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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Old Jack
+
+Author: W.H.G. Kingston
+
+Release Date: October 17, 2007 [EBook #23049]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OLD JACK ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England
+
+
+
+
+Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at sea
+starts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the last
+twenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of the
+nineteenth.  We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, the
+press-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in the
+fo'cstle.  We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, a
+whaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of the
+Feejee islands.  There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as a
+pun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled with
+wonderment.  We now give the preface which Kingston himself wrote for
+the book.
+
+Preface, by W.H.G. Kingston.
+
+I had more than once, in my rambles in the neighbourhood of Blackheath,
+Greenwich and Woolwich, met an old man walking briskly along, whose
+appearance struck me as unusual; but we never even exchanged
+salutations.  One day, however, when I was in company with my friend
+Captain N--- of the Navy, seeing the stranger, he stopped and addressed
+a few words to him, from which I gleaned that he had been a sailor.  My
+friend told me, as we moved on, that he often had conversations on
+religious subjects with the old man, who had for long been in a South
+Sea whaler, and had seen many parts of the world. My interest was much
+excited.  I took an early opportunity of making the acquaintance of Old
+Jack--for such, he told me, was the name by which he was best known; and
+without reluctance he gave me his history.  This I now present to the
+public with certain emendations, with which I do not think my younger
+readers will find fault.  W.H.G.K.
+
+________________________________________________________________________
+
+OLD JACK, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ONE.
+
+DONNYBROOK FAIR.
+
+Jack began his story thus:
+
+Of course you've heard of Donnybrook Fair, close to the city of Dublin.
+What a strange scene it was, to be sure, of uproar and wild confusion--
+of quarrelling and fighting from beginning to end--of broken heads, of
+black eyes, and bruised shins--of shouting, of shrieking and swearing--
+of blasphemy and drunkenness in all its forms of brutality.  Ay, and as
+I've heard say, of many a deed of darkness, not omitting murder, and
+other crimes not less foul and hateful to Him who made this beautiful
+world, and gave to man a religion of love and purity.  There the
+rollicking, roaring, bullying, fighting, harum-scarum Irishman of olden
+days had full swing for all the propensities and vile passions which
+have ruined him at home, and gained him a name and a fame not to be
+envied throughout the world.  Often have I wondered whether, had a North
+American Indian, or a South-Sea Islander, visited the place, he could
+have been persuaded that he had come to a land of Christian men.
+Certainly an angel from heaven would have looked upon the assemblage as
+a multitude of Satan's imps let loose upon the world.  They tell me that
+the fair and its bedevilments have pretty well been knocked on the head.
+I am glad of it, though I have never again been to the spot from the
+day of which I am about to speak.
+
+I remember very little of my childish life.  Indeed, my memory is nearly
+a blank up to the time to which I allude.  That time was one of the
+first days of that same Donnybrook Fair; but I remember _that_ and good
+reason I have so to do.  I was, however, but a small chap then, young in
+years, and little as to size.
+
+My father's name was Amos Williams.  He came from England and settled in
+Dublin, where he married my mother, who was an Irishwoman.  Her name I
+never heard.  If she had relations, they did not, at all events, own
+her.  I suspect, from some remarks she once let drop which I did not
+then understand, that they had discarded her because she had become a
+Protestant when she married my father.  She was gentle and pious, and
+did her utmost, during the short time she remained on earth, to teach me
+the truths of that glorious gospel to which, in many a trial, she held
+fast, as a ship to the sheet-anchor with a gale blowing on a lee-shore.
+She died young, carried off by a malignant fever.  Her last prayers were
+for my welfare here and hereafter.  Had I always remembered her precepts
+I should, I believe, have been in a very different position to what I
+now am in my old age.  My poor father took her death very much to heart.
+For days after her funeral he sat on his chair in our little cottage
+with his hands before him, scarcely lifting up his head from his breast,
+forgetting entirely that he ought to go out and seek for work, as
+without it he had no means of finding food for himself and me.  I should
+have starved had not a kind woman, a neighbour, brought me in some
+potatoes and buttermilk.  Little enough I suspect she had to spare after
+feeding her own children.
+
+At length my father roused himself to action.  Early one morning,
+seizing his hat and bidding me stay quiet till his return, he rushed out
+of the house.  He was a stonemason.  He got work, I believe, but the
+tempter came in his way.  A fellow-workman induced him to enter a whisky
+shop.  Spirits had, in his early days, been his bane.  My mother's
+influence had kept him sober.  He now tried to forget his sorrow in
+liquor.  "Surely I have a right to cure my grief as best I can," said
+he.  Unhappily he did not wait for a reply from conscience.  Little food
+could he buy from the remnant of his day's wages.  Thus he went on from
+day to day, working hard when sober, drinking while he had money to pay
+for liquor.
+
+Still his affection for me did not diminish.  While in his right mind he
+could not bear to have me out of his sight.  Every morning we might have
+been seen leaving our cottage, I holding his hand as he went to his
+work; yet nearly as certainly as the evening came round I had to creep
+supperless to bed.  All day he would keep me playing about in his sight,
+except when any of his fellow-workmen, or people living near where we
+happened to be, wanted a lad to run on an errand.  Then I was always
+glad of the job.  Whenever, by happy chance, he came home sober in an
+evening, he would take me between his knees, and, parting my hair, look
+into my face and weep till his heart seemed ready to burst.  But these
+occasions grew less and less frequent.  What I have said will show that
+I have reason to love the memory of both my parents, in spite of the
+faults my unhappy father undoubtedly possessed.
+
+Several months had thus passed away after my mother's death, when one
+afternoon my father entered our cottage where he had left me since the
+morning.
+
+"Jack, my boy," said he, taking my hand, "come along, and I will show
+you what _life is_."  Oh, had he said, "what _death is_," he would have
+spoken the truth.
+
+I accompanied him willingly, though I saw at a glance that he had
+already been drinking.  Crowds of people were going in the direction we
+took.  For some days past I had heard the neighbours talking of the
+fair.  I now knew that we were bound there.  My mother had never allowed
+me to go to the place, so I had no notion what it was like.  I expected
+to see something very grand and very beautiful--I could not tell what.
+I pushed on into the crowd with my father as eagerly as any one,
+thinking that we should arrive at the fair at last.  I did not know that
+we were already in the middle of it.  I remember, however, having a
+confused sight of booths, and canvas theatres, and actors in fine
+clothes strutting about and spouting and trumpeting and drumming; of
+rope-dancers and tumblers with painted faces; and doctors in gilded
+chariots selling all sorts of wonderful remedies for every possible
+complaint; and the horsemanship, with men leaping through hoops and
+striding over six steeds or more at full gallop; and the gingerbread
+stalls, and toy shops, and similar wonders; but what was bought and sold
+at the fair of use to any one I never heard.
+
+My father had taken me round to several of the shows I have spoken of:
+when he entered a drinking-booth, and set himself down with me on his
+knee, among a number of men who seemed to be drinking hard.  Their
+example stimulated him to drink harder than ever, and in a short time
+his senses completely left him.  As, however, even though the worse
+liquor, he was peaceable in his disposition, instead of sallying forth
+as many did in search of adventures, he laid himself down on the ground
+with his head against the canvas of the tent, and told me to call him
+when it was morning.  Some one at the same time handed me a piece of
+gingerbread, so I set myself down by his side to do as he bid me.
+
+Those were the days of faction fights; and if people happened to have no
+cause for a quarrel, they very soon found one.  The tent we were in was
+patronised by Orangemen, and of course was a mark for the attacks of the
+opposite party.  My poor father had slept an hour or so, with three or
+four men near him in a similar condition, when a half-drunken body of
+men came by, shillelah in hand, looking out for a row.  Unhappily the
+shapes of the heads of most of the sleepers were clearly developed
+through the canvas.  The temptation was not to be resisted--whack--
+whack--whack!  Down came the heavy stick of a sturdy Irishman upon that
+of my father.  "Get up out of that, and defend yourselves!" sung out
+their assailants.  Most of his companions rushed out to avenge the
+insult offered them, but my father made no answer.  Numbers joined from
+all directions--shillelahs were flourished rapidly, and the scrimmage
+became general.  I ran to the front of the tent and clapped my hands,
+and shouted with sympathy.  Now the mass of fighting, shrieking men
+swayed to one side, now to the other; now they advanced, now they
+retreated, till by degrees the fight had reached a considerable distance
+from the tent.
+
+I then went back to my place by my father's side, wondering that he did
+not get up to join the fray.  I listened, he breathed, but he did not
+speak.  Still I thought he must be awake.  "Father, father," said I,
+"get up, do.  It's time to go home, sure now."  I shook him gently, but
+he made no reply.  At length I could hear no sound proceeding from his
+lips.  I cried out in alarm.  The keeper of the booth saw that something
+was wrong, and came and looked curiously into his face.  He lifted up my
+father's hand.  It fell like lead by his side.
+
+"Why won't father speak to me?"  I asked, dreading the answer.
+
+"He'll never speak again!  Your father's dead, lad," answered the man in
+a tone of commiseration.
+
+With what oppressive heaviness did those words strike on my young heart,
+though at that time I did not fully comprehend the extent of my loss,--
+that I should never again hear the tone of his voice--that we were for
+ever parted in this world--that I was an orphan, without a human being
+to care for me.  But though bewildered and confused at that awful
+moment, the words he had uttered as we left home rung strangely in my
+ears--"Lad, I'll show you what life is."  Too truly did he show me what
+death was.  Often and often have I since seen the same promise fulfilled
+in a similar fearful way.  What men call _life_ is a certain road to
+_death_; death of the body, death of the soul.  Of course I did not
+understand this truth in those days; not indeed till long, long
+afterwards, when I had gone through much pain and suffering, and had
+been well-nigh worn-out.  I was then very ignorant and very simple, and
+I should probably have been vicious also had not my mother watchfully
+kept me out of the way of bad example; and even after she was taken from
+me, I was prevented from associating with bad companions.
+
+When I found that my poor father was really dead, I stood wringing my
+hands and crying bitterly.  The sounds of my grief attracted many of the
+passers-by; some stopped to inquire its cause, and when they had
+satisfied their curiosity they went their way.  At last several seamen,
+with an independent air, came rolling up near the tent.  The leader of
+the party was one of the tallest men I ever saw.  Though he stooped
+slightly as he walked, his head towered above all the rest of the crowd.
+
+"What's the matter with the young squeaker there, mate?" he asked in a
+bantering tone, thinking probably that I had broken a toy, or lost a
+lump of gingerbread from my pocket.
+
+"His daddy's dead, and he's no one to look after him!" shouted an urchin
+from the crowd of bystanders.
+
+"He's in a bad case then," replied the seaman, coming up to me.  "What,
+lad! is it true that you have no friends?" he asked, stooping down and
+taking me by the hand.
+
+"No one but father, and he lies there!"  I answered, giving way to a
+fresh burst of grief as I pointed to my parent's corpse.
+
+"He speaks the truth," observed the man of the booth; "he has no mother,
+nor kith nor kin that I know of, and must starve if no one takes charge
+of him, I suspect."
+
+The tall sailor looked at me with an expression of countenance which at
+once gained my confidence.  "What say you, lad, will you come with us?"
+he asked, pointing to his companions; "we'll take you to sea, and make a
+man of you!"
+
+"We may get him entered aboard the _Rainbow_, I think, mates," he added,
+addressing them.  "He'll do as well as the monkey we lost overboard
+during the last gale; and though he may be as mischievous now, he will
+learn better manners, which Jocko hadn't the sense to do."
+
+"Oh ay!  Bear him along with us," replied the other sea men; "he'll be
+better afloat, whichever way the wind blows, than starving on shore."
+
+"Come along, youngster, then," said the tall seaman; and, without
+waiting for my reply, he seized me by the arm, and began to move off
+with me through the crowd.
+
+"But what will be done with poor father?  Sure I cannot leave him now!"
+I exclaimed, looking back with anguish at my father's corpse.
+
+"Oh, we'll see all about that," answered my new friend; "he shall be
+waked in proper style, and have a decent funeral; so you may leave home
+with a clear conscience.  Never fear!"
+
+I need not dwell longer on the events of that sad day.  Aided by some of
+the men who knew my father, and who returned to the tent after the fray
+was over, the kind-hearted seamen bore the corpse to our cottage.  The
+promise of a supply of whisky easily induced some of the neighbours to
+come and howl during the livelong night.  This they did with right good
+will, although my father was a Protestant and a foreigner; and I cried
+and howled in sympathy.  I would fain, however, have forgotten my grief
+in sleep.  The seamen had taken their departure, promising to return to
+look after me.
+
+As there was no chance of a man with a fractured skull coming to life
+again, the funeral speedily took place.  The small quantity of furniture
+remaining in the cottage was sold; but the proceeds were barely
+sufficient to pay the expenses.
+
+Thus I was left, with the exception of a suit of somewhat ragged clothes
+on my back, as naked and poor as when I came into the world about twelve
+years before, with a much more expensive appetite than I then had to
+supply.  Some boys at that age are well able to take care of themselves,
+but, as I have said, I was small for my years, and I had been kept by my
+poor mother so much by myself, that I knew nothing of the world and its
+ways.
+
+Alter the funeral a compassionate neighbour, with a dozen or more
+children of her own to feed, took me to her house till it was settled
+what was to become of me.  She and her husband laughed at the idea of
+the tall sailor coming to take me away.
+
+"I know what sailors are," said the husband; "they'll just chuck a
+handful of silver to the first beggar who asks them for it, and then
+they'll go away and forget all about it!  Maybe your friend was only
+after joking with you, and is off to sea long ago!"
+
+"Oh no! he meant what he said," I replied; "I know that by the look of
+his face.  He's a kind man, I'm certain!"
+
+"It may be better for us all if he comes, but it's not very likely," was
+the answer.  Still I trusted that my new friend would not deceive me.
+
+I was standing in front of the cottage which was next to that my father
+and I had inhabited, when my heart beat quick at seeing a tall figure
+turn a corner at the other end of the street.  I was certain it was my
+sailor friend.  "It's him!  It's him!  I knew he'd come!"  I shouted,
+and ran forward to meet him.
+
+He smiled as he saw my eagerness.  "You've not forgotten me, I see,
+lad," said he; "well, come along.  It's all arranged; and if you're in
+the same mind, you've only to say so, and we'll enter you aboard the
+_Rainbow_!"
+
+I told the tall sailor that I was ready to go wherever he liked to take
+me.  This seemed to please him.  After I had wished the neighbours, who
+had been so kind to me, good-bye, he took me by the hand, and led me
+rapidly along in the direction of the docks.  Before reaching them, we
+entered a house where some old gentlemen were sitting at a table.  One
+of them asked me if I wished to go to sea and become an admiral.  I
+replied, "Yes, surely," though I did not know what being an admiral
+meant; and on this the other old gentlemen laughed, and the first wrote
+something on a paper, which he handed across the table.
+
+On this a sunburnt fine-looking man stepped forward and wrote on the
+paper, and I was then told that I was bound apprentice to Captain
+Helfrich, of the _Rainbow_ brig.  The fine-looking man was, I found,
+Captain Helfrich.  "Well, that matter is squared now!" exclaimed the
+tall sailor; "so, youngster, we'll aboard at once, before either you or
+I get into mischief."
+
+On our way to the brig, we stopped at a slop clothes-shop.  "Here, Mr
+Levi!  I want an outfit for this youngster," said my friend, taking me
+in.  "Let his duds be big enough, that he may have room to grow in them.
+Good food and sea air will soon make him sprout like a young cabbage."
+
+The order was literally fulfilled, and I speedily found myself the
+possessor of a new suit of sailors' clothes, of two spare shirts, and
+sundry other articles of dress.  My friend made me put them on at once.
+
+"Now, do the old ones up in that handkerchief," said he; "we'll find a
+use for them before long."
+
+The spare new things he did up into a bundle, and carried it himself.
+
+"I did not want the Jew to get your old clothes, for which he would have
+allowed nothing," said he, as we left the shop.  "We shall soon fall in
+with a little ragged fellow, to whom they'll be a rich prize."
+
+As we went along, two or three boys begged of us, and pointed to their
+rags as a plea for their begging.  "They'll not do," said he; "the
+better clothes would ruin them."
+
+At last, passing along the quays, we saw a little fellow sitting on the
+stock of an anchor, and looking very miserable.  He had no shoes on his
+feet; his trousers were almost legless, and fastened up over one
+shoulder by a piece of string, while his arms were thrust into the
+sleeves of an old coat, much too large for him, and patched and torn
+again in all directions.  He did not beg, but just looked up into my
+tall friend's face, as if he saw something pleasing there.
+
+"What do you want?" said the sailor.
+
+"Nothing," answered the boy, not understanding him.
+
+"You're well off then, lad," said the tall sailor, smiling at him.  "But
+I think that you would be the better for some few things in this world--
+for a suit of clothes, for instance."
+
+"The very things I do want!" exclaimed the lad.  "You've hit it, your
+honour.  I'd a dacent suit as ever you'd wish to see, and they were run
+away with, just as I'd got the office of an errand-boy with a gentleman,
+and was in a fair way to make my fortune."
+
+"Well, then, here's a suit for you, my lad," said the sailor; "just get
+your mother to give them a darning up, and they'll serve your purpose, I
+daresay.  Give him your bundle."
+
+"Sure your honour isn't joking with me!" exclaimed the lad, his
+countenance beaming with pleasure as he undid the bundle of clothes,
+which were certainly very far better than those he had on.  "I'm a made
+man--that I am!  Blessings on your honour, and the young master there!"
+
+"You're welcome, lad, with all my heart," answered my friend.
+
+"Oh, it's Terence McSwiney will have to thank you to the end of his
+days, and ever after!" exclaimed the boy, as we were walking on.
+
+"Well, Terence, I hope you'll get the post, and do your duty in it,"
+said the tall sailor, moving off to avoid listening to the expressions
+of gratitude which the lad poured forth.
+
+The incident made a deep impression on me.  I learned by it that others
+might be worse off than I was, and also that a gift at the right time
+might be of the greatest service.  Of this I had the proof many years
+afterwards.  If the rich and the well-to-do did but know of what use
+their own or their children's cast-off clothes would be to many not only
+among the labouring classes, but to people of education and refinement,
+struggling with poverty, they would not carelessly throw them away, or
+let them get into the hands of Jews, sold by their servants for a sixth
+of their value.  I must observe that, in the course of my narrative I
+shall often make remarks on various ideas which, at the time I speak of,
+could not possibly have occurred to me.
+
+The tall sailor and I walked along the quay.  All of a sudden it
+occurred to me that I did not know his name.  I looked up in his face
+and asked him.
+
+"I'm called Peter Poplar," he answered, with one of his kind smiles.
+"The name suits me, and I suit the name; so I do not quarrel with it.
+You'll have to learn the names, pretty quickly too, of all the people on
+board.  There are a good many of us, and each and every one of them will
+consider himself your master, and you'll have to look out to please them
+all."
+
+"I'll do my best to please them, Mr Poplar," said I.
+
+"That's right!  But I say, lad, don't address me so.  Call me plain
+Peter, or Peter Poplar; we don't deal in misters aboard the _Rainbow_.
+It is all very well for shore-going people to call each other mister; or
+when you speak to an officer, just to show that he is an officer; but
+sharp's the word with us forward--we haven't time for compliments."
+
+"But I thought you were an officer, Peter," said I.  "You look like
+one."
+
+"Do I?" he answered, with his pleasant smile.  "Well, Jack, perhaps I
+ought to have been one, and it's my own fault that I am not.  But the
+truth is, I haven't got the learning necessary for it.  I never have
+learned to read, and so I haven't been able to master navigation.
+Without it, you know, a man cannot be an officer, however good a seaman
+he may be; and in that point I'll yield to no man."
+
+Peter, as he spoke, drew himself up to his full height, and I thought he
+looked fit to be a very great officer indeed; even to be an admiral,
+such as the old gentleman in the office had spoken of.
+
+"I am very bad at my books too," said I.  "I can just read a little
+though, and if I can get the chance of falling in with a book, I'll like
+to read to you, Peter."
+
+My friend thanked me, but said books were not often seen aboard the
+_Rainbow_; nor were they found in many other merchant-craft, for that
+matter, in those days.
+
+We found the brig just ready to haul out into the outer basin,
+preparatory to putting to sea.  She was a fine large craft, and had been
+built for a privateer in the war-time.  Her heavy guns had been landed,
+but she still carried some eight six-pounders; and as she had a strong
+crew of fully twenty men, she was well able to defend herself from any
+piratical craft, or other gentry of that description.
+
+When Peter first took me on board, some of the seamen would scarcely
+believe I was the same little boy they had seen at the fair, I looked so
+much stouter and stronger in my seaman's dress.  I did not much like the
+look of the forepeak, into which Peter introduced me, telling me that it
+was to be my house and home for the next few years of my life.  I had
+been accustomed to the dingy obscurity of an Irish cabin, but never had
+I been, I thought, in a more dark and gloomy habitation than this.
+
+"Never fear, Jack, you'll soon find yourself at home here," said Peter,
+divining my thoughts.  While he was speaking, a seaman lighted a lantern
+which hung from a beam, and its glare showed me that the place was more
+roomy than I had supposed, and that every part of it was perfectly
+clean.  I found, indeed, afterwards, that it was very superior to the
+places merchant-seamen are compelled often to live in.  Some of the crew
+slept in standing bed-places ranged round the sides of the vessel, or
+rather inside her bows, while for others hammocks were slung from the
+beams which supported the deck.  The chests were arranged to serve as
+seats, while there was a rack for the plates and mugs belonging to their
+mess.
+
+The greater part of the crew was still on shore.  "Now, Jack, that you
+know the sort of place we have to live in, I'll show you the
+accommodation prepared for the captain and his passengers.  It must not
+make you envious any more than it does me, for I think that those who
+have learning and education should enjoy advantages in proportion.  I
+feel that it is my own fault that I do not live in as fine a cabin as
+the captain does."
+
+Even though Peter had thus prepared me to see something very fine, the
+richness of the cabin fittings and furniture surpassed anything I had in
+my simplicity imagined to exist.  Perhaps those accustomed to such
+things might not have thought it so very great.  I know that there were
+damask curtains, and coverings to the sofas, and mirrors, and pictures
+in gold frames, and mahogany tables and chairs, and cut-glass decanters,
+and china in racks, and a number of pistols and muskets and cutlasses,
+all burnished and shining, fixed against a bulkhead.
+
+"Why, this is a place fit for a king," I exclaimed; "sure he can't have
+anything grander."
+
+Peter laughed.  "The captain prides himself on being very natty, and
+having everything in good order," said he; "but kings, I fancy, live in
+finer places than this.  However, my reason for bringing you here was to
+show you the place, that you may know how to behave yourself should you
+be sent for to attend on the captain.  You must obey him quickly, try
+and understand his wishes, and keep things clean and in their places.
+If you do this, you are certain to please him."
+
+Thus it was that my friend kindly tried to prepare me for my new career.
+"Now, Jack," said he at last, "I've done my best to set you on your
+legs.  You must try to walk alone.  I don't want to make a nursing baby
+of you, remember."  From that day forward Peter left me very much to
+take care of myself.  Still I felt that his eye was watching over me,
+and this feeling gave me a considerable amount of confidence which I
+should not otherwise have possessed.
+
+By the next day at noon, the rest of the crew had assembled; the captain
+and several passengers, mostly merchants and planters, came on board.
+There was a fair wind blowing down the Liffey.  "Open the dock-gates,
+Mr Thompson, and let her go.  She'll find her own way to Jamaica and
+back again by herself, without a hand at the helm, she knows it so
+well," the captain, as he stood on the poop, sung out to the
+dock-master.  I found that this was a standing joke of his.
+
+The _Rainbow_ was a regular West India trader, and had had many
+successful voyages there.  Captain Helfrich was chief owner as well as
+master, and was a great favourite with the merchants and planters at the
+different islands at which he was in the habit of touching, and
+consequently had always plenty of passengers, and never had to wait long
+for freight.  He was very proud of his brig, and of everything connected
+with her.  He himself also was a person not a little worthy of note.  He
+was, as I have said, a tall, fine man, robust and upright in figure,
+with large, handsome features, and teeth of pearly whiteness.  He was
+probably at this time rather more than forty years old, but not a
+particle of his crisp, curly, brown hair had a silvery tint.  He had a
+fine beaming smile, though he was very firm and determined, and could
+look very fierce when angry.  I had an unbounded respect for him.  Thus
+commanded, and with as good a crew as ever manned a ship, the _Rainbow_
+dropped down the Liffey, and made sail to the southward; and under these
+propitious circumstances I found myself fairly launched in my career as
+a sailor.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWO.
+
+THE BITTERS AND SWEETS OF A SEA-LIFE.
+
+"And so, Jack, you like a sea-life, do you?" said Peter Poplar to me one
+day after we had been about two weeks from port.  We had had very fine
+weather all the time, with a north or easterly wind, and I expected to
+find the ocean always as smooth and pleasant as it then was.  One good
+result was, that I had been able to pick up a good many of the details
+of my duty, which I should not have done had I been sea-sick, and
+knocked about in a gale.
+
+"Yes, thanks to you, Peter, I like it much better than running errands
+on shore," I answered.  "I don't wish for a pleasanter life."
+
+Peter laughed.  "You've had only the sweets as yet, boy; the bitters are
+to come," he observed.  "Still, if you get a fair share of the first,
+you'll have no reason to complain."
+
+I did not quite understand him.  I then only thought of the sweets, as
+he called them.  The truth was, I had generally been very kindly treated
+on board.  To be sure, I got a kick, or the taste of a rope's end, now
+and then, from some of the men if they happened to be out of humour; but
+those were trifles, as I never was much hurt, and Peter told me I was
+fortunate to get nothing worse.  There was one ill-conditioned fellow,
+Barney Bogle by name, who lost no opportunity of giving me a cuff for
+the merest trifle, if he could do so without being seen by Peter, of
+whom he was mortally afraid.  In his presence, the bully always kept his
+hands off me.  Of course it would not have been wise in me to complain
+of Barney to Peter, as it might have caused a quarrel; so I contented
+myself with doing my best to keep out of my enemy's way, just as a cat
+does out of the way of a dog which has taken a fancy to worry her.
+Captain Helfrich had hitherto taken no notice whatever of me, and he
+seemed to me so awful a person, that I never expected to be spoken to by
+him.  Now and then the mates ordered me to do some little job or other,
+to fetch a swab or a marlinespike, or to hold a paint-pot, but they in
+no other way noticed me.
+
+I remember how blue the sky was, and how sparkling the sea, and how hot
+the sun at noon shone down on our heads, and how brightly the moon
+floated above us at night, and formed a long, long stream of silvery
+light across the waters; and I used to fancy, as I stood looking at it,
+that I could hear voices calling to me from far, far-off, and telling me
+of my sweet, calm-eyed mother, still remembered fondly, and of my poor
+father, snatched from me so suddenly.  I won't talk much about that sort
+of thing.  It seems now like a long-forgotten dream--I believe that,
+even then, I was dreaming.
+
+Well, as I said, the fine weather continued for a long time, till I was
+awoken one morning by a loud, roaring, dashing, creaking sound, or
+rather, I might say, of a mixture of such sounds; and as I began to rub
+my eyes, I thought that I should have been hove out of the narrow crib
+in which I was stowed away in the very bows of the vessel.  Sometimes I
+felt the head of the brig lifted up, and then down it came like a
+sledge-hammer into the water; now I felt myself rolled on one side, now
+on the other.  I fully thought that the vessel must be on the rocks.
+Not a gleam of light reached me, nor could I hear the sound of a human
+voice.  I wanted to be out of the place; but when I tried to get up, I
+felt so sick and wretched, that I lay down again with an idea that it
+would be more comfortable to die where I was.  At last, however, Barney
+Bogle came below and discovered me.
+
+"Turn out, you young skulker; turn out!" he exclaimed, belabouring me
+with a rope's end.  "Didn't you hear all hands called to shorten sail an
+hour ago?"
+
+I had no help for it, so on deck I crawled, where the grey light of
+morning was streaming from beneath a dark mass of clouds which hung
+overhead, and a gale was blowing which sent the foam flying from the
+tops of the seas, deluging us fore and aft.  Now the brig was lifted up
+to the summit of a wave, and now down she sank into the trough of the
+sea, with a liquid wall on one side which, as it came curling on, looked
+as if it must inevitably overwhelm her.  She was under close-reefed
+topsails and storm-jib, and two of the best hands were at the helm.
+Peter was one of them.  I managed to climb up to windward, and to hold
+on by the weather-fore-rigging, where the rest of the crew were
+collected.
+
+I shall never forget the dark, dreary, and terrific scene which the
+ocean presented to my unaccustomed sight.  At first, too, I felt very
+sick and miserable, and I thought that I would far rather have been
+starving on shore than going to be drowned, as I fancied, and being
+tossed about by the rough ocean.  Barney, who was on deck before me,
+abused me as I crawled up near him, and contrived to give me a kick,
+which, had I let go my hold, as it was calculated to make me do, would
+probably have been the cause of my immediate destruction.  At that
+moment a huge sea came rolling up towards the brig, topping high above
+our deck.  I saw Peter Poplar and the other man at the helm looking out
+anxiously at it.  They grasped tighter hold of the spokes of the wheel,
+and planted their feet firmer on the deck.  Captain Helfrich and his
+mates were standing by the main-rigging.
+
+"Hold on, hold on for your lives, my men!" he sung out.  The crew did
+not neglect to obey him, and I clung to a rope like a monkey.  Most of
+the passengers were below, sick in their berths.  Down came the huge sea
+upon us like the wall of a city overwhelming its inhabitants.  Over our
+deck it rushed with terrific force.  I thought to a certainty that we
+were sinking.  What a horrible noise there was!--wrenching and tearing,
+and the roar and dashing sound of the waves, and the howling of the
+wind!  All contributed to confuse my senses, so that I forgot altogether
+where I was.  I had an idea, I believe, that the end of the world was
+come.  Still my shipmates did not shriek out, and I was very much
+surprised to find the brig rise again out of the water, and to see them
+standing where they were before, employed in shaking the wet off their
+jackets.  The deck of the brig, however, presented a scene of no little
+confusion and havoc.  Part of her weather-bulwarks forward had been
+stove in, the long-boat on the booms had been almost knocked to pieces,
+and a considerable portion of the after-part of the lee-bulwarks had
+been washed away, showing the course the sea had taken over us.
+
+"We must not allow that trick to be played us again," said the captain
+to the mates.  I had crept as far aft as I dared go, for I did not like
+the look of the sea through the broken bulwark, so I could hear him.
+"Stand by to heave the ship to!" he shouted, and his voice was easily
+heard above the sounds of the tempest.  "Down with the helm!--In with
+the jib!--Hand the maintopsail!"  The officers and men, who were at
+their stations, flew to obey their orders.  I trembled as I saw the
+third mate, with several other men, taking in the jib.  Having let go
+the halliards, and eased off the sheets, hauling away on the
+down-hauler; and having got it down on the bowsprit-cap, though nearly
+blown out of the bolt-ropes, stowing it away in the foretopmast
+staysail-netting.  As the bows of the brig now rose and now plunged into
+the trough of the sea, I thought they must have been, to a certainty,
+washed away.  The maintopsail was, in the meantime, taken in, and I felt
+that I was very glad I was not obliged to lay-out on the yard with the
+other men.  It seemed a wonder how they were not shaken off into the
+sea, or carried away by the bulging sail.  The great thing in taking in
+a sail in a gale, as I now learned from Peter, is not to allow the sail
+to shake, or it is very likely to split to pieces.  Keep it steadily
+full, and it will bear a great strain.  Accordingly, the clew-lines,
+down-haul-tackle, and weather-brace being manned, the halliards were let
+go, the weather-brace hauled in, the weather-sheet started and clewed
+up; then the bowline and lee-sheets being let go, the sail caught aback,
+and the men springing on the yard, grasped it in their arms as they hung
+over it.  Folding it in inch by inch, they at length mastered the
+seeming resistless monster, and passing the gaskets round it, secured it
+to the yard.  Those who for the first time see a topsail furled in a
+heavy gale may well deem it a terrific operation, and perilous in the
+extreme to those employed in it.  I know that I breathed more freely
+when all the men came down safely from the yard, Barney Bogle among the
+number; and the helm being lashed a-lee, the brig rode like a duck over
+the seas.
+
+There was no time, however, to be idle, and all hands set to work to
+repair damages.  I now saw that the captain, who appeared so fine a
+gentleman in harbour, or when there was nothing to do, could work as
+well, if not rather better, than any one.  With his coat off, and saw,
+axe, or hammer in hand, he worked away with the carpenter in fitting a
+new rail, and planking up the bulwarks; and the steward had twice to
+call him to breakfast before he obeyed the summons.  His example
+inspired the rest; and in a very short time the bulwarks were made
+sufficiently secure to serve till the return of fine weather.
+
+"I told you, Jack, that you would have a taste of the bitters of a
+sea-life before long," said Peter, as soon as he had time to have a word
+with me.  "Let me tell you, however, that this is just nothing, and that
+we shall be very fortunate if we do not fall in with something much
+worse before long."
+
+I knew that Peter would not unnecessarily alarm me, and so I looked up
+at the dark clouds driving across the sky, and saw the hissing, foaming
+waves dancing up wildly around us, looking as if every moment they were
+ready to swallow up the brig, I asked myself what worse could occur,
+without our going to the bottom.  I had never then been in a regular
+hurricane or a typhoon, or on a lee-shore on a dark night, surrounded by
+rocks, or among rapid currents, hurrying the ship within their power to
+destruction; nor had I been on board a craft when all hands at the pumps
+could scarcely keep her afloat; nor had I seen a fire raging.  Indeed, I
+happily knew nothing of the numberless dangers and hardships to which a
+seaman in his career is exposed.  I must not say that I was in any way
+frightened.  I resolved to keep a bold heart in my body.  "Never mind,"
+I answered to Peter's remark; "while I've got you and the captain on
+board, I don't fear anything."
+
+Peter laughed.  "We may be very well in our way," said he; "but, Jack,
+my advice is: Trust in God, and hold on by the weather-rigging.  Should
+the ship go down, look out for spar or a plank if there's no boat
+afloat; and if you can find nothing, swim as long as you can; but
+whatever you do, trust in God."
+
+I have never forgotten Peter's advice.  Never have I found that trust
+deceive me; and often and often have I been mercifully preserved when I
+had every reason to believe that my last hour had come.  I should remark
+also that, badly off as I have often fancied myself, I have soon had
+reason to be thankful that I was not in the condition of others around
+me.
+
+While Peter was speaking, one of the crew sung out, "a sail on the
+weather-bow!"  Sure enough, as we rose on the summit of a sea, a ship
+could be seen with all her topsails set running before the wind.  Peter
+remarked that she was standing directly for us.  "She is a large ship,
+by the squareness of her yards; probably either from the West Indies or
+South America, or maybe China, or from some port in the Pacific, and she
+has come round the Horn."
+
+We watched her for some time.  "She has a signal of distress flying,
+sir," said the first mate, who had been looking at her through a glass.
+
+"She is in a bad way, then," remarked the captain.  "I fear that unless
+the sea goes down, and she in the meantime can heave-to near us, we can
+render her no assistance."
+
+On came the ship right for us.  I thought that she would run us down;
+so, indeed, I found did others on board.  The mates, indeed, went to the
+wheel to put the helm up to let the brig fall off, that we might get out
+of her way; but as she approached, she altered her course a little, so
+that she might pass clear under our stem.  Never shall I forget the look
+of that strange ship; for, as she came near us, rolling in the trough of
+the sea, we could see clearly everything going forward on her decks.
+
+She was a Spaniard, so Peter told me, as he knew from the ensign which
+flew out, hoisted half-way to her peak.  She was a high-pooped ship,
+with a deep waist and a lofty forecastle, her upper works narrowing as
+they rose, with large lanterns, and much rich carved work all gilt and
+painted.  Such a craft is never seen now-a-days.
+
+She was crowded with people.  Some were soldiers, worn-out men, with
+their wives and families returning home from the colonies; others were
+cabin passengers.  There were rich Hidalgos, attended on by their
+slaves--old men, who had spent their lives abroad in the pursuit of
+wealth; and there were fair girls, too, probably their daughters, some
+young and lovely; and there were young men, with life before them, and
+thinking that life was to be very sweet; and there were children, and
+infants in arms, and their fond mothers or nurses anxious to shelter
+them from harm.  Then there were the officers of the ship and the crew;
+fierce, dark-bearded men--a mongrel set of various ranks and many
+nations.  She was evidently a rich galleon, returning to old Spain from
+one of her ill-governed dependencies in South America.  But it was the
+way in which all these people were employed that made so deep an
+impression on me.  Then the scene looked only like a strange picture.
+It was not till long afterwards, when I reasoned on what I had observed,
+that I understood what I now describe.
+
+The greater number of the men were at the pumps, labouring in a way
+which showed that they fancied their lives depended on their exertions;
+but the clear streams of water which came out of the scuppers, and the
+heavy way in which the ship plunged into the trough of the sea, showed
+that their labour would too probably be in vain.  Others seemed
+paralysed or pitied, and sat down with their heads on their breasts
+waiting their fate.  Many, as they passed us, came to the side of their
+ship, and held out their hands imploringly towards us, as if we could
+help them.  But what seemed most dreadful--some of the sailors and
+soldiers had got hold of a quantity of wine and spirits, and were
+reeling about the decks, offering liquor to every one they encountered,
+and holding out bottles and cans of wine mockingly at us, or as if
+inviting us to join them.  Several, although they must have given up all
+hope of assistance from man, might have looked for it from Heaven, for
+they were on their knees imploring help--was it from Him who alone can
+give it, or was it from their various saints?  I don't know.
+
+Two groups of figures on the poop especially struck me.  In the centre
+of one stood a tall man in rich vestments of gold, and white, and
+purple.  He had a shorn crown.  He was a priest.  He was holding aloft a
+golden crucifix, which I thought the wind would have blown out of his
+hand, but he must have been a powerful man, and he grasped it fast.
+Assisting to support him and it were two monks in dark dresses, kneeling
+on the deck on either side of him.  Around them knelt and clung, holding
+on to each other, a number of men and women, and among them were some
+little children, holding up their tiny hands in supplication towards the
+crucifix.  Of course, no sound could reach us, but there seemed to be
+much wailing, and crying, and groaning.  Some were stretching out their
+arms, others were beating their breasts and tearing their hair.  The
+priest stood unmoved, with head erect, uttering prayers, or pronouncing
+absolution.  At some distance from them were a couple, not to be
+overlooked either.  One was a fine handsome young man, in the uniform of
+a military officer; the other a young and beautiful girl, who lay nearly
+fainting in his arms.  He looked towards us eagerly, hopefully, as if he
+fancied that he would plunge with his precious charge into the water.  I
+thought that at that moment he was going to make the daring leap.  Some
+of the officers of the ship were gathered round the wheel.  Just then
+the helm was put down, and we saw some of them with blows and threats
+urging the drunken crew to take in the headsails, leaving the
+maintopsail only to steady the ship.  In the operation, however,
+carelessly performed, the sails were blown to ribbons, and the ship
+drifted away to leeward of us.  She had before this evidently suffered
+severely.  Her boats were gone; her bulwarks in many places stove in;
+and her bowsprit and foretopmast had been carried away, while, of
+course, still more serious damage had been sustained in her hull.
+
+"Shall we be able to do anything for all those poor people?"  I asked of
+Peter, who stood near me.
+
+"No, Jack, we shall not," he answered; "man can't help them.  This ship,
+by the look of her, will not keep above water another half-hour; and
+then Heaven have mercy on their souls!  I doubt if the captain will
+venture to lower a boat in this sea to attempt to save them, or if a
+boat could lift if he did."
+
+"It's very dreadful," said I.
+
+"Yes, Jack; but it's the lot all sailors must be prepared for," answered
+Peter.  "Remember, it may be my fate or yours one of these days.  We
+should not be afraid; but I repeat it, Jack, we should be prepared."  I
+did not quite understand Peter then.
+
+"Then, Peter, you would not go in the boat if one was lowered?"  I
+observed.
+
+"Wait till the captain says what he wants done," he answered calmly.
+"If he thinks a boat can live, and wants volunteers, it's my duty to go,
+you know.  Remember, Jack, obey first, and calculate risk afterwards."
+
+Peter's predictions as to the fate of the Spanish ship were fulfilled
+sooner even than he had expected.  That moment, while we were looking at
+her, she settled lower and lower in the water; she rolled still more
+heavily; her bow looked as if about to rise, but instead her stem lifted
+high--up it went.  There seemed a chasm yawning for her.  Into it she
+plunged, and down, down she went--the waves wildly rushing over her
+decks, and scattering the shrieking multitude assembled on them far and
+wide over the foaming ocean; mothers, children, husbands, wives, lovers,
+and friends, the priests and their disciples, were rudely torn asunder,
+and sent hither and thither.  Numbers went down in the vortex of the
+huge ship--the men at the pumps, the drunken seamen, some who had clung
+madly to the rigging.  Others supported themselves on anything which
+could float; and brave swimmers struck out for dear life.
+
+"I can't stand this," cried our captain, unconscious that he was
+speaking aloud; "we must try at all risks to save the poor wretches."
+
+"I'll go," cried the second mate, Harry Gale, a fine, quiet,
+gentleman-reared young man as ever I met.
+
+"I'm one with you, Mr Gale," cried Peter Poplar, springing aft to the
+falls of the lee-quarter-boat, the only one which could be lowered.
+"Bear a hand here, mates; there'll no time to be lost!"
+
+"Hold fast!" shouted the captain.  "No hurry, my men; those who go clear
+the boat.  The mates will stand by the falls with Jackson and Farr.  All
+ready now!--Lower away!"
+
+The captain gave the word, so that the boat touched the water just at
+the best time.  Peter Poplar stood in the bows, boat-hook in hand, and
+moved off; Mr Gale steered; the three other men were the strongest of
+the ship's company; and truly it required all the care and seamanship
+mortal man could possess to keep a boat alive in such a boiling caldron
+as the wide Atlantic then was.  I was very anxious for Peter's safety,
+for he was indeed my friend.  I feared also for the rest.  I was fully
+alive to the danger of the expedition they were on.
+
+The boat, keeping under the lee of the brig, dropped down towards the
+scene of the catastrophe.  So fiercely boiling, however, were the waves,
+that with awful rapidity the greater number of those who had lately
+peopled the deck of that big ship were now engulfed beneath them.  Some,
+however, still struggled for existence.
+
+Had the sea been less violent many might have been saved; for as we
+stood on the deck we could see the poor wretches struggling among the
+foam, but by the time the boat reached the spot they had sunk for ever.
+
+The captain had gone into the main-rigging, and with his outstretched
+arm was indicating to the second mate the direction in which to steer;
+but of course she could venture to go very little out of one particular
+direction without a certainty of being swamped.  It was very dreadful to
+watch one human being after another engulfed in the hungry ocean.  We
+have just to picture to ourselves how we should be feeling if we were in
+their places, to make us eager to save those under like circumstances.
+
+The most conspicuous object was the tall priest, and towards him the
+boat was accordingly making her way.  Two other figures were at the same
+time seen.  One floated only a short distance to leeward of the brig; it
+was that, I felt certain, of the beautiful girl I had seen supported by
+the young officer.  She was unconscious of all around, and I believe
+that even then life had left her frame.  She was supported by a piece of
+plank, to which probably she had been secured with the last fond effort
+of affection by him who had thus been unable to provide any means of
+escape for himself.  He, however, must have struggled bravely for
+existence, for I made him out at a short distance beyond, now rising on
+the crest of a wave, now sinking into the trough of the sea, but still
+swimming on with his eye gazing steadily in the direction of that
+floating form.
+
+Meantime the boat was making towards the priest.  "Give way, lads!"
+shouted several of our people in their eagerness, forgetting that they
+could not possibly be heard.  No time was to be lost, for already the
+priest's rich dress was saturated with water, and he was sinking lower
+and lower, and what at first had supported him was now dragging him
+down.  Still he did not give in, but, cross in hand, waved the boat on.
+The distance he was from the boat must have been greater than we
+supposed.  Suddenly he threw up his arms, and a white-crested top of a
+sea breaking over him, he disappeared for ever amidst a mass of foam.
+
+Mr Gale saw what had occurred, and instantly turned the boat's head
+towards the young officer, who was still swimming on with wonderful
+strength.  In this instance the men were more successful; the boat's
+head dropped down close to him, and Peter, stretching out his arm,
+grasped the young man by the shoulder, and hauled him in over the bows,
+and passed him on into the stern-sheets.  Though faint at first, the
+Spaniard instantly recovered himself, and stood upright in the boat,
+gazing eagerly around.  As the boat rose on a sea, he caught sight of
+the object of his search.  He pointed towards the floating form of the
+young lady.  Even when first seen, the line by which she had been
+hurriedly and imperfectly secured to the plank I observed was loosened.
+The wash of the sea now parted her from it entirely.  The young man saw
+what had occurred.  With a cry of anguish, before our people could seize
+him, he sprang from the gunwale towards the object of his love, as her
+dress carried her down beneath the foaming waters.  I think he reached
+her.  They disappeared at the same moment, and never rose again!
+
+Still a few people kept above water, holding on to planks, or swimming,
+chiefly seamen or soldiers; but most of them had been carried to too
+great a distance from the brig for a boat to save them.  It was only by
+keeping under our lee, our hull preventing the sea from breaking so
+much, that the boat avoided being swamped.  Thus we could expect that
+only a very few of those who floated to the last could be saved.  No one
+could have ventured further than did our brave mate and his crew;--they
+would in all probability have thrown away their own lives had not
+Captain Helfrich recalled them.  He signalled with his hand, but Mr
+Gale did not observe him.  "Fire a gun there," he shouted; "quick, for
+your lives!"  A gun had been ready loaded for the purpose.  Its report
+served as the funeral knell of many a despairing wretch.
+
+The boat put about.  The returning alongside was as perilous an
+operation almost as the lowering the boat had been.  All hands not
+required at the falls stood ready with ropes to heave to our shipmates
+should she be swamped alongside; but the oars being thrown in, Mr Gale
+and Peter seizing the fall-tackles at the right moment, hooked on, and
+the rest of the people handing themselves up by the ropes hanging ready
+for them, the boat was hoisted up before the sea again rose under her
+bottom.  It was sad to think: that all their gallant efforts had been
+unavailing.  In two or three minutes more not a human being of all the
+Spaniard's crew was to be seen alive; and except a few planks and spars,
+and here and there a bale or a chest, mere dots in the ocean, we might
+have fancied, as we looked out on those foaming waters, that all that
+had passed was some hideous dream.  Often, indeed, have I since had the
+same dreadful drama acted over before my eyes while I slept; so deep was
+the impression made on me by the reality.  Very many things which long
+after that time occurred have entirely faded from my memory.
+
+Had it been possible, (as Peter told me he thought it would have been,
+had all the crew done their duty), to keep the galleon afloat a few
+hours longer, in all probability we should have been the means of saving
+the people.  In the course of the day the wind fell, and the sea went
+down sufficiently to have allowed our boats to have passed between the
+two vessels without any great risk.  Captain Helfrich was certainly not
+a man to have deserted her while a chance remained of saving a human
+being.  While she floated he would have stuck to her.  "Remember, Jack,"
+said Peter, "the first duty of a ship's company is to stick by each
+other--to keep sober, and to obey their officers.  Without a head, men
+can do nothing.  They are like a flock of sheep running here and there,
+and never getting on.  What is a man's duty is best; and you see here,
+for instance, that the lives of all depend on their doing their duty."
+
+Sail was again made on the brig, and she was able to lay her course.  At
+night, however, it came on to blow again, and by next morning we were
+once more hove-to with more sea, and the wind chopping about and making
+it break in a far more dangerous way than it had done on the previous
+day.  I found, when I came on deck after my watch below, all hands
+looking out at an object which had just been discovered a little abaft
+the lee-bow.  Some said it was a dead whale; one or two declared that it
+was a rock; but the officers, after examining it with their glasses,
+pronounced it to be a vessel bottom uppermost!  The question was,
+whether the wreck was deserted, or whether any people still clung to it.
+Hove-to as we were, we made of course considerable lee-way; and keeping
+in the direction we were then driving, we should before long get near
+enough to examine her condition.  Had not the brig already received some
+damage, Captain Helfrich would, I believe, have run down at once to the
+wreck; but this, a right care for the safety of his own vessel would not
+allow him to do.  Every instant, too, the gale was increasing, till it
+blew a perfect hurricane; and not for a moment could a boat have lived
+had one been lowered.  The wreck drove before the wind, but of course we
+moved much faster; it was some hours, however, before we got near enough
+to the wreck to discover if anyone was upon it.
+
+"There are three or four people at least upon it," exclaimed Mr Gale.
+"Poor fellows! can we do nothing for them, sir?"
+
+"I cannot allow you to throw away your life, as you would if you had
+your own way," answered the captain, to whom he spoke.  "All we can do
+is to hope that the wind will go down before we drift out of sight of
+each other."
+
+Unhappily our course took us some way from the wreck, though near enough
+to see clearly the poor fellows on it.  How intense must have been their
+feelings of anxiety as they saw us approaching them! and how bitter
+their disappointment when they discovered how impossible it was for us
+to render them any assistance till the weather moderated!
+
+The wreck appeared to be that of a schooner, or brig of a hundred and
+fifty tons or so.  The people were holding on to her keel.  There were
+three white men and two blacks.  They waved their handkerchiefs and
+caps, and held out their hands imploringly towards us.  Some were
+sitting astride on the keel; one was lying down, held on by his
+shipmates; and another lay right over it looking almost dead.  We made
+out this through the glasses.  Peter got me a look through a telescope
+which one of the men had.  It brought the countenances of the poor
+fellows fearfully near--their expressions of horror and despair could be
+seen.  We longed more than ever for the gale to abate that we might help
+them.  Still it blew on as fiercely as ever all day.  The wreck remained
+during this time in sight, but of course we were increasing our distance
+from her.
+
+"What would have happened," said I to Peter, "if it had been night
+instead of day; and if, instead of passing by the wreck, we had struck
+against her?"
+
+"Why, we should have given her a finishing-stroke, and very likely have
+stove in our bottom and followed her," he answered.  "I like to hear you
+ask such questions; they show that you think.  The event you have spoken
+of occurs very frequently, I suspect.  Numbers of vessels leave port,
+and are never again heard of.  They are either run down, or they run
+their bows against a wreck, or the butt-end of a tree or log of timber;
+some are burned; some run against icebergs, or fields of ice; and some
+are ill put together, or rotten, and spring leaks, and so go down: but
+to my mind the greater number are lost from the first cause I have
+spoken of.  You'll find out in time, Jack, all the perils to which a
+seaman is exposed, as well as the hardships I once before spoke to you
+about."  I did not think at the time how true Peter's words would come.
+
+We were nearly a mile from the wreck, I suppose, when night came on; but
+the captain took her bearings by the compass, that he might know in what
+direction to look for her should he be able to make sail before the
+morning.  I had got pretty well accustomed to the tumbling about by this
+time, but I could scarcely sleep for thinking of the poor fellows on the
+wreck.  The night passed away without any change in the weather.  When
+morning came all hands were looking out for the wreck; but we all looked
+in vain.  There was the leaden sky, the dark-green foaming sea, but not
+a spot on it to be observed far as the eye could reach.  Before noon the
+wind once more moderated, and making all sail we stood over the place
+where, by our captain's calculations, the wreck would be found.  Not a
+sign of her was to be seen.  It was too certain that she must have gone
+down during the night.
+
+Every day seemed to have its event.  We were again on our proper course,
+though the sea was still running high, when towards evening an object
+was seen floating ahead of us, just on the lee-bow.  We were at no great
+distance, little more than half a mile or so, when first seen, so that
+we were not left long in doubt as to what it was.  "A raft!" said one;
+"A piece of a wreck," said another; "Some casks," said a third.
+
+"Whatever it is, there is a man upon it," exclaimed Peter; "and,
+messmates, he's alive!  Steady you," he added, looking at the man at the
+wheel.  "Keep her away a little," he said, addressing Mr Gale, who had
+charge of the deck.
+
+The news of what was seen at once spread below, and all hands were soon
+on deck on the look-out.  The man was alive, and saw us coming, for he
+waved a handkerchief to attract our notice, lest he might not have been
+observed.  We waved to him in return, to keep up his spirits.  As we
+approached, we saw that the man was dressed as a sailor.  He was seated
+on a grating, made more buoyant by several pieces of spars and planks.
+He was leaning against another plank, which he had secured in an upright
+position by means of stays on the grating.  Had not the sea been still
+very high, we could have run alongside his raft and picked him off
+without difficulty; but as it was impossible to steer with the necessary
+nicety, there was a risk of running him down by so doing.  We therefore
+hove-to to windward of him; and Mr Gale, with the boat's crew who had
+before volunteered, being lowered, they pulled carefully towards him.
+The man stood up as he saw them approach; and scarcely had the bow of
+the boat touched the grating, than he sprung on board, and without help
+stepped over the shoulders of the men into the stern-sheets.  When
+there, however, his strength seemed to give way, and he sank down into
+the bottom of the boat in what appeared to be a fainting fit.  A few
+drops from a flask, which Mr Gale had thoughtfully carried in his
+pocket, partially revived the man, though he was unable to help himself
+up the side.  He was therefore slung on deck, and the boat being hoisted
+in without damage, we again made sail.
+
+The man, who was placed on deck with his back against the
+companion-hatch, remained some time in an almost unconscious state; but
+at length, after much care had been bestowed on him, he recovered
+sufficiently to speak.  He was a fine, good-looking young man; and his
+well-browned countenance and hands showed that he had been long in a
+tropical climate.  A little food, taken slowly, still further revived
+him; and he was soon able to lift himself up and look about him.
+
+"How was it you came to be where we found you?" asked Captain Helfrich,
+who was seated near him on the companion-hatch, while I was employed in
+polishing up the brass rail of the companion-ladder.
+
+"Why, I belonged to a ship, the _Oak Tree_, bound from Honduras to
+Bristol with mahogany and logwood," answered the stranger.  "We had made
+a fair run of it, three days ago, when we were caught in a heavy squall,
+which carried away our maintop-mast, and did us much damage.
+Fortunately, I was at supper when all hands were called to shorten sail;
+and not thinking what I was about, I clapped a whole handful of biscuit
+and junk into my pocket before I sprang on deck.  A few hours after
+dark, a heavy sea struck the ship, and carried away our boats and
+bulwarks, washing me with one or two other poor fellows overboard.  I
+was without my shoes, and had only a thin cotton jacket on; so, being a
+good swimmer, I was able to regain the surface, and to look about me.
+Away flew the ship before the wind, without a prospect of my being able
+to regain her; so I did not trouble myself upon that point.  The other
+men who had been washed overboard with me had sunk: I could do them no
+good.  I therefore had only to look after myself.  I first cast my eyes
+about me, to see what I could get hold of to keep me afloat.  The wreck
+of the bulwarks and boats, with the spars which had been washed
+overboard, had sent me some materials; and I got a couple of pieces
+under my arms to support me while I looked for more.  In the heavy sea
+that was running, I could not have made much of a raft, when fortunately
+my eye caught a grating; which I managed, after much exertion, to reach.
+By degrees I fished up other pieces of plank and broken spars, till I
+had formed the raft you found me on.  Fortunately, I had started on my
+cruise just after supper, so that I was able to hold out for some time
+without eating.  But when morning came, and there was not a sail in
+sight, I began to feel somewhat down-hearted.  However, I soon plucked
+up again.  Said I to myself, `Though the ocean is wide, there are a good
+many craft afloat, and it will be hard if someone doesn't make me out
+before very long.'  I tried to think of all the wonderful escapes people
+had made who had been in a similar condition; and I prayed that God
+would deliver me in the same way.  One thing weighed on my mind, and
+still weighs there: I left a wife and a small child at home, near
+Bristol; and when the ship arrives there, the poor girl will hear that I
+was was washed overboard, and will believe me dead.  When you got near
+me, I saw that you were outward-bound; and the thought that she might
+have to go many a month and not hear of me, served more than anything
+else to upset me.  My strength gave way, and I went off in a faint, as
+you saw, in the bottom of the boat."  He then told the captain that his
+name was Walter Stenning.  The captain, who was a kind-hearted man, did
+his best to raise his spirits; and promised him that if we fell in with
+a homeward-bound ship he would endeavour to put him on board.
+
+As it happened, we did not speak any vessel till we reached the West
+Indies; so we had to carry Walter Stenning with us.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THREE.
+
+THE WEST INDIES.
+
+"Land! land on the starboard-bow!" was shouted from the foretopmast
+cross-trees, where several of our men had been, in spite of a pretty hot
+scorching sun, since dawn, on the look-out for it.
+
+"Who saw it first?" asked the captain, who was always more anxious when
+nearing the coast than at any other time.
+
+"Tom Tillson," was the answer from aloft.
+
+"A glass of grog for you, Tom, if it proves to be the land, and you have
+kept your eyes open to good purpose!" said the captain, preparing
+himself to go to the mast-head, where the mates followed him.
+
+They were satisfied that Tom had fairly won his glass of grog, I
+suppose; for, after some time, when I went aloft, I saw a high
+blue-pointed mountain rising out of the sparkling sea with ranges of
+lower hills beneath it.
+
+As we drew in with the shore, we could distinguish the fields of
+sugar-cane surrounded by lime-trees, and the white houses of the
+planters, and the huts of the negroes; and I thought that I should very
+much like to take a run among the lofty palmetto and the wild
+cotton-trees and the fig-trees, and to chase the frolicsome monkeys I
+had heard spoken of among their branches.  A light silvery mist hung
+over the whole scene, and made it look doubly beautiful.  I asked Peter
+what land it was, for I thought that we had arrived at America itself.
+He laughed, and said that it was only a little island called Saint
+Christopher's; and that he'd heard say that it was first discovered by
+the great admiral who had found out America, and that he had called it
+after his own name.  Peter, though he could not read, had a great store
+of information, which he had picked up from various people.  He was not
+always quite correct; and that was from not being able to read, as he
+was less able to judge of the truth of what people told him; but
+altogether, I learned a great deal from his conversation.
+
+We came to an anchor before the town of Basseterre, the capital of the
+island.  It was a clean handsome-looking place, and a number of ships
+lay before it; while behind it, rising from the wide valley, richly
+cultivated and beautiful in the extreme, rose the lofty and precipitous
+crags of Mount Misery, 3700 feet high.  It may well be so-called, for it
+would be pain and misery to have to climb up it, and still greater not
+to be able to come down again!
+
+After the events I have before described, we had come south till we fell
+in with the trade-winds, which had brought us on a due westerly course
+to this place.  I did not go on shore; but I heard the captain say that
+the merchants and planters were very civil and polite to him.  They had,
+however, suffered very much in the late war with France.  It was in the
+year 1782 that a French general, the Marquis de Bouille, having eight
+thousand men with him, besides a fleet of twenty-nine sail of the line,
+commanded by the Admiral Count de Grasse, captured the island from the
+English.  It was, however, restored to Great Britain when the war ended
+the following year.
+
+We had a quantity of fruit brought off to us, which did most of us a
+great deal of good, after living so long on salt provisions.  I remember
+how delicious I thought the shaddock--which is a fruit something like a
+very large orange.  Its outer coat is pale, like a lemon, but very
+thick.  It is divided into quarters by a thin skin, like an orange; and
+the taste--which is very refreshing--is between a sweet and an acid.
+The colour of the inside of some is a pale red--these are the best;
+others are white inside.  Peter told me that he had heard that the tree
+was brought from the coast of Guinea by a Captain Shaddock, and that the
+fruit has ever since borne his name.
+
+We spent three or four days at anchor before this beautiful place; and
+then, having landed two or three of our passengers, and put Walter
+Stenning on board a vessel returning to England, once more made sail for
+our destination.  The trade-wind still favoured us, though it was much
+lighter than it had been before we entered the Caribbean Sea.
+
+"Jack," said Peter to me the afternoon we left Basseterre, "I've good
+news for you.  The captain wants a lad in the place of Sam Dermot, whom
+he has left on board a homeward-bound ship, for he found that he was not
+fit for a sea-life, and Mr Gale has been speaking a word in your
+favour.  I don't say it's likely to prove as pleasant a life as you lead
+forward, but if you do your duty and please him, the captain has the
+power to advance your interests--and I think he is the man to do it."
+
+This was good news, I thought; and soon afterwards Mr Gale told me to
+go into the cabin.  The captain, who was looking over some papers,
+scarcely raised his head as I entered.  "Oh, Jack Williams--is that your
+name, boy?" said he.  "You are to help Roach, the steward.  Go to him;
+he'll show you what you are to do."  The steward soon gave me plenty of
+work cleaning up things; for the captain was a very particular man, and
+would always have everything in the best possible order.
+
+The next morning at daybreak, Mr Gale--whose watch it was at the time--
+roused me up, and sent me to tell the captain that there was a strange
+sail on the starboard-bow, which seemed inclined to cross our fore-foot.
+The captain was soon on deck and examining the stranger with his glass.
+
+"Well, what do you make of her, Mr Gale?" he asked.  She was a low,
+little vessel, with considerable beam, and a large lateen mainsail, and
+a jib on a little cock-up bowsprit--something like a 'Mudian rig.
+
+"She's a suspicious-looking craft; and if it were not that we are
+well-armed, and could sink her with a broadside, I should not much like
+her neighbourhood, sir," answered the second mate.  As he spoke, a gun
+was fired by the stranger, but not at us.
+
+"He wants to speak us, at all events," observed Captain Helfrich.  "If
+he had intended us mischief he would have fired at us, I should think."
+
+"Not quite so certain of that, sir," answered Mr Jones, the first mate.
+"Those pirating fellows are up to all sorts of tricks; and if he's
+honest he belies himself, for a more roguish craft I never saw.  He
+doesn't show any colours, at all events."
+
+"We'll not be taken by surprise, then," answered the captain.  "Arm the
+people, and see the guns all ready to run out.  Boy, get my pistols and
+cutlass from the steward.  Tell him to show himself on deck; and let the
+gentlemen in the cabin know that if they get up, they may find something
+to amuse them."
+
+I dived speedily below to deliver my message.  While the steward was
+getting ready the captain's arms, I ran round to the berths of the
+passengers.  One had heard me ask for the pistols; thus the report at
+once went round among them that there was fighting in prospect.  In a
+few minutes, therefore, several gentlemen in straw-hats, with yellow
+nankeen trousers and gay dressing-gowns, appeared on deck.
+
+"What!--is that little hooker the craft we are going to fight, captain?"
+exclaimed one of them.  "We shouldn't have much difficulty in trouncing
+her, I should think."
+
+"Not the slightest, sir, if we have the chance," he answered.  "But her
+crew would have no difficulty either in cutting all our throats, if we
+once let them get on board!  The chances are that she has a hundred
+desperadoes or more under hatches, and as she can sail round us like a
+witch, they may choose their own time for coming alongside.  I tell you,
+gentlemen, I would rather she were a hundred miles away than where she
+is!"
+
+These remarks of the captain very much altered the manner of some of the
+gentlemen.  They were all ready enough to fight, but they put on much
+more serious countenances than they had at first worn, and kept eyeing
+the stranger curiously through their telescopes.  Still the stranger
+kept bowling away before us on our starboard-bow, yawing about so as not
+greatly to increase his distance from us.  If he could thus outsail us
+before the wind, he would be very certain to beat us hollow on a wind.
+We had, therefore, not the slightest prospect of being able to get away
+from him so long as he chose to keep us company.  Suddenly he luffed up
+with his head to the northward.
+
+"He thinks that he had better not play us any tricks; he has found out
+that we are too strong for him," observed Mr Jones.  Scarcely had the
+mate spoken, when a dozen men or so appeared on the deck of the felucca,
+and launched a boat from it into the water.  As soon as she was afloat,
+two people stepped into her.  One seized the oars, and the other seated
+himself in the stern-sheets.
+
+"Well, that is a rum-looking little figure!"  I heard one of our
+passengers exclaim, bursting into a fit of laughter.  "I wonder if he is
+skipper of that craft?"
+
+"She's not a craft that will stand much joking," observed the first
+mate.  "See, sir; she has begun to show that she is not lightly armed."
+
+He pointed to the deck of the felucca, on which there now appeared at
+least full thirty men.  They looked like a fierce set of desperadoes.
+They were of all colours, from the fair skin of the Saxon to the ebony
+hue of some of the people of Africa.  The captain saw, I suppose, that
+there was no use in trying to prevent the boat from coming alongside;
+for had he done so, the felucca would very quickly have been after us
+again, and might not another time have treated us so civilly.  He
+therefore, as soon as the boat shoved off from the side of the felucca,
+ordered the sails to be clewed up, to allow her more easily to approach.
+
+As she pulled towards us, we were able to examine the people in her.  He
+who sat in the stern-sheets was a little old man, with a little
+three-cornered hat on his head, and a blue long-skirted coat and
+waistcoat, richly laced.  He had on also, I afterwards saw,
+knee-breeches, and huge silver buckles to his shoes.  His countenance
+seemed wizened and dried up like a piece of parchment.  Some of the
+younger passengers especially seemed to think him, by their remarks, a
+fair subject for their ridicule.  The person who pulled was a huge
+negro.  He must have been as tall as Peter Poplar, but considerably
+stouter and stronger of limb.  He was clothed in a striped cotton dress
+and straw-hat.  It would have been difficult to find two people
+associated together more unlike each other.  The old man took the helm,
+and by the way he managed the boat it was clear that he was no novice in
+nautical affairs.  "What can he want with us!" exclaimed the captain.
+"We'll treat him with politeness, at all events!"  Side-ropes and a
+ladder were therefore prepared; but scarcely had the bowman's boat-hook
+struck the side, than the old gentleman had handed himself up by the
+main-chains on deck with the agility of a monkey, followed by the big
+negro.  I then saw that he had a brace of silver-mounted pistols stuck
+in his belt, and that he wore a short sword by his side; but the latter
+was apparently more for ornament than use.  The negro also had a large
+brace of pistols and a cutlass.  In the boat were two iron-clamped
+chests, one of them being very large, the other small.
+
+The old gentleman singled out the captain as soon as he reached the
+deck, and walked up to him.  "Ah, Captain Helfrich, I am glad to have
+fallen in with you!" he exclaimed, in a singularly firm and full voice,
+with nothing of the tremulousness of age in it.  "I've come to ask you
+for a passage to Jamaica, as I prefer entering Port-Royal harbour in a
+respectable steady-going craft like yours, rather than in such a small
+cockle-shell as is my little pet there!"  As he spoke he pointed with a
+smile--and such a smile! how wrinkled and crinkled did his face become--
+to the wicked-looking little felucca.
+
+"Impossible, sir," answered the captain; "my cabins are already so
+crowded that I could not accommodate another person!"
+
+"Oh! how are the places of Mr Wilmot and Mr Noel occupied then?" asked
+the stranger with a peculiar look.  They were the gentlemen who landed
+at Saint Kitt's!
+
+The captain started, and looked at his visitor with a scrutinising
+glance; but he remained unabashed.
+
+"How did you learn that?" asked the captain quickly.
+
+"Oh, there are very few things which happen in these parts the which I
+don't know," answered the stranger quietly.  "However, captain, even if
+all your cabins are full, that excuse will not serve you.  I can stow
+myself away anywhere.  I've been accustomed to rough it, and Cudjoe here
+won't object to prick for a soft plank!"  The black, hearing his name
+pronounced, grinned from ear to ear, though he said nothing.
+
+Still the captain, who evidently could not make out who his visitor was,
+and much mistrusted him, was about to refuse the request, when the old
+gentleman took him by the button of his coat, as a man does a familiar
+friend, and led him aside.  What was said I do not know, nor could I
+judge from his countenance how the captain took the communication made
+to him--I saw him start, and examine the old man attentively from head
+to foot.  The result, I know, was that the boat and the chests were
+hoisted on board--the sails were let fall and sheeted home.  The
+stranger went to the taffrail and waved his hat.  On his doing this, the
+felucca hauled her wind and stood to the northward.
+
+Just under the companion-stair was a small cabin, which had been filled
+with stores.  This was cleared out, and our strange passenger took
+possession of it with his chests, while Cudjoe slept at the door.  He at
+once made himself at home, and entered into conversation with every one.
+No one seemed, however, inclined to quiz him.  When he was on deck, I
+heard the gentlemen in the cabin wondering who he was, for none of them
+had the slightest notion about the matter; and if the captain knew, he
+certainly would not tell them.  The negro never spoke to any of the
+passengers or crew.  Some said he was dumb; but I knew that was not the
+case, for I often heard him and the old gentleman talking, but in a
+language I could not understand.  His only care appeared to be to watch
+over the old gentleman's chests, which had been placed in his cabin, and
+to keep an eye on the little skiff which had brought them on board.
+
+Those of the passengers who had lived in the West Indies could do
+nothing for themselves, and were constantly wanting me to perform some
+little job or other for them.  I was thus oftener in the cabin than out
+of it.  While I was attending on them, my great amusement was listening
+to the yarns which the old gentleman used to spin.  They took in all he
+said for fact; but there used to be often a twinkle in his eye which
+made me doubt the truth of all he said.
+
+"A man who can look back the larger part of a century, as I have done,
+must have heard a number of strange things, and seen a number of strange
+people and strange sights, unless he has gone through the world with his
+eyes and ears closed, which I have not," he remarked one day when
+several of the passengers were collected in the cabin.  "Gentlemen, I
+have served both on shore and afloat, and have seen as many shots fired
+as most people.  I cannot quite recollect Admiral Benbow's action in
+these seas, but I was afloat when that pretty man Edward Teach was the
+terror of all quiet-going merchantmen.  His parents lived at Spanish
+Town, Jamaica, and were very respectable people.  Some of his brothers
+turned out very well; and one of them was in the king's service, in
+command of a company of artillery.  He, however, at an early age showed
+himself to be of a somewhat wildish disposition, and rather than submit
+to control, ran away to sea.  For many years he knocked about, among not
+the best of characters perhaps, in different parts of the world, till he
+became as daring a fellow as ever stepped a plank.  In a short time,
+while still very young, he got together a band of youths much of his own
+way of thinking; and they commenced, after the old fashion, the life of
+gentlemen rovers.  Their mode of proceeding was to run alongside any
+merchantman they fell in with, which they thought would prove a prize
+worth having.  Having taken possession of everything they wanted, they
+then made every landsman walk the plank, as they did likewise every
+seaman who would not join them.  Those only who would take their oaths,
+and sign their articles, were allowed to live.  Mr Teach used to dress
+himself out in a wild fashion, and as he wore a great black beard, he
+certainly did look very ferocious.  From this circumstance he got the
+name of Blackbeard.  I don't fancy that he committed all the acts
+imputed to him, but he did enough to gain himself a very bad name.  The
+governors of the West India Islands, in those days, and the American
+settlements, were rather fonder of their ease than anything else, so
+they allowed him to range those seas with impunity.  At last, however, a
+naval officer, feeling indignant that one man should hold a whole
+community in awe, undertook to destroy the pirate.  He got a ship fitted
+out, well-armed and well-manned, and larger than any Teach was likely to
+have with him.  After a long search, he fell in with the pirate.  Teach
+had never given quarter, and it was not expected that he would take it.
+More than half drunk, the pirates went to their quarters, and fought
+more like demons than men.  The crew of the king's ship had to fight
+desperately also.  For a long time it was doubtful which would come off
+the conqueror.  At length, however, a large number of the pirates being
+killed or wounded.  Teach was about to blow up his ship.  Before,
+however, he could get below, his ship was boarded by his enemies, and he
+had to defend himself from the attack of the gallant English officer.
+For a long time he fought most desperately, but at last he was brought
+on his knees; and as he would not surrender, he was cut down, and died
+on the spot.  Scarcely a third of his men were taken alive, and they
+were mostly wounded.  His head was cut off and carried to Virginia,
+where it was stuck on a pole; and where the greater number of the
+pirates taken were hung in chains, to show to others what very likely
+would be their fate if they should design to follow the same course."
+
+"Why, you seem to know so much about the matter, I suppose you were
+there, sir," said one of the passengers, intending his remark to be
+jocose.
+
+"That is possible, young 'un," answered the old gentleman, fixing his
+eyes on the speaker.  "Perhaps I formed part of the pirate crew; but you
+don't fancy I was hung, do you?"
+
+The young man did not venture a reply.
+
+"I'll tell you where I saw some service," continued the old gentleman.
+"The Spaniards had for a long time ruled it insultingly over the English
+in these seas, fancying that, because we didn't bark, we could not bite.
+At last a fleet was fitted out in England, and despatched to the West
+Indies, under the command of Admiral Vernon, in 1739.  He first touched
+at Jamaica, where he refreshed his men, and took on board a body of
+troops and some pilots, as well as provisions; and, on the 5th of
+November, sailed for the Spanish town of Porto Bello, which lies on the
+north side of the Isthmus of Darien.  Its harbour and strong forts
+afforded protection to the Guarda Costas, or Spanish cruisers, which
+attempted to put a stop to the commerce of other nations in these seas;
+and it was, likewise, the great rendezvous of the Spanish merchants from
+various quarters.  The town consisted of five or six hundred houses, and
+some public buildings.  The inhabitants depended almost entirely on the
+fair, which was held there every two or three years, and which lasted
+about six weeks.  The fair took place according to the time when the
+galleons arrived from Carthagena, where they first touched to dispose of
+part of their goods.  At Porto Bello they were met by the merchants from
+Lima and Panama, who came, with millions of dollars, to purchase their
+merchandise.  So crowded was the place during the fair, that there was
+scarcely room to stow the chests of money!  The entrance of the harbour
+is narrow, but widens within; and at the bottom lies the town, in the
+form of a half moon.  At the east end of the town is a huge stable for
+the mules employed in the traffic between it and Panama.  It is very
+unhealthy, as on the east side there is a swamp; and in the harbour, at
+low tide, a wide extent of black slimy mud is exposed, exhaling noisome
+vapours.  The town was defended by three forts.  The Iron Fort was on
+the north side of the harbour's mouth, and had a hundred guns.  The
+Gloria Castle was a mile from the first, on the south side of the
+harbour, and had a hundred and twenty guns.  And lastly, there was the
+fort called Hieronymo, with twenty guns.  The Spaniards having been
+warned of the approach of the English squadron by a fast-sailing vessel
+which escaped from them, were prepared to receive them, and hoped to
+send them to the bottom at once.  The fleet consisted only of the
+_Burford_, commanded by the Admiral; the _Hampton Court_, Commodore
+Brown; the _Norwich_, Captain Herbert; the _Worcester_, Captain Main;
+the _Princess Louisa_, Captain Waterhouse; and the _Stafford_, Captain
+Trevor.  On the 21st they came up with the harbour.  The _Hampton Court_
+first entered, and came to action not a cable's length from the Iron
+Fort; and in twenty-five minutes' time fired away about four hundred
+shot; so that nothing was to be seen but fire and smoke.  The _Norwich_
+came next, the _Worcester_ next, and then the Admiral, who anchored
+within half a cable's length of the castle: and though he was warmly
+received, the Spaniards were soon driven from their guns.  Then,
+although no breach was made, the troops were landed, and the boats'
+crews, climbing up through the embrasures, struck the Spanish flag and
+hoisted the English colours!  The other two forts capitulated next day,
+and all three were completely demolished; the Spanish troops being
+allowed to march out with their arms.  The work was done by four ships,
+for the other two had not come up; and its history serves to show what
+men can do, if they are not afraid of the consequences.  The same
+spirit, in a juster cause, animated Vernon which had animated Morgan and
+the Buccaneers of old, and enabled them to succeed in their desperate
+enterprises.  If a thing must be done, or should be done, never
+calculate consequences.  If a thing is not urgent, then balance the
+probable consequences against the value of the desired result.  That has
+been my way through life, gentlemen.  I have never undertaken anything
+unless I wished to succeed and had secured the necessary means; and then
+I have guarded as best I could against unforeseen circumstances."
+
+This was the sort of way the old gentleman talked.  He told the
+gentlemen one day that he was not born when the earthquake occurred
+during which Port-Royal was swallowed up; but that he had often heard
+people speak of it who had witnessed it.  It began about noon on the 7th
+of June 1692.  Nine-tenths of the city and all the wharves sunk at once;
+and in two minutes from the commencement of the earthquake several
+fathoms of water lay over the spot where the streets had just stood.
+Two thousand persons perished.  Some, it was said, who were swallowed up
+in one place, rose again in another still alive; but that I do not think
+possible.  Very likely they were washed from one place to another,
+clinging to beams or rafters; and not knowing, in their horror and
+confusion, where they had been, were picked up and saved.  A mountain
+toppled over into a river, and, by blocking up the course, a vast number
+of fish were taken, which afforded food to many of the nearly starving
+inhabitants.  Nearly all the vessels in the harbour were lost; but one
+ship of war, the _Swan_ frigate, was driven over the tops of the houses
+without capsizing.  She received but slight damage, and was the means of
+saving many lives.  Scarcely had the earthquake ceased than a fever
+broke out, which carried off numbers of people.  What with hurricanes,
+plagues, insurrections of the blacks, and attacks from foreign foes,
+Jamaica had an uneasy time of it; and it proves her unbounded resources
+that, in spite of all drawbacks, she has continued wealthy and
+flourishing.
+
+The old gentleman said a great deal more about Jamaica, but this was the
+substance, I know, of his remarks.  That there was something mysterious
+about the old man was very evident.  The captain, I thought, stood
+somewhat in awe of him, and in his absence never even alluded to him.
+The rest of the passengers, however, indulged in all sorts of suspicions
+about him, though they never expressed them, except among themselves.
+They spoke freely enough before me, for they fancied, I believe, that I
+did not understand them.  I was one day beginning to tell Peter what I
+had been hearing.  "Jack," said he, "I have a piece of advice to give
+you, which you'll find useful through life.  Never go and repeat what
+you hear about anybody.  It's done by people through idleness sometimes,
+and often through ill-nature, or with a downright evil intention; but
+whatever is the cause, it's a contemptible propensity, and is certain to
+lead to harm."  I promised that I would follow this advice, and I did
+so.
+
+Though we had light winds, the strong current which set in from east to
+west across the Caribbean Sea helped us along, and enabled us to reach
+Jamaica about seven days after we left Saint Kitt's.  After coasting
+along some way, we cast anchor in Port-Royal Harbour, about five miles
+from Kingston.  There were from two to three hundred sail of craft of
+all sizes brought up in the harbour.
+
+Scarcely had we dropped our anchor, when the wind, which had before been
+very light, fell completely.  I saw the old gentleman come on deck, and
+look round earnestly on every side, and then up at the sky.  He then
+went to the captain, and took him aside.
+
+"I tell you it will be down upon us before very long," I heard him say.
+"House your topmasts, and range your cables, and have every anchor
+you've got ready for letting go."
+
+The captain seemed to expostulate: "Not another craft seems to be
+expecting danger."
+
+"Never mind what other crafts are doing," was the answer.  "Take the
+warning of a man who has known these seas from his earliest days, and do
+you be prepared.  If they are lost, it is no reason that you should be
+lost with them."
+
+The captain at last yielded to the advice of the old gentleman.  The
+topmasts were struck and every particle of top hamper was got down on
+deck.  The cables were all ranged, and two other anchors were carried
+out ahead, while full scope was given to the best bower which we had
+down.  The old gentleman went about the deck seeing that everything was
+done properly.  Had we not, indeed, been well-manned the work could not
+have been accomplished at all.  Oh, how hot and sultry it was!  I had
+never before felt anything like it.  The pitch bubbled and boiled out of
+the seams on the deck, and the very birds sought shelter far away in
+some secluded spot.
+
+"Why has the ship been gut into this condition?"  I asked of Peter.
+
+"Because they think a hurricane is coming, Jack.  If there is, we have
+just got into harbour in time.  I don't see any signs of it myself,
+except the wind dropping so suddenly; but I suppose the officers know
+best."
+
+I told him that the old gentleman had persuaded the captain to prepare
+for whatever was coming.
+
+"Ah! he knows, depend on't, Jack," said Peter.  "I can't tell what it
+is, but there is something curious about that old man.  He knows a great
+deal about these parts."  Such was the opinion all forward had formed of
+the stranger.
+
+When the wind fell the sea became like a sheet of glass.  A feather
+could not have moved over it.  It became hotter and closer than ever,
+and we were glad to get anywhere out of the sun, stifling even as the
+heat was below.  Even the old hands, who were inclined to laugh at the
+newcomers' complaints of the heat, confessed that they would rather have
+it cooler.  The rest of the vessels in the harbour, with few exceptions,
+had not hitherto been prepared to meet any unusual tempest but lay as if
+their crews were totally regardless of any signs of a change.  A few,
+however, had followed our example by striking their topmasts and getting
+out fresh anchors.
+
+Some of the passengers, meantime, were very anxious to go on shore; but
+the stranger urged them to remain on board, and assured them that before
+they could be half-way there the hurricane would be upon them.  Two of
+them, however, were incredulous.  The boat of a merchantman lying not
+far from us, was just then passing with her master in her.
+
+"Ah!  I know Captain Williams well.  If he is bound for Kingston, he
+will give us a passage!" exclaimed one of the gentlemen; and he hailed
+the boat.  She came alongside, and refusing all warning, they, taking
+their portmanteaus, got into her.
+
+"We'll take any message for anyone," they sung out jokingly as they
+shoved off.  "The storm you are afraid of will blow over, depend on it."
+
+"Fools are wise in their own conceit," muttered the old gentleman, as he
+turned on his heel.  I remember, even now, the sound of their laughter
+as they pulled away up the harbour.
+
+The heat continued to increase, though a thick reddish haze overspread
+the sky; but as yet not a vapour floated in it.  Suddenly, as if by
+magic, from all quarters came hurrying up dark lowering clouds, covering
+the whole concave of heaven, a lurid light only gleaming out from near
+the horizon.  Then, amidst the most terrific roars of thunder, the
+brightest flashes of lightning, and the rushing, rattling, crashing
+sound of the tempest, there burst upon us a wind, which made the ship
+reel like a drunken man, and sent the white foam, torn off the surface
+of the harbour, flying over the deck in sheets, which drenched us
+through and through.  In an instant, the surrounding waters were lashed
+into the wildest foaming billows.  The vessels pitched fearfully into
+the seas, and began, one after the other, to drag their anchors.  Some
+broke adrift altogether, and were hurled along till they were cast
+helplessly on the shore; and fortunate were any of the crew who could
+scramble clear of the hungry waves which rolled after them up the beach.
+Some of the smaller craft pitched heavily a few times, and then
+apparently the sea rushed over them, and down they went to rise no more.
+I was holding on all the time to the fore-rigging with hands and feet,
+fearing lest I should be blown away, and expecting every moment to see
+our turn come next to be driven on shore.  We were, however, exposed to
+a danger on which I had not calculated: the vessels breaking adrift, or
+dragging their anchors, might be driven against us, when we and they
+would probably have been cast on shore or sunk together.  On land,
+wherever we could see, a terrific scene of confusion and destruction was
+taking place; tall trees bent and broke like willow wands, some were
+torn up by their roots, and huge boughs were lifted high in the air and
+carried along like autumn leaves; houses as well as huts were cast down,
+and their roofs were carried bodily off through the air.  I doubted
+whether I would rather be afloat or on shore, unless I could have got
+into a deep cave, out of the way of the falling walls, and trees, and
+roofs.  All this time every one was on deck,--the officers and crew at
+their stations, ready to try and avert any danger which might threaten
+us.  With a steady gale we might have cut or slipped and run out to sea;
+but in a hurricane the wind might have shifted round before we were
+clear of the land, and sent the ship bodily on shore.
+
+While all hands were thus on the look-out, a boat, bottom uppermost, was
+seen drifting down near us amidst the foaming waters.  One man was
+clinging to the keel.  He looked imploringly towards us, and seemed to
+be shrieking for aid.  No assistance could we give him.  I could
+distinguish his countenance: it was that of one of the passengers who
+had just before persisted in leaving the ship!  His companion, and the
+master and crew, where were they?  He, poor wretch, was borne by us, and
+must have perished among the breakers at the mouth of the harbour.  We
+had not much time to think of him, for we soon had to look to our own
+safety.  A large ship, some way inside of us, was seen to break adrift,
+and soon after came driving down towards us.  Being twice our size, she
+might speedily have sunk us.  Mr Gale and Peter were at the helm to try
+and sheer the brig clear of her as she approached us.  This, however,
+was not easily effected when there was but a slight current.  Down came
+the ship!  "Stand by with your axes, my lads, to cut her clear if she
+touches us!" shouted the captain.  The ship was still some way off, and
+before she reached us, a schooner broke from her anchorage just ahead of
+us and drove towards us.
+
+The poor fellows on board stood ready to leap on our deck had she
+touched us; but she just grazed by, her main-rigging for an instant
+catching in ours.  A few strokes of an axe cut her clear, and before any
+of her crew could reach us she was driven onward.  In another instant
+the wind catching her side, she turned completely over.  There was a
+wild shriek of despair from her hapless crew.  For a few moments they
+struggled desperately for life; but the wind and the waves quickly drove
+those off who had clung to the driving hulk, and soon not a trace of
+them or her could we perceive.
+
+While this was occurring the old man stood unmoved near the helm,
+watching the approaching ship.  "Arm your people with axes, Captain
+Helfrich, you'll want them," said he quietly.  His advice was followed.
+The ship came driving down on us on the starboard bow.  It appeared that
+if she struck us she must sink us at the moment.  Our helm was put to
+starboard, and by sheering a little to the other side, we escaped the
+dreaded blow.  At that instant she turned round, and her main-yard got
+foul of our after-rigging.  This brought our sides together, and she
+hung dragging on us.  Instantly all hands flew to cut her adrift, for
+already we had begun to drag our anchors.  If we escaped sinking at
+once, there was certain prospect of both of us being cast on shore.
+Some of her crew endeavoured to get on board the _Rainbow_; but at the
+moment they were making the attempt, down came our mainmast, crushing
+several of our people beneath it.  I saw the captain fall, and I thought
+he was killed.  The first mate was much hurt.  Still the ship hung to
+us, grinding away at our side and quarter, and destroying our bulwark
+and boats.  The foremast, it was evident, would soon follow the
+mainmast, when the stranger wielding a glittering axe, sprung, with the
+agility of a young man, towards the stays and other ropes which held
+them, and one after the other severed them.  His example was followed by
+Mr Gale and the crew, and in a shorter time than it has taken to
+describe the scene, we were freed from our huge destroyer.  She went
+away to leeward, and very soon met her fate.
+
+Still the hurricane raged on.  We were not safe, for other vessels might
+drive against us.  However, our next work was to clear the wreck.  No
+one was more active in this than the stranger.  At first we thought that
+the captain was dead; but the news spread that, though much injured, he
+was still alive.  Almost blinded by the spray and rain and vivid
+lightning, the crew worked on.  At length the storm ceased almost as
+suddenly as it had begun; but words cannot describe the scenes of
+destruction which were presented to our eyes on every side, wrecks
+strewed the shore, and the plantations inland seemed but masses of ruin.
+Night at last came, and the ship was made snug.  When I went on deck
+early in the morning, I looked about for the stranger.  Neither he nor
+his black attendant, nor his chests and boat were to be found.  Yet it
+was declared that no one had seen them leave the ship!  This
+unaccountable disappearance made all hands wonder still more who the
+mysterious stranger could be.  Such was my first introduction to the
+West Indies.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOUR.
+
+THE RETURN HOME.
+
+"Hurrah! hurrah!  Erin-go-bragh!"  Such were the cries which the Irish
+part of our crew uttered, and in which I through sympathy joined, as
+once more the capstan was manned, and the anchor being hove up, and the
+topsails sheeted home, we made sail for Dublin.  We had been longer than
+usual at Kingston; for the damage the brig had received in the
+hurricane, and the illness of the captain, which impeded the collection
+of freight, had much delayed us.  In reality our return home brought
+very little satisfaction to me.  I had no friends to see, no one to care
+for me.  I therefore remained on board to assist the ship-keeper; and
+the whole time we were in the Dublin dock I scarcely ever set my foot on
+shore.
+
+The same thing occurred after my second voyage.  I did not attempt to
+form a friendship with anyone.  Not that I was of a sulky disposition;
+but I was not inclined to make advances, and no one offered me his
+friendship.  The ship-keeper, old Pat Hagan, had seen a great deal of
+the world, and picked up a good deal of information in his time, and I
+was never tired of listening to his yarns; and thus, though I had no
+books, I learned more of things in general than if I had bad; for I was
+but a bad reader at any time.  Pat trusted to a good memory, for he had
+never looked into a book in his life.  Thus, with a pretty fair
+second-hand knowledge of the world, I sailed on my third voyage to the
+West Indies in the _Rainbow_.  We had the same officers, and several of
+the crew had rejoined her, who were in her when I first went to sea.  I
+had now become strong and active, and though still little and
+young-looking, I had all my wits wide-awake, and knew well what I was
+about.  The captain had taken another boy in the cabin instead of me,
+and I was sent forward to learn seamanship; which was, in reality, an
+advantage to me, though I had thus a rougher life of it than aft.  Still
+I believe that I never lost the captain's good-will, though he was not a
+man to talk to me about it.
+
+Once more, then, the stout old brig was following her accustomed track
+across the Atlantic.  Peter Poplar was also on board.  We had been about
+a fortnight at sea, when, the ship lying almost becalmed with a blue sky
+overhead, a large white cloud was seen slowly approaching us.  The lower
+part hung down and grew darker and darker, till it formed almost a
+point.  Below the point was a wild bubbling and boiling of the water,
+although the surrounding sea was as smooth as glass.
+
+"What can that be?" said I to Peter.  "Are there any fish there?"
+
+"No--fish! certainly not; but you'll soon see," he answered.  "I wish it
+were further off; I don't like it so near."
+
+"Why, what harm can it do?"  I asked.
+
+"Send as stout a ship as we are to the bottom with scant warning!" he
+answered.  "That's a water-spout.  I've seen one rise directly ahead of
+a ship, and before there was time to attempt to escape it, down it came
+bodily on her deck like a heavy sea falling over a vessel.  She never
+rose again, but went down like a shot."
+
+"I hope that won't be our fate," said I.
