
apparently with no one in her, floating about a mile ahead of
them. The water was then smooth, and the vessel had but
little way. As soon as they came up with the boat, they
lowered down their skiff to examine her.
The men sent in the skiff soon returned, towing the boat
alongside. Lying at the bottom of the boat were found
several men almost dead, and reduced to skeletons, and in
the stern-sheets a negro woman, with a child at her breast,
and a white female in the last state of exhaustion.
Osborne was then a gay and unprincipled man, but not a
hardened villain and murderer, as he afterwards became ; he
had compassion and feeling. They were all taken on board
the schooner : some recovered, others were too much ex-
hausted. Among those restored was Cecilia Templemore
and the infant, who at first had been considered quite dead ;
but the negro woman, exhausted by the demands of her
nursling and her privations, expired as she was being removed
161 L
THE PIRATE
from the boat. A goat, that fortunately was on board,
proved a substitute for the negress ; and before Osborne had
arrived off the coast, the child had recovered its health and
vigour, and the mother her extreme beauty.
We must now pass over a considerable portion of the
narrative. Osborne was impetuous in his passions, and
Cecilia Templemore became his victim. He had, indeed,
afterwards quieted her qualms of conscience by a pretended
marriage, when he arrived at the Brazils with his cargo of
human flesh. But that was little alleviation of her sufferings ;
she who had been indulged in every luxury, who had been
educated with the greatest care, was now lost for ever, an
outcast from the society to which she could never hope to
return, and associating with those she both dreaded and
despised. She passed her days and her nights in tears ; and
had soon more cause for sorrow from the brutal treatment
she received from Osborne, who had been her destroyer.
Her child was her only solace ; but for him, and the fear of
leaving him to the demoralising influence of those about
him, she would have laid down and died . but she lived for
him for him attempted to recall Osborne from his career
of increasing guilt bore meekly with reproaches and with
blows. At last Osborne changed his nefarious life for one
of deeper guilt : he became a pirate, and still carried with
him Cecilia and her child.
This was the climax of her misery ; she now wasted from
day to day, and grief would soon have terminated her
existence, had it not been hastened by the cruelty of Cain,
who, upon an expostulation on her part, followed up with
a denunciation of the consequences of his guilty career,
struck her with such violence that she sank under the blow.
She expired with a prayer that her child might be rescued
from a life of guilt ; and when the then repentant Cain pro-
mised what he never did perform, she blessed him, too, before
she died.
Such was the substance of the narrative, as far as it related
162
CONCLUSION
to the unfortunate mother of these two young men, who,
when they had concluded, sat hand-in-hand in mournful
silence. This, however, was soon broken by the innumer-
able questions asked by Edward of his brother, as to what
he could remember of their ill-fated parent, which were
followed up by the history of Francisco's eventful life.
" And the treasure, Edward," said Francisco ; " I cannot
take possession of it."
" No, nor shall you either," replied Edward ; " it belongs
to the captors, and must be shared as prize-money. You
will never touch one penny of it ; but I shall, I trust, pocket
a very fair proportion of it ! However, keep this paper, as
it is addressed to you."
The admiral had been made acquainted with all the
particulars of this eventful trial, and had sent a message
to Edward, requesting that, as soon as he and his brother
could make it convenient, he would be happy to see them
at the Penn, as well as the daughter of the Spanish governor,
whom he must consider as being under his protection during
the time that she remained at Port Royal. This offer was
gladly accepted by Clara ; and 011 the second day after the
trial they proceeded up to the Penn. Clara and Francisco
were introduced, and apartments and suitable attendance
provided for the former.
" Templemore," said the admiral, " I'm afraid I must send
you away to Porto Rico, to assure the governor of his
daughter's safety."
" I would rather you would send some one else, sir, and I'll
assure her happiness in the meantime."
"What! by marrying her ? Humph! you've a good opinion
of yourself! Wait till you're a captain, sir."
" I hope I shall not have to wait long, sir," replied Edward
demurely.
" By-the-bye," said the admiral, "did you not say you have
notice of treasure concealed in those islands ? "
" My brother has : I have not."
163
THE PIRATE
" We must send for it. I think we must send you, Edward.
Mr. Francisco, you must go with him."
" With pleasure, sir/' replied Francisco, laughing ; " but
I think I'd rather wait till Edward is a captain ! His wife
and his fortune ought to come together. I think I shall not
deliver up my papers until the day of his marriage ! "
" Upon my word," said Captain Manly, " I wish, Temple-
more, you had your commission, for there seems so much
depending on it the young lady's happiness, my share of
the prize-money, and the admiral's eighth. Really, admiral,
it becomes a common cause ; and I'm sure he deserves it ! "
" So do I, Manly," replied the admiral ; " and to prove that
I have thought so, here comes Mr. Hadley with it in his
hand : it only wants one little thing to complete it "
" Which is your signature, admiral, I presume," replied
Captain Manly, taking a pen full of ink, and presenting it
to his senior officer.
" Exactly," replied the admiral, scribbling at the bottom
of the paper ; " and now it does not want that. Captain
Templemore, I wish you joy ! "
Edward made a very low obeisance, as his flushed counte-
nance indicated his satisfaction.
" I cannot give commissions, admiral," said Francisco, pre-
senting a paper in return ; " but I can give information and
you will find it not unimportant for the treasure appears of
great value."
" God bless my soul ! Manly, you must start at daylight ! "
exclaimed the admiral ; " why, there is enough to load your
sloop ! There ! read it ! and then I will write your orders,
and enclose a copy of it, for fear of accident."
" That was to have been my fortune," said Francisco, with
a grave smile ; "but I would not touch it."
" Very right, boy ! a fine principle ! But we are not
quite so particular," said the admiral. "Now, where's the
young lady ? Let her know that dinner's on the table."
A fortnight after this conversation, Captain Manly re-
CONCLUSION
turned with the treasure; and the Enterprise, commanded
by another officer, returned from Porto Rico, with a letter
from the governor in reply to one from the admiral, in which
the rescue of his daughter by Edward had been communi-
cated. The letter was full of thanks to the admiral, and
compliments to Edward ; and, what was of more importance,
it sanctioned the union of the young officer with his daughter,
with a dozen boxes of gold doubloons.
About six weeks after the above-mentioned important
conversation, Mr. Witherington, who had been reading a
voluminous packet of letters in his breakfast-room in Fins-
bury Square, pulled his bell so violently that old Jonathan
thought his master must be out of his senses. This, however,
did not induce him to accelerate his solemn and measured
pace ; and he made his appearance at the door, as usual,
without speaking.
"Why don't that fellow answer the bell?" cried Mr.
Witherington.
" I am here, sir," said Jonathan solemnly.
" Well, so you are ! but, confound you ! you come like the
ghost of a butler ! But who do you think is coming here,
Jonathan ? "
" I cannot tell, sir."
"But I can! you solemn old Edward's coming here'
coming home directly ! "
" Is he to sleep in his old room, sir ? " replied the im-
perturbable butler.
"No; the best bedroom! Why, Jonathan, he is married
he is'made a captain Captain Templemore ! "
" Yes sir."
" And he has found his brother, Jonathan ; his twin-
brother ! "
" Yes sir."
" His brother Francis that was supposed to be lost !
But it's a long story, Jonathan ! and a very wonderful one !
his poor mother has long been dead ! "
165
THE PIRATE
"In ccelo quies !" said Jonathan, casting up his eyes.
"But his brother has turned up again."
" Resurgam ! " said the butler.
"They will be here in ten days so let everything be in
readiness, Jonathan. God bless my soul ! " continued the
old gentleman, " 1 hardly know what I'm about. It's a
Spanish girl, Jonathan ! "
" What is, sir ? "
" What is, sir ! why, Captain Templemore's wife ; and he
was tried as a pirate ! "
"Who, sir?"
" Who, sir ? why, Francis, his brother ! Jonathan, you're
a stupid old fellow ! "
" Have you any further commands, sir ? "
"No no ! there that'll do go away."
And in three weeks after this conversation, Captain and
Mrs. Templemore, and his brother Frank, were established
in the house, to the great delight of Mr. Witherington ; for
he had long been tired of solitude and old Jonathan.
The twin-brothers were a comfort to him in his old age :
they closed his eyes in peace they divided his blessing
and his large fortune and thus ends our history of THE
PIRATE !
166
THE THREE CUTTERS
THE THREE CUTTERS
CHAPTER I
CUTTER THE FIRST
IxEADER, have you ever been at Plymouth ? If you have,
your eye must have dwelt with ecstasy upon the beautiful
property of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe : if you have not
been at Plymouth, the sooner that you go there the better.
At Mount Edgcumbe you will behold the finest timber in
existence, towering up to the summits of the hills, and feather-
ing down to the shingle on the beach. And from this lovely
spot you will witness one of the most splendid panoramas in
the world. You will see I hardly know what you will not
see you will see Ram Head, and Cawsand Bay ; and then
you will see the Breakwater, and Drake's Island, and the
Devil's Bridge below you; and the town of Plymouth and
its fortifications, and the Hoe ; and then you will come to the
Devil's Point, round which the tide runs devilish strong ;
and then you will see the New Victualling Office, about
which Sir James Gordon used to stump all day, and take a
pinch of snuff from every man who carried a box, which all
were delighted to give, and he was delighted to receive,
proving how much pleasure may be communicated merely by
a pinch of snuff; and then you will see Mount Wise and
Mutton Cove ; the town of Devonport, with its magnificent
dockyard and arsenals, North Corner, and the way which leads
to Saltash. And you will see ships building and ships in
169
THE THREE CUTTERS
ordinary ; and ships repairing and ships fitting ; and hulks
and convict ships, and the guardship ; ships ready to sail and
ships under sail ; besides lighters, men-of-war's boats, dock-
yard-boats, bumboats, and shore-boats. In short, there is a
great deal to see at Plymouth besides the sea itself: but what
I particularly wish now is, that you will stand at the Battery
of Mount Edgcumbe and look into Bam Pool below you, and
there you will see, lying at single anchor, a cutter ; and you
may also see, by her pendant and ensign, that she is a yacht
Of all the amusements entered into by the nobility and
gentry of our island there is not one so manly, so exciting, so
patriotic, or so national as yacht-sailing. It is peculiar to
England, not only from our insular position and our fine
harbours, but because it requires a certain degree of energy
and a certain amount of income rarely to be found elsewhere.
It has been wisely fostered by our sovereigns, who have felt
that the security of the kingdom is increased by every man
being more or less a sailor, or connected with the nautical
profession. It is an amusement of the greatest importance to
the country, as it has much improved our ship-building and
our ship-fitting, while it affords employment to our seamen
and shipwrights. But if I were to say all that I could say in
praise of yachts, I should never advance with my narrative.
I shall therefore drink a bumper to the health of Admiral
Lord Yarborough and the Yacht Club, and proceed.
You observe that this yacht is cutter-rigged, and that she
sits gracefully on the smooth water. She is just heaving up
her anchor ; her foresail is loose, all ready to cast her in a
few minutes she will be under way. You see that there are
ladies sitting at the taffrail ; and there are five haunches of
venison hanging over the stern. Of all amusements, give me
yachting. But we must go on board. The deck, you observe,
is of narrow deal planks as white as snow ; the guns are
of polished brass ; the bitts and binnacles of mahogany ; she is
painted with taste ; and all the mouldings are gilded. There
is nothing wanting ; and yet how clear and unencumbered are
170
CUTTER THE FIRST
her decks ! Let us go below. This is the ladies' cabin : can
anything be more tasteful or elegant? is it not luxurious?
and, although so small, does not its very confined space
astonish you, when you view so many comforts so beautifully
arranged ? This is the dining-room, and where the gentle-
men repair. What can be more complete or recherchf ? And
just peep into their state-rooms and bed-places. Here is the
steward's room and the beaufet : the steward is squeezing
lemons for the punch, and there is the champagne in ice ; and
by the side of the pail the long corks are ranged up, all ready.
Now, let us go forwards : here are the men's berths, not con-
fined as in a man-of-war. No ; luxury starts from abaft, and is
not wholly lost even at the fore-peak. This is the kitchen : is
it not admirably arranged ? What a multum in parvo ! And
how delightful are the fumes of the turtle-soup ! At sea we
do meet with rough weather at times ; but, for roughing it
out, give me a yacht. Now that I have shown you round the
vessel, I must introduce the parties on board.
You observe that florid, handsome man, in white trousers and
blue jacket, who has a telescope in one hand, and is sipping a
glass of brandy and water which he has just taken off the sky-
light. That is the owner of the vessel, and a member of the
Yacht Club. It is Lord B : he looks like a sailor, and he
does not much belie his looks ; yet I have seen him in his
robes of state at the opening of the House of Lords. The
one near to him is Mr. Stewart, a lieutenant in the navy. He
holds on by the rigging with one hand, because, having been
actively employed all his life, he does not know what to do
with hands which have nothing in them. He is a protege of
Lord B., and is now on board as sailing-master of the yacht.
That handsome, well-built man, who is standing by the
binnacle, is a Mr. Hautaine, He served six years as mid-
shipman in the navy, and did not like it. He then served
six years in a cavalry regiment, and did not like it. He then
married, and in a much shorter probation found that he did
not like that. But he is very fond of yachts and other men's
171
THE THREE CUTTERS
wives, if he does not like his own ; and wherever he goes, he
is welcome.
That young man with an embroidered silk waistcoat and
white gloves, bending to talk to one of the ladies, is a Mr.
Vaughan. He is to be seen at Almack's, at Crockford's, and
everywhere else. Everybody knows him, and he knows every-
body. He is a little in debt, and yachting is convenient.
The one who sits by the lady is a relation of Lord B. ; you
see at once what he is. He apes the sailor; he has not
shaved, because sailors have no time to shave every day ; he
has not changed his linen, because sailors cannot change
every day. He has a cigar in his mouth, which makes him
half sick and annoys his company. He talks of the pleasure
of a rough sea, which will drive all the ladies below and
then they will not perceive that he is more sick than them-
selves. He has the misfortune to be born to a large estate,
and to be a. fool. His name is Ossulton.
The last of the gentlemen on board whom I have to intro-
duce is Mr. Seagrove. He is slightly made, with marked
features full of intelligence. He has been brought up to the
bar ; and has every qualification but application. He has never
had a brief, nor has he a chance of one. He is the fiddler of
the company, and he has locked up his chambers and come, by
invitation of his lordship, to play on board of his yacht.
I have yet to describe the ladies perhaps I should have
commenced with them I must excuse myself upon the
principle of reserving the best to the last. All puppet-
showmen do so ; and what is this but the first scene in my
puppet-show ?
