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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/29291-8.txt b/29291-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9bd027a --- /dev/null +++ b/29291-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10252 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Pirate and The Three Cutters, by Frederick Marryat + +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: The Pirate and The Three Cutters + +Author: Frederick Marryat + +Illustrator: Edmund J. Sullivan + +Release Date: July 2, 2009 [EBook #29291] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATE AND THE THREE CUTTERS *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4, Joseph Cooper and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE PIRATE + +AND + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + +[Illustration: Publishers mark] + +[Illustration: _Cain._] + + +THE PIRATE + +AND + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + + +BY + +CAPTAIN MARRYAT + + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY EDMUND J. SULLIVAN +AND AN INTRODUCTION BY DAVID HANNAY + + + +London +MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED + +NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY +1897 + +_All rights reserved_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Among the few subjects which are still left at the disposal of the +duly-gifted writer of romance is the Pirate. Not but that many have +written of pirates. Defoe, after preparing the ground by a pamphlet +story on the historic Captain Avery, wrote _The Life, Adventures, and +Piracies of Captain Singleton_. Sir Walter Scott made use in somewhat +the same fashion of the equally historic Gow--that is to say, his pirate +bears about the same relation to the marauder who was suppressed by +James Laing, that Captain Singleton does to Captain Avery. Michael Scott +had much to say of pirates, and he had heard much of them during his +life in the West Indies, for they were then making their last fight +against law and order. The pirate could not escape the eye of Mr. R. L. +Stevenson, and accordingly we have an episode of pirates in the episode +of the _Master of Ballantrae_. Balsac, too, wrote _Argow le Pirate_ +among the stories which belong to the years when he was exhausting all +the ways in which a novel ought not to be written. Also the pirate is a +commonplace in boys' books. Yet for as much as he figures in stories for +old and young, it may be modestly maintained that nobody has ever yet +done him quite right. + +Defoe's Captain Singleton is a harmless, thrifty, and ever moral pirate, +of whom it is impossible to disapprove. Sir Walter's is a mild +gentleman, concerning whom one wonders how he ever came to be in such +company. Michael Scott's pirate is a bloodthirsty ruffian enough, and +yet it is difficult to feel that a person who dressed in such a highly +picturesque manner, and who was commonly either a Don or a Scotch +gentleman of ancient descent, was quite the real thing. Mr. Stevenson's +pirate is nearer what one knows must have been the life. He is a +cowardly, lurking, petty scoundrel. John Silver is certainly something +very different, but then when Mr. Stevenson drew the commanding figure +in Treasure Island he was not making a portrait of a pirate, but was +only making play with the well-established puppet of boys' books. Yet, +after all, the pirate, if he was not such an agreeable rascal as John +Silver, was not always the greedy, spiritless rogue drawn in the _Master +of Ballantrae_. To do him properly and as he was, he ought to be +approached with a mixture of humour and morality, and also with a +knowledge of the facts concerning him, which to the best of my knowledge +have never been combined in any writer. + +Captain Johnson, in his valuable _General History of the Pirates from +their First Rise and Settlement in the Island of Providence to the +present time_, begins with antiquity. He mounts up the dark backward +abyss of time till he meets with the pirates who captured Julius Caesar, +and were suppressed by Pompey. This is not necessary. Our pirate was a +very different fellow from those broken men of the ancient world, the +wrecks of States shattered by Rome and the victims of the usury of the +Knights who collected in the creeks of Cilicia. It is not quite easy to +say what he was, but we know well enough what he was not. He was not for +many generations the recognised enemy of the human race. On the +contrary, he was often a comparative respectable person, who was +disposed to render service to his king and country at a crisis, even if +he did not see his advantage in virtuous conduct. To begin with, he was +only a seafaring man who carried on the universal practice of the Middle +Ages after they had ceased to be recognised as legitimate. Then for a +long time a pirate was not thought worthy of hanging until he had shown +a hopelessly contumacious disposition by refusing the king's pardon +several times. Sir William Monson, who was admiral to James I., saw no +harm in recruiting well-known pirates for His Majesty's service. On the +coast of Ireland he found Irish country gentlemen of respectable +position, and the agents of London trading firms, engaged in friendly +business transactions with these skimmers of the sea. The redoubted +Captain Bartholomew Roberts, to skip over a century, went about the +world recruiting for a well-organised piratical business, and there were +many among his followers who would have been honest men if temptation +had not come in their way, and who hastened to leave a life of vice so +soon as the neighbourhood of one of His Majesty's cruisers made it +dangerous. We ought not to speak of these men with harsh contempt. The +king's government was largely responsible for their existence, by +promising pardon to all who would come in before a given date. They came +in and brought their booty with them. Captain Johnson had the pleasure +of the personal acquaintance of several who were living in comfortable +retirement at Rotherhithe or at Limehouse, and in the enjoyment, for +aught we know to the contrary, of the respect of their neighbours. They +had come in on a proclamation, and there was nothing more to be said +against them. In many cases, no doubt, when the booty was spent they +drifted back to the old irregular courses, and on that road those of +them who did not get shot when boarding a galleon, or go down at sea, +or die of starvation among the keys of the West Indies, did sooner or +later contrive to overtake the gallows. But these men, if they were not +quite so moral and orderly as Captain Singleton, or so romantic as the +pirates of Michael Scott, were not altogether bloodthirsty, merciless +scoundrels. Many of them had every intention of returning to their +country upon the appearance of the next proclamation, and as they saw +the prospect of a safe return for themselves they were not under the +necessity of acting on the rule that dead men tell no tales. They did +not make their prisoners walk the plank. They did not even burn their +prizes, but were often content with taking out such provisions and +portable property as their immediate occasions made desirable, and then +allowing the plundered merchant-ship to continue her voyage. They were +by no means so thoroughly hated as they ought to have been, to judge by +the more recent opinion held of the pirate. + +In fact, till towards the end of the pirate's existence he was nearly as +much the product of the Government's management as of his own sins. +During Charles II.'s reign, his governors in Jamaica gave what they were +pleased to term commissions to all who would plunder the Spaniard. The +Spaniards retaliated by giving commissions to all who would plunder +anyone else. The marauder who victimised the Spaniard was sure of a +market, and a refuge in Jamaica. The other marauder who was prepared to +feed upon English, Dutch, or French, was sure of a welcome in Cuba. When +Governments suddenly took to being virtuous, a sense of wrong inflamed +the minds of the men who had hitherto been allowed to live in recognised +lawlessness. Captain Kidd, for example, manifestly thought that Lord +Bellomont and the other gentleman who sent him out to Madagascar to +cruise against the pirates, were only assuming a decent excuse for a +little speculation in piracy on their own account. The freebooters who +settled at Providence, in the Bahamas, were really to be pardoned for +not realising that the happy days of Governor Moddiford at Jamaica were +over. When they were made to understand that there were to be no more of +these cakes and ale, the majority, under the command of Captain +Jennings, promptly came in. Captain Jennings was the owner of an estate +in Jamaica, and he brought a comfortable little sum back with him from +his piratical adventures. The residue, who probably had no comfortable +sum to bring with them, did not come in, and as they were given to +understand that they would certainly be hanged if caught, they took in +self-defence to giving no quarter. So at the end of the great war, the +powers who had encouraged privateering while the fighting lasted, +without inquiring too closely how far the privateer confined his +operations to the enemy only without plundering the neutral, became +suddenly very strict. Then the men whom they had allowed to become +hardened to a life of pillage took refuge in downright piracy. These men +were the _Pescadores del Puerto Escondido_ who enlightened the pages of +Michael Scott. The Spaniards tolerated them as the English Governors of +Jamaica had once encouraged the Buccaneers. It was not until a combined +vigorous effort of the English and the United States navies had driven +them off the sea, and till they had begun to support themselves by +plundering plantations, that the Captains-General of Cuba took them in +hand. + +Now, in all this life, floating as it did between the honest and the +dishonest, there was room for something more human than the be-sashed, +velvet-jacketed, crimson-capped, and long-knifed heroes of Michael +Scott, or than the mere rogue and floating footpad we meet in _The +Master of Ballantrae_. There was also room, it must be candidly allowed, +for something better than Captain Cain of the _Avenger_. The _Pirate_ is +not among the books which one most willingly re-reads out of Marryat's +very respectably lengthy list of stories. Yet it is not without gaiety, +and, as is ever the case with him, the man-of-war scenes are all alive. +Captain Plumpton, and Mr. Markital the first lieutenant, and Edward +Templemore the midshipman, are credible. Whenever Marryat has to +introduce us to a man-of-war, he could draw on inexhaustible treasure of +reminiscences, or of what is for the story-writer's purpose quite as +good, of types and incidents which his imagination had made out of +incidents supplied by his memory. The naval parts of the _Pirate_ are no +doubt variations on what he had recently written in _Midshipman Easy_, +but they are not mere repetitions, and they have the one saving quality +of life, which will make even a poorly constructed story readable. + +It is impossible to say as much for the captain and crew of the +_Avenger_. Cain is not only not a pirate, but he is not a human being. +He is a Byronic or even a Michael Scottish hero--an impossible monster, +compounded of one virtue and a thousand crimes. There never was any such +person, and even on paper he is not tolerable for more than a paragraph +or two without the help of verse. The crew of the _Avenger_ is an +inconceivable ship's complement for any pirate. Credulity itself cannot +even in early life accept the capture of the Portuguese carrack. Marryat +drew on his recollections of the time when he was a midshipman with +Cochrane in the _Impèrieuse_, for the figure of the old steersman, who +sticks to his post under the fire of the _Avenger_. He had seen the +mate of a Spanish trading ship behaving in just that way when attacked +by boats from the _Impèrieuse_. When he was asked why he did not +surrender, though he was mortally wounded and had no chance of escape, +he answered that he was an 'old Christian.' The term, which by the way +only means a pure-blooded Spaniard, puzzled Marryat and his shipmates. +It is not wonderful that he did not understand its meaning, since in +spite of campaigning in Spain, and many visits to Spanish ports, he +never learnt to avoid the absurd blunder of putting the title Don before +a surname. But if the steersman is drawn from life, so are not either +the carrack, which is a fragment of the sixteenth century, out of its +place, nor 'Don' Ribiera and his sons, nor the bishop, nor anybody else +in that ill-fated ship, nor the stilted, transpontine style of their +conversation. Francisco and his bible are no more credible than the +carrack and the bishop. Francisco's brother and his love affairs are not +more credible, though they are decidedly more tolerable. The daughters +of Spanish Governors who carry on flirtations on the sea-shore with the +captains of English men-of-war, who are carried off by pirates and +rescued in the nick of time, whose papas not only consent to their +marriage with the heretical object of their affections but send boxes +full of gold doubloons, together with their blessing, are so much better +than life that we need not quarrel when invited to meet any number of +them. The sea adventures in Marryat are always good, and so are the +fights. The storms and wrecks, the rafts and wonderful escapes, the +defences of houses, and the escapes of pirates and smugglers from under +the very guns of His Majesty's frigates, are as welcome as, and are much +more credible than, the lovely daughters of benevolent Spanish +governors. Of them there is no want, and for their sake the _Pirate_ +can be read; but it is not what Marryat might have made it if he had +written it in the spirit in which he was to write _Snarley-Yow_. + +In _The Three Cutters_ Marryat allowed himself to take a little holiday +in company with another kind of sea malefactor whom he knew intimately +well. He had already played with the smuggler in _The King's Own_. In +this little story he reintroduces us to M'Elvina, somewhat disguised, +and in altered circumstances, but essentially the same. + +_The Three Cutters_ may be supposed to have been written to fill out the +volume containing _The Pirate_ and those twenty engravings from drawings +by Clarkson Stanfield, which still make the first edition a desirable +possession. This function, whether it was originally designed or not, is +very agreeably fulfilled by the history of the _Arrow_, the _Active_, +and _Happy-go-lucky_. Although he wrote very few of them, Marryat had a +happy hand with a short story. _The S. W. and by W. and 1/4 W. Wind_ and +_Moonshine_ are very happy examples of the magazine story. _The Three +Cutters_ is somewhat longer than either, but the difference in bulk is +due less to any greater amount of pure story there is than to the care +with which Marryat introduces his three vessels, and sketches their +respective starting-places--Plymouth, Portsmouth, and St. Malo. Here +again it is to be noted that Marryat is far more at home in the +man-of-war than in the smuggler or the yacht. Mr. Appleboy, with his +forty-five years' service, and the interesting story which remains +untold of the something which took place in '93 or '94, his seventeen +daily tumblers of gin-toddy, his mate and his midshipman, is a part, and +not an inferior one, of Marryat's inimitable naval gallery. The +_Happy-go-lucky_ is perhaps rather a smuggler of the Pays Bleu than of +the British Channel, but she is sufficiently in place in a story not +intended to be too slavishly faithful to life. Morrison, the +sailing-master, with his augury of the blue pigeon, is real, and nothing +can be more consistent with human nature than that he should have cursed +the bird when he did finally find himself in prison. As for the +adventures, they belong to the region of the fantastic, which does not +pretend to be anything else. The idea of a yacht which endeavours the +capture of a smuggler, and is herself made prize by him, is of course a +motive for farce. + +The scenes on board the captive yacht are not exactly horse-play. There +are too many ladies concerned, and Marryat, in spite of occasional +lapses of taste, preferred to write like a gentleman. But if there is no +horse-play there is a great deal of what I hope it is permissible to +describe as 'lark.' The sour old maid Miss Ossulton, her niece Cecilia, +who, if she has not much character, is still a very nice girl, the +frisky widow Mrs. Lascelles, make a capital trio. Given a gallant +dashing smuggler, who is really a gentleman in disguise, in possession +of the yacht, and determined to revenge himself on the owner by taking a +little harmless amusement, it follows that lively incidents are to be +expected. Marryat did not work the situation out at any length, probably +because he felt that the stuff would not bear much handling. If he cut +his story short for this reason he was undoubtedly right. It is so +difficult as to be quite impossible for the majority of writers to hang +just on the border of the outrageously impossible for more than a few +pages. While it lasts it is very good fun. The reformation of +Pickersgill through the influence of Mrs. Lascelles is quite in +Marryat's manner. His heroes, when they need reformation, are commonly +brought into the right path by the combined influence of a pretty woman +and a round sum of money. Mrs. Lascelles, too, was unquestionably just +the woman to marry Pickersgill. Having married an old man to please her +parents, and having inherited his money, she had decided both to marry +again and to please herself in her second husband. Experience shows that +the Mrs. Lascelles of real life not uncommonly fall into the hands of a +ruffian or an adventurer. Marryat was not making a study of real life, +and he was too fond of his puppets; and besides that would have been +another story, which would have been superfluous, considering that +Marryat wanted to end this one. So Mrs. Lascelles had her fine dashing +seaman, who stood six feet odd in his stockings, and was also a +gentleman in disguise. Of course she was happy ever after. One has a +haunting suspicion that the story was not only written to fill out the +volume, but also to accompany Clarkson Stanfield's three very pretty +plates of Plymouth, Portsmouth, and St. Malo. If so, that only proves +that when a man is a born storyteller he can write good stories for very +humble business reasons. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE PIRATE + + + PAGE + +CHAPTER I + +THE BAY OF BISCAY 3 + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BACHELOR 11 + + +CHAPTER III + +THE GALE 20 + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE LEAK 26 + + +CHAPTER V + +THE OLD MAID 34 + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MIDSHIPMAN 43 + + +CHAPTER VII + +SLEEPER'S BAY 50 + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ATTACK 60 + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CAPTURE 69 + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SAND-BANK 87 + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE ESCAPE 93 + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE LIEUTENANT 104 + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE LANDING 111 + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MEETING 124 + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE MISTAKE 135 + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE CAICOS 145 + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE TRIAL 158 + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +CONCLUSION 173 + + + + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + + PAGE + + +CHAPTER I + +CUTTER THE FIRST 185 + + +CHAPTER II + +CUTTER THE SECOND 199 + + +CHAPTER III + +CUTTER THE THIRD 208 + + +CHAPTER IV + +PORTLAND BILL 216 + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TRAVESTIE 227 + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SMUGGLING YACHT 239 + + +CHAPTER VII + +CONCLUSION 247 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +THE PIRATE + + + PAGE + +Cain _Frontispiece_ + +'Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em all dry' 7 + +Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted notice 9 + +'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee presently' 18 + +Oswald Bareth gained the helm, which he put hard up 23 + +'I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts to break +into the spirit-room' 32 + +Found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by William +the footman 35 + +'Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!' 41 + +He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck into +the arm-holes of his waistcoat 44 + +A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and a heavy +volley of muskets, was the decided answer 62 + +'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men are +obstinate, we may have worked for nothing' 72 + +'_Blood for blood!_' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at +Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck 82 + +Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she was hull-down +to the northward 85 + +At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail, and +hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as might +be possible 95 + +The flames increased in violence, mounting up to the masts +and catching the sails one after another 101 + +Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too busy +with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter 107 + +Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the window, and +examined the vessel some time in silence 113 + +The ball entered the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he +dropped his hold 122 + +'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but leave +me now' 129 + +'Blood for blood I will have,' continued the mate, holding up his +clenched hand, and shaking it almost in the pirate captain's face 139 + +The pirate captain was seen to raise his body convulsively half +out of the water--he floundered, sank, and was seen no more 152 + +Clara sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a state of +insensibility 155 + +The pirates at the bar 160 + +As soon as she was sufficiently composed, was sworn, and gave +her evidence 166 + +'Blood for blood!' 171 + +'Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!' 178 + +'_Resurgam!_' said the butler 181 + + + + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + +The ladies 188 + +The Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton 190 + +'Fie! Mr. Vaughan,' cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it +came from your heart' 197 + +Lieutenant Appleboy 201 + +'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem. 'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. Appleboy, +tossing the contents of the tumbler in the boy's face 206 + +The captain of the _Happy-go-lucky_, Jack Pickersgill 210 + +Jeannette held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile, +'_méchant!_' and then quitted the room 214 + +The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the +smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the +way 219 + +'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said Pickersgill 222 + +'Pirates!--_bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing_ pirates!' +replied the steward 229 + +'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his knees, +'there is no Burgundy on board--ask the ladies' 237 + +Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; and, +with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel 245 + +'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me to +observe, that it is _you_ who have induced me to give up +my profession----' 255 + + + + +THE PIRATE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE BAY OF BISCAY + + +It was in the latter part of the month of June, of the year 179--, that +the angry waves of the Bay of Biscay were gradually subsiding, after a +gale of wind as violent as it was unusual during that period of the +year. Still they rolled heavily; and, at times, the wind blew up in +fitful, angry gusts, as if it would fain renew the elemental combat; but +each effort was more feeble, and the dark clouds which had been summoned +to the storm now fled in every quarter before the powerful rays of the +sun, who burst their masses asunder with a glorious flood of light and +heat; and, as he poured down his resplendent beams, piercing deep into +the waters of that portion of the Atlantic to which we now refer, with +the exception of one object, hardly visible, as at creation, there was a +vast circumference of water, bounded by the fancied canopy of heaven. We +have said, with the exception of one object; for in the centre of this +picture, so simple, yet so sublime, composed of the three great +elements, there was a remnant of the fourth. We say a remnant, for it +was but the hull of a vessel, dismasted, water-logged, its upper works +only floating occasionally above the waves, when a transient repose from +their still violent undulation permitted it to reassume its buoyancy. +But this was seldom; one moment it was deluged by the seas, which broke +as they poured over its gunwale; and the next it rose from its +submersion, as the water escaped from the portholes at its sides. + +How many thousands of vessels--how many millions of property--have been +abandoned, and eventually consigned to the all-receiving depths of the +ocean, through ignorance or through fear! What a mine of wealth must lie +buried in its sands! what riches lie entangled amongst its rocks, or +remain suspended in its unfathomable gulf, where the compressed fluid is +equal in gravity to that which it encircles, there to remain secured in +its embedment from corruption and decay, until the destruction of the +universe and the return of chaos! Yet, immense as the accumulated loss +may be, the major part of it has been occasioned from an ignorance of +one of the first laws of nature, that of specific gravity. The vessel to +which we have referred was, to all appearance, in a situation of as +extreme hazard as that of a drowning man clinging to a single rope-yarn; +yet, in reality, she was more secure from descending to the abyss below +than many gallantly careering on the waters, their occupants dismissing +all fear, and only calculating upon a quick arrival into port. + +The _Circassian_ had sailed from New Orleans, a gallant and +well-appointed ship, with a cargo, the major part of which consisted of +cotton. The captain was, in the usual acceptation of the term, a good +sailor; the crew were hardy and able seamen. As they crossed the +Atlantic, they had encountered the gale to which we have referred, were +driven down into the Bay of Biscay, where, as we shall hereafter +explain, the vessel was dismasted, and sprang a leak, which baffled all +their exertions to keep under. It was now five days since the frightened +crew had quitted the vessel in two of her boats, one of which had +swamped, and every soul that occupied it had perished; the fate of the +other was uncertain. + +We said that the crew had deserted the vessel, but we did not assert +that every existing being had been removed out of her. Had such been the +case, we should not have taken up the reader's time in describing +inanimate matter. It is life that we portray, and life there still was +in the shattered hull thus abandoned to the mockery of the ocean. In the +_caboose_ of the _Circassian_, that is, in the cooking-house secured on +deck, and which fortunately had been so well fixed as to resist the +force of the breaking waves, remained three beings--a man, a woman, and +a child. The two first-mentioned were of that inferior race which have, +for so long a period, been procured from the sultry Afric coast, to +toil, but reap not for themselves; the child which lay at the breast of +the female was of European blood, now, indeed, deadly pale, as it +attempted in vain to draw sustenance from its exhausted nurse, down +whose sable cheeks the tears coursed, as she occasionally pressed the +infant to her breast, and turned it round to leeward to screen it from +the spray which dashed over them at each returning swell. Indifferent to +all else, save her little charge, she spoke not, although she shuddered +with the cold as the water washed her knees each time that the hull was +careened into the wave. Cold and terror had produced a change in her +complexion, which now wore a yellow, or sort of copper hue. + +The male, who was her companion, sat opposite to her upon the iron range +which once had been the receptacle of light and heat, but was now but a +weary seat to a drenched and worn-out wretch. He, too, had not spoken +for many hours; with the muscles of his face relaxed, his thick lips +pouting far in advance of his collapsed cheeks, his high cheekbones +prominent as budding horns, his eyes displaying little but their whites, +he appeared to be an object of greater misery than the female, whose +thoughts were directed to the infant and not unto herself. Yet his +feelings were still acute, although his faculties appeared to be +deadened by excess of suffering. + +'Eh, me!' cried the negro woman faintly, after a long silence, her head +falling back with extreme exhaustion. Her companion made no reply, but, +roused at the sound of her voice, bent forward, slid open the door a +little, and looked out to windward. The heavy spray dashed into his +glassy eyes, and obscured his vision; he groaned, and fell back into his +former position. 'What you tink, Coco?' inquired the negress, covering +up more carefully the child, as she bent her head down upon it. A look +of despair, and a shudder from cold and hunger, were the only reply. + +It was then about eight o'clock in the morning, and the swell of the +ocean was fast subsiding. At noon the warmth of the sun was communicated +to them through the planks of the _caboose_, while its rays poured a +small stream of vivid light through the chinks of the closed panels. The +negro appeared gradually to revive; at last he rose, and with some +difficulty contrived again to slide open the door. The sea had gradually +decreased its violence, and but occasionally broke over the vessel; +carefully holding on by the door-jambs, Coco gained the outside, that he +might survey the horizon. + +'What you see, Coco?' said the female, observing from the _caboose_ that +his eyes were fixed upon a certain quarter. + +'So help me God, me tink me see something; but ab so much salt water in +um eye, me no see clear,' replied Coco, rubbing away the salt which had +crystallised on his face during the morning. + +'What you tink um like, Coco?' + +'Only one bit cloud,' replied he, entering the _caboose_, and resuming +his seat upon the grate with a heavy sigh. + +'Eh, me!' cried the negress, who had uncovered the child to look at it, +and whose powers were sinking fast. 'Poor lilly Massa Eddard, him look +very bad indeed--him die very soon, me fear. Look, Coco, no ab breath.' + +The child's head fell back upon the breast of its nurse, and life +appeared to be extinct. + +'Judy, you no ab milk for piccaninny; suppose um ab no milk, how can +live? Eh! stop, Judy, me put lilly finger in um mouth; suppose Massa +Eddard no dead, him pull.' + +Coco inserted his finger into the child's mouth, and felt a slight +drawing pressure. 'Judy,' cried Coco, 'Massa Eddard no dead yet. Try +now, suppose you ab lilly drop oder side.' + +Poor Judy shook her head mournfully, and a tear rolled down her cheek; +she was aware that nature was exhausted. 'Coco,' said she, wiping her +cheek with the back of her hand, 'me give me heart blood for Massa +Eddard; but no ab milk--all gone.' + +This forcible expression of love for the child, which was used by Judy, +gave an idea to Coco. He drew his knife out of his pocket, and very +coolly sawed to the bone of his forefinger. The blood flowed and +trickled down to the extremity, which he applied to the mouth of the +infant. + +'See, Judy, Massa Eddard suck--him not dead,' cried Coco, chuckling at +the fortunate result of the experiment, and forgetting at the moment +their almost hopeless situation. + +The child, revived by the strange sustenance, gradually recovered its +powers, and in a few minutes it pulled at the finger with a certain +degree of vigour. + +[Illustration: '_Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em all +dry._'] + +'Look, Judy, how Massa Eddard take it,' continued Coco. 'Pull away, +Massa Eddard, pull away. Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em +all dry.' But the child was soon satisfied, and fell asleep in the arms +of Judy. + +'Coco, suppose you go see again,' observed Judy. The negro again crawled +out, and again he scanned the horizon. + +'So help me God, dis time me tink, Judy--yes, so help me God, me see a +ship!' cried Coco joyfully. + +'Eh!' screamed Judy faintly, with delight; 'den Massa Eddard no die.' + +'Yes, so help me God--he come dis way!' and Coco, who appeared to have +recovered a portion of his former strength and activity, clambered on +the top of the _caboose_, where he sat, cross-legged, waving his yellow +handkerchief, with the hope of attracting the attention of those on +board; for he knew that it was very possible that an object floating +little more than level with the water's surface might escape notice. + +As it fortunately happened, the frigate, for such she was, continued her +course precisely for the wreck, although it had not been perceived by +the look-out men at the mast-heads, whose eyes had been directed to the +line of the horizon. In less than an hour our little party were +threatened with a new danger, that of being run over by the frigate, +which was now within a cable's length of them, driving the seas before +her in one widely extended foam, as she pursued her rapid and impetuous +course. Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted the +notice of the men who were on the bowsprit, stowing away the +foretopmast-staysail, which had been hoisted up to dry after the gale. + +[Illustration: _Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted +notice_.] + +'Starboard, hard!' was roared out. + +'Starboard it is,' was the reply from the quarter-deck, and the helm was +shifted without inquiry, as it always is on board of a man-of-war; +although, at the same time, it behoves people to be rather careful how +they pass such an order, without being prepared with a subsequent and +most satisfactory explanation. + +The topmast studding-sail flapped and fluttered, the foresail shivered, +and the jib filled as the frigate rounded to, narrowly missing the +wreck, which was now under the bows, rocking so violently in the white +foam of the agitated waters that it was with difficulty that Coco could, +by clinging to the stump of the mainmast, retain his elevated position. +The frigate shortened sail, hove-to, and lowered down a quarter-boat, +and in less than five minutes Coco, Judy, and the infant were rescued +from their awful situation. Poor Judy, who had borne up against all for +the sake of the child, placed it in the arms of the officer who relieved +them, and then fell back in a state of insensibility, in which condition +she was carried on board. Coco, as he took his place in the stern-sheets +of the boat, gazed wildly round him, and then broke out into peals of +extravagant laughter, which continued without intermission, and were the +only replies which he could give to the interrogatories of the +quarter-deck, until he fell down in a swoon, and was entrusted to the +care of the surgeon. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BACHELOR + + +On the evening of the same day on which the child and the two negroes +had been saved from the wreck by the fortunate appearance of the +frigate, Mr. Witherington, of Finsbury Square, was sitting alone in his +dining-room, wondering what could have become of the _Circassian_, and +why he had not received intelligence of her arrival. Mr. Witherington, +as we said before, was alone; he had his port and his sherry before him; +and although the weather was rather warm, there was a small fire in the +grate, because, as Mr. Witherington asserted, it looked comfortable. Mr. +Witherington having watched the ceiling of the room for some time, +although there was certainly nothing new to be discovered, filled +another glass of wine, and then proceeded to make himself more +comfortable by unbuttoning three more buttons of his waistcoat, pushing +his wig farther off his head, and casting loose all the buttons at the +knees of his breeches; he completed his arrangements by dragging towards +him two chairs within his reach, putting his legs upon one while he +rested his arm upon the other. And why was not Mr. Witherington to make +himself comfortable? He had good health, a good conscience, and eight +thousand a year. + +Satisfied with all his little arrangements, Mr. Witherington sipped his +port wine, and putting down his glass again, fell back in his chair, +placed his hands on his breast, interwove his fingers; and in this most +comfortable position recommenced his speculations as to the non-arrival +of the _Circassian_. + +We will leave him to his cogitations while we introduce him more +particularly to our readers. + +The father of Mr. Witherington was a younger son of one of the oldest +and proudest families in the West Riding of Yorkshire; he had his choice +of the four professions allotted to younger sons whose veins are filled +with patrician blood--the army, the navy, the law, and the Church. The +army did not suit him, he said, as marching and counter-marching were +not comfortable; the navy did not suit him, as there was little comfort +in gales of wind and mouldy biscuit; the law did not suit him, as he was +not sure that he would be at ease with his conscience, which would not +be comfortable; the Church was also rejected, as it was, with him, +connected with the idea of a small stipend, hard duty, a wife and eleven +children, which were anything but comfortable. Much to the horror of his +family he eschewed all the liberal professions, and embraced the offer +of an old backslider of an uncle, who proposed to him a situation in his +banking-house, and a partnership as soon as he deserved it; the +consequence was, that his relations bade him an indignant farewell, and +then made no further inquiries about him: he was as decidedly cut as one +of the female branches of the family would have been had she committed a +_faux pas_. + +Nevertheless Mr. Witherington senior stuck diligently to his business, +in a few years was partner, and at the death of the old gentleman, his +uncle, found himself in possession of a good property, and every year +coining money at his bank. + +Mr. Witherington senior then purchased a house in Finsbury Square, and +thought it advisable to look out for a wife. + +Having still much of the family pride in his composition, he resolved +not to muddle the blood of the Witheringtons by any cross from Cateaton +Street or Mincing Lane; and after a proper degree of research, he +selected the daughter of a Scotch earl, who went to London with a bevy +of nine in a Leith smack to barter blood for wealth. Mr. Witherington +being so unfortunate as to be the first comer, had the pick of the nine +ladies by courtesy; his choice was light-haired, blue-eyed, a little +freckled, and very tall, by no means bad-looking, and standing on the +list in the Family Bible No. IV. From this union Mr. Witherington had +issue: first, a daughter, christened Moggy, whom we shall soon have to +introduce to our readers as a spinster of forty-seven; and second, +Antony Alexander Witherington, Esquire, whom we just now have left in a +very comfortable position, and in a very brown study. + +Mr. Witherington senior persuaded his son to enter the banking-house, +and, as a dutiful son, he entered it every day: but he did nothing more, +having made the fortunate discovery that 'his father was born before +him'; or, in other words, that his father had plenty of money, and would +be necessitated to leave it behind him. + +As Mr. Witherington senior had always studied comfort, his son had early +imbibed the same idea, and carried his feelings, in that respect, to a +much greater excess: he divided things into comfortable and +uncomfortable. One fine day Lady Mary Witherington, after paying all the +household bills, paid the debt of Nature; that is, she died: her husband +paid the undertaker's bill, so it is to be presumed that she was buried. + +Mr. Witherington senior shortly afterwards had a stroke of apoplexy, +which knocked him down. Death, who has no feelings of honour, struck him +when down. And Mr. Witherington, after having lain a few days in bed, +was by a second stroke laid in the same vault as Lady Mary Witherington; +and Mr. Witherington junior (our Mr. Witherington), after deducting +£40,000 for his sister's fortune, found himself in possession of a clear +£8000 per annum, and an excellent house in Finsbury Square. Mr. +Witherington considered this a comfortable income, and he therefore +retired altogether from business. + +During the lifetime of his parents he had been witness to one or two +matrimonial scenes, which had induced him to put down matrimony as one +of the things not comfortable; therefore he remained a bachelor. + +His sister Moggy also remained unmarried; but whether it was from a very +unprepossessing squint which deterred suitors, or from the same dislike +to matrimony as her brother had imbibed, it is not in our power to say. +Mr. Witherington was three years younger than his sister; and although +he had for some time worn a wig, it was only because he considered it +more comfortable. Mr. Witherington's whole character might be summed up +in two words--eccentricity and benevolence; eccentric he certainly was, +as most bachelors usually are. Man is but a rough pebble without the +attrition received from contact with the gentler sex; it is wonderful +how the ladies pumice a man down to a smoothness which occasions him to +roll over and over with the rest of his species, jostling but not +wounding his neighbours, as the waves of circumstances bring him into +collision with them. + +Mr. Witherington roused himself from his deep reverie and felt for the +string, connected with the bell-pull, which it was the butler's duty +invariably to attach to the arm of his master's chair previous to his +last exit from the dining-room; for, as Mr. Witherington very truly +observed, it was very uncomfortable to be obliged to get up and ring the +bell; indeed, more than once Mr. Witherington had calculated the +advantages and disadvantages of having a daughter about eight years old +who could ring the bell, air the newspapers, and cut the leaves of a new +novel. + +When, however, he called to mind that she could not always remain at +that precise age, he decided that the balance of comfort was against it. + +Mr. Witherington having pulled the bell again, fell into a brown study. + +Mr. Jonathan, the butler, made his appearance; but observing that his +master was occupied, he immediately stopped at the door, erect, +motionless, and with a face as melancholy as if he was performing mute +at the porch of some departed peer of the realm; for it is an understood +thing, that the greater the rank of the defunct the longer must be the +face, and, of course, the better must be the pay. + +Now, as Mr. Witherington is still in profound thought, and Mr. Jonathan +will stand as long as a hackney-coach horse, we will just leave them as +they are, while we introduce the brief history of the latter to our +readers. Jonathan Trapp has served as foot-_boy_, which term, we +believe, is derived from those who are in that humble capacity receiving +a _quantum suff._ of the application of the feet of those above them to +increase the energy of their service; then as foot-_man_, which implies +that they have been promoted to the more agreeable right of +administering instead of receiving the above dishonourable applications; +and lastly, for promotion could go no higher in the family, he had been +raised to the dignity of butler in the service of Mr. Witherington +senior. Jonathan then fell in love, for butlers are guilty of +indiscretions as well as their masters: neither he nor his fair flame, +who was a lady's-maid in another family, notwithstanding that they had +witnessed the consequences of this error in others, would take warning; +they gave warning, and they married. + +Like most butlers and ladies'-maids who pair off, they set up a +public-house; and it is but justice to the lady's-maid to say that she +would have preferred an eating-house, but was overruled by Jonathan, who +argued, that although people would drink when they were not dry, they +never would eat unless they were hungry. + +Now, although there was truth in the observation, this is certain, that +business did not prosper: it has been surmised that Jonathan's tall, +lank, lean figure injured his custom, as people are but too much +inclined to judge of the goodness of the ale by the rubicund face and +rotundity of the landlord, and therefore inferred that there could be no +good beer where mine host was the picture of famine. There certainly is +much in appearances in this world; and it appears, that in consequence +of Jonathan's cadaverous appearance, he very soon appeared in the +_Gazette_; but what ruined Jonathan in one profession procured him +immediate employment in another. An appraiser, upholsterer, and +undertaker, who was called in to value the fixtures, fixed his eye upon +Jonathan, and knowing the value of his peculiarly lugubrious appearance, +and having a half-brother of equal height, offered him immediate +employment as a mute. Jonathan soon forgot to mourn his own loss of a +few hundreds in his new occupation of mourning the loss of thousands; +and his erect, stiff, statue-like carriage, and long melancholy face, as +he stood at the portals of those who had entered the portals of the next +world, were but too often a sarcasm upon the grief of the inheritors. +Even grief is worth nothing in this trafficking world unless it is paid +for. Jonathan buried many, and at last buried his wife. So far all was +well; but at last he buried his master, the undertaker, which was not +quite so desirable. Although Jonathan wept not, yet did he express mute +sorrow as he marshalled him to his long home, and drank to his memory in +a pot of porter as he returned from the funeral, perched, with many +others, like carrion crows on the top of the hearse. + +And now Jonathan was thrown out of employment from a reason which most +people would have thought the highest recommendation. Every undertaker +refused to take him, because they could not _match_ him. In this +unfortunate dilemma Jonathan thought of Mr. Witherington junior; he had +served and he had buried Mr. Witherington his father, and Lady Mary his +mother; he felt that he had strong claims for such variety of services, +and he applied to the bachelor. Fortunately for Jonathan, Mr. +Witherington's butler-incumbent was just about to commit the same folly +as Jonathan had done before, and Jonathan was again installed, resolving +in his own mind to lead his former life, and have nothing more to do +with ladies'-maids. But from habit Jonathan still carried himself as a +mute on all ordinary occasions--never indulging in an approximation to +mirth, except when he perceived that his master was in high spirits, and +then rather from a sense of duty than from any real hilarity of heart. + +Jonathan was no mean scholar for his station in life, and, during his +service with the undertaker, he had acquired the English of all the +Latin mottoes which are placed upon the hatchments; and these mottoes, +when he considered them as apt, he was very apt to quote. We left +Jonathan standing at the door; he had closed it, and the handle still +remained in his hand. 'Jonathan,' said Mr. Witherington, after a long +pause, 'I wish to look at the last letter from New York; you will find +it on my dressing-table.' + +Jonathan quitted the room without reply, and made his reappearance with +the letter. + +'It is a long time that I have been expecting this vessel, Jonathan,' +observed Mr. Witherington, unfolding the letter. + +'Yes, sir, a long while; _tempus fugit_,' replied the butler in a low +tone, half shutting his eyes. + +'I hope to God no accident has happened,' continued Mr. Witherington; +'my poor little cousin and her twins! e'en now that I speak, they may be +all at the bottom of the sea.' + +'Yes, sir,' replied the butler; 'the sea defrauds many an honest +undertaker of his profits.' + +'By the blood of the Witheringtons! I may be left without an heir, and +shall be obliged to marry, which would be very uncomfortable.' + +'Very little comfort,' echoed Jonathan--'my wife is dead. _In coelo +quies._' + +'Well, we must hope for the best; but this suspense is anything but +comfortable,' observed Mr. Witherington, after looking over the contents +of the letter for at least the twentieth time. + +'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee presently;' and Mr. +Witherington was again alone and with his eyes fixed upon the ceiling. + +A cousin of Mr. Witherington, and a very great favourite (for Mr. +Witherington, having a large fortune, and not having anything to do with +business, was courted by his relations), had, to a certain degree, +committed herself; that is to say that, notwithstanding the injunctions +of her parents, she had fallen in love with a young lieutenant in a +marching regiment, whose pedigree was but respectable, and whose fortune +was anything but respectable, consisting merely of a subaltern's pay. +Poor men, unfortunately, always make love better than those who are +rich, because, having less to care about, and not being puffed up with +their own consequence, they are not so selfish, and think much more of +the lady than of themselves. Young ladies, also, who fall in love, never +consider whether there is sufficient 'to make the pot boil'--probably +because young ladies in love lose their appetites, and, not feeling +inclined to eat at that time, they imagine that love will always supply +the want of food. Now, we will appeal to the married ladies whether we +are not right in asserting that, although the collation spread for them +and their friends on the day of the marriage is looked upon with almost +loathing, they do not find their appetites return with interest soon +afterwards. This was precisely the case with Cecilia Witherington, or +rather Cecilia Templemore, for she had changed her name the day before. +It was also the case with her husband, who always had a good appetite, +even during his days of courtship; and the consequence was that the +messman's account, for they lived in barracks, was, in a few weeks, +rather alarming. Cecilia applied to her family, who very kindly sent her +word that she might starve; but, the advice neither suiting her nor her +husband, she then wrote to her cousin Antony, who sent her word that he +would be most happy to receive them at his table, and that they should +take up their abode in Finsbury Square. This was exactly what they +wished; but still there was a certain difficulty; Lieutenant +Templemore's regiment was quartered in a town in Yorkshire, which was +some trifling distance from Finsbury Square; and to be at Mr. +Witherington's dinner-table at 6 P.M., with the necessity of appearing +at parade every morning at 9 A.M., was a dilemma not to be got out of. +Several letters were interchanged upon this knotty subject; and at last +it was agreed that Mr. Templemore should sell out, and come up to Mr. +Witherington with his pretty wife. He did so, and found that it was much +more comfortable to turn out at nine o'clock in the morning to a good +breakfast than to a martial parade. But Mr. Templemore had an honest +pride and independence of character which would not permit him to eat +the bread of idleness, and after a sojourn of two months in most +comfortable quarters, without a messman's bill, he frankly stated his +feelings to Mr. Witherington, and requested his assistance to procure +for himself an honourable livelihood. Mr. Witherington, who had become +attached to them both, would have remonstrated, observing that Cecilia +was his own cousin, and that he was a confirmed bachelor; but, in this +instance, Mr. Templemore was firm, and Mr. Witherington very unwillingly +consented. A mercantile house of the highest respectability required a +partner who could superintend their consignments to America. Mr. +Witherington advanced the sum required; and in a few weeks Mr. and Mrs. +Templemore sailed for New York. + +[Illustration: '_That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee +presently._'] + +Mr. Templemore was active and intelligent; their affairs prospered; and +in a few years they anticipated a return to their native soil with a +competence. But the autumn of the second year after their arrival proved +very sickly; the yellow fever raged; and among the thousands who were +carried off Mr. Templemore was a victim, about three weeks after his +wife had been brought to bed of twins. Mrs. Templemore rose from her +couch a widow and the mother of two fine boys. The loss of Mr. +Templemore was replaced by the establishment with which he was +connected, and Mr. Witherington offered to his cousin that asylum which, +in her mournful and unexpected bereavement, she so much required. In +three months her affairs were arranged; and with her little boys hanging +at the breasts of two negro nurses--for no others could be procured who +would undertake the voyage--Mrs. Templemore, with Coco as male servant, +embarked on board of the good ship _Circassian_, A I, bound to +Liverpool. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE GALE + + +Those who, standing on the pier, had witnessed the proud bearing of the +_Circassian_ as she gave her canvas to the winds, little contemplated +her fate: still less did those on board; for confidence is the +characteristic of seamen, and they have the happy talent of imparting +their confidence to whomsoever may be in their company. We shall pass +over the voyage, confining ourselves to a description of the +catastrophe. + +It was during a gale from the north-west, which had continued for three +days, and by which the _Circassian_ had been driven into the Bay of +Biscay, that, at about twelve o'clock at night, a slight lull was +perceptible. The captain, who had remained on deck, sent down for the +chief mate. 'Oswald,' said Captain Ingram, 'the gale is breaking, and I +think before morning we shall have had the worst of it. I shall lie down +for an hour or two: call me if there be any change.' + +Oswald Bareth, a tall, sinewy-built, and handsome specimen of +transatlantic growth, examined the whole circumference of the horizon +before he replied. At last his eyes were steadily fixed to leeward: +'I've a notion not, sir,' said he; 'I see no signs of clearing off to +leeward: only a lull for relief, and a fresh hand at the bellows, depend +upon it.' + +'We have now had it three days,' replied Captain Ingram, 'and that's the +life of a summer's gale.' + +'Yes,' rejoined the mate; 'but always provided that it don't blow black +again. I don't like the look of it, sir; and have it back we shall, as +sure as there's snakes in Virginny.' + +'Well, so be if so be,' was the safe reply of the captain. 'You must +keep a sharp look-out, Bareth, and don't leave the deck to call me; send +a hand down.' + +The captain descended to his cabin. Oswald looked at the compass in the +binnacle--spoke a few words to the man at the helm--gave one +or two terrible kicks in the ribs to some of the men who were +_caulking_--sounded the pump-well--put a fresh quid of tobacco into his +cheek, and then proceeded to examine the heavens above. A cloud, much +darker and more descending than the others, which obscured the +firmament, spread over the zenith, and based itself upon the horizon to +leeward. Oswald's eye had been fixed upon it but a few seconds, when he +beheld a small lambent gleam of lightning pierce through the most opaque +part; then another, and more vivid. Of a sudden the wind lulled, and the +_Circassian_ righted from her careen. Again the wind howled, and again +the vessel was pressed down to her bearings by its force; again another +flash of lightning, which was followed by a distant peal of thunder. + +'Had the worst of it, did you say, captain? I've a notion that the worst +is yet to come,' muttered Oswald, still watching the heavens. + +'How does she carry her helm, Matthew?' inquired Oswald, walking aft. + +'Spoke a-weather.' + +'I'll have that trysail off of her, at any rate,' continued the mate. +'Aft, there, my lads! and lower down the trysail. Keep the sheet fast +till it's down, or the flogging will frighten the lady passenger out of +her wits. Well, if ever I own a craft, I'll have no women on board. +Dollars shan't tempt me.' + +The lightning now played in rapid forks; and the loud thunder, which +instantaneously followed each flash, proved its near approach. A deluge +of slanting rain descended--the wind lulled--roared again--then +lulled--shifted a point or two, and the drenched and heavy sails +flapped. + +'Up with the helm, Mat!' cried Oswald, as a near flash of lightning for +a moment blinded, and the accompanying peal of thunder deafened, those +on deck. Again the wind blew strong--it ceased, and it was a dead calm. +The sails hung down from the yards, and the rain descended in +perpendicular torrents, while the ship rocked to and fro in the trough +of the sea, and the darkness became suddenly intense. + +'Down, there, one of you! and call the captain,' said Oswald. 'By the +Lord! we shall have it. Main braces there, men, and square the yards. +Be smart! That topsail should have been in,' muttered the mate; 'but I'm +not captain. Square away the yards, my lads!' continued he; 'quick, +quick!--there's no child's play here!' + +Owing to the difficulty of finding and passing the ropes to each other, +from the intensity of the darkness, and the deluge of rain which blinded +them, the men were not able to execute the order of the mate so soon as +it was necessary; and before they could accomplish their task, or +Captain Ingram could gain the deck, the wind suddenly burst upon the +devoted vessel from the quarter directly opposite to that from which the +gale had blown, taking her all aback, and throwing her on her beam-ends. +The man at the helm was hurled over the wheel; while the rest, who were +with Oswald at the main-bits, with the coils of ropes, and every other +article on deck not secured, were rolled into the scuppers, struggling +to extricate themselves from the mass of confusion and the water in +which they floundered. The sudden revulsion awoke all the men below, who +imagined that the ship was foundering; and, from the only hatchway not +secured, they poured up in their shirts with their other garments in +their hands, to put them on--if fate permitted. + +Oswald Bareth was the first who clambered up from to leeward. He gained +the helm, which he put hard up. Captain Ingram and some of the seamen +also gained the helm. It is the rendezvous of all good seamen in +emergencies of this description; but the howling of the gale--the +blinding of the rain and salt spray--the seas checked in their running +by the shift of wind, and breaking over the ship in vast masses of +water--the tremendous peals of thunder--and the intense darkness which +accompanied these horrors, added to the inclined position of the vessel, +which obliged them to climb from one part of the deck to another, for +some time checked all profitable communication. Their only friend, in +this conflict of the elements, was the lightning (unhappy, indeed, the +situation in which lightning can be welcomed as a friend); but its vivid +and forked flames, darting down upon every quarter of the horizon, +enabled them to perceive their situation; and, awful as it was, when +momentarily presented to their sight, it was not so awful as darkness +and uncertainty. To those who have been accustomed to the difficulties +and dangers of a seafaring life, there are no lines which speak more +forcibly to the imagination, or prove the beauty and power of the Greek +poet, than those in the noble prayer of Ajax:-- + + Lord of earth and air, + O king! O father! hear my humble prayer. + Dispel this cloud, the light of heaven restore; + Give me to see--and Ajax asks no more. + If Greece must perish--we thy will obey; + But _let us perish in the face of day_! + +[Illustration: _Oswald Bareth gained the helm, which he put hard up._] + +Oswald gave the helm to two of the seamen, and with his knife cut adrift +the axes, which were lashed round the mizenmast in painted canvas +covers. One he retained for himself--the others he put into the hands of +the boatswain and the second mate. To speak so as to be heard was almost +impossible, from the tremendous roaring of the wind; but the lamp still +burned in the binnacle, and by its feeble light Captain Ingram could +distinguish the signs made by the mate, and could give his consent. It +was necessary that the ship should be put before the wind, and the helm +had no power over her. In a short time the lanyards of the mizen rigging +were severed, and the mizen mast went over the side, almost unperceived +by the crew on the other parts of the deck, or even those near, had it +not been from blows received by those who were too close to it, from the +falling of the topsail sheets and the rigging about the mast. + +Oswald, with his companions, regained the binnacle, and for a little +while watched the compass. The ship did not pay off, and appeared to +settle down more into the water. Again Oswald made his signs, and again +the captain gave his assent. Forward sprang the undaunted mate, clinging +to the bulwark and belaying-pins, and followed by his hardy companions, +until they had all three gained the main channels. Here, their exposure +to the force of the breaking waves, and the stoutness of the ropes +yielding but slowly to the blows of the axes, which were used almost +under water, rendered the service one of extreme difficulty and danger. +The boatswain was washed over the bulwark and dashed to leeward, where +the lee-rigging only saved him from a watery grave. Unsubdued, he again +climbed up to windward, rejoined and assisted his companions. The last +blow was given by Oswald--the lanyards flew through the dead-eyes--and +the tall mast disappeared in the foaming seas. Oswald and his companions +hastened from their dangerous position, and rejoined the captain, who, +with many of the crew, still remained near the wheel. The ship now +slowly paid off and righted. In a few minutes she was flying before the +gale, rolling heavily, and occasionally striking upon the wrecks of the +masts, which she towed with her by the lee-rigging. + +Although the wind blew with as much violence as before, still it was not +with the same noise, now that the ship was before the wind with her +after-masts gone. The next service was to clear the ship of the wrecks +of the masts; but, although all now assisted, but little could be +effected until the day had dawned, and even then it was a service of +danger, as the ship rolled gunwale under. Those who performed the duty +were slung in ropes, that they might not be washed away; and hardly was +it completed, when a heavy roll, assisted by a jerking heave from a sea +which struck her on the chesstree, sent the foremast over the starboard +cathead. Thus was the _Circassian_ dismasted in the gale. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE LEAK + + +The wreck of the foremast was cleared from the ship; the gale continued; +but the sun shone brightly and warmly. The _Circassian_ was again +brought to the wind. All danger was now considered to be over, and the +seamen joked and laughed as they were busied in preparing jury-masts to +enable them to reach their destined port. + +'I wouldn't have cared so much about this spree,' said the boatswain, +'if it warn't for the mainmast; it was such a beauty. There's not +another stick to be found equal to it in the whole length of the +Mississippi.' + +'Bah! man,' replied Oswald; 'there's as good fish in the sea as ever +came out of it, and as good sticks growing as ever were felled; but I +guess we'll pay pretty dear for our spars when we get to Liverpool--but +that concerns the owners.' + +The wind, which at the time of its sudden change to the southward and +eastward had blown with the force of a hurricane, now settled into a +regular strong gale, such as sailors are prepared to meet and laugh at. +The sky was also bright and clear, and they had not the danger of a lee +shore. It was a delightful change after a night of darkness, danger, and +confusion; and the men worked that they might get sufficient sail on the +ship to steady her, and enable them to shape a course. + +'I suppose, now that we have the trysail on her forward, the captain +will be for running for it,' observed one who was busy turning in a +dead-eye. + +'Yes,' replied the boatswain; 'and with this wind on our quarter we +shan't want much sail, I've a notion.' + +'Well then, one advantage in losing your mast--you haven't much trouble +about the rigging.' + +'Trouble enough, though, Bill, when we get in,' replied another gruffly; +'new lower rigging to parcel and sarve, and every block to turn in +afresh.' + +'Never mind, longer in port--I'll get spliced.' + +'Why, how often do you mean to get spliced, Bill? You've a wife in every +State, to my sartin knowledge.' + +'I arn't got one at Liverpool, Jack.' + +'Well, you may take one there, Bill; for you've been sweet upon that +nigger girl for these last three weeks.' + +'Any port in a storm, but she won't do for harbour duty. But the fact +is, you're all wrong there, Jack: it's the babbies I likes--I likes to +see them both together, hanging at the niggers' breasts, I always think +of two spider-monkeys nursing two kittens.' + +'I knows the women, but I never knows the children. It's just six of one +and half-a-dozen of the other; ain't it, Bill?' + +'Yes; like two bright bullets out of the same mould. I say, Bill, did +any of your wives ever have twins?' + +'No; nor I don't intend, until the owners give us double pay.' + +'By the bye,' interrupted Oswald, who had been standing under the +weather bulkhead, listening to the conversation, and watching the work +in progress, 'we may just as well see if she has made any water with all +this straining and buffeting. By the Lord! I never thought of that. +Carpenter, lay down your adze and sound the well.' + +The carpenter, who, notwithstanding the uneasiness of the dismasted +vessel, was performing his important share of the work, immediately +complied with the order. He drew up the rope-yarn, to which an iron rule +had been suspended, and lowered down into the pump-well, and perceived +that the water was dripping from it. Imagining that it must have been +wet from the quantity of water shipped over all, the carpenter +disengaged the rope-yarn from the rule, drew another from the junk lying +on the deck, which the seamen were working up, and then carefully +proceeded to plumb the well. He hauled it up, and, looking at it for +some moments aghast, exclaimed, '_Seven feet_ water in the hold, by +G--d!' + +If the crew of the _Circassian_, the whole of which were on deck, had +been struck with an electric shock, the sudden change of their +countenances could not have been greater than was produced by this +appalling intelligence. + +Heap upon sailors every disaster, every danger which can be accumulated +from the waves, the wind, the elements, or the enemy, and they will bear +up against them with a courage amounting to heroism. All that they +demand is, that the one plank 'between them and death' is sound, and +they will trust to their own energies, and will be confident in their +own skill: but _spring a leak_, and they are half paralysed; and if it +gain upon them they are subdued; for when they find that their exertions +are futile, they are little better than children. + +Oswald sprang to the pumps when he heard the carpenter's report. 'Try +again, Abel--it cannot be: cut away that line; hand us here a dry +rope-yarn.' + +Once more the well was sounded by Oswald, and the result was the same. +'We must rig the pumps, my lads,' said the mate, endeavouring to conceal +his own fears; 'half this water must have found its way in when she was +on her beam-ends.' + +This idea, so judiciously thrown out, was caught at by the seamen, who +hastened to obey the order, while Oswald went down to acquaint the +captain, who, worn-out with watching and fatigue, had, now that danger +was considered to be over, thrown himself into his cot to obtain a few +hours' repose. + +'Do you think, Bareth, that we have sprung a leak?' said the captain +earnestly. 'She never could have taken in that quantity of water.' + +'Never, sir,' replied the mate; 'but she has been so strained, that she +may have opened her top-sides. I trust it is no worse.' + +'What is your opinion, then?' + +'I am afraid that the wreck of the masts have injured her; you may +recollect how often we struck against them before we could clear +ourselves of them; once, particularly, the mainmast appeared to be right +under her bottom, I recollect, and she struck very heavy on it.' + +'Well, it is God's will; let us get on deck as fast as we can.' + +When they arrived on deck, the carpenter walked up to the captain, and +quietly said to him, '_Seven feet three, sir._' The pumps were then in +full action; the men had divided, by the direction of the boatswain, +and, stripped naked to the waist, relieved each other every two minutes. +For half an hour they laboured incessantly. + +This was the half-hour of suspense: the great point to be ascertained +was, whether she leaked through the top-sides, and had taken in the +water during the second gale; if so, there was every hope of keeping it +under. Captain Ingram and the mate remained in silence near the +capstern, the former with his watch in his hand, during the time that +the sailors exerted themselves to the utmost. It was ten minutes past +seven when the half-hour had expired; the well was sounded and the line +carefully measured--_Seven feet six inches!_ So that the water had +gained upon them, notwithstanding that they had plied the pumps to the +utmost of their strength. + +A mute look of despair was exchanged among the crew, but it was followed +up by curses and execrations. Captain Ingram remained silent, with his +lips compressed. + +'It's all over with us!' exclaimed one of the men. + +'Not yet, my lads; we have one more chance,' said Oswald. 'I've a notion +that the ship's sides have been opened by the infernal straining of last +night, and that she is now taking it in at the top-sides generally; if +so, we have only to put her before the wind again, and have another good +spell at the pumps. When no longer strained, as she is now with her +broadside to the sea, she will close all up again.' + +'I shouldn't wonder if Mr. Bareth is not right,' replied the carpenter; +'however, that's my notion, too.' + +'And mine,' added Captain Ingram. 'Come, my men! never say die while +there's a shot in the locker. Let's try her again.' And, to encourage +the men, Captain Ingram threw off his coat and assisted at the first +spell, while Oswald went to the helm and put the ship before the wind. + +As the _Circassian_ rolled before the gale, the lazy manner in which she +righted proved how much water there was in the hold. The seamen exerted +themselves for a whole hour without intermission, and the well was again +sounded--_eight feet!_ + +The men did not assert that they would pump no longer; but they too +plainly showed their intentions by each resuming in silence his shirt +and jacket, which he had taken off at the commencement of his exertions. + +'What's to be done, Oswald?' said Captain Ingram, as they walked aft. +'You see the men will pump no longer; nor, indeed, would it be of any +use. We are doomed.' + +'The _Circassian_ is, sir, I am afraid,' replied the mate: 'pumping is +of no avail; they could not keep her afloat till daybreak. We must +therefore trust to our boats, which I believe to be all sound, and quit +her before night.' + +'Crowded boats in such a sea as this!' replied Captain Ingram, shaking +his head mournfully. + +'Are bad enough, I grant; but better than the sea itself. All we can do +now is to try and keep the men sober, and if we can do so it will be +better than to fatigue them uselessly; they'll want all their strength +before they put foot again upon dry land--if ever they are so fortunate. +Shall I speak to them?' + +'Do, Oswald,' replied the captain; 'for myself I care little, God knows; +but my wife--my children!' + +'My lads,' said Oswald, going forward to the men, who had waited in +moody silence the result of the conference--'as for pumping any longer +it would be only wearing out your strength for no good. We must now look +to our boats; and a good boat is better than a bad ship. Still this gale +and cross-running sea are rather too much for boats at present; we had +therefore better stick to the ship as long as we can. Let us set to with +a will and get the boats ready, with provisions, water, and what else +may be needful, and then we must trust to God's mercy and our own +endeavours.' + +'No boat can stand this sea,' observed one of the men. 'I'm of opinion, +as it's to be a short life, it may as well be a merry one. What d'ye +say, my lads?' continued he, appealing to the men. + +Several of the crew were of the same opinion; but Oswald, stepping +forward, seized one of the axes which lay at the main-bits, and going up +to the seaman who had spoken, looked him steadfastly in the face-- + +'Williams,' said the mate, 'a short life it may be to all of us, but not +a merry one; the meaning of which I understand very well. Sorry I shall +be to have your blood, or that of others, on my hands; but as sure as +there's a heaven, I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts +to break into the spirit-room. You know I never joke. Shame upon you! Do +you call yourselves men, when, for the sake of a little liquor now, you +would lose your only chance of getting drunk every day as soon as we get +on shore again? There's a time for all things; and I've a notion this is +a time to be sober.' + +As most of the crew sided with Oswald, the weaker party were obliged to +submit, and the preparations were commenced. The two boats on the booms +were found to be in good condition. One party was employed cutting away +the bulwarks that the boats might be launched over the side, as there +were no means of hoisting them out. The well was again sounded. Nine +feet water in the hold, and the ship evidently settling fast. Two hours +had now passed, and the gale was not so violent; the sea, also, which at +the change of wind had been cross, appeared to have recovered its +regular run. All was ready; the sailors, once at work again, had, in +some measure, recovered their spirits, and were buoyed up with fresh +hopes at the slight change in their favour from the decrease of the +wind. The two boats were quite large enough to contain the whole of the +crew and passengers; but, as the sailors said among themselves (proving +the kindness of their hearts), 'What was to become of those two poor +babbies, in an open boat for days and nights, perhaps?' Captain Ingram +had gone down to Mrs. Templemore, to impart to her their melancholy +prospects; and the mother's heart, as well as the mother's voice, echoed +the words of the seamen, 'What will become of my poor babes?' + +It was not till nearly six o'clock in the evening that all was ready: +the ship was slowly brought to the wind again, and the boats launched +over the side. By this time the gale was much abated; but the vessel was +full of water, and was expected soon to go down. + +[Illustration: '_I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts +to break into the spirit-room._'] + +There is no time in which coolness and determination are more required +than in a situation like the one in which we have attempted to describe. +It is impossible to know the precise moment at which a water-logged +vessel, in a heavy sea, may go down; and its occupants are in a state of +mental fever, with the idea of their remaining in her so late that she +will suddenly submerge, and leave them to struggle in the wave. This +feeling actuated many of the crew of the _Circassian_, and they had +already retreated to the boats. All was arranged; Oswald had charge of +one boat, and it was agreed that the larger should receive Mrs. +Templemore and her children, under the protection of Captain Ingram. The +number appointed to Oswald's boat being completed he shoved off, to make +room for the other, and laid-to to leeward, waiting to keep company. +Mrs. Templemore came up with Captain Ingram, and was assisted by him +into the boat. The nurse, with one child, was at last placed by her +side; Coco was leading Judy, the other nurse, with the remaining infant +in her arms; and Captain Ingram, who had been obliged to go into the +boat with the first child, was about to return to assist Judy with the +other, when the ship gave a heavy pitch, and her forecastle was buried +in the wave; at the same time the gunwale of the boat was stove by +coming in contact with the side of the vessel. 'She's down, by G--d!' +exclaimed the alarmed seamen in the boat, shoving off to escape from the +vortex. + +Captain Ingram, who was standing on the boat's thwarts to assist Judy, +was thrown back into the bottom of the boat; and before he could +extricate himself, the boat was separated from the ship, and had drifted +to leeward. + +'My child!' screamed the mother; 'my child!' + +'Pull to again, my lads!' cried Captain Ingram, seizing the tiller. + +The men, who had been alarmed at the idea that the ship was going down, +now that they saw that she was still afloat, got out the oars and +attempted to regain her, but in vain--they could not make head against +the sea and wind. Further and further did they drift to leeward, +notwithstanding their exertions; while the frantic mother extended her +arms, imploring and entreating. Captain Ingram, who had stimulated the +sailors to the utmost, perceived that further attempts were useless. + +'My child! my child!' screamed Mrs. Templemore, standing up, and holding +out her arms towards the vessel. At a sign from the captain, the head of +the boat was veered round. The bereaved mother knew that all hope was +gone, and she fell down in a state of insensibility. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE OLD MAID + + +One morning, shortly after the disasters which we have described, Mr. +Witherington descended to his breakfast-room somewhat earlier than +usual, and found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by no +less a personage than William the footman, who, with his feet on the +fender, was so attentively reading the newspaper that he did not hear +his master's entrance. 'By my ancestor, who fought on his stumps! but I +hope you are quite comfortable, Mr. William; nay, I beg I may not +disturb you, sir.' + +William, although as impudent as most of his fraternity, was a little +taken aback: 'I beg your pardon, sir, but Mr. Jonathan had not time to +look over the paper.' + +'Nor is it required that he should, that I know of, sir.' + +'Mr. Jonathan says, sir, that it is always right to look over the +_deaths_, that news of that kind may not shock you.' + +'Very considerate, indeed.' + +'And there is a story there, sir, about a shipwreck.' + +'A shipwreck! where, William? God bless me! where is it?' + +'I am afraid it is the same ship you are so anxious about, sir--the----I +forget the name, sir.' + +Mr. Witherington took the newspaper, and his eye soon caught the +paragraph in which the rescue of the two negroes and child from the +wreck of the _Circassian_ was fully detailed. + +'It is indeed!' exclaimed Mr. Witherington. 'My poor Cecilia in an open +boat! one of the boats was seen to go down--perhaps she's dead--merciful +God! one boy saved. Mercy on me! where's Jonathan?' + +[Illustration: _Found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by +William the footman._] + +'Here, sir,' replied Jonathan, very solemnly, who had just brought in +the eggs, and now stood erect as a mute behind his master's chair, for +it was a case of danger, if not of death. + +'I must go to Portsmouth immediately after breakfast--shan't eat, +though--appetite all gone.' + +'People seldom do, sir, on these melancholy occasions,' replied +Jonathan. 'Will you take your own carriage, sir, or a mourning coach?' + +'A mourning coach at fourteen miles an hour, with two pair of horses! +Jonathan, you're crazy.' + +'Will you please to have black silk hatbands and gloves for the coachman +and servants who attend you, sir?' + +'Confound your shop! no; this is a resurrection, not a death: it appears +that the negro thinks only one of the boats went down.' + +'_Mors omnia vincit_,' quoth Jonathan, casting up his eyes. + +'Never you mind that; mind your own business. That's the postman's +knock--see if there are any letters.' + +There were several; and amongst the others there was one from Captain +Maxwell, of the _Eurydice_, detailing the circumstances already known, +and informing Mr. Witherington that he had despatched the two negroes +and the child to his address by that day's coach, and that one of the +officers, who was going to town by the same conveyance, would see them +safe to his house. + +Captain Maxwell was an old acquaintance of Mr. Witherington--had dined +at his house in company with the Templemores, and therefore had +extracted quite enough information from the negroes to know where to +direct them. + +'By the blood of my ancestors! they'll be here to-night,' cried Mr. +Witherington; 'and I have saved my journey. What is to be done? better +tell Mary to get rooms ready: d'ye hear, William; beds for one little +boy and two niggers.' + +'Yes, sir,' replied William; 'but where are the black people to be put?' + +'Put! I don't care; one may sleep with cook, the other with Mary.' + +'Very well, sir, I'll tell them,' replied William, hastening away, +delighted at the row which he anticipated in the kitchen. + +'If you please, sir,' observed Jonathan, 'one of the negroes is, I +believe, a man.' + +'Well, what then?' + +'Only, sir, the maids may object to sleep with him.' + +'By all the plagues of the Witheringtons! this is true; well, you may +take him, Jonathan--you like that colour.' + +'Not in the dark, sir,' replied Jonathan, with a bow. + +'Well then, let them sleep together; so that affair is settled.' + +'Are they man and wife, sir?' said the butler. + +'The devil take them both! how should I know? Let me have my breakfast, +and we'll talk over the matter by and by.' + +Mr. Witherington applied to his eggs and muffin, eating his breakfast as +fast as he could, without knowing why; but the reason was that he was +puzzled and perplexed with the anticipated arrival, and longed to think +quietly over the dilemma, for it was a dilemma to an old bachelor. As +soon as he had swallowed his second cup of tea he put himself into his +easy-chair, in an easy attitude, and was very soon soliloquising as +follows:-- + +'By the blood of the Witheringtons! what am I, an old bachelor, to do +with a baby, and a wet-nurse as black as the ace of spades, and another +black fellow in the bargain? Send him back again! yes, that's +best? but the child--woke every morning at five o'clock with its +squalling--obliged to kiss it three times a day--pleasant!--and then +that nigger of a nurse--thick lips--kissing child all day, and then +holding it out to me--ignorant as a cow--if the child has the +stomach-ache she'll cram a pepper-pod down its throat--West India +fashion--children never without the stomach-ache--my poor, poor +cousin!--what has become of her and the other child, too?--wish they may +pick her up, poor dear! and then she will come and take care of her own +children--don't know what to do--great mind to send for sister +Moggy--but she's so _fussy_--won't be in a hurry. Think again.' + +Here Mr. Witherington was interrupted by two taps at the door. + +'Come in,' said he; and the cook, with her face as red as if she had +been dressing a dinner for eighteen, made her appearance without the +usual clean apron. + +'If you please, sir,' said she, curtseying, 'I will thank you to suit +yourself with another cook.' + +'Oh, very well,' replied Mr. Witherington, angry at the interruption. + +'And if you please, sir, I should like to go this very day--indeed, sir, +I shall not stay.' + +'Go to the devil! if you please,' replied Mr. Witherington angrily; 'but +first go out and shut the door after you.' + +The cook retired, and Mr. Witherington was again alone. + +'Confound the old woman--what a huff she is in! won't cook for black +people, I suppose--yes, that's it.' + +Here Mr. Witherington was again interrupted by a second double tap at +the door. + +'Oh! thought better of it, I suppose. Come in.' + +It was not the cook, but Mary, the housemaid, that entered. + +'If you please, sir,' said she, whimpering, 'I should wish to leave my +situation.' + +'A conspiracy, by heavens! Well, you may go.' + +'To-night, sir, if you please,' answered the woman. + +'This moment, for all I care!' exclaimed Mr. Witherington in his wrath. + +The housemaid retired; and Mr. Witherington took some time to compose +himself. + +'Servants all going to the devil in this country,' said he at last; +'proud fools--won't clean rooms after black people, I suppose--yes, +that's it, confound them all, black and white! here's my whole +establishment upset by the arrival of a baby. Well, it is very +uncomfortable--what shall I do?--send for sister Moggy?--no, I'll send +for Jonathan.' + +Mr. Witherington rang the bell, and Jonathan made his appearance. + +'What is all this, Jonathan?' said he; 'cook angry--Mary crying--both +going away--what's it all about?' + +'Why, sir, they were told by William that it was your positive order +that the two black people were to sleep with them; and I believe he told +Mary that the man was to sleep with her.' + +'Confound that fellow! he's always at mischief; you know, Jonathan, I +never meant that.' + +'I thought not, sir, as it is quite contrary to custom,' replied +Jonathan. + +'Well then, tell them so, and let's hear no more about it.' + +Mr. Witherington then entered into a consultation with his butler, and +acceded to the arrangements proposed by him. The parties arrived in due +time, and were properly accommodated. Master Edward was not troubled +with the stomach-ache, neither did he wake Mr. Witherington at five +o'clock in the morning; and, after all, it was not very uncomfortable. +But, although things were not quite so uncomfortable as Mr. Witherington +had anticipated, still they were not comfortable; and Mr. Witherington +was so annoyed by continual skirmishes with his servants, complaints +from Judy, in bad English, of the cook, who, it must be owned, had taken +a prejudice against her and Coco, occasional illness of the child, _et +cætera_, that he found his house no longer quiet and peaceable. Three +months had now nearly passed, and no tidings of the boats had been +received; and Captain Maxwell, who came up to see Mr. Witherington, gave +it as his decided opinion that they must have foundered in the gale. As, +therefore, there appeared to be no chance of Mrs. Templemore coming to +take care of her child, Mr. Witherington at last resolved to write to +Bath, where his sister resided, and acquaint her with the whole story, +requesting her to come and superintend his domestic concerns. A few days +afterwards he received the following reply:-- + + 'BATH, _August_. + + 'MY DEAR BROTHER ANTONY--Your letter arrived safe to hand on + Wednesday last, and I must say that I was not a little surprised at + its contents; indeed, I thought so much about it that I revoked at + Lady Betty Blabkin's whist-party, and lost four shillings and + sixpence. You say that you have a child at your house belonging to + your cousin, who married in so indecorous a manner. I hope what you + say is true; but, at the same time, I know what bachelors are + guilty of; although, as Lady Betty says, it is better never to talk + or even to hint about these improper things. I cannot imagine why + men should consider themselves, in an unmarried state, as absolved + from that purity which maidens are so careful to preserve; and so + says Lady Betty, with whom I had a little conversation on the + subject. As, however, the thing is done, she agrees with me that it + is better to hush it up as well as we can. + + 'I presume that you do not intend to make the child your heir, + which I should consider as highly improper; and, indeed, Lady + Betty tells me that the legacy-duty is ten per cent., and that it + cannot be avoided. However, I make it a rule never to talk about + these sort of things. As for your request that I will come up and + superintend your establishment, I have advised with Lady Betty on + the subject, and she agrees with me that, for the honour of the + family, it is better that I should come, as it will save + appearances. You are in a peck of troubles, as most men are who are + free-livers, and are led astray by artful and alluring females. + However, as Lady Betty says, "the least said, the soonest mended." + + 'I will, therefore, make the necessary arrangements for letting my + house, and hope to join you in about ten days; sooner, I cannot, as + I find that my engagements extend to that period. Many questions + have already been put to me on this unpleasant subject; but I + always give but one answer, which is, that bachelors will be + bachelors! and that, at all events, it is not so bad as if you were + a married man: for I make it a rule never to talk about, or even to + hint about these sort of things, for, as Lady Betty says, "Men will + get into scrapes, and the sooner things are hushed up the better." + So no more at present from your affectionate sister, + + 'MARGARET WITHERINGTON. + + '_P.S._--Lady Betty and I both agree that you are very right in + hiring two black people to bring the child into your house, as it + makes the thing look _foreign_ to the neighbours, and we can keep + our own secrets. + + M. W.' + +'Now, by all the sins of the Witheringtons, if this is not enough to +drive a man out of his senses! Confound the suspicious old maid! I'll +not let her come into this house. Confound Lady Betty, and all +scandal-loving old tabbies like her! Bless me!' continued Mr. +Witherington, throwing the letter on the table, with a deep sigh, 'this +is anything but comfortable.' + +But if Mr. Witherington found it anything but comfortable at the +commencement, he found it unbearable in the sequel. + +[Illustration: '_Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!_'] + +His sister Moggy arrived, and installed herself in the house with all +the pomp and protecting air of one who was the saviour of her brother's +reputation and character. When the child was first brought down to her, +instead of perceiving at once its likeness to Mr. Templemore, which was +very strong, she looked at it and at her brother's face with her only +eye, and shaking her finger, exclaimed-- + +'O Antony! Antony! and did you expect to deceive me?--the nose--the +mouth exact--Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!' + +But we must hurry over the misery that Mr. Witherington's kindness and +benevolence brought upon him. Not a day passed--scarcely an hour, +without his ears being galled with his sister's insinuations. Judy and +Coco were sent back to America; the servants, who had remained so long +in his service, gave warning one by one, and, afterwards, were changed +as often almost as there was a change in the moon. She ruled the house +and her brother despotically; and all poor Mr. Witherington's comfort +was gone until the time arrived when Master Edward was to be sent to +school. Mr. Witherington then plucked up courage, and after a few stormy +months drove his sister back to Bath, and once more found himself +comfortable. + +Edward came home during the holidays, and was a great favourite; but the +idea had become current that he was the son of the old gentleman, and +the remarks made were so unpleasant and grating to him, that he was not +sorry, much as he was attached to the boy, when he declared his +intention to choose the profession of a sailor. + +Captain Maxwell introduced him into the service; and afterwards, when, +in consequence of ill-health and exhaustion, he was himself obliged to +leave it for a time, he procured for his _protégé_ other ships. We must, +therefore, allow some years to pass away, during which time Edward +Templemore pursues his career, Mr Witherington grows older and more +particular, and his sister Moggy amuses herself with Lady Betty's +remarks, and her darling game of whist. + +During all this period no tidings of the boats, or of Mrs. Templemore +and her infant, had been heard; it was therefore naturally conjectured +that they had all perished, and they were remembered but as things that +had been. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MIDSHIPMAN + + +The weather-side of the quarter-deck of H.M. frigate _Unicorn_ was +occupied by two very great personages: Captain Plumbton, commanding the +ship, who was very great in width if not in height, taking much more +than his allowance of the deck, if it were not that he was the +proprietor thereof, and entitled to the lion's share. Captain P. was not +more than four feet ten inches in height; but then he was equal to that +in girth: there was quite enough of him, if he had only been _rolled +out_. He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck into the +arm-holes of his waistcoat, so as to throw his shoulders back and +increase his horizontal dimensions. He also held his head well aft, +which threw his chest and stomach well forward. He was the prototype of +pomposity and good-nature, and he strutted like an actor in a +procession. + +The other personage was the first lieutenant, whom Nature had pleased to +fashion in another mould. He was as tall as the captain was short--as +thin as his superior was corpulent. His long, lanky legs were nearly up +to the captain's shoulders; and he bowed down over the head of his +superior, as if he were the crane to hoist up, and the captain the bale +of goods to be hoisted. He carried his hands behind his back, with two +fingers twisted together; and his chief difficulty appeared to be to +reduce his own stride to the parrot march of the captain. His features +were sharp and lean as was his body, and wore every appearance of a +cross-grained temper. + +He had been making divers complaints of divers persons, and the captain +had hitherto appeared imperturbable. Captain Plumbton was an +even-tempered man, who was satisfied with a good dinner. Lieutenant +Markitall was an odd-tempered man, who would quarrel with his bread and +butter. + +[Illustration: _He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck +into the arm-holes of his waistcoat._] + +'Quite impossible, sir,' continued the first lieutenant, 'to carry on +the duty without support.' + +This oracular observation, which, from the relative forms of the two +parties, descended as it were from above, was replied to by the captain +with a 'Very true.' + +'Then, sir, I presume you will not object to my putting that man in the +report for punishment?' + +'I'll think about it, Mr. Markitall.' This, with Captain Plumbton, was +as much as to say, No. + +'The young gentlemen, sir, I am sorry to say, are very troublesome.' + +'Boys always are,' replied the captain. + +'Yes, sir; but the duty must be carried on, and I cannot do without +them.' + +'Very true--midshipmen are very useful.' + +'But I'm sorry to say, sir, that they are not. Now, sir, there's Mr. +Templemore; I can do nothing with him--he does nothing but laugh.' + +'Laugh!--Mr. Markitall, does he laugh at you?' + +'Not exactly, sir; but he laughs at everything. If I send him to the +mast-head, he goes up laughing; if I call him down, he comes down +laughing; if I find fault with him, he laughs the next minute: in fact, +sir, he does nothing but laugh. I should particularly wish, sir, that +you would speak to him, and see if any interference on your part----' + +'Would make him cry--eh? better to laugh than cry in this world. Does he +never cry, Mr. Markitall?' + +'Yes, sir, and very unseasonably. The other day, you may recollect, when +you punished Wilson the marine, whom I appointed to take care of his +chest and hammock, he was crying the whole time; almost tantamount--at +least an indirect species of mutiny on his part, as it implied----' + +'That the boy was sorry that his servant was punished; I never flog a +man but I'm sorry myself, Mr. Markitall.' + +'Well, I do not press the question of his crying--that I might look +over; but his laughing, sir, I must beg that you will take notice of +that. Here he is, sir, coming up the hatchway. Mr. Templemore, the +captain wishes to speak to you.' + +Now, the captain did not wish to speak to him, but, forced upon him as +it was by the first lieutenant, he could do no less. So Mr. Templemore +touched his hat, and stood before the captain, we regret to say, with +such a good-humoured, sly, confiding smirk on his countenance, as at +once established the proof of the accusation, and the enormity of the +offence. + +'So, sir,' said Captain Plumbton, stopping in his perambulation, and +squaring his shoulders still more, 'I find that you laugh at the first +lieutenant.' + +'I, sir?' replied the boy, the smirk expanding into a broad grin. + +'Yes; you, sir,' said the first lieutenant, now drawing up to his full +height; 'why, you're laughing now, sir.' + +'I can't help it, sir--it's not my fault; and I'm sure it's not yours, +sir,' added the boy demurely. + +'Are you aware, Edward--Mr. Templemore, I mean--of the impropriety of +disrespect to your superior officer?' + +'I never laughed at Mr. Markitall but once, sir, that I can recollect, +and that was when he tumbled over the messenger.' + +'And why did you laugh at him then, sir?' + +'I always do laugh when any one tumbles down,' replied the lad; 'I can't +help it, sir.' + +'Then, sir, I suppose you would laugh if you saw me rolling in the +lee-scuppers?' said the captain. + +'Oh!' replied the boy, no longer able to contain himself, 'I'm sure I +should burst myself with laughing--I think I see you now, sir.' + +'Do you, indeed! I'm very glad that you do not; though I'm afraid, young +gentleman, you stand convicted by your own confession.' + +'Yes, sir, for laughing, if that is any crime; but it's not in the +Articles of War.' + +'No, sir; but disrespect is. You laugh when you go to the mast-head.' + +'But I obey the order, sir, immediately--do I not, Mr. Markitall?' + +'Yes, sir, you obey the order; but, at the same time, your laughing +proves that you do not mind the punishment.' + +'No more I do, sir. I spend half my time at the mast-head, and I'm used +to it now.' + +'But, Mr. Templemore, ought you not to feel the disgrace of the +punishment?' inquired the captain severely. + +'Yes, sir, if I felt I deserved it I should. I should not laugh, sir, if +_you_ sent me to the mast-head,' replied the boy, assuming a serious +countenance. + +'You see, Mr. Markitall, that he can be grave,' observed the captain. + +'I've tried all I can to make him so, sir,' replied the first +lieutenant; 'but I wish to ask Mr. Templemore what he means to imply by +saying, "when he deserves it." Does he mean to say that I have ever +punished him unjustly?' + +'Yes, sir,' replied the boy boldly; 'five times out of six I am +mast-headed for nothing--and that's the reason why I do not mind it.' + +'For nothing, sir! Do you call laughing nothing?' + +'I pay every attention that I can to my duty, sir; I always obey your +orders; I try all I can to make you pleased with me--but you are always +punishing me.' + +'Yes, sir, for laughing, and, what is worse, making the ship's company +laugh.' + +'They "haul and hold" just the same, sir--I think they work all the +better for being merry.' + +'And pray, sir, what business have you to think?' replied the first +lieutenant, now very angry. 'Captain Plumbton, as this young gentleman +thinks proper to interfere with me and the discipline of the ship, I beg +you will see what effect your punishing may have upon him.' + +'Mr. Templemore,' said the captain, 'you are, in the first place, too +free in your speech, and, in the next place, too fond of laughing. There +is, Mr. Templemore, a time for all things--a time to be merry, and a +time to be serious. The quarter-deck is not the fit place for mirth.' + +'I'm sure the gangway is not,' shrewdly interrupted the boy. + +'No--you are right, nor the gangway; but you may laugh on the +forecastle, and when below with your messmates.' + +'No, sir, we may not; Mr. Markitall always sends out if he hears us +laughing.' + +'Because, Mr. Templemore, you're always laughing.' + +'I believe I am, sir; and if it's wrong I'm sorry to displease you, but +I mean no disrespect. I laugh in my sleep--I laugh when I awake--I laugh +when the sun shines--I always feel so happy; but though you do mast-head +me, Mr. Markitall, I should not laugh, but be very sorry, if any +misfortune happened to you.' + +'I believe you would, boy--I do indeed, Mr. Markitall,' said the +captain. + +'Well, sir,' replied the first lieutenant, 'as Mr. Templemore appears to +be aware of his error, I do not wish to press my complaint--I have only +to request that he will never laugh again.' + +'You hear, boy, what the first lieutenant says; it's very reasonable, +and I beg I may hear no more complaints. Mr. Markitall, let me know when +the foot of that foretopsail will be repaired--I should like to shift it +to-night.' + +Mr. Markitall went down under the half-deck to make the inquiry. + +'And, Edward,' said Captain Plumbton, as soon as the lieutenant was out +of ear-shot, 'I have a good deal more to say to you upon this subject, +but I have no time now. So come and dine with me--at my table, you know, +I allow laughing in moderation.' + +The boy touched his hat, and with a grateful, happy countenance, walked +away. + +We have introduced this little scene that the reader may form some idea +of the character of Edward Templemore. He was indeed the soul of mirth, +good-humour, and kindly feelings towards others; he even felt kindly +towards the first lieutenant, who persecuted him for his risible +propensities. We do not say that the boy was right in laughing at all +times, or that the first lieutenant was wrong in attempting to check it. +As the captain said, there is a time for all things, and Edward's laugh +was not always seasonable; but it was his nature, and he could not help +it. He was joyous as the May morning; and thus he continued for years, +laughing at everything--pleased with everybody--almost universally +liked--and his bold, free, and happy spirit unchecked by vicissitude or +hardship. + +He served his time--was nearly turned back, when he was passing his +examination, for laughing, and then went laughing to sea again--was in +command of a boat at the cutting-out of a French corvette, and when on +board was so much amused by the little French captain skipping about +with his rapier, which proved fatal to many, that at last he received a +pink from the little gentleman himself, which laid him on deck. For +this affair, and in consideration of his wound, he obtained his +promotion to the rank of lieutenant--was appointed to a line-of-battle +ship in the West Indies--laughed at the yellow fever--was appointed to +the tender of that ship, a fine schooner, and was sent to cruise for +prize-money for the admiral, and promotion for himself, if he could, by +any fortunate encounter, be so lucky as to obtain it. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SLEEPER'S BAY + + +On the western coast of Africa there is a small bay, which has received +more than one name from its occasional visitors. That by which it was +designated by the adventurous Portuguese, who first dared to cleave the +waves of the Southern Atlantic, has been forgotten with their lost +maritime preeminence; the name allotted to it by the woolly-headed +natives of the coast has never, perhaps, been ascertained; it is, +however, marked down in some of the old English charts as Sleeper's Bay. + +The mainland which, by its curvature, has formed this little dent, on a +coast possessing, and certainly at present requiring, few harbours, +displays, perhaps, the least inviting of all prospects; offering to the +view nothing but a shelving beach of dazzling white sand, backed with a +few small hummocks beat up by the occasional fury of the Atlantic +gales--arid, bare, and without the slightest appearance of vegetable +life. The inland prospect is shrouded over by a dense mirage, through +which here and there are to be discovered the stems of a few distant +palm-trees, so broken and disjoined by refraction that they present to +the imagination anything but the idea of foliage or shade. The water in +the bay is calm and smooth as the polished mirror; not the smallest +ripple is to be heard on the beach, to break through the silence of +nature; not a breath of air sweeps over its glassy surface, which is +heated with the intense rays of a vertical noonday sun, pouring down a +withering flood of light and heat; not a sea-bird is to be discovered +wheeling on its flight, or balancing on its wings as it pierces the deep +with its searching eye, ready to dart upon its prey. All is silence, +solitude, and desolation, save that occasionally may be seen the fin of +some huge shark, either sluggishly moving through the heated element, or +stationary in the torpor of the mid-day heat. A sight so sterile, so +stagnant, so little adapted to human life, cannot well be conceived, +unless, by flying to extremes, we were to portray the chilling blast, +the transfixing cold, and 'close-ribbed ice' at the frozen poles. + +At the entrance of this bay, in about three fathoms water, heedless of +the spring cable which hung down as a rope which had fallen overboard, +there floated, motionless as death, a vessel whose proportions would +have challenged the unanimous admiration of those who could appreciate +the merits of her build, had she been anchored in the most frequented +and busy harbour of the universe. So beautiful were her lines, that you +might almost have imagined her a created being that the ocean had been +ordered to receive, as if fashioned by the Divine Architect, to add to +the beauty and variety of His works; for, from the huge leviathan to the +smallest of the finny tribe--from the towering albatross to the boding +petrel of the storm--where could be found, among the winged or finned +frequenters of the ocean, a form more appropriate, more fitting, than +this specimen of human skill, whose beautiful model and elegant tapering +spars were now all that could be discovered to break the meeting lines +of the firmament and horizon of the offing. + +Alas! she was fashioned, at the will of avarice, for the aid of cruelty +and injustice, and now was even more nefariously employed. She had been +a slaver--she was now the far-famed, still more dreaded, pirate +schooner, the _Avenger_. + +Not a man-of-war which scoured the deep but had her instructions +relative to this vessel, which had been so successful in her career of +crime--not a trader in any portion of the navigable globe but whose crew +shuddered at the mention of her name, and the remembrance of the +atrocities which had been practised by her reckless crew. She had been +everywhere--in the east, the west, the north, and the south, leaving a +track behind her of rapine and of murder. There she lay in motionless +beauty, her low sides were painted black, with one small, narrow riband +of red--her raking masts were clean scraped--her topmasts, her +cross-trees, caps, and even running-blocks, were painted in pure white. +Awnings were spread fore and aft to protect the crew from the powerful +rays of the sun; her ropes were hauled taut; and in every point she wore +the appearance of being under the control of seamanship and strict +discipline. Through the clear smooth water her copper shone brightly; +and as you looked over her taffrail down into the calm blue sea, you +could plainly discover the sandy bottom beneath her, and the anchor +which then lay under her counter. A small boat floated astern, the +weight of the rope which attached her appearing, in the perfect calm, to +draw her towards the schooner. + +We must now go on board, and our first cause of surprise will be the +deception relative to the tonnage of the schooner, when viewed from a +distance. Instead of a small vessel of about ninety tons, we discover +that she is upwards of two hundred; that her breadth of beam is +enormous; and that those spars, which appeared so light and elegant, are +of unexpected dimensions. Her decks are of narrow fir planks, without +the least spring or rise; her ropes are of Manilla hemp, neatly secured +to copper belaying-pins, and coiled down on the deck, whose whiteness is +well contrasted with the bright green paint of her bulwarks: her +capstern and binnacles are cased in fluted mahogany, and ornamented with +brass; metal stanchions protect the skylights, and the bright muskets +are arranged in front of the mainmast, while the boarding-pikes are +lashed round the mainboom. + +In the centre of the vessel, between the fore and main masts, there is a +long brass 32-pounder fixed upon a carriage revolving in a circle, and +so arranged that in bad weather it can be lowered down and _housed_; +while on each side of her decks are mounted eight brass guns of smaller +calibre and of exquisite workmanship. Her build proves the skill of the +architect; her fitting-out, a judgment in which nought has been +sacrificed to, although everything has been directed by, taste; and her +neatness and arrangement, that, in the person of her commander, to the +strictest discipline there is united the practical knowledge of a +thorough seaman. How, indeed, otherwise could she have so long continued +her lawless yet successful career? How could it have been possible to +unite a crew of miscreants, who feared not God nor man, most of whom had +perpetrated foul murders, or had been guilty of even blacker +iniquities? It was because he who commanded the vessel was so superior +as to find in her no rivalry. Superior in talent, in knowledge of his +profession, in courage, and, moreover, in physical strength--which in +him was almost herculean--unfortunately he was also superior to all in +villainy, in cruelty, and contempt of all injunctions, moral and Divine. + +What had been the early life of this person was but imperfectly known. +It was undoubted that he had received an excellent education, and it was +said that he was of an ancient border family on the banks of the Tweed: +by what chances he had become a pirate--by what errors he had fallen +from his station in society, until he became an outcast, had never been +revealed; it was only known that he had been some years employed in the +slave-trade previous to his seizing this vessel and commencing his +reckless career. The name by which he was known to the crew of the +pirate vessel was 'Cain,' and well had he chosen this appellation; for, +had not his hand for more than three years been against every man's, and +every man's hand against his? In person he was about six feet high, with +a breadth of shoulders and of chest denoting the utmost of physical +force which, perhaps, has ever been allotted to man. His features would +have been handsome had they not been scarred with wounds; and, strange +to say, his eye was mild and of a soft blue. His mouth was well formed, +and his teeth of a pearly white; the hair of his head was crisp and +wavy, and his beard, which he wore, as did every person composing the +crew of the pirate, covered the lower part of his face in strong, +waving, and continued curls. The proportions of his body were perfect; +but from their vastness they became almost terrific. His costume was +elegant, and well adapted to his form; linen trousers, and untanned +yellow leather boots, such as are made at the Western Isles; a +broad-striped cotton shirt; a red Cashmere shawl round his waist as a +sash; a vest embroidered in gold tissue, with a jacket of dark velvet, +and pendent gold buttons, hanging over his left shoulder, after the +fashion of the Mediterranean seamen; a round Turkish skull-cap, +handsomely embroidered, a pair of pistols, and a long knife in his sash, +completed his attire. + +The crew consisted in all of 165 men, of almost every nation, but it +was to be remarked that all those in authority were either Englishmen or +from the northern countries; the others were chiefly Spaniards and +Maltese. Still there were Portuguese, Brazilians, negroes, and others, +who made up the complement, which at the time we now speak of was +increased by twenty-five additional hands. These were Kroumen, a race of +blacks well known at present, who inhabit the coast near Cape Palmas, +and are often employed by our men-of-war stationed on the coast to +relieve the English seamen from duties which would be too severe to +those who were not inured to the climate. They are powerful, athletic +men, good sailors, of a happy, merry disposition, and, unlike other +Africans, will work hard. Fond of the English, they generally speak the +language sufficiently to be understood, and are very glad to receive a +baptism when they come on board. The name first given them they usually +adhere to as long as they live; and you will now on the coast meet with +a Blucher, a Wellington, a Nelson, etc., who will wring swabs, or do any +other of the meanest description of work, without feeling that it is +discreditable to sponsorials so grand. + +It is not to be supposed that these men had voluntarily come on board of +the pirate; they had been employed in some British vessels trading on +the coast, and had been taken out of them when the vessels were burnt, +and the Europeans of the crews murdered. They had received a promise of +reward, if they did their duty; but, not expecting it, they waited for +the earliest opportunity to make their escape. + +The captain of the schooner is abaft with his glass in his hand, +occasionally sweeping the offing in the expectation of a vessel heaving +in sight; the officers and crew are lying down, or lounging listlessly +about the decks, panting with the extreme heat, and impatiently waiting +for the sea-breeze to fan their parched foreheads. With their rough +beards and exposed chests, and their weather-beaten fierce countenances, +they form a group which is terrible even in repose. + +We must now descend into the cabin of the schooner. The fittings-up of +this apartment are simple: on each side is a standing bed-place; against +the after bulkhead is a large buffet, originally intended for glass and +china, but now loaded with silver and gold vessels of every size and +description, collected by the pirate from the different ships which he +had plundered; the lamps are also of silver, and evidently had been +intended to ornament the shrine of some Catholic saint. + +In this cabin there are two individuals, to whom we shall now direct the +reader's attention. The one is a pleasant-countenanced, good-humoured +Krouman, who had been christened 'Pompey the Great'; most probably on +account of his large proportions. He wears a pair of duck trousers; the +rest of his body is naked, and presents a sleek, glossy skin, covering +muscles which an anatomist or a sculptor would have viewed with +admiration. The other is a youth of eighteen, or thereabouts, with an +intelligent, handsome countenance, evidently of European blood. There +is, however, a habitually mournful cast upon his features; he is dressed +much in the same way as we have described the captain, but the costume +hangs more gracefully upon his slender, yet well-formed limbs. He is +seated on a sofa, fixed in the fore part of the cabin, with a book in +his hand, which occasionally he refers to, and then lifts his eyes from, +to watch the motions of the Krouman, who is busy, in the office of +steward, arranging and cleaning the costly articles in the buffet. + +'Massa Francisco, dis really fine ting,' said Pompey, holding up a +splendidly embossed tankard, which he had been rubbing. + +'Yes,' replied Francisco gravely; 'it is indeed, Pompey.' + +'How Captain Cain come by dis?' + +Francisco shook his head, and Pompey put his finger up to his mouth, his +eyes, full of meaning, fixed upon Francisco. + +At this moment the personage referred to was heard descending the +companion-ladder. Pompey recommenced rubbing the silver, and Francisco +dropped his eyes upon the book. + +What was the tie which appeared to bind the captain to this lad was not +known; but, as the latter had always accompanied, and lived together +with him, it was generally supposed that he was the captain's son; and +he was as often designated by the crew as young Cain as he was by his +Christian name of Francisco. Still it was observed that latterly they +had frequently been heard in altercation, and that the captain was very +suspicious of Francisco's movements. + +'I beg I may not interrupt your conversation,' said Cain, on entering +the cabin; 'the information you may obtain from a Krouman must be very +important.' + +Francisco made no reply, but appeared to be reading his book. Cain's +eyes passed from one to the other, as if to read their thoughts. + +'Pray what were you saying, Mr. Pompey?' + +'Me say, Massa Captain? me only tell young Massa dis very fine ting; ask +where you get him--Massa Francisco no tell.' + +'And what might it be to you, you black scoundrel?' cried the captain, +seizing the goblet, and striking the man with it a blow on the head +which flattened the vessel, and at the same time felled the Krouman, +powerful as he was, to the deck. The blood streamed as the man slowly +rose, stupefied and trembling from the violent concussion. Without +saying a word, he staggered out of the cabin, and Cain threw himself on +one of the lockers in front of the standing bed-place, saying, with a +bitter smile, 'So much for your intimates, Francisco!' + +'Rather, so much for your cruelty and injustice towards an unoffending +man,' replied Francisco, laying his book on the table. 'His question was +an innocent one--for he knew not the particulars connected with the +obtaining of that flagon.' + +'And you, I presume, do not forget them? Well, be it so, young man; but +I warn you again--as I have warned you often--nothing but the +remembrance of your mother has prevented me, long before this, from +throwing your body to the sharks.' + +'What influence my mother's memory may have over you, I know not; I only +regret that, in any way, she had the misfortune to be connected with +you.' + +'She had the influence,' replied Cain, 'which a woman must have over a +man when they have for years swung in the same cot; but that is wearing +off fast. I tell you so candidly; I will not even allow her memory to +check me, if I find you continue your late course. You have shown +disaffection before the crew--you have disputed my orders--and I have +every reason to believe that you are now plotting against me.' + +'Can I do otherwise than show my abhorrence,' replied Francisco, 'when I +witness such acts of horror, of cruelty--cold-blooded cruelty, as lately +have been perpetrated? Why do you bring me here? and why do you now +detain me? All I ask is, that you will allow me to leave the vessel. You +are not my father; you have told me so.' + +'No, I am not your father; but--you are your mother's son.' + +'That gives you no right to have power over me, even if you had been +married to my mother; which----' + +'I was not.' + +'I thank God; for marriage with you would have been even greater +disgrace.' + +'What!' cried Cain, starting up, seizing the young man by the neck, and +lifting him off his seat as if he had been a puppet; 'but no--I cannot +forget your mother.' Cain released Francisco, and resumed his seat on +the locker. + +'As you please,' said Francisco, as soon as he had recovered himself; +'it matters little whether I am brained by your own hand, or launched +overboard as a meal for the sharks; it will be but one more murder.' + +'Mad fool! why do you tempt me thus?' replied Cain, again starting up, +and hastily quitting the cabin. + +The altercation which we have just described was not unheard on deck, as +the doors of the cabin were open, and the skylight removed to admit the +air. The face of Cain was flushed as he ascended the ladder. He +perceived his chief mate standing by the hatchway, and many of the men, +who had been slumbering abaft, with their heads raised on their elbows, +as if they had been listening to the conversation below. + +'It will never do, sir,' said Hawkhurst, the mate, shaking his head. + +'No,' replied the captain; 'not if he were my own son. But what is to be +done?--he knows no fear.' + +Hawkhurst pointed to the entering port. + +'When I ask your advice, you may give it,' said the captain, turning +gloomily away. + +In the meantime, Francisco paced the cabin in deep thought. Young as he +was, he was indifferent to death; for he had no tie to render life +precious. He remembered his mother, but not her demise; that had been +concealed from him. At the age of seven he had sailed with Cain in a +slaver, and had ever since continued with him. Until lately, he had been +led to suppose that the captain was his father. During the years that he +had been in the slave-trade, Cain had devoted much time to his +education; it so happened that the only book which could be found on +board of the vessel, when Cain first commenced teaching, was a Bible +belonging to Francisco's mother. Out of this book he learned to read; +and, as his education advanced, other books were procured. It may +appear strange that the very traffic in which his reputed father was +engaged did not corrupt the boy's mind; but, accustomed to it from his +infancy, he had considered these negroes as another species--an idea +fully warranted by the cruelty of the Europeans towards them. + +There are some dispositions so naturally kind and ingenuous that even +example and evil contact cannot debase them: such was the disposition of +Francisco. As he gained in years and knowledge, he thought more and more +for himself, and had already become disgusted with the cruelties +practised upon the unfortunate negroes, when the slave vessel was seized +upon by Cain and converted into a pirate. At first, the enormities +committed had not been so great; vessels had been seized and plundered, +but life had been spared. In the course of crime, however, the descent +is rapid: and as, from information given by those who had been released, +the schooner was more than once in danger of being captured, latterly no +lives had been spared; and but too often the murders had been attended +with deeds even more atrocious. + +Francisco had witnessed scenes of horror until his young blood curdled: +he had expostulated to save, but in vain. Disgusted with the captain and +the crew, and their deeds of cruelty, he had latterly expressed his +opinions fearlessly, and defied the captain; for, in the heat of an +altercation, Cain had acknowledged that Francisco was not his son. + +Had any of the crew or officers expressed but a tithe of what had fallen +from the bold lips of Francisco, they would have long before paid the +forfeit of their temerity; but there was a feeling towards Francisco +which could not be stifled in the breast of Cain--it was the feeling of +association and habit. The boy had been his companion for years; and +from assuetude had become, as it were, a part of himself. There is a +principle in our nature which, even when that nature is most debased, +will never leave us--that of requiring something to love, something to +protect and watch over: it is shown towards a dog, or any other animal, +if it cannot be lavished upon one of our own species. Such was the +feeling which so forcibly held Cain towards Francisco; such was the +feeling which had hitherto saved his life. + +After having paced up and down for some time, the youth took his seat on +the locker which the captain had quitted: his eye soon caught the head +of Pompey, who looked into the cabin and beckoned with his finger. + +Francisco rose, and, taking up a flagon from the buffet, which contained +some spirits, walked to the door, and, without saying a word, handed it +to the Krouman. + +'Massa Francisco,' whispered Pompey, 'Pompey say--all Kroumen +say--suppose they run away, you go too? Pompey say--all Kroumen +say--suppose they try to kill you? Nebber kill you while one Krouman +alive.' + +The negro then gently pushed Francisco back with his hand, as if not +wishing to hear his answer, and hastened forward on the berth deck. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ATTACK + + +In the meantime, the sea-breeze had risen in the offing, and was +sweeping along the surface to where the schooner was at anchor. The +captain ordered a man to the cross-trees, directing him to keep a good +look-out, while he walked the deck in company with his first mate. + +'She may not have sailed until a day or two later,' said the captain, +continuing the conversation; 'I have made allowance for that, and depend +upon it, as she makes the eastern passage, we must soon fall in with +her; if she does not heave in sight this evening by daylight, I shall +stretch out in the offing; I know the Portuguese well. The sea-breeze +has caught our craft; let them run up the inner jib, and see that she +does not foul her anchor.' + +It was now late in the afternoon, and dinner had been sent into the +cabin; the captain descended, and took his seat at the table with +Francisco, who ate in silence. Once or twice the captain, whose wrath +had subsided, and whose kindly feelings towards Francisco, checked for a +time, had returned with greater force, tried, but in vain, to rally him +into conversation, when '_Sail ho!_' was shouted from the mast-head. + +'There she is, by G--d!' cried the captain, jumping from, and then, as +if checking himself, immediately resuming, his seat. + +Francisco put his hand to his forehead, covering his eyes as his elbow +leant upon the table. + +'A large ship, sir; we can see down to the second reef of her topsails,' +said Hawkhurst, looking down the skylight. + +The captain hastily swallowed some wine from a flagon, cast a look of +scorn and anger upon Francisco, and rushed on deck. + +'Be smart, lads!' cried the captain, after a few seconds' survey of the +vessel through his glass; 'that's her: furl the awnings, and run the +anchor up to the bows: there's more silver in that vessel, my lads, than +your chests will hold; and the good saints of the churches at Goa will +have to wait a little longer for their gold candlesticks.' + +The crew were immediately on the alert; the awnings were furled, and all +the men, stretching aft the spring cable, walked the anchor up to the +bows. In two minutes more the _Avenger_ was standing out on the +starboard tack, shaping her course so as to cut off the ill-fated +vessel. The breeze freshened, and the schooner darted through the smooth +water with the impetuosity of a dolphin after its prey. In an hour the +hull of the ship was plainly to be distinguished; but the sun was near +to the horizon, and before they could ascertain what their force might +be, daylight had disappeared. Whether the schooner had been perceived or +not, it was impossible to say; at all events, the course of the ship had +not been altered, and if she had seen the schooner, she evidently +treated her with contempt. On board the _Avenger_, they were not idle; +the long gun in the centre had been cleared from the incumbrances which +surrounded it, the other guns had been cast loose, shot handed up, and +everything prepared for action, with all the energy and discipline of a +man-of-war. The chase had not been lost sight of, and the eyes of the +pirate captain were fixed upon her through a night-glass. In about an +hour more the schooner was within a mile of the ship, and now altered +her course so as to range up within a cable's length of her to leeward. +Cain stood upon the gunwale and hailed. The answer was in Portuguese. + +'Heave to, or I'll sink you!' replied he in the same language. + +A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and a heavy volley +of muskets from the Portuguese, was the decided answer. The broadside, +too much elevated to hit the low hull of the schooner, was still not +without effect--the foretopmast fell, the jaws of the main-gaff were +severed, and a large proportion of the standing as well as the running +rigging came rattling down on her decks. The volley of musketry was more +fatal: thirteen of the pirates were wounded, some of them severely. + +[Illustration: _A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and +a heavy volley of muskets, was the decided answer._] + +'Well done, John Portuguese!' cried Hawkhurst; 'by the holy poker! I +never gave you credit for so much pluck.' + +'Which they shall pay dearly for,' was the cool reply of Cain, as he +still remained in his exposed situation. + +'Blood for blood! if I drink it,' observed the second mate, as he looked +at the crimson rivulet trickling down the fingers of his left hand from +a wound in his arm--'just tie my handkerchief round this, Bill.' + +In the interim, Cain had desired his crew to elevate their guns, and the +broadside was returned. + +'That will do, my lads: starboard; ease off the boomsheet; let her go +right round, Hawkhurst--we cannot afford to lose our men.' + +The schooner wore round, and ran astern of her opponent. + +The Portuguese on board the ship, imagining that the schooner, finding +she had met with unexpected resistance, had sheered off, gave a loud +cheer. + +'The last you will ever give, my fine fellows!' observed Cain, with a +sneer. + +In a few moments the schooner had run a mile astern of the ship. + +'Now then, Hawkhurst, let her come to and about; man the long gun, and +see that every shot is pitched into her, while the rest of them get up a +new foretopmast, and knot and splice the rigging.' + +The schooner's head was again turned towards the ship; her position was +right astern, about a mile distant or rather more; the long 32-pounder +gun amidships was now regularly served, every shot passing through the +cabin windows, or some other part of the ship's stern, raking her fore +and aft. In vain did the ship alter her course, and present her +broadside to the schooner; the latter was immediately checked in her +speed, so as to keep the prescribed distance at which the carronades of +the ship were useless, and the execution from the long gun decisive. The +ship was at the mercy of the pirate; and, as may be expected, no mercy +was shown. For three hours did this murderous attack continue, when the +gun, which, as before observed, was of brass, became so heated that the +pirate captain desired his men to discontinue. Whether the ship had +surrendered or not it was impossible to say, as it was too dark to +distinguish: while the long gun was served, the foretopmast and +main-gaff had been shifted, and all the standing and running rigging +made good; the schooner keeping her distance, and following in the wake +of the ship until daylight. + +We must now repair on board of the ship: she was an Indiaman; one of the +very few that occasionally are sent out by the Portuguese government to +a country which once owned their undivided sway, but in which, at +present, they hold but a few miles of territory. She was bound to Goa, +and had on board a small detachment of troops, a new governor and his +two sons, a bishop and his niece, with her attendant. The sailing of a +vessel with such a freight was a circumstance of rare occurrence, and +was, of course, generally bruited about long before her departure. Cain +had, for some months, received all the necessary intelligence relative +to her cargo and destination; but, as usual with the Portuguese of the +present day, delay upon delay had followed, and it was not until about +three weeks previous that he had been assured of her immediate +departure. He then ran down the coast to the bay we have mentioned that +he might intercept her; and, as the event had proved, showed his usual +judgment and decision. The fire of the schooner had been most +destructive; many of the Indiaman's crew, as well as of the troops, had +been mowed down one after another; until at last, finding that all their +efforts to defend themselves were useless, most of those who were still +unhurt had consulted their safety, and hastened down to the lowest +recesses of the hold to avoid the raking and destructive shot. At the +time that the schooner had discontinued her fire to allow the gun to +cool, there was no one on deck but the Portuguese captain and one old +weather-beaten seaman who stood at the helm. Below, in the orlop-deck, +the remainder of the crew and the passengers were huddled together in a +small space: some were attending to the wounded, who were numerous; +others were invoking the saints to their assistance; the bishop, a tall, +dignified person, apparently nearly sixty years of age, was kneeling in +the centre of the group, which was dimly lighted by two or three +lanterns, at one time in fervent prayer, at another, interrupted, that +he might give absolution to those wounded men whose spirits were +departing, and who were brought down and laid before him by their +comrades. On one side of him knelt his orphan niece, a young girl of +about seventeen years of age, watching his countenance as he prayed, or +bending down with a look of pity and tearful eyes on her expiring +countrymen, whose last moments were gladdened by his holy offices. On +the other side of the bishop stood the governor, Don Philip de Ribiera, +and his two sons, youths in their prime, and holding commissions in the +king's service. There was melancholy on the brow of Don Ribiera; he was +prepared for, and he anticipated, the worst. The eldest son had his eyes +fixed upon the sweet countenance of Teresa de Silva--that very evening, +as they walked together on the deck, had they exchanged their vows--that +very evening they had luxuriated in the present, and had dwelt with +delightful anticipation on the future. But we must leave them and return +on deck. + +The captain of the Portuguese ship had walked aft, and now went up to +Antonio, the old seaman, who was standing at the wheel. + +'I still see her with the glass, Antonio, and yet she has not fired for +nearly two hours; do you think any accident has happened to her long +gun? if so, we may have some chance.' + +Antonio shook his head. 'We have but little chance, I am afraid, my +captain; I knew by the ring of the gun, when she fired it, that it was +brass; indeed, no schooner could carry a long iron gun of that calibre. +Depend upon it, she only waits for the metal to cool and daylight to +return: a long gun or two might have saved us; but now, as she has the +advantage of us in heels, we are at her mercy.' + +'What can she be--a French privateer?' + +'I trust it may be so; and I have promised a silver candlestick to St. +Antonio that it may prove no worse: we then may have some chance of +seeing our homes again; but I fear not.' + +'What, then, do you imagine her to be, Antonio?' + +'The pirate which we have heard so much of.' + +'Jesu protect us! we must then sell our lives as dearly as we can.' + +'So I intend to do, my captain,' replied Antonio, shifting the helm a +spoke. + +The day broke, and showed the schooner continuing her pursuit at the +same distance astern, without any apparent movement on board. It was not +until the sun was some degrees above the horizon that the smoke was +again seen to envelop her bows, and the shot crashed through the timbers +of the Portuguese ship. The reason for this delay was, that the pirate +waited till the sun was up to ascertain if there were any other vessels +to be seen, previous to his pouncing on his quarry. The Portuguese +captain went aft and hoisted his ensign, but no flag was shown by the +schooner. Again whistled the ball, and again did it tear up the decks of +the unfortunate ship: many of those who had re-ascended to ascertain +what was going on, now hastily sought their former retreat. + +'Mind the helm, Antonio,' said the Portuguese captain; 'I must go down +and consult with the governor.' + +'Never fear, my captain; as long as these limbs hold together, I will do +my duty,' replied the old man, exhausted as he was by long watching and +fatigue. + +The captain descended to the orlop-deck, where he found the major part +of the crew and passengers assembled. + +'My lords,' said he, addressing the governor and bishop, 'the schooner +has not shown any colours, although our own are hoisted. I am come down +to know your pleasure. Defence we can make none; and I fear that we are +at the mercy of a pirate.' + +'A pirate!' ejaculated several, beating their breasts, and calling upon +their saints. + +'Silence, my good people, silence,' quietly observed the bishop; 'as to +what it may be best to do,' continued he, turning to the captain, 'I +cannot advise; I am a man of peace, and unfit to hold a place in a +council of war. Don Ribiera, I must refer the point to you and your +sons. Tremble not, my dear Teresa; are we not under the protection of +the Almighty.' + +'Holy Virgin, pity us!' exclaimed Teresa. + +'Come, my sons,' said Don Ribiera, 'we will go on deck and consult: let +not any of the men follow us; it is useless risking lives which may yet +be valuable.' + +Don Ribiera and his sons followed the captain to the quarter-deck, and +with him and Antonio they held a consultation. + +'We have but one chance,' observed the old man, after a time; 'let us +haul down our colours as if in submission; they will then range up +alongside, and either board us from the schooner, or from their boats; +at all events, we shall find out what she is, and, if a pirate, we must +sell our lives as dearly as we can. If, when we haul down the colours, +she ranges up alongside, as I expect she will, let all the men be +prepared for a desperate struggle.' + +'You are right, Antonio,' replied the governor; 'go aft, captain, and +haul down the colours!--let us see what she does now. Down, my boys! and +prepare the men to do their duty.' + +As Antonio had predicted, so soon as the colours were hauled down, the +schooner ceased firing and made sail. She ranged up on the quarter of +the ship, and up to her main peak soared the terrific black flag; her +broadside was poured into the Indiaman, and before the smoke had cleared +away there was a concussion from the meeting sides, and the bearded +pirates poured upon her decks. + +The crew of the Portuguese, with the detachment of troops, still formed +a considerable body of men. The sight of the black flag had struck ice +into every heart, but the feeling was resolved into one of desperation. + +'Knives, men, knives!' roared Antonio, rushing on to the attack, +followed by the most brave. + +'Blood for blood!' cried the second mate, aiming a blow at the old man. + +'You have it,' replied Antonio, as his knife entered the pirate's heart, +while, at the same moment, he fell and was himself a corpse. + +The struggle was deadly, but the numbers and ferocity of the pirates +prevailed. Cain rushed forward followed by Hawkhurst, bearing down all +who opposed them. With one blow from the pirate-captain, the head of Don +Ribiera was severed to the shoulder; a second struck down the eldest +son, while the sword of Hawkhurst passed through the body of the other. +The Portuguese captain had already fallen, and the men no longer stood +their ground. A general massacre ensued, and the bodies were thrown +overboard as fast as the men were slaughtered. In less than five minutes +there was not a living Portuguese on the bloody decks of the ill-fated +ship. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CAPTURE + + +'Pass the word for not a man to go below, Hawkhurst!' said the +pirate-captain. + +'I have, sir; and sentries are stationed at the hatchways. Shall we haul +the schooner off?' + +'No, let her remain; the breeze is faint already: we shall have a calm +in half an hour. Have we lost many men?' + +'Only seven, that I can reckon; but we have lost Wallace' (the second +mate). + +'A little promotion will do no harm,' replied Cain; 'take a dozen of our +best men and search the ship, there are others alive yet. By the bye, +send a watch on board of the schooner; she is left to the mercy of the +Kroumen, and----' + +'One who is better out of her,' replied Hawkhurst. + +'And those we find below----' continued the mate. + +'Alive!' + +'True; we may else be puzzled where to find that portion of her cargo +which suits us,' said Hawkhurst, going down the hatchway to collect the +men who were plundering on the main deck and in the captain's cabin. + +'Here, you Maltese! up, there! and look well round if there is anything +in sight,' said the captain, walking aft. + +Before Hawkhurst had collected the men and ordered them on board of the +schooner, as usual in those latitudes, it had fallen a perfect calm. + +Where was Francisco during this scene of blood? He had remained in the +cabin of the schooner. Cain had more than once gone down to him, to +persuade him to come on deck and assist at the boarding of the +Portuguese, but in vain--his sole reply to the threats and solicitations +of the pirate was-- + +'Do with me as you please--I have made up my mind--you know I do not +fear death--as long as I remain on board of this vessel, I will take no +part in your atrocities. If you do respect my mother's memory, suffer +her son to seek an honest and honourable livelihood.' + +The words of Francisco were ringing in the ears of Cain as he walked up +and down on the quarter-deck of the Portuguese vessel, and, debased as +he was, he could not help thinking that the youth was his equal in +animal and his superior in mental courage. He was arguing in his own +mind upon the course he should pursue with respect to Francisco, when +Hawkhurst made his appearance on deck, followed by his men, who dragged +up six individuals who had escaped the massacre. These were the bishop; +his niece; a Portuguese girl, her attendant; the supercargo of the +vessel; a sacristan; and a servant of the ecclesiastic: they were hauled +along the deck and placed in a row before the captain, who cast his eyes +upon them in severe scrutiny. The bishop and his niece looked round, the +one proudly meeting the eye of Cain, although he felt that his hour was +come; the other carefully avoiding his gaze, and glancing round to +ascertain whether there were any other prisoners, and if so, if her +betrothed was amongst them; but her eye discovered not what she +sought--it was met only by the bearded faces of the pirate crew, and the +blood which bespattered the deck. + +She covered her face with her hands. + +'Bring that man forward,' said Cain, pointing to the servant. 'Who are +you?' + +'A servant of my lord the bishop.' + +'And you?' continued the captain. + +'A poor sacristan attending upon my lord the bishop.' + +'And you?' cried he to a third. + +'The supercargo of this vessel.' + +'Put him aside, Hawkhurst!' + +'Do you want the others?' inquired Hawkhurst significantly. + +'No.' + +Hawkhurst gave a signal to some of the pirates, who led away the +sacristan and the servant. A stifled shriek and a heavy plunge in the +water were heard a few seconds after. During this time the pirate had +been questioning the supercargo as to the contents of the vessel and +her stowage, when he was suddenly interrupted by one of the pirates, +who, in a hurried voice, stated that the ship had received several shot +between wind and water and was sinking fast. Cain, who was standing on +the slide of the carronade with his sword in his hand, raised his arm +and struck the pirate a blow on the head with the hilt, which, whether +intended or not, fractured his skull, and the man fell upon the deck. + +'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men are obstinate, +we may have worked for nothing.' + +The crew, who felt the truth of their captain's remark, did not appear +to object to the punishment inflicted, and the body of the man was +dragged away. + +'What mercy can we expect from those who show no mercy even to each +other?' observed the bishop, lifting his eyes to heaven. + +'Silence!' cried Cain, who now interrogated the supercargo as to the +contents of the hold--the poor man answered as well as he could--'the +plate! the money for the troops--where are they?' + +'The money for the troops is in the spirit-room, but of the plate I know +nothing; it is in some of the cases belonging to my lord the bishop.' + +'Hawkhurst! down at once to the spirit-room and see to the money; in the +meantime I will ask a few questions of this reverend father.' + +'And the supercargo--do you want him any more?' + +'No; he may go.' + +The poor man fell down on his knees in thankfulness at what he +considered his escape: he was dragged away by the pirates, and it is +scarcely necessary to add that in a minute his body was torn to pieces +by the sharks, who, scenting their prey from a distance, were now +playing in shoals around the two vessels. + +The party on the quarter-deck were now (unperceived by the captain) +joined by Francisco, who, hearing from the Krouman, Pompey, that there +were prisoners still on board, and amongst them two females, had come +over to plead the cause of mercy. + +'Most reverend father,' observed Cain, after a short pause, 'you have +many articles of value in this vessel?' + +[Illustration: '_Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men +are obstinate, we may have worked for nothing._'] + +'None,' replied the bishop, 'except this poor girl; she is, indeed, +beyond price, and will, I trust, soon be an angel in heaven.' + +'Yet is this world, if what you preach be true, a purgatory which must +be passed through previous to arriving there, and that girl may think +death a blessing compared to what she may expect if you refuse to tell +me what I would know. You have good store of gold and silver ornaments +for your churches--where are they?' + +'They are among the packages entrusted to my care.' + +'How many may you have in all?' + +'A hundred, if not more.' + +'Will you deign to inform me where I may find what I require?' + +'The gold and silver are not mine, but are the property of that God to +whom they have been dedicated,' replied the bishop. + +'Answer quickly; no more subterfuge, good sir. Where is it to be found?' + +'I will not tell, thou blood-stained man; at least, in this instance, +there shall be disappointment, and the sea shall swallow up those +earthly treasures to obtain which thou hast so deeply imbrued thy hands. +Pirate! I repeat it, I will not tell.' + +'Seize that girl, my lads!' cried Cain; 'she is yours, do with her as +you please.' + +'Save me! oh, save me!' shrieked Teresa, clinging to the bishop's robe. + +The pirates advanced and laid hold of Teresa. Francisco bounded from +where he stood behind the captain, and dashed away the foremost. + +'Are you men?' cried he, as the pirates retreated. 'Holy sir, I honour +you. Alas! I cannot save you,' continued Francisco mournfully. 'Yet will +I try. On my knees--by the love you bore my mother--by the affection you +once bore me--do not commit this horrid deed. My lads!' continued +Francisco, appealing to the pirates, 'join with me and entreat your +captain; ye are too brave, too manly, to injure the helpless and the +innocent--above all, to shed the blood of a holy man, and of this poor +trembling maiden.' + +There was a pause--even the pirates appeared to side with Francisco, +though none of them dared to speak. The muscles of the captain's face +quivered with emotion, but from what source could not be ascertained. + +At this moment the interest of the scene was heightened. The girl who +attended upon Teresa, crouched on her knees with terror, had been +casting her fearful eyes upon the men which composed the pirate crew; +suddenly she uttered a scream of delight as she discovered among them +one that she well knew. He was a young man, about twenty-five years of +age, with little or no beard. He had been her lover in his more innocent +days; and she, for more than a year, had mourned him as dead, for the +vessel in which he sailed had never been heard of. It had been taken by +the pirate, and, to save his life, he had joined the crew. + +'Filippo! Filippo!' screamed the girl, rushing into his arms. 'Mistress! +it is Filippo; and we are safe.' + +Filippo instantly recognised her; the sight of her brought back to his +memory his days of happiness and of innocence; and the lovers were +clasped in each other's arms. + +'Save them! spare them!--by the spirit of my mother! I charge you,' +repeated Francisco, again appealing to the captain. + +'May God bless thee, thou good young man!' said the bishop, advancing +and placing his hand upon Francisco's head. + +Cain answered not; but his broad expanded chest heaved with +emotion--when Hawkhurst burst into the group. + +'We are too late for the money, captain; the water is already six feet +above it. We must now try for the treasure.' + +This intelligence appeared to check the current of the captain's +feelings. + +Now, in one word, sir,' said he to the bishop, 'where is the treasure? +Trifle not, or, by Heaven----' + +'Name not Heaven,' replied the bishop; 'you have had my answer.' + +The captain turned away, and gave some directions to Hawkhurst, who +hastened below. + +'Remove that boy,' said Cain to the pirates, pointing to Francisco. +'Separate those two fools,' continued he, looking towards Filippo and +the girl, who were sobbing in each other's arms. + +'Never!' cried Filippo. + +'Throw the girl to the sharks! Do you hear? Am I to be obeyed?' cried +Cain, raising his cutlass. + +Filippo started up, disengaged himself from the girl, and drawing his +knife, rushed towards the captain to plunge it in his bosom. + +With the quickness of lightning the captain caught his uplifted hand, +and, breaking his wrist, hurled him to the deck. + +'Indeed!' cried he, with a sneer. + +'You shall not separate us,' said Filippo, attempting to rise. + +'I do not intend it, my good lad,' replied Cain. 'Lash them both +together and launch them overboard.' + +This order was now obeyed; for the pirates not only quailed before the +captain's cool courage, but were indignant that his life had been +attempted. There was little occasion to tie the unhappy pair together; +they were locked so fast in each other's arms that it would have been +impossible almost to separate them. In this state they were carried to +the entering port, and cast into the sea. + +'Monster!' cried the bishop, as he heard the splash, 'thou wilt have a +heavy reckoning for this.' + +'Now bring these forward,' said Cain, with a savage voice. + +The bishop and his niece were led to the gangway. + +'What dost thou see, good bishop?' said Cain, pointing to the +discoloured water, and the rapid motion of the fins of the sharks, eager +in the anticipation of a further supply. + +'I see ravenous creatures after their kind,' replied the bishop, 'who +will, in all probability, soon tear asunder these poor limbs; but I see +no monster like thyself. Teresa, dearest, fear not; there is a God, an +avenging God, as well as a rewarding one.' + +But Teresa's eyes were closed--she could not look upon the scene. + +'You have your choice; first torture, and then your body to those sharks +for your own portion; and as for the girl, this moment I hand her over +to my crew.' + +'Never!' shrieked Teresa, springing from the deck and plunging into the +wave. + +There was a splash of contention, the lashing of tails, until the water +was in a foam, and then the dark colour gradually cleared away, and +nought was to be seen but the pure blue wave and the still unsatiated +monsters of the deep. + +'The screws--the screws! quick! we'll have the secret from him,' cried +the pirate captain, turning to his crew, who, villains as they were, had +been shocked at this last catastrophe. 'Seize him!' + +'Touch him not!' cried Francisco, standing on the hammock nettings; +'touch him not! if you are men.' + +Boiling with rage, Cain let go the arm of the bishop, drew his pistol, +and levelled it at Francisco. The bishop threw up the arm of Cain as he +fired; saw that he had missed his aim, and clasping his hands, raised +his eyes to heaven in thankfulness at Francisco's escape. In this +position he was collared by Hawkhurst, whose anger overcame his +discretion, and who hurled him through the entering port into the sea. + +'Officious fool!' muttered Cain, when he perceived what the mate had +done. Then, recollecting himself, he cried, 'Seize that boy and bring +him here.' + +One or two of the crew advanced to obey his orders; but Pompey and the +Kroumen, who had been attentive to what was going on, had collected +round Francisco, and a scuffle ensued. The pirates, not being very +determined, nor very anxious to take Francisco, allowed him to be +hurried away in the centre of the Kroumen, who bore him safely to the +schooner. + +In the meantime Hawkhurst, and the major part of the men on board of the +ship, had been tearing up the hold to obtain the valuables, but without +success. The water had now reached above the orlop-deck, and all further +attempts were unavailing. The ship was settling fast, and it became +necessary to quit her, and haul off the schooner, that she might not be +endangered by the vortex of the sinking vessel. Cain and Hawkhurst, with +their disappointed crew, returned on board the schooner, and before they +had succeeded in detaching the two vessels a cable's length, the ship +went down with all the treasure so coveted. The indignation and rage +which were expressed by the captain as he rapidly walked the deck in +company with his first mate--his violent gesticulations--proved to the +crew that there was mischief brewing. Francisco did not return to the +cabin; he remained forward with the Kroumen, who, although but a small +portion of the ship's company, were known to be resolute and not to be +despised. It was also observed that all of them had supplied themselves +with arms, and were collected forward, huddled together, watching every +motion and manoeuvre, and talking rapidly in their own language. The +schooner was now steered to the north-westward under all press of sail. +The sun again disappeared, but Francisco returned not to the cabin--he +went below, surrounded by the Kroumen, who appeared to have devoted +themselves to his protection. Once during the night Hawkhurst summoned +them on deck, but they obeyed not the order; and to the expostulation of +the boatswain's mate, who came down, they made no reply. But there were +many of the pirates in the schooner who appeared to coincide with the +Kroumen in their regard for Francisco. There are shades of villainy in +the most profligate of societies; and among the pirate's crew some were +not yet wholly debased. The foul murder of a holy man--the cruel fate of +the beautiful Teresa--and the barbarous conduct of the captain towards +Filippo and his mistress, were deeds of an atrocity to which even the +most hardened were unaccustomed. Francisco's pleadings in behalf of +mercy were at least no crime; and yet they considered that Francisco was +doomed. He was a general favourite; the worst-disposed of the pirates, +with the exception of Hawkhurst, if they did not love, could not forbear +respecting him; although, at the same time, they felt that if Francisco +remained on board the power even of Cain himself would soon be +destroyed. For many months Hawkhurst, who detested the youth, had been +most earnest that he should be sent out of the schooner. Now he pressed +the captain for his removal in any way, as necessary for their mutual +safety, pointing out to Cain the conduct of the Kroumen, and his fears +that a large proportion of the ship's company were equally disaffected. +Cain felt the truth of Hawkhurst's representation, and he went down to +his cabin to consider upon what should be done. + +It was past midnight when Cain, worn out with the conflicting passions +of the day, fell into an uneasy slumber. His dreams were of Francisco's +mother--she appeared to him pleading for her son, and Cain 'babbled in +his sleep.' At this time Francisco, with Pompey, had softly crawled aft, +that they might obtain, if they found the captain asleep, the pistols of +Francisco, with some ammunition. Pompey slipped in first, and started +back when he heard the captain's voice. They remained at the cabin door +listening, 'No--no,' muttered Cain, 'he must die--unless--plead not, +woman!--I know I murdered thee--plead not, he dies!' + +In one of the sockets of the silver lamp there was a lighted wick, the +rays of which were sufficient to afford a dim view of the cabin. +Francisco, overhearing the words of Cain, stepped in, and walked up to +the side of the bed. 'Boy! plead not,' continued Cain, lying on his back +and breathing heavily--'plead not--woman!--to-morrow he dies.' A pause +ensued, as if the sleeping man was listening to a reply. 'Yes; as I +murdered thee, so will I murder him.' + +'Wretch!' said Francisco, in a low, solemn voice, 'didst thou kill my +mother?' + +'I did--I did!' responded Cain, still sleeping. + +'And why?' continued Francisco, who, at this acknowledgment on the part +of the sleeping captain, was careless of discovery. + +'In my mood she vexed me,' answered Cain. + +'Fiend; thou hast then confessed it!' cried Francisco in a loud voice, +which awoke the captain, who started up; but before his senses were well +recovered, or his eyes open so as to distinguish their forms, Pompey +struck out the light, and all was darkness: he then put his hand to +Francisco's mouth, and led him out of the cabin. + +'Who's there?--who's there?' cried Cain. + +The officer in charge of the deck hastened down. 'Did you call, sir?' + +'Call!' repeated the captain. 'I thought there was some one in the +cabin. I want a light--that's all,' continued he, recovering himself, as +he wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead. + +In the meantime Francisco, with Pompey, had gained his former place of +refuge with the Kroumen. The feelings of the young man changed from +agony to revenge; his object in returning to the cabin to recover his +weapons had been frustrated, but his determination now was to take the +life of the captain if he possibly could. The following morning the +Kroumen again refused to work or go on deck; and the state of affairs +was reported by Hawkhurst to his chief. The mate now assumed another +tone; for he had sounded not the majority but the most steady and +influential men on board, who, like himself, were veterans in crime. + +'It must be, sir; or you will no longer command this vessel. I am +desired to say so.' + +'Indeed!' replied Cain, with a sneer. 'Perhaps you have already chosen +my successor?' + +Hawkhurst perceived that he had lost ground, and he changed his manner. +'I speak but for yourself: if you do not command this vessel I shall not +remain in her; if you quit her, I quit also; and we must find another.' + +Cain was pacified, and the subject was not renewed. + +'Turn the hands up,' at last said the captain. The pirate crew assembled +aft. + +'My lads, I am sorry that our laws oblige me to make an example; but +mutiny and disaffection must be punished. I am equally bound as +yourselves by the laws which we have laid down for our guidance while we +sail together; and you may believe that in doing my duty in this +instance I am guided by a sense of justice, and wish to prove to you +that I am worthy to command. Francisco has been with me since he was a +child; he has lived with me, and it is painful to part with him; but I +am here to see that our laws are put in force. He has been guilty of +repeated mutiny and contempt, and--he must die.' + +'Death! death!' cried several of the pirates in advance; 'death and +justice!' + +'No more murder!' said several voices from behind. + +'Who's that that speaks?' + +'Too much murder yesterday--no more murder!' shouted several voices at +once. + +'Let the men come forward who speak,' cried Cain, with a withering look. +No one obeyed this order. 'Down, then, my men! and bring up Francisco.' + +The whole of the pirate crew hastened below, but with different +intentions; some were determined to seize Francisco, and hand him over +to death--others to protect him. A confused noise was heard--the shouts +of '_Down and seize him!_' opposed to those of '_No murder! No murder!_' + +Both parties had snatched up their arms; those who sided with Francisco +joined the Kroumen, whilst the others also hastened below to bring him +on deck. A slight scuffle ensued before they separated, and ascertained +by the separation the strength of the contending parties. Francisco, +perceiving that he was joined by a large body, desired his men to follow +him, went up the fore-ladder, and took possession of the forecastle. The +pirates on his side supplied him with arms, and Francisco stood forward +in advance. Hawkhurst, and those of the crew who sided with him, had +retreated to the quarter-deck, and rallied round the captain, who leaned +against the capstern. They were then able to estimate their comparative +strength. The number, on the whole, preponderated in favour of +Francisco; but on the captain's side were the older and more athletic of +the crew, and, we may add, the more determined. Still, the captain and +Hawkhurst perceived the danger of their situation, and it was thought +advisable to parley for the present, and wreak their vengeance +hereafter. For a few minutes there was a low consultation between both +parties; at last Cain advanced. + +'My lads,' said he, addressing those who had rallied round Francisco, 'I +little thought that a firebrand would have been cast in this vessel to +set us all at variance. It was my duty, as your captain, to propose that +our laws should be enforced. Tell me, now, what is it that you wish. I +am only here as your captain, and to take the sense of the whole crew. I +have no animosity against that lad; I have loved him--I have cherished +him; but like a viper, he has stung me in return. Instead of being in +arms against each other, ought we not to be united? I have, therefore, +one proposal to make to you, which is this: let the sentence go by vote, +or ballot, if you please; and whatever the sentence may be, I shall be +guided by it. Can I say more?' + +'My lads,' replied Francisco, when the captain had done speaking, 'I +think it better that you should accept this proposal rather than that +blood should be shed. My life is of little consequence; say, then, will +you agree to the vote, and submit to those laws, which, as the captain +says, have been laid down to regulate the discipline of the vessel?' + +The pirates on Francisco's side looked round among their party, and, +perceiving that they were the most numerous, consented to the proposal; +but Hawkhurst stepped forward and observed: 'Of course the Kroumen can +have no votes, as they do not belong to the vessel.' + +This objection was important, as they amounted to twenty-five, and, +after that number was deducted, in all probability Francisco's adherents +would have been in the minority. The pirates with Francisco objected, +and again assumed the attitude of defence. + +'One moment,' said Francisco, stepping in advance; 'before this point is +settled, I wish to take the sense of all of you as to another of your +laws. I ask you, Hawkhurst, and all who are now opposed to me, whether +you have not one law, which is _Blood for blood?_' + +'Yes--yes,' shouted all the pirates. + +'Then let your captain stand forward, and answer to my charge, if he +dares.' + +Cain curled his lip in derision, and walked within two yards of +Francisco. + +'Well, boy, I'm here; and what is your charge?' + +'First--I ask you, Captain Cain, who are so anxious that the laws should +be enforced, whether you acknowledge that "Blood for blood" is a just +law?' + +'Most just: and, when shed, the party who revenges is not amenable.' + +''Tis well: then, villain that thou art, answer--Didst thou not murder +my mother?' + +Cain, at this accusation, started. + +'Answer the truth, or lie like a recreant!' repeated Francisco. 'Did you +not murder my mother?' + +The captain's lips and the muscles of his face quivered, but he did not +reply. + +'_Blood for blood!_' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at Cain, +who staggered, and fell on the deck. + +Hawkhurst and several of the pirates hastened to the captain, and raised +him. + +'She must have told him last night,' said Cain, speaking with +difficulty, as the blood flowed from the wound. + +'He told me so himself,' said Francisco, turning round to those who +stood by him. + +Cain was taken down into the cabin. On examination, his wound was not +mortal, although the loss of blood had been rapid and very great. In a +few minutes Hawkhurst joined the party on the quarter-deck. He found +that the tide had turned more in Francisco's favour than he had +expected; the law of 'Blood for blood' was held most sacred: indeed, +it was but the knowledge that it was solemnly recognised, and that, if +one pirate wounded another, the other was at liberty to take his life, +without punishment, which prevented constant affrays between parties, +whose knives would otherwise have been the answer to every affront. It +was a more debased law of duelling, which kept such profligate +associates on good terms. Finding, therefore, that this feeling +predominated, even among those who were opposed to Francisco on the +other question, Hawkhurst thought it advisable to parley. + +[Illustration: 'Blood for blood!' _cried Francisco, as he fired his +pistol at Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck._] + +'Hawkhurst,' said Francisco, 'I have but one request to make, which, if +complied with, will put an end to this contention; it is, that you will +put me on shore at the first land that we make. If you and your party +engage to do this, I will desire those who support me to return to their +obedience.' + +'I grant it,' replied Hawkhurst; 'and so will the others. Will you not, +my men?' + +'Agreed--agreed upon all sides,' cried the pirates, throwing away their +weapons, and mingling with each other as if they had never been opposed. + +There is an old saying that there is honour amongst thieves; and so it +often proves. Every man in the vessel knew that this agreement would be +strictly adhered to; and Francisco now walked the deck with as much +composure as if nothing had occurred. + +Hawkhurst, who was aware that he must fulfil his promise, carefully +examined the charts when he went down below, came up and altered the +course of the schooner two points more to the northward. The next +morning he was up at the mast-head nearly half an hour, when he +descended and again altered the course. By nine o'clock a low sandy +island appeared on the lee bow; when within half a mile of it he ordered +the schooner to be hove-to, and lowered down the small boat from the +stern. He then turned the hands up. 'My lads, we must keep our promise +to put Francisco on shore at the first land which we made. There it is!' +And a malicious smile played on the miscreant's features as he pointed +out to them the barren sand-bank, which promised nothing but starvation +and a lingering death. Several of the crew murmured; but Hawkhurst was +supported by his own party, and had, moreover, taken the precaution +quietly to remove all the arms, with the exception of those with which +his adherents were provided. + +'An agreement is an agreement; it is what he requested himself, and we +promised to perform. Send for Francisco.' + +'I am here, Hawkhurst; and I tell you candidly, that, desolate as is +that barren spot, I prefer it to remaining in your company. I will bring +my chest up immediately.' + +'No--no; that was not a part of the agreement,' cried Hawkhurst. + +'Every man here has a right to his own property. I appeal to the whole +of the crew.' + +'True--true,' replied the pirates; and Hawkhurst found himself again in +the minority. + +'Be it so.' + +The chest of Francisco was handed into the boat. + +'Is that all?' cried Hawkhurst. + +'My lads, am I to have no provisions or water?' inquired Francisco. + +'No,' replied Hawkhurst. + +'Yes--yes,' cried most of the pirates. + +Hawkhurst did not dare put it to the vote; he turned sulkily away. The +Kroumen brought up two breakers of water, and some pieces of pork. + +'Here, massa,' said Pompey, putting into Francisco's hand a fishing-line +with hooks. + +'Thank you, Pompey; but I had forgot--that book in the cabin--you know +which I mean.' + +Pompey nodded his head, and went below; but it was some time before he +returned, during which Hawkhurst became impatient. It was a very small +boat which had been lowered down; it had a lug-sail and two pair of +sculls in it, and was quite full when Francisco's chest and the other +articles had been put in. + +'Come! I have no time to wait,' said Hawkhurst; 'in the boat!' + +Francisco shook hands with many of the crew, and wished all of them +farewell. Indeed, now that they beheld the poor lad about to be cast on +a desolate island, even those most opposed to him felt some emotions of +pity. Although they acknowledged that his absence was necessary, yet +they knew his determined courage; and with them that quality was +always a strong appeal. + +[Illustration: _Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she was +hull-down to the northward._] + +'Who will row this lad ashore, and bring the boat off?' + +'Not I,' replied one; 'it would haunt me ever afterwards.' + +So they all appeared to think, for no one volunteered. Francisco jumped +into the boat. + +'There is no room for any one but me; and I will row myself on shore,' +cried he. 'Farewell, my lads! farewell!' + +'Stop! not so; he must not have the boat--he may escape from the +island,' cried Hawkhurst. + +'And why shouldn't he, poor fellow?' replied the men. 'Let him have the +boat.' + +'Yes--yes, let him have the boat;' and Hawkhurst was again overruled. + +'Here, Massa Francisco--here de book.' + +'What's that, sir?' cried Hawkhurst, snatching the book out of Pompey's +hand. + +'Him, massa, Bible.' Francisco waited for the book. + +'Shove off!' cried Hawkhurst. + +'Give me my book, Mr. Hawkhurst!' + +'No!' replied the malignant rascal, tossing the Bible over the taffrail; +'he shall not have that. I've heard say that _there is consolation in it +for the afflicted_.' + +Francisco shoved off his boat, and seizing his sculls, pushed astern, +picked up the book, which still floated, and laid it to dry on the +after-thwart of the boat. He then pulled in for the shore. In the +meantime the schooner had let draw her foresheet, and had already left +him a quarter of a mile astern. Before Francisco had gained the +sand-bank she was hull-down to the northward. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SAND-BANK + + +The first half-hour that Francisco was on this desolate spot he watched +the receding schooner; his thoughts were unconnected and vague. +Wandering through the various scenes which had passed on the decks of +that vessel, and recalling to his memory the different characters of +those on board of her, much as he had longed to quit her--disgusted as +he had been with those with whom he had been forced to associate--still, +as her sails grew fainter and fainter to his view, as she increased her +distance, he more than once felt that even remaining on board of her +would have been preferable to his present deserted lot. 'No, no!' +exclaimed he, after a little further reflection, 'I had rather perish +here, than continue to witness the scenes which I have been forced to +behold.' + +He once more fixed his eyes upon her white sails, and then sat down on +the loose sands, and remained in deep and melancholy reverie until the +scorching heat reminded him of his situation; he afterwards rose and +turned his thoughts upon his present situation, and to what would be the +measures most advisable to take. He hauled his little boat still farther +on the beach, and attached the painter to one of the oars, which he +fixed deep in the sand; he then proceeded to survey the bank, and found +that but a small portion was uncovered at high water; for, trifling as +was the rise of the tide, the bank was so low that the water flowed +almost over it. The most elevated part was not more than fifteen feet +above high-water mark, and that was a small knoll of about fifty feet in +circumference. + +To this part he resolved to remove his effects; he returned to the +boat, and having lifted out his chest, the water, the provisions, with +the other articles which he had obtained, he dragged them up, one by +one, until they were all collected at the spot he had chosen. He then +took out of the boat the oars and little sail, which, fortunately, had +remained in her. His last object, to haul the little boat up to the same +spot, was one which demanded all his exertion; but, after considerable +fatigue, he contrived, by first lifting round her bow, and then her +stern, to effect his object. + +Tired and exhausted, he then repaired to one of the breakers of water +and refreshed himself. The heat, as the day advanced, had become +intolerable; but it stimulated him to fresh exertion. He turned over the +boat, and contrived that the bow and stern should rest upon two little +hillocks, so as to raise it above the level of the sand beneath it two +or three feet; he spread out the sail from the keel above, with the +thole-pins as pegs, so as to keep off the rays of the sun. Dragging the +breakers of water and the provisions underneath the boat, he left his +chest outside; and having thus formed for himself a sort of covering +which would protect him from the heat of the day and the damp of the +night, he crept in to shelter himself until the evening. + +Although Francisco had not been on deck, he knew pretty well whereabouts +he then was. Taking out a chart from his chest, he examined the coast to +ascertain the probable distance which he might be from any prospect of +succour. He calculated that he was on one of a patch of sand-banks off +the coast of Loango, and about seven hundred miles from the Isle of St. +Thomas--the nearest place where he might expect to fall in with a +European face. From the coast he felt certain that he could not be more +than forty or fifty miles at the most; but could he trust himself among +the savage natives who inhabited it? He knew how ill they had been +treated by Europeans; for, at that period, it was quite as common for +the slave-trader to land and take away the inhabitants as slaves by +force, as to purchase them in the more northern territories: still, he +might be fortunate enough to fall in with some trader on the coast, as +there were a few who still carried on a barter for gold-dust and ivory. + +We do not know--we cannot conceive a situation much more deplorable than +the one we have just described to have been that of Francisco. +Alone--without a chance of assistance--with only a sufficiency of food +for a few days, and cut off from the rest of his fellow-creatures, with +only so much _terra firma_ as would prevent his being swallowed up by +the vast, unfathomable ocean, into which the horizon fell on every side +around him! And his chance of escape how small! Hundreds of miles from +any from whom he might expect assistance, and the only means of reaching +them a small boat--a mere cockle-shell, which the first rough gale would +inevitably destroy. + +Such, indeed, were the first thoughts of Francisco; but he soon +recovered from his despondency. He was young, courageous, and buoyant +with hope; and there is a feeling of pride--of trust in our own +resources and exertions, which increases and stimulates us in proportion +to our danger and difficulty; it is the daring of the soul proving its +celestial origin and eternal duration. + +So intense was the heat that Francisco almost panted for sufficient air +to support life, as he lay under the shade of the boat during the whole +of that day; not a breath of wind disturbed the glassy wave--all nature +appeared hushed into one horrible calm. It was not until the shades of +night were covering the solitude that Francisco ventured forth from his +retreat; but he found little relief; there was an unnatural closeness in +the air--a suffocation unusual even in those climes. Francisco cast his +eyes up to the vault of heaven, and was astonished to find that there +were no stars visible--a gray mist covered the whole firmament. He +directed his view downwards to the horizon, and that, too, was not to be +defined; there was a dark bank all around it. He walked to the edge of +the sand-bank; there was not even a ripple--the wide ocean appeared to +be in a trance, in a state of lethargy or stupor. + +He parted the hair from his feverish brow, and once more surveying the +horrible, lifeless, stagnant waste, his soul sickened, and he cast +himself upon the sand. There he lay for many hours in a state bordering +upon wild despair. At last he recovered himself, and, rising to his +knees, he prayed for strength and submission to the will of Heaven. + +When he was once more upon his feet, and had again scanned the ocean, he +perceived that there was a change rapidly approaching. The dark bank on +the horizon had now risen higher up; the opaqueness was everywhere more +dense; and low murmurs were heard as if there was wind stirring aloft, +although the sea was still glassy as a lake. Signs of some movement +about to take place were evident, and the solitary youth watched and +watched. And now the sounds increased, and here and there a wild +thread of air--whence coming, who could tell? and as rapidly +disappearing--would ruffle, for a second, a portion of the stagnant sea. +Then came whizzing sounds and moans, and then the rumbling noise of +distant thunder--loud and louder yet--still louder--a broad black line +is seen sweeping along the expanse of water--fearful in its rapidity it +comes!--and the hurricane burst, at once and with all its force, and all +its terrific sounds, upon the isolated Francisco. + +The first blast was so powerful and so unexpected that it threw him +down, and prudence dictated to him to remain in that position, for the +loose sand was swept off and whirled in such force as to blind and +prevent his seeing a foot from him; he would have crawled to the boat +for security, but he knew not in which direction to proceed. But this +did not last; for now the water was borne up upon the strong wings of +the hurricane, and the sand was rendered firm by its saturation with the +element. + +Francisco felt that he was drenched, and he raised his head. All he +could discover was that the firmament was mantled with darkness, +horrible from its intensity, and that the sea was in one extended +foam--boiling everywhere, and white as milk--but still smooth, as if the +power of the wind had compelled it to be so; but the water had +encroached, and one half the sand-bank was covered with it, while over +the other the foam whirled, each portion chasing the other with wild +rapidity. + +And now the windows of heaven were opened, and the rain, mingled with +the spray caught up by the hurricane, was dashed and hurled upon the +forlorn youth, who still lay where he had been first thrown down. But of +a sudden, a wash of water told him that he could there remain no longer: +the sea was rising--rising fast; and before he could gain a few paces on +his hands and knees, another wave, as if it chased him in its wrath, +repeated the warning of his extreme danger, and he was obliged to rise +on his feet and hasten to the high part of the sand-bank, where he had +drawn up his boat and his provisions. + +Blinded as he was by the rain and spray, he could distinguish nothing. +Of a sudden he fell violently; he had stumbled over one of the breakers +of water, and his head struck against his sea-chest. Where, then, was +the boat? It was gone!