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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:27:53 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:27:53 -0700 |
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diff --git a/6629-h/6629-h.htm b/6629-h/6629-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9dec78d --- /dev/null +++ b/6629-h/6629-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,21525 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=utf-8"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Mr. Midshipman Easy, by Frederick Marryat +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +body { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +P.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +P.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +P.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +P.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 50%; + text-align: center } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%;} + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: 80%; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.intro {font-size: 90% ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 6629 ***</div> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +Note: A different print edition of this book has been posted as etext +#21553 +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t1"> +MR MIDSHIPMAN EASY +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="t2"> +By FREDERICK MARRYAT (1792-1848) +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Which the reader will find very easy to read. +</H4> + +<P> +Mr Nicodemus Easy was a gentleman who lived down in Hampshire; he was a +married man, and in very easy circumstances. Most couples find it very +easy to have a family, but not always quite so easy to maintain them. +Mr Easy was not at all uneasy on the latter score, as he had no +children; but he was anxious to have them, as most people covet what +they cannot obtain. After ten years, Mr Easy gave it up as a bad job. +Philosophy is said to console a man under disappointment, although +Shakespeare asserts that it is no remedy for toothache; so Mr Easy +turned philosopher, the very best profession a man can take up, when he +is fit for nothing else; he must be a very incapable person indeed who +cannot talk nonsense. For some time, Mr Easy could not decide upon +what description his nonsense should consist of; at last he fixed upon +the rights of man, equality, and all that; how every person was born to +inherit his share of the earth, a right at present only admitted to a +certain length; that is, about six feet, for we all inherit our graves +and are allowed to take possession without dispute. But no one would +listen to Mr Easy's philosophy. The women would not acknowledge the +rights of men, whom they declared always to be in the wrong; and, as +the gentlemen who visited Mr Easy were all men of property, they could +not perceive the advantages of sharing with those who had none. +However, they allowed him to discuss the question, while they discussed +his port wine. The wine was good, if the arguments were not, and we +must take things as we find them in this world. +</P> + +<P> +While Mr Easy talked philosophy, Mrs Easy played patience, and they +were a very happy couple, riding side by side on their hobbies, and +never interfering with each other. Mr Easy knew his wife could not +understand him, and therefore did not expect her to listen very +attentively; and Mrs Easy did not care how much her husband talked, +provided she was not put out in her game. Mutual forbearance will +always ensure domestic felicity. +</P> + +<P> +There was another cause for their agreeing so well. Upon any disputed +question Mr Easy invariably gave it up to Mrs Easy, telling her that +she should have her own way and this pleased his wife; but, as Mr Easy +always took care, when it came to the point, to have his way, he was +pleased as well. It is true that Mrs Easy had long found out that she +did not have her own way long; but she was of an easy disposition, and +as, in nine cases out of ten, it was of very little consequence how +things were done, she was quite satisfied with his submission during +the heat of the argument. Mr Easy had admitted that she was right, and +if like all men he would do wrong, why, what could a poor woman do? +With a lady of such a quiet disposition, it is easy to imagine that the +domestic felicity of Mr Easy was not easily disturbed. But, as people +have observed before, there is a mutability in human affairs. It was +at the finale of the eleventh year of their marriage that Mrs Easy at +first complained that she could not enjoy her breakfast. Mrs Easy had +her own suspicions, everybody else considered it past doubt, all except +Mr Easy; he little "thought, good easy man, that his greatness was +ripening"; he had decided that to have an heir was no Easy task, and it +never came into his calculations, that there could be a change in his +wife's figure. You might have added to it, subtracted from it, divided +it, or multiplied it, but as it was a zero, the result would be always +the same. Mrs Easy also was not quite sure—she believed it might be +the case, there was no saying; it might be a mistake, like that of Mrs +Trunnion's in the novel, and, therefore, she said nothing to her +husband about the matter. At last Mr Easy opened his eyes, and when, +upon interrogating his wife, he found out the astounding truth, he +opened his eyes still wider, and then he snapped his fingers and +danced, like a bear upon hot plates, with delight, thereby proving that +different causes may produce similar effects in two instances at one +and the same time. The bear dances from pain, Mr Easy from pleasure; +and again, when we are indifferent, or do not care for anything, we +snap our fingers at it, and when we are overjoyed, and obtain what we +most care for, we also snap our fingers. Two months after Mr Easy +snapped his fingers, Mrs Easy felt no inclination to snap hers, either +from indifference or pleasure, The fact was, that Mrs Easy's time was +come, to undergo what Shakespeare pronounces the pleasing punishment +that women bears but Mrs Easy, like the rest of her sex, declared "that +all men were liars," and most particularly poets. +</P> + +<P> +But while Mrs Easy was suffering, Mr Easy was in ecstasies. He laughed +at pain, as all philosophers do when it is suffered by other people, +and not by themselves. +</P> + +<P> +In due course of time, Mrs Easy presented her husband with a fine boy, +whom we present to the public as our hero. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Mrs Easy, as usual, has her own way. +</H4> + +<P> +It was the fourth day after Mrs Easy's confinement that Mr Easy, who +was sitting by her bedside in an easy chair, commenced as follows: "I +have been thinking, my dear Mrs Easy, about the name I shall give this +child." +</P> + +<P> +"Name, Mr Easy! why, what name should you give it but your own?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not so, my dear," replied Mr Easy; "they call all names proper names, +but I think that mine is not. It is the very worst name in the +calendar." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, what's the matter with it, Mr Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"The matter affects me as well as the boy. Nicodemus is a long name to +write at full length, and Nick is vulgar. Besides, as there will be +two Nicks, they will naturally call my boy young Nick, and of course I +shall be styled old Nick, which will be diabolical." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr Easy, at all events then let me choose the name." +</P> + +<P> +"That you shall, my dear, and it was with this view that I have +mentioned the subject so early." +</P> + +<P> +"I think, Mr Easy, I will call the boy after my poor father—his name +shall be Robert." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, my dear, if you wish it, it shall be Robert. You shall +have your own way. But I think, my dear, upon a little consideration, +you will acknowledge that there is a decided objection." +</P> + +<P> +"An objection Mr Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my dear; Robert may be very well, but you must reflect upon the +consequences; he is certain to be called Bob." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my dear, and suppose they do call him Bob?" +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot bear even the supposition, my dear. You forget the county in +which we are residing, the downs covered with sheep." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Mr Easy, what can sheep have to do with a Christian name?" +</P> + +<P> +"There it is; women never look to consequences. My dear, they have a +great deal to do with the name of Bob. I will appeal to any farmer in +the county, if ninety-nine shepherds' dogs out of one hundred are not +called Bob. Now observe, your child is out of doors somewhere in the +fields or plantations; you want and you call him. Instead of your +child, what do you find? Why, a dozen curs at least, who come running +up to you, all answering to the name of Bob, and wagging their stumps +of tails. You see, Mrs Easy, it is a dilemma not to be got over. You +level your only son to the brute creation by giving him a Christian +name which, from its peculiar brevity, has been monopolised by all the +dogs in the county. Any other name you please, my dear, but in this +one instance you must allow me to lay my positive veto." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, let me see—but I'll think of it, Mr Easy; my head aches +very much just now." +</P> + +<P> +"I will think for you, my dear. What do you say to John?" +</P> + +<P> +"O no, Mr Easy, such a common name." +</P> + +<P> +"A proof of its popularity, my dear. It is scriptural—we have the +Apostle and the Baptist—we have a dozen Popes who were all Johns. It +is royal—we have plenty of kings who were Johns—and moreover, it is +short, and sounds honest and manly." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, very true, my dear; but they will call him Jack." "Well, we have +had several celebrated characters who were Jacks. There was—let me +see—Jack the Giant Killer, and Jack of the Bean Stock—and +Jack—Jack—" +</P> + +<P> +"Jack Spratt," replied Mrs Easy. "And Jack Cade, Mrs Easy, the great +rebel—and Three-fingered Jack, Mrs Easy, the celebrated negro—and, +above all, Jack Falstaff, ma'am, Jack Falstaff—honest Jack +Falstaff—witty Jack Falstaff—" +</P> + +<P> +"I thought, Mr Easy, that I was to be permitted to choose the name." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, so you shall, my dear; I give it up to you. Do just as you +please; but depend upon it that John is the right name. Is it not now, +my dear?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's the way you always treat me, Mr Easy; you say that you give it +up, and that I shall have my own way, but I never do have it. I am sure +that the child will be christened John." +</P> + +<P> +"Nay, my dear, it shall be just what you please. Now I recollect it, +there were several Greek emperors who were Johns; but decide for +yourself, my dear." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," replied Mrs Easy, who was ill, and unable to contend any +longer, "I give it up, Mr Easy. I know how it will be, as it always +is: you give me my own way as people give pieces of gold to children, +it's their own money, but they must not spend it. Pray call him John." +</P> + +<P> +"There, my dear, did not I tell you you would be of my opinion upon +reflection? I knew you would. I have given you your own way, and you +tell me to call him John; so now we're both of the same mind, and that +point is settled." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to go to sleep, Mr Easy; I feel far from well." +</P> + +<P> +"You shall always do just as you like, my dear," replied the husband, +"and have your own way in everything. It is the greatest pleasure I +have when I yield to your wishes. I will walk in the garden. Good-bye, +my dear." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs Easy made no reply, and the philosopher quitted the room. As may +easily be imagined, on the following day the boy was christened John. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero has to wait the issue of an argument. +</H4> + +<P> +The reader may observe that, in general, all my first chapters are very +short, and increase in length as the work advances. I mention this as +a proof of my modesty and diffidence. At first, I am like a young bird +just out of its mother's nest, pluming my little feathers and taking +short flights. By degrees I obtain more confidence, and wing my course +over hill and dale. +</P> + +<P> +It is very difficult to throw any interest into a chapter on childhood. +There is the same uniformity in all children until they develop. We +cannot, therefore, say much relative to Jack Easy's earliest days; he +sucked and threw up his milk while the nurse blessed it for a pretty +dear, slept, and sucked again. He crowed in the morning like a cock, +screamed when he was washed, stared at the candle, and made wry faces +with the wind. Six months passed in these innocent amusements, and +then he was put into shorts. But I ought here to have remarked, that +Mrs Easy did not find herself equal to nursing her own infant, and it +was necessary to look out for a substitute. +</P> + +<P> +Now a common-place person would have been satisfied with the +recommendation of the medical man, who looks but to the one thing +needful, which is a sufficient and wholesome supply of nourishment for +the child; but Mr Easy was a philosopher, and had latterly taken to +craniology, and he descanted very learnedly with the Doctor upon the +effect of his only son obtaining his nutriment from an unknown source. +"Who knows," observed Mr Easy, "but that my son may not imbibe with his +milk the very worst passions of human nature." +</P> + +<P> +"I have examined her," replied the Doctor, "and can safely recommend +her." +</P> + +<P> +"That examination is only preliminary to one more important," replied +Mr Easy. "I must examine her." +</P> + +<P> +"Examine who, Mr Easy?" exclaimed his wife, who had lain down again on +the bed. +</P> + +<P> +"The nurse, my dear." +</P> + +<P> +"Examine what, Mr Easy?" continued the lady. +</P> + +<P> +"Her head, my dear," replied the husband. "I must ascertain what her +propensities are." +</P> + +<P> +"I think you had better leave her alone, Mr Easy. She comes this +evening, and I shall question her pretty severely. Doctor Middleton, +what do you know of this young person?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know, madam, that she is very healthy and strong, or I should not +have selected her." +</P> + +<P> +"But is her character good?" +</P> + +<P> +"Really, madam, I know little about her character; but you can make any +inquiries you please. But at the same time I ought to observe, that if +you are too particular in that point, you will have some difficulty in +providing yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I shall see," replied Mrs Easy. "And I shall feel," rejoined the +husband. +</P> + +<P> +This parleying was interrupted by the arrival of the very person in +question, who was announced by the housemaid, and was ushered in. She +was a handsome, florid, healthy-looking girl, awkward and naive in her +manner, and apparently not over wise; there was more of the dove than +of the serpent in her composition. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Easy, who was very anxious to make his own discoveries, was the +first who spoke. "Young woman, come this way, I wish to examine your +head." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! dear me, sir, it's quite clean, I assure you,". cried the girl, +dropping a curtsey. +</P> + +<P> +Doctor Middleton, who sat between the bed and Mr Easy's chair, rubbed +his hands and laughed. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime, Mr Easy had untied the string and taken off the cap of +the young woman, and was very busy putting his fingers through her +hair, during which the face of the young woman expressed fear and +astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad to perceive that you have a large portion of benevolence." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied the young woman, dropping a curtsey. +</P> + +<P> +"And veneration also." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanky, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"And the organ of modesty is strongly developed." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied the girl with a smile. +</P> + +<P> +"That's quite a new organ," thought Dr Middleton. +</P> + +<P> +"Philoprogenitiveness very powerful." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir, I don't know what that is," answered Sarah, with a +curtsey. +</P> + +<P> +"Nevertheless you have given us a practical, illustration. Mrs Easy, I +am satisfied. Have you any questions to ask? But it is quite +unnecessary." +</P> + +<P> +"To be sure I have, Mr Easy. Pray, young woman, what is your name?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sarah, if you please, ma'am." +</P> + +<P> +"How long have you been married?" +</P> + +<P> +"Married, ma'am?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, married." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, ma'am, I had a misfortune, ma'am," replied the girl, +casting down her eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"What, have you not been married?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, ma'am, not yet." +</P> + +<P> +"Good heavens! Dr Middleton, what can you mean by bringing this person +here?" exclaimed Mrs Easy. "Not a married woman, and she has a child!" +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, ma'am," interrupted the young woman, dropping a +curtsey, "it was a very little one." +</P> + +<P> +"A very little one!" exclaimed Mrs Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, ma'am, very small, indeed, and died soon after it was born." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Dr Middleton!—what could you mean, Dr Middleton?" +</P> + +<P> +"My dear madam," exclaimed the Doctor, rising from his chair, "this is +the only person that I could find suited to the wants of your child, +and if you do not take her I cannot answer for its life. It is true, +that a married woman might be procured; but married women, who have a +proper feeling, will not desert their own children; and as Mr Easy +asserts, and you appear to imagine, the temper and disposition of your +child may be affected by the nourishment it receives, I think it more +likely to be injured by the milk of a married woman who will desert her +own child for the sake of gain. The misfortune which has happened to +this young woman is not always a proof of a bad heart, but of strong +attachment, and the overweening confidence of simplicity." +</P> + +<P> +"You are correct, Doctor," replied Mr Easy, "and her head proves that +she is a modest young woman, with strong religious feeling, kindness of +disposition, and every other requisite." +</P> + +<P> +"The head may prove it all for what I know, Mr Easy, but her conduct +tells another tale." +</P> + +<P> +"She is well fitted for the situation, ma'am," continued the Doctor. +</P> + +<P> +"And if you please, ma'am," rejoined Sarah, "it was such a little one." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I try the baby, ma'am?" said the monthly nurse, who had listened +in silence. "It is fretting so, poor thing, and has its dear little +fist right down its throat." +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton gave the signal of assent, and in a few seconds Master +John Easy was fixed to Sarah as tight as a leech. +</P> + +<P> +"Lord love it, how hungry it is!—there, there, stop it a moment, it's +choking, poor thing!" +</P> + +<P> +Mrs Easy, who was lying on her bed, rose up, and went to the child. Her +first feeling was that of envy, that another should have such a +pleasure which was denied to herself; the next, that of delight, at the +satisfaction expressed by the infant. In a few minutes the child fell +back in a deep sleep. Mrs Easy was satisfied; maternal feelings +conquered all others, and Sarah was duly installed. +</P> + +<P> +To make short work of it, we have said that Jack Easy in six months was +in shorts. He soon afterwards began to crawl and show his legs; +indeed, so indecorously, that it was evident that he had imbibed no +modesty with Sarah's milk, neither did he appear to have gained +veneration or benevolence, for he snatched at everything, squeezed the +kitten to death, scratched his mother, and pulled his father by the +hair; notwithstanding all which, both his father and mother and the +whole household declared him to be the finest and sweetest child in the +universe. But if we were to narrate all the wonderful events of Jack's +childhood from the time of his birth up to the age of seven years, as +chronicled by Sarah, who continued his dry nurse after he had been +weaned, it would take at least three volumes folio. Jack was brought +up in the way that every only child usually is—that is, he was allowed +to have his own way. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which the doctor prescribes going to school as a remedy for a cut finger. +</H4> + +<P> +"Have you no idea of putting the boy to school, Mr Easy?" said Dr +Middleton, who had been summoned by a groom with his horse in a foam to +attend immediately at Forest Hill, the name of Mr Easy's mansion, and +who, upon his arrival, had found that Master Easy had cut his thumb. +One would have thought that he had cut his head off by the agitation +pervading the whole household—Mr Easy walking up and down very uneasy, +Mrs Easy with great difficulty prevented from syncope, and all the +maids bustling and passing round Mrs Easy's chair. Everybody appeared +excited except Master Jack Easy himself, who, with a rag round his +finger, and his pinafore spotted with blood, was playing at bob-cherry, +and cared nothing about the matter. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what's the matter, my little man?" said Dr Middleton, on +entering, addressing himself to Jack, as the most sensible of the whole +party. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Dr Middleton," interrupted Mrs Easy, "he has cut his hand; I'm +sure that a nerve is divided, and then the lock-jaw—" +</P> + +<P> +The Doctor made no reply, but examined the finger: Jack Easy continued +to play bob-cherry with his right hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you such a thing as a piece of sticking-plaster in the house, +madam?" observed the Doctor, after examination. +</P> + +<P> +"O yes: run, Mary, run, Sarah!" In a few seconds the maids appeared, +Sarah bringing the sticking-plaster, and Mary following with the +scissors. +</P> + +<P> +"Make yourself quite easy, madam," said Dr Middleton, after he put on +the plaster, "I will answer for no evil consequences." +</P> + +<P> +"Had I not better take him upstairs, and let him lie down a little?" +replied Mrs Easy, slipping a guinea into the Doctor's hand. +</P> + +<P> +"It is not absolutely requisite, madam," said the Doctor; "but at all +events he will be kept out of more mischief." +</P> + +<P> +"Come, my dear, you hear what Dr Middleton says." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I heard," replied Jack; "but I shan't go." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear Johnny—come, love—now do, my dear Johnny." +</P> + +<P> +Johnny played bob-cherry, and made no answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Master Johnny," said Sarah. +</P> + +<P> +"Go away, Sarah," said Johnny, with a backhander. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! fie, Master Johnny," said Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Johnny, my love," said Mrs Easy in a coaxing tone, "come now—will you +go?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go in the garden and get some more cherries," replied Master +Johnny. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, then, love, we will go into the garden." +</P> + +<P> +Master Johnny jumped off his chair, and took his mamma by the hand. +</P> + +<P> +"What a dear, good, obedient child it is!" exclaimed Mrs Easy; "you may +lead him with a thread." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, to pick cherries," thought Dr Middleton. Mrs Easy, and Johnny, +and Sarah, and Mary, went into the garden, leaving Dr Middleton alone +with Mr Easy, who had been silent during this scene. Now Dr Middleton +was a clever, sensible man, who had no wish to impose upon anyone. As +for his taking a guinea for putting on a piece of sticking-plaster, his +conscience was very easy on that score. His time was equally valuable, +whether he were employed for something or nothing; and, moreover, he +attended the poor gratis. Constantly in the house, he had seen much of +Mr John Easy, and perceived that he was a courageous, decided boy, of a +naturally good disposition; but from the idiosyncrasy of the father, +and the doting folly of the mother, in a sure way of being spoiled. +</P> + +<P> +As soon, therefore, as the lady was out of hearing, he took a chair, +and made the query at the commencement of the chapter, which we shall +now repeat. "Have you no idea of putting the boy to school, Mr Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +Mr Easy crossed his legs, and clasped his hands together over his +knees, as he always did when he was about to commence an argument. "The +great objection that I have to sending a boy to school, Dr Middleton, +is, that I conceive that the discipline enforced is, not only contrary +to the rights of man, but also in opposition to all sound sense and +common judgment. Not content with punishment, which is in itself +erroneous, and an infringement of social justice, they even degrade the +minds of the boys still more by applying punishment to the most +degraded part, adding contumely to tyranny. Of course, it is intended +that a boy who is sent to school should gain by precept and example; +but is he to learn benevolence by the angry look and the flourish of +the vindictive birch,—or forbearance, by the cruelty of the +ushers,—or patience, when the masters over him are out of all +patience, or modesty, when his nether parts are exposed to general +examination? Is he not daily reading a lesson at variance with that +equality which we all possess, but of which we are unjustly deprived? +Why should there be a distinction between the flogger and the floggee? +Are they not both fashioned alike after God's image, endowed with the +same reason, having an equal right to what the world offers, and which +was intended by Providence to be equally distributed? Is it not that +the sacred inheritance of all, which has tyrannously and impiously been +ravished from the many for the benefit of the few, and which +ravishment, from long custom of iniquity and inculcation of false +precepts, has too long been basely submitted to? Is it not the duty of +a father to preserve his only son from imbibing these dangerous and +debasing errors, which will render him only one of a vile herd who are +content to suffer, provided that they live? And yet are not these very +errors inculcated at school, and impressed upon their mind inversely by +the birch? Do not they there receive their first lesson in slavery +with the first lesson in A B C; and are not their minds thereby +prostrated, so as never to rise again, but ever to bow to despotism, to +cringe to rank, to think and act by the precepts of others, and to +tacitly disavow that sacred equality which is our birthright? No, sir, +without they can teach without resorting to such a fundamental error as +flogging, my boy shall never go to school." +</P> + +<P> +And Mr Easy threw himself back in his chair, imagining like all +philosophers, that he had said something very clever. +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton knew his man, and therefore patiently waited until he had +exhausted his oratory. +</P> + +<P> +"I will grant," said the Doctor at last, "that all you say may have +great truth in it; but, Mr Easy, do you not think that by not +permitting a boy to be educated, you allow him to remain more open to +that very error of which you speak? It is only education which will +conquer prejudice, and enable a man to break through the trammels of +custom. Now, allowing that the birch is used, yet it is at a period +when the young mind is so elastic as to soon become indifferent; and +after he has attained the usual rudiments of education, you will then +find him prepared to receive those lessons which you can yourself +instil." +</P> + +<P> +"I will teach him everything myself," replied Mr Easy, folding his arms +consequentially and determinedly. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not doubt your capability, Mr Easy; but unfortunately you will +always have a difficulty which you never can get over. Excuse me, I +know what you are capable of, and the boy would indeed be happy with +such a preceptor, but—if I must speak plain—you must be aware as well +as I am, that the maternal fondness of Mrs Easy will always be a bar to +your intention. He is already so spoiled by her, that he will not +obey; and without obedience you cannot inculcate." +</P> + +<P> +"I grant, my dear sir, that there is a difficulty on that point; but +maternal weakness must then be overcome by paternal severity." +</P> + +<P> +"May I ask how, Mr Easy? for it appears to me impossible." +</P> + +<P> +"Impossible! By heavens, I'll make him obey, or I'll—"—Here Mr Easy +stopped before the word flog was fairly out of his mouth,—"I'll know +the reason why, Dr Middleton." +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton checked his inclination to laugh, and replied, "That you +would hit upon some scheme, by which you would obtain the necessary +power over him, I have no doubt; but what will be the consequence? The +boy will consider his mother as a protector, and you as a tyrant. He +will have an aversion to you, and with that aversion he will never pay +respect and attention to your valuable precepts when he arrives at an +age to understand them. Now it appears to me that this difficulty +which you have raised may be got over. I know a very worthy clergyman +who does not use the birch; but I will write, and put the direct +question to him; and then if your boy is removed from the danger +arising from Mrs Easy's overindulgence, in a short time he will be +ready for your more important tuition." +</P> + +<P> +"I think," replied Mr Easy, after a pause, "that what you say merits +consideration. I acknowledge that in consequence of Mrs Easy's +nonsensical indulgence, the boy is unruly, and will not obey me at +present; and if your friend does not apply the rod, I will think +seriously of sending my son John to him to learn the elements." +</P> + +<P> +The Doctor had gained his point by flattering the philosopher. In a +day he returned with a letter from the pedagogue in answer to one +supposed to be sent to him, in which the use of the birch was +indignantly disclaimed, and Mr Easy announced to his wife, when they +met that day at tea-time, his intentions with regard to his son John. +</P> + +<P> +"To school, Mr Easy? what, send Johnny to school! a mere infant to +school!" +</P> + +<P> +"Surely, my dear, you must be aware that at nine years it is high time +that he learnt to read." +</P> + +<P> +"Why he almost reads already, Mr Easy; surely I can teach him that. +Does he not, Sarah?" +</P> + +<P> +"Lord bless him, yes, ma'am, he was saying his letters yesterday." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mr Easy, what can have put this in your head? Johnny, dear, come +here—tell me now what's the letter A? You were singing it in the +garden this morning." +</P> + +<P> +"I want some sugar," replied Johnny, stretching his arm over the table +to the sugar-basin, which was out of his reach. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my love, you shall have a great lump if you will tell me what's +the letter A." +</P> + +<P> +"A was an archer, and shot at a frog," replied Johnny in a surly tone. +</P> + +<P> +"There now, Mr Easy; and he can go through the whole alphabet—can't +he, Sarah?" +</P> + +<P> +"That he can, the dear—can't you, Johnny dear?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Johnny. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you can, my love; you know what's the letter B. Now don't you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Johnny. +</P> + +<P> +"There, Mr Easy, you see what the boy knows, and how obedient he is +too. Come, Johnny dear, tell us what was B?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I won't," replied Johnny, "I want some more sugar"; and Johnny, +who had climbed on a chair, spread himself over the table to reach it. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy! Sarah, pull him off—he'll upset the urn," screamed Mrs Easy. +Sarah caught hold of Johnny by the loins to pull him back, but Johnny, +resisting the interference, turned round on his back as he lay on the +table, and kicked Sarah in the face, just as she made another desperate +grasp at him. The rebound from the kick, given as he lay on a smooth +mahogany table, brought Johnny's head in contact with the urn, which +was upset in the opposite direction, and, notwithstanding a rapid +movement on the part of Mr Easy, he received a sufficient portion of +boiling liquid on his legs to scald him severely, and induce him to +stamp and swear in a very unphilosophical way. In the meantime Sarah +and Mrs Easy had caught up Johnny, and were both holding him at the +same time, exclaiming and lamenting. The pain of the scald, and the +indifference shown towards him, were too much for Mr Easy's temper to +put up with. He snatched Johnny out of their arms, and, quite +forgetting his equality and rights of man, belaboured him without +mercy. Sarah flew into interfere, and received a blow which not only +made her see a thousand stars, but sent her reeling on the floor. Mrs +Easy went off into hysterics, and Johnny howled so as to be heard at a +quarter of a mile. +</P> + +<P> +How long Mr Easy would have continued it is impossible to say; but the +door opened, and Mr Easy looked up while still administering the +punishment, and perceived Dr Middleton in mute astonishment. He had +promised to come in to tea, and enforce Mr Easy's arguments, if it were +necessary; but it certainly appeared to him, that in the argument which +Mr Easy was then enforcing, he required no assistance. However, at the +entrance of Dr Middleton, Johnny was dropped, and lay roaring on the +floor; Sarah, too, remained where she had been floored, Mrs Easy had +rolled on the floor, the urn was also on the floor, and Mr Easy, +although not floored, had not a leg to stand upon. +</P> + +<P> +Never did a medical man look in more opportunely. Mr Easy at first was +not certainly of that opinion, but his legs became so painful that he +soon became a convert. +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton, as in duty bound, first picked up Mrs Easy, and laid her +on the sofa. Sarah rose, picked up Johnny, and carried him, kicking +and roaring, out of the room; in return for which attention she +received sundry bites. The footman, who had announced the doctor, +picked up the urn, that being all that was in his department. Mr Easy +threw himself panting in agony on the other sofa, and Dr Middleton was +excessively embarrassed how to act: he perceived that Mr Easy required +his assistance, and that Mrs Easy could do without it; but how to leave +a lady, who was half really and half pretendedly in hysterics, was +difficult; for if he attempted to leave her, she kicked and flounced, +and burst out the more. At last Dr Middleton rang the bell, which +brought the footman, who summoned all the maids, who carried Mrs Easy +upstairs, and then the Doctor was able to attend to the only patient +who really required his assistance. Mr Easy explained the affair in +few words, broken into ejaculations from pain, as the Doctor removed +his stockings. From the applications of Dr Middleton, Mr Easy soon +obtained bodily relief; but what annoyed him still more than his +scalded legs, was the Doctor having been a witness to his infringement +of the equality and rights of man. Dr Middleton perceived this, and he +knew also how to pour balm into that wound. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear Mr Easy, I am very sorry that you have had this accident, for +which you are indebted to Mrs Easy's foolish indulgence of the boy; but +I am glad to perceive that you have taken up those parental duties +which are inculcated by the Scriptures. Solomon says, 'that he who +spares the rod, spoils the child,' thereby implying that it is the duty +of a father to correct his children, and in a father, the so doing does +not interfere with the rights of man, or any natural equality, for the +son being a part or portion of the father, he is only correcting his +own self; and the proof of it is, that a father, in punishing his own +son, feels as much pain in so doing as if he were himself punished. It +is, therefore, nothing but self-discipline, which is strictly enjoined +us by the Scriptures." +</P> + +<P> +"That is exactly my opinion," replied Mr Easy, comforted at the Doctor +having so logically got him out of the scrape. "But—he shall go to +school to-morrow, that I'm determined on." +</P> + +<P> +"He will have to thank Mrs Easy for that," replied the Doctor. +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly," replied Mr Easy. "Doctor, my legs are getting very hot +again." +</P> + +<P> +"Continue to bathe them with the vinegar and water, Mr Easy, until I +send you an embrocation, which will give you immediate relief. I will +call to-morrow. By-the-bye, I am to see a little patient at Mr +Bonnycastle's: if it is any accommodation, I will take your son with +me." +</P> + +<P> +"It will be a great accommodation, Doctor," replied Mr Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"Then, my dear sir, I will just go up and see how Mrs Easy is, and +to-morrow I will call at ten. I can wait an hour. Good-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Good-night, Doctor." +</P> + +<P> +The doctor had his game to play with Mrs Easy. He magnified her +husband's accident—he magnified his wrath, and advised her by no means +to say one word, until he was well and more pacified. The next day he +repeated this dose, and, in spite of the ejaculations of Sarah, and the +tears of Mrs Easy, who dared not venture to plead her cause, and the +violent resistance of Master Johnny, who appeared to have a +presentiment of what was to come, our hero was put into Dr Middleton's +chariot, and with the exception of one plate of glass, which he kicked +out of the window with his feet, and for which feat the Doctor, now +that he had him all to himself, boxed his ears till he was nearly +blind, he was, without any further eventful occurrence, carried by the +Doctor's footman into the parlour of Mr Bonnycastle. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Jack Easy is sent to a school at which there is no flogging. +</H4> + +<P> +Master Jack had been plumped down in a chair by the doctor's servant, +who, as he quitted him, first looked at his own hands, from which the +blood was drawn in several parts, and then at Master Jack, with his +teeth closed, and lips compressed, as much as to say, "If I only dared, +would not I, that's all!" and then walked out of the room, repaired to +the carriage at the front door, when he showed his hands to the +coachman, who looked down from his box in great commiseration, at the +same time fully sharing his fellow-servant's indignation. But we must +repair to the parlour. Dr Middleton ran over a newspaper, while Johnny +sat on the chair all of a heap, looking like a lump of sulks, with his +feet on the upper front bar, and his knees almost up to his nose. He +was a promising pupil, Jack. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Bonnycastle made his appearance—a tall, well-built, handsome, fair +man, with a fine powdered head, dressed in solemn black and knee +buckles; his linen beautifully clean, and with a peculiar bland +expression of countenance. When he smiled he showed a row of teeth +white as ivory, and his mild blue eye was the ne plus ultra of +beneficence. He was the beau-ideal of a preceptor, and it was +impossible to see him and hear his mild pleasing voice, without wishing +that all your sons were under his protection. He was a ripe scholar, +and a good one, and at the time we speak of, had the care of upwards of +one hundred boys. He was celebrated for turning them out well, and +many of his pupils were rising fast in the senate, as well as +distinguishing themselves in the higher Professions. +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton, who was on intimate terms with Bonnycastle, rose as he +entered the room, and they shook hands. Middleton then turned to where +Jack sat, and pointing to him, said, "Look there." +</P> + +<P> +Bonnycastle smiled. "I cannot say that I have had worse, but I have +almost as bad. I will apply the Promethean torch, and soon vivify that +rude mass. Come, sit down, Middleton." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said the Doctor, as he resumed his chair, "tell me, Bonnycastle, +how you will possibly manage to lick such a cub into shape, when you do +not resort to flogging?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have no opinion of flogging, and therefore I do not resort to it. +The fact is, I was at Harrow myself, and was rather a pickle. I was +called up as often as most boys in the school, and I perfectly +recollect, that eventually I cared nothing for a flogging. I had become +case-hardened. It is the least effective part that you can touch a boy +upon. It leaves nothing behind to refresh their memories." +</P> + +<P> +"I should have thought otherwise." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear Middleton, I can produce more effect by one caning than twenty +floggings. Observe, you flog upon a part the most quiescent; but you +cane upon all parts, from the head to the heels. Now, when once the +first sting of the birch is over, then a dull sensation comes over the +part, and the pain after that is nothing; whereas a good sound caning +leaves sores and bruises in every part, and on all the parts which are +required for muscular action. After a flogging, a boy may run out in +the hours of recreation, and join his playmates as well as ever, but a +good caning tells a very different tale; he cannot move one part of his +body without being reminded for days by the pain of the punishment he +has undergone, and he is very careful how he is called up again." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear sir, I really had an idea that you were excessively lenient," +replied Middleton, laughing; "I am glad that I am under a mistake." +</P> + +<P> +"Look at that cub, Doctor, sitting there more like a brute than a +reasonable being; do you imagine that I could ever lick it into shape +without strong measures? At the same time, allow me to say, that I +consider my system by far the best. At the public schools, punishment +is no check; it is so trifling that it is derided: with me punishment +is punishment in the true sense of the word, and the consequence is, +that it is much more seldom resorted to." +</P> + +<P> +"You are a terrorist, Bonnycastle." +</P> + +<P> +"The two strongest impulses in our nature are fear and love. In theory, +acting upon the latter is very beautiful; but in practice, I never +found it to answer—and for the best of reasons, our self-love is +stronger than our love for others. Now I never yet found fear to fail, +for the very same reason that the other does, because with fear we act +upon self-love, and nothing else." +</P> + +<P> +"And yet we have many now who would introduce a system of schooling +without correction; and who maintain that the present system is +degrading." +</P> + +<P> +"There are a great many fools in this world, Doctor." +</P> + +<P> +"That reminds me of this boy's father," replied Dr Middleton; who then +detailed to the pedagogue the idiosyncrasy of Mr Easy, and all the +circumstances attending Jack being sent to his school. +</P> + +<P> +"There is no time to be lost then, Doctor. I must conquer this young +gentleman before his parents call to see him. Depend upon it, in a +week I will have him obedient and well broke in." +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton wished Jack good-bye, and told him to be a good boy. Jack +did not vouchsafe to answer. "Never mind, Doctor, he will be more +polished next time you call here, depend upon it." And the Doctor +departed. +</P> + +<P> +Although Mr Bonnycastle was severe, he was very judicious. Mischief of +all kinds was visited but by slender punishment, such as being kept in +at play hours, etc; and he seldom interfered with the boys for +fighting, although he checked decided oppression. The great "sine qua +non" with him was attention to their studies. He soon discovered the +capabilities of his pupils, and he forced them accordingly; but the +idle boy, the bird who "could sing and wouldn't sing," received no +mercy. The consequence was, that he turned out the cleverest boys, and +his conduct was so uniform and unvarying in its tenor, that if he was +feared when they were under his control, he was invariably liked by +those whom he had instructed, and they continued his friends in +after-life. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Bonnycastle at once perceived that it was no use coaxing our hero, +and that fear was the only attribute by which he could be controlled. +So, as soon as Dr Middleton had quitted the room, he addressed him in a +commanding tone, "Now, boy, what is your name?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack started; he looked up at his master, perceived his eye fixed upon +him, and a countenance not to be played with. Jack was no fool, and +somehow or another, the discipline he had received from his father had +given him some intimation of what was to come. All this put together +induced Jack to condescend to answer, with his forefinger between his +teeth, "Johnny." +</P> + +<P> +"And what is your other name, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack, who appeared to repent his condescension, did not at first +answer, but he looked again in Mr Bonnycastle's face, and then round +the room: there was no one to help him, and he could not help himself, +so he replied "Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know why you are sent to school?" +</P> + +<P> +"Scalding father." +</P> + +<P> +"No; you are sent to learn to read and write." +</P> + +<P> +"But I won't read and write," replied Jack, sulkily. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you will; and you are going to read your letters now directly." +</P> + +<P> +Jack made no answer. Mr Bonnycastle opened a sort of bookcase, and +displayed to John's astonished view a series of canes, ranged up and +down like billiard cues, and continued, "Do you know what those are +for?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack eyed them wistfully; he had some faint idea that he was sure to be +better acquainted with them, but he made no answer. +</P> + +<P> +"They are to teach little boys to read and write, and now I am going to +teach you. You'll soon learn. Look now here," continued Mr +Bonnycastle, opening a book with large type, and taking a capital at +the head of a chapter, about half an inch long. "Do you see that +letter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Johnny, turning his eyes away, and picking his fingers. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that is the letter B. Do you see it? look at it, so that you may +know it again. That's the letter B. Now tell me what letter that is?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack now determined to resist, so he made no answer. +</P> + +<P> +"So you cannot tell; well, then, we will try what one of these little +fellows will do," said Mr Bonnycastle, taking down a cane. "Observe, +Johnny, that's the letter B. Now, what letter is that? Answer me +directly." +</P> + +<P> +"I won't learn to read and write." +</P> + +<P> +Whack came the cane on Johnny's shoulders, who burst out into a roar as +he writhed with pain. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Bonnycastle waited a few seconds. "That's the letter B. Now tell +me, sir, directly, what that letter is?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell my mar." Whack! "O law! O law!" +</P> + +<P> +"What letter is that?" +</P> + +<P> +Johnny, with his mouth open, panting, and the tears on his cheeks, +answered, indignantly, "Stop till I tell Sarah." +</P> + +<P> +Whack came the cane again, and a fresh burst from Johnny. +</P> + +<P> +"What letter's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"I won't tell," roared Johnny; "I won't tell—that I won't." +</P> + +<P> +Whack, whack, whack, and a pause. "I told you before, that's the +letter B. What letter is that? Tell me directly." +</P> + +<P> +Johnny, by way of reply, made a snatch at the cane. Whack, he caught +it, certainly, but not exactly as he would have wished. Johnny then +snatched up the book, and dashed it to the corner of the room. Whack, +whack. Johnny attempted to seize Mr Bonnycastle with his teeth. Whack, +whack, whack, whack; and Johnny fell on the carpet, and roared with +pain. Mr Bonnycastle then left him for a little while, to recover +himself, and sat down. +</P> + +<P> +At last Johnny's exclamations settled down in deep sobs, and then Mr +Bonnycastle said to him, "Now, Johnny, you perceive that you must do as +you are bid, or else you will have more beating. Get up immediately. Do +you hear, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +Somehow or another, Johnny, without intending it, stood upon his feet. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a good boy; now you see, by getting up as you were bid, You +have not been beaten. Now, Johnny, you must go and bring the book from +where you threw it down. Do you hear, sir? bring it directly!" +</P> + +<P> +Johnny looked at Mr Bonnycastle and the cane. With every intention to +refuse, Johnny picked up the book and laid it on the table. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a good boy; now we will find the letter B. Here it is: now, +Johnny, tell me what that letter is?" +</P> + +<P> +Johnny made no answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me directly, sir," said Mr Bonnycastle, raising his cane up in +the air. The appeal was too powerful. Johnny eyed the cane; it moved, +it was coming. Breathlessly he shrieked out, "B!" +</P> + +<P> +"Very well indeed, Johnny—very well. Now your first lesson is over, +and you shall go to bed. You have learned more than you think for. +To-morrow we will begin again. Now we'll put the cane by." +</P> + +<P> +Mr Bonnycastle rang the bell, and desired Master Johnny to be put to +bed, in a room by himself, and not to give him any supper, as hunger +would, the next morning, much facilitate his studies. Pain and hunger +alone will tame brutes, and the same remedy must be applied to conquer +those passions in man which assimilate him with brutes. Johnny was +conducted to bed, although it was but six o'clock. He was not only in +pain, but his ideas were confused; and no wonder, after all his life +having been humoured and indulged never punished until the day before. +After all the caresses of his mother and Sarah, which he never knew the +value of—after stuffing himself all day long, and being tempted to eat +till he turned away in satiety, to find himself without his mother, +without Sarah, without supper covered with wheals, and, what was worse +than all, without his own way. No wonder Johnny was confused; at the +same time that he was subdued; and, as Mr Bonnycastle had truly told +him, he had learnt more than he had any idea of. And what would Mrs +Easy have said, had she known all this—and Sarah, too? And Mr Easy, +with his rights of man? At the very time that Johnny was having the +devil driven out of him, they were consoling themselves with the idea, +that, at all events, there was no birch used at Mr Bonnycastle's, quite +losing sight of the fact, that as there are more ways of killing a dog +besides hanging him, so are there more ways of teaching than a +posteriors. Happy in their ignorance, they all went fast asleep, little +dreaming that Johnny was already so far advanced in knowledge, as to +have a tolerable comprehension of the mystery of cane. As for Johnny, +he had cried himself to sleep, at least six hours before them. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Jack makes essay of his father's sublime philosophy, <BR> +and arrives very near to truth at last. +</H4> + +<P> +The next morning Master Jack Easy was not only very sore, but very +hungry, and as Mr Bonnycastle informed him that he would not only have +plenty of cane, but also no breakfast, if he did not learn his letters, +Johnny had wisdom enough to say the whole alphabet, for which he +received a great deal of praise, the which, if he did not duly +appreciate, he at all events infinitely preferred to beating. Mr +Bonnycastle perceived that he had conquered the boy by one hour's +well-timed severity. He therefore handed him over to the ushers in the +school, and as they were equally empowered to administer the needful +impulse, Johnny very soon became a very tractable boy. +</P> + +<P> +It may be imagined that the absence of Johnny was severely felt at +home, but such was not the case. In the first place, Dr Middleton had +pointed out to Mrs Easy that there was no flogging at the school, and +that the punishment received by Johnny from his father would very +likely be repeated—and in the next, although Mrs Easy thought that she +never could have survived the parting with her own son, she soon found +out that she was much happier without him. A spoilt child is always a +source of anxiety and worry, and after Johnny's departure Mrs Easy +found a quiet and repose much more suited to her disposition. Gradually +she weaned herself from him, and, satisfied with seeing him +occasionally, and hearing the reports of Dr Middleton, she, at last, +was quite reconciled to his being at school, and not coming back except +during the holidays. John Easy made great progress; he had good +natural abilities, and Mr Easy rubbed his hands when he saw the Doctor, +saying, "Yes, let them have him for a year or two longer, and then I'll +finish him myself." Each vacation he had attempted to instil into +Johnny's mind the equal rights of man. Johnny appeared to pay but +little attention to his father's discourses, but evidently showed that +they were not altogether thrown away, as he helped himself to +everything he wanted, without asking leave. And thus was our hero +educated until he arrived at the age of sixteen, when he was a stout, +good-looking boy, with plenty to say for himself,—indeed, when it +suited his purpose, he could out-talk his father. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing pleased Mr Easy so much as Jack's loquacity. "That's right; +argue the point, Jack—argue the point, boy," would he say, as Jack +disputed with his mother. And then he would turn to the Doctor, +rubbing his hands, and observe, "Depend upon it, Jack will be a great, +a very great man." And then he would call Jack and give him a guinea +for his cleverness; and at last Jack thought it a very clever thing to +argue. He never would attempt to argue with Mr Bonnycastle, because he +was aware that Mr Bonnycastle's arguments were too strong for him, but +he argued with all the boys until it ended in a fight, which decided +the point; and he sometimes argued with the ushers. In short, at the +time we now speak of, which was at the breaking up of the Midsummer +holidays, Jack was as full of argument as he was fond of it. He would +argue the point to the point of a needle, and he would divide that +point into as many as there were days of the year, and argue upon each. +In short, there was no end to Jack's arguing the point, although there +seldom was point to his argument. +</P> + +<P> +Jack had been fishing in the river, without any success, for a whole +morning, and observed a large pond which had the appearance of being +well stocked—he cleared the park palings, and threw in his line. He +had pulled up several fine fish, when he was accosted by the +proprietor, accompanied by a couple of keepers. +</P> + +<P> +"May I request the pleasure of your name, young gentleman?" said the +proprietor to Jack. +</P> + +<P> +Now Jack was always urbane and polite. +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, sir; my name is Easy, very much at your service." +</P> + +<P> +"And you appear to me to be taking it very easy," replied the +gentleman. "Pray, sir, may I enquire whether you are aware that you +are trespassing?" +</P> + +<P> +"The word trespass, my dear sir," replied Jack, "will admit of much +argument, and I will divide it into three heads. It implies, according +to the conventional meaning, coming without permission upon the land or +property of another. Now, sir, the question may all be resolved in the +following. Was not the world made for all? and has any one, or any +portion of its inhabitants, an exclusive right to claim any part of it, +as his property? If you please, I have laid down the proposition, and +we will now argue the point." +</P> + +<P> +The gentleman who accosted Jack had heard of Mr Easy and his arguments; +he was a humorist, and more inclined to laugh than to be angry; at the +same time that he considered it necessary to show Jack that under +existing circumstances they were not tenable. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Mr Easy, allowing the trespass on the property to be venial, +surely you do not mean to say that you are justified in taking my fish; +I bought the fish, and stocked the pond, and have fed them ever since. +You cannot deny but that they are private property, and that to take +them is a theft?" +</P> + +<P> +"That will again admit of much ratiocination, my dear sir," replied +Jack; "but,—I beg your pardon, I have a fish." Jack pulled up a large +carp, much to the indignation of the keepers, and to the amusement of +their master, unhooked it, placed it in his basket, renewed his bait +with the greatest sang, and then throwing in his line, resumed his +discourse. "As I was observing, my dear sir," continued Jack, "that +will admit of much ratiocination. All the creatures of the earth were +given to man for his use—man means mankind—they were never intended +to be made a monopoly of; water is also the gift of heaven, and meant +for the use of all. We now come to the question how far the fish are +your property. If the fish only bred on purpose to please you, and +make you a present of their stock, it might then require a different +line of argument; but as in breeding they only acted in obedience to an +instinct with which they are endowed on purpose that they may supply +man, I submit to you that you cannot prove these fish to be yours more +than mine. As for feeding with the idea that they were your own, that +is not an unusual case in this world, even when a man is giving bread +and butter to his children. Further—but I have another bite—I beg +your pardon, my dear sir—ah! he's off again." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, Mr Easy, you mean to say that the world and its contents are +made for all." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly, sir; that is my father's opinion, who is a very great +philosopher." +</P> + +<P> +"How then does your father account for some possessing property and +others being without it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because those who are the strongest have deprived those who are +weaker." +</P> + +<P> +"But would not that be always the case even if we were in that state of +general inheritance which you have supposed? For instance, allowing +two men to chase the same animal, and both to come up to it at the same +time, would not the strongest bear it off?" +</P> + +<P> +"I grant that, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, where is your equality?" +</P> + +<P> +"That does not disprove that men were not intended to be equal; it only +proves that they are not so. Neither does it disprove that everything +was not made for the benefit of all; it only proves that the strong +will take advantage of the weak, which is very natural." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! you grant that to be very natural. Well, Mr Easy, I am glad to +perceive that we are of one mind, and I trust we shall continue so. +You'll observe that I and my keepers being three, we are the strong +party in this instance, and admitting your argument, that the fish are +as much yours as mine, still I take advantage of my strength to +repossess myself of them, which is, as you say, very natural—James, +take those fish." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please," interrupted Jack, "we will argue that point—" +</P> + +<P> +"Not at all; I will act according to your own arguments—I have the +fish, but I now mean to have more—that fishing-rod is as much mine as +yours, and being the stronger party I will take possession of it. +James, William, take that fishing-rod,—it is ours." +</P> + +<P> +"I presume you will first allow me to observe," replied Jack, "that +although I have expressed my opinion that the earth and the animals on +it were made for us all, that I never yet have asserted, that what a +man creates by himself, or has created for him for a consideration, is +not his own property." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon; the trees that that rod was made from were made for +us all, and if you, or any one for you, have thought proper to make it +into a rod, it is no more my fault than it is that I have been feeding +the fish, with the supposition that they were my own. Everything being +common, and it being but natural that the strong should take advantage +of the weak, I must take that rod as my property, until I am +dispossessed by one more powerful. Moreover, being the stronger party, +and having possession of this land, which you say does not belong to me +more than to you—I also shall direct my keepers to see you off this +property. James, take the rod—see Mr Easy over the park palings. Mr +Easy, I wish you a good morning." +</P> + +<P> +"Sir, I beg your pardon, you have not yet heard all my arguments," +replied Jack, who did not approve of the conclusions drawn. +</P> + +<P> +"I have no time to hear more, Mr Easy; I wish you a good morning." And +the proprietor departed, leaving Jack in company with the keepers. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll trouble you for that rod, master," said William. James was very +busy stringing the fish through the gills upon a piece of osier. +</P> + +<P> +"At all events you will hear reason," said Jack: "I have arguments—" +"I never heard no good arguments in favour of poaching," interrupted +the keeper. +</P> + +<P> +"You're an insolent fellow," replied Jack. "It is by paying such +vagabonds as you that people are able to be guilty of injustice." +</P> + +<P> +"It's by paying us that the land an't poached—and if there be some +excuse for a poor devil who is out of work, there be none for you, who +call yourself a gentleman." +</P> + +<P> +"According to his account, as we be all equal, he be no more a +gentleman than we be." +</P> + +<P> +"Silence, you blackguard, I shall not condescend to argue with such as +you: if I did, I could prove that you are a set of base slaves, who +have just as much right to this property as your master or I have." +</P> + +<P> +"As you have, I dare say, master." +</P> + +<P> +"As I have, you scoundrel; this pond is as much my property, and so are +the fish in it, as they are of your master, who has usurped the right." +</P> + +<P> +"I say, James, what do you say, shall we put the young gentleman in +possession of his property?" said William, winking to the other. +</P> + +<P> +James took the hint, they seized Jack by the arms and legs, and soused +him into the pond. Jack arose after a deep submersion, and floundered +on shore blowing and spluttering. But in the meantime the keepers had +walked away, carrying with them the rod and line, fish, and tin can of +bait, laughing loudly at the practical joke which they had played our +hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," thought Jack, "either there must be some mistake in my father's +philosophy, or else this is a very wicked world. I shall submit this +case to my father." +</P> + +<P> +And Jack received this reply—"I have told you before, Jack, that these +important truths will not at present be admitted—but it does not the +less follow that they are true. This is the age of iron, in which +might has become right—but the time will come when these truths will +be admitted, and your father's name will be more celebrated than that +of any philosopher of ancient days. Recollect, Jack, that although in +preaching against wrong and advocating the rights of man, you will be +treated as a martyr, it is still your duty to persevere; and if you are +dragged through all the horse—ponds in the kingdom, never give up your +argument." +</P> + +<P> +"That I never will, sir," replied Jack; "but the next time I argue it +shall be, if possible, with power on my side, and, at all events, not +quite so near a pond." +</P> + +<P> +"I think," said Mrs Easy, who had been a silent listener, "that Jack +had better fish in the river, and then, if he catches no fish, at all +events he will not be soused in the water, and spoil his clothes." +</P> + +<P> +But Mrs Easy was no philosopher. +</P> + +<P> +A few days afterwards, Jack discovered, one fine morning, on the other +side of a hedge, a summer apple-tree bearing tempting fruit, and he +immediately broke through the hedge, and climbing the tree, as our +first mother did before him, he culled the fairest and did eat. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, you sir, what are you doing there?" cried a rough voice. +</P> + +<P> +Jack looked down, and perceived a stout, thickset personage in grey +coat and red waistcoat, standing underneath him. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you see what I'm about," replied Jack, "I'm eating apples—shall +I throw you down a few?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you kindly—the fewer that are pulled the better; perhaps, as +you are so free to give them to others as well as to help yourself, you +may think that they are your own property!" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit more my property than they are yours, my good man." +</P> + +<P> +"I guess that's something like the truth; but you are, not quite at the +truth yet, my lad; those apples are mine, and I'll trouble you to come +down as fast as you please; when you're down we can then settle our +accounts; and," continued the man, shaking his cudgel, "depend upon it +you shall have your receipt in full." +</P> + +<P> +Jack did not much like the appearance of things. +</P> + +<P> +"My good man," said he, "it is quite a prejudice on your part to +imagine that apples were not given, as well as all other fruit, for the +benefit of us all—they are common property, believe me." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a matter of opinion, my lad, and I may be allowed to have own." +</P> + +<P> +"You'll find it in the Bible," says Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I never did yet, and I've read it through and through all, bating the +Pocryfar." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said Jack, "go home and fetch the Bible, and I'll prove it to +you." +</P> + +<P> +"I suspect you'll not wait till I come back again. No, no; I have lost +plenty of apples, and have long wanted to find the robbers out; now +I've caught one I'll take care that he don't 'scape without apple +sauce, at all events—so come down, you young thief, come down +directly—or it will be all the worse for you." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Jack, "but I am very well here. I will, if you +please, argue the point from where I am." +</P> + +<P> +"I've no time to argue the point, my lad; I've plenty to do, but do not +think I'll let you off. If you don't choose to come down, why then you +may stay there, and I'll answer for it, as soon as work is done I shall +find you safe enough." +</P> + +<P> +"What can be done," thought Jack, "with a man who will not listen to +argument? What a world is this!—however, he'll not find me here when +he comes back, I've a notion." +</P> + +<P> +But in this Jack was mistaken. The farmer walked to the hedge, and +called to a boy, who took his orders and ran to the farmhouse. In a +minute or two a large bull-dog was seen bounding along the orchard to +his master. "Mark him, Caesar," said the farmer to the dog, "mark +him." The dog crouched down on the grass with his head up, and eyes +glaring at Jack, showing a range of teeth that drove all our hero's +philosophy out of his head. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't wait here, but Caesar can, and I will tell you, as a friend, +that if he gets hold of you, he'll not leave a limb of you +together,—when work's done I'll come back"; so saying, the farmer +walked off, leaving Jack and the dog to argue the point, if so +inclined. What a sad jade must philosophy be, to put her votaries in +such predicaments! +</P> + +<P> +After a while the dog laid his head down and closed his eyes, as if +asleep, but Jack observed that at the least movement on his part one +eye was seen partially to unclose; so Jack, like a prudent man, +resolved to remain where he was. He picked a few more apples, for it +was his dinner-time, and as he chewed he ruminated. +</P> + +<P> +Jack had been but a few minutes ruminating before he was interrupted by +another ruminating animal, no less a personage than a bull, who had +been turned out with full possession of the orchard, and who now +advanced, bellowing occasionally, and tossing his head at the sight of +Caesar, whom he considered as much a trespasser as his master had our +hero. Caesar started on his legs and faced the bull, who advanced +pawing, with his tail up in the air. When within a few yards the bull +made a rush at the dog, who evaded him and attacked him in return, and +thus did the warfare continue until the opponents were already at some +distance from the apple-tree. Jack prepared for immediate flight, but +unfortunately the combat was carried on by the side of the hedge at +which Jack had gained admission. Never mind, thought Jack, there are +two sides to every field and although the other hedge joined on to the +garden near to the farmhouse, there was no option. "At all events," +said Jack, "I'll try it." +</P> + +<P> +Jack was slipping down the trunk, when he heard a tremendous roar; the +bull-dog had been tossed by the bull; he was then high in the air, and +Jack saw him fall on the other side of the hedge; and the bull was thus +celebrating his victory with a flourish of trumpets. Upon which Jack, +perceiving that he was relieved from his sentry, slipped down the rest +of the tree and took to his heels. Unfortunately for Jack, the bull +saw him, and, flushed with victory, he immediately set up another roar, +and bounded after Jack. Jack perceived his danger, and fear gave him +wings; he not only flew over the orchard, but he flew over the hedge, +which was about five feet high, just as the bull drove his head into it. +</P> + +<P> +Look before you leap, is an old proverb. Had Jack done so, he would +have done better; but as there were cogent reasons to be offered in +extenuation of our philosopher, we shall say no more, but merely state +that Jack, when he got to the other side of the hedge, found that he +had pitched into a small apiary, and had upset two hives of bees who +resented the intrusion; and Jack had hardly time to get upon his legs +before he found them very busy stinging him in all quarters. All that +Jack could do was to run for it, but the bees flew faster than he could +run, and Jack was mad with pain, when he stumbled, half-blinded, over +the brickwork of a well. Jack could not stop his pitching into the +well, but he seized the iron chain as it struck him across the face. +Down went Jack, and round went the windlass, and after a rapid descent +of forty feet our hero found himself under water, and no longer +troubled with the bees, who, whether they had lost scent of their prey +from his rapid descent, or being notoriously clever insects, +acknowledged the truth of the adage, "leave well alone," had certainly +left Jack with no other companion than Truth. Jack rose from his +immersion, and seized the rope to which the chain of the bucket was +made fast—it had all of it been unwound from the windlass, and +therefore it enabled Jack to keep his head above water. After a few +seconds Jack felt something against his legs, it was the bucket, about +two feet under the water; Jack put his feet into it and found himself +pretty comfortable, for the water, after the sting of the bees and the +heat he had been put into by the race with the bull, was quite cool and +refreshing. +</P> + +<P> +"At all events," thought Jack, "if it had not been for the bull, I +should have been watched by the dog, and then thrashed by the farmer; +but then again, if it had not been for the bull, I should not have +tumbled among the bees; and if it had not been for the bees, I should +not have tumbled into the well; and if it had not been for the chain, I +should have been drowned. Such has been the chain of events, all +because I wanted to eat an apple. +</P> + +<P> +"However, I have got rid of the farmer, and the dog, and the bull, and +the bees—all's well that ends well; but how the devil am I to get out +of the well?—all creation appears to have conspired against the rights +of man. As my father said, this is an iron age, and here I am swinging +to an iron chain." +</P> + +<P> +We have given the whole of Jack's soliloquy, as it will prove that Jack +was no fool, although he was a bit of a philosopher; and a man who +could reason so well upon cause and effect, at the bottom of a well, up +to his neck in water, showed a good deal of presence of mind. But if +Jack's mind had been a little twisted by his father's philosophy, it +had still sufficient strength and elasticity to recover itself in due +time. Had Jack been a common personage, we should never have selected +him for our hero. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Jack makes some very sage reflections, <BR> +and comes to a very unwise decision. +</H4> + +<P> +After all, it must be acknowledged that although there are cases of +distress in which a well may become a place of refuge, a well is not at +all calculated for a prolonged residence—so thought Jack. After he +had been there some fifteen minutes, his teeth chattered, and his limbs +trembled; he felt a numbness all over, and he thought it high time to +call for assistance, which at first he would not, as he was afraid he +should be pulled up to encounter the indignation of the farmer and his +family. Jack was arranging his jaws for a halloo, when he felt the +chain pulled up, and he slowly emerged from the water. At first he +heard complaints of the weight of the bucket, at which Jack was not +surprised; then he heard a tittering and laughing between two parties; +and soon afterwards he mounted up gaily. At last his head appeared +above the low wall, and he was about to extend his arms so as to secure +a position on it, when those who were working at the windlass beheld +him. It was a heavy farming man and a maid-servant. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +One never should be too quick in returning thanks; the girl screamed +and let go the winch, the man, frightened, did not hold it fast; it +slipped from his grasp, whirled round, struck him under the chin, and +threw him over it headlong, and before the "Thank you" was fairly out +of Jack's lips, down he went again like lightning to the bottom. +Fortunately for Jack, he had not yet let go the chain, or he might have +struck the sides and have been killed; as it was, he was merely soused +a second time, and in a minute or two regained his former position. +</P> + +<P> +"This is mighty pleasant," thought Jack, as he clapped his wet hat once +more on his head; "at all events, they can't now plead ignorance, they +must know that I'm here." +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime the girl ran into the kitchen, threw herself down on a +stool, from which she reeled off in a fit upon sundry heaps of dough +waiting to be baked in the oven, which were laid to rise on the floor +before the fire. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy on me, what is the matter with Susan?" exclaimed the farmer's +wife. "Here—where's Mary—where's John—Deary me, if the bread won't +all be turned to pancakes." +</P> + +<P> +John soon followed, holding his under-jaw in his hand, looking very +dismal and very frightened, for two reasons; one, because he thought +that his jaw was broken, and the other, because he thought he had seen +the devil. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy on us, what is the matter?" exclaimed the farmer's wife again. +"Mary, Mary, Mary!" screamed she, beginning to be frightened herself, +for with all her efforts she could not remove Susan from the bed of +dough, where she lay senseless and heavy as lead. Mary answered to her +mistress's loud appeal, and with her assistance they raised up Susan; +but as for the bread, there was no hopes of it ever rising again. "Why +don't you come here and help Susan, John?" cried Mary. +</P> + +<P> +"Aw-yaw-aw!" was all the reply of John, who had had enough quite of +helping Susan, and who continued to hold his head, as it were, in his +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter here, missus?" exclaimed the farmer, coming in. +"Highty-tighty, what ails Susan? and what ails you?" continued the +farmer, turning to John. "Dang it, but everything seems to go wrong, +this blessed day. First, there be all the apples stolen—then there be +all the hives turned topsy-turvy in the garden—then there be Caesar +with his flank opened by the bull—then there be the bull broken +through the hedge and tumbled into the saw-pit—and now I come to get +more help to drag him out, I find one woman dead like, and John looks +as if he had seen the devil." +</P> + +<P> +"Aw-yaw-aw!" replied John, nodding his head very significantly. +</P> + +<P> +"One would think that the devil had broke loose to-day. What is it, +John? Have you seen him, and has Susan seen him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Aw-yaw." +</P> + +<P> +"He's stopped your jaw, then, at all events, and I thought the devil +himself wouldn't have done that-we shall get nothing of you. Is that +wench coming to her senses?