We will describe them according to seniority. That tall,
thin, cross-looking lady of forty-five is a spinster, and sister
to Lord B. She had been persuaded, very much against
her will, to come on board ; but her notions of propriety
would not permit her niece to embark under the protection
of otdy her father. She is frightened at everything : if a rope
is thrown down on the deck, up she starts, and cries, " Oh ! "
172
CUTTER THE FIRST
if on the deck, she thinks the water is rushing in below ; if
down below, and there is a noise, she is convinced there is
danger ; and if it be perfectly still, she is sure there is some-
thing wrong. She fidgets herself and everybody, and is quite
a nuisance with her pride and ill-humour ; but she has strict
notions of propriety, and sacrifices herself as a martyr. She
is the Hon. Miss Ossulton.
The lady who, when she smiles, shows so many dimples in
her pretty oval face, is a young widow of the name of Lascelles.
She married an old man to please her father and mother, which
was very dutiful on her part. She was rewarded by finding
herself a widow with a large fortune. Having married the
first time to please her parents, she intends now to marry to
please herself; but she is very young, and is in no hurry.
That young lady with such a sweet expression of counte-
nance is the Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton. She is lively, witty,
and has no fear in her composition ; but she is very young
yet, not more than seventeen and nobody knows what she
really is she does not know herself. These are the parties
who meet in the cabin of the yacht. The crew consists of ten
fine seamen, the steward and the cook. There is also Lord
B.'s valet, Mr. Ossulton's gentleman, and the lady's-maid of
Miss Ossulton. There not being accommodation for them,
the other servants have been left on shore.
The yacht is now under way, and her sails are all set. She
is running between Drake's Island and the main. Dinner
has been announced. As the reader has learnt something
about the preparations, I leave him to judge whether it be
not very pleasant to sit down to dinner in a yacht. The air
has given everybody an appetite ; and it was not until the
cloth was removed that the conversation became general.
" Mr. Seagrove," said his lordship, " you very nearly lost
your passage ; I expected you last Thursday."
" I am sorry, my lord, that business prevented my sooner
attending to your lordship's kind summons."
"Come, Seagrove, don't be nonsensical," said Hautaine;
173
THE THREE CUTTERS
"you told me yourself, the other evening, when you were
talkative, that you had never had a brief in your life."
" And a very fortunate circumstance/' replied Seagrove ;
" for if I had had a brief I should not have known what to have
done with it. It is not my fault ; I am fit for nothing but
a commissioner. But still I had business, and very important
business, too. I was summoned by Ponsonby to go with him
to Tattersall's, to give my opinion about a horse he wishes
to purchase, and then to attend him to Forest Wild to plead
his cause with his uncle."
" It appears, then, that you were retained," replied Lord
B. ; " may I ask you whether your friend gained his cause ?"
"No, my lord, he lost his cause, but he gained a suit."
"Expound your riddle, sir," said Cecilia Ossulton.
"The fact is, that old Ponsonby is very anxious that
William should marry Miss Percival, whose estates join on to
Forest Wild. Now, my friend William is about as fond of
marriage as I am of law, and thereby issue was joined."
" But why were you to be called in ? " inquired Mrs.
Lascelles.
" Because, madam, as Ponsonby never buys a horse without
consulting me "
" I cannot see the analogy, sir," observed Miss Ossulton,
senior, bridling up.
" Pardon me, madam : the fact is," continued Seagrove,
" that, as I always have to back Ponsonby' s horses, he
thought it right that, in this instance, I should back him :
he required special pleading, but his uncle tried him for the
capital offence, and he was not allowed counsel. As soon as we
arrived, and I had bowed myself into the room, Mr. Ponsonby
bowed me out again which would have been infinitely more
jarring to my feelings, had not the door been left a-jar."
" Do anything but pun, Seagrove," interrupted Hautaine.
"Well then, I will take a glass of wine."
"Do so," said his lordship; "but recollect the whole com-
pany are impatient for your story."
174.
CUTTER THE FIRST
" I can assure you, my lord, that it was equal to any scene
in a comedy."
Now be it observed that Mr. Seagrove had a great deal of
comic talent ; he was an excellent mimic, and could alter his
voice almost as he pleased. It was a custom of his to act a
scene as between other people, and he performed it remark-
ably well. Whenever he said that anything he was going to
narrate was " as good as a comedy," it was generally under-
stood by those who were acquainted with him that he was to
be asked so to do. Cecilia Ossulton therefore immediately
said, " Pray act it, Mr. Seagrove."
Upon which, Mr. Seagrove premising that he had not
only heard but also seen all that passed changing his voice,
and suiting the action to the word, commenced.
" It may," said he, " be called
' FIVE THOUSAND ACRES IN A RING-FENCE.' "
We shall not describe Mr. Seagrove's motions ; they must
be inferred from his words.
"'It will then, William/ observed Mr. Ponsonby, stop-
ping, and turning to his nephew, after a rapid walk up and
down the room with his hands behind him under his coat, so
as to allow the tails to drop their perpendicular about three
inches clear of his body, ' I may say, without contradiction, be
the finest property in the county five thousand acres in a
ring-fence.'
" ' I dare say it will, uncle,' replied William, tapping his
foot, as he lounged in a green morocco easy-chair ; ' and so,
because you have set your fancy upon having these two
estates enclosed together in a ring-fence, you wish that I
should be also enclosed in a ring-fence.'
" ' And a beautiful property it will be/ replied Mr. Ponsonby.
" ' W r hich, uncle ? the estate or the wife ? '
" ' Both, nephew, both ; and I expect your consent'
"'Uncle, I am not avaricious. Your present property is
sufficient for me. W 7 ith your permission, instead of doubling
175
THE THREE CUTTERS
the property, and doubling myself, I will remain your sole
heir and single.'
" ' Observe, William, such an opportunity may not occur
again for centuries. We shall restore Forest Wild to its
ancient boundaries. You know it has been divided nearly
two hundred years. We now have a glorious, golden oppor-
tunity of re-uniting the two properties; and when joined,
the estate will be exactly what it was when granted to our
ancestors by Henry VIII., at the period of the Reformation.
This house must be pulled down, and the monastery left
standing. Then we shall have our own again, and the
property without encumbrance.'
" ' Without encumbrance, uncle ! You forget that there
will be a wife.'
" '"And you forget that there will be five thousand acres in
a ring-fence.'
" ' Indeed, uncle, you ring it too often in my ears that I
should forget it. But, much as I should like to be the happy
possessor of such a property, I do not feel inclined to be the
happy possessor of Miss Percival ; and the more so, as I have
never seen the property.'
" < We will ride over it to-morrow, William.'
" ' Ride over Miss Percival, uncle ! That will not be very
gallant. I will, however, one of these days ride over the
property with you, which, as well as Miss Percival, I have
not as yet seen.'
" 'Then I can tell you she is a very pretty property.'
" ' If she were not in a ring-fence.'
" ' In good heart, William. That is, I mean an excellent
disposition.'
" ' Valuable in matrimony.'
"'And well tilled I should say well educated by her
three maiden aunts, who are the patterns of propriety.'
" ' Does any one follow the fashion ? '
" ' In a high state of cultivation ; that is, her mind highly
cultivated, and according to the last new system what is it ? '
176
CUTTER THE FIRST
" ' A four-course shift, I presume/ replied William, laugh-
ing ; 'that is, dancing, singing, music, and drawing.'
" ' And only seventeen ! Capital soil, promising good crops.
What would you have more ? '
" ' A very pretty estate, uncle, if it were not the estate of
matrimony. I am sorry, very sorry, to disappoint you ; but I
must decline taking a lease of it for life.'
" ' Then, sir, allow me to hint to you that in my testament
you are only a tenant-at-will. I consider it a duty that I
owe to the family that the estate should be re-united. That
can only be done by one of our family marrying Miss Percival;
and as you will not, I shall now write to your cousin James,
and if he accept my proposal, shall make him my heir. Pro-
bably he will more fully appreciate the advantages of five
thousand acres in a ring-fence.'
" And Mr. Ponsonby directed his steps towards the door.
"' Stop, my dear uncle/ cried William, rising up from his easy
chair; ( we do not quite understand one another. It is very true
that I would prefer half the property and remaining single, to
the two estates and the estate of marriage ; but at the same
time I did not tell you that I would prefer beggary to a wife
and five thousand acres in a ring-fence. I know you to be a
man of your word. I accept your proposal, and you need not
put my cousin James to the expense of postage.'
" 'Very good, William ; I require no more : and as I know
you to be a man of your word, I shall consider this match as
settled. It was on this account only that I sent for you, and
now you may go back again as soon as you please. I will let
you know when all is ready.'
" ' I must be at Tattersall's on Monday, uncle ; there is a
horse I must have for next season. Pray, uncle, may I ask
when you are likely to want me ? '
" ' Let me see this is May about July, I should think.'
" ' July, uncle ! Spare me I cannot marry in the dog-
days. No, hang it ! not July '
" ' Well, William, perhaps, as you must come down once or
177 M
THE THREE CUTTERb
twice to see the property Miss Percival, I should say it
may be too soon suppose we put it off till October ? '
" < October I shall be down at Melton.'
" ' Pray, sir, may I then inquire what portion of the year is
not, with you, dog-days ? '
< Why, uncle, next April, now I think that would do.'
" ' Next April ! Eleven months, and a winter between.
Suppose Miss Percival was to take a cold and die.'
" ' I should be excessively obliged to her,' thought William.
" ' No, no ! ' continued Mr. Ponsonby : ' there is nothing
certain in this world, William.'
"'Well then, uncle, suppose we arrange it for the first
hard frost.'
" ' We have had no hard frosts lately, William. We may
wait for years. The sooner it is over the better. Go back to
town, buy your horse, and then come down here, my dear
William, to oblige your uncle never mind the dog-days.'
" ' Well, sir, if I am to make a sacrifice, it shall not be done
by halves ; out of respect for you I will even marry in July,
without any regard to the thermometer.'
" ' You are a good boy, William. Do you want a cheque ? '
" ' I have had one to-day/ thought William, and was almost
at fault. ' I shall be most thankful, sir they sell horseflesh
by the ounce nowadays.'
"'And you pay in pounds. There, William.'
"'Thank you. sir, I'm all obedience; and I'll keep my
word, even if there should be a comet. I'll go and buy the
horse, and then I shall be ready to take the ring-fence as
soon as you please.'
"'Yes, and you'll get over it cleverly, I've no doubt. Five
thousand acres, William, and a pretty wife ! '
" ' Have you any further commands, uncle ? ' said William,
depositing the cheque in his pocket-book.
" ' None, my dear boy ; are you going ? '
" ' Yes, sir ; I dine at the Clarendon.'
"'Well, then, good-bye. Make my compliments and
178
CUTTER THE FIRST
excuses to your friend Seagrove. You will come on Tuesday
or Wednesday.'
"Thus was concluded the marriage between William
Ponsonby and Emily Percival, and the junction of the two
estates, which formed together the great desideratum -Jive
thousand acres in a ring-fence."
Mr. Seagrove finished, and he looked round for approbation.
"Very good indeed, Seagrove," said his lordship; "you
must take a glass of wine after that."
" I would not give much for Miss Percival' s chance of
happiness," observed the elder Miss Ossulton.
" Of two evils choose the least, they say," observed Mr.
Hautaine. "Poor Ponsonby could not help himself."
" That's a very polite observation of yours. Mr. Hautaine
I thank you in the name of the sex," replied Cecilia Ossulton.
" Nay, Miss Ossulton ; would you like to marry a person
whom you never saw ? "
" Most certainly not ; but when you mentioned the two
evils, Mr. Hautaine, I appeal to your honour, did you not
refer to marriage or beggary ? "
" I must confess it, Miss Ossulton ; but it is hardly fair to
call on my honour to get me into a scrape."
" I only wish that the offer had been made to me," observed
Vaughan ; " I should not have hesitated as Ponsonby did."
" Then I beg you will not think of proposing for me," said
Mrs. Lascelles, laughing ; for Mr. Vaughan had been exces-
sively attentive.
"It appears to me, Vaughan," observed Seagrove, "that
you have slightly committed yourself by that remark."
Vaughan, who thought so too, replied, " Mrs. Lascelles
must be aware that I was only joking."
" Fie 1 Mr. Vaughan," cried Cecilia Ossulton ; " you know
it came from your heart."
"My dear Cecilia," said the elder Miss Ossulton, "you
forget yourself what can you possibly know about gentle-
men's hearts ? "
179
THE THREE CUTTERS
"The Bible says that they are * deceitful and desperately
wicked/ aunt."
"And cannot we also quote the Bible against your sex,
Miss Ossulton?" replied Seagrove.
" Yes, you could, perhaps, if any of you had ever read it,"
replied Miss Ossulton carelessly
" Upon my word, Cissy, you are throwing the gauntlet
down to the gentlemen," observed Lord B. ; "but I shall
throw my warder down, and not permit this combat h
I' entrance. I perceive you drink no more wine, gentlemen;
we will take our coffee on deck."
"We were just about to retire, my lord," observed the
elder Miss Ossulton, with great asperity ; " I have been trying
to catch the eye of Mrs. Lascelles for some time, but "
" I was looking another way, I presume," interrupted Mrs.
Lascelles, smiling.
"I am afraid that I am the unfortunate culprit," said
Mr, Seagrove. " I was telling a little anecdote to Mrs.
Lascelles "
" Which, of course, from its being communicated in an under-
tone, was not proper for all the company to hear," replied the
elder Miss Ossulton ; " but if Mrs. Lascelles is now ready "
continued she, bridling up, as she rose from her chair.
" At all events, I can hear the remainder of it on deck,"
replied Mrs. Lascelles. The ladies rose and went into the
cabin, Cecilia and Mrs. Lascelles exchanging very significant
smiles as they followed the precise spinster, who did not
choose that Mrs. Lascelles should take the lead merely
because she had once happened to have been married. The
gentlemen also broke up, and went on deck.
"We have a nice breeze now, my lord," observed Mr.
Stewart, who had remained on deck, " and we lie right up
Channel."
" So much the better," replied his lordship ; " we ought
to have been anchored at Cowes a week ago. They will all
be there before us."
180
CUTTER THE SECOND
" Tell Mr. Simpson to bring me a light for my cigar," said
Mr. Ossulton to one of the men.
Mr. Stewart went down to his dinner ; the ladies and the
coffee came on deck ; the breeze was fine, the weather (it was
April) almost warm ; and the yacht, whose name was the Arrow,
assisted by the tide, soon left the Mewstone far astern.