--it must have been swept away by the fury of the +wind. Alas, then all chance was over! and if not washed away by the +angry waters, he had but to prolong his existence but a few days, and +then to die. The effect of the blow he had received on his forehead, +with the shock of mind occasioned by the disappearance of the boat, +overpowered him, and he remained for some time in a state of +insensibility. + +When Francisco recovered, the scene was again changed: the wide expanse +was now in a state of wild and fearful commotion, and the waters roared +as loud as did the hurricane. The whole sand-bank, with the exception of +that part on which he stood, was now covered with tumultuous foam, and +his place of refuge was occasionally invaded, when some vast mass, +o'erlording the other waves, expended all its fury even to his feet. +Francisco prepared to die! + +But gradually the darkness of the heavens disappeared, and there was no +longer a bank upon the horizon, and Francisco hoped--alas! hoped +what?--that he might be saved from the present impending death to be +reserved for one still more horrible; to be saved from the fury of the +waves, which would swallow him up, and in a few seconds remove him from +all pain and suffering, to perish for want of sustenance under a burning +sun; to be withered--to be parched to death--calling in his agony for +water; and as Francisco thought of this he covered his face with his +hands, and prayed, 'O God, Thy will be done! but in Thy mercy, raise, +still higher raise the waters!' + +But the waters did not rise higher. The howling of the wind gradually +decreased, and the foaming seas had obeyed the Divine injunction--they +had gone so far, but no farther! And the day dawned, and the sky +cleared; and the first red tints, announcing the return of light and +heat, had appeared on the broken horizon, when the eyes of the +despairing youth were directed to a black mass on the tumultuous +waters. It was a vessel, with but one mast standing, rolling heavily, +and running before the gale right on for the sand-bank where he stood; +her hull, one moment borne aloft and the next disappearing from his view +in the hollow of the agitated waters. 'She will be dashed to pieces!' +thought Francisco; 'she will be lost!--they cannot see the bank!' And he +would have made a signal to her, if he had been able, to warn her of her +danger, forgetting at the time his own desolate situation. + +As Francisco watched, the sun rose bright and joyous over this scene of +anxiety and pain. On came the vessel flying before the gale, while the +seas chased her as if they would fain overwhelm her. It was fearful to +see her scud--agonising to know that she was rushing to destruction. + +At last he could distinguish those on board. He waved his hand, but they +perceived him not; he shouted, but his voice was borne away by the gale. +On came the vessel, as if doomed. She was within two cables' length of +the bank when those on board perceived their danger. It was too +late!--they had rounded her to--another, and another wave hurled her +towards the sand. She struck!--her only remaining mast fell over the +side, and the roaring waves hastened to complete their work of +destruction and of death! + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE ESCAPE + + +Francisco's eyes were fixed upon the vessel, over which the sea now +broke with terrific violence. There appeared to be about eight or nine +men on her deck, who sheltered themselves under the weather bulwarks. +Each wave, as it broke against her side and then dashed in foam over +her, threw her, with a convulsive jerk, still further on the sand-bank. +At last she was so high up that their fury was partly spent before they +dashed against her frame. Had the vessel been strong and well-built--had +she been a collier coasting the English shores--there was a fair chance +that she might have withstood the fury of the storm until it had +subsided, and that by remaining on board the crew might have survived; +but she was of a very different mould, and, as Francisco justly +surmised, an American brig, built for swift sailing, very sharp, and, +moreover, very slightly put together. + +Francisco's eyes, as may easily be supposed, were never removed from the +only object which could now interest him--the unexpected appearance and +imminent danger of his fellow-creatures at this desolate spot. He +perceived that two of the men went to the hatches and slid them over to +leeward; they then descended, and although the seas broke over the +vessel, and a large quantity of water must have poured into her, the +hatches were not put on again by those who remained on deck. But in a +few minutes this mystery was solved; one after another, at first, and +then by dozens, poured forth, out of the hold, the kidnapped Africans +who composed her cargo. In a short time the decks were covered with +them: the poor creatures had been released by the humanity of two +English sailors, that they might have the same chance with themselves +of saving their lives. Still, no attempt was made to quit the vessel. +Huddled together, like a flock of sheep, with the wild waves breaking +over them, there they all remained, both European and African; and as +the heavy blows of the seas upon the sides of the vessel careened and +shook her, they were seen to cling, in every direction, with no +distinction between the captured and their oppressors. + +But this scene was soon changed; the frame of the vessel could no longer +withstand the violence of the waves, and as Francisco watched, of a +sudden it was seen to divide amidships, and each portion to turn over. +Then was the struggle for life; hundreds were floating on the raging +element and wrestling for existence, and the white foam of the ocean was +dotted by the black heads of the negroes who attempted to gain the bank. +It was an awful, terrible scene, to witness so many at one moment tossed +and dashed about by the waves--so many fellow-beings threatened with +eternity. At one moment they were close to the beach, forced on to it by +some tremendous wave; at the next, the receding water and the undertow +swept them all back; and of the many who had been swimming one half had +disappeared to rise no more. Francisco watched with agony as he +perceived that the number decreased, and that none had yet gained the +shore. At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail which +were near him, and hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as +might be possible; nor were his efforts in vain. As the seas washed the +apparently inanimate bodies on shore, and would then have again swept +them away to return them in mockery, he caught hold of them and dragged +them safe on the bank, and thus did he continue his exertions until +fifteen of the bodies of the negroes were spread upon the beach. +Although exhausted and senseless they were not dead, and long before he +had dragged up the last of the number, many of those previously saved +had, without any other assistance than the heat of the sun, recovered +from their insensibility. + +Francisco would have continued his task of humanity, but the parted +vessel had now been riven into fragments by the force of the waves, and +the whole beach was strewed with her timbers and her stores, which were +dashed on shore by the waters, and then swept back again by the return. +In a short time the severe blows he received from these fragments +disabled him from further exertion, and he sank exhausted on the sand; +indeed, all further attempts were useless. All on board the vessel had +been launched into the sea at the same moment, and those who were not +now on shore were past all succour. Francisco walked up to those who had +been saved: he found twelve of them were recovered and sitting on their +hams; the rest were still in a state of insensibility. He then went up +to the knoll where his chest and provisions had been placed, and, +throwing himself down by them, surveyed the scene. + +[Illustration: _At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail, +and hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as might be +possible._] + +The wind had lulled, the sun shone brightly, and the sea was much less +violent. The waves had subsided, and, no longer hurried on by the force +of the hurricane, broke majestically and solemnly, but not with the +wildness and force which, but a few hours before, they had displayed. +The whole of the beach was strewed with the fragments of the vessel, +with spars and water-casks; and at every moment was to be observed the +corpse of a negro turning round and round in the froth of the wave, and +then disappearing. + +For an hour did he watch and reflect, and then he walked again to where +the men who had been rescued were sitting, not more than thirty yards +from him; they were sickly, emaciated forms, but belonging to a tribe +who inhabited the coast, and who, having been accustomed from their +infancy to be all the day in the water, had supported themselves better +than the other slaves, who had been procured from the interior, or the +European crew of the vessel, all of whom had perished. + +The Africans appeared to recover fast by the heat of the sun, so +oppressive to Francisco, and were now exchanging a few words with each +other. The whole of them had revived, but those who were most in need of +aid were neglected by the others. Francisco made signs to them, but they +understood him not. He returned to the knoll, and pouring out water into +a tin pan from the breaker, brought it down to them. He offered it to +one, who seized it eagerly; water was a luxury seldom obtained in the +hold of a slave-vessel. The man drank deeply, and would have drained the +cup, but Francisco prevented him, and held it to the lips of another. He +was obliged to refill it three times before they had all been supplied: +he then brought them a handful of biscuit and left them, for he +reflected that, without some precautions, the whole sustenance would be +seized by them and devoured. He buried half a foot deep, and covered +over with sand, the breakers of water and the provisions, and by the +time he had finished this task, unperceived by the negroes, who still +squatted together, the sun had sunk below the horizon. Francisco had +already matured his plans, which were, to form a raft out of the +fragments of the vessel, and with the assistance of the negroes attempt +to gain the mainland. He lay down, for the second night, on this +eventful spot of desolation, and commending himself to the Almighty +protection, was soon in a deep slumber. + +It was not until the powerful rays of the sun blazed on the eyes of the +youth that he awoke, so tired had he been with the anxiety and fatigue +of the preceding day, and the sleepless harrowing night which had +introduced it. He rose and seated himself upon his sea-chest: how +different was the scene from that of yesterday! Again the ocean slept, +the sky was serene, and not a cloud to be distinguished throughout the +whole firmament; the horizontal line was clear, even, and well defined: +a soft breeze just rippled over the dark blue sea, which now had retired +to its former boundary, and left the sand-bank as extended as when first +Francisco had been put on shore. But here the beauty of the landscape +terminated: the foreground was horrible to look upon; the whole of the +beach was covered with the timbers of the wreck, with water-casks and +other articles, in some parts heaped and thrown up one upon another; and +among them lay jammed and mangled the bodies of the many who had +perished. In other parts there were corpses thrown up high and dry, or +still rolling and turning to the rippling wave; it was a scene of +desolation and of death. + +The negroes who had been saved were all huddled up together, apparently +in deep sleep, and Francisco quitted his elevated position and walked +down to the low beach, to survey the means which the disaster of others +afforded him for his own escape. To his great joy he found not only +plenty of casks, but many of them full of fresh water, provisions also +in sufficiency, and, indeed, everything that could be required to form a +raft, as well as the means of support for a considerable time for +himself and the negroes who had survived. He then walked up to them and +called to them, but they answered not, nor even moved. He pushed them, +but in vain; and his heart beat quick, for he was fearful that they were +dead from previous exhaustion. He applied his foot to one of them, and +it was not until he had used force, which in any other case he would +have dispensed with, that the negro awoke from his state of lethargy and +looked vacantly about him. Francisco had some little knowledge of the +language of the Kroumen, and he addressed the negro in that tongue. To +his great joy he was answered in a language which, if not the same, had +so great an affinity to it that communication became easy. With the +assistance of the negro, who used still less ceremony with his comrades, +the remainder of them were awakened, and a palaver ensued. + +Francisco soon made them understand that they were to make a raft and go +back to their own country; explaining to them that if they remained +there, the water and provisions would soon be exhausted, and they would +all perish. The poor creatures hardly knew whether to consider him a +supernatural being or not; they talked among themselves; they remarked +at his having brought them fresh water the day before; they knew that he +did not belong to the vessel in which they had been wrecked, and they +were puzzled. + +Whatever might be their speculations they had one good effect, which +was, that they looked upon the youth as a superior and a friend, and +most willingly obeyed him. He led them up to the knoll, and, desiring +them to scrape away the sand, supplied them again with fresh water and +biscuit. Perhaps the very supply, and the way in which it was given to +them, excited their astonishment as much as anything. Francisco ate with +them, and, selecting from his sea-chest the few tools in his possession, +desired them to follow him. The casks were collected and rolled up; the +empty ones arranged for the raft; the spars were hauled up and cleared +of the rigging, which was carefully separated for lashings; the one or +two sails which had been found rolled up on the spars were spread out to +dry; and the provisions and articles of clothing, which might be useful, +laid together on one side. The negroes worked willingly and showed much +intelligence; before the evening closed everything which might be +available was secured, and the waves now only tossed about lifeless +forms, and the small fragments of timber which could not be serviceable. + +It would occupy too much time were we to detail all the proceedings of +Francisco and the negroes for the space of four days, during which they +laboured hard. Necessity is truly the mother of invention, and many were +the ingenious resources of the party before they could succeed in +forming a raft large enough to carry them and their provisions, with a +mast and sail well secured. At length it was accomplished; and on the +fifth day Francisco and his men embarked, and, having pushed clear of +the bank with poles, they were at last able to hoist their sail to a +fine breeze, and steer for the coast before the wind at the rate of +about three miles an hour. But it was not until they had gained half a +mile from the bank that they were no longer annoyed by the dreadful +smell arising from the putrefaction of so many bodies, for to bury them +all would have been a work of too great time. The last two days of their +remaining on the island, the effluvia had become so powerful as to be a +source of the greatest horror and disgust even to the negroes. + +But before night, when the raft was about eight leagues from the +sand-bank, it fell calm, and continued so for the next day, when a +breeze sprang up from the south-east, to which they trimmed their sail +with their head to the northward. + +This wind, and the course steered, sent them off from the land, but +there was no help for it; and Francisco felt grateful that they had such +an ample supply of provisions and water as to enable them to yield to a +few days' contrary wind without danger of want. But the breeze continued +steady and fresh, and they were now crossing the Bight of Benin; the +weather was fine and the sea smooth; the flying-fish rose in shoals and +dropped down into the raft, which still forced its way through the water +to the northward. + +Thus did Francisco and his negro crew remain for a fortnight floating on +the wide ocean, without any object meeting their view. Day after day it +was the same dreary 'sky and water,' and by the reckoning of Francisco +they could not be far from the land, when, on the fifteenth day, they +perceived two sails to the northward. + +Francisco's heart bounded with joy and gratitude to Heaven; he had no +telescope to examine them, but he steered directly for them, and, about +dark, he made them out to be a ship and a schooner hove-to. + +As Francisco scanned them, surmising what they might be, the sun set +behind the two vessels, and after it had sunk below the horizon their +forms were, for a few minutes, delineated with remarkable precision and +clearness. There could be no mistake. Francisco felt convinced that the +schooner was the _Avenger_; and his first impulse was to run to the +sweep with which they were steered, and put the head of the raft again +to the northward. A moment's reflection determined him to act otherwise; +he lowered down his sail that he might escape observation, and watched +the motions of the vessels during the few minutes of light which +remained. That the ship bad been captured, and that her capture had been +attended with the usual scene of outrage and violence, he had no doubt. +He was now about four miles' from them, and just as they were vanishing +from his straining eyes he perceived that the schooner had made all sail +to the westward. Francisco, feeling that he was then secure from being +picked up by her, again hoisted his sail with the hope of reaching the +ship, which, if not scuttled, he intended to remove on board of, and +then make sail for the first port on the coast. But hardly had the raft +regained her way when the horizon was lighted up, and he perceived that +the pirates had set fire to the vessel. Then it was useless to proceed +towards her; and Francisco again thought of putting the head of the raft +to the northward, when the idea struck him, knowing the character and +cruelty of the pirates, that there might be some unfortunate people left +on board to perish in the flames. He therefore continued his course, +watching the burning vessel; the flames increased in violence, mounting +up to the masts and catching the sails one after another. The wind blew +fresh, and the vessel was kept before the wind--a circumstance that +assured Francisco that there were people on board. At first she appeared +to leave the raft, but as her sails, one after another, were consumed by +the element, so did she decrease her speed, and Francisco, in about an +hour, was close to her and under her counter. + +[Illustration: _The flames increased in violence, mounting up to the +masts and catching the sails one after another._] + +The ship was now one mass of fire from her bows to her mainmast; a +volume of flame poured from her main hold, rising higher than her lower +masts, and ending in a huge mass of smoke carried by the wind ahead of +her; the quarter-deck was still free from fire, but the heat on it was +so intense that those on board were all collected at the taffrail; and +there they remained, some violent, others in mute despair; for the +_Avenger's_ people, in their barbarity, had cut away and destroyed all +the boats to prevent their escape. From the light thrown round the +vessel those on board had perceived the approach of Francisco to their +rescue, and immediately that it was under the counter, and the sail +lowered, almost all of them had descended by ropes, or the stern ladder, +and gained a place in her. In a few minutes, without scarcely an +exchange of a word, they were all out of the brig, and Francisco pushed +off just as the flames burst from the cabin windows, darting out in a +horizontal line like the tongues of fiery serpents. The raft, now +encumbered with twelve more persons, was then steered to the northward; +and as soon as those who had been saved had been supplied with some +water, which they so much needed, Francisco obtained the intelligence +which he desired. The ship was from Carthagena, South America; had +sailed from thence to Lisbon with a Don Cumanos, who had large property +up the Magdalen river. He had wished to visit a part of his family at +Lisbon, and from thence had sailed to the Canary Isles, where he also +had property. In their way from Lisbon to South America they had been +beaten by stress of weather to the southward, and afterwards had been +chased by the _Avenger_; being a very fast sailer she had run down +several degrees before she had been captured. When the pirate took +possession, and found that she had little or no cargo of value to them, +for her hold was chiefly filled with furniture and other articles for +the use of Don Cumanos, angry at their disappointment, they had first +destroyed all their boats and then set fire to the vessel, taking care +not to leave her until all chance of the fire being put out was +hopeless. And thus had these miscreants left innocent and unfortunate +people to perish. + +Francisco heard the narrative of Don Cumanos, and then informed him in +what manner he had left the schooner, and his subsequent adventures. +Francisco was now very anxious to make the land, or obtain succour from +some vessel. The many who were now on board, and the time that he had +already been at sea, obliged him to reduce the allowance of water. +Fortune favoured him after all his trials; on the third day a vessel +hove in sight, and they were seen by her. She made sail for them, and +took them all on board. It was a schooner trafficking on the coast for +gold dust and ivory; but the magnificent offers of Don Cumanos induced +them to give up their voyage and run across the Atlantic to Carthagena. +To Francisco it was of little moment where he went, and in Don Cumanos +he had found a sincere friend. + +'You have been my preserver,' said the Spaniard, 'allow me to return the +obligation--come and live with me.' + +As Francisco was equally pleased with Don Cumanos, he accepted the +offer; they all arrived safely at Carthagena, and from thence proceeded +to his estate on the Magdalen river. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE LIEUTENANT + + +When we last mentioned Edward Templemore we stated that he was a +lieutenant of the admiral's ship on the West India station, commanding +the tender. Now the name of the tender was the _Enterprise_: and it was +singular that she was one of two schooners built at Baltimore, +remarkable for their beauty and good qualities; yet how different were +their employments! Both had originally been built for the slave-trade; +now one hoisted the English pennant, and cruised as the _Enterprise_; +the other threw out the black flag, and scoured the seas as the +_Avenger_. + +The _Enterprise_ was fitted much in the same way as we have already +described her sister vessel--that is, with one long brass gun amidships, +and smaller ones for her broadside. But in the numbers of their crew +there was a great disparity; the _Enterprise_ not being manned with more +than sixty-five English sailors belonging to the admiral's ship. She was +employed, as most admiral's tenders usually _were_, sometimes carrying a +tender made for a supply of provisions, or a tender of services, if +required, from the admiral; or, if not particularly wanted, with the +important charge of a tender _billet-doux_ to some fair friend. But this +is a tender subject to touch upon. In the meantime it must be understood +that she had the same commission to sink, burn, and destroy, as all +other of his Majesty's vessels, if anything came in her way; but as she +usually carried despatches, the real importance of which were, of +course, unknown, she was not to go out of her way upon such service. + +Edward Templemore did, however, occasionally go a little out of his way, +and had lately captured a very fine privateer, after a smart action, +for which he anticipated his promotion; but the admiral thought him too +young, and therefore gave the next vacancy to his own nephew, who, the +admiral quite forgot, was much younger. + +Edward laughed when he heard of it upon his arrival at Port Royal; and +the admiral, who expected that he would make his appearance pouting with +disappointment, when he came up to the Penn to report himself, was so +pleased with his good humour that he made a vow that Templemore should +have the next vacancy; but this he also quite forgot, because Edward +happened to be, at the time it occurred, on a long cruise--and 'out of +sight out of mind' is a proverb so well established, that it may be +urged as an excuse for a person who had so many other things to think of +as the admiral entrusted with the command of the West India station. + +Lieutenant Templemore had, in consequence, commanded the _Enterprise_ +for nearly two years, and without grumbling; for he was of a happy +disposition, and passed a very happy sort of life. Mr. Witherington was +very indulgent to him, and allowed him to draw liberally; he had plenty +of money for himself or for a friend who required it, and he had plenty +of amusement. Amongst other diversions, he had fallen most desperately +in love; for, in one of his trips to the Leeward Isles (so called from +their being to windward) he had succoured a Spanish vessel, which had on +board the new Governor of Porto Rico, with his family, and had taken +upon himself to land them on that island in safety; for which service +the English admiral received a handsome letter, concluding with the +moderate wish that his Excellency might live a thousand years, and +Edward Templemore an invitation to go and see them whenever he might +pass that way; which, like most general invitations, was as much a +compliment as the wish which wound up the letter to the admiral. It did, +however, so happen that the Spanish governor had a very beautiful and +only daughter, carefully guarded by a duenna, and a monk who was the +depositary of all the sins of the governor's establishment; and it was +with this daughter that Edward Templemore fell into the heresy of love. + +She was, indeed, very beautiful; and, like all her country-women, was +ardent in her affections. The few days that she was on board the +schooner with her father, during the time that the _Enterprise_ +convoyed the Spanish vessel into port, were quite sufficient to ignite +two such inflammable beings as Clara d'Alfarez and Edward Templemore. +The monk had been left on board of the leaky vessel; there was no +accommodation in the schooner for him or the duenna, and Don Felix de +Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez was too busy with his cigar to pay +attention to his daughter. + +When they were landed, Edward Templemore was asked to their residence, +which was not in the town, but at a lovely bay on the south side of the +island. The town mansion was appropriated to business and the ceremony +of the court: it was too hot for a permanent abode, and the governor +only went there for a few hours each day. + +Edward Templemore remained a short time at the island, and at his +departure received the afore-mentioned letter from the father to the +English admiral, and an assurance of unalterable fidelity from the +daughter to the English lieutenant. On his return he presented the +letter, and the admiral was satisfied with his conduct. + +When ordered out to cruise, which he always was when there was nothing +else to do, he submitted to the admiral whether, if he should happen to +near Porto Rico, he could not leave an answer to the Spanish governor's +letter; and the admiral, who knew the value of keeping up a good +understanding with foreign relations, took the hint, and gave him one to +deliver, if _convenient_. The second meeting was, as may be supposed, +more cordial than the first on the part of the young lady; not so, +however, on the part of the duenna and holy friar, who soon found out +that their charge was in danger from heretical opinions. + +Caution became necessary; and as secrecy adds a charm to an amour, Clara +received a long letter and a telescope from Edward. The letter informed +her that, whenever he could, he would make his appearance in his +schooner off the south of the island, and await a signal made by her at +a certain window, acknowledging her recognition of his vessel. On the +night of that signal he would land in his boat and meet her at an +appointed spot. This was all very delightful; and it so happened that +Edward had four or five times contrived, during the last year, to meet +Clara without discovery, and again and again to exchange his vows. It +was agreed between them that when he quitted the station, she would +quit her father and her home, and trust her future happiness to an +Englishman and a heretic. + +[Illustration: _Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too +busy with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter._] + +It may be a matter of surprise to some of our readers that the admiral +should not have discovered the frequent visits of the _Enterprise_ to +Porto Rico, as Edward was obliged to bring his log for examination every +time that he returned; but the admiral was satisfied with Edward's +conduct, and his anxiety to cruise when there was nothing else for him +to do. His logs were brought on shore to the admiral's secretary, +carefully rolled and sealed up. The admiral's secretary threw the +packages on one side, and thought no more of the matter, and Edward had +always a ready story to tell when he took his seat at the admiral's +dinner-table; besides, he is a very unfit person to command a vessel who +does not know how to write a log that will bear an investigation. A +certain latitude is always allowed in every degree of latitude as well +as longitude. + +The _Enterprise_ had been despatched to Antigua, and Edward thought this +an excellent opportunity to pay a visit to Clara d'Alfarez: he +therefore, upon his return, hove-to off the usual headland, and soon +perceived the white curtain thrown out of the window. + +'There it is, sir,' said one of the midshipmen who was near him--for he +had been there so often that the whole crew of the _Enterprise_ were +aware of his attachment--'she has shown her flag of truce.' + +'A truce to your nonsense, Mr. Warren,' replied Edward, laughing; 'how +came you to know anything about it?' + +'I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have to +go on shore and wait for you to-night.' + +'That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behind +the headland.' + +The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attended +his commander on shore, the _Enterprise_ lying-to with a lantern at her +peak. + +'Once more, dearest Clara!' said Edward, as he threw off her long veil +and pressed her in his arms. + +'Yes, Edward, once more--but I am afraid only once more; for my maid, +Inez, has been dangerously ill, and has confessed to Friar Ricardo. I +fear much that, in her fright (for she thought that she was dying), she +has told all. She is better now.' + +'Why should you imagine so, Clara?' + +'Oh, you know not what a frightened fool that Inez is when she is ill! +Our religion is not like yours.' + +'No, dear, it is not; but I will teach you a better.' + +'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. Holy Virgin! if Friar Ricardo +should hear you! I think that Inez must have told him, for he fixes his +dark eyes upon me so earnestly. Yesterday he observed to me that I had +not confessed.' + +'Tell him to mind his own business.' + +'That is his business, and I was obliged to confess to him last night. I +told him a great many things, and then he asked if that was all. His +eyes went through me. I trembled as I uttered an untruth, for I said it +was.' + +'I confess my sins but to my Maker, Clara! and I confess my love but to +you. Follow my plan, dearest!' + +'I will half obey you, Edward. I will not tell my love.' + +'And sins you have none, Clara; so you will obey me in all.' + +'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. We all have sins; and oh! what a +grievous sin they say it is to love you, who are a heretic! Holy Virgin, +pardon me! but I could not help it.' + +'If that is your only sin, dearest, I can safely give you absolution.' + +'Nay, Edward, don't joke, but hear me. If Inez has confessed, they will +look for me here, and we must not meet again--at least not in this +place. You know the little bay behind the rock, it is not much farther +off, and there is a cave where I can wait: another time it must be +there.' + +'It shall be there, dearest; but is it not too near the beach? will you +not be afraid of the men in the boat, who might see you?' + +'But we can leave the beach. It is Ricardo alone that I am in dread of, +and the Donna Maria. Merciful Heaven! should my father know it all, we +should be lost--be separated for ever!' and Clara laid her forehead on +Edward's shoulder, as her tears fell fast. + +'There is nought to fear, Clara. Hush! I heard a rustling in those +orange-trees. Listen!' + +'Yes! yes!' whispered Clara hastily; 'there is some one. Away! dear +Edward, away!' + +Clara sprang from his side, and hastened up the grove. Edward made his +retreat, and, flying down the rocky and narrow path through the +underwood, was soon on the beach and into his boat. The _Enterprise_ +arrived at headquarters, and Edward reported himself to the admiral. + +'I have work for you, Mr. Templemore,' said the admiral; 'you must be +ready to proceed on service immediately. We've found your match.' + +'I hope I may find her, sir,' replied the lieutenant. + +'I hope so, too; for, if you give a good account of her, it will put +another swab on your shoulder. The pirate schooner, which has so long +infested the Atlantic, has been seen and chased off Barbadoes by the +_Amelia_; but it appears that there is not a vessel in the squadron +which can come near her, unless it be the _Enterprise_. She has since +captured two West Indiamen, and was seen steering with them towards the +coast of Guiana. Now, I am going to give you thirty additional hands, +and send you after her.' + +'Thank you, sir,' replied Edward, his countenance beaming with delight. + +'How soon will you be ready?' inquired the admiral. + +'To-morrow morning, sir.' + +'Very good. Tell Mr. Hadley to bring me the order for the men and your +sailing orders, and I will sign them; but recollect, Mr. Templemore, you +will have an awkward customer. Be prudent--brave I know you to be.' + +Edward Templemore promised everything, as most people do in such cases; +and before the next evening the _Enterprise_ was well in the offing, +under a heavy press of sail. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE LANDING + + +The property of Don Cumanos, to which he had retired with his family, +accompanied by Francisco, extended from the mouth of, to many miles up, +the Magdalen river. It was a fine alluvial soil, forming one vast strip +of rich meadow, covered with numerous herds of cattle. The house was not +a hundred yards from the banks of this magnificent stream, and a small +but deep creek ran up to the adjacent buildings; for Don Cumanos had +property even more valuable, being proprietor of a gold mine near the +town of Jambrano, about eight miles farther up, and which mine had +latterly become exceedingly productive. The ore was brought down the +river in boats, and smelted in the outhouses near the creek to which we +have just referred. + +It will be necessary to observe that the establishment of the noble +Spaniard was numerous, consisting of nearly one hundred persons, +employed in the smelting-house or attached to the household. + +For some time Francisco remained here happy and contented; he had become +the confidential supervisor of Don Cumanos' household, proved himself +worthy of a trust so important, and was considered as one of the family. + +One morning, as Francisco was proceeding down to the smelting-house to +open the hatches of the small decked boats which had arrived from +Jambrano with ore, and which were invariably secured with a padlock by +the superintendent above, to which Don Cumanos had a corresponding key, +one of the chief men informed him that a vessel had anchored off the +mouth of the river the day before, and weighed again early that morning, +and that she was now standing off and on. + +'From Carthagena, probably, beating up,' replied Francisco. + +'Valga me Dios, if I know that, sir,' said Diego. 'I should have thought +nothing about it; but Giacomo and Pedro, who went out to fish last +night, as usual, instead of coming back before midnight, have not been +heard of since.' + +'Indeed! that is strange. Did they ever stay so long before?' + +'Never, sir; and they have fished together now for seven years.' + +Francisco gave the key to the man, who opened the locks of the hatches, +and returned it. + +'There she is!' cried the man; the head-sails making their appearance as +the vessel opened to their view from the projecting point distant about +four miles. Francisco directed his eye towards her, and, without further +remark, hastened to the house. + +'Well, Francisco,' said Don Cumanos, who was stirring a small cup of +chocolate, 'what's the news this morning?' + +'The _Nostra Senora del Carmen_ and the _Aguilla_ have arrived, and I +have just unlocked the hatches. There is a vessel off the point which +requires examination, and I have come for the telescope.' + +'Requires examination! Why, Francisco?' + +'Because Giacomo and Pedro, who went fishing last night, have not +returned, and there are no tidings of them.' + +'That is strange! But how is this connected with the vessel?' + +'That I will explain as soon as I have had an examination of her,' +replied Francisco, who had taken up the telescope, and was drawing out +the tube. Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the window, and +examined the vessel some time in silence. + +'Yes! by the living God, it is the _Avenger_, and no other!' exclaimed +he, as he removed the telescope from his eye. + +'Eh?' cried Don Cumanos. + +'It is the pirate vessel--the _Avenger_--I'll forfeit my life upon it! +Don Cumanos, you must be prepared. I know that they have long talked of +a visit to this quarter, and anticipate great booty, and they have those +on board who know the coast well. The disappearance of your two men +convinces me that they sent up their boats last night to reconnoitre, +and have captured them. Torture will extract the information which the +pirates require, and I have little doubt but that the attack will be +made when they learn how much bullion there is at present on your +premises.' + +[Illustration: _Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the +window, and examined the vessel some time in silence._] + +'You may be right,' replied Don Cumanos thoughtfully; 'that is, provided +you are sure that it is the pirate vessel.' + +'Sure, Don Cumanos! I know every timber and plank in her; there is not a +rope nor a block but I can recognise. At the distance of four miles, +with such a glass as this, I can discover every little variety in her +rigging from other craft. I will swear to her,' repeated Francisco, once +more looking through the telescope. + +'And if they attack, Francisco?' + +'We must defend ourselves, and, I trust, beat them off. They will come +in their boats, and at night. If they were to run in the schooner by +daylight and anchor abreast of us, we should have but a poor chance. But +they little think that I am here, and that they are recognised. They +will attack this night, I rather think.' + +'And what do you then propose, Francisco?' + +'That we should send all the females away to Don Teodoro's--it is but +five miles--and call the men together as soon as possible. We are strong +enough to beat them off if we barricade the house. They cannot land more +than from ninety to one hundred men, as some must remain in charge of +the schooner; and we can muster quite as many. It may be as well to +promise our men a reward if they do their duty.' + +'That is all right enough; and the bullion we have here?' + +'Here we had better let it remain; it will take too much time to remove +it, and, besides, will weaken our force by the men who must be in charge +of it. The outhouses must be abandoned, and everything which is of +consequence taken from them. Fire them they will, in all probability. At +all events we have plenty of time before us, if we begin at once.' + +'Well, Francisco, I shall make you commandant, and leave the +arrangements to you, while I go and speak to Donna Isidora. Send for the +men and speak to them; promise them rewards, and act as if you were +ordering upon your own responsibility.' + +'I trust I shall prove myself worthy of your confidence, sir,' replied +Francisco. + +'Carambo!' exclaimed the old Don, as he left the room; 'but it is +fortunate you are here. We might all have been murdered in our beds.' + +Francisco sent for the head men of the establishment, and told them what +he was convinced they would have to expect; and he then explained to +them his views. The rest were all summoned; and Francisco pointed out to +them the little mercy they would receive if the pirates were not +repulsed, and the rewards which were promised by Don Cumanos if they did +their duty. + +Spaniards are individually brave; and, encouraged by Francisco, they +agreed that they would defend the property to the last. + +The house of Don Cumanos was well suited to resist an attack of this +description, in which musketry only was expected to be employed. It was +a long parallelogram of stone walls, with a wooden veranda on the first +floor,--for it was only one story high. The windows on the first story +were more numerous, but at the basement there were but two, and no other +opening but the door in the whole line of building. It was of a +composite architecture, between the Morisco and the Spanish. If the +lower part of the house, which was of stone, could be secured from +entrance, the assailants would, of course, fight under a great +disadvantage. The windows below were first secured by piling a heavy +mass of stones in the interior of the rooms against them, rising to the +ceiling from a base like the segment of a pyramid, extending to the +opposite side of the chamber; and every preparation was made for +effectually barricading the door before night. Ladders were then fixed +to ascend to the veranda, which was rendered musket-proof nearly as high +as its railings, to protect the men. The Donna Isidora, and the women of +the establishment, were in the afternoon despatched to Don Teodoro's; +and, at the request of Francisco, joined to the entreaties of Donna +Isidora, Don Cumanos was persuaded to accompany them. The Don called his +men, and telling them that he left Francisco in command, expected them +to do their duty; and then shaking hands with him, the cavalcade was +soon lost in the woods behind the narrow meadows which skirted the +river. + +There was no want of muskets and ammunition. Some were employed casting +bullets, and others in examining the arms which had long been laid by. +Before evening all was ready; every man had received his arms and +ammunition; the flints had been inspected; and Francisco had time to pay +more attention to the schooner, which had during the day increased her +distance from the land, but was not again standing in for the shore. +Half an hour before dusk, when within three miles, she wore round and +put her head to the offing. + +'They'll attack this night,' said Francisco, 'I feel almost positive: +their yards and stay-tackles are up, all ready for hoisting out the +long-boat.' + +'Let them come, señor; we will give them a warm reception,' replied +Diego, the second in authority. + +It was soon too dark to perceive the vessel. Francisco and Diego ordered +every man, but five, into the house; the door was firmly barricaded, and +some large pieces of rock, which had been rolled into the passage, piled +against it. Francisco then posted the five men down the banks of the +river, at a hundred yards' distance from each other, to give notice of +the approach of the boats. It was about ten o'clock at night when +Francisco and Diego descended the ladder and went to examine their +outposts. + +'Señor,' said Diego, as he and Francisco stood on the bank of the river, +'at what hour is it your idea that these villains will make their +attempt?' + +'That is difficult to say. If the same captain commands them who did +when I was on board of her, it will not be until after the moon is down, +which will not be till midnight; but should it be any other who is in +authority, they may not be so prudent.' + +'Holy Virgin! señor, were you ever on board of that vessel?' + +'Yes, Diego, I was, and for a long while too; but not with my own good +will. Had I not been on board I never should have recognised her.' + +'Very true, señor; then we may thank the saints that you have once been +a pirate.' + +'I hope that I never was that, Diego,' replied Francisco, smiling; 'but +I have been a witness to dreadful proceedings on board of that vessel, +at the remembrance of which, even now, my blood curdles.' + +To pass away the time, Francisco then detailed many scenes of horror to +Diego which he had witnessed when on board of the _Avenger_; and he was +still in the middle of a narrative when a musket was discharged by the +farthermost sentinel. + +'Hark, Diego!' + +Another, and another, nearer and nearer to them, gave the signal that +the boats were close at hand. In a few minutes the men all came in, +announcing that the pirates were pulling up the stream in three boats, +and were less than a quarter of a mile from the landing-place. + +'Diego, go to the house with these men, and see that all is ready,' said +Francisco. 'I will wait here a little longer; but do not fire till I +come to you.' + +Diego and the men departed, and Francisco was left on the beach alone. + +In another minute the sound of the oars was plainly distinguishable, and +Francisco's ears were directed to catch, if possible, the voices. 'Yes,' +thought he, 'you come with the intentions of murder and robbery, but you +will, through me, be disappointed.' As the boats approached, he heard +the voice of Hawkhurst. The signal muskets fired had told the pirates +that they were discovered, and that in all probability they would meet +with resistance; silence was, therefore, no longer of any advantage. + +'Oars, my lads!--oars!' cried Hawkhurst. + +One boat ceased rowing, and soon afterwards the two others. The whole of +them were now plainly seen by Francisco, at the distance of about one +cable's length from where he stood; and the clear still night carried +the sound of their voices along the water. + +'Here is a creek, sir,' said Hawkhurst, 'leading up to those buildings. +Would it not be better to land there, as, if they are not occupied, they +will prove a protection to us if we have a hard fight for it?' + +'Very true, Hawkhurst,' replied a voice, which Francisco immediately +recognised to be that of Cain. + +'He is alive, then,' thought Francisco, 'and his blood is not yet upon +my hands.' + +'Give way, my lads!' cried Hawkhurst. + +The boats dashed up the creek, and Francisco hastened back to the +house. + +'Now, my lads,' said he, as he sprang up the ladder, 'you must be +resolute; we have to deal with desperate men. I have heard the voices of +the captain and the chief mate; so there is no doubt as to its being the +pirate. The boats are up the creek and will land behind the +out-buildings. Haul up these ladders, and lay them fore and aft on the +veranda; and do not fire without taking a good aim. Silence! my +men--silence! Here they come.' + +The pirates were now seen advancing from the out-buildings in strong +force. In the direction in which they came, it was only from the side of +the veranda, at which not more than eight or ten men could be placed, +that the enemy could be repulsed. Francisco therefore gave orders that +as soon as some of the men had fired they should retreat and load their +muskets, to make room for others. + +When the pirates had advanced half-way to the house, on the clear space +between it and the out-buildings, Francisco gave the word to fire. The +volley was answered by another, and a shout from the pirates, who, with +Hawkhurst and Cain at their head, now pressed on, but not until they had +received a second discharge from the Spaniards, and the pirates had +fired in return. As the Spaniards could not at first fire a volley of +more than a dozen muskets at a time, their opponents imagined their +force to be much less than it really was. They now made other +arrangements. They spread themselves in a semicircle in front of the +veranda, and kept up a continued galling fire. This was returned by the +party under Francisco for nearly a quarter of an hour; and as all the +muskets were now called into action, the pirates found out that they had +a more formidable enemy to cope with than they had anticipated. + +It was now quite dark, and not a figure was to be distinguished, except +by the momentary flashing of the firearms. Cain and Hawkhurst, leaving +their men to continue the attack, had gained the house, and a position +under the veranda. Examining the windows and the door, there appeared +but little chance of forcing an entrance; but it immediately occurred to +them that under the veranda their men would not be exposed, and that +they might fire through the wooden floor of it upon those above. +Hawkhurst hastened away, and returned with about half the men, leaving +the others to continue their attack as before. The advantage of this +manoeuvre was soon evident. The musket-balls of the pirates pierced +the planks, and wounded many of the Spaniards severely; and Francisco +was at last obliged to order his men to retreat into the house, and fire +out of the windows. + +But even this warfare did not continue; for the supporting pillars of +the veranda being of wood, and very dry, they were set fire to by the +pirates. Gradually the flames wound round them, and their forked tongues +licked the balustrade. At last the whole of the veranda was in flames. +This was a great advantage to the attacking party, who could now +distinguish the Spaniards without their being so clearly seen +themselves. Many were killed and wounded. The smoke and heat became so +intense in the upper story that the men could no longer remain there; +and, by the advice of Francisco, they retreated to the basement of the +house. + +'What shall we do now, señor?' said Diego, with a grave face. + +'Do?' replied Francisco; 'they have burnt the veranda, that is all. The +house will not take fire; it is of solid stone: the roof indeed may; but +still here we are. I do not see that they are more advanced than they +were before. As soon as the veranda has burnt down, we must return +above, and commence firing again from the windows.' + +'Hark, sir! they are trying the door.' + +'They may try a long while; they should have tried the door while the +veranda protected them from our sight. As soon as it is burnt, we shall +be able to drive them away from it. I will go up again and see how +things are.' + +'No, señor; it is of no use. Why expose yourself now that the flames are +so bright?' + +'I must go and see if that is the case, Diego. Put all the wounded men +in the north chamber, it will be the safest, and more out of the way.' + +Francisco ascended the stone staircase, and gained the upper story. The +rooms were filled with smoke, and he could distinguish nothing. An +occasional bullet whistled past him. He walked towards the windows, and +sheltered himself behind the wall between them. + +The flames were not so violent, and the heat more bearable. In a short +time a crash, and then another, told him that the veranda had fallen in. +He looked through the window. The mass of lighted embers had fallen +down in front of the house, and had, for a time, driven away the +assailants. Nothing was left of the veranda but the burning ends of the +joists fixed in the wall above the windows, and the still glowing +remains of the posts which once supported it. + +But the smoke from below now cleared away, and the discharge of one or +two muskets told Francisco that he was perceived by the enemy. + +'The roof is safe,' thought he, as he withdrew from the window; 'and now +I do not know whether the loss of the veranda may not prove a gain to +us.' + +What were the intentions of the pirates it was difficult to ascertain. +For a time they had left off firing, and Francisco returned to his +comrades. The smoke had gradually cleared away, and they were able to +resume their positions above; but as the pirates did not fire, they, of +course, could do nothing, as it was only by the flashing of the muskets +that the enemy was to be distinguished. No further attempts were made at +the door or windows below; and Francisco in vain puzzled himself as to +the intended plans of the assailants. + +Nearly half an hour of suspense passed away. Some of the Spaniards were +of opinion that they had retreated to their boats and gone away, but +Francisco knew them better. All he could do was to remain above, and +occasionally look out to discover their motions. Diego, and one or two +more, remained with him; the other men were kept below, that they might +be out of danger. + +'Holy Francis! but this has been a dreadful night, señor! How many hours +until daylight?' said Diego. + +'Two hours at least, I should think,' replied Francisco; 'but the affair +will be decided before that.' + +'The saints protect us! See, señor, are they not coming?' + +Francisco looked through the gloom, in the direction of the +out-buildings, and perceived a group of men advancing. A few moments and +he could clearly make them out. + +'Yes, truly, Diego; and they have made ladders, which they are carrying. +They intend to storm the windows. Call them up; and now we must fight +hard indeed.' + +The Spaniards hastened up and filled the room above, which had three +windows in the front, looking towards the river, and which had been +sheltered by the veranda. + +'Shall we fire now, señor?' + +'No--no; do not fire till your muzzles are at their hearts. They cannot +mount more than two at a time at each window. Recollect, my lads, that +you must now fight hard, for your lives will not be spared; they will +show no quarter and no mercy.' + +The ends of the rude ladders now made their appearance above the sill of +each window. They had been hastily, yet firmly, constructed; and were +nearly as wide as the windows. A loud cheer was followed by a +simultaneous mounting of the ladders. + +Francisco was at the centre window, when Hawkhurst made his appearance, +sabre in hand. He struck aside a musket aimed at him, and the ball +whizzed harmless over the broad water of the river. Another step, and he +would have been in, when Francisco fired his pistol; the ball entered +the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he dropped his hold. Before he could +regain it, a Spaniard charged at him with a musket, and threw him back. +He fell, bearing down with him one or two of his comrades, who had been +following him up the ladder. + +Francisco felt as if the attack at that window was of little consequence +after the fall of Hawkhurst, whose voice he had recognised; and he +hastened to the one on the left, as he had heard Cain encouraging his +men in that direction. He was not wrong in his conjecture; Cain was at +the window, attempting to force an entrance, but was opposed by Diego +and other resolute men. But the belt of the pirate captain was full of +pistols, and he had already fired three with effect. Diego and the two +best men were wounded, and the others who opposed him were alarmed at +his giant proportions. Francisco rushed to attack him; but what was the +force of so young a man against the herculean power of Cain? Still +Francisco's left hand was at the throat of the pirate, and the pistol +was pointed in his right, when a flash of another pistol, fired by one +who followed Cain, threw its momentary vivid light upon the features of +Francisco, as he cried out, 'Blood for blood!' It was enough; the pirate +captain uttered a yell of terror at the supposed supernatural +appearance; and he fell from the ladder in a fit amongst the still +burning embers of the veranda. + +[Illustration: _The ball entered the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he +dropped his hold._] + +The fall of their two chiefs, and the determined resistance of the +Spaniards, checked the impetuosity of the assailants. They hesitated; +and they at last retreated, bearing away with them their wounded. The +Spaniards cheered, and, led by Francisco, followed them down the +ladders, and in their turn became the assailants. Still the pirates' +retreat was orderly: they fired, and retired rank behind rank +successively. They kept the Spaniards at bay, until they had arrived at +the boats, when a charge was made, and a severe conflict ensued. But the +pirates had lost too many men, and, without their commander, felt +dispirited. Hawkhurst was still on his legs, and giving his orders as +coolly as ever. He espied Francisco, and rushing at him, while the two +parties were opposed muzzle to muzzle, seized him by his collar and +dragged him in amongst the pirates. 'Secure him, at all events!' cried +Hawkhurst, as they slowly retreated and gained the outhouses. Francisco +was overpowered and hauled into one of the boats, all of which in a few +minutes afterwards were pulling with all their might to escape from the +muskets of the Spaniards, who followed the pirates by the banks of the +river, annoying them in their retreat. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MEETING + + +The pirates returned to their vessel discomfited. Those on board, who +were prepared to hoist in ingots of precious metal, had to receive +nought but wounded men, and many of their comrades had remained dead on +the shore. Their captain was melancholy and downcast. Hawkhurst was +badly wounded, and obliged to be carried below as soon as he came on +board. The only capture which they had made was their former associate +Francisco, who, by the last words spoken by Hawkhurst as he was +supported to his cabin, was ordered to be put in irons. The boats were +hoisted in without noise, and a general gloom prevailed. All sail was +then made upon the schooner, and when day dawned she was seen by the +Spaniards far away to the northward. + +The report was soon spread through the schooner that Francisco had been +the cause of their defeat; and although this was only a surmise, still, +as they considered that had he not recognised the vessel the Spaniards +would not have been prepared, they had good grounds for what had swelled +into an assertion. He became, therefore, to many of them, an object of +bitter enmity, and they looked forward with pleasure to his destruction, +which his present confinement they considered but the precursor of. + +'Hist! Massa Francisco,' said a low voice near to where Francisco sat on +the chest. Francisco turned round and beheld the Krouman, his old +friend. + +'Ah! Pompey, are you all still on board?' said Francisco. + +'All! no,' replied the man, shaking his head; 'some die--some get +away--only four Kroumen left. Massa Francisco, how you come back again? +Everybody tink you dead. I say no, not dead--ab charm with him--ab +book.' + +'If that was my charm, I have it still,' replied Francisco, taking the +Bible out of his vest; for, strange to say, Francisco himself had a kind +of superstition relative to that Bible, and had put it into his bosom +previous to the attack made by the pirates. + +'Dat very good, Massa Francisco; den you quite safe. Here come +Johnson--he very bad man. I go away.' + +In the meantime Cain had retired to his cabin with feelings scarcely to +be analysed. He was in a bewilderment. Notwithstanding the wound he had +received by the hand of Francisco, he would never have sanctioned +Hawkhurst putting him on shore on a spot which promised nothing but a +lingering and miserable death. Irritated as he had been by the young +man's open defiance, he loved him--loved him much more than he was aware +of himself; and when he had recovered sufficiently from his wound, and +had been informed where Francisco had been sent on shore, he quarrelled +with Hawkhurst, and reproached him bitterly and sternly, in language +which Hawkhurst never forgot or forgave. The vision of the starving lad +haunted Cain, and rendered him miserable. His affection for him, now +that he was, as he supposed, lost for ever, increased with tenfold +force; and since that period Cain had never been seen to smile. He +became more gloomy, more ferocious than ever, and the men trembled when +he appeared on deck. + +The apparition of Francisco after so long an interval, and in such an +unexpected quarter of the globe, acted as we have before described upon +Cain. When he was taken to the boat he was still confused in his ideas, +and it was not until they were nearly on board that he perceived that +this young man was indeed at his side. He could have fallen on his neck +and kissed him; for Francisco had become to him a capture more prized +than all the wealth of the Indies. But one pure, good feeling was +unextinguished in the bosom of Cain; stained with every crime--with his +hands so deeply imbrued in blood--at enmity with all the rest of the +world, that one feeling burnt bright and clear, and was not to be +quenched. It might have proved a beacon-light to steer him back to +repentance and to good works. + +But there were other feelings which also crowded upon the mind of the +pirate captain. He knew Francisco's firmness and decision. By some +inscrutable means, which Cain considered as supernatural, Francisco had +obtained the knowledge, and had accused him, of his mother's death. +Would not the affection which he felt for the young man be met with +hatred and defiance? He was but too sure that it would. And then his +gloomy, cruel disposition would resume its influence, and he thought of +revenging the attack upon his life. His astonishment at the reappearance +of Francisco was equally great, and he trembled at the sight of him, as +if he were his accusing and condemning spirit. Thus did he wander from +one fearful fancy to another, until he at last summoned up resolution to +send for him. + +A morose, dark man, whom Francisco had not seen when he was before in +the schooner, obeyed the commands of the captain. The irons were +unlocked, and Francisco was brought down into the cabin. The captain +rose and shut the door. + +'I little thought to see you here, Francisco,' said Cain. + +'Probably not,' replied Francisco boldly, 'but you have me again in your +power, and may now wreak your vengeance.' + +'I feel none, Francisco; nor would I have suffered you to have been put +on shore as you were, had I known of it. Even now that our expedition +has failed through your means, I feel no anger towards you, although I +shall have some difficulty in preserving you from the enmity of others. +Indeed, Francisco, I am glad to find that you are alive, and I have +bitterly mourned your loss;' and Cain extended his hand. + +But Francisco folded his arms, and was silent. + +'Are you then so unforgiving?' said the captain. 'You know that I tell +the truth.' + +'I believe that you state the truth, Captain Cain, for you are too bold +to lie; and, as far as I am concerned, you have all the forgiveness you +may wish: but I cannot take that hand; nor are our accounts yet +settled.' + +'What would you more? Cannot we be friends again? I do not ask you to +remain on board. You are free to go where you please. Come, Francisco, +take my hand, and let us forget what is past.' + +'The hand that is imbrued with my mother's blood, perhaps!' exclaimed +Francisco. 'Never!' + +'Not so, by G--d!' exclaimed Cain. 'No, no; not quite so bad as that. In +my mood I struck your mother; I grant it. I did not intend to injure +her, but I did, and she died. I will not lie--that is the fact. And it +is also the fact that I wept over her, Francisco; for I loved her as I +do you.' ('It was a hasty, bitter blow, that,' continued Cain, +soliloquising, with his hand to his forehead, and unconscious of +Francisco's presence at the moment. 'It made me what I am, for it made +me reckless.') 'Francisco,' said Cain, raising his head, 'I was bad, but +I was no pirate when your mother lived. There is a curse upon me; that +which I love most I treat the worst. Of all the world, I loved your +mother most; yet did she from me receive much injury, and at last I +caused her death. Next to your mother, whose memory I at once revere and +love, and tremble when I think of (and each night does she appear to +me), I have loved you, Francisco, for you, like her, have an angel's +feelings; yet have I treated you as ill. You thwarted me, and you were +right. Had you been wrong, I had not cared; but you were right, and it +maddened me. Your appeals by day--your mother's in my dreams----' + +Francisco's heart was softened; if not repentance, there was at least +contrition. 'Indeed I pity you,' replied Francisco. + +'You must do more, Francisco; you must be friends with me,' said Cain, +again extending his hand. + +'I cannot take that hand, it is too deeply dyed in blood,' replied +Francisco. + +'Well, well, so would have said your mother. But hear me, Francisco,' +said Cain, lowering his voice to a whisper, lest he should be overheard; +'I am tired of this life--perhaps sorry for what I have done--I wish to +leave it--have wealth in plenty concealed where others know not. Tell +me, Francisco, shall we both quit this vessel, and live together happily +and without doing wrong? You shall share all, Francisco. Say, now, does +that please you?' + +'Yes; it pleases me to hear that you will abandon your lawless life, +Captain Cain: but share your wealth I cannot, for how has it been +gained?' + +'It cannot be returned, Francisco; I will do good with it. I will +indeed, Francisco. I--will--repent;' and again the hand was extended. + +Francisco hesitated. + +'I do, so help me God! I _do_ repent, Francisco!' exclaimed the pirate +captain. + +'And I, as a Christian, do forgive you all,' replied Francisco, taking +the still extended hand. 'May God forgive you too!' + +'Amen!' replied the pirate solemnly, covering his face up in his hands. + +In this position he remained some minutes, Francisco watching him in +silence. At last the face was uncovered, and, to the surprise of +Francisco, a tear was on the cheek of Cain, and his eyes suffused with +moisture. Francisco no longer waited for the hand to be extended; he +walked up to the captain, and taking him by the hand, pressed it warmly. + +'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but leave me now.' + +Francisco returned on deck with a light and grateful heart. His +countenance at once told those who were near him that he was not +condemned, and many who dared not before take notice of, now saluted +him. The man who had taken him out of irons looked round; he was a +creature of Hawkhurst, and he knew not how to act. Francisco observed +him, and, with a wave of the hand, ordered him below. That Francisco was +again in authority was instantly perceived, and the first proof of it +was, that the new second mate reported to him that there was a sail on +the weather bow. + +Francisco took the glass to examine her. It was a large schooner under +all sail. Not wishing that any one should enter the cabin but himself, +he went down to the cabin door and knocked before he entered, and +reported the vessel. + +'Thank you, Francisco; you must take Hawkhurst's duty for the +present--it shall not be for long; and fear not that I shall make +another capture. I swear to you I will not, Francisco. But this +schooner--I know very well what she is; she has been looking after us +some time; and a week ago, Francisco, I was anxious to meet her, that I +might shed more blood. Now I will do all I can to avoid her, and escape. +I can do no more, Francisco. I must not be taken.' + +'There I cannot blame you. To avoid her will be easy, I should think; +the _Avenger_ outsails everything.' + +'Except, I believe, the _Enterprise_, which is a sister vessel. By +heaven! it's a fair match,' continued Cain, his feelings of +combativeness returning for a moment; 'and it will look like a craven to +refuse the fight: but fear not, Francisco--I have promised you, and I +shall keep my word.' + +[Illustration: _'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but +leave me now.'_] + +Cain went on deck, and surveyed the vessel through the glass. + +'Yes, it must be her,' said he aloud, so as to be heard by the pirates; +'she has been sent out by the admiral on purpose, full of his best men. +What a pity we are so short-handed!' + +'There's enough of us, sir,' observed the boatswain. + +'Yes,' replied Cain, 'if there was anything but hard blows to be got; +but that is all, and I cannot spare more men. Ready about!' continued +he, walking aft. + +The _Enterprise_, for she was the vessel in pursuit, was then about five +miles distant, steering for the _Avenger_, who was on a wind. As soon +as the _Avenger_ tacked, the _Enterprise_ took in her topmast +studding-sail, and hauled her wind. This brought the _Enterprise_ well +on the weather-quarter of the _Avenger_, who now made all sail. The +pirates, who had had quite enough of fighting, and were not stimulated +by the presence of Hawkhurst, or the wishes of their captain, now showed +as much anxiety to avoid as they usually did to seek a combat. + +At the first trial of sailing between the two schooners there was no +perceptible difference; for half an hour they both continued on a wind, +and when Edward Templemore examined his sextant a second time, he could +not perceive that he had gained upon the _Avenger_ one cable's length. + +'We will keep away half a point,' said Edward to his second in command. +'We can afford that, and still hold the weather-gage.' + +The _Enterprise_ was kept away, and increased her speed: they neared the +_Avenger_ more than a quarter of a mile. + +'They are nearing us,' observed Francisco; 'we must keep away a point.' + +Away went the _Avenger_, and would have recovered her distance, but the +_Enterprise_ was again steered more off the wind. + +Thus did they continue altering their course until the studding-sails +below and aloft were set by both, and the position of the schooners was +changed; the _Enterprise_ now being on the starboard instead of the +larboard quarter of the _Avenger_. The relative distance between the two +schooners was, however, nearly the same, that is, about three miles and +a half from each other; and there was every prospect of a long and weary +chase on the part of the _Enterprise_, who again kept away a point to +near the _Avenger_. Both vessels were now running to the eastward. + +It was about an hour before dark that another sail hove in sight right +ahead of the _Avenger_, and was clearly made out to be a frigate. The +pirates were alarmed at this unfortunate circumstance, as there was +little doubt but that she would prove a British cruiser; and, if not, +they had equally reason to expect that she would assist in their +capture. She had evidently perceived the two schooners, and had made all +sail, tacking every quarter of an hour so as to keep her relative +position. The _Enterprise_, who had also made out the frigate, to +attract her attention, though not within range of the _Avenger_, +commenced firing with her long gun. + +'This is rather awkward,' observed Cain. + +'It will be dark in less than an hour,' observed Francisco; 'and that is +our only chance.' + +Cain reflected a minute. + +'Get the long gun ready, my lads! We will return her fire, Francisco, +and hoist American colours; that will puzzle the frigate, at all events, +and the night may do the rest.' + +The long gun of the _Avenger_ was ready. + +'I would not fire the long gun,' observed Francisco; 'it will show our +force, and will give no reason for our attempt to escape. Now, if we +were to fire our broadside guns, the difference of report between them +and the one of large calibre fired by the other schooner would induce +them to think that we are an American vessel.' + +'Very true,' replied Cain; 'and, as America is at peace with all the +world, that our antagonist is a pirate. Hold fast the long gun, there, +and unship the starboard ports. See that the ensign blows out clear.' + +The _Avenger_ commenced firing an occasional gun from her broadside, the +reports of which were hardly to be heard by those on board of the +frigate; while the long gun of the _Enterprise_ reverberated along the +water, and its loud resonance was swept by the wind to the frigate to +leeward. + +Such was the state of affairs when the sun sank down in the wave, and +darkness obscured the vessels from each other's sight, except with the +assistance of the night-telescopes. + +'What do you propose to do, Captain Cain?' said Francisco. + +'I have made up my mind to do a bold thing. I will run down to the +frigate, as if for shelter; tell him that the other vessel is a pirate, +and claim his protection. Leave me to escape afterwards; the moon will +not rise till nearly one o'clock.' + +'That will be a bold ruse indeed; but suppose you are once under her +broadside, and she suspects you?' + +'Then I will show her my heels. I should care nothing for her and her +broadside if the schooner was not here.' + +In an hour after dark the _Avenger_ was close to the frigate, having +steered directly for her. She shortened sail gradually, as if she had +few hands on board; and, keeping his men out of sight, Cain ran under +the stern of the frigate. + +'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?' + +'_Eliza_ of Baltimore, from Carthagena,' replied Cain, rounding to under +the lee of the man-of-war, and then continuing: 'That vessel in chase is +a pirate. Shall I send a boat on board?' + +'No; keep company with us.' + +'Ay, ay, sir,' replied Cain. + +'Hands about ship!' now resounded with the boatswain's whistle on board +of the frigate, and in a minute they were on the other tack. The +_Avenger_ also tacked and kept close under the frigate's counter. + +In the meantime Edward Templemore and those on board of the +_Enterprise_, who, by the course steered, had gradually neared them, +perceiving the motions of the two other vessels, were quite puzzled. At +one time they thought they had made a mistake, and that it was not the +pirate vessel; at another they surmised that the crew had mutinied and +surrendered to the frigate. Edward hauled his wind, and steered directly +for them, to ascertain what the real facts were. The captain of the +frigate, who had never lost sight of either vessel, was equally +astonished at the boldness of the supposed pirate. + +'Surely the rascal does not intend to board us?' said he to the first +lieutenant. + +'There is no saying, sir; you know what a character he has; and some +say there are three hundred men on board, which is equal to our ship's +company. Or perhaps, sir, he will pass to windward of us, and give us a +broadside, and be off in the wind's eye again.' + +'At all events we will have a broadside ready for him,' replied the +captain. 'Clear away the starboard guns, and take out the tompions. Pipe +starboard watch to quarters.' + +The _Enterprise_ closed with the frigate to windward, intending to run +round her stern and bring to on the same tack. + +'He does not shorten sail yet, sir,' said the first lieutenant, as the +schooner appeared skimming along about a cable's length on their weather +bow. + +'And she is full of men, sir,' said the master, looking at her through +the night-glass. + +'Fire a gun at her!' said the captain. + +Bang! The smoke cleared away, and the schooner's foretopsail, which she +was in the act of clewing up, lay over her side. The shot had struck the +foremast of the _Enterprise_, and cut it in two below the catharpings. +The _Enterprise_ was, for the time, completely disabled. + +'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?' + +'His Majesty's schooner _Enterprise_.' + +'Send a boat on board immediately.' + +'Ay, ay, sir.' + +'Turn the hands up! Shorten sail!' + +The top-gallant and courses of the frigate were taken in, and the +mainsail hove to the mast. + +'Signalman, whereabouts is that other schooner now?' + +'The schooner, sir? On the quarter,' replied the signalman, who, with +everybody else on board, was so anxious about the _Enterprise_ that they +had neglected to watch the motions of the supposed American. The man had +replied at random, and he now jumped upon the signal-chests abaft to +look for her. But she was not to be seen. Cain, who had watched all that +passed between the other two vessels, and had been prepared to slip off +at a moment's warning, as soon as the gun was fired at the other +schooner, had wore round and made all sail on a wind. The night-glass +discovered her half a mile astern; and the ruse was immediately +perceived. The frigate filled and made sail, leaving Edward to return on +board--for there was no time to stop for the boat--tacked, and gave +chase. But the _Avenger_ was soon in the wind's eye of her; and at +daylight was no longer to be seen. + +In the meantime, Edward Templemore had followed the frigate as soon as +he could set sail on his vessel, indignant at his treatment, and vowing +that he would demand a court-martial. About noon the frigate rejoined +him, when matters were fully explained. Annoyed as they all felt at not +having captured the pirate, it was unanimously agreed, that by his +audacity and coolness he deserved to escape. It was found that the mast +of the _Enterprise_ could be fished and scarfed, so as to enable her to +continue her cruise. The carpenters of the frigate were sent on board; +and in two days the injury was repaired, and Edward Templemore once more +went in pursuit of the _Avenger_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE MISTAKE + + +The _Avenger_ stood under a press of sail to the northward. She had left +her pursuers far behind; and there was not a speck on the horizon, when, +on the second morning, Francisco, who had resumed his berth in the +captain's cabin, went up on deck. Notwithstanding the request of Cain, +Francisco refused to take any part in the command of the schooner, +considering himself as a passenger, or prisoner on parole. He had not +been on deck but a few minutes, when he observed the two Spanish +fishermen, belonging to the establishment of Don Cumanos, conversing +together forward. Their capture had quite escaped his memory, and he +went forward to speak to them. Their surprise at seeing him was great, +until Francisco informed them of what had passed. They then recounted +what had occurred to them, and showed their thumbs, which had been put +into screws to torture from them the truth. Francisco shuddered, but +consoled them by promising that they should soon be at liberty, and +return to their former master. + +As Francisco returned from forward, he found Hawkhurst on the deck. +Their eyes met and flashed in enmity. Hawkhurst was pale from loss of +blood, and evidently suffering; but he had been informed of the apparent +reconciliation between Francisco and the captain, and he could no longer +remain in his bed. He knew, also, how the captain had avoided the combat +with the _Enterprise_; and something told him that there was a +revolution of feeling in more than one point. Suffering as he was, he +resolved to be a spectator of what passed, and to watch narrowly. For +both Francisco and Cain he had imbibed a deadly hatred, and was watching +for an opportunity to wreak his revenge. At present they were too +powerful; but he felt that the time was coming when he might be +triumphant. + +Francisco passed Hawkhurst without speaking. + +'You are at liberty again, I see,' observed Hawkhurst, with a sneer. + +'I am not, at all events, indebted to you for it,' replied Francisco +haughtily; 'nor for my life either.' + +'No, indeed; but I believe that I am indebted to you for this bullet in +my shoulder,' replied the mate. + +'You are,' replied Francisco coolly. + +'And depend upon it, the debt shall be repaid with usury.' + +'I have no doubt of it, if ever it is in your power; but I fear you +not.' + +As Francisco made this reply, the captain came up the ladder. Hawkhurst +turned away and walked forward. + +'There is mischief in that man, Francisco,' said the captain in an +undertone; 'I hardly know whom to trust; but he must be watched. He is +tampering with the men, and has been for some time; not that it is of +much consequence, if he does but remain quiet for a little while. The +command of this vessel he is welcome to very soon; but if he attempts +too early----' + +'I have those I can trust to,' replied Francisco. 'Let us go below.' + +Francisco sent for Pompey the Krouman, and gave him his directions in +the presence of the captain. That night, to the surprise of all, +Hawkhurst kept his watch; and, notwithstanding the fatigue, appeared +every day to be rapidly recovering from his wound. + +Nothing occurred for several days, during which the _Avenger_ still +continued her course. What the captain's intentions were did not +transpire; they were known only to Francisco. + +'We are very short of water, sir,' reported Hawkhurst one morning; +'shall we have enough to last us to where we are going?' + +'How many days of full allowance have we on board?' + +'Not above twelve at the most.' + +'Then we must go on half allowance,' replied Cain. + +'The ship's company wish to know where we are going, sir.' + +'Have they deputed you to ask the question?' + +'Not exactly, sir; but I wish to know myself,' replied Hawkhurst, with +an insolent air. + +'Turn the hands up,' replied Cain; 'as one of the ship's company under +my orders, you will, with the others, receive the information you +require.' + +The crew of the pirate collected aft. + +'My lads,' said Cain, 'I understand, from the first mate, that you are +anxious to know where you are going? In reply, I acquaint you that, +having so many wounded men on board, and so much plunder in the hold, I +intend to repair to our rendezvous when we were formerly in this part of +the world--the _Caicos_. Is there any other question you may wish to ask +of me?' + +'Yes,' replied Hawkhurst; 'we wish to know what your intentions are +relative to that young man, Francisco. We have lost immense wealth; we +have now thirty men wounded in the hammocks, and nine we left dead on +the shore; and I have a bullet through my body; all of which has been +occasioned by him. We demand justice!' + +Here Hawkhurst was supported by several of the pirates; and there were +many voices which repeated the cry of 'Justice!' + +'My men! you demand justice, and you shall have it,' replied Cain. 'This +lad you all know well; I have brought him up as a child. He has always +disliked our mode of life, and has often requested to leave it, but has +been refused. He challenged me by our own laws, "Blood for blood!" He +wounded me; but he was right in his challenge, and therefore I bear no +malice. Had I been aware that he was to have been sent on shore to die +with hunger, I would not have permitted it. What crime had he committed? +None; or, if any, it was against me. He was then sentenced to death for +no crime, and you yourselves exclaimed against it. Is it not true?' + +'Yes--yes,' replied the majority of the pirates. + +'By a miracle he escapes, and is put in charge of another man's +property. He is made a prisoner, and now you demand justice. You shall +have it. Allowing that his life is forfeit for this offence,--you have +already sentenced him, and left him to death unjustly, and therefore are +bound in justice to give his life in this instance. I ask it, my men, +not only as his right, but as a favour to your captain.' + +'Agreed; it's all fair!' exclaimed the majority of the pirate's crew. + +'My men, I thank you,' replied Cain; 'and in return, as soon as we +arrive at the Caicos, my share of the plunder on board shall be divided +among you.' + +This last observation completely turned the tables in favour of the +captain; and those who had joined Hawkhurst now sided with the captain. +Hawkhurst looked like a demon. + +'Let those who choose to be bought off take your money,' replied he; +'but _I will not_. Blood for blood I will have; and so I give you +warning. That lad's life is mine, and have it I will! Prevent me, if you +can!' continued the mate, holding up his clenched hand, and shaking it +almost in the pirate captain's face. + +The blood mantled even to the forehead of Cain. One moment he raised +himself to his utmost height, then seizing a handspike which lay near, +he felled Hawkhurst to the deck. + +'Take that for your mutiny!' exclaimed Cain, putting his foot on +Hawkhurst's neck. 'My lads, I appeal to you. Is this man worthy to be in +command as mate? Is he to live?' + +'No! no!' cried the pirates. 'Death!' + +Francisco stepped forward. 'My men, you have granted your captain one +favour; grant me another, which is the life of this man. Recollect how +often he has led you to conquest, and how brave and faithful he has been +until now! Recollect that he is suffering under his wound, which has +made him irritable. Command you he cannot any longer, as he will never +have the confidence of your captain; but let him live, and quit the +vessel.' + +'Be it so, if you agree,' replied Cain, looking at the men; 'I do not +seek his life.' + +The pirates consented. Hawkhurst rose slowly from the deck, and was +assisted below to his cabin. The second mate was then appointed as the +first, and the choice of the man to fill up the vacancy was left to the +pirate crew. + +[Illustration: _'Blood for blood I will have,' continued the mate, +holding up his clenched hand, and shaking it almost in the pirate +captain's face._] + +For three days after this scene all was quiet and orderly on board of +the pirate. Cain, now that he had more fully made up his mind how to +act, imparted to Francisco his plans; and his giving up to the men his +share of the booty still on board was, to Francisco, an earnest of his +good intentions. A cordiality, even, a kind of feeling which never +existed before, was created between them; but of Francisco's mother, and +the former events of his own life, the pirate never spoke. Francisco +more than once put questions on the subject; the answer was, 'You shall +know some of these days, Francisco, but not yet; you would hate me too +much!' + +The _Avenger_ was now clear of the English isles, and with light winds +running down the shores of Porto Rico. In the evening of the day on +which they had made the land, the schooner was becalmed about three +miles from the shore, and the new first mate proposed that he should +land in the boat and obtain a further supply of water from a fall which +they had discovered with the glasses. As this was necessary, Cain gave +his consent, and the boat quitted the vessel full of breakers. + +Now it happened that the _Avenger_ lay becalmed abreast of the country +seat of Don d'Alfarez, the governor of the island. Clara had seen the +schooner; and, as usual, had thrown out the white curtain as a signal of +recognition; for there was no perceptible difference, even to a sailor, +at that distance, between the _Avenger_ and the _Enterprise_. She had +hastened down to the beach, and hurried into the cave, awaiting the +arrival of Edward Templemore. The pirate boat landed at the very spot of +rendezvous, and the mate leaped out of the boat. Clara flew to receive +her Edward, and was instantly seized by the mate, before she discovered +her mistake. + +'Holy Virgin! who and what are you?' cried she, struggling to disengage +herself. + +'One who is very fond of a pretty girl!' replied the pirate, still +detaining her. + +'Unhand me, wretch!' cried Clara. 'Are you aware whom you are +addressing?' + +'Not I! nor do I care,' replied the pirate. + +'You will perhaps, sir, when you learn that I am the daughter of the +governor!' exclaimed Clara, pushing him away. + +'Yes, by heavens! you are right, pretty lady, I do care; for a +governor's daughter will fetch a good ransom, at all events. So come, +my lads, a little help here; for she is as strong as a young mule. Never +mind the water, throw the breakers into the boat again; we have a prize +worth taking!' + +Clara screamed; but she was gagged with a handkerchief and lifted into +the boat, which immediately rowed back to the schooner. + +When the mate came on board and reported his capture, the pirates were +delighted at the prospect of addition to their prize-money. Cain could +not, of course, raise any objections; it would have been so different +from his general practice, that it would have strengthened suspicions +already set afloat by Hawkhurst, which Cain was most anxious just then +to remove. He ordered the girl to be taken down into the cabin, hoisted +in the boat, and the breeze springing up again, made sail. + +In the meantime Francisco was consoling the unfortunate Clara, and +assuring her that she need be under no alarm, promising her protection +from himself and the captain. + +The poor girl wept bitterly, and it was not until Cain came down into +the cabin and corroborated the assurances of Francisco that she could +assume any degree of composure; but to find friends when she had +expected every insult and degradation--for Francisco had acknowledged +that the vessel was a pirate--was some consolation. The kindness and +attention of Francisco restored her to comparative tranquillity. + +The next day she confided to him the reason of her coming to the beach, +and her mistake with regard to the two vessels, and Francisco and Cain +promised her that they would themselves pay her ransom, and not wait +until she heard from her father. To divert her thoughts Francisco talked +much about Edward Templemore, and on that subject Clara could always +talk. Every circumstance attending the amour was soon known to +Francisco. + +But the _Avenger_ did not gain her rendezvous as soon as she expected. +When to the northward of Porto Rico an English frigate bore down upon +her, and the _Avenger_ was obliged to run for it. Before the wind is +always a schooner's worst point of sailing, and the chase was continued +for three days before a fresh wind from the southward, until they had +passed the Bahama Isles. + +The pirates suffered much from want of water, as it was necessary still +further to reduce their allowance. The frigate was still in sight, +although the _Avenger_ had dropped her astern when the wind became +light, and at last it subsided into a calm, which lasted two days more. +The boats of the frigate were hoisted out on the eve of the second day +to attack the schooner, then distant five miles, when a breeze sprang up +from the northward, and the schooner being then to windward, left the +enemy hull down. + +It was not until the next day that Cain ventured to run again to the +southward to procure at one of the keys the water so much required. At +last it was obtained, but with difficulty and much loss of time, from +the scantiness of the supply, and they again made sail for the Caicos. +But they were so much impeded by contrary winds and contrary currents +that it was not until three weeks after they had been chased from Porto +Rico that they made out the low land of their former rendezvous. + +We must now return to Edward Templemore in the _Enterprise_, whom we +left off the coast of South America in search of the _Avenger_, which +had so strangely slipped through their fingers. Edward had examined the +whole coast, ran through the passage and round Trinidad, and then +started off to the Leeward Isles in his pursuit. He had spoken every +vessel he met with without gaining any information, and had at last +arrived off Porto Rico. + +This was no time to think of Clara; but, as it was not out of his way, +he had run down the island, and as it was just before dark when he +arrived off that part of the coast where the governor resided, he had +hove-to for a little while, and had examined the windows: but the signal +of recognition was not made, and after waiting till dark he again made +sail, mad with disappointment, and fearing that all had been discovered +by the governor; whereas the fact was, that he had only arrived two days +after the forcible abduction of Clara. Once more he directed his +attention to the discovery of the pirate, and after a fortnight's +examination of the inlets and bays of the Island of St. Domingo without +success, his provisions and water being nearly expended, he returned, in +no very happy mood, to Port Royal. + +In the meantime the disappearance of Clara had created the greatest +confusion in Porto Rico, and upon the examination of her attendant, who +was confronted by the friar and the duenna, the amour of her mistress +was confessed. The appearance of the _Avenger_ off the coast on that +evening confirmed their ideas that the Donna Clara had been carried off +by the English lieutenant, and Don Alfarez immediately despatched a +vessel to Jamaica, complaining of the outrage, and demanding the +restoration of his daughter. + +This vessel arrived at Port Royal a few days before the _Enterprise_, +and the admiral was very much astonished. He returned a very polite +answer to Don Alfarez, promising an investigation immediately upon the +arrival of the schooner, and to send a vessel with the result of the +said investigation. + +'This is a pretty business,' said the admiral to his secretary. 'Young +madcap! I sent him to look after a pirate, and he goes after the +governor's daughter! By the Lord Harry, Mr. Templemore, but you and I +shall have an account to settle.' + +'I can hardly believe it, sir,' replied the secretary; 'and yet it does +look suspicious. But on so short an acquaintance----' + +'Who knows that, Mr. Hadley? Send for his logs, and let us examine them; +he may have been keeping up the acquaintance.' + +The logs of the _Enterprise_ were examined, and there were the fatal +words--Porto Rico, Porto Rico, bearing in every division of the compass, +and in every separate cruise, nay, even when the schooner was charged +with despatches. + +'Plain enough,' said the admiral. 'Confounded young scamp, to embroil me +in this way! Not that his marrying the girl is any business of mine; but +I will punish him for disobedience of orders, at all events. Try him by +a court-martial, by heavens!' + +The secretary made no reply: he knew very well that the admiral would do +no such thing. + +'The _Enterprise_ anchored at daylight, sir,' reported the secretary as +the admiral sat down to breakfast. + +'And where's Mr. Templemore?' + +'He is outside in the veranda. They have told him below of what he has +been accused, and he swears it is false. I believe him, sir, for he +appears half mad at the intelligence.' + +'Stop a moment. Have you looked over his log?' + +'Yes, sir. It appears that he was off Porto Rico on the 19th; but the +Spanish governor's letter says that he was there on the 17th, and again +made his appearance on the 19th. I mentioned it to him, and he declares +upon his honour that he was only there on the 19th, as stated in his +log.' + +'Well, let him come in and speak for himself.' + +Edward came in, in a state of great agitation. + +'Well, Mr. Templemore, you have been playing pretty tricks! What is all +this, sir? Where is the girl, sir--the governor's daughter?' + +'Where she is, sir, I cannot pretend to say; but I feel convinced that +she has been carried off by the pirates.' + +'Pirates! Poor girl, I pity her!--and I pity you too, Edward. Come, sit +down here, and tell me all that has happened.' + +Edward knew the admiral's character so well, that he immediately +disclosed all that had passed between him and Clara. He then stated how +the _Avenger_ had escaped him by deceiving the frigate, and the +agreement made with Clara to meet for the future on the beach, with his +conviction that the pirate schooner, so exactly similar in appearance to +the _Enterprise_, must have preceded him at Porto Rico, and have carried +off the object of his attachment. + +Although Edward might have been severely taken to task, yet the admiral +pitied him, and therefore said nothing about his visits to Porto Rico. +When breakfast was over he ordered the signal to be made for a sloop of +war to prepare to weigh, and the _Enterprise_ to be revictualled by the +boats of the squadron. + +'Now, Edward, you and the _Comus_ shall sail in company after this +rascally pirate, and I trust you will give me a good account of her, and +also of the governor's daughter. Cheer up, my boy! depend upon it they +will try for ransom before they do her any injury.' + +That evening the _Enterprise_ and _Comus_ sailed on their expedition, +and having run by Porto Rico and delivered a letter to the governor, +they steered to the northward, and early the next morning made the land +of the Caicos, just as the _Avenger_ had skirted the reefs and bore up +for the narrow entrance. + +'There she is!' exclaimed Edward; 'there she is, by heavens!' making the +signal for the enemy, which was immediately answered by the _Comus_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE CAICOS + + +The small patch of islands called the Caicos, or Cayques, is situated +about two degrees to the northward of St. Domingo, and is nearly the +southernmost of a chain which extends up to the Bahamas. Most of the +islands of this chain are uninhabited, but were formerly the resort of +piratical vessels,--the reefs and shoals with which they are all +surrounded afforded them protection from their larger pursuers, and the +passages through this dangerous navigation being known only to the +pirates who frequented them, proved an additional security. The largest +of the Caicos islands forms a curve, like an opened horse-shoe, to the +southward, with safe and protected anchorage when once in the bay on the +southern side; but, previous to arriving at the anchorage, there are +coral reefs, extending upwards of forty miles, through which it is +necessary to conduct a vessel. This passage is extremely intricate, but +was well known to Hawkhurst, who had hitherto been pilot. Cain was not +so well acquainted with it, and it required the greatest care in taking +in the vessel, as, on the present occasion, Hawkhurst could not be +called upon for this service. The islands themselves--for there were +several of them--were composed of coral rock; a few cocoa trees raised +their lofty heads where there was sufficient earth for vegetation, and +stunted brushwood rose up between the interstices of the rocks. But the +chief peculiarity of the islands, and which rendered them suitable to +those who frequented them, was the numerous caves with which the rocks +were perforated, some above high-water mark, but the majority with the +sea-water flowing in and out of them, in some cases merely rushing in, +and at high water filling deep pools, which were detached from each +other when the tide receded, in others with a sufficient depth of water +at all times to allow you to pull in with a large boat. It is hardly +necessary to observe how convenient the higher and dry caves were as +receptacles for articles which were intended to be concealed until an +opportunity occurred for disposing of them. + +In our last chapter we stated that, just as the _Avenger_ had entered +the passage through the reefs, the _Comus_ and _Enterprise_ hove in +sight and discovered her; but it will be necessary to explain the +positions of the vessels. The _Avenger_ had entered the southern +channel, with the wind from the southward, and had carefully sounded her +way for about four miles, under little or no sail. + +The _Enterprise_ and _Comus_ had been examining Turk's Island, to the +eastward of the Caicos, and had passed to the northward of it on the +larboard tack, standing in for the northern point of the reef, which +joined on to the great Caicos Island. They were, therefore, in a +situation to intercept the _Avenger_ before she arrived at her +anchorage, had it not been for the reefs which barred their passage. The +only plan which the English vessels could act upon was to beat to the +southward, so as to arrive at the entrance of the passage, when the +_Enterprise_ would, of course, find sufficient water to follow the +_Avenger_; for, as the passage was too narrow to beat through, and the +wind was from the southward, the _Avenger_ could not possibly escape. +She was caught in a trap; and all that she had to trust to was the +defence which she might be able to make in her stronghold against the +force which could be employed in the attack. The breeze was fresh from +the southward, and appeared inclined to increase, when the _Comus_ and +_Enterprise_ made all sail, and worked, in short tacks, outside the +reef. + +On board the _Avenger_ the enemy and their motions were clearly +distinguished, and Cain perceived that he was in an awkward dilemma. +That they would be attacked he had no doubt; and although, at any other +time, he would almost have rejoiced in such an opportunity of +discomfiting his assailants, yet now he thought very differently, and +would have sacrificed almost everything to have been able to avoid the +rencontre, and be permitted quietly to withdraw himself from his +associates, without the spilling of more blood. Francisco was equally +annoyed at this unfortunate collision; but no words were exchanged +between him and the pirate captain during the time that they were on +deck. + +It was about nine o'clock, when having safely passed nearly half through +the channel, that Cain ordered the kedge-anchor to be dropped, and sent +down the people to their breakfast. Francisco went down into the cabin, +and was explaining their situation to Clara, when Cain entered. He threw +himself on the locker, and appeared lost in deep and sombre meditation. + +'What do you intend to do?' said Francisco. + +'I do not know; I will not decide myself, Francisco,' replied Cain. 'If +I were to act upon my own judgment, probably I should allow the schooner +to remain where she is. They can only attack in the boats, and, in such +a case, I do not fear; whereas, if we run right through, we allow the +other schooner to follow us, without defending the passage; and we may +be attacked by her in the deep water inside, and overpowered by the +number of men the two vessels will be able to bring against us. On the +other hand, we certainly may defend the schooner from the shore as well +as on board; but we are weak-handed. I shall, however, call up the +ship's company and let them decide. God knows, if left to me I would not +fight at all.' + +'Is there no way of escape?' resumed Francisco. + +'Yes, we might abandon the schooner; and this night, when they would not +expect it, run with the boats through the channel between the great +island and the north Cayque: but that I dare not propose, and the men +would not listen to it; indeed, I very much doubt if the enemy will +allow us the time. I knew this morning, long before we saw those +vessels, that my fate would be decided before the sun went down.' + +'What do you mean?' + +'I mean this, Francisco,' said Cain; 'that your mother, who always has +visited me in my dreams whenever anything (dreadful now to think of!) +was about to take place, appeared to me last night; and there was sorrow +and pity in her sweet face as she mournfully waved her hand, as if to +summon me to follow her. Yes, thank God! she no longer looked upon me as +for many years she has done.' + +Francisco made no answer; and Cain again seemed to be lost in +meditation. + +After a little while Cain rose, and taking a small packet from one of +the drawers, put it into the hands of Francisco. + +'Preserve that,' said the pirate captain; 'should any accident happen to +me it will tell you who was your mother; and it also contains directions +for finding treasure which I have buried. I leave everything to you, +Francisco. It has been unfairly obtained; but you are not the guilty +party, and there are none to claim it. Do not answer me now. You may +find friends, whom you will make after I am gone, of the same opinion as +I am. I tell you again, be careful of that packet.' + +'I see little chance of it availing me,' replied Francisco. 'If I live, +shall I not be considered as a pirate?' + +'No, no; you can prove the contrary.' + +'I have my doubts. But God's will be done!' + +'Yes, God's will be done!' said Cain mournfully. 'I dared not have said +that a month ago.' And the pirate captain went on deck, followed by +Francisco. + +The crew of the _Avenger_ were summoned aft, and called upon to decide +as to the measures they considered to be most advisable. They preferred +weighing the anchor and running into the bay, where they would be able +to defend the schooner, in their opinion, much better than by remaining +where they were. + +The crew of the pirate schooner weighed the anchor, and continued their +precarious course; the breeze had freshened, and the water was in strong +ripples, so that they could no longer see the danger beneath her bottom. +In the meantime, the sloop of war and _Enterprise_ continued to turn to +windward outside the reef. + +By noon the wind had considerably increased, and the breakers now turned +and broke in wild foam over the coral reefs in every direction. The sail +was still more reduced on board the _Avenger_, and her difficulties +increased from the rapidity of her motion. + +A storm-jib was set, and the others hauled down; yet even under this +small sail she flew before the wind. + +Cain stood at the bowsprit, giving his directions to the helmsman. More +than once they had grazed the rocks and were clear again. Spars were +towed astern, and every means resorted to, to check her way. They had no +guide but the breaking of the wild water on each side of them. + +'Why should not Hawkhurst, who knows the passage so well, be made to +pilot us?' said the boatswain to those who were near him on the +forecastle. + +'To be sure! let's have him up!' cried several of the crew; and some of +them went down below. + +In a minute they reappeared with Hawkhurst, whom they led forward. He +did not make any resistance, and the crew demanded that he should pilot +the vessel. + +'And suppose I will not?' said Hawkhurst coolly. + +'Then you lose your passage, that's all,' replied the boatswain. 'Is it +not so, my lads?' continued he, appealing to the crew. + +'Yes; either take us safe in, or--overboard,' replied several. + +'I do not mind that threat, my lads,' replied Hawkhurst; 'you have all +known me as a good man and true, and it's not likely that I shall desert +you now. Well, since your captain there cannot save you, I suppose I +must; but,' exclaimed he, looking about him, 'how's this? We are out of +the passage already. Yes--and whether we can get into it again I cannot +tell.' + +'We are not out of the passage,' said Cain; 'you know we are not.' + +'Well then, if the captain knows better than I, he had better take you +through,' rejoined Hawkhurst. + +But the crew thought differently, and insisted that Hawkhurst, who well +knew the channel, should take charge. Cain retired aft, as Hawkhurst +went out on the bowsprit. + +'I will do my best, my lads,' said Hawkhurst; 'but recollect, if we +strike in trying to get into the right channel, do not blame me. +Starboard a little--starboard yet--steady, so--there's the true passage, +my lads!' cried he, pointing to some smoother water between the +breakers; 'port a little--steady.' + +But Hawkhurst, who knew that he was to be put on shore as soon as +convenient, had resolved to lose the schooner, even if his own life were +forfeited, and he was now running her out of the passage on the rocks. A +minute after he had conned her, she struck heavily again and again. The +third time she struck, she came broadside to the wind and heeled over; +a sharp coral rock found its way through her slight timbers and +planking, and the water poured in rapidly. + +During this there was a dead silence on the part of the marauders. + +'My lads,' said Hawkhurst, 'I have done my best, and now you may throw +me overboard if you please. It was not my fault, but his,' continued he, +pointing to the captain. + +'It is of little consequence whose fault it was, Mr. Hawkhurst,' replied +Cain; 'we will settle that point by and by; at present we have too much +on our hands. Out boats, men! as fast as you can, and let every man +provide himself with arms and ammunition. Be cool! the schooner is fixed +hard enough, and will not go down; we shall save everything by and by.' + +The pirates obeyed the orders of the captain. The three boats were +hoisted out and lowered down. In the first were placed all the wounded +men and Clara d'Alfarez, who was assisted up by Francisco. As soon as +the men had provided themselves with arms, Francisco, to protect Clara, +offered to take charge of her, and the boat shoved off. + +The men-of-war had seen the _Avenger_ strike on the rocks, and the +preparations of the crew to take to their boats. They immediately +hove-to, hoisted out and manned their own boats, with the hopes of +cutting them off before they could gain the island and prepare for a +vigorous defence; for, although the vessels could not approach the +reefs, there was sufficient water in many places for the boats to pass +over them. Shortly after Francisco, in the first boat, had shoved off +from the _Avenger_, the boats of the men-of-war were darting through the +surf to intercept them. The pirates perceived this, and hastened their +arrangements; a second boat soon left her, and into that Hawkhurst +leaped as it was shoving off. Cain remained on board, going round the +lower decks to ascertain if any of the wounded men were left; he then +quitted the schooner in the last boat and followed the others, being +about a quarter of a mile astern of the second, in which Hawkhurst had +secured his place. + +At the time that Cain quitted the schooner, it was difficult to say +whether the men-of-war's boats would succeed in intercepting any of the +pirates' boats. Both parties exerted themselves to their utmost; and +when the first boat, with Francisco and Clara, landed, the headmost of +the assailants was not much more than half a mile from them; but shallow +water intervening there was a delay, which was favourable to the +pirates. Hawkhurst landed in his boat as the launch of the _Comus_ fired +her eighteen-pound carronade. The last boat was yet two hundred yards +from the beach, when another shot from the _Comus's_ launch, which had +been unable hitherto to find a passage through the reef, struck her on +the counter, and she filled and went down. + +'He is gone!' exclaimed Francisco, who had led Clara to a cave, and +stood at the mouth of it to protect her; 'they have sunk his boat--no, +he is swimming to the shore, and will be here now, long before the +English seamen can land.' + +This was true. Cain was breasting the water manfully, making for a small +cove nearer to where the boat was sunk than the one in which Francisco +had landed with Clara and the wounded men, and divided from the other by +a ridge of rocks which separated the sandy beach, and extended some way +into the water before they were submerged. Francisco could easily +distinguish the pirate captain from the other men, who also were +swimming for the beach; for Cain was far ahead of them, and as he gained +nearer to the shore he was shut from Francisco's sight by the ridge of +rocks. Francisco, anxious for his safety, climbed up the rocks and was +watching. Cain was within a few yards of the beach when there was a +report of a musket; the pirate captain was seen to raise his body +convulsively half out of the water--he floundered--the clear blue wave +was discoloured--he sank, and was seen no more. + +Francisco darted forward from the rocks, and perceived Hawkhurst +standing beneath them with the musket in his hand, which he was +recharging. + +'Villain!' exclaimed Francisco, 'you shall account for this.' + +Hawkhurst had reprimed his musket and shut the pan. + +'Not to you,' replied Hawkhurst, levelling his piece, and taking aim at +Francisco. + +The ball struck Francisco on the breast; he reeled back from his +position, staggered across the sand, gained the cave, and fell at the +feet of Clara. + +[Illustration: _The pirate captain was seen to raise his body +convulsively half out of the water--he floundered, sank, and was seen no +more._] + +'O God!' exclaimed the poor girl, 'are _you_ hurt? who is there, then, +to protect me?' + +'I hardly know,' replied Francisco faintly; and, at intervals, 'I feel +no wound. I feel stronger;' and Francisco put his hand to his heart. + +Clara opened his vest, and found that the packet given to Francisco by +Cain, and which he had deposited in his breast, had been struck by the +bullet, which had done him no injury further than the violent concussion +of the blow--notwithstanding he was faint from the shock, and his head +fell upon Clara's bosom. + +But we must relate the proceedings of those who were mixed up in this +exciting scene. Edward Templemore had watched from his vessel, with an +eager and painful curiosity, the motions of the schooner--her running on +the rocks, and the subsequent actions of the intrepid marauders. The +long telescope enabled him to perceive distinctly all that passed, and +his feelings were increased into a paroxysm of agony when his straining +eyes beheld the white and fluttering habiliments of a female for a +moment at the gunwale of the stranded vessel--her descent, as it +appeared to him, nothing loth, into the boat--the arms held out to +receive, and the extension of hers to meet those offered. Could it be +Clara? Where was the reluctance, the unavailing attempts at resistance, +which should have characterised her situation? Excited by feelings which +he dared not analyse, he threw down his glass, and, seizing his sword, +sprang into his boat, which was ready manned alongside, desiring the +others to follow him. For once, and the only time in his existence when +approaching the enemy, did he feel his heart sink within him--a cold +tremor ran through his whole frame, and as he called to mind the loose +morals and desperate habits of the pirates, horrible thoughts entered +his imagination. As he neared the shore, he stood up in the stern-sheets +of the boat, pale, haggard, and with trembling lips; and the intensity +of his feelings would have been intolerable but for a more violent +thirst for revenge. He clenched his sword, while the quick throbs of his +heart seemed, at every pulsation, to repeat to him his thoughts of +blood! blood! blood! He approached the small bay, and perceived that +there was a female at the mouth of the cave--nearer and nearer, and he +was certain that it was his Clara--her name was on his lips when he +heard the two shots fired one after another by Hawkhurst--he saw the +retreat and fall of Francisco--when, madness to behold! he perceived +Clara rush forward, and there lay the young man supported by her, and +with his head upon her bosom. Could he believe what he saw? could she +really be his betrothed? Yes, there she was, supporting the handsome +figure of a young man, and that man a pirate--she had even put her hand +into his vest, and was now watching over his reviving form. Edward could +bear no more; he covered his eyes, and now, maddened with jealousy, in a +voice of thunder he called out-- + +'Give way, my lads! for your lives, give way!' + +The gig was within half a dozen strokes of the oar from the beach, and +Clara, unconscious of wrong, had just taken the packet of papers from +Francisco's vest, when Hawkhurst made his appearance from behind the +rocks which separated the two little sandy coves. Francisco had +recovered his breath, and, perceiving the approach of Hawkhurst, he +sprang upon his feet to recover his musket; but, before he could +succeed, Hawkhurst had closed in with him, and a short and dreadful +struggle ensued. It would soon have terminated fatally to Francisco, for +the superior strength of Hawkhurst had enabled him to bear down the body +of his opponent with his knee, and he was fast strangling him by +twisting his handkerchief round his throat, while Clara shrieked, and +attempted in vain to tear the pirate from him. As the prostrate +Francisco was fast blackening into a corpse, and the maiden screamed for +pity, and became frantic in her efforts for his rescue, the boat dashed +high up on the sand; and, with the bound of a maddened tiger, Edward +sprang upon Hawkhurst, tearing him down on his back, and severing his +wrist with his sword-blade until his hold of Francisco was relaxed, and +he wrestled in his own defence. + +'Seize him, my lads!' said Edward, pointing with his left hand to +Hawkhurst; as with his sword directed to the body of Francisco he +bitterly continued, '_This victim is mine!_' But, whatever were his +intentions, they were frustrated by Clara's recognition, who shrieked +out, 'My Edward!' sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a state +of insensibility. + +The seamen who had secured Hawkhurst looked upon the scene with curious +astonishment, while Edward waited with mingled feelings of impatience +and doubt for Clara's recovery; he wished to be assured by her that he +was mistaken, and he turned again and again from her face to that of +Francisco, who was fast recovering. During this painful suspense, +Hawkhurst was bound and made to sit down. + +[Illustration: _Clara sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a +state of insensibility._] + +'Edward! dear Edward!' said Clara at last, in a faint voice, clinging +more closely to him; 'and am I then rescued by thee, dearest!' + +Edward felt the appeal; but his jealousy had not yet subsided. + +'Who is that, Clara?' said he sternly. + +'It is Francisco. No pirate, Edward, but my preserver.' + +'Ha, ha!' laughed Hawkhurst, with a bitter sneer, for he perceived how +matters stood. + +Edward Templemore turned towards him with an inquiring look. + +'Ha, ha!' continued Hawkhurst; 'why, he is the captain's son! No pirate, +eh? Well, what will women not swear to, to save those they dote upon!' + +'If the captain's son,' said Edward, 'why were you contending?' + +'Because just now I shot his scoundrel father.' + +'Edward!' said Clara solemnly, 'this is no time for explanation; but, as +I hope for mercy, what I have said is true; believe not that villain.' + +'Yes,' said Francisco, who was now sitting up, 'believe him when he says +that he shot the captain, for that is true; but, sir, if you value your +own peace of mind, believe nothing to the prejudice of that young lady.' + +'I hardly know what to believe,' muttered Edward Templemore; 'but, as +the lady says, this is no time for explanation. With your permission, +madam,' said he to Clara, 'my coxswain will see you in safety on board +of the schooner, or the other vessel, if you prefer it; my duty will not +allow me to accompany you.' + +Clara darted a reproachful yet fond look on Edward, as, with swimming +eyes, she was led by the coxswain to the boat, which had been joined by +the launch of the _Comus_, the crew of which were, with their officers, +wading to the beach. The men of the gig remained until they had given +Hawkhurst and Francisco in charge of the other seamen, and then shoved +off with Clara for the schooner. Edward Templemore gave one look at the +gig as it conveyed Clara on board, and ordering Hawkhurst and Francisco +to be taken to the launch, and a guard to be kept over them, went up, +with the remainder of the men, in pursuit of the pirates. + +During the scene we have described, the other boats of the men-of-war +had landed on the island, and the _Avenger's_ crew, deprived of their +leaders, and scattered in every direction, were many of them slain or +captured. In about two hours it was supposed that the majority of the +pirates had been accounted for, and the prisoners being now very +numerous, it was decided that the boats should return with them to the +_Comus_, the captain of which vessel, as commanding officer, would then +issue orders as to their future proceedings. + +The captured pirates, when mustered on the deck of the _Comus_, amounted +to nearly sixty, out of which number one-half were those who had been +sent on shore wounded, and had surrendered without resistance. Of killed +there were fifteen; and it was conjectured that as many more had been +drowned in the boat when she was sunk by the shot from the carronade of +the launch. Although, by the account given by the captured pirates, the +majority were secured, yet there was reason to suppose that some were +still left on the island concealed in the caves. + +As the captain of the _Comus_ had orders to return as soon as possible, +he decided to sail immediately for Port Royal with the prisoners, +leaving the _Enterprise_ to secure the remainder, if there were any, and +recover anything of value which might be left in the wreck of the +_Avenger_, and then to destroy her. + +With the usual celerity of the service these orders were obeyed. The +pirates, among whom Francisco was included, were secured, the boats +hoisted up, and in half an hour the _Comus_ displayed her ensign, and +made all sail on a wind, leaving Edward Templemore, with the +_Enterprise_, at the back of the reef, to perform the duties entailed +upon him; and Clara, who was on board of the schooner, to remove the +suspicion and jealousy which had arisen in the bosom of her lover. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE TRIAL + + +In a week, the _Comus_ arrived at Port Royal, and the captain went up to +the Penn to inform the admiral of the successful result of the +expedition. + +'Thank God,' said the admiral, 'we have caught these villains at last! A +little hanging will do them no harm. The captain, you say, was drowned?' + +'So it is reported, sir,' replied Captain Manly; 'he was in the last +boat which left the schooner, and she was sunk by a shot from the +launch.' + +'I am sorry for that; the death was too good for him. However, we must +make an example of the rest; they must be tried by the Admiralty Court, +which has the jurisdiction of the high seas. Send them on shore, Manly, +and we wash our hands of them.' + +'Very good, sir; but there are still some left on the island, we have +reason to believe, and the _Enterprise_ is in search of them.' + +'By the bye, did Templemore find his lady?' + +'Oh yes, sir; and--all's right, I believe: but I had very little to say +to him on the subject.' + +'Humph!' replied the admiral. 'I am glad to hear it. Well, send them on +shore, Manly, to the proper authorities. If any more be found, they must +be hung afterwards when Templemore brings them in. I am more pleased at +having secured these scoundrels than if we had taken a French frigate.' + +About three weeks after this conversation, the secretary reported to the +admiral that the _Enterprise_ had made her number outside; but that she +was becalmed, and would not probably be in until the evening. + +'That's a pity,' replied the admiral; 'for the pirates are to be tried +this morning. He may have more of them on board.' + +'Very true, sir; but the trial will hardly be over to-day: the judge +will not be in court till one o'clock at the soonest.' + +'It's of little consequence, certainly; as it is, there are so many that +they must be hanged by divisions. However, as he is within signal +distance, let them telegraph 'Pirates now on trial.' He can pull on +shore in his gig, if he pleases.' + +It was about noon on the same day that the pirates, and among them +Francisco, escorted by a strong guard, were conducted to the court-house +and placed at the bar. The court-house was crowded to excess, for the +interest excited was intense. + +Many of them who had been wounded in the attack upon the property of Don +Cumanos, and afterwards captured, had died in their confinement. Still +forty-five were placed at the bar; and their picturesque costume, their +bearded faces, and the atrocities which they had committed, created in +those present a sensation of anxiety mingled with horror and +indignation. + +Two of the youngest amongst them had been permitted to turn king's +evidence. They had been on board of the _Avenger_ but a few months; +still their testimony as to the murder of the crews of three West India +ships, and the attack upon the property of Don Cumanos, was quite +sufficient to condemn the remainder. + +Much time was necessarily expended in going through the forms of the +court; in the pirates answering to their various names; and, lastly, in +taking down the detailed evidence of the above men. It was late when the +evidence was read over to the pirates, and they were asked if they had +anything to offer in their defence. The question was repeated by the +judge; when Hawkhurst was the first to speak. To save himself he could +scarcely hope; his only object was to prevent Francisco pleading his +cause successfully, and escaping the same disgraceful death. + +[Illustration: _The pirates at the bar._] + +Hawkhurst declared that he had been some time on board the _Avenger_, +but that he had been taken out of a vessel and forced to serve against +his will, as could be proved by the captain's son, who stood there +(pointing to Francisco), who had been in the schooner since her first +fitting out: that he had always opposed the captain, who would not part +with him, because he was the only one on board who was competent to +navigate the schooner: that he had intended to rise against him, and +take the vessel, having often stimulated the crew so to do; and that, as +the other men, as well as the captain's son, could prove, if they +choose, he actually was in confinement for that attempt when the +schooner was entering the passage to the Caicos; and that he was only +released because he was acquainted with the passage, and threatened to +be thrown overboard if he did not take her in: that, at every risk, he +had run her on the rocks; and aware that the captain would murder him, +he had shot Cain as he was swimming to the shore, as the captain's son +could prove; for he had taxed him with it, and he was actually +struggling with him for life, when the officers and boats' crew +separated them, and made them both prisoners: that he hardly expected +that Francisco, the captain's son, would tell the truth to save him, as +he was his bitter enemy, and in the business at the Magdalen river, +which had been long planned (for Francisco had been sent on shore under +the pretence of being wrecked, but, in fact, to ascertain where the +booty was, and to assist the pirates in their attack), Francisco had +taken the opportunity of putting a bullet through his shoulder, which +was well known to the other pirates, and Francisco could not venture to +deny. He trusted that the court would order the torture to Francisco, +and then he would probably speak the truth; at all events, let him speak +now. + +When Hawkhurst had ceased to address the court, there was an anxious +pause for some minutes. The day was fast declining, and most parts of +the spacious court-house were already deeply immersed in gloom; while +the light, sober, solemn, and almost sad, gleamed upon the savage and +reckless countenances of the prisoners at the bar. The sun had sunk down +behind a mass of heavy yet gorgeous clouds, fringing their edges with +molten gold. Hawkhurst had spoken fluently and energetically, and there +was an appearance of almost honesty in his coarse and deep-toned voice. +Even the occasional oaths with which his speech was garnished, but which +we have omitted, seemed to be pronounced more in sincerity than in +blasphemy, and gave a more forcible impression to his narrative. + +We have said that when he concluded there was a profound silence; and +amid the fast-falling shadows of the evening, those who were present +began to feel, for the first time, the awful importance of the drama +before them, the number of lives which were trembling upon the verge of +existence, depending upon the single word of 'Guilty.' This painful +silence, this harrowing suspense, was at last broken by a restrained sob +from a female; but, owing to the obscurity involving the body of the +court, her person could not be distinguished. The wail of woman so +unexpected--for who could there be of that sex interested in the fate of +these desperate men?--touched the heart of its auditors, and appeared to +sow the first seeds of compassionate and humane feeling among those who +had hitherto expressed and felt nothing but indignation towards the +prisoners. + +The judge upon the bench, the counsel at the bar, and the jury +impannelled in their box, felt the force of the appeal; and it softened +down the evil impression created by the address of Hawkhurst against the +youthful Francisco. The eyes of all were now directed towards the one +doubly accused--accused not only by the public prosecutor, but even by +his associate in crime--and the survey was favourable. They acknowledged +that he was one whose personal qualities might indeed challenge the love +of woman in his pride, and her lament in his disgrace; and as their +regard was directed towards him, the sun, which had been obscured, now +pierced through a break in the mass of clouds, and threw a portion of +his glorious beams from a window opposite upon him, and him alone, while +all the other prisoners who surrounded him were buried more or less in +deep shadow. It was at once evident that his associates were bold yet +commonplace villains--men who owed their courage, their only virtue +perhaps, to their habits, to their physical organisation, or the +influence of those around them. They were mere human butchers, with the +only adjunct that, now that the trade was to be exercised upon +themselves, they could bear it with sullen apathy--a feeling how far +removed from true fortitude! Even Hawkhurst, though more commanding than +the rest, with all his daring mien and scowl of defiance, looked nothing +more than a distinguished ruffian. With the exception of Francisco, the +prisoners had wholly neglected their personal appearance; and in them +the squalid and sordid look of the mendicant seemed allied with the +ferocity of the murderer. + +Francisco was not only an exception, but formed a beautiful contrast to +the others; and as the evening beams lighted up his figure, he stood at +the bar, if not with all the splendour of a hero of romance, certainly a +most picturesque and interesting personage, elegantly if not richly +attired. + +The low sobs at intervals repeated, as if impossible to be checked, +seemed to rouse and call him to a sense of the important part which he +was called upon to act in the tragedy there and then performing. His +face was pale, yet composed; his mien at once proud and sorrowful; his +eye was bright, yet his glance was not upon those in court, but far +away, fixed, like an eagle's, upon the gorgeous beams of the setting +sun, which glowed upon him through the window that was in front of him. + +At last the voice of Francisco was heard, and all in that wide court +started at the sound--deep, full, and melodious as the evening chimes. +The ears of those present had, in the profound silence, but just +recovered from the harsh, deep-toned, and barbarous idiom of Hawkhurst's +address, when the clear, silvery, yet manly voice of Francisco riveted +their attention. The jury stretched forth their heads, the counsel and +all in court turned anxiously round towards the prisoner, even the judge +held up his forefinger to intimate his wish for perfect silence. + +'My lord and gentlemen,' commenced Francisco, 'when I first found myself +in this degrading situation, I had not thought to have spoken or to have +uttered one word in my defence. He that has just now accused me has +recommended the torture to be applied; he has already had his wish, for +what torture can be more agonising than to find myself where I now am? +So tortured, indeed, have I been through a short yet wretched life, that +I have often felt that anything short of self-destruction which would +release me would be a blessing; but within these few minutes I have been +made to acknowledge that I have still feelings in unison with my +fellow-creatures; that I am not yet fit for death, and all too young, +too unprepared to die: for who would not reluctantly leave this world +while there is such a beauteous sky to love and look upon, or while +there is one female breast who holds him innocent, and has evinced her +pity for his misfortunes? Yes, my lord! mercy, and pity, and compassion +have not yet fled from earth; and therefore do I feel I am too young to +die. God forgive me! but I thought they had--for never have they been +shown in those with whom by fate I have been connected; and it has been +from this conviction that I have so often longed for death. And now may +that righteous God who judges us not here, but hereafter, enable me to +prove that I do not deserve an ignominious punishment from my +fellow-sinners--men! + +'My lord, I know not the subtleties of the laws, nor the intricacy of +pleadings. First, let me assert that I have never robbed; but I have +restored unto the plundered: I have never murdered; but I have stood +between the assassin's knife and his victim. For this have I been hated +and reviled by my associates, and for this is my life now threatened by +those laws against which I never have offended. The man who last +addressed you has told you that I am the pirate captain's son; it is the +assertion of the only irreclaimable and utterly remorseless villain +among those who now stand before you to be judged--the assertion of one +whose glory, whose joy, whose solace, has been blood-shedding. + +'My lord, I had it from the mouth of the captain himself, previous to +his murder by that man, that I was not his son. His son! thank God, not +so. Connected with him and in his power I was most certainly and most +incomprehensibly. Before he died, he delivered me a packet that would +have told me who I am; but I have lost it, and deeply have I felt the +loss. One only fact I gained from him whom they would call my father, +which is, that with his own hand he slew--yes, basely slew--my mother.' + +The address of Francisco was here interrupted by a low deep groan of +anguish, which startled the whole audience. It was now quite dark, and +the judge ordered the court to be lighted previous to the defence being +continued. The impatience and anxiety of those present were shown in low +murmurs of communication until the lights were brought in. The word +'Silence!' from the judge produced an immediate obedience, and the +prisoner was ordered to proceed. + +Francisco then continued his address, commencing with the remembrances +of his earliest childhood. As he warmed with his subject he became more +eloquent; his action became energetical without violence; and the pallid +and modest youth gradually grew into the impassioned and inspired +orator. He recapitulated rapidly, yet distinctly and with terrible +force, all the startling events in his fearful life. There was truth in +the tones of his voice, there was conviction in his animated +countenance, there was innocence in his open and expressive brow. + +All who heard believed; and scarcely had he concluded his address, when +the jury appeared impatient to rise and give their verdict in his +favour. But the judge stood up, and addressing the jury, told them that +it was his most painful duty to remind them that as yet they had heard +but assertion, beautiful and almost convincing assertion truly; but +still it was not proof. + +'Alas!' observed Francisco, 'what evidence can I bring forward, except +the evidence of those around me at the bar, which will not be admitted? +Can I recall the dead from the grave? Can I expect those who have been +murdered to rise again to assert my innocence? Can I expect that Don +Cumanos will appear from distant leagues to give evidence on my behalf? +Alas! he knows not how I am situated, or he would have flown to my +succour. No, no; not even can I expect that the sweet Spanish maiden, +the last to whom I offered my protection, will appear in such a place as +this to meet the bold gaze of hundreds!' + +'She is here!' replied a manly voice; and a passage was made through the +crowd; and Clara, supported by Edward Templemore, dressed in his +uniform, was ushered into the box for the witnesses. The appearance of +the fair girl, who looked round her with alarm, created a great +sensation. As soon as she was sufficiently composed she was sworn, and +gave her evidence as to Francisco's behaviour during the time that she +was a prisoner on board of the _Avenger_. She produced the packet which +had saved the life of Francisco, and substantiated a great part of his +defence. She extolled his kindness and his generosity; and when she had +concluded every one asked of himself, 'Can this young man be a pirate +and a murderer?' The reply was, 'It is impossible.' + +[Illustration: _As soon as she was sufficiently composed, was sworn, and +gave her evidence._] + +'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, 'I request permission to ask the +prisoner a question. When I was on board of the wreck of the _Avenger_, +I found this book floating in the cabin. I wish to ask the prisoner +whether, as that young lady has informed me, it is his?' And Edward +Templemore produced the Bible. + +'It is mine,' replied Francisco. + +'May I ask you by what means it came into your possession?' + +'It is the only relic left of one who is now no more. It was the +consolation of my murdered mother; it has since been mine. Give it to +me, sir; I may probably need its support now more than ever.' + +'Was your mother murdered, say you?' cried Edward Templemore, with much +agitation. + +'I have already said so; and I now repeat it.' + +The judge again rose, and recapitulated the evidence to the jury. +Evidently friendly to Francisco, he was obliged to point out to them, +that although the evidence of the young lady had produced much which +might be offered in extenuation, and induce him to submit it to His +Majesty, in hopes of his gracious pardon after condemnation, yet, that +many acts in which the prisoner had been involved had endangered his +life, and no testimony had been brought forward to prove that he had +not, at one time, acted with the pirates, although he might since have +repented. They would, of course, remember that the evidence of the mate, +Hawkhurst, was not of any value, and must dismiss any impression which +it might have made against Francisco. At the same time he had the +unpleasant duty to point out that the evidence of the Spanish lady was +so far prejudicial, that it pointed out the good terms subsisting +between the young man and the pirate captain. Much as he was interested +in his fate, he must reluctantly remind the jury that the evidence on +the whole was not sufficient to clear the prisoner; and he considered it +their duty to return a verdict of _guilty against all the prisoners at +the bar_. + +'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, a few seconds after the judge had +resumed his seat, 'may not the contents of this packet, the seal of +which I have not ventured to break, afford some evidence in favour of +the prisoner? Have you any objection that it should be opened previous +to the jury delivering their verdict?' + +'None,' replied the judge; 'but what are its supposed contents?' + +'The contents, my lord,' replied Francisco, 'are in the writing of the +pirate captain. He delivered that packet into my hands previous to our +quitting the schooner, stating that it would inform me who were my +parents. My lord, in my present situation I claim that packet, and +refuse that its contents shall be read in court. If I am to die an +ignominious death, at least those who are connected with me shall not +have to blush at my disgrace, for the secret of my parentage shall die +with me.' + +'Nay--nay; be ruled by me,' replied Edward Templemore, with much +emotion. 'In the narrative, the handwriting of which can be proved by +the king's evidence, there may be acknowledgment of all you have stated, +and it will be received as evidence; will it not, my lord?' + +'If the handwriting is proved, I should think it may,' replied the +judge; 'particularly as the lady was present when the packet was +delivered, and heard the captain's assertion. Will you allow it to be +offered as evidence, young man?' + +'No, my lord,' replied Francisco; 'unless I have permission first to +peruse it myself. I will not have its contents divulged, unless I am +sure of an honourable acquittal. The jury must deliver their verdict.' + +The jury turned round to consult, during which Edward Templemore walked +to Francisco, accompanied by Clara, to entreat him to allow the packet +to be opened; but Francisco was firm against both their entreaties. At +last the foreman of the jury rose to deliver the verdict. A solemn and +awful silence prevailed throughout the court; the suspense was painful +to a degree. + +'My lord,' said the foreman of the jury, 'our verdict is----' + +'Stop, sir!' said Edward Templemore, as he clasped one arm round the +astonished Francisco, and extended the other towards the foreman. 'Stop, +sir! harm him not! for he is my brother!' + +'And my preserver!' cried Clara, kneeling on the other side of +Francisco, and holding up her hands in supplication. + +The announcement was electrical; the foreman dropped into his seat; the +judge and whole court were in mute astonishment. The dead silence was +followed by confusion, which, after a time, the judge in vain attempted +to put a stop to. + +Edward Templemore, Clara, and Francisco, continued to form the same +group; and never was there one more beautiful. And now that they were +together, every one in court perceived the strong resemblance between +the two young men. + +Francisco's complexion was darker than Edward's, from his constant +exposure, from infancy, to tropical sun; but the features of the two +were the same. + +It was some time before the judge could obtain silence in the court; and +when it had been obtained, he was himself puzzled how to proceed. + +Edward and Francisco, who had exchanged a few words, were now standing +side by side. + +'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, 'the prisoner consents that the +packet shall be opened.' + +'I do,' said Francisco mournfully; 'although I have but little hope from +its contents. Alas! now that I have everything to live for--now that I +cling to life, I feel as if every chance was gone! The days of miracles +have passed; and nothing but the miracle of the reappearance of the +pirate captain from the grave can prove my innocence.' + +'He reappears from the grave to prove thine innocence, Francisco!' said +a deep, hollow voice, which startled the whole court, and most of all +Hawkhurst and the prisoners at the bar. Still more did fear and horror +distort their countenances when into the witness-box stalked the giant +form of Cain. + +But it was no longer the figure which we have described in the +commencement of this narrative; his beard had been removed, and he was +pale, wan, and emaciated. His sunken eyes, his hollow cheek, and a short +cough, which interrupted his speech, proved that his days were nearly at +a close. + +'My lord,' said Cain, addressing the judge, 'I am the pirate Cain, and +was the captain of the _Avenger_! Still am I free! I come here +voluntarily, that I may attest the innocence of that young man! As yet, +my hand has not known the manacle, nor my feet the gyves! I am not a +prisoner, nor included in the indictment, and at present my evidence is +good. None know me in this court, except those whose testimony, as +prisoners, is unavailing; and therefore, to save that boy, and only to +save him, I demand that I may be sworn.' + +The oath was administered with more than usual solemnity. + +'My lord, and gentlemen of the jury, I have been in court since the +commencement of the trial, and I declare that every word which Francisco +has uttered in his own defence is true. He is totally innocent of any +act of piracy or murder; the packet would, indeed, have proved as much: +but in that packet there are secrets which I wished to remain unknown to +all but Francisco; and, rather than it should be opened, I have come +forward myself. How that young officer discovered that Francisco is his +brother I know not; but if he also is the son of Cecilia Templemore, it +is true. But the packet will explain all. + +'And now, my lords, that my evidence is received, I am content; I have +done one good deed before I die, and I surrender myself, as a pirate and +a foul murderer, to justice. True, my life is nearly closed--thanks to +that villain there; but I prefer that I should meet that death I merit, +as an expiation of my many deeds of guilt.' + +Cain then turned to Hawkhurst, who was close to him, but the mate +appeared to be in a state of stupor; he had not recovered from his first +terror, and still imagined the appearance of Cain to be supernatural. + +'Villain!' exclaimed Cain, putting his mouth close to Hawkhurst's ear; +'doubly d--d villain! thou'lt die like a dog, and unrevenged! The boy is +safe, and I'm alive!' + +'Art thou really living?' said Hawkhurst, recovering from his fear. + +'Yes, living--yes, flesh and blood; feel, wretch! feel this arm, and be +convinced; thou hast felt the power of it before now,' continued Cain +sarcastically. 'And now, my lord, I have done; Francisco, fare thee +well! I loved thee, and have proved my love. Hate not then my memory, +and forgive me--yes, forgive me when I'm no more,' said Cain, who then +turned his eyes to the ceiling of the court-house. 'Yes, there she is, +Francisco!--there she is! and see,' cried he, extending both arms +above his head, 'she smiles upon--yes, Francisco, your sainted mother +smiles and pardons----' + +[Illustration: _'Blood for blood!'_] + +The sentence was not finished; for Hawkhurst, when Cain's arms were +upheld, perceived his knife in his girdle, and, with the rapidity of +thought, he drew it out, and passed it through the body of the pirate +captain. + +Cain fell heavily on the floor, while the court was again in confusion. +Hawkhurst was secured, and Cain raised from the ground. + +'I thank thee, Hawkhurst!' said Cain, in an expiring voice; 'another +murder thou hast to answer for; and you have saved me from the disgrace, +not of the gallows, but of the gallows in thy company. Francisco, boy, +farewell!' and Cain groaned deeply, and expired. + +Thus perished the renowned pirate captain, who in his life had shed so +much blood, and whose death produced another murder. 'Blood for blood!' + +The body was removed; and it now remained but for the jury to give their +verdict. All the prisoners were found guilty, with the exception of +Francisco, who left the dock accompanied by his newly-found brother, and +the congratulations of every individual who could gain access to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +CONCLUSION + + +Our first object will be to explain to the reader by what means Edward +Templemore was induced to surmise that in Francisco, whom he had +considered as a rival, he had found a brother; and also to account for +the reappearance of the pirate Cain. + +In pursuance of his orders, Edward Templemore had proceeded on board of +the wreck of the _Avenger_; and while his men were employed in +collecting articles of great value which were on board of her, he had +descended into the cabin, which was partly under water. Here he had +picked up a book floating near the lockers, and on examination found it +to be a Bible. + +Surprised at seeing such a book on board of a pirate, he had taken it +with him when he returned to the _Enterprise_, and had shown it to +Clara, who immediately recognised it as the property of Francisco. The +book was saturated with the salt water, and as Edward mechanically +turned over the pages, he referred to the title-page to see if there was +any name upon it. There was not; but he observed that the blank or +fly-leaf next to the binding had been pasted down, and that there was +writing on the other side. In its present state it was easily detached +from the cover; and then, to his astonishment, he read the name of +Cecilia Templemore--his own mother. He knew well the history; how he had +been saved, and his mother and brother supposed to be lost; and it may +readily be imagined how great was his anxiety to ascertain by what means +her Bible had come into the possession of Francisco. He dared not think +Francisco was his brother--that he was so closely connected with one he +still supposed to be a pirate: but the circumstance was possible; and +although he had intended to have remained a few days longer, he now +listened to the entreaties of Clara, whose peculiar position on board +was only to be justified by the peculiar position from which she had +been rescued, and returning that evening to the wreck he set fire to +her, and then made all sail for Port Royal. + +Fortunately he arrived, as we have stated, on the day of the trial; and +as soon as the signal was made by the admiral he immediately manned his +gig, and taking Clara with him, in case her evidence might be of use, +arrived at the court-house when the trial was about half over. + +In our last chapter but one, we stated that Cain had been wounded by +Hawkhurst, when he was swimming on shore, and had sunk; the ball had +entered his chest, and passed through his lungs. The contest between +Hawkhurst and Francisco, and their capture by Edward, had taken place on +the other side of the ridge of rocks, in the adjacent cove, and although +Francisco had seen Cain disappear, and concluded that he was dead, it +was not so; he had again risen above the water, and dropping his feet +and finding bottom, he contrived to crawl out, and wade into a cave +adjacent, where he lay down to die. + +But in this cave there was one of the _Avenger's_ boats, two of the +pirates, mortally wounded, and the four Kroumen, who had concealed +themselves there with the intention of taking no part in the conflict, +and as soon as it became dark of making their escape in the boat, which +they had hauled up dry into the cave. + +Cain staggered in, recovered the dry land, and fell. Pompey, the +Krouman, perceiving his condition, went to his assistance and bound up +his wound, and the stanching of the blood soon revived the pirate +captain. The other pirates died unaided. + +Although the island was searched in every direction, this cave, from the +water flowing into it, escaped the vigilance of the British seamen; and +when they re-embarked with the majority of the pirates captured, Cain +and the Kroumen were undiscovered. + +As soon as it was dark Cain informed them of his intentions; and +although the Kroumen would probably have left him to his fate, yet, as +they required his services to know how to steer to some other island, he +was assisted into the stern-sheets, and the boat was backed out of the +cave. + +By the directions of Cain they passed through the passage between the +great island and the northern Cayque, and before daylight were far away +from any chance of capture. + +Cain had now to a certain degree recovered, and knowing that they were +in the channel of the small traders, he pointed put to the Kroumen that, +if supposed to be pirates, they would inevitably be punished, although +not guilty, and that they must pass off as the crew of a small +coasting-vessel which had been wrecked. He then, with the assistance of +Pompey, cut off his beard as close as he could, and arranged his dress +in a more European style. They had neither water nor provisions, and +were exposed to a vertical sun. Fortunately for them, and still more +fortunately for Francisco, on the second day they were picked up by an +American brig bound to Antigua. + +Cain narrated his fictitious disasters, but said nothing about his +wound, the neglect of which would certainly have occasioned his death a +very few days after he appeared at the trial, had he not fallen by the +malignity of Hawkhurst. + +Anxious to find his way to Port Royal, for he was indifferent as to his +own life, and only wished to save Francisco, he was overjoyed to meet a +small schooner trading between the islands, bound to Port Royal. In that +vessel he obtained a passage for himself and the Kroumen, and had +arrived three days previous to the trial, and during that time had +remained concealed until the day that the Admiralty Court assembled. + +It may be as well here to remark that Cain's reason for not wishing the +packet to be opened was, that among the other papers relative to +Francisco were directions for the recovery of the treasure which he had +concealed, and which, of course, he wished to be communicated to +Francisco alone. + +We will leave the reader to imagine what passed between Francisco and +Edward after the discovery of their kindred, and proceed to state the +contents of the packet, which the twin-brothers now opened in the +presence of Clara alone. + +We must, however, condense the matter, which was very voluminous. It +stated that Cain, whose real name was Charles Osborne, had sailed in a +fine schooner from Bilboa, for the coast of Africa, to procure a cargo +of slaves; and had been out about twenty-four hours when the crew +perceived a boat, apparently with no one in her, floating about a mile +ahead of them. The water was then smooth, and the vessel had but little +way. As soon as they came up with the boat, they lowered down their +skiff to examine her. + +The men sent in the skiff soon returned, towing the boat alongside. +Lying at the bottom of the boat were found several men almost dead, and +reduced to skeletons, and in the stern-sheets a negro woman, with a +child at her breast, and a white female in the last state of exhaustion. + +Osborne was then a gay and unprincipled man, but not a hardened villain +and murderer, as he afterwards became; he had compassion and feeling. +They were all taken on board the schooner: some recovered, others were +too much exhausted. Among those restored was Cecilia Templemore and the +infant, who at first had been considered quite dead; but the negro +woman, exhausted by the demands of her nursling and her privations, +expired as she was being removed from the boat. A goat, that fortunately +was on board, proved a substitute for the negress; and before Osborne +had arrived off the coast, the child had recovered its health and +vigour, and the mother her extreme beauty. + +We must now pass over a considerable portion of the narrative. Osborne +was impetuous in his passions, and Cecilia Templemore became his victim. +He had, indeed, afterwards quieted her qualms of conscience by a +pretended marriage, when he arrived at the Brazils with his cargo of +human flesh. But that was little alleviation of her sufferings; she who +had been indulged in every luxury, who had been educated with the +greatest care, was now lost for ever, an outcast from the society to +which she could never hope to return, and associating with those she +both dreaded and despised. She passed her days and her nights in tears; +and had soon more cause for sorrow from the brutal treatment she +received from Osborne, who had been her destroyer. Her child was her +only solace; but for him, and the fear of leaving him to the +demoralising influence of those about him, she would have laid down and +died: but she lived for him--for him attempted to recall Osborne from +his career of increasing guilt--bore meekly with reproaches and with +blows. At last Osborne changed his nefarious life for one of deeper +guilt: he became a pirate, and still carried with him Cecilia and her +child. + +This was the climax of her misery; she now wasted from day to day, and +grief would soon have terminated her existence, had it not been +hastened by the cruelty of Cain, who, upon an expostulation on her part, +followed up with a denunciation of the consequences of his guilty +career, struck her with such violence that she sank under the blow. She +expired with a prayer that her child might be rescued from a life of +guilt; and when the then repentant Cain promised what he never did +perform, she blessed him, too, before she died. + +Such was the substance of the narrative, as far as it related to the +unfortunate mother of these two young men, who, when they had concluded, +sat hand-in-hand in mournful silence. This, however, was soon broken by +the innumerable questions asked by Edward of his brother, as to what he +could remember of their ill-fated parent, which were followed up by the +history of Francisco's eventful life. + +'And the treasure, Edward,' said Francisco; 'I cannot take possession of +it.' + +'No, nor shall you either,' replied Edward; 'it belongs to the captors, +and must be shared as prize-money. You will never touch one penny of it; +but I shall, I trust, pocket a very fair proportion of it! However, keep +this paper, as it is addressed to you.' + +The admiral had been made acquainted with all the particulars of this +eventful trial, and had sent a message to Edward, requesting that, as +soon as he and his brother could make it convenient, he would be happy +to see them at the Penn, as well as the daughter of the Spanish +governor, whom he must consider as being under his protection during the +time that she remained at Port Royal. This offer was gladly accepted by +Clara; and on the second day after the trial they proceeded up to the +Penn. Clara and Francisco were introduced, and apartments and suitable +attendance provided for the former. + +'Templemore,' said the admiral, 'I'm afraid I must send you away to +Porto Rico, to assure the governor of his daughter's safety.' + +'I would rather you would send some one else, sir, and I'll assure her +happiness in the meantime.' + +'What! by marrying her? Humph! you've a good opinion of yourself! Wait +till you're a captain, sir.' + +'I hope I shall not have to wait long, sir,' replied Edward demurely. + +[Illustration: _'Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!'_] + +'By the bye,' said the admiral, 'did you not say you have notice of +treasure concealed in those islands?' + +'My brother has: I have not.' + +'We must send for it. I think we must send you, Edward. Mr. Francisco, +you must go with him.' + +'With pleasure, sir,' replied Francisco, laughing; 'but I think I'd +rather wait till Edward is a captain! His wife and his fortune ought to +come together. I think I shall not deliver up my papers until the day of +his marriage!' + +'Upon my word,' said Captain Manly, 'I wish, Templemore, you had your +commission, for there seems so much depending on it--the young lady's +happiness, my share of the prize-money, and the admiral's eighth. +Really, admiral, it becomes a common cause; and I'm sure he deserves +it!' + +'So do I, Manly,' replied the admiral; 'and to prove that I have thought +so, here comes Mr. Hadley with it in his hand: it only wants one little +thing to complete it----' + +'Which is your signature, admiral, I presume,' replied Captain Manly, +taking a pen full of ink, and presenting it to his senior officer. + +'Exactly,' replied the admiral, scribbling at the bottom of the paper; +'and now--it does not want that. Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!' + +Edward made a very low obeisance, as his flushed countenance indicated +his satisfaction. + +'I cannot give commissions, admiral,' said Francisco, presenting a paper +in return; 'but I can give information--and you will find it not +unimportant--for the treasure appears of great value.' + +'God bless my soul! Manly, you must start at daylight!' exclaimed the +admiral; 'why, there is enough to load your sloop! There!--read it!--and +then I will write your orders, and enclose a copy of it, for fear of +accident.' + +'That was to have been my fortune,' said Francisco, with a grave smile; +'but I would not touch it.' + +'Very right, boy!--a fine principle! But we are not quite so +particular,' said the admiral. 'Now, where's the young lady? Let her +know that dinner's on the table.' + +A fortnight after this conversation, Captain Manly returned with the +treasure; and the _Enterprise_, commanded by another officer, returned +from Porto Rico, with a letter from the governor in reply to one from +the admiral, in which the rescue of his daughter by Edward had been +communicated. The letter was full of thanks to the admiral, and +compliments to Edward; and, what was of more importance, it sanctioned +the union of the young officer with his daughter, with a dozen boxes of +gold doubloons. + +About six weeks after the above-mentioned important conversation, Mr. +Witherington, who had been reading a voluminous packet of letters in his +breakfast-room in Finsbury Square, pulled his bell so violently that old +Jonathan thought his master must be out of his senses. This, however, +did not induce him to accelerate his solemn and measured pace; and he +made his appearance at the door, as usual, without speaking. + +'Why don't that fellow answer the bell?' cried Mr. Witherington. + +'I am here, sir,' said Jonathan solemnly. + +'Well, so you are! but, confound you! you come like the ghost of a +butler! But who do you think is coming here, Jonathan?' + +'I cannot tell, sir.' + +'But I can!--you solemn old----Edward's coming here!--coming home +directly!' + +'Is he to sleep in his old room, sir?' replied the imperturbable butler. + +'No; the best bedroom! Why, Jonathan, he is married--he is made a +captain--Captain Templemore!' + +'Yes--sir.' + +'And he has found his brother, Jonathan; his twin-brother!' + +'Yes--sir.' + +'His brother Francis--that was supposed to be lost! But it's a long +story, Jonathan!--and a very wonderful one!--his poor mother has long +been dead!' + +'_In coelo quies!_' said Jonathan, casting up his eyes. + +'But his brother has turned up again.' + +'_Resurgam!_' said the butler. + +'They will be here in ten days--so let everything be in readiness, +Jonathan. God bless my soul!' continued the old gentleman, 'I hardly +know what I'm about. It's a Spanish girl, Jonathan!' + +[Illustration: 'Resurgam!' _said the butler._] + +'What is, sir?' + +'What is, sir!--why, Captain Templemore's wife; and he was tried as a +pirate!' + +'Who, sir?' + +'Who, sir? why, Francis, his brother! Jonathan, you're a stupid old +fellow!' + +'Have you any further commands, sir?' + +'No--no!--there--that'll do--go away.' + +And in three weeks after this conversation, Captain and Mrs. Templemore, +and his brother Frank, were established in the house, to the great +delight of Mr. Witherington; for he had long been tired of solitude and +old Jonathan. + +The twin-brothers were a comfort to him in his old age: they closed his +eyes in peace--they divided his blessing and his large fortune--and thus +ends our history of THE PIRATE! + + + + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +CUTTER THE FIRST + + +Reader, have you ever been at Plymouth? If you have, your eye must have +dwelt with ecstasy upon the beautiful property of the Earl of Mount +Edgcumbe: if you have not been at Plymouth, the sooner that you go there +the better. At Mount Edgcumbe you will behold the finest timber in +existence, towering up to the summits of the hills, and feathering down +to the shingle on the beach. And from this lovely spot you will witness +one of the most splendid panoramas in the world. You will see--I hardly +know what you will not see--you will see Ram Head, and Cawsand Bay; and +then you will see the Breakwater, and Drake's Island, and the Devil's +Bridge below you; and the town of Plymouth and its fortifications, and +the Hoe; and then you will come to the Devil's Point, round which the +tide runs devilish strong; and then you will see the New Victualling +Office--about which Sir James Gordon used to stump all day, and take a +pinch of snuff from every man who carried a box, which all were +delighted to give, and he was delighted to receive, proving how much +pleasure may be communicated merely by a pinch of snuff; and then you +will see Mount Wise and Mutton Cove; the town of Devonport, with its +magnificent dockyard and arsenals, North Corner, and the way which leads +to Saltash. And you will see ships building and ships in ordinary; and +ships repairing and ships fitting; and hulks and convict ships, and the +guardship; ships ready to sail and ships under sail; besides lighters, +men-of-war's boats, dockyard-boats, bumboats, and shore-boats. In short, +there is a great deal to see at Plymouth besides the sea itself: but +what I particularly wish now is, that you will stand at the Battery of +Mount Edgcumbe and look into Barn Pool below you, and there you will +see, lying at single anchor, a cutter; and you may also see, by her +pendant and ensign, that she is a yacht. + +Of all the amusements entered into by the nobility and gentry of our +island there is not one so manly, so exciting, so patriotic, or so +national as yacht-sailing. It is peculiar to England, not only from our +insular position and our fine harbours, but because it requires a +certain degree of energy and a certain amount of income rarely to be +found elsewhere. It has been wisely fostered by our sovereigns, who have +felt that the security of the kingdom is increased by every man being +more or less a sailor, or connected with the nautical profession. It is +an amusement of the greatest importance to the country, as it has much +improved our ship-building and our ship-fitting, while it affords +employment to our seamen and shipwrights. But if I were to say all that +I could say in praise of yachts, I should never advance with my +narrative. I shall therefore drink a bumper to the health of Admiral +Lord Yarborough and the Yacht Club, and proceed. + +You observe that this yacht is cutter-rigged, and that she sits +gracefully on the smooth water. She is just heaving up her anchor; her +foresail is loose, all ready to cast her--in a few minutes she will be +under way. You see that there are ladies sitting at the taffrail; and +there are five haunches of venison hanging over the stern. Of all +amusements, give me yachting. But we must go on board. The deck, you +observe, is of narrow deal planks as white as snow; the guns are of +polished brass; the bitts and binnacles of mahogany; she is painted with +taste; and all the mouldings are gilded. There is nothing wanting; and +yet how clear and unencumbered are her decks! Let us go below. This is +the ladies' cabin: can anything be more tasteful or elegant? is it not +luxurious? and, although so small, does not its very confined space +astonish you, when you view so many comforts so beautifully arranged? +This is the dining-room, and where the gentlemen repair. What can be +more complete or _recherché_? And just peep into their state-rooms and +bed-places. Here is the steward's room and the beaufet: the steward is +squeezing lemons for the punch, and there is the champagne in ice; and +by the side of the pail the long corks are ranged up, all ready. Now, +let us go forwards: here are the men's berths, not confined as in a +man-of-war. No; luxury starts from abaft, and is not wholly lost even at +the fore-peak. This is the kitchen: is it not admirably arranged? What a +_multum in parvo_! And how delightful are the fumes of the turtle-soup! +At sea we do meet with rough weather at times; but, for roughing it out, +give me a _yacht_. Now that I have shown you round the vessel, I must +introduce the parties on board. + +You observe that florid, handsome man, in white trousers and blue +jacket, who has a telescope in one hand, and is sipping a glass of +brandy and water which he has just taken off the skylight. That is the +owner of the vessel, and a member of the Yacht Club. It is Lord B----: +he looks like a sailor, and he does not much belie his looks; yet I have +seen him in his robes of state at the opening of the House of Lords. The +one near to him is Mr. Stewart, a lieutenant in the navy. He holds on by +the rigging with one hand, because, having been actively employed all +his life, he does not know what to do with hands which have nothing in +them. He is a _protégé_ of Lord B., and is now on board as +sailing-master of the yacht. + +That handsome, well-built man, who is standing by the binnacle, is a Mr. +Hautaine. He served six years as midshipman in the navy, and did not +like it. He then served six years in a cavalry regiment, and did not +like it. He then married, and in a much shorter probation found that he +did not like that. But he is very fond of yachts and other men's wives, +if he does not like his own; and wherever he goes, he is welcome. + +That young man with an embroidered silk waistcoat and white gloves, +bending to talk to one of the ladies, is a Mr. Vaughan. He is to be seen +at Almack's, at Crockford's, and everywhere else. Everybody knows him, +and he knows everybody. He is a little in debt, and yachting is +convenient. + +The one who sits by the lady is a relation of Lord B.; you see at once +what he is. He apes the sailor; he has not shaved, because sailors have +no time to shave every day; he has not changed his linen, because +sailors cannot change every day. He has a cigar in his mouth, which +makes him half sick and annoys his company. He talks of the pleasure of +a rough sea, which will drive all the ladies below--and then they will +not perceive that he is more sick than themselves. He has the misfortune +to be born to a large estate, and to be a _fool_. His name is Ossulton. + +[Illustration: _The ladies._] + +The last of the gentlemen on board whom I have to introduce is Mr. +Seagrove. He is slightly made, with marked features full of +intelligence. He has been brought up to the bar; and has every +qualification but application. He has never had a brief, nor has he a +chance of one. He is the fiddler of the company, and he has locked up +his chambers and come, by invitation of his lordship, to play on board +of his yacht. + +I have yet to describe the ladies--perhaps I should have commenced with +them--I must excuse myself upon the principle of reserving the best to +the last. All puppet-showmen do so; and what is this but the first scene +in my puppet-show? + +We will describe them according to seniority. That tall, thin, +cross-looking lady of forty-five is a spinster, and sister to Lord B. +She had been persuaded, very much against her will, to come on board; +but her notions of propriety would not permit her niece to embark under +the protection of _only_ her father. She is frightened at everything: if +a rope is thrown down on the deck, up she starts, and cries 'Oh!' if on +the deck, she thinks the water is rushing in below; if down below, and +there is a noise, she is convinced there is danger; and if it be +perfectly still, she is sure there is something wrong. She fidgets +herself and everybody, and is quite a nuisance with her pride and +ill-humour; but she has strict notions of propriety, and sacrifices +herself as a martyr. She is the Hon. Miss Ossulton. + +The lady who, when she smiles, shows so many dimples in her pretty oval +face, is a young widow, of the name of Lascelles. She married an old man +to please her father and mother, which was very dutiful on her part. She +was rewarded by finding herself a widow with a large fortune. Having +married the first time to please her parents, she intends now to marry +to please herself; but she is very young, and is in no hurry. + +That young lady with such a sweet expression of countenance is the Hon. +Miss Cecilia Ossulton. She is lively, witty, and has no fear in her +composition; but she is very young yet, not more than seventeen--and +nobody knows what she really is--she does not know herself. These are +the parties who meet in the cabin of the yacht. The crew consists of ten +fine seamen, the steward and the cook. There is also Lord B.'s valet, +Mr. Ossulton's gentleman, and the lady's-maid of Miss Ossulton. There +not being accommodation for them, the other servants have been left on +shore. + +[Illustration: _The Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton._] + +The yacht is now under way, and her sails are all set. She is running +between Drake's Island and the main. Dinner has been announced. As the +reader has learnt something about the preparations, I leave him to judge +whether it be not very pleasant to sit down to dinner in a yacht. The +air has given everybody an appetite; and it was not until the cloth was +removed that the conversation became general. + +'Mr. Seagrove,' said his lordship, 'you very nearly lost your passage; I +expected you last Thursday.' + +'I am sorry, my lord, that business prevented my sooner attending to +your lordship's kind summons.' + +'Come, Seagrove, don't be nonsensical,' said Hautaine; 'you told me +yourself, the other evening, when you were talkative, that you had never +had a brief in your life.' + +'And a very fortunate circumstance,' replied Seagrove; 'for if I had had +a brief I should not have known what to have done with it. It is not my +fault; I am fit for nothing but a commissioner. But still I had +business, and very important business, too. I was summoned by Ponsonby +to go with him to Tattersall's, to give my opinion about a horse he +wishes to purchase, and then to attend him to Forest Wild to plead his +cause with his uncle.' + +'It appears, then, that you were retained,' replied Lord B.; 'may I ask +you whether your friend gained his cause?' + +'No, my lord, he lost his cause, but he gained a suit.' + +'Expound your riddle, sir,' said Cecilia Ossulton. + +'The fact is, that old Ponsonby is very anxious that William should +marry Miss Percival, whose estates join on to Forest Wild. Now, my +friend William is about as fond of marriage as I am of law, and thereby +issue was joined.' + +'But why were you to be called in?' inquired Mrs. Lascelles. + +'Because, madam, as Ponsonby never buys a horse without consulting +me----' + +'I cannot see the analogy, sir,' observed Miss Ossulton, senior, +bridling up. + +'Pardon me, madam: the fact is,' continued Seagrove, 'that, as I always +have to back Ponsonby's horses, he thought it right that, in this +instance, I should back him: he required special pleading, but his uncle +tried him for the capital offence, and he was not allowed counsel. As +soon as we arrived, and I had bowed myself into the room, Mr. Ponsonby +bowed me out again--which would have been infinitely more jarring to my +feelings, had not the door been left ajar.' + +'Do anything but pun, Seagrove,' interrupted Hautaine. + +'Well then, I will take a glass of wine.' + +'Do so,' said his lordship; 'but recollect the whole company are +impatient for your story.' + +'I can assure you, my lord, that it was equal to any scene in a comedy.' + +Now be it observed that Mr. Seagrove had a great deal of comic talent; +he was an excellent mimic, and could alter his voice almost as he +pleased. It was a custom of his to act a scene as between other people, +and he performed it remarkably well. Whenever he said that anything he +was going to narrate was 'as good as a comedy,' it was generally +understood by those who were acquainted with him that he was to be asked +so to do. Cecilia Ossulton therefore immediately said, 'Pray act it, Mr. +Seagrove.' + +Upon which, Mr. Seagrove--premising that he had not only heard but also +seen all that passed--changing his voice, and suiting the action to the +word, commenced. + +'It may,' said he, 'be called + +"FIVE THOUSAND ACRES IN A RING-FENCE"' + +We shall not describe Mr. Seagrove's motions; they must be inferred from +his words. + +'"It will then, William," observed Mr. Ponsonby, stopping, and turning +to his nephew, after a rapid walk up and down the room with his hands +behind him under his coat, so as to allow the tails to drop their +perpendicular about three inches clear of his body, "I may say, without +contradiction, be the finest property in the county--five thousand acres +in a ring-fence." + +'"I daresay it will, uncle," replied William, tapping his foot, as he +lounged in a green morocco easy-chair; "and so, because you have set +your fancy upon having these two estates enclosed together in a +ring-fence, you wish that I should be also enclosed in a _ring_-fence." + +'"And a beautiful property it will be," replied Mr. Ponsonby. + +'"Which, uncle? the estate or the wife?" + +'"Both, nephew, both; and I expect your consent." + +'"Uncle, I am not avaricious. Your present property is sufficient for +me. With your permission, instead of doubling the property, and doubling +myself, I will remain your sole heir and single." + +'"Observe, William, such an opportunity may not occur again for +centuries. We shall restore Forest Wild to its ancient boundaries. You +know it has been divided nearly two hundred years. We now have a +glorious, golden opportunity of reuniting the two properties; and when +joined, the estate will be exactly what it was when granted to our +ancestors by Henry VIII., at the period of the Reformation. This house +must be pulled down, and the monastery left standing. Then we shall have +our own again, and the property without encumbrance." + +'"Without encumbrance, uncle! You forget that there will be a wife." + +'"And you forget that there will be five thousand acres in a +ring-fence." + +'"Indeed, uncle, you ring it too often in my ears that I should forget +it. But, much as I should like to be the happy possessor of such a +property, I do not feel inclined to be the happy possessor of Miss +Percival; and the more so, as I have never seen the property." + +'"We will ride over it to-morrow, William." + +'"Ride over Miss Percival, uncle! That will not be very gallant. I will, +however, one of these days ride over the property with you, which, as +well as Miss Percival, I have not as yet seen." + +'"Then I can tell you she is a very pretty property." + +'"If she were not in a ring-fence." + +'"In good heart, William. That is, I mean an excellent disposition." + +'"Valuable in matrimony." + +'"And well tilled--I should say well educated--by her three maiden +aunts, who are the patterns of propriety." + +'"Does any one follow the fashion?" + +"In a high state of cultivation; that is, her mind highly cultivated, +and according to the last new system--what is it?" + +'"A four-course shift, I presume," replied William, laughing; "that is, +dancing, singing, music, and drawing." + +'"And only seventeen! Capital soil, promising good crops. What would you +have more?" + +"A very pretty estate, uncle, if it were not the estate of matrimony. I +am sorry, very sorry, to disappoint you; but I must decline taking a +lease of it for life." + +'"Then, sir, allow me to hint to you that in my testament you are only a +tenant-at-will. I consider it a duty that I owe to the family that the +estate should be re-united. That can only be done by one of our family +marrying Miss Percival; and as you will not, I shall now write to your +cousin James, and if he accept my proposal, shall make _him_ my heir. +Probably he will more fully appreciate the advantages of five thousand +acres in a ring-fence." + +'And Mr. Ponsonby directed his steps towards the door. + +'"Stop, my dear uncle," cried William, rising up from his easy-chair; +"we do not quite understand one another. It is very true that I would +prefer half the property and remaining single, to the two estates and +the estate of marriage; but at the same time I did not tell you that I +would prefer beggary to a wife and five thousand acres in a ring-fence. +I know you to be a man of your word. I accept your proposal, and you +need not put my cousin James to the expense of postage." + +'"Very good, William; I require no more: and as I know you to be a man +of your word, I shall consider this match as settled. It was on this +account only that I sent for you, and now you may go back again as soon +as you please. I will let you know when all is ready." + +"I must be at Tattersall's on Monday, uncle; there is a horse I must +have for next season. Pray, uncle, may I ask when you are likely to want +me?" + +'"Let me see--this is May--about July, I should think." + +"July, uncle! Spare me--I cannot marry in the dog-days. No, hang it! not +July." + +'"Well, William, perhaps, as you must come down once or twice to see +the property--Miss Percival, I should say--it may be too soon--suppose +we put it off till October?" + +'"October--I shall be down at Melton." + +'"Pray, sir, may I then inquire what portion of the year is not, with +you, _dog_-days?" + +'"Why, uncle, next April, now--I think that would do." + +'"Next April! Eleven months, and a winter between. Suppose Miss Percival +was to take a cold and die." + +'"I should be excessively obliged to her," thought William. + +'"No, no!" continued Mr. Ponsonby: "there is nothing certain in this +world, William." + +'"Well then, uncle, suppose we arrange it for the first _hard frost_." + +'"We have had no hard frosts lately, William. We may wait for years. The +sooner it is over the better. Go back to town, buy your horse, and then +come down here, my dear William, to oblige your uncle--never mind the +dog-days." + +'"Well, sir, if I am to make a sacrifice, it shall not be done by +halves; out of respect for you I will even marry in July, without any +regard to the thermometer." + +'"You are a good boy, William. Do you want a cheque?" + +'"I have had one to-day," thought William, and was almost at fault. "I +shall be most thankful, sir--they sell horseflesh by the ounce +nowadays." + +'"And you pay in pounds. There, William." + +'"Thank you, sir, I'm all obedience; and I'll keep my word, even if +there should be a comet. I'll go and buy the horse, and then I shall be +ready to take the ring-fence as soon as you please." + +'"Yes, and you'll get over it cleverly, I've no doubt. Five thousand +acres, William, and--a pretty wife!" + +'"Have you any further commands, uncle?" said William, depositing the +cheque in his pocket-book. + +'"None, my dear boy; are you going?" + +'"Yes, sir; I dine at the Clarendon." + +'"Well, then, good-bye. Make my compliments and excuses to your friend +Seagrove. You will come on Tuesday or Wednesday." + +'Thus was concluded the marriage between William Ponsonby and Emily +Percival, and the junction of the two estates, which formed together +the great desideratum--_five thousand acres in a ring-fence_.' + +Mr. Seagrove finished, and he looked round for approbation. + +'Very good indeed, Seagrove,' said his lordship; 'you must take a glass +of wine after that.' + +'I would not give much for Miss Percival's chance of happiness,' +observed the elder Miss Ossulton. + +'Of two evils choose the least, they say,' observed Mr. Hautaine. 