+
+At that moment the captain came on deck.  "Get ready a gun there,
+forward!" he sung out.  "Quick now!"  While I had been talking to Peter,
+a pillar of water had risen out of the sea, so it seemed; and, having
+joined the point hanging from the cloud, came whirling towards us.  Had
+there been sufficient wind to send the ship through the water, we might
+have avoided it; but there was scarcely steerage-way on her.  I thought
+of what Peter had just told me, and I thought if it does break over us,
+it will certainly send us to the bottom.  The captain ordered the slow
+match to be brought to him, and went forward to the gun, which had been
+loaded and run out.  On came the water-spout.  I could not conceive what
+he was going to do.  He stooped down, and, running his eye along the
+gun, fired a shot right through the watery pillar.  Down came the liquid
+mass with a thundering sound into the sea, but clear of the ship, though
+even our deck got a little sprinkling; and when I looked up at the sky,
+not a sign of a cloud was there.  Peter told me that we ought to be
+thankful that we had escaped the danger so well, for that he had never
+been in greater risk from a water-spout in his life.
+
+We used frequently to catch dolphins during the passage, by striking
+them with a small harpoon as they played under the bow of the brig.
+They are not at all like the creatures I remember carved in stone at the
+entrance of some gentleman's park near Dublin.  They measure about four
+feet in length; are thick in the middle, with a green back and a yellow
+belly, and have a sinking between the tip of the snout and the top of
+the head; indeed, they are something like a large salmon.  We used to
+eat them, and they were considered like a fat turbot.
+
+Frequently flying-fish fell on our deck in attempting to escape from
+their two enemies--the dolphin and the bonito: but they fell, if not
+from the frying-pan into the fire, from the water into the frying-pan;
+for we used to eat them also.  Indeed nothing comes amiss to a sailor's
+mess.  The flying-fish, which is about the size of a herring, has two
+long fins which serve it as wings; but it can only keep in the air so
+long as its fins remain wet.  These fish, like herrings, also swim
+together in large shoals, which, as their pursuers come among them,
+scatter themselves far and wide.  Nothing very particular occurred on
+the passage, till once more we made the land.
+
+I went aloft when I heard the ever-welcome cry from the
+foretopmast-head: "Land! land on the starboard bow!"  Then I saw it
+rising in a succession of faint blue hills out of the sparkling sea.
+Peter told me that it was the large island of Hispaniola, or Saint
+Domingo, and that it belonged partly to Spain and partly to France; but
+that there were a great number of blacks and coloured people there, many
+of whom were free and possessed considerable wealth.  Not long after
+this, in the year 1791, these coloured people rose on the whites, who
+had long tyrannised over them, and having murdered vast numbers,
+declared their island an independent kingdom.
+
+We were entering, I found, the Caribbean Sea by the Porto Rico passage;
+and were to coast along the southern shore on our course to Jamaica.
+Now and then we were sufficiently close in with the land to make out
+objects distinctly; but, in general, we kept well out at sea, as it is
+not a coast seamen are fond of hugging.  The silvery mist of the early
+morning still lay over the land, when, right ahead of us, the white
+canvas of a vessel appeared shining brightly in the rays of the rising
+sun.  The officer of the watch called the attention of the captain to
+her.  Peter and I were also looking out forward.  "Why, Jack!" he
+exclaimed, "she's the very craft which put that old gentleman aboard the
+time we came away from Saint Kitt's, you remember?"
+
+"Of course I do," said I.  "She is like her, at all events; and as for
+that old gentleman, I shall not forget him and his ways in a hurry."
+
+"He was a strange man, certainly," observed Peter.  "The captain seems
+to have a suspicion about the craft out there.  See, he and the mates
+are talking together.  They don't like her looks."
+
+Still we stood on with all sails set.  Much the same scene occurred
+which had happened before, when we saw the felucca off Saint Kitt's.
+Ammunition was got up--the guns were all ready to run out--the
+small-arms were served out--and the passengers brought out their pistols
+and fowling-pieces.  Everybody, indeed, became very warlike and heroic.
+Still the little craft which called forth these demonstrations, as she
+lay dipping her bows into the swell, with her canvas of whiteness so
+snowy, the emblem of purity, looked so innocent and pretty, that a
+landsman would scarcely have expected any harm to come out of her.  Yet
+those accustomed to the West Indies had cause to dread that style of
+craft, capable of carrying a numerous crew, of pulling a large number of
+oars, and of running up a narrow river, or shallow lagoon, to escape
+pursuit.
+
+At last we came up with the felucca.  She lay hove-to with her head
+towards us.  There was, certainly, a very suspicious look about her,
+from the very apathy with which the few people on deck regarded us.
+However, as we looked down on her deck, we saw six guns lashed along her
+bulwarks, and amidship there was something covered with a tarpaulin,
+which might be a heavier gun than the rest.  We stood on till her
+broadside was brought to bear on our counter.  At that moment, up sprung
+from each hatchway some sixty as ugly-looking cut-throats as I ever wish
+to see; and they were busily engaged in rapidly casting loose their
+guns; and we were on the point of firing, when, who should we see on
+their deck, but the old man who had been our passenger!  He instantly
+recognised Captain Helfrich, who was standing near the taffrail, and
+making a sign to the crew of the felucca, they dived below as quickly as
+they had appeared.  He took off his three-cornered hat and waved it to
+our captain, who waved his in return; and then he made a sign that he
+would come on board us.
+
+Instantly the captain ordered the sails to be clewed up.  Had the old
+gentleman been an admiral, he could not have been obeyed more promptly.
+A boat shoved off from the felucca with four hands in her, and he came
+on board us.  The big negro was not with him, nor did I see him on the
+deck of the felucca.  The captain and the stranger were closeted
+together for a quarter of an hour or more; and the latter then coming on
+deck, bowed, with somewhat mock politeness to the passengers, who were
+assembled staring at him, and stepped into his boat.
+
+No sooner had he gone, than we again made sail.  The felucca lay hove-to
+some little time.  She then wore round, and stood after us.  So rapidly
+did she come up with us, that it was very clear we had not the slightest
+chance of getting away from her, however much we might wish to do so.
+She kept us company all the day, and at night, in the first watch, I
+could see her shadowy form gliding over the sea astern of us.
+
+Peter and I talked the matter over together in a whisper.  "I'll tell
+you what I think is something like the truth," said he.  "To my mind
+it's this:--When the captain was a young man out in these parts, he fell
+in with that old gentleman,--who isn't so old though as he pretends to
+be.  Well, the captain went and did something to put himself in his
+power; and that's the reason the captain is so afraid of him.  And then,
+from what I see, I suspect that the captain saved him from drowning, or
+maybe from hanging; or in some way or other preserved his life; and that
+makes him grateful, and ready to do the captain a good turn; or, at all
+events, prevents him from doing him a bad one.  If it was not for that,
+we should have had all our throats cut by those gentry, if we hadn't
+managed to beat them off; and that would have been no easy job.  I may
+be wrong altogether, but this is what I think," continued Peter.
+"There's one thing, particularly, I want to say to you, Jack: never go
+and do anything wrong, and fancy that it will end with the thing done.
+There's many a man who has done a wrong thing in his youth, and has gone
+through life as if he had a rope round his neck, and he has found it
+turning up here and there, and staring him in the face when he has least
+expected it.  When once a bad thing is done, you can't get rid of it--
+you can't undo it--you can't get away from it, any more than you can
+call the dead to life.  You may try to forget it; but something or other
+will always remind you of it, as long as you live.  Then, remember there
+is another life we've got to look to, when every single thing we've done
+on earth must be remembered--must be acknowledged--must be made known.
+You and I, and every sailor, should know that any moment we may be sent
+into another world to begin that new life, and to stand before God's
+judgment-seat.  I think of this myself sometimes; but I wish that I
+could think of it always; and that I ever had remembered it.  Had I
+always thought of that awful truth, there are many things I could not
+possibly have ventured to do which I have done; and many things which I
+have left undone, which I should have done.  Jack, my boy, I say I have
+done you some little good, but there's no good I could ever possibly do
+you greater than teaching you to remember that truth always.  But I must
+not knock off this matter without warning you, that I may be thinking
+unjustly of the captain: and I certainly would not speak to anyone else
+aboard as I have done to you."
+
+I thanked Peter for the advice he had given me, and promised that I
+would not repeat what he had said.
+
+"Can you see the felucca, Tillson?"  I heard Mr Gale say to Tom, who
+was reputed to have the sharpest eyes aboard.
+
+"No, sir; she's nowhere where she was," he answered, after peering for
+some time into the darkness astern.
+
+We all kept looking out for some time, but she did not reappear.  The
+mate seemed to breathe more freely, and I must say that I was glad to be
+rid of the near neighbourhood of the mysterious stranger.  When morning
+broke, she was nowhere to be seen.  Whenever, during that and the
+following days, a sail appeared anywhere abaft the beam, till her rig
+was ascertained, it was instantly surmised that she was the felucca
+coming back to overhaul us.  Even the mates did not seem quite
+comfortable about the matter; and the captain was a changed man.  His
+usual buoyant spirits had deserted him, and he was silent and
+thoughtful.  I could not help thinking that Peter's surmises were
+correct.
+
+At last we brought up once more in Port-Royal Harbour.  Having landed
+our passengers, and discharged our cargo, we sailed again for Morant
+Bay, Saint Thomas's, and other places along the coast, to take in a
+freight of sugar, which was sent down in hogsheads from the plantations
+in the neighbourhood.
+
+We were rather earlier than usual, and we had some time to wait till the
+casks were ready for us.  On one of these occasions the captain was
+invited by a planter, Mr Johnstone by name, to pay him a visit at his
+farm, which was some way up the country.  In that climate every
+gentleman has a servant to attend on him; and all the planters, and
+others who live there, always have negroes to help them to wash and
+dress in the morning, to put on their stockings, and all that sort of
+thing.  As the captain had no black fellow to wait on him, he told me
+that he should want me to accompany him, and I was too glad to have a
+chance of seeing something of the country.  Meantime, to collect our
+freight faster, he had chartered a schooner which was lying idle in the
+harbour, and sent her round to the various smaller ports to pick it up,
+and to bring it to the brig.  He had put her under charge of Mr Gale,
+who had with him Peter Poplar and several other of our men, and also a
+few blacks, who were hired as seamen.
+
+I thought it very good fun when I found myself once more on a horse; I
+had not got on the back of one since I was a little boy in Dublin, and
+then, of course, there was no saddle nor stirrups, and only an old rope
+for a bridle.  They are generally razor-backed beasts, with one or two
+raws, and blind, at least, of one eye.  The captain was mounted on a
+strong Spanish horse well able to bear him, and I followed on a frisky
+little animal with his valise and carpet-bags.
+
+I wish that I could describe the wonderful trees we passed.  I remember
+the wild plantains, with huge leaves split into slips, and their red
+seed-pods hanging down at the end of twisted ropes; the tall palms, with
+their feathery tops; the monster aloes, with their long flashy thorny
+leaves; and the ferns as large as trees, and yet as beautifully cut as
+those in our own country, which clothed every hillside where a fountain
+flowed forth; and then the countless variety of creepers, whose
+beautiful tracery crowned every rock, and hung down in graceful festoons
+from the lofty trees.  Now and then, as passing through a valley and
+mounting a hill, we stopped and looked back, we caught sight of the blue
+sparkling sea, with the brig and other vessels in the harbour; a few
+white sails glancing in the sun, between it and the horizon; and nearer
+to us, valleys with rich fields and streams of water, and orchards of
+oranges, limes, and shaddocks; and planters' houses with gardens full of
+beautiful flowers, and negro huts under the shade of the plantain-trees.
+Then there were those forest-giants, the silk-cotton-trees, and various
+kinds of fig-trees and pines, such as in the old world are never seen.
+But the creepers I have spoken of make the woods still more curious, and
+unlike anything at home.  First, a creeper drops down from a branch 150
+feet high, and then another falls close to it, and the wind blows and
+twists them together; others grow round it till it takes root, and form
+a lofty pillar which supports the immense mass of twisting and twining
+stems above.  As we rode along, I saw from many a lofty branch the
+net-like nests of the corn-bird hanging at the end of long creepers.
+Those mischievous rascals, the monkeys, are fond of eggs, and will take
+great pains to get them; so the corn-bird, to outwit them, thus secures
+her nest.  It has an entrance at the bottom, and is shaped like a
+net-bag full of balls.  There the wise bird sits free from danger,
+swinging backwards and forwards in the breeze.
+
+We slept that night at the house of a friend of the captain's, who had
+come out with him in the brig.  It was a low building of one storey,
+with steps leading up to it, and built chiefly of wood.  A veranda ran
+all the way round it.  The rooms were very large, but not so handsomely
+furnished, I thought, as the captain's cabin.  People do eat curious
+food in the West Indies.  Among other things, there was a monkey on the
+table; but if it had not been for the name of the thing, I cannot say
+there was any harm in it.  I got a bit of it after it was taken from the
+table, and it was very like chicken.  There were lizards and snakes,
+which were very delicate.  There was a cabbage cut from the very top of
+a lofty tree, the palmetto; but that tree is too valuable to be cut down
+often for the purpose.  Then there were all sorts of sweetmeats and
+dishes made with them.  I recollect a mass of guava-jelly swimming in a
+bowl full of cream, and wine, and sugar, and citron.  There were plenty
+of substantials also; and wines and liquids of all sorts.  I know that I
+thought I should very much like to live on shore, and turn planter.  I
+had reason afterwards to think that they had bitters as well as sweets
+to taste, so I remained contented, as I have ever been, with my lot.
+
+At night, the captain had a sofa given him to sleep on in the
+dining-room, and I had a rug in another corner.  It was many a long
+night since I had slept on shore, and I was constantly startled by the
+strange noises I heard.  Often it was only the wind rustling in the
+palm-trees; but when I opened my eyes, I saw one whole side of the room
+sparkling with flashes of light; then it would burst forth on the other
+side; and then here and there single bright stars would gleam and
+vanish; and lastly, the entire roof would be lighted up.  I dared not
+wake the captain to ask what was the matter, and it was not till
+afterwards that I discovered that the light was produced by fireflies,
+which are far more brilliant than the glow-worms of more northern
+climes.  I had gone to sleep, when, just before daybreak, I was again
+awoke by a most terrific yelling, and screeching, and laughing, and
+roaring.  I thought that the savages were down upon us, or that all the
+wild beasts in the country were coming to devour us.  I could stand it
+no longer, but shrieked out, "O captain, captain! what's going to happen
+us?"  The captain started up, and listened, and then burst into a fit of
+laughter.  "Why, you young jackanapes, they are only some of your
+brothers, the monkeys, holding a morning concert," said he.  "Go to
+sleep again; don't rouse me up for such nonsense as that."
+
+I found afterwards that the noise did proceed only from monkeys, though
+I did not suppose that such small animals could have made such hideous
+sounds.  To go to sleep again, however, I found was impossible, as I had
+already enjoyed much more than I usually got on a stretch.  The captain,
+on the contrary, went off again directly; but his sleep was much
+disturbed, for he tumbled about and spoke so loudly, that at times I
+thought he was awake and calling me.  "You'll make me, will you?"  I
+heard him say.  "I don't fear you, Captain Ralph.  I--a pirate--so I
+might have been called--I was but a lad--I consented to no deed of
+blood--It cannot be brought against me--Well, I know--I know--I
+acknowledge my debt to you.--You exact it to the uttermost--I'll obey
+you--The merchants deem me an honest trader--What would they say if they
+heard me called pirate?--Ha, ha, ha?"  He laughed long and bitterly.
+
+I was very glad that no one else was in the room to hear what the
+captain was saying.  A stranger would certainly have thought much worse
+of him than he deserved.  I had now been so long with him that I was
+confident, whatever he might have done in his youth, that he was now an
+honest and well-intentioned man.  At the same time I could no longer
+have any doubts that Peter's surmises about him were correct, "That old
+gentleman aboard the felucca is Captain Ralph, then," I thought to
+myself, "If I ever fall in with him, I shall know how to address him, at
+all events."  At length the captain awoke; and after an early breakfast,
+the owner took him round the plantation, and I was allowed to follow
+them.
+
+The sugar-cane grows about six feet high, and has several stalks on one
+root.  It is full of joints, three or four inches apart.  The leaves are
+light green; the stalk yellow when ripe.  The mode of cultivation is
+interesting.  A trench is dug from one end of the field to the other,
+and in it longways are laid two rows of cane.  From each joint of these
+canes spring a root and several sprouts.  They come up soon after they
+are planted, and in twelve weeks are two feet high.  If they come up
+irregularly, the field is set on fire from the outside, which drives the
+rats, the great destroyers of the cane, to the centre, where they are
+killed.  The ashes of the stalks and weeds serve to manure the field,
+which often produces a better crop than before.  The canes are cut with
+a billhook, one at a time; and being fastened together in faggots, are
+sent off to the crushing-mill on mules' backs or in carts.  Windmills
+are much in use.  The canes are crushed by rollers and as the juice is
+pressed out, it runs into a cistern near the boiling-house.  There it
+remains a day, and is then drawn off into a succession of boilers, where
+all the refuse is skimmed off.  To turn it into grains, lime-water is
+poured into it; and when this makes it ferment, a small piece of tallow,
+the size of a nut, is thrown in.  It is next drawn into pots to cool,
+with holes in the bottom through which the molasses drain off.  Rum is
+made from the molasses, which being mixed with about five times as much
+water, is put into a still.
+
+There are three sorts of _cotton-trees_.  One creeps on the earth like a
+vine; another is a bushy dwarf tree; and the third is as high as an oak.
+The second-named, after it has produced very beautiful flowers about
+the size of a rose, is loaded with a fruit as large as a walnut, the
+outward coat of which is black.  This fruit, when it is fully ripe,
+opens, and a down is discovered of extreme whiteness, which is the
+cotton.  The seeds are separated from it by a mill.
+
+The stem of the cacao-tree is about four inches in diameter.  In height
+it is about twelve feet from the ground.  The cacao grows in pods shaped
+like cucumbers.  Each pod contains from three to five nuts, the size of
+small chestnuts, which are separated from each other by a white
+substance like the pulp of a roasted apple.  The pods are found only on
+the larger boughs, and at the same time the tree bears blossoms and
+young fruit.  The pods are cut down when ripe, and allowed to remain
+three or four days in a heap to ferment.  The nuts are then cut out, and
+put into a trough covered with plantain-leaves, where they remain nearly
+twenty days; and, lastly, dried three or four weeks in: the sun.  Indigo
+is made from an herb not unlike hemp.  This is cut, and put into pits
+with water; and being continually stirred up, forms a sort of mud,
+which, when dry, is broken into bits for exportation.
+
+I will mention one plant more of general use--coffee.  It is a shrub,
+with leaves of a dark-green colour.  The berries grow in large clusters.
+The bean is enclosed in a scarlet pulp, often eaten, but very luscious.
+One bush produces several pounds.  When the fruit is ripe, it turns
+black, and is then gathered; and the berries, being separated from the
+husk, are exposed to the sun till quite dry, when they are fit for the
+market.
+
+However, I might go on all day describing the curious plants, and trees,
+and animals, and birds I saw.  I must speak of the ginger.  The blade is
+not unlike that of wheat.  The roots, which are used, are dug up and
+scraped free from the outward skin by the negroes.  This is the best way
+of preparing it, and it is then soft and white; but often, from want of
+hands, it is boiled, when the root becomes hard and tough, and is of
+much less value.
+
+I shall never forget the beautiful humming-birds, with magnificent
+plumage gleaming in the sun, and tongues fine as needles, yet hollow,
+with which they suck the juices from flowers.
+
+We did not, on account of the heat, recommence our journey till the
+afternoon.  The planter accompanied us.  I heard him and the captain
+talking about the outbreaks of the fugitive negroes in former days.
+"They are a little inclined to be saucy just now," I heard him remark.
+"But we taught them a lesson which they will not easily forget.  Those
+we caught we punished in every way we could think of.  Hanging was too
+mild for them.  Some we burned before slow fires; others were tied up by
+the heels; and others were lashed to stakes, their bodies covered over
+with molasses to attract the flies, and then allowed to starve to death.
+Oh, we know how to punish rebels in this country."
+
+I listened to what the planter was saying.  I could scarcely believe the
+testimony of my ears.  Was it really a man professing to be a Christian
+thus talking, thus boasting of the most horrible cruelties which even
+the fiercest savages could not surpass?
+
+The captain replied, that he supposed they deserved what they got,
+though, for his part, he thought if a man was deserving of death, he
+should be hung or shot outright, but that he did not approve of killing
+people by inches.
+
+From what I heard I was not surprised to find that there were large
+numbers of these revolted negroes, under the name of Maroons, living
+among the mountain-fastnesses in the interior of the island, where they
+could not be reached; that their numbers were continually augmented by
+runaway slaves; and that they declined to submit to the clemency of the
+whites.  It was quite dark before we reached the house of the planter,
+where the captain proposed to spend a few days.  It stood on the side of
+a hill covered with trees, and had a considerable slope below it.  It
+was a rough wooden edifice, of one storey, though of considerable size,
+and had a veranda running round it.  Besides the owner, there were the
+overseer, and two or three white assistants; and an attorney, a
+gentleman who manages the law business of an estate; and two English
+friends.  Altogether, there was a large party in the house.  During
+dinner the company began to talk about pirates, and I saw the captain's
+colour change.  The attorney said that several piracies had been
+committed lately in the very neighbourhood of Jamaica; and that unarmed
+vessels, in different parts of the West Indies, were constantly attacked
+and plundered.  They remarked that it was difficult to find out these
+piratical craft.  Sometimes the pirates appeared in one guise and
+sometimes in another; at one time in a schooner, at others in a felucca,
+or in a brig; and often even in open boats.  "Yes," observed the
+attorney, "they seem to have excellent information of all that goes on
+in Kingston.  I suspect that they have confederates on shore, who tell
+them all they want to know."  I thought the captain would have fallen
+off his chair, but he quickly recovered himself, and no one appeared to
+have remarked his agitation.  They did carry on, to be sure!  What
+quantities of wine and rum-punch they drank!  How their heads could
+stand it I don't know.  Two or three of them did roll under the table,
+when their black slaves came and dragged them off to bed; which must
+have raised them in the negroes' opinion.  Even the captain, who was
+generally a very sober man, got up and sang songs and made speeches for
+half an hour when no one was listening.  At last the slaves cleared the
+dining-room, and beds were made up there for several of the party.  I
+was afraid that the captain might begin to talk again in his sleep of
+his early days, and accuse himself of being a pirate; and I was anxious
+to warn him, lest anyone might be listening; but then, I thought to
+myself, they are all so drunk no one will understand him, and he won't
+like to be reminded by me of such things as that.
+
+The night seemed to be passing quietly away.  As I lay on a rug in the
+corner of the room, I could hear the sound of some night-birds, or
+frogs, or crickets, and the rustling of the wind among the
+plantain-leaves, till I fell asleep.  Before long, however, I started
+up, and thought that the monkeys had begun their concert at an earlier
+hour than usual.  There were the most unearthly cries and shrieks
+imaginable, which seemed to come from all sides of the house, both from
+a distance and close at hand.  For a moment all was silent, and then
+they were repeated louder than before.  Had not the company been heavy
+with drink, they must have been awoke at once.  As it was, the second
+discharge of shrieks and cries roused them up, and in another minute
+people came rushing into the dining-hall from different parts of the
+house, their pale countenances showing the terror they felt.  "What's
+the matter? what's all this?" they exclaimed.
+
+"That the negroes have come down from the hills, and that we shall all
+be murdered!" exclaimed the master of the house, who had just hurried in
+with a rifle in his hand.  "Gentlemen, we may defend ourselves, and sell
+our lives dearly, but that is all I can hope for."
+
+"Let us see what can be done," said Captain Helfrich coolly.  "This
+house may not stand a long siege, perhaps, though we'll do our best to
+prepare it.  We'll block up the windows and all outlets as fast as we
+can.  See, get all the rice and coffee bags to be found, and fill them
+with earth; we may soon build up a tolerably strong fortification."
+
+The captain's confidence and coolness encouraged others, and every one
+set to work with a will to make the proposed preparations.  All the
+household slaves, and several blacks residing in the neighbouring huts
+had come into the house to share their master's fortunes but the greater
+number had run away and hid themselves.  There was no lack of muskets
+and ammunition; indeed, there were among us weapons sufficient to arm
+twice as many men as were assembled.  The white gentlemen were generally
+full of fight, and began to talk hopefully of quickly driving back the
+Maroons: but the blacks were in a great state of excitement, and ran
+about the house chattering like so many monkeys, tumbling over each
+other, and rather impeding than forwarding the work to be done.
+
+Though matters were serious enough, I, with a youngster's
+thoughtlessness, enjoyed a fit of laughter while we were in the middle
+and hottest hurry of our preparations.  It happened that two stout
+blackies rushed into the hall from different quarters, one bearing on
+his back a sack of earth, the other a bundle of canes or battens.  Tilt
+they went with heads stooping down right against each other.  Their
+skulls met with a clap like thunder, and both went sprawling over on
+their backs, with their legs up in the air.  The sack burst, and out
+tumbled the earth; and the bundle of canes separating, lay in a confused
+heap.
+
+"For what you do dat, Jupiter?" exclaimed he of the canes, as he jumped
+up ready to make another butt at his opponent.
+
+"Oh, ki! you stupid Caesar, you 'spose I got eyes all round," replied
+Jupiter, leaping on his legs with the empty sack hanging round his nook,
+and stooping down his head ready to receive the expected assault.
+
+The black knights were on the point of meeting, and would probably each
+have had another fall, when one of the overseers passing bestowed a few
+kicks upon Caesar.  Off ran the hero, and Jupiter expecting the same
+treatment, took himself off to bring in a fresh bag of earth.
+
+Ten minutes or a quarter of an hour passed away, but still the rebels
+did not commence their attack.  The overseer said that they had uttered
+the shrieks to frighten us, and also to get the slaves to desert us,
+that they might murder us alone.  I should have supposed that, like
+other savages, they would have crept silently on us, so as to have taken
+us unawares; but negroes, I have remarked, seldom act like other races
+of people.
+
+During the short time which had passed since the alarm was given, we had
+made very tolerable preparations to receive the rebels.  I had been
+running about, trying to make myself as useful as I could, when the
+captain called me up to him.
+
+"I'm glad to see you wide-awake, Jack," said he.  "Remember, when the
+fight begins, as it will before long, stick close to me.  I may want to
+send you here and there for something or other; and if the worst comes,
+and we are overpowered, we must try to cut our way out through the
+rascals.  Now set to work, and load those muskets; you know how, I
+think.  Ay, that will do; keep loading them as fast as I discharge them.
+We may teach the Niggers a lesson they don't expect."
+
+I was very proud of being thus spoken to by the captain, for it was the
+first time that he had ever condescended to address me in so familiar a
+way.  It was generally--"Boy, bring me my shoes;" "Jump forward there,
+and call the carpenter."  I resolved to do my best not to disappoint
+him.
+
+I placed the powder-flask and bullets on one side of me, and the muskets
+on the other, so that I could load one after the other without altering
+my position.  It never occurred to me all the time that there was the
+slightest degree of danger.  I thought that we had only to blaze away at
+the Niggers, and that they would run off as fast as their legs could
+carry them.
+
+Never was I more mistaken.  Soon after the captain had spoken to me we
+were startled by another thunder-clap of shouts, and shrieks, and
+unearthly cries, followed by several shot, the ringing taps which
+succeeded each showing that the bullets had struck the house.  Presently
+a negro, who had been sent to keep a look-out on the roof, came tumbling
+through a skylight, exclaiming, "Dey is coming, dey is coming, oh ki!"
+Directly after this announcement, the shrieks and cries were heard like
+a chorus of demons, and it was evident that our enemies were closely
+surrounding us.  Whichever way we turned, looking up the hill or down
+the valley, the terrific noises seemed to come loudest and most
+continuous from that quarter.
+
+Captain Helfrich, as if by the direct appointment of all, took the
+command.  "Now, my lads, be steady," he exclaimed; "don't throw your
+shots away.  You'll want all you've got, and a bullet is worth the life
+of a foe."
+
+Each man on this grasped his musket; but the negroes held theirs as if
+they were very much more afraid of the weapons doing them harm than of
+hurting their enemies.  The greater number of the lights in the house
+had been put out, a few lanterns only remaining here and there,
+carefully shaded, to show us our way about.  Not a word or a sound was
+uttered by any of us, and thus in darkness and silence we awaited the
+onslaught of our enemies.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIVE.
+
+THE PLANTER'S HOUSE BESIEGED.
+
+The Maroons did not leave us long in suspense.  Once more uttering the
+most fearful and bewildering shrieks, they advanced from every quarter,
+completely surrounding, as we judged, the house.  For a minute they
+halted, and must have fired every musket they had among them.  Loopholes
+had been left in all the windows, and every now and then I peeped
+through one of them, to try and discover what was taking place.  There
+was just sufficient light to enable me to see the dusky forms of the
+rebels breaking through the fences and shrubberies which surrounded the
+house.  As they arrived, they formed in front, dancing, and shrieking,
+and firing off their muskets and blunderbusses in the most irregular
+fashion, expending a great deal of gunpowder, but doing us no harm.
+
+Captain Helfrich was watching them.  When some hundreds had been thus
+collected, he suddenly exclaimed, "Now, my lads, give it them!  Don't
+throw your shots away on the bushes!"
+
+Obedient to the order, every man in the house fired, and continued
+firing as fast as he could load his musket.  I dropped on my knee
+alongside the arms the captain had appropriated, and as I handed a
+loaded musket to him he gave me back the one he had fired, which I
+reloaded as rapidly as I could.
+
+This continued for some minutes, the constant shrieks and groans of our
+black assailants showing us that the shot frequently took effect.  I
+believe, indeed, that very few of the captain's missed.  Though he fired
+rapidly, it was always with coolness and steadiness, and it appeared to
+me that he had singled out his victim before he turned round to take the
+musket from me.
+
+As yet none of our people had been killed, though some of the enemy's
+shot had found their way through the loopholes in the windows and doors.
+Growing, however, more desperate at the loss of their companions, and
+burning for revenge, they rushed up closer to the house, pouring in
+their fire, which searched out every hole and cranny.  Some of the
+slaves who incautiously exposed themselves were the first to suffer.  A
+poor fellow was standing at the window next to me.  A bullet struck him
+on the breast.  It was fired from a tree, I suspect.  Down he fell,
+crying out piteously, and writhing in his agony.  It was very dreadful.
+Then the blood rushed out of his mouth in torrents, and he was quiet.  I
+sprang forward, intending to help him.  The pale light of the lantern
+fell on his countenance.  He looked perfectly calm.  I thought he was
+resting, and would get up soon and fire away again.  My glance was but
+momentary, for the captain called me back to my post.
+
+The fire on this became hotter and hotter.  Two more negroes were
+struck.  They did not fall, but cried out most piteously.  One of the
+English gentlemen was next shot.  He fell without a groan.  The captain
+told me to run and see where he was hurt.  I tried to lift him up, but
+his limbs fell down motionless.  There was a deep hole in his forehead,
+through which blood was bubbling.  I suspected the truth that he was
+dead.  I told the captain that he was hit on the head.  "Leave him,
+then, Jack," said he; "you can do him no good."
+
+On my return, I looked at the negro who had been first hit.  He, too,
+was motionless.  I tried to place him in a sitting posture, but he fell
+back again.
+
+"Let him alone, Jack," cried the captain; "his work is done; he's no
+longer a slave."
+
+I thus found that the negro also was dead.  It seemed very dreadful to
+me; I burst into tears.
+
+I cried heartily as I knelt loading the muskets, forgetting that in a
+short time the captain, and I, and every one in the house, might be in
+the same state.  Had not the whites shown great determination, all must
+before this have fallen victims to the rage of the Maroons.  Numbers of
+our enemies were shot, but still they rushed on, resolved to destroy the
+house and all in it.
+
+While the uproar they made was at its height, a loud battering was heard
+at one of the doors.  The enemy had cut down the trunk of a young tree,
+and were endeavouring to break in the door with it.  The captain and the
+other gentlemen shot down several who were thus engaged, but still they
+persevered; and, as some fell, fresh assailants rushing up, seized the
+battering-ram, and continued the work.  The door was stout, but we saw
+that it was giving way.  It began to crack in every direction.  Pieces
+of furniture and sand-bags were piled up against it, but with little
+avail.  Each blow shattered a part of it, and soon, with a loud crash,
+it was driven in, and the fierce, excited faces of our dark foes were
+seen above the barricade formed by the bags, and furniture, and broken
+door.  Several who attempted to pass over it were shot down, but our
+people being now much more than ever exposed to the fire of the enemy,
+proportionably suffered.  The shot came in thick among us, and one after
+the other was wounded.
+
+While the captain and others were defending the breach, the
+battering-ram was withdrawn; why, we were not long left in doubt.  To
+our great horror, the battering, cracking sound was heard in the rear of
+the house.  Still we were not at once to be defeated, and some of our
+party hurried to defend the spot.  The attack on the front-door had cost
+the negroes so many lives that they were more cautious in approaching
+the second; and, when our party began to fire, they retreated under
+shelter, leaving the trunk of the tree on the ground.  At the same time,
+they began apparently to weary of their ill success in front of the
+house; for of course they could not be aware that they had killed any of
+its defenders.  We were thus hoping that they would at length withdraw,
+when the whole country in front of us seemed to burst into flame.
+
+"They have set the fields on fire!" exclaimed the planter.
+
+"No, no," said Captain Helfrich; "worse than that--see there?  Our watch
+is out, depend on that.  Not one of us will see another sun arise.  So,
+my men, let us sally out, and sell our lives dearly."
+
+I looked through one of the loopholes to see what he meant.  Emerging
+from among the trees came hundreds of dusky forms, each man bearing in
+his hand a torch which he flourished wildly above his head, dancing and
+shrieking furiously.
+
+I thought the captain's advice would be followed, but it was not.  The
+rest of the party were either too badly wounded or wanted nerve for the
+exploit, and the slaves could not be depended on.  All we did was to
+guard the battered-in door, and to fire away as before.
+
+On came the Maroons with their frantic gestures, and, to our horror, as
+soon as they reached the door, they began to throw their torches in
+among us.  At first we tried to trample out the fire under foot, but
+they soon outmastered our powers, and the furniture which composed our
+barricade ignited, so did the walls of the house, and the negroes
+shrieking and cheering, encouraged each other in throwing in fresh
+torches to overwhelm us.  Still, induced to fight on by my gallant
+captain, we continued our exertions, when the attack on the back-door
+was renewed.  It gave way!  Loud shouts burst from the Maroons.  Their
+revenge was about to be satiated.
+
+"Now, my lads, follow me," shouted the captain; "we'll cut our way
+through them.  Stick to me, Jack, whatever you do!"
+
+As he said this, he seized a cutlass which lay on the ground, and,
+before the negroes had time to bring the torches round to that side, he
+rushed through the back-door which they had just battered down.  I clung
+to his skirts as he told me, springing along so as not to impede him;
+and so heartily did he lay about him with his weapon, cutting off by a
+blow a head of one and an arm of another, that he speedily cleared
+himself a wide passage.  Several of our party endeavoured to follow him
+with such weapons as they could seize, but, unable to make the progress
+he did, they were either knocked down and captured or killed on the
+spot.  On we went towards the wood behind the house, but we had still
+numberless enemies on every side of us,--enemies who seemed resolved not
+to allow any of their intended victims to escape them.  I did not think
+it possible that any man could keep so many foes at bay as did the
+captain.  Just as I thought we should escape, his foot caught in a
+snake-like creeping root which ran along the ground.  Over he went
+almost flat on his face; but he did not lose a grasp of his sword.  He
+tried to rise, and I endeavoured to pull him up.  He was almost once
+more on his feet, when another creeper caught his foot.  Again he fell,
+and this time our enemies were too quick for him.  Rushing on him by
+hundreds, they threw themselves on his body, almost suffocating him as
+they held him down by main force.  I was treated much in the same way,
+when a huge negro caught me up by the back of the neck, and made as if
+he was about to cut off my head.  He did not do so, but held me tightly
+by the collar while the rest secured the captain.
+
+Flames were now bursting forth from every part of the planter's house,
+and lighted up the surrounding landscape,--the tall plantains and cotton
+and fig-trees, the tangled mass of creepers and their delicate tracery
+as they hung from their lofty boughs, the fields of sugar-cane, the
+cactus-bushes, and numberless other shrubs, and the grey sombre
+mountain-tops beyond.  From the way the blacks were running here and
+there in dense masses, and the excited shouts I heard, I discovered that
+they were in pursuit of some of the late defenders of the house, who,
+when too late, were endeavouring to make their escape.  Had they closely
+followed the captain, they might all, perhaps, have cut their way
+through the enemy.
+
+The blacks seemed to consider the captain a perfect Samson, for they
+lashed his arms and legs in every way they could think of; and then
+making a sort of litter, they put him on it, and carried him along
+towards the mountains.  They treated me with less ceremony.  My first
+captors handed me over to four of them, who contented themselves with
+merely binding my arms, and driving me before them at the points of
+their weapons.  Now and then one of them, more vicious than the rest,
+would dig the point of his spear into me, to expedite my movement.  I
+could not help turning round each time with a face expressive, I
+daresay, of no little anger or pain, at which his companions all
+laughed, as if it were a very good joke.  They seemed to do this to
+recompense themselves for the loss of the booty they might have supposed
+the rest were collecting from the burning house.
+
+We had not proceeded far before we were joined by a large band, carrying
+along, bound hand and foot, the survivors among the defenders of the
+house.  The planter himself, and four or five of his guests, were there,
+and seven or eight slaves.  From the disappearance of the rest of the
+Maroons, I concluded that they had gone off to attack some other
+residences.
+
+On we went hour after hour, and when the sun rose, exposed to its
+broiling heat, without stopping.  The negroes ate as they went along,
+but gave us nothing.  It would have been a painful journey, at all
+events; but when we expected to be tortured and put to death at the end
+of it, I found it doubly grievous to be endured.  I longed for a dagger,
+and that I might find my arms free, to fight my way out from among them.
+At last I thought that it would be the best way to appear totally
+unconcerned when they hurt me, so that I became no longer a subject for
+their merriment.
+
+At length, about noon, we stopped to rest; and most of our guards, after
+eating their meal of plantains, went to sleep.  I thought that it would
+be a good opportunity to try and get near the captain, to learn if he
+thought that there was any chance of our escaping.  Some few of the
+Maroons, with arms in their hands, sat up watching us narrowly; I
+therefore put on as unconcerned a manner as possible, and lay down on
+the ground, pretending to go to sleep likewise.  I in return watched our
+guards, and one by one I saw sleep exerting its influence over them.
+Their eyes rolled round in their heads like those of owls; their heads
+nodded; then they looked up, trying to appear prodigiously wise; but it
+would not do, and at length the whole camp was asleep.  I considered
+that now or never was my time for communicating with the captain.
+Though I saw that no one near was likely to observe me, I thought that
+some one at a distance might, and therefore that it would be necessary
+to be cautious.  Instead of getting up and walking, I rolled myself
+gently over and over till I got close up to him.
+
+"Captain," said I, very softly--"Captain Helfrich, sir.  I am here.
+What can I do?"
+
+He was drowsy, and at first did not hear me; but soon rousing himself,
+he turned his eyes towards me, for he could not move his head.  "Ah,
+Jack! is that you?" said he; "we are in a bad plight, lad."
+
+"Do you think the savages are going to kill us, sir?" said I.
+
+"No doubt about it, Jack, if we are not rescued, or don't manage to
+escape," he answered.  "I see little prospect of either event."
+
+"But what can I do, sir?"  I asked.
+
+"Little enough, I am afraid, lad," he replied, in a subdued, calm tone.
+"But stay, if you can manage to get your hands near my teeth, I will try
+and bite the bands off them, and then you can loosen the lashings round
+my limbs.  We must wait for the night before we try to escape.  We
+should now be seen, and pursued immediately."
+
+I did as he bid me, and by means of his strong teeth he was soon able to
+free my hands from the ropes which had confined them.  I also at length,
+with much more difficulty, so far slackened all his bands and the
+lashings which secured him to the litter, that he might with ease slip
+his limbs completely out of them.  Having accomplished this important
+undertaking, I crawled back to the spot I had before occupied.  Scarcely
+had I got there, when a black lifted up his head and looked around.  I
+thought he had fixed his malignant eyes on me, and had probably been a
+witness of what I had done.  I lay trembling, expecting every moment to
+have the wretch pounce upon me and bind my hands tighter than before.
+However, after a little, he lay down again, and grunted away as before.
+
+Soon after this another Maroon sat up and looked round, and then
+another, and another; so that I was very glad I had not lost the
+opportunity of which I had taken advantage.  In another quarter of an
+hour, the whole force was on the move.  I looked anxiously to ascertain
+whether they had discovered that the captain's bands had been loosened;
+but without examining him, they lifted up the litter, and bore him on as
+before.  In consequence of this I walked on much more cheerily than I
+had previously done, though I still got an occasional prick to hasten my
+steps.
+
+As we advanced, we got into still more hilly and wild country.  All
+signs of cultivation had ceased, and vegetation revelled in the most
+extravagant profusion.  Our chief difficulty was to avoid the prickly
+pears, and the cacti, and the noose-forming creepers, which extended
+across our path.  We were in the advance party; the rest of the white
+men followed at a distance from us, so that we had no prospect of
+communicating with them.
+
+The encouragement the captain had given me helped to raise my spirits,
+and I endeavoured further to keep them up by whistling and singing
+occasionally, but it was with a heavy heart that I did so.  My great
+consolation was all the time that my friend Peter Poplar was not in the
+same predicament.  He would have felt it more than any of us.  He had
+long been prepared for any misfortune which could happen to him at sea,
+but he had not made up his mind to undergo hardships on shore as well.
+
+At last I began to grow very weary of walking so far over such rough and
+uneven ground, and I was glad to find that the blacks were approaching
+their encampment or village.  It consisted of a number of rude huts,
+built on the summit of a high rock, with steep precipices on every side.
+A narrow causeway led to it from another rock, which jutted out from
+the side of the hill.  It was a very strong place, for it extended too
+far into the valley to be reached by musketry from the hill; and the
+hill itself was too rugged to allow cannon to be dragged up it.  The
+rock appeared to have rude palisades and embankments, to serve as
+fortifications, over a large portion of its upper surface.  As I
+examined it, I saw that our chance of escape from such a place, by any
+method I could imagine, was small indeed.  I do not know what the
+captain thought about the matter, but he was not a man to be defeated by
+difficulties, or to abandon hope while a spark of life remained.
+
+As we went along the causeway, a number of women, and children, and dogs
+came out to meet us, our welcome consisting in a most horrible
+screaming, and crying, and barking, which, I suspect, as far as the
+prisoners were concerned, was far from complimentary.  Among them were
+some dreadful old crones, who came stretching out their withered, black,
+parchment arms, shrieking terrifically, and abusing the white men as the
+cause of all the misery and hardships it had been their lot to endure.
+Their accusations were, I believe, in most respects, too just.
+Certainly white men had torn them or their ancestors from their native
+land--white men had brought them across the sea in the crowded
+slave-ship--white men had made them slaves, treated them with severity
+and cruelty, and driven them to seek for freedom from tyranny among the
+wild rocks and fastnesses where they were now collected.  The other
+prisoners seemed to feel, by their downcast, miserable looks, that they
+were in the power of enemies whom they had justly made relentless, and
+that they had no hope of escape.  The old crones went up to them,
+pointed their long bony fingers in their eyes, and hissed and shrieked
+in their ears.  What was said I could not understand, but they were
+evidently using every insulting epithet they could imagine to exasperate
+or terrify their victims.
+
+I have often thought of that dreadful scene since.  How must the acts of
+those white men have risen up before them in their true colours--the
+wrong they had inflicted on young and innocent girls--the lashes
+bestowed on men of free and independent natures--the abuse showered on
+their heads--the total neglect of the cultivation of all their moral
+attributes!  Oh, you Christian gentlemen, did it ever occur to you that
+those slaves of yours were men of like passions as yourselves; that they
+had minds capable of cultivation in a high degree, if not as high as
+your own; that they had souls like your souls to be saved--souls which
+must be summoned before the judgment-seat of Heaven, to be judged with
+yours; and that you and they must there stand together before an
+all-righteous and pure and just God, to receive the reward of the things
+you have done in this life?  Did it occur to you that, had you made
+those people true Christians; that, had you taught them the holy
+religion you profess--a religion of love and forgiveness--that they
+would not now be taking pleasure in tormenting you, in exhibiting the
+bitter vengeance which rankled in their souls!
+
+I could not help thinking that some such accusing thoughts as these rose
+to the consciences of the planter and his companions.  I know that I
+would not for worlds have changed places with him, though he was the
+owner of rich fields and wealth long hoarded up, which he was on the
+point of returning to England to enjoy.
+
+Either on account of my youth, or because, as they saw, I was a sailor,
+the rebels must have known that I could not have treated them cruelly,
+and I was allowed to remain quiet.  After the whole population had given
+vent to their feelings by abusing the prisoners in every possible way,
+they were thrust into a hut together, and a guard placed over them.  The
+captain and I were then put into another hut, and ordered not to stir on
+pain of being shot.
+
+"Not bery good chance of dat!" observed one of our captors, a
+grey-headed old negro with a facetious countenance, looking at the
+numerous lashings which confined our limbs.
+
+"Better chance than you suppose, old fellow!" thought I to myself; but I
+kept as melancholy and unconcerned a look as I could assume.
+
+I concluded, that as the other prisoners were guarded so were we, and
+that we should have very little chance of effecting our escape, unless
+our guards fell asleep.  The difficulties were, at all events, very
+great.  We should, in the first place, have either to scramble down the
+sides of the rock, or to cross the narrow causeway, where one man as a
+guard could instantly stop us.  There was every probability that the
+Maroons would place one there.
+
+For some hours there was a great deal of noise in the village.  The
+blacks were rejoicing over their victory, and there was no chance of our
+guards outside the hut being asleep.  I waited, therefore, without
+moving, till the sounds of revelry subsided, the tom-toms were no longer
+beaten, the trumpets ceased braying, and the cymbals clashing.  Then I
+could hear the guards talking to each other outside.  The few words I
+could comprehend out of this jargon were not very consolatory.  I made
+out clearly that they proposed to shoot all their prisoners the next
+day, and that, besides those already in camp, they expected a number
+more from other estates which were to be attacked.  There appeared only
+a possibility that our lives might be prolonged another day, till all
+their forces out on various expeditions were assembled.  Little did
+those at home, looking at the map of Jamaica, fancy that, in the very
+centre of that beautiful island, there existed so numerous a band of
+savages in open revolt against the authority of the king.
+
+At first our guards were animated enough in their conversation; then
+their voices grew thicker and thicker, and their tones more drowsy and
+droning, till they could scarcely have understood what each other said.
+At last one began to snore, then another, and the last speaker found
+himself without auditors.  I longed for him to hold his tongue, and to
+go to sleep, but talk on he would, though he had no listeners.  This, I
+thought, was a good opportunity to allow me to speak to the captain, so
+I crawled up to him.  He was awake, waiting for me.
+
+"What's to be done now, captain?" said I.
+
+"We must wait the course of events, Jack," he answered.  "I have been
+turning over every plan in my mind which affords a chance of escape.  If
+we were to start off now, we should certainly be caught by some of these
+black gentlemen; and if brought back, we should be put under stricter
+watch and ward than hitherto.  Something may occur during the night, or
+perhaps to-morrow.  At all events, I do not intend to die without a
+fight for it.  Try and go to sleep now, and get some rest; you'll want
+it for what you may have to go through.  Go, lie down, lad; my advice is
+good.  Don't fear."
+
+I followed the captain's advice, though it was difficult to go to sleep,
+and still more so not to fear.  I did go to sleep, however, and never
+slept more soundly in my life.  I was awoke by feeling a hand placed on
+my shoulder.  It was that of the captain.
+
+"Jack," he whispered, "be prepared to follow me if I summon you, but not
+otherwise.  If we can manage to get down the rock, or to cross the
+causeway without being seen, we will go; but if not, we must wait
+another opportunity.  I do not feel as if either of us had come to the
+end of the cable yet, but how we are to get free I don't know."
+
+Saying this the captain gently lifted up some of the leaves which formed
+the side of the hut, and crept out.  His words and tone gave me great
+encouragement.  I wished that I could have gone with him, but I knew
+that I must obey him.
+
+O how anxiously I waited his return!  Minute after minute passed away,
+and still he did not come back.  I began to fear that some harm had
+happened to him--that he might have fallen over the precipice in the
+dark, or have been captured.  It never for a moment occurred to me that
+he would desert me.  An hour or more must have passed.  Still he did not
+appear.  I began to consider whether I could not creep out to search for
+him.  I could have loosened from off me the ropes which bound my arms in
+an instant; but I did not want to do so unless I was prepared to run
+away altogether.  I have heard of people's hair turning grey in a night;
+mine would, I think, have done so with anxiety had I been older.
+
+At last the side of the hut was lifted up, and the captain crawled in,
+and placed himself on the litter on which he had been brought to the
+place.  "Quick, Jack," he whispered, "put the ropes round me as they
+were before!  Those blacks are more wide-awake rascals than I fancied.
+I have been most of the time lying down not twenty yards from the hut,
+afraid to move.  I was creeping along when I saw a black fellow, with
+musket on shoulder, emerge from behind a hut.  He stood for some time
+looking directly at me, as if he had seen me.  He had not though; but
+directly afterwards he began pacing up and down with the steadiness of
+an old soldier.  I crept on when his back was turned, but never could
+move far enough before he was about again, and scrutinising all the
+ground before him.  The only direction in which I could move without the
+certainty of being seen was towards this spot, so back again I have
+come, with the hope still strong that we might find some other way of
+escaping.  Once or twice I thought of springing up and killing the man;
+but in so doing I should very likely have roused others, and we should
+have lost any future chance of escaping."
+
+This result of the captain's expedition put me into low spirits again,
+for I fully expected that the blacks would kill us all in the morning,
+and my only surprise was that they had not so done already.  I did not
+say so to the captain, but he, having with his teeth secured the bands
+round my arms again, I went and sat down where the blacks had first
+placed me.  I did not sleep soundly again, nor did he.  I sat silent,
+anxiously waiting for the morning.
+
+I think I must have gone off into a doze, when, before daybreak, I was
+roused up by a chorus of loud cries and shouts, which was soon answered
+by every man, woman, and child in the village, who came rushing out of
+their huts.  It was to welcome, I found, a party of their comrades from
+an attack on one of the neighbouring estates, in which they had come off
+the victors, with numerous prisoners and much spoil.  There began, as
+before, a horrible din of tom-toms and other musical instruments, mixed
+with the very far from musical voices of the old women who had been
+tormenting us.  This continued till the sun rose, and then there was a
+comparative silence for an hour or so.  I suppose the savages were
+breakfasting.  An this time we were left in suspense as to what was to
+be our fate.  We did not talk much, and, of course, did not allude to
+any plan for escaping, lest we should be overheard.
+
+At last several stout negroes entered the hut, and while some of them
+lifted up the captain and carried him out, two seized me by the collar,
+and dragged me after him.  I thought that they were about to throw us
+over the cliffs, or to hang us or shoot us forthwith.  I could only
+think of one way by which we had the slightest prospect of escaping.  It
+was that the government authorities might have heard of the outbreak,
+and sent troops to attack the rebels.  I did not know in those days that
+those sort of gentlemen considered the art of tying up packages neatly
+with red tape to be the most important of their official duties, and
+that they were not apt to do anything in a hurry of so trifling
+importance as attempting to save the lives of a few people!
+
+We very soon reached a large concourse of people in an open space.  On
+one side of the ground there was a steep bank, on the top of which a
+chair or throne was placed, whereon sat a tall fine-looking negro,
+dressed somewhat in military style, while a number of other men sat
+round him.  On the level ground, on one side, was a group of some twenty
+white men, among whom I recognised our companions in the defence of the
+house.  They had their hands bound, and were strongly guarded by armed
+negroes.  We were carried up and placed among them.  Two or three other
+prisoners arrived after us, and served to increase our unhappy group.
+
+A sort of trial was then commenced, and several Maroons stepped forward,
+accusing the whites of unheard-of cruelties, and especially of being
+taken with arms in our hands against the authority of the true and
+proper chief of the island.  It is impossible to describe the absurd
+language used, and the ceremonies gone through.  It would have been a
+complete burlesque had not the matter been somewhat too serious.  As it
+was, when one of the counsellors kicked another for interrupting him,
+and the judge threw a calabash at their heads to call them to order, I
+could not help bursting into a fit of laughter, which was soon quelled
+when one of my guards gave me a progue with the tip of his spear, to
+remind me where I was.  I very nearly broke out again when the one who
+was hit looked up and exclaimed, "What dat for, Pompey, you scoundrel
+you?--What you tink me made of, hey?"
+
+The judge took no notice of this address, but coolly went on summing up
+the evidence placed before him.  It was, I must own, clearly
+condemnatory of most of the prisoners.  On the oaths of the negro
+witnesses, they were proved to have committed the most atrocious acts.
+Some had hung blacks for no sufficient cause, or had shot them, or had
+beaten them to death, or even burned them, or had tortured them with
+every refinement of cruelty.  Scarcely one present who had not given way
+to passion, and barbarously ill-treated their slaves, or caused them to
+submit to the greatest indignity.  At length the judge rose from his
+seat.  He was a remarkably fine, tall man, and as he stretched out one
+arm towards the prisoners, I could not help acknowledging that there was
+much grace and dignity in his whole air and manner.  To what had been
+adduced by others, he added the weight of his own testimony.
+
+"Me prince not long ago in me own country,--me would be king now,--me
+carried off--beaten--kicked--wife torn away--me piccaninnis killed--me
+made to work with whip--beat, beat, beat on shoulders--me run away--
+nearly starve and die.  Dose men do all dat, and much worse!  Day
+deserve to die!  Shoot dem all--quick!  De earth hate dem--no stay on it
+longer!"  I cannot pretend to say that these were the exact words used
+by the chief, but they had a similar signification.
+
+Immediately we were all seized, each prisoner being held by four blacks,
+and marched along to an open space near the edge of the precipice.  A
+firing-party of twenty blacks, which had been told off, followed us,
+their horrible grins showing the intense satisfaction they felt at being
+our executioners.  The judge or chief and all the rest of the people
+accompanied us as spectators.  The captain was carried along on his
+litter, for the negroes had conceived a very just idea of his prowess,
+and kept him, as they fancied, more strongly secured than was necessary
+with regard to the rest.  I stood near him waiting the result.
+
+Things were now, indeed, looking very serious, and I could not see by
+what possible means we should escape.  Still, there was so much buoyancy
+in my disposition, that, even then, I did not give up all hope.  I am
+afraid that I cannot say I was sustained by any higher principle.  The
+thought of what death was, did, however, come over me; and I tried to
+pray, to prepare myself for the world into which I saw every probability
+that I was about to enter.  Still, though I wanted to pray, and wished
+to go to heaven, I made but a very feeble attempt to do so.  I had been
+so long unaccustomed to pray, that I could not now find the thoughts or
+the words required.  My heart was not in a praying state.  I had not
+sought reconciliation with God.  I did not know in what to trust,
+through whom I could alone go into the presence of my Maker cleansed
+from my sins, relieved from the weight of the sinful nature in which I
+was born.  Of all this I remained perfectly ignorant.  I felt very
+wretched, like a drowning wretch without a spar or a plank of which I
+might catch hold.
+
+I learned, however, an important lesson.  Oh! do you, who read this
+notice of my life, learn it from me.  Do not suppose that the time is
+_coming_ when you may begin to prepare for another world.  The time is
+_come now_ with all of you.  From the period you entered this world,
+from the moment the power of thought and speech was given you, the time
+had arrived for you prepare for the world to come--that eternal world of
+glory and joy unspeakable, or of misery, regret, and anguish.  Remember
+this--note it well--don't ever let it be out of your thoughts.  You were
+sent into this transient, fleeting world, for one sole object--that you
+might prepare yourselves in it for the everlasting future.  Not that you
+might amuse yourselves--not that you might gain wealth, and honours, and
+reputation--not that you might study hard, and obtain prizes at school
+or college--that you might be the leader in all manly--exercises--that
+you might speak well, or sing well, or draw well, or attain excellence
+in science--or that you might become rich merchants, or judges, or
+generals, or admirals, or ambassadors, or, indeed, attain the head of
+any professions you may choose.  These things are all lawful; it may be
+your duty thus to rise, but it should not be your aim, it should not
+alone be in your thoughts; you should have a far higher motive for
+labouring hard, for employing your talents: that motive should be to
+please God, to obey the laws and precepts of our Lord and Master.  All
+should be done from love to him.  If you have not got that love for him,
+pray for it, strive for it, look for guidance from above that you may
+obtain it.
+
+But, as I was saying, in those days I could not have comprehended what I
+have now been speaking about.  Finding my efforts to pray almost
+unavailing, I did pray for deliverance, though I waited my fate in
+sullen indifference, or rather, indeed, somewhat as if I was an
+unconcerned spectator of what was taking place.
+
+The chief lifted his arm on high as a sign that the execution was to
+commence.  The first person led forward was the planter whose house we
+had attempted to defend.  Oh! what scorn, and loathing, and defiance
+there was depicted in his countenance!  What triumph and hatred in that
+of his executioners!  Should such feelings find room in the bosom of a
+dying Christian?  I wot not.  Again the fatal sign was given.  The
+firing-party discharged their muskets, and the planter fell a lifeless
+corpse.  I tried to turn my eyes away from the scene, but they were
+rivetted on the spot.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIX.
+
+A TERRIBLE EXECUTION, AND A NARROW ESCAPE.
+
+One after the other my white companions were led out for execution.
+Every moment I expected that my turn would come.  Very few showed any
+great signs of fear, with the exception of the overseers, who had been
+often and often the actual instruments of cruelty towards those who now
+had them in their power.  I am surprised that the ignorant savage blacks
+did not torture them as they had themselves been tortured, before
+putting an end to their existence.  Perhaps they wished to set an
+example of leniency to the civilised whites.  They went about the
+execution, however, with deliberation, sufficient to make it a very
+terrible affair.
+
+They shot the planter dressed as he was taken.  When he had fallen,
+numbers of the blacks rushed up, and having stripped him, they threw his
+body, after inflicting numberless wounds on it, over the precipice.  As
+his clothes had been injured by the bullets, they proceeded to strip the
+next person of his garments, with the exception of his trousers and
+shoes, which they allowed him to retain--the latter, at all events,
+being of very little use to them.  He was one of the overseers, a
+fierce, dark, stern man.  He looked as if he was incapable of
+experiencing any of the softer sympathies of our nature.  He was
+standing close to me while the planter was being shot, and not one of us
+knew who would next be selected for execution.  When the men who had
+taken out the overseer seized hold of him, he turned deadly pale, and
+shrieked out for mercy.
+
+"Don't kill me! don't kill me!" he exclaimed.  "I am not fit to die.  I
+cannot go as I am into another world.  Oh, let me live! let me live!  I
+will toil for you; I will build your cottages; I will till your fields.
+Kind Africans! hear me: if I have injured anyone, I will repay him an
+hundred-fold.  I'll do anything you require of me; but don't, oh, don't
+kill me!"
+
+The negro chief smiled at him scornfully, and the others who surrounded
+him grinned horribly in his face.  "Hi! hi! you mark my back with hot
+iron," said one, gripping him by the shoulder; "you take out de mark?"
+
+"You kill my piccaninni!" cried another in a hissing tone in his ear.
+"You gib him back, eh?  You make him smile in me face 'gain, eh?"
+
+"You take away me young wife!" exclaimed another, in a hoarse voice,
+looking him in the face.  "Where she gone to now, eh?  You give her back
+good and fond as she once was--no!  You repay a hundred-fold!--you undo
+the harm you have done!"
+
+"Wretched man! go meet the Judge whose laws you have outraged; go
+encounter the reproachful spirits of those who, in life, you have
+irretrievably injured!  You are a blot on the world; you must be put out
+of it.  You must stand before your Almighty Judge, your God.  He is a
+God of mercy to those who have shown mercy.  But have you shown it?  No!
+Still you must die!"
+
+The latter expressions were, of course, not uttered by the negroes, but
+something very similar was said; and amid the shouts and execrations of
+the multitude, the wretched man was dragged out, and being shot down, a
+hundred weapons were plunged in his yet warm and writhing body ere he
+was thrown over the cliff to be food for the fowls of the air, which, in
+spite of the firing, had already settled on the body of the planter,
+once his superior, now his wretched equal.
+
+The same scene was enacted with several others.  In vain they pleaded
+for life, in vain they offered rewards--large bribes, freedom to some,
+the means of returning to Africa to others who had been brought over.
+The negroes laughed all offers to scorn.  No promises were believed: too
+often had they been made and broken; too exquisitely cruel and barbarous
+had been the punishments inflicted on prisoners taken in former
+outbreaks, to allow them to lose the gratification of their present
+revenge.
+
+Often, as this scene has occurred to my mind, have I thought of what
+would be the fate of the planters, and overseers, and other white
+residents in the Slave States of the American Union, should the negroes
+ever find an opportunity of revolting.  What sanguinary massacres would
+take place! what havoc and destruction would be the result!  Few men
+have a better right to speak on the subject than I have.  I was born
+before that great country called the United States was a nation.  When I
+could walk, they were part and parcel of England.  I have talked with
+men who were engaged in active life before the great Washington saw the
+light; who fought against the French on the heights of Abraham, under
+the hero Wolfe, and aided to win one of the brightest of her jewels for
+the British crown.  I, therefore, cannot help looking on the Americans
+in the light of children--dear relatives; and when I address them, I
+speak to them with love and affection.  I say to them, take warning from
+the scene I have been describing; do not submit to the incubus of
+slavery a moment longer than you can avoid it.  No sensible man expects
+you to throw it off at once; but every right-feeling, right-thinking
+man, does expect you to take every means and make every preparation for
+its abolition, as soon as that important work can be accomplished.  The
+only means you have of effecting this object with safety to yourselves,
+and with justice to those beings with immortal souls now intrusted by an
+inscrutable decree of Providence to your care, is by educating them, by
+making them Christians, by preparing them for liberty, by setting them
+an example which they may hereafter follow.  Teach them to depend on
+their own exertions for support--to govern themselves--raise them in the
+scale of humanity: treat them as men should men, and not as Christians
+so-called treat the hapless sons of Africa.  Remember that the British
+West India Islands were brought to the verge of ruin, and numberless
+families depending on them were ruined, not because the slaves were made
+free, but because they were not properly prepared for freedom.  Whose
+fault was that?  Not that of the British Government, not that of the
+nation; but of the planters themselves, of the white inhabitants of the
+island.  They refused to the last to take any steps to Christianise, to
+educate, to raise the moral character of the negroes; and of course the
+negroes, when no longer under restraint, revelled in the barbarism in
+which they had been allowed to remain, with all the vices consequent on
+slavery superadded.
+
+Should these remarks be read by any citizens of the American Slave
+States, I trust that they will remember what Old Jack says to them.  He
+has reason to wish them well, to love them, for he has received much
+kindness at the hands of many of their fellow-countrymen; and he repeats
+that they have the power in their own hands to remove for ever from off
+them the stigma which now attaches to their name.  He does not urge them
+to do it in consequence of any pressure from without--not at the beck
+and call of foreigners, but from their own sense of justice; because
+they are convinced that they are doing their duty to God and man; and
+lastly, that they will be much better served by educated, responsible
+freemen, than by slaves groaning in bondage, and working only from
+compulsion.  [See Note.]
+
+But avast!  I cry.  I have been driving a long way from the scene I was
+describing.  The negroes I have been mentioning were men who had been
+slaves, and had made themselves free, and we see the way they treated
+the whites whom they had got into their power.  They were, it must be
+granted, savages, barbarians, heathens.  Their people, who had been
+captured as rebels, had been treated by their white Christian conquerors
+with every refinement of cruelty which the malice of man could invent:
+they had been slain with the most agonising tortures; and yet these
+savages, disdaining such an example, merely shot their prisoners,
+killing them without inflicting an unnecessary pang.  I cannot say that
+at the time, however, I thought that they were otherwise than a most
+barbarous set.
+
+One after the other my companions were led out and shot, and treated as
+their predecessors.  One, a sturdy Englishman, who had not been long in
+the country, it seemed, broke loose, and knocked down several of his
+guards.  He fought long and bravely with them.  Had he been able to get
+hold of a weapon, he would, I believe, have cut his way out from among
+them.  As it was, his fists served him in good stead; and he had already
+very nearly cleared himself a path, when a shot from pistol struck him
+on the knee, and brought him to the ground.  Still he struggled bravely;
+but the negroes, throwing themselves on him, completely overpowered him,
+and he was at once dragged up to the place of execution.  Before he had
+time to look around, or to offer up a prayer to Heaven, a dozen bullets
+had pierced his body, and he who was but lately so full of life and
+strength was a pallid corpse!  I scarcely like to describe the dreadful
+scene.  Even now I often shudder as I think of it.  I have seen men shot
+down in battle--I have beheld numbers struggling in the raging sea,
+which was about to prove their grave; but I never saw men in full health
+and strength waiting for their coming death without the means of
+struggling for life--I have never seen men deprived of life in so cool
+and deliberate a way--I have never so surely expected to be deprived
+myself of life.
+
+Our numbers had now been dreadfully thinned; the captain, and I, and
+three others only remained alive.  One of those had become a raving
+maniac, his mind had given way under the horror of death; but now he
+feared nothing; he laughed the murderers to scorn; with shouts of
+derision on his lips he was shot down.  The next man was seized: calmly
+he walked to the spot, and he likewise fell.  Will it be the captain
+next, or I, or the only other remaining prisoner?  The latter was
+seized: he looked up to the bright blue sky; to the green woods, waving
+with rich tropical luxuriance of foliage; to the dark faces of the
+surrounding multitude; and then at us two, his companions in misfortune;
+and I shall never forget the look of anguish and terror I saw there
+depicted.  He saw no help, no chance of escape; in another instant he
+also was numbered with the dead.  Then, indeed, my heart sank within me,
+for I expected to be like those who were to mortal eyes mere clods of
+earth.  But instead of seizing me, they approached the captain.  Before,
+however, they could lay their hands on him, his bonds seemed as if by
+superhuman strength to be torn asunder, and up he sprung to do battle
+for life!  The negroes literally sprung back as they saw him with
+amazement, and on he bounded towards their chief.  No one tried to stop
+him, and in another instant he had thrown his powerful well-knit limbs
+so completely around him, that the negro, tall and strong as he was, was
+entirely unable to help himself.
+
+While this scene was enacting I remember seeing another tall negro with
+a few followers coming along the causeway.  When I saw what the captain
+had done, remembering also that my bonds could be easily slackened, I
+cast them off, and sprang after him; and so sudden were my movements,
+that before any of the astonished blacks could stop me, I had clung to
+the legs of the black chief as tightly as I ever clung to a
+top-gallant-yard in a gale of wind.  The chief and his followers were so
+much taken by surprise, that no one knew what to say or how to act.  The
+awe with which the captain had inspired them, and the supernatural mode,
+as it seemed, by which he had freed himself from his bonds, and freed me
+also, made them afraid of approaching lest he should destroy them or the
+chief.
+
+The captain saw his advantage, and was not a man to lose it.  His life
+depended on his resolution.  The horror he must have felt at the scene
+just enacted made him resolve not to throw a chance away.  As he held
+the chief in his vice-like grasp, with his arms pinioned down, he looked
+him fully in the face and laughed long and loudly.
+
+"You thought to kill me, did you?" he exclaimed--"you thought that you
+could deprive me of life as easily as you did those miserable men you
+have just destroyed--me, a man who never injured you or yours; who has
+never wronged one of the sons of Africa.  Ay, I can say that with a
+clear conscience.  Often have I benefited them, often have I saved them
+from injury; and perhaps even here there are some who know me, and know
+that I speak the truth."
+
+"One is here who can prove all he says to be true," exclaimed a tall
+negro, stepping forward from among the crowd.  He was the very man I had
+remarked approaching the spot along the causeway.
+
+"My friends, hear me," he exclaimed.  "We have already satisfied our
+just vengeance, and do not let us destroy the innocent with the guilty.
+Some years ago a ship from Africa, laden with the children of her
+fruitful soil torn cruelly from their homes, struck on a coral-reef.  A
+heavy sea dashed over the devoted vessel.  Land was in sight, but yet
+far-off, blue and indistinct.  The white crew had many boats.  They
+launched them and pulled away with heartless indifference, leaving three
+hundred human beings, men, women, and helpless children, to almost
+certain destruction.  Night came on.  Oh, what a night of horrors!  Many
+died, some from terror; many were drowned, manacled as they lay in the
+noisome hold.  When the morning broke a sail appeared in sight.  She
+approached the spot.  Some of the negroes who had broken loose made
+signs to notify that human beings were still alive on board.  The storm
+had much abated; a boat was lowered and came close to the wreck.  When
+they saw that no white men were on board, did they pull away and leave
+us to our fate?  No; they hailed us as fellow-creatures, and told us to
+calm our alarms, and that they would do their best to save us.  I was
+there--a slave--I who had been a chief in my own country!  I asked how
+many the boat would hold, and as many, about a dozen, I allowed to enter
+her at a time.  Another boat from the ship soon came to our assistance,
+and one remained uninjured on board the wreck.  We launched her, and
+many of the Africans being able to paddle, helped to carry her people to
+the ship.  Thus all who remained alive on board the wreck were saved.
+The ship sailed from the spot and approached the land.  I asked the
+brave captain how he would dispose of us.  Some of the people believed
+that he would carry us into a port, and there sell us as slaves.  He
+looked at me hard.  `I am no slave-dealer,' he exclaimed.  `Men have
+called me what they deem worse, but that matters not.  I should obtain a
+large price for you all, and steep my soul in as black a sin as ever
+stained our human nature.  No; I will land you on yonder coast, far from
+the habitations of men.  There fruit, and roots, and numberless
+productions of kind Nature will amply supply you with food.  There you
+may be free.  I cannot take you back to your own country.  I have no
+other means of helping you.'  The generous captain was as good as his
+word--we were landed in safety ere the sun set; and more than that, he
+supplied us with such food as he could spare to strengthen us for our
+journey inland to the spot he advised us to seek, where we might remain
+in safety.  Yes, my friends; there is the man who did this noble deed--
+there is the man whom you were, in your blindness, about so cruelly to
+slay!"
+
+While the stranger was speaking, I recognised in him the tall negro who
+had come on board the brig, on my first voyage, with the mysterious old
+man, whom I supposed to be Captain Ralph.  As soon as he stepped forward
+I felt almost certain that our lives would be spared; but still I did
+not let go the chief's legs.  He did not often get them so thoroughly
+pinched, I suspect.
+
+"I have yet more to tell you," continued the tall negro.  "The noble
+deed which that brave man had done was discovered by some of his white
+countrymen, and he was persecuted by them, and compelled to fly for his
+life, and for long to become a wanderer over the face of the ocean.
+They drove him to take to a course of life which they themselves
+condemned; and had they captured him, they would have made it plea for
+his destruction."
+
+The harangue which the negro made was even longer than I have given, and
+the language was perhaps somewhat more suited to the comprehension of
+his hearers.  The effect, at all events, was most satisfactory.
+Enthusiastic shouts of applause burst from every side; and the chief, in
+words and by looks not to be mistaken, assured the captain that both his
+and my life would be preserved, and only begged that he would have the
+goodness not to squeeze him so tightly.
+
+On this the captain released him, and the negroes rushing forward,
+lifted him up on their shoulders, and bore him in triumph round their
+village.  The boys, not to be outdone by their elders, got hold of me as
+soon as I had let go the chief's legs, and lifting me up in the same
+way, followed the captain.  Tom-toms were beat, and horns sounded, and
+cymbals were clashed, and men, and women, and children shrieked and
+shouted at the top of their voices, and never was heard a wilder outcry
+and hubbub than that with which we were welcomed as we passed through
+the rebel village.  It was far pleasanter than being shot, I thought.
+The truth is, that so great and sudden was the change in our position,
+that I could scarcely collect my ideas and convince myself of its
+reality.  Everything seemed like a dream, both past and present.  Still
+I felt that my life was spared.  I tried to be serious, and to be
+thankful for the mercy shown me; but I am conscious that I succeeded
+very ill, and allowed my mind to be entirely occupied with the scene
+going forward before my eyes.
+
+While we were being thus paraded about the village, the women were
+engaged in preparing a feast, of which we were invited to partake; and I
+know that, however excited had been my feelings, I had not lost my
+appetite.
+
+"Captain," said I, holding the leg of a roasted monkey in my fist, while
+he was munching away at a stewed snake, or lizard, or some creeping
+thing or other, "this is pleasanter than feeding the crows down below
+there.  I want, sir, to beg the chief's pardon for pinching his legs so
+tight.  I hope that he was not offended."  I spoke in a very different
+tone to that in which I had ever before addressed my captain.  The truth
+was, I felt and acted almost as if I were tipsy.
+
+The captain looked at me somewhat sternly.  "Be more serious, Jack," he
+answered; "we should be thankful to Heaven that we are not as those
+unhappy men are.  We have both been mercifully preserved.  Restrain your
+feelings, lad; you'll have much to go through before you are out of the
+fire."
+
+I do not remember much more about the feast.  The negroes ate, and
+drank, and laughed, and then got up and danced and sang as merrily as if
+they had not just been the principal actors in a terrific tragedy.
+Before the feast was over, our old acquaintance the tall negro came up
+to the captain, and sat himself down by his side.
+
+"Prepare to leave this at a moment's notice," said he in a low tone of
+voice.  "These people's tempers may change again as rapidly against you
+as they have lately turned in your favour.  They believed what I told
+them of your generosity; but as there is no one here to corroborate the
+account, they might as easily be taught to discredit it."
+
+"Thanks, my friend," answered the captain, grasping the negro's hand.
+"Thanks, Michael; you have indeed repaid any debt you might have thought
+you owed me.  I'll follow your advice, and shall be ready to start
+whenever you give the sign."
+
+"Directly it is dark, then, we must away, you and your young follower
+there," answered the tall negro, whom the captain addressed as Michael.
+"I have another reason for wishing to be off.  This work they have been
+about will certainly bring the military up here; and though they might
+hold the place against an army if they knew how, none of them can be
+depended on.  Now, if you remain here, our friends would expect you to
+fight for them; and if you were captured by the white men, you would to
+a certainty be treated as a rebel."
+
+"Your arguments are quite strong enough, Michael, to make me wish to be
+off," answered the captain, laughing.  I did not hear the remainder of
+the conversation.
+
+The young negroes who had carried me about on their shoulders continued
+to treat me very kindly, and brought me all sorts of things to eat, till
+really I could not stuff in a mouthful more.  They were much amused by
+examining my hands, and face, and clothes, for many of them till that
+day had never seen a white boy.  They had been born up in the
+mountainous district, where we then were, and where no white person had
+ever ventured to come.
+
+At last the negro Michael called the captain and me, and in the hearing
+of the people, pointing to a hut, told us that it was to be our home.
+The whole population having had plenty of work for the last few days,
+retired to their huts, and left us in quiet.  As may be supposed,
+neither the captain nor I ventured to sleep, though, for my part, I
+would very gladly have done so.  We waited for some time with no little
+anxiety.  It was at last relieved by the appearance of Michael.
+
+"Come," he whispered, "follow me.  I could only ask seamen to take the
+path by which I must lead you."  He glided out, and we stepped after
+him.
+
+There was no moon, but the stars shone forth brightly, and gave us
+sufficient light to see what was near at hand.  Michael led the way
+close to the spot where our companions had been murdered in the morning.
+On a sudden he disappeared, and I thought that he had fallen over the
+precipice.  A pang shot through me.  But no, he had merely begun to
+descend by a narrow path cut in the rock.  It was indeed both narrow and
+steep.  Sometimes we had to drop down several feet to a ledge below.
+There were probably holes in the rock by which people might ascend, but
+it was too dark to see them.  Often we had to press along with our
+breasts to the precipice, holding on to its rugged sides, and with our
+backs over a yawning gulf.  I would rather, however, have been on the
+topsail-yard-arm in the heaviest gale that ever blew: with a good honest
+rope in my hand, than where I then was.  But darkness prevented our
+seeing half its terrors.  More than once I thought that I should have
+gone over; but the captain, whose steps I closely followed, supported me
+with his powerful arm, and brought me along in safety.  He did not utter
+a word, and his breath often came fast, as if he was undergoing great
+physical exertion, and was well aware of our perilous position.  I know
+that my knees trembled beneath me when Michael told us that we had
+reached the bottom.
+
+"We have gained some miles by this path towards the sea," said he, "and
+escaped the risk of being observed.  Few even of the people up there
+know the path, and fewer still would venture to descend by it.  Now, let
+us on; we have many miles to go before morning."
+
+I need not describe our night's journey.  For several hours we walked,
+and often ran on, without stopping even a moment to rest.  It is
+extraordinary what people can do when they are pressed by circumstances.
+
+We had not accomplished many miles when the moon arose, and shed her
+light over the strangely wild and beautiful scene, her beams glancing
+through the tall trees and the numberless creepers which decked their
+branches.  Suddenly Michael stopped, and then pressing us back without
+speaking, conducted us into a thicket composed of prickly pear, cacti,
+and other strangely-shaped shrubs.  Scarcely had he done so when the
+tramp of men and the sound of horses' feet were heard coming through a
+rocky defile ahead of us, and soon afterwards a body of cavalry passed
+along, their helmets and shining arms playing in the moonbeams.  They
+were immediately followed by a regiment of infantry, less showy but more
+useful in the style of warfare in which they were likely to engage.  It
+would scarcely be believed, at the present day, that several troops of
+dragoons were stationed at that time at Kingston, to do what it would be
+difficult to say, as they were totally unfit for mountain warfare, and
+would scarcely have been of much use to repel invasion.  We remained
+silent and concealed as they passed.  I concluded that Michael or the
+captain had good reasons not to wish to encounter them.  They were
+going, of course, to attack the rebels; but I understood afterwards that
+they obtained but a very slight success, and had to return without in
+any way contributing to put a stop to the outbreak.  That was not done
+till some time afterwards, when, by a general amnesty, and a guarantee
+being given for their safety, the Maroons were induced to break up their
+confederacy, and return within the pale of civilisation.
+
+When daylight came we concealed ourselves in a thick wood, where I could
+not help feeling terribly alarmed lest some snake or other noxious
+reptile should injure us while we slept; but Michael assured me that I
+need not fear, and that he would watch that no harm should happen to us.
+Thus for three nights and a portion of one day we travelled on, till
+once more the bright blue waters of the ocean gladdened our sight.  From
+a hill we climbed we looked down into a sheltered bay, and there lay
+calmly at anchor a schooner, which we recognised as the one which had
+been sent away from the brig under command of Mr Gale.
+
+We were not long in descending the hill, and hailing her from the shore.
+Here Michael parted from us, under the plea that he had business which
+would detain him longer in that part of the island.  The schooner's boat
+took us off, and we were soon on board.  Mr Gale had heard rumours of
+the attack on the planter's house, and that every one had been murdered,
+and he was truly glad to see his captain safe; while my kind friend
+Peter assured me that he was not a little pleased to find that I had not
+lost the number of my mess.
+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+Note.  The above was written before the late American Civil War, which
+emancipated the slaves of the Southern States.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVEN.
+
+A PIRATE STRONGHOLD.
+
+The little schooner very soon got her cargo on board, and we then put to
+sea, to return to the brig.  We had to make a long reach off-shore to
+weather a headland, which ran out towards the north, and we were just
+about to tack when the wind, which had been very light, failed us
+altogether.  There we lay, with our sides lazily lapping up the
+burnished water, and throwing it off again in showers of sparkling
+drops, as we rolled away helplessly in the swell.  At the same time a
+strong current was running, which was setting us imperceptibly
+off-shore.  However, after having been exposed to it for three or four
+hours, I found, on looking up, that we had very much increased our
+distance from the land.  The day passed away and the night came, and
+there we lay like a log in the water, drifting further and further from
+the land.
+
+It was truly a solemn night.  Every star which floated in the vast
+expanse above us was reflected on the surface of the deep; and as I
+looked over the side, I fancied that I could see numberless bright orbs
+floating far, far down in the limpid water.  Strange sounds reached my
+ears.  Suppressed shrieks, and groans, and cries--loud hisses, and
+murmuring voices, and strange monsters came up from their rocky
+weed-covered homes, their fins sparkling, and their eyes flashing as
+they clove through the sea.  Some would now and again spring into the
+air and fall back with a loud splash.  Others, of huge bulk, I thought,
+would come and float silently, looking at the little schooner, an
+intruder on their domain, seemingly devising means how they might drive
+her from it.  I ought to have been below resting, as the captain had
+ordered me, but I was hot and feverish, and could not remain in the
+close atmosphere of the forepeak.  As I stood gazing at the sea, I
+thought I saw the forms of all the unhappy men murdered by the Maroons
+pass before me.  Each countenance bore the agonised look which I had
+beheld before the fatal signal was given to the firing-party to perform
+the work of death.  They stretched out their hands to me to help them,
+and moaned piteously, as I stood spell-bound, unable to move.  One after
+the other they came gliding by, and then sank down into the water ahead
+of the schooner.  I could stand the dreadful sight no longer, and
+shrieked out in an attempt to go and help them.
+
+"What's the matter, lad?" said the voice of Peter Poplar close to my
+ear.  "You are overtired--no wonder.  Here--I have put a mattress and a
+blanket for you under shelter.  Lie down and take a little rest.  You'll
+want to use your strength perhaps before long.  A sailor should always
+eat when he can, and take his sleep when he can.  He is never certain
+when he may have to go without either food or rest."
+
+I took Peter's advice, and very soon the feelings which oppressed me
+wore off, and I fell soundly asleep.
+
+I did not awake till the bright sun was just rising out of the
+mirror-like sea.  The calm was as perfect as before; and when I looked
+for the land, I could only just make out its blue and hazy mountains
+rising out of the ocean.  Hot enough the weather was; but as the sun
+glided upwards in the sky, a thick mist was drawn over the whole face of
+nature.  The captain and Mr Gale were on deck, and I saw them scanning
+the horizon anxiously on every side.  They seemed far from satisfied
+with the look of the weather.  Still for some time they could not make
+up their minds how to act.
+
+"What's going to happen now?" said I to Peter some time after this.
+
+"Do you remember the breeze we had in Kingston Harbour on your first
+voyage?" he asked.
+
+"What? the hurricane do you mean?  Indeed I do," I replied.  "I hope we
+are not going to have such another in this little craft out here."
+
+"I'm not so sure of that, Jack," he replied.  "The captain begins to
+think so likewise.  He'll be for making everything snug, if I mistake
+not."
+
+Peter was right.  The order was soon given to strike topmasts, to furl
+sails, to set up the rigging, to fasten down the hatches, to secure
+everything below, and to lash the boats and all spare spars on deck.
+Everything that could be accomplished was done to prepare the little
+craft for the expected tempest.
+
+Still everything around us was so calm and quiet that it required no
+little faith in the judgment of our officers to believe that all this
+preparation was necessary.  Much in the same way do men feel it
+difficult to believe in the importance of preparing for another world,
+when the tide of prosperity carries them along, without care or anxiety,
+over the sea of life.  I have often thought that a gale of wind, a
+lee-shore on a dark night, and the risk of shipwreck, are of use to
+seamen, to make them prepare for the dangers which sooner or later must
+come upon them.  So are all misfortunes--pain, sorrow, loss of friends,
+deprivation of worldly honours or position--sent to remind people that
+this world is not their abiding-place; that they are sent into it only
+that they may have the opportunity of preparing in it for another and a
+better world, which will last for eternity.
+
+Hour after hour passed away.  Still the calm continued.  I suspect the
+officers themselves began to doubt whether the looked-for hurricane
+would ever come.  I asked Peter what he thought about it.
+
+"Come! ay, that it will," he replied.  "More reason that it will come
+with all its strength and fury because it is delayed.  Look out there!
+do you see that?"
+
+He pointed towards the now distant land.  A dark cloud seemed to be
+rushing out from that direction, and extending rapidly on either side,
+while below the cloud a long line of white foam came hissing and rolling
+on towards us.  As it reached the spot where we lay, the little vessel
+heeled over till I thought she would never rise again, and then she was
+turned round and round as if she had been a piece of straw.  Loudly
+roared and howled the fierce blast, and on she drove helplessly before
+it.  Every instant the sea rose higher and higher, and the schooner
+began to pitch, and toss, and tumble about, till I thought she would
+have been shaken to pieces.
+
+"Peter," said I, "we are in a bad way, I am afraid."
+
+"We should have been in a very much worse way had the wind come from
+another quarter, and driven us towards the land," he replied, gravely.
+"Some of the people had begun to grumble because we had been drifted so
+far off-shore.  We may now be thankful that we were not caught nearer to
+it, and have already made so much offing.  We shall very likely have it
+round again, and then we shall require all the distance we have come to
+drive in, and none to spare."
+
+"I was thinking of the chance we have of going to the bottom," said I,
+looking at the huge seas which kept tumbling tumultuously around us.
+
+"Not much fear of that," he answered.  "We are in a strongly-built and
+tight little craft; and as long as she keeps off-shore, she'll swim, I
+hope."
+
+Peter's prognostications as to a shift of the wind were speedily
+fulfilled, and we found the vessel driving as rapidly towards the
+dreaded shore as she had before been carried from it.  To struggle
+against it was hopeless; our only prospect of safety, should she be
+blown on it, was to find some creek or river into which we might run;
+but the probabilities of our finding such a shelter were so very remote,
+that all we could do was to pray that we might once more be driven away
+from the treacherous land.  Happily such was our fate.  Another eddy, as
+it were, of the whirlwind caught us, and once more we went flying away
+towards the coast of Cuba.  That was, however, so far distant that there
+was but little fear but that the tempest would have spent its fury long
+before we could reach it.  No sail could be set; but the vessel being in
+good trim, answered her helm, and kept before the wind.
+
+Away! away we flew! surrounded with sheets of hissing foam, the wild
+waters dancing up madly on every side, threatening, should we stop but
+for a moment in our course, to sweep over our decks!  Even careless as I
+then was, I could not help feeling grateful that we were not driving on
+towards a shore which must speedily stop us in our career; and I thought
+of the many poor fellows who would that day meet a watery grave, their
+vessels cast helplessly on the sea-beat rocks.  As the wind took us
+along with it, we got more than our fair share of the hurricane; and the
+night came on while we were still scudding on, exposed to its fury.
+
+If the scene was wild in the day-time, much more so was it when we were
+surrounded by darkness, and a thousand unseen horrors presented
+themselves to our imagination.  Though I was not very easily overcome, I
+had suffered so much lately that I felt that I could not endure much
+longer the continuance of this sort of work.  At last I fell into a sort
+of stupor, and I believe that I should have been washed overboard had
+not Peter secured me to the rigging, close to himself.  I knew nothing
+more till I awoke and found myself lying on the deck, with the sun
+glancing brightly over the sparkling waters; the schooner, with all sail
+set, close-hauled, and a gentle breeze blowing.  On one side was seen a
+range of blue hills rising out of the ocean.  Peter was kneeling by my
+side.
+
+"Get up, Jack," said he; "you've had a long snooze, but you wanted it,
+lad, I'm sure.  There's some breakfast for you; it will do you good
+after all you have gone through."
+
+I thanked my kind friend, and swallowed the cocoa and biscuit which he
+brought me with no little relish.
+
+"What! have we so soon got back to Jamaica?" said I, looking over the
+side, and seeing the blue ranges of hills I have spoken of.
+
+"Jamaica! no, lad--I wish it was," he replied.  "That's the island of
+Cuba; and from what I know of it, I wish that we were further off than
+we are.  Some ugly customers inhabit it!  There has been a
+suspicious-looking craft for the last hour or so standing out from the
+land towards us, and as she has long sweeps, she is making good way.  I
+suspect the captain don't admire her looks, for I have never seen him in
+such a way before from the moment he came on deck and caught sight of
+her.  If we were in the brig we need not have been afraid of her, but in
+this little cockle-shell we cannot do much to help ourselves."
+
+"We can fight, surely!" said I.  "We have arms, have we not?"
+
+"What can eight or ten men do against forty or fifty cut-throats, which
+probably that craft out there has on board?" answered Peter.  "We'll do
+our best, however."
+
+The approaching vessel was lateen-rigged, with two masts, and of great
+beam; and though low in the water, and at a distance looking small,
+capable of carrying a considerable number of men.  Certainly she had a
+very dishonest appearance.  I saw the captain often anxiously looking
+out on the weather-side, as if for a sign of more wind; but the gentle
+breeze just filled our sails, and gave the craft little more than
+steerage-way.  All hands kept whistling away most energetically for a
+stronger wind, but it would not come.  The felucca, however, sailed very
+fast.  As we could not get out of her way, the captain hailed, and very
+politely asked her to get out of ours, or rather to steer clear of us.
+Instead of replying, or acting according to his request, some forty ugly
+fellows or more, of every hue, from jet-black to white, and in every
+style of costume, sprung up on her decks from below, and directly
+afterwards she ranged up alongside of us.  The captain, on this, ordered
+her to sheer off; but instead of so doing, grappling-irons were thrown
+aboard us, and her fierce-looking crew made a rush to leap on our deck.
+They were met, however, by our captain, Mr Gale, Peter, and the rest of
+our people, who, with pistol and cutlass in hand, were prepared to
+dispute their passage.
+
+The pirates, for such there could be no doubt our visitors were, had
+four or more guns mounted on their deck; but they seemed resolved to
+depend rather on their overwhelming numbers than on them for victory.
+They had not calculated, apparently, what a few determined men could do.
+"Stand back, ye scoundrels!" shouted our brave captain, in a voice
+which made the ruffians look up with amazement, though I do not think
+they understood his words.  He gave them further force by a sweep of his
+cutlass, with which he cut off the head of the nearest of his
+assailants.  Peter, whose arm was almost as powerful, treated another in
+the same way; and Mr Gale knocked a third over with his pistol before
+any of them had time to get hold of our rigging.  This determined
+resistance caused them to draw back for an instant, which enabled Peter,
+with one of the other men, to cast loose the grappling-irons forward.