CHAPTER II
CUTTER THE SECOND
HEADER, have you ever been at Portsmouth? If you
have, you must have been delighted with the view from the
saluting battery ; and if you have not, you had better go there
as soon as you can. From the saluting battery you may look
up the harbour, and see much of what I have described at
Plymouth ; the scenery is different, but similar arsenals and
dockyards, and an equal portion of our stupendous navy are
to be found there ; and you will see Gosport on the other
side of the harbour^ and Sallyport close to you ; besides a
great many other places, which, from the saluting battery,
you cannot see. And then there is Southsea Beach to your
left. Before you, Spithead, with the men-of-war, and the
Motherbank crowded with merchant vessels ; and there is
the buoy where the Royal George was wrecked and where
she still lies, the fish swimming in and out of her cabin
windows ; but that is not all ; you can also see the Isle of
Wight Ryde with its long wooden pier, and Cowes, where
the yachts lie. In fact, there is a great deal to be seen at
Portsmouth as well as at Plymouth ; but what I wish you
particularly to see just now is a vessel holding fast to the
buoy just off the saluting battery. She is a cutter ; and you
may know that she belongs to the Preventive Service by the
number of gigs and galleys which she has hoisted up all round
her. She looks like a vessel that was about to sail with a cargo
181
THE THREE CUTTERS
of boats ; two on deck, one astern, one on each side of her.
You observe that she is painted black, and all her boats are
white. She is not such an elegant vessel as the yacht, and
she is much more lumbered up. She has no haunches of
venison hanging over the stern, but I think there is a leg
of mutton and some cabbages hanging by their stalks. But
revenue cutters are not yachts. You will find no turtle or
champagne ; but, nevertheless, you will, perhaps, find a joint
to carve at, a good glass of grog, and a hearty welcome.
Let us go on board. You observe the guns are iron, and
painted black, and her bulwarks are painted red ; it is not a
very becoming colour, but then it lasts a long while, and the
dockyard is not very generous on the score of paint or
lieutenants of the navy troubled with much spare cash. She
has plenty of men, and fine men they are ; all dressed in red
flannel shirts and blue trousers ; some of them have not taken
off their canvas or tarpaulin petticoats, which are very useful
to them, as they are in the boats night and day, and in all
weathers. But we will at once go down into the cabin, where
we shall find the lieutenant who commands her, a master's
mate, and a midshipman. They have each their tumbler
before them, and are drinking gin-toddy, hot, with sugar-
capital gin, too, 'bove proof; it is from that small anker
standing under the table. It was one that they forgot to
return to the custom-house when they made their last seizure.
We must introduce them.
The elderly personage, with grizzly hair and whiskers, a
round pale face, and a somewhat red nose (being too much in
the wind will make the nose red, and this old officer is very
often " in the wind," of course, from the very nature of his
profession), is a Lieutenant Appleboy. He has served in
every class of vessel in the service, and done the duty of first
lieutenant for twenty years ; he is now on promotion that is
to say, after he has taken a certain number of tubs of gin, he
will be rewarded with his rank as commander. It is a pity
that what he takes inside of him does not count, for he takes
182
CUTTER THE SECOND
it morning, noon, and night. He is just filling his fourteenth
glass : he always keeps a regular account, as he never exceeds
his limited number, which is seventeen ; then he is exactly
down to his bearings.
The master's mate's name is Tomkins ; he has served his
six years three times over, and has now outgrown his ambition ;
which is fortunate for him, as his chances of promotion are
small. He prefers a small vessel to a large one, because he
is not obliged to be so particular in his dress and looks for
his lieutenancy whenever there shall be another charity pro-
motion. He is fond of soft bread, for his teeth are all absent
without leave ; he prefers porter to any other liquor, but he
can drink his glass of grog, whether it be based upon rum,
brandy, or the liquor now before him.
Mr. Smith is the name of that young gentleman whose
jacket is so out at the elbows ; he has been intending to
mend it these last two months, but is too lazy to go to his
chest for another. He has been turned out of half the ships
in the service for laziness ; but he was born so and there-
fore it is not his fault. A revenue-cutter suits him, she is
half her time hove-to ; and he has no objection to boat-
service, as he sits down always in the stern-sheets, which is
not fatiguing. Creeping for tubs is his delight, as he gets
over so little ground. He is fond of grog, but there is some
trouble in carrying the tumbler so often to his mouth ; so
he looks at it, and lets it stand. He says little because he
is too lazy to speak. He has served more than eight years ;
but as for passing it has never come into his head. Such
are the three persons who are now sitting in the cabin of the
revenue-cutter, drinking hot gin-toddy.
" Let me see, it was, I think, in ninety-three or ninety-
four. Before you were in the service, Tomkins "
" Maybe, sir ; it's so long ago since I entered, that I can't
recollect dates but this I know, that my aunt died three
days before."
"Then the question is, When did your aunt die?"
183
THE THREE CUTTERS
" Oh ! she died about a year after my uncle."
" And when did your uncle die ? "
" I'll be hanged if I know ! "
" Then, d'ye see,, you've no departure to work from. How-
ever, I think you cannot have been in the service at that time.
We were not quite so particular about uniform as we are now."
" Then I think the service was all the better for it. Now-
adays, in your crack ships, a mate has to go down in the hold or
spirit-room, and after whipping up fifty empty casks, and break-
ing out twenty full ones, he is expected to come on quarter-
deck as clean as if he was just come out of a band-box."
<e Well, there's plenty of water alongside, as far as the out-
ward man goes, and iron dust is soon brushed off. However,
as you say, perhaps a little too much is expected ; at least, in
five of the ships in which I was first lieutenant, the captain
was always hauling me over the coals about the midshipmen
not dressing properly, as if I was their dry-nurse. I wonder
what Captain Prigg would have said if he had seen such a
turn-out as you, Mr. Smith, on his quarter-deck."
" I should have had one turn-out more," drawled Smith.
"With your out-at-elbows jacket, there, eh !" continued
Mr. Appleboy.
Smith turned up his elbows, looked at one and then at the
other ; after so fatiguing an operation, he was silent.
" Well, where was I ? Oh ! it was about ninety-three or
ninety-four, as I said, that it happened Tomkins, fill your
glass and hand me the sugar how do I get on ? This is
No. 15," said Appleboy, counting some white lines on the
table by him ; and taking up a piece of chalk, he marked
one more line on his tally. " I don't think this is so good a
tub as the last, Tomkins, there's a twang about it a want of
juniper; however, I hope we shall have better luck this
time. Of course you know we sail to-morrow ? "
" I presume so, by the leg of mutton coming on board."
" True true ; I'm regular as clockwork. After being
twenty years a first lieutenant one gets a little method. I
184
CUTTER THE SECOND
like regularity. Now the admiral has never omitted asking
me to dinner once, every time I have come into harbour, except
this time. I was so certain of it, that I never expected to
sail ; and I have but two shirts clean in consequence."
" That's odd, isn't it ? and the more so, because he has
had such great people down here, and has been giving large
parties every day."
" And yet I made three seizures, besides sweeping up those
thirty-seven tubs."
" I swept them up," observed Smith.
" That's all the same thing, younker. When you've been
a little longer in the service, you'll find out that the com-
manding officer has the merit of all that is done ; but you're
green yet. Let me see, where was I ? Oh ! it was about
ninety-three or ninety-four, as I said. At that time I was in
the Channel fleet Tomkins, I'll trouble you for the hot
water ; this water's cold. Mr. Smith, do me the favour to
ring the bell. Jem, some more hot water."
" Please, sir," said Jem, who was barefooted as well as
bareheaded, touching the lock of hair on his forehead, " the
cook has capsized the kettle but he has put more on."
"Capsized the kettle! Hah ! very well we'll talk
about that to-morrow. Mr. Tomkins, do me the favour to
put him in the report : I may forget it. And pray, sir,
how long is it since he has put more on ? "
f< Just this moment, sir, as I came aft."
"Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow. You bring the
kettle aft as soon as it is ready. I say, Mr. Jem, is that
fellow sober ? "
" Yees, sir, he be sober as you be."
" It's quite astonishing what a propensity the common
sailors have to liquor. Forty odd years have I been in the
service, and I've never found any difference. I only wish
I had a guinea for every time that I have given a fellow
seven-water grog during my servitude as first lieutenant, I
wouldn't call the king my cousin. Well, if there's no hot
185
THE THREE CUTTERS
water, we must take lukewarm ; it won't do to heave to.
By the Lord Harry ' who would have thought it ? I'm at
number sixteen I Let me count yes ! surely I must have
made a mistake. A fact, by Heaven!" continued Mr.
Appleboy, throwing the chalk down on the table. " Only
one more glass after this ; that is, if I have counted right
I may have seen double."
"Yes," drawled Smith.
"Well, never mind. Let's go on with my story. It was
either in the year ninety-three or ninety-four that I was in
the Channel fleet ; we were then abreast of Torbay "
" Here be the hot water, sir," cried Jem, putting the
kettle down on the deck.
" Very well, boy. By-the-bye, has the jar of butter come
on board ? "
"Yes, but it broke all down the middle. I tied him up
with a rope-yarn."
"Who broke it, sir?"
" Coxswain says as how he didn't."
" But who did, sir ? "
" Coxswain handed it up to Bill Jones, and he says as how
he didn't."
" But who did, sir ? "
"Bill Jones gave it to me, and I'm sure as how I
didn't."
" Then who did, sir, I ask you ? "
" I think it be Bill Jones, sir, 'cause he's fond of butter, I
know, and there be very little left in the jar."
" Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow morning. Mr.
Tomkins, you'll oblige me by putting the butter-jar down in
the report, in case it should slip my memory. Bill Jones,
indeed, looks as if butter wouldn't melt in his month. Never
mind. Well, it was, as I said before it was in the year
ninety-three or ninety-four, when I was in the Channel fleet ;
we were then off Torbay, and had just taken two reefs in
the top-sails. Stop before I go on with my story, I'll take
18(J
CUTTER THE SECOND
my last glass ; I think it's the last let me count. Yes, by
heavens ! I make out sixteen, well told. Never mind, it
shall be a stiff' one. Boy, bring the kettle, and mind you
don't pour the hot water into my shoes, as you did the
other night. There, that will do. Now, Tomkins, fill up
yours ; and you, Mr. Smith. Let us all start fair, and then
you shall have my story and a very curious one it is, I can
tell you ; I wouldn't have believed it myself, if I hadn't seen
it. Hilloa ! what's this ? Confound it ! what's the matter
with the toddy ? Heh, Mr. Tomkins ? "
Mr. Tomkins tasted ; but, like the lieutenant, he had made
it very stiff; and, as he had also taken largely before, he was,
like him, not quite so clear in his discrimination. " It has
a queer twang, sir ; Smith, what is it ? "
Smith took up his glass, tasted the contents.
" Salt water," drawled the midshipman.
"Salt water! so it is, by heavens !" cried Mr. Appleboy.
" Salt as Lot's wife ! by all that's infamous ! " cried the
master's mate.
" Salt water, sir ! " cried Jem in a fright, expecting a salt
eel for supper.
" Yes, sir," replied Mr. Appleboy, tossing the contents of
the tumbler in the boy's face, "salt water. Very well, sir
very well ! "
" It warn't me, sir," replied the boy, making up a piteous
look.
" No, sir, but you said the cook was sober."
" He was not so very much disguised, sir," replied Jem.
" Oh ! very well never mind. Mr. Tomkins, in case I
should forget it, do me the favour to put the kettle of salt
water down in the report. The scoundrel ! I'm very sorry,
gentlemen, but there's no means of having any more gin-
toddy. But never mind, we'll see to this to-morrow Two
can play at this ; and if I don't salt-water their grog, and
make them drink it too, I have been twenty years a first
lieutenant for nothing, that's all. Good night, gentlemen;
187
THE THREE CUTTERS
and," continued the lieutenant, in a severe tone, "you'll keep
a sharp look-out, Mr. Smith do you hear, sir?"
" Yes," drawled Smith, " but it's not my watch ; it was my
first watch; and just now it struck one bell."
"You'll keep the middle watch, then, Mr. Smith," said
Mr. Appleboy, who was not a little put out; "and, Mr.
Tomkins, let me know as soon as it's daylight. Boy, get my
bed made. Salt water, by all that's blue ! However, we'll
see to that to-morrow morning."
Mr. Appleboy then turned in ; so did Mr. Tomkins ; and so
did Mr. Smith, who had no idea of keeping the middle watch
because the cook was drunk and had filled up the kettle with
salt water. As for what happened in ninety-three or ninety-
four, I really would inform the reader if I knew ; but I am
afraid that that most curious story is never to be handed
down to posterity.
The next morning Mr. Tomkins, as usual, forgot to report
the cook, the jar of butter, and the kettle of salt water ; and
Mr. Appleboy's wrath had long been appeased before he
remembered them. At daylight, the lieutenant came on
deck, having only slept away half of the sixteen, and a taste
of the seventeenth salt-water glass of gin-toddy He rubbed
his grey eyes, that he might peer through the grey of the
morning ; the fresh breeze blew about his grizzly locks, and
cooled his rubicund nose. The revenue cutter, whose name
was the Active, cast off from the buoy, and, with a fresh
breeze, steered her course for the Needles' passage.
CHAPTER in
CUTTER THE THIRD
READER ! have you been to St. Maloes ? If you have,
you were glad enough to leave the hole ; and if you have
not, take my advice, and do not give yourself the trouble to
188
CUTTER THE THIRD
go and see that or any other French port in the Channel.
There is not one worth looking at. They have made one
or two artificial ports, and they are no great things ; there is
no getting out or getting in. In fact, they have no harbours
in the Channel, while we have the finest in the world ; a
peculiar dispensation of Providence, because it knew that we
should want them, and France would not. In France, what
are called ports are all alike nasty, narrow holes, only to be
entered at certain times of tide and certain winds ; made up
of basins and back-waters, custom-houses, and cabarets; just
fit for smugglers to run into, and nothing more ; and, therefore,
they are used for very little else.
Now, in the dog-hole called St. Maloes there is some
pretty land, although a great deficiency of marine scenery.
But never mind that. Stay at home, and don't go abroad
to drink sour wine, because they call it Bordeaux, and eat
villainous trash, so disguised by cooking that you cannot
possibly tell which of the birds of the air, or beasts of the
field, or fishes of the sea, you are cramming down your throat.
"If all is right, there is no occasion for disguise," is an old
saying ; so depend upon it that there is something wrong,
and that you are eating offal, under a grand French name.
They eat everything in France, and would serve you up the
head of a monkey who has died of the smallpox, as singe au
petite vtfrole that is, if you did not understand French ; if
you did, they would call it, tete d' amour a I'Ethiopique, and
then you would be even more puzzled. As for their wine,
there is no disguise in that ; it's half vinegar. No, no ' stay
at home; you can live just as cheaply, if you choose; and
then you will have good meat, good vegetables, good ale,
good beer, and a good glass of grog ; and, what is of more
importance, you will be in good company. Live with your
friends, and don't make a fool of yourself.