'Poor +Ponsonby could not help himself.' + +'That's a very polite observation of yours, Mr. Hautaine--I thank you in +the name of the sex,' replied Cecilia Ossulton. + +'Nay, Miss Ossulton; would you like to marry a person whom you never +saw?' + +'Most certainly not; but when you mentioned the two evils, Mr. Hautaine, +I appeal to your honour, did you not refer to marriage or beggary?' + +'I must confess it, Miss Ossulton; but it is hardly fair to call on my +honour to get me into a scrape.' + +'I only wish that the offer had been made to me,' observed Vaughan; 'I +should not have hesitated as Ponsonby did.' + +'Then I beg you will not think of proposing for me,' said Mrs. +Lascelles, laughing; for Mr. Vaughan had been excessively attentive. + +'It appears to me, Vaughan,' observed Seagrove, 'that you have slightly +committed yourself by that remark.' + +Vaughan, who thought so too, replied, 'Mrs. Lascelles must be aware that +I was only joking.' + +'Fie! Mr. Vaughan,' cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it came from your +heart.' + +'My dear Cecilia,' said the elder Miss Ossulton, 'you forget +yourself--what can you possibly know about gentlemen's hearts?' + +'The Bible says that they are "deceitful and desperately wicked," aunt.' + +'And cannot we also quote the Bible against your sex, Miss Ossulton?' +replied Seagrove. + +'Yes, you could, perhaps, if any of you had ever read it,' replied Miss +Ossulton carelessly. + +'Upon my word, Cissy, you are throwing the gauntlet down to the +gentlemen,' observed Lord B.; 'but I shall throw my warder down, and not +permit this combat _à l'outrance_. I perceive you drink no more wine, +gentlemen; we will take our coffee on deck.' + +[Illustration: _'Fie! Mr. Vaughan, cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it +came from your heart.'_] + +'We were just about to retire, my lord,' observed the elder Miss +Ossulton, with great asperity; 'I have been trying to catch the eye of +Mrs. Lascelles for some time, but----' + +'I was looking another way, I presume,' interrupted Mrs. Lascelles, +smiling. + +'I am afraid that I am the unfortunate culprit,' said Mr. Seagrove. 'I +was telling a little anecdote to Mrs. Lascelles----' + +'Which, of course, from its being communicated in an undertone, was not +proper for all the company to hear,' replied the elder Miss Ossulton; +'but if Mrs. Lascelles is now ready----' continued she, bridling up, as +she rose from her chair. + +'At all events, I can hear the remainder of it on deck,' replied Mrs. +Lascelles. The ladies rose and went into the cabin, Cecilia and Mrs. +Lascelles exchanging very significant smiles as they followed the +precise spinster, who did not choose that Mrs. Lascelles should take the +lead merely because she had once happened to have been married. The +gentlemen also broke up, and went on deck. + +'We have a nice breeze now, my lord,' observed Mr. Stewart, who had +remained on deck, 'and we lie right up Channel.' + +'So much the better,' replied his lordship; 'we ought to have been +anchored at Cowes a week ago. They will all be there before us.' + +'Tell Mr. Simpson to bring me a light for my cigar,' said Mr. Ossulton +to one of the men. + +Mr. Stewart went down to his dinner; the ladies and the coffee came on +deck; the breeze was fine, the weather (it was April) almost warm; and +the yacht, whose name was the _Arrow_, assisted by the tide, soon left +the Mewstone far astern. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +CUTTER THE SECOND + + +Reader, have you ever been at Portsmouth? If you have, you must have +been delighted with the view from the saluting battery; and if you have +not, you had better go there as soon as you can. From the saluting +battery you may look up the harbour, and see much of what I have +described at Plymouth; the scenery is different, but similar arsenals +and dockyards, and an equal portion of our stupendous navy, are to be +found there; and you will see Gosport on the other side of the harbour, +and Sallyport close to you; besides a great many other places, which +from the saluting battery you cannot see. And then there is Southsea +Beach to your left. Before you, Spithead, with the men-of-war, and the +Motherbank crowded with merchant vessels; and there is the buoy where +the _Royal George_ was wrecked and where she still lies, the fish +swimming in and out of her cabin windows; but that is not all; you can +also see the Isle of Wight--Ryde with its long-wooden pier, and Cowes, +where the yachts lie. In fact, there is a great deal to be seen at +Portsmouth as well as at Plymouth; but what I wish you particularly to +see just how is a vessel holding fast to the buoy just off the saluting +battery. She is a cutter; and you may know that she belongs to the +Preventive Service by the number of gigs and galleys which she has +hoisted up all round her. She looks like a vessel that was about to sail +with a cargo of boats; two on deck, one astern, one on each side of her. +You observe that she is painted black, and all her boats are white. She +is not such an elegant vessel as the yacht, and she is much more +lumbered up. She has no haunches of venison hanging over the stern, but +I think there is a leg of mutton and some cabbages hanging by their +stalks. But revenue cutters are not yachts. You will find no turtle or +champagne; but, nevertheless, you will, perhaps, find a joint to carve +at, a good glass of grog, and a hearty welcome. + +Let us go on board. You observe the guns are iron, and painted black, +and her bulwarks are painted red; it is not a very becoming colour, but +then it lasts a long while, and the dockyard is not very generous on the +score of paint--or lieutenants of the navy troubled with much spare +cash. She has plenty of men, and fine men they are; all dressed in red +flannel shirts and blue trousers; some of them have not taken off their +canvas or tarpaulin petticoats, which are very useful to them, as they +are in the boats night and day, and in all weathers. But we will at once +go down into the cabin, where we shall find the lieutenant who commands +her, a master's mate, and a midshipman. They have each their tumbler +before them, and are drinking gin-toddy, hot, with sugar--capital gin, +too, 'bove proof; it is from that small anker standing under the table. +It was one that they forgot to return to the custom-house when they made +their last seizure. We must introduce them. + +The elderly personage, with grizzly hair and whiskers, a round pale +face, and a somewhat red nose (being too much in the wind will make the +nose red, and this old officer is very often 'in the wind,' of course, +from the very nature of his profession), is a Lieutenant Appleboy. He +has served in every class of vessel in the service, and done the duty of +first lieutenant for twenty years; he is now on promotion--that is to +say, after he has taken a certain number of tubs of gin, he will be +rewarded with his rank as commander. It is a pity that what he takes +inside of him does not count, for he takes it morning, noon, and night. +He is just filling his fourteenth glass: he always keeps a regular +account, as he never exceeds his limited number, which is seventeen; +then he is exactly down to his bearings. + +The master's mate's name is Tomkins; he has served his six years three +times over, and has now outgrown his ambition; which is fortunate for +him, as his chances of promotion are small. He prefers a small vessel to +a large one, because he is not obliged to be so particular in his +dress--and looks for his lieutenancy whenever there shall be another +charity promotion. He is fond of soft bread, for his teeth are all +absent without leave; he prefers porter to any other liquor, but he can +drink his glass of grog, whether it be based upon rum, brandy, or the +liquor now before him. + +[Illustration: _Lieutenant Appleboy._] + +Mr. Smith is the name of that young gentleman whose jacket is so out at +the elbows; he has been intending to mend it these last two months, but +is too lazy to go to his chest for another. He has been turned out of +half the ships in the service for laziness; but he was born so--and +therefore it is not his fault. A revenue cutter suits him, she is half +her time hove-to; and he has no objection to boat-service, as he sits +down always in the stern-sheets, which is not fatiguing. Creeping for +tubs is his delight, as he gets over so little ground. He is fond of +grog, but there is some trouble in carrying the tumbler so often to his +mouth; so he looks at it, and lets it stand. He says little because he +is too lazy to speak. He has served more than _eight years_; but as for +passing--it has never come into his head. Such are the three persons who +are now sitting in the cabin of the revenue cutter, drinking hot +gin-toddy. + +'Let me see, it was, I think, in ninety-three or ninety-four. Before you +were in the service, Tomkins----' + +'Maybe, sir; it's so long ago since I entered, that I can't recollect +dates--but this I know, that my aunt died three days before.' + +'Then the question is, When did your aunt die?' + +'Oh! she died about a year after my uncle.' + +'And when did your uncle die?' + +'I'll be hanged if I know!' + +'Then, d'ye see, you've no departure to work from. However, I think you +cannot have been in the service at that time. We were not quite so +particular about uniform as we are now.' + +'Then I think the service was all the better for it. Nowadays, in your +crack ships, a mate has to go down in the hold or spirit-room, and after +whipping up fifty empty casks, and breaking out twenty full ones, he is +expected to come on quarter-deck as clean as if he was just come out of +a bandbox.' + +'Well, there's plenty of water alongside, as far as the outward man +goes, and iron dust is soon brushed off. However, as you say, perhaps a +little too much is expected; at least, in five of the ships in which I +was first lieutenant, the captain was always hauling me over the coals +about the midshipmen not dressing properly, as if I was their dry-nurse. +I wonder what Captain Prigg would have said if he had seen such a +turn-out as you, Mr. Smith, on his quarter-deck.' + +'I should have had one turn-out more,' drawled Smith. + +'With your out-at-elbows jacket, there, eh!' continued Mr. Appleboy. + +Smith turned up his elbows, looked at one and then at the other; after +so fatiguing an operation, he was silent. + +'Well, where was I? Oh! it was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as I +said, that it happened--Tomkins, fill your glass and hand me the +sugar--how do I get on? This is No 15,' said Appleboy, counting some +white lines on the table by him; and taking up a piece of chalk, he +marked one more line on his tally. 'I don't think this is so good a tub +as the last, Tomkins, there's a twang about it--a want of juniper; +however, I hope we shall have better luck this time. Of course you know +we sail to-morrow?' + +'I presume so, by the leg of mutton coming on board.' + +'True--true; I'm regular--as clockwork. After being twenty years a first +lieutenant one gets a little method. I like regularity. Now the admiral +has never omitted asking me to dinner once, every time I have come into +harbour, except this time. I was so certain of it, that I never expected +to sail; and I have but two shirts clean in consequence.' + +'That's odd, isn't it?--and the more so, because he has had such great +people down here, and has been giving large parties every day.' + +'And yet I made three seizures, besides sweeping up those thirty-seven +tubs.' + +'I swept them up,' observed Smith. + +'That's all the same thing, younker. When you've been a little longer in +the service, you'll find out that the commanding officer has the merit +of all that is done; but you're _green_ yet. Let me see, where was I? +Oh! it was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as I said. At that time I +was in the Channel fleet----Tomkins, I'll trouble you for the hot water; +this water's cold. Mr. Smith, do me the favour to ring the bell. Jem, +some more hot water.' + +'Please, sir,' said Jem, who was barefooted as well as bareheaded, +touching the lock of hair on his forehead, 'the cook has capsized the +kettle--but he has put more on.' + +'Capsized the kettle! Hah!--very well--we'll talk about that to-morrow. +Mr. Tomkins, do me the favour to put him in the report: I may forget it. +And pray, sir, how long is it since he has put more on?' + +'Just this moment, sir, as I came aft.' + +'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow. You bring the kettle aft as +soon as it is ready. I say, Mr. Jem, is that fellow sober?' + +'Yees, sir, he be sober as you be.' + +'It's quite astonishing what a propensity the common sailors have to +liquor. Forty odd years have I been in the service, and I've never found +any difference. I only wish I had a guinea for every time that I have +given a fellow seven-water grog during my servitude as first lieutenant, +I wouldn't call the king my cousin. Well, if there's no hot water, we +must take lukewarm; it won't do to heave-to. By the Lord Harry! +who would have thought it?--I'm at number sixteen! Let me +count--yes!--surely I must have made a mistake. A fact, by Heaven!' +continued Mr. Appleboy, throwing the chalk down on the table. 'Only one +more glass after this; that is, if I have counted right--I may have seen +double.' + +'Yes,' drawled Smith. + +'Well, never mind. Let's go on with my story. It was either in the year +ninety-three or ninety-four that I was in the Channel fleet; we were +then abreast of Torbay----' + +'Here be the hot water, sir,' cried Jem, putting the kettle down on the +deck. + +'Very well, boy. By the bye, has the jar of butter come on board?' + +'Yes, but it broke all down the middle. I tied him up with a rope-yarn.' + +'Who broke it, sir?' + +'Coxswain says as how he didn't.' + +'But who did, sir?' + +'Coxswain handed it up to Bill Jones, and he says as how he didn't.' + +'But who did, sir?' + +'Bill Jones gave it to me, and I'm sure as how I didn't.' + +'Then who did, sir, I ask you?' + +'I think it be Bill Jones, sir, 'cause he's fond of butter, I know, and +there be very little left in the jar.' + +'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow morning. Mr. Tomkins, you'll +oblige me by putting the butter-jar down in the report, in case it +should slip my memory. Bill Jones, indeed, looks as if butter wouldn't +melt in his mouth. Never mind. Well, it was, as I said before--it was in +the year ninety-three or ninety-four, when I was in the Channel fleet; +we were then off Torbay, and had just taken two reefs in the topsails. +Stop--before I go on with my story, I'll take my last glass; I think +it's the last--let me count. Yes, by heavens! I make out sixteen, well +told. Never mind, it shall be a stiff one. Boy, bring the kettle, and +mind you don't pour the hot water into my shoes, as you did the other +night. There, that will do. Now, Tomkins, fill up yours; and you, Mr. +Smith. Let us all start fair, and then you shall have my story--and a +very curious one it is, I can tell you; I wouldn't have believed it +myself, if I hadn't seen it. Hilloa! what's this? Confound it! what's +the matter with the toddy? Heh, Mr. Tomkins?' + +Mr. Tomkins tasted; but, like the lieutenant, he had made it very stiff; +and, as he had also taken largely before, he was, like him, not quite so +clear in his discrimination. 'It has a queer twang, sir; Smith, what is +it?' + +Smith took up his glass, tasted the contents. + +'_Salt water_,' drawled the midshipman. + +'Salt water! so it is, by heavens!' cried Mr. Appleboy. + +'Salt as Lot's wife! by all that's infamous!' cried the master's mate. + +'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem in a fright, expecting a _salt_ eel for +supper. + +'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in +the boy's face, 'salt water. Very well, sir--very well!' + +'It warn't me, sir,' replied the boy, making up a piteous look. + +'No, sir, but you said the cook was sober.' + +'He was not so _very_ much disguised, sir,' replied Jem. + +'Oh! very well--never mind. Mr. Tomkins, in case I should forget it, do +me the favour to put the kettle of salt water down in the report. The +scoundrel! I'm very sorry, gentlemen, but there's no means of having any +more gin-toddy. But never mind, we'll see to this to-morrow. Two can +play at this; and if I don't salt-water their grog, and make them drink +it too, I have been twenty years a first lieutenant for nothing, that's +all. Good-night, gentlemen; and,' continued the lieutenant, in a severe +tone, 'you'll keep a sharp look-out, Mr. Smith--do you hear, sir?' + +[Illustration: _'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem. 'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. +Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in the boy's face._] + +'Yes,' drawled Smith, 'but it's not my watch; it was my first watch; and +just now it struck one bell.' + +'You'll keep the middle watch, then, Mr. Smith,' said Mr. Appleboy, who +was not a little put out; 'and, Mr. Tomkins, let me know as soon as it's +daylight. Boy, get my bed made. Salt water, by all that's blue! However, +we'll see to that to-morrow morning.' + +Mr. Appleboy then turned in; so did Mr. Tomkins; and so did Mr. Smith, +who had no idea of keeping the middle watch because the cook was drunk +and had filled up the kettle with salt water. As for what happened in +ninety-three or ninety-four, I really would inform the reader if I knew; +but I am afraid that that most curious story is never to be handed down +to posterity. + +The next morning Mr. Tomkins, as usual, forgot to report the cook, the +jar of butter, and the kettle of salt water; and Mr. Appleboy's wrath +had long been appeased before he remembered them. At daylight, the +lieutenant came on deck, having only slept away half of the sixteen, and +a taste of the seventeenth salt-water glass of gin-toddy. He rubbed his +gray eyes, that he might peer through the gray of the morning; the fresh +breeze blew about his grizzly locks, and cooled his rubicund nose. The +revenue cutter, whose name was the _Active_, cast off from the buoy, +and, with a fresh breeze, steered her course for the Needles passage. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +CUTTER THE THIRD + + +Reader! have you been to St. Maloes? If you have, you were glad enough +to leave the hole; and if you have not, take my advice, and do not give +yourself the trouble to go and see that or any other French port in the +Channel. There is not one worth looking at. They have made one or two +artificial ports, and they are no great things; there is no getting out +or getting in. In fact, they have no harbours in the Channel, while we +have the finest in the world; a peculiar dispensation of Providence, +because it knew that we should want them, and France would not. In +France, what are called ports are all alike--nasty, narrow holes, only +to be entered at certain times of tide and certain winds; made up of +basins and back-waters, custom-houses and cabarets; just fit for +smugglers to run into, and nothing more; and, therefore, they are used +for very little else. + +Now, in the dog-hole called St. Maloes there is some pretty land, +although a great deficiency of marine scenery. But never mind that. Stay +at home, and don't go abroad to drink sour wine, because they call it +Bordeaux, and eat villainous trash, so disguised by cooking that you +cannot possibly tell which of the birds of the air, or beasts of the +field, or fishes of the sea, you are cramming down your throat. 'If all +is right, there is no occasion for disguise,' is an old saying; so +depend upon it that there is something wrong, and that you are eating +offal, under a grand French name. They eat everything in France, and +would serve you up the head of a monkey who has died of the smallpox, as +_singe au petite vérole_--that is, if you did not understand French; if +you did, they would call it _tête d'amour à l'Ethiopique_, and then you +would be even more puzzled. As for their wine, there is no disguise in +that; it's half vinegar. No, no! stay at home; you can live just as +cheaply, if you choose; and then you will have good meat, good +vegetables, good ale, good beer, and a good glass of grog; and, what is +of more importance, you will be in good company. Live with your friends, +and don't make a fool of yourself. + +I would not have condescended to have noticed this place, had it not +been that I wish you to observe a vessel which is lying along the +pier-wharf, with a plank from the shore to her gunwale. It is low water, +and she is aground, and the plank dips down at such an angle that it is +a work of danger to go either in or out of her. You observe that there +is nothing very remarkable in her. She is a cutter, and a good sea-boat, +and sails well before the wind. She is short for her breadth of beam, +and is not armed. Smugglers do not arm now--the service is too +dangerous; they effect their purpose by cunning, not by force. +Nevertheless, it requires that smugglers should be good seamen, smart, +active fellows, and keen-witted, or they can do nothing. This vessel has +not a large cargo in her, but it is valuable. She has some thousand +yards of lace, a few hundred pounds of tea, a few bales of silk, and +about forty ankers of brandy--just as much as they can land in one boat. +All they ask is a heavy gale or a thick fog, and they trust to +themselves for success. + +There is nobody on board except a boy; the crew are all up at the +cabaret, settling their little accounts of every description--for they +smuggle both ways, and every man has his own private venture. There they +are all, fifteen of them, and fine-looking fellows, too, sitting at that +long table. They are very merry, but quite sober, as they are to sail +to-night. + +[Illustration: _The captain of the_ Happy-go-lucky, _Jack Pickersgill._] + +The captain of the vessel (whose name, by the bye, is the +_Happy-go-lucky_--the captain christened her himself) is that +fine-looking young man, with dark whiskers meeting under his throat. His +name is Jack Pickersgill. You perceive at once that he is much above a +common sailor in appearance. His manners are good, he is remarkably +handsome, very clean, and rather a dandy in his dress. Observe how very +politely he takes off his hat to that Frenchman, with whom he has just +settled accounts; he beats Johnny Crapeau at his own weapons. And then +there is an air of command, a feeling of conscious superiority, about +Jack; see how he treats the landlord, _de haut en bas_, at the same time +that he is very civil. The fact is, that Jack is of a very good old +family, and received a very excellent education; but he was an orphan, +his friends were poor, and could do but little for him; he went out to +India as a cadet, ran away, and served in a schooner which smuggled +opium into China, and then came home. He took a liking to the +employment, and is now laying up a very pretty little sum: not that he +intends to stop: no, as soon as he has enough to fit out a vessel for +himself, he intends to start again for India, and with two cargoes of +opium he will return, he trusts, with a handsome fortune, and reassume +his family name. Such are Jack's intentions; and, as he eventually means +to reappear as a gentleman, he preserves his gentlemanly habits; he +neither drinks, nor chews, nor smokes. He keeps his hands clean, wears +rings, and sports a gold snuff-box; notwithstanding which, Jack is one +of the boldest and best of sailors, and the men know it. He is full of +fun, and as keen as a razor. Jack has a very heavy venture this +time--all the lace is his own speculation, and if he gets it in safe, he +will clear some thousands of pounds. A certain fashionable shop in +London has already agreed to take the whole off his hands. + +That short, neatly-made young man is the second in command, and the +companion of the captain. He is clever, and always has a remedy to +propose when there is a difficulty, which is a great quality in a second +in command. His name is Corbett. He is always merry--half-sailor, +half-tradesman; knows the markets, runs up to London, and does business +as well as a chapman--lives for the day and laughs at to-morrow. + +That little punchy old man, with long gray hair and fat face, with a +nose like a note of interrogation, is the next personage of importance. +He ought to be called the sailing-master, for, although he goes on shore +in France, off the English coast he never quits the vessel. When they +leave her with the goods, he remains on board; he is always to be found +off any part of the coast where he may be ordered; holding his position +in defiance of gales, and tides, and fogs: as for the revenue vessels, +they all know him well enough, but they cannot touch a vessel in +ballast, if she has no more men on board than allowed by her tonnage. He +knows every creek, and hole, and corner of the coast; how the tide runs +in--tide, half-tide, eddy, or current. That is his value. His name is +Morrison. + +You observe that Jack Pickersgill has two excellent supporters in +Corbett and Morrison; his other men are good seamen, active and +obedient, which is all that he requires. I shall not particularly +introduce them. + +'Now you may call for another litre, my lads, and that must be the last; +the tide is flowing fast, and we shall be afloat in half an hour, and we +have just the breeze we want. What d'ye think, Morrison, shall we have +dirt?' + +'I've been looking just now, and if it were any other month in the year +I should say yes; but there's no trusting April, captain. Howsomever, if +it does blow off, I'll promise you a fog in three hours afterwards.' + +'That will do as well. Corbett, have you settled with Duval?' + +'Yes, after more noise and _charivari_ than a panic in the Stock +Exchange would make in England. He fought and squabbled for an hour, and +I found that, without some abatement, I never should have settled the +affair.' + +'What did you let him off?' + +'Seventeen sous,' replied Corbett, laughing. + +'And that satisfied him?' inquired Pickersgill. + +'Yes--it was all he could prove to be a _surfaire_: two of the knives +were a little rusty. But he will always have something off; he could not +be happy without it. I really think he would commit suicide if he had to +pay a bill without a deduction.' + +'Let him live,' replied Pickersgill. 'Jeannette, a bottle of Volnay of +1811, and three glasses.' + +Jeannette, who was the _fille de cabaret_, soon appeared with a bottle +of wine, seldom called for, except by the captain of the +_Happy-go-lucky_. + +'You sail to-night?' said she, as she placed the bottle before him. + +Pickersgill nodded his head. + +'I had a strange dream,' said Jeannette; 'I thought you were all taken +by a revenue cutter, and put in a _cachot_. I went to see you, and I did +not know one of you again--you were all changed.' + +'Very likely, Jeannette; you would not be the first who did not know +their friends again when in misfortune. There was nothing strange in +your dream.' + +'_Mais, mon Dieu! je ne suis pas comme ça, moi._' + +'No, that you are not, Jeannette; you are a good girl, and some of these +fine days I'll marry you,' said Corbett. + +'_Doit être bien beau ce jour là, par exemple_,' replied Jeannette, +laughing; 'you have promised to marry me every time you have come in +these last three years.' + +'Well, that proves I keep to my promise, anyhow.' + +'Yes; but you never go any further.' + +'I can't spare him, Jeannette, that is the real truth,' said the +captain; 'but wait a little--in the meantime, here is a five-franc piece +to add to your _petite fortune_.' + +'_Merci bien, monsieur le capitaine; bon voyage!_' Jeannette held her +finger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile, '_méchant!_' and then +quitted the room. + +'Come, Morrison, help us to empty this bottle, and then we will all go +on board.' + +'I wish that girl wouldn't come here with her nonsensical dreams,' said +Morrison, taking his seat; 'I don't like it. When she said that we +should be taken by a revenue cutter, I was looking at a blue and a white +pigeon sitting on the wall opposite; and I said to myself, Now, if that +be a warning, I will see: if the _blue_ pigeon flies away first, I shall +be in jail in a week; if the _white_, I shall be back here.' + +'Well?' said Pickersgill, laughing. + +'It wasn't well,' answered Morrison, tossing off his wine, and putting +the glass down with a deep sigh; 'for the cursed _blue_ pigeon flew away +immediately.' + +'Why, Morrison, you must have a chicken heart to be frightened at a blue +pigeon!' said Corbett, laughing, and looking out of the window; 'at all +events, he has come back again, and there he is sitting by the white +one.' + +'It's the first time that ever I was called chicken-hearted,' replied +Morrison in wrath. + +'Nor do you deserve it, Morrison,' replied Pickersgill; 'but Corbett is +only joking.' + +'Well, at all events, I'll try my luck in the same way, and see whether +I am to be in jail: I shall take the blue pigeon as my bad omen, as you +did.' + +[Illustration: _Jeannette held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with a +smile,_ 'méchant!' _and then quitted the room_] + +The sailors and Captain Pickersgill all rose and went to the window, to +ascertain Corbett's fortune by this new species of augury. The blue +pigeon flapped his wings, and then he sidled up to the white one; at +last, the white pigeon flew off the wall and settled on the roof of the +adjacent house. 'Bravo, white pigeon!' said Corbett; 'I shall be here +again in a week.' The whole party, laughing, then resumed their seats; +and Morrison's countenance brightened up. As he took the glass of wine +poured out by Pickersgill, he said, 'Here's your health, Corbett; it was +all nonsense, after all--for, d'ye see, I can't be put in jail without +you are. We all sail in the same boat, and when you leave me you take +with you everything that can condemn the vessel--so here's success to +our trip.' + +'We will all drink that toast, my lads, and then on board,' said the +captain; 'here's success to our trip.' + +The captain rose, as did the mates and men, drank the toast, turned down +the drinking vessels on the table, hastened to the wharf, and in half an +hour the _Happy-go-lucky_ was clear of the port of St. Maloes. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +PORTLAND BILL + + +The _Happy-go-lucky_ sailed with a fresh breeze and a flowing sheet from +St. Maloes the evening before the _Arrow_ sailed from Barn Pool. The +_Active_ sailed from Portsmouth the morning after. + +The yacht, as we before observed, was bound to Cowes, in the Isle of +Wight. The _Active_ had orders to cruise wherever she pleased within the +limits of the admiral's station; and she ran for West Bay, on the other +side of the Bill of Portland. The _Happy-go-lucky_ was also bound for +that bay to land her cargo. + +The wind was light, and there was every appearance of fine weather, when +the _Happy-go-lucky_, at ten o'clock on the Tuesday night, made the +Portland lights; as it was impossible to run her cargo that night, she +hove-to. + +At eleven o'clock the Portland lights were made by the revenue cutter +_Active_. Mr. Appleboy went up to have a look at them, ordered the +cutter to be hove-to, and then went down to finish his allowance of +gin-toddy. At twelve o'clock the yacht _Arrow_ made the Portland lights, +and continued her course, hardly stemming the ebb tide. + +Day broke, and the horizon was clear. The first on the look-out were, of +course, the smugglers; they, and those on board the revenue cutter, were +the only two interested parties--the yacht was neuter. + +'There are two cutters in sight, sir,' said Corbett, who had the watch; +for Pickersgill, having been up the whole night, had thrown himself down +on the bed with his clothes on. + +'What do they look like?' said Pickersgill, who was up in a moment. + +'One is a yacht, and the other may be; but I rather think, as far as I +can judge in the gray, that it is our old friend off here.' + +'What! old Appleboy?' + +'Yes, it looks like him; but the day has scarcely broke yet.' + +'Well, he can do nothing in a light wind like this; and before the wind +we can show him our heels; but are you sure the other is a yacht?' said +Pickersgill, coming on deck. + +'Yes; the king is more careful of his canvas.' + +'You're right,' said Pickersgill, 'that is a yacht; and you're right +there again in your guess--that is the stupid old _Active_ which creeps +about creeping for tubs. Well, I see nothing to alarm us at present, +provided it don't fall a dead calm, and then we must take to our boat as +soon as he takes to his; we are four miles from him at least. Watch his +motions, Corbett, and see if he lowers a boat. What does she go now? +Four knots?--that will soon tire their men.' + +The positions of the three cutters were as follows:-- + +The _Happy-go-lucky_ was about four miles off Portland Head, and well +into West Bay. The revenue cutter was close to the Head. The yacht was +outside of the smuggler, about two miles to the westward, and about five +or six miles from the revenue cutter. + +'Two vessels in sight, sir,' said Mr. Smith, coming down into the cabin +to Mr. Appleboy. + +'Very well,' replied the lieutenant, who was _lying_ down in his +_standing_ bed-place. + +'The people say one is the _Happy-go-lucky_, sir,' drawled Smith. + +'Heh? what! _Happy-go-lucky_? Yes, I recollect; I've boarded her twenty +times--always empty. How's she standing?' + +'She stands to the westward now, sir; but she was hove-to, they say, +when they first saw her.' + +'Then she has a cargo in her;' and Mr. Appleboy shaved himself, dressed, +and went on deck. + +'Yes,' said the lieutenant, rubbing his eyes again and again, and then +looking through the glass, 'it is her, sure enough. Let draw the +foresheet--hands make sail. What vessel's the other?' + +'Don't know, sir--she's a cutter.' + +'A cutter? yes; maybe a yacht, or maybe the new cutter ordered on the +station. Make all sail, Mr. Tomkins; hoist our pendant, and fire a +gun--they will understand what we mean then; they don't know the +_Happy-go-lucky_ as well as we do.' + +In a few minutes the _Active_ was under a press of sail; she hoisted her +pendant, and fired a gun. The smuggler perceived that the _Active_ had +recognised her, and she also threw out more canvas, and ran off more to +the westward. + +'There's a gun, sir,' reported one of the men to Mr. Stewart, on board +of the yacht. + +'Yes; give me the glass--a revenue cutter; then this vessel inshore +running towards us must be a smuggler.' + +'She has just now made all sail, sir.' + +'Yes, there's no doubt of it. I will go down to his lordship, keep her +as she goes.' + +Mr. Stewart then went down to inform Lord B. of the circumstance. Not +only Lord B. but most of the gentlemen came on deck; as did soon +afterwards the ladies, who had received the intelligence from Lord B., +who spoke to them through the door of the cabin. + +But the smuggler had more wind than the revenue cutter, and increased +her distance. + +'If we were to wear round, my lord,' observed Mr. Stewart, 'she is just +abreast of us and inshore, we could prevent her escape.' + +'Round with her, Mr. Stewart,' said Lord B.; 'we must do our duty and +protect the laws.' + +'That will not be fair, papa,' said Cecilia Ossulton; 'we have no +quarrel with the smugglers: I'm sure the ladies have not, for they bring +us beautiful things.' + +'Miss Ossulton,' observed her aunt, 'it is not proper for you to offer +an opinion.' + +The yacht wore round, and, sailing so fast, the smuggler had little +chance of escaping her; but to chase is one thing--to capture another. + +'Let us give her a gun,' said Lord B., 'that will frighten her; and he +dare not cross our hawse.' + +The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the smuggler, +actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way. + +[Illustration: _The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from +the smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way._] + +The gentlemen, as well as Lord B., were equally excited by the ardour of +pursuit; but the wind died away, and at last it was nearly calm. The +revenue cutter's boats were out, and coming up fast. + +'Let us get our boat out, Stewart,' said his lordship, 'and help them; +it is quite calm now.' + +The boat was soon out: it was a very large one, usually stowed on, and +occupied a large portion of, the deck. It pulled six oars; and when it +was manned, Mr. Stewart jumped in, and Lord B. followed him. + +'But you have no arms,' said Mr. Hautaine. + +'The smugglers never resist now,' observed Stewart. + +'Then you are going on a very gallant expedition indeed,' observed +Cecilia Ossulton; 'I wish you joy.' + +But Lord B. was too much excited to pay attention. They shoved off, and +pulled towards the smuggler. + +At this time the revenue boats were about five miles astern of the +_Happy-go-lucky_, and the yacht about three-quarters of a mile from her +in the offing. Pickersgill had, of course, observed the motions of the +yacht; had seen her wear on chase, hoist her ensign and pendant, and +fire her gun. + +'Well,' said he, 'this is the blackest ingratitude: to be attacked by +the very people whom we smuggle for! I only wish she may come up with +us; and, let her attempt to interfere, she shall rue the day. I don't +much like this, though.' + +As we before observed, it fell nearly calm, and the revenue boats were +in chase. Pickersgill watched them as they came up. + +'What shall we do?' said Corbett, 'get the boat out?' + +'Yes,' replied Pickersgill, 'we will get the boat out, and have the +goods in her all ready; but we can pull faster than they do, in the +first place; and, in the next, they will be pretty well tired before +they come up to us. We are fresh, and shall soon walk away from them; so +I shall not leave the vessel till they are within half a mile. We must +sink the ankers, that they may not seize the vessel, for it is not worth +while taking them with us. Pass them along, ready to run them over the +bows, that they may not see us and swear to it. But we have a good +half-hour and more.' + +'Ay, and you may hold all fast if you choose,' said Morrison, 'although +it's better to be on the right side and get ready; otherwise, before +half an hour, I'll swear that we are out of their sight. Look there,' +said he, pointing to the eastward at a heavy bank, 'it's coming right +down upon us, as I said it would.' + +'True enough; but still there is no saying which will come first, +Morrison, the boats or the fog; so we must be prepared.' + +'Hilloa! what's this? why, there's a boat coming from the yacht!' + +Pickersgill took out his glass. + +'Yes, and the yacht's own boat, with the name painted on her bows. Well, +let them come--we will have no ceremony in resisting them; they are not +in the Act of Parliament, and must take the consequences. We have nought +to fear. Get stretchers, my lads, and handspikes; they row six oars, and +are three in the stern-sheets: they must be good men if they take us.' + +In a few minutes Lord B. was close to the smuggler. + +'Boat ahoy! what do you want?' + +'Surrender in the king's name.' + +'To what, and to whom, and what are we to surrender? We are an English +vessel coasting along shore.' + +'Pull on board, my lads,' cried Stewart; 'I am a king's officer: we know +her.' + +The boat darted alongside, and Stewart and Lord B., followed by the men, +jumped on the deck. + +'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said Pickersgill. + +'We seize you! you are a smuggler--there's no denying it: look at the +casks of spirits stretched along the deck.' + +'We never said that we were not smugglers,' replied Pickersgill; 'but +what is that to you? You are not a king's ship, or employed by the +revenue.' + +'No; but we carry a pendant, and it is our duty to protect the laws.' + +'And who are you?' said Pickersgill. + +'I am Lord B.' + +'Then, my lord, allow me to say that you would do much better to attend +to the framing of laws, and leave people of less consequence, like those +astern of me, to execute them. "Mind your own business" is an old +adage. We shall not hurt you, my lord, as you have only employed words, +but we shall put it out of your power to hurt us. Come aft, my lads. +Now, my lord, resistance is useless; we are double your numbers, and you +have caught a Tartar.' + +[Illustration: _'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said +Pickersgill._] + +Lord B. and Mr. Stewart perceived that they were in an awkward +predicament. + +'You may do what you please,' observed Mr. Stewart, 'but the revenue +boats are coming up, recollect.' + +'Look you, sir, do you see the revenue cutter?' said Pickersgill. + +Stewart looked in that direction, and saw that she was hidden in the +fog. + +'In five minutes, sir, the boats will be out of sight also, and so will +your vessel; we have nothing to fear from them.' + +'Indeed, my lord, we had better return,' said Mr. Stewart, who perceived +that Pickersgill was right. + +'I beg your pardon, you will not go on board your yacht so soon as you +expect. Take the oars out of the boat, my lads, two or three of you, and +throw in a couple of our paddles for them to reach the shore with. The +rest of you knock down the first man who offers to resist. You are not +aware, perhaps, my lord, that you have attempted _piracy_ on the high +seas?' + +Stewart looked at Lord B. It was true enough. The men of the yacht could +offer no resistance; the oars were taken out of the boat and the men put +in again. + +'My lord,' said Pickersgill, 'your boat is manned, do me the favour to +step into it; and you, sir, do the same. I should be sorry to lay my +hands upon a peer of the realm, or a king's officer even on half-pay.' + +Remonstrance was vain; his lordship was led to the boat by two of the +smugglers, and Stewart followed. + +'I will leave your oars, my lord, at the Weymouth Custom-house, and I +trust this will be a lesson to you in future to "mind your own +business."' + +The boat was shoved off from the sloop by the smugglers, and was soon +lost sight of in the fog, which had now covered the revenue boats as +well as the yacht, at the same time it brought down a breeze from the +eastward. + +'Haul to the wind, Morrison,' said Pickersgill, 'we will stand out to +get rid of the boats; if they pull on they will take it for granted that +we shall run into the bay, as will the revenue cutter.' + +Pickersgill and Corbett were in conversation abaft for a short time, +when the former desired the course to be altered two points. + +'Keep silence all of you, my lads, and let me know if you hear a gun or +a bell from the yacht,' said Pickersgill. + +'There is a gun, sir, close to us,' said one of the men; 'the sound was +right ahead.' + +'That will do, keep her as she goes. Aft here, my lads; we cannot run +our cargo in the bay, for the cutter has been seen to chase us, and they +will all be on the look-out at the Preventive stations for us on shore. +Now, my lads, I have made up my mind that, as these yacht gentlemen have +thought proper to interfere, I will take possession of the yacht for a +few days. We shall then outsail everything, go where we like +unsuspected, and land our cargo with ease. I shall run alongside of +her--she can have but few hands on board; and mind, do not hurt anybody, +but be civil and obey my orders. Morrison, you and your four men and the +boy will remain on board as before, and take the vessel to Cherbourg, +where we will join you.' + +In a short time another gun was fired from the yacht. + +Those on board, particularly the ladies, were alarmed; the fog was very +thick, and they could not distinguish the length of the vessel. They had +seen the boat board, but had not seen her turned adrift without oars, as +the fog came on just at that time. The yacht was left with only three +seamen on board, and should it come on bad weather, they were in an +awkward predicament. Mr. Hautaine had taken the command, and ordered the +guns to be fired that the boat might be enabled to find them. The fourth +gun was loading, when they perceived the smuggler's cutter close to them +looming through the fog. + +'Here they are,' cried the seamen; 'and they have brought the prize +along with them! Three cheers for the _Arrow_!' + +'Hilloa! you'll be on board of us!' cried Hautaine. + +'That's exactly what I intended to be, sir,' replied Pickersgill, +jumping on the quarter-deck, followed by his men. + +'Who the devil are you?' + +'That's exactly the same question that I asked Lord B. when he boarded +us,' replied Pickersgill, taking off his hat to the ladies. + +'Well, but what business have you here?' + +'Exactly the same question which I put to Lord B.,' replied Pickersgill. + +'Where is Lord B., sir?' said Cecilia Ossulton, going up to the +smuggler; 'is he safe?' + +'Yes, madam, he is safe; at least he is in his boat with all his men, +and unhurt; but you must excuse me if I request you and the other ladies +to go down below while I speak to these gentlemen. Be under no alarm, +miss, you will receive neither insult nor ill-treatment--I have only +taken possession of this vessel for the present.' + +'Take possession,' cried Hautaine, 'of a yacht?' + +'Yes, sir, since the owner of the yacht thought proper to attempt to +take possession of me. I always thought that yachts were pleasure +vessels, sailing about for amusement, respected themselves, and not +interfering with others; but it appears that such is not the case. The +owner of this yacht has thought proper to break through the neutrality +and commence aggression, and under such circumstances I have now, in +retaliation, taken possession of her.' + +'And pray what do you mean to do, sir?' + +'Simply for a few days to make an exchange. I shall send you on board of +my vessel as smugglers, while I remain here with the ladies and amuse +myself with yachting.' + +'Why, sir, you cannot mean----' + +'I have said, gentlemen, and that is enough; I should be sorry to resort +to violence, but I must be obeyed. You have, I perceive, three seamen +only left: they are not sufficient to take charge of the vessel, and +Lord B. and the others you will not meet for several days. My regard for +the ladies, even common humanity, points out to me that I cannot leave +the vessel in this crippled condition. At the same time, I must have +hands on board of my own: you will oblige me by going on board and +taking her safely into port. It is the least return you can make for my +kindness. In those dresses, gentlemen, you will not be able to do your +duty; oblige me by shifting and putting on these.' Corbett handed a +flannel shirt, a rough jacket and trousers to Messrs. Hautaine, +Ossulton, Vaughan, and Seagrove. After some useless resistance they were +stripped, and having put on the smugglers' attire, they were handed on +board of the _Happy-go-lucky_. + +The three English seamen were also sent on board and confined below, as +well as Ossulton's servant, who was also equipped like his master, and +confined below with the seamen. Corbett and the men then handed up all +the smuggled goods into the yacht, dropped the boat, and made it fast +astern, and Morrison having received his directions, the vessels +separated, Morrison running for Cherbourg, and Pickersgill steering the +yacht along shore to the westward. About an hour after this exchange had +been effected the fog cleared up, and showed the revenue cutter hove-to +for her boats, which had pulled back and were close on board of her, and +the _Happy-go-lucky_ about three miles in the offing; Lord B. and his +boat's crew were about four miles inshore, paddling and drifting with +the tide towards Portland. As soon as the boats were on board, the +revenue cutter made all sail after the smuggler, paying no attention to +the yacht, and either not seeing or not caring about the boat which was +drifting about in West Bay. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TRAVESTIE + + +Here we are, Corbett, and now I only wish my venture had been double,' +observed Pickersgill; 'but I shall not allow business to absorb me +wholly--we must add a little amusement. It appears to me, Corbett, that +the gentleman's clothes which lie there will fit you, and those of the +good-looking fellow who was spokesman will, I am sure, suit me well. Now +let us dress ourselves, and then for breakfast.' + +Pickersgill then exchanged his clothes for those of Mr. Hautaine, and +Corbett fitted on those of Mr. Ossulton. The steward was summoned up, +and he dared not disobey; he appeared on deck, trembling. + +'Steward, you will take these clothes below,' said Pickersgill, 'and, +observe, that I now command this yacht; and during the time that I am on +board you will pay me the same respect as you did Lord B.; nay, more, +you will always address me as Lord B. You will prepare dinner and +breakfast, and do your duty just as if his lordship was on board, and +take care that you feed us well, for I will not allow the ladies to be +entertained in a less sumptuous manner than before. You will tell the +cook what I say; and now that you have heard me, take care that you +obey; if not, recollect that I have my own men here, and if I but point +with my finger, _overboard you go_. Do you perfectly comprehend me?' + +'Yes, sir,' stammered the steward. + +'Yes, _sir!_--What did I tell you, sirrah?--Yes, my lord. Do you +understand me?' + +'Yes--my lord.' + +'Pray, steward, whose clothes has this gentleman put on?' + +'Mr.--Mr. Ossulton's, I think--sir--my lord, I mean.' + +'Very well, steward; then recollect in future you always address that +gentleman as _Mr. Ossulton_.' + +'Yes, my lord,' and the steward went down below, and was obliged to take +a couple of glasses of brandy to keep himself from fainting. + +'Who are they, and what are they, Mr. Maddox?' cried the lady's-maid, +who had been weeping. + +'Pirates!--_bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing_ pirates!' replied the +steward. + +'Oh!' screamed the lady's-maid, 'what will become of us, poor +unprotected females?' And she hastened into the cabin, to impart this +dreadful intelligence. + +The ladies in the cabin were not in a very enviable situation. As for +the elder Miss Ossulton (but, perhaps, it will be better in future to +distinguish the two ladies, by calling the elder simply Miss Ossulton, +and her niece, Cecilia), she was sitting with her salts to her nose, +agonised with a mixture of trepidation and wounded pride. Mrs. Lascelles +was weeping, but weeping gently. Cecilia was sad, and her heart was +beating with anxiety and suspense, when the maid rushed in. + +'Oh, madam! oh, miss! oh, Mrs. Lascelles! I have found it all out!--they +are murderous, bloody, do-everything pirates!!!' + +'Mercy on us!' exclaimed Miss Ossulton; 'surely they will never +dare----' + +'Oh, ma'am, they dare anything!--they just now were for throwing the +steward overboard; and they have rummaged all the portmanteaus, and +dressed themselves in the gentlemen's best clothes. The captain of them +told the steward that he was Lord B., and that if he dared to call him +anything else, he would cut his throat from ear to ear; and if the cook +don't give them a good dinner, they swear that they'll chop his right +hand off, and make him eat it without pepper or salt!' + +Miss Ossulton screamed, and went off into hysterics. Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia went to her assistance; but the latter had not forgotten the +very different behaviour of Jack Pickersgill, and his polite manners, +when he boarded the vessel. She did not, therefore, believe what the +maid had reported, but still her anxiety and suspense were great, +especially about her father. After having restored her aunt she put on +her bonnet, which was lying on the sofa. + +'Where are you going, dear?' said Mrs. Lascelles. + +[Illustration: '_Pirates!_--bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing +_pirates!' replied the steward._] + +'On deck,' replied Cecilia. 'I must and will speak to these men.' + +'Gracious heaven, Miss Ossulton! going on deck! have you heard what +Phoebe says?' + +'Yes, aunt, I have; but I can wait here no longer.' + +'Stop her! stop her!--she will be murdered!--she will be--she is mad!' +screamed Miss Ossulton; but no one attempted to stop Cecilia, and on +deck she went. On her arrival she found Jack Pickersgill and Corbett +walking the deck, one of the smugglers at the helm, and the rest +forward, and as quiet as the crew of the yacht. As soon as she made her +appearance Jack took off his hat, and made her a bow. + +'I do not know whom I have the honour of addressing, young lady; but I +am flattered with this mark of confidence. You feel, and I assure you +you feel correctly, that you are not exactly in lawless hands.' + +Cecilia looked with more surprise than fear at Pickersgill. Mr. +Hautaine's dress became him; he was a handsome, fine-looking man, and +had nothing of the ruffian in his appearance; unless, like Byron's +Corsair, he was _half savage, half soft_. She could not help thinking +that she had met many with less pretensions, as far as appearance went, +to the claims of a gentleman, at Almack's and other fashionable circles. + +'I have ventured on deck, sir,' said Cecilia, with a little +tremulousness in her voice, 'to request, as a favour, that you will +inform me what your intentions may be with regard to the vessel and with +regard to the ladies!' + +'And I feel much obliged to you for so doing, and I assure you I will, +as far as I have made up my own mind, answer you candidly: but you +tremble--allow me to conduct you to a seat. In few words, then, to +remove your present alarm, I intend that the vessel shall be returned to +its owner, with every article in it, as religiously respected as if they +were church property. With respect to you, and the other ladies on +board, I pledge you my honour that you have nothing to fear; that you +shall be treated with every respect; your privacy never invaded; and +that, in a few days, you will be restored to your friends. Young lady, I +pledge my hopes of future salvation to the truth of this; but, at the +same time, I must make a few conditions, which, however, will not be +very severe.' + +'But, sir,' replied Cecilia, much relieved, for Pickersgill had stood +by her in the most respectful manner, 'you are, I presume, the captain +of the smuggler? Pray answer me one question more--What became of the +boat with Lord B.? He is my father.' + +'I left him in his boat, without a hair of his head touched, young lady; +but I took away the oars.' + +'Then he will perish!' cried Cecilia, putting her handkerchief to her +eyes. + +'No, young lady; he is on shore, probably, by this time. Although I took +away his means of assisting to capture us, I left him the means of +gaining the land. It is not every one who would have done that, after +his conduct to us.' + +'I begged him not to go,' said Cecilia; 'I told him that it was not +fair, and that he had no quarrel with the smugglers.' + +'I thank you even for that,' replied Pickersgill. 'And now, miss--I have +not the pleasure of recollecting his lordship's family name----' + +'Ossulton, sir,' said Cecilia, looking at Pickersgill with surprise. + +'Then, with your permission, Miss Ossulton, I will now make you my +confidant: excuse my using so free a term, but it is because I wish to +relieve your fears. At the same time, I cannot permit you to divulge all +my intentions to the whole party on board. I feel that I may trust you, +for you have courage, and where there is courage there generally is +truth; but you must first tell me whether you will condescend to accept +these terms.' + +Cecilia demurred a moment; the idea of being the confidant of a smuggler +rather startled her: but still, her knowledge of what his intentions +were, if she might not reveal them, might be important; as, perhaps, she +might dissuade him. She could be in no worse position than she was now, +and she might be in a much better. The conduct of Pickersgill had been +such, up to the present, as to inspire confidence; and, although he +defied the laws, he appeared to regard the courtesies of life. Cecilia +was a courageous girl, and at length she replied-- + +'Provided what you desire me to keep secret will not be injurious to any +one, or compromise me in my peculiar situation, I consent.' + +'I would not hurt a fly, Miss Ossulton, but in self-defence; and I have +too much respect for you, from your conduct during our short meeting, to +compromise you. Allow me now to be very candid; and then, perhaps, you +will acknowledge that in my situation others would do the same, and, +perhaps, not show half so much forbearance. Your father, without any +right whatever, interferes with me and my calling: he attempts to make +me a prisoner, to have me thrown in jail, heavily fined, and, perhaps, +sent out of the country. I will not enter into any defence of smuggling: +it is sufficient to say that there are pains and penalties attached to +the infraction of certain laws, and that I choose to risk them. But Lord +B. was not empowered by Government to attack me; it was a gratuitous +act; and had I thrown him and all his crew into the sea, I should have +been justified: for it was, in short, an act of piracy on their part. +Now, as your father has thought to turn a yacht into a revenue cutter, +you cannot be surprised at my retaliating, in turning her into a +smuggler; and as he has mixed up looking after the revenue with +yachting, he cannot be surprised if I retaliate by mixing up a little +yachting with smuggling. I have dressed your male companions as +smugglers, and have sent them in the smuggling vessel to Cherbourg, +where they will be safely landed; and I have dressed myself, and the +only person whom I could join with me in this frolic, as gentlemen, in +their places. My object is twofold: one is, to land my cargo, which I +have now on board, and which is very valuable; the other is, to +retaliate upon your father and his companions for their attempt upon me, +by stepping into their shoes, and enjoying, for a day or two, their +luxuries. It is my intention to make free with nothing but his +lordship's wines and eatables--that you may be assured of; but I shall +have no pleasure if the ladies do not sit down to the dinner-table with +us, as they did before with your father and his friends.' + +'You can hardly expect that, sir,' said Cecilia. + +'Yes, I do; and that will be not only the price of the early release of +the yacht and themselves, but it will also be the only means by which +they will obtain anything to eat. You observe, Miss Ossulton, the sins +of the fathers are visited on the children. I have now told you what I +mean to do, and what I wish. I leave you to think of it, and decide +whether it will not be the best for all parties to consent. You have my +permission to tell the other ladies that, whatever may be their conduct, +they are as secure from ill-treatment or rudeness as if they were in +Grosvenor Square; but I cannot answer that they will not be hungry, if, +after such forbearance in every point, they show so little gratitude as +not to honour me with their company.' + +'Then I am to understand that we are to be starved into submission?' + +'No, not starved, Miss Ossulton; but recollect that you will be on bread +and water, and detained until you do consent, and your detention will +increase the anxiety of your father.' + +'You know how to persuade, sir,' said Cecilia. 'As far as I am +concerned, I trust I shall ever be ready to sacrifice any feelings of +pride to spare my father so much uneasiness. With your permission, I +will now go down into the cabin and relieve my companions from the worst +of their fears. As for obtaining what you wish, I can only say that, as +a young person, I am not likely to have much influence with those older +than myself, and must inevitably be overruled, as I have not permission +to point out to them reasons which might avail. Would you so far allow +me to be relieved from my promise, as to communicate all you have said +to me to the only married woman on board? I think I then might obtain +your wishes, which, I must candidly tell you, I shall attempt to effect +_only_ because I am most anxious to rejoin my friends.' + +'And be relieved of my company,' replied Pickersgill, smiling +ironically--'of course you are; but I must and will have my petty +revenge: and although you may, and probably will, detest me, at all +events you shall not have any very formidable charge to make against me. +Before you go below, Miss Ossulton, I give you my permission to add the +married lady to the number of my confidants; and you must permit me to +introduce my friend, Mr. Ossulton;' and Pickersgill waved his hand in +the direction of Corbett, who took off his hat and made a low obeisance. + +It was impossible for Cecilia Ossulton to help smiling. + +'And,' continued Pickersgill, 'having taken the command of this yacht +instead of his lordship, it is absolutely necessary that I also take his +lordship's name. While on board I am Lord B.; and allow me to introduce +myself under that name; I cannot be addressed otherwise. Depend upon +it, Miss Ossulton, that I shall have a most paternal solicitude to make +you happy and comfortable.' + +Had Cecilia Ossulton dared to have given vent to her real feelings at +that time, she would have burst into a fit of laughter; it was too +ludicrous. At the same time, the very burlesque reassured her still +more. She went into the cabin with a heavy weight removed from her +heart. + +In the meantime, Miss Ossulton and Mrs. Lascelles remained below, in the +greatest anxiety at Cecilia's prolonged stay; they knew not what to +think, and dared not go on deck. Mrs. Lascelles had once determined at +all risks to go up; but Miss Ossulton and Phoebe had screamed and +implored her so fervently not to leave them, that she unwillingly +consented to remain. Cecilia's countenance, when she entered the cabin, +reassured Mrs. Lascelles, but not her aunt, who ran to her crying and +sobbing, and clinging to her, saying, 'What have they done to you, my +poor, poor Cecilia?' + +'Nothing at all, aunt,' replied Cecilia; 'the captain speaks very +fairly, and says he shall respect us in every possible way, provided +that we obey his orders; but if not----' + +'If not--what, Cecilia?' said Miss Ossulton, grasping her niece's arm. + +'He will starve us, and not let us go!' + +'God have mercy on us!' cried Miss Ossulton, renewing her sobs. + +Cecilia then went to Mrs. Lascelles, and communicated to her apart all +that had passed. Mrs. Lascelles agreed with Cecilia that they were in no +danger of insult; and as they talked over the matter they at last began +to laugh; there was a novelty in it, and there was something so +ridiculous in all the gentlemen being turned into smugglers. Cecilia was +glad that she could not tell her aunt, as she wished her to be so +frightened as never to have her company on board the yacht again; and +Mrs. Lascelles was too glad to annoy her for many and various insults +received. The matter was therefore canvassed over very satisfactorily, +and Mrs. Lascelles felt a natural curiosity to see this new Lord B. and +the second Mr. Ossulton. But they had had no breakfast, and were feeling +very hungry now that their alarm was over. They desired Phoebe to ask +the steward for some tea or coffee. The reply was, that 'Breakfast was +laid in the cabin, and Lord B. trusted that the ladies would come to +partake of it.' + +'No, no,' replied Mrs. Lascelles, 'I never can, without being introduced +to them first.' + +'Nor will I go,' replied Cecilia, 'but I will write a note, and we will +have our breakfast here.' Cecilia wrote a note in pencil as follows:-- + + 'Miss Ossulton's compliments to Lord B., and, as the ladies feel + rather indisposed after the alarm of this morning, they trust that + his lordship will excuse their coming to breakfast; but hope to + meet his lordship at dinner, if not before that time on deck.' + +The answer was propitious, and the steward soon appeared with the +breakfast in the ladies' cabin. + +'Well, Maddox,' said Cecilia, 'how do you get on with your new master?' + +The steward looked at the door, to see if it was closed, shook his head, +and then said, with a look of despair, 'He has ordered a haunch of +venison for dinner, miss, and he has twice threatened to toss me +overboard.' + +'You must obey him, Maddox, or he certainly will. These pirates are +dreadful fellows. Be attentive, and serve him just as if he was my +father.' + +'Yes, yes, ma'am, I will; but our time may come. It's _burglary_ on the +high seas, and I'll go fifty miles to see him hanged.' + +'Steward!' cried Pickersgill, from the cabin. + +'O Lord! he can't have heard me--d'ye think he did, miss?' + +'The partitions are very thin, and you spoke very loud,' said Mrs. +Lascelles; 'at all events, go to him quickly.' + +'Good-bye, miss; good-bye, ma'am, if I shouldn't see you any more,' said +Maddox, trembling with fear, as he obeyed the awful summons--which was +to demand a toothpick. + +Miss Ossulton would not touch the breakfast; not so Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia, who ate very heartily. + +'It's very dull to be shut up in this cabin,' said Mrs. Lascelles; +'come, Cecilia, let's go on deck.' + +'And leave me!' cried Miss Ossulton. + +'There is Phoebe here, aunt; we are going up to persuade the pirates +to put us all on shore.' + +Mrs. Lascelles and Cecilia put on their bonnets and went up. Lord B. +took off his hat, and begged the honour of being introduced to the +pretty widow. He handed the ladies to a seat, and then commenced +conversing upon various subjects, which at the same time possessed great +novelty. His lordship talked about France, and described its ports; told +now and then a good anecdote; pointed out the different headlands, bays, +towns, and villages, which they were passing rapidly, and always had +some little story connected with each. Before the ladies had been two +hours on deck they found themselves, to their infinite surprise, not +only interested, but in conversation with the captain of the smuggler, +and more than once they laughed outright. But the _soi-disant_ Lord B. +had inspired them with confidence; they fully believed that what he had +told them was true, and that he had taken possession of the yacht to +smuggle his goods, to be revenged, and to have a laugh. Now none of +these three offences are capital in the eyes of the fair sex, and Jack +was a handsome, fine-looking fellow, of excellent manners and very +agreeable conversation; at the same time, neither he nor his friend were +in their general deportment and behaviour otherwise than most +respectful. + +'Ladies, as you are not afraid of me, which is a greater happiness than +I had reason to expect, I think you may be amused to witness the fear of +those who accuse your sex of cowardice. With your permission, I will +send for the cook and steward, and inquire about the dinner.' + +'I should like to know what there is for dinner,' observed Mrs. +Lascelles demurely; 'wouldn't you, Cecilia?' + +Cecilia put her handkerchief to her mouth. + +'Tell the steward and the cook both to come aft immediately,' cried +Pickersgill. + +In a few seconds they both made their appearance. + +'Steward!' cried Pickersgill, with a loud voice. + +'Yes, my lord,' replied Maddox, with his hat in his hand. + +'What wines have you put out for dinner?' + +'Champagne, my lord; and claret, my lord; and Madeira and sherry, my +lord.' + +'No Burgundy, sir?' + +[Illustration: _'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his +knees, 'there is no Burgundy on board--ask the ladies.'_] + +'No, my lord; there is no Burgundy on board.' + +'No Burgundy, sir! do you dare to tell me that?' + +'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his knees, 'there is +no Burgundy on board--ask the ladies.' + +'Very well, sir, you may go.' + +'Cook, what have you got for dinner?' + +'Sir, a haunch of mutt--of venison, my lord,' replied the cook, with his +white nightcap in his hand. + +'What else, sirrah?' + +'A boiled calf's head, my lord.' + +'A boiled calf's head! Let it be roasted, or I'll roast you, sir!' cried +Pickersgill, in an angry tone. + +'Yes, my lord; I'll roast it.' + +'And what else, sir?' + +'Maintenon cutlets, my lord.' + +'Maintenon cutlets! I hate them--I won't have them, sir. Let them be +dressed _à l'ombre Chinoise_.' + +'I don't know what that is, my lord.' + +'I don't care for that, sirrah; if you don't find out by dinner-time, +you're food for fishes--that's all; you may go.' + +The cook walked off wringing his hands and his nightcap as well--for he +still held it in his right hand--and disappeared down the fore-hatchway. + +'I have done this to pay you a deserved compliment, ladies; you have +more courage than the other sex.' + +'Recollect that we have had confidence given to us in consequence of +your pledging your word, my lord.' + +'You do me, then, the honour of believing me?' + +'I did not until I saw you,' replied Mrs. Lascelles; 'but now I am +convinced that you will perform your promise.' + +'You do indeed encourage me, madam, to pursue what is right,' said +Pickersgill, bowing; 'for your approbation I should be most sorry to +lose, still more sorry to prove myself unworthy of it.' + +As the reader will observe, everything was going on remarkably well. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SMUGGLING YACHT + + +Cecilia returned to the cabin, to ascertain whether her aunt was more +composed; but Mrs. Lascelles remained on deck. She was much pleased with +Pickersgill; and they continued their conversation. Pickersgill entered +into a defence of his conduct to Lord B.; and Mrs. Lascelles could not +but admit the provocation. After a long conversation she hinted at his +profession, and how superior he appeared to be to such a lawless life. + +'You may be incredulous, madam,' replied Pickersgill, 'if I tell you +that I have as good a right to quarter my arms as Lord B. himself; and +that I am not under my real name. Smuggling is, at all events, no crime; +and I infinitely prefer the wild life I lead at the head of my men to +being spurned by society because I am poor. The greatest crime in this +country is poverty. I may, if I am fortunate, some day resume my name. +You may, perhaps, meet me, and if you please, you may expose me.' + +'That I should not be likely to do,' replied the widow; 'but still I +regret to see a person, evidently intended for better things, employed +in so disreputable a profession.' + +'I hardly know, madam, what is and what is not disreputable in this +conventional world. It is not considered disreputable to cringe to the +vices of a court, or to accept a pension wrung from the industry of the +nation, in return for base servility. It is not considered disreputable +to take tithes, intended for the service of God, and lavish them away at +watering-places or elsewhere, seeking pleasure instead of doing God +service. It is not considered disreputable to take fee after fee to +uphold injustice, to plead against innocence, to pervert truth, and to +aid the devil. It is not considered disreputable to gamble on the Stock +Exchange, or to corrupt the honesty of electors by bribes, for doing +which the penalty attached is equal to that decreed to the offence of +which I am guilty. All these, and much more, are not considered +disreputable; yet by all these are the moral bonds of society loosened, +while in mine we cause no guilt in others----' + +'But still it is a crime.' + +'A violation of the revenue laws, and no more. Observe, madam, the +English Government encourage the smuggling of our manufactures to the +Continent, at the same time that they take every step to prevent +articles being smuggled into this country. Now, madam, can that be a +_crime_ when the head of the vessel is turned north, which becomes _no +crime_ when she steers the opposite way?' + +'There is a stigma attached to it, you must allow.' + +'That I grant you, madam; and as soon as I can quit the profession I +shall. No captive ever sighed more to be released from his chains; but I +will not leave it, till I find that I am in a situation not to be +spurned and neglected by those with whom I have a right to associate.' + +At this moment the steward was seen forward making signs to Mrs. +Lascelles, who excused herself, and went to him. + +'For the love of God, madam,' said Maddox, 'as he appears to be friendly +with you, do pray find out how these cutlets are to be dressed; the cook +is tearing his hair, and we shall never have any dinner; and then it +will all fall upon me, and I--shall be tossed overboard.' + +Mrs. Lascelles desired poor Maddox to wait there while she obtained the +desired information. In a few minutes she returned to him. + +'I have found it out. They are first to be boiled in vinegar, then fried +in batter, and served up with a sauce of anchovy and Malaga raisins!' + +'First fried in vinegar, then boiled in batter, and served up with +almonds and raisins!' + +'No--no!' Mrs. Lascelles repeated the injunction to the frightened +steward, and then returned aft, and re-entered into a conversation with +Pickersgill, in which for the first time Corbett now joined. Corbett had +sense enough to feel that the less he came forward until his superior +had established himself in the good graces of the ladies, the more +favourable would be the result. + +In the meantime Cecilia had gone down to her aunt, who still continued +to wail and lament. The young lady tried all she could to console her, +and to persuade her that if they were civil and obedient they had +nothing to fear. + +'Civil and obedient, indeed!' cried Miss Ossulton, 'to a fellow who is a +smuggler and a pirate! I, the sister of Lord B.! Never! The presumption +of the wretch!' + +'That is all very well, aunt; but recollect, we must submit to +circumstances. These men insist upon our dining with them; and we must +go, or we shall have no dinner.' + +'I sit down with a pirate! Never! I'll have no dinner--I'll starve--I'll +die!' + +'But, my dear aunt, it's the only chance we have of obtaining our +release; and if you do not do it Mrs. Lascelles will think that you wish +to remain with them.' + +'Mrs. Lascelles judges of other people by herself.' + +'The captain is certainly a very well-behaved, handsome man. He looks +like a nobleman in disguise. What an odd thing it would be, aunt, if +this should be all a hoax!' + +'A hoax, child?' replied Miss Ossulton, sitting up on the sofa. + +Cecilia found that she had hit the right nail, as the saying is; and she +brought forward so many arguments to prove that she thought it was a +hoax to frighten them, and that the gentleman above was a man of +consequence, that her aunt began to listen to reason, and at last +consented to join the dinner party. Mrs. Lascelles now came down below; +and when dinner was announced they repaired to the large cabin, where +they found Pickersgill and Corbett waiting for them. + +Miss Ossulton did not venture to look up, until she heard Pickersgill +say to Mrs. Lascelles, 'Perhaps, madam, you will do me the favour to +introduce me to that lady, whom I have not had the honour of seeing +before?' + +'Certainly, my lord,' replied Mrs. Lascelles. 'Miss Ossulton, the aunt +of this young lady.' + +Mrs. Lascelles purposely did not introduce _his lordship_ in return, +that she might mystify the old spinster. + +'I feel highly honoured in finding myself in the company of Miss +Ossulton,' said Pickersgill. 'Ladies, we wait but for you to sit down. +Ossulton, take the head of the table and serve the soup. + +Miss Ossulton was astonished; she looked at the smugglers, and perceived +two well-dressed gentlemanly men, one of whom was apparently a lord, and +the other having the same family name. + +'It must be all a hoax,' thought she, and she very quietly took to her +soup. + +The dinner passed off very pleasantly; Pickersgill was agreeable, +Corbett funny, and Miss Ossulton so far recovered herself as to drink +wine with his lordship, and to ask Corbett what branch of their family +he belonged to. + +'I presume it's the Irish branch?' said Mrs. Lascelles, prompting him. + +'Exactly, madam,' replied Corbett. + +'Have you ever been to Torquay, ladies?' inquired Pickersgill. + +'No, my lord,' answered Mrs. Lascelles. + +'We shall anchor there in the course of an hour, and probably remain +there till to-morrow. Steward, bring coffee. Tell the cook these cutlets +were remarkably well dressed.' + +The ladies retired to their cabin. Miss Ossulton was now convinced that +it was all a hoax; 'but,' said she, 'I shall tell Lord B. my opinion of +their practical jokes when he returns. What is his lordship's name who +is on board?' + +'He won't tell us,' replied Mrs. Lascelles; 'but I think I know; it is +Lord Blarney.' + +'Lord Blaney, you mean, I presume,' said Miss Ossulton; 'however, the +thing is carried too far. Cecilia, we will go on shore at Torquay, and +wait till the yacht returns with Lord B. I don't like these jokes; they +may do very well for widows, and people of no rank.' + +Now Mrs. Lascelles was sorry to find Miss Ossulton so much at her ease. +She owed her no little spite, and wished for revenge. Ladies will go +very far to obtain this. How far Mrs. Lascelles would have gone, I will +not pretend to say; but this is certain, that the last innuendo of Miss +Ossulton very much added to her determination. She took her bonnet and +went on deck, at once told Pickersgill that he could not please her or +Cecilia more than by frightening Miss Ossulton, who, under the idea that +it was all a hoax, had quite recovered her spirits; talked of her pride +and ill-nature, and wished her to receive a useful lesson. Thus, to +follow up her revenge, did Mrs. Lascelles commit herself so far as to be +confidential with the smuggler in return. + +'Mrs. Lascelles, I shall be able to obey you, and, at the same time, to +combine business with pleasure.' + +After a short conversation, the yacht dropped her anchor at Torquay. It +was then about two hours before sunset. As soon as the sails were +furled, one or two gentlemen, who resided there, came on board to pay +their respects to Lord B.; and, as Pickersgill had found out from +Cecilia that her father was acquainted with no one there, he received +them in person; asked them down into the cabin--called for wine--and +desired them to send their boat away, as his own was going on shore. The +smugglers took great care that the steward, cook, and lady's-maid should +have no communication with the guests; one of them, by Corbett's +direction, being a sentinel over each individual. The gentlemen remained +about half an hour on board, during which Corbett and the smugglers had +filled the portmanteaus found in the cabin with the lace, and they were +put in the boat; Corbett then landed the gentlemen in the same boat, and +went up to the hotel, the smugglers following him with the portmanteaus, +without any suspicion or interruption. As soon as he was there, he +ordered post-horses, and set off for a town close by, where he had +correspondents; and thus the major part of the cargo was secured. +Corbett then returned in the night, bringing with him people to receive +the goods; and the smugglers landed the silks, teas, etc., with the same +good fortune. Everything was out of the yacht except a portion of the +lace, which the portmanteaus would not hold. Pickersgill might easily +have sent this on shore; but, to please Mrs. Lascelles, he arranged +otherwise. + +The next morning, about an hour after breakfast was finished, Mrs. +Lascelles entered the cabin pretending to be in the greatest +consternation, and fell on the sofa as if she were going to faint. + +'Good heavens! what is the matter?' exclaimed Cecilia, who knew very +well what was coming. + +'Oh, the wretch! he has made such proposals!' + +'Proposals! what proposals? what! Lord Blaney?' cried Miss Ossulton. + +'Oh, he's no lord! he's a villain and a smuggler! and he insists that we +shall both fill our pockets full of lace, and go on shore with him.' + +'Mercy on me! Then it is no hoax after all; and I've been sitting down +to dinner with a smuggler!' + +'Sitting down, madam!--if it were to be no more than that--but we are to +take his arm up to the hotel. Oh, dear! Cecilia, I am ordered on deck; +pray come with me!' + +Miss Ossulton rolled on the sofa, and rang for Phoebe; she was in a +state of great alarm. + +A knock at the door. + +'Come in,' said Miss Ossulton, thinking it was Phoebe; when +Pickersgill made his appearance. + +'What do you want, sir? Go out, sir! go out directly, or I'll scream!' + +'It is no use screaming, madam; recollect that all on board are at my +service. You will oblige me by listening to me, Miss Ossulton. I am, as +you know, a smuggler; and I must send this lace on shore. You will +oblige me by putting it into your pockets, or about your person, and +prepare to go on shore with me. As soon as we arrive at the hotel, you +will deliver it to me, and I then shall reconduct you on board of the +yacht. You are not the first lady who has gone on shore with contraband +articles about her person.' + +'Me, sir! go on shore in that way? No, sir--never! What will the world +say?--the Hon. Miss Ossulton walking with a smuggler! No, sir--never!' + +'Yes, madam; walking arm-in-arm with a smuggler. I shall have you on one +arm, and Mrs. Lascelles on the other; and I would advise you to take it +very quietly; for, in the first place, it will be you who smuggle, as +the goods will be found on your person, and you will certainly be put in +prison; for at the least appearance of insubordination, we run and +inform against you; and further, your niece will remain on board as a +hostage for your good behaviour--and if you have any regard for her +liberty, you will consent immediately.' + +Pickersgill left the cabin, and shortly afterwards Cecilia and Mrs. +Lascelles entered, apparently much distressed. They had been informed of +all, and Mrs. Lascelles declared, that for her part, sooner than leave +her poor Cecilia to the mercy of such people, she had made up her mind +to submit to the smuggler's demands. Cecilia also begged so earnestly, +that Miss Ossulton, who had no idea that it was a trick, with much +sobbing and blubbering, consented. + +[Illustration: _Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; +and, with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel._] + +When all was ready Cecilia left the cabin; Pickersgill came down, handed +up the two ladies, who had not exchanged a word with each other during +Cecilia's absence; the boat was ready alongside--they went in, and +pulled on shore. Everything succeeded to the smuggler's satisfaction. +Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; and, with Mrs. +Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel, followed by four of +his boat's crew. As soon as they were shown into a room, Corbett, who +was already on shore, asked for Lord B., and joined them. The ladies +retired to another apartment, divested themselves of their contraband +goods, and after calling for some sandwiches and wine, Pickersgill +waited an hour, and then returned on board. Mrs. Lascelles was +triumphant; and she rewarded her new ally--the smuggler--with one of her +sweetest smiles. Community of interest will sometimes make strange +friendships. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CONCLUSION + + +We must now return to the other parties who have assisted in the acts of +this little drama. Lord B., after paddling and paddling, the men +relieving each other, in order to make head against the wind, which was +off shore, arrived about midnight at a small town in West Bay, from +whence he took a chaise on to Portsmouth, taking it for granted that his +yacht would arrive as soon as, if not before himself, little imagining +that it was in possession of the smugglers. There he remained three or +four days, when, becoming impatient, he applied to one of his friends +who had a yacht at Cowes, and sailed with him to look after his own. + +We left the _Happy-go-lucky_ chased by the revenue cutter. At first the +smuggler had the advantage before the wind; but, by degrees, the wind +went round with the sun, and brought the revenue cutter to leeward: it +was then a chase on a wind, and the revenue cutter came fast up with +her. + +Morrison, perceiving that he had no chance of escape, let run the ankers +of brandy that he might not be condemned; but still he was in an awkward +situation, as he had more men on board than allowed by Act of +Parliament. He therefore stood on, notwithstanding the shot of the +cutter went over and over him, hoping that a fog or night might enable +him to escape; but he had no such good fortune; one of the shot carried +away the head of his mast, and the _Happy-go-lucky's_ luck was all over. +He was boarded and taken possession of; he asserted that the extra men +were only passengers; but, in the first place, they were dressed in +seamen's clothes; and, in the second, as soon as the boat was aboard of +her, Appleboy had gone down to his gin-toddy, and was not to be +disturbed. The gentlemen smugglers therefore passed an uncomfortable +night; and the cutter going to Portland by daylight, before Appleboy was +out of bed, they were taken on shore to the magistrate. Hautaine +explained the whole affair, and they were immediately released and +treated with respect; but they were not permitted to depart until they +were bound over to appear against the smugglers, and prove the brandy +having been on board. They then set off for Portsmouth in the seamen's +clothes, having had quite enough of yachting for that season, Mr. +Ossulton declaring that he only wanted to get his luggage, and then he +would take care how he put himself again in the way of the shot of a +revenue cruiser, or of sleeping a night on her decks. + +In the meantime Morrison and his men were locked up in the jail, the old +man, as the key was turned on him, exclaiming, as he raised his foot in +vexation, 'That cursed blue pigeon.' + +We will now return to the yacht. + +About an hour after Pickersgill had come on board, Corbett had made all +his arrangements and followed him. It was not advisable to remain at +Torquay any longer, through fear of discovery; he therefore weighed the +anchor before dinner, and made sail. + +'What do you intend to do now, my lord?' said Mrs. Lascelles. + +'I intend to run down to Cowes, anchor the yacht in the night, and an +hour before daylight have you in my boat with all my men. I will take +care that you are in perfect safety, depend upon it, even if I run a +risk. I should, indeed, be miserable, if, through my wild freaks, any +accident should happen to Mrs. Lascelles or Miss Ossulton.' + +'I am very anxious about my father,' observed Cecilia. 'I trust that you +will keep your promise.' + +'I always have hitherto, Miss Ossulton; have I not?' + +'Ours is but a short and strange acquaintance.' + +'I grant it; but it will serve for you to talk about long after. I shall +disappear as suddenly as I have come--you will neither of you, in all +probability, ever see me again.' + +The dinner was announced, and they sat down to table as before; but the +elderly spinster refused to make her appearance, and Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia, who thought she had been frightened enough, did not attempt to +force her. Pickersgill immediately yielded to these remonstrances, and +from that time she remained undisturbed in the ladies' cabin, meditating +over the indignity of having sat down to table, having drank wine, and +been obliged to walk on shore, taking the arm of a smuggler, and appear +in such a humiliating situation. + +The wind was light, and they made but little progress, and were not +abreast of Portland till the second day, when another yacht appeared in +sight, and the two vessels slowly neared, until in the afternoon they +were within four miles of each other. It then fell a dead calm: signals +were thrown out by the other yacht, but could not be distinguished, and, +for the last time, they sat down to dinner. Three days' companionship on +board of a vessel, cooped up together, and having no one else to +converse with, will produce intimacy; and Pickersgill was a young man of +so much originality and information, that he was listened to with +pleasure. He never attempted to advance beyond the line of strict +decorum and politeness; and his companion was equally unpresuming. +Situated as they were, and feeling what must have been the case had they +fallen into other hands, both Cecilia and Mrs. Lascelles felt some +degree of gratitude towards him; and, although anxious to be relieved +from so strange a position, they had gradually acquired a perfect +confidence in him; and this had produced a degree of familiarity on +their parts, although never ventured upon by the smuggler. As Corbett +was at the table, one of the men came down and made a sign. Corbett +shortly after quitted the table and went on deck. 'I wish, my lord, you +would come up a moment, and see if you can make this flag out,' said +Corbett, giving a significant nod to Pickersgill. 'Excuse me, ladies, +one moment,' said Pickersgill, who went on deck. + +'It is the boat of the yacht coming on board,' said Corbett; 'and Lord +B. is in the stern-sheets with the gentleman who was with him.' + +'And how many men in the boat?--let me see--only four. Well, let his +lordship and his friend come: when they are on the deck, have the men +ready in case of accident; but if you can manage to tell the boat's crew +that they are to go on board again, and get rid of them that way, so +much the better. Arrange this with Adams, and then come down again--his +lordship must see us all at dinner.' + +Pickersgill then descended, and Corbett had hardly time to give his +directions and to resume his seat, before his lordship and Mr. Stewart +pulled up alongside and jumped on deck. There was no one to receive them +but the seamen, and those whom they did not know. They looked round in +amazement; at last his lordship said to Adams, who stood forward-- + +'What men are you?' + +'Belong to the yacht, ye'r honour.' + +Lord B. heard laughing in the cabin; he would not wait to interrogate +the men; he walked aft, followed by Mr. Stewart, looked down the +skylight, and perceived his daughter and Mrs. Lascelles, with, as he +supposed, Hautaine and Ossulton. + +Pickersgill had heard the boat rub the side, and the sound of the feet +on deck, and he talked the more loudly, that the ladies might be caught +by Lord B. as they were. He heard their feet at the skylight, and knew +that they could hear what passed; and at that moment he proposed to the +ladies that as this was their last meeting at table they should all take +a glass of champagne to drink to 'their happy meeting with Lord B.' This +was a toast which they did not refuse. Maddox poured out the wine, and +they were all bowing to each other, when his lordship, who had come down +the ladder, walked into the cabin, followed by Mr. Stewart. Cecilia +perceived her father; the champagne-glass dropped from her hand--she +flew into his arms, and burst into tears. + +'Who would not be a father, Mrs. Lascelles?' said Pickersgill, quietly +seating himself, after having first risen to receive Lord B. + +'And pray, whom may I have the honour of finding established here?' said +Lord B., in an angry tone, speaking over his daughter's head, who still +lay in his arms. 'By heavens, yes!--Stewart, it is the smuggling captain +dressed out.' + +'Even so, my lord,' replied Pickersgill. 'You abandoned your yacht to +capture me; you left these ladies in a vessel crippled for want of men; +they might have been lost. I have returned good for evil by coming on +board with my own people, and taking charge of them. This night I +expected to have anchored your vessel in Cowes, and have left them in +safety.' + +'By the----' cried Stewart. + +'Stop, sir, if you please!' cried Pickersgill; 'recollect you have once +already attacked one who never offended. Oblige me by refraining from +intemperate language; for I tell you I will not put up with it. +Recollect, sir, that I have refrained from that, and also from taking +advantage of you when you were in my power. Recollect, sir, also, that +the yacht is still in possession of the smugglers, and that you are in +no condition to insult with impunity. My lord, allow me to observe, that +we men are too hot of temperament to argue or listen coolly. With your +permission, your friend, and my friend, and I, will repair on deck, +leaving you to hear from your daughter and that lady all that has +passed. After that, my lord, I shall be most happy to hear anything +which your lordship may please to say.' + +'Upon my word----' commenced Mr. Stewart. + +'Mr. Stewart,' interrupted Cecilia Ossulton, 'I request your silence; +nay, more, if ever we are again to sail in the same vessel together, I +_insist_ upon it.' + +'Your lordship will oblige me by enforcing Miss Ossulton's request,' +said Mrs. Lascelles. + +Mr. Stewart was dumbfounded--no wonder--to find the ladies siding with +the smuggler. + +'I am obliged to you, ladies, for your interference,' said Pickersgill; +'for, although I have the means of enforcing conditions, I should be +sorry to avail myself of them. I wait for his lordship's reply.' + +Lord. B. was very much surprised. He wished for an explanation; he bowed +with _hauteur_. Everybody appeared to be in a false position; even he, +Lord B., somehow or another had bowed to a smuggler. + +Pickersgill and Stewart went on deck, walking up and down, crossing each +other without speaking, but reminding you of two dogs who are both +anxious to fight, but have been restrained by the voice of their +masters. Corbett followed, and talked in a low tone to Pickersgill; +Stewart went over to leeward to see if the boat was still alongside, but +it had long before returned to the yacht. Miss Ossulton had heard her +brother's voice, but did not come out of the after-cabin; she wished to +be magnificent, and at the same time she was not sure whether all was +right, Phoebe having informed her that there was nobody with her +brother and Mr. Stewart, and that the smugglers still had the command of +the vessel. After a while, Pickersgill and Corbett went down forward, +and returned dressed in the smuggler's clothes, when they resumed their +walk on the deck. + +In the meantime it was dark; the cutter flew along the coast, and the +Needles' lights were on the larboard bow. The conversation between Mrs. +Lascelles, Cecilia, and her father was long. When all had been detailed, +and the conduct of Pickersgill duly represented, Lord B. acknowledged +that, by attacking the smuggler, he had laid himself open to +retaliation; that Pickersgill had shown a great deal of forbearance in +every instance; and after all, had he not gone on board the yacht, she +might have been lost, with only three seamen on board. He was amused +with the smuggling and the fright of his sister, still more with the +gentlemen being sent to Cherbourg, and much consoled that he was not the +only one to be laughed at. He was also much pleased with Pickersgill's +intention of leaving the yacht safe in Cowes harbour, his respect to the +property on board, and his conduct to the ladies. On the whole, he felt +grateful to Pickersgill, and where there is gratitude there is always +goodwill. + +'But who can he be?' said Mrs. Lascelles; 'his name he acknowledges not +to be Pickersgill, and he told me confidentially that he was of good +family.' + +'Confidentially, my dear Mrs. Lascelles?' said Lord B. + +'Oh, yes! we are both his confidants. Are we not, Cecilia?' + +'Upon my honour, Mrs. Lascelles, this smuggler appears to have made an +impression which many have attempted in vain.' + +Mrs. Lascelles did not reply to that remark, but said, 'Now, my lord, +you must decide--and I trust you will, to oblige us, treat him as he has +treated us, with the greatest respect and kindness.' + +'Why should you suppose otherwise?' replied Lord B.; 'it is not only my +wish but my interest so to do. He may take us over to France to-night, +or anywhere else. Has he not possession of the vessel?' + +'Yes,' replied Cecilia; 'but we flatter ourselves that we have _the +command_. Shall we call him down, papa?' + +'Ring for Maddox. Maddox, tell Mr. Pickersgill, who is on deck, that I +wish to speak with him, and shall be obliged by his stepping down into +the cabin.' + +'Who, my lord? What? _Him?_' + +'Yes, _him_,' replied Cecilia, laughing. + +'Must I call him my lord, now, miss?' + +'You may do as you please, Maddox; but recollect he is still in +possession of the vessel,' replied Cecilia. + +'Then, with your lordship's permission, I will; it's the safest way.' + +The smuggler entered the cabin; the ladies started as he appeared in his +rough costume. With his throat open, and his loose black handkerchief, +he was the _beau ideal_ of a handsome sailor. + +'Your lordship wishes to communicate with me?' + +'Mr. Pickersgill, I feel that you have had cause of enmity against me, +and that you have behaved with forbearance. I thank you for your +considerate treatment of the ladies; and I assure you that I feel no +resentment for what has passed.' + +'My lord, I am quite satisfied with what you have said; and I only hope +that, in future, you will not interfere with a poor smuggler, who may be +striving, by a life of danger and privation, to procure subsistence for +himself, and, perhaps, his family. I stated to these ladies my intention +of anchoring the yacht this night at Cowes, and leaving her as soon as +she was in safety. Your unexpected presence will only make this +difference, which is, that I must previously obtain your lordship's +assurance that those with you will allow me and my men to quit her +without molestation, after we have performed this service.' + +'I pledge you my word, Mr. Pickersgill, and I thank you into the +bargain. I trust you will allow me to offer some remuneration.' + +'Most certainly not, my lord.' + +'At all events, Mr. Pickersgill, if, at any other time, I can be of +service, you may command me.' + +Pickersgill made no reply. + +'Surely, Mr. Pickersgill----' + +'Pickersgill! how I hate that name!' said the smuggler, musing. 'I beg +your lordship's pardon--if I may require your assistance for any of my +unfortunate companions----' + +'Not for yourself, Mr. Pickersgill?' said Mrs. Lascelles. + +'Madam, I smuggle no more.' + +'For the pleasure I feel in hearing that resolution, Mr. Pickersgill,' +said Cecilia, 'take my hand and thanks.' + +'And mine,' said Mrs. Lascelles, half crying. + +'And mine too,' said Lord B., rising up. + +Pickersgill passed the back of his hand across his eyes, turned round, +and left the cabin. + +'I'm so happy!' said Mrs. Lascelles, bursting into tears. + +'He's a magnificent fellow,' observed Lord B. 'Come, let us all go on +deck.' + +'You have not seen my aunt, papa.' + +'True; I'll go in to her, and then follow you.' + +The ladies went up on deck. Cecilia entered into conversation with Mr. +Stewart, giving him a narrative of what had happened. Mrs. Lascelles sat +abaft at the taffrail, with her pretty hand supporting her cheek, +looking very much _à la Juliette_. + +'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me to +observe, that it is _you_ who have induced me to give up my +profession----' + +'Why me, Mr. Pickersgill?' + +'You said that you did not like it' + +Mrs. Lascelles felt the force of the compliment. 'You said just now that +you hated the name of Pickersgill: why do you call yourself so?' + +'It was my smuggling name, Mrs. Lascelles.' + +'And now that you have left off smuggling, pray what may be the name we +are to call you by?' + +'I cannot resume it till I have not only left this vessel, but shaken +hands with, and bid farewell to, my companions; and by that time, Mrs. +Lascelles, I shall be away from you.' + +'But I've a great curiosity to know it; and a lady's curiosity must be +gratified. You must call upon me some day, and tell it me. Here is my +address.' + +Pickersgill received the card with a low bow: and Lord B. coming on +deck, Mrs. Lascelles hastened to meet him. + +[Illustration: _'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, +allow me to observe, that it is you who have induced me to give up my +profession----'_] + +The vessel was now passing the Bridge at the Needles, and the smuggler +piloted her on. As soon as they were clear and well inside, the whole +party went down into the cabin, Lord B. requesting Pickersgill and +Corbett to join him in aparting glass. Mr. Stewart, who had received +the account of what had passed from Cecilia, was very attentive to +Pickersgill, and took an opportunity of saying that he was sorry that he +had said or done anything to annoy him. Every one recovered his spirits; +and all was good-humour and mirth, because Miss Ossulton adhered to her +resolution of not quitting the cabin till she could quit the yacht. At +ten o'clock the yacht was anchored. Pickersgill took his leave of the +honourable company, and went in his boat with his men; and Lord B. was +again in possession of his vessel, although he had not a ship's company. +Maddox recovered his usual tone; and the cook flourished his knife, +swearing that he should like to see the smuggler who would again order +him to dress cutlets _à l'ombre Chinoise_. + +The yacht had remained three days at Cowes, when Lord B. received a +letter from Pickersgill, stating that the men of his vessel had been +captured, and would be condemned, in consequence of their having the +gentlemen on board, who were bound to appear against them, to prove that +they had sunk the brandy. Lord B. paid all the recognisances, and the +men were liberated for want of evidence. + +It was about two years after this that Cecilia Ossulton, who was sitting +at her work-table in deep mourning for her aunt, was presented with a +letter by the butler. It was from her friend Mrs. Lascelles, informing +her that she was married again to a Mr. Davenant, and intended to pay +her a short visit on her way to the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Davenant +arrived the next day; and when the latter introduced her husband, she +said to Miss Ossulton, 'Look, Cecilia dear, and tell me if you have ever +seen Davenant before.' + +Cecilia looked earnestly: 'I have, indeed,' cried she at last, extending +her hand with warmth; 'and happy am I to meet with him again.' + +For in Mr. Davenant she recognised her old acquaintance the captain of +the _Happy-go-lucky_, Jack Pickersgill the smuggler. + +THE END + +_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh._ + + +MACMILLAN'S THREE-AND-SIXPENNY LIBRARY + +OF + +WORKS BY POPULAR AUTHORS. + +In Crown 8vo. Cloth extra. Price 3s. 6d. each. + +_By ROLF BOLDREWOOD._ + +_SATURDAY REVIEW._--"Mr. Boldrewood can tell what he knows with great +point and vigour, and there is no better reading than the adventurous +parts of his books." + +_PALL MALL GAZETTE._--"The volumes are brimful of adventure, in which +gold, gold-diggers, prospectors, claim-holders, take an active part." + +Robbery under Arms. +The Squatter's Dream. +A Colonial Reformer. +The Miner's Right. +A Sydney-Side Saxon. +Nevermore. +A Modern Buccaneer. + + +_By HUGH CONWAY._ + +_MORNING POST._--"Life-like, and full of individuality." + +_DAILY NEWS._--"Throughout written with spirit, good feeling, and +ability, and a certain dash of humour." + +Living or Dead? +A Family Affair. + +_By MRS. CRAIK._ + +(The Author of 'JOHN HALIFAX, GENTLEMAN.') + +Olive. With Illustrations by G. BOWERS. +The Ogilvies. With Illustrations. +Agatha's Husband. With Illustrations. +Head Of the Family. With Illustrations. +Two Marriages. 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HERMAN. + + +_By Mrs. OLIPHANT._ + +_ACADEMY_.--"At her best she is, with one or two exceptions, the best of +living English novelists." + +_SATURDAY REVIEW_.--"Has the charm of style, the literary quality and +flavour that never fails to please." + +A Beleaguered City. +Joyce. +Neighbours on the Green. +Kirsteen. +Hester. +Sir Tom. +A Country Gentleman and his Family. +The Curate in Charge. +The Second Son. +He that Will Not when He May. +The Railway Man and his Children. +The Marriage of Elinor. +The Heir-Presumptive and the Heir-Apparent. +A Son of the Soil. +The Wizard's Son. +Young Musgrave. +Lady William. + + +_By J. H. SHORTHOUSE._ + +_ANTI-JACOBIN_.--"Powerful, striking, and fascinating romances." + +John Inglesant. +Sir Percival. +The Little Schoolmaster Mark. +The Countess Eve. +A Teacher of the Violin. +Blanche, Lady Falaise. + + +_By FREDERICK DENISON MAURICE._ + +Sermons Preached in Lincoln's Inn Chapel. In 6 vols. +Christmas Day, and other Sermons. +Theological Essays. +Prophets and Kings. +Patriarchs and Lawgivers. +The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. +Gospel of St. John. +Epistles of St. John. +Lectures on the Apocalypse. +Friendship of Books. +Social Morality. +Prayer Book and Lord's Prayer. +The Doctrine of Sacrifice. +Acts of the Apostles. + + +MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON. + + +MACMILLAN'S THREE-AND-SIXPENNY SERIES. + +Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d. each volume. + + +_By CHARLOTTE M. YONGE._ + +The Heir of Redclyffe. +Heartsease. +Hopes and Fears. +Dynevor Terrace. +The Daisy Chain. +The Trial: More Links of the Daisy Chain. +Pillars of the House. Vol. I. +Pillars of the House. Vol. II. +The Young Stepmother. +The Clever Woman of the Family. +The Three Brides. +My Young Alcides. +The Caged Lion. +The Dove in the Eagle's Nest. +The Chaplet of Pearls. +Lady Hester, and the Danvers Papers. +Magnum Bonum. +Love and Life. +Unknown to History. +Stray Pearls. +The Armourer's 'Prentices. +The Two Sides of the Shield. +Nuttie's Father. +Scenes and Characters. +Chantry House. +A Modern Telemachus. +Bye-Words. +Beechcroft at Rockstone. +More Bywords. +A Reputed Changeling. +The Little Duke. +The Lances of Lynwood. +The Prince and the Page. +P's and Q's, and Little Lucy's Wonderful Globe. +Two Penniless Princesses. +That Stick. +An Old Woman's Outlook. +Grisly Grisell. + + +_By ARCHDEACON FARRAR._ + +Seekers after God. +Eternal Hope. +The Fall of Man. +The Witness of History to Christ. +The Silence and Voices of God. +In the Days of thy Youth. +Saintly Workers. +Ephphatha. +Mercy and Judgment. +Sermons and Addresses in America. + + +_By VARIOUS WRITERS._ + +SIR S. W. BAKER.--True Tales for My Grandsons. + +W. FORBES-MITCHELL.--Reminiscences of the Great Mutiny, 1857-59. + +FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT.--Louisiana; and That Lass o' Lowrie's. + +R. BLENNERHASSETT AND L. SLEEMAN.--Adventures in Mashonaland. + +SIR MORTIMER DURAND, K. C. I. E.--Helen Treveryan. + +'English Men of Letters' Series. In 13 Monthly Volumes, each Volume +containing three books. + +LANOE FALCONER--Cecilia de Noël. + +ARCHIBALD FORBES.--Barracks, Bivouacs, and Battles.--Souvenirs of Some +Continents. + +W. W. FOWLER.--Tales of the Birds. Illustrated by BRYAN HOOK. A Year +with the Birds. Illustrated by BRYAN HOOK. + +Rev. J. GILMORE.--Storm Warriors. + +P. KENNEDY.--Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts. + +HENRY KINGSLEY.--Tales of Old Travel. + +MARGARET LEE.--Faithful and Unfaithful. + +AMY LEVY.--Reuben Sachs. + +S. R. LYSAGHT.--The Marplot. + +LORD LYTTON.--The Ring of Amasis. + +M. M'LENNAN.--Muckle Jock, and other Stories of Peasant Life. + +LUCAS MALET.--Mrs. Lorimer. + +GUSTAVE MASSON.--A French Dictionary. + +A. B. MITFORD.--Tales of Old Japan. + +MAJOR G. PARRY.--The Story of Dick. + +E. C. PRICE.--In the Lion's Mouth. + +W. C. RHOADES.--John Trevennick. + +THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE. Vol. I. Comedies. Vol. II. Histories. +Vol. III. Tragedies. 3 vols. + +FLORA A. STEEL.--Miss Stuart's Legacy.--The Flower of Forgiveness. + +MARCHESA THEODOLI.--Under Pressure. + +"TIMES" Summaries.--Biographies of Eminent Persons. In 4 vols.--Annual +Summaries. In 2 vols. + +Mrs. HUMPHRY WARD.--Miss Bretherton. + +MONTAGU WILLIAMS, Q. C.--Leaves of a Life.--Later Leaves.--Round London: +Down East, and Up West. + +Hogan, M. P.--Tim.--The New Antigone.--Flitters, Tatters, etc. + + +MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON. + + + +Transcriber's note + +Printer's errors have been corrected. +All other inconsistencies are as in the original. +The author's spelling has been maintained. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pirate and The Three Cutters, by +Frederick Marryat + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATE AND THE THREE CUTTERS *** + +***** This file should be named 29291-8.txt or 29291-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/2/9/29291/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4, Joseph Cooper and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: The Pirate and The Three Cutters + +Author: Frederick Marryat + +Illustrator: Edmund J. Sullivan + +Release Date: July 2, 2009 [EBook #29291] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATE AND THE THREE CUTTERS *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4, Joseph Cooper and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1>THE PIRATE</h1> + +<h4>AND</h4> + +<h1>THE THREE CUTTERS</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/i002.png" width="200" height="132" alt="Publishers mark" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 380px; height: 640px;"> +<a id="Frontispiece" name="Frontispiece"></a> +<img src="images/i004.png" width="380" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Cain</i>.</span> +</div> + + +<p><br /></p> + +<h2>THE PIRATE</h2> + +<h5>AND</h5> + +<h2>THE THREE CUTTERS</h2> + + + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h3>CAPTAIN MARRYAT</h3> + + + + +<h5>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY EDMUND J. SULLIVAN<br /><br /> +AND AN INTRODUCTION BY DAVID HANNAY<br /><br /></h5> + + + +<h4><b>London</b></h4> +<h3>MACMILLAN AND CO., <span class="smcap">Limited</span></h3> +<h6>NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</h6> +<h5>1897</h5> + +<h6><small><i>All rights reserved</i></small></h6> + + + + +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>Among the few subjects which are still left at the disposal of the +duly-gifted writer of romance is the Pirate. Not but that many have +written of pirates. Defoe, after preparing the ground by a pamphlet +story on the historic Captain Avery, wrote <i>The Life, Adventures, and +Piracies of Captain Singleton</i>. Sir Walter Scott made use in somewhat +the same fashion of the equally historic Gow—that is to say, his pirate +bears about the same relation to the marauder who was suppressed by +James Laing, that Captain Singleton does to Captain Avery. Michael Scott +had much to say of pirates, and he had heard much of them during his +life in the West Indies, for they were then making their last fight +against law and order. The pirate could not escape the eye of Mr. R. L. +Stevenson, and accordingly we have an episode of pirates in the episode +of the <i>Master of Ballantrae</i>. Balsac, too, wrote <i>Argow le Pirate</i> +among the stories which belong to the years when he was exhausting all +the ways in which a novel ought not to be written. Also the pirate is a +commonplace in boys' books. Yet for as much as he figures in stories for +old and young, it may be modestly maintained that nobody has ever yet +done him quite right.</p> + +<p>Defoe's Captain Singleton is a harmless, thrifty, and ever moral pirate, +of whom it is impossible to disapprove. Sir Walter's is a mild +gentleman, concerning whom one wonders how he ever came to be in such +company. Michael Scott's pirate is a bloodthirsty ruffian enough, and +yet it is difficult to feel that a person who dressed in such a highly +picturesque manner, and who was commonly either a Don or a Scotch +gentleman of ancient descent, was quite the real thing. Mr. Stevenson's +pirate is nearer what one knows must have been the life. He is a +cowardly, lurking, petty scoundrel. John Silver is certainly something +very different, but then when Mr. Stevenson drew the commanding figure +in Treasure Island he was not making a portrait of a pirate, but was +only making play with the well-established puppet of boys' books. Yet, +after all, the pirate, if he was not such an agreeable rascal as John +Silver, was not always the greedy, spiritless rogue drawn in the <i>Master +of Ballantrae</i>. To do him properly and as he was, he ought to be +approached with a mixture of humour and morality, and also with a +knowledge of the facts concerning him, which to the best of my knowledge +have never been combined in any writer.</p> + +<p>Captain Johnson, in his valuable <i>General History of the Pirates from +their First Rise and Settlement in the Island of Providence to the +present time</i>, begins with antiquity. He mounts up the dark backward +abyss of time till he meets with the pirates who captured Julius Caesar, +and were suppressed by Pompey. This is not necessary. Our pirate was a +very different fellow from those broken men of the ancient world, the +wrecks of States shattered by Rome and the victims of the usury of the +Knights who collected in the creeks of Cilicia. It is not quite easy to +say what he was, but we know well enough what he was not. He was not for +many generations the recognised enemy of the human race. On the +contrary, he was often a comparative respectable person, who was +disposed to render service to his king and country at a crisis, even if +he did not see his advantage in virtuous conduct. To begin with, he was +only a seafaring man who carried on the universal practice of the Middle +Ages after they had ceased to be recognised as legitimate. Then for a +long time a pirate was not thought worthy of hanging until he had shown +a hopelessly contumacious disposition by refusing the king's pardon +several times. Sir William Monson, who was admiral to James I., saw no +harm in recruiting well-known pirates for His Majesty's service. On the +coast of Ireland he found Irish country gentlemen of respectable +position, and the agents of London trading firms, engaged in friendly +business transactions with these skimmers of the sea. The redoubted +Captain Bartholomew Roberts, to skip over a century, went about the +world recruiting for a well-organised piratical business, and there were +many among his followers who would have been honest men if temptation +had not come in their way, and who hastened to leave a life of vice so +soon as the neighbourhood of one of His Majesty's cruisers made it +dangerous. We ought not to speak of these men with harsh contempt. The +king's government was largely responsible for their existence, by +promising pardon to all who would come in before a given date. They came +in and brought their booty with them. Captain Johnson had the pleasure +of the personal acquaintance of several who were living in comfortable +retirement at Rotherhithe or at Limehouse, and in the enjoyment, for +aught we know to the contrary, of the respect of their neighbours. They +had come in on a proclamation, and there was nothing more to be said +against them. In many cases, no doubt, when the booty was spent they +drifted back to the old irregular courses, and on that road those of +them who did not get shot when boarding a galleon, or go down at sea, +or die of starvation among the keys of the West Indies, did sooner or +later contrive to overtake the gallows. But these men, if they were not +quite so moral and orderly as Captain Singleton, or so romantic as the +pirates of Michael Scott, were not altogether bloodthirsty, merciless +scoundrels. Many of them had every intention of returning to their +country upon the appearance of the next proclamation, and as they saw +the prospect of a safe return for themselves they were not under the +necessity of acting on the rule that dead men tell no tales. They did +not make their prisoners walk the plank. They did not even burn their +prizes, but were often content with taking out such provisions and +portable property as their immediate occasions made desirable, and then +allowing the plundered merchant-ship to continue her voyage. They were +by no means so thoroughly hated as they ought to have been, to judge by +the more recent opinion held of the pirate.</p> + +<p>In fact, till towards the end of the pirate's existence he was nearly as +much the product of the Government's management as of his own sins. +During Charles II.'s reign, his governors in Jamaica gave what they were +pleased to term commissions to all who would plunder the Spaniard. The +Spaniards retaliated by giving commissions to all who would plunder +anyone else. The marauder who victimised the Spaniard was sure of a +market, and a refuge in Jamaica. The other marauder who was prepared to +feed upon English, Dutch, or French, was sure of a welcome in Cuba. When +Governments suddenly took to being virtuous, a sense of wrong inflamed +the minds of the men who had hitherto been allowed to live in recognised +lawlessness. Captain Kidd, for example, manifestly thought that Lord +Bellomont and the other gentleman who sent him out to Madagascar to +cruise against the pirates, were only assuming a decent excuse for a +little speculation in piracy on their own account. The freebooters who +settled at Providence, in the Bahamas, were really to be pardoned for +not realising that the happy days of Governor Moddiford at Jamaica were +over. When they were made to understand that there were to be no more of +these cakes and ale, the majority, under the command of Captain +Jennings, promptly came in. Captain Jennings was the owner of an estate +in Jamaica, and he brought a comfortable little sum back with him from +his piratical adventures. The residue, who probably had no comfortable +sum to bring with them, did not come in, and as they were given to +understand that they would certainly be hanged if caught, they took in +self-defence to giving no quarter. So at the end of the great war, the +powers who had encouraged privateering while the fighting lasted, +without inquiring too closely how far the privateer confined his +operations to the enemy only without plundering the neutral, became +suddenly very strict. Then the men whom they had allowed to become +hardened to a life of pillage took refuge in downright piracy. These men +were the <i>Pescadores del Puerto Escondido</i> who enlightened the pages of +Michael Scott. The Spaniards tolerated them as the English Governors of +Jamaica had once encouraged the Buccaneers. It was not until a combined +vigorous effort of the English and the United States navies had driven +them off the sea, and till they had begun to support themselves by +plundering plantations, that the Captains-General of Cuba took them in +hand.</p> + +<p>Now, in all this life, floating as it did between the honest and the +dishonest, there was room for something more human than the be-sashed, +velvet-jacketed, crimson-capped, and long-knifed heroes of Michael +Scott, or than the mere rogue and floating footpad we meet in <i>The +Master of Ballantrae</i>. There was also room, it must be candidly allowed, +for something better than Captain Cain of the <i>Avenger</i>. The <i>Pirate</i> is +not among the books which one most willingly re-reads out of Marryat's +very respectably lengthy list of stories. Yet it is not without gaiety, +and, as is ever the case with him, the man-of-war scenes are all alive. +Captain Plumpton, and Mr. Markital the first lieutenant, and Edward +Templemore the midshipman, are credible. Whenever Marryat has to +introduce us to a man-of-war, he could draw on inexhaustible treasure of +reminiscences, or of what is for the story-writer's purpose quite as +good, of types and incidents which his imagination had made out of +incidents supplied by his memory. The naval parts of the <i>Pirate</i> are no +doubt variations on what he had recently written in <i>Midshipman Easy</i>, +but they are not mere repetitions, and they have the one saving quality +of life, which will make even a poorly constructed story readable.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to say as much for the captain and crew of the +<i>Avenger</i>. Cain is not only not a pirate, but he is not a human being. +He is a Byronic or even a Michael Scottish hero—an impossible monster, +compounded of one virtue and a thousand crimes. There never was any such +person, and even on paper he is not tolerable for more than a paragraph +or two without the help of verse. The crew of the <i>Avenger</i> is an +inconceivable ship's complement for any pirate. Credulity itself cannot +even in early life accept the capture of the Portuguese carrack. Marryat +drew on his recollections of the time when he was a midshipman with +Cochrane in the <i>Impèrieuse</i>, for the figure of the old steersman, who +sticks to his post under the fire of the <i>Avenger</i>. He had seen the +mate of a Spanish trading ship behaving in just that way when attacked +by boats from the <i>Impèrieuse</i>. When he was asked why he did not +surrender, though he was mortally wounded and had no chance of escape, +he answered that he was an 'old Christian.' The term, which by the way +only means a pure-blooded Spaniard, puzzled Marryat and his shipmates. +It is not wonderful that he did not understand its meaning, since in +spite of campaigning in Spain, and many visits to Spanish ports, he +never learnt to avoid the absurd blunder of putting the title Don before +a surname. But if the steersman is drawn from life, so are not either +the carrack, which is a fragment of the sixteenth century, out of its +place, nor 'Don' Ribiera and his sons, nor the bishop, nor anybody else +in that ill-fated ship, nor the stilted, transpontine style of their +conversation. Francisco and his bible are no more credible than the +carrack and the bishop. Francisco's brother and his love affairs are not +more credible, though they are decidedly more tolerable. The daughters +of Spanish Governors who carry on flirtations on the sea-shore with the +captains of English men-of-war, who are carried off by pirates and +rescued in the nick of time, whose papas not only consent to their +marriage with the heretical object of their affections but send boxes +full of gold doubloons, together with their blessing, are so much better +than life that we need not quarrel when invited to meet any number of +them. The sea adventures in Marryat are always good, and so are the +fights. The storms and wrecks, the rafts and wonderful escapes, the +defences of houses, and the escapes of pirates and smugglers from under +the very guns of His Majesty's frigates, are as welcome as, and are much +more credible than, the lovely daughters of benevolent Spanish +governors. Of them there is no want, and for their sake the <i>Pirate</i> +can be read; but it is not what Marryat might have made it if he had +written it in the spirit in which he was to write <i>Snarley-Yow</i>.</p> + +<p>In <i>The Three Cutters</i> Marryat allowed himself to take a little holiday +in company with another kind of sea malefactor whom he knew intimately +well. He had already played with the smuggler in <i>The King's Own</i>. In +this little story he reintroduces us to M'Elvina, somewhat disguised, +and in altered circumstances, but essentially the same.</p> + +<p><i>The Three Cutters</i> may be supposed to have been written to fill out the +volume containing <i>The Pirate</i> and those twenty engravings from drawings +by Clarkson Stanfield, which still make the first edition a desirable +possession. This function, whether it was originally designed or not, is +very agreeably fulfilled by the history of the <i>Arrow</i>, the <i>Active</i>, +and <i>Happy-go-lucky</i>. Although he wrote very few of them, Marryat had a +happy hand with a short story. <i>The S. W. and by W. and ¼ W. Wind</i> and +<i>Moonshine</i> are very happy examples of the magazine story. <i>The Three +Cutters</i> is somewhat longer than either, but the difference in bulk is +due less to any greater amount of pure story there is than to the care +with which Marryat introduces his three vessels, and sketches their +respective starting-places—Plymouth, Portsmouth, and St. Malo. Here +again it is to be noted that Marryat is far more at home in the +man-of-war than in the smuggler or the yacht. Mr. Appleboy, with his +forty-five years' service, and the interesting story which remains +untold of the something which took place in '93 or '94, his seventeen +daily tumblers of gin-toddy, his mate and his midshipman, is a part, and +not an inferior one, of Marryat's inimitable naval gallery. The +<i>Happy-go-lucky</i> is perhaps rather a smuggler of the Pays Bleu than of +the British Channel, but she is sufficiently in place in a story not +intended to be too slavishly faithful to life. Morrison, the +sailing-master, with his augury of the blue pigeon, is real, and nothing +can be more consistent with human nature than that he should have cursed +the bird when he did finally find himself in prison. As for the +adventures, they belong to the region of the fantastic, which does not +pretend to be anything else. The idea of a yacht which endeavours the +capture of a smuggler, and is herself made prize by him, is of course a +motive for farce.</p> + +<p>The scenes on board the captive yacht are not exactly horse-play. There +are too many ladies concerned, and Marryat, in spite of occasional +lapses of taste, preferred to write like a gentleman. But if there is no +horse-play there is a great deal of what I hope it is permissible to +describe as 'lark.' The sour old maid Miss Ossulton, her niece Cecilia, +who, if she has not much character, is still a very nice girl, the +frisky widow Mrs. Lascelles, make a capital trio. Given a gallant +dashing smuggler, who is really a gentleman in disguise, in possession +of the yacht, and determined to revenge himself on the owner by taking a +little harmless amusement, it follows that lively incidents are to be +expected. Marryat did not work the situation out at any length, probably +because he felt that the stuff would not bear much handling. If he cut +his story short for this reason he was undoubtedly right. It is so +difficult as to be quite impossible for the majority of writers to hang +just on the border of the outrageously impossible for more than a few +pages. While it lasts it is very good fun. The reformation of +Pickersgill through the influence of Mrs. Lascelles is quite in +Marryat's manner. His heroes, when they need reformation, are commonly +brought into the right path by the combined influence of a pretty woman +and a round sum of money. Mrs. Lascelles, too, was unquestionably just +the woman to marry Pickersgill. Having married an old man to please her +parents, and having inherited his money, she had decided both to marry +again and to please herself in her second husband. Experience shows that +the Mrs. Lascelles of real life not uncommonly fall into the hands of a +ruffian or an adventurer. Marryat was not making a study of real life, +and he was too fond of his puppets; and besides that would have been +another story, which would have been superfluous, considering that +Marryat wanted to end this one. So Mrs. Lascelles had her fine dashing +seaman, who stood six feet odd in his stockings, and was also a +gentleman in disguise. Of course she was happy ever after. One has a +haunting suspicion that the story was not only written to fill out the +volume, but also to accompany Clarkson Stanfield's three very pretty +plates of Plymouth, Portsmouth, and St. Malo. If so, that only proves +that when a man is a born storyteller he can write good stories for very +humble business reasons.</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<h3>THE PIRATE</h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> + +<tr><td></td><td></td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">PAGE</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER I</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Bay of Biscay</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER II</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Bachelor</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER III</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Gale</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER IV</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Leak</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER V</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Old Maid</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER VI</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Midshipman</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER VII</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sleeper's Bay</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER VIII</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Attack</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER IX</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Capture</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER X</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Sand-bank</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER XI</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Escape</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER XII</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lieutenant</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER XIII</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Landing</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER XIV</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Meeting</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER XV</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Mistake</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER XVI</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Caicos</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER XVII</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Trial</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER XVIII</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h3>THE THREE CUTTERS</h3> + + + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> + +<tr><td></td><td></td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">PAGE</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER I</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Cutter the First</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER II</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Cutter the Second</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER III</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Cutter the Third</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER IV</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Portland Bill</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER V</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Travestie</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER VI</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Smuggling Yacht</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER VII</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_247">247</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<h3>THE PIRATE</h3> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> + +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">PAGE</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Cain</td><td align="right"><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em all dry'.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted notice.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee presently'.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Oswald Bareth gained the helm, which he put hard up.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts to break<br /> +into the spirit-room'.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by William<br /> +the footman.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!'.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck into<br /> +the arm-holes of his waistcoat.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and a heavy<br /> +volley of muskets, was the decided answer.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men are<br /> +obstinate, we may have worked for nothing'.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'<i>Blood for blood!</i>' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at<br /> +Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she was hull-down<br /> +to the northward.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail, and<br /> +hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as might<br /> +be possible.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">The flames increased in violence, mounting up to the masts<br /> +and catching the sails one after another.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too busy<br /> +with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the window, and<br /> +examined the vessel some time in silence.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">The ball entered the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he<br /> +dropped his hold.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but leave<br /> +me now'</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Blood for blood I will have,' continued the mate, holding up his<br /> +clenched hand, and shaking it almost in the pirate captain's face.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">The pirate captain was seen to raise his body convulsively half<br /> +out of the water—he floundered, sank, and was seen no more.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Clara sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a state of<br /> +insensibility.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">The pirates at the bar</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">As soon as she was sufficiently composed, was sworn, and gave<br /> +her evidence</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Blood for blood!'</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!'</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'<i>Resurgam!</i>' said the butler</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<h3>THE THREE CUTTERS</h3> + +<div class="center"> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> + +<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right"><span class="smcap">PAGE</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">The ladies</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_188">188</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">The Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Fie! Mr. Vaughan,' cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it<br /> +came from your heart'</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Lieutenant Appleboy</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem. 'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. Appleboy,<br /> +tossing the contents of the tumbler in the boy's face</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">The captain of the <i>Happy-go-lucky</i>, Jack Pickersgill</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Jeannette held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile,<br /> +'<i>méchant!</i>' and then quitted the room</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the<br /> +smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the<br /> +way</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said Pickersgill</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Pirates!—<i>bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing</i> pirates!'<br /> +replied the steward</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his knees,<br /> +'there is no Burgundy on board—ask the ladies'</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_237">237</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; and,<br /> +with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me to<br /> +observe, that it is <i>you</i> who have induced me to give up<br /> +my profession——'</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> + +</table></div> + + <p><br /><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h1>THE PIRATE</h1> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE BAY OF BISCAY</h3> + + +<p>It was in the latter part of the month of June, of the year 179—, that +the angry waves of the Bay of Biscay were gradually subsiding, after a +gale of wind as violent as it was unusual during that period of the +year. Still they rolled heavily; and, at times, the wind blew up in +fitful, angry gusts, as if it would fain renew the elemental combat; but +each effort was more feeble, and the dark clouds which had been summoned +to the storm now fled in every quarter before the powerful rays of the +sun, who burst their masses asunder with a glorious flood of light and +heat; and, as he poured down his resplendent beams, piercing deep into +the waters of that portion of the Atlantic to which we now refer, with +the exception of one object, hardly visible, as at creation, there was a +vast circumference of water, bounded by the fancied canopy of heaven. We +have said, with the exception of one object; for in the centre of this +picture, so simple, yet so sublime, composed of the three great +elements, there was a remnant of the fourth. We say a remnant, for it +was but the hull of a vessel, dismasted, water-logged, its upper works +only floating occasionally above the waves, when a transient repose from +their still violent undulation permitted it to reassume its buoyancy. +But this was seldom; one moment it was deluged by the seas, which broke +as they poured over its gunwale; and the next it rose from its +submersion, as the water escaped from the portholes at its sides.</p> + +<p>How many thousands of vessels—how many millions of property—have been +abandoned, and eventually consigned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> to the all-receiving depths of the +ocean, through ignorance or through fear! What a mine of wealth must lie +buried in its sands! what riches lie entangled amongst its rocks, or +remain suspended in its unfathomable gulf, where the compressed fluid is +equal in gravity to that which it encircles, there to remain secured in +its embedment from corruption and decay, until the destruction of the +universe and the return of chaos! Yet, immense as the accumulated loss +may be, the major part of it has been occasioned from an ignorance of +one of the first laws of nature, that of specific gravity. The vessel to +which we have referred was, to all appearance, in a situation of as +extreme hazard as that of a drowning man clinging to a single rope-yarn; +yet, in reality, she was more secure from descending to the abyss below +than many gallantly careering on the waters, their occupants dismissing +all fear, and only calculating upon a quick arrival into port.</p> + +<p>The <i>Circassian</i> had sailed from New Orleans, a gallant and +well-appointed ship, with a cargo, the major part of which consisted of +cotton. The captain was, in the usual acceptation of the term, a good +sailor; the crew were hardy and able seamen. As they crossed the +Atlantic, they had encountered the gale to which we have referred, were +driven down into the Bay of Biscay, where, as we shall hereafter +explain, the vessel was dismasted, and sprang a leak, which baffled all +their exertions to keep under. It was now five days since the frightened +crew had quitted the vessel in two of her boats, one of which had +swamped, and every soul that occupied it had perished; the fate of the +other was uncertain.</p> + +<p>We said that the crew had deserted the vessel, but we did not assert +that every existing being had been removed out of her. Had such been the +case, we should not have taken up the reader's time in describing +inanimate matter. It is life that we portray, and life there still was +in the shattered hull thus abandoned to the mockery of the ocean. In the +<i>caboose</i> of the <i>Circassian</i>, that is, in the cooking-house secured on +deck, and which fortunately had been so well fixed as to resist the +force of the breaking waves, remained three beings—a man, a woman, and +a child. The two first-mentioned were of that inferior race which have, +for so long a period, been procured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> from the sultry Afric coast, to +toil, but reap not for themselves; the child which lay at the breast of +the female was of European blood, now, indeed, deadly pale, as it +attempted in vain to draw sustenance from its exhausted nurse, down +whose sable cheeks the tears coursed, as she occasionally pressed the +infant to her breast, and turned it round to leeward to screen it from +the spray which dashed over them at each returning swell. Indifferent to +all else, save her little charge, she spoke not, although she shuddered +with the cold as the water washed her knees each time that the hull was +careened into the wave. Cold and terror had produced a change in her +complexion, which now wore a yellow, or sort of copper hue.</p> + +<p>The male, who was her companion, sat opposite to her upon the iron range +which once had been the receptacle of light and heat, but was now but a +weary seat to a drenched and worn-out wretch. He, too, had not spoken +for many hours; with the muscles of his face relaxed, his thick lips +pouting far in advance of his collapsed cheeks, his high cheekbones +prominent as budding horns, his eyes displaying little but their whites, +he appeared to be an object of greater misery than the female, whose +thoughts were directed to the infant and not unto herself. Yet his +feelings were still acute, although his faculties appeared to be +deadened by excess of suffering.</p> + +<p>'Eh, me!' cried the negro woman faintly, after a long silence, her head +falling back with extreme exhaustion. Her companion made no reply, but, +roused at the sound of her voice, bent forward, slid open the door a +little, and looked out to windward. The heavy spray dashed into his +glassy eyes, and obscured his vision; he groaned, and fell back into his +former position. 'What you tink, Coco?' inquired the negress, covering +up more carefully the child, as she bent her head down upon it. A look +of despair, and a shudder from cold and hunger, were the only reply.</p> + +<p>It was then about eight o'clock in the morning, and the swell of the +ocean was fast subsiding. At noon the warmth of the sun was communicated +to them through the planks of the <i>caboose</i>, while its rays poured a +small stream of vivid light through the chinks of the closed panels. The +negro appeared gradually to revive; at last he rose, and with some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +difficulty contrived again to slide open the door. The sea had gradually +decreased its violence, and but occasionally broke over the vessel; +carefully holding on by the door-jambs, Coco gained the outside, that he +might survey the horizon.</p> + +<p>'What you see, Coco?' said the female, observing from the <i>caboose</i> that +his eyes were fixed upon a certain quarter.</p> + +<p>'So help me God, me tink me see something; but ab so much salt water in +um eye, me no see clear,' replied Coco, rubbing away the salt which had +crystallised on his face during the morning.</p> + +<p>'What you tink um like, Coco?'</p> + +<p>'Only one bit cloud,' replied he, entering the <i>caboose</i>, and resuming +his seat upon the grate with a heavy sigh.</p> + +<p>'Eh, me!' cried the negress, who had uncovered the child to look at it, +and whose powers were sinking fast. 'Poor lilly Massa Eddard, him look +very bad indeed—him die very soon, me fear. Look, Coco, no ab breath.'</p> + +<p>The child's head fell back upon the breast of its nurse, and life +appeared to be extinct.</p> + +<p>'Judy, you no ab milk for piccaninny; suppose um ab no milk, how can +live? Eh! stop, Judy, me put lilly finger in um mouth; suppose Massa +Eddard no dead, him pull.'</p> + +<p>Coco inserted his finger into the child's mouth, and felt a slight +drawing pressure. 'Judy,' cried Coco, 'Massa Eddard no dead yet. Try +now, suppose you ab lilly drop oder side.'</p> + +<p>Poor Judy shook her head mournfully, and a tear rolled down her cheek; +she was aware that nature was exhausted. 'Coco,' said she, wiping her +cheek with the back of her hand, 'me give me heart blood for Massa +Eddard; but no ab milk—all gone.'</p> + +<p>This forcible expression of love for the child, which was used by Judy, +gave an idea to Coco. He drew his knife out of his pocket, and very +coolly sawed to the bone of his forefinger. The blood flowed and +trickled down to the extremity, which he applied to the mouth of the +infant.</p> + +<p>'See, Judy, Massa Eddard suck—him not dead,' cried Coco, chuckling at +the fortunate result of the experiment, and forgetting at the moment +their almost hopeless situation.</p> + +<p>The child, revived by the strange sustenance, gradually recovered its +powers, and in a few minutes it pulled at the finger with a certain +degree of vigour.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 351px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i031.png" width="351" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em all +dry.'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Look, Judy, how Massa Eddard take it,' continued Coco. 'Pull away, +Massa Eddard, pull away. Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em +all dry.' But the child was soon satisfied, and fell asleep in the arms +of Judy.</p> + +<p>'Coco, suppose you go see again,' observed Judy. The negro again crawled +out, and again he scanned the horizon.</p> + +<p>'So help me God, dis time me tink, Judy—yes, so help me God, me see a +ship!' cried Coco joyfully.</p> + +<p>'Eh!' screamed Judy faintly, with delight; 'den Massa Eddard no die.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, so help me God—he come dis way!' and Coco, who appeared to have +recovered a portion of his former strength and activity, clambered on +the top of the <i>caboose</i>, where he sat, cross-legged, waving his yellow +handkerchief, with the hope of attracting the attention of those on +board; for he knew that it was very possible that an object floating +little more than level with the water's surface might escape notice.</p> + +<p>As it fortunately happened, the frigate, for such she was, continued her +course precisely for the wreck, although it had not been perceived by +the look-out men at the mast-heads, whose eyes had been directed to the +line of the horizon. In less than an hour our little party were +threatened with a new danger, that of being run over by the frigate, +which was now within a cable's length of them, driving the seas before +her in one widely extended foam, as she pursued her rapid and impetuous +course. Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted the +notice of the men who were on the bowsprit, stowing away the +foretopmast-staysail, which had been hoisted up to dry after the gale.<br /><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 417px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i033.png" width="417" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted +notice</i>.</span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>'Starboard, hard!' was roared out.</p> + +<p>'Starboard it is,' was the reply from the quarter-deck, and the helm was +shifted without inquiry, as it always is on board of a man-of-war; +although, at the same time, it behoves people to be rather careful how +they pass such an order, without being prepared with a subsequent and +most satisfactory explanation.</p> + +<p>The topmast studding-sail flapped and fluttered, the foresail shivered, +and the jib filled as the frigate rounded to, narrowly missing the +wreck, which was now under the bows, rocking so violently in the white +foam of the agitated waters that it was with difficulty that Coco could, +by clinging to the stump of the mainmast, retain his elevated position. +The <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>frigate shortened sail, hove-to, and lowered down a quarter-boat, +and in less than five minutes Coco, Judy, and the infant were rescued +from their awful situation. Poor Judy, who had borne up against all for +the sake of the child, placed it in the arms of the officer who relieved +them, and then fell back in a state of insensibility, in which condition +she was carried on board. Coco, as he took his place in the stern-sheets +of the boat, gazed wildly round him, and then broke out into peals of +extravagant laughter, which continued without intermission, and were the +only replies which he could give to the interrogatories of the +quarter-deck, until he fell down in a swoon, and was entrusted to the +care of the surgeon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE BACHELOR</h3> + + +<p>On the evening of the same day on which the child and the two negroes +had been saved from the wreck by the fortunate appearance of the +frigate, Mr. Witherington, of Finsbury Square, was sitting alone in his +dining-room, wondering what could have become of the <i>Circassian</i>, and +why he had not received intelligence of her arrival. Mr. Witherington, +as we said before, was alone; he had his port and his sherry before him; +and although the weather was rather warm, there was a small fire in the +grate, because, as Mr. Witherington asserted, it looked comfortable. Mr. +Witherington having watched the ceiling of the room for some time, +although there was certainly nothing new to be discovered, filled +another glass of wine, and then proceeded to make himself more +comfortable by unbuttoning three more buttons of his waistcoat, pushing +his wig farther off his head, and casting loose all the buttons at the +knees of his breeches; he completed his arrangements by dragging towards +him two chairs within his reach, putting his legs upon one while he +rested his arm upon the other. And why was not Mr. Witherington to make +himself comfortable? He had good health, a good conscience, and eight +thousand a year.</p> + +<p>Satisfied with all his little arrangements, Mr. Witherington sipped his +port wine, and putting down his glass again, fell back in his chair, +placed his hands on his breast, interwove his fingers; and in this most +comfortable position recommenced his speculations as to the non-arrival +of the <i>Circassian</i>.</p> + +<p>We will leave him to his cogitations while we introduce him more +particularly to our readers.</p> + +<p>The father of Mr. Witherington was a younger son of one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> of the oldest +and proudest families in the West Riding of Yorkshire; he had his choice +of the four professions allotted to younger sons whose veins are filled +with patrician blood—the army, the navy, the law, and the Church. The +army did not suit him, he said, as marching and counter-marching were +not comfortable; the navy did not suit him, as there was little comfort +in gales of wind and mouldy biscuit; the law did not suit him, as he was +not sure that he would be at ease with his conscience, which would not +be comfortable; the Church was also rejected, as it was, with him, +connected with the idea of a small stipend, hard duty, a wife and eleven +children, which were anything but comfortable. Much to the horror of his +family he eschewed all the liberal professions, and embraced the offer +of an old backslider of an uncle, who proposed to him a situation in his +banking-house, and a partnership as soon as he deserved it; the +consequence was, that his relations bade him an indignant farewell, and +then made no further inquiries about him: he was as decidedly cut as one +of the female branches of the family would have been had she committed a +<i>faux pas</i>.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Mr. Witherington senior stuck diligently to his business, +in a few years was partner, and at the death of the old gentleman, his +uncle, found himself in possession of a good property, and every year +coining money at his bank.</p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington senior then purchased a house in Finsbury Square, and +thought it advisable to look out for a wife.</p> + +<p>Having still much of the family pride in his composition, he resolved +not to muddle the blood of the Witheringtons by any cross from Cateaton +Street or Mincing Lane; and after a proper degree of research, he +selected the daughter of a Scotch earl, who went to London with a bevy +of nine in a Leith smack to barter blood for wealth. Mr. Witherington +being so unfortunate as to be the first comer, had the pick of the nine +ladies by courtesy; his choice was light-haired, blue-eyed, a little +freckled, and very tall, by no means bad-looking, and standing on the +list in the Family Bible No. IV. From this union Mr. Witherington had +issue: first, a daughter, christened Moggy, whom we shall soon have to +introduce to our readers as a spinster of forty-seven; and second, +Antony Alexander Witherington, Esquire, whom we just now have left in a +very comfortable position, and in a very brown study.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington senior persuaded his son to enter the banking-house, +and, as a dutiful son, he entered it every day: but he did nothing more, +having made the fortunate discovery that 'his father was born before +him'; or, in other words, that his father had plenty of money, and would +be necessitated to leave it behind him.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Witherington senior had always studied comfort, his son had early +imbibed the same idea, and carried his feelings, in that respect, to a +much greater excess: he divided things into comfortable and +uncomfortable. One fine day Lady Mary Witherington, after paying all the +household bills, paid the debt of Nature; that is, she died: her husband +paid the undertaker's bill, so it is to be presumed that she was buried.</p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington senior shortly afterwards had a stroke of apoplexy, +which knocked him down. Death, who has no feelings of honour, struck him +when down. And Mr. Witherington, after having lain a few days in bed, +was by a second stroke laid in the same vault as Lady Mary Witherington; +and Mr. Witherington junior (our Mr. Witherington), after deducting +£40,000 for his sister's fortune, found himself in possession of a clear +£8000 per annum, and an excellent house in Finsbury Square. Mr. +Witherington considered this a comfortable income, and he therefore +retired altogether from business.</p> + +<p>During the lifetime of his parents he had been witness to one or two +matrimonial scenes, which had induced him to put down matrimony as one +of the things not comfortable; therefore he remained a bachelor.</p> + +<p>His sister Moggy also remained unmarried; but whether it was from a very +unprepossessing squint which deterred suitors, or from the same dislike +to matrimony as her brother had imbibed, it is not in our power to say. +Mr. Witherington was three years younger than his sister; and although +he had for some time worn a wig, it was only because he considered it +more comfortable. Mr. Witherington's whole character might be summed up +in two words—eccentricity and benevolence; eccentric he certainly was, +as most bachelors usually are. Man is but a rough pebble without the +attrition received from contact with the gentler sex; it is wonderful +how the ladies pumice a man down to a smoothness which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> occasions him to +roll over and over with the rest of his species, jostling but not +wounding his neighbours, as the waves of circumstances bring him into +collision with them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington roused himself from his deep reverie and felt for the +string, connected with the bell-pull, which it was the butler's duty +invariably to attach to the arm of his master's chair previous to his +last exit from the dining-room; for, as Mr. Witherington very truly +observed, it was very uncomfortable to be obliged to get up and ring the +bell; indeed, more than once Mr. Witherington had calculated the +advantages and disadvantages of having a daughter about eight years old +who could ring the bell, air the newspapers, and cut the leaves of a new +novel.</p> + +<p>When, however, he called to mind that she could not always remain at +that precise age, he decided that the balance of comfort was against it.</p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington having pulled the bell again, fell into a brown study.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jonathan, the butler, made his appearance; but observing that his +master was occupied, he immediately stopped at the door, erect, +motionless, and with a face as melancholy as if he was performing mute +at the porch of some departed peer of the realm; for it is an understood +thing, that the greater the rank of the defunct the longer must be the +face, and, of course, the better must be the pay.</p> + +<p>Now, as Mr. Witherington is still in profound thought, and Mr. Jonathan +will stand as long as a hackney-coach horse, we will just leave them as +they are, while we introduce the brief history of the latter to our +readers. Jonathan Trapp has served as foot-<i>boy</i>, which term, we +believe, is derived from those who are in that humble capacity receiving +a <i>quantum suff.</i> of the application of the feet of those above them to +increase the energy of their service; then as foot-<i>man</i>, which implies +that they have been promoted to the more agreeable right of +administering instead of receiving the above dishonourable applications; +and lastly, for promotion could go no higher in the family, he had been +raised to the dignity of butler in the service of Mr. Witherington +senior. Jonathan then fell in love, for butlers are guilty of +indiscretions as well as their masters: neither he nor his fair flame, +who was a lady's-maid in another family, notwith<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>standing that they had +witnessed the consequences of this error in others, would take warning; +they gave warning, and they married.</p> + +<p>Like most butlers and ladies'-maids who pair off, they set up a +public-house; and it is but justice to the lady's-maid to say that she +would have preferred an eating-house, but was overruled by Jonathan, who +argued, that although people would drink when they were not dry, they +never would eat unless they were hungry.</p> + +<p>Now, although there was truth in the observation, this is certain, that +business did not prosper: it has been surmised that Jonathan's tall, +lank, lean figure injured his custom, as people are but too much +inclined to judge of the goodness of the ale by the rubicund face and +rotundity of the landlord, and therefore inferred that there could be no +good beer where mine host was the picture of famine. There certainly is +much in appearances in this world; and it appears, that in consequence +of Jonathan's cadaverous appearance, he very soon appeared in the +<i>Gazette</i>; but what ruined Jonathan in one profession procured him +immediate employment in another. An appraiser, upholsterer, and +undertaker, who was called in to value the fixtures, fixed his eye upon +Jonathan, and knowing the value of his peculiarly lugubrious appearance, +and having a half-brother of equal height, offered him immediate +employment as a mute. Jonathan soon forgot to mourn his own loss of a +few hundreds in his new occupation of mourning the loss of thousands; +and his erect, stiff, statue-like carriage, and long melancholy face, as +he stood at the portals of those who had entered the portals of the next +world, were but too often a sarcasm upon the grief of the inheritors. +Even grief is worth nothing in this trafficking world unless it is paid +for. Jonathan buried many, and at last buried his wife. So far all was +well; but at last he buried his master, the undertaker, which was not +quite so desirable. Although Jonathan wept not, yet did he express mute +sorrow as he marshalled him to his long home, and drank to his memory in +a pot of porter as he returned from the funeral, perched, with many +others, like carrion crows on the top of the hearse.</p> + +<p>And now Jonathan was thrown out of employment from a reason which most +people would have thought the highest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> recommendation. Every undertaker +refused to take him, because they could not <i>match</i> him. In this +unfortunate dilemma Jonathan thought of Mr. Witherington junior; he had +served and he had buried Mr. Witherington his father, and Lady Mary his +mother; he felt that he had strong claims for such variety of services, +and he applied to the bachelor. Fortunately for Jonathan, Mr. +Witherington's butler-incumbent was just about to commit the same folly +as Jonathan had done before, and Jonathan was again installed, resolving +in his own mind to lead his former life, and have nothing more to do +with ladies'-maids. But from habit Jonathan still carried himself as a +mute on all ordinary occasions—never indulging in an approximation to +mirth, except when he perceived that his master was in high spirits, and +then rather from a sense of duty than from any real hilarity of heart.</p> + +<p>Jonathan was no mean scholar for his station in life, and, during his +service with the undertaker, he had acquired the English of all the +Latin mottoes which are placed upon the hatchments; and these mottoes, +when he considered them as apt, he was very apt to quote. We left +Jonathan standing at the door; he had closed it, and the handle still +remained in his hand. 'Jonathan,' said Mr. Witherington, after a long +pause, 'I wish to look at the last letter from New York; you will find +it on my dressing-table.'</p> + +<p>Jonathan quitted the room without reply, and made his reappearance with +the letter.</p> + +<p>'It is a long time that I have been expecting this vessel, Jonathan,' +observed Mr. Witherington, unfolding the letter.</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir, a long while; <i>tempus fugit</i>,' replied the butler in a low +tone, half shutting his eyes.</p> + +<p>'I hope to God no accident has happened,' continued Mr. Witherington; +'my poor little cousin and her twins! e'en now that I speak, they may be +all at the bottom of the sea.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir,' replied the butler; 'the sea defrauds many an honest +undertaker of his profits.'</p> + +<p>'By the blood of the Witheringtons! I may be left without an heir, and +shall be obliged to marry, which would be very uncomfortable.'</p> + +<p>'Very little comfort,' echoed Jonathan—'my wife is dead. <i>In cœlo +quies.</i>'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Well, we must hope for the best; but this suspense is anything but +comfortable,' observed Mr. Witherington, after looking over the contents +of the letter for at least the twentieth time.</p> + +<p>'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee presently;' and Mr. +Witherington was again alone and with his eyes fixed upon the ceiling.<br /><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 405px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i042.png" width="405" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee +presently.'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>A cousin of Mr. Witherington, and a very great favourite (for Mr. +Witherington, having a large fortune, and not having anything to do with +business, was courted by his relations), had, to a certain degree, +committed herself; that is to say that, notwithstanding the injunctions +of her parents, she had fallen in love with a young lieutenant in a +marching regiment, whose pedigree was but respectable, and whose fortune +was anything but respectable, consisting merely of a subaltern's pay. +Poor men, unfortunately, always make love better than those who are +rich, because, having less to care about, and not being puffed up with +their own consequence, they are not so selfish, and think much more of +the lady than of themselves. Young ladies, also, who fall in love, never +consider whether there is sufficient 'to make the pot boil'—probably +because young ladies in love lose their appetites, and, not feeling +inclined to eat at that time, they imagine that love will always supply +the want of food. Now, we will appeal to the married ladies whether we +are not right in asserting that, although the collation spread for them +and their friends on the day of the marriage is looked upon with almost +loathing, they do not find their appetites return with interest soon +afterwards. This was precisely the case with Cecilia Witherington, or +rather Cecilia Templemore, for she had changed her name the day before. +It was also the case with her husband, who always had a good appetite, +even during his days of courtship; and the consequence was that the +messman's account, for they lived in barracks, was, in a few weeks, +rather alarming. Cecilia applied to her family, who very kindly sent her +word that she might starve; but, the advice neither suiting her nor her +husband, she then wrote to her cousin Antony, who sent her word that he +would be most happy to receive them at his table, and that they should +take up their abode in Finsbury Square. This was exactly what they +wished; but still there was a certain difficulty; Lieutenant +Templemore's regiment was quartered <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>in a town in Yorkshire, which was +some trifling distance from Finsbury Square; and to be at Mr. +Witherington's dinner-table at 6 <span class="smcap">p.m.</span>, with the necessity of appearing +at parade every morning at 9 <span class="smcap">a.m.</span>, was a dilemma not to be got out of. +Several letters were interchanged upon this knotty subject; and at last +it was agreed that Mr. Templemore should sell out, and come up to Mr. +Witherington with his pretty wife. He did so, and found that it was much +more comfortable to turn out at nine o'clock in the morning to a good +breakfast than to a martial parade. But Mr. Templemore had an honest +pride and independence of character which would not permit him to eat +the bread of idleness, and after a sojourn of two months in most +comfortable quarters, without a messman's bill, he frankly stated his +feelings to Mr. Witherington, and requested his assistance to procure +for himself an honourable livelihood. Mr. Witherington, who had become +attached to them both, would have remonstrated, observing that Cecilia +was his own cousin, and that he was a confirmed bachelor; but, in this +instance, Mr. Templemore was firm, and Mr. Witherington very unwillingly +consented. A mercantile house of the highest respectability required a +partner who could superintend their consignments to America. Mr. +Witherington advanced the sum required; and in a few weeks Mr. and Mrs. +Templemore sailed for New York.</p> + +<p>Mr. Templemore was active and intelligent; their affairs prospered; and +in a few years they anticipated a return to their native soil with a +competence. But the autumn of the second year after their arrival proved +very sickly; the yellow fever raged; and among the thousands who were +carried off Mr. Templemore was a victim, about three weeks after his +wife had been brought to bed of twins. Mrs. Templemore rose from her +couch a widow and the mother of two fine boys. The loss of Mr. +Templemore was replaced by the establishment with which he was +connected, and Mr. Witherington offered to his cousin that asylum which, +in her mournful and unexpected bereavement, she so much required. In +three months her affairs were arranged; and with her little boys hanging +at the breasts of two negro nurses—for no others could be procured who +would undertake the voyage—Mrs. Templemore, with Coco as male servant, +embarked on board of the good ship <i>Circassian</i>, A <span class="smcap">I</span>, bound to +Liverpool.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE GALE</h3> + + +<p>Those who, standing on the pier, had witnessed the proud bearing of the +<i>Circassian</i> as she gave her canvas to the winds, little contemplated +her fate: still less did those on board; for confidence is the +characteristic of seamen, and they have the happy talent of imparting +their confidence to whomsoever may be in their company. We shall pass +over the voyage, confining ourselves to a description of the +catastrophe.</p> + +<p>It was during a gale from the north-west, which had continued for three +days, and by which the <i>Circassian</i> had been driven into the Bay of +Biscay, that, at about twelve o'clock at night, a slight lull was +perceptible. The captain, who had remained on deck, sent down for the +chief mate. 'Oswald,' said Captain Ingram, 'the gale is breaking, and I +think before morning we shall have had the worst of it. I shall lie down +for an hour or two: call me if there be any change.'</p> + +<p>Oswald Bareth, a tall, sinewy-built, and handsome specimen of +transatlantic growth, examined the whole circumference of the horizon +before he replied. At last his eyes were steadily fixed to leeward: +'I've a notion not, sir,' said he; 'I see no signs of clearing off to +leeward: only a lull for relief, and a fresh hand at the bellows, depend +upon it.'</p> + +<p>'We have now had it three days,' replied Captain Ingram, 'and that's the +life of a summer's gale.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' rejoined the mate; 'but always provided that it don't blow black +again. I don't like the look of it, sir; and have it back we shall, as +sure as there's snakes in Virginny.'</p> + +<p>'Well, so be if so be,' was the safe reply of the captain. 'You must +keep a sharp look-out, Bareth, and don't leave the deck to call me; send +a hand down.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>The captain descended to his cabin. Oswald looked at the compass in the +binnacle—spoke a few words to the man at the helm—gave one +or two terrible kicks in the ribs to some of the men who were +<i>caulking</i>—sounded the pump-well—put a fresh quid of tobacco into his +cheek, and then proceeded to examine the heavens above. A cloud, much +darker and more descending than the others, which obscured the +firmament, spread over the zenith, and based itself upon the horizon to +leeward. Oswald's eye had been fixed upon it but a few seconds, when he +beheld a small lambent gleam of lightning pierce through the most opaque +part; then another, and more vivid. Of a sudden the wind lulled, and the +<i>Circassian</i> righted from her careen. Again the wind howled, and again +the vessel was pressed down to her bearings by its force; again another +flash of lightning, which was followed by a distant peal of thunder.</p> + +<p>'Had the worst of it, did you say, captain? I've a notion that the worst +is yet to come,' muttered Oswald, still watching the heavens.</p> + +<p>'How does she carry her helm, Matthew?' inquired Oswald, walking aft.</p> + +<p>'Spoke a-weather.'</p> + +<p>'I'll have that trysail off of her, at any rate,' continued the mate. +'Aft, there, my lads! and lower down the trysail. Keep the sheet fast +till it's down, or the flogging will frighten the lady passenger out of +her wits. Well, if ever I own a craft, I'll have no women on board. +Dollars shan't tempt me.'</p> + +<p>The lightning now played in rapid forks; and the loud thunder, which +instantaneously followed each flash, proved its near approach. A deluge +of slanting rain descended—the wind lulled—roared again—then +lulled—shifted a point or two, and the drenched and heavy sails +flapped.</p> + +<p>'Up with the helm, Mat!' cried Oswald, as a near flash of lightning for +a moment blinded, and the accompanying peal of thunder deafened, those +on deck. Again the wind blew strong—it ceased, and it was a dead calm. +The sails hung down from the yards, and the rain descended in +perpendicular torrents, while the ship rocked to and fro in the trough +of the sea, and the darkness became suddenly intense.</p> + +<p>'Down, there, one of you! and call the captain,' said Oswald. 'By the +Lord! we shall have it. Main braces<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> there, men, and square the yards. +Be smart! That topsail should have been in,' muttered the mate; 'but I'm +not captain. Square away the yards, my lads!' continued he; 'quick, +quick!—there's no child's play here!'</p> + +<p>Owing to the difficulty of finding and passing the ropes to each other, +from the intensity of the darkness, and the deluge of rain which blinded +them, the men were not able to execute the order of the mate so soon as +it was necessary; and before they could accomplish their task, or +Captain Ingram could gain the deck, the wind suddenly burst upon the +devoted vessel from the quarter directly opposite to that from which the +gale had blown, taking her all aback, and throwing her on her beam-ends. +The man at the helm was hurled over the wheel; while the rest, who were +with Oswald at the main-bits, with the coils of ropes, and every other +article on deck not secured, were rolled into the scuppers, struggling +to extricate themselves from the mass of confusion and the water in +which they floundered. The sudden revulsion awoke all the men below, who +imagined that the ship was foundering; and, from the only hatchway not +secured, they poured up in their shirts with their other garments in +their hands, to put them on—if fate permitted.</p> + +<p>Oswald Bareth was the first who clambered up from to leeward. He gained +the helm, which he put hard up. Captain Ingram and some of the seamen +also gained the helm. It is the rendezvous of all good seamen in +emergencies of this description; but the howling of the gale—the +blinding of the rain and salt spray—the seas checked in their running +by the shift of wind, and breaking over the ship in vast masses of +water—the tremendous peals of thunder—and the intense darkness which +accompanied these horrors, added to the inclined position of the vessel, +which obliged them to climb from one part of the deck to another, for +some time checked all profitable communication. Their only friend, in +this conflict of the elements, was the lightning (unhappy, indeed, the +situation in which lightning can be welcomed as a friend); but its vivid +and forked flames, darting down upon every quarter of the horizon, +enabled them to perceive their situation; and, awful as it was, when +momentarily presented to their sight, it was not so awful as darkness +and uncertainty. To those who have been accustomed to the difficulties +and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>dangers of a seafaring life, there are no lines which speak more +forcibly to the imagination, or prove the beauty and power of the Greek +poet, than those in the noble prayer of Ajax:—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">Lord of earth and air,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O king! O father! hear my humble prayer.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dispel this cloud, the light of heaven restore;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Give me to see—and Ajax asks no more.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If Greece must perish—we thy will obey;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But <i>let us perish in the face of day</i>!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 412px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i047.png" width="412" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Oswald Bareth gained the helm, which he put hard up.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>Oswald gave the helm to two of the seamen, and with his knife cut adrift +the axes, which were lashed round the mizenmast in painted canvas +covers. One he retained for himself—the others he put into the hands of +the boatswain and the second mate. To speak so as to be heard was almost +impossible, from the tremendous roaring of the wind; but the lamp still +burned in the binnacle, and by its feeble light Captain Ingram could +distinguish the signs made by the mate, and could give his consent. It +was necessary that the ship should be put before the wind, and the helm +had no power over her. In a short time the lanyards of the mizen rigging +were severed, and the mizen mast went over the side, almost unperceived +by the crew on the other parts of the deck, or even those near, had it +not been from blows received by those who were too close to it, from the +falling of the topsail sheets and the rigging about the mast.