+At the same time two of the pirates, who were attempting to leap on
+board, were dealt such heavy blows on the head that they were knocked
+overboard before any of their companions could help them.  "Well done,
+my lads!" cried the captain.  "Keep up the game in this way, and we may
+yet beat off the villains!"  Saying this he sprang aft to drive back a
+gang of the pirates, who were attempting to board on our quarter.  Two
+of the first paid dearly for their temerity, and were cut down by either
+the captain or Mr Gale.  I got a long pike, and kept poking away over
+the bulwarks at every fellow I could reach.  Several pistols were fired
+at me, but missed their aim; but at last the pike was dragged out of my
+hands, and thrown overboard.  Unfortunately there was so little wind
+that the pirates, by getting out a sweep on the opposite side of their
+vessel, brought her head aboard, and at the same time made a rush to get
+on our deck.  Peter, with two of our men, hurried to repel them; but a
+bullet at that moment struck one of them on the breast, and knocked him
+over.  Poor fellow!  I tried to save him as he fell; but the heavy way
+in which he came to the deck showed me that his fighting days were over.
+I ran to help Peter and my other shipmates, but the pirates pressed us
+so hard that we had little hope of keeping them out.  In the meantime
+also a stout active little Spaniard, followed by two or three blacks and
+another white man, made a spring at our bulwarks about midships; and
+though one of our men, Tom Hardy, most bravely threw himself before
+them, they gained the deck, and cut him down before any further
+opposition could be offered.  Others followed them, and gaining the
+whole centre part of the vessel, our crew were completely divided.  We
+had lost two men.  Thus the captain, Mr Gale, and one man held the deck
+aft; while Peter, another man, and I still stood at our post forward.
+But what could we hope to do against the crowd of ruffians who swarmed
+on board?  At the same moment they pressed towards us and the captain,
+and would have carried us overboard had we not sung out, and asked for
+quarter.  The bravery which the captain and the rest had displayed
+seemed to have won their admiration and respect; for instead of cutting
+us down and throwing us into the sea, they instantly granted us the
+quarter we asked.  Our arms were taken from us, and we were ordered to
+go on board the felucca, while the pirates proceeded to rifle the
+schooner.  Except the hogsheads of sugar, which would not have been of
+much use to them, they found very little, I suspect, to repay them for
+the heavy cost of our capture.  The vessel, however, would probably have
+been of some value to them, as she was a fine little craft.
+
+The schooner having a crew put on board her, the two vessels stood away
+to the westward.  Peter told me that he suspected we were bound to one
+of the numerous small islands--keys they are called--which are found in
+great numbers off the south coast of Cuba.  We were allowed to walk
+about the deck without molestation; but our position was far from a
+pleasant one, for any moment our captors might take it into their heads
+to make us walk the plank, or to get rid of us by some other means.  I
+had never seen a person made to walk the plank, but I had heard it
+described as a favourite method employed by pirates to get rid of their
+prisoners.  A long plank is run out over the side, and the victim,
+blindfolded, is made to walk along it.  When he gets to the outer end,
+the inner part is tilted up, and he is slid into the sea.  I earnestly
+prayed that such might not be our fate, and yet I could not see what
+better we could expect.  We had evidently fallen into the hands of
+desperate outlaws, not likely to be influenced by any of the dictates of
+humanity.  At all events, we were likely to be kept prisoners, and
+probably made to work as slaves for these villains, without a chance of
+escaping.  The captain seemed most cast down.  He would, of course, most
+certainly be thought to be lost.  His vessel would sail without him, and
+report his death at home.  As he was a married man, with several
+children, the trial was indeed great to him.
+
+I tried to make out who was the captain of the pirates, but they
+appeared at first to me to be all equal.  A fat, sturdy mulatto, was, I
+after a time suspected, the chief mate, or one of the principal
+officers; and the Spaniard, who had first succeeded in boarding us, was
+another.  Not one of them spoke a word of English, though from the first
+I suspected that two or more of the white men understood it, if they
+were not Englishmen or people from the American colonies.  At all
+events, I followed Peter's advice--not to say anything about which it
+might be well not to have heard.  I have often seen people get into
+great scrapes, and bring most disagreeable consequences on themselves,
+from disregarding that rule.  Never say anything among foreigners, in
+your own or any other language, which you do not wish them to
+understand; or even give expression to your feelings in looks, which
+even savages, you should remember, can frequently comprehend.
+
+Our two poor shipmates who had been wounded died, I hope, before we left
+the schooner.  At all events, the pirates threw them overboard.
+Including Peter and me, there were thus only three foremast-men, besides
+the blacks, and a mulatto who had been shipped as pilot for the trip
+round the coast.  We all kept together sitting on and about one of the
+guns; but very little conversation passed between us.  The captain and
+Mr Gale walked the deck near us, but they said very little to each
+other.  A negro brought us, towards the evening, a large dish of farina,
+with some sort of meat stewed in it.  Though not over pleasant to the
+look, it was acceptable enough to hungry men, for we had had nothing to
+eat since the morning.  A more palatable-looking dish was placed before
+the captain and Mr Gale.  This care of us showed that they did not, at
+all events, intend to starve us to death, as they would scarcely have
+fed people whom they intended to kill.
+
+I observed the Spaniard and the mulatto mate occasionally going down an
+after-hatchway, which I supposed led into the chief cabin, but for what
+reason they went I could not tell; and I observed that whenever the
+captain and Mr Gale approached the spot, a guard stationed there turned
+them back.  When night came on, a sail was handed to us, which we spread
+over the gun, and crept under it; and I observed that a couple of
+mattresses were sent on deck, and that a sail was secured over the
+bulwarks, to make a somewhat better tent for our officers.
+
+We passed the whole of the next day much as we had done the first.  The
+black, and white, and coloured crew did not regard us with very friendly
+looks; but they did not molest us.  A dark-skinned lad would, however,
+occasionally come up to me when neither of the mates were looking, and
+touching a formidable-looking knife he wore in his sheath, signify that
+he should enjoy running the point into me.  Some relation of his had
+been among the men killed, and this made him feel bitter towards us.
+Peter, who saw the action, advised me to remain quiet, and to take no
+notice of it.  "He only wants an excuse for a quarrel, and therefore,
+unless you wish to please him, do not give it," observed my friend.  I
+followed his advice, not only at the present, but on many future
+occasions, and thus avoided many of the quarrels and disputes into which
+I saw others plunged.  The men who brought us our food growled a little
+at us, as if they would much rather have been making us food for the
+fish; but as we made them no answer, they went away and left us to
+ourselves.  As the wind was generally light, we did not make much
+progress.  Thus another night passed away.
+
+When the morning of the next day broke, I saw that we were running in
+among reefs, which I could tell by the ripple of the otherwise calm
+water breaking over them.  Ahead was a low sandy shore, mangrove-bushes
+lining some portion of it, with palms and plantains, and a few other
+tropical trees, rising beyond them.  As we sailed on, threading the
+glass-like channels, the sun rose higher and higher, and shone down with
+intense heat on our heads, drawing forth, at the same time, a thin
+gauze-like mist over the whole scene.  "This is a regular trap,"
+observed Peter.  "If a man once gets in here, I defy him to find his way
+out again, unless he was born and bred on the spot."  The captain and
+Mr Gale were watching the progress of the vessel, and tried to look as
+unconcerned as possible; but they were evidently considering if it were
+possible to take a vessel out by the way they had come in.
+
+At length we entered the mouth of a narrow creek, lined with the
+mangrove-bushes I have spoken of on either side; some growing in the
+bright pure water, others with their branches just dipping into the
+clear liquid, and so distinctly reflected that I could not tell where
+the real bough ended and its phantom-likeness began.  After running on
+for half a mile, and making frequent turns, we found ourselves in a wide
+lagoon, several other craft of different sizes and rigs being at anchor
+in it.  On shore, there was a collection of large wooden sheds looking
+like stores, and some huts, and a few buildings of more pretensions,
+apparently dwelling-houses.  There was nothing like order or regularity
+in the arrangement of the village; but each store or cottage seemed to
+have been placed as suited the fancy of the owner, the whole wearing a
+very nautical, shipwreck appearance.  Many of the roofs were formed of
+the bottoms of boats; sails, with a coating of paint or tar, were nailed
+over others; and the planks and ribs of vessels had entered largely into
+the construction of all the edifices.  I made these observations as we
+were shortening sail and coming to an anchor.  It was very clearly a
+pirate stronghold, and had been probably so for some years.  The pirates
+had allowed us to remain on deck and see the approach to it, evidently
+trusting to the difficulties of the navigation to prevent any of us
+finding our way out of it, or in again, should we obtain our liberty.
+Though art had done nothing, nature had done everything to make the
+place impregnable, unless a pilot could be found to show an enemy the
+way.  Against such a result they had several safeguards: each man of
+this fraternity had bound himself by an oath not to betray any of their
+secrets.  The Spanish authorities took very little cognisance of them,
+as their own vessels were not attacked; while at that time the governors
+of the West India Islands did not trouble themselves much about rooting
+out piracy; and it was only when some act of especial atrocity had been
+committed, that, if a man-of-war was in the way, she was sent in chase
+of the pirate.
+
+As soon as we had dropped our anchor, several boats came off from the
+shore with people eager to learn the news we brought.  They looked
+suspiciously at us, and seemed not very well satisfied at the result of
+their inquiries.  It was far from pleasant to see a number of
+cut-throat-looking fellows parading up and down before us with their
+hands on the hilts of their long knives, with which they kept playing as
+if anxious to try their temper in our bodies.  Captain Helfrich stood
+all the time with folded arms leaning against the bulwarks, and all we
+could do was to imitate his example.  I was not sorry, however, when the
+mulatto mate intimated to us that we were to get into the boat and go on
+shore, as I thought that we should then probably be more out of the way
+of our irascible-looking friends.  We were ordered into one boat with
+Mr Gale, while the captain was carried away in another.  This seriously
+excited our apprehension, as we could not tell what evil might be
+intended him.  He, however, though very grave, seemed to be under no
+apprehension, but stepped into the boat as if he was going on shore on
+his own business.
+
+As soon as we landed, we were marched up to one of the store-like
+buildings; and a ladder being shown us, up which we went through a trap
+which closed behind us, we found ourselves in a large airy loft.  The
+furniture consisted of some heaps of the straw or leaves of Indian corn.
+It looked clean, and was, therefore, more suited to our wants than
+would have been any number of pieces of the handsomest furniture--such
+as marble tables, mahogany sideboards, satin-wood wardrobes, or gold and
+china vases.  As Peter observed, when he threw himself on one of the
+heaps: "Never mind, my lads, we're rich if we've got what we want.  If
+our friends below would send us up a dish of turtle and rice, or some of
+their ollas, we, at any rate, shall have no reason to complain of our
+lot.  We shall get out of this one of these days; so, in the meantime,
+let us make ourselves comfortable."  Peter's good temper kept up the
+spirits of the rest of our party.  I have often found the advantage of
+having a person like Peter among a number of people placed in
+circumstances like ours, either in prison, or cast away, or detained in
+some disagreeable place; and I have, therefore, always endeavoured to
+imitate him in that respect, as well as in others, by keeping up my own
+spirits, and by cheering my companions in misfortune.  Mr Gale, under
+most circumstances, would have contributed to support us; but on the
+present occasion he was evidently too much weighed down with grave
+apprehensions as to what was likely to befall us all, to act as he would
+otherwise have done.  Not having anything else to do, and being very
+tired, we all went to sleep.
+
+After some hours, for the sun was low by that time, we were awoke.
+Hearing a bolt being withdrawn, and looking up, I saw the trap lifted,
+and a negro appeared.  On his head he carried a large bowl, with some
+wooden spoons in it.  He placed the bowl before us, and signified that
+we might eat its contents.  Curiously enough, it contained the very
+thing Peter had been wishing for--a stew of turtle and rice, a thing not
+to be despised by hungry men.  It was very good, I know.  After eating
+it, we went to sleep again, and for my own part I did not awake till
+daylight.  After some time, a bowl of a sort of porridge was brought us,
+and some plantains, which, with pork, forms the common food of the
+people of Cuba.  Twice in the day food was brought us.  It was both
+abundant and good, so that we had no reason to complain of the way the
+pirates treated us.  The great puzzle was to discover why it was that
+they were so civil.  Had they kept us on bread and water, and spared our
+lives, we should have had reason to be grateful; as the usual mode of
+proceeding of such gentry, we understood, always was to shoot all who
+would not take the oaths and join them.
+
+We were not allowed to go out of the place, or to hold intercourse with
+anybody.  The only light which was let into the place came from a hole
+in the roof above our heads.  It was so placed that we could not manage
+to climb up to it.  I managed, however, to find a chink in the floor,
+near the trap; and whenever I looked through it, I saw a man with a
+musket standing there as a guard.
+
+Three or four days thus passed away.  We could hear nothing of the
+captain, for the only person we saw was the negro, and when we asked
+him, he only shook his head, and intimated that he did not understand
+what we said.  Mr Gale, after a time, aroused himself, and gave us
+instructions in various matters; and Peter and one of the other men told
+some capital stories, and we all took it by turns to sing songs.  I was
+not a bad hand at that, by-the-by; I had learned several as a child, and
+had picked up others since then, and as my voice was a good one, my
+songs were generally favourites.
+
+The time, however, began to hang rather heavily on our hands, when one
+evening a stranger made his appearance, and looking at me, said in
+English, "Youngster, you are wanted."  I was startled at hearing the
+sound of an English voice; but I, of course, thought the captain wanted
+me, so I went, very willing to accompany him.  The trap was bolted
+behind me.  He took me to one of the largest cottages I had observed,
+and entering it, pointed to a door, and told me to go in.  I did so, and
+there I saw seated at a table the identical old gentleman whom I
+believed to be called Captain Ralph.  He did not look a day older than
+when he came on board the _Rainbow_ off Saint Kitt's, and he wore the
+same old-fashioned three-cornered hat and laced-coat.
+
+"You have seen me before, lad," said he, eyeing me closely.
+
+"Yes, sir," said I, resolving to be frank with him; "on board the
+_Rainbow_."
+
+"You are attached to your captain, and would wish to do him a service?"
+he added.
+
+"Yes, sir," said I.  "What do you want me to do?"
+
+"Tell him that all his people have taken the oaths and joined the
+confederacy," he answered, looking at me hard.
+
+"I don't know what oaths, or what else you mean, sir," I answered.  "I
+cannot tell him anything that is not true."
+
+"What? a ship-boy with a conscience?" he exclaimed, bursting into a fit
+of laughter.  "I tell you, lad, you must do as you are bid."
+
+"Yes, sir, I'll do what my captain tells me," I replied, simply.  "But
+for the matter of saying anything to deceive him, I won't do it.  I'll
+tell him the truth, and then he'll know how to act."
+
+He looked at me very hard for a moment or so, and then rang a bell by
+his side.  From what he had said, I hoped that the captain was safe and
+well.  The same man who had brought me in appeared.
+
+"Send Diego here to take care of this youngster, and bring in one of the
+other men, the tall one--I will try what I can make of him," he said;
+and the white man disappeared.
+
+Directly afterwards, a sturdy black man came in.  Captain Ralph pointed
+to me.  He seized me by the collar, and held me a prisoner on one side
+of the room.  In a short time Peter was brought in.
+
+"You find life and liberty sweet, my man?" said the old gentleman,
+addressing him.
+
+"I've no objection to either," answered Peter sturdily.
+
+"You've been well-treated since you've been here?" said Captain Ralph.
+
+"I've no reason to complain," was Peter's laconic reply.
+
+"Very well; you may judge that I do not wish you ill," observed Captain
+Ralph.  "Now, I won't conceal it from you, we have a body of people on
+this island who don't own any laws except those of our own making.  A
+large number of them are Spaniards, and I want a few honest Englishmen,
+who will stick by one another, to join us.  What do you say?  Are you
+inclined to join us?  Your captain will, I have no doubt, and so will
+this lad and the rest of your shipmates."
+
+I shook my head.  Captain Ralph did not see me, but the negro did, and
+gave me a cuff on the head in consequence.  I had not fancied that the
+negro understood English, but from this circumstance I have no doubt he
+did.
+
+Peter gave a hitch to his trousers when the question was put to him, and
+then vehemently scratched his head.  "Look ye here, sir," he answered in
+a firm voice, which showed that he had made up his mind how to act, "I
+am much obliged for the treatment I and my shipmates have received since
+we came to this place, barring the being kept inside a sort of prison,
+so to speak; but you must just understand, sir, that I've been brought
+up to be an honest man, and an honest man I hope to remain to the end of
+my days; and so, as to taking any oath to turn pirate, or in any way to
+associate with those who do, I'll not do it.  So now you've my answer."
+
+The pirate chief--for so I may as well at once call him--seemed to be
+somewhat taken aback at this answer; but he laughed as I had before
+heard him.  "You _Rainbow_ lads have odd notions of your own about
+honesty!  We'll see what the rest of you have to say on the subject."
+
+Mr Gale was next sent for.  He, as may be supposed, at once refused to
+join the pirates.  The other men, fancying that we had joined them,
+promised to do so; but it struck me that Captain Ralph did not look
+particularly well satisfied at hearing their reply.
+
+What his intentions were we could not tell, for he ordered us all at
+once to be taken back to our place of confinement, under a guard of five
+or six men, who stood outside ready for that purpose.  What had become
+of the captain puzzled us most to discover.  We said nothing, however,
+as we went along, for we were pretty certain that the people who had
+charge of us perfectly understood English, if they were not mostly
+Englishmen.
+
+We remained two or three days longer shut up, in a state of great doubt
+and uncertainty.  Sometimes we fancied that we should be taken out and
+shot; at others, that we might be set at liberty.  However, I could not
+help hoping that Captain Ralph was well-disposed towards us.  What the
+pirates were about all this time we could not tell; but we supposed that
+they could scarcely remain idle, and if we were to make our escape at
+all, we looked forward to the time when the greater portion were gone
+away on some expedition.
+
+We very soon got tired of not being able to see what was going forward
+in the outer world.  We accordingly hunted about the roof, to find a
+spot where we could remove the shingles, or split planks of wood which
+formed it, without leaving any marks which might be observed.  This,
+after a little time, we succeeded in doing with our knives; and thus we
+formed a look-out hole on each side of the building.  On one side, we
+could see all over the harbour; on another, we looked down towards the
+mouth; a third looked over a very uninviting country inland, with the
+mountains of Cuba seen in the far distance, blue and indistinct; while,
+by looking through the fourth, we discovered that we were separated from
+the open sea by a piece of land little more than a mile in width.  We
+could not, of course, see what was going forward close under the
+buildings, but we could observe the movements of people on shore at a
+little distance off.  Our ears, however, helped us when our eyesight
+failed.  One of us was always on the look-out at each hole, while the
+fifth kept watch at the chink, to give timely notice of anybody's
+approach to the ladder.
+
+For some days we had observed the people busily employed in fitting,
+rigging, and in shaping and altering spars.  At length there was an
+unusual bustle, and boats were continually going backwards and forwards
+between the vessels, carrying stores of various sorts.  It was clear
+that there was at length an expedition on foot.  We naturally fancied
+that it would produce some change in our position, but whether for
+better or worse remained to be seen.
+
+The next morning the harbour was covered with boats carrying people on
+board the vessels; and directly afterwards six of them got under way,
+and stood out towards the sea.  Whether or not Captain Ralph went with
+them we could not discover.  We could not perceive our own schooner in
+the harbour, but there was a vessel which we thought might be her lying
+out towards the mouth of the creek.  There were still, we remarked, a
+good number of people left on the island.  We saw them moving about in
+all directions for some hours after the fleet had sailed, and then they
+retired into the huts and sheds which served as their homes.  Such was
+the state of things when we lay down to rest that night.
+
+About midnight, we were startled by hearing the trap-door lifted.  At
+the same time a man appeared with a lantern in his hand.  I recognised
+him as the person who had conducted me to the presence of Captain Ralph.
+
+"I have come here as a friend, my men," he said in a low voice, putting
+down the lantern.  "You have shown that you can be faithful to your own
+captain, and mine, therefore, believes that he can trust you to do him a
+service.  Is he right?"
+
+"Yes," answered Mr Gale, speaking for the rest of us; "anything which,
+as honest men, we can do to help him we will gladly undertake."
+
+"That's right," said the stranger.  "You must know, then, that we have
+here men of various nations.  Many of them are Spaniards.  They and
+other foreigners have lately been growing more and more jealous of our
+captain.  He has done two or three things lately to offend their
+prejudices, certainly.  The consequence is, that they have hatched a
+conspiracy, which has just been discovered, to murder him and all the
+English in the place; you all will be among the first victims.  In
+asking you to fight for us, I invite you to fight for your own lives.
+To show that I trust you, I have brought you some pistols and
+ammunition, and a bundle of swords done up in this sail.  The villains
+have fixed on an hour before daybreak to begin the attack on us.  Arm
+yourselves, and be ready to sally forth at a moment's notice.  They will
+sound a trumpet as a signal to their party to begin the work of
+slaughter.  I will try to be here before then.  If I am not, make your
+way to Captain Ralph's quarters.  He will have, before that, released
+your captain, who will put himself at your head.  You will also be
+joined by four or five men, who, like me, will be glad to get away from
+this den, and regain our liberty at any cost.  I must stay no longer, or
+I may be missed.  Be prompt and firm, and we may come off conquerors.
+Remember, however, it is victory or death for all of us!"
+
+These words came like a thunder-clap among us.  We could scarcely
+believe our ears.  Mr Gale, however, at once replied, that we would
+undertake exactly to follow the stranger's directions, as we clearly
+understood the dangerous predicament in which we all stood.  The instant
+he received our reply, he hurried from the loft, and we could see his
+figure from our loophole proceeding to the upper part of the settlement.
+
+Our first care was to examine the package, which we found contained the
+arms he had promised.  We immediately loaded the pistols, and buckled on
+the cutlasses, and then stood ready to descend at the expected signal.
+To men long shut up as we had been, any excitement is acceptable; so
+that, far from feeling any alarm at what we had heard, scarcely anything
+could have contributed so much to raise our spirits.  I truly believe
+that we valued the prospect of obtaining our liberty much more from the
+chance of having to fight for it.  We were only eager for the fray to
+begin.  We could not tell exactly how we were to find out our enemies;
+but Mr Gale charged us not to attack anyone till we were attacked,
+unless we received directions from Captain Helfrich, or the stranger who
+had just visited us.
+
+The state of things which existed, it appeared, among this community of
+sea-robbers, showed me a truth which I have since found frequently
+confirmed, that oaths are of little or no value among men who are
+continually breaking God's laws.  They are kept as a rule only as long
+as it is convenient or necessary to each individual to keep them; but
+the moment he thinks it to his advantage to break them, he does so
+without the slightest compunction.  The terrific oaths which were
+supposed to bind together the ruffians of the Blackbeard school, were
+over and over again broken, and would never have been kept unless
+interest, or the lowest superstition, had held the ruffians faithful to
+them.  The value of an oath, as a pledge taken in the sight of the
+Almighty God, they could not comprehend.  Much the same was evidently
+the case in the present instance; and here there was every prospect of a
+long existing community of outlaws breaking up from internal
+dissensions.  We could only earnestly hope that such might be their
+fate.  "Depend on it, Jack, my boy," said Peter to me, when talking on
+the subject, "there's only one thing can bind men truly together, and
+that is honesty of purpose.  Real friendship cannot exist among knaves."
+In my long life I have invariably found his remarks verified.
+
+Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal.  Of course
+we were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talked
+over the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt to
+effect our escape.  We had an advantage the pirate who visited us did
+not suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew that
+our own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour.  We
+agreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, to
+set fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put them
+out, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape down
+the lagoon.
+
+The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shore
+or on the water.  There was a gentle land-breeze blowing, which would be
+all in our favour if once we could get to the vessel.  Suddenly the
+shrill blast of a trumpet was heard.  Peter gave one glance through the
+loophole, and said he saw torches flaming in the upper part of the
+village; and presently loud shouts and cries burst forth from the same
+direction.  We slid down the ladder as fast as one could follow the
+other, Mr Gale leading.  If a guard had been there, he had run off at
+the first sound of the trumpet.  We hurried on in the direction we had
+been desired to take.  We had not gone far when we were met by the
+stranger.  "No time to lose; on, my lads!" he exclaimed, leading the
+way.  Before us torches were waving, and there were the flashes of
+fire-arms.  Their reports were heard, as was the clash of steel.  We
+advanced together rapidly.  Suddenly flames burst out of one of the
+large stores.  The building itself and its contents, probably being of
+inflammable materials, blazed up fiercely, and its light fell on the
+figures of a number of men fighting desperately.  One person was
+conspicuous above those of all the others.  It was that of our own
+captain.  As we saw him we raised a cheer, which must have reached his
+ears.  He answered it with a shout such as few but he could give.  Again
+we cheered, and dashed on with redoubled speed.  We were but just in
+time to help him.  He stood with his back against a wall, almost
+surrounded with enemies, bestriding the body of Captain Ralph; while his
+right hand wielded a huge sword, such as few but he could use to
+advantage.  "On, my lads!  Charge the villains!" he shouted.  We needed
+not the command, but rushed against the mass of Spaniards, mulattoes,
+and blacks, who were besetting him, with such hearty good-will, and our
+attack being, at the same time, so unexpected, that we drove them back,
+helter-skelter, some hundred yards, killing and wounding a number of
+them in the way.  We should have gone further, but we were recalled by
+the captain's voice.  We found him lifting Captain Ralph's body in his
+arms.  "To the boats! to the boats!" shouted some of the Englishmen,
+each of whom bore, I perceived, a considerable bundle on his shoulders.
+We, supporting our captain, followed the way they led.  Five or six
+boats, with their oars and sails in them, were in the water at a rough
+wooden quay.  We jumped into them, and shoved off.
+
+Several English had been killed, and some had been wounded, whom their
+comrades had assisted to the water-side.  The scene was lighted up by
+the blaze of several wooden stores and other buildings.  Among them was
+Captain Ralph's cottage.  The lights from the flaming mass fell on a
+large body of Spaniards, who had rallied, and were advancing rapidly
+towards us.  "It matters not," shouted some of our new companions, with
+a laugh of derision; "they'll find no boats to pursue us; and when they
+get back to their homes, they'll discover that not a few of their gold
+ingots are gone.  Hurrah! hurrah!  Give way, my lads, though!  They'll
+bring their guns to bear upon us if we do not make good way down the
+creek."  We had all jumped into the nearest boats at hand, without any
+respect to order, and the stoutest hands had seized the oars.  I found
+myself in the boat with my captain and Captain Ralph.  The old man lay
+in the stern-sheets supported in my captain's arms.  He still lived, but
+he appeared to be badly wounded.  Neither spoke for some time.  The
+captain told me to take the yoke-lines, and to steer according to his
+directions.  Peter pulled one of the oars, and our boat took the lead;
+but, to my surprise, my captain seemed to know all the turnings of the
+creek as well as any of the pirates.
+
+We had got but a short distance when our opponents reached the side of
+the water, when, finding no boats, they began rapidly firing away at us.
+Though the light from the blazing buildings fell on us, it did not
+enable them to judge accurately of the distance we were from them, and
+most of their shot went over our heads.  Though we had plenty of arms in
+the boat, we did not attempt to return their fire; but some of our
+lawless companions gave vent to their anger in shouts and execrations.
+
+Wild as the scene had hitherto been, it was yet further heightened by a
+loud explosion, which sent fragments of burning embers falling even
+around the boats.  At the sound, Captain Ralph raised his head and
+looked towards the village.  "They have lost their expected prize, and
+many of them have received what they little expected!" he exclaimed,
+with that peculiar low laugh in which I had before heard him indulge.
+He had for the moment forgotten his condition.  He was, I saw clearly,
+desperately wounded.  The exertion of moving and speaking was greater
+than he could bear, and he sunk back into the captain's arms.
+
+The bullets were all this time flying thickly about the boats, though we
+were rapidly increasing our distance from the shore.  Several of them
+had whistled by my ear.  Then I heard one strike close to me with a
+peculiar dead sound.  At the same moment a sharp, unearthly cry rung in
+my ear.  It was uttered by Captain Ralph.  "Helfrich!" he exclaimed,
+"they have done for me.  I thought that I had secured all I required,
+and might live henceforth in peace.  I die with unnumbered sins on my
+conscience, without one good act performed, with every advantage
+neglected, with a thousand opportunities of reformation thrown away.  I
+have lived a life of imposture, outraging all laws, human and divine,
+and I die miserably without hope--without hope--without hope!  Oh, save
+me! save me! save me!"  The last words the miserable man gasped out with
+difficulty.  Scarcely had he spoken them, when his head fell down over
+his breast, a convulsive shudder passed through his frame, and the once
+dreaded pirate was dead!
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHT.
+
+PIRATES IN BOTH HEMISPHERES.
+
+The balls from the pirates' muskets not a little increased the rapidity
+of our movements.  Two or three men in the other boats were hit, and one
+was killed.  When Captain Helfrich discovered what had occurred, he
+carefully closed the old pirate's eyes, and placed the body on the seat
+by his side.  His men, however, evinced very little sorrow at his death.
+Who he was, and what he had done during his life, I was never able
+clearly to learn.  He was a man of education, and a first-rate seaman,
+as I had had an opportunity of observing; and I should think that he
+would have succeeded in any line of life he might have chosen to adopt.
+He selected, unhappily, a very bad one, for I believe that his whole
+career had been lawless; but that, rather from the peculiarity of his
+temper than from any fear of committing evil, he had usually abstained,
+when he had the power in his own hands, from shedding blood.
+
+The grey dawn broke as we were pulling down the creek, and just as the
+headmost boat touched the side of a schooner which lay at its mouth, the
+sun rose in a blaze of glory out of the smooth dark blue ocean.  Peter,
+looking over his shoulder, recognised her as our little sugar vessel.
+We were soon alongside.  Friends to our lawless companions were on
+board.  The cable was hove short, the mainsail was set, and all was
+ready to weigh in a moment.  As many boats as the schooner could stow on
+deck: were hoisted on board; the rest went ahead to tow her out.  The
+plan of escape had been well arranged by Captain Ralph and his
+followers.  When they found that their long-trusted leader was dead,
+their dismay was great.  No time, however, was to be lost.  A man who
+had gone to the mast-head, whence he could look over the mangrove-bushes
+into the lagoon, reported that some of the vessels there were making
+sail in pursuit.  We, however, had a good start of them.  Still, without
+a leader, there was some confusion, and the energies of the people were
+not applied to their full advantage.
+
+Suddenly there arose a cry among them that a captain must be chosen.
+"The English captain! the English captain!--Captain Helfrich is our
+man!" was shouted by all the pirates; and it was very evident that,
+whether he would or not, they would compel him to take the post.
+
+"My men, I am obliged to you for your good opinion of me," said Captain
+Helfrich, standing up among them; "still I cannot be your captain.  I
+will be your pilot to take you out of this harbour, and to enable you to
+gain a place of safety, on one condition, that you disperse at the time
+I point out to you.  I make this agreement for your own advantage.  If
+you keep together, you are certain before long to get into trouble.
+Will you trust me?"
+
+"We agree! we agree!" was replied on all sides.  "We trust you, sir, for
+we know you mean us well."
+
+"Then heave up the anchor, sheet home the headsails, up with the helm,
+and let her cast to starboard," cried the captain, almost in the same
+breath.
+
+A man was stationed at the bowsprit-end, and another at the mast-head,
+to give notice of any rocks beneath the water which might lie in our
+course; but Captain Helfrich seemed scarcely to require such
+information.  The little schooner threaded the narrow and intricate
+passage with unerring accuracy, every instant the rapidity of her
+progress being increased by the freshening wind.  It was well, indeed,
+for our safety that we had a steady breeze, for while we were still
+within the labyrinth of reefs, several vessels were seen emerging from
+among the mangrove-bushes.  As they advanced, they fired their guns at
+us; but we were still far beyond their range.  Had it not been, indeed,
+for the many turns in the passage, we should have been so far away that
+they could not have hoped to reach us.  We had only our heels to depend
+on, for, with so overpowering a force, the Spaniards must easily have
+overcome us.  Our great danger consisted in the possibility of striking
+on a rock before we could get clear of the reefs.  On this probability
+our enemies calculated when they came in pursuit.
+
+We had several reaches to pass through, which in no way increased our
+distance from them through the air, and at last several of their shot
+came whistling over our mast-heads.  One went through our mainsail.  We
+could only stand still and look at our enemies, while our little vessel
+made the best of her way from them.
+
+"Hurrah, my lads! we are in the last reach," shouted our captain; "in
+five minutes we shall be in clear water!"
+
+The men shouted in return.  Stronger blew the breeze, making the blue
+sea sparkle and leap outside.  On either hand it broke in masses of
+foam, which leaped high into the air.  On we flew!  A narrow channel of
+smooth water was before us.  We glided through it.  "Hurrah--hurrah! we
+are free--we are free!"
+
+I remember how fresh and pure I thought the sea air smelt.  With what
+freedom I breathed, after being shut up so long in a hot loft!  The
+breeze was easterly--a wind which would carry us on a bowline to
+Jamaica.  Every sail the little schooner could carry was set on her.
+Our pursuers were not, however, yet willing to give up the chase.  Once
+clear, with the open sea before us, we distanced them fast, and the
+sailing qualities of the little schooner being very fair, we had little
+fear of being overtaken.
+
+From what I saw of our present companions, I certainly should not have
+liked to have associated much with them.  While danger threatened, they
+were quiet enough; but as the prospect of being overtaken decreased,
+they grew more reckless and overbearing in their manner, and showed with
+how little provocation they would be ready to break into a quarrel with
+us, or among themselves.  Thanks to Mr Gale's and Peter's example, we
+were not likely to give them cause for that.  As they had been prepared
+for flight, they had not only put on a considerable quantity of
+additional clothing, but each man carried round his waist a belt filled
+with gold and silver coins, while his pockets were filled with jewels
+and such silver ornaments and other articles of value which he could
+manage to stow away in them.  This much impeded their activity, though,
+of course, it was but natural that they should wish to carry away with
+them as much as they could of those spoils, to gain which they had
+hazarded the loss both of life and soul!
+
+"It will be as well, for their own sakes, that none of those fellows
+fall overboard," observed Peter to me when none of them were near to
+listen; "they'll go down like a shot, and then what will be the use to
+them of all the dollars and the gold they have collected?  What's the
+use of it to them now? just to spend in the grossest folly and
+debauchery; and for the sake of collecting it, they have been living a
+life of murder and rapine!  All I can say is that I don't want to change
+places with them, though their pockets are full and mine are empty!"  I
+agreed with Peter that neither would I, and we had good reason before
+long to think the same.
+
+We were still not clear of danger from our pursuers.  The breeze
+freshened so much that it was with difficulty we could stagger along
+under the press of canvas we carried; and as the Spaniards' vessels were
+much larger, had we been compelled to shorten sail, they might easily
+have come up with us.  If they did, we well knew that we could expect no
+mercy from them.  Still the chase was very exciting.  However, I would
+rather be the pursuer than the pursued; and I suppose that a hare, or a
+fox, or a stag would, if it could express its opinion, agree with me in
+the latter remark.  Fortunately for us the breeze kept very steady; and
+as, after a time, the Spaniards found that they lost ground rather than
+gained on us, they tacked and stood back towards the Cuban coast.  This
+event was noticed with loud cheers by all our people, nor was I slack in
+joining them.
+
+Our passage, till we sighted the coast of Jamaica, was very rapid.
+Captain Helfrich had made some arrangement with the pirates as to their
+future course.  I do not know what it was.  Some were to go away in
+their boats in different directions; some wished to land, and others to
+be put on board homeward-bound vessels.  They wanted to take the
+schooner, but, of course, he could not willingly let them have her, as
+she was not his property.  I suspect that they had formed a plan to take
+her; but their designs, if such existed, were defeated.
+
+Among the cargo were some small casks of rum.  A knowledge of this fact
+the captain wished to keep concealed from everybody on board.
+Unhappily, however, the pirates discovered them, and, in spite of
+Captain Helfrich's remonstrances and warnings, they very soon had them
+up and broached on deck.  Every minute they became more and more riotous
+and inclined to quarrel among themselves.  Again the captain warned them
+that they would betray themselves; but laughingly they answered that
+they knew him well, and that he would take care that they got into no
+mischief.
+
+The wind heading us, we had to stand in-shore, so as to beat up towards
+Kingston.  There was a little sea on, but not enough to prevent our
+observing objects some way below the surface.  Peter and I were looking
+over the side--one of the other men being at the helm--when we noticed a
+dark pointed object floating alongside; another came up near it.
+Looking down, we with a shudder discovered the long tapering bodies of
+two sharks swimming just on our quarter.  Nothing is so hateful to a
+sailor, even when he has a sound plank under his feet, as a sight of
+those tigers of the deep.  Happening shortly after to go over to the
+other side, and glancing my eye over the bulwarks, with almost a thrill
+of horror I saw two others precisely in the same relative position.  At
+first I thought they must be the same, but going back to the other side,
+there were those first seen just as they had been before.
+
+"I don't like the look of those brutes," said Peter.  "I am not
+superstitious, but I never have seen sharks swimming along as those are
+but what some mischief or other has happened--a man has fallen
+overboard, or something of that sort!"
+
+I, as may be supposed, shared fully in Peter's feelings, and set to work
+wondering what the harm would be.
+
+I had not long to wait.  The schooner had tacked, and was laying pretty
+well along-shore, with her head off it, and about a mile distant.  One
+of the pirates, with drunken gravity, had insisted that he was not going
+to be idle, and that he would tend the fore-sheet.  The state of things
+on board had made the captain doubly anxious to get in before night, and
+we were, therefore, carrying on perhaps even more sail than the little
+craft could well bear.  We were taking the water in well over our bows;
+but that seemed in no way to inconvenience the hardy pirates, as they
+sat on the deck at their levels.  I will not attempt to paint the
+picture presented by the pirates.  The horrid oaths and blasphemy, the
+obscene songs, the shouts of maniac laughter, may be better imagined
+than described.
+
+Peter and I and the other men had gone aft, where was also the captain,
+while Mr Gale stood at the helm.  The sun was perhaps an hour above the
+horizon.  Frequently the captain had turned his eyes in the direction of
+Kingston Harbour.  A sail was seen standing out of the harbour, steering
+towards us, for the purpose, evidently, of getting a good offing before
+nightfall.  As her topsails appeared above the horizon, we could make
+out very clearly that she was a brig.
+
+"Hand me up my glass, Jack," said the captain with animation.  He took a
+long, steady look at her, and then handed the glass to Mr Gale, whose
+place Peter took at the helm.
+
+While they were all looking eagerly at the approaching brig, I felt the
+schooner heel over even more than she had been doing.  The captain
+likewise became sensible of the movement.  He looked round--
+
+"Let go the fore-sheet!" he shouted loudly.  Mr Gale at the same moment
+sprang forward to execute the order; but the pirate who was tending it
+held it on tight with drunken stupidity.  Mr Gale tried to drag him
+away from it; but the man, instead of letting go, gave a turn, and
+jammed the sheet.  Down came the squall on us with redoubled strength.
+The little vessel heeled over till her gunwale was buried in the sea.
+The water rose higher and higher up her deck.  It was too late to cut
+the sheet.  No skill could save her.
+
+Down, down went the vessel!  Shrieks and cries arose, but they were no
+longer the sounds of revelry.  They were those of horror and hopeless
+dismay, uttered by the pirates as they found the vessel sinking under
+their feet and they were thrown struggling into the water.  So suddenly
+did she go over, and so rapidly did she fill, that even the most sober
+had no time to consider how they could save themselves, much less had
+those wretched drunken men.  Overloaded as they were with clothes and
+booty, they could neither swim nor struggle towards the spars, and
+planks, and oars, and boats, which were floating about on every side.
+
+When Mr Gale found that it was too late to save the schooner, he sprung
+back towards one of the boats which had been stowed right aft on the
+weather-side; the captain, Peter, and I, with our men, had been cutting
+the lashings which had secured it with our knives; and giving it a shove
+as the deck of the vessel touched the water, we were able to get clear
+just as she went down.  The mate had not quite reached the boat, but
+Peter, leaning forward, hauled him in before he was drawn into the
+vortex made by the schooner as she sunk.  To clear her, we had of
+necessity to shove astern, and this drove us still further from the spot
+where the rest of the people were still struggling in the waves.  Some
+of the soberest had managed to disencumber themselves of their clothing,
+and to clutch hold of spars to support themselves; but they had another
+danger, from the seaman's remorseless enemy, to contend with.  We now
+guessed why the sharks had been accompanying us; or could they have
+scented the dead body of the pirate chief, which we had still on board?
+Why the captain had not buried him I do not know.
+
+Scarcely had we leaped into the boat, when the terrific shrieks of the
+struggling pirates reminded us of what we had seen.  In an instant the
+monsters were at them, and one after the other, with fearful rapidity,
+they were dragged from the supports to which they clung, their bodies
+mangled, and limbs torn asunder.  We got out our oars as quickly as
+possible, and pulled back, endeavouring to save some; but before we
+could reach the nearest man a shark had seized him, and we could see his
+arms helplessly stretched out, as he was dragged down through the clear
+waters.  On we pulled towards another, but he likewise was carried off
+after he had already seized the boatswain's oar, and thought himself
+safe.  A third cried out to us piteously to come and save him.  We
+pulled towards him with all our might; but fast as we flew through the
+water, two huge sharks went faster, and before we could reach him he was
+their prey, literally torn in sunder between them.  He was the last who
+yet floated; the others had gone down at once, or had been torn to
+pieces with all their wealth about them.  While we were looking round,
+an object rose to the surface.
+
+"What means that?" exclaimed our captain with an expression of horror
+and alarm such as I did not believe his countenance capable of wearing.
+
+It was the body of the old pirate: his face was turned towards us, and
+one of his arms moved as if beckoning us to follow him!
+
+"No, no--you do not want me!  I have visited you once at your summons!
+I'll no longer obey you!" shouted our captain with a hoarse voice,
+staring wildly; then he sank down into the stern-sheets overcome with
+his emotions.
+
+For a minute, fancying that the old pirate was alive, we pulled towards
+him; then we remembered that he had been placed in a rough coffin of
+thick light wood, the lid of which had not been secured.  Some nails,
+probably, had caught the clothes and kept the body in.  When the vessel
+sunk the coffin had floated through the hatchway, the lid being knocked
+off; and thus the old man was once more presented to our view.
+
+The monsters who had so speedily disposed of his wretched followers now
+darted forward to attack the coffin.  Round and round they turned it;
+one arm was seized, then another, and we saw the body dragged down with
+a dozen sharks surrounding it, tearing it limb from limb!
+
+Our captain very quickly recovered himself, and passing his hand over
+his brow, as if to shut out some dreadful vision, ordered us in a calm
+tone to pull towards the approaching brig.  As we pulled from the spot,
+the water appeared here and there tinged with a crimson tint; but
+scarcely a vestige of the unfortunate little schooner remained.  The
+brig approached.
+
+"She is the _Rainbow_, sir; there can be no doubt of it!" exclaimed
+Peter, who had been eyeing her narrowly over his right shoulder.
+
+He was right.  On her people seeing a boat she was hove-to, and we were
+very quickly on board.  I need not describe the surprise of Mr Jones,
+the first mate, who had now command of her as captain, or of the officer
+who had been shipped instead of Mr Gale.  Of course, we had all long
+been given over as lost.
+
+Mr Jones very willingly gave up his command to Captain Helfrich, and
+re-occupied his post as first mate; but the new officer who had been
+shipped, in a most foolish way nourished a peculiar dislike not only for
+Mr Gale for superseding him, but towards all of us, and took every
+opportunity of showing it.  The vessel had got a full cargo in, and was
+on her way back to Dublin.  At first, however, he pretended that he
+wished to be very kind to me, in consequence of the hardships I had gone
+through, and the narrow escape I had of death from the Maroons.  Of
+course, there was no reason for keeping that part of our adventures
+secret, so I gave him a full account of all that had occurred; but then
+he led me on to describe the hurricane, and our capture by the pirates;
+and from the interest he took in the questions he asked me, I felt that
+he had some sinister motive for his inquiries.  This made me hold my
+tongue for the time; and when I told Peter all the mate had asked me, he
+told me that I was perfectly right not to give him any further
+information, as he was sure that he would make a bad use of it.  We
+neither of us liked the expression of the man's countenance, or his
+manner to his superiors, or us his inferiors.  Time was to show us that
+we were right in our conjectures.
+
+When the extra mate found that he could get nothing out of Peter or me
+he attacked the other men; and from what they confessed to us they had
+told him, we feared that he had obtained from them all the information
+he required.  He left the brig directly we entered port, and immediately
+returned to Jamaica.
+
+Captain Helfrich was received in Dublin as one who had returned from the
+dead; for the account of his supposed death had preceded us, and his
+wife had actually assumed widow's mourning for him.  His sudden
+appearance very nearly cost her her life.
+
+We took the usual time to refit the brig, and then sailed once more for
+the same destination.  We had the usual number of passengers, and all
+went well till we reached Kingston.
+
+After we had lain a little time there, we saw from the captain's manner
+that all was not going well with him; and Peter told me that from what
+he heard on shore, that he was accused of having been leagued with
+pirates; and that all sorts of things were said about him.  This, to a
+man of the captain's temperament, was very trying.  Those who knew him
+best, must have been perfectly convinced that, for many years past, he
+could not possibly have been guilty of any act of piracy; although I
+could have little doubt that, in his early days, he must, in some way or
+other, have been connected with the person whom I knew alone by the name
+of Captain Ralph.  It was a practical evidence of the truth of that
+saying of Holy Writ, that the sins of his youth rise up in judgment
+against a man in his old age.
+
+We had little difficulty in tracing the reports to the malignity of the
+man who had acted as mate during the last passage home.  In consequence
+of these reports, Captain Helfrich had considerable difficulty in
+obtaining a cargo for the brig; and so disgusted was he with all the
+annoyance he had received, that he resolved not to return again to the
+West Indies.
+
+At last, however, we were ready to sail.  The evening before we were to
+go to sea, a boat came alongside, pulled by black men, with one man only
+in the stern-sheets.  He asked to see Captain Helfrich.  I looked over
+the side, and recognised him as Michael, the tall negro who had been the
+means of rescuing us from the Maroons.  Mr Gale sent me to let the
+captain know that a person wanted to see him, and of course I told him
+who he was.  The captain accordingly directed me to invite him below at
+once.  I did so, and remained in the cabin.
+
+"I've come, captain," said he, "to ask a favour of you."
+
+"Anything you ask I am bound to grant," answered the captain.
+
+"All I have to beg is a passage to England," replied the negro.  "I go
+to seek in your country that liberty which I can find nowhere else.  For
+years have I been striving to instil into my unhappy countrymen a
+knowledge of their true position; but they are too ignorant, too
+gross-minded to understand me.  I have had no wish to set them against
+their masters.  In most instances, both parties have been born to the
+position they occupy, and cannot help themselves.  All I want is, that
+the masters should do them justice, and should treat them as men--as
+human beings with souls, with like passions, with like thoughts as
+themselves--that they should do their best to improve their minds, to
+educate them, to prepare them for that liberty they must sooner or later
+obtain.  The question is, how will it be obtained?  By fair and gentle
+means, granted--not taken by force as a right, or by violence and
+bloodshed.  I have tried all means.  I have leagued with all classes of
+men to commence, in some way or other, the work.  Thus, for a time, I
+associated with Captain Ralph; but he grossly deceived me, as he did
+everybody else.  I joined the Maroon bands, in the idea that force might
+avail; but in that respect I found that I was totally wrong in my
+calculations.  I have tried to influence the planters, to show them
+their true interests: that with a well-instructed peasantry they would
+get far more work done, and at a smaller cost, than they do now with
+their gangs of ignorant slaves; but they laugh my notions to scorn.
+They fancy, because they find the negro ignorant, brutal, and stupid,
+that he can never be anything else.  They forget that they made him so
+when they made him or his ancestors slaves; and that it must take more
+than one generation of gentle, watchful, judicious education to raise
+him out of the wretched state in which he now grovels.  No
+philanthropist would wish them to emancipate their slaves now without
+long previous training, to fit them for liberty.  If they ever free them
+without that training, they will ruin their properties.  I find fault
+with them for not commencing that training at once, for not teaching
+them the religion they themselves profess, for not in any way attempting
+to enlighten their ignorance.  Perhaps I may induce people in England to
+advocate the negro's cause; but yet if Christian men here, on the scene
+of their sufferings, do not care for them, how can I expect people at a
+distance to listen to their cries, to labour that they may obtain
+justice?"
+
+Michael said much more on the same subject.  Our captain listened, but
+did not clearly understand him; nor did I at the time.  He, however,
+willingly granted him a passage, and treated him with the attention he
+deserved at our hands during it.
+
+Michael was a man far beyond his time.  Not many blacks are like him;
+but I have met some with comprehensive minds equal to those of any white
+men.  The vicious system to which the generality are subject, stunts or
+destroys all mental development; but had they the advantages of the
+whites, I believe as many buds in the one case as in the other would
+bear rich fruit.  Michael left us in Dublin, and it was not till long
+afterwards that I heard his subsequent fate.
+
+We had a prosperous passage to Dublin, and nothing occurred during it
+worthy of being mentioned.  The captain very slowly recovered his usual
+spirits, but was completely himself again before we reached home.
+
+The _Rainbow_ remained longer in dock than usual, and during the time I
+had charge of her, Peter took the opportunity of visiting his friends,
+who lived some miles from Liverpool.
+
+My life was almost like that of a hermit's though surrounded by
+multitudes.  I scarcely spoke to anyone.  I amused myself, however, in
+my own way.  I cut out all sorts of things in wood and bone, and
+practised every variety of knot-and-splice.  At last it occurred to me
+that I would try to make a model of the brig.  I bought at a timber-yard
+a soft piece of white American pine, without a knot in it; and as I had
+charge of the carpenter's tools, I got some of the chisels and gouges
+sharpened up, and set to work.  With rule and compass I drew two lines
+for her keel on one side, and then pencilled out the shape of her deck
+on the other.  I first, by-the-by, made a scale of so many parts of an
+inch to a foot, and measured every part of the brig I could reach.
+Having got the shape of her deck exact, and her depth, I used to go
+ahead and astern and look at her shape, and then come aboard again, and
+chisel away at my model.  I shaved off very little of the wood at a
+time, and my eye being correct, I made one side exactly equal to the
+other.  Then fixing the wood in a vice, I scooped out the whole of the
+interior with an even thickness on every side.  At length the hull was
+completed very much to my satisfaction.  Then I got a piece of thin
+plank for her deck, and built on her bulwarks, with the windlass, the
+binnacle, caboose, and combings of her hatchway complete.  Next I
+commenced rigging her.  I formed all the blocks, and expended many a
+penny in purchasing whipcord and twine of different thickness, as well
+as linen for her sails.  Having often carefully watched the sailmakers
+at work, and helped them when they would allow me, I was able not only
+to cut out the sails properly, but to fasten on the bolt-ropes, and to
+mark exactly the divisions of the cloths.  I had also to bring the
+painter's art into play; and to fashion with a file various stancheons,
+and belaying-pins, and such like things, out of bits of iron and copper;
+indeed, I am vain to say that I made a very complete model.  When she
+was perfectly completed, I walked round and round her with no little
+satisfaction, surveying her from every quarter, and placing her in every
+possible position--indeed, I was never tired of trimming sails.  I had
+had a purpose in building her, for I wanted to present her to my kind
+captain for one of his little boys, whom I had seen occasionally on
+board.
+
+Old Pat Hagan, though too advanced in years to be intrusted entirely
+with the charge of the ship, occasionally came down to enable me to take
+a run on shore.  The first day, therefore, that he made his appearance,
+I started with my model on my head to the captain's residence.
+
+"Who has sent you here, Jack, with that pretty little craft?" asked
+Captain Helfrich, as I was shown into his parlour, where he with his
+wife and children were sitting.
+
+"Why, sir, as I hoped that you would not think me taking too much on
+myself in offering it to Master James, I made bold to bring it myself,"
+I replied, looking down and feeling somewhat bashful at the praise my
+model was receiving.
+
+"I cannot refuse your pretty gift, Jack, which, I am sure is given with
+a good heart.  But where did you pick her up my man?" answered the
+captain.  "But just let me look at her nearer.  Why, she is the very
+model of the _Rainbow_!"
+
+When I told him that I had built her myself, he still further praised
+me, as did his lady; and Master James was delighted with his present,
+and jumped about round her, and thanked me over and over again.
+
+"I am very much pleased, my lad, with this little craft, and from the
+way you have built her, and, still more, from your general conduct, I
+tell you that you would be fitted to become an officer if you had but
+the necessary education.  You must try and obtain that, and I will have
+my eye on you.  The next time you come home, you shall go to school; and
+see if you cannot pick up some knowledge of reading during the voyage."
+
+I constantly think of the saying, "Man proposes, but Heaven disposes."
+So I found it in this instance.  My kind captain would have done all he
+intended, but his plans for my benefit were frustrated by circumstances
+then unforeseen by either of us.
+
+A few days after this, we sailed for the Mediterranean.  We had shipped
+a couple more guns, and four additional hands.  In those days it was
+necessary for merchantmen frequenting that sea to be strongly armed, for
+it was sadly infested by pirates.  There were Moorish pirates, Salee
+rovers, and others, who went to sea in large vessels as well as in
+boats, and robbed indiscriminately all vessels they could overpower;
+then there were Algerine pirates, who had still larger vessels, and were
+superior to them in numbers; and, lastly, there were Greek pirates,
+every island and rock in the Aegean Sea harbouring some of them.  Long
+years of Turkish misrule and tyranny had thoroughly enslaved and debased
+the great mass of the people; and the more daring and adventurous
+spirits, finding all lawful exercise of their energies denied them on
+shore, sought instead for such excitement and profit as piracy could
+afford them afloat.  Some of them darted out in small boats from the
+sheltered coves and bays when any unarmed merchantman was becalmed near
+them; while others, in well-formed and well-manned vessels of large
+size, cruised about in all directions in search of prizes.  Sometimes
+their strongholds, when discovered by the Turks, were attacked and
+destroyed, but generally they carried on their system of rapine with
+perfect impunity; and though the people of other governments complained,
+they had no legal power to punish the subjects of a friendly nation.  So
+the Greeks, rejoicing in impunity, grew more and more audacious, till
+they levied contributions on all the civilised nations of Europe whose
+traders ventured into the Levant.  Such was the state of things when the
+_Rainbow_ sailed on her first voyage to Smyrna.  Captain Helfrich had
+been there before, and he knew the character of the people he had to
+deal with.
+
+We met with bad weather soon after leaving the Channel, and had already
+been driven some way to the westward, when, as we were in about the
+latitude of Lisbon, it came on to blow harder than ever from the
+eastward.  Had we been close in with the land, this would not have
+signified; but before we could beat up again, a continuance of northerly
+and easterly gales drove us to the southward of the Gut of Gibraltar.
+When there, they left us in a dead calm, with our sails idly flapping
+against the masts, and rolling bulwarks under in the heavy swell they
+had caused on Old Ocean's bosom.
+
+The sun arose over the distant Morocco coast--not then in sight,
+however--and sent his rays down on our decks with an ardour which made
+the pitch bubble and hiss up out of the seams.  Not a ripple disturbed
+the rounded smoothness of the heaving swells, while even the bubbles
+thrown off from our sides refused to float to any distance from us.  We
+were not the only occupants of our own horizon.  Some eight miles off,
+or so, there was another brig rolling away much in the same fashion that
+we were.  All hands were anxious for a breeze, as we in no way liked the
+heat after the cold of a northern clime, though it mattered nothing to
+us whether we made a quick or a slow passage.  We whistled, as sailors
+always whistle when they want a breeze; but the breeze did not come the
+faster for all our whistling.  I never knew it do so, with all my
+experience.  What folly, indeed, in man to suppose that He who rules the
+winds and waves should alter his laws in consequence of their puny
+efforts to make a wind with their mouths!  In those days, of course, I
+did not think about the matter.  I whistled because others whistled; but
+if any of us had been asked on what ground we founded our hope that the
+wind would come in consequence, I suspect that we should have been very
+much puzzled to return a satisfactory answer.
+
+"What countryman do you make that craft out there to be, Mr Gale?" said
+the captain, handing the mate the glass through which he had been
+looking.
+
+"Not an Englishman, certainly," was the reply, after the usual steady
+glance.  "I should say, from the whiteness of her canvas, and her light
+upper-rigging, that she belongs to some of those turban-wearing people
+along the African coast in there, or up the Straits.  They are seldom
+pleasant customers for an unarmed craft to come across."
+
+"I had formed the same idea of her," observed Captain Helfrich.  "We
+know pretty well, however, how to deal with such gentry: and if she come
+across us, she'll find that she has caught a Tartar."
+
+I told Peter what I had heard; and he, I found, after looking through
+the telescope, formed much the same opinion of the stranger.
+
+The day wore on, and still the calm continued, so that we in no way
+decreased our distance from her.  Night also overtook us, while we lay
+rolling away helplessly as before.  The swell, however, was going down
+gradually; as it did so, the brig became more steady in the water.
+
+It was about the first hour of the morning-watch, which Peter and I were
+keeping, when he asked me suddenly if I did not hear oars.  I listened:
+there could be no doubt about it.  There was more than one boat, and the
+oars were pulled pretty rapidly too.  The night was not dark, though
+there was no moon; but a mist floated on the surface of the water, and
+served to veil it from our sight, though right overhead the stars could
+still be seen glimmering faintly in the sky.
+
+Peter instantly went and reported what he had heard to Mr Gale, who was
+officer of the watch.  After listening for some time he could hear no
+sound, and seemed to doubt the correctness of our assertion.  The boats
+had probably ceased pulling, for a purpose at which we could only then
+conjecture.  At last the sound of the oars reached Mr Gale's ears also.
+
+"There's something in this," he exclaimed.  "Jack, go and call the
+captain."
+
+Captain Helfrich was on deck in an instant.
+
+"The crew of some vessel which has foundered, and taken to their boats,"
+suggested the mate.
+
+"From what quarter does the sound come?" asked the captain, listening
+attentively.  "Visitors from the brig we saw last night," he cried out.
+"Depend on it, they come to us with no good intention."
+
+His experience in the West Indies and elsewhere had taught him to be
+prepared for any such emergency as the present.  He was not above being
+prepared, and he knew that the greatest folly is to despise an enemy.
+
+"Turn the hands up, Mr Gale.  Get the arm-chest open, and the guns
+loaded and run out.  We must be ready.  No noise, though: if anyone
+intends to surprise us, it is as well that we should surprise them
+instead."
+
+The watch below were instantly on deck, and in a few minutes every
+preparation was made for the reception of an enemy.  Still we could not
+see any boats, but the louder sound of oars in the rowlocks convinced us
+that they were approaching.  Again the sound ceased.
+
+"They are not quite certain of our position," observed Mr Gale.  "If
+they were people escaping from a wreck, and not aware that a vessel is
+near, they would have pulled steadily on."
+
+"You are right," said the captain.  "Have a torch ready to heave in
+among them, that I may make certain who they are before I give the word
+to fire.  It won't do to run the risk of hurting friends; but when once
+you hear the word, my men, blaze away with all your might.  If they are
+enemies, they will not be such as will give us quarter, however loudly
+we may cry for it."
+
+A murmur ran round among the people, to signify that we would obey the
+captain's orders.  The atrocities committed of late years by the
+Algerines, and the subjects of the Emperor of Morocco, had made those
+people the dread of all sea-going people, and gained them a
+proportionate amount of hatred.
+
+Once more the sound of oars was heard, and in a short time even their
+splash in the water could be distinguished.  There are few things more
+trying to a man's nerves than to know that an enemy is approaching, and
+not to be able to discover his strength or form, or the quarter from
+whence he is coming.  Our cutlasses were buckled on, our muskets were
+ready to be seized, and the slow matches were in our hands, but
+concealed, so that the enemy might not perceive them.  Mr Gale stood
+with a torch ready to light at a moment's notice.  Slowly the boats
+approached.  Apparently they seemed to think some caution necessary, or
+perhaps they could not see how we lay, and wished to attack us according
+to some preconcerted plan.  There was a pause.  I know that my heart
+beat pretty quick to learn what would follow.  Then there was a dash
+towards us, and we could hear the sound even from the rowers' chests as
+they strained at their oars.  Dark forms were seen gliding out of the
+darkness.  Suddenly the bright light of a torch burst forth on our deck.
+Mr Gale waved it above his head, and threw it towards the boats, its
+glare showing us swarthy features, and turbaned heads, and coloured
+vests, and jewelled arms.  There could be no doubt as to the character
+of our midnight visitors.
+
+"Fire!" shouted the captain; "fire! and aim low."
+
+Our guns, loaded with langrage, sent forth a deadly shower among the
+pirate crew.  Shrieks and groans arose in return.  We followed it up
+with a discharge of musketry.  The enemy were completely taken by
+surprise.  Many, abandoning their oars, ceased pulling towards us.  This
+gave us time to reload our guns and small-arms.  Their leaders, it
+seemed, were attempting to rally them.  Once more we could distinguish
+their dark forms amid the gloom of night.
+
+"Fire!" again shouted our captain.
+
+The shrieks and groans were redoubled, and the boats again disappeared
+in the darkness.  We remained at our quarters expecting their return.
+They did not come.  A light breeze from the southward and westward at
+length sprung up, and we were able to shape our course towards the Rock
+of Gibraltar, and when the morning broke no sail was in sight.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINE.
+
+A SHIP WITHOUT A CREW.
+
+We touched at Gibraltar, that the captain might obtain information as to
+the ports he was to call at.  Smyrna, we found, was to be our ultimate
+destination.  He gave notice of the attack made on us by the pirate, and
+a brig of war was sent to look out for her.  I shall have a good deal
+more to say about our turbaned friends by-and-by.  Gibraltar I thought a
+wonderful place, with the face of its high rock, which stands out into
+the sea, cut full of galleries, and ports with heavy guns grinning from
+them in every direction.  Of course, the seamen very often do not know
+at what port the ship is to touch, or whereabouts they are.  Such was my
+case: I had never seen a chart of the Mediterranean.  The first definite
+notion I got of it was from Peter, who afterwards drew one for me with a
+piece of chalk on the lid of his chest.  I only knew that we were
+steering towards the east, and that we were likely to see several
+strange places and many strange people.
+
+Some time after leaving Gibraltar, I had just come on deck one night to
+keep my watch, when out of the dark ocean, as it seemed, I saw a bright
+light burst forth and blaze up into the sky.  I thought some ship must
+have blown up; but the light continued, and grew stronger and stronger,
+and reached higher and higher.  The fire seemed to spout out, and then
+to fall in a shower on every side, something like the branches of a
+weeping ash, or some wide-spreading tree.  The ship was standing towards
+it, and I thought we should certainly be burned.
+
+"Oh, Peter, Peter," I exclaimed, "what is the matter?  Surely the world
+has caught fire, and we shall all be destroyed!"
+
+"No fear of that just yet, lad," he answered, laughing.  "That's only a
+burning island, which is called Stromboli.  There are some mountains in
+these parts, as I have heard say, which send out such a quantity of hot
+stones, and ashes, and boiling earth, that whole towns, and villages,
+and fields are overwhelmed and buried.  In those countries you may buy
+for a penny as much fruit as you can carry, and get as much wine as you
+can drink for twopence, while all sorts of other good things are very
+cheap; and the weather is almost always like summer.  But, for my part,
+I would rather live in Old England, with the foul weather and the fair
+we get there, and a piece of beef, often somewhat hard to come at, than
+in a country where your house may any moment be knocked down by an
+earthquake or covered up with hot ashes.  To my mind, all countries have
+their advantages and their drawbacks; and the great thing is, to be
+grateful for the one, and to learn how to guard against the other."
+
+We touched at several places on our passage.  Malta was one of them.
+The English had not at that time taken possession of it.
+
+At length we reached Smyrna, which is partly situated on level ground,
+the harbour backed by a lofty hill.  There is more trade here than in
+any other place in the East.  The climate, though hot, is very fine; but
+the place is often shaken by earthquakes, which have at times caused
+great destruction to lives and property.  That dreadful scourge, also,
+the plague, is a frequent visitor.  The former may truly be said to be
+beyond man's control; but the latter is, I am certain, brought about
+very much by the dirty habits of the people, and their ill-ventilated
+and ill-drained habitations.
+
+In the neighbourhood of Smyrna grow great quantities of figs, which are
+dried and packed in boxes and baskets.  They formed part of our cargo
+home.  We had likewise raisins and other dried fruits, and preserves,
+and rich silks and embroideries.  None of the seamen were allowed to go
+on shore, for Christians were very likely to get insulted, if not
+ill-treated, by the Turks.  In those days they used to look upon all
+Christians as dogs, and to behave towards them as such.  Besides Turks,
+there were a great number of Jews and Greeks, and people from every part
+of the East, living at Smyrna; but all had to submit to the caprices and
+ignorance of the first.
+
+I was not sorry when we once more made sail, with the ship's head to the
+westward.  We had a somewhat tedious passage down the Mediterranean,
+having frequent baffling or light winds.  At times of the year gales,
+however, blow with great fury in that sea, though they seldom last long.
+Most to be dreaded are the sudden gales which, under the name of "white
+squalls," have sent many a vessel, caught unprepared, to the bottom.
+
+At last we reached Gibraltar again.  The Captain inquired if anything
+had been seen of the pirate which had attempted to surprise us with her
+boats; but the brig of war had returned without hearing anything of her.
+We remained but a day at the Rock.  We took on board there the crew of
+a ship which had foundered at sea, and had been brought in by a Greek
+brig which had picked them up, and, for a wonder, had not murdered them.
+However, as they were nearly naked, and had promised the Greeks a
+reward if they arrived in safety, more was to be got by keeping them
+alive than by killing them.  We were thus very strongly manned.
+
+Foul winds and a heavy gale made us stand a good way to the westward on
+our passage home, after getting clear of the Gut.  Soon after sunrise
+one morning a sail was reported away to windward, running down towards
+us, the wind being about on her quarter.  As she approached with all
+sail set, she appeared to be sailing very wildly; that is to say,
+instead of keeping a steady, straight course, her head went now on one
+side, now on the other, as if a drunken man was at the helm.  The
+captain and mates were looking at her through their glasses.
+
+"She looks like an English craft, by the cut of her canvas," observed
+Mr Gale.
+
+"I can make out the ensign at her peak, and there's no doubt she is
+English," answered the captain.  "There is something wrong aboard her,
+however, depend on that.  I suspect that they have had a fever among
+them, or the plague, and that all her people are sick, and they have not
+strength to shorten sail."
+
+"Perhaps there is a mutiny aboard, or the people are all quarrelling
+among each other," observed Mr Gale.  "I have known of such things:
+when the master and officers have ill-treated the men, the crew have
+risen against them, and either hove them overboard or confined them
+below, and carried the ship into an enemy's port."
+
+I was surprised at the expression of the captain's countenance while the
+mate was speaking.  The words seemed to remind him, I thought, of some
+occurrence of his youth.
+
+"Depend on it, Gale, no good ever came of such a deed," he remarked.
+"Either the actors in such work have gone on all their lives afraid of
+detection, or have very speedily paid the penalty of it.  Unless a man
+has become a hardened wretch, the recollection of such an act will throw
+a gloom over the whole of his after-life, and blight all his earthly
+prospects."
+
+"Not if he feels that he is forgiven, surely, sir," said the mate,
+looking at him steadfastly.  "Sincere repentance and firm trust in the
+merits of One who died for us will gain us that boon, I am certain.  I
+am not learned in divinity, but this much I know and feel; and I believe
+that it is the sum and substance of what a Christian should know and
+feel."
+
+I had never heard Mr Gale speak in that way before.  I did not know
+even that he was what is called a religious man.  I certainly never
+heard him swear or abuse any of the men, or accuse them wrongfully, as
+too many officers do; but I just thought him a quiet, brave, amiable
+young man, who was content to do his duty and let other people follow
+their own ways.  I afterwards had reason to know that he was even more
+than that.  He was eminently judicious, and he now felt that the time
+had arrived when he might speak a word in season to good effect.  The
+captain listened, and after some time I saw him put out his hand and
+grasp that of Mr Gale; but he said nothing in reply.  Meantime the brig
+was drawing near to us.
+
+"Have a boat ready to board her," cried the captain, after he had again
+examined her through his glasses.  "It is strange, indeed; I can see no
+one on her deck."
+
+The _Rainbow_ was now hove-to, and a boat was lowered.  I went in her;
+so did Peter.  Mr Gale had charge of her.  We all were, by the
+captain's orders, strongly armed, and he directed the mate to approach
+cautiously, so as not to be taken by surprise.  I never met a braver man
+than the captain, or one who, at the same time, was more cautious and
+careful of the lives of his people.  During my apprenticeship with him,
+on several occasions, had it not been for this constant caution and care
+not to be taken by surprise, both he and all his people would have been
+destroyed.
+
+While the boat pulled towards the stranger, the brig, with her guns run
+out, and the people at their quarters ready to fire, stood so as to
+cross her bows, and to punish her should any treachery be intended.  We
+had to be careful in going alongside, lest she should run us down; for
+as her head now went in one direction, now in another, it was difficult
+to determine on which side she would come.  She was a fine large brig,
+fully as large as the _Rainbow_, and it did look strange to see her
+sailing along over the wide Atlantic without apparently a human being to
+guide her course.  Still, from what I had heard the captain say, I could
+not help fancying that there was some trick, and fully expected to see a
+number of men start up the moment we touched her side, and either send
+our boat to the bottom with a cold shot, or seize us and carry us as
+prisoners below.  It was a satisfaction, however, to feel that, with the
+shipwrecked crew, we had plenty of men on board to carry the ship home,
+and to punish those who might injure us.
+
+I must say that I felt rather curious as, giving way, we dashed
+alongside the stranger, and Peter with his boat-hook catching hold of
+the fore-chains, we, with our cutlasses in our mouths, scrambled on
+board.  No one appeared.  A perfect silence reigned over the deck.  Our
+first business was to shorten sail, and round-to the ship.  Mr Gale
+flew to the helm, and put it down, while we flattened in the
+topsail-braces, and clewed up top-gallant-sails, and brailed up the
+courses, throwing the foretop-sail aback.  As this work occupied all our
+attention, we had no time to make any remarks as to the state of affairs
+on deck.  As I was running forward, my foot slipped in a wet mass and I
+came to the deck.  Jumping up again, I seized the rope at which I had
+been ordered to haul.  When the work was done, and the ship hove-to, I
+looked at my hands.  A cold shudder came over me: they were covered with
+_blood_!
+
+I gave a cry of horror and disgust.  It attracted the attention of my
+shipmates.  We now looked along the deck.  In several places were other
+dark clotted marks scarcely yet dry.  Other signs there were which
+showed that plunder had been the object of the deadly attack, which, it
+was evident, had been made on the crew of the brig.  Articles of dress
+were strewed about, and cases of provisions, nautical instruments, books
+and charts, and opened bales of merchandise; but there were no signs of
+a struggle--nothing to show that the hapless crew had even been enabled
+to fight for their lives.
+
+"What has been the matter aboard?" shouted Captain Helfrich, as the
+_Rainbow_ passed close to us.
+
+"Murder, sir! foul murder!--there can be no doubt of it," answered Mr
+Gale, who was about to descend the companion-hatch.  I with others
+followed him.
+
+What a scene of havoc, confusion, and wanton destruction the cabin
+presented, as seen in the dim light which came down the companion-hatch,
+for the covering of the skylight was on.  There had evidently been a
+fierce strife there.  A mirror over the stove was broken to atoms--the
+chairs were overturned--china-plates and cut-glasses lay scattered about
+in fragments amid clothing, and books, and boxes; the cabin lamp and a
+cabin compass, and stores of every sort, of which the lockers had been
+rifled--chests and trunks lay open, despoiled of their contents, but no
+human form, either alive or dead, was to be seen.
+
+Mr Gale ordered the hands on deck to lift off the skylight.  As the
+bright sunshine came down into the cabin, the full horror of the scene
+was exhibited.  Among a mass of articles, such as I have enumerated,
+which lay on the cabin table, were six human heads with ghastly grins,
+holding pieces of meat in their mouths!  They were placed at each side
+of the table, and knives, and forks, and plates with food, were placed
+before them!  They had evidently thus been arranged in savage mockery by
+their ruthless murderers, as they were about to leave the scene of their
+atrocity.  We searched about: no bodies were found.  On one side of the
+cabin there was a complete pool of blood, though part of it had been
+lapped up by the bedclothes, which had been dragged from one of the
+berths.  The beds in the other state-rooms had been undisturbed.
+
+Everything in the cabin showed us that the vessel was English; and this
+was confirmed by opening the books, which were all in English.  So, as
+far as we could judge, were the countenances of the murdered people--I
+will not say men; for on examining one of the heads, our horror was
+increased by discovering that one of them was that of a woman--young and
+beautiful she had been.  Oh, what a scene of horror must her eyes last
+have beheld; with what anguish must her heart last have beat!  Even in
+death the features of the murdered men wore various expressions.  Horror
+on one was clearly portrayed--desperate determination on that of
+another--fierce rage showed itself on the face of another.  So I
+fancied; but, at all events, had I known any of the people, I think that
+I should have recognised them.  There were the same Anglo-Saxon features
+common to all.  The complexions of some were fair, and of others
+sunburnt.  There was one with a weather-beaten countenance, and large
+bushy whiskers, whom we took to be one of the officers of the ship,
+while most of the others had the smooth complexions of shore-going
+people, and were probably those of passengers.
+
+What we had already discovered plainly told the story of the
+catastrophe.  The brig had been surprised in the evening by some
+piratical miscreants, while the captain and passengers, and some of the
+officers probably, were below at supper.  The watch on deck must have
+instantly been overpowered before those below had time to come to their
+assistance.  Some, probably hearing a scuffle, and coming on deck, were
+instantly slaughtered, or, it might have been, secured and carried off
+all prisoners.  The people in the cabin could not even have been aware
+of what was going forward, and the first announcement of the misfortune
+which had befallen them, was the appearance of the pirates rushing into
+the cabin.  Rising from the table, they had seized whatever weapons came
+nearest to hand to defend themselves.  Desperately they might have
+fought, but all in vain.  One clearly had been dragged from bed, holding
+fast to the clothes.  Most likely the unfortunate lady had been so
+treated, and deprived of life on the body of her husband.
+
+Mr Gale's opinion was, that the captain's head was not among those in
+the cabin; but that, on first hearing the scuffle, he had sprung on
+deck, as being nearest the door, to ascertain its cause.  This opinion
+was afterwards confirmed by the discoveries we made.  As soon as they
+had been overpowered, their heads must have been cut off, perhaps to
+make the rest show where any valuables they might possess were
+concealed.  However performed, at all events the butchery was complete.
+Never, indeed, have my eyes beheld a scene of greater horror.  Death
+alone, we know, may bring peace and joy; but death under such outrageous
+aspects as those I have described, affrights the soul.
+
+While some of the men went forward to ascertain the state of matters in
+the forepeak, Mr Gale kept Peter and me to look after the ship's
+papers.  We hunted about in a number of places for some time without
+avail.  At last I went into what I concluded to be the master's cabin,
+and in a tin case, under his pillow, I found them.  I took them to Mr
+Gale, who glanced over them.
+
+"The _Dolphin_, the vessel is called," he observed.  "Ah, and here's a
+name I think I remember,--Walter Stenning, master.  Why, Poplar, is not
+that the name of the young man we picked up at sea a few voyages back to
+the West Indies?"
+
+"Yes, sir; the very same," answered Peter.  "I've had notice of him
+since then, and I heard say that he had become master and owner of a
+fine craft, and gone with his wife and family to live out in one of the
+colonies; I don't know which."
+
+"Halifax, Nova Scotia, the brig hails from, I see.  She was bound from
+Bristol to Demerara," continued Mr Gale, reading on from the papers.
+"I suppose, though, we shall have to send her to Halifax, where, as far
+as I can make out, her owners reside, as well as the merchants who have
+shipped most of her freight."
+
+While the mate was still looking over the papers, Captain Helfrich, who
+had come on board in another boat, entered the cabin.  He was more
+affected than any of us by the horrid sight which met his eyes.
+
+"Who can have done this?" he exclaimed, casting his eyes round in every
+direction.  "Ah, what is that I see in the corner there?"  He pointed to
+what proved to be a Moorish turban; while near it lay a piece of a
+sabre, which, from its curved form, evidently belonged to the same
+people.
+
+"This work was done, I doubt not, by the very villains who attempted to
+surprise us," he observed, as I handed him the articles to examine.  "We
+may truly be thankful that they did not find us unprepared, as they did
+the unfortunate people of this vessel, or their lot might have been
+ours."
+
+"Indeed we have cause of gratitude to God, who, in His mercy, preserved
+us," responded Mr Gale.  "I wish that we could find the people who did
+this work, to stop their committing further mischief."
+
+"The miscreants cannot be far-off," exclaimed the captain.  "If we could
+fall in with them, we might punish them in a way they little expect."
+
+"I suspect, sir, when the Moors let the brig go free, they must have
+hauled their wind, and kept away to the eastward," observed Mr Gale.
+"They are not fond, in general, of keeping so far away from their own
+shores."
+
+"You are right, Gale," said the captain.  "However, though I think we
+might find them, I should not be justified in going out of our course to
+look for them.  We must, therefore, consider how we are to dispose of
+the brig.  As far as I can judge, without thinking more of the matter, I
+am bound to send her to Halifax at once to her owners, from whom we
+shall obtain the proper salvage.  Now, as I shall be glad to do what I
+think will be of service to you, I will give you the command of her,
+with a few hands whom I can spare; while with the seamen whom we have as
+passengers on board, the _Rainbow_ will still be sufficiently manned to
+reach home in safety."
+
+Mr Gale did not refuse the captain's offer, and I was far from sorry
+when I found that he had selected Peter Poplar and me among the people
+who were to accompany him.  Besides us, as the shipwrecked seamen were
+all anxious to reach England, and would not volunteer, we had only three
+other men; so that, considering the size of the _Dolphin_, we were
+somewhat short-handed.
+
+Before committing the heads to the deep, we examined their features, and
+it was the opinion of all on board, who had known Walter Stenning, that
+none of them bore any resemblance to him; so that if the young man, who
+had for so long been on board the _Rainbow_, was the same person who
+lately commanded this unfortunate vessel, his fate was still uncertain.
+Too probably, however, he had been murdered by the miscreants on deck.
+Scarcely less melancholy would be his lot if he still survived, for he
+would have been carried away to Morocco, and there sold as a slave, to
+labour in the fields or gardens.
+
+One or two other bits of arms and ornaments were found about the deck;
+and the captain, on examining them, gave it as his opinion that the
+pirate was one of those craft which had long been known under the name
+of Salee Rovers.  At one time the greater number of vessels fitted out
+by the Moors to plunder on the high seas hailed from that port.  Before
+the captain left the vessel, every part of her was examined, but not a
+trace of a living being could be found.  Still, too clearly to be
+mistaken did she tell her own dreadful tale.  The log-book showed that,
+three days before, she had been in a dead calm since sunrise, and that a
+strange sail was in sight.  Little did her crew dream of the woe that
+stranger was to work them!
+
+We were allowed to go on board the _Rainbow_ to get our chests, and to
+wish our shipmates good-bye; and then I bade farewell to my old captain,
+and the craft I had learned to love as a seaman only can,--the vessel
+within whose wide timbers I had spent many a happy day, and which had
+carried me in safety across many a wide sea.
+
+We found nearly everything we required on board the _Dolphin_.  It took
+some time, however, to get her to rights, to wash out the stains of
+blood, and to put the cabin in order, and to remove all remnants of the
+horrid deed which had been enacted there.  It was some time, however,
+before Mr Gale could prevail on himself to take possession of the
+cabin.  At last all the necessary arrangements on board the _Dolphin_
+were made, and Captain Helfrich ordering Mr Gale to proceed on his
+voyage, bore away to the north-east, while we kept to the westward of
+north.  I felt very strange as I found myself on board a new vessel, and
+saw the old one, in which I had served for so many years, sailing away
+from us.  I should have felt very forlorn and melancholy if Peter had
+not been with me.  I was also very much attached to Mr Gale, and was
+very glad that he was now my captain.
+
+The Irish, I have observed, generally possess a considerable amount of
+imagination, and I conclude that I inherited no small share of that
+quality from my poor mother.  I remember that the first night I passed
+on board the _Dolphin_, I fancied in my sleep that I saw again the whole
+of the scene of horror which had so short a time before been enacted
+there.  Several times I jumped up, thinking that the rovers were coming
+on board, and that I had to fight for my life.  Then I fancied that I
+heard the cries and the groans of the poor fellows who had slept where I
+was sleeping, and had met their death close to where I lay; and I looked
+out and saw them writhing and struggling in the hands of their barbarous
+murderers.
+
+Peter, instead of laughing at me when I told him of my dreams, answered
+me that the surest way to banish all such thoughts, was to say my
+prayers earnestly at night whenever I turned in, and to pray that I
+might be preserved from all dangers, and especially from the fate which
+had overtaken these poor men.  I was very fortunate in falling in, at
+this time of my life, with two such men as Mr Gale and Peter Poplar.
+The latter was uneducated, certainly, but had learned his religion from
+the Bible, and therefore he possessed the true principles, the
+essentials of a saving faith; and he was the instrument of gradually
+opening my mind and heart to them.
+
+Captain Gale, for so I shall now call him, had a very sharp look-out
+kept lest we should again fall in with the Salee Rover, or any of his
+consorts, which, it was very probable, might still be hovering about in
+that part of the ocean.  The first day after parting company with the
+_Rainbow_ passed by without a single sail heaving in sight.  The breeze
+had got round to the southward, so that we had a fair wind; and as it
+was light, we were able to carry all the canvas we could set.  At night,
+however, as we were somewhat short-handed, the captain ordered us to
+furl top-gallant-sails, and to take a reef in the topsails, that we
+might be better prepared should it come on to blow.  The second night,
+however, passed away, and the same fine weather continued.
+
+The next morning, soon after daybreak, Captain Gale came on deck, and
+ordered us to loose top-gallant-sails.  On going aloft to obey the
+order, as I cast my eyes round the horizon, I saw, right away on our
+weather-beam, just rising out of the water, the top-gallant-sails of a
+brig, close-hauled, standing, I judged, across our course.  I hailed the
+deck to say what I had observed; and after the reefs were shaken out of
+the topsails, the captain told me to keep aloft to watch the movements
+of the stranger.  She stood steadily on till she rose her topsails out
+of the water, and then, as I judged, on seeing us, kept more away, so as
+to cut us off.  On hearing this, the captain himself went aloft to have
+a look at the stranger.  He remained some time, examining her narrowly
+through his glass.  The breeze had freshened up a good deal, and it was
+not a time, I should have supposed, to have made more sail; but the
+moment he came down, he ordered us to set studden-sails and royals.
+
+"We must make the craft put her best leg foremost," said he to Peter.
+"I do not altogether like the look of that ship out there.  She is
+certainly not English; and by her movements she seems very much inclined
+to overhaul us.  Just tell us what you think about the matter."
+
+Peter took the glass, and went aloft.  He also was some time there.
+When he came down, he handed the glass to the captain without speaking.
+
+"Well, Peter, what do you think of her?" asked the latter.  Peter took
+off his hat, and passed his hand over his brow.  "Why, to say the truth,
+Captain Gale, I don't like her looks at all.  If ever one craft was like
+another, she's like that strange brig which lay becalmed near us the
+time when we were attacked before going up the Mediterranean.  It's
+difficult to tell one vessel from another, but I very much suspect that
+she's the very same piratical rascal we before fell in with, and that
+this brig is no stranger to her either."
+
+The captain replied, that he was afraid his apprehensions were too
+well-founded.
+
+The next question was, how we were to escape from the corsair, should
+the stranger really be her.  A couple of hours passed away, and although
+we were going at a good rate through the water, there could be no doubt
+that she was coming up with us.  It was now blowing a stiffish breeze,
+and I saw the captain and Peter often casting an anxious glance aloft,
+to see whether the masts and spars would bear the heavy strain put on
+them.  Happily there was not much sea; and though the studden-sail-booms
+bent and cracked again, they held on bravely.  Our great hope was, that
+we might be able to keep well ahead of the stranger till night came on;
+and then that, by hauling our wind, he might pass us in the dark.  We
+had already got as much wind as the brig could stagger under, and thus
+one of the greatest dangers we had to apprehend was from carrying away
+any of our spars.  Over and over again the captain looked up at the
+mast-head, and exclaimed, "Hold on, good sticks, hold on, and serve us a
+good turn!"
+
+A stern chase is a long chase; and though this was not quite a stern
+chase, by-the-by, it was nearly one, and we hoped it might prove so long
+as to have no end.  Still our pursuer kept after us.  As he drew nearer,
+we had less and less doubt that he was the very Salee Rover we had
+before so much to do with.  At the same time, our hopes of escaping him
+decreased.  Peter had set himself down on the heel of the bowsprit to
+rest.  I brought him his dinner there, for he had not left the deck for
+a moment since the morning.  He did not look up for some time till I
+begged him to eat.  Still he did not answer.  At last I asked him what
+he was thinking about.
+
+"Why, Jack, how we may manage to escape from the pirate," he answered
+after some time.  "A very curious idea has struck me, and if the captain
+will listen to me, we'll put it into execution.  It can do no harm, and
+if our pursuer comes up with us, I think it will make him haul his wind
+in a pretty considerable hurry."
+
+I asked Peter to tell me his plan, wondering what it could possibly be.
+
+"I take it, you see, that the brig out there is the very same which
+attacked this vessel, and her crew, of course, know that there was not a
+living soul left on board, but that there were six heads in the cabin,"
+he answered, speaking very slow.  "Now, in my wild young days, I was
+once for some time behind the scenes of a theatre, and if I had been a
+scholar I might have become a play-actor.  When there, I saw what
+wonders a little paint, and canvas, and pasteboard could work.  As there
+are six of us, I propose to put a false neck over each of our heads, and
+I'll manage to paint in a quarter less than no time, six as ugly faces
+as you ever saw, on as many balls of canvas, which I'll stuff with
+oakum.  So each of us will have a head to hold in his hand.  Unless some
+accident happens, we certainly can manage to keep ahead of the rover
+till nightfall.  Then we'll just mix up a number of lumps of gunpowder
+and sulphur, and place them about the deck before each of us.  As soon
+as the rover ranges up alongside, we'll fire them all at the same
+moment, and I shall be very much mistaken if the cut-throats don't think
+that there's a company on board they would rather not have anything to
+do with."
+
+I could not help laughing at Peter's quaint notion--still, however
+little effect it might have on civilised people, I thought it was very
+likely to scare away the sort of men who composed the Moorish crew, and
+I advised him instantly to propose it to the captain.  Peter,
+accordingly, bolting his dinner with a haste which showed that he was
+thinking more about his idea than it, went aft, and opened up the case.
+Captain Gale listened more attentively than I expected, and, after a
+little consideration, said that he thought it was very likely to
+succeed.  The plan once adopted, all hands set energetically to work to
+make the required preparations.
+
+There was, fortunately, an abundance of materials.  I got out the
+paint-pots, and mixed the colours according to Peter's directions.  He
+himself, with canvas and palm needles, fitted the necks, cutting holes
+for us to see through them; the other men were employed in making six
+prodigious round balls for heads, and covering one part with shakings,
+to serve as hair.  He undertook to stand at the helm, and to have his
+head at the end of the boat-hook by his side, that he might lift it up
+at the proper moment.  All the frying-pans and shallow pots which could
+be found were collected, and the captain made with damp gunpowder a
+number of what schoolboys call "Vesuviuses."  These, however, were very
+much larger than the contents of a schoolboy's purse would allow him to
+make.  He tried one of them, and found it sent forth a lurid glare,
+which even in the day-time showed what effect it would produce at night.
+
+Before sunset all our preparations were completed; and when dressed up,
+a very curious and horrid crew we most certainly did look.  Had there
+been more of us, the effect might perhaps have been increased.  We now
+waited almost with boyish impatience for the coming up of the rover to
+put our trick into execution.  Captain Gale was, however, too wise to
+trust to it till all other means of escape had failed.  The wind had
+rather fallen than increased, and this was an advantage to us in two
+ways: it enabled us to shorten sail with less difficulty than we should
+otherwise have done; and we found that, with less wind, we went faster
+in proportion through the water than did our pursuer.
+
+It was with feelings such as I had very seldom before experienced, that
+I saw the sun sinking towards the ocean, surrounded with a blaze of
+glory; its bright rays falling on the loftier sails of the rover, while
+they still reached our courses.  Down it went beneath its watery home,
+and I questioned very much with myself whether I should ever again see
+it rise.  I had no great confidence in Peter's trick, nor do I suppose
+that he had much himself, when he came seriously to think about the
+matter; but still, if overtaken, we had no other means of escaping--we
+could not fight, and still less could we have any hope from the mercy of
+our foes.  I did not, however, mention my doubts to Peter, and far less
+would I have done so to any of the other men.  Young as I was, I had
+seen enough of the world to have learned the value of discretion.
+
+As the daylight disappeared, a grey canopy of clouds was spread over the
+sky, sufficiently thick to obscure the stars.  Thus the night was more
+than usually dark.  Still, as the atmosphere was free from mist,
+seamen's eyes could distinguish objects at a considerable distance off.
+With much anxiety we watched the rover, in the hope that the growing
+darkness would hide her from our view; but still we could see her
+following closely in our wake, and thus, of course, there was every
+probability that she could see us.  We could not expect that the
+darkness would increase; consequently there would have been no use in
+altering our course, as it would have been perceived on board; so all we
+could do was to stand boldly on as before.  At the rate she was
+overhauling us, as the captain calculated, she would be up with us by
+midnight.  I should have liked to have shortened sail, and brought the
+matter to an issue, but Captain Gale was not a man to act thus unwisely.
+He knew that we might fall in with some friendly vessel, or that the
+pirate might give up the chase, or that some sudden change in the
+weather might enable us to escape at the last moment.  Everything,
+however, was prepared; and thus standing at our posts, we waited the
+result.
+
+Nearer and nearer drew the pirate.  We were within range of her guns,
+still she did not fire.  On she came.  She was close upon our quarter.
+
+"Wait till I give the word," said the captain, in a low voice.  She was
+ranging up on our beam.
+
+"Ready!" exclaimed the captain.  "Now!"
+
+In a moment a terrifically lurid glare was cast over our decks.  Up went
+the helmsman's gory head at the end of a boarding-pike, though he
+steered as steadily as before, while we all shook ours in our hands, and
+at the same moment gave vent to the most unearthly shrieks, and groans,
+and cries, our headless helmsman shrieking and shouting louder than any
+of us.  At this we all again shook our ghastly heads.  Peter had given
+the necks the appearance of dropping blood, and again we shrieked and
+groaned louder than ever.