I would not have condescended to have noticed this place,
had it not been that I wish you to observe a vessel which is
lying along the pier-wharf, with a plank from the shore to
189
THE THREE CUTTERS
her gunwale. It is low water, and she is aground, and the
plank dips down at such an angle that it is a work of danger
to go either in or out of her. You observe that there is
nothing very remarkable in her. She is a cutter, and a good
sea-boat, and sails well before the wind. She is short for her
breadth of beam, and is not armed. Smugglers do not arm
now the service is too dangerous ; they effect their purpose
by cunning, not by force. Nevertheless, it requires that
smugglers should be good seamen, smart, active fellows, and
keen-witted, or they can do nothing. This vessel has not a
large cargo in her, but it is valuable. She has some thousand
yards of lace, a few hundred pounds of tea, a few bales of
silk, and about forty ankers of brandy just as much as they
can land in one boat. All they ask is a heavy gale or a thick
fog, and they trust to themselves for success.
There is nobody on board except a boy ; the crew are all
up at the cabaret, settling their little accounts of every
description for they smuggle both ways, and every man has
his own private venture. There they are all, fifteen of them,
and fine-looking fellows, too, sitting at that long table. They
are very merry, but quite sober, as they are to sail to-night.
The captain of the vessel (whose -name, by-the-bye, is the
Happy-go-lucky the captain christened her himself), is that
fine-looking young man, with dark whiskers meeting under
his throat. His name is Jack Pickersgill. You perceive at
once that he is much above a common sailor in appearance.
His manners are good, he is remarkably handsome, very clean,
and rather a dandy in his dress. Observe how very politely
he takes off his hat to that Frenchman, with whom he has
just settled accounts ; he beats Johnny Crapeau at his own
weapons. And then there is an air of command, a feeling
of conscious superiority, about Jack ; see how he treats the
landlord, de haut en bos, at the same time that he is very civil.
The fact is, that Jack is of a very good old family, and
received a very excellent education ; but he was an orphan,
his friends were poor, and could do but little for him ; he
190
CUTTER THE THIRD
went out to India as a cadet, ran away, and served in a
schooner which smuggled opium into China, and then came
home. He took a liking to the employment, and is now
laying up a very pretty little sum : not that he intends to
stop : no, as soon as he has enough to fit out a vessel for
himself, he intends to start again for India, and with two
cargoes of opium he will return, he trusts, with a handsome
fortune, and re-assume his family name. Such are Jack's
intentions ; and, as he eventually means to reappear as a
gentleman, he preserves his gentlemanly habits ; he neither
drinks, nor chews, nor smokes. He keeps his hands clean,
wears rings, and sports a gold snuff-box ; notwithstanding
which, Jack is one of the boldest and best of sailors, and the
men know it. He is full of fun, and as keen as a razor.
Jack has a very heavy venture this time all the lace is his
own speculation, and if he gets it in safe, he will clear some
thousands of pounds. A certain fashionable shop in London
has already agreed to take the whole off his hands.
That short, neatly-made young man is the second in com-
mand, and the companion of the captain. He is clever, and
always has a remedy to propose when there is a difficulty,
which is a great quality in a second in command. His name
is Corbett. He is always merry half-sailor, half-tradesman ;
knows the markets, runs up to London, and does business as
well as a chapman lives for the day and laughs at to-morrow.
That little punchy old man, with long grey hair and fat
face, with a nose like a note of interrogation, is the next
personage of importance. He ought to be called the sailing-
master, for, although he goes on shore in France, off the
English coast he never quits the vessel. When they leave
her with the goods, he remains on board ; he is always to be
found off any part of the coast where he may be ordered ;
holding his position in defiance of gales, and tides, and fogs :
as for the revenue vessels, they all knew him well enough,
but they cannot touch a vessel in ballast, if she has no more
men on board than allowed by her tonnage. He knows
THE THREE CUTTERS
every creek, and hole, and corner of the coast ; how the tide
runs in tide, half-tide, eddy, or current. That is his value.
His name is Morrison.
You observe that Jack Pickersgill has two excellent sup-
porters in Corbett and Morrison ; his other men are good
seamen, active and obedient, which is all that he requires.
I shall not particularly introduce them.
" Now you may call for another litre, my lads, and that
must be the last ; the tide is flowing fast, and we shall be
afloat in half-an-hour, and we have just the breeze we want.
What d'ye think, Morrison, shall we have dirt ? "
"I've been looking just now, and if it were any other
month in the year I should say yes ; but there's no trusting
April, captain. Howsomever, if it does blow off, I'll promise
you a fog in three hours afterwards."
"That will do as well. Corbett, have you settled with
Duval ? "
"Yes, after more noise and charivari than a panic in the
Stock Exchange would make in England. He fought and
squabbled for an hour, and I found that, without some abate-
ment, I never should have settled the affair."
"What did you let him off? "
" Seventeen sous," replied Corbett, laughing.
"And that satisfied him ?" inquired Pickersgill.
" Yes it was all he could prove to be a surfaire : two of
the knives were a little rusty. But he will always have
something off; he could not be happy without it. I really
think he would commit suicide if he had to pay a bill with-
out a deduction."
"Let him live," replied Pickersgill. "Jeannette, a bottle
of Volnay of 1811, and three glasses."
Jeannette, who was thejille de cabaret, soon appeared with
a bottle of wine, seldom called for, except by the captain of
the Happy-go-lucky.
" You sail to-night ? ' ' said she, as she placed the bottle
before him.
192
CUTTER THE THIRD
Pickersgill nodded his head.
" I had a strange dream," said Jeannette ; " I thought you
were all taken by a revenue cutter,, and put in a cac/iot. I
went to see you, and I did not know one of you again you
were all changed."
" Very likely, Jeannette ; you would not be the first who
did not know their friends again when in misfortune. There
was nothing strange in your dream."
"Mais, man Dieu ! je ne suis pas comme 90, moi."
"No, that you are not, Jeannette ; you are a good girl, and
some of these fine days I'll marry you," said Corbett.
" Doit etre bien beau ce jour la, par excinple," replied Jean-
nette, laughing ; " you have promised to marry me every time
you have come in these last three years."
" Well, that proves I keep to my promise, anyhow."
"Yes ; but you never go any further."
" I can't spare him, Jeannette, that is the real truth," said
the captain ; " but wait a little, in the meantime, here is a
five-franc piece to add to your petite fortune."
" Merci bien, monsieur le capitaine ; ban voyage ! " Jeannette
held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile, " mechant!"
and then quitted the room.
"Come, Morrison, help us to empty this bottle, and then
we will all go on board."
" I wish that girl wouldn't come here with her nonsensical
dreams," said Morrison, taking his seat ; " I don't like it.
When she said that we should be taken by a revenue cutter,
I was looking at a blue and a white pigeon sitting on the
wall opposite ; and I said to myself, Now, if that be a warn-
ing, I will see : if the blue pigeon flies away first, I shall be in
jail in a week ; if the white, I shall be back here."
" Well ? " said Pickersgill, laughing.
" It wasn't well," answered Morrison, tossing off his wine,
and putting the glass down with a deep sigh ; " for the
cursed blue pigeon flew away immediately."
"Why, Morrison, you must have a chicken heart to be
193 N
THE THREE CUTTERS
frightened at a blue pigeon ! " said Corbett, laughing, and
looking out of the window ; " at all events, he has come back
again, and there he is sitting by the white one."
" It's the first time that ever I was called chicken-hearted,"
replied Morrison in wrath.
" Nor do you deserve it, Morrison," replied Pickersgill ;
"but Corbett is only joking."
" Well, at all events, I'll try my luck in the same way, and
see whether I am to be in jail : I shall take the blue pigeon
as my bad omen, as you did."
The sailors and Captain Pickersgill all rose and went to
the window, to ascertain Corbett's fortune by this new
species of augury. The blue pigeon flapped his wings, and
then he sidled up to the white one ; at last, the white pigeon
flew off the wall and settled on the roof of the adjacent house.
" Bravo, white pigeon ! " said Corbett ; " I shall be here again
in a week." The whole party, laughing, then resumed their
seats ; and Morrison's countenance brightened up. As he
took the glass of wine poured out by Pickersgill, he said,
" Here's your health, Corbett ; it was all nonsense, after all
for, d'ye see, I can't be put in jail without you are. We all
sail in the same boat, and when you leave me you take with
you everything that can condemn the vessel so here's success
to our trip."
" We will all drink that toast, my lads, and then on board,"
said the captain ; " here's success to our trip."
The captain rose, as did the mates and men, drank the
toast, turned down the drinking vessels on the table, hastened
to the whaif, and in half-an-hour the Happy-go-lucky was
clear of the port of St. Maloes.
194
PORTLAND BILL
CHAPTER IV
PORTLAND BILL
1 HE Happy-go-lucky sailed with a fresh breeze and a flow-
ing sheet from St. Maloes the evening before the Arrow
sailed from Bam Pool. The Active sailed from Portsmouth
the morning after.
The yacht, as we before observed, was bound to Cowes, in the
Isle of Wight. The Active had orders to cruise wherever she
pleased within the limits of the admiral's station ; and she ran
for West Bay, on the other side of the Bill of Portland. The
Happy-go-lucky was also bound for that bay to land her cargo.
The wind was light, and there was every appearance of
fine weather, when the Happy-go-lucky, at ten o'clock on
the Tuesday night, made the Portland lights ; as it was im-
possible to run her cargo that night, she hove-to.
At eleven o'clock the Portland lights were made by the
revenue cutter Active. Mr. Applebov went up to have a look at
them, ordered the cutter to be hove-to, and then went down
to finish his allowance of gin-toddy. At twelve o'clock the
yacht Arrow made the Portland lights, and continued her
course, hardly stemming the ebb tide.
Day broke, and the horizon was clear. The first on the
look-out were, of course, the smugglers ; they, and those
on board the revenue cutter, were the only two interested
parties the yacht was neuter.
" There are two cutters in sight, sir," said Corbett, who had
the watch ; for Pickersgill, having been up the whole night,
had thrown himself down on the bed with his clothes on.
" What do they look like ? " said Pickersgill, who was up
in a moment.
" One is a yacht, and the other may be ; but I rather think,
as far as I can judge in the grey, that it is our old friend
off here."
195
THE THREE CUTTERS
"What! old Appleboy?"
" Yes, it looks like him ; but the day has scarcely broke yet."
" Well, he can do nothing in a light wind like this ; and
before the wind we can show him our heels ; but are you sure
the other is a yacht ? " said Pickersgill, coming on deck.
" Yes ; the king is more careful of his canvas."
" You're right," said Pickersgill, " that is a yacht ; and
you're right there again in your guess that is the stupid
old Active which creeps about creeping for tubs. Well, I see
nothing to alarm us at present, provided it don't fall a dead
calm, and then we must take to our boat as soon as he takes
to his, we are four miles from him at least. Watch his motions,
Corbett, and see if he lowers a boat. What does she go now ?
Four knots ? that will soon tire their men."
The positions of the three cutters were as follows :
The Happy-go-lucky was about four miles off Portland
Head, and well into West Bay. The revenue cutter was
close to the Head. The yacht was outside of the smuggler,
about two miles to the westward, and about five or six miles
from the revenue cutter.
" Two vessels in sight, sir," said Mr. Smith, coming down
into the cabin to Mr. Appleboy.
"Very well," replied the lieutenant, who was lying down
in his standing bed-place.
"The people say one is the Happy-go-lucky, sir," drawled
Smith.
"Heh? what! Happy-go-lucky? Yes, I recollect; I've boarded
her twenty times always empty. How's she.st;mding ? "
" She stands to the westward now, sir ; but she was hove-
to, they say, when they first saw her."
"Then she has a cargo in her ; " and Mr. Appleboy shaved
himself, dressed, and went on deck.
"Yes," said the lieutenant, rubbing his eyes again and
again, and then looking through the glass, " it is her, sure
enough. Let draw the foresheet hands make sail. What
vessel's the other ? "
196
PORTLAND BILL
" Don't know, sir, she's a cutter."
" A cutter ? yes ; maybe a yacht, or maybe the new cutter
ordered on the station. Make all sail, Mr. Tomkins ; hoist our
pendant, and fire a gun they will understand what we mean
then ; they don't know the Happy-go-luc/.y as well as we do."
In a few minutes the Active was under a press of sail ; she
hoisted her pendant, and fired a gun. The smuggler per-
ceived that the Active had recognised her, and she also threw
out more canvas, and ran off more to the westward.
"There's a gun, sir," reported one of the men to Mr.
Stewart, on board of the yacht.
"Yes; give me the glass a revenue cutter; then this
vessel in shore running towards us must be a smuggler."
"She has just now made all sail, sir."
" Yes, there's no doubt of it. I will go down to his lord-
ship ; keep her as- she goes."
Mr. Stewart then went down to inform Lord B. of the
circumstance. Not only Lord B. but most of the gentlemen
came on deck ; as did soon afterwards the ladies, who had
received the intelligence from Lord B., who spoke to them
through the door of the cabin.
But the smuggler had more wind than the revenue cutter,
and increased her distance.
"If we were to wear round, my lord/' observed Mr.
Stewart, "she is just abreast of us and in shore, we could
prevent her escape."
" Round with her, Mr. Stewart," said Lord B. ; " we must
do our duty and protect the laws."
"That will not be fair, papa," said Cecilia Ossulton; "we
have no quarrel with the smugglers : I'm sure the ladies
have not, for they bring us beautiful things."
" Miss Ossulton," observed her aunt, " it is not proper for
you to offer an opinion."
The yacht wore round, and, sailing so fast, the smuggler
had little chance of escaping her ; but to chase is one thing
to capture another.
197
THE THREE CUTTERS
"Let us give her a gun," said Lord B., "that will frighten
her ; and he dare not cross our hawse."
The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the
smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way.
The gentlemen, as well as Lord B., were equally excited
by the ardour of pursuit ; but the wind died away, and at last
it was nearly calm. The revenue cutter's boats were out, and
coming up fast.
" Let us get our boat out, Stewart," said his lordship, " and
help them ; it is quite calm now."
The boat was soon out : it was a very large one, usually
stowed on, and occupied a large portion of, the deck. It
pulled six oars ; and when it was manned, Mr. Stewart
jumped in, and Lord B. followed him.
" But you have no arms," said Mr. Hautaine.
"The smugglers never resist now," observed Stewart.
" Then you are going on a very gallant expedition indeed,"
observed Cecilia Ossulton ; " I wish you joy."