</p> + +<p>Oswald, with his companions, regained the binnacle, and for a little +while watched the compass. The ship did not pay off, and appeared to +settle down more into the water. Again Oswald made his signs, and again +the captain gave his assent. Forward sprang the undaunted mate, clinging +to the bulwark and belaying-pins, and followed by his hardy companions, +until they had all three gained the main channels. Here, their exposure +to the force of the breaking waves, and the stoutness of the ropes +yielding but slowly to the blows of the axes, which were used almost +under water, rendered the service one of extreme difficulty and danger. +The boatswain was washed over the bulwark and dashed to leeward, where +the lee-rigging only saved him from a watery grave. Unsubdued, he again +climbed up to windward, rejoined and assisted his companions. The last +blow was given by Oswald—the lanyards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> flew through the dead-eyes—and +the tall mast disappeared in the foaming seas. Oswald and his companions +hastened from their dangerous position, and rejoined the captain, who, +with many of the crew, still remained near the wheel. The ship now +slowly paid off and righted. In a few minutes she was flying before the +gale, rolling heavily, and occasionally striking upon the wrecks of the +masts, which she towed with her by the lee-rigging.</p> + +<p>Although the wind blew with as much violence as before, still it was not +with the same noise, now that the ship was before the wind with her +after-masts gone. The next service was to clear the ship of the wrecks +of the masts; but, although all now assisted, but little could be +effected until the day had dawned, and even then it was a service of +danger, as the ship rolled gunwale under. Those who performed the duty +were slung in ropes, that they might not be washed away; and hardly was +it completed, when a heavy roll, assisted by a jerking heave from a sea +which struck her on the chesstree, sent the foremast over the starboard +cathead. Thus was the <i>Circassian</i> dismasted in the gale.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE LEAK</h3> + + +<p>The wreck of the foremast was cleared from the ship; the gale continued; +but the sun shone brightly and warmly. The <i>Circassian</i> was again +brought to the wind. All danger was now considered to be over, and the +seamen joked and laughed as they were busied in preparing jury-masts to +enable them to reach their destined port.</p> + +<p>'I wouldn't have cared so much about this spree,' said the boatswain, +'if it warn't for the mainmast; it was such a beauty. There's not +another stick to be found equal to it in the whole length of the +Mississippi.'</p> + +<p>'Bah! man,' replied Oswald; 'there's as good fish in the sea as ever +came out of it, and as good sticks growing as ever were felled; but I +guess we'll pay pretty dear for our spars when we get to Liverpool—but +that concerns the owners.'</p> + +<p>The wind, which at the time of its sudden change to the southward and +eastward had blown with the force of a hurricane, now settled into a +regular strong gale, such as sailors are prepared to meet and laugh at. +The sky was also bright and clear, and they had not the danger of a lee +shore. It was a delightful change after a night of darkness, danger, and +confusion; and the men worked that they might get sufficient sail on the +ship to steady her, and enable them to shape a course.</p> + +<p>'I suppose, now that we have the trysail on her forward, the captain +will be for running for it,' observed one who was busy turning in a +dead-eye.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied the boatswain; 'and with this wind on our quarter we +shan't want much sail, I've a notion.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Well then, one advantage in losing your mast—you haven't much trouble +about the rigging.'</p> + +<p>'Trouble enough, though, Bill, when we get in,' replied another gruffly; +'new lower rigging to parcel and sarve, and every block to turn in +afresh.'</p> + +<p>'Never mind, longer in port—I'll get spliced.'</p> + +<p>'Why, how often do you mean to get spliced, Bill? You've a wife in every +State, to my sartin knowledge.'</p> + +<p>'I arn't got one at Liverpool, Jack.'</p> + +<p>'Well, you may take one there, Bill; for you've been sweet upon that +nigger girl for these last three weeks.'</p> + +<p>'Any port in a storm, but she won't do for harbour duty. But the fact +is, you're all wrong there, Jack: it's the babbies I likes—I likes to +see them both together, hanging at the niggers' breasts, I always think +of two spider-monkeys nursing two kittens.'</p> + +<p>'I knows the women, but I never knows the children. It's just six of one +and half-a-dozen of the other; ain't it, Bill?'</p> + +<p>'Yes; like two bright bullets out of the same mould. I say, Bill, did +any of your wives ever have twins?'</p> + +<p>'No; nor I don't intend, until the owners give us double pay.'</p> + +<p>'By the bye,' interrupted Oswald, who had been standing under the +weather bulkhead, listening to the conversation, and watching the work +in progress, 'we may just as well see if she has made any water with all +this straining and buffeting. By the Lord! I never thought of that. +Carpenter, lay down your adze and sound the well.'</p> + +<p>The carpenter, who, notwithstanding the uneasiness of the dismasted +vessel, was performing his important share of the work, immediately +complied with the order. He drew up the rope-yarn, to which an iron rule +had been suspended, and lowered down into the pump-well, and perceived +that the water was dripping from it. Imagining that it must have been +wet from the quantity of water shipped over all, the carpenter +disengaged the rope-yarn from the rule, drew another from the junk lying +on the deck, which the seamen were working up, and then carefully +proceeded to plumb the well. He hauled it up, and, looking at it for +some moments aghast, exclaimed, '<i>Seven feet</i> water in the hold, by +G—d!'</p> + +<p>If the crew of the <i>Circassian</i>, the whole of which were on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> deck, had +been struck with an electric shock, the sudden change of their +countenances could not have been greater than was produced by this +appalling intelligence.</p> + +<p>Heap upon sailors every disaster, every danger which can be accumulated +from the waves, the wind, the elements, or the enemy, and they will bear +up against them with a courage amounting to heroism. All that they +demand is, that the one plank 'between them and death' is sound, and +they will trust to their own energies, and will be confident in their +own skill: but <i>spring a leak</i>, and they are half paralysed; and if it +gain upon them they are subdued; for when they find that their exertions +are futile, they are little better than children.</p> + +<p>Oswald sprang to the pumps when he heard the carpenter's report. 'Try +again, Abel—it cannot be: cut away that line; hand us here a dry +rope-yarn.'</p> + +<p>Once more the well was sounded by Oswald, and the result was the same. +'We must rig the pumps, my lads,' said the mate, endeavouring to conceal +his own fears; 'half this water must have found its way in when she was +on her beam-ends.'</p> + +<p>This idea, so judiciously thrown out, was caught at by the seamen, who +hastened to obey the order, while Oswald went down to acquaint the +captain, who, worn-out with watching and fatigue, had, now that danger +was considered to be over, thrown himself into his cot to obtain a few +hours' repose.</p> + +<p>'Do you think, Bareth, that we have sprung a leak?' said the captain +earnestly. 'She never could have taken in that quantity of water.'</p> + +<p>'Never, sir,' replied the mate; 'but she has been so strained, that she +may have opened her top-sides. I trust it is no worse.'</p> + +<p>'What is your opinion, then?'</p> + +<p>'I am afraid that the wreck of the masts have injured her; you may +recollect how often we struck against them before we could clear +ourselves of them; once, particularly, the mainmast appeared to be right +under her bottom, I recollect, and she struck very heavy on it.'</p> + +<p>'Well, it is God's will; let us get on deck as fast as we can.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>When they arrived on deck, the carpenter walked up to the captain, and +quietly said to him, '<i>Seven feet three, sir.</i>' The pumps were then in +full action; the men had divided, by the direction of the boatswain, +and, stripped naked to the waist, relieved each other every two minutes. +For half an hour they laboured incessantly.</p> + +<p>This was the half-hour of suspense: the great point to be ascertained +was, whether she leaked through the top-sides, and had taken in the +water during the second gale; if so, there was every hope of keeping it +under. Captain Ingram and the mate remained in silence near the +capstern, the former with his watch in his hand, during the time that +the sailors exerted themselves to the utmost. It was ten minutes past +seven when the half-hour had expired; the well was sounded and the line +carefully measured—<i>Seven feet six inches!</i> So that the water had +gained upon them, notwithstanding that they had plied the pumps to the +utmost of their strength.</p> + +<p>A mute look of despair was exchanged among the crew, but it was followed +up by curses and execrations. Captain Ingram remained silent, with his +lips compressed.</p> + +<p>'It's all over with us!' exclaimed one of the men.</p> + +<p>'Not yet, my lads; we have one more chance,' said Oswald. 'I've a notion +that the ship's sides have been opened by the infernal straining of last +night, and that she is now taking it in at the top-sides generally; if +so, we have only to put her before the wind again, and have another good +spell at the pumps. When no longer strained, as she is now with her +broadside to the sea, she will close all up again.'</p> + +<p>'I shouldn't wonder if Mr. Bareth is not right,' replied the carpenter; +'however, that's my notion, too.'</p> + +<p>'And mine,' added Captain Ingram. 'Come, my men! never say die while +there's a shot in the locker. Let's try her again.' And, to encourage +the men, Captain Ingram threw off his coat and assisted at the first +spell, while Oswald went to the helm and put the ship before the wind.</p> + +<p>As the <i>Circassian</i> rolled before the gale, the lazy manner in which she +righted proved how much water there was in the hold. The seamen exerted +themselves for a whole hour without intermission, and the well was again +sounded—<i>eight feet!</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>The men did not assert that they would pump no longer; but they too +plainly showed their intentions by each resuming in silence his shirt +and jacket, which he had taken off at the commencement of his exertions.</p> + +<p>'What's to be done, Oswald?' said Captain Ingram, as they walked aft. +'You see the men will pump no longer; nor, indeed, would it be of any +use. We are doomed.'</p> + +<p>'The <i>Circassian</i> is, sir, I am afraid,' replied the mate: 'pumping is +of no avail; they could not keep her afloat till daybreak. We must +therefore trust to our boats, which I believe to be all sound, and quit +her before night.'</p> + +<p>'Crowded boats in such a sea as this!' replied Captain Ingram, shaking +his head mournfully.</p> + +<p>'Are bad enough, I grant; but better than the sea itself. All we can do +now is to try and keep the men sober, and if we can do so it will be +better than to fatigue them uselessly; they'll want all their strength +before they put foot again upon dry land—if ever they are so fortunate. +Shall I speak to them?'</p> + +<p>'Do, Oswald,' replied the captain; 'for myself I care little, God knows; +but my wife—my children!'</p> + +<p>'My lads,' said Oswald, going forward to the men, who had waited in +moody silence the result of the conference—'as for pumping any longer +it would be only wearing out your strength for no good. We must now look +to our boats; and a good boat is better than a bad ship. Still this gale +and cross-running sea are rather too much for boats at present; we had +therefore better stick to the ship as long as we can. Let us set to with +a will and get the boats ready, with provisions, water, and what else +may be needful, and then we must trust to God's mercy and our own +endeavours.'</p> + +<p>'No boat can stand this sea,' observed one of the men. 'I'm of opinion, +as it's to be a short life, it may as well be a merry one. What d'ye +say, my lads?' continued he, appealing to the men.</p> + +<p>Several of the crew were of the same opinion; but Oswald, stepping +forward, seized one of the axes which lay at the main-bits, and going up +to the seaman who had spoken, looked him steadfastly in the face—</p> + +<p>'Williams,' said the mate, 'a short life it may be to all of us, but not +a merry one; the meaning of which I understand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> very well. Sorry I shall +be to have your blood, or that of others, on my hands; but as sure as +there's a heaven, I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts +to break into the spirit-room. You know I never joke. Shame upon you! Do +you call yourselves men, when, for the sake of a little liquor now, you +would lose your only chance of getting drunk every day as soon as we get +on shore again? There's a time for all things; and I've a notion this is +a time to be sober.'</p> + +<p>As most of the crew sided with Oswald, the weaker party were obliged to +submit, and the preparations were commenced. The two boats on the booms +were found to be in good condition. One party was employed cutting away +the bulwarks that the boats might be launched over the side, as there +were no means of hoisting them out. The well was again sounded. Nine +feet water in the hold, and the ship evidently settling fast. Two hours +had now passed, and the gale was not so violent; the sea, also, which at +the change of wind had been cross, appeared to have recovered its +regular run. All was ready; the sailors, once at work again, had, in +some measure, recovered their spirits, and were buoyed up with fresh +hopes at the slight change in their favour from the decrease of the +wind. The two boats were quite large enough to contain the whole of the +crew and passengers; but, as the sailors said among themselves (proving +the kindness of their hearts), 'What was to become of those two poor +babbies, in an open boat for days and nights, perhaps?' Captain Ingram +had gone down to Mrs. Templemore, to impart to her their melancholy +prospects; and the mother's heart, as well as the mother's voice, echoed +the words of the seamen, 'What will become of my poor babes?'</p> + +<p>It was not till nearly six o'clock in the evening that all was ready: +the ship was slowly brought to the wind again, and the boats launched +over the side. By this time the gale was much abated; but the vessel was +full of water, and was expected soon to go down.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 440px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i056.png" width="440" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts +to break into the spirit-room.'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>There is no time in which coolness and determination are more required +than in a situation like the one in which we have attempted to describe. +It is impossible to know the precise moment at which a water-logged +vessel, in a heavy sea, may go down; and its occupants are in a state of +mental fever, with the idea of their remaining in her so late that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>she +will suddenly submerge, and leave them to struggle in the wave. This +feeling actuated many of the crew of the <i>Circassian</i>, and they had +already retreated to the boats. All was arranged; Oswald had charge of +one boat, and it was agreed that the larger should receive Mrs. +Templemore and her children, under the protection of Captain Ingram. The +number appointed to Oswald's boat being completed he shoved off, to make +room for the other, and laid-to to leeward, waiting to keep company. +Mrs. Templemore came up with Captain Ingram, and was assisted by him +into the boat. The nurse, with one child, was at last placed by her +side; Coco was leading Judy, the other nurse, with the remaining infant +in her arms; and Captain Ingram, who had been obliged to go into the +boat with the first child, was about to return to assist Judy with the +other, when the ship gave a heavy pitch, and her forecastle was buried +in the wave; at the same time the gunwale of the boat was stove by +coming in contact with the side of the vessel. 'She's down, by G—d!' +exclaimed the alarmed seamen in the boat, shoving off to escape from the +vortex.</p> + +<p>Captain Ingram, who was standing on the boat's thwarts to assist Judy, +was thrown back into the bottom of the boat; and before he could +extricate himself, the boat was separated from the ship, and had drifted +to leeward.</p> + +<p>'My child!' screamed the mother; 'my child!'</p> + +<p>'Pull to again, my lads!' cried Captain Ingram, seizing the tiller.</p> + +<p>The men, who had been alarmed at the idea that the ship was going down, +now that they saw that she was still afloat, got out the oars and +attempted to regain her, but in vain—they could not make head against +the sea and wind. Further and further did they drift to leeward, +notwithstanding their exertions; while the frantic mother extended her +arms, imploring and entreating. Captain Ingram, who had stimulated the +sailors to the utmost, perceived that further attempts were useless.</p> + +<p>'My child! my child!' screamed Mrs. Templemore, standing up, and holding +out her arms towards the vessel. At a sign from the captain, the head of +the boat was veered round. The bereaved mother knew that all hope was +gone, and she fell down in a state of insensibility.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE OLD MAID</h3> + + +<p>One morning, shortly after the disasters which we have described, Mr. +Witherington descended to his breakfast-room somewhat earlier than +usual, and found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by no +less a personage than William the footman, who, with his feet on the +fender, was so attentively reading the newspaper that he did not hear +his master's entrance. 'By my ancestor, who fought on his stumps! but I +hope you are quite comfortable, Mr. William; nay, I beg I may not +disturb you, sir.'</p> + +<p>William, although as impudent as most of his fraternity, was a little +taken aback: 'I beg your pardon, sir, but Mr. Jonathan had not time to +look over the paper.'</p> + +<p>'Nor is it required that he should, that I know of, sir.'</p> + +<p>'Mr. Jonathan says, sir, that it is always right to look over the +<i>deaths</i>, that news of that kind may not shock you.'</p> + +<p>'Very considerate, indeed.'</p> + +<p>'And there is a story there, sir, about a shipwreck.'</p> + +<p>'A shipwreck! where, William? God bless me! where is it?'</p> + +<p>'I am afraid it is the same ship you are so anxious about, sir—the——I +forget the name, sir.'</p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington took the newspaper, and his eye soon caught the +paragraph in which the rescue of the two negroes and child from the +wreck of the <i>Circassian</i> was fully detailed.</p> + +<p>'It is indeed!' exclaimed Mr. Witherington. 'My poor Cecilia in an open +boat! one of the boats was seen to go down—perhaps she's dead—merciful +God! one boy saved. Mercy on me! where's Jonathan?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 387px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i059.png" width="387" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by +William the footman.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Here, sir,' replied Jonathan, very solemnly, who had just brought in +the eggs, and now stood erect as a mute behind his master's chair, for +it was a case of danger, if not of death.</p> + +<p>'I must go to Portsmouth immediately after breakfast—shan't eat, +though—appetite all gone.'</p> + +<p>'People seldom do, sir, on these melancholy occasions,' replied +Jonathan. 'Will you take your own carriage, sir, or a mourning coach?'</p> + +<p>'A mourning coach at fourteen miles an hour, with two pair of horses! +Jonathan, you're crazy.'</p> + +<p>'Will you please to have black silk hatbands and gloves for the coachman +and servants who attend you, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Confound your shop! no; this is a resurrection, not a death: it appears +that the negro thinks only one of the boats went down.'</p> + +<p>'<i>Mors omnia vincit</i>,' quoth Jonathan, casting up his eyes.</p> + +<p>'Never you mind that; mind your own business. That's the postman's +knock—see if there are any letters.'</p> + +<p>There were several; and amongst the others there was one from Captain +Maxwell, of the <i>Eurydice</i>, detailing the circumstances already known, +and informing Mr. Witherington that he had despatched the two negroes +and the child to his address by that day's coach, and that one of the +officers, who was going to town by the same conveyance, would see them +safe to his house.</p> + +<p>Captain Maxwell was an old acquaintance of Mr. Witherington—had dined +at his house in company with the Templemores, and therefore had +extracted quite enough information from the negroes to know where to +direct them.</p> + +<p>'By the blood of my ancestors! they'll be here to-night,' cried Mr. +Witherington; 'and I have saved my journey. What is to be done? better +tell Mary to get rooms ready: d'ye hear, William; beds for one little +boy and two niggers.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir,' replied William; 'but where are the black people to be put?'</p> + +<p>'Put! I don't care; one may sleep with cook, the other with Mary.'</p> + +<p>'Very well, sir, I'll tell them,' replied William, hastening away, +delighted at the row which he anticipated in the kitchen.</p> + +<p>'If you please, sir,' observed Jonathan, 'one of the negroes is, I +believe, a man.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Well, what then?'</p> + +<p>'Only, sir, the maids may object to sleep with him.'</p> + +<p>'By all the plagues of the Witheringtons! this is true; well, you may +take him, Jonathan—you like that colour.'</p> + +<p>'Not in the dark, sir,' replied Jonathan, with a bow.</p> + +<p>'Well then, let them sleep together; so that affair is settled.'</p> + +<p>'Are they man and wife, sir?' said the butler.</p> + +<p>'The devil take them both! how should I know? Let me have my breakfast, +and we'll talk over the matter by and by.'</p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington applied to his eggs and muffin, eating his breakfast as +fast as he could, without knowing why; but the reason was that he was +puzzled and perplexed with the anticipated arrival, and longed to think +quietly over the dilemma, for it was a dilemma to an old bachelor. As +soon as he had swallowed his second cup of tea he put himself into his +easy-chair, in an easy attitude, and was very soon soliloquising as +follows:—</p> + +<p>'By the blood of the Witheringtons! what am I, an old bachelor, to do +with a baby, and a wet-nurse as black as the ace of spades, and another +black fellow in the bargain? Send him back again! yes, that's +best? but the child—woke every morning at five o'clock with its +squalling—obliged to kiss it three times a day—pleasant!—and then +that nigger of a nurse—thick lips—kissing child all day, and then +holding it out to me—ignorant as a cow—if the child has the +stomach-ache she'll cram a pepper-pod down its throat—West India +fashion—children never without the stomach-ache—my poor, poor +cousin!—what has become of her and the other child, too?—wish they may +pick her up, poor dear! and then she will come and take care of her own +children—don't know what to do—great mind to send for sister +Moggy—but she's so <i>fussy</i>—won't be in a hurry. Think again.'</p> + +<p>Here Mr. Witherington was interrupted by two taps at the door.</p> + +<p>'Come in,' said he; and the cook, with her face as red as if she had +been dressing a dinner for eighteen, made her appearance without the +usual clean apron.</p> + +<p>'If you please, sir,' said she, curtseying, 'I will thank you to suit +yourself with another cook.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Oh, very well,' replied Mr. Witherington, angry at the interruption.</p> + +<p>'And if you please, sir, I should like to go this very day—indeed, sir, +I shall not stay.'</p> + +<p>'Go to the devil! if you please,' replied Mr. Witherington angrily; 'but +first go out and shut the door after you.'</p> + +<p>The cook retired, and Mr. Witherington was again alone.</p> + +<p>'Confound the old woman—what a huff she is in! won't cook for black +people, I suppose—yes, that's it.'</p> + +<p>Here Mr. Witherington was again interrupted by a second double tap at +the door.</p> + +<p>'Oh! thought better of it, I suppose. Come in.'</p> + +<p>It was not the cook, but Mary, the housemaid, that entered.</p> + +<p>'If you please, sir,' said she, whimpering, 'I should wish to leave my +situation.'</p> + +<p>'A conspiracy, by heavens! Well, you may go.'</p> + +<p>'To-night, sir, if you please,' answered the woman.</p> + +<p>'This moment, for all I care!' exclaimed Mr. Witherington in his wrath.</p> + +<p>The housemaid retired; and Mr. Witherington took some time to compose +himself.</p> + +<p>'Servants all going to the devil in this country,' said he at last; +'proud fools—won't clean rooms after black people, I suppose—yes, +that's it, confound them all, black and white! here's my whole +establishment upset by the arrival of a baby. Well, it is very +uncomfortable—what shall I do?—send for sister Moggy?—no, I'll send +for Jonathan.'</p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington rang the bell, and Jonathan made his appearance.</p> + +<p>'What is all this, Jonathan?' said he; 'cook angry—Mary crying—both +going away—what's it all about?'</p> + +<p>'Why, sir, they were told by William that it was your positive order +that the two black people were to sleep with them; and I believe he told +Mary that the man was to sleep with her.'</p> + +<p>'Confound that fellow! he's always at mischief; you know, Jonathan, I +never meant that.'</p> + +<p>'I thought not, sir, as it is quite contrary to custom,' replied +Jonathan.</p> + +<p>'Well then, tell them so, and let's hear no more about it.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Witherington then entered into a consultation with his butler, and +acceded to the arrangements proposed by him. The parties arrived in due +time, and were properly accommodated. Master Edward was not troubled +with the stomach-ache, neither did he wake Mr. Witherington at five +o'clock in the morning; and, after all, it was not very uncomfortable. +But, although things were not quite so uncomfortable as Mr. Witherington +had anticipated, still they were not comfortable; and Mr. Witherington +was so annoyed by continual skirmishes with his servants, complaints +from Judy, in bad English, of the cook, who, it must be owned, had taken +a prejudice against her and Coco, occasional illness of the child, <i>et +cætera</i>, that he found his house no longer quiet and peaceable. Three +months had now nearly passed, and no tidings of the boats had been +received; and Captain Maxwell, who came up to see Mr. Witherington, gave +it as his decided opinion that they must have foundered in the gale. As, +therefore, there appeared to be no chance of Mrs. Templemore coming to +take care of her child, Mr. Witherington at last resolved to write to +Bath, where his sister resided, and acquaint her with the whole story, +requesting her to come and superintend his domestic concerns. A few days +afterwards he received the following reply:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p class="citation">'<span class="smcap">Bath</span>, <i>August</i>.<br /></p> + +<p>'<span class="smcap">My dear Brother Antony</span>—Your letter arrived safe to hand on +Wednesday last, and I must say that I was not a little surprised at +its contents; indeed, I thought so much about it that I revoked at +Lady Betty Blabkin's whist-party, and lost four shillings and +sixpence. You say that you have a child at your house belonging to +your cousin, who married in so indecorous a manner. I hope what you +say is true; but, at the same time, I know what bachelors are +guilty of; although, as Lady Betty says, it is better never to talk +or even to hint about these improper things. I cannot imagine why +men should consider themselves, in an unmarried state, as absolved +from that purity which maidens are so careful to preserve; and so +says Lady Betty, with whom I had a little conversation on the +subject. As, however, the thing is done, she agrees with me that it +is better to hush it up as well as we can.</p> + +<p>'I presume that you do not intend to make the child your heir, +which I should consider as highly improper; and, indeed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> Lady +Betty tells me that the legacy-duty is ten per cent., and that it +cannot be avoided. However, I make it a rule never to talk about +these sort of things. As for your request that I will come up and +superintend your establishment, I have advised with Lady Betty on +the subject, and she agrees with me that, for the honour of the +family, it is better that I should come, as it will save +appearances. You are in a peck of troubles, as most men are who are +free-livers, and are led astray by artful and alluring females. +However, as Lady Betty says, "the least said, the soonest mended."</p> + +<p>'I will, therefore, make the necessary arrangements for letting my +house, and hope to join you in about ten days; sooner, I cannot, as +I find that my engagements extend to that period. Many questions +have already been put to me on this unpleasant subject; but I +always give but one answer, which is, that bachelors will be +bachelors! and that, at all events, it is not so bad as if you were +a married man: for I make it a rule never to talk about, or even to +hint about these sort of things, for, as Lady Betty says, "Men will +get into scrapes, and the sooner things are hushed up the better." +So no more at present from your affectionate sister,</p> + + +<p class="citation">'<span class="smcap">Margaret Witherington.</span><br /></p> + +<p>'<i>P.S.</i>—Lady Betty and I both agree that you are very right in +hiring two black people to bring the child into your house, as it +makes the thing look <i>foreign</i> to the neighbours, and we can keep +our own secrets.</p> + +<p class="citation">M. W.'<br /><br /></p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>'Now, by all the sins of the Witheringtons, if this is not enough to +drive a man out of his senses! Confound the suspicious old maid! I'll +not let her come into this house. Confound Lady Betty, and all +scandal-loving old tabbies like her! Bless me!' continued Mr. +Witherington, throwing the letter on the table, with a deep sigh, 'this +is anything but comfortable.'</p> + +<p>But if Mr. Witherington found it anything but comfortable at the +commencement, he found it unbearable in the sequel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 374px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i065.png" width="374" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>His sister Moggy arrived, and installed herself in the house with all +the pomp and protecting air of one who was the saviour of her brother's +reputation and character. When the child was first brought down to her, +instead of perceiving at once its likeness to Mr. Templemore, which was +very strong, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>she looked at it and at her brother's face with her only +eye, and shaking her finger, exclaimed—</p> + +<p>'O Antony! Antony! and did you expect to deceive me?—the nose—the +mouth exact—Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!'</p> + +<p>But we must hurry over the misery that Mr. Witherington's kindness and +benevolence brought upon him. Not a day passed—scarcely an hour, +without his ears being galled with his sister's insinuations. Judy and +Coco were sent back to America; the servants, who had remained so long +in his service, gave warning one by one, and, afterwards, were changed +as often almost as there was a change in the moon. She ruled the house +and her brother despotically; and all poor Mr. Witherington's comfort +was gone until the time arrived when Master Edward was to be sent to +school. Mr. Witherington then plucked up courage, and after a few stormy +months drove his sister back to Bath, and once more found himself +comfortable.</p> + +<p>Edward came home during the holidays, and was a great favourite; but the +idea had become current that he was the son of the old gentleman, and +the remarks made were so unpleasant and grating to him, that he was not +sorry, much as he was attached to the boy, when he declared his +intention to choose the profession of a sailor.</p> + +<p>Captain Maxwell introduced him into the service; and afterwards, when, +in consequence of ill-health and exhaustion, he was himself obliged to +leave it for a time, he procured for his <i>protégé</i> other ships. We must, +therefore, allow some years to pass away, during which time Edward +Templemore pursues his career, Mr Witherington grows older and more +particular, and his sister Moggy amuses herself with Lady Betty's +remarks, and her darling game of whist.</p> + +<p>During all this period no tidings of the boats, or of Mrs. Templemore +and her infant, had been heard; it was therefore naturally conjectured +that they had all perished, and they were remembered but as things that +had been.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE MIDSHIPMAN</h3> + + +<p>The weather-side of the quarter-deck of H.M. frigate <i>Unicorn</i> was +occupied by two very great personages: Captain Plumbton, commanding the +ship, who was very great in width if not in height, taking much more +than his allowance of the deck, if it were not that he was the +proprietor thereof, and entitled to the lion's share. Captain P. was not +more than four feet ten inches in height; but then he was equal to that +in girth: there was quite enough of him, if he had only been <i>rolled +out</i>. He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck into the +arm-holes of his waistcoat, so as to throw his shoulders back and +increase his horizontal dimensions. He also held his head well aft, +which threw his chest and stomach well forward. He was the prototype of +pomposity and good-nature, and he strutted like an actor in a +procession.</p> + +<p>The other personage was the first lieutenant, whom Nature had pleased to +fashion in another mould. He was as tall as the captain was short—as +thin as his superior was corpulent. His long, lanky legs were nearly up +to the captain's shoulders; and he bowed down over the head of his +superior, as if he were the crane to hoist up, and the captain the bale +of goods to be hoisted. He carried his hands behind his back, with two +fingers twisted together; and his chief difficulty appeared to be to +reduce his own stride to the parrot march of the captain. His features +were sharp and lean as was his body, and wore every appearance of a +cross-grained temper.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 370px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i068.png" width="370" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck +into the arm-holes of his waistcoat.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>He had been making divers complaints of divers persons, and the captain +had hitherto appeared imperturbable. Captain Plumbton was an +even-tempered man, who was satisfied with <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>a good dinner. Lieutenant +Markitall was an odd-tempered man, who would quarrel with his bread and +butter.</p> + +<p>'Quite impossible, sir,' continued the first lieutenant, 'to carry on +the duty without support.'</p> + +<p>This oracular observation, which, from the relative forms of the two +parties, descended as it were from above, was replied to by the captain +with a 'Very true.'</p> + +<p>'Then, sir, I presume you will not object to my putting that man in the +report for punishment?'</p> + +<p>'I'll think about it, Mr. Markitall.' This, with Captain Plumbton, was +as much as to say, No.</p> + +<p>'The young gentlemen, sir, I am sorry to say, are very troublesome.'</p> + +<p>'Boys always are,' replied the captain.</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir; but the duty must be carried on, and I cannot do without +them.'</p> + +<p>'Very true—midshipmen are very useful.'</p> + +<p>'But I'm sorry to say, sir, that they are not. Now, sir, there's Mr. +Templemore; I can do nothing with him—he does nothing but laugh.'</p> + +<p>'Laugh!—Mr. Markitall, does he laugh at you?'</p> + +<p>'Not exactly, sir; but he laughs at everything. If I send him to the +mast-head, he goes up laughing; if I call him down, he comes down +laughing; if I find fault with him, he laughs the next minute: in fact, +sir, he does nothing but laugh. I should particularly wish, sir, that +you would speak to him, and see if any interference on your part——'</p> + +<p>'Would make him cry—eh? better to laugh than cry in this world. Does he +never cry, Mr. Markitall?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir, and very unseasonably. The other day, you may recollect, when +you punished Wilson the marine, whom I appointed to take care of his +chest and hammock, he was crying the whole time; almost tantamount—at +least an indirect species of mutiny on his part, as it implied——'</p> + +<p>'That the boy was sorry that his servant was punished; I never flog a +man but I'm sorry myself, Mr. Markitall.'</p> + +<p>'Well, I do not press the question of his crying—that I might look +over; but his laughing, sir, I must beg that you will take notice of +that. Here he is, sir, coming up the hatchway. Mr. Templemore, the +captain wishes to speak to you.'</p> + +<p>Now, the captain did not wish to speak to him, but, forced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> upon him as +it was by the first lieutenant, he could do no less. So Mr. Templemore +touched his hat, and stood before the captain, we regret to say, with +such a good-humoured, sly, confiding smirk on his countenance, as at +once established the proof of the accusation, and the enormity of the +offence.</p> + +<p>'So, sir,' said Captain Plumbton, stopping in his perambulation, and +squaring his shoulders still more, 'I find that you laugh at the first +lieutenant.'</p> + +<p>'I, sir?' replied the boy, the smirk expanding into a broad grin.</p> + +<p>'Yes; you, sir,' said the first lieutenant, now drawing up to his full +height; 'why, you're laughing now, sir.'</p> + +<p>'I can't help it, sir—it's not my fault; and I'm sure it's not yours, +sir,' added the boy demurely.</p> + +<p>'Are you aware, Edward—Mr. Templemore, I mean—of the impropriety of +disrespect to your superior officer?'</p> + +<p>'I never laughed at Mr. Markitall but once, sir, that I can recollect, +and that was when he tumbled over the messenger.'</p> + +<p>'And why did you laugh at him then, sir?'</p> + +<p>'I always do laugh when any one tumbles down,' replied the lad; 'I can't +help it, sir.'</p> + +<p>'Then, sir, I suppose you would laugh if you saw me rolling in the +lee-scuppers?' said the captain.</p> + +<p>'Oh!' replied the boy, no longer able to contain himself, 'I'm sure I +should burst myself with laughing—I think I see you now, sir.'</p> + +<p>'Do you, indeed! I'm very glad that you do not; though I'm afraid, young +gentleman, you stand convicted by your own confession.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir, for laughing, if that is any crime; but it's not in the +Articles of War.'</p> + +<p>'No, sir; but disrespect is. You laugh when you go to the mast-head.'</p> + +<p>'But I obey the order, sir, immediately—do I not, Mr. Markitall?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir, you obey the order; but, at the same time, your laughing +proves that you do not mind the punishment.'</p> + +<p>'No more I do, sir. I spend half my time at the mast-head, and I'm used +to it now.'</p> + +<p>'But, Mr. Templemore, ought you not to feel the disgrace of the +punishment?' inquired the captain severely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Yes, sir, if I felt I deserved it I should. I should not laugh, sir, if +<i>you</i> sent me to the mast-head,' replied the boy, assuming a serious +countenance.</p> + +<p>'You see, Mr. Markitall, that he can be grave,' observed the captain.</p> + +<p>'I've tried all I can to make him so, sir,' replied the first +lieutenant; 'but I wish to ask Mr. Templemore what he means to imply by +saying, "when he deserves it." Does he mean to say that I have ever +punished him unjustly?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir,' replied the boy boldly; 'five times out of six I am +mast-headed for nothing—and that's the reason why I do not mind it.'</p> + +<p>'For nothing, sir! Do you call laughing nothing?'</p> + +<p>'I pay every attention that I can to my duty, sir; I always obey your +orders; I try all I can to make you pleased with me—but you are always +punishing me.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir, for laughing, and, what is worse, making the ship's company +laugh.'</p> + +<p>'They "haul and hold" just the same, sir—I think they work all the +better for being merry.'</p> + +<p>'And pray, sir, what business have you to think?' replied the first +lieutenant, now very angry. 'Captain Plumbton, as this young gentleman +thinks proper to interfere with me and the discipline of the ship, I beg +you will see what effect your punishing may have upon him.'</p> + +<p>'Mr. Templemore,' said the captain, 'you are, in the first place, too +free in your speech, and, in the next place, too fond of laughing. There +is, Mr. Templemore, a time for all things—a time to be merry, and a +time to be serious. The quarter-deck is not the fit place for mirth.'</p> + +<p>'I'm sure the gangway is not,' shrewdly interrupted the boy.</p> + +<p>'No—you are right, nor the gangway; but you may laugh on the +forecastle, and when below with your messmates.'</p> + +<p>'No, sir, we may not; Mr. Markitall always sends out if he hears us +laughing.'</p> + +<p>'Because, Mr. Templemore, you're always laughing.'</p> + +<p>'I believe I am, sir; and if it's wrong I'm sorry to displease you, but +I mean no disrespect. I laugh in my sleep—I laugh when I awake—I laugh +when the sun shines—I always feel so happy; but though you do mast-head +me, Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> Markitall, I should not laugh, but be very sorry, if any +misfortune happened to you.'</p> + +<p>'I believe you would, boy—I do indeed, Mr. Markitall,' said the +captain.</p> + +<p>'Well, sir,' replied the first lieutenant, 'as Mr. Templemore appears to +be aware of his error, I do not wish to press my complaint—I have only +to request that he will never laugh again.'</p> + +<p>'You hear, boy, what the first lieutenant says; it's very reasonable, +and I beg I may hear no more complaints. Mr. Markitall, let me know when +the foot of that foretopsail will be repaired—I should like to shift it +to-night.'</p> + +<p>Mr. Markitall went down under the half-deck to make the inquiry.</p> + +<p>'And, Edward,' said Captain Plumbton, as soon as the lieutenant was out +of ear-shot, 'I have a good deal more to say to you upon this subject, +but I have no time now. So come and dine with me—at my table, you know, +I allow laughing in moderation.'</p> + +<p>The boy touched his hat, and with a grateful, happy countenance, walked +away.</p> + +<p>We have introduced this little scene that the reader may form some idea +of the character of Edward Templemore. He was indeed the soul of mirth, +good-humour, and kindly feelings towards others; he even felt kindly +towards the first lieutenant, who persecuted him for his risible +propensities. We do not say that the boy was right in laughing at all +times, or that the first lieutenant was wrong in attempting to check it. +As the captain said, there is a time for all things, and Edward's laugh +was not always seasonable; but it was his nature, and he could not help +it. He was joyous as the May morning; and thus he continued for years, +laughing at everything—pleased with everybody—almost universally +liked—and his bold, free, and happy spirit unchecked by vicissitude or +hardship.</p> + +<p>He served his time—was nearly turned back, when he was passing his +examination, for laughing, and then went laughing to sea again—was in +command of a boat at the cutting-out of a French corvette, and when on +board was so much amused by the little French captain skipping about +with his rapier, which proved fatal to many, that at last he received a +pink<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> from the little gentleman himself, which laid him on deck. For +this affair, and in consideration of his wound, he obtained his +promotion to the rank of lieutenant—was appointed to a line-of-battle +ship in the West Indies—laughed at the yellow fever—was appointed to +the tender of that ship, a fine schooner, and was sent to cruise for +prize-money for the admiral, and promotion for himself, if he could, by +any fortunate encounter, be so lucky as to obtain it.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>SLEEPER'S BAY</h3> + + +<p>On the western coast of Africa there is a small bay, which has received +more than one name from its occasional visitors. That by which it was +designated by the adventurous Portuguese, who first dared to cleave the +waves of the Southern Atlantic, has been forgotten with their lost +maritime preeminence; the name allotted to it by the woolly-headed +natives of the coast has never, perhaps, been ascertained; it is, +however, marked down in some of the old English charts as Sleeper's Bay.</p> + +<p>The mainland which, by its curvature, has formed this little dent, on a +coast possessing, and certainly at present requiring, few harbours, +displays, perhaps, the least inviting of all prospects; offering to the +view nothing but a shelving beach of dazzling white sand, backed with a +few small hummocks beat up by the occasional fury of the Atlantic +gales—arid, bare, and without the slightest appearance of vegetable +life. The inland prospect is shrouded over by a dense mirage, through +which here and there are to be discovered the stems of a few distant +palm-trees, so broken and disjoined by refraction that they present to +the imagination anything but the idea of foliage or shade. The water in +the bay is calm and smooth as the polished mirror; not the smallest +ripple is to be heard on the beach, to break through the silence of +nature; not a breath of air sweeps over its glassy surface, which is +heated with the intense rays of a vertical noonday sun, pouring down a +withering flood of light and heat; not a sea-bird is to be discovered +wheeling on its flight, or balancing on its wings as it pierces the deep +with its searching eye, ready to dart upon its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> prey. All is silence, +solitude, and desolation, save that occasionally may be seen the fin of +some huge shark, either sluggishly moving through the heated element, or +stationary in the torpor of the mid-day heat. A sight so sterile, so +stagnant, so little adapted to human life, cannot well be conceived, +unless, by flying to extremes, we were to portray the chilling blast, +the transfixing cold, and 'close-ribbed ice' at the frozen poles.</p> + +<p>At the entrance of this bay, in about three fathoms water, heedless of +the spring cable which hung down as a rope which had fallen overboard, +there floated, motionless as death, a vessel whose proportions would +have challenged the unanimous admiration of those who could appreciate +the merits of her build, had she been anchored in the most frequented +and busy harbour of the universe. So beautiful were her lines, that you +might almost have imagined her a created being that the ocean had been +ordered to receive, as if fashioned by the Divine Architect, to add to +the beauty and variety of His works; for, from the huge leviathan to the +smallest of the finny tribe—from the towering albatross to the boding +petrel of the storm—where could be found, among the winged or finned +frequenters of the ocean, a form more appropriate, more fitting, than +this specimen of human skill, whose beautiful model and elegant tapering +spars were now all that could be discovered to break the meeting lines +of the firmament and horizon of the offing.</p> + +<p>Alas! she was fashioned, at the will of avarice, for the aid of cruelty +and injustice, and now was even more nefariously employed. She had been +a slaver—she was now the far-famed, still more dreaded, pirate +schooner, the <i>Avenger</i>.</p> + +<p>Not a man-of-war which scoured the deep but had her instructions +relative to this vessel, which had been so successful in her career of +crime—not a trader in any portion of the navigable globe but whose crew +shuddered at the mention of her name, and the remembrance of the +atrocities which had been practised by her reckless crew. She had been +everywhere—in the east, the west, the north, and the south, leaving a +track behind her of rapine and of murder. There she lay in motionless +beauty, her low sides were painted black, with one small, narrow riband +of red—her raking masts were clean scraped—her topmasts, her +cross-trees, caps, and even running<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>-blocks, were painted in pure white. +Awnings were spread fore and aft to protect the crew from the powerful +rays of the sun; her ropes were hauled taut; and in every point she wore +the appearance of being under the control of seamanship and strict +discipline. Through the clear smooth water her copper shone brightly; +and as you looked over her taffrail down into the calm blue sea, you +could plainly discover the sandy bottom beneath her, and the anchor +which then lay under her counter. A small boat floated astern, the +weight of the rope which attached her appearing, in the perfect calm, to +draw her towards the schooner.</p> + +<p>We must now go on board, and our first cause of surprise will be the +deception relative to the tonnage of the schooner, when viewed from a +distance. Instead of a small vessel of about ninety tons, we discover +that she is upwards of two hundred; that her breadth of beam is +enormous; and that those spars, which appeared so light and elegant, are +of unexpected dimensions. Her decks are of narrow fir planks, without +the least spring or rise; her ropes are of Manilla hemp, neatly secured +to copper belaying-pins, and coiled down on the deck, whose whiteness is +well contrasted with the bright green paint of her bulwarks: her +capstern and binnacles are cased in fluted mahogany, and ornamented with +brass; metal stanchions protect the skylights, and the bright muskets +are arranged in front of the mainmast, while the boarding-pikes are +lashed round the mainboom.</p> + +<p>In the centre of the vessel, between the fore and main masts, there is a +long brass 32-pounder fixed upon a carriage revolving in a circle, and +so arranged that in bad weather it can be lowered down and <i>housed</i>; +while on each side of her decks are mounted eight brass guns of smaller +calibre and of exquisite workmanship. Her build proves the skill of the +architect; her fitting-out, a judgment in which nought has been +sacrificed to, although everything has been directed by, taste; and her +neatness and arrangement, that, in the person of her commander, to the +strictest discipline there is united the practical knowledge of a +thorough seaman. How, indeed, otherwise could she have so long continued +her lawless yet successful career? How could it have been possible to +unite a crew of miscreants, who feared not God nor man, most of whom had +perpetrated foul murders, or had been guilty of even<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> blacker +iniquities? It was because he who commanded the vessel was so superior +as to find in her no rivalry. Superior in talent, in knowledge of his +profession, in courage, and, moreover, in physical strength—which in +him was almost herculean—unfortunately he was also superior to all in +villainy, in cruelty, and contempt of all injunctions, moral and Divine.</p> + +<p>What had been the early life of this person was but imperfectly known. +It was undoubted that he had received an excellent education, and it was +said that he was of an ancient border family on the banks of the Tweed: +by what chances he had become a pirate—by what errors he had fallen +from his station in society, until he became an outcast, had never been +revealed; it was only known that he had been some years employed in the +slave-trade previous to his seizing this vessel and commencing his +reckless career. The name by which he was known to the crew of the +pirate vessel was 'Cain,' and well had he chosen this appellation; for, +had not his hand for more than three years been against every man's, and +every man's hand against his? In person he was about six feet high, with +a breadth of shoulders and of chest denoting the utmost of physical +force which, perhaps, has ever been allotted to man. His features would +have been handsome had they not been scarred with wounds; and, strange +to say, his eye was mild and of a soft blue. His mouth was well formed, +and his teeth of a pearly white; the hair of his head was crisp and +wavy, and his beard, which he wore, as did every person composing the +crew of the pirate, covered the lower part of his face in strong, +waving, and continued curls. The proportions of his body were perfect; +but from their vastness they became almost terrific. His costume was +elegant, and well adapted to his form; linen trousers, and untanned +yellow leather boots, such as are made at the Western Isles; a +broad-striped cotton shirt; a red Cashmere shawl round his waist as a +sash; a vest embroidered in gold tissue, with a jacket of dark velvet, +and pendent gold buttons, hanging over his left shoulder, after the +fashion of the Mediterranean seamen; a round Turkish skull-cap, +handsomely embroidered, a pair of pistols, and a long knife in his sash, +completed his attire.</p> + +<p>The crew consisted in all of 165 men, of almost every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> nation, but it +was to be remarked that all those in authority were either Englishmen or +from the northern countries; the others were chiefly Spaniards and +Maltese. Still there were Portuguese, Brazilians, negroes, and others, +who made up the complement, which at the time we now speak of was +increased by twenty-five additional hands. These were Kroumen, a race of +blacks well known at present, who inhabit the coast near Cape Palmas, +and are often employed by our men-of-war stationed on the coast to +relieve the English seamen from duties which would be too severe to +those who were not inured to the climate. They are powerful, athletic +men, good sailors, of a happy, merry disposition, and, unlike other +Africans, will work hard. Fond of the English, they generally speak the +language sufficiently to be understood, and are very glad to receive a +baptism when they come on board. The name first given them they usually +adhere to as long as they live; and you will now on the coast meet with +a Blucher, a Wellington, a Nelson, etc., who will wring swabs, or do any +other of the meanest description of work, without feeling that it is +discreditable to sponsorials so grand.</p> + +<p>It is not to be supposed that these men had voluntarily come on board of +the pirate; they had been employed in some British vessels trading on +the coast, and had been taken out of them when the vessels were burnt, +and the Europeans of the crews murdered. They had received a promise of +reward, if they did their duty; but, not expecting it, they waited for +the earliest opportunity to make their escape.</p> + +<p>The captain of the schooner is abaft with his glass in his hand, +occasionally sweeping the offing in the expectation of a vessel heaving +in sight; the officers and crew are lying down, or lounging listlessly +about the decks, panting with the extreme heat, and impatiently waiting +for the sea-breeze to fan their parched foreheads. With their rough +beards and exposed chests, and their weather-beaten fierce countenances, +they form a group which is terrible even in repose.</p> + +<p>We must now descend into the cabin of the schooner. The fittings-up of +this apartment are simple: on each side is a standing bed-place; against +the after bulkhead is a large buffet, originally intended for glass and +china, but now loaded with silver and gold vessels of every size and +description, collected by the pirate from the different ships which he +had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> plundered; the lamps are also of silver, and evidently had been +intended to ornament the shrine of some Catholic saint.</p> + +<p>In this cabin there are two individuals, to whom we shall now direct the +reader's attention. The one is a pleasant-countenanced, good-humoured +Krouman, who had been christened 'Pompey the Great'; most probably on +account of his large proportions. He wears a pair of duck trousers; the +rest of his body is naked, and presents a sleek, glossy skin, covering +muscles which an anatomist or a sculptor would have viewed with +admiration. The other is a youth of eighteen, or thereabouts, with an +intelligent, handsome countenance, evidently of European blood. There +is, however, a habitually mournful cast upon his features; he is dressed +much in the same way as we have described the captain, but the costume +hangs more gracefully upon his slender, yet well-formed limbs. He is +seated on a sofa, fixed in the fore part of the cabin, with a book in +his hand, which occasionally he refers to, and then lifts his eyes from, +to watch the motions of the Krouman, who is busy, in the office of +steward, arranging and cleaning the costly articles in the buffet.</p> + +<p>'Massa Francisco, dis really fine ting,' said Pompey, holding up a +splendidly embossed tankard, which he had been rubbing.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied Francisco gravely; 'it is indeed, Pompey.'</p> + +<p>'How Captain Cain come by dis?'</p> + +<p>Francisco shook his head, and Pompey put his finger up to his mouth, his +eyes, full of meaning, fixed upon Francisco.</p> + +<p>At this moment the personage referred to was heard descending the +companion-ladder. Pompey recommenced rubbing the silver, and Francisco +dropped his eyes upon the book.</p> + +<p>What was the tie which appeared to bind the captain to this lad was not +known; but, as the latter had always accompanied, and lived together +with him, it was generally supposed that he was the captain's son; and +he was as often designated by the crew as young Cain as he was by his +Christian name of Francisco. Still it was observed that latterly they +had frequently been heard in altercation, and that the captain was very +suspicious of Francisco's movements.</p> + +<p>'I beg I may not interrupt your conversation,' said Cain, on entering +the cabin; 'the information you may obtain from a Krouman must be very +important.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>Francisco made no reply, but appeared to be reading his book. Cain's +eyes passed from one to the other, as if to read their thoughts.</p> + +<p>'Pray what were you saying, Mr. Pompey?'</p> + +<p>'Me say, Massa Captain? me only tell young Massa dis very fine ting; ask +where you get him—Massa Francisco no tell.'</p> + +<p>'And what might it be to you, you black scoundrel?' cried the captain, +seizing the goblet, and striking the man with it a blow on the head +which flattened the vessel, and at the same time felled the Krouman, +powerful as he was, to the deck. The blood streamed as the man slowly +rose, stupefied and trembling from the violent concussion. Without +saying a word, he staggered out of the cabin, and Cain threw himself on +one of the lockers in front of the standing bed-place, saying, with a +bitter smile, 'So much for your intimates, Francisco!'</p> + +<p>'Rather, so much for your cruelty and injustice towards an unoffending +man,' replied Francisco, laying his book on the table. 'His question was +an innocent one—for he knew not the particulars connected with the +obtaining of that flagon.'</p> + +<p>'And you, I presume, do not forget them? Well, be it so, young man; but +I warn you again—as I have warned you often—nothing but the +remembrance of your mother has prevented me, long before this, from +throwing your body to the sharks.'</p> + +<p>'What influence my mother's memory may have over you, I know not; I only +regret that, in any way, she had the misfortune to be connected with +you.'</p> + +<p>'She had the influence,' replied Cain, 'which a woman must have over a +man when they have for years swung in the same cot; but that is wearing +off fast. I tell you so candidly; I will not even allow her memory to +check me, if I find you continue your late course. You have shown +disaffection before the crew—you have disputed my orders—and I have +every reason to believe that you are now plotting against me.'</p> + +<p>'Can I do otherwise than show my abhorrence,' replied Francisco, 'when I +witness such acts of horror, of cruelty—cold-blooded cruelty, as lately +have been perpetrated? Why do you bring me here? and why do you now +detain me? All I ask is, that you will allow me to leave the vessel. You +are not my father; you have told me so.'</p> + +<p>'No, I am not your father; but—you are your mother's son.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>'That gives you no right to have power over me, even if you had been +married to my mother; which——'</p> + +<p>'I was not.'</p> + +<p>'I thank God; for marriage with you would have been even greater +disgrace.'</p> + +<p>'What!' cried Cain, starting up, seizing the young man by the neck, and +lifting him off his seat as if he had been a puppet; 'but no—I cannot +forget your mother.' Cain released Francisco, and resumed his seat on +the locker.</p> + +<p>'As you please,' said Francisco, as soon as he had recovered himself; +'it matters little whether I am brained by your own hand, or launched +overboard as a meal for the sharks; it will be but one more murder.'</p> + +<p>'Mad fool! why do you tempt me thus?' replied Cain, again starting up, +and hastily quitting the cabin.</p> + +<p>The altercation which we have just described was not unheard on deck, as +the doors of the cabin were open, and the skylight removed to admit the +air. The face of Cain was flushed as he ascended the ladder. He +perceived his chief mate standing by the hatchway, and many of the men, +who had been slumbering abaft, with their heads raised on their elbows, +as if they had been listening to the conversation below.</p> + +<p>'It will never do, sir,' said Hawkhurst, the mate, shaking his head.</p> + +<p>'No,' replied the captain; 'not if he were my own son. But what is to be +done?—he knows no fear.'</p> + +<p>Hawkhurst pointed to the entering port.</p> + +<p>'When I ask your advice, you may give it,' said the captain, turning +gloomily away.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Francisco paced the cabin in deep thought. Young as he +was, he was indifferent to death; for he had no tie to render life +precious. He remembered his mother, but not her demise; that had been +concealed from him. At the age of seven he had sailed with Cain in a +slaver, and had ever since continued with him. Until lately, he had been +led to suppose that the captain was his father. During the years that he +had been in the slave-trade, Cain had devoted much time to his +education; it so happened that the only book which could be found on +board of the vessel, when Cain first commenced teaching, was a Bible +belonging to Francisco's mother. Out of this book he learned to read; +and, as his education advanced, other books<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> were procured. It may +appear strange that the very traffic in which his reputed father was +engaged did not corrupt the boy's mind; but, accustomed to it from his +infancy, he had considered these negroes as another species—an idea +fully warranted by the cruelty of the Europeans towards them.</p> + +<p>There are some dispositions so naturally kind and ingenuous that even +example and evil contact cannot debase them: such was the disposition of +Francisco. As he gained in years and knowledge, he thought more and more +for himself, and had already become disgusted with the cruelties +practised upon the unfortunate negroes, when the slave vessel was seized +upon by Cain and converted into a pirate. At first, the enormities +committed had not been so great; vessels had been seized and plundered, +but life had been spared. In the course of crime, however, the descent +is rapid: and as, from information given by those who had been released, +the schooner was more than once in danger of being captured, latterly no +lives had been spared; and but too often the murders had been attended +with deeds even more atrocious.</p> + +<p>Francisco had witnessed scenes of horror until his young blood curdled: +he had expostulated to save, but in vain. Disgusted with the captain and +the crew, and their deeds of cruelty, he had latterly expressed his +opinions fearlessly, and defied the captain; for, in the heat of an +altercation, Cain had acknowledged that Francisco was not his son.</p> + +<p>Had any of the crew or officers expressed but a tithe of what had fallen +from the bold lips of Francisco, they would have long before paid the +forfeit of their temerity; but there was a feeling towards Francisco +which could not be stifled in the breast of Cain—it was the feeling of +association and habit. The boy had been his companion for years; and +from assuetude had become, as it were, a part of himself. There is a +principle in our nature which, even when that nature is most debased, +will never leave us—that of requiring something to love, something to +protect and watch over: it is shown towards a dog, or any other animal, +if it cannot be lavished upon one of our own species. Such was the +feeling which so forcibly held Cain towards Francisco; such was the +feeling which had hitherto saved his life.</p> + +<p>After having paced up and down for some time, the youth took his seat on +the locker which the captain had quitted:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> his eye soon caught the head +of Pompey, who looked into the cabin and beckoned with his finger.</p> + +<p>Francisco rose, and, taking up a flagon from the buffet, which contained +some spirits, walked to the door, and, without saying a word, handed it +to the Krouman.</p> + +<p>'Massa Francisco,' whispered Pompey, 'Pompey say—all Kroumen +say—suppose they run away, you go too? Pompey say—all Kroumen +say—suppose they try to kill you? Nebber kill you while one Krouman +alive.'</p> + +<p>The negro then gently pushed Francisco back with his hand, as if not +wishing to hear his answer, and hastened forward on the berth deck.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE ATTACK</h3> + + +<p>In the meantime, the sea-breeze had risen in the offing, and was +sweeping along the surface to where the schooner was at anchor. The +captain ordered a man to the cross-trees, directing him to keep a good +look-out, while he walked the deck in company with his first mate.</p> + +<p>'She may not have sailed until a day or two later,' said the captain, +continuing the conversation; 'I have made allowance for that, and depend +upon it, as she makes the eastern passage, we must soon fall in with +her; if she does not heave in sight this evening by daylight, I shall +stretch out in the offing; I know the Portuguese well. The sea-breeze +has caught our craft; let them run up the inner jib, and see that she +does not foul her anchor.'</p> + +<p>It was now late in the afternoon, and dinner had been sent into the +cabin; the captain descended, and took his seat at the table with +Francisco, who ate in silence. Once or twice the captain, whose wrath +had subsided, and whose kindly feelings towards Francisco, checked for a +time, had returned with greater force, tried, but in vain, to rally him +into conversation, when '<i>Sail ho!</i>' was shouted from the mast-head.</p> + +<p>'There she is, by G—d!' cried the captain, jumping from, and then, as +if checking himself, immediately resuming, his seat.</p> + +<p>Francisco put his hand to his forehead, covering his eyes as his elbow +leant upon the table.</p> + +<p>'A large ship, sir; we can see down to the second reef of her topsails,' +said Hawkhurst, looking down the skylight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>The captain hastily swallowed some wine from a flagon, cast a look of +scorn and anger upon Francisco, and rushed on deck.</p> + +<p>'Be smart, lads!' cried the captain, after a few seconds' survey of the +vessel through his glass; 'that's her: furl the awnings, and run the +anchor up to the bows: there's more silver in that vessel, my lads, than +your chests will hold; and the good saints of the churches at Goa will +have to wait a little longer for their gold candlesticks.'</p> + +<p>The crew were immediately on the alert; the awnings were furled, and all +the men, stretching aft the spring cable, walked the anchor up to the +bows. In two minutes more the <i>Avenger</i> was standing out on the +starboard tack, shaping her course so as to cut off the ill-fated +vessel. The breeze freshened, and the schooner darted through the smooth +water with the impetuosity of a dolphin after its prey. In an hour the +hull of the ship was plainly to be distinguished; but the sun was near +to the horizon, and before they could ascertain what their force might +be, daylight had disappeared. Whether the schooner had been perceived or +not, it was impossible to say; at all events, the course of the ship had +not been altered, and if she had seen the schooner, she evidently +treated her with contempt. On board the <i>Avenger</i>, they were not idle; +the long gun in the centre had been cleared from the incumbrances which +surrounded it, the other guns had been cast loose, shot handed up, and +everything prepared for action, with all the energy and discipline of a +man-of-war. The chase had not been lost sight of, and the eyes of the +pirate captain were fixed upon her through a night-glass. In about an +hour more the schooner was within a mile of the ship, and now altered +her course so as to range up within a cable's length of her to leeward. +Cain stood upon the gunwale and hailed. The answer was in Portuguese.</p> + +<p>'Heave to, or I'll sink you!' replied he in the same language.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 412px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i086.png" width="412" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and +a heavy volley of muskets, was the decided answer.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and a heavy volley +of muskets from the Portuguese, was the decided answer. The broadside, +too much elevated to hit the low hull of the schooner, was still not +without effect—the foretopmast fell, the jaws of the main-gaff were +severed, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> a large proportion of the standing as well as the running +rigging came rattling down on her decks. The volley of musketry was more +fatal: thirteen of the pirates were wounded, some of them severely.</p> + + + +<p>'Well done, John Portuguese!' cried Hawkhurst; 'by the holy poker! I +never gave you credit for so much pluck.'</p> + +<p>'Which they shall pay dearly for,' was the cool reply of Cain, as he +still remained in his exposed situation.</p> + +<p>'Blood for blood! if I drink it,' observed the second mate, as he looked +at the crimson rivulet trickling down the fingers of his left hand from +a wound in his arm—'just tie my handkerchief round this, Bill.'</p> + +<p>In the interim, Cain had desired his crew to elevate their guns, and the +broadside was returned.</p> + +<p>'That will do, my lads: starboard; ease off the boomsheet; let her go +right round, Hawkhurst—we cannot afford to lose our men.'</p> + +<p>The schooner wore round, and ran astern of her opponent.</p> + +<p>The Portuguese on board the ship, imagining that the schooner, finding +she had met with unexpected resistance, had sheered off, gave a loud +cheer.</p> + +<p>'The last you will ever give, my fine fellows!' observed Cain, with a +sneer.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the schooner had run a mile astern of the ship.</p> + +<p>'Now then, Hawkhurst, let her come to and about; man the long gun, and +see that every shot is pitched into her, while the rest of them get up a +new foretopmast, and knot and splice the rigging.'</p> + +<p>The schooner's head was again turned towards the ship; her position was +right astern, about a mile distant or rather more; the long 32-pounder +gun amidships was now regularly served, every shot passing through the +cabin windows, or some other part of the ship's stern, raking her fore +and aft. In vain did the ship alter her course, and present her +broadside to the schooner; the latter was immediately checked in her +speed, so as to keep the prescribed distance at which the carronades of +the ship were useless, and the execution from the long gun decisive. The +ship was at the mercy of the pirate; and, as may be expected, no mercy +was shown. For three hours did this murderous attack continue, when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +gun, which, as before observed, was of brass, became so heated that the +pirate captain desired his men to discontinue. Whether the ship had +surrendered or not it was impossible to say, as it was too dark to +distinguish: while the long gun was served, the foretopmast and +main-gaff had been shifted, and all the standing and running rigging +made good; the schooner keeping her distance, and following in the wake +of the ship until daylight.</p> + +<p>We must now repair on board of the ship: she was an Indiaman; one of the +very few that occasionally are sent out by the Portuguese government to +a country which once owned their undivided sway, but in which, at +present, they hold but a few miles of territory. She was bound to Goa, +and had on board a small detachment of troops, a new governor and his +two sons, a bishop and his niece, with her attendant. The sailing of a +vessel with such a freight was a circumstance of rare occurrence, and +was, of course, generally bruited about long before her departure. Cain +had, for some months, received all the necessary intelligence relative +to her cargo and destination; but, as usual with the Portuguese of the +present day, delay upon delay had followed, and it was not until about +three weeks previous that he had been assured of her immediate +departure. He then ran down the coast to the bay we have mentioned that +he might intercept her; and, as the event had proved, showed his usual +judgment and decision. The fire of the schooner had been most +destructive; many of the Indiaman's crew, as well as of the troops, had +been mowed down one after another; until at last, finding that all their +efforts to defend themselves were useless, most of those who were still +unhurt had consulted their safety, and hastened down to the lowest +recesses of the hold to avoid the raking and destructive shot. At the +time that the schooner had discontinued her fire to allow the gun to +cool, there was no one on deck but the Portuguese captain and one old +weather-beaten seaman who stood at the helm. Below, in the orlop-deck, +the remainder of the crew and the passengers were huddled together in a +small space: some were attending to the wounded, who were numerous; +others were invoking the saints to their assistance; the bishop, a tall, +dignified person, apparently nearly sixty years of age, was kneeling in +the centre of the group, which was dimly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> lighted by two or three +lanterns, at one time in fervent prayer, at another, interrupted, that +he might give absolution to those wounded men whose spirits were +departing, and who were brought down and laid before him by their +comrades. On one side of him knelt his orphan niece, a young girl of +about seventeen years of age, watching his countenance as he prayed, or +bending down with a look of pity and tearful eyes on her expiring +countrymen, whose last moments were gladdened by his holy offices. On +the other side of the bishop stood the governor, Don Philip de Ribiera, +and his two sons, youths in their prime, and holding commissions in the +king's service. There was melancholy on the brow of Don Ribiera; he was +prepared for, and he anticipated, the worst. The eldest son had his eyes +fixed upon the sweet countenance of Teresa de Silva—that very evening, +as they walked together on the deck, had they exchanged their vows—that +very evening they had luxuriated in the present, and had dwelt with +delightful anticipation on the future. But we must leave them and return +on deck.</p> + +<p>The captain of the Portuguese ship had walked aft, and now went up to +Antonio, the old seaman, who was standing at the wheel.</p> + +<p>'I still see her with the glass, Antonio, and yet she has not fired for +nearly two hours; do you think any accident has happened to her long +gun? if so, we may have some chance.'</p> + +<p>Antonio shook his head. 'We have but little chance, I am afraid, my +captain; I knew by the ring of the gun, when she fired it, that it was +brass; indeed, no schooner could carry a long iron gun of that calibre. +Depend upon it, she only waits for the metal to cool and daylight to +return: a long gun or two might have saved us; but now, as she has the +advantage of us in heels, we are at her mercy.'</p> + +<p>'What can she be—a French privateer?'</p> + +<p>'I trust it may be so; and I have promised a silver candlestick to St. +Antonio that it may prove no worse: we then may have some chance of +seeing our homes again; but I fear not.'</p> + +<p>'What, then, do you imagine her to be, Antonio?'</p> + +<p>'The pirate which we have heard so much of.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Jesu protect us! we must then sell our lives as dearly as we can.'</p> + +<p>'So I intend to do, my captain,' replied Antonio, shifting the helm a +spoke.</p> + +<p>The day broke, and showed the schooner continuing her pursuit at the +same distance astern, without any apparent movement on board. It was not +until the sun was some degrees above the horizon that the smoke was +again seen to envelop her bows, and the shot crashed through the timbers +of the Portuguese ship. The reason for this delay was, that the pirate +waited till the sun was up to ascertain if there were any other vessels +to be seen, previous to his pouncing on his quarry. The Portuguese +captain went aft and hoisted his ensign, but no flag was shown by the +schooner. Again whistled the ball, and again did it tear up the decks of +the unfortunate ship: many of those who had re-ascended to ascertain +what was going on, now hastily sought their former retreat.</p> + +<p>'Mind the helm, Antonio,' said the Portuguese captain; 'I must go down +and consult with the governor.'</p> + +<p>'Never fear, my captain; as long as these limbs hold together, I will do +my duty,' replied the old man, exhausted as he was by long watching and +fatigue.</p> + +<p>The captain descended to the orlop-deck, where he found the major part +of the crew and passengers assembled.</p> + +<p>'My lords,' said he, addressing the governor and bishop, 'the schooner +has not shown any colours, although our own are hoisted. I am come down +to know your pleasure. Defence we can make none; and I fear that we are +at the mercy of a pirate.'</p> + +<p>'A pirate!' ejaculated several, beating their breasts, and calling upon +their saints.</p> + +<p>'Silence, my good people, silence,' quietly observed the bishop; 'as to +what it may be best to do,' continued he, turning to the captain, 'I +cannot advise; I am a man of peace, and unfit to hold a place in a +council of war. Don Ribiera, I must refer the point to you and your +sons. Tremble not, my dear Teresa; are we not under the protection of +the Almighty.'</p> + +<p>'Holy Virgin, pity us!' exclaimed Teresa.</p> + +<p>'Come, my sons,' said Don Ribiera, 'we will go on deck<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> and consult: let +not any of the men follow us; it is useless risking lives which may yet +be valuable.'</p> + +<p>Don Ribiera and his sons followed the captain to the quarter-deck, and +with him and Antonio they held a consultation.</p> + +<p>'We have but one chance,' observed the old man, after a time; 'let us +haul down our colours as if in submission; they will then range up +alongside, and either board us from the schooner, or from their boats; +at all events, we shall find out what she is, and, if a pirate, we must +sell our lives as dearly as we can. If, when we haul down the colours, +she ranges up alongside, as I expect she will, let all the men be +prepared for a desperate struggle.'</p> + +<p>'You are right, Antonio,' replied the governor; 'go aft, captain, and +haul down the colours!—let us see what she does now. Down, my boys! and +prepare the men to do their duty.'</p> + +<p>As Antonio had predicted, so soon as the colours were hauled down, the +schooner ceased firing and made sail. She ranged up on the quarter of +the ship, and up to her main peak soared the terrific black flag; her +broadside was poured into the Indiaman, and before the smoke had cleared +away there was a concussion from the meeting sides, and the bearded +pirates poured upon her decks.</p> + +<p>The crew of the Portuguese, with the detachment of troops, still formed +a considerable body of men. The sight of the black flag had struck ice +into every heart, but the feeling was resolved into one of desperation.</p> + +<p>'Knives, men, knives!' roared Antonio, rushing on to the attack, +followed by the most brave.</p> + +<p>'Blood for blood!' cried the second mate, aiming a blow at the old man.</p> + +<p>'You have it,' replied Antonio, as his knife entered the pirate's heart, +while, at the same moment, he fell and was himself a corpse.</p> + +<p>The struggle was deadly, but the numbers and ferocity of the pirates +prevailed. Cain rushed forward followed by Hawkhurst, bearing down all +who opposed them. With one blow from the pirate-captain, the head of Don +Ribiera was severed to the shoulder; a second struck down the eldest +son, while the sword of Hawkhurst passed through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> body of the other. +The Portuguese captain had already fallen, and the men no longer stood +their ground. A general massacre ensued, and the bodies were thrown +overboard as fast as the men were slaughtered. In less than five minutes +there was not a living Portuguese on the bloody decks of the ill-fated +ship.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE CAPTURE</h3> + + +<p>'Pass the word for not a man to go below, Hawkhurst!' said the +pirate-captain.</p> + +<p>'I have, sir; and sentries are stationed at the hatchways. Shall we haul +the schooner off?'</p> + +<p>'No, let her remain; the breeze is faint already: we shall have a calm +in half an hour. Have we lost many men?'</p> + +<p>'Only seven, that I can reckon; but we have lost Wallace' (the second +mate).</p> + +<p>'A little promotion will do no harm,' replied Cain; 'take a dozen of our +best men and search the ship, there are others alive yet. By the bye, +send a watch on board of the schooner; she is left to the mercy of the +Kroumen, and——'</p> + +<p>'One who is better out of her,' replied Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>'And those we find below——' continued the mate.</p> + +<p>'Alive!'</p> + +<p>'True; we may else be puzzled where to find that portion of her cargo +which suits us,' said Hawkhurst, going down the hatchway to collect the +men who were plundering on the main deck and in the captain's cabin.</p> + +<p>'Here, you Maltese! up, there! and look well round if there is anything +in sight,' said the captain, walking aft.</p> + +<p>Before Hawkhurst had collected the men and ordered them on board of the +schooner, as usual in those latitudes, it had fallen a perfect calm.</p> + +<p>Where was Francisco during this scene of blood? He had remained in the +cabin of the schooner. Cain had more than once gone down to him, to +persuade him to come on deck and assist at the boarding of the +Portuguese, but in vain—his sole reply to the threats and solicitations +of the pirate was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>'Do with me as you please—I have made up my mind—you know I do not +fear death—as long as I remain on board of this vessel, I will take no +part in your atrocities. If you do respect my mother's memory, suffer +her son to seek an honest and honourable livelihood.'</p> + +<p>The words of Francisco were ringing in the ears of Cain as he walked up +and down on the quarter-deck of the Portuguese vessel, and, debased as +he was, he could not help thinking that the youth was his equal in +animal and his superior in mental courage. He was arguing in his own +mind upon the course he should pursue with respect to Francisco, when +Hawkhurst made his appearance on deck, followed by his men, who dragged +up six individuals who had escaped the massacre. These were the bishop; +his niece; a Portuguese girl, her attendant; the supercargo of the +vessel; a sacristan; and a servant of the ecclesiastic: they were hauled +along the deck and placed in a row before the captain, who cast his eyes +upon them in severe scrutiny. The bishop and his niece looked round, the +one proudly meeting the eye of Cain, although he felt that his hour was +come; the other carefully avoiding his gaze, and glancing round to +ascertain whether there were any other prisoners, and if so, if her +betrothed was amongst them; but her eye discovered not what she +sought—it was met only by the bearded faces of the pirate crew, and the +blood which bespattered the deck.</p> + +<p>She covered her face with her hands.</p> + +<p>'Bring that man forward,' said Cain, pointing to the servant. 'Who are +you?'</p> + +<p>'A servant of my lord the bishop.'</p> + +<p>'And you?' continued the captain.</p> + +<p>'A poor sacristan attending upon my lord the bishop.'</p> + +<p>'And you?' cried he to a third.</p> + +<p>'The supercargo of this vessel.'</p> + +<p>'Put him aside, Hawkhurst!'</p> + +<p>'Do you want the others?' inquired Hawkhurst significantly.</p> + +<p>'No.'</p> + +<p>Hawkhurst gave a signal to some of the pirates, who led away the +sacristan and the servant. A stifled shriek and a heavy plunge in the +water were heard a few seconds after. During this time the pirate had +been questioning the super<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>cargo as to the contents of the vessel and +her stowage, when he was suddenly interrupted by one of the pirates, +who, in a hurried voice, stated that the ship had received several shot +between wind and water and was sinking fast. Cain, who was standing on +the slide of the carronade with his sword in his hand, raised his arm +and struck the pirate a blow on the head with the hilt, which, whether +intended or not, fractured his skull, and the man fell upon the deck.</p> + +<p>'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men are obstinate, +we may have worked for nothing.'</p> + +<p>The crew, who felt the truth of their captain's remark, did not appear +to object to the punishment inflicted, and the body of the man was +dragged away.</p> + +<p>'What mercy can we expect from those who show no mercy even to each +other?' observed the bishop, lifting his eyes to heaven.</p> + +<p>'Silence!' cried Cain, who now interrogated the supercargo as to the +contents of the hold—the poor man answered as well as he could—'the +plate! the money for the troops—where are they?'</p> + +<p>'The money for the troops is in the spirit-room, but of the plate I know +nothing; it is in some of the cases belonging to my lord the bishop.'</p> + +<p>'Hawkhurst! down at once to the spirit-room and see to the money; in the +meantime I will ask a few questions of this reverend father.'</p> + +<p>'And the supercargo—do you want him any more?'</p> + +<p>'No; he may go.'</p> + +<p>The poor man fell down on his knees in thankfulness at what he +considered his escape: he was dragged away by the pirates, and it is +scarcely necessary to add that in a minute his body was torn to pieces +by the sharks, who, scenting their prey from a distance, were now +playing in shoals around the two vessels.</p> + +<p>The party on the quarter-deck were now (unperceived by the captain) +joined by Francisco, who, hearing from the Krouman, Pompey, that there +were prisoners still on board, and amongst them two females, had come +over to plead the cause of mercy.</p> + +<p>'Most reverend father,' observed Cain, after a short pause, 'you have +many articles of value in this vessel?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 382px; height:680px;"> +<img src="images/i096.png" width="382" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men +are obstinate, we may have worked for nothing.'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>'None,' replied the bishop, 'except this poor girl; she is, indeed, +beyond price, and will, I trust, soon be an angel in heaven.'</p> + +<p>'Yet is this world, if what you preach be true, a purgatory which must +be passed through previous to arriving there, and that girl may think +death a blessing compared to what she may expect if you refuse to tell +me what I would know. You have good store of gold and silver ornaments +for your churches—where are they?'</p> + +<p>'They are among the packages entrusted to my care.'</p> + +<p>'How many may you have in all?'</p> + +<p>'A hundred, if not more.'</p> + +<p>'Will you deign to inform me where I may find what I require?'</p> + +<p>'The gold and silver are not mine, but are the property of that God to +whom they have been dedicated,' replied the bishop.</p> + +<p>'Answer quickly; no more subterfuge, good sir. Where is it to be found?'</p> + +<p>'I will not tell, thou blood-stained man; at least, in this instance, +there shall be disappointment, and the sea shall swallow up those +earthly treasures to obtain which thou hast so deeply imbrued thy hands. +Pirate! I repeat it, I will not tell.'</p> + +<p>'Seize that girl, my lads!' cried Cain; 'she is yours, do with her as +you please.'</p> + +<p>'Save me! oh, save me!' shrieked Teresa, clinging to the bishop's robe.</p> + +<p>The pirates advanced and laid hold of Teresa. Francisco bounded from +where he stood behind the captain, and dashed away the foremost.</p> + +<p>'Are you men?' cried he, as the pirates retreated. 'Holy sir, I honour +you. Alas! I cannot save you,' continued Francisco mournfully. 'Yet will +I try. On my knees—by the love you bore my mother—by the affection you +once bore me—do not commit this horrid deed. My lads!' continued +Francisco, appealing to the pirates, 'join with me and entreat your +captain; ye are too brave, too manly, to injure the helpless and the +innocent—above all, to shed the blood of a holy man, and of this poor +trembling maiden.'</p> + +<p>There was a pause—even the pirates appeared to side with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> Francisco, +though none of them dared to speak. The muscles of the captain's face +quivered with emotion, but from what source could not be ascertained.</p> + +<p>At this moment the interest of the scene was heightened. The girl who +attended upon Teresa, crouched on her knees with terror, had been +casting her fearful eyes upon the men which composed the pirate crew; +suddenly she uttered a scream of delight as she discovered among them +one that she well knew. He was a young man, about twenty-five years of +age, with little or no beard. He had been her lover in his more innocent +days; and she, for more than a year, had mourned him as dead, for the +vessel in which he sailed had never been heard of. It had been taken by +the pirate, and, to save his life, he had joined the crew.</p> + +<p>'Filippo! Filippo!' screamed the girl, rushing into his arms. 'Mistress! +it is Filippo; and we are safe.'</p> + +<p>Filippo instantly recognised her; the sight of her brought back to his +memory his days of happiness and of innocence; and the lovers were +clasped in each other's arms.</p> + +<p>'Save them! spare them!—by the spirit of my mother! I charge you,' +repeated Francisco, again appealing to the captain.</p> + +<p>'May God bless thee, thou good young man!' said the bishop, advancing +and placing his hand upon Francisco's head.</p> + +<p>Cain answered not; but his broad expanded chest heaved with +emotion—when Hawkhurst burst into the group.</p> + +<p>'We are too late for the money, captain; the water is already six feet +above it. We must now try for the treasure.'</p> + +<p>This intelligence appeared to check the current of the captain's +feelings.</p> + +<p>Now, in one word, sir,' said he to the bishop, 'where is the treasure? +Trifle not, or, by Heaven——'</p> + +<p>'Name not Heaven,' replied the bishop; 'you have had my answer.'</p> + +<p>The captain turned away, and gave some directions to Hawkhurst, who +hastened below.</p> + +<p>'Remove that boy,' said Cain to the pirates, pointing to Francisco. +'Separate those two fools,' continued he, looking towards Filippo and +the girl, who were sobbing in each other's arms.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Never!' cried Filippo.</p> + +<p>'Throw the girl to the sharks! Do you hear? Am I to be obeyed?' cried +Cain, raising his cutlass.</p> + +<p>Filippo started up, disengaged himself from the girl, and drawing his +knife, rushed towards the captain to plunge it in his bosom.</p> + +<p>With the quickness of lightning the captain caught his uplifted hand, +and, breaking his wrist, hurled him to the deck.</p> + +<p>'Indeed!' cried he, with a sneer.</p> + +<p>'You shall not separate us,' said Filippo, attempting to rise.</p> + +<p>'I do not intend it, my good lad,' replied Cain. 'Lash them both +together and launch them overboard.'</p> + +<p>This order was now obeyed; for the pirates not only quailed before the +captain's cool courage, but were indignant that his life had been +attempted. There was little occasion to tie the unhappy pair together; +they were locked so fast in each other's arms that it would have been +impossible almost to separate them. In this state they were carried to +the entering port, and cast into the sea.</p> + +<p>'Monster!' cried the bishop, as he heard the splash, 'thou wilt have a +heavy reckoning for this.'</p> + +<p>'Now bring these forward,' said Cain, with a savage voice.</p> + +<p>The bishop and his niece were led to the gangway.</p> + +<p>'What dost thou see, good bishop?' said Cain, pointing to the +discoloured water, and the rapid motion of the fins of the sharks, eager +in the anticipation of a further supply.</p> + +<p>'I see ravenous creatures after their kind,' replied the bishop, 'who +will, in all probability, soon tear asunder these poor limbs; but I see +no monster like thyself. Teresa, dearest, fear not; there is a God, an +avenging God, as well as a rewarding one.'</p> + +<p>But Teresa's eyes were closed—she could not look upon the scene.</p> + +<p>'You have your choice; first torture, and then your body to those sharks +for your own portion; and as for the girl, this moment I hand her over +to my crew.'</p> + +<p>'Never!' shrieked Teresa, springing from the deck and plunging into the +wave.</p> + +<p>There was a splash of contention, the lashing of tails, until the water +was in a foam, and then the dark colour gradually<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> cleared away, and +nought was to be seen but the pure blue wave and the still unsatiated +monsters of the deep.</p> + +<p>'The screws—the screws! quick! we'll have the secret from him,' cried +the pirate captain, turning to his crew, who, villains as they were, had +been shocked at this last catastrophe. 'Seize him!'</p> + +<p>'Touch him not!' cried Francisco, standing on the hammock nettings; +'touch him not! if you are men.'</p> + +<p>Boiling with rage, Cain let go the arm of the bishop, drew his pistol, +and levelled it at Francisco. The bishop threw up the arm of Cain as he +fired; saw that he had missed his aim, and clasping his hands, raised +his eyes to heaven in thankfulness at Francisco's escape. In this +position he was collared by Hawkhurst, whose anger overcame his +discretion, and who hurled him through the entering port into the sea.</p> + +<p>'Officious fool!' muttered Cain, when he perceived what the mate had +done. Then, recollecting himself, he cried, 'Seize that boy and bring +him here.'</p> + +<p>One or two of the crew advanced to obey his orders; but Pompey and the +Kroumen, who had been attentive to what was going on, had collected +round Francisco, and a scuffle ensued. The pirates, not being very +determined, nor very anxious to take Francisco, allowed him to be +hurried away in the centre of the Kroumen, who bore him safely to the +schooner.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Hawkhurst, and the major part of the men on board of the +ship, had been tearing up the hold to obtain the valuables, but without +success. The water had now reached above the orlop-deck, and all further +attempts were unavailing. The ship was settling fast, and it became +necessary to quit her, and haul off the schooner, that she might not be +endangered by the vortex of the sinking vessel. Cain and Hawkhurst, with +their disappointed crew, returned on board the schooner, and before they +had succeeded in detaching the two vessels a cable's length, the ship +went down with all the treasure so coveted. The indignation and rage +which were expressed by the captain as he rapidly walked the deck in +company with his first mate—his violent gesticulations—proved to the +crew that there was mischief brewing. Francisco did not return to the +cabin; he remained forward with the Kroumen, who, although but a small +portion of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> ship's company, were known to be resolute and not to be +despised. It was also observed that all of them had supplied themselves +with arms, and were collected forward, huddled together, watching every +motion and manœ uvre, and talking rapidly in their own language. The +schooner was now steered to the north-westward under all press of sail. +The sun again disappeared, but Francisco returned not to the cabin—he +went below, surrounded by the Kroumen, who appeared to have devoted +themselves to his protection. Once during the night Hawkhurst summoned +them on deck, but they obeyed not the order; and to the expostulation of +the boatswain's mate, who came down, they made no reply. But there were +many of the pirates in the schooner who appeared to coincide with the +Kroumen in their regard for Francisco. There are shades of villainy in +the most profligate of societies; and among the pirate's crew some were +not yet wholly debased. The foul murder of a holy man—the cruel fate of +the beautiful Teresa—and the barbarous conduct of the captain towards +Filippo and his mistress, were deeds of an atrocity to which even the +most hardened were unaccustomed. Francisco's pleadings in behalf of +mercy were at least no crime; and yet they considered that Francisco was +doomed. He was a general favourite; the worst-disposed of the pirates, +with the exception of Hawkhurst, if they did not love, could not forbear +respecting him; although, at the same time, they felt that if Francisco +remained on board the power even of Cain himself would soon be +destroyed. For many months Hawkhurst, who detested the youth, had been +most earnest that he should be sent out of the schooner. Now he pressed +the captain for his removal in any way, as necessary for their mutual +safety, pointing out to Cain the conduct of the Kroumen, and his fears +that a large proportion of the ship's company were equally disaffected. +Cain felt the truth of Hawkhurst's representation, and he went down to +his cabin to consider upon what should be done.</p> + +<p>It was past midnight when Cain, worn out with the conflicting passions +of the day, fell into an uneasy slumber. His dreams were of Francisco's +mother—she appeared to him pleading for her son, and Cain 'babbled in +his sleep.' At this time Francisco, with Pompey, had softly crawled aft, +that they might obtain, if they found the captain asleep, the pistols of +Francisco, with some ammunition. Pompey slipped in first,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> and started +back when he heard the captain's voice. They remained at the cabin door +listening, 'No—no,' muttered Cain, 'he must die—unless—plead not, +woman!—I know I murdered thee—plead not, he dies!'</p> + +<p>In one of the sockets of the silver lamp there was a lighted wick, the +rays of which were sufficient to afford a dim view of the cabin. +Francisco, overhearing the words of Cain, stepped in, and walked up to +the side of the bed. 'Boy! plead not,' continued Cain, lying on his back +and breathing heavily—'plead not—woman!—to-morrow he dies.' A pause +ensued, as if the sleeping man was listening to a reply. 'Yes; as I +murdered thee, so will I murder him.'</p> + +<p>'Wretch!' said Francisco, in a low, solemn voice, 'didst thou kill my +mother?'</p> + +<p>'I did—I did!' responded Cain, still sleeping.</p> + +<p>'And why?' continued Francisco, who, at this acknowledgment on the part +of the sleeping captain, was careless of discovery.</p> + +<p>'In my mood she vexed me,' answered Cain.</p> + +<p>'Fiend; thou hast then confessed it!' cried Francisco in a loud voice, +which awoke the captain, who started up; but before his senses were well +recovered, or his eyes open so as to distinguish their forms, Pompey +struck out the light, and all was darkness: he then put his hand to +Francisco's mouth, and led him out of the cabin.</p> + +<p>'Who's there?—who's there?' cried Cain.</p> + +<p>The officer in charge of the deck hastened down. 'Did you call, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Call!' repeated the captain. 'I thought there was some one in the +cabin. I want a light—that's all,' continued he, recovering himself, as +he wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Francisco, with Pompey, had gained his former place of +refuge with the Kroumen. The feelings of the young man changed from +agony to revenge; his object in returning to the cabin to recover his +weapons had been frustrated, but his determination now was to take the +life of the captain if he possibly could. The following morning the +Kroumen again refused to work or go on deck; and the state of affairs +was reported by Hawkhurst to his chief. The mate now assumed another +tone; for he had sounded not the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> majority but the most steady and +influential men on board, who, like himself, were veterans in crime.</p> + +<p>'It must be, sir; or you will no longer command this vessel. I am +desired to say so.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed!' replied Cain, with a sneer. 'Perhaps you have already chosen +my successor?'</p> + +<p>Hawkhurst perceived that he had lost ground, and he changed his manner. +'I speak but for yourself: if you do not command this vessel I shall not +remain in her; if you quit her, I quit also; and we must find another.'</p> + +<p>Cain was pacified, and the subject was not renewed.</p> + +<p>'Turn the hands up,' at last said the captain. The pirate crew assembled +aft.</p> + +<p>'My lads, I am sorry that our laws oblige me to make an example; but +mutiny and disaffection must be punished. I am equally bound as +yourselves by the laws which we have laid down for our guidance while we +sail together; and you may believe that in doing my duty in this +instance I am guided by a sense of justice, and wish to prove to you +that I am worthy to command. Francisco has been with me since he was a +child; he has lived with me, and it is painful to part with him; but I +am here to see that our laws are put in force. He has been guilty of +repeated mutiny and contempt, and—he must die.'</p> + +<p>'Death! death!' cried several of the pirates in advance; 'death and +justice!'</p> + +<p>'No more murder!' said several voices from behind.</p> + +<p>'Who's that that speaks?'</p> + +<p>'Too much murder yesterday—no more murder!' shouted several voices at +once.</p> + +<p>'Let the men come forward who speak,' cried Cain, with a withering look. +No one obeyed this order. 'Down, then, my men! and bring up Francisco.'</p> + +<p>The whole of the pirate crew hastened below, but with different +intentions; some were determined to seize Francisco, and hand him over +to death—others to protect him. A confused noise was heard—the shouts +of '<i>Down and seize him!</i>' opposed to those of '<i>No murder! No murder!</i>'</p> + +<p>Both parties had snatched up their arms; those who sided with Francisco +joined the Kroumen, whilst the others also hastened below to bring him +on deck. A slight scuffle ensued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> before they separated, and ascertained +by the separation the strength of the contending parties. Francisco, +perceiving that he was joined by a large body, desired his men to follow +him, went up the fore-ladder, and took possession of the forecastle. The +pirates on his side supplied him with arms, and Francisco stood forward +in advance. Hawkhurst, and those of the crew who sided with him, had +retreated to the quarter-deck, and rallied round the captain, who leaned +against the capstern. They were then able to estimate their comparative +strength. The number, on the whole, preponderated in favour of +Francisco; but on the captain's side were the older and more athletic of +the crew, and, we may add, the more determined. Still, the captain and +Hawkhurst perceived the danger of their situation, and it was thought +advisable to parley for the present, and wreak their vengeance +hereafter. For a few minutes there was a low consultation between both +parties; at last Cain advanced.</p> + +<p>'My lads,' said he, addressing those who had rallied round Francisco, 'I +little thought that a firebrand would have been cast in this vessel to +set us all at variance. It was my duty, as your captain, to propose that +our laws should be enforced. Tell me, now, what is it that you wish. I +am only here as your captain, and to take the sense of the whole crew. I +have no animosity against that lad; I have loved him—I have cherished +him; but like a viper, he has stung me in return. Instead of being in +arms against each other, ought we not to be united? I have, therefore, +one proposal to make to you, which is this: let the sentence go by vote, +or ballot, if you please; and whatever the sentence may be, I shall be +guided by it. Can I say more?'</p> + +<p>'My lads,' replied Francisco, when the captain had done speaking, 'I +think it better that you should accept this proposal rather than that +blood should be shed. My life is of little consequence; say, then, will +you agree to the vote, and submit to those laws, which, as the captain +says, have been laid down to regulate the discipline of the vessel?'</p> + +<p>The pirates on Francisco's side looked round among their party, and, +perceiving that they were the most numerous, consented to the proposal; +but Hawkhurst stepped forward and observed: 'Of course the Kroumen can +have no votes, as they do not belong to the vessel.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>This objection was important, as they amounted to twenty-five, and, +after that number was deducted, in all probability Francisco's adherents +would have been in the minority. The pirates with Francisco objected, +and again assumed the attitude of defence.</p> + +<p>'One moment,' said Francisco, stepping in advance; 'before this point is +settled, I wish to take the sense of all of you as to another of your +laws. I ask you, Hawkhurst, and all who are now opposed to me, whether +you have not one law, which is <i>Blood for blood?</i>'</p> + +<p>'Yes—yes,' shouted all the pirates.</p> + +<p>'Then let your captain stand forward, and answer to my charge, if he +dares.'</p> + +<p>Cain curled his lip in derision, and walked within two yards of +Francisco.</p> + +<p>'Well, boy, I'm here; and what is your charge?'</p> + +<p>'First—I ask you, Captain Cain, who are so anxious that the laws should +be enforced, whether you acknowledge that "Blood for blood" is a just +law?'</p> + +<p>'Most just: and, when shed, the party who revenges is not amenable.'</p> + +<p>''Tis well: then, villain that thou art, answer—Didst thou not murder +my mother?'</p> + +<p>Cain, at this accusation, started.</p> + +<p>'Answer the truth, or lie like a recreant!' repeated Francisco. 'Did you +not murder my mother?'</p> + +<p>The captain's lips and the muscles of his face quivered, but he did not +reply.</p> + +<p>'<i>Blood for blood!</i>' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at Cain, +who staggered, and fell on the deck.</p> + +<p>Hawkhurst and several of the pirates hastened to the captain, and raised +him.</p> + +<p>'She must have told him last night,' said Cain, speaking with +difficulty, as the blood flowed from the wound.</p> + +<p>'He told me so himself,' said Francisco, turning round to those who +stood by him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 415px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i106.png" width="415" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Blood for blood!' cried Francisco, as he fired his +pistol at Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>Cain was taken down into the cabin. On examination, his wound was not +mortal, although the loss of blood had been rapid and very great. In a +few minutes Hawkhurst joined the party on the quarter-deck. He found +that the tide had turned more in Francisco's favour than he had +expected; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> law of 'Blood for blood' was held most sacred: indeed, +it was but the knowledge that it was solemnly recognised, and that, if +one pirate wounded another, the other was at liberty to take his life, +without punishment, which prevented constant affrays between parties, +whose knives would otherwise have been the answer to every affront. It +was a more debased law of duelling, which kept such profligate +associates on good terms. Finding, therefore, that this feeling +predominated, even among those who were opposed to Francisco on the +other question, Hawkhurst thought it advisable to parley.</p> + +<p>'Hawkhurst,' said Francisco, 'I have but one request to make, which, if +complied with, will put an end to this contention; it is, that you will +put me on shore at the first land that we make. If you and your party +engage to do this, I will desire those who support me to return to their +obedience.'</p> + +<p>'I grant it,' replied Hawkhurst; 'and so will the others. Will you not, +my men?'</p> + +<p>'Agreed—agreed upon all sides,' cried the pirates, throwing away their +weapons, and mingling with each other as if they had never been opposed.</p> + +<p>There is an old saying that there is honour amongst thieves; and so it +often proves. Every man in the vessel knew that this agreement would be +strictly adhered to; and Francisco now walked the deck with as much +composure as if nothing had occurred.</p> + +<p>Hawkhurst, who was aware that he must fulfil his promise, carefully +examined the charts when he went down below, came up and altered the +course of the schooner two points more to the northward. The next +morning he was up at the mast-head nearly half an hour, when he +descended and again altered the course. By nine o'clock a low sandy +island appeared on the lee bow; when within half a mile of it he ordered +the schooner to be hove-to, and lowered down the small boat from the +stern. He then turned the hands up. 'My lads, we must keep our promise +to put Francisco on shore at the first land which we made. There it is!' +And a malicious smile played on the miscreant's features as he pointed +out to them the barren sand-bank, which promised nothing but starvation +and a lingering death. Several of the crew murmured; but Hawkhurst was +supported by his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> party, and had, moreover, taken the precaution +quietly to remove all the arms, with the exception of those with which +his adherents were provided.</p> + +<p>'An agreement is an agreement; it is what he requested himself, and we +promised to perform. Send for Francisco.'</p> + +<p>'I am here, Hawkhurst; and I tell you candidly, that, desolate as is +that barren spot, I prefer it to remaining in your company. I will bring +my chest up immediately.'</p> + +<p>'No—no; that was not a part of the agreement,' cried Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>'Every man here has a right to his own property. I appeal to the whole +of the crew.'</p> + +<p>'True—true,' replied the pirates; and Hawkhurst found himself again in +the minority.</p> + +<p>'Be it so.'</p> + +<p>The chest of Francisco was handed into the boat.</p> + +<p>'Is that all?' cried Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>'My lads, am I to have no provisions or water?' inquired Francisco.</p> + +<p>'No,' replied Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>'Yes—yes,' cried most of the pirates.</p> + +<p>Hawkhurst did not dare put it to the vote; he turned sulkily away. The +Kroumen brought up two breakers of water, and some pieces of pork.</p> + +<p>'Here, massa,' said Pompey, putting into Francisco's hand a fishing-line +with hooks.</p> + +<p>'Thank you, Pompey; but I had forgot—that book in the cabin—you know +which I mean.'</p> + +<p>Pompey nodded his head, and went below; but it was some time before he +returned, during which Hawkhurst became impatient. It was a very small +boat which had been lowered down; it had a lug-sail and two pair of +sculls in it, and was quite full when Francisco's chest and the other +articles had been put in.</p> + +<p>'Come! I have no time to wait,' said Hawkhurst; 'in the boat!'</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 391px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i109.png" width="391" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she was +hull-down to the northward.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>Francisco shook hands with many of the crew, and wished all of them +farewell. Indeed, now that they beheld the poor lad about to be cast on +a desolate island, even those most opposed to him felt some emotions of +pity. Although they acknowledged that his absence was necessary, yet +they knew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> his determined courage; and with them that quality was +always a strong appeal.</p> + +<p>'Who will row this lad ashore, and bring the boat off?'</p> + +<p>'Not I,' replied one; 'it would haunt me ever afterwards.'</p> + +<p>So they all appeared to think, for no one volunteered. Francisco jumped +into the boat.</p> + +<p>'There is no room for any one but me; and I will row myself on shore,' +cried he. 'Farewell, my lads! farewell!'</p> + +<p>'Stop! not so; he must not have the boat—he may escape from the +island,' cried Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>'And why shouldn't he, poor fellow?' replied the men. 'Let him have the +boat.'</p> + +<p>'Yes—yes, let him have the boat;' and Hawkhurst was again overruled.</p> + +<p>'Here, Massa Francisco—here de book.'</p> + +<p>'What's that, sir?' cried Hawkhurst, snatching the book out of Pompey's +hand.</p> + +<p>'Him, massa, Bible.' Francisco waited for the book.</p> + +<p>'Shove off!' cried Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>'Give me my book, Mr. Hawkhurst!'</p> + +<p>'No!' replied the malignant rascal, tossing the Bible over the taffrail; +'he shall not have that. I've heard say that <i>there is consolation in it +for the afflicted</i>.'</p> + +<p>Francisco shoved off his boat, and seizing his sculls, pushed astern, +picked up the book, which still floated, and laid it to dry on the +after-thwart of the boat. He then pulled in for the shore. In the +meantime the schooner had let draw her foresheet, and had already left +him a quarter of a mile astern. Before Francisco had gained the +sand-bank she was hull-down to the northward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE SAND-BANK</h3> + + +<p>The first half-hour that Francisco was on this desolate spot he watched +the receding schooner; his thoughts were unconnected and vague. +Wandering through the various scenes which had passed on the decks of +that vessel, and recalling to his memory the different characters of +those on board of her, much as he had longed to quit her—disgusted as +he had been with those with whom he had been forced to associate—still, +as her sails grew fainter and fainter to his view, as she increased her +distance, he more than once felt that even remaining on board of her +would have been preferable to his present deserted lot. 'No, no!' +exclaimed he, after a little further reflection, 'I had rather perish +here, than continue to witness the scenes which I have been forced to +behold.'</p> + +<p>He once more fixed his eyes upon her white sails, and then sat down on +the loose sands, and remained in deep and melancholy reverie until the +scorching heat reminded him of his situation; he afterwards rose and +turned his thoughts upon his present situation, and to what would be the +measures most advisable to take. He hauled his little boat still farther +on the beach, and attached the painter to one of the oars, which he +fixed deep in the sand; he then proceeded to survey the bank, and found +that but a small portion was uncovered at high water; for, trifling as +was the rise of the tide, the bank was so low that the water flowed +almost over it. The most elevated part was not more than fifteen feet +above high-water mark, and that was a small knoll of about fifty feet in +circumference.</p> + +<p>To this part he resolved to remove his effects; he returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> to the +boat, and having lifted out his chest, the water, the provisions, with +the other articles which he had obtained, he dragged them up, one by +one, until they were all collected at the spot he had chosen. He then +took out of the boat the oars and little sail, which, fortunately, had +remained in her. His last object, to haul the little boat up to the same +spot, was one which demanded all his exertion; but, after considerable +fatigue, he contrived, by first lifting round her bow, and then her +stern, to effect his object.</p> + +<p>Tired and exhausted, he then repaired to one of the breakers of water +and refreshed himself. The heat, as the day advanced, had become +intolerable; but it stimulated him to fresh exertion. He turned over the +boat, and contrived that the bow and stern should rest upon two little +hillocks, so as to raise it above the level of the sand beneath it two +or three feet; he spread out the sail from the keel above, with the +thole-pins as pegs, so as to keep off the rays of the sun. Dragging the +breakers of water and the provisions underneath the boat, he left his +chest outside; and having thus formed for himself a sort of covering +which would protect him from the heat of the day and the damp of the +night, he crept in to shelter himself until the evening.</p> + +<p>Although Francisco had not been on deck, he knew pretty well whereabouts +he then was. Taking out a chart from his chest, he examined the coast to +ascertain the probable distance which he might be from any prospect of +succour. He calculated that he was on one of a patch of sand-banks off +the coast of Loango, and about seven hundred miles from the Isle of St. +Thomas—the nearest place where he might expect to fall in with a +European face. From the coast he felt certain that he could not be more +than forty or fifty miles at the most; but could he trust himself among +the savage natives who inhabited it? He knew how ill they had been +treated by Europeans; for, at that period, it was quite as common for +the slave-trader to land and take away the inhabitants as slaves by +force, as to purchase them in the more northern territories: still, he +might be fortunate enough to fall in with some trader on the coast, as +there were a few who still carried on a barter for gold-dust and ivory.</p> + +<p>We do not know—we cannot conceive a situation much more deplorable than +the one we have just described to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> been that of Francisco. +Alone—without a chance of assistance—with only a sufficiency of food +for a few days, and cut off from the rest of his fellow-creatures, with +only so much <i>terra firma</i> as would prevent his being swallowed up by +the vast, unfathomable ocean, into which the horizon fell on every side +around him! And his chance of escape how small! Hundreds of miles from +any from whom he might expect assistance, and the only means of reaching +them a small boat—a mere cockle-shell, which the first rough gale would +inevitably destroy.</p> + +<p>Such, indeed, were the first thoughts of Francisco; but he soon +recovered from his despondency. He was young, courageous, and buoyant +with hope; and there is a feeling of pride—of trust in our own +resources and exertions, which increases and stimulates us in proportion +to our danger and difficulty; it is the daring of the soul proving its +celestial origin and eternal duration.</p> + +<p>So intense was the heat that Francisco almost panted for sufficient air +to support life, as he lay under the shade of the boat during the whole +of that day; not a breath of wind disturbed the glassy wave—all nature +appeared hushed into one horrible calm. It was not until the shades of +night were covering the solitude that Francisco ventured forth from his +retreat; but he found little relief; there was an unnatural closeness in +the air—a suffocation unusual even in those climes. Francisco cast his +eyes up to the vault of heaven, and was astonished to find that there +were no stars visible—a gray mist covered the whole firmament. He +directed his view downwards to the horizon, and that, too, was not to be +defined; there was a dark bank all around it. He walked to the edge of +the sand-bank; there was not even a ripple—the wide ocean appeared to +be in a trance, in a state of lethargy or stupor.</p> + +<p>He parted the hair from his feverish brow, and once more surveying the +horrible, lifeless, stagnant waste, his soul sickened, and he cast +himself upon the sand. There he lay for many hours in a state bordering +upon wild despair. At last he recovered himself, and, rising to his +knees, he prayed for strength and submission to the will of Heaven.</p> + +<p>When he was once more upon his feet, and had again scanned the ocean, he +perceived that there was a change<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> rapidly approaching. The dark bank on +the horizon had now risen higher up; the opaqueness was everywhere more +dense; and low murmurs were heard as if there was wind stirring aloft, +although the sea was still glassy as a lake. Signs of some movement +about to take place were evident, and the solitary youth watched and +watched. And now the sounds increased, and here and there a wild +thread of air—whence coming, who could tell? and as rapidly +disappearing—would ruffle, for a second, a portion of the stagnant sea. +Then came whizzing sounds and moans, and then the rumbling noise of +distant thunder—loud and louder yet—still louder—a broad black line +is seen sweeping along the expanse of water—fearful in its rapidity it +comes!—and the hurricane burst, at once and with all its force, and all +its terrific sounds, upon the isolated Francisco.</p> + +<p>The first blast was so powerful and so unexpected that it threw him +down, and prudence dictated to him to remain in that position, for the +loose sand was swept off and whirled in such force as to blind and +prevent his seeing a foot from him; he would have crawled to the boat +for security, but he knew not in which direction to proceed. But this +did not last; for now the water was borne up upon the strong wings of +the hurricane, and the sand was rendered firm by its saturation with the +element.</p> + +<p>Francisco felt that he was drenched, and he raised his head. All he +could discover was that the firmament was mantled with darkness, +horrible from its intensity, and that the sea was in one extended +foam—boiling everywhere, and white as milk—but still smooth, as if the +power of the wind had compelled it to be so; but the water had +encroached, and one half the sand-bank was covered with it, while over +the other the foam whirled, each portion chasing the other with wild +rapidity.</p> + +<p>And now the windows of heaven were opened, and the rain, mingled with +the spray caught up by the hurricane, was dashed and hurled upon the +forlorn youth, who still lay where he had been first thrown down. But of +a sudden, a wash of water told him that he could there remain no longer: +the sea was rising—rising fast; and before he could gain a few paces on +his hands and knees, another wave, as if it chased him in its wrath, +repeated the warning of his extreme danger, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> he was obliged to rise +on his feet and hasten to the high part of the sand-bank, where he had +drawn up his boat and his provisions.</p> + +<p>Blinded as he was by the rain and spray, he could distinguish nothing. +Of a sudden he fell violently; he had stumbled over one of the breakers +of water, and his head struck against his sea-chest. Where, then, was +the boat? It was gone!—it must have been swept away by the fury of the +wind. Alas, then all chance was over! and if not washed away by the +angry waters, he had but to prolong his existence but a few days, and +then to die. The effect of the blow he had received on his forehead, +with the shock of mind occasioned by the disappearance of the boat, +overpowered him, and he remained for some time in a state of +insensibility.</p> + +<p>When Francisco recovered, the scene was again changed: the wide expanse +was now in a state of wild and fearful commotion, and the waters roared +as loud as did the hurricane. The whole sand-bank, with the exception of +that part on which he stood, was now covered with tumultuous foam, and +his place of refuge was occasionally invaded, when some vast mass, +o'erlording the other waves, expended all its fury even to his feet. +Francisco prepared to die!</p> + +<p>But gradually the darkness of the heavens disappeared, and there was no +longer a bank upon the horizon, and Francisco hoped—alas! hoped +what?—that he might be saved from the present impending death to be +reserved for one still more horrible; to be saved from the fury of the +waves, which would swallow him up, and in a few seconds remove him from +all pain and suffering, to perish for want of sustenance under a burning +sun; to be withered—to be parched to death—calling in his agony for +water; and as Francisco thought of this he covered his face with his +hands, and prayed, 'O God, Thy will be done! but in Thy mercy, raise, +still higher raise the waters!'</p> + +<p>But the waters did not rise higher. The howling of the wind gradually +decreased, and the foaming seas had obeyed the Divine injunction—they +had gone so far, but no farther! And the day dawned, and the sky +cleared; and the first red tints, announcing the return of light and +heat, had appeared on the broken horizon, when the eyes of the +despairing youth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> were directed to a black mass on the tumultuous +waters. It was a vessel, with but one mast standing, rolling heavily, +and running before the gale right on for the sand-bank where he stood; +her hull, one moment borne aloft and the next disappearing from his view +in the hollow of the agitated waters. 'She will be dashed to pieces!' +thought Francisco; 'she will be lost!—they cannot see the bank!' And he +would have made a signal to her, if he had been able, to warn her of her +danger, forgetting at the time his own desolate situation.</p> + +<p>As Francisco watched, the sun rose bright and joyous over this scene of +anxiety and pain. On came the vessel flying before the gale, while the +seas chased her as if they would fain overwhelm her. It was fearful to +see her scud—agonising to know that she was rushing to destruction.</p> + +<p>At last he could distinguish those on board. He waved his hand, but they +perceived him not; he shouted, but his voice was borne away by the gale. +On came the vessel, as if doomed. She was within two cables' length of +the bank when those on board perceived their danger. It was too +late!—they had rounded her to—another, and another wave hurled her +towards the sand. She struck!—her only remaining mast fell over the +side, and the roaring waves hastened to complete their work of +destruction and of death!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>THE ESCAPE</h3> + + +<p>Francisco's eyes were fixed upon the vessel, over which the sea now +broke with terrific violence. There appeared to be about eight or nine +men on her deck, who sheltered themselves under the weather bulwarks. +Each wave, as it broke against her side and then dashed in foam over +her, threw her, with a convulsive jerk, still further on the sand-bank. +At last she was so high up that their fury was partly spent before they +dashed against her frame. Had the vessel been strong and well-built—had +she been a collier coasting the English shores—there was a fair chance +that she might have withstood the fury of the storm until it had +subsided, and that by remaining on board the crew might have survived; +but she was of a very different mould, and, as Francisco justly +surmised, an American brig, built for swift sailing, very sharp, and, +moreover, very slightly put together.</p> + +<p>Francisco's eyes, as may easily be supposed, were never removed from the +only object which could now interest him—the unexpected appearance and +imminent danger of his fellow-creatures at this desolate spot. He +perceived that two of the men went to the hatches and slid them over to +leeward; they then descended, and although the seas broke over the +vessel, and a large quantity of water must have poured into her, the +hatches were not put on again by those who remained on deck. But in a +few minutes this mystery was solved; one after another, at first, and +then by dozens, poured forth, out of the hold, the kidnapped Africans +who composed her cargo. In a short time the decks were covered with +them: the poor creatures had been released by the humanity of two +English<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> sailors, that they might have the same chance with themselves +of saving their lives. Still, no attempt was made to quit the vessel. +Huddled together, like a flock of sheep, with the wild waves breaking +over them, there they all remained, both European and African; and as +the heavy blows of the seas upon the sides of the vessel careened and +shook her, they were seen to cling, in every direction, with no +distinction between the captured and their oppressors.</p> + +<p>But this scene was soon changed; the frame of the vessel could no longer +withstand the violence of the waves, and as Francisco watched, of a +sudden it was seen to divide amidships, and each portion to turn over. +Then was the struggle for life; hundreds were floating on the raging +element and wrestling for existence, and the white foam of the ocean was +dotted by the black heads of the negroes who attempted to gain the bank. +It was an awful, terrible scene, to witness so many at one moment tossed +and dashed about by the waves—so many fellow-beings threatened with +eternity. At one moment they were close to the beach, forced on to it by +some tremendous wave; at the next, the receding water and the undertow +swept them all back; and of the many who had been swimming one half had +disappeared to rise no more. Francisco watched with agony as he +perceived that the number decreased, and that none had yet gained the +shore. At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail which +were near him, and hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as +might be possible; nor were his efforts in vain. As the seas washed the +apparently inanimate bodies on shore, and would then have again swept +them away to return them in mockery, he caught hold of them and dragged +them safe on the bank, and thus did he continue his exertions until +fifteen of the bodies of the negroes were spread upon the beach. +Although exhausted and senseless they were not dead, and long before he +had dragged up the last of the number, many of those previously saved +had, without any other assistance than the heat of the sun, recovered +from their insensibility.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 392px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i119.png" width="392" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail, +and hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as might be +possible.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>Francisco would have continued his task of humanity, but the parted +vessel had now been riven into fragments by the force of the waves, and +the whole beach was strewed with her timbers and her stores, which were +dashed on shore by the waters, and then swept back again by the return. +In a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> short time the severe blows he received from these fragments +disabled him from further exertion, and he sank exhausted on the sand; +indeed, all further attempts were useless. All on board the vessel had +been launched into the sea at the same moment, and those who were not +now on shore were past all succour. Francisco walked up to those who had +been saved: he found twelve of them were recovered and sitting on their +hams; the rest were still in a state of insensibility. He then went up +to the knoll where his chest and provisions had been placed, and, +throwing himself down by them, surveyed the scene.</p> + +<p>The wind had lulled, the sun shone brightly, and the sea was much less +violent. The waves had subsided, and, no longer hurried on by the force +of the hurricane, broke majestically and solemnly, but not with the +wildness and force which, but a few hours before, they had displayed. +The whole of the beach was strewed with the fragments of the vessel, +with spars and water-casks; and at every moment was to be observed the +corpse of a negro turning round and round in the froth of the wave, and +then disappearing.</p> + +<p>For an hour did he watch and reflect, and then he walked again to where +the men who had been rescued were sitting, not more than thirty yards +from him; they were sickly, emaciated forms, but belonging to a tribe +who inhabited the coast, and who, having been accustomed from their +infancy to be all the day in the water, had supported themselves better +than the other slaves, who had been procured from the interior, or the +European crew of the vessel, all of whom had perished.</p> + +<p>The Africans appeared to recover fast by the heat of the sun, so +oppressive to Francisco, and were now exchanging a few words with each +other. The whole of them had revived, but those who were most in need of +aid were neglected by the others. Francisco made signs to them, but they +understood him not. He returned to the knoll, and pouring out water into +a tin pan from the breaker, brought it down to them. He offered it to +one, who seized it eagerly; water was a luxury seldom obtained in the +hold of a slave-vessel. The man drank deeply, and would have drained the +cup, but Francisco prevented him, and held it to the lips of another. He +was obliged to refill it three times before they had all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> been supplied: +he then brought them a handful of biscuit and left them, for he +reflected that, without some precautions, the whole sustenance would be +seized by them and devoured. He buried half a foot deep, and covered +over with sand, the breakers of water and the provisions, and by the +time he had finished this task, unperceived by the negroes, who still +squatted together, the sun had sunk below the horizon. Francisco had +already matured his plans, which were, to form a raft out of the +fragments of the vessel, and with the assistance of the negroes attempt +to gain the mainland. He lay down, for the second night, on this +eventful spot of desolation, and commending himself to the Almighty +protection, was soon in a deep slumber.</p> + +<p>It was not until the powerful rays of the sun blazed on the eyes of the +youth that he awoke, so tired had he been with the anxiety and fatigue +of the preceding day, and the sleepless harrowing night which had +introduced it. He rose and seated himself upon his sea-chest: how +different was the scene from that of yesterday! Again the ocean slept, +the sky was serene, and not a cloud to be distinguished throughout the +whole firmament; the horizontal line was clear, even, and well defined: +a soft breeze just rippled over the dark blue sea, which now had retired +to its former boundary, and left the sand-bank as extended as when first +Francisco had been put on shore. But here the beauty of the landscape +terminated: the foreground was horrible to look upon; the whole of the +beach was covered with the timbers of the wreck, with water-casks and +other articles, in some parts heaped and thrown up one upon another; and +among them lay jammed and mangled the bodies of the many who had +perished. In other parts there were corpses thrown up high and dry, or +still rolling and turning to the rippling wave; it was a scene of +desolation and of death.</p> + +<p>The negroes who had been saved were all huddled up together, apparently +in deep sleep, and Francisco quitted his elevated position and walked +down to the low beach, to survey the means which the disaster of others +afforded him for his own escape. To his great joy he found not only +plenty of casks, but many of them full of fresh water, provisions also +in sufficiency, and, indeed, everything that could be required to form a +raft, as well as the means of support<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> for a considerable time for +himself and the negroes who had survived. He then walked up to them and +called to them, but they answered not, nor even moved. He pushed them, +but in vain; and his heart beat quick, for he was fearful that they were +dead from previous exhaustion. He applied his foot to one of them, and +it was not until he had used force, which in any other case he would +have dispensed with, that the negro awoke from his state of lethargy and +looked vacantly about him. Francisco had some little knowledge of the +language of the Kroumen, and he addressed the negro in that tongue. To +his great joy he was answered in a language which, if not the same, had +so great an affinity to it that communication became easy. With the +assistance of the negro, who used still less ceremony with his comrades, +the remainder of them were awakened, and a palaver ensued.</p> + +<p>Francisco soon made them understand that they were to make a raft and go +back to their own country; explaining to them that if they remained +there, the water and provisions would soon be exhausted, and they would +all perish. The poor creatures hardly knew whether to consider him a +supernatural being or not; they talked among themselves; they remarked +at his having brought them fresh water the day before; they knew that he +did not belong to the vessel in which they had been wrecked, and they +were puzzled.</p> + +<p>Whatever might be their speculations they had one good effect, which +was, that they looked upon the youth as a superior and a friend, and +most willingly obeyed him. He led them up to the knoll, and, desiring +them to scrape away the sand, supplied them again with fresh water and +biscuit. Perhaps the very supply, and the way in which it was given to +them, excited their astonishment as much as anything. Francisco ate with +them, and, selecting from his sea-chest the few tools in his possession, +desired them to follow him. The casks were collected and rolled up; the +empty ones arranged for the raft; the spars were hauled up and cleared +of the rigging, which was carefully separated for lashings; the one or +two sails which had been found rolled up on the spars were spread out to +dry; and the provisions and articles of clothing, which might be useful, +laid together on one side. The negroes worked willingly and showed much +intelligence; before the evening closed everything which might be +available<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> was secured, and the waves now only tossed about lifeless +forms, and the small fragments of timber which could not be serviceable.</p> + +<p>It would occupy too much time were we to detail all the proceedings of +Francisco and the negroes for the space of four days, during which they +laboured hard. Necessity is truly the mother of invention, and many were +the ingenious resources of the party before they could succeed in +forming a raft large enough to carry them and their provisions, with a +mast and sail well secured. At length it was accomplished; and on the +fifth day Francisco and his men embarked, and, having pushed clear of +the bank with poles, they were at last able to hoist their sail to a +fine breeze, and steer for the coast before the wind at the rate of +about three miles an hour. But it was not until they had gained half a +mile from the bank that they were no longer annoyed by the dreadful +smell arising from the putrefaction of so many bodies, for to bury them +all would have been a work of too great time. The last two days of their +remaining on the island, the effluvia had become so powerful as to be a +source of the greatest horror and disgust even to the negroes.</p> + +<p>But before night, when the raft was about eight leagues from the +sand-bank, it fell calm, and continued so for the next day, when a +breeze sprang up from the south-east, to which they trimmed their sail +with their head to the northward.</p> + +<p>This wind, and the course steered, sent them off from the land, but +there was no help for it; and Francisco felt grateful that they had such +an ample supply of provisions and water as to enable them to yield to a +few days' contrary wind without danger of want. But the breeze continued +steady and fresh, and they were now crossing the Bight of Benin; the +weather was fine and the sea smooth; the flying-fish rose in shoals and +dropped down into the raft, which still forced its way through the water +to the northward.</p> + +<p>Thus did Francisco and his negro crew remain for a fortnight floating on +the wide ocean, without any object meeting their view. Day after day it +was the same dreary 'sky and water,' and by the reckoning of Francisco +they could not be far from the land, when, on the fifteenth day, they +perceived two sails to the northward.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>Francisco's heart bounded with joy and gratitude to Heaven; he had no +telescope to examine them, but he steered directly for them, and, about +dark, he made them out to be a ship and a schooner hove-to.</p> + +<p>As Francisco scanned them, surmising what they might be, the sun set +behind the two vessels, and after it had sunk below the horizon their +forms were, for a few minutes, delineated with remarkable precision and +clearness. There could be no mistake. Francisco felt convinced that the +schooner was the <i>Avenger</i>; and his first impulse was to run to the +sweep with which they were steered, and put the head of the raft again +to the northward. A moment's reflection determined him to act otherwise; +he lowered down his sail that he might escape observation, and watched +the motions of the vessels during the few minutes of light which +remained. That the ship bad been captured, and that her capture had been +attended with the usual scene of outrage and violence, he had no doubt. +He was now about four miles' from them, and just as they were vanishing +from his straining eyes he perceived that the schooner had made all sail +to the westward. Francisco, feeling that he was then secure from being +picked up by her, again hoisted his sail with the hope of reaching the +ship, which, if not scuttled, he intended to remove on board of, and +then make sail for the first port on the coast. But hardly had the raft +regained her way when the horizon was lighted up, and he perceived that +the pirates had set fire to the vessel. Then it was useless to proceed +towards her; and Francisco again thought of putting the head of the raft +to the northward, when the idea struck him, knowing the character and +cruelty of the pirates, that there might be some unfortunate people left +on board to perish in the flames. He therefore continued his course, +watching the burning vessel; the flames increased in violence, mounting +up to the masts and catching the sails one after another. The wind blew +fresh, and the vessel was kept before the wind—a circumstance that +assured Francisco that there were people on board. At first she appeared +to leave the raft, but as her sails, one after another, were consumed by +the element, so did she decrease her speed, and Francisco, in about an +hour, was close to her and under her counter.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 382px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i125.png" width="382" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>The flames increased in violence, mounting up to the +masts and catching the sails one after another.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>The ship was now one mass of fire from her bows to her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> mainmast; a +volume of flame poured from her main hold, rising higher than her lower +masts, and ending in a huge mass of smoke carried by the wind ahead of +her; the quarter-deck was still free from fire, but the heat on it was +so intense that those on board were all collected at the taffrail; and +there they remained, some violent, others in mute despair; for the +<i>Avenger's</i> people, in their barbarity, had cut away and destroyed all +the boats to prevent their escape. From the light thrown round the +vessel those on board had perceived the approach of Francisco to their +rescue, and immediately that it was under the counter, and the sail +lowered, almost all of them had descended by ropes, or the stern ladder, +and gained a place in her. In a few minutes, without scarcely an +exchange of a word, they were all out of the brig, and Francisco pushed +off just as the flames burst from the cabin windows, darting out in a +horizontal line like the tongues of fiery serpents. The raft, now +encumbered with twelve more persons, was then steered to the northward; +and as soon as those who had been saved had been supplied with some +water, which they so much needed, Francisco obtained the intelligence +which he desired. The ship was from Carthagena, South America; had +sailed from thence to Lisbon with a Don Cumanos, who had large property +up the Magdalen river. He had wished to visit a part of his family at +Lisbon, and from thence had sailed to the Canary Isles, where he also +had property. In their way from Lisbon to South America they had been +beaten by stress of weather to the southward, and afterwards had been +chased by the <i>Avenger</i>; being a very fast sailer she had run down +several degrees before she had been captured. When the pirate took +possession, and found that she had little or no cargo of value to them, +for her hold was chiefly filled with furniture and other articles for +the use of Don Cumanos, angry at their disappointment, they had first +destroyed all their boats and then set fire to the vessel, taking care +not to leave her until all chance of the fire being put out was +hopeless. And thus had these miscreants left innocent and unfortunate +people to perish.</p> + +<p>Francisco heard the narrative of Don Cumanos, and then informed him in +what manner he had left the schooner, and his subsequent adventures. +Francisco was now very anxious to make the land, or obtain succour from +some vessel. The many who were now on board, and the time that he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +already been at sea, obliged him to reduce the allowance of water. +Fortune favoured him after all his trials; on the third day a vessel +hove in sight, and they were seen by her. She made sail for them, and +took them all on board. It was a schooner trafficking on the coast for +gold dust and ivory; but the magnificent offers of Don Cumanos induced +them to give up their voyage and run across the Atlantic to Carthagena. +To Francisco it was of little moment where he went, and in Don Cumanos +he had found a sincere friend.</p> + +<p>'You have been my preserver,' said the Spaniard, 'allow me to return the +obligation—come and live with me.'</p> + +<p>As Francisco was equally pleased with Don Cumanos, he accepted the +offer; they all arrived safely at Carthagena, and from thence proceeded +to his estate on the Magdalen river.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE LIEUTENANT</h3> + + +<p>When we last mentioned Edward Templemore we stated that he was a +lieutenant of the admiral's ship on the West India station, commanding +the tender. Now the name of the tender was the <i>Enterprise</i>: and it was +singular that she was one of two schooners built at Baltimore, +remarkable for their beauty and good qualities; yet how different were +their employments! Both had originally been built for the slave-trade; +now one hoisted the English pennant, and cruised as the <i>Enterprise</i>; +the other threw out the black flag, and scoured the seas as the +<i>Avenger</i>.</p> + +<p>The <i>Enterprise</i> was fitted much in the same way as we have already +described her sister vessel—that is, with one long brass gun amidships, +and smaller ones for her broadside. But in the numbers of their crew +there was a great disparity; the <i>Enterprise</i> not being manned with more +than sixty-five English sailors belonging to the admiral's ship. She was +employed, as most admiral's tenders usually <i>were</i>, sometimes carrying a +tender made for a supply of provisions, or a tender of services, if +required, from the admiral; or, if not particularly wanted, with the +important charge of a tender <i>billet-doux</i> to some fair friend. But this +is a tender subject to touch upon. In the meantime it must be understood +that she had the same commission to sink, burn, and destroy, as all +other of his Majesty's vessels, if anything came in her way; but as she +usually carried despatches, the real importance of which were, of +course, unknown, she was not to go out of her way upon such service.</p> + +<p>Edward Templemore did, however, occasionally go a little out of his way, +and had lately captured a very fine privateer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> after a smart action, +for which he anticipated his promotion; but the admiral thought him too +young, and therefore gave the next vacancy to his own nephew, who, the +admiral quite forgot, was much younger.</p> + +<p>Edward laughed when he heard of it upon his arrival at Port Royal; and +the admiral, who expected that he would make his appearance pouting with +disappointment, when he came up to the Penn to report himself, was so +pleased with his good humour that he made a vow that Templemore should +have the next vacancy; but this he also quite forgot, because Edward +happened to be, at the time it occurred, on a long cruise—and 'out of +sight out of mind' is a proverb so well established, that it may be +urged as an excuse for a person who had so many other things to think of +as the admiral entrusted with the command of the West India station.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Templemore had, in consequence, commanded the <i>Enterprise</i> +for nearly two years, and without grumbling; for he was of a happy +disposition, and passed a very happy sort of life. Mr. Witherington was +very indulgent to him, and allowed him to draw liberally; he had plenty +of money for himself or for a friend who required it, and he had plenty +of amusement. Amongst other diversions, he had fallen most desperately +in love; for, in one of his trips to the Leeward Isles (so called from +their being to windward) he had succoured a Spanish vessel, which had on +board the new Governor of Porto Rico, with his family, and had taken +upon himself to land them on that island in safety; for which service +the English admiral received a handsome letter, concluding with the +moderate wish that his Excellency might live a thousand years, and +Edward Templemore an invitation to go and see them whenever he might +pass that way; which, like most general invitations, was as much a +compliment as the wish which wound up the letter to the admiral. It did, +however, so happen that the Spanish governor had a very beautiful and +only daughter, carefully guarded by a duenna, and a monk who was the +depositary of all the sins of the governor's establishment; and it was +with this daughter that Edward Templemore fell into the heresy of love.</p> + +<p>She was, indeed, very beautiful; and, like all her country-women, was +ardent in her affections. The few days that she was on board the +schooner with her father, during the time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> that the <i>Enterprise</i> +convoyed the Spanish vessel into port, were quite sufficient to ignite +two such inflammable beings as Clara d'Alfarez and Edward Templemore. +The monk had been left on board of the leaky vessel; there was no +accommodation in the schooner for him or the duenna, and Don Felix de +Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez was too busy with his cigar to pay +attention to his daughter.</p> + +<p>When they were landed, Edward Templemore was asked to their residence, +which was not in the town, but at a lovely bay on the south side of the +island. The town mansion was appropriated to business and the ceremony +of the court: it was too hot for a permanent abode, and the governor +only went there for a few hours each day.</p> + +<p>Edward Templemore remained a short time at the island, and at his +departure received the afore-mentioned letter from the father to the +English admiral, and an assurance of unalterable fidelity from the +daughter to the English lieutenant. On his return he presented the +letter, and the admiral was satisfied with his conduct.</p> + +<p>When ordered out to cruise, which he always was when there was nothing +else to do, he submitted to the admiral whether, if he should happen to +near Porto Rico, he could not leave an answer to the Spanish governor's +letter; and the admiral, who knew the value of keeping up a good +understanding with foreign relations, took the hint, and gave him one to +deliver, if <i>convenient</i>. The second meeting was, as may be supposed, +more cordial than the first on the part of the young lady; not so, +however, on the part of the duenna and holy friar, who soon found out +that their charge was in danger from heretical opinions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 354px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i131.png" width="354" height="600" alt="Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too +busy with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too +busy with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>Caution became necessary; and as secrecy adds a charm to an amour, Clara +received a long letter and a telescope from Edward. The letter informed +her that, whenever he could, he would make his appearance in his +schooner off the south of the island, and await a signal made by her at +a certain window, acknowledging her recognition of his vessel. On the +night of that signal he would land in his boat and meet her at an +appointed spot. This was all very delightful; and it so happened that +Edward had four or five times contrived, during the last year, to meet +Clara without discovery, and again and again to exchange his vows. It +was agreed between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> them that when he quitted the station, she would +quit her father and her home, and trust her future happiness to an +Englishman and a heretic.</p> + +<p>It may be a matter of surprise to some of our readers that the admiral +should not have discovered the frequent visits of the <i>Enterprise</i> to +Porto Rico, as Edward was obliged to bring his log for examination every +time that he returned; but the admiral was satisfied with Edward's +conduct, and his anxiety to cruise when there was nothing else for him +to do. His logs were brought on shore to the admiral's secretary, +carefully rolled and sealed up. The admiral's secretary threw the +packages on one side, and thought no more of the matter, and Edward had +always a ready story to tell when he took his seat at the admiral's +dinner-table; besides, he is a very unfit person to command a vessel who +does not know how to write a log that will bear an investigation. A +certain latitude is always allowed in every degree of latitude as well +as longitude.</p> + +<p>The <i>Enterprise</i> had been despatched to Antigua, and Edward thought this +an excellent opportunity to pay a visit to Clara d'Alfarez: he +therefore, upon his return, hove-to off the usual headland, and soon +perceived the white curtain thrown out of the window.</p> + +<p>'There it is, sir,' said one of the midshipmen who was near him—for he +had been there so often that the whole crew of the <i>Enterprise</i> were +aware of his attachment—'she has shown her flag of truce.'</p> + +<p>'A truce to your nonsense, Mr. Warren,' replied Edward, laughing; 'how +came you to know anything about it?'</p> + +<p>'I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have to +go on shore and wait for you to-night.'</p> + +<p>'That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behind +the headland.'</p> + +<p>The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attended +his commander on shore, the <i>Enterprise</i> lying-to with a lantern at her +peak.</p> + +<p>'Once more, dearest Clara!' said Edward, as he threw off her long veil +and pressed her in his arms.</p> + +<p>'Yes, Edward, once more—but I am afraid only once more; for my maid, +Inez, has been dangerously ill, and has confessed to Friar Ricardo. I +fear much that, in her fright (for she thought that she was dying), she +has told all. She is better now.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Why should you imagine so, Clara?'</p> + +<p>'Oh, you know not what a frightened fool that Inez is when she is ill! +Our religion is not like yours.'</p> + +<p>'No, dear, it is not; but I will teach you a better.'</p> + +<p>'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. Holy Virgin! if Friar Ricardo +should hear you! I think that Inez must have told him, for he fixes his +dark eyes upon me so earnestly. Yesterday he observed to me that I had +not confessed.'</p> + +<p>'Tell him to mind his own business.'</p> + +<p>'That is his business, and I was obliged to confess to him last night. I +told him a great many things, and then he asked if that was all. His +eyes went through me. I trembled as I uttered an untruth, for I said it +was.'</p> + +<p>'I confess my sins but to my Maker, Clara! and I confess my love but to +you. Follow my plan, dearest!'</p> + +<p>'I will half obey you, Edward. I will not tell my love.'</p> + +<p>'And sins you have none, Clara; so you will obey me in all.'</p> + +<p>'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. We all have sins; and oh! what a +grievous sin they say it is to love you, who are a heretic! Holy Virgin, +pardon me! but I could not help it.'</p> + +<p>'If that is your only sin, dearest, I can safely give you absolution.'</p> + +<p>'Nay, Edward, don't joke, but hear me. If Inez has confessed, they will +look for me here, and we must not meet again—at least not in this +place. You know the little bay behind the rock, it is not much farther +off, and there is a cave where I can wait: another time it must be +there.'</p> + +<p>'It shall be there, dearest; but is it not too near the beach? will you +not be afraid of the men in the boat, who might see you?'</p> + +<p>'But we can leave the beach. It is Ricardo alone that I am in dread of, +and the Donna Maria. Merciful Heaven! should my father know it all, we +should be lost—be separated for ever!' and Clara laid her forehead on +Edward's shoulder, as her tears fell fast.</p> + +<p>'There is nought to fear, Clara. Hush! I heard a rustling in those +orange-trees. Listen!'</p> + +<p>'Yes! yes!' whispered Clara hastily; 'there is some one. Away! dear +Edward, away!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>Clara sprang from his side, and hastened up the grove. Edward made his +retreat, and, flying down the rocky and narrow path through the +underwood, was soon on the beach and into his boat. The <i>Enterprise</i> +arrived at headquarters, and Edward reported himself to the admiral.</p> + +<p>'I have work for you, Mr. Templemore,' said the admiral; 'you must be +ready to proceed on service immediately. We've found your match.'</p> + +<p>'I hope I may find her, sir,' replied the lieutenant.</p> + +<p>'I hope so, too; for, if you give a good account of her, it will put +another swab on your shoulder. The pirate schooner, which has so long +infested the Atlantic, has been seen and chased off Barbadoes by the +<i>Amelia</i>; but it appears that there is not a vessel in the squadron +which can come near her, unless it be the <i>Enterprise</i>. She has since +captured two West Indiamen, and was seen steering with them towards the +coast of Guiana. Now, I am going to give you thirty additional hands, +and send you after her.'</p> + +<p>'Thank you, sir,' replied Edward, his countenance beaming with delight.</p> + +<p>'How soon will you be ready?' inquired the admiral.</p> + +<p>'To-morrow morning, sir.'</p> + +<p>'Very good. Tell Mr. Hadley to bring me the order for the men and your +sailing orders, and I will sign them; but recollect, Mr. Templemore, you +will have an awkward customer. Be prudent—brave I know you to be.'</p> + +<p>Edward Templemore promised everything, as most people do in such cases; +and before the next evening the <i>Enterprise</i> was well in the offing, +under a heavy press of sail.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE LANDING</h3> + + +<p>The property of Don Cumanos, to which he had retired with his family, +accompanied by Francisco, extended from the mouth of, to many miles up, +the Magdalen river. It was a fine alluvial soil, forming one vast strip +of rich meadow, covered with numerous herds of cattle. The house was not +a hundred yards from the banks of this magnificent stream, and a small +but deep creek ran up to the adjacent buildings; for Don Cumanos had +property even more valuable, being proprietor of a gold mine near the +town of Jambrano, about eight miles farther up, and which mine had +latterly become exceedingly productive. The ore was brought down the +river in boats, and smelted in the outhouses near the creek to which we +have just referred.</p> + +<p>It will be necessary to observe that the establishment of the noble +Spaniard was numerous, consisting of nearly one hundred persons, +employed in the smelting-house or attached to the household.</p> + +<p>For some time Francisco remained here happy and contented; he had become +the confidential supervisor of Don Cumanos' household, proved himself +worthy of a trust so important, and was considered as one of the family.</p> + +<p>One morning, as Francisco was proceeding down to the smelting-house to +open the hatches of the small decked boats which had arrived from +Jambrano with ore, and which were invariably secured with a padlock by +the superintendent above, to which Don Cumanos had a corresponding key, +one of the chief men informed him that a vessel had anchored off the +mouth of the river the day before, and weighed again early that morning, +and that she was now standing off and on.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>'From Carthagena, probably, beating up,' replied Francisco.</p> + +<p>'Valga me Dios, if I know that, sir,' said Diego. 'I should have thought +nothing about it; but Giacomo and Pedro, who went out to fish last +night, as usual, instead of coming back before midnight, have not been +heard of since.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed! that is strange. Did they ever stay so long before?'</p> + +<p>'Never, sir; and they have fished together now for seven years.'</p> + +<p>Francisco gave the key to the man, who opened the locks of the hatches, +and returned it.</p> + +<p>'There she is!' cried the man; the head-sails making their appearance as +the vessel opened to their view from the projecting point distant about +four miles. Francisco directed his eye towards her, and, without further +remark, hastened to the house.</p> + +<p>'Well, Francisco,' said Don Cumanos, who was stirring a small cup of +chocolate, 'what's the news this morning?'</p> + +<p>'The <i>Nostra Senora del Carmen</i> and the <i>Aguilla</i> have arrived, and I +have just unlocked the hatches. There is a vessel off the point which +requires examination, and I have come for the telescope.'</p> + +<p>'Requires examination! Why, Francisco?'</p> + +<p>'Because Giacomo and Pedro, who went fishing last night, have not +returned, and there are no tidings of them.'</p> + +<p>'That is strange! But how is this connected with the vessel?'</p> + +<p>'That I will explain as soon as I have had an examination of her,' +replied Francisco, who had taken up the telescope, and was drawing out +the tube. Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the window, and +examined the vessel some time in silence.</p> + +<p>'Yes! by the living God, it is the <i>Avenger</i>, and no other!' exclaimed +he, as he removed the telescope from his eye.</p> + +<p>'Eh?' cried Don Cumanos.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 395px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i137.png" width="395" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the +window, and examined the vessel some time in silence.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>'It is the pirate vessel—the <i>Avenger</i>—I'll forfeit my life upon it! +Don Cumanos, you must be prepared. I know that they have long talked of +a visit to this quarter, and anticipate great booty, and they have those +on board who know the coast well. The disappearance of your two men +convinces me that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> sent up their boats last night to reconnoitre, +and have captured them. Torture will extract the information which the +pirates require, and I have little doubt but that the attack will be +made when they learn how much bullion there is at present on your +premises.'</p> + +<p>'You may be right,' replied Don Cumanos thoughtfully; 'that is, provided +you are sure that it is the pirate vessel.'</p> + +<p>'Sure, Don Cumanos! I know every timber and plank in her; there is not a +rope nor a block but I can recognise. At the distance of four miles, +with such a glass as this, I can discover every little variety in her +rigging from other craft. I will swear to her,' repeated Francisco, once +more looking through the telescope.</p> + +<p>'And if they attack, Francisco?'</p> + +<p>'We must defend ourselves, and, I trust, beat them off. They will come +in their boats, and at night. If they were to run in the schooner by +daylight and anchor abreast of us, we should have but a poor chance. But +they little think that I am here, and that they are recognised. They +will attack this night, I rather think.'</p> + +<p>'And what do you then propose, Francisco?'</p> + +<p>'That we should send all the females away to Don Teodoro's—it is but +five miles—and call the men together as soon as possible. We are strong +enough to beat them off if we barricade the house. They cannot land more +than from ninety to one hundred men, as some must remain in charge of +the schooner; and we can muster quite as many. It may be as well to +promise our men a reward if they do their duty.'</p> + +<p>'That is all right enough; and the bullion we have here?'</p> + +<p>'Here we had better let it remain; it will take too much time to remove +it, and, besides, will weaken our force by the men who must be in charge +of it. The outhouses must be abandoned, and everything which is of +consequence taken from them. Fire them they will, in all probability. At +all events we have plenty of time before us, if we begin at once.'</p> + +<p>'Well, Francisco, I shall make you commandant, and leave the +arrangements to you, while I go and speak to Donna Isidora. Send for the +men and speak to them; promise them rewards, and act as if you were +ordering upon your own responsibility.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I trust I shall prove myself worthy of your confidence, sir,' replied +Francisco.</p> + +<p>'Carambo!' exclaimed the old Don, as he left the room; 'but it is +fortunate you are here. We might all have been murdered in our beds.'</p> + +<p>Francisco sent for the head men of the establishment, and told them what +he was convinced they would have to expect; and he then explained to +them his views. The rest were all summoned; and Francisco pointed out to +them the little mercy they would receive if the pirates were not +repulsed, and the rewards which were promised by Don Cumanos if they did +their duty.</p> + +<p>Spaniards are individually brave; and, encouraged by Francisco, they +agreed that they would defend the property to the last.</p> + +<p>The house of Don Cumanos was well suited to resist an attack of this +description, in which musketry only was expected to be employed. It was +a long parallelogram of stone walls, with a wooden veranda on the first +floor,—for it was only one story high. The windows on the first story +were more numerous, but at the basement there were but two, and no other +opening but the door in the whole line of building. It was of a +composite architecture, between the Morisco and the Spanish. If the +lower part of the house, which was of stone, could be secured from +entrance, the assailants would, of course, fight under a great +disadvantage. The windows below were first secured by piling a heavy +mass of stones in the interior of the rooms against them, rising to the +ceiling from a base like the segment of a pyramid, extending to the +opposite side of the chamber; and every preparation was made for +effectually barricading the door before night. Ladders were then fixed +to ascend to the veranda, which was rendered musket-proof nearly as high +as its railings, to protect the men. The Donna Isidora, and the women of +the establishment, were in the afternoon despatched to Don Teodoro's; +and, at the request of Francisco, joined to the entreaties of Donna +Isidora, Don Cumanos was persuaded to accompany them. The Don called his +men, and telling them that he left Francisco in command, expected them +to do their duty; and then shaking hands with him, the cavalcade was +soon lost in the woods behind the narrow meadows which skirted the +river.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was no want of muskets and ammunition. Some were employed casting +bullets, and others in examining the arms which had long been laid by. +Before evening all was ready; every man had received his arms and +ammunition; the flints had been inspected; and Francisco had time to pay +more attention to the schooner, which had during the day increased her +distance from the land, but was not again standing in for the shore. +Half an hour before dusk, when within three miles, she wore round and +put her head to the offing.</p> + +<p>'They'll attack this night,' said Francisco, 'I feel almost positive: +their yards and stay-tackles are up, all ready for hoisting out the +long-boat.'</p> + +<p>'Let them come, señor; we will give them a warm reception,' replied +Diego, the second in authority.</p> + +<p>It was soon too dark to perceive the vessel. Francisco and Diego ordered +every man, but five, into the house; the door was firmly barricaded, and +some large pieces of rock, which had been rolled into the passage, piled +against it. Francisco then posted the five men down the banks of the +river, at a hundred yards' distance from each other, to give notice of +the approach of the boats. It was about ten o'clock at night when +Francisco and Diego descended the ladder and went to examine their +outposts.</p> + +<p>'Señor,' said Diego, as he and Francisco stood on the bank of the river, +'at what hour is it your idea that these villains will make their +attempt?'</p> + +<p>'That is difficult to say. If the same captain commands them who did +when I was on board of her, it will not be until after the moon is down, +which will not be till midnight; but should it be any other who is in +authority, they may not be so prudent.'</p> + +<p>'Holy Virgin! señor, were you ever on board of that vessel?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, Diego, I was, and for a long while too; but not with my own good +will. Had I not been on board I never should have recognised her.'</p> + +<p>'Very true, señor; then we may thank the saints that you have once been +a pirate.'</p> + +<p>'I hope that I never was that, Diego,' replied Francisco, smiling; 'but +I have been a witness to dreadful proceedings on board of that vessel, +at the remembrance of which, even now, my blood curdles.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>To pass away the time, Francisco then detailed many scenes of horror to +Diego which he had witnessed when on board of the <i>Avenger</i>; and he was +still in the middle of a narrative when a musket was discharged by the +farthermost sentinel.</p> + +<p>'Hark, Diego!'</p> + +<p>Another, and another, nearer and nearer to them, gave the signal that +the boats were close at hand. In a few minutes the men all came in, +announcing that the pirates were pulling up the stream in three boats, +and were less than a quarter of a mile from the landing-place.</p> + +<p>'Diego, go to the house with these men, and see that all is ready,' said +Francisco. 'I will wait here a little longer; but do not fire till I +come to you.'</p> + +<p>Diego and the men departed, and Francisco was left on the beach alone.</p> + +<p>In another minute the sound of the oars was plainly distinguishable, and +Francisco's ears were directed to catch, if possible, the voices. 'Yes,' +thought he, 'you come with the intentions of murder and robbery, but you +will, through me, be disappointed.' As the boats approached, he heard +the voice of Hawkhurst. The signal muskets fired had told the pirates +that they were discovered, and that in all probability they would meet +with resistance; silence was, therefore, no longer of any advantage.</p> + +<p>'Oars, my lads!—oars!' cried Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>One boat ceased rowing, and soon afterwards the two others. The whole of +them were now plainly seen by Francisco, at the distance of about one +cable's length from where he stood; and the clear still night carried +the sound of their voices along the water.</p> + +<p>'Here is a creek, sir,' said Hawkhurst, 'leading up to those buildings. +Would it not be better to land there, as, if they are not occupied, they +will prove a protection to us if we have a hard fight for it?'</p> + +<p>'Very true, Hawkhurst,' replied a voice, which Francisco immediately +recognised to be that of Cain.</p> + +<p>'He is alive, then,' thought Francisco, 'and his blood is not yet upon +my hands.'</p> + +<p>'Give way, my lads!' cried Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>The boats dashed up the creek, and Francisco hastened back to the +house.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Now, my lads,' said he, as he sprang up the ladder, 'you must be +resolute; we have to deal with desperate men. I have heard the voices of +the captain and the chief mate; so there is no doubt as to its being the +pirate. The boats are up the creek and will land behind the +out-buildings. Haul up these ladders, and lay them fore and aft on the +veranda; and do not fire without taking a good aim. Silence! my +men—silence! Here they come.'</p> + +<p>The pirates were now seen advancing from the out-buildings in strong +force. In the direction in which they came, it was only from the side of +the veranda, at which not more than eight or ten men could be placed, +that the enemy could be repulsed. Francisco therefore gave orders that +as soon as some of the men had fired they should retreat and load their +muskets, to make room for others.</p> + +<p>When the pirates had advanced half-way to the house, on the clear space +between it and the out-buildings, Francisco gave the word to fire. The +volley was answered by another, and a shout from the pirates, who, with +Hawkhurst and Cain at their head, now pressed on, but not until they had +received a second discharge from the Spaniards, and the pirates had +fired in return. As the Spaniards could not at first fire a volley of +more than a dozen muskets at a time, their opponents imagined their +force to be much less than it really was. They now made other +arrangements. They spread themselves in a semicircle in front of the +veranda, and kept up a continued galling fire. This was returned by the +party under Francisco for nearly a quarter of an hour; and as all the +muskets were now called into action, the pirates found out that they had +a more formidable enemy to cope with than they had anticipated.</p> + +<p>It was now quite dark, and not a figure was to be distinguished, except +by the momentary flashing of the firearms. Cain and Hawkhurst, leaving +their men to continue the attack, had gained the house, and a position +under the veranda. Examining the windows and the door, there appeared +but little chance of forcing an entrance; but it immediately occurred to +them that under the veranda their men would not be exposed, and that +they might fire through the wooden floor of it upon those above. +Hawkhurst hastened away, and returned with about half the men, leaving +the others to continue their attack as before. The advantage of this +manœ uvre was soon evident<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>. The musket-balls of the pirates pierced +the planks, and wounded many of the Spaniards severely; and Francisco +was at last obliged to order his men to retreat into the house, and fire +out of the windows.</p> + +<p>But even this warfare did not continue; for the supporting pillars of +the veranda being of wood, and very dry, they were set fire to by the +pirates. Gradually the flames wound round them, and their forked tongues +licked the balustrade. At last the whole of the veranda was in flames. +This was a great advantage to the attacking party, who could now +distinguish the Spaniards without their being so clearly seen +themselves. Many were killed and wounded. The smoke and heat became so +intense in the upper story that the men could no longer remain there; +and, by the advice of Francisco, they retreated to the basement of the +house.</p> + +<p>'What shall we do now, señor?' said Diego, with a grave face.</p> + +<p>'Do?' replied Francisco; 'they have burnt the veranda, that is all. The +house will not take fire; it is of solid stone: the roof indeed may; but +still here we are. I do not see that they are more advanced than they +were before. As soon as the veranda has burnt down, we must return +above, and commence firing again from the windows.'</p> + +<p>'Hark, sir! they are trying the door.'