+
+The effect on board the rover was instantaneous.  The crew must have
+fully thought that they had got hold of some demon-craft as a punishment
+for their crimes.  Down went their helm; the tacks and sheets seemed all
+to be flying away together; and the topsails came down on their caps.
+Ropes were let go, but no one thought of hauling on others, or belaying
+them; no one seemed to know what they were about; and many even shrieked
+and cried out with terror and dismay.  Nothing could have been more
+complete than the success of our trick.
+
+We were all eagerly watching its effect, when, just as the vessels were
+parting, a figure was seen to spring into the main-rigging of the rover.
+We all saw him, and all recognised the person as no other than Walter
+Stenning, the late master of the _Dolphin_.  On we sailed.  The dark
+outline of the rover grew less and less distinct, till it was totally
+lost in the gloom of night.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TEN.
+
+THE WATER-LOGGED SHIP.
+
+For the remainder of the night we kept anxiously looking over the
+taffrail, lest our enemy should have again made sail in chase.  More
+than once I thought I saw the rover's shadowy form stealing up towards
+us through the darkness; but just as I expected to make it out clearly,
+to my great relief it dissipated into mist.  Voices, also, I thought,
+seemed to be shouting after us from out of the gloom; but neither did
+they ever assume any distinctness, and fancy, I found, had caused the
+creation of them both.  Slowly the night passed away, and as soon as the
+first bright streaks of dawn appeared in the grey sky, the captain went
+himself aloft to take a survey of the horizon.
+
+"There is not a sail in sight in any quarter," he exclaimed to Peter, as
+he returned on deck.  "To your clever suggestion we owe our own lives
+and the safety of the ship; but clever as it was, I would not advise
+others to try a similar one.  They might not meet with enemies so easily
+deceived."
+
+"No, sir," answered Peter, "certainly not; and, for my part, I would
+much rather have beat off the scoundrels in a fair stand-up fight than
+with such a play-acting trick as that; but then, you see, air, it was
+Hobson's choice--neck or nothing with us!"
+
+Peter's curious contrivances were kept, that they might be shown as an
+evidence of the way in which we had escaped from the rover.  The
+appearance of Walter Stenning on board the rover was a subject of
+constant conversation among us.  There could be no doubt, then, that he
+had been carried on board the rover, and that his life had been
+preserved.  This would be a satisfaction to his friends, though a
+melancholy one, as his ultimate fate must still be uncertain.
+
+We had still a long passage before us to Halifax, and might meet with
+many adventures.  At all events, we could scarcely expect to escape some
+bad weather, though it was not likely we should encounter the rover, or
+any of her consorts, as gentry of that class were not fond of venturing
+into northern latitudes.  For more than a couple of weeks the fine
+weather continued, and we met with no event worthy of note.  We had,
+however, to learn somewhat more of the sufferings which people meet with
+on the wide ocean.
+
+One morning the sky became overcast; the water was of that dull leaden
+hue, striped with white foam, which gives so gloomy an aspect to the
+ocean; and heavy squalls compelled us to shorten sail as fast as all
+hands could get through the task.  For the greater part of the day the
+squalls continued; but in the afternoon, though it was hazy, the weather
+again improved.
+
+I was looking out, when I saw through the mist what I took to be a sail.
+There was something strange about her rig--I could not make it out.
+Accordingly, I reported it to the captain, who came on deck.  He called
+Peter to him.
+
+"She looks to me like a vessel in distress, with most of her spars and
+upper-rigging carried away," he observed.  She was about six miles off,
+on the lee-bow.  Accordingly, the brig was kept away towards her.
+
+Heavy squalls of rain occasionally blew over us, and for a time
+completely hid the wreck from view.  When it cleared for an instant, we
+made out that she had an English ensign reversed secured to the
+main-rigging.  Her mainmast alone was standing entire, her foremast had
+gone by the board, her mizzen-mast was carried away at the top, and part
+only of her bowsprit remained.  Her maintop-mast-yard was still crossed;
+but the sail, torn to ribbons, now fluttered in the wind, and not
+another inch of canvas had she set.
+
+"She looks dreadfully knocked about," observed the captain.  "And from
+the way she rolls in the trough of the sea, there can be no doubt that
+she is water-logged.  If it were not for the signal flying, I should
+scarcely expect to find anyone on board."
+
+We had as much sail set as we could venture to carry, so that we could
+not make greater speed towards her; but the squalls increased in number,
+and night was coming on, so that we began to fear that we should be
+unable to get up to her before darkness hid her from our sight.  Even
+when we had got up to her, unless she had her own boats, short-handed as
+we were, with a heavy sea running, we could scarcely hope to render her
+much assistance.  Still Captain Gale was not the man to neglect making
+the attempt.  Some, I am sorry to say, would have sailed on their way,
+and allowed any poor wretches who might have been on the wreck to perish
+miserably.  As we approached the wreck, we could just distinguish
+through the driving mists and thickening gloom of night, several human
+beings leaning against the stumps of her masts, or sitting on her deck
+eagerly waving to us.  The captain on seeing them exclaimed--
+
+"Peter, we must do something to save those poor fellows."
+
+"I should think: so, sir," was the answer.  "If you let me have a boat,
+with Jack there, and one hand besides, I'll undertake to get on board
+and bring them off.  I know that it would leave you terribly
+short-handed if we were lost; but I don't think that there's any chance
+of that, and I'm sure that we shall be protected in doing what's right."
+
+"You shall have your way, Peter; I cannot refuse you," exclaimed the
+captain, warmly.  "We'll heave the brig to to leeward of the wreck, so
+that if you can manage to get the poor fellows into the boat, you can
+with less difficulty drop aboard of us again."
+
+According to this plan, we ran under the stern of the ship and rounded
+to.  I never saw a more complete wreck yet floating on the surface.  Her
+entire bulwarks, her boats, caboose, booms--indeed everything on deck--
+had been completely carried away, and the sea even now occasionally
+washed entirely over her.  It was not an easy matter to lower our boat,
+but it was done without an accident; and Peter, Andrew Blair, a fine
+young fellow, and I, pulled away in her for the wreck.  The unfortunate
+wretches on board waved us on.  Several more made their appearance, as
+we approached, from behind a sail which had been triced up round the
+mainmast, which appeared to be the only shelter they had from the
+inclemency of the weather.  They were all holding on to ropes secured to
+the masts or rigging, for without them they would certainly at once have
+been washed off the deck into the sea.
+
+On getting nearer, we saw one or two heads looking at us from above the
+companion-hatch, which had escaped, and seemed to have afforded some
+shelter to others.  We pulled as close to her as we could venture to go.
+
+"Remember if we come alongside only four of you at a time must get into
+the boat, or we shall all lose our lives together!" shouted Peter.  "Do
+you hear me there?"
+
+They signified that they did hear; but Peter's caution was very
+unnecessary, for few of them could do more than crawl, and none of them,
+without assistance, could have got into the boat.
+
+"I see what must be done," said Peter to us.  "You two remain in the
+boat.  There's a rope towing overboard from the main-rigging; I'll get
+hold of it, and haul myself on her deck, and then, as best I can, I'll
+drop the poor fellows into the boat!"
+
+To propose was with him to act.  As the boat with the send of the sea
+approached the wreck, while we fended her off he seized the rope, which
+he found secure, and though the water, as it came pouring down to
+leeward, washed over him, he hauled himself up in a moment on her deck,
+and stood among the miserable wretches who peopled it.  They crawled
+round him, and grasped his legs, to show their gratitude to him as their
+deliverer.  I saw by his action that he was telling them that there was
+not a moment to be lost.  Beckoning to us to approach, he seized one of
+them up in his arms as if he had been an infant, and grasping the rope
+with one hand, swung himself off from the side of the ship, and
+deposited his burden in the boat, or rather in our arms, as we stood
+ready to receive him.  In a moment he was on the deck, and lifting up
+another human being, sprung as before into the boat.
+
+"How many of you are there?" he asked of one who seemed to be the
+strongest of the crew, and looked by his dress like an officer.  Once he
+had evidently been a stout, broad-shouldered, muscular young man, now he
+was a mere skeleton like the rest.
+
+"Twelve or fourteen there were this morning, but I know not how many may
+since have died," was the answer, given in a hollow tone scarcely
+audible.
+
+"Then we'll take four at a time to the brig, and we shall have to make
+three trips," answered Peter.  "We must not venture with more, though as
+to weight the boat would carry the whole of you.  Now, my lad," he
+continued, addressing the mate, for so the man who had spoken proved to
+be, "just do you come with us this trip.  I'll lend you a hand into the
+boat."
+
+"No, no!" answered the fine fellow; "take some of the others who are
+worse off than I am.  There were a couple of women.  They will be found
+aft under the companion-hatch."
+
+As no persuasion would make the mate alter his determination, Peter
+hurried aft, and diving under the hatch, returned with what looked like
+a long bundle of clothes in his arms.  "Gently, now," he sung out; "she
+has life in her, but very little of it."
+
+The clothes enveloped a female form, but so emaciated that she seemed to
+be of no weight whatever.  Before placing her in the boat, Peter poured
+a few drops of liquid down her throat from a flask the captain had given
+him.
+
+"There's no use to bring the other poor thing; her sufferings are over,"
+he observed, as he lifted in another man.  "And now, my lads, we'll put
+these on board."
+
+We soon dropped down to the brig, and with less difficulty got the poor
+wretches up the side.  The captain proposed sending the two other hands
+instead of Blair and me, but we begged that we might be allowed to
+return to the wreck.
+
+Once more we pulled away from the brig, the boat, it must be remembered,
+tumbling and tossing about, now sunk in the trough of the sea, now
+rising to the top of a foam-crested wave; the sky overhead threatening
+and cloudy; a dense mist driving in our faces; and darkness rapidly
+coming on.  We had the lives of fellow-creatures to save, and we
+persevered.  Again the undaunted Peter sprung on board the wreck.
+
+"Take care of that man!" exclaimed the mate, as an extraordinary-looking
+figure, in a long dressing-gown, with strips of canvas fastened about
+his head, ran up from behind the woman; "he is not altogether right in
+his mind, I fear."
+
+"Avaunt, ye pirates! ye plunderers! ye marauders!" shrieked out the
+person spoken of.  "How dare ye venture on board my noble ship?  Away
+with ye! away! away!" and flourishing a piece of timber which he had
+wrenched, it seemed, from the side of the ship, he advanced towards
+Peter.
+
+My shipmate would have been struck down by the maniac's blow, had he not
+sprung nimbly aside, and then, rushing in, he closed with the wretched
+being, and wrenched the weapon out of his grasp.  The madman's strength
+was exhausted.
+
+"I yield!  I yield me!" he cried; and though he was a tall man, Peter
+lifted him up as he had done the others, and handed him to us.  He lay
+quiet enough in the bottom of the boat, regarding the wreck he was
+leaving with a stare of wonder.
+
+Three other men were lifted in, but still the mate refused to leave
+while any remained alive on board.  As we were leaving the wreck a
+second time, a man lifted himself up from the deck, and stood for a
+moment gazing at us.
+
+"What! again deserted!" he exclaimed, shrieking frantically.  "Oh, take
+me! take me!" and staggering forward, before the mate could prevent him
+he cast himself headlong into the sea.  We endeavoured to put back, but
+he floated scarcely a moment, and then the foaming waters closed over
+his head.  It was another of the numberless instances I have witnessed
+of the crime and folly of not waiting with calmness and resignation for
+what the Almighty has in his providence prepared for us.  I trust that
+the poor man's mind had given way in this instance; but even that result
+is often produced by a want of reliance on God's mercy.
+
+We put our hapless freight on board the brig, and a third time returned
+to the wreck.  Besides the brave mate, Peter found only two more people
+alive on board.  Several were dead.  At the earnest solicitation of the
+mate, Peter helped him to commit them to the deep.  It was a melancholy
+and loathsome task, for some had been long dead.
+
+The delay also was of serious consequence.  More than once I summoned
+Peter, for another thick squall of rain had come on, and when I glanced
+round for an instant to look for the brig, she was nowhere to be seen!
+A pang of dread ran through my heart, and all sorts of horrid ideas
+rushed into my head.  I thought that the squall might have struck her,
+and that she might have capsized, or that she might have drifted so far
+to leeward that we might not be able to find her.  I said nothing,
+however, but helped Peter to take the mate and the other two survivors
+off the wreck.  Then, indeed, the question pressed on us, What has
+become of the brig?
+
+"Cheer up, my lads!" cried Peter; "hold on yet a while; we'll see her
+presently."
+
+We waited with intense anxiety, and the darkness seemed every instant
+increasing.  It was, however, only the result of the tail of the squall
+passing by.  Suddenly a bright light burst forth, which we knew must
+proceed from the deck of the brig.
+
+"The captain has not forgotten the trick we played the pirates!"
+exclaimed Peter.  "Shove off, my lads!"
+
+With lightened hearts we pulled away to leeward, and were soon once more
+on the deck of the brig, with our boat hoisted up and secured.  Every
+care and attention which we could possibly bestow was paid to the poor
+starving wretches.  Captain Gale was enlightened as well as brave and
+generous, so that he knew well how to treat them.  First he gave them
+only a little liquid--tea and cocoa; and then after a time a little
+simple arrowroot; afterwards he gave them some with broth; and, lastly,
+he mixed a few drops of wine with the arrowroot.
+
+Scarcely, however, had we got them down below, than the gale which had
+been threatening came on; and while the captain went to the helm, all
+hands had to spring aloft to shorten sail.  Happily the gale was in our
+favour, so that we were able to run before it, and keep our course.
+There can be little doubt that had we not providentially appeared that
+very night, everybody on board the wreck would have perished.  We had
+hard work enough to do the duty of the ship and to attend to our
+passengers, who could for some days do nothing to help themselves.  They
+were all too weak to speak without fatigue, so we forbore to question
+them as to the particulars of the events which had brought them into the
+condition in which we had found them.
+
+For some days all we knew was, that the ship was the _Eagle_, from
+Quebec, laden with timber, and that she had been six weeks very nearly
+in the condition we found her--water-logged, with spars and sails
+carried away.  The captain had died, and the lady we had rescued was his
+wife.  Poor thing! at first she was almost insensible to everything; but
+when she recovered her health and strength, it was pitiable to see her
+grief.
+
+The tall, gaunt man, whom we found deranged, had been a merchant's
+clerk, and had gone out to Canada in the vain hope of finding
+employment.  Disappointed in his expectations, he was returning home.
+At first he appeared to recover strength, but a relapse took place, and
+he rapidly seemed to grow weaker and weaker.  I was sent to watch him.
+Suddenly he sat up in his berth, and glared wildly around.
+
+"Where am I?--where am I going?--what has occurred?" he exclaimed.
+"Tell me, young man.  I have had a horrid dream.  For worlds I would not
+dream it again!"  Then his voice lowered, and, rubbing his hand across
+his brow, he added, in a low, calm tone--
+
+"I know all about it.  I am going to a land where I have only one
+account to render; but my Judge will be great and just; and there is One
+in whom I trust who has taken all my sins on Himself.  Young man, thank
+all those who have been kind to me.  I am grateful.  Good-night!"  He
+fell back on his pillow, and was dead.
+
+Among those saved was one other passenger.  The rest consisted of the
+first mate, and the crew of the ship.  With one of the crew, a young
+Canadian, who was making his second trip to sea, I formed a strong
+friendship; Adam De Lisle was his name.  From him I learned the
+particulars of the disaster.
+
+"You must know," he observed, "that the timber which is sent from Canada
+to England is cut down from forests many hundreds of miles up the
+country.  Numerous large and rapid rivers run into the great river Saint
+Lawrence.  At the fall of the year gangs of woodcutters, under regular
+leaders, proceed up these rivers in canoes, with a supply of food, and
+every requisite, to enable them to spend the winter far from the haunts,
+of civilisation.  Arrived at the forest they have selected for their
+operations, they build their habitations, and then set to work to cut
+down the trees they require.  These, when shaped into square logs, as
+soon as snow has fallen, and ice covers the water, are dragged to the
+nearest stream.  When spring returns, they are bound together in small
+rafts, and floated down towards the main river.  Sometimes, when rapids
+occur, they are separated, and a few trees are allowed to glide down
+together.  Slides have, of late years, been formed by the sides of the
+rapids, through which the timber descends without injury.  At the foot
+of the rapids the rafts are re-formed, and ultimately, when they reach
+the Saint Lawrence, they are made so large that huts are built on them,
+in which their conductors live till they reach Quebec.  This they
+frequently do not do till the end of the summer, when all the ships have
+sailed.  The timber, therefore, remains in shallow docks at the mouth of
+the Charles River, which runs into the Saint Lawrence on one side of
+Quebec, till the following spring.  The timber is often shipped through
+a large port in the bow of a ship, but a quantity is also piled upon
+deck, and lashed there to ring-bolts, making a ship with so great a
+weight above board very uneasy in a sea.  Thus, I think, more accidents
+happen to the spars and rigging of timber-ships than to any other,
+though they have an advantage in floating longer than other craft.
+
+"The _Eagle_ was one of the first ships which left Quebec this year,
+with a crew of eighteen, all told fore-and-aft, with the captain's wife
+and several passengers.  Scarcely had we got clear of the Gulf when we
+fell in with bad weather; and about ten days afterwards, a heavy gale
+sprung up from the westward.  It was night.  The sea soon ran very high,
+and the ship being deep, and steering ill, before she could be got
+before the wind, it made a clear breach over her.  There she lay
+helplessly in the trough of the sea, most of her bulwarks carried away,
+and the water pouring down her companion-hatch, and deluging the cabin.
+It soon found its way forward, and every instant we thought she would
+capsize.  The captain ordered the main and mizzen topsail-sheets to be
+cut away, for there was no time to let them go, or clew-up the sails;
+but still the ship lay helpless and unable to answer her helm.  Two men
+went to the helm, while others rigged relieving-tackles, and at length
+all the after-sail being taken off her, the headsail filled, and once
+more she ran before the wind.  This was a great relief, but still the
+water was gaining on us.  The seas continued rolling up after us high
+above the poop, and at length one broke on board, carrying the taffrail
+clean away, and sweeping the after-part of the deck.  Had we not had
+safety-lines passed across the deck, the greater number of us would at
+once have been washed overboard.  Our sufferings had now become intense,
+both from cold and hunger.  All the provisions we could get at were
+spoiled with salt water, and the few clothes we had on were drenched
+also with water, and the wind pierced through them to our very bones.
+We still managed to keep a close-reefed foretop-sail on the ship, with a
+mainstay-sail and trysail, or we could not have avoided being constantly
+pooped.  The gale, in a short time, increased in fury as the sea did in
+height.  Again it made a clean breach over the ship.  All the bulwarks
+were carried away; and the ring-bolts being torn from the decks, the
+deck timber, which consisted of large logs, was washed overboard, as
+were all our boats.  At the same moment the foresail blew clean out of
+the bolt-ropes; and all those we could muster fit for duty had not
+strength sufficient to go aloft to set another.  We knew well that our
+safety much depended on our being able to keep sail on the ship; but
+each man felt that his death would be the consequence if he attempted to
+go aloft, with that raging sea tumbling the ship about in every
+direction, the wind howling round him, and the torn sail flapping
+fiercely in his face.  Still we managed to keep the ship before the
+wind, and thus, by easing the strain on her, she was prevented from
+going to pieces, which she would otherwise inevitably have done.
+
+"Our first mate, James Carr, was a fine fellow.  To look at him, you
+would not have supposed that he had so much endurance in his body.  His
+spirit kept him up.  When very few besides he and I could bear up, he
+went about the decks as if nothing unusual had occurred.  He was a
+slight, fair man, and far from strongly-built; but he was a thoughtful,
+reading, and more than that, a religious man.  Those who had led the
+wildest and most careless lives, and had no faith or hope to sustain
+them, were the first to succumb.  I held out--first, because I believed
+that God would sustain me; and because I had a good constitution, which
+I had never injured by vice and debauchery, as too many of the rest had
+done.  The captain was a good, kind man, and he did his best for us as
+long as his strength lasted.  The little food we could get at was
+carefully husbanded, and all hands were put on short allowance.  Many
+days thus passed away, the ship running before the wind, and still
+keeping together.  At length the wind lulled, and we began to look
+forward with hope to the future.  The caboose had hitherto stood, and
+the cook managed to light a fire in it, and to dress several meals,
+which we ate with comparative comfort.  As long as there was a moderate
+breeze the ship ran steadily before it, but what many people would have
+thought an advantage, proved our greatest bane.  Too much wind had
+injured us--too little almost destroyed us.  It fell a dead calm; and
+this, far from bettering our condition, made the ship roll still more
+than ever, and soon reduced us to the condition in which you found us.
+The greater part of the bowsprit had already gone, the foremast was next
+rolled out of her, and then the mizzen-mast went--the mainmast must have
+been an unusually good stick, or that would have gone likewise.  We had
+scarcely strength left to cut away the wreck.  Hitherto, though all
+hands were growing daily weaker, no deaths had occurred, nor had anyone
+any particular sickness.  However, anxiety of mind now helped to make
+our poor captain ill, and he took to his cot.  The daily provision for
+each of us consisted also of but three ounces of bread, and half a pint
+of water.  We agreed to this, because we felt that it was enough to
+sustain life for some time, and that it was better to have a little each
+day than have to go many days without any food at all.  The officers
+proposed, however, before long, to diminish even this small allowance--
+though, by mixing a little spirits with the water, our food sustained us
+more than it would otherwise have done.  Starvation, after a time, began
+to tell sadly on our tempers; and we, who had generally lived in
+good-fellowship with each other, spent the day in wrangling and
+peevishness.  A breeze, however, had again sprung up, which seemed to
+steady the ship, though we could not keep her on her proper course.
+Such was the state of things, when one morning Mr Carr going on deck,
+as was his custom, to take a look-out, and to hoist our signal of
+distress, he shouted out, `Sail, ho!'
+
+"How did our hearts leap with joy as we heard those words!  We all
+crawled up as best we could to take a look at the stranger, which we
+hoped would save us.  She saw us, and drew nearer.  The captain got the
+mate and me to help him up on deck, and then, as he saw the approaching
+vessel, his heart bursting forth with gratitude, he called on us all to
+return thanks to God for the deliverance he hoped was at hand.  His poor
+wife, who had held out bravely, and scarcely ever left his side, wept
+with joy at the thought that his life might yet be spared.
+
+"`Now, my lads, let's see if we cannot get the ship somewhat clear of
+water,' exclaimed Mr Carr, going to the pumps; `It will never do to
+have it said that we did nothing to help ourselves.'
+
+"I believe he did this to employ the men's minds till assistance could
+reach us.  He set the example, which we all followed; and, weak as we
+were, we pumped away with such good-will that she rose perceptibly in
+the water, showing us that there was no leak to injure her.
+
+"At last the stranger, a large brig, reached us, and heaving-to just to
+leeward, Mr Carr gave him an account of all that had happened to us.
+
+"The master of the brig said that he was himself somewhat short of
+provisions, but would send us what he could venture to give in his own
+boat.  We thanked him with grateful hearts.  Still the boat did not
+come.  There was some consultation on board; we could not tell what.  A
+breeze from the westward again sprung up.  It was a fair wind for the
+stranger.
+
+"`What's he about now?' exclaimed several voices, trembling with
+agitation.
+
+"He put up his helm and filled his headsails.
+
+"`He'll go about directly, and heave-to on the other tack,' said Mr
+Carr.
+
+"Still the stranger stood on.
+
+"`Where can he be going to?' again exclaimed several of us.
+
+"On, on he stood, steadily, with all sail set!  Oh, how bitter were the
+words which followed him!  Could that heartless stranger have heard
+them, would he have ventured to brave the fate to which he had left so
+many of his fellow-creatures?  How completely had he forgotten that
+golden rule, `Do unto others as you would wish others to do unto you!'
+What will be his thoughts some day when he is suffering from all the
+miseries to which we were exposed, when he remembers the wreck he
+deserted on the wild ocean!  Hour after hour we watched him anxiously,
+scarcely believing, till his topsails dipped beneath the horizon, that
+so heartless a wretch existed in the creation."
+
+"Ay, it's another proof of the depth of man's vileness, and wickedness,
+and contempt of the laws of a God of mercy," observed Peter Poplar.  "I
+have known many such instances almost as bad; so I am not surprised."
+
+"When we found that we really were deserted, the spirits of all of us
+and the minds of some gave way.  Several of the crew broke into the
+spirit-room, which they could now reach, and, broaching a cask of
+liquor, endeavoured to forget their miseries by getting drunk.  The mate
+and I, and most of the passengers, abstained from the temptation.  Those
+who indulged in it were the first to pay the penalty by a miserable
+death.
+
+"Still discipline had been maintained.  Mr Carr called on me to
+accompany him round the ship in search of anything which might serve as
+food to stay the cravings of hunger.  We discovered a few pounds of
+candles, some bits of old leather, leather shoes, a rug, a couple of
+hides; but our greatest prize was about a gallon of lamp-oil, and some
+oil intended to mix with paint.  These we brought into the cabin, to be
+kept in safety.  While we were there, Mr Carr's eyes fell on old
+Trojan, the captain's favourite Newfoundland dog, as he lay almost dying
+under his master's cot.  The captain very naturally had not brought
+himself to order its death.
+
+"`I am sorry, sir,' said Mr Carr, `to propose what I do; but that dog
+may be the means of preserving the lives of all of us.  We must kill
+him.'
+
+"`You'll be proposing to kill and eat each other before long,' exclaimed
+the poor master, in a querulous tone.
+
+"`Heaven forbid!' answered the mate.  `But to take the life of a brute
+beast is a different matter.  I don't see how we can spare him.  Even if
+we do, he will not live long, and now his blood alone will be of great
+importance.'
+
+"At last the captain consented to the death of his favourite, and poor
+Trojan was led up on deck to be put to death.  Before he was killed, we
+all of us took an anxious look round the horizon, to ascertain that no
+sail was near.  We would gladly, even then, have saved the poor dog's
+life.  The cravings of hunger soon, however, drove all feelings of
+remorse from our bosoms.  The faithful brute looked up into our faces,
+and his eyes said as clearly as if he had spoken the words, `I know that
+it is necessary--be quick about it.'  How carefully we husbanded every
+drop of the blood!  The mate got a teaspoon, and served it out with that
+measure full to each of us at a time, while the flesh was reserved for
+another day.
+
+"I cannot describe how those wretched days passed away.  Except the mate
+and three others of us, no one could even stand.  The captain lay in his
+cot growing worse and worse.  I was on deck one afternoon with Mr Carr,
+steering and keeping the ship's head to the eastward, when we were
+startled by a faint shriek from the cabin.  Presently afterwards the
+captain rushed on deck.
+
+"`Mutiny! mutiny!' he exclaimed, frantically flourishing his arms about.
+`But I'll take care that no one takes the ship from me.  I'll shoot the
+first man who approaches me, be he whom he may.  See here here!'
+
+"He drew a brace of pistols from his bosom, and presented them at us.
+Happily, one missed fire; the ball from the other passed close to Mr
+Carr's head.
+
+"`That's right, sir,' said Mr Carr, quite coolly.  `Now you've quelled
+the mutiny, let's go below.'
+
+"He signed to one of the other men, who crawled aft to help me to steer,
+while he took the captain below.  This outbreak was the last flaring up
+of the poor man's almost exhausted strength.  His wife watched him as
+the flame of life sank lower and lower in the socket; and two days after
+that, when I went into the cabin, I found her fainting beside him, and
+he was dead.  She entreated that the body might be allowed to remain in
+the cabin another day; but the next she allowed the mate and me to
+remove it, and to commit it to the sea.
+
+"Oh, how sad and melancholy were those long, dreary nights, as we stood
+at the helm, the gale howling over our heads, the ship groaning and
+creaking, and the seas roaring up astern and threatening every moment to
+wash us from our uncertain support--darkness above us, darkness on every
+side!
+
+"At last not a particle of food remained.  Mr Carr made another search
+into every cranny of the ship.  Some grease was found; it served to keep
+life in us another day.  Then the dreadful information spread among us
+that there was nothing else.  Relief must come, or we must die.
+
+"`Others have lived under like circumstances,' said one, looking up
+under his scowling brow.
+
+"`Ay, if it's necessary, it must be done,' hissed another.
+
+"`There is no need why we should all die,' growled a third.
+
+"They clearly understood what each other meant.  I was listening, but
+could: not believe the horrid truth.  Those who were but able to move
+crawled aft to Mr Carr, to tell him of their determination.  For long
+he would not listen to them, but drove them forward, calling them
+cannibals, and telling them to wait God's providence.  For my own part,
+I felt that I would rather have died than have agreed to their
+proposals.  What they wanted was that lots should be drawn, and that he
+who drew the shortest should be put to death, and the one next should be
+the executioner.  The captain's wife was to be free.  At last their
+importunity became so great that Mr Carr agreed that, should no sail
+appear at the end of another twenty-four hours, he would no longer
+oppose their wishes.  Before that time, two of those who were most eager
+for the dreadful mode of sustaining life, or most fearful of death, were
+summoned away.  The crime was prevented; no one had to become a
+murderer.  I will not describe how my wretched shipmates sustained life.
+Mr Carr abstained from the dreadful repast.  So did I and one or two
+others; and though we lost in strength, our sufferings were much less
+acute, and our minds more tranquil, and our judgment far clearer than
+was the case with those who thus indulged their appetites.  What we
+might have done I know not, had not God in his mercy sent your brig to
+our aid, with men on board with hearts to feel for us, and courage, in
+spite of all dangers, to rescue us.  Some time before this the ship had
+become completely water-logged; and we, being driven from all shelter
+below, were reduced to the state in which you found us."
+
+The account De Lisle gave of Mr Carr raised him very much in my
+opinion, and I thought at the time that he was just the man I should
+like to sail with.  We more than once spoke on the subject of the
+condition to which the crew of the _Eagle_ had been reduced.
+
+"To my mind," observed De Lisle, "I cannot believe that people are
+justified in taking away the life of a fellow-creature even to preserve
+their own.  I thought so at the time, and I think so now, that our duty
+is to resign ourselves implicitly to God's will--to do our very utmost
+to preserve our lives, and to leave the rest in his hands."
+
+Peter agreed with him.  He told him that he wondered Mr Carr did not
+mix up the grease on which they had fed with very fine saw-dust, as it
+would have made it go much further.  De Lisle replied, that had they
+even supposed such a thing would have been beneficial, they had no means
+of making fine saw-dust, as they could get at no saw, and every particle
+of wood, as well as everything else, was soaked with wet.
+
+After all the dangers and adventures we had gone through, it was with no
+little satisfaction that, as I was stationed on the look-out aloft, I
+espied land on the starboard-bow, which Captain Gale pronounced to be
+that of Nova Scotia, a little to the westward of Cape Spry.  We were in
+sight of Sambro Head just at nightfall, but had to lay off till the
+morning before we could run in among the numerous islets which exist
+between that point and Devil's Island.
+
+Thus another night had to be passed on board by our weary shipwrecked
+visitors.  Dark and dreary it proved.  The wind came off cold and
+cheerless, in fitful gusts, from the shore, and moaned and howled
+through the rigging; the rain beat on our decks; and broken cross-seas
+tumbled and danced round us like imps of evil, eager to prevent our
+escaping from their malign influence.  Thus wore on the night.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER ELEVEN.
+
+ADVENTURES IN MOROCCO--SEARCH FOR THE LOST CAPTAIN.
+
+As the morning sun arose, lighting up Sambro Head in the distance, the
+clouds of night dispersed from off the sky, and with a fair breeze we
+ran in under the forts which guard McNab's Island, at the entrance of
+the fine harbour of Halifax.  The capital of Nova Scotia stands on the
+side of a hill facing the east, which rises gradually from the water's
+edge.  Its streets are wide, well laid out, and handsome, mostly
+crossing each other at right angles, and extending along the shores of
+the harbour for a distance of two miles, and running inland about half a
+mile.  Fine wharfs, at which ships of any burden can discharge their
+cargoes, extend along the water's edge; above them are the warehouses
+and merchants' stores; and then come the public buildings; and, lastly,
+the houses of the more wealthy inhabitants.  The harbour is very fine,
+and would hold as large a fleet as ever put to sea.  The naval dockyard
+is also a handsome establishment, and it is the chief naval station in
+British North America.  As it is completely open to the influence of the
+sea air, its anchorage is very seldom blocked up by ice.  It is
+altogether an important place, and would become still more important in
+war-time.
+
+As soon as we had dropped our anchor, Captain Gale, taking me with him
+to carry his papers and other articles, went on shore to find out the
+owners of the _Dolphin_.  Davidson and Stenning were their names, the
+latter being the brother of the master, who was also part owner.  He was
+dreadfully overcome when Captain Gale announced his errand.
+
+"What do you mean, sir?  My brave brother Walter dead! murdered by
+rascally pirates!" he exclaimed.  "Oh, impossible!--it's too horrid!
+What will his poor wife do?"
+
+"I have my hopes that he may still be numbered among the living,"
+replied Captain Gale.  And he then recounted all that had occurred
+connected with the Salee rover.
+
+Both the gentlemen complimented the captain on the way he had behaved,
+and then begged him to wait to see Mrs Walter Stenning, who was
+residing there.  After some time, during which her brother-in-law was
+preparing her for the captain's communication, we were called in to see
+the lady.  She begged that I might come too, that she might question me
+about having seen her husband in the rigging of the rover.  She was not
+very young, but she was handsome, and very modest-looking; and as she
+was dressed in mourning, she appeared very interesting, and I for one
+thought that I should be ready to do anything to please her.  She
+listened attentively to all the captain had to say; and after talking to
+him some time, cross-questioned me very narrowly as to how I knew that
+he was the man I had seen on board the rover.
+
+"It was him--it was him, I am certain!" she exclaimed.  "My good and
+noble husband cannot be killed.  His life has been spared.  I feel it--I
+know it.  I'll go and find him out.  I'll search for him everywhere.
+I'll rescue him even if he is in the very heart of Morocco."
+
+"I fear, madam, that's more than you or any other woman can accomplish,"
+answered Captain Gale.  "But if any human being is able to rescue your
+husband, even though the risk may be very great, I for one shall be more
+than glad to engage in the work.  If he's above the water and above the
+earth, we'll find him."
+
+There spoke the warm-hearted impetuous sailor.  He did not stop to
+consider difficulties, but at once undertook to do what his heart
+prompted.  It was not quite at the spur of the moment either, because he
+had, from the moment he thought Stenning dead, been feeling a sentiment
+of pity for his widow; and now he saw her sweet, amiable face, he was
+still more anxious to relieve her grief.
+
+Mrs Stenning, as may be supposed, could scarcely find words to thank
+Captain Gale for his offer; and when he repeated it the following day,
+the owners replied that they would most thankfully accept it, and would
+put him in charge of the _Dolphin_, that he might go out in her to
+commence his search.
+
+In the meantime, the people we had picked up at sea were landed, and
+taken care of by the inhabitants of the place.  Mrs Stenning insisted
+on taking charge of poor Mrs Ellis, the widow of the captain of the
+_Eagle_; and Mr Carr volunteered to join the _Dolphin_, to go in search
+of Walter Stenning, with whom, curiously enough, he was well acquainted.
+Captain Gale at once offered to take me instead of sending me home, as
+had been arranged he should do; and, of course, I was delighted to join
+him.  Peter Poplar at once volunteered to accompany him; as indeed did
+all the crew of the brig, and some of the seamen we saved from the
+wreck: the greater number were, however, too ill to serve again at sea.
+
+The articles, as it happened, which composed the cargo, being much in
+demand at the time, sold well; and the owners were the better able,
+therefore, to fit out the brig in as liberal a way as could be desired.
+She was, accordingly, strongly armed, and well able to contend with any
+rover or other vessel we might meet on the African coast.  After the
+lessons we had received, also, we were not likely to be taken by
+surprise,--the mode in which the pirates of those days usually attempted
+to capture their prey.
+
+Mrs Stenning used frequently to come on board, to superintend the
+outfit of the ship, and to hasten the workmen; and thus everybody
+working with a will, and with an important object in view, she was soon
+ready for sea.  Often and often, on the contrary, have I seen work which
+might and should have been rapidly performed, most vexatiously delayed
+through the laziness, or ignorance, or carelessness of those employed on
+it.  One man has not taken a correct measure; another has forgotten to
+give a simple order; a third has put off a small piece of work to do
+something else which was not so much required; a fourth has ill-fitted a
+portion of the machine, or has broken what he calls some trifle which he
+has not replaced; and so forth.  How much better would it be if they,
+and all whose eyes read my story, would but remember that saying of Holy
+Writ--"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."
+
+Yes, in that Book, if men would but search earnestly, they would find
+with an overflowing abundance all that they can require to guide them
+aright, both in everything in regard to this life, as well as to make
+them wise unto salvation.  But, then, they must not hope to be guided
+partly by the rules and maxims of the world, and partly by those of the
+Bible.  They must study the Bible by the light which the Bible affords--
+not by man's light or man's wisdom.  They must not suppose that a mere
+cursory or occasional reading will suffice.  They must read it
+diligently with all their heart, with an earnest prayer for
+enlightenment, and with an honest wish to comprehend it fully, and a
+resolution to be guided by its precepts.  Let the worldly-minded
+understand that those who do so succeed best, and are at the same time
+the happiest men in the world in the long-run.  However, Old Jack does
+not want to preach just now.  If his readers will not believe him,
+deeply does he mourn the inevitable consequences to them.
+
+The brig, as I said, was soon ready for sea.  It might have appeared
+that the shortest way to proceed about our expedition would have been to
+sail at once for Morocco; but as the productions of Nova Scotia are
+chiefly food and timber, and such articles were in no request in that
+part of Africa, it was necessary to go first to England with a cargo,
+and then to take in what was required, such as cotton and woollen
+manufactures, hardware, arms, and ammunition.  Accordingly, we took on
+board some quintals of dry fish, and barrels of flour, and beef, and
+pork, and pickled fish, and staves, and shingles, and lath-wood, and
+hoops, and such like productions of the forest.  At that time, however,
+the country did not produce any large quantity of those articles for
+exportation.
+
+The owners directed us first to proceed to Bristol, where we were to
+discharge our cargo, and to take on board another suited to the Morocco
+markets.  Our departure excited great interest in Halifax, where Walter
+Stenning and his family were well-known; and his poor wife was one of
+the last people to leave the brig before she sailed.
+
+Once more, then, we were at sea.  Several occurrences took place during
+the voyage which would be worth narrating, had not I other subjects of
+more interest to describe.  People talk a great deal of the monotony of
+this or that existence, and especially of a long sea voyage.  For my
+part, I have learned to believe that no day is altogether barren of
+incident, if people would but learn to look inwardly as well as
+outwardly.  Something of interest is always taking place in nature, but
+men must keep their senses awake to observe it; so some process is
+always going forward in a man's moral being, but his conscience must be
+alive to take note of it.
+
+We reached Bristol in six weeks--not a bad passage in those days, when
+navigation had not made the strides it since has.  We brought the first
+account of all the events I have described, and as the passengers and
+most of the crew of the _Dolphin_ had belonged to Bristol, several
+families of the place were plunged in deep grief, and a universal desire
+prevailed to recover any of those who might have been carried into
+captivity, and to ascertain further particulars of the tragedy.  No
+time, therefore, was lost in shipping a fresh cargo, and in furnishing
+us with such supplies as might be required.
+
+Our directions were to proceed first to the port of Alarache, where
+resided a merchant who corresponded occasionally with our Bristol
+consignees.  From him we were to obtain an interpreter, and to proceed
+to such other ports as might be judged advantageous according to the
+information he might furnish.  We had a fair run to Cape Spartel, the
+north-western point of Africa.  It then fell calm for a day or so.
+After this we had very light and baffling winds, and we sighted more
+than one suspicious-looking craft; but they did not, apparently, like
+our appearance, and made sail away from us.  At length we came off
+Alarache.  A bar runs across the mouth of the harbour, which even at
+spring-tides prevents large ships from entering, though there were
+sufficient water on it to allow us to get over.  No pilot came out, so
+Captain Gale resolved to make a bold stroke, and to carry the brig in by
+himself.
+
+It was nearly high-water, and the breeze was favourable as we stood
+towards the land.  The sky and sea were blue and bright, with a line of
+foam where the water ran over the shallower part of the bar.  Dark rocks
+and yellow sands were before us, with white-washed, flat-roofed houses,
+and here and there a minaret or cupola of a mosque, and tall, slender,
+wide-spreading topped date-trees scattered over the landscape; while
+lower down, protecting the town, was a frowning castle or fort, with a
+few vessels at anchor before it.  A boat-load of officials, with very
+brown faces, white dresses, and red caps, came off to inquire our
+business, and get bucksheesh, as the Turks call such gratuities as they
+can collect from travellers and voyagers.  The captain could only reply
+by showing a document in Moorish with which he had been furnished, and
+repeating the name of Mynheer Von Donk, the Dutch merchant at the place,
+to whom we were consigned.  This, in the course of a couple of hours,
+produced Mynheer Von Donk himself, to ascertain what was required of
+him.  I cannot pretend to say that all Dutch merchants are like him, for
+if so, they must be a very funny set of people.  He was very short and
+very fat, with queer little sparkling eyes, and a biggish snub-nose, and
+thick lips, and hair so long and stiff that his three-cornered hat could
+scarcely keep it from starting out all round his bullet-shaped head.  He
+had on very very wide brown breeches; and very very large silver buckles
+to his shoes; and a waistcoat of yellow silk, embroidered all over with
+strange designs, and so ample that it almost superseded the necessity of
+breeches; and his brown coat looked as if made with a due preparation
+for the still further enlargement of its respectable owner.  Mynheer
+informed the captain that he could speak every language under the sun
+like a native; but, as Peter remarked, then it must have been like a
+native who had lived away from home all his life, and forgotten his
+mother-tongue.  We, however, made out that it was very necessary to be
+cautious in our dealings with the Moors, as they were the greatest
+thieves and rogues in the world, and that they would only desire an
+opportunity of seizing the brig, and making slaves of us all; but that
+while we remained in Alarache, we should be safe under his protection.
+
+When Captain Gale explained to him the real object of the voyage, he
+brightened up considerably, as he saw that he might have an opportunity
+of making even more out of the ship than he at first expected.  I do not
+say that Mynheer Von Donk was destitute of human sympathies; but he had
+gone out to that far from agreeable place to make money, and money he
+was resolved to make by every means in his power.  He was ready enough
+even to promise to assist in finding poor Captain Stenning, provided he
+could be paid for it--he preferred labouring in a laudable object with
+pay, to labouring in an object which was not laudable, if no more money
+was to be made in one way than in another; but he had no desire to
+labour in anything without pay.
+
+We saw very little of the shore in this place, for he asked that we
+should not be allowed to land, except in company with one of our
+officers and his interpreter.  We had, however, a pretty brisk traffic
+for the goods we had brought, we taking chiefly hard dollars in return;
+however, the captain did not refuse some articles, such as bees-wax,
+hides, copper; dates, and almonds, and other fruits not likely to spoil
+by keeping.  It was, at the same time, important that we should not fill
+up entirely with merchandise, that we might have an excuse for visiting
+other ports.  As far as we could judge, the dangers we had heard of had
+been very much exaggerated, and arose chiefly from the careless and
+often violent conduct of those who visited the country.  Captain Gale,
+aided by Mr Carr, kept the strictest discipline on board; and we must
+have gained the character of being very quiet well-disposed traders,
+without a thought beyond disposing of our merchandise.  Our guns merely
+showed that we were able to defend what had been placed under our care.
+
+Meantime Mynheer Von Donk was making every inquiry in his power for
+Captain Stenning, or any of the survivors from the massacre on board the
+_Dolphin_.  He ascertained that no such vessel as we described had come
+into Alarache, but that one exactly answering her description belonged
+to the port of Salee, some leagues to the southward, and that she had
+been on a long cruise, and had returned about the time the captain
+calculated she might, with some booty and some captives on board.  What
+had become of them he could not learn, but concluded that, as they had
+not been sent to the northward, they were still in the neighbourhood.
+
+One day, the interpreter having come on board, we got under way, and
+without let or hindrance stood over the bar.  We lay up well
+along-shore, which is in some places very mountainous and rocky, and the
+following day we were off Salee.  This is also a bar harbour, but,
+waiting for high-tide, we ran over it, and came to an anchor opposite
+the town, and near an old fort, the guns of which did not look very
+formidable.  As we ran up the harbour we looked anxiously around to
+ascertain if our friend the rover was there; but no vessel exactly like
+her could we see, though there were several suspicious-looking craft,
+which, no doubt, were engaged in the same calling.  Salee itself is
+composed chiefly of mean houses, with very narrow dirty steep streets;
+but some of the dwellings in the higher part of the town are of greater
+pretensions as to size and architectural beauty.
+
+Our consignee in this place was an Armenian merchant, who presented a
+great contrast in outward appearance to Mynheer Von Donk.  Keon y Kyat
+was tall, and thin, and sallow and grave, dressed in long dark robes,
+and a high-pointed cap of Astrakan fur,--he looked more like a learned
+monk than a merchant; but in one point he was exactly like his respected
+correspondent,--he came to the country to make money, and money he was
+resolved to make, at all events!  This circumstance, however, was an
+advantage to our enterprise, as he was willing for money to afford us
+that assistance which he would, probably, otherwise have refused.
+
+Our interpreter, Sidy Yeusiff, was a character in his way, though
+certainly not one to be imitated.  His mother was a Christian slave, an
+Irish Roman Catholic, married to a Mohammedan Moor.  She had brought him
+up in her own faith, in which he continued till her death, when, to
+obtain his liberty, he professed that of his stepfather.  He had all the
+vices consequent on slavery.  He was cringing, cowardly, false, and
+utterly destitute of all principle; but, at the same time, so plausible,
+that it was difficult not to believe that he was speaking the truth.  He
+was a young, pleasant-looking man; and as he used to come forward and
+talk freely with the seamen, he became a favourite on board.  Poor
+fellow! had he been brought up under more favourable circumstances, how
+different might have been his character!  His professed object was, of
+course, to interpret for the captain in all matters connected with the
+sale of the cargo; but he used to take every opportunity of going on
+shore to try and gain information about Captain Stenning or any of his
+companions.
+
+I had few opportunities of making remarks about the people of this
+place, but Sidy corrected some of the notions I had first formed.  The
+boys all go bare-headed; the men wear red caps.  They have their hair
+shaved off their heads, with the exception of a tuft on the top, by
+which they expect Mohammed will draw them up to paradise.  I have seen
+it remarked that Mohammed, who had very erroneous notions on scientific
+subjects, fixed the articles for the religious belief of his followers
+according to them, thereby entirely disproving their divine origin;
+whereas the writers of the Bible, guided by inspiration, made numerous
+statements which, with the knowledge then possessed by mankind, would
+have been impossible for them to understand clearly unless explained to
+them by the Holy Spirit, but which subsequent discoveries in science
+have shown to be beautifully and exactly correct.
+
+Mohammed thought that the world was flat, and so placed his paradise in
+an atmosphere above it.
+
+To return to the dress of the Moors.  They wear long beards and large
+whiskers, but shave their upper lip and directly under the chin.  A
+gentleman of the upper class wears a long shirt without a collar, and
+over it a sort of spencer or waistcoat, joined before and behind.
+Again, over this he puts a very large coat, ornamented with numberless
+buttons, and with sleeves reaching only to his elbows.  His coat, which
+he folds round him, is secured by a thick coloured sash or girdle, into
+which he sticks a very long knife or dagger, and where he carries his
+money, supposing he has any.  He wears only a pair of linen drawers
+reaching to the ankle.  His shoes are of goat-skin, very well-dressed,
+the sole being but of one thickness.  He wears over his dress a fine
+white blanket, with which he can completely shroud himself, leaving only
+his right arm exposed.  It is called a haik.  Some of these haiks are
+very fine and transparent, while others are thicker and more fit for
+general use.  In cold weather he puts on a bournous or capote, with a
+hood such as the Greek fishermen and sailors wear.  A labouring man does
+not wear a shirt, and his drawers come only as far as his knee, leaving
+the rest of his leg exposed.
+
+The women's clothes are cut something like those of the men.  Round the
+head they wear a coloured sash, which hangs down to the waist; their
+hair is plaited; and they have the usual gold and silver ornaments in
+their ears and on their fingers, and red shoes.  The poorer classes wear
+necklaces, and silver or copper rings on their fingers and thumbs.
+Their shirts are beautifully ornamented in front, to look like lace.
+When they leave the house they put on drawers of great length, which
+they turn up into numerous folds over their legs, giving them a very
+awkward appearance.  Besides the haik, which is like that of a man's, a
+lady wears a linen cloth over her face, to conceal it from the profane
+vulgar when abroad.  Such were the people we saw moving about on shore.
+
+Day after day passed by, and no account could we gain of poor Captain
+Stenning.  It was very clear, also, that if we did, we should not be
+able to obtain his liberation by force.  At last one day the captain
+sent for me.
+
+"Williams," said he, "I have had news of one of the _Dolphin's_ people,
+if not of Captain Stenning himself.  I must myself go and see him, and I
+want a companion in whom I have perfect confidence.  As you are a
+steady, sensible man, with good nerve, I shall be glad to take you with
+me, if you are willing to accompany me.  I should probably have taken
+Poplar, but his figure is so conspicuous that he would have been
+remarked."
+
+I was much pleased with the way in which he spoke of me, and I told him
+that I was ready to follow wherever he chose to lead the way.
+
+"That is the spirit I expected to find in you," he replied.
+
+"It is, however, right that you should understand that there is
+considerable danger in the expedition; for if our errand was to be
+discovered, we should certainly be sacrificed to the fury of the Moors."
+
+"I've no fear about that, sir," said I.  "A man cannot expect to be
+always able to do what is right without running some risk and taking
+some trouble."
+
+Sidy that evening brought us off some Moorish clothes, in which the
+captain and I rigged ourselves out.  We certainly did look two funny
+figures, I thought, as we turned ourselves round and round in them.
+Sidy had not forgotten a couple of long knives, to which the captain
+added a brace of pistols a piece.  I was very glad it was dusk when we
+left the ship, for I should not have liked my shipmates to have seen me
+with my bare legs and slippers, and a dirty blanket over my head just
+like an old Irishwoman.
+
+A shore-boat was alongside--a sort of canoe turned up at both ends, and
+flat-bottomed.  An old Moor sat in her.  Sidy had bribed him to put us
+on shore, and to ask no questions.  He told him that we were Moors, who
+had had business on board the brig, and that we desired to land without
+notice.  He accordingly pulled to an unfrequented part of the harbour,
+and we stepped on shore, as we believed, unnoticed.  The captain and
+Sidy led the way, I following in the character of a servant.  Of course,
+if spoken to, I was to be dumb.  We passed along a narrow sandy road,
+with low stone walls on either side skirting the town, till we arrived
+at the entrance of a house of somewhat larger dimensions than those of
+the neighbouring edifices.  This, I found, was the residence of a German
+renegade and a merchant, who had, by Sidy's means, been bribed to assist
+us.
+
+We were ushered into his presence as Moorish guests come to visit him.
+He was seated cross-legged on a cushion at one end of a room, with a
+large pipe by his side.  The apartment was not very finely furnished,
+seeing that it had little else in it besides a few other cushions like
+the one he sat on.  Certainly he looked exactly like an old Moor, and I
+could not persuade myself that he was not one.  He invited us to sit
+down; which the captain and Sidy did near him, while I tucked my legs
+under me at a distance.  After he had bowed and talked a little through
+the interpreter, he clapped his hands, and some slaves brought each of
+us a pipe--not an unpleasant thing just then to my taste.  Again he
+clapped his hands, and the slaves brought in some low, odd, little
+tables, one of which was placed before each of us.  There was a bowl of
+porridge, and some plates with little lumps of fried meat, and rice, and
+dates, but not a drop of grog or liquor of any sort.  Afterwards,
+however, coffee was brought to us in cups scarcely bigger than thimbles;
+but it did little more than just warm up my tongue.  As soon as the
+slaves had withdrawn, I was not a little surprised to hear the seeming
+Moor address the captain in tolerable English.
+
+"So you want to find one of your captured countrymen?" said he.  "Well,
+to-morrow morning I start on a journey to visit a friend who has one as
+a slave.  His description answers that of him whom you seek.  I will
+obtain for you a short conversation with him.  You must contrive the
+means of rescuing him.  I can do no more."
+
+After some further talk on the subject our host got up, and, having
+carefully examined all the outlets to the room to ascertain that no one
+was looking in, produced a stout black bottle from a chest, and some
+glasses.  I found that the bottle contained most veritable Schiedam.
+
+"Now, as I don't think this good stuff was known to Master Mohammed when
+he played his pranks on earth, he cannot object to any of his faithful
+followers tasting a drop of it now and then."
+
+Thereon he poured out a glass for each of us, and winked at Sidy, as
+much as to say, "We understand each other--we are both of us rogues."
+The captain took but little; so did I: but Muly Hassan the merchant, and
+the interpreter, did not stop their potations till they had finished the
+bottle, and both were very drunk.  The merchant had sense enough left to
+hide his bottle, and then his slaves came and made him up a couch in one
+corner of the room.  They also prepared beds for us in the other
+corners.
+
+The next morning we were up before break of day, and mounted on some
+small horses, almost hid by their gaily-coloured saddle-cloths and
+trappings.  And such saddles!  Rising up in peaks ahead and astern, a
+drunken tailor could not have tumbled off one of them had he tried.  I
+do not remember much about the appearance of the country.  A large
+portion was lying waste; but there were fields of various sorts of corn,
+and even vineyards, though the grapes produced from them were not, I
+suppose, used for the manufacture of wine: indeed, I know that they are
+eaten both fresh and dried.  Date-trees were, however, in great
+abundance, the fruit being one of the principal articles of food among
+the people.  The roads were very bad; and altogether there was an air of
+misery and neglect which will always be seen where the ruler is a tyrant
+and the people are slaves.  We rested in some sheds put up for the
+accommodation of passengers during the heat of the day, and in the
+afternoon proceeded on to our destination.
+
+"Now, my friends, look out for your countryman," said the renegade.
+"You will probably see him tending cattle or labouring in the fields
+among other slaves.  He is probably in his own dress, and you will
+easily recognise him."
+
+Curiously enough, we had not ridden on for ten minutes further, when,
+not far from the road, we saw a man seated on a bank a short distance
+from the road, and looking very sorrowful and dispirited.  His dress was
+that of a seaman.  I looked round, and seeing no one near except our own
+party, I slipped off my horse, and ran up to him.  Of course, he thought
+I was a Moor, and he looked as if he would have fainted with surprise
+when he heard me hail him in English.
+
+"Who are you?  What do you come here for?" he exclaimed, panting for
+breath.
+
+"I belong to the _Dolphin_ brig, and I came here to try and find Captain
+Stenning and any of his companions."
+
+"Heaven be praised, then?" he exclaimed, bursting into tears.  "He and I
+are the only survivors of that demon-possessed craft which he commanded.
+But how came your vessel to be called by the name of one which proved
+so unfortunate?"
+
+"I cannot tell you all about that just now," I answered, seeing that
+much time would be lost if I entered into particulars.  I therefore
+merely explained the steps we had taken to discover them, and asked him
+what had become of Captain Stenning.
+
+"The captain!  He has been in this very place till within the last three
+or four weeks, when the Moors carried him away to serve on board one of
+their ships--the very ship which captured us.  They found out that he
+was the captain and understood navigation, so they took him to navigate
+one of their piratical craft.  I was sick and unfit for work, or they
+would have taken me likewise; but they saw that I was only a man before
+the mast, and guessed that I did not understand navigation.  What has
+since become of the captain I don't know.  There is no one here I can
+talk to.  They set me to work by signs, which, if I do not understand,
+they sharpen my wits with a lash; and they take care that I shall not
+run away, by securing me at night with a chain round my leg.  There are
+several other slaves employed by the same master, but not one of them
+understands a word of English."
+
+The young man's name was Jacob Lyal, he told me; and he said that he was
+just out of his apprenticeship when he joined the _Dolphin_.
+
+"I have a father and mother, and brothers and sisters, at home, in
+Somersetshire, and it would make their hearts sorrowful if they heard
+that I was left a slave in this barbarous country; so you'll do all you
+can to help me," he exclaimed, as I was about to leave him, for I was
+afraid of remaining longer lest we should be observed.
+
+Just as I was going, however, I told him to try and arrange some plan by
+which we might have a talk with him, and let him know how things stood
+before we left the place, should we be unable to take him with us.  He
+also described very accurately the sort of place in which he was locked
+up at night; and I promised, if I could, to go and have some more
+conversation with him.  As we did not lose time in talking of anything
+except the matter in hand, I was speedily able to rejoin the captain and
+his companions.  The captain approved of the arrangements I had made,
+though he was very sorry that there was no immediate prospect of meeting
+with Captain Stenning.
+
+We were received with all the usual marks of respect by the old Moor who
+owned the property.  He had been a pirate in his youth, and cut-throats
+and robbed without compunction; but he was now a dignified old
+gentleman, who looked as if he had been engaged in rural affairs all his
+life.  I came in for almost as much of the attention and good fare as
+the captain; for in that country a beggar may eat off the same table, or
+rather the same floor, and sit under the same roof as a prince.  The
+excuse for the visit was to sell to the old Moor some of the goods
+aboard the _Dolphin_, specimens of which the captain had brought with
+him.
+
+As soon after our arrival as we had shaken the dust out of our clothes,
+and washed our faces and our hands and feet, we were ushered by slaves
+into a hall, at one end of which sat the old Moor, and the captain and
+the renegade and the interpreter were placed on each side of him, and I
+sat a little further off, tucking up my legs as I had done before; and
+then some black slaves in white dresses brought in a little table for
+each of us, with all sorts of curious things to eat, which I need not
+describe, for in that country one feast is very much like another.  The
+renegade had also brought a case; but that it contained something
+besides merchandise he proved by producing, one after the other, several
+of his favourite bottles of Schiedam, which apparently were no less
+acceptable to the old Moor than to him.  I am not, however, fond of
+describing such scenes, or of picturing such gross hypocrites as the
+renegade and the old Moor.
+
+I gained an advantage, however, from their drunken habits; for as soon
+as it was dark I stole out of the house, and tried to find my way to the
+shed where Lyal told me he was chained at night.  I had taken good note
+of the bearings of the place as we rode along.  I knew that if I was
+found prying about, I should run a great chance of being killed; but
+still I was resolved to run every risk to try and rescue the poor fellow
+from captivity.  Of course, as the captain afterwards told me, we might
+have gone home to England, and laid the state of the case before the
+Government; and after a year or so spent in diplomatising, the poor
+fellow, if he was still alive, might have been released, or the Emperor
+of Morocco might have declared that he could not find him, or that he
+was dead; and thus he would have remained on, like many others, in
+captivity.
+
+There was a little light from the moon, which enabled me to mark the
+outlines of the house I was leaving, as well as to find my way.  Two
+servants were stationed in the entrance passage, but they had wrapped
+themselves up in their haiks and gone soundly to sleep, so I stepped
+over their bodies without waking them.  Every person about the house,
+indeed, seemed to have gone to sleep, but the dogs were more faithful
+than the human beings, and some of them barked furiously as I walked
+along.  They were either chained or locked up, and finding my footsteps
+going from them, they were soon silent.  At length I reached the shed I
+was in search of.  It was near a cottage, with several other similar
+sheds in the neighbourhood.  As I came to the entrance, a voice said--
+
+"Come in; but speak low."
+
+At first I could see no one, but on going further in, I discovered the
+object of my search sitting in a corner on a heap of straw.  He was
+chained there, and could not move.
+
+"It gives me new life to see a countryman here, and one who wants to
+help me," said the poor fellow.  "I thought all the world had deserted
+me, and that I should be left to die in this strange land, among worse
+than heathens, who treat me as a dog; or that I should be tempted to
+give up my faith and turn Mohammedan, as others have done."
+
+I cannot repeat all our conversation.  At last an idea struck me.
+
+"I'll tell you what," said I; "just do you pretend to be mad, and play
+all sorts of strange pranks, and do all the mischief you can; and then
+the captain will propose to buy you, and perhaps the old Moor will sell
+you a bargain, and be glad to be rid of you."
+
+"A very good idea," he answered.  "But here am I chained up like a dog,
+and how am I to get free?"
+
+"No fear," said I, producing a knife which Peter had given me,
+containing all sorts of implements, and among them a file.  "You shall
+soon be at liberty, at all events."
+
+Accordingly I set to work, and in less than an hour I had filed the
+chain from off his legs.  While we were filing away, we arranged what he
+was to do.  He was to make a huge cap, with a high peak of straw, and he
+was to cut his jacket into shreds, and a red handkerchief I had into
+strips, and to fasten them about him in long streamers, and he was to
+take a thick pole in his hand, covered much in the same way, and then he
+was to rush into the house, shrieking and crying out as if a pack of
+hounds were after him.
+
+"They will not wonder at seeing me mad, for I have done already many
+strange things, and very little work, since I came here," he remarked.
+"But what it to become of the chain?"
+
+"You had better carry that with you, and clank it in their faces," said
+I.  "Make as if you had bitten it through.  That will astonish them, and
+they will, at all events, be afraid to come near your teeth."
+
+To make a long story short, we worked away with a will, and in half an
+hour or so he was rigged out in a sufficiently strange fashion.  I have
+no doubt, had Peter been with us, he would have improved on our
+arrangement.  I then, advising Lyal to follow me in a short time, stole
+back, and took my place unobserved in the old Moor's dining-hall.  The
+captain guessed what I had been doing, but the rest of the party had
+been too much engaged in their potations to miss me.  After a little
+time I stole over to the captain and told him the arrangements I had
+made, that he might be ready to act accordingly.
+
+In a short time the silence which had hitherto prevailed was broken by a
+terrible uproar of dogs barking, and men hallooing and crying out at the
+top of their voices; while, above all, arose as unearthly shrieks as I
+had ever heard.  Presently in rushed a crowd of black and brown
+servants, followed by a figure which I recognised as that of Lyal,
+though he had much improved his appearance by fastening a haik over his
+shoulders and another round his waist, while he waved above his head a
+torch, at the risk of setting his high straw-cap on fire.  The people
+all separated before him, as he dashed on, right up to the old Moor,
+who, with a drunken gaze of terror and astonishment, stared at him
+without speaking.
+
+"Ho! ho!" shouted the sailor, seizing him by the nose; "old fellow, I
+have you now!"
+
+Thereon he kicked over the jar of Schiedam, the contents of which he set
+on fire with his torch; and keeping fast hold of the old Moor's nose,
+who in his fright knew not how to resist, dragged him round and round
+the room, shouting and shrieking all the time like a very demoniac.
+
+The place would have been meantime set on fire had not the captain and I
+quenched the flames, while the renegade and the interpreter, in their
+drunken humours, could only lean back on their cushions, and laugh as if
+they would split their sides at the extraordinary predicament of our
+host.
+
+"I say, countrymen, if you had but your horses ready, we might gallop
+away before all these people knew where they are," shouted Lyal.
+"Who'll just take a spell at the old fellow's nose, for I am tired of
+holding on?"
+
+On this Captain Gale thought that it was time to interfere, and he and I
+going up to the old Moor, pretended to use great exertion in dragging
+away the sailor from him.  The captain then led him back to his seat,
+while I held Lyal.
+
+"Here, Sidy," said the captain to the interpreter; "tell the old man
+that if he will give me fifty dollars, I will take that madman off his
+hands."
+
+When the old Moor had somewhat recovered his composure, Sidy explained
+the offer.  "He says that he can kill him, and so get him out of his
+way!" was the answer.  "He dare not do that," put in the renegade; "all
+the people here will own him as inspired.  Abate your price, and stick
+to it."
+
+Finally, the captain consented to carry away the madman on having twenty
+dollars added to the price he was to receive for his goods.
+
+"Take him! take him!" exclaimed the old Moor.  "The man who can eat
+through iron, drive all my slaves before him, set fire to my house, and
+pull me by the nose, is better away from me than near!  Take care,
+though, that he does not come back again!"
+
+The captain promised that he would take very good care of that; and the
+next day, with joyful hearts at our unexpected success, we set forward
+on our return-journey to Salee.  As the renegade and Sidy were both to
+be rewarded according to our success, they were well content; and by
+their aid, the same night we got on board the brig with our recovered
+countryman without being observed.  We had now to turn the whole of our
+attention to the recovery of Captain Stenning; and every excuse which
+Captain Gale could think of was made for our stay in the harbour.
+Still, we had very little of our cargo left, and every day saw it
+decrease.  The spring-tides were also coming on, when there was the
+greatest depth of water on the bar, and we could the most easily make
+our escape without a pilot.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWELVE.
+
+THE SALEE ROVER AND THE BRITISH CORVETTE.
+
+As we lay at our anchors off Salee, we had a view from the mast-head of
+the open sea, over a point of land which ran out below the town.  Snug
+as we were, it was one day blowing a heavy gale outside from the
+northward.  Dark clouds chased each other across the sky, and the
+ocean--black and gloomy--was sprinkled over with white-topped seas.  I
+was engaged aloft about the rigging, when I observed a sail to the
+north-west staggering along with as much canvas as she could carry.  So
+rapidly did she make her way through the water, that I soon perceived
+that she was a brig, and that she was standing towards the harbour.  The
+reason of her carrying so much sail, with so heavy a gale blowing, was
+soon explained.  Two or three miles astern of her came a large ship,
+with all her topsails set, evidently in chase.  The latter, better able
+from her size to bear a heavy press of sail, was coming up with her
+rapidly.  On seeing this I hailed the deck, and the captain, and Mr
+Carr, and Peter, and others, soon came aloft to watch the progress of
+the chase.
+
+"I make it all out clearly," exclaimed the captain, after watching the
+state of affairs through his glass.  "That craft is the very rover which
+plundered this vessel, or exactly like her; and the ship is a British
+man-of-war corvette, which is in chase of her.  I can make out the
+English ensign clearly.  The rover hopes to get into port before the
+guns of the corvette can be brought to bear on her; and that's just what
+I hope the rascal won't be able to do."
+
+"But that's the very craft Stenning is said to be on board," observed
+Mr Carr.  "Poor fellow, it will go hard with him when the corvette's
+guns begin to play on the brig."
+
+"I wish that we could run out and bring her to action, so as to give the
+corvette time to come up and take possession," said I to Peter, who was
+near me.
+
+"If the weather were moderate we might do it; but, with this gale
+blowing, I doubt if even our captain would run the risk," he answered.
+"Besides you see, Jack, all the people we have had anything to do with
+here would get into a great scrape if we played such a trick to one of
+their vessels.  Yet I tell you, lad, I would like the fun amazingly.
+The villains don't deserve any mercy at our hands."
+
+While Peter and I were discussing the subject, so were the captain and
+Mr Carr.  They gave up the idea of running out to meet the rover, as
+thereby they would have but little chance of saving the life of Walter
+Stenning, if he was still on board.  By this time, both the brig and
+ship had drawn close in-shore, and every movement could clearly be
+observed with the naked eye.  Poor Jacob Lyal had come aloft; and as
+soon as he recognised the brig, he was nearly falling on deck,
+overpowered with all the dreadful recollections her appearance conjured
+up.
+
+No vessel, unless one well acquainted with the coast, could have
+ventured to stand in as close as the brig had done.  She was now about a
+mile from the entrance of the harbour; and the corvette, outside of her,
+had just begun to fire a bow-gun now and then, to try its range.  At
+last a shot went through one of the brig's topsails.  She, in return,
+fired, endeavouring to cripple her pursuer, thus to have time to run
+under the shelter which was so near.  Never have I witnessed a more
+exciting scene.  Our mast-heads were soon crowded with spectators.  Even
+the sluggish Moors rushed out of their houses, and went to the
+neighbouring heights to watch what was going forward.  Their interest
+was, however, on the other side of the question.  Many of them must have
+had relatives and friends on board the rover, and they were as anxious
+for her escape as we were to see her captured.  The action now became
+warm--both corvette and brig were firing away as fast as they could
+load.
+
+"Hurrah! the pirate seems to be getting the worst of it," said I to
+Peter.  "The rovers will meet with their deserts before long, I hope."
+
+"So do I," he answered.  "But do you know, Jack, I'm more anxious about
+the corvette.  If she were to receive any damage, and not be able to
+haul off-shore, she is, do you see, on an enemy's coast, and all her
+people would be made prisoners, if not murdered; while the brig has a
+port under her lee, and can run in even if she gets a good deal of
+knocking about."
+
+While we were thus talking, the corvette had drawn still nearer to the
+brig, and her shot began to tell with considerable effect.  Down came
+the brig's maintop-gallant-mast, the spars hanging by the rigging.  We
+next saw several hands going aloft to clear it away, when another shot
+struck the maintop-mast.  The Moors attempted in haste to slide down the
+stays and shrouds, but scarcely had they begun their descent when the
+mast bent over to leeward, and down it came with a crash, jerking off
+many of them into the sea.  There in vain they struggled for life; the
+combatants flew on, leaving them to their fate.  Still the brig had her
+mainsail set, and with the gale there was blowing, that was sufficient
+after-canvas for her to carry with advantage.  She ceased firing.
+"Hurrah! she is going to strike," we exclaimed; but the wreck of the
+maintop-mast was quickly cleared away, and she commenced again with
+greater briskness than ever.  In return, the corvette plied her fast and
+furiously with shot, which must have told pretty severely among her
+people on deck, though, of course, we could not see the damage which was
+done.  The brig was within a quarter of a mile of the mouth of the
+harbour.  It was high-tide, but we well knew that there was not water
+sufficient on the bar to allow the corvette to enter.  Still, on she
+boldly came in hot chase.
+
+"She cannot surely fancy that she can venture in," exclaimed Captain
+Gale.  "She'll be lost to a certainty if she does.  Poor fellows! not
+one will escape with their lives should she strike.  Carr, we must run
+out, and try and pick some of them up, at all hazards.  The wind is
+sufficiently to the northward to carry us clear, and the people on shore
+are so engaged in watching the chase, that they will not observe us
+getting under way till we are clear from the guns of the castle."
+
+"Ay, ay, sir, with all my heart," answered the mate.  "I'm not quite
+certain that the brig will get scot-free either."
+
+As he spoke, I saw a thick smoke ascending from the deck of the rover.
+
+"She's on fire! she's on fire!" shouted several of us.  But then we
+thought of poor Stenning, and what would become of him.
+
+"All hands make sail," cried the captain, descending on deck.  "We must
+slip, Mr Carr.  There's no time for heaving up the anchor."
+
+The crew could scarcely refrain from giving vent to their feelings of
+excitement in a shout.
+
+"Silence, my lads; we must not let the Moors know what we are about."
+
+Never did a crew let fall the topsails with greater good-will than we
+did.  We had kept two reefs in them for an emergency.  I now saw the
+wisdom of the captain's forethought when he gave the order, as some time
+before we had loosed sails.
+
+We were riding with the ship's head towards the mouth of the river, the
+tide still running in.  Thus, being strongly manned with willing hearts,
+we were soon under way.  No one from the shore observed us, or, at all
+events, came off to stop us.  Sidy, the interpreter, was fortunately on
+shore, so that we had no trouble about him, and the captain knew that he
+could easily pay him through the consignee of the ship.  Captain Gale's
+intention was, I learned, to run down to the mouth of the harbour, and
+to anchor if necessary.  We got a cable ranged accordingly, with an
+anchor ready to let go.  The brig quickly felt the force of the wind,
+and, happily canting the right way, and her sails filling, away she
+flew, heeling over to the gale towards the open sea.  The captain, or
+one of the mates, or Peter, had been constantly sailing about the
+harbour, as if to amuse themselves, or to catch fish, but in reality to
+sound the depth of the water, and to make themselves thoroughly
+acquainted with the harbour.  We thus required no pilot to carry us out.
+
+As we rounded the point I have described, the mouth of the river lay
+before us--a long line of surf, with heavy breakers rolling and roaring
+in from the sea, apparently barring our exit.  Outside of it was the
+corvette, close-hauled with three reefs in her topsail, standing
+off-shore, and, as far as we could see, uninjured.  But the pirate brig,
+where was she?
+
+A dark mass of rocks lay at the northern part of the entrance to the
+harbour.  Over them the sea broke furiously; and amid the masses of foam
+which flew high into the air was the black hull of a vessel, with
+shattered masts and spars heaving up amid the breakers; while from the
+centre of it, as if striving with the waves which should most speedily
+destroy it, bright flames were bursting forth and raging furiously.  As
+we gazed with horror at the dreadful spectacle, feeling our compassion
+excited rather for our hapless countryman, whom we believed to be on
+board, than for the ruthless wretches who formed her crew, there was a
+loud explosion, and fragments of wreck, and what had once been human
+beings, were thrown up into the air; and by the time they had again
+fallen into the foaming water, no portion of the rover remained to show
+where she just had been.
+
+We were now about a quarter of a mile from the bar, and not a moment was
+to be lost in deciding what was to be done, whether we were to bring-up
+or to attempt to cross.  In the line of breakers which rolled over the
+bar, a spot was observed where the water was smoother, and which the
+captain knew to be the deepest channel.
+
+"We may run out there without fear, light as we are; and if we remain,
+these Mohammedan fanatics will certainly revenge themselves on us for
+the destruction of their friends," he observed to Mr Carr, who agreed
+with him that the attempt should be made, though far from free of risk.
+And most people, indeed, would have agreed that the passage was
+hazardous in the extreme, but yet no one on board doubted that it was
+the right thing to do.
+
+The second mate, who was at the helm with another steady hand, was
+ordered to steer towards the opening.  The tide was still running in
+strong, which gave us greater command over the vessel than would have
+otherwise been the case.  All hands were at their stations, and every
+one of us knew the position we were in.  A shift of wind, the least
+carelessness, the carrying away a spar or rope, might bring upon us the
+same fate which had destroyed the rover.  Scarcely had the determination
+I have mentioned been arrived at, when, as I was looking out ahead, I
+saw on the starboard-bow a spar floating in the water.  I looked again;
+a man was holding on to it, and drifting up towards us.  I was certain I
+saw him lift up his hand and wave it.  I immediately reported the
+circumstance to the captain.
+
+"Although he is probably one of those wretched Moors, he is a
+fellow-creature, and it is our duty to try and save him," he observed.
+"About-ship! helm a-lee!" he sung out.
+
+The brig, under her topsails, worked like a top, and we had ample room
+to put her about and heave her to.  Just as we had done so, the spar
+came drifting up close to us.  Again the man clinging to it waved his
+hand.  His unshorn head of light curling hair showed that he was no
+Moor.
+
+"Here, mates, just pay out this line as I want it!" sung out Peter,
+passing the bight of a rope under his arms and leaping overboard.  "I'll
+tackle him to, I warrant."
+
+In an instant he was in the water, and a few strokes bringing him up to
+the spar as it floated by, he grasped hold of the person hanging to it,
+and then sung out, "Haul away, my lads; it's all right!"
+
+The whole incident took place, it seemed, in a few seconds.  Once more
+he was on the deck, and there could be no doubt of it, with no other
+than Walter Stenning in his arms!  The poor fellow breathed, but the
+dangers he had gone through, and the sudden restoration to safety, had
+overcome him, and he lay almost unconscious on the deck.
+
+"Now, sir, the sooner we fill and stand out of this the better," said
+Peter, turning to the captain, after he had placed Stenning on the deck.
+"I did not speak of it before, but just now I saw another of those
+piratical fellows getting under way just from opposite where we lay,
+doubtless to be after us."
+
+Peter's remark was found to be true; and up the harbour another brig was
+seen making sail, of course with the hope of overtaking us.  I, with
+another man, received orders to carry Captain Stenning below, which we
+did, placing him on a mattress on the floor of the cabin, and then
+hurried up again to attend to our duty.
+
+Once more the brig was put about, and head up towards the passage.  On
+we rushed, the foam flying over us as we approached the spot.  She
+lifted to the first rolling sea, and then down she came, as if she must
+strike the sand below; but another roller came tumbling in, and mounting
+like a sea-bird on its summit, she descended on the other side amid
+clouds of spray, again to mount another huge wave, and then to rush on
+with impetuous force as she felt the blast which laid her over almost on
+her beam-ends towards the open ocean.  Still, on either hand, wild
+foaming water broke in mountain masses around us; but on we sped.  "Hold
+on! hold on for your lives!" shouted the captain, as yet another
+mountain sea came thundering on towards us, close upon a previous one
+over which we had ridden in safety.  The brig seemed to spring at it, as
+if able to dash it aside; but vain indeed was the attempt.  High above
+us it rose.  Right into it we went, and for a moment I thought all was
+over.  Along our decks it found its way, and fell in torrents below,
+sweeping everything before it; but still buoyantly our brave vessel flew
+on, and wave after wave being surmounted, a loud shout burst from all
+hands as once more we found ourselves in the open sea, following in the
+wake of the British corvette.
+
+As soon as we were in safety, the captain called me below to attend to
+Captain Stenning.  We found him sitting up on the mattress, and, as he
+held on by the leg of the table, looking somewhat wildly around him.
+
+"Where am I? what is all this that has happened?" he exclaimed, as we
+appeared.
+
+"That you are safe aboard the _Dolphin_, my friend, and that you have
+escaped from the wreck of a Moorish pirate," answered the captain.  "But
+before I answer more questions, we'll just get off your wet clothes, and
+clap you into bed with a glass of hot grog."
+
+This we accordingly did, and the result was that the poor fellow very
+soon fell fast asleep--the best thing he could do under the
+circumstances.
+
+When I went on deck, I found that the Moorish brig which had pursued us,
+seeing the fate which had befallen her companion, and that we had got
+safe over the bar, had put about, and stood back again to her anchorage.
+
+"I should have begrudged the rascals our anchor and cable," said Peter.
+"But as we have got Mr Stenning back safe, they are welcome to them,
+though I would rather see the honest hemp used to hang some of the
+knaves."
+
+The gale, which truly seemed to have effected its purpose in the
+destruction of the miscreant rovers, now began to abate its fury, and
+before dark we came up with the corvette, which had hove-to in order to
+speak us.  We found that she was His Britannic Majesty's sloop-of-war
+_Syren_, of eighteen guns; and the captain directed us to lay by him
+till the morning, when he would send on board to hear all the
+particulars of what had occurred.
+
+Meantime I had been sent to sit by Captain Stenning, to be ready to
+attend to him when he awoke.  When he did so, I called Captain Gale to
+him.  The account I then heard of his adventures was very short.  We
+had, indeed, guessed very nearly the truth.  The _Dolphin_ had been
+surprised by the pirates, and while he, with some of his crew, were in
+vain attempting to defend her deck, he had been struck down.  When he
+returned to consciousness, he found himself on board the pirate, with
+two or three others, of whom Lyal alone survived.  The pirates had been
+driven from their prey by the appearance of a large ship, which they
+took to be a man-of-war; and in revenge, he concluded, they murdered all
+who then remained on board.  He and Lyal would have been killed also;
+but their lives were saved by a Moor, whom he once saved at Gibraltar
+from ill-treatment by some English seamen, with whom he had quarrelled.
+Though the Moor had saved his life, he had not interest to do more for
+him at that time.
+
+When the pirates again fell in with the _Dolphin_, and were frightened
+from attacking her by the trick Peter invented, thinking some evil
+spirits possessed the vessel, they made all sail to return to port.  He
+confessed that he was himself very much astonished, and could in no way
+account for what he had witnessed.  Had he not received the explanation
+we gave him, he should all his life have believed that the appearance he
+had beheld was produced by supernatural agency.
+
+When carried into port, he, with Lyal, was sold to the old Moor, as we
+knew; but his friend had not forgotten him.  The rover much wanted a
+skilful navigator, and thinking that he would prefer a life of
+comparative freedom at sea to slavery on shore, he repurchased him, and
+carried him on board the brig.  He was rather disappointed, however, to
+find that, without a quadrant or nautical almanac, the captain could be
+of very little use to them in that way.  He told us, indeed, that the
+pirates were very nearly killing him for his supposed obstinacy, because
+he could not tell them one day whereabouts they were, when they put
+their own rough instruments into his hands.  He had great difficulty in
+explaining that, without his own books and charts, he could be of little
+help to them.  However, they promised to attack an English vessel before
+long, that they might supply him.
+
+With this object in view, they made sail towards the corvette, which
+they took for a merchantman, and thus very nearly caught a Tartar.  They
+discovered their mistake only when within six miles or so of her; and by
+then suddenly altering their course, and standing away from her under
+all sail, her suspicions were excited, and she made chase after them.
+In such terror were the pirates, when they found themselves so hard
+pressed, that they seemed to forget him, or his life would probably have
+been sacrificed; but as he was left himself, he was allowed to consider
+the best means of preserving it.  When, therefore, he saw that the brig
+must inevitably strike the rocks, he seized a loose spar on the deck and
+sprang overboard, trusting that the current would carry him through the
+breakers into smooth water.  He had seen us coming out, and guessing
+that the brig was an English trader, hoped to be picked up by her.  His
+surprise and pleasure at meeting with Lyal was very great.
+
+"It would have been a great to damper my own satisfaction, if I thought
+that you had still been left in slavery," he remarked, as he wrung the
+seaman's hand.
+
+"Well, sir, I can only say that I would go back and be chained up like a
+dog, as I was before, for the sake of seeing you free, and sent safe
+home to your wife and family," returned the honest fellow, passing the
+cuff of his jacket across his eyes, to brush away a tear which his
+feelings had brought them.
+
+Yes; the rough sailor has got just the same sort of feelings inside his
+bosom which dwells within the silken vest of any young lady or gentleman
+who can weep over a novel, or better, sometimes, a deed of heroism; and
+right honest, genuine feelings, they are too--which is more than can be
+said for those hackneyed sentiments possessed by people who have lived
+all their lives in what they choose to call the great world.
+
+Altogether, never was an enterprise more successful than ours had
+hitherto been.  We had not only succeeded in recovering both the
+survivors of the _Dolphin's_ crew at small cost, but, from the high
+prices we had obtained for our merchandise, we had paid all the probable
+expenses of the voyage, and left a handsome profit for our owners.
+
+The next morning we were close up with the corvette, when a lieutenant
+from her boarded us to learn all the particulars we had to describe.
+The two masters, with Lyal and I, were then requested by the lieutenant
+to accompany him aboard the ship-of-war, to give a further account to
+the captain himself of what had occurred.  Captain Hudson received us
+very kindly; and while our two captains sat down, we stood with our hats
+in our hands behind their chairs.  I remember that he laughed very
+heartily at my idea of rigging up Lyal as a madman, and at the way he
+put my advice in practice, by pulling the old Moor's nose.
+
+"Well, gentlemen," said Captain Hudson, "from the account you have given
+me, I think we have ample grounds to enable the British Government to
+make a demand on that of Morocco for compensation; so that if you will
+accompany me to England, I hope to obtain ample satisfaction for you."
+
+Neither Lyal nor I exactly understood what all this meant; but Captain
+Gale had an inkling that very little satisfaction would result either to
+him or Captain Stenning.
+
+"Thank you, sir," he answered; "but I can't accept your offer, for my
+brother-master wants to return to his wife and family, and my owners
+directed me to make the best of my way back to Halifax."
+
+"Of course these are strong arguments against the execution of my
+wishes," returned Captain Hudson.  "You will, I conclude, therefore
+proceed on your voyage, and give your evidence when you return to
+England.  But I find, Captain Gale, that you are more strongly manned
+than is necessary for a merchantman.  These two young men will remain on
+board the _Syren_, and one of my lieutenants will accompany you to your
+brig, and select a few more.  However, we will not leave you
+short-handed; but His Majesty's ships must be manned, do you see?"
+
+"It is very hard, sir.  All my people are volunteers on what appeared a
+somewhat hazardous expedition, and are anxious to return to their
+families," replied Captain Gale.  "You will allow me, without offence,
+to observe, that one of these young men has only just been released from
+slavery, and that the other is an apprentice."
+
+"The first does not belong to your crew, so it is my duty to take care
+of him; and if the other is still an apprentice, I cannot keep him, but
+I shall like to see his papers.  Mistakes in these matters sometimes
+occur.  We do everything according to law, do you see, Mr Gale."
+Captain Hudson spoke very mildly and blandly, but there was something in
+his eye which showed that he was not to be trifled with.
+
+"You will understand, sir," he continued, turning to Captain Stenning,
+"I have the power to press you.  Under the circumstances of the case, I
+will not, unless I am forced to do it; but your friend will throw no
+impediment in the way of my getting any of the hands I may require.  I
+will not detain you, gentlemen, and I wish you a prosperous voyage and a
+happy termination to your enterprise."
+
+This, then, was the object for which the naval captain wished to
+communicate with the _Dolphin_.  It was not with the best possible grace
+that the two masters got up to take their leave; and yet Captain
+Stenning well knew that he was completely in the power of the commander
+of the sloop-of-war, and that there was no law to prevent him from being
+sent to do duty before the mast on board of her.
+
+They both shook hands warmly and kindly with Lyal, and promised to send
+him a spare chest, with such things as could be collected; for of course
+he had but a scanty outfit.  As they were going, I put out my hand also.
+
+"You'll let me shake hands, sir, won't you?" said I.  "There's many a
+kind act you've done me, Captain Gale, from the time I was a little
+helpless lad till now; and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and
+may Heaven bless you, sir."
+
+"Why, what's all this about?" exclaimed my kind captain, "You have your
+papers, Jack, and you cannot, as an apprentice, be touched."
+
+"But the papers won't protect me, sir; I am no longer an apprentice," I
+answered.  "Not long ago, I got a mate to look over them for me, and I
+was, I find, out of my apprenticeship a month ago."
+
+"There is no use giving in without an attempt to escape; I'll see what
+can be done," he answered.  "May I not take this man with me, sir?" he
+asked, turning to Captain Hudson, who stood on the quarter-deck, and of
+course had not heard this part of our conversation.
+
+"Send his papers and his chest likewise," was the only answer the
+captain of the _Syren_ deigned to give.
+
+Before the brig's boat shoved off, I went over the side, and sent many a
+message to Peter Poplar and the rest of my shipmates.  I regretted
+leaving the brig, but I was more sorry at the thought of parting from
+Peter than for any other reason.
+
+As I looked at the _Dolphin_ with the eye of that affection which a
+seaman soon gains for a vessel in which he is tolerably happy, I
+observed that the man-of-war's boat was already alongside.  In a short
+time she shoved off, and pulled back to the corvette.  There were
+several chests, and five people besides her crew in her.  I rubbed my
+eyes.  Could I believe them?  Among the people sat Peter Poplar!  He
+sprung up the side, and was soon engaged in shaking hands with several
+of the _Syren's_ crew.
+
+"What! are you pressed, Peter?" said I to him; and in my heart I could
+not be very sorry to have him with me.
+
+"Not exactly that either," he answered.  "You see, Jack, I found that
+you were pressed, or would be to a certainty, and I did not like to have
+one whom I had nursed up almost from a baby on the salt waters, so to
+speak, altogether out of my sight, though you are big enough now to take
+care of yourself; so, says I to myself, Well, if they take me, I'll go
+with a free will--I don't mind.  However, when the lieutenant picked out
+the men he would like to have, and who have no protection, he passed me
+over, thinking that, on account of my age, he could not touch me.  But
+among the men he chose was poor Bill Jackson, who has a wife and small
+family at Halifax, and who only came the voyage from his love for
+Captain Stenning, and was going to give up the sea and live on shore
+with his wife's relations up the country.  I never saw a poor fellow so
+cut up and broken-hearted when he saw all his hopes blown to the winds,
+and knew that, for many a long year, he might not see his wife or little
+ones.  He knows well the ups and downs of a sailor's life, and that very
+likely he might never see them again.  I know that I could not stand his
+grief.  Captain Gale did all he could to get the lieutenant to let him
+off, but nothing would do.  The only answer was, `His Majesty wants
+seamen, and seamen he must have.'
+
+"`So he shall!' said I, walking up to the officer.  `Now, sir, if you
+will let that man go, you may have me in his stead; and I'll make bold
+to say, that there isn't a man aboard this brig but will acknowledge
+that, blow high or blow low, I'm his equal, either aloft or at the helm,
+or in handling the lead.  What say you, mates?  Who'll speak for me?  It
+isn't because I want to boast, you know; but I do want to save poor Bill
+Jackson from being pressed aboard a man-of-war!'
+
+"`He speaks the truth, that he does!' exclaimed all the crew, who were
+mustered on deck.  `There are few of us can come up to him.'
+
+"`I tell you, sir,' said Captain Gale, `I should be very sorry to lose
+either Jackson or Poplar; but if you ask me which is the best seaman of
+the two, I am bound to say that Poplar is; and besides, in him you get a
+willing hand, who loves the sea, which I am sure poor Jackson does not.'
+
+"`Then Poplar let us have, by all means,' answered the lieutenant,
+telling Jackson that he was free, and ordering us all to be smart in
+getting our traps ready to take with us.
+
+"The captain, meantime, told me to bring him your papers, which I did,
+though I well knew that they were no protection to you, and so he
+discovered, and so I got your chest ready with the rest: and so you see,
+Jack, you and I are man-of-war's men, and so, lad, let's do our duty
+like men, and stand up boldly for our king and country."
+
+Peter's hearty way of talking gave me spirits which I should not
+otherwise have felt.  I never had before stood on the deck of a
+man-of-war, but I had heard a good deal about the cruelty and injustice
+practised on board them, from some of my shipmates; and I had, with the
+great mass of merchant-seamen in those days, and for many years
+afterwards, formed a strong prejudice against them.  From the system
+which was practised in some ships, I naturally, with others, formed an
+opinion of the whole navy; and when I first found myself a pressed-man
+on board the _Syren_, I looked forward to a life of ill-treatment and
+wretchedness till I could again obtain my freedom.  I truly believe,
+indeed, that had I not had Peter again as my counsellor, I should have
+yielded to the force of my impression, and have been guilty of the very
+conduct which would have brought me into trouble.  I found a number of
+pressed-men and discontented men, and not a few bad characters in the
+ship, who were always ready to grumble at what was done, and whose great
+aim seemed to be how they could oftenest shirk duty, most speedily get
+drunk, and most readily break the rules and regulations of the service.
+At first I was inclined to think them somewhat fine fellows, lads of
+spirit, whose example was worthy of imitation; but Peter observing my
+tendency, very soon put their conduct in its true light.