But Lord B. was too much excited to pay attention. They
shoved off, and pulled towards the smuggler.
At this time the revenue boats were about five miles astern
of the Happy-go-lucky, and the yacht about three-quarters of
a mile from her in the offing. Pickersgill had, of course,
observed the motions of the yacht ; had seen her wear on
chase, hoist her ensign and pendant, and fire her gun.
" Well," said he, " this is the blackest ingratitude : to be
attacked by the very people whom we smuggle for ! I only
wish she may come up with us ; and, let her attempt to inter-
fere, she shall rue the day. I don't much like this, though."
As we before observed, it fell nearly calm, and the revenue
boats were in chase. Pickersgill watched them as they came up.
" What shall we do ? " said Corbett, " get the boat out ? "
" Yes," replied Pickersgill, " we will get the boat out, and
have the goods in her all ready ; but we can pull faster than
they do, in the first place; and, in the next, they will be
pretty well tired before they come up to us. We are fresh,
198
'Then you are going on a very gallant expedition indeed,
observed Cecilia Ossulton.''
PORTLAND BILL
and shall soon walk away from them ; so I shall not leave
the vessel till they are within half a mile. We must sink
the ankers, that they may not seize the vessel, for it is not
worth while taking them with us. Pass them along, ready
to run them over the bows, that they may not see us and
swear to it. But we have a good half-hour and more."
" Ay, and you may hold all fast if you choose/' said Mor-
rison, "although it's better to be on the right side and get
ready ; otherwise, before half-an-hour, I'll swear that we are
out of their sight. Look there," said he, pointing to the
eastward at a heavy bank, " it's coming right down upon us,
as I said it would."
" True enough ; but still there is no saying which will come
first, Morrison, the boats or the fog; so we must be prepared."
" Hilloa ! what's this ? why, there's a boat coming from
the yacht ! "
Pickersgill took out his glass.
"Yes, and the yacht's own boat, with the name painted on
her bows. Well, let them come we will have no ceremony
in resisting them ; they are not in the Act of Parliament,
and must take the consequences. We have nought to fear.
Get stretchers, my lads, and handspikes ; they row six oars,
and are three in the stern sheets : they must be good men if
they take us."
In a few minutes Lord B. was close to the smuggler.
" Boat ahoy ! what do you want ? "
" Surrender in the king's name."
" To what, and to whom, and what are we to surrender ?
We are an English vessel coasting along shore."
" Pull on board, my lads," cried Stewart ; " I am a king's
officer : we know her."
The boat darted alongside, and Stewart and Lord B.,
followed by the men, jumped on the deck.
" Well, gentlemen, what do you want ? " said Pickersgill.
" We seize you ! you are a smuggler, there's no denying
it : look at the casks of spirits stretched along the deck."
199
THE THREE CUTTERS
"We never said that we were not smugglers," replied
Pickersgill ; " but what is that to you ? You are not a king's
ship, or employed by the revenue."
" No ; but we carry a pendant, and it is our duty to protect
the laws."
" And who are you ? " said Pickersgill.
" I am Lord B."
" Then, my lord, allow me to say that you would do much
better to attend to the framing of laws, and leave people of
less consequence, like those astern of me, to execute them.
( Mind your own business ' is an old adage. We shall not
hurt you, my lord, as you have only employed words, but
we shall put it out of your power .to hurt us. Come aft, my
lads. Now, my lord, resistance is useless ; we are double your
numbers, and you have caught a Tartar."
Lord B. and Mr. Stewart perceived that they were in an
awkward predicament.
"You may do what you please/' observed Mr. Stewart,
" but the revenue boats are coming up, recollect."
" Look you, sir, do you see the revenue cutter ? " said
Pickersgill.
Stewart looked in that direction, and saw that she was
hidden in the fog.
" In five minutes, sir, the boats will be out of sight also,
and so will your vessel ; we have nothing to fear from them."
" Indeed, my lord, we had better return," said Mr. Stewart,
who perceived that Pickersgill was right.
" I beg your pardon, you will not go on board your yacht so
soon as you expect. Take the oars out of the boat, my lads,
two or three of you, and throw in a couple of our paddles for
them to reach the shore with. The rest of you knock down
the first man who offers to resist. You are not aware, perhaps,
my lord, that you have attempted piraci/ on the high seas?"
Stewart looked at Lord B. It was true enough. The men
of the yacht could offer no resistance ; the oars were taken
out of the boat and the men put in again.
200
PORTLAND BILL
" My lord," said Pickersgill, " your boat is manned, do
me the favour to step into it ; and you, sir, do the same. I
should be sorry to lay my hands upon a peer of the realm, or
a king's officer even on half-pay."
Remonstrance was vain ; his lordship was led to the boat
by two of the smugglers, and Stewart followed.
" I will leave your oars, my lord, at the Weymouth Custom-
house, and I trust this will be a lesson to you in future to
' mind your own business.' "
The boat was shoved off from the sloop by the smugglers,
and was soon lost sight of in the fog, which had now covered
the revenue boats as well as the yacht, at the same time it
brought down a breeze from the eastward.
"Haul to the wind, Morrison," said Pickersgill, "we will
stand out to get rid of the boats ; if they pull on they will
take it for granted that we shall run into the bay, as will the
revenue cutter.**
Pickersgill and Corbett were in conversation abaft for a
short time, when the former desired the course to be altered
two points.
" Keep silence all of you, my lads, and let me know if you
hear a gun or a bell from the yacht," said Pickersgill.
"There is a gun, sir, close to us," said one of the men ;
"the sound was right ahead."
"That will do, keep her as she goes. Aft here, my
lads ; we cannot run our cargo in the bay, for the cutter
has been seen to chase us, and they will all be on the
look - out at the Preventive stations for us on shore.
Now, my lads, I have made up my mind that, as these
yacht gentlemen have thought proper to interfere, that
I will take possession of the yacht for a few days. We
shall then outsail everything, go where we like unsus-
pected, and land our cargo with ease. I shall run along-
side of her she can have but few hands on board ; and
mind, do not hurt anybody, but be civil and obey my
orders. Morrison, you and your four men and the boy
201
THE THREE CUTTERS
will remain on board as before, and take the vessel to Cher-
bourg, where we will join you."
In a short time another gun was fired from the yacht.
Those on board, particularly the ladies, were alarmed ; the
fog was very thick, and they could not distinguish the length
of the vessel. They had seen the boat board, but had not
seen her turned adrift without oars, as the fog came on just
at that time. The yacht was left with only three seamen
on board, and should it come on bad weather, they were in
an awkward predicament. Mr. Hautaine had taken the
command, and ordered the guns to be fired that the boat
might be enabled to find them. The fourth gun was loading,
when they perceived the smuggler's cutter close to them
looming through the fog.
" Here they are," cried the seamen ; " and they have
brought the prize along with them ! Three cheers for the
Arrow ! "
" Hilloa ! you'll be on board of us ! " cried Hautaine.
"That's exactly what I intended to be, sir," replied
Pi eke rsgill, jumping on the quarter-deck, followed by his men.
" Who the devil are you ? "
" That's exactly the same question that I asked Lord B.
when he boarded us," replied Pickersgill, taking off his hat
to the ladies.
" Well, but what business have you here ? "
"Exactly the same question which I put to Lord B.,"
replied Pickersgill.
" Where is Lord B., sir ? " said Cecilia Ossulton, going up
to the smuggler ; " is he safe ? "
" Yes, madam, he is safe ; at least he is in his boat with
all his men, and unhurt ; but you must excuse me if I request
you and the other ladies to go down below while I speak to
these gentlemen. Be under no alarm, miss, you will receive
neither insult nor ill-treatment I have only taken possession
of this vessel for the present."
"Take possession," cried Hautaine, "of a yacht? "
202
PORTLAND BILL
"Yes, sir, since the owner of the yacht thought proper to
attempt to take possession of me. I always thought that
yachts were pleasure vessels, sailing about for amusement,
respected themselves, and not interfering with others ; but
it appears that such is not the case. The owner of this yacht
has thought proper to break through the neutrality and com-
mence aggression, and under such circumstances I have now,
in retaliation, taken possession of her."
" And pray what do you mean to do, sir ? "
"Simply for a few days to make an exchange. I shall
send you on board of my vessel as smugglers, while I remain
here with the ladies and amuse myself with yachting."
"Why, sir, you cannot mean "
" I have said, gentlemen, and that is enough ; I should be
sorry to resort to violence, but I must be obeyed. You have,
I perceive, three seamen only left : they are not sufficient
to take charge of the vessel, and Lord B. and the others you
will not meet for several days. My regard for the ladies,
even common humanity, points out to me that I cannot leave
the vessel in this crippled condition. At the same time, I
must have hands on board of my own : you will oblige me by
going on board and taking her safely into port. It is the least
return you can make for my kindness. In those dresses, gentle*
men, you will not be able to do your duty ; oblige me by
shifting and putting on these." Corbett^handed a flannel shirt,
a rough jacket and trousers to Messrs. Hautaine, Ossulton,
Vaughan, and Seagrove. After some useless resistance they
were stripped, and having put on the smugglers' attire, they
were handed on board of the Happy-go-lucky.
The three English seamen were also sent on board and
confined below, as well as Ossulton's servant, who was also
equipped like his master, and confined below with the sea-
men. Corbett and the men then handed up all the smuggled
goods into the yacht, dropped the boat, and made it fast
astern, and Morrison having received his directions, the
vessels separated, Morrison running for Cherbourg, and
203
THE THREE CUTTERS
Pickersgill steering the yacht along shore to the westward.
About an hour after this exchange had been effected the
fog cleared up, and showed the revenue cutter hove-to for
her boats, which had pulled back and were close on board
of her, and the Happy-go-lucky about three miles in the offing ;
Lord B. and his boat's crew were about four miles in-shore,
paddling and. drifting with the tide towards Portland. As
soon as the boats were on board, the revenue cutter made all
sail after the smuggler, paying no attention to the yacht, and
either not seeing or not caring about the boat which was drift-
ing about in West Bay.
CHAPTER V
THE TRAVESTIE
XlERE we are, Corbett, and now I only wish my venture
had been double," observed Pickersgill ; " but I shall not
allow business to absorb me wholly we must add a little
amusement. It appears to me, Corbett, that the gentleman's
clothes which lie there will fit you, and those of the good-
looking fellow who was spokesman will, I am sure, suit me
well. Now let us dress ourselves, and then for breakfast."
Pickersgill then exchanged his clothes for those of Mr.
Hautaine, and Corbett fitted on those of Mr. Ossulton. The
steward was summoned up, .and he dared not disobey ; he
appeared on deck, trembling.
" Steward, you will take these clothes below," said Pickers-
gill, "and, observe, that I now command this yacht; and
during the time that I am on board you will pay me the
same respect as you did Lord B. ; nay, more, you will always
address me as Lord B. You will prepare dinner and breakfast,
and do your duty just as if his lordship was on board, and
take care that you feed us well, for I will not allow the ladies
to be entertained in a less sumptuous manner than before.
You will tell the cook what I say ; and now that you have
204
THE TRAVESTIE
heard me, take care that you obey ; if not, recollect that I
have my own men here, and if I but point with my finger,
overboard you go. Do you perfectly comprehend me ? "
" Yes, sir," stammered the steward.
" Yes, sir /What did I tell you, sirrah ? Yes, my lord.
Do you understand me ? "
"Yes my lord."
"Pray, steward, whose clothes has this gentleman put on?"
"Mr. Mr. Ossulton's, I think sir my lord, I mean."
" Very well, steward ; then recollect in future you always
address that gentleman as Mr. Ossullon."
" Yes, my lord," and the steward went down below, and
was obliged to take a couple of glasses of brandy to keep
himself from fainting.
" Who are they, and what are they, Mr. Maddox ? " cried
the lady's-maid, who had been weeping.
" Pirates ! bloody, murderous stick-at-notkit/g pirates ! " re-
plied the steward.
"Oh!" screamed the lady's-maid, "what will become of
us, poor unprotected females ? " And she hastened into the
cabin, to impart this dreadful intelligence.
The ladies in the cabin were not in a very enviable situa-
tion. As for the elder Miss Ossulton (but, perhaps, it will
be better in future to distinguish the two ladies, by calling
the elder simply Miss Ossulton, and her niece, Cecilia), she
was sitting with her salts to her nose, agonised with a mixture
of trepidation and wounded pride. Mrs. Lascelles was weep-
ing, but weeping gently. Cecilia was sad, and her heart was
beating with anxiety and suspense, when the maid rushed in.
"Oh, madam ! oh, miss ! oh, Mrs. Lascelles ! I have found it all
out! they are murderous, bloody, do-everything pirates!!!"
"Mercy on us!" exclaimed Miss Ossulton; " surely they
will never dare "
"Oh, ma'am, they dare anything ! they just now were for
throwing the steward overboard ; and they have rummaged all
the portmanteaus, and dressed themselves in the gentlemen's
205
THE THREE CUTTERS
best clothes. The captain of them told the steward that he
was Lord B., and that if he dared to call him anything else,
he would cut his throat from ear to ear ; and if the cook
don't give them a good dinner, they swear that they'll
chop his right hand off, and make him eat it without pepper
or salt ! "
Miss Ossulton screamed, and went off into hysterics. Mrs.
Lascelles and Cecilia went to her assistance ; but the latter
had not forgotten the very different behaviour of Jack
Pickersgill, and his polite manners, when he boarded the
vessel. She did not, therefore, believe what the maid had
reported, but still her anxiety and suspense were great,
especially about her father. After having restored her aunt
she put on her bonnet, which was lying on the sofa.
" Where are you going, dear ? " said Mrs. Lascelles.
" On deck," replied Cecilia. " I must and will speak to
these men."
" Gracious heaven, Miss Ossulton ! going on deck ! have
you heard what Phrebe says ? "
"Yes, aunt, I have ; but I can wait here no longer."
" Stop her ! stop her ! she will be murdered ! she will
be she is mad ! " screamed Miss Ossulton ; but no one
attempted to stop Cecilia, and on deck she went. On her
arrival she found Jack Pickersgill and Corbett walking the deck,
one of the smugglers at the helm, and the rest forward, and
as quiet as the crew of the yacht. As soon as she made her
appearance Jack took off his hat, and made her a bow.
" I do not know whom I have the honour of addressing,
young lady ; but I am nattered with this mark of confidence.
You feel, and I assure you you feel correctly, that you are not
exactly in lawless hands."
Cecilia looked with more surprise than fear at Pickersgill.
Mr. Hautaine's dress became him ; he was a handsome, fine-
looking man, and had nothing of the ruffian in his appearance ;
unless, like Byron's Corsair, he was half savage, half soft. She
could not help thinking that she had met many with less
206
THE TRAVESTIE
pretensions, as far as appearance went, to the claims of a
gentleman, at Almack's and other fashionable circles.