</p> + +<p>'They may try a long while; they should have tried the door while the +veranda protected them from our sight. As soon as it is burnt, we shall +be able to drive them away from it. I will go up again and see how +things are.'</p> + +<p>'No, señor; it is of no use. Why expose yourself now that the flames are +so bright?'</p> + +<p>'I must go and see if that is the case, Diego. Put all the wounded men +in the north chamber, it will be the safest, and more out of the way.'</p> + +<p>Francisco ascended the stone staircase, and gained the upper story. The +rooms were filled with smoke, and he could distinguish nothing. An +occasional bullet whistled past him. He walked towards the windows, and +sheltered himself behind the wall between them.</p> + +<p>The flames were not so violent, and the heat more bearable. In a short +time a crash, and then another, told him that the veranda had fallen in. +He looked through the window. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> mass of lighted embers had fallen +down in front of the house, and had, for a time, driven away the +assailants. Nothing was left of the veranda but the burning ends of the +joists fixed in the wall above the windows, and the still glowing +remains of the posts which once supported it.</p> + +<p>But the smoke from below now cleared away, and the discharge of one or +two muskets told Francisco that he was perceived by the enemy.</p> + +<p>'The roof is safe,' thought he, as he withdrew from the window; 'and now +I do not know whether the loss of the veranda may not prove a gain to +us.'</p> + +<p>What were the intentions of the pirates it was difficult to ascertain. +For a time they had left off firing, and Francisco returned to his +comrades. The smoke had gradually cleared away, and they were able to +resume their positions above; but as the pirates did not fire, they, of +course, could do nothing, as it was only by the flashing of the muskets +that the enemy was to be distinguished. No further attempts were made at +the door or windows below; and Francisco in vain puzzled himself as to +the intended plans of the assailants.</p> + +<p>Nearly half an hour of suspense passed away. Some of the Spaniards were +of opinion that they had retreated to their boats and gone away, but +Francisco knew them better. All he could do was to remain above, and +occasionally look out to discover their motions. Diego, and one or two +more, remained with him; the other men were kept below, that they might +be out of danger.</p> + +<p>'Holy Francis! but this has been a dreadful night, señor! How many hours +until daylight?' said Diego.</p> + +<p>'Two hours at least, I should think,' replied Francisco; 'but the affair +will be decided before that.'</p> + +<p>'The saints protect us! See, señor, are they not coming?'</p> + +<p>Francisco looked through the gloom, in the direction of the +out-buildings, and perceived a group of men advancing. A few moments and +he could clearly make them out.</p> + +<p>'Yes, truly, Diego; and they have made ladders, which they are carrying. +They intend to storm the windows. Call them up; and now we must fight +hard indeed.'</p> + +<p>The Spaniards hastened up and filled the room above, which had three +windows in the front, looking towards the river, and which had been +sheltered by the veranda.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Shall we fire now, señor?'</p> + +<p>'No—no; do not fire till your muzzles are at their hearts. They cannot +mount more than two at a time at each window. Recollect, my lads, that +you must now fight hard, for your lives will not be spared; they will +show no quarter and no mercy.'</p> + +<p>The ends of the rude ladders now made their appearance above the sill of +each window. They had been hastily, yet firmly, constructed; and were +nearly as wide as the windows. A loud cheer was followed by a +simultaneous mounting of the ladders.</p> + +<p>Francisco was at the centre window, when Hawkhurst made his appearance, +sabre in hand. He struck aside a musket aimed at him, and the ball +whizzed harmless over the broad water of the river. Another step, and he +would have been in, when Francisco fired his pistol; the ball entered +the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he dropped his hold. Before he could +regain it, a Spaniard charged at him with a musket, and threw him back. +He fell, bearing down with him one or two of his comrades, who had been +following him up the ladder.</p> + +<p>Francisco felt as if the attack at that window was of little consequence +after the fall of Hawkhurst, whose voice he had recognised; and he +hastened to the one on the left, as he had heard Cain encouraging his +men in that direction. He was not wrong in his conjecture; Cain was at +the window, attempting to force an entrance, but was opposed by Diego +and other resolute men. But the belt of the pirate captain was full of +pistols, and he had already fired three with effect. Diego and the two +best men were wounded, and the others who opposed him were alarmed at +his giant proportions. Francisco rushed to attack him; but what was the +force of so young a man against the herculean power of Cain? Still +Francisco's left hand was at the throat of the pirate, and the pistol +was pointed in his right, when a flash of another pistol, fired by one +who followed Cain, threw its momentary vivid light upon the features of +Francisco, as he cried out, 'Blood for blood!' It was enough; the pirate +captain uttered a yell of terror at the supposed supernatural +appearance; and he fell from the ladder in a fit amongst the still +burning embers of the veranda.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 402px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i146.png" width="402" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>The ball entered the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he +dropped his hold.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fall of their two chiefs, and the determined resistance of the +Spaniards, checked the impetuosity of the assailants. They hesitated; +and they at last retreated, bearing away with them their wounded. The +Spaniards cheered, and, led by Francisco, followed them down the +ladders, and in their turn became the assailants. Still the pirates' +retreat was orderly: they fired, and retired rank behind rank +successively. They kept the Spaniards at bay, until they had arrived at +the boats, when a charge was made, and a severe conflict ensued. But the +pirates had lost too many men, and, without their commander, felt +dispirited. Hawkhurst was still on his legs, and giving his orders as +coolly as ever. He espied Francisco, and rushing at him, while the two +parties were opposed muzzle to muzzle, seized him by his collar and +dragged him in amongst the pirates. 'Secure him, at all events!' cried +Hawkhurst, as they slowly retreated and gained the outhouses. Francisco +was overpowered and hauled into one of the boats, all of which in a few +minutes afterwards were pulling with all their might to escape from the +muskets of the Spaniards, who followed the pirates by the banks of the +river, annoying them in their retreat.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE MEETING</h3> + + +<p>The pirates returned to their vessel discomfited. Those on board, who +were prepared to hoist in ingots of precious metal, had to receive +nought but wounded men, and many of their comrades had remained dead on +the shore. Their captain was melancholy and downcast. Hawkhurst was +badly wounded, and obliged to be carried below as soon as he came on +board. The only capture which they had made was their former associate +Francisco, who, by the last words spoken by Hawkhurst as he was +supported to his cabin, was ordered to be put in irons. The boats were +hoisted in without noise, and a general gloom prevailed. All sail was +then made upon the schooner, and when day dawned she was seen by the +Spaniards far away to the northward.</p> + +<p>The report was soon spread through the schooner that Francisco had been +the cause of their defeat; and although this was only a surmise, still, +as they considered that had he not recognised the vessel the Spaniards +would not have been prepared, they had good grounds for what had swelled +into an assertion. He became, therefore, to many of them, an object of +bitter enmity, and they looked forward with pleasure to his destruction, +which his present confinement they considered but the precursor of.</p> + +<p>'Hist! Massa Francisco,' said a low voice near to where Francisco sat on +the chest. Francisco turned round and beheld the Krouman, his old +friend.</p> + +<p>'Ah! Pompey, are you all still on board?' said Francisco.</p> + +<p>'All! no,' replied the man, shaking his head; 'some die—some get +away—only four Kroumen left. Massa Francisco,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> how you come back again? +Everybody tink you dead. I say no, not dead—ab charm with him—ab +book.'</p> + +<p>'If that was my charm, I have it still,' replied Francisco, taking the +Bible out of his vest; for, strange to say, Francisco himself had a kind +of superstition relative to that Bible, and had put it into his bosom +previous to the attack made by the pirates.</p> + +<p>'Dat very good, Massa Francisco; den you quite safe. Here come +Johnson—he very bad man. I go away.'</p> + +<p>In the meantime Cain had retired to his cabin with feelings scarcely to +be analysed. He was in a bewilderment. Notwithstanding the wound he had +received by the hand of Francisco, he would never have sanctioned +Hawkhurst putting him on shore on a spot which promised nothing but a +lingering and miserable death. Irritated as he had been by the young +man's open defiance, he loved him—loved him much more than he was aware +of himself; and when he had recovered sufficiently from his wound, and +had been informed where Francisco had been sent on shore, he quarrelled +with Hawkhurst, and reproached him bitterly and sternly, in language +which Hawkhurst never forgot or forgave. The vision of the starving lad +haunted Cain, and rendered him miserable. His affection for him, now +that he was, as he supposed, lost for ever, increased with tenfold +force; and since that period Cain had never been seen to smile. He +became more gloomy, more ferocious than ever, and the men trembled when +he appeared on deck.</p> + +<p>The apparition of Francisco after so long an interval, and in such an +unexpected quarter of the globe, acted as we have before described upon +Cain. When he was taken to the boat he was still confused in his ideas, +and it was not until they were nearly on board that he perceived that +this young man was indeed at his side. He could have fallen on his neck +and kissed him; for Francisco had become to him a capture more prized +than all the wealth of the Indies. But one pure, good feeling was +unextinguished in the bosom of Cain; stained with every crime—with his +hands so deeply imbrued in blood—at enmity with all the rest of the +world, that one feeling burnt bright and clear, and was not to be +quenched. It might have proved a beacon-light to steer him back to +repentance and to good works.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>But there were other feelings which also crowded upon the mind of the +pirate captain. He knew Francisco's firmness and decision. By some +inscrutable means, which Cain considered as supernatural, Francisco had +obtained the knowledge, and had accused him, of his mother's death. +Would not the affection which he felt for the young man be met with +hatred and defiance? He was but too sure that it would. And then his +gloomy, cruel disposition would resume its influence, and he thought of +revenging the attack upon his life. His astonishment at the reappearance +of Francisco was equally great, and he trembled at the sight of him, as +if he were his accusing and condemning spirit. Thus did he wander from +one fearful fancy to another, until he at last summoned up resolution to +send for him.</p> + +<p>A morose, dark man, whom Francisco had not seen when he was before in +the schooner, obeyed the commands of the captain. The irons were +unlocked, and Francisco was brought down into the cabin. The captain +rose and shut the door.</p> + +<p>'I little thought to see you here, Francisco,' said Cain.</p> + +<p>'Probably not,' replied Francisco boldly, 'but you have me again in your +power, and may now wreak your vengeance.'</p> + +<p>'I feel none, Francisco; nor would I have suffered you to have been put +on shore as you were, had I known of it. Even now that our expedition +has failed through your means, I feel no anger towards you, although I +shall have some difficulty in preserving you from the enmity of others. +Indeed, Francisco, I am glad to find that you are alive, and I have +bitterly mourned your loss;' and Cain extended his hand.</p> + +<p>But Francisco folded his arms, and was silent.</p> + +<p>'Are you then so unforgiving?' said the captain. 'You know that I tell +the truth.'</p> + +<p>'I believe that you state the truth, Captain Cain, for you are too bold +to lie; and, as far as I am concerned, you have all the forgiveness you +may wish: but I cannot take that hand; nor are our accounts yet +settled.'</p> + +<p>'What would you more? Cannot we be friends again? I do not ask you to +remain on board. You are free to go where you please. Come, Francisco, +take my hand, and let us forget what is past.'</p> + +<p>'The hand that is imbrued with my mother's blood, perhaps!' exclaimed +Francisco. 'Never!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Not so, by G—d!' exclaimed Cain. 'No, no; not quite so bad as that. In +my mood I struck your mother; I grant it. I did not intend to injure +her, but I did, and she died. I will not lie—that is the fact. And it +is also the fact that I wept over her, Francisco; for I loved her as I +do you.' ('It was a hasty, bitter blow, that,' continued Cain, +soliloquising, with his hand to his forehead, and unconscious of +Francisco's presence at the moment. 'It made me what I am, for it made +me reckless.') 'Francisco,' said Cain, raising his head, 'I was bad, but +I was no pirate when your mother lived. There is a curse upon me; that +which I love most I treat the worst. Of all the world, I loved your +mother most; yet did she from me receive much injury, and at last I +caused her death. Next to your mother, whose memory I at once revere and +love, and tremble when I think of (and each night does she appear to +me), I have loved you, Francisco, for you, like her, have an angel's +feelings; yet have I treated you as ill. You thwarted me, and you were +right. Had you been wrong, I had not cared; but you were right, and it +maddened me. Your appeals by day—your mother's in my dreams——'</p> + +<p>Francisco's heart was softened; if not repentance, there was at least +contrition. 'Indeed I pity you,' replied Francisco.</p> + +<p>'You must do more, Francisco; you must be friends with me,' said Cain, +again extending his hand.</p> + +<p>'I cannot take that hand, it is too deeply dyed in blood,' replied +Francisco.</p> + +<p>'Well, well, so would have said your mother. But hear me, Francisco,' +said Cain, lowering his voice to a whisper, lest he should be overheard; +'I am tired of this life—perhaps sorry for what I have done—I wish to +leave it—have wealth in plenty concealed where others know not. Tell +me, Francisco, shall we both quit this vessel, and live together happily +and without doing wrong? You shall share all, Francisco. Say, now, does +that please you?'</p> + +<p>'Yes; it pleases me to hear that you will abandon your lawless life, +Captain Cain: but share your wealth I cannot, for how has it been +gained?'</p> + +<p>'It cannot be returned, Francisco; I will do good with it. I will +indeed, Francisco. I—will—repent;' and again the hand was extended.</p> + +<p>Francisco hesitated.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I do, so help me God! I <i>do</i> repent, Francisco!' exclaimed the pirate +captain.</p> + +<p>'And I, as a Christian, do forgive you all,' replied Francisco, taking +the still extended hand. 'May God forgive you too!'</p> + +<p>'Amen!' replied the pirate solemnly, covering his face up in his hands.</p> + +<p>In this position he remained some minutes, Francisco watching him in +silence. At last the face was uncovered, and, to the surprise of +Francisco, a tear was on the cheek of Cain, and his eyes suffused with +moisture. Francisco no longer waited for the hand to be extended; he +walked up to the captain, and taking him by the hand, pressed it warmly.</p> + +<p>'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but leave me now.'</p> + +<p>Francisco returned on deck with a light and grateful heart. His +countenance at once told those who were near him that he was not +condemned, and many who dared not before take notice of, now saluted +him. The man who had taken him out of irons looked round; he was a +creature of Hawkhurst, and he knew not how to act. Francisco observed +him, and, with a wave of the hand, ordered him below. That Francisco was +again in authority was instantly perceived, and the first proof of it +was, that the new second mate reported to him that there was a sail on +the weather bow.</p> + +<p>Francisco took the glass to examine her. It was a large schooner under +all sail. Not wishing that any one should enter the cabin but himself, +he went down to the cabin door and knocked before he entered, and +reported the vessel.</p> + +<p>'Thank you, Francisco; you must take Hawkhurst's duty for the +present—it shall not be for long; and fear not that I shall make +another capture. I swear to you I will not, Francisco. But this +schooner—I know very well what she is; she has been looking after us +some time; and a week ago, Francisco, I was anxious to meet her, that I +might shed more blood. Now I will do all I can to avoid her, and escape. +I can do no more, Francisco. I must not be taken.'</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 407px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i153.png" width="407" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but +leave me now.'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>'There I cannot blame you. To avoid her will be easy, I should think; +the <i>Avenger</i> outsails everything.'</p> + +<p>'Except, I believe, the <i>Enterprise</i>, which is a sister vessel. By +heaven! it's a fair match,' continued Cain, his feelings of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +combativeness returning for a moment; 'and it will look like a craven to +refuse the fight: but fear not, Francisco—I have promised you, and I +shall keep my word.'</p> + +<p>Cain went on deck, and surveyed the vessel through the glass.</p> + +<p>'Yes, it must be her,' said he aloud, so as to be heard by the pirates; +'she has been sent out by the admiral on purpose, full of his best men. +What a pity we are so short-handed!'</p> + +<p>'There's enough of us, sir,' observed the boatswain.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied Cain, 'if there was anything but hard blows to be got; +but that is all, and I cannot spare more men. Ready about!' continued +he, walking aft.</p> + +<p>The <i>Enterprise</i>, for she was the vessel in pursuit, was then about five +miles distant, steering for the <i>Avenger</i>, who was on a wind. As soon +as the <i>Avenger</i> tacked, the <i>Enterprise</i> took in her topmast +studding-sail, and hauled her wind. This brought the <i>Enterprise</i> well +on the weather-quarter of the <i>Avenger</i>, who now made all sail. The +pirates, who had had quite enough of fighting, and were not stimulated +by the presence of Hawkhurst, or the wishes of their captain, now showed +as much anxiety to avoid as they usually did to seek a combat.</p> + +<p>At the first trial of sailing between the two schooners there was no +perceptible difference; for half an hour they both continued on a wind, +and when Edward Templemore examined his sextant a second time, he could +not perceive that he had gained upon the <i>Avenger</i> one cable's length.</p> + +<p>'We will keep away half a point,' said Edward to his second in command. +'We can afford that, and still hold the weather-gage.'</p> + +<p>The <i>Enterprise</i> was kept away, and increased her speed: they neared the +<i>Avenger</i> more than a quarter of a mile.</p> + +<p>'They are nearing us,' observed Francisco; 'we must keep away a point.'</p> + +<p>Away went the <i>Avenger</i>, and would have recovered her distance, but the +<i>Enterprise</i> was again steered more off the wind.</p> + +<p>Thus did they continue altering their course until the studding-sails +below and aloft were set by both, and the position of the schooners was +changed; the <i>Enterprise</i> now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> being on the starboard instead of the +larboard quarter of the <i>Avenger</i>. The relative distance between the two +schooners was, however, nearly the same, that is, about three miles and +a half from each other; and there was every prospect of a long and weary +chase on the part of the <i>Enterprise</i>, who again kept away a point to +near the <i>Avenger</i>. Both vessels were now running to the eastward.</p> + +<p>It was about an hour before dark that another sail hove in sight right +ahead of the <i>Avenger</i>, and was clearly made out to be a frigate. The +pirates were alarmed at this unfortunate circumstance, as there was +little doubt but that she would prove a British cruiser; and, if not, +they had equally reason to expect that she would assist in their +capture. She had evidently perceived the two schooners, and had made all +sail, tacking every quarter of an hour so as to keep her relative +position. The <i>Enterprise</i>, who had also made out the frigate, to +attract her attention, though not within range of the <i>Avenger</i>, +commenced firing with her long gun.</p> + +<p>'This is rather awkward,' observed Cain.</p> + +<p>'It will be dark in less than an hour,' observed Francisco; 'and that is +our only chance.'</p> + +<p>Cain reflected a minute.</p> + +<p>'Get the long gun ready, my lads! We will return her fire, Francisco, +and hoist American colours; that will puzzle the frigate, at all events, +and the night may do the rest.'</p> + +<p>The long gun of the <i>Avenger</i> was ready.</p> + +<p>'I would not fire the long gun,' observed Francisco; 'it will show our +force, and will give no reason for our attempt to escape. Now, if we +were to fire our broadside guns, the difference of report between them +and the one of large calibre fired by the other schooner would induce +them to think that we are an American vessel.'</p> + +<p>'Very true,' replied Cain; 'and, as America is at peace with all the +world, that our antagonist is a pirate. Hold fast the long gun, there, +and unship the starboard ports. See that the ensign blows out clear.'</p> + +<p>The <i>Avenger</i> commenced firing an occasional gun from her broadside, the +reports of which were hardly to be heard by those on board of the +frigate; while the long gun of the <i>Enterprise</i> reverberated along the +water, and its loud resonance was swept by the wind to the frigate to +leeward.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<p>Such was the state of affairs when the sun sank down in the wave, and +darkness obscured the vessels from each other's sight, except with the +assistance of the night-telescopes.</p> + +<p>'What do you propose to do, Captain Cain?' said Francisco.</p> + +<p>'I have made up my mind to do a bold thing. I will run down to the +frigate, as if for shelter; tell him that the other vessel is a pirate, +and claim his protection. Leave me to escape afterwards; the moon will +not rise till nearly one o'clock.'</p> + +<p>'That will be a bold ruse indeed; but suppose you are once under her +broadside, and she suspects you?'</p> + +<p>'Then I will show her my heels. I should care nothing for her and her +broadside if the schooner was not here.'</p> + +<p>In an hour after dark the <i>Avenger</i> was close to the frigate, having +steered directly for her. She shortened sail gradually, as if she had +few hands on board; and, keeping his men out of sight, Cain ran under +the stern of the frigate.</p> + +<p>'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?'</p> + +<p>'<i>Eliza</i> of Baltimore, from Carthagena,' replied Cain, rounding to under +the lee of the man-of-war, and then continuing: 'That vessel in chase is +a pirate. Shall I send a boat on board?'</p> + +<p>'No; keep company with us.'</p> + +<p>'Ay, ay, sir,' replied Cain.</p> + +<p>'Hands about ship!' now resounded with the boatswain's whistle on board +of the frigate, and in a minute they were on the other tack. The +<i>Avenger</i> also tacked and kept close under the frigate's counter.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Edward Templemore and those on board of the +<i>Enterprise</i>, who, by the course steered, had gradually neared them, +perceiving the motions of the two other vessels, were quite puzzled. At +one time they thought they had made a mistake, and that it was not the +pirate vessel; at another they surmised that the crew had mutinied and +surrendered to the frigate. Edward hauled his wind, and steered directly +for them, to ascertain what the real facts were. The captain of the +frigate, who had never lost sight of either vessel, was equally +astonished at the boldness of the supposed pirate.</p> + +<p>'Surely the rascal does not intend to board us?' said he to the first +lieutenant.</p> + +<p>'There is no saying, sir; you know what a character he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> has; and some +say there are three hundred men on board, which is equal to our ship's +company. Or perhaps, sir, he will pass to windward of us, and give us a +broadside, and be off in the wind's eye again.'</p> + +<p>'At all events we will have a broadside ready for him,' replied the +captain. 'Clear away the starboard guns, and take out the tompions. Pipe +starboard watch to quarters.'</p> + +<p>The <i>Enterprise</i> closed with the frigate to windward, intending to run +round her stern and bring to on the same tack.</p> + +<p>'He does not shorten sail yet, sir,' said the first lieutenant, as the +schooner appeared skimming along about a cable's length on their weather +bow.</p> + +<p>'And she is full of men, sir,' said the master, looking at her through +the night-glass.</p> + +<p>'Fire a gun at her!' said the captain.</p> + +<p>Bang! The smoke cleared away, and the schooner's foretopsail, which she +was in the act of clewing up, lay over her side. The shot had struck the +foremast of the <i>Enterprise</i>, and cut it in two below the catharpings. +The <i>Enterprise</i> was, for the time, completely disabled.</p> + +<p>'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?'</p> + +<p>'His Majesty's schooner <i>Enterprise</i>.'</p> + +<p>'Send a boat on board immediately.'</p> + +<p>'Ay, ay, sir.'</p> + +<p>'Turn the hands up! Shorten sail!'</p> + +<p>The top-gallant and courses of the frigate were taken in, and the +mainsail hove to the mast.</p> + +<p>'Signalman, whereabouts is that other schooner now?'</p> + +<p>'The schooner, sir? On the quarter,' replied the signalman, who, with +everybody else on board, was so anxious about the <i>Enterprise</i> that they +had neglected to watch the motions of the supposed American. The man had +replied at random, and he now jumped upon the signal-chests abaft to +look for her. But she was not to be seen. Cain, who had watched all that +passed between the other two vessels, and had been prepared to slip off +at a moment's warning, as soon as the gun was fired at the other +schooner, had wore round and made all sail on a wind. The night-glass +discovered her half a mile astern; and the ruse was immediately +perceived. The frigate filled and made sail, leaving Edward to return on +board—for there was no time to stop for the boat—tacked, and gave +chase.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> But the <i>Avenger</i> was soon in the wind's eye of her; and at +daylight was no longer to be seen.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Edward Templemore had followed the frigate as soon as +he could set sail on his vessel, indignant at his treatment, and vowing +that he would demand a court-martial. About noon the frigate rejoined +him, when matters were fully explained. Annoyed as they all felt at not +having captured the pirate, it was unanimously agreed, that by his +audacity and coolness he deserved to escape. It was found that the mast +of the <i>Enterprise</i> could be fished and scarfed, so as to enable her to +continue her cruise. The carpenters of the frigate were sent on board; +and in two days the injury was repaired, and Edward Templemore once more +went in pursuit of the <i>Avenger</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE MISTAKE</h3> + + +<p>The <i>Avenger</i> stood under a press of sail to the northward. She had left +her pursuers far behind; and there was not a speck on the horizon, when, +on the second morning, Francisco, who had resumed his berth in the +captain's cabin, went up on deck. Notwithstanding the request of Cain, +Francisco refused to take any part in the command of the schooner, +considering himself as a passenger, or prisoner on parole. He had not +been on deck but a few minutes, when he observed the two Spanish +fishermen, belonging to the establishment of Don Cumanos, conversing +together forward. Their capture had quite escaped his memory, and he +went forward to speak to them. Their surprise at seeing him was great, +until Francisco informed them of what had passed. They then recounted +what had occurred to them, and showed their thumbs, which had been put +into screws to torture from them the truth. Francisco shuddered, but +consoled them by promising that they should soon be at liberty, and +return to their former master.</p> + +<p>As Francisco returned from forward, he found Hawkhurst on the deck. +Their eyes met and flashed in enmity. Hawkhurst was pale from loss of +blood, and evidently suffering; but he had been informed of the apparent +reconciliation between Francisco and the captain, and he could no longer +remain in his bed. He knew, also, how the captain had avoided the combat +with the <i>Enterprise</i>; and something told him that there was a +revolution of feeling in more than one point. Suffering as he was, he +resolved to be a spectator of what passed, and to watch narrowly. For +both Francisco and Cain he had imbibed a deadly hatred, and was watching +for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> an opportunity to wreak his revenge. At present they were too +powerful; but he felt that the time was coming when he might be +triumphant.</p> + +<p>Francisco passed Hawkhurst without speaking.</p> + +<p>'You are at liberty again, I see,' observed Hawkhurst, with a sneer.</p> + +<p>'I am not, at all events, indebted to you for it,' replied Francisco +haughtily; 'nor for my life either.'</p> + +<p>'No, indeed; but I believe that I am indebted to you for this bullet in +my shoulder,' replied the mate.</p> + +<p>'You are,' replied Francisco coolly.</p> + +<p>'And depend upon it, the debt shall be repaid with usury.'</p> + +<p>'I have no doubt of it, if ever it is in your power; but I fear you +not.'</p> + +<p>As Francisco made this reply, the captain came up the ladder. Hawkhurst +turned away and walked forward.</p> + +<p>'There is mischief in that man, Francisco,' said the captain in an +undertone; 'I hardly know whom to trust; but he must be watched. He is +tampering with the men, and has been for some time; not that it is of +much consequence, if he does but remain quiet for a little while. The +command of this vessel he is welcome to very soon; but if he attempts +too early——'</p> + +<p>'I have those I can trust to,' replied Francisco. 'Let us go below.'</p> + +<p>Francisco sent for Pompey the Krouman, and gave him his directions in +the presence of the captain. That night, to the surprise of all, +Hawkhurst kept his watch; and, notwithstanding the fatigue, appeared +every day to be rapidly recovering from his wound.</p> + +<p>Nothing occurred for several days, during which the <i>Avenger</i> still +continued her course. What the captain's intentions were did not +transpire; they were known only to Francisco.</p> + +<p>'We are very short of water, sir,' reported Hawkhurst one morning; +'shall we have enough to last us to where we are going?'</p> + +<p>'How many days of full allowance have we on board?'</p> + +<p>'Not above twelve at the most.'</p> + +<p>'Then we must go on half allowance,' replied Cain.</p> + +<p>'The ship's company wish to know where we are going, sir.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Have they deputed you to ask the question?'</p> + +<p>'Not exactly, sir; but I wish to know myself,' replied Hawkhurst, with +an insolent air.</p> + +<p>'Turn the hands up,' replied Cain; 'as one of the ship's company under +my orders, you will, with the others, receive the information you +require.'</p> + +<p>The crew of the pirate collected aft.</p> + +<p>'My lads,' said Cain, 'I understand, from the first mate, that you are +anxious to know where you are going? In reply, I acquaint you that, +having so many wounded men on board, and so much plunder in the hold, I +intend to repair to our rendezvous when we were formerly in this part of +the world—the <i>Caicos</i>. Is there any other question you may wish to ask +of me?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied Hawkhurst; 'we wish to know what your intentions are +relative to that young man, Francisco. We have lost immense wealth; we +have now thirty men wounded in the hammocks, and nine we left dead on +the shore; and I have a bullet through my body; all of which has been +occasioned by him. We demand justice!'</p> + +<p>Here Hawkhurst was supported by several of the pirates; and there were +many voices which repeated the cry of 'Justice!'</p> + +<p>'My men! you demand justice, and you shall have it,' replied Cain. 'This +lad you all know well; I have brought him up as a child. He has always +disliked our mode of life, and has often requested to leave it, but has +been refused. He challenged me by our own laws, "Blood for blood!" He +wounded me; but he was right in his challenge, and therefore I bear no +malice. Had I been aware that he was to have been sent on shore to die +with hunger, I would not have permitted it. What crime had he committed? +None; or, if any, it was against me. He was then sentenced to death for +no crime, and you yourselves exclaimed against it. Is it not true?'</p> + +<p>'Yes—yes,' replied the majority of the pirates.</p> + +<p>'By a miracle he escapes, and is put in charge of another man's +property. He is made a prisoner, and now you demand justice. You shall +have it. Allowing that his life is forfeit for this offence,—you have +already sentenced him, and left him to death unjustly, and therefore are +bound in justice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> to give his life in this instance. I ask it, my men, +not only as his right, but as a favour to your captain.'</p> + +<p>'Agreed; it's all fair!' exclaimed the majority of the pirate's crew.</p> + +<p>'My men, I thank you,' replied Cain; 'and in return, as soon as we +arrive at the Caicos, my share of the plunder on board shall be divided +among you.'</p> + +<p>This last observation completely turned the tables in favour of the +captain; and those who had joined Hawkhurst now sided with the captain. +Hawkhurst looked like a demon.</p> + +<p>'Let those who choose to be bought off take your money,' replied he; +'but <i>I will not</i>. Blood for blood I will have; and so I give you +warning. That lad's life is mine, and have it I will! Prevent me, if you +can!' continued the mate, holding up his clenched hand, and shaking it +almost in the pirate captain's face.</p> + +<p>The blood mantled even to the forehead of Cain. One moment he raised +himself to his utmost height, then seizing a handspike which lay near, +he felled Hawkhurst to the deck.</p> + +<p>'Take that for your mutiny!' exclaimed Cain, putting his foot on +Hawkhurst's neck. 'My lads, I appeal to you. Is this man worthy to be in +command as mate? Is he to live?'</p> + +<p>'No! no!' cried the pirates. 'Death!'</p> + +<p>Francisco stepped forward. 'My men, you have granted your captain one +favour; grant me another, which is the life of this man. Recollect how +often he has led you to conquest, and how brave and faithful he has been +until now! Recollect that he is suffering under his wound, which has +made him irritable. Command you he cannot any longer, as he will never +have the confidence of your captain; but let him live, and quit the +vessel.'</p> + +<p>'Be it so, if you agree,' replied Cain, looking at the men; 'I do not +seek his life.'</p> + +<p>The pirates consented. Hawkhurst rose slowly from the deck, and was +assisted below to his cabin. The second mate was then appointed as the +first, and the choice of the man to fill up the vacancy was left to the +pirate crew.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 400px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i163.png" width="388" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Blood for blood I will have,' continued the mate, +holding up his clenched hand, and shaking it almost in the pirate +captain's face.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>For three days after this scene all was quiet and orderly on board of +the pirate. Cain, now that he had more fully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> made up his mind how to +act, imparted to Francisco his plans; and his giving up to the men his +share of the booty still on board was, to Francisco, an earnest of his +good intentions. A cordiality, even, a kind of feeling which never +existed before, was created between them; but of Francisco's mother, and +the former events of his own life, the pirate never spoke. Francisco +more than once put questions on the subject; the answer was, 'You shall +know some of these days, Francisco, but not yet; you would hate me too +much!'</p> + +<p>The <i>Avenger</i> was now clear of the English isles, and with light winds +running down the shores of Porto Rico. In the evening of the day on +which they had made the land, the schooner was becalmed about three +miles from the shore, and the new first mate proposed that he should +land in the boat and obtain a further supply of water from a fall which +they had discovered with the glasses. As this was necessary, Cain gave +his consent, and the boat quitted the vessel full of breakers.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that the <i>Avenger</i> lay becalmed abreast of the country +seat of Don d'Alfarez, the governor of the island. Clara had seen the +schooner; and, as usual, had thrown out the white curtain as a signal of +recognition; for there was no perceptible difference, even to a sailor, +at that distance, between the <i>Avenger</i> and the <i>Enterprise</i>. She had +hastened down to the beach, and hurried into the cave, awaiting the +arrival of Edward Templemore. The pirate boat landed at the very spot of +rendezvous, and the mate leaped out of the boat. Clara flew to receive +her Edward, and was instantly seized by the mate, before she discovered +her mistake.</p> + +<p>'Holy Virgin! who and what are you?' cried she, struggling to disengage +herself.</p> + +<p>'One who is very fond of a pretty girl!' replied the pirate, still +detaining her.</p> + +<p>'Unhand me, wretch!' cried Clara. 'Are you aware whom you are +addressing?'</p> + +<p>'Not I! nor do I care,' replied the pirate.</p> + +<p>'You will perhaps, sir, when you learn that I am the daughter of the +governor!' exclaimed Clara, pushing him away.</p> + +<p>'Yes, by heavens! you are right, pretty lady, I do care; for a +governor's daughter will fetch a good ransom, at all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> events. So come, +my lads, a little help here; for she is as strong as a young mule. Never +mind the water, throw the breakers into the boat again; we have a prize +worth taking!'</p> + +<p>Clara screamed; but she was gagged with a handkerchief and lifted into +the boat, which immediately rowed back to the schooner.</p> + +<p>When the mate came on board and reported his capture, the pirates were +delighted at the prospect of addition to their prize-money. Cain could +not, of course, raise any objections; it would have been so different +from his general practice, that it would have strengthened suspicions +already set afloat by Hawkhurst, which Cain was most anxious just then +to remove. He ordered the girl to be taken down into the cabin, hoisted +in the boat, and the breeze springing up again, made sail.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Francisco was consoling the unfortunate Clara, and +assuring her that she need be under no alarm, promising her protection +from himself and the captain.</p> + +<p>The poor girl wept bitterly, and it was not until Cain came down into +the cabin and corroborated the assurances of Francisco that she could +assume any degree of composure; but to find friends when she had +expected every insult and degradation—for Francisco had acknowledged +that the vessel was a pirate—was some consolation. The kindness and +attention of Francisco restored her to comparative tranquillity.</p> + +<p>The next day she confided to him the reason of her coming to the beach, +and her mistake with regard to the two vessels, and Francisco and Cain +promised her that they would themselves pay her ransom, and not wait +until she heard from her father. To divert her thoughts Francisco talked +much about Edward Templemore, and on that subject Clara could always +talk. Every circumstance attending the amour was soon known to +Francisco.</p> + +<p>But the <i>Avenger</i> did not gain her rendezvous as soon as she expected. +When to the northward of Porto Rico an English frigate bore down upon +her, and the <i>Avenger</i> was obliged to run for it. Before the wind is +always a schooner's worst point of sailing, and the chase was continued +for three days before a fresh wind from the southward, until they had +passed the Bahama Isles.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>The pirates suffered much from want of water, as it was necessary still +further to reduce their allowance. The frigate was still in sight, +although the <i>Avenger</i> had dropped her astern when the wind became +light, and at last it subsided into a calm, which lasted two days more. +The boats of the frigate were hoisted out on the eve of the second day +to attack the schooner, then distant five miles, when a breeze sprang up +from the northward, and the schooner being then to windward, left the +enemy hull down.</p> + +<p>It was not until the next day that Cain ventured to run again to the +southward to procure at one of the keys the water so much required. At +last it was obtained, but with difficulty and much loss of time, from +the scantiness of the supply, and they again made sail for the Caicos. +But they were so much impeded by contrary winds and contrary currents +that it was not until three weeks after they had been chased from Porto +Rico that they made out the low land of their former rendezvous.</p> + +<p>We must now return to Edward Templemore in the <i>Enterprise</i>, whom we +left off the coast of South America in search of the <i>Avenger</i>, which +had so strangely slipped through their fingers. Edward had examined the +whole coast, ran through the passage and round Trinidad, and then +started off to the Leeward Isles in his pursuit. He had spoken every +vessel he met with without gaining any information, and had at last +arrived off Porto Rico.</p> + +<p>This was no time to think of Clara; but, as it was not out of his way, +he had run down the island, and as it was just before dark when he +arrived off that part of the coast where the governor resided, he had +hove-to for a little while, and had examined the windows: but the signal +of recognition was not made, and after waiting till dark he again made +sail, mad with disappointment, and fearing that all had been discovered +by the governor; whereas the fact was, that he had only arrived two days +after the forcible abduction of Clara. Once more he directed his +attention to the discovery of the pirate, and after a fortnight's +examination of the inlets and bays of the Island of St. Domingo without +success, his provisions and water being nearly expended, he returned, in +no very happy mood, to Port Royal.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the disappearance of Clara had created<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> the greatest +confusion in Porto Rico, and upon the examination of her attendant, who +was confronted by the friar and the duenna, the amour of her mistress +was confessed. The appearance of the <i>Avenger</i> off the coast on that +evening confirmed their ideas that the Donna Clara had been carried off +by the English lieutenant, and Don Alfarez immediately despatched a +vessel to Jamaica, complaining of the outrage, and demanding the +restoration of his daughter.</p> + +<p>This vessel arrived at Port Royal a few days before the <i>Enterprise</i>, +and the admiral was very much astonished. He returned a very polite +answer to Don Alfarez, promising an investigation immediately upon the +arrival of the schooner, and to send a vessel with the result of the +said investigation.</p> + +<p>'This is a pretty business,' said the admiral to his secretary. 'Young +madcap! I sent him to look after a pirate, and he goes after the +governor's daughter! By the Lord Harry, Mr. Templemore, but you and I +shall have an account to settle.'</p> + +<p>'I can hardly believe it, sir,' replied the secretary; 'and yet it does +look suspicious. But on so short an acquaintance——'</p> + +<p>'Who knows that, Mr. Hadley? Send for his logs, and let us examine them; +he may have been keeping up the acquaintance.'</p> + +<p>The logs of the <i>Enterprise</i> were examined, and there were the fatal +words—Porto Rico, Porto Rico, bearing in every division of the compass, +and in every separate cruise, nay, even when the schooner was charged +with despatches.</p> + +<p>'Plain enough,' said the admiral. 'Confounded young scamp, to embroil me +in this way! Not that his marrying the girl is any business of mine; but +I will punish him for disobedience of orders, at all events. Try him by +a court-martial, by heavens!'</p> + +<p>The secretary made no reply: he knew very well that the admiral would do +no such thing.</p> + +<p>'The <i>Enterprise</i> anchored at daylight, sir,' reported the secretary as +the admiral sat down to breakfast.</p> + +<p>'And where's Mr. Templemore?'</p> + +<p>'He is outside in the veranda. They have told him below of what he has +been accused, and he swears it is false. I believe him, sir, for he +appears half mad at the intelligence.'</p> + +<p>'Stop a moment. Have you looked over his log?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir. It appears that he was off Porto Rico on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> 19th; but the +Spanish governor's letter says that he was there on the 17th, and again +made his appearance on the 19th. I mentioned it to him, and he declares +upon his honour that he was only there on the 19th, as stated in his +log.'</p> + +<p>'Well, let him come in and speak for himself.'</p> + +<p>Edward came in, in a state of great agitation.</p> + +<p>'Well, Mr. Templemore, you have been playing pretty tricks! What is all +this, sir? Where is the girl, sir—the governor's daughter?'</p> + +<p>'Where she is, sir, I cannot pretend to say; but I feel convinced that +she has been carried off by the pirates.'</p> + +<p>'Pirates! Poor girl, I pity her!—and I pity you too, Edward. Come, sit +down here, and tell me all that has happened.'</p> + +<p>Edward knew the admiral's character so well, that he immediately +disclosed all that had passed between him and Clara. He then stated how +the <i>Avenger</i> had escaped him by deceiving the frigate, and the +agreement made with Clara to meet for the future on the beach, with his +conviction that the pirate schooner, so exactly similar in appearance to +the <i>Enterprise</i>, must have preceded him at Porto Rico, and have carried +off the object of his attachment.</p> + +<p>Although Edward might have been severely taken to task, yet the admiral +pitied him, and therefore said nothing about his visits to Porto Rico. +When breakfast was over he ordered the signal to be made for a sloop of +war to prepare to weigh, and the <i>Enterprise</i> to be revictualled by the +boats of the squadron.</p> + +<p>'Now, Edward, you and the <i>Comus</i> shall sail in company after this +rascally pirate, and I trust you will give me a good account of her, and +also of the governor's daughter. Cheer up, my boy! depend upon it they +will try for ransom before they do her any injury.'</p> + +<p>That evening the <i>Enterprise</i> and <i>Comus</i> sailed on their expedition, +and having run by Porto Rico and delivered a letter to the governor, +they steered to the northward, and early the next morning made the land +of the Caicos, just as the <i>Avenger</i> had skirted the reefs and bore up +for the narrow entrance.</p> + +<p>'There she is!' exclaimed Edward; 'there she is, by heavens!' making the +signal for the enemy, which was immediately answered by the <i>Comus</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE CAICOS</h3> + + +<p>The small patch of islands called the Caicos, or Cayques, is situated +about two degrees to the northward of St. Domingo, and is nearly the +southernmost of a chain which extends up to the Bahamas. Most of the +islands of this chain are uninhabited, but were formerly the resort of +piratical vessels,—the reefs and shoals with which they are all +surrounded afforded them protection from their larger pursuers, and the +passages through this dangerous navigation being known only to the +pirates who frequented them, proved an additional security. The largest +of the Caicos islands forms a curve, like an opened horse-shoe, to the +southward, with safe and protected anchorage when once in the bay on the +southern side; but, previous to arriving at the anchorage, there are +coral reefs, extending upwards of forty miles, through which it is +necessary to conduct a vessel. This passage is extremely intricate, but +was well known to Hawkhurst, who had hitherto been pilot. Cain was not +so well acquainted with it, and it required the greatest care in taking +in the vessel, as, on the present occasion, Hawkhurst could not be +called upon for this service. The islands themselves—for there were +several of them—were composed of coral rock; a few cocoa trees raised +their lofty heads where there was sufficient earth for vegetation, and +stunted brushwood rose up between the interstices of the rocks. But the +chief peculiarity of the islands, and which rendered them suitable to +those who frequented them, was the numerous caves with which the rocks +were perforated, some above high-water mark, but the majority with the +sea-water flowing in and out of them, in some cases merely rushing in,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +and at high water filling deep pools, which were detached from each +other when the tide receded, in others with a sufficient depth of water +at all times to allow you to pull in with a large boat. It is hardly +necessary to observe how convenient the higher and dry caves were as +receptacles for articles which were intended to be concealed until an +opportunity occurred for disposing of them.</p> + +<p>In our last chapter we stated that, just as the <i>Avenger</i> had entered +the passage through the reefs, the <i>Comus</i> and <i>Enterprise</i> hove in +sight and discovered her; but it will be necessary to explain the +positions of the vessels. The <i>Avenger</i> had entered the southern +channel, with the wind from the southward, and had carefully sounded her +way for about four miles, under little or no sail.</p> + +<p>The <i>Enterprise</i> and <i>Comus</i> had been examining Turk's Island, to the +eastward of the Caicos, and had passed to the northward of it on the +larboard tack, standing in for the northern point of the reef, which +joined on to the great Caicos Island. They were, therefore, in a +situation to intercept the <i>Avenger</i> before she arrived at her +anchorage, had it not been for the reefs which barred their passage. The +only plan which the English vessels could act upon was to beat to the +southward, so as to arrive at the entrance of the passage, when the +<i>Enterprise</i> would, of course, find sufficient water to follow the +<i>Avenger</i>; for, as the passage was too narrow to beat through, and the +wind was from the southward, the <i>Avenger</i> could not possibly escape. +She was caught in a trap; and all that she had to trust to was the +defence which she might be able to make in her stronghold against the +force which could be employed in the attack. The breeze was fresh from +the southward, and appeared inclined to increase, when the <i>Comus</i> and +<i>Enterprise</i> made all sail, and worked, in short tacks, outside the +reef.</p> + +<p>On board the <i>Avenger</i> the enemy and their motions were clearly +distinguished, and Cain perceived that he was in an awkward dilemma. +That they would be attacked he had no doubt; and although, at any other +time, he would almost have rejoiced in such an opportunity of +discomfiting his assailants, yet now he thought very differently, and +would have sacrificed almost everything to have been able to avoid the +rencontre, and be permitted quietly to withdraw himself from his +associates,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> without the spilling of more blood. Francisco was equally +annoyed at this unfortunate collision; but no words were exchanged +between him and the pirate captain during the time that they were on +deck.</p> + +<p>It was about nine o'clock, when having safely passed nearly half through +the channel, that Cain ordered the kedge-anchor to be dropped, and sent +down the people to their breakfast. Francisco went down into the cabin, +and was explaining their situation to Clara, when Cain entered. He threw +himself on the locker, and appeared lost in deep and sombre meditation.</p> + +<p>'What do you intend to do?' said Francisco.</p> + +<p>'I do not know; I will not decide myself, Francisco,' replied Cain. 'If +I were to act upon my own judgment, probably I should allow the schooner +to remain where she is. They can only attack in the boats, and, in such +a case, I do not fear; whereas, if we run right through, we allow the +other schooner to follow us, without defending the passage; and we may +be attacked by her in the deep water inside, and overpowered by the +number of men the two vessels will be able to bring against us. On the +other hand, we certainly may defend the schooner from the shore as well +as on board; but we are weak-handed. I shall, however, call up the +ship's company and let them decide. God knows, if left to me I would not +fight at all.'</p> + +<p>'Is there no way of escape?' resumed Francisco.</p> + +<p>'Yes, we might abandon the schooner; and this night, when they would not +expect it, run with the boats through the channel between the great +island and the north Cayque: but that I dare not propose, and the men +would not listen to it; indeed, I very much doubt if the enemy will +allow us the time. I knew this morning, long before we saw those +vessels, that my fate would be decided before the sun went down.'</p> + +<p>'What do you mean?'</p> + +<p>'I mean this, Francisco,' said Cain; 'that your mother, who always has +visited me in my dreams whenever anything (dreadful now to think of!) +was about to take place, appeared to me last night; and there was sorrow +and pity in her sweet face as she mournfully waved her hand, as if to +summon me to follow her. Yes, thank God! she no longer looked upon me as +for many years she has done.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>Francisco made no answer; and Cain again seemed to be lost in +meditation.</p> + +<p>After a little while Cain rose, and taking a small packet from one of +the drawers, put it into the hands of Francisco.</p> + +<p>'Preserve that,' said the pirate captain; 'should any accident happen to +me it will tell you who was your mother; and it also contains directions +for finding treasure which I have buried. I leave everything to you, +Francisco. It has been unfairly obtained; but you are not the guilty +party, and there are none to claim it. Do not answer me now. You may +find friends, whom you will make after I am gone, of the same opinion as +I am. I tell you again, be careful of that packet.'</p> + +<p>'I see little chance of it availing me,' replied Francisco. 'If I live, +shall I not be considered as a pirate?'</p> + +<p>'No, no; you can prove the contrary.'</p> + +<p>'I have my doubts. But God's will be done!'</p> + +<p>'Yes, God's will be done!' said Cain mournfully. 'I dared not have said +that a month ago.' And the pirate captain went on deck, followed by +Francisco.</p> + +<p>The crew of the <i>Avenger</i> were summoned aft, and called upon to decide +as to the measures they considered to be most advisable. They preferred +weighing the anchor and running into the bay, where they would be able +to defend the schooner, in their opinion, much better than by remaining +where they were.</p> + +<p>The crew of the pirate schooner weighed the anchor, and continued their +precarious course; the breeze had freshened, and the water was in strong +ripples, so that they could no longer see the danger beneath her bottom. +In the meantime, the sloop of war and <i>Enterprise</i> continued to turn to +windward outside the reef.</p> + +<p>By noon the wind had considerably increased, and the breakers now turned +and broke in wild foam over the coral reefs in every direction. The sail +was still more reduced on board the <i>Avenger</i>, and her difficulties +increased from the rapidity of her motion.</p> + +<p>A storm-jib was set, and the others hauled down; yet even under this +small sail she flew before the wind.</p> + +<p>Cain stood at the bowsprit, giving his directions to the helmsman. More +than once they had grazed the rocks and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> were clear again. Spars were +towed astern, and every means resorted to, to check her way. They had no +guide but the breaking of the wild water on each side of them.</p> + +<p>'Why should not Hawkhurst, who knows the passage so well, be made to +pilot us?' said the boatswain to those who were near him on the +forecastle.</p> + +<p>'To be sure! let's have him up!' cried several of the crew; and some of +them went down below.</p> + +<p>In a minute they reappeared with Hawkhurst, whom they led forward. He +did not make any resistance, and the crew demanded that he should pilot +the vessel.</p> + +<p>'And suppose I will not?' said Hawkhurst coolly.</p> + +<p>'Then you lose your passage, that's all,' replied the boatswain. 'Is it +not so, my lads?' continued he, appealing to the crew.</p> + +<p>'Yes; either take us safe in, or—overboard,' replied several.</p> + +<p>'I do not mind that threat, my lads,' replied Hawkhurst; 'you have all +known me as a good man and true, and it's not likely that I shall desert +you now. Well, since your captain there cannot save you, I suppose I +must; but,' exclaimed he, looking about him, 'how's this? We are out of +the passage already. Yes—and whether we can get into it again I cannot +tell.'</p> + +<p>'We are not out of the passage,' said Cain; 'you know we are not.'</p> + +<p>'Well then, if the captain knows better than I, he had better take you +through,' rejoined Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>But the crew thought differently, and insisted that Hawkhurst, who well +knew the channel, should take charge. Cain retired aft, as Hawkhurst +went out on the bowsprit.</p> + +<p>'I will do my best, my lads,' said Hawkhurst; 'but recollect, if we +strike in trying to get into the right channel, do not blame me. +Starboard a little—starboard yet—steady, so—there's the true passage, +my lads!' cried he, pointing to some smoother water between the +breakers; 'port a little—steady.'</p> + +<p>But Hawkhurst, who knew that he was to be put on shore as soon as +convenient, had resolved to lose the schooner, even if his own life were +forfeited, and he was now running her out of the passage on the rocks. A +minute after he had conned her, she struck heavily again and again. The +third time she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> struck, she came broadside to the wind and heeled over; +a sharp coral rock found its way through her slight timbers and +planking, and the water poured in rapidly.</p> + +<p>During this there was a dead silence on the part of the marauders.</p> + +<p>'My lads,' said Hawkhurst, 'I have done my best, and now you may throw +me overboard if you please. It was not my fault, but his,' continued he, +pointing to the captain.</p> + +<p>'It is of little consequence whose fault it was, Mr. Hawkhurst,' replied +Cain; 'we will settle that point by and by; at present we have too much +on our hands. Out boats, men! as fast as you can, and let every man +provide himself with arms and ammunition. Be cool! the schooner is fixed +hard enough, and will not go down; we shall save everything by and by.'</p> + +<p>The pirates obeyed the orders of the captain. The three boats were +hoisted out and lowered down. In the first were placed all the wounded +men and Clara d'Alfarez, who was assisted up by Francisco. As soon as +the men had provided themselves with arms, Francisco, to protect Clara, +offered to take charge of her, and the boat shoved off.</p> + +<p>The men-of-war had seen the <i>Avenger</i> strike on the rocks, and the +preparations of the crew to take to their boats. They immediately +hove-to, hoisted out and manned their own boats, with the hopes of +cutting them off before they could gain the island and prepare for a +vigorous defence; for, although the vessels could not approach the +reefs, there was sufficient water in many places for the boats to pass +over them. Shortly after Francisco, in the first boat, had shoved off +from the <i>Avenger</i>, the boats of the men-of-war were darting through the +surf to intercept them. The pirates perceived this, and hastened their +arrangements; a second boat soon left her, and into that Hawkhurst +leaped as it was shoving off. Cain remained on board, going round the +lower decks to ascertain if any of the wounded men were left; he then +quitted the schooner in the last boat and followed the others, being +about a quarter of a mile astern of the second, in which Hawkhurst had +secured his place.</p> + +<p>At the time that Cain quitted the schooner, it was difficult to say +whether the men-of-war's boats would succeed in intercepting any of the +pirates' boats. Both parties exerted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> themselves to their utmost; and +when the first boat, with Francisco and Clara, landed, the headmost of +the assailants was not much more than half a mile from them; but shallow +water intervening there was a delay, which was favourable to the +pirates. Hawkhurst landed in his boat as the launch of the <i>Comus</i> fired +her eighteen-pound carronade. The last boat was yet two hundred yards +from the beach, when another shot from the <i>Comus's</i> launch, which had +been unable hitherto to find a passage through the reef, struck her on +the counter, and she filled and went down.</p> + +<p>'He is gone!' exclaimed Francisco, who had led Clara to a cave, and +stood at the mouth of it to protect her; 'they have sunk his boat—no, +he is swimming to the shore, and will be here now, long before the +English seamen can land.'</p> + +<p>This was true. Cain was breasting the water manfully, making for a small +cove nearer to where the boat was sunk than the one in which Francisco +had landed with Clara and the wounded men, and divided from the other by +a ridge of rocks which separated the sandy beach, and extended some way +into the water before they were submerged. Francisco could easily +distinguish the pirate captain from the other men, who also were +swimming for the beach; for Cain was far ahead of them, and as he gained +nearer to the shore he was shut from Francisco's sight by the ridge of +rocks. Francisco, anxious for his safety, climbed up the rocks and was +watching. Cain was within a few yards of the beach when there was a +report of a musket; the pirate captain was seen to raise his body +convulsively half out of the water—he floundered—the clear blue wave +was discoloured—he sank, and was seen no more.</p> + +<p>Francisco darted forward from the rocks, and perceived Hawkhurst +standing beneath them with the musket in his hand, which he was +recharging.</p> + +<p>'Villain!' exclaimed Francisco, 'you shall account for this.'</p> + +<p>Hawkhurst had reprimed his musket and shut the pan.</p> + +<p>'Not to you,' replied Hawkhurst, levelling his piece, and taking aim at +Francisco.</p> + +<p>The ball struck Francisco on the breast; he reeled back from his +position, staggered across the sand, gained the cave, and fell at the +feet of Clara.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 405px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i176.png" width="405" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>The pirate captain was seen to raise his body +convulsively half out of the water—he floundered, sank, and was seen no +more.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + +<p>'O God!' exclaimed the poor girl, 'are <i>you</i> hurt? who is there, then, +to protect me?'</p> + +<p>'I hardly know,' replied Francisco faintly; and, at intervals, 'I feel +no wound. I feel stronger;' and Francisco put his hand to his heart.</p> + +<p>Clara opened his vest, and found that the packet given to Francisco by +Cain, and which he had deposited in his breast, had been struck by the +bullet, which had done him no injury further than the violent concussion +of the blow—notwithstanding he was faint from the shock, and his head +fell upon Clara's bosom.</p> + +<p>But we must relate the proceedings of those who were mixed up in this +exciting scene. Edward Templemore had watched from his vessel, with an +eager and painful curiosity, the motions of the schooner—her running on +the rocks, and the subsequent actions of the intrepid marauders. The +long telescope enabled him to perceive distinctly all that passed, and +his feelings were increased into a paroxysm of agony when his straining +eyes beheld the white and fluttering habiliments of a female for a +moment at the gunwale of the stranded vessel—her descent, as it +appeared to him, nothing loth, into the boat—the arms held out to +receive, and the extension of hers to meet those offered. Could it be +Clara? Where was the reluctance, the unavailing attempts at resistance, +which should have characterised her situation? Excited by feelings which +he dared not analyse, he threw down his glass, and, seizing his sword, +sprang into his boat, which was ready manned alongside, desiring the +others to follow him. For once, and the only time in his existence when +approaching the enemy, did he feel his heart sink within him—a cold +tremor ran through his whole frame, and as he called to mind the loose +morals and desperate habits of the pirates, horrible thoughts entered +his imagination. As he neared the shore, he stood up in the stern-sheets +of the boat, pale, haggard, and with trembling lips; and the intensity +of his feelings would have been intolerable but for a more violent +thirst for revenge. He clenched his sword, while the quick throbs of his +heart seemed, at every pulsation, to repeat to him his thoughts of +blood! blood! blood! He approached the small bay, and perceived that +there was a female at the mouth of the cave—nearer and nearer, and he +was certain that it was his Clara—her name was on his lips<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> when he +heard the two shots fired one after another by Hawkhurst—he saw the +retreat and fall of Francisco—when, madness to behold! he perceived +Clara rush forward, and there lay the young man supported by her, and +with his head upon her bosom. Could he believe what he saw? could she +really be his betrothed? Yes, there she was, supporting the handsome +figure of a young man, and that man a pirate—she had even put her hand +into his vest, and was now watching over his reviving form. Edward could +bear no more; he covered his eyes, and now, maddened with jealousy, in a +voice of thunder he called out—</p> + +<p>'Give way, my lads! for your lives, give way!'</p> + +<p>The gig was within half a dozen strokes of the oar from the beach, and +Clara, unconscious of wrong, had just taken the packet of papers from +Francisco's vest, when Hawkhurst made his appearance from behind the +rocks which separated the two little sandy coves. Francisco had +recovered his breath, and, perceiving the approach of Hawkhurst, he +sprang upon his feet to recover his musket; but, before he could +succeed, Hawkhurst had closed in with him, and a short and dreadful +struggle ensued. It would soon have terminated fatally to Francisco, for +the superior strength of Hawkhurst had enabled him to bear down the body +of his opponent with his knee, and he was fast strangling him by +twisting his handkerchief round his throat, while Clara shrieked, and +attempted in vain to tear the pirate from him. As the prostrate +Francisco was fast blackening into a corpse, and the maiden screamed for +pity, and became frantic in her efforts for his rescue, the boat dashed +high up on the sand; and, with the bound of a maddened tiger, Edward +sprang upon Hawkhurst, tearing him down on his back, and severing his +wrist with his sword-blade until his hold of Francisco was relaxed, and +he wrestled in his own defence.</p> + +<p>'Seize him, my lads!' said Edward, pointing with his left hand to +Hawkhurst; as with his sword directed to the body of Francisco he +bitterly continued, '<i>This victim is mine!</i>' But, whatever were his +intentions, they were frustrated by Clara's recognition, who shrieked +out, 'My Edward!' sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a state +of insensibility.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 408px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i179.png" width="408" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Clara sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a +state of insensibility.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>The seamen who had secured Hawkhurst looked upon the scene with curious +astonishment, while Edward waited with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> mingled feelings of impatience +and doubt for Clara's recovery; he wished to be assured by her that he +was mistaken, and he turned again and again from her face to that of +Francisco, who was fast recovering. During this painful suspense, +Hawkhurst was bound and made to sit down.</p> + +<p>'Edward! dear Edward!' said Clara at last, in a faint voice, clinging +more closely to him; 'and am I then rescued by thee, dearest!'</p> + +<p>Edward felt the appeal; but his jealousy had not yet subsided.</p> + +<p>'Who is that, Clara?' said he sternly.</p> + +<p>'It is Francisco. No pirate, Edward, but my preserver.'</p> + +<p>'Ha, ha!' laughed Hawkhurst, with a bitter sneer, for he perceived how +matters stood.</p> + +<p>Edward Templemore turned towards him with an inquiring look.</p> + +<p>'Ha, ha!' continued Hawkhurst; 'why, he is the captain's son! No pirate, +eh? Well, what will women not swear to, to save those they dote upon!'</p> + +<p>'If the captain's son,' said Edward, 'why were you contending?'</p> + +<p>'Because just now I shot his scoundrel father.'</p> + +<p>'Edward!' said Clara solemnly, 'this is no time for explanation; but, as +I hope for mercy, what I have said is true; believe not that villain.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said Francisco, who was now sitting up, 'believe him when he says +that he shot the captain, for that is true; but, sir, if you value your +own peace of mind, believe nothing to the prejudice of that young lady.'</p> + +<p>'I hardly know what to believe,' muttered Edward Templemore; 'but, as +the lady says, this is no time for explanation. With your permission, +madam,' said he to Clara, 'my coxswain will see you in safety on board +of the schooner, or the other vessel, if you prefer it; my duty will not +allow me to accompany you.'</p> + +<p>Clara darted a reproachful yet fond look on Edward, as, with swimming +eyes, she was led by the coxswain to the boat, which had been joined by +the launch of the <i>Comus</i>, the crew of which were, with their officers, +wading to the beach. The men of the gig remained until they had given +Hawkhurst and Francisco in charge of the other seamen, and then shoved +off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> with Clara for the schooner. Edward Templemore gave one look at the +gig as it conveyed Clara on board, and ordering Hawkhurst and Francisco +to be taken to the launch, and a guard to be kept over them, went up, +with the remainder of the men, in pursuit of the pirates.</p> + +<p>During the scene we have described, the other boats of the men-of-war +had landed on the island, and the <i>Avenger's</i> crew, deprived of their +leaders, and scattered in every direction, were many of them slain or +captured. In about two hours it was supposed that the majority of the +pirates had been accounted for, and the prisoners being now very +numerous, it was decided that the boats should return with them to the +<i>Comus</i>, the captain of which vessel, as commanding officer, would then +issue orders as to their future proceedings.</p> + +<p>The captured pirates, when mustered on the deck of the <i>Comus</i>, amounted +to nearly sixty, out of which number one-half were those who had been +sent on shore wounded, and had surrendered without resistance. Of killed +there were fifteen; and it was conjectured that as many more had been +drowned in the boat when she was sunk by the shot from the carronade of +the launch. Although, by the account given by the captured pirates, the +majority were secured, yet there was reason to suppose that some were +still left on the island concealed in the caves.</p> + +<p>As the captain of the <i>Comus</i> had orders to return as soon as possible, +he decided to sail immediately for Port Royal with the prisoners, +leaving the <i>Enterprise</i> to secure the remainder, if there were any, and +recover anything of value which might be left in the wreck of the +<i>Avenger</i>, and then to destroy her.</p> + +<p>With the usual celerity of the service these orders were obeyed. The +pirates, among whom Francisco was included, were secured, the boats +hoisted up, and in half an hour the <i>Comus</i> displayed her ensign, and +made all sail on a wind, leaving Edward Templemore, with the +<i>Enterprise</i>, at the back of the reef, to perform the duties entailed +upon him; and Clara, who was on board of the schooner, to remove the +suspicion and jealousy which had arisen in the bosom of her lover.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE TRIAL</h3> + + +<p>In a week, the <i>Comus</i> arrived at Port Royal, and the captain went up to +the Penn to inform the admiral of the successful result of the +expedition.</p> + +<p>'Thank God,' said the admiral, 'we have caught these villains at last! A +little hanging will do them no harm. The captain, you say, was drowned?'</p> + +<p>'So it is reported, sir,' replied Captain Manly; 'he was in the last +boat which left the schooner, and she was sunk by a shot from the +launch.'</p> + +<p>'I am sorry for that; the death was too good for him. However, we must +make an example of the rest; they must be tried by the Admiralty Court, +which has the jurisdiction of the high seas. Send them on shore, Manly, +and we wash our hands of them.'</p> + +<p>'Very good, sir; but there are still some left on the island, we have +reason to believe, and the <i>Enterprise</i> is in search of them.'</p> + +<p>'By the bye, did Templemore find his lady?'</p> + +<p>'Oh yes, sir; and—all's right, I believe: but I had very little to say +to him on the subject.'</p> + +<p>'Humph!' replied the admiral. 'I am glad to hear it. Well, send them on +shore, Manly, to the proper authorities. If any more be found, they must +be hung afterwards when Templemore brings them in. I am more pleased at +having secured these scoundrels than if we had taken a French frigate.'</p> + +<p>About three weeks after this conversation, the secretary reported to the +admiral that the <i>Enterprise</i> had made her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> number outside; but that she +was becalmed, and would not probably be in until the evening.</p> + +<p>'That's a pity,' replied the admiral; 'for the pirates are to be tried +this morning. He may have more of them on board.'</p> + +<p>'Very true, sir; but the trial will hardly be over to-day: the judge +will not be in court till one o'clock at the soonest.'</p> + +<p>'It's of little consequence, certainly; as it is, there are so many that +they must be hanged by divisions. However, as he is within signal +distance, let them telegraph 'Pirates now on trial.' He can pull on +shore in his gig, if he pleases.'</p> + +<p>It was about noon on the same day that the pirates, and among them +Francisco, escorted by a strong guard, were conducted to the court-house +and placed at the bar. The court-house was crowded to excess, for the +interest excited was intense.</p> + +<p>Many of them who had been wounded in the attack upon the property of Don +Cumanos, and afterwards captured, had died in their confinement. Still +forty-five were placed at the bar; and their picturesque costume, their +bearded faces, and the atrocities which they had committed, created in +those present a sensation of anxiety mingled with horror and +indignation.</p> + +<p>Two of the youngest amongst them had been permitted to turn king's +evidence. They had been on board of the <i>Avenger</i> but a few months; +still their testimony as to the murder of the crews of three West India +ships, and the attack upon the property of Don Cumanos, was quite +sufficient to condemn the remainder.</p> + +<p>Much time was necessarily expended in going through the forms of the +court; in the pirates answering to their various names; and, lastly, in +taking down the detailed evidence of the above men. It was late when the +evidence was read over to the pirates, and they were asked if they had +anything to offer in their defence. The question was repeated by the +judge; when Hawkhurst was the first to speak. To save himself he could +scarcely hope; his only object was to prevent Francisco pleading his +cause successfully, and escaping the same disgraceful death.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 417px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i184.png" width="417" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>The pirates at the bar.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>Hawkhurst declared that he had been some time on board the <i>Avenger</i>, +but that he had been taken out of a vessel and forced to serve against +his will, as could be proved by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> captain's son, who stood there +(pointing to Francisco), who had been in the schooner since her first +fitting out: that he had always opposed the captain, who would not part +with him, because he was the only one on board who was competent to +navigate the schooner: that he had intended to rise against him, and +take the vessel, having often stimulated the crew so to do; and that, as +the other men, as well as the captain's son, could prove, if they +choose, he actually was in confinement for that attempt when the +schooner was entering the passage to the Caicos; and that he was only +released because he was acquainted with the passage, and threatened to +be thrown overboard if he did not take her in: that, at every risk, he +had run her on the rocks; and aware that the captain would murder him, +he had shot Cain as he was swimming to the shore, as the captain's son +could prove; for he had taxed him with it, and he was actually +struggling with him for life, when the officers and boats' crew +separated them, and made them both prisoners: that he hardly expected +that Francisco, the captain's son, would tell the truth to save him, as +he was his bitter enemy, and in the business at the Magdalen river, +which had been long planned (for Francisco had been sent on shore under +the pretence of being wrecked, but, in fact, to ascertain where the +booty was, and to assist the pirates in their attack), Francisco had +taken the opportunity of putting a bullet through his shoulder, which +was well known to the other pirates, and Francisco could not venture to +deny. He trusted that the court would order the torture to Francisco, +and then he would probably speak the truth; at all events, let him speak +now.</p> + +<p>When Hawkhurst had ceased to address the court, there was an anxious +pause for some minutes. The day was fast declining, and most parts of +the spacious court-house were already deeply immersed in gloom; while +the light, sober, solemn, and almost sad, gleamed upon the savage and +reckless countenances of the prisoners at the bar. The sun had sunk down +behind a mass of heavy yet gorgeous clouds, fringing their edges with +molten gold. Hawkhurst had spoken fluently and energetically, and there +was an appearance of almost honesty in his coarse and deep-toned voice. +Even the occasional oaths with which his speech was garnished, but which +we have omitted, seemed to be pronounced more in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> sincerity than in +blasphemy, and gave a more forcible impression to his narrative.</p> + +<p>We have said that when he concluded there was a profound silence; and +amid the fast-falling shadows of the evening, those who were present +began to feel, for the first time, the awful importance of the drama +before them, the number of lives which were trembling upon the verge of +existence, depending upon the single word of 'Guilty.' This painful +silence, this harrowing suspense, was at last broken by a restrained sob +from a female; but, owing to the obscurity involving the body of the +court, her person could not be distinguished. The wail of woman so +unexpected—for who could there be of that sex interested in the fate of +these desperate men?—touched the heart of its auditors, and appeared to +sow the first seeds of compassionate and humane feeling among those who +had hitherto expressed and felt nothing but indignation towards the +prisoners.</p> + +<p>The judge upon the bench, the counsel at the bar, and the jury +impannelled in their box, felt the force of the appeal; and it softened +down the evil impression created by the address of Hawkhurst against the +youthful Francisco. The eyes of all were now directed towards the one +doubly accused—accused not only by the public prosecutor, but even by +his associate in crime—and the survey was favourable. They acknowledged +that he was one whose personal qualities might indeed challenge the love +of woman in his pride, and her lament in his disgrace; and as their +regard was directed towards him, the sun, which had been obscured, now +pierced through a break in the mass of clouds, and threw a portion of +his glorious beams from a window opposite upon him, and him alone, while +all the other prisoners who surrounded him were buried more or less in +deep shadow. It was at once evident that his associates were bold yet +commonplace villains—men who owed their courage, their only virtue +perhaps, to their habits, to their physical organisation, or the +influence of those around them. They were mere human butchers, with the +only adjunct that, now that the trade was to be exercised upon +themselves, they could bear it with sullen apathy—a feeling how far +removed from true fortitude! Even Hawkhurst, though more commanding than +the rest, with all his daring mien and scowl of defiance, looked nothing +more than a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> distinguished ruffian. With the exception of Francisco, the +prisoners had wholly neglected their personal appearance; and in them +the squalid and sordid look of the mendicant seemed allied with the +ferocity of the murderer.</p> + +<p>Francisco was not only an exception, but formed a beautiful contrast to +the others; and as the evening beams lighted up his figure, he stood at +the bar, if not with all the splendour of a hero of romance, certainly a +most picturesque and interesting personage, elegantly if not richly +attired.</p> + +<p>The low sobs at intervals repeated, as if impossible to be checked, +seemed to rouse and call him to a sense of the important part which he +was called upon to act in the tragedy there and then performing. His +face was pale, yet composed; his mien at once proud and sorrowful; his +eye was bright, yet his glance was not upon those in court, but far +away, fixed, like an eagle's, upon the gorgeous beams of the setting +sun, which glowed upon him through the window that was in front of him.</p> + +<p>At last the voice of Francisco was heard, and all in that wide court +started at the sound—deep, full, and melodious as the evening chimes. +The ears of those present had, in the profound silence, but just +recovered from the harsh, deep-toned, and barbarous idiom of Hawkhurst's +address, when the clear, silvery, yet manly voice of Francisco riveted +their attention. The jury stretched forth their heads, the counsel and +all in court turned anxiously round towards the prisoner, even the judge +held up his forefinger to intimate his wish for perfect silence.</p> + +<p>'My lord and gentlemen,' commenced Francisco, 'when I first found myself +in this degrading situation, I had not thought to have spoken or to have +uttered one word in my defence. He that has just now accused me has +recommended the torture to be applied; he has already had his wish, for +what torture can be more agonising than to find myself where I now am? +So tortured, indeed, have I been through a short yet wretched life, that +I have often felt that anything short of self-destruction which would +release me would be a blessing; but within these few minutes I have been +made to acknowledge that I have still feelings in unison with my +fellow-creatures; that I am not yet fit for death, and all too young, +too unprepared to die: for who would not reluctantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> leave this world +while there is such a beauteous sky to love and look upon, or while +there is one female breast who holds him innocent, and has evinced her +pity for his misfortunes? Yes, my lord! mercy, and pity, and compassion +have not yet fled from earth; and therefore do I feel I am too young to +die. God forgive me! but I thought they had—for never have they been +shown in those with whom by fate I have been connected; and it has been +from this conviction that I have so often longed for death. And now may +that righteous God who judges us not here, but hereafter, enable me to +prove that I do not deserve an ignominious punishment from my +fellow-sinners—men!</p> + +<p>'My lord, I know not the subtleties of the laws, nor the intricacy of +pleadings. First, let me assert that I have never robbed; but I have +restored unto the plundered: I have never murdered; but I have stood +between the assassin's knife and his victim. For this have I been hated +and reviled by my associates, and for this is my life now threatened by +those laws against which I never have offended. The man who last +addressed you has told you that I am the pirate captain's son; it is the +assertion of the only irreclaimable and utterly remorseless villain +among those who now stand before you to be judged—the assertion of one +whose glory, whose joy, whose solace, has been blood-shedding.</p> + +<p>'My lord, I had it from the mouth of the captain himself, previous to +his murder by that man, that I was not his son. His son! thank God, not +so. Connected with him and in his power I was most certainly and most +incomprehensibly. Before he died, he delivered me a packet that would +have told me who I am; but I have lost it, and deeply have I felt the +loss. One only fact I gained from him whom they would call my father, +which is, that with his own hand he slew—yes, basely slew—my mother.'</p> + +<p>The address of Francisco was here interrupted by a low deep groan of +anguish, which startled the whole audience. It was now quite dark, and +the judge ordered the court to be lighted previous to the defence being +continued. The impatience and anxiety of those present were shown in low +murmurs of communication until the lights were brought in. The word +'Silence!' from the judge produced an immediate obedience, and the +prisoner was ordered to proceed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>Francisco then continued his address, commencing with the remembrances +of his earliest childhood. As he warmed with his subject he became more +eloquent; his action became energetical without violence; and the pallid +and modest youth gradually grew into the impassioned and inspired +orator. He recapitulated rapidly, yet distinctly and with terrible +force, all the startling events in his fearful life. There was truth in +the tones of his voice, there was conviction in his animated +countenance, there was innocence in his open and expressive brow.</p> + +<p>All who heard believed; and scarcely had he concluded his address, when +the jury appeared impatient to rise and give their verdict in his +favour. But the judge stood up, and addressing the jury, told them that +it was his most painful duty to remind them that as yet they had heard +but assertion, beautiful and almost convincing assertion truly; but +still it was not proof.</p> + +<p>'Alas!' observed Francisco, 'what evidence can I bring forward, except +the evidence of those around me at the bar, which will not be admitted? +Can I recall the dead from the grave? Can I expect those who have been +murdered to rise again to assert my innocence? Can I expect that Don +Cumanos will appear from distant leagues to give evidence on my behalf? +Alas! he knows not how I am situated, or he would have flown to my +succour. No, no; not even can I expect that the sweet Spanish maiden, +the last to whom I offered my protection, will appear in such a place as +this to meet the bold gaze of hundreds!'</p> + +<p>'She is here!' replied a manly voice; and a passage was made through the +crowd; and Clara, supported by Edward Templemore, dressed in his +uniform, was ushered into the box for the witnesses. The appearance of +the fair girl, who looked round her with alarm, created a great +sensation. As soon as she was sufficiently composed she was sworn, and +gave her evidence as to Francisco's behaviour during the time that she +was a prisoner on board of the <i>Avenger</i>. She produced the packet which +had saved the life of Francisco, and substantiated a great part of his +defence. She extolled his kindness and his generosity; and when she had +concluded every one asked of himself, 'Can this young man be a pirate +and a murderer?' The reply was, 'It is impossible.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 427px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i190.png" width="427" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>As soon as she was sufficiently composed, was sworn, and +gave her evidence.</i></span></div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, 'I request permission to ask the +prisoner a question. When I was on board of the wreck of the <i>Avenger</i>, +I found this book floating in the cabin. I wish to ask the prisoner +whether, as that young lady has informed me, it is his?' And Edward +Templemore produced the Bible.</p> + +<p>'It is mine,' replied Francisco.</p> + +<p>'May I ask you by what means it came into your possession?'</p> + +<p>'It is the only relic left of one who is now no more. It was the +consolation of my murdered mother; it has since been mine. Give it to +me, sir; I may probably need its support now more than ever.'</p> + +<p>'Was your mother murdered, say you?' cried Edward Templemore, with much +agitation.</p> + +<p>'I have already said so; and I now repeat it.'</p> + +<p>The judge again rose, and recapitulated the evidence to the jury. +Evidently friendly to Francisco, he was obliged to point out to them, +that although the evidence of the young lady had produced much which +might be offered in extenuation, and induce him to submit it to His +Majesty, in hopes of his gracious pardon after condemnation, yet, that +many acts in which the prisoner had been involved had endangered his +life, and no testimony had been brought forward to prove that he had +not, at one time, acted with the pirates, although he might since have +repented. They would, of course, remember that the evidence of the mate, +Hawkhurst, was not of any value, and must dismiss any impression which +it might have made against Francisco. At the same time he had the +unpleasant duty to point out that the evidence of the Spanish lady was +so far prejudicial, that it pointed out the good terms subsisting +between the young man and the pirate captain. Much as he was interested +in his fate, he must reluctantly remind the jury that the evidence on +the whole was not sufficient to clear the prisoner; and he considered it +their duty to return a verdict of <i>guilty against all the prisoners at +the bar</i>.</p> + +<p>'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, a few seconds after the judge had +resumed his seat, 'may not the contents of this packet, the seal of +which I have not ventured to break, afford some evidence in favour of +the prisoner? Have you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> any objection that it should be opened previous +to the jury delivering their verdict?'</p> + +<p>'None,' replied the judge; 'but what are its supposed contents?'</p> + +<p>'The contents, my lord,' replied Francisco, 'are in the writing of the +pirate captain. He delivered that packet into my hands previous to our +quitting the schooner, stating that it would inform me who were my +parents. My lord, in my present situation I claim that packet, and +refuse that its contents shall be read in court. If I am to die an +ignominious death, at least those who are connected with me shall not +have to blush at my disgrace, for the secret of my parentage shall die +with me.'</p> + +<p>'Nay—nay; be ruled by me,' replied Edward Templemore, with much +emotion. 'In the narrative, the handwriting of which can be proved by +the king's evidence, there may be acknowledgment of all you have stated, +and it will be received as evidence; will it not, my lord?'</p> + +<p>'If the handwriting is proved, I should think it may,' replied the +judge; 'particularly as the lady was present when the packet was +delivered, and heard the captain's assertion. Will you allow it to be +offered as evidence, young man?'</p> + +<p>'No, my lord,' replied Francisco; 'unless I have permission first to +peruse it myself. I will not have its contents divulged, unless I am +sure of an honourable acquittal. The jury must deliver their verdict.'</p> + +<p>The jury turned round to consult, during which Edward Templemore walked +to Francisco, accompanied by Clara, to entreat him to allow the packet +to be opened; but Francisco was firm against both their entreaties. At +last the foreman of the jury rose to deliver the verdict. A solemn and +awful silence prevailed throughout the court; the suspense was painful +to a degree.</p> + +<p>'My lord,' said the foreman of the jury, 'our verdict is——'</p> + +<p>'Stop, sir!' said Edward Templemore, as he clasped one arm round the +astonished Francisco, and extended the other towards the foreman. 'Stop, +sir! harm him not! for he is my brother!'</p> + +<p>'And my preserver!' cried Clara, kneeling on the other side of +Francisco, and holding up her hands in supplication.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>The announcement was electrical; the foreman dropped into his seat; the +judge and whole court were in mute astonishment. The dead silence was +followed by confusion, which, after a time, the judge in vain attempted +to put a stop to.</p> + +<p>Edward Templemore, Clara, and Francisco, continued to form the same +group; and never was there one more beautiful. And now that they were +together, every one in court perceived the strong resemblance between +the two young men.</p> + +<p>Francisco's complexion was darker than Edward's, from his constant +exposure, from infancy, to tropical sun; but the features of the two +were the same.</p> + +<p>It was some time before the judge could obtain silence in the court; and +when it had been obtained, he was himself puzzled how to proceed.</p> + +<p>Edward and Francisco, who had exchanged a few words, were now standing +side by side.</p> + +<p>'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, 'the prisoner consents that the +packet shall be opened.'</p> + +<p>'I do,' said Francisco mournfully; 'although I have but little hope from +its contents. Alas! now that I have everything to live for—now that I +cling to life, I feel as if every chance was gone! The days of miracles +have passed; and nothing but the miracle of the reappearance of the +pirate captain from the grave can prove my innocence.'</p> + +<p>'He reappears from the grave to prove thine innocence, Francisco!' said +a deep, hollow voice, which startled the whole court, and most of all +Hawkhurst and the prisoners at the bar. Still more did fear and horror +distort their countenances when into the witness-box stalked the giant +form of Cain.</p> + +<p>But it was no longer the figure which we have described in the +commencement of this narrative; his beard had been removed, and he was +pale, wan, and emaciated. His sunken eyes, his hollow cheek, and a short +cough, which interrupted his speech, proved that his days were nearly at +a close.</p> + +<p>'My lord,' said Cain, addressing the judge, 'I am the pirate Cain, and +was the captain of the <i>Avenger</i>! Still am I free! I come here +voluntarily, that I may attest the innocence of that young man! As yet, +my hand has not known the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> manacle, nor my feet the gyves! I am not a +prisoner, nor included in the indictment, and at present my evidence is +good. None know me in this court, except those whose testimony, as +prisoners, is unavailing; and therefore, to save that boy, and only to +save him, I demand that I may be sworn.'</p> + +<p>The oath was administered with more than usual solemnity.</p> + +<p>'My lord, and gentlemen of the jury, I have been in court since the +commencement of the trial, and I declare that every word which Francisco +has uttered in his own defence is true. He is totally innocent of any +act of piracy or murder; the packet would, indeed, have proved as much: +but in that packet there are secrets which I wished to remain unknown to +all but Francisco; and, rather than it should be opened, I have come +forward myself. How that young officer discovered that Francisco is his +brother I know not; but if he also is the son of Cecilia Templemore, it +is true. But the packet will explain all.</p> + +<p>'And now, my lords, that my evidence is received, I am content; I have +done one good deed before I die, and I surrender myself, as a pirate and +a foul murderer, to justice. True, my life is nearly closed—thanks to +that villain there; but I prefer that I should meet that death I merit, +as an expiation of my many deeds of guilt.'</p> + +<p>Cain then turned to Hawkhurst, who was close to him, but the mate +appeared to be in a state of stupor; he had not recovered from his first +terror, and still imagined the appearance of Cain to be supernatural.</p> + +<p>'Villain!' exclaimed Cain, putting his mouth close to Hawkhurst's ear; +'doubly d—d villain! thou'lt die like a dog, and unrevenged! The boy is +safe, and I'm alive!'</p> + +<p>'Art thou really living?' said Hawkhurst, recovering from his fear.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 354px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i195.png" width="354" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Blood for blood!'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>'Yes, living—yes, flesh and blood; feel, wretch! feel this arm, and be +convinced; thou hast felt the power of it before now,' continued Cain +sarcastically. 'And now, my lord, I have done; Francisco, fare thee +well! I loved thee, and have proved my love. Hate not then my memory, +and forgive me—yes, forgive me when I'm no more,' said Cain, who then +turned his eyes to the ceiling of the court-house. 'Yes, there she is, +Francisco!—there she is! and see,' cried he,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> extending both arms +above his head, 'she smiles upon—yes, Francisco, your sainted mother +smiles and pardons——'</p> + +<p>The sentence was not finished; for Hawkhurst, when Cain's arms were +upheld, perceived his knife in his girdle, and, with the rapidity of +thought, he drew it out, and passed it through the body of the pirate +captain.</p> + +<p>Cain fell heavily on the floor, while the court was again in confusion. +Hawkhurst was secured, and Cain raised from the ground.</p> + +<p>'I thank thee, Hawkhurst!' said Cain, in an expiring voice; 'another +murder thou hast to answer for; and you have saved me from the disgrace, +not of the gallows, but of the gallows in thy company. Francisco, boy, +farewell!' and Cain groaned deeply, and expired.</p> + +<p>Thus perished the renowned pirate captain, who in his life had shed so +much blood, and whose death produced another murder. 'Blood for blood!'</p> + +<p>The body was removed; and it now remained but for the jury to give their +verdict. All the prisoners were found guilty, with the exception of +Francisco, who left the dock accompanied by his newly-found brother, and +the congratulations of every individual who could gain access to him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>Our first object will be to explain to the reader by what means Edward +Templemore was induced to surmise that in Francisco, whom he had +considered as a rival, he had found a brother; and also to account for +the reappearance of the pirate Cain.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of his orders, Edward Templemore had proceeded on board of +the wreck of the <i>Avenger</i>; and while his men were employed in +collecting articles of great value which were on board of her, he had +descended into the cabin, which was partly under water. Here he had +picked up a book floating near the lockers, and on examination found it +to be a Bible.</p> + +<p>Surprised at seeing such a book on board of a pirate, he had taken it +with him when he returned to the <i>Enterprise</i>, and had shown it to +Clara, who immediately recognised it as the property of Francisco. The +book was saturated with the salt water, and as Edward mechanically +turned over the pages, he referred to the title-page to see if there was +any name upon it. There was not; but he observed that the blank or +fly-leaf next to the binding had been pasted down, and that there was +writing on the other side. In its present state it was easily detached +from the cover; and then, to his astonishment, he read the name of +Cecilia Templemore—his own mother. He knew well the history; how he had +been saved, and his mother and brother supposed to be lost; and it may +readily be imagined how great was his anxiety to ascertain by what means +her Bible had come into the possession of Francisco. He dared not think +Francisco was his brother—that he was so closely connected with one he +still supposed to be a pirate: but the circumstance was possible; and +although he had intended to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> have remained a few days longer, he now +listened to the entreaties of Clara, whose peculiar position on board +was only to be justified by the peculiar position from which she had +been rescued, and returning that evening to the wreck he set fire to +her, and then made all sail for Port Royal.</p> + +<p>Fortunately he arrived, as we have stated, on the day of the trial; and +as soon as the signal was made by the admiral he immediately manned his +gig, and taking Clara with him, in case her evidence might be of use, +arrived at the court-house when the trial was about half over.</p> + +<p>In our last chapter but one, we stated that Cain had been wounded by +Hawkhurst, when he was swimming on shore, and had sunk; the ball had +entered his chest, and passed through his lungs. The contest between +Hawkhurst and Francisco, and their capture by Edward, had taken place on +the other side of the ridge of rocks, in the adjacent cove, and although +Francisco had seen Cain disappear, and concluded that he was dead, it +was not so; he had again risen above the water, and dropping his feet +and finding bottom, he contrived to crawl out, and wade into a cave +adjacent, where he lay down to die.</p> + +<p>But in this cave there was one of the <i>Avenger's</i> boats, two of the +pirates, mortally wounded, and the four Kroumen, who had concealed +themselves there with the intention of taking no part in the conflict, +and as soon as it became dark of making their escape in the boat, which +they had hauled up dry into the cave.</p> + +<p>Cain staggered in, recovered the dry land, and fell. Pompey, the +Krouman, perceiving his condition, went to his assistance and bound up +his wound, and the stanching of the blood soon revived the pirate +captain. The other pirates died unaided.</p> + +<p>Although the island was searched in every direction, this cave, from the +water flowing into it, escaped the vigilance of the British seamen; and +when they re-embarked with the majority of the pirates captured, Cain +and the Kroumen were undiscovered.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark Cain informed them of his intentions; and +although the Kroumen would probably have left him to his fate, yet, as +they required his services to know how to steer to some other island, he +was assisted into the stern-sheets, and the boat was backed out of the +cave.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>By the directions of Cain they passed through the passage between the +great island and the northern Cayque, and before daylight were far away +from any chance of capture.</p> + +<p>Cain had now to a certain degree recovered, and knowing that they were +in the channel of the small traders, he pointed put to the Kroumen that, +if supposed to be pirates, they would inevitably be punished, although +not guilty, and that they must pass off as the crew of a small +coasting-vessel which had been wrecked. He then, with the assistance of +Pompey, cut off his beard as close as he could, and arranged his dress +in a more European style. They had neither water nor provisions, and +were exposed to a vertical sun. Fortunately for them, and still more +fortunately for Francisco, on the second day they were picked up by an +American brig bound to Antigua.</p> + +<p>Cain narrated his fictitious disasters, but said nothing about his +wound, the neglect of which would certainly have occasioned his death a +very few days after he appeared at the trial, had he not fallen by the +malignity of Hawkhurst.</p> + +<p>Anxious to find his way to Port Royal, for he was indifferent as to his +own life, and only wished to save Francisco, he was overjoyed to meet a +small schooner trading between the islands, bound to Port Royal. In that +vessel he obtained a passage for himself and the Kroumen, and had +arrived three days previous to the trial, and during that time had +remained concealed until the day that the Admiralty Court assembled.</p> + +<p>It may be as well here to remark that Cain's reason for not wishing the +packet to be opened was, that among the other papers relative to +Francisco were directions for the recovery of the treasure which he had +concealed, and which, of course, he wished to be communicated to +Francisco alone.</p> + +<p>We will leave the reader to imagine what passed between Francisco and +Edward after the discovery of their kindred, and proceed to state the +contents of the packet, which the twin-brothers now opened in the +presence of Clara alone.</p> + +<p>We must, however, condense the matter, which was very voluminous. It +stated that Cain, whose real name was Charles Osborne, had sailed in a +fine schooner from Bilboa, for the coast of Africa, to procure a cargo +of slaves; and had been out about twenty-four hours when the crew +perceived a boat, apparently with no one in her, floating about a mile +ahead of them. The water was then smooth, and the vessel had but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> little +way. As soon as they came up with the boat, they lowered down their +skiff to examine her.</p> + +<p>The men sent in the skiff soon returned, towing the boat alongside. +Lying at the bottom of the boat were found several men almost dead, and +reduced to skeletons, and in the stern-sheets a negro woman, with a +child at her breast, and a white female in the last state of exhaustion.</p> + +<p>Osborne was then a gay and unprincipled man, but not a hardened villain +and murderer, as he afterwards became; he had compassion and feeling. +They were all taken on board the schooner: some recovered, others were +too much exhausted. Among those restored was Cecilia Templemore and the +infant, who at first had been considered quite dead; but the negro +woman, exhausted by the demands of her nursling and her privations, +expired as she was being removed from the boat. A goat, that fortunately +was on board, proved a substitute for the negress; and before Osborne +had arrived off the coast, the child had recovered its health and +vigour, and the mother her extreme beauty.</p> + +<p>We must now pass over a considerable portion of the narrative. Osborne +was impetuous in his passions, and Cecilia Templemore became his victim. +He had, indeed, afterwards quieted her qualms of conscience by a +pretended marriage, when he arrived at the Brazils with his cargo of +human flesh. But that was little alleviation of her sufferings; she who +had been indulged in every luxury, who had been educated with the +greatest care, was now lost for ever, an outcast from the society to +which she could never hope to return, and associating with those she +both dreaded and despised. She passed her days and her nights in tears; +and had soon more cause for sorrow from the brutal treatment she +received from Osborne, who had been her destroyer. Her child was her +only solace; but for him, and the fear of leaving him to the +demoralising influence of those about him, she would have laid down and +died: but she lived for him—for him attempted to recall Osborne from +his career of increasing guilt—bore meekly with reproaches and with +blows. At last Osborne changed his nefarious life for one of deeper +guilt: he became a pirate, and still carried with him Cecilia and her +child.</p> + +<p>This was the climax of her misery; she now wasted from day to day, and +grief would soon have terminated her existence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> had it not been +hastened by the cruelty of Cain, who, upon an expostulation on her part, +followed up with a denunciation of the consequences of his guilty +career, struck her with such violence that she sank under the blow. She +expired with a prayer that her child might be rescued from a life of +guilt; and when the then repentant Cain promised what he never did +perform, she blessed him, too, before she died.</p> + +<p>Such was the substance of the narrative, as far as it related to the +unfortunate mother of these two young men, who, when they had concluded, +sat hand-in-hand in mournful silence. This, however, was soon broken by +the innumerable questions asked by Edward of his brother, as to what he +could remember of their ill-fated parent, which were followed up by the +history of Francisco's eventful life.</p> + +<p>'And the treasure, Edward,' said Francisco; 'I cannot take possession of +it.'</p> + +<p>'No, nor shall you either,' replied Edward; 'it belongs to the captors, +and must be shared as prize-money. You will never touch one penny of it; +but I shall, I trust, pocket a very fair proportion of it! However, keep +this paper, as it is addressed to you.'</p> + +<p>The admiral had been made acquainted with all the particulars of this +eventful trial, and had sent a message to Edward, requesting that, as +soon as he and his brother could make it convenient, he would be happy +to see them at the Penn, as well as the daughter of the Spanish +governor, whom he must consider as being under his protection during the +time that she remained at Port Royal. This offer was gladly accepted by +Clara; and on the second day after the trial they proceeded up to the +Penn. Clara and Francisco were introduced, and apartments and suitable +attendance provided for the former.</p> + +<p>'Templemore,' said the admiral, 'I'm afraid I must send you away to +Porto Rico, to assure the governor of his daughter's safety.'</p> + +<p>'I would rather you would send some one else, sir, and I'll assure her +happiness in the meantime.'</p> + +<p>'What! by marrying her? Humph! you've a good opinion of yourself! Wait +till you're a captain, sir.'</p> + +<p>'I hope I shall not have to wait long, sir,' replied Edward demurely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 391px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i202.png" width="391" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>'By the bye,' said the admiral, 'did you not say you have notice of treasure concealed +in those islands?'</p> + +<p>'My brother has: I have not.'</p> + +<p>'We must send for it. I think we must send you, Edward. Mr. Francisco, +you must go with him.'</p> + +<p>'With pleasure, sir,' replied Francisco, laughing; 'but I think I'd +rather wait till Edward is a captain! His wife and his fortune ought to +come together. I think I shall not deliver up my papers until the day of +his marriage!'</p> + +<p>'Upon my word,' said Captain Manly, 'I wish, Templemore, you had your +commission, for there seems so much depending on it—the young lady's +happiness, my share of the prize-money, and the admiral's eighth. +Really, admiral, it becomes a common cause; and I'm sure he deserves +it!'</p> + +<p>'So do I, Manly,' replied the admiral; 'and to prove that I have thought +so, here comes Mr. Hadley with it in his hand: it only wants one little +thing to complete it——'</p> + +<p>'Which is your signature, admiral, I presume,' replied Captain Manly, +taking a pen full of ink, and presenting it to his senior officer.</p> + +<p>'Exactly,' replied the admiral, scribbling at the bottom of the paper; +'and now—it does not want that. Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!'</p> + +<p>Edward made a very low obeisance, as his flushed countenance indicated +his satisfaction.</p> + +<p>'I cannot give commissions, admiral,' said Francisco, presenting a paper +in return; 'but I can give information—and you will find it not +unimportant—for the treasure appears of great value.'</p> + +<p>'God bless my soul! Manly, you must start at daylight!' exclaimed the +admiral; 'why, there is enough to load your sloop! There!—read it!—and +then I will write your orders, and enclose a copy of it, for fear of +accident.'</p> + +<p>'That was to have been my fortune,' said Francisco, with a grave smile; +'but I would not touch it.'</p> + +<p>'Very right, boy!—a fine principle! But we are not quite so +particular,' said the admiral. 'Now, where's the young lady? Let her +know that dinner's on the table.'</p> + +<p>A fortnight after this conversation, Captain Manly returned with the +treasure; and the <i>Enterprise</i>, commanded by another officer, returned +from Porto Rico, with a letter from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> governor in reply to one from +the admiral, in which the rescue of his daughter by Edward had been +communicated. The letter was full of thanks to the admiral, and +compliments to Edward; and, what was of more importance, it sanctioned +the union of the young officer with his daughter, with a dozen boxes of +gold doubloons.</p> + +<p>About six weeks after the above-mentioned important conversation, Mr. +Witherington, who had been reading a voluminous packet of letters in his +breakfast-room in Finsbury Square, pulled his bell so violently that old +Jonathan thought his master must be out of his senses. This, however, +did not induce him to accelerate his solemn and measured pace; and he +made his appearance at the door, as usual, without speaking.</p> + +<p>'Why don't that fellow answer the bell?' cried Mr. Witherington.</p> + +<p>'I am here, sir,' said Jonathan solemnly.</p> + +<p>'Well, so you are! but, confound you! you come like the ghost of a +butler! But who do you think is coming here, Jonathan?'</p> + +<p>'I cannot tell, sir.'</p> + +<p>'But I can!—you solemn old——Edward's coming here!—coming home +directly!'</p> + +<p>'Is he to sleep in his old room, sir?' replied the imperturbable butler.</p> + +<p>'No; the best bedroom! Why, Jonathan, he is married—he is made a +captain—Captain Templemore!'</p> + +<p>'Yes—sir.'</p> + +<p>'And he has found his brother, Jonathan; his twin-brother!'</p> + +<p>'Yes—sir.'</p> + +<p>'His brother Francis—that was supposed to be lost! But it's a long +story, Jonathan!—and a very wonderful one!—his poor mother has long +been dead!'</p> + +<p>'<i>In cœ lo quies!</i>' said Jonathan, casting up his eyes.</p> + +<p>'But his brother has turned up again.'</p> + +<p>'<i>Resurgam!</i>' said the butler.</p> + +<p>'They will be here in ten days—so let everything be in readiness, +Jonathan. God bless my soul!' continued the old gentleman, 'I hardly +know what I'm about. It's a Spanish girl, Jonathan!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 340px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i205.png" width="340" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Resurgam!' said the butler.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> + +<p>'What is, sir?'</p> + +<p>'What is, sir!—why, Captain Templemore's wife; and he was tried as a +pirate!'</p> + +<p>'Who, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Who, sir? why, Francis, his brother! Jonathan, you're a stupid old +fellow!'</p> + +<p>'Have you any further commands, sir?'</p> + +<p>'No—no!—there—that'll do—go away.'</p> + +<p>And in three weeks after this conversation, Captain and Mrs. Templemore, +and his brother Frank, were established in the house, to the great +delight of Mr. Witherington; for he had long been tired of solitude and +old Jonathan.</p> + +<p>The twin-brothers were a comfort to him in his old age: they closed his +eyes in peace—they divided his blessing and his large fortune—and thus +ends our history of <span class="smcap">The Pirate</span>!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE THREE CUTTERS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>CUTTER THE FIRST</h3> + + +<p>Reader, have you ever been at Plymouth? If you have, your eye must have +dwelt with ecstasy upon the beautiful property of the Earl of Mount +Edgcumbe: if you have not been at Plymouth, the sooner that you go there +the better. At Mount Edgcumbe you will behold the finest timber in +existence, towering up to the summits of the hills, and feathering down +to the shingle on the beach. And from this lovely spot you will witness +one of the most splendid panoramas in the world. You will see—I hardly +know what you will not see—you will see Ram Head, and Cawsand Bay; and +then you will see the Breakwater, and Drake's Island, and the Devil's +Bridge below you; and the town of Plymouth and its fortifications, and +the Hoe; and then you will come to the Devil's Point, round which the +tide runs devilish strong; and then you will see the New Victualling +Office—about which Sir James Gordon used to stump all day, and take a +pinch of snuff from every man who carried a box, which all were +delighted to give, and he was delighted to receive, proving how much +pleasure may be communicated merely by a pinch of snuff; and then you +will see Mount Wise and Mutton Cove; the town of Devonport, with its +magnificent dockyard and arsenals, North Corner, and the way which leads +to Saltash. And you will see ships building and ships in ordinary; and +ships repairing and ships fitting; and hulks and convict ships, and the +guardship; ships ready to sail and ships under sail; besides lighters, +men-of-war's boats, dockyard-boats, bumboats, and shore-boats. In short, +there is a great deal to see at Plymouth besides the sea itself: but +what I particularly wish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> now is, that you will stand at the Battery of +Mount Edgcumbe and look into Barn Pool below you, and there you will +see, lying at single anchor, a cutter; and you may also see, by her +pendant and ensign, that she is a yacht.</p> + +<p>Of all the amusements entered into by the nobility and gentry of our +island there is not one so manly, so exciting, so patriotic, or so +national as yacht-sailing. It is peculiar to England, not only from our +insular position and our fine harbours, but because it requires a +certain degree of energy and a certain amount of income rarely to be +found elsewhere. It has been wisely fostered by our sovereigns, who have +felt that the security of the kingdom is increased by every man being +more or less a sailor, or connected with the nautical profession. It is +an amusement of the greatest importance to the country, as it has much +improved our ship-building and our ship-fitting, while it affords +employment to our seamen and shipwrights. But if I were to say all that +I could say in praise of yachts, I should never advance with my +narrative. I shall therefore drink a bumper to the health of Admiral +Lord Yarborough and the Yacht Club, and proceed.</p> + +<p>You observe that this yacht is cutter-rigged, and that she sits +gracefully on the smooth water. She is just heaving up her anchor; her +foresail is loose, all ready to cast her—in a few minutes she will be +under way. You see that there are ladies sitting at the taffrail; and +there are five haunches of venison hanging over the stern. Of all +amusements, give me yachting. But we must go on board. The deck, you +observe, is of narrow deal planks as white as snow; the guns are of +polished brass; the bitts and binnacles of mahogany; she is painted with +taste; and all the mouldings are gilded. There is nothing wanting; and +yet how clear and unencumbered are her decks! Let us go below. This is +the ladies' cabin: can anything be more tasteful or elegant? is it not +luxurious? and, although so small, does not its very confined space +astonish you, when you view so many comforts so beautifully arranged? +This is the dining-room, and where the gentlemen repair. What can be +more complete or <i>recherché</i>? And just peep into their state-rooms and +bed-places. Here is the steward's room and the beaufet: the steward is +squeezing lemons for the punch, and there is the champagne in ice; and +by the side of the pail the long corks are ranged up, all ready.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> Now, +let us go forwards: here are the men's berths, not confined as in a +man-of-war. No; luxury starts from abaft, and is not wholly lost even at +the fore-peak. This is the kitchen: is it not admirably arranged? What a +<i>multum in parvo</i>! And how delightful are the fumes of the turtle-soup! +At sea we do meet with rough weather at times; but, for roughing it out, +give me a <i>yacht</i>. Now that I have shown you round the vessel, I must +introduce the parties on board.</p> + +<p>You observe that florid, handsome man, in white trousers and blue +jacket, who has a telescope in one hand, and is sipping a glass of +brandy and water which he has just taken off the skylight. That is the +owner of the vessel, and a member of the Yacht Club. It is Lord B——: +he looks like a sailor, and he does not much belie his looks; yet I have +seen him in his robes of state at the opening of the House of Lords. The +one near to him is Mr. Stewart, a lieutenant in the navy. He holds on by +the rigging with one hand, because, having been actively employed all +his life, he does not know what to do with hands which have nothing in +them. He is a <i>protégé</i> of Lord B., and is now on board as +sailing-master of the yacht.</p> + +<p>That handsome, well-built man, who is standing by the binnacle, is a Mr. +Hautaine. He served six years as midshipman in the navy, and did not +like it. He then served six years in a cavalry regiment, and did not +like it. He then married, and in a much shorter probation found that he +did not like that. But he is very fond of yachts and other men's wives, +if he does not like his own; and wherever he goes, he is welcome.</p> + +<p>That young man with an embroidered silk waistcoat and white gloves, +bending to talk to one of the ladies, is a Mr. Vaughan. He is to be seen +at Almack's, at Crockford's, and everywhere else. Everybody knows him, +and he knows everybody. He is a little in debt, and yachting is +convenient.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 382px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i212.png" width="382" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>The ladies.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>The one who sits by the lady is a relation of Lord B.; you see at once +what he is. He apes the sailor; he has not shaved, because sailors have +no time to shave every day; he has not changed his linen, because +sailors cannot change every day. He has a cigar in his mouth, which +makes him half sick and annoys his company. He talks of the pleasure of +a rough sea, which will drive all the ladies below—and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> then they will +not perceive that he is more sick than themselves. He has the misfortune +to be born to a large estate, and to be a <i>fool</i>. His name is Ossulton.</p> + +<p>The last of the gentlemen on board whom I have to introduce is Mr. +Seagrove. He is slightly made, with marked features full of +intelligence. He has been brought up to the bar; and has every +qualification but application. He has never had a brief, nor has he a +chance of one. He is the fiddler of the company, and he has locked up +his chambers and come, by invitation of his lordship, to play on board +of his yacht.</p> + +<p>I have yet to describe the ladies—perhaps I should have commenced with +them—I must excuse myself upon the principle of reserving the best to +the last. All puppet-showmen do so; and what is this but the first scene +in my puppet-show?</p> + +<p>We will describe them according to seniority. That tall, thin, +cross-looking lady of forty-five is a spinster, and sister to Lord B. +She had been persuaded, very much against her will, to come on board; +but her notions of propriety would not permit her niece to embark under +the protection of <i>only</i> her father. She is frightened at everything: if +a rope is thrown down on the deck, up she starts, and cries 'Oh!' if on +the deck, she thinks the water is rushing in below; if down below, and +there is a noise, she is convinced there is danger; and if it be +perfectly still, she is sure there is something wrong. She fidgets +herself and everybody, and is quite a nuisance with her pride and +ill-humour; but she has strict notions of propriety, and sacrifices +herself as a martyr. She is the Hon. Miss Ossulton.</p> + +<p>The lady who, when she smiles, shows so many dimples in her pretty oval +face, is a young widow, of the name of Lascelles. She married an old man +to please her father and mother, which was very dutiful on her part. She +was rewarded by finding herself a widow with a large fortune. Having +married the first time to please her parents, she intends now to marry +to please herself; but she is very young, and is in no hurry.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 373px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i214.png" width="373" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>The Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>That young lady with such a sweet expression of countenance is the Hon. +Miss Cecilia Ossulton. She is lively, witty, and has no fear in her +composition; but she is very young yet, not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> more than seventeen—and +nobody knows what she really is—she does not know herself. These are +the parties who meet in the cabin of the yacht. The crew consists of ten +fine seamen, the steward and the cook. There is also Lord B.'s valet, +Mr. Ossulton's gentleman, and the lady's-maid of Miss Ossulton. There +not being accommodation for them, the other servants have been left on +shore.</p> + +<p>The yacht is now under way, and her sails are all set. She is running +between Drake's Island and the main. Dinner has been announced. As the +reader has learnt something about the preparations, I leave him to judge +whether it be not very pleasant to sit down to dinner in a yacht. The +air has given everybody an appetite; and it was not until the cloth was +removed that the conversation became general.</p> + +<p>'Mr. Seagrove,' said his lordship, 'you very nearly lost your passage; I +expected you last Thursday.'</p> + +<p>'I am sorry, my lord, that business prevented my sooner attending to +your lordship's kind summons.'</p> + +<p>'Come, Seagrove, don't be nonsensical,' said Hautaine; 'you told me +yourself, the other evening, when you were talkative, that you had never +had a brief in your life.'</p> + +<p>'And a very fortunate circumstance,' replied Seagrove; 'for if I had had +a brief I should not have known what to have done with it. It is not my +fault; I am fit for nothing but a commissioner. But still I had +business, and very important business, too. I was summoned by Ponsonby +to go with him to Tattersall's, to give my opinion about a horse he +wishes to purchase, and then to attend him to Forest Wild to plead his +cause with his uncle.'</p> + +<p>'It appears, then, that you were retained,' replied Lord B.; 'may I ask +you whether your friend gained his cause?'</p> + +<p>'No, my lord, he lost his cause, but he gained a suit.'</p> + +<p>'Expound your riddle, sir,' said Cecilia Ossulton.</p> + +<p>'The fact is, that old Ponsonby is very anxious that William should +marry Miss Percival, whose estates join on to Forest Wild. Now, my +friend William is about as fond of marriage as I am of law, and thereby +issue was joined.'</p> + +<p>'But why were you to be called in?' inquired Mrs. Lascelles.</p> + +<p>'Because, madam, as Ponsonby never buys a horse without consulting +me——'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I cannot see the analogy, sir,' observed Miss Ossulton, senior, +bridling up.</p> + +<p>'Pardon me, madam: the fact is,' continued Seagrove, 'that, as I always +have to back Ponsonby's horses, he thought it right that, in this +instance, I should back him: he required special pleading, but his uncle +tried him for the capital offence, and he was not allowed counsel. As +soon as we arrived, and I had bowed myself into the room, Mr. Ponsonby +bowed me out again—which would have been infinitely more jarring to my +feelings, had not the door been left ajar.'</p> + +<p>'Do anything but pun, Seagrove,' interrupted Hautaine.</p> + +<p>'Well then, I will take a glass of wine.'</p> + +<p>'Do so,' said his lordship; 'but recollect the whole company are +impatient for your story.'</p> + +<p>'I can assure you, my lord, that it was equal to any scene in a comedy.'</p> + +<p>Now be it observed that Mr. Seagrove had a great deal of comic talent; +he was an excellent mimic, and could alter his voice almost as he +pleased. It was a custom of his to act a scene as between other people, +and he performed it remarkably well. Whenever he said that anything he +was going to narrate was 'as good as a comedy,' it was generally +understood by those who were acquainted with him that he was to be asked +so to do. Cecilia Ossulton therefore immediately said, 'Pray act it, Mr. +Seagrove.'</p> + +<p>Upon which, Mr. Seagrove—premising that he had not only heard but also +seen all that passed—changing his voice, and suiting the action to the +word, commenced.</p> + +<p>'It may,' said he, 'be called</p> + +<p> +"<span class="smcap">Five Thousand Acres in a Ring-fence</span>"'<br /> +</p> + +<p>We shall not describe Mr. Seagrove's motions; they must be inferred from +his words.</p> + +<p>'"It will then, William," observed Mr. Ponsonby, stopping, and turning +to his nephew, after a rapid walk up and down the room with his hands +behind him under his coat, so as to allow the tails to drop their +perpendicular about three inches clear of his body, "I may say, without +contradiction, be the finest property in the county—five thousand acres +in a ring-fence."</p> + +<p>'"I daresay it will, uncle," replied William, tapping his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> foot, as he +lounged in a green morocco easy-chair; "and so, because you have set +your fancy upon having these two estates enclosed together in a +ring-fence, you wish that I should be also enclosed in a <i>ring</i>-fence."</p> + +<p>'"And a beautiful property it will be," replied Mr. Ponsonby.</p> + +<p>'"Which, uncle? the estate or the wife?"</p> + +<p>'"Both, nephew, both; and I expect your consent."</p> + +<p>'"Uncle, I am not avaricious. Your present property is sufficient for +me. With your permission, instead of doubling the property, and doubling +myself, I will remain your sole heir and single."</p> + +<p>'"Observe, William, such an opportunity may not occur again for +centuries. We shall restore Forest Wild to its ancient boundaries. You +know it has been divided nearly two hundred years. We now have a +glorious, golden opportunity of reuniting the two properties; and when +joined, the estate will be exactly what it was when granted to our +ancestors by Henry VIII., at the period of the Reformation. This house +must be pulled down, and the monastery left standing. Then we shall have +our own again, and the property without encumbrance."</p> + +<p>'"Without encumbrance, uncle! You forget that there will be a wife."</p> + +<p>'"And you forget that there will be five thousand acres in a +ring-fence."</p> + +<p>'"Indeed, uncle, you ring it too often in my ears that I should forget +it. But, much as I should like to be the happy possessor of such a +property, I do not feel inclined to be the happy possessor of Miss +Percival; and the more so, as I have never seen the property."</p> + +<p>'"We will ride over it to-morrow, William."</p> + +<p>'"Ride over Miss Percival, uncle! That will not be very gallant. I will, +however, one of these days ride over the property with you, which, as +well as Miss Percival, I have not as yet seen."</p> + +<p>'"Then I can tell you she is a very pretty property."</p> + +<p>'"If she were not in a ring-fence."</p> + +<p>'"In good heart, William. That is, I mean an excellent disposition."</p> + +<p>'"Valuable in matrimony."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + +<p>'"And well tilled—I should say well educated—by her three maiden +aunts, who are the patterns of propriety."</p> + +<p>'"Does any one follow the fashion?"</p> + +<p>"In a high state of cultivation; that is, her mind highly cultivated, +and according to the last new system—what is it?"</p> + +<p>'"A four-course shift, I presume," replied William, laughing; "that is, +dancing, singing, music, and drawing."</p> + +<p>'"And only seventeen! Capital soil, promising good crops. What would you +have more?"</p> + +<p>"A very pretty estate, uncle, if it were not the estate of matrimony. I +am sorry, very sorry, to disappoint you; but I must decline taking a +lease of it for life."</p> + +<p>'"Then, sir, allow me to hint to you that in my testament you are only a +tenant-at-will. I consider it a duty that I owe to the family that the +estate should be re-united. That can only be done by one of our family +marrying Miss Percival; and as you will not, I shall now write to your +cousin James, and if he accept my proposal, shall make <i>him</i> my heir. +Probably he will more fully appreciate the advantages of five thousand +acres in a ring-fence."</p> + +<p>'And Mr. Ponsonby directed his steps towards the door.</p> + +<p>'"Stop, my dear uncle," cried William, rising up from his easy-chair; +"we do not quite understand one another. It is very true that I would +prefer half the property and remaining single, to the two estates and +the estate of marriage; but at the same time I did not tell you that I +would prefer beggary to a wife and five thousand acres in a ring-fence. +I know you to be a man of your word. I accept your proposal, and you +need not put my cousin James to the expense of postage."</p> + +<p>'"Very good, William; I require no more: and as I know you to be a man +of your word, I shall consider this match as settled. It was on this +account only that I sent for you, and now you may go back again as soon +as you please. I will let you know when all is ready."</p> + +<p>"I must be at Tattersall's on Monday, uncle; there is a horse I must +have for next season. Pray, uncle, may I ask when you are likely to want +me?"</p> + +<p>'"Let me see—this is May—about July, I should think."</p> + +<p>"July, uncle! Spare me—I cannot marry in the dog-days. No, hang it! not +July."</p> + +<p>'"Well, William, perhaps, as you must come down once<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> or twice to see +the property—Miss Percival, I should say—it may be too soon—suppose +we put it off till October?"</p> + +<p>'"October—I shall be down at Melton."</p> + +<p>'"Pray, sir, may I then inquire what portion of the year is not, with +you, <i>dog</i>-days?"</p> + +<p>'"Why, uncle, next April, now—I think that would do."</p> + +<p>'"Next April! Eleven months, and a winter between. Suppose Miss Percival +was to take a cold and die."</p> + +<p>'"I should be excessively obliged to her," thought William.</p> + +<p>'"No, no!" continued Mr. Ponsonby: "there is nothing certain in this +world, William."</p> + +<p>'"Well then, uncle, suppose we arrange it for the first <i>hard frost</i>."</p> + +<p>'"We have had no hard frosts lately, William. We may wait for years. The +sooner it is over the better. Go back to town, buy your horse, and then +come down here, my dear William, to oblige your uncle—never mind the +dog-days."</p> + +<p>'"Well, sir, if I am to make a sacrifice, it shall not be done by +halves; out of respect for you I will even marry in July, without any +regard to the thermometer."</p> + +<p>'"You are a good boy, William. Do you want a cheque?"</p> + +<p>'"I have had one to-day," thought William, and was almost at fault. "I +shall be most thankful, sir—they sell horseflesh by the ounce +nowadays."</p> + +<p>'"And you pay in pounds. There, William."</p> + +<p>'"Thank you, sir, I'm all obedience; and I'll keep my word, even if +there should be a comet. I'll go and buy the horse, and then I shall be +ready to take the ring-fence as soon as you please."</p> + +<p>'"Yes, and you'll get over it cleverly, I've no doubt. Five thousand +acres, William, and—a pretty wife!"</p> + +<p>'"Have you any further commands, uncle?" said William, depositing the +cheque in his pocket-book.</p> + +<p>'"None, my dear boy; are you going?"</p> + +<p>'"Yes, sir; I dine at the Clarendon."</p> + +<p>'"Well, then, good-bye. Make my compliments and excuses to your friend +Seagrove. You will come on Tuesday or Wednesday."</p> + +<p>'Thus was concluded the marriage between William Ponsonby and Emily +Percival, and the junction of the two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> estates, which formed together +the great desideratum—<i>five thousand acres in a ring-fence</i>.'</p> + +<p>Mr. Seagrove finished, and he looked round for approbation.</p> + +<p>'Very good indeed, Seagrove,' said his lordship; 'you must take a glass +of wine after that.'</p> + +<p>'I would not give much for Miss Percival's chance of happiness,' +observed the elder Miss Ossulton.</p> + +<p>'Of two evils choose the least, they say,' observed Mr. Hautaine. 'Poor +Ponsonby could not help himself.'</p> + +<p>'That's a very polite observation of yours, Mr. Hautaine—I thank you in +the name of the sex,' replied Cecilia Ossulton.</p> + +<p>'Nay, Miss Ossulton; would you like to marry a person whom you never +saw?'</p> + +<p>'Most certainly not; but when you mentioned the two evils, Mr. Hautaine, +I appeal to your honour, did you not refer to marriage or beggary?'</p> + +<p>'I must confess it, Miss Ossulton; but it is hardly fair to call on my +honour to get me into a scrape.'</p> + +<p>'I only wish that the offer had been made to me,' observed Vaughan; 'I +should not have hesitated as Ponsonby did.'</p> + +<p>'Then I beg you will not think of proposing for me,' said Mrs. +Lascelles, laughing; for Mr. Vaughan had been excessively attentive.</p> + +<p>'It appears to me, Vaughan,' observed Seagrove, 'that you have slightly +committed yourself by that remark.'</p> + +<p>Vaughan, who thought so too, replied, 'Mrs. Lascelles must be aware that +I was only joking.'</p> + +<p>'Fie! Mr. Vaughan,' cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it came from your +heart.'</p> + +<p>'My dear Cecilia,' said the elder Miss Ossulton, 'you forget +yourself—what can you possibly know about gentlemen's hearts?'</p> + +<p>'The Bible says that they are "deceitful and desperately wicked," aunt.'</p> + +<p>'And cannot we also quote the Bible against your sex, Miss Ossulton?' +replied Seagrove.</p> + +<p>'Yes, you could, perhaps, if any of you had ever read it,' replied Miss +Ossulton carelessly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 420px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i221.png" width="420" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Fie! Mr. Vaughan, cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it +came from your heart.'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>'Upon my word, Cissy, you are throwing the gauntlet down to the +gentlemen,' observed Lord B.; 'but I shall throw my warder down, and not +permit this combat <i>à l'outrance</i>. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> perceive you drink no more wine, +gentlemen; we will take our coffee on deck.'</p> + +<p>'We were just about to retire, my lord,' observed the elder Miss +Ossulton, with great asperity; 'I have been trying to catch the eye of +Mrs. Lascelles for some time, but——'</p> + +<p>'I was looking another way, I presume,' interrupted Mrs. Lascelles, +smiling.</p> + +<p>'I am afraid that I am the unfortunate culprit,' said Mr. Seagrove. 'I +was telling a little anecdote to Mrs. Lascelles——'</p> + +<p>'Which, of course, from its being communicated in an undertone, was not +proper for all the company to hear,' replied the elder Miss Ossulton; +'but if Mrs. Lascelles is now ready——' continued she, bridling up, as +she rose from her chair.</p> + +<p>'At all events, I can hear the remainder of it on deck,' replied Mrs. +Lascelles. The ladies rose and went into the cabin, Cecilia and Mrs. +Lascelles exchanging very significant smiles as they followed the +precise spinster, who did not choose that Mrs. Lascelles should take the +lead merely because she had once happened to have been married. The +gentlemen also broke up, and went on deck.</p> + +<p>'We have a nice breeze now, my lord,' observed Mr. Stewart, who had +remained on deck, 'and we lie right up Channel.'</p> + +<p>'So much the better,' replied his lordship; 'we ought to have been +anchored at Cowes a week ago. They will all be there before us.'</p> + +<p>'Tell Mr. Simpson to bring me a light for my cigar,' said Mr. Ossulton +to one of the men.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stewart went down to his dinner; the ladies and the coffee came on +deck; the breeze was fine, the weather (it was April) almost warm; and +the yacht, whose name was the <i>Arrow</i>, assisted by the tide, soon left +the Mewstone far astern.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>CUTTER THE SECOND</h3> + + +<p>Reader, have you ever been at Portsmouth? If you have, you must have +been delighted with the view from the saluting battery; and if you have +not, you had better go there as soon as you can. From the saluting +battery you may look up the harbour, and see much of what I have +described at Plymouth; the scenery is different, but similar arsenals +and dockyards, and an equal portion of our stupendous navy, are to be +found there; and you will see Gosport on the other side of the harbour, +and Sallyport close to you; besides a great many other places, which +from the saluting battery you cannot see. And then there is Southsea +Beach to your left. Before you, Spithead, with the men-of-war, and the +Motherbank crowded with merchant vessels; and there is the buoy where +the <i>Royal George</i> was wrecked and where she still lies, the fish +swimming in and out of her cabin windows; but that is not all; you can +also see the Isle of Wight—Ryde with its long-wooden pier, and Cowes, +where the yachts lie. In fact, there is a great deal to be seen at +Portsmouth as well as at Plymouth; but what I wish you particularly to +see just how is a vessel holding fast to the buoy just off the saluting +battery. She is a cutter; and you may know that she belongs to the +Preventive Service by the number of gigs and galleys which she has +hoisted up all round her. She looks like a vessel that was about to sail +with a cargo of boats; two on deck, one astern, one on each side of her. +You observe that she is painted black, and all her boats are white. She +is not such an elegant vessel as the yacht, and she is much more +lumbered up. She has no haunches of venison hanging over the stern, but +I think there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> is a leg of mutton and some cabbages hanging by their +stalks. But revenue cutters are not yachts. You will find no turtle or +champagne; but, nevertheless, you will, perhaps, find a joint to carve +at, a good glass of grog, and a hearty welcome.</p> + +<p>Let us go on board. You observe the guns are iron, and painted black, +and her bulwarks are painted red; it is not a very becoming colour, but +then it lasts a long while, and the dockyard is not very generous on the +score of paint—or lieutenants of the navy troubled with much spare +cash. She has plenty of men, and fine men they are; all dressed in red +flannel shirts and blue trousers; some of them have not taken off their +canvas or tarpaulin petticoats, which are very useful to them, as they +are in the boats night and day, and in all weathers. But we will at once +go down into the cabin, where we shall find the lieutenant who commands +her, a master's mate, and a midshipman. They have each their tumbler +before them, and are drinking gin-toddy, hot, with sugar—capital gin, +too, 'bove proof; it is from that small anker standing under the table. +It was one that they forgot to return to the custom-house when they made +their last seizure. We must introduce them.</p> + +<p>The elderly personage, with grizzly hair and whiskers, a round pale +face, and a somewhat red nose (being too much in the wind will make the +nose red, and this old officer is very often 'in the wind,' of course, +from the very nature of his profession), is a Lieutenant Appleboy. He +has served in every class of vessel in the service, and done the duty of +first lieutenant for twenty years; he is now on promotion—that is to +say, after he has taken a certain number of tubs of gin, he will be +rewarded with his rank as commander. It is a pity that what he takes +inside of him does not count, for he takes it morning, noon, and night. +He is just filling his fourteenth glass: he always keeps a regular +account, as he never exceeds his limited number, which is seventeen; +then he is exactly down to his bearings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 339px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i225.png" width="339" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Lieutenant Appleboy.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>The master's mate's name is Tomkins; he has served his six years three +times over, and has now outgrown his ambition; which is fortunate for +him, as his chances of promotion are small. He prefers a small vessel to +a large one, because he is not obliged to be so particular in his +dress—and looks for his lieutenancy whenever there shall be another +charity pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>motion. He is fond of soft bread, for his teeth are all +absent without leave; he prefers porter to any other liquor, but he can +drink his glass of grog, whether it be based upon rum, brandy, or the +liquor now before him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Smith is the name of that young gentleman whose jacket is so out at +the elbows; he has been intending to mend it these last two months, but +is too lazy to go to his chest for another. He has been turned out of +half the ships in the service for laziness; but he was born so—and +therefore it is not his fault. A revenue cutter suits him, she is half +her time hove-to; and he has no objection to boat-service, as he sits +down always in the stern-sheets, which is not fatiguing. Creeping for +tubs is his delight, as he gets over so little ground. He is fond of +grog, but there is some trouble in carrying the tumbler so often to his +mouth; so he looks at it, and lets it stand. He says little because he +is too lazy to speak. He has served more than <i>eight years</i>; but as for +passing—it has never come into his head. Such are the three persons who +are now sitting in the cabin of the revenue cutter, drinking hot +gin-toddy.</p> + +<p>'Let me see, it was, I think, in ninety-three or ninety-four. Before you +were in the service, Tomkins——'</p> + +<p>'Maybe, sir; it's so long ago since I entered, that I can't recollect +dates—but this I know, that my aunt died three days before.'</p> + +<p>'Then the question is, When did your aunt die?'</p> + +<p>'Oh! she died about a year after my uncle.'</p> + +<p>'And when did your uncle die?'</p> + +<p>'I'll be hanged if I know!'</p> + +<p>'Then, d'ye see, you've no departure to work from. However, I think you +cannot have been in the service at that time. We were not quite so +particular about uniform as we are now.'</p> + +<p>'Then I think the service was all the better for it. Nowadays, in your +crack ships, a mate has to go down in the hold or spirit-room, and after +whipping up fifty empty casks, and breaking out twenty full ones, he is +expected to come on quarter-deck as clean as if he was just come out of +a bandbox.'</p> + +<p>'Well, there's plenty of water alongside, as far as the outward man +goes, and iron dust is soon brushed off. However, as you say, perhaps a +little too much is expected; at least, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> five of the ships in which I +was first lieutenant, the captain was always hauling me over the coals +about the midshipmen not dressing properly, as if I was their dry-nurse. +I wonder what Captain Prigg would have said if he had seen such a +turn-out as you, Mr. Smith, on his quarter-deck.'</p> + +<p>'I should have had one turn-out more,' drawled Smith.</p> + +<p>'With your out-at-elbows jacket, there, eh!' continued Mr. Appleboy.</p> + +<p>Smith turned up his elbows, looked at one and then at the other; after +so fatiguing an operation, he was silent.</p> + +<p>'Well, where was I? Oh! it was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as I +said, that it happened—Tomkins, fill your glass and hand me the +sugar—how do I get on? This is No 15,' said Appleboy, counting some +white lines on the table by him; and taking up a piece of chalk, he +marked one more line on his tally. 'I don't think this is so good a tub +as the last, Tomkins, there's a twang about it—a want of juniper; +however, I hope we shall have better luck this time. Of course you know +we sail to-morrow?'</p> + +<p>'I presume so, by the leg of mutton coming on board.'</p> + +<p>'True—true; I'm regular—as clockwork. After being twenty years a first +lieutenant one gets a little method. I like regularity. Now the admiral +has never omitted asking me to dinner once, every time I have come into +harbour, except this time. I was so certain of it, that I never expected +to sail; and I have but two shirts clean in consequence.'</p> + +<p>'That's odd, isn't it?—and the more so, because he has had such great +people down here, and has been giving large parties every day.'</p> + +<p>'And yet I made three seizures, besides sweeping up those thirty-seven +tubs.'</p> + +<p>'I swept them up,' observed Smith.</p> + +<p>'That's all the same thing, younker. When you've been a little longer in +the service, you'll find out that the commanding officer has the merit +of all that is done; but you're <i>green</i> yet. Let me see, where was I? +Oh! it was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as I said. At that time I +was in the Channel fleet——Tomkins, I'll trouble you for the hot water; +this water's cold. Mr. Smith, do me the favour to ring the bell. Jem, +some more hot water.'</p> + +<p>'Please, sir,' said Jem, who was barefooted as well as bare<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>headed, +touching the lock of hair on his forehead, 'the cook has capsized the +kettle—but he has put more on.'</p> + +<p>'Capsized the kettle! Hah!—very well—we'll talk about that to-morrow. +Mr. Tomkins, do me the favour to put him in the report: I may forget it. +And pray, sir, how long is it since he has put more on?'</p> + +<p>'Just this moment, sir, as I came aft.'</p> + +<p>'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow. You bring the kettle aft as +soon as it is ready. I say, Mr. Jem, is that fellow sober?'</p> + +<p>'Yees, sir, he be sober as you be.'</p> + +<p>'It's quite astonishing what a propensity the common sailors have to +liquor. Forty odd years have I been in the service, and I've never found +any difference. I only wish I had a guinea for every time that I have +given a fellow seven-water grog during my servitude as first lieutenant, +I wouldn't call the king my cousin. Well, if there's no hot water, we +must take lukewarm; it won't do to heave-to. By the Lord Harry! +who would have thought it?—I'm at number sixteen! Let me +count—yes!—surely I must have made a mistake. A fact, by Heaven!' +continued Mr. Appleboy, throwing the chalk down on the table. 'Only one +more glass after this; that is, if I have counted right—I may have seen +double.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' drawled Smith.</p> + +<p>'Well, never mind. Let's go on with my story. It was either in the year +ninety-three or ninety-four that I was in the Channel fleet; we were +then abreast of Torbay——'</p> + +<p>'Here be the hot water, sir,' cried Jem, putting the kettle down on the +deck.</p> + +<p>'Very well, boy. By the bye, has the jar of butter come on board?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, but it broke all down the middle. I tied him up with a rope-yarn.'</p> + +<p>'Who broke it, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Coxswain says as how he didn't.'</p> + +<p>'But who did, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Coxswain handed it up to Bill Jones, and he says as how he didn't.'</p> + +<p>'But who did, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Bill Jones gave it to me, and I'm sure as how I didn't.'</p> + +<p>'Then who did, sir, I ask you?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I think it be Bill Jones, sir, 'cause he's fond of butter, I know, and +there be very little left in the jar.'</p> + +<p>'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow morning. Mr. Tomkins, you'll +oblige me by putting the butter-jar down in the report, in case it +should slip my memory. Bill Jones, indeed, looks as if butter wouldn't +melt in his mouth. Never mind. Well, it was, as I said before—it was in +the year ninety-three or ninety-four, when I was in the Channel fleet; +we were then off Torbay, and had just taken two reefs in the topsails. +Stop—before I go on with my story, I'll take my last glass; I think +it's the last—let me count. Yes, by heavens! I make out sixteen, well +told. Never mind, it shall be a stiff one. Boy, bring the kettle, and +mind you don't pour the hot water into my shoes, as you did the other +night. There, that will do. Now, Tomkins, fill up yours; and you, Mr. +Smith. Let us all start fair, and then you shall have my story—and a +very curious one it is, I can tell you; I wouldn't have believed it +myself, if I hadn't seen it. Hilloa! what's this? Confound it! what's +the matter with the toddy? Heh, Mr. Tomkins?'</p> + +<p>Mr. Tomkins tasted; but, like the lieutenant, he had made it very stiff; +and, as he had also taken largely before, he was, like him, not quite so +clear in his discrimination. 'It has a queer twang, sir; Smith, what is +it?'</p> + +<p>Smith took up his glass, tasted the contents.</p> + +<p>'<i>Salt water</i>,' drawled the midshipman.</p> + +<p>'Salt water! so it is, by heavens!' cried Mr. Appleboy.</p> + +<p>'Salt as Lot's wife! by all that's infamous!' cried the master's mate.</p> + +<p>'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem in a fright, expecting a <i>salt</i> eel for +supper.</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in +the boy's face, 'salt water. Very well, sir—very well!'</p> + +<p>'It warn't me, sir,' replied the boy, making up a piteous look.</p> + +<p>'No, sir, but you said the cook was sober.'</p> + +<p>'He was not so <i>very</i> much disguised, sir,' replied Jem.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 395px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i230.png" width="395" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem. 'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. +Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in the boy's face.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>'Oh! very well—never mind. Mr. Tomkins, in case I should forget it, do +me the favour to put the kettle of salt water down in the report. The +scoundrel! I'm very sorry, gentlemen, but there's no means of having any +more gin-toddy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> But never mind, we'll see to this to-morrow. Two can +play at this; and if I don't salt-water their grog, and make them drink +it too, I have been twenty years a first lieutenant for nothing, that's +all. Good-night, gentlemen; and,' continued the lieutenant, in a severe +tone, 'you'll keep a sharp look-out, Mr. Smith—do you hear, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' drawled Smith, 'but it's not my watch; it was my first watch; and +just now it struck one bell.'</p> + +<p>'You'll keep the middle watch, then, Mr. Smith,' said Mr. Appleboy, who +was not a little put out; 'and, Mr. Tomkins, let me know as soon as it's +daylight. Boy, get my bed made. Salt water, by all that's blue! However, +we'll see to that to-morrow morning.'</p> + +<p>Mr. Appleboy then turned in; so did Mr. Tomkins; and so did Mr. Smith, +who had no idea of keeping the middle watch because the cook was drunk +and had filled up the kettle with salt water. As for what happened in +ninety-three or ninety-four, I really would inform the reader if I knew; +but I am afraid that that most curious story is never to be handed down +to posterity.</p> + +<p>The next morning Mr. Tomkins, as usual, forgot to report the cook, the +jar of butter, and the kettle of salt water; and Mr. Appleboy's wrath +had long been appeased before he remembered them. At daylight, the +lieutenant came on deck, having only slept away half of the sixteen, and +a taste of the seventeenth salt-water glass of gin-toddy. He rubbed his +gray eyes, that he might peer through the gray of the morning; the fresh +breeze blew about his grizzly locks, and cooled his rubicund nose. The +revenue cutter, whose name was the <i>Active</i>, cast off from the buoy, +and, with a fresh breeze, steered her course for the Needles passage.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>CUTTER THE THIRD</h3> + + +<p>Reader! have you been to St. Maloes? If you have, you were glad enough +to leave the hole; and if you have not, take my advice, and do not give +yourself the trouble to go and see that or any other French port in the +Channel. There is not one worth looking at. They have made one or two +artificial ports, and they are no great things; there is no getting out +or getting in. In fact, they have no harbours in the Channel, while we +have the finest in the world; a peculiar dispensation of Providence, +because it knew that we should want them, and France would not. In +France, what are called ports are all alike—nasty, narrow holes, only +to be entered at certain times of tide and certain winds; made up of +basins and back-waters, custom-houses and cabarets; just fit for +smugglers to run into, and nothing more; and, therefore, they are used +for very little else.</p> + +<p>Now, in the dog-hole called St. Maloes there is some pretty land, +although a great deficiency of marine scenery. But never mind that. Stay +at home, and don't go abroad to drink sour wine, because they call it +Bordeaux, and eat villainous trash, so disguised by cooking that you +cannot possibly tell which of the birds of the air, or beasts of the +field, or fishes of the sea, you are cramming down your throat. 'If all +is right, there is no occasion for disguise,' is an old saying; so +depend upon it that there is something wrong, and that you are eating +offal, under a grand French name. They eat everything in France, and +would serve you up the head of a monkey who has died of the smallpox, as +<i>singe au petite vérole</i>—that is, if you did not understand French; if +you did, they would call it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> <i>tête d'amour à l'Ethiopique</i>, and then you +would be even more puzzled. As for their wine, there is no disguise in +that; it's half vinegar. No, no! stay at home; you can live just as +cheaply, if you choose; and then you will have good meat, good +vegetables, good ale, good beer, and a good glass of grog; and, what is +of more importance, you will be in good company. Live with your friends, +and don't make a fool of yourself.</p> + +<p>I would not have condescended to have noticed this place, had it not +been that I wish you to observe a vessel which is lying along the +pier-wharf, with a plank from the shore to her gunwale. It is low water, +and she is aground, and the plank dips down at such an angle that it is +a work of danger to go either in or out of her. You observe that there +is nothing very remarkable in her. She is a cutter, and a good sea-boat, +and sails well before the wind. She is short for her breadth of beam, +and is not armed. Smugglers do not arm now—the service is too +dangerous; they effect their purpose by cunning, not by force. +Nevertheless, it requires that smugglers should be good seamen, smart, +active fellows, and keen-witted, or they can do nothing. This vessel has +not a large cargo in her, but it is valuable. She has some thousand +yards of lace, a few hundred pounds of tea, a few bales of silk, and +about forty ankers of brandy—just as much as they can land in one boat. +All they ask is a heavy gale or a thick fog, and they trust to +themselves for success.</p> + +<p>There is nobody on board except a boy; the crew are all up at the +cabaret, settling their little accounts of every description—for they +smuggle both ways, and every man has his own private venture. There they +are all, fifteen of them, and fine-looking fellows, too, sitting at that +long table. They are very merry, but quite sober, as they are to sail +to-night.</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 362px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i234.png" width="362" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>The captain of the</i> Happy-go-lucky, <i>Jack Pickersgill.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>The captain of the vessel (whose name, by the bye, is the +<i>Happy-go-lucky</i>—the captain christened her himself) is that +fine-looking young man, with dark whiskers meeting under his throat. His +name is Jack Pickersgill. You perceive at once that he is much above a +common sailor in appearance. His manners are good, he is remarkably +handsome, very clean, and rather a dandy in his dress. Observe how very +politely he takes off his hat to that Frenchman, with whom he has just +settled accounts; he beats Johnny Crapeau at his own weapons. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>And then there is an air of command, a feeling of conscious superiority, +about Jack; see how he treats the landlord, <i>de haut en bas</i>, at the +same time that he is very civil. The fact is, that Jack is of a very +good old family, and received a very excellent education; but he was an +orphan, his friends were poor, and could do but little for him; he went +out to India as a cadet, ran away, and served in a schooner which +smuggled opium into China, and then came home. He took a liking to the +employment, and is now laying up a very pretty little sum: not that he +intends to stop: no, as soon as he has enough to fit out a vessel for +himself, he intends to start again for India, and with two cargoes of +opium he will return, he trusts, with a handsome fortune, and reassume +his family name. Such are Jack's intentions; and, as he eventually means +to reappear as a gentleman, he preserves his gentlemanly habits; he +neither drinks, nor chews, nor smokes. He keeps his hands clean, wears +rings, and sports a gold snuff-box; notwithstanding which, Jack is one +of the boldest and best of sailors, and the men know it. He is full of +fun, and as keen as a razor. Jack has a very heavy venture this +time—all the lace is his own speculation, and if he gets it in safe, he +will clear some thousands of pounds. A certain fashionable shop in +London has already agreed to take the whole off his hands.</p> + +<p>That short, neatly-made young man is the second in command, and the +companion of the captain. He is clever, and always has a remedy to +propose when there is a difficulty, which is a great quality in a second +in command. His name is Corbett. He is always merry—half-sailor, +half-tradesman; knows the markets, runs up to London, and does business +as well as a chapman—lives for the day and laughs at to-morrow.</p> + +<p>That little punchy old man, with long gray hair and fat face, with a +nose like a note of interrogation, is the next personage of importance. +He ought to be called the sailing-master, for, although he goes on shore +in France, off the English coast he never quits the vessel. When they +leave her with the goods, he remains on board; he is always to be found +off any part of the coast where he may be ordered; holding his position +in defiance of gales, and tides, and fogs: as for the revenue vessels, +they all know him well enough, but they cannot touch a vessel in +ballast, if she has no more men on board than allowed by her tonnage. He +knows every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> creek, and hole, and corner of the coast; how the tide runs +in—tide, half-tide, eddy, or current. That is his value. His name is +Morrison.</p> + +<p>You observe that Jack Pickersgill has two excellent supporters in +Corbett and Morrison; his other men are good seamen, active and +obedient, which is all that he requires. I shall not particularly +introduce them.</p> + +<p>'Now you may call for another litre, my lads, and that must be the last; +the tide is flowing fast, and we shall be afloat in half an hour, and we +have just the breeze we want. What d'ye think, Morrison, shall we have +dirt?'</p> + +<p>'I've been looking just now, and if it were any other month in the year +I should say yes; but there's no trusting April, captain. Howsomever, if +it does blow off, I'll promise you a fog in three hours afterwards.'</p> + +<p>'That will do as well. Corbett, have you settled with Duval?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, after more noise and <i>charivari</i> than a panic in the Stock +Exchange would make in England. He fought and squabbled for an hour, and +I found that, without some abatement, I never should have settled the +affair.'</p> + +<p>'What did you let him off?'</p> + +<p>'Seventeen sous,' replied Corbett, laughing.</p> + +<p>'And that satisfied him?' inquired Pickersgill.</p> + +<p>'Yes—it was all he could prove to be a <i>surfaire</i>: two of the knives +were a little rusty. But he will always have something off; he could not +be happy without it. I really think he would commit suicide if he had to +pay a bill without a deduction.'</p> + +<p>'Let him live,' replied Pickersgill. 'Jeannette, a bottle of Volnay of +1811, and three glasses.'</p> + +<p>Jeannette, who was the <i>fille de cabaret</i>, soon appeared with a bottle +of wine, seldom called for, except by the captain of the +<i>Happy-go-lucky</i>.</p> + +<p>'You sail to-night?' said she, as she placed the bottle before him.</p> + +<p>Pickersgill nodded his head.</p> + +<p>'I had a strange dream,' said Jeannette; 'I thought you were all taken +by a revenue cutter, and put in a <i>cachot</i>. I went to see you, and I did +not know one of you again—you were all changed.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Very likely, Jeannette; you would not be the first who did not know +their friends again when in misfortune. There was nothing strange in +your dream.'</p> + +<p>'<i>Mais, mon Dieu! je ne suis pas comme ça, moi.</i>'</p> + +<p>'No, that you are not, Jeannette; you are a good girl, and some of these +fine days I'll marry you,' said Corbett.</p> + +<p>'<i>Doit être bien beau ce jour là, par exemple</i>,' replied Jeannette, +laughing; 'you have promised to marry me every time you have come in +these last three years.'</p> + +<p>'Well, that proves I keep to my promise, anyhow.'</p> + +<p>'Yes; but you never go any further.'</p> + +<p>'I can't spare him, Jeannette, that is the real truth,' said the +captain; 'but wait a little—in the meantime, here is a five-franc piece +to add to your <i>petite fortune</i>.'</p> + +<p>'<i>Merci bien, monsieur le capitaine; bon voyage!</i>' Jeannette held her +finger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile, '<i>méchant!</i>' and then +quitted the room.</p> + +<p>'Come, Morrison, help us to empty this bottle, and then we will all go +on board.'</p> + +<p>'I wish that girl wouldn't come here with her nonsensical dreams,' said +Morrison, taking his seat; 'I don't like it. When she said that we +should be taken by a revenue cutter, I was looking at a blue and a white +pigeon sitting on the wall opposite; and I said to myself, Now, if that +be a warning, I will see: if the <i>blue</i> pigeon flies away first, I shall +be in jail in a week; if the <i>white</i>, I shall be back here.'</p> + +<p>'Well?' said Pickersgill, laughing.</p> + +<p>'It wasn't well,' answered Morrison, tossing off his wine, and putting +the glass down with a deep sigh; 'for the cursed <i>blue</i> pigeon flew away +immediately.'</p> + +<p>'Why, Morrison, you must have a chicken heart to be frightened at a blue +pigeon!' said Corbett, laughing, and looking out of the window; 'at all +events, he has come back again, and there he is sitting by the white +one.'</p> + +<p>'It's the first time that ever I was called chicken-hearted,' replied +Morrison in wrath.</p> + +<p>'Nor do you deserve it, Morrison,' replied Pickersgill; 'but Corbett is +only joking.'</p> + +<p>'Well, at all events, I'll try my luck in the same way, and see whether +I am to be in jail: I shall take the blue pigeon as my bad omen, as you +did.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 438px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i238.png" width="438" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Jeannette held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with a +smile, 'méchant!' and then quitted the room</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sailors and Captain Pickersgill all rose and went to the window, to +ascertain Corbett's fortune by this new species of augury. The blue +pigeon flapped his wings, and then he sidled up to the white one; at +last, the white pigeon flew off the wall and settled on the roof of the +adjacent house. 'Bravo, white pigeon!' said Corbett; 'I shall be here +again in a week.' The whole party, laughing, then resumed their seats; +and Morrison's countenance brightened up. As he took the glass of wine +poured out by Pickersgill, he said, 'Here's your health, Corbett; it was +all nonsense, after all—for, d'ye see, I can't be put in jail without +you are. We all sail in the same boat, and when you leave me you take +with you everything that can condemn the vessel—so here's success to +our trip.'</p> + +<p>'We will all drink that toast, my lads, and then on board,' said the +captain; 'here's success to our trip.'</p> + +<p>The captain rose, as did the mates and men, drank the toast, turned down +the drinking vessels on the table, hastened to the wharf, and in half an +hour the <i>Happy-go-lucky</i> was clear of the port of St. Maloes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>PORTLAND BILL</h3> + + +<p>The <i>Happy-go-lucky</i> sailed with a fresh breeze and a flowing sheet from +St. Maloes the evening before the <i>Arrow</i> sailed from Barn Pool. The +<i>Active</i> sailed from Portsmouth the morning after.</p> + +<p>The yacht, as we before observed, was bound to Cowes, in the Isle of +Wight. The <i>Active</i> had orders to cruise wherever she pleased within the +limits of the admiral's station; and she ran for West Bay, on the other +side of the Bill of Portland. The <i>Happy-go-lucky</i> was also bound for +that bay to land her cargo.</p> + +<p>The wind was light, and there was every appearance of fine weather, when +the <i>Happy-go-lucky</i>, at ten o'clock on the Tuesday night, made the +Portland lights; as it was impossible to run her cargo that night, she +hove-to.</p> + +<p>At eleven o'clock the Portland lights were made by the revenue cutter +<i>Active</i>. Mr. Appleboy went up to have a look at them, ordered the +cutter to be hove-to, and then went down to finish his allowance of +gin-toddy. At twelve o'clock the yacht <i>Arrow</i> made the Portland lights, +and continued her course, hardly stemming the ebb tide.</p> + +<p>Day broke, and the horizon was clear. The first on the look-out were, of +course, the smugglers; they, and those on board the revenue cutter, were +the only two interested parties—the yacht was neuter.</p> + +<p>'There are two cutters in sight, sir,' said Corbett, who had the watch; +for Pickersgill, having been up the whole night, had thrown himself down +on the bed with his clothes on.</p> + +<p>'What do they look like?' said Pickersgill, who was up in a moment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>'One is a yacht, and the other may be; but I rather think, as far as I +can judge in the gray, that it is our old friend off here.'</p> + +<p>'What! old Appleboy?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, it looks like him; but the day has scarcely broke yet.'</p> + +<p>'Well, he can do nothing in a light wind like this; and before the wind +we can show him our heels; but are you sure the other is a yacht?' said +Pickersgill, coming on deck.</p> + +<p>'Yes; the king is more careful of his canvas.'</p> + +<p>'You're right,' said Pickersgill, 'that is a yacht; and you're right +there again in your guess—that is the stupid old <i>Active</i> which creeps +about creeping for tubs. Well, I see nothing to alarm us at present, +provided it don't fall a dead calm, and then we must take to our boat as +soon as he takes to his; we are four miles from him at least. Watch his +motions, Corbett, and see if he lowers a boat. What does she go now? +Four knots?—that will soon tire their men.'</p> + +<p>The positions of the three cutters were as follows:—</p> + +<p>The <i>Happy-go-lucky</i> was about four miles off Portland Head, and well +into West Bay. The revenue cutter was close to the Head. The yacht was +outside of the smuggler, about two miles to the westward, and about five +or six miles from the revenue cutter.</p> + +<p>'Two vessels in sight, sir,' said Mr. Smith, coming down into the cabin +to Mr. Appleboy.</p> + +<p>'Very well,' replied the lieutenant, who was <i>lying</i> down in his +<i>standing</i> bed-place.</p> + +<p>'The people say one is the <i>Happy-go-lucky</i>, sir,' drawled Smith.</p> + +<p>'Heh? what! <i>Happy-go-lucky</i>? Yes, I recollect; I've boarded her twenty +times—always empty. How's she standing?'</p> + +<p>'She stands to the westward now, sir; but she was hove-to, they say, +when they first saw her.'</p> + +<p>'Then she has a cargo in her;' and Mr. Appleboy shaved himself, dressed, +and went on deck.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' said the lieutenant, rubbing his eyes again and again, and then +looking through the glass, 'it is her, sure enough. Let draw the +foresheet—hands make sail. What vessel's the other?'</p> + +<p>'Don't know, sir—she's a cutter.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<p>'A cutter? yes; maybe a yacht, or maybe the new cutter ordered on the +station. Make all sail, Mr. Tomkins; hoist our pendant, and fire a +gun—they will understand what we mean then; they don't know the +<i>Happy-go-lucky</i> as well as we do.'</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the <i>Active</i> was under a press of sail; she hoisted her +pendant, and fired a gun. The smuggler perceived that the <i>Active</i> had +recognised her, and she also threw out more canvas, and ran off more to +the westward.</p> + +<p>'There's a gun, sir,' reported one of the men to Mr. Stewart, on board +of the yacht.</p> + +<p>'Yes; give me the glass—a revenue cutter; then this vessel inshore +running towards us must be a smuggler.'</p> + +<p>'She has just now made all sail, sir.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, there's no doubt of it. I will go down to his lordship, keep her +as she goes.'</p> + +<p>Mr. Stewart then went down to inform Lord B. of the circumstance. Not +only Lord B. but most of the gentlemen came on deck; as did soon +afterwards the ladies, who had received the intelligence from Lord B., +who spoke to them through the door of the cabin.</p> + +<p>But the smuggler had more wind than the revenue cutter, and increased +her distance.</p> + +<p>'If we were to wear round, my lord,' observed Mr. Stewart, 'she is just +abreast of us and inshore, we could prevent her escape.'</p> + +<p>'Round with her, Mr. Stewart,' said Lord B.; 'we must do our duty and +protect the laws.'</p> + +<p>'That will not be fair, papa,' said Cecilia Ossulton; 'we have no +quarrel with the smugglers: I'm sure the ladies have not, for they bring +us beautiful things.'</p> + +<p>'Miss Ossulton,' observed her aunt, 'it is not proper for you to offer +an opinion.'</p> + +<p>The yacht wore round, and, sailing so fast, the smuggler had little +chance of escaping her; but to chase is one thing—to capture another.</p> + +<p>'Let us give her a gun,' said Lord B., 'that will frighten her; and he +dare not cross our hawse.'</p> + +<p>The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the smuggler, +actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 399px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i243.png" width="399" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from +the smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + +<p>The gentlemen, as well as Lord B., were equally excited by the ardour of +pursuit; but the wind died away, and at last it was nearly calm. The +revenue cutter's boats were out, and coming up fast.