+
+"You see, Jack," said he, "those fellows are, in the first place, acting
+a sneaking, unfair part, to their shipmates.  The duty has to be got
+through, and so the willing, good men, have to do the work which those
+knaves neglect.  Then they benefit by the laws of the country; and the
+country would go to ruin if it was without a navy, and the navy could
+not be kept up without the rules and regulations which they are always
+trying to break through.  As to their drunkenness, it unfits them for
+duty.  No man knows what he may do when he is drunk; and besides making
+him ill at the time, he who drinks to excess is guilty of suicide, as so
+doing will most certainly shorten his life.  Just think what excuse will
+a man have to offer when he has thus hurried himself into the presence
+of his Maker!  How awful will be the doom he cannot fail to receive!
+Then, again, those idle fellows who try to avoid work, are always
+getting into trouble, for no officer will find any excuse for them, or
+attempt to shield them; and they thus spend a much longer time than they
+idle away in the black list, or with the tingling of the cat on their
+backs.  But, Jack, I don't want any of these to be your motives for
+acting rightly.  One motive should be sufficient for us all--and that
+is, the wish to do our duty to our God."
+
+I repeat here my kind friend's advice, but it was long, very long,
+before it seemed to sink into the sandy soil of my heart, and to bring
+forth fruit.  I am very glad that the press-gang system no longer
+exists.  No man can any longer be forced to serve on board a man-of-war.
+The case, such as I have described, may appear hard when the master of
+a merchantman was deprived of a considerable portion of his crew--hard
+to him, and hard to the pressed-men, and harder in a pecuniary point of
+view to the underwriters, the property they had insured being thereby
+made much more liable to shipwreck; but still it was not one-tenth part
+as hard as numberless cases which I have known during my career afloat.
+
+Little did I think when, from the mast-head of the _Dolphin_, I first
+saw the _Syren_ heave in sight, that before that time on the following
+day I should form one of her crew.  Such is the ever-changing scene of a
+sailor's life!
+
+
+
+CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
+
+JACK A MAN-OF-WAR'S-MAN.
+
+There is a time of life when a person feels that he has left for ever
+his boyish days and stepped into manhood.  I felt that I had passed that
+boundary when I found myself rated as an able seaman on board the
+_Syren_ sloop of war.  I was now under a far stricter system of
+discipline than I had been accustomed to.  At first I felt it somewhat
+galling; but I soon saw that without the greatest regularity it would be
+impossible to keep order among the crew of a ship even of the size of
+the _Syren_.
+
+My early days I had spent on board a merchantman, and had met with many
+adventures somewhat strange and exciting.  I did not expect to meet with
+fewer in my new career, though they would probably be of a different
+character.  The result of my last, in which I had aided in rescuing two
+of my countrymen from captivity, had proved most satisfactory.  Jacob
+Lyal, one of them, was now with me, and I knew he would speak well of me
+among my new shipmates.  The other, Captain Stenning, late master of the
+_Dolphin_, was on board that vessel, and, I hoped, would soon be enabled
+to rejoin his wife and family in Halifax.  Captain Gale, her present
+master, would also, I knew, speak favourably of me to my first commander
+in the _Rainbow_, Captain Helfrich, whenever he should fall in with him.
+I pity the man who does not desire to be thought well of by those who
+know him, and who does not feel that he deserves their good wishes.  I
+certainly had not made many friends, but those I had found were true and
+fast ones; and a great source of satisfaction to me was the having with
+me Peter Poplar, my first and best friend--that true-hearted seaman who
+had saved me from starvation--who had tended me as a father in my
+boyhood and youth--who had given me a profession which would enable me
+to support myself while health and strength remained--and who had ever
+endeavoured to instil into me those true principles which would enable
+me to steer clear of the rocks and quicksands to be found in my course
+through life.
+
+The wind had fallen and become fair; the helm of the corvette was put
+down, the sails were trimmed, and, under a crowd of canvas such as few
+merchantmen can attempt to set, we quickly ran the coast of Africa out
+of sight--the last we saw of its sandy shores being over our starboard
+quarter.  The commander of the _Syren_, Captain Hudson, was, I found,
+very much liked by the crew, as, although he was a strict officer, he
+was a just one, and known to be a thorough seaman.  He was a gentleman
+also in all respects, a brave man, and kind-hearted; and these are the
+qualities which sailors with good reason respect.  Without possessing
+them, no man is fit to be placed in command over his fellow-men.  My old
+ship, the _Dolphin_, continued in our company for several days, during
+which we made the best of our way to the northward, the wind, though
+scant, enabling us, close-hauled, to keep a course in that direction.
+When somewhere about the latitude of Lisbon, a ship hove in eight,
+standing towards us under all sail.  As her courses rose above the
+water, she was pronounced to be a frigate; and as her hull appeared,
+such was found to be the case.  Then commenced such a hauling up and
+down of flags as I had never before seen.  What it all meant I could not
+tell, but it seemed to produce a great commotion among the officers; and
+soon the news ran along the deck that war was declared--war with France.
+It was the beginning of a long and bloody struggle.
+
+Meantime, we hove-to, as the frigate had done, and Captain Hudson went
+on board her.  When he returned, we found that we were ordered into the
+British Channel.  The frigate, a new ship, just fitted out, with her
+officers in glittering uniforms, and her white wide-spread of canvas,
+and her fresh paint, and her brightly burnished sides looked, I thought,
+the very picture of a gay and gallant craft, as, passing close to us,
+she glided by through the sparkling sea.  I could not help comparing her
+with the weather-beaten, wall-sided, ill-formed, slow-sailing
+merchantmen I had been accustomed to see, and I began to feel a pride in
+belonging to a man-of-war which I had not hitherto experienced.
+
+Before proceeding on our course, Captain Hudson signalled the _Dolphin_,
+which had been hove-to, and informed Captain Gale that war had broken
+out, advising him to make the best of his way to Halifax.  It was not
+till some years afterwards that I heard she reached that place in
+safety, and that Captain Stenning had had the happiness of being
+re-united to his wife and family.
+
+No sooner was the news of war received on board the _Syren_, than
+everybody seemed to wake up into activity.  No one had time for a moment
+to be idle fore or aft.  The armourer's crew were employed in polishing
+up muskets, and pistols, and sharpening cutlasses.  For hours together
+we were practised at the small-arms and great-guns, which had never
+before been thought of.  The gunners were busy making cartridges; the
+carpenters, plugs for shot-holes; indeed, we all felt that people should
+always feel that there was work to do.  We had good reason to rejoice
+before the cruise was up that we had not been idle.
+
+We reached Plymouth without meeting with an enemy or taking a prize.
+What a state of bustle and excitement the place was in!
+Carriages-and-four dashing through the streets at all hours of the day;
+troops marching here and there, with drums and fifes playing--some
+coming in, others embarking for foreign lands; artisans of all sorts
+hurrying in, certain to get work at high wages; men-of-war, and
+merchantmen, and store-ships, and troop-ships sailing in and out every
+day; boats laden with men and chests pulling across the harbour; seamen
+crowding every quay; pressgangs at work catching men to fight England's
+battles; and then such hurrying to and fro, and shrieking of women, and
+shouting of men, and crying of children, and revelling, and laughter,
+and scenes of extravagance, and debauchery, and vice I had never before
+beheld, and did not think could exist in a civilised part of the globe.
+
+Having refitted with as little delay as possible, and again put to sea,
+we found ourselves off the north coast of Spain, far into the Bay of
+Biscay.  For some time we were employed in looking along the coast of
+France, and picking up all the small coasters we could lay eyes on.  We
+did a great deal of damage to a number of poor people, and taught them
+that war was a very disagreeable thing, so that they must heartily have
+wished it over, or rather, that it never had begun; but I doubt if we
+did ourselves any good in the way of collecting prize-money; at all
+events, I know that I never got any.  At length, one morning, when we
+could just make out the French coast like a thin wavy blue line on the
+horizon, beyond which a rich yellow glow was bursting forth, the
+forerunner of the glorious sun, a sail was seen, hull down, to the
+northward, and apparently standing in on a bowline for the land.  The
+ship, as was usual when cruising, had been quietly jogging on under her
+topsails during the night.  "All hands, make sail in chase!" was the
+cheerful sound which made us spring on deck to our stations; and in a
+few minutes the corvette, with royals and studding-sails alow and aloft,
+was kept away after the stranger.  The latter, which was pronounced to
+be a large topsail schooner, was soon seen to bear up, and to set all
+the canvas she could carry, in an endeavour to escape.  The chase was a
+large and fast vessel of her class, for it was not till some time after
+breakfast that we could see half-way down her mainsail from the deck.
+Still, we were gaining on her.  She, meantime, was edging away in for
+the land, so that there was little doubt that she was an enemy's
+vessel--probably, from the way she made sail, a privateer with a number
+of hands on board, if not a man-of-war.  Hour after hour we continued
+the chase, till the French coast rose clear and distinct on our
+starboard-bow.
+
+Jacob Lyal and I were at this time stationed in the foretop, of which
+Peter Poplar was captain, though he was shortly afterwards made a
+quarter-master.  We thus saw every movement of the chase.  She, by
+degrees, edged away again more to the northward, as if wishing to avoid
+the coast thereabout.  We had begun the chase soon after daylight, and
+the evening was now drawing on, when, close in with the land, we made
+out a large ship standing along-shore, the rays of the sinking sun
+shining brilliantly on her snowy canvas.  The schooner hauled up towards
+her, and then kept away again, as if she did not like her appearance.
+
+"What do you make her out to be?" said I to Peter, pointing to the ship.
+
+"Why, Jack, from the squareness of her yards and the whiteness of her
+canvas, I should say she is a man-of-war--probably a frigate, and a
+thundering big frigate, too, if I am not much mistaken."
+
+"I suppose, from the French schooner keeping away from her, she is an
+English frigate," said I.
+
+"Not so sure of that either, Jack," he answered.  "We don't know that
+the schooner is French, in the first place; and even if she is, she may
+be mistaken as to the character of the frigate, or she may have altered
+her course just to deceive us, so as to let the frigate come up with us
+without our taking alarm about her.  Never fancy that you have made a
+right guess and neglect to take precautions, in case you should be
+wrong."
+
+"Why, if she is an enemy's frigate, she'll sink us," said Lyal.  "We
+shall have to up stick and run for it!"
+
+"Never do you fear that, lad," answered Peter, somewhat sternly, I
+thought.  "Run?--no!  If that is a French frigate it will just give us
+an opportunity of showing what British pluck can do.  Our lads know how
+to handle their guns and small-arms--thanks to the practice some of the
+grumblers complained of--and if we don't give a good account of that
+ship out there, my name is not Peter Poplar."
+
+The spirit with which Peter spoke soon animated both Lyal and me, and
+when we were relieved from our watch, and repeated his words, they were
+responded to by all the crew, and their great wish was that the frigate
+in sight should prove an enemy, that they might show how they would
+treat her.
+
+What the officers thought about the matter we could not tell, but as it
+grew dark the chase of the schooner was abandoned, studding-sails were
+taken in, and the ship was hauled on a wind and stood off-shore.  As may
+be supposed, no one turned in that night; the hammocks remained in the
+nettings, and the ship was got ready for action.
+
+From the way the frigate was steering at nightfall, there could be
+little doubt that she was following in our track.  Anxiously we looked
+out for her lights astern.  Hour after hour passed away, and no sign of
+her appeared, and we began to fear that she had missed us altogether.
+
+At last a small glimmer was soon twinkling away in the darkness, and by
+degrees it grew larger and larger; and then out of the dense obscurity--
+for no moon nor stars were visible--there glided a dark towering mass,
+like some phantom giant talking over the deep.  The drum beat to
+quarters, and the crew sprung eagerly to their guns.  Every man was
+stripped to the waist, round which he had fastened a handkerchief, with
+another round his head, and had his cutlass ready to board or to repel
+boarders.
+
+In spite of the wish for battle we had all expressed, I could not help
+feeling a sensation of awe, if not of dread, creep over me, as we
+stood--thus in silence and darkness at our guns, expecting the attack of
+an enemy of vastly superior force.  The muscular forms of our sturdy
+crew could just be distinguished grouped round their guns, the pale
+light of the ship's lanterns falling here and there upon them in fitful
+flashes, as the officers went their rounds to see that every one was at
+his station, or as the boys handed up shot and powder from below.  We
+were prepared, I say, but still, I believe, the general impression aft
+was, that the stranger would prove a friend.
+
+As she drew nearer, the order was given to make the private
+night-signal.  Up went the lanterns to the mast-head.  It was a moment
+of breathless suspense.  No answering signal of friendship was made in
+return.  In another instant, however, that unmistakable one of hatred
+and defiance--a shot--came whistling over our heads.  It was replied to
+by one of our stern-chasers; and we then went about, that we might keep
+the weather-gauge--a most important point under present circumstances.
+
+The enemy, to avoid being raked, had to do the same.  "Give it them now,
+my lads!" shouted the captain.  "Let every shot tell, and show the big
+one what a little craft can do when her crew have the will to make her
+speak!"  Loud cheers were the reply to the address, and instantly every
+gun sent forth its flame of fire; and I believe that not a shot failed
+to take some effect on the hull or rigging of our opponent.  Now hotly
+broadside to broadside, at the distance of half-gun-shot from each
+other, we stood in towards the land.  As fast as they could be run in
+loaded, our guns discharged their deadly showers.  All the time we were
+edging closer towards each other, and as we got within hail we could see
+that considerable damage had already been suffered by the frigate.  This
+gave fresh encouragement to us, and we blazed away with more hearty
+good-will than before.  The enemy's shot had, however, been telling not
+a little on us.  Several of our men had lost the number of their mess,
+and more had been wounded; but no damage of consequence had been
+received aloft, and any the hull had received had been quickly repaired
+by our carpenter and his active crew.
+
+Amid the roar of the guns a loud shout burst from our people.  I looked
+up.  The frigate's mizzen-topmast had been shot away, and came tumbling
+down on deck.  Our fore-topgallant-topmast, however, soon followed, cut
+through by a round-shot; but that was of little consequence, as our
+topsail-yard was uninjured, and the topsail still stood.  We were not
+long in clearing the wreck, but for a moment there was a cessation of
+firing.  Just then a hail came across the dark waters from the
+Frenchman's deck.
+
+"Do you strike, Sare?  Do you strike?" was asked through a
+speaking-trumpet.  Our captain seized his trumpet in return.
+
+"Certainly, monsieur, certainly.  We have been and intend to go on
+striking, just in the way Englishmen have the fashion of doing."
+
+A loud laugh burst from our crew at this answer.  It just suited our
+tastes, and then such a hearty cheer was uttered as could not have
+failed to convince the Frenchman that our captain was likely to be
+backed by his people to the utmost.  Our guns were not long silent, and
+once more the darkness of night was illuminated by the bright sheets of
+flame which burst forth in almost a continuous stream from their mouths.
+
+What a contrast to the previous awful silence was there in the report of
+the guns, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of the officers, the cheers
+of the men, the crashing of spars and timber as the shot struck home,
+and the shrieks, and cries, and groans of the wounded!  To these
+expressions of pain even the bravest cannot help giving way, when
+wounded where the nerves are most sensitive.
+
+Several times the enemy attempted to close, when her greatly
+prepondering force of men would have told with fearful effect on our
+decks; but each time the attempt was made it was dexterously avoided by
+our captain.  We had, however, begun to suffer considerably in spars and
+rigging, and the number of our killed and wounded was increasing.  Our
+second lieutenant had been severely injured by the fall of the
+foretop-gallant-mast.  A midshipman, a young lad who had just come to
+sea, was struck down close to me.  I lifted him up in my arms for a
+moment, to get him carried below out of harm's way; but the terrible
+injury he had received convinced me that no help could avail him.  I put
+my hand on his heart: it had ceased to beat.  Yet what voice sounded
+more full of life and spirit than his as we cheered at the captain's
+answer to the Frenchman's hail?  On the other side of me a fine young
+fellow fell mortally wounded.  He was just my own age, but not, like me,
+left alone in the world--he had many dear ones in his humble home.  He
+felt that he had not many moments to live, though his mind was as active
+as ever.
+
+"Williams!" he faintly cried.  "Stoop down, lad!  Don't let them take me
+below: I want to die here!  And I say--you know my poor mother, and
+Sally, and George: just tell them that you saw the last of me; that I
+thought of them, and prayed for them, and that I hope we may meet in
+that far, far-off port to which we are all bound!  I haven't forgot the
+prayers mother taught me, tell her.  It will comfort her to know that!
+Good-bye, Jack!"
+
+He pressed my hand as he uttered these words, but instantly afterwards
+his fingers relaxed.  His spirit had fled, and I returned to my duty at
+my gun!
+
+There were not many seamen, unhappily, in those days, like poor James
+Martin.  Another shipmate was killed not far from me, and he died
+uttering fearful curses on our enemies, utterly ignorant of the future
+world into which he was entering.
+
+Thus we fought on.  Although we were severely punishing our big
+opponent, we could not feel that we were getting the best of the fight.
+
+"Do you think we shall take her?" said I to Peter, during another short
+cessation of firing.
+
+"I scarcely expect that," he answered.  "But I am pretty certain that he
+won't take us.  See, hurrah!  He's been hit again pretty hard!"
+
+As he spoke, the frigate's mizzen-mast, which must have been before
+badly wounded, went by the board, and at the same time her main-yard
+came down by the run on deck, no doubt doing further damage by the fall.
+
+To show the enemy that our spirits were as high as ever, we cheered
+again; but, as if in retaliation, several shots, in quick succession,
+struck our foretopmast, and it, and the yard, and all our headsail, came
+thundering down on deck, in a confused mass of wreck, disabling several
+of our people, and rendering our foremost gun useless for a time.  I was
+thankful that I had been stationed at a gun instead of being aloft.
+Some of the officers hurried forward to get the wreck cleared away,
+while others encouraged the men to persevere in the strife--not that any
+encouragement was necessary, for we were all eager to continue it, still
+hoping to make prize of our antagonist.
+
+What had become of the schooner meantime we could not tell.  We could
+only suppose that she was an unarmed vessel.  Had she been armed, she
+might have proved a very disagreeable addition to the force with which
+we had to contend.
+
+While we were clearing the wreck of the foretopmast, another broadside
+was poured into us, which we returned with our after-guns.  It appeared
+to me, as I looked up again at her after loading, that the frigate was
+increasing her distance from us.  There could be no mistake about it.
+Her helm had been put up, and she was running off before the wind.
+Didn't we cheer heartily! but then we remembered that, deprived of our
+headsail, we could not follow--so we cheered again, and sent a few shots
+flying after her, like a dog's farewell bark, just to show her that we
+claimed the victory, and would be ready for her if she chose to come
+back; and then we set to work with a will to repair damages.
+
+Our couple of hours' night work had produced not a few, and sadly
+changed the appearance of our trim little sloop.  Still, as our foremast
+was standing, we were able to make headsail on the ship, and we hoped by
+the following morning to get matters sufficiently to rights to be able
+to renew the engagement should our opponent again venture to attack us.
+I, in common with many of the younger men, was very much disappointed at
+not having captured the frigate; but Peter and others who had fought in
+the last war, told us that we were very fortunate in not having
+ourselves been obliged to strike, as our opponent could not have mounted
+less than six-and-thirty, if not forty guns--more than twice as many as
+we carried.  Notwithstanding this, we only hoped to see her again in the
+morning; and as soon as daylight appeared several eager pairs of eyes
+were aloft looking out for her.  There, hull down to the northward,
+appeared a sail, which was most probably our opponent; but she was
+running directly before the wind.
+
+At first we supposed that our captain would follow her; but though as
+brave a man as need be, as he had proved himself, he saw that the
+probability of capturing the frigate was too small to justify him in
+making the attempt--in doing which he was much more likely to lose his
+own ship.  Shattered, indeed, did we look when the sun shone down on our
+blood-stained decks; and still more sad were the scenes which the
+wounded and dying presented below.  I will not, however, now dwell on
+them.  Several shot had gone through the ship's sides, some between wind
+and water; but the holes had been quickly plugged by the carpenter's
+crew.  Altogether, so shattered was the sloop, that, unwilling as our
+captain was to give up the cruise, he had no resource but to make the
+best of his way to Plymouth.  We arrived there ten days after the
+engagement; but the pumps had to be kept going all the time, and the
+ship was ordered into dock to undergo a thorough repair.
+
+It is impossible for me to describe all the scenes of which I was
+witness during that interesting period of England's naval history; but
+there was one I must not omit, as it shows what presence of mind and
+courage can do, in rescuing people even from the greatest difficulties.
+
+At that time the French revolutionary party, so well named Red
+Republicans, were inflicting, with unsparing barbarity, the most
+dreadful atrocities on any of their unhappy countrymen who were even
+suspected of entertaining monarchical principles.  The inhabitants of
+Toulon, as well as of several other places, were known to be favourable
+to the cause of their sovereign; and to afford them support, Lord Hood--
+then commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean--landed a body of English
+and Spanish troops, and took possession of the town and forts while his
+own fleet, with one sent by Spain to join him, entered the harbour.
+
+At this time a number of supernumeraries, of whom I was one, sailed from
+Plymouth to join various ships in the Mediterranean, and, in course of
+time, I found myself on board the _Juno_, a fine 32-gun frigate,
+commanded by Captain Samuel Hood.  We sailed from Malta early in the
+year 1794, with some officers and a few troops, to reinforce the scanty
+garrison at Toulon, then besieged, as was reported, by a formidable army
+of the Republicans, amounting to thirty-three thousand men, under
+Generals Kellerman and Carteaux.
+
+The _Juno_ was just the sort of dashing frigate a young fellow of spirit
+would wish to belong to, and her Captain was just the man he would wish
+to serve under.  Strict discipline was kept up on board, and all hands
+were made to know their duty, and to do it.  Her officers, too, were as
+smart a set as ever stepped.  I was very fortunate in this, because for
+the first time since I came to sea I was among strangers, with the
+exception of Jacob Lyal, who had joined her with me.  Peter Poplar was
+far away in another ship, and I own I missed him sorely.  Still.  I had
+learned my duty, and I hoped to continue to do it.
+
+We had a quick passage from Malta, and made the French coast just before
+nightfall.  We had carried on all sail, in the hope of getting in while
+daylight lasted, as the captain was anxious to deliver his despatches
+and land his passengers, and be out again in search of any stray
+cruisers of the enemy.  The wind, however, fell so light that we were
+unable to do as he hoped.  But he was not a man to be turned from his
+purpose.  Accordingly, rather than lose a day, he stood boldly in for
+the harbour-mouth, which is not a difficult one to make.  We expected
+that a pilot would have come out to us, but none appeared; and as no
+signal was made for one, it was then known that the captain intended to
+find his way in in the dark.
+
+Trusty men were placed in the chains with the lead; all hands were at
+their stations; those with the sharpest eyes were placed as look-outs;
+the captain stood, trumpet in hand, on the quarter-deck, ready to issue
+his orders.  Not a word was spoken fore or aft.  The wind was light, and
+nearly abeam.  Thus, with a dead silence reigning on board, the gallant
+frigate entered the harbour of Toulon.  The officers, with their
+night-glasses in hand, were anxiously looking out for the British fleet,
+that they might ascertain where the frigate was to bring-up.  In vain
+they swept them round in every direction; no fleet was to be seen.  The
+circumstance was reported to the captain.
+
+"The easterly winds we have had have sent a heavy sea rolling in here.
+They must have run into the inner harbour to avoid it.  We must follow
+them there," was his answer.  "Shorten sail!  Let the ship stand in
+under her topsails."
+
+The courses were accordingly brailed up, and the top-gallant-sails
+furled, and under easy sail we stood up the inner harbour.  Still
+nothing could we see of the fleet--not a light did any of the ships
+show.
+
+On we glided through the calm water.  "A brig ahead, sir!" shouted the
+third lieutenant from forward.
+
+"Shall we weather her?" asked the captain.
+
+The answer was in the negative.  "Set the foresail and spanker!  Ready,
+about-ship!"
+
+Scarcely had the boatswain's shrill pipe uttered the appropriate call,
+than the sails were let fall and sheeted home; and as soon as the
+frigate felt the effect they produced, the helm was put a-lee, and she
+went about close under the stern of the brig, which lay in her course.
+A loud hail came from the brig, but I for one could not make out what
+was said.
+
+"That's not an English brig," observed one of the officers near me.  She
+lay off what is called the Grand Tour Point.
+
+"He is inquiring our name," said another officer.
+
+"His Britannic Majesty's frigate _Juno_," shouted the first lieutenant.
+
+"Wah--wah--wah!" or sounds something like that, came from the brig.
+Some one also shouted, "Viva!"
+
+"Whereabouts is the English fleet?" asked the captain.  "Have they
+sailed?  Is the admiral still here?"
+
+"Wah--wah--wah!" was the only answer we got.  The questions were
+repeated in French.
+
+"Yes--yes; oui--oui; wah--wah--wah!" was again the reply.
+
+"That's a French merchant-brig.  They cannot make out what we say.  The
+fleet must have gone over to the other side of the harbour."
+
+Directly afterwards, the words, "Luff--luff!" reached our ears.
+
+"They are afraid we shall be ashore, sir," said the first lieutenant.
+
+"Then down with the helm!" shouted the captain.  The order was promptly
+obeyed, and the frigate came up almost head to wind; but scarcely a
+minute had passed when we felt that she had run stem on to the ground;
+but so light was the wind, and so slight was the way on her, that no
+damage of any sort was done.
+
+Of course the order was immediately given to clew-up and hand the sails;
+and in another minute or so the _Juno_ lay with all sails furled right
+up in the centre of the harbour of Toulon, with a line of heavy
+batteries between her and the sea.  While we were handing sails, a boat
+was seen to put off from the brig; but instead of coming aboard us, she
+pulled away rapidly in the direction of the town.
+
+Before, however, we were even off the yards, a flaw of wind took the
+ship's head, and happily drove it off the bank, when the anchor was let
+go, and she lay with her head up the harbour.  Still, however, she hung
+on the bank by the stern, while her rudder remained immovable and
+useless.  Seeing this, the captain ordered a kedge to be carried out to
+warp her off; which, as she hung very lightly, could easily be done.  To
+perform this operation the launch was lowered; but being a heavy boat,
+it took some time to get her into the water.  Warps and the kedge-anchor
+were then placed in her, and her crew pulled away with the kedge in the
+proper direction to haul her off.  While we were thus engaged, a boat
+was seen coming down the harbour.
+
+"What boat's that?" hailed the sentry from forward.
+
+"Ay, ay," was the answer.
+
+"Officers coming alongside!" cried the sentry--such being the answer
+given by naval officers when hailed by a ship-of-war.  A captain repeats
+the name of his ship.
+
+The gangway was manned to receive the visitors.  Every one was puzzled
+to know the meaning of a visit at so unusual an hour, and anxious to
+know what it meant.  A well-manned boat came alongside, and two French
+officers, with several other people, scrambled up on deck.
+
+"Be smart, then, my lads, with the kedge," sung out Mr Webley, third
+lieutenant, from forward.  "We must get the ship afloat before the wind
+drives her further on."
+
+The French officers looked about the decks for an instant, and then,
+followed by their people, went aft to the captain, who was standing on
+the quarter-deck ready to receive them.
+
+"Monsieur le Capitaine," said one of them, taking off his hat and bowing
+politely, "I am sent by the chief of the port to compliment you on the
+way you have brought your ship into this loyal port, but to express
+regret that the regulations he has been compelled to issue make it
+necessary for you to go over to the southern side of the harbour, there
+to perform a quarantine for a short ten days or so, as you come from
+Alexandria, an infected place."
+
+"But we don't come from Alexandria; we come from Malta, which is not an
+infected place," answered the captain.
+
+"Then, monsieur, Malta is an infected place," returned the officer,
+quickly.
+
+"I cannot understand that," answered Captain Hood.  "I have to deliver
+my despatches, and some supernumeraries for the army here, and then to
+be away again as fast as possible.  I beg, gentlemen, you will inform me
+where the _Victory_, Lord Hood's ship, is.  I must be guided by his
+orders."
+
+"Certainly, monsieur, certainly," said the Frenchman, bowing with a
+bland smile.  "We will pilot you to him."
+
+I remember thinking, as the Frenchmen walked along the deck, that there
+was a good deal of swagger in their manner, but I only set it down to
+Gallic impudence.  While this conversation was going on, one of our
+midshipmen, a smart youngster--Mowbray, I think, was his name--had been
+inquisitively examining the Frenchmen, and he now hurried up to the
+captain, and drew him aside.
+
+"Just look, sir--those are Republican cockades!" he whispered.  "As the
+light of a lantern fell on their hats, I observed it.  There's some
+trick put upon us."
+
+"In truth you are right, my lad, I greatly fear," answered the captain,
+in an agitated voice.  "Where do you say Lord Hood is?" he asked,
+turning abruptly to the Frenchman.
+
+"My Lord Hood!  He is not here.  He has long ago departed.  We have no
+lords here," answered the French officer in a sneering tone.  "You have
+made a great mistake, and are like a rat in a hole.  The truth is,
+Monsieur le Capitaine, you and your ship's company are prisoners!  But
+make yourself easy--the English are good people--we will treat them
+kindly."
+
+"Prisoners!" exclaimed Captain Hood and the officers standing near, in
+tones of dismay.  "Prisoners! impossible!"  But the assertion was too
+true.
+
+Lord Hood had been compelled to evacuate Toulon some time before, with
+all the forces under his command, after blowing up, by the aid of Sir
+Sidney Smith, several of the forts, and destroying or carrying away
+every ship in the harbour; while the unfortunate inhabitants were
+exposed to all the cruelties which their sanguinary opponents could
+inflict on them.
+
+As may be supposed, the Republican Frenchmen exulted in the idea of
+having so easily captured an English frigate, and a large number of
+Englishmen on whom they might retaliate for some of the losses their
+party had sustained.  As ill news travels quickly, so in an instant the
+words in everybody's mouth were, "We are prisoners! we are prisoners!"
+Some would scarcely believe it, and the officers and many of the men
+hurried aft in a body to ascertain the fact.  Mr Webley had remained
+forward, and before we had been able to haul on the warp she had laid
+out, he promptly recalled the launch, and ordered the people out of her
+up the side.  The boatswain was standing near him.
+
+"See," he exclaimed, "there's a flaw of wind just come down the harbour.
+If it holds, the Frenchmen, even should this report be true, need not
+be quite so sure as they think that they have caught us."
+
+Saying this, he hurried aft to the captain, while the boatswain, not to
+lose time, made all the necessary preparations for making sail and
+cutting the cable.
+
+"I believe, sir, that we shall be able to fetch out, if we can get her
+under sail," said the lieutenant in the captain's ear.  The words made
+him start, and restored vigour to his heart.
+
+"Thank you, Webley, thank you," exclaimed the captain, when the third
+lieutenant told him that the wind had come ahead.  "We'll make the
+attempt, and may Heaven prosper it!"
+
+Without a moment's delay, the first lieutenant issued the order to make
+sail, while Mr Webley hurried forward to see the cable cut, as she
+tended the right way.  Like larks we sprang aloft to loose the topsails,
+and all was done so silently and so rapidly, that the Frenchmen could
+not make out what was occurring.
+
+"Gentlemen," said the captain, politely addressing the officers, "I must
+trouble you to step below.  We have duty in this ship to carry on which
+will not require your presence."
+
+"But," exclaimed the Frenchmen, uttering all the oaths in their ample
+vocabulary, "you are our prisoners.  We do not choose to obey your
+orders."
+
+"You mistake; you are ours!  Englishmen do not yield unless to greatly
+superior force," exclaimed our captain.  "Gentlemen, you must go below."
+
+The Frenchmen laughed scornfully.  "Treason! mutiny!" they exclaimed,
+drawing their sabres, and attempting to make a rush to the gangway; but
+as they turned, they found themselves confronted by a file of marines,
+with fixed bayonets presented at them!
+
+Rage, and fury, and disappointed revenge were in the tones of their
+voices, as they gave vent to their feelings in oaths and execrations
+while they were being handed below.  Not a man of their boat's crew
+escaped, for all had come on board to witness the capture, as they
+supposed, of a British frigate.
+
+During this time the topsails had been let fall, and in less than three
+minutes were sheeted home.  The headsails filled.  At the very moment
+they did so, a stronger puff of wind came right down the harbour.  "Cut,
+cut!" was the word.  Round swung her head towards the open sea.  Almost
+with a bound it seemed her stern lifted off the ground.  "Hurrah!
+hurrah!  We are free! we are free!" was the joyful cry.  Now, come shot
+or shell, or whatever our foemen choose to send.  We have our brave ship
+under command, and if our stout sticks do but stand, we may yet escape
+the trap into which we have so unwarily fallen.
+
+Such were the sentiments which were felt, if not expressed, by all on
+board the frigate.  Plenty of sharp eyes were on shore, watching through
+the gloom of night, as far as they were able, the movements of the
+English frigate, expecting to see her every moment glide up the harbour,
+where, of course, troops had been rapidly collected to take possession
+of the prize, and conduct us within the precincts of a French prison.
+
+The Republicans must soon have discovered that their plan to capture us
+had not been altogether successful.  As we sailed down the harbour,
+instead of up, as they had expected, lights began to gleam from the
+various strong forts which lined each side of the harbour below us, and
+also from the deck of our friend the brig, off Great Tower Point.  Then,
+as we glided on, every moment gathering fresh way, from all directions a
+hot fire was opened on us.  As with the light wind there was blowing it
+was necessary to be rid of every obstruction, both our barge and the
+Frenchmen's boat were cut adrift, though we would gladly have prevented
+even them from falling into their hands.
+
+There was now no longer any necessity for concealment.  The drums beat
+to quarters, the guns were cast loose, and as we passed down the harbour
+we began to return the compliments our enemies were so liberally
+bestowing on us.  We had our guns ready in time to give our friend the
+brig a good dose, but what mischief we inflicted we could not tell; and,
+to do her justice, she was not slack in her attempts to cripple us.
+Thus in an instant the harbour, so lately sleeping in silence, and, as
+it were, shrouded in the solemn gloom of night, was rudely awaked and
+lighted up with the roar and bright flashes of a hundred guns, which,
+fast as they could be discharged, sent forth a continuous fire at our
+seemingly devoted ship.  Thus far all had proceeded well; but we were
+far from free of danger.  Shot after shot struck us, several times we
+were hulled, but not a man had yet been hit, when, to our dismay, the
+wind grew very scant, and seemed about to head us.
+
+"If it shifts a couple of points more to the southward, we shall have to
+beat out of this place!" exclaimed the captain of the gun at which I was
+stationed.  "Never mind, lads; we'll teach these Frenchmen what a
+British frigate can do in spite of all that."
+
+Still the _Juno_ steadily held on her course.  The wind backed once more
+and came down the harbour, and on she glided.  The enemy's guns were,
+however, telling on us with fearful effect--our topsails were riddled
+with shot, and our rigging much cut up; but as the damage occurred, our
+active crew flew here and there to repair it, as well as time and the
+darkness would allow.  Now the harbour opened out broadly before us, and
+the line of open sea could be perceived ahead.  Our masts and spars
+stood unharmed, the firing from the forts grew fainter and fainter.
+Scarcely a shot reached us.  On we stood.  The shot began to drop
+astern.  For several minutes not one had struck us.  The Frenchmen tried
+in their rage, but all in vain.
+
+"We are free! we are free indeed!  Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" burst with
+one voice from all our crew, and the gallant _Juno_ bounded forward on
+the wide ocean, to show what British daring, judgment, and promptitude
+will effect, even although the most fearful odds are ranged against
+success.
+
+I trust that some on board that ship felt also that a merciful
+Providence had preserved us from a galling and painful lot, which would
+have endured for many a long year, to do our duty to Heaven and our
+country.  I trust that the example set by the crew of the _Juno_ will
+serve as an example to all British seamen--never to yield while there is
+a possibility of escape.
+
+Well, it was amusing to see how the Frenchmen did stamp and rage when
+they found that, instead of capturing us, they had been taken prisoners;
+but we treated them very civilly, and after a few shrugs and grimaces,
+like people having to take physic, we soon had the men singing and
+jigging away as merry as crickets.
+
+I remained for some time on board the _Juno_, and left her on a very
+short notice, and very much also against my own will.
+
+One dark night, as, with a convoy of merchantmen under our charge, we
+were standing for Gibraltar, the watch below were roused up with the cry
+of, "All hands shorten sail!"  I and others, tossing on our clothes,
+sprang aloft through the darkness, with a fierce wind blowing in our
+faces, to reef topsails.  Scarcely had I reached the lee foretop-sail
+yard-arm, and had, as I believed, the earing in my hand, when, how I
+cannot tell, I found myself jerked off the yard; and ere I could secure
+a firm grasp of the rope I held, I found myself hurled through the
+midnight air, clutching emptiness, till I reached the foam-covered
+water, through which the ship was hurriedly ploughing her way.  I heard
+the cry, "A man overboard! a man overboard!" but the ship had been
+carrying too much sail, and without shortening it, it was impossible to
+round-to in order to pick me up.  From the frigate, therefore, I knew
+that I could expect no help.  I do not believe that for a moment after I
+fell I lost my consciousness, though I suspect that before I fell I was
+more asleep than awake.  I had on only my shirt and light duck-trousers,
+so I threw myself on my back, to consider what was best to be done.
+There were plenty of vessels, I knew, astern of the frigate, but there
+was little chance of being seen by any of them, or of their being able
+to pick me up if they did see me.
+
+How long I could have remained floating on my back I don't know--some
+hours, I suppose, in smooth water; but as it was, the squall had blown
+up a sea, and the spray kept dashing over my head and half drowned me.
+On a sudden I found my head strike against something with so much force
+as almost to stun me, and, turning round, I found myself in contact with
+a large object.  I caught hold of it.  Ropes were hanging down from it
+into the water; I climbed up by them, and found that it was the top and
+parts of the topmast of a ship of large size.  I felt thankful that I
+was not likely to die for some time, unless the weather grew worse; and
+I did not allow myself to reflect that even a worse death might be in
+store for me--that of starvation.  I had my knife secured by a lanyard
+round my neck, so I began to haul up the ropes, and endeavoured to form
+as secure a resting-place for myself as circumstances would allow.  When
+I had done all I could, I looked round through the darkness for the
+chance of discovering a sail; but none could I see, so I sat down, and,
+strange to say, fell asleep.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
+
+TYRANNY--WAR AND MUTINY, WITH A GLIMPSE OF HOME COMFORTS BETWEEN.
+
+As I said, I went to sleep hanging on to a piece of wreck in the middle
+of the Mediterranean.  It was not an agreeable position to be in,
+certainly, but it might have been worse.  I might have been in the
+middle of the Atlantic, or the Bay of Biscay, or near a country
+inhabited by cannibals, or with nothing to float on, as was the case
+till I got hold of the shattered mast.  I did not feel it a very serious
+matter, I suppose, for I slept soundly.  I knew that the sea at that
+time was swarming with vessels--men-of-war, transports, store-ships, and
+merchantmen, sailing in every direction, and I hoped one or the other
+would pick me up.
+
+At last the sun shining in my eyes awoke me, and looking around, I saw,
+about two miles or so to the eastward, a brig with her foretopmast gone
+and maintopsail-yard carried away.  The damage had been done, I had no
+doubt, by the squall which had sent me out of my warm hammock into the
+cold water.  The squall had passed over, and the sea was almost as
+smooth as glass.  I had a handkerchief round my waist.  I took it off,
+and, standing as high as I could on the wreck, I waved it above my head.
+I waited anxiously to see if my signal had produced any effect; but the
+brig's crew were all so busily engaged in repairing the damage she had
+received, that they did not see me.  So I sat down again, hoping that
+by-and-by they might knock off work, and find a moment to look about
+them.  One comfort was, that while the calm lasted the brig was not
+likely to go far away from me.
+
+The time seemed very long, and I was beginning to get hungry too as the
+hour of breakfast drew on.  So I got up again and waved my handkerchief,
+and could not help shouting, though I well knew that no one at such a
+distance could hear me.  I waved till my arm ached, and still I was
+unobserved; so I sat down a second time, and began to consider what
+means existed of attracting the attention of the people aboard the brig.
+I thought of swimming to her; but I reflected that it would be better
+to let well alone, and that, as there was a long distance to traverse
+before I could reach her, I might lose my strength, and sink without
+being observed.  The sun, however, rose higher and higher in the sky,
+and I grew still more hungry; so for a third time I stood up and waved,
+and shouted, and played all sorts of curious antics, in my eagerness to
+attract notice.  At length there was a stir aboard, and I thought I saw
+some one waving in return.  I was right.  A quarter-boat was lowered,
+and a fast galley pulled towards me.  I was not a little pleased when I
+saw them coming.  They were soon up to me, and though I had not been
+long floating on the broken mast, I can only say that I left it with
+very considerable satisfaction.  The brig, I found, belonged, as I had
+suspected, to the _Juno's_ convoy.  As we approached her, I looked with
+a scrutinising eye at her hull.  I thought I knew her build.
+
+"What brig's that?"  I asked, with no little interest.
+
+"Why, the old _Rainbow_, lad," answered one of the boat's crew.  "A good
+craft she is still, though she's seen plenty of work in her day."
+
+So I was indebted for my preservation to my old ship--my sea-cradle, I
+might call her.  I hauled myself up her side, and there on her
+quarter-deck stood Captain Gale, working away as usual with his people,
+encouraging them by word and action.  He seemed very glad to see me, as
+I am sure I was to see him.
+
+"I see, sir," said I, after having had a little talk with him, "you have
+plenty of work to do aboard, so, if I may just have some food to put
+life into me, I'll turn to and lend a hand."
+
+"Ready as ever for work, Jack, I see!" said he, smiling.  "I am glad the
+men-of-war haven't knocked that out of you."
+
+Fortunately the fine weather continued, and by nightfall we were able to
+rig a jury-mast and make sail on the brig.  By the time we reached
+Gibraltar the _Juno_ had sailed, and, as may be supposed, I being a
+pressed-man, did not feel myself bound to follow her.  I was very well
+satisfied with the treatment I had received in the navy, and do not
+think that I should have quitted it for any other vessel but my own
+brig; but as Captain Gale was willing to take me, I could not resist the
+temptation of remaining with him.  After nearly foundering in a heavy
+gale, being more than once chased by an enemy's cruiser, and narrowly
+escaping being run down by one of our own line-of-battle-ships, we
+reached Bristol, to which we were then bound, in safety.
+
+I had not forgotten my promise to poor James Martin, my shipmate in the
+_Syren_, who was killed in our action with the French frigate; and
+knowing that his family lived at a village within forty or fifty miles
+of Bristol, I set off to visit them.  Except a small amount of pay due
+to me for the voyage home, I had little enough money in my pocket, so I
+was obliged to go on foot.  I had never seen anything of the interior of
+England before, and knew nothing of its varied beauties, especially of
+its rural districts--the rich meadows, the waving corn-fields, the thick
+woods, and, more than all, the shady lanes and green hedges, full of
+roses and honeysuckles, with numberless beautiful flowers growing on the
+mossy bank beneath them.  But still deeper impression did the
+sequestered village make on me, with its open green and neat cottages,
+surrounded by pretty gardens; and its clear pond, with gravelly bed; and
+its neighbouring coppice; and its quiet church, with graceful spire; and
+the neat and unpretending parsonage; and the old minister, with thin
+cheeks and long white hair, and grave, yet kind loving countenance, to
+whom all smiled and courtesied or doffed their hats as he passed; and
+the long low school-house, with rosy, noisy children rushing out of it,
+and scattering here and there instantly to begin their play; and the
+buxom mothers and old dames coming out from their doors to watch them,
+or to chat with each other in the intervals of work; and the sheep on
+the sunny downs above; and the sparkling stream which came murmuring by,
+half overgrown with bushes, so that its pleasant sound alone showed its
+locality; and its deep pool, where the trout loved to lie; and the
+cattle in the green meadow, seeking for shade under the tall elms, or
+with lazy strokes of their tails whisking off the flies; and the boys
+whistling in the fields; and the men, with long white smocks and gay
+handkerchiefs worked in front, tending the plough or harrow, or driving
+the lightly-laden waggon or cart with sturdy well-fed horses.  And then
+the air of tranquillity and repose which pervaded the spot, the
+contentment visible everywhere, made an impression on me which time has
+never been able to obliterate, and which, in far, far-off regions, has
+come back on me with greater force than ever, and prevented me from
+remaining, as many of my companions did, among their half-savage
+inhabitants, to enjoy the supposed delights of idleness, and has renewed
+in me the desire to end my days in my fatherland.
+
+In such a scene as I have described I found the family of my poor
+shipmate.  I easily made myself known.  They had no doubt of the truth
+of my story, and gave me a kind though tearful welcome.  The old mother
+seized my arm and pushed me into a seat, which she mechanically wiped
+with her blue apron; the tall sunburned father, with grizzled locks, and
+dressed in long smock and yellow gaiters, grasped my hand.
+
+"And you were with our James when he was struck down in battle, and he
+thought of us all here!  Bless him!"
+
+The old man could say no more.  I told him how he not only thought of
+them, but prayed for them, and spoke of the great comfort which the
+prayers his mother had taught him had been to him, especially in his
+last mortal agony.
+
+The old woman alone wept, but not vehemently.  They had long before this
+heard of his death.  My message rather brought comfort than sorrow.
+
+After a time George came in--a sturdy young man, with well-knit limbs,
+and round, good-humoured countenance, with the universal smock, and
+shoes few legs but such as his could lift.  When I spoke of James, his
+countenance grew sad, and, rising from his three-legged stool, he left
+the cottage, and did not return for nearly half an hour.
+
+One daughter came in from milking the cows at a neighbouring farm.  She
+reminded me of James.  How neat and clean she looked, even coming from
+work! and how modest and retiring in her manner!  She might have been
+pretty--I don't remember: she was far better than pretty, I judged from
+all she said.  Her sisters were away at service, I found.  She asked
+many questions about James; and though her voice was more than ever
+subdued when she mentioned his name, my replies seemed to give her
+satisfaction.  But I had the sense gradually to leave off talking of my
+dead shipmate, and began to tell them of the adventures I had gone
+through, and of the strange scenes I had witnessed.
+
+There was an old black oak desk, or sloping board, near the small
+latticed window in the thick wall.  On the desk was a large well-worn
+Bible open, with a green spectacle-case to keep down the page.  After
+supper the old man approached it, as was evidently his custom; and,
+while all sat round in reverential silence, he began to read slowly and
+distinctly, though not without difficulty, from the Word of God.  One
+thing struck me--that he read not for form's sake, but that he and his
+hearers might reap instruction for faith and practice from what he read.
+He was evidently aware of the truth, that those sacred pages before him
+were written for our instruction, to be a guide unto our feet, and a
+light unto our path.  Then he prayed--his words came from his heart--for
+all present, and for guidance and protection for those absent.  He did
+not forget our king and country, and pleaded that God would prosper
+England's arms by sea and land in a righteous struggle.  Surely those
+prayers, rising from many a humble hearth, were not unheeded by the King
+of kings.  Then, I say to those who themselves believe, teach, oh, teach
+the poor to pray! for their own sakes, for your sake, for England's
+sake.  Such prayers alone can maintain her as she is--great, glorious,
+and free.
+
+The Martins would not let me go to the village inn, as I proposed, but
+insisted on my taking a shake-down in the common room with George.  The
+rest slept in a room above.  The moonlight came through the lattice
+window.  I saw George sitting up in his bed.
+
+"Are you asleep, Williams!" he asked, gently.
+
+"No," I replied.
+
+"Then tell me now about poor James," he answered.
+
+I was not slack in obeying his wishes, and for many an hour I went on
+telling him all the anecdotes I could think of connected with James
+Martin, from the moment I first knew him till I saw him committed to his
+watery grave.
+
+"Thank you, master," he said quietly when I ceased; and as I lay down I
+heard many a sob bursting from his sturdy bosom.  "That lad may be a
+Chaw-bacon," I thought to myself; "but he has got a heart for all the
+world just like a sailor's."
+
+By daybreak next morning the family were astir, and went cheerfully
+about their daily labours.  George had some two or three miles to go to
+the farm on which he found employment; the old man and Susan had work
+near at hand.
+
+I spent a whole day in that quiet village, wandering about among the
+fields and lanes, and over the downs, till the family assembled again in
+the evening when their work was done.  The next morning I took my
+departure.  I had learned from a shipmate what would certainly be
+acceptable in a country district, and had brought with me a package of
+tea and sugar, which I left as a parting gift for poor James's mother.
+I remember that I put it down somewhat abruptly on the table after I had
+shaken hands, exclaiming, "That's for you, mother!" and with my small
+bundle at the end of my stick, I rushed out of the cottage, and took the
+way back to Bristol.
+
+That was the only glimpse of English country-life I ever got, till--an
+old, broken-down man--my career at sea was ended.  I was on shore often
+enough, but what scenes did I witness among docks, and narrow streets,
+and in the precincts of great commercial towns?  What can the sailor who
+never strays beyond these know of all the civilising influences of a
+well-ordered country home?  As I say, I never forgot that quiet scene,
+short as was the glimpse I obtained; and it had an influence on me for
+all my after-life, which, at the time, I could not have suspected.  Even
+at first when I got back to Bristol, and breathed the moral atmosphere
+with which I was surrounded, I longed to be once more away on the free
+ocean.
+
+The old brig was soon ready again for sea; but as he was about to sail,
+Captain Gale was taken so ill that he could not proceed, and another
+master was sent in his stead.  I ought to have mentioned that Captain
+Helfrich had sold her to some Bristol merchants, and had got a large
+ship instead, which traded round Cape Horn.  Captain Grindall was a very
+plausible man on shore, so he easily deceived the owners; but directly
+he got into blue water he took to his spirit bottle, and then cursed and
+swore, and brutally tyrannised over everybody under his orders.  I had
+seen a good deal of cruelty, and injustice, and suffering in the navy,
+and had heard of more, but nothing could surpass what that man made his
+crew feel while he was out of sight of land.  The first mate, Mr
+Crosby, who, with Captain Gale, had appeared a quiet sort of man, though
+rather sulky and ill-tempered at times, imitated the master's example.
+
+We were bound for Barbadoes, in the West Indies.  We had not got
+half-way there, when one of the crew fell sick.  Poor fellow! he had not
+strength to work, but the master and Mr Crosby said that he had, and
+that they would make him; so they came down into the forepeak and hauled
+him out of his berth, and drove him with a rope's end on deck.  He tried
+to work, but fell down; so they lashed him to the main-rigging in the
+hot sun, and there left him, daring any of us to release him, or to take
+him even a drop of water.  I wonder that treatment did not kill him.
+
+Two days after that, when there was some sea on, and the brig was
+pitching heavily, he fell down again, and Mr Crosby caught sight of
+him, and kicked him in the rib; and when the second mate, who was a
+quiet young man, and generally frightened at the other two, tried to
+interfere, he threatened to knock him down with a handspike.  Then,
+because poor Taylor called them by some name they deserved, they dragged
+him aft by his hair, and then triced him up to the main-rigging by the
+heels.  I was in the watch below; of the rest of the crew, one was at
+the helm, another forward, and the others aloft; so that there was no
+one to interfere.  At last, the man forward looked down the fore-scuttle
+and told us what had happened.  We sprung on deck.  Taylor was getting
+black in the face.  It was more than we could stand, and in a body we
+rushed aft, and before the mate could interfere, for the captain was
+below, we cut him down, and carried him forward.  The mate sung out,
+"Mutiny!" and the captain came on deck with his pistols.  But we told
+him he might shoot one and all of us, but we would not see a messmate
+murdered before our eyes.  Our determined manner somewhat awed the
+captain, and swearing that he would be even with us before long, he let
+us have our way.  Poor Taylor did not die at once, as we expected he
+would; but that night he was in a high fever, and raved and shrieked
+till he made us all tremble with terror.
+
+At noon next day the captain observed that Taylor was not on deck.  He
+asked why he did not come.  No one answered.  "Then I'll soon learn the
+cause," he exclaimed, leaping down forward.  In another moment he sprung
+up again, followed by Taylor.  The hair of the latter was all standing
+on end; his eyeballs were starting from their sockets; he had only his
+shirt on, with the sleeves rolled up, showing his thin bony arms and
+legs.  He was shrieking terrifically.  The captain attempted to kick him
+back as he appeared above the hatchway; but he evaded the blow, and
+stood on deck confronting his persecutor.  The strength of madness was
+upon him.  He made a spring at the captain, and would have hurled him, I
+verily believe, overboard; but at that moment the first mate rushing
+forward, struck the poor fellow a blow on the back of the head with a
+handspike.  He gave one glance at his murderer as he fell, and in a few
+minutes his limbs stiffened, and he was dead.  The captain and mate went
+aft as he fell, leaving him on the deck, and talked together.
+
+After some time the mate sung out, "Rouse that fellow up, some of you
+there!  Ill or not ill, he must do his duty."  None of us spoke or
+stirred, and at last he came forward and kicked the corpse, as if to
+make the man get up.  We guessed all the time that he knew perfectly
+well that Taylor was dead.  There he lay where he fell, till the second
+mate, who had been below, came on deck, and, going up to the body,
+discovered the truth.  He, of course, reported the man's death to the
+captain.
+
+"Heave the carcass overboard, Mr Sims," was the answer.  "Let's hear no
+more about the rascal."
+
+Sailors have a dislike to have a dead body in the ship; so, before night
+set in, we lashed it up in a piece of canvas, and with a shot at the
+feet, committed it to the sea.  Strange as it may appear, when the mate
+found that we had taken the canvas for this purpose, he made it an
+excuse for further abuse and ill-treatment.  Not a day passed but one or
+other of us got a kick or a blow from him or the captain.  They made one
+young lad very nearly leap overboard, where he would have been drowned.
+I hauled him back, and calming him down, showed him the enormity of the
+sin he was going to commit, and urged him to bear his trials, as they
+must shortly be over.
+
+At last we reached Carlisle Bay, where we brought up off Bridge Town,
+the capital of the fertile island Barbadoes.  The town lies round the
+bay, and contains some handsome houses and broad streets.  This island
+is more level than most of the West India isles, with the exception of
+the north-eastern quarter, called Scotland, when there is an elevation
+of a thousand feet above the sea.  It is rather less in size than the
+Isle of Wight.  What a wretched voyage had we had!  How miserable and
+crushed in spirit did I feel!  The scene struck me, therefore, as
+peculiarly beautiful, as, gliding up the bay, we saw spread out before
+us the blue waters, fringed by the tall, graceful palms; the shining
+white houses, circling round the shore; the trim, gallant men-of-war;
+the merchantmen with their many-coloured flags; the numerous boats
+pulling here and there, manned by shouting, grinning, laughing
+negroes;--and then the planters' houses, and woods, and fields of
+sugar-cane, and farms in the distance, made me feel that such scenes as
+we had gone through could no longer be enacted with impunity.
+
+The moment we dropped our anchor, the captain went on shore; and I found
+that, to be beforehand with any of us who might inform against him, he
+had given his own version of Taylor's death; which, of course, his mate
+was ready to corroborate.  When he returned on board, he gave a
+triumphant glance forward, as much as to say, I have you still in my
+power.  So he had, as we found when once more we were at sea.  I was
+glad that the young lad Thompson, whom he had so ill-treated, deserted
+the day before we sailed, and, I believe, entered aboard a man-of-war,
+where he was safe.
+
+While in harbour we had been quiet enough, but we had not been two days
+at sea before the captain and mate commenced their old system of
+tyranny.  Everybody was ill-treated, and this time I was the chief
+victim.  Kicked and struck on the slightest pretext, and compelled to
+perform the most disgusting offices, I soon felt myself a degraded being
+both in body and mind; and when I thought of what I had been on board
+the _Juno_, and what I now was, I shrunk from making the comparison.
+But I was to obtain relief in a way I little expected.
+
+I was in the second mate's watch.  Early one morning, about four bells
+in the middle watch--that is to say, about two o'clock--I had just been
+relieved from my trick at the helm.  The weather was thick and squally,
+and the night very dark.  The look-out was careless, or had bad
+eyesight; and the mate, knowing this, was constantly going forward
+himself.  I was leisurely going along the deck, when I heard him sing
+out,--"A sail on the starboard-bow!  Luff!--luff all you can!"  I sprang
+forward.  The ship was nearer to us than he supposed.  Right stem on she
+came, towering like a huge mountain above us.  In an instant the brig's
+bows were cut down to the water's edge.  I sung out to those on deck to
+follow me, and clung on to whatever I could first get hold of.  It
+proved to be the ship's bobstay.  I climbed up it on to the bowsprit,
+and, as I looked down, I saw her going right over the vessel I had just
+left--her decks sinking from sight beneath the dark waters.  The tall
+masts, and spars, and sails followed: down, down they went, drawn by an
+irresistible force!  It seemed like some dreadful dream.  Before I could
+secure myself on the bowsprit, they had disappeared in the unfathomable
+abyss.  Not a cry or a groan reached my ears from my drowning
+shipmates--unwarned, unprepared they died.  Such has been many a hapless
+seaman's fate.  One only escaped.  He had hold of the dolphin-striker.
+I could just distinguish his form through the darkness as he followed
+me.  I slid down to help him, and with difficulty hauled him up on the
+bowsprit.  He seemed horror-struck at what had occurred; and so, indeed,
+we might both well be, and thankful that we had been preserved.  Such
+was the end of the old _Rainbow_.
+
+I now first sung out, and gave notice of our escape to those on board
+the ship.  Several of the crew had rushed forward, and now helped poor
+Mr Sims and me off the bowsprit.  We heard, meantime, the officers of
+the ship ordering the boats to be lowered; and she being hove up into
+the wind, one from each quarter was soon manned and in the water.  While
+the two mates of the ship, anxious to save the lives of their
+fellow-creatures, pulled about in every direction near where the brig
+was supposed to have gone down, I was looking over the bows, hoping that
+some of my poor shipmates might yet survive; but no answering cry was
+made to the repeated shouts of the boats' crews.  At last the boats
+returned on board, and I found that the mate and I were the only
+survivors of the _Rainbow_.  Had she not been an old vessel, I do not
+think that she would so easily have foundered from the blow she
+received.
+
+I found that the ship I was on board of was the _Rebecca_, a large West
+Indiaman, trading between London and Barbadoes, to which place she was
+then bound, so that I should have to return there instead of going home.
+The captain sent for the mate and me into the cuddy-cabin, to inquire
+about the vessel to which we had belonged.  He was a quiet,
+kind-mannered man, and seemed very much cut up at the loss of the brig,
+though he said that he could not blame his people for what had occurred.
+When we had given him all the information he required, he directed that
+we should have berths and food supplied us.  I turned in gladly, though
+it was some time before I went to sleep, and even then I could not get
+rid of the recollection of the sinking brig, which had borne me in
+safety for so many a long year over the wide ocean.
+
+The next morning I was told that the mate was very ill.  The doctor of
+the ship had been attending him, but said that his case was hopeless.  I
+sat by him all day.  Sometimes he would be perfectly quiet and do
+nothing but moan; and then he would start up, and shriek out,--"Luff!--
+luff!--or she'll be into us!" and then sink down again, overcome with
+horror at the recollection of the event.  Towards night he grew worse,
+and, after several fearful shrieks, he sunk back and expired.
+
+Thus twice in less than two years was I mercifully preserved from
+destruction.  There were a number of passengers on board, who were very
+kind to me, and took pleasure in asking me questions about my life at
+sea, and in listening to the accounts of my adventures.  Among them was
+a young gentleman, who, when he heard the name of the _Rainbow_ brig,
+and that she sailed out of Dublin, made many inquiries about her.  He
+told me that he knew Dublin well, and had often heard of the former
+owners of the _Rainbow_.  He was, I found, going out to Bridge Town, to
+take the management of a large mercantile house there.
+
+"You must come and see me when we get there," said he one day.  "I am
+not certain, but I think we have met before."
+
+"Where could that have been?  I don't remember you, sir," I said.
+
+"Hadn't you a very tall seaman aboard the brig when you first went to
+sea in her?" he asked abruptly.
+
+"Yes, of course, sir!"  I exclaimed.  "Peter Poplar, my best of friends;
+I owe everything to him."
+
+"So do I, then, I suspect," said he warmly.  "Do you remember a little
+lad sitting crying on the quays at Dublin, to whom he gave a bundle of
+old clothes?  Yours, I believe, they were."
+
+"Yes," said I; "I remember, too, how grateful he seemed for them, and
+how Peter walked away with me that he might not listen to his thanks."
+
+"He had reason to be thankful," said the gentleman.  "That suit of
+clothes enabled him to obtain a situation, where, by honesty and
+perseverance, and an earnest wish to promote his kind master's
+interests, he rose by degrees to hold the most responsible situation in
+his establishment.  Do you remember the boy's name?"
+
+"No, sir," I replied.  "I am not quite certain."
+
+"Was it Terence, do you think?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, sir!"  I exclaimed.  "Terence it was--Terence McSwiney--that was
+his name.  I remember it now, for he repeated it several times."
+
+"That is my name," said the gentleman; "and I, Jack, am the very little
+lad to whom your kind friend gave your old clothes.  I would much like
+to meet him again, to thank him, as I do you, for your share of the
+favour conferred on me.  Of one thing you may be certain--I have not
+been idle.  When not engaged in my master's business, I was employed in
+study and in improving my own mind.  I never lost an opportunity of
+gaining knowledge, and never willingly wasted a moment."
+
+Mr McSwiney told me a good deal more about himself, and I felt how very
+different a life I had led, and how little I had ever done to improve my
+mind or to gain knowledge.  I even then thought that it was too late to
+begin, and so I went on in my idleness.
+
+The day before we reached Carlisle Bay the captain sent for me, and told
+me that the passengers had been interested in my history, and that, as I
+had lost all my kit in the brig, they had made a collection to enable me
+to purchase a new one.  This he presented to me in the shape of thirty
+dollars.  I expressed myself, as I felt, very grateful for the kindness
+I had received.
+
+Although Mr McSwiney had once been in the same rank of life to which I
+belonged, and in one respect even worse off, because I had a suit of
+clothes on my back when he had none, I did not, in consequence, address
+him as an equal.  He seemed to appreciate my feeling, and I believe that
+I thereby secured his esteem.  He would have taken me to the lodging he
+had engaged at Bridge Town, but I said, "No, sir, thank you; I will
+remain on board the ship till I get a berth in some other craft.  I have
+no fancy for living ashore."  I went up to see him several times, and we
+parted, I believe, with mutual feelings of regard.  He had more than
+repaid me for the benefit I had been formerly the means of doing him,
+and he as well as I soon found that our habits of thought were so
+different that we could not associate on really equal terms, however
+much we might wish the attempt to succeed.
+
+Finding a brig, the _Jane and Mary_, short of hands, sailing for the
+port of Hull, I shipped on board her.  I was not much better off in her
+though, than I had been in the _Rainbow_ with Captain Grindall.  The
+captain and mates did not proceed to such extremities as he and Mr
+Crosby did, but they were rough, ignorant, ill-tempered men, and treated
+the crew as brutes, looking upon them as mere machines, out of whom they
+were to get as much work as their strength would allow.  When we reached
+Hull I was glad to leave the _Jane and Mary_; and without even going on
+shore for a day's spree--as most of the other hands did, and accordingly
+fell in with press-gangs--I transferred myself to a barque trading to
+Archangel, on the north coast of Russia.
+
+By the time I got back, I had had enough of a northern voyage, so for
+the first time went on shore at Hull.  Sailors' lodging-houses are
+generally dirty, foul traps, kept by wretches whose great aim is to
+fleece the guests of everything they may possess at least cost to
+themselves.  I got into one of this class, for, of course, I did not
+know where to go.  A shipmate had invited me to accompany him, saying he
+had been very well-treated--though I found afterwards he had been
+supplied with as much food and liquor as he wanted, and indulged in
+every vice, and then, when he hadn't a farthing in his pocket, put on
+board a trader half drunk, and sent to sea.  I found myself undergoing
+very shortly the same sort of treatment he had received; and when I
+refused to drink more, or yield to other temptations, such fierce, angry
+scowls were cast on me, that I was anxious to get away.  They began,
+indeed, to quarrel with me; but seeing that had not much effect, they
+became very civil and polite.  In a short time the man of the house--a
+sturdy ruffian, with a Jewish cast of countenance--went to the cupboard,
+and I saw him pouring out several tumblers of grog.  I pretended not to
+be watching him, but went on talking to my companions as before.
+Directly afterwards his wife got up and placed a tumbler by the side of
+each of us, taking one--
+
+"There are your Saturday's night-caps, my lads," said she, sitting down
+opposite to us.  "Let us drink to sweethearts and wives, and lovers and
+friends; a bloody war, and plenty of prize-money!"  And with a leer out
+of her evil eye, she gulped down half the contents of the tumbler
+between her thick lips.
+
+Now I had seen old Growler fumbling with several bottles at the dresser,
+and as I passed my nose over the tumbler which his wife placed near me,
+a certain rank odour arose from it which I did not like.  How to avoid
+drinking it I was puzzled, as I did not wish to show the suspicion I
+felt that it was drugged.  Luckily the tumbler stood on a little round
+table by itself; so I jumped up on a sudden, as if something had stung
+me, and upset the table with the tumbler and its contents!  Old Growler
+pretended to be very sorry for the accident, and insisted on mixing
+another.  "No, thank you, master," I answered; "I've been very clumsy,
+and must pay the penalty by the loss of the grog."  The couple looked at
+each other and then at me with such an evil glance, that I believe had
+it not been for my companions they would at that moment have turned me
+out into the street.
+
+There were six seamen in the room, lately discharged from different
+merchantmen.  The house was at the end of a dirty, narrow court, all the
+inhabitants of which were of the lowest description.  As we were sitting
+smoking, a tap was heard at the door.  Old Growler went to it.  Several
+questions were asked by a person outside.  He came back in a hurry, and
+beckoned to his wife to come and answer them.  "There are some
+man-of-war's men outside," said he.  "They say that they are come to
+look for a deserter.  They'll soon make my missus open the door, so
+you've no time to lose, my lads.  Be quick, then; through the door, and
+stowaway in the coal-shed."  The house had a back-door, or it would not
+have been fit for old Growler's purposes; and the door opened into what
+they called a garden, but it was a bit of dirty barren ground, strewn
+with broken bricks and crockery, and bits of rotten wood, with some
+tumble-down sheds on either side of it.  In one of these he proposed we
+should hide.  As we opened the door, however, to rush out, we found
+ourselves confronted by a dozen stout seamen; and before we could make
+the slightest resistance, we were all of us bound hand and foot.  The
+front-door being opened, an officer and several men entered through it,
+and a large party of us assembled in Mrs Growler's kitchen.  The
+lieutenant and midshipman who commanded the press-gang took very coolly
+the abuse which our worthy host and hostess so liberally bestowed on
+them.  We were allowed to go, two and two at a time, under escort, to
+collect our traps, and then marched down to a couple of boats waiting
+for us at the quay.  In a short time we were put on board a cutter, with
+a number of other men who had been picked up in a similar way.  There
+was a good deal of grumbling, and some of the men seemed to have been
+very hardly dealt with; but I cannot say that my change of lot made me
+particularly unhappy.
+
+Another night's foray on shore considerably increased our numbers;
+besides which several volunteers, mostly landsmen, were obtained, and
+the cutter then sailed to discharge her passengers into the ships most
+requiring men.  I and several others found ourselves going up the side
+of His Majesty's ship _Glutton_, of 50 guns, commanded by Captain Henry
+Trollope.  As I stood on the deck looking about me, previous to being
+summoned aft, I saw on the other side the tall figure of a man whose
+back was turned towards me.  My heart beat with surprise and joy, for I
+felt almost sure he must be Peter Poplar.  He shortly turned his head.
+I was right.  He was no other than my old friend.  I sprung over to him,
+and warmly grasped his hand.  He started when he saw me, stared at me
+with astonishment, and for a minute could not speak.
+
+"Is it really you, Jack?" he at length exclaimed.  "Why, lad, I thought
+you were dead.  I was told that you had been lost overboard from the
+_Juno_."
+
+"So I was," said I; "but I was found by an old friend, who in the end
+played me a somewhat scurvy trick."  And I told him in a few words all
+that had occurred to me since we had been paid off from the _Syren_.
+
+"Well, I am right glad to see you, lad--that I am," he exclaimed, again
+wringing my hand.
+
+My yarn was scarcely out when I was summoned to have my name entered on
+the ship's books, and to hear my rating, which was that of "able
+seaman."  The _Glutton_ had been an Indiaman, measuring 1400 tons, and
+had been purchased into the service.  She was now armed with the then
+newly-invented carronades, 68-pounders on the lower, and 32-pounders on
+the upper deck.  This was a weight of metal no ship had, I believe,
+previously carried; and Captain Trollope was very anxious to try its
+effect on the ships of the enemy, rightly believing that it would not a
+little astonish them.
+
+Our first cruise was off the coast of Flanders.  We had not long to wait
+before an enemy was seen.  On the 15th of July, when the days were
+longest and the weather fine, early in the afternoon six ships were seen
+from the mast-head running before the wind; and soon afterwards, further
+to leeward, appeared a brig and a cutter, which they were apparently
+bearing down to join.  I was at the helm when the captain made out what
+they were.
+
+"Four French frigates and two corvettes.  They will just suit us!" said
+he, shutting up his glass with a smile of satisfaction.
+
+"A heavy squadron for one ship to attack," observed one of the
+lieutenants.
+
+"One!--every man on board will be sorry they ever met _us_!" said the
+captain.  He knew that the officer who spoke was not one likely to
+flinch from the work to be done.
+
+We were standing directly for the enemy, whose ships were pretty close
+in with the land.  Notwithstanding the apparently overwhelming numbers
+of the foe, the ship, with the greatest alacrity, was cleared for
+action.
+
+"Shall we really fight them?" asked a youngster of Peter, who was a
+great favourite with all the midshipmen.
+
+"Ay--that we shall, sir," he answered.  "The captain only wishes that
+there were twice as many ships to fight."
+
+"That's all right!" exclaimed the young midshipman.  "I was afraid that
+some trick was intended, and that we should soon have to up stick, and
+run for it."
+
+"No, no; no fear of that!  I don't think our captain is the man to run
+from anything."
+
+It was now about eight o'clock in the evening, and the French ships,
+having formed in line, seemed to have no intention of avoiding us.  A
+feeling of pride and confidence animated the bosoms of all our crew as
+we stood round the short heavy guns with which our ship was armed, while
+advancing towards an enemy of a force apparently so overwhelming.  One
+French frigate, the _Brutus_, was a razeed 64-gun ship, and now carried
+46 guns.  Then there were the _Incorruptible_, of 32 guns; the
+_Magicienne_, of 36; the _Republicain_, of 28; and the two corvettes, of
+22 guns each.
+
+On we stood.  Whatever the enemy did, we were not to fire till we got
+close up to them.  There were to be no long shots with us.  It had
+become almost dark before we arrived abreast of the three sternmost
+ships.  "Take care that not a gun is fired till I give the order," cried
+the captain.  "Steer for that big fellow there."  This was the _Brutus_,
+the second from the van.  We were within thirty yards of this ship.
+"Strike to His Britannic Majesty's ship _Glutton_!" cried the captain,
+waving to the Frenchman.  This order the Frenchmen were not likely to
+obey.  Up went the French colours at the peaks of all the ships, and
+immediately they began firing as they could bring their guns to bear.
+We glided on a few yards nearer the opponent our captain had singled
+out.  "Now, give it them, my lads!" he shouted; and immediately we
+poured our whole broadside into the hull of our enemy.  The effects were
+as terrific as unexpected--she seemed literally to reel with the force
+of the concussion.  Meantime, the leading ship stood past us to
+windward, with the intention of cutting us up with her shot; but she got
+more than she bargained for, in the shape of our larboard-broadside.
+The heavy shot, nearly every one of which told, shattered her hull, tore
+open her decks, and damaged her spars.  Meantime we were standing on the
+larboard-tack, with the French commodore to leeward of us, with whom we
+were exchanging a hot fire--rather hotter than he liked, indeed.
+
+The pilot had been anxiously watching the coast--not indeed relishing,
+probably, the sort of work going on.  He now hurried up to the captain:
+"We shall be on shore to a certainty, sir, if we stand on in this
+course."
+
+"Never fear," answered Captain Trollope.  "When the Frenchman takes the
+ground, do you go about."
+
+All this time the enemy's shot were flying about us terribly, cutting up
+our spars and rigging; but, strange to say, as I looked around, I did
+not see one wounded!  It was light enough all the time to enable us to
+see all the enemy's ships, and yet sufficiently dark to allow the flash
+of the guns to have its full effect, as we and our many opponents
+rapidly discharged them at each other.  Still the French commodore stood
+on.  Perhaps he hoped to drive us on shore.  At last he was compelled to
+tack.  Captain Trollope had been waiting the opportunity.  The instant
+he hove in stays, we, who had been reserving our fire, poured in our
+broadside, raking him fore and aft with murderous effect.
+
+"All hands about-ship!" was now the cry.  So cut up was our rigging,
+however, that we had no little difficulty in getting her about.  Our
+masts also were badly wounded.  It was a question whether they would
+carry our canvas.
+
+"Hands aloft!--reef topsails!" was the next order given.  Up we sprung,
+most unwillingly leaving our gnus, while the French ships, one after the
+other, stood away from us, glad to get out of reach of our fire though
+they did not fail to give us a parting salute.
+
+We were as smart as we could in reefing topsails, but as much of our
+running-gear was cut up, we were longer than usual; and the Frenchmen,
+finding that we had ceased firing, took it into their heads.  I suppose,
+that we were going to strike, for they all tacked and once more stood
+back towards us.
+
+"To your guns, my lads! to your guns!" was the cry, as we swung down off
+the yards; and then didn't we open fire again upon them in fine style!
+In a few minutes they had had enough of it, and hauled off as fast as
+their legs could carry them.  If they hadn't so cruelly wounded our
+masts and spars we should have caught some of them.  We made all the
+sail we could venture to carry; but they had faster keels than we could
+boast of, so we had no hope of success.
+
+They stood away for Flushing, and I afterwards heard that one of them
+sunk as soon as she got there, and that all had their decks completely
+ripped up, besides losing a great number of men, and suffering terribly
+in other ways.  Strange as it may seem, we had not a single man killed,
+but one captain of marines and one marine only were wounded.  We had to
+go into harbour to repair damages; and when the news of the action
+reached London, the merchants were so pleased with it, that, in
+commemoration of it, they presented Captain Trollope with a handsome
+piece of plate.  He deserved it, for a braver or more dashing officer
+did not exist, as I had many opportunities of proving.
+
+Some time after this, occurred those events in the navy which might have
+proved the destruction of the British Empire.  I speak of the mutinies
+which broke out at the Nore, at Spithead, and elsewhere.  The
+particulars are generally so well-known, that I will not attempt to
+describe them; but the circumstance I am about to mention is known, I
+fancy, to very few.  It is an example of what courage and determination
+may effect.
+
+On board the _Glutton_, as in most large ships, we had a number of bad
+characters--runaway apprentices, lawyers' clerks, broken-down tradesmen,
+footmen dismissed for knavery, play-actors, tinkers, gipsies,
+pickpockets, thieves of all sorts; indeed, the magistrates on shore
+seemed to think nothing was too bad to send on board a man-of-war.
+These men were, of course, always ready for mischief of any sort.  There
+is no denying it, the seamen also were often cruelly ill-treated,
+fleeced on all sides, cheated out of pay, supplied with bad provisions,
+and barbarously tyrannised over by their officers.  Now, on the
+contrary, a man-of-war's man is better fed, better lodged, better and
+more cheaply clothed, and in sickness better taken care of, than any
+class of labouring-men.  When he has completed twenty-one years'
+service, he may retire with a pension for life of from tenpence to
+fourteen-pence a day; and when worn-out by age or infirmity, he may bear
+up for that magnificent institution, Greenwich Hospital, there among old
+comrades to end his days in peace.
+
+The mutiny I was speaking of had been going on for some time.  The just
+demands of the seamen had been listened to, and their grievances
+remedied, when the mutiny broke out afresh, and, instigated by
+evil-disposed persons, the crews either landed their officers or put
+them under confinement, and made fresh demands, many of which it was
+impossible to grant.  Our ship, with others of Lord Duncan's squadron,
+was brought up in Yarmouth Roads.  The delegates had been tampering with
+us.  Messages had at different times been sent on board, and I knew that
+something wrong was going forward; but what it was I could not tell.  I
+was known to be a friend of Peter Poplar's, and no one doubted his
+remaining stanch to his captain and officers, so I am proud to say that
+they would not trust me.
+
+One day I found Peter sitting down between decks, looking very grave.  I
+asked him if something was not the matter with him.
+
+"A great deal, Jack," he answered; "I don't like the look of things.
+You must know, Jack, that the ships at the Nore have again hoisted the
+red flag, and the mutineers swear that they'll make every ship of the
+fleet join them.  What they now want, I don't know.  They have got all
+the chief grievances redressed, and everything which reasonable men
+could expect granted.  They'll not be content till all the delegates are
+made admirals, I suppose."
+
+"Still, I hope that we shall not be following their example," said I.
+"We have a good number of black sheep on board, but still, I think,
+there are enough honest men to keep them in check."
+
+"That's the very thing I doubt, Jack," he whispered.  "I don't like the
+thoughts of peaching on a shipmate, but when villains are plotting
+treachery, as some on board here are doing, we have but one duty to
+perform.  I must carry the information to the captain.  In case they
+find me out, and heave me overboard, or trice me up at the yard-arm--as
+they are likely enough to do--if you live take care that my memory is
+treated with justice.  Now, Jack, there is no time to lose; I'll tell
+the captain that he may trust to you and a few others, but the greater
+number of the ship's company have been won over by the promises of that
+artful fellow Parker and his mates."  Saying this, Peter walked boldly
+aft, and, unsuspected, entered the captain's cabin.
+
+He told me afterwards that Captain Trollope received the information
+very calmly, nor did he seem at all to doubt its correctness.  The plan
+was to wait till the ship was under way to proceed on a cruise in the
+North Sea, and then to seize the captain and all the officers, and to
+carry the ship instead to the Nore.  Several other ships had already
+weighed without orders, and had joined the mutineers at the Nore.  No
+preparation, however, was made that I saw for the expected event.
+
+The next day Peter and I were sent for into the cabin.  "Take up these
+things, and accompany me," said the captain to us.  There was a compass
+and a basket of provisions; and I saw that the captain had a pistol-case
+under his arm.  Leaving the cabin, he led the way below to the door of
+the magazine.  If any of the mutineers observed him, I don't suppose
+they guessed what he was about.
+
+The powder-magazine of a man-of-war has a clear space round it--a sort
+of ante-room, which is kept clear of everything, so as to decrease the
+risk of fire reaching it.  This ante-room has a grated door before it.
+The captain produced a key, and opening the grated door, went in, taking
+from us the articles we carried.  He then locked himself in from the
+inside.  This done, he opened the inner door of the magazine, exposing a
+number of powder-flasks to view.  Having arranged his table and chairs,
+with the compass and his pistols, and some books he had brought, he said
+quietly, as if to himself, "I'm ready for them!"
+
+"Williams," he continued, "go and request the first lieutenant to come
+here.  Poplar, do you go among the people, and say I directed you to
+call some of them to see me."
+
+I quickly performed my part of the duty; but Poplar was longer in
+collecting any of the people.  He, however, at last returned with about
+twenty of them.
+
+The first lieutenant seemed very much astonished at the summons, and
+could not make out what it meant.  I fancy, indeed, when he got down
+there, and saw the captain quietly sitting in the powder-magazine, as if
+he was going to take up his berth there for the future, for an instant
+he thought him out of his senses.  He did not long continue in that idea
+when the captain began to address him and the people who were assembled
+outside the grating.
+
+"Turn the hands up, and get the ship under way!" he sung out in a loud
+voice.  "The pilot will carry her through the passage, and then steer an
+easterly course till you receive further orders."
+
+"Now, men, you've heard the orders I have given to the first lieutenant.
+I intend to have them obeyed.  Other ships' companies have refused to
+obey orders, and have joined the mutineers at the Nore.  This example
+shall not be followed on board this ship.  I'd sooner die than see such
+disgrace brought on the ship I command.  You all know me.  The instant I
+find the course I have given altered--you see the magazine and this
+pistol--we all go up together!"
+
+Some of the mutineers--for Peter had taken care to summon those he most
+suspected--lingered below; but the boatswain's whistle sounded shrilly
+along the decks, and one more glance at the determined eye of the
+captain sent them flying up to obey its summons.  I shall never forget
+the appearance of that dauntless man as he sat still and alone in that
+dark place, prepared by a dire necessity to hurl himself and all with
+him to a terrible destruction.  It was a subject truly worthy of the
+painter's highest art.  We all, indeed, did know him, and knew that,
+whatever the cost, he was a man to do what he had threatened.  The ship
+was quickly got under way, and while the larger number of the ships of
+the squadron ran for the Nore against the wishes of their officers, we,
+to the surprise of all, who little knew what extraordinary influence
+guided our course, stood out to sea in search of the enemies of our
+country.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
+
+JACK A PRISONER--A PRIVATEER AND A SLAVER.
+
+On leaving the _Glutton_, I was struck down by sickness, and lay for
+many long months in the hospital at Portsmouth, scarcely expecting to
+recover.  Oh, how hideous did Death, which I had braved a hundred times
+in open fight, appear as silently he stalked along the wards of the
+hospital!  I trembled as I thought of the past;--how small was the hope
+I had in the future!  There was no one to bring me comfort--no one to
+afford counsel--no one to point out the right, the only way by which a
+sinner can be justified in the sight of a pure, just, holy God.  Many
+good resolutions I made--as many were soon afterwards broken.  I
+recovered; health returned to my veins--vigour to my arm.  Once more I
+was afloat in a dashing frigate.
+
+We were off the Frenchman's coast.  In a deep bay lay a number of the
+enemy's vessels.  It was necessary to ascertain their character.  They
+were supposed to be gun-boats.  Our second lieutenant, Mr Ronald--a
+noble specimen of a naval officer, and as active as a cat, though he had
+but one leg--was directed to take the gig, a fast-pulling boat, and to
+gain all the information he could.  I was with him; so was Peter.  The
+frigate had made sail, as if about to leave the coast; but as soon as it
+was dark, she stood back again.  The gig was lowered, and we shoved off.
+
+In dead silence, with muffled oars, we pulled in towards the shore.  We
+knew that the enemy mustered strong in the neighbourhood.  Thus it was
+necessary to be cautious.  Not a word was spoken.  The phosphorescent
+light sparkled from the blades of our oars, appearing brighter from the
+darkness which prevailed, but that could not be seen at any distance.
+The time for our expedition had been well selected.  We had pitchy
+darkness to favour our advance; but we knew that the moon would soon
+rise, and enable us to make the necessary observations.  We pulled
+slowly in, for the tide was with us, and Mr Ronald told us to reserve
+our strength till it would be most required.  As we got close in with
+the shore, we could make out the masts of a number of vessels, in a
+confused mass; but what they were without more light, it was impossible
+to say without going close up to them.  Mr Ronald was not a man to
+leave his work half done through fear of consequences, so we pulled on
+till our oars almost touched some of the outer vessels.  Our officer
+made his remarks as we continued our course round the bay.
+
+Not a sound had broken the stillness of the night except the almost
+inaudible dip of our oars in the water.  The clouds, which had hitherto
+obscured the sky, floated gradually away; the stars shone forth bright
+and clear, their sparkling orbs reflected in the smooth water; and then,
+rising from behind the land, the moon shed her calm silvery gleam across
+the sheltered bay.  We were at the time under the shadow of some high
+land.  "Give way, my lads; it is time we should be out of this!"
+whispered the lieutenant.  It was time indeed!  Peter's quick eye,
+looking seaward, observed several dark objects floating in the distance.
+"Boats in!" he said, pointing in that direction.  The lieutenant looked
+there also.  There could be no doubt about it.  There were four large
+boats.  He ordered us to lay on our oars, to watch in what direction
+they would pull.  We hoped that they had not as yet observed us.  The
+people in the boats seemed to be holding a conference.  At last they
+parted.  One pulled across the mouth of the bay in one direction; one in
+the other; but two advanced up the bay.  There seemed no possibility of
+our escaping without being seen.  Still it was far from Mr Ronald's
+intention of giving in till he was actually laid hold of.  Hitherto the
+shade of the cliff prevented our being seen.  The gap between the boats
+through which we could hope to escape widened more and more.  Meantime,
+our thoughts were occupied in the contemplation of the pleasures of a
+French prison, of which we had too often heard to have any wish to enjoy
+them.  Mr Ronald watched our opportunity.  "Now, my lads," he
+whispered, "give way with a will!"  We needed no encouragement.  As a
+rat darts out of the corner in which it has taken shelter when the dogs
+stand ready on either side hoping to catch it, so we darted out from our
+sheltered nook towards the open sea.
+
+The movement drew the attention of the French boats towards us, and in
+another minute all four were steering courses which would give them
+every prospect of cutting us off.  We were all armed, but it would have
+been madness to attempt to beat off so overwhelming a force.  We had to
+trust alone to the fleetness of our heels.  We might have a prospect of
+distancing the two boats which had gone up the bay, and which were on
+our larboard-hand, but we must inevitably run the gauntlet between the
+other two.  The question was, whether we could pass through them before
+they closed in on us.  We made the strong ash sticks bend again as we
+sent the boat flying through the bubbling water.  We sung out in our
+eagerness, encouraging each other.  Every moment the space between the
+two boats was narrowing.  We did not give in though.  The Frenchmen now
+saw that there was a chance of our escaping, and began firing.  The
+bullets flew thickly about our heads.  Several hit the gunwale of the
+boat, but none of us were hurt.  Their firing rather encouraged us to
+persevere, in the hope of escaping.
+
+At last I felt a severe blow on my arm, and involuntarily dropped my
+oar.  A bullet had struck it.  Still, I was sure it was not broken; so I
+took my handkerchief off my neck, and bound it up.  I seized my oar, and
+pulled on.  "Oh, the blackguards! sure if they'd give us a fair start,
+and not be sending their dirty bullets at us, we'd be after bating them
+entirely, now!" sung out an Irishman, who pulled the bow-oar.  Many
+people would, under the circumstances we were placed in, have given up
+before this; but Mr Ronald still hoped that we might dodge our enemies,
+and escape.  The boats were not a hundred yards on either side of us.
+They gave way with a will.  So did we.  Still we might slip between
+them.  If we did, we should have a good start; and pulling fast, as we
+could do, we might escape, should they not continue firing at us; but
+how could we expect them to be so lenient?  On they came; narrow,
+indeed, grew the space between them.  We dashed on.  With a cry of
+dismay, we saw that our efforts were of no avail!  With such force did
+they come on, that they literally almost cut our boat in two; and as she
+sunk between them, we had to jump out--some into one boat, some into the
+other--to save ourselves from drowning, and to find ourselves prisoners.
+
+How the Frenchmen did jabber away, and ask us all sorts of questions,
+none of which we could answer, from not being able to muster a word of
+French amongst us.  The other boats came up, and then there was still
+more jabbering; and then the Frenchmen made us all get into one boat,
+and pulled with us towards a point of land on the east side of the bay.
+The boat soon reached a small, rough pier, and then two of the men,
+jumping on shore, ran off towards the town, which stood a little way off
+from us.  We sat, meantime, wondering what was to be our fate.
+
+Shortly afterwards the tramp of feet was heard, and six or eight
+soldiers, or militiamen, or gendarmes, appeared, and halted near us.
+The officer of the boat then had a talk with them, and committed us to
+their charge.  I have no doubt he told them to take good care that we
+did not run away.  The boat, we concluded, had to row watch, and could
+not remain long absent from her post.  The soldiers, before receiving
+us, grounded arms; shoved their ramrods down their muskets, to show us
+that they were loaded; examined the primings in the pans, and then,
+presenting their bayonets at our backs, in most unpleasant proximity,
+ordered us to advance.  Our cutlasses had been taken away, and, of
+course, the muskets had gone down with the gig; but both Mr Ronald and
+Peter had their pistols stuck in their belts, inside their great-coats,
+so the Frenchmen did not discover them.  We did not wish our first
+captors good-bye, nor exchange a word with each other, but, seeing there
+was no help for it, slowly stumbled on over the uneven ground ahead of
+our guards.  I hoped that they would keep their footing better than we
+did; for, if not, some of us would stand a great chance of being run
+through with their bayonets.  Had we not been unarmed, and aware that
+the boat was within hail, I don't think we should have allowed ourselves
+to have been carried along as prisoners.
+
+However, our walk was soon at an end, and we reached the tower, which
+stood a short distance along-shore from where we landed, and not three
+hundred yards from the beach.  It appeared to be in a very tumble-down
+ruinous condition, as we inspected it from the outside.  We concluded
+that we should have to wait here till the following morning, before
+being marched off to prison.  Whether the tower had been built for a
+fort, or only a mill, or a look-out place, it was difficult to discover
+in the scant light we had.  There was a small arched door before us,
+with some stone winding-steps leading up from it.  The sergeant in
+command of the party pointed to it, and some of the men gave us a gentle
+prick with the end of their bayonets, singing out, at the same time,
+some words which we guessed to be a command to go up there.
+
+"Let me go first, sir," exclaimed Peter Poplar, springing through the
+door.  "There may be some trap in the way, and it's hard that you should
+have to fall down that, at all events."
+
+When we were all in, the soldiers followed, making us go winding-up till
+we reached a chamber at the top of the building.  The French soldiers
+saw us all in, and then shoving to the door, they shut it with a loud
+bang; but as there was no sound of bolts or bars, we guessed that there
+were none to the door.
+
+The light of the moon shone directly in through a loop-holed slip of a
+window, and we saw some billets of wood, and a small cask or two, and a
+few three-legged stools, with a broken table, and the remains of a
+bedstead, showing that the place had once been inhabited.  Mr Ronald
+took a seat, and told us to follow his example; so we all sat down,
+feeling certainly very melancholy at first.  We had much reason to be
+melancholy, for by this time we had heard a good deal about French
+prisons, and the treatment English prisoners received in them; and we
+could scarcely fancy a worse fate than to have to spend our future days
+in one.  The lieutenant, however, was not the man to allow himself or
+others long to indulge in such thoughts.  He got up.