" I have ventured on deck, sir," said Cecilia, with a little
tremulousness in her voice, " to request, as a favour, that you
will inform me what your intentions may be with regard to
the vessel and with regard to the ladies ! "
" And I feel much obliged to you for so doing, and I assure
you I will, as far as I have made up my own mind, answer
you candidly : but you tremble allow me to conduct you to
a seat. In few words, then, to remove your present alarm,
I intend that the vessel shall be returned to its owner, with
every article in it, as religiously respected as if they were
church property. With respect to you, and the other ladies
on board, I pledge you my honour that you have nothing to
fear ; that you shall be treated with every respect ; your
privacy never invaded ; and that, in ac few days, you will
be restored to your friends. Young lady, I pledge my hopes
of future salvation to the truth of this ; but, at the same
time, I must make a few conditions, which, however, will
not be very severe."
"But, sir," replied Cecilia, much relieved, for Pickersgill
had stood by her in the most respectful manner, " you are, I
presume, the captain of the smuggler ? Pray answer me one
question more What became of the boat with Lord B. ? He
is my father."
" I left him in his boat, without a hair of his head touched,
young lady ; but I took away the oars."
" Then he will perish ! " cried Cecilia, putting her hand-
kerchief to her eyes.
" No, young lady ; he is on shore, probably, by this time.
Although I took away his means of assisting to capture us, I
left him the means of gaining the land. It is not every one
who would have done that, after his conduct to us."
" I begged him not to go," said Cecilia ; " I told him that it
was not fair, and that he had no quarrel with the smugglers."
"I thank you even for that," replied Pickersgill. "And
207
THE THREE CUTTERS
now, miss I have not the pleasure of recollecting his lord-
ship's family name '
" Ossulton, sir," said Cecilia, looking at Pickersgill with
surprise.
"Then, with your permission, Miss Ossulton, I will now
make you my confidant : excuse my using so free a term, but
it is because I wish to relieve your fears. At the same time,
I cannot permit you to divulge all my intentions to the whole
party on board. I feel that I may trust you, for you have
courage, and where there is courage there generally is truth ;
but you must first tell me whether you will condescend to
accept these terms ? "
Cecilia demurred a moment ; the idea of being the con-
fidant of a smuggler rather startled her : but still, her know-
ledge of what his intentions were, if she might not reveal
them, might be important; as, perhaps, she might dissuade
him. She could be in no worse position than she was now,
and she might be in a much better. The conduct of Pickers-
gill had been such, up to the present, as to inspire confidence ;
and, although he defied the laws, he appeared to regard the
courtesies of life. Cecilia was a courageous girl, and at length
she replied
" Provided what you desire me to keep secret will not
be injurious to any one, or compromise me in my peculiar
situation, I consent."
" I would not hurt a fly, Miss Ossulton, but in self-defence ;
and I have too much respect for you, from your conduct
during our short meeting, to compromise you. Allow me
now to be very candid ; and then, perhaps, you will acknow-
ledge that in my situation others would do the same, and,
perhaps, not show half so much forbearance. Your father,
without any right whatever, interferes with me and my call-
ing : he attempts to make me a piisoner, to have me thrown
in jail, heavily fined, and, perhaps, sent out of the country.
I will not enter into any defence of smuggling : it is sufficient
to say that there are pains and penalties attached to the
208
THE TRAVESTIE
infraction of certain laws, and that I choose to risk them.
But Lord B. was not empowered by Government to attack
me ; it was a gratuitous act ; and had I thrown him and all
his crew into the sea,, I should have been justified : for it
was, in short, an act of piracy on their part. Now, as your
father has thought to turn a yacht into a revenue cutter,
you cannot be surprised at my retaliating, in turning her
into a smuggler ; and as he has mixed up looking after
the revenue with yachting, he cannot be surprised if I
retaliate, by mixing up a little yachting with smuggling.
I have dressed your male companions as smugglers, and
have sent them in the smuggling vessel to Cherbourg,
where they will be safely landed ; and I have dressed
myself, and the only person whom I could join with me in
this frolic, as gentlemen, in their places. My object is two-
fold : one is, to land my cargo, which I have now on board,
and which is very valuable ; the other is, to retaliate upon
your father and his companions for their attempt upon
me, by stepping into their shoes, and enjoying, for a day or
two, their luxuries. It is my intention to make free with
nothing but his lordship's wines and eatables that you
may be assured of; but I shall have no pleasure if the ladies
do not sit down to the dinner-table with us, as they did
before with your father and his friends."
"You can hardly expect that, sir," said Cecilia.
" Yes, I do ; and that will be not only the price of the
early release of the yacht and themselves, but it will also be
the only means by which they will obtain anything to eat.
You observe, Miss Ossulton, the sins of the fathers are visited
on the children. I have now told you what I mean to do,
and what I wish. I leave you to think of it, and decide
whether it will not be the best for all parties to consent.
You have my permission to tell the other ladies that, what-
ever may be their conduct, they are as secure from ill-treat-
ment or rudeness as if they were in Grosvenor Square ; but I
cannot answer that they will not be hungry, if, after such
soy o
THE THREE CUTTERS
forbearance in every point, they show so little gratitude as
not to honour me with their company."
" Then I am to understand that we are to be starved into
submission ? "
" No, not starved, Miss Ossulton ; but recollect that you
will be on bread and water, and detained until you do consent,
and your detention will increase the anxiety of your father."
"You know how to persuade, sir," said Cecilia. "As far
as I am concerned, I trust I shall ever be ready to sacrifice
any feelings of pride to spare my father so much uneasiness.
With your permission, I will now go down into the cabin and
relieve my companions from the worst of their fears. As for
obtaining what you wish, I can only say that, as a young
person, I am not likely to have much influence with those
older than myself, and must inevitably be overruled, as I have
not permission to point out to them reasons which might
avail. Would you so far allow me to be relieved from my
promise, as to communicate all you have said to me to the
only married woman on board ? I think I then might obtain
your wishes, which, I must candidly tell you, I shall attempt
to effect only because I am most anxious to rejoin my friends."
"And be relieved of my company," replied Pickersgill,
smiling ironically "of course you are; but I must and will
have my petty revenge : and although you may, and probably
will, detest me, at all events you shall not have any very
formidable charge to make against me. Before you go below,
Miss Ossulton, I give you my permission to add the married
lady to the number of my confidants; and you must permit
me to introduce my friend, Mr. Ossulton;" and Pickersgill
waved his hand in the direction of Corbett, who took off his
hat and made a low obeisance.
It was impossible for Cecilia Ossulton to help smiling.
" And," continued Pickersgill, " having taken the com-
mand of this yacht instead of his lordship, it is absolutely
necessary that I also take his lordship's name. While on
board I am Lord B. ; and allow me to introduce myself under
210
THE TRAVESTIE
that name ; I cannot be addressed otherwise. Depend upon
it, Miss Ossulton, that I shall have a most paternal solicitude
to make you happy and comfortable."
Had Cecilia Ossulton dared to have given vent to her real
feelings at that time, she would have burst into a fit of
laughter ; it was too ludicrous. At the same time, the very
burlesque reassured her still more. She went into the cabin
with a heavy weight removed from her heart.
In the meantime, Miss Ossulton and Mrs. Lascelles re-
mained below, in the greatest anxiety at Cecilia's prolonged
stay ; they knew not what to think, and dared not go on
deck. Mrs. Lascelles had once determined at all risks to go
up; but Miss Ossulton and Phoebe had screamed and implored
her so fervently not to leave them, that she unwillingly con-
sented to remain. Cecilia's countenance, when she entered
the cabin, reassured Mrs. Lascelles, but not her aunt, who
ran to her crying and sobbing, and clinging to her, saying,
" What have they done to you, my poor, poor Cecilia ? "
" Nothing at all, aunt/' replied Cecilia ; "the captain speaks
very fairly, and says he shall respect us in every possible way,
provided that we obey his orders ; but if not "
"If not what, Cecilia?" said Miss Ossulton, grasping her
niece's arm.
" He will starve us, and not let us go ! "
" God have mercy on us ! " cried Miss Ossulton, renewing
her sobs.
Cecilia then went to Mrs. Lascelles, and communicated to
her apart all that had passed. Mrs. Lascelles agreed with
Cecilia that they were in no danger of insult ; and as they
talked over the matter they at last began to laugh ; there
was a novelty in it, and there was something so ridiculous
in all the gentlemen being turned into smugglers. Cecilia
was glad that she could not tell her aunt, as she wished her
to be so frightened as never to have her company on board
the yacht again ; and Mrs. Lascelles was too glad to annoy
her for many and various insults received. The matter was
211
THE THREE CUTTERS
therefore canvassed over very satisfactorily, and Mrs. Lascelles
felt a natural curiosity to see this new Lord B. and the
second Mr. Ossulton. But they had had no breakfast, and
were feeling very hungry now that their alarm was over.
They desired Phrebe to ask the steward for some tea or coffee.
The reply was, that "Breakfast was laid in the cabin, and
Lord B. trusted that the ladies would come to partake of it."
" No, no," replied Mrs. Lascelles, " I never can, without
being introduced to them first."
"Nor will I go," replied Cecilia, "but I will write a note,
and we will have our breakfast here." Cecilia wrote a note
in pencil as follows :
"Miss Ossulton's compliments to Lord B., and, as the
ladies feel rather indisposed after the alarm of this morning,
they trust that his lordship will excuse their coming to break-
fast ; but hope to meet his lordship at dinner, if not before
that time on deck."
The answer was propitious, and the steward soon appeared
with the breakfast in the ladies' cabin.
" Well, Maddox," said Cecilia, " how do you get on with
your new master ? "
The steward looked at the door, to see if it was closed,
shook his head, and then said, with a look of despair, " He
has ordered a haunch of venison for dinner, miss, and he has
twice threatened to toss me overboard."
"You must obey him, Maddox, or he certainly will.
These pirates are dreadful fellows. Be attentive, and serve
him just as if he was my father."
" Yes, yes, ma'am, I will ; but our time may come. It's
burglary on the high seas, and I'll go fifty miles to see him
hanged."
" Steward ! " cried Pickersgill, from the cabin.
" O Lord ! he can't have heard me d'ye think he did,
miss?'
212
THE TRAVESTIE
" The partitions ai-e very thin, and you spoke very loud,"
said Mrs. Lascelles ; " at all events, go to him quickly."
" Good-bye, miss ; good-bye, ma'am, if I shouldn't see you
any more," said Maddox, trembling with fear, as he obeyed
the awful summons which was to demand a toothpick.
Miss Ossulton would not touch the breakfast ; not so Mrs.
Lascelles and Cecilia, who ate very heartily.
"It's very dull to be shut up in this cabin," said Mrs.
Lascelles; "come, Cecilia, let's go on deck."
" And leave me ! " cried Miss Ossulton.
" There is Phoebe here, aunt ; we are going up to persuade
the pirates to put us all on shore."
Mrs. Lascelles and Cecilia put on their bonnets and went
up. Lord B. took off his hat, and begged the honour of
being introduced to the pretty widow. He handed the
ladies to a seat, and then commenced conversing upon various
subjects, which at the same time possessed great novelty.
His lordship talked about France, and described its ports ;
told now and then a good anecdote ; pointed out the different
headlands, bays, towns, and villages, which they were pass-
ing rapidly, and always had some little story connected with
each. Before the ladies had been two hours on deck they
found themselves, to their infinite surprise, not only inte-
rested, but in conversation with the captain of the smuggler,
and more than once they laughed outright. But the soi-
ditant Lord B. had inspired them with confidence ; they fully
believed that what he had told them was true, and that he
had taken possession of the yacht to smuggle his goods, to
be revenged, and to have a laugh. Now none of these three
offences are capital in the eyes of the fair sex, and Jack was
a handsome, fine-looking fellow, of excellent manners and
very agreeable conversation ; at the same time, neither he
nor his friend were in their general deportment and behaviour
otherwise than most respectful.
" Ladies, as you are not afi'aid of me, which is a greater
happiness than I had reason to expect, I think you may be
213
THE THREE CUTTERS
amused to witness the fear of those who accuse your sex of
cowardice. With your permission, I will send for the cook
and steward, and inquire about the dinner."
"I should like to know what there is for dinner," observed
Mrs. Lascelles demurely; "wouldn't you, Cecilia?"
Cecilia put her handkerchief to her mouth.
" Tell the steward and the cook both to come aft imme-
diately," cried Pickersgill.
In a few seconds they both made their appearance.
"Steward !" cried Pickersgill, with a loud voice.
"Yes, my lord," replied Maddox, with his hat in his hand.
" What wines have you put out for dinner ? "
" Champagne, my lord ; and claret, my lord ; and Madeira
and sherry, my lord."
" No Burgundy, sir ? "
" No, my lord ; there is no Burgundy on board."
" No Burgundy, sir ! do you dare to tell me that ? "
" Upon my soul, my lord," cried Maddox, dropping on his
knees, "there is no Burgundy on board ask the ladies."
"Very well, sir, you may go."
" Cook, what have you got for dinner ? "
" Sir, a haunch of mutt of venison, my lord," replied the
cook, with his white nightcap in his hand.
" What else, sirrah ? "
"A boiled calf's head, my lord."
"A boiled calf's head ' Let it be roasted, or I'll roast you,
sir ! " cried Pickersgill, in an angry tone.
" Yes, my lord ; I'll roast it."
"And what else, sir?"
" Maintenon cutlets, my lord."
" Maintenon cutlets ! I hate them I won't have them,
sir. Let them be dressed a I' ombre Chinoise."
"I don't know what that is, my lord."
" I don't care for that, sirrah ; if you don't find out by
dinner-time, you're food for fishes that's all ; you may go."
The cook walked off wringing his hands and his nightcap
214
THE SMUGGLING YACHT
as well for he still held it in his right hand and disappeared
down the fore-hatchway.
"I have done this to pay you a deserved compliment,
ladies ; you have more courage than the other sex."
" Recollect that we have had confidence given to us in
consequence of your pledging your word, my lord."
" You do me, then, the honour of believing me ? "
" I did not until I saw you," replied Mrs. Lascelles ; "but
now I am convinced that you will perform your promise."
" You do indeed encourage me, madam, to pursue what
is right," said Pickersgill, bowing ; " for your approbation I
should be most sorry to lose, still more sorry to prove myself
unworthy of it."
As the reader will observe, everything was going on re-
markably well.
CHAPTER VI
THE SMUGGLING YACHT
(CECILIA returned to the cabin, to ascertain whether her aunt
was more composed ; but Mrs. Lascelles remained on deck.