</p> + +<p>'Let us get our boat out, Stewart,' said his lordship, 'and help them; +it is quite calm now.'</p> + +<p>The boat was soon out: it was a very large one, usually stowed on, and +occupied a large portion of, the deck. It pulled six oars; and when it +was manned, Mr. Stewart jumped in, and Lord B. followed him.</p> + +<p>'But you have no arms,' said Mr. Hautaine.</p> + +<p>'The smugglers never resist now,' observed Stewart.</p> + +<p>'Then you are going on a very gallant expedition indeed,' observed +Cecilia Ossulton; 'I wish you joy.'</p> + +<p>But Lord B. was too much excited to pay attention. They shoved off, and +pulled towards the smuggler.</p> + +<p>At this time the revenue boats were about five miles astern of the +<i>Happy-go-lucky</i>, and the yacht about three-quarters of a mile from her +in the offing. Pickersgill had, of course, observed the motions of the +yacht; had seen her wear on chase, hoist her ensign and pendant, and +fire her gun.</p> + +<p>'Well,' said he, 'this is the blackest ingratitude: to be attacked by +the very people whom we smuggle for! I only wish she may come up with +us; and, let her attempt to interfere, she shall rue the day. I don't +much like this, though.'</p> + +<p>As we before observed, it fell nearly calm, and the revenue boats were +in chase. Pickersgill watched them as they came up.</p> + +<p>'What shall we do?' said Corbett, 'get the boat out?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied Pickersgill, 'we will get the boat out, and have the +goods in her all ready; but we can pull faster than they do, in the +first place; and, in the next, they will be pretty well tired before +they come up to us. We are fresh, and shall soon walk away from them; so +I shall not leave the vessel till they are within half a mile. We must +sink the ankers, that they may not seize the vessel, for it is not worth +while taking them with us. Pass them along, ready to run them over the +bows, that they may not see us and swear to it. But we have a good +half-hour and more.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Ay, and you may hold all fast if you choose,' said Morrison, 'although +it's better to be on the right side and get ready; otherwise, before +half an hour, I'll swear that we are out of their sight. Look there,' +said he, pointing to the eastward at a heavy bank, 'it's coming right +down upon us, as I said it would.'</p> + +<p>'True enough; but still there is no saying which will come first, +Morrison, the boats or the fog; so we must be prepared.'</p> + +<p>'Hilloa! what's this? why, there's a boat coming from the yacht!'</p> + +<p>Pickersgill took out his glass.</p> + +<p>'Yes, and the yacht's own boat, with the name painted on her bows. Well, +let them come—we will have no ceremony in resisting them; they are not +in the Act of Parliament, and must take the consequences. We have nought +to fear. Get stretchers, my lads, and handspikes; they row six oars, and +are three in the stern-sheets: they must be good men if they take us.'</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Lord B. was close to the smuggler.</p> + +<p>'Boat ahoy! what do you want?'</p> + +<p>'Surrender in the king's name.'</p> + +<p>'To what, and to whom, and what are we to surrender? We are an English +vessel coasting along shore.'</p> + +<p>'Pull on board, my lads,' cried Stewart; 'I am a king's officer: we know +her.'</p> + +<p>The boat darted alongside, and Stewart and Lord B., followed by the men, +jumped on the deck.</p> + +<p>'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said Pickersgill.</p> + +<p>'We seize you! you are a smuggler—there's no denying it: look at the +casks of spirits stretched along the deck.'</p> + +<p>'We never said that we were not smugglers,' replied Pickersgill; 'but +what is that to you? You are not a king's ship, or employed by the +revenue.'</p> + +<p>'No; but we carry a pendant, and it is our duty to protect the laws.'</p> + +<p>'And who are you?' said Pickersgill.</p> + +<p>'I am Lord B.'</p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 407px; height: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i246.png" width="407" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said +Pickersgill.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>'Then, my lord, allow me to say that you would do much better to attend +to the framing of laws, and leave people of less consequence, like those +astern of me, to execute them. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> "Mind your own business" is an +old adage. We shall not hurt you, my lord, as you have only employed +words, but we shall put it out of your power to hurt us. Come aft, my +lads. Now, my lord, resistance is useless; we are double your numbers, +and you have caught a Tartar.'</p> + +<p>Lord B. and Mr. Stewart perceived that they were in an awkward +predicament.</p> + +<p>'You may do what you please,' observed Mr. Stewart, 'but the revenue +boats are coming up, recollect.'</p> + +<p>'Look you, sir, do you see the revenue cutter?' said Pickersgill.</p> + +<p>Stewart looked in that direction, and saw that she was hidden in the +fog.</p> + +<p>'In five minutes, sir, the boats will be out of sight also, and so will +your vessel; we have nothing to fear from them.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed, my lord, we had better return,' said Mr. Stewart, who perceived +that Pickersgill was right.</p> + +<p>'I beg your pardon, you will not go on board your yacht so soon as you +expect. Take the oars out of the boat, my lads, two or three of you, and +throw in a couple of our paddles for them to reach the shore with. The +rest of you knock down the first man who offers to resist. You are not +aware, perhaps, my lord, that you have attempted <i>piracy</i> on the high +seas?'</p> + +<p>Stewart looked at Lord B. It was true enough. The men of the yacht could +offer no resistance; the oars were taken out of the boat and the men put +in again.</p> + +<p>'My lord,' said Pickersgill, 'your boat is manned, do me the favour to +step into it; and you, sir, do the same. I should be sorry to lay my +hands upon a peer of the realm, or a king's officer even on half-pay.'</p> + +<p>Remonstrance was vain; his lordship was led to the boat by two of the +smugglers, and Stewart followed.</p> + +<p>'I will leave your oars, my lord, at the Weymouth Custom-house, and I +trust this will be a lesson to you in future to "mind your own +business."'</p> + +<p>The boat was shoved off from the sloop by the smugglers, and was soon +lost sight of in the fog, which had now covered the revenue boats as +well as the yacht, at the same time it brought down a breeze from the +eastward.</p> + +<p>'Haul to the wind, Morrison,' said Pickersgill, 'we will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> stand out to +get rid of the boats; if they pull on they will take it for granted that +we shall run into the bay, as will the revenue cutter.'</p> + +<p>Pickersgill and Corbett were in conversation abaft for a short time, +when the former desired the course to be altered two points.</p> + +<p>'Keep silence all of you, my lads, and let me know if you hear a gun or +a bell from the yacht,' said Pickersgill.</p> + +<p>'There is a gun, sir, close to us,' said one of the men; 'the sound was +right ahead.'</p> + +<p>'That will do, keep her as she goes. Aft here, my lads; we cannot run +our cargo in the bay, for the cutter has been seen to chase us, and they +will all be on the look-out at the Preventive stations for us on shore. +Now, my lads, I have made up my mind that, as these yacht gentlemen have +thought proper to interfere, I will take possession of the yacht for a +few days. We shall then outsail everything, go where we like +unsuspected, and land our cargo with ease. I shall run alongside of +her—she can have but few hands on board; and mind, do not hurt anybody, +but be civil and obey my orders. Morrison, you and your four men and the +boy will remain on board as before, and take the vessel to Cherbourg, +where we will join you.'</p> + +<p>In a short time another gun was fired from the yacht.</p> + +<p>Those on board, particularly the ladies, were alarmed; the fog was very +thick, and they could not distinguish the length of the vessel. They had +seen the boat board, but had not seen her turned adrift without oars, as +the fog came on just at that time. The yacht was left with only three +seamen on board, and should it come on bad weather, they were in an +awkward predicament. Mr. Hautaine had taken the command, and ordered the +guns to be fired that the boat might be enabled to find them. The fourth +gun was loading, when they perceived the smuggler's cutter close to them +looming through the fog.</p> + +<p>'Here they are,' cried the seamen; 'and they have brought the prize +along with them! Three cheers for the <i>Arrow</i>!'</p> + +<p>'Hilloa! you'll be on board of us!' cried Hautaine.</p> + +<p>'That's exactly what I intended to be, sir,' replied Pickersgill, +jumping on the quarter-deck, followed by his men.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Who the devil are you?'</p> + +<p>'That's exactly the same question that I asked Lord B. when he boarded +us,' replied Pickersgill, taking off his hat to the ladies.</p> + +<p>'Well, but what business have you here?'</p> + +<p>'Exactly the same question which I put to Lord B.,' replied Pickersgill.</p> + +<p>'Where is Lord B., sir?' said Cecilia Ossulton, going up to the +smuggler; 'is he safe?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, madam, he is safe; at least he is in his boat with all his men, +and unhurt; but you must excuse me if I request you and the other ladies +to go down below while I speak to these gentlemen. Be under no alarm, +miss, you will receive neither insult nor ill-treatment—I have only +taken possession of this vessel for the present.'</p> + +<p>'Take possession,' cried Hautaine, 'of a yacht?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir, since the owner of the yacht thought proper to attempt to +take possession of me. I always thought that yachts were pleasure +vessels, sailing about for amusement, respected themselves, and not +interfering with others; but it appears that such is not the case. The +owner of this yacht has thought proper to break through the neutrality +and commence aggression, and under such circumstances I have now, in +retaliation, taken possession of her.'</p> + +<p>'And pray what do you mean to do, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Simply for a few days to make an exchange. I shall send you on board of +my vessel as smugglers, while I remain here with the ladies and amuse +myself with yachting.'</p> + +<p>'Why, sir, you cannot mean——'</p> + +<p>'I have said, gentlemen, and that is enough; I should be sorry to resort +to violence, but I must be obeyed. You have, I perceive, three seamen +only left: they are not sufficient to take charge of the vessel, and +Lord B. and the others you will not meet for several days. My regard for +the ladies, even common humanity, points out to me that I cannot leave +the vessel in this crippled condition. At the same time, I must have +hands on board of my own: you will oblige me by going on board and +taking her safely into port. It is the least return you can make for my +kindness. In those dresses, gentlemen, you will not be able to do your +duty; oblige me by shifting and putting on these.' Corbett handed a +flannel shirt, a rough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> jacket and trousers to Messrs. Hautaine, +Ossulton, Vaughan, and Seagrove. After some useless resistance they were +stripped, and having put on the smugglers' attire, they were handed on +board of the <i>Happy-go-lucky</i>.</p> + +<p>The three English seamen were also sent on board and confined below, as +well as Ossulton's servant, who was also equipped like his master, and +confined below with the seamen. Corbett and the men then handed up all +the smuggled goods into the yacht, dropped the boat, and made it fast +astern, and Morrison having received his directions, the vessels +separated, Morrison running for Cherbourg, and Pickersgill steering the +yacht along shore to the westward. About an hour after this exchange had +been effected the fog cleared up, and showed the revenue cutter hove-to +for her boats, which had pulled back and were close on board of her, and +the <i>Happy-go-lucky</i> about three miles in the offing; Lord B. and his +boat's crew were about four miles inshore, paddling and drifting with +the tide towards Portland. As soon as the boats were on board, the +revenue cutter made all sail after the smuggler, paying no attention to +the yacht, and either not seeing or not caring about the boat which was +drifting about in West Bay.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE TRAVESTIE</h3> + + +<p>Here we are, Corbett, and now I only wish my venture had been double,' +observed Pickersgill; 'but I shall not allow business to absorb me +wholly—we must add a little amusement. It appears to me, Corbett, that +the gentleman's clothes which lie there will fit you, and those of the +good-looking fellow who was spokesman will, I am sure, suit me well. Now +let us dress ourselves, and then for breakfast.'</p> + +<p>Pickersgill then exchanged his clothes for those of Mr. Hautaine, and +Corbett fitted on those of Mr. Ossulton. The steward was summoned up, +and he dared not disobey; he appeared on deck, trembling.</p> + +<p>'Steward, you will take these clothes below,' said Pickersgill, 'and, +observe, that I now command this yacht; and during the time that I am on +board you will pay me the same respect as you did Lord B.; nay, more, +you will always address me as Lord B. You will prepare dinner and +breakfast, and do your duty just as if his lordship was on board, and +take care that you feed us well, for I will not allow the ladies to be +entertained in a less sumptuous manner than before. You will tell the +cook what I say; and now that you have heard me, take care that you +obey; if not, recollect that I have my own men here, and if I but point +with my finger, <i>overboard you go</i>. Do you perfectly comprehend me?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, sir,' stammered the steward.</p> + +<p>'Yes, <i>sir!</i>—What did I tell you, sirrah?—Yes, my lord. Do you +understand me?'</p> + +<p>'Yes—my lord.'</p> + +<p>'Pray, steward, whose clothes has this gentleman put on?'</p> + +<p>'Mr.—Mr. Ossulton's, I think—sir—my lord, I mean.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Very well, steward; then recollect in future you always address that +gentleman as <i>Mr. Ossulton</i>.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, my lord,' and the steward went down below, and was obliged to take +a couple of glasses of brandy to keep himself from fainting.</p> + +<p>'Who are they, and what are they, Mr. Maddox?' cried the lady's-maid, +who had been weeping.</p> + +<p>'Pirates!—<i>bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing</i> pirates!' replied the +steward.</p> + +<p>'Oh!' screamed the lady's-maid, 'what will become of us, poor +unprotected females?' And she hastened into the cabin, to impart this +dreadful intelligence.</p> + +<p>The ladies in the cabin were not in a very enviable situation. As for +the elder Miss Ossulton (but, perhaps, it will be better in future to +distinguish the two ladies, by calling the elder simply Miss Ossulton, +and her niece, Cecilia), she was sitting with her salts to her nose, +agonised with a mixture of trepidation and wounded pride. Mrs. Lascelles +was weeping, but weeping gently. Cecilia was sad, and her heart was +beating with anxiety and suspense, when the maid rushed in.</p> + +<p>'Oh, madam! oh, miss! oh, Mrs. Lascelles! I have found it all out!—they +are murderous, bloody, do-everything pirates!!!'</p> + +<p>'Mercy on us!' exclaimed Miss Ossulton; 'surely they will never +dare——'</p> + +<p>'Oh, ma'am, they dare anything!—they just now were for throwing the +steward overboard; and they have rummaged all the portmanteaus, and +dressed themselves in the gentlemen's best clothes. The captain of them +told the steward that he was Lord B., and that if he dared to call him +anything else, he would cut his throat from ear to ear; and if the cook +don't give them a good dinner, they swear that they'll chop his right +hand off, and make him eat it without pepper or salt!'</p> + +<p>Miss Ossulton screamed, and went off into hysterics. Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia went to her assistance; but the latter had not forgotten the +very different behaviour of Jack Pickersgill, and his polite manners, +when he boarded the vessel. She did not, therefore, believe what the +maid had reported, but still her anxiety and suspense were great, +especially about her father. After having restored her aunt she put on +her bonnet, which was lying on the sofa.</p> + +<p>'Where are you going, dear?' said Mrs. Lascelles.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 433px; height: 660px;"> +<img src="images/i253.png" width="433" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Pirates!—bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing +pirates!' replied the steward.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> + +<p>'On deck,' replied Cecilia. 'I must and will speak to these men.'</p> + +<p>'Gracious heaven, Miss Ossulton! going on deck! have you heard what +Phœ be says?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, aunt, I have; but I can wait here no longer.'</p> + +<p>'Stop her! stop her!—she will be murdered!—she will be—she is mad!' +screamed Miss Ossulton; but no one attempted to stop Cecilia, and on +deck she went. On her arrival she found Jack Pickersgill and Corbett +walking the deck, one of the smugglers at the helm, and the rest +forward, and as quiet as the crew of the yacht. As soon as she made her +appearance Jack took off his hat, and made her a bow.</p> + +<p>'I do not know whom I have the honour of addressing, young lady; but I +am flattered with this mark of confidence. You feel, and I assure you +you feel correctly, that you are not exactly in lawless hands.'</p> + +<p>Cecilia looked with more surprise than fear at Pickersgill. Mr. +Hautaine's dress became him; he was a handsome, fine-looking man, and +had nothing of the ruffian in his appearance; unless, like Byron's +Corsair, he was <i>half savage, half soft</i>. She could not help thinking +that she had met many with less pretensions, as far as appearance went, +to the claims of a gentleman, at Almack's and other fashionable circles.</p> + +<p>'I have ventured on deck, sir,' said Cecilia, with a little +tremulousness in her voice, 'to request, as a favour, that you will +inform me what your intentions may be with regard to the vessel and with +regard to the ladies!'</p> + +<p>'And I feel much obliged to you for so doing, and I assure you I will, +as far as I have made up my own mind, answer you candidly: but you +tremble—allow me to conduct you to a seat. In few words, then, to +remove your present alarm, I intend that the vessel shall be returned to +its owner, with every article in it, as religiously respected as if they +were church property. With respect to you, and the other ladies on +board, I pledge you my honour that you have nothing to fear; that you +shall be treated with every respect; your privacy never invaded; and +that, in a few days, you will be restored to your friends. Young lady, I +pledge my hopes of future salvation to the truth of this; but, at the +same time, I must make a few conditions, which, however, will not be +very severe.'</p> + +<p>'But, sir,' replied Cecilia, much relieved, for Pickersgill had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> stood +by her in the most respectful manner, 'you are, I presume, the captain +of the smuggler? Pray answer me one question more—What became of the +boat with Lord B.? He is my father.'</p> + +<p>'I left him in his boat, without a hair of his head touched, young lady; +but I took away the oars.'</p> + +<p>'Then he will perish!' cried Cecilia, putting her handkerchief to her +eyes.</p> + +<p>'No, young lady; he is on shore, probably, by this time. Although I took +away his means of assisting to capture us, I left him the means of +gaining the land. It is not every one who would have done that, after +his conduct to us.'</p> + +<p>'I begged him not to go,' said Cecilia; 'I told him that it was not +fair, and that he had no quarrel with the smugglers.'</p> + +<p>'I thank you even for that,' replied Pickersgill. 'And now, miss—I have +not the pleasure of recollecting his lordship's family name——'</p> + +<p>'Ossulton, sir,' said Cecilia, looking at Pickersgill with surprise.</p> + +<p>'Then, with your permission, Miss Ossulton, I will now make you my +confidant: excuse my using so free a term, but it is because I wish to +relieve your fears. At the same time, I cannot permit you to divulge all +my intentions to the whole party on board. I feel that I may trust you, +for you have courage, and where there is courage there generally is +truth; but you must first tell me whether you will condescend to accept +these terms.'</p> + +<p>Cecilia demurred a moment; the idea of being the confidant of a smuggler +rather startled her: but still, her knowledge of what his intentions +were, if she might not reveal them, might be important; as, perhaps, she +might dissuade him. She could be in no worse position than she was now, +and she might be in a much better. The conduct of Pickersgill had been +such, up to the present, as to inspire confidence; and, although he +defied the laws, he appeared to regard the courtesies of life. Cecilia +was a courageous girl, and at length she replied—</p> + +<p>'Provided what you desire me to keep secret will not be injurious to any +one, or compromise me in my peculiar situation, I consent.'</p> + +<p>'I would not hurt a fly, Miss Ossulton, but in self-defence;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> and I have +too much respect for you, from your conduct during our short meeting, to +compromise you. Allow me now to be very candid; and then, perhaps, you +will acknowledge that in my situation others would do the same, and, +perhaps, not show half so much forbearance. Your father, without any +right whatever, interferes with me and my calling: he attempts to make +me a prisoner, to have me thrown in jail, heavily fined, and, perhaps, +sent out of the country. I will not enter into any defence of smuggling: +it is sufficient to say that there are pains and penalties attached to +the infraction of certain laws, and that I choose to risk them. But Lord +B. was not empowered by Government to attack me; it was a gratuitous +act; and had I thrown him and all his crew into the sea, I should have +been justified: for it was, in short, an act of piracy on their part. +Now, as your father has thought to turn a yacht into a revenue cutter, +you cannot be surprised at my retaliating, in turning her into a +smuggler; and as he has mixed up looking after the revenue with +yachting, he cannot be surprised if I retaliate by mixing up a little +yachting with smuggling. I have dressed your male companions as +smugglers, and have sent them in the smuggling vessel to Cherbourg, +where they will be safely landed; and I have dressed myself, and the +only person whom I could join with me in this frolic, as gentlemen, in +their places. My object is twofold: one is, to land my cargo, which I +have now on board, and which is very valuable; the other is, to +retaliate upon your father and his companions for their attempt upon me, +by stepping into their shoes, and enjoying, for a day or two, their +luxuries. It is my intention to make free with nothing but his +lordship's wines and eatables—that you may be assured of; but I shall +have no pleasure if the ladies do not sit down to the dinner-table with +us, as they did before with your father and his friends.'</p> + +<p>'You can hardly expect that, sir,' said Cecilia.</p> + +<p>'Yes, I do; and that will be not only the price of the early release of +the yacht and themselves, but it will also be the only means by which +they will obtain anything to eat. You observe, Miss Ossulton, the sins +of the fathers are visited on the children. I have now told you what I +mean to do, and what I wish. I leave you to think of it, and decide +whether it will not be the best for all parties to consent. You have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> my +permission to tell the other ladies that, whatever may be their conduct, +they are as secure from ill-treatment or rudeness as if they were in +Grosvenor Square; but I cannot answer that they will not be hungry, if, +after such forbearance in every point, they show so little gratitude as +not to honour me with their company.'</p> + +<p>'Then I am to understand that we are to be starved into submission?'</p> + +<p>'No, not starved, Miss Ossulton; but recollect that you will be on bread +and water, and detained until you do consent, and your detention will +increase the anxiety of your father.'</p> + +<p>'You know how to persuade, sir,' said Cecilia. 'As far as I am +concerned, I trust I shall ever be ready to sacrifice any feelings of +pride to spare my father so much uneasiness. With your permission, I +will now go down into the cabin and relieve my companions from the worst +of their fears. As for obtaining what you wish, I can only say that, as +a young person, I am not likely to have much influence with those older +than myself, and must inevitably be overruled, as I have not permission +to point out to them reasons which might avail. Would you so far allow +me to be relieved from my promise, as to communicate all you have said +to me to the only married woman on board? I think I then might obtain +your wishes, which, I must candidly tell you, I shall attempt to effect +<i>only</i> because I am most anxious to rejoin my friends.'</p> + +<p>'And be relieved of my company,' replied Pickersgill, smiling +ironically—'of course you are; but I must and will have my petty +revenge: and although you may, and probably will, detest me, at all +events you shall not have any very formidable charge to make against me. +Before you go below, Miss Ossulton, I give you my permission to add the +married lady to the number of my confidants; and you must permit me to +introduce my friend, Mr. Ossulton;' and Pickersgill waved his hand in +the direction of Corbett, who took off his hat and made a low obeisance.</p> + +<p>It was impossible for Cecilia Ossulton to help smiling.</p> + +<p>'And,' continued Pickersgill, 'having taken the command of this yacht +instead of his lordship, it is absolutely necessary that I also take his +lordship's name. While on board I am Lord B.; and allow me to introduce +myself under that name;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> I cannot be addressed otherwise. Depend upon +it, Miss Ossulton, that I shall have a most paternal solicitude to make +you happy and comfortable.'</p> + +<p>Had Cecilia Ossulton dared to have given vent to her real feelings at +that time, she would have burst into a fit of laughter; it was too +ludicrous. At the same time, the very burlesque reassured her still +more. She went into the cabin with a heavy weight removed from her +heart.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Miss Ossulton and Mrs. Lascelles remained below, in the +greatest anxiety at Cecilia's prolonged stay; they knew not what to +think, and dared not go on deck. Mrs. Lascelles had once determined at +all risks to go up; but Miss Ossulton and Phœ be had screamed and +implored her so fervently not to leave them, that she unwillingly +consented to remain. Cecilia's countenance, when she entered the cabin, +reassured Mrs. Lascelles, but not her aunt, who ran to her crying and +sobbing, and clinging to her, saying, 'What have they done to you, my +poor, poor Cecilia?'</p> + +<p>'Nothing at all, aunt,' replied Cecilia; 'the captain speaks very +fairly, and says he shall respect us in every possible way, provided +that we obey his orders; but if not——'</p> + +<p>'If not—what, Cecilia?' said Miss Ossulton, grasping her niece's arm.</p> + +<p>'He will starve us, and not let us go!'</p> + +<p>'God have mercy on us!' cried Miss Ossulton, renewing her sobs.</p> + +<p>Cecilia then went to Mrs. Lascelles, and communicated to her apart all +that had passed. Mrs. Lascelles agreed with Cecilia that they were in no +danger of insult; and as they talked over the matter they at last began +to laugh; there was a novelty in it, and there was something so +ridiculous in all the gentlemen being turned into smugglers. Cecilia was +glad that she could not tell her aunt, as she wished her to be so +frightened as never to have her company on board the yacht again; and +Mrs. Lascelles was too glad to annoy her for many and various insults +received. The matter was therefore canvassed over very satisfactorily, +and Mrs. Lascelles felt a natural curiosity to see this new Lord B. and +the second Mr. Ossulton. But they had had no breakfast, and were feeling +very hungry now that their alarm was over. They desired Phœ be to ask +the steward for some tea or coffee. The reply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> was, that 'Breakfast was +laid in the cabin, and Lord B. trusted that the ladies would come to +partake of it.'</p> + +<p>'No, no,' replied Mrs. Lascelles, 'I never can, without being introduced +to them first.'</p> + +<p>'Nor will I go,' replied Cecilia, 'but I will write a note, and we will +have our breakfast here.' Cecilia wrote a note in pencil as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote><p>'Miss Ossulton's compliments to Lord B., and, as the ladies feel +rather indisposed after the alarm of this morning, they trust that +his lordship will excuse their coming to breakfast; but hope to +meet his lordship at dinner, if not before that time on deck.'</p></blockquote> + +<p>The answer was propitious, and the steward soon appeared with the +breakfast in the ladies' cabin.</p> + +<p>'Well, Maddox,' said Cecilia, 'how do you get on with your new master?'</p> + +<p>The steward looked at the door, to see if it was closed, shook his head, +and then said, with a look of despair, 'He has ordered a haunch of +venison for dinner, miss, and he has twice threatened to toss me +overboard.'</p> + +<p>'You must obey him, Maddox, or he certainly will. These pirates are +dreadful fellows. Be attentive, and serve him just as if he was my +father.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, yes, ma'am, I will; but our time may come. It's <i>burglary</i> on the +high seas, and I'll go fifty miles to see him hanged.'</p> + +<p>'Steward!' cried Pickersgill, from the cabin.</p> + +<p>'O Lord! he can't have heard me—d'ye think he did, miss?'</p> + +<p>'The partitions are very thin, and you spoke very loud,' said Mrs. +Lascelles; 'at all events, go to him quickly.'</p> + +<p>'Good-bye, miss; good-bye, ma'am, if I shouldn't see you any more,' said +Maddox, trembling with fear, as he obeyed the awful summons—which was +to demand a toothpick.</p> + +<p>Miss Ossulton would not touch the breakfast; not so Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia, who ate very heartily.</p> + +<p>'It's very dull to be shut up in this cabin,' said Mrs. Lascelles; +'come, Cecilia, let's go on deck.'</p> + +<p>'And leave me!' cried Miss Ossulton.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + +<p>'There is Phœ be here, aunt; we are going up to persuade the pirates +to put us all on shore.'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lascelles and Cecilia put on their bonnets and went up. Lord B. +took off his hat, and begged the honour of being introduced to the +pretty widow. He handed the ladies to a seat, and then commenced +conversing upon various subjects, which at the same time possessed great +novelty. His lordship talked about France, and described its ports; told +now and then a good anecdote; pointed out the different headlands, bays, +towns, and villages, which they were passing rapidly, and always had +some little story connected with each. Before the ladies had been two +hours on deck they found themselves, to their infinite surprise, not +only interested, but in conversation with the captain of the smuggler, +and more than once they laughed outright. But the <i>soi-disant</i> Lord B. +had inspired them with confidence; they fully believed that what he had +told them was true, and that he had taken possession of the yacht to +smuggle his goods, to be revenged, and to have a laugh. Now none of +these three offences are capital in the eyes of the fair sex, and Jack +was a handsome, fine-looking fellow, of excellent manners and very +agreeable conversation; at the same time, neither he nor his friend were +in their general deportment and behaviour otherwise than most +respectful.</p> + +<p>'Ladies, as you are not afraid of me, which is a greater happiness than +I had reason to expect, I think you may be amused to witness the fear of +those who accuse your sex of cowardice. With your permission, I will +send for the cook and steward, and inquire about the dinner.'</p> + +<p>'I should like to know what there is for dinner,' observed Mrs. +Lascelles demurely; 'wouldn't you, Cecilia?'</p> + +<p>Cecilia put her handkerchief to her mouth.</p> + +<p>'Tell the steward and the cook both to come aft immediately,' cried +Pickersgill.</p> + +<p>In a few seconds they both made their appearance.</p> + +<p>'Steward!' cried Pickersgill, with a loud voice.</p> + +<p>'Yes, my lord,' replied Maddox, with his hat in his hand.</p> + +<p>'What wines have you put out for dinner?'</p> + +<p>'Champagne, my lord; and claret, my lord; and Madeira and sherry, my +lord.'</p> + +<p>'No Burgundy, sir?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 392px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i261.png" width="392" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his +knees, 'there is no Burgundy on board—ask the ladies.'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>'No, my lord; there is no Burgundy on board.'</p> + +<p>'No Burgundy, sir! do you dare to tell me that?'</p> + +<p>'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his knees, 'there is +no Burgundy on board—ask the ladies.'</p> + +<p>'Very well, sir, you may go.'</p> + +<p>'Cook, what have you got for dinner?'</p> + +<p>'Sir, a haunch of mutt—of venison, my lord,' replied the cook, with his +white nightcap in his hand.</p> + +<p>'What else, sirrah?'</p> + +<p>'A boiled calf's head, my lord.'</p> + +<p>'A boiled calf's head! Let it be roasted, or I'll roast you, sir!' cried +Pickersgill, in an angry tone.</p> + +<p>'Yes, my lord; I'll roast it.'</p> + +<p>'And what else, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Maintenon cutlets, my lord.'</p> + +<p>'Maintenon cutlets! I hate them—I won't have them, sir. Let them be +dressed <i>à l'ombre Chinoise</i>.'</p> + +<p>'I don't know what that is, my lord.'</p> + +<p>'I don't care for that, sirrah; if you don't find out by dinner-time, +you're food for fishes—that's all; you may go.'</p> + +<p>The cook walked off wringing his hands and his nightcap as well—for he +still held it in his right hand—and disappeared down the fore-hatchway.</p> + +<p>'I have done this to pay you a deserved compliment, ladies; you have +more courage than the other sex.'</p> + +<p>'Recollect that we have had confidence given to us in consequence of +your pledging your word, my lord.'</p> + +<p>'You do me, then, the honour of believing me?'</p> + +<p>'I did not until I saw you,' replied Mrs. Lascelles; 'but now I am +convinced that you will perform your promise.'</p> + +<p>'You do indeed encourage me, madam, to pursue what is right,' said +Pickersgill, bowing; 'for your approbation I should be most sorry to +lose, still more sorry to prove myself unworthy of it.'</p> + +<p>As the reader will observe, everything was going on remarkably well.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE SMUGGLING YACHT</h3> + + +<p>Cecilia returned to the cabin, to ascertain whether her aunt was more +composed; but Mrs. Lascelles remained on deck. She was much pleased with +Pickersgill; and they continued their conversation. Pickersgill entered +into a defence of his conduct to Lord B.; and Mrs. Lascelles could not +but admit the provocation. After a long conversation she hinted at his +profession, and how superior he appeared to be to such a lawless life.</p> + +<p>'You may be incredulous, madam,' replied Pickersgill, 'if I tell you +that I have as good a right to quarter my arms as Lord B. himself; and +that I am not under my real name. Smuggling is, at all events, no crime; +and I infinitely prefer the wild life I lead at the head of my men to +being spurned by society because I am poor. The greatest crime in this +country is poverty. I may, if I am fortunate, some day resume my name. +You may, perhaps, meet me, and if you please, you may expose me.'</p> + +<p>'That I should not be likely to do,' replied the widow; 'but still I +regret to see a person, evidently intended for better things, employed +in so disreputable a profession.'</p> + +<p>'I hardly know, madam, what is and what is not disreputable in this +conventional world. It is not considered disreputable to cringe to the +vices of a court, or to accept a pension wrung from the industry of the +nation, in return for base servility. It is not considered disreputable +to take tithes, intended for the service of God, and lavish them away at +watering-places or elsewhere, seeking pleasure instead of doing God +service. It is not considered disreputable to take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> fee after fee to +uphold injustice, to plead against innocence, to pervert truth, and to +aid the devil. It is not considered disreputable to gamble on the Stock +Exchange, or to corrupt the honesty of electors by bribes, for doing +which the penalty attached is equal to that decreed to the offence of +which I am guilty. All these, and much more, are not considered +disreputable; yet by all these are the moral bonds of society loosened, +while in mine we cause no guilt in others——'</p> + +<p>'But still it is a crime.'</p> + +<p>'A violation of the revenue laws, and no more. Observe, madam, the +English Government encourage the smuggling of our manufactures to the +Continent, at the same time that they take every step to prevent +articles being smuggled into this country. Now, madam, can that be a +<i>crime</i> when the head of the vessel is turned north, which becomes <i>no +crime</i> when she steers the opposite way?'</p> + +<p>'There is a stigma attached to it, you must allow.'</p> + +<p>'That I grant you, madam; and as soon as I can quit the profession I +shall. No captive ever sighed more to be released from his chains; but I +will not leave it, till I find that I am in a situation not to be +spurned and neglected by those with whom I have a right to associate.'</p> + +<p>At this moment the steward was seen forward making signs to Mrs. +Lascelles, who excused herself, and went to him.</p> + +<p>'For the love of God, madam,' said Maddox, 'as he appears to be friendly +with you, do pray find out how these cutlets are to be dressed; the cook +is tearing his hair, and we shall never have any dinner; and then it +will all fall upon me, and I—shall be tossed overboard.'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lascelles desired poor Maddox to wait there while she obtained the +desired information. In a few minutes she returned to him.</p> + +<p>'I have found it out. They are first to be boiled in vinegar, then fried +in batter, and served up with a sauce of anchovy and Malaga raisins!'</p> + +<p>'First fried in vinegar, then boiled in batter, and served up with +almonds and raisins!'</p> + +<p>'No—no!' Mrs. Lascelles repeated the injunction to the frightened +steward, and then returned aft, and re-entered into a conversation with +Pickersgill, in which for the first time Corbett now joined. Corbett had +sense enough to feel that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> the less he came forward until his superior +had established himself in the good graces of the ladies, the more +favourable would be the result.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Cecilia had gone down to her aunt, who still continued +to wail and lament. The young lady tried all she could to console her, +and to persuade her that if they were civil and obedient they had +nothing to fear.</p> + +<p>'Civil and obedient, indeed!' cried Miss Ossulton, 'to a fellow who is a +smuggler and a pirate! I, the sister of Lord B.! Never! The presumption +of the wretch!'</p> + +<p>'That is all very well, aunt; but recollect, we must submit to +circumstances. These men insist upon our dining with them; and we must +go, or we shall have no dinner.'</p> + +<p>'I sit down with a pirate! Never! I'll have no dinner—I'll starve—I'll +die!'</p> + +<p>'But, my dear aunt, it's the only chance we have of obtaining our +release; and if you do not do it Mrs. Lascelles will think that you wish +to remain with them.'</p> + +<p>'Mrs. Lascelles judges of other people by herself.'</p> + +<p>'The captain is certainly a very well-behaved, handsome man. He looks +like a nobleman in disguise. What an odd thing it would be, aunt, if +this should be all a hoax!'</p> + +<p>'A hoax, child?' replied Miss Ossulton, sitting up on the sofa.</p> + +<p>Cecilia found that she had hit the right nail, as the saying is; and she +brought forward so many arguments to prove that she thought it was a +hoax to frighten them, and that the gentleman above was a man of +consequence, that her aunt began to listen to reason, and at last +consented to join the dinner party. Mrs. Lascelles now came down below; +and when dinner was announced they repaired to the large cabin, where +they found Pickersgill and Corbett waiting for them.</p> + +<p>Miss Ossulton did not venture to look up, until she heard Pickersgill +say to Mrs. Lascelles, 'Perhaps, madam, you will do me the favour to +introduce me to that lady, whom I have not had the honour of seeing +before?'</p> + +<p>'Certainly, my lord,' replied Mrs. Lascelles. 'Miss Ossulton, the aunt +of this young lady.'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lascelles purposely did not introduce <i>his lordship</i> in return, +that she might mystify the old spinster.</p> + +<p>'I feel highly honoured in finding myself in the company of Miss +Ossulton,' said Pickersgill. 'Ladies, we wait but for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> you to sit down. +Ossulton, take the head of the table and serve the soup.</p> + +<p>Miss Ossulton was astonished; she looked at the smugglers, and perceived +two well-dressed gentlemanly men, one of whom was apparently a lord, and +the other having the same family name.</p> + +<p>'It must be all a hoax,' thought she, and she very quietly took to her +soup.</p> + +<p>The dinner passed off very pleasantly; Pickersgill was agreeable, +Corbett funny, and Miss Ossulton so far recovered herself as to drink +wine with his lordship, and to ask Corbett what branch of their family +he belonged to.</p> + +<p>'I presume it's the Irish branch?' said Mrs. Lascelles, prompting him.</p> + +<p>'Exactly, madam,' replied Corbett.</p> + +<p>'Have you ever been to Torquay, ladies?' inquired Pickersgill.</p> + +<p>'No, my lord,' answered Mrs. Lascelles.</p> + +<p>'We shall anchor there in the course of an hour, and probably remain +there till to-morrow. Steward, bring coffee. Tell the cook these cutlets +were remarkably well dressed.'</p> + +<p>The ladies retired to their cabin. Miss Ossulton was now convinced that +it was all a hoax; 'but,' said she, 'I shall tell Lord B. my opinion of +their practical jokes when he returns. What is his lordship's name who +is on board?'</p> + +<p>'He won't tell us,' replied Mrs. Lascelles; 'but I think I know; it is +Lord Blarney.'</p> + +<p>'Lord Blaney, you mean, I presume,' said Miss Ossulton; 'however, the +thing is carried too far. Cecilia, we will go on shore at Torquay, and +wait till the yacht returns with Lord B. I don't like these jokes; they +may do very well for widows, and people of no rank.'</p> + +<p>Now Mrs. Lascelles was sorry to find Miss Ossulton so much at her ease. +She owed her no little spite, and wished for revenge. Ladies will go +very far to obtain this. How far Mrs. Lascelles would have gone, I will +not pretend to say; but this is certain, that the last innuendo of Miss +Ossulton very much added to her determination. She took her bonnet and +went on deck, at once told Pickersgill that he could not please her or +Cecilia more than by frightening Miss Ossulton, who, under the idea that +it was all a hoax, had quite recovered her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> spirits; talked of her pride +and ill-nature, and wished her to receive a useful lesson. Thus, to +follow up her revenge, did Mrs. Lascelles commit herself so far as to be +confidential with the smuggler in return.</p> + +<p>'Mrs. Lascelles, I shall be able to obey you, and, at the same time, to +combine business with pleasure.'</p> + +<p>After a short conversation, the yacht dropped her anchor at Torquay. It +was then about two hours before sunset. As soon as the sails were +furled, one or two gentlemen, who resided there, came on board to pay +their respects to Lord B.; and, as Pickersgill had found out from +Cecilia that her father was acquainted with no one there, he received +them in person; asked them down into the cabin—called for wine—and +desired them to send their boat away, as his own was going on shore. The +smugglers took great care that the steward, cook, and lady's-maid should +have no communication with the guests; one of them, by Corbett's +direction, being a sentinel over each individual. The gentlemen remained +about half an hour on board, during which Corbett and the smugglers had +filled the portmanteaus found in the cabin with the lace, and they were +put in the boat; Corbett then landed the gentlemen in the same boat, and +went up to the hotel, the smugglers following him with the portmanteaus, +without any suspicion or interruption. As soon as he was there, he +ordered post-horses, and set off for a town close by, where he had +correspondents; and thus the major part of the cargo was secured. +Corbett then returned in the night, bringing with him people to receive +the goods; and the smugglers landed the silks, teas, etc., with the same +good fortune. Everything was out of the yacht except a portion of the +lace, which the portmanteaus would not hold. Pickersgill might easily +have sent this on shore; but, to please Mrs. Lascelles, he arranged +otherwise.</p> + +<p>The next morning, about an hour after breakfast was finished, Mrs. +Lascelles entered the cabin pretending to be in the greatest +consternation, and fell on the sofa as if she were going to faint.</p> + +<p>'Good heavens! what is the matter?' exclaimed Cecilia, who knew very +well what was coming.</p> + +<p>'Oh, the wretch! he has made such proposals!'</p> + +<p>'Proposals! what proposals? what! Lord Blaney?' cried Miss Ossulton.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Oh, he's no lord! he's a villain and a smuggler! and he insists that we +shall both fill our pockets full of lace, and go on shore with him.'</p> + +<p>'Mercy on me! Then it is no hoax after all; and I've been sitting down +to dinner with a smuggler!'</p> + +<p>'Sitting down, madam!—if it were to be no more than that—but we are to +take his arm up to the hotel. Oh, dear! Cecilia, I am ordered on deck; +pray come with me!'</p> + +<p>Miss Ossulton rolled on the sofa, and rang for Phœ be; she was in a +state of great alarm.</p> + +<p>A knock at the door.</p> + +<p>'Come in,' said Miss Ossulton, thinking it was Phœ be; when +Pickersgill made his appearance.</p> + +<p>'What do you want, sir? Go out, sir! go out directly, or I'll scream!'</p> + +<p>'It is no use screaming, madam; recollect that all on board are at my +service. You will oblige me by listening to me, Miss Ossulton. I am, as +you know, a smuggler; and I must send this lace on shore. You will +oblige me by putting it into your pockets, or about your person, and +prepare to go on shore with me. As soon as we arrive at the hotel, you +will deliver it to me, and I then shall reconduct you on board of the +yacht. You are not the first lady who has gone on shore with contraband +articles about her person.'</p> + +<p>'Me, sir! go on shore in that way? No, sir—never! What will the world +say?—the Hon. Miss Ossulton walking with a smuggler! No, sir—never!'</p> + +<p>'Yes, madam; walking arm-in-arm with a smuggler. I shall have you on one +arm, and Mrs. Lascelles on the other; and I would advise you to take it +very quietly; for, in the first place, it will be you who smuggle, as +the goods will be found on your person, and you will certainly be put in +prison; for at the least appearance of insubordination, we run and +inform against you; and further, your niece will remain on board as a +hostage for your good behaviour—and if you have any regard for her +liberty, you will consent immediately.'</p> + +<p>Pickersgill left the cabin, and shortly afterwards Cecilia and Mrs. +Lascelles entered, apparently much distressed. They had been informed of +all, and Mrs. Lascelles declared, that for her part, sooner than leave +her poor Cecilia to the mercy of such people, she had made up her mind +to submit to the smuggler's demands. Cecilia also begged so earnestly, +that Miss Ossulton, who had no idea that it was a trick, with much +sobbing and blubbering, consented.</p> + +<p><br /></p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 397px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i269.png" width="397" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; +and, with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel.</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> +<p>When all was ready Cecilia left the cabin; Pickersgill came down, handed +up the two ladies, who had not exchanged a word with each other during +Cecilia's absence; the boat was ready alongside—they went in, and +pulled on shore. Everything succeeded to the smuggler's satisfaction. +Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; and, with Mrs. +Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel, followed by four of +his boat's crew. As soon as they were shown into a room, Corbett, who +was already on shore, asked for Lord B., and joined them. The ladies +retired to another apartment, divested themselves of their contraband +goods, and after calling for some sandwiches and wine, Pickersgill +waited an hour, and then returned on board. Mrs. Lascelles was +triumphant; and she rewarded her new ally—the smuggler—with one of her +sweetest smiles. Community of interest will sometimes make strange +friendships.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>We must now return to the other parties who have assisted in the acts of +this little drama. Lord B., after paddling and paddling, the men +relieving each other, in order to make head against the wind, which was +off shore, arrived about midnight at a small town in West Bay, from +whence he took a chaise on to Portsmouth, taking it for granted that his +yacht would arrive as soon as, if not before himself, little imagining +that it was in possession of the smugglers. There he remained three or +four days, when, becoming impatient, he applied to one of his friends +who had a yacht at Cowes, and sailed with him to look after his own.</p> + +<p>We left the <i>Happy-go-lucky</i> chased by the revenue cutter. At first the +smuggler had the advantage before the wind; but, by degrees, the wind +went round with the sun, and brought the revenue cutter to leeward: it +was then a chase on a wind, and the revenue cutter came fast up with +her.</p> + +<p>Morrison, perceiving that he had no chance of escape, let run the ankers +of brandy that he might not be condemned; but still he was in an awkward +situation, as he had more men on board than allowed by Act of +Parliament. He therefore stood on, notwithstanding the shot of the +cutter went over and over him, hoping that a fog or night might enable +him to escape; but he had no such good fortune; one of the shot carried +away the head of his mast, and the <i>Happy-go-lucky's</i> luck was all over. +He was boarded and taken possession of; he asserted that the extra men +were only passengers; but, in the first place, they were dressed in +seamen's clothes; and, in the second, as soon as the boat was aboard of +her, Appleboy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> had gone down to his gin-toddy, and was not to be +disturbed. The gentlemen smugglers therefore passed an uncomfortable +night; and the cutter going to Portland by daylight, before Appleboy was +out of bed, they were taken on shore to the magistrate. Hautaine +explained the whole affair, and they were immediately released and +treated with respect; but they were not permitted to depart until they +were bound over to appear against the smugglers, and prove the brandy +having been on board. They then set off for Portsmouth in the seamen's +clothes, having had quite enough of yachting for that season, Mr. +Ossulton declaring that he only wanted to get his luggage, and then he +would take care how he put himself again in the way of the shot of a +revenue cruiser, or of sleeping a night on her decks.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Morrison and his men were locked up in the jail, the old +man, as the key was turned on him, exclaiming, as he raised his foot in +vexation, 'That cursed blue pigeon.'</p> + +<p>We will now return to the yacht.</p> + +<p>About an hour after Pickersgill had come on board, Corbett had made all +his arrangements and followed him. It was not advisable to remain at +Torquay any longer, through fear of discovery; he therefore weighed the +anchor before dinner, and made sail.</p> + +<p>'What do you intend to do now, my lord?' said Mrs. Lascelles.</p> + +<p>'I intend to run down to Cowes, anchor the yacht in the night, and an +hour before daylight have you in my boat with all my men. I will take +care that you are in perfect safety, depend upon it, even if I run a +risk. I should, indeed, be miserable, if, through my wild freaks, any +accident should happen to Mrs. Lascelles or Miss Ossulton.'</p> + +<p>'I am very anxious about my father,' observed Cecilia. 'I trust that you +will keep your promise.'</p> + +<p>'I always have hitherto, Miss Ossulton; have I not?'</p> + +<p>'Ours is but a short and strange acquaintance.'</p> + +<p>'I grant it; but it will serve for you to talk about long after. I shall +disappear as suddenly as I have come—you will neither of you, in all +probability, ever see me again.'</p> + +<p>The dinner was announced, and they sat down to table as before; but the +elderly spinster refused to make her appearance, and Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia, who thought she had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> been frightened enough, did not attempt to +force her. Pickersgill immediately yielded to these remonstrances, and +from that time she remained undisturbed in the ladies' cabin, meditating +over the indignity of having sat down to table, having drank wine, and +been obliged to walk on shore, taking the arm of a smuggler, and appear +in such a humiliating situation.</p> + +<p>The wind was light, and they made but little progress, and were not +abreast of Portland till the second day, when another yacht appeared in +sight, and the two vessels slowly neared, until in the afternoon they +were within four miles of each other. It then fell a dead calm: signals +were thrown out by the other yacht, but could not be distinguished, and, +for the last time, they sat down to dinner. Three days' companionship on +board of a vessel, cooped up together, and having no one else to +converse with, will produce intimacy; and Pickersgill was a young man of +so much originality and information, that he was listened to with +pleasure. He never attempted to advance beyond the line of strict +decorum and politeness; and his companion was equally unpresuming. +Situated as they were, and feeling what must have been the case had they +fallen into other hands, both Cecilia and Mrs. Lascelles felt some +degree of gratitude towards him; and, although anxious to be relieved +from so strange a position, they had gradually acquired a perfect +confidence in him; and this had produced a degree of familiarity on +their parts, although never ventured upon by the smuggler. As Corbett +was at the table, one of the men came down and made a sign. Corbett +shortly after quitted the table and went on deck. 'I wish, my lord, you +would come up a moment, and see if you can make this flag out,' said +Corbett, giving a significant nod to Pickersgill. 'Excuse me, ladies, +one moment,' said Pickersgill, who went on deck.</p> + +<p>'It is the boat of the yacht coming on board,' said Corbett; 'and Lord +B. is in the stern-sheets with the gentleman who was with him.'</p> + +<p>'And how many men in the boat?—let me see—only four. Well, let his +lordship and his friend come: when they are on the deck, have the men +ready in case of accident; but if you can manage to tell the boat's crew +that they are to go on board again, and get rid of them that way, so +much the better.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> Arrange this with Adams, and then come down again—his +lordship must see us all at dinner.'</p> + +<p>Pickersgill then descended, and Corbett had hardly time to give his +directions and to resume his seat, before his lordship and Mr. Stewart +pulled up alongside and jumped on deck. There was no one to receive them +but the seamen, and those whom they did not know. They looked round in +amazement; at last his lordship said to Adams, who stood forward—</p> + +<p>'What men are you?'</p> + +<p>'Belong to the yacht, ye'r honour.'</p> + +<p>Lord B. heard laughing in the cabin; he would not wait to interrogate +the men; he walked aft, followed by Mr. Stewart, looked down the +skylight, and perceived his daughter and Mrs. Lascelles, with, as he +supposed, Hautaine and Ossulton.</p> + +<p>Pickersgill had heard the boat rub the side, and the sound of the feet +on deck, and he talked the more loudly, that the ladies might be caught +by Lord B. as they were. He heard their feet at the skylight, and knew +that they could hear what passed; and at that moment he proposed to the +ladies that as this was their last meeting at table they should all take +a glass of champagne to drink to 'their happy meeting with Lord B.' This +was a toast which they did not refuse. Maddox poured out the wine, and +they were all bowing to each other, when his lordship, who had come down +the ladder, walked into the cabin, followed by Mr. Stewart. Cecilia +perceived her father; the champagne-glass dropped from her hand—she +flew into his arms, and burst into tears.</p> + +<p>'Who would not be a father, Mrs. Lascelles?' said Pickersgill, quietly +seating himself, after having first risen to receive Lord B.</p> + +<p>'And pray, whom may I have the honour of finding established here?' said +Lord B., in an angry tone, speaking over his daughter's head, who still +lay in his arms. 'By heavens, yes!—Stewart, it is the smuggling captain +dressed out.'</p> + +<p>'Even so, my lord,' replied Pickersgill. 'You abandoned your yacht to +capture me; you left these ladies in a vessel crippled for want of men; +they might have been lost. I have returned good for evil by coming on +board with my own people, and taking charge of them. This night I +expected to have anchored your vessel in Cowes, and have left them in +safety.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + +<p>'By the——' cried Stewart.</p> + +<p>'Stop, sir, if you please!' cried Pickersgill; 'recollect you have once +already attacked one who never offended. Oblige me by refraining from +intemperate language; for I tell you I will not put up with it. +Recollect, sir, that I have refrained from that, and also from taking +advantage of you when you were in my power. Recollect, sir, also, that +the yacht is still in possession of the smugglers, and that you are in +no condition to insult with impunity. My lord, allow me to observe, that +we men are too hot of temperament to argue or listen coolly. With your +permission, your friend, and my friend, and I, will repair on deck, +leaving you to hear from your daughter and that lady all that has +passed. After that, my lord, I shall be most happy to hear anything +which your lordship may please to say.'</p> + +<p>'Upon my word——' commenced Mr. Stewart.</p> + +<p>'Mr. Stewart,' interrupted Cecilia Ossulton, 'I request your silence; +nay, more, if ever we are again to sail in the same vessel together, I +<i>insist</i> upon it.'</p> + +<p>'Your lordship will oblige me by enforcing Miss Ossulton's request,' +said Mrs. Lascelles.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stewart was dumbfounded—no wonder—to find the ladies siding with +the smuggler.</p> + +<p>'I am obliged to you, ladies, for your interference,' said Pickersgill; +'for, although I have the means of enforcing conditions, I should be +sorry to avail myself of them. I wait for his lordship's reply.'</p> + +<p>Lord. B. was very much surprised. He wished for an explanation; he bowed +with <i>hauteur</i>. Everybody appeared to be in a false position; even he, +Lord B., somehow or another had bowed to a smuggler.</p> + +<p>Pickersgill and Stewart went on deck, walking up and down, crossing each +other without speaking, but reminding you of two dogs who are both +anxious to fight, but have been restrained by the voice of their +masters. Corbett followed, and talked in a low tone to Pickersgill; +Stewart went over to leeward to see if the boat was still alongside, but +it had long before returned to the yacht. Miss Ossulton had heard her +brother's voice, but did not come out of the after-cabin; she wished to +be magnificent, and at the same time she was not sure whether all was +right, Phœ be having informed her that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> there was nobody with her +brother and Mr. Stewart, and that the smugglers still had the command of +the vessel. After a while, Pickersgill and Corbett went down forward, +and returned dressed in the smuggler's clothes, when they resumed their +walk on the deck.</p> + +<p>In the meantime it was dark; the cutter flew along the coast, and the +Needles' lights were on the larboard bow. The conversation between Mrs. +Lascelles, Cecilia, and her father was long. When all had been detailed, +and the conduct of Pickersgill duly represented, Lord B. acknowledged +that, by attacking the smuggler, he had laid himself open to +retaliation; that Pickersgill had shown a great deal of forbearance in +every instance; and after all, had he not gone on board the yacht, she +might have been lost, with only three seamen on board. He was amused +with the smuggling and the fright of his sister, still more with the +gentlemen being sent to Cherbourg, and much consoled that he was not the +only one to be laughed at. He was also much pleased with Pickersgill's +intention of leaving the yacht safe in Cowes harbour, his respect to the +property on board, and his conduct to the ladies. On the whole, he felt +grateful to Pickersgill, and where there is gratitude there is always +goodwill.</p> + +<p>'But who can he be?' said Mrs. Lascelles; 'his name he acknowledges not +to be Pickersgill, and he told me confidentially that he was of good +family.'</p> + +<p>'Confidentially, my dear Mrs. Lascelles?' said Lord B.</p> + +<p>'Oh, yes! we are both his confidants. Are we not, Cecilia?'</p> + +<p>'Upon my honour, Mrs. Lascelles, this smuggler appears to have made an +impression which many have attempted in vain.'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lascelles did not reply to that remark, but said, 'Now, my lord, +you must decide—and I trust you will, to oblige us, treat him as he has +treated us, with the greatest respect and kindness.'</p> + +<p>'Why should you suppose otherwise?' replied Lord B.; 'it is not only my +wish but my interest so to do. He may take us over to France to-night, +or anywhere else. Has he not possession of the vessel?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied Cecilia; 'but we flatter ourselves that we have <i>the +command</i>. Shall we call him down, papa?'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Ring for Maddox. Maddox, tell Mr. Pickersgill, who is on deck, that I +wish to speak with him, and shall be obliged by his stepping down into +the cabin.'</p> + +<p>'Who, my lord? What? <i>Him?</i>'</p> + +<p>'Yes, <i>him</i>,' replied Cecilia, laughing.</p> + +<p>'Must I call him my lord, now, miss?'</p> + +<p>'You may do as you please, Maddox; but recollect he is still in +possession of the vessel,' replied Cecilia.</p> + +<p>'Then, with your lordship's permission, I will; it's the safest way.'</p> + +<p>The smuggler entered the cabin; the ladies started as he appeared in his +rough costume. With his throat open, and his loose black handkerchief, +he was the <i>beau ideal</i> of a handsome sailor.</p> + +<p>'Your lordship wishes to communicate with me?'</p> + +<p>'Mr. Pickersgill, I feel that you have had cause of enmity against me, +and that you have behaved with forbearance. I thank you for your +considerate treatment of the ladies; and I assure you that I feel no +resentment for what has passed.'</p> + +<p>'My lord, I am quite satisfied with what you have said; and I only hope +that, in future, you will not interfere with a poor smuggler, who may be +striving, by a life of danger and privation, to procure subsistence for +himself, and, perhaps, his family. I stated to these ladies my intention +of anchoring the yacht this night at Cowes, and leaving her as soon as +she was in safety. Your unexpected presence will only make this +difference, which is, that I must previously obtain your lordship's +assurance that those with you will allow me and my men to quit her +without molestation, after we have performed this service.'</p> + +<p>'I pledge you my word, Mr. Pickersgill, and I thank you into the +bargain. I trust you will allow me to offer some remuneration.'</p> + +<p>'Most certainly not, my lord.'</p> + +<p>'At all events, Mr. Pickersgill, if, at any other time, I can be of +service, you may command me.'</p> + +<p>Pickersgill made no reply.</p> + +<p>'Surely, Mr. Pickersgill——'</p> + +<p>'Pickersgill! how I hate that name!' said the smuggler, musing. 'I beg +your lordship's pardon—if I may require your assistance for any of my +unfortunate companions——'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Not for yourself, Mr. Pickersgill?' said Mrs. Lascelles.</p> + +<p>'Madam, I smuggle no more.'</p> + +<p>'For the pleasure I feel in hearing that resolution, Mr. Pickersgill,' +said Cecilia, 'take my hand and thanks.'</p> + +<p>'And mine,' said Mrs. Lascelles, half crying.</p> + +<p>'And mine too,' said Lord B., rising up.</p> + +<p>Pickersgill passed the back of his hand across his eyes, turned round, +and left the cabin.</p> + +<p>'I'm so happy!' said Mrs. Lascelles, bursting into tears.</p> + +<p>'He's a magnificent fellow,' observed Lord B. 'Come, let us all go on +deck.'</p> + +<p>'You have not seen my aunt, papa.'</p> + +<p>'True; I'll go in to her, and then follow you.'</p> + +<p>The ladies went up on deck. Cecilia entered into conversation with Mr. +Stewart, giving him a narrative of what had happened. Mrs. Lascelles sat +abaft at the taffrail, with her pretty hand supporting her cheek, +looking very much <i>à la Juliette</i>.</p> + +<p>'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me to +observe, that it is <i>you</i> who have induced me to give up my +profession——'</p> + +<p>'Why me, Mr. Pickersgill?'</p> + +<p>'You said that you did not like it'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lascelles felt the force of the compliment. 'You said just now that +you hated the name of Pickersgill: why do you call yourself so?'</p> + +<p>'It was my smuggling name, Mrs. Lascelles.'</p> + +<p>'And now that you have left off smuggling, pray what may be the name we +are to call you by?'</p> + +<p>'I cannot resume it till I have not only left this vessel, but shaken +hands with, and bid farewell to, my companions; and by that time, Mrs. +Lascelles, I shall be away from you.'</p> + +<p>'But I've a great curiosity to know it; and a lady's curiosity must be +gratified. You must call upon me some day, and tell it me. Here is my +address.'</p> + +<p>Pickersgill received the card with a low bow: and Lord B. coming on +deck, Mrs. Lascelles hastened to meet him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + +<p><br /></p> + +<div class="figcenter border" style="width: 426px; height: 680px;"> +<img src="images/i279.png" width="426" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><i>'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, +allow me to observe, that it is you who have induced me to give up my +profession——'</i></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> + +<p>The vessel was now passing the Bridge at the Needles, and the smuggler +piloted her on. As soon as they were clear and well inside, the whole +party went down into the cabin, Lord B. requesting Pickersgill and +Corbett to join him in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>parting glass. Mr. Stewart, who had received +the account of what had passed from Cecilia, was very attentive to +Pickersgill, and took an opportunity of saying that he was sorry that he +had said or done anything to annoy him. Every one recovered his spirits; +and all was good-humour and mirth, because Miss Ossulton adhered to her +resolution of not quitting the cabin till she could quit the yacht. At +ten o'clock the yacht was anchored. Pickersgill took his leave of the +honourable company, and went in his boat with his men; and Lord B. was +again in possession of his vessel, although he had not a ship's company. +Maddox recovered his usual tone; and the cook flourished his knife, +swearing that he should like to see the smuggler who would again order +him to dress cutlets <i>à l'ombre Chinoise</i>.</p> + +<p>The yacht had remained three days at Cowes, when Lord B. received a +letter from Pickersgill, stating that the men of his vessel had been +captured, and would be condemned, in consequence of their having the +gentlemen on board, who were bound to appear against them, to prove that +they had sunk the brandy. Lord B. paid all the recognisances, and the +men were liberated for want of evidence.</p> + +<p>It was about two years after this that Cecilia Ossulton, who was sitting +at her work-table in deep mourning for her aunt, was presented with a +letter by the butler. It was from her friend Mrs. Lascelles, informing +her that she was married again to a Mr. Davenant, and intended to pay +her a short visit on her way to the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Davenant +arrived the next day; and when the latter introduced her husband, she +said to Miss Ossulton, 'Look, Cecilia dear, and tell me if you have ever +seen Davenant before.'</p> + +<p>Cecilia looked earnestly: 'I have, indeed,' cried she at last, extending +her hand with warmth; 'and happy am I to meet with him again.'</p> + +<p>For in Mr. Davenant she recognised her old acquaintance the captain of +the <i>Happy-go-lucky</i>, Jack Pickersgill the smuggler.<br /><br /></p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + +<p><br /><br /></p> + +<h5><i>Printed by</i> <span class="smcap">R. & R. 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In 4 vols.—Annual Summaries. In 2 vols.<br /></p> + +<p>Mrs. HUMPHRY WARD.—Miss Bretherton.<br /></p> + +<p>MONTAGU WILLIAMS, Q. C.—Leaves of a Life.—Later Leaves.—Round London: Down East, and Up West.<br /></p> + +<p>Hogan, M. P.—Tim.—The New Antigone.—Flitters, Tatters, etc.<br /></p> + +<h6>MACMILLAN AND CO., <span class="smcap">Ltd</span>., LONDON.</h6> + +<div class="tnote"> + +<h3>Transcriber's Note</h3> + +<p>Printer's errors have been corrected.<br />All other inconsistencies are as in the original.<br />The author's spelling has been maintained.<br /><br /> + +Some adjustment has been made to page numbers in the lists where necessary<br />due to the movement of illustrations.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pirate and The Three Cutters, by +Frederick Marryat + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATE AND THE THREE CUTTERS *** + +***** This file should be named 29291-h.htm or 29291-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/2/9/29291/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4, Joseph Cooper and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: The Pirate and The Three Cutters + +Author: Frederick Marryat + +Illustrator: Edmund J. Sullivan + +Release Date: July 2, 2009 [EBook #29291] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATE AND THE THREE CUTTERS *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4, Joseph Cooper and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE PIRATE + +AND + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + +[Illustration: Publishers mark] + +[Illustration: _Cain._] + + +THE PIRATE + +AND + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + + +BY + +CAPTAIN MARRYAT + + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY EDMUND J. SULLIVAN +AND AN INTRODUCTION BY DAVID HANNAY + + + +London +MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED + +NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY +1897 + +_All rights reserved_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Among the few subjects which are still left at the disposal of the +duly-gifted writer of romance is the Pirate. Not but that many have +written of pirates. Defoe, after preparing the ground by a pamphlet +story on the historic Captain Avery, wrote _The Life, Adventures, and +Piracies of Captain Singleton_. Sir Walter Scott made use in somewhat +the same fashion of the equally historic Gow--that is to say, his pirate +bears about the same relation to the marauder who was suppressed by +James Laing, that Captain Singleton does to Captain Avery. Michael Scott +had much to say of pirates, and he had heard much of them during his +life in the West Indies, for they were then making their last fight +against law and order. The pirate could not escape the eye of Mr. R. L. +Stevenson, and accordingly we have an episode of pirates in the episode +of the _Master of Ballantrae_. Balsac, too, wrote _Argow le Pirate_ +among the stories which belong to the years when he was exhausting all +the ways in which a novel ought not to be written. Also the pirate is a +commonplace in boys' books. Yet for as much as he figures in stories for +old and young, it may be modestly maintained that nobody has ever yet +done him quite right. + +Defoe's Captain Singleton is a harmless, thrifty, and ever moral pirate, +of whom it is impossible to disapprove. Sir Walter's is a mild +gentleman, concerning whom one wonders how he ever came to be in such +company. Michael Scott's pirate is a bloodthirsty ruffian enough, and +yet it is difficult to feel that a person who dressed in such a highly +picturesque manner, and who was commonly either a Don or a Scotch +gentleman of ancient descent, was quite the real thing. Mr. Stevenson's +pirate is nearer what one knows must have been the life. He is a +cowardly, lurking, petty scoundrel. John Silver is certainly something +very different, but then when Mr. Stevenson drew the commanding figure +in Treasure Island he was not making a portrait of a pirate, but was +only making play with the well-established puppet of boys' books. Yet, +after all, the pirate, if he was not such an agreeable rascal as John +Silver, was not always the greedy, spiritless rogue drawn in the _Master +of Ballantrae_. To do him properly and as he was, he ought to be +approached with a mixture of humour and morality, and also with a +knowledge of the facts concerning him, which to the best of my knowledge +have never been combined in any writer. + +Captain Johnson, in his valuable _General History of the Pirates from +their First Rise and Settlement in the Island of Providence to the +present time_, begins with antiquity. He mounts up the dark backward +abyss of time till he meets with the pirates who captured Julius Caesar, +and were suppressed by Pompey. This is not necessary. Our pirate was a +very different fellow from those broken men of the ancient world, the +wrecks of States shattered by Rome and the victims of the usury of the +Knights who collected in the creeks of Cilicia. It is not quite easy to +say what he was, but we know well enough what he was not. He was not for +many generations the recognised enemy of the human race. On the +contrary, he was often a comparative respectable person, who was +disposed to render service to his king and country at a crisis, even if +he did not see his advantage in virtuous conduct. To begin with, he was +only a seafaring man who carried on the universal practice of the Middle +Ages after they had ceased to be recognised as legitimate. Then for a +long time a pirate was not thought worthy of hanging until he had shown +a hopelessly contumacious disposition by refusing the king's pardon +several times. Sir William Monson, who was admiral to James I., saw no +harm in recruiting well-known pirates for His Majesty's service. On the +coast of Ireland he found Irish country gentlemen of respectable +position, and the agents of London trading firms, engaged in friendly +business transactions with these skimmers of the sea. The redoubted +Captain Bartholomew Roberts, to skip over a century, went about the +world recruiting for a well-organised piratical business, and there were +many among his followers who would have been honest men if temptation +had not come in their way, and who hastened to leave a life of vice so +soon as the neighbourhood of one of His Majesty's cruisers made it +dangerous. We ought not to speak of these men with harsh contempt. The +king's government was largely responsible for their existence, by +promising pardon to all who would come in before a given date. They came +in and brought their booty with them. Captain Johnson had the pleasure +of the personal acquaintance of several who were living in comfortable +retirement at Rotherhithe or at Limehouse, and in the enjoyment, for +aught we know to the contrary, of the respect of their neighbours. They +had come in on a proclamation, and there was nothing more to be said +against them. In many cases, no doubt, when the booty was spent they +drifted back to the old irregular courses, and on that road those of +them who did not get shot when boarding a galleon, or go down at sea, +or die of starvation among the keys of the West Indies, did sooner or +later contrive to overtake the gallows. But these men, if they were not +quite so moral and orderly as Captain Singleton, or so romantic as the +pirates of Michael Scott, were not altogether bloodthirsty, merciless +scoundrels. Many of them had every intention of returning to their +country upon the appearance of the next proclamation, and as they saw +the prospect of a safe return for themselves they were not under the +necessity of acting on the rule that dead men tell no tales. They did +not make their prisoners walk the plank. They did not even burn their +prizes, but were often content with taking out such provisions and +portable property as their immediate occasions made desirable, and then +allowing the plundered merchant-ship to continue her voyage. They were +by no means so thoroughly hated as they ought to have been, to judge by +the more recent opinion held of the pirate. + +In fact, till towards the end of the pirate's existence he was nearly as +much the product of the Government's management as of his own sins. +During Charles II.'s reign, his governors in Jamaica gave what they were +pleased to term commissions to all who would plunder the Spaniard. The +Spaniards retaliated by giving commissions to all who would plunder +anyone else. The marauder who victimised the Spaniard was sure of a +market, and a refuge in Jamaica. The other marauder who was prepared to +feed upon English, Dutch, or French, was sure of a welcome in Cuba. When +Governments suddenly took to being virtuous, a sense of wrong inflamed +the minds of the men who had hitherto been allowed to live in recognised +lawlessness. Captain Kidd, for example, manifestly thought that Lord +Bellomont and the other gentleman who sent him out to Madagascar to +cruise against the pirates, were only assuming a decent excuse for a +little speculation in piracy on their own account. The freebooters who +settled at Providence, in the Bahamas, were really to be pardoned for +not realising that the happy days of Governor Moddiford at Jamaica were +over. When they were made to understand that there were to be no more of +these cakes and ale, the majority, under the command of Captain +Jennings, promptly came in. Captain Jennings was the owner of an estate +in Jamaica, and he brought a comfortable little sum back with him from +his piratical adventures. The residue, who probably had no comfortable +sum to bring with them, did not come in, and as they were given to +understand that they would certainly be hanged if caught, they took in +self-defence to giving no quarter. So at the end of the great war, the +powers who had encouraged privateering while the fighting lasted, +without inquiring too closely how far the privateer confined his +operations to the enemy only without plundering the neutral, became +suddenly very strict. Then the men whom they had allowed to become +hardened to a life of pillage took refuge in downright piracy. These men +were the _Pescadores del Puerto Escondido_ who enlightened the pages of +Michael Scott. The Spaniards tolerated them as the English Governors of +Jamaica had once encouraged the Buccaneers. It was not until a combined +vigorous effort of the English and the United States navies had driven +them off the sea, and till they had begun to support themselves by +plundering plantations, that the Captains-General of Cuba took them in +hand. + +Now, in all this life, floating as it did between the honest and the +dishonest, there was room for something more human than the be-sashed, +velvet-jacketed, crimson-capped, and long-knifed heroes of Michael +Scott, or than the mere rogue and floating footpad we meet in _The +Master of Ballantrae_. There was also room, it must be candidly allowed, +for something better than Captain Cain of the _Avenger_. The _Pirate_ is +not among the books which one most willingly re-reads out of Marryat's +very respectably lengthy list of stories. Yet it is not without gaiety, +and, as is ever the case with him, the man-of-war scenes are all alive. +Captain Plumpton, and Mr. Markital the first lieutenant, and Edward +Templemore the midshipman, are credible. Whenever Marryat has to +introduce us to a man-of-war, he could draw on inexhaustible treasure of +reminiscences, or of what is for the story-writer's purpose quite as +good, of types and incidents which his imagination had made out of +incidents supplied by his memory. The naval parts of the _Pirate_ are no +doubt variations on what he had recently written in _Midshipman Easy_, +but they are not mere repetitions, and they have the one saving quality +of life, which will make even a poorly constructed story readable. + +It is impossible to say as much for the captain and crew of the +_Avenger_. Cain is not only not a pirate, but he is not a human being. +He is a Byronic or even a Michael Scottish hero--an impossible monster, +compounded of one virtue and a thousand crimes. There never was any such +person, and even on paper he is not tolerable for more than a paragraph +or two without the help of verse. The crew of the _Avenger_ is an +inconceivable ship's complement for any pirate. Credulity itself cannot +even in early life accept the capture of the Portuguese carrack. Marryat +drew on his recollections of the time when he was a midshipman with +Cochrane in the _Imperieuse_, for the figure of the old steersman, who +sticks to his post under the fire of the _Avenger_. He had seen the +mate of a Spanish trading ship behaving in just that way when attacked +by boats from the _Imperieuse_. When he was asked why he did not +surrender, though he was mortally wounded and had no chance of escape, +he answered that he was an 'old Christian.' The term, which by the way +only means a pure-blooded Spaniard, puzzled Marryat and his shipmates. +It is not wonderful that he did not understand its meaning, since in +spite of campaigning in Spain, and many visits to Spanish ports, he +never learnt to avoid the absurd blunder of putting the title Don before +a surname. But if the steersman is drawn from life, so are not either +the carrack, which is a fragment of the sixteenth century, out of its +place, nor 'Don' Ribiera and his sons, nor the bishop, nor anybody else +in that ill-fated ship, nor the stilted, transpontine style of their +conversation. Francisco and his bible are no more credible than the +carrack and the bishop. Francisco's brother and his love affairs are not +more credible, though they are decidedly more tolerable. The daughters +of Spanish Governors who carry on flirtations on the sea-shore with the +captains of English men-of-war, who are carried off by pirates and +rescued in the nick of time, whose papas not only consent to their +marriage with the heretical object of their affections but send boxes +full of gold doubloons, together with their blessing, are so much better +than life that we need not quarrel when invited to meet any number of +them. The sea adventures in Marryat are always good, and so are the +fights. The storms and wrecks, the rafts and wonderful escapes, the +defences of houses, and the escapes of pirates and smugglers from under +the very guns of His Majesty's frigates, are as welcome as, and are much +more credible than, the lovely daughters of benevolent Spanish +governors. Of them there is no want, and for their sake the _Pirate_ +can be read; but it is not what Marryat might have made it if he had +written it in the spirit in which he was to write _Snarley-Yow_. + +In _The Three Cutters_ Marryat allowed himself to take a little holiday +in company with another kind of sea malefactor whom he knew intimately +well. He had already played with the smuggler in _The King's Own_. In +this little story he reintroduces us to M'Elvina, somewhat disguised, +and in altered circumstances, but essentially the same. + +_The Three Cutters_ may be supposed to have been written to fill out the +volume containing _The Pirate_ and those twenty engravings from drawings +by Clarkson Stanfield, which still make the first edition a desirable +possession. This function, whether it was originally designed or not, is +very agreeably fulfilled by the history of the _Arrow_, the _Active_, +and _Happy-go-lucky_. Although he wrote very few of them, Marryat had a +happy hand with a short story. _The S. W. and by W. and 1/4 W. Wind_ and +_Moonshine_ are very happy examples of the magazine story. _The Three +Cutters_ is somewhat longer than either, but the difference in bulk is +due less to any greater amount of pure story there is than to the care +with which Marryat introduces his three vessels, and sketches their +respective starting-places--Plymouth, Portsmouth, and St. Malo. Here +again it is to be noted that Marryat is far more at home in the +man-of-war than in the smuggler or the yacht. Mr. Appleboy, with his +forty-five years' service, and the interesting story which remains +untold of the something which took place in '93 or '94, his seventeen +daily tumblers of gin-toddy, his mate and his midshipman, is a part, and +not an inferior one, of Marryat's inimitable naval gallery. The +_Happy-go-lucky_ is perhaps rather a smuggler of the Pays Bleu than of +the British Channel, but she is sufficiently in place in a story not +intended to be too slavishly faithful to life. Morrison, the +sailing-master, with his augury of the blue pigeon, is real, and nothing +can be more consistent with human nature than that he should have cursed +the bird when he did finally find himself in prison. As for the +adventures, they belong to the region of the fantastic, which does not +pretend to be anything else. The idea of a yacht which endeavours the +capture of a smuggler, and is herself made prize by him, is of course a +motive for farce. + +The scenes on board the captive yacht are not exactly horse-play. There +are too many ladies concerned, and Marryat, in spite of occasional +lapses of taste, preferred to write like a gentleman. But if there is no +horse-play there is a great deal of what I hope it is permissible to +describe as 'lark.' The sour old maid Miss Ossulton, her niece Cecilia, +who, if she has not much character, is still a very nice girl, the +frisky widow Mrs. Lascelles, make a capital trio. Given a gallant +dashing smuggler, who is really a gentleman in disguise, in possession +of the yacht, and determined to revenge himself on the owner by taking a +little harmless amusement, it follows that lively incidents are to be +expected. Marryat did not work the situation out at any length, probably +because he felt that the stuff would not bear much handling. If he cut +his story short for this reason he was undoubtedly right. It is so +difficult as to be quite impossible for the majority of writers to hang +just on the border of the outrageously impossible for more than a few +pages. While it lasts it is very good fun. The reformation of +Pickersgill through the influence of Mrs. Lascelles is quite in +Marryat's manner. His heroes, when they need reformation, are commonly +brought into the right path by the combined influence of a pretty woman +and a round sum of money. Mrs. Lascelles, too, was unquestionably just +the woman to marry Pickersgill. Having married an old man to please her +parents, and having inherited his money, she had decided both to marry +again and to please herself in her second husband. Experience shows that +the Mrs. Lascelles of real life not uncommonly fall into the hands of a +ruffian or an adventurer. Marryat was not making a study of real life, +and he was too fond of his puppets; and besides that would have been +another story, which would have been superfluous, considering that +Marryat wanted to end this one. So Mrs. Lascelles had her fine dashing +seaman, who stood six feet odd in his stockings, and was also a +gentleman in disguise. Of course she was happy ever after. One has a +haunting suspicion that the story was not only written to fill out the +volume, but also to accompany Clarkson Stanfield's three very pretty +plates of Plymouth, Portsmouth, and St. Malo. If so, that only proves +that when a man is a born storyteller he can write good stories for very +humble business reasons. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +THE PIRATE + + + PAGE + +CHAPTER I + +THE BAY OF BISCAY 3 + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BACHELOR 11 + + +CHAPTER III + +THE GALE 20 + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE LEAK 26 + + +CHAPTER V + +THE OLD MAID 34 + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MIDSHIPMAN 43 + + +CHAPTER VII + +SLEEPER'S BAY 50 + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ATTACK 60 + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CAPTURE 69 + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SAND-BANK 87 + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE ESCAPE 93 + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE LIEUTENANT 104 + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE LANDING 111 + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MEETING 124 + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE MISTAKE 135 + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE CAICOS 145 + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE TRIAL 158 + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +CONCLUSION 173 + + + + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + + PAGE + + +CHAPTER I + +CUTTER THE FIRST 185 + + +CHAPTER II + +CUTTER THE SECOND 199 + + +CHAPTER III + +CUTTER THE THIRD 208 + + +CHAPTER IV + +PORTLAND BILL 216 + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TRAVESTIE 227 + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SMUGGLING YACHT 239 + + +CHAPTER VII + +CONCLUSION 247 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +THE PIRATE + + + PAGE + +Cain _Frontispiece_ + +'Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em all dry' 7 + +Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted notice 9 + +'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee presently' 18 + +Oswald Bareth gained the helm, which he put hard up 23 + +'I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts to break +into the spirit-room' 32 + +Found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by William +the footman 35 + +'Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!' 41 + +He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck into +the arm-holes of his waistcoat 44 + +A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and a heavy +volley of muskets, was the decided answer 62 + +'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men are +obstinate, we may have worked for nothing' 72 + +'_Blood for blood!_' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at +Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck 82 + +Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she was hull-down +to the northward 85 + +At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail, and +hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as might +be possible 95 + +The flames increased in violence, mounting up to the masts +and catching the sails one after another 101 + +Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too busy +with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter 107 + +Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the window, and +examined the vessel some time in silence 113 + +The ball entered the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he +dropped his hold 122 + +'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but leave +me now' 129 + +'Blood for blood I will have,' continued the mate, holding up his +clenched hand, and shaking it almost in the pirate captain's face 139 + +The pirate captain was seen to raise his body convulsively half +out of the water--he floundered, sank, and was seen no more 152 + +Clara sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a state of +insensibility 155 + +The pirates at the bar 160 + +As soon as she was sufficiently composed, was sworn, and gave +her evidence 166 + +'Blood for blood!' 171 + +'Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!' 178 + +'_Resurgam!_' said the butler 181 + + + + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + +The ladies 188 + +The Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton 190 + +'Fie! Mr. Vaughan,' cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it +came from your heart' 197 + +Lieutenant Appleboy 201 + +'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem. 'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. Appleboy, +tossing the contents of the tumbler in the boy's face 206 + +The captain of the _Happy-go-lucky_, Jack Pickersgill 210 + +Jeannette held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile, +'_mechant!_' and then quitted the room 214 + +The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the +smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the +way 219 + +'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said Pickersgill 222 + +'Pirates!--_bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing_ pirates!' +replied the steward 229 + +'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his knees, +'there is no Burgundy on board--ask the ladies' 237 + +Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; and, +with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel 245 + +'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me to +observe, that it is _you_ who have induced me to give up +my profession----' 255 + + + + +THE PIRATE + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE BAY OF BISCAY + + +It was in the latter part of the month of June, of the year 179--, that +the angry waves of the Bay of Biscay were gradually subsiding, after a +gale of wind as violent as it was unusual during that period of the +year. Still they rolled heavily; and, at times, the wind blew up in +fitful, angry gusts, as if it would fain renew the elemental combat; but +each effort was more feeble, and the dark clouds which had been summoned +to the storm now fled in every quarter before the powerful rays of the +sun, who burst their masses asunder with a glorious flood of light and +heat; and, as he poured down his resplendent beams, piercing deep into +the waters of that portion of the Atlantic to which we now refer, with +the exception of one object, hardly visible, as at creation, there was a +vast circumference of water, bounded by the fancied canopy of heaven. We +have said, with the exception of one object; for in the centre of this +picture, so simple, yet so sublime, composed of the three great +elements, there was a remnant of the fourth. We say a remnant, for it +was but the hull of a vessel, dismasted, water-logged, its upper works +only floating occasionally above the waves, when a transient repose from +their still violent undulation permitted it to reassume its buoyancy. +But this was seldom; one moment it was deluged by the seas, which broke +as they poured over its gunwale; and the next it rose from its +submersion, as the water escaped from the portholes at its sides. + +How many thousands of vessels--how many millions of property--have been +abandoned, and eventually consigned to the all-receiving depths of the +ocean, through ignorance or through fear! What a mine of wealth must lie +buried in its sands! what riches lie entangled amongst its rocks, or +remain suspended in its unfathomable gulf, where the compressed fluid is +equal in gravity to that which it encircles, there to remain secured in +its embedment from corruption and decay, until the destruction of the +universe and the return of chaos! Yet, immense as the accumulated loss +may be, the major part of it has been occasioned from an ignorance of +one of the first laws of nature, that of specific gravity. The vessel to +which we have referred was, to all appearance, in a situation of as +extreme hazard as that of a drowning man clinging to a single rope-yarn; +yet, in reality, she was more secure from descending to the abyss below +than many gallantly careering on the waters, their occupants dismissing +all fear, and only calculating upon a quick arrival into port. + +The _Circassian_ had sailed from New Orleans, a gallant and +well-appointed ship, with a cargo, the major part of which consisted of +cotton. The captain was, in the usual acceptation of the term, a good +sailor; the crew were hardy and able seamen. As they crossed the +Atlantic, they had encountered the gale to which we have referred, were +driven down into the Bay of Biscay, where, as we shall hereafter +explain, the vessel was dismasted, and sprang a leak, which baffled all +their exertions to keep under. It was now five days since the frightened +crew had quitted the vessel in two of her boats, one of which had +swamped, and every soul that occupied it had perished; the fate of the +other was uncertain. + +We said that the crew had deserted the vessel, but we did not assert +that every existing being had been removed out of her. Had such been the +case, we should not have taken up the reader's time in describing +inanimate matter. It is life that we portray, and life there still was +in the shattered hull thus abandoned to the mockery of the ocean. In the +_caboose_ of the _Circassian_, that is, in the cooking-house secured on +deck, and which fortunately had been so well fixed as to resist the +force of the breaking waves, remained three beings--a man, a woman, and +a child. The two first-mentioned were of that inferior race which have, +for so long a period, been procured from the sultry Afric coast, to +toil, but reap not for themselves; the child which lay at the breast of +the female was of European blood, now, indeed, deadly pale, as it +attempted in vain to draw sustenance from its exhausted nurse, down +whose sable cheeks the tears coursed, as she occasionally pressed the +infant to her breast, and turned it round to leeward to screen it from +the spray which dashed over them at each returning swell. Indifferent to +all else, save her little charge, she spoke not, although she shuddered +with the cold as the water washed her knees each time that the hull was +careened into the wave. Cold and terror had produced a change in her +complexion, which now wore a yellow, or sort of copper hue. + +The male, who was her companion, sat opposite to her upon the iron range +which once had been the receptacle of light and heat, but was now but a +weary seat to a drenched and worn-out wretch. He, too, had not spoken +for many hours; with the muscles of his face relaxed, his thick lips +pouting far in advance of his collapsed cheeks, his high cheekbones +prominent as budding horns, his eyes displaying little but their whites, +he appeared to be an object of greater misery than the female, whose +thoughts were directed to the infant and not unto herself. Yet his +feelings were still acute, although his faculties appeared to be +deadened by excess of suffering. + +'Eh, me!' cried the negro woman faintly, after a long silence, her head +falling back with extreme exhaustion. Her companion made no reply, but, +roused at the sound of her voice, bent forward, slid open the door a +little, and looked out to windward. The heavy spray dashed into his +glassy eyes, and obscured his vision; he groaned, and fell back into his +former position. 'What you tink, Coco?' inquired the negress, covering +up more carefully the child, as she bent her head down upon it. A look +of despair, and a shudder from cold and hunger, were the only reply. + +It was then about eight o'clock in the morning, and the swell of the +ocean was fast subsiding. At noon the warmth of the sun was communicated +to them through the planks of the _caboose_, while its rays poured a +small stream of vivid light through the chinks of the closed panels. The +negro appeared gradually to revive; at last he rose, and with some +difficulty contrived again to slide open the door. The sea had gradually +decreased its violence, and but occasionally broke over the vessel; +carefully holding on by the door-jambs, Coco gained the outside, that he +might survey the horizon. + +'What you see, Coco?' said the female, observing from the _caboose_ that +his eyes were fixed upon a certain quarter. + +'So help me God, me tink me see something; but ab so much salt water in +um eye, me no see clear,' replied Coco, rubbing away the salt which had +crystallised on his face during the morning. + +'What you tink um like, Coco?' + +'Only one bit cloud,' replied he, entering the _caboose_, and resuming +his seat upon the grate with a heavy sigh. + +'Eh, me!' cried the negress, who had uncovered the child to look at it, +and whose powers were sinking fast. 'Poor lilly Massa Eddard, him look +very bad indeed--him die very soon, me fear. Look, Coco, no ab breath.' + +The child's head fell back upon the breast of its nurse, and life +appeared to be extinct. + +'Judy, you no ab milk for piccaninny; suppose um ab no milk, how can +live? Eh! stop, Judy, me put lilly finger in um mouth; suppose Massa +Eddard no dead, him pull.' + +Coco inserted his finger into the child's mouth, and felt a slight +drawing pressure. 'Judy,' cried Coco, 'Massa Eddard no dead yet. Try +now, suppose you ab lilly drop oder side.' + +Poor Judy shook her head mournfully, and a tear rolled down her cheek; +she was aware that nature was exhausted. 'Coco,' said she, wiping her +cheek with the back of her hand, 'me give me heart blood for Massa +Eddard; but no ab milk--all gone.' + +This forcible expression of love for the child, which was used by Judy, +gave an idea to Coco. He drew his knife out of his pocket, and very +coolly sawed to the bone of his forefinger. The blood flowed and +trickled down to the extremity, which he applied to the mouth of the +infant. + +'See, Judy, Massa Eddard suck--him not dead,' cried Coco, chuckling at +the fortunate result of the experiment, and forgetting at the moment +their almost hopeless situation. + +The child, revived by the strange sustenance, gradually recovered its +powers, and in a few minutes it pulled at the finger with a certain +degree of vigour. + +[Illustration: '_Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em all +dry._'] + +'Look, Judy, how Massa Eddard take it,' continued Coco. 'Pull away, +Massa Eddard, pull away. Coco ab ten finger, and take long while suck em +all dry.' But the child was soon satisfied, and fell asleep in the arms +of Judy. + +'Coco, suppose you go see again,' observed Judy. The negro again crawled +out, and again he scanned the horizon. + +'So help me God, dis time me tink, Judy--yes, so help me God, me see a +ship!' cried Coco joyfully. + +'Eh!' screamed Judy faintly, with delight; 'den Massa Eddard no die.' + +'Yes, so help me God--he come dis way!' and Coco, who appeared to have +recovered a portion of his former strength and activity, clambered on +the top of the _caboose_, where he sat, cross-legged, waving his yellow +handkerchief, with the hope of attracting the attention of those on +board; for he knew that it was very possible that an object floating +little more than level with the water's surface might escape notice. + +As it fortunately happened, the frigate, for such she was, continued her +course precisely for the wreck, although it had not been perceived by +the look-out men at the mast-heads, whose eyes had been directed to the +line of the horizon. In less than an hour our little party were +threatened with a new danger, that of being run over by the frigate, +which was now within a cable's length of them, driving the seas before +her in one widely extended foam, as she pursued her rapid and impetuous +course. Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted the +notice of the men who were on the bowsprit, stowing away the +foretopmast-staysail, which had been hoisted up to dry after the gale. + +[Illustration: _Coco shouted to his utmost, and fortunately attracted +notice_.] + +'Starboard, hard!' was roared out. + +'Starboard it is,' was the reply from the quarter-deck, and the helm was +shifted without inquiry, as it always is on board of a man-of-war; +although, at the same time, it behoves people to be rather careful how +they pass such an order, without being prepared with a subsequent and +most satisfactory explanation. + +The topmast studding-sail flapped and fluttered, the foresail shivered, +and the jib filled as the frigate rounded to, narrowly missing the +wreck, which was now under the bows, rocking so violently in the white +foam of the agitated waters that it was with difficulty that Coco could, +by clinging to the stump of the mainmast, retain his elevated position. +The frigate shortened sail, hove-to, and lowered down a quarter-boat, +and in less than five minutes Coco, Judy, and the infant were rescued +from their awful situation. Poor Judy, who had borne up against all for +the sake of the child, placed it in the arms of the officer who relieved +them, and then fell back in a state of insensibility, in which condition +she was carried on board. Coco, as he took his place in the stern-sheets +of the boat, gazed wildly round him, and then broke out into peals of +extravagant laughter, which continued without intermission, and were the +only replies which he could give to the interrogatories of the +quarter-deck, until he fell down in a swoon, and was entrusted to the +care of the surgeon. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BACHELOR + + +On the evening of the same day on which the child and the two negroes +had been saved from the wreck by the fortunate appearance of the +frigate, Mr. Witherington, of Finsbury Square, was sitting alone in his +dining-room, wondering what could have become of the _Circassian_, and +why he had not received intelligence of her arrival. Mr. Witherington, +as we said before, was alone; he had his port and his sherry before him; +and although the weather was rather warm, there was a small fire in the +grate, because, as Mr. Witherington asserted, it looked comfortable. Mr. +Witherington having watched the ceiling of the room for some time, +although there was certainly nothing new to be discovered, filled +another glass of wine, and then proceeded to make himself more +comfortable by unbuttoning three more buttons of his waistcoat, pushing +his wig farther off his head, and casting loose all the buttons at the +knees of his breeches; he completed his arrangements by dragging towards +him two chairs within his reach, putting his legs upon one while he +rested his arm upon the other. And why was not Mr. Witherington to make +himself comfortable? He had good health, a good conscience, and eight +thousand a year. + +Satisfied with all his little arrangements, Mr. Witherington sipped his +port wine, and putting down his glass again, fell back in his chair, +placed his hands on his breast, interwove his fingers; and in this most +comfortable position recommenced his speculations as to the non-arrival +of the _Circassian_. + +We will leave him to his cogitations while we introduce him more +particularly to our readers. + +The father of Mr. Witherington was a younger son of one of the oldest +and proudest families in the West Riding of Yorkshire; he had his choice +of the four professions allotted to younger sons whose veins are filled +with patrician blood--the army, the navy, the law, and the Church. The +army did not suit him, he said, as marching and counter-marching were +not comfortable; the navy did not suit him, as there was little comfort +in gales of wind and mouldy biscuit; the law did not suit him, as he was +not sure that he would be at ease with his conscience, which would not +be comfortable; the Church was also rejected, as it was, with him, +connected with the idea of a small stipend, hard duty, a wife and eleven +children, which were anything but comfortable. Much to the horror of his +family he eschewed all the liberal professions, and embraced the offer +of an old backslider of an uncle, who proposed to him a situation in his +banking-house, and a partnership as soon as he deserved it; the +consequence was, that his relations bade him an indignant farewell, and +then made no further inquiries about him: he was as decidedly cut as one +of the female branches of the family would have been had she committed a +_faux pas_. + +Nevertheless Mr. Witherington senior stuck diligently to his business, +in a few years was partner, and at the death of the old gentleman, his +uncle, found himself in possession of a good property, and every year +coining money at his bank. + +Mr. Witherington senior then purchased a house in Finsbury Square, and +thought it advisable to look out for a wife. + +Having still much of the family pride in his composition, he resolved +not to muddle the blood of the Witheringtons by any cross from Cateaton +Street or Mincing Lane; and after a proper degree of research, he +selected the daughter of a Scotch earl, who went to London with a bevy +of nine in a Leith smack to barter blood for wealth. Mr. Witherington +being so unfortunate as to be the first comer, had the pick of the nine +ladies by courtesy; his choice was light-haired, blue-eyed, a little +freckled, and very tall, by no means bad-looking, and standing on the +list in the Family Bible No. IV. From this union Mr. Witherington had +issue: first, a daughter, christened Moggy, whom we shall soon have to +introduce to our readers as a spinster of forty-seven; and second, +Antony Alexander Witherington, Esquire, whom we just now have left in a +very comfortable position, and in a very brown study. + +Mr. Witherington senior persuaded his son to enter the banking-house, +and, as a dutiful son, he entered it every day: but he did nothing more, +having made the fortunate discovery that 'his father was born before +him'; or, in other words, that his father had plenty of money, and would +be necessitated to leave it behind him. + +As Mr. Witherington senior had always studied comfort, his son had early +imbibed the same idea, and carried his feelings, in that respect, to a +much greater excess: he divided things into comfortable and +uncomfortable. One fine day Lady Mary Witherington, after paying all the +household bills, paid the debt of Nature; that is, she died: her husband +paid the undertaker's bill, so it is to be presumed that she was buried. + +Mr. Witherington senior shortly afterwards had a stroke of apoplexy, +which knocked him down. Death, who has no feelings of honour, struck him +when down. And Mr. Witherington, after having lain a few days in bed, +was by a second stroke laid in the same vault as Lady Mary Witherington; +and Mr. Witherington junior (our Mr. Witherington), after deducting +L40,000 for his sister's fortune, found himself in possession of a clear +L8000 per annum, and an excellent house in Finsbury Square. Mr. +Witherington considered this a comfortable income, and he therefore +retired altogether from business. + +During the lifetime of his parents he had been witness to one or two +matrimonial scenes, which had induced him to put down matrimony as one +of the things not comfortable; therefore he remained a bachelor. + +His sister Moggy also remained unmarried; but whether it was from a very +unprepossessing squint which deterred suitors, or from the same dislike +to matrimony as her brother had imbibed, it is not in our power to say. +Mr. Witherington was three years younger than his sister; and although +he had for some time worn a wig, it was only because he considered it +more comfortable. Mr. Witherington's whole character might be summed up +in two words--eccentricity and benevolence; eccentric he certainly was, +as most bachelors usually are. Man is but a rough pebble without the +attrition received from contact with the gentler sex; it is wonderful +how the ladies pumice a man down to a smoothness which occasions him to +roll over and over with the rest of his species, jostling but not +wounding his neighbours, as the waves of circumstances bring him into +collision with them. + +Mr. Witherington roused himself from his deep reverie and felt for the +string, connected with the bell-pull, which it was the butler's duty +invariably to attach to the arm of his master's chair previous to his +last exit from the dining-room; for, as Mr. Witherington very truly +observed, it was very uncomfortable to be obliged to get up and ring the +bell; indeed, more than once Mr. Witherington had calculated the +advantages and disadvantages of having a daughter about eight years old +who could ring the bell, air the newspapers, and cut the leaves of a new +novel. + +When, however, he called to mind that she could not always remain at +that precise age, he decided that the balance of comfort was against it. + +Mr. Witherington having pulled the bell again, fell into a brown study. + +Mr. Jonathan, the butler, made his appearance; but observing that his +master was occupied, he immediately stopped at the door, erect, +motionless, and with a face as melancholy as if he was performing mute +at the porch of some departed peer of the realm; for it is an understood +thing, that the greater the rank of the defunct the longer must be the +face, and, of course, the better must be the pay. + +Now, as Mr. Witherington is still in profound thought, and Mr. Jonathan +will stand as long as a hackney-coach horse, we will just leave them as +they are, while we introduce the brief history of the latter to our +readers. Jonathan Trapp has served as foot-_boy_, which term, we +believe, is derived from those who are in that humble capacity receiving +a _quantum suff._ of the application of the feet of those above them to +increase the energy of their service; then as foot-_man_, which implies +that they have been promoted to the more agreeable right of +administering instead of receiving the above dishonourable applications; +and lastly, for promotion could go no higher in the family, he had been +raised to the dignity of butler in the service of Mr. Witherington +senior. Jonathan then fell in love, for butlers are guilty of +indiscretions as well as their masters: neither he nor his fair flame, +who was a lady's-maid in another family, notwithstanding that they had +witnessed the consequences of this error in others, would take warning; +they gave warning, and they married. + +Like most butlers and ladies'-maids who pair off, they set up a +public-house; and it is but justice to the lady's-maid to say that she +would have preferred an eating-house, but was overruled by Jonathan, who +argued, that although people would drink when they were not dry, they +never would eat unless they were hungry. + +Now, although there was truth in the observation, this is certain, that +business did not prosper: it has been surmised that Jonathan's tall, +lank, lean figure injured his custom, as people are but too much +inclined to judge of the goodness of the ale by the rubicund face and +rotundity of the landlord, and therefore inferred that there could be no +good beer where mine host was the picture of famine. There certainly is +much in appearances in this world; and it appears, that in consequence +of Jonathan's cadaverous appearance, he very soon appeared in the +_Gazette_; but what ruined Jonathan in one profession procured him +immediate employment in another. An appraiser, upholsterer, and +undertaker, who was called in to value the fixtures, fixed his eye upon +Jonathan, and knowing the value of his peculiarly lugubrious appearance, +and having a half-brother of equal height, offered him immediate +employment as a mute. Jonathan soon forgot to mourn his own loss of a +few hundreds in his new occupation of mourning the loss of thousands; +and his erect, stiff, statue-like carriage, and long melancholy face, as +he stood at the portals of those who had entered the portals of the next +world, were but too often a sarcasm upon the grief of the inheritors. +Even grief is worth nothing in this trafficking world unless it is paid +for. Jonathan buried many, and at last buried his wife. So far all was +well; but at last he buried his master, the undertaker, which was not +quite so desirable. Although Jonathan wept not, yet did he express mute +sorrow as he marshalled him to his long home, and drank to his memory in +a pot of porter as he returned from the funeral, perched, with many +others, like carrion crows on the top of the hearse. + +And now Jonathan was thrown out of employment from a reason which most +people would have thought the highest recommendation. Every undertaker +refused to take him, because they could not _match_ him. In this +unfortunate dilemma Jonathan thought of Mr. Witherington junior; he had +served and he had buried Mr. Witherington his father, and Lady Mary his +mother; he felt that he had strong claims for such variety of services, +and he applied to the bachelor. Fortunately for Jonathan, Mr. +Witherington's butler-incumbent was just about to commit the same folly +as Jonathan had done before, and Jonathan was again installed, resolving +in his own mind to lead his former life, and have nothing more to do +with ladies'-maids. But from habit Jonathan still carried himself as a +mute on all ordinary occasions--never indulging in an approximation to +mirth, except when he perceived that his master was in high spirits, and +then rather from a sense of duty than from any real hilarity of heart. + +Jonathan was no mean scholar for his station in life, and, during his +service with the undertaker, he had acquired the English of all the +Latin mottoes which are placed upon the hatchments; and these mottoes, +when he considered them as apt, he was very apt to quote. We left +Jonathan standing at the door; he had closed it, and the handle still +remained in his hand. 'Jonathan,' said Mr. Witherington, after a long +pause, 'I wish to look at the last letter from New York; you will find +it on my dressing-table.' + +Jonathan quitted the room without reply, and made his reappearance with +the letter. + +'It is a long time that I have been expecting this vessel, Jonathan,' +observed Mr. Witherington, unfolding the letter. + +'Yes, sir, a long while; _tempus fugit_,' replied the butler in a low +tone, half shutting his eyes. + +'I hope to God no accident has happened,' continued Mr. Witherington; +'my poor little cousin and her twins! e'en now that I speak, they may be +all at the bottom of the sea.' + +'Yes, sir,' replied the butler; 'the sea defrauds many an honest +undertaker of his profits.' + +'By the blood of the Witheringtons! I may be left without an heir, and +shall be obliged to marry, which would be very uncomfortable.' + +'Very little comfort,' echoed Jonathan--'my wife is dead. _In coelo +quies._' + +'Well, we must hope for the best; but this suspense is anything but +comfortable,' observed Mr. Witherington, after looking over the contents +of the letter for at least the twentieth time. + +'That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee presently;' and Mr. +Witherington was again alone and with his eyes fixed upon the ceiling. + +A cousin of Mr. Witherington, and a very great favourite (for Mr. +Witherington, having a large fortune, and not having anything to do with +business, was courted by his relations), had, to a certain degree, +committed herself; that is to say that, notwithstanding the injunctions +of her parents, she had fallen in love with a young lieutenant in a +marching regiment, whose pedigree was but respectable, and whose fortune +was anything but respectable, consisting merely of a subaltern's pay. +Poor men, unfortunately, always make love better than those who are +rich, because, having less to care about, and not being puffed up with +their own consequence, they are not so selfish, and think much more of +the lady than of themselves. Young ladies, also, who fall in love, never +consider whether there is sufficient 'to make the pot boil'--probably +because young ladies in love lose their appetites, and, not feeling +inclined to eat at that time, they imagine that love will always supply +the want of food. Now, we will appeal to the married ladies whether we +are not right in asserting that, although the collation spread for them +and their friends on the day of the marriage is looked upon with almost +loathing, they do not find their appetites return with interest soon +afterwards. This was precisely the case with Cecilia Witherington, or +rather Cecilia Templemore, for she had changed her name the day before. +It was also the case with her husband, who always had a good appetite, +even during his days of courtship; and the consequence was that the +messman's account, for they lived in barracks, was, in a few weeks, +rather alarming. Cecilia applied to her family, who very kindly sent her +word that she might starve; but, the advice neither suiting her nor her +husband, she then wrote to her cousin Antony, who sent her word that he +would be most happy to receive them at his table, and that they should +take up their abode in Finsbury Square. This was exactly what they +wished; but still there was a certain difficulty; Lieutenant +Templemore's regiment was quartered in a town in Yorkshire, which was +some trifling distance from Finsbury Square; and to be at Mr. +Witherington's dinner-table at 6 P.M., with the necessity of appearing +at parade every morning at 9 A.M., was a dilemma not to be got out of. +Several letters were interchanged upon this knotty subject; and at last +it was agreed that Mr. Templemore should sell out, and come up to Mr. +Witherington with his pretty wife. He did so, and found that it was much +more comfortable to turn out at nine o'clock in the morning to a good +breakfast than to a martial parade. But Mr. Templemore had an honest +pride and independence of character which would not permit him to eat +the bread of idleness, and after a sojourn of two months in most +comfortable quarters, without a messman's bill, he frankly stated his +feelings to Mr. Witherington, and requested his assistance to procure +for himself an honourable livelihood. Mr. Witherington, who had become +attached to them both, would have remonstrated, observing that Cecilia +was his own cousin, and that he was a confirmed bachelor; but, in this +instance, Mr. Templemore was firm, and Mr. Witherington very unwillingly +consented. A mercantile house of the highest respectability required a +partner who could superintend their consignments to America. Mr. +Witherington advanced the sum required; and in a few weeks Mr. and Mrs. +Templemore sailed for New York. + +[Illustration: '_That will do, Jonathan; I'll ring for coffee +presently._'] + +Mr. Templemore was active and intelligent; their affairs prospered; and +in a few years they anticipated a return to their native soil with a +competence. But the autumn of the second year after their arrival proved +very sickly; the yellow fever raged; and among the thousands who were +carried off Mr. Templemore was a victim, about three weeks after his +wife had been brought to bed of twins. Mrs. Templemore rose from her +couch a widow and the mother of two fine boys. The loss of Mr. +Templemore was replaced by the establishment with which he was +connected, and Mr. Witherington offered to his cousin that asylum which, +in her mournful and unexpected bereavement, she so much required. In +three months her affairs were arranged; and with her little boys hanging +at the breasts of two negro nurses--for no others could be procured who +would undertake the voyage--Mrs. Templemore, with Coco as male servant, +embarked on board of the good ship _Circassian_, A I, bound to +Liverpool. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE GALE + + +Those who, standing on the pier, had witnessed the proud bearing of the +_Circassian_ as she gave her canvas to the winds, little contemplated +her fate: still less did those on board; for confidence is the +characteristic of seamen, and they have the happy talent of imparting +their confidence to whomsoever may be in their company. We shall pass +over the voyage, confining ourselves to a description of the +catastrophe. + +It was during a gale from the north-west, which had continued for three +days, and by which the _Circassian_ had been driven into the Bay of +Biscay, that, at about twelve o'clock at night, a slight lull was +perceptible. The captain, who had remained on deck, sent down for the +chief mate. 'Oswald,' said Captain Ingram, 'the gale is breaking, and I +think before morning we shall have had the worst of it. I shall lie down +for an hour or two: call me if there be any change.' + +Oswald Bareth, a tall, sinewy-built, and handsome specimen of +transatlantic growth, examined the whole circumference of the horizon +before he replied. At last his eyes were steadily fixed to leeward: +'I've a notion not, sir,' said he; 'I see no signs of clearing off to +leeward: only a lull for relief, and a fresh hand at the bellows, depend +upon it.' + +'We have now had it three days,' replied Captain Ingram, 'and that's the +life of a summer's gale.' + +'Yes,' rejoined the mate; 'but always provided that it don't blow black +again. I don't like the look of it, sir; and have it back we shall, as +sure as there's snakes in Virginny.' + +'Well, so be if so be,' was the safe reply of the captain. 'You must +keep a sharp look-out, Bareth, and don't leave the deck to call me; send +a hand down.' + +The captain descended to his cabin. Oswald looked at the compass in the +binnacle--spoke a few words to the man at the helm--gave one +or two terrible kicks in the ribs to some of the men who were +_caulking_--sounded the pump-well--put a fresh quid of tobacco into his +cheek, and then proceeded to examine the heavens above. A cloud, much +darker and more descending than the others, which obscured the +firmament, spread over the zenith, and based itself upon the horizon to +leeward. Oswald's eye had been fixed upon it but a few seconds, when he +beheld a small lambent gleam of lightning pierce through the most opaque +part; then another, and more vivid. Of a sudden the wind lulled, and the +_Circassian_ righted from her careen. Again the wind howled, and again +the vessel was pressed down to her bearings by its force; again another +flash of lightning, which was followed by a distant peal of thunder. + +'Had the worst of it, did you say, captain? I've a notion that the worst +is yet to come,' muttered Oswald, still watching the heavens. + +'How does she carry her helm, Matthew?' inquired Oswald, walking aft. + +'Spoke a-weather.' + +'I'll have that trysail off of her, at any rate,' continued the mate. +'Aft, there, my lads! and lower down the trysail. Keep the sheet fast +till it's down, or the flogging will frighten the lady passenger out of +her wits. Well, if ever I own a craft, I'll have no women on board. +Dollars shan't tempt me.' + +The lightning now played in rapid forks; and the loud thunder, which +instantaneously followed each flash, proved its near approach. A deluge +of slanting rain descended--the wind lulled--roared again--then +lulled--shifted a point or two, and the drenched and heavy sails +flapped. + +'Up with the helm, Mat!' cried Oswald, as a near flash of lightning for +a moment blinded, and the accompanying peal of thunder deafened, those +on deck. Again the wind blew strong--it ceased, and it was a dead calm. +The sails hung down from the yards, and the rain descended in +perpendicular torrents, while the ship rocked to and fro in the trough +of the sea, and the darkness became suddenly intense. + +'Down, there, one of you! and call the captain,' said Oswald. 'By the +Lord! we shall have it. Main braces there, men, and square the yards. +Be smart! That topsail should have been in,' muttered the mate; 'but I'm +not captain. Square away the yards, my lads!' continued he; 'quick, +quick!--there's no child's play here!' + +Owing to the difficulty of finding and passing the ropes to each other, +from the intensity of the darkness, and the deluge of rain which blinded +them, the men were not able to execute the order of the mate so soon as +it was necessary; and before they could accomplish their task, or +Captain Ingram could gain the deck, the wind suddenly burst upon the +devoted vessel from the quarter directly opposite to that from which the +gale had blown, taking her all aback, and throwing her on her beam-ends. +The man at the helm was hurled over the wheel; while the rest, who were +with Oswald at the main-bits, with the coils of ropes, and every other +article on deck not secured, were rolled into the scuppers, struggling +to extricate themselves from the mass of confusion and the water in +which they floundered. The sudden revulsion awoke all the men below, who +imagined that the ship was foundering; and, from the only hatchway not +secured, they poured up in their shirts with their other garments in +their hands, to put them on--if fate permitted. + +Oswald Bareth was the first who clambered up from to leeward. He gained +the helm, which he put hard up. Captain Ingram and some of the seamen +also gained the helm. It is the rendezvous of all good seamen in +emergencies of this description; but the howling of the gale--the +blinding of the rain and salt spray--the seas checked in their running +by the shift of wind, and breaking over the ship in vast masses of +water--the tremendous peals of thunder--and the intense darkness which +accompanied these horrors, added to the inclined position of the vessel, +which obliged them to climb from one part of the deck to another, for +some time checked all profitable communication. Their only friend, in +this conflict of the elements, was the lightning (unhappy, indeed, the +situation in which lightning can be welcomed as a friend); but its vivid +and forked flames, darting down upon every quarter of the horizon, +enabled them to perceive their situation; and, awful as it was, when +momentarily presented to their sight, it was not so awful as darkness +and uncertainty. To those who have been accustomed to the difficulties +and dangers of a seafaring life, there are no lines which speak more +forcibly to the imagination, or prove the beauty and power of the Greek +poet, than those in the noble prayer of Ajax:-- + + Lord of earth and air, + O king! O father! hear my humble prayer. + Dispel this cloud, the light of heaven restore; + Give me to see--and Ajax asks no more. + If Greece must perish--we thy will obey; + But _let us perish in the face of day_! + +[Illustration: _Oswald Bareth gained the helm, which he put hard up._] + +Oswald gave the helm to two of the seamen, and with his knife cut adrift +the axes, which were lashed round the mizenmast in painted canvas +covers. One he retained for himself--the others he put into the hands of +the boatswain and the second mate. To speak so as to be heard was almost +impossible, from the tremendous roaring of the wind; but the lamp still +burned in the binnacle, and by its feeble light Captain Ingram could +distinguish the signs made by the mate, and could give his consent. It +was necessary that the ship should be put before the wind, and the helm +had no power over her. In a short time the lanyards of the mizen rigging +were severed, and the mizen mast went over the side, almost unperceived +by the crew on the other parts of the deck, or even those near, had it +not been from blows received by those who were too close to it, from the +falling of the topsail sheets and the rigging about the mast. + +Oswald, with his companions, regained the binnacle, and for a little +while watched the compass. The ship did not pay off, and appeared to +settle down more into the water. Again Oswald made his signs, and again +the captain gave his assent. Forward sprang the undaunted mate, clinging +to the bulwark and belaying-pins, and followed by his hardy companions, +until they had all three gained the main channels. Here, their exposure +to the force of the breaking waves, and the stoutness of the ropes +yielding but slowly to the blows of the axes, which were used almost +under water, rendered the service one of extreme difficulty and danger. +The boatswain was washed over the bulwark and dashed to leeward, where +the lee-rigging only saved him from a watery grave. Unsubdued, he again +climbed up to windward, rejoined and assisted his companions. The last +blow was given by Oswald--the lanyards flew through the dead-eyes--and +the tall mast disappeared in the foaming seas. Oswald and his companions +hastened from their dangerous position, and rejoined the captain, who, +with many of the crew, still remained near the wheel. The ship now +slowly paid off and righted. In a few minutes she was flying before the +gale, rolling heavily, and occasionally striking upon the wrecks of the +masts, which she towed with her by the lee-rigging. + +Although the wind blew with as much violence as before, still it was not +with the same noise, now that the ship was before the wind with her +after-masts gone. The next service was to clear the ship of the wrecks +of the masts; but, although all now assisted, but little could be +effected until the day had dawned, and even then it was a service of +danger, as the ship rolled gunwale under. Those who performed the duty +were slung in ropes, that they might not be washed away; and hardly was +it completed, when a heavy roll, assisted by a jerking heave from a sea +which struck her on the chesstree, sent the foremast over the starboard +cathead. Thus was the _Circassian_ dismasted in the gale. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE LEAK + + +The wreck of the foremast was cleared from the ship; the gale continued; +but the sun shone brightly and warmly. The _Circassian_ was again +brought to the wind. All danger was now considered to be over, and the +seamen joked and laughed as they were busied in preparing jury-masts to +enable them to reach their destined port. + +'I wouldn't have cared so much about this spree,' said the boatswain, +'if it warn't for the mainmast; it was such a beauty. There's not +another stick to be found equal to it in the whole length of the +Mississippi.' + +'Bah! man,' replied Oswald; 'there's as good fish in the sea as ever +came out of it, and as good sticks growing as ever were felled; but I +guess we'll pay pretty dear for our spars when we get to Liverpool--but +that concerns the owners.' + +The wind, which at the time of its sudden change to the southward and +eastward had blown with the force of a hurricane, now settled into a +regular strong gale, such as sailors are prepared to meet and laugh at. +The sky was also bright and clear, and they had not the danger of a lee +shore. It was a delightful change after a night of darkness, danger, and +confusion; and the men worked that they might get sufficient sail on the +ship to steady her, and enable them to shape a course. + +'I suppose, now that we have the trysail on her forward, the captain +will be for running for it,' observed one who was busy turning in a +dead-eye. + +'Yes,' replied the boatswain; 'and with this wind on our quarter we +shan't want much sail, I've a notion.' + +'Well then, one advantage in losing your mast--you haven't much trouble +about the rigging.' + +'Trouble enough, though, Bill, when we get in,' replied another gruffly; +'new lower rigging to parcel and sarve, and every block to turn in +afresh.' + +'Never mind, longer in port--I'll get spliced.' + +'Why, how often do you mean to get spliced, Bill? You've a wife in every +State, to my sartin knowledge.' + +'I arn't got one at Liverpool, Jack.' + +'Well, you may take one there, Bill; for you've been sweet upon that +nigger girl for these last three weeks.' + +'Any port in a storm, but she won't do for harbour duty. But the fact +is, you're all wrong there, Jack: it's the babbies I likes--I likes to +see them both together, hanging at the niggers' breasts, I always think +of two spider-monkeys nursing two kittens.' + +'I knows the women, but I never knows the children. It's just six of one +and half-a-dozen of the other; ain't it, Bill?' + +'Yes; like two bright bullets out of the same mould. I say, Bill, did +any of your wives ever have twins?' + +'No; nor I don't intend, until the owners give us double pay.' + +'By the bye,' interrupted Oswald, who had been standing under the +weather bulkhead, listening to the conversation, and watching the work +in progress, 'we may just as well see if she has made any water with all +this straining and buffeting. By the Lord! I never thought of that. +Carpenter, lay down your adze and sound the well.' + +The carpenter, who, notwithstanding the uneasiness of the dismasted +vessel, was performing his important share of the work, immediately +complied with the order. He drew up the rope-yarn, to which an iron rule +had been suspended, and lowered down into the pump-well, and perceived +that the water was dripping from it. Imagining that it must have been +wet from the quantity of water shipped over all, the carpenter +disengaged the rope-yarn from the rule, drew another from the junk lying +on the deck, which the seamen were working up, and then carefully +proceeded to plumb the well. He hauled it up, and, looking at it for +some moments aghast, exclaimed, '_Seven feet_ water in the hold, by +G--d!' + +If the crew of the _Circassian_, the whole of which were on deck, had +been struck with an electric shock, the sudden change of their +countenances could not have been greater than was produced by this +appalling intelligence. + +Heap upon sailors every disaster, every danger which can be accumulated +from the waves, the wind, the elements, or the enemy, and they will bear +up against them with a courage amounting to heroism. All that they +demand is, that the one plank 'between them and death' is sound, and +they will trust to their own energies, and will be confident in their +own skill: but _spring a leak_, and they are half paralysed; and if it +gain upon them they are subdued; for when they find that their exertions +are futile, they are little better than children. + +Oswald sprang to the pumps when he heard the carpenter's report. 'Try +again, Abel--it cannot be: cut away that line; hand us here a dry +rope-yarn.' + +Once more the well was sounded by Oswald, and the result was the same. +'We must rig the pumps, my lads,' said the mate, endeavouring to conceal +his own fears; 'half this water must have found its way in when she was +on her beam-ends.' + +This idea, so judiciously thrown out, was caught at by the seamen, who +hastened to obey the order, while Oswald went down to acquaint the +captain, who, worn-out with watching and fatigue, had, now that danger +was considered to be over, thrown himself into his cot to obtain a few +hours' repose. + +'Do you think, Bareth, that we have sprung a leak?' said the captain +earnestly. 'She never could have taken in that quantity of water.' + +'Never, sir,' replied the mate; 'but she has been so strained, that she +may have opened her top-sides. I trust it is no worse.' + +'What is your opinion, then?' + +'I am afraid that the wreck of the masts have injured her; you may +recollect how often we struck against them before we could clear +ourselves of them; once, particularly, the mainmast appeared to be right +under her bottom, I recollect, and she struck very heavy on it.' + +'Well, it is God's will; let us get on deck as fast as we can.' + +When they arrived on deck, the carpenter walked up to the captain, and +quietly said to him, '_Seven feet three, sir._' The pumps were then in +full action; the men had divided, by the direction of the boatswain, +and, stripped naked to the waist, relieved each other every two minutes. +For half an hour they laboured incessantly. + +This was the half-hour of suspense: the great point to be ascertained +was, whether she leaked through the top-sides, and had taken in the +water during the second gale; if so, there was every hope of keeping it +under. Captain Ingram and the mate remained in silence near the +capstern, the former with his watch in his hand, during the time that +the sailors exerted themselves to the utmost. It was ten minutes past +seven when the half-hour had expired; the well was sounded and the line +carefully measured--_Seven feet six inches!_ So that the water had +gained upon them, notwithstanding that they had plied the pumps to the +utmost of their strength. + +A mute look of despair was exchanged among the crew, but it was followed +up by curses and execrations. Captain Ingram remained silent, with his +lips compressed. + +'It's all over with us!' exclaimed one of the men. + +'Not yet, my lads; we have one more chance,' said Oswald. 'I've a notion +that the ship's sides have been opened by the infernal straining of last +night, and that she is now taking it in at the top-sides generally; if +so, we have only to put her before the wind again, and have another good +spell at the pumps. When no longer strained, as she is now with her +broadside to the sea, she will close all up again.' + +'I shouldn't wonder if Mr. Bareth is not right,' replied the carpenter; +'however, that's my notion, too.' + +'And mine,' added Captain Ingram. 'Come, my men! never say die while +there's a shot in the locker. Let's try her again.' And, to encourage +the men, Captain Ingram threw off his coat and assisted at the first +spell, while Oswald went to the helm and put the ship before the wind. + +As the _Circassian_ rolled before the gale, the lazy manner in which she +righted proved how much water there was in the hold. The seamen exerted +themselves for a whole hour without intermission, and the well was again +sounded--_eight feet!_ + +The men did not assert that they would pump no longer; but they too +plainly showed their intentions by each resuming in silence his shirt +and jacket, which he had taken off at the commencement of his exertions. + +'What's to be done, Oswald?' said Captain Ingram, as they walked aft. +'You see the men will pump no longer; nor, indeed, would it be of any +use. We are doomed.' + +'The _Circassian_ is, sir, I am afraid,' replied the mate: 'pumping is +of no avail; they could not keep her afloat till daybreak. We must +therefore trust to our boats, which I believe to be all sound, and quit +her before night.' + +'Crowded boats in such a sea as this!' replied Captain Ingram, shaking +his head mournfully. + +'Are bad enough, I grant; but better than the sea itself. All we can do +now is to try and keep the men sober, and if we can do so it will be +better than to fatigue them uselessly; they'll want all their strength +before they put foot again upon dry land--if ever they are so fortunate. +Shall I speak to them?' + +'Do, Oswald,' replied the captain; 'for myself I care little, God knows; +but my wife--my children!' + +'My lads,' said Oswald, going forward to the men, who had waited in +moody silence the result of the conference--'as for pumping any longer +it would be only wearing out your strength for no good. We must now look +to our boats; and a good boat is better than a bad ship. Still this gale +and cross-running sea are rather too much for boats at present; we had +therefore better stick to the ship as long as we can. Let us set to with +a will and get the boats ready, with provisions, water, and what else +may be needful, and then we must trust to God's mercy and our own +endeavours.' + +'No boat can stand this sea,' observed one of the men. 'I'm of opinion, +as it's to be a short life, it may as well be a merry one. What d'ye +say, my lads?' continued he, appealing to the men. + +Several of the crew were of the same opinion; but Oswald, stepping +forward, seized one of the axes which lay at the main-bits, and going up +to the seaman who had spoken, looked him steadfastly in the face-- + +'Williams,' said the mate, 'a short life it may be to all of us, but not +a merry one; the meaning of which I understand very well. Sorry I shall +be to have your blood, or that of others, on my hands; but as sure as +there's a heaven, I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts +to break into the spirit-room. You know I never joke. Shame upon you! Do +you call yourselves men, when, for the sake of a little liquor now, you +would lose your only chance of getting drunk every day as soon as we get +on shore again? There's a time for all things; and I've a notion this is +a time to be sober.' + +As most of the crew sided with Oswald, the weaker party were obliged to +submit, and the preparations were commenced. The two boats on the booms +were found to be in good condition. One party was employed cutting away +the bulwarks that the boats might be launched over the side, as there +were no means of hoisting them out. The well was again sounded. Nine +feet water in the hold, and the ship evidently settling fast. Two hours +had now passed, and the gale was not so violent; the sea, also, which at +the change of wind had been cross, appeared to have recovered its +regular run. All was ready; the sailors, once at work again, had, in +some measure, recovered their spirits, and were buoyed up with fresh +hopes at the slight change in their favour from the decrease of the +wind. The two boats were quite large enough to contain the whole of the +crew and passengers; but, as the sailors said among themselves (proving +the kindness of their hearts), 'What was to become of those two poor +babbies, in an open boat for days and nights, perhaps?' Captain Ingram +had gone down to Mrs. Templemore, to impart to her their melancholy +prospects; and the mother's heart, as well as the mother's voice, echoed +the words of the seamen, 'What will become of my poor babes?' + +It was not till nearly six o'clock in the evening that all was ready: +the ship was slowly brought to the wind again, and the boats launched +over the side. By this time the gale was much abated; but the vessel was +full of water, and was expected soon to go down. + +[Illustration: '_I'll cleave to the shoulder the first man who attempts +to break into the spirit-room._'] + +There is no time in which coolness and determination are more required +than in a situation like the one in which we have attempted to describe. +It is impossible to know the precise moment at which a water-logged +vessel, in a heavy sea, may go down; and its occupants are in a state of +mental fever, with the idea of their remaining in her so late that she +will suddenly submerge, and leave them to struggle in the wave. This +feeling actuated many of the crew of the _Circassian_, and they had +already retreated to the boats. All was arranged; Oswald had charge of +one boat, and it was agreed that the larger should receive Mrs. +Templemore and her children, under the protection of Captain Ingram. The +number appointed to Oswald's boat being completed he shoved off, to make +room for the other, and laid-to to leeward, waiting to keep company. +Mrs. Templemore came up with Captain Ingram, and was assisted by him +into the boat. The nurse, with one child, was at last placed by her +side; Coco was leading Judy, the other nurse, with the remaining infant +in her arms; and Captain Ingram, who had been obliged to go into the +boat with the first child, was about to return to assist Judy with the +other, when the ship gave a heavy pitch, and her forecastle was buried +in the wave; at the same time the gunwale of the boat was stove by +coming in contact with the side of the vessel. 'She's down, by G--d!' +exclaimed the alarmed seamen in the boat, shoving off to escape from the +vortex. + +Captain Ingram, who was standing on the boat's thwarts to assist Judy, +was thrown back into the bottom of the boat; and before he could +extricate himself, the boat was separated from the ship, and had drifted +to leeward. + +'My child!' screamed the mother; 'my child!' + +'Pull to again, my lads!' cried Captain Ingram, seizing the tiller. + +The men, who had been alarmed at the idea that the ship was going down, +now that they saw that she was still afloat, got out the oars and +attempted to regain her, but in vain--they could not make head against +the sea and wind. Further and further did they drift to leeward, +notwithstanding their exertions; while the frantic mother extended her +arms, imploring and entreating. Captain Ingram, who had stimulated the +sailors to the utmost, perceived that further attempts were useless. + +'My child! my child!' screamed Mrs. Templemore, standing up, and holding +out her arms towards the vessel. At a sign from the captain, the head of +the boat was veered round. The bereaved mother knew that all hope was +gone, and she fell down in a state of insensibility. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE OLD MAID + + +One morning, shortly after the disasters which we have described, Mr. +Witherington descended to his breakfast-room somewhat earlier than +usual, and found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by no +less a personage than William the footman, who, with his feet on the +fender, was so attentively reading the newspaper that he did not hear +his master's entrance. 'By my ancestor, who fought on his stumps! but I +hope you are quite comfortable, Mr. William; nay, I beg I may not +disturb you, sir.' + +William, although as impudent as most of his fraternity, was a little +taken aback: 'I beg your pardon, sir, but Mr. Jonathan had not time to +look over the paper.' + +'Nor is it required that he should, that I know of, sir.' + +'Mr. Jonathan says, sir, that it is always right to look over the +_deaths_, that news of that kind may not shock you.' + +'Very considerate, indeed.' + +'And there is a story there, sir, about a shipwreck.' + +'A shipwreck! where, William? God bless me! where is it?' + +'I am afraid it is the same ship you are so anxious about, sir--the----I +forget the name, sir.' + +Mr. Witherington took the newspaper, and his eye soon caught the +paragraph in which the rescue of the two negroes and child from the +wreck of the _Circassian_ was fully detailed. + +'It is indeed!' exclaimed Mr. Witherington. 'My poor Cecilia in an open +boat! one of the boats was seen to go down--perhaps she's dead--merciful +God! one boy saved. Mercy on me! where's Jonathan?' + +[Illustration: _Found his green morocco easy-chair already tenanted by +William the footman._] + +'Here, sir,' replied Jonathan, very solemnly, who had just brought in +the eggs, and now stood erect as a mute behind his master's chair, for +it was a case of danger, if not of death. + +'I must go to Portsmouth immediately after breakfast--shan't eat, +though--appetite all gone.' + +'People seldom do, sir, on these melancholy occasions,' replied +Jonathan. 'Will you take your own carriage, sir, or a mourning coach?' + +'A mourning coach at fourteen miles an hour, with two pair of horses! +Jonathan, you're crazy.' + +'Will you please to have black silk hatbands and gloves for the coachman +and servants who attend you, sir?' + +'Confound your shop! no; this is a resurrection, not a death: it appears +that the negro thinks only one of the boats went down.' + +'_Mors omnia vincit_,' quoth Jonathan, casting up his eyes. + +'Never you mind that; mind your own business. That's the postman's +knock--see if there are any letters.' + +There were several; and amongst the others there was one from Captain +Maxwell, of the _Eurydice_, detailing the circumstances already known, +and informing Mr. Witherington that he had despatched the two negroes +and the child to his address by that day's coach, and that one of the +officers, who was going to town by the same conveyance, would see them +safe to his house. + +Captain Maxwell was an old acquaintance of Mr. Witherington--had dined +at his house in company with the Templemores, and therefore had +extracted quite enough information from the negroes to know where to +direct them. + +'By the blood of my ancestors! they'll be here to-night,' cried Mr. +Witherington; 'and I have saved my journey. What is to be done? better +tell Mary to get rooms ready: d'ye hear, William; beds for one little +boy and two niggers.' + +'Yes, sir,' replied William; 'but where are the black people to be put?' + +'Put! I don't care; one may sleep with cook, the other with Mary.' + +'Very well, sir, I'll tell them,' replied William, hastening away, +delighted at the row which he anticipated in the kitchen. + +'If you please, sir,' observed Jonathan, 'one of the negroes is, I +believe, a man.' + +'Well, what then?' + +'Only, sir, the maids may object to sleep with him.' + +'By all the plagues of the Witheringtons! this is true; well, you may +take him, Jonathan--you like that colour.' + +'Not in the dark, sir,' replied Jonathan, with a bow. + +'Well then, let them sleep together; so that affair is settled.' + +'Are they man and wife, sir?' said the butler. + +'The devil take them both! how should I know? Let me have my breakfast, +and we'll talk over the matter by and by.' + +Mr. Witherington applied to his eggs and muffin, eating his breakfast as +fast as he could, without knowing why; but the reason was that he was +puzzled and perplexed with the anticipated arrival, and longed to think +quietly over the dilemma, for it was a dilemma to an old bachelor. As +soon as he had swallowed his second cup of tea he put himself into his +easy-chair, in an easy attitude, and was very soon soliloquising as +follows:-- + +'By the blood of the Witheringtons! what am I, an old bachelor, to do +with a baby, and a wet-nurse as black as the ace of spades, and another +black fellow in the bargain? Send him back again! yes, that's +best? but the child--woke every morning at five o'clock with its +squalling--obliged to kiss it three times a day--pleasant!--and then +that nigger of a nurse--thick lips--kissing child all day, and then +holding it out to me--ignorant as a cow--if the child has the +stomach-ache she'll cram a pepper-pod down its throat--West India +fashion--children never without the stomach-ache--my poor, poor +cousin!--what has become of her and the other child, too?--wish they may +pick her up, poor dear! and then she will come and take care of her own +children--don't know what to do--great mind to send for sister +Moggy--but she's so _fussy_--won't be in a hurry. Think again.' + +Here Mr. Witherington was interrupted by two taps at the door. + +'Come in,' said he; and the cook, with her face as red as if she had +been dressing a dinner for eighteen, made her appearance without the +usual clean apron. + +'If you please, sir,' said she, curtseying, 'I will thank you to suit +yourself with another cook.' + +'Oh, very well,' replied Mr. Witherington, angry at the interruption. + +'And if you please, sir, I should like to go this very day--indeed, sir, +I shall not stay.' + +'Go to the devil! if you please,' replied Mr. Witherington angrily; 'but +first go out and shut the door after you.' + +The cook retired, and Mr. Witherington was again alone. + +'Confound the old woman--what a huff she is in! won't cook for black +people, I suppose--yes, that's it.' + +Here Mr. Witherington was again interrupted by a second double tap at +the door. + +'Oh! thought better of it, I suppose. Come in.' + +It was not the cook, but Mary, the housemaid, that entered. + +'If you please, sir,' said she, whimpering, 'I should wish to leave my +situation.' + +'A conspiracy, by heavens! Well, you may go.' + +'To-night, sir, if you please,' answered the woman. + +'This moment, for all I care!' exclaimed Mr. Witherington in his wrath. + +The housemaid retired; and Mr. Witherington took some time to compose +himself. + +'Servants all going to the devil in this country,' said he at last; +'proud fools--won't clean rooms after black people, I suppose--yes, +that's it, confound them all, black and white! here's my whole +establishment upset by the arrival of a baby. Well, it is very +uncomfortable--what shall I do?--send for sister Moggy?--no, I'll send +for Jonathan.' + +Mr. Witherington rang the bell, and Jonathan made his appearance. + +'What is all this, Jonathan?' said he; 'cook angry--Mary crying--both +going away--what's it all about?' + +'Why, sir, they were told by William that it was your positive order +that the two black people were to sleep with them; and I believe he told +Mary that the man was to sleep with her.' + +'Confound that fellow! he's always at mischief; you know, Jonathan, I +never meant that.' + +'I thought not, sir, as it is quite contrary to custom,' replied +Jonathan. + +'Well then, tell them so, and let's hear no more about it.' + +Mr. Witherington then entered into a consultation with his butler, and +acceded to the arrangements proposed by him. The parties arrived in due +time, and were properly accommodated. Master Edward was not troubled +with the stomach-ache, neither did he wake Mr. Witherington at five +o'clock in the morning; and, after all, it was not very uncomfortable. +But, although things were not quite so uncomfortable as Mr. Witherington +had anticipated, still they were not comfortable; and Mr. Witherington +was so annoyed by continual skirmishes with his servants, complaints +from Judy, in bad English, of the cook, who, it must be owned, had taken +a prejudice against her and Coco, occasional illness of the child, _et +caetera_, that he found his house no longer quiet and peaceable. Three +months had now nearly passed, and no tidings of the boats had been +received; and Captain Maxwell, who came up to see Mr. Witherington, gave +it as his decided opinion that they must have foundered in the gale. As, +therefore, there appeared to be no chance of Mrs. Templemore coming to +take care of her child, Mr. Witherington at last resolved to write to +Bath, where his sister resided, and acquaint her with the whole story, +requesting her to come and superintend his domestic concerns. A few days +afterwards he received the following reply:-- + + 'BATH, _August_. + + 'MY DEAR BROTHER ANTONY--Your letter arrived safe to hand on + Wednesday last, and I must say that I was not a little surprised at + its contents; indeed, I thought so much about it that I revoked at + Lady Betty Blabkin's whist-party, and lost four shillings and + sixpence. You say that you have a child at your house belonging to + your cousin, who married in so indecorous a manner. I hope what you + say is true; but, at the same time, I know what bachelors are + guilty of; although, as Lady Betty says, it is better never to talk + or even to hint about these improper things. I cannot imagine why + men should consider themselves, in an unmarried state, as absolved + from that purity which maidens are so careful to preserve; and so + says Lady Betty, with whom I had a little conversation on the + subject. As, however, the thing is done, she agrees with me that it + is better to hush it up as well as we can. + + 'I presume that you do not intend to make the child your heir, + which I should consider as highly improper; and, indeed, Lady + Betty tells me that the legacy-duty is ten per cent., and that it + cannot be avoided. However, I make it a rule never to talk about + these sort of things. As for your request that I will come up and + superintend your establishment, I have advised with Lady Betty on + the subject, and she agrees with me that, for the honour of the + family, it is better that I should come, as it will save + appearances. You are in a peck of troubles, as most men are who are + free-livers, and are led astray by artful and alluring females. + However, as Lady Betty says, "the least said, the soonest mended." + + 'I will, therefore, make the necessary arrangements for letting my + house, and hope to join you in about ten days; sooner, I cannot, as + I find that my engagements extend to that period. Many questions + have already been put to me on this unpleasant subject; but I + always give but one answer, which is, that bachelors will be + bachelors! and that, at all events, it is not so bad as if you were + a married man: for I make it a rule never to talk about, or even to + hint about these sort of things, for, as Lady Betty says, "Men will + get into scrapes, and the sooner things are hushed up the better." + So no more at present from your affectionate sister, + + 'MARGARET WITHERINGTON. + + '_P.S._--Lady Betty and I both agree that you are very right in + hiring two black people to bring the child into your house, as it + makes the thing look _foreign_ to the neighbours, and we can keep + our own secrets. + + M. W.' + +'Now, by all the sins of the Witheringtons, if this is not enough to +drive a man out of his senses! Confound the suspicious old maid! I'll +not let her come into this house. Confound Lady Betty, and all +scandal-loving old tabbies like her! Bless me!' continued Mr. +Witherington, throwing the letter on the table, with a deep sigh, 'this +is anything but comfortable.' + +But if Mr. Witherington found it anything but comfortable at the +commencement, he found it unbearable in the sequel. + +[Illustration: '_Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!_'] + +His sister Moggy arrived, and installed herself in the house with all +the pomp and protecting air of one who was the saviour of her brother's +reputation and character. When the child was first brought down to her, +instead of perceiving at once its likeness to Mr. Templemore, which was +very strong, she looked at it and at her brother's face with her only +eye, and shaking her finger, exclaimed-- + +'O Antony! Antony! and did you expect to deceive me?--the nose--the +mouth exact--Antony, for shame! fie, for shame!' + +But we must hurry over the misery that Mr. Witherington's kindness and +benevolence brought upon him. Not a day passed--scarcely an hour, +without his ears being galled with his sister's insinuations. Judy and +Coco were sent back to America; the servants, who had remained so long +in his service, gave warning one by one, and, afterwards, were changed +as often almost as there was a change in the moon. She ruled the house +and her brother despotically; and all poor Mr. Witherington's comfort +was gone until the time arrived when Master Edward was to be sent to +school. Mr. Witherington then plucked up courage, and after a few stormy +months drove his sister back to Bath, and once more found himself +comfortable. + +Edward came home during the holidays, and was a great favourite; but the +idea had become current that he was the son of the old gentleman, and +the remarks made were so unpleasant and grating to him, that he was not +sorry, much as he was attached to the boy, when he declared his +intention to choose the profession of a sailor. + +Captain Maxwell introduced him into the service; and afterwards, when, +in consequence of ill-health and exhaustion, he was himself obliged to +leave it for a time, he procured for his _protege_ other ships. We must, +therefore, allow some years to pass away, during which time Edward +Templemore pursues his career, Mr Witherington grows older and more +particular, and his sister Moggy amuses herself with Lady Betty's +remarks, and her darling game of whist. + +During all this period no tidings of the boats, or of Mrs. Templemore +and her infant, had been heard; it was therefore naturally conjectured +that they had all perished, and they were remembered but as things that +had been. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE MIDSHIPMAN + + +The weather-side of the quarter-deck of H.M. frigate _Unicorn_ was +occupied by two very great personages: Captain Plumbton, commanding the +ship, who was very great in width if not in height, taking much more +than his allowance of the deck, if it were not that he was the +proprietor thereof, and entitled to the lion's share. Captain P. was not +more than four feet ten inches in height; but then he was equal to that +in girth: there was quite enough of him, if he had only been _rolled +out_. He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck into the +arm-holes of his waistcoat, so as to throw his shoulders back and +increase his horizontal dimensions. He also held his head well aft, +which threw his chest and stomach well forward. He was the prototype of +pomposity and good-nature, and he strutted like an actor in a +procession. + +The other personage was the first lieutenant, whom Nature had pleased to +fashion in another mould. He was as tall as the captain was short--as +thin as his superior was corpulent. His long, lanky legs were nearly up +to the captain's shoulders; and he bowed down over the head of his +superior, as if he were the crane to hoist up, and the captain the bale +of goods to be hoisted. He carried his hands behind his back, with two +fingers twisted together; and his chief difficulty appeared to be to +reduce his own stride to the parrot march of the captain. His features +were sharp and lean as was his body, and wore every appearance of a +cross-grained temper. + +He had been making divers complaints of divers persons, and the captain +had hitherto appeared imperturbable. Captain Plumbton was an +even-tempered man, who was satisfied with a good dinner. Lieutenant +Markitall was an odd-tempered man, who would quarrel with his bread and +butter. + +[Illustration: _He walked with his coat flying open, his thumbs stuck +into the arm-holes of his waistcoat._] + +'Quite impossible, sir,' continued the first lieutenant, 'to carry on +the duty without support.' + +This oracular observation, which, from the relative forms of the two +parties, descended as it were from above, was replied to by the captain +with a 'Very true.' + +'Then, sir, I presume you will not object to my putting that man in the +report for punishment?' + +'I'll think about it, Mr. Markitall.' This, with Captain Plumbton, was +as much as to say, No. + +'The young gentlemen, sir, I am sorry to say, are very troublesome.' + +'Boys always are,' replied the captain. + +'Yes, sir; but the duty must be carried on, and I cannot do without +them.' + +'Very true--midshipmen are very useful.' + +'But I'm sorry to say, sir, that they are not. Now, sir, there's Mr. +Templemore; I can do nothing with him--he does nothing but laugh.' + +'Laugh!--Mr. Markitall, does he laugh at you?' + +'Not exactly, sir; but he laughs at everything. If I send him to the +mast-head, he goes up laughing; if I call him down, he comes down +laughing; if I find fault with him, he laughs the next minute: in fact, +sir, he does nothing but laugh. I should particularly wish, sir, that +you would speak to him, and see if any interference on your part----' + +'Would make him cry--eh? better to laugh than cry in this world. Does he +never cry, Mr. Markitall?' + +'Yes, sir, and very unseasonably. The other day, you may recollect, when +you punished Wilson the marine, whom I appointed to take care of his +chest and hammock, he was crying the whole time; almost tantamount--at +least an indirect species of mutiny on his part, as it implied----' + +'That the boy was sorry that his servant was punished; I never flog a +man but I'm sorry myself, Mr. Markitall.' + +'Well, I do not press the question of his crying--that I might look +over; but his laughing, sir, I must beg that you will take notice of +that. Here he is, sir, coming up the hatchway. Mr. Templemore, the +captain wishes to speak to you.' + +Now, the captain did not wish to speak to him, but, forced upon him as +it was by the first lieutenant, he could do no less. So Mr. Templemore +touched his hat, and stood before the captain, we regret to say, with +such a good-humoured, sly, confiding smirk on his countenance, as at +once established the proof of the accusation, and the enormity of the +offence. + +'So, sir,' said Captain Plumbton, stopping in his perambulation, and +squaring his shoulders still more, 'I find that you laugh at the first +lieutenant.' + +'I, sir?' replied the boy, the smirk expanding into a broad grin. + +'Yes; you, sir,' said the first lieutenant, now drawing up to his full +height; 'why, you're laughing now, sir.' + +'I can't help it, sir--it's not my fault; and I'm sure it's not yours, +sir,' added the boy demurely. + +'Are you aware, Edward--Mr. Templemore, I mean--of the impropriety of +disrespect to your superior officer?' + +'I never laughed at Mr. Markitall but once, sir, that I can recollect, +and that was when he tumbled over the messenger.' + +'And why did you laugh at him then, sir?' + +'I always do laugh when any one tumbles down,' replied the lad; 'I can't +help it, sir.' + +'Then, sir, I suppose you would laugh if you saw me rolling in the +lee-scuppers?' said the captain. + +'Oh!' replied the boy, no longer able to contain himself, 'I'm sure I +should burst myself with laughing--I think I see you now, sir.' + +'Do you, indeed! I'm very glad that you do not; though I'm afraid, young +gentleman, you stand convicted by your own confession.' + +'Yes, sir, for laughing, if that is any crime; but it's not in the +Articles of War.' + +'No, sir; but disrespect is. You laugh when you go to the mast-head.' + +'But I obey the order, sir, immediately--do I not, Mr. Markitall?' + +'Yes, sir, you obey the order; but, at the same time, your laughing +proves that you do not mind the punishment.' + +'No more I do, sir. I spend half my time at the mast-head, and I'm used +to it now.' + +'But, Mr. Templemore, ought you not to feel the disgrace of the +punishment?' inquired the captain severely. + +'Yes, sir, if I felt I deserved it I should. I should not laugh, sir, if +_you_ sent me to the mast-head,' replied the boy, assuming a serious +countenance. + +'You see, Mr. Markitall, that he can be grave,' observed the captain. + +'I've tried all I can to make him so, sir,' replied the first +lieutenant; 'but I wish to ask Mr. Templemore what he means to imply by +saying, "when he deserves it." Does he mean to say that I have ever +punished him unjustly?' + +'Yes, sir,' replied the boy boldly; 'five times out of six I am +mast-headed for nothing--and that's the reason why I do not mind it.' + +'For nothing, sir! Do you call laughing nothing?' + +'I pay every attention that I can to my duty, sir; I always obey your +orders; I try all I can to make you pleased with me--but you are always +punishing me.' + +'Yes, sir, for laughing, and, what is worse, making the ship's company +laugh.' + +'They "haul and hold" just the same, sir--I think they work all the +better for being merry.' + +'And pray, sir, what business have you to think?' replied the first +lieutenant, now very angry. 'Captain Plumbton, as this young gentleman +thinks proper to interfere with me and the discipline of the ship, I beg +you will see what effect your punishing may have upon him.' + +'Mr. Templemore,' said the captain, 'you are, in the first place, too +free in your speech, and, in the next place, too fond of laughing. There +is, Mr. Templemore, a time for all things--a time to be merry, and a +time to be serious. The quarter-deck is not the fit place for mirth.' + +'I'm sure the gangway is not,' shrewdly interrupted the boy. + +'No--you are right, nor the gangway; but you may laugh on the +forecastle, and when below with your messmates.' + +'No, sir, we may not; Mr. Markitall always sends out if he hears us +laughing.' + +'Because, Mr. Templemore, you're always laughing.' + +'I believe I am, sir; and if it's wrong I'm sorry to displease you, but +I mean no disrespect. I laugh in my sleep--I laugh when I awake--I laugh +when the sun shines--I always feel so happy; but though you do mast-head +me, Mr. Markitall, I should not laugh, but be very sorry, if any +misfortune happened to you.' + +'I believe you would, boy--I do indeed, Mr. Markitall,' said the +captain. + +'Well, sir,' replied the first lieutenant, 'as Mr. Templemore appears to +be aware of his error, I do not wish to press my complaint--I have only +to request that he will never laugh again.' + +'You hear, boy, what the first lieutenant says; it's very reasonable, +and I beg I may hear no more complaints. Mr. Markitall, let me know when +the foot of that foretopsail will be repaired--I should like to shift it +to-night.' + +Mr. Markitall went down under the half-deck to make the inquiry. + +'And, Edward,' said Captain Plumbton, as soon as the lieutenant was out +of ear-shot, 'I have a good deal more to say to you upon this subject, +but I have no time now. So come and dine with me--at my table, you know, +I allow laughing in moderation.' + +The boy touched his hat, and with a grateful, happy countenance, walked +away. + +We have introduced this little scene that the reader may form some idea +of the character of Edward Templemore. He was indeed the soul of mirth, +good-humour, and kindly feelings towards others; he even felt kindly +towards the first lieutenant, who persecuted him for his risible +propensities. We do not say that the boy was right in laughing at all +times, or that the first lieutenant was wrong in attempting to check it. +As the captain said, there is a time for all things, and Edward's laugh +was not always seasonable; but it was his nature, and he could not help +it. He was joyous as the May morning; and thus he continued for years, +laughing at everything--pleased with everybody--almost universally +liked--and his bold, free, and happy spirit unchecked by vicissitude or +hardship. + +He served his time--was nearly turned back, when he was passing his +examination, for laughing, and then went laughing to sea again--was in +command of a boat at the cutting-out of a French corvette, and when on +board was so much amused by the little French captain skipping about +with his rapier, which proved fatal to many, that at last he received a +pink from the little gentleman himself, which laid him on deck. For +this affair, and in consideration of his wound, he obtained his +promotion to the rank of lieutenant--was appointed to a line-of-battle +ship in the West Indies--laughed at the yellow fever--was appointed to +the tender of that ship, a fine schooner, and was sent to cruise for +prize-money for the admiral, and promotion for himself, if he could, by +any fortunate encounter, be so lucky as to obtain it. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SLEEPER'S BAY + + +On the western coast of Africa there is a small bay, which has received +more than one name from its occasional visitors. That by which it was +designated by the adventurous Portuguese, who first dared to cleave the +waves of the Southern Atlantic, has been forgotten with their lost +maritime preeminence; the name allotted to it by the woolly-headed +natives of the coast has never, perhaps, been ascertained; it is, +however, marked down in some of the old English charts as Sleeper's Bay. + +The mainland which, by its curvature, has formed this little dent, on a +coast possessing, and certainly at present requiring, few harbours, +displays, perhaps, the least inviting of all prospects; offering to the +view nothing but a shelving beach of dazzling white sand, backed with a +few small hummocks beat up by the occasional fury of the Atlantic +gales--arid, bare, and without the slightest appearance of vegetable +life. The inland prospect is shrouded over by a dense mirage, through +which here and there are to be discovered the stems of a few distant +palm-trees, so broken and disjoined by refraction that they present to +the imagination anything but the idea of foliage or shade. The water in +the bay is calm and smooth as the polished mirror; not the smallest +ripple is to be heard on the beach, to break through the silence of +nature; not a breath of air sweeps over its glassy surface, which is +heated with the intense rays of a vertical noonday sun, pouring down a +withering flood of light and heat; not a sea-bird is to be discovered +wheeling on its flight, or balancing on its wings as it pierces the deep +with its searching eye, ready to dart upon its prey. All is silence, +solitude, and desolation, save that occasionally may be seen the fin of +some huge shark, either sluggishly moving through the heated element, or +stationary in the torpor of the mid-day heat. A sight so sterile, so +stagnant, so little adapted to human life, cannot well be conceived, +unless, by flying to extremes, we were to portray the chilling blast, +the transfixing cold, and 'close-ribbed ice' at the frozen poles. + +At the entrance of this bay, in about three fathoms water, heedless of +the spring cable which hung down as a rope which had fallen overboard, +there floated, motionless as death, a vessel whose proportions would +have challenged the unanimous admiration of those who could appreciate +the merits of her build, had she been anchored in the most frequented +and busy harbour of the universe. So beautiful were her lines, that you +might almost have imagined her a created being that the ocean had been +ordered to receive, as if fashioned by the Divine Architect, to add to +the beauty and variety of His works; for, from the huge leviathan to the +smallest of the finny tribe--from the towering albatross to the boding +petrel of the storm--where could be found, among the winged or finned +frequenters of the ocean, a form more appropriate, more fitting, than +this specimen of human skill, whose beautiful model and elegant tapering +spars were now all that could be discovered to break the meeting lines +of the firmament and horizon of the offing. + +Alas! she was fashioned, at the will of avarice, for the aid of cruelty +and injustice, and now was even more nefariously employed. She had been +a slaver--she was now the far-famed, still more dreaded, pirate +schooner, the _Avenger_. + +Not a man-of-war which scoured the deep but had her instructions +relative to this vessel, which had been so successful in her career of +crime--not a trader in any portion of the navigable globe but whose crew +shuddered at the mention of her name, and the remembrance of the +atrocities which had been practised by her reckless crew. She had been +everywhere--in the east, the west, the north, and the south, leaving a +track behind her of rapine and of murder. There she lay in motionless +beauty, her low sides were painted black, with one small, narrow riband +of red--her raking masts were clean scraped--her topmasts, her +cross-trees, caps, and even running-blocks, were painted in pure white. +Awnings were spread fore and aft to protect the crew from the powerful +rays of the sun; her ropes were hauled taut; and in every point she wore +the appearance of being under the control of seamanship and strict +discipline. Through the clear smooth water her copper shone brightly; +and as you looked over her taffrail down into the calm blue sea, you +could plainly discover the sandy bottom beneath her, and the anchor +which then lay under her counter. A small boat floated astern, the +weight of the rope which attached her appearing, in the perfect calm, to +draw her towards the schooner. + +We must now go on board, and our first cause of surprise will be the +deception relative to the tonnage of the schooner, when viewed from a +distance. Instead of a small vessel of about ninety tons, we discover +that she is upwards of two hundred; that her breadth of beam is +enormous; and that those spars, which appeared so light and elegant, are +of unexpected dimensions. Her decks are of narrow fir planks, without +the least spring or rise; her ropes are of Manilla hemp, neatly secured +to copper belaying-pins, and coiled down on the deck, whose whiteness is +well contrasted with the bright green paint of her bulwarks: her +capstern and binnacles are cased in fluted mahogany, and ornamented with +brass; metal stanchions protect the skylights, and the bright muskets +are arranged in front of the mainmast, while the boarding-pikes are +lashed round the mainboom. + +In the centre of the vessel, between the fore and main masts, there is a +long brass 32-pounder fixed upon a carriage revolving in a circle, and +so arranged that in bad weather it can be lowered down and _housed_; +while on each side of her decks are mounted eight brass guns of smaller +calibre and of exquisite workmanship. Her build proves the skill of the +architect; her fitting-out, a judgment in which nought has been +sacrificed to, although everything has been directed by, taste; and her +neatness and arrangement, that, in the person of her commander, to the +strictest discipline there is united the practical knowledge of a +thorough seaman. How, indeed, otherwise could she have so long continued +her lawless yet successful career? How could it have been possible to +unite a crew of miscreants, who feared not God nor man, most of whom had +perpetrated foul murders, or had been guilty of even blacker +iniquities? It was because he who commanded the vessel was so superior +as to find in her no rivalry. Superior in talent, in knowledge of his +profession, in courage, and, moreover, in physical strength--which in +him was almost herculean--unfortunately he was also superior to all in +villainy, in cruelty, and contempt of all injunctions, moral and Divine. + +What had been the early life of this person was but imperfectly known. +It was undoubted that he had received an excellent education, and it was +said that he was of an ancient border family on the banks of the Tweed: +by what chances he had become a pirate--by what errors he had fallen +from his station in society, until he became an outcast, had never been +revealed; it was only known that he had been some years employed in the +slave-trade previous to his seizing this vessel and commencing his +reckless career. The name by which he was known to the crew of the +pirate vessel was 'Cain,' and well had he chosen this appellation; for, +had not his hand for more than three years been against every man's, and +every man's hand against his? In person he was about six feet high, with +a breadth of shoulders and of chest denoting the utmost of physical +force which, perhaps, has ever been allotted to man. His features would +have been handsome had they not been scarred with wounds; and, strange +to say, his eye was mild and of a soft blue. His mouth was well formed, +and his teeth of a pearly white; the hair of his head was crisp and +wavy, and his beard, which he wore, as did every person composing the +crew of the pirate, covered the lower part of his face in strong, +waving, and continued curls. The proportions of his body were perfect; +but from their vastness they became almost terrific. His costume was +elegant, and well adapted to his form; linen trousers, and untanned +yellow leather boots, such as are made at the Western Isles; a +broad-striped cotton shirt; a red Cashmere shawl round his waist as a +sash; a vest embroidered in gold tissue, with a jacket of dark velvet, +and pendent gold buttons, hanging over his left shoulder, after the +fashion of the Mediterranean seamen; a round Turkish skull-cap, +handsomely embroidered, a pair of pistols, and a long knife in his sash, +completed his attire. + +The crew consisted in all of 165 men, of almost every nation, but it +was to be remarked that all those in authority were either Englishmen or +from the northern countries; the others were chiefly Spaniards and +Maltese. Still there were Portuguese, Brazilians, negroes, and others, +who made up the complement, which at the time we now speak of was +increased by twenty-five additional hands. These were Kroumen, a race of +blacks well known at present, who inhabit the coast near Cape Palmas, +and are often employed by our men-of-war stationed on the coast to +relieve the English seamen from duties which would be too severe to +those who were not inured to the climate. They are powerful, athletic +men, good sailors, of a happy, merry disposition, and, unlike other +Africans, will work hard. Fond of the English, they generally speak the +language sufficiently to be understood, and are very glad to receive a +baptism when they come on board. The name first given them they usually +adhere to as long as they live; and you will now on the coast meet with +a Blucher, a Wellington, a Nelson, etc., who will wring swabs, or do any +other of the meanest description of work, without feeling that it is +discreditable to sponsorials so grand. + +It is not to be supposed that these men had voluntarily come on board of +the pirate; they had been employed in some British vessels trading on +the coast, and had been taken out of them when the vessels were burnt, +and the Europeans of the crews murdered. They had received a promise of +reward, if they did their duty; but, not expecting it, they waited for +the earliest opportunity to make their escape. + +The captain of the schooner is abaft with his glass in his hand, +occasionally sweeping the offing in the expectation of a vessel heaving +in sight; the officers and crew are lying down, or lounging listlessly +about the decks, panting with the extreme heat, and impatiently waiting +for the sea-breeze to fan their parched foreheads. With their rough +beards and exposed chests, and their weather-beaten fierce countenances, +they form a group which is terrible even in repose. + +We must now descend into the cabin of the schooner. The fittings-up of +this apartment are simple: on each side is a standing bed-place; against +the after bulkhead is a large buffet, originally intended for glass and +china, but now loaded with silver and gold vessels of every size and +description, collected by the pirate from the different ships which he +had plundered; the lamps are also of silver, and evidently had been +intended to ornament the shrine of some Catholic saint. + +In this cabin there are two individuals, to whom we shall now direct the +reader's attention. The one is a pleasant-countenanced, good-humoured +Krouman, who had been christened 'Pompey the Great'; most probably on +account of his large proportions. He wears a pair of duck trousers; the +rest of his body is naked, and presents a sleek, glossy skin, covering +muscles which an anatomist or a sculptor would have viewed with +admiration. The other is a youth of eighteen, or thereabouts, with an +intelligent, handsome countenance, evidently of European blood. There +is, however, a habitually mournful cast upon his features; he is dressed +much in the same way as we have described the captain, but the costume +hangs more gracefully upon his slender, yet well-formed limbs. He is +seated on a sofa, fixed in the fore part of the cabin, with a book in +his hand, which occasionally he refers to, and then lifts his eyes from, +to watch the motions of the Krouman, who is busy, in the office of +steward, arranging and cleaning the costly articles in the buffet. + +'Massa Francisco, dis really fine ting,' said Pompey, holding up a +splendidly embossed tankard, which he had been rubbing. + +'Yes,' replied Francisco gravely; 'it is indeed, Pompey.' + +'How Captain Cain come by dis?' + +Francisco shook his head, and Pompey put his finger up to his mouth, his +eyes, full of meaning, fixed upon Francisco. + +At this moment the personage referred to was heard descending the +companion-ladder. Pompey recommenced rubbing the silver, and Francisco +dropped his eyes upon the book. + +What was the tie which appeared to bind the captain to this lad was not +known; but, as the latter had always accompanied, and lived together +with him, it was generally supposed that he was the captain's son; and +he was as often designated by the crew as young Cain as he was by his +Christian name of Francisco. Still it was observed that latterly they +had frequently been heard in altercation, and that the captain was very +suspicious of Francisco's movements. + +'I beg I may not interrupt your conversation,' said Cain, on entering +the cabin; 'the information you may obtain from a Krouman must be very +important.' + +Francisco made no reply, but appeared to be reading his book. Cain's +eyes passed from one to the other, as if to read their thoughts. + +'Pray what were you saying, Mr. Pompey?' + +'Me say, Massa Captain? me only tell young Massa dis very fine ting; ask +where you get him--Massa Francisco no tell.' + +'And what might it be to you, you black scoundrel?' cried the captain, +seizing the goblet, and striking the man with it a blow on the head +which flattened the vessel, and at the same time felled the Krouman, +powerful as he was, to the deck. The blood streamed as the man slowly +rose, stupefied and trembling from the violent concussion. Without +saying a word, he staggered out of the cabin, and Cain threw himself on +one of the lockers in front of the standing bed-place, saying, with a +bitter smile, 'So much for your intimates, Francisco!' + +'Rather, so much for your cruelty and injustice towards an unoffending +man,' replied Francisco, laying his book on the table. 'His question was +an innocent one--for he knew not the particulars connected with the +obtaining of that flagon.' + +'And you, I presume, do not forget them? Well, be it so, young man; but +I warn you again--as I have warned you often--nothing but the +remembrance of your mother has prevented me, long before this, from +throwing your body to the sharks.' + +'What influence my mother's memory may have over you, I know not; I only +regret that, in any way, she had the misfortune to be connected with +you.' + +'She had the influence,' replied Cain, 'which a woman must have over a +man when they have for years swung in the same cot; but that is wearing +off fast. I tell you so candidly; I will not even allow her memory to +check me, if I find you continue your late course. You have shown +disaffection before the crew--you have disputed my orders--and I have +every reason to believe that you are now plotting against me.' + +'Can I do otherwise than show my abhorrence,' replied Francisco, 'when I +witness such acts of horror, of cruelty--cold-blooded cruelty, as lately +have been perpetrated? Why do you bring me here? and why do you now +detain me? All I ask is, that you will allow me to leave the vessel. You +are not my father; you have told me so.' + +'No, I am not your father; but--you are your mother's son.' + +'That gives you no right to have power over me, even if you had been +married to my mother; which----' + +'I was not.' + +'I thank God; for marriage with you would have been even greater +disgrace.' + +'What!' cried Cain, starting up, seizing the young man by the neck, and +lifting him off his seat as if he had been a puppet; 'but no--I cannot +forget your mother.' Cain released Francisco, and resumed his seat on +the locker. + +'As you please,' said Francisco, as soon as he had recovered himself; +'it matters little whether I am brained by your own hand, or launched +overboard as a meal for the sharks; it will be but one more murder.' + +'Mad fool! why do you tempt me thus?' replied Cain, again starting up, +and hastily quitting the cabin. + +The altercation which we have just described was not unheard on deck, as +the doors of the cabin were open, and the skylight removed to admit the +air. The face of Cain was flushed as he ascended the ladder. He +perceived his chief mate standing by the hatchway, and many of the men, +who had been slumbering abaft, with their heads raised on their elbows, +as if they had been listening to the conversation below. + +'It will never do, sir,' said Hawkhurst, the mate, shaking his head. + +'No,' replied the captain; 'not if he were my own son. But what is to be +done?--he knows no fear.' + +Hawkhurst pointed to the entering port. + +'When I ask your advice, you may give it,' said the captain, turning +gloomily away. + +In the meantime, Francisco paced the cabin in deep thought. Young as he +was, he was indifferent to death; for he had no tie to render life +precious. He remembered his mother, but not her demise; that had been +concealed from him. At the age of seven he had sailed with Cain in a +slaver, and had ever since continued with him. Until lately, he had been +led to suppose that the captain was his father. During the years that he +had been in the slave-trade, Cain had devoted much time to his +education; it so happened that the only book which could be found on +board of the vessel, when Cain first commenced teaching, was a Bible +belonging to Francisco's mother. Out of this book he learned to read; +and, as his education advanced, other books were procured. It may +appear strange that the very traffic in which his reputed father was +engaged did not corrupt the boy's mind; but, accustomed to it from his +infancy, he had considered these negroes as another species--an idea +fully warranted by the cruelty of the Europeans towards them. + +There are some dispositions so naturally kind and ingenuous that even +example and evil contact cannot debase them: such was the disposition of +Francisco. As he gained in years and knowledge, he thought more and more +for himself, and had already become disgusted with the cruelties +practised upon the unfortunate negroes, when the slave vessel was seized +upon by Cain and converted into a pirate. At first, the enormities +committed had not been so great; vessels had been seized and plundered, +but life had been spared. In the course of crime, however, the descent +is rapid: and as, from information given by those who had been released, +the schooner was more than once in danger of being captured, latterly no +lives had been spared; and but too often the murders had been attended +with deeds even more atrocious. + +Francisco had witnessed scenes of horror until his young blood curdled: +he had expostulated to save, but in vain. Disgusted with the captain and +the crew, and their deeds of cruelty, he had latterly expressed his +opinions fearlessly, and defied the captain; for, in the heat of an +altercation, Cain had acknowledged that Francisco was not his son. + +Had any of the crew or officers expressed but a tithe of what had fallen +from the bold lips of Francisco, they would have long before paid the +forfeit of their temerity; but there was a feeling towards Francisco +which could not be stifled in the breast of Cain--it was the feeling of +association and habit. The boy had been his companion for years; and +from assuetude had become, as it were, a part of himself. There is a +principle in our nature which, even when that nature is most debased, +will never leave us--that of requiring something to love, something to +protect and watch over: it is shown towards a dog, or any other animal, +if it cannot be lavished upon one of our own species. Such was the +feeling which so forcibly held Cain towards Francisco; such was the +feeling which had hitherto saved his life. + +After having paced up and down for some time, the youth took his seat on +the locker which the captain had quitted: his eye soon caught the head +of Pompey, who looked into the cabin and beckoned with his finger. + +Francisco rose, and, taking up a flagon from the buffet, which contained +some spirits, walked to the door, and, without saying a word, handed it +to the Krouman. + +'Massa Francisco,' whispered Pompey, 'Pompey say--all Kroumen +say--suppose they run away, you go too? Pompey say--all Kroumen +say--suppose they try to kill you? Nebber kill you while one Krouman +alive.' + +The negro then gently pushed Francisco back with his hand, as if not +wishing to hear his answer, and hastened forward on the berth deck. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ATTACK + + +In the meantime, the sea-breeze had risen in the offing, and was +sweeping along the surface to where the schooner was at anchor. The +captain ordered a man to the cross-trees, directing him to keep a good +look-out, while he walked the deck in company with his first mate. + +'She may not have sailed until a day or two later,' said the captain, +continuing the conversation; 'I have made allowance for that, and depend +upon it, as she makes the eastern passage, we must soon fall in with +her; if she does not heave in sight this evening by daylight, I shall +stretch out in the offing; I know the Portuguese well. The sea-breeze +has caught our craft; let them run up the inner jib, and see that she +does not foul her anchor.' + +It was now late in the afternoon, and dinner had been sent into the +cabin; the captain descended, and took his seat at the table with +Francisco, who ate in silence. Once or twice the captain, whose wrath +had subsided, and whose kindly feelings towards Francisco, checked for a +time, had returned with greater force, tried, but in vain, to rally him +into conversation, when '_Sail ho!_' was shouted from the mast-head. + +'There she is, by G--d!' cried the captain, jumping from, and then, as +if checking himself, immediately resuming, his seat. + +Francisco put his hand to his forehead, covering his eyes as his elbow +leant upon the table. + +'A large ship, sir; we can see down to the second reef of her topsails,' +said Hawkhurst, looking down the skylight. + +The captain hastily swallowed some wine from a flagon, cast a look of +scorn and anger upon Francisco, and rushed on deck. + +'Be smart, lads!' cried the captain, after a few seconds' survey of the +vessel through his glass; 'that's her: furl the awnings, and run the +anchor up to the bows: there's more silver in that vessel, my lads, than +your chests will hold; and the good saints of the churches at Goa will +have to wait a little longer for their gold candlesticks.' + +The crew were immediately on the alert; the awnings were furled, and all +the men, stretching aft the spring cable, walked the anchor up to the +bows. In two minutes more the _Avenger_ was standing out on the +starboard tack, shaping her course so as to cut off the ill-fated +vessel. The breeze freshened, and the schooner darted through the smooth +water with the impetuosity of a dolphin after its prey. In an hour the +hull of the ship was plainly to be distinguished; but the sun was near +to the horizon, and before they could ascertain what their force might +be, daylight had disappeared. Whether the schooner had been perceived or +not, it was impossible to say; at all events, the course of the ship had +not been altered, and if she had seen the schooner, she evidently +treated her with contempt. On board the _Avenger_, they were not idle; +the long gun in the centre had been cleared from the incumbrances which +surrounded it, the other guns had been cast loose, shot handed up, and +everything prepared for action, with all the energy and discipline of a +man-of-war. The chase had not been lost sight of, and the eyes of the +pirate captain were fixed upon her through a night-glass. In about an +hour more the schooner was within a mile of the ship, and now altered +her course so as to range up within a cable's length of her to leeward. +Cain stood upon the gunwale and hailed. The answer was in Portuguese. + +'Heave to, or I'll sink you!' replied he in the same language. + +A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and a heavy volley +of muskets from the Portuguese, was the decided answer. The broadside, +too much elevated to hit the low hull of the schooner, was still not +without effect--the foretopmast fell, the jaws of the main-gaff were +severed, and a large proportion of the standing as well as the running +rigging came rattling down on her decks. The volley of musketry was more +fatal: thirteen of the pirates were wounded, some of them severely. + +[Illustration: _A general discharge from a broadside of carronades, and +a heavy volley of muskets, was the decided answer._] + +'Well done, John Portuguese!' cried Hawkhurst; 'by the holy poker! I +never gave you credit for so much pluck.' + +'Which they shall pay dearly for,' was the cool reply of Cain, as he +still remained in his exposed situation. + +'Blood for blood! if I drink it,' observed the second mate, as he looked +at the crimson rivulet trickling down the fingers of his left hand from +a wound in his arm--'just tie my handkerchief round this, Bill.' + +In the interim, Cain had desired his crew to elevate their guns, and the +broadside was returned. + +'That will do, my lads: starboard; ease off the boomsheet; let her go +right round, Hawkhurst--we cannot afford to lose our men.' + +The schooner wore round, and ran astern of her opponent. + +The Portuguese on board the ship, imagining that the schooner, finding +she had met with unexpected resistance, had sheered off, gave a loud +cheer. + +'The last you will ever give, my fine fellows!' observed Cain, with a +sneer. + +In a few moments the schooner had run a mile astern of the ship. + +'Now then, Hawkhurst, let her come to and about; man the long gun, and +see that every shot is pitched into her, while the rest of them get up a +new foretopmast, and knot and splice the rigging.' + +The schooner's head was again turned towards the ship; her position was +right astern, about a mile distant or rather more; the long 32-pounder +gun amidships was now regularly served, every shot passing through the +cabin windows, or some other part of the ship's stern, raking her fore +and aft. In vain did the ship alter her course, and present her +broadside to the schooner; the latter was immediately checked in her +speed, so as to keep the prescribed distance at which the carronades of +the ship were useless, and the execution from the long gun decisive. The +ship was at the mercy of the pirate; and, as may be expected, no mercy +was shown. For three hours did this murderous attack continue, when the +gun, which, as before observed, was of brass, became so heated that the +pirate captain desired his men to discontinue. Whether the ship had +surrendered or not it was impossible to say, as it was too dark to +distinguish: while the long gun was served, the foretopmast and +main-gaff had been shifted, and all the standing and running rigging +made good; the schooner keeping her distance, and following in the wake +of the ship until daylight. + +We must now repair on board of the ship: she was an Indiaman; one of the +very few that occasionally are sent out by the Portuguese government to +a country which once owned their undivided sway, but in which, at +present, they hold but a few miles of territory. She was bound to Goa, +and had on board a small detachment of troops, a new governor and his +two sons, a bishop and his niece, with her attendant. The sailing of a +vessel with such a freight was a circumstance of rare occurrence, and +was, of course, generally bruited about long before her departure. Cain +had, for some months, received all the necessary intelligence relative +to her cargo and destination; but, as usual with the Portuguese of the +present day, delay upon delay had followed, and it was not until about +three weeks previous that he had been assured of her immediate +departure. He then ran down the coast to the bay we have mentioned that +he might intercept her; and, as the event had proved, showed his usual +judgment and decision. The fire of the schooner had been most +destructive; many of the Indiaman's crew, as well as of the troops, had +been mowed down one after another; until at last, finding that all their +efforts to defend themselves were useless, most of those who were still +unhurt had consulted their safety, and hastened down to the lowest +recesses of the hold to avoid the raking and destructive shot. At the +time that the schooner had discontinued her fire to allow the gun to +cool, there was no one on deck but the Portuguese captain and one old +weather-beaten seaman who stood at the helm. Below, in the orlop-deck, +the remainder of the crew and the passengers were huddled together in a +small space: some were attending to the wounded, who were numerous; +others were invoking the saints to their assistance; the bishop, a tall, +dignified person, apparently nearly sixty years of age, was kneeling in +the centre of the group, which was dimly lighted by two or three +lanterns, at one time in fervent prayer, at another, interrupted, that +he might give absolution to those wounded men whose spirits were +departing, and who were brought down and laid before him by their +comrades. On one side of him knelt his orphan niece, a young girl of +about seventeen years of age, watching his countenance as he prayed, or +bending down with a look of pity and tearful eyes on her expiring +countrymen, whose last moments were gladdened by his holy offices. On +the other side of the bishop stood the governor, Don Philip de Ribiera, +and his two sons, youths in their prime, and holding commissions in the +king's service. There was melancholy on the brow of Don Ribiera; he was +prepared for, and he anticipated, the worst. The eldest son had his eyes +fixed upon the sweet countenance of Teresa de Silva--that very evening, +as they walked together on the deck, had they exchanged their vows--that +very evening they had luxuriated in the present, and had dwelt with +delightful anticipation on the future. But we must leave them and return +on deck. + +The captain of the Portuguese ship had walked aft, and now went up to +Antonio, the old seaman, who was standing at the wheel. + +'I still see her with the glass, Antonio, and yet she has not fired for +nearly two hours; do you think any accident has happened to her long +gun? if so, we may have some chance.' + +Antonio shook his head. 'We have but little chance, I am afraid, my +captain; I knew by the ring of the gun, when she fired it, that it was +brass; indeed, no schooner could carry a long iron gun of that calibre. +Depend upon it, she only waits for the metal to cool and daylight to +return: a long gun or two might have saved us; but now, as she has the +advantage of us in heels, we are at her mercy.' + +'What can she be--a French privateer?' + +'I trust it may be so; and I have promised a silver candlestick to St. +Antonio that it may prove no worse: we then may have some chance of +seeing our homes again; but I fear not.' + +'What, then, do you imagine her to be, Antonio?' + +'The pirate which we have heard so much of.' + +'Jesu protect us! we must then sell our lives as dearly as we can.' + +'So I intend to do, my captain,' replied Antonio, shifting the helm a +spoke. + +The day broke, and showed the schooner continuing her pursuit at the +same distance astern, without any apparent movement on board. It was not +until the sun was some degrees above the horizon that the smoke was +again seen to envelop her bows, and the shot crashed through the timbers +of the Portuguese ship. The reason for this delay was, that the pirate +waited till the sun was up to ascertain if there were any other vessels +to be seen, previous to his pouncing on his quarry. The Portuguese +captain went aft and hoisted his ensign, but no flag was shown by the +schooner. Again whistled the ball, and again did it tear up the decks of +the unfortunate ship: many of those who had re-ascended to ascertain +what was going on, now hastily sought their former retreat. + +'Mind the helm, Antonio,' said the Portuguese captain; 'I must go down +and consult with the governor.' + +'Never fear, my captain; as long as these limbs hold together, I will do +my duty,' replied the old man, exhausted as he was by long watching and +fatigue. + +The captain descended to the orlop-deck, where he found the major part +of the crew and passengers assembled. + +'My lords,' said he, addressing the governor and bishop, 'the schooner +has not shown any colours, although our own are hoisted. I am come down +to know your pleasure. Defence we can make none; and I fear that we are +at the mercy of a pirate.' + +'A pirate!' ejaculated several, beating their breasts, and calling upon +their saints. + +'Silence, my good people, silence,' quietly observed the bishop; 'as to +what it may be best to do,' continued he, turning to the captain, 'I +cannot advise; I am a man of peace, and unfit to hold a place in a +council of war. Don Ribiera, I must refer the point to you and your +sons. Tremble not, my dear Teresa; are we not under the protection of +the Almighty.' + +'Holy Virgin, pity us!' exclaimed Teresa. + +'Come, my sons,' said Don Ribiera, 'we will go on deck and consult: let +not any of the men follow us; it is useless risking lives which may yet +be valuable.' + +Don Ribiera and his sons followed the captain to the quarter-deck, and +with him and Antonio they held a consultation. + +'We have but one chance,' observed the old man, after a time; 'let us +haul down our colours as if in submission; they will then range up +alongside, and either board us from the schooner, or from their boats; +at all events, we shall find out what she is, and, if a pirate, we must +sell our lives as dearly as we can. If, when we haul down the colours, +she ranges up alongside, as I expect she will, let all the men be +prepared for a desperate struggle.' + +'You are right, Antonio,' replied the governor; 'go aft, captain, and +haul down the colours!--let us see what she does now. Down, my boys! and +prepare the men to do their duty.' + +As Antonio had predicted, so soon as the colours were hauled down, the +schooner ceased firing and made sail. She ranged up on the quarter of +the ship, and up to her main peak soared the terrific black flag; her +broadside was poured into the Indiaman, and before the smoke had cleared +away there was a concussion from the meeting sides, and the bearded +pirates poured upon her decks. + +The crew of the Portuguese, with the detachment of troops, still formed +a considerable body of men. The sight of the black flag had struck ice +into every heart, but the feeling was resolved into one of desperation. + +'Knives, men, knives!' roared Antonio, rushing on to the attack, +followed by the most brave. + +'Blood for blood!' cried the second mate, aiming a blow at the old man. + +'You have it,' replied Antonio, as his knife entered the pirate's heart, +while, at the same moment, he fell and was himself a corpse. + +The struggle was deadly, but the numbers and ferocity of the pirates +prevailed. Cain rushed forward followed by Hawkhurst, bearing down all +who opposed them. With one blow from the pirate-captain, the head of Don +Ribiera was severed to the shoulder; a second struck down the eldest +son, while the sword of Hawkhurst passed through the body of the other. +The Portuguese captain had already fallen, and the men no longer stood +their ground. A general massacre ensued, and the bodies were thrown +overboard as fast as the men were slaughtered. In less than five minutes +there was not a living Portuguese on the bloody decks of the ill-fated +ship. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CAPTURE + + +'Pass the word for not a man to go below, Hawkhurst!' said the +pirate-captain. + +'I have, sir; and sentries are stationed at the hatchways. Shall we haul +the schooner off?' + +'No, let her remain; the breeze is faint already: we shall have a calm +in half an hour. Have we lost many men?' + +'Only seven, that I can reckon; but we have lost Wallace' (the second +mate). + +'A little promotion will do no harm,' replied Cain; 'take a dozen of our +best men and search the ship, there are others alive yet. By the bye, +send a watch on board of the schooner; she is left to the mercy of the +Kroumen, and----' + +'One who is better out of her,' replied Hawkhurst. + +'And those we find below----' continued the mate. + +'Alive!' + +'True; we may else be puzzled where to find that portion of her cargo +which suits us,' said Hawkhurst, going down the hatchway to collect the +men who were plundering on the main deck and in the captain's cabin. + +'Here, you Maltese! up, there! and look well round if there is anything +in sight,' said the captain, walking aft. + +Before Hawkhurst had collected the men and ordered them on board of the +schooner, as usual in those latitudes, it had fallen a perfect calm. + +Where was Francisco during this scene of blood? He had remained in the +cabin of the schooner. Cain had more than once gone down to him, to +persuade him to come on deck and assist at the boarding of the +Portuguese, but in vain--his sole reply to the threats and solicitations +of the pirate was-- + +'Do with me as you please--I have made up my mind--you know I do not +fear death--as long as I remain on board of this vessel, I will take no +part in your atrocities. If you do respect my mother's memory, suffer +her son to seek an honest and honourable livelihood.' + +The words of Francisco were ringing in the ears of Cain as he walked up +and down on the quarter-deck of the Portuguese vessel, and, debased as +he was, he could not help thinking that the youth was his equal in +animal and his superior in mental courage. He was arguing in his own +mind upon the course he should pursue with respect to Francisco, when +Hawkhurst made his appearance on deck, followed by his men, who dragged +up six individuals who had escaped the massacre. These were the bishop; +his niece; a Portuguese girl, her attendant; the supercargo of the +vessel; a sacristan; and a servant of the ecclesiastic: they were hauled +along the deck and placed in a row before the captain, who cast his eyes +upon them in severe scrutiny. The bishop and his niece looked round, the +one proudly meeting the eye of Cain, although he felt that his hour was +come; the other carefully avoiding his gaze, and glancing round to +ascertain whether there were any other prisoners, and if so, if her +betrothed was amongst them; but her eye discovered not what she +sought--it was met only by the bearded faces of the pirate crew, and the +blood which bespattered the deck. + +She covered her face with her hands. + +'Bring that man forward,' said Cain, pointing to the servant. 'Who are +you?' + +'A servant of my lord the bishop.' + +'And you?' continued the captain. + +'A poor sacristan attending upon my lord the bishop.' + +'And you?' cried he to a third. + +'The supercargo of this vessel.' + +'Put him aside, Hawkhurst!' + +'Do you want the others?' inquired Hawkhurst significantly. + +'No.' + +Hawkhurst gave a signal to some of the pirates, who led away the +sacristan and the servant. A stifled shriek and a heavy plunge in the +water were heard a few seconds after. During this time the pirate had +been questioning the supercargo as to the contents of the vessel and +her stowage, when he was suddenly interrupted by one of the pirates, +who, in a hurried voice, stated that the ship had received several shot +between wind and water and was sinking fast. Cain, who was standing on +the slide of the carronade with his sword in his hand, raised his arm +and struck the pirate a blow on the head with the hilt, which, whether +intended or not, fractured his skull, and the man fell upon the deck. + +'Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men are obstinate, +we may have worked for nothing.' + +The crew, who felt the truth of their captain's remark, did not appear +to object to the punishment inflicted, and the body of the man was +dragged away. + +'What mercy can we expect from those who show no mercy even to each +other?' observed the bishop, lifting his eyes to heaven. + +'Silence!' cried Cain, who now interrogated the supercargo as to the +contents of the hold--the poor man answered as well as he could--'the +plate! the money for the troops--where are they?' + +'The money for the troops is in the spirit-room, but of the plate I know +nothing; it is in some of the cases belonging to my lord the bishop.' + +'Hawkhurst! down at once to the spirit-room and see to the money; in the +meantime I will ask a few questions of this reverend father.' + +'And the supercargo--do you want him any more?' + +'No; he may go.' + +The poor man fell down on his knees in thankfulness at what he +considered his escape: he was dragged away by the pirates, and it is +scarcely necessary to add that in a minute his body was torn to pieces +by the sharks, who, scenting their prey from a distance, were now +playing in shoals around the two vessels. + +The party on the quarter-deck were now (unperceived by the captain) +joined by Francisco, who, hearing from the Krouman, Pompey, that there +were prisoners still on board, and amongst them two females, had come +over to plead the cause of mercy. + +'Most reverend father,' observed Cain, after a short pause, 'you have +many articles of value in this vessel?' + +[Illustration: '_Take that, babbler, for your intelligence; if these men +are obstinate, we may have worked for nothing._'] + +'None,' replied the bishop, 'except this poor girl; she is, indeed, +beyond price, and will, I trust, soon be an angel in heaven.' + +'Yet is this world, if what you preach be true, a purgatory which must +be passed through previous to arriving there, and that girl may think +death a blessing compared to what she may expect if you refuse to tell +me what I would know. You have good store of gold and silver ornaments +for your churches--where are they?' + +'They are among the packages entrusted to my care.' + +'How many may you have in all?' + +'A hundred, if not more.' + +'Will you deign to inform me where I may find what I require?' + +'The gold and silver are not mine, but are the property of that God to +whom they have been dedicated,' replied the bishop. + +'Answer quickly; no more subterfuge, good sir. Where is it to be found?' + +'I will not tell, thou blood-stained man; at least, in this instance, +there shall be disappointment, and the sea shall swallow up those +earthly treasures to obtain which thou hast so deeply imbrued thy hands. +Pirate! I repeat it, I will not tell.' + +'Seize that girl, my lads!' cried Cain; 'she is yours, do with her as +you please.' + +'Save me! oh, save me!' shrieked Teresa, clinging to the bishop's robe. + +The pirates advanced and laid hold of Teresa. Francisco bounded from +where he stood behind the captain, and dashed away the foremost. + +'Are you men?' cried he, as the pirates retreated. 'Holy sir, I honour +you. Alas! I cannot save you,' continued Francisco mournfully. 'Yet will +I try. On my knees--by the love you bore my mother--by the affection you +once bore me--do not commit this horrid deed. My lads!' continued +Francisco, appealing to the pirates, 'join with me and entreat your +captain; ye are too brave, too manly, to injure the helpless and the +innocent--above all, to shed the blood of a holy man, and of this poor +trembling maiden.' + +There was a pause--even the pirates appeared to side with Francisco, +though none of them dared to speak. The muscles of the captain's face +quivered with emotion, but from what source could not be ascertained. + +At this moment the interest of the scene was heightened. The girl who +attended upon Teresa, crouched on her knees with terror, had been +casting her fearful eyes upon the men which composed the pirate crew; +suddenly she uttered a scream of delight as she discovered among them +one that she well knew. He was a young man, about twenty-five years of +age, with little or no beard. He had been her lover in his more innocent +days; and she, for more than a year, had mourned him as dead, for the +vessel in which he sailed had never been heard of. It had been taken by +the pirate, and, to save his life, he had joined the crew. + +'Filippo! Filippo!' screamed the girl, rushing into his arms. 'Mistress! +it is Filippo; and we are safe.' + +Filippo instantly recognised her; the sight of her brought back to his +memory his days of happiness and of innocence; and the lovers were +clasped in each other's arms. + +'Save them! spare them!--by the spirit of my mother! I charge you,' +repeated Francisco, again appealing to the captain. + +'May God bless thee, thou good young man!' said the bishop, advancing +and placing his hand upon Francisco's head. + +Cain answered not; but his broad expanded chest heaved with +emotion--when Hawkhurst burst into the group. + +'We are too late for the money, captain; the water is already six feet +above it. We must now try for the treasure.' + +This intelligence appeared to check the current of the captain's +feelings. + +Now, in one word, sir,' said he to the bishop, 'where is the treasure? +Trifle not, or, by Heaven----' + +'Name not Heaven,' replied the bishop; 'you have had my answer.' + +The captain turned away, and gave some directions to Hawkhurst, who +hastened below. + +'Remove that boy,' said Cain to the pirates, pointing to Francisco. +'Separate those two fools,' continued he, looking towards Filippo and +the girl, who were sobbing in each other's arms. + +'Never!' cried Filippo. + +'Throw the girl to the sharks! Do you hear? Am I to be obeyed?' cried +Cain, raising his cutlass. + +Filippo started up, disengaged himself from the girl, and drawing his +knife, rushed towards the captain to plunge it in his bosom. + +With the quickness of lightning the captain caught his uplifted hand, +and, breaking his wrist, hurled him to the deck. + +'Indeed!' cried he, with a sneer. + +'You shall not separate us,' said Filippo, attempting to rise. + +'I do not intend it, my good lad,' replied Cain. 'Lash them both +together and launch them overboard.' + +This order was now obeyed; for the pirates not only quailed before the +captain's cool courage, but were indignant that his life had been +attempted. There was little occasion to tie the unhappy pair together; +they were locked so fast in each other's arms that it would have been +impossible almost to separate them. In this state they were carried to +the entering port, and cast into the sea. + +'Monster!' cried the bishop, as he heard the splash, 'thou wilt have a +heavy reckoning for this.' + +'Now bring these forward,' said Cain, with a savage voice. + +The bishop and his niece were led to the gangway. + +'What dost thou see, good bishop?' said Cain, pointing to the +discoloured water, and the rapid motion of the fins of the sharks, eager +in the anticipation of a further supply. + +'I see ravenous creatures after their kind,' replied the bishop, 'who +will, in all probability, soon tear asunder these poor limbs; but I see +no monster like thyself. Teresa, dearest, fear not; there is a God, an +avenging God, as well as a rewarding one.' + +But Teresa's eyes were closed--she could not look upon the scene. + +'You have your choice; first torture, and then your body to those sharks +for your own portion; and as for the girl, this moment I hand her over +to my crew.' + +'Never!' shrieked Teresa, springing from the deck and plunging into the +wave. + +There was a splash of contention, the lashing of tails, until the water +was in a foam, and then the dark colour gradually cleared away, and +nought was to be seen but the pure blue wave and the still unsatiated +monsters of the deep. + +'The screws--the screws! quick! we'll have the secret from him,' cried +the pirate captain, turning to his crew, who, villains as they were, had +been shocked at this last catastrophe. 'Seize him!' + +'Touch him not!' cried Francisco, standing on the hammock nettings; +'touch him not! if you are men.' + +Boiling with rage, Cain let go the arm of the bishop, drew his pistol, +and levelled it at Francisco. The bishop threw up the arm of Cain as he +fired; saw that he had missed his aim, and clasping his hands, raised +his eyes to heaven in thankfulness at Francisco's escape. In this +position he was collared by Hawkhurst, whose anger overcame his +discretion, and who hurled him through the entering port into the sea. + +'Officious fool!' muttered Cain, when he perceived what the mate had +done. Then, recollecting himself, he cried, 'Seize that boy and bring +him here.' + +One or two of the crew advanced to obey his orders; but Pompey and the +Kroumen, who had been attentive to what was going on, had collected +round Francisco, and a scuffle ensued. The pirates, not being very +determined, nor very anxious to take Francisco, allowed him to be +hurried away in the centre of the Kroumen, who bore him safely to the +schooner. + +In the meantime Hawkhurst, and the major part of the men on board of the +ship, had been tearing up the hold to obtain the valuables, but without +success. The water had now reached above the orlop-deck, and all further +attempts were unavailing. The ship was settling fast, and it became +necessary to quit her, and haul off the schooner, that she might not be +endangered by the vortex of the sinking vessel. Cain and Hawkhurst, with +their disappointed crew, returned on board the schooner, and before they +had succeeded in detaching the two vessels a cable's length, the ship +went down with all the treasure so coveted. The indignation and rage +which were expressed by the captain as he rapidly walked the deck in +company with his first mate--his violent gesticulations--proved to the +crew that there was mischief brewing. Francisco did not return to the +cabin; he remained forward with the Kroumen, who, although but a small +portion of the ship's company, were known to be resolute and not to be +despised. It was also observed that all of them had supplied themselves +with arms, and were collected forward, huddled together, watching every +motion and manoeuvre, and talking rapidly in their own language. The +schooner was now steered to the north-westward under all press of sail. +The sun again disappeared, but Francisco returned not to the cabin--he +went below, surrounded by the Kroumen, who appeared to have devoted +themselves to his protection. Once during the night Hawkhurst summoned +them on deck, but they obeyed not the order; and to the expostulation of +the boatswain's mate, who came down, they made no reply. But there were +many of the pirates in the schooner who appeared to coincide with the +Kroumen in their regard for Francisco. There are shades of villainy in +the most profligate of societies; and among the pirate's crew some were +not yet wholly debased. The foul murder of a holy man--the cruel fate of +the beautiful Teresa--and the barbarous conduct of the captain towards +Filippo and his mistress, were deeds of an atrocity to which even the +most hardened were unaccustomed. Francisco's pleadings in behalf of +mercy were at least no crime; and yet they considered that Francisco was +doomed. He was a general favourite; the worst-disposed of the pirates, +with the exception of Hawkhurst, if they did not love, could not forbear +respecting him; although, at the same time, they felt that if Francisco +remained on board the power even of Cain himself would soon be +destroyed. For many months Hawkhurst, who detested the youth, had been +most earnest that he should be sent out of the schooner. Now he pressed +the captain for his removal in any way, as necessary for their mutual +safety, pointing out to Cain the conduct of the Kroumen, and his fears +that a large proportion of the ship's company were equally disaffected. +Cain felt the truth of Hawkhurst's representation, and he went down to +his cabin to consider upon what should be done. + +It was past midnight when Cain, worn out with the conflicting passions +of the day, fell into an uneasy slumber. His dreams were of Francisco's +mother--she appeared to him pleading for her son, and Cain 'babbled in +his sleep.' At this time Francisco, with Pompey, had softly crawled aft, +that they might obtain, if they found the captain asleep, the pistols of +Francisco, with some ammunition. Pompey slipped in first, and started +back when he heard the captain's voice. They remained at the cabin door +listening, 'No--no,' muttered Cain, 'he must die--unless--plead not, +woman!--I know I murdered thee--plead not, he dies!' + +In one of the sockets of the silver lamp there was a lighted wick, the +rays of which were sufficient to afford a dim view of the cabin. +Francisco, overhearing the words of Cain, stepped in, and walked up to +the side of the bed. 'Boy! plead not,' continued Cain, lying on his back +and breathing heavily--'plead not--woman!--to-morrow he dies.' A pause +ensued, as if the sleeping man was listening to a reply. 'Yes; as I +murdered thee, so will I murder him.' + +'Wretch!' said Francisco, in a low, solemn voice, 'didst thou kill my +mother?' + +'I did--I did!' responded Cain, still sleeping. + +'And why?' continued Francisco, who, at this acknowledgment on the part +of the sleeping captain, was careless of discovery. + +'In my mood she vexed me,' answered Cain. + +'Fiend; thou hast then confessed it!' cried Francisco in a loud voice, +which awoke the captain, who started up; but before his senses were well +recovered, or his eyes open so as to distinguish their forms, Pompey +struck out the light, and all was darkness: he then put his hand to +Francisco's mouth, and led him out of the cabin. + +'Who's there?--who's there?' cried Cain. + +The officer in charge of the deck hastened down. 'Did you call, sir?' + +'Call!' repeated the captain. 'I thought there was some one in the +cabin. I want a light--that's all,' continued he, recovering himself, as +he wiped the cold perspiration from his forehead. + +In the meantime Francisco, with Pompey, had gained his former place of +refuge with the Kroumen. The feelings of the young man changed from +agony to revenge; his object in returning to the cabin to recover his +weapons had been frustrated, but his determination now was to take the +life of the captain if he possibly could. The following morning the +Kroumen again refused to work or go on deck; and the state of affairs +was reported by Hawkhurst to his chief. The mate now assumed another +tone; for he had sounded not the majority but the most steady and +influential men on board, who, like himself, were veterans in crime. + +'It must be, sir; or you will no longer command this vessel. I am +desired to say so.' + +'Indeed!' replied Cain, with a sneer. 'Perhaps you have already chosen +my successor?' + +Hawkhurst perceived that he had lost ground, and he changed his manner. +'I speak but for yourself: if you do not command this vessel I shall not +remain in her; if you quit her, I quit also; and we must find another.' + +Cain was pacified, and the subject was not renewed. + +'Turn the hands up,' at last said the captain. The pirate crew assembled +aft. + +'My lads, I am sorry that our laws oblige me to make an example; but +mutiny and disaffection must be punished. I am equally bound as +yourselves by the laws which we have laid down for our guidance while we +sail together; and you may believe that in doing my duty in this +instance I am guided by a sense of justice, and wish to prove to you +that I am worthy to command. Francisco has been with me since he was a +child; he has lived with me, and it is painful to part with him; but I +am here to see that our laws are put in force. He has been guilty of +repeated mutiny and contempt, and--he must die.' + +'Death! death!' cried several of the pirates in advance; 'death and +justice!' + +'No more murder!' said several voices from behind. + +'Who's that that speaks?' + +'Too much murder yesterday--no more murder!' shouted several voices at +once. + +'Let the men come forward who speak,' cried Cain, with a withering look. +No one obeyed this order. 'Down, then, my men! and bring up Francisco.' + +The whole of the pirate crew hastened below, but with different +intentions; some were determined to seize Francisco, and hand him over +to death--others to protect him. A confused noise was heard--the shouts +of '_Down and seize him!_' opposed to those of '_No murder! No murder!_' + +Both parties had snatched up their arms; those who sided with Francisco +joined the Kroumen, whilst the others also hastened below to bring him +on deck. A slight scuffle ensued before they separated, and ascertained +by the separation the strength of the contending parties. Francisco, +perceiving that he was joined by a large body, desired his men to follow +him, went up the fore-ladder, and took possession of the forecastle. The +pirates on his side supplied him with arms, and Francisco stood forward +in advance. Hawkhurst, and those of the crew who sided with him, had +retreated to the quarter-deck, and rallied round the captain, who leaned +against the capstern. They were then able to estimate their comparative +strength. The number, on the whole, preponderated in favour of +Francisco; but on the captain's side were the older and more athletic of +the crew, and, we may add, the more determined. Still, the captain and +Hawkhurst perceived the danger of their situation, and it was thought +advisable to parley for the present, and wreak their vengeance +hereafter. For a few minutes there was a low consultation between both +parties; at last Cain advanced. + +'My lads,' said he, addressing those who had rallied round Francisco, 'I +little thought that a firebrand would have been cast in this vessel to +set us all at variance. It was my duty, as your captain, to propose that +our laws should be enforced. Tell me, now, what is it that you wish. I +am only here as your captain, and to take the sense of the whole crew. I +have no animosity against that lad; I have loved him--I have cherished +him; but like a viper, he has stung me in return. Instead of being in +arms against each other, ought we not to be united? I have, therefore, +one proposal to make to you, which is this: let the sentence go by vote, +or ballot, if you please; and whatever the sentence may be, I shall be +guided by it. Can I say more?' + +'My lads,' replied Francisco, when the captain had done speaking, 'I +think it better that you should accept this proposal rather than that +blood should be shed. My life is of little consequence; say, then, will +you agree to the vote, and submit to those laws, which, as the captain +says, have been laid down to regulate the discipline of the vessel?' + +The pirates on Francisco's side looked round among their party, and, +perceiving that they were the most numerous, consented to the proposal; +but Hawkhurst stepped forward and observed: 'Of course the Kroumen can +have no votes, as they do not belong to the vessel.' + +This objection was important, as they amounted to twenty-five, and, +after that number was deducted, in all probability Francisco's adherents +would have been in the minority. The pirates with Francisco objected, +and again assumed the attitude of defence. + +'One moment,' said Francisco, stepping in advance; 'before this point is +settled, I wish to take the sense of all of you as to another of your +laws. I ask you, Hawkhurst, and all who are now opposed to me, whether +you have not one law, which is _Blood for blood?_' + +'Yes--yes,' shouted all the pirates. + +'Then let your captain stand forward, and answer to my charge, if he +dares.' + +Cain curled his lip in derision, and walked within two yards of +Francisco. + +'Well, boy, I'm here; and what is your charge?' + +'First--I ask you, Captain Cain, who are so anxious that the laws should +be enforced, whether you acknowledge that "Blood for blood" is a just +law?' + +'Most just: and, when shed, the party who revenges is not amenable.' + +''Tis well: then, villain that thou art, answer--Didst thou not murder +my mother?' + +Cain, at this accusation, started. + +'Answer the truth, or lie like a recreant!' repeated Francisco. 'Did you +not murder my mother?' + +The captain's lips and the muscles of his face quivered, but he did not +reply. + +'_Blood for blood!_' cried Francisco, as he fired his pistol at Cain, +who staggered, and fell on the deck. + +Hawkhurst and several of the pirates hastened to the captain, and raised +him. + +'She must have told him last night,' said Cain, speaking with +difficulty, as the blood flowed from the wound. + +'He told me so himself,' said Francisco, turning round to those who +stood by him. + +Cain was taken down into the cabin. On examination, his wound was not +mortal, although the loss of blood had been rapid and very great. In a +few minutes Hawkhurst joined the party on the quarter-deck. He found +that the tide had turned more in Francisco's favour than he had +expected; the law of 'Blood for blood' was held most sacred: indeed, +it was but the knowledge that it was solemnly recognised, and that, if +one pirate wounded another, the other was at liberty to take his life, +without punishment, which prevented constant affrays between parties, +whose knives would otherwise have been the answer to every affront. It +was a more debased law of duelling, which kept such profligate +associates on good terms. Finding, therefore, that this feeling +predominated, even among those who were opposed to Francisco on the +other question, Hawkhurst thought it advisable to parley. + +[Illustration: 'Blood for blood!' _cried Francisco, as he fired his +pistol at Cain, who staggered, and fell on the deck._] + +'Hawkhurst,' said Francisco, 'I have but one request to make, which, if +complied with, will put an end to this contention; it is, that you will +put me on shore at the first land that we make. If you and your party +engage to do this, I will desire those who support me to return to their +obedience.' + +'I grant it,' replied Hawkhurst; 'and so will the others. Will you not, +my men?' + +'Agreed--agreed upon all sides,' cried the pirates, throwing away their +weapons, and mingling with each other as if they had never been opposed. + +There is an old saying that there is honour amongst thieves; and so it +often proves. Every man in the vessel knew that this agreement would be +strictly adhered to; and Francisco now walked the deck with as much +composure as if nothing had occurred. + +Hawkhurst, who was aware that he must fulfil his promise, carefully +examined the charts when he went down below, came up and altered the +course of the schooner two points more to the northward. The next +morning he was up at the mast-head nearly half an hour, when he +descended and again altered the course. By nine o'clock a low sandy +island appeared on the lee bow; when within half a mile of it he ordered +the schooner to be hove-to, and lowered down the small boat from the +stern. He then turned the hands up. 'My lads, we must keep our promise +to put Francisco on shore at the first land which we made. There it is!' +And a malicious smile played on the miscreant's features as he pointed +out to them the barren sand-bank, which promised nothing but starvation +and a lingering death. Several of the crew murmured; but Hawkhurst was +supported by his own party, and had, moreover, taken the precaution +quietly to remove all the arms, with the exception of those with which +his adherents were provided. + +'An agreement is an agreement; it is what he requested himself, and we +promised to perform. Send for Francisco.' + +'I am here, Hawkhurst; and I tell you candidly, that, desolate as is +that barren spot, I prefer it to remaining in your company. I will bring +my chest up immediately.' + +'No--no; that was not a part of the agreement,' cried Hawkhurst. + +'Every man here has a right to his own property. I appeal to the whole +of the crew.' + +'True--true,' replied the pirates; and Hawkhurst found himself again in +the minority. + +'Be it so.' + +The chest of Francisco was handed into the boat. + +'Is that all?' cried Hawkhurst. + +'My lads, am I to have no provisions or water?' inquired Francisco. + +'No,' replied Hawkhurst. + +'Yes--yes,' cried most of the pirates. + +Hawkhurst did not dare put it to the vote; he turned sulkily away. The +Kroumen brought up two breakers of water, and some pieces of pork. + +'Here, massa,' said Pompey, putting into Francisco's hand a fishing-line +with hooks. + +'Thank you, Pompey; but I had forgot--that book in the cabin--you know +which I mean.' + +Pompey nodded his head, and went below; but it was some time before he +returned, during which Hawkhurst became impatient. It was a very small +boat which had been lowered down; it had a lug-sail and two pair of +sculls in it, and was quite full when Francisco's chest and the other +articles had been put in. + +'Come! I have no time to wait,' said Hawkhurst; 'in the boat!' + +Francisco shook hands with many of the crew, and wished all of them +farewell. Indeed, now that they beheld the poor lad about to be cast on +a desolate island, even those most opposed to him felt some emotions of +pity. Although they acknowledged that his absence was necessary, yet +they knew his determined courage; and with them that quality was +always a strong appeal. + +[Illustration: _Before Francisco had gained the sand-bank she was +hull-down to the northward._] + +'Who will row this lad ashore, and bring the boat off?' + +'Not I,' replied one; 'it would haunt me ever afterwards.' + +So they all appeared to think, for no one volunteered. Francisco jumped +into the boat. + +'There is no room for any one but me; and I will row myself on shore,' +cried he. 'Farewell, my lads! farewell!' + +'Stop! not so; he must not have the boat--he may escape from the +island,' cried Hawkhurst. + +'And why shouldn't he, poor fellow?' replied the men. 'Let him have the +boat.' + +'Yes--yes, let him have the boat;' and Hawkhurst was again overruled. + +'Here, Massa Francisco--here de book.' + +'What's that, sir?' cried Hawkhurst, snatching the book out of Pompey's +hand. + +'Him, massa, Bible.' Francisco waited for the book. + +'Shove off!' cried Hawkhurst. + +'Give me my book, Mr. Hawkhurst!' + +'No!' replied the malignant rascal, tossing the Bible over the taffrail; +'he shall not have that. I've heard say that _there is consolation in it +for the afflicted_.' + +Francisco shoved off his boat, and seizing his sculls, pushed astern, +picked up the book, which still floated, and laid it to dry on the +after-thwart of the boat. He then pulled in for the shore. In the +meantime the schooner had let draw her foresheet, and had already left +him a quarter of a mile astern. Before Francisco had gained the +sand-bank she was hull-down to the northward. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SAND-BANK + + +The first half-hour that Francisco was on this desolate spot he watched +the receding schooner; his thoughts were unconnected and vague. +Wandering through the various scenes which had passed on the decks of +that vessel, and recalling to his memory the different characters of +those on board of her, much as he had longed to quit her--disgusted as +he had been with those with whom he had been forced to associate--still, +as her sails grew fainter and fainter to his view, as she increased her +distance, he more than once felt that even remaining on board of her +would have been preferable to his present deserted lot. 'No, no!' +exclaimed he, after a little further reflection, 'I had rather perish +here, than continue to witness the scenes which I have been forced to +behold.' + +He once more fixed his eyes upon her white sails, and then sat down on +the loose sands, and remained in deep and melancholy reverie until the +scorching heat reminded him of his situation; he afterwards rose and +turned his thoughts upon his present situation, and to what would be the +measures most advisable to take. He hauled his little boat still farther +on the beach, and attached the painter to one of the oars, which he +fixed deep in the sand; he then proceeded to survey the bank, and found +that but a small portion was uncovered at high water; for, trifling as +was the rise of the tide, the bank was so low that the water flowed +almost over it. The most elevated part was not more than fifteen feet +above high-water mark, and that was a small knoll of about fifty feet in +circumference. + +To this part he resolved to remove his effects; he returned to the +boat, and having lifted out his chest, the water, the provisions, with +the other articles which he had obtained, he dragged them up, one by +one, until they were all collected at the spot he had chosen. He then +took out of the boat the oars and little sail, which, fortunately, had +remained in her. His last object, to haul the little boat up to the same +spot, was one which demanded all his exertion; but, after considerable +fatigue, he contrived, by first lifting round her bow, and then her +stern, to effect his object. + +Tired and exhausted, he then repaired to one of the breakers of water +and refreshed himself. The heat, as the day advanced, had become +intolerable; but it stimulated him to fresh exertion. He turned over the +boat, and contrived that the bow and stern should rest upon two little +hillocks, so as to raise it above the level of the sand beneath it two +or three feet; he spread out the sail from the keel above, with the +thole-pins as pegs, so as to keep off the rays of the sun. Dragging the +breakers of water and the provisions underneath the boat, he left his +chest outside; and having thus formed for himself a sort of covering +which would protect him from the heat of the day and the damp of the +night, he crept in to shelter himself until the evening. + +Although Francisco had not been on deck, he knew pretty well whereabouts +he then was. Taking out a chart from his chest, he examined the coast to +ascertain the probable distance which he might be from any prospect of +succour. He calculated that he was on one of a patch of sand-banks off +the coast of Loango, and about seven hundred miles from the Isle of St. +Thomas--the nearest place where he might expect to fall in with a +European face. From the coast he felt certain that he could not be more +than forty or fifty miles at the most; but could he trust himself among +the savage natives who inhabited it? He knew how ill they had been +treated by Europeans; for, at that period, it was quite as common for +the slave-trader to land and take away the inhabitants as slaves by +force, as to purchase them in the more northern territories: still, he +might be fortunate enough to fall in with some trader on the coast, as +there were a few who still carried on a barter for gold-dust and ivory. + +We do not know--we cannot conceive a situation much more deplorable than +the one we have just described to have been that of Francisco. +Alone--without a chance of assistance--with only a sufficiency of food +for a few days, and cut off from the rest of his fellow-creatures, with +only so much _terra firma_ as would prevent his being swallowed up by +the vast, unfathomable ocean, into which the horizon fell on every side +around him! And his chance of escape how small! Hundreds of miles from +any from whom he might expect assistance, and the only means of reaching +them a small boat--a mere cockle-shell, which the first rough gale would +inevitably destroy. + +Such, indeed, were the first thoughts of Francisco; but he soon +recovered from his despondency. He was young, courageous, and buoyant +with hope; and there is a feeling of pride--of trust in our own +resources and exertions, which increases and stimulates us in proportion +to our danger and difficulty; it is the daring of the soul proving its +celestial origin and eternal duration. + +So intense was the heat that Francisco almost panted for sufficient air +to support life, as he lay under the shade of the boat during the whole +of that day; not a breath of wind disturbed the glassy wave--all nature +appeared hushed into one horrible calm. It was not until the shades of +night were covering the solitude that Francisco ventured forth from his +retreat; but he found little relief; there was an unnatural closeness in +the air--a suffocation unusual even in those climes. Francisco cast his +eyes up to the vault of heaven, and was astonished to find that there +were no stars visible--a gray mist covered the whole firmament. He +directed his view downwards to the horizon, and that, too, was not to be +defined; there was a dark bank all around it. He walked to the edge of +the sand-bank; there was not even a ripple--the wide ocean appeared to +be in a trance, in a state of lethargy or stupor. + +He parted the hair from his feverish brow, and once more surveying the +horrible, lifeless, stagnant waste, his soul sickened, and he cast +himself upon the sand. There he lay for many hours in a state bordering +upon wild despair. At last he recovered himself, and, rising to his +knees, he prayed for strength and submission to the will of Heaven. + +When he was once more upon his feet, and had again scanned the ocean, he +perceived that there was a change rapidly approaching. The dark bank on +the horizon had now risen higher up; the opaqueness was everywhere more +dense; and low murmurs were heard as if there was wind stirring aloft, +although the sea was still glassy as a lake. Signs of some movement +about to take place were evident, and the solitary youth watched and +watched. And now the sounds increased, and here and there a wild +thread of air--whence coming, who could tell? and as rapidly +disappearing--would ruffle, for a second, a portion of the stagnant sea. +Then came whizzing sounds and moans, and then the rumbling noise of +distant thunder--loud and louder yet--still louder--a broad black line +is seen sweeping along the expanse of water--fearful in its rapidity it +comes!--and the hurricane burst, at once and with all its force, and all +its terrific sounds, upon the isolated Francisco. + +The first blast was so powerful and so unexpected that it threw him +down, and prudence dictated to him to remain in that position, for the +loose sand was swept off and whirled in such force as to blind and +prevent his seeing a foot from him; he would have crawled to the boat +for security, but he knew not in which direction to proceed. But this +did not last; for now the water was borne up upon the strong wings of +the hurricane, and the sand was rendered firm by its saturation with the +element. + +Francisco felt that he was drenched, and he raised his head. All he +could discover was that the firmament was mantled with darkness, +horrible from its intensity, and that the sea was in one extended +foam--boiling everywhere, and white as milk--but still smooth, as if the +power of the wind had compelled it to be so; but the water had +encroached, and one half the sand-bank was covered with it, while over +the other the foam whirled, each portion chasing the other with wild +rapidity. + +And now the windows of heaven were opened, and the rain, mingled with +the spray caught up by the hurricane, was dashed and hurled upon the +forlorn youth, who still lay where he had been first thrown down. But of +a sudden, a wash of water told him that he could there remain no longer: +the sea was rising--rising fast; and before he could gain a few paces on +his hands and knees, another wave, as if it chased him in its wrath, +repeated the warning of his extreme danger, and he was obliged to rise +on his feet and hasten to the high part of the sand-bank, where he had +drawn up his boat and his provisions. + +Blinded as he was by the rain and spray, he could distinguish nothing. +Of a sudden he fell violently; he had stumbled over one of the breakers +of water, and his head struck against his sea-chest. Where, then, was +the boat? It was gone!--it must have been swept away by the fury of the +wind. Alas, then all chance was over! and if not washed away by the +angry waters, he had but to prolong his existence but a few days, and +then to die. The effect of the blow he had received on his forehead, +with the shock of mind occasioned by the disappearance of the boat, +overpowered him, and he remained for some time in a state of +insensibility. + +When Francisco recovered, the scene was again changed: the wide expanse +was now in a state of wild and fearful commotion, and the waters roared +as loud as did the hurricane. The whole sand-bank, with the exception of +that part on which he stood, was now covered with tumultuous foam, and +his place of refuge was occasionally invaded, when some vast mass, +o'erlording the other waves, expended all its fury even to his feet. +Francisco prepared to die! + +But gradually the darkness of the heavens disappeared, and there was no +longer a bank upon the horizon, and Francisco hoped--alas! hoped +what?--that he might be saved from the present impending death to be +reserved for one still more horrible; to be saved from the fury of the +waves, which would swallow him up, and in a few seconds remove him from +all pain and suffering, to perish for want of sustenance under a burning +sun; to be withered--to be parched to death--calling in his agony for +water; and as Francisco thought of this he covered his face with his +hands, and prayed, 'O God, Thy will be done! but in Thy mercy, raise, +still higher raise the waters!' + +But the waters did not rise higher. The howling of the wind gradually +decreased, and the foaming seas had obeyed the Divine injunction--they +had gone so far, but no farther! And the day dawned, and the sky +cleared; and the first red tints, announcing the return of light and +heat, had appeared on the broken horizon, when the eyes of the +despairing youth were directed to a black mass on the tumultuous +waters. It was a vessel, with but one mast standing, rolling heavily, +and running before the gale right on for the sand-bank where he stood; +her hull, one moment borne aloft and the next disappearing from his view +in the hollow of the agitated waters. 'She will be dashed to pieces!' +thought Francisco; 'she will be lost!--they cannot see the bank!' And he +would have made a signal to her, if he had been able, to warn her of her +danger, forgetting at the time his own desolate situation. + +As Francisco watched, the sun rose bright and joyous over this scene of +anxiety and pain. On came the vessel flying before the gale, while the +seas chased her as if they would fain overwhelm her. It was fearful to +see her scud--agonising to know that she was rushing to destruction. + +At last he could distinguish those on board. He waved his hand, but they +perceived him not; he shouted, but his voice was borne away by the gale. +On came the vessel, as if doomed. She was within two cables' length of +the bank when those on board perceived their danger. It was too +late!--they had rounded her to--another, and another wave hurled her +towards the sand. She struck!--her only remaining mast fell over the +side, and the roaring waves hastened to complete their work of +destruction and of death! + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE ESCAPE + + +Francisco's eyes were fixed upon the vessel, over which the sea now +broke with terrific violence. There appeared to be about eight or nine +men on her deck, who sheltered themselves under the weather bulwarks. +Each wave, as it broke against her side and then dashed in foam over +her, threw her, with a convulsive jerk, still further on the sand-bank. +At last she was so high up that their fury was partly spent before they +dashed against her frame. Had the vessel been strong and well-built--had +she been a collier coasting the English shores--there was a fair chance +that she might have withstood the fury of the storm until it had +subsided, and that by remaining on board the crew might have survived; +but she was of a very different mould, and, as Francisco justly +surmised, an American brig, built for swift sailing, very sharp, and, +moreover, very slightly put together. + +Francisco's eyes, as may easily be supposed, were never removed from the +only object which could now interest him--the unexpected appearance and +imminent danger of his fellow-creatures at this desolate spot. He +perceived that two of the men went to the hatches and slid them over to +leeward; they then descended, and although the seas broke over the +vessel, and a large quantity of water must have poured into her, the +hatches were not put on again by those who remained on deck. But in a +few minutes this mystery was solved; one after another, at first, and +then by dozens, poured forth, out of the hold, the kidnapped Africans +who composed her cargo. In a short time the decks were covered with +them: the poor creatures had been released by the humanity of two +English sailors, that they might have the same chance with themselves +of saving their lives. Still, no attempt was made to quit the vessel. +Huddled together, like a flock of sheep, with the wild waves breaking +over them, there they all remained, both European and African; and as +the heavy blows of the seas upon the sides of the vessel careened and +shook her, they were seen to cling, in every direction, with no +distinction between the captured and their oppressors. + +But this scene was soon changed; the frame of the vessel could no longer +withstand the violence of the waves, and as Francisco watched, of a +sudden it was seen to divide amidships, and each portion to turn over. +Then was the struggle for life; hundreds were floating on the raging +element and wrestling for existence, and the white foam of the ocean was +dotted by the black heads of the negroes who attempted to gain the bank. +It was an awful, terrible scene, to witness so many at one moment tossed +and dashed about by the waves--so many fellow-beings threatened with +eternity. At one moment they were close to the beach, forced on to it by +some tremendous wave; at the next, the receding water and the undertow +swept them all back; and of the many who had been swimming one half had +disappeared to rise no more. Francisco watched with agony as he +perceived that the number decreased, and that none had yet gained the +shore. At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail which +were near him, and hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as +might be possible; nor were his efforts in vain. As the seas washed the +apparently inanimate bodies on shore, and would then have again swept +them away to return them in mockery, he caught hold of them and dragged +them safe on the bank, and thus did he continue his exertions until +fifteen of the bodies of the negroes were spread upon the beach. +Although exhausted and senseless they were not dead, and long before he +had dragged up the last of the number, many of those previously saved +had, without any other assistance than the heat of the sun, recovered +from their insensibility. + +Francisco would have continued his task of humanity, but the parted +vessel had now been riven into fragments by the force of the waves, and +the whole beach was strewed with her timbers and her stores, which were +dashed on shore by the waters, and then swept back again by the return. +In a short time the severe blows he received from these fragments +disabled him from further exertion, and he sank exhausted on the sand; +indeed, all further attempts were useless. All on board the vessel had +been launched into the sea at the same moment, and those who were not +now on shore were past all succour. Francisco walked up to those who had +been saved: he found twelve of them were recovered and sitting on their +hams; the rest were still in a state of insensibility. He then went up +to the knoll where his chest and provisions had been placed, and, +throwing himself down by them, surveyed the scene. + +[Illustration: _At last he snatched up the haulyards of his boat's sail, +and hastened down to the spot to afford such succour as might be +possible._] + +The wind had lulled, the sun shone brightly, and the sea was much less +violent. The waves had subsided, and, no longer hurried on by the force +of the hurricane, broke majestically and solemnly, but not with the +wildness and force which, but a few hours before, they had displayed. +The whole of the beach was strewed with the fragments of the vessel, +with spars and water-casks; and at every moment was to be observed the +corpse of a negro turning round and round in the froth of the wave, and +then disappearing. + +For an hour did he watch and reflect, and then he walked again to where +the men who had been rescued were sitting, not more than thirty yards +from him; they were sickly, emaciated forms, but belonging to a tribe +who inhabited the coast, and who, having been accustomed from their +infancy to be all the day in the water, had supported themselves better +than the other slaves, who had been procured from the interior, or the +European crew of the vessel, all of whom had perished. + +The Africans appeared to recover fast by the heat of the sun, so +oppressive to Francisco, and were now exchanging a few words with each +other. The whole of them had revived, but those who were most in need of +aid were neglected by the others. Francisco made signs to them, but they +understood him not. He returned to the knoll, and pouring out water into +a tin pan from the breaker, brought it down to them. He offered it to +one, who seized it eagerly; water was a luxury seldom obtained in the +hold of a slave-vessel. The man drank deeply, and would have drained the +cup, but Francisco prevented him, and held it to the lips of another. He +was obliged to refill it three times before they had all been supplied: +he then brought them a handful of biscuit and left them, for he +reflected that, without some precautions, the whole sustenance would be +seized by them and devoured. He buried half a foot deep, and covered +over with sand, the breakers of water and the provisions, and by the +time he had finished this task, unperceived by the negroes, who still +squatted together, the sun had sunk below the horizon. Francisco had +already matured his plans, which were, to form a raft out of the +fragments of the vessel, and with the assistance of the negroes attempt +to gain the mainland. He lay down, for the second night, on this +eventful spot of desolation, and commending himself to the Almighty +protection, was soon in a deep slumber. + +It was not until the powerful rays of the sun blazed on the eyes of the +youth that he awoke, so tired had he been with the anxiety and fatigue +of the preceding day, and the sleepless harrowing night which had +introduced it. He rose and seated himself upon his sea-chest: how +different was the scene from that of yesterday! Again the ocean slept, +the sky was serene, and not a cloud to be distinguished throughout the +whole firmament; the horizontal line was clear, even, and well defined: +a soft breeze just rippled over the dark blue sea, which now had retired +to its former boundary, and left the sand-bank as extended as when first +Francisco had been put on shore. But here the beauty of the landscape +terminated: the foreground was horrible to look upon; the whole of the +beach was covered with the timbers of the wreck, with water-casks and +other articles, in some parts heaped and thrown up one upon another; and +among them lay jammed and mangled the bodies of the many who had +perished. In other parts there were corpses thrown up high and dry, or +still rolling and turning to the rippling wave; it was a scene of +desolation and of death. + +The negroes who had been saved were all huddled up together, apparently +in deep sleep, and Francisco quitted his elevated position and walked +down to the low beach, to survey the means which the disaster of others +afforded him for his own escape. To his great joy he found not only +plenty of casks, but many of them full of fresh water, provisions also +in sufficiency, and, indeed, everything that could be required to form a +raft, as well as the means of support for a considerable time for +himself and the negroes who had survived. He then walked up to them and +called to them, but they answered not, nor even moved. He pushed them, +but in vain; and his heart beat quick, for he was fearful that they were +dead from previous exhaustion. He applied his foot to one of them, and +it was not until he had used force, which in any other case he would +have dispensed with, that the negro awoke from his state of lethargy and +looked vacantly about him. Francisco had some little knowledge of the +language of the Kroumen, and he addressed the negro in that tongue. To +his great joy he was answered in a language which, if not the same, had +so great an affinity to it that communication became easy. With the +assistance of the negro, who used still less ceremony with his comrades, +the remainder of them were awakened, and a palaver ensued. + +Francisco soon made them understand that they were to make a raft and go +back to their own country; explaining to them that if they remained +there, the water and provisions would soon be exhausted, and they would +all perish. The poor creatures hardly knew whether to consider him a +supernatural being or not; they talked among themselves; they remarked +at his having brought them fresh water the day before; they knew that he +did not belong to the vessel in which they had been wrecked, and they +were puzzled. + +Whatever might be their speculations they had one good effect, which +was, that they looked upon the youth as a superior and a friend, and +most willingly obeyed him. He led them up to the knoll, and, desiring +them to scrape away the sand, supplied them again with fresh water and +biscuit. Perhaps the very supply, and the way in which it was given to +them, excited their astonishment as much as anything. Francisco ate with +them, and, selecting from his sea-chest the few tools in his possession, +desired them to follow him. The casks were collected and rolled up; the +empty ones arranged for the raft; the spars were hauled up and cleared +of the rigging, which was carefully separated for lashings; the one or +two sails which had been found rolled up on the spars were spread out to +dry; and the provisions and articles of clothing, which might be useful, +laid together on one side. The negroes worked willingly and showed much +intelligence; before the evening closed everything which might be +available was secured, and the waves now only tossed about lifeless +forms, and the small fragments of timber which could not be serviceable. + +It would occupy too much time were we to detail all the proceedings of +Francisco and the negroes for the space of four days, during which they +laboured hard. Necessity is truly the mother of invention, and many were +the ingenious resources of the party before they could succeed in +forming a raft large enough to carry them and their provisions, with a +mast and sail well secured. At length it was accomplished; and on the +fifth day Francisco and his men embarked, and, having pushed clear of +the bank with poles, they were at last able to hoist their sail to a +fine breeze, and steer for the coast before the wind at the rate of +about three miles an hour. But it was not until they had gained half a +mile from the bank that they were no longer annoyed by the dreadful +smell arising from the putrefaction of so many bodies, for to bury them +all would have been a work of too great time. The last two days of their +remaining on the island, the effluvia had become so powerful as to be a +source of the greatest horror and disgust even to the negroes. + +But before night, when the raft was about eight leagues from the +sand-bank, it fell calm, and continued so for the next day, when a +breeze sprang up from the south-east, to which they trimmed their sail +with their head to the northward. + +This wind, and the course steered, sent them off from the land, but +there was no help for it; and Francisco felt grateful that they had such +an ample supply of provisions and water as to enable them to yield to a +few days' contrary wind without danger of want. But the breeze continued +steady and fresh, and they were now crossing the Bight of Benin; the +weather was fine and the sea smooth; the flying-fish rose in shoals and +dropped down into the raft, which still forced its way through the water +to the northward. + +Thus did Francisco and his negro crew remain for a fortnight floating on +the wide ocean, without any object meeting their view. Day after day it +was the same dreary 'sky and water,' and by the reckoning of Francisco +they could not be far from the land, when, on the fifteenth day, they +perceived two sails to the northward. + +Francisco's heart bounded with joy and gratitude to Heaven; he had no +telescope to examine them, but he steered directly for them, and, about +dark, he made them out to be a ship and a schooner hove-to. + +As Francisco scanned them, surmising what they might be, the sun set +behind the two vessels, and after it had sunk below the horizon their +forms were, for a few minutes, delineated with remarkable precision and +clearness. There could be no mistake. Francisco felt convinced that the +schooner was the _Avenger_; and his first impulse was to run to the +sweep with which they were steered, and put the head of the raft again +to the northward. A moment's reflection determined him to act otherwise; +he lowered down his sail that he might escape observation, and watched +the motions of the vessels during the few minutes of light which +remained. That the ship bad been captured, and that her capture had been +attended with the usual scene of outrage and violence, he had no doubt. +He was now about four miles' from them, and just as they were vanishing +from his straining eyes he perceived that the schooner had made all sail +to the westward. Francisco, feeling that he was then secure from being +picked up by her, again hoisted his sail with the hope of reaching the +ship, which, if not scuttled, he intended to remove on board of, and +then make sail for the first port on the coast. But hardly had the raft +regained her way when the horizon was lighted up, and he perceived that +the pirates had set fire to the vessel. Then it was useless to proceed +towards her; and Francisco again thought of putting the head of the raft +to the northward, when the idea struck him, knowing the character and +cruelty of the pirates, that there might be some unfortunate people left +on board to perish in the flames. He therefore continued his course, +watching the burning vessel; the flames increased in violence, mounting +up to the masts and catching the sails one after another. The wind blew +fresh, and the vessel was kept before the wind--a circumstance that +assured Francisco that there were people on board. At first she appeared +to leave the raft, but as her sails, one after another, were consumed by +the element, so did she decrease her speed, and Francisco, in about an +hour, was close to her and under her counter. + +[Illustration: _The flames increased in violence, mounting up to the +masts and catching the sails one after another._] + +The ship was now one mass of fire from her bows to her mainmast; a +volume of flame poured from her main hold, rising higher than her lower +masts, and ending in a huge mass of smoke carried by the wind ahead of +her; the quarter-deck was still free from fire, but the heat on it was +so intense that those on board were all collected at the taffrail; and +there they remained, some violent, others in mute despair; for the +_Avenger's_ people, in their barbarity, had cut away and destroyed all +the boats to prevent their escape. From the light thrown round the +vessel those on board had perceived the approach of Francisco to their +rescue, and immediately that it was under the counter, and the sail +lowered, almost all of them had descended by ropes, or the stern ladder, +and gained a place in her. In a few minutes, without scarcely an +exchange of a word, they were all out of the brig, and Francisco pushed +off just as the flames burst from the cabin windows, darting out in a +horizontal line like the tongues of fiery serpents. The raft, now +encumbered with twelve more persons, was then steered to the northward; +and as soon as those who had been saved had been supplied with some +water, which they so much needed, Francisco obtained the intelligence +which he desired. The ship was from Carthagena, South America; had +sailed from thence to Lisbon with a Don Cumanos, who had large property +up the Magdalen river. He had wished to visit a part of his family at +Lisbon, and from thence had sailed to the Canary Isles, where he also +had property. In their way from Lisbon to South America they had been +beaten by stress of weather to the southward, and afterwards had been +chased by the _Avenger_; being a very fast sailer she had run down +several degrees before she had been captured. When the pirate took +possession, and found that she had little or no cargo of value to them, +for her hold was chiefly filled with furniture and other articles for +the use of Don Cumanos, angry at their disappointment, they had first +destroyed all their boats and then set fire to the vessel, taking care +not to leave her until all chance of the fire being put out was +hopeless. And thus had these miscreants left innocent and unfortunate +people to perish. + +Francisco heard the narrative of Don Cumanos, and then informed him in +what manner he had left the schooner, and his subsequent adventures. +Francisco was now very anxious to make the land, or obtain succour from +some vessel. The many who were now on board, and the time that he had +already been at sea, obliged him to reduce the allowance of water. +Fortune favoured him after all his trials; on the third day a vessel +hove in sight, and they were seen by her. She made sail for them, and +took them all on board. It was a schooner trafficking on the coast for +gold dust and ivory; but the magnificent offers of Don Cumanos induced +them to give up their voyage and run across the Atlantic to Carthagena. +To Francisco it was of little moment where he went, and in Don Cumanos +he had found a sincere friend. + +'You have been my preserver,' said the Spaniard, 'allow me to return the +obligation--come and live with me.' + +As Francisco was equally pleased with Don Cumanos, he accepted the +offer; they all arrived safely at Carthagena, and from thence proceeded +to his estate on the Magdalen river. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE LIEUTENANT + + +When we last mentioned Edward Templemore we stated that he was a +lieutenant of the admiral's ship on the West India station, commanding +the tender. Now the name of the tender was the _Enterprise_: and it was +singular that she was one of two schooners built at Baltimore, +remarkable for their beauty and good qualities; yet how different were +their employments! Both had originally been built for the slave-trade; +now one hoisted the English pennant, and cruised as the _Enterprise_; +the other threw out the black flag, and scoured the seas as the +_Avenger_. + +The _Enterprise_ was fitted much in the same way as we have already +described her sister vessel--that is, with one long brass gun amidships, +and smaller ones for her broadside. But in the numbers of their crew +there was a great disparity; the _Enterprise_ not being manned with more +than sixty-five English sailors belonging to the admiral's ship. She was +employed, as most admiral's tenders usually _were_, sometimes carrying a +tender made for a supply of provisions, or a tender of services, if +required, from the admiral; or, if not particularly wanted, with the +important charge of a tender _billet-doux_ to some fair friend. But this +is a tender subject to touch upon. In the meantime it must be understood +that she had the same commission to sink, burn, and destroy, as all +other of his Majesty's vessels, if anything came in her way; but as she +usually carried despatches, the real importance of which were, of +course, unknown, she was not to go out of her way upon such service. + +Edward Templemore did, however, occasionally go a little out of his way, +and had lately captured a very fine privateer, after a smart action, +for which he anticipated his promotion; but the admiral thought him too +young, and therefore gave the next vacancy to his own nephew, who, the +admiral quite forgot, was much younger. + +Edward laughed when he heard of it upon his arrival at Port Royal; and +the admiral, who expected that he would make his appearance pouting with +disappointment, when he came up to the Penn to report himself, was so +pleased with his good humour that he made a vow that Templemore should +have the next vacancy; but this he also quite forgot, because Edward +happened to be, at the time it occurred, on a long cruise--and 'out of +sight out of mind' is a proverb so well established, that it may be +urged as an excuse for a person who had so many other things to think of +as the admiral entrusted with the command of the West India station. + +Lieutenant Templemore had, in consequence, commanded the _Enterprise_ +for nearly two years, and without grumbling; for he was of a happy +disposition, and passed a very happy sort of life. Mr. Witherington was +very indulgent to him, and allowed him to draw liberally; he had plenty +of money for himself or for a friend who required it, and he had plenty +of amusement. Amongst other diversions, he had fallen most desperately +in love; for, in one of his trips to the Leeward Isles (so called from +their being to windward) he had succoured a Spanish vessel, which had on +board the new Governor of Porto Rico, with his family, and had taken +upon himself to land them on that island in safety; for which service +the English admiral received a handsome letter, concluding with the +moderate wish that his Excellency might live a thousand years, and +Edward Templemore an invitation to go and see them whenever he might +pass that way; which, like most general invitations, was as much a +compliment as the wish which wound up the letter to the admiral. It did, +however, so happen that the Spanish governor had a very beautiful and +only daughter, carefully guarded by a duenna, and a monk who was the +depositary of all the sins of the governor's establishment; and it was +with this daughter that Edward Templemore fell into the heresy of love. + +She was, indeed, very beautiful; and, like all her country-women, was +ardent in her affections. The few days that she was on board the +schooner with her father, during the time that the _Enterprise_ +convoyed the Spanish vessel into port, were quite sufficient to ignite +two such inflammable beings as Clara d'Alfarez and Edward Templemore. +The monk had been left on board of the leaky vessel; there was no +accommodation in the schooner for him or the duenna, and Don Felix de +Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez was too busy with his cigar to pay +attention to his daughter. + +When they were landed, Edward Templemore was asked to their residence, +which was not in the town, but at a lovely bay on the south side of the +island. The town mansion was appropriated to business and the ceremony +of the court: it was too hot for a permanent abode, and the governor +only went there for a few hours each day. + +Edward Templemore remained a short time at the island, and at his +departure received the afore-mentioned letter from the father to the +English admiral, and an assurance of unalterable fidelity from the +daughter to the English lieutenant. On his return he presented the +letter, and the admiral was satisfied with his conduct. + +When ordered out to cruise, which he always was when there was nothing +else to do, he submitted to the admiral whether, if he should happen to +near Porto Rico, he could not leave an answer to the Spanish governor's +letter; and the admiral, who knew the value of keeping up a good +understanding with foreign relations, took the hint, and gave him one to +deliver, if _convenient_. The second meeting was, as may be supposed, +more cordial than the first on the part of the young lady; not so, +however, on the part of the duenna and holy friar, who soon found out +that their charge was in danger from heretical opinions. + +Caution became necessary; and as secrecy adds a charm to an amour, Clara +received a long letter and a telescope from Edward. The letter informed +her that, whenever he could, he would make his appearance in his +schooner off the south of the island, and await a signal made by her at +a certain window, acknowledging her recognition of his vessel. On the +night of that signal he would land in his boat and meet her at an +appointed spot. This was all very delightful; and it so happened that +Edward had four or five times contrived, during the last year, to meet +Clara without discovery, and again and again to exchange his vows. It +was agreed between them that when he quitted the station, she would +quit her father and her home, and trust her future happiness to an +Englishman and a heretic. + +[Illustration: _Don Felix de Maxos de Cobas de Manilla d'Alfarez, too +busy with his cigar to pay attention to his daughter._] + +It may be a matter of surprise to some of our readers that the admiral +should not have discovered the frequent visits of the _Enterprise_ to +Porto Rico, as Edward was obliged to bring his log for examination every +time that he returned; but the admiral was satisfied with Edward's +conduct, and his anxiety to cruise when there was nothing else for him +to do. His logs were brought on shore to the admiral's secretary, +carefully rolled and sealed up. The admiral's secretary threw the +packages on one side, and thought no more of the matter, and Edward had +always a ready story to tell when he took his seat at the admiral's +dinner-table; besides, he is a very unfit person to command a vessel who +does not know how to write a log that will bear an investigation. A +certain latitude is always allowed in every degree of latitude as well +as longitude. + +The _Enterprise_ had been despatched to Antigua, and Edward thought this +an excellent opportunity to pay a visit to Clara d'Alfarez: he +therefore, upon his return, hove-to off the usual headland, and soon +perceived the white curtain thrown out of the window. + +'There it is, sir,' said one of the midshipmen who was near him--for he +had been there so often that the whole crew of the _Enterprise_ were +aware of his attachment--'she has shown her flag of truce.' + +'A truce to your nonsense, Mr. Warren,' replied Edward, laughing; 'how +came you to know anything about it?' + +'I only judge by cause and effect, sir; and I know that I shall have to +go on shore and wait for you to-night.' + +'That's not unlikely; but let draw the foresheet; we must now get behind +the headland.' + +The youngster was right: that evening, a little before dark, he attended +his commander on shore, the _Enterprise_ lying-to with a lantern at her +peak. + +'Once more, dearest Clara!' said Edward, as he threw off her long veil +and pressed her in his arms. + +'Yes, Edward, once more--but I am afraid only once more; for my maid, +Inez, has been dangerously ill, and has confessed to Friar Ricardo. I +fear much that, in her fright (for she thought that she was dying), she +has told all. She is better now.' + +'Why should you imagine so, Clara?' + +'Oh, you know not what a frightened fool that Inez is when she is ill! +Our religion is not like yours.' + +'No, dear, it is not; but I will teach you a better.' + +'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. Holy Virgin! if Friar Ricardo +should hear you! I think that Inez must have told him, for he fixes his +dark eyes upon me so earnestly. Yesterday he observed to me that I had +not confessed.' + +'Tell him to mind his own business.' + +'That is his business, and I was obliged to confess to him last night. I +told him a great many things, and then he asked if that was all. His +eyes went through me. I trembled as I uttered an untruth, for I said it +was.' + +'I confess my sins but to my Maker, Clara! and I confess my love but to +you. Follow my plan, dearest!' + +'I will half obey you, Edward. I will not tell my love.' + +'And sins you have none, Clara; so you will obey me in all.' + +'Hush, Edward, you must not say that. We all have sins; and oh! what a +grievous sin they say it is to love you, who are a heretic! Holy Virgin, +pardon me! but I could not help it.' + +'If that is your only sin, dearest, I can safely give you absolution.' + +'Nay, Edward, don't joke, but hear me. If Inez has confessed, they will +look for me here, and we must not meet again--at least not in this +place. You know the little bay behind the rock, it is not much farther +off, and there is a cave where I can wait: another time it must be +there.' + +'It shall be there, dearest; but is it not too near the beach? will you +not be afraid of the men in the boat, who might see you?' + +'But we can leave the beach. It is Ricardo alone that I am in dread of, +and the Donna Maria. Merciful Heaven! should my father know it all, we +should be lost--be separated for ever!' and Clara laid her forehead on +Edward's shoulder, as her tears fell fast. + +'There is nought to fear, Clara. Hush! I heard a rustling in those +orange-trees. Listen!' + +'Yes! yes!' whispered Clara hastily; 'there is some one. Away! dear +Edward, away!' + +Clara sprang from his side, and hastened up the grove. Edward made his +retreat, and, flying down the rocky and narrow path through the +underwood, was soon on the beach and into his boat. The _Enterprise_ +arrived at headquarters, and Edward reported himself to the admiral. + +'I have work for you, Mr. Templemore,' said the admiral; 'you must be +ready to proceed on service immediately. We've found your match.' + +'I hope I may find her, sir,' replied the lieutenant. + +'I hope so, too; for, if you give a good account of her, it will put +another swab on your shoulder. The pirate schooner, which has so long +infested the Atlantic, has been seen and chased off Barbadoes by the +_Amelia_; but it appears that there is not a vessel in the squadron +which can come near her, unless it be the _Enterprise_. She has since +captured two West Indiamen, and was seen steering with them towards the +coast of Guiana. Now, I am going to give you thirty additional hands, +and send you after her.' + +'Thank you, sir,' replied Edward, his countenance beaming with delight. + +'How soon will you be ready?' inquired the admiral. + +'To-morrow morning, sir.' + +'Very good. Tell Mr. Hadley to bring me the order for the men and your +sailing orders, and I will sign them; but recollect, Mr. Templemore, you +will have an awkward customer. Be prudent--brave I know you to be.' + +Edward Templemore promised everything, as most people do in such cases; +and before the next evening the _Enterprise_ was well in the offing, +under a heavy press of sail. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE LANDING + + +The property of Don Cumanos, to which he had retired with his family, +accompanied by Francisco, extended from the mouth of, to many miles up, +the Magdalen river. It was a fine alluvial soil, forming one vast strip +of rich meadow, covered with numerous herds of cattle. The house was not +a hundred yards from the banks of this magnificent stream, and a small +but deep creek ran up to the adjacent buildings; for Don Cumanos had +property even more valuable, being proprietor of a gold mine near the +town of Jambrano, about eight miles farther up, and which mine had +latterly become exceedingly productive. The ore was brought down the +river in boats, and smelted in the outhouses near the creek to which we +have just referred. + +It will be necessary to observe that the establishment of the noble +Spaniard was numerous, consisting of nearly one hundred persons, +employed in the smelting-house or attached to the household. + +For some time Francisco remained here happy and contented; he had become +the confidential supervisor of Don Cumanos' household, proved himself +worthy of a trust so important, and was considered as one of the family. + +One morning, as Francisco was proceeding down to the smelting-house to +open the hatches of the small decked boats which had arrived from +Jambrano with ore, and which were invariably secured with a padlock by +the superintendent above, to which Don Cumanos had a corresponding key, +one of the chief men informed him that a vessel had anchored off the +mouth of the river the day before, and weighed again early that morning, +and that she was now standing off and on. + +'From Carthagena, probably, beating up,' replied Francisco. + +'Valga me Dios, if I know that, sir,' said Diego. 'I should have thought +nothing about it; but Giacomo and Pedro, who went out to fish last +night, as usual, instead of coming back before midnight, have not been +heard of since.' + +'Indeed! that is strange. Did they ever stay so long before?' + +'Never, sir; and they have fished together now for seven years.' + +Francisco gave the key to the man, who opened the locks of the hatches, +and returned it. + +'There she is!' cried the man; the head-sails making their appearance as +the vessel opened to their view from the projecting point distant about +four miles. Francisco directed his eye towards her, and, without further +remark, hastened to the house. + +'Well, Francisco,' said Don Cumanos, who was stirring a small cup of +chocolate, 'what's the news this morning?' + +'The _Nostra Senora del Carmen_ and the _Aguilla_ have arrived, and I +have just unlocked the hatches. There is a vessel off the point which +requires examination, and I have come for the telescope.' + +'Requires examination! Why, Francisco?' + +'Because Giacomo and Pedro, who went fishing last night, have not +returned, and there are no tidings of them.' + +'That is strange! But how is this connected with the vessel?' + +'That I will explain as soon as I have had an examination of her,' +replied Francisco, who had taken up the telescope, and was drawing out +the tube. Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the window, and +examined the vessel some time in silence. + +'Yes! by the living God, it is the _Avenger_, and no other!' exclaimed +he, as he removed the telescope from his eye. + +'Eh?' cried Don Cumanos. + +'It is the pirate vessel--the _Avenger_--I'll forfeit my life upon it! +Don Cumanos, you must be prepared. I know that they have long talked of +a visit to this quarter, and anticipate great booty, and they have those +on board who know the coast well. The disappearance of your two men +convinces me that they sent up their boats last night to reconnoitre, +and have captured them. Torture will extract the information which the +pirates require, and I have little doubt but that the attack will be +made when they learn how much bullion there is at present on your +premises.' + +[Illustration: _Francisco fixed the glass against the sill of the +window, and examined the vessel some time in silence._] + +'You may be right,' replied Don Cumanos thoughtfully; 'that is, provided +you are sure that it is the pirate vessel.' + +'Sure, Don Cumanos! I know every timber and plank in her; there is not a +rope nor a block but I can recognise. At the distance of four miles, +with such a glass as this, I can discover every little variety in her +rigging from other craft. I will swear to her,' repeated Francisco, once +more looking through the telescope. + +'And if they attack, Francisco?' + +'We must defend ourselves, and, I trust, beat them off. They will come +in their boats, and at night. If they were to run in the schooner by +daylight and anchor abreast of us, we should have but a poor chance. But +they little think that I am here, and that they are recognised. They +will attack this night, I rather think.' + +'And what do you then propose, Francisco?' + +'That we should send all the females away to Don Teodoro's--it is but +five miles--and call the men together as soon as possible. We are strong +enough to beat them off if we barricade the house. They cannot land more +than from ninety to one hundred men, as some must remain in charge of +the schooner; and we can muster quite as many. It may be as well to +promise our men a reward if they do their duty.' + +'That is all right enough; and the bullion we have here?' + +'Here we had better let it remain; it will take too much time to remove +it, and, besides, will weaken our force by the men who must be in charge +of it. The outhouses must be abandoned, and everything which is of +consequence taken from them. Fire them they will, in all probability. At +all events we have plenty of time before us, if we begin at once.' + +'Well, Francisco, I shall make you commandant, and leave the +arrangements to you, while I go and speak to Donna Isidora. Send for the +men and speak to them; promise them rewards, and act as if you were +ordering upon your own responsibility.' + +'I trust I shall prove myself worthy of your confidence, sir,' replied +Francisco. + +'Carambo!' exclaimed the old Don, as he left the room; 'but it is +fortunate you are here. We might all have been murdered in our beds.' + +Francisco sent for the head men of the establishment, and told them what +he was convinced they would have to expect; and he then explained to +them his views. The rest were all summoned; and Francisco pointed out to +them the little mercy they would receive if the pirates were not +repulsed, and the rewards which were promised by Don Cumanos if they did +their duty. + +Spaniards are individually brave; and, encouraged by Francisco, they +agreed that they would defend the property to the last. + +The house of Don Cumanos was well suited to resist an attack of this +description, in which musketry only was expected to be employed. It was +a long parallelogram of stone walls, with a wooden veranda on the first +floor,--for it was only one story high. The windows on the first story +were more numerous, but at the basement there were but two, and no other +opening but the door in the whole line of building. It was of a +composite architecture, between the Morisco and the Spanish. If the +lower part of the house, which was of stone, could be secured from +entrance, the assailants would, of course, fight under a great +disadvantage. The windows below were first secured by piling a heavy +mass of stones in the interior of the rooms against them, rising to the +ceiling from a base like the segment of a pyramid, extending to the +opposite side of the chamber; and every preparation was made for +effectually barricading the door before night. Ladders were then fixed +to ascend to the veranda, which was rendered musket-proof nearly as high +as its railings, to protect the men. The Donna Isidora, and the women of +the establishment, were in the afternoon despatched to Don Teodoro's; +and, at the request of Francisco, joined to the entreaties of Donna +Isidora, Don Cumanos was persuaded to accompany them. The Don called his +men, and telling them that he left Francisco in command, expected them +to do their duty; and then shaking hands with him, the cavalcade was +soon lost in the woods behind the narrow meadows which skirted the +river. + +There was no want of muskets and ammunition. Some were employed casting +bullets, and others in examining the arms which had long been laid by. +Before evening all was ready; every man had received his arms and +ammunition; the flints had been inspected; and Francisco had time to pay +more attention to the schooner, which had during the day increased her +distance from the land, but was not again standing in for the shore. +Half an hour before dusk, when within three miles, she wore round and +put her head to the offing. + +'They'll attack this night,' said Francisco, 'I feel almost positive: +their yards and stay-tackles are up, all ready for hoisting out the +long-boat.' + +'Let them come, senor; we will give them a warm reception,' replied +Diego, the second in authority. + +It was soon too dark to perceive the vessel. Francisco and Diego ordered +every man, but five, into the house; the door was firmly barricaded, and +some large pieces of rock, which had been rolled into the passage, piled +against it. Francisco then posted the five men down the banks of the +river, at a hundred yards' distance from each other, to give notice of +the approach of the boats. It was about ten o'clock at night when +Francisco and Diego descended the ladder and went to examine their +outposts. + +'Senor,' said Diego, as he and Francisco stood on the bank of the river, +'at what hour is it your idea that these villains will make their +attempt?' + +'That is difficult to say. If the same captain commands them who did +when I was on board of her, it will not be until after the moon is down, +which will not be till midnight; but should it be any other who is in +authority, they may not be so prudent.' + +'Holy Virgin! senor, were you ever on board of that vessel?' + +'Yes, Diego, I was, and for a long while too; but not with my own good +will. Had I not been on board I never should have recognised her.' + +'Very true, senor; then we may thank the saints that you have once been +a pirate.' + +'I hope that I never was that, Diego,' replied Francisco, smiling; 'but +I have been a witness to dreadful proceedings on board of that vessel, +at the remembrance of which, even now, my blood curdles.' + +To pass away the time, Francisco then detailed many scenes of horror to +Diego which he had witnessed when on board of the _Avenger_; and he was +still in the middle of a narrative when a musket was discharged by the +farthermost sentinel. + +'Hark, Diego!' + +Another, and another, nearer and nearer to them, gave the signal that +the boats were close at hand. In a few minutes the men all came in, +announcing that the pirates were pulling up the stream in three boats, +and were less than a quarter of a mile from the landing-place. + +'Diego, go to the house with these men, and see that all is ready,' said +Francisco. 'I will wait here a little longer; but do not fire till I +come to you.' + +Diego and the men departed, and Francisco was left on the beach alone. + +In another minute the sound of the oars was plainly distinguishable, and +Francisco's ears were directed to catch, if possible, the voices. 'Yes,' +thought he, 'you come with the intentions of murder and robbery, but you +will, through me, be disappointed.' As the boats approached, he heard +the voice of Hawkhurst. The signal muskets fired had told the pirates +that they were discovered, and that in all probability they would meet +with resistance; silence was, therefore, no longer of any advantage. + +'Oars, my lads!--oars!' cried Hawkhurst. + +One boat ceased rowing, and soon afterwards the two others. The whole of +them were now plainly seen by Francisco, at the distance of about one +cable's length from where he stood; and the clear still night carried +the sound of their voices along the water. + +'Here is a creek, sir,' said Hawkhurst, 'leading up to those buildings. +Would it not be better to land there, as, if they are not occupied, they +will prove a protection to us if we have a hard fight for it?' + +'Very true, Hawkhurst,' replied a voice, which Francisco immediately +recognised to be that of Cain. + +'He is alive, then,' thought Francisco, 'and his blood is not yet upon +my hands.' + +'Give way, my lads!' cried Hawkhurst. + +The boats dashed up the creek, and Francisco hastened back to the +house. + +'Now, my lads,' said he, as he sprang up the ladder, 'you must be +resolute; we have to deal with desperate men. I have heard the voices of +the captain and the chief mate; so there is no doubt as to its being the +pirate. The boats are up the creek and will land behind the +out-buildings. Haul up these ladders, and lay them fore and aft on the +veranda; and do not fire without taking a good aim. Silence! my +men--silence! Here they come.' + +The pirates were now seen advancing from the out-buildings in strong +force. In the direction in which they came, it was only from the side of +the veranda, at which not more than eight or ten men could be placed, +that the enemy could be repulsed. Francisco therefore gave orders that +as soon as some of the men had fired they should retreat and load their +muskets, to make room for others. + +When the pirates had advanced half-way to the house, on the clear space +between it and the out-buildings, Francisco gave the word to fire. The +volley was answered by another, and a shout from the pirates, who, with +Hawkhurst and Cain at their head, now pressed on, but not until they had +received a second discharge from the Spaniards, and the pirates had +fired in return. As the Spaniards could not at first fire a volley of +more than a dozen muskets at a time, their opponents imagined their +force to be much less than it really was. They now made other +arrangements. They spread themselves in a semicircle in front of the +veranda, and kept up a continued galling fire. This was returned by the +party under Francisco for nearly a quarter of an hour; and as all the +muskets were now called into action, the pirates found out that they had +a more formidable enemy to cope with than they had anticipated. + +It was now quite dark, and not a figure was to be distinguished, except +by the momentary flashing of the firearms. Cain and Hawkhurst, leaving +their men to continue the attack, had gained the house, and a position +under the veranda. Examining the windows and the door, there appeared +but little chance of forcing an entrance; but it immediately occurred to +them that under the veranda their men would not be exposed, and that +they might fire through the wooden floor of it upon those above. +Hawkhurst hastened away, and returned with about half the men, leaving +the others to continue their attack as before. The advantage of this +manoeuvre was soon evident. The musket-balls of the pirates pierced +the planks, and wounded many of the Spaniards severely; and Francisco +was at last obliged to order his men to retreat into the house, and fire +out of the windows. + +But even this warfare did not continue; for the supporting pillars of +the veranda being of wood, and very dry, they were set fire to by the +pirates. Gradually the flames wound round them, and their forked tongues +licked the balustrade. At last the whole of the veranda was in flames. +This was a great advantage to the attacking party, who could now +distinguish the Spaniards without their being so clearly seen +themselves. Many were killed and wounded. The smoke and heat became so +intense in the upper story that the men could no longer remain there; +and, by the advice of Francisco, they retreated to the basement of the +house. + +'What shall we do now, senor?' said Diego, with a grave face. + +'Do?' replied Francisco; 'they have burnt the veranda, that is all. The +house will not take fire; it is of solid stone: the roof indeed may; but +still here we are. I do not see that they are more advanced than they +were before. As soon as the veranda has burnt down, we must return +above, and commence firing again from the windows.' + +'Hark, sir! they are trying the door.' + +'They may try a long while; they should have tried the door while the +veranda protected them from our sight. As soon as it is burnt, we shall +be able to drive them away from it. I will go up again and see how +things are.' + +'No, senor; it is of no use. Why expose yourself now that the flames are +so bright?' + +'I must go and see if that is the case, Diego. Put all the wounded men +in the north chamber, it will be the safest, and more out of the way.' + +Francisco ascended the stone staircase, and gained the upper story. The +rooms were filled with smoke, and he could distinguish nothing. An +occasional bullet whistled past him. He walked towards the windows, and +sheltered himself behind the wall between them. + +The flames were not so violent, and the heat more bearable. In a short +time a crash, and then another, told him that the veranda had fallen in. +He looked through the window. The mass of lighted embers had fallen +down in front of the house, and had, for a time, driven away the +assailants. Nothing was left of the veranda but the burning ends of the +joists fixed in the wall above the windows, and the still glowing +remains of the posts which once supported it. + +But the smoke from below now cleared away, and the discharge of one or +two muskets told Francisco that he was perceived by the enemy. + +'The roof is safe,' thought he, as he withdrew from the window; 'and now +I do not know whether the loss of the veranda may not prove a gain to +us.' + +What were the intentions of the pirates it was difficult to ascertain. +For a time they had left off firing, and Francisco returned to his +comrades. The smoke had gradually cleared away, and they were able to +resume their positions above; but as the pirates did not fire, they, of +course, could do nothing, as it was only by the flashing of the muskets +that the enemy was to be distinguished. No further attempts were made at +the door or windows below; and Francisco in vain puzzled himself as to +the intended plans of the assailants. + +Nearly half an hour of suspense passed away. Some of the Spaniards were +of opinion that they had retreated to their boats and gone away, but +Francisco knew them better. All he could do was to remain above, and +occasionally look out to discover their motions. Diego, and one or two +more, remained with him; the other men were kept below, that they might +be out of danger. + +'Holy Francis! but this has been a dreadful night, senor! How many hours +until daylight?' said Diego. + +'Two hours at least, I should think,' replied Francisco; 'but the affair +will be decided before that.' + +'The saints protect us! See, senor, are they not coming?' + +Francisco looked through the gloom, in the direction of the +out-buildings, and perceived a group of men advancing. A few moments and +he could clearly make them out. + +'Yes, truly, Diego; and they have made ladders, which they are carrying. +They intend to storm the windows. Call them up; and now we must fight +hard indeed.' + +The Spaniards hastened up and filled the room above, which had three +windows in the front, looking towards the river, and which had been +sheltered by the veranda. + +'Shall we fire now, senor?' + +'No--no; do not fire till your muzzles are at their hearts. They cannot +mount more than two at a time at each window. Recollect, my lads, that +you must now fight hard, for your lives will not be spared; they will +show no quarter and no mercy.' + +The ends of the rude ladders now made their appearance above the sill of +each window. They had been hastily, yet firmly, constructed; and were +nearly as wide as the windows. A loud cheer was followed by a +simultaneous mounting of the ladders. + +Francisco was at the centre window, when Hawkhurst made his appearance, +sabre in hand. He struck aside a musket aimed at him, and the ball +whizzed harmless over the broad water of the river. Another step, and he +would have been in, when Francisco fired his pistol; the ball entered +the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he dropped his hold. Before he could +regain it, a Spaniard charged at him with a musket, and threw him back. +He fell, bearing down with him one or two of his comrades, who had been +following him up the ladder. + +Francisco felt as if the attack at that window was of little consequence +after the fall of Hawkhurst, whose voice he had recognised; and he +hastened to the one on the left, as he had heard Cain encouraging his +men in that direction. He was not wrong in his conjecture; Cain was at +the window, attempting to force an entrance, but was opposed by Diego +and other resolute men. But the belt of the pirate captain was full of +pistols, and he had already fired three with effect. Diego and the two +best men were wounded, and the others who opposed him were alarmed at +his giant proportions. Francisco rushed to attack him; but what was the +force of so young a man against the herculean power of Cain? Still +Francisco's left hand was at the throat of the pirate, and the pistol +was pointed in his right, when a flash of another pistol, fired by one +who followed Cain, threw its momentary vivid light upon the features of +Francisco, as he cried out, 'Blood for blood!' It was enough; the pirate +captain uttered a yell of terror at the supposed supernatural +appearance; and he fell from the ladder in a fit amongst the still +burning embers of the veranda. + +[Illustration: _The ball entered the left shoulder of Hawkhurst, and he +dropped his hold._] + +The fall of their two chiefs, and the determined resistance of the +Spaniards, checked the impetuosity of the assailants. They hesitated; +and they at last retreated, bearing away with them their wounded. The +Spaniards cheered, and, led by Francisco, followed them down the +ladders, and in their turn became the assailants. Still the pirates' +retreat was orderly: they fired, and retired rank behind rank +successively. They kept the Spaniards at bay, until they had arrived at +the boats, when a charge was made, and a severe conflict ensued. But the +pirates had lost too many men, and, without their commander, felt +dispirited. Hawkhurst was still on his legs, and giving his orders as +coolly as ever. He espied Francisco, and rushing at him, while the two +parties were opposed muzzle to muzzle, seized him by his collar and +dragged him in amongst the pirates. 'Secure him, at all events!' cried +Hawkhurst, as they slowly retreated and gained the outhouses. Francisco +was overpowered and hauled into one of the boats, all of which in a few +minutes afterwards were pulling with all their might to escape from the +muskets of the Spaniards, who followed the pirates by the banks of the +river, annoying them in their retreat. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE MEETING + + +The pirates returned to their vessel discomfited. Those on board, who +were prepared to hoist in ingots of precious metal, had to receive +nought but wounded men, and many of their comrades had remained dead on +the shore. Their captain was melancholy and downcast. Hawkhurst was +badly wounded, and obliged to be carried below as soon as he came on +board. The only capture which they had made was their former associate +Francisco, who, by the last words spoken by Hawkhurst as he was +supported to his cabin, was ordered to be put in irons. The boats were +hoisted in without noise, and a general gloom prevailed. All sail was +then made upon the schooner, and when day dawned she was seen by the +Spaniards far away to the northward. + +The report was soon spread through the schooner that Francisco had been +the cause of their defeat; and although this was only a surmise, still, +as they considered that had he not recognised the vessel the Spaniards +would not have been prepared, they had good grounds for what had swelled +into an assertion. He became, therefore, to many of them, an object of +bitter enmity, and they looked forward with pleasure to his destruction, +which his present confinement they considered but the precursor of. + +'Hist! Massa Francisco,' said a low voice near to where Francisco sat on +the chest. Francisco turned round and beheld the Krouman, his old +friend. + +'Ah! Pompey, are you all still on board?' said Francisco. + +'All! no,' replied the man, shaking his head; 'some die--some get +away--only four Kroumen left. Massa Francisco, how you come back again? +Everybody tink you dead. I say no, not dead--ab charm with him--ab +book.' + +'If that was my charm, I have it still,' replied Francisco, taking the +Bible out of his vest; for, strange to say, Francisco himself had a kind +of superstition relative to that Bible, and had put it into his bosom +previous to the attack made by the pirates. + +'Dat very good, Massa Francisco; den you quite safe. Here come +Johnson--he very bad man. I go away.' + +In the meantime Cain had retired to his cabin with feelings scarcely to +be analysed. He was in a bewilderment. Notwithstanding the wound he had +received by the hand of Francisco, he would never have sanctioned +Hawkhurst putting him on shore on a spot which promised nothing but a +lingering and miserable death. Irritated as he had been by the young +man's open defiance, he loved him--loved him much more than he was aware +of himself; and when he had recovered sufficiently from his wound, and +had been informed where Francisco had been sent on shore, he quarrelled +with Hawkhurst, and reproached him bitterly and sternly, in language +which Hawkhurst never forgot or forgave. The vision of the starving lad +haunted Cain, and rendered him miserable. His affection for him, now +that he was, as he supposed, lost for ever, increased with tenfold +force; and since that period Cain had never been seen to smile. He +became more gloomy, more ferocious than ever, and the men trembled when +he appeared on deck. + +The apparition of Francisco after so long an interval, and in such an +unexpected quarter of the globe, acted as we have before described upon +Cain. When he was taken to the boat he was still confused in his ideas, +and it was not until they were nearly on board that he perceived that +this young man was indeed at his side. He could have fallen on his neck +and kissed him; for Francisco had become to him a capture more prized +than all the wealth of the Indies. But one pure, good feeling was +unextinguished in the bosom of Cain; stained with every crime--with his +hands so deeply imbrued in blood--at enmity with all the rest of the +world, that one feeling burnt bright and clear, and was not to be +quenched. It might have proved a beacon-light to steer him back to +repentance and to good works. + +But there were other feelings which also crowded upon the mind of the +pirate captain. He knew Francisco's firmness and decision. By some +inscrutable means, which Cain considered as supernatural, Francisco had +obtained the knowledge, and had accused him, of his mother's death. +Would not the affection which he felt for the young man be met with +hatred and defiance? He was but too sure that it would. And then his +gloomy, cruel disposition would resume its influence, and he thought of +revenging the attack upon his life. His astonishment at the reappearance +of Francisco was equally great, and he trembled at the sight of him, as +if he were his accusing and condemning spirit. Thus did he wander from +one fearful fancy to another, until he at last summoned up resolution to +send for him. + +A morose, dark man, whom Francisco had not seen when he was before in +the schooner, obeyed the commands of the captain. The irons were +unlocked, and Francisco was brought down into the cabin. The captain +rose and shut the door. + +'I little thought to see you here, Francisco,' said Cain. + +'Probably not,' replied Francisco boldly, 'but you have me again in your +power, and may now wreak your vengeance.' + +'I feel none, Francisco; nor would I have suffered you to have been put +on shore as you were, had I known of it. Even now that our expedition +has failed through your means, I feel no anger towards you, although I +shall have some difficulty in preserving you from the enmity of others. +Indeed, Francisco, I am glad to find that you are alive, and I have +bitterly mourned your loss;' and Cain extended his hand. + +But Francisco folded his arms, and was silent. + +'Are you then so unforgiving?' said the captain. 'You know that I tell +the truth.' + +'I believe that you state the truth, Captain Cain, for you are too bold +to lie; and, as far as I am concerned, you have all the forgiveness you +may wish: but I cannot take that hand; nor are our accounts yet +settled.' + +'What would you more? Cannot we be friends again? I do not ask you to +remain on board. You are free to go where you please. Come, Francisco, +take my hand, and let us forget what is past.' + +'The hand that is imbrued with my mother's blood, perhaps!' exclaimed +Francisco. 'Never!' + +'Not so, by G--d!' exclaimed Cain. 'No, no; not quite so bad as that. In +my mood I struck your mother; I grant it. I did not intend to injure +her, but I did, and she died. I will not lie--that is the fact. And it +is also the fact that I wept over her, Francisco; for I loved her as I +do you.' ('It was a hasty, bitter blow, that,' continued Cain, +soliloquising, with his hand to his forehead, and unconscious of +Francisco's presence at the moment. 'It made me what I am, for it made +me reckless.') 'Francisco,' said Cain, raising his head, 'I was bad, but +I was no pirate when your mother lived. There is a curse upon me; that +which I love most I treat the worst. Of all the world, I loved your +mother most; yet did she from me receive much injury, and at last I +caused her death. Next to your mother, whose memory I at once revere and +love, and tremble when I think of (and each night does she appear to +me), I have loved you, Francisco, for you, like her, have an angel's +feelings; yet have I treated you as ill. You thwarted me, and you were +right. Had you been wrong, I had not cared; but you were right, and it +maddened me. Your appeals by day--your mother's in my dreams----' + +Francisco's heart was softened; if not repentance, there was at least +contrition. 'Indeed I pity you,' replied Francisco. + +'You must do more, Francisco; you must be friends with me,' said Cain, +again extending his hand. + +'I cannot take that hand, it is too deeply dyed in blood,' replied +Francisco. + +'Well, well, so would have said your mother. But hear me, Francisco,' +said Cain, lowering his voice to a whisper, lest he should be overheard; +'I am tired of this life--perhaps sorry for what I have done--I wish to +leave it--have wealth in plenty concealed where others know not. Tell +me, Francisco, shall we both quit this vessel, and live together happily +and without doing wrong? You shall share all, Francisco. Say, now, does +that please you?' + +'Yes; it pleases me to hear that you will abandon your lawless life, +Captain Cain: but share your wealth I cannot, for how has it been +gained?' + +'It cannot be returned, Francisco; I will do good with it. I will +indeed, Francisco. I--will--repent;' and again the hand was extended. + +Francisco hesitated. + +'I do, so help me God! I _do_ repent, Francisco!' exclaimed the pirate +captain. + +'And I, as a Christian, do forgive you all,' replied Francisco, taking +the still extended hand. 'May God forgive you too!' + +'Amen!' replied the pirate solemnly, covering his face up in his hands. + +In this position he remained some minutes, Francisco watching him in +silence. At last the face was uncovered, and, to the surprise of +Francisco, a tear was on the cheek of Cain, and his eyes suffused with +moisture. Francisco no longer waited for the hand to be extended; he +walked up to the captain, and taking him by the hand, pressed it warmly. + +'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but leave me now.' + +Francisco returned on deck with a light and grateful heart. His +countenance at once told those who were near him that he was not +condemned, and many who dared not before take notice of, now saluted +him. The man who had taken him out of irons looked round; he was a +creature of Hawkhurst, and he knew not how to act. Francisco observed +him, and, with a wave of the hand, ordered him below. That Francisco was +again in authority was instantly perceived, and the first proof of it +was, that the new second mate reported to him that there was a sail on +the weather bow. + +Francisco took the glass to examine her. It was a large schooner under +all sail. Not wishing that any one should enter the cabin but himself, +he went down to the cabin door and knocked before he entered, and +reported the vessel. + +'Thank you, Francisco; you must take Hawkhurst's duty for the +present--it shall not be for long; and fear not that I shall make +another capture. I swear to you I will not, Francisco. But this +schooner--I know very well what she is; she has been looking after us +some time; and a week ago, Francisco, I was anxious to meet her, that I +might shed more blood. Now I will do all I can to avoid her, and escape. +I can do no more, Francisco. I must not be taken.' + +'There I cannot blame you. To avoid her will be easy, I should think; +the _Avenger_ outsails everything.' + +'Except, I believe, the _Enterprise_, which is a sister vessel. By +heaven! it's a fair match,' continued Cain, his feelings of +combativeness returning for a moment; 'and it will look like a craven to +refuse the fight: but fear not, Francisco--I have promised you, and I +shall keep my word.' + +[Illustration: _'God bless you, boy! God bless you!' said Cain; 'but +leave me now.'_] + +Cain went on deck, and surveyed the vessel through the glass. + +'Yes, it must be her,' said he aloud, so as to be heard by the pirates; +'she has been sent out by the admiral on purpose, full of his best men. +What a pity we are so short-handed!' + +'There's enough of us, sir,' observed the boatswain. + +'Yes,' replied Cain, 'if there was anything but hard blows to be got; +but that is all, and I cannot spare more men. Ready about!' continued +he, walking aft. + +The _Enterprise_, for she was the vessel in pursuit, was then about five +miles distant, steering for the _Avenger_, who was on a wind. As soon +as the _Avenger_ tacked, the _Enterprise_ took in her topmast +studding-sail, and hauled her wind. This brought the _Enterprise_ well +on the weather-quarter of the _Avenger_, who now made all sail. The +pirates, who had had quite enough of fighting, and were not stimulated +by the presence of Hawkhurst, or the wishes of their captain, now showed +as much anxiety to avoid as they usually did to seek a combat. + +At the first trial of sailing between the two schooners there was no +perceptible difference; for half an hour they both continued on a wind, +and when Edward Templemore examined his sextant a second time, he could +not perceive that he had gained upon the _Avenger_ one cable's length. + +'We will keep away half a point,' said Edward to his second in command. +'We can afford that, and still hold the weather-gage.' + +The _Enterprise_ was kept away, and increased her speed: they neared the +_Avenger_ more than a quarter of a mile. + +'They are nearing us,' observed Francisco; 'we must keep away a point.' + +Away went the _Avenger_, and would have recovered her distance, but the +_Enterprise_ was again steered more off the wind. + +Thus did they continue altering their course until the studding-sails +below and aloft were set by both, and the position of the schooners was +changed; the _Enterprise_ now being on the starboard instead of the +larboard quarter of the _Avenger_. The relative distance between the two +schooners was, however, nearly the same, that is, about three miles and +a half from each other; and there was every prospect of a long and weary +chase on the part of the _Enterprise_, who again kept away a point to +near the _Avenger_. Both vessels were now running to the eastward. + +It was about an hour before dark that another sail hove in sight right +ahead of the _Avenger_, and was clearly made out to be a frigate. The +pirates were alarmed at this unfortunate circumstance, as there was +little doubt but that she would prove a British cruiser; and, if not, +they had equally reason to expect that she would assist in their +capture. She had evidently perceived the two schooners, and had made all +sail, tacking every quarter of an hour so as to keep her relative +position. The _Enterprise_, who had also made out the frigate, to +attract her attention, though not within range of the _Avenger_, +commenced firing with her long gun. + +'This is rather awkward,' observed Cain. + +'It will be dark in less than an hour,' observed Francisco; 'and that is +our only chance.' + +Cain reflected a minute. + +'Get the long gun ready, my lads! We will return her fire, Francisco, +and hoist American colours; that will puzzle the frigate, at all events, +and the night may do the rest.' + +The long gun of the _Avenger_ was ready. + +'I would not fire the long gun,' observed Francisco; 'it will show our +force, and will give no reason for our attempt to escape. Now, if we +were to fire our broadside guns, the difference of report between them +and the one of large calibre fired by the other schooner would induce +them to think that we are an American vessel.' + +'Very true,' replied Cain; 'and, as America is at peace with all the +world, that our antagonist is a pirate. Hold fast the long gun, there, +and unship the starboard ports. See that the ensign blows out clear.' + +The _Avenger_ commenced firing an occasional gun from her broadside, the +reports of which were hardly to be heard by those on board of the +frigate; while the long gun of the _Enterprise_ reverberated along the +water, and its loud resonance was swept by the wind to the frigate to +leeward. + +Such was the state of affairs when the sun sank down in the wave, and +darkness obscured the vessels from each other's sight, except with the +assistance of the night-telescopes. + +'What do you propose to do, Captain Cain?' said Francisco. + +'I have made up my mind to do a bold thing. I will run down to the +frigate, as if for shelter; tell him that the other vessel is a pirate, +and claim his protection. Leave me to escape afterwards; the moon will +not rise till nearly one o'clock.' + +'That will be a bold ruse indeed; but suppose you are once under her +broadside, and she suspects you?' + +'Then I will show her my heels. I should care nothing for her and her +broadside if the schooner was not here.' + +In an hour after dark the _Avenger_ was close to the frigate, having +steered directly for her. She shortened sail gradually, as if she had +few hands on board; and, keeping his men out of sight, Cain ran under +the stern of the frigate. + +'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?' + +'_Eliza_ of Baltimore, from Carthagena,' replied Cain, rounding to under +the lee of the man-of-war, and then continuing: 'That vessel in chase is +a pirate. Shall I send a boat on board?' + +'No; keep company with us.' + +'Ay, ay, sir,' replied Cain. + +'Hands about ship!' now resounded with the boatswain's whistle on board +of the frigate, and in a minute they were on the other tack. The +_Avenger_ also tacked and kept close under the frigate's counter. + +In the meantime Edward Templemore and those on board of the +_Enterprise_, who, by the course steered, had gradually neared them, +perceiving the motions of the two other vessels, were quite puzzled. At +one time they thought they had made a mistake, and that it was not the +pirate vessel; at another they surmised that the crew had mutinied and +surrendered to the frigate. Edward hauled his wind, and steered directly +for them, to ascertain what the real facts were. The captain of the +frigate, who had never lost sight of either vessel, was equally +astonished at the boldness of the supposed pirate. + +'Surely the rascal does not intend to board us?' said he to the first +lieutenant. + +'There is no saying, sir; you know what a character he has; and some +say there are three hundred men on board, which is equal to our ship's +company. Or perhaps, sir, he will pass to windward of us, and give us a +broadside, and be off in the wind's eye again.' + +'At all events we will have a broadside ready for him,' replied the +captain. 'Clear away the starboard guns, and take out the tompions. Pipe +starboard watch to quarters.' + +The _Enterprise_ closed with the frigate to windward, intending to run +round her stern and bring to on the same tack. + +'He does not shorten sail yet, sir,' said the first lieutenant, as the +schooner appeared skimming along about a cable's length on their weather +bow. + +'And she is full of men, sir,' said the master, looking at her through +the night-glass. + +'Fire a gun at her!' said the captain. + +Bang! The smoke cleared away, and the schooner's foretopsail, which she +was in the act of clewing up, lay over her side. The shot had struck the +foremast of the _Enterprise_, and cut it in two below the catharpings. +The _Enterprise_ was, for the time, completely disabled. + +'Schooner ahoy! What schooner is that?' + +'His Majesty's schooner _Enterprise_.' + +'Send a boat on board immediately.' + +'Ay, ay, sir.' + +'Turn the hands up! Shorten sail!' + +The top-gallant and courses of the frigate were taken in, and the +mainsail hove to the mast. + +'Signalman, whereabouts is that other schooner now?' + +'The schooner, sir? On the quarter,' replied the signalman, who, with +everybody else on board, was so anxious about the _Enterprise_ that they +had neglected to watch the motions of the supposed American. The man had +replied at random, and he now jumped upon the signal-chests abaft to +look for her. But she was not to be seen. Cain, who had watched all that +passed between the other two vessels, and had been prepared to slip off +at a moment's warning, as soon as the gun was fired at the other +schooner, had wore round and made all sail on a wind. The night-glass +discovered her half a mile astern; and the ruse was immediately +perceived. The frigate filled and made sail, leaving Edward to return on +board--for there was no time to stop for the boat--tacked, and gave +chase. But the _Avenger_ was soon in the wind's eye of her; and at +daylight was no longer to be seen. + +In the meantime, Edward Templemore had followed the frigate as soon as +he could set sail on his vessel, indignant at his treatment, and vowing +that he would demand a court-martial. About noon the frigate rejoined +him, when matters were fully explained. Annoyed as they all felt at not +having captured the pirate, it was unanimously agreed, that by his +audacity and coolness he deserved to escape. It was found that the mast +of the _Enterprise_ could be fished and scarfed, so as to enable her to +continue her cruise. The carpenters of the frigate were sent on board; +and in two days the injury was repaired, and Edward Templemore once more +went in pursuit of the _Avenger_. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE MISTAKE + + +The _Avenger_ stood under a press of sail to the northward. She had left +her pursuers far behind; and there was not a speck on the horizon, when, +on the second morning, Francisco, who had resumed his berth in the +captain's cabin, went up on deck. Notwithstanding the request of Cain, +Francisco refused to take any part in the command of the schooner, +considering himself as a passenger, or prisoner on parole. He had not +been on deck but a few minutes, when he observed the two Spanish +fishermen, belonging to the establishment of Don Cumanos, conversing +together forward. Their capture had quite escaped his memory, and he +went forward to speak to them. Their surprise at seeing him was great, +until Francisco informed them of what had passed. They then recounted +what had occurred to them, and showed their thumbs, which had been put +into screws to torture from them the truth. Francisco shuddered, but +consoled them by promising that they should soon be at liberty, and +return to their former master. + +As Francisco returned from forward, he found Hawkhurst on the deck. +Their eyes met and flashed in enmity. Hawkhurst was pale from loss of +blood, and evidently suffering; but he had been informed of the apparent +reconciliation between Francisco and the captain, and he could no longer +remain in his bed. He knew, also, how the captain had avoided the combat +with the _Enterprise_; and something told him that there was a +revolution of feeling in more than one point. Suffering as he was, he +resolved to be a spectator of what passed, and to watch narrowly. For +both Francisco and Cain he had imbibed a deadly hatred, and was watching +for an opportunity to wreak his revenge. At present they were too +powerful; but he felt that the time was coming when he might be +triumphant. + +Francisco passed Hawkhurst without speaking. + +'You are at liberty again, I see,' observed Hawkhurst, with a sneer. + +'I am not, at all events, indebted to you for it,' replied Francisco +haughtily; 'nor for my life either.' + +'No, indeed; but I believe that I am indebted to you for this bullet in +my shoulder,' replied the mate. + +'You are,' replied Francisco coolly. + +'And depend upon it, the debt shall be repaid with usury.' + +'I have no doubt of it, if ever it is in your power; but I fear you +not.' + +As Francisco made this reply, the captain came up the ladder. Hawkhurst +turned away and walked forward. + +'There is mischief in that man, Francisco,' said the captain in an +undertone; 'I hardly know whom to trust; but he must be watched. He is +tampering with the men, and has been for some time; not that it is of +much consequence, if he does but remain quiet for a little while. The +command of this vessel he is welcome to very soon; but if he attempts +too early----' + +'I have those I can trust to,' replied Francisco. 'Let us go below.' + +Francisco sent for Pompey the Krouman, and gave him his directions in +the presence of the captain. That night, to the surprise of all, +Hawkhurst kept his watch; and, notwithstanding the fatigue, appeared +every day to be rapidly recovering from his wound. + +Nothing occurred for several days, during which the _Avenger_ still +continued her course. What the captain's intentions were did not +transpire; they were known only to Francisco. + +'We are very short of water, sir,' reported Hawkhurst one morning; +'shall we have enough to last us to where we are going?' + +'How many days of full allowance have we on board?' + +'Not above twelve at the most.' + +'Then we must go on half allowance,' replied Cain. + +'The ship's company wish to know where we are going, sir.' + +'Have they deputed you to ask the question?' + +'Not exactly, sir; but I wish to know myself,' replied Hawkhurst, with +an insolent air. + +'Turn the hands up,' replied Cain; 'as one of the ship's company under +my orders, you will, with the others, receive the information you +require.' + +The crew of the pirate collected aft. + +'My lads,' said Cain, 'I understand, from the first mate, that you are +anxious to know where you are going? In reply, I acquaint you that, +having so many wounded men on board, and so much plunder in the hold, I +intend to repair to our rendezvous when we were formerly in this part of +the world--the _Caicos_. Is there any other question you may wish to ask +of me?' + +'Yes,' replied Hawkhurst; 'we wish to know what your intentions are +relative to that young man, Francisco. We have lost immense wealth; we +have now thirty men wounded in the hammocks, and nine we left dead on +the shore; and I have a bullet through my body; all of which has been +occasioned by him. We demand justice!' + +Here Hawkhurst was supported by several of the pirates; and there were +many voices which repeated the cry of 'Justice!' + +'My men! you demand justice, and you shall have it,' replied Cain. 'This +lad you all know well; I have brought him up as a child. He has always +disliked our mode of life, and has often requested to leave it, but has +been refused. He challenged me by our own laws, "Blood for blood!" He +wounded me; but he was right in his challenge, and therefore I bear no +malice. Had I been aware that he was to have been sent on shore to die +with hunger, I would not have permitted it. What crime had he committed? +None; or, if any, it was against me. He was then sentenced to death for +no crime, and you yourselves exclaimed against it. Is it not true?' + +'Yes--yes,' replied the majority of the pirates. + +'By a miracle he escapes, and is put in charge of another man's +property. He is made a prisoner, and now you demand justice. You shall +have it. Allowing that his life is forfeit for this offence,--you have +already sentenced him, and left him to death unjustly, and therefore are +bound in justice to give his life in this instance. I ask it, my men, +not only as his right, but as a favour to your captain.' + +'Agreed; it's all fair!' exclaimed the majority of the pirate's crew. + +'My men, I thank you,' replied Cain; 'and in return, as soon as we +arrive at the Caicos, my share of the plunder on board shall be divided +among you.' + +This last observation completely turned the tables in favour of the +captain; and those who had joined Hawkhurst now sided with the captain. +Hawkhurst looked like a demon. + +'Let those who choose to be bought off take your money,' replied he; +'but _I will not_. Blood for blood I will have; and so I give you +warning. That lad's life is mine, and have it I will! Prevent me, if you +can!' continued the mate, holding up his clenched hand, and shaking it +almost in the pirate captain's face. + +The blood mantled even to the forehead of Cain. One moment he raised +himself to his utmost height, then seizing a handspike which lay near, +he felled Hawkhurst to the deck. + +'Take that for your mutiny!' exclaimed Cain, putting his foot on +Hawkhurst's neck. 'My lads, I appeal to you. Is this man worthy to be in +command as mate? Is he to live?' + +'No! no!' cried the pirates. 'Death!' + +Francisco stepped forward. 'My men, you have granted your captain one +favour; grant me another, which is the life of this man. Recollect how +often he has led you to conquest, and how brave and faithful he has been +until now! Recollect that he is suffering under his wound, which has +made him irritable. Command you he cannot any longer, as he will never +have the confidence of your captain; but let him live, and quit the +vessel.' + +'Be it so, if you agree,' replied Cain, looking at the men; 'I do not +seek his life.' + +The pirates consented. Hawkhurst rose slowly from the deck, and was +assisted below to his cabin. The second mate was then appointed as the +first, and the choice of the man to fill up the vacancy was left to the +pirate crew. + +[Illustration: _'Blood for blood I will have,' continued the mate, +holding up his clenched hand, and shaking it almost in the pirate +captain's face._] + +For three days after this scene all was quiet and orderly on board of +the pirate. Cain, now that he had more fully made up his mind how to +act, imparted to Francisco his plans; and his giving up to the men his +share of the booty still on board was, to Francisco, an earnest of his +good intentions. A cordiality, even, a kind of feeling which never +existed before, was created between them; but of Francisco's mother, and +the former events of his own life, the pirate never spoke. Francisco +more than once put questions on the subject; the answer was, 'You shall +know some of these days, Francisco, but not yet; you would hate me too +much!' + +The _Avenger_ was now clear of the English isles, and with light winds +running down the shores of Porto Rico. In the evening of the day on +which they had made the land, the schooner was becalmed about three +miles from the shore, and the new first mate proposed that he should +land in the boat and obtain a further supply of water from a fall which +they had discovered with the glasses. As this was necessary, Cain gave +his consent, and the boat quitted the vessel full of breakers. + +Now it happened that the _Avenger_ lay becalmed abreast of the country +seat of Don d'Alfarez, the governor of the island. Clara had seen the +schooner; and, as usual, had thrown out the white curtain as a signal of +recognition; for there was no perceptible difference, even to a sailor, +at that distance, between the _Avenger_ and the _Enterprise_. She had +hastened down to the beach, and hurried into the cave, awaiting the +arrival of Edward Templemore. The pirate boat landed at the very spot of +rendezvous, and the mate leaped out of the boat. Clara flew to receive +her Edward, and was instantly seized by the mate, before she discovered +her mistake. + +'Holy Virgin! who and what are you?' cried she, struggling to disengage +herself. + +'One who is very fond of a pretty girl!' replied the pirate, still +detaining her. + +'Unhand me, wretch!' cried Clara. 'Are you aware whom you are +addressing?' + +'Not I! nor do I care,' replied the pirate. + +'You will perhaps, sir, when you learn that I am the daughter of the +governor!' exclaimed Clara, pushing him away. + +'Yes, by heavens! you are right, pretty lady, I do care; for a +governor's daughter will fetch a good ransom, at all events. So come, +my lads, a little help here; for she is as strong as a young mule. Never +mind the water, throw the breakers into the boat again; we have a prize +worth taking!' + +Clara screamed; but she was gagged with a handkerchief and lifted into +the boat, which immediately rowed back to the schooner. + +When the mate came on board and reported his capture, the pirates were +delighted at the prospect of addition to their prize-money. Cain could +not, of course, raise any objections; it would have been so different +from his general practice, that it would have strengthened suspicions +already set afloat by Hawkhurst, which Cain was most anxious just then +to remove. He ordered the girl to be taken down into the cabin, hoisted +in the boat, and the breeze springing up again, made sail. + +In the meantime Francisco was consoling the unfortunate Clara, and +assuring her that she need be under no alarm, promising her protection +from himself and the captain. + +The poor girl wept bitterly, and it was not until Cain came down into +the cabin and corroborated the assurances of Francisco that she could +assume any degree of composure; but to find friends when she had +expected every insult and degradation--for Francisco had acknowledged +that the vessel was a pirate--was some consolation. The kindness and +attention of Francisco restored her to comparative tranquillity. + +The next day she confided to him the reason of her coming to the beach, +and her mistake with regard to the two vessels, and Francisco and Cain +promised her that they would themselves pay her ransom, and not wait +until she heard from her father. To divert her thoughts Francisco talked +much about Edward Templemore, and on that subject Clara could always +talk. Every circumstance attending the amour was soon known to +Francisco. + +But the _Avenger_ did not gain her rendezvous as soon as she expected. +When to the northward of Porto Rico an English frigate bore down upon +her, and the _Avenger_ was obliged to run for it. Before the wind is +always a schooner's worst point of sailing, and the chase was continued +for three days before a fresh wind from the southward, until they had +passed the Bahama Isles. + +The pirates suffered much from want of water, as it was necessary still +further to reduce their allowance. The frigate was still in sight, +although the _Avenger_ had dropped her astern when the wind became +light, and at last it subsided into a calm, which lasted two days more. +The boats of the frigate were hoisted out on the eve of the second day +to attack the schooner, then distant five miles, when a breeze sprang up +from the northward, and the schooner being then to windward, left the +enemy hull down. + +It was not until the next day that Cain ventured to run again to the +southward to procure at one of the keys the water so much required. At +last it was obtained, but with difficulty and much loss of time, from +the scantiness of the supply, and they again made sail for the Caicos. +But they were so much impeded by contrary winds and contrary currents +that it was not until three weeks after they had been chased from Porto +Rico that they made out the low land of their former rendezvous. + +We must now return to Edward Templemore in the _Enterprise_, whom we +left off the coast of South America in search of the _Avenger_, which +had so strangely slipped through their fingers. Edward had examined the +whole coast, ran through the passage and round Trinidad, and then +started off to the Leeward Isles in his pursuit. He had spoken every +vessel he met with without gaining any information, and had at last +arrived off Porto Rico. + +This was no time to think of Clara; but, as it was not out of his way, +he had run down the island, and as it was just before dark when he +arrived off that part of the coast where the governor resided, he had +hove-to for a little while, and had examined the windows: but the signal +of recognition was not made, and after waiting till dark he again made +sail, mad with disappointment, and fearing that all had been discovered +by the governor; whereas the fact was, that he had only arrived two days +after the forcible abduction of Clara. Once more he directed his +attention to the discovery of the pirate, and after a fortnight's +examination of the inlets and bays of the Island of St. Domingo without +success, his provisions and water being nearly expended, he returned, in +no very happy mood, to Port Royal. + +In the meantime the disappearance of Clara had created the greatest +confusion in Porto Rico, and upon the examination of her attendant, who +was confronted by the friar and the duenna, the amour of her mistress +was confessed. The appearance of the _Avenger_ off the coast on that +evening confirmed their ideas that the Donna Clara had been carried off +by the English lieutenant, and Don Alfarez immediately despatched a +vessel to Jamaica, complaining of the outrage, and demanding the +restoration of his daughter. + +This vessel arrived at Port Royal a few days before the _Enterprise_, +and the admiral was very much astonished. He returned a very polite +answer to Don Alfarez, promising an investigation immediately upon the +arrival of the schooner, and to send a vessel with the result of the +said investigation. + +'This is a pretty business,' said the admiral to his secretary. 'Young +madcap! I sent him to look after a pirate, and he goes after the +governor's daughter! By the Lord Harry, Mr. Templemore, but you and I +shall have an account to settle.' + +'I can hardly believe it, sir,' replied the secretary; 'and yet it does +look suspicious. But on so short an acquaintance----' + +'Who knows that, Mr. Hadley? Send for his logs, and let us examine them; +he may have been keeping up the acquaintance.' + +The logs of the _Enterprise_ were examined, and there were the fatal +words--Porto Rico, Porto Rico, bearing in every division of the compass, +and in every separate cruise, nay, even when the schooner was charged +with despatches. + +'Plain enough,' said the admiral. 'Confounded young scamp, to embroil me +in this way! Not that his marrying the girl is any business of mine; but +I will punish him for disobedience of orders, at all events. Try him by +a court-martial, by heavens!' + +The secretary made no reply: he knew very well that the admiral would do +no such thing. + +'The _Enterprise_ anchored at daylight, sir,' reported the secretary as +the admiral sat down to breakfast. + +'And where's Mr. Templemore?' + +'He is outside in the veranda. They have told him below of what he has +been accused, and he swears it is false. I believe him, sir, for he +appears half mad at the intelligence.' + +'Stop a moment. Have you looked over his log?' + +'Yes, sir. It appears that he was off Porto Rico on the 19th; but the +Spanish governor's letter says that he was there on the 17th, and again +made his appearance on the 19th. I mentioned it to him, and he declares +upon his honour that he was only there on the 19th, as stated in his +log.' + +'Well, let him come in and speak for himself.' + +Edward came in, in a state of great agitation. + +'Well, Mr. Templemore, you have been playing pretty tricks! What is all +this, sir? Where is the girl, sir--the governor's daughter?' + +'Where she is, sir, I cannot pretend to say; but I feel convinced that +she has been carried off by the pirates.' + +'Pirates! Poor girl, I pity her!--and I pity you too, Edward. Come, sit +down here, and tell me all that has happened.' + +Edward knew the admiral's character so well, that he immediately +disclosed all that had passed between him and Clara. He then stated how +the _Avenger_ had escaped him by deceiving the frigate, and the +agreement made with Clara to meet for the future on the beach, with his +conviction that the pirate schooner, so exactly similar in appearance to +the _Enterprise_, must have preceded him at Porto Rico, and have carried +off the object of his attachment. + +Although Edward might have been severely taken to task, yet the admiral +pitied him, and therefore said nothing about his visits to Porto Rico. +When breakfast was over he ordered the signal to be made for a sloop of +war to prepare to weigh, and the _Enterprise_ to be revictualled by the +boats of the squadron. + +'Now, Edward, you and the _Comus_ shall sail in company after this +rascally pirate, and I trust you will give me a good account of her, and +also of the governor's daughter. Cheer up, my boy! depend upon it they +will try for ransom before they do her any injury.' + +That evening the _Enterprise_ and _Comus_ sailed on their expedition, +and having run by Porto Rico and delivered a letter to the governor, +they steered to the northward, and early the next morning made the land +of the Caicos, just as the _Avenger_ had skirted the reefs and bore up +for the narrow entrance. + +'There she is!' exclaimed Edward; 'there she is, by heavens!' making the +signal for the enemy, which was immediately answered by the _Comus_. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE CAICOS + + +The small patch of islands called the Caicos, or Cayques, is situated +about two degrees to the northward of St. Domingo, and is nearly the +southernmost of a chain which extends up to the Bahamas. Most of the +islands of this chain are uninhabited, but were formerly the resort of +piratical vessels,--the reefs and shoals with which they are all +surrounded afforded them protection from their larger pursuers, and the +passages through this dangerous navigation being known only to the +pirates who frequented them, proved an additional security. The largest +of the Caicos islands forms a curve, like an opened horse-shoe, to the +southward, with safe and protected anchorage when once in the bay on the +southern side; but, previous to arriving at the anchorage, there are +coral reefs, extending upwards of forty miles, through which it is +necessary to conduct a vessel. This passage is extremely intricate, but +was well known to Hawkhurst, who had hitherto been pilot. Cain was not +so well acquainted with it, and it required the greatest care in taking +in the vessel, as, on the present occasion, Hawkhurst could not be +called upon for this service. The islands themselves--for there were +several of them--were composed of coral rock; a few cocoa trees raised +their lofty heads where there was sufficient earth for vegetation, and +stunted brushwood rose up between the interstices of the rocks. But the +chief peculiarity of the islands, and which rendered them suitable to +those who frequented them, was the numerous caves with which the rocks +were perforated, some above high-water mark, but the majority with the +sea-water flowing in and out of them, in some cases merely rushing in, +and at high water filling deep pools, which were detached from each +other when the tide receded, in others with a sufficient depth of water +at all times to allow you to pull in with a large boat. It is hardly +necessary to observe how convenient the higher and dry caves were as +receptacles for articles which were intended to be concealed until an +opportunity occurred for disposing of them. + +In our last chapter we stated that, just as the _Avenger_ had entered +the passage through the reefs, the _Comus_ and _Enterprise_ hove in +sight and discovered her; but it will be necessary to explain the +positions of the vessels. The _Avenger_ had entered the southern +channel, with the wind from the southward, and had carefully sounded her +way for about four miles, under little or no sail. + +The _Enterprise_ and _Comus_ had been examining Turk's Island, to the +eastward of the Caicos, and had passed to the northward of it on the +larboard tack, standing in for the northern point of the reef, which +joined on to the great Caicos Island. They were, therefore, in a +situation to intercept the _Avenger_ before she arrived at her +anchorage, had it not been for the reefs which barred their passage. The +only plan which the English vessels could act upon was to beat to the +southward, so as to arrive at the entrance of the passage, when the +_Enterprise_ would, of course, find sufficient water to follow the +_Avenger_; for, as the passage was too narrow to beat through, and the +wind was from the southward, the _Avenger_ could not possibly escape. +She was caught in a trap; and all that she had to trust to was the +defence which she might be able to make in her stronghold against the +force which could be employed in the attack. The breeze was fresh from +the southward, and appeared inclined to increase, when the _Comus_ and +_Enterprise_ made all sail, and worked, in short tacks, outside the +reef. + +On board the _Avenger_ the enemy and their motions were clearly +distinguished, and Cain perceived that he was in an awkward dilemma. +That they would be attacked he had no doubt; and although, at any other +time, he would almost have rejoiced in such an opportunity of +discomfiting his assailants, yet now he thought very differently, and +would have sacrificed almost everything to have been able to avoid the +rencontre, and be permitted quietly to withdraw himself from his +associates, without the spilling of more blood. Francisco was equally +annoyed at this unfortunate collision; but no words were exchanged +between him and the pirate captain during the time that they were on +deck. + +It was about nine o'clock, when having safely passed nearly half through +the channel, that Cain ordered the kedge-anchor to be dropped, and sent +down the people to their breakfast. Francisco went down into the cabin, +and was explaining their situation to Clara, when Cain entered. He threw +himself on the locker, and appeared lost in deep and sombre meditation. + +'What do you intend to do?' said Francisco. + +'I do not know; I will not decide myself, Francisco,' replied Cain. 'If +I were to act upon my own judgment, probably I should allow the schooner +to remain where she is. They can only attack in the boats, and, in such +a case, I do not fear; whereas, if we run right through, we allow the +other schooner to follow us, without defending the passage; and we may +be attacked by her in the deep water inside, and overpowered by the +number of men the two vessels will be able to bring against us. On the +other hand, we certainly may defend the schooner from the shore as well +as on board; but we are weak-handed. I shall, however, call up the +ship's company and let them decide. God knows, if left to me I would not +fight at all.' + +'Is there no way of escape?' resumed Francisco. + +'Yes, we might abandon the schooner; and this night, when they would not +expect it, run with the boats through the channel between the great +island and the north Cayque: but that I dare not propose, and the men +would not listen to it; indeed, I very much doubt if the enemy will +allow us the time. I knew this morning, long before we saw those +vessels, that my fate would be decided before the sun went down.' + +'What do you mean?' + +'I mean this, Francisco,' said Cain; 'that your mother, who always has +visited me in my dreams whenever anything (dreadful now to think of!) +was about to take place, appeared to me last night; and there was sorrow +and pity in her sweet face as she mournfully waved her hand, as if to +summon me to follow her. Yes, thank God! she no longer looked upon me as +for many years she has done.' + +Francisco made no answer; and Cain again seemed to be lost in +meditation. + +After a little while Cain rose, and taking a small packet from one of +the drawers, put it into the hands of Francisco. + +'Preserve that,' said the pirate captain; 'should any accident happen to +me it will tell you who was your mother; and it also contains directions +for finding treasure which I have buried. I leave everything to you, +Francisco. It has been unfairly obtained; but you are not the guilty +party, and there are none to claim it. Do not answer me now. You may +find friends, whom you will make after I am gone, of the same opinion as +I am. I tell you again, be careful of that packet.' + +'I see little chance of it availing me,' replied Francisco. 'If I live, +shall I not be considered as a pirate?' + +'No, no; you can prove the contrary.' + +'I have my doubts. But God's will be done!' + +'Yes, God's will be done!' said Cain mournfully. 'I dared not have said +that a month ago.' And the pirate captain went on deck, followed by +Francisco. + +The crew of the _Avenger_ were summoned aft, and called upon to decide +as to the measures they considered to be most advisable. They preferred +weighing the anchor and running into the bay, where they would be able +to defend the schooner, in their opinion, much better than by remaining +where they were. + +The crew of the pirate schooner weighed the anchor, and continued their +precarious course; the breeze had freshened, and the water was in strong +ripples, so that they could no longer see the danger beneath her bottom. +In the meantime, the sloop of war and _Enterprise_ continued to turn to +windward outside the reef. + +By noon the wind had considerably increased, and the breakers now turned +and broke in wild foam over the coral reefs in every direction. The sail +was still more reduced on board the _Avenger_, and her difficulties +increased from the rapidity of her motion. + +A storm-jib was set, and the others hauled down; yet even under this +small sail she flew before the wind. + +Cain stood at the bowsprit, giving his directions to the helmsman. More +than once they had grazed the rocks and were clear again. Spars were +towed astern, and every means resorted to, to check her way. They had no +guide but the breaking of the wild water on each side of them. + +'Why should not Hawkhurst, who knows the passage so well, be made to +pilot us?' said the boatswain to those who were near him on the +forecastle. + +'To be sure! let's have him up!' cried several of the crew; and some of +them went down below. + +In a minute they reappeared with Hawkhurst, whom they led forward. He +did not make any resistance, and the crew demanded that he should pilot +the vessel. + +'And suppose I will not?' said Hawkhurst coolly. + +'Then you lose your passage, that's all,' replied the boatswain. 