+
+"We are in a bad plight, certainly, my lads," said he; "but we'll see if
+we cannot mend it.  I have been in a worse plight myself--and so, I
+daresay, have you--and managed to escape without damage.  Perhaps we may
+do so in this case."
+
+"Yes, sir," said Peter; "indeed I have."  And he described how we had
+escaped from the pirates' den in Cuba.
+
+I told my companions how I had been preserved from being murdered by the
+Maroons; and altogether we soon got each other's spirits up.  My wounded
+arm hurt me not a little, but Peter took off my jacket, and bound it up
+carefully; and though I cannot say that the pain was much decreased, I
+resolved to bear it without complaining.
+
+Meantime, Mr Ronald made a minute examination of the place of our
+confinement; and by stepping on the table he discovered a hole in the
+roof, which he found that he could, without difficulty, make as large as
+he might wish.  He at once set to work to do so, we all talking and
+walking about the room, to conceal any noise he might make.  When he had
+got the hole large enough to admit his body, Peter, putting his shoulder
+under him, gave him a hoist through it, and with his hands and elbows he
+quickly scrambled up on the roof.  As it sloped very much he could not
+walk about, so he sat himself down to make his observations.  Having
+done so, and stayed some time to consider matters and form his plans, he
+came back into the room.
+
+"My lads," said he, calling us round him, "you must clearly understand
+the position we are in.  We are prisoners to our greatest enemies.  They
+may choose to consider us as spies, and may cut our throats, or shoot us
+as such; and, at all events, they will send us to prison, and there keep
+us, as they have done many of our countrymen, till the war is over.
+Now, while I was on the roof I saw, not far from the beach, a small boat
+moored; and a mile or so away, I made out what I take to be a fleet of
+fishing-boats.  What I propose is, to knock over the sentry at the door,
+and, if we can, we'll surprise the rest of the soldiers, and gag and
+bind them.  If they show fight, it can't be helped: we must kill them.
+At all events, we must prevent them from raising an alarm, or following
+us.  We will then make the best of our way to the beach, and I will
+undertake to swim off, and bring in the small boat I saw there.  When we
+get her, it will be very hard if we cannot cut out some fishing-smack or
+other, in which we can cross over to England.  If we don't succeed, we
+shall probably get killed ourselves; but if we do, we shall obtain our
+liberty, and that is worth a struggle."
+
+This speech inspirited us all, and we could scarcely refrain from
+shouting, as we promised to follow his directions, and to stick by him
+through thick and thin.
+
+The Frenchmen seeing that he had a wooden leg, and hearing him stump up
+and down, of course fancied that he would never attempt to run away; or
+that if he did make the attempt, he would not go without them finding it
+out.  This, perhaps, made them more careless in the way they watched us.
+At all events, they had not even then found out what stuff English
+sailors are made of; and I don't think they ever will.
+
+"Then, my lads, there's no time to be lost," said the lieutenant.  "Are
+you all ready?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said Peter, speaking for the rest; "but I beg pardon, sir,
+won't your leg be heard as we go down, and it may give notice to the
+Frenchmen?"
+
+"I have thought of that," said Mr Ronald, fastening a handkerchief
+round the end of the stump.  "Now, I shall tread as softly as a cat."
+
+We had all taken off our shoes, and armed ourselves with the legs of the
+table and the legs of the stools we had found in the room.  My heart
+beat quick.  Never had I been engaged in so daring a work.  We dared not
+try the door till the moment we were to rush out.  Mr Ronald gave the
+signal, and he leading the way, we threw open the door, and, before the
+sentry could turn his head, or even cry out, we had our hands on his
+mouth, and throwing him down backwards among us, we squeezed every
+breath out of his body.  Whether he lived or died, I cannot say.  We
+seized his musket and bayonet and sword, and without a moment's delay,
+which would have been fatal, we rushed on, and sprung like wild beasts
+into the room where our guards were sitting.  Some were sleeping; others
+were playing at cards; two were talking with their heads bent together.
+They had not time to look up even before we were upon them.  Mr Ronald
+ran one of the card-players through with the sword we had taken from the
+guard; Peter killed another with the bayonet.  I shall not forget his
+look of astonishment and dismay when he saw us standing before him.  One
+of the other men knocked over a third with the leg of the table.  Before
+the others could seize their arms, we had got hold of them.  Mr Ronald
+was obliged to kill another man, who fought so desperately that we could
+not otherwise master him; and throwing ourselves on the remaining three,
+we bound and gagged them, and lashed them to the benches on which they
+had been sitting.  The whole affair did not take us a minute.  It was
+very bloody work, but it could not be helped.  We then hurried to the
+bottom of the tower, and broke open the door.  We had been prisoners a
+very short time, and could scarcely believe ourselves to be free.
+
+Hastening down to the beach, Mr Ronald stripped off his clothes, and
+plunging into the water, with his knife in his mouth, swam off towards
+the little boat he had before observed.  Had it not been for my wound, I
+would gladly have gone instead of him.  In spite of his wooden leg, he
+swam fast and strongly, and soon reached the boat.  Getting into her, he
+cut her from her moorings, and then quickly paddled her to the more.
+More than once we had turned a glance inland, lest we mould have been
+observed; but, without interruption, Mr Ronald dressed, and then all of
+us getting into the boat, we pulled out seaward.  She was too small to
+allow us, with any prospect of safety, to cross the Channel in her, so
+that we could not yet consider our enterprise accomplished.
+
+We had armed ourselves with the soldiers' weapons, so that, had there
+been a strong breeze off-shore, we should not have been afraid to have
+attacked and attempted to cut out any merchant vessel or other
+well-armed craft.  As it was, Mr Ronald judged that it would be wiser
+to endeavour to capture one of the fishing-boats he had seen.  Muffling
+our oars, therefore, in dead silence we pulled out towards the largest
+of the fleet, and which lay the outermost of them all.  Gliding
+alongside, we stepped softly on board.  Her crew were, as we expected,
+asleep, and before they had opened their eyes we had our hands on their
+throats and our knees on their bosoms.  As there were only three men and
+a boy, we easily mastered them; and, having bound and gagged them, we
+put them into the forepeak, while we proceeded to haul up the anchor and
+get the vessel under way.
+
+As soon as we could attend to our prisoners, we made signs to them that
+we would not hurt them; and I fancied that they considered themselves
+very fortunate in not having their throats cut, or being thrown
+overboard, by those terrible monsters, "_les betes Anglais_."  There was
+a light air off the shore, and, with very great satisfaction, we stood
+away from it.  Anxiously we looked towards the coast we were leaving,
+but, as far as our eyes could pierce the gloom, we could not discover
+any vessel in pursuit of us.  Still we were not free from danger, as we
+were likely enough to fall in with a French vessel, and again find
+ourselves prisoners.  Mr Ronald, who was as kind and thoughtful as he
+was brave, told me to go to sleep; but my arm gave me too much pain to
+allow me to do so.
+
+The hours of night passed by, and day dawned; the bright sun arose on a
+cloudless sky.  The coast of France rose in blue ridges astern of us,
+but not a sail was in sight all round the horizon.  As our prospect of
+escaping recapture improved, our appetites, which we had not thought
+about, reminded us that we had gone a long time without eating; but when
+we came to examine the fishermen's lockers, we found only a little black
+bread aboard, and a most scanty supply of water.  They made us
+understand that their boat had gone on shore with some of their comrades
+to bring off water and provisions.  Mr Ronald insisted on preserving
+most of the water for me, as a fever was already on me, and I was
+suffering dreadfully from thirst.
+
+The wind was very light, and we made but little way.  As the sun rose,
+however, clouds began to collect to the northward, and the sky overhead
+became covered over with those long wavy white lines which go by the
+name of "mares' tails," and which always betoken wind.  Still we stood
+on as before.  Every now and then, however, a puff would come which
+threw the sails aback; but it quickly passed away, to be succeeded
+shortly by a stronger and more continuous one.  At last the breeze
+headed us altogether, freshening up rapidly, till Mr Ronald called all
+hands to reef sails.  The wind soon got the sea up, and in a short time
+we were pitching away close-hauled, with the boat's head to the
+north-west.  Changed, indeed, was the weather since the morning: then
+all had been bright, and blue, and calm; now, in the afternoon, the sky
+hung dark and gloomy, with heavy clouds, and green foam-topped seas
+danced wildly around us.  I do not know what Mr Ronald thought about
+the matter, but as I lay on my back suffering from pain, hunger, and
+thirst, I began to question whether the ill-found boat would live
+through the sea which was getting up.
+
+Meantime a sharp look-out was kept for any vessel which might put us on
+shore anywhere on the English coast.  At length a sail was seen to the
+eastward, and after watching her for some time, both Mr Ronald and
+Peter were of opinion that she would cross our course.  This news
+cheered the spirits of all hands, for they had begun to suffer painfully
+from hunger and thirst.  No one had taken more than a very small piece
+of black bread, for we could not deprive the poor French fishermen of
+their share of food.  We were most anxious, on several accounts, that
+the stranger should get up to us before dark--in the first place, that
+we might ascertain whether she was friend or foe, and also lest we
+should miss her altogether.  Should she prove French, we hoped, in spite
+of our hunger, still to avoid her.  To mislead any enemies, we got out
+the Frenchmen's clothes left on board, and rigged ourselves out as
+fishermen.
+
+"I feel pretty sure that vessel is English, sir," said Peter, who had
+been watching the stranger.  "But still I can't make out what is the
+matter with her; she has been handled pretty roughly, I suspect."
+
+Mr Ronald pronounced her to be a brig-of-war without any after-sail
+set; and as she drew near, we saw that there was good reason for this,
+as her mainmast had been carried away by the board, while her hull also
+had been much knocked about.  It was clear that she had been in action.
+Mr Ronald waved to her; and, to our no small satisfaction, we saw her
+clewing up her sails to speak to us.
+
+Before going alongside, however, Mr Ronald released the Frenchmen, and,
+as he thought, explained to them that we were going on board the brig,
+and that they might return to the French coast.  The Frenchmen stretched
+their limbs, and looked about them while we were going alongside the
+brig.  This was an operation not altogether easy or free of risk, but we
+succeeded in getting hold of her.  Mr Ronald went up first, followed by
+the other men; and as I was far too weak to help myself up, Peter had
+gone up the side, and was singing out for a rope, when the Frenchmen,
+instigated by what notion I know not, but fancying, I believe, that they
+were to be made prisoners, cut off the tow-rope, and hoisting the
+foresail, put down the helm, and stood away from the brig.  Active as
+monkeys, they soon swayed up the mainsail, and, hauling close on a wind,
+they rapidly left the brig astern.  I saw Peter eagerly waving to them
+to come back, and I have no doubt but that he fancied if they did not
+they would murder me.  The brig, having no after-sail, could not haul
+her wind, so that my shipmates were perfectly unable to recover me.  I
+certainly could do nothing to help myself, so I lay quiet, and trusted
+that the Frenchmen would have pity on me.  I still thought they might
+murder me; and, at all events, expected that I should be sent to a
+French prison.  I only hoped that we might not reach the part of the
+coast we had come from, for I could scarcely expect to escape being put
+to death when it was known that I was one of the party who had killed
+the French soldiers placed to guard us.
+
+I do not think, at the same time, that the Frenchmen had any murderous
+intentions.  They were so pleased at recovering their boat and their
+liberty, that they were inclined to treat me civilly, if not kindly, and
+they continued to supply me with bread and water as I required.  As we
+were half-way across the Channel, and they had lost their reckoning, we
+were not likely, I hoped, to make a good landfall in their attempt to
+reach their home.
+
+With anxious eyes I watched the brig on board which my shipmates had
+taken refuge, but darkness coming on, we very soon lost sight of her.
+My heart sunk within me, and I burst into a fit of tears, the first I
+had shed for many a long year.  They were as anxious to avoid meeting
+any vessel as we had just been to find one.  The wind had again chopped
+round to the southward, and though not blowing very strong, we made but
+little progress.
+
+All night we stood on under close-reefed canvas, and when the next
+morning dawned, I saw land to the southward.  Its appearance evidently
+puzzled the Frenchmen.  I guessed it to be no other than that of the
+island of Guernsey; while not a mile off, standing towards us under her
+topsails, was a large schooner.  Had the Frenchmen altered their course,
+and run away from her, it would have excited the suspicions of those on
+board, so they kept on as before.  This plan, however, did not avail
+them.  A shot, which before long came whistling across our fore-foot,
+showed them that they were wanted alongside the schooner.  The schooner
+hoisted English colours, and from her general appearance I had no doubt
+that she was a privateer.  As soon, therefore, as the boat went
+alongside, I sung out that I was an Englishman, and a prisoner.
+
+"Halloa!  Who's that?" said a man, looking over the side of the
+schooner.  "What!  Jack Williams, is that you?"  The speaker, without
+waiting for my reply, let himself down into the boat, and as he grasped
+my hand, I recognised him as my old acquaintance Jacob Lyal.
+
+Pointing to my arm, I told him that I had been wounded, and how ill I
+was; and he at once sung out for a sling, and in another minute I was
+safely placed on the deck of the vessel.
+
+The captain of the schooner then ordered the Frenchmen into the boat,
+and putting some of his people in her, she was dropped astern.  I don't
+know what he said to the Frenchmen, but they seemed far from contented
+with the change of lot.  I learned afterwards that he wanted the boat to
+go in and cut out some French merchantmen.
+
+The schooner had a surgeon on board, and when the captain heard the
+account I gave Lyal of my late adventures, he directed that I should be
+immediately placed under his charge.  I flesh, as soon as the fever
+abated, I got rapidly well and fit for duty.
+
+The schooner was, I found, the _Black Joke_, belonging to the island of
+Guernsey.  Lyal so worked on my imagination, by the accounts he gave of
+the life of a privateer's-man, and the prize-money to be made, that he
+soon persuaded me to enter aboard her.  There cannot be the shadow of a
+doubt that I ought to have gone back, by the first opportunity, to join
+my own ship; though, of course, I knew that, under the circumstances of
+the case, I ran very little fear of punishment by not doing so, should I
+at any time happen to fall in with her.  The schooner was a very large
+vessel of her class, and mounted sixteen 6-pounders, with a crew of some
+eighty men or more.  Captain Savage, who commanded her, was a bold
+dashing fellow, but he cared nothing for honour, or glory, or
+patriotism.  He had only one object in view in fighting--it was to make
+money.  Privateering was the shortest and easiest way he knew of, and as
+his professional knowledge and experience fitted him for the life, he
+took the command of the _Black Joke_.  His first officer, Mr Le
+Gosselen, was just the man for the sort of work to be done.  He was a
+strongly-built, short, bull-necked man, and a first-rate seaman; but
+whatever human sympathies he might have had in his youth had all
+apparently been washed out of him.
+
+The schooner had only left Guernsey, after a refit, the day before I was
+taken on board her.  I had been a fortnight in her before any prize of
+consequence was made.  A few coasters had been surprised by means of the
+fishing-boat, but their cargoes were of very little value, and only two
+or three were worth sending into port.  Of the rest, some were sunk, and
+others allowed to continue on their voyage, after anything worth having
+was taken out of them.  The time had at last arrived when Captain Savage
+hoped to fall in with a convoy of French ships coming home from the West
+Indies.  For a week or more we cruised about in the latitude they would
+probably be found in, but we saw nothing of them.
+
+At length, at daybreak one morning, several sail were seen hull down to
+the northward, and steering east.  The wind was about south, so we stood
+away close-hauled towards them, in order to reconnoitre them more
+perfectly.  As the sun rose, and we drew nearer, many more appeared,
+their white sails dotting the ocean far and wide.
+
+"That's what we've been looking for, my lads!" cried the captain,
+pointing them out to the crew.  "If we get hold of two or three of those
+fellows, we shall soon line our pockets with gold."
+
+A loud cheer fore and aft showed that the speech suited the taste of his
+hearers.  Great, indeed, was the contrast in the discipline between a
+privateer and a man-of-war.  There was plenty of flogging, and swearing,
+and rope's-ending, which the officers considered necessary to keep up
+their authority; but there was also a free-and-easy swagger, and an
+independent air about the men, which showed that they considered
+themselves on a par with their officers, and that they could quit the
+vessel whenever they fancied a change.  At first I did not at all like
+it, but by degrees I got accustomed to the life, and imitated the
+example of all around.
+
+We stood on cautiously towards the Frenchmen, the officers' glasses
+being continually turned towards them, to watch for any suspicious
+movement in the fleet.  The captain had no doubt what they were, and all
+day we continued hovering about them, like a bird of prey ready to
+pounce down on its victim.  We got near enough to make out a man-of-war
+in the van, and another in the centre of the fleet, while a number of
+stragglers brought up the rear.  Of some of these latter we hoped to
+make prizes.  Having ascertained this much, we stood off again from
+them, that, should our appearance have raised their suspicions, they
+might be again set to rest.  Marking well the course they were steering,
+we knew that we should easily again fall in with them.
+
+The nights, to favour our enterprise, had been very dark, so that we
+might hope to pick out several, provided no noise was made, without
+being discovered.  We waited anxiously for night to put our enterprise
+into execution; and as the sun set, we crowded all sail to come up with
+the convoy.  Few vessels could surpass the schooner in her sailing
+qualities, which made her peculiarly fitted for the sort of work she was
+employed in.
+
+By midnight, we made out on our starboard-bow several sail, which we had
+no doubt were some of the sternmost vessels of the French convoy; so we
+stood towards them without hesitation.  If any of the Frenchmen caught
+sight of the privateer, they probably took her for one of their own
+fleet.  Slowly, their dark, misty-like forms glided by, while we watched
+them with eager eyes, wondering which the captain would select as our
+first victim.  At last came a large brig.  She was somewhat high out of
+the water, and her main-topgallant-mast had been carried away.
+
+"That's the craft for us, boys!" cried Captain Savage, pointing her out.
+"Her cargo's light, and probably the most valuable; and I doubt not
+that she has some wealthy passengers with their jewel-boxes with them.
+We will run them aboard, and try if we can't take them without firing a
+shot!"
+
+We had got to windward of the fleet, and the helm being put up, we edged
+down towards the brig which it had been determined to take.  In dead
+silence we approached our victim.  As we drew near, the stranger
+observed us, and her people must have suspected that all was not right.
+He hailed, and inquired what schooner we were.
+
+"The French schooner _Concorde_," answered our captain, who knew that a
+vessel of that name had been out in the West Indies.  For a short time
+the answer seemed to satisfy the Frenchmen; but seeing us approach still
+nearer, they hailed again, and told us to keep off.
+
+Captain Savage did not deign a reply, but our grappling-irons being
+ready, our helm was put hard a starboard, we ran alongside the brig, and
+had her fast locked in a deadly embrace.
+
+Although the Frenchmen's suspicions had been aroused, they had made no
+preparations to receive us; yet as we ran her on board, we saw that
+there were numbers of people on her deck.  "Follow me, my lads!" shouted
+Mr Le Gosselen, who saw that to secure an easy victory there was no
+time to be lost; and before any of the Frenchmen had time to stand to
+their arms, some fifty of us had sprung on their deck and attacked them,
+previously driving some overboard, others fore and aft, and the rest
+below.  The greater number of our opponents seemed to be soldiers, by
+their dress and the way they fought.  In vain their officers called to
+them to stand firm, and tried to rally them to the last; they themselves
+were pistolled or cut down, and in less than five minutes we were
+masters of the whole deck, with the exception of the after-part of the
+poop.  Here a band of men stood firm, evidently surrounding a person of
+superior rank.  He fought like a lion, and was likely to delay our
+victory, or to prevent it altogether.  Seeing this, Captain Savage, who
+was himself the best swordsman I ever met, calling twenty of us to
+follow him, sprang on board over the quarter; and thus attacked in front
+and on one side, the French officers were driven across the deck.  A
+blow from Captain Savage's cutlass brought their chief on his knee.  At
+that moment a piercing shriek arose high above the din of battle.  How
+mournful! how full of agony it sounded!  We had not before perceived a
+woman standing alone and unharmed among the wounded, the dead, and the
+dying, for not one of those who had opposed us had escaped.
+
+"Spare my father's life! hurt not more his grey hairs!" she cried out in
+French.
+
+"That depends on circumstances, mademoiselle," answered the captain of
+the privateer.  "Here, my lads; carry the lady and the old man on board
+the schooner out of harm's way; we must secure the brig before we think
+of anything else."
+
+I was one of those to whom the captain spoke.  I shall never forget the
+grief and agony of the poor young lady as she bent over her father.  He
+was desperately wounded.  I saw that he could not speak; but he still
+breathed.  We lifted him as gently as we could, and carried him aboard
+the schooner, into the captain's cabin; we then assisted the young lady,
+who followed eagerly, not knowing where she was going.  All her thoughts
+and feelings were concentrated on her father.  We placed him on the
+sofa, and I then went and called the surgeon to attend him.  Mr
+Blister's knowledge of his profession was very slight, and his practical
+experience limited; but still he had some notion of binding up a wound,
+and, at all events, he would treat a patient more gently than any of the
+rough hands belonging to the schooner.
+
+While what I have described was going on, the second officer, with a
+dozen men under him, had been directed to clew-up the brig's sails, so
+as to let her drop as much as possible astern of the rest of the fleet,
+no others appearing to be following.  This had been done; and we had
+hopes that the flash of the pistols had not been seen, or the reports
+heard by any of the vessels in advance.
+
+Having obeyed the orders, I again went on board the brig.  The deck was
+now entirely in our possession.  While some of our people were silencing
+several of the French crew, who still madly held out below, I followed
+the captain into the cabin.  While we had been fighting on deck, others
+of our crew had found their way there, and, mad with rage at the
+opposition they had encountered, had spared neither age nor sex.  I
+cannot venture to describe the scene of horror and confusion.  There
+were several ladies, and their attendants, and children--among them,
+infants in arms, or just able to lisp their parents' names.  Already
+they were in the power of my ruffian companions.  Shrieks of despair,
+cries for mercy rose from among them.  Tables and chairs, and furniture
+of all sorts, lay broken on the door.  Several dead bodies lay at the
+entrance of the cabin--officers, as was shown by their uniform; another
+lay leaning against the bulkhead, gasping out his last breath.  We had
+discovered enough to show us why our capture was so crowded with people.
+She was a merchantman, in which the governor of one of the islands,
+together with his staff and their families, had taken their passage,
+while a body of soldiers had likewise been put on board.
+
+Captain Savage, to do him justice, when he found that the brig was
+completely in his power, did his best to rescue her unfortunate
+prisoners from further molestation, though in this he was but ill
+seconded by his officers.  Rushing in among the men, he ordered them on
+deck, and to carry the dead bodies with them.  One man refused to obey
+him.
+
+"Mutiny!" he exclaimed.  "This is the way I put it down."  He levelled
+his pistol, and shot the man dead.  "Here, take this fellow and heave
+him overboard with the rest," he added, as the body fell to the deck.
+
+I with others obeyed, for all saw the stern justice of the proceeding.
+"My men," he continued, "we must make sail away from her as fast as
+possible; for after what has occurred we can expect but little mercy
+should we fall into the hands of our enemies."
+
+By this proceeding the cabin was cleared, and the wretched inmates were
+left in solitude, to mourn over their cruel fate.  The captain placed
+Lyal, and one or two of the more steady men, to guard the door.  I
+accompanied him on deck.  Among the crew and passengers in that fierce
+though short night-battle, more than half had fallen; and, contrary to
+what is usually the case, the greater number had been killed.  The rest,
+many of whom were wounded, were collected forward, all of them with
+their hands lashed behind their backs.  They, believing themselves to
+have been captured by pirates, fully expected to be put to death.  Our
+crew, when not actually executing the commands of the officers, were
+engaged all the time in plundering.  The ladies had been stripped of
+their jewels, the officers of their watches and money; and every corner
+of the ship was ransacked for plate and other valuables, while clothes
+and private property of all sorts were laid hold of and carried off; and
+the men, even in the midst of their pillage, amused themselves by
+putting on officers' coats, silk waistcoats, and cocked-hats.
+
+The captain now ordered the vessels to be separated.  He, with the
+second mate and about forty men, remained in the brig, to commence the
+more serious work of examining the cargo; while the rest, greatly to
+their discontent, with about two-thirds of the male prisoners, were
+ordered aboard the schooner.  The two vessels then made sail to the
+southward, on a course which would enable us, if we wished, to run down
+on the following night and pick out another prize.
+
+The examination of our capture was proceeded with very rapidly, and
+found of great value.  The governor was carrying home a large fortune,
+much of it in specie; and the brig being an old trader, and considered a
+fine vessel, many merchants had shipped money by her.  The poor ladies
+were left in possession of the cabin, and the captain ordered what food
+could be found to be taken down to them, while he directed the second
+mate, who was rather kinder-hearted than the first, to take charge of
+her, and to carry her into Guernsey.  All things being arranged, the
+captain, leaving a prize-crew aboard the brig, returned to the schooner,
+and I accompanied him.  The surgeon met us as we stepped aboard.  The
+captain asked for the old governor.
+
+"Why, I suspect he will slip through our fingers.  I have no power to
+keep him," answered the surgeon.
+
+"We must do what we can for the old man," observed the captain, with
+more feeling than I thought he possessed.  "For his daughter's sake, I
+hope he won't die.  What can she do, left alone in the world?  Williams,
+you seem to understand the sort of thing, go in and see what you can
+do."
+
+I obeyed the order gladly.  I entered the cabin.  Already was the poor
+girl left alone in the world.  Her father's corpse lay on the sofa, and
+she had fallen in a swoon across it.
+
+I did not go and call the surgeon.  I knew that he did not feel for her,
+and could not help her.  So, lifting her gently up, I removed the
+corpse, which I covered with a flag, and placed her on the sofa instead.
+I then got water and sprinkled it on her face, and bathed her temples.
+The captain came in, and found me thus engaged.
+
+"Where's the old man?" he exclaimed, looking astonished.
+
+I pointed to the flag.  He lifted it up.
+
+"What! dead!" he said.  "Poor, poor thing!"  I don't know if at that
+moment the thought of the amount of misery of which we had been the
+cause flashed across his mind.  It did across mine.
+
+Often have I since thought, what an accursed trade is that of a
+privateer's-man.  Licensed pirates at best; and often, as they perform
+their work, no better than the worst of pirates.
+
+"What's to be done?" he continued, talking to himself.  "I cannot stand
+the girl's sorrow.  We must get the body out of the way, at all events."
+
+He stopped, and shaded his eyes with his hand.  He had a family at home.
+Among them a daughter--tall and graceful, like that poor girl.
+"Williams," he said abruptly, "call the surgeon."
+
+When Blister came, he told him to ascertain if the old man were really
+dead.  He stooped down, and lifting the flag, examined the body.
+
+"Yes," he answered, in a perfectly satisfied tone.  "I said he would
+die.  There's no doubt about it."  I believe he would have been vexed
+had he recovered to contradict him.
+
+"We must bury him, then," said the captain.  "We'll do it decently.  He
+was a fine old man, and fought like a lion.  Send the sailmaker here."
+The surgeon did as he was bid.
+
+"Don't let him touch the poor girl, Jack," he said.  "She is better as
+she is.  She would never let us remove her father's body, if she were
+conscious of what was going forward."
+
+The sailmaker came, and received orders to get a hammock with a shot at
+the feet, in which to enclose the old soldier's corpse.  Among the
+prisoners was a French priest.  The captain sent for him; and he and a
+few officers who had escaped assembled on deck, the captain having
+explained to them that he wished to pay the last respect to a brave
+enemy.  They, as Frenchmen know how to do, expressed themselves
+gratified at the compliment; and all stood around while the body was
+brought from below.  Having been shown to them, it was secured in the
+hammock which had been prepared for the purpose.  It was then placed on
+a plank at an open port, with the old soldier's hat and sword.  The
+priest offered up some of the prayers of his Church, and all stood with
+hats off in reverential awe.
+
+The prayers were finished--the captain had lifted his hand, as a signal
+to launch the body into the deep, when at that moment the tall, graceful
+figure of a lady appeared on deck.  She cast one wild, hurried,
+inquiring glance around.  Her eye fell on the shrouded corpse as it
+glided into the deep.  With a piercing shriek, which rung far over the
+waters, she cried, "Father, I follow you!" and before anyone could
+prevent her, she sprung over the schooner's low bulwarks into the blue
+sea, within the first circles formed by her parent's form, as it
+vanished from our sight.  In an instant all present rushed to the side;
+the boats were lowered rapidly; but as we looked around, no sign did
+there appear of the unhappy young lady.  Such was the result of our
+night's exploit!  "It is better, perhaps, that it was so," said the
+captain, dashing a tear from his eye.
+
+I cannot say that the catastrophe made any lasting impression even on
+him.  It did not on me.  That very night we stood again up to the
+convoy, and were successful in picking out another of them without being
+discovered.  Both vessels reached Guernsey in safety, and turned out
+valuable prizes.
+
+I cannot pretend to give even an outline of all the adventures I met
+with while serving on board the privateer.  From her fast-sailing
+qualities, and the daring and talent of her commander, she was very
+successful.  We were constantly on the look-out for single merchantmen;
+and, unless they were strongly armed, they were nearly certain to become
+our prey.  We never attacked an armed vessel if we could help it, and
+never fought if we could escape an enemy capable of injuring us.  Now
+and then, when we thought that we were going to make prize of a rich
+merchantman, we found that we had caught a Tartar, and had to up stick
+and run for it.  Twice we were very nearly caught; and should have been,
+had not night come to our aid, and enabled us to haul our wind without
+being seen, and thus get out of our pursuer's way.
+
+Once, flight was impossible, and we found ourselves brought to action in
+the chops of the Channel by a French sloop-of-war of eighteen guns.
+Captain Savage, however, gave evidence of his skill and courage by the
+way he handled the schooner against so superior a force.  By making
+several rapid tacks, we got the weather-gauge of our opponent; and then,
+after the exchange of several broadsides, we stood across his bows, when
+we delivered so well-directed a raking-fire that we brought his topmast
+down by the run.  We had not escaped without the loss of several men,
+besides getting an ugly wound in our mainmast; so, to avoid any further
+disaster, and being perfectly content with the glory of having crippled
+an opponent of force so superior, we hauled our wind and stood up
+Channel.  The Frenchman was afterwards fallen in with, and captured by a
+corvette of her own size.
+
+I have, I think, sufficiently described the occupation of a privateer.
+What I might have become, under the instruction of my old friend Peter,
+and the strict discipline of a man-of-war, I know not.  On board the
+privateer, with the constant influence of bad example, I was becoming
+worse and worse, and more the slave of all the evil ways of the world.
+After serving on board the schooner for more than three years, I was
+paid off with my pocket full of prize-money, and, shipping on board a
+trader, I found my way to Liverpool.
+
+That port then, as now, afforded every facility to a seaman to get rid
+of his hard-earned gains.  In a few weeks I had but a few shillings
+left.  I had not the satisfaction of feeling that I had done any good
+with it.  How it all went I don't know.  I believe that I was robbed of
+a large portion.  I was so disgusted with my folly, that I was ready to
+engage in any enterprise, of however questionable a character, where I
+had the prospect of gaining more, which I resolved I would spend more
+discreetly.
+
+Liverpool at that time fitted out a number of slavers--the slave-trade,
+which was afterwards prohibited, being then lawful, and having many
+respectable people engaged in it.  Hearing from a shipmate that the
+_Royal Oak_, a ship of eighteen guns, with a letter-of-marque
+commission, was fitting out for the coast of Africa, and was in want of
+hands, I went and entered on board her.  She carried, all told, eighty
+hands.  I found two or three old shipmates aboard her, but no one whom I
+could call a friend.
+
+We reached the coast without any adventure, and in those days the slaves
+who had come down from the interior being collected in depots, ready for
+shipment, we soon got our cargo on board.  For several years I remained
+in this trade, sometimes carrying our cargo of hapless beings to Rio de
+Janeiro or other parts of the Brazils, and sometimes to the West Indies.
+It never occurred to me that there was anything wrong in the system.
+All the lessons I had received in the West Indies, in my early days,
+were thrown away.  The pay was good; the work not hard, though pretty
+frequently we lost our people by fever; and so I thought no more about
+the matter.
+
+At length I found my way back to Liverpool, just as the battle of
+Waterloo and Napoleon's abdication brought the blessings of peace to
+Europe.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
+
+WHALING IN THE SOUTH-SEA.
+
+Every sea-port in England was thronged with seamen whom the cessation of
+war had cast on shore without employment, when as I was strolling along
+the quays of Liverpool with my hands in my pockets, in rather a
+disconsolate mood, wondering in what direction my wayward fate would
+carry me, I ran bolt up against a post near which a gentleman was
+standing, and somehow or other managed to tumble over him.
+
+"Beg pardon, sir," said I, looking up in his face; "I did not see you."
+
+"No harm done, my man; but stop," said he, as I was moving on; "I think
+I remember that voice and face.  Jack Williams, I am certain?"
+
+"Yes, that's certain," said I, looking at him hard.  "And I may make
+bold to guess that you, sir, are Mr Carr."
+
+"You are right in your guess, Jack;--that is to say, I have been Captain
+Carr for some years past.  I am glad to have fallen in with you, for I
+am fitting out a ship for a long voyage, and I like to have men with me
+whom I know and can trust."
+
+"Glad to have your good opinion, sir, and without another question I'll
+ship with you," I answered.  "Where are you bound for?"
+
+"A South-Sea whaling-voyage," he answered.  "I have been at it for some
+years now, both as mate and master, and I tell you there's nothing like
+it for excitement and novelty.  There's our craft, Jack; the _Drake_ is
+her name.  Look at her.  Not a finer ship for her size sails out of
+Liverpool--measures five hundred tons, and carries forty hands.  You'll
+like the life, depend on it; and I say, if you fall in with any good
+men, let me know.  I like to have trustworthy men serving with me."
+
+I promised to do as he desired, and then went on board to have a look at
+the ship.  I found her everything I could wish, and felt perfectly
+satisfied with the arrangement I had made.  Having set my mind at ease
+on that point, I began to consider how I should pass my time till the
+_Drake_ was ready to receive her crew on board, for she was still in the
+hands of the carpenters.  I bethought me, then, that I would run across
+to Dublin, to try and find out my old captain.  I found a large smack--a
+regular passage vessel--just sailing, so I went aboard, and in two days
+we reached that port.  On landing I inquired for Captain Helfrich, for I
+had forgotten where he lived.  "There he goes along the quays," answered
+the person I had addressed; and I saw a gentleman whom, from his figure,
+I did not doubt was him.
+
+"Captain Helfrich, sir, I beg pardon; but I'm glad to see you looking so
+well.  I'm Jack Williams," I exclaimed, running after him.
+
+"That's my name; but I do not remember you, my man," he answered.
+
+"I served my apprenticeship with you, and you were very kind to me,
+sir," I replied; but as I spoke I looked more narrowly in his face, and
+saw a much younger man than I expected to meet.
+
+"Ah! you take me for my father, as others have done," he remarked,
+laughing.  "He has given up the sea long ago, but he will be glad to
+meet an old shipmate; and now I think of it, I have to thank you for the
+model of his old craft the _Rainbow_.  Come along by all means; I'm
+going to his house.  You'll find him much changed, though."
+
+So I did, indeed, and it made me reflect how many years of my life had
+passed away.  I found my old captain seated before the fire in a large
+arm-chair, with a book and spectacles on a table by his side, and a
+handkerchief over his knees.  His hair was long and white as snow, and
+his cheeks thin and fallen in about the mouth; but still the hue of
+health had not altogether fled.  He received me kindly and frankly, and
+seemed much pleased at my coming so far to see him.  He desired to hear
+all about me, and was greatly moved at the account I gave him of the
+_Rainbow's_ loss.  He was sorry to find that all the time I had been at
+sea I had not improved my condition in the world.  I confessed that it
+was owing to my idleness and unwillingness to learn.
+
+"Ah, I have learned many a lesson I did not know in my youth, from this
+book here, Jack," said he, pointing to the book by his side, which was
+the Bible.  "I now know in whom to trust; and had I known Him in the
+days of my youth, how much grief and shame I might have avoided!
+Mercifully, God has by His grace taught me to see my own errors; and I
+have endeavoured to remedy them as far as I have been able, in the way I
+have brought up my son.  I have taught him what I learned from this
+book: `Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.'"
+
+I was very much struck by the way my old captain, I may say the once
+pirate, spoke; and I afterwards learned that he had not failed to instil
+into his son the better principles he had imbibed.  Still I am bound to
+say that he was an exception to the general rule; for, as far as my
+experience goes, men who grow careless of their duty to God and
+indifferent to religion, continue through life increasing in hardness of
+heart and conscience, without a thought of the past or a fear for the
+future--truly, living as if they had no souls to care for, as if there
+were no God who rules the world.  Dreadful is their end!  Therefore I
+say to all my readers: Never put off for a single hour--for a single
+minute--repentance and a diligent searching for newness of life.  You
+know not what an hour, what a minute may bring forth.  You may be
+suddenly summoned to die, and there may be no time for repentance.
+
+Among other questions, Captain Helfrich kindly inquired for my old
+friend Peter Poplar.  How ashamed I felt of my own ingratitude, my
+heartlessness, when I could not tell him!  No one I had met could tell
+me whether he still survived, or whether he had fallen among the
+thousands of brave men who had died that England might be free.  I
+promised to make further inquiries before I sailed, and, should I fail
+to hear of him, to set out on my return from my proposed voyage with the
+express purpose of discovering him.
+
+That visit to my old captain is one of the few things performed of my
+own accord on which I can look back with satisfaction.  The next day I
+sailed for Liverpool.
+
+Many strange and curious coincidences have occurred to me during my
+life.  Two days before the _Drake_ was ready for sea, having failed to
+gain any tidings of Peter, I was standing on the quay--work being over--
+in the evening, with my hands in my pockets, just taking a look at my
+future home, when I observed a boat-load of men landing from a sloop
+which had lately brought up in the river.  By their cut I knew that they
+were men-of-war's men.  Several of them I saw had been wounded, and,
+judging by their shattered frames, pretty severely handled.  One was a
+tall thin man.  The sleeve on his right side hung looped up to a button,
+and he leaned over on the opposite side, as if to balance himself.  I
+looked eagerly in his face, for I doubted not I knew his figure.  It was
+Peter Poplar himself!  I sprung eagerly forward.  Captain Helfrich's
+appearance had made me feel old, but Peter's weather-beaten countenance
+and grizzly hair reminded me that my own manhood must be waning.  For a
+moment I do not think he knew me.  He had thought me dead--killed by the
+French fishermen, or murdered in prison.  At all events he had heard
+nothing of me from the moment I was carried off in the fishing-boat.
+How kindly and warmly he shook my hand with his remaining one!
+
+"I've lost a flipper, Jack, you see," said he, sticking out his stump.
+"I never mind.  It was for the sake of Old England; and I have got a
+pension, and there's Greenwich ready for me when I like to bear up for
+it.  There's still stuff in me, and if I had been wanted, I'd have kept
+afloat; but as I'm not wanted, I'm going to have a look at some of my
+kith and kin, on whom I haven't set eyes since the war began.  Many of
+them are gone, I fear.  So do you, Jack, come along with me.  They will
+give you a welcome, I know."
+
+I told him how sorry I was that I could not go, as I had entered aboard
+the whaler; but I spent the evening with him, and all the next day; and
+he came and had a look at the _Drake_, and Captain Carr was very glad to
+see him, and told him that he wished he had him even now with him.  I
+cannot say how much this meeting with my old friend again lightened my
+heart; still I felt ashamed that I should have been in a trader, and
+away from one who had been more to me than a father, while he was nobly
+fighting the battles of our country.  He had bravely served from ship to
+ship through the whole of the war.  He, however, did not utter a word of
+blame.  He only found fault with himself.
+
+"I told you once, Jack," said he, "that I ought to have been a master,
+had it not been for my own ignorance, instead of before the mast; and
+having missed that, had I not continued too idle to learn, I might have
+got a boatswain's warrant.  I tell you this because, though you are no
+longer a youngster, you have many years before you, I hope, and may
+still get the learning which books alone can give you, and without which
+you must ever remain before the mast."
+
+I need not say that he made me promise to find him out on my return.  I
+shall never forget the kindly, fatherly glance the old man gave me as he
+looked down from the top of the coach which was to take him on his way
+to the home he had so long left.
+
+The _Drake_, ready for sea, had hauled out into the stream.  She might
+at once have been known as a South-Sea whaler by the height she was out
+of the water, and by the boats which hung from their davits around her,
+painted white, light though strongly-built, with their stems and sterns
+sharp alike, and with a slight curve in their keels--each from about
+twenty-six to nearly thirty feet in length.  Although she had provisions
+enough on board--casks of beef, and pork, and bread, (meaning biscuit),
+and flour, and suet, and raisins, and rum, and lime-juice, and other
+antiscorbutics--to last us for nearly four years, they were not
+sufficient to bring her much down in the water, as she was built to
+carry many hundred barrels of oil, which we hoped to collect before our
+return.  I may as well here describe the fittings of a whale-boat.  In
+the after-part is an upright rounded post, called the loggerhead, by
+which to secure the end of the harpoon-line; and in the bows is a groove
+through which it runs out.  It is furnished with two lines, each of
+which is coiled away in a tub ready for use.  It has four harpoons;
+three or more lances; several small flags, called "whifts," to stick
+into the dead whale, by which it may be recognised at a distance when it
+may be necessary to chase another; and two or more "drogues," four-sided
+pieces of board to be attached to the end of the whale-line when it is
+hove overboard, and which, being dragged with its surface against the
+water, impedes the progress of the whale.  Besides these things, each
+boat is supplied with a case in which are stowed several necessary
+articles, the most important being a lantern and tinder-box--the lantern
+to be used as a signal when caught out at night--a compass, and perhaps
+a small cooking-apparatus.  A whale-boat, when going in chase, has a
+crew of six men: one is called the headsman, the other the boat-steerer.
+The headsman has the command of the boat.  He is either the captain, or
+one of his mates, or one of the most experienced hands on board.  The
+_Drake_ was a strongly-built, well-found ship, and as the greater number
+of the crew were experienced hands, and we had confidence in our
+captain, we had every prospect of a satisfactory voyage.  The crew are
+not paid wages, but share in proportion to their rank or rating,
+according to the undertaking.  Provisions are, however, supplied them,
+so that although a man may, as sometimes happens, make very little all
+the time he is out, he cannot lose.  Still, want of success falls very
+heavily on the married men who have families to support.
+
+The evening before we were to sail, one of the crew fell so sick that it
+was evident he could not go the voyage; so the captain ordered the
+second mate with several hands to take him ashore.  Although not shipped
+as an able seaman, he was a strong, active young man, and it was
+necessary to supply his place.  While some of the others carried the
+sick man to the hospital, I remained in the boat at the quay.  While I
+was sitting, just looking up to watch what was taking place on shore, a
+young man in a seaman's dress came down the slip and hailed me.  By the
+way he walked, and the look of his hands, I saw at a glance that he was
+not a seaman.
+
+"I say, mate," said he, in a sort of put-on manner, "I see that you've
+just landed one of your people.  Does your captain, think you, want
+another man in his stead?"
+
+"I suppose so," I answered, looking at him hard, to make out what he
+was, though I didn't succeed.  "But the mate will be down presently--
+you'd better ask him.  He may meantime have shipped another hand."
+
+"I'll run the chance," he replied.  "I'll go up and fetch my chest from
+my lodging.  Just tell him, if he comes down in the meantime, that a man
+has volunteered to join.  You can judge whether I'm likely to be fit for
+work."  He spoke in an off-hand, easy way, and without waiting for my
+reply, he walked rapidly up from the quay.
+
+The mate, directly after, came down without having found a man to his
+taste.  I told him that one had offered--a strongly-built,
+active-looking, intelligent man, just cut out for a sailor, though, as I
+said, I did not think he was one.  Mr Marsh, the mate, listened to my
+account, and as he stepped into the boat, seemed to be looking for the
+stranger.  After waiting a few minutes, as the man did not appear, he
+gave the order to shove off.
+
+"There he comes, sir," said I, seeing him walking rapidly along the quay
+with a seaman's bag over his shoulder, while a porter accompanied him
+carrying a moderate-sized chest.
+
+"If you want another hand, I'm ready to ship for the voyage," said he,
+coming down the slip, and abruptly addressing the mate.
+
+"Seaman or not, he'll do," said Mr Marsh to himself.  "Well, put your
+traps into the boat, and come aboard, and we'll see what the captain has
+to say to the matter," he answered, aloud.
+
+The young man dropped a shilling into the hand of the porter, who looked
+at the coin and then at his countenance, and touched his hat.  The
+stranger sat down on his chest in the bow of the boat, and we were soon
+on board.  The captain then sent for him aft, and held him in
+conversation for half an hour or more.  What was said I do not know; but
+the result was, that the young man came forward and told me that he had
+been entered as one of the crew, requesting me to show him where he was
+to stow his chest and bag.  "In the forepeak," said I; but he evidently
+did not know where that was, so without saying a word I helped him down
+with it.
+
+The first night we were at sea I had the middle watch, and scarcely had
+I made a dozen turns on deck, when he joined me.  "What is your name?"
+said he; "I did not catch it."  I told him.
+
+"Well," he continued, "there is no use denying it--I am not a sailor.
+The captain knows this; but I have promised soon to become one, and I
+want to keep my promise.  Will you help me to do so, by teaching me all
+I want to know?"
+
+I told him I would do all I could for him, but that, as this was my
+first voyage in a whaler, I could not help him much about whaling
+matters.
+
+"Oh, that will soon come," he answered.  "I seldom see a thing done once
+that I cannot do afterwards; but I want you to help me in seamanship.  I
+have been constantly on the water, and know how to handle a boat, but
+never before made a voyage."
+
+I was so pleased with the frank way in which he acknowledged his
+ignorance, and the hearty desire he showed to learn, that I resolved to
+instruct him in everything I knew.
+
+I never found anybody pick up information so rapidly as he did.  It was
+only necessary to show him once how to do a thing, while he kept his
+sharp eye fixed on the work, and ever after he did it almost if not
+quite as well.  He very soon dropped the nautical phraseology he had
+assumed when he came on board, and which was clearly not habitual to
+him; and though he picked up all our phrases, he made use of them more
+in a joking way than as if he spoke them without thought, as we did.
+
+From the way he spoke, or from his manner when he addressed any of his
+messmates or the officers, or from the way he walked the deck, it was
+difficult to suppose him anything else than a gentleman-born, or a
+gentleman by education, whatever he had now become, and he at once got
+the name forward of "Gentleman Ned."  I asked him his name the day after
+he came on board.
+
+"Oh, ay.  I forgot that," he answered, quickly.  "Call me Newman--Ned
+Newman.  It's not a bad name, is it?"  So Ned Newman he was called; but
+I felt pretty certain from the first that it was not his real name.
+
+He was good-looking, with fair hair and complexion, and a determined,
+firm expression about the mouth.  He seemed to put perfect confidence in
+me, and we at once became great friends--not that we had at first many
+ideas in common, for I was very ignorant, and he knew more than I
+supposed it possible for any man to know.  He showed me his chest, which
+surprised me not a little.  Most of his clothes were contained in his
+bag.  He had not a large kit, but everything was new and of the best
+materials, calculated to outlast three times the quantity of sailors'
+common slops.  Instead of clothes, his chest contained a spy-glass, a
+quadrant, just like those of the officers, and a good stock of books,
+which I found were in a variety of languages, and some even, I
+afterwards learned, were in Greek.  Then he had all sorts of
+drawing-materials--papers, and pencils, and sketch-books, and a
+colour-box, and mathematical instruments, and even a chronometer.  He
+had a writing-case, and a tool-box, and a flute and violin, and some
+music-books.  I asked him if he could use the quadrant.
+
+"I never took an observation in my life; but I can work a day's work as
+well as a lunar, so I think that I may soon learn the practical part of
+the business," he answered.
+
+I pointed to his musical instruments.  "Yes; I play occasionally, when I
+wish to dispel an evil spirit; but books are my great resource.  Jack,
+you lose much pleasure from your ignorance of the rudiments of learning.
+Take my advice and study.  It's not too late to begin.  Nonsense!
+difficult! everything worth doing is difficult!  There's pleasure in
+overcoming difficulties.  Come, you have begun to teach me seamanship--
+to knot and splice--to reef and steer.  I'll teach you to read, and then
+the way is open to you to teach yourself whatever you like.  Navigation!
+certainly.  Why, you would have been master of a vessel by this time if
+you had known that."  In the interval of Newman's remarks I was making
+excuses for my ignorance; but he would listen to none of them, and I
+promised, old as I was, to put myself under his instruction, and to
+endeavour to be as apt a pupil to him as he was to me.
+
+As I have said, I never saw anyone learn so rapidly as he did everything
+which came in his way.  Before six weeks had passed, there was very
+little remaining for me to teach him.  Every knot and splice he mastered
+in a week or so, and could make them as neatly as I did.  I don't think
+he had ever before been up a ship's mast; but from the first day he was
+constantly aloft, examining the rigging, and seeing where all the ropes
+led to.  I had shown him how to reef and furl sails, and the very first
+squall we had, he was among the foremost aloft to lay-out on the yard.
+His hands went as readily as those of the oldest seaman into the
+tar-bucket; and so, though when he came aboard they were fair and soft,
+they soon became as brown and hard as any of ours.  With the theory of
+seamanship he was already well acquainted--such as the way by which the
+wind acts on the sails, the resistance offered by the water on the hull,
+and so on; so that, when any manoeuvre was performed, he at once knew
+the reason of it.  It is not too much to say that before we crossed the
+line he was as good a seaman, in many respects, as most of the hands on
+board; and certainly he would have made a better officer than any of us
+forward.
+
+We were bound round Cape Horn, and Captain Carr intended to try his
+fortune on the borders of the Antarctic ice-fields, in the neighbourhood
+of New Zealand and the coast of Japan, among the East India Islands; and
+those wide-spreading groups, among which are found the Friendly Islands,
+the Navigators, the Feejees, the New Hebrides, the Loyalty Islands, and
+New Caledonia, and known under the general name of Polynesia.  Perhaps
+other places might be visited, so that we had a pretty wide range over
+which our voyage was likely to extend.  People at home are little aware,
+in general, of the great number of places a South-Seaman visits in the
+course of a three or four years' whaling-voyage; and certainly in no
+other trade is a lad of a roving disposition so likely to be able to
+gratify his tastes.
+
+The first place we touched at was Porto Praya, in the island of Saint
+Jago, one of the Cape de Verds, our captain being anxious to fill up
+with water, and to get for the crew a supply of fruit and vegetables and
+poultry, which are here to be procured in abundance.  Sailors, however,
+are apt to forget that fruit, at all events, is not to be found all the
+year round; and I have seen people very indignant because the
+fruit-trees were not bearing their ripe produce at the very moment they
+were honouring the place by their presence, and heartily abuse previous
+visitors for having deceived them.
+
+I was one of the boat's crew which went on shore to get provisions, and
+we were half pulled to pieces, as we entered the town, by men, women,
+and boys--brown, yellow, and black--chattering away in a jargon of
+half-African half-Portuguese, as they thrust before our eyes a dozen
+chickens a few weeks old, all strung together; baskets of eggs, or
+tamarinds, or dates, or bananas, and bunches of luscious grapes, and
+pointed to piles of cocoa-nuts, oranges, or limes, heaped up on
+cocoa-nut leaves close at hand.  The place seemed filled with beggars,
+pigs, monkeys, slatternly females, small donkeys, and big oxen; dirty
+soldiers and idle sailors of all the shades and colours which
+distinguish the human race, dressed in handkerchiefs, and shirts, and
+jackets, and petticoats of every hue of the rainbow--the only thing they
+had in common being their dirt.  Indeed, dirt predominates throughout
+the streets and dwellings, and in every direction.  The houses, though
+mean, from being white-washed deceive a stranger at a little distance as
+to the cleanliness of the place.  From a spirited sketch Newman made of
+the scene I have described, I here discovered his talent for drawing.
+
+We next touched at the Falkland Islands, then uninhabited, except by a
+few Gauchos, who had crossed from South America with a herd of cattle,
+which have since increased to a prodigious number, as they thrive well
+on the tussac grass, the chief natural production of the country.  The
+fresh beef afforded by a couple of oxen was very acceptable, and
+contributed to keep us in health.
+
+Even before crossing the line, we had been on the look-out for whales,
+and all the boats and gear were in readiness to be lowered, and to go in
+chase at a moment's notice.  Everybody on board a whaler must be
+wide-awake, and prepared for all emergencies, or the ship may chance to
+return home with an empty hold.  In no position in which a seaman can be
+placed is it so necessary to belong to the _try_ fraternity.  If whales
+are not to be found on one fishing-ground, the ship must move to
+another; and if not seen there, she must sail on till she chases them
+round the globe.  So if, when a whale is seen, the harpooner misses his
+aim, and the fish dives and swims a mile or more off, he must watch and
+watch till she rises, and _try_ again.  This try principle should be
+followed in all the concerns of life.  Whatever ought to be done, _try_
+and do it; never suppose a work cannot be done till it has been tried--
+perseverance in duty is absolutely necessary.  Its neglect must bring
+ruin.
+
+We had a look-out at each mast-head, and one of the mates, or the
+boatswain, and sometimes the captain, was stationed at the
+fore-topgallant yard-arm.  Sharp eyes were, therefore, constantly
+watching every part of the ocean, as our ship floated over it to the
+very verge of the horizon in search of the well-known spout of the
+whales.  Great improvements have taken place since the time I speak of
+in the apparatus employed in the whale-fishery.  I am told that guns are
+now used with which to send the harpoon into the whale's body, while in
+my time it was driven by sheer strength and dexterity of arm, as the
+harpooner stood up at his full height in the bow of the tossing
+whale-boat, close to the huge monster, one blow of whose tail is
+sufficient to dash her into atoms.
+
+We were, it must be understood, in search of the sperm whale, which is a
+very different animal from what is called the black or Greenland whale,
+whose chief habitation is towards the North Polar regions, though found
+in other parts of the ocean.  There are several sorts of whales, but I
+will not attempt to give a learned dissertation on them.  I should not,
+indeed, have thought much about the matter, had not Newman called my
+attention to it.  I should have hunted them, and killed them, and boiled
+down their blubber, with the notion that we had the produce of so many
+_fish_ on board.  Now naturalists, as he told me, assert that whales
+should not be called _fish_.  They swim and live in the water, and so do
+fish; they have no legs, nor have fish; but their implements of
+locomotion are more like arms than fins.  But whales do what no fish do:
+they bring forth their young alive--they suckle them, and tend them with
+the fondest affection in their youth.  They have warm blood, and a
+double circulation; and they breathe the atmospheric air by true lungs.
+The tail of a fish is placed vertically, or up and down; that of a
+whale, horizontally--that is to say, its broadest part is parallel with
+the surface of the water.  The tail of a large whale is upwards of 20
+feet wide, and with a superficies of 100 square feet, and it is moved by
+muscles of immense strength.  This will give some idea of the terrific
+force with which it can strike a boat.  I have, indeed, heard of
+instances where a whale has stove in a ship's bottom, and caused her to
+founder, with little time for the crew to escape.  Their progressive
+movement is effected entirely by the tail; sometimes, when wishing to
+advance leisurely, by an oblique lateral and downward impulse, first on
+one side and then on the other, just as a boat is sent through the water
+when sculled with an oar; but when rushing through the deep at their
+greatest speed, they strike the water, now upwards and now downwards,
+with a rapid motion and vast force.  As whales breathe the atmospheric
+air, they must come to the surface frequently for a fresh supply.  They
+have then to throw out the water which has got into their mouths when
+feeding.  This they do by closing a valve leading to the nasal passages,
+and forcing it by means of air through the blow-hole placed in the upper
+part of the head.  It is this necessity of whales for breathing at the
+surface which enables man to make them his prey, in spite of their
+immense strength, while their spouts point out to him the place where
+they are to be found.
+
+The remarks I have made apply in common to the two chief sorts of
+whales, but the Greenland whale is a very different animal from the
+sperm whale, of which we were in search.  The Greenland whale, (_Balaena
+mysticetus_), is also called the common, true, or whale-bone whale.  I
+remember once, in a man-of-war, falling in with a dead whale in a
+perfect calm.  We towed it alongside, but so ignorant was everybody on
+board of natural history, that no one knew where the whale-bone was to
+be found.  At the cost of great trouble, with a horrible odour to our
+noses, we cut out a jaw-bone; which was perfectly valueless, except to
+make the front of a summer-house for our commander; and we then let our
+prize go with its rich contents, and glad enough we were to get rid of
+it.
+
+The Greenland whale is less in size than the sperm--its length being
+about 60 feet.  The head occupies about a third of the entire length.
+It is narrow above, and broad, flat, and rounded beneath, so as to allow
+it to move rapidly under the water.  The body is largest about the
+middle, and tapers suddenly towards the tail.  The general colour is a
+blackish-grey, with part of the lower jaw, and throat, and belly white.
+The lips are five or six feet high, the eyes very small, and the
+external opening of the ears scarcely perceptible.  The pectoral fins or
+arms are not long, and are placed about two feet behind the angle of the
+lips.  The black whale has no teeth; but from the upper palate and jaw
+there hang down perpendicularly numerous parallel laminae--the baleen,
+or whale-bone, as it is called.  [Footnote: The baleen or whale-bone I
+have described forms a most valuable portion of the produce afforded by
+the black whale, although not so valuable as the oil extracted from the
+same animal.] These filaments fill up the whole of the cavity of the
+mouth, and form a most complete strainer, so that only the most minute
+animals can enter.  This is necessary, as the swallow is too small to
+admit even the smallest fish.  When a black whale feeds, it throws up
+millions of small animals at a time with its thick lower lip, into the
+straining apparatus I have described; and as they are scarcely
+perceptible to the naked eye, when its vast size is considered some
+slight notion may be formed of the prodigious number it must consume at
+meal.
+
+There is another whale, found in the northern regions, called the
+razor-backed whale, from a prominent ridge on its back.  It is found 100
+feet long.  As it is constantly moving along at the rate of five miles
+an hour, and is very powerful and active, frequently breaking away and
+carrying lines and gear with it, only the most daring whalers, in
+default of other prey, venture to attack it.  There is a third sort of
+whale, called the broad-nosed whale, which is in many respects like a
+razor-back, but smaller--its length being from 50 to 80 feet.
+
+The smallest sort is the beaked whale, which is about 25 feet long.
+Great numbers of this whale are often caught in the deep bays and firths
+of Shetland and Orkney.
+
+I must now give an account of the spermaceti whale, (the _Physeter
+macrocephalus_), to capture which was the object of our voyage.  It is
+found through every part of the South Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and
+frequently makes its way to far northern latitudes.  Still the southern
+seas must be considered its chief abode.  In appearance and habits it is
+very different from the black whale.  It is nearly as long as the
+razor-back, and exceeds it in bulk.  In length it may be said to be from
+80 to 85 feet, and from 30 to 35 in circumference.  Looking at a sperm
+whale, the stem on its nose or snout appears very thick, and perfectly
+blunt, like a huge mallet about to strike.  The head is a third part of
+the length of the body.  At its junction with the body a hump rises,
+which we whalers call the _bunch of the neck_.  Behind this is the
+thickest part of the body, which tapers off till there is another rise
+which we call the hump, in the shape of a pyramid--then commences the
+_small_, as we call it, or tail, with a ridge partly down it.  The
+"small" gradually tapers till it contracts very much; and at the end the
+flukes, or what landsmen would call the tail, is joined on.  In the
+immense head is contained the case, which is a cavity of almost
+triangular shape, and of great size, containing, when the whale is
+alive, that oily substance or fluid called spermaceti.  I have
+frequently seen a ton taken from the case of one whale, which is fully
+ten large barrels.  The use to the whale of the spermaceti in its head
+is, that, being much lighter than water, it can rise with great facility
+to the surface, and elevate its blow-hole above it.  Its mouth is of
+great size, extending all the length of its head, or, as I have said, a
+third of its whole length.  Its jaws narrow forward to almost a point--
+indeed, the lower one does so; and thus, as it swims along, like the
+stem of a ship, it serves to divide the water wedge, parting to make way
+for its huge body--the blunt snout being all the time like the lofty
+forecastle of an old-fashioned ship, clear of the waves high up above
+it.  The inside of the monstrous cavity, the mouth, has nothing like the
+baleen or whale-bone, such as is found in the Greenland whale; but in
+the lower jaw it has a formidable row of large teeth of conical shape,
+forty-two in number.  It has, however, none in the upper jaw; but
+instead, there are holes into which fit the points of those in the
+lower.  These teeth are blunt, and are not used for biting or
+mastication, but merely to keep in the food which has entered its mouth.
+This food is chiefly the _Squid_ or _Sepia octopus_, known also by the
+name of the cuttle-fish.  In the South-Seas they are of enormous size,
+and, with their long feelers or arms growing out of their heads, are
+sufficiently strong to hold a man under the water and to kill him.
+
+The sperm whale, however, swallows a variety of other fish.  It catches
+them, not by swimming after them, but by opening wide its mouth and
+letting its prey swim into it!  We will suppose ourselves looking down
+that vast mouth, as the lower jaw hangs perpendicularly to the belly;
+incapable it seems of moving.  The interior of the throat is very
+large--capable of swallowing a man; the tongue is very small and
+delicate, and of a pure white colour; so are the teeth, which glisten
+brilliantly; and so is the whole interior.  Fish are particularly
+attracted by their white appearance.  They take it, perhaps, to be some
+marble hall erected for their accommodation; so in they swim, big and
+little squid equally beguiled!  How the whale's mouth must water when he
+feels a fine huge juicy octopus playing about his tongue!  Up goes the
+lower jaw like a trap-door, and cephalapods, small and large, find their
+bright marble palace turned into a dark, black prison, from which there
+is no return; for, giving a turn with his tongue, he gulps them all down
+with a smack which must make old Ocean resound!
+
+In another respect, the sperm is very different from the Greenland
+whale.  It seems to know the power of its jaws, and will sometimes turn
+on its pursuers and attack them, though generally a timid animal, and
+disposed to seek safety by flight.  The general opinion is, that sperm
+whales often fight with each other, as we have caught them with their
+lower jaws twisted in a variety of directions, and otherwise injured.
+The sperm whale's eyes are very small, with movable eyelids, and are
+placed directly above the angle of the mouth, or a third part of its
+whole length distant from the snout.  It is very quick-sighted, as it is
+also quick of hearing.  Its ears--small round holes, which will not
+admit a little finger--are placed directly behind the eyes.  The fins,
+which, as I have said, might be called paws, are close to the angle of
+the mouth.  I have known a female whale support her young on them; and
+they are used to balance the body, to steer by, and, when hard pressed,
+to sink with greater rapidity below the surface.  The skin of the whale
+is perfectly smooth, though old bulls get rough marks about them.  As a
+rule, though black above and white below, as they advance in years, like
+human beings, they get grey on the head.  Oftentimes an old grey-headed
+bull proves a dangerous enemy.
+
+I have with greater minuteness than I intended given an account of the
+sperm whale.  Its habits and mode of capture I will describe in the
+course of my narrative.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
+
+INCIDENTS OF WHALING.
+
+Away, away the good ship flew to round the far-famed Cape Horn.  Stern
+and majestic it rose on our starboard-hand; its hoary front, as it
+looked down on the meeting of two mighty oceans, bore traces of many a
+terrific storm.  Now all was calm and bright, though the vast
+undulations of the ocean over which the ship rode, as they met the
+resistance of the cliffs, were dashed in cataracts of spray high up in
+the air, and gave evidence of what would be the effect when a storm was
+raging across them.  There was something more grand in the contemplation
+than in the actual appearance of the scene, when we reflected where we
+were--on the confines of those two great seas which encompass the earth,
+and which wash the shores of nations so different in character--the one
+having attained the height of civilisation, the other being still sunk
+in the depths of a barbarism too terrible almost for contemplation, as I
+afterwards had good reason to know.  Then there was that strange, vast,
+dreamy swell--the breathings, as it were, of some giant monster.  It
+seemed as if some wondrous force were ever acting on that vast body of
+water--that it could not for a moment rest quiet in its bed, but must
+ever go heaving on, in calm and sunshine as well as in storm and
+tempest.  There was likewise in sight that wild weather-beaten shore,
+inhabited, as report declared, by men of gigantic stature and untameable
+fierceness; while to the south lay those mysterious frost-bound regions
+untrod by the foot of man--the land of vast glaciers, mighty icebergs,
+and wide extended fields of ice.  On we sped with a favouring breeze,
+till we floated calmly on the smooth surface of the Pacific off the
+coast of Chili.
+
+With regard to Patagonia, old Knowles told me he had been there, but
+that, as far as he saw, the people were not much larger than the
+inhabitants of many other countries.  Some were big men; a few nearly
+seven feet high, and proportionably stout.  They are capital mimics--the
+very parrots or magpies of the genus Man.
+
+"I say, Jack, bear a hand there now," exclaimed one, repeating the words
+after a sailor who had just spoken.
+
+"What! do you speak English, old fellow?  Give us your flipper then,"
+said Knowles, thinking he had found a civilised man in that distant
+region.
+
+"What! do you speak English, old fellow?  Give us your flipper then,"
+repeated the savage with a grin, putting out his hand.
+
+"I should think I did!  What other lingo am I likely to speak?" answered
+Knowles, shaking the Patagonian's huge paw.
+
+"What other lingo am I likely to speak?" said the savage, with perfect
+clearness.
+
+"Why, I should have thought your own native Patagonian, if you are a
+Patagonian," exclaimed Knowles, examining the savage's not over-handsome
+physiognomy.
+
+"If you are a Patagonian!" said the savage, looking in like manner into
+Knowles' face.
+
+"I--I'm an Englishman, I tell you!" cried Tom, somewhat puzzled.
+
+"I'm an Englishman, I tell you!" cried the Patagonian in the same
+indignant tone.
+
+"That's just what I want to arrive at," said Tom.  "So now just tell me
+where we can get some good baccy and a glass of honest grog."
+
+The Patagonian repeated the words.
+
+"But I ask you!" said Tom.
+
+"But I ask you!" said the savage.
+
+"I tell you I'm a stranger here!" exclaimed Tom.
+
+"I tell you I'm a stranger here!" cried the savage.
+
+"Where do you come from then?" asked Tom.
+
+"Where do you come from then?" repeated the savage.
+
+"I tell you I'm an Englishman," cried Knowles, getting angry.
+
+"I tell you I'm an Englishman!" exclaimed the Patagonian in the same
+indignant tones.
+
+"That's more than I'll believe; and, to speak my mind plainly, I believe
+that you are an arrant, bamboozling hum-bug!" cried Tom.  "No offence,
+though.  You understand me?"
+
+Whether it was Tom's expression of countenance, or the tone of his
+voice, I know not, but as he uttered these words, all the savages burst
+into loud fits of merry laughter; and as he thought they were laughing
+at him, he said that he should have liked to have gone in among them,
+and knocked them down right and left with his fists; but they were such
+precious big fellows, that he thought he should have got the worst of it
+in the scrimmage.
+
+He used with infinite gusto frequently to tell the story for our
+amusement.
+
+I am not quite certain, however, whether he was describing the
+Patagonians or the inhabitants of Terra del Fuego.  The latter are very
+great mimics and are much smaller in size, less clothed, and more savage
+in appearance than the Patagonians.
+
+We touched at Valparaiso, in Chili, or, as it may be called, the Vale of
+Paradise.  It is certainly by nature a very beautiful and healthy spot,
+built on a number of high hills with ravines intervening; but man, by
+his evil practices and crimes, made it, when I was there, much more like
+the Vale of Pandemonium.  Drunkenness and all sorts of crimes were
+common, and the _cuchillo_--the long knife--was in constant requisition
+among the Spaniards, scarcely a night passing without one or more
+murders being committed.  It was then little more than a village, but
+has now become quite a large town, with a number of English and American
+merchants settled there.  The houses are built with very thick walls, to
+withstand the constant attacks of earthquakes which they have to
+undergo.  Having supplied ourselves with fresh provisions and water, we
+sailed, and stretched away into the wide Pacific.
+
+We had left the coast of Chili about a day's sail astern.  A light
+easterly breeze was just ruffling the blue sea--the noon-day sun shining
+brightly over it--the hands going listlessly about their work, rather
+out of spirits at our want of success, not a whale having hitherto been
+seen--when the cheery shout of the first mate reached our ears from the
+look-out, of "There she spouts! there she spouts, boys!"
+
+In an instant every one was aroused into the fullest activity--the watch
+below sprung on deck--Captain Carr hurried from his cabin, and with his
+hand to his mouth, shouted eagerly, "Where away?--where away?"
+
+"About a mile on the starboard-bow," cried Mr Benson, the first mate,
+in return.
+
+"Lower the boats, my lads!" exclaimed the captain, preparing to go in
+the leading one himself; the first and third mate and the boatswain went
+in command of the others.  Both Newman and I, as new hands, remained on
+board, as did the second mate, to take charge of the ship.
+
+Before the boats were in the water, the whale had ceased spouting; but
+just as they were shoving off, the look-out broke forth in a cheerful
+chorus, "There again--there again--there again!" the signal that the
+whale was once more sending up its spout of spray into the air.  The
+words were taken up by all on deck, while we pointed with excited looks
+at the whale, whose vast head and hump could be clearly distinguished as
+he swam, unsuspicious of evil, through the calm waters of the deep.
+Away flew the boats, urged on by rapid strokes, in hot pursuit.  The
+captain took the lead.  We who were left behind felt that we were
+accompanying them in heart and spirit.  The foam bubbled and hissed
+round the bows of the boats as they clove their way through the water.
+Not a moment was there to lose--the distance was great--the whale had
+been for some time breathing, and might go down, and perhaps be lost
+altogether, before the boats could get up to her, or they might have to
+chase her for many miles before they could again reach her.  Meantime,
+the wind being fair, the ship was kept almost in the wake of the boats.
+Away they flew; each was anxious to strike the first whale, but the
+captain's took the lead, and maintained it.  As they got nearer the
+monster, it was necessary to be careful, lest he should take the alarm,
+and, seeing his pursuers, go down to escape them.  The men bent to their
+oars even more energetically than before; the captain stood up, harpoon
+in hand; his weapon was raised on high; we thought that the next instant
+it would be buried in the monster, when up went his small--the enormous
+flukes rose high in air--"Back of all!--back of all!" we cried; not that
+our voices could be heard.  If not, that terrific stroke it is giving
+will shiver the boat in atoms.  The boat glided out of the way, but just
+in time, though her crew were drenched with spray.  Down went the
+whale--far, far into the depths of the ocean.
+
+Nothing is to be had without trying for it--our captain knew this well.
+All eyes were now turned to watch where the whale would next rise, for
+rise, we knew, he before long must, and in all probability within sight;
+so the boats paddled slowly on, the men reserving their strength for the
+moment when it would be required; while we on board shortened sail, that
+we might have the ship more under command, to follow wherever they might
+lead.  Every one was watching with intense eagerness; the four boats
+were separated a short distance from each other; now and then the
+officers would stand up to see if the monster had risen, and then they
+would turn their gaze towards the ship for a signal from the look-out
+aboard.  Still the time passed away, and no whale appeared.
+
+An hour had elapsed, when again the inspiriting shout was heard of
+"There she spouts! there she spouts!" the look-outs pointing, as before,
+over the starboard-bow, where the whale had again risen, not much more
+than a mile away from the boats.  Again they were in rapid movement.  We
+doubted not that this time they would reach the monster.  Through our
+glasses we made him out to be a bull--an old greyhead, and probably a
+cunning fellow, one likely to try every dodge which a whale can think of
+to escape, and if failing to do that, and hard pressed, one who was
+likely to turn on his pursuers, and attack them with his open jaws or
+mighty flukes.
+
+"Well, whatever freak he takes, our captain is the man to meet him,"
+observed old Tom Knowles--a long-experienced hand in the South-Seas, but
+who, having hurt his arm, was unable to go in the boats.  "As long as
+daylight lasts, he'll not give up the chase."
+
+I had thought that when a whale was seen, it was merely necessary to
+pull after him, dig the harpoons into him, and allow him to drag the
+boats along till he died; but I found it was often a far more difficult
+task than this to kill a whale.
+
+"There again--there again!" shouted the look-outs from aloft; and the
+cry was repeated by all on deck, while the whale continued spouting.
+Fast as at first, if not faster, the boats flew after him--the captain's
+again leading.
+
+"This time we'll have him, surely," exclaimed Newman, who was as eager
+as any of us.
+
+"Not quite so sure of that, Ned," observed old Knowles.  "I've seen one
+of these old chaps go down half-a-dozen times before a harpoon was
+struck in him, and, after all, with three or four in his side, break
+away, and carry them off just as the sun was setting, and there was no
+chance of getting another sight of him.  I say, never be certain that
+you've got him, till he's safe in the casks.  I've seen one, after he
+has been killed, go down like a shot, for no reason that anyone on board
+could tell, except to spite us for having caught him."
+
+While old Tom was speaking, the boats had approached close to the whale.
+For my own part, after what I had heard, I fully expected to see him
+lift his flukes, and go down as he had done before.  The captain's boat
+was up to him--the rest hung back, not to run the risk of alarming the
+wary monster.  The captain stood up in the bows--a fine bold figure he
+looked, as he poised his glittering harpoon in his right hand, high
+above his head.  "There!--peak your oars," cried old Tom, as the crew
+raised them with a flourish to a perpendicular position, having given
+the boat sufficient impetus to take her alongside the whale.  Off flew
+the weapon, impelled by the captain's unerring arm, and buried itself up
+to the socket in the fat coating with which the leviathan was clothed.
+
+"It's socket up!" cried old Knowles.  "Hurrah, lads--hurrah! our first
+whale's struck--good-luck, good-luck--hurrah, hurrah!"  The cheer was
+taken up by all on board, as well as by those in the boats.  They now
+gave way with a will after the whale; the harpooner, as another boat got
+up, sending his weapon into its side.
+
+But it is no child's play now.  The captain had time to dart a lance
+into him, when, "Stern all--stern all!" was now the cry of the headsman;
+and the crews, with their utmost strength, backed the boats out of the
+way of the infuriated animal, which in his agony began to lash the water
+with his huge flukes, and strike out in every direction with a force
+which would have shattered to atoms any boat they met.  Now his vast
+head rose completely out of the water--now his tail, as he writhed with
+the pain the weapons had inflicted.  The whole surface of the
+surrounding ocean was lashed into foam by the reiterated strokes of
+those mighty flukes, while the boats were deluged with the spray he
+threw aloft--the sound of the blows reverberating far away across the
+water.  The boat-steerer now stood ready to let the lines run through
+the loggerhead over the bows of the boat.  Should anyone be seized by
+their coils as they are running out, his death would be certain.  Soon
+finding the hopelessness of contending with his enemies above water, the
+whale lifted his flukes and sounded.
+
+Down, down he went into the depths of the ocean.  Away flew the line
+over the bows of the boat.  Its rapid motion would have set fire to the
+wood, had not the headsman kept pouring water over it, as it passed
+through its groove.
+
+An oar was held up from the captain's boat: it was a sign that nearly
+the whole of their line, of two hundred fathoms, had run out.  With
+caution, and yet rapidity, the first mate in the second boat bent on his
+line; soon the captain's came to an end, and then that flew out as
+rapidly as the first had done.  To assist in stopping the whale's
+downward course, drogues were now bent on to the line as it ran out; but
+they appeared to have little more effect in impeding his progress than a
+log-ship has in stopping the way of a vessel; and yet they have, in
+reality, much more, as every pound-weight in addition tells on the back
+of a racer.
+
+Again an oar went up, and the third boat bent on, adding more drogues to
+stop his way.  They at length appeared to have effect.  "There; haul in
+the slack," cried old Tom.  "He's rising, lads; he's rising!"
+
+The boat-steerer was seen in the last boat busily coiling away the line
+in the tub as he hauled it in.  When he had got all his line, that
+belonging to the next boat was in like manner coiled away; then the
+captain's line was hauled in.
+
+Thick bubbles now rose in rapid succession to the surface, followed by a
+commotion of the water, and the huge head of the monster rushed suddenly
+upward, sending forth a dense spout on high.  The captain's boat was now
+hauled gently on, the boat-steerer guiding it close up to the fin of the
+wounded whale.  Again Captain Carr stood up with his long lance in hand,
+and plunged it, as few on board could have done, deep into his side.  At
+the same moment the rest of the boats pulled up on the opposite side,
+the harpooner in the leading one striking his harpoon into him.  Again
+the cry arose of "Stern all--stern all!"  It was time, indeed, to get
+out of the way, for the whale seemed to feel that he was engaged in his
+last struggles for freedom and for life.  He threw himself with all his
+monstrous bulk completely out of the water, in a vain attempt to get
+loose from his foes.  Off from him all the boats backed.
+
+He now became the assailant.  He rushed at them with his head and lower
+jaw let drop, seemingly capable of devouring one of them entire.  I
+almost thought he would; but he was already fatigued with his wounds and
+previous exertions.  The line, too, of the mate's boat had many times
+encircled his body.  Suddenly it parts!  The boat of the captain, after
+he had darted his lance, was backed in time, and got clear from the
+whale's attack, but the first mate was not so fortunate.  The whale
+seemed to have singled him out as the victim of his revenge.  Having in
+vain lashed at him with his flukes, he turned towards him with his head,
+rushing on with terrific force.  He caught the boat as she was
+retreating, in an instant capsizing her, and sending all her crew
+struggling in the waves.  I thought he would immediately have destroyed
+them; but he swam on, they happily escaping the blows of his flukes, and
+went head out across the ocean, followed by the first boat and the two
+others.
+
+Were they going to allow our shipmates to perish unaided?  I thought and
+fully expected to hear the second mate order another boat to be lowered
+to go to their assistance.  But they did not require any.  Two of the
+men could not swim, but the others supported them till they got them up
+to the boat, from which they had been a little way separated, and then
+by pressing down the gunwale they quickly righted her.  They then,
+holding on on either side, baled away till they could get into her, and
+still have her gunwale above water, when they very quickly freed her
+altogether.  Everything had been secured in the boat, so that nothing
+was lost; and as soon as she was to right, off she started again in the
+chase.
+
+Away flew the captain's boat, dragged on by the line, at the rate, it
+seemed, of full ten knots an hour.  The other boats followed as fast as
+their crews could lay their backs to the oars; but for a long time they
+could gain nothing on him, but were fast falling astern.  We had again
+filled, and were standing on.  At last he began to slacken his pace.
+The loss of blood from his many wounds, and his evident exertions, were
+rapidly weakening him.  Still, so far-off had he gone, that the
+captain's boat was scarce to be seen, and the others were mere specks on
+the ocean.
+
+Once again, however, we were overtaking them.  The captain was once more
+hauling in the slack--the other boats were getting up--the headsmen
+standing, harpoon in hand, ready to give the whale fresh and still more
+deadly wounds.  They ranged up alongside, and harpoons and lances flew
+from the boats.  The monster no longer threw up water alone, but blood
+was sent in a thick spout from his blow-hole, sprinkling the men in the
+boats, and staining the bright blue sea around.  Still, in spite of all
+his foes, he struggled on bravely for life.  Lashing the water, so as to
+drive his relentless assailants to a distance, he once more lifted his
+flukes and sounded; but they were prepared to let the lines run.  Down
+he went again.
+
+"He'll be lost--he'll be lost!"  I exclaimed, as did others not
+accustomed to the work.
+
+"Not a bit of it on that account," said old Knowles.  "He can't remain
+long under water after what he's gone through.  He'll be up again soon;
+and then stand by, my hearties, for his flurry!"
+
+Old Knowles was right.  Up came the whale again, at a short distance
+only from where he had gone down, having dragged out from each boat not
+a hundred fathoms of line.  Once more the boats approached, and fresh
+lances were darted into him; but they quickly had to retreat, for now
+his head went up, now his tail; now he sprung again right out of the
+water, twisting and turning in every direction.
+
+"He has his death-pang on him," cried Old Knowles.  "He'll be ours
+before long;--but, ah! one of them has caught it!"
+
+One of the boats had indeed caught it.  We could not tell which, for the
+others were covered with the foam and ensanguined water cast on every
+side by the monster in his wild contortions.  The fragments lay
+floating, scattered far and wide, and several men were seen striking out
+towards the other boats, half-turning their heads, as if in expectation
+of being pursued.  But, as we counted their number, they did not appear
+to be all there.  There were but five.  One, we feared, was missing.
+Anxiously we kept our eyes fixed on the spot, hoping to see our
+shipmate, whoever he might be, appear.
+
+"Hurrah!--he's there--he's there!" we shouted, as we discovered the
+sixth man swimming out from among the mass of bloody foam which
+surrounded the whale, who for an instant seemed to be resting from his
+exertions.  While the boats were taking them on board, again the whale
+darted rapidly out, but this time it was to perform the segment of a
+circle.
+
+"He's in his flurry, lads--he's in his flurry!" shouted old Knowles.
+"He'll be dead in another minute."
+
+"Last scene of all, which ends this strange, eventful history," said
+Newman, who through his glass had been eagerly watching the chase.  As
+the words went out of his mouth the whale rolled over on his side, a
+well-won prize, and loud shouts from the crews of the boats and from all
+on deck rent the air.
+
+The fragments of the shattered boat being collected, and the three
+remaining ones made fast to the whale, they began towing it towards the
+ship, while we made sail to meet them.
+
+All hands were employed for an instant in congratulating each other when
+we got the whale alongside, and then every means were taken to secure it
+for "cutting-in"--so the operation of taking off the blubber is called.
+The coopers had meantime been getting ready the large caldrons for
+boiling the blubber; which operation is called "trying-out."  A rope
+passed round the windlass, and rove through a block fast to the head of
+the mainmast, was carried over the side, with a large hook at the end of
+it.  The first thing done was to cut off the head of the whale, which,
+with the neck-part up, was strongly secured, and floated astern.
+
+"That head has got better than a ton of oil in it," observed old
+Knowles, who was aiding the work.  "It's worth no end of money."
+
+"Wears yet a precious jewel in his crown," observed Newman, leaning
+eagerly over the side.  "It's fine work this, though."
+
+A stage had been let down at the side of the vessel, on which those who
+had cut off the head were stationed.  One of them now made a hole in the
+blubber with the instrument used for cutting-in, called a spade.  A rope
+was then fastened round the waist of another man, and he descended on
+the body of the whale, taking the hook I have spoken of in his hand.
+This hook he fastened into the hole he had cut.  The operation now
+began.
+
+Some with spades cut the blubber or fat mass which surrounds the body
+into a strip between two and three feet wide, in a spiral form, while
+others hoisted away on the tackle to which the hook was attached.
+Slowly the blanket-piece, thus cut off, ascended over the side, the body
+turning round and round as its coat or bandage, for so we may call it,
+was unwound.  By the side of the pots were _horses_--blocks of wood--on
+which the blubber was cut up.  As the long strip was drawn up, another
+hook was secured lower down, and the upper part of the blanket-piece was
+cut off and chopped into thin pieces on the blocks.  The pieces were
+then thrown into big pots, under which fires were kindled.  After the
+first caldrons-full had been boiled, the lumps of blubber from which the
+oil had been extracted were taken out, and served as fuel to continue
+our fires.  In reality, the whole operation was performed in a very
+cleanly and orderly way; but a stranger at a distance would scarcely
+think so.
+
+Night overtook us while we were engaged in the work, and watch and watch
+we continued it, lest a gale might spring up and compel us to abandon
+our prize before it was all secured.  No scene could be wilder or more
+unearthly than that presented during the night by the whaler's decks.
+The lurid fires surrounding the seething caldrons cast a red glare on
+all around--on the masts and rigging of the ship, enveloped in the dense
+wreaths of smoke which ascended from them--on the sturdy forms of the
+seamen, with their muscular arms bared to the shoulder.  Some were
+cutting off huge blanket-pieces; others chopping them small on the
+horses; others throwing them into the pots, or with long poles stirring
+the boiling fluid, or raking out the scraps, as the refuse is called, to
+feed the flames; while others, again, were drawing off the oil into the
+casks ready to receive it, and stowing them away in the hold.
+
+The whole of the following day and the following night found us employed
+in a similar manner.  At last the whole carcass was stripped to the very
+flukes of every particle of blubber, and, to our no little satisfaction,
+cast loose to float away, and to become a feast for the fish of the sea
+and the birds of the air.  The head, full of the valuable spermaceti,
+was now floated alongside.  A bucket was then forced down through the
+neck; by means of a long pole, into the case, till, by repeated dips, it
+was entirely emptied of its contents; and, as Knowles predicted, the
+case was found to contain even more than a ton of oil.  The spermaceti
+was carefully boiled by itself--an operation necessary to preserve it.
+The blubber surrounding the head was also taken off and boiled down, and
+the empty skull was then cast loose, and sunk, by its own weight, with
+rapidity to the bottom--there, perhaps, to form the caverned abode of
+some marine monster never yet seen by human eye.  It took us nearly
+three days to cut-in, try-out, and stow away that huge whale, the
+produce altogether being no less than eighty-five barrels!  We broke
+forth into loud shouts when our work was accomplished and our first fish
+stowed away.
+
+I have no great sympathy with those who talk of the cruelty of the work.
+A whale feels acutely, no doubt, and so does a mouse or a sparrow, when
+wounded; but not having huge bodies to twist and turn about in their
+agony, they do not appear to suffer so much as does the mighty monarch
+of the deep.  I suspect that the amount of pain felt by the small animal
+is equally great with that felt by the large one.  However, I would make
+my argument a plea for merciful treatment of all alike, and urge that
+pain should never be unnecessarily inflicted on even the smallest of
+created beings in whose nostrils is the breath of life.
+
+Our success put us all in spirits, and we were ready to do or to dare
+anything.  Our captain had heard that sperm whales were to be found in
+the icy seas towards the Antarctic Pole, and, accordingly, before
+keeping across to New Zealand and the isles of the Indian Ocean, he
+resolved to take a cruise to the south for a few weeks in order to try
+our fortune.  Over the seas on which we were sailing it was necessary,
+both night and day, to keep a very sharp look-out; not only for whales,
+but to avoid the dangers of coral-reefs, and islands of all sizes, which
+in many parts sprinkle it so thickly.
+
+"Land ahead!" was shouted from the foretopmast-head one forenoon, as we
+were slowly gliding over the blue surface of the deep.  As we got up
+with it, we saw that it was a long, low, almost barren island, a few
+trees only in the higher parts retrieving it from actual sterility.  It
+was a wild, desolate, melancholy-looking spot, such as would make a man
+shudder at the very thought of being wrecked on it.  At one end, inside
+a reef over which the surf was breaking violently, lay a dark object.
+As the officers were inspecting it through their glasses, they
+pronounced it to be a wreck.  There could be no doubt about it, and
+Captain Carr resolved at once to visit the spot, to discover whether any
+of the crew still remained alive.
+
+As we stood on, a loud sound of roaring and yelping reached our ears,
+and we saw on many of the rocks which surrounded the island a vast
+number of seals, of the sort called "sea-lions."  Newman and several of
+us were eager to get in among them, to knock some of them on the head,
+that we might make ourselves caps and jackets for our cruise in the icy
+seas.  The captain was equally anxious to get some seal-skins, and he
+told us that, after we had visited the wreck, and explored the island,
+we should try and catch some of the animals.
+
+Seals are curious-looking creatures.  The head, with its large mild
+eyes, and snout, and whiskers, looks like that of some good-natured,
+intelligent dog; and one expects, as they are swimming, to see four legs
+and a thin curly tail come out of the water.  Instead of that, the body
+narrows away till there is seen a tail like that of a fish.  The
+hind-feet are like those of a duck when in the water, and the front ones
+have, beyond the skin, only a flapper or paw with claws, at the end of
+it.  They are covered with thick, glossy hair, closely set against the
+skin.  The form of their jaws and teeth proves that they are
+carnivorous, and they are known to live on fish, crabs, and sea-birds.
+The birds they catch in the water, as they can swim with great rapidity
+and ease.  They can remain also for a considerable time under the water,
+without coming to the surface to breathe.
+
+The sea-lion, which was the species of seal we were hoping to attack,
+grows to the length of ten feet.  The colour is of a yellowish-brown,
+and the males have a large mane, which covers their neck and shoulders,
+so that they have very much the appearance of lions when their upper
+part alone is seen above the water.  Such were the monsters which seemed
+to be guarding the island towards which we were pulling, their roar
+vying in loudness with the hoarse sound of the surf as it beat on the
+rock-bound shore.
+
+Newman and I were in the captain's boat.  As we pulled in for the land,
+we saw that the surf rolled up on every side, and for some time we could
+not discover a clear spot through which we might urge the boats.  We
+continued pulling on for half a mile or more, and caught sight of what
+appeared to be a channel between the reefs.  The captain ordered us to
+give way, and bending to our oars, we pulled on with a will.  A sailor
+loves a run on shore, even though that shore may be but a barren sand;
+but here we had two objects to excite our interest.  The deserted wreck
+claimed our first attention.  It was easy to see how she had got into
+her present position.  An unusually high-tide and heavy gale must have
+lifted her over the reef, and driven her on shore; and the wind falling
+before she had time to go to pieces, must have left her comparatively
+safe from further injury.  The captain stood up in his boat to watch for
+an opportunity to enter the passage.
+
+"Now, again, my lads, give way!" he shouted.  The boat lifted on the
+summit of a roller, and rushing on with the dark rocks and hissing foam
+on either side of us, in another instant we found ourselves calmly
+floating in a reef-surrounded lagoon or bay.  We had to pull back for
+some distance to get to the wreck, and as we advanced, we looked along
+the shore to discover, if we could, traces of any of the crew.  All,
+however, was silent and desolate.
+
+From the appearance of the island, Newman observed that he thought it
+must be the crater of an extinct volcano, and that even the lapse of
+ages had allowed scarcely soil enough to collect on it, to permit of
+more than the scanty vegetation which was visible.