She was much pleased with Pickersgill ; and they continued
their conversation. Pickersgill entered into a defence of his
conduct to Lord B. ; and Mrs. Lascelles could not but admit
the provocation. After a long conversation she hinted at
his profession, and how superior he appeared to be to such
a lawless life.
"You may be incredulous, madam," replied Pickersgill, "if I
tell you that I have as good a right to quarter my arms as Lord
B. himself; and that I am not under my real name. Smuggling
is, at all events, no crime ; and I infinitely prefer the wild life I
lead at the head of my men to being spurned by society because
I am poor. The greatest crime in this country is poverty. I
may, if I am fortunate, some day resume my name. You may,
perhaps, meet me, and if you please, you may expose me."
215
THE THREE CUTTERS
" That I should not be likely to do," replied the widow ;
"but still I regret to see a person, evidently intended for
better things, employed in so disreputable a profession."
" I hardly know, madam, what is and what is not dis-
reputable in this conventional world. It is not considered
disreputable to cringe to the vices of a court, or to accept
a pension wrung from the industry of the nation, in return
for base servility. It is not considered disreputable to take
tithes, intended for the service of God, and lavish them away
at watering-places or elsewhere, seeking pleasure instead of
doing God service. It is not considered disreputable to take
fee after fee to uphold injustice, to plead against innocence,
to pervert truth, and to aid the devil. It is not considered
disreputable to gamble on the Stock Exchange, or to corrupt
the honesty of electors by bribes, for doing which the penalty
attached is equal to that decreed to the offence of which
I am guilty. All these, and much more, are not considered
disreputable ; yet by all these are the moral bonds of society
loosened, while in mine we cause no guilt in others "
" But still it is a crime."
"A violation of the revenue laws, and no more. Observe,
madam, the English Government encourage the smuggling
of our manufactures to the Continent, at the same time that
they take every step to prevent articles being smuggled into
this country. Now, madam, can that be a crime when the
head of the vessel is turned north, which becomes no crime
when she steers the opposite way ? "
"There is a stigma attached to it, you must allow."
"That I grant you, madam; and as soon as I can quit the
profession I shall. No captive ever sighed more to be re-
leased from his chains ; but I will not leave it, till 1 find that
I am in a situation not to be spurned and neglected by those
with whom I have a right to associate."
At this moment the steward was seen forward making signs
to Mrs. Lascelles, who excused herself, and went to him.
"For the love of God, madam," said Maddox, "as he
THE SMUGGLING YACHT
appears to !:e friendly with von, do pray find out how these
cutlets are to be dressed ; the cook is tearing his hair, and
we shall never have any dinner ; and then it will all fall upon
me, and I shall be tossed overboard."
Mrs. Lascelles desired poor Maddox to wait there while
she obtained the desired information. In a few minutes she
returned to him.
" I have found it out. They are first to be boiled in vinegar,
then fried in batter, and served up with a sauce of anchovy
and Malaga raisins ! "
" First fried in vinegar, then boiled in batter, and served
up with almonds and raisins ' "
" No no ! " Mrs. Lascelles repeated the injunction to the
frightened steward, and then returned aft, and re-entered
into a conversation with Pickersgill, in which for the first
time Corbett now joined. Corbett had sense enough to feel,
that the less he came forward until his superior had established
himself in the good graces of the ladies, the more favourable
would be the result.
In the meantime Cecilia had gone down to her aunt, who
still continued to wail and lament. The young lady tried
all she could to console her, and to persuade her that if they
were civil and obedient they had nothing to fear.
" Civil and obedient, indeed ! " cried Miss Ossulton, " to a
fellow who is a smuggler and a pirate ! I, the sister of Lord
B. ! Never ' The presumption of the wretch ! "
" That is all very well, aunt ; but recollect, we must submit
to circumstances. These men insist upon our dining with
them ; and we must go, or we shall have no dinner."
" I sit down with a pirate ! Never ! I'll have no dinner
I'll starve I'll die ! "
" But, my dear aunt, it's the only chance we have of obtain-
ing our release ; and if you do not do it Mrs. Lascelles will
think that you wish to remain with them."
"Mrs. Lascelles judges of other people by herself."
"The captain is certainly a very well-behaved, hand-
217
THE THREE CUTTERS
some man. He looks like a nobleman in disguise. What an
odd thing it would be, aunt, if this should be all a hoax ! "
" A hoax, child ? " replied Miss Ossulton, sitting up on
the sofa.
Cecilia found that she had hit the right nail, as the
saying is ; and she brought forward so many arguments to
prove that she thought it was a hoax to frighten them, and
that the gentleman above was a man of consequence, that her
aunt began to listen to reason, and at last consented to join
the dinner-party. Mrs. Lascelles now came down below; and
when dinner was announced they repaired to the large cabin,
where they found Pickersgill and Corbett waiting for them.
Miss Ossulton did not venture to look up, until she heard
Pickersgill say to Mrs. Lascelles, " Perhaps, madam, you will
do me the favour to introduce me to that lady, whom I
have not had the honour of seeing before ? "
"Certainly, my lord," replied Mrs. Lascelles. " Miss
Ossulton, the aunt of this young lady."
Mrs. Lascelles purposely did not introduce his lordship in
return, that she might mystify, the old spinster.
" I feel highly honoured in finding myself in the company
of Miss Ossulton," said Pickersgill. "Ladies, we wait but
for you to sit down. Ossulton, take the head of the table
and serve the soup."
Miss Ossulton was astonished ; she looked at the smugglers,
and perceived two well-dressed gentlemanly men, one of
whom was apparently a lord, and the other having the same
family name.
" It must be all a hoax," thought she, and she very quietly
took to her soup.
The dinner passed off very pleasantly ; Pickersgill was
agreeable, Corbett funny, and Miss Ossulton so far recovered
herself as to drink wine with his lordship, and to ask Corbett
what branch of their family he belonged to.
"I presume it's the Irish branch?" said Mrs. Lascelles,
prompting him.
218
THE SMUGGLING YACHT
"Exactly, madam/' replied Corbett.
" Have you ever been to Torquay, ladies ? " inquired
Pickersgill.
" No, my lord," answered Mrs. Lascelles.
"We shall anchor there in the course of an hour, and
probably remain there till to-morrow. Steward, bring coffee.
Tell the cook these cutlets were remarkably well dressed."
The ladies retired to their cabin. Miss Ossulton was now
convinced that it was all a hoax ; " but," said she, " I shall tell
Lord B. my opinion of their practical jokes when he returns.
What is his lordship's name who is on board ? "
" He won't tell us," replied Mrs. Lascelles ; " but I think
I know ; it is Lord Blarney."
" Lord Blaney, you mean, I presume," said Miss Ossulton ;
''however, the thing is carried too far. Cecilia, we will go
on shore at Torquay, and wait till the yacht returns with
Lord B. I don't like these jokes ; they may do very well
for widows, and people of no rank."
Now Mrs. Lascelles was sorry to find Miss Ossulton so
much at her ease. She owed her no little spite, an4 wished
for revenge. Ladies will go very far to obtain this. How
far Mrs. Lascelles would have gone, I will not pretend to
say ; but this is certain, that the last innuendo of Miss
Ossulton very much added to her determination. She took
her bonnet and went on deck, at once told Pickersgill that
he could not please her or Cecilia more than by frightening
Miss Ossulton, who, under the idea that it was all a hoax,
had quite recovered her spirits ; talked of her pride and
ill-nature, and wished her to receive a useful lesson. Thus,
to follow up her revenge, did Mrs. Lascelles commit herself
so far as to be confidential with the smuggler in return.
" Mrs. Lascelles, I shall be able to obey you, and, at the
same time, to combine business with pleasure."
After a short conversation, the yacht dropped her anchor
at Torquay. It was then about two hours before sunset.
As soon as the sails were furled, one or two gentlemen,
219
THE THREE CUTTERS
who resided there, came on board to pay their respects to
Lord B. ; and, as Pickersgill had found out from Cecilia that
her father was acquainted with no one there, he received
them in person ; asked them down into the cabin called for
wine and desired them to send their boat away, as his own
was going on shore. The smugglers took great care that the
steward, cook, and lady's-maid should have no communica-
tion with the guests ; one of them, by Corbett's direction,
being a sentinel over each individual. The gentlemen re-
mained about half-an-hour on board, during which Corbett
and the smugglers had filled the portmanteaus found in
the cabin with the lace, and they were put in the boat ;
Corbett then landed the gentlemen in the same boat, and
went up to the hotel, the smugglers following him with the
portmanteaus, without any suspicion or interruption. As
soon as he was there, he ordered post-horses, and set off for
a town close by, where he had correspondents ; and thus the
major part of the cargo was secured. Corbett then returned
in the night, bringing with him people to receive the goods ;
and the smugglers landed the silks, teas, &c., with the same
good fortune. Everything was out of the yacht except a
portion of the lace, which the portmanteaus would not hold.
Pickersgill might easily have sent this on shore ; but, to
please Mrs. Lascelles, he arranged otherwise.
The next morning, about an hour after breakfast was
finished, Mrs. Lascelles entered the cabin pretending to be
in the greatest consternation, and fell on the sofa as if she
were going to faint.
" Good heavens ! what is the matter ? " exclaimed Cecilia,
who knew very well what was coming.
" Oh, the wretch ! he has made such proposals ! "
" Proposals ! what proposals ? what ! Lord Blaney ? " cried
Miss Ossulton.
"Oh, he's no lord ! he's a villain and a smuggler! and he
insists that we shall both fill our pockets full of lace, and
go on shore with him."
220
THE SMUGGLING YACHT
" Mercy on me ! Then it is no hoax after all ; and I've
been sitting down to dinner with a smuggler ! "
" Sitting down, madam ! if it were to be no more than
that but we are to take his arm up to the hotel. Oh, dear !
Cecilia, I am ordered on deck ; pray come with me ! "
Miss Ossulton rolled on the sofa, and rang for Phoebe ; she
was in a state of great alarm.
A knock at the door.
" Come in," said Miss Ossulton, thinking it was Phoebe ;
when Pickersgill made his appearance.
" What do you want, sir ? Go out, sir ! go out directly, or
I'll scream ! "
" It is no use screaming, madam ; recollect, that all on
board are at my service. You will oblige me by listening
to me, Miss Ossulton. I am, as you know, a smuggler ; and I
must send this lace on shore. You will oblige me by putting
it into your pockets, or about your person, and prepare to go
on shore with me. As soon as we arrive at the hotel, you will
deliver it to me, and I then shall reconduct you on board of
the yacht. You are not the first lady who has gone on shore
with contraband articles about her person."
"Me, sir! go on shore in that way? No, sir- never !
What will the world say ? the Hon. Miss Ossulton walking
with a smuggler ! No, sir never ! "
" Yes, madam ; walking arm-in-arm with a smuggler. I
shall have you on one arm, and Mrs. Lascelles on the other ;
and I would advise you to take it very quietly ; for, in the
first place, it will be you who smuggle, as the goods will be
found on your person, and you will certainly be put in prison ;
for at the least appearance of insubordination, we run and in-
form against you ; and further, your niece will remain on board
as a hostage for your good behaviour and if you have any
regard for her liberty, you will consent immediately."
Pickersgill Left the cabin, and shortly afterwards Cecilia
and Mrs. Lascelles entered, apparently much distressed.
They had been informed of all, and Mrs. Lascelles declared,
221
THE THREE CUTTERS
that for her part, sooner than leave her poor Cecilia to the
mercy of such people, she had made up her mind to submit
to the smuggler's demands. Cecilia also begged so earnestly,
that Miss Ossulton, who had no idea that it was a trick, with
much sobbing and blubbering, consented.
When all was ready Cecilia left the cabin; Pickersgill
came down, handed up the two ladies, who had not exchanged
a word with each other during Cecilia's absence; the boat
was ready alongside they went in, and pulled on shore.
Everything succeeded to the smuggler's satisfaction. Miss
Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm ; and, with
Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel,
followed by four of his boat's crew. As soon as they were
shown into a room, Corbett, who was already on shore, asked
for Lord B., and joined them. The ladies retired to another
apartment, divested themselves of their contraband goods,
and after calling for some sandwiches and wine, Pickersgill
waited an hour, and then returned on board. Mrs. Lascelles
was triumphant ; and she rewarded her new ally the
smuggler with one of her sweetest smiles. Community of
interest will sometimes make strange friendships.
CHAPTER YII
CONCLUSION
W E must now return to the other parties who have assisted
in the acts of this little drama. Lord B., after paddling and
paddling, the men relieving each other, in order to make
head against the wind, which was off shore, arrived about
midnight at a small town in West Bay, from whence he took
a chaise on to Portsmouth, taking it for granted that his
yacht would arrive as soon as, if not before himself, little
imagining that it was in possession of the smugglers. There
he remained three or four days, when, becoming impatient,
222
CONCLUSION
he applied to one of his friends who had a yacht at Cowes,
and sailed with him to look after his own.
We left the Happy-go-lucky chased by the revenue cutter.
At first the smuggler had the advantage before the wind ;
but, by degrees, the wind went round with the sun, and
brought the revenue cutter to leeward : it was then a chase
on a wind, and the revenue cutter came fast up with her.
Morrison, perceiving that he had no chance of escape, let
run the ankers of brandy that he might not be condemned ;
but still he was in an awkward situation, as he had more men
on board than allowed by Act of Parliament. He therefore
stood on, notwithstanding the shot of the cutter went over
and over him, hoping that a fog or night might enable him to
escape ; but he had no such good fortune ; one of the shot
carried away the head of his mast, and the Happy-go-lucky 's
luck was all over. He was boarded and taken possession of;
he asserted that the extra men were only passengers ; but,
in the first place, they were dressed in seamen's clothes ;
and, in the second, as soon as the boat was aboard of her,
Appleboy had gone down to his gin-toddy, and was not to
be disturbed. The gentlemen smugglers therefore passed an
uncomfortable night ; and the cutter going to Portland by
daylight, before Appleboy was out of bed, they were taken
on shore to the magistrate. Hautaine explained the whole
affair, and they were immediately released and treated with
respect ; but they were not permitted to depart until they
were bound over to appear against the smugglers, and prove
the brandy having been on board. They then set off for
Portsmouth in the seamen's clothes, having had quite enough
of yachting for that season, Mr. Ossulton declaring that he
only wanted to get his luggage, and then he would take
care how he put himself again in the way of the shot of a
revenue cruiser, or of sleeping a night on her decks.
In the meantime Morrison and his men were locked up in
the jail, the old man, as the key was turned on him, exclaiming,
as he raised his foot in vexation, " That cursed blue pigeon."
223
THE THREE CUTTERS
We will now return to the yacht.