'Is it +not so, my lads?' continued he, appealing to the crew. + +'Yes; either take us safe in, or--overboard,' replied several. + +'I do not mind that threat, my lads,' replied Hawkhurst; 'you have all +known me as a good man and true, and it's not likely that I shall desert +you now. Well, since your captain there cannot save you, I suppose I +must; but,' exclaimed he, looking about him, 'how's this? We are out of +the passage already. Yes--and whether we can get into it again I cannot +tell.' + +'We are not out of the passage,' said Cain; 'you know we are not.' + +'Well then, if the captain knows better than I, he had better take you +through,' rejoined Hawkhurst. + +But the crew thought differently, and insisted that Hawkhurst, who well +knew the channel, should take charge. Cain retired aft, as Hawkhurst +went out on the bowsprit. + +'I will do my best, my lads,' said Hawkhurst; 'but recollect, if we +strike in trying to get into the right channel, do not blame me. +Starboard a little--starboard yet--steady, so--there's the true passage, +my lads!' cried he, pointing to some smoother water between the +breakers; 'port a little--steady.' + +But Hawkhurst, who knew that he was to be put on shore as soon as +convenient, had resolved to lose the schooner, even if his own life were +forfeited, and he was now running her out of the passage on the rocks. A +minute after he had conned her, she struck heavily again and again. The +third time she struck, she came broadside to the wind and heeled over; +a sharp coral rock found its way through her slight timbers and +planking, and the water poured in rapidly. + +During this there was a dead silence on the part of the marauders. + +'My lads,' said Hawkhurst, 'I have done my best, and now you may throw +me overboard if you please. It was not my fault, but his,' continued he, +pointing to the captain. + +'It is of little consequence whose fault it was, Mr. Hawkhurst,' replied +Cain; 'we will settle that point by and by; at present we have too much +on our hands. Out boats, men! as fast as you can, and let every man +provide himself with arms and ammunition. Be cool! the schooner is fixed +hard enough, and will not go down; we shall save everything by and by.' + +The pirates obeyed the orders of the captain. The three boats were +hoisted out and lowered down. In the first were placed all the wounded +men and Clara d'Alfarez, who was assisted up by Francisco. As soon as +the men had provided themselves with arms, Francisco, to protect Clara, +offered to take charge of her, and the boat shoved off. + +The men-of-war had seen the _Avenger_ strike on the rocks, and the +preparations of the crew to take to their boats. They immediately +hove-to, hoisted out and manned their own boats, with the hopes of +cutting them off before they could gain the island and prepare for a +vigorous defence; for, although the vessels could not approach the +reefs, there was sufficient water in many places for the boats to pass +over them. Shortly after Francisco, in the first boat, had shoved off +from the _Avenger_, the boats of the men-of-war were darting through the +surf to intercept them. The pirates perceived this, and hastened their +arrangements; a second boat soon left her, and into that Hawkhurst +leaped as it was shoving off. Cain remained on board, going round the +lower decks to ascertain if any of the wounded men were left; he then +quitted the schooner in the last boat and followed the others, being +about a quarter of a mile astern of the second, in which Hawkhurst had +secured his place. + +At the time that Cain quitted the schooner, it was difficult to say +whether the men-of-war's boats would succeed in intercepting any of the +pirates' boats. Both parties exerted themselves to their utmost; and +when the first boat, with Francisco and Clara, landed, the headmost of +the assailants was not much more than half a mile from them; but shallow +water intervening there was a delay, which was favourable to the +pirates. Hawkhurst landed in his boat as the launch of the _Comus_ fired +her eighteen-pound carronade. The last boat was yet two hundred yards +from the beach, when another shot from the _Comus's_ launch, which had +been unable hitherto to find a passage through the reef, struck her on +the counter, and she filled and went down. + +'He is gone!' exclaimed Francisco, who had led Clara to a cave, and +stood at the mouth of it to protect her; 'they have sunk his boat--no, +he is swimming to the shore, and will be here now, long before the +English seamen can land.' + +This was true. Cain was breasting the water manfully, making for a small +cove nearer to where the boat was sunk than the one in which Francisco +had landed with Clara and the wounded men, and divided from the other by +a ridge of rocks which separated the sandy beach, and extended some way +into the water before they were submerged. Francisco could easily +distinguish the pirate captain from the other men, who also were +swimming for the beach; for Cain was far ahead of them, and as he gained +nearer to the shore he was shut from Francisco's sight by the ridge of +rocks. Francisco, anxious for his safety, climbed up the rocks and was +watching. Cain was within a few yards of the beach when there was a +report of a musket; the pirate captain was seen to raise his body +convulsively half out of the water--he floundered--the clear blue wave +was discoloured--he sank, and was seen no more. + +Francisco darted forward from the rocks, and perceived Hawkhurst +standing beneath them with the musket in his hand, which he was +recharging. + +'Villain!' exclaimed Francisco, 'you shall account for this.' + +Hawkhurst had reprimed his musket and shut the pan. + +'Not to you,' replied Hawkhurst, levelling his piece, and taking aim at +Francisco. + +The ball struck Francisco on the breast; he reeled back from his +position, staggered across the sand, gained the cave, and fell at the +feet of Clara. + +[Illustration: _The pirate captain was seen to raise his body +convulsively half out of the water--he floundered, sank, and was seen no +more._] + +'O God!' exclaimed the poor girl, 'are _you_ hurt? who is there, then, +to protect me?' + +'I hardly know,' replied Francisco faintly; and, at intervals, 'I feel +no wound. I feel stronger;' and Francisco put his hand to his heart. + +Clara opened his vest, and found that the packet given to Francisco by +Cain, and which he had deposited in his breast, had been struck by the +bullet, which had done him no injury further than the violent concussion +of the blow--notwithstanding he was faint from the shock, and his head +fell upon Clara's bosom. + +But we must relate the proceedings of those who were mixed up in this +exciting scene. Edward Templemore had watched from his vessel, with an +eager and painful curiosity, the motions of the schooner--her running on +the rocks, and the subsequent actions of the intrepid marauders. The +long telescope enabled him to perceive distinctly all that passed, and +his feelings were increased into a paroxysm of agony when his straining +eyes beheld the white and fluttering habiliments of a female for a +moment at the gunwale of the stranded vessel--her descent, as it +appeared to him, nothing loth, into the boat--the arms held out to +receive, and the extension of hers to meet those offered. Could it be +Clara? Where was the reluctance, the unavailing attempts at resistance, +which should have characterised her situation? Excited by feelings which +he dared not analyse, he threw down his glass, and, seizing his sword, +sprang into his boat, which was ready manned alongside, desiring the +others to follow him. For once, and the only time in his existence when +approaching the enemy, did he feel his heart sink within him--a cold +tremor ran through his whole frame, and as he called to mind the loose +morals and desperate habits of the pirates, horrible thoughts entered +his imagination. As he neared the shore, he stood up in the stern-sheets +of the boat, pale, haggard, and with trembling lips; and the intensity +of his feelings would have been intolerable but for a more violent +thirst for revenge. He clenched his sword, while the quick throbs of his +heart seemed, at every pulsation, to repeat to him his thoughts of +blood! blood! blood! He approached the small bay, and perceived that +there was a female at the mouth of the cave--nearer and nearer, and he +was certain that it was his Clara--her name was on his lips when he +heard the two shots fired one after another by Hawkhurst--he saw the +retreat and fall of Francisco--when, madness to behold! he perceived +Clara rush forward, and there lay the young man supported by her, and +with his head upon her bosom. Could he believe what he saw? could she +really be his betrothed? Yes, there she was, supporting the handsome +figure of a young man, and that man a pirate--she had even put her hand +into his vest, and was now watching over his reviving form. Edward could +bear no more; he covered his eyes, and now, maddened with jealousy, in a +voice of thunder he called out-- + +'Give way, my lads! for your lives, give way!' + +The gig was within half a dozen strokes of the oar from the beach, and +Clara, unconscious of wrong, had just taken the packet of papers from +Francisco's vest, when Hawkhurst made his appearance from behind the +rocks which separated the two little sandy coves. Francisco had +recovered his breath, and, perceiving the approach of Hawkhurst, he +sprang upon his feet to recover his musket; but, before he could +succeed, Hawkhurst had closed in with him, and a short and dreadful +struggle ensued. It would soon have terminated fatally to Francisco, for +the superior strength of Hawkhurst had enabled him to bear down the body +of his opponent with his knee, and he was fast strangling him by +twisting his handkerchief round his throat, while Clara shrieked, and +attempted in vain to tear the pirate from him. As the prostrate +Francisco was fast blackening into a corpse, and the maiden screamed for +pity, and became frantic in her efforts for his rescue, the boat dashed +high up on the sand; and, with the bound of a maddened tiger, Edward +sprang upon Hawkhurst, tearing him down on his back, and severing his +wrist with his sword-blade until his hold of Francisco was relaxed, and +he wrestled in his own defence. + +'Seize him, my lads!' said Edward, pointing with his left hand to +Hawkhurst; as with his sword directed to the body of Francisco he +bitterly continued, '_This victim is mine!_' But, whatever were his +intentions, they were frustrated by Clara's recognition, who shrieked +out, 'My Edward!' sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a state +of insensibility. + +The seamen who had secured Hawkhurst looked upon the scene with curious +astonishment, while Edward waited with mingled feelings of impatience +and doubt for Clara's recovery; he wished to be assured by her that he +was mistaken, and he turned again and again from her face to that of +Francisco, who was fast recovering. During this painful suspense, +Hawkhurst was bound and made to sit down. + +[Illustration: _Clara sprang into his arms, and was immediately in a +state of insensibility._] + +'Edward! dear Edward!' said Clara at last, in a faint voice, clinging +more closely to him; 'and am I then rescued by thee, dearest!' + +Edward felt the appeal; but his jealousy had not yet subsided. + +'Who is that, Clara?' said he sternly. + +'It is Francisco. No pirate, Edward, but my preserver.' + +'Ha, ha!' laughed Hawkhurst, with a bitter sneer, for he perceived how +matters stood. + +Edward Templemore turned towards him with an inquiring look. + +'Ha, ha!' continued Hawkhurst; 'why, he is the captain's son! No pirate, +eh? Well, what will women not swear to, to save those they dote upon!' + +'If the captain's son,' said Edward, 'why were you contending?' + +'Because just now I shot his scoundrel father.' + +'Edward!' said Clara solemnly, 'this is no time for explanation; but, as +I hope for mercy, what I have said is true; believe not that villain.' + +'Yes,' said Francisco, who was now sitting up, 'believe him when he says +that he shot the captain, for that is true; but, sir, if you value your +own peace of mind, believe nothing to the prejudice of that young lady.' + +'I hardly know what to believe,' muttered Edward Templemore; 'but, as +the lady says, this is no time for explanation. With your permission, +madam,' said he to Clara, 'my coxswain will see you in safety on board +of the schooner, or the other vessel, if you prefer it; my duty will not +allow me to accompany you.' + +Clara darted a reproachful yet fond look on Edward, as, with swimming +eyes, she was led by the coxswain to the boat, which had been joined by +the launch of the _Comus_, the crew of which were, with their officers, +wading to the beach. The men of the gig remained until they had given +Hawkhurst and Francisco in charge of the other seamen, and then shoved +off with Clara for the schooner. Edward Templemore gave one look at the +gig as it conveyed Clara on board, and ordering Hawkhurst and Francisco +to be taken to the launch, and a guard to be kept over them, went up, +with the remainder of the men, in pursuit of the pirates. + +During the scene we have described, the other boats of the men-of-war +had landed on the island, and the _Avenger's_ crew, deprived of their +leaders, and scattered in every direction, were many of them slain or +captured. In about two hours it was supposed that the majority of the +pirates had been accounted for, and the prisoners being now very +numerous, it was decided that the boats should return with them to the +_Comus_, the captain of which vessel, as commanding officer, would then +issue orders as to their future proceedings. + +The captured pirates, when mustered on the deck of the _Comus_, amounted +to nearly sixty, out of which number one-half were those who had been +sent on shore wounded, and had surrendered without resistance. Of killed +there were fifteen; and it was conjectured that as many more had been +drowned in the boat when she was sunk by the shot from the carronade of +the launch. Although, by the account given by the captured pirates, the +majority were secured, yet there was reason to suppose that some were +still left on the island concealed in the caves. + +As the captain of the _Comus_ had orders to return as soon as possible, +he decided to sail immediately for Port Royal with the prisoners, +leaving the _Enterprise_ to secure the remainder, if there were any, and +recover anything of value which might be left in the wreck of the +_Avenger_, and then to destroy her. + +With the usual celerity of the service these orders were obeyed. The +pirates, among whom Francisco was included, were secured, the boats +hoisted up, and in half an hour the _Comus_ displayed her ensign, and +made all sail on a wind, leaving Edward Templemore, with the +_Enterprise_, at the back of the reef, to perform the duties entailed +upon him; and Clara, who was on board of the schooner, to remove the +suspicion and jealousy which had arisen in the bosom of her lover. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE TRIAL + + +In a week, the _Comus_ arrived at Port Royal, and the captain went up to +the Penn to inform the admiral of the successful result of the +expedition. + +'Thank God,' said the admiral, 'we have caught these villains at last! A +little hanging will do them no harm. The captain, you say, was drowned?' + +'So it is reported, sir,' replied Captain Manly; 'he was in the last +boat which left the schooner, and she was sunk by a shot from the +launch.' + +'I am sorry for that; the death was too good for him. However, we must +make an example of the rest; they must be tried by the Admiralty Court, +which has the jurisdiction of the high seas. Send them on shore, Manly, +and we wash our hands of them.' + +'Very good, sir; but there are still some left on the island, we have +reason to believe, and the _Enterprise_ is in search of them.' + +'By the bye, did Templemore find his lady?' + +'Oh yes, sir; and--all's right, I believe: but I had very little to say +to him on the subject.' + +'Humph!' replied the admiral. 'I am glad to hear it. Well, send them on +shore, Manly, to the proper authorities. If any more be found, they must +be hung afterwards when Templemore brings them in. I am more pleased at +having secured these scoundrels than if we had taken a French frigate.' + +About three weeks after this conversation, the secretary reported to the +admiral that the _Enterprise_ had made her number outside; but that she +was becalmed, and would not probably be in until the evening. + +'That's a pity,' replied the admiral; 'for the pirates are to be tried +this morning. He may have more of them on board.' + +'Very true, sir; but the trial will hardly be over to-day: the judge +will not be in court till one o'clock at the soonest.' + +'It's of little consequence, certainly; as it is, there are so many that +they must be hanged by divisions. However, as he is within signal +distance, let them telegraph 'Pirates now on trial.' He can pull on +shore in his gig, if he pleases.' + +It was about noon on the same day that the pirates, and among them +Francisco, escorted by a strong guard, were conducted to the court-house +and placed at the bar. The court-house was crowded to excess, for the +interest excited was intense. + +Many of them who had been wounded in the attack upon the property of Don +Cumanos, and afterwards captured, had died in their confinement. Still +forty-five were placed at the bar; and their picturesque costume, their +bearded faces, and the atrocities which they had committed, created in +those present a sensation of anxiety mingled with horror and +indignation. + +Two of the youngest amongst them had been permitted to turn king's +evidence. They had been on board of the _Avenger_ but a few months; +still their testimony as to the murder of the crews of three West India +ships, and the attack upon the property of Don Cumanos, was quite +sufficient to condemn the remainder. + +Much time was necessarily expended in going through the forms of the +court; in the pirates answering to their various names; and, lastly, in +taking down the detailed evidence of the above men. It was late when the +evidence was read over to the pirates, and they were asked if they had +anything to offer in their defence. The question was repeated by the +judge; when Hawkhurst was the first to speak. To save himself he could +scarcely hope; his only object was to prevent Francisco pleading his +cause successfully, and escaping the same disgraceful death. + +[Illustration: _The pirates at the bar._] + +Hawkhurst declared that he had been some time on board the _Avenger_, +but that he had been taken out of a vessel and forced to serve against +his will, as could be proved by the captain's son, who stood there +(pointing to Francisco), who had been in the schooner since her first +fitting out: that he had always opposed the captain, who would not part +with him, because he was the only one on board who was competent to +navigate the schooner: that he had intended to rise against him, and +take the vessel, having often stimulated the crew so to do; and that, as +the other men, as well as the captain's son, could prove, if they +choose, he actually was in confinement for that attempt when the +schooner was entering the passage to the Caicos; and that he was only +released because he was acquainted with the passage, and threatened to +be thrown overboard if he did not take her in: that, at every risk, he +had run her on the rocks; and aware that the captain would murder him, +he had shot Cain as he was swimming to the shore, as the captain's son +could prove; for he had taxed him with it, and he was actually +struggling with him for life, when the officers and boats' crew +separated them, and made them both prisoners: that he hardly expected +that Francisco, the captain's son, would tell the truth to save him, as +he was his bitter enemy, and in the business at the Magdalen river, +which had been long planned (for Francisco had been sent on shore under +the pretence of being wrecked, but, in fact, to ascertain where the +booty was, and to assist the pirates in their attack), Francisco had +taken the opportunity of putting a bullet through his shoulder, which +was well known to the other pirates, and Francisco could not venture to +deny. He trusted that the court would order the torture to Francisco, +and then he would probably speak the truth; at all events, let him speak +now. + +When Hawkhurst had ceased to address the court, there was an anxious +pause for some minutes. The day was fast declining, and most parts of +the spacious court-house were already deeply immersed in gloom; while +the light, sober, solemn, and almost sad, gleamed upon the savage and +reckless countenances of the prisoners at the bar. The sun had sunk down +behind a mass of heavy yet gorgeous clouds, fringing their edges with +molten gold. Hawkhurst had spoken fluently and energetically, and there +was an appearance of almost honesty in his coarse and deep-toned voice. +Even the occasional oaths with which his speech was garnished, but which +we have omitted, seemed to be pronounced more in sincerity than in +blasphemy, and gave a more forcible impression to his narrative. + +We have said that when he concluded there was a profound silence; and +amid the fast-falling shadows of the evening, those who were present +began to feel, for the first time, the awful importance of the drama +before them, the number of lives which were trembling upon the verge of +existence, depending upon the single word of 'Guilty.' This painful +silence, this harrowing suspense, was at last broken by a restrained sob +from a female; but, owing to the obscurity involving the body of the +court, her person could not be distinguished. The wail of woman so +unexpected--for who could there be of that sex interested in the fate of +these desperate men?--touched the heart of its auditors, and appeared to +sow the first seeds of compassionate and humane feeling among those who +had hitherto expressed and felt nothing but indignation towards the +prisoners. + +The judge upon the bench, the counsel at the bar, and the jury +impannelled in their box, felt the force of the appeal; and it softened +down the evil impression created by the address of Hawkhurst against the +youthful Francisco. The eyes of all were now directed towards the one +doubly accused--accused not only by the public prosecutor, but even by +his associate in crime--and the survey was favourable. They acknowledged +that he was one whose personal qualities might indeed challenge the love +of woman in his pride, and her lament in his disgrace; and as their +regard was directed towards him, the sun, which had been obscured, now +pierced through a break in the mass of clouds, and threw a portion of +his glorious beams from a window opposite upon him, and him alone, while +all the other prisoners who surrounded him were buried more or less in +deep shadow. It was at once evident that his associates were bold yet +commonplace villains--men who owed their courage, their only virtue +perhaps, to their habits, to their physical organisation, or the +influence of those around them. They were mere human butchers, with the +only adjunct that, now that the trade was to be exercised upon +themselves, they could bear it with sullen apathy--a feeling how far +removed from true fortitude! Even Hawkhurst, though more commanding than +the rest, with all his daring mien and scowl of defiance, looked nothing +more than a distinguished ruffian. With the exception of Francisco, the +prisoners had wholly neglected their personal appearance; and in them +the squalid and sordid look of the mendicant seemed allied with the +ferocity of the murderer. + +Francisco was not only an exception, but formed a beautiful contrast to +the others; and as the evening beams lighted up his figure, he stood at +the bar, if not with all the splendour of a hero of romance, certainly a +most picturesque and interesting personage, elegantly if not richly +attired. + +The low sobs at intervals repeated, as if impossible to be checked, +seemed to rouse and call him to a sense of the important part which he +was called upon to act in the tragedy there and then performing. His +face was pale, yet composed; his mien at once proud and sorrowful; his +eye was bright, yet his glance was not upon those in court, but far +away, fixed, like an eagle's, upon the gorgeous beams of the setting +sun, which glowed upon him through the window that was in front of him. + +At last the voice of Francisco was heard, and all in that wide court +started at the sound--deep, full, and melodious as the evening chimes. +The ears of those present had, in the profound silence, but just +recovered from the harsh, deep-toned, and barbarous idiom of Hawkhurst's +address, when the clear, silvery, yet manly voice of Francisco riveted +their attention. The jury stretched forth their heads, the counsel and +all in court turned anxiously round towards the prisoner, even the judge +held up his forefinger to intimate his wish for perfect silence. + +'My lord and gentlemen,' commenced Francisco, 'when I first found myself +in this degrading situation, I had not thought to have spoken or to have +uttered one word in my defence. He that has just now accused me has +recommended the torture to be applied; he has already had his wish, for +what torture can be more agonising than to find myself where I now am? +So tortured, indeed, have I been through a short yet wretched life, that +I have often felt that anything short of self-destruction which would +release me would be a blessing; but within these few minutes I have been +made to acknowledge that I have still feelings in unison with my +fellow-creatures; that I am not yet fit for death, and all too young, +too unprepared to die: for who would not reluctantly leave this world +while there is such a beauteous sky to love and look upon, or while +there is one female breast who holds him innocent, and has evinced her +pity for his misfortunes? Yes, my lord! mercy, and pity, and compassion +have not yet fled from earth; and therefore do I feel I am too young to +die. God forgive me! but I thought they had--for never have they been +shown in those with whom by fate I have been connected; and it has been +from this conviction that I have so often longed for death. And now may +that righteous God who judges us not here, but hereafter, enable me to +prove that I do not deserve an ignominious punishment from my +fellow-sinners--men! + +'My lord, I know not the subtleties of the laws, nor the intricacy of +pleadings. First, let me assert that I have never robbed; but I have +restored unto the plundered: I have never murdered; but I have stood +between the assassin's knife and his victim. For this have I been hated +and reviled by my associates, and for this is my life now threatened by +those laws against which I never have offended. The man who last +addressed you has told you that I am the pirate captain's son; it is the +assertion of the only irreclaimable and utterly remorseless villain +among those who now stand before you to be judged--the assertion of one +whose glory, whose joy, whose solace, has been blood-shedding. + +'My lord, I had it from the mouth of the captain himself, previous to +his murder by that man, that I was not his son. His son! thank God, not +so. Connected with him and in his power I was most certainly and most +incomprehensibly. Before he died, he delivered me a packet that would +have told me who I am; but I have lost it, and deeply have I felt the +loss. One only fact I gained from him whom they would call my father, +which is, that with his own hand he slew--yes, basely slew--my mother.' + +The address of Francisco was here interrupted by a low deep groan of +anguish, which startled the whole audience. It was now quite dark, and +the judge ordered the court to be lighted previous to the defence being +continued. The impatience and anxiety of those present were shown in low +murmurs of communication until the lights were brought in. The word +'Silence!' from the judge produced an immediate obedience, and the +prisoner was ordered to proceed. + +Francisco then continued his address, commencing with the remembrances +of his earliest childhood. As he warmed with his subject he became more +eloquent; his action became energetical without violence; and the pallid +and modest youth gradually grew into the impassioned and inspired +orator. He recapitulated rapidly, yet distinctly and with terrible +force, all the startling events in his fearful life. There was truth in +the tones of his voice, there was conviction in his animated +countenance, there was innocence in his open and expressive brow. + +All who heard believed; and scarcely had he concluded his address, when +the jury appeared impatient to rise and give their verdict in his +favour. But the judge stood up, and addressing the jury, told them that +it was his most painful duty to remind them that as yet they had heard +but assertion, beautiful and almost convincing assertion truly; but +still it was not proof. + +'Alas!' observed Francisco, 'what evidence can I bring forward, except +the evidence of those around me at the bar, which will not be admitted? +Can I recall the dead from the grave? Can I expect those who have been +murdered to rise again to assert my innocence? Can I expect that Don +Cumanos will appear from distant leagues to give evidence on my behalf? +Alas! he knows not how I am situated, or he would have flown to my +succour. No, no; not even can I expect that the sweet Spanish maiden, +the last to whom I offered my protection, will appear in such a place as +this to meet the bold gaze of hundreds!' + +'She is here!' replied a manly voice; and a passage was made through the +crowd; and Clara, supported by Edward Templemore, dressed in his +uniform, was ushered into the box for the witnesses. The appearance of +the fair girl, who looked round her with alarm, created a great +sensation. As soon as she was sufficiently composed she was sworn, and +gave her evidence as to Francisco's behaviour during the time that she +was a prisoner on board of the _Avenger_. She produced the packet which +had saved the life of Francisco, and substantiated a great part of his +defence. She extolled his kindness and his generosity; and when she had +concluded every one asked of himself, 'Can this young man be a pirate +and a murderer?' The reply was, 'It is impossible.' + +[Illustration: _As soon as she was sufficiently composed, was sworn, and +gave her evidence._] + +'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, 'I request permission to ask the +prisoner a question. When I was on board of the wreck of the _Avenger_, +I found this book floating in the cabin. I wish to ask the prisoner +whether, as that young lady has informed me, it is his?' And Edward +Templemore produced the Bible. + +'It is mine,' replied Francisco. + +'May I ask you by what means it came into your possession?' + +'It is the only relic left of one who is now no more. It was the +consolation of my murdered mother; it has since been mine. Give it to +me, sir; I may probably need its support now more than ever.' + +'Was your mother murdered, say you?' cried Edward Templemore, with much +agitation. + +'I have already said so; and I now repeat it.' + +The judge again rose, and recapitulated the evidence to the jury. +Evidently friendly to Francisco, he was obliged to point out to them, +that although the evidence of the young lady had produced much which +might be offered in extenuation, and induce him to submit it to His +Majesty, in hopes of his gracious pardon after condemnation, yet, that +many acts in which the prisoner had been involved had endangered his +life, and no testimony had been brought forward to prove that he had +not, at one time, acted with the pirates, although he might since have +repented. They would, of course, remember that the evidence of the mate, +Hawkhurst, was not of any value, and must dismiss any impression which +it might have made against Francisco. At the same time he had the +unpleasant duty to point out that the evidence of the Spanish lady was +so far prejudicial, that it pointed out the good terms subsisting +between the young man and the pirate captain. Much as he was interested +in his fate, he must reluctantly remind the jury that the evidence on +the whole was not sufficient to clear the prisoner; and he considered it +their duty to return a verdict of _guilty against all the prisoners at +the bar_. + +'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, a few seconds after the judge had +resumed his seat, 'may not the contents of this packet, the seal of +which I have not ventured to break, afford some evidence in favour of +the prisoner? Have you any objection that it should be opened previous +to the jury delivering their verdict?' + +'None,' replied the judge; 'but what are its supposed contents?' + +'The contents, my lord,' replied Francisco, 'are in the writing of the +pirate captain. He delivered that packet into my hands previous to our +quitting the schooner, stating that it would inform me who were my +parents. My lord, in my present situation I claim that packet, and +refuse that its contents shall be read in court. If I am to die an +ignominious death, at least those who are connected with me shall not +have to blush at my disgrace, for the secret of my parentage shall die +with me.' + +'Nay--nay; be ruled by me,' replied Edward Templemore, with much +emotion. 'In the narrative, the handwriting of which can be proved by +the king's evidence, there may be acknowledgment of all you have stated, +and it will be received as evidence; will it not, my lord?' + +'If the handwriting is proved, I should think it may,' replied the +judge; 'particularly as the lady was present when the packet was +delivered, and heard the captain's assertion. Will you allow it to be +offered as evidence, young man?' + +'No, my lord,' replied Francisco; 'unless I have permission first to +peruse it myself. I will not have its contents divulged, unless I am +sure of an honourable acquittal. The jury must deliver their verdict.' + +The jury turned round to consult, during which Edward Templemore walked +to Francisco, accompanied by Clara, to entreat him to allow the packet +to be opened; but Francisco was firm against both their entreaties. At +last the foreman of the jury rose to deliver the verdict. A solemn and +awful silence prevailed throughout the court; the suspense was painful +to a degree. + +'My lord,' said the foreman of the jury, 'our verdict is----' + +'Stop, sir!' said Edward Templemore, as he clasped one arm round the +astonished Francisco, and extended the other towards the foreman. 'Stop, +sir! harm him not! for he is my brother!' + +'And my preserver!' cried Clara, kneeling on the other side of +Francisco, and holding up her hands in supplication. + +The announcement was electrical; the foreman dropped into his seat; the +judge and whole court were in mute astonishment. The dead silence was +followed by confusion, which, after a time, the judge in vain attempted +to put a stop to. + +Edward Templemore, Clara, and Francisco, continued to form the same +group; and never was there one more beautiful. And now that they were +together, every one in court perceived the strong resemblance between +the two young men. + +Francisco's complexion was darker than Edward's, from his constant +exposure, from infancy, to tropical sun; but the features of the two +were the same. + +It was some time before the judge could obtain silence in the court; and +when it had been obtained, he was himself puzzled how to proceed. + +Edward and Francisco, who had exchanged a few words, were now standing +side by side. + +'My lord,' said Edward Templemore, 'the prisoner consents that the +packet shall be opened.' + +'I do,' said Francisco mournfully; 'although I have but little hope from +its contents. Alas! now that I have everything to live for--now that I +cling to life, I feel as if every chance was gone! The days of miracles +have passed; and nothing but the miracle of the reappearance of the +pirate captain from the grave can prove my innocence.' + +'He reappears from the grave to prove thine innocence, Francisco!' said +a deep, hollow voice, which startled the whole court, and most of all +Hawkhurst and the prisoners at the bar. Still more did fear and horror +distort their countenances when into the witness-box stalked the giant +form of Cain. + +But it was no longer the figure which we have described in the +commencement of this narrative; his beard had been removed, and he was +pale, wan, and emaciated. His sunken eyes, his hollow cheek, and a short +cough, which interrupted his speech, proved that his days were nearly at +a close. + +'My lord,' said Cain, addressing the judge, 'I am the pirate Cain, and +was the captain of the _Avenger_! Still am I free! I come here +voluntarily, that I may attest the innocence of that young man! As yet, +my hand has not known the manacle, nor my feet the gyves! I am not a +prisoner, nor included in the indictment, and at present my evidence is +good. None know me in this court, except those whose testimony, as +prisoners, is unavailing; and therefore, to save that boy, and only to +save him, I demand that I may be sworn.' + +The oath was administered with more than usual solemnity. + +'My lord, and gentlemen of the jury, I have been in court since the +commencement of the trial, and I declare that every word which Francisco +has uttered in his own defence is true. He is totally innocent of any +act of piracy or murder; the packet would, indeed, have proved as much: +but in that packet there are secrets which I wished to remain unknown to +all but Francisco; and, rather than it should be opened, I have come +forward myself. How that young officer discovered that Francisco is his +brother I know not; but if he also is the son of Cecilia Templemore, it +is true. But the packet will explain all. + +'And now, my lords, that my evidence is received, I am content; I have +done one good deed before I die, and I surrender myself, as a pirate and +a foul murderer, to justice. True, my life is nearly closed--thanks to +that villain there; but I prefer that I should meet that death I merit, +as an expiation of my many deeds of guilt.' + +Cain then turned to Hawkhurst, who was close to him, but the mate +appeared to be in a state of stupor; he had not recovered from his first +terror, and still imagined the appearance of Cain to be supernatural. + +'Villain!' exclaimed Cain, putting his mouth close to Hawkhurst's ear; +'doubly d--d villain! thou'lt die like a dog, and unrevenged! The boy is +safe, and I'm alive!' + +'Art thou really living?' said Hawkhurst, recovering from his fear. + +'Yes, living--yes, flesh and blood; feel, wretch! feel this arm, and be +convinced; thou hast felt the power of it before now,' continued Cain +sarcastically. 'And now, my lord, I have done; Francisco, fare thee +well! I loved thee, and have proved my love. Hate not then my memory, +and forgive me--yes, forgive me when I'm no more,' said Cain, who then +turned his eyes to the ceiling of the court-house. 'Yes, there she is, +Francisco!--there she is! and see,' cried he, extending both arms +above his head, 'she smiles upon--yes, Francisco, your sainted mother +smiles and pardons----' + +[Illustration: _'Blood for blood!'_] + +The sentence was not finished; for Hawkhurst, when Cain's arms were +upheld, perceived his knife in his girdle, and, with the rapidity of +thought, he drew it out, and passed it through the body of the pirate +captain. + +Cain fell heavily on the floor, while the court was again in confusion. +Hawkhurst was secured, and Cain raised from the ground. + +'I thank thee, Hawkhurst!' said Cain, in an expiring voice; 'another +murder thou hast to answer for; and you have saved me from the disgrace, +not of the gallows, but of the gallows in thy company. Francisco, boy, +farewell!' and Cain groaned deeply, and expired. + +Thus perished the renowned pirate captain, who in his life had shed so +much blood, and whose death produced another murder. 'Blood for blood!' + +The body was removed; and it now remained but for the jury to give their +verdict. All the prisoners were found guilty, with the exception of +Francisco, who left the dock accompanied by his newly-found brother, and +the congratulations of every individual who could gain access to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +CONCLUSION + + +Our first object will be to explain to the reader by what means Edward +Templemore was induced to surmise that in Francisco, whom he had +considered as a rival, he had found a brother; and also to account for +the reappearance of the pirate Cain. + +In pursuance of his orders, Edward Templemore had proceeded on board of +the wreck of the _Avenger_; and while his men were employed in +collecting articles of great value which were on board of her, he had +descended into the cabin, which was partly under water. Here he had +picked up a book floating near the lockers, and on examination found it +to be a Bible. + +Surprised at seeing such a book on board of a pirate, he had taken it +with him when he returned to the _Enterprise_, and had shown it to +Clara, who immediately recognised it as the property of Francisco. The +book was saturated with the salt water, and as Edward mechanically +turned over the pages, he referred to the title-page to see if there was +any name upon it. There was not; but he observed that the blank or +fly-leaf next to the binding had been pasted down, and that there was +writing on the other side. In its present state it was easily detached +from the cover; and then, to his astonishment, he read the name of +Cecilia Templemore--his own mother. He knew well the history; how he had +been saved, and his mother and brother supposed to be lost; and it may +readily be imagined how great was his anxiety to ascertain by what means +her Bible had come into the possession of Francisco. He dared not think +Francisco was his brother--that he was so closely connected with one he +still supposed to be a pirate: but the circumstance was possible; and +although he had intended to have remained a few days longer, he now +listened to the entreaties of Clara, whose peculiar position on board +was only to be justified by the peculiar position from which she had +been rescued, and returning that evening to the wreck he set fire to +her, and then made all sail for Port Royal. + +Fortunately he arrived, as we have stated, on the day of the trial; and +as soon as the signal was made by the admiral he immediately manned his +gig, and taking Clara with him, in case her evidence might be of use, +arrived at the court-house when the trial was about half over. + +In our last chapter but one, we stated that Cain had been wounded by +Hawkhurst, when he was swimming on shore, and had sunk; the ball had +entered his chest, and passed through his lungs. The contest between +Hawkhurst and Francisco, and their capture by Edward, had taken place on +the other side of the ridge of rocks, in the adjacent cove, and although +Francisco had seen Cain disappear, and concluded that he was dead, it +was not so; he had again risen above the water, and dropping his feet +and finding bottom, he contrived to crawl out, and wade into a cave +adjacent, where he lay down to die. + +But in this cave there was one of the _Avenger's_ boats, two of the +pirates, mortally wounded, and the four Kroumen, who had concealed +themselves there with the intention of taking no part in the conflict, +and as soon as it became dark of making their escape in the boat, which +they had hauled up dry into the cave. + +Cain staggered in, recovered the dry land, and fell. Pompey, the +Krouman, perceiving his condition, went to his assistance and bound up +his wound, and the stanching of the blood soon revived the pirate +captain. The other pirates died unaided. + +Although the island was searched in every direction, this cave, from the +water flowing into it, escaped the vigilance of the British seamen; and +when they re-embarked with the majority of the pirates captured, Cain +and the Kroumen were undiscovered. + +As soon as it was dark Cain informed them of his intentions; and +although the Kroumen would probably have left him to his fate, yet, as +they required his services to know how to steer to some other island, he +was assisted into the stern-sheets, and the boat was backed out of the +cave. + +By the directions of Cain they passed through the passage between the +great island and the northern Cayque, and before daylight were far away +from any chance of capture. + +Cain had now to a certain degree recovered, and knowing that they were +in the channel of the small traders, he pointed put to the Kroumen that, +if supposed to be pirates, they would inevitably be punished, although +not guilty, and that they must pass off as the crew of a small +coasting-vessel which had been wrecked. He then, with the assistance of +Pompey, cut off his beard as close as he could, and arranged his dress +in a more European style. They had neither water nor provisions, and +were exposed to a vertical sun. Fortunately for them, and still more +fortunately for Francisco, on the second day they were picked up by an +American brig bound to Antigua. + +Cain narrated his fictitious disasters, but said nothing about his +wound, the neglect of which would certainly have occasioned his death a +very few days after he appeared at the trial, had he not fallen by the +malignity of Hawkhurst. + +Anxious to find his way to Port Royal, for he was indifferent as to his +own life, and only wished to save Francisco, he was overjoyed to meet a +small schooner trading between the islands, bound to Port Royal. In that +vessel he obtained a passage for himself and the Kroumen, and had +arrived three days previous to the trial, and during that time had +remained concealed until the day that the Admiralty Court assembled. + +It may be as well here to remark that Cain's reason for not wishing the +packet to be opened was, that among the other papers relative to +Francisco were directions for the recovery of the treasure which he had +concealed, and which, of course, he wished to be communicated to +Francisco alone. + +We will leave the reader to imagine what passed between Francisco and +Edward after the discovery of their kindred, and proceed to state the +contents of the packet, which the twin-brothers now opened in the +presence of Clara alone. + +We must, however, condense the matter, which was very voluminous. It +stated that Cain, whose real name was Charles Osborne, had sailed in a +fine schooner from Bilboa, for the coast of Africa, to procure a cargo +of slaves; and had been out about twenty-four hours when the crew +perceived a boat, apparently with no one in her, floating about a mile +ahead of them. The water was then smooth, and the vessel had but little +way. As soon as they came up with the boat, they lowered down their +skiff to examine her. + +The men sent in the skiff soon returned, towing the boat alongside. +Lying at the bottom of the boat were found several men almost dead, and +reduced to skeletons, and in the stern-sheets a negro woman, with a +child at her breast, and a white female in the last state of exhaustion. + +Osborne was then a gay and unprincipled man, but not a hardened villain +and murderer, as he afterwards became; he had compassion and feeling. +They were all taken on board the schooner: some recovered, others were +too much exhausted. Among those restored was Cecilia Templemore and the +infant, who at first had been considered quite dead; but the negro +woman, exhausted by the demands of her nursling and her privations, +expired as she was being removed from the boat. A goat, that fortunately +was on board, proved a substitute for the negress; and before Osborne +had arrived off the coast, the child had recovered its health and +vigour, and the mother her extreme beauty. + +We must now pass over a considerable portion of the narrative. Osborne +was impetuous in his passions, and Cecilia Templemore became his victim. +He had, indeed, afterwards quieted her qualms of conscience by a +pretended marriage, when he arrived at the Brazils with his cargo of +human flesh. But that was little alleviation of her sufferings; she who +had been indulged in every luxury, who had been educated with the +greatest care, was now lost for ever, an outcast from the society to +which she could never hope to return, and associating with those she +both dreaded and despised. She passed her days and her nights in tears; +and had soon more cause for sorrow from the brutal treatment she +received from Osborne, who had been her destroyer. Her child was her +only solace; but for him, and the fear of leaving him to the +demoralising influence of those about him, she would have laid down and +died: but she lived for him--for him attempted to recall Osborne from +his career of increasing guilt--bore meekly with reproaches and with +blows. At last Osborne changed his nefarious life for one of deeper +guilt: he became a pirate, and still carried with him Cecilia and her +child. + +This was the climax of her misery; she now wasted from day to day, and +grief would soon have terminated her existence, had it not been +hastened by the cruelty of Cain, who, upon an expostulation on her part, +followed up with a denunciation of the consequences of his guilty +career, struck her with such violence that she sank under the blow. She +expired with a prayer that her child might be rescued from a life of +guilt; and when the then repentant Cain promised what he never did +perform, she blessed him, too, before she died. + +Such was the substance of the narrative, as far as it related to the +unfortunate mother of these two young men, who, when they had concluded, +sat hand-in-hand in mournful silence. This, however, was soon broken by +the innumerable questions asked by Edward of his brother, as to what he +could remember of their ill-fated parent, which were followed up by the +history of Francisco's eventful life. + +'And the treasure, Edward,' said Francisco; 'I cannot take possession of +it.' + +'No, nor shall you either,' replied Edward; 'it belongs to the captors, +and must be shared as prize-money. You will never touch one penny of it; +but I shall, I trust, pocket a very fair proportion of it! However, keep +this paper, as it is addressed to you.' + +The admiral had been made acquainted with all the particulars of this +eventful trial, and had sent a message to Edward, requesting that, as +soon as he and his brother could make it convenient, he would be happy +to see them at the Penn, as well as the daughter of the Spanish +governor, whom he must consider as being under his protection during the +time that she remained at Port Royal. This offer was gladly accepted by +Clara; and on the second day after the trial they proceeded up to the +Penn. Clara and Francisco were introduced, and apartments and suitable +attendance provided for the former. + +'Templemore,' said the admiral, 'I'm afraid I must send you away to +Porto Rico, to assure the governor of his daughter's safety.' + +'I would rather you would send some one else, sir, and I'll assure her +happiness in the meantime.' + +'What! by marrying her? Humph! you've a good opinion of yourself! Wait +till you're a captain, sir.' + +'I hope I shall not have to wait long, sir,' replied Edward demurely. + +[Illustration: _'Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!'_] + +'By the bye,' said the admiral, 'did you not say you have notice of +treasure concealed in those islands?' + +'My brother has: I have not.' + +'We must send for it. I think we must send you, Edward. Mr. Francisco, +you must go with him.' + +'With pleasure, sir,' replied Francisco, laughing; 'but I think I'd +rather wait till Edward is a captain! His wife and his fortune ought to +come together. I think I shall not deliver up my papers until the day of +his marriage!' + +'Upon my word,' said Captain Manly, 'I wish, Templemore, you had your +commission, for there seems so much depending on it--the young lady's +happiness, my share of the prize-money, and the admiral's eighth. +Really, admiral, it becomes a common cause; and I'm sure he deserves +it!' + +'So do I, Manly,' replied the admiral; 'and to prove that I have thought +so, here comes Mr. Hadley with it in his hand: it only wants one little +thing to complete it----' + +'Which is your signature, admiral, I presume,' replied Captain Manly, +taking a pen full of ink, and presenting it to his senior officer. + +'Exactly,' replied the admiral, scribbling at the bottom of the paper; +'and now--it does not want that. Captain Templemore, I wish you joy!' + +Edward made a very low obeisance, as his flushed countenance indicated +his satisfaction. + +'I cannot give commissions, admiral,' said Francisco, presenting a paper +in return; 'but I can give information--and you will find it not +unimportant--for the treasure appears of great value.' + +'God bless my soul! Manly, you must start at daylight!' exclaimed the +admiral; 'why, there is enough to load your sloop! There!--read it!--and +then I will write your orders, and enclose a copy of it, for fear of +accident.' + +'That was to have been my fortune,' said Francisco, with a grave smile; +'but I would not touch it.' + +'Very right, boy!--a fine principle! But we are not quite so +particular,' said the admiral. 'Now, where's the young lady? Let her +know that dinner's on the table.' + +A fortnight after this conversation, Captain Manly returned with the +treasure; and the _Enterprise_, commanded by another officer, returned +from Porto Rico, with a letter from the governor in reply to one from +the admiral, in which the rescue of his daughter by Edward had been +communicated. The letter was full of thanks to the admiral, and +compliments to Edward; and, what was of more importance, it sanctioned +the union of the young officer with his daughter, with a dozen boxes of +gold doubloons. + +About six weeks after the above-mentioned important conversation, Mr. +Witherington, who had been reading a voluminous packet of letters in his +breakfast-room in Finsbury Square, pulled his bell so violently that old +Jonathan thought his master must be out of his senses. This, however, +did not induce him to accelerate his solemn and measured pace; and he +made his appearance at the door, as usual, without speaking. + +'Why don't that fellow answer the bell?' cried Mr. Witherington. + +'I am here, sir,' said Jonathan solemnly. + +'Well, so you are! but, confound you! you come like the ghost of a +butler! But who do you think is coming here, Jonathan?' + +'I cannot tell, sir.' + +'But I can!--you solemn old----Edward's coming here!--coming home +directly!' + +'Is he to sleep in his old room, sir?' replied the imperturbable butler. + +'No; the best bedroom! Why, Jonathan, he is married--he is made a +captain--Captain Templemore!' + +'Yes--sir.' + +'And he has found his brother, Jonathan; his twin-brother!' + +'Yes--sir.' + +'His brother Francis--that was supposed to be lost! But it's a long +story, Jonathan!--and a very wonderful one!--his poor mother has long +been dead!' + +'_In coelo quies!_' said Jonathan, casting up his eyes. + +'But his brother has turned up again.' + +'_Resurgam!_' said the butler. + +'They will be here in ten days--so let everything be in readiness, +Jonathan. God bless my soul!' continued the old gentleman, 'I hardly +know what I'm about. It's a Spanish girl, Jonathan!' + +[Illustration: 'Resurgam!' _said the butler._] + +'What is, sir?' + +'What is, sir!--why, Captain Templemore's wife; and he was tried as a +pirate!' + +'Who, sir?' + +'Who, sir? why, Francis, his brother! Jonathan, you're a stupid old +fellow!' + +'Have you any further commands, sir?' + +'No--no!--there--that'll do--go away.' + +And in three weeks after this conversation, Captain and Mrs. Templemore, +and his brother Frank, were established in the house, to the great +delight of Mr. Witherington; for he had long been tired of solitude and +old Jonathan. + +The twin-brothers were a comfort to him in his old age: they closed his +eyes in peace--they divided his blessing and his large fortune--and thus +ends our history of THE PIRATE! + + + + +THE THREE CUTTERS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +CUTTER THE FIRST + + +Reader, have you ever been at Plymouth? If you have, your eye must have +dwelt with ecstasy upon the beautiful property of the Earl of Mount +Edgcumbe: if you have not been at Plymouth, the sooner that you go there +the better. At Mount Edgcumbe you will behold the finest timber in +existence, towering up to the summits of the hills, and feathering down +to the shingle on the beach. And from this lovely spot you will witness +one of the most splendid panoramas in the world. You will see--I hardly +know what you will not see--you will see Ram Head, and Cawsand Bay; and +then you will see the Breakwater, and Drake's Island, and the Devil's +Bridge below you; and the town of Plymouth and its fortifications, and +the Hoe; and then you will come to the Devil's Point, round which the +tide runs devilish strong; and then you will see the New Victualling +Office--about which Sir James Gordon used to stump all day, and take a +pinch of snuff from every man who carried a box, which all were +delighted to give, and he was delighted to receive, proving how much +pleasure may be communicated merely by a pinch of snuff; and then you +will see Mount Wise and Mutton Cove; the town of Devonport, with its +magnificent dockyard and arsenals, North Corner, and the way which leads +to Saltash. And you will see ships building and ships in ordinary; and +ships repairing and ships fitting; and hulks and convict ships, and the +guardship; ships ready to sail and ships under sail; besides lighters, +men-of-war's boats, dockyard-boats, bumboats, and shore-boats. In short, +there is a great deal to see at Plymouth besides the sea itself: but +what I particularly wish now is, that you will stand at the Battery of +Mount Edgcumbe and look into Barn Pool below you, and there you will +see, lying at single anchor, a cutter; and you may also see, by her +pendant and ensign, that she is a yacht. + +Of all the amusements entered into by the nobility and gentry of our +island there is not one so manly, so exciting, so patriotic, or so +national as yacht-sailing. It is peculiar to England, not only from our +insular position and our fine harbours, but because it requires a +certain degree of energy and a certain amount of income rarely to be +found elsewhere. It has been wisely fostered by our sovereigns, who have +felt that the security of the kingdom is increased by every man being +more or less a sailor, or connected with the nautical profession. It is +an amusement of the greatest importance to the country, as it has much +improved our ship-building and our ship-fitting, while it affords +employment to our seamen and shipwrights. But if I were to say all that +I could say in praise of yachts, I should never advance with my +narrative. I shall therefore drink a bumper to the health of Admiral +Lord Yarborough and the Yacht Club, and proceed. + +You observe that this yacht is cutter-rigged, and that she sits +gracefully on the smooth water. She is just heaving up her anchor; her +foresail is loose, all ready to cast her--in a few minutes she will be +under way. You see that there are ladies sitting at the taffrail; and +there are five haunches of venison hanging over the stern. Of all +amusements, give me yachting. But we must go on board. The deck, you +observe, is of narrow deal planks as white as snow; the guns are of +polished brass; the bitts and binnacles of mahogany; she is painted with +taste; and all the mouldings are gilded. There is nothing wanting; and +yet how clear and unencumbered are her decks! Let us go below. This is +the ladies' cabin: can anything be more tasteful or elegant? is it not +luxurious? and, although so small, does not its very confined space +astonish you, when you view so many comforts so beautifully arranged? +This is the dining-room, and where the gentlemen repair. What can be +more complete or _recherche_? And just peep into their state-rooms and +bed-places. Here is the steward's room and the beaufet: the steward is +squeezing lemons for the punch, and there is the champagne in ice; and +by the side of the pail the long corks are ranged up, all ready. Now, +let us go forwards: here are the men's berths, not confined as in a +man-of-war. No; luxury starts from abaft, and is not wholly lost even at +the fore-peak. This is the kitchen: is it not admirably arranged? What a +_multum in parvo_! And how delightful are the fumes of the turtle-soup! +At sea we do meet with rough weather at times; but, for roughing it out, +give me a _yacht_. Now that I have shown you round the vessel, I must +introduce the parties on board. + +You observe that florid, handsome man, in white trousers and blue +jacket, who has a telescope in one hand, and is sipping a glass of +brandy and water which he has just taken off the skylight. That is the +owner of the vessel, and a member of the Yacht Club. It is Lord B----: +he looks like a sailor, and he does not much belie his looks; yet I have +seen him in his robes of state at the opening of the House of Lords. The +one near to him is Mr. Stewart, a lieutenant in the navy. He holds on by +the rigging with one hand, because, having been actively employed all +his life, he does not know what to do with hands which have nothing in +them. He is a _protege_ of Lord B., and is now on board as +sailing-master of the yacht. + +That handsome, well-built man, who is standing by the binnacle, is a Mr. +Hautaine. He served six years as midshipman in the navy, and did not +like it. He then served six years in a cavalry regiment, and did not +like it. He then married, and in a much shorter probation found that he +did not like that. But he is very fond of yachts and other men's wives, +if he does not like his own; and wherever he goes, he is welcome. + +That young man with an embroidered silk waistcoat and white gloves, +bending to talk to one of the ladies, is a Mr. Vaughan. He is to be seen +at Almack's, at Crockford's, and everywhere else. Everybody knows him, +and he knows everybody. He is a little in debt, and yachting is +convenient. + +The one who sits by the lady is a relation of Lord B.; you see at once +what he is. He apes the sailor; he has not shaved, because sailors have +no time to shave every day; he has not changed his linen, because +sailors cannot change every day. He has a cigar in his mouth, which +makes him half sick and annoys his company. He talks of the pleasure of +a rough sea, which will drive all the ladies below--and then they will +not perceive that he is more sick than themselves. He has the misfortune +to be born to a large estate, and to be a _fool_. His name is Ossulton. + +[Illustration: _The ladies._] + +The last of the gentlemen on board whom I have to introduce is Mr. +Seagrove. He is slightly made, with marked features full of +intelligence. He has been brought up to the bar; and has every +qualification but application. He has never had a brief, nor has he a +chance of one. He is the fiddler of the company, and he has locked up +his chambers and come, by invitation of his lordship, to play on board +of his yacht. + +I have yet to describe the ladies--perhaps I should have commenced with +them--I must excuse myself upon the principle of reserving the best to +the last. All puppet-showmen do so; and what is this but the first scene +in my puppet-show? + +We will describe them according to seniority. That tall, thin, +cross-looking lady of forty-five is a spinster, and sister to Lord B. +She had been persuaded, very much against her will, to come on board; +but her notions of propriety would not permit her niece to embark under +the protection of _only_ her father. She is frightened at everything: if +a rope is thrown down on the deck, up she starts, and cries 'Oh!' if on +the deck, she thinks the water is rushing in below; if down below, and +there is a noise, she is convinced there is danger; and if it be +perfectly still, she is sure there is something wrong. She fidgets +herself and everybody, and is quite a nuisance with her pride and +ill-humour; but she has strict notions of propriety, and sacrifices +herself as a martyr. She is the Hon. Miss Ossulton. + +The lady who, when she smiles, shows so many dimples in her pretty oval +face, is a young widow, of the name of Lascelles. She married an old man +to please her father and mother, which was very dutiful on her part. She +was rewarded by finding herself a widow with a large fortune. Having +married the first time to please her parents, she intends now to marry +to please herself; but she is very young, and is in no hurry. + +That young lady with such a sweet expression of countenance is the Hon. +Miss Cecilia Ossulton. She is lively, witty, and has no fear in her +composition; but she is very young yet, not more than seventeen--and +nobody knows what she really is--she does not know herself. These are +the parties who meet in the cabin of the yacht. The crew consists of ten +fine seamen, the steward and the cook. There is also Lord B.'s valet, +Mr. Ossulton's gentleman, and the lady's-maid of Miss Ossulton. There +not being accommodation for them, the other servants have been left on +shore. + +[Illustration: _The Hon. Miss Cecilia Ossulton._] + +The yacht is now under way, and her sails are all set. She is running +between Drake's Island and the main. Dinner has been announced. As the +reader has learnt something about the preparations, I leave him to judge +whether it be not very pleasant to sit down to dinner in a yacht. The +air has given everybody an appetite; and it was not until the cloth was +removed that the conversation became general. + +'Mr. Seagrove,' said his lordship, 'you very nearly lost your passage; I +expected you last Thursday.' + +'I am sorry, my lord, that business prevented my sooner attending to +your lordship's kind summons.' + +'Come, Seagrove, don't be nonsensical,' said Hautaine; 'you told me +yourself, the other evening, when you were talkative, that you had never +had a brief in your life.' + +'And a very fortunate circumstance,' replied Seagrove; 'for if I had had +a brief I should not have known what to have done with it. It is not my +fault; I am fit for nothing but a commissioner. But still I had +business, and very important business, too. I was summoned by Ponsonby +to go with him to Tattersall's, to give my opinion about a horse he +wishes to purchase, and then to attend him to Forest Wild to plead his +cause with his uncle.' + +'It appears, then, that you were retained,' replied Lord B.; 'may I ask +you whether your friend gained his cause?' + +'No, my lord, he lost his cause, but he gained a suit.' + +'Expound your riddle, sir,' said Cecilia Ossulton. + +'The fact is, that old Ponsonby is very anxious that William should +marry Miss Percival, whose estates join on to Forest Wild. Now, my +friend William is about as fond of marriage as I am of law, and thereby +issue was joined.' + +'But why were you to be called in?' inquired Mrs. Lascelles. + +'Because, madam, as Ponsonby never buys a horse without consulting +me----' + +'I cannot see the analogy, sir,' observed Miss Ossulton, senior, +bridling up. + +'Pardon me, madam: the fact is,' continued Seagrove, 'that, as I always +have to back Ponsonby's horses, he thought it right that, in this +instance, I should back him: he required special pleading, but his uncle +tried him for the capital offence, and he was not allowed counsel. As +soon as we arrived, and I had bowed myself into the room, Mr. Ponsonby +bowed me out again--which would have been infinitely more jarring to my +feelings, had not the door been left ajar.' + +'Do anything but pun, Seagrove,' interrupted Hautaine. + +'Well then, I will take a glass of wine.' + +'Do so,' said his lordship; 'but recollect the whole company are +impatient for your story.' + +'I can assure you, my lord, that it was equal to any scene in a comedy.' + +Now be it observed that Mr. Seagrove had a great deal of comic talent; +he was an excellent mimic, and could alter his voice almost as he +pleased. It was a custom of his to act a scene as between other people, +and he performed it remarkably well. Whenever he said that anything he +was going to narrate was 'as good as a comedy,' it was generally +understood by those who were acquainted with him that he was to be asked +so to do. Cecilia Ossulton therefore immediately said, 'Pray act it, Mr. +Seagrove.' + +Upon which, Mr. Seagrove--premising that he had not only heard but also +seen all that passed--changing his voice, and suiting the action to the +word, commenced. + +'It may,' said he, 'be called + +"FIVE THOUSAND ACRES IN A RING-FENCE"' + +We shall not describe Mr. Seagrove's motions; they must be inferred from +his words. + +'"It will then, William," observed Mr. Ponsonby, stopping, and turning +to his nephew, after a rapid walk up and down the room with his hands +behind him under his coat, so as to allow the tails to drop their +perpendicular about three inches clear of his body, "I may say, without +contradiction, be the finest property in the county--five thousand acres +in a ring-fence." + +'"I daresay it will, uncle," replied William, tapping his foot, as he +lounged in a green morocco easy-chair; "and so, because you have set +your fancy upon having these two estates enclosed together in a +ring-fence, you wish that I should be also enclosed in a _ring_-fence." + +'"And a beautiful property it will be," replied Mr. Ponsonby. + +'"Which, uncle? the estate or the wife?" + +'"Both, nephew, both; and I expect your consent." + +'"Uncle, I am not avaricious. Your present property is sufficient for +me. With your permission, instead of doubling the property, and doubling +myself, I will remain your sole heir and single." + +'"Observe, William, such an opportunity may not occur again for +centuries. We shall restore Forest Wild to its ancient boundaries. You +know it has been divided nearly two hundred years. We now have a +glorious, golden opportunity of reuniting the two properties; and when +joined, the estate will be exactly what it was when granted to our +ancestors by Henry VIII., at the period of the Reformation. This house +must be pulled down, and the monastery left standing. Then we shall have +our own again, and the property without encumbrance." + +'"Without encumbrance, uncle! You forget that there will be a wife." + +'"And you forget that there will be five thousand acres in a +ring-fence." + +'"Indeed, uncle, you ring it too often in my ears that I should forget +it. But, much as I should like to be the happy possessor of such a +property, I do not feel inclined to be the happy possessor of Miss +Percival; and the more so, as I have never seen the property." + +'"We will ride over it to-morrow, William." + +'"Ride over Miss Percival, uncle! That will not be very gallant. I will, +however, one of these days ride over the property with you, which, as +well as Miss Percival, I have not as yet seen." + +'"Then I can tell you she is a very pretty property." + +'"If she were not in a ring-fence." + +'"In good heart, William. That is, I mean an excellent disposition." + +'"Valuable in matrimony." + +'"And well tilled--I should say well educated--by her three maiden +aunts, who are the patterns of propriety." + +'"Does any one follow the fashion?" + +"In a high state of cultivation; that is, her mind highly cultivated, +and according to the last new system--what is it?" + +'"A four-course shift, I presume," replied William, laughing; "that is, +dancing, singing, music, and drawing." + +'"And only seventeen! Capital soil, promising good crops. What would you +have more?" + +"A very pretty estate, uncle, if it were not the estate of matrimony. I +am sorry, very sorry, to disappoint you; but I must decline taking a +lease of it for life." + +'"Then, sir, allow me to hint to you that in my testament you are only a +tenant-at-will. I consider it a duty that I owe to the family that the +estate should be re-united. That can only be done by one of our family +marrying Miss Percival; and as you will not, I shall now write to your +cousin James, and if he accept my proposal, shall make _him_ my heir. +Probably he will more fully appreciate the advantages of five thousand +acres in a ring-fence." + +'And Mr. Ponsonby directed his steps towards the door. + +'"Stop, my dear uncle," cried William, rising up from his easy-chair; +"we do not quite understand one another. It is very true that I would +prefer half the property and remaining single, to the two estates and +the estate of marriage; but at the same time I did not tell you that I +would prefer beggary to a wife and five thousand acres in a ring-fence. +I know you to be a man of your word. I accept your proposal, and you +need not put my cousin James to the expense of postage." + +'"Very good, William; I require no more: and as I know you to be a man +of your word, I shall consider this match as settled. It was on this +account only that I sent for you, and now you may go back again as soon +as you please. I will let you know when all is ready." + +"I must be at Tattersall's on Monday, uncle; there is a horse I must +have for next season. Pray, uncle, may I ask when you are likely to want +me?" + +'"Let me see--this is May--about July, I should think." + +"July, uncle! Spare me--I cannot marry in the dog-days. No, hang it! not +July." + +'"Well, William, perhaps, as you must come down once or twice to see +the property--Miss Percival, I should say--it may be too soon--suppose +we put it off till October?" + +'"October--I shall be down at Melton." + +'"Pray, sir, may I then inquire what portion of the year is not, with +you, _dog_-days?" + +'"Why, uncle, next April, now--I think that would do." + +'"Next April! Eleven months, and a winter between. Suppose Miss Percival +was to take a cold and die." + +'"I should be excessively obliged to her," thought William. + +'"No, no!" continued Mr. Ponsonby: "there is nothing certain in this +world, William." + +'"Well then, uncle, suppose we arrange it for the first _hard frost_." + +'"We have had no hard frosts lately, William. We may wait for years. The +sooner it is over the better. Go back to town, buy your horse, and then +come down here, my dear William, to oblige your uncle--never mind the +dog-days." + +'"Well, sir, if I am to make a sacrifice, it shall not be done by +halves; out of respect for you I will even marry in July, without any +regard to the thermometer." + +'"You are a good boy, William. Do you want a cheque?" + +'"I have had one to-day," thought William, and was almost at fault. "I +shall be most thankful, sir--they sell horseflesh by the ounce +nowadays." + +'"And you pay in pounds. There, William." + +'"Thank you, sir, I'm all obedience; and I'll keep my word, even if +there should be a comet. I'll go and buy the horse, and then I shall be +ready to take the ring-fence as soon as you please." + +'"Yes, and you'll get over it cleverly, I've no doubt. Five thousand +acres, William, and--a pretty wife!" + +'"Have you any further commands, uncle?" said William, depositing the +cheque in his pocket-book. + +'"None, my dear boy; are you going?" + +'"Yes, sir; I dine at the Clarendon." + +'"Well, then, good-bye. Make my compliments and excuses to your friend +Seagrove. You will come on Tuesday or Wednesday." + +'Thus was concluded the marriage between William Ponsonby and Emily +Percival, and the junction of the two estates, which formed together +the great desideratum--_five thousand acres in a ring-fence_.' + +Mr. Seagrove finished, and he looked round for approbation. + +'Very good indeed, Seagrove,' said his lordship; 'you must take a glass +of wine after that.' + +'I would not give much for Miss Percival's chance of happiness,' +observed the elder Miss Ossulton. + +'Of two evils choose the least, they say,' observed Mr. Hautaine. 'Poor +Ponsonby could not help himself.' + +'That's a very polite observation of yours, Mr. Hautaine--I thank you in +the name of the sex,' replied Cecilia Ossulton. + +'Nay, Miss Ossulton; would you like to marry a person whom you never +saw?' + +'Most certainly not; but when you mentioned the two evils, Mr. Hautaine, +I appeal to your honour, did you not refer to marriage or beggary?' + +'I must confess it, Miss Ossulton; but it is hardly fair to call on my +honour to get me into a scrape.' + +'I only wish that the offer had been made to me,' observed Vaughan; 'I +should not have hesitated as Ponsonby did.' + +'Then I beg you will not think of proposing for me,' said Mrs. +Lascelles, laughing; for Mr. Vaughan had been excessively attentive. + +'It appears to me, Vaughan,' observed Seagrove, 'that you have slightly +committed yourself by that remark.' + +Vaughan, who thought so too, replied, 'Mrs. Lascelles must be aware that +I was only joking.' + +'Fie! Mr. Vaughan,' cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it came from your +heart.' + +'My dear Cecilia,' said the elder Miss Ossulton, 'you forget +yourself--what can you possibly know about gentlemen's hearts?' + +'The Bible says that they are "deceitful and desperately wicked," aunt.' + +'And cannot we also quote the Bible against your sex, Miss Ossulton?' +replied Seagrove. + +'Yes, you could, perhaps, if any of you had ever read it,' replied Miss +Ossulton carelessly. + +'Upon my word, Cissy, you are throwing the gauntlet down to the +gentlemen,' observed Lord B.; 'but I shall throw my warder down, and not +permit this combat _a l'outrance_. I perceive you drink no more wine, +gentlemen; we will take our coffee on deck.' + +[Illustration: _'Fie! Mr. Vaughan, cried Cecilia Ossulton; 'you know it +came from your heart.'_] + +'We were just about to retire, my lord,' observed the elder Miss +Ossulton, with great asperity; 'I have been trying to catch the eye of +Mrs. Lascelles for some time, but----' + +'I was looking another way, I presume,' interrupted Mrs. Lascelles, +smiling. + +'I am afraid that I am the unfortunate culprit,' said Mr. Seagrove. 'I +was telling a little anecdote to Mrs. Lascelles----' + +'Which, of course, from its being communicated in an undertone, was not +proper for all the company to hear,' replied the elder Miss Ossulton; +'but if Mrs. Lascelles is now ready----' continued she, bridling up, as +she rose from her chair. + +'At all events, I can hear the remainder of it on deck,' replied Mrs. +Lascelles. The ladies rose and went into the cabin, Cecilia and Mrs. +Lascelles exchanging very significant smiles as they followed the +precise spinster, who did not choose that Mrs. Lascelles should take the +lead merely because she had once happened to have been married. The +gentlemen also broke up, and went on deck. + +'We have a nice breeze now, my lord,' observed Mr. Stewart, who had +remained on deck, 'and we lie right up Channel.' + +'So much the better,' replied his lordship; 'we ought to have been +anchored at Cowes a week ago. They will all be there before us.' + +'Tell Mr. Simpson to bring me a light for my cigar,' said Mr. Ossulton +to one of the men. + +Mr. Stewart went down to his dinner; the ladies and the coffee came on +deck; the breeze was fine, the weather (it was April) almost warm; and +the yacht, whose name was the _Arrow_, assisted by the tide, soon left +the Mewstone far astern. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +CUTTER THE SECOND + + +Reader, have you ever been at Portsmouth? If you have, you must have +been delighted with the view from the saluting battery; and if you have +not, you had better go there as soon as you can. From the saluting +battery you may look up the harbour, and see much of what I have +described at Plymouth; the scenery is different, but similar arsenals +and dockyards, and an equal portion of our stupendous navy, are to be +found there; and you will see Gosport on the other side of the harbour, +and Sallyport close to you; besides a great many other places, which +from the saluting battery you cannot see. And then there is Southsea +Beach to your left. Before you, Spithead, with the men-of-war, and the +Motherbank crowded with merchant vessels; and there is the buoy where +the _Royal George_ was wrecked and where she still lies, the fish +swimming in and out of her cabin windows; but that is not all; you can +also see the Isle of Wight--Ryde with its long-wooden pier, and Cowes, +where the yachts lie. In fact, there is a great deal to be seen at +Portsmouth as well as at Plymouth; but what I wish you particularly to +see just how is a vessel holding fast to the buoy just off the saluting +battery. She is a cutter; and you may know that she belongs to the +Preventive Service by the number of gigs and galleys which she has +hoisted up all round her. She looks like a vessel that was about to sail +with a cargo of boats; two on deck, one astern, one on each side of her. +You observe that she is painted black, and all her boats are white. She +is not such an elegant vessel as the yacht, and she is much more +lumbered up. She has no haunches of venison hanging over the stern, but +I think there is a leg of mutton and some cabbages hanging by their +stalks. But revenue cutters are not yachts. You will find no turtle or +champagne; but, nevertheless, you will, perhaps, find a joint to carve +at, a good glass of grog, and a hearty welcome. + +Let us go on board. You observe the guns are iron, and painted black, +and her bulwarks are painted red; it is not a very becoming colour, but +then it lasts a long while, and the dockyard is not very generous on the +score of paint--or lieutenants of the navy troubled with much spare +cash. She has plenty of men, and fine men they are; all dressed in red +flannel shirts and blue trousers; some of them have not taken off their +canvas or tarpaulin petticoats, which are very useful to them, as they +are in the boats night and day, and in all weathers. But we will at once +go down into the cabin, where we shall find the lieutenant who commands +her, a master's mate, and a midshipman. They have each their tumbler +before them, and are drinking gin-toddy, hot, with sugar--capital gin, +too, 'bove proof; it is from that small anker standing under the table. +It was one that they forgot to return to the custom-house when they made +their last seizure. We must introduce them. + +The elderly personage, with grizzly hair and whiskers, a round pale +face, and a somewhat red nose (being too much in the wind will make the +nose red, and this old officer is very often 'in the wind,' of course, +from the very nature of his profession), is a Lieutenant Appleboy. He +has served in every class of vessel in the service, and done the duty of +first lieutenant for twenty years; he is now on promotion--that is to +say, after he has taken a certain number of tubs of gin, he will be +rewarded with his rank as commander. It is a pity that what he takes +inside of him does not count, for he takes it morning, noon, and night. +He is just filling his fourteenth glass: he always keeps a regular +account, as he never exceeds his limited number, which is seventeen; +then he is exactly down to his bearings. + +The master's mate's name is Tomkins; he has served his six years three +times over, and has now outgrown his ambition; which is fortunate for +him, as his chances of promotion are small. He prefers a small vessel to +a large one, because he is not obliged to be so particular in his +dress--and looks for his lieutenancy whenever there shall be another +charity promotion. He is fond of soft bread, for his teeth are all +absent without leave; he prefers porter to any other liquor, but he can +drink his glass of grog, whether it be based upon rum, brandy, or the +liquor now before him. + +[Illustration: _Lieutenant Appleboy._] + +Mr. Smith is the name of that young gentleman whose jacket is so out at +the elbows; he has been intending to mend it these last two months, but +is too lazy to go to his chest for another. He has been turned out of +half the ships in the service for laziness; but he was born so--and +therefore it is not his fault. A revenue cutter suits him, she is half +her time hove-to; and he has no objection to boat-service, as he sits +down always in the stern-sheets, which is not fatiguing. Creeping for +tubs is his delight, as he gets over so little ground. He is fond of +grog, but there is some trouble in carrying the tumbler so often to his +mouth; so he looks at it, and lets it stand. He says little because he +is too lazy to speak. He has served more than _eight years_; but as for +passing--it has never come into his head. Such are the three persons who +are now sitting in the cabin of the revenue cutter, drinking hot +gin-toddy. + +'Let me see, it was, I think, in ninety-three or ninety-four. Before you +were in the service, Tomkins----' + +'Maybe, sir; it's so long ago since I entered, that I can't recollect +dates--but this I know, that my aunt died three days before.' + +'Then the question is, When did your aunt die?' + +'Oh! she died about a year after my uncle.' + +'And when did your uncle die?' + +'I'll be hanged if I know!' + +'Then, d'ye see, you've no departure to work from. However, I think you +cannot have been in the service at that time. We were not quite so +particular about uniform as we are now.' + +'Then I think the service was all the better for it. Nowadays, in your +crack ships, a mate has to go down in the hold or spirit-room, and after +whipping up fifty empty casks, and breaking out twenty full ones, he is +expected to come on quarter-deck as clean as if he was just come out of +a bandbox.' + +'Well, there's plenty of water alongside, as far as the outward man +goes, and iron dust is soon brushed off. However, as you say, perhaps a +little too much is expected; at least, in five of the ships in which I +was first lieutenant, the captain was always hauling me over the coals +about the midshipmen not dressing properly, as if I was their dry-nurse. +I wonder what Captain Prigg would have said if he had seen such a +turn-out as you, Mr. Smith, on his quarter-deck.' + +'I should have had one turn-out more,' drawled Smith. + +'With your out-at-elbows jacket, there, eh!' continued Mr. Appleboy. + +Smith turned up his elbows, looked at one and then at the other; after +so fatiguing an operation, he was silent. + +'Well, where was I? Oh! it was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as I +said, that it happened--Tomkins, fill your glass and hand me the +sugar--how do I get on? This is No 15,' said Appleboy, counting some +white lines on the table by him; and taking up a piece of chalk, he +marked one more line on his tally. 'I don't think this is so good a tub +as the last, Tomkins, there's a twang about it--a want of juniper; +however, I hope we shall have better luck this time. Of course you know +we sail to-morrow?' + +'I presume so, by the leg of mutton coming on board.' + +'True--true; I'm regular--as clockwork. After being twenty years a first +lieutenant one gets a little method. I like regularity. Now the admiral +has never omitted asking me to dinner once, every time I have come into +harbour, except this time. I was so certain of it, that I never expected +to sail; and I have but two shirts clean in consequence.' + +'That's odd, isn't it?--and the more so, because he has had such great +people down here, and has been giving large parties every day.' + +'And yet I made three seizures, besides sweeping up those thirty-seven +tubs.' + +'I swept them up,' observed Smith. + +'That's all the same thing, younker. When you've been a little longer in +the service, you'll find out that the commanding officer has the merit +of all that is done; but you're _green_ yet. Let me see, where was I? +Oh! it was about ninety-three or ninety-four, as I said. At that time I +was in the Channel fleet----Tomkins, I'll trouble you for the hot water; +this water's cold. Mr. Smith, do me the favour to ring the bell. Jem, +some more hot water.' + +'Please, sir,' said Jem, who was barefooted as well as bareheaded, +touching the lock of hair on his forehead, 'the cook has capsized the +kettle--but he has put more on.' + +'Capsized the kettle! Hah!--very well--we'll talk about that to-morrow. +Mr. Tomkins, do me the favour to put him in the report: I may forget it. +And pray, sir, how long is it since he has put more on?' + +'Just this moment, sir, as I came aft.' + +'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow. You bring the kettle aft as +soon as it is ready. I say, Mr. Jem, is that fellow sober?' + +'Yees, sir, he be sober as you be.' + +'It's quite astonishing what a propensity the common sailors have to +liquor. Forty odd years have I been in the service, and I've never found +any difference. I only wish I had a guinea for every time that I have +given a fellow seven-water grog during my servitude as first lieutenant, +I wouldn't call the king my cousin. Well, if there's no hot water, we +must take lukewarm; it won't do to heave-to. By the Lord Harry! +who would have thought it?--I'm at number sixteen! Let me +count--yes!--surely I must have made a mistake. A fact, by Heaven!' +continued Mr. Appleboy, throwing the chalk down on the table. 'Only one +more glass after this; that is, if I have counted right--I may have seen +double.' + +'Yes,' drawled Smith. + +'Well, never mind. Let's go on with my story. It was either in the year +ninety-three or ninety-four that I was in the Channel fleet; we were +then abreast of Torbay----' + +'Here be the hot water, sir,' cried Jem, putting the kettle down on the +deck. + +'Very well, boy. By the bye, has the jar of butter come on board?' + +'Yes, but it broke all down the middle. I tied him up with a rope-yarn.' + +'Who broke it, sir?' + +'Coxswain says as how he didn't.' + +'But who did, sir?' + +'Coxswain handed it up to Bill Jones, and he says as how he didn't.' + +'But who did, sir?' + +'Bill Jones gave it to me, and I'm sure as how I didn't.' + +'Then who did, sir, I ask you?' + +'I think it be Bill Jones, sir, 'cause he's fond of butter, I know, and +there be very little left in the jar.' + +'Very well, we'll see to that to-morrow morning. Mr. Tomkins, you'll +oblige me by putting the butter-jar down in the report, in case it +should slip my memory. Bill Jones, indeed, looks as if butter wouldn't +melt in his mouth. Never mind. Well, it was, as I said before--it was in +the year ninety-three or ninety-four, when I was in the Channel fleet; +we were then off Torbay, and had just taken two reefs in the topsails. +Stop--before I go on with my story, I'll take my last glass; I think +it's the last--let me count. Yes, by heavens! I make out sixteen, well +told. Never mind, it shall be a stiff one. Boy, bring the kettle, and +mind you don't pour the hot water into my shoes, as you did the other +night. There, that will do. Now, Tomkins, fill up yours; and you, Mr. +Smith. Let us all start fair, and then you shall have my story--and a +very curious one it is, I can tell you; I wouldn't have believed it +myself, if I hadn't seen it. Hilloa! what's this? Confound it! what's +the matter with the toddy? Heh, Mr. Tomkins?' + +Mr. Tomkins tasted; but, like the lieutenant, he had made it very stiff; +and, as he had also taken largely before, he was, like him, not quite so +clear in his discrimination. 'It has a queer twang, sir; Smith, what is +it?' + +Smith took up his glass, tasted the contents. + +'_Salt water_,' drawled the midshipman. + +'Salt water! so it is, by heavens!' cried Mr. Appleboy. + +'Salt as Lot's wife! by all that's infamous!' cried the master's mate. + +'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem in a fright, expecting a _salt_ eel for +supper. + +'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in +the boy's face, 'salt water. Very well, sir--very well!' + +'It warn't me, sir,' replied the boy, making up a piteous look. + +'No, sir, but you said the cook was sober.' + +'He was not so _very_ much disguised, sir,' replied Jem. + +'Oh! very well--never mind. Mr. Tomkins, in case I should forget it, do +me the favour to put the kettle of salt water down in the report. The +scoundrel! I'm very sorry, gentlemen, but there's no means of having any +more gin-toddy. But never mind, we'll see to this to-morrow. Two can +play at this; and if I don't salt-water their grog, and make them drink +it too, I have been twenty years a first lieutenant for nothing, that's +all. Good-night, gentlemen; and,' continued the lieutenant, in a severe +tone, 'you'll keep a sharp look-out, Mr. Smith--do you hear, sir?' + +[Illustration: _'Salt water, sir!' cried Jem. 'Yes, sir,' replied Mr. +Appleboy, tossing the contents of the tumbler in the boy's face._] + +'Yes,' drawled Smith, 'but it's not my watch; it was my first watch; and +just now it struck one bell.' + +'You'll keep the middle watch, then, Mr. Smith,' said Mr. Appleboy, who +was not a little put out; 'and, Mr. Tomkins, let me know as soon as it's +daylight. Boy, get my bed made. Salt water, by all that's blue! However, +we'll see to that to-morrow morning.' + +Mr. Appleboy then turned in; so did Mr. Tomkins; and so did Mr. Smith, +who had no idea of keeping the middle watch because the cook was drunk +and had filled up the kettle with salt water. As for what happened in +ninety-three or ninety-four, I really would inform the reader if I knew; +but I am afraid that that most curious story is never to be handed down +to posterity. + +The next morning Mr. Tomkins, as usual, forgot to report the cook, the +jar of butter, and the kettle of salt water; and Mr. Appleboy's wrath +had long been appeased before he remembered them. At daylight, the +lieutenant came on deck, having only slept away half of the sixteen, and +a taste of the seventeenth salt-water glass of gin-toddy. He rubbed his +gray eyes, that he might peer through the gray of the morning; the fresh +breeze blew about his grizzly locks, and cooled his rubicund nose. The +revenue cutter, whose name was the _Active_, cast off from the buoy, +and, with a fresh breeze, steered her course for the Needles passage. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +CUTTER THE THIRD + + +Reader! have you been to St. Maloes? If you have, you were glad enough +to leave the hole; and if you have not, take my advice, and do not give +yourself the trouble to go and see that or any other French port in the +Channel. There is not one worth looking at. They have made one or two +artificial ports, and they are no great things; there is no getting out +or getting in. In fact, they have no harbours in the Channel, while we +have the finest in the world; a peculiar dispensation of Providence, +because it knew that we should want them, and France would not. In +France, what are called ports are all alike--nasty, narrow holes, only +to be entered at certain times of tide and certain winds; made up of +basins and back-waters, custom-houses and cabarets; just fit for +smugglers to run into, and nothing more; and, therefore, they are used +for very little else. + +Now, in the dog-hole called St. Maloes there is some pretty land, +although a great deficiency of marine scenery. But never mind that. Stay +at home, and don't go abroad to drink sour wine, because they call it +Bordeaux, and eat villainous trash, so disguised by cooking that you +cannot possibly tell which of the birds of the air, or beasts of the +field, or fishes of the sea, you are cramming down your throat. 'If all +is right, there is no occasion for disguise,' is an old saying; so +depend upon it that there is something wrong, and that you are eating +offal, under a grand French name. They eat everything in France, and +would serve you up the head of a monkey who has died of the smallpox, as +_singe au petite verole_--that is, if you did not understand French; if +you did, they would call it _tete d'amour a l'Ethiopique_, and then you +would be even more puzzled. As for their wine, there is no disguise in +that; it's half vinegar. No, no! stay at home; you can live just as +cheaply, if you choose; and then you will have good meat, good +vegetables, good ale, good beer, and a good glass of grog; and, what is +of more importance, you will be in good company. Live with your friends, +and don't make a fool of yourself. + +I would not have condescended to have noticed this place, had it not +been that I wish you to observe a vessel which is lying along the +pier-wharf, with a plank from the shore to her gunwale. It is low water, +and she is aground, and the plank dips down at such an angle that it is +a work of danger to go either in or out of her. You observe that there +is nothing very remarkable in her. She is a cutter, and a good sea-boat, +and sails well before the wind. She is short for her breadth of beam, +and is not armed. Smugglers do not arm now--the service is too +dangerous; they effect their purpose by cunning, not by force. +Nevertheless, it requires that smugglers should be good seamen, smart, +active fellows, and keen-witted, or they can do nothing. This vessel has +not a large cargo in her, but it is valuable. She has some thousand +yards of lace, a few hundred pounds of tea, a few bales of silk, and +about forty ankers of brandy--just as much as they can land in one boat. +All they ask is a heavy gale or a thick fog, and they trust to +themselves for success. + +There is nobody on board except a boy; the crew are all up at the +cabaret, settling their little accounts of every description--for they +smuggle both ways, and every man has his own private venture. There they +are all, fifteen of them, and fine-looking fellows, too, sitting at that +long table. They are very merry, but quite sober, as they are to sail +to-night. + +[Illustration: _The captain of the_ Happy-go-lucky, _Jack Pickersgill._] + +The captain of the vessel (whose name, by the bye, is the +_Happy-go-lucky_--the captain christened her himself) is that +fine-looking young man, with dark whiskers meeting under his throat. His +name is Jack Pickersgill. You perceive at once that he is much above a +common sailor in appearance. His manners are good, he is remarkably +handsome, very clean, and rather a dandy in his dress. Observe how very +politely he takes off his hat to that Frenchman, with whom he has just +settled accounts; he beats Johnny Crapeau at his own weapons. And then +there is an air of command, a feeling of conscious superiority, about +Jack; see how he treats the landlord, _de haut en bas_, at the same time +that he is very civil. The fact is, that Jack is of a very good old +family, and received a very excellent education; but he was an orphan, +his friends were poor, and could do but little for him; he went out to +India as a cadet, ran away, and served in a schooner which smuggled +opium into China, and then came home. He took a liking to the +employment, and is now laying up a very pretty little sum: not that he +intends to stop: no, as soon as he has enough to fit out a vessel for +himself, he intends to start again for India, and with two cargoes of +opium he will return, he trusts, with a handsome fortune, and reassume +his family name. Such are Jack's intentions; and, as he eventually means +to reappear as a gentleman, he preserves his gentlemanly habits; he +neither drinks, nor chews, nor smokes. He keeps his hands clean, wears +rings, and sports a gold snuff-box; notwithstanding which, Jack is one +of the boldest and best of sailors, and the men know it. He is full of +fun, and as keen as a razor. Jack has a very heavy venture this +time--all the lace is his own speculation, and if he gets it in safe, he +will clear some thousands of pounds. A certain fashionable shop in +London has already agreed to take the whole off his hands. + +That short, neatly-made young man is the second in command, and the +companion of the captain. He is clever, and always has a remedy to +propose when there is a difficulty, which is a great quality in a second +in command. His name is Corbett. He is always merry--half-sailor, +half-tradesman; knows the markets, runs up to London, and does business +as well as a chapman--lives for the day and laughs at to-morrow. + +That little punchy old man, with long gray hair and fat face, with a +nose like a note of interrogation, is the next personage of importance. +He ought to be called the sailing-master, for, although he goes on shore +in France, off the English coast he never quits the vessel. When they +leave her with the goods, he remains on board; he is always to be found +off any part of the coast where he may be ordered; holding his position +in defiance of gales, and tides, and fogs: as for the revenue vessels, +they all know him well enough, but they cannot touch a vessel in +ballast, if she has no more men on board than allowed by her tonnage. He +knows every creek, and hole, and corner of the coast; how the tide runs +in--tide, half-tide, eddy, or current. That is his value. His name is +Morrison. + +You observe that Jack Pickersgill has two excellent supporters in +Corbett and Morrison; his other men are good seamen, active and +obedient, which is all that he requires. I shall not particularly +introduce them. + +'Now you may call for another litre, my lads, and that must be the last; +the tide is flowing fast, and we shall be afloat in half an hour, and we +have just the breeze we want. What d'ye think, Morrison, shall we have +dirt?' + +'I've been looking just now, and if it were any other month in the year +I should say yes; but there's no trusting April, captain. Howsomever, if +it does blow off, I'll promise you a fog in three hours afterwards.' + +'That will do as well. Corbett, have you settled with Duval?' + +'Yes, after more noise and _charivari_ than a panic in the Stock +Exchange would make in England. He fought and squabbled for an hour, and +I found that, without some abatement, I never should have settled the +affair.' + +'What did you let him off?' + +'Seventeen sous,' replied Corbett, laughing. + +'And that satisfied him?' inquired Pickersgill. + +'Yes--it was all he could prove to be a _surfaire_: two of the knives +were a little rusty. But he will always have something off; he could not +be happy without it. I really think he would commit suicide if he had to +pay a bill without a deduction.' + +'Let him live,' replied Pickersgill. 'Jeannette, a bottle of Volnay of +1811, and three glasses.' + +Jeannette, who was the _fille de cabaret_, soon appeared with a bottle +of wine, seldom called for, except by the captain of the +_Happy-go-lucky_. + +'You sail to-night?' said she, as she placed the bottle before him. + +Pickersgill nodded his head. + +'I had a strange dream,' said Jeannette; 'I thought you were all taken +by a revenue cutter, and put in a _cachot_. I went to see you, and I did +not know one of you again--you were all changed.' + +'Very likely, Jeannette; you would not be the first who did not know +their friends again when in misfortune. There was nothing strange in +your dream.' + +'_Mais, mon Dieu! je ne suis pas comme ca, moi._' + +'No, that you are not, Jeannette; you are a good girl, and some of these +fine days I'll marry you,' said Corbett. + +'_Doit etre bien beau ce jour la, par exemple_,' replied Jeannette, +laughing; 'you have promised to marry me every time you have come in +these last three years.' + +'Well, that proves I keep to my promise, anyhow.' + +'Yes; but you never go any further.' + +'I can't spare him, Jeannette, that is the real truth,' said the +captain; 'but wait a little--in the meantime, here is a five-franc piece +to add to your _petite fortune_.' + +'_Merci bien, monsieur le capitaine; bon voyage!_' Jeannette held her +finger up to Corbett, saying, with a smile, '_mechant!_' and then +quitted the room. + +'Come, Morrison, help us to empty this bottle, and then we will all go +on board.' + +'I wish that girl wouldn't come here with her nonsensical dreams,' said +Morrison, taking his seat; 'I don't like it. When she said that we +should be taken by a revenue cutter, I was looking at a blue and a white +pigeon sitting on the wall opposite; and I said to myself, Now, if that +be a warning, I will see: if the _blue_ pigeon flies away first, I shall +be in jail in a week; if the _white_, I shall be back here.' + +'Well?' said Pickersgill, laughing. + +'It wasn't well,' answered Morrison, tossing off his wine, and putting +the glass down with a deep sigh; 'for the cursed _blue_ pigeon flew away +immediately.' + +'Why, Morrison, you must have a chicken heart to be frightened at a blue +pigeon!' said Corbett, laughing, and looking out of the window; 'at all +events, he has come back again, and there he is sitting by the white +one.' + +'It's the first time that ever I was called chicken-hearted,' replied +Morrison in wrath. + +'Nor do you deserve it, Morrison,' replied Pickersgill; 'but Corbett is +only joking.' + +'Well, at all events, I'll try my luck in the same way, and see whether +I am to be in jail: I shall take the blue pigeon as my bad omen, as you +did.' + +[Illustration: _Jeannette held her finger up to Corbett, saying, with a +smile,_ 'mechant!' _and then quitted the room_] + +The sailors and Captain Pickersgill all rose and went to the window, to +ascertain Corbett's fortune by this new species of augury. The blue +pigeon flapped his wings, and then he sidled up to the white one; at +last, the white pigeon flew off the wall and settled on the roof of the +adjacent house. 'Bravo, white pigeon!' said Corbett; 'I shall be here +again in a week.' The whole party, laughing, then resumed their seats; +and Morrison's countenance brightened up. As he took the glass of wine +poured out by Pickersgill, he said, 'Here's your health, Corbett; it was +all nonsense, after all--for, d'ye see, I can't be put in jail without +you are. We all sail in the same boat, and when you leave me you take +with you everything that can condemn the vessel--so here's success to +our trip.' + +'We will all drink that toast, my lads, and then on board,' said the +captain; 'here's success to our trip.' + +The captain rose, as did the mates and men, drank the toast, turned down +the drinking vessels on the table, hastened to the wharf, and in half an +hour the _Happy-go-lucky_ was clear of the port of St. Maloes. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +PORTLAND BILL + + +The _Happy-go-lucky_ sailed with a fresh breeze and a flowing sheet from +St. Maloes the evening before the _Arrow_ sailed from Barn Pool. The +_Active_ sailed from Portsmouth the morning after. + +The yacht, as we before observed, was bound to Cowes, in the Isle of +Wight. The _Active_ had orders to cruise wherever she pleased within the +limits of the admiral's station; and she ran for West Bay, on the other +side of the Bill of Portland. The _Happy-go-lucky_ was also bound for +that bay to land her cargo. + +The wind was light, and there was every appearance of fine weather, when +the _Happy-go-lucky_, at ten o'clock on the Tuesday night, made the +Portland lights; as it was impossible to run her cargo that night, she +hove-to. + +At eleven o'clock the Portland lights were made by the revenue cutter +_Active_. Mr. Appleboy went up to have a look at them, ordered the +cutter to be hove-to, and then went down to finish his allowance of +gin-toddy. At twelve o'clock the yacht _Arrow_ made the Portland lights, +and continued her course, hardly stemming the ebb tide. + +Day broke, and the horizon was clear. The first on the look-out were, of +course, the smugglers; they, and those on board the revenue cutter, were +the only two interested parties--the yacht was neuter. + +'There are two cutters in sight, sir,' said Corbett, who had the watch; +for Pickersgill, having been up the whole night, had thrown himself down +on the bed with his clothes on. + +'What do they look like?' said Pickersgill, who was up in a moment. + +'One is a yacht, and the other may be; but I rather think, as far as I +can judge in the gray, that it is our old friend off here.' + +'What! old Appleboy?' + +'Yes, it looks like him; but the day has scarcely broke yet.' + +'Well, he can do nothing in a light wind like this; and before the wind +we can show him our heels; but are you sure the other is a yacht?' said +Pickersgill, coming on deck. + +'Yes; the king is more careful of his canvas.' + +'You're right,' said Pickersgill, 'that is a yacht; and you're right +there again in your guess--that is the stupid old _Active_ which creeps +about creeping for tubs. Well, I see nothing to alarm us at present, +provided it don't fall a dead calm, and then we must take to our boat as +soon as he takes to his; we are four miles from him at least. Watch his +motions, Corbett, and see if he lowers a boat. What does she go now? +Four knots?--that will soon tire their men.' + +The positions of the three cutters were as follows:-- + +The _Happy-go-lucky_ was about four miles off Portland Head, and well +into West Bay. The revenue cutter was close to the Head. The yacht was +outside of the smuggler, about two miles to the westward, and about five +or six miles from the revenue cutter. + +'Two vessels in sight, sir,' said Mr. Smith, coming down into the cabin +to Mr. Appleboy. + +'Very well,' replied the lieutenant, who was _lying_ down in his +_standing_ bed-place. + +'The people say one is the _Happy-go-lucky_, sir,' drawled Smith. + +'Heh? what! _Happy-go-lucky_? Yes, I recollect; I've boarded her twenty +times--always empty. How's she standing?' + +'She stands to the westward now, sir; but she was hove-to, they say, +when they first saw her.' + +'Then she has a cargo in her;' and Mr. Appleboy shaved himself, dressed, +and went on deck. + +'Yes,' said the lieutenant, rubbing his eyes again and again, and then +looking through the glass, 'it is her, sure enough. Let draw the +foresheet--hands make sail. What vessel's the other?' + +'Don't know, sir--she's a cutter.' + +'A cutter? yes; maybe a yacht, or maybe the new cutter ordered on the +station. Make all sail, Mr. Tomkins; hoist our pendant, and fire a +gun--they will understand what we mean then; they don't know the +_Happy-go-lucky_ as well as we do.' + +In a few minutes the _Active_ was under a press of sail; she hoisted her +pendant, and fired a gun. The smuggler perceived that the _Active_ had +recognised her, and she also threw out more canvas, and ran off more to +the westward. + +'There's a gun, sir,' reported one of the men to Mr. Stewart, on board +of the yacht. + +'Yes; give me the glass--a revenue cutter; then this vessel inshore +running towards us must be a smuggler.' + +'She has just now made all sail, sir.' + +'Yes, there's no doubt of it. I will go down to his lordship, keep her +as she goes.' + +Mr. Stewart then went down to inform Lord B. of the circumstance. Not +only Lord B. but most of the gentlemen came on deck; as did soon +afterwards the ladies, who had received the intelligence from Lord B., +who spoke to them through the door of the cabin. + +But the smuggler had more wind than the revenue cutter, and increased +her distance. + +'If we were to wear round, my lord,' observed Mr. Stewart, 'she is just +abreast of us and inshore, we could prevent her escape.' + +'Round with her, Mr. Stewart,' said Lord B.; 'we must do our duty and +protect the laws.' + +'That will not be fair, papa,' said Cecilia Ossulton; 'we have no +quarrel with the smugglers: I'm sure the ladies have not, for they bring +us beautiful things.' + +'Miss Ossulton,' observed her aunt, 'it is not proper for you to offer +an opinion.' + +The yacht wore round, and, sailing so fast, the smuggler had little +chance of escaping her; but to chase is one thing--to capture another. + +'Let us give her a gun,' said Lord B., 'that will frighten her; and he +dare not cross our hawse.' + +The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the smuggler, +actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way. + +[Illustration: _The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from +the smuggler, actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way._] + +The gentlemen, as well as Lord B., were equally excited by the ardour of +pursuit; but the wind died away, and at last it was nearly calm. The +revenue cutter's boats were out, and coming up fast. + +'Let us get our boat out, Stewart,' said his lordship, 'and help them; +it is quite calm now.' + +The boat was soon out: it was a very large one, usually stowed on, and +occupied a large portion of, the deck. It pulled six oars; and when it +was manned, Mr. Stewart jumped in, and Lord B. followed him. + +'But you have no arms,' said Mr. Hautaine. + +'The smugglers never resist now,' observed Stewart. + +'Then you are going on a very gallant expedition indeed,' observed +Cecilia Ossulton; 'I wish you joy.' + +But Lord B. was too much excited to pay attention. They shoved off, and +pulled towards the smuggler. + +At this time the revenue boats were about five miles astern of the +_Happy-go-lucky_, and the yacht about three-quarters of a mile from her +in the offing. Pickersgill had, of course, observed the motions of the +yacht; had seen her wear on chase, hoist her ensign and pendant, and +fire her gun. + +'Well,' said he, 'this is the blackest ingratitude: to be attacked by +the very people whom we smuggle for! I only wish she may come up with +us; and, let her attempt to interfere, she shall rue the day. I don't +much like this, though.' + +As we before observed, it fell nearly calm, and the revenue boats were +in chase. Pickersgill watched them as they came up. + +'What shall we do?' said Corbett, 'get the boat out?' + +'Yes,' replied Pickersgill, 'we will get the boat out, and have the +goods in her all ready; but we can pull faster than they do, in the +first place; and, in the next, they will be pretty well tired before +they come up to us. We are fresh, and shall soon walk away from them; so +I shall not leave the vessel till they are within half a mile. We must +sink the ankers, that they may not seize the vessel, for it is not worth +while taking them with us. Pass them along, ready to run them over the +bows, that they may not see us and swear to it. But we have a good +half-hour and more.' + +'Ay, and you may hold all fast if you choose,' said Morrison, 'although +it's better to be on the right side and get ready; otherwise, before +half an hour, I'll swear that we are out of their sight. Look there,' +said he, pointing to the eastward at a heavy bank, 'it's coming right +down upon us, as I said it would.' + +'True enough; but still there is no saying which will come first, +Morrison, the boats or the fog; so we must be prepared.' + +'Hilloa! what's this? why, there's a boat coming from the yacht!' + +Pickersgill took out his glass. + +'Yes, and the yacht's own boat, with the name painted on her bows. Well, +let them come--we will have no ceremony in resisting them; they are not +in the Act of Parliament, and must take the consequences. We have nought +to fear. Get stretchers, my lads, and handspikes; they row six oars, and +are three in the stern-sheets: they must be good men if they take us.' + +In a few minutes Lord B. was close to the smuggler. + +'Boat ahoy! what do you want?' + +'Surrender in the king's name.' + +'To what, and to whom, and what are we to surrender? We are an English +vessel coasting along shore.' + +'Pull on board, my lads,' cried Stewart; 'I am a king's officer: we know +her.' + +The boat darted alongside, and Stewart and Lord B., followed by the men, +jumped on the deck. + +'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said Pickersgill. + +'We seize you! you are a smuggler--there's no denying it: look at the +casks of spirits stretched along the deck.' + +'We never said that we were not smugglers,' replied Pickersgill; 'but +what is that to you? You are not a king's ship, or employed by the +revenue.' + +'No; but we carry a pendant, and it is our duty to protect the laws.' + +'And who are you?' said Pickersgill. + +'I am Lord B.' + +'Then, my lord, allow me to say that you would do much better to attend +to the framing of laws, and leave people of less consequence, like those +astern of me, to execute them. "Mind your own business" is an old +adage. We shall not hurt you, my lord, as you have only employed words, +but we shall put it out of your power to hurt us. Come aft, my lads. +Now, my lord, resistance is useless; we are double your numbers, and you +have caught a Tartar.' + +[Illustration: _'Well, gentlemen, what do you want?' said +Pickersgill._] + +Lord B. and Mr. Stewart perceived that they were in an awkward +predicament. + +'You may do what you please,' observed Mr. Stewart, 'but the revenue +boats are coming up, recollect.' + +'Look you, sir, do you see the revenue cutter?' said Pickersgill. + +Stewart looked in that direction, and saw that she was hidden in the +fog. + +'In five minutes, sir, the boats will be out of sight also, and so will +your vessel; we have nothing to fear from them.' + +'Indeed, my lord, we had better return,' said Mr. Stewart, who perceived +that Pickersgill was right. + +'I beg your pardon, you will not go on board your yacht so soon as you +expect. Take the oars out of the boat, my lads, two or three of you, and +throw in a couple of our paddles for them to reach the shore with. The +rest of you knock down the first man who offers to resist. You are not +aware, perhaps, my lord, that you have attempted _piracy_ on the high +seas?' + +Stewart looked at Lord B. It was true enough. The men of the yacht could +offer no resistance; the oars were taken out of the boat and the men put +in again. + +'My lord,' said Pickersgill, 'your boat is manned, do me the favour to +step into it; and you, sir, do the same. I should be sorry to lay my +hands upon a peer of the realm, or a king's officer even on half-pay.' + +Remonstrance was vain; his lordship was led to the boat by two of the +smugglers, and Stewart followed. + +'I will leave your oars, my lord, at the Weymouth Custom-house, and I +trust this will be a lesson to you in future to "mind your own +business."' + +The boat was shoved off from the sloop by the smugglers, and was soon +lost sight of in the fog, which had now covered the revenue boats as +well as the yacht, at the same time it brought down a breeze from the +eastward. + +'Haul to the wind, Morrison,' said Pickersgill, 'we will stand out to +get rid of the boats; if they pull on they will take it for granted that +we shall run into the bay, as will the revenue cutter.' + +Pickersgill and Corbett were in conversation abaft for a short time, +when the former desired the course to be altered two points. + +'Keep silence all of you, my lads, and let me know if you hear a gun or +a bell from the yacht,' said Pickersgill. + +'There is a gun, sir, close to us,' said one of the men; 'the sound was +right ahead.' + +'That will do, keep her as she goes. Aft here, my lads; we cannot run +our cargo in the bay, for the cutter has been seen to chase us, and they +will all be on the look-out at the Preventive stations for us on shore. +Now, my lads, I have made up my mind that, as these yacht gentlemen have +thought proper to interfere, I will take possession of the yacht for a +few days. We shall then outsail everything, go where we like +unsuspected, and land our cargo with ease. I shall run alongside of +her--she can have but few hands on board; and mind, do not hurt anybody, +but be civil and obey my orders. Morrison, you and your four men and the +boy will remain on board as before, and take the vessel to Cherbourg, +where we will join you.' + +In a short time another gun was fired from the yacht. + +Those on board, particularly the ladies, were alarmed; the fog was very +thick, and they could not distinguish the length of the vessel. They had +seen the boat board, but had not seen her turned adrift without oars, as +the fog came on just at that time. The yacht was left with only three +seamen on board, and should it come on bad weather, they were in an +awkward predicament. Mr. Hautaine had taken the command, and ordered the +guns to be fired that the boat might be enabled to find them. The fourth +gun was loading, when they perceived the smuggler's cutter close to them +looming through the fog. + +'Here they are,' cried the seamen; 'and they have brought the prize +along with them! Three cheers for the _Arrow_!' + +'Hilloa! you'll be on board of us!' cried Hautaine. + +'That's exactly what I intended to be, sir,' replied Pickersgill, +jumping on the quarter-deck, followed by his men. + +'Who the devil are you?' + +'That's exactly the same question that I asked Lord B. when he boarded +us,' replied Pickersgill, taking off his hat to the ladies. + +'Well, but what business have you here?' + +'Exactly the same question which I put to Lord B.,' replied Pickersgill. + +'Where is Lord B., sir?' said Cecilia Ossulton, going up to the +smuggler; 'is he safe?' + +'Yes, madam, he is safe; at least he is in his boat with all his men, +and unhurt; but you must excuse me if I request you and the other ladies +to go down below while I speak to these gentlemen. Be under no alarm, +miss, you will receive neither insult nor ill-treatment--I have only +taken possession of this vessel for the present.' + +'Take possession,' cried Hautaine, 'of a yacht?' + +'Yes, sir, since the owner of the yacht thought proper to attempt to +take possession of me. I always thought that yachts were pleasure +vessels, sailing about for amusement, respected themselves, and not +interfering with others; but it appears that such is not the case. The +owner of this yacht has thought proper to break through the neutrality +and commence aggression, and under such circumstances I have now, in +retaliation, taken possession of her.' + +'And pray what do you mean to do, sir?' + +'Simply for a few days to make an exchange. I shall send you on board of +my vessel as smugglers, while I remain here with the ladies and amuse +myself with yachting.' + +'Why, sir, you cannot mean----' + +'I have said, gentlemen, and that is enough; I should be sorry to resort +to violence, but I must be obeyed. You have, I perceive, three seamen +only left: they are not sufficient to take charge of the vessel, and +Lord B. and the others you will not meet for several days. My regard for +the ladies, even common humanity, points out to me that I cannot leave +the vessel in this crippled condition. At the same time, I must have +hands on board of my own: you will oblige me by going on board and +taking her safely into port. It is the least return you can make for my +kindness. In those dresses, gentlemen, you will not be able to do your +duty; oblige me by shifting and putting on these.' Corbett handed a +flannel shirt, a rough jacket and trousers to Messrs. Hautaine, +Ossulton, Vaughan, and Seagrove. After some useless resistance they were +stripped, and having put on the smugglers' attire, they were handed on +board of the _Happy-go-lucky_. + +The three English seamen were also sent on board and confined below, as +well as Ossulton's servant, who was also equipped like his master, and +confined below with the seamen. Corbett and the men then handed up all +the smuggled goods into the yacht, dropped the boat, and made it fast +astern, and Morrison having received his directions, the vessels +separated, Morrison running for Cherbourg, and Pickersgill steering the +yacht along shore to the westward. About an hour after this exchange had +been effected the fog cleared up, and showed the revenue cutter hove-to +for her boats, which had pulled back and were close on board of her, and +the _Happy-go-lucky_ about three miles in the offing; Lord B. and his +boat's crew were about four miles inshore, paddling and drifting with +the tide towards Portland. As soon as the boats were on board, the +revenue cutter made all sail after the smuggler, paying no attention to +the yacht, and either not seeing or not caring about the boat which was +drifting about in West Bay. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE TRAVESTIE + + +Here we are, Corbett, and now I only wish my venture had been double,' +observed Pickersgill; 'but I shall not allow business to absorb me +wholly--we must add a little amusement. It appears to me, Corbett, that +the gentleman's clothes which lie there will fit you, and those of the +good-looking fellow who was spokesman will, I am sure, suit me well. Now +let us dress ourselves, and then for breakfast.' + +Pickersgill then exchanged his clothes for those of Mr. Hautaine, and +Corbett fitted on those of Mr. Ossulton. The steward was summoned up, +and he dared not disobey; he appeared on deck, trembling. + +'Steward, you will take these clothes below,' said Pickersgill, 'and, +observe, that I now command this yacht; and during the time that I am on +board you will pay me the same respect as you did Lord B.; nay, more, +you will always address me as Lord B. You will prepare dinner and +breakfast, and do your duty just as if his lordship was on board, and +take care that you feed us well, for I will not allow the ladies to be +entertained in a less sumptuous manner than before. You will tell the +cook what I say; and now that you have heard me, take care that you +obey; if not, recollect that I have my own men here, and if I but point +with my finger, _overboard you go_. Do you perfectly comprehend me?' + +'Yes, sir,' stammered the steward. + +'Yes, _sir!_--What did I tell you, sirrah?--Yes, my lord. Do you +understand me?' + +'Yes--my lord.' + +'Pray, steward, whose clothes has this gentleman put on?' + +'Mr.--Mr. Ossulton's, I think--sir--my lord, I mean.' + +'Very well, steward; then recollect in future you always address that +gentleman as _Mr. Ossulton_.' + +'Yes, my lord,' and the steward went down below, and was obliged to take +a couple of glasses of brandy to keep himself from fainting. + +'Who are they, and what are they, Mr. Maddox?' cried the lady's-maid, +who had been weeping. + +'Pirates!--_bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing_ pirates!' replied the +steward. + +'Oh!' screamed the lady's-maid, 'what will become of us, poor +unprotected females?' And she hastened into the cabin, to impart this +dreadful intelligence. + +The ladies in the cabin were not in a very enviable situation. As for +the elder Miss Ossulton (but, perhaps, it will be better in future to +distinguish the two ladies, by calling the elder simply Miss Ossulton, +and her niece, Cecilia), she was sitting with her salts to her nose, +agonised with a mixture of trepidation and wounded pride. Mrs. Lascelles +was weeping, but weeping gently. Cecilia was sad, and her heart was +beating with anxiety and suspense, when the maid rushed in. + +'Oh, madam! oh, miss! oh, Mrs. Lascelles! I have found it all out!--they +are murderous, bloody, do-everything pirates!!!' + +'Mercy on us!' exclaimed Miss Ossulton; 'surely they will never +dare----' + +'Oh, ma'am, they dare anything!--they just now were for throwing the +steward overboard; and they have rummaged all the portmanteaus, and +dressed themselves in the gentlemen's best clothes. The captain of them +told the steward that he was Lord B., and that if he dared to call him +anything else, he would cut his throat from ear to ear; and if the cook +don't give them a good dinner, they swear that they'll chop his right +hand off, and make him eat it without pepper or salt!' + +Miss Ossulton screamed, and went off into hysterics. Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia went to her assistance; but the latter had not forgotten the +very different behaviour of Jack Pickersgill, and his polite manners, +when he boarded the vessel. She did not, therefore, believe what the +maid had reported, but still her anxiety and suspense were great, +especially about her father. After having restored her aunt she put on +her bonnet, which was lying on the sofa. + +'Where are you going, dear?' said Mrs. Lascelles. + +[Illustration: '_Pirates!_--bloody, murderous stick-at-nothing +_pirates!' replied the steward._] + +'On deck,' replied Cecilia. 'I must and will speak to these men.' + +'Gracious heaven, Miss Ossulton! going on deck! have you heard what +Phoebe says?' + +'Yes, aunt, I have; but I can wait here no longer.' + +'Stop her! stop her!--she will be murdered!--she will be--she is mad!' +screamed Miss Ossulton; but no one attempted to stop Cecilia, and on +deck she went. On her arrival she found Jack Pickersgill and Corbett +walking the deck, one of the smugglers at the helm, and the rest +forward, and as quiet as the crew of the yacht. As soon as she made her +appearance Jack took off his hat, and made her a bow. + +'I do not know whom I have the honour of addressing, young lady; but I +am flattered with this mark of confidence. You feel, and I assure you +you feel correctly, that you are not exactly in lawless hands.' + +Cecilia looked with more surprise than fear at Pickersgill. Mr. +Hautaine's dress became him; he was a handsome, fine-looking man, and +had nothing of the ruffian in his appearance; unless, like Byron's +Corsair, he was _half savage, half soft_. She could not help thinking +that she had met many with less pretensions, as far as appearance went, +to the claims of a gentleman, at Almack's and other fashionable circles. + +'I have ventured on deck, sir,' said Cecilia, with a little +tremulousness in her voice, 'to request, as a favour, that you will +inform me what your intentions may be with regard to the vessel and with +regard to the ladies!' + +'And I feel much obliged to you for so doing, and I assure you I will, +as far as I have made up my own mind, answer you candidly: but you +tremble--allow me to conduct you to a seat. In few words, then, to +remove your present alarm, I intend that the vessel shall be returned to +its owner, with every article in it, as religiously respected as if they +were church property. With respect to you, and the other ladies on +board, I pledge you my honour that you have nothing to fear; that you +shall be treated with every respect; your privacy never invaded; and +that, in a few days, you will be restored to your friends. Young lady, I +pledge my hopes of future salvation to the truth of this; but, at the +same time, I must make a few conditions, which, however, will not be +very severe.' + +'But, sir,' replied Cecilia, much relieved, for Pickersgill had stood +by her in the most respectful manner, 'you are, I presume, the captain +of the smuggler? Pray answer me one question more--What became of the +boat with Lord B.? He is my father.' + +'I left him in his boat, without a hair of his head touched, young lady; +but I took away the oars.' + +'Then he will perish!' cried Cecilia, putting her handkerchief to her +eyes. + +'No, young lady; he is on shore, probably, by this time. Although I took +away his means of assisting to capture us, I left him the means of +gaining the land. It is not every one who would have done that, after +his conduct to us.' + +'I begged him not to go,' said Cecilia; 'I told him that it was not +fair, and that he had no quarrel with the smugglers.' + +'I thank you even for that,' replied Pickersgill. 'And now, miss--I have +not the pleasure of recollecting his lordship's family name----' + +'Ossulton, sir,' said Cecilia, looking at Pickersgill with surprise. + +'Then, with your permission, Miss Ossulton, I will now make you my +confidant: excuse my using so free a term, but it is because I wish to +relieve your fears. At the same time, I cannot permit you to divulge all +my intentions to the whole party on board. I feel that I may trust you, +for you have courage, and where there is courage there generally is +truth; but you must first tell me whether you will condescend to accept +these terms.' + +Cecilia demurred a moment; the idea of being the confidant of a smuggler +rather startled her: but still, her knowledge of what his intentions +were, if she might not reveal them, might be important; as, perhaps, she +might dissuade him. She could be in no worse position than she was now, +and she might be in a much better. The conduct of Pickersgill had been +such, up to the present, as to inspire confidence; and, although he +defied the laws, he appeared to regard the courtesies of life. Cecilia +was a courageous girl, and at length she replied-- + +'Provided what you desire me to keep secret will not be injurious to any +one, or compromise me in my peculiar situation, I consent.' + +'I would not hurt a fly, Miss Ossulton, but in self-defence; and I have +too much respect for you, from your conduct during our short meeting, to +compromise you. Allow me now to be very candid; and then, perhaps, you +will acknowledge that in my situation others would do the same, and, +perhaps, not show half so much forbearance. Your father, without any +right whatever, interferes with me and my calling: he attempts to make +me a prisoner, to have me thrown in jail, heavily fined, and, perhaps, +sent out of the country. I will not enter into any defence of smuggling: +it is sufficient to say that there are pains and penalties attached to +the infraction of certain laws, and that I choose to risk them. But Lord +B. was not empowered by Government to attack me; it was a gratuitous +act; and had I thrown him and all his crew into the sea, I should have +been justified: for it was, in short, an act of piracy on their part. +Now, as your father has thought to turn a yacht into a revenue cutter, +you cannot be surprised at my retaliating, in turning her into a +smuggler; and as he has mixed up looking after the revenue with +yachting, he cannot be surprised if I retaliate by mixing up a little +yachting with smuggling. I have dressed your male companions as +smugglers, and have sent them in the smuggling vessel to Cherbourg, +where they will be safely landed; and I have dressed myself, and the +only person whom I could join with me in this frolic, as gentlemen, in +their places. My object is twofold: one is, to land my cargo, which I +have now on board, and which is very valuable; the other is, to +retaliate upon your father and his companions for their attempt upon me, +by stepping into their shoes, and enjoying, for a day or two, their +luxuries. It is my intention to make free with nothing but his +lordship's wines and eatables--that you may be assured of; but I shall +have no pleasure if the ladies do not sit down to the dinner-table with +us, as they did before with your father and his friends.' + +'You can hardly expect that, sir,' said Cecilia. + +'Yes, I do; and that will be not only the price of the early release of +the yacht and themselves, but it will also be the only means by which +they will obtain anything to eat. You observe, Miss Ossulton, the sins +of the fathers are visited on the children. I have now told you what I +mean to do, and what I wish. I leave you to think of it, and decide +whether it will not be the best for all parties to consent. You have my +permission to tell the other ladies that, whatever may be their conduct, +they are as secure from ill-treatment or rudeness as if they were in +Grosvenor Square; but I cannot answer that they will not be hungry, if, +after such forbearance in every point, they show so little gratitude as +not to honour me with their company.' + +'Then I am to understand that we are to be starved into submission?' + +'No, not starved, Miss Ossulton; but recollect that you will be on bread +and water, and detained until you do consent, and your detention will +increase the anxiety of your father.' + +'You know how to persuade, sir,' said Cecilia. 'As far as I am +concerned, I trust I shall ever be ready to sacrifice any feelings of +pride to spare my father so much uneasiness. With your permission, I +will now go down into the cabin and relieve my companions from the worst +of their fears. As for obtaining what you wish, I can only say that, as +a young person, I am not likely to have much influence with those older +than myself, and must inevitably be overruled, as I have not permission +to point out to them reasons which might avail. Would you so far allow +me to be relieved from my promise, as to communicate all you have said +to me to the only married woman on board? I think I then might obtain +your wishes, which, I must candidly tell you, I shall attempt to effect +_only_ because I am most anxious to rejoin my friends.' + +'And be relieved of my company,' replied Pickersgill, smiling +ironically--'of course you are; but I must and will have my petty +revenge: and although you may, and probably will, detest me, at all +events you shall not have any very formidable charge to make against me. +Before you go below, Miss Ossulton, I give you my permission to add the +married lady to the number of my confidants; and you must permit me to +introduce my friend, Mr. Ossulton;' and Pickersgill waved his hand in +the direction of Corbett, who took off his hat and made a low obeisance. + +It was impossible for Cecilia Ossulton to help smiling. + +'And,' continued Pickersgill, 'having taken the command of this yacht +instead of his lordship, it is absolutely necessary that I also take his +lordship's name. While on board I am Lord B.; and allow me to introduce +myself under that name; I cannot be addressed otherwise. Depend upon +it, Miss Ossulton, that I shall have a most paternal solicitude to make +you happy and comfortable.' + +Had Cecilia Ossulton dared to have given vent to her real feelings at +that time, she would have burst into a fit of laughter; it was too +ludicrous. At the same time, the very burlesque reassured her still +more. She went into the cabin with a heavy weight removed from her +heart. + +In the meantime, Miss Ossulton and Mrs. Lascelles remained below, in the +greatest anxiety at Cecilia's prolonged stay; they knew not what to +think, and dared not go on deck. Mrs. Lascelles had once determined at +all risks to go up; but Miss Ossulton and Phoebe had screamed and +implored her so fervently not to leave them, that she unwillingly +consented to remain. Cecilia's countenance, when she entered the cabin, +reassured Mrs. Lascelles, but not her aunt, who ran to her crying and +sobbing, and clinging to her, saying, 'What have they done to you, my +poor, poor Cecilia?' + +'Nothing at all, aunt,' replied Cecilia; 'the captain speaks very +fairly, and says he shall respect us in every possible way, provided +that we obey his orders; but if not----' + +'If not--what, Cecilia?' said Miss Ossulton, grasping her niece's arm. + +'He will starve us, and not let us go!' + +'God have mercy on us!' cried Miss Ossulton, renewing her sobs. + +Cecilia then went to Mrs. Lascelles, and communicated to her apart all +that had passed. Mrs. Lascelles agreed with Cecilia that they were in no +danger of insult; and as they talked over the matter they at last began +to laugh; there was a novelty in it, and there was something so +ridiculous in all the gentlemen being turned into smugglers. Cecilia was +glad that she could not tell her aunt, as she wished her to be so +frightened as never to have her company on board the yacht again; and +Mrs. Lascelles was too glad to annoy her for many and various insults +received. The matter was therefore canvassed over very satisfactorily, +and Mrs. Lascelles felt a natural curiosity to see this new Lord B. and +the second Mr. Ossulton. But they had had no breakfast, and were feeling +very hungry now that their alarm was over. They desired Phoebe to ask +the steward for some tea or coffee. The reply was, that 'Breakfast was +laid in the cabin, and Lord B. trusted that the ladies would come to +partake of it.' + +'No, no,' replied Mrs. Lascelles, 'I never can, without being introduced +to them first.' + +'Nor will I go,' replied Cecilia, 'but I will write a note, and we will +have our breakfast here.' Cecilia wrote a note in pencil as follows:-- + + 'Miss Ossulton's compliments to Lord B., and, as the ladies feel + rather indisposed after the alarm of this morning, they trust that + his lordship will excuse their coming to breakfast; but hope to + meet his lordship at dinner, if not before that time on deck.' + +The answer was propitious, and the steward soon appeared with the +breakfast in the ladies' cabin. + +'Well, Maddox,' said Cecilia, 'how do you get on with your new master?' + +The steward looked at the door, to see if it was closed, shook his head, +and then said, with a look of despair, 'He has ordered a haunch of +venison for dinner, miss, and he has twice threatened to toss me +overboard.' + +'You must obey him, Maddox, or he certainly will. These pirates are +dreadful fellows. Be attentive, and serve him just as if he was my +father.' + +'Yes, yes, ma'am, I will; but our time may come. It's _burglary_ on the +high seas, and I'll go fifty miles to see him hanged.' + +'Steward!' cried Pickersgill, from the cabin. + +'O Lord! he can't have heard me--d'ye think he did, miss?' + +'The partitions are very thin, and you spoke very loud,' said Mrs. +Lascelles; 'at all events, go to him quickly.' + +'Good-bye, miss; good-bye, ma'am, if I shouldn't see you any more,' said +Maddox, trembling with fear, as he obeyed the awful summons--which was +to demand a toothpick. + +Miss Ossulton would not touch the breakfast; not so Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia, who ate very heartily. + +'It's very dull to be shut up in this cabin,' said Mrs. Lascelles; +'come, Cecilia, let's go on deck.' + +'And leave me!' cried Miss Ossulton. + +'There is Phoebe here, aunt; we are going up to persuade the pirates +to put us all on shore.' + +Mrs. Lascelles and Cecilia put on their bonnets and went up. Lord B. +took off his hat, and begged the honour of being introduced to the +pretty widow. He handed the ladies to a seat, and then commenced +conversing upon various subjects, which at the same time possessed great +novelty. His lordship talked about France, and described its ports; told +now and then a good anecdote; pointed out the different headlands, bays, +towns, and villages, which they were passing rapidly, and always had +some little story connected with each. Before the ladies had been two +hours on deck they found themselves, to their infinite surprise, not +only interested, but in conversation with the captain of the smuggler, +and more than once they laughed outright. But the _soi-disant_ Lord B. +had inspired them with confidence; they fully believed that what he had +told them was true, and that he had taken possession of the yacht to +smuggle his goods, to be revenged, and to have a laugh. Now none of +these three offences are capital in the eyes of the fair sex, and Jack +was a handsome, fine-looking fellow, of excellent manners and very +agreeable conversation; at the same time, neither he nor his friend were +in their general deportment and behaviour otherwise than most +respectful. + +'Ladies, as you are not afraid of me, which is a greater happiness than +I had reason to expect, I think you may be amused to witness the fear of +those who accuse your sex of cowardice. With your permission, I will +send for the cook and steward, and inquire about the dinner.' + +'I should like to know what there is for dinner,' observed Mrs. +Lascelles demurely; 'wouldn't you, Cecilia?' + +Cecilia put her handkerchief to her mouth. + +'Tell the steward and the cook both to come aft immediately,' cried +Pickersgill. + +In a few seconds they both made their appearance. + +'Steward!' cried Pickersgill, with a loud voice. + +'Yes, my lord,' replied Maddox, with his hat in his hand. + +'What wines have you put out for dinner?' + +'Champagne, my lord; and claret, my lord; and Madeira and sherry, my +lord.' + +'No Burgundy, sir?' + +[Illustration: _'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his +knees, 'there is no Burgundy on board--ask the ladies.'_] + +'No, my lord; there is no Burgundy on board.' + +'No Burgundy, sir! do you dare to tell me that?' + +'Upon my soul, my lord,' cried Maddox, dropping on his knees, 'there is +no Burgundy on board--ask the ladies.' + +'Very well, sir, you may go.' + +'Cook, what have you got for dinner?' + +'Sir, a haunch of mutt--of venison, my lord,' replied the cook, with his +white nightcap in his hand. + +'What else, sirrah?' + +'A boiled calf's head, my lord.' + +'A boiled calf's head! Let it be roasted, or I'll roast you, sir!' cried +Pickersgill, in an angry tone. + +'Yes, my lord; I'll roast it.' + +'And what else, sir?' + +'Maintenon cutlets, my lord.' + +'Maintenon cutlets! I hate them--I won't have them, sir. Let them be +dressed _a l'ombre Chinoise_.' + +'I don't know what that is, my lord.' + +'I don't care for that, sirrah; if you don't find out by dinner-time, +you're food for fishes--that's all; you may go.' + +The cook walked off wringing his hands and his nightcap as well--for he +still held it in his right hand--and disappeared down the fore-hatchway. + +'I have done this to pay you a deserved compliment, ladies; you have +more courage than the other sex.' + +'Recollect that we have had confidence given to us in consequence of +your pledging your word, my lord.' + +'You do me, then, the honour of believing me?' + +'I did not until I saw you,' replied Mrs. Lascelles; 'but now I am +convinced that you will perform your promise.' + +'You do indeed encourage me, madam, to pursue what is right,' said +Pickersgill, bowing; 'for your approbation I should be most sorry to +lose, still more sorry to prove myself unworthy of it.' + +As the reader will observe, everything was going on remarkably well. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SMUGGLING YACHT + + +Cecilia returned to the cabin, to ascertain whether her aunt was more +composed; but Mrs. Lascelles remained on deck. She was much pleased with +Pickersgill; and they continued their conversation. Pickersgill entered +into a defence of his conduct to Lord B.; and Mrs. Lascelles could not +but admit the provocation. After a long conversation she hinted at his +profession, and how superior he appeared to be to such a lawless life. + +'You may be incredulous, madam,' replied Pickersgill, 'if I tell you +that I have as good a right to quarter my arms as Lord B. himself; and +that I am not under my real name. Smuggling is, at all events, no crime; +and I infinitely prefer the wild life I lead at the head of my men to +being spurned by society because I am poor. The greatest crime in this +country is poverty. I may, if I am fortunate, some day resume my name. +You may, perhaps, meet me, and if you please, you may expose me.' + +'That I should not be likely to do,' replied the widow; 'but still I +regret to see a person, evidently intended for better things, employed +in so disreputable a profession.' + +'I hardly know, madam, what is and what is not disreputable in this +conventional world. It is not considered disreputable to cringe to the +vices of a court, or to accept a pension wrung from the industry of the +nation, in return for base servility. It is not considered disreputable +to take tithes, intended for the service of God, and lavish them away at +watering-places or elsewhere, seeking pleasure instead of doing God +service. It is not considered disreputable to take fee after fee to +uphold injustice, to plead against innocence, to pervert truth, and to +aid the devil. It is not considered disreputable to gamble on the Stock +Exchange, or to corrupt the honesty of electors by bribes, for doing +which the penalty attached is equal to that decreed to the offence of +which I am guilty. All these, and much more, are not considered +disreputable; yet by all these are the moral bonds of society loosened, +while in mine we cause no guilt in others----' + +'But still it is a crime.' + +'A violation of the revenue laws, and no more. Observe, madam, the +English Government encourage the smuggling of our manufactures to the +Continent, at the same time that they take every step to prevent +articles being smuggled into this country. Now, madam, can that be a +_crime_ when the head of the vessel is turned north, which becomes _no +crime_ when she steers the opposite way?' + +'There is a stigma attached to it, you must allow.' + +'That I grant you, madam; and as soon as I can quit the profession I +shall. No captive ever sighed more to be released from his chains; but I +will not leave it, till I find that I am in a situation not to be +spurned and neglected by those with whom I have a right to associate.' + +At this moment the steward was seen forward making signs to Mrs. +Lascelles, who excused herself, and went to him. + +'For the love of God, madam,' said Maddox, 'as he appears to be friendly +with you, do pray find out how these cutlets are to be dressed; the cook +is tearing his hair, and we shall never have any dinner; and then it +will all fall upon me, and I--shall be tossed overboard.' + +Mrs. Lascelles desired poor Maddox to wait there while she obtained the +desired information. In a few minutes she returned to him. + +'I have found it out. They are first to be boiled in vinegar, then fried +in batter, and served up with a sauce of anchovy and Malaga raisins!' + +'First fried in vinegar, then boiled in batter, and served up with +almonds and raisins!' + +'No--no!' Mrs. Lascelles repeated the injunction to the frightened +steward, and then returned aft, and re-entered into a conversation with +Pickersgill, in which for the first time Corbett now joined. Corbett had +sense enough to feel that the less he came forward until his superior +had established himself in the good graces of the ladies, the more +favourable would be the result. + +In the meantime Cecilia had gone down to her aunt, who still continued +to wail and lament. The young lady tried all she could to console her, +and to persuade her that if they were civil and obedient they had +nothing to fear. + +'Civil and obedient, indeed!' cried Miss Ossulton, 'to a fellow who is a +smuggler and a pirate! I, the sister of Lord B.! Never! The presumption +of the wretch!' + +'That is all very well, aunt; but recollect, we must submit to +circumstances. These men insist upon our dining with them; and we must +go, or we shall have no dinner.' + +'I sit down with a pirate! Never! I'll have no dinner--I'll starve--I'll +die!' + +'But, my dear aunt, it's the only chance we have of obtaining our +release; and if you do not do it Mrs. Lascelles will think that you wish +to remain with them.' + +'Mrs. Lascelles judges of other people by herself.' + +'The captain is certainly a very well-behaved, handsome man. He looks +like a nobleman in disguise. What an odd thing it would be, aunt, if +this should be all a hoax!' + +'A hoax, child?' replied Miss Ossulton, sitting up on the sofa. + +Cecilia found that she had hit the right nail, as the saying is; and she +brought forward so many arguments to prove that she thought it was a +hoax to frighten them, and that the gentleman above was a man of +consequence, that her aunt began to listen to reason, and at last +consented to join the dinner party. Mrs. Lascelles now came down below; +and when dinner was announced they repaired to the large cabin, where +they found Pickersgill and Corbett waiting for them. + +Miss Ossulton did not venture to look up, until she heard Pickersgill +say to Mrs. Lascelles, 'Perhaps, madam, you will do me the favour to +introduce me to that lady, whom I have not had the honour of seeing +before?' + +'Certainly, my lord,' replied Mrs. Lascelles. 'Miss Ossulton, the aunt +of this young lady.' + +Mrs. Lascelles purposely did not introduce _his lordship_ in return, +that she might mystify the old spinster. + +'I feel highly honoured in finding myself in the company of Miss +Ossulton,' said Pickersgill. 'Ladies, we wait but for you to sit down. +Ossulton, take the head of the table and serve the soup. + +Miss Ossulton was astonished; she looked at the smugglers, and perceived +two well-dressed gentlemanly men, one of whom was apparently a lord, and +the other having the same family name. + +'It must be all a hoax,' thought she, and she very quietly took to her +soup. + +The dinner passed off very pleasantly; Pickersgill was agreeable, +Corbett funny, and Miss Ossulton so far recovered herself as to drink +wine with his lordship, and to ask Corbett what branch of their family +he belonged to. + +'I presume it's the Irish branch?' said Mrs. Lascelles, prompting him. + +'Exactly, madam,' replied Corbett. + +'Have you ever been to Torquay, ladies?' inquired Pickersgill. + +'No, my lord,' answered Mrs. Lascelles. + +'We shall anchor there in the course of an hour, and probably remain +there till to-morrow. Steward, bring coffee. Tell the cook these cutlets +were remarkably well dressed.' + +The ladies retired to their cabin. Miss Ossulton was now convinced that +it was all a hoax; 'but,' said she, 'I shall tell Lord B. my opinion of +their practical jokes when he returns. What is his lordship's name who +is on board?' + +'He won't tell us,' replied Mrs. Lascelles; 'but I think I know; it is +Lord Blarney.' + +'Lord Blaney, you mean, I presume,' said Miss Ossulton; 'however, the +thing is carried too far. Cecilia, we will go on shore at Torquay, and +wait till the yacht returns with Lord B. I don't like these jokes; they +may do very well for widows, and people of no rank.' + +Now Mrs. Lascelles was sorry to find Miss Ossulton so much at her ease. +She owed her no little spite, and wished for revenge. Ladies will go +very far to obtain this. How far Mrs. Lascelles would have gone, I will +not pretend to say; but this is certain, that the last innuendo of Miss +Ossulton very much added to her determination. She took her bonnet and +went on deck, at once told Pickersgill that he could not please her or +Cecilia more than by frightening Miss Ossulton, who, under the idea that +it was all a hoax, had quite recovered her spirits; talked of her pride +and ill-nature, and wished her to receive a useful lesson. Thus, to +follow up her revenge, did Mrs. Lascelles commit herself so far as to be +confidential with the smuggler in return. + +'Mrs. Lascelles, I shall be able to obey you, and, at the same time, to +combine business with pleasure.' + +After a short conversation, the yacht dropped her anchor at Torquay. It +was then about two hours before sunset. As soon as the sails were +furled, one or two gentlemen, who resided there, came on board to pay +their respects to Lord B.; and, as Pickersgill had found out from +Cecilia that her father was acquainted with no one there, he received +them in person; asked them down into the cabin--called for wine--and +desired them to send their boat away, as his own was going on shore. The +smugglers took great care that the steward, cook, and lady's-maid should +have no communication with the guests; one of them, by Corbett's +direction, being a sentinel over each individual. The gentlemen remained +about half an hour on board, during which Corbett and the smugglers had +filled the portmanteaus found in the cabin with the lace, and they were +put in the boat; Corbett then landed the gentlemen in the same boat, and +went up to the hotel, the smugglers following him with the portmanteaus, +without any suspicion or interruption. As soon as he was there, he +ordered post-horses, and set off for a town close by, where he had +correspondents; and thus the major part of the cargo was secured. +Corbett then returned in the night, bringing with him people to receive +the goods; and the smugglers landed the silks, teas, etc., with the same +good fortune. Everything was out of the yacht except a portion of the +lace, which the portmanteaus would not hold. Pickersgill might easily +have sent this on shore; but, to please Mrs. Lascelles, he arranged +otherwise. + +The next morning, about an hour after breakfast was finished, Mrs. +Lascelles entered the cabin pretending to be in the greatest +consternation, and fell on the sofa as if she were going to faint. + +'Good heavens! what is the matter?' exclaimed Cecilia, who knew very +well what was coming. + +'Oh, the wretch! he has made such proposals!' + +'Proposals! what proposals? what! Lord Blaney?' cried Miss Ossulton. + +'Oh, he's no lord! he's a villain and a smuggler! and he insists that we +shall both fill our pockets full of lace, and go on shore with him.' + +'Mercy on me! Then it is no hoax after all; and I've been sitting down +to dinner with a smuggler!' + +'Sitting down, madam!--if it were to be no more than that--but we are to +take his arm up to the hotel. Oh, dear! Cecilia, I am ordered on deck; +pray come with me!' + +Miss Ossulton rolled on the sofa, and rang for Phoebe; she was in a +state of great alarm. + +A knock at the door. + +'Come in,' said Miss Ossulton, thinking it was Phoebe; when +Pickersgill made his appearance. + +'What do you want, sir? Go out, sir! go out directly, or I'll scream!' + +'It is no use screaming, madam; recollect that all on board are at my +service. You will oblige me by listening to me, Miss Ossulton. I am, as +you know, a smuggler; and I must send this lace on shore. You will +oblige me by putting it into your pockets, or about your person, and +prepare to go on shore with me. As soon as we arrive at the hotel, you +will deliver it to me, and I then shall reconduct you on board of the +yacht. You are not the first lady who has gone on shore with contraband +articles about her person.' + +'Me, sir! go on shore in that way? No, sir--never! What will the world +say?--the Hon. Miss Ossulton walking with a smuggler! No, sir--never!' + +'Yes, madam; walking arm-in-arm with a smuggler. I shall have you on one +arm, and Mrs. Lascelles on the other; and I would advise you to take it +very quietly; for, in the first place, it will be you who smuggle, as +the goods will be found on your person, and you will certainly be put in +prison; for at the least appearance of insubordination, we run and +inform against you; and further, your niece will remain on board as a +hostage for your good behaviour--and if you have any regard for her +liberty, you will consent immediately.' + +Pickersgill left the cabin, and shortly afterwards Cecilia and Mrs. +Lascelles entered, apparently much distressed. They had been informed of +all, and Mrs. Lascelles declared, that for her part, sooner than leave +her poor Cecilia to the mercy of such people, she had made up her mind +to submit to the smuggler's demands. Cecilia also begged so earnestly, +that Miss Ossulton, who had no idea that it was a trick, with much +sobbing and blubbering, consented. + +[Illustration: _Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; +and, with Mrs. Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel._] + +When all was ready Cecilia left the cabin; Pickersgill came down, handed +up the two ladies, who had not exchanged a word with each other during +Cecilia's absence; the boat was ready alongside--they went in, and +pulled on shore. Everything succeeded to the smuggler's satisfaction. +Miss Ossulton, frightened out of her wits, took his arm; and, with Mrs. +Lascelles on the other, they went up to the hotel, followed by four of +his boat's crew. As soon as they were shown into a room, Corbett, who +was already on shore, asked for Lord B., and joined them. The ladies +retired to another apartment, divested themselves of their contraband +goods, and after calling for some sandwiches and wine, Pickersgill +waited an hour, and then returned on board. Mrs. Lascelles was +triumphant; and she rewarded her new ally--the smuggler--with one of her +sweetest smiles. Community of interest will sometimes make strange +friendships. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CONCLUSION + + +We must now return to the other parties who have assisted in the acts of +this little drama. Lord B., after paddling and paddling, the men +relieving each other, in order to make head against the wind, which was +off shore, arrived about midnight at a small town in West Bay, from +whence he took a chaise on to Portsmouth, taking it for granted that his +yacht would arrive as soon as, if not before himself, little imagining +that it was in possession of the smugglers. There he remained three or +four days, when, becoming impatient, he applied to one of his friends +who had a yacht at Cowes, and sailed with him to look after his own. + +We left the _Happy-go-lucky_ chased by the revenue cutter. At first the +smuggler had the advantage before the wind; but, by degrees, the wind +went round with the sun, and brought the revenue cutter to leeward: it +was then a chase on a wind, and the revenue cutter came fast up with +her. + +Morrison, perceiving that he had no chance of escape, let run the ankers +of brandy that he might not be condemned; but still he was in an awkward +situation, as he had more men on board than allowed by Act of +Parliament. He therefore stood on, notwithstanding the shot of the +cutter went over and over him, hoping that a fog or night might enable +him to escape; but he had no such good fortune; one of the shot carried +away the head of his mast, and the _Happy-go-lucky's_ luck was all over. +He was boarded and taken possession of; he asserted that the extra men +were only passengers; but, in the first place, they were dressed in +seamen's clothes; and, in the second, as soon as the boat was aboard of +her, Appleboy had gone down to his gin-toddy, and was not to be +disturbed. The gentlemen smugglers therefore passed an uncomfortable +night; and the cutter going to Portland by daylight, before Appleboy was +out of bed, they were taken on shore to the magistrate. Hautaine +explained the whole affair, and they were immediately released and +treated with respect; but they were not permitted to depart until they +were bound over to appear against the smugglers, and prove the brandy +having been on board. They then set off for Portsmouth in the seamen's +clothes, having had quite enough of yachting for that season, Mr. +Ossulton declaring that he only wanted to get his luggage, and then he +would take care how he put himself again in the way of the shot of a +revenue cruiser, or of sleeping a night on her decks. + +In the meantime Morrison and his men were locked up in the jail, the old +man, as the key was turned on him, exclaiming, as he raised his foot in +vexation, 'That cursed blue pigeon.' + +We will now return to the yacht. + +About an hour after Pickersgill had come on board, Corbett had made all +his arrangements and followed him. It was not advisable to remain at +Torquay any longer, through fear of discovery; he therefore weighed the +anchor before dinner, and made sail. + +'What do you intend to do now, my lord?' said Mrs. Lascelles. + +'I intend to run down to Cowes, anchor the yacht in the night, and an +hour before daylight have you in my boat with all my men. I will take +care that you are in perfect safety, depend upon it, even if I run a +risk. I should, indeed, be miserable, if, through my wild freaks, any +accident should happen to Mrs. Lascelles or Miss Ossulton.' + +'I am very anxious about my father,' observed Cecilia. 'I trust that you +will keep your promise.' + +'I always have hitherto, Miss Ossulton; have I not?' + +'Ours is but a short and strange acquaintance.' + +'I grant it; but it will serve for you to talk about long after. I shall +disappear as suddenly as I have come--you will neither of you, in all +probability, ever see me again.' + +The dinner was announced, and they sat down to table as before; but the +elderly spinster refused to make her appearance, and Mrs. Lascelles and +Cecilia, who thought she had been frightened enough, did not attempt to +force her. Pickersgill immediately yielded to these remonstrances, and +from that time she remained undisturbed in the ladies' cabin, meditating +over the indignity of having sat down to table, having drank wine, and +been obliged to walk on shore, taking the arm of a smuggler, and appear +in such a humiliating situation. + +The wind was light, and they made but little progress, and were not +abreast of Portland till the second day, when another yacht appeared in +sight, and the two vessels slowly neared, until in the afternoon they +were within four miles of each other. It then fell a dead calm: signals +were thrown out by the other yacht, but could not be distinguished, and, +for the last time, they sat down to dinner. Three days' companionship on +board of a vessel, cooped up together, and having no one else to +converse with, will produce intimacy; and Pickersgill was a young man of +so much originality and information, that he was listened to with +pleasure. He never attempted to advance beyond the line of strict +decorum and politeness; and his companion was equally unpresuming. +Situated as they were, and feeling what must have been the case had they +fallen into other hands, both Cecilia and Mrs. Lascelles felt some +degree of gratitude towards him; and, although anxious to be relieved +from so strange a position, they had gradually acquired a perfect +confidence in him; and this had produced a degree of familiarity on +their parts, although never ventured upon by the smuggler. As Corbett +was at the table, one of the men came down and made a sign. Corbett +shortly after quitted the table and went on deck. 'I wish, my lord, you +would come up a moment, and see if you can make this flag out,' said +Corbett, giving a significant nod to Pickersgill. 'Excuse me, ladies, +one moment,' said Pickersgill, who went on deck. + +'It is the boat of the yacht coming on board,' said Corbett; 'and Lord +B. is in the stern-sheets with the gentleman who was with him.' + +'And how many men in the boat?--let me see--only four. Well, let his +lordship and his friend come: when they are on the deck, have the men +ready in case of accident; but if you can manage to tell the boat's crew +that they are to go on board again, and get rid of them that way, so +much the better. Arrange this with Adams, and then come down again--his +lordship must see us all at dinner.' + +Pickersgill then descended, and Corbett had hardly time to give his +directions and to resume his seat, before his lordship and Mr. Stewart +pulled up alongside and jumped on deck. There was no one to receive them +but the seamen, and those whom they did not know. They looked round in +amazement; at last his lordship said to Adams, who stood forward-- + +'What men are you?' + +'Belong to the yacht, ye'r honour.' + +Lord B. heard laughing in the cabin; he would not wait to interrogate +the men; he walked aft, followed by Mr. Stewart, looked down the +skylight, and perceived his daughter and Mrs. Lascelles, with, as he +supposed, Hautaine and Ossulton. + +Pickersgill had heard the boat rub the side, and the sound of the feet +on deck, and he talked the more loudly, that the ladies might be caught +by Lord B. as they were. He heard their feet at the skylight, and knew +that they could hear what passed; and at that moment he proposed to the +ladies that as this was their last meeting at table they should all take +a glass of champagne to drink to 'their happy meeting with Lord B.' This +was a toast which they did not refuse. Maddox poured out the wine, and +they were all bowing to each other, when his lordship, who had come down +the ladder, walked into the cabin, followed by Mr. Stewart. Cecilia +perceived her father; the champagne-glass dropped from her hand--she +flew into his arms, and burst into tears. + +'Who would not be a father, Mrs. Lascelles?' said Pickersgill, quietly +seating himself, after having first risen to receive Lord B. + +'And pray, whom may I have the honour of finding established here?' said +Lord B., in an angry tone, speaking over his daughter's head, who still +lay in his arms. 'By heavens, yes!--Stewart, it is the smuggling captain +dressed out.' + +'Even so, my lord,' replied Pickersgill. 'You abandoned your yacht to +capture me; you left these ladies in a vessel crippled for want of men; +they might have been lost. I have returned good for evil by coming on +board with my own people, and taking charge of them. This night I +expected to have anchored your vessel in Cowes, and have left them in +safety.' + +'By the----' cried Stewart. + +'Stop, sir, if you please!' cried Pickersgill; 'recollect you have once +already attacked one who never offended. Oblige me by refraining from +intemperate language; for I tell you I will not put up with it. +Recollect, sir, that I have refrained from that, and also from taking +advantage of you when you were in my power. Recollect, sir, also, that +the yacht is still in possession of the smugglers, and that you are in +no condition to insult with impunity. My lord, allow me to observe, that +we men are too hot of temperament to argue or listen coolly. With your +permission, your friend, and my friend, and I, will repair on deck, +leaving you to hear from your daughter and that lady all that has +passed. After that, my lord, I shall be most happy to hear anything +which your lordship may please to say.' + +'Upon my word----' commenced Mr. Stewart. + +'Mr. Stewart,' interrupted Cecilia Ossulton, 'I request your silence; +nay, more, if ever we are again to sail in the same vessel together, I +_insist_ upon it.' + +'Your lordship will oblige me by enforcing Miss Ossulton's request,' +said Mrs. Lascelles. + +Mr. Stewart was dumbfounded--no wonder--to find the ladies siding with +the smuggler. + +'I am obliged to you, ladies, for your interference,' said Pickersgill; +'for, although I have the means of enforcing conditions, I should be +sorry to avail myself of them. I wait for his lordship's reply.' + +Lord. B. was very much surprised. He wished for an explanation; he bowed +with _hauteur_. Everybody appeared to be in a false position; even he, +Lord B., somehow or another had bowed to a smuggler. + +Pickersgill and Stewart went on deck, walking up and down, crossing each +other without speaking, but reminding you of two dogs who are both +anxious to fight, but have been restrained by the voice of their +masters. Corbett followed, and talked in a low tone to Pickersgill; +Stewart went over to leeward to see if the boat was still alongside, but +it had long before returned to the yacht. Miss Ossulton had heard her +brother's voice, but did not come out of the after-cabin; she wished to +be magnificent, and at the same time she was not sure whether all was +right, Phoebe having informed her that there was nobody with her +brother and Mr. Stewart, and that the smugglers still had the command of +the vessel. After a while, Pickersgill and Corbett went down forward, +and returned dressed in the smuggler's clothes, when they resumed their +walk on the deck. + +In the meantime it was dark; the cutter flew along the coast, and the +Needles' lights were on the larboard bow. The conversation between Mrs. +Lascelles, Cecilia, and her father was long. When all had been detailed, +and the conduct of Pickersgill duly represented, Lord B. acknowledged +that, by attacking the smuggler, he had laid himself open to +retaliation; that Pickersgill had shown a great deal of forbearance in +every instance; and after all, had he not gone on board the yacht, she +might have been lost, with only three seamen on board. He was amused +with the smuggling and the fright of his sister, still more with the +gentlemen being sent to Cherbourg, and much consoled that he was not the +only one to be laughed at. He was also much pleased with Pickersgill's +intention of leaving the yacht safe in Cowes harbour, his respect to the +property on board, and his conduct to the ladies. On the whole, he felt +grateful to Pickersgill, and where there is gratitude there is always +goodwill. + +'But who can he be?' said Mrs. Lascelles; 'his name he acknowledges not +to be Pickersgill, and he told me confidentially that he was of good +family.' + +'Confidentially, my dear Mrs. Lascelles?' said Lord B. + +'Oh, yes! we are both his confidants. Are we not, Cecilia?' + +'Upon my honour, Mrs. Lascelles, this smuggler appears to have made an +impression which many have attempted in vain.' + +Mrs. Lascelles did not reply to that remark, but said, 'Now, my lord, +you must decide--and I trust you will, to oblige us, treat him as he has +treated us, with the greatest respect and kindness.' + +'Why should you suppose otherwise?' replied Lord B.; 'it is not only my +wish but my interest so to do. He may take us over to France to-night, +or anywhere else. Has he not possession of the vessel?' + +'Yes,' replied Cecilia; 'but we flatter ourselves that we have _the +command_. Shall we call him down, papa?' + +'Ring for Maddox. Maddox, tell Mr. Pickersgill, who is on deck, that I +wish to speak with him, and shall be obliged by his stepping down into +the cabin.' + +'Who, my lord? What? _Him?_' + +'Yes, _him_,' replied Cecilia, laughing. + +'Must I call him my lord, now, miss?' + +'You may do as you please, Maddox; but recollect he is still in +possession of the vessel,' replied Cecilia. + +'Then, with your lordship's permission, I will; it's the safest way.' + +The smuggler entered the cabin; the ladies started as he appeared in his +rough costume. With his throat open, and his loose black handkerchief, +he was the _beau ideal_ of a handsome sailor. + +'Your lordship wishes to communicate with me?' + +'Mr. Pickersgill, I feel that you have had cause of enmity against me, +and that you have behaved with forbearance. I thank you for your +considerate treatment of the ladies; and I assure you that I feel no +resentment for what has passed.' + +'My lord, I am quite satisfied with what you have said; and I only hope +that, in future, you will not interfere with a poor smuggler, who may be +striving, by a life of danger and privation, to procure subsistence for +himself, and, perhaps, his family. I stated to these ladies my intention +of anchoring the yacht this night at Cowes, and leaving her as soon as +she was in safety. Your unexpected presence will only make this +difference, which is, that I must previously obtain your lordship's +assurance that those with you will allow me and my men to quit her +without molestation, after we have performed this service.' + +'I pledge you my word, Mr. Pickersgill, and I thank you into the +bargain. I trust you will allow me to offer some remuneration.' + +'Most certainly not, my lord.' + +'At all events, Mr. Pickersgill, if, at any other time, I can be of +service, you may command me.' + +Pickersgill made no reply. + +'Surely, Mr. Pickersgill----' + +'Pickersgill! how I hate that name!' said the smuggler, musing. 'I beg +your lordship's pardon--if I may require your assistance for any of my +unfortunate companions----' + +'Not for yourself, Mr. Pickersgill?' said Mrs. Lascelles. + +'Madam, I smuggle no more.' + +'For the pleasure I feel in hearing that resolution, Mr. Pickersgill,' +said Cecilia, 'take my hand and thanks.' + +'And mine,' said Mrs. Lascelles, half crying. + +'And mine too,' said Lord B., rising up. + +Pickersgill passed the back of his hand across his eyes, turned round, +and left the cabin. + +'I'm so happy!' said Mrs. Lascelles, bursting into tears. + +'He's a magnificent fellow,' observed Lord B. 'Come, let us all go on +deck.' + +'You have not seen my aunt, papa.' + +'True; I'll go in to her, and then follow you.' + +The ladies went up on deck. Cecilia entered into conversation with Mr. +Stewart, giving him a narrative of what had happened. Mrs. Lascelles sat +abaft at the taffrail, with her pretty hand supporting her cheek, +looking very much _a la Juliette_. + +'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, allow me to +observe, that it is _you_ who have induced me to give up my +profession----' + +'Why me, Mr. Pickersgill?' + +'You said that you did not like it' + +Mrs. Lascelles felt the force of the compliment. 'You said just now that +you hated the name of Pickersgill: why do you call yourself so?' + +'It was my smuggling name, Mrs. Lascelles.' + +'And now that you have left off smuggling, pray what may be the name we +are to call you by?' + +'I cannot resume it till I have not only left this vessel, but shaken +hands with, and bid farewell to, my companions; and by that time, Mrs. +Lascelles, I shall be away from you.' + +'But I've a great curiosity to know it; and a lady's curiosity must be +gratified. You must call upon me some day, and tell it me. Here is my +address.' + +Pickersgill received the card with a low bow: and Lord B. coming on +deck, Mrs. Lascelles hastened to meet him. + +[Illustration: _'Mrs. Lascelles,' said Pickersgill, 'before we part, +allow me to observe, that it is you who have induced me to give up my +profession----'_] + +The vessel was now passing the Bridge at the Needles, and the smuggler +piloted her on. As soon as they were clear and well inside, the whole +party went down into the cabin, Lord B. requesting Pickersgill and +Corbett to join him in aparting glass. Mr. Stewart, who had received +the account of what had passed from Cecilia, was very attentive to +Pickersgill, and took an opportunity of saying that he was sorry that he +had said or done anything to annoy him. Every one recovered his spirits; +and all was good-humour and mirth, because Miss Ossulton adhered to her +resolution of not quitting the cabin till she could quit the yacht. At +ten o'clock the yacht was anchored. Pickersgill took his leave of the +honourable company, and went in his boat with his men; and Lord B. was +again in possession of his vessel, although he had not a ship's company. +Maddox recovered his usual tone; and the cook flourished his knife, +swearing that he should like to see the smuggler who would again order +him to dress cutlets _a l'ombre Chinoise_. + +The yacht had remained three days at Cowes, when Lord B. received a +letter from Pickersgill, stating that the men of his vessel had been +captured, and would be condemned, in consequence of their having the +gentlemen on board, who were bound to appear against them, to prove that +they had sunk the brandy. Lord B. paid all the recognisances, and the +men were liberated for want of evidence. + +It was about two years after this that Cecilia Ossulton, who was sitting +at her work-table in deep mourning for her aunt, was presented with a +letter by the butler. It was from her friend Mrs. Lascelles, informing +her that she was married again to a Mr. Davenant, and intended to pay +her a short visit on her way to the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Davenant +arrived the next day; and when the latter introduced her husband, she +said to Miss Ossulton, 'Look, Cecilia dear, and tell me if you have ever +seen Davenant before.' + +Cecilia looked earnestly: 'I have, indeed,' cried she at last, extending +her hand with warmth; 'and happy am I to meet with him again.' + +For in Mr. Davenant she recognised her old acquaintance the captain of +the _Happy-go-lucky_, Jack Pickersgill the smuggler. + +THE END + +_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh._ + + +MACMILLAN'S THREE-AND-SIXPENNY LIBRARY + +OF + +WORKS BY POPULAR AUTHORS. + +In Crown 8vo. Cloth extra. 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BAKER.--True Tales for My Grandsons. + +W. FORBES-MITCHELL.--Reminiscences of the Great Mutiny, 1857-59. + +FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT.--Louisiana; and That Lass o' Lowrie's. + +R. BLENNERHASSETT AND L. SLEEMAN.--Adventures in Mashonaland. + +SIR MORTIMER DURAND, K. C. I. E.--Helen Treveryan. + +'English Men of Letters' Series. In 13 Monthly Volumes, each Volume +containing three books. + +LANOE FALCONER--Cecilia de Noel. + +ARCHIBALD FORBES.--Barracks, Bivouacs, and Battles.--Souvenirs of Some +Continents. + +W. W. FOWLER.--Tales of the Birds. Illustrated by BRYAN HOOK. A Year +with the Birds. Illustrated by BRYAN HOOK. + +Rev. J. GILMORE.--Storm Warriors. + +P. KENNEDY.--Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts. + +HENRY KINGSLEY.--Tales of Old Travel. + +MARGARET LEE.--Faithful and Unfaithful. + +AMY LEVY.--Reuben Sachs. + +S. R. LYSAGHT.--The Marplot. + +LORD LYTTON.--The Ring of Amasis. + +M. M'LENNAN.--Muckle Jock, and other Stories of Peasant Life. + +LUCAS MALET.--Mrs. Lorimer. + +GUSTAVE MASSON.--A French Dictionary. + +A. B. MITFORD.--Tales of Old Japan. + +MAJOR G. PARRY.--The Story of Dick. + +E. C. PRICE.--In the Lion's Mouth. + +W. C. RHOADES.--John Trevennick. + +THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE. Vol. I. Comedies. Vol. II. Histories. +Vol. III. Tragedies. 3 vols. + +FLORA A. STEEL.--Miss Stuart's Legacy.--The Flower of Forgiveness. + +MARCHESA THEODOLI.--Under Pressure. + +"TIMES" Summaries.--Biographies of Eminent Persons. In 4 vols.--Annual +Summaries. In 2 vols. + +Mrs. HUMPHRY WARD.--Miss Bretherton. + +MONTAGU WILLIAMS, Q. C.--Leaves of a Life.--Later Leaves.--Round London: +Down East, and Up West. + +Hogan, M. P.--Tim.--The New Antigone.--Flitters, Tatters, etc. + + +MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD., LONDON. + + + +Transcriber's note + +Printer's errors have been corrected. +All other inconsistencies are as in the original. +The author's spelling has been maintained. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pirate and The Three Cutters, by +Frederick Marryat + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIRATE AND THE THREE CUTTERS *** + +***** This file should be named 29291.txt or 29291.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/2/9/29291/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Woodie4, Joseph Cooper and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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