+
+As we approached the wreck, we found that she had gone stem on into the
+mouth of a little creek, and there had been held fast by two rocks.  Her
+build at once made us suspect that she was a whaler like ourselves.  All
+her boats and bulwarks were gone, and her stern was much stove in.  Her
+main and mizzen-masts had been carried away, so had her foretopmast and
+the head of the foremast below the top, the stump only remaining.  On
+this a yard still hung across, and the tattered fragment of a sail,
+showing us that she had run stem on into her present position.  As her
+stern could be approached by water which was quite smooth, we ran the
+boats under it, and climbed on board.  The sea had made a clean breach
+through the stern, and inundated the cabin, which presented a scene of
+ruin and desolation.  The bulkheads had been knocked away; the contents
+of the sideboard, and sleeping-places, and lockers, all lay scattered
+about, shattered into fragments, in the wildest confusion, among sand,
+and slimy sea-weed, and shells, which thickly coated the whole of the
+lower part of the cabin; while the hold itself, between which and the
+cabin all the partitions had been knocked away, was full of water.  No
+living being remained on board to tell us how the catastrophe had
+occurred.  On going forward, we found that the rocks between which she
+was jammed were separated from the shore, and that without a boat it
+would have been difficult to get aboard.  After the captain had examined
+the wreck, he gave it as his opinion that she had been there three or
+four years, if not longer.  One thing appeared certain, that she could
+not have got where she was without people on board to steer her; and
+then the question arose, what had become of them?
+
+If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago have
+seen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us.  The captain
+thought that they might have possibly been taken off by another ship
+soon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without having
+searched thoroughly for them.  We pulled round astern of the wreck, and
+there, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place.
+
+As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots,
+the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than had
+appeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character of
+desolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffs
+which arose on every side.  We had given up all expectation of finding
+anyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, when
+we heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side.
+
+We found him standing on a green hillock, raised a little above the
+valley, whence on one side a wide view over the blue sparkling sea could
+be obtained, with some shrubs of semi-tropical luxuriance, and the
+bright yellow sands forming the foreground, while behind arose the dark
+frowning cliffs and hills I have described.  On the top of the hillock
+were four mounds, side by side, and at one end of each was seen a rough,
+flat piece of wood, a rude substitute for a grave-stone.  There were
+names on them of Englishmen, and dates showing that they had died at
+intervals of a month or two from one another.
+
+Where were the survivors?--who had buried these men? was now the
+question.  A group of cocoa-nut trees, all that were on the island,
+marked the spot.  It was one selected with much taste.  The discovery
+induced us to persevere in our search.  We wandered on for another hour,
+turning in every direction; for so full of undulations was the island,
+that we might easily have passed the very spot we were in search of.  At
+last we were again called together by a shout from Newman.
+
+We found him standing before a rude hut erected in front of a cave,
+which formed, indeed, a back apartment to it.  There was only one rough
+bed-place on one side of it, though there were several stools, and a
+table in the centre.  A seaman's chest stood open, and contained a few
+articles of clothing.  There were two muskets, and some powder-flasks
+hung up against the wall; but there was no food, although an iron pot
+and a saucepan, with a place where a fire had been made, showed that
+provisions had at one time been cooked there.  On a shelf there were
+several books, both in English and in foreign languages, and above them
+was a flute with a music-book.  A few carpenter's tools were arranged on
+another shelf.  Several things showed that the place had last been
+inhabited by a person of superior education.  On opening the books, a
+name was found in several of them.  It was that of William Evans.  Two
+of them Newman discovered to be on medical subjects, which of course
+made us conjecture that they had belonged to the surgeon of the ship.
+The decayed state of the books showed that it was long since they had
+been opened, and on a further examination of the hut, it also was found
+to be in a very dilapidated condition.  From the number of things left
+in the hut, Captain Carr surmised that the last occupants must have left
+the place very suddenly, if, indeed, they had left it at all.  One thing
+was certain, that we were not likely to find any of them on the island.
+
+We were, therefore, on our return to the boats, when I saw the figure of
+a man sitting, with his back to a rock, on a gentle slope, whence a view
+could be obtained of the blue ocean.  I had separated a little from my
+companions.  I called to him, and I thought I heard him answer, "Halloa,
+who calls?"  His face was turned away from me, and he did not move.  I
+called again, and at that moment Newman broke through the brushwood, and
+joined me.  Together we climbed the hill, both equally surprised that
+the man we saw did not get up to meet us.  In another minute we were by
+his side.  The straw-hat, stained and in tatters, covered a skull; the
+clothes, decayed and discoloured, hung loosely on a fleshless skeleton.
+A book was by his side.  It was a copy of a Latin poet--Horace, Newman
+told me.  Before him was another book of manuscript; and, as we looked
+about, we picked up the remains of pencil, which had dropped from the
+dead man's fingers.  Newman opened the manuscript, and though it was
+rotten, and the characters much defaced, he could still decipher them.
+He glanced his eye rapidly over them.
+
+"Ah! poor fellow, his appears to have been a sad fate," he remarked,
+with a voice full of sadness.  "Compelled by a strong necessity to leave
+England--to wrench asunder all the ties which held him there, and embark
+on board a South-sea-man as surgeon--he seems to have had a hard life of
+it with a drunken, brutal captain, and ignorant--not a human being with
+whom he could sympathise.  Unable to return home, after three years'
+service he exchanged into another ship.  His master and officers, with
+all the boats, were away in chase of whales, which had appeared about
+them in great numbers, when a gale arose.  The crew, already too much
+weakened by that scourge of the ocean, the scurvy, and the loss of
+several men, were unable to shorten sail.  The boats were far out of
+sight, as they believed, to windward.  In vain they endeavoured to beat
+up to them.  The main and mizzen-masts went by the board; and the gale
+still further increasing, they were compelled to run before it, without
+a prospect of picking up their shipmates in the boats.
+
+"Away they drove for several days before the wind, till one night all
+who were below were thrown out of their berths by a violent concussion.
+Again and again the ship struck--the sea beat in her stern.  They rushed
+on deck.  It was to find nearly all those who had been there washed
+away.  The next instant, the ship again lifting, was carried into smooth
+water, and finally jammed fast in the position we had found her.
+
+"Five only of all the crew then survived, and they were the most sickly.
+The writer was himself suffering from illness; happily, however, he
+bore up against it.  They collected all the provisions, and all articles
+likely to be useful, which the sea had not destroyed, and carried them
+on shore, which they easily reached by means of a raft.
+
+"They had food enough to last them for some time; but they had but a
+scanty supply of water.  In vain they searched through the island--no
+springs were to be found.  With great labour they got up all the casks
+of water still uninjured from the hold, and resolved to husband the
+contents.  They formed themselves a habitation.  They made reservoirs in
+which to catch the rain when it fell; but, in those latitudes, for many
+weeks together no rain falls.  For a time, with their fire-arms, they
+killed a few birds; but their ammunition failed them, and they could
+kill no more.  Their water was at last expended, and for many weeks
+together the only moisture they could obtain was by chewing the leaves
+of the shrubs and grass they found.  They continued, as at first, very
+weak.  They talked of building a boat from the wreck, but had neither
+strength nor knowledge among them sufficient for the undertaking.
+
+"At last their spirits gave way, and disease made fearful progress with
+them all.  One by one they died, and the survivors buried them.  The
+writer of the sad journal was alone left."  Alas! not a word did he say
+about seeking consolation where alone it can be given--not a thought
+about another world and judgment to come.  The writer seemed to pride
+himself on his heathen stoicism--heathen expressions of resignation were
+alone mentioned.  His dying eyes had rested on the pages of Horace--his
+dying thoughts, were they heavenward?
+
+"In vain had he crawled to the spot where we found him, day after day,
+in the faint hopes of seeing a ship to bear him away.  Three long years
+had thus passed, and all the food that had been brought on shore had
+been consumed; and he had not strength to search for more, so he came up
+there and sat himself down, and his spirit passed away."
+
+Mr Newman had read this rapid sketch of the last events in the life of
+this unhappy exile before the captain came up, when he handed him the
+journal.  The captain desired Newman to keep the "Horace," observing
+that he could not himself understand the contents.
+
+We had found some tools in the hut, with which we dug a shallow grave
+close to where we had found these sad remains of mortality, and in it we
+placed them.  On the rock above we cut the name of William Evans, and
+the date of the day on which we found him dead.  Loading ourselves with
+the articles found in the hut, Newman being allowed to take most of the
+books as his share, we returned to the boats.
+
+Although a longer time had been spent on shore than the captain
+intended, he allowed us to endeavour to capture some of the sea-lions.
+After pulling, however, some way along the lagoon, we discovered that
+they could not be approached from the land-side, as they had taken up
+their quarters on some high rocks, almost islands by themselves, in
+advance of the reefs.  We were, therefore, compelled to pass into the
+open sea before attacking them--the passage by which we entered; and,
+waiting an opportunity, we dashed through in safety.
+
+As we approached the largest rock, it was curious to watch the hundreds,
+or, I may say, thousands of fierce-looking monsters which covered its
+slippery surface.  It would have required bold men, not acquainted with
+their habits, to attack them, as they looked down upon us from their
+seemingly unapproachable fortress.  On one side, the surf broke far too
+fiercely to allow the boats to venture near; but on the other, although
+there was a good deal of surf, Captain Carr told us we might land.  The
+only way, however, to get on shore was to pull in on the summit of a
+breaker; and while those in the bow leaped out on the rock, the rest of
+the crew had to pull back the boat again with all their force into
+smooth water.  We were armed for the attack with two or three harpoons,
+a lance, and the boat's stretchers.
+
+"Stand by, my lads--now's the time!" shouted our captain, as the two
+boats rolled in towards the shore.  He led the way, lance in hand;
+Newman and I and old Knowles following from his boat.  Our sudden
+appearance on the confines of their fortress evidently not a little
+astonished the sea-lions.  Opening wide their jaws, and gnashing with
+their formidable tusks, they glanced at us from the heights above, and
+then, with reiterated and terrific roars, began to descend with
+impetuous force, as if with their overwhelming numbers to drive us into
+the sea.  An old sea-lion led the van--a fierce monster, who looked
+capable of competing with all of us together.  So he might, if he had
+possessed legs instead of fins or flappers, the latter only enabling him
+to twist and turn and slide down the inclined plane on which we stood
+into the sea.  On the beasts came in dense masses, roaring and snarling.
+I certainly did look for a moment at the boats, and wish myself safe
+back again in them; but it was only for a moment, for our antagonists
+demanded all our strength and agility to compete with them.  Our captain
+advanced boldly towards the old leader, and as he came right at him,
+plunged his lance into his side.  It had not the effect of stopping the
+beast in his career; but, instead, very nearly carried him and the lance
+into the water.  Old Knowles was, I thought, very inadequately armed
+only with a thick stick, which he always carried on shore with him,
+curiously cut and carved, and fastened to his wrist by a lanyard.
+
+"Let me alone," said he; "Old Trusty is better in a scrimmage, whether
+with man or beast, than all your fire-arms and steel weapons.  He always
+goes off, and never gets blunt."
+
+Newman and I were armed with harpoons.  Newman, following the captain's
+example, plunged his harpoon into the side of a seal, just as the beast,
+with the greatest impetus, was sliding down the rock.  In attempting to
+stop its way, his foot slipped, and with the line coiled round his arm,
+before any of us could go to his assistance, he was dragged off into the
+boiling waters.  He was a first-rate swimmer, but with so huge a
+sea-monster attached to him, how could he hope to escape.  The rock
+sloped in a different direction to where the boats were, so that they
+could render him no assistance.  I thought of the scene we had just
+witnessed--the unhappy exile dying alone on the desert island--and I
+dreaded a similar fate for my friend.  With a cry of dismay we looked
+towards the drowning man.  He disappeared among the foaming breakers.
+
+Still, but with little hope, we watched the spot.  Yes--there was his
+head!  He was swimming free!  Bravely he mounted the crest of a roller;
+it rushed in for the rock; but before he could find his footing, or we
+could stretch out our arms to help him, he was carried off again among
+the foaming waves.  Meantime old Knowles had climbed up the rock in the
+face of the sea-lions, whom he was knocking on the head right and left
+with his club, and signalled the boats to pull round to Newman's
+assistance.  Still, however, with only a couple of hands in each, it
+would take, I saw, a considerable time before they could reach him, and
+I resolved to make one attempt to save his life, at the risk, though it
+might be, of my own.  Sticking my harpoon in a crevice of the rock which
+my eye at that instant fell on, I seized the end of the line, and in
+spite of the sea-lions, which kept rushing past me, I struck out into
+the surf as I saw Newman once more approaching.  Happily I grasped him
+by the collar as the sea was once more heaving him back, and the captain
+and other shipmates coming to our assistance, we were hauled safely up
+the rocks.
+
+There was not now a moment to be lost if we would capture any seals.
+Although many had escaped, still a good number remained near; and
+following the example set by old Knowles, we began laying about us on
+every side most lustily with our weapons, bestowing heavy blows on the
+heads of the frightened beasts.  One blow was generally sufficient to
+stun, if not to kill them outright, and we then quickly despatched them
+with our knives.  "On, my lads, on!" cried the captain; and up the rocky
+steep we went, meeting the maddened inhabitants as they came floundering
+down upon us.  We had literally often to climb over the fallen bodies of
+the slain.  Sometimes one of our party would miss his footing, and he
+and half-a-dozen seals would go sliding away down the rock, the beasts
+biting at him, and he struggling to get free, and in no small terror of
+being carried away into the surf.  Such would inevitably have been the
+lot of more than one of us had not we all kept a watch to help each
+other out of such difficulties.
+
+Our captain's combat with the old lion was the most severe.  As the
+captain, unwilling to lose his lance or the beast, holding on to the
+former, was dragged downwards, they reached a ledge of rock which sloped
+in an opposite direction to the surrounding parts, and thus formed a
+table on which they could rest.  Here the monster, finding that he could
+not escape from his opponent, turned bravely to bay, and grinning with
+his large, strong teeth, made fiercely at him.  The captain held on
+pertinaciously to the handle of the spear, springing actively out of the
+way of the beast's mouth, as in its contortions and struggles it
+approached him too nearly.  The lion roared, and snarled, and struggled,
+and the captain held on bravely, but I believe would soon have had to
+let go had not old Knowles, springing down the rock, given the animal a
+blow on the head with his stick, which effectually settled him.
+
+There were many other single combats, and more of one man against
+half-a-dozen beasts; but the result was that we came off victorious
+without the loss of anyone, while we could boast of having killed
+upwards of sixty seals.  Our next work was to flay them.  This, in the
+hands of experienced operators, was soon performed, and in a short time
+we had sufficient skins ready to load our boats, and to make caps and
+jackets for all hands, besides what were required for the ship's use.
+The boats now came back to the spot where we were to embark, and by
+carefully waiting our time, we leaped on board with no other damage than
+wet jackets.
+
+"Williams," said Newman, as we were pulling on shore, "you have nobly
+preserved my life at the risk of your own.  I trust that I may be
+grateful."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
+
+WHALING AND SEAL-CATCHING IN THE ICY REGIONS.
+
+Strong breezes, and cold and thick weather, showed us that we were
+getting out of the genial latitudes, in which, without much success, we
+had been for some time cruising, and were approaching those icy regions
+which encircle the Antarctic Pole.  Newman had made such progress in his
+knowledge of seamanship, that he was not only considered competent to
+undertake all the ordinary duties of a seaman, but was more trusted than
+many of the older hands.  He soon gave evidence that this confidence was
+not misplaced.  He and I were in the same watch.  This was a great
+satisfaction to me, as I benefited largely by his conversation, which I
+was now beginning fully to appreciate.
+
+One night we had the middle watch, and were together on the look-out
+forward.  It was unusually dark; neither moon nor stars were visible,
+and the clouds hung down in a thick canopy over us.  A strong breeze was
+blowing from the southward and eastward, and we were standing to the
+south-west with our port-tacks aboard.  The sea was not very heavy, but
+it struck me at the time that it was somewhat uneven and irregular, and
+this made me suspect that we might be in the neighbourhood of land or
+fields of ice.  Newman was talking of the Aurora Australis, and telling
+me how much he longed to see its effect in its fullest brilliancy, when
+suddenly he seized my arm with a firm grasp.
+
+"Williams!" he exclaimed, "do you see that unusual whiteness glimmering
+there ahead, and on our starboard bow?  I hear the surf beating on it!
+I'm sure it's an iceberg!  Starboard your helm!  Luff all you can!
+Starboard for your lives!" he shouted, rushing aft to see this done.  I
+meantime called on those on deck to get a pull at the head-braces; an
+inch might save the ship.
+
+There was no time for ceremony; no time to announce the fact in set form
+to the officer of the watch.  This was the second mate.  He was,
+happily, a sensible man.  He at once comprehended the emergency, and
+gave the necessary orders to brace up the yards, and bring the ship
+close upon a wind.  We were not a moment too soon in anything that was
+done.  The white glimmering appearance grew every instant more distinct,
+till it resolved itself into a vast massive iceberg towering high above
+the mast-heads, while the roar of the breakers which dashed against its
+sides increased in loudness.  The ship heeled over to the gale till her
+yard-arms seemed almost to touch the floating mountain.  Still she stood
+up bravely to her canvas, closely hugging the wind.  Had a rope been
+rotten, had a spar given way, our fate might have been sealed.  In one
+instant after striking, the ship and everything in her might have been
+dashed to atoms.
+
+The man with firmest nerves among all our crew watched that lofty berg,
+as we rushed by it in our midnight course, with feelings of awe and
+anxiety, if not of alarm, and drew a breath more freely when he looked
+over the quarter and saw the danger past.  It was not the only one we
+encountered that night.  Sail had been shortened; but it was evidently
+necessary, after the warning we had received, to keep the ship as much
+as possible under command.
+
+On, on we flew through the murky night, the gale every moment increasing
+in force, and the sea rising and breaking in unexpected directions.  We
+had again kept away on our course.  Sail was still further reduced.  The
+cold had before been considerable; it now much increased, and our decks
+were covered with ice.  Captain Carr had, the moment we sighted the
+iceberg, come on deck; the watch below were called, and every one was at
+his post.  It was not a time for anyone to be spared.  We had evidently
+got into the icy regions sooner than had been expected.  Intending to
+get out of them, the captain gave the order to keep away; but scarcely
+had we done so when an ice-field was seen extending away on our lee-bow
+and ahead, and we were again obliged to haul up, hoping to get round it.
+On, therefore, we sailed; but as we advanced we found the ice-field
+extending away on our starboard-beam, the sea breaking over it with a
+noise which warned us what would be the consequence if we should strike
+it.
+
+Let our position be pictured for an instant.  The fierce waves dashing
+wildly and irregularly about us; the storm raging fiercely; the ship
+driving onwards through pitchy darkness; wide, massive fields of ice
+extending on every side; huge icebergs floating around we knew not
+where; no lighthouse, no chart to guide us; our eyes and ears stretched
+to the utmost, giving but short warning of approaching danger.  Such are
+the scenes which wear out a commander's strength, and make his hair turn
+quickly grey.  We knew full well that dangers still thickly surrounded
+us, and heartily did we wish for the return of day to see them.  Newman
+and I were again forward.  I was telling him that I had heard of a ship
+striking a berg, and of several of her people being saved on it, while
+she went down, when he startled me by singing out with a voice of
+thunder, "Ice ahead!"  At the same moment old Knowles cried out, "Ice on
+the weather-bow!" and immediately I had to echo the shout with "Ice on
+the lee-bow!" and another cried, "Ice abeam!"
+
+To tack would have been instant destruction; to wear, there was no room.
+Every moment we expected to feel the awful crash as the stout ship
+encountered the hard ice.  Captain Carr rushed forward.  We must dash
+onward.  Though no opening could be seen, there might be one!  Onward we
+careered.  Every man held his breath; and pale, I doubt not, turned the
+faces of the bravest.  Suddenly, high above us, on the weather-side,
+appeared another iceberg.  The sea became almost calm; but it was a
+calmness fraught with danger rather than safety.  The sails, caught by
+the eddy-wind, were taken aback.  In another moment we might have been
+driven, without power of saving ourselves, under that frowning cliff of
+ice.  The storm raged above us--before us--behind us--on every side but
+there we lay, as if exhausted.  Still the ship had way on her, and we
+continued our course.  The channel was too narrow to allow the helm to
+be put up.
+
+Just as she was losing her way, and would inevitably, through the force
+of the eddy-wind, have got stern-way on her, her headsails again felt
+the force of the gale, and, like a hound loosed from the leash, she
+started forward on her course.  Again we were plunging madly through the
+wildly breaking seas; but the wind blew steadily, and the ice-fields
+widened away on either side till they were lost to view.  Once again we
+were saved by a merciful Providence from an almost inevitable
+destruction.  Still, we had some hours of darkness before us, and an
+unknown sea full of ice-islands through which we must pass.  Not an eye
+was closed that night.  Again we were close to one, but we were now
+better able to distinguish them than at first.  This time we had to keep
+away, and run to the northward; but before long, there arose ahead of us
+a fourth iceberg.  Again we sprung to the braces, the helm was put down,
+and, once more close-hauled, we weathered the danger.
+
+Thus we hurried on--narrowly escaping danger after danger till daylight
+approached.  Before, however, the sun arose, the gale fell; the clouds
+cleared away; and a bright gleam appeared in the eastern sky.  Up shot
+the glorious sun, and never shall I forget the scene of gorgeous
+magnificence his bright rays lighted.  Both sky and sea became of a deep
+blue--the water calm and clear as crystal--while all around us floated
+mountains of brilliant whiteness, like masses of the purest alabaster,
+of every varied form and size.  Many were 200 feet high, and nearly a
+third of a mile in length.  Some had perpendicular sides, with level
+summits--fit foundations, it might seem, for building cities of marble
+palaces, or fortresses for the kings of the East.  Some, again, were
+broken into every fantastic form conceivable--towers and turrets, spires
+and minarets, domes and cupolas; here, the edifices found most commonly
+under the symbol of the crescent; there, those of the cross: Norman
+castles, Gothic cathedrals, Turkish mosques, Grecian temples, Chinese
+pagodas, were all here fully represented, and repeated in a thousand
+different ways.  Others had been broken or melted into the forms of
+jagged cliffs, gigantic arches, lofty caverns, penetrating far away into
+the interior.  Scarcely a shape which is to be found among the butting
+crags, sea-beat headlands, or mountain summits, in every part of the
+world, was not there represented in the most brilliant and purest of
+materials.  Whole cities, too, were there to be seen pictured; squares
+and streets, and winding lanes, running up from the water's edge, like a
+ruined Genoa, with marble palaces, and churches, and alabaster
+fountains, and huge piles of buildings of every possible form standing
+proudly up amid the ocean, the whole appearing like some scene of
+enchantment rather than a palpable reality.  Here was seen a lofty
+mountain rent in two by some fierce convulsion of nature; there, a city
+overturned: here, rocks upheaved and scattered around in wild confusion;
+there, deep gorges, impenetrable ravines, and terrific precipices;--
+indeed, here Nature, in her wildest and most romantic forms, was fully
+represented.  The beauty of the wondrous spectacle was heightened when
+the sun arose, from the varied gorgeous tints which flashed from
+mountain-top and beetling cliff, from tower, turret, and pinnacle, where
+its bright rays fell on them as they slowly moved round in their
+eccentric courses.  No words, however, can describe the dazzling
+whiteness and brilliancy of the floating masses.  From some of the most
+lofty, fountains might be seen gushing down, as from a mountain's top
+when the fierce rays of the sun melt the long-hardened snow; while in
+and out of the deep caverns the sea-birds flew and screamed, peopling
+those dreary solitudes with joyous life.
+
+The sun soon melted the ice from off our decks and rigging, and as we
+sailed onward the air became warm and genial.  The most insensible of us
+could not but admire the scene; but Newman could scarcely repress his
+exclamations of delight and surprise.  His sketch-book was brought out,
+and rapidly he committed to paper some of the most remarkable portions
+of the beautiful scene.  Still, no pencil, no colours could represent
+the glorious, the magnificent tints in which the sea and sky, and the
+majestic varied-shaped icebergs, were bathed, as the sun, bursting forth
+from his ocean-bed, glided upwards in the eastern heavens.  Numbers of
+birds came circling round the ship in their rapid flight, or were seen
+perched on the pinnacles of the bergs, or flying among their caverned
+recesses--albatrosses, snow-white petrels, penguins, and ducks of
+various sorts.
+
+The albatross--Diomedea, as Newman called it--is the most powerful and
+largest of all aquatic birds.  Its long hard beak is very strong, and of
+a pale yellow colour.  The feet are webbed.  I have seen some, the wings
+of which, when extended, measured fifteen feet from tip to tip, while
+they weighed upwards of twenty pounds.  It feeds while on the wing, and
+is very voracious, pouncing down on any object which its piercing eye
+can discover in the water; and many a poor fellow, when swimming for his
+life, having fallen overboard, has been struck by one, and sunk to rise
+no more.
+
+The snow-white petrel is a beautiful bird, and in its colours offers a
+strong contrast to the stormy petrel, (_Thalassidroma_), the chief part
+of whose plumage is of a sooty black, and others dark brown.  Instead of
+being dreaded by seamen, it ought to be looked upon as their friend, for
+it seems to know long before they do when a storm is approaching, and by
+its piercing cry and mode of flight warns them of the coming danger.
+Seamen, however, instead of being grateful, like the world of old, the
+world at present, and the world as it ever will be, look upon these
+little prophets with dread and hatred, and in their ignorance and
+stupidity consider them the cause of the evil portended.
+
+Penguins are found only in the Antarctic Ocean.  They derive their name
+from _pinguis_, "fat," they being noted for that quality.  Their legs
+are placed so far back that, when on shore, they stand almost upright.
+Though on land their movements are very awkward, yet when in the water--
+which, more than the air, must be considered their natural element, as
+their wings are too small to allow them to fly--they are bold birds, and
+will bravely defend themselves or their young when attacked, and will
+advance on a retreating enemy.
+
+We had not been long in these icy regions before we reaped an ample
+reward for all the dangers we had encountered.  As we looked over the
+side, we observed the water full of animalcules, while vast quantities
+of shrimps of various sorts were seen in the neighbourhood of the
+icebergs; but what still more raised our hopes of finding whales, were
+the numbers of large squid, or cuttle-fish, on which, as I have said,
+they chiefly feed.  We were watching a huge fellow floating near the
+ship, with outstretched tentaculae, of arms, extending an immense
+distance from his head, and with which he was dragging up into his
+voracious mouth thousands of animalculae every moment--and from his size
+he seemed capable of encircling the body of any unfortunate person he
+might find swimming--when the cry was heard from aloft of "There she,
+spouts--there she spouts!"
+
+In an instant Newman's lecture of natural history, which he was giving
+us, was brought to a conclusion.  All hands were on deck, and four boats
+were manned and lowered, and pulled away after no less than three fine
+bull whales, which appeared at the same instant round the ship.  There
+is a danger in attacking a whale near an iceberg which is avoided in the
+open sea.  When he is fast, he may sound under it, and come up on the
+other side; but instinct warns him not to come up so as to strike his
+head against it.
+
+Newman and I had already gone in the boats, and had proved ourselves no
+bad oarsmen on the occasion.  He, indeed, had been allowed by the
+captain to use the harpoon when one of the officers was ill, and had
+succeeded in striking his first fish in a way which gained him much
+credit.  On this occasion, however, we both remained on board.
+
+Suddenly, not far from the ship, another whale rose to the surface, and,
+in a most extraordinary manner, began to turn, and twist, to throw half
+his huge bulk at a time out of the water, and furiously to lash it with
+his tail till he was surrounded with a mass of foam.  The boats were in
+another direction, or we should have thought he had been wounded, and
+had a lance or harpoon sticking in him, from which he was endeavouring
+to free himself.  He swam on, however, and approached the ship, still
+continuing his extraordinary contortions.  As he drew near, he lifted
+his enormous head out of the water, when we saw hanging to his lower jaw
+a large fish, twenty feet long or so, from which he was thus in vain
+endeavouring to free himself!  We had no little cause to be alarmed, as
+he drew near, for the safety of the ship herself; for, in the blindness
+of his agony, he might unintentionally strike her, or he might rush
+against her side to get rid of his pertinacious enemy.  More than once
+the whale threw himself completely out of the water; but the fish still
+hung on to his bleeding jaw.  Together they fell again into the sea,
+while all around them was stained of a crimson hue from the blood so
+copiously flowing from the worried monster.
+
+"That's a killer!" cried old Tom.  "He'll not let go the whale till he
+has him in his flurry, and then he and his mates will make a feast of
+him.  They have great strong teeth, bigger than a shark's, and are the
+most voracious fish I ever saw.  They bait a whale just as dogs do a
+wild beast, or a bull, and seldom fail to kill him if they once get hold
+of him."
+
+This killer had a long dorsal fin, and a brown back and white belly.  On
+came the whale and the fish, twisting and turning as before.  We all
+stood ready to try and send them off--though very little use that would
+have been, I own.  Happily they floundered by just astern of the ship;
+but so violent were their movements, and by such a mass of foam and
+blood were they surrounded, that it was difficult to observe the
+appearance of the killer.  Equally impossible would it have been to have
+approached the whale to harpoon him without an almost certainty of
+losing the boat and the lives of all her crew.  We could, therefore,
+only hope that the whale might be conquered when still within sight, so
+that the boats might carry off the prize from the relentless killer.
+Away went the monster and his tormentor.  Soon we could no longer
+distinguish them from the deck; but on going aloft, we again caught
+sight of them, still floundering on as before.
+
+"That fish gives us a lesson of what pertinacity will accomplish, even
+in conquering the greatest of difficulties," observed Newman, laughing.
+"I admire the way in which he sticks to his object.  He has made up his
+mind to kill the whale, and kill the whale he will."
+
+"Ay, and eat him too, Ned, as he deserves," said old Knowles.  "Some of
+us might learn a lesson from that fish, I'm thinking."
+
+"I have been killing whales all my life," Newman remarked to me with a
+forced laugh.  "But somehow or other, Jack, I never have found out how
+to eat them."
+
+"Overcoming difficulties, but not benefiting by them!" said I.  "There
+must be a fault somewhere."
+
+"Ay, Jack, ay--a fault in myself, and a curse well-deserved," he
+answered, bitterly, and then was silent.  I never before had heard him
+speak in that way, and I did not venture to ask for an explanation.
+
+That saying of Newman became common ever afterwards on board, when we
+saw a man determined to do a thing--"Kill the whale he will!"
+
+I have often thought since, how seldom sailors, especially, learn to eat
+whales.  What sums of money they make and throw carelessly away!--amply
+sufficient to enable them to pass the end of their days in comfort on
+shore, or to provide respectably for their families, instead, as is
+often the case with the merchant-seaman, ending their days in a
+poor-house, or leaving their families to the cold charity of the world.
+Brother seamen, learn wisdom!  Prepare for the future of this life; and,
+more than all, prepare for the life to come.
+
+Two of the whales chased were captured and brought alongside, when we
+set to work to cut-in and try-out with all the rapidity we could exert.
+In those high southern latitudes the weather is very variable, and we
+knew that a change might come and deprive us of our prey.  We were,
+however, fortunate in securing both whales, and between them they gave
+us one hundred and sixty barrels of fine oil.  Before, however, the
+boats had returned with their prizes, the whale and the killer had got
+far out of sight even from the mast-head.  We continued for some time
+fishing in those quarters, amply rewarded for the dangers we had
+encountered by the success we met with.  Sometimes, however, we were
+days and days together without even seeing a whale; and several were
+lost, after chasing them with much toil and difficulty.
+
+Newman contributed much all the time to keep the people in good humour,
+by always finding them employment; and Captain Carr, unlike some masters
+I have met with, afforded him every assistance in his plans.  Among
+other things, he established regular classes below, and, with the
+exception of one or two very idle, stupid fellows, all the crew belonged
+to one or other of them.  Besides a reading and writing class, he had an
+arithmetic and geography class, and a music and a drawing class.  His
+singing class was the most numerous, and he very soon taught nearly all
+hands to sing together in admirable tune and time.  I at first
+exclusively attended the reading and writing class, devoting every
+moment I was off duty to my books; so that, much to my own surprise and
+delight, I soon found that I could read with ease and satisfaction.
+Writing was a more difficult task: to one whose fingers had never been
+accustomed to the cramped position required for holding a pen.  Still,
+Newman had a way of overcoming that difficulty.  Making me throw the
+weight of my body on my left side, he left my right hand and fingers
+free, and kept me for some time with a dry pen simply moving up and down
+across the page.  Even when I had begun to form letters, at the
+commencement of every lesson he made me follow this plan for a few
+minutes, that, as he said, I might get my fingers into training before I
+disfigured the paper and became disgusted with my own performance.  He
+himself seemed never to grow weary of teaching.  No ignorance or
+stupidity daunted him; and it used to surprise me that a man of such
+extensive information and extraordinary talents, should take the trouble
+of imparting knowledge to people who were so immeasurably his inferiors.
+I used to observe, from the first, that he was never for a moment idle.
+"Ned must always be doing something or other," old Tom observed of him.
+"It's all the better for him that he is afloat.  If he were on shore,
+he would be doing mischief."  His great object seemed to be to fly from
+himself.  Sometimes, when I was talking with him, from the strangeness
+of his remarks, and from his bursts of feeling, I thought that there
+must be a touch of madness about him; but then, again, immediately
+afterwards, he would say something so full of thought and sense, that I
+banished the idea.
+
+To me he proved the greatest blessing.  I was becoming a new character.
+I had discovered powers within me of which I before had no conception.
+I had gone on through life, if not rejoicing in my ignorance, at least
+indifferent to it.  I had picked up a certain amount of knowledge from
+the conversation of others, but it was ill-digested, and I was full of
+the grossest prejudices.  I have scarcely, indeed, given a correct
+notion of what I was up to this time.  I might describe myself just as I
+once heard a shipmate spoken of--as _just an ignorant common sailor_.
+Such I had been.  I could now read.  I could dive into the rich stores
+collected by other minds, and make them my own.  Without robbing others,
+I could appropriate their wealth, and enjoy all the benefits it could
+afford.  Once having begun to read, the taste grew on me.  I read
+through and through every book Newman possessed.
+
+After a time, as his talents came to be known and appreciated by the
+captain, and officers, and surgeon, he was able to borrow books from
+them, which he allowed me to read.  Although not many of them were very
+enlightening, they served to show me my own ignorance from the allusions
+they made, which I was totally unable to comprehend; and this only made
+me desire to gain further information, which it was somewhat difficult
+to obtain.  As to Newman himself, he literally devoured every book which
+came in his way.  He soon read through every book to be found on board;
+and whenever we fell in with another ship, he used to borrow all he
+could, or exchange his own books for others.  Unfortunately, the
+literature in those days to be found at sea was generally of a very
+inferior character, and not at all calculated to improve its readers.
+Still, some knowledge was gleaned from all but the worst, and some
+errors and prejudices corrected.  Newman had, however, certain
+favourites among his books, both English and foreign, which he would on
+no account have parted with.  These he used frequently to read to me in
+our spare hours, or when we were engaged in such work as required our
+hands alone to be employed.  I observed, indeed, after a little time,
+that we had far less employment found for us than had been the case in
+other ships on board which I had served; and this, I suspect, was
+because we found it for ourselves, or rather Newman found it for us.  I
+never met with men so contented and happy as we all became; and this I
+could only account for by supposing that we were interested in our
+various occupations.
+
+Newman was also the great peacemaker on board.  Whenever a dispute
+arose, he always inquired the point at issue, and, without allowing time
+for the temper of either party to become irritated, he generally
+contrived to settle the matter.  If he could not manage that, he used to
+try and raise a laugh by some absurd observation, or would place the
+position assumed by one man or the other in so ridiculous a light, that
+he seldom failed to show him that he was wrong.
+
+One thing I remarked about Newman was, that he never alluded to any
+religious subject.  I never saw him pray.  He had no Bible or
+Prayer-book with him.  I never heard him give utterance to a sentiment
+of piety, or of trust in God's mercy or fear of his anger.  I did, on
+the contrary, frequently hear him praise the Greek and Roman
+philosophers of old, and he often spoke of the stoicism and heroism of
+the heathens.  Still he neither blasphemed, nor cursed, nor swore, nor
+did he ever attempt to instil any infidel notions into the minds of any
+of us.  However, I fear that he was, to all intents and purposes, a
+heathen.  I doubt, indeed, whether he ever had any religion.  I suspect
+that he was brought up without any; and that at no time, during the
+period he was gaining his education, did he meet with anyone to instruct
+him.  I could not even then help contrasting the confiding piety and
+true religion of my old shipmates, Peter Poplar and Captain Gale, with
+the entire want of it which he displayed.
+
+Indeed, Captain Carr, though a kind and worthy man, and a good sailor,
+was sadly unenlightened as to the truth; and all the years I served with
+him we neither had prayers nor any religious observance whatever on
+board.  On a Sunday, if the weather was fine, and no whales were in
+sight, we put on clean clothes, mended and washed our old ones, and had
+an additional glass of grog served out, with less work than usual given
+us to do.  On board most South-Seamen every day in the week was much the
+same.  It was a fact, I fear, and one painful to contemplate, that
+Newman, with all his great and varied talents, lived on as if there were
+no God in the world.  I do not mention this without a purpose.  It seems
+strange that it was from such a man I received the instruction which
+enabled me ultimately to attain to a knowledge of, and active belief in,
+the truth.  It shows by what varied instruments God works to bring about
+his gracious purposes.  It convinced me of the power and effect of
+grace.  Here was I, sunk deep myself in ignorance, and living among
+those who were equally unaware of the truth, called out of darkness into
+His marvellous light.  But I am anticipating events.
+
+We continued cruising near the Antarctic Circle during the few short
+months of summer with unvaried success.  We had frequent displays at
+night of the Aurora Australis.  Sometimes the whole southern hemisphere
+would be covered with arches of a beautiful straw-colour, from which
+streamers would radiate, both upwards and downwards, of a pure
+glittering white.  The stars would be glittering brightly overhead;
+while, from east-south-east to west-north-west, a number of concentric
+arches would appear, forming a complete canopy in the sky; then suddenly
+they would vanish, again shortly to appear.  Some nights it appeared in
+the form of cumuli, tinged with pale yellow; and behind them arose
+brilliant red, purple, orange, and yellow tints, streaming upwards in
+innumerable radiations, with every combination of shade which these
+colours could produce.  Another night we saw a bright crescent, and from
+it feathery-edged rays, of a pale orange colour, branched off in every
+direction, while across it a succession of the prismatic colours
+appeared rapidly to flit.  Indeed, it is difficult to describe the
+various forms which the Aurora assumes.
+
+One of the most curious sights I ever beheld we witnessed some time
+after this.  It was the appearance of the sun and moon above the horizon
+at the same time: the moon, which was nearly full, throwing her light--
+stolen from the sun, which blazed forth at the same time--on the world
+of icebergs.  It was as if we had been looking on two distinct scenes.
+On one side, the bright rays of the luminary of day were throwing a
+golden hue on the vast mountain masses of ice which floated on the blue
+waters; on the other, the pale orb of night cast a silvery fringe on the
+clouds which surrounded it.  There was, indeed, no night; the
+binnacle-lamp was not even lighted; and we were able to continue,
+without cessation, trying-out a whale, whose carcase floated alongside.
+Among other curious things I observed, were large masses of rock--
+boulders they are called--embedded in the base and centre of icebergs.
+It shows that they must originally have been formed on shore, and then
+floated away by some unusually high-tide or commotion of the sea.  It
+explains also the appearance of boulders in places where it would be
+difficult otherwise to account for their being found.
+
+I have seen birds in great numbers on rocks in the ocean, in different
+parts of the globe, but never have I beheld so many as there were on an
+island we one day sighted before steering north.  There was but little
+wind, and as the captain thought a supply of birds, although of a
+somewhat fishy taste, would be an acceptable addition to our daily fare
+of salt junk and salt pork, he directed the third mate, with Newman, me,
+and four other men, to take a boat and bring off as many as we could
+kill.  Calm as it was, the surf rolled so heavily in on the rocks that
+it was a work of no little difficulty and danger to approach them so as
+to gain a footing out of the reach of the waves.  The mate ordered an
+anchor to be let go, and, veering away on the cable, we dropped
+gradually in; and while, boat-hook in hand, one at a time leaped on
+shore, the boat-keepers with their oars kept the boat head to sea, and
+as soon as we had landed, which we did not succeed in doing without a
+thorough ducking, they hauled the boat off beyond the breakers.
+
+The island on which we stood was a wild, desolate place.  Not a tree or
+a shrub was to be seen; but the hills, which rose to a considerable
+height above the ocean, were covered with a long thick grass, of a
+character similar to what grows on the Falkland Islands.  Here and there
+dark rocks cropped out, and the sides of the island were formed in many
+parts of lofty, precipitous cliffs; while in others, such as the place
+we had landed on, were rugged rocks sloping gradually down to the sea.
+A thick fringe of kelp, a slippery sort of sea-weed, added somewhat to
+the difficulties of our landing.  As we advanced, we were assailed by
+the most frightful gabbling, and screeching, and quacking I ever heard,
+from thousands and thousands of wild-fowls, chiefly penguins of various
+species.  The whole hillside was literally covered with them and their
+eggs in dense masses.  Nothing daunted at our appearance, when they
+found that the hubbub they made could not compel us to retreat, they
+commenced a fierce attack on us with their beaks, pulling at our
+trousers and pecking at our flesh.  In our own defence we were obliged
+to lay about us with the boat's stretchers, and to knock them right and
+left on the head.  Some, however, took warning from the fate of their
+companions; but while those at a distance gabbled and screeched louder
+than ever, those in the front waddled boldly up to the assault.  As far
+as we could judge, we must have slaughtered the whole colony, or been
+pecked to death by them if we had attempted to sit down to rest.  Every
+inch of their native soil, like true patriots, they bravely disputed
+with us; and when any of us, for fun, retreated, to see what they would
+do, they advanced erect and determined, rolling their heads from side to
+side in the most comical way, their power of vision residing only in the
+lower part of each eye.  Then they would throw their heads backwards,
+and utter sounds very like the braying of a jackass; from which
+circumstance they have been called the Jackass Penguins.  All the time,
+their little wings were actively employed as legs to expedite their
+movements.  When in the water, they use their wings as fins to dive.
+When they rise again after a dive, they come up with so sudden a dash,
+instantly being down again, that it is often difficult to say whether
+they are fish or fowl.  The most acceptable part of the spoils were
+their eggs, which we picked up in great quantities, and stowed away for
+safety in our caps and hats.  Newman and I being in advance of the
+party, came upon a large rock, on and about which were perched a number
+of much larger birds than those we had seen below.  They sat quietly
+looking at us till we approached, and then they commenced scolding us as
+the others had done.  They appeared to be arranged in the most perfect
+order, in ranks like those of an army, each class being by themselves.
+In one place were hen-birds sitting on their eggs; in another, the
+mother-birds tending their newly-hatched young; while their mates were
+away over the ocean fishing for their dinners--a labour in which the
+hens very soon assist their partners.  The moulting birds sit by
+themselves; and the bachelors, I conclude, have also to dwell in
+solitude.  When we frightened the sitting-hens, we observed that they
+had a peculiar way of lifting up their eggs between their legs, and
+waddling off with them.  These birds which were much larger than those
+seen below, are called King Penguins.  We each carried off one over our
+shoulders as trophies.
+
+After we left the ship, another boat was lowered to attack some
+sea-lions, which had been observed on a rock a little way off.  We saw
+our shipmates commencing the attack as we went up the hill.  Several
+were harpooned.  One huge monster, notwithstanding a severe wound,
+managed to make his escape.  As we returned down the hill, we found
+ourselves at the edge of a deep gully, into which the sea dashed,
+leaping up on either side, but leaving in the centre a space of
+comparatively clear water.  As we looked down into it, we saw it
+curiously disturbed, and soon there rose to the surface two monsters,
+which seemed to be attacking each other with the greatest fury.  We
+could have no doubt that they were sea-lions; and from the blood which
+flowed from the neck of one of them, we guessed that he was the one we
+had seen wounded.  No animals on shore could have fought more
+desperately, although their teeth alone could be used as weapons of
+assault.  They swam at each other, seizing each other's snouts, and
+fins, and lips, and struggled, and turned, and floundered about, till a
+big sea rushing up, carried both of them out of our sight.
+
+"Such are human combats," observed Newman, with one of his peculiar
+laughs.  "The sharks or the birds of prey will alone benefit by their
+folly."
+
+While we were speaking, we saw several huge albatrosses flying, at the
+speed almost of lightning, towards the island.  Instantly they pounced
+down on some of the birds we had killed; but finding that they had not
+yet a sufficiently high flavour to suit their palates, they picked up
+some of the eggs which we had compelled the jackass penguins to desert,
+and flew off with them, it was impossible to say where.  We returned to
+the ship with a boat-load of birds and eggs, but not without a thorough
+ducking.
+
+While I am on the subject of natural history, I will describe another
+species of seal, which we found on some islands on which we landed.  We
+went on shore, as we had before done, armed with clubs and lances, to
+capture some of them.  It required a knowledge of their inert and
+slothful character to give us courage to attack them with the weapons
+which we possessed, for in size and appearance they were most
+formidable-looking monsters.  They were from twenty-five to thirty feet
+long, and some eighteen feet in circumference.  Their heads are armed
+with large tusks and formidable teeth, and the male has the power of
+elongating the upper lip into the form of a proboscis, from which
+circumstance they are called sea-elephants.  They are only found in
+those regions in the summer, as they migrate into warmer latitudes in
+the winter.  We very quickly dispatched a number of them with blows on
+the head, and then towed them off to the ship, where each produced some
+eighty gallons of oil.  Their skins also, which are of great use for
+many purposes, were preserved.
+
+The nights were again shortening, when, just before dark, it came on to
+blow hard.  Sail was taken off the ship, and those with the best eyes on
+board were stationed on each bow and at the bowsprit-end, to give notice
+of any dangers in sight.  We were standing to the westward, going free,
+our captain intending soon to haul up for the northward.  It was the
+darkest part of the still short night, when the lookers-out ahead gave
+notice that they heard the crashing sound of ice grinding together.
+Directly afterwards the words "Ice ahead!" echoed along the deck.
+Immediately the starboard tacks were hauled aboard, and the ship was
+kept to the northward.
+
+Again the startling cry was heard, "Ice on the lee-bow!" then "Ice
+ahead!"  The ship had good way on her.  The helm was put down.  We flew
+to the tacks and sheets, and about she came, her counter actually
+grazing a sheet of ice, against which in another moment she would have
+struck!  We could now only steer to the southward, where we knew more
+ice must be found, so that we must speedily be about again.  It was
+necessary to keep sufficient sail on the ship to enable us to work her
+quickly.
+
+On we stood into the darkness, with a knowledge that danger was ahead of
+us.  "Ice! ice ahead!" was again the cry.  We wore about, but just in
+time to escape contact with it.  We could not tell all the time whether
+the ice-fields might not be closing on us.  Every tack we made was
+shorter and shorter.  Still, our only hope was to beat out of the narrow
+passage into which the ship had run.
+
+Many tacks were made.  A huge iceberg, dimly glimmering through the
+obscurity, towered up before us; yet, though dim, not the less terrific.
+The helm was put down.  There might be space between it and the
+field-ice to the southward of it.  The southern field hove in sight; we
+tacked, but just in time.  Then on we rushed towards the iceberg,
+beating closely into the wind.  Again it appeared on our lee-bow; the
+ship heeled over to the breeze.  On we rushed--a flaw of wind heading us
+would send us to destruction.  The wind held steady.
+
+On, on we rushed, the foam flying over our bows and freezing as it fell.
+A towering cliff of ice appeared over our mast-heads--still we hurried
+on.  There was a loud thundering clash.  The stoutest held their breath
+for fear.  Our deck was deluged with spray.  Several quickly-following
+seas struck our stern, lifting the ship before them.  The summit of the
+vast iceberg had fallen--perhaps by the concussion of the air as we
+moved under it.  A moment later, and we should have been crushed to
+atoms--driven far, far down into the depths of the ocean!  The iceberg
+was passed.  It seemed to be guarding the portals of that narrow inlet.
+As the dawn came on, we could discover the ice trending away to leeward.
+All day we stood on, gradually increasing our distance from icebergs
+and fields of ice, till we had, to our no little satisfaction, left them
+far astern.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER NINETEEN.
+
+A VISIT TO JAVA.
+
+We had won many a prize from the vasty deep with no little toil, and
+visited many strange people living under burning suns, when we found
+ourselves at anchor in the Roads of Batavia, the capital of the large
+and fertile island of Java.  It was taken by the English in the year
+1811 from the Dutch, or rather from the French, who had temporary
+possession of it.  The British fleet employed on the occasion was under
+the command of Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, and the army under that of
+General Wetherall and Colonel Gillespie.  That admirable and talented
+man, Sir Stamford Raffles--the greatest benefactor the islands of the
+East had ever known, till Sir James Brooke followed in his footsteps,
+was then appointed governor, and had his counsels and prayers been
+followed, it would still have been a bright jewel in the British crown.
+Unhappily neither were heeded.  His letters describing the fertility and
+unbounded resources, when properly developed, of that immense territory,
+remained unread, unopened at the Colonial Office; and at the general
+peace Java was cast back as a worthless trifle into the heap to be
+enjoyed by others, which England had gained by so much blood and
+treasure.  The Dutch took possession, and very speedily re-established
+the system of close monopoly and grinding tyranny which the enlightened
+policy of Sir Stamford Raffles had abolished.
+
+Newman had now so completely established himself in the good opinion of
+the captain, that he was treated more as an officer than a foremast-man,
+and whenever duty would allow, he was permitted to go on shore to visit
+whatever was worthy of notice.  He looked upon me completely in the
+light of a pupil, in whose advancement he had the deepest interest.
+"Never mind how old you are," he used to say; "you will outlive me yet
+by many a year, and will have plenty of use for all the information you
+can pick up before you die."  I little thought at the time how true his
+words would prove.  He used in joke to call me hardy Old Jack; and
+certainly for many years I never had had an hour's illness.  The truth
+is, that I was gifted with a sound constitution, and had avoided playing
+tricks with it, as a great number of people do, and then complain of the
+sicknesses with which they are afflicted, shutting their eyes to the
+fact that they have brought them on themselves entirely in consequence
+of their own folly.
+
+While we lay at Batavia, I was constantly on shore with Newman.  The
+Roads of Batavia are rather more than a quarter of a league from the
+city, and are guarded from the prevailing winds by a dozen small islands
+outside them.  The ground on which the city stands bears evident signs
+of having been thrown up by the sea, but rises gradually to the
+mountains ten leagues off behind it.  The River Jacatra runs through the
+city, and it is intersected likewise in all directions by canals.  It
+has also a moat running round it, as likewise a wall of coral-rock.  Its
+defences consist of twenty bastions, and a castle near the sea, with a
+mud-bank in front of it.  It is, indeed, completely a Dutch city.  But
+besides its numberless canals and ditches, as it is situated in a dead
+marshy flat, and is surrounded with dirty fens, bogs, and morasses, over
+which a tropical sun sends down its burning rays, drawing up noxious
+vapours of every description, it may be considered, taken all in all, as
+one of the most unhealthy cities of the civilised world.  By care and
+proper drainage these defects might be amended, and, as the general
+temperature of the atmosphere is not excessive, it might become as
+healthy as any other place in those regions.
+
+Java is about two hundred miles long and forty broad, and has numerous
+deep inlets along the northern coast, where ships may anchor during the
+good or south-east monsoon.  A chain of mountains, from which a number
+of rivers descend to the sea, runs down the centre, and divides the
+island into two parts.  The air is cooled by the sea-breezes, which, as
+in the West Indies, set in every day.  The soil is particularly rich.
+It is cultivated by buffaloes, and in some places one is sufficient to
+drag a plough.  Java produces rice of a first-rate quality, sugar in
+abundance, cotton in considerable quantities, salt, timber, indigo,
+coffee, pepper, and various kinds of spices.
+
+Java is, in reality, governed by the Dutch East India Company; but it is
+divided into a number of provinces, ruled over by puppet princes with
+the title of Sultan.  At the court of each, one of the Company's chief
+officers, or head merchants, as they are called, resides.  In some of
+the provinces these petty emperors have been deposed, and they are
+governed by one of the Company's officers, under the title of Resident.
+The religion of these princes is Mohammedan, as is that of the natives
+generally, though intermixed with many superstitious observances.  No
+government rules a country with a more despotic system, or is more
+jealous of foreign interference with its trade.  I suspect, also, that
+none has done more injury to the advancement of civilisation in the
+East, from their readiness to submit to all the absurd customs and
+degrading ceremonies imposed on them by the Chinese and other
+semi-barbarous nations, for the purpose of advancing their mercantile
+interests.  Taught by them, these people look upon all Europeans as
+tribes of mean and despicable traders, who have neither the power nor
+the spirit to resent any injuries inflicted on them.
+
+In the environs of Batavia are a number of villages, some inhabited by
+Malays, and others by Chinese, who visit the island in great numbers,
+and carry on a considerable trade, notwithstanding the persecutions to
+which they have at times been subject.  In various beautiful spots, both
+near the city or the neighbouring hills, and along the sea-shore, are
+found the large and handsome country residences of the chief merchants
+and other authorities connected with the Company.  There are five
+principal roads which lead from the city towards the country, and which
+are planted with high and shady trees.  One of the most beautiful roads
+leading to the Port of Jacatra is closely planted with a double row of
+mango-trees, and both sides of it are embellished with large and
+pleasant gardens, and many fine and elegant buildings.  All the roads
+are much of the same description, and give a character of finished
+cultivation to the neighbourhood of the city.  Both sides of the
+streets, as well as of the numerous canals, are planted with fine trees,
+so that the country all round Batavia may well be characterised as a
+tropical Holland.
+
+The governor-general usually resides at his country-seat, called
+Weltevreeden, a superb mansion, about an hour and a quarter's walk from
+the city.  He there resides in great state, and never goes about without
+being attended by a body-guard, dressed in coats of scarlet cloth richly
+laced with gold.
+
+The ordinary habitations of the Europeans are of brick, run up in a
+light airy manner, and stuccoed on the outside.  They have sash-windows.
+The interiors are all on the same plan.  The fronts are in general
+narrow, and the houses extend back a long way from the street.  Fronting
+the entrance, a narrow passage, with a parlour on one side, leads to a
+large long room, lighted from an inner court, into which it opens.  This
+apartment is called the "gallery," and here the family live and dine.
+The floors are of large, square, dark-red stones.  No hangings are to be
+seen, but the walls are neatly stuccoed and whitened.  The furniture
+consists of some arm-chairs and two or three sofas.  On the walls are
+numerous looking-glasses, and chandeliers or lamps are hung in a row
+along the ceiling of the gallery, and are lighted up in the evening.
+The stairs leading to the upper rooms are generally at the end of the
+gallery.  The upper parts of the houses are divided much as below.  They
+are generally but scantily provided with furniture; indeed, from the
+heat of the climate but little is required.  Behind the gallery are the
+lodgings for the slaves, the kitchen, and the out-houses.  Instead of
+being glazed, the windows are often closed with a lath-work of rattans.
+
+Few of those in the city have gardens.  In the country, on the contrary,
+the greatest attention is paid to them, many of which are very
+beautiful, though laid out in the formal Dutch style, as they are full
+of the choicest flowers and shrubs.  Newman was especially struck with
+them.
+
+"Ah, this would indeed be a beautiful country to live in, if people
+could but manage not to die!" he exclaimed.  Unhealthy as the country
+undoubtedly is, the city itself is far worse, so that, as a place of
+residence, it is almost abandoned by the more wealthy merchants, who
+only visit it as a place of business--their fine mansions being turned
+into stores or counting-houses.
+
+Europeans at Batavia, of whatever nation, live much in the same way.
+They rise at daybreak, and sit for some time cooling themselves in the
+thinnest dress in which they have passed the night; then they dress, and
+breakfast on coffee or tea, and are at their offices at eight.  They
+work till nearly noon, when they dine, and take a nap till four, when
+they again attend to business till six.  Afterwards they drive out, or
+mix in social intercourse in an informal way till nine, when they sup,
+and retire to bed at eleven.  Newman, whose means of observation were
+greater than mine, told me that the men had their parties together, and
+the ladies theirs, which I should consider a very bad arrangement.  The
+men of higher rank--the upper merchants--are each attended by a slave,
+holding an umbrella behind him; but a junior merchant must carry his
+umbrella himself.
+
+The women marry very young, are very ill-educated, and pass much of
+their time lolling on sofas, talking and laughing with their slaves,
+whom another moment they will order to be whipped for the slightest
+offence.  Those born in the country have very supple joints, and can
+twist their fingers, hands, and arms in almost every direction.  What
+can be expected from women who are abandoned, almost as soon as born, to
+the care of ignorant slaves--little or no care being taken to inculcate
+moral or religious principles into their plastic minds, till they have
+fully imbibed all the superstitious notions and prejudices which are
+held by their attendants?  While saying this, I must urge parents at
+home never--if they value the eternal happiness of their children--if
+they wish them to imbibe right principles, and to avoid pernicious
+ones--to commit them to the charge of persons, however decent in their
+behaviour, who are not likely, from their want of education, to be able
+to instil them.  Parents, children were given you by God; and at your
+hands he will require them.  On your care, on your exertions, on your
+prayers, it depends whether they grow up a blessing to you and to
+themselves, or become miserable and lost.  Still, children, nothing will
+exonerate you, when you become free agents, and understand good from
+evil, if you reject the good and choose the evil.  You have more need
+for prayer, more need for exertion, more need for self-control, to
+conquer the vices which have grown up with you; and, believe Old Jack,
+however you may be weighed down with them, if you will but _try_, if you
+will but cast all your burden on Him who is alone able to bear it, you
+will succeed.
+
+Provisions of all sorts we found abundant and cheap.  The fruits are the
+cocoa, areca, banana, papaya, white and red shaddock, mangostan,
+rambootang, ananas, and betel.  Saffron is collected there, and every
+description of allspice.  The betel is a creeping-plant with an aromatic
+leaf.  The natives spread over the leaf a little slaked-lime, and place
+at one end a small piece of areca-nut and cardamom.  They then roll the
+leaf up, and masticate it for hours together.  It blackens their teeth
+and reddens their lips, and gives an effect which the Chinese and Malays
+admire considerably.
+
+Java abounds in serpents--the smallest is the most dangerous.  Its bite
+is said to cause death.  It is scarcely thicker than a candle, and from
+two to three feet long.  They are of various colours:--some grey,
+spotted with white; and others green, with bright red and white streaks.
+We heard of one twenty feet long, and of the thickness of a man's arm;
+and saw another stuffed, as big round as the body of a man, and about
+fifteen feet long.  The Javanese are likewise plagued with ants, and all
+sorts of creeping things.
+
+Having given a faint sketch of the mode of life of the rulers of this
+wealth-giving island, I must briefly describe the native inhabitants, as
+also some of the numerous tribes which flock there from other quarters.
+
+As I have already observed, the native princes, the nominal governors of
+the greater part of the country, are kept in the most perfect subjection
+by the Company; and the common Javanese are in the most abject state of
+slavery.  The labourer is not only obliged, at fixed periods, to deliver
+a certain quantity of the fruits of his industry to the regent placed
+over him on behalf of the Company, for whatever price the latter chooses
+to allow him, and that price, moreover, paid in goods, which are charged
+to him at ten times their real value; but he likewise cannot consider
+what may remain as his own property, not being permitted to do with it
+what he may think fit, nor allowed to sell it to others at a higher or a
+lower rate; on the contrary, he is compelled to part with this also, as
+well as with what the Company claimed of him, to the same petty tyrant,
+at an arbitrary price, very much below its real value.
+
+The Javanese, like all people living under a torrid zone and a despotic
+government, are of an indolent disposition, and, it is said, require
+great excitement to make them work; but the real secret of their
+idleness is the certainty that they will not be allowed to enjoy the
+fruits of their labour.  Possessing no certain property, they are
+satisfied with little.  The food of those who inhabit the level country
+is rice and fish; but those who dwell in the mountains use a root called
+_tallas_, with salt.  This salt they make out of the ashes of wood.
+Their dwellings are little huts, constructed of bamboos, plastered with
+mud, and thatched with broad leaves.  Their furniture consists of a
+bedstead made of bamboos, a block on which to pound their rice, two pots
+for boiling food, and a few cocoa-nut shells for drinking.  They seldom
+live much beyond their fiftieth year.  They were converted to Islamism
+about 1406, when the Arabian Chick-Ibn Molana came over, and, marrying
+the daughter of the king of Damak, received as her portion the province
+of Cheribon.  Their mosques are generally of wood, and perfectly
+unadorned; but the tomb and mosque of the said Ibn Molana form a
+magnificent edifice.  They do not place their dead in coffins, but wrap
+them in linen, and place a stone at the head and another at the foot of
+the grave, as seats for the two angels who, after their death, examine
+into their conduct while in this world.
+
+The Javanese are, in general, well-shaped; of a light-brown colour; with
+black eyes and hair, their eyes being much sunk in the head.  They have
+flattish noses and large mouths.  In figure, they are generally thin,
+though muscular; here and there only a corpulent person being seen.  The
+women, when young, have softer features than the men; but when they grow
+old, it is difficult to conceive any human being more hideous than they
+become.  A man's dress consists of a pair of linen breeches, scarcely
+reaching half-way down the thighs, and over this a sort of shirt of blue
+or black coarse cotton cloth, which hangs loose below the knee.  The
+hair of the head is bound up in a handkerchief, in the form of a turban.
+A woman's dress consists of a coarse chintz cloth, wrapped twice round
+the body, fastened under the bosom, and hanging down to the calf of the
+leg; over this is a short jacket, which reaches to the waist.  No
+covering is worn on the head, but the hair is bound up in a fillet, and
+fastened at the back of the head with large pins.  Sometimes chaplets of
+flowers are worn.  Children run about without clothes till they are
+eight years old.  Of course, I have been speaking only of the lower
+classes.  The upper generally dress with great magnificence.
+
+The Javanese are not much employed as domestic servants, but slaves have
+been brought from the coast of Bengal, Malabar, Sumatra, and other
+parts, as well as from Celebes, and often become very accomplished
+servants.  They are generally well-treated, and behave well; but their
+great vice is gaming, to which they are tempted by the Chinese, who keep
+the gaming-houses, and are much too cunning to allow the poor slaves to
+regain what they may have lost.  This vice, as is the case elsewhere,
+tempts them to rob their masters and to commit many other crimes, for
+the sake of supplying themselves with money to continue the practice, or
+to recover what they have lost.
+
+There are said to be a hundred thousand Chinese in and about Batavia,
+the whole population amounting only to a hundred and sixty thousand,
+made up of natives, Armenians, Persians, Arabs, Malays, Negroes, and
+Europeans.  We were witnesses of a curious spectacle one day, when the
+Chinese assembled from far and near to visit the tombs of their
+ancestors at Jacatra, near the site of the capital of that ancient
+kingdom.  The road from Batavia to Jacatra is a very fine one.  On
+either side it is adorned with magnificent palaces, occupied by the
+councillors of the Indies, the principal persons in the Company's
+service, and the richest merchants.  In front of these palaces, parallel
+to the causeway, is a navigable canal crossed by bridges very
+ingeniously constructed of bamboo.  On the opposite banks are numerous
+native villages, which are seen peeping through the cocoa, banana,
+papaya, and other bushy shrubs, with which every hut is surrounded.
+Near the ancient capital is the fortress to which the unhappy Prince of
+Genea withdrew when the Dutch conquered the kingdom, and where he lost
+his life fighting desperately.
+
+In the Chinese burying-place are great numbers of tombs, with
+inscriptions specifying the time of the death, age, name, and virtues of
+those whose remains are within.  The tombs are much ornamented, and
+surrounded with cypresses; and on either side are benches on which the
+relatives and friends may rest when they come to perform their funeral
+duties.  On the present occasion the tombs were ornamented with wreaths
+of paper or silk of different colours, and three wax tapers were burning
+on each.  Provisions, also, were either sent or brought, and placed as
+offerings on the tombs.  The most opulent were distinguished from the
+rest by the richness of their viands--fish, fruit, sweetmeats, and
+beverages.  These provisions, having been left for some hours on the
+tombs, were partly consumed by the family of the deceased, some was
+offered to the spectators, and the rest carried away.  Roasted fowls,
+which had been kept whole on purpose, were, however, left behind by
+some; for what purpose I could not ascertain.  These travelled Chinese
+had got over many of their national prejudices, and very politely
+offered Newman and me some of the good things; of which we partook with
+no little satisfaction, though, as my companion observed, a cemetery was
+an odd place to pic-nic in.
+
+Movable theatres were erected on one side of the cemetery, and temples
+had been built on the plain below.  These temples are large saloons,
+ornamented with grotesque and antique statues, especially those
+representing Josi in the midst of his family.  Josi, a disciple of
+Confucius, and afterwards his most confidential friend, rose from the
+dregs of the people, and became the greatest legislator of his nation.
+After the death of Confucius, the emperor banished him; so he retired in
+the bosom of his family to the low state from which he had sprung, where
+he declared that he enjoyed far more true happiness than he had ever
+done in his exalted position.  To him and his benignant laws the Chinese
+are indebted for the preservation of their manners, customs, and dress.
+He is always represented in his retirement after his labours for the
+public good were concluded.  We had here, as Newman observed, an example
+of the way in which the ancients deified their great men, and learned to
+worship them.
+
+Opposite each idol were burning red wax tapers, of different sizes, and
+matches of incense.  An altar or table covered with dainties stood in
+the middle of the temple, surrounded by idols; and in a room behind it
+was another altar, surmounted with a statue of Josi.  An old bonze or
+priest of venerable aspect, with a long white beard, stood up, reciting
+some prayers in a low voice.  He had on his head a white straw-hat, in
+the shape of a cone.  On the top of it was a little ball of gold, and
+behind a small tuft of red silk.  He kept continually bowing with great
+regularity, and every now and then let fall a piece of wood like a
+ruler, which he as often picked up again.  He was habited in a tunic of
+transparent violet silk, with a girdle of twisted silk ornamented with
+gold; and to it were attached the instruments required for the ceremony.
+Over this he wore a gold-embroidered robe, with long sleeves turned up
+at the wrists.  It was of violet colour, and a strong material; and,
+being closed all round, must have been put on over the head.  On his
+breast and back were two plates of rich gold embroidery, representing an
+eagle, or a bird like one.  In his hand he had a large fan, the case of
+which hung at his girdle like a knife-sheath.  His slippers were square
+at the toes, and embroidered with gold; but his legs were bare.
+
+Under the vestibule of the temple, a hog and a goat, with the horns on,
+were killed as burnt-offerings, and placed on a stand, with their
+entrails before them.  The interior of the temple was filled with tables
+covered with preserved fruits and tea, where the bonzes and rich people
+were sitting eating, drinking, and smoking; but none of the multitude
+ventured in.  Many female bonzes, or bonzesses, were in the vestibule,
+dressed in violet silk robes, but without embroidery.  Their hair was
+twisted and turned up behind, forming a round tuft, fastened with two
+diamond-headed pins.  These tufts were stuck round with other very rich
+pins, forming the beams of a most brilliant sun.  They took no part that
+we saw in the ceremonies.
+
+What I have described seemed to be a prelude to the ceremonies.  The
+bonzes, fifteen in number, left the vestry to the sound of shrill, noisy
+music.  They took their stations before the altar, where they made many
+genuflexions and gestures.  They then presented to the high-priest, who
+had no distinguishing mark, many meats which were on the altar.  On this
+he made various signs, pronouncing some words in a whining tone of
+lamentation.  After having made various libations with several liquors,
+which he spread over the offerings, the other bonzes replaced them on
+the altar.  One of them then took a card, containing characters, from
+which he sung.  Judging from the loud laughter of part of the auditory,
+the words seemed to have little analogy to the ceremony.  Every bonze
+held in his hand a box filled with incense matches, one of which he
+lighted as soon as its predecessor was extinguished.  After a repetition
+of this ceremony, during which the music was never discontinued, they
+entered the side-room to take refreshment.  Having drunk their tea, they
+went in procession to a second temple, where the same ceremony was gone
+through.  Thence they repaired to the theatre.  When they had reached
+the front of it they halted.  "Are they going to act?" said I.  "I
+should not be surprised," observed Newman.  "What are they but actors?
+The people, you see, have taken no part whatever in the matter."  The
+chief bonze mounted the theatre alone, and having made many violent
+gestures and exclamations, again descended, when the performances began.
+During these ceremonies the gates of the temples, and both sides of the
+theatres, were filled with common Chinese, a large number of whom were
+children, playing different games of chance.  I never saw people so fond
+of gaming as they are.
+
+A part of the roasted poultry was left all night on the tombs, the
+common people imagining that at that period the dead assemble and eat it
+up.  People in misfortune strew amulets over the graves of their
+ancestors, to obtain their favour.  These amulets are bits of silk
+paper, on which are spread pieces of leaf silver, which they fancy
+passes current as a paper-money among the dead.  I could not ascertain
+whether the hog and goat were actually offered up with any ceremony, or
+simply left to be devoured by the priests.
+
+"Have you ever seen anything like this before?" asked Newman, as we were
+on our way back to the ship.
+
+"Yes, I think I have," I answered.
+
+"So have I," he remarked, "in a Roman Catholic church.  The priests of
+Rome--ancient and modern--and these bonzes are much alike.  They have
+both copied their ceremonies from the Jews and the heathens of old,
+travestying them somewhat, to make them pass for their own.  Depend on
+it Josi understood human nature, and knew what would suit the taste of
+the vulgar."
+
+So numerous are the Chinese in Java, and so inclined to revolt, that the
+Dutch government are always careful to provide them with amusements.  In
+each place there is a chief, with the title of "captain," who is
+answerable for their good conduct.  He is obliged to maintain, at his
+own cost, a troop of female actors, called Bayadeers.  They perform,
+without exception, every night, from nine o'clock till daybreak, in a
+kind of theatre, in the middle of the street.  The play, as far as we
+could make out, represents the wars of the Tartars against the Chinese.
+Various chiefs, in different costumes, with their faces smeared black or
+white, or masked, come to announce a new war, in which they anticipate
+great success.  They harangue the soldiers with violent gestures.  Then
+comes a general or emperor, and, making another speech, gets up on a
+table with a chair on the top of it, when he takes his seat at the back
+of the stage.  The combatants then come in with long spears, and,
+fighting desperately, one party runs away, while the other has to listen
+to a long speech on their bravery.  The Tartars are known by their short
+coats, large trousers, helmets, sabres, and great shields.  The roaring
+music of gom-goms never stops during the performance.
+
+One day we visited the Chinese quarter, where there are an immense
+number of gaming and eating tables.  The seats, as well as the tables,
+are made of bamboo.  The Chinese eat with two little sticks, and use a
+spoon of china with a short crooked handle.  Each article of food is
+served on a little dish like a saucer.  The jelly, minced meats, and
+soup, are generally cold, while their beverages are hot.  The chief is
+arrack, sugar, and hot water.  The favourite dish is part of a dog, of a
+species with a smooth skin, which they carefully fatten.  It is eaten
+with every kind of sauce.  No people eat so much pork as the Chinese.
+The hundred thousand Chinese in Batavia are said to feed at least four
+hundred thousand pigs, which increase not a little the bad odours of the
+place.  Whether they do it to keep the Jews at a distance, I do not
+know, but the two people do not get on well together.
+
+We used to meet in the Chinese company, or quarter, curious processions
+of men, with marked or painted faces, having kettle-drums, gom-goms, and
+tambourines.  Some, grotesquely dressed, were carried on poles or in
+hampers, ornamented with paper, ribbons, and little bells; some were
+seated on monsters, like our representations of sea-horses.  These
+processions are in honour of the spirit of evil.  The reason they give
+for them is, that as the Divinity is infinitely good, it is not
+necessary to implore him; but the devil, on the contrary, must be
+feasted and amused, to prevent him from going about and committing
+mischief.  In every Chinese house, in a sort of shrine, is a picture of
+Confucius, represented as a great fat man, with the devil at his side
+tempting him.  On each side are pots of flowers and tapers of red wax,
+gilt, which are lighted on certain days, together with a little lamp in
+front, just as is seen in Romish chapels.
+
+Chinese girls are always shut up, and employed in sewing and embroidery;
+and parents arrange marriages without the couple having even seen each
+other.  The poorer sort, however, are allowed to serve in their shops.
+We heard the people generally well spoken of, as being good fathers,
+sons, husbands, and friends.  They carry on every art and traffic, and
+engross nearly all the house and ship building in Batavia, though they
+pay enormous annual duties to the Company on their industry and trade.
+Among other duties, they pay for being allowed to let their nails grow
+long, especially that of the little finger, as it is a proof that they
+do not work for their living.  The twisted tail, which they wear
+extremely long, often down to their knees, pays in proportion to its
+length.  It is measured every year at a fixed time.  To cut off the tail
+of a Chinaman, or to pare his nails, is looked upon as a most severe
+punishment.  Their dress consists of large trousers, and round coats,
+which reach to the middle of the thighs.  It is either of black or very
+bright sky-blue.  White is worn for mourning; and when for a very near
+relative, the collar has a rent in it.  They have a custom of keeping
+their dead for some days in the house, which, in such a warm climate,
+frequently causes bad fevers.  A Chinese house, where a death has
+happened, is known by a white cloth hung in lieu of the door.
+
+This information, through Newman's help, I picked up during our visits
+on shore.  The ship had been at anchor about a week, when we again went
+on shore, and had walked on for an hour or so, when, a little beyond
+Fort Ansol, we found ourselves in front of a Chinese temple, standing in
+a grove of cocoa-nut trees by the side of a rivulet, among very pretty
+scenery.  The building was about twenty feet long, and twelve wide.  The
+entrance was through a railing into a small area, and then into a hall,
+at the end of which was the sanctuary.  In the middle of the hall, just
+within the door, was an altar, on which red wax tapers were burning.
+There was also an image of a lion, richly gilt.  At the end of the hall
+was a picture of an old man and a woman, with crowns on their heads, and
+about two feet high.  They were, I suppose, Josi and his wife.  While we
+were there, several people came in, and prostrating themselves before
+the picture, knocked their heads continually against the ground.  At
+last a man came in to consult the idols by divination.  He had in his
+hand two small longitudinal pieces of wood, flat on one side, and round
+on the other.  Holding these pieces of wood, with the flat sides toward
+each other, he let them fall on the ground.  As they fell, with the flat
+or round side up, so he augured well or ill of some proposed enterprise
+or project.  He let the sticks fall upwards of twenty times, but seemed
+as ill-contented as at first with the promises they made.  Every time
+they prognosticated evil, he shook his head with a most disconsolate
+look.  I could not help saying, "Try it again, Chinaman; don't give in."
+Whether he understood me or not I do not know, but down he went on the
+ground, and thumped his head very hard and often.  Then he jumped up and
+threw the sticks, and I suppose the omen proved favourable, for with a
+joyful countenance he lighted a thick candle and placed it on the altar.
+As soon as he was gone, the cunning old bonze blew it out and sold it
+to the next comer.
+
+We must not be surprised to hear that the Chinese at times revolt
+against the authority of the Europeans among whom they live, and commit
+murders and other atrocities; and then to hear of a cruel massacre
+committed by the Dutch upon them in Batavia.  On one occasion, many
+thousands had collected; and some of them having been guilty of murders
+and robberies, a considerable apprehension was excited against the whole
+body.  The Council, therefore, determined that every Chinese who could
+not prove that he was obtaining an honest livelihood, should be
+transported to Ceylon, to be employed as a slave in the service of the
+Company.  Among others, a number of Chinese of wealth were seized; and a
+report getting abroad that all were to be thus treated, they flew to
+arms, and quitting the city in great numbers, took up their quarters in
+the mountains, and strengthened themselves so much as to render the fate
+of Batavia itself precarious.
+
+In this dilemma the Council offered the rebels an amnesty; but this they
+refused, and marching towards the city, ravaged the country on every
+side.  Here, however, they met with a severe repulse; and when the
+infuriated soldiers and sailors returned into the city, supposing that
+the Chinese who had remained quiet within their houses were about to
+revolt, they attacked them wherever they could be found.  All the
+Chinese, men, women, and children, without distinction, were put to the
+sword; the prisoners in chains were slaughtered; and even some wealthy
+people, who had fled to Europeans for safety, were, through the
+violation of every principle of humanity and morality, delivered up to
+their sanguinary pursuers--the Europeans embezzling the property
+confided to them.  Thus, all the Chinese, both innocent and guilty, were
+exterminated.  Notwithstanding this, however, thousands rushed in soon
+after to supply their places!  It was apprehended that this occurrence
+would excite the indignation of the Emperor of China, and, perhaps,
+induce him to stop their trade with his country; but when they sent
+deputies to apologise, their fears were shown to be groundless by his
+truly paternal reply,--to the effect that he was little solicitous for
+the fate of unworthy subjects, who, in the pursuit of lucre, had quitted
+their country, and abandoned the tombs of their ancestors!
+
+Notwithstanding the unhealthiness of the climate, and the impediments
+thrown in the way of commerce by the unwise restrictions of the Dutch,
+the Roads of Batavia are always full of the flags of all nations,
+attracted by the profit merchants are still able to make.  As Batavia
+is, or rather was, before Singapore was established, the sole depot for
+the spices of the Moluccas and the productions of the island of Java,
+consisting of rice, coffee, sugar, arrack, and pepper, ships were coming
+continually from every part of India, Africa, and even Europe; and as
+they were not allowed to take away coin, they were compelled to fill up
+with some or other of the above-mentioned productions.  The trade,
+indeed, was one almost exclusively of barter.
+
+Bengal sent drugs, patnas, blue cloths, different kinds of stuffs, and
+opium; which were exchanged for rice, sugar, coffee, tea, spices,
+arrack, a small quantity of silks, and china-ware.  The kings of Achen
+and Natal, in the island of Sumatra, sent camphor--the best which is
+known--benzoin, birds'-nests, calin, and elephants' teeth; and in return
+took opium, rice, patnas, and frocks, which were made at Java, Macassar,
+and the Moluccas.  The princes of the Isle of Borneo sent gold dust,
+diamonds, and birds'-nests; and took opium, rice, patnas, frocks,
+gunpowder, and small guns, as they said, to defend themselves against
+pirates, but, in reality, for their own use as pirates.
+
+The Americans brought kerseymeres, cloths, hats, gold-wire,
+silver-galloon, stationery, wine, beer, Seltzer water, provisions, and
+piastres; in exchange for spices, sugar, arrack, tea, coffee, rice,
+rushes, and Chinese silk and porcelain.  The Muscat ships brought
+piastres and gum-arabic; those from the Isle of France, wine, olive-oil,
+vinegar, hams, cheese, soap, common trinkets, and ebony.
+
+From the Cape of Good Hope were received kitchen-garden seeds, butter,
+Constantia and Madeira wines; while the Chinese brought immense
+quantities of porcelain and silks of every kind, taking in return opium,
+ebony, sandal-wood, spices, and birds'-nests.  These nests are half the
+size of a woman's hand.  They are made by a very small sea-swallow,
+(_Hirundo esculenta_), and consist of a glutinous substance, interwoven
+with filaments.  They are found in the cavities of steep rocks on the
+coast of all the Sunda Islands, on the northern shores of Australia, and
+in many other parts of the Indian Seas.  The native way of procuring
+them is by fixing a stick on the summit of the precipice, with a
+rope-ladder secured to it, whence the hunters descend in their search
+into the most perilous situations.  Although they have neither taste nor
+smell, yet, from being supposed to be both tonic and a powerful
+stimulant, they are an ingredient in all the ragouts of the most wealthy
+people in China.  They make an excellent broth.  The white nests are
+most in request.  They are prepared by being first washed in three or
+four changes of lukewarm water.  When they have been some time in it,
+they puff up like large vermicelli.  Europeans, indeed, discover nothing
+more in this singular dish than an insipid jelly, very much indeed
+resembling vermicelli, when simply boiled.
+
+After Java was restored to the Dutch, England still carried on a
+considerable commerce with the island; but it is far smaller than it
+would be under a less restricted system.
+
+The Dutch were for long the only European nation who kept up any
+commercial communication with Japan, because no other would submit to
+the absurd restrictions and degrading ceremonies imposed by that
+barbarian power.  Every year, the governor-general sent a ship of
+fifteen hundred tons, laden with kerseymeres, fine cloths, clock-work,
+and spices.  These were chiefly exchanged for bars of copper, which were
+made into a very clumsy kind of coin for paying the native and European
+troops, as well as the people employed in the counting-houses of Java
+and the Moluccas.  These ingots are of the finest red copper, and as
+thick as the finger.  They are cut into two, four, six, and eight
+sous-pieces of Holland.  The value is inscribed on them.  This coin is
+termed in the Malay language _baton_, which signifies a stone.  The
+captain, however, brings back furniture, fans, various articles of
+copper, and sabres--the temper of the blades of which equals the best
+workmanship of Turkey.  The cargo always contains a present to the
+emperor; and he, in return, sends one to the Dutch governor-general.
+
+When the Batavian ship is seen, the emperor's agent hails it, to demand
+whether the captain is a Christian.  He replies that he is Dutch, when a
+signal is made for him to approach.  From that moment he is boarded by
+innumerable armed boats.  He is first boarded to see that he has neither
+women nor books; for the law is very severe against the introduction of
+either into the island.  Were either found on board, the ship would be
+sent back without being allowed to anchor.  This visit concluded, the
+merchandise is landed, the ship is disarmed and unrigged without the aid
+of the captain or crew, and the guns and rigging are carried on shore.
+The captain transmits the bill of lading to the emperor's agent, with a
+note of what he desires in exchange, and waits quietly for the
+merchandise he is to have in return.  Provisions are amply supplied in
+the meantime to the crew.  When the return merchandise is ready on the
+beach, the emperor having notified what he chooses for the ensuing year,
+the Japanese themselves again load the vessel, replace her rigging, and
+restore her arms, papers, and effects, of which they took possession on
+her arrival.  There is no instance of anything having been lost; indeed,
+the Dutch speak of the Japanese as a most honest people.  They are said
+to leave their shops and stores without guards or clerks.  If a Japanese
+goes to a shop, and finds no one there, he takes the article he wants,
+lays down the value marked on it, and goes out.  All the streets of the
+towns are closed at night by iron gates, and each Japanese is
+responsible for his neighbour; so they are all interested that no harm
+should happen to one another.  When a theft is committed in any quarter,
+and the author cannot be discovered, the crier, (who is a kind of police
+agent), the judge of the division, and the neighbours are compelled to
+make good the loss, and are subject to severe corporal punishment.
+
+Very little in those days was known of the interior of Japan, as the
+Dutch ambassadors were compelled to submit to the most humiliating
+conditions to keep up their intercourse with the country.  On visiting
+the capital, they were conveyed in palanquins, well enclosed with fixed
+lattice-work, like prison-vans in England; and the bearers dared not,
+for fear of their lives, indulge them with a view of the country through
+which they passed.  This information about Japan Newman gained from one
+of the officers of the ship trading there.  To return to Java.
+
+One day when we were on shore, we saw a great confusion among the crowd,
+who were dispersing on every side, as if in mortal dread of something;
+and presently we saw a half-naked Malay with a long dagger in his hand,
+striking right and left at everybody he met, killing some and wounding
+others.  As he ran on, crying out in his frenzy, "_Amok--amok--amok_!
+kill--kill--kill!" we saw some of the police dashing towards him with
+long poles, at the end of which was a fork of wood with iron spikes
+inside it.  He dodged by several of them, killing one on his way, till
+at last a guard met him full in front, and he ran in on the fork, when
+he was immediately pinned to the ground; but even then he struck out on
+every side with his glittering weapon.
+
+This is what is called running a _muck_! from the word used _amok_--
+kill!  He had, as is the custom, taken a large quantity of opium, and
+thus excited himself to fury in consequence of some supposed or real
+injury he had received from his master!  Most of these mucks are run by
+slaves brought from Celebes.  Being mortally wounded, he was immediately
+broken alive on the wheel, in the presence of two councillors of
+justice.
+
+It is remarkable, that at Batavia, where the assassins, when taken
+alive, are broken on the wheel, the mucks are of great frequency; while
+at Bencoolen, where they are executed in the most simple and least cruel
+way, they seldom occur.  Slaves who have murdered their masters, were
+executed with the most horrible barbarity by being impaled.  An iron was
+passed down their backs, so as not to touch any vital part, and by it
+they were suspended, one end of the iron rod being fixed in a post ten
+feet from the ground.  If the weather is dry, they may live on many days
+in that horrid position; but if water enters the wound, mortification
+ensues, and they quickly die.
+
+The Javanese emperors used till lately to throw their criminals to wild
+beasts, or compelled them to enter into combat with them.  I heard a
+story of a Javanese who was condemned to be torn in pieces by tigers.
+On being thrown down from the top of a large cage, he fell across the
+back of the largest and fiercest of them, where he sat astride!  So
+intimidated was the animal, that he did not attempt to injure him; while
+the others, awed by the unusual appearance, endeavoured to avoid him!
+The poor wretch, however, having been condemned to death, was shot dead
+in the cage.  This custom was, however, prohibited by the French.  Of
+course I have been speaking of a state of things as they existed some
+years ago, and I daresay some improvements have taken place; but at the
+same time the Dutch are of a very conservative disposition, and I
+suspect that most of my descriptions would be found correct even at the
+present day.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY.
+
+STRANGE ADVENTURES AND NAVAL EXPLOITS.
+
+Not very long before we sailed, Newman and I had gone on shore, he
+taking a large sketch-book under his arm; and striking up into the
+country, we reached a beautiful spot, the outlines of which he wished to
+commit to paper.  We sat ourselves down under the shade of a
+wide-spreading palm, not far from the road.  While Newman took the
+sketch with his pencil, and in a masterly way threw in the colours, I
+read to him from a volume, I think, of the "Spectator."  During this
+time a gentleman, attended by two servants in handsome liveries rode by.
+Seeing two common sailors, as our dresses showed we were, employed in a
+way so unusual, he dismounted, and, prompted by curiosity, came to see
+what the draughtsman had produced.  He had been watching us for more
+than a minute before Newman observed him.  Newman had a quick, prompt
+manner in addressing people, which arose somewhat from pride, I suspect,
+lest they should look down upon him; and seeing a stranger, he at once
+spoke to him in German, remarking on the beauty of the scenery.  The
+gentleman stared at being thus addressed, but replied in the same
+language, asking leave to look at the sketch he had just finished.
+Newman frankly showed him that and several others, which the stranger
+admired.
+
+"You are a German, I presume?" said the gentleman.
+
+Newman replied that he was an Englishman.
+
+"You speak Dutch also, perhaps?" asked the stranger.
+
+"Slightly," said Newman; "but I prefer German, though I am more fluent
+in French."
+
+"Ah, that is a tongue I am fond of," remarked the gentleman.  "But may I
+ask where you picked up your knowledge of languages?"
+
+"In the world," replied Newman, carelessly.  "'Tis a large book, and its
+leaves are never closed."
+
+"I am afraid that you will think me impertinent if I continue to ask
+questions," said the stranger; "but I shall be glad to know to what ship
+you belong?"
+
+Newman told him.
+
+"Ah, I know your captain--an honest man.  I am under great obligations
+to him.  Are many of his crew able to amuse themselves as you two appear
+to be doing?"
+
+"Some have lately taken to drawing and singing, and a few who could not
+read when the voyage began are now apt scholars," answered Newman,
+carelessly.  "We have occasionally a good deal of spare time on board a
+whaler, though we often have to work hard enough."
+
+A little further conversation passed.  "I must not longer detain you
+from your task," said the gentleman.  "I hope that we shall meet again."
+
+He bowed to Newman, and nodded good-naturedly to me.  He saw that I was
+but a common sailor, at the same time that he evidently discerned the
+educated gentleman in my friend.  When I speak of Newman as a gentleman,
+it must be understood that he was not particularly polished or refined
+in his manners or habits, though more so far than were those with whom
+he associated forward.  His manners were too blunt and independent to be
+called polished, and he could rough it as well as any of us, eating the
+same coarse food and wearing the same rough clothes as we did, without
+inconvenience.
+
+When the gentleman had gone, Newman and I discussed who he could be.
+"Rather an inquisitive old fellow, I suspect," said Newman.  "He is a
+Dutchman, I judge, by the way he pronounced both German and French,
+though he spoke them well."
+
+"How are you so well able to distinguish the difference in
+pronunciation?"  I asked.
+
+"I was educated in Germany," he answered.  "I learned a good many things
+there besides what my tutors intended to teach me.  You must not suppose
+that I could have picked up the various bits of information I possess in
+any English place of education.  As it is, we beat most other nations in
+whatever we set our hands to; but if English lads had the same style of
+instruction given in most of the countries in Europe, modified to suit
+our characters, we should beat them all hollow, wherever we encountered
+them abroad."
+
+It must be remembered that this conversation took place many years ago,
+and that very considerable improvements have since taken place in the
+style of education afforded to boys in many of our schools in England.
+
+We thought very little at the time of our encounter with the Dutch
+gentleman, though, as it proved, it had a very great influence on
+Newman's fate.
+
+When we got on board, we found that the ship was likely to remain some
+time longer in the Roads, and that we might have a chance of seeing
+something more of the country.  As Malays, or natives, are employed in
+those hot climates to do the hard work on board ship, as Kroomen are on
+the coast of Africa--such as wooding and watering--we had more leisure
+time than we should otherwise have enjoyed.  That evening a number of
+us, among whom was Tom Knowles, were sitting on the forecastle spinning
+yarns, when he told us what I did not know before--that he had served
+aboard a man-of-war at the taking of Java.
+
+"You must know, mates," he began, taking out his quid and stowing it
+away in his waistcoat-pocket, "I belonged to a whaler which was lost out
+here, when those of her crew who escaped were picked up by an Indiaman
+and carried to Madras.  I with others was there pressed on board the
+_Caroline_ frigate.  I didn't much like it at first; but when I had
+shaken myself, and looked about me, and heard that the captain was a
+fine sort of a fellow, I thought it was just as well to do my duty like
+a man, and to make myself happy.  Captain Cole, that was his name,
+wasn't a chap to let the grass grow under the ship's bottom.  Directly
+after I joined, we were ordered off to Amboyna, in company with the
+_Piemontaise_, Captain Foote; the 18-gun brig _Barracouta_; and
+transport _Mandarin_, with a hundred European soldiers.  We heard that
+when the captain went to take his leave of the admiral--Drury was his
+name--he asked leave just to knock up some of the Dutch settlements on
+the way.
+
+"`Well,' says the admiral, `there's no harm just frightening them a
+little, and you may be able to surprise a port or two; but don't go and
+get into mischief, now, and hurt yourselves.  There are several
+impregnable places, such as Banda, for instance, which it would be out
+of the question for you to attack.  Vast heaps of wealth are stored up
+there, so the Dutch will take precious good care that you don't get into
+the place.'