About an hour after Pickersgill had come on board, Corbett
had made all his arrangements and followed him. It was not
advisable to remain at Torquay any longer, through fear of
discovery ; he therefore weighed the anchor before dinner,
and made sail.
" What do you intend to do now, my lord ? " said Mrs.
Lascelles.
" I intend to run down to Cowes, anchor the yacht in the
night, and an hour before daylight have you in my boat with
all my men. I will take care that you are in perfect safety,
depend upon it, even if I run a risk. I should, indeed, be
miserable, if, through my wild freaks, any accident should
happen to Mrs. Lascelles or Miss Ossulton."
"I am very anxious about my father," observed Cecilia.
" I trust that you will keep your promise."
" I always have hitherto, Miss Ossulton ; have I not ? "
" Ours is but a short and strange acquaintance."
" I grant it ; but it will serve for you to talk about long
after. I shall disappear as suddenly as I have come you
will neither of you, in all probability, ever see me again,"
The dinner was announced, and they sat down to table as
before ; but the elderly spinster refused to make her appear-
ance, and Mrs. Lascelles and Cecilia, who thought she had been
frightened enough, did not attempt to force her. Pickersgill
immediately yielded to these remonstrances, and from that
time she remained undisturbed in the ladies' cabin, meditating
over the indignity of having sat down to table, having drank
wine, and been obliged to walk on shore, taking the arm of a
smuggler, and appear in such a humiliating situation.
The wind was light, and they made but little progress, and
were not abreast of Portland till the second day, when
another yacht appeared in sight, and the two vessels slowly
neared, until in the afternoon they were within four miles of
each other. It then fell a dead calm : signals were thrown
out by the other yacht, but could not be distinguished, and,
224
CONCLUSION
for the last time, they sat down to dinner. Three days'
companionship on board of a vessel, cooped up together, and
having no one else to converse with, will produce intimacy ;
and Pickersgill was a young man of so much originality and
information, th'it he was listened to with pleasure. He never
attempted to advance beyond the line of strict decorum
and politeness ; and his companion was equally unpresuming.
Situated as they were, and feeling what must have been
the case had they fallen into other hands, both Cecilia and
Mrs. Lascelles felt some degree of gratitude towards him ; and,
although anxious to be relieved from so strange a position,
they had gradually acquired a perfect confidence in him ;
and this had produced a degree of familiarity on their parts,
although never ventured upon by the smuggler. As Corbett
was at the table, one of the men came down and made a
sign. Corbett shortly after quitted the table and went on
deck. " I wish, my lord, you would come up a moment, and see
if you can make this flag out," said Corbett, giving a significant
nod to Pickersgill. " Excuse me, ladies, one moment," said
Pickersgill, who went on deck.
" It is the boat of the yacht coming on board," said
Corbett ; " and Lord B. is in the stern-sheets with the gentle-
man who was with him."
" And how many men in the boat ? let me see only four.
Well, let his lordship and his friend come : when they are on
the deck, have the men ready in case of accident ; but if you
can manage to tell the boat's crew that they are to go on
board again, and get rid of them that way, so much the
better. Arrange this with Adams, and then come down
again his lordship must see us all at dinner."
Pickersgill then descended, and Corbett had hardly time
to give his directions and to resume his seat, before his lord-
ship and Mr. Stewart pulled up alongside and jumped on deck.
"There was no one to receive them but the seamen, and those
whom they did not know. They looked round in amazement ;
at last his lordship said to Adams, who stood forward
225 p
THE THREE CUTTERS
"What men are you ? "
" Belong to the yacht, ye'r honour."
Lord B. heard laughing in the cabin ; he would not wait to
interrogate the men ; he walked aft, followed by Mr. Stewart,
looked down the skylight, and perceived his daughter and
Mrs. Lascelles, with, as he supposed, Hautaine and Ossulton
Pickersgill had heard the boat rub the side, and the sound
of the feet on deck, and he talked the more loudly, that the
ladies might be caught by Lord B. as they were. He heard
their feet at the skylight, and knew that they could hear
what passed ; and at that moment he proposed to the ladies
that as this was their last meeting at table they should all
take a glass of champagne to drink to "their happy meeting
with Lord B." This was a toast which they did not refuse.
Maddox poured out the wine, and they were all bowing to
each other, when his lordship, who had come down the ladder,
walked into the cabin, followed by Mr. Stewart. Cecilia per-
ceived her father; the champagne-glass dropped from her
hand she flew into his arms, and burst into tears.
"Who would not be a father, Mrs. Lascelles ? " said
Pickersgill, quietly seating himself, after having first risen to
receive Lord B.
" And pray, whom may I have the honour of finding estab-
lished here ? " said Lord B., in an angry tone, speaking over
his daughter's head, who still lay in his arms. " By heavens,
yes ! Stewart, it is the smuggling captain dressed out."
"Even so, my lord," replied Pickersgill. "You abandoned
your yacht to capture me ; you left these ladies in a vessel
crippled for want of men ; they might have been lost. I
have returned good for evil by coming on board with my own
people, and taking charge of them. This night I expected
to have anchored your vessel in Cowes, and have left them
in safety."
" By the " cried Stewart.
"Stop, sir, if you please!" cried Pickersgill; "recollect
you have once already attacked one who never offended.
426
CONCLUSION
Oblige me by refraining from intemperate language ; for 1
tell you I will not put up with it. Recollect, sir, that I have
refrained from that, and also from taking advantage of you
when you were in my power. Recollect, sir, also, that the
yacht is still in possession of the smugglers, and that you are
in no condition to insult with impunity. My lord, allow me
to observe, that we men are too hot of temperament to argue
or listen coolly. With your permission, your friend, and my
friend, and I, will repair on deck, leaving you to hear from
your daughter and that lady all that has passed. After that,
my lord, I shall be most happy to hear anything which your
lordship may please to say."
" Upon my word -" commenced Mr. Stewart.
" Mr. Stewart/' interrupted Cecilia Ossulton, " I request
your silence ; nay, more, if ever we ai-e again to sail in the
same vessel together, 1 insist upon it." *^>
" Your lordship will oblige me by enforcing Miss Ossulton's
request," said Mrs. Lascelles.
Mr. Stewart was dumbfounded no wonder to find the
ladies siding with the smuggler.
" I am obliged to you, ladies, for your interference," said
Pickersgill; "for, although 1 have the means of enforcing
conditions, I should be sorry to avail myself of them. I
wait for his lordship's reply."
Lord B. was very much surprised. He wished for an
explanation ; he bowed with hauteur. Everybody appeared
to be in a false position ; even he, Lord B., somehow or
another had bowed to a smuggler.
Pickersgill arid Stewart went on deck, walking up and
down, crossing each other without speaking, but reminding
you of two dogs who are both anxious to fight, but have
been restrained by the voice of their masters. Corbett
followed, and talked in a low tone to Pickersgill ; Stewart
went over to leeward to see if the boat was still alongside,
but it had long before returned to the yacht. Miss Ossulton
had heard her brother's voice, but did not come out of the
227
THE THREE CUTTERS
after-cabin ; she wished to be magnificent, and at the same
time she was not sure whether all was right, Phoebe having
informed her that there was nobody with her brother and
Mr. Stewart, and that the smugglers still had the command
of the vessel. After a while, Pickersgill and Corbett went
down forward, and returned dressed in the smuggler's clothes,
when they resumed their walk on the deck.
In the meantime it was dark ; the cutter flew along the
coast, and the Needles' lights were on the larboard bow.
The conversation between Mrs. l^ascelles, Cecilia, and her
father was long. When all had been detailed, and the con-
duct of Pickersgill duly represented, Lord B. acknowledged
that, by attacking the smuggler, he had laid himself open
to retaliation ; that Pickersgill had shown a great deal of
forbearance in every instance ; and after all, had he not gone
on board the yacht, she might have been lost, with only
three seamen on board. He was amused with the smuggling
and the fright of his sister, still more with the gentlemen being
sent to Cherbourg, and much consoled that he was not the
only one to be laughed at. He was also much pleased with
Pickersgill's intention of leaving the yacht safe in Cowes
harbour, his respect to the property on board, and his conduct
to the ladies. On the whole, he felt grateful to Pickersgill,
and where there is gratitude there is always goodwill.
" But who can he be ? " said Mrs. Lascelles ; " his name
he acknowledges not to be Pickersgill, and he told me con-
fidentially that he was of good family."
" Confidentially, my dear Mrs. Lascelles ? " said Lord B.
" Oh, yes ! we are both his confidants. Are we not,
Cecilia ? "
" Upon my honour, Mrs. Lascelles, this smuggler appears to
have made an impression which many have attempted in vain."
Mrs. Lascelles did not reply to that remark, but said,
" Now, my lord, you must decide and I trust you will, to
oblige us, treat him as he has treated us, with the greatest
"CONCLUSION
" Why should you suppose otherwise ? " replied Lord B. ;
" it is not only my wish but my interest so to do. He may
take us over to France to-night, or anywhere else. Has he
not possession of the vessel ?"
" Yes/' replied Cecilia ; " but we flatter ourselves that we
have the command. Shall we call him down, papa ? "
" Ring for Maddox. Maddox, tell Mr. Pickersgill, who is
on deck, that I wish to speak with him, and shall be obliged
by his stepping down into the cabin."
"Who, my lord? What? Him?"
"Yes, him," replied Cecilia, laughing.
" Must I call him my lord, now, miss ? "
" You may do as you please, Maddox ; but recollect he is
still in possession of the vessel," replied Cecilia.
"Then, with your lordship's permission, I will; it's the
safest way."
The smuggler entered the cabin ; the ladies started as he
appeared in his rough costume. With his throat open, and
his loose black handkerchief, he was the beau ideal of a
handsome sailor.
" Your lordship wishes to communicate with me ? "
" Mr. Pickersgill, I feel that you have had cause of enmity
against me, and that you have behaved with forbearance.
I thank you for your considerate treatment of the ladies ; and
I assure you, that I feel no resentment for what has passed."
" My lord, I am quite satisfied with what you have said ;
and I only hope that, in future, you will not interfere with
a poor smuggler, who may be striving, by a life of danger
and privation, to procure subsistence for himself, and, per-
haps, his family. I stated to these ladies my intention of
anchoring the yacht this night at Cowes, and leaving her as
soon as she was in safety. Your unexpected presence will
only make this difference, which is, that I must previously
obtain your lordship's assurance that those with you will allow
me and my men to quit her without molestation, after we
have performed this service."
THE THREE CUTTERS
" I pledge you my word, Mr. Pickersgill, and I thank you
into the bargain. I trust you will allow me to offer some
remuneration."
" Most certainly not, my lord."
" At all events, Mr. Pickersgill, if, at any other time, I can
be of service, you may command me."
Pickersgill made no reply.
" Surely, Mr. Pickersgill "
" Pickersgill ! how I hate that name ! " said the smuggler,
musing. " I beg your lordship's pardon if I may require
your assistance for any of my unfortunate companions "
" Not for yourself, Mr. Pickersgill ? " said Mrs. Lascelles.
" Madam, I smuggle no more."
" For the pleasure I feel in hearing that resolution, Mr.
Pickersgill," said Cecilia, " take my hand and thanks."
" And mine," said Mrs. Lascelles, half crying.
"And mine too," said Lord B., rising up.
Pickersgill passed the back of his hand across his eyes,
turned round, and left the cabin.
" I'm so happy ! " said Mrs. Lascelles, bursting into tears.
" He's a magnificent fellow," observed Lord B. " Come,
let us all go on deck."
" You have not seen my aunt, papa."
" True ; I'll go in to her, and then follow you."
The ladies went up on deck. Cecilia entered into conversa-
tion with Mr. Stewart, giving him a narrative of what had hap-
pened. Mrs. Lascelles sat abaft at the taffrail, with her pretty
hand supporting her cheek, looking very much a la Juliette.
" Mrs. Lascelles," said Pickersgill, " before we part, allow
me to observe, that it is you who have induced me to give
up my profession "
"Why me, Mr. Pickersgill ?"
" You said that you did not like it."
Mrs. Lascelles felt the force of the compliment. " You said
just now that you hated the name of Pickersgill : why do you
call yourself so ? "
230
CONCLUSION
" It was my smuggling name, Mrs. Lascelles."
" And now that you have left off smuggling, pray what may
be the name we are to call you by ? "
if I cannot resume it till I have not only left this vessel, but
shaken hands with, and bid farewell to, my companions ; and
by that time, Mrs. Lascelles, I shall be away from you."
"But I've a great curiosity to know it; and a lady's
curiosity must be gratified. You must call upon me some
day, and tell it me. Here is my address."
Pickersgill received the card with a low bow : and Lord B,
coming on deck, Mrs. Lascelles hastened to meet him.
The vessel was now passing the Bridge at the Needles,
and the smuggler piloted her on. As soon as they were clear
and well inside, the whole party went down into the cabin,
Lord B. requesting Pickersgill and Corbett to join him in a
parting glass. Mr. Stewart, who had received the account of
what had passed from Cecilia, was very attentive to Pickers-
gill, and took an opportunity of saying that he was sorry that
he had said or done anything to annoy him. Every one
recovered his spirits ; and all was good-humour and mirth,
because Miss Ossulton adhered to her resolution of not
quitting the cabin till she could quit the yacht. At ten
o'clock the yacht was anchored. Pickersgill took his leave
of the honourable company, and went in his boat with his
men ; and Lord B. was again in possession of his vessel,
although he had not a ship's company, Maddox recovered
his usual tone ; and the cook flourished his .knife, swearing
that he should like to see the smuggler who would again order
him to dress cutlets a I 'ombre Chinoise.
The yacht had remained three days at Cowes, when Lord B.
received a letter from Pickersgill, stating that the men of
his vessel had been captured, and would be condemned, in
consequence of their having the gentlemen on board, who
were bound to appear against them, to prove that they had
sunk the brandy. Lord B. paid all the recognisances, and the
men were liberated for want of evidence.
231
THE THREE CUTTERS
It was about two years after this that Cecilia Ossulton, who
was sitting at her work-table in deep mourning for her aunt,
was presented with a letter by the butler. It was from her
friend Mrs. Lascelles, informing her that she was married
again to a Mr. Davenant, and intended to pay her a short visit
on her way to the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Davenant arrived
the next day ; and when the latter introduced her husband,
she said to Miss Ossulton, " Look, Cecilia dear, and tell me
if you have ever seen Davenant before."
Cecilia looked earnestly: "I have, indeed," cried she at
last, extending her hand with warmth ; " and happy am I to
meet with him again."
For in Mr. Davenant she recognised her old acquaintance
the captain of the Happy-go-lucky, Jack Pickersgill the
smuggler.
THE
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