+
+"`We'll see about that,' thought the captain to himself, winking with
+the eye which was turned away from the admiral.  `Of course, sir, we'll
+do nothing rash,' says he.  `It isn't the way of English sailors.  We
+are always steady, sure sort of fellows.'
+
+"`That's right,' says the admiral; and away went the captain, having
+made up his mind to a thing or two.
+
+"We reached Palo-Penang on the 30th May, in the year 1810.  There the
+captain persuaded the governor to let him have about twenty
+artillery-men and a lot of scaling-ladders; and having learned something
+more about the chief place in Banda, called Banda-Neira, he kept to the
+resolution he had all along in his mind, to try and get possession of
+it.  In spite of the south-east monsoon, away we sailed, therefore, for
+the Java Sea.  As it would not have done to let the Dutchmen in other
+places guess what we were about to do, he determined to take the ship
+through the passage between the big island of Borneo and Malwalli.  It
+was a touch-and-go matter to get through, for in every direction there
+were coral-reefs, which would pretty soon have brought us up if we had
+run on them; but we had look-outs at the jib-boom-end and the
+topsail-yard-arms, and as the water was clear, and the weather fine, we
+escaped all danger.
+
+"Early in the morning, on the 8th of July, we made the Banda Islands,
+and by night were up with the place called Banda-Neira.  As we stood in,
+the guns from the fort opened on us; but seeing they did us no harm,
+they soon left off throwing away their powder.  That very evening there
+was a sudden change in the weather, and it came on to blow and rain very
+hard.
+
+"`Too good a chance to be thrown away,' thought the captain.  `We shall
+never be able to take this place in common ship-shape fashion; but as
+the Mynheers won't be expecting us on such a bad night as this, and
+what's more, won't hear us coming, I'll just see if we can't get on
+shore in the boats and give them a surprise.'
+
+"Now, anyone looking at Banda-Neira would have thought that it would be
+quite impossible to take it with the small force we had got with us;
+but, as I said, our captain wasn't a man to trouble his head about
+impossibilities.
+
+"The place was two miles long and half a mile wide, and protected by no
+less than ten sea-batteries and two strong forts--one called Belgica,
+and the other Nassau.  They commanded each other, as they did the ten
+sea-batteries.  The first alone mounted fifty-two heavy guns; and
+altogether there were no less than one hundred and thirty-eight guns in
+the place.  Having run in within two cables' length of the shore, we
+dropped our anchors, and at 11 p.m. the boats under the command of
+Captain Cole shoved off with three hundred and ninety men, including
+officers.  The place we were to pull for was the east point of Banda.
+What a night it was--blowing and raining like fury and dark as pitch!
+but that, in many respects, was all the better for us.  Captains Cole
+and Kenah arrived first at the appointed spot in their gigs, and only by
+degrees did some of the other boats get up there--it was so difficult to
+find our way.  The boat I was in, with several others, grounded on a
+coral-reef, not a hundred yards from a sea-battery, which we found
+mounted no less than ten long 18-pounders; and as they pointed directly
+on the reef, they could very soon have knocked us all to pieces.
+Fortunately, the garrison slept so soundly, or the rain and wind made
+such a clatter, that they did not discover us.  Overboard we all jumped,
+and soon had the boats afloat, and pulling on, we reached a snug little
+sandy cove, surrounded by trees or jungle.  Here the captain mustered
+us, and found that he had only got about a hundred and forty seamen and
+marines, and forty red jackets, with Captain Kenah, five lieutenants,
+and some soldier officers.  Among the lieutenants was one called
+Lieutenant Edmund Lyons, with whom I afterwards was at the taking of
+another place, of which I'll tell you presently.  Well, as I was saying,
+it was pelting and blowing and as black as pitch; and though we had
+little more than half our force on shore, our captain did not like to
+give up the enterprise, so says he, `My lads, I should just like to take
+possession of some of these forts, but we are a small number to do it, I
+own; yet, if I thought all would follow, I'd lead the way.'
+
+"We didn't shout, but we told him that, to a man, we were ready to go
+wherever he thought fit to lead us.
+
+"`Then,' said he, `we'll just walk into the Dutchmen's castles before
+they've time to rub their eyes.'
+
+"Captain Kenah, with a party of us armed with pikes, on this at once
+advanced to the rear of the nearest battery.  Not a word was spoken, and
+the noise of the storm drowned the sound of our footsteps.  We got close
+up to the fort--a sentry was marching up and down--a pike was into him
+before he could discharge his musket--and in an instant we were over the
+ramparts.  We could see the Dutchmen, match in hand, at their guns on
+the sea side, and very much surprised were they to find us in their
+rear, knocking them down right and left, before they had time to fire a
+shot.  They cried for quarter, and we had sixty of them prisoners in a
+few minutes.  Leaving a few men to take charge of the battery, Captain
+Kenah was pushing on to take possession of the next, when Captain Cole
+sent to say he had got hold of a guide, and was going to take Fort
+Belgica itself.
+
+"Away we went along a narrow winding path, towards the castle.  The
+Dutchmen's bugles were sounding in all directions, showing us that they
+were awake; but probably they didn't know where their enemies were to be
+found.  We had got close up to the citadel before we were discovered;
+and then, though they began firing away pretty briskly, as they could
+not see us, and were, I guess, in a mortal fright, none of us were hit.
+Those in front had the scaling-ladders, and, with their help, we managed
+to climb up the steep bank on which the castle stood; and in no time, it
+seemed, we were in possession of all the lower works.  We were not in
+though yet; but we soon hauled up the scaling-ladders, and began to
+place them against the wall of the citadel, when we found out that they
+were too short--more's the shame to the fellows who made them!  The
+enemy discovering this, began peppering away at us with musketry, and
+fired several round-shot into the bargain.  Here was a sell!  We began
+to think that we should have to be about-ship, when what should we see,
+but the gates open to let in the governor and some other officers who
+had been sleeping outside the walls.  The opportunity was not to be
+lost.  Led by our gallant captain, we made a dash at the gate.  The
+colonel defended it bravely, but he and several of his men were killed
+in a minute, and on we rushed into the very centre of the fort.  Never
+were fellows in such a mortal fright as were the Dutchmen.  Daylight
+just then breaking, we saw them scrambling and leaping, like a flock of
+sheep, over the walls.  However, some of the officers, and forty
+artillery-men, gave themselves up as prisoners.
+
+"We now had the British Jack flying away on the flagstaff above our
+heads.  Still, we were a very small band to hold the forts we had
+conquered, and we looked out with no little anxiety for the arrival of
+the rest of our force.  What had become of the boats we could not tell;
+but as the sun rose, we saw the _Caroline_ and the other ships standing
+in towards the town.
+
+"The Dutchmen did not know our numbers, probably; so the captain,
+putting a bold face on the matter, sent a flag of truce to Fort Nassau,
+to say that if the troops didn't behave themselves, and cease firing, he
+would fire into them with a vengeance, and into the city to boot.  Now,
+from what we had done, the Dutchmen, having no doubt that he would keep
+his word, hauled down their flag; and before many hours were out,
+thinking discretion the best part of valour, their whole force, regulars
+and militia, to the number of one thousand and five hundred, laid down
+their arms on the glacis of Fort Nassau.  Thus you see what a few brave
+men, when well led, can do.
+
+"Of our one hundred and eighty men, we lost very few.  Our less
+fortunate shipmates in the boats, after knocking about all night, got
+alongside the transport _Mandarin_.  Captain Foote was left as governor
+of the island with a garrison, while we went on to Amboyna.  Our captain
+was a fine fellow.  The ship's company afterwards presented him with a
+sword worth a hundred guineas, to show their love and estimation of his
+bravery.  Several cups and swords were presented to him by the officers
+and soldiers.  I can't tell you what loads of prize-money we got from
+that place, but I can tell you that it very soon found its way out of
+the pockets of most of us.
+
+"Well, as I was saying, I afterwards joined the _Minden_ 74, to which
+ship Lieutenant Edmund Lyons belonged.  We had been cruising with a
+squadron off this place, Batavia.  Now there was at the north-eastern
+end of Java, not far from the Straits of Madura, a very strong fort or
+castle on Pauka Point, lately erected, called Fort Marrack.  It was a
+considerable annoyance to all ships passing that way, and it was
+therefore deemed important to destroy it.  However, as only between four
+and five hundred men could be spared for the enterprise, it was given
+up, as that number was looked upon as insufficient for the undertaking.
+However, the _Minden_, having on board a number of Dutch prisoners,
+Lieutenant Lyons was directed to land them in the launch and cutter at
+Batavia.  I was in the launch.  After we had put the Mynheers on shore,
+we stood along the coast to the eastward, for the lieutenant was in no
+hurry to get back to the ship.  He had got something in his head, do you
+see?  He remembered what he had helped to do with Captain Cole; so says
+he to himself, `I'll just see if we can't play the Dutchmen just such
+another trick with regard to this here Fort Marrack.'  When he had got a
+thing into his head to do, which he thought could be done, it was no
+easy matter for anyone else to knock it out again, till he had tried
+whether he was right or wrong.
+
+"Two days after landing the prisoners, we got up to the fort just at
+dark.  The lieutenant had a look at it, just to arrange his plan; and we
+then ran under a point of land, where we lay snug out of sight till the
+darkest part of the night.  At first the moon was up, and would have
+discovered us to the enemy.  The fort mounted fifty-four heavy guns, and
+had a garrison of one hundred and eighty regulars; but what did we care
+for that!  We waited eagerly for the moon to go down, and then we both
+pulled away with muffled oars for the fort.  There was a good deal of
+surf on the shore, but we hoped its noise, aided by the darkness, would
+prevent our approach being discovered.  However, the Dutchmen had
+learned to be more awake than when we took Fort Belgica, and as we got
+close under the land, the sentinels let off their muskets to give the
+alarm.  No time was to be lost.  Lieutenant Lyons ordered us to run the
+boats through the surf right on to the shore, under the very muzzles of
+the guns in the lower tier.  `On, my lads!--on!' he exclaimed, leading
+us, sword in hand, right up over the embankment into the lower battery
+before the Dutchmen had time to look round them.  We found the gunners
+as before, with their matches in their hands, and had to kill three of
+them to prevent their firing.  Having knocked down every man we found,
+we did not stop to look around, but followed our gallant leader into the
+upper battery, which, in as little time as I have taken to describe, was
+in our possession.  It was `Hurrah, my boys!--at them!' and after a
+minute's cutting, and slashing, and firing of pistols, and dashing them
+at each other's heads, the place was ours.  That's the way we used to do
+things in the war, when once a plan had been determined on by our
+officers!
+
+"But we had still plenty of work to do, for when we went on and reached
+the highest part of the fort, we found a large body of Dutch troops
+drawn up to receive us.  Nothing daunted by this, our gallant
+lieutenant, singing in Dutch, and French, and English, and all sorts of
+languages, that he had got four hundred men at his back, and would give
+no quarter if any opposition was offered, we fired a volley, and at them
+again we went, cutlass, and pike, and bayonet in hand.  Whether they had
+Dutch courage in them or not, I don't know, but certainly they did not
+like our appearance; and as we came up with them they turned tail, and
+off they went helter-skelter through a gateway in the rear of the fort.
+After them we went, and sent the last man out with a hearty good kick,
+and shut the gate after him!
+
+"No sooner had we got the fort to ourselves than the enemy began
+peppering away at us from a fort in the rear, and from a couple of
+gun-boats; and considering that we hadn't the four hundred men the
+lieutenant talked of, but only just the two boats' crews, we had enough
+to do to spike the guns, and to keep up a brisk fire in return.  You may
+be sure, mates, we were as busy as ants doing all the mischief we could
+in a short time.  We had a young midshipman with us, Mr Franks, not
+fifteen years old; and while the fire was at the hottest, in the middle
+of it he hoisted the British ensign on the flagstaff on the top of the
+fort.
+
+"While we were busy spiking the gnus, and firing away right and left, we
+made out, through the darkness, what we took to be a large body of Dutch
+troops.  There were plenty of light carriage guns in the fort; and when
+information was brought him, Lieutenant Lyons ordered us to slue round
+two of them, and bring them close up to the gate.  When we had done so,
+he and Mr Langton loaded them up to the muzzles with grape and musket
+balls.  On came the enemy.  He let them get close up to the gate, and
+then he and the midshipman fired slap in among them.  It was much more
+than they expected, and lest they should get another dose, they put
+about in a great hurry, and off they went as fast as they could pelt, we
+hallooing and hurrahing after them.  You may be sure we didn't follow
+them, or they would soon have found out the trick we had played them.
+All the time no one had been killed, and only Mr Langton and three men
+slightly wounded; but from the number of troops brought against him, Mr
+Lyons saw that we could not hope to hold the fort; so while the Dutch
+troops were scampering off in one direction, we bolted over the ramparts
+in the other.  When we got down to the beach, we were not a little taken
+aback by finding that the surf had driven the barge right up on the
+shore and bilged her; but, fortunately, the cutter was still afloat.  So
+we all got into her as silently as mice, and shoved off, leaving the
+fort to take care of itself.  We were much amused by seeing the Dutchmen
+outside firing away into it as hard as ever.  When they discovered their
+mistake, I don't know; but whenever they did, they must have found all
+the guns spiked, and the British ensign flying triumphantly over their
+heads, to show them who had done all the mischief.
+
+"We got safely back to the _Minden_ next day, none of us much the worse
+for the exploit.  Soon after that, the whole of Java and its
+dependencies capitulated to Sir Robert Stopford and General Wetherall.
+This was the only service I saw in the navy--for within a year of that
+time I got my discharge, and once more joined a whaler."
+
+Old Tom's account of these two gallant exploits was received by all
+hands with great applause, for that is just the sort of work in which
+seamen delight, and I know that all of us wished we had been with him.
+I need scarcely say that the Lieutenant Edmund Lyons of those days was
+afterwards the well-known Admiral Lord Lyons, who, from that
+commencement, won his way up to his well-deserved honours.
+
+Two days after our encounter with the Dutch gentleman on shore, the
+captain sent for Newman into his cabin.  He was some time away; and when
+he came forward, I saw that his countenance wore an unusually pleased
+expression.
+
+"What has happened?"  I asked.
+
+"Why, the captain tells me that the stranger we met the other day is a
+Mr Von Kniper, some great man or other, with whom he has long been
+acquainted; and that he has sent to request the captain to bring me to
+dine with him.  The captain is very good-natured about it, and says that
+he shall be very happy to take me.  But it will be difficult to find a
+dress to go in.  It will never do to appear in a round jacket.  So,
+taking all things into consideration, I think that I shall decline the
+honour."
+
+"That would be a pity," said I.  "You don't know to what the visit may
+lead."
+
+"To be stared at and patronised as the common sailor who can draw and
+talk German; and then to have the cold shoulder turned towards me the
+next day, or to be passed unrecognised!" he answered, with no little
+bitterness.  "I am more independent, and safer from annoyance, in the
+position I have chosen to occupy.  I'll not go out of it."
+
+I tried to reason him out of his resolution.
+
+"It may be a turning-point in your fortune," I observed.
+
+"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads
+on to fortune," he repeated.  "You don't suppose that the flood will
+ever set in for me.  The current has been too long running the other way
+for me ever to expect it to change.  I am content to let it continue its
+old course, and swim merrily with it."
+
+Had Newman been left to himself, I do not know that he would have
+altered his opinion; but soon after this the captain again sent to see
+him.
+
+"Well, Jack, I must needs go where the wind drives," he remarked, as he
+came forward.  "Our skipper is certainly a very good-natured fellow.  He
+not only insists on my going with him to the house of Mynheer Von
+Kniper, but tells me that he has made arrangements for rigging me out in
+full fig for the occasion.  It will be very good fun, I daresay; and I
+only wish that you could be there to enjoy it."
+
+"If I saw you happy, I should be happy; but I could not enjoy such a
+scene as that myself.  I should feel so completely like a fish out of
+water."
+
+"Oh, nonsense!" he answered; "a man has only quietly to observe what
+others do, and not to attempt to show himself off, or to broach any
+subject, and he will generally pass muster as a well-behaved person.
+However, as Mr Von Kniper did not ask you to come, of course you cannot
+go.  Well, I dare say that I shall have enough to make you laugh when I
+come back."
+
+I am not at all certain that Newman was right in his last observation.
+Practice and experience are absolutely necessary to fit a person for any
+station of life; and no wise man will ever wish to step into one for
+which he is not fitted by education or habit, or to associate with those
+with whom he has no ideas or associations in common.  The great mistake
+numbers of well-intentioned people make, is the wish to rise in the
+world themselves, or that their children may rise in it to a superior
+station to that in which they were themselves born.  They forget that
+the reason why they were sent into the world was to prepare them for
+another and a better existence; that this world is no abiding-place; and
+that, therefore, it is worse than folly to take toil and trouble to
+climb up a few steps in the ladder which will enable us to look down on
+our fellow-worms still crawling below us.  There is one most important
+thing parents should teach their children--one most important thing
+children should desire--"To do their duty in that station of life in
+which it has pleased God to call them."  Their sole motive should be
+love to their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, who thus commanded them to
+act.  At the same time, they may be well assured that if they do their
+duty with all their heart--if they do diligently whatever their hand
+finds to do--they will not fail to be placed in those posts of honour
+and responsibility which even worldly men are always anxious to get such
+persons to fill.  We see how Joseph was raised to honour in Egypt, how
+Daniel was respected at the court of Babylon.  The Bible is full of such
+examples, and those examples were given for our instruction.  Those men
+rose, not because they wished to rise, but because they strove to do
+their duty--to worship the Lord their God with singleness of heart.
+
+Poor Newman!  I saw that under his pretended indifference there was no
+little satisfaction at the thought of occupying, even for a day, a
+position in which he probably had once been accustomed to shine.  My
+only fear was, that when he got back to the forepeak, and our rough
+manners and rougher conversation, he would remark the contrast, and
+become discontented with the lot he had chosen.
+
+The next day he and the captain went on shore to the dinner-party.  As
+he stepped into the boat, and took his seat in the stern-sheets, I could
+not help remarking how completely the gentleman he looked.  I must own
+that I waited with no little anxiety for his return, to hear what had
+occurred.  I never before had been so intimate with any man as with
+Newman.  I told him without reserve all that was in my heart, and he
+spoke freely to me, at the same time that he never once, even in the
+most remote manner, alluded to his past history.  It was merely
+casually, when speaking of Mynheer Von Kniper, that he mentioned having
+been educated in Germany, or probably he would never even have told me
+that.  On religious subjects, also, he never uttered an opinion; but
+from his very silence I had reason to believe that he entertained
+notions which were very far removed from the truth.  Among all his books
+he had no Bible, and no works bearing on religion.  He appeared to have
+studiously kept all such out of his library, as he did religion itself
+out of his thoughts.  If I ever alluded to it, even in the remotest
+degree, he instantly turned the conversation; and whenever it was
+mentioned in the berth, which was, indeed, very seldom, his countenance
+assumed a look of cold, callous indifference, or a marked expression of
+scorn, which indicated too plainly what were his real opinions on the
+subject.
+
+With regard to myself, I had always been a believer, though a sadly cold
+and careless one, except when roused by some particular occurrences, as
+I have mentioned in the course of my history.  I still at this time
+continued much in the same dangerous state, but in other respects a
+great change had occurred.  Deeply, indeed, was I indebted to Newman for
+it.  He had awakened my mind out of its long sleep, and if I could not
+call myself an educated man, I at least had learned to prize the
+advantages of education, and was endeavouring to improve myself, and was
+greedy to gain knowledge wherever I could obtain it.  No person could
+have devoted himself more earnestly to my instruction than did my
+friend.  He seemed never to weary in helping me over difficulties; and
+if I took a pleasure in learning, he certainly took a still greater in
+teaching me.  Without his aid I could not have made a tenth part of the
+progress I had done.  I now read fluently, and even wrote tolerably.  I
+had read through and mastered even more than the outlines of ancient and
+modern history, and with several periods I was tolerably conversant.  I
+knew something of the past and present state of every country in the
+world, though I could not boast of knowing much about the mere names of
+the chief towns and rivers.  I had read the lives of several men who had
+stood forward prominently in the world, and I had mastered some of the
+important facts of natural science.  I need not further describe the
+amount of my knowledge.  I could not have attained half I have mentioned
+had I not read on steadily, and carefully eschewed anything like
+desultory reading--that is to say, as far as the limited library to
+which I had access would allow.  I did not always read the books I might
+have desired, but I diligently read the best I could obtain.  If I,
+therefore, did so much in a short time with indifferent means, how much
+might be done with all the advantages possessed by those on shore!
+
+Late in the evening Newman came back.  The first thing he did on getting
+on board was to go below and shift his clothes.  He then sat himself
+down on the windlass, with his arms folded across his bosom; and when I
+went up to him, he burst into aloud fit of laughter.
+
+"I thought it would be so!" he exclaimed, when he recovered himself.
+"Mynheer Von Kniper was very polite, and so was his wife; and they
+introduced me to all their company.  I believe the governor-general was
+there, or some great person.  They paid me much more attention than they
+did the captain, who, if he had not been a right honest, good-natured
+fellow, might have been not a little jealous.  First one person talked
+to me in one language, then another would come up with a different
+tongue in his mouth, and I had to show off in great style.  Then I was
+asked to exhibit my drawings, and they were handed about and held up to
+the light, and admired by all hands as wonderful productions of art.  In
+fact, I saw clearly I was the lion of the evening.  I thought that sort
+of thing was only done in civilised, polite England; but I suppose lion
+hunters and lion exhibiters are to be found in all parts of the world.
+To do Mynheer Von Kniper justice, I must say that he had no hand in the
+work.  During dinner nothing could be pleasanter or kinder than his
+conversation and manner; and certainly I had reason to believe that he
+wished me well.  At length people got weary of hearing me roar, and all
+had had a look at the wonderful common sailor, and so the skipper seemed
+to think that it was time to be off; but our host would not allow us,
+and insisted that after the rest of the guests were gone, we should stop
+to have some supper.  During the meal, Mynheer Von Kniper introduced the
+subject of drawing, and telling me that he longed to have all the scenes
+of whale catching and killing fully illustrated, asked if I would
+undertake to do a set of drawings for him on that subject.  I could not
+refuse to do as he wished, after all the civilities he had shown me; so
+I told him that I should be very happy; but he then gently hinted that
+he wished me to undertake the task as a regular commission, and he
+begged that I would put what price I thought fit on my productions.  I
+have made up my mind, at all events, to do them.  I think every man has
+a perfect right to make a profit of his talents, especially if he
+requires money.  I do not.  I have now got a profession--a right noble
+one too!  I am now a more independent man than had I been toiling on for
+years at a desk, or dancing attendance in some great man's ante-chamber
+for some of the patronage he may have to bestow.  You think that I have
+benefited you by teaching you to read and write.  Now, in reality, I
+have merely given you the implements of a trade--the means of gaining
+knowledge.  You have given me knowledge--you have taught me a trade
+itself.  Therefore, Williams, you see that I am still your debtor."
+
+For some time he talked on in this strain.  I clearly saw that he was
+pleased with the attention shown him, in spite of his belief to the
+contrary.  I would not for one moment exhibit Newman as an example, or
+hold him up as a fine character.  He had very great faults and many
+weaknesses.  I do not know that he had strength of character.  He had an
+independent spirit in some respects, a clear perception, and
+considerable talent.  His greatly superior education raised him much
+above the associates among whom he had thrown himself.
+
+Soon after this the ship was ready for sea, and as we had not above a
+couple of hundred barrels to fill, we hoped soon to be on our homeward
+voyage.  It was the winter season, and we were bound for the coast of
+Japan.  We were, however, several months before we got a full ship; and
+then, with joyful hearts to most on board, we once more made sail for
+Old England.
+
+During all the time, Newman was busily employed in finishing up the
+sketches of whale catching, and very beautiful productions they were.
+Nothing could be more correct or truth-like.  Very different they were,
+indeed, from the drawings I have since often seen, where the whale has
+had its flukes put on the wrong way, and boats are represented as being
+tossed high up in the air, some thirty feet, at least, and broken in
+two, while the crews are seen tumbling down like snowflakes, with arms
+and legs sprawling out right over the whale.  I have seen many a boat
+smashed, but never one sent up in that fashion into the air.  Newman was
+anxious to send these sketches to Mynheer Von Kniper; but as no
+opportunity occurred, he was afraid that he would be compelled to wait
+till another voyage to present them himself.  Captain Carr promised, as
+soon as the ship could be refitted, to return on another voyage to those
+seas.
+
+We had a quick passage home.  I remained, as I had often before done, to
+look after the ship.  Newman, when he had received his share of profits,
+which was very considerable, went on shore.  What became of him I do not
+know.  Not seeing anything of him, I was afraid that he was not going to
+return.  Something there evidently was very mysterious about his
+history.  I had a great desire to discover it; still, I saw no chance of
+doing so.
+
+Hitherto I had always squandered away my money in the most foolish
+manner.  I now got Captain Carr to invest some of it for me, and,
+retaining a little for pocket-money, with the rest I purchased the best
+books I could find, and other articles which I thought likely to be
+useful to me in a three years' voyage.  At last the ship was ready again
+for sea.  Tom Knowles and most of the other old hands had joined; for,
+being wise men, when they had found a good captain they liked to stick
+by him.  We hauled out into the stream; but still, greatly to my
+disappointment, Newman did not appear.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
+
+BATAVIA AND THE FEEJEE ISLANDS.
+
+The pilot was on board, the topsails were loosed, and the order had been
+given to heave up the anchor, when a boat was seen coming off from the
+southern shore of the Mersey.  A seaman sprung up the ship's side, and a
+couple of chests were hoisted up after him.  I was aloft.  I looked down
+on deck and saw Newman.  I found that he had written to the captain, who
+had reserved a berth for him, but it was still before the mast.  He had
+the promise, he told me, of a mate's berth should a vacancy occur; but
+he observed, "I am not ambitious.  With what I have I am content."  He
+asked no questions as to what I had been doing.  It was not his way.  He
+was certainly free from vulgar curiosity; neither did he volunteer to
+give me any account of himself.  I told him one day what I had done with
+the proceeds of the last voyage.
+
+"Ah, you are wiser than I am, Williams," he answered, with a tone of
+bitterness.  "I thought so, or I should not have tried to make you my
+friend.  I have been seeing life, as it is called.  I wanted to discover
+what changes had taken place in the world during my absence--as if the
+world could ever change.  I found it deceitful, vain, and frivolous as
+before.  I have been buying experience.  The whole remainder of my
+possessions lies stowed away in those two chests.  The most valuable
+portions are a few new books for you and I to read and discuss; and this
+time I have not forgotten a suit of shore going clothes, in case I have
+to appear again in the character of a gentleman.  And now, farewell--a
+long farewell to England's shores!  It may be that I shall never tread
+them again!  Why should I regret it?  There are brighter skies and
+richer lands in another hemisphere."
+
+We had a quick run to Cape Horn, which we rounded in safety; and then
+standing across the Pacific, we steered for the fishing-ground off the
+coast of Japan.  We were, as in our former voyage, very successful
+indeed.  I suspect that success in whaling, as in most other affairs of
+life, depends very much on the practical knowledge, the perseverance,
+and talent of those engaged in it.  The master of a successful whaler
+will be found to unite all these qualifications.  He meets with whales,
+because, exercising his judgment, and making use of the information he
+has collected, he goes to the ground where they are likely to be met
+with; he catches them, because he sets about it in the best way; and he
+brings his ship home in safety, because he never for a moment relaxes
+his care and watchfulness to guard against misfortune.  For my own part,
+I do not believe in luck.  I have never yet met with an instance of a
+lucky or an unlucky man in which I could not trace the effect to the
+cause.
+
+We were lucky, because Captain Carr was a judicious, persevering,
+sensible man; and thus, in our first year's fishing, we got more than a
+third full.  At the end of that time we found ourselves brought up once
+more off Batavia.
+
+The captain, in the kindest way, invited Newman at once to accompany him
+on shore.  "Bring your drawings with you for Mynheer Von Kniper," said
+he.  "I doubt not that he will be glad to see them."
+
+On receiving the invitation, Newman dived below.  When he returned on
+deck his appearance was completely changed.  Instead of the rough
+seaman, he appeared as a well-dressed gentleman, and certainly more
+refined in appearance than either the captain or any of the officers.
+Captain Carr looked at him with an eye of satisfaction; and it was very
+pleasant to observe how perfectly free he was from any petty feeling of
+jealousy at seeing himself eclipsed by one of his own men.  As the boat
+shoved off from the ship's side I thought to myself--"Depend on it,
+there is something in store for Newman; he will not come back in the
+cynical spirit in which he seemed to be after his first visit."
+
+I had made excellent use of all my spare time during our passage out,
+and had added considerably to my stock of knowledge.  Newman's books
+were all admirably selected, and were of excellent service to me.  The
+more I read, the more I wished to read--to gain information on points on
+which I found myself ignorant.  Happily one of the crew, a fine, steady
+young man, had a Bible with him; and he having offered it to me, for the
+first time in my life I began to read its sacred pages.  As I read on I
+was forcibly struck with its simplicity and beauty, its fulness and
+minuteness, and yet the immense amount of matter it contained.  I began
+to compare one part with another--the prophecies with their fulfilment--
+one point of the history with the rest--the great variety of subjects
+and style, and yet the beautiful adaptation of the various parts with
+the whole; nor did I neglect to compare sacred with profane history, or
+to remark how one corroborates the other--just as modern science, the
+greater advances it makes, is found to confirm more and more the troth
+of the accounts given by the sacred writers.  Still all this time my
+heart was not turned to the right way.  I had discovered a new and
+inexhaustible source of interest, but that was all.
+
+Newman did not return on board till the next day.  He was much elated in
+spirits when he appeared, though he tried to repress the feeling.
+
+"Well, Jack, the tide has begun to flow at last," said he: "you shall
+hear all about it.  Mynheer Von Kniper was excessively pleased with the
+drawings I took him, and the more so when I begged he would accept them
+from me."
+
+"`I have often thought about you,' said he; `and, I must confess, little
+expected to see you return here.  I rejoice to see you back, for you
+must know that I have an offer to make you, which I hope you will think
+fit to accept.  We have been for some time in want of a commander for
+one of the Colonial Government schooners, and I have ascertained from
+your captain that you are in every respect fitted for the post, and that
+he will give you your discharge from his ship.  I have therefore great
+satisfaction in offering it to you.'
+
+"I scarcely knew how to express myself in thanking him; so I took his
+hand, and shaking it heartily, told him that I was very much obliged to
+him, and that I placed myself entirely under his directions.  So it was
+settled, and that same evening he presented me with my commission
+signed, and here I am, a lieutenant commander in the Dutch Colonial
+Navy!  It is, in truth, a hop, step, and a jump into a post of honour I
+little expected, nor can I yet realise the greatness of the change."
+
+I congratulated Newman most sincerely on the prospects thus opened up to
+him, though I regretted being so completely separated from him, as I
+must expect to be, for the future.  He suggested the possibility of my
+following him, but that I at once saw was not likely to occur.  In the
+first place, Captain Carr was not likely to allow a steady hand to leave
+him so early in the voyage; and probably the Dutch authorities would not
+be very ready to give a berth to another Englishman on board the same
+vessel; added to which, I had some misgivings as to serving under their
+flag.
+
+Newman, of course, saw the first of these objections; and probably, if
+the truth were known, though he might not have been ready to confess it
+to himself after the intimate terms on which we had been together, he
+would have found it inconvenient while he was captain to have had me
+before the mast.  It must be remembered that, though my mind was
+beginning to be cultivated, I was still a rough, hardy sailor in
+appearance and manners.  I had never in my life dreamed of aspiring to
+any command, and I did not feel myself fitted for any post above that
+which I then held.
+
+While I say this I would point out that it is very necessary to be
+cautious in judging from appearances.  A man may have a very refined
+mind under a somewhat rough exterior, and a very coarse, bad one within
+a handsome, attractive outside.  Generally speaking, with a few minutes'
+conversation, the appearance of a person and the expression of his
+countenance will show what is likely to be found within; but it is far
+wiser not to place more than ordinary confidence in the companions among
+whom we are thrown until they have been duly tried and found to walk
+rightly in their conduct towards God and man.
+
+Newman seemed to be in no way elated by his change of fortune, and
+showed himself free from a very common littleness of mind, for he spent
+the rest of the day among us forward, talking and chatting with all
+hands as freely as before; and while he was packing his chests, he
+managed to find some little present as a keepsake for each of us.  Then
+he sat himself down on his chest, and gave us an earnest lecture in his
+old style on the advantages of education, and urged us all to continue
+our studies as before, and to show by our conduct to each other and to
+our officers the superiority of educated, intelligent men over ignorant
+and uncultivated ones.
+
+When he went aft to wish the officers good-bye, he was treated very
+kindly and politely by them, all of them congratulating him on his good
+fortune; and as he descended the ship's side for the last time, we gave
+him three as hearty cheers as ever rose from the deck of a whaler with a
+full hold; and little Jim, the smallest boy on board, blubbered as if
+his heart would break at the loss of one whom he had learned to look on
+as his best friend.
+
+Before we sailed he had his schooner fitted out and manned with a
+strange crew of Malays, Chinese, Dutchmen, Frenchmen, and not a few
+representatives of other nations.  He sent me a note insisting on my
+going to see him on board.  His schooner was a fine little vessel,
+though built in the colony by Chinese.  She measured some hundred and
+fifty tons, and, well handled, was fit to go anywhere; but this would be
+difficult work, I saw, with his mongrel crew.  His cabin was fitted up
+in the complete way I should have expected him to have planned.  It was,
+indeed, a very different sort of place from that in which he had long
+been accustomed to live--much more like, in the handsomeness of its
+fittings and its accommodation, to the luxurious cabin of the old
+Rainbow, which I used to see in my youth.  He himself, too, was greatly
+changed in his appearance from the rough sailor he had long been.  When
+dressed in plain clothes, he looked like a gentleman certainly, but not
+a polished one; but in a uniform which became him perfectly, he was a
+very good-looking officer.  He was conscious of the improvement.
+
+"I begin to think that there are yet higher steps for me to climb,
+Williams," he observed, after he had cordially welcomed me and ordered
+refreshments to be brought in.  "Who knows but that one day I may become
+an admiral, or a governor of one of these islands?  I am becoming
+ambitious, I assure you.  I thought it was not in me.  I was till lately
+perfectly contented with my lot.  I proposed spending my youth knocking
+about in these seas, and when I found old age creeping on me, settling
+down in one of the many thousand beautiful isles of the bright Pacific
+to spend the remainder of my days.  Now that dream has passed away, and
+I feel an anxiety to climb.  I am growing more and more ambitious; for I
+see that there are plenty of things in this world worth living for--
+plenty of golden fruit to be plucked, if a man has but the daring to
+scramble up the tree in spite of the thorns and knots in the way, and
+reach out to the branches."
+
+What did I reply to Newman?  Did I offer him good advice?  Alas, no!  I
+thought not to say to him, Do thy duty in that station of life to which
+it has pleased God to call thee, regardless of this world's tinsel
+prizes.  Look steadily forward to another and a better world for thy
+reward.  This he did not.  This world, and this alone, entirely occupied
+his attention.  He only thought of the gratification of the moment.
+Blindly and obstinately he shut out from his contemplations all thoughts
+of his eternal interests.
+
+Newman's man-of-war schooner and the stout old whaler the _Drake_ left
+Batavia Roads the same day.  We were bound for the ground off
+Navigator's and some of the neighbouring groups of islands.  We were
+fortunate enough to kill a couple of whales on our passage, and within
+two years after leaving England had nearly filled up all our casks.  I
+began to consider whether I should remain in the ship, or, supposing
+Captain Carr would be willing to give me my discharge, whether I should
+join another ship lately come out, and thus, by saving the long voyage
+home and back, more speedily accomplish what was now the aim of my
+existence--to make a sum sufficient to enable me to remain at home for
+the rest of my days.  I was now advancing in life.  I had seen a great
+deal of hard service, and I began to long for rest.  Such is the desire
+implanted in the bosom of all men--rest for the mind, rest for the body,
+rest for the soul.  In youth, when health, and vigour, and animal
+spirits are at their highest, it is not developed, but when age comes
+on, and the body begins to feel the symptoms of decay, the mind grows
+weary and the spirits flag.  Then rest is sought for--rest is looked for
+as the panacea for all evils.  Yet who ever found rest in this world--
+perfect tranquillity and joy?  No one.  Still that such is the fact I
+had yet to learn.  Yet, would a beneficent Creator have implanted the
+desire in the human heart without affording the means of gratifying it?
+Certain I am that He would not; but thus, in his infinite wisdom, he
+shows us the vanity of this world, and points to another and a better,
+where assuredly it may be found.
+
+I took an opportunity of mentioning the subject of my thoughts to the
+captain, and he promised me that, if no other of the crew left when the
+ship was full, should we fall in with another wanting hands, he would
+comply with my wish, and, moreover, invest my share of the profits of
+the voyage as I might direct.
+
+We had been for some time on the ground I have spoken of when we found
+ourselves in a perfect calm.  By slow degrees the usual sea went down,
+and even the swell of the mighty ocean subsided.  The crew sat lazily
+about the deck--some making air-nets for hats, others pointing ropes,
+working a mouse, or making a pudding, or a dolphin, or turning in a
+gasket; some leaned idly over the rail, and others slept still more idly
+below; while a few, not altogether unmindful of our old shipmate's
+instructions, were bending over their books or using their pencils.
+Some also were carving with their knives strange devices on bones, or
+cutting out rings from the shell of the tortoise.
+
+"Ah, I wish we had Ned Newman aboard here!" exclaimed one.  "He would
+soon set us all alive."
+
+"Why can't you set yourselves alive?" said Tom Knowles, looking up from
+his work on a rope he had in hand.  "Idle chaps are always talking of
+getting some one else to do what they ought to do for themselves.  Just
+try now.  Let's try a stave at all events.  Come, I'll strike up."
+
+Old Tom's proposal pleased all hands, and soon a melody, if not very
+sweet, at least harmonious, floated over the blue sea.
+
+Whether the whales came to listen to our music, I cannot say; but while
+we were all joining in chorus, the ever-exciting shout of "There she
+spouts--there she spouts!" broke in upon it; and, springing to our feet,
+the boats were lowered and manned, and in less than three minutes four
+of them were gliding away as fast as they could be sent through the
+water, after two whales which made their appearance together, not far
+apart from each other.
+
+The captain's boat got hold of the first without much difficulty; but as
+he was a strong old bull, he played all sorts of antics, and other two
+boats were called to assist in his capture.  Meantime the third mate's
+boat, in which I was, went after the other whale, which sounded just as
+we got up to him.  For some reason or other, he very soon appeared again
+a mile ahead, and away we went in chase.  Again he played us the same
+trick, but this time he was longer under water, and must have gone
+upwards of two miles away before he once more came up.  The more sport
+he seemed disposed to give us, the less inclined were we to lose him, so
+after him we went as fast as before--not faster, for that would have
+been difficult.  As we got near, we saw that he was lying very quiet,
+and we did not think he saw us, so we had out our paddles, and began
+stealing up to him as cautiously as a cat does to a mouse--only in this
+case it was rather more like the mouse creeping up to the cat.  The
+third mate was a well-built, powerful young man.  Holding up his hand as
+a sign to us to be cautious, he stepped forward, and there he stood,
+harpoon in hand, as we glided on towards the monster.  Down came the
+heavy harpoon, and it was buried, socket up, in the side of the monster!
+In an instant the acute pain woke him up.  "Stern all!" was now the
+cry, and we had to back away from him in a great hurry, as, raising his
+mighty flukes, he went head down, sounding till he almost took away the
+whole of our line.  Fortunately he met with the bottom, perhaps a
+coral-reef, and up he came, striking away head out at a great speed in
+the direction he had before taken.  So intent were we on the chase, that
+we had little time to observe what was doing with the other whale,
+though, of course, we took the bearings of the ship, as we were rapidly
+whirled away till we completely lost sight of her.  This was no unusual
+occurrence, nor did it in the smallest degree excite our apprehension,
+as we had never failed, with more or less trouble, to find our ship in
+the course of the day or night.  On we went, as I say, making the
+smooth, bright sea hiss and bubble as the white foam frothed up over our
+bows.
+
+The instant the whale slackened his speed we hauled in the line, so as
+to get up to him to thrust a lance or two into his body; but he was
+evidently a knowing old fellow, for by the time we had got half of it
+in, he was off again like a shot, spouting away every now and then, as
+if to show us in what capital breath he was for a long-run.  At last he
+stopped, and began to turn slowly round.  We thought that we had got
+him.  "Hurrah, lads!" cried Barney Brian, an old boat-steerer.  "Haul in
+steadily now--his last swim is over."  We hauled away an the line with a
+will, and the mate stood, lance in hand, ready to plunge it into his
+side, when he shouted, "Stern all--veer away the line, lads!"  It was
+time--up went the flukes of the monster, and in another instant he was
+sounding, drawing the line out of the tub at a terrific rate.  We
+thought we should have lost him altogether, and we looked anxiously at
+the line as coil after coil disappeared, and we remembered that we had
+none to bend on to the end of it.  It would have been better for us if
+he had broken away.  Just, however, before the last coil flew out, up he
+came again, and seemed inclined to go on as before.  Then he stopped,
+and we hauled in on the line.  We had got within twenty fathoms of him
+when all of a sudden an idea seemed to strike him.  He slewed completely
+round so as to face us.  "I'll just give you a taste of my quality, and
+see if I can't teach you to let me alone," he seemed to say.  At all
+events he must have thought it, for with open mouth, showing the
+tremendous teeth in his lower jaw, and head half lifted out of the
+water, he made directly at us.  Never was a boat in a more perilous
+position--out of sight of land, and the ship nowhere to be seen, and
+thus all by ourselves to engage in single combat with a monster so
+enormous!  To get out of his way by mere speed was impossible, for he
+could swim faster than we could pull; but we did our best to dodge him,
+our undaunted mate standing ready to plunge a spear into his side should
+we manage for a moment to get behind him.  First, we pulled on one side
+as he came towards us, and then on the other; but rapidly as we turned,
+he slewed himself round, and at last, getting us under his snout, he
+made a dash at the boat, and sent her spinning away twenty yards before
+him, bottom uppermost, while we all lay scattered round about her,
+shouting and calling to each other for help.  Had he at once gone off,
+and dragged the boat after him, he would have left us to perish
+miserably, and this was the fate we dreaded; but instead of that, while
+we lay holding onto oars, or striking out to regain the boat, he swam
+round us, examining the mischief he had done.  More than once I thought
+he was going to make another charge at us with his open mouth, when, had
+he done so, he would have killed one or more, though he might not have
+swallowed any of us.  That I never heard of a whale doing.
+
+We, meantime, made all haste back to the boat, picking up whatever we
+could lay hands on in our way.  We were not a little hurried in our
+movements by seeing two or more sharks, which had been attracted to the
+spot by the blood flowing from the monster; and they would just as soon
+have taken a meal off us as a nibble at him, which is all they would
+have got for some time, probably.
+
+"Never fear, my lads!" shouted Mr Trevett, the mate.  "Strike out with
+your feet, and heave over the boat.  Quick now!--so!--over she comes!
+We'll soon have her baled out."
+
+Baling with hats and caps, as we hung round the gunwale, and striking
+out with a will, to keep the sharks at a distance, we were enabled to
+clear the boat sufficiently of water to allow us to get in, just as a
+big shark, impatient of delay, made a dart at the mate's leg--for he was
+the last in--and very nearly caught his foot.  We quickly had the boat
+to rights, but we found that we had lost two very valuable articles--our
+tinder-box and compass; so that we could neither make a signal to the
+ship nor tell in what direction to steer should thick or cloudy weather
+come on.  We had, however, no time to meditate on our misfortune, for
+scarcely were we once more seated on the thwarts, oars in hand, than the
+whale, as if waiting the signal, started off again, head out, just as he
+had done before.  His speed, however, was very much slackened; and
+though, after we had hauled in the line a little, he made an attempt to
+sound, he quickly returned to the surface, still more exhausted by the
+effort.
+
+At length we managed to get near enough to him to enable Mr Trevett to
+give him a thrust with his lance.  Deep in it went, the monster almost
+leaping out of the water with the agony of the wound.  A vital part had
+been pierced.  "He's in his flurry!  Stern all--stern all!" was shouted.
+It was time that we were out of his way; for, swimming round and round,
+he beat the water with his flukes with terrific force, sufficient to
+have dashed us to atoms had he touched us, throwing the life-blood over
+us from his spout, and dashing the surrounding ocean, ensanguined with
+the ruddy stream, into a mass of foam.  This mighty convulsion was his
+last effort.  Over he rolled, and he was our well-earned prize.
+
+But now we had killed him, it became a serious question how we were to
+get back to the ship.  In what direction was she to be found?  As we
+looked about, we saw that the weather, which had hitherto been so fine,
+was evidently about to change.  The sky was full of the unmistakable
+signs of a heavy gale.  Long fleecy clouds with curling ends lay
+scattered over it, and darker masses were banking up rapidly in the
+southward.  We had now ample time to consider our position, as we lay on
+to the dead whale.  We had neither light nor compass, and all our
+provisions were spoiled or lost.  One keg of water alone had been
+recovered, and we found among us a few quids of tobacco.  The nearest
+islands to the northward were, we knew, inhabited by the very worst
+description of cannibals, and, though white men occasionally traded with
+them for provisions, it was necessary to be constantly watchful to
+prevent surprise.  The crews of several vessels not having taken the
+proper precautions, had been cut off and murdered.  Night also was
+rapidly approaching, and we could not possibly reach the ship, even did
+we know where to find her, before dark, probably not for several hours.
+However, the mate, feeling that the first object was to try and save our
+lives, resolved to pull for the ship, leaving the whale with flags stuck
+on its side, in the hope that we might again find it.  With much regret,
+therefore, we quitted our hard-earned prize, and pulled away, as we
+believed, to the northward, in the direction where we had left the ship.
+
+We had not pulled long, however, when the gloom of night came on, and
+the gale which we had seen brewing burst over the ocean, quickly tearing
+up its sleeping bosom into foam-crested, tumbling seas, which every
+instant rose higher and higher.  We soon also discovered that we could
+make no head against them, and that, by attempting to do so, we should
+only weary ourselves in vain.
+
+"We must put the boat about, and run before it," said Mr Trevett.
+"Hoist the lug--haul aft the sheet!"  It was done, and away we flew,
+careering over the fast-rising seas through the pitchy darkness of
+night!
+
+"Where are we going to?" was the question.  Still no other course
+remained for us to follow.  To attempt to head the heavy seas now rising
+was impossible.  No one spoke--a fear of coming evil settled down on our
+hearts.  Darker and darker grew the night--the clouds seemed to come
+down from the sky and settle close over our heads, meeting the troubled
+wildly-leaping waves.
+
+On we flew--the seas, as they curled and hissed up alongside of us,
+tumbling over the gunwale, and making it necessary for all hands to
+continue baling.  Our only hope was that the ship might run before the
+gale and overtake us; but then we remembered that she probably had a
+whale alongside, and that the captain would not like to desert it as
+long as he could hold on.  All hope, therefore, of help from man
+deserted us.
+
+On we went--death every instant threatening us--a death amid that dark,
+wild, troubled, storm-tossed ocean!  At length the fierce roar of the
+wind and sea seemed to increase.  We looked out before us into the
+darkness.  "Breakers!--breakers ahead!" we shouted.  A thrill of horror
+ran through our veins.  In another moment we should be dashed to a
+thousand fragments among the wild rocks over which they so fiercely
+broke.  To attempt to haul off in such a sea would have consigned us to
+an equally certain fate.  The imminence of the danger seemed to sharpen
+our vision.  A mass of foam, which seemed to leap high up into the dark
+sky, lay before us.  Not a moment could a boat live attempting to pass
+through it.  On both sides we turned our anxious gaze, to discover if
+any spot existed where the sea broke with less violence.  Almost
+simultaneously we shouted, "A passage on the starboard-bow!"
+
+There appeared, if our eyes deceived us not, a dark space where the line
+of huge breakers was divided.  We were rushing headlong to destruction.
+Not an instant was to be lost.  The helm was put to port.  We rose on
+the crest of a vast rolling sea.  Down it came, thundering on the rocks
+on either side of us, throwing over them heavy showers of spray,
+sufficient almost to swamp us.  Still we floated unharmed.  The sea
+rolled on between what, in the darkness, appeared like walls of foam,
+and in another instant we found ourselves floating beyond the fierce
+turmoil of waters, just tossed gently by the waves, which found their
+way over the reef into a large lagoon within it!
+
+A shore fringed with trees lay before us.  In five minutes we were
+landed safely on it, and the boat was secured to the stump of a fallen
+tree.  It was too dark to allow us to attempt to penetrate into the
+interior, to ascertain the sort of place on which we had been thrown;
+so, returning to the boat and baling her out, we wrung our wet clothes
+and lay down to seek that rest we all, after our violent exertions and
+anxiety, so much needed.
+
+It must have been nearly daylight when we went to sleep.  I know not how
+long we had slept.  It would have been better for us had we driven sleep
+far from our eyelids, and been ready to pull out and wander over the
+inhospitable ocean the moment the gale abated, rather than have remained
+where we were.  I was the first to open my eyes, and, looking up, I saw
+to my horror a nearly naked savage looking down into the boat with
+prying eyes from the bank above us.  He was almost jet-black, with negro
+features and a full beard and moustache.  His hair was frizzled out to a
+great size and covered by a brownish turban.  Round his waist he wore
+the usual maro or kilt, with something like a shawl or plaid over his
+shoulders; and in his hand he held a long formidable-looking spear.
+From the turban on his head, I afterwards discovered that he was a
+chief.
+
+"Eugh! eugh!" he cried, as he saw me opening my eyes to look at him, and
+his menacing attitude and ferocious aspect made a most uncomfortable
+feeling creep over me.
+
+"Up, lads, up! and shove off!"  I shouted to my companions, jumping
+forward myself to cut the painter.  They started to their feet at my
+summons, looking up with a bewildered stare at the shore; and well they
+might so have done, for there stood some twenty or more fierce-looking
+savages, whom the exclamation of their chief had called to his side, and
+before we could get the oars out, a shower of spears came rattling down
+among us.  Poor Mr Trevett was pierced through, and fell with a deep
+groan to the bottom of the boat; another of my companions sprung up as
+he was struck, and went headlong overboard; others were badly wounded;
+and one man only besides me was unhurt by the first shower of missiles.
+Seeing that we still persevered in trying to get the boat off, the
+savages came rushing down the bank; and though I had cut the painter,
+before I could give the boat sufficient impetus to get out of their way,
+they had seized the gunwale and hauled her up on the beach.
+
+All hope of escape was now at an end.  We were each of us seized by
+three or four of the savages, while, by the chief's directions, two
+others plunged into the water, and soon returned with the body of the
+man who had fallen overboard.  To my horror, our poor wounded companions
+were instantly stabbed by these wretches, apparently for no other reason
+than because they offered some resistance to being dragged roughly
+along; and thus Brian and I were the only two who remained alive of
+those who had so lately escaped from the stormy ocean.  Some of the
+savages, I saw, were left to take care of the boat in which the bodies
+of those who had been killed were placed.
+
+As we climbed to the top of a hill, and I looked back over the blue
+ocean, now shining brightly in the morning sun, I saw that the storm had
+ceased; and--I am certain my eyes did not deceive me--I saw in the
+offing the white canvas of a ship, which I felt sure must be the
+_Drake_, probably searching for those who were never to be found.
+
+From the appearance of the people and their cruel proceedings, I had no
+doubt but that we had fallen on one of the Feejee islands; and, from
+their well-known character, I knew what our fate would probably be.  I
+myself had little, it might seem, to live for; but still life is _dear_
+to all of us, and I considered what I could do to preserve mine.  I knew
+that most savages, as well as eastern nations, look upon a person
+deprived of his intellect as sacred, so I at once resolved to act the
+madman.  On this, summoning all my strength, I gave vent to the loudest
+roar I could utter, finishing with a burst of laughter; and when my
+guards, in their surprise, let me go, I started forward, leaping, and
+singing, and dancing, with the greatest extravagance, pointing to the
+way I saw the chief was going, and pretending to conduct him with many
+bows and flourishes worthy of a French dancing-master.  Desperate as the
+device was, it appeared to have its effect, for neither the chief nor
+any of his companions again attempted to interfere with me, though they
+dragged poor Brian on as before.  He, of course, could not make out what
+had happened to me, and I could not venture to advise him to imitate my
+conduct, as I thought, very probably, should I do so, that both of us
+would fail in saving our lives by it.  He, however, seeing the fate
+which had befallen our companions by refusing to walk on willingly,
+proceeded wherever his guards chose to lead him.
+
+After passing through woods and large patches of cultivated ground, we
+reached a village of considerable size, and were led to what I supposed
+was the house of the principal chief, the father of the young man who
+had captured us.  It stood on a raised platform of stone, and was built
+entirely of wood, with elliptical ends, the beams ornamented with
+coloured cocoa-nut plait.  The side walls were solid, with windows, the
+frames of which were bound together to represent a kind of fluting, and
+which had a very ornamented appearance.  The interior was divided into
+several compartments by screens of native cloth dyed with turmeric; and
+as the children and several of the people were painted with the same
+pigment, the whole had a very yellow appearance.  The front and back of
+the edifice were formed of long laths, bent like a bow, and thatched
+with cocoa-nut leaves, something like the front of some bathing-machines
+in England.  Under the roof, supported by beams, was a floor of
+lattice-work, which seemed to be the store-room of the house, as bundles
+of cloth and articles of various sorts were piled up there; while on the
+ground were scattered different utensils for cooking or eating from--
+such as bowls of glazed crockery of native manufacture, and plenty of
+well-made mats.  On one of the walls were hung up some strings of whale
+teeth--articles which pass for money among those people.
+
+At one end of the chief hall, on a pile of mats, sat a stout old man,
+with a huge turban and large beard and moustache, and wrapped in thick
+folds of native cloth.  Savage as he looked, there was a good deal of
+dignity and intelligence about him.  Keeping up the character I had
+assumed, I instantly began to salaam, as I had seen the Moors do, and to
+turn about on one leg, and then to leap and spring up, and clap my
+hands, singing out "Whallop-ado-ahoo!--Erin-go-bragh!" at the top of my
+voice, in a way to astonish the natives, if it did not gain their
+respect.  My heart all the time felt as if it would break with shame and
+terror--with shame, at having to behave so, and with terror, lest I
+should, after all, not succeed.
+
+The old chief and the young one, with the people who accompanied him,
+had a great deal of conversation about us, I found--the old one
+remarking that we had both of us "salt water in our eye," and must
+submit to the law.  Now, by the law, or rather custom, of the Feejees,
+every person cast on shore on their coasts is killed and eaten!  I had
+numberless proofs of the truth of this.
+
+The result of the conversation about me was, that I was tabooed--to be
+held sacred, as it were--and that my life was to be spared.  They tried
+to make me understand this at the time, and I partly comprehended their
+meaning.  To prove their sincerity, the old chief had a number of dishes
+of various sorts of vegetables and fruit brought in, with a young pig
+baked whole, of which he made me partake.  This I did very willingly,
+for I was very hungry, and the viands looked very tempting.  When I had
+eaten a good meal, I jumped up and shook the old chief and his son very
+heartily by the hand; and then sitting down on a mat, I threw myself
+back, and began singing away at the top of my voice, as if I had been
+perfectly contented with my lot.  When, however, I got up to leave the
+house, signs were made to me that I was to stay where I was.  This, I
+concluded, was that notice might be given to the people that I was
+tabooed, and that they were not to interfere with me, or I should in all
+probability have been clubbed by the first native I met, who might have
+suspected that I had been cast upon their shore by the late gale.
+
+I felt very anxious to ascertain what had become of Brian.  He had not
+been allowed to enter the chief's house with me, but, as we approached
+the village, had been led off in a different direction.  Suspecting the
+horrible practice of the savages, and hearing nothing of him as the day
+grew on, I became very much alarmed for his safety.
+
+At night a mat was pointed out to me on which I was to sleep; but it was
+long before I could close my eyes, and every instant I expected to find
+myself seized and carried off by the savages.  I did sleep, however, at
+last, and the next morning I found myself at liberty to wander out where
+I pleased.  Food was first brought to me, and then, having performed
+various curious antics to keep up the belief of my insanity, I left the
+house and took the way up a neighbouring hill.
+
+I had not gone far before I came to what was evidently a native temple,
+shaded by tall and graceful trees.  It was a high-pointed building,
+formed of bamboos, and hung with strings of bones and screens of native
+cloth.  I saw arms of various sorts, and an altar with two human skulls
+on it, made into drinking cups.  I was considering how I could find my
+poor companion, when, near the temple, I entered an open space with
+several small erections of stone, which I discovered on examination were
+ovens.  In the centre of the space was what I took at first to be the
+figure of a man cut out of wood, and painted over in a curious way with
+many colours.  I went up to it.  Horror almost overcame me--I recognised
+the countenance of my lost companion Brian! while some clothes hung up
+on poles hard by, and some human bones scattered under them, showed me
+what had been the fate of the rest of our boat's crew.  I rushed
+shrieking from the spot, and for many a day I had no occasion to feign
+madness--I really was, I believe, out of my mind.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
+
+LIFE AMONG THE SAVAGES--JACK'S ESCAPE AND RETURN HOME.
+
+Drearily passed the time of my sojourn in that benighted region.  Day
+after day I sought in vain for the means of escape.  Vessels often
+touched at the island; but directly they appeared, a strict watch was
+kept on me, and if I went towards the shore, I was told to go back and
+remain in the chief's house till they had sailed.  Under some
+circumstances I might have been tolerably happy.  The climate was
+delightful and healthy; there were provisions in abundance--yams and
+bananas and plantains, cocoa-nuts and shaddocks, pumpkins and
+pine-apples, guavas and water-melons--indeed, all the tropical fruits
+and vegetables, with a good supply of pigs for meat.  The chiefs treated
+me with kindness and consideration; the people with respect, barbarous
+and savage though they were; but the scenes of horror I was constantly
+witnessing, and could not prevent, had so powerful an effect on my mind
+that time rolled on with me in a dreamy sort of existence.  I scarcely
+knew how the months passed by--whether, indeed, as it seemed to me,
+years had elapsed since I landed on that fatal spot.
+
+I had not believed beings so bloodthirsty and savage existed on the face
+of the earth, possessing, at the same time, so much intelligence and
+talent.  Their houses and temples are very neatly built; the tapa-cloth,
+which they make from the paper-mulberry by beating it out, is of a fine
+texture, of great length, and often ingeniously ornamented; they
+cultivate a large number of the fruits of the earth with much attention;
+the way in which they fortify their villages appears almost scientific.
+The town in which I lived was surrounded by several deep moats, or
+ditches, one within the other, arranged with so much intricacy, that it
+was at first difficult to find my way out of it; then there were several
+walls, and in the centre a sort of citadel on a hill surmounted by a
+rock.  On the summit of the rock stood a flagstaff, on which was
+hoisted, in war-time, the flag of defiance.
+
+I had been many months there in the condition of a prisoner, if not a
+slave, before I was allowed to go beyond the fortifications.  At last
+the young chief invited me to accompany him.  He did not explain where
+he was going.  He and all those with him were painted in their gayest
+colours.  We reached the sea-shore, and embarked in a large double
+canoe, with an out-rigger to prevent her capsizing.  Several other
+canoes accompanied us.
+
+We sailed on till we came to an island.  At no great distance from the
+water rose a high hill with a fort on the top of it.  I remained on
+board the canoe, while the chief and his followers landed.  As soon as
+they had done so, they began to shout out and to abuse the people in the
+fort, daring them to come down.  After a time, about a dozen left the
+fort, and descended the hill to meet the invaders.  Our chief had
+stationed some of his people behind an embankment, and as soon as these
+incautious warriors appeared, they drew their bows and shot three of
+them.  Then the people in the fort rushed down in great numbers to
+secure their fallen companions; but in doing so, more were shot, and
+others clubbed by our party, who carried off the bodies of the three
+first killed, as well as most of the others, and then, with loud shouts
+of triumph, retired to their canoes.  With these spoils we sailed back.
+
+We were received in the village with every demonstration of joy.  In the
+evening of the same day, when I went out, I found that all the slain had
+been carried to the grove before the temple, and were placed in rows,
+with their bodies covered over with paint.  The chiefs and all the
+principal men of the tribe were assembling from far and near.  The
+priest of the town was standing near the temple, and the butcher, as he
+was called, a bloodthirsty monster, was ready with the implements of his
+horrid trade, while his assistants were employed in heating the ovens.
+I rushed from the spot; but, instigated by a curiosity I could not
+repress, I again returned, and witnessed a scene of the most disgusting
+cannibalism the mind could imagine.  The bodies of the slain were baked,
+and then cut up by the priest or butcher, and distributed among the
+chiefs and principal men, none of the women or lower orders being
+allowed to partake of the horrible banquet.  What struck me was the
+avidity with which the savages seized the fragments and devoured them.
+I would have avoided giving the dreadful account, were it not to show
+the depth of wickedness into which human nature, when left to itself,
+will inevitably sink.  Often have I seen parties of men set out for the
+express purpose of capturing and murdering their fellow-creatures--
+people of the same colour and race, and chiefly helpless women and
+children--to satisfy their disgusting propensities--frequently to
+furnish a banquet on the visit of some neighbouring and friendly chiefs.
+
+Some people have pretended to doubt the existence of cannibalism as a
+regular custom, though unable to deny that it has been resorted to under
+the pressure of hunger; but the Feejee islands afford numberless
+undoubted proofs that hundreds of people were yearly slaughtered to
+gratify the unnatural taste of their ferocious chiefs.  Wars were
+undertaken for the express purpose of obtaining victims; all persons,
+friends or strangers, thrown by the stormy ocean on their inhospitable
+shores, were destroyed; their own slaves were often killed; and men,
+women, and children among the lower orders, even of friendly tribes,
+were frequently kidnapped and carried off for the same purpose.
+
+But, praise be to God! heart-rending as are the scenes I have witnessed
+and the accounts I have heard, all-powerful means exist to overcome this
+and other horrible, though long established customs.  The Christian
+faith, when carried to those benighted lands by devoted men, who go
+forth in love and obedience to Him who died for them, and in firm
+confidence that He is all-powerful to preserve them, and to make His
+name known among the heathen, is the sure and effectual means to conquer
+the giant evil.  Before its bright beams, the dark gloom of savage
+barbarism and superstition has been put to flight, by the untiring
+efforts of Christian missionaries; and I am told, that among even the
+Feejee islands, wherever they have planted the Cross, numbers have
+flocked round it, and in many places the whole character of the people
+has been changed.  I am describing simply barbarism as it existed, and
+as it still does exist, in numberless places in those beautiful regions
+of the earth's fair surface; and I would point out to those who read my
+history, how much it is their duty to inquire into the truth of the
+statements I make, and to support by all the means at their disposal
+those who are engaged in our Lord's service in overcoming the evil, by
+teaching the pure, simple, evangelical faith as it is in Christ Jesus--
+His incarnation--His sufferings--His atonement--His propitiation offered
+once--His intercession ever making--the cleansing power of His blood--
+our acceptance by an all-holy God through Him.  Let these great truths
+be made known to the heathen, and, by the divine blessing, their minds,
+dark as they may have been, will accept them with joy and thankfulness.
+
+But to return to my life on the island.  My master, the old chief, was
+said to be a very civil and polite man; but I have seen him, when the
+inhabitants of the tributary or slave states were bringing him their
+quota of provisions, if he did not think that they were approaching his
+abode in a sufficiently humble posture by stooping almost to the ground,
+deliberately take his bow and shoot one of them through the heart.  The
+rest, not daring to interfere, or to run away, would continue their
+progress as if nothing had happened, while the body of the unfortunate
+wretch would be carried off to the bake-house.  To approach his house on
+one side, a river had to be crossed, swarming with sharks; and often he
+would make the slaves swim across, and if one of them were bitten by a
+shark, and still managed to get across, he was instantly on landing
+killed for the same dreadful purpose.
+
+Some months after my arrival, the chief's house was burned down--though
+the rolls of cloth, and much of his more valuable property, were saved.
+He at once issued his commands to the people of all the tributary
+villages to bring in materials for the erection of another on a much
+larger scale.  Meantime we lived in huts, quickly erected on his
+property.  When the day arrived to commence the building, I saw that
+four very deep and large holes had been dug to receive the corner posts.
+These posts were brought up with great ceremony to the spot.  At the
+same time, four slaves, strong, muscular young men, were brought up, and
+when the posts were placed upright in the holes, a slave was made to
+descend into each of them, and as I looked in, I saw them clinging
+tightly round the posts.  I concluded that they were to remain there to
+hold the posts upright till the earth was shovelled in; but what was my
+horror to find that they were to remain for ever in that position!
+While they stood in all their health and strength, looking up with
+longing eyes into the blue sky, others threw in the earth, and beat it
+down with heavy mallets over their heads.  I shuddered at the spectacle,
+but heart-broken as I was I dared not interfere.
+
+Our old chief had resolved to build a fleet of large double canoes, with
+which to bring the inhabitants of another island under subjection.  It
+had been his chief care and attention for some years past.  At length a
+portion was finished and ready for launching.  Before this ceremony
+could be performed, it was necessary to attack a village at some
+distance, to obtain victims to offer in sacrifice to the evil spirits
+they worshipped, in order that success might attend their operations.
+The young chief and his party set out with his warriors, and attacking a
+village in the dead of night, carried off fifty of its unfortunate
+inhabitants.
+
+The next day, the shrieking wretches were brought to the dockyard.  That
+they might be kept in a proper position to serve as ways or rollers over
+which the canoes might pass, each person was securely lashed to two
+banana-trees, lengthways--one in front, and the other behind him.  Thus
+utterly unable to move, with their faces upwards, they were placed in
+rows between the canoes and the water.  Ropes were then attached to the
+canoes, which, it must be understood, are very heavy, and numbers
+hauling away on them, they were dragged over the yet breathing, living
+mass of human beings, whose shrieks and groans of agony rent the air,
+mingled with the wild shouts and songs of their inhuman murderers, till
+the former were silenced in death.  I need not say what became of the
+bodies of the victims thus horribly immolated.  The ceremony ended with
+a great feast, at which all the chiefs and principal men assembled from
+far and near, and which lasted several days.
+
+With the young chief I was on intimate terms, and I believe that he had
+formed an attachment to me, and was anxious to preserve me from injury.
+In our excursions about the country, we visited one day a temple at the
+end of a small pond, and I saw him throw into it some bread-fruit and
+other provisions.  Looking into the pond, and wondering what this was
+for, I observed a large monster with a body as thick as a man's leg, and
+a hideous head, which I took to be a great snake, but which he told me
+was an eel of vast age, showing me some eels to explain his meaning, and
+also that it was a spirit which he worshipped.  This was the only
+worship I ever saw him engaged in.
+
+I had spent upwards of a year on the island, or it may have been two,
+when the old chief fell ill.  He sat moping by himself in the corner of
+his house, and no one could tell what was the matter with him.  One day
+his son came in, and taking his hand, just as if he had been going to
+say something very affectionately to him, told him that the time had
+arrived when it would be better for him to die!  The old man bowed his
+head, and replied that he was of the same opinion!  The son mentioned a
+day for the burial, to which the old man willingly consented; and till
+the time arrived, as if a weight had been taken off his mind, he seemed
+very much the better that everything had been so satisfactorily
+arranged.  I could discover no compunction on the part of the son, nor
+regret on that of the father, who was cheerful and contented, and ate
+his meals with far more relish than he had before done.  As the fatal
+day approached I attempted to remonstrate with the young chief on so
+unnatural a proceeding; but he sternly rebuked me, and told me not to
+interfere with the immemorial customs of the people.  His father had
+been chief long enough--he was worn-out and weary of life--and he
+himself wished to be chief.  When he should become old, his son would
+probably wish to finish him in the same honourable way, and that he
+should be content to submit to the usage of his nation.
+
+The day arrived, and all the relatives and friends and neighbouring
+chiefs assembled.  The old chief got up, and was followed by a
+procession of all his people, some bearing spades, and others cloths
+with which to wrap him up in the grave.  The grave was about four feet
+deep.  A cloth having been spread at the bottom, the old man was
+conducted to it.  He stepped down with as little unwillingness as if he
+had been entering a bath, and having been placed on his back, the cloth
+was folded over him.  Instantly others began shovelling in the earth,
+and then his son and nearest relatives came and stamped it down,
+exerting all their force with their feet.  Not a sound was uttered by
+the old man.  Leaves were scattered on the grave, and then all engaged
+in the ceremony went and washed at a neighbouring stream.
+
+This done, they returned to the old chief's house, where a feast was
+prepared; and having eaten as much food and drunk as much angona as they
+could, they got up and commenced dancing in the most frantic manner,
+making a most hideous uproar with their drums, conch-shells, and other
+instruments, and shrieking and howling at the top of their voices.
+After this, the principal chiefs entered the houses of the late chief's
+wives, armed with a sort of bowstring.  With these they proceeded
+deliberately to kill the unfortunate women, one after the other, till
+about twenty were thus executed.  The new chief's mother had before
+died, or she would have been murdered in the same way.  Many of them
+seemed perfectly willing to submit to their fate, though several, with
+shrieks and cries, endeavoured to escape, but were brought back and
+compelled to submit their necks to the executioners.
+
+The young man at once assumed the functions of chief, and seemed
+disposed to be no less cruel and bloodthirsty than his father.  Soon
+after, the news was brought that a vessel had anchored in a bay a short
+distance from the town.  She was said to be full of all sorts of
+valuable commodities; of fire-arms and weapons of all sorts; of cloths,
+and tools, and other articles likely to be attractive to savages.  At
+once the cupidity of the young chief was excited.  If he could get
+possession of these things, he might become the most wealthy and
+powerful of all the chiefs of his nation, and bring the other tribes
+into perfect subjection to him.  A council of his most trusty followers
+was called, and his plan explained to them.  They at once agreed to aid
+him in its execution.
+
+I trembled for the fate of the unfortunate crew of the ship, and
+resolved, if possible, to warn them of their danger.  How was I to
+succeed?  I would try, I thought, and swim off to the vessel; I would
+risk my own life for the purpose.  Pretending not to have understood
+what was proposed, I walked about in as unconcerned a manner as
+possible.  I lay down at night in my usual place in the chief's house,
+intending to get up when all were asleep, and run along the shore till I
+came abreast of where I supposed the vessel would be.  Anxiously I
+waited for the time.  I got up and reached the door.  Just as I stepped
+out into the night air I felt a hand placed on my shoulder!  I must have
+trembled.  It was the hand of the chief.
+
+"Ah, I know what you are about," said he.  "You wish to escape to the
+white people, to tell them what we are going to do.  I suspected you.
+That cannot be.  You will see that it would be wiser for you not to join
+them.  Come with me to-morrow, and you will see."
+
+My first plan was thus defeated.  Still I hoped that I might meet some
+of the white crew of the vessel and warn them of their danger.  I
+determined to try.
+
+The next morning the chief and his warriors collected, and all their
+canoes were launched and paddled off to a point which concealed them
+from the stranger vessel.  The smaller canoes were loaded with fruits
+and vegetables of all sorts, and about twenty men and boys without arms
+and in the most peaceable garb, paddled off to her.
+
+On getting up, I found that the chief had appointed two men to attend on
+me and watch my movements.  Everything conspired, therefore, to defeat
+all my hopes of warning the strangers of the fate intended for them.
+
+I was allowed to proceed to a high hill, whence I could look down on the
+vessel, which lay in a bay at my feet.  I longed to have the wings of a
+bird, to fly down and tell the crew of the intentions of the savages,
+whose small canoes now began to flock about her.  Several of the chiefs
+reached her deck, and began offering presents of fruit and vegetables to
+the officers, and pointing to the shore, as if to indicate that if they
+would come there they would be received with a hearty welcome.  I
+guessed, from the build of the vessel, that she was not English.  At
+last I saw a boat lowered into the water, and a French flag flying over
+her stern.  Though I had often been engaged in deadly strife with those
+fighting under that ensign, I was nevertheless anxious to save the lives
+of those I saw.  Yet I could not speak a word of French, and probably
+they would not have understood my warning even if I could have given
+them one.
+
+Not only one, but two boats were lowered; and, as far as I could see, no
+one was armed.  What could have thus so speedily enticed them on shore?
+Looking along the beach, I saw it lined with a number of people, mostly
+women and children.  There were young girls with baskets of fruit, and
+older women with vegetables, and little boys with sucking pigs and other
+dainties, and children running about and playing on the sands.  As this
+was not the usual custom of the savages, I guessed too well that it was
+an artful device of the chief to entrap the unwary strangers.  By the
+time the boats had reached the shore, the women and children gradually
+drew off, and I saw two bodies of savages stealing down through the
+woods on either side of them.  Oh, how I longed to warn them of their
+peril!  I would, at every risk, have shouted out, but they would not
+have understood me.  I remained spell-bound.
+
+Meantime, three or four of the large canoes stole out from behind the
+point, and gradually approached the doomed ship, the chiefs in them,
+when they were perceived, waving their hands in token of amity to those
+on board.  If the party on shore observed them, I do not know; they
+appeared to have no fear, no suspicion of treachery.  The aim of the
+cunning savages was to get them to separate from each other.  The
+sellers of fruit got in among them, and enticed one on one side, and one
+on the other; and when this had been accomplished I saw a warrior, with
+his club concealed under his cloak, glide noiselessly in and attach
+himself to each of the unsuspecting white men.  The large canoes, full
+of warriors, had likewise been incautiously allowed to get alongside the
+brig, and soon her decks were crowded with savages, making signs, and
+laughing, and pretending to traffic with the crew.
+
+On a sudden, a conch-shell was sounded by the chief.  Before its hoarse
+braying had died away, the deadly weapons of the savages had descended
+with terrific force on the heads of the white men on the shore.  Many
+fell, killed at once; others attempted to run to the boats, but were
+pursued and quickly dispatched.  On board, the plot of the chief seemed
+to be equally successful.  Though some resistance was offered and
+several shots were fired, all was unavailing--not a white man ultimately
+escaped; and in a few minutes their bodies were brought on shore in one
+of the canoes, while the others followed towing the brig, whose cable
+the savages had cut, that they might the more easily plunder her.
+
+As soon as she was brought close to the shore, a scene of havoc and
+destruction commenced on board.  Some climbed the masts to unrig her,
+others rushed into the hold to get out the cargo, and numbers hurried to
+the cabin to carry off the lighter articles which it contained.
+
+The chief, as may be supposed, got the lion's share; and his house was
+soon full of fire-arms and other weapons, and clothes, and trinkets, and
+crockery, and articles of every description.  He himself had come on
+shore, but numbers still remained on board, working away in the hold,
+and lowering down the rigging from aloft, when there was a loud
+explosion, and the deck of the vessel, with all on board, was lifted up
+and blown into the air!  Not a human being on board escaped.  Fragments
+of the wreck and mangled bodies came falling thick around, while flames
+burst out on every side from the hull, the scene of the late atrocity.
+
+The chief was very angry at the loss of so much property, but seemed in
+no way to regret the lives of so many of his subjects.
+
+I took occasion to tell him that the catastrophe was a judgment on him
+for the number of murders and the robbery he had committed.
+
+He replied that he did not understand what I meant--that white men had
+often come to those islands in their ships, and had kidnapped his
+people, or shot them down with their guns, or beaten them, for some
+trifling misunderstanding or theft of little importance they might have
+committed, and that he was only treating them as other white people had
+treated his countrymen.
+
+No reasoning that I was able to use after this could convince him that
+he had acted wrongly.  Indeed I knew that there was too much truth in
+his assertion; and much have those navigators to answer for who have
+acted unfairly towards savages, when those savages, following the law of
+their untutored nature, have retaliated on subsequent voyagers with a
+tenfold measure of vengeance.
+
+After this occurrence, I was always seeking an opportunity to escape
+from this blood-stained spot of earth.  Whichever way I turned had been
+a scene of murder, and I loathed the sight of the sanguinary perpetrator
+of so many atrocities.
+
+I might employ many an hour in describing the dreadful customs and
+superstitions of these people.  Every day my desire to escape from them
+increased.  Three or four vessels in the course of the next year called
+off the island, but the crews seemed to be cautious; and, at all events,
+no attempt was made to surprise them.  As each appeared, I found myself
+narrowly watched, so I had no opportunity of communicating with them.
+
+I had now for some time been looked upon as a sane man, and had employed
+myself in working in various ways for the chief.  It at last struck me,
+that if I were again to feign madness I might obtain greater liberty.
+On putting my idea into execution, I found that it had the desired
+effect; and I was allowed from that time forward to go about wherever I
+liked, and to pry into people's houses and gardens, and even into the
+temples.  I soon found my way down to the sea-shore, and used to pretend
+to be busy in picking up shells, and in stringing them together into
+necklaces and bracelets for my own adornment.  Then I made others, which
+I presented, with many a strange antic, to anybody I met.  Day after day
+did I continue this employment, my eye wandering anxiously over the blue
+sea in search of the wished-for vessel.
+
+Drearily passed the time, without a human being with whom I could
+exchange an idea we might hold in common.  I learned then fully to
+appreciate the value of the society and sympathy of my fellow-men.  At
+length, one day as I sat at my usual occupation on the shore, my eyes
+fell on a white speck just rising above the horizon.  Anxiously,
+intently did I watch it.  Slowly it increased.  First I made out the
+topgallant-sails; then the topsails; and at last the courses of a
+square-rigged schooner.  She approached the island.  Oh, how my heart
+beat within me for fear she might not come near the part where I was!
+
+There was a channel through which vessels had more than once passed.  A
+point of land ran out into it, covered almost to the end with trees.
+Towards this point I ran, concealing myself as much as I could among the
+trees from the people on shore.  I reached the point unobserved.  I had
+hoped to find a canoe there, but there was none.  I looked about, and at
+last discovered a log of banana-wood, which is very light.  It had been
+cast on shore.  With my knife I cut a stick with a broad end, to serve
+as a paddle and to defend myself against the sharks which abound on the
+coast.  I was ready to run all risks.  I had become desperate.  I felt
+sure that if I were observed by the natives I should be brought back and
+slaughtered.  Still that idea did not daunt me.  At every hazard I was
+resolved to get on board, or to perish in the attempt.
+
+Eagerly I kept my eye on the vessel.  On she came.  She was steering for
+the channel.  I got my log ready to launch.  It was with no small dread
+that I looked around to ascertain that I was not observed.  I watched
+for the moment to commence my perilous voyage, when, by pulling directly
+out from the shore, I thought I could fetch her.  I had secured two long
+outriggers at each end of my log, to prevent it from turning round; the
+tendrils of the wild vine served me as rope.  The time arrived to launch
+forth.  With all my strength shoving the log into the water, I took my
+seat on it, and with might and main using my paddle, I worked on my
+rough canoe towards the schooner.
+
+Now commenced the most dangerous part of the enterprise, as I drew out
+from the point and became exposed to the view of the people on shore.
+Every now and then I gave a hasty glance over my shoulder to ascertain
+if I were followed.
+
+For a long time no one observed me.  I had nearly gained a position by
+which the schooner must pass, when, to my dismay, I saw a large canoe
+putting off from the shore.  If I could not gain the side of the
+schooner before she reached me, I was undone.
+
+Again I took to my paddle, and urged on the slow-moving machine towards
+the approaching vessel; still the canoe was rapidly drawing near.  Every
+instant I expected to find an arrow sticking in my body.  The thought
+made me redouble my efforts.
+
+On came the schooner.  I shouted out, "Have mercy on an unfortunate
+Englishman!"  I saw many swarthy faces on her forecastle.  I thought
+that I might not be understood.  What was my joy then to see her brail
+up her sails, for she had a leading wind, and lower her boat!
+
+The boat approached me.  I leaped into her just as a shower of arrows
+was sent flying after me.  Most of them fell short, but some struck the
+boat.  Those on board the schooner seeing this, instantly let fly a
+volley of musketry at my pursuers, and made them pull back with no
+little rapidity towards the shore.  The moment my eye had time to look
+about the vessel, I thought that I recognised her.  I was not mistaken;
+she was Newman's schooner, and Newman himself was standing on the
+quarter-deck, not as I had for so long known him, but in dress and
+appearance like an officer.  He, of course, did not know me.  How should
+he?  I was thin and haggard with care and anxiety.  Of my seaman's
+clothes but a small portion now remained, and the few garments I had
+were made of the native cloth, but had been torn in my run among the
+trees, and afterwards almost destroyed in the water.  Altogether, I was
+a miserable figure.
+
+I resolved not to make myself known to my old friend, but still I was
+anxious to guard him against the treachery of the natives.  Seeing that
+I appeared to wish to speak to him, he sent for me aft to give an
+account of myself.  I had not talked five minutes when he exclaimed, "I
+am quite certain I know that voice and mode of expression.  Who are you,
+my man?"
+
+I at once told him.  He grasped my hand cordially, and greeted me as he
+would have done in the forecastle of the _Drake_.  Directly he made me
+at home, and told me that I must mess in his cabin.
+
+"You must be clothed, so I will dress you as an officer.  As we have no
+boatswain on board, I will at once appoint you to fill the berth.
+That's all settled; and after you have had some food, I must hear all
+that has happened to you since we parted."  He told me that he was well
+aware of the treacherous disposition of the natives, and that he was
+always on his guard.
+
+How delightful it was to feel myself out of the power of those
+bloodthirsty savages, and to be sitting at dinner with an intelligent
+companion!  He had been in the schooner ever since we parted; and so
+much satisfaction had he given the Dutch authorities, that he had been
+promised shortly the command of the largest vessel on the station.  He
+was in high spirits, and told me that he expected, on his return to
+Batavia, to marry a lady of considerable fortune, and that he looked
+upon his prosperity as certain.  "Pretty well, is it not, I have done,
+remembering the point from which I started only a few years ago?"
+
+I very soon recovered my health and strength on board the schooner.
+Newman had been sent to examine these and other neighbouring groups of
+islands.  We cruised about among them for some months, and then once
+more shaped our course for Batavia.
+
+On getting on board, I had no little difficulty at first in speaking
+English, and I found that I had almost entirely forgotten how to read
+and write.  Newman, however, used to have me every day into his cabin,
+and I very soon recovered the knowledge I had lost.  Indeed, he took as
+much pains to instruct me as he had done on board the whaler, and he
+encouraged me with the hope that he might get me appointed as one of his
+mates while he remained in the schooner.  But alas!  I found that in one
+point he was still unchanged.  Religion was yet a stranger to his soul.
+
+At length we reached Batavia.  He went on shore in high spirits, telling
+me that he was going to visit the lady to whom he was engaged; but he
+let me know that he must call also on another who had formed an
+attachment for him, that he might pacify her respecting his intended
+marriage.  I feared from what he said that all was not right.  I
+expected him on board again that night, but he did not return.
+
+In the morning he did not come, so with some anxiety I went on shore to
+inquire for him.  For a long time I searched in vain.  At last I met a
+person whom I guessed to be an Englishman.
+
+"Your captain do you ask for?" he answered.  "Look there!"
+
+Some police-officers stood at the door of a house.  They allowed me to
+enter.  On the floor of a room at the side lay a body.  A cloth covered
+the face.  I lifted it up.  There I beheld all that remained of the
+highly endowed Edward Newman, for by no other name did I know him.  He
+had been poisoned through fiery jealousy.  A cup, in pretended
+friendship, had been laughingly offered him.  Unsuspiciously he had
+drunk of it.  The Government seized the murderess, who paid the penalty
+of her crime with her life.
+
+Thus died one who was well calculated to shine in the higher walks of
+life.  Who he was, whence he came, or even the slightest clue to his
+previous history, I was never able to ascertain.  In a strange land he
+died, far away from kindred and friends--if, indeed, he had any--his
+fate for ever unknown to them.  Let this be a warning to those who hear
+the sad conclusion of his history.  The highest talents, and the most
+undaunted courage and perseverance, will avail a man nothing, unless at
+the same time he be under the guidance of principle.
+
+The death of my friend threw me completely adrift, and I was glad to
+find an opportunity of working my passage to England on board a ship
+just going to sail for Liverpool.
+
+Once more I stood on my native shore, a care-worn, weather-beaten man,
+well advanced in years.  On inquiring for the bank in which I had
+invested the savings of my former voyage, I found that it had failed,
+and that I was as poor as when I began the world, with this difference,
+that I had a profession, and had bought a large amount of experience
+with the money I had squandered--which is not always the case with
+spend-thrifts.
+
+I made inquiries for Captain Carr, but could hear nothing of him.  As I
+concluded that he had invested the money made by my last voyage in the
+_Drake_, I supposed that also to have been lost by the bank.  I thought
+this a very great misfortune, as I wished to have settled on shore in
+some business or other.  Perhaps I might have chosen that of a publican,
+as many sailors do.  However, I had now no resource but to go to sea
+again.
+
+While in this humour I fell in with an old shipmate.  We had been
+together in the _Glutton_, and one or two other ships, so we knew each
+other directly.  He told me that he belonged to a revenue-cutter then
+stationed in the Mersey, and that she was short of hands, especially of
+three or four steady men; and when I mentioned to him that I had been
+boatswain of a man-of-war schooner, he said that he was certain I would
+get a berth on board.  I was weary of foreign voyages, so I accompanied
+him at once, as he proposed, to the commander, and was entered
+immediately.
+
+Ever since have I had reason to bless that day.  The commander was a
+pious, excellent man, who, aware of the value of his own soul, was ever
+solicitous for the eternal welfare of all those placed under his
+authority.  He soon found that though I had some knowledge of the Bible,
+and much of other things, I was ignorant of the way of salvation.  He
+called me often into his cabin.  Kindly and affectionately he spoke to
+me, and set before me the truth of the gospel as it is in Christ Jesus.
+As he spoke to me, so did he, from time to time, to all the rest.  He,
+truly, was not ashamed of the Master he served.  At an early age he had
+hoisted his flag, and had ever since fought bravely under it, against
+the scorn of the world, against evil in all shapes.  Even the most
+obdurate were softened and influenced by the example he set, though they
+might not receive the truth with gladness of heart.  We were what all
+ships' companies might become--a Christian crew, though not without
+faults and shortcomings; but we loved Christ, and worshipped him with
+singleness of heart.  At the same time I am very certain that no crew
+ever more efficiently did their duty to their country than we performed
+ours.
+
+For three years I served on board that vessel, and at the end of that
+time was sent round to Woolwich, where she had been fitted out, to be
+paid off.
+
+The last time I landed at Liverpool, I met an old gentleman walking
+along the street.  I looked in his face.  It was Captain Carr!  I told
+him who I was.  Of course he had thought I had been lost, and was very
+much surprised to see me.  He was shocked to hear of the death of my
+companions, and deeply interested in the account I gave him of my
+captivity.  To my no little satisfaction he told me that he had not
+invested the money, which was mine by rights, from the last voyage; and
+that he thought he could obtain fifty pounds from the owners as my share
+of profits.  This sum I afterwards received.  It was all that remained
+out of the thousands I had made in the course of my life.
+
+I was now sixty years of age.  I had recovered my health on board the
+cutter, but though strong and hearty, I felt I was no longer fit for
+sea.  I found, however, on application, that I could obtain employment
+as a rigger in the dockyard; and in that work I spent some years.  I
+took a little cottage on the hill, which I furnished by means of the
+money I received from Captain Carr, and made myself perfectly
+comfortable.
+
+Directly I was settled, I started off next day for Greenwich Hospital,
+for I thought that I should very likely fall in with some old shipmates
+there.  I went into the chapel and sat myself down--no one hindering me.
+As the men were coming out when service was over, I saw before me a
+tall, thin old pensioner, bending under the weight of years, and resting
+on a staff as he walked before me.  I came behind as he reached the open
+air, and looked up in his face.  It wore the same kind, benignant, mild
+expression which I remembered so well in the countenance of Peter
+Poplar.  I waited till he got down the steps.
+
+"Just lean on me, sir," said I.  "You have carried me before now, if I
+mistake not."  He looked hard at my face.  A tear dimmed his eye.
+
+"Yes, yes--it's the boy himself," he whispered in a tremulous voice.
+"But you are `Old Jack' now."  I loved the name he gave me, and ever
+since to the lads I meet and talk with I have called myself by it.
+
+A few weeks after that, I sat by the bedside of my kind, noble old
+friend--talking of that glorious eternity into which his spirit entered
+before I left him.
+
+After I had been settled for some years, I met an old shipmate, sick,
+and I saw plainly dying.  He had been a lad when I knew him.  He had
+with him a little girl, his only child, some ten years old.  His wife
+was dead.  He had no friends.  I promised as he lay on his death-bed to
+take charge of the lassie.  He blessed me, and died.  I took her to my
+cottage, and she has ever since been a comfort and a solace to me--a
+daughter by adoption, if not by blood.
+
+Not long after this event, I met my former commander in the cutter.  He
+asked me how I was employed.  I told him as a rigger, but that I
+sometimes found my strength scarcely equal to the work; but when that
+failed, I was sure God would provide for me as He had always done.
+
+He replied that he had no doubt of it--that even then there was work for
+which I was well fitted ready for me--that he belonged to a society
+which had been formed to distribute, at a low price, religious and other
+publications among those classes who were accustomed to purchase the
+most pernicious style of literature, frequently from not having better
+offered to them; and that if I would undertake the work, he would get me
+appointed to it.  I gladly accepted his offer, and have ever since been
+a humble, though I feel sure not an inefficient, labourer in making
+known the good tidings of great joy among the almost heathen population
+of our own land, as a colporteur.
+
+I have told my tale.  I have offered many an example of what religion
+can do, and of what the want of it will produce.  I have uttered many a
+warning.  One more I must repeat: Remember that this world affords no
+rest to the soul--this world is unstable and fleeting--those who persist
+in making the utmost it can offer their aim, are striving to clutch a
+passing shadow.  Oh! never forget it is but a place of preparation--a
+place of trial--for all human beings alike.  To commence mother life all
+are hastening--all must commence ere long.  High and low, rich and poor,
+young and old--those in health and those in sickness--the light-hearted
+and happy--the miserable and forlorn--all alike are going the same road,
+and entering into a condition which, whether wretched or joyous, will
+last for eternity.  Though the rest of what I have said may be
+forgotten, let this great truth be remembered, and you will have gained
+a pearl of great price from reading the life of OLD JACK.
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Old Jack, by W.H.G. Kingston
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