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes, she's better now,—Susan, what's the matter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, oh, ma'am! the well, the well—" +</P> + +<P> +"The well! Something wrong there, I suppose: well, I will go and see." +</P> + +<P> +The farmer trotted off to the well; he perceived the bucket was at the +bottom and all the rope out; he looked about him, and then he looked +into the well. Jack, who had become very impatient, had been looking +up some time for the assistance which he expected would have come +sooner; the round face of the farmer occasioned a partial eclipse of +the round disk which bounded his view, just as one of the satellites of +Jupiter sometimes obscures the face of the planet round which he +revolves. +</P> + +<P> +"Here I am," cried Jack; "get me up quick, or I shall be dead"; and +what Jack said was true, for he was quite done up by having been so +long down, although his courage had not failed him. +</P> + +<P> +"Dang it, but there be somebody fallen into the well," cried the +farmer; "no end to mishaps this day. Well, we must get a Christian out +of a well afore we get a bull out of a saw-pit, so I'll go and call the +men." +</P> + +<P> +In a very short time the men who were assembled round the saw-pit were +brought to the well. +</P> + +<P> +"Down below there, hold on now." +</P> + +<P> +"Never fear," cried Jack. +</P> + +<P> +Away went the winch, and once more Jack had an extended horizon to +survey. As soon as he was at the top, the men hauled him over the +bricks and laid him down upon the ground, for Jack's strength had +failed him. +</P> + +<P> +"Dang it, if it bean't that chap who was on my apple-tree," cried the +farmer—"howsoever, he must not die for stealing a few apples; lift him +up, lads, and take him in—he is dead with cold—no wonder." +</P> + +<P> +The farmer led the way, and the men carried Jack into the house, when +the farmer gave him a glass of brandy; this restored Jack's +circulation, and in a short time he was all right again. +</P> + +<P> +After some previous conversation, in which Jack narrated all that had +happened, "What may be your name?" inquired the farmer. +</P> + +<P> +"My name is Easy," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"What! be you the son of Mr Easy, of Forest Hill?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes." +</P> + +<P> +"Dang it, he be my landlord, and a right good landlord too—why didn't +you say so when you were up in the apple-tree? You might have picked +the whole orchard and welcome." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear sir," replied Jack, who had taken a second glass of brandy, +and was quite talkative again, "let this be a warning to you, and when +a man proposes to argue the point, always, in future, listen. Had you +waited, I would have proved to you most incontestably that you had no +more right to the apples than I had; but you would not listen to +argument, and without discussion we can never arrive at truth. You +send for your dog, who is ripped up by the bull—the bull breaks his +leg in a saw-pit—the bee-hives are overturned, and you lose all your +honey—your man John breaks his jaw—your maid Susan spoils all the +bread—and why? because you would not allow me to argue the point." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr Easy, it be all true that all these mishaps have happened +because I would not allow you to argue the point, perhaps, although, as +I rent the orchard from your father, I cannot imagine how you could +prove to me that the apples were not mine; but now, let's take your +side of the question, and I don't see how you be much better off: you +get up in a tree for a few apples, with plenty of money to buy them if +you like—you are kept there by a dog—you are nearly gored by a +bull—you are stung by the bees, and you tumble souse into a well, and +are nearly killed a dozen times, and all for a few apples not worth +twopence." +</P> + +<P> +"All very true, my good man," replied Jack; "but you forget that I, as +a philosopher, was defending the rights of man." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I never knew before that a lad who stole apples was called a +philosopher—we calls it petty larceny in the indictments: and as for +your rights of man, I cannot see how they can be defended by doing +what's wrong." +</P> + +<P> +"You do not comprehend the matter, farmer." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't—and I be too old to learn, Master Easy. All I have to +say is this, you are welcome to all the apples in the orchard if you +please, and if you prefers, as it seems you do, to steal them, instead +of asking for them, which I only can account for by the reason that +they say, that 'stolen fruit be sweetest,' I've only to say that I +shall give orders that you be not interfered with. My chaise be at the +door, Master Easy, and the man will drive you to your father's—make my +compliments to him, and say, that I'm very sorry that you tumbled into +our well." +</P> + +<P> +As Jack was much more inclined for bed than argument, he wished the +farmer good-night, and allowed himself to be driven home. The pain from +the sting of the bees, now that his circulation had fully returned, was +so great, that he was not sorry to find Dr Middleton taking his tea +with his father and mother. Jack merely said that he had been so +unfortunate as to upset a hive, and had been severely stung. He +deferred the whole story till another opportunity. Dr Middleton +prescribed for Jack, but on taking his hand found that he was in a high +fever, which, after the events of the day, was not to be wondered at. +Jack was bled, and kept his bed for a week, by which time he was +restored; but, during that time, Jack had been thinking very seriously, +and had made up his mind. +</P> + +<P> +But we must explain a circumstance which had occurred, which was +probably the cause of Jack's decision. When Jack returned on the +evening in question, he found seated with his father and Dr Middleton a +Captain Wilson, a sort of cousin to the family, who but occasionally +paid them a visit, for he lived at some distance; and having a wife and +large family, with nothing but his half-pay for their support, he could +not afford to expend even shoe-leather in compliments. The object of +this visit on the part of Captain Wilson was to request the aid of Mr +Easy He had succeeded in obtaining his appointment to a sloop of war +(for he was in the king's service), but was without the means of +fitting himself out, without leaving his wife and family penniless. He +therefore came to request Mr Easy to lend him a few hundred pounds, +until he should be able, by his prize-money, to repay them. Mr Easy +was not a man to refuse such a request, and always having plenty of +spare cash at his banker's, he drew a cheque for a thousand pounds, +which he gave to Captain Wilson, requesting that he would only repay it +at his convenience. Captain Wilson wrote an acknowledgment of the debt, +promising to pay upon his first prize-money, which receipt, however +binding it may be to a man of honour, was, in point of law, about as +valuable as if he had agreed to pay as soon "as the cows came home." +The affair had been just concluded, and Captain Wilson had returned +into the parlour with Mr Easy, when Jack returned from his expedition. +</P> + +<P> +Jack greeted Captain Wilson, whom he had long known; but, as we before +observed, he suffered so much pain, that he soon retired with Dr +Middleton, and went to bed. +</P> + +<P> +During a week there is room for much reflection, even in a lad of +fourteen, although at that age we are not much inclined to think. But +Jack was in bed; his eyes were so swollen with the stings of the bees +that he could neither read nor otherwise amuse himself; and he +preferred his own thoughts to the gabble of Sarah, who attended him; so +Jack thought, and the result of his cogitations we shall soon bring +forward. +</P> + +<P> +It was on the eighth day that Jack left his bed and came down into the +drawing-room. He then detailed to his father the adventures which had +taken place, which had obliged him to take to his bed. +</P> + +<P> +"You see, Jack," replied his father, "it's just what I told you: the +world is so utterly demoralised by what is called social compact, and +the phalanx supporting it, by contributing a portion of their unjust +possessions for the security of the remainder, is so powerful, that any +one who opposes it must expect to pass the life of a martyr; but +martyrs are always required previous to any truth, however sublime, +being received, and, like Abraham, whom I have always considered as a +great philosopher, I am willing to sacrifice my only son in so noble a +cause." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all very good on your part, father, but we must argue the point +a little. If you are as great a philosopher as Abraham, I am not quite +so dutiful a son as Isaac, whose blind obedience, in my opinion, is +very contrary to your rights of man: but the fact, in few words, is +simply this. In promulgating your philosophy, in the short space of +two days, I have been robbed of the fish I caught, and my rod and +line—I have been soused into a fish-pond—I have been frightened out +of my wits by a bull-dog—been nearly killed by a bull—been stung to +death by bees, and twice tumbled into a well. Now, if all that happens +in two days, what must I expect to suffer in a whole year? It appears +to be very unwise to attempt making further converts, for people on +shore seem determined not to listen to reason or argument. But it has +occurred to me, that although the whole earth has been so nefariously +divided among the few, that the waters at least are the property of +all. No man claims his share of the sea—every one may there plough as +he pleases, without being taken up for a trespasser. Even war makes no +difference; every one may go on as he pleases, and if they meet, it is +nothing but a neutral ground on which the parties contend. It is, +then, only upon the ocean that I am likely to find that equality and +rights of man, which we are so anxious to establish on shore; and +therefore I have resolved not to go to school again, which I detest, +but to go to sea, and propagate our opinions as much as I can." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot listen to that, Jack, in the first place, you must return to +school; in the next place, you shall not go to sea." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, father, all I have to say is, that I swear by the rights of man +I will not go back to school, and that I will go to sea. Who and what +is to prevent me? Was not I born my own master?—has any one a right +to dictate to me as if I were not his equal? Have I not as much right +to my share of the sea as any other mortal? I stand upon perfect +equality," continued Jack, stamping his right foot on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +What had Mr Easy to offer in reply? He must either, as a philosopher, +have sacrificed his hypothesis, or, as a father, have sacrificed his +son. Like all philosophers, he preferred what he considered as the +less important of the two, he sacrificed his son; but—we will do him +justice—he did it with a sigh. +</P> + +<P> +"Jack, you shall, if you wish it, go to sea." +</P> + +<P> +"That, of course," replied Jack, with the air of a conqueror; "but the +question is, with whom? Now it has occurred to me, that Captain Wilson +has just been appointed to a ship, and I should like to sail with him." +</P> + +<P> +"I will write to him," said Mr Easy, mournfully, "but I should have +liked to have felt his head first"; and thus was the matter arranged. +</P> + +<P> +The answer from Captain Wilson was, of course, in the affirmative, and +he promised that he would treat Jack as his own son. +</P> + +<P> +Our hero mounted his father's horse, and rode off to Mr Bonnycastle. +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to sea, Mr Bonnycastle." +</P> + +<P> +"The very best thing for you," replied Mr Bonnycastle. +</P> + +<P> +Our hero met Dr Middleton. "I am going to sea, Dr Middleton." +</P> + +<P> +"The very best thing for you," replied the Doctor. "I am going to sea, +mother," said John. "To sea, John, to sea? no, no, dear John, you are +not going to sea," replied Mrs Easy, with horror. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I am; father has agreed, and says he will obtain your consent." +</P> + +<P> +"My consent! Oh, my dear, dear boy!"—and Mrs Easy wept bitterly, as +Rachel mourning for her children. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Mr Easy has his first lesson as to zeal in his Majesty's Service. +</H4> + +<P> +As there was no time to lose, our hero very soon bade adieu to his +paternal roof, as the phrase is, and found his way down to Portsmouth. +As Jack had plenty of money, and was very much pleased at finding +himself his own master, he was in no hurry to join his ship, and five +or six companions, not very creditable, whom either Jack had picked up, +or had picked up Jack, and who lived upon him, strongly advised him to +put it off until the very last moment. As this advice happened to +coincide with Jack's opinion, our hero was three weeks at Portsmouth +before any one knew of his arrival, but at last Captain Wilson received +a letter from Mr Easy, by which he found that Jack had left home at the +period we have mentioned, and he desired the first lieutenant to make +inquiries, as he was afraid that some accident might have happened to +him. As Mr Sawbridge, the first lieutenant, happened to be going on +shore on the same evening for the last time previous to the ship's +sailing, he looked into the Blue Posts, George, and Fountain Inns, to +inquire if there was such a person arrived as Mr Easy. "O yes," +replied the waiter at the Fountain,—"Mr Easy has been here these three +weeks." +</P> + +<P> +"The devil he has," roared Mr Sawbridge, with all the indignation of a +first lieutenant defrauded three weeks of a midshipman; "where is he; +in the coffee-room?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear no, sir," replied the waiter, "Mr Easy has the front +apartments on the first floor." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, show me up to the first floor." +</P> + +<P> +"May I request the pleasure of your name, sir?" said the waiter. +</P> + +<P> +"First lieutenants don't send up their names to midshipmen," replied Mr +Sawbridge; "he shall soon know who I am." +</P> + +<P> +At this reply, the waiter walked upstairs, followed by Mr Sawbridge, +and threw open the door. +</P> + +<P> +"A gentleman wishes to see you, sir," said the waiter. +</P> + +<P> +"Desire him to walk in," said Jack: "and, waiter, mind that the punch +is a little better than it was yesterday; I have asked two more +gentlemen to dine here." +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime, Mr Sawbridge, who was not in his uniform, had entered, +and perceived Jack alone, with the dinner table laid out in the best +style for eight, a considerable show of plate for even the Fountain +Inn, and everything, as well as the apartment itself, according to Mr +Sawbridge's opinion, much more fit for a commander-in-chief than a +midshipman of a sloop of war. +</P> + +<P> +Now Mr Sawbridge was a good officer, one who had really worked his way +up to the present rank, that is to say, that he had served +seven-and-twenty years, and had nothing but his pay. He was a little +soured in the service, and certainly had an aversion to the young men +of family who were now fast crowding into it—and with some grounds, as +he perceived his own chance of promotion decrease in the same ratio as +the numbers increased. He considered that in proportion as midshipmen +assumed a cleaner and more gentlemanly appearance, so did they become +more useless, and it may therefore be easily imagined that his bile was +raised by this parade and display in a lad, who was very shortly to be, +and ought three weeks before to have been, shrinking from his frown. +Nevertheless, Sawbridge was a good-hearted man, although a little +envious of luxury, which he could not pretend to indulge in himself. +</P> + +<P> +"May I beg to ask," said Jack, who was always remarkably polite and +gentlemanly in his address, "in what manner I may be of service to you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, you may—by joining your ship immediately. And may I beg to +ask in return, sir, what is the reason you have stayed on shore three +weeks without joining her?" +</P> + +<P> +Hereupon Jack, who did not much admire the peremptory tone of Mr +Sawbridge, and who during the answer had taken a seat, crossed his +legs, and played with the gold chain to which his watch was secured, +after a pause very coolly replied— +</P> + +<P> +"And pray, who are you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who am I, sir?" replied Sawbridge, jumping out of his chair, "my name +is Sawbridge, sir, and I am the first lieutenant of the Harpy. Now, +sir, you have your answer." +</P> + +<P> +Mr Sawbridge, who imagined that the name of the first lieutenant would +strike terror to a culprit midshipman, threw himself back in the chair, +and assumed an air of importance. +</P> + +<P> +"Really, sir," replied Jack, "what may be your exact situation on +board, my ignorance of the service will not allow me to guess, but if I +may judge from your behaviour, you have no small opinion of yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"Look ye, young man, you may not know what a first lieutenant is, and I +take it for granted that you do not, by your behaviour; but depend upon +it, I'll let you know very soon. In the meantime, sir, I insist upon +it, that you go immediately on board." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sorry that I cannot comply with your very moderate request," +replied Jack, coolly. "I shall go on board when it suits my +convenience, and I beg that you will give yourself no further trouble +on my account." +</P> + +<P> +Jack then rang the bell; the waiter, who had been listening outside, +immediately entered, and before Mr Sawbridge, who was dumb with +astonishment at Jack's impertinence, could have time to reply— +</P> + +<P> +"Waiter," said Jack, "show this gentleman downstairs." +</P> + +<P> +"By the god of war!" exclaimed the first lieutenant, "but I'll soon +show you down to the boat, my young bantam; and when once I get you +safe on board, I'll make you know the difference between a midshipman +and a first lieutenant." +</P> + +<P> +"I can only admit of equality, sir," replied Jack; "we are all born +equal—I trust you'll allow that." +</P> + +<P> +"Equality—damn it, I suppose you'll take the command of the ship. +However, sir, your ignorance will be a little enlightened by-and-bye. I +shall now go and report your conduct to Captain Wilson; and I tell you +plainly, that if you are not on board this evening, to-morrow morning, +at daylight, I shall send a sergeant and a file of marines to fetch +you." +</P> + +<P> +"You may depend upon it, sir," replied Jack, "that I also shall not +fail to mention to Captain Wilson, that I consider you a very +quarrelsome, impertinent fellow, and recommend him not to allow you to +remain on board. It will be quite uncomfortable to be in the same ship +with such an ungentlemanly bear." +</P> + +<P> +"He must be mad—quite mad," exclaimed Sawbridge, whose astonishment +even mastered his indignation. "Mad as a march hare—by God." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied Jack, "I am not mad, but I am a philosopher." +</P> + +<P> +"A what?" exclaimed Sawbridge, "damme, what next?—well, my joker, all +the better for you, I shall put your philosophy to the proof." +</P> + +<P> +"It is for that very reason, sir," replied Jack, "that I have decided +upon going to sea; and if you do remain on board, I hope to argue the +point with you, and make you a convert to the truth of equality and the +rights of man." +</P> + +<P> +"By the Lord that made us both, I'll soon make you a convert to the +thirty-six articles of war—that is, if you remain on board; but I +shall now go to the captain, and report your conduct, sir, and leave +you to your dinner with what appetite you may." +</P> + +<P> +"Sir, I am infinitely obliged to you; but you need not be afraid of my +appetite; I am only sorry, as you happen to belong to the same ship, +that I cannot, in justice to the gentlemanly young men whom I expect, +ask you to join them. I wish you a very good morning, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Twenty years have I been in the service," roared Sawbridge, "and +damme—but he's mad—downright, stark, staring mad," and the first +lieutenant bounced out of the room. +</P> + +<P> +Jack was a little astonished himself. Had Mr Sawbridge made his +appearance in uniform it might have been different; but that a +plain-looking man, with black whiskers, shaggy hair, and old blue frock +coat and yellow cassimere waistcoat, should venture to address him in +such a manner, was quite incomprehensible;—he calls me mad, thought +Jack, I shall tell Captain Wilson what is my opinion about his +lieutenant. Shortly afterwards the company arrived, and Jack soon +forgot all about it. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime Sawbridge called at the captain's lodgings, and found +him at home. He made a very faithful report of all that had happened, +and concluded his report by demanding, in great wrath, either an +instant dismissal or a court-martial on our hero, Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, Sawbridge," replied Captain Wilson, "take a chair: as Mr Easy +says, we must argue the point, and then I will leave it to your better +feelings. As for the court-martial, it will not hold good, for Mr +Easy, in the first place, has not yet joined the ship, and in the next +place, could not be supposed to know that you were the first +lieutenant, or even an officer, for you went to him out of uniform." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, sir," replied Sawbridge, "I had forgotten that." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, as for his dismissal, or rather, not allowing him to join, Mr +Easy has been brought up in the country, and has never seen anything +aquatic larger than a fish-pond, perhaps, in his life; and as for the +service, or the nature of it, I believe he is as ignorant of it as a +child not a year old—I doubt whether he knows the rank of a +lieutenant, certainly, he can have no idea of the power of a first +lieutenant, by his treatment of you." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think not," replied Sawbridge, dryly. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not think, therefore, that conduct which must have proceeded from +sheer ignorance should be so severely punished—I appeal to you, +Sawbridge." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, sir, perhaps you are right—but still he told me he was a +philosopher, and talked about equality and rights of man. Told me that +he could only admit of equality between us, and begged to argue the +point. Now, sir, if a midshipman is to argue the point every time that +an order is given, the service will come to a pretty pass." +</P> + +<P> +"That is all very true, Sawbridge; and now you remind me of what never +occurred to me at the time that I promised to take Mr Easy in the ship. +I now recollect that his father, who is a distant relation of mine, has +some very wild notions in his head, just like what have been repeated +by his son on your interview with him. I have occasionally dined +there, and Mr Easy has always been upholding the principles of natural +equality and of the rights of man, much to the amusement of his guests, +and I confess, at the time, of mine also. I recollect telling him that +I trusted he would never be able to disseminate his opinions in the +service to which I belonged, as we should have an end of all +discipline. I little thought, at the time, that his only son, who has +no more occasion to go to sea than the Archbishop of Canterbury, for +his father has a very handsome property I believe seven or eight +thousand a year—would ever have sailed with me, and have brought these +opinions with him into any ship that I commanded. It is a pity, a great +pity." +</P> + +<P> +"He never could have brought his pigs to a worse market," observed +Sawbridge. +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you, and, as a father myself, I cannot but help feeling +how careful we should be, how we inculcate anything like abstract and +philosophical ideas to youth. Allowing them to be in themselves +correct, still they are dangerous as sharp instruments are in the hands +of a child;—allowing them to be erroneous, they are seized upon with +an avidity by young and ardent minds, and are not to be eradicated +without the greatest difficulty, and very often not until they have +accomplished their ruin." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you think, sir, that these ideas have taken deep root in this +young man, and we shall not easily rid him of them?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do not say so; but still, recollect they have been instilled, +perhaps, from the earliest period, by one from whom they must have been +received with all confidence—from a father to a son; and that son has +never yet been sufficiently in the world to have proved their fallacy." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, sir," replied Sawbridge, "if I may venture to offer an opinion +on the subject—and in so doing I assure you that I only shall from a +feeling for the service—if, as you say, these opinions will not easily +be Eradicated, as the young man is independent, would it not be both +better for himself, as well as for the service, that he is sent home +again? As an officer he will never do any good for himself, and he may +do much harm to others. I submit this to you, Captain Wilson, with all +respect; but as your first lieutenant, I feel very jealous at any +chance of the discipline of the ship being interfered with by the +introduction of this young man, to whom it appears that a profession is +no object." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear Sawbridge," replied Captain Wilson, after taking one or two +turns up and down the room, "we entered the service together, we were +messmates for many years, and you must be aware that it is not only +long friendship, but an intimate knowledge of your unrewarded merit, +which has induced me to request you to come with me as my first +lieutenant. Now, I will put a case to you, and you shall then decide +the question—and moreover, I will abide by your decision. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose that you were a commander like myself, with a wife and seven +children, and that, struggling for many years to support them, you +found yourself, notwithstanding the utmost parsimony, gradually running +into debt. That, after many long applications, you had at last +succeeded in obtaining employment by an appointment to a fine sloop, +and there was every prospect, by prize-money and increased pay, of +recovering yourself from your difficulties, if not realising a +sufficient provision for your family. Then suppose that all this +prospect and all these hopes were likely to be dashed to the ground by +the fact of having no means of fitting yourself out, no credit, no +means of paying debts you have contracted, for which you would have +been arrested, or anything sufficient to leave for the support of your +family during your absence, your agent only consenting to advance +one-half of what you require. Now, suppose, in this awkward dilemma, +without anyone in this world upon whom you have any legitimate claim, +as a last resource you were to apply to one with whom you have but a +distant connection, and but an occasional acquaintance—and that when +you had made your request for the loan of two or three hundred pounds, +fully anticipating a refusal (from the feeling that he who goes +a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing),—I say, suppose, to your astonishment, +that this generous person was to present you with a cheque on his +banker for one thousand pounds, demanding no interest, no legal +security, and requests you only to pay it at your convenience,—I ask +you, Sawbridge, what would be your feelings towards such a man?" +</P> + +<P> +"I would die for him," replied Sawbridge, with emotion. +</P> + +<P> +"And suppose that, by the merest chance, or from a whim of the moment, +the son of that man was to be placed under your protection?" +</P> + +<P> +"I would be a father to him," replied Sawbridge. +</P> + +<P> +"But we must proceed a little further: suppose that you were to find +the lad was not all that you could wish—that he had imbibed erroneous +doctrines, which would probably, if not eradicated, be attended with +consequences fatal to his welfare and happiness, would you therefore, +on that account, withdraw your protection, and leave him to the mercy +of others, who had no claims of gratitude to sway them in his favour?" +</P> + +<P> +"Most certainly not, sir," replied Sawbridge; "on the contrary, I would +never part with the son until, by precept or otherwise, I had set him +right again, and thus had, as far as it was possible, paid the debt of +gratitude due to the generous father." +</P> + +<P> +"I hardly need say to you, Sawbridge, after what has passed, that this +lad you have just come from, is the son, and that Mr Easy of Forest +Hill is the father." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, sir, I can only say, that not only to please you, but also from +respect to a man who has shown such good-will towards one of our cloth, +I shall most cheerfully forgive all that has passed between the lad and +me, and all that may probably take place before we make him what he +ought to be." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Sawbridge; I expected as much, and am not disappointed in +my opinion of you." +</P> + +<P> +"And now, Captain Wilson, pray what is to be done?" +</P> + +<P> +"We must get him on board, but not with a file of marines,—that will +do more harm than good. I will send a note, requesting him to breakfast +with me to-morrow morning, and have a little conversation with him. I +do not wish to frighten him; he would not scruple to run back to Forest +Hill—now I wish to keep him if I possibly can." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right, sir; his father appears his greatest enemy. What a pity +that a man with so good a heart should be so weak in the head! Then, +sir, I shall take no notice of this at present, but leave the whole +affair in your hands." +</P> + +<P> +"Do, Sawbridge; you have obliged me very much by your kindness in this +business." +</P> + +<P> +Mr Sawbridge then took his leave, and Captain Wilson despatched a note +to our hero, requesting the pleasure of his company to breakfast at +nine o'clock the ensuing morning. The answer was in the affirmative, +but verbal, for Jack had drunk too much champagne to trust his pen to +paper. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Mr Easy finds himself on the other side of the Bay of Biscay. +</H4> + +<P> +The next morning Jack Easy would have forgotten all about his +engagement with the captain, had it not been for the waiter, who +thought that, after the reception which our hero had given the first +lieutenant, it would be just as well that he should not be +disrespectful to the captain. Now Jack had not, hitherto, put on his +uniform, and he thought this a fitting occasion, particularly as the +waiter suggested the propriety of his appearance in it. Whether it was +from a presentiment of what he was to suffer, Jack was not at all +pleased, as most lads are, with the change in his dress. It appeared +to him that he was sacrificing his independence; however, he did not +follow his first impulse, which was to take it off again, but took his +hat, which the waiter had brushed and handed to him, and then set off +for the captain's lodgings. Captain Wilson received him as if he had +not been aware of his delay in joining his ship, or his interview with +his first lieutenant, but before breakfast was over, Jack himself +narrated the affair in a few words. Captain Wilson then entered into a +detail of the duties and rank of every person on board of the ship, +pointing out to Jack, that where discipline was required, it was +impossible, when duty was carried on, that more than one could command; +and that that one was the captain, who represented the king in person, +who represented the country; and that, as the orders were transmitted +from the captain through the lieutenant, and from the lieutenant to the +midshipmen, who, in their turn, communicated them to the whole ship's +company, in fact, it was the captain alone who gave the orders, and +that everyone was equally obliged to obey. Indeed, as the captain +himself had to obey the orders of his superiors, the Admiral and the +Admiralty; all on board might be said to be equally obliged to obey. +Captain Wilson laid a strong emphasis on the word equally, as he +cautiously administered his first dose; indeed, in the whole of his +address, he made use of special pleading, which would have done credit +to the bar; for at the same time that he was explaining to Jack that he +was entering a service in which equality could never for a moment +exist, if the service was to exist, he contrived to show that all the +grades were levelled, by all being equally bound to do their duty to +their country, and that, in fact, whether a seaman obeyed his orders, +or he obeyed the orders of his superior officer, they were in reality +only obeying the orders of the country, which were administered through +their channels. +</P> + +<P> +Jack did not altogether dislike this view of the subject, and the +captain took care not to dwell too long upon it. He then entered upon +other details, which he was aware would be more agreeable to Jack. He +pointed out that the articles of war were the rules by which the +service was to be guided, and that everybody, from the captain to the +least boy in the ship, was equally bound to adhere to them that a +certain allowance of provisions and wine were allowed to each person on +board, and that this allowance was the same to all; the same to the +captain as to the boy; the same in quantity as in quality; everyone +equally entitled to his allowance;—that, although there were, of +necessity, various grades necessary in the service, and the captain's +orders were obliged to be passed and obeyed by all, yet still, whatever +was the grade of the officer, they were equally considered as +gentlemen. In short, Captain Wilson, who told the truth, and nothing +but the truth, without telling the whole truth, actually made Jack +fancy that he had at last found out that equality he had been seeking +for in vain on shore, when, at last, he recollected the language used +by Mr Sawbridge the evening before, and asked the captain why that +personage had so conducted himself. Now, as the language of Mr +Sawbridge was very much at variance with equality, Captain Wilson was +not a little puzzled. However, he first pointed out that the first +lieutenant was, at the time being, the captain, as he was the senior +officer on board, as would Jack himself be if he were the senior +officer on board; and that, as he before observed, the captain or +senior officer represented the country. That in the articles of war, +everybody who absented himself from the ship, committed an error, or +breach of those articles; and if any error or breach of those articles +was committed by anyone belonging to the ship, if the senior officer +did not take notice of it, he then himself committed a breach of those +articles, and was liable himself to be punished, if he could not prove +that he had noticed it; it was therefore to save himself that he was +obliged to point out the error; and if he did it in strong language, it +only proved his zeal for his country. +</P> + +<P> +"Upon my honour, then," replied Jack, "there can be no doubt of his +zeal; for if the whole country had been at stake, he could not have put +himself in a greater passion." +</P> + +<P> +"Then he did his duty; but depend upon it it was not a pleasant one to +him: and I'll answer for it, when you meet him on board, he will be as +friendly with you as if nothing had happened." +</P> + +<P> +"He told me that he'd soon make me know what a first lieutenant was: +what did he mean by that?" inquired Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"All zeal." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but he said, that as soon as he got on board, he'd show me the +difference between a first lieutenant and a midshipman." +</P> + +<P> +"All zeal." +</P> + +<P> +"He said my ignorance should be a little enlightened by-and-bye." +</P> + +<P> +"All zeal." +</P> + +<P> +"And that he'd send a sergeant and marines to fetch me." +</P> + +<P> +"All zeal." +</P> + +<P> +"That he would put my philosophy to the proof." +</P> + +<P> +"All zeal, Mr Easy. Zeal will break out in this way; but we should do +nothing in the service without it. Recollect that I hope and trust one +day to see you also a zealous officer." +</P> + +<P> +Here Jack cogitated considerably, and gave no answer. +</P> + +<P> +"You will, I am sure," continued Captain Wilson, "find Mr Sawbridge one +of your best friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps so," replied Jack, "but I did not much admire our first +acquaintance." +</P> + +<P> +"It will perhaps be your unpleasant duty to find as much fault +yourself; we are all equally bound to do our duty to our country. But, +Mr Easy, I sent for you to say that we shall sail to-morrow; and, as I +shall send my things off this afternoon by the launch, you had better +send yours off also. At eight o'clock I shall go on board, and we can +both go in the same boat." +</P> + +<P> +To this Jack made no sort of objection, and having paid his bill at the +Fountain, he sent his chest down to the boat by some of the crew who +came up for it, and attended the summons of the captain to embark. By +nine o'clock that evening, Mr Jack Easy was safe on board his Majesty's +sloop Harpy. +</P> + +<P> +When Jack arrived on board, it was dark, and he did not know what to do +with himself. The captain was received by the officers on deck, who +took off their hats to salute him. The captain returned the salute, +and so did Jack very politely, after which, the captain entered into +conversation with the first lieutenant, and for a while Jack was left +to himself. It was too dark to distinguish faces, and to one who had +never been on board of a ship, too dark to move, so Jack stood where he +was, which was not far from the main bitts; but he did not stay long; +the boat had been hooked on to the quarter davits, and the boatswain +had called out—"Set taut, my lads!" +</P> + +<P> +And then with the shrill whistle, and "Away with her!" forward came +galloping and bounding along, the men with the tackles; and in the dark +Jack was upset, and half a dozen marines fell upon him; the men, who +had no idea that an officer was floored among the others, were pleased +at the joke, and continued to dance over those who were down, until +they rolled themselves out of the way. Jack, who did not understand +this, fared badly, and it was not till the calls piped belay that he +could recover his legs, after having been trampled upon by half the +starboard watch, and the breath completely jammed out of his body, Jack +reeled to a carronade slide, when the officers who had been laughing at +the lark as well as the men, perceived his situation—among others, Mr +Sawbridge, the first lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you hurt, Mr Easy?" said he, kindly. +</P> + +<P> +"A little," replied Jack, catching his breath. +</P> + +<P> +"You've had but a rough welcome," replied the first lieutenant, "but at +certain times, on board ship, it is every man for himself, and God for +us all. Harpur," continued the first lieutenant to the doctor, "take +Mr Easy down in the gun-room with you, and I will be down myself as +soon as I can. Where is Mr Jolliffe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here, sir," replied Mr Jolliffe, a master's mate, coming aft from the +booms. +</P> + +<P> +"There is a youngster come on board with the captain. Order one of the +quarter-masters to get a hammock slung." +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime Jack went down into the gun-room, where a glass of wine +somewhat recovered him. He did not stay there long, nor did he venture +to talk much. As soon as his hammock was ready, Jack was glad to go to +bed—and as he was much bruised he was not disturbed the next morning +till past nine o'clock. He then dressed himself, went on deck, found +that the sloop was just clear of the Needles, that he felt very queer, +then very sick, and was conducted by a marine down below, put into his +hammock, where he remained during a gale of wind of three days, +bewildered, confused, puzzled, and every minute knocking his head +against the beams with the pitching and tossing of the sloop. +</P> + +<P> +"And this is going to sea," thought Jack; "no wonder that no one +interferes with another here, or talks about a trespass; for I'm sure +anyone is welcome to my share of the ocean; and if I once get on shore +again, the devil may have my portion if he chooses." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson and Mr Sawbridge had both allowed Jack more leisure than +most midshipmen, during his illness. By the time that the gale was +over, the sloop was off Cape Finisterre. The next morning the sea was +nearly down, and there was but a slight breeze on the waters. The +comparative quiet of the night before had very much recovered our hero, +and when the hammocks were piped up, he was accosted by Mr Jolliffe, +the master's mate, who asked, "whether he intended to rouse and bit, or +whether he intended to sail to Gibraltar between his blankets." +</P> + +<P> +Jack, who felt himself quite another person, turned out of his hammock +and dressed himself. A marine had, by the captain's orders, attended +Jack during his illness, and this man came to his assistance, opened +his chest, and brought him all he required, or Jack would have been in +a sad dilemma. +</P> + +<P> +Jack then inquired where he was to go, for he had not been in the +midshipmen's berth, although five days on board. The marine pointed it +out to him, and Jack, who felt excessively hungry, crawled over and +between chests, until he found himself fairly in a hole infinitely +inferior to the dog-kennels which received his father's pointers. +</P> + +<P> +"I'd not only give up the ocean," thought Jack, "and my share of it, +but also my share of the Harpy, unto anyone who fancies it. Equality +enough here! for everyone appears equally miserably off." +</P> + +<P> +As he thus gave vent to his thoughts, he perceived that there was +another person in the berth—Mr Jolliffe, the master's mate, who had +fixed his eye upon Jack, and to whom Jack returned the compliment. The +first thing that Jack observed was, that Mr Jolliffe was very deeply +pockmarked, and that he had but one eye, and that was a piercer; it +appeared like a little ball of fire, and as if it reflected more light +from the solitary candle than the candle gave. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like your looks," thought Jack—"we shall never be friends." +</P> + +<P> +But here Jack fell into the common error of judging by appearances, as +will be proved hereafter. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad to see you up again, youngster," said Jolliffe; "you've been +on your beam ends longer than usual, but those who are strongest suffer +most—you made your mind up but late to come to sea. However, they say, +'better late than never'." +</P> + +<P> +"I feel very much inclined to argue the truth of that saying," replied +Jack; "but it's no use just now. I'm terribly hungry—when shall I get +some breakfast?" +</P> + +<P> +"To-morrow morning at half-past eight," replied Mr Jolliffe. "Breakfast +for to-day has been over these two hours." +</P> + +<P> +"But must I then go without?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I do not say that, as we must make allowances for your illness; +but it will not be breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +"Call it what you please," replied Jack, "only pray desire the servants +to give me something to eat. Dry toast or muffins—anything will do, +but I should prefer coffee." +</P> + +<P> +"You forget that you are off Finisterre, in a midshipman's berth: +coffee we have none—muffins we never see, dry toast cannot be made, as +we have no soft bread; but a cup of tea, and ship's biscuit and butter, +I can desire the steward to get ready for you." +</P> + +<P> +"Well then," replied Jack, "I will thank you to procure me that." +</P> + +<P> +"Marine," cried Jolliffe, "call Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"Pass the word for Mesty," cried the marine—and the two syllables were +handed forward until lost in the forepart of the vessel. +</P> + +<P> +The person so named must be introduced to the reader. He was a curious +anomaly—a black man who had been brought to America as a slave, and +there sold. +</P> + +<P> +He was a very tall, spare-built, yet muscular form, and had a face by +no means common with his race. His head was long and narrow, high +cheek-bones, from whence his face descended down to almost a point at +the chin; his nose was very small, but it was straight and almost +Roman; his mouth also was unusually small; and his lips thin for an +African; his teeth very white, and filed to sharp points. He claimed +the rank of prince in his own country, with what truth could not of +course be substantiated. His master had settled at New York, and there +Mesty had learned English, if it could be so-called: the fact is, that +all the emigrant labourers at New York being Irishmen, he had learned +English with the strong brogue and peculiar phraseology of the sister +kingdom dashed with a little Yankeeism. +</P> + +<P> +Having been told that there was no slavery in England, Mesty had +concealed himself on board an English merchant vessel, and escaped. On +his arrival in England he had entered on board of a man-of-war. Having +no name, it was necessary to christen him on the ship's books, and the +first lieutenant, who had entered him, struck with his remarkable +expression of countenance, and being a German scholar, had named him +Mephistopheles Faust, from whence his Christian name had been razed to +Mesty. Mesty in other points was an eccentric character; at one +moment, when he remembered his lineage, he was proud to excess, at +others he was grave and almost sullen—but when nothing either in daily +occurrences or in his mind ran contrary, he exhibited the drollery so +often found in his nation, with a spice of Irish humour, as if he had +caught up the latter with his Irish brogue. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty was soon seen coming aft, but almost double as he couched under +the beams, and taking large strides with his naked feet. +</P> + +<P> +"By the powers, Massa Yolliffe, but it is not seasonable at all to send +for me just now, anyhow, seeing how the praters are in the copper, and +so many blackguard 'palpeens all ready to change net for net, and +better themselves by the same mistake, 'dam um." +</P> + +<P> +"Mesty, you know I never send for you myself, or allow others to do so, +unless it is necessary," replied Jolliffe; "but this poor lad has eaten +nothing since he has been on board, and is very hungry—you must get +him a little tea." +</P> + +<P> +"Is it tay you mane, sir?—I guess, to make tay, in the first place I +must ab water, and in the next must ab room in the galley to put the +kettle on—and 'pose you wanted to burn the tip of your little finger +just now, it's not in the galley that you find a berth for it—and den +the water before seven bells. I've a notion it's just impossible." +</P> + +<P> +"But he must have something, Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind the tea, then," replied Jack, "I'll take some milk." +</P> + +<P> +"Is it milk massa manes, and the bumboat woman on the oder side of the +bay?" +</P> + +<P> +"We have no milk, Mr Easy; you forget that we are on blue water," +replied Jolliffe, "and I really am afraid that you'll have to wait till +dinner-time. Mesty tells the truth." +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you what, Massa Yolliffe, it just seven bells, and if the young +gentleman would, instead of tay, try a little out of the copper, it +might keep him asy. It but a little difference, tay soup and pay soup. +Now a bowl of that, with some nuts and a flourish of pepper, will do +him good, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps the best thing he can take, Mesty; get it as fast as you can." +</P> + +<P> +In a few minutes the black brought down a bowl of soup and whole peas +swimming in it, put before our hero a tin bread-basket full of small +biscuit, called midshipmen's nuts, and the pepper-caster. Jack's +visions of tea, coffee, muffins, dry toast, and milk, vanished as he +perceived the mess; but he was very hungry, and he found it much better +than he expected; and he moreover found himself much the better after +he had swallowed it. It struck seven bells, and he accompanied Mr +Jolliffe on deck. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Showing how Jack transgresses against his own philosophy. +</H4> + +<P> +When Jack Easy had gained the deck, he found the sun shining gaily, a +soft air blowing from the shore, and the whole of the rigging and every +part of the ship loaded with the shirts, trousers, and jackets of the +seamen, which had been wetted during the heavy gale, and were now +hanging up to dry; all the wet sails were also spread on the booms or +triced up in the rigging, and the ship was slowly forging through the +blue water. The captain and first lieutenant were standing on the +gangway in converse, and the majority of the officers were with their +quadrants and sextants ascertaining the latitude at noon. The decks +were white and clean, the sweepers had just laid by their brooms, and +the men were busy coiling down the ropes. It was a scene of +cheerfulness, activity, and order, which tightened his heart after the +four days of suffering, close air, and confinement, from which he had +just emerged. +</P> + +<P> +The captain, who perceived him, beckoned to him, asked him kindly how +he felt: the first lieutenant also smiled upon him, and many of the +officers, as well as his messmates, congratulated him upon his recovery. +</P> + +<P> +The captain's steward came up to him, touched his hat, and requested +the pleasure of his company to dinner in the cabin. Jack was the +essence of politeness, took off his hat, and accepted the invitation. +Jack was standing on a rope which a seaman was coiling down; the man +touched his hat and requested he would be so kind as to take his foot +off. Jack took his hat off his head in return, and his foot off the +rope. The master touched his hat, and reported twelve o'clock to the +first lieutenant—the first lieutenant touched his hat, and reported +twelve o'clock to the captain—the captain touched his hat, and told +the first lieutenant to make it so. The officer of the watch touched +his hat, and asked the captain whether they should pipe to dinner—the +captain touched his hat, and said—"If you please." +</P> + +<P> +The midshipman received his orders, and touched his hat, which he gave +to the head boatswain's mate, who touched his hat, and then the calls +whistled cheerily. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," thought Jack, "politeness seems to be the order of the day, and +everyone has an equal respect for the other." Jack stayed on deck; he +peeped through the ports, which were open, and looked down into the +deep blue wave; he cast his eyes aloft, and watched the tall spars +sweeping and tracing with their points, as it were, a small portion of +the clear sky, as they acted in obedience to the motion of the vessel; +he looked forward at the range of carronades which lined the sides of +the deck, and then he proceeded to climb one of the carronades, and +lean over the hammocks to gaze on the distant land. +</P> + +<P> +"Young gentleman, get off those hammocks," cried the master, who was +officer of the watch, in a surly tone. +</P> + +<P> +Jack looked round. "Do you hear me, sir? I'm speaking to you," said +the master again. Jack felt very indignant, and he thought that +politeness was not quite so general as he supposed. +</P> + +<P> +It happened that Captain Wilson was upon deck. "Come here, Mr Easy," +said the captain; "it is a rule in the service, that no one gets on the +hammocks, unless in case of emergency—I never do—nor the first +lieutenant—nor any of the officers or men,—therefore, upon the +principle of equality, you must not do it either." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly not, sir," replied Jack, "but still I do not see why that +officer in the shining hat should be so angry, and not speak to me as +if I were a gentleman, as well as himself." +</P> + +<P> +"I have already explained that to you, Mr Easy." "O yes, I recollect +now, it's zeal: but this zeal appears to me to be the only unpleasant +thing in the service. It's a pity, as you said, that the service +cannot do without it." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson laughed, and walked away; and shortly afterwards, as he +turned up and down the deck with the master, he hinted to him, that he +should not speak so sharply to a lad who had committed such a trifling +error through ignorance. Now Mr Smallsole, the master, who was a surly +sort of a personage, and did not like even a hint of disapprobation of +his conduct, although very regardless of the feeling of others, +determined to pay this off on Jack, the very first convenient +opportunity. Jack dined in the cabin, and was very much pleased to +find that everyone drank wine with him, and that everybody at the +captain's table appeared to be on an equality. Before the dessert had +been on the table five minutes, Jack became loquacious on his favourite +topic; all the company stared with surprise at such an unheard-of +doctrine being broached on board of a man-of-war; the captain argued +the point, so as to controvert, without too much offending, Jack's +notions, laughing the whole time that the conversation was carried on. +</P> + +<P> +It will be observed, that this day may be considered as the first in +which Jack really made his appearance on board, and it also was on this +first day that Jack made known, at the captain's table, his very +peculiar notions. If the company at the captain's table, which +consisted of the second lieutenant, purser, Mr Jolliffe, and one of the +midshipmen, were astonished at such heterodox opinions being stated in +the presence of the captain, they were equally astonished at the cool, +good-humoured ridicule with which they were received by Captain Wilson. +</P> + +<P> +The report of Jack's boldness, and every word and opinion that he had +uttered (of course much magnified) was circulated that evening through +the whole ship; it was canvassed in the gun-room by the officers; it +was descanted upon by the midshipmen as they walked the deck; the +captain's steward held a levee abreast of the ship's funnel, in which +he narrated this new doctrine. The sergeant of marines gave his +opinion in his berth, that it was damnable. The boatswain talked over +the matter with the other warrant officers, till the grog was all gone, +and then dismissed it as too dry a subject: and it was the general +opinion of the ship's company, that as soon as they arrived at +Gibraltar Bay, our hero would bid adieu to the service, either by being +sentenced to death by a court-martial, or by being dismissed, and towed +on shore on a grating. Others, who had more of the wisdom of the +serpent, and who had been informed by Mr Sawbridge that our hero was a +lad who would inherit a large property, argued differently, and +considered that Captain Wilson had very good reason for being so +lenient—and among them was the second lieutenant. There were but four +who were well inclined towards Jack,—to wit, the captain, the first +lieutenant, Mr Jolliffe, the one-eyed master's mate, and +Mephistopheles, the black, who, having heard that Jack had uttered such +sentiments, loved him with all his heart and soul. +</P> + +<P> +We have referred to the second lieutenant, Mr Asper. This young man +had a very high respect for birth, and particularly for money, of which +he had very little. He was the son of an eminent merchant who, during +the time that he was a midshipman, had allowed him a much larger sum +for his expenses than was necessary or proper; and, during his career, +he found that his full pocket procured him consequence, not only among +his own messmates, but also with many of the officers of the ships that +he sailed in. A man who is able and willing to pay a large tavern bill +will always find followers—that is, to the tavern; and lieutenants did +not disdain to dine, walk arm-in-arm, and be "hail fellow well met" +with a midshipman, at whose expense they lived during the time they +were on shore. Mr Asper had just received his commission and +appointment, when his father became a bankrupt, and the fountain was +dried up from which he had drawn such liberal supplies. Since that, Mr +Asper had felt that his consequence was gone: he could no longer talk +about the service being a bore, or that he should give it up; he could +no longer obtain that deference paid to his purse, and not to himself; +and he had contracted very expensive habits, without having any longer +the means of gratifying them. +</P> + +<P> +It was therefore no wonder that he imbibed a great respect for money; +and, as he could no longer find the means himself, he was glad to pick +up anybody else at whose cost he could indulge in that extravagance and +expense to which he had been so long accustomed, and still sighed for. +Now, Mr Asper knew that our hero was well supplied with money, as he +had obtained from the waiter the amount of the bill paid at the +Fountain, and he had been waiting for Jack's appearance on deck to +become his very dearest and most intimate friend. The conversation in +the cabin made him feel assured that Jack would require and be grateful +for support, and he had taken the opportunity of a walk with Mr +Sawbridge, to offer to take Jack in his watch. Whether it was that Mr +Sawbridge saw through the design of Mr Asper, or whether he imagined +that our hero would be better pleased with him than with the master, +considering his harshness of deportment; or with himself, who could +not, as first lieutenant, overlook any remission of duty, the offer was +accepted, and Jack Easy was ordered, as he now entered upon his duties, +to keep watch under Lieutenant Asper. +</P> + +<P> +But not only was this the first day that Jack may be said to have +appeared in the service, but it was the first day in which he had +entered the midshipman's berth, and was made acquainted with his +messmates. +</P> + +<P> +We have already mentioned Mr Jolliffe, the master's mate, but we must +introduce him more particularly. Nature is sometimes extremely +arbitrary, and never did she show herself more so than in insisting +that Mr Jolliffe should have the most sinister expression of +countenance that ever had been looked upon. +</P> + +<P> +He had suffered martyrdom with the small-pox, which probably had +contracted his lineaments: his face was not only deeply pitted, but +scarred with this cruel disorder. One eye had been lost, and all +eyebrows had disappeared—and the contrast between the dull, sightless, +opaque orb on one side of his face, and the brilliant, piercing little +ball on the other, was almost terrifying. His nose had been eaten away +by the disease till it formed a sharp but irregular point; part of the +muscles of the chin were contracted, and it was drawn in with unnatural +seams and puckers. He was tall, gaunt, and thin, seldom smiled, and +when he did, the smile produced a still further distortion. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Jolliffe was the son of a warrant officer. He did not contract this +disease until he had been sent out to the West Indies, where it swept +away hundreds. He had now been long in the service, with little or no +chance of promotion. He had suffered from indigence, from reflections +upon his humble birth, from sarcasms on his appearance. Every contumely +had been heaped upon him at one time or another, in the ships in which +he served; among a crowd he had found himself desolate—and now, +although no one dared treat him to his face with disrespect, he was +only respected in the service from a knowledge of his utility and +exemplary performance of his duties—he had no friends or even +companions. For many years he had retired within himself, he had +improved by reading and study, had felt all the philanthropy of a +Christian, and extended it towards others. Silent and reserved, he +seldom spoke in the berth, unless his authority, as caterer, was called +for; all respected Mr Jolliffe, but no one liked, as a companion, one +at whose appearance the very dogs would bark. At the same time every +one acknowledged his correct behaviour in every point, his sense of +justice, his forbearance, his kindness, and his good sense. With him +life was indeed a pilgrimage, and he wended his way in all Christian +charity and all Christian zeal. +</P> + +<P> +In all societies, however small they may be, provided that they do but +amount to half-a-dozen, you will invariably meet with a bully. And it +is also generally the case that you will find one of that society who +is more or less the butt. You will discover this even in occasional +meetings, such as a dinner-party, the major part of which have never +met before. +</P> + +<P> +Previous to the removal of the cloth, the bully will have shown himself +by his dictatorial manner, and will also have selected the one upon +whom he imagines that he can best practise. In a midshipman's berth, +this fact has become almost proverbial, although now perhaps it is not +attended with that disagreeable despotism which was permitted at the +time that our hero entered the service. +</P> + +<P> +The bully of the midshipman's berth of H.M. sloop Harpy was a young man +about seventeen, with light, curly hair, and florid countenance, the +son of the clerk in the dockyard at Plymouth, and his name was Vigors. +</P> + +<P> +The butt was a pudding-faced Tartar-physiognomied boy of fifteen, whose +intellects, with fostering, if not great, might at least have been +respectable, had he not lost all confidence in his own powers from the +constant jeers and mockeries of those who had a greater fluency of +speech without perhaps so much real power of mind. Although slow, what +he learnt he invariably retained. This lad's name was Gossett. His +father was a wealthy yeoman of Lynn, in Norfolk. There were at the +time but three other midshipmen in the ship, of whom it can only be +said that they were like midshipmen in general, with little appetite +for learning, but good appetites for dinner, hating everything like +work, fond of everything like fun, fighting "a L'outrance" one minute, +and sworn friends the next—with general principles of honour and +justice, but which were occasionally warped according to circumstances; +with all the virtues and vices so heterogeneously jumbled and heaped +together, that it was almost impossible to ascribe any action to its +true motive, and to ascertain to what point their vice was softened +down into almost a virtue, and their virtues from mere excess +degenerated into vice. Their names were O'Connor, Mills, and +Gascoigne. The other shipmates of our hero it will be better to +introduce as they appear on the stage. +</P> + +<P> +After Jack had dined in the cabin, he followed his messmates Jolliffe +and Gascoigne down into the midshipmen's berth. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Easy," observed Gascoigne, "you are a devilish free and easy +sort of a fellow, to tell the captain that you considered yourself as +great a man as he was." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon," replied Jack, "I did not argue individually, but +generally, upon the principles of the rights of man." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," replied Gascoigne, "it's the first time I ever heard a middy do +such a bold thing; take care your rights of man don't get you in the +wrong box—there's no arguing on board of a man-of-war. The captain +took it amazingly easy, but you'd better not broach that subject too +often." +</P> + +<P> +"Gascoigne gives you very good advice, Mr Easy," observed Jolliffe; +"allowing that your ideas are correct, which it appears to me they are +not, or at least impossible to be acted upon, there is such a thing as +prudence, and however much this question may be canvassed on shore, in +his Majesty's service it is not only dangerous in itself, but will be +very prejudicial to you." +</P> + +<P> +"Man is a free agent," replied Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be shot if a midshipman is," replied Gascoigne, laughing, aloud +"that you'll soon find." +</P> + +<P> +"And yet it was in the expectation of finding that equality that I was +induced to come to sea." +</P> + +<P> +"On the first of April, I presume," replied Gascoigne. "But are you +really serious?" +</P> + +<P> +Hereupon Jack entered into a long argument, to which Jolliffe and +Gascoigne listened without interruption, and Mesty with admiration; at +the end of it, Gascoigne laughed heartily, and Jolliffe sighed. +</P> + +<P> +"From whence did you learn all this?" inquired Jolliffe. +</P> + +<P> +"From my father, who is a great philosopher, and has constantly upheld +these opinions." +</P> + +<P> +"And did your father wish you to go to sea?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, he was opposed to it," replied Jack, "but of course he could not +combat my right and free-will." +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy, as a friend," replied Jolliffe, "I request that you would as +much as possible keep your opinions to yourself. I shall have an +opportunity of talking to you on the subject and will then explain to +you my reasons." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Mr Jolliffe had ceased, down came Mr Vigors and O'Connor, +who had heard the news of Jack's heresy. +</P> + +<P> +"You do not know Mr Vigors and Mr O'Connor," said Jolliffe to Easy. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, who was the essence of politeness, rose and bowed, at which the +others took their seats, without returning the salutation. Vigors had, +from what he had heard and now seen of Easy, thought he had somebody +else to play upon, and without ceremony he commenced. +</P> + +<P> +"So, my chap, you are come on board to raise a mutiny here with your +equality—you came off scot free at the captain's table; but it won't +do, I can tell you, even in the midshipman's berth: some must knock +under, and you are one of them." +</P> + +<P> +"If, sir," replied Easy, "you mean by knock under, that I must submit, +I can assure you that you are mistaken. Upon the same principle that I +would never play the tyrant to those weaker than myself, so will I +resent oppression if attempted." +</P> + +<P> +"Damme, but he's a regular sea lawyer already: however, my boy, we'll +soon put your mettle to the proof." +</P> + +<P> +"Am I then to infer that I am not on an equality with my messmates?" +replied Jack, looking at Jolliffe. The latter was about to answer him, +but Vigors interrupted. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you are on an equality as far as this, that you have an equal +right to the berth, if you are not knocked out of it for insolence to +your masters; that you have an equal share to pay for the things +purchased for the mess, and an equal right to have your share, provided +you can get it; you have an equal right to talk, provided you are not +told to hold your tongue. The fact is, you have an equal right with +everyone else to do as you can, get what you can, and say what you can, +always provided that you can do it; for here the weakest goes to the +wall, and that is midshipman's berth equality. Now, do you understand +all that; or will you wait for a practical illustration?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am then to infer that the equality here is as much destroyed as it +even will be among savages, where the strong oppress the weak, and the +only law is club law—in fact, much the same as it is at a public or +large school, on shore?" +</P> + +<P> +"I suspect you are right for once. You were at a public school: how +did they treat you there?" +</P> + +<P> +"As you propose treating people here—the weakest went to the wall." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse, that's all, my +hearty," said Vigors. +</P> + +<P> +But the hands being turned up, "Shorten sail" put an end to the +altercation for the present. +</P> + +<P> +As our hero had not yet received orders to go to his duty, he remained +below with Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"By de powers, Massa Easy, but I lub you with my hole soul," said +Mesty. "By Jasus, you really tark fine, Massa Easy; dat Mr +Vigor—nebber care for him, wouldn't you help him—and sure you would," +continued the black, feeling the muscle of Jack's arm. "By the soul of +my fader, I'd bet my week's allowance on you anyhow. Nebber be 'fraid, +Massa Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not afraid," replied Jack; "I've thrashed bigger fellows than +he"; and Jack's assertion was true. Mr Bonnycastle never interfered in +a fair fight, and took no notice of black eyes, provided the lessons +there well said. Jack had fought and fought again, until he was a very +good bruiser, and although not so tall as Vigors, he was much better +built for fighting. A knowing Westminster boy would have bet his +half-crown upon Jack had he seen him and his anticipated adversary. +</P> + +<P> +The constant battles which Jack was obliged to fight at school had been +brought forward by Jack against his father's arguments in favour of +equality, but they had been overruled by Mr Easy's pointing out that +the combats of boys had nothing to do with the rights of man. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the watch was called, Vigors, O'Connor, Gossett, and +Gascoigne came down into the berth. Vigors, who was the strongest in +the berth, except Jolliffe, had successively had his superiority +acknowledged, and, when on deck, he had talked of Easy's impertinence, +and his intention of bringing him to his senses. The others, +therefore, came down to see the fun. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr Easy," observed Vigors, as he came into the berth, "you take +after your name, at all events; I suppose you intend to eat the king's +provision, and do nothing." +</P> + +<P> +Jack's mettle was already up. "You will oblige me, sir, by minding your +own business," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"You impudent blackguard, if you say another word, I'll give you a good +thrashing, and knock some of your equality out of you." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed," replied Jack, who almost fancied himself back at Mr +Bonnycastle's; "we'll try that." +</P> + +<P> +Whereupon Jack very coolly divested himself of his upper garments, +neckerchief, and shirt, much to the surprise of Mr Vigors, who little +contemplated such a proof of decision and confidence, and still more to +the delight of the other midshipmen, who would have forfeited a week's +allowance to see Vigors well thrashed. Vigors, however, knew that he +had gone too far to retreat; he therefore prepared for action; and, +when ready, the whole party went out into the steerage to settle the +business. +</P> + +<P> +Vigors had gained his assumed authority more by bullying than fighting; +others had submitted to him without a sufficient trial; Jack, on the +contrary, had won his way up in school by hard and scientific combat; +the result, therefore, may easily be imagined. In less than a quarter +of an hour Vigors, beaten dead, with his eyes closed, and three teeth +out, gave in: while Jack, after a basin of water, looked as fresh as +ever, with the exception of a few trifling scratches. +</P> + +<P> +The news of this victory was soon through the ship; and before Jack had +resumed his clothes it had been told confidentially by Sawbridge to the +captain. +</P> + +<P> +"So soon!" said Captain Wilson, laughing; "I expected that a +midshipman's berth would do wonders; but I did not expect this yet +awhile. This victory is the first severe blow to Mr Easy's equality, +and will be more valuable than twenty defeats. Let him now go to his +duty, he will soon find his level." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero proves that all on board <BR> +should equally sacrifice decency to duty. +</H4> + +<P> +The success of any young man in a profession very much depends upon the +occurrences at the commencement of his career, as from those is his +character judged, and he is treated accordingly. Jack had chosen to +enter the service at a much later period than most lads; he was tall +and manly for his age, and his countenance, if not strictly handsome, +wore that expression of honesty and boldness which is sure to please. +His spirit in not submitting to, and meeting, Vigors when he had hardly +recovered from his severe prostration of sea-sickness, had gained him +with the many respect, and with all, except his antagonist and Mr +Smallsole, good-will. Instead of being laughed at by his messmates, he +was played with; for Jolliffe smiled at his absurdities, and attempted +to reason him out of them, and the others liked Jack for himself and +his generosity, and moreover, because they looked up to him as a +protector against Vigors, who had persecuted them all; for Jack had +declared, that as might was right in a midshipman's berth, he would so +far restore equality, that if he could not put down those who were the +strongest, at all events he would protect the weak, and, let who would +come into the berth, they must be his master before they should +tyrannise over those weaker than he. +</P> + +<P> +Thus did Jack Easy make the best use that he could of his strength, and +become, as it were, the champion and security of those who, although +much longer at sea and more experienced than he was, were glad to +shelter themselves under his courage and skill, the latter of which had +excited the admiration of the butcher of the ship, who had been a +pugilist by profession. Thus did Jack at once take the rank of an +oldster, and soon became the leader of all the mischief. We +particularly observe this, because, had it so happened that our hero +had succumbed to Vigors, the case would have been the very reverse. He +then would have had to go through the ordeal to which most who enter +the naval service are exposed, which cannot be better explained than by +comparing it to the fagging carried to such an iniquitous extent in +public schools. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Asper, for his own reasons, made him his companion: they walked the +night watch together, and he listened to all Jack's nonsense about the +rights of man. And here Mr Asper did good without intending it, for, +at the same time that he appeared to agree with Jack, to secure his +favour, he cautioned him, and pointed out why this equality could not +exist altogether on board of a man-of-war. +</P> + +<P> +As for himself, he said, he saw no difference between a lieutenant, or +even a captain, and a midshipman, provided they were gentlemen: he +should choose his friends where he liked, and despised that power of +annoyance which the service permitted. Of course, Jack and Mr Asper +were good friends, especially as, when half the watch was over, to +conciliate his good-will and to get rid of his eternal arguing, Mr +Asper would send Jack down to bed. +</P> + +<P> +They were now entering the Straits, and expected to anchor the next day +at Gibraltar, and Jack was forward on the forecastle, talking with +Mesty, with whom he had contracted a great friendship, for there was +nothing that Mesty would not have done for Jack, although he had not +been three weeks in the ship; but a little reflection will show that it +was natural. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty had been a great man in his own country; he had suffered all the +horrors of a passage in a slave ship; he had been sold as a slave +twice; he had escaped—but he found that the universal feeling was +strong against his colour, and that on board of a man-of-war he was +condemned, although free, to the humblest of offices. +</P> + +<P> +He had never heard anyone utter the sentiments, which now beat in his +own heart, of liberty and equality—we say now, for when he was in his +own country before his captivity, he had no ideas of equality; no one +has who is in power: but he had been schooled; and although people +talked of liberty and equality at New York, he found that what they +preached for themselves, they did not practise towards others, and +that, in the midst of liberty and equality, he and thousands more were +enslaved and degraded beings. +</P> + +<P> +Escaping to England, he had regained his liberty, but not his equality; +his colour had prevented the latter, and in that feeling all the world +appeared to conspire together against him, until, to his astonishment, +he heard those sentiments boldly expressed from the lips of Jack, and +that in a service where it was almost tantamount to mutiny. Mesty, +whose character is not yet developed, immediately took a fondness for +our hero, and in a hundred ways showed his attachment. Jack also liked +Mesty, and was fond of talking with him, and every evening, since the +combat with Vigors, they had generally met in the forecastle to discuss +the principles of equality and the rights of man. +</P> + +<P> +The boatswain, whose name was Biggs, was a slight, dapper, active +little man, who, as captain of the foretop, had shown an uncommon +degree of courage in a hurricane, so much so, as to recommend him to +the Admiral for promotion. It was given to him; and after the ship to +which he had been appointed was paid off, he had been ordered to join +H.M. sloop Harpy. Jack's conversation with Mesty was interrupted by +the voice of the boatswain, who was haranguing his boy. "It's now ten +minutes, sir, by my repeater," said the boatswain, "that I have sent +for you"; and Mr Biggs pulled out a huge silver watch, almost as big as +a Norfolk turnip. A Jew had sold him the watch; the boatswain had +heard of repeaters, and wished to have one. Moses had only shown him +watches with the hour and minute hands; he now produced one with a +second hand, telling him it was a repeater. +</P> + +<P> +"What makes it a repeater?" inquired the boatswain. +</P> + +<P> +"Common watches," said the cunning Jew, "only tell the minutes and +hours; but all repeaters tell the seconds." +</P> + +<P> +The boatswain was satisfied—bought the watch, and, although many had +told him it was no repeater, he insisted that it was, and would call it +so. +</P> + +<P> +"I swear," continued the boatswain, "it's ten minutes and twenty +seconds by my repeater." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir," said the boy, "I was changing my trousers when +you sent for me, and then I had to stow away my bag again." +</P> + +<P> +"Silence, sir; I'd have you to know that when you are sent for by your +officer, trousers or no trousers, it is your duty to come up directly." +</P> + +<P> +"Without trousers, sir?" replied the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, without trousers; if the captain required me, I should come +without my shirt. Duty before decency." So saying, the boatswain lays +hold of the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Surely, Mr Biggs," said Jack, "you are not going to punish that boy +for not coming up without his trousers?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mr Easy, I am—I must teach him a lesson. We are bound, now that +newfangled ideas are brought into the ship, to uphold the dignity of +the service; and the orders of an officer are not to be delayed ten +minutes and twenty seconds because a boy has no trousers on." Whereupon +the boatswain administered several smart cuts with his rattan upon the +boy, proving that it was quite as well that he had put on his trousers +before he came on deck. "There," said Mr Biggs, "is a lesson for you, +you scamp—and, Mr Easy, it is a lesson for you also," continued the +boatswain, walking away with a most consequential air. +</P> + +<P> +"Murder Irish!" said Mesty—"how him cut caper. De oder day he haul out +de weather ear-ring, and touch him hat to a midshipman. Sure enough, +make um cat laugh." +</P> + +<P> +The next day the Harpy was at anchor in Gibraltar Bay; the captain went +on shore, directing the gig to be sent for him before nine o'clock; +after which hour the sally-port is only opened by special permission. +There happened to be a ball given by the officers of the garrison on +that evening, and a polite invitation was sent to the officers of H.M. +sloop Harpy. As those who accepted the invitation would be detained +late, it was not possible for them to come off that night. And as +their services were required for the next day, Captain Wilson allowed +them to remain on shore until seven o'clock the next morning, at which +hour, as there was a large party, there would be two boats sent for +them. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Asper obtained leave, and asked permission to take our hero with +him; to which Mr Sawbridge consented. Many other officers obtained +leave, and, among others, the boatswain, who, aware that his services +would be in request as soon as the equipment commenced, asked +permission for this evening. And Mr Sawbridge, feeling that he could +be better spared at this than at any other time, consented. Asper and +Jack went to an inn, dined, bespoke beds, and then dressed themselves +for the ball, which was very brilliant, and, from the company of the +officers, very pleasant. Captain Wilson looked on at the commencement, +and then returned on board. Jack behaved with his usual politeness, +danced till two o'clock, and then, as the ball thinned, Asper proposed +that they should retire. Having once more applied to the +refreshment-room, they had procured their hats, and were about to +depart, when one of the officers of the garrison asked Jack if he would +like to see a baboon, which had just been brought down from the rock; +and, taking some of the cakes, they repaired to the court where the +animal was chained down to a small tank. Jack fed the brute till all +the cakes were gone, and then, because he had no more to give him, the +baboon flew at Jack, who, in making his retreat fell back into the +tank, which was about two feet deep. This was a joke, and having +laughed heartily, they wished the officer good-night, and went to the +inn. +</P> + +<P> +Now, what with the number of officers of the Harpy on shore, who had +all put up at the same inn, and other occupants, the landlord was +obliged to put his company into double and treble-bedded rooms; but +this was of little consequence. Jack was shown into a double-bedded +room, and proceeded to undress; the other was evidently occupied, by +the heavy breathing which saluted Jack's ear. +</P> + +<P> +As Jack undressed, he recollected that his trousers were wet through, +and to dry them he opened the window, hung them out, and then jammed +down the window again upon them, to hold them in their position, after +which he turned in and fell fast asleep. At six o'clock he was called, +as he had requested, and proceeded to dress, but to his astonishment +found the window thrown open and his trousers missing. It was evident, +that his partner in the room had thrown the window open during the +night, and that his trousers, having fallen down into the street, had +been walked off with by somebody or another. Jack looked out of the +window once more, and perceived that whoever had thrown open the window +had been unwell during the night. +</P> + +<P> +A nice drunken companion I have had, thought Jack; but what's to be +done? And in saying this, he walked up to the other bed, and perceived +that it was tenanted by the boatswain. Well, thought Jack, as Mr Biggs +has thought proper to lose my trousers, I think I have a right to take +his, or at least the wear of them to go on board. It was but last +night he declared that decency must give way to duty, and that the +orders of a superior officer were to be obeyed, with or without +garments. I know he is obliged to be on board, and now he shall try how +he likes to obey orders in his shirt tails. So cogitating, Jack took +the trousers of the boatswain, who still snored, although he had been +called, and putting them on, completed the rest of his dress, and +quitted the room. He went to that of Mr Asper, where he found him just +ready, and, having paid the bill—for Asper had forgotten his +purse—they proceeded down to the sally-port, where they found other +officers waiting, sufficient to load the first boat, which shoved off, +and they went on board. As soon as he was down below, Jack hastened to +change his trousers, and, unobserved by anyone, threw those belonging +to Mr Biggs on a chair in his cabin, and, having made a confidant of +Mesty, who was delighted, he went on deck, and waited the issue of the +affair. +</P> + +<P> +Before Jack left the hotel, he had told the waiter that there was the +boatswain still fast asleep, and that he must be roused up immediately; +and this injunction was obeyed. The boatswain, who had drunk too much +the night before, and, as Jack had truly imagined, had opened the +window because he was unwell, was wakened up, and hearing how late it +was, hastened to dress himself. Not finding his trousers, he rang the +bell, supposing that they had been taken down to be brushed, and, in +the meantime, put on everything else, that he might lose no time: the +waiter who answered the bell, denied having taken the trousers out of +the room, and poor Mr Biggs was in a sad quandary. What had become of +them, he could not tell: he had no recollection of having gone to bed +the night before; he inquired of the waiter, who said that he knew +nothing about them—that he was very tipsy when he came home, and that +when he called him, he had found the window open, and it appeared that +he had been unwell—he supposed that he had thrown his trousers out of +the window. Time flew, and the boatswain was in despair. "Could they +lend him a pair?" +</P> + +<P> +"He would call his master." The master of the inn knew very well the +difference of rank between officers, and those whom he could trust and +those whom he could not. He sent up the bill by the waiter, and stated +that, for a deposit, the gentleman might have a pair of trousers. The +boatswain felt in his pockets and remembered that all his money was in +his trousers' pocket. He could not only not leave a deposit, but could +not pay his bill. The landlord was inexorable. It was bad enough to +lose his money, but he could not lose more. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be tried by a court-martial, by heavens!" exclaimed the +boatswain—"it's not far from the sally-port: I'll make a run for it, +and I can slip into one of the boats and get another pair of trousers +before I report myself as having come on board." So making up his +mind, the boatswain took to his heels, and with his check shirt tails +streaming in the wind, ran as hard as he could to where the boat was +waiting to receive him. He was encountered by many, but he only ran +the faster the more they jeered, and, at last, arrived breathless at +his goal, flew down the steps, jumped into the boat, and squatted on +the stern sheets, much to the surprise of the officers and men, who +thought him mad. He stated in a few words that somebody had stolen his +trousers during the night; and as it was already late, the boat shoved +off the men as well as officers convulsed with laughter. +</P> + +<P> +"Have any of you a pea-jacket?" inquired the boatswain of the men—but +the weather was so warm that none of them had brought a pea-jacket. The +boatswain looked round; he perceived that the officers were sitting on +a boat-cloak. +</P> + +<P> +"Whose boat-cloak is that?" inquired the boatswain. +</P> + +<P> +"Mine," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"I trust, Mr Gascoigne, you will have the kindness to lend it to me to +go up the side with." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed I will not," replied Gascoigne, who would sooner have thrown it +overboard and have lost it, than not beheld the anticipated fun: +"recollect I asked you for a fishing-line, when we were becalmed off +Cape St Vincent, and you sent word that you'd see me dead first. Now +I'll just see you the same before you have my boat-cloak." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mr Gascoigne, I'll give you three lines, directly I get on board." +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say you will, but that won't do now. 'Tit for tat,' Mr +Boatswain, and hang all favours," replied Gascoigne, who was steering +the boat, having been sent on shore for the others. "In borrowed of +all." The boat was laid alongside—the relentless Gascoigne caught up +his boat-cloak as the other officers rose to go on board, and rolling +it up, in spite of the earnest entreaties of Mr Biggs, tossed it into +the main chains, to the man who had thrown the stem fast; and to make +the situation of Mr Biggs still more deplorable, the first lieutenant +was standing looking into the boat, and Captain Wilson walking the +quarter-deck. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Mr Biggs, I expected you off in the first boat," cried Mr +Sawbridge; "be as smart as you please, for the yards are not yet +squared." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I go ahead in this boat, and square them, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"That boat! no; let her drop astern, jump up here and lower down the +dinghy. What the devil do you sit there for, Mr Biggs?—you'll oblige +me by showing a little more activity, or, by Jove, you may save +yourself the trouble of asking to go on shore again. Are you sober, +sir?" +</P> + +<P> +The last observation decided Mr Biggs. He sprung up from the boat just +as he was, and touched his hat as he passed the first lieutenant. +"Perfectly sober, sir, but I've lost my trousers." +</P> + +<P> +"So it appears, sir," replied Mr Sawbridge, as Mr Biggs stood on the +plane shear of the sloop where the hammock netting divides for an +entrance, with his shirt tails fluttering in the sea breeze; but Mr +Sawbridge could not contain himself any longer; he ran down the ship +ladder which led on the quarter-deck, choked with laughter. Mr Biggs +could not descend until after Mr Sawbridge, and the conversation had +attracted the notice of all, and every eye in the ship was on him. +</P> + +<P> +"What's all this?" said Captain Wilson, coming to the gangway. "Duty +before decency," replied Jack, who stood by enjoying the joke. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Biggs recollected the day before—he cast a furious look at Jack, as +he touched his hat to the captain, and then dived down to the lower +deck. +</P> + +<P> +If anything could add to the indignation of the boatswain, it was to +find that his trousers had come on board before him. He now felt that +a trick had been played him, and also that our hero must have been the +party, but he could prove nothing; he could not say who slept in the +same room, for he was fast asleep when Jack went to bed, and fast +asleep when Jack quitted the room. +</P> + +<P> +The truth of the story soon became known to all the ship, and "duty +before decency" became a bye-word. All that the boatswain could do he +did, which was to revenge himself upon the poor boy—and Gascoigne and +Jack never got any fishing-tackle. The boatswain was as obnoxious to +the men as Vigors, and in consequence of Jack's known opinions upon the +rights of man, and his having floored their two greatest enemies, he +became a great favourite with the seamen, and as all favourites are +honoured by them with a soubriquet, our hero obtained that of Equality +Jack. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero prefers going down to going up; a choice, <BR> +it is to be hoped, he will reverse upon a more important occasion. +</H4> + +<P> +The next day being Sunday, the hands were turned up to divisions, and +the weather not being favourable, instead of the service the articles +of war were read with all due respect shown to the same, the captain, +officers, and crew, with their hats off in a mizzling rain. Jack, who +had been told by the captain that these articles of war were the rules +and regulations of the service, by which the captain, officers, and +men, were equally bound, listened to them as they were read by the +clerk with the greatest attention. He little thought that there were +about five hundred orders from the Admiralty tacked on to them, which, +like the numerous codicils of some wills, contained the most important +matter, and to a certain degree make the will nugatory. +</P> + +<P> +Jack listened very attentively, and, as each article was propounded, +felt that he was not likely to commit himself in that point, and, +although he was rather astonished to find such a positive injunction +against swearing considered quite a dead letter in the ship, he thought +that, altogether, he saw his way very clear. But to make certain of +it, as soon as the hands had been piped down he begged the clerk to let +him have a copy of the articles. +</P> + +<P> +Now the clerk had three, being the allowance of the ship, or at least +all that he had in his possession, and made some demur at parting with +one; but at last he proposed—"some rascal," as he said, having stolen +his tooth-brush—that if Jack would give him one he would give him one +of the copies of the articles of war. Jack replied that the one he had +in use was very much worn, and that unfortunately he had but one new +one, which he could not spare. Thereupon the clerk, who was a very +clean personage, and could not bear that his teeth should be dirty, +agreed to accept the one in use, as Jack could not part with the other. +The exchange was made, and Jack read the articles of war over and over +again, till he thought he was fully master of them. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," says Jack, "I know what I am to do, and what I am to expect, and +these articles of war I will carry in my pocket as long as I'm in the +service; that is to say, if they last so long: and provided they do +not, I am able to replace them with another old tooth-brush, which +appears to be the value attached to them." +</P> + +<P> +The Harpy remained a fortnight in Gibraltar Bay, and Jack had +occasionally a run on shore, and Mr Asper invariably went with him to +keep him out of mischief; that is to say, he allowed him to throw his +money away on no one more worthless than himself. +</P> + +<P> +One morning Jack went down in the berth, and found young Gossett +blubbering. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter, my dear Mr Gossett?" inquired Jack, who was just as +polite to the youngster as he was to anybody else. +</P> + +<P> +"Vigors has been thrashing me with a rope's end," replied Gossett, +rubbing his arm and shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"What for?" inquired Jack. "Because he says the service is going to +hell—(I'm sure it's no fault of mine)—and that now all subordination +is destroyed, and that upstarts join the ship who, because they have a +five-pound note in their pocket, are allowed to do just as they please. +He said he was determined to uphold the service, and then he knocked me +down—and when I got up again he told me that I could stand a little +more—and then he took out his colt, and said he was determined to ride +the high horse—and that there should be no Equality Jack in future." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," replied Jack. "And then he colted me for half an hour, and +that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"By de soul of my fader, but it all for true, Massa Easy—he larrup um, +sure enough—all for noting, bad luck to him—I tink," continued Mesty, +"he hab debelish bad memory—and he want a little more of Equality +Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"And he shall have it too," replied our hero; "why it's against the +articles of war, 'all quarrelling, fighting, &c.' I say, Mr Gossett, +have you got the spirit of a louse?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Gossett. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, will you do what I tell you next time, and trust to me for +protection?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't care what I do," replied the boy, "if you will back me against +the cowardly tyrant?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you refer to me?" cried Vigors, who had stopped at the door of the +berth. +</P> + +<P> +"Say yes," said Jack. "Yes, I do," cried Gossett. +</P> + +<P> +"You do, do you?—well, then, my chick, I must trouble you with a +little more of this," said Vigors, drawing out his colt. +</P> + +<P> +"I think that you had better not, Mr Vigors," observed Jack. "Mind your +own business, if you please," returned Vigors, not much liking the +interference. "I am not addressing my conversation to you, and I will +thank you never to interfere with me. I presume I have a right to +choose my own acquaintance, and, depend upon it, it will not be that of +a leveller." +</P> + +<P> +"All that is at your pleasure, Mr Vigors," replied Jack; "you have a +right to choose your own acquaintance, and so have I a right to choose +my own friends, and, further, to support them. That lad is my friend, +Mr Vigors." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," replied Vigors, who could not help bullying even at the risk of +another combat which he probably intended to stand, "I shall take the +liberty of giving your friend a thrashing"; and he suited the action to +the word. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I shall take the liberty to defend my friend," replied Jack; "and +as you call me a leveller, I'll try if I may not deserve the name" +whereupon Jack placed a blow so well under the ear, that Mr Vigors +dropped on the deck, and was not in a condition to come to the scratch, +even if he had been inclined. "And now, youngster," said Jack, +wresting the colt out of Vigors' hand, "do as I bid you—give him a +good colting—if you don't I'll thrash you." +</P> + +<P> +Gossett required no second threat;—the pleasure of thrashing his +enemy, if only for once, was quite enough—and he laid well on. Jack +with his fists doubled ready to protect him if there was a show of +resistance, but Vigors was half stupefied with the blow under the ear, +and quite cowed; he took his thrashing in the most pensive manner. +</P> + +<P> +"That will do," said Jack; "and now do not be afraid, Gossett; the very +first time he offers to strike you when I am not present, I will pay +him off for it as soon as you tell me. I won't be called Equality Jack +for nothing." +</P> + +<P> +When Jolliffe, who heard of this, met our hero alone, he said to him, +"Take my advice, boy, and do not in future fight the battles of others; +you'll find very soon that you will have enough to do to fight your +own." +</P> + +<P> +Whereupon Jack argued the point for half an hour, and then they +separated. But Mr Jolliffe was right. Jack began to find himself +constantly in hot water, and the captain and first lieutenant, although +they did not really withdraw their protection, thought it high time +that Jack should find out that, on board a man-of-war, everybody and +everything must find its level. +</P> + +<P> +There was on board of his Majesty's sloop Harpy, a man of the name of +Easthupp, who did the duty of purser's steward; this was the second +ship that he had served in: in the former he had been sent with a draft +of men from the Tender lying off the Tower. How he had come into the +service was not known in the present ship; but the fact was, that he +had been one of the swell mob—and had been sent on board the Tender +with a letter of recommendation from the magistrates to Captain Crouch. +He was a cockney by birth, for he had been left at the work-house of St +Mary Axe, where he had been taught to read and write, and had +afterwards made his escape. He joined the juvenile thieves of the +metropolis, had been sent to Bridewell, obtained his liberty, and by +degrees had risen from petty thieving of goods exposed outside of the +shops and market-stalls, to the higher class of gentleman pickpockets. +His appearance was somewhat genteel, with a bullying sort of an +impudent air, which is mistaken for fashion by those who know no +better. A remarkable neat dresser, for that was part of his +profession; a very plausible manner and address; a great fluency of +language, although he clipped the king's English; and, as he had +suffered more than once by the law, it is not to be wondered at, that +he was, as he called himself, a hout-and-hout radical. During the +latter part of his service, in his last ship, he had been employed +under the purser's steward, and having offered himself in this capacity +to the purser of H.M. sloop Harpy, with one or two forged certificates, +he had been accepted. +</P> + +<P> +Now, when Mr Easthupp heard of Jack's opinion, he wished to cultivate +his acquaintance, and with a bow and a flourish, introduced himself +before they arrived at Gibraltar; but our hero took an immediate +dislike to this fellow from his excessive and impertinent familiarity. +</P> + +<P> +Jack knew a gentleman when he met one, and did not choose to be a +companion to a man beneath him in every way, but who, upon the strength +of Jack's liberal opinions, presumed to be his equal. Jack's equality +did not go so far as that; in theory it was all very well, but in +practice it was only when it suited his own purpose. +</P> + +<P> +But the purser's steward was not to be checked—a man who has belonged +to the swell mob is not easily repulsed; and, although Jack would +plainly show him that his company was not agreeable, Easthupp would +constantly accost him familiarly on the forecastle and lower deck, with +his arms folded, and with an air almost amounting to familiarity. At +last, Jack told him to go about his business and not presume to talk to +him; whereupon Easthupp rejoined, and after an exchange of hard words, +it ended by Jack kicking Mr Easthupp, as he called himself, down the +after—lower-deck hatchway. This was but a sorry specimen of Jack's +equality—and Mr Easthupp, who considered that his honour had been +compromised, went up to the captain on the quarter-deck and lodged his +complaint—whereupon Captain Wilson desired that Mr Easy might be +summoned. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Jack made his appearance, Captain Wilson called to Easthupp. +"Now, purser's steward, what is this you have to say?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, Captain Vilson, I am wery sorry to be obliged to make +hany complaint of hany hofficer, but this Mr Heasy thought proper to +make use of language quite hunbecoming of a gentleman, and then to kick +me as I vent down the atchvay." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr Easy, is this true?" "Yes, sir," replied Jack; "I have +several times told the fellow not to address himself to me, and he +will. I did tell him he was a radical blackguard, and I did kick him +down the hatchway." +</P> + +<P> +"You told him he was a radical blackguard, Mr Easy?" "Yes, sir, he +comes bothering me about his republic, and asserting that we have no +want of a king and aristocracy." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson looked significantly at Mr Sawbridge. "I certainly did +hoffer my political opinions, Captain Vilson; but you must be avare +that ve hall ave an hequal stake in the country—and it's a +Hinglishman's birthright." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not aware what your stake in the country may be, Mr Easthupp," +observed Captain Wilson, "but I think that, if you used such +expressions, Mr Easy was fully warranted in telling you his opinion." +</P> + +<P> +"I ham villing, Captain Vilson, to make hany hallowance for the eat of +political discussion—but that is not hall that I ave to complain hof. +Mr Heasy thought proper to say that I was a swindler and a liar." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you make use of those expressions, Mr Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, he did," continued the steward; "and, moreover, told me not +to cheat the men, and not to cheat my master, the purser. Now, +Captain Vilson, is it not true that I am in a wery hostensible +sitevation? but I flatter myself that I ave been vell edecated, and vos +wonce moving in a wery different society—misfortains vill appin to us +hall, and I feel my character has been severely injured by such +importations"; whereupon Mr Easthupp took out his handkerchief, +flourished, and blew his nose. "I told Mr Heasy, that I considered +myself quite as much of a gentleman as himself, and at hall hewents did +not keep company with a black feller (Mr Heasy will hunderstand the +insinevation); vereupon Mr Heasy, as I before said, your vorship, I +mean you, Captain Vilson, thought proper to kick me down the atchvay." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, steward, I have heard your complaint, and now you may go." +Mr Easthupp took his hat off with an air, made his bow, and went down +the main ladder. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy," said Captain Wilson, "you must be aware that by the +regulations of the service by which we are all equally bound, it is not +permitted that any officer shall take the law into his own hands. Now, +although I do not consider it necessary to make any remark as to your +calling the man a radical blackguard, for I consider his impertinent +intrusion of his opinions deserved it, still you have no right to +attack any man's character without grounds—and as that man is in an +office of trust, you were not at all warranted in asserting that he was +a cheat. Will you explain to me why you made use of such language?" +</P> + +<P> +Now our hero had no proofs against the man; he had nothing to offer in +extenuation, until he recollected, all at once, the reason assigned by +the captain for the language used by Mr Sawbridge. Jack had the wit to +perceive that it would hit home, so he replied, very quietly and +respectfully: +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, Captain Wilson, that was all zeal." +</P> + +<P> +"Zeal, Mr Easy? I think it but a bad excuse. But pray, then, why did +you kick the man down the hatchway?—you must have known that that was +contrary to the rules of the service." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Jack, demurely; "but that was all zeal, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Then allow me to say," replied Captain Wilson, biting his lips, "that +I think that your zeal has in this instance been very much misplaced, +and I trust you will not show so much again." +</P> + +<P> +"And yet, sir," replied Jack, aware that he was giving the captain a +hard hit, and therefore looked proportionally humble, "we should do +nothing in the service without it—and I trust one day, as you told me, +to become a very zealous officer." +</P> + +<P> +"I trust so, too, Mr Easy," replied the captain. "There, you may go +now, and let me hear no more of kicking people down the hatchway. That +sort of zeal is misplaced." +</P> + +<P> +"More than my foot was, at all events," muttered Jack, as he walked off. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson, as soon as our hero disappeared, laughed heartily, and +told Mr Sawbridge, "he had ascribed his language to our hero as all +zeal. He has very cleverly given me it all back again; and really, +Sawbridge, as it proves how weak was my defence of you, you may gain +from this lesson." +</P> + +<P> +Sawbridge thought so, too—but both agreed that Jack's rights of man +were in considerable danger. +</P> + +<P> +The day before the ship sailed, the captain and Mr Asper dined with the +Governor; and as there was little more to do, Mr Sawbridge, who had not +quitted the ship since she had been in port, and had some few purchases +to make, left her in the afternoon in the charge of Mr Smallsole, the +master. Now, as we have observed, he was Jack's inveterate +enemy—indeed Jack had already made three, Mr Smallsole, Mr Biggs, the +boatswain, and Easthupp, the purser's steward. Mr Smallsole was glad to +be left in command, as he hoped to have an opportunity of punishing our +hero, who certainly laid himself not a little open to it. +</P> + +<P> +Like all those who are seldom in command, the master was proportionally +tyrannical and abusive—he swore at the men, made them do the duty +twice and thrice over, on the pretence that it was not smartly done, +and found fault with every officer remaining on board. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Biggs—by God, sir, you seem to be all asleep forward. I suppose +you think that you are to do nothing now the first lieutenant is out of +the ship? How long will it be, sir, before you are ready to sway away?" +</P> + +<P> +"By de holy poker, I tink he sway away finely, Massy Easy," observed +Mesty, who was in converse with our hero on the forecastle. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Smallsole's violence made Mr Biggs violent, which made the +boatswain's mate violent—and the captain of the forecastle violent +also; all which is practically exemplified by philosophy in the laws of +motion, communicated from one body to another; and as Mr Smallsole +swore, so did the boatswain swear. Also the boatswain's mate, the +captain of the forecastle, and all the men—showing the force of +example. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Smallsole came forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Damnation, Mr Biggs, what the devil are you about? Can't you move +here?" +</P> + +<P> +"As much as we can, sir," replied the boatswain, "lumbered as the +forecastle is with idlers." And here Mr Biggs looked at our hero and +Mesty, who were standing against the bulwark. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you doing here, sir?" cried Mr Smallsole to our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing at all, sir?" replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'll give you something to do, sir. Go up to the mast-head, and +wait there till I call you down. Come, sir, I'll show you the way," +continued the master, walking aft. Jack followed till they were on the +quarter-deck. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, sir, up to the main-top gallant mast-head; perch yourself upon +the cross-trees—up with you." +</P> + +<P> +"What am I to go up there for, sir?" inquired Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"For punishment, sir," replied the master. +</P> + +<P> +"What have I done, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"No reply, sir—up with you." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir," replied Jack, "I should wish to argue this point +a little." +</P> + +<P> +"Argue the point!" roared Mr Smallsole—"By Jove, I'll teach you to +argue the point—away with you, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir," continued Jack, "the captain told me that the +articles of war were the rules and regulations by which everyone in the +service was to be guided. Now, sir," said Jack, "I have read them over +till I know them by heart, and there is not one word of mastheading in +the whole of them." Here Jack took the articles out of his pocket, and +unfolded them. +</P> + +<P> +"Will you go to the mast-head, sir, or will you not?" said Mr +Smallsole. "Will you show me the mast-head in the articles of war, +sir?" replied Jack; "here they are." +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you, sir, to go to the mast-head: if not, I'll be d——d if I +don't hoist you up in a bread-bag." +</P> + +<P> +"There's nothing about bread-bags in the articles of war, sir," replied +Jack; "but I'll tell you what there is, sir"; and Jack commenced +reading,— +</P> + +<P> +"All flag-officers, and all persons in or belonging to his Majesty's +ships or vessels of war, being guilty of profane oaths, execrations, +drunkenness, uncleanness, or other scandalous actions, in derogation of +God's honour and corruption of good manners, shall incur such +punishment as—" +</P> + +<P> +"Damnation," cried the master, who was mad with rage, hearing that the +whole ship's company were laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir, not damnation," replied Jack, "that's when he's tried above; +but according to the nature and degree of the offence." +</P> + +<P> +"Will you go to the mast-head, sir, or will you not?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you please," replied Jack, "I'd rather not." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, sir, consider yourself under an arrest—I'll try you by a +court-martial, by God. Go down below, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"With the greatest pleasure, sir," replied Jack, "that's all right and +according to the articles of war, which are to guide us all." Jack +folded up his articles of war, put them into his pocket, and went down +into the berth. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after Jack had gone down, Jolliffe, who had heard the whole of the +altercation, followed him: "My lad," said Jolliffe, "I'm sorry for all +this; you should have gone to the mast-head." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to argue that point a little," replied Jack. "Yes, so +would everybody; but if that were permitted, the service would be at a +stand-still—that would not do;—you must obey an order first, and then +complain afterwards, if the order is unjust." +</P> + +<P> +"It is not so in the articles of war." +</P> + +<P> +"But it is so in the service." +</P> + +<P> +"The captain told me that the articles of war were the guides of the +service, and we were all equally bound to obey them." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, but allowing that, I do not think your articles of war will bear +you out. You observe, they say any officer, mariner, etc, guilty of +disobedience to any lawful command. Now are you not guilty under that +article?" +</P> + +<P> +"That remains to be argued still," replied Jack. "A lawful command +means an order established by law; now where is that law?—besides, the +captain told me when I kicked that blackguard down the hatchway, that +there was only the captain who could punish, and that officers could +not take the law into their own hands; why then has the master?" +</P> + +<P> +"His doing wrong as superior officer is no reason why you as an +inferior should disobey him. If that were permitted,—if every order +were to be cavilled at, and argued upon, as just or unjust, there would +be an end of all discipline. Besides, recollect that in the service +there is custom, which is the same as law." +</P> + +<P> +"That admits of a little argument," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"The service will admit of none, my dear boy: recollect that, even on +shore, we have two laws, that which is written, and the 'lex non +scripta,' which is custom; of course we have it in the service, for the +articles of war cannot provide for everything." +</P> + +<P> +"They provide a court-martial for everything though," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, with death or dismissal from the service—neither of which would +be very agreeable. You have got yourself into a scrape, and although +the captain is evidently your friend, he cannot overlook it: +fortunately, it is with the master, which is of less consequence than +with the other officers; but still you will have to submit, for the +captain cannot overlook it." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell you what, Jolliffe," replied Jack, "my eyes now begin to be +opened to a great many things. The captain tells me, when I am +astonished at bad language, that it is all zeal, and then I found out +that what is all zeal in a superior to an inferior, is insolence when +reversed. He tells me, that the articles of war are made to equally +guide us all—the master breaks what is positively mentioned in the +second article twenty times over, and goes scot free, while I am to be +punished because I do not comply with what the articles do not mention. +How was I to know that I ought to go to the mast-head for punishment? +particularly when the captain tells me that he alone is to punish in +the ship. If I obey an order in opposition to the captain's order, is +not that as bad as disobeying the captain? I think that I have made +out a very strong case, and my arguments are not to be confuted." +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid that the master will make out a very strong case, and that +your arguments will never be heard." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be contrary to all the rules of justice." "But according to +all the rules of service." +</P> + +<P> +"I do believe that I am a great fool," observed Jack, after a pause. +"What do you imagine made me come to sea, Jolliffe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because you did not know when you were well off," replied the mate, +drily. +</P> + +<P> +"That's true enough; but my reason was, because I thought I should find +that equality here that I could not find on shore." Jolliffe stared. +"My dear boy, I heard you say that you obtained those opinions from +your father; I mean no disrespect to him, but he must be either mad or +foolish, if at his age he has not discovered, that there is no such +thing in existence." +</P> + +<P> +"I begin to think so," replied Jack; "but that does not prove that +there ought not to be." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon; the very non-existence proves that it ought not to +be—'whatever is, is right', you might as well expect to find perfect +happiness or perfection in the individual. Your father must be a +visionary." +</P> + +<P> +"The best thing that I can do is to go home again." +</P> + +<P> +"No, my dear Easy, the best thing that you can do is, to stay in the +service, for it will soon put an end to all such nonsensical ideas; and +it will make you a clever, sensible fellow. The service is a rough, +but a good school, where everybody finds his level,—not the level of +equality, but the level which his natural talent and acquirements will +rise or sink him to, in proportion as they are plus or minus. It is a +noble service, but has its imperfections, as everything in this world +must have. I have little reason to speak in its favour, as far as I am +concerned, for it has been hard bread to me; but there must be +exceptions in every rule. Do not think of quitting the service until +you have given it a fair trial. I am aware that you are an only son, +and your father is a man of property, and, therefore, in the common +parlance of the world, you are independent; but, believe me, no man, +however rich, is independent, unless he has a profession, and you will +find no better than this, notwithstanding—" +</P> + +<P> +"What?" +</P> + +<P> +"That you will be, most certainly, sent to the mast-head to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll argue that point," replied Jack; "at all events, I will go and +turn in to-night." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero begins to act and think for himself. +</H4> + +<P> +Whatever may have been Jack's thoughts, at all events they did not +spoil his rest. He possessed in himself all the materials of a true +philosopher, but there was a great deal of weeding still required. +Joliffe's arguments, sensible as they were, had very little effect upon +him; for, strange to say, it is much more easy to shake a man's +opinions when he is wrong, than when he is right; proving that we are +all of a very perverse nature. "Well," thought Jack, "if I am to go to +the mast-head, I am, that's all; but it does not prove that my +arguments are not good, only that they will not be listened to"; and +then Jack shut his eyes, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. +</P> + +<P> +The master had reported to the first lieutenant, and the first +lieutenant to the captain, when he came on board the next morning, the +conduct of Mr Easy, who was sent for in the cabin, to hear if he had +anything to offer in extenuation of his offence. Jack made an oration, +which lasted more than half an hour, in which all the arguments he had +brought forward to Jolliffe in the preceding chapter were entered fully +into. Mr Jolliffe was then examined, and also Mr Smallsole was +interrogated: after which the captain and the first lieutenant were +left alone. +</P> + +<P> +"Sawbridge," said Captain Wilson, "How true it is that any deviation +from what is right invariably leads us into a scrape. I have done +wrong: wishing to get this boy out of his father's hands, and fearful +that he would not join the ship, and imagining him to be by no means +the shrewd fellow that he is in reality, I represented the service in a +much more favourable light than I should have done; all that he says I +told him I did tell him, and it is I who really led the boy into error. +Mr Smallsole has behaved tyrannically and unjustly; he punished the lad +for no crime; so that between the master and me, I am now on the horns +of a dilemma. If I punish the boy, I feel that I am punishing him more +for my own fault and the fault of others, than his own. If I do not +punish him, I allow a flagrant and open violation of discipline to pass +uncensured, which will be injurious to the service." +</P> + +<P> +"He must be punished, sir," replied Sawbridge. +</P> + +<P> +"Send for him," said the captain. +</P> + +<P> +Jack made his appearance, with a very polite bow. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy, as you suppose that the articles of war contained all the +rules and regulations of the service, I take it for granted that you +have erred through ignorance. But recollect, that although you have +erred through ignorance, such a violation of discipline, if passed +unnoticed, will have a very injurious effect with the men, whose +obedience is enforced by the example shown to them by the officers. I +feel so convinced of your zeal, which you showed the other day in the +case of Easthupp, that I am sure you will see the propriety of my +proving to the men, by punishing you, that discipline must be enforced, +and I shall therefore send for you on the quarter-deck, and order you +to go to the mast-head in presence of the ship's company, as it was in +presence of the ship's company that you refused." +</P> + +<P> +"With the greatest pleasure, Captain Wilson," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"And in future, Mr Easy, although I shall ever set my face against it, +recollect that if any officer punishes you, and you imagine that you +are unfairly treated, you will submit to the punishment, and then apply +to me for redress." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, sir," replied Jack, "now that I am aware of your wishes." +</P> + +<P> +"You will oblige me, Mr Easy, by going on the quarter-deck, and wait +there till I come up." Jack made his best bow, and exit. +</P> + +<P> +"Old Jolliffe told me that I should have to go," said Jack to himself, +"and he was right, so far; but hang me if I hadn't the best of the +argument, and that's all I care about." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson sent for the master, and reprimanded him for his +oppression, as it was evident that there was no ground for punishment, +and he forbade him ever to mast-head another midshipman, but to report +his conduct to the first lieutenant or himself. He then proceeded to +the quarter-deck, and, calling for Mr Easy, gave him what appeared to +be a very severe reprimand, which Jack looked upon very quietly, +because it was all zeal on the captain's part to give it, and all zeal +on his own to take it. Our hero was then ordered up to the mast-head. +</P> + +<P> +Jack took off his hat, and took three or four steps, in obedience to +the order—and then returned and made his best bow—inquired of Captain +Wilson whether he wished him to go to the fore or to the mainmast head. +</P> + +<P> +"To the main, Mr Easy," replied the captain, biting his lips. Jack +ascended three spokes of the Jacob's ladder, when he again stopped, and +took off his hat. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon, Captain Wilson-you have not informed me whether it +was your wish that I should go to the topmast, or the top-gallant +cross-trees." +</P> + +<P> +"To the top-gallant cross-trees, Mr Easy," replied the captain. +</P> + +<P> +Jack ascended, taking it very easy; he stopped at the main-top for +breath; at the main-topmast head, to look about him; and, at last, +gained the spot agreed upon, where he seated himself, and, taking out +the articles of war, commenced them again to ascertain whether he could +not have strengthened his arguments. He had not, however, read through +the seventh article before the hands were turned up—"Up anchor!" and +Mr Sawbridge called, "All hands down from aloft!" Jack took the hint, +folded up his documents, and came down as leisurely as he went up. +Jack was a much better philosopher than his father. +</P> + +<P> +The Harpy was soon under way, and made all sail, steering for Cape de +Catte, where Captain Wilson hoped to pick up a Spanish vessel or two, +on his way to Toulon to receive orders of the Admiral. +</P> + +<P> +A succession of light breezes and calms rendered the passage very +tedious; but the boats were constantly out, chasing the vessels along +shore, and Jack usually asked to be employed on this service; indeed, +although so short a time afloat, he was, from his age and strength, one +of the most effective midshipmen, and to be trusted, provided a whim +did not come into his head; but hitherto Jack had always been under +orders, and had always acquitted himself very well. +</P> + +<P> +When the Harpy was at Tarragona, it so happened that there were several +cases of dysentery in the ship, and Mr Asper and Mr Jolliffe were two +of those who were suffering. This reduced the number of officers; and, +at the same time, they had received information from the men of a +fishing-boat, who, to obtain their own release, had given the +intelligence, that a small convoy was coming down from Rosas as soon as +the wind was fair, under the protection of two gun-boats. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson kept well off-shore until the wind changed, and then, +allowing for the time that the vessels would take to run down the +distance between Tarragona and Rosas, steered in the night to intercept +them; but it again fell calm, and the boats were therefore hoisted out, +with directions to proceed along the shore, as it was supposed that the +vessels could not now be far distant. Mr Sawbridge had the command of +the expedition in the pinnace; the first cutter was in charge of the +gunner, Mr Linus; and, as the other officers were sick, Mr Sawbridge, +who liked Jack more and more every day, at his particular request gave +him the command of the second cutter. As soon as he heard of it, Mesty +declared to our hero that he would go with him; but without permission +that was not possible. Jack obtained leave for Mesty to go in lieu of +a marine; there were many men sick of the dysentery, and Mr Sawbridge +was not sorry to take an idler out of the ship instead of a working +man, especially as Mesty was known to be a good hand. +</P> + +<P> +It was ten o'clock at night when the boats quitted the ship; and, as it +was possible that they might not return till late the next day, one +day's biscuit and rum were put on board each, that the crews might not +suffer from exhaustion. The boats pulled in-shore, and then coasted +for three hours without seeing anything: the night was fine overhead, +but there was no moon. It still continued calm, and the men began to +feel fatigued, when, just as they were within a mile of a low point, +they perceived the convoy over the land, coming down with their sails +squared, before a light breeze. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Sawbridge immediately ordered the boats to lie upon their oars, +awaiting their coming, and arranging for the attack. +</P> + +<P> +The white lateen sails of the gun-boat in advance were now plainly +distinguishable from the rest, which were all huddled together in her +wake. Down she came like a beautiful swan in the water, her sails just +filled with the wind, and running about three knots an hour. Mr +Sawbridge kept her three masts in one, that they might not be +perceived, and winded the boats with their heads the same way, so that +they might dash on board of her with a few strokes of the oars. So +favourable was the course of the gun-boat, that she stood right between +the launch on one bow, and the two cutters on the other; and they were +not perceived until they were actually alongside; the resistance was +trifling, but some muskets and pistols had been fired, and the alarm +was given. Mr Sawbridge took possession, with the crew of the launch, +and brought the vessel to the wind, as he perceived that at the alarm +all the convoy had done the same, directing the cutters to board the +largest vessels, and secure as many as they could, while he would do +the same with the launch, as he brought them to: but the other +gun-boat, which had not yet been seen, and had been forgotten, now made +her appearance, and came down in a gallant manner to the support of her +comrade. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Sawbridge threw half his men into the launch, as she carried a heavy +carronade, and sent her to assist the cutters, which had made right for +the gun-boat. A smart firing of round and grape was opened upon the +boats, which continued to advance upon her; but the officer commanding +that gun-boat, finding that he had no support from his consort, and +concluding that she had been captured, hauled his wind again, and stood +out in the offing. Our hero pulled after her, although he could not +see the other boats; but the breeze had freshened, and all pursuit was +useless: he therefore directed his course to the convoy, and after a +hard pull, contrived to get on board of a one-masted xebeque, of about +fifty tons. Mesty, who had eyes as sharp as a needle, had observed +that, when the alarm was given, several of the convoy had not rounded +the point, and he therefore proposed, as this vessel was very light, +that they should make short tacks with her, to weather the point, as if +they were escaping, and by that means be able, particularly if it fell +calm again, to capture some others. Jack thought this advice good. The +convoy who had rounded the point had all stood out to seaward with the +gun-boat, and had now a fresh breeze. To chase them was therefore +useless; and the only chance was to do as Mesty had proposed. He +therefore stood out into the breeze, and, after half an hour, tacked +in-shore, and fetched well to windward of the low point; but, finding +no vessels, he stood out again. Thus had he made three or four tacks, +and had gained, perhaps, six or seven miles, when he perceived signals +of recall made to leeward, enforced with guns. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Sawbridge wants us to come back, Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Sawbridge mind him own business," replied Mesty, "we nebber take +all dis trubble to ply to windward for noting." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Mesty, we must obey orders." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sar, when he have him thumb upon you; but now, must do what tink +most proper. By de powers, he catch me 'fore I go back." +</P> + +<P> +"But we shall lose the ship." +</P> + +<P> +"Find her again, by-and-bye, Massa Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"But they will think that we are lost." +</P> + +<P> +"So much the better, nebba look after us, Massa Easy; I guess we have a +fine cruise anyhow. Morrow we take large vessel—make sail, take more, +den we go to Toulon." +</P> + +<P> +"But I don't know my way to Toulon; I know it lies up this way, and +that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat enough, what you want more? Massa Easy, 'pose you not find fleet, +fleet soon find you. By God, nobody nebba lost here. Now, Massa Easy, +let um go 'bout 'gain. Somebody else burn biscuit and boil kettle +to-morrow for de gentlemen. Murder Irish! only tink, Massa Easy—I +boil kettle, and prince in my own country!" +</P> + +<P> +Easy was very much of a mind with Mesty; "for," argued Jack, "if I go +back now, I only bring a small vessel half-full of beans, and I shall +be ashamed to show my face. Now it is true, that they may suppose that +we have been sunk by the fire of the gun-boat. Well, what then? they +have a gun-boat to show for their night's work, and it will appear that +there was harder fighting than there has been, and Mr Sawbridge may +benefit by it." (Jack was a very knowing fellow to have leant so much +about the service already.) "Well, and when they discover that we are +not lost, how glad they will be to find us, especially if we bring some +prizes—which I will do, or I'll not go back again. It's not often +that one gets a command before being two months at sea, and, hang me, +now I've got it if I won't keep it; and Mr Smallsole may mast-head whom +he pleases. I'm sorry for poor Gossett, though; if Vigors supposes me +dead, how he will murder the poor little fellow—however, it is all for +the good of the service, and I'll revenge him when I come back. Hang +me if I won't take a cruise." +</P> + +<P> +"I talk to the men, they say they all tick to you like leech. Now dat +job settled, I tink we better go 'bout again." +</P> + +<P> +A short time after this decision on the part of our hero, the day +broke: Jack first looked to leeward, and perceived the gun-boat and +convoy standing in for the shore about ten miles distant, followed by +the Harpy, under all sail. He could also perceive the captured +gun-boat lying-to in-shore to prevent their escape. +</P> + +<P> +"Harpy hab um all, by Gosh!" cried Mesty; "I ab notion dat she soon +settle um hash." +</P> + +<P> +They were so busy looking at the Harpy and the convoy that, for some +time, they quite forgot to look to windward. At last Mesty turned his +eyes that way. +</P> + +<P> +"Dam um, I see right last night; look, Massa Easy—one ship, one brig, +tree lateen—dem for us. By de power, but we make bot prize to-night." +</P> + +<P> +The vessels found out by Mesty were not above three miles to windward; +they were under all sail, beating up for the protection of a battery, +not far distant. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Massa, suppose they see our boat, dey tink something; keep boat +alongside, and shift her when we go 'bout every time: better not sail +so fast now—keep further off till they drop anchor for de night; and +den, when it dark, we take 'em." +</P> + +<P> +All Mesty's advice was good, with the exception perhaps of advising our +hero how to disobey orders and take a cruise. To prevent the vessel +from approaching too near the others, and at the same time to let her +have the appearance of doing her best, a sail was towed overboard under +the bows, and after that they watched the motions of the Harpy. +</P> + +<P> +The distance was too great to distinguish very clearly, but Mesty +shinned up the mast of the vessel, and reported progress. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jesus, dare one gun—two gun—go it, Harpy. Won't she ab um, sure +enough. Now gun-boat fire—dat our gun-boat—no, dat not ours. Now our +gun-boat fire—dat pretty—fire away. Ah, now de Harpy cum up. +All'mung'em. Bung, bung, bung—rattle de grape, by gosh. I ab notion +de Spaniard is very pretty considerable trouble just now, anyhow. All +hove-to, so help me gosh—not more firing; Harpy take um all—dare +gun-boat hove-to, she strike um colours. By all powers, but suppose +dey link we no share prize-money—they find it not little mistake. Now, +my lads, it all over, and," continued Mesty, sliding down the mast, "I +tink you better not show yourself too much; only two men stay on deck, +and dem two take off um jackets." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty's report was correct; the Harpy had captured the other gun-boat, +and the whole convoy. The only drawback to their good fortune was the +disappearance of Mr Easy and the cutter: it was supposed that a shot +from the gun-boat must have sunk her, and that the whole crew were +drowned. Captain Wilson and Mr Sawbridge seriously regretted the loss +of our hero, as they thought that he would have turned out a shining +character as soon as he had sown his wild oats; so did Mr Asper, +because our hero's purse went with him; so did Jolliffe, because he had +taken an affection for him; so did little Gossett, because he +anticipated no mercy from Vigors. On the other hand, there were some +who were glad that he was gone; and as for the ship's company in +general, they lamented the loss of the poor cutter's crew for +twenty-four hours, which, in a man-of-war, is a very long while, and +then they thought no more about them. We must leave the Harpy to make +the best of her way to Toulon, and now follow our hero. +</P> + +<P> +The cutter's crew knew very well that Jack was acting contrary to +orders, but anything was to them a change from the monotony of a +man-of-war, and they, as well as Mesty, highly approved of a holiday. +</P> + +<P> +It was, however, necessary that they should soon proceed to business, +for they had but their allowance of bread and grog for one day, and in +the vessel they found nothing except a few heads of garlic, for the +Spaniards coasting down shore had purchased their provisions as they +required them. There were only three prisoners on board, and they had +been put down in the hold among the beans; a bag of which had been +roused on deck, and a part put into the kettle to make soup. Jack did +not much admire the fare of the first day—it was bean-soup for +breakfast, bean-soup for dinner, and if you felt hungry during the +intervals it was still bean-soup, and nothing else. +</P> + +<P> +One of the men could speak a little Lingua Franca, and the prisoners +were interrogated as to the vessels to windward. The ship was stated +to be valuable, and also one of the brigs. The ship carried guns, and +that was all that they knew about them. As the sun went down the +vessels dropped their anchors off the battery. The breeze continued +light, and the vessel which contained Jack and his fortunes was about +four miles to leeward. As for the Harpy, they had long lost sight of +her, and it was now time to proceed to some arrangement. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as it was dark, Jack turned his hands up, and made a very long +speech. He pointed out to the men that his zeal had induced him not to +return to the ship until he had brought something with him worth +having—that they had had nothing but beans to eat during the whole +day, which was anything but agreeable, and that, therefore, it was +absolutely necessary that they should better their condition: that +there was a large ship not four miles off, and that he intended to take +her; and as soon as he had taken her he intended to take some more; +that he trusted to their zeal to support him on this occasion, and that +he expected to do a great deal during the cruise. He pointed out to +them, that they must consider themselves as on board of a man-of-war, +and be guided by the articles of war, which were written for them +all—and that in case they forgot them, he had a copy in his pocket, +which he would read to them to-morrow morning, as soon as they were +comfortably settled on board of the ship. He then appointed Mesty as +first lieutenant; the marine as sergeant; the coxswain as boatswain; +two men as midshipmen to keep watch; two others as boatswain's mates, +leaving two more for the ship's company, who were divided into the +larboard and starboard watch. The cutter's crew were perfectly content +with Jack's speech, and their brevet rank, and after that, they +commenced a more important topic, which was, how they were to take the +ship. After some discussion, Mesty's advice was approved of; which was, +that they should anchor not far ahead of the ship, and wait till about +two o'clock in the morning, when they would drop silently down upon her +in the cutter, and take possession. +</P> + +<P> +About nine o'clock the vessel was anchored as they proposed, and Jack +was a little astonished to find that the ship was much larger than he +had any idea of; for, although polacca-rigged, she was nearly the same +tonnage as the Harpy. The Spanish prisoners were first tied hand and +foot, and laid upon the beans, that they might give no alarm, the sails +were furled and all was kept quiet. On board of the ship, on the +contrary, there was noise and revelry; and about half-past ten a boat +was seen to leave her and pull for the shore; after which, the noise +gradually ceased, the lights one by one disappeared, and then all was +silent. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you think, Mesty?" said Jack; "do you think we shall take her?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is take her you mane; sure enough we'll take her: stop a bit—wait +till um all fast asleep." +</P> + +<P> +About twelve o'clock there came on a mizzling heavy rain, which was +very favourable for our hero's operations. But as it promised soon to +clear up, by Mesty's advice they did not delay any longer. They crept +softly into the boat, and with two oars to steer her, dropped under the +bows of the vessel, climbed up the fore chains, and found the deck +empty. "Take care not fire pistol," said Mesty to the men, as they +came up, putting his finger to their lips to impress them with the +necessity of silence, for Mesty had been an African warrior, and knew +the advantage of surprise. All the men being on deck, and the boat +made fast, Jack and Mesty led the way aft; not a soul was to be seen: +indeed, it was too dark to see anybody unless they were walking the +deck. The companion-hatch was secured, and the gratings laid on the +after-hatchways, and then they went aft to the binnacle again, where +there was a light burning. Mesty ordered two of the men to go forward +to secure the hatches, and then to remain there on guard—and then the +rest of the men and our hero consulted at the wheel. +</P> + +<P> +"By the power we ab the ship!" said Mesty, "but must manage plenty yet. +I tink der some d—n lazy rascal sleep 'tween the guns. A lilly while +it no rain, and den we see better. Now keep all quiet." +</P> + +<P> +"There must be a great many men in this ship," replied our hero; "she +is very large, and has twelve or fourteen guns—how shall we manage to +secure them?" +</P> + +<P> +"All right," replied Mesty, "manage all dat by-and-bye. Don't care how +soon daylight come." +</P> + +<P> +"It has left off raining already," observed Easy; "there is a candle in +the binnacle,—suppose we light it, and look round the decks." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Mesty, "one man sentry over cabin-hatch, and another +over after-hatch. Now den we light candle, and all the rest go round +the deck. Mind you leave all your pistols on capstern." +</P> + +<P> +Jack lighted the candle, and they proceeded round the decks: they had +not walked far, when, between two of the guns, they discovered a heap +covered with gregos. "There de watch," whispered Mesty; "all fast—not +ready for dem yet." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty blew out the candle, and they all retreated to the binnacle, +where Mesty took out a coil of the ropes about the mizzen-mast, and +cutting it into lengths, gave them to the other men to unlay. In a few +minutes they had prepared a great many seizings to tie the men with. +</P> + +<P> +"Now den we light candle again, and make sure of them lazy hounds," +said Mesty; "very much oblige to dem all de same, they let us take de +ship—mind now, wake one at a time, and shut him mouth." +</P> + +<P> +"But suppose they get their mouths free and cry out?" replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Den, Mr Easy," replied Mesty, changing his countenance to an +expression almost demoniacal—"there no help for it,"—and Mesty showed +his knife which he held in his right hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh no! do not let us murder them." +</P> + +<P> +"No, massa—suppose can help it, but suppose they get upper hand—what +become of us? Spaniards hab knives, and use dem too, by de power!" +</P> + +<P> +The observation of Mesty was correct, and the expression of his +countenance when he showed his knife proved what a relentless enemy he +could be, if his blood was once roused—but Mesty had figured in the +Ashantee wars in former days, and after that the reader need not be +surprised. They proceeded cautiously to where the Spaniards lay. The +arrangements of Mesty were very good. There were two men to gag them +while the others were to tie their limbs. Mesty and Easy were to kneel +by them with the candle, with raised knives to awe them into silence, +or to strike home, if their own safety required it. +</P> + +<P> +The gregos were removed off the first man, who opened his eyes at the +sight of the candle, but the coxswain's hand was on his mouth—he was +secured in silence. The other two men were awaked, and threw off their +coverings, but they were also secured without there being occasion to +resort to bloodshed. +</P> + +<P> +"What shall we do now, Mesty?" "Now, sar," said Mesty, "open the +after-hatch and watch—suppose more men come up, we make them fast; +suppose no more come up, we wait till daylight—and see what take +place." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty then went forward to see if the men were watchful on the +forecastle; and having again gone round the whole of the deck to see if +there were any more men on it, he blew out the candle, and took his +station with the others at the after-hatchway. +</P> + +<P> +It was just at break of day that the Spaniards who had to keep the +morning watch having woke up, as people generally do at that hour at +which they expect to be called, dressed themselves and came on deck, +imagining, and very truly, that those of the middle watch had fallen +asleep, but little imagining that the deck was in possession of +Englishmen. Mesty and the others retreated, to allow them all to come +up before they could perceive them, and fortunately this was +accomplished. Four men came on the deck, looked round them, and tried +to make out in the dark where their shipmates might be. The grating +was slapped on again by Jack, and before they could well gain their +eyesight, they were seized and secured, not however without a scuffle +and some noise. +</P> + +<P> +By the time that these men were secured and laid between the guns it +was daylight, and they now perceived what a fine vessel they had fairly +taken possession of—but there was much to be done yet. There was, of +course, a number of men in the ship, and moreover they were not a mile +from a battery of ten guns. Mesty, who was foremost in everything, +left four men abaft, and went forward on the forecastle, examined the +cable, which was coir rope, and therefore easily divided, and then +directed the two men forward to coil a hawser upon the fore-grating, +the weight of which would make all safe in that quarter, and afterwards +to join them on the quarter-deck. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Mr Easy, the great ting will be to get hold of captain; we must +get him on deck. Open cabin-hatch now, and keep the after-hatch fast. +Two men stay there, the others all come aft." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Jack, "It will be a great point to secure the +captain—but how are we to get him up?" +</P> + +<P> +"You no know how to get captain up? By de holy, I know very well." And +Mesty took up the coils of rope about the mizzen-mast, and threw them +upon deck, one after another, making all the noise possible. In a short +time, there was a violent pull of a bell at the cabin-door, and in a +minute afterwards a man in his shirt came up the cabin-hatchway, who +was immediately secured. +</P> + +<P> +"Dis de captain's servant," said Mesty, "he come say no make such +d——d noise. Stop a little—captain get in passion, and come up +himself." +</P> + +<P> +And Mesty renewed the noise with the ropes over the cabin. Mesty was +right; in a few minutes the captain himself came up, boiling with +indignation. At the sound of the cabin-door opening, the seamen and +our hero concealed themselves behind the companion-hatch, which was +very high, so as to give the captain time to get fairly on deck. The +men already secured had been covered over with the gregos. The captain +was a most powerful man, and it was with difficulty that he was +pinioned, and then not without his giving the alarm, had there been +anyone to assist him; but as yet no one had turned out of his hammock. +</P> + +<P> +"Now we all right," said Mesty, "and soon ab de ship; but I must make +him 'fraid." +</P> + +<P> +The captain was seated down on the deck against one of the guns, and +Mesty, putting on the look of a demon, extended above him his, long +nervous arm, with the sharp knife clutched, as if ready every instant +to strike it into his heart. The Spanish captain felt his situation +anything but pleasant. He was then interrogated as to the number of +men in the ship, officers, etc, to all which questions he answered +truly; he cast his eyes at the firm and relentless countenance of +Mesty, who appeared but to wait the signal. +</P> + +<P> +"I tink all pretty safe now," said Mesty. "Mr Easy, we now go down +below and beat all men into the hold." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero approved of this suggestion. Taking their pistols from the +capstern, they rushed down with their cutlasses, and leaving two men to +guard the cabin-door, they were soon among the crew, who were all naked +in their hammocks: the resistance, although the numbers were more than +double of the English, was of course trifling. In a few minutes, the +Spaniards were all thrown down into the hold of the vessel, and the +hatches placed over them. Every part of the ship was now in their +possession, except the cabin, and to that they all repaired. Our hero +tried the door, and found it fast; they beat it open, and were received +with loud screams from one side of the cabin, and the discharge of two +pistols from the other, fortunately without injury: those who had fired +the pistols were an elderly man and a lad about the age of our hero. +They were thrown down and secured; the cabin was searched, and nobody +else found in it but three women; one old and shrivelled, the other +two, although with their countenances distorted with terror, were +lovely as houris. So thought Jack, as he took off his hat, and made +them a very low bow with his usual politeness, as they crouched, +half-dressed, in a corner. He told them in English that they had +nothing to fear, and begged that they would attend to their toilets. +The ladies made no reply, because, in the first place, they did not +know what Jack said, and, in the next, they could not speak English. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty interrupted Jack in his attentions, by pointing out that they +must all go upon deck—so Jack again took off his hat and bowed, and +then followed his men, who led away the two prisoners taken in the +cabin. It was now five o'clock in the morning, and there was movement +on board of the other vessels, which laid not far from the ship. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then," said Jack, "what shall we do with the prisoners?—could we +not send the boat and bring our own vessel alongside, and put them all +in, tied as they are? We should then get rid of them." +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, you be one very fine officer one of these days. Dat d—n +good idea, anyhow;—but suppose we send our own boat, what they tink on +board of de oder vessel? Lower down lilly boat from stem, put in four +men, and drop vessel 'longside—dat it." +</P> + +<P> +This was done; the cutter was on the seaward side of the ship, and, as +the ship was the outermost vessel, was concealed from the view of the +Spaniards on board of the other vessels, and in the battery on shore. +As soon as the lateen vessel was alongside, the men who had already +been secured on deck, amounting to seven, were lowered into her, and +laid upon the beans in the hold; all except the captain, the two +cabin-prisoners, and the captain's servant. They then went down below, +took off one part of the hatches, and ordered the Spaniards up from the +hold: as they came on deck they were made fast and treated in the same +manner. Mesty and the men went down to examine if there were any left +concealed, and finding that they were all out, returned on deck. The +men who had been beaten down in the hold were twenty-two in number, +making the whole complement of thirty. As soon as they had all been +put into the xebeque, she was again hauled off and anchored outside, +and Jack found himself in possession of a fine ship of fourteen guns, +with three prisoners male and three prisoners female. +</P> + +<P> +When the men returned in the boat from the vessel in which the +prisoners had been confined (the hatches having been secured over them, +by way of further precaution), by the advice of Mesty they put on the +jackets and caps of the Spanish seamen, of which there was a plentiful +supply below. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, what's to be done, Mesty?" inquired Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, sar, we send some of the men aloft to get sails all ready, and +while they do that I cast loose this fellow," pointing to the captain's +servant, "and make him get some breakfast, for he know where to find +it." +</P> + +<P> +"Capital idea of yours, Mesty, for I'm tired of bean-soup already, and +I will go down and pay my respects to the ladies." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty looked over the counter. "Yes, and be quick too, Massa Easy; d—n +the women, they toss their handkerchief in the air to people in the +battery—quick, Massa Easy." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty was right—the Spanish girls were waving their handkerchiefs for +assistance; it was all that they could do, poor things. Jack hastened +into the cabin, laid hold of the two young ladies, very politely pulled +them out of the quarter gallery, and begged that they would not give +themselves so much trouble. The young ladies looked very much +confused, and as they could no longer wave their handkerchiefs, they +put them up to their eyes and began to weep, while the elderly lady +went on her knees, and held her hands up for mercy. Jack raised her +up, and very politely handed her to one of the cabin lockers. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime Mesty, with his gleaming knife and expressive look, had +done wonders with the captain's steward, for such the man was: and a +breakfast of chocolate, salt meat, hams and sausages, white biscuit and +red wine, had been spread on the quarter-deck. The men had come from +aloft, and Jack was summoned on deck. Jack offered his hand to the two +young ladies, and beckoned the old one to follow: the old lady did not +think it advisable to refuse his courtesy, so they accompanied him. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the females came on deck, and found the two cabin prisoners +bound, they ran to them and embraced them with tears. Jack's heart +melted, and as there was now no fear, he asked Mesty for his knife, and +cut loose the two Spaniards, pointing to the breakfast, and requesting +that they would join them. The Spaniards made a bow, and the ladies +thanked Jack with a sweet smile; and the captain of the vessel, who +still lay pinioned against the gun, looked, as much as to say, Why the +devil don't you ask me? but the fact was, they had had such trouble to +secure him, that Jack did not much like the idea of letting him loose +again. Jack and the seamen commenced their breakfast, and as the +ladies and prisoners did not appear inclined to eat, they ate their +share and their own too; during which, the elderly man inquired of Jack +if he could speak French. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, with his mouth full of sausage, replied, that he could; and then +commenced a conversation, from which Jack learnt as follows: +</P> + +<P> +The elderly gentleman was a passenger with the young man, who was his +son, and the ladies, who were his wife and his two daughters, and they +were proceeding to Tarragona. Whereupon Jack made a bow and thanked +him; and then the gentleman, whose name was Don Cordova de Rimarosa, +wished to know what Jack intended to do with them, hoping, as a +gentleman, he would put them on shore with their effects, as they were +non-combatants. Jack explained all this to Mesty and the men, and then +finished his sausage. The men, who were a little elevated with the +wine which they had been drinking, proposed that they should take the +ladies a cruise, and Jack at first did not dislike the idea, but he +said nothing. Mesty, however, opposed this, saying, that ladies only +made a row in a ship, and the coxswain sided with him, saying, that +they should all be at daggers drawn. Whereupon Jack pulled out the +"articles of war," and informed the men, that there was no provision in +them for women, and therefore the thing was impossible. +</P> + +<P> +The next question was, as to the propriety of allowing them to take +their effects; and it was agreed, at last, that they might take them. +Jack desired the steward to feed his master the captain, and then told +the Spanish Don the result of the consultation, further informing him, +that as soon as it was dark, he intended to put them all on board the +small vessel, when they would cast loose the men and do as they +pleased. The Don and the ladies returned thanks, and went down to pack +up their baggage; Mesty ordering two men to help them, but with a +caution, that they were not to encumber themselves with any of the +money, if there should happen to be any on board. +</P> + +<P> +The crew were busy during the day making preparations for sailing. The +coxswain had examined the provender in the ship, and found that there +was enough for at least three months, of water, wine, and provisions, +independent of luxuries for the cabin. All thoughts of taking any more +of the vessels were abandoned, for their crew was but weak to manage +the one which they had possession of. A fine breeze sprang up, and +they dropped their fore-topsails, just as a boat was shoving off from +the shore; but seeing the fore-topsails loosed, it put back again. +This was fortunate, or all would have been discovered. The other +vessels also loosed their sails, and the crews were heard weighing the +anchors. +</P> + +<P> +But the Nostra Senora del Carmen, which was Jack's prize, did not move. +At last the sun went down, the baggage was placed in the cutter, the +ladies and passengers went into the boat, thanking Jack for his +kindness, who put his hand to his heart and bowed to the deck; and the +captain was lowered down after them. Four men well armed pulled them +alongside of the xebeque, put them and their trunks on deck, and +returned to the ship. The cutter was then hoisted up, and as the +anchor was too heavy to weigh, they cut the cable, and made sail. The +other vessels followed their example. Mesty and the seamen cast longing +eyes upon them, but it was of no use; so they sailed in company for +about an hour, and then Jack hauled his wind for a cruise. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero finds that disagreeable occurrences <BR> +will take place on a cruise. +</H4> + +<P> +As soon as the ship had been hauled to the wind, Jack's ship's company +seemed to think that there was nothing to do except to make merry; so +they brought up some earthen jars full of wine, and emptied them so +fast that they were soon fast asleep on the deck, with the exception of +the man at the helm, who, instead of thirty-two, could clearly make out +sixty-four points in the compass, and of course was able to steer to a +much greater nicety. Fortunately, the weather was fine, for when the +man at the helm had steered till he could see no more, and requested to +be released, he found that his shipmates were so overpowered with +fatigue, that it was impossible to wake them. He kicked them one by +one most unmercifully in the ribs, but it was of no use: under these +circumstances, he did as they did, that is, lay down with them, and in +ten minutes it would have taken as much kicking to awake him as he gave +his shipmates. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime the ship had it all her own way, and not knowing where +she was to go, she went round and round the compass during the best +part of the night. Mesty had arranged the watches, Jack had made a +speech, and the men had promised everything, but the wine had got into +their heads, and memory had taken that opportunity to take a stroll. +Mesty had been down with Jack, examining the cabin, and in the +captain's state-room they had found fourteen thousand dollars in bags. +Of this they determined not to tell the men, but locked up the money +and everything else of value, and took out the key. They then sat down +at the cabin table, and after some conversation, it was no matter of +surprise, after having been up all the night before, that Jack laid his +head on the table and fell fast asleep. Mesty kept his eyes open for +some time, but at last his head sank down upon his chest, and he also +slumbered. Thus, about one o'clock in the morning. There was not a +very good watch kept on board of the Nostra Senora del Carmen. +</P> + +<P> +About four o'clock in the morning, Mesty tumbled forward, and he hit +his head against the table, which roused him up. +</P> + +<P> +"By de mass, I tink I almost fall asleep," cried he, and he went to the +cabin window, which had been left open, and found that there was a +strong breeze blowing in. "By de Lord, de wind ab come more aft," said +Mesty, "why they not tell me?" So saying, he went on deck, where he +found no one at the helm; everyone drunk, and the ship with her yards +braced up running before the wind, just by way of a change. Mesty +growled, but there was no time to lose; the topsails only were +set,—these he lowered down, and then put the helm a-lee, and lashed +it, while he went down to call our hero to his assistance. Jack roused +up, and went on deck. +</P> + +<P> +"This nebber do, Massa Easy; we all go to devil together—together—dam +drunken dogs—I freshen um up anyhow." So Mesty drew some buckets of +water, with which he soused the ship's company, who then appeared to be +recovering their senses. +</P> + +<P> +"By heavens!" says Jack, "but this is contrary to the articles of war; +I shall read them to them to-morrow morning." +</P> + +<P> +"I tell what better ting, Massa Easy: we go lock up all de wine, and +sarve out so much, and no more. I go do it at once, 'fore they wake +up." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty went down, leaving Jack on deck to his meditations. "I am not +sure," thought Jack, "that I have done a very wise thing. Here I am +with a parcel of fellows who have no respect for the articles of war, +and who get as drunk as David's sow. I have a large ship, but I have +very few hands; and if it comes on bad weather, what shall I do?—for I +know very little—hardly how to take in a sail. Then—as for where to +steer, or how to steer, I know not—nor do any of my men; but, however, +as it was very narrow when we came into the Mediterranean through the +straits, it is hardly possible to get out of them without perceiving +it; besides, I should know the rock of Gibraltar again if I saw it. I +must talk to Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty soon returned with the keys of the provision-room tied to his +bandana. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," says he, "they not get drunk again in a hurry." A few more +buckets of water soon brought the men to their senses: they again stood +on their legs, and gradually recovered themselves. Daylight broke, and +they found that the vessel had made an attempt for the Spanish coast, +being within a mile of the beach, and facing a large battery a fleur +d'eau; fortunately they had time to square the yards, and steer the +ship along shore under the topsails, before they were perceived. Had +they been seen at daylight in the position that they were in during the +night, the suspicions of the Spaniards would have been awakened; and +had a boat been sent off, while they were all drunk, they must have +been recaptured. +</P> + +<P> +The men, who perceived what danger they had been in, listened very +penitently to Jack's remonstrances; and our hero, to impress them more +strongly on their minds, took out the articles of war, read that on +drunkenness from beginning to end; but the men had heard it read so +often at the gangway, that it did not make a due impression. As Mesty +said, his plan was better, and so it proved; for as soon as Jack had +done, the men went down to get another jug of wine, and found, to their +disappointment, that it was all under lock and key. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime, Jack called Mesty aft, and asked him if he knew the +way to Toulon. Mesty declared that he knew nothing about it. +</P> + +<P> +"Then Mesty, it appears to me that we have a better chance of finding +our way back to Gibraltar; for you know the land was on our left side +all the way coming up the Mediterranean; and if we keep it, as it is +now, on our right, we shall get back again along the coast." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty agreed with Jack that this was the ne plus ultra of navigation; +and that old Smallsole could not do better with his "pig-yoke" and +compasses. So they shook a reef out of the topsails, set top-gallant +sails, and ran directly down the coast from point to point, keeping +about five miles distant. The men prepared a good dinner; Mesty gave +them their allowance of wine, which was just double what they had on +board the Harpy—so they soon appeared to be content. One man, indeed, +talked very big and very mutinously, swearing that if the others would +join him they would soon have liquor enough; but Mesty gave him his +look, opened his knife, and swore that he would settle him, and Jack +knocked him down with a handspike; so that, what with the punishment +received, and that which was promised, the fellow thought he might as +well say no more about it. The fact is, that had it not been from fear +of Mesty, the whole of the men would, in all probability, have behaved +equally as bad; nevertheless, they were a little staggered, it must be +owned, at seeing Jack play so good a stick with the handspike. +</P> + +<P> +After this night Jack and Mesty kept watch and watch, and everything +went on very well until they were nearly abreast of Carthagena, when a +gale came on from the northward, and drove them out of sight of land. +Sail after sail was reduced with difficulty from their having so few +hands, and the gale blew for three days with great fury. The men were +tired out and discontented. It was Jack's misfortune that he had but +one good man with him: even the coxswain of the boat, although a +fine-looking man, was worth nothing. Mesty was Jack's sheet-anchor. +</P> + +<P> +The fourth day the gale moderated, but they had no idea where they +were: they knew that they had been blown off, but how far they could +not tell, and Jack now began to discover that a cruise at sea without +knowledge of navigation was a more nervous thing than he had +contemplated. However, there was no help for it. At night they wore +the ships and stood on the other tack, and at daylight they perceived +that they were close to some small islands, and much closer to some +large rocks, against which the sea beat high, although the wind had +subsided. Again was the helm put up, and they narrowly escaped. As +soon as the sails were trimmed the men came aft and proposed that if +they could find anchorage they should run into it, for they were quite +tired out. This was true, and Jack consulted with Mesty, who thought +it advisable to agree to the proposal. +</P> + +<P> +That the islands were not inhabited was very evident. The only point +to ascertain was, if there were good anchorage. The coxswain offered +to go in the boat and examine; and, with four men, he set off, and in +about an hour returned, stating that there was plenty of water, and +that it was as smooth as a mill-pond, being land-locked on every side. +As they could not weigh the bower-anchor they bent the kedge, and +running in without accident, came to in a small bay, between the +islands, in seven fathoms water. The sails were furled, and everything +put in order by the seamen, who then took the boat and pulled on shore. +"They might as well have asked leave," thought Jack. In an hour they +returned, and, after a short discussion, came aft to our hero in a body. +</P> + +<P> +The coxswain was spokesman. He said that they had had hard work, and +required now to have some rest—that there were provisions on board for +three months, so that there could not be any hurry, and that they had +found they could pitch a tent very well on shore, and live there for a +short time; and that, as there was no harm in getting drunk on shore, +they expected that they might be allowed to take provisions and plenty +of wine with them, and that the men had desired him to ask leave, +because they were determined to go whether or no. Jack was about to +answer with the handspike, but perceiving that the men had all put on +their cutlasses, and had their pistols at their belts, he thought +proper to consult Mesty, who, perceiving that resistance was useless, +advised Jack to submit, observing that the sooner all the wine was gone +the better, as there would be nothing done while it lasted. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, therefore, very graciously told them that they should have their +own way, and he would stay there as long as they pleased. Mesty gave +them the keys of the provision-hatch, and told them, with a grin, to +help themselves. The men then informed Jack that he and Mesty should +stay on board and take care of the ship for them, and that they would +take the Spaniard on shore to cook their victuals. But to this Jack +observed that if he had not two hands he could not obey their orders, +in case they wished him to come on shore for them. The men thought +there was good argument in that observation, and therefore allowed Jack +to retain the Spaniard, that he might be more prompt to their call from +the beach. They then wished him good day, and begged that he would +amuse himself with the "articles of war." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they had thrown a spare sail into the boat, with some spars +to make a tent, and some bedding, they went down below, hoisted up two +pipes of wine out of the three, a bag or two of biscuit, arms and +ammunition, and as much of the salt provisions as they thought they +might require. The boat being full, they shoved off with three cheers +of derision. Jack was sensible to the compliment: he stood at the +gangway, took off his hat, and made them a polite bow. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they were gone, Mesty grinned with his sharp-filed teeth, +and looking at our hero, said: +</P> + +<P> +"I tink I make um pay for all dis—stop a little; by de piper as played +before Moses, but our turn come by-and-bye." +</P> + +<P> +As for Jack, he said nothing, but he thought the more. In about an +hour the men returned in the boat: they had forgotten many things they +wanted—wood to make a fire, and several utensils; they helped +themselves freely, and having now everything that they could think of, +they again went on shore. +</P> + +<P> +"How d—n lucky, we nebber tell dem about the dollars," said Mesty, as +Jack and he were watching the motions of the men. +</P> + +<P> +"It is, indeed," replied Jack; "not that they could spend them here." +</P> + +<P> +"No, Massa Easy, but suppose they find all that money, they take boat +and go away with it. Now, I hab them in my clutch—stop a little." +</P> + +<P> +A narrow piece of salt pork had been left at the gangway: Jack, without +knowing why, tossed it overboard; being almost all fat, it sank very +gradually: Jack watched it as it disappeared, so did Mesty, both full +of thought, when they perceived a dark object rising under it: it was a +ground shark, who took it into his maw, sank down, and disappeared. +</P> + +<P> +"What was that?" said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"That ground shark, Massa Easy—worst shark of all; you nebber see him +till you feel him"; and Mesty's eyes sparkled with pleasure. "By de +powers, they soon stop de mutiny; now I hab 'em." +</P> + +<P> +Jack shuddered and walked away. During the day, the men on shore were +seen to work hard, and make all the preparations before they abandoned +themselves to the sensual gratification of intemperance. The tent was +pitched, the fire was lighted, and all the articles taken on shore +rolled up and stowed away in their places; they were seen to sit down +and dine, for they were within hail of the ship, and then one of the +casks of wine was spiled. In the meantime the Spaniard, who was a quiet +lad, had prepared the dinner for Easy and his now only companion. The +evening closed, and all was noise and revelry on shore; and as they +danced, and sung, and tossed off the cans of wine by the light of the +fire, as they hallooed and screamed, and became more and more +intoxicated, Mesty turned to Jack with his bitter smile, and only said— +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a little." At last the noise grew fainter, the fire died away, +and gradually all was silent. Jack was still hanging over the gangway +when Mesty came up to him. The new moon had just risen, and Jack's +eyes were fixed upon it. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Massa Easy, please you come aft and lower down little boat; take +your pistols, and then we go on shore and bring off the cutter; they +all asleep now." +</P> + +<P> +"But why should we leave them without a boat, Mesty?" for Jack thought +of the sharks, and the probability of the men attempting to swim off. +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you, sar, this night they get drunk, to-morrow they get drunk +again, but drunken men never keep quiet,—suppose one man say to +others, 'Let's go board and kill officer, and then we do as we please,' +they all say yes, and they all come and do it. No, sar-must have +boat—if not for your sake, I must hab it, save my own life anyhow, for +they hate me and kill me first; by de powers, stop a little." +</P> + +<P> +Jack felt the truth of Mesty's observation; he went aft with him, +lowered down the small boat, and they hauled it alongside. Jack went +down with Mesty into the cabin and fetched his pistols. "And the +Spaniard, Mesty, can we leave him on board alone?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sar, he no got arms, and he see dat me have—but suppose he find +arms he never dare do anything—I know de man." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero and Mesty went into the boat and shoved off, pulling gently on +shore; the men were in a state of intoxication, so as not to be able to +move, much less hear. They cast off the cutter, towed her on board, +and made her fast with the other boat astern. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, sar, we may go to bed; to-morrow morning you will see." +</P> + +<P> +"They have everything they require on shore," replied Easy, "all they +could want with the cutter would be to molest us." +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a little," replied Mesty. Jack and Mesty went to bed, and as a +precaution against the Spaniard, which was hardly necessary, Mesty +locked the cabin door but Mesty never forgot anything. +</P> + +<P> +Jack slept little that night—had melancholy forebodings which he could +not shake off; indeed, Jack had reflected so much since he had left the +ship, he had had his eyes so much opened, and had felt what a +responsibility he had taken by indulging himself in a whim of the +moment, that it might be almost said, that in the course of one +fortnight he had at once from a boy sprung up into a man. He was +mortified and angry, but he was chiefly so with himself. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty was up at daylight, and Jack soon followed him: they watched the +party on shore, who had not yet left the tent. At last, just as Jack +had finished his breakfast, one or two made their appearance; the men +looked about them as if they were searching for something, and then +walked down to the beach, to where the boat had been made fast. Jack +looked at Mesty, who grinned, and answered with the words so often +repeated— +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a little." +</P> + +<P> +The men then walked along the rocks until they were abreast of the ship. +</P> + +<P> +"Ship ahoy!" +</P> + +<P> +"Halloo," replied Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring the boat ashore directly, with a beaker of water." +</P> + +<P> +"I knew dat," cried Mesty, rubbing his hands with delight. "Massa Easy, +you must tell them No." +</P> + +<P> +"But why should I not give them water, Mesty?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because, sar, den they take boat." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," replied Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you hear on board?" cried the coxswain, who was the man who +hailed—"send the boat immediately, or we'll cut the throats of every +mother's son of you, by God!" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall not send the boat," replied Jack, who now thought Mesty was +right. +</P> + +<P> +"You won't—won't you?—then your doom's sealed," replied the man, +walking up to the tent with the other. In a short time all the seamen +turned out of the tent, bringing with them four muskets, which they had +taken on shore with them. +</P> + +<P> +"Good heavens! they are not, surely, going to fire at us, Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a little." The men then came down abreast of the ship, and the +coxswain again hailed, and asked if they would bring the boat on shore. +</P> + +<P> +"You must say, No, sar," replied Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"I feel I must," replied Jack; and then he answered the coxswain, "No." +</P> + +<P> +The plan of the mutineers had been foreseen by the wily negro—it was +to swim off to the boats which were riding astern, and to fire at him +or Jack, if they attempted to haul them up alongside and defend them. +To get into the boats, especially the smaller one, from out of the +water was easy enough. Some of the men examined their priming and held +the muskets at their hips all ready, with the muzzles towards the ship, +while the coxswain and two men were throwing off their clothes. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, for God's sake, stop!" cried Jack. "The harbour is full of +ground sharks,—it is, upon my soul!" +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think to frighten us with ground sharks?" replied the coxswain; +"keep under cover, my lads; Jack, give him a shot to prove we are in +earnest, and every time he or that nigger show their heads, give them +another, my lads." +</P> + +<P> +"For God's sake, don't attempt to swim," said Jack, in an agony; "I +will try some means to give you water." +</P> + +<P> +"Too late now—you're doomed"; and the coxswain sprang off the rock +into the sea, and was followed by two other men: at the same moment a +musket was discharged, and the bullet whistled close to our hero's ear. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty dragged Jack from the gangway, who was nearly fainting from +agonising feelings. He sank on the deck for a moment, and then sprang +up and ran to the port to look at the men in the water. He was just in +time to see the coxswain raise himself with a loud yell out of the sea, +and then disappear in a vortex, which was crimsoned with his blood. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty threw down his musket in his hand, of which he had several +already loaded, in case the men should have gained the boats. +</P> + +<P> +"By the powers, dat no use now!" Jack had covered his face with his +hands. But the tragedy was not complete: the other men, who were in +the water, had immediately turned and made for the shore; but before +they could reach it, two more of these voracious monsters, attracted by +the blood of the coxswain, had flown to the spot, and there was a +contention for the fragments of their bodies. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty, who had seen this catastrophe, turned towards our hero, who +still hid his face. "I'm glad he no see dat, anyhow," muttered Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"See what!" exclaimed Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Shark eat em all." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, horrid! horrid!" groaned our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sar, very horrid," replied Mesty, "and dat bullet at your head +very horrid. Suppose the sharks no take them, what then? They kill us +and the sharks have our body. I think that more horrid still." +</P> + +<P> +"Mesty," replied Jack, seizing the negro convulsively by the arm, "it +was not the sharks—it was I,—I who have murdered these men." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty looked at Jack with surprise. "How dat possible?" +</P> + +<P> +"If I had not disobeyed orders," replied our hero, panting for breath, +"if I had not shown them the example of disobedience, this would not +have happened. How could I expect submission from them? It's all my +fault—I see it now-and, O God! when will the sight be blotted from my +memory?" +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, I not understand that," replied Mesty: "I think you talk +foolish-might as well say, suppose Ashantee men not make war, this not +happen; for suppose Ashantee not make war, I not slave, I not run +away,—I not come board Harpy—I not go in boat with you—I not hinder +men from getting drunk—and dat why they make mutiny—and the mutiny +why the shark take um?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack made no reply, but he felt some consolation from the counter +argument of the negro. +</P> + +<P> +The dreadful death of the three mutineers appeared to have had a +sensible effect upon their companions, who walked away from the beach +with their heads down and with measured steps. They were now seen to +be perambulating the island, probably in search of that water which +they required. At noon, they returned to their tent, and soon +afterwards were in a state of intoxication, hallooing and shouting as +the day before. Towards the evening they came down to the beach +abreast of the ship, each with a vessel in their hands, and perceiving +that they had attracted the notice of our hero and Mesty, tossed the +contents of the vessels up in the air to show that they had found +water, and hooting and deriding, went back, dancing, leaping, and +kicking up their heels, to renew their orgies, which continued till +after midnight, when they were all stupefied as before. +</P> + +<P> +The next day Jack had recovered from the first shock which the +catastrophe had given him, and he called Mesty into the cabin to hold a +consultation. +</P> + +<P> +"Mesty, how is this to end?" +</P> + +<P> +"How you mean, sar?—end here, or end on board of the Harpy?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Harpy,—there appears little chance of our seeing her again—we +are on a desolate island, or what is the same thing; but we will hope +that it will be so: but how is this mutiny to end?" +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, suppose I please, I make it end very soon, but I not in a +hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you mean, Mesty, not in a hurry?" +</P> + +<P> +"Look, Massa Easy; you wish take a cruise, and I wish the same ting: +now because mutiny you want to go back—but by all de powers, you tink +that I, a prince in my own country, feel wish to go back and boil +kettle for de young gentlemen. No, Massa Easy, gib me mutiny gib me +anyting—but—once I was prince," replied Mesty, lowering his voice at +the last few emphatic words. +</P> + +<P> +"You must one of these days tell me your history," replied Jack; "but +just now let us argue the point in question. How could you put an end +to this mutiny?" +</P> + +<P> +"By putting an end to all wine. Suppose I go shore after they all +drunk, I spile the casks in three or four places, and in the morning +all wine gone—den dey ab get sober, and beg pardon—we take dem on +board, put away all arms, 'cept yours and mine, and I like to see the +mutiny after dat. Blood and 'ounds—but I settle um, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"The idea is very good, Mesty,—why should we not do so?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because I not like run de risk to go ashore—all for what? to go back, +boil de kettle for all gentlemans—I very happy here, Massa," replied +Mesty, carelessly. +</P> + +<P> +"And I am very miserable," replied Jack; "but, however, I am completely +in your power, Mesty, and I must, I suppose, submit." +</P> + +<P> +"What you say, Massa Easy—submit to me?—no sar, when you are on board +Harpy as officer, you talk with me as friend, and not treat me as negro +servant. Massa Easy, I feel—I feel what I am," continued Mesty, +striking his bosom, "I feel it here—for all first time since I leave +my country, I feel that I am someting; but, Massa Easy, I love my +friend as much as I hate my enemy—and you nebber submit to me—I too +proud to allow dat, 'cause, Massa Easy—I am a man—and once, I was a +prince." +</P> + +<P> +Although Mesty did not perhaps explain by words half so well as he did +by his countenance the full tide of feeling which was overflowing in +his heart, Jack fully understood and felt it. He extended his hand to +Mesty, and said— +</P> + +<P> +"Mesty—that you have been a prince, I care little about, although I +doubt it not, because you are incapable of a lie; but you are a man, +and I respect you, nay, I love you as a friend—and with my will we +never part again." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty took the hand offered by Jack. It was the first peace offering +ever extended to him since he had been torn away from his native +land—the first compliment, the first tribute, the first +acknowledgment, perhaps, that he was not an inferior being; he pressed +it in silence, for he could not speak; but could the feelings which +were suffocating the negro but have been laid before sceptics, they +must have acknowledged that at that moment they were all and only such +as could do honour, not only to the prince, but even to the Christian. +So much was Mesty affected with what had happened, that when he dropped +the hand of our hero, he went down into the cabin, finding it +impossible to continue the conversation, which was not renewed until +the next morning. +</P> + +<P> +"What is your opinion, Mesty? Tell me, and I will be governed by it." +</P> + +<P> +"Den, sar, I tell you I tink it right that they first come and ask to +come on board before you take them—and, sar, I tink it also right as +we are but two and they are five, dat dey first eat all their +provisions. Let 'em starve plenty, and den dey come on board tame +enough." +</P> + +<P> +"At all events," replied Jack, "the first overtures of some kind or +another must come from them. I wish I had something to do—I do not +much like this cooping up on board ship." +</P> + +<P> +"Massa, why you no talk with Pedro?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because I cannot speak Spanish." +</P> + +<P> +"I know dat, and dat why I ask de question. You very sorry when you +meet the two pretty women in the ship, you not able to talk with them, +I guess that." +</P> + +<P> +"I was very sorry, I grant," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Massa Easy, by and bye we see more Spanish girl. Why not talk +all day with Pedro, and den you able to talk with dem." +</P> + +<P> +"Upon my word, Mesty, I never had an idea of your value. I will learn +all the Spanish that I can," replied Jack, who was glad to have +employment found for him, and was quite disgusted with the articles of +war. +</P> + +<P> +As for the men on shore, they continued the same course as before, one +day succeeded another, and without variety. It was, however, to be +observed that the fire was now seldomer lighted, which proved their +fuel scarce, and the weather was not so warm as it had been, for it was +now October. Jack learnt Spanish from Pedro for a month, during which +there was no appearance of submission on the part of the mutineers, +who, for the first fortnight, when intoxicated, used to come down and +fire at Jack or Mesty when they made their appearance. Fortunately +drunken men are not good marksmen; but latterly this had been +discontinued, because they had expended their ammunition, and they +appeared to have almost forgotten that the ship was there, for they +took no notice of her whatever. +</P> + +<P> +On the other hand, Jack had decided that if he waited there a year the +overtures should come from them who had mutinied; and now, having an +occupation, he passed his time very quietly, and the days flew so fast +that two months had actually been run off the calendar before he had an +idea of it. +</P> + +<P> +One evening as they were down in the cabin, for the evenings had now +become very cold, Jack asked Mesty whether he had any objection to give +him a history of his life. Mesty replied that if he wished he was +ready to talk, and at a nod from our hero Mesty commenced as follows. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which mutiny, like fire, is quenched for <BR> +want of fuel and no want of water. +</H4> + +<P> +Although we have made the African negro hitherto talk in his own mixed +jargon, yet, as we consider that, in a long narration, it will be +tedious to the reader, we shall now translate the narrative part into +good English, merely leaving the conversation with which it may be +broken, in its peculiar dialect. +</P> + +<P> +"The first thing I recollect," said Mesty, "is, that I was carried on +the shoulders of a man with my legs hanging down before, and holding on +by his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Everyone used to look at me and get out of the way, as I rode through +the town and market-place, so loaded with heavy gold ornaments that I +could not bear them, and was glad when the women took them off; but as +I grew older I became proud of them, because I knew that I was the son +of a king. I lived happy. I did nothing but shoot my arrows, and I had +a little sword which I was taught to handle, and the great captains who +were about my father showed me how to kill my enemies. Sometimes I laid +under the shady trees, sometimes I was with the women belonging to my +father; sometimes I was with him and played with the skulls, and +repeated the names of those to whom they had belonged, for in our +country, when we kill our enemies, we keep their skulls as trophies. +</P> + +<P> +"As I grew older, I did as I pleased; I beat the women and the slaves; +I think I killed some of the latter—I know I did one, to try whether I +could strike well with my two-handed sword made of hard and heavy +wood,—but that is nothing in our country. I longed to be a great +captain, and I thought of nothing else but war and fighting, and how +many skulls I should have in my possession when I had a house and wives +of my own, and I was no longer a boy. I went out in the woods to hunt, +and I stayed for weeks. And one day I saw a panther basking in the +sun, waving his graceful tail. I crept up softly till I was behind a +rock within three yards of it, and drawing my arrow to the head, I +pierced him through the body. The animal bounded up in the air, saw +me, roared and made a spring, but I dropped behind the rock, and he +passed over me. He turned again to me, but I had my knife ready, and, +as he fixed his talons into my shoulder and breast, I pierced him to +the heart. This was the happiest day of my life; I had killed a +panther without assistance, and I had the wounds to show. Although I +was severely hurt, I thought nothing of it. I took off the skin as my +blood dropped down and mixed with that of the beast—but I rejoiced in +it. Proudly did I go into the town dripping with gore and smarting +with pain. Everyone extolled the feat, called me a hero and a great +captain. I filed my teeth, and I became a man. +</P> + +<P> +"From that day I ranked among the warriors, and, as soon as my wounds +were healed, I went out to battle. In three fights I had gained five +skulls, and when I returned they weighed me out gold. I then had a +house and wives, and my father appointed me a Caboceer. I wore the +plume of eagle and ostrich feathers, my dress was covered with +fetishes, I pulled on the boots with bells, and with my bow and arrows +slung on my back, my spear and blunderbuss, my knives and my +double-handed sword, I led the men to battle and brought back skulls +and slaves. Everyone trembled at my name, and, if my father threatened +to send me out, gold-dust covered the floor of his hall of +council—Now, I boil the kettle for the young gentlemen! +</P> + +<P> +"There was one man I liked. He was not a warrior, or I should have +hated him, but he was brought up with me in my father's house, and was +a near relative. I was grave and full of pride, he was gay and fond of +music; and although there was no music to me equal to the tom-tom, yet +I did not always wish for excitement. I often was melancholy, and then +I liked to lay my head in the lap of one of my wives, under the shady +forest behind my house, and listen to his soft music. At last he went +to a town near us where his father lived, and as he departed I gave him +gold-dust. He had been sent to my father to be formed into a warrior, +but he had no strength of body, and he had no soul; still I loved him, +because he was not like myself. There was a girl in the town who was +beautiful; many asked for her as their wife, but her father had long +promised her to my friend; he refused even the greatest warrior of the +place, who went away in wrath to the fetishman, and throwing him his +gold armlets asked for a fetish against his rival. It was given, and +two days before he was to be married my friend died. His mother came to +me, and it was enough. I put on my war dress, I seized my weapons, sat +for a whole day with my skulls before me, working up my revenge, called +out my men, and that night set off for the town where the warrior +resided, killed two of his relatives and carried off ten of his slaves. +When he heard what I had done, he trembled and sent gold; but I knew +that he had taken the girl home as his wife, and I would not listen to +the old man who sought to pacify me. +</P> + +<P> +"Again I collected a larger force and attacked him in the night: we +fought, for he was prepared with his men, but after a struggle he was +beaten back. I fired his house, wasted his provision ground, and taking +away more slaves, I returned home with my men, intending soon to +assault him again. The next day there came more messengers, who knelt +in vain; so they went to my father, and many warriors begged him to +interfere. My father sent for me, but I would not listen; the warriors +spoke, and I turned my back: my father was wroth and threatened, the +warriors brandished their two-handed swords—they dared to do it; I +looked over my shoulder with contempt, and I returned to my house. I +took down my skulls, and I planned. It was evening, and I was alone, +when a woman covered up to the eyes approached; she fell down before me +as she exposed her face. +</P> + +<P> +"I am the girl who was promised to your relation, and I am now the wife +of your enemy. I shall be a mother. I could not love your relation, +for he was no warrior. It is not true that my husband asked for a +fetish—it was I who bought it, for I would not wed him. Kill me and +be satisfied. +</P> + +<P> +"She was very beautiful, and I wondered not that my enemy loved +her—and she was with child—it was his child, and she had fetished my +friend to death. I raised my sword to strike, and she did not shrink: +it saved her life. 'Thou art fit to be the mother of warriors,' said +I, as I dropped my sword, 'and thou shalt be my wife, but first his +child shall be born, and I will have thy husband's skull.' +</P> + +<P> +"'No, no,' replied she, 'I will be the mother of no warriors but by my +present husband, whom I love; if you keep me as your slave I will die.' +</P> + +<P> +"I told her she said foolish things, and sent her to the women's +apartment, with orders to be watched—but she hardly had been locked up +before she drew her knife, plunged it into her heart, and died. +</P> + +<P> +"When the king my father heard this he sent me a message—'Be satisfied +with the blood that has been shed, it is enough'; but I turned away, +for I wished for mine enemy's skull. That night I attacked him again, +and met him hand to hand; I killed him, and carried home his skull, and +I was appeased. +</P> + +<P> +"But all the great warriors were wroth, and my father could not +restrain them. They called out their men, and I called out my men, and +I had a large body, for my name was terrible. But the force raised +against me was twice that of mine, and I retreated to the bush—after +awhile we met and fought, and I killed many, but my men were too few, +and were overpowered—the fetish had been sent out against me, and +their hearts melted; at last I sank down with my wounds, for I bled at +every pore, and I told my men who were about me to take off my +feathers, and my dress and boots, that my enemies might not have my +skull: they did so, and I crawled into the bush to die. But I was not +to die; I was recovering, when I was discovered by those who steal men +to sell them: I was bound, and fastened to a chain with many more. I, a +prince and a warrior, who could show the white skulls of his enemies—I +offered to procure gold, but they derided me; they dragged me down to +the coast, and sold me to the Whites. Little did I think, in my pride, +that I should be a slave. I knew that I was to die, and hoped to die in +battle: my skull would have been more prized than all the gold in the +earth, and my skin would have been stuffed and hung up in a +fetish-house—instead of which, I now boil the kettle for the young +gentlemen!" +</P> + +<P> +"Well," replied Jack, "that's better than being killed and stuffed." +</P> + +<P> +"Mayhap it is," replied Mesty, "I tink very different now dan I tink +den—but still, it women's work and not suit me." +</P> + +<P> +"They put me with others into a cave until the ship came, and then we +were sent on board, put in irons, and down in the hold, where you could +not sit upright—I wanted to die, but could not: others died every day, +but I lived—I was landed in America, all bone, and I fetched very +little money—they laughed at me, as they bid their dollars: at last a +man took me away, and I was on a plantation with hundreds more, but too +ill to work, and not intending to work. The other slaves asked me if I +was a fetish man; I said yes, and I would fetish any man that I did not +like: one man laughed, and I held up my finger; I was too weak to get +up, for my blood had long boiled with fever, and I said to him 'you +shall die'; for I meant to have killed him as soon as I was well. +</P> + +<P> +"He went away, and in three days he was dead. I don't know how, but all +the slaves feared me, and my master feared me, for he had seen the man +die, and he, although he was a white man, believed in fetish, and he +wished to sell me again, but no one would buy a fetish man, so he made +friends with me; for I told him if I was beat he should die, and he +believed me. He took me into his house, and I was his chief man, and I +would not let the other slaves steal and he was content. He took me +with him to New York, and there, after two years, when I had learnt +English, I ran away, and got on board of an English ship—and they told +me to cook. I left the ship as soon as I came to England, and offered +myself to another, and they said they did not want a cook; and I went +to another, and they asked me if I was a good cook: everybody seemed to +think that a black man must be a cook, and nothing else. At last I +starve, and I go on board a man-of-war, and here I am, after having +been a warrior and a prince, cook, steward and everything else, boiling +kettle for de young gentlemen." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," replied Jack, "at all events that is better than being a +slave." Mesty made no reply: anyone who knows the life of a +midshipman's servant will not be surprised at his silence. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, tell me, do you think you were right in being so revengeful, when +you were in your own country?" inquired Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I tink so den, Massa Easy; sometimes when my blood boil, I tink so +now—oder time, I no know what to tink—but when a man love very much, +he hate very much." +</P> + +<P> +"But you are now a Christian, Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"I hear all that your people say," replied the negro, "and it make me +tink—I no longer believe in fetish, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"Our religion tells us to love our enemies." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I heard parson say dat—but den what we do with our friends, +Massa Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Love them too." +</P> + +<P> +"I no understand dat, Massa Easy—I love you, because you good, and +treat me well—Mr Vigors, he bully, and treat me ill—how possible to +love him? By de power, I hate him, and wish I had him skull. You tink +little Massa Gossett love him?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Jack, laughing, "I'm afraid that he would like to have +his skull as well as you, Mesty—but at all events we must try and +forgive those who injure us." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, Massa Easy, I tink so too—too much revenge very bad—it very +easy to hate, but not very easy to forgive—so I tink that if a man +forgive, he hab more soul in him, he more of a man." +</P> + +<P> +"After all," thought Jack, "Mesty is about as good a Christian as most +people." +</P> + +<P> +"What that?" cried Mesty, looking out of the cabin window—"Ah! d—n +drunken dogs—they set fire to tent." +</P> + +<P> +Jack looked, and perceived that the tent on shore was in flames. "I +tink these cold nights cool their courage, anyhow," observed—"Massa +Easy, you see they soon ask permission to come on board." +</P> + +<P> +Jack thought so too, and was most anxious to be off; for, on looking +into the lockers in the state-room, he had found a chart of the +Mediterranean, which he had studied very attentively—he had found out +the rock of Gibraltar, and had traced the Harpy's course up to Cape de +Catte, and thence to Tarragona—and, after a while, had summoned Mesty +to a cabinet council. +</P> + +<P> +"See, Mesty," said Jack, "I begin to make it out, here is Gibraltar, +and Cape de Catte, and Tarragona—it was hereabout we were when we took +the ship, and, if you recollect, we had passed Cape de Gatte two days +before we were blown off from the land, so that we had gone about +twelve inches, and had only four more to go." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Massa Easy, I see all dat." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, we were blown off shore by the wind, and must of course +have come down this way; and here you see are three little islands, +called Zaffarine Islands, and with no names of towns upon them, and +therefore uninhabited; and you see they lie just like the islands we +are anchored among now—we must be at the Zaffarine Islands—and only +six inches from Gibraltar." +</P> + +<P> +"I see, Massa Easy, dat all right—but six debbelish long inches." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Mesty, you know the compass on deck has a flourishing thing for +the north point—and here is a compass with a north point also. Now +the north point from the Zaffarine Islands leads out to the Spanish +coast again, and Gibraltar lies five or six points of the compass to +this side of it—if we steer that way we shall get to Gibraltar." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, Massa Easy," replied Mesty, and Jack was right, with the +exception of the variation, which he knew nothing about. +</P> + +<P> +To make sure, Jack brought one of the compasses down from deck, and +compared them. He then lifted off the glass, counted the points of the +compass to the westward, and marked the corresponding one on the +binnacle compass with his pen. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said he, "that is the way to Gibraltar, and as soon as the +mutiny is quelled, and the wind is fair, I'll be off." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Jack's cruise is ended, and he regains the Harpy. +</H4> + +<P> +A few more days passed, and, as was expected, the mutineers could hold +out no longer. In the first place, they had put in the spile of the +second cask of wine so loosely when they were tipsy that it dropped +out, and all the wine ran out, so that there had been none left for +three or four days; in the next their fuel had long been expended, and +they had latterly eaten their meat raw: the loss of their tent, which +had been fired by their carelessness, had been followed by four days +and nights of continual rain. Everything they had had been soaked +through and through, and they were worn out, shivering with cold, and +starving. Hanging they thought better than dying by inches from +starvation; and yielding to the imperious demands of hunger, they came +down to the beach, abreast of the ship, and dropped down on their knees. +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you so, Massa Easy," said Mesty: "d—n rascals, they forget +they come down fire musket at us every day: by all de powers, Mesty not +forget it." +</P> + +<P> +"Ship ahoy!" cried one of the men on shore. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you want?" replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Have pity on us, sir—mercy!" exclaimed the other men, "we will return +to our duty." +</P> + +<P> +"Debble doubt 'em!" "What shall I say, Mesty?" +</P> + +<P> +"Tell 'em no, first, Massa Easy—tell 'em to starve and be d——d." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot take mutineers on board," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, our blood be on your hands, Mr Easy," replied the first +man who had spoken. +</P> + +<P> +"If we are to die, it must not be by inches—if you will not take us, +the sharks shall—it is but a crunch, and all is over. What do you +say, my lads? let's all rush in together: good-bye, Mr Easy, I hope +you'll forgive us when we're dead: it was all that rascal Johnson, the +coxswain, who persuaded us. Come, my lads, it's no use thinking of it, +the sooner done the better—let us shake hands, and then make one run +of it." +</P> + +<P> +It appeared that the poor fellows had already made up their minds to do +this, if our hero, persuaded by Mesty, had refused to take them on +board; they shook hands all round, and then walking a few yards from +the beach, stood in a line while the man gave the signal—one—two— +</P> + +<P> +"Stop," cried Jack, who had not forgotten the dreadful scene which had +already taken place—"stop." +</P> + +<P> +The men paused. +</P> + +<P> +"What will you promise if I take you on board?" +</P> + +<P> +"To do our duty cheerfully till we join the ship, and then be hung as +an example to all mutineers," replied the men. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat very fair," replied Mesty; "take dem at their word, Massa Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," replied Jack, "I accept your conditions; and we will come +for you." +</P> + +<P> +Jack and Mesty hauled up the boat, stuck their pistols in their belts, +and pulled to the shore. The men, as they stepped in, touched their +hats respectfully to our hero, but said nothing. On their arrival on +board, Jack read that part of the articles of war relative to mutiny, +by which the men were reminded of the very satisfactory fact, "that +they were to suffer death"; and then made a speech which, to men who +were starving, appeared to be interminable. However, there is an end to +everything in this world, and so there was to Jack's harangue; after +which Mesty gave them some biscuit, which they devoured in +thankfulness, until they could get something better. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning the wind was fair, they weighed their kedge with some +difficulty, and ran out of the harbour: the men appeared very contrite, +worked well, but in silence, for they had no very pleasant +anticipations; but hope always remains with us; and each of the men, +although he had no doubt but that the others would be hung, hoped that +he would escape with a sound flogging. The wind, however, did not +allow them to steer their course long; before night it was contrary, +and they fell off three points to the northward. "However," as Jack +observed, "at all events we shall make the Spanish coast, and then we +must run down it to Gibraltar: I don't care—I understand navigation +much better than I did." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning they found themselves with a very light breeze, under +a high cape, and, as the sun rose, they observed a large vessel +in-shore, about two miles to the westward of them, and another outside, +about four miles off. Mesty took the glass and examined the one +outside, which, on a sudden, had let fall all her canvas, and was now +running for the shore, steering for the cape under which Jack's vessel +lay. Mesty put down the glass. +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy—I tink dat de Harpy." One of the seamen took the glass and +examined her, while the others who stood by showed great agitation. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is the Harpy," said the seaman. "Oh! Mr Easy, will you +forgive us?" continued the man, and he and the others fell on their +knees. "Do not tell all, for God's sake, Mr Easy." +</P> + +<P> +Jack's heart melted; he looked at Mesty. "I tink," said Mesty, apart to +our hero, "dat with what them hab suffer already, suppose they get +seven dozen a-piece, dat quite enough." +</P> + +<P> +Jack thought that even half that punishment would suffice; so he told +the men, that although he must state what had occurred, he would not +tell all, and would contrive to get them off as well as he could. He +was about to make a long speech, but a gun from the Harpy, which had +now come up within range, made him defer it till a more convenient +opportunity. At the same time the vessel in-shore hoisted Spanish +colours and fired a gun. +</P> + +<P> +"By de powers but we got in the middle of it," cried Mesty; "Harpy tink +us Spaniard. Now, my lads, get all gun ready, bring up powder and +shot. Massa, now us fire at Spaniard—Harpy not fire at us—no ab +English colours on board—dat all we must do." +</P> + +<P> +The men set to with a will; the guns were all loaded, and were soon +cast loose and primed, during which operations it fell calm, and the +sails of all three vessels flapped against their masts. The Harpy was +then about two miles from Jack's vessel, and the Spaniard about a mile +from him, with all her boats ahead of her, towing towards him; Mesty +examined the Spanish vessel. +</P> + +<P> +"Dat man-of-war, Massa Easy,—what de debbel we do for colour? must +hoist something." Mesty ran down below; he recollected that there was a +very gay petticoat, which had been left by the old lady who was in the +vessel when they captured her. It was of green silk, with yellow and +blue flowers, but very faded, having probably been in the Don's family +for a century. Mesty had found it under the mattress of one of the +beds, and had put it into his bag, intending probably to cut it up into +waistcoats. He soon appeared with this under his arm, made it fast to +the peak halyards and hoisted it up. +</P> + +<P> +"Dere, Massa, dat do very well—dat what you call 'all nation colour.' +Everybody strike him flag to dat—men nebber pull it down," said Mesty, +"anyhow. Now den, ab hoist colour, we fire away—mind you only fire +one gun at a time, and point um well, den ab time to load again." +</P> + +<P> +"She's hoisted her colours, sir," said Sawbridge, on board of the +Harpy; "but they do not show out clear, and it's impossible to +distinguish them; but there's a gun." +</P> + +<P> +"It's not at us, sir," said Gascoigne, the midshipman; "it's at the +Spanish vessel—I saw the shot fall ahead of her." +</P> + +<P> +"It must be a privateer," said Captain Wilson; "at all events, it is +very fortunate, for the corvettes would otherwise have towed into +Carthagena. Another gun, round and grape, and well pointed too; she +carries heavy metal, that craft: she must be a Maltese privateer." +</P> + +<P> +"That's as much as to say that she's a pirate," replied Sawbridge; "I +can make nothing of her colours—they appear to me to be green—she +must be a Turk. Another gun—and devilish well aimed; it has hit the +boats." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, they are all in confusion: we will have her now, if we can only +get a trifle of wind. That is a breeze coming up in the offing. Trim +the sails, Mr Sawbridge." +</P> + +<P> +The yards were squared, and the Harpy soon had steerage-way. In the +meantime Jack and his few men had kept up a steady, well-directed, +although slow, fire with their larboard guns upon the Spanish corvette; +and two of her boats had been disabled. The Harpy brought the breeze +up with her, and was soon within range; she steered to cut off the +corvette, firing only on her bow-chasers. +</P> + +<P> +"We ab her now," cried Mesty; "fire away men, take good aim. Breeze +come now; one man go to helm. By de power what dat?" +</P> + +<P> +The exclamation of Mesty was occasioned by a shot hulling the ship on +the starboard side. Jack and he ran over, and perceived that three +Spanish gun-boats had just made their appearance round the point, and +had attacked them. The fact was, that on the other side of the cape +was the port and town of Carthagena, and these gun-boats had been sent +out to the assistance of the corvette. The ship had now caught the +breeze, fortunately for Jack, or he would probably have been taken into +Carthagena; and the corvette, finding herself cut off by both the Harpy +and Jack's vessel, as soon as the breeze came up to her, put her head +the other way, and tried to escape by running westward along the coast +close in-shore. +</P> + +<P> +Another shot, and then another, pierced the hull of the ship, and +wounded two of Jack's men; but as the corvette had turned, and the +Harpy followed her, of course Jack did the same, and in ten minutes he +was clear of the gun-boats, who did not venture to make sail and stand +after him. The wind now freshened fast, and blew out the green +petticoat, but the Harpy was exchanging broadsides with the corvette, +and too busy to look after Jack's ensign. The Spaniard defended +himself well, and had the assistance of the batteries as he passed, but +there was no anchorage until he had run many miles further. +</P> + +<P> +About noon, the wind died away, and at one o'clock it again fell nearly +calm; but the Harpy had neared her distance, and was now within three +cables' length of her antagonist, engaging her and a battery of four +guns. Jack came up again, for he had the last of the breeze, and was +about half a mile from the corvette when it fell calm. By the advice +of Mesty, he did not fire anymore, as otherwise the Harpy would not +obtain so much credit, and it was evident that the fire of the Spaniard +slackened fast. At three o'clock the Spanish colours were hauled down, +and the Harpy, sending a boat on board and taking possession, directed +her whole fire upon the battery, which was soon silenced. +</P> + +<P> +The calm continued, and the Harpy was busy enough with the prize, +shifting the prisoners and refitting both vessels, which had very much +suffered in the sails and rigging. There was an occasional wonder on +board the Harpy what that strange vessel might be, who had turned the +corvette and enabled them to capture her, but when people are all very +busy, there is not much time for surmise. +</P> + +<P> +Jack's crew, with himself, consisted but of eight, one of which was a +Spaniard, and two were wounded. It therefore left him but four, and he +had also something to do, which was to assist his wounded men, and +secure his guns. Moreover, Mesty did not think it prudent to leave the +vessel a mile from the Harpy with only two on board; besides, as Jack +said, he had had no dinner, and was not quite sure that he should find +anything to eat when he went into the midshipmen's berth; he would +therefore have some dinner cooked, and eat it before he went on board; +in the meantime, they would try and close with her. Jack took things +always very easy, and he said he should report himself at sunset. +There were other reasons which made Jack in no very great hurry to go +on board; he wanted to have time to consider a little, what he should +say to excuse himself, and also how he should plead for the men. His +natural correctness of feeling decided him, in the first place, to tell +the whole truth; and in the next, his kind feelings determined him to +tell only part of it. Jack need not have given himself this trouble, +for, as far as regarded himself, he had fourteen thousand good excuses +in the bags that lay in the state-room; and as for the men, after an +action with the enemy, if they behave well, even mutiny is forgiven. +At last, Jack, who was tired with excitement and the hard work of the +day, thought and thought until he fell fast asleep, and instead of +waking at sunset, did not wake till two hours afterwards; and Mesty did +not call him, because he was in no hurry himself to go on board "and +boil de kettle for de young gentlemen." +</P> + +<P> +When Jack woke up, he was astonished to find that he had slept so long; +he went on deck; it was dark and still calm, but he could easily +perceive that the Harpy and corvette were still hove-to, repairing +damages. He ordered the men to lower down the small boat, and leaving +Mesty in charge, with two oars he pulled to the Harpy. What with +wounded men, with prisoners, and boats going and coming between the +vessels, everyone on board the Harpy were well employed; and in the +dark, Jack's little boat came alongside without notice. This should +not have been the case, but it was, and there was some excuse for it. +Jack ascended the side, and pushed his way through the prisoners, who +were being mustered to be victualled. He was wrapped up in one of the +gregos, and many of the prisoners wore the same. +</P> + +<P> +Jack was amused at not being recognised; he slipped down the main +ladder, and had to stoop under the hammocks of the wounded men, and was +about to go aft to the captain's cabin to report himself, when he heard +young Gossett crying out, and the sound of the rope. "Hang me, if that +brute Vigors ain't thrashing young Gossett," thought Jack. "I dare say +the poor fellow has had plenty of it since I have been away; I'll save +him this time, at least." Jack, wrapped up in his grego, went to the +window of the berth, looked in, and found it was as he expected. He +cried out in an angry voice, Mr Vigors, I'll thank you to leave Gossett +alone. At the sound of the voice, Vigors turned round with his colt in +his hand, saw Jack's face at the window, and, impressed with the idea +that the re-appearance was supernatural, uttered a wail and fell down +in a fit—little Gossett also, trembling in every limb, stared with his +mouth open. Jack was satisfied, and immediately disappeared. He then +went aft to the cabin, pushed by the servant, who was giving some +orders from the captain to the officer on deck, and entering the cabin, +where the captain was seated with two Spanish officers, took off his +hat and said,— +</P> + +<P> +"Come on board, Captain Wilson." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson did not fall down in a fit, but he jumped up, and upset +the glass before him. "Merciful God, Mr Easy, where did you come from?" +</P> + +<P> +"From that ship astern, sir," replied Jack. "That ship astern! what is +she?—where have you been so long?" +</P> + +<P> +"It's a long story, sir," replied Jack. Captain Wilson extended his +hand and shook Jack's heartily. "At all events, I'm delighted to see +you, boy: now sit down and tell me your story in a few words; we will +have it in detail by-and-bye." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir," said Jack, "we captured that ship with the cutter +the night after we went away—I'm not a first-rate navigator, and I was +blown to the Zaffarine Islands, where I remained two months for want of +hands: as soon as I procured them I made sail again—I have lost three +men by sharks, and I have two wounded in to-day's fight—the ship +mounts twelve guns, is half laden with lead and cotton prints, has +fourteen thousand dollars in the cabin, and three shot-holes right +through her—and the sooner you send some people on board of her the +better." +</P> + +<P> +This was not very intelligible, but that there were fourteen thousand +dollars and that she required hands sent on board, was very +satisfactorily explained. Captain Wilson rang the bell, sent for Mr +Asper, who started back at the sight of our hero—desired him to order +Mr Jolliffe to go on board with one of the cutters, send the wounded +men on board, and take charge of the vessel, and then told Jack to +accompany Mr Jolliffe, and to give him every information: telling him +that he would hear his story to-morrow, when they were not so very busy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero finds out that Trigonometry is not only necessary <BR> +to Navigation, but may be required in settling affairs of honour. +</H4> + +<P> +As Captain Wilson truly said, he was too busy even to hear Jack's story +that night, for they were anxious to have both vessels ready to make +sail as soon as a breeze should spring up, for the Spaniards had +vessels of war at Carthagena, which was not ten miles off, and had +known the result of the action: it was therefore necessary to change +their position as soon as possible. Mr Sawbridge was on board the +prize, which was a corvette mounting two guns more than the Harpy, and +called the Cacafuogo. +</P> + +<P> +She had escaped from Cadiz, run through the straits in the night, and +was three miles from Carthagena when she was captured, which she +certainly never would have been, but for Jack's fortunately blundering +against the cape with his armed vessel, so that Captain Wilson and Mr +Sawbridge (both of whom were promoted, the first to the rank of +post-captain, the second to that of commander) may be said to be +indebted to Jack for their good fortune. The Harpy had lost nineteen +men, killed and wounded, and the Spanish corvette forty-seven. +Altogether, it was a very creditable affair. +</P> + +<P> +At two o'clock in the morning, the vessels were ready, everything had +been done that could be done in so short a time, and they stood under +easy sail during the night for Gibraltar, the Nostra Signora del +Carmen, under the charge of Jolliffe, keeping company. Jolliffe had the +advantage over his shipmates, of first hearing Jack's adventures, with +which he was much astonished as well as amused—even Captain Wilson was +not more happy to see Jack than was the worthy master's mate. About +nine o'clock the Harpy hove-to, and sent a boat on board for our hero +and the men who had been so long with him in the prize, and then +hoisted out the pinnace to fetch on board the dollars, which were of +more importance. Jack, as he bade adieu to Jolliffe, took out of his +pocket, and presented him with the articles of war, which, as they had +been so useful to him, he thought Jolliffe could not do without, and +then went down the side: The men were already in the boat, casting +imploring looks upon Jack, to raise feelings of compassion, and Mesty +took his seat by our hero in a very sulky humour, probably because he +did not like the idea of having again "to boil de kettle for de young +gentlemen." Even Jack felt a little melancholy at resigning his +command, and he looked back at the green petticoat, which blew out +gracefully from the mast, for Jolliffe had determined that he would not +haul down the colours under which Jack had fought so gallant an action. +</P> + +<P> +Jack's narration, as may be imagined, occupied a large part of the +forenoon; and although Jack did not attempt to deny that he had seen +the recall signal of Mr Sawbridge, yet, as his account went on, the +captain became so interested, that at the end of it he quite forgot to +point out to Jack the impropriety of not obeying orders. He gave Jack +great credit for his conduct, and was also much pleased with that of +Mesty. Jack took the opportunity of stating Mesty's aversion to his +present employment, and his recommendation was graciously received. +Jack also succeeded in obtaining the pardon of the men, in +consideration of their subsequent good behaviour; but notwithstanding +this promise on the part of Captain Wilson, they were ordered to be put +in irons for the present. However, Jack told Mesty, and Mesty told the +men, that they would be released with a reprimand when they arrived at +Gibraltar, so that all the men cared for was a fair wind. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson informed Jack, that after his joining the Admiral he had +been sent to Malta with the prizes, and that, supposing the cutter to +have been sunk, he had written to his father, acquainting him with his +son's death, at which our hero was much grieved, for he knew what +sorrow it would occasion, particularly to his poor mother. "But," +thought Jack, "if she is unhappy for three months, she will be +overjoyed for three more when she hears that I am alive, so it will be +all square at the end of the six; and as soon as I arrive at Gibraltar +I will write, and as the wind is fair, that will be to-morrow or next +day." +</P> + +<P> +After a long conversation Jack was graciously dismissed, Captain Wilson +being satisfied from what he had heard that Jack would turn out a very +good officer, and had already forgotten all about equality and the +rights of man; but there Captain Wilson was mistaken—tares sown in +infancy are not so soon rooted out. +</P> + +<P> +Jack went on deck as soon as the captain had dismissed him, and found +the captain and officers of the Spanish corvette standing aft, looking +very seriously at the Nostra Signora del Carmen. When they saw our +hero, whom Captain Wilson had told them was the young officer who had +barred their entrance into Carthagena, they turned their eyes upon him, +not quite so graciously as they might have done. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, with his usual politeness, took off his hat to the Spanish +captain, and, glad to have an opportunity of sporting his Spanish, +expressed the usual wish, that he might live a thousand years. The +Spanish captain, who had reason to wish that Jack had gone to the devil +at least twenty-four hours before, was equally complimentary, and then +begged to be informed what the colours were that Jack had hoisted +during the action. Jack replied that they were colours to which every +Spanish gentleman considered it no disgrace to surrender, although +always ready to engage, and frequently attempting to board. Upon which +the Spanish captain was very much puzzled. Captain Wilson, who +understood a little Spanish, then interrupted by observing— +</P> + +<P> +"By-the-bye, Mr Easy, what colours did you hoist up? We could not make +them out. I see Mr Jolliffe still keeps them up at the peak." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Jack, rather puzzled what to call them, but at last +he replied, "that it was the banner of equality and the rights of man." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson frowned, and Jack, perceiving that he was displeased, +then told him the whole story, whereupon Captain Wilson laughed, and +Jack then also explained, in Spanish, to the officers of the corvette, +who replied, "that it was not the first time, and would not be the +last, that men had got into a scrape through a petticoat." +</P> + +<P> +The Spanish captain complimented Jack on his Spanish, which was really +very good (for in two months, with nothing else in the world to do, he +had made great progress), and asked him where he had learnt it. +</P> + +<P> +Jack replied, "At the Zaffarine Islands." +</P> + +<P> +"Zaffarine Isles," replied the Spanish captain; "they are not +inhabited." +</P> + +<P> +"Plenty of ground-sharks," replied Jack. The Spanish captain thought +our hero a very strange fellow, to fight under a green silk petticoat, +and to take lessons in Spanish from the ground-sharks. However, being +quite as polite as Jack, he did not contradict him, but took a huge +pinch of snuff, wishing from the bottom of his heart that the +ground-sharks had taken Jack before he had hoisted that confounded +green petticoat. +</P> + +<P> +However, Jack was in high favour with the captain, and all the ship's +company, with the exception of his four enemies—the master, Vigors, +the boatswain, and the purser's steward. As for Mr Vigors, he had come +to his senses again, and had put his colt in his chest until Jack +should take another cruise. Little Gossett, at any insulting remark +made by Vigors, pointed to the window of the berth and grinned; and the +very recollection made Vigors turn pale, and awed him into silence. +</P> + +<P> +In two days they arrived at Gibraltar—Mr Sawbridge rejoined the +ship—so did Mr Jolliffe—they remained there a fortnight, during which +Jack was permitted to be continually on shore—Mr Asper accompanied +him, and Jack drew a heavy bill to prove to his father that he was +still alive. Mr Sawbridge made our hero relate to him all his +adventures, and was so pleased with the conduct of Mesty that he +appointed him to a situation which was particularly suited to him, +—that of ship's corporal. Mr Sawbridge knew that it was an office of +trust, and provided that he could find a man fit for it, he was very +indifferent about his colour. Mesty walked and strutted about at least +three inches taller than he was before. He was always clean, did his +duty conscientiously, and seldom used his cane. +</P> + +<P> +"I think, Mr Easy," said the first lieutenant, "that as you are so +particularly fond of taking a cruise,"—for Jack had told the whole +truth,—"it might be as well that you improve your navigation." +</P> + +<P> +"I do think myself, sir," replied Jack, with great modesty, "that I am +not yet quite perfect." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, Mr Jolliffe will teach you; he is the most competent in +this ship: the sooner you ask him the better, and if you learn it as +fast as you have Spanish, it will not give you much trouble." +</P> + +<P> +Jack thought the advice good; the next day he was very busy with his +friend Jolliffe, and made the important discovery that two parallel +lines continued to infinity would never meet. +</P> + +<P> +It must not be supposed that Captain Wilson and Mr Sawbridge received +their promotion instanter. Promotion is always attended with delay, as +there is a certain routine in the service which must not be departed +from. Captain Wilson had orders to return to Malta after his cruise. +He therefore carried his own despatches away from England—from Malta +the despatches had to be forwarded to Toulon to the Admiral, and then +the Admiral had to send to England to the Admiralty, whose reply had to +come out again. All this, with the delays arising from vessels not +sailing immediately, occupied an interval of between five and six +months—during which time there was no alteration in the officers and +crew of his Majesty's sloop Harpy. +</P> + +<P> +There had, however, been one alteration; the gunner, Mr Linus, who had +charge of the first cutter in the night action in which our hero was +separated from his ship, carelessly loading his musket, had found +himself minus his right hand, which, upon the musket going off as he +rammed down, had gone off too. He was invalided and sent home during +Jack's absence, and another had been appointed, whose name was +Tallboys. Mr Tallboys was a stout dumpy man, with red face, and still +redder hands; he had red hair and red whiskers, and he had read a great +deal—for Mr Tallboys considered that the gunner was the most important +personage in the ship. He had once been a captain's clerk, and having +distinguished himself very much in cutting-out service, had applied for +and received his warrant as a gunner. He had studied the "Art of +Gunnery," a part of which he understood, but the remainder was above +his comprehension: he continued, however, to read it as before, +thinking that by constant reading he should understand it at last. He +had gone through the work from the title-page to the finis at least +forty times, and had just commenced it over again. He never came on +deck without the gunner's vade mecum in his pocket, with his hand +always upon it to refer to it in a moment. +</P> + +<P> +But Mr Tallboys had, as we observed before, a great idea of the +importance of a gunner, and, among other qualifications, he considered +it absolutely necessary that he should be a navigator. He had at least +ten instances to bring forward of bloody actions, in which the captain +and all the commissioned officers had been killed or wounded and the +command of the ship had devolved upon the gunner. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, sir," would he say, "if the gunner is no navigator, he is not fit +to take charge of his Majesty's ships. The boatswain and carpenter are +merely practical men; but the gunner, sir, is, or ought to be, +scientific. Gunnery, sir, is a science—we have our own disparts and +our lines of sight—our windage, and our parabolas, and projectile +forces—and our point blank, and our reduction of powder upon a +graduated scale. Now, sir, there's no excuse for a gunner not being a +navigator; for knowing his duty as a gunner, he has the same +mathematical tools to work with." Upon this principle, Mr Tallboys had +added John Hamilton Moore to his library, and had advanced about as far +into navigation as he had in gunnery, that is, to the threshold, where +he stuck fast, with all his mathematical tools, which he did not know +how to use. To do him justice, he studied for two or three hours every +day, and it was not his fault if he did not advance—but his head was +confused with technical terms; he mixed all up together, and disparts, +sines and cosines, parabolas, tangents, windage, seconds, lines of +sight, logarithms, projectiles, and traverse sailing, quadrature, and +Gunter's scales, were all crowded together, in a brain which had not +capacity to receive the rule of three. "Too much learning," said +Festus to the apostle, "hath made thee mad." Mr Tallboys had not wit +enough to go mad, but his learning lay like lead upon his brain: the +more he read, the less he understood, at the same time that he became +more satisfied with his supposed acquirements, and could not speak but +in "mathematical parables". "I understand, Mr Easy," said the gunner to +him one day, after they had sailed for Malta, "that you have entered +into the science of navigation—at your age it was high time." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Jack, "I can raise a perpendicular, at all events, and +box the compass." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but you have not yet arrived at the dispart of the compass." +</P> + +<P> +"Not come to that yet," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you aware that a ship sailing describes a parabola round the +globe?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not come to that yet," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"And that any propelled body striking against another flies off at a +tangent?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very likely," replied Jack; "that is a 'sine' that he don't like it." +</P> + +<P> +"You have not yet entered into 'acute' trigonometry?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not come to that yet," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"That will require very sharp attention." +</P> + +<P> +"I should think so," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"You will then find out how your parallels of longitude and latitude +meet." +</P> + +<P> +"Two parallel lines, if continued to infinity will never meet," replied +Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon," said the gunner. +</P> + +<P> +"I beg yours," said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +Whereupon Mr Tallboys brought up a small map of the world, and showed +Jack that all the parallels of latitude met at a point at the top and +the bottom. +</P> + +<P> +"Parallel lines never meet," replied Jack, producing Hamilton Moore. +Whereupon Jack and the gunner argued the point, until it was agreed to +refer the case to Mr Jolliffe, who asserted, with a smile, "That those +lines were parallels, and not parallels." +</P> + +<P> +As both were right, both were satisfied. It was fortunate that Jack +would argue in this instance: had he believed all the confused +assertions of the gunner, he would have been as puzzled as the gunner +himself. They never met without an argument and a reference, and as +Jack was put right in the end, he only learnt the faster. By the time +that he did know something about navigation, he discovered that his +antagonist knew nothing. Before they arrived at Malta, Jack could +fudge a day's work. +</P> + +<P> +But at Malta Jack got into another scrape. Although Mr Smallsole could +not injure him, he was still Jack's enemy; the more so as Jack had +become very popular: Vigors also submitted, planning revenge; but the +parties in this instance were the boatswain and purser's steward. Jack +still continued his forecastle conversations with Mesty: and the +boatswain and purser's steward, probably from their respective ill-will +towards our hero, had become great allies. Mr Easthupp now put on his +best jacket to walk the dog-watches with Mr Biggs, and they took every +opportunity to talk at our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"It's my peculiar hopinion," said Mr Easthupp, one evening, pulling at +the frill of his shirt, "that a gentleman should behave as a gentleman, +and that if a gentleman professes opinions of inequality and such +liberal sentiments, that he is bound as a gentleman to hact up to them." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mr Easthupp; he is bound to act up to them; and not because +a person, who was a gentleman as well as himself, happens not to be on +the quarter-deck, to insult him because he only has perfessed opinions +like his own." +</P> + +<P> +Hereupon Mr Biggs struck his rattan against the funnel, and looked at +our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," continued the purser's steward, "I should like to see the fellow +who would have done so on shore; however, the time will come when I can +hagain pull on my plain coat, and then the insult shall be vashed out +in blood, Mr Biggs." +</P> + +<P> +"And I'll be cursed if I don't some day teach a lesson to the +blackguard who stole my trousers." +</P> + +<P> +"Vas hall your money right, Mr Biggs?" inquired the purser's steward. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't count," replied the boatswain magnificently. "No—gentlemen +are habove that," replied Easthupp; "but there are many light-fingered +gentry about. The quantity of vatches and harticles of value vich were +lost ven I valked Bond Street in former times is incredible." +</P> + +<P> +"I can say this, at all events," replied the boatswain, "that I should +be always ready to give satisfaction to any person beneath me in rank, +after I had insulted him. I don't stand upon my rank, although I don't +talk about equality, damme—no, nor consort with niggers." +</P> + +<P> +All this was too plain for our hero not to understand, so Jack walked +up to the boatswain, and taking his hat off, with the utmost +politeness, said to him— +</P> + +<P> +"If I mistake not, Mr Biggs, your conversation refers to me." +</P> + +<P> +"Very likely it does," replied the boatswain. "Listeners hear no good +of themselves." +</P> + +<P> +"It appears that gentlemen can't converse without being vatched," +continued Mr Easthupp, pulling up his shirt collar. +</P> + +<P> +"It is not the first time that you have thought proper to make very +offensive remarks, Mr Biggs; and as you appear to consider yourself +ill-treated in the affair of the trousers—for I tell you at once that +it was I who brought them on board—I can only say," continued our +hero, with a very polite bow, "that I shall be most happy to give you +satisfaction." +</P> + +<P> +"I am your superior officer, Mr Easy," replied the boatswain. "Yes, by +the rules of the service; but you just now asserted that you would +waive your rank—indeed, I dispute it on this occasion; I am on the +quarter-deck, and you are not." +</P> + +<P> +"This is the gentleman whom you have insulted, Mr Easy," replied the +boatswain, pointing to the purser's steward. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mr Heasy, quite as good a gentleman as yourself although I av ad +misfortunes—I ham of as old a family as hany in the country," replied +Mr Easthupp, now backed by the boatswain; "many the year did I valk +Bond Street, and I ave as good blood in my weins as you, Mr Heasy, +halthough I have been misfortunate—I've had Admirals in my family." +</P> + +<P> +"You have grossly insulted this gentleman," said Mr Biggs, in +continuation; "and notwithstanding all your talk of equality, you are +afraid to give him satisfaction—you shelter yourself under your +quarter-deck." +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Biggs," replied our hero, who was now very wroth, "I shall go on +shore directly we arrive at Malta. Let you and this fellow put on +plain clothes, and I will meet you both—and then I'll show you whether +I am afraid to give satisfaction." +</P> + +<P> +"One at a time," said the boatswain. "No, sir, not one at a time, but +both at the same time—I will fight both, or none. If you are my +superior officer, you must descend," replied Jack, with an ironical +sneer, "to meet me, or I will not descend to meet that fellow, whom I +believe to have been little better than a pickpocket." +</P> + +<P> +This accidental hit of Jack's made the purser's steward turn pale as a +sheet, and then equally red. He raved and foamed amazingly, although +he could not meet Jack's indignant look, who then turned round again. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Mr Biggs, is this to be understood, or do you shelter yourself +under your forecastle?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm no dodger," replied the boatswain, "and we will settle the affair +at Malta." At which reply Jack returned to Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, I look at um face, dat fellow Eastop, he no like it. I go +shore wid you, see fair play, anyhow—suppose I can?" +</P> + +<P> +Mr Biggs having declared that he would fight, of course had to look out +for a second, and he fixed upon Mr Tallboys, the gunner, and requested +him to be his friend. Mr Tallboys, who had been latterly very much +annoyed by Jack's victories over him in the science of navigation, and +therefore felt ill-will towards him, consented; but he was very much +puzzled how to arrange that three were to fight at the same time, for +he had no idea of there being two duels; so he went to his cabin and +commenced reading. Jack, on the other hand, dared not say a word to +Jolliffe on the subject; indeed there was no one in the ship to whom he +could confide but Gascoigne: he therefore went to him, and although +Gascoigne thought it was excessively 'infra dig' of Jack to meet even +the boatswain, as the challenge had been given there was no retracting: +he therefore consented, like all midshipmen, anticipating fun, and +quite thoughtless of the consequences. +</P> + +<P> +The second day after they had been anchored in Valette Harbour, the +boatswain and gunner, Jack and Gascoigne, obtained permission to go on +shore. Mr Easthupp, the purser's steward, dressed in his best blue +coat, with brass buttons and velvet collar, the very one in which he +had been taken up when he had been vowing and protesting that he was a +gentleman, at the very time that his hand was abstracting a +pocket-book, went up on the quarter-deck, and requested the same +indulgence, but Mr Sawbridge refused, as he required him to return +staves and hoops at the cooperage. Mesty also, much to his +mortification, was not to be spared. This was awkward, but it was got +over by proposing that the meeting should take place behind the +cooperage at a certain hour, on which Mr Easthupp might slip out, and +borrow a portion of the time appropriated to his duty, to heal the +breach in his wounded honour. So the parties all went on shore, and put +up at one of the small inns to make the necessary arrangements. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Tallboys then addressed Mr Gascoigne, taking him apart while the +boatswain amused himself with a glass of grog, and our hero sat outside +teasing a monkey. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Gascoigne," said the gunner, "I have been very much puzzled how +this duel should be fought, but I have at last found it out. You see +that there are three parties to fight; had there been two or four there +would have been no difficulty, as the right line or square might guide +us in that instance; but we must arrange it upon the triangle in this." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne stared; he could not imagine what was coming. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you aware, Mr Gascoigne, of the properties of an equilateral +triangle?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied the midshipman, "that it has three equal sides—but what +the devil has that to do with the duel?" +</P> + +<P> +"Everything, Mr Gascoigne," replied the gunner; "it has resolved the +great difficulty: indeed, the duel between three can only be fought +upon that principle. You observe," said the gunner, taking a piece of +chalk out of his pocket, and making a triangle on the table, "in this +figure we have three points, each equidistant from each other: and we +have three combatants—so that, placing one at each point, it is all +fair play for the three: Mr Easy, for instance, stands here, the +boatswain here, and the purser's steward at the third corner. Now, if +the distance is fairly measured, it will be all right." +</P> + +<P> +"But then," replied Gascoigne, delighted at the idea; "how are they to +fire?" "It certainly is not of much consequence," replied the gunner, +"but still, as sailors, it appears to me that they should fire with the +sun; that is, Mr Easy fires at Mr Biggs, Mr Biggs fires at Mr Easthupp, +and Mr Easthupp fires at Mr Easy; so that you perceive that each party +has his shot at one, and at the same time receives the fire of another." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne was in ecstasies at the novelty of the proceeding, the more +so as he perceived that Easy obtained every advantage by the +arrangement. +</P> + +<P> +"Upon my word, Mr Tallboys, I give you great credit; you have a +profound mathematical head, and I am delighted with your arrangement. +Of course, in these affairs, the principals are bound to comply with +the arrangements of the seconds, and I shall insist upon Mr Easy +consenting to your excellent and scientific proposal." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne went out, and pulling Jack away from the monkey, told him +what the gunner had proposed, at which Jack laughed heartily. +</P> + +<P> +The gunner also explained it to the boatswain, who did not very well +comprehend, but replied— +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say it's all right—shot for shot, and d—n all favours." The +parties then repaired to the spot with two pairs of ship's pistols, +which Mr Tallboys had smuggled on shore; and, as soon as they were on +the ground, the gunner called Mr Easthupp out of the cooperage. In the +meantime, Gascoigne had been measuring an equilateral triangle of +twelve paces—and marked it out. Mr Tallboys, on his return with the +purser's steward, went over the ground, and finding that it was "equal +angles subtended by equal sides," declared that it was all right. Easy +took his station, the boatswain was put into his, and Mr Easthupp, who +was quite in a mystery, was led by the gunner to the third position. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Mr Tallboys," said the purser's steward, "I don't understand +this. Mr Easy will first fight Mr Biggs, will he not?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied the gunner, "this is a duel of three. You will fire at +Mr Easy, Mr Easy will fire at Mr Biggs, and Mr Biggs will fire at you. +It is all arranged, Mr Easthupp." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said Mr Easthupp, "I do not understand it. Why is Mr Biggs to +fire at me? I have no quarrel with Mr Biggs." +</P> + +<P> +"Because Mr Easy fires at Mr Biggs, and Mr Biggs must have his shot as +well." +</P> + +<P> +"If you have ever been in the company of gentlemen, Mr Easthupp," +observed Gascoigne, "you must know something about duelling." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes, I've kept the best company, Mr Gascoigne, and I can give a +gentleman satisfaction; but—" +</P> + +<P> +"Then, sir, if that is the case, you must know that your honour is in +the hands of your second, and that no gentleman appeals." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes, I know that, Mr Gascoigne; but still I've no quarrel with Mr +Biggs, and therefore, Mr Biggs, of course you will not aim at me." +</P> + +<P> +"Why you don't think that I am going to be fired at for nothing," +replied the boatswain; "no, no, I'll have my shot anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"But at your friend, Mr Biggs?" +</P> + +<P> +"All the same, I shall fire at somebody; shot for shot, and hit the +luckiest." +</P> + +<P> +"Vel, gentlemen, I purtest against these proceedings," replied Mr +Easthupp; "I came here to have satisfaction from Mr Easy, and not to be +fired at by Mr Biggs." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you have satisfaction when you fire at Mr Easy?" replied the +gunner; "what more would you have?" +</P> + +<P> +"I purtest against Mr Biggs firing at me." +</P> + +<P> +"So you would have a shot without receiving one," cried Gascoigne: "the +fact is that this fellow's a confounded coward, and ought to be kicked +into the cooperage again." +</P> + +<P> +At this affront Mr Easthupp rallied, and accepted the pistol offered by +the gunner. +</P> + +<P> +"You ear those words, Mr Biggs; pretty language to use to a gentleman. +You shall ear from me, sir, as soon as the ship is paid off. I purtest +no longer, Mr Tallboys; death before dishonour. I'm a gentleman, +damme!" +</P> + +<P> +At all events, the swell was not a very courageous gentleman, for he +trembled most exceedingly as he pointed his pistol. +</P> + +<P> +The gunner gave the word, as if he were exercising the great guns on +board ship. +</P> + +<P> +"Cock your locks!"—"Take good aim at the object!"—"Fire!"—"Stop your +vents!" The only one of the combatants who appeared to comply with the +latter supplementary order was Mr Easthupp, who clapped his hand to his +trousers behind, gave a loud yell, and then dropped down; the bullet +having passed clean through his seat of honour, from his having +presented his broadside as a target to the boatswain as he faced +towards our hero. Jack's shot had also taken effect, having passed +through both the boatswain's cheeks, without further mischief than +extracting two of his best upper double teeth, and forcing through the +hole of the further cheek the boatswain's own quid of tobacco. As for +Mr Easthupp's ball, as he was very unsettled, and shut his eyes before +he fired, it had gone the Lord knows where. +</P> + +<P> +The purser's steward lay on the ground and screamed—the boatswain spit +his double teeth and two or three mouthfuls of blood out, and then +threw down his pistols in a rage. +</P> + +<P> +"A pretty business, by God," sputtered he; "he's put my pipe out. How +the devil am I to pipe to dinner when I'm ordered, all my wind escaping +through the cheeks?" +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime, the others had gone to the assistance of the purser's +steward, who continued his vociferations. They examined him, and +considered a wound in that part not to be dangerous. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold your confounded bawling," cried the gunner, "or you'll have the +guard down here: you're not hurt." +</P> + +<P> +"Han't hi?" roared the steward: "Oh, let me die, let me die; don't move +me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense," cried the gunner, "you must get up and walk down to the +boat; if you don't we'll leave you—hold your tongue, confound you. You +won't? then I'll give you something to halloo for." +</P> + +<P> +Whereupon Mr Tallboys commenced cuffing the poor wretch right and left, +who received so many swinging boxes of the ear that he was soon reduced +to merely pitiful plaints of "Oh dear!—such inhumanity—I purtest—oh +dear! must I get up? I can't, indeed." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not think he can move, Mr Tallboys," said Gascoigne; "I should +think the best plan would be to call up two of the men from the +cooperage, and let them take him at once to the hospital." +</P> + +<P> +The gunner went down to the cooperage to call the men. Mr Biggs, who +had bound up his face as if he had a toothache, for the bleeding had +been very slight, came up to the purser's steward. +</P> + +<P> +"What the hell are you making such a howling about? Look at me, with +two shot-holes through my figure head, while you have only got one in +your stem: I wish I could change with you, by heavens, for I could use +my whistle then—now if I attempt to pipe, there will be such a +wasteful expenditure of his Majesty's stores of wind, that I never +shall get out a note. A wicked shot of yours, Mr Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"I really am very sorry," replied Jack, with a polite bow, "and I beg +to offer my best apology." +</P> + +<P> +During this conversation, the purser's steward felt very faint, and +thought he was going to die. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear! oh dear! what a fool I was; I never was a gentleman—only a +swell: I shall die; I never will pick a pocket again—never—never—God +forgive me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, confound the fellow," cried Gascoigne, "so you were a pickpocket, +were you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I never will again," replied the fellow in a faint voice. "Hi'll +hamend and lead a good life—a drop of water—oh! lagged at last!" +</P> + +<P> +Then the poor wretch fainted away: and Mr Tallboys coming up with the +men, he was taken on their shoulders and walked off to the hospital, +attended by the gunner and also the boatswain, who thought he might as +well have a little medical advice before he went on board. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Easy," said Gascoigne, collecting the pistols and tying them up +in his handkerchief, "I'll be shot but we're in a pretty scrape; +there's no hushing this up. I'll be hanged if I care, it's the best +piece of fun I ever met with." And at the remembrance of it Gascoigne +laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks. Jack's mirth was not quite +so excessive, as he was afraid that the purser's steward was severely +hurt, and expressed his fears. +</P> + +<P> +"At all events, you did not hit him," replied Gascoigne: "all you have +to answer for is the boatswain's mug,—I think you've stopped his jaw +for the future." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid that our leave will be stopped for the future," replied +Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"That we may take our oaths of," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Then look you, Ned," said Easy; "I've lots of dollars—we may as well +be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, as the saying is, I vote that we do +not go on board." +</P> + +<P> +"Sawbridge will send and fetch us," replied Ned; "but he must find us +first." +</P> + +<P> +"That won't take long, for the soldiers will soon have our description +and rout us out. We shall be pinned in a couple of days." +</P> + +<P> +"Confound it, and they say that the ship is to be hove down, and that +we shall be here six weeks at least, cooped up on board in a broiling +sun, and nothing to do but to watch the pilot fish playing round the +rudder and munch bad apricots. I won't go on board. Look'ye, Jack," +said Gascoigne, "have you plenty of money?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have twenty doubloons, besides dollars," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, we will pretend to be so much alarmed at the result of +this duel that we dare not show ourselves lest we should be hung. I +will write a note and send it to Jolliffe, to say that we have hid +ourselves until the affair is blown over, and beg him to intercede with +the captain and first lieutenant. I will tell him all the particulars, +and refer to the gunner for the truth of it; and then I know that, +although we should be punished, they will only laugh. But I will +pretend that Easthupp is killed, and we are frightened out of our +lives. That will be it, and then let's get on board one of the +speronares which come with fruit from Sicily, sail in the night for +Palermo, and then we'll have a cruise for a fortnight, and when the +money is all gone we'll come back." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a capital idea, Ned, and the sooner we do it the better. I +will write to the captain, begging him to get me off from being hung, +and telling him where we have fled to, and that letter shall be given +after we have sailed." +</P> + +<P> +They were two very nice lads—our hero and Gascoigne. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero sets off on another cruise, <BR> +in which he is not blown off shore. +</H4> + +<P> +Gascoigne and our hero were neither of them in uniform, and they +hastened to Nix Mangare stairs, where they soon picked up the padrone +of a speronare. They went with him into a wine shop, and with the +assistance of a little English from a Maltese boy, whose shirt hung out +of his trousers, they made a bargain, by which it was agreed that, for +the consideration of two doubloons, he would sail that evening and land +them at Gergentif or some other town in Sicily, providing them with +something to eat and gregos to sleep upon. Our two midshipmen then +went back to the tavern from which they had set off to fight the duel, +and ordering a good dinner to be served in a back room, they amused +themselves with killing flies, as they talked over the events of the +day and waited for their dinner. +</P> + +<P> +As Mr Tallboys did not himself think proper to go on board till the +evening, and Mr Biggs also wished it to be dark before he went up the +ship's side, the events of the duel did not transpire till the next +morning. Even then it was not known from the boatswain or gunner, but +by a hospital mate coming on board to inform the surgeon that there was +one of their men wounded under their charge, but that he was doing very +well. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Biggs had ascended the side with his face bound up. "Confound that +Jack Easy," said he, "I have only been on leave twice since I sailed +from Portsmouth. Once I was obliged to come up the side without my +trousers, and show my bare stem to the whole ship's company, and now I +am coming up, and dare not show my figure head." He reported himself to +the officer of the watch, and hastening to his cabin went to bed and +lay the whole night awake from pain, thinking what excuse he could +possibly make for not coming on deck next morning to his duty. +</P> + +<P> +He was, however, saved this trouble, for Mr Jolliffe brought the letter +of Gascoigne up to Mr Sawbridge, and the captain had received that of +our hero. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson came on board and found that Mr Sawbridge could +communicate all the particulars of which he had not been acquainted by +Jack; and after they had read over Gascoigne's letter in the cabin, and +interrogated Mr Tallboys, who was sent down under an arrest, they gave +free vent to their mirth. +</P> + +<P> +"Upon my soul, there's no end to Mr Easy's adventures," said the +captain. "I could laugh at the duel, for after all it is nothing—and +he would have been let off with a severe reprimand. But the foolish +boys have set off in a speronare to Sicily, and how the devil are we to +get them back again?" +</P> + +<P> +"They'll come back, sir," replied Sawbridge, "when all their money's +gone." "Yes, if they do not get into any more scrapes. That young +scamp Gascoigne is as bad as Easy, and now they are together there's no +saying what may happen. I dine at the Governor's to-day; how he will +laugh when I tell him of this new way of fighting a duel!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, it is just the thing that will tickle old Tom." "We must +find out if they have got off the island, Sawbridge, which may not be +the case." +</P> + +<P> +But it was the case. Jack and Gascoigne had eaten a ye good dinner, +sent for the monkey to amuse them till it was dark, and there had +waited till the padrone came to them. +</P> + +<P> +"What shall we do with the pistols, Easy?" "Take them with us, and load +them before we go—we may want them. Who knows but there may be a +mutiny on board of the speronare? I wish we had Mesty with us." +</P> + +<P> +They loaded the pistols, took a pair each and put them in their waists, +concealed under their clothes, divided the ammunition between them, and +soon afterwards the padrone came to tell them all was ready. +</P> + +<P> +Whereupon Messrs Gascoigne and Easy paid their bill and rose to depart, +but the padrone informed them that he should like to see the colour of +their money before they went on board. Jack, very indignant at the +insinuation that he had not sufficient cash, pulled out a handful of +doubloons, and tossing two to the padrone, and asked him if he was +satisfied. +</P> + +<P> +The padrone untied his sash, put in the money, and with many thanks and +protestations of service, begged our young gentlemen to accompany him; +they did so, and in a few minutes were clear of Nix Mangare stairs, +and, passing close to his Majesty's ship Harpy, were soon out of the +harbour of Valette. +</P> + +<P> +Of all the varieties of vessels which float upon the wave, there is +not, perhaps, one that bounds over the water so gracefully or so +lightly as a speronare, or any one so picturesque and beautiful to the +eye of those who watch its progress. +</P> + +<P> +The night was clear, and the stars shone out brilliantly as the light +craft skimmed over the water, and a fragment of a desert and waning +moon threw its soft beams upon the snow-white sail. The vessel, which +had no deck, was full of baskets, which had contained grapes and +various fruits brought from the ancient granary, of Rome, still as +fertile and as luxuriant as ever. The crew consisted of the padrone, +two men and a boy; the three latter, with their gregos, or night +great-coats with hoods, sitting forward before the sail, with their +eyes fixed on the land as they flew past point after point, thinking +perhaps of their wives, or perhaps of their sweethearts, or perhaps not +thinking at all. +</P> + +<P> +The padrone remained aft at the helm, offering every politeness to our +two young gentlemen, who only wished to be left alone. At last they +requested the padrone to give them gregos to lie down upon, as they +wished to go to sleep. He called the boy to take the helm, procured +them all they required, and then went forward. And our two midshipmen +laid down looking at the stars above them for some minutes, without +exchanging a word. At last Jack commenced— +</P> + +<P> +"I have been thinking, Gascoigne, that this is very delightful. My +heart bounds with the vessel, and it almost appears to me as if the +vessel herself was rejoicing in her liberty. Here she is capering over +the waves instead of being tied by the nose with a cable and anchor." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a touch of the sentimental, Jack," replied Gascoigne; "but she +is no more free than she was when at anchor, for she now is forced to +act in obedience to her steersman and go just where he pleases. You +may just as well say that a horse, if taken out of the stable, is free, +with the curb, and his rider on his back." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a touch of the rational, Ned, which destroys the illusion. +Never mind, we are free, at all events. What machines we are on board +of a man-of-war! we walk, talk, eat, drink, sleep, and get up, just +like clock-work; we are wound up to go the twenty-four hours, and then +wound up again; just like old Smallsole does the chronometers." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Jack; but it does not appear to me, that hitherto you have +kept very good time; you require a little more regulating," said +Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"How can you expect any piece of machinery to go well, so damnably +knocked about as a midshipman is?" replied our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Jack; but sometimes you don't keep any time, for you don't +keep any watch. Mr Asper don't wind you up. You don't go at all." +</P> + +<P> +"No; because he allows me to go down; but still I do go, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, to your hammock—it's no go with old Smallsole, if I want a bit +of caulk. But, Jack, what do you say—shall we keep watch to-night?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, to tell you the truth, I have been thinking the same thing—I +don't much like the looks of the padrone—he squints." +</P> + +<P> +"That's no proof of anything, Jack, except that his eyes are not +straight: but if you do not like the look of him, I can tell you that +he very much liked the look of your doubloons—I saw him start, and his +eyes twinkled, and I thought at the time it was a pity you had not paid +him in dollars." +</P> + +<P> +"It was very foolish in me, but at all events he has not seen all. He +saw quite enough, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, but you should have let him see the pistols, and not have +let him see the doubloons." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if he wishes to take what he has seen, he shall receive what he +has not seen—why, there are only four of them." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I have no fear of them, only it may be as well to sleep with one +eye open." +</P> + +<P> +"When shall we make the land?" +</P> + +<P> +"To-morrow evening with this wind, and it appears to be steady. Suppose +we keep watch and watch, and have our pistols out ready, with the +great-coats just turned over them, to keep them out of sight?" +</P> + +<P> +"Agreed—it's about twelve o'clock now—who shall keep the middle +watch?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will, Jack, if you like it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, mind you kick me hard, for I sleep devilish sound. +Good-night, and keep a sharp look-out." +</P> + +<P> +Jack was fast asleep in less than ten minutes; and Gascoigne, with his +pistols lying by him all ready for each hand, sat up at the bottom of +the boat. +</P> + +<P> +There certainly is a peculiar providence in favour of midshipmen +compared with the rest of mankind; they have more lives than a +cat—always in the greatest danger, but always escaping from it. +</P> + +<P> +The padrone of the vessel had been captivated with the doubloons which +Jack had so foolishly exposed to his view, and he had, moreover, +resolved to obtain them. At the very time that our two lads were +conversing aft, the padrone was talking the matter over with his two +men forward, and it was agreed that they should murder, rifle, and then +throw them overboard. +</P> + +<P> +About two o'clock in the morning, the padrone came aft to see if they +were asleep, but found Gascoigne watching. He returned aft again and +again, but found the young man still sitting up. Tired of waiting, +anxious to possess the money, and not supposing that the lads were +armed, he went once more forward and spoke to the men. Gascoigne had +watched his motions; he thought it singular that, with three men in the +vessel, the helm should be confided to the boy—and at last he saw them +draw their knives. He pushed our hero, who woke immediately. Gascoigne +put his hand over Jack's mouth, that he might not speak, and then +whispered his suspicions. Jack seized his pistols—they both cocked +them without noise, and then waited in silence, Jack still lying down, +while Gascoigne continued to sit up at the bottom of the boat. +</P> + +<P> +At last Gascoigne saw the three men coming aft—he dropped one of his +pistols for a second to give Jack a squeeze of the hand, which was +returned, and as Gascoigne watched them making their way through the +piles of empty baskets he leaned back as if he was slumbering. The +padrone, followed by the two men, was at last aft,—they paused a +moment before they stepped over the strengthening plank, which ran from +side to side of the boat between them and the midshipmen, and as +neither of them stirred, they imagined that both were asleep—advanced +and raised their knives, when Gascoigne and Jack, almost at the same +moment, each discharged their pistols into the breast of the padrone +and one of the men, who was with him in advance, who both fell with the +send aft of the boat, so as to encumber the midshipmen with the weight +of their bodies. The third man started back. Jack, who could not +rise, from the padrone lying across his legs, took a steady aim with +his second pistol, and the third man fell. The boy at the helm, who, it +appeared, either was aware of what was to be done, or seeing the men +advance with their knives, had acted upon what he saw, also drew his +knife and struck at Gascoigne from behind; the knife fortunately, after +slightly wounding Gascoigne on the shoulder, had shut on the boy's +hand—Gascoigne sprang up with his other pistol—the boy started back +at the sight of it, lost his balance, and fell overboard. +</P> + +<P> +Our two midshipmen took a few seconds to breathe. "I say, Jack," said +Gascoigne at last, "did you ever—" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I never—" replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"What's to be done now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, as we've got possession, Ned, we had better put a man at the +helm-for the speronare is having it all her own way." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," replied Gascoigne, "and as I can steer better than you, I +suppose it must be me." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne went to the helm, brought the boat up to the wind, and then +they resumed their conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"That rascal of a boy gave me a devil of a lick on the shoulder; I +don't know whether he has hurt me—at all events it's my left shoulder, +so I can steer just as well. I wonder whether the fellows are dead." +</P> + +<P> +"The padrone is, at all events," replied Jack. "It was as much as I +could do to get my legs from under him—but we'll wait till daylight +before we see to that—in the meantime, I'll load the pistols again." +</P> + +<P> +"The day is breaking now—it will be light in half an hour or less. +What a devil of a spree, Jack!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but how can one help it? We ran away because two men are +wounded—and now we are obliged to kill four in self-defence." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but that is not the end of it; when we get to Sicily what are we +to do? we shall be imprisoned by the authorities—perhaps hung." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll argue that point with them," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"We had better argue the point between ourselves, Jack, and see what +will be the best plan to get out of our scrape." +</P> + +<P> +"I think that we just have got out of it—never fear but we'll get out +of the next. Do you know, Gascoigne, it appears to me very odd, but I +can do nothing but there's a bobbery at the bottom of it." +</P> + +<P> +"You certainly have a great talent that way, Jack. Don't I hear one of +those poor fellows groan?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should think that not impossible." +</P> + +<P> +"What shall we do with them?" +</P> + +<P> +"We will argue that point, Ned—we must either keep their bodies, or we +must throw them overboard. Either tell the whole story, or say nothing +about it." +</P> + +<P> +"That's very evident; in short, we must do something, for your argument +goes no further. But now let us take up one of your propositions." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, suppose we keep the bodies on board, run into a seaport, +go to the authorities, and state all the facts, what then?" +</P> + +<P> +"We shall prove, beyond all doubt, that we have killed three men, if +not four; but we shall not prove that we were obliged so to do, Jack. +And then we are heretics—we shall be put in prison till they are +satisfied of our innocence, which we never can prove, and there we +shall remain until we have written to Malta, and a man-of-war comes to +redeem us, if we are not stabbed or something else in the meantime." +</P> + +<P> +"That will not be a very pleasant cruise," replied Jack. "Now let's +argue the point on the other side." +</P> + +<P> +"There is some difficulty there—suppose we throw their bodies +overboard, toss the baskets after them, wash the boat clean, and make +for the first port. We may chance to hit upon the very spot from which +they sailed, and then there will be a pack of wives and children, and a +populace with knives, asking us what has become of the men of the boat!" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't much like the idea of that," said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"And if we don't have such bad luck, still we shall be interrogated as +to who we are, and how we were adrift by ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +"There will be a difficulty about that again—we must swear that it is +a party of pleasure, and that we are gentlemen yachting." +</P> + +<P> +"Without a crew or provisions—yachts don't sail with a clean swept +hold, or gentlemen without a spare shirt—we have nothing but two +gallons of water and two pairs of pistols." +</P> + +<P> +"I have it," said Jack—"we are two young gentlemen in our own boat who +went out to Gozo with pistols to shoot sea-mews, were caught in a gale, +and blown down to Sicily—that will excite interest." +</P> + +<P> +"That's the best idea yet, as it will account for our having nothing in +the boat. Well, then, at all events, we will get rid of the bodies; +but suppose they are not dead—we cannot throw them overboard +alive,—that will be murder." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," replied Jack, "then we must shoot them first, and toss +them overboard afterwards." +</P> + +<P> +"Upon my soul, Easy, you are an odd fellow: however, go and examine the +men, and we'll decide that point by-and-bye: you had better keep your +pistol ready cocked, for they may be shamming." +</P> + +<P> +"Devil a bit of sham here, anyhow," replied Jack, pulling at the body +of the padrone, "and as for this fellow you shot, you might put your +fist into his chest. Now for the third," continued Jack, stepping over +the strengthening piece—"he's all among the baskets. I say, my cock, +are you dead?" and Jack enforced his question with a kick in the ribs. +The man groaned. "That's unlucky, Gascoigne, but however, I'll soon +settle him," said Jack, pointing his pistol. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, Jack," cried Gascoigne, "it really will be murder." +</P> + +<P> +"No such thing, Ned; I'll just blow his brains out, and then I'll come +aft and argue the point with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Now do oblige me by coming aft and arguing the point first. Do, Jack, +I beg of you—I entreat you." +</P> + +<P> +"With all my heart," replied Jack, resuming his seat by Gascoigne; "I +assert, that in this instance killing's no murder. You will observe, +Ned, that by the laws of society, any one who attempts the life of +another has forfeited his own; at the same time, as it is necessary +that the fact should be clearly proved, and justice be duly +administered, the parties are tried, convicted, and then are sentenced +to the punishment." +</P> + +<P> +"I grant all that." +</P> + +<P> +"In this instance the attempt has been clearly proved; we are the +witnesses, and are the judges and jury, and society in general, for the +best of all possible reasons, because there is nobody else. These +men's lives, being therefore forfeited to society, belong to us; and it +does not follow because they were not all killed in the attempt, that +therefore they are not now to be brought out for punishment. And as +there is no common hangman here, we, of course, must do this duty as +well as every other. I have now clearly proved that I am justified in +what I am about to do. But the argument does not stop +there—self-preservation is the first law of nature, and if we do not +get rid of this man, what is the consequence?—that we shall have to +account for his being wounded, and then, instead of judges, we shall +immediately be placed in the position of culprits, and have to defend +ourselves without witnesses. We therefore risk our lives from a +misplaced lenity towards a wretch unworthy to live." +</P> + +<P> +"Your last argument is strong, Easy, but I cannot consent to your doing +what may occasion you uneasiness hereafter when you think of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh! nonsense—I am a philosopher." +</P> + +<P> +"Of what school, Jack? Oh, I presume you are a disciple of Mesty's. I +do not mean to say that you are wrong, but still hear my proposition. +Let us lower down the sail, and then I can leave the helm to assist +you. We will clear the vessel of everything except the man who is still +alive. At all events we may wait a little, and if at last there is no +help for it, I will then agree with you to launch him overboard, even +if he is not quite dead." +</P> + +<P> +"Agreed; even by your own making out, it will be no great sin. He is +half dead already—I only do half the work of tossing him over, so it +will be only quarter murder on my part, and he would have shown no +quarter on his." Here Jack left off arguing and punning, and went +forward and lowered down the sail. "I've half a mind to take my +doubloons back," said Jack, as they launched over the body of the +padrone, "but he may have them—I wonder whether they'll ever turn up +again." +</P> + +<P> +"Not in our time, Jack," replied Gascoigne. The other body, and all the +basket, lumber, etc, were then tossed over, and the boat was cleared of +all but the man who was not yet dead. +</P> + +<P> +"Now let's examine the fellow, and see if he has any chance of +recovery," said Gascoigne. The man lay on his side; Gascoigne turned +him over and found that he was dead. +</P> + +<P> +"Over with him, quick," said Jack, "before he comes to life again." The +body disappeared under the wave—they again hoisted the sail. Gascoigne +took the helm, and our hero proceeded to draw water and wash away the +stains of blood; he then cleared the boat of vine-leaves and rubbish, +with which it was strewed, swept it clean fore and aft, and resumed his +seat by his comrade. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said Jack, "now we've swept the decks, we may pipe to dinner. +I wonder whether there is anything to eat in the locker." +</P> + +<P> +Jack opened it, and found some bread, garlic, sausages, a bottle of +aquadente, and a jar of wine. +</P> + +<P> +"So the padrone did keep his promise, after all." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and had you not tempted him with the sight of so much gold, might +now have been alive." +</P> + +<P> +"To which I reply, that if you had not advised our going off in a +speronare, he would now have been alive." +</P> + +<P> +"And if you had not fought a duel, I should not have given the advice." +</P> + +<P> +"And if the boatswain had not been obliged to come on board without his +trousers at Gibraltar, I should not have fought a duel." +</P> + +<P> +"And if you had not joined the ship, the boatswain would have had his +trousers on." +</P> + +<P> +"And if my father had not been a philosopher, I should not have gone to +sea; so that it is all my father's fault, and he has killed four men +off the coast of Sicily without knowing it—cause and effect. After +all, there's nothing like argument; so, having settled that point, let +us go to dinner." +</P> + +<P> +Having finished their meal, Jack went forward and observed the land +ahead; they steered the same course for three or four hours. +</P> + +<P> +"We must haul our wind more," said Gascoigne; "it will not do to put +into any small town; we have now to choose whether we shall land on the +coast and sink the speronare, or land at some large town." +</P> + +<P> +"We must argue that point," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"In the meantime, do you take the helm, for my arm is quite tired," +replied Gascoigne: "you can steer well enough: by-the-bye, I may as +well look at my shoulder, for it is quite stiff." Gascoigne pulled off +his coat, and found his shirt bloody and sticking to the wound, which, +as we before observed, was slight. He again took the helm, while Jack +washed it clean, and then bathed it with aquadente. +</P> + +<P> +"Now take the helm again," said Gascoigne; "I'm on the sick list." +</P> + +<P> +"And as surgeon—I'm an idler," replied Jack; "but what shall we do?" +continued he; "abandon the speronare at night and sink her, or run in +for a town?" +</P> + +<P> +"We shall fall in with plenty of boats and vessels if we coast it up to +Palermo, and they may overhaul us." +</P> + +<P> +"We shall fall in with plenty of people if we go on shore, and they +will overhaul us." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know, Jack, that I wish we were back and alongside of the +Harpy, I've had cruising enough." +</P> + +<P> +"My cruises are so unfortunate," replied Jack; "they are too full of +adventure; but then I have never yet had a cruise on shore. Now, if we +could only get to Palermo, we should be out of all our difficulties." +</P> + +<P> +"The breeze freshens, Jack," replied Gascoigne; "and it begins to look +very dirty to windward. I think we shall have a gale." +</P> + +<P> +"Pleasant—I know what it is to be short-handed in a gale; however, +there's one comfort, we shall not be blown off-shore this time." +</P> + +<P> +"No, but we may be wrecked on a lee shore. She cannot carry her whole +sail, Easy; we must lower it down, and take in a reef; the sooner the +better, for it will be dark in an hour. Go forward and lower it down, +and then I'll help you." +</P> + +<P> +Jack did so, but the sail went into the water, and he could not drag it +in. "Avast heaving," said Gascoigne, "till I throw her up and take the +wind out of it." +</P> + +<P> +This was done: they reefed the sail, but could not hoist it up: if +Gascoigne left the helm to help Jack, the sail filled; if he went to +the helm and took the wind out of the sail, Jack was not strong enough +to hoist it. The wind increased rapidly, and the sea got up; the sun +went down, and with the sail half hoisted, they could not keep to the +wind, but were obliged to run right for the land. The speronare flew, +rising on the crest of the waves with half her keel clear of the water: +the moon was already up, and gave them light enough to perceive that +they were not five miles from the coast, which was lined with foam. +</P> + +<P> +"At all events they can't accuse us of running away with the boat," +observed Jack; "for she's running away with us." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Gascoigne, dragging at the tiller with all his strength; +"she has taken the bit between her teeth." +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't care if I had a bit between mine," replied Jack; "for I +feel devilish hungry again. What do you say, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"With all my heart," replied Gascoigne; "but, do you know, Easy, it may +be the last meal we ever make." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I vote it's a good one—but why so, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"In half an hour, or thereabouts, we shall be on shore." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's where we want to go." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but the sea runs high, and the boat may be dashed to pieces on +the rocks." +</P> + +<P> +"Then we shall be asked no questions about her or the men." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, but a lee shore is no joke; we may be knocked to pieces as +well as the boat—even swimming may not help us. If we could find a +cove or sandy beach, we might perhaps manage to get on shore." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," replied Jack, "I have not been long at sea, and, of course, +cannot know much about these things. I have been blown off shore, but +I never have been blown on. It may be as you say, but I do not see the +great danger—let's run her right up on the beach at once." +</P> + +<P> +"That's what I shall try to do," replied Gascoigne, who had been four +years at sea, and knew very well what he was about. +</P> + +<P> +Jack handed him a huge piece of bread and sausage. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank ye, I cannot eat." +</P> + +<P> +"I can," replied Jack, with his mouth full. Jack ate while Gascoigne +steered; and the rapidity with which the speronare rushed to the beach +was almost frightful. She darted like an arrow from wave to wave, and +appeared as if mocking their attempts as they curled their summits +almost over her narrow stern. They were within a mile of the beach, +when Jack, who had finished his supper, and was looking at the foam +boiling on the coast, exclaimed— +</P> + +<P> +"That's very fine—very beautiful, upon my soul!" +</P> + +<P> +"He cares for nothing," thought Gascoigne; "he appears to have no idea +of danger." "Now, my dear fellow," said Gascoigne, "in a few minutes we +shall be on the rocks. I must continue at the helm, for the higher she +is forced up the better chance for us; but we may not meet again, so if +we do not, good-bye and God bless you." +</P> + +<P> +"Gascoigne," said Jack, "you are hurt, and I am not; your shoulder is +stiff, and you can hardly move your left arm. Now I can steer for the +rocks as well as you. Do you go to the bow, and there you will have a +better chance—By-the-bye," continued he, picking up his pistols, and +sticking them into his waist, "I won't leave them, they've served us +too good a turn already. Gascoigne, give me the helm." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"I say yes," replied Jack, in a loud, authoritative tone, "and what's +more, I will be obeyed, Gascoigne. I have nerve, if I haven't +knowledge, and at all events I can steer for the beach. I tell you, +give me the helm. Well, then, if you won't, I must take it." +</P> + +<P> +Easy wrested the tiller from Gascoigne's hand, and gave him a shove +forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Now do you look out ahead, and tell me how to steer." Whatever may +have been Gascoigne's feelings at this behaviour of our hero's, it +immediately occurred to him that he could not do better than to run the +speronare to the safest point, and that therefore he was probably more +advantageously employed than if he were at the helm. He went forward +and looked at the rocks, covered at one moment with the tumultuous +waters, and then pouring down cascades from their sides as the waves +recoiled. He perceived a chasm right ahead, and he thought if the boat +was steered for that, she must be thrown up so as to enable them to get +clear of her, for, at every other part, escape appeared impossible. +</P> + +<P> +"Starboard a little—that'll do. Steady—port it is—port-Steer small, +for your life, Easy. Steady now—mind the yard don't hit your +head—hold on." +</P> + +<P> +The speronare was at this moment thrown into a large cleft in a rock, +the sides of which were nearly perpendicular; nothing else could have +saved them, as, had they struck the rock outside, the boat would have +been dashed to pieces, and its fragments have disappeared in the +undertow. As it was, the cleft was not four feet more than the width +of the boat, and as the waves hurled her up into it, the yard of the +speronare was thrown fore and aft with great violence, and had not Jack +been warned, he would have been struck overboard without a chance of +being saved; but he crouched down and it passed over him. As the water +receded, the boat struck, and was nearly dry between the rocks, but +another wave followed, dashing the boat further up, but, at the same +time, filling it with water. The bow of the boat was now several feet +higher than the stern, where Jack held on; and the weight of the water +in her, with the force of the returning waves, separated her right +across abaft the mast. Jack perceived that the after part of the boat +was going out again with the wave; he caught hold of the yard which had +swung fore and aft, and as he clung to it, the part of the boat on +which he had stood disappeared from under him, and was swept away by +the returning current. +</P> + +<P> +Jack required the utmost of his strength to maintain his position until +another wave floated him, and dashed him higher up: but he knew his +life depended on holding on to the yard, which he did, although under +water, and advanced several feet. When the wave receded, he found +footing on the rock, and still clinging, he walked till he had gained +the fore part of the boat, which was wedged firmly into a narrow part +of the cleft. The next wave was not very large, and he had gained so +much that it did not throw him off his legs. He reached the rock, and +as he climbed up the side of the chasm to gain the ledge above, he +perceived Gascoigne standing above him, and holding out his hand to his +assistance. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," says Jack, shaking himself to get rid of the water, "here we +are ashore, at last—I had no idea of anything like this. The rush +back of the water was so strong that it has almost torn my arms out of +their sockets. How very lucky I sent you forward with your disabled +shoulder! By-the-bye, now that it's all over, and you must see that I +was right, I beg to apologise for my rudeness." +</P> + +<P> +"There needs no apology for saving my life, Easy," replied Gascoigne, +trembling with the cold; "and no one but you would ever have thought of +making one at such a moment." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder whether the ammunition's dry," said Jack; "I put it all in my +hat." Jack took off his hat, and found the cartridges had not suffered. +"Now, then, Gascoigne, what shall we do?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hardly know," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose then, we sit down and argue the point." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I thank you, there will be too much cold water thrown upon our +arguments—I'm half dead; let us walk on." +</P> + +<P> +"With all my heart," said Jack, "it's devilish steep, but I can argue +up hill or down hill, wet or dry—I'm used to it—for, as I told you +before, Ned, my father is a philosopher, and so am I." +</P> + +<P> +"By the Lord! you are," replied Gascoigne, as he walked on. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero follows his destiny and forms a tableau. +</H4> + +<P> +Our hero and his comrade climbed the precipice, and, after some +minutes' severe toil, arrived at the summit, when they sat down to +recover themselves. The sky was clear, although the gale blew strong. +They had an extensive view of the coast, lashed by the angry waves. +</P> + +<P> +"It's my opinion, Ned," said Jack, as he surveyed the expanse of +troubled water, "that we're just as well out of that." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you, Jack; but it's also my opinion that we should be +just as well out of this, for the wind blows through one. Suppose we go +a little further inland, where we may find some shelter till the +morning." +</P> + +<P> +"It's rather dark to find anything," rejoined our hero; "but however, a +westerly gale on the top of a mountain with wet clothes in the middle +of the night, with nothing to eat or drink, is not the most comfortable +position in the world, and we may change for the better." +</P> + +<P> +They proceeded over a flat of a hundred yards, and then descended—the +change in the atmosphere was immediate. As they continued their march +inland, they came to a high road, which appeared to run along the +shore, and they turned into it; for, as Jack said very truly, a road +must lead to something. After a quarter of an hour's walk, they again +heard the rolling of the surf, and perceived the white walls of houses. +</P> + +<P> +"Here we are at last," said Jack. "I wonder if any one will turn out +to take us in, or shall we stow away for the night in one of those +vessels hauled up on the beach?" +</P> + +<P> +"Recollect this time, Easy," said Gascoigne, "not to show your money; +that is, show only a dollar, and say you have no more; or promise to +pay when we arrive at Palermo; and if they will neither trust us, nor +give to us, we must make it out as we can." +</P> + +<P> +"How the cursed dogs bark! I think we shall do very well this time, +Gascoigne; we do not look as if we were worth robbing, at all events, +and we have the pistols to defend ourselves with if we are attacked. +Depend upon it I will show no more gold. And now let us make our +arrangements. Take you one pistol and take half the gold—I have it +all in my right-hand pocket—my dollars and pistarenes in my left. You +shall take half of them too. We have silver enough to go on with till +we are in a safe place." +</P> + +<P> +Jack then divided the money in the dark, and also gave Gascoigne a +pistol. "Now, then, shall we knock for admittance? Let's first walk +through the village, and see if there's anything like an inn. Those +yelping curs will soon be at our heels; they come nearer and nearer +every time. There's a cart, and it's full of straw—suppose we go to +bed till to-morrow morning—we shall be warm, at all events." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Gascoigne, "and sleep much better than in any of the +cottages. I have been in Sicily before, and you have no idea how the +fleas bite." +</P> + +<P> +Our two midshipmen climbed up into the cart, nestled themselves into +the straw, or rather Indian corn leaves, and were soon fast asleep. As +they had not slept for two nights, it is not to be wondered at that +they slept soundly so soundly, indeed, that about two hours after they +had got into their comfortable bed, the peasant, who had brought to the +village some casks of wine to be shipped and taken down the coast in a +felucca, yoked his bullocks, and not being aware of his freight, drove +off, without in any way disturbing their repose, although the roads in +Sicily are not yet macadamised. +</P> + +<P> +The jolting of the roads rather increased than disturbed the sleep of +our adventurers; and, although there were some rude shocks, it only had +the effect of making them fancy in their dreams that they were again in +the boat, and that she was still dashing against the rocks. In about +two hours, the cart arrived at its destination—the peasant unyoked his +bullocks and led them away. The same cause will often produce contrary +effects: the stopping of the motion of the cart disturbed the rest of +our two midshipmen; they turned round in the straw, yawned, spread out +their arms, and then awoke. Gascoigne, who felt considerable pain in +his shoulder, was the first to recall his scattered senses. +</P> + +<P> +"Easy," cried he, as he sat up and shook off the corn leaves. +</P> + +<P> +"Port it is," said Jack, half dreaming. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Easy, you are not on board now. Rouse and bit." Jack then sat up +and looked at Gascoigne. The forage in the cart was so high round them +that they could not see above it; they rubbed their eyes, yawned, and +looked at each other. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you any faith in dreams?" said Jack to Gascoigne, "because I had +a very queer one last night." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, so had I," replied Gascoigne. "I dreamt that the cart rolled by +itself into the sea, and went away with us right in the wind's eye back +to Malta; and considering that it never was built for such service, she +behaved uncommonly well. Now, what was your dream?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mine was, that we woke up and found ourselves in the very town from +which the speronare had sailed, and that they had found the fore part +of the speronare among the rocks, had recognised her, and picked up one +of our pistols. That they had laid hold of us, and had insisted that +we had been thrown on shore in the boat, and asked us what had become +of the crew—they were just seizing us, when I awoke." +</P> + +<P> +"Your dream is more likely to come true than mine, Easy; but still I +think we need not fear that. At the same time, we had better not +remain here any longer; and it occurs to me, that if we tore our +clothes more, it would be advisable—we shall, in the first place, look +more wretched; and, in the next place, can replace them with the dress +of the country, and so travel without exciting suspicion. You know +that I can speak Italian pretty well." +</P> + +<P> +"I have no objection to tear my clothes if you wish," replied Jack; "at +the same time give me your pistol; I will draw the charges and load +them again. They must be wet." +</P> + +<P> +Having reloaded the pistols and rent their garments, the two midshipmen +stood up in the cart and looked about them. +</P> + +<P> +"Halloo!—why how's this, Gascoigne? last night we were close to the +beach, and among houses, and now—where the devil are we? You dreamt +nearer the mark than I did, for the cart has certainly taken a cruise." +</P> + +<P> +"We must have slept like midshipmen, then," replied Gascoigne: "surely +it cannot have gone far." +</P> + +<P> +"Here we are, surrounded by hills on every side, for at least a couple +of miles. Surely some good genius has transported us into the +interior, that we might escape from the relatives of the crew whom I +dreamt about," said Jack, looking at Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +As it afterwards was known to them, the speronare had sailed from the +very seaport in which they had arrived that night, and where they had +got into the cart. The wreck of the speronare had been found, and had +been recognised, and it was considered by the inhabitants that the +padrone and his crew had perished in the gale. Had they found our two +midshipmen and questioned them, it is not improbable that suspicion +might have been excited, and the results have been such as our hero had +conjured up in his dream. But, as we said before, there is a peculiar +providence for midshipmen. +</P> + +<P> +On a minute survey, they found that they were in an open space which, +apparently, had been used for thrashing and winnowing maize, and that +the cart was standing under a clump of trees in the shade. +</P> + +<P> +"There ought to be a house hereabouts," said Gascoigne, "I should think +that behind the trees we shall find one. Come, Jack, you are as hungry +as I am, I'll answer for it: we must look out for a breakfast +somewhere." +</P> + +<P> +"If they won't give us something to eat, or sell it," replied Jack, who +was ravenous, clutching his pistol, "I shall take it—I consider it no +robbery. The fruits of the earth were made for us all, and it never +was intended that one man should have a superfluity and another starve. +The laws of equality—" +</P> + +<P> +"May appear very good arguments to a starving man, I grant, but still +won't prevent his fellow-creatures from hanging him," replied +Gascoigne. "None of your confounded nonsense, Jack; no man starves +with money in his pocket, and as long as you have that, leave those +that have none to talk about equality and the rights of man." +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to argue that point with you, Gascoigne." "Tell me, do +you prefer sitting down here to argue, or to look out for some +breakfast, Jack?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, the argument may be put off, but hunger cannot." +</P> + +<P> +"That's very good philosophy, Jack, so let's go on." They went through +the copse of wood, which was very thick, and soon discovered the wall +of a large house on the other side. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Jack; "but still let us reconnoitre. It's not a +farmhouse; it must belong to a person of some consequence—all the +better—they will see that we are gentlemen, notwithstanding our +tattered dress. I suppose we are to stick to the story of the sea-mews +at Gozo?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Gascoigne; "I can think of nothing better. But the +English are well received in this island; we have troops at Palermo." +</P> + +<P> +"Have we? I wish I was sitting down at the mess-table—but what's +that? a woman screaming? Yes, by heavens!—come along, Ned." And away +dashed Jack towards the house followed by Gascoigne. As they advanced +the screams redoubled; they entered the porch, burst into the room from +whence they proceeded, and found an elderly gentleman defending himself +against two young men, who were held back by an elderly and a young +lady. Our hero and his comrade had both drawn their pistols, and just +as they burst open the door, the old gentleman who defended himself +against such odds had fallen down. The two others burst from the +women, and were about to pierce him with their swords, when Jack seized +one by the collar of his coat and held him fast, pointing the muzzle of +the pistol to his ear: Gascoigne did the same to the other. It was a +very dramatic tableau. The two women flew to the elderly gentleman and +raised him up; the two assailants being held just as dogs hold pigs by +the ear, trembling with fright, with the points of their rapiers +dropped, looked at the midshipmen and the muzzles of their pistols with +equal dismay; at the same time, the astonishment of the elderly +gentleman and the women, at such an unexpected deliverance, was equally +great. There was a silence for a few seconds. +</P> + +<P> +"Ned," at last said Jack, "tell these chaps to drop their swords, or we +fire." Gascoigne gave the order in Italian, and it was complied with. +The midshipmen then possessed themselves of the rapiers, and gave the +young men their liberty. +</P> + +<P> +The elderly gentleman at last broke the silence. "It would appear, +signors, that there was a special interference of Providence, to +prevent you from committing a foul and unjust murder. Who these are +who have so opportunely come to my rescue, I know not, but thanking +them as I do now, I think that you will yourselves, when you are calm, +also thank them for having prevented you from committing an act which +would have loaded you with remorse, and embittered your future +existence. Gentleman, you are free to depart: you, Don Silvio, have +indeed disappointed me; your gratitude should have rendered you +incapable of such conduct: as for you, Don Scipio, you have been +misled; but you both have, in one point, disgraced yourselves. Ten +days back my sons were both here,—why did you not come then? If you +sought revenge on me, you could not have inflicted it deeper than +through my children, and at least you would not have acted the part of +assassins in attacking, an old man. Take your swords, gentlemen, and +use them better henceforth. Against future attacks I shall be well +prepared." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne, who perfectly understood what was said, presented the sword +to the young gentleman from whom he had taken it—our hero did the +same. The two young men returned them to their sheaths, and quitted +the room without saying a word. +</P> + +<P> +"Whoever you are, I owe to you and thank you for my life," said the +elderly gentleman, scanning the outward appearance of our two +midshipmen. +</P> + +<P> +"We are," replied Gascoigne, "officers in the English navy, and +gentlemen; we were wrecked in our boat last night, and have wandered +here in the dark, seeking for assistance, and food, and some conveyance +to Palermo, where we shall find friends, and the means of appearing +like gentlemen." +</P> + +<P> +"Was your ship wrecked, gentlemen?" inquired the Sicilian, "and many +lives lost?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, our ship is at Malta; we were in a boat on a party of pleasure, +were caught by a gale, and driven on the coast. To satisfy you of the +truth, observe that our pistols have the king's mark, and that we are +not paupers we show you gold." Gascoigne pulled out his doubloons—and +Jack did the same, coolly observing,— +</P> + +<P> +"I thought we were only to show silver, Ned!" +</P> + +<P> +"It needed not that," replied the gentleman; "your conduct in this +affair, your manners and address, fully convince me that you are what +you represent; but were you common peasants, I am equally indebted to +you for my life, and you may command me. Tell me in what way I can be +of service." +</P> + +<P> +"In giving us something to eat, for we have had nothing for many, many +hours. After that we may, perhaps, trespass a little more upon your +kind offices." +</P> + +<P> +"You must, of course, be surprised at what has passed, and curious to +know the occasion," said the gentleman; "you have a right to be +informed of it, and shall be, as soon as you are more comfortable; in +the meantime, allow me to introduce myself as Don Rebiera de Silva." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish," said Jack, who, from his knowledge of Spanish, could +understand the whole of the last part of the Don's speech, "that he +would introduce us to his breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I," said Gascoigne; "but we must wait a little—he ordered the +ladies to prepare something instantly." +</P> + +<P> +"Your friend does not speak Italian," said Don Rebiera. "No, Don +Rebiera, he speaks French and Spanish." "If he speaks Spanish, my +daughter can converse with him; she has but shortly arrived from Spain. +We are closely united with a noble house in that country." +</P> + +<P> +Don Rebiera then led the way to another room, and in a short time there +was a repast brought in, to which our midshipmen did great justice. +</P> + +<P> +"I will now," said the Don, "relate to you, sir, for the information of +yourself and friend, the causes which produced this scene of violence, +which you so opportunely defeated. But first, as it must be very +tedious to your friend, I will send for Donna Clara and my daughter +Agnes to talk to him; my wife understands a little Spanish, and my +daughter, as I said before, has but just left the country, where, from +circumstances, she remained some years." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Donna Clara and Donna Agnes made their appearance and were +introduced, Jack, who had not before paid attention to them, said to +himself, "I have seen a face like that girl's before." If so, he had +never seen many like it, for it was the quintessence of brunette +beauty, and her figure was equally perfect; although, not having yet +completed her fifteenth year, it required still a little more +development. +</P> + +<P> +Donna Clara was extremely gracious, and as, perhaps, she was aware that +her voice would drown that of her husband, she proposed to our hero to +walk in the garden, and in a few minutes they took their seats in a +pavilion at the end of it. The old lady did not talk much Spanish, but +when at a loss for a word, she put in an Italian one, and Jack +understood her perfectly well. She told him her sister had married a +Spanish nobleman many years since, and that before the war broke out +between the Spanish and the English they had gone over with all their +children to see her; that when they wished to return, her daughter +Agnes, then a child, was suffering under a lingering complaint, and it +was thought advisable, as she was very weak, to leave her under the +charge of her aunt, who had a little girl of nearly the same age; that +they were educated together at a convent, near Tarragona, and that she +had only returned two months ago; that she had a very narrow escape, as +the ship in which her uncle, and aunt, and cousins, as well as herself, +were on board, returning from Genoa, where her brother-in-law had been +obliged to go to secure a succession to some property bequeathed to +him, had been captured in the night by the English; but the officer, +who was very polite, had allowed them to go away next day, and very +handsomely permitted them to take all their effects. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, oh," thought Jack; "I thought I had seen her face before; this +then was one of the girls in the corner of the cabin—now I'll have +some fun." +</P> + +<P> +During the conversation with the mother, Donna Agnes had remained some +paces behind, picking now and then a flower, and not attending to what +passed. +</P> + +<P> +When our hero and her mother sat down in the pavilion she joined then, +when Jack addressed her with his usual politeness. +</P> + +<P> +"I am almost ashamed to be sitting by you, Donna Agnes, in this ragged +dress—but the rocks of your coast have no respect for persons." +</P> + +<P> +"We are under great obligations, signor, and do not regard such +trifles." +</P> + +<P> +"You are all kindness, signora," replied Jack; "I little thought this +morning of my good fortune,—I can tell the fortunes of others, but not +my own." +</P> + +<P> +"You can tell fortunes!" replied the old lady. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, madame, I am famous for it—shall I tell your daughter hers?" +Donna Agnes looked at our hero, and smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"I perceive that the young lady does not believe me; I must prove my +art, by telling her of what has already happened to her. The signora +will then give me credit." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, if you do that," replied Agnes. +</P> + +<P> +"Oblige me, by showing me the palm of your hand." +</P> + +<P> +Agnes extended her little hand, and Jack felt so very polite, that he +was nearly kissing it. However, he restrained himself, and examining +the lines— +</P> + +<P> +"That you were educated in Spain—that you arrived here but two months +ago—that you were captured and released by the English, your mother +has already told me; but to prove to you that I knew all that, I must +now be more particular. You were in a ship mounting fourteen guns—was +it not so?" +</P> + +<P> +Donna Agnes nodded her head. "I never told the signor that," cried +Donna Clara. +</P> + +<P> +"She was taken by surprise in the night, and there was no fighting. The +next morning the English burst open the cabin-door; your uncle and your +cousin fired their pistols." +</P> + +<P> +"Holy Virgin!" cried Agnes, with surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"The English officer was a young man, not very good-looking." +</P> + +<P> +"There you are wrong, signor—he was very handsome." +</P> + +<P> +"There is no accounting for taste, signora. You were frightened out of +your wits, and with your cousin you crouched down in the corner of the +cabin. Let me examine that little line closer. You had—yes, it's no +mistake—you had very little clothes on." +</P> + +<P> +Agnes tore away her hand and covered her face. "E vero, e vero; Holy +Jesus! how could you know that?" Of a sudden Agnes looked at our hero, +and after a minute appeared to recognise him. "Oh, mother, 'tis he—I +recollect now, 'tis he!" +</P> + +<P> +"Who, my child?" replied Donna Clara, who had been struck dumb with +Jack's astonishing power of fortune-telling. +</P> + +<P> +"The officer who captured us and was so kind." Jack burst out into a +laughter not to be controlled for some minutes, and then acknowledged +that she had discovered him. +</P> + +<P> +"At all events, Donna Agnes," said he at last, "acknowledge that, +ragged as I am, I have seen you in a much greater dishabille." +</P> + +<P> +Agnes sprang up, and took to her heels, that she might hide her +confusion, and at the same time go to her father and tell him who he +had as his guest. +</P> + +<P> +Although Don Rebiera had not yet finished his narrative, this +announcement of Agnes, who ran in breathless to communicate it, +immediately brought all the parties together, and Jack received their +thanks. +</P> + +<P> +"I little thought," said the Don, "that I should have been so doubly +indebted to you, sir. Command my services as you please, both of you. +My sons are at Palermo, and I trust you will allow them the pleasure of +your friendship when you are tired of remaining with us." +</P> + +<P> +Jack made his politest bow, and then with a shrug of his shoulders +looked down upon his habiliments, which, to please Gascoigne, he had +torn into ribands, as much as to say, "We are not provided for a +lengthened stay." +</P> + +<P> +"My brothers' clothes will fit them, I think," said Agnes to her +father; "they have left plenty in their wardrobes." +</P> + +<P> +"If the signors will condescend to wear them till they can replace +their own." Midshipmen are very condescending. They followed Don +Rebiera, and condescended to put on clean shirts belonging to Don +Philip and Don Martin. Also to put on their trousers, to select their +best waistcoats and coats; in short, they condescended to have a +regular fit-out—and it so happened that the fit-out was not far from a +regular fit. +</P> + +<P> +Having condescended, they then descended, and the intimacy between all +parties became so great that it appeared as if they not only wore the +young men's clothes but also stood in their shoes. Having thus made +themselves presentable, Jack presented his hand to both ladies and led +them into the garden, that Don Rebiera might finish his long story to +Gascoigne without further interruption, and resuming their seats in the +pavilion, he entertained the ladies with a history of his cruise in the +ship after her capture. Agnes soon recovered from her reserve, and +Jack had the forbearance not to allude again to the scene in the cabin, +which was the only thing she dreaded. After dinner, when the family, +according to custom, had retired for the siesta, Gascoigne and Jack, +who had slept enough in the cart to last for a week, went out together +in the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Ned," said Jack, "do you wish yourself on board the Harpy again?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Gascoigne, "we have fallen on our feet at last, but still +not without first being knocked about like peas in a rattle. What a +lovely little creature that Agnes is! How strange that you should fall +in with her again! How odd that we should come here!" +</P> + +<P> +"My good fellow, we did not come here. Destiny brought us in a cart. +She may take us to Tyburn in the same way." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, if you sport your philosophy as you did when we awoke this +morning." +</P> + +<P> +"Nevertheless, I'll be hanged if I'm not right. Suppose we argue the +point?" +</P> + +<P> +"Right or wrong, you will be hanged, Jack; so instead of arguing the +point, suppose I tell you what the Don made such a long story about." +</P> + +<P> +"With all my heart—let us go to the pavilion." Our hero and his friend +took their seats, and Gascoigne then communicated the history of Don +Rebiera, to which we shall dedicate the ensuing chapter. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero. +</H4> + +<P> +"I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to +add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few +families who possess such large estates. My father was a man who had +no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was +of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood. +When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat +belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and +shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits. +</P> + +<P> +"As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he +should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very +extended existence. Had he consulted his own inclinations he would +have declined, but he felt that it was his duty to comply with their +wishes; but he did not trouble himself with the choice, leaving it +wholly to them. They selected a young lady of high family and +certainly of most exquisite beauty. I only wish I could say more in +her favour—for she was my mother—but it is impossible to narrate the +history without exposing her conduct. The marriage took place, and my +father—having woke up, as it were, at the celebration—again returned +to his closet, to occupy himself in abstruse studies—the results of +which have been published, and have fully established his reputation as +a man of superior talent and deep research. But, however much the +public may appreciate the works of a man of genius, whether they be +written to instruct or to amuse, certain it is that a literary man +requires in his wife either a mind congenial to his own, or that pride +in her husband's talents which induces her to sacrifice much of her own +domestic enjoyment to the satisfaction of having his name extolled +abroad. I mention this point as some extenuation of my mother's +conduct. She was neglected most certainly, but not neglected for +frivolous amusements, or because another form had captivated his fancy; +but in his desire to instruct others, and I may add his ambition for +renown, he applied himself to his literary pursuits, became abstracted, +answered without hearing, and left his wife to amuse herself in any way +she might please. A literary husband is, without exception—although +always at home—the least domestic husband in the world, and must try +the best of tempers—not by unkindness, for my father was kind and +indulgent to excess, but by that state of perfect abstraction and +indifference which he showed to everything except the favourite pursuit +which absorbed him. My mother had but to speak, and every wish was +granted—a refusal was unknown. You may say, what could she want more? +I reply, that anything to a woman is preferable to indifference. The +immediate consent to every wish took away, in her opinion, all merit in +the grant—the value of everything is only relative, and in proportion +to the difficulty of obtaining it. The immediate assent to every +opinion was tantamount to insult—it implied that he did not choose to +argue with her. +</P> + +<P> +"It is true that women like to have their own way—but they like at the +same time to have difficulties to surmount and to conquer; otherwise +half the gratification is lost. Although tempests are to be deplored, +still a certain degree of oscillation an motion are requisite to keep +fresh and clear the lake of matrimony, the waters of which otherwise +soon stagnate and become foul, and without some contrary currents of +opinion between a married couple such a stagnation must take place. +</P> + +<P> +"A woman permitted always and invariably to have her own way without +control is much in the same situation as the child who insists upon a +whole instead of half a holiday, and before the evening closes is tired +of himself and everything about him. In short, a little contradiction, +like salt at dinner, seasons and appetises the repast; but too much, +like the condiment in question, spoils the whole, and it becomes +unpalatable in proportion to its excess. +</P> + +<P> +"My mother was a vain woman in every sense of the word—vain of her +birth and of her beauty, and accustomed to receive that homage to which +she considered herself entitled. She had been spoiled in her infancy, +and as she grew up had leant nothing, because she was permitted to do +as she pleased; she was therefore frivolous, and could not appreciate +what she could not comprehend. There never was a more ill-assorted +union." +</P> + +<P> +"I have always thought that such must be the case," replied Gascoigne, +"in Catholic countries, where a young person is taken out of a convent +and mated according to what her family or her wealth may consider as +the most eligible connection." +</P> + +<P> +"On that subject there are many opinions, my friend," replied Don +Rebiera. "It is true, that when a marriage of convenience is arranged +by the parents, the dispositions of the parties are made a secondary +point; but then, again, it must be remembered, that when a choice is +left to the parties themselves, it is at an age at which there is +little worldly consideration: and, led away, in the first place, by +their passions, they form connections with those inferior in their +station which are attended with eventual unhappiness; or, in the other, +allowing that they do choose in their own rank of life, they make quite +as bad or often a worse choice than if their partners were selected for +them." +</P> + +<P> +"I cannot understand that," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"The reason is, because there are no means, or, if means, no wish, to +study each other's disposition. A young man is attracted by person, +and he admires; the young woman is flattered by the admiration, and is +agreeable; if she has any faults she is not likely to display them—not +concealing them from hypocrisy, but because they are not called out. +The young man falls in love, so does the young woman: and when once in +love, they can no longer see faults; they marry, imagining that they +have found perfection. In the blindness of love each raises the other +to a standard of perfection which human nature can never attain, and +each becomes equally annoyed on finding, by degrees, that they were in +error. The re-action takes place, and they then under-rate, as much as +before they had over-rated, each other. Now, if two young people marry +without this violence of passion, they do not expect to find each other +perfect, and perhaps have a better chance of happiness." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't agree with you," thought Gascoigne; "but as you appear to be +as fond of argument as my friend Jack, I shall make no reply, lest +there be no end to the story." +</P> + +<P> +Don Rebiera proceeded. "My mother, finding that my father preferred his +closet and his books to gaiety and dissipation, soon left him to +himself, and amused herself after her own fashion, but not until I was +born, which was ten months after their marriage. My father was +confiding, and, pleased that my mother should be amused, he indulged +her in everything. Time flew on, and I had arrived at my fifteenth +year, and came home from my studies, it being intended that I should +enter the army, which you are aware is generally the only profession +embraced in this country by the heirs of noble families. Of course, I +knew little of what had passed at home, but still I had occasionally +heard my mother spoken lightly of, when I was not supposed to be +present, and I always heard my father's name mentioned with compassion, +as if an ill-used man, but I knew nothing more: still this was quite +sufficient for a young man, whose blood boiled at the idea of anything +like a stigma being cast upon his family. I arrived at my father's—I +found him at his books; I paid my respects to my mother,—I found her +with her confessor. I disliked the man at first sight; he was +handsome, certainly: his forehead was high and white, his eyes large +and fiery, and his figure commanding; but there was a dangerous, proud +look about him which disgusted me,—nothing like humility or devotion. +I might have admired him as an officer commanding a regiment of +cavalry, but as a churchman he appeared to be most misplaced. She named +me with kindness, but he appeared to treat me with disdain; he spoke +authoritatively to my mother, who appeared to yield implicitly, and I +discovered that he was lord of the whole household. My mother, too, it +was said, had given up gaieties and become devout. I soon perceived +more than a common intelligence between them, and before I had been two +months at home I had certain proofs of my father's dishonour; and, what +was still more unfortunate for me, they were aware that such was the +case. +</P> + +<P> +"My first impulse was to acquaint my father; but, on consideration, I +thought it better to say nothing, provided I could persuade my mother +to dismiss Father Ignatio. I took an opportunity when she was alone to +express my indignation at her conduct, and to demand his immediate +dismissal, as a condition of my not divulging her crime. She appeared +frightened, and gave her consent; but I soon found that her confessor +had more power with her than I had, and he remained. I now resolved to +acquaint my father, and I roused him from his studies that he might +listen to his shame. I imagined that he would have acted calmly and +discreetly; but, on the contrary, his violence was without bounds, and +I had the greatest difficulty from preventing his rushing with his +sword to sacrifice them both. At last he contented himself by turning +Father Ignatio out of the house in the most ignominious manner, and +desiring my mother to prepare for seclusion in a convent for the +remainder of her days. But he fell their victim; three days afterwards, +as my mother was, by his directions, about to be removed, he was seized +with convulsions, and died. +</P> + +<P> +"I need hardly say that he was carried off by poison; this, however, +could not be established till long afterwards. Before he died he seemed +to be almost supernaturally prepared for an event which never came into +my thoughts. He sent for another confessor, who drew up his confession +in writing at his own request, and afterwards inserted it in his will. +My mother remained in the house, and Father Ignatio had the insolence +to return. I ordered him away, and he resisted. He was turned out by +the servants. I had an interview with my mother, who defied me, and +told me that I should soon have a brother to share in the succession. I +felt that, if so, it would be the illegitimate progeny of her adultery, +and told her my opinion. She expressed her rage in the bitterest +curses, and I left her. Shortly afterwards she quitted the house and +retired to another of our country seats, where she lived with Father +Ignatio as before. About four months afterwards, formal notice was +sent to me of the birth of a brother; but as when my father's will was +opened, he there had inserted his confession, or the substance of it, +in which he stated, that aware of my mother's guilt, and supposing that +consequences might ensue, he solemnly declared before God that he had +for years lived apart, I cared little for this communication. I +contented myself with replying that as the child belonged to the +church, it had better be dedicated to its service. +</P> + +<P> +"I had, however, soon reason to acknowledge the vengeance of my mother +and her paramour. One night I was attacked by bravos; and had I not +fortunately received assistance, I should have forfeited my life; as it +was, I received a severe wound. +</P> + +<P> +"Against attempts of that kind I took every precaution in future, but +still every attempt was made to ruin my character, as well as to take +my life. A young sister disappeared from a convent in my +neighbourhood, and on the ground near the window from which she +descended was found a hat, recognised to be mine. I was proceeded +against, and notwithstanding the strongest interest, it was with +difficulty that the affair was arranged, although I had incontestably +proved an alibi. +</P> + +<P> +"A young man of rank was found murdered, with a stiletto, known to be +mine, buried in his bosom, and it was with difficulty that I could +establish my innocence. +</P> + +<P> +"Part of a banditti had been seized, and on being asked the name of +their chief, when they received absolution, they confessed that I was +the chief of the band. +</P> + +<P> +"Everything that could be attempted was put into practice; and if I did +not lose my life, at all events I was avoided by almost everybody as a +dangerous and doubtful character. +</P> + +<P> +"At last a nobleman of rank, the father of Don Scipio, whom you +disarmed, was assassinated; the bravos were taken, and they +acknowledged that I was the person who hired them. I defended myself, +but the king imposed upon me a heavy fine and banishment. I had just +received the order, and was crying out against the injustices and +lamenting my hard fate, as I sat down to dinner. Latterly, aware of +what my enemies would attempt, I had been accustomed to live much +alone. My faithful valet Pedro was my only attendant. I was eating my +dinner with little appetite, and had asked for some wine. Pedro went to +the buffet behind him to give me what I required. Accidentally I lifted +up my head, and there being a large pier-glass opposite to me, I saw +the figure of my valet, and that he was pouring a powder in the flagon +of wine which he was about to present to me. I recollected the hat +being found at the nunnery, and also the stiletto in the body of the +young man. +</P> + +<P> +"Like lightning it occurred to me, that I had been fostering the viper +who had assisted to destroy me. He brought me the flagon. I rose, +locked the door, and drawing my sword, I addressed him—'Villain! I +know thee; down on your knees, for your life is forfeited.' +</P> + +<P> +"He turned pale, trembled, and sank upon his knees. 'Now then,' +continued I, 'you have but one chance either drink off this flagon of +wine, or I pass my sword through your body.' He hesitated, and I put +the point to his breast,—even pierced the flesh a quarter of an inch. +</P> + +<P> +"'Drink,' cried I, 'is it so very unjust an order to tell you to drink +old wine? Drink,' continued I, 'or my sword does its duty.' +</P> + +<P> +"He drank, and would then have quitted the room. 'No, no,' said I, +'you remain here, and the wine must have its effect. If I have wronged +you I will make amends to you—but I am suspicious.' +</P> + +<P> +"In about a quarter of an hour, during which time I paced up and down +the room, with my sword drawn, my servant fell down, and cried in mercy +to let him have a priest. I sent for my own confessor, and he then +acknowledged that he was an agent of my mother and Father Ignatio, and +had been the means of making it appear that I was the committer of all +the crimes and murders which had been perpetrated by them, with a view +to my destruction. A strong emetic having been administered to him, he +partially revived, and was taken to Palermo, where he gave his evidence +before he expired. +</P> + +<P> +"When this was made known, the king revoked his sentence, apologised to +me, and I found that once more I was visited and courted by everybody. +My mother was ordered to be shut up in a convent, where she died, I +trust, in grace; and Father Ignatio fled to Italy, and I have been +informed is since dead. +</P> + +<P> +"Having thus rid myself of my principal enemies, I considered myself +safe. I married the lady whom you have just seen, and before my eldest +son was born, Don Silvio, for such was the name given to my asserted +legitimate brother, came of age, and demanded his succession. Had he +asked me for a proper support, as my uterine brother, I should not have +refused; but that the son of Friar Ignatio, who had so often attempted +my life, should, in case of my decease, succeed to the title and +estates, was not to be borne. A lawsuit was immediately commenced, +which lasted four or five years, during which Don Silvio married, and +had a son, that young man whom you heard me address by the same name; +but after much litigation, it was decided that my father's confessor +and will had proved his illegitimacy, and the suit was in my favour. +From that time to this, there has been a constant enmity. Don Silvio +refused all my offers of assistance, and followed me with a pertinacity +which often endangered my life. At last he fell by the hands of his own +agents, who mistook him for me. Don Silvio died without leaving any +provision for his family; his widow I pensioned, and his son I have had +carefully brought up, and have indeed treated most liberally, but he +appears to have imbibed the spirit of his father, and no kindness has +been able to embue him with gratitude. +</P> + +<P> +"He had lately been placed by me in the army, where he found out my two +sons, and quarrelled with them both upon slight pretence; but, in both +instances, he was wounded and carried off the field. +</P> + +<P> +"My two sons have been staying with me these last two months, and did +not leave till yesterday. This morning Don Silvio, accompanied by Don +Scipio, came to the house, and after accusing me of being the murderer +of both their parents, drew their rapiers to assassinate me. My wife +and child, hearing the noise, came down to my assistance—you know the +rest." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero is brought up all standing under a press of sail. +</H4> + +<P> +Our limits will not permit us to relate all that passed during our +hero's stay of a fortnight at Don Rebiera's. He and Gascoigne were +treated as if they were his own sons, and the kindness of the female +part of the family was equally remarkable. Agnes, naturally perhaps, +showed a preference or partiality for Jack: to which Gascoigne +willingly submitted, as he felt that our hero had a prior and stronger +claim, and during the time that they remained a feeling of attachment +was created between Agnes and the philosopher, which, if not love, was +at least something very near akin to it, but the fact was, that they +were both much too young to think of marriage; and, although they +walked and talked, and laughed, and played together, they were always +at home in time for their dinner. Still, the young lady thought she +preferred our hero, even to her brothers, and Jack thought that the +young lady was the prettiest and kindest girl that he had ever met +with. At the end of the fortnight, our two midshipmen took their +leave, furnished with letters of recommendation to many of the first +nobility in Palermo, and mounted on two fine mules with bell bridles. +The old Donna kissed them both—the Don showered down his blessings of +good wishes, and Donna Agnes' lips trembled as she bade them adieu; +and, as soon as they were gone, she went up to her chamber and wept. +Jack also was very grave, and his eyes moistened at the thoughts of +leaving Agnes. Neither of them were aware, until the hour of parting, +how much they had wound themselves together. +</P> + +<P> +The first quarter of an hour our two midshipmen followed their guide in +silence. Jack wished to be left to his own thoughts, and Gascoigne +perceived it. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Easy," said Gascoigne, at last, "if I had been in your place, +constantly in company of, and loved by, that charming girl, I could +never have torn myself away." +</P> + +<P> +"Loved by her, Ned!" replied Jack, "what makes you say that?" "Because +I am sure it was the case; she lived but in your presence. Why, if you +were out of the room, she never spoke a word, but sat there as +melancholy as a sick monkey—the moment you came in again, she beamed +out as glorious as the sun, and was all life and spirit." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought people were always melancholy when they were in love," +replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"When those that they love are out of their presence." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, I am out of her presence, and I feel very melancholy, so I +suppose, by your argument, I am in love. Can a man be in love without +knowing it?" +</P> + +<P> +"I really cannot say, Jack; I never was in love myself, but I've seen +many others spoony. My time will come, I suppose, by-and-bye. They +say, that for every man made, there is a woman also made to fit him, if +he could only find her. Now, it's my opinion that you have found +yours—I'll lay my life she's crying at this moment." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really think so, Ned? let's go back—poor little Agnes—let's +go back; I feel I do love her, and I'll tell her so." "Pooh, nonsense! +it's too late now; you should have told her that before, when you +walked with her in the garden." +</P> + +<P> +"But I did not know it, Ned. However, as you say, it would be foolish +to turn back, so I'll write to her from Palermo." +</P> + +<P> +Here an argument ensued upon love, which we shall not trouble the +reader with, as it was not very profound, both sides knowing very +little on the subject. It did, however, end with our hero being +convinced that he was desperately in love, and he talked about giving +up the service as soon as he arrived at Malta. It is astonishing what +sacrifices midshipmen will make for the objects of their adoration. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until late in the evening that our adventurers arrived at +Palermo. As soon as they were lodged at the hotel, Gascoigne sat down +and wrote a letter in their joint names to Don Rebiera, returning him +many thanks for his great kindness, informing him of their safe +arrival, and trusting that they should soon meet again: and Jack took +up his pen, and indicted a letter in Spanish to Agnes, in which he +swore that neither tide nor time, nor water, nor air, nor heaven, nor +earth, nor the first lieutenant, nor his father, nor absence, nor death +itself, should prevent him from coming back and marrying her, the first +convenient opportunity, begging her to refuse a thousand offers, as +come back he would, although there was no saying when. It was a +perfect love letter, that is to say, it was the essence of nonsense; +but that made it perfect, for the greater the love the greater the +folly. +</P> + +<P> +These letters were consigned to the man who was sent as their guide, +and also had to return with the mules. He was liberally rewarded; and, +as Jack told him to be very careful of his letter, the Italian +naturally concluded that it was to be delivered clandestinely, and he +delivered it accordingly, at a time when Agnes was walking in the +garden thinking of our hero. Nothing was more opportune than the +arrival of the letter; Agnes ran to the pavilion, read it over twenty +times, kissed it twenty times, and hid it in her bosom; sat for a few +minutes in deep and placid thought, took the letter out of its +receptacle, and read it over and over again. It was very bad Spanish, +and very absurd, but she thought it delightful, poetical, classical, +sentimental, argumentative, convincing, incontrovertible, imaginative +and even grammatical; for if it was not good Spanish, there was no +Spanish half so good. Alas! Agnes was indeed unsophisticated, to be +in such ecstasies with a midshipman's love letter. Once more she +hastened to her room to weep, but it was from excess of joy and +delight. The reader may think Agnes silly, but he must take into +consideration the climate, and that she was not yet fifteen. +</P> + +<P> +Our young gentlemen sent for a tailor, and each ordered a new suit of +clothes; they delivered their letters of recommendation, and went to +the banker to whom they were addressed by Don Rebiera. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall draw for ten pounds, Jack," said Gascoigne, "on the strength +of the shipwreck; I shall tell the truth, all except that we forgot to +ask for leave, which I shall leave out; and I am sure the story will be +worth ten pounds. What shall you draw for, Jack?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall draw for two hundred pounds," replied Jack; "I mean to have a +good cruise while I can." +</P> + +<P> +"But will your Governor stand that, Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"To be sure he will." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you're right—he is a philosopher—I wish he'd teach mine, for he +hates the sight of a bill." +</P> + +<P> +"Then don't you draw, Ned—I have plenty for both. If every man had +his equal share and rights in the world, you would be as able to draw +as much as I; and as you cannot, upon the principles of equality you +shall have half." +</P> + +<P> +"I really shall become a convert to your philosophy, Jack; it does not +appear to be so nonsensical as I thought it. At all events, it has +saved my old Governor ten pounds, which he can ill afford, as a colonel +on half-pay." +</P> + +<P> +On their return to the inn, they found Don Philip and Don Martin, to +whom Don Rebiera had written, who welcomed them with open arms. They +were two very fine young men of eighteen and nineteen, who were +finishing their education in the army. Jack asked them to dinner, and +they and our hero soon became inseparable. They took him to all the +theatres, the conversaziones of all the nobility, and as Jack lost his +money with good humour, and was a very handsome fellow, he was +everywhere well received and was made much of: many ladies made love to +him, but Jack was only very polite, because he thought more and more of +Agnes every day. Three weeks passed away like lightning, and neither +Jack nor Gascoigne thought of going back. At last, one fine day H.M. +frigate Aurora anchored in the bay, and Jack and Gascoigne, who were at +a party at the Duke of Pentaro's, met with the captain of the Aurora, +who was also invited. The Duchess introduced them to Captain Tartar, +who imagining them, from their being in plain clothes, to be young +Englishmen of fortune on their travels, was very gracious and +condescending. Jack was so pleased with his urbanity that he requested +the pleasure of his company to dinner the next day: Captain Tartar +accepted the invitation, and they parted shaking hands, with many +expressions of pleasure in having made his acquaintance. Jack's party +was rather large, and the dinner sumptuous. The Sicilian gentlemen did +not drink much wine: but Captain Tartar liked his bottle, and although +the rest of the company quitted the table to go to a ball given that +evening by the Marquesa Novara, Jack was too polite not to sit it out +with the captain: Gascoigne closed his chair to Jack's, who, he was +afraid, being a little affected with the wine, would "let the cat out +of the bag." +</P> + +<P> +The captain was amazingly entertaining. Jack told him how happy he +should be to see him at Forest Hill, which property the captain +discovered to contain six thousand acres of land, and also that Jack +was an only son; and Captain Tartar was quite respectful when he found +that he was in such very excellent company. The captain of the frigate +inquired of Jack what brought him out here, and Jack, whose prudence +was departing, told him that he came in his Majesty's ship Harpy. +Gascoigne gave Jack a nudge, but it was of no use, for as the wine got +into Jack's brain, so did his notions of equality. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! Wilson gave you a passage; he's an old friend of mine." +</P> + +<P> +"So he is of ours," replied Jack; "he's a devilish good sort of a +fellow, Wilson." +</P> + +<P> +"But where have you been since you came out?" inquired Captain Tartar. +</P> + +<P> +"In the Harpy," replied Jack; "to be sure, I belong to her." +</P> + +<P> +"You belong to her! in what capacity, may I ask?" inquired Captain +Tartar in a much less respectful and confidential tone. +</P> + +<P> +"Midshipman," replied Jack; "so is Mr Gascoigne." +</P> + +<P> +"Umph! you are on leave then?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," replied Jack; "I'll tell you how it is, my dear fellow." +</P> + +<P> +"Excuse me for one moment," replied Captain Tartar, rising up; "I must +give some directions to my servant which I forgot." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Tartar hailed his coxswain out of the window, gave orders just +outside of the door, and then returned to the table. In the meantime, +Gascoigne, who expected a breeze, had been cautioning Jack, in a low +tone, at intervals, when Captain Tartar's back was turned: but it was +useless; the extra quantity of wine had got into Jack's head, and he +cared nothing for Gascoigne's remonstrance. When the captain resumed +his seat at the table, Jack gave him the true narrative of all that had +passed, to which his guest paid the greatest attention. Jack wound up +his confidence by saying, that in a week or so he should go back to Don +Rebiera and propose for Donna Agnes. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah!" exclaimed Captain Tartar, drawing his breath with astonishment, +and compressing his lip. +</P> + +<P> +"Tartar, the wine stands with you," said Jack, "allow me to help you." +Captain Tartar threw himself back in his chair, and let all the air out +of his chest with a sort of whistle, as if he could hardly contain +himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you had wine enough?" said Jack, very politely; "if so, we will +go to the Marquesa's." +</P> + +<P> +The coxswain came to the door, touched his hat to the captain, and +looked significantly. +</P> + +<P> +"And so, sir," cried Captain Tartar, in a voice of thunder, rising from +his chair, "you're a d——d runaway midshipman, who, if you belonged to +my ship, instead of marrying Donna Agnes, I would marry you to the +gunner's daughter, by G—d; two midshipmen sporting plain clothes in +the best society in Palermo, and having the impudence to ask a +post-captain to dine with them! To ask me and address me as 'Tartar,' +and 'my dear fellow!' you infernal young scamps!" continued Captain +Tartar, now boiling with rage, and striking his fist on the table so as +to set all the glasses waltzing. +</P> + +<P> +"Allow me to observe, sir," said Jack, who was completely sobered by +the address, 'that we do not belong to your ship, and that we are in +plain clothes.' +</P> + +<P> +"In plain clothes—midshipmen in mufti—yes, you are so: a couple of +young swindlers, without a sixpence in your pocket, passing yourselves +off as young men of fortune, and walking off through the window without +paying your bill." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean to call me a swindler, sir," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, you—" +</P> + +<P> +"Then you lie!" exclaimed our hero in a rage. "I am a gentleman, +sir—I am sorry I cannot pay you the same compliment." +</P> + +<P> +The astonishment and rage of Captain Tartar took away his breath. He +tried to speak, but could not—he gasped, and gasped, and then sat or +almost fell down in his chair—at last he recovered himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Matthews—Matthews!" +</P> + +<P> +"Sir," replied the coxswain, who had remained at the door. +</P> + +<P> +"The sergeant of marines." +</P> + +<P> +"Here he is, sir." The sergeant entered, and raised the back of his +hand to his hat. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring your marines in—take charge of these two. Directly you are on +board, put them both legs in irons." +</P> + +<P> +The marines with their bayonets walked in and took possession of our +hero and Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps, sir," replied Jack, who was now cool again, "you will permit +us to pay our bill before we go on board. We are no swindlers, and it +is rather a heavy one—or, as you have taken possession of our persons, +you will, perhaps, do us the favour to discharge it yourself"; and Jack +threw on the table a heavy purse of dollars. "I have only to observe, +Captain Tartar, that I wish to be very liberal to the waiters." +</P> + +<P> +"Sergeant, let them pay their bill," said Captain Tartar in a more +subdued tone, taking his hat and sword, and walking out of the room. +</P> + +<P> +"By heavens, Easy, what have you done?—you will be tried by a +court-martial, and turned out of the service." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so," replied Jack; "I was a fool to come into it. But he +called me a swindler, and I would give the same answer to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"If you are ready, gentlemen," said the sergeant who had been long +enough with Captain Tartar to be aware that to be punished by him was +no proof of fault having been committed. +</P> + +<P> +"I will go and pack up our things, Easy, while you pay the bill," said +Gascoigne. "Marine, you had better come with me." +</P> + +<P> +In less than half an hour, our hero and his comrade, instead of finding +themselves at the Marquesa's ball, found themselves very comfortably in +irons under the half-deck of his Majesty's frigate, Aurora. +</P> + +<P> +We shall leave them, and return to Captain Tartar, who had proceeded to +the ball, to which he had been invited. On his entering he was +accosted by Don Martin and Don Philip, who inquired what had become of +our hero and his friend. Captain Tartar who was in no very good +humour, replied briskly, "that they were on board his ship in irons." +</P> + +<P> +"In irons! for what?" exclaimed Don Philip. "Because, sir, they are a +couple of young scamps who have introduced themselves into the best +company, passing themselves off as people of consequence, when they are +only a couple of midshipmen who have run away from their ship." +</P> + +<P> +Now the Rebieras knew very well that Jack and his friend were +midshipmen; but this did not appear to them any reason why they should +not be considered as gentlemen, and treated accordingly. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you mean to say, signor," said Don Philip, "that you have accepted +their hospitality, laughed, talked, walked arm-in-arm with them, +pledged them in wine, as we have seen you this evening, and after they +have confided in you that you have put them in irons?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, I do," replied Captain Tartar. +</P> + +<P> +"Then, by Heaven, you have my defiance, and you are no gentleman!" +replied Don Philip, the elder. +</P> + +<P> +"And I repeat my brother's words, sir," cried Don Martin. The two +brothers felt so much attachment for our hero, who had twice rendered +such signal service to their family, that their anger was without +bounds. +</P> + +<P> +In every other service but the English navy there is not that power of +grossly insulting and then sheltering yourself under your rank; nor is +it necessary for the discipline of any service. To these young +officers, if the power did exist, the use of such power under such +circumstances appeared monstrous, and they were determined, at all +events, to show to Captain Tartar that in society, at least, it could +be resented. They collected their friends, told them what had passed, +and begged them to circulate it through the room. This was soon done, +and Captain Tartar found himself avoided. He went up to the Marquesa +and spoke to her, she turned her head the other way. He addressed a +count he had been conversing with the night before—he turned short +round upon his heel, while Don Philip and Don Martin walked up and down +talking, so that he might hear what they said, and looking at him with +eyes flashing with indignation. Captain Tartar left the ballroom and +returned to the inn, more indignant than ever. When he rose the next +morning he was informed that a gentleman wished to speak with him; he +sent up his card as Don Ignatio Verez, colonel commanding the fourth +regiment of infantry. On being admitted, he informed Captain Tartar +that Don Philip de Rebiera wished to have the pleasure of crossing +swords with him, and requested to know when it would be convenient for +Captain Tartar to meet him. +</P> + +<P> +It was not in Captain Tartar's nature to refuse a challenge; his +courage was unquestionable, but he felt indignant that a midshipman +should be the cause of his getting into such a scrape. He accepted the +challenge, but having no knowledge of the small sword, refused to fight +unless with pistols. To this the colonel raised no objections, and +Captain Tartar despatched his coxswain with a note to his second +lieutenant, for he was not on good terms with his first. The meeting +took place—at the first fire the ball of Don Philip passed through +Captain Tartar's brain, and he instantly fell dead. The second +lieutenant hastened on board to report the fatal result of the meeting, +and shortly after, Don Philip and his brother, with many of their +friends, went off in the Governor's barge to condole with our hero. +</P> + +<P> +The first lieutenant, now captain "pro tempore," received them +graciously, and listened to their remonstrances relative to our hero +and Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"I have never been informed by the captain of the grounds of complaint +against the young gentlemen," replied he, "and have therefore no charge +to prefer against them. I shall therefore order them to be liberated. +But as I learn that they are officers belonging to one of his Majesty's +ships lying at Malta, I feel it my duty, as I sail immediately, to take +them there and send them on board of their own ship." +</P> + +<P> +Jack and Gascoigne were then taken out of irons and permitted to see +Don Philip, who informed them that he had revenged the insult, but Jack +and Gascoigne did not wish to go on shore again after what had passed. +After an hour's conversation, and assurances of continued friendship, +Don Philip, his brother, and their friends, took leave of our two +midshipmen, and rowed on shore. +</P> + +<P> +And now we must be serious. We do not write these novels merely to +amuse,—we have always had it in our view to instruct, and it must not +be supposed that we have no other end in view than to make the reader +laugh. If we were to write an elaborate work, telling truths, and +plain truths, confining ourselves only to point out errors and to +demand reform, it would not be read; we have therefore selected this +light and trifling species of writing, as it is by many denominated, as +a channel through which we may convey wholesome advice in a palatable +shape. If we would point out an error, we draw a character, and +although that character appears to weave naturally into the tale of +fiction, it becomes as much a beacon as it is a vehicle of amusement. +We consider this to be the true art of novel writing, and that crime +and folly and error can be as severely lashed as virtue and morality +can be upheld, by a series of amusing causes and effects, that entice +the reader to take a medicine, which, although rendered agreeable to +the palate, still produces the same internal benefit, as if it had been +presented to him in its crude state, in which it would either be +refused or nauseated. +</P> + +<P> +In our naval novels, we have often pointed out the errors which have +existed, and still do exist, in a service which is an honour to its +country; for what institution is there on earth that is perfect, or +into which, if it once was perfect, abuses will not creep? +Unfortunately, others have written to decry the service, and many have +raised up their voices against our writings, because they felt that, in +exposing error, we were exposing them. But to this we have been +indifferent; we felt that we were doing good, and we have continued. To +prove that we are correct in asserting that we have done good, we will, +out of several, state one single case. +</P> + +<P> +In "The King's Own," a captain, when requested to punish a man +instanter for a fault committed, replies that he never has and never +will punish a man until twenty-four hours after the offence, that he +may not be induced by the anger of the moment to award a severer +punishment than in his cooler moments he might think commensurate and +that he wished that the Admiralty would give out an order to that +effect. +</P> + +<P> +Some time after the publication of that work, the order was given by +the Admiralty, forbidding the punishment until a certain time had +elapsed after the offence; and we had the pleasure of knowing from the +first lord of the Admiralty of the time, that it was in consequence of +the suggestion in the novel. +</P> + +<P> +If our writings had effected nothing else, we might still lay down our +pen with pride and satisfaction: but they have done more, much more; +and while they have amused the reader, they have improved the service: +they have held up in their characters a mirror, in which those who have +been in error may see their own deformity, and many hints which have +been given have afterwards returned to the thoughts of those who have +had an influence, have been considered as their own ideas, and have +been acted upon. The conduct of Captain Tartar may be considered as a +libel on the service—is it not? The fault of Captain Tartar was not in +sending them on board, or even putting them in irons as deserters, +although, under the circumstances, he might have shown more delicacy. +The fault was in stigmatising a young man as a swindler, and the +punishment awarded to the error is intended to point out the moral, +that such an abuse of power should be severely visited. The greatest +error now in our service, is the disregard shown to the feelings of the +junior officers in the language of their superiors: that an improvement +has taken place I grant, but that it still exists, to a degree +injurious to the service, I know too well. The articles of war, as our +hero was informed by his captain, were equally binding on officers and +crew; but what a dead letter do they become if officers are permitted +to break them with impunity! The captain of a ship will turn the hands +up to punishment, read the article of war for the transgressing of +which the punishment is inflicted, and to show at that time their high +respect for the articles of war, the captain and every officer take off +their hats. The moment the hands are piped down, the second article of +war, which forbids all swearing, etc, in derogation of God's honour is +immediately disregarded. We are not strait-laced,—we care little +about an oath as a mere expletive; we refer now to swearing at others, +to insulting their feelings grossly by coarse and intemperate language. +We would never interfere with a man for d—-g his own eyes, but we deny +the right of his d—-g those of another. +</P> + +<P> +The rank of a master in the service is above that of a midshipman, but +still the midshipman is a gentleman by birth, and the master, generally +speaking, is not. Even at this moment, in the service, if the master +were to d—n the eyes of a midshipman, and tell him that he was a liar, +would there be any redress, or if so, would it be commensurate to the +insult? If a midshipman were to request a court-martial, would it be +granted? certainly not. And yet this is a point of more importance +than may be conceived. Our service has been wonderfully improved since +the peace, and those who are now permitted to enter it must be +gentlemen. We know that even now there are many who cry out against +this as dangerous, and injurious to the service; as if education spoilt +an officer, and the scion of an illustrious house would not be more +careful to uphold an escutcheon without blemish for centuries than one +who has little more than brute courage; but those who argue thus are +the very people who are injurious to the service, for they can have no +other reason, except that they wish that the juniors may be tyrannised +over with impunity. +</P> + +<P> +Be it remembered that these are not the observations of a junior +officer, smarting under insult—they are the result of deep and calm +reflection. We have arrived to that grade, that, although we have the +power to inflict, we are too high to receive insult, but we have not +forgotten how our young blood has boiled when wanton, reckless, and +cruel torture has been heaped upon our feelings, merely because, as a +junior officer, we were not in a position to retaliate, or even to +reply. And another evil is, that this great error is disseminated. In +observing on it, in one of our works, called "Peter Simple," we have +put the following true observation in the mouth of O'Brien. Peter +observes, in his simple, right-minded way— +</P> + +<P> +"I should think, O'Brien, that the very circumstance of having had your +feelings so often wounded by such language when you were a junior +officer would make you doubly careful not to use it towards others, +when you had advanced in the service." +</P> + +<P> +"Peter, that's just the first feeling, which wears away after a time, +till at last your own sense of indignation becomes blunted, and becomes +indifferent to it: you forget, also, that you wound the feelings of +others, and carry the habit with you, to the great injury and disgrace +of the service." +</P> + +<P> +Let it not be supposed that in making these remarks we want to cause +litigation, or insubordination. On the contrary, we assert that this +error is the cause, and eventually will be much more the cause, of +insubordination; for as the junior officers who enter the service are +improved, so will they resist it. The complaint here is more against +the officers than the captains, whose power has been perhaps already +too much curtailed by late regulations: that power must remain, for +although there may be some few who are so perverted as to make those +whom they command uncomfortable, in justice to the service we are proud +to assert, that the majority acknowledge, by their conduct, that the +greatest charm attached to power is to be able to make so many people +happy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Our hero is sick with the service, but recovers with proper medicine.<BR> +An argument, ending, as most do, in a blow up. <BR> +Mesty lectures upon craniology. +</H4> + +<P> +The day after the funeral, H.M. ship Aurora sailed for Malta, and on +her arrival the acting captain sent our two midshipmen on board the +Harpy without any remark, except "victualled the day discharged," as +they had been borne on the ship's books as supernumeraries. +</P> + +<P> +Mr James, who was acting in the Aurora, was anxious to join the Admiral +at Toulon, and intended to sail the next day. He met Captain Wilson at +the Governor's table, and stated that Jack and Gascoigne had been put +in irons by order of Captain Tartar; his suspicions, and the report, +that the duel had in consequence taken place; but Gascoigne and Jack +had both agreed that they would not communicate the events of their +cruise to anybody on board of the Aurora; and therefore nothing else +was known, except that they must have made powerful friends somehow or +another; and there appeared in the conduct of Captain Tartar, as well +as in the whole transaction, somewhat of a mystery. +</P> + +<P> +"I should like to know what happened to my friend Jack, who fought the +duel," said the Governor, who had laughed at it till he held his sides; +"Wilson, do bring him here to-morrow morning, and let us have his +story." +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid of encouraging him, Sir Thomas, he is much too wild +already. I told you of his first cruise. He has nothing but +adventures, and they all end too favourably." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, but you can send for him here and blow him up just as well as in +your own cabin, and then we will have the truth out of him." +</P> + +<P> +"That you certainly will," replied Captain Wilson, "for he tells it +plainly enough." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, to oblige me, send for him. I don't see he was much to blame in +absconding, as it appears he thought he would be hung. I want to see +the lad." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Governor, if you wish it," replied Captain Wilson, who wrote a +note to Mr Sawbridge, requesting he would send Mr Easy to him at the +Governor's house at ten o'clock in the morning. +</P> + +<P> +Jack made his appearance in his uniform—he did not much care for what +was said to him, as he was resolved to leave the service. He had been +put in irons, and the iron had entered into his soul. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Sawbridge had gone on shore about an hour before Jack had been sent +on board, and he had remained on shore all the night. He did not +therefore see Jack but for a few minutes, and thinking it his duty to +say nothing to him at first, or to express his displeasure, he merely +observed to him that the captain would speak to him as soon as he came +on board. As Gascoigne and our hero did not know how far it might be +safe, even at Malta, to acknowledge to what occurred on board the +speronare, which might get wind, they did not even tell their +messmates, resolving only to confide it to the captain. +</P> + +<P> +When Jack was ushered into the presence of the captain, he found him +sitting with the Governor, and the breakfast on the table ready for +them. Jack walked in with courage, but respectfully. He was fond of +Captain Wilson, and wished to show him respect. Captain Wilson +addressed him, pointed out that he had committed a great error in +fighting a duel—a greater error in demeaning himself by fighting the +purser's steward, and still greater in running away from his ship. Jack +looked respectfully to Captain Wilson, acknowledged that he had done +wrong, and promised to be more careful another time, if Captain Wilson +would look over it. +</P> + +<P> +"Captain Wilson, allow me to plead for the young gentleman," said the +Governor; "I am convinced that it has only been an error in judgment." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr Easy, as you express your contrition, and the Governor +interferes in your behalf, I shall take no more notice of this. But +recollect, Mr Easy, that you have occasioned me a great deal of anxiety +by your mad pranks, and I trust another time you will remember that I +am too anxious for your welfare not to be uncomfortable when you run +such risks. You may now go on board to your duty, and tell Mr. +Gascoigne to do the same; and pray let us hear of no more duels or +running away." +</P> + +<P> +Jack, whose heart softened at this kind treatment, did not venture to +speak; he made his bow and was about to quit the room, when the +Governor said— +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy, you have not breakfasted?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have, sir," replied Jack, "before I came on shore." +</P> + +<P> +"But a midshipman can always eat two breakfasts, particularly when his +own comes first; so sit down and breakfast with us—it's all over now." +</P> + +<P> +"Even if it was not," replied Captain Wilson, laughing, +</P> + +<P> +"I doubt whether it would spoil Mr Easy's breakfast. Come, Mr Easy, +sit down." +</P> + +<P> +Jack bowed, and took his chair, and proved that his lecture had not +taken away his appetite. When breakfast was over, Captain Wilson +observed— +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy, you have generally a few adventures to speak of when you +return, will you tell the Governor and me what has taken place since +you left us?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, sir," replied Jack; "but I venture to request that it may +be under the promise of secrecy, for it's rather important to me and +Gascoigne." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, if secrecy is really necessary, my boy; but I'm the best judge of +that," replied the Governor. +</P> + +<P> +Jack then entered into a detail of his adventures, which we have +already described, much to the astonishment of the Governor and his +captain, and concluded his narration by stating that he wanted to leave +the service; he hoped that Captain Wilson would discharge him and send +him home. +</P> + +<P> +"Pooh, nonsense!" said the Governor, "you shan't leave the +Mediterranean while I am here. No, no—you must have more adventures, +and come back and tell them to me. And recollect, my lad, that +whenever you come to Malta, there is a bed at the Governor's house, and +a seat at his table, always ready for you." +</P> + +<P> +"You are very kind, Sir Thomas," replied Jack, "but—" "No buts at all, +sir—you shan't leave the service! Besides, recollect that I can ask +for leave of absence for you to go and see Donna Agnes. Ay, and send +you there, too." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson also remonstrated with our hero, and he gave up the +point. It was harsh treatment which made him form the resolution, it +was kindness which overcame it. +</P> + +<P> +"With your permission, Captain Wilson, Mr Easy shall dine with us +to-day, and bring Gascoigne with him. You shall first scold him, and +I'll console him with a good dinner. And, boy, don't be afraid to tell +your story everywhere. Sit down and tell it at Nix Mangare stairs, if +you please. I'm Governor here!" +</P> + +<P> +Jack made his obeisance, and departed. "The lad must be treated kindly, +Captain Wilson," said the Governor; "he would be a loss to the service. +Good heavens, what adventures, and how honestly he tells everything! I +shall ask him to stay with me for the time you are here, if you will +allow me: I want to make friends with him—he must not leave the +service." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson, who felt that kindness and attention would be more +effectual with our hero than any other measures, gave his consent to +the Governor's proposition. So Jack ate at the Governor's table, and +took lessons in Spanish and Italian until the Harpy had been refitted, +after heaving down. Before she was ready a vessel arrived from the +fleet, directing Captain Wilson to repair to Mahon and send a +transport, lying there, to procure live bullocks for the fleet. Jack +did not join his ship very willingly, but he had promised the Governor +to remain in the service, and he went on board the evening before she +sailed. He had been living so well that he had, at first, a horror of +midshipman's fare, but a good appetite seasons everything, and Jack +soon complained that there was not enough. He was delighted to see +Jolliffe and Mesty after so long an absence; he laughed at the +boatswain's cheeks, inquired after the purser's steward's shot-holes, +shook hands with Gascoigne and his other messmates, gave Vigors a +thrashing, and then sat down to supper. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, Massa Easy, why you take a cruise without me?" said Mesty; "dat +very shabby. By de power, but I wish I was there. You ab too much +danger, Massa Easy, without Mesty, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +The next day the Harpy sailed, and Jack went to his duty. Mr Asper +borrowed ten pounds, and our hero kept as much watch as he pleased, +which, as watching did not please him, was very little. Mr Sawbridge +had long conversations with our hero, pointing out to him the necessity +of discipline and obedience in the service, and that there was no such +thing as equality, and that the rights of man secured to everyone the +property which he held in possession. +</P> + +<P> +"According to your ideas, Mr Easy, a man has no more right to his wife +than anything else, and any other man may claim her." +</P> + +<P> +Jack thought of Agnes, and he made matrimony an exception, as he +continued to argue the point; but although he argued, still his +philosophy was almost upset at the idea of any one disputing with him +the rights of man, with respect to Agnes. +</P> + +<P> +The Harpy made the African coast, the wind continued contrary, and they +were baffled for many days; at last they espied a brig under the land, +about sixteen miles off; her rig and appearance made Captain Wilson +suspect that she was a privateer of some description or another, but it +was calm, and they could not approach her. Nevertheless Captain Wilson +thought it his duty to examine her; so at ten o'clock at night the +boats were hoisted out: as this was merely intended for a reconnoitre, +for there was no saying what she might be, Mr Sawbridge did not go. Mr +Asper was in the sick list, so Mr Smallsole the master had the command +of the expedition. +</P> + +<P> +Jack asked Mr Sawbridge to let him have charge of one of the boats. Mr +Jolliffe and Mr Vigors went in the pinnace with the master. The gunner +had the charge of one cutter, and our hero had the command of the +other. Jack, although not much more than seventeen, was very strong and +tall for his age; indeed he was a man grown, and shaved twice a-week. +His only object in going was to have a yarn for the Governor when he +returned to Malta. Mesty went with him, and, as the boat shoved off, +Gascoigne slipped in, telling Jack that he was come to take care of +him, for which considerate kindness Jack expressed his warmest thanks. +The orders to the master were very explicit; he was to reconnoitre the +vessel, and if she proved heavily armed not to attack, for she was +embayed, and could not escape the Harpy as soon as there was wind. If +not armed he was to board her, but he was to do nothing till the +morning: the reason for sending the boats away so soon was, that the +men might not suffer from the heat of the sun during the daytime, which +was excessive, and had already put many men on the sick list. The boats +were to pull to the bottom of the bay, not to go so near as to be +discovered, and then drop their grapnels till daylight. The orders were +given to Mr Smallsole in presence of the other officers who were +appointed to the boats, that there might be no mistake, and the boats +then shoved off. +</P> + +<P> +After a three hours' pull, they arrived to where the brig lay becalmed, +and, as they saw no lights moving on board, they supposed they were not +seen. They dropped their grapnels in about seven fathoms water and +waited for daylight. When Jack heard Captain Wilson's orders that they +were to lie at anchor till daylight, he had sent down Mesty for +fishing-lines, as fresh fish is always agreeable in a midshipman's +berth: he and Gascoigne amused themselves this way, and as they pulled +up the fish they entered into an argument, and Mr Smallsole ordered +them to be silent. The point which they discussed was relative to boat +service; Gascoigne insisted that the boats should all board at +once—while our hero took it into his head that it was better they +should come up one after another; a novel idea, but Jack's ideas on +most points were singular. +</P> + +<P> +"If you throw your whole force upon the decks at once, you overpower +them," observed Gascoigne; "if you do not you are beaten in detail." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," replied Jack, "supposing that you have an overpowering +force, or they are not prepared; but recollect, that if they are, the +case is altered; for instance, as to fire-arms—they fire theirs at the +first boat, and they have not time to re-load, when the second comes up +with its fire reserved; every fresh boat arriving adds to the courage +of those who have boarded, and to the alarm of those who defend; the +men come on fresh and fresh. Depend upon it, Gascoigne, there is +nothing like a 'corps de reserve'." +</P> + +<P> +"Will you keep silence in your boat, Mr Easy, or will you not?" cried +the master; "you're a disgrace to the service, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank ye, sir," replied Jack, in a low tone. "I've another bite Ned." +Jack and his comrade continued to fish in silence till the day broke. +The mist rolled off the stagnant water, and discovered the brig, who, +as soon as she perceived the boats, threw out the French tricolour, and +fired a gun of defiance. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Smallsole was undecided; the gun fired was not a heavy one, and so +Mr Jolliffe remarked; the men, as usual, anxious for the attack, +asserted the same, and Mr Smallsole, afraid of retreating from the +enemy and being afterwards despised by the ship's company, ordered the +boats to weigh their grapnels. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a moment, my lads," said Jack to his men, "I've got a bite." The +men laughed at Jack's taking it so easy, but he was their pet; and they +did stop for him to pull up his fish, intending to pull up to the other +boats and recover their loss of a few seconds. +</P> + +<P> +"I've hooked him now," said Jack; "you may up with the grapnel while I +up with the fish." But this delay gave the other boats a start of a +dozen strokes of their oars, which was a distance not easy to be +regained. +</P> + +<P> +"They will be aboard before us, sir," said the coxswain. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind that", replied Jack; "someone must be last." +</P> + +<P> +"But not the boat I am in," replied Gascoigne; "if I could help it." +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you," replied Jack, "we shall be the 'corps de reserve,' and +have the honour of turning the scale in our favour." +</P> + +<P> +"Give way, my lads," cried Gascoigne, perceiving the other boats still +kept their distance ahead of them, which was about a cable's length. +</P> + +<P> +"Gascoigne, I command the boat," said Jack, "and I do not wish my men +to board without any breath in their bodies—that's a very unwise plan. +A steady pull, my lads, and not too much exertion." +</P> + +<P> +"By heavens, they'll take the vessel before we get alongside." +</P> + +<P> +"Even if they should, I am right, am I not, Mesty?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Massa Easy, you very right—suppose they take vessel without you, +they no want you—suppose they want you, you come." And the negro, who +had thrown his jacket off, bared his arm, as if he intended mischief. +</P> + +<P> +The first cutter, commanded by the gunner, now gained upon the launch, +and was three boat's-lengths ahead of her when she came alongside. The +brig poured in her broadside—it was well directed, and down went the +boat. +</P> + +<P> +"Cutter's sunk," exclaimed Gascoigne; "by heavens! give way, my men." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, don't you observe, that had we all three been pulling up +together, the broadside would have sunk us all?" said Jack, very +composedly. +</P> + +<P> +"There's board in the launch—give way, my men, give way," said +Gascoigne, stamping with impatience. +</P> + +<P> +The reception was evidently warm; by the time that the launch had +poured in her men, the second cutter was close under the brig's +quarter—two more strokes and she was alongside; when of a sudden, a +tremendous explosion took place on the deck of the vessel, and bodies +and fragments were hurled up in the air. So tremendous was the +explosion, that the men of the second cutter, as if transfixed, +simultaneously stopped pulling, their eyes directed to the volumes of +smoke which poured through the ports, and hid the whole of the masts +and rigging of the vessel. +</P> + +<P> +"Now's your time, my lads, give way, and alongside," cried our hero. +The men, reminded by his voice, obeyed—but the impetus already given +to the boat was sufficient. Before they could drop their oars in the +water they grazed against the vessel's sides, and, following Jack, were +in a few seconds on the quarter-deck of the vessel. A dreadful sight +presented itself—the whole deck was black, and corpses lay strewed; +their clothes on them still burning, and among the bodies lay fragments +of what once were men. +</P> + +<P> +The capstern was unshipped and turned over on its side—the binnacles +were in remnants, and many of the ropes ignited. There was not one +person left on deck to oppose them. +</P> + +<P> +As they afterwards learned from some of the men who had saved their +lives by remaining below, the French captain had seen the boats before +they anchored, and had made every preparation; he had filled a large +ammunition chest with cartridges for the guns, that they might not have +to hand them up. The conflict between the men of the pinnace and the +crew of the vessel was carried on near the capstern, and a pistol fired +had accidentally communicated with the powder, which blew up in the +very centre of the dense and desperate struggle. +</P> + +<P> +The first object was to draw water and extinguish the flames, which +were spreading over the vessel; as soon as that was accomplished, our +hero went aft to the taffrail, and looked for the cutter which had been +sunk. "Gascoigne, jump into the boat with four men—I see the cutter +floats a quarter of a mile astern: there may be someone alive yet. I +think now I see a head or two." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne hastened away, and soon returned with three of the cutter's +men; the rest had sunk, probably killed or wounded by the discharge of +the broadside. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank God, there's three saved!" said Jack, "for we have lost too +many. We must now see if any of these poor fellows are yet alive, and +clear the decks of the remnants of those who have been blown to pieces. +I say, Ned, where should we have been if we had boarded with the +pinnace?" +</P> + +<P> +"You always fall upon your feet, Easy," replied Gascoigne; "but that +does not prove that you are right." +</P> + +<P> +"I see there's no convincing you, Ned, you are so confoundedly fond of +argument. However, I've no time to argue now—we must look to these +poor fellows; some are still alive." +</P> + +<P> +Body after body was thrown through the ports, the habiliments, in most +cases, enabling them to distinguish whether it was that of a departed +friend or foe. +</P> + +<P> +Jack turned round, and observed Mesty with his foot on a head which had +been blown from the trunk. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you about, Mesty?" +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, I look at dis, and I tink it Massa Vigors' head, and den I +tink dis skull of his enemy nice present make to little Massa Gossett; +and den I tink again, and I say, no, he dead and nebber thrash any +more—so let him go overboard." +</P> + +<P> +Jack turned away, forgiving Vigors in his heart; he thought of the +petty animosities of a midshipman's berth, as he looked at the +blackened portion of a body half an hour before possessing intellect. +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy," said Mesty, "I tink you say right, anyhow, when you say +forgive: den, Massa Vigors," continued Mesty, taking up the head by the +singed hair, and tossing it out of the port; "you really very bad +man—but Ashantee forgive you." +</P> + +<P> +"Here's somebody alive," said Gascoigne to Jack, examining a body, the +face of which was black as a cinder and not to be recognised, "and he +is one of our men, too, by his dress." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero went up to examine, and to assist Gascoigne in disengaging the +body from a heap of ropes and half-burnt tarpaulings with which it was +entangled. Mesty followed, and looking at the lower extremities said, +"Massa Easy, dat Massa Jolliffe; I know him trousers; marine tailor say +he patch um for ever, and so old dat de thread no hold; yesterday he +had dis patch put in, and marine tailor say he be d—n if he patch +anymore, please nobody." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty was right; it was poor Jolliffe, whose face was burnt as black as +a coal by the explosion. He had also lost three fingers of the left +hand, but as soon as he was brought out on the deck he appeared to +recover, and pointed to his mouth for water, which was instantly +procured. +</P> + +<P> +"Mesty," said Jack, "I leave you in charge of Mr Jolliffe; take every +care of him till I can come back." +</P> + +<P> +The investigation was then continued, and four English sailors found +who might be expected to recover, as well as about the same number of +Frenchmen; the remainder of the bodies were then thrown overboard. The +hat only of the master was picked up between the guns, and there were +but eleven Frenchmen found below. +</P> + +<P> +The vessel was the Franklin, a French privateer of ten guns and +sixty-five men, of which, eight men were away in prizes. The loss on +the part of the vessel was forty-six killed and wounded. On that of +the Harpy, it was five drowned in the cutter, and eighteen blown up +belonging to the pinnace, out of which total of twenty-three, they had +only Mr Jolliffe and five seamen alive. +</P> + +<P> +"The Harpy is standing in with a breeze from the offing," said +Gascoigne to Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"So much the better, for I am sick of this, Ned; there is something so +horrible in it, and I wish I was on board again. I have just been to +Jolliffe; he can speak a little; I think he will recover. I hope so, +poor fellow; he will then obtain his promotion, for he is the +commanding officer of all us who are left." +</P> + +<P> +"And if he does," replied Gascoigne, "he can swear that it was by +having been blown up which spoilt his beauty—but here comes the Harpy. +I have been looking for an English ensign to hoist over the French, but +cannot find one; so I hoist a wheft over it,—that will do." +</P> + +<P> +The Harpy was soon hove-to close to the brig, and Jack went on board in +the cutter to report what had taken place. Captain Wilson was much +vexed and grieved at the loss of so many men: fresh hands were put in +the cutter to man the pinnace, and he and Sawbridge both went on board +to witness the horrible effects of the explosion as described by our +hero. +</P> + +<P> +Jolliffe and the wounded men were taken on board, and all of them +recovered. We have before stated how disfigured the countenance of +poor Mr Jolliffe had been by the small-pox—so severely was it burned +that the whole of the countenance came off in three weeks like a mask, +and every one declared that, seamed as it still was, Mr Jolliffe was +better looking than he was before. It may be as well here to state, +that Mr Jolliffe not only obtained his promotion, but a pension for his +wounds, and retired from the service. He was still very plain, but as +it was known that he had been blown up, the loss of his eye as well as +the scars on his face were all put down to the same accident, and he +excited interest as a gallant and maimed officer. He married, and +lived contented and happy to a good old age. +</P> + +<P> +The Harpy proceeded with her prize to Mahon. Jack, as usual, obtained a +great deal of credit; whether he deserved it, or whether, as Gascoigne +observed, he always fell upon his feet, the reader may decide from our +narrative; perhaps there was a little of both. The seamen of the Harpy, +if summoned in a hurry, used very often to reply, "Stop a minute, I've +got a bite": as for Jack, he often said to himself, "I have a famous +good yarn for the Governor." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Jack goes on another cruise—Love and diplomacy—Jack proves <BR> +himself as clever for three, and upsets all the arrangements <BR> +of the high contracting powers. +</H4> + +<P> +A few days after the arrival of the Harpy at Port Mahon a cutter came +in with despatches from the Admiral. Captain Wilson found that he was +posted into the Aurora frigate, in which a vacancy had been made by the +result of our hero's transgressions. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Sawbridge was raised to the rank of commander, and appointed to the +command of the Harpy. The Admiral informed Captain Wilson that he must +detain the Aurora until the arrival of another frigate, hourly +expected, and then she would be sent down to Mahon for him to take the +command of her. Further, he intimated that a supply of live bullocks +would be very agreeable, and begged that he would send to Tetuan +immediately. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson had lost so many officers that he knew not whom to send: +indeed, now he was no longer in command of the Harpy, and there was but +one lieutenant and no master or master's mate. Gascoigne and Jack were +the only two serviceable midshipmen, and he was afraid to trust them on +any expedition in which expedition was required. +</P> + +<P> +"What shall we do, Sawbridge? shall we send Easy or Gascoigne, or both, +or neither?—for if the bullocks are not forthcoming, the Admiral will +not let them off as we do." +</P> + +<P> +"We must send somebody, Wilson," replied Captain Sawbridge, "and it is +the custom to send two officers, as one receives the bullocks on board, +while the other attends to the embarkation." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then send both, Sawbridge, but lecture them well first." "I +don't think they can get into any mischief there," replied Sawbridge; +"and it's such a hole that they will be glad to get away from it." +</P> + +<P> +Easy and Gascoigne were summoned, listened very respectfully to all +Captain Sawbridge said, promised to conduct themselves with the utmost +propriety, received a letter to the vice-consul, and were sent with +their hammocks and chests in the cabin on board the Eliza, Ann, brig, +of two hundred and sixteen tons, chartered by government—the master +and crew of which were all busy forward heaving up their anchors. +</P> + +<P> +The master of the transport came aft to receive them: he was short, +red-haired young man, with hands as broad as the flappers of a turtle; +he was broad-faced, broad-shouldered, well freckled, and pug-nosed; but +if not very handsome he was remarkably good humoured. As soon as the +chests and hammocks were on deck, he told them that when he could get +the anchor up and make sail, he would give them some bottled porter. +Jack proposed that he should get the porter up, and they would drink it +while he got the anchor up, as it would save time. +</P> + +<P> +"It may save time, mayhap, but it won't save porter," replied the +master; "however, you shall have it." +</P> + +<P> +He called the boy, ordered him to bring up the porter, and then went +forward. Jack made the boy bring up two chairs, put the porter on the +companion hatch, and he and Gascoigne sat down. The anchor was +weighed, and the transport ran out under her foretopsail, as they were +light-handed, and had to secure the anchor. The transport passed +within ten yards of the Harpy, and Captain Sawbridge, when he perceived +the two midshipmen taking it so very easy, sitting in their chairs with +their legs crossed, arms folded, and their porter before them, had a +very great mind to order the transport to heave-to, but he could spare +no other officer, so he walked away saying to himself, "There'll be +another yarn for the Governor, or I'm mistaken." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as sail was made on the transport, the master, whose name was +Hogg, came up to our hero, and asked him how he found the porter. Jack +declared that he never could venture an opinion upon the first +bottle—"So, Captain Hogg, we'll trouble you for a second"—after which +they troubled him for a third—begged for a fourth—must drink his +health in a fifth—and finally pointed out the propriety of making up +the half-dozen. By this time they found themselves rather light-headed; +so, desiring Captain Hogg to keep a sharp look-out, and not to call +them on any account whatever, they retired to their hammocks. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning they awoke late; the breeze was fresh and fair: they +requested Captain Hogg not to consider the expense, as they would pay +for all they ate and drank, and all he did, into the bargain, and +promised him a fit-out when they got to Tetuan. +</P> + +<P> +What with this promise and calling him captain, our hero and Gascoigne +won the master's heart, and being a very good tempered fellow, they did +what they pleased. Jack also tossed a doubloon to the men for them to +drink on their arrival, and all the men of the transport were in a +transport at Jack's coming to "reign over them." It must be +acknowledged that Jack's reign was, for the most part of it, "happy and +glorious." At last they arrived at Tetuan, and our Pylades and Orestes +went on shore to call upon the vice-consul, accompanied by Captain +Hogg. They produced their credentials, and demanded bullocks. +</P> + +<P> +The vice-consul was a very young man, short and thin, and light-haired; +his father had held the situation before him, and he had been appointed +his successor because nobody else had thought the situation worth +applying for. Nevertheless, Mr Hicks was impressed with the immense +responsibility of his office. It was, however, a place of some little +emolument at this moment, and Mr Hicks had plenty on his hands besides +his sister, who, being the only English lady there, set the fashion of +the place, and usurped all the attention of the gentlemen mariners who +occasionally came for bullocks. But Miss Hicks knew her own +importance, and had successively refused three midshipmen, one master's +mate, and an acting purser. African bullocks were plentiful at Tetuan, +but English ladies were scarce; moreover, she had a pretty little +fortune of her own, to wit, three hundred dollars in a canvas bag, left +her by her father, and entirely at her own disposal. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Hicks was very like her brother, except that she was more dumpling +in her figure, with flaxen hair; her features were rather pretty, and +her skin very fair. As soon as the preliminaries had been entered +into, and arrangements made in a small room with bare walls, which Mr +Hicks denominated his office, they were asked to walk into the parlour +to be introduced to the vice-consul's sister. Miss Hicks tossed her +head at the two midshipmen, but smiled most graciously at Captain Hogg. +She knew the relative ranks of midshipman and captain. After a short +time she requested the honour of Captain Hogg's company to dinner, and +begged that he would bring his midshipmen with him, at which Jack and +Gascoigne looked at each other and burst out in a laugh, and Miss Hicks +was very near rescinding the latter part of her invitation. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they were out of the house, they told the captain to go on +board and get all ready whilst they walked round the town. Having +peeped into every part of it, and stared at Arabs, Moors, and Jews, +till they were tired, they proceeded to the landing-place, where they +met the captain, who informed them that he had done nothing, because +the men were all drunk with Jack's doubloon. Jack replied that a +doubloon would not last for ever, and that the sooner they drank it out +the better. They then returned to the vice-consul's, whom they +requested to procure for them fifty dozen of fowls, twenty sheep, and a +great many other articles which might be obtained at the place; for, as +Jack said, they would live well going up to Toulon, and if there were +any of the stock left they would give them to the Admiral, for Jack had +taken the precaution to put his father's philosophy once more to the +proof before he quitted Mahon. As Jack gave such a liberal order, and +the vice-consul cheated him out of at least one-third of what he paid, +Mr Hicks thought he could do no less than offer beds to our midshipmen +as well as to Captain Hogg; so, as soon as dinner was over, they +ordered Captain Hogg to go on board and bring their things on shore, +which he did. +</P> + +<P> +As the time usual for transports remaining at Tetuan before they could +be completed with bullocks was three weeks, our midshipmen decided upon +staying at least so long if they could find anything to do; or if they +could not, doing nothing was infinitely preferable to doing duty. So +they took up their quarters at the vice-consul's, sending for porter +and other things which were not to be had but from the transport; and +Jack, to prove that he was not a swindler, as Captain Tartar had called +him, gave Captain Hogg a hundred dollars on account, for Captain Hogg +had a large stock of porter and English luxuries, which he had brought +out as a venture, and of which he had still a considerable portion +left. As, therefore, our midshipmen not only were cheated by the +vice-consul, but they also supplied his table. Mr Hicks was very +hospitable, and everything was at their service except Miss Julia, who +turned up her nose at a midshipman, even upon full pay; but she made +great advances to the captain, who, on his part, was desperately in +love: so the mate and the men made all ready for the bullocks, Jack and +Gascoigne made themselves comfortable, and Captain Hogg made love, and +thus passed the first week. +</P> + +<P> +The chamber of Easy and Gascoigne was at the top of the house, and +finding it excessively warm, Gascoigne had forced his way up to the +flat roof above (for the houses are all built in that way in most +Mahomedan countries, to enable the occupants to enjoy the cool of the +evening, and sometimes to sleep there). Those roofs, where houses are +built next to each other, are divided by a wall of several feet, to +insure that privacy which the Mahomedan customs demand. +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne had not been long up there before he heard the voice of a +female, singing a plaintive air in a low tone, on the other side of the +wall. Gascoigne sang well himself, and having a very fine ear, he was +pleased with the correctness of the notes, although he had never heard +the air before. He leant against the wall, smoked his cigar, and +listened. It was repeated again and again at intervals; Gascoigne soon +caught the notes, which sounded so clear and pure in the silence of the +night. +</P> + +<P> +At last they ceased, and having waited another half-hour in vain, our +midshipman returned to his bed, humming the air which had so pleased +his ear. It haunted him during his sleep, and rang in his ears when he +awoke, as it is well known any new air that pleases us will do. Before +breakfast was ready, Gascoigne had put English words to it, and sang +them over and over again. He inquired of the vice-consul who lived in +the next house, and was answered, that it was an old Moor, who was +reported to be wealthy, and to have a daughter, whom many of the people +had asked in marriage, but whether for her wealth or for her beauty he +could not tell; he had, however, heard that she was very handsome. +Gascoigne made no further inquiries, but went out with Jack and Captain +Hogg, and on board to see the water got in for the bullocks. +</P> + +<P> +"Where did you pick up that air, Gascoigne? It is very pretty, but I +never heard you sing it before." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne told him, and also what he had heard from Mr Hicks. "I am +determined, Jack, to see that girl if I can. Hicks can talk Arabic +fast enough; just ask him the Arabic for these words—'Don't be +afraid—I love you—I cannot speak your tongue', and put them down on +paper as they are pronounced." +</P> + +<P> +Jack rallied Gascoigne upon his fancy, which could end in nothing. +"Perhaps not," replied Gascoigne; "and I should have cared nothing +about it, if she had not sung so well. I really believe the way to my +heart is through my ear;—however, I shall try to-night, and soon find +if she has the feeling which I think she has. Now let us go back; I'm +tired of looking at women with garments up to their eyes, and men in +dirt up to their foreheads." +</P> + +<P> +As they entered the house they heard an altercation between Mr and Miss +Hicks. "I shall never give my consent, Julia; one of those midshipmen +you turn your nose up at is worth a dozen Hoggs." +</P> + +<P> +"Now, if we only knew the price of a hog in this country," observed +Easy, "we should be able to calculate our exact value, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"A hog, being an unclean animal, is not—" +</P> + +<P> +"Hush," said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Hicks," replied Miss Julia, "I am mistress of myself and my +fortune, and I shall do as I please." +</P> + +<P> +"Depend upon it, you shall not, Julia. I consider it my duty to prevent +you from making an improper match: and, as his Majesty's representative +here, I cannot allow you to marry this young man." +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy on us!" said Gascoigne, "his Majesty's representative!" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall not ask your consent," replied the lady. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but you shall not marry without my consent. I have, as you know, +Julia, from my situation here, as one of his Majesty's 'corps +diplomatick,' great power, and I shall forbid the banns; in fact, it is +only I who can marry you." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'll marry elsewhere." +</P> + +<P> +"And what will you do on board of the transport until you are able to +be married?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall do as I think proper," replied the lady; "and I'll thank you +for none of your indelicate insinuations." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, the lady bounced out of the room into her own, and our +midshipmen then made a noise in the passage to intimate that they had +come in. They found Mr Hicks looking very red and vice-consular +indeed, but he recovered himself; and Captain Hogg making his +appearance, they went to dinner; but Miss Julia would not make her +appearance, and Mr Hicks was barely civil to the captain, but he was +soon afterwards called out, and our midshipmen went into the office to +enable the two lovers to meet. They were heard then talking together, +and after a time they said less, and their language was more tender. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us see what's going on, Jack," said Gascoigne; and they walked +softly, so as to perceive the two lovers, who were too busy to be on +the look-out. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Hogg was requesting a lock of his mistress's hair. The plump +Julia could deny him nothing; she let fall her flaxen tresses, and +taking out the scissors cut off a thick bunch from her hair behind, +which she presented to the captain; it was at least a foot and a half +long, and an inch in circumference. The captain took it in his immense +hand, and thrust it into his coat-pocket behind, but one thrust down to +the bottom would not get it in, so he thrust again and again until it +was all coiled away like a cable in a tier. +</P> + +<P> +"That's a liberal girl," whispered Jack, "she gives by wholesale what +it will take some time to retail. But here comes Mr Hicks, let's give +them warning; I like Hogg, and as she fancies pork, she shall have it, +if I can contrive to help them." +</P> + +<P> +That night Gascoigne went again on the roof, and after waiting some +time heard the same air repeated: he waited until it was concluded, and +then, in a very low tone, sung it himself to the words he had arranged +for it. For some time all was silent, and then the singing +recommenced, but it was not to the same air. Gascoigne waited until +the new air had been repeated several times, and then, giving full +scope to his fine tenor voice, sang the first air again. It echoed +through the silence of the night air, and then he waited, but in vain; +the soft voice of the female was heard no more, and Gascoigne retired +to rest. +</P> + +<P> +This continued for three or four nights, Gascoigne singing the same +airs the ensuing night that he had heard the preceding, until at last +it appeared that the female had no longer any fear, but changed the +airs so as to be amused with the repetition of them next evening. On +the fifth night she sang the first air, and our midshipman responding, +she then sang another, until she had sung them all, waiting each time +for the response. The wall was not more than eight feet high, and +Gascoigne now determined, with the assistance of Jack, to have a sight +of his unknown songstress. He asked Captain Hogg to bring on shore +some inch line, and he contrived to make a ladder with three or four +poles which were upstairs, used for drying linen. He fixed them +against the wall without noise, all ready for the evening. It was a +beautiful, clear moonlight night, when he went up, accompanied by Jack. +The air was again sung, and repeated by Gascoigne, who then softly +mounted the ladder, held by Jack, and raised his head above the wall; +he perceived a young Moorish girl, splendidly dressed, half-lying on an +ottoman, with her eyes fixed upon the moon, whose rays enabled him to +observe that she was indeed beautiful. She appeared lost in +contemplation; and Gascoigne would have given the world to have divined +her thoughts. Satisfied with what he had seen, he descended, and +singing one of the airs, he then repeated the words, "Do not be +afraid—I love you—I cannot speak your language." He then sang another +of the airs, and after he had finished he again repeated the words in +Arabic; but there was no reply. He sang the third air, and again +repeated the words, when, to his delight, he heard an answer in Lingua +Franca. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you speak in this tongue?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Gascoigne, "I can, Allah be praised! Be not afraid—I +love you." +</P> + +<P> +"I know you not; who are you? you are not of my people." +</P> + +<P> +"No, but I will be anything that you wish. I am a Frank, and an +English officer." +</P> + +<P> +At this reply of Gascoigne there was a pause. +</P> + +<P> +"Am I then despised?" said Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"No, not despised; but you are not of my people, or of my land; speak +no more, or you will be heard." +</P> + +<P> +"I obey," replied Gascoigne, "since you wish it; but I shall pine till +to-morrow's moon. I go to dream of you. Allah protect you!" +</P> + +<P> +"How amazingly poetical you were in your language, Ned," said Easy, +when they went down into their room. +</P> + +<P> +"To be sure, Jack, I've read the Arabian Nights. You never saw such +eyes in your life; what a houri she is!" +</P> + +<P> +"Is she as handsome as Agnes, Ned?" +</P> + +<P> +"Twice as handsome by moonlight." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all moonshine, and so will be your courting, for it will come +to nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"Not if I can help it." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Gascoigne, what would you do with a wife?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just exactly what you would do, Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"I mean, my dear Ned, can you afford to marry?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not while the old Governor lives, but I know he has some money in the +funds. He told me one day that I could not expect more than three +thousand pounds. You know I have sisters." +</P> + +<P> +"And before you come into that you'll have three thousand children." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a large family, Jack," replied Gascoigne, bursting out into +laughter, in which our hero joined. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you know I only wanted to argue the point with you." +</P> + +<P> +"I know that, Jack. But I think we're counting our chickens before +they are hatched, which is foolish." +</P> + +<P> +"In every other case except when we venture upon matrimony." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Jack, you're becoming quite sensible." +</P> + +<P> +"My wisdom is for my friends, my folly for myself. Good-night." But +Jack did not go to sleep. +</P> + +<P> +"I must not allow Gascoigne to do such a foolish thing," thought he. +"Marry a dark girl on midshipman's pay, if he succeeds—get his throat +cut if he does not." +</P> + +<P> +As Jack said, his wisdom was for his friends, and he was so generous +that he reserved none for his own occasions. +</P> + +<P> +Miss Julia Hicks, as we before observed, set the fashions at Tetuan, +and her style of dress was not unbecoming. The Moorish women wore +large veils, or they may be called what you will, for their +head-dresses descend to their heels at times and cover the whole body, +leaving an eye to peep with, and hiding everything else. Now Miss Hicks +found this much more convenient than the bonnet, as she might walk out +in the heat of the sun without burning her fair skin, and stare at +everybody and everything without being stared at in return. She +therefore never went out without one of these overalls, composed of +several yards of fine muslin. Her dress in the house was usually of +coloured sarcenet, for a small vessel came into the port one day during +her father's lifetime, unloaded a great quantity of bales of goods with +English marks, and, as the vessel had gone out in ballast, there was a +surmise on his part by what means they came into the captain's +possession. He therefore cited the captain up to the Governor, but the +affair was amicably arranged by the vice-consul receiving about one +quarter of the cargo in bales of silks and muslins. Miss Hicks had +therefore all her dresses of blue, green, and yellow sarcenet, which, +with the white muslin overall, made her as conspicuous as the only +Frankish lady in the town had a right to be, and there was not a dog +which barked in Tetuan which did not know the sister of the +vice-consul, although few had seen her face. +</P> + +<P> +Now it occurred to Jack, as Gascoigne was determined to carry on his +amour, that in case of surprise it would be as well if he dressed +himself as Miss Hicks. He proposed it to Gascoigne the next morning, +who approved of the idea, and in the course of the day, when Miss Hicks +was busy with Captain Hogg, he contrived to abstract one of her dresses +and muslin overalls, which he could do in safety, as there were plenty +of them, for Miss Hicks was not troubled with mantua-makers' bills. +</P> + +<P> +When Gascoigne went up on the roof the ensuing night, he put on the +apparel of Miss Hicks, and looked very like her as far as figure went, +although a little taller. He waited for the Moorish girl to sing, but +she did not; so he crept up the ladder and looked over the wall, when +he observed that she was reclining as before in deep thought. His head, +covered with the muslin, caught her eye, and she gave a faint scream. +</P> + +<P> +"Fear not, lady," said Gascoigne, "it is not the first time that I have +beheld that sweet face. I sigh for a companion. What would I not give +to be sitting by your side! I am not of your creed, 'tis true, but does +it therefore follow that we should not love each other?" +</P> + +<P> +The Moorish girl was about to reply, when Gascoigne received an answer +from a quarter whence he little expected it. It was from the Moor +himself, who, hearing his daughter's scream, had come swiftly up to the +roof. +</P> + +<P> +"Does the Frankish lily wish to mingle her perfumes with the dark +violet?" said he; for he had often seen the sister of the vice-consul, +and he imagined it was she who had come on the roof and ascended the +wall to speak with his daughter. +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne had presence of mind to avail himself of this fortunate +mistake. "I am alone, worthy Moor," replied he, pulling the muslin over +his face, "and I pine for a companion. I have been charmed by the +nightingale on the roof of your dwelling; but I thought not to meet the +face of a man when I took courage to climb this ladder." +</P> + +<P> +"If the Frankish lily will have courage to descend, she can sit by the +side of the dark violet." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne thought it advisable to make no reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Fear not," said the old Moor; "what is an old man but a woman!" and +the Moor brought a ladder, which he placed against the wall. +</P> + +<P> +After a pause Gascoigne said, "It is my fate"; and he then descended, +and was led by the Moor to the mattress upon which his daughter +reclined. The Moor then took his seat near them, and they entered into +conversation. Gascoigne knew quite enough of the vice-consul and his +sister to play his part, and he thought proper to tell the Moor that +her brother wished to give her as wife to the captain of the ship, whom +she abhorred, and would take her to a cold and foggy climate; that she +had been born here, and wished to live and die here, and would prefer +passing her life in his women's apartments to leaving this country. At +which, Abdel Faza, for such was his name, felt very amorous. He put +his hand to his forehead, salaamed, and told Gascoigne that his zenana, +and all that were in it, were hers, as well as his house and himself. +After an hour's conversation, in which Azar, his daughter, did not +join, the old Moor asked Gascoigne to descend into the women's +apartment; and observing his daughter's silence, said to her— +</P> + +<P> +"Azar, you are angry that this Frankish houri should come to the +apartments of which you have hitherto been sole mistress. Fear not, +you will soon be another's, for Osman Ali has asked thee for his wife, +and I have listened to his request." +</P> + +<P> +Now Osman Ali was as old as her father, and Azar hated him. She offered +her hand tremblingly, and led Gascoigne into the zenana. The Moor +attended them to the threshold, bowed, and left them. +</P> + +<P> +That Gascoigne had time to press his suit, and that he did not lose +such a golden opportunity, may easily be imagined, and her father's +communication relative to Osman Ali very much assisted our midshipman's +cause. +</P> + +<P> +He left the zenana, like most midshipmen, in love; that is, a little +above quicksilver boiling heat. Jack, who had remained in a state of +some suspense all this time, was not sorry to hear voices in an +amicable tone, and in a few minutes afterwards he perceived that +Gascoigne was ascending the ladder. It occurred to our hero that it +was perhaps advisable that he should not be seen, as the Moor in his +gallantry might come up the ladder with his supposed lady. He was +right, for Abdel Faza not only followed her up the ladder on his side +but assisted her to descend on the other, and with great ceremony took +his leave. +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne hastened to Jack, who had been peeping, and gave him a detail +of what had passed, describing Azar as the most beautiful, fascinating, +and fond creature that ever was created. After half an hour's relation +he stopped short, because he discovered that Jack was fast asleep. +</P> + +<P> +The visits of Gascoigne were repeated every night; old Abdel Faza +became every time more gallant, and our midshipman was under the +necessity of assuming a virtue if he had it not. He pretended to be +very modest. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime Captain Hogg continued his attentions to the real Miss +Hicks. The mate proceeded to get the bullocks on board, and as more +than three weeks had already passed away, it was time to think of +departing for Toulon; but Captain Hogg was too much in love; and as for +Gascoigne, he intended, like all midshipmen in love, to give up the +service. Jack reasoned with the captain, who appeared to listen to +reason, because Miss Hicks had agreed to follow his fortunes, and crown +his transports in the transport Mary Ann. He therefore proposed that +they should get away as fast as they could, and as soon as they had +weighed the anchor he would come on shore, take off Miss Hicks, and +make all sail for Toulon. +</P> + +<P> +Jack might have suffered this; the difficulty was with Gascoigne, who +would not hear of going away without his lovely Azar. At last Jack +planned a scheme which he thought would succeed, and which would be a +good joke to tell the Governor. He therefore appeared to consent to +Gascoigne's carrying off his little Moor, and they canvassed how it was +to be managed. Jack then told Gascoigne that he had hit upon a plan +which would succeed. +</P> + +<P> +"I find," said he, "from Captain Hogg, that he has an intention of +carrying off Miss Hicks, and when I sounded him as to his having a lady +with him, he objected to it immediately, saying, that he must have all +the cabin to himself and his intended. Now, in the first place, I have +no notion of giving up the cabin to Miss Hicks or Mrs Hogg. It will be +very uncomfortable to be shut out, because he wishes to make love; I +therefore am determined that he shall not take off Miss Hicks. He has +proposed to me that he shall go on board, and get the brig under way, +leaving me with a boat on shore to sign the vouchers, and that Miss +Hicks shall slip into the boat when I go off at dusk. Now I will not +bring off Miss Hicks; if he wants to marry her, let him do it when I am +not on board. I have paid for everything, and I consider the cabin as +mine. +</P> + +<P> +"Look you, Ned, if you wish to carry off your little Moor, there is but +one way, and that is a very simple one; leave her a dress of Miss +Hicks's when you go there to-morrow night, and tell her to slip down at +dusk, and come out of the house: all the danger will be in her own +house, for as soon as she is out, she will be supposed to be the +vice-consul's sister, and will not be observed or questioned. I will +look out for and bring her on board instead of Miss Hicks. Hogg will +have the brig under way, and will be too happy to make all sail, and +she shall lock the cabin inside, so that the mistake shall not be +discovered till the next morning, and we shall have a good laugh at +Captain Hogg." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne pronounced that Jack's scheme was capital, and agreed to it, +thanking him, and declaring that he was the best friend that he ever +had. "So I will be," thought Jack, "but you will not acknowledge it at +first." Jack then went to Captain Hogg, and appeared to enter warmly +into his views, but told him that Hicks suspected what was going on, +and had told him so, at the same time declaring that he would not lose +sight of his sister until after Hogg was on board. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," says Jack, "you know you cannot do the thing by main force; so +the best plan will be for you to go on board and get under way, leaving +me to bring off Miss Hicks, when her brother will imagine all danger to +be over." +</P> + +<P> +"Many thanks, Mr Easy," replied Captain Hogg; "it will be capital, and +I'll arrange it all with my Sophy. How very kind of you!" +</P> + +<P> +"But, Hogg, will you promise me secrecy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied the captain. +</P> + +<P> +"That Gascoigne is a very silly fellow, and wants to run away with a +girl he has made acquaintance with here; and what do you think he has +proposed? that after the ship was under way, that I shall carry her off +in the boat; and he has borrowed one of the dresses of Miss Hicks, that +it may appear to be her. I have agreed to it, but as I am determined +that he shall not commit such a folly, I shall bring off Miss Hicks +instead; and, observe, Hogg, he is that sort of wild fellow, that if he +was to find that I had cheated him, he would immediately go on shore +and be left behind; therefore we must hand Miss Hicks down in the +cabin, and she will lock the door all night, so that he may not observe +the trick till the next morning, and then we shall have a fine laugh at +him." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Hogg replied it would be an excellent joke, as Gascoigne did +before him. +</P> + +<P> +Now it must be observed, that the water and the bullocks, and the sheep +and fowls, were all on board; and Mr Hicks, having received his money +from Jack, had very much altered his manner; he was barely civil, for +as he had got all he could out of our hero, he was anxious to get rid +of him as well as of Captain Hogg. Our hero was very indignant at +this, but as it would not suit his present views, pretended not to +notice it—on the contrary, he professed the warmest friendship for the +vice-consul, and took an opportunity of saying that he could not return +his kindness in a better way than by informing him of the plot which +had been arranged. He then told him of the intended escape of his +sister, and that he was the person intended to bring her off. +</P> + +<P> +"Infamous, by heavens!" cried the vice-consul; "I shall write to the +foreign office on the subject." +</P> + +<P> +"I think," said Jack, "it will be much better to do what I shall +propose, which will end in a hearty laugh, and to the confusion of +Captain Hogg. Do you dress yourself in your sister's clothes, and I +will bring you off instead of her. Let him imagine that he has your +sister secure; I will hand you down to the cabin, and do you lock +yourself in. He cannot sail without my orders, and I will not sign the +vouchers. The next morning we will open the cabin-door and have a good +laugh at him. Desire your boat to be off at daylight to take you on +shore, and I will then make him proceed to Toulon forthwith. It will +be a capital joke." +</P> + +<P> +So thought the vice-consul, as well as Gascoigne and Captain Hogg. He +shook hands with Jack, and was as civil to him as before. +</P> + +<P> +That night Gascoigne left one of Miss Hicks's many dresses with Azar, +who agreed to follow his fortunes, and who packed up all the jewels and +money she could lay her hands upon. Poor little child, she trembled +with fear and delight. Miss Hicks smuggled, as she thought, a box of +clothes on board, and in the box was her fortune of three hundred +dollars. Mr Hicks laughed in his sleeve, so did Jack; and every one +went to bed with expectations that their wishes would be realised. +After an early dinner, Captain Hogg and Gascoigne went on board, both +squeezing Jack's hand as if they were never to see him again, and looks +of intelligence passed between all the parties. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they were out of the door the vice-consul chuckled and Miss +Hicks, who thought he chuckled at the idea of having rid himself of +Captain Hogg, chuckled still more as she looked at our hero, who was +her confidant; and our hero, for reasons known to the reader, chuckled +more than either of them. +</P> + +<P> +A little before dark, the boat was sent on shore from the brig, which +was now under way, and Mr Hicks, as had been agreed, said that he +should go into the office and prepare the vouchers—that is, put on his +sister's clothes. Miss Hicks immediately rose, and wishing our hero a +pleasant voyage, as had been agreed, said that she should retire for +the night, as she had a bad headache—she wished her brother +good-night, and went into her room to wait another hour, when our hero, +having shoved off the boat to deceive the vice-consul, was to return, +meet her in the garden, and take her off to the brig. Our hero then +went into the office and assisted the vice-consul, who took off all his +own clothes and tied them up in a handkerchief, intending to resume +them after he had gone into the cabin. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as he was ready, Jack carried his bundle and led the supposed +Miss Hicks down to the boat. They shoved off in a great hurry, and +Jack took an opportunity of dropping Mr Hicks's bundle overboard. As +soon as they arrived alongside, Mr Hicks ascended, and was handed by +Jack down into the cabin: he squeezed Jack's hand as he entered, saying +in a whisper, "To-morrow morning what a laugh we shall have!" and then +he locked the door. In the meantime the boat was hooked on and hoisted +up, and Jack took the precaution to have the dead lights lowered, that +Mr Hicks might not be able to ascertain what was going on. Gascoigne +came up to our hero and squeezed his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm so much obliged to you, Jack. I say, to-morrow morning what a +laugh we shall have!" +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the boat was up, and the mainyard filled, Captain Hogg also +came up to our hero, shaking him by the hand and thanking him; and he +too concluded by saying, "I say, Mr Easy, to-morrow morning what a +laugh we shall have!" +</P> + +<P> +"Let those laugh who win," thought Jack. The wind was fair, the watch +was set, the course was steered, and all went down to their hammocks, +and went to sleep, waiting for to-morrow morning. Mr Hicks, also, +having nothing better to do, went to sleep, and by the morning dawn, +the transport Mary Ann was more than a hundred miles from the African +shore. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Our hero plays the very devil. +</H4> + +<P> +We must leave the reader to imagine the effect of the next morning's +denouement. Everyone was in a fury except Jack, who did nothing but +laugh. The captain wanted to return to obtain Miss Hicks, Gascoigne to +obtain Azar, and the vice-consul to obtain his liberty—but the wind +was foul for their return, and Jack soon gained the captain on his +side. He pointed out to him that, in the first place, if he presumed +to return, he would forfeit his charter bond; in the second, he would +have to pay for all the bullocks that died; in the third, that if he +wished to take Miss Hicks as his wife, he must not first injure her +character by having her on board before the solemnity; and lastly, that +he could always go and marry her whenever he pleased; the brother could +not prevent him. All this was very good advice, and the captain became +quite calm and rational, and set his studding-sails below and aloft. +</P> + +<P> +As for Gascoigne, it was no use reasoning with him, so it was agreed +that he should have satisfaction as soon as they could get on shore +again. Mr Hicks was the most violent; he insisted that the vessel +should return, while both Jack and the captain refused, although he +threatened them with the whole foreign office. He insisted upon having +his clothes, but Jack replied that they had tumbled overboard as they +pulled from the shore. He then commanded the mate and men to take the +vessel back, but they laughed at him and his woman's clothes. "At all +events, I'll have you turned out of the service," said he to our hero +in his fury. "I shall be extremely obliged to you," said Jack—and +Captain Hogg was so much amused with the vice-consul's appearance in +his sister's clothes, that he quite forgot his own disappointment in +laughing at his intended brother-in-law. He made friends again with +Jack, who regained his ascendancy, and ordered out the porter on the +capstern-head. They had an excellent dinner, but Mr Hicks refused to +join them, which however did not spoil the appetite of Jack or the +captain: as for Gascoigne, he could not eat a mouthful, but he drank to +excess, looking over the rim of his tumbler, as if he could devour our +hero, who only laughed the more. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Hicks had applied to the men to lend him some clothes, but Jack had +foreseen that, and he was omnipotent. There was not a jacket or a pair +of trousers to be had for love or money. Mr Hicks then considered it +advisable to lower his tone, and he applied to Captain Hogg, who begged +to be excused without he consented to his marriage with his sister, to +which Mr Hicks gave an indignant negative. He then applied to +Gascoigne, who told him in a very surly tone to go to h—l. At last he +applied to our hero, who laughed, and said that he would see him d——d +first. So Mr Hicks sat down in his petticoats and vowed revenge. +Gascoigne, who had drunk much and eaten nothing, turned in and went to +sleep—while Captain Hogg and our hero drank porter on the capstern. +</P> + +<P> +Thus passed the first day, and the wind was famously fair—the bullocks +lowed, the cocks crew, the sheep baa'd, and the Mary Ann made upwards +of two hundred miles. Jack took possession of the other berth in the +cabin, and his Majesty's representative was obliged to lie down in his +petticoats upon a topsail which lay between decks, with a bullock on +each side of him, who every now and then made a dart at him with their +horns, as if they knew that it was to him that they were indebted for +their embarkation and being destined to drive the scurvy out of the +Toulon fleet. +</P> + +<P> +We cannot enter into the details of the passage, which, as the wind was +fair, was accomplished in ten days without the loss of a bullock. +During this time Mr Hicks condescended to eat without speaking, +imagining that the hour of retribution would come when they joined the +Admiral. Gascoigne gradually recovered himself, but did not speak to +our hero, who continued to laugh and drink porter. On the eleventh +morning they were in the midst of the Toulon fleet, and Mr Hicks smiled +exultingly as he passed our hero in his petticoats, and wondered that +Jack showed no signs of trepidation. +</P> + +<P> +The fleet hove-to, Jack ran under the Admiral's stern, lowered down his +boat, and went on board, showed his credentials, and reported his +bullocks. The general signal was made, there was a fair division of +the spoil, and then the Admiral asked our hero whether the master of +the transport had any other stock on board. Jack replied that he had +not; but that, having been told by the Governor of Malta that they +might be acceptable, he had bought a few sheep and some dozen of fowls, +which were much at his service, if he would accept of them. The Admiral +was much obliged to the Governor, and also to Jack, for thinking of +him, but would not, of course, accept of the stock without paying for +them. He requested him to send all of them on board that he could +spare, and then asked Jack to dine with him, for Jack had put on his +best attire, and looked very much of a gentleman. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy," said the flag-captain, who had been looking at the transport +with his glass, "is that the master's wife on board?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied Jack; "it's the vice-consul." +</P> + +<P> +"What, in petticoats! the vice-consul?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, the vice-consul of Tetuan. He came on board in that dress when +the brig was under way, and I considered it my duty not to delay, being +aware how very important it was that the fleet should be provided with +fresh beef." +</P> + +<P> +"What is all this, Mr Easy?" said the Admiral; "there has been some +trick here. You will oblige me by coming into the cabin." +</P> + +<P> +Easy followed the Admiral and flag-captain into the cabin, and then +boldly told the whole story how he tricked them all. It was impossible +for either of them to help laughing, and when they began to laugh, it +was almost as impossible to stop. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy," said the Admiral at last, "I do not altogether blame you; it +appears to me the captain of the transport would have delayed sailing +because he was in love—and that Mr Gascoigne would have stayed behind +because he was infatuated, independent of the ill-will against the +English which would have been excited by the abduction of the girl. But +I think you might have contrived to manage all that without putting the +vice-consul in petticoats." +</P> + +<P> +"I acted to the best of my judgment, sir," replied Jack, very humbly. +</P> + +<P> +"And altogether you have done well. Captain Malcolm, send a boat for +the vice-consul." +</P> + +<P> +Mr Hicks was too impatient to tell his wrongs to care for his being in +his sister's clothes: he came on board, and although the tittering was +great, he imagined that it would soon be all in his favour, when it was +known that he was a diplomatic. He told his story, and waited for the +decision of the Admiral, which was to crush our hero, who stood with +the midshipmen on the lee side of the deck; but the Admiral replied, +"Mr Hicks, in the first place, this appears to me to be a family affair +concerning the marriage of your sister, with which I have nothing to +do. You went on board of your own free will in woman's clothes. Mr +Easy's orders were positive, and he obeyed them. It was his duty to +sail as soon as the transport was ready. You may forward your +complaint if you please, but, as a friend, I tell you that it will +probably occasion your dismissal; for these kind of pranks are not +understood at the foreign office. You may return to the transport, +which, after she has touched at Mahon, will proceed again to Tetuan. +The boat is alongside, sir." +</P> + +<P> +Mr Hicks, astonished at the want of respect paid to a vice-consul, +shoved his petticoats between his legs, and went down the side amidst +the laughter of the whole of the ship's company. Our hero dined with +the Admiral, and was well received. He got his orders to sail that +night for Minorca, and as soon as dinner was over he returned on board, +where he found Captain Hogg very busy selling his porter—Gascoigne +walking the deck in a brown study—and Mr Hicks solus abaft, sulking in +his petticoats. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as they were clear of the boats, the Mary Ann hoisted her +ensign and made sail, and as all the porter was not yet sold, Jack +ordered up a bottle. +</P> + +<P> +Jack was much pleased with the result of his explanation with the +Admiral, and he felt that, for once, he had not only got into no scrape +himself, but that he had prevented others. Gascoigne walked the deck +gloomily; the fact was, that he was very unhappy: he had had time to +reflect, and now that the first violence had subsided, he felt that our +hero had done him a real service, and had prevented him from committing +an act of egregious folly; and yet he had summoned this friend to meet +him in the field—and such had been his gratitude. He would have given +the world to recall what had passed, and to make friends, but he felt +ashamed, as most people do, to acknowledge his error; he had, however, +almost made up his mind to it, and was walking up and down thinking in +what manner he might contrive it, when Jack, who was sitting, as usual, +in a chair by the capstern with his porter by him, said to himself, +"Now I'll lay my life that Ned wants to make friends, and is ashamed to +speak first; I may be mistaken, and he may fly off at a tangent; but +even if I am, at all events it will not be I who am wrong—I'll try +him." Jack waited till Gascoigne passed him again, and then said, +looking kindly and knowingly in his face,— +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Ned, will you have a glass of porter?" +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne smiled, and Jack held out his hand; the reconciliation was +effected in a moment, and the subject of quarrel was not canvassed by +either party. +</P> + +<P> +"We shall be at Minorca in a day or two," observed Jack, after a while; +"now I shall be glad to get there. Do you know, Ned, that I feel very +much satisfied with myself; I have got into no scrape this time, and I +shall, notwithstanding, have a good story to tell the Governor when I +go to Malta." +</P> + +<P> +"Partly at my expense," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, you will figure a little in it, but others will figure much more." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what has become of that poor girl," observed Gascoigne, who +could not refrain from mentioning her; "what hurts me most is, that she +must think me such a brute." +</P> + +<P> +"No doubt of that, Ned,—take another glass of porter." +</P> + +<P> +"Her father gave me this large diamond." +</P> + +<P> +"The old goat—sell it, and drink his health with it." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'll keep it in memory of his daughter." Here Gascoigne fell into +a melancholy reverie, and Jack thought of Agnes. +</P> + +<P> +In two days they arrived at Mahon, and found the Aurora already there, +in the command of Captain Wilson. Mr Hicks had persuaded Captain Hogg +to furnish him with clothes, Jack having taken off the injunction as +soon as he had quitted the Admiral. Mr Hicks was aware, that if the +Admiral would not listen to his complaint, it was no use speaking to a +captain: so he remained on board a pensioner upon Captain Hogg, and +after our midshipmen quitted the transport they became very good +friends. Mr Hicks consented to the match, and Captain Hogg was made +happy. As for poor Azar, she had wandered about until she was tired, +in Miss Hicks's dress, and at last returned broken hearted to her +father's, and was admitted by Abdel Faza himself; he imagined it was +Miss Hicks, and was in transports—he discovered it was his daughter, +and he was in a fury. The next day she went to the zenana of Osman Ali. +</P> + +<P> +When Jack reported himself he did not tell the history of the +elopements, that he might not hurt the feelings of Gascoigne. Captain +Wilson was satisfied with the manner in which he had executed his +orders, and asked him, "whether he preferred staying in the Harpy, or +following him into the Aurora." +</P> + +<P> +Jack hesitated. "Speak frankly, Mr Easy; if you prefer Captain +Sawbridge to me, I shall not be affronted." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied Easy, "I do not prefer Captain Sawbridge to you; you +have both been equally kind to me, but I prefer you. But the fact is, +sir, that I do not much like to part with Gascoigne or—" +</P> + +<P> +"Or who?" said the captain, smiling. +</P> + +<P> +"With Mesty, sir; you may think me very foolish, but I should not be +alive at this moment, if it had not been for him." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not consider gratitude to be foolish, Mr Easy," replied Captain +Wilson. "Mr Gascoigne I intend to take with me, if he chooses to come, +as I have a great respect for his father, and no fault to find with +him, that is, generally speaking; but as for Mesty—why he is a good +man, and as you have behaved yourself very well, perhaps I may think of +it." +</P> + +<P> +The next day Mesty was included among the boat's crew taken with him by +Captain Wilson, according to the regulations of the service, and +appointed to the same situation under the master at arms of the Aurora. +Gascoigne and our hero were also discharged into the frigate. +</P> + +<P> +As our hero never has shown any remarkable predilection for duty, the +reader will not be surprised at his requesting from Captain Wilson a +few days on shore, previous to his going on board of the Aurora. +Captain Wilson allowed the same licence to Gascoigne, as they had both +been cooped up for some time on board of a transport. Our hero took up +his quarters at the only respectable hotel in the town, and whenever he +could meet an officer of the Aurora, he very politely begged the +pleasure of his company to dinner. Jack's reputation had gone before +him, and the midshipmen drank his wine and swore he was a trump. Not +that Jack was to be deceived, but, upon the principles of equality, he +argued that it was the duty of those who could afford dinners to give +them to those who could not. This was a sad error on Jack's part; but +he had not yet learnt the value of money; he was such a fool as to +think that the only real use of it was to make other people happy. It +must, however, be offered in his extenuation that he was a midshipman +and a philosopher, and not yet eighteen. +</P> + +<P> +At last Jack had remained so long on shore, keeping open house, and the +first lieutenant of the Aurora found the officers so much more anxious +for leave, now that they were at little or no expense, that he sent him +a very polite message, requesting the pleasure of his company on board +that evening. Jack returned an equally polite answer, informing the +first lieutenant that not being aware that he wished to see him, he had +promised to accompany some friends to a masquerade that night, but that +he would not fail to pay his respects to him the next day. The first +lieutenant admitted the excuse, and our hero, after having entertained +half-a-dozen of the Auroras, for the Harpy had sailed two days before, +dressed himself for the masquerade, which was held in a church about +two miles and a half from Mahon. +</P> + +<P> +Jack had selected the costume of the devil, as being the most +appropriate, and mounting a jackass, he rode down in his dress to the +masquerade. But, as Jack was just going in, he perceived a yellow +carriage, with two footmen in gaudy liveries, draw up, and with his +usual politeness, when the footmen opened the door, offered his arm to +hand out a fat old dowager covered with diamonds; the lady looked up, +and perceiving Jack covered with hair, with his trident and his horns, +and long tail, gave a loud scream, and would have fallen had it not +been for Captain Wilson, who, in his full uniform, was coming in, and +caught her in his arms: while the old lady thanked him, and Captain +Wilson bowed, Jack hastily retreated. "I shall make no conquests +to-night," thought he; so he entered the church, and joined the crowd; +but it was so dense that it was hardly possible to move, and our hero +soon got tired of flourishing his trident, and sticking it into people, +who wondered what the devil he meant. +</P> + +<P> +"This is stupid work," thought Jack, "I may have more fun outside": so +Jack put on his cloak, left the masquerade, and went out in search of +adventures. He walked into the open country, about half a mile, until +he came to a splendid house, standing in a garden of orange trees, +which he determined to reconnoitre. He observed that a window was open +and lights were in the room; and he climbed up to the window, and just +opened the white curtain and looked in. On a bed lay an elderly +person, evidently dying, and by the side of the bed were three priests, +one of whom held the crucifix in his hand, another the censer, and a +third was sitting at a table with a paper, pen, and ink. As Jack +understood Spanish, he listened, and heard one of the priests say: +</P> + +<P> +"Your sins have been enormous, my son, and I cannot give you extreme +unction or absolution unless you make some amends." +</P> + +<P> +"I have," answered the moribund, "left money for ten thousand masses to +be said for my soul." +</P> + +<P> +"Five hundred thousand masses are not sufficient: how have you gained +your enormous wealth? by usury and robbing the poor." +</P> + +<P> +"I have left a thousand dollars to be distributed among the poor on the +day of my funeral." +</P> + +<P> +"One thousand dollars is nothing—you must leave all your property to +holy church." +</P> + +<P> +"And my children!" replied the dying man, faintly. +</P> + +<P> +"What are your children compared to your salvation? reply not: either +consent, or not only do I refuse you the consolation of the dying, but +I excommunicate—" +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy, holy father, mercy!" said the old man, in a dying voice. +</P> + +<P> +"There is no mercy, you are damned for ever and ever. Amen. Now hear: +excommunicabo te—" +</P> + +<P> +"Stop—stop—have you the paper ready?" +</P> + +<P> +"Tis here, all ready, by which you revoke all former wills, and endow +the holy church with your property. We will read it, for God forbid +that it should be said that the holy church received an involuntary +gift." +</P> + +<P> +"I will sign it," replied the dying man, "but my sight fails me; be +quick, absolve me." And the paper was signed, with difficulty, as the +priests supported the dying man. "And now—absolve me." +</P> + +<P> +"I do absolve thee," replied the priest, who then went through the +ceremony. +</P> + +<P> +"Now this is a confounded rascally business," said Jack to himself; who +then dropped his cloak, jumped upon the window-sill, opened wide the +window-curtains with both hands, and uttered a yelling kind of "ha! ha! +ha! ha!" +</P> + +<P> +The priests turned round, saw the demon as they imagined—dropped the +paper on the table, and threw themselves with their faces on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"Exorciso te," stammered one. "Ha! ha! ha! ha!" repeated Jack, entering +the room, and taking up the paper which he burnt by the flame of the +candle. Our hero looked at the old man on the bed; his jaw had fallen, +his eyes were turned. He was dead. Jack then gave one more "ha! ha! +ha! ha!" to keep the priests in their places, blew out the candles, +made a spring out of the window, caught up his cloak, and disappeared +as fast as his legs could carry him. +</P> + +<P> +Jack ran until he was out of breath, and then he stopped, and sat down +by the side of the road. It was broad moonlight, and Jack knew not +where he was: "but Minorca has not many high roads," thought Jack, "and +I shall find my way home. Now, let me see,—I have done some good this +evening. I have prevented those rogues from disinheriting a family. I +wonder who they are; they ought to be infinitely obliged to me. But if +the priests find me out, what shall I do? I never dare come on shore +again—they'd have me in the Inquisition. I wonder where I am," said +Jack; "I will get on that hill, and see if I can take a departure." +</P> + +<P> +The hill was formed by the road being cut perpendicularly almost +through it, and was perhaps some twelve or fourteen feet high. Jack +ascended it, and looked about him. "There is the sea, at all events, +with the full moon silvering the waves," said Jack, turning from the +road, "and here is the road; then that must be the way to Port Mahon. +But what comes here?—it's a carriage. Why, it's the yellow carriage +of that old lady with her diamonds, and her two splashy footmen!" +</P> + +<P> +Jack was watching it as it passed the road under him, when of a sudden, +he perceived about a dozen men rush out, and seize the horses' +heads,—a discharge of fire-arms, the coachman dropped off the box, and +the two footmen dropped from behind. The robbers then opened the door, +and were hauling out the fat old lady covered with diamonds. Jack +thought a second—it occurred to him, that although he could not cope +with so many, he might frighten them, as he had frightened one set of +robbers already that night. The old lady had just been tumbled out of +the carriage-door, like a large bundle of clothes tied up for the wash, +when Jack, throwing off his cloak, and advancing to the edge of the +precipice, with the full moon behind him throwing out his figure in +strong relief, raised his trident, and just as they were raising their +knives, yelled a most unearthly "ha, ha, ha, ha!" +</P> + +<P> +The robbers looked up, and forgetting the masquerade, for there is a +double tremor in guilt, screamed with fear; most of them ran away, and +dropped after a hundred yards; others remained paralysed and +insensible. Jack descended the hill, went to the assistance of the old +lady, who had swooned, and had to put her into the carriage; but +although our hero was very strong, this was a work of no small +difficulty. After one or two attempts, he lowered down the steps and +contrived to bump her on the first, from the first he purchased her on +the second, and from the second he at last seated her at the door of +the carriage. +</P> + +<P> +Jack had no time to be over-polite. He then threw her back into the +bottom of the carriage, her heels went up to the top, Jack shoved in +her petticoats as fast as he could, for decency, and then shutting the +door seized the reins, and jumped upon the box. "I don't know the way," +thought Jack, "but we must needs go when the devil drives"; so sticking +his trident into the horses, they set off at a rattling pace, passing +over the bodies of the two robbers, who had held the reins, and who +both lay before him in a swoon. As soon as he had brought the horses +into a trot, he slackened the reins, for, as Jack wisely argued, they +will be certain to go home if I let them have their own way The horses, +before they arrived at the town, turned off, and stopped at a large +country house. +</P> + +<P> +That he might not frighten the people, Jack had put on his cloak, and +taken off his mask and head-piece, which he had laid beside him on the +box. At the sound of the carriage-wheels the servants came out, when +Jack, in few words, told them what had happened. Some of the servants +ran in, and a young lady made her appearance, while the others were +helping the old lady out of the carriage, who had recovered her senses, +but had been so much frightened that she had remained in the posture in +which Jack had put her. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as she was out, Jack descended from the coach-box and entered +the house. He stated to the young lady what had taken place, and how +opportunely he had frightened away the robbers, just as they were about +to murder her relation; and also suggested the propriety of sending +after the servants who had fallen in the attack; which was immediately +done by a strong and well-armed party collected for the occasion. Jack, +having made his speech, made a very polite bow and took his leave, +stating that he was an English officer belonging to a frigate in the +harbour. He knew his way back, and in half an hour was again at the +inn, and found his comrades. Jack thought it advisable to keep his own +secret, and therefore merely said, that he had taken a long walk in the +country; and soon afterwards went to bed. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning our hero, who was always a man of his word, packed up +his portmanteau, and paid his bill. He had just completed this heavy +operation, when somebody wanted to speak to him, and a sort of +half-clerical, half-legal sort of looking gentleman was introduced, +who, with a starched face and prim air, said that he came to request in +writing the name of the officer who was dressed as a devil, in the +masquerade of the night before. +</P> + +<P> +Jack looked at his interrogator, and thought of the priests and the +Inquisition. "No, no," thought he, "that won't do; a name I must give, +but it shall be one that you dare not meddle with. A midshipman you +might get hold of, but it's more than the whole island dare to touch a +post-captain of one of his Majesty's frigates." So Jack took the paper +and wrote Captain Henry Wilson, of his Majesty's ship Aurora. +</P> + +<P> +The prim man made a prim bow, folded up the paper and left the room. +</P> + +<P> +Jack threw the waiter half a doubloon, lighted his cigar, and went on +board. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which the old proverb is illustrated, "That you must <BR> +not count your chickens before they are hatched." +</H4> + +<P> +The first lieutenant of the Aurora was a very good officer in many +respects, but, as a midshipman, he had contracted the habit of putting +his hands in his pockets, and could never keep them out, even when the +ship was in a gale of wind; and hands are of some use in a heavy lurch. +He had more than once received serious injury from falling on these +occasions, but habit was too powerful; and, although he had once broken +his leg by falling down the hatchway, and had moreover a large scar on +his forehead, received from being thrown to leeward against one of the +guns, he still continued the practice; indeed, it was said that once +when it was necessary for him to go aloft, he had actually taken the +two first rounds of the Jacob's ladder without withdrawing them, until, +losing his balance, he discovered that it was not quite so easy to go +aloft with his hands in his pockets. In fact, there was no getting up +his hands, even when all hands were turned up. +</P> + +<P> +He had another peculiarity, which was, that he had taken a peculiar +fancy to a quack medicine, called Enouy's Universal Medicine for all +Mankind; and Mr Pottyfar was convinced in his own mind that the label +was no libel, except from the greatness of its truth. In his opinion, +it cured everything, and he spent one of his quarterly bills every year +in bottles of this stuff; which he not only took himself every time he +was unwell, but occasionally when quite well, to prevent his falling +sick. He recommended it to everybody in the ship, and nothing pleased +him so much as to give a dose of it to everyone who could be persuaded +to take it. The officers laughed at him, but it was generally behind +his back, for he became very angry if contradicted upon this one point, +upon which he certainly might be considered to be a little cracked. He +was indefatigable in making proselytes to his creed, and expatiated +upon the virtues of the medicine, for an hour running, proving the +truth of his assertions by a pamphlet, which, with his hands, he always +carried in his trousers' pocket. +</P> + +<P> +Jack reported himself when he came on board, and Mr Pottyfar, who was +on the quarter-deck at the time, expressed a hope that Mr Easy would +take his share of the duty, now that he had had such a spell on shore; +to which Jack very graciously acceded, and then went down below, where +he found Gascoigne and his new messmates, with most of whom he was +already acquainted. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Easy," said Gascoigne, "have you had enough of the shore?" +</P> + +<P> +"Quite," replied Jack, recollecting that, after the events of the night +before, he was just as well on board; "I don't intend to ask for any +more leave." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it's quite as well, for Mr Pottyfar is not very liberal on +that score, I can tell you; there is but one way of getting leave from +him." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed!" replied Jack; "and what is that?" +</P> + +<P> +"You must pretend that you are not well, take some of his quack +medicine, and then he will allow you a run on shore to work it off." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh! that's it, is it? well then, as soon as we anchor in Valette, I'll +go through a regular course, but not till then." +</P> + +<P> +"It ought to suit you, Jack; it's an equality medicine; cures one +disorder just as well as the other." +</P> + +<P> +"Or kills—which levels all the patients. You're right, Gascoigne, I +must patronise that stuff—for more reasons than one. Who was that +person on deck in mufti?" +</P> + +<P> +"The mufti, Jack; in other words, the chaplain of the ship, but he's a +prime sailor, nevertheless." +</P> + +<P> +"How's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, he was brought up on the quarter-deck, served his time, was +acting lieutenant for two years, and then, somehow or another, he bore +up for the church." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed—what were his reasons?" +</P> + +<P> +"No one knows—but they say he has been unhappy ever since." +</P> + +<P> +"Why so?" +</P> + +<P> +"Because he did a very foolish thing, which cannot now be remedied. He +supposed at the time that he would make a good parson, and now that he +has long got over his fit, he finds himself wholly unfit for it—he is +still the officer in heart, and is always struggling with his natural +bent, which is very contrary to what a parson should feel." +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't they allow parsons to be broke by a court-martial, and +turned out of the service, or to resign their commissions, like other +people?" +</P> + +<P> +"It won't do, Jack—they serve heaven—there's a difference between +that and serving his Majesty." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I don't understand these things. When do we sail?" +</P> + +<P> +"The day after to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"To join the fleet of Toulon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes: but I suppose we shall be driven on the Spanish coast going +there. I never knew a man-of-war that was not." +</P> + +<P> +"No; wind always blows from the south, going up the Mediterranean." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you'll take another prize, Jack—mind you don't go away +without the articles of war." +</P> + +<P> +"I won't go away without Mesty, if I can help it. O dear, how +abominable a midshipman's berth is after a long run on shore! I +positively must go on deck and look at the shore, if I can do nothing +else." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, ten minutes ago you had had enough of it?" "Yes, but ten minutes +here has made me feel quite sick. I shall go to the first lieutenant +for a dose." +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Easy, we must both be physicked on the same day." +</P> + +<P> +"To be sure; but stop till we get to Malta." +</P> + +<P> +Jack went on deck, made acquaintance with the chaplain and some of the +officers whom he had not known, then climbed up into the main-top, +where he took a seat on the armolest, and, as he looked at the shore, +thought over the events that had passed, until Agnes came to his +memory, and he thought only of her. When a mid is in love, he always +goes aloft to think of the object of his affection; why, I don't know, +except that his reverie is not so likely to be disturbed by an order +from a superior officer. +</P> + +<P> +The Aurora sailed on the second day, and, with a fine breeze, stood +across, making as much northing as easting; the consequence was, that +one fine morning they saw the Spanish coast before they saw the Toulon +fleet. Mr Pottyfar took his hands out of his pockets, because he could +not examine the coast through a telescope without so doing; but this, +it is said, was the first time that he had done so on the quarter-deck +from the day that the ship had sailed from Port Mahon. Captain Wilson +was also occupied with his telescope, so were many of the officers and +midshipmen, and the men at the mastheads used their eyes, but there was +nothing but a few small fishing-boats to be seen. So they all went down +to breakfast, as the ship was hove-to close in with the land. +</P> + +<P> +"What will Easy bet," said one of the midshipmen, "that we don't see a +prize to-day?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will not bet that we do not see a vessel—but I'll bet you what you +please, that we do not take one before twelve o'clock at night." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, that won't do—just let the teapot travel over this way, for +it's my forenoon watch." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a fine morning," observed one of the mates, of the name of +Martin; "but I've a notion it won't be a fine evening." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" inquired another. +</P> + +<P> +"I've now been eight years in the Mediterranean, and know something +about the weather. There's a watery sky, and the wind is very steady. +If we are not under double-reefed topsails to-night, say I'm no +conjurer." +</P> + +<P> +"That you will be, all the same, if we are under bare poles," said +another. +</P> + +<P> +"You're devilish free with your tongue, my youngster—Easy, pull his +ears for me." +</P> + +<P> +"Pull them easy, Jack, then," said the boy, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"All hands make sail!" now resounded at the hatchways. +</P> + +<P> +"There they are, depend upon it," cried Gascoigne, catching up his hat +and bolting out of the berth, followed by all the others except Martin, +who had just been relieved, and thought that his presence in the waist +might be dispensed with for the short time, at least, which it took him +to swallow a cup of tea. +</P> + +<P> +It was very true; a galliot and four lateen vessels had just made their +appearance round the easternmost point, and as soon as they observed +the frigate, had hauled their wind. In a minute the Aurora was under a +press of canvas, and the telescopes were all directed to the vessels. +</P> + +<P> +"All deeply laden, sir," observed Mr Hawkins, the chaplain; "how the +topsail of the galliot is scored!" +</P> + +<P> +"They have a fresh breeze just now," observed Captain Wilson to the +first lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, and it's coming down fast." +</P> + +<P> +"Hands by the royal halyards, there." +</P> + +<P> +The Aurora careened with the canvas to the rapidly-increasing breeze. +</P> + +<P> +"Top-gallant sheet and halyards." +</P> + +<P> +"Luff you may, quarter-master; luff, I tell you. A small pull of that +weather maintop-gallant brace—that will do," said the master. +</P> + +<P> +"Top-men aloft there;—stand by to clew up the royals and, Captain +Wilson, shall we take them in?—I'm afraid of that pole—it bends now +like a coach-whip," said Mr Pottyfar, looking up aloft, with his hands +in both pockets. +</P> + +<P> +"In royals—lower away." +</P> + +<P> +"They are going about, sir," said the second lieutenant, Mr Haswell. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out," observed the chaplain, "it's coming." +</P> + +<P> +Again the breeze increased, and the frigate was borne down. "Hands reef +topsails in stays, Mr Pottyfar." +</P> + +<P> +"Aye, aye, sir—'bout ship." +</P> + +<P> +The helm was put down and the topsails lowered and reefed in stays. +"Very well, my lads, very well indeed," said Captain Wilson. +</P> + +<P> +Again the topsails were hoisted and top-gallant sheets home. It was a +strong breeze, although the water was smooth, and the Aurora dashed +through at the rate of eight miles an hour, with her weather leeches +lifting. +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't I tell you so?" said Martin to his messmates on the gangway +"but there's more yet, my boys." +</P> + +<P> +"We must take the top-gallant sails off her," said Captain Wilson, +looking aloft—for the frigate now careened to her bearings, and the +wind was increasing and squally. "Try them a little longer"; but +another squall came suddenly—the halyards were lowered, and the sails +clewed up and furled. +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime the frigate had rapidly gained upon the vessels, which +still carried on every stitch of canvas, making short tacks in-shore. +The Aurora was again put about with her head towards them, and they +were not two points on her weather-bow. The sky, which had been clear +in the morning, was now overcast, the sun was obscured with opaque +white clouds, and the sea was rising fast. Another ten minutes, and +then they were under double-reefed topsails and the squalls were +accompanied with heavy rain. The frigate now dashed through the waves, +foaming in her course, and straining under the press of sail. The +horizon was so thick that the vessels ahead were no longer to be seen. +</P> + +<P> +"We shall have it, I expect," said Captain Wilson. +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't I say so?" observed Martin to Gascoigne. "We take no prizes +this day, depend upon it." +</P> + +<P> +"We must have another hand to the wheel, sir, if you please," said the +quarter-master, who was assisting the helmsman. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Pottyfar, with his hands concealed as usual, stood by the capstern. +"I fear, sir, we cannot carry the mainsail much longer." +</P> + +<P> +"No," observed the chaplain, "I was thinking so." +</P> + +<P> +"Captain Wilson, if you please, we are very close in," said the master; +"don't you think we had better go about?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mr Jones. Hands about ship—and, yes, by heavens we must!—up +mainsail." The mainsail was taken off, and the frigate appeared to be +immediately relieved. She no longer jerked and plunged as before. +</P> + +<P> +"We're very near the land, Captain Wilson; thick as it is, I think I +can make out the loom of it—shall we wear round, sir?" continued the +master. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, hands wear ship—put the helm up." It was but just in time, for, +as the frigate flew round, describing a circle, as she payed off before +the wind, they could perceive the breakers lashing the precipitous +coast, not two cables' length from them. +</P> + +<P> +"I had no idea we were so near," observed the captain, compressing his +lips—"can they see anything of those vessels?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have not seen them this quarter of an hour, sir," replied the +signal-man, protecting his glass from the rain under his jacket. +</P> + +<P> +"How's her head now, quarter-master?" +</P> + +<P> +"South south-east, sir." +</P> + +<P> +The sky now assumed a different appearance—the white clouds had been +exchanged for others dark and murky, the wind roared at intervals, and +the rain came down in torrents. Captain Wilson went down into the +cabin to examine the barometer. +</P> + +<P> +"The barometer has risen," said he on his return on deck. "Is the wind +steady?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir, she's up and off three points." +</P> + +<P> +"This will end in a south-wester." The wet and heavy sails now flapped +from the shifting of the wind. +</P> + +<P> +"Up with the helm, quarter-master." +</P> + +<P> +"Up it is—she's off to south-by-west." +</P> + +<P> +The wind lulled, the rain came down in a deluge—for a minute it was +quite calm, and the frigate was on an even keel. +</P> + +<P> +"Man the braces. We shall be taken aback, directly, depend upon it." +The braces were hardly stretched along before this was the case. The +wind flew round to the south-west with a loud roar, and it was +fortunate that they were prepared—the yards were braced round, and the +master asked the captain, what course they were to steer. +</P> + +<P> +"We must give it up," observed Captain Wilson, holding on by the +belaying pin. "Shape our course for Cape Sicie, Mr Jones." +</P> + +<P> +And the Aurora flew before the gale, under her foresail and topsails +close reefed. The weather was now so thick that nothing could be +observed twenty yards from the vessel; the thunder pealed, and the +lightning darted in every direction over the dark expanse. The watch +was called as soon as the sails were trimmed, and all who could went +below, wet, uncomfortable, and disappointed. +</P> + +<P> +"What an old Jonah you are, Martin," said Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I am," replied he; "but we have the worst to come yet, in my +opinion. I recollect, not two hundred miles from where we are now, we +had just such a gale in the Favourite, and we as nearly went down, +when—" +</P> + +<P> +At this moment a tremendous noise was heard above, a shock was felt +throughout the whole ship, which trembled fore and aft as if it was +about to fall into pieces: loud shrieks were followed by plaintive +cries, the lower deck was filled with smoke, and the frigate was down +on her beam ends. Without exchanging a word, the whole of the occupants +of the berth flew out, and were up the hatchway, not knowing what to +think, but convinced that some dreadful accident had taken place. +</P> + +<P> +On their gaining the deck it was at once explained; the foremast of the +frigate had been struck by lightning, had been riven into several +pieces, and had fallen over the larboard bow, carrying with it the +main-topmast and jib-boom. The jagged stump of the foremast was in +flames, and burned brightly, notwithstanding the rain fell in torrents. +The ship, as soon as the foremast and main topmast had gone overboard, +broached-to furiously, throwing the men over the wheel and dashing them +senseless against the carronades; the forecastle, the forepart of the +main deck, and even the lower deck, were spread with men, either killed +or seriously wounded, or insensible from the electric shock. The +frigate was on her beam ends, and the sea broke furiously over her; all +was dark as pitch, except the light from the blazing stump of the +foremast, appearing like a torch, held up by the wild demons of the +storm, or when occasionally the gleaming lightning cast a momentary +glare, threatening every moment to repeat its attack upon the vessel, +while the deafening thunder burst almost on their devoted heads. +</P> + +<P> +All was dismay and confusion for a minute or two: at last Captain +Wilson, who had himself lost his sight for a short time, called for the +carpenter and axes—they climbed up, that is, two or three of them, and +he pointed to the mizzen-mast; the master was also there, and he cut +loose the axes for the seamen to use; in a few minutes the mizzen-mast +fell over the quarter, and the helm being put hard up, the frigate +payed off and slowly righted. But the horror of the scene was not yet +over. The boatswain, who had been on the forecastle, had been led +below, for his vision was gone for ever. The men who lay scattered +about had been examined, and they were assisting them down to the care +of the surgeon, when the cry of "Fire!" issued from the lower deck. +The ship had taken fire at the coal-hole and carpenter's store-room, +and the smoke that now ascended was intense. +</P> + +<P> +"Call the drummer," said Captain Wilson, "and let him beat to +quarters—all hands to their stations—let the pumps be rigged and the +buckets passed along. Mr Martin, see that the wounded men are taken +down below. Where's Mr Haswell? Mr Pottyfar, station the men to pass +the water on by hand on the lower deck. I will go there myself. Mr +Jones, take charge of the ship." +</P> + +<P> +Pottyfar, who actually had taken his hands out of his pockets, hastened +down to comply with the captain's orders on the main deck, as Captain +Wilson descended to the deck below. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Jack, this is very different from this morning," observed +Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Jack, "so it is; but I say, Gascoigne, what's the best +thing to do?—when the chimney's on fire on shore, they put a wet +blanket over it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Gascoigne; "but when the coal-hole's on fire on board, +they will not find that sufficient." +</P> + +<P> +"At all events, wet blankets must be a good firing, Ned, so let us pull +out the hammocks; cut the lanyards and get some out—we can but offer +them, you know, and if they do no good, at least it will show our zeal." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Jack, and I think when they turn in again, those whose blankets +you take will agree with you, that zeal makes the service very +uncomfortable. However, I think you are right." +</P> + +<P> +The two midshipmen collected three or four hands, and in a very short +time they had more blankets than they could carry—there was no trouble +in wetting them, for the main deck was afloat—and followed by the men +they had collected, Easy and Gascoigne went down with large bundles in +their arms to where Captain Wilson was giving directions to the men. +</P> + +<P> +"Excellent, Mr Easy, excellent, Mr Gascoigne" said Captain Wilson. +"Come, my lads, throw them over now, and stamp upon them well"; the +men's jackets and the captain's coat had already been sacrificed to the +same object. +</P> + +<P> +Easy called the other midshipmen, and they went up for a further +supply; but there was no occasion, the fire had been smothered: still +the danger had been so great that the fore magazine had been floated. +During all this, which lasted perhaps a quarter of an hour, the frigate +had rolled gunwale under, and many were the accidents which occurred. +At last all danger from fire had ceased, and the men were ordered to +return to their quarters, when three officers and forty-seven men were +found absent—seven of them were dead, most of them were already under +the care of the surgeon, but some were still lying in the scuppers. +</P> + +<P> +No one had been more active or more brave during this time of danger, +than Mr Hawkins, the chaplain. He was everywhere, and when Captain +Wilson went down to put out the fire he was there, encouraging the men +and exerting himself most gallantly. He and Mesty came aft when all +was over, one just as black as the other. The chaplain sat down and +wrung his hands—"God forgive me!" said he, "God forgive me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Why so, sir?" said Easy, who stood near. "I am sure you need not be +ashamed of what you have done." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, not ashamed of what I've done; but, Mr Easy—I have sworn so, +sworn such oaths at the men in haste—I, the chaplain! God forgive +me!—I meant nothing." It was very true that Mr Hawkins had sworn a +great deal during his exertions, but he was at that time the +quarter-deck officer and not the chaplain; the example to the men and +his gallantry had been most serviceable. +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed, sir," said Easy, who saw the chaplain was in great +tribulation, and hoped to pacify him, "I was certainly not there all +the time, but I only heard you say, 'God bless you, my men! be smart,' +and so on; surely, that is not swearing." +</P> + +<P> +"Was it that I said, Mr Easy, are you sure? I really had an idea that +I had d——d them all in heaps, as some of them deserved—no, no, not +deserved. Did I really bless them—nothing but bless them?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," said Mesty, who perceived what Jack wanted: "it was +nothing, I assure you, but 'God bless you, Captain Wilson!—Bless your +heart, my good men!-Bless the king!' and so on. You do nothing but +shower down blessing and wet blanket." +</P> + +<P> +"I told you so," said Jack. "Well, Mr Easy, you've made me very happy," +replied the chaplain; "I was afraid it was otherwise." +</P> + +<P> +So indeed it was, for the chaplain had sworn like a boatswain; but as +Jack and Mesty had turned all his curses into blessings, the poor man +gave himself absolution, and shaking hands with Jack, hoped he would +come down into the gun-room and take a glass of grog; nor did he forget +Mesty, who received a good allowance at the gun-room door, to which +Jack gladly consented, as the rum in the middy's berth had all been +exhausted after the rainy morning; but Jack was interrupted in his +third glass, by somebody telling him the captain wanted to speak with +Mr Hawkins and with him. +</P> + +<P> +Jack went up, and found the captain on the quarter-deck with the +officers. "Mr Easy," said Captain Wilson, "I have sent for you, Mr +Hawkins, and Mr Gascoigne, to thank you on the quarter-deck, for your +exertions and presence of mind on this trying occasion." Mr Hawkins +made a bow. Gascoigne said nothing, but he thought of having extra +leave when they arrived at Malta. Jack felt inclined to make a speech, +and began something about when there was danger that it levelled every +one to an equality even on board of a man-of-war. +</P> + +<P> +"By no means, Mr Easy," replied Captain Wilson; "it does the very +contrary; for it proves which is the best man, and those who are the +best raise themselves at once above the rest." +</P> + +<P> +Jack was very much inclined to argue the point, but he took the +compliment and held his tongue, which was the wisest thing he could +have done; so he made his bow, and was about to go down into the +midshipmen's berth when the frigate was pooped by a tremendous sea, +which washed all those who did not hold on down into the waist. Jack +was among the number, and naturally catching at the first object which +touched him, he caught hold of the chaplain by the leg, who commenced +swearing most terribly: but before he could finish the oath, the water +which had burst into the cabin through the windows—for the dead +lights, in the confusion, had not yet been shipped—burst out of the +cross bulk-heads, sweeping like a torrent the marine, the cabin-door, +and everything else in its force, and floating Jack and the chaplain +with several others down the main hatchway on to the lower deck. The +lower deck being also full of water, men and chests were rolling and +tossing about, and Jack was sometimes in company with the chaplain, and +at other times separated; at last they both recovered their legs, and +gained the midshipmen's berth, which, although afloat, was still a +haven of security. Mr Hawkins spluttered and spit, and so did Jack, +until he began to laugh. +</P> + +<P> +"This is very trying, Mr Easy," said the chaplain; "very trying indeed +to the temper. I hope I have not sworn I hope not." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a word," said Jack—"I was close to you all the time—you only +said 'God preserve us!'" +</P> + +<P> +"Only that? I was afraid that I said 'God d—n it!'" +</P> + +<P> +"Quite a mistake, Mr Hawkins. Let's go into the gun-room, and try to +wash this salt water out of our mouths, and then I will tell you all +you said, as far as I could hear it, word for word." +</P> + +<P> +So Jack by this means got another glass of grog, which was very +acceptable in his wet condition, and made himself very comfortable, +while those on deck were putting on the dead lights, and very busy +setting the goose-wings of the mainsail, to prevent the frigate from +being pooped a second time. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero becomes excessively unwell, <BR> +and agrees to go through a course of medicine. +</H4> + +<P> +The hammocks were not piped down that night: some were taken +indiscriminately for the wounded, but the rest remained in the +nettings, for all hands were busy preparing jury masts and jury +rigging, and Mr Pottyfar was so well employed that for twelve hours his +hands were not in his pockets. It was indeed a dreadful night: the +waves were mountains high, and chased the frigate in their fury, +cresting, breaking, and roaring at her taffrail. But she flew before +them with the wings of the wind; four men at the helm, assisted by +others at the relieving tackles below. Jack, having been thanked on +and washed off the quarter-deck, thought that he had done quite enough: +he was as deep as he could swim before he had satisfied all the +scruples of the Chaplin and, stowing himself away on one of the +lockers of the midshipmen's berth, was soon fast asleep, +notwithstanding that the frigate rolled gunwale under. Gascoigne had +done much better; he had taken down a hammock, as he said, for a poor +wounded man, hung it up and turned in himself. The consequence was, +that the next morning the surgeon, who saw him lying in the hammock, +had put him down in the report, but as Gascoigne had got up as well as +ever, he laughed and scratched his name out of the list of wounded. +</P> + +<P> +Before morning the ship had been pumped out dry, and all below made as +secure and safe as circumstances would permit; but the gale still +continued its violence, and there was anything but comfort onboard. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Martin, you ought to be thrown overboard!" said Gascoigne; "all +this comes from your croaking—you're a Mother Cary's chicken." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had been anyone's chicken," replied Martin; "but the devil a +thing to nestle under have I had since I can well remember." +</P> + +<P> +"What a bore to have no galley-fire lighted," said one of the +youngsters; "no tea, and not allowed any grog." +</P> + +<P> +"The gale will last three days," replied Martin, "and by that time we +shall not be far from the Admiral; it won't blow home there." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, we shall be ordered in directly, and I shall go on shore +to-morrow," replied Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, if you're ill," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Never fear, I shall be sick enough. We shall be there at least six +weeks, and then we'll forget all this." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Martin, "we may forget it, but will the poor fellows +whose limbs are shrivelled forget it? and will poor Miles, the +boatswain, who is blind forever?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Martin; we are thinking about ourselves, not thankful for +our escape, and not feeling for others," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Give us your hand, Ned," said Jack Easy. "And, Martin, we ought to +thank you for telling us the truth—we are a selfish set of fellows." +</P> + +<P> +"Still we took our share with the others," replied one of the +midshipman. +</P> + +<P> +"That's more reason for us to be grateful and to pity them," replied +Jack; "suppose you had lost your arm or your eyesight—we would have +pitied you; so now pity others." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, so I do, now I think of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Think oftener, youngster," observed Martin, going on deck. What a +change from the morning of the day before; but twenty-four hours had +passed away, and the sea had been smooth; the frigate dashed through +the blue water, proud in all her canvas, graceful as a swan. Since +that there had been fire, tempest, lightning, disaster, danger, and +death; her masts were tossed about on the snowy waves, hundreds of +miles away from her, and she—a wreck—was rolling heavily, groaning +and complaining in every timber, as she urged her impetuous race with +the furious running sea. +</P> + +<P> +How wrong are those on shore who assert that sailors are not +religious!—how is it possible, supposing them to be possessed of +feeling, to be otherwise? On shore, where you have nothing but the +change of seasons, each in its own peculiar beauty—nothing but the +blessings of the earth, its fruits, its flowers—nothing but the +bounty, the comforts, the luxuries which have been invented, where you +can rise in the morning in peace, and lay down your head at night in +security—God may be neglected and forgotten for a long time; but at +sea, when each gale is a warning, each disaster acts as a check, each +escape as a homily upon the forbearance of Providence, that man must be +indeed brutalised who does not feel that God is there. On shore we +seldom view Him but in all His beauty and kindness; but at sea we are +as often reminded how terrible He is in His wrath. Can it be supposed +that the occurrences of the last twenty-four hours were lost upon the +minds of any one man in that ship? No, no. In their courage and +activity they might appear reckless, but in their hearts they +acknowledged and bowed unto their God. +</P> + +<P> +Before the day was over, a jury-foremast had been got up, and sail +having been put upon it, the ship was steered with greater ease and +safety—the main brace had been spliced to cheer up the exhausted crew, +and the hammocks were piped down. +</P> + +<P> +As Gascoigne had observed, some of the men were not very much pleased +to find that they were minus their blankets, but Captain Wilson ordered +their losses to be supplied by the purser and expended by the master; +this quite altered the case, as they obtained new blankets in most +cases for old ones, but still it was impossible to light the galley +fire, and the men sat on their chests and nibbled biscuit. By twelve +o'clock that night the gale broke, and more sail was necessarily put on +the scudding vessels for the sea still ran fast and mountains high. At +daylight the sun burst out and shone brightly on them, the sea went +gradually down, the fire was lighted, and Mr Pottyfar, whose hands were +again in his pockets, at twelve o'clock gave the welcome order to pipe +to dinner. As soon as the men had eaten their dinner, the frigate was +once more brought to the wind, her jury-mast forward improved upon, and +more sail made upon it. The next morning there was nothing of the gale +left except the dire effects which it had produced, the black and riven +stump of the foremast still holding up a terrific warning of the power +and fury of the elements. +</P> + +<P> +Three days more, and the Aurora joined the Toulon fleet. When she was +first seen it was imagined by those on board of the other ships that +she had been in action, but they soon learnt that the conflict had been +against more direful weapons than any yet invented by mortal hands. +Captain Wilson waited upon the Admiral, and of course received +immediate orders to repair to port and refit. In a few hours the +Aurora had shaped her course for Malta, and by sunset the Toulon fleet +were no longer in sight. +</P> + +<P> +"By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but that terrible sort of gale the other +day anyhow—I tink one time, we all go to Davy Joney's lacker." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mesty; I hope never to meet with such another." +</P> + +<P> +"Den, Massa Easy, why you go to sea? when man ab no money, noting to +eat, den he go to sea, but everybody say you ab plenty money why you +come to sea?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm sure I don't know," replied Jack, thoughtfully; "I came to sea on +account of equality and the rights of man." +</P> + +<P> +"Eh, Massa Easy, you come to wrong place anyhow. Now I tink a good deal +lately, and by all de power, I tink equality all stuff." +</P> + +<P> +"All stuff, Mesty, why? You used to think otherwise." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Massa Easy, but den I boil de kettle for all young gentleman. Now +dat I ship's corporal and hab cane, I tink so no longer." +</P> + +<P> +Jack made no reply, but he thought the more. The reader must have +perceived that Jack's notions of equality were rapidly disappearing; he +defended them more from habit, and perhaps a wilfulness which would not +allow him to acknowledge himself wrong;—to which may be added his love +of argument. Already he had accustomed himself to obedience of his +superiors, and, notwithstanding his arguments, he would admit of no +resistance from those below him; not that it was hardly ever attempted, +for Jack was anything but a tyrant and was much beloved by all in the +ship. Every day brought its lesson, and Captain Wilson was now +satisfied that Jack had been almost cured of the effects of his +father's ridiculous philosophy. +</P> + +<P> +After a few minutes, Mesty tapped his cane on the funnel and +recommenced. "Then why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, Mesty, I don't dislike it." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Massa Easy, why you stay in midshipman berth, eat hard biscuit, +salt pig, salt horse, when you can go shore and live like gentleman? +Dat very foolish! Why not be your own master? By all power! suppose I +had money, catch me board ship. Little sea very good, Massa Easy, open +one's eyes; but tink of the lightning t'other night. Poor massa +boatswain he shut um eyes for ebber!" +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"Me hope you fink of this, sar, and when you go on shore you take Mesty +wid you. He sarve you well, Massa Easy, long as he live, by de holy St +Patrick. And den, Massa Easy, you marry wife—hab pickaninny—lib like +gentleman. You tink of this, Massa Easy." +</P> + +<P> +The mention of the word marriage turned the thoughts of our hero to his +Agnes and he made no reply. Mesty walked away leaving our hero in deep +thought. +</P> + +<P> +This conversation had more effect upon Jack than would have been +imagined, and he very often found he was putting to himself the +question of Mesty—"Why do you stay at sea?" He had not entered the +service with any particular view, except to find equality, and he could +not but acknowledge to himself that, as Mesty observed, he had come to +the wrong place. He had never even thought of staying to serve his +time, nor had he looked forward to promotion, and one day commanding a +ship. He had only cared for the present, without indulging in a future +anticipation of any reward, except in a union with Agnes. Mesty's +observations occasioned Jack to reflect upon the future for the first +time in his life; and he was always perplexed when he put the question +of Mesty, and tried to answer to himself as to what were his intentions +in remaining in the service. +</P> + +<P> +Nevertheless Jack did his duty very much to the satisfaction of Mr +Pottyfar; and after a tedious passage, from baffling and light winds, +the Aurora arrived at Malta. Our hero had had some conversation with +his friend Gascoigne, in which he canvassed his future plans; all of +which, however, ended in one settled point, which was that he was to +marry Agnes. As for the rest, Gascoigne was of opinion that Jack ought +to follow up the service and become a captain. But there was plenty of +time to think about that, as he observed; now all they had to consider +was how to get on shore, for the refitting of the ship was an excuse +for detaining them on board, which they knew Mr Pottyfar would avail +himself of. +</P> + +<P> +Jack dined in the gun-room on the day of their arrival, and he resolved +that he would ask that very evening. Captain Wilson was already on +shore at the Governor's. Now, there had been a little difference of +opinion between Mr Pottyfar and Mr Hawkins, the chaplain, on a point of +seamanship, and most of the officers sided with the chaplain, who, as +we have before observed, was a first-rate seaman. It had ended in high +words, for Mr Hawkins had forgotten himself so far as to tell the first +lieutenant that he had a great deal to learn, not having even got over +the midshipman's trick of keeping his hands in his pockets; and Mr +Pottyfar had replied that it was very well for him as chaplain to +insult others, knowing that his cassock protected him. +</P> + +<P> +This was a bitter reply to Mr Hawkins, who at the very time that the +insinuation made his blood boil, was also reminded that his profession +forbade a retort. He rushed into his cabin, poor fellow, having no +other method left, vented his indignation in tears, and then consoled +himself by degrees with prayer. In the meantime Mr Pottyfar had gone +on deck, wroth with Hawkins and with his messmates, as well as +displeased with himself. He was, indeed, in a humour to be pleased with +nobody, and in a most unfortunate humour to be asked leave by a +midshipman. Nevertheless, Jack politely took off his hat, and +requested leave to go on shore and see his friend the Governor. Upon +which Mr Pottyfar turned round to him, with his feet spread wide open, +and, thrusting his hands to the very bottom of his pockets, as if in +determination, said: +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy, you know the state of the ship. We have everything to +do—new masts, new rigging, everything almost to refit—and yet you ask +to go on shore! Now, sir, you may take this answer for yourself, and +all the other midshipmen in the ship, that not one soul of you puts his +foot on shore until we are again all a-taunto." +</P> + +<P> +"Allow me to observe, sir," said our hero, "that it is very true that +all our services may be required when the duty commences, but this +being Saturday night, and to-morrow Sunday, the frigate will not be +even moved till Monday morning; and as the work cannot begin before +that, I trust you will permit leave until that time." +</P> + +<P> +"My opinion is different, sir," replied the first lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps, sir, you will allow me to argue the point," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir, I never allow argument; walk over to the other side of the +deck, if you please." +</P> + +<P> +"O certainly, sir," said Jack, "if you wish it." Jack's first idea was +to go on shore without leave, but from this he was persuaded by +Gascoigne, who told him that it would displease Captain Wilson, and +that old Tom, the Governor, would not receive him. Jack agreed to +this, and then, after a flourish about the rights of man, tyranny, +oppression, and so forth, he walked forward to the forecastle, where he +found his friend Mesty, who had heard all that had passed, and who +insidiously said to him in a low tone— +</P> + +<P> +"Why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, indeed," thought Jack, boiling with indignation; "to be cooped up +here at the will of another? I am a fool—Mesty is right—I'll ask for +my discharge to-morrow." Jack went down below, and told Gascoigne what +he had determined to do. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll do no such thing, Jack," replied Gascoigne; "depend upon it, +you'll have plenty of leave in a day or two. Pottyfar was in a pet +with the chaplain, who was too much for him. Captain Wilson will be on +board by nine o'clock." +</P> + +<P> +Nevertheless, Jack walked his first watch in the magnificents, as all +Biddies do when they cannot go on shore, and turned in at twelve +o'clock with the resolution of sticking to his purpose, and quitting +his majesty's service; in fact, of presenting his Majesty with his +between two and three years' time, served as midshipman, all free, +gratis, and for nothing, except his provisions and his pay, which some +captains are bold enough to assert that they not only are not worth, +but not even the salt that accompanies it; forgetting that they were +once midshipmen themselves, and at the period were, of course, of about +the same value. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning Captain Wilson came off; the ship's company were +mustered, the service read by Mr Hawkins, and Jack, as soon as all the +official duties were over, was about to go up to the captain, when the +captain said to him,—"Mr Easy, the Governor desired me to bring you on +shore to dine with him, and he has a bed at your service." +</P> + +<P> +Jack touched his hat and ran down below, to make his few preparations. +By the time that Mesty, who had taken charge of his chest, etc, had put +his necessaries in the boat, Jack had almost made up his mind that his +Majesty should not be deprived yet awhile of so valuable an officer. +Jack returned on deck, and found that the captain was not yet ready; he +went up to Mr Pottyfar, and told him that the captain had ordered him +to go on shore with him; and Mr Pottyfar, who had quite got over his +spleen, said,— +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, Mr Easy—I wish you a great deal of pleasure." +</P> + +<P> +"This is very different from yesterday," thought Jack; "suppose I try +the medicine?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am not very well, Mr Pottyfar, and those pills of the doctor's don't +agree with me—I always am ill if I am long without air and exercise." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," said the first lieutenant, "people require air and +exercise. I've no opinion of the doctor's remedies; the only thing that +is worth a farthing is the universal medicine." +</P> + +<P> +"I should so long to try it, sir," replied Jack; "I read the book one +day, and it said that if you took it daily for a fortnight or three +weeks, and with plenty of air and exercise, it would do wonders." +</P> + +<P> +"And it's very true," replied Mr Pottyfar; "and if you'd like to try it +you shall—I have plenty—shall I give you a dose now?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir," replied Jack; "and tell me how often I am to take +it, for my head aches all day." +</P> + +<P> +Mr Pottyfar took Jack down, and putting into his hand three or four +bottles of the preparation, told him that he was to take thirty drops +at night, when he went to bed, not to drink more than two glasses of +wine, and to avoid the heat of the sun. +</P> + +<P> +"But, sir," replied Jack, who had put the bottles in his pocket, "I am +afraid that I cannot take it long; for as the ship is ready for +fitting, I shall be exposed to the sun all day." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, if you are wanted, Mr Easy; but we have plenty here without you; +and when you are unwell you cannot be expected to work. Take care of +your health; and I trust, indeed I am sure, that you will find this +medicine wonderfully efficacious." +</P> + +<P> +"I will begin to-night, sir, if you please," replied Jack, "and I am +very much obliged to you. I sleep at the Governor's—shall I come on +board to-morrow morning?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, no; take care of yourself, and get well; I shall be glad to hear +that you get better. Send me word how it acts." +</P> + +<P> +"I will, sir, send you word by the boat every day," replied Jack, +delighted; "I am very much obliged to you, sir. Gascoigne and I were +thinking of asking you, but did not like to do so: he, poor fellow, +suffers from headaches almost as bad as I do, and the doctor's pills +are of no use to him." +</P> + +<P> +"He shall have some too, Mr Easy; I thought he looked pale. I'll see to +it this afternoon. Recollect, moderate exercise, Mr Easy, and avoid +the sun at midday." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I'll not forget"; and off went Jack, +delighted. He ordered Mesty to put up his whole portmanteau instead of +the small bundle he put into the boat, and telling Gascoigne what a +spoke he had put into his wheel, was soon in the boat with the captain, +and went on shore, where he was cordially greeted by the Governor. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Captain Wilson is repaid with interest <BR> +for Jack's borrowing his name, proving that a <BR> +good name is as good as a legacy. +</H4> + +<P> +"Well, Jack, my boy, have you any long story ready for me?" inquired +the Governor. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I have one or two very good ones." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, we'll hear them after dinner," replied old Tom. "In the +meantime find out your room and take possession." +</P> + +<P> +"That must not be for very long, Governor," observed Captain Wilson. +"Mr Easy must learn his duty, and there is a good opportunity now." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir," replied Jack, "I'm on the sick list." +</P> + +<P> +"Sick list," said Captain Wilson; "you were not in the report I was +given this morning." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'm on Mr Pottyfar's list, and I'm going through a course of the +universal medicine." +</P> + +<P> +"What's all this, Jack, what's all this? There's some story here. +Don't be afraid of the captain—you've me to back you," said the +Governor. +</P> + +<P> +Jack was not at all afraid of the captain, so he told him how the first +lieutenant had refused him leave the evening before, and how he had now +given him permission to remain, and try the universal medicine, at +which the Governor laughed heartily, nor could Captain Wilson refrain +from joining. +</P> + +<P> +"But, Mr Easy," replied the captain, after a pause, "if Mr Pottyfar +will allow you to stay on shore, I cannot—you have your duty to learn. +You must be aware that now is your time, and you must not lose +opportunities that do not occur every day. You must acknowledge the +truth of what I say." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I admit it all, provided I do intend to +follow the profession"; and so saying our hero bowed, and left the +veranda where they had been talking. +</P> + +<P> +This hint of Jack's, thrown out by him, more with the intention of +preventing his being sent on board than with any definite idea, was not +lost upon either the captain or the Governor. +</P> + +<P> +"Does he jib, then?" observed the Governor. "On the contrary, I never +knew him more attentive, and so entirely getting rid of his former +notions. He has behaved most nobly in the gale, and there has not been +one complaint against him—I never was more astonished—he must have +meant something." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tell you what he means, Wilson—that he does not like to be sent +on board, nothing more. He's not to be cooped up—you may lead him, +but not drive him." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes but the service will not admit of it. I never could allow it—he +must do his duty like the rest, and conform to the rules." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly, so he must; but look ye, Wilson, you must not lose him: it's +all easily settled—appoint him your orderly midshipman to and from the +ship, that will be employment, and he can always remain here at night I +will tell him that I have asked, as a favour, what I now do, and leave +me to find out what he is thinking about." +</P> + +<P> +"It may be done that way certainly", replied Captain Wilson, musing +"and you are more likely, to get his intentions from him than I am. I +am afraid he has too great a command of money ever to be fond of the +ship; it is the ruin of a junior officer to be so lavishly supplied." +</P> + +<P> +"He's a long way from ruin yet, Wilson—he's a very fine fellow, even +by your own acknowledgment. You humoured him out of gratitude to his +father, when he first came into the service; humour him a little now to +keep him in it. Besides, if your first lieutenant is such a fool with +his universal medicine, can you wonder at a midshipman taking advantage +of it?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, but I ought not to allow him to do so with my eyes open." +</P> + +<P> +"He has made it known to you upon honour, and you ought not to take +advantage of his confidence: but still what I proposed would, I think, +be the best, for then he will be at his duty in a way that will suit +all parties. You, because you employ him on service—the first +lieutenant, because Jack can take his medicine—and Jack, because he +can dine with me every day." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose it must be so," replied Captain Wilson, laughing; "but +still, I trust, you will discover what is working in his mind to induce +him to give me that answer, Governor." +</P> + +<P> +"Never fear, Jack shall confess, and lay his soul as bare as that of a +Catholic bigot before his padre." +</P> + +<P> +The party sat down to dinner, and what with the Governor's aide-de-camp +and those invited, it was pretty numerous. After the cloth had been +removed, the Governor called upon Jack for his stories, whereupon, much +to the surprise of Captain Wilson, who had never heard one word of it, +for the Admiral had not mentioned anything about it to him during the +short time the Aurora was with the Toulon fleet, our hero gave the +Governor and the company the narrative of all that happened in the Mary +Ann transport—the loves of Captain Hogg and Miss Hicks-the adventures +of Gascoigne—and his plan, by which he baulked them all. The Governor +was delighted, and Captain Wilson not a little astonished. +</P> + +<P> +"You prevented a very foolish thing, Mr Easy, and behaved very well," +observed the captain, laughing again at the idea; "but you never told +me of all this." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied Jack, "I have always reserved my stories for the +Governor's table, where I am sure to meet you, and then telling once +does for all." +</P> + +<P> +Jack received his appointment as orderly midshipman, and everything +went on well; for, of his own accord, he stayed on board the major part +of the day to learn his duty, which very much pleased the captain and +Mr Pottyfar. In this Jack showed a great deal of good sense, and +Captain Wilson did not repent of the indulgence he had shown him. +Jack's health improved daily, much to Mr Pottyfar's satisfaction, who +imagined that he took the universal medicine night and morning. +Gascoigne also was a patient under the first lieutenant's hands, and +often on shore with our hero, who thought no more of quitting the +service. +</P> + +<P> +For seven weeks they had now remained in harbour, for even the masts +had to be made, when, one day, Captain Wilson opened a letter he +received at breakfast-time, and having read it, laid it down with the +greatest surprise depicted in his countenance. "Good heavens what can +this mean?" said he. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter, Wilson?" said the Governor. "Just hear its +contents, Sir Thomas." Captain Wilson then read in Spanish as follows:— +</P> + +<P> +"HONOURABLE SIR, +</P> + +<P> +"It is my duty to advise you that the Honourable Lady Senora Alforgas +de Cuzman, now deceased, has, in her testament bequeathed to you the +sum of one thousand doubloons in gold as a testimony of your kind +services on the night of the 12th of August. If you will authorise any +merchant here to receive the money, it shall be paid forthwith, or +remitted in any way you please to appoint. May you live a thousand +years! +</P> + +<P> +"Your most obedient servant, +</P> + +<P> +"ALFONZO XEREZ." +</P> + +<P> +Jack heard the letter read, rose quietly, whistled low, as if not +attending to it, and then slipped out of the room, unperceived by the +Governor or Captain Wilson. +</P> + +<P> +The fact was, that although Jack had longed to tell the Governor about +his adventures after the masquerade, he did not like yet awhile, until +he was sure that there were no consequences—because he had given the +captain's name instead of his own. As soon as he heard the letter +read, he at once perceived that it had been the old lady, and not the +priests, who had made the inquiry, and that by giving Captain Wilson's +name, he had obtained for him this fine legacy. Jack was delighted, but +still puzzled, so he walked out of the room to reflect a little. +</P> + +<P> +"What can it mean?" said Captain Wilson. "I never rendered any +services to anyone on the 12th of August or after it. It is some +mistake—12th of August—that was the day of the grand masquerade." +</P> + +<P> +"A lucky one for you, at all events—for you know, mistake or not, no +one else can touch the legacy. It can only be paid to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I never heard of anything taking place at the masquerade—I was there, +but I left early, for I was not very well. Mr Easy," said Captain +Wilson, turning round; but Jack was gone. +</P> + +<P> +"Was he at the masquerade?" asked the Governor. "Yes, I know he was, +for the first lieutenant told me that he requested not to come on board +till the next day." +</P> + +<P> +"Depend upon it," replied the Governor, striking his fist upon the +table, "that Jack's at the bottom of it." +</P> + +<P> +"I should not be surprised at his being at the bottom of anything," +replied Captain Wilson, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"Leave it to me, Wilson; I'll find it out." +</P> + +<P> +After a little more conversation, Captain Wilson went on board, leaving +Jack on purpose that the Governor might pump him. But this Sir Thomas +had no occasion to do, for Jack had made up his mind to make the +Governor his confidant, and he immediately told him the whole story. +The Governor held his sides at our hero's description, especially at +his ruse of giving the captain's name instead of his own. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll kill me, Jack, before you've done with me," said old Tom, at +last; "but now, what is to be done?" +</P> + +<P> +Our hero now became grave; he pointed out to the Governor that he +himself had plenty of money, and would come into a large fortune, and +that Captain Wilson was poor, with a large family. All Jack wanted the +Governor to manage was, that Captain Wilson might consent to accept the +legacy. +</P> + +<P> +"Right, boy, right! you're my own boy," replied the Governor, "but we +must think of this, for Wilson is the very soul of honour, and there +might be some difficulty about it. You have told nobody?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a soul but you, Sir Thomas." +</P> + +<P> +"It will never do to tell him all this, Jack, for he would insist that +the legacy belonged to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I have it, sir," replied Jack. "When I was going into the masquerade +I offered to hand this very old lady, who was covered with diamonds out +of her carriage, and she was so frightened at my dress of the devil +that she would have fallen down had it not been for Captain Wilson who +supported her, and she was very thankful to him." +</P> + +<P> +"You are right, Jack," replied the Governor, after a short pause: "that +will, I think, do. I must tell him the story of the friars, because I +swore you had something to do with it—but I'll tell him no more. Leave +it all to me." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson returned in the afternoon, and found the Governor on the +veranda. +</P> + +<P> +"I have had some talk with young Easy," said the Governor, "and he has +told me a strange story about that night, which he was afraid to tell +to everybody." +</P> + +<P> +The Governor then narrated the history of the friars and the will. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, but," observed Captain Wilson, "the history of that will afford +no clue to the legacy." +</P> + +<P> +"No it does not; but still, as I said, Jack had a hand in this. He +frightened the old lady as a devil, and you caught her in your arms and +saved her from falling, so he had a hand in it, you see." +</P> + +<P> +"I do now remember that I did save a very dowager-like old personage +from falling at the sight of a devil, who, of course, must have been +our friend Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, and that accounts for the whole of it." +</P> + +<P> +"A thousand doubloons for picking up an old lady!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, why not?—have you not heard of a man having a fortune left him +for merely opening the pew door of a church, to an old gentleman?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but it appears so strange." +</P> + +<P> +"There's nothing strange in this world, Wilson, nothing at all—we may +slave for years and get no reward, and do a trifle out of politeness +and become independent. In my opinion, this mystery is unravelled. The +old lady, for I knew the family, must have died immensely rich: she +knew you in your full uniform, and she asked your name; a heavy fall +would have been to one so fat a most serious affair; you saved her, and +she has rewarded you handsomely." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," replied Captain Wilson, "as I can give no other explanation, I +suppose yours is the correct one; but it's hardly fair to take a +thousand doubloons from her relations merely for an act of civility." +</P> + +<P> +"You really are quite ridiculous; the old lady owned half Murcia, to my +knowledge. It is no more to them than anyone leaving you a suit of +mourning in an English legacy. I wish you joy; it will help you with a +large family, and in justice to them you are bound to take it. +Everybody does as he pleases with his own money,—depend upon it, you +saved her from breaking her leg short off at the hip joint." +</P> + +<P> +"Upon that supposition I presume I must accept of the legacy," replied +Captain Wilson, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course; send for it at once. The rate of exchange is now high. I +will give you government bills, which will make it nearly four thousand +pounds." +</P> + +<P> +"Four thousand pounds for preventing an old woman from falling," +replied Captain Wilson. +</P> + +<P> +"Devilish well paid, Wilson, and I congratulate you." +</P> + +<P> +"For how much am I indebted to the father of young Easy!" observed +Captain Wilson, after a silence of some minutes; "if he had not +assisted me when I was appointed to a ship, I should not have gained my +promotion—nor three thousand pounds I have made in prize-money—the +command of a fine frigate—and now four thousand pounds in a windfall." +</P> + +<P> +The Governor thought that he was more indebted to Jack than to his +father for some of these advantages, but he was careful not to point +them out. +</P> + +<P> +"It's very true," observed the Governor, "that Mr Easy was of service +to you when you were appointed; but allow me to observe, that for your +ship, your prize-money, and for your windfall, you have been wholly +indebted to your own gallantry, in both senses of the word; still Mr +Easy is a fine generous fellow, and so is his son, I can tell you. +By-the-bye, I had a long conversation with him the other day." +</P> + +<P> +"About himself?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, all about himself. He appears to me to have come into the +service without any particular motive, and will be just as likely to +leave it in the same way. He appears to be very much in love with that +Sicilian nobleman's daughter. I find that he has written to her, and to +her brother, since he has been here." +</P> + +<P> +"That he came into the service in search of what he never will find in +this world, I know very well; and I presume that he has found that +out—and that he will follow up the service is also very doubtful; but +I do not wish that he should leave it yet, it is doing him great good," +replied Captain Wilson. +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you there—I have great influence with him, and he shall +stay yet awhile. He is heir to a very large fortune, is he not?" +</P> + +<P> +"A clear eight thousand pounds a year, if not more." +</P> + +<P> +"If his father dies he must, of course, leave; a midshipman with eight +thousand pounds a year would indeed be an anomaly." +</P> + +<P> +"That the service could not permit. It would be as injurious to +himself as it would to others about him. At present, he has almost, +indeed I may say quite, an unlimited command of money." +</P> + +<P> +"That's bad, very bad. I wonder he behaves so well as he does." +</P> + +<P> +"And so do I: but he really is a very superior lad, with all his +peculiarities, and a general favourite with those whose opinions and +friendship are worth having." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, don't curb him too tight—for really he does not require it. He +goes very well in a snaffle." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap28"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +"Philosophy made Easy," upon agrarian principles, <BR> +the subject of some uneasiness to our hero—The <BR> +first appearance, but not the last, of an important personage. +</H4> + +<P> +The conversation was here interrupted by a mail from England which they +had been expecting. Captain Wilson retired with his letters; the +Governor remained equally occupied; and our hero received the first +letter ever written to him by his father. It ran as follows:— +</P> + +<P> +"MY DEAR SON, +</P> + +<P> +"I have many times taken up my pen with the intention of letting you +know how things went on in this country. But as I can perceive around +but one dark horizon of evil, I have as often laid it down again +without venturing to make you unhappy with such bad intelligence. +</P> + +<P> +"The account of your death, and also of your unexpectedly being yet +spared to us, were duly received, and I trust, I mourned and rejoiced +on each occasion with all the moderation characteristic of a +philosopher. In the first instance I consoled myself with the +reflection that the world you had left was in a state of slavery, and +pressed down by the iron arm of despotism, and that to die was gain, +not only in all the parson tells us, but also in our liberty; and, at +the second intelligence, I moderated my joy for nearly about the same +reasons, resolving, notwithstanding what Dr Middleton may say, to die +as I have lived, a true philosopher. +</P> + +<P> +"The more I reflect the more am I convinced that there is nothing +required to make this world happy but equality, and the rights of man +being duly observed—in short, that everything and everybody should be +reduced to one level. Do we not observe that it is the law of +nature—do not brooks run into rivers—rivers into seas—mountains +crumble down upon the plains?—are not the seasons contented to +equalise the parts of the earth? Why does the sun run round the +ecliptic, instead of the equator, but to give an equal share of his +heat to both sides of the world? Are we not all equally born in +misery? does not death level us all aequo pede, as the poet hath? are +we not all equally hungry, thirsty, and sleepy, and thus levelled by +our natural wants? And such being the case, ought we not to have our +equal share of good things in this world, to which we have undoubted +equal right? Can any argument be more solid or more level than this, +whatever nonsense Dr Middleton may talk? +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my son, if it were not that I still hope to see the sun of +justice arise, and disperse the manifold dark clouds which obscure the +land—if I did not still hope, in my time, to see an equal distribution +of property—an Agrarian law passed by the House of Commons, in which +all should benefit alike—I would not care how soon I left this vale of +tears, created by tyranny and injustice. At present, the same system +is carried on; the nation is taxed for the benefit of the few, and it +groans under oppression and despotism; but I still do think that there +is, if I may fortunately express myself, a bright star in the west; and +signs of the times which comfort me. Already we have had a good deal of +incendiarism about the country, and some of the highest aristocracy +have pledged themselves to raise the people above themselves, and have +advised sedition and conspiracy; have shown to the debased and +unenlightened multitude that their force is physically irresistible, +and recommended them to make use of it, promising that if they hold in +power, they will only use that power to the abolition of our farce of a +constitution, of a church, and of a king; and that if the nation is to +be governed at all, it shall only be governed by the many. This is +cheering. Hail, patriot lords! all hail! I am in hopes yet that the +great work will be achieved, in spite of the laughs and sneers and +shakes of the head, which my arguments still meet with from that +obstinate fellow, Dr Middleton. +</P> + +<P> +"Your mother is in a quiet way; she has given over reading and working, +and even her knitting, as useless; and she now sits all day long at the +chimney corner twiddling her thumbs, and waiting, as she says, for the +millennium. Poor thing! she is very foolish with her ideas upon this +matter, but as usual I let her have her own way in everything, copying +the philosopher of old, who was tied to his Xantippe. +</P> + +<P> +"I trust, my dear son, that your principles have strengthened with your +years and fortified with your growth, and that, if necessary, you will +sacrifice all to obtain what in my opinion will prove to be the real +millennium. Make all the converts you can, and believe me to be, +</P> + +<P> +"Your affectionate father, and true guide, +</P> + +<P> +"Nicodemus Easy." +</P> + +<P> +Jack, who was alone, shook his head as he read this letter, and then +laid it down with a pish! He did it involuntarily, and was surprised +at himself when he found that he had so done. "I should like to argue +the point," thought Jack, in spite of himself; and then he threw the +letter on the table, and went into Gascoigne's room, displeased with +his father and with himself. He asked Ned whether he had received any +letters from England, and, it being near dinner-time, went back to +dress. On his coming down into the receiving room with Gascoigne, the +Governor said to them,— +</P> + +<P> +"As you both speak Italian, you must take charge of a Sicilian officer, +who has come here with letters of introduction to me, and who dines +here to-day." +</P> + +<P> +Before dinner they were introduced to the party in question, a +slight-made, well-looking young man, but still there was an expression +in his countenance which was not agreeable. In compliance with the +wishes of the Governor, Don Mathias, for so he was called, was placed +between our two midshipmen, who immediately entered into conversation +with him, being themselves anxious to make enquiries about their +friends at Palermo. In the course of conversation, Jack enquired of +him whether he was acquainted with Don Rebiera, to which the Sicilian +answered in the affirmative, and they talked about the different +members of the family. +</P> + +<P> +Don Mathias, towards the close of the dinner, enquired of Jack by what +means he had become acquainted with Don Rebiera, and Jack, in reply, +narrated how he and his friend Gascoigne had saved him from being +murdered by two villains; after this reply the young officer appeared +to be less inclined for conversation, but before the party broke up, +requested to have the acquaintance of our two midshipmen. As soon as +he was gone, Gascoigne observed in a reflective way, "I have seen that +face before, but where I cannot exactly say; but you know, Jack, what a +memory of people I have, and I have seen him before, I am sure." +</P> + +<P> +"I can't recollect that ever I have," replied our hero, "but I never +knew anyone who could recollect in that way as you do." +</P> + +<P> +The conversation was then dropped between them, and Jack was for some +time listening to the Governor and Captain Wilson, for the whole party +were gone away, when Gascoigne, who had been in deep thought since he +had made the observation to Jack, sprang up. +</P> + +<P> +"I have him at last!" cried he. +</P> + +<P> +"Have who?" demanded Captain Wilson. +</P> + +<P> +"That Sicilian officer—I could have sworn that I had seen him before." +</P> + +<P> +"That Don Mathias?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Sir Thomas! He is not Don Mathias! He is the very Don Silvio who +was murdering Don Rebiera, when we came to his assistance and saved +him." +</P> + +<P> +"I do believe you are right, Gascoigne." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm positive of it," replied Gascoigne; "I never made a mistake in my +life." +</P> + +<P> +"Bring me those letters, Easy," said the Governor, "and let us see what +they say of him. Here it is—Don Mathias de Alayeres. You may be +mistaken, Gascoigne; it is a heavy charge you are making against this +young man." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Sir Thomas, if that is not Don Silvio, I'd forfeit my commission +if I had it here in my hand. Besides, I observed the change in his +countenance when we told him it was Easy and I who had come to Don +Rebiera's assistance; and did you observe after that, Easy, that he +hardly said a word." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," replied Jack. "Well, well, we must see to this," observed +the Governor; "if so, this letter of introduction must be a forgery." +</P> + +<P> +The party then retired to bed, and the next morning, while Easy was in +Gascoigne's room talking over their suspicions, letters from Palermo +were brought up to him. They were in answer to those written by Jack +on his arrival at Malta: a few lines from Don Rebiera, a small note +from Agnes, and a voluminous detail from his friend Don Philip, who +informed him of the good health of all parties, and of their good-will +towards him; of Agnes being as partial as ever; of his having spoken +plainly, as he had promised Jack, to his father and mother relative to +the mutual attachment; of their consent being given, and then withheld, +because Father Thomaso, their confessor, would not listen to the union +of Agnes with a heretic; but nevertheless telling Jack that this would +be got over through the medium of his brother and himself, who were +determined that their sister and he should not be made unhappy about +such a trifle. But the latter part of the letter contained +intelligence equally important, which was, that Don Silvio had again +attempted the life of their father, and would have succeeded, had not +Father Thomaso, who happened to be there, thrown himself between them. +That Don Silvio in his rage had actually stabbed the confessor, +although the wound was not dangerous. That in consequence of this, all +further lenity was denied to him, and the authorities were in search of +him to award him the punishment due to murder and sacrilege. That up +to the present they could not find him, and it was supposed that he had +made his escape to Malta in one of the speronares. +</P> + +<P> +Such were the contents of the letter, which were immediately +communicated to the Governor and Captain Wilson, upon their meeting at +breakfast. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, we must see to this," observed the Governor, who then made +his enquiries as to the other intelligence contained in the letters. +</P> + +<P> +Jack and Gascoigne were uneasy till the breakfast was over, when they +made their escape: a few moments afterwards Captain Wilson rose to go +on board, and sent for them, but they were not to be found. +</P> + +<P> +"I understand it all, Wilson," said the Governor; "leave them to me; go +on board and make yourself quite easy." +</P> + +<P> +In the meantime our two midshipmen had taken their hats and walked away +to the parapet of the battery, where they would not be interrupted. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Gascoigne," observed Jack, "you guess what I'm about—I must +shoot that rascal this very morning, and that's why I came out with +you." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Easy, the only difference is this, that I must shoot him, and not +you; he is my property, for I found him out." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll argue that point," replied Jack: "he has attempted the life of +my is-to-be, please God, father-in-law, and therefore I have the best +claim to him." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon, Jack, he is mine, for I discovered him. Now let me +put a case: suppose one man walking several yards before another, picks +up a purse, what claim has the other to it? I found him, and not you." +</P> + +<P> +"That's all very well, Gascoigne; but suppose the purse you picked up +to be mine, then I have a right to it, although you found it; he is my +bird by right, and not yours." +</P> + +<P> +"But I have another observation to make, which is very important; he is +a blood relation of Agnes, and if his blood is on your hands, however +much he may deserve it, depend upon it, it will be raised as an +obstacle to your union: think of that." +</P> + +<P> +Jack paused in thought. "And let me induce you by another remark—you +will confer on me a most particular favour." +</P> + +<P> +"It will be the greatest I ever could," replied Jack, "and you ought to +be eternally indebted to me." +</P> + +<P> +"I trust to make him eternally indebted to me," replied Gascoigne. +Sailors, if going into action, always begin to reckon what their share +of the prize-money may be, before a shot is fired—our two midshipmen +appear in this instance to be doing the same. +</P> + +<P> +The point having been conceded to Gascoigne, Jack went to the inn where +Don Silvio had mentioned that he had taken up his quarters, and sending +up his card, followed the waiter upstairs. The waiter opened the door, +and presented the card. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," replied Don Silvio, "you can go down and show him up." +</P> + +<P> +Jack hearing these words, did not wait, but walked in, where he found +Don Silvio very busy removing a hone upon which he had been whetting a +sharp double-edged stiletto. The Sicilian walked up to him, offering +his hand with apparent cordiality; but Jack, with a look of defiance, +said, "Don Silvio, we know you; my object now is to demand, on the part +of my friend, the satisfaction which you do not deserve, but which our +indignation at your second attempt upon Don Rebiera induces us to +offer; for if you escape from him you will have to do with me. On the +whole, Don Silvio, you may think yourself fortunate, for it is better +to die by the hands of a gentleman than by the gibbet." +</P> + +<P> +Don Silvio turned deadly pale—his hand sought his stiletto in his +bosom, but it was remaining on the table; at last he replied, "Be it +so—I will meet you when and where you please, in an hour from this." +</P> + +<P> +Jack mentioned the place of meeting, and then walked out of the room. +He and Gascoigne then hastened to the quarters of an officer they were +intimate with, and having provided themselves with the necessary +fire-arms, were at the spot before the time. They waited for him till +the exact time, yet no Don Silvio made his appearance. +</P> + +<P> +"He's off," observed Gascoigne; "the villain has escaped us." Half an +hour over the time had passed, and still there was no sign of +Gascoigne's antagonist, but one of the Governor's aides-de-camp was +seen walking up to them. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's Atkins," observed Jack; "that's unlucky, but he won't +interfere." +</P> + +<P> +"Gentlemen," said Atkins, taking off his hat with much solemnity, "the +Governor particularly wishes to speak to you both." +</P> + +<P> +"We can't come just now—we'll be there in half an hour." +</P> + +<P> +"You must be there in three minutes, both of you. Excuse me, my orders +are positive—and to see them duly executed I have a corporal and a +file of men behind that wall—of course, if you walk with me quietly +there will be no occasion to send for their assistance." +</P> + +<P> +"This is confounded tyranny," cried Jack. "Well may they call him 'King +Tom.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Atkins, "and he governs here in 'rey absoluto' so come +along." +</P> + +<P> +Jack and Gascoigne, having no choice, walked up to the government +house, where they found Sir Thomas in the veranda, which commanded a +view of the harbour and offing. +</P> + +<P> +"Come here, young gentlemen," said the Governor, in a severe tone; "do +you see that vessel about two miles clear of the port? Don Silvio is in +it, going back to Sicily under a guard. And now remember what I say as +a maxim through life. Fight with gentlemen, if you must fight, but not +with villains and murderers. By consenting to fight with a blackguard, +you as much disparage your cloth and compromise your own characters, as +by refusing to give satisfaction to a gentleman. +</P> + +<P> +"There, go away, for I'm angry with you, and don't let me see you till +dinner-time." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap29"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero sees a little more service, <BR> +and is better employed than in fighting Don Silvio. +</H4> + +<P> +But before they met the Governor at his table, a sloop of war arrived +from the fleet with despatches from the commander-in-chief. Those to +Captain Wilson required him to make all possible haste in fitting, and +then to proceed and cruise off Corsica, to fall in with a Russian +frigate which was on that coast; if not there, to obtain intelligence, +and to follow her wherever she might be. +</P> + +<P> +All was now bustle and activity on board of the Aurora. Captain Wilson, +with our hero and Gascoigne, quieted the Governor's house and repaired +on board, where they remained day and night. On the third day the +Aurora was complete and ready for sea, and about noon sailed out of +Valette Harbour. +</P> + +<P> +In a week the Aurora had gained the coast of Corsica, and there was no +need of sending look-out men to the mast-head, for one of the officers +or midshipmen was there from daylight to dark. She ran up the coast to +the northward without seeing the object of her pursuit, or obtaining +any intelligence. +</P> + +<P> +Calms and light airs detained them for a few days, when a northerly +breeze enabled them to run down the eastern side of the island. It was +on the eighteenth day after they had quieted Malta, that a large vessel +was seen ahead about eighteen miles off. The men were then at +breakfast. +</P> + +<P> +"A frigate, Captain Wilson, I'm sure of it," said Mr Hawkins, the +chaplain, whose anxiety induced him to go to the mast-head. +</P> + +<P> +"How is she steering?" +</P> + +<P> +"The same way as we are." +</P> + +<P> +The Aurora was under all possible sail, and when the hands were piped +to dinner, it was thought that they had neared the chase about two +miles. +</P> + +<P> +"This will be a long chase; a stern chase always is," observed Martin +to Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I'm afraid so—but I'm more afraid of her escaping." +</P> + +<P> +"That's not unlikely either," replied the mate. +</P> + +<P> +"You are one of Job's comforters, Martin," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'm not so often disappointed," replied the mate. "There are two +points to be ascertained; the first is, whether we shall come up with +the vessel or lose her—the next is, if we do come up with her, whether +she is the vessel we are looking for." +</P> + +<P> +"You seem very indifferent about it." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed I am not: I am the oldest passed midshipman in the ship, and +the taking of the frigate will, if I live, give me my promotion, and if +I'm killed, I shan't want it. But I've been so often disappointed, +that I now make sure of nothing until I have it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, for your sake, Martin, I will still hope that the vessel is the +one we seek, that we shall not be killed, and that you will gain your +promotion." +</P> + +<P> +"I thank you, Easy—I wish I was one that dared hope as you do." Poor +Martin! he had long felt how bitter it was to meet disappointment upon +disappointment. How true it is, that hope deferred maketh the heart +sick! and his anticipations of early days, the buoyant calculations of +youth, had been one by one crushed, and now, having served his time +nearly three times over, the reaction had become too painful, and, as +he truly said, he dared not hope: still his temper was not soured, but +chastened. +</P> + +<P> +"She has hauled her wind, sir," hailed the second lieutenant from the +topmast cross-trees. +</P> + +<P> +"What think you of that, Martin?" observed Jack. "Either that she is an +English frigate, or that she is a vessel commanded by a very brave +fellow, and well-manned." +</P> + +<P> +It was sunset before the Aurora had arrived within two miles of the +vessel; the private signal had been thrown out, but had not been +answered, either because it was too dark to make out the colours of the +flags, or that these were unknown to an enemy. The stranger had +hoisted the English colours, but that was no satisfactory proof of her +being a friend; and just before dark she had put her head towards the +Aurora, who had now come stem down to her. The ship's company of the +Aurora were all at their quarters, as a few minutes would now decide +whether they had to deal with a friend or foe. +</P> + +<P> +There is no situation perhaps more difficult, and demanding so much +caution, as the occasional meeting with a doubtful ship. On the one +hand, it being necessary to be fully prepared, and not allow the enemy +the advantage which may be derived from your inaction; and on the +other, the necessity of prudence, that you may not assault your friends +and countrymen. Captain Wilson had hoisted the private night-signal, +but here again it was difficult, from his sails intervening, for the +other ship to make it out. Before the two frigates were within three +cables' length of each other, Captain Wilson, determined that there +should be no mistake from any want of precaution on his part, hauled up +his courses and brailed up his driver that the night-signal might be +clearly seen. +</P> + +<P> +Lights were seen abaft on the quarter-deck of the other vessel, as if +they were about to answer, but she continued to keep the Aurora to +leeward at about half a cable's length, and as the foremost guns of +each vessel were abreast of each other, hailed in English— +</P> + +<P> +"Ship ahoy! what ship's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"His Majesty's ship Aurora," replied Captain Wilson, who stood on the +hammocks. "What ship's that?" +</P> + +<P> +By this time the other frigate had passed half her length clear of the +beam of the Aurora, and at the same time that a pretended reply of "His +Majesty's ship—" was heard, a broadside from her guns, which had been +trained aft on purpose, was poured into the Aurora, and at so short a +distance, doing considerable execution. The crew of the Aurora, +hearing the hailing in English, and the vessel passing them apparently +without firing, had imagined that she had been one of their own +cruisers. The captains of the guns had dropped their lanyards in +disappointment, and the silence which had been maintained as the two +vessels met was just breaking up in various ways of lamentation at +their bad luck, when the broadside was poured in, thundering in their +ears, and the ripping and tearing of the beams and planks astonished +their senses. Many were carried down below, but it was difficult to +say whether indignation at the enemy's ruse, or satisfaction at +discovering that they were not called to quarters in vain, most +predominated. At all events, it was answered by three voluntary +cheers, which drowned the cries of those who were being assisted to the +cockpit. +</P> + +<P> +"Man the larboard guns and about ship!" cried Captain Wilson, leaping +off the hammocks. "Look out, my lads, and rake her in stays! We'll pay +him off for that foul play before we've done with him. Look out, my +lads, and take good aim as she pays round." +</P> + +<P> +The Aurora was put about, and her broadside poured into the stern of +the Russian frigate—for such she was. It was almost dark, but the +enemy, who appeared as anxious as the Aurora to come to action, hauled +up her courses to await her coming up. In five minutes the two vessels +were alongside, exchanging murderous broadsides at little more than +pistol-shot—running slowly in for the land, then not more than five +miles distant. The skin-clad mountaineers of Corsica were aroused by +the furious cannonading, watching the incessant flashes of the guns, +and listening to their reverberating roar. +</P> + +<P> +After half an hour's fierce combat, during which the fire of both +vessels was kept up with undiminished vigour, Captain Wilson went down +on the main deck, and himself separately pointed each gun after it was +loaded; those amidships being direct for the main channels of the +enemy's ship, while those abaft the beam were gradually trained more +and more forward, and those before the beam more and more aft, so as to +throw all their shot nearly into one focus, giving directions that they +were all to be fired at once, at the word of command. The enemy, not +aware of the cause of the delay, imagined that the fire of the Aurora +had slackened, and loudly cheered. At the word given, the broadside +was poured in, and, dark as it was, the effects from it were evident. +Two of the midship ports of the antagonist were blown into one, and her +mainmast was seen to totter, and then to fall over the side. The +Aurora then set her courses, which had been hauled up, and shooting +ahead, took up a raking position, while the Russian was still hampered +with her wreck, and poured in grape and cannister from her upper deck +carronades to impede their labours on deck, while she continued her +destructive fire upon the hull of the enemy from the main deck battery. +</P> + +<P> +The moon now burst out from a low bank of clouds, and enabled them to +accomplish their work with more precision. In a quarter of an hour the +Russian was totally dismasted, and Captain Wilson ordered half of his +remaining ship's company to repair the damages, which had been most +severe, whilst the larboard men at quarters continued the fire from the +main deck. The enemy continued to return the fire from four guns, two +on each of her decks, which she could still make bear upon the Aurora; +but after some time even these ceased, either from the men having +deserted them, or from their being dismounted. Observing that the fire +from her antagonist had ceased, the Aurora also discontinued, and the +jolly-boat astern being still uninjured, the second lieutenant was +deputed to pull alongside of the frigate to ascertain if she had struck. +</P> + +<P> +The beams of the bright moon silvered the rippling water as the boat +shoved off; and Captain Wilson and his officers, who were still unhurt, +leant over the shattered sides of the Aurora, waiting for a reply: +suddenly the silence of the night was broken upon by a loud splash from +the bows of the Russian frigate, then about three cables' length +distant. +</P> + +<P> +"What could that be?" cried Captain Wilson. "Her anchor's down. Mr +Jones, a lead over the side, and see what water we have." +</P> + +<P> +Mr Jones had long been carried down below, severed in two with a round +shot—but a man leaped into the chains, and lowering down the lead +sounded in seven fathoms. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I suspect he will give us more trouble yet," observed Captain +Wilson; and so indeed it proved, for the Russian captain, in reply to +the second lieutenant, had told him in English, "that he would answer +that question with his broadside," and before the boat was dropped +astern, he had warped round with the springs on his cable, and had +recommenced his fire upon the Aurora. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson made sail upon his ship, and sailed round and round the +anchored vessel, so as to give her two broadsides to her one, and from +the slowness with which she worked at her springs upon her cables, it +was evident that she must be now very weak handed. Still the +pertinacity and decided courage of the Russian captain convinced +Captain Wilson, that, in all probability, he would sink at his anchor +before he would haul down his colours; and not only would he lose more +of the Aurora's men, but also the Russian vessel, without he took a +more decided step. Captain Wilson, therefore, resolved to try her by +the board. Having poured in a raking fire, he stood off for a few +moments, during which he called the officers and men on deck, and +stated his intention. He then went about, and himself conning the +Aurora, ran her on board the Russian, pouring in his reserved broadside +as the vessels came into collision, and heading his men as they leaped +on the enemy's decks. +</P> + +<P> +Although, as Captain Wilson had imagined, the Russian frigate had not +many men to oppose to the Aurora's, the deck was obstinately defended, +the voice and the arm of the Russian captain were to be heard and seen +everywhere, and his men, encouraged by him, were cut down by numbers +where they stood. +</P> + +<P> +Our hero, who had the good fortune to be still unhurt, was for a little +while close to Captain Wilson when he boarded, and was about to oppose +his unequal force against that of the Russian captain, when he was +pulled back by the collar by Mr Hawkins, the chaplain, who rushed in +advance with a sabre in his hand. The opponents were well matched, and +it may be said that, with little interruption, a hand-to-hand conflict +ensued, for the moon lighted up the scene of carnage, and they were +well able to distinguish each other's faces. At last, the chaplain's +sword broke: he rushed in, drove the hilt into his antagonist's face, +closed with him, and they both fell down the hatchway together. After +this, the deck was gained, or rather cleared, by the crew of the +Aurora, for few could be said to have resisted, and in a minute or two +the frigate was in their possession. The chaplain and the Russian +captain were hoisted up, still clinging to each other, both senseless +from the fall, but neither of them dead, although bleeding from several +wounds. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the main deck had been cleared, Captain Wilson ordered the +hatches to be put on, and left a party on board while he hastened to +attend to the condition of his own ship and ship's company. +</P> + +<P> +It was daylight before anything like order had been restored to the +decks of the Aurora; the water was still smooth, and instead of letting +go her own anchor, she had hung on with a hawser to the prize, but her +sails had been furled, her decks cleared, guns secured, and the buckets +were dashing away the blood from her planks and the carriages of the +guns, when the sun rose and shone upon them. The numerous wounded had, +by this time, been put into their hammocks, although there were still +one or two cases of amputation to be performed. +</P> + +<P> +The carpenter had repaired all shot-holes under or too near to the +water-line, and then had proceeded to sound the well of the prize; but +although her upper works had been dreadfully shattered, there was no +reason to suppose that she had received any serious injury below, and, +therefore the hatches still remained on, although a few hands were put +to the pumps to try if she made any water. It was not until the Aurora +presented a more cheerful appearance that Captain Wilson went over to +the other ship, whose deck, now that the light of heaven enabled them +to witness all the horrors even to minuteness, presented a shocking +spectacle of blood and carnage. Body after body was thrown over; the +wounded were supplied with water and such assistance as could be +rendered until the surgeons could attend them; the hatches were then +taken off, and the remainder of her crew ordered on deck; about two +hundred obeyed the summons, but the lower deck was as crowded with +killed and wounded as was the upper. For the present the prisoners +were handed over down into the fore-hold of the Aurora, which had been +prepared for their reception, and the work of separation of the dead +from the living then underwent. +</P> + +<P> +After this, such repairs as were immediately necessary were made, and a +portion of the Aurora's crew, under the orders of the second +lieutenant, were sent on board to take charge of her. It was not till +the evening of the day after this night conflict that the Aurora was in +a situation to make sail. All hands were then sent on board of the +Trident, for such was the name of the Russian frigate, to fit her out +as soon as possible. Before morning,—for there was no relaxation from +their fatigue, nor was there any wish for it,—all was completed, and +the two frigates, although in a shattered condition, were prepared to +meet any common conflict with the elements. The Aurora made sail with +the Trident in tow; the hammocks were allowed to be taken down, and the +watch below permitted to repose. +</P> + +<P> +In this murderous conflict the Trident had more than two hundred men +killed and wounded. The Aurora's loss had not been so great, but still +it was severe, having lost sixty-five men and officers. Among the +fallen there were Mr Jones, the master, the third lieutenant Mr +Arkwright, and two midshipmen dead. Mr Pottyfar, the first lieutenant, +was severely wounded at the commencement of the action. Martin the +master's mate, and Gascoigne, the first mortally, and the second badly, +were wounded. Our hero had also received a slight cutlass wound, which +obliged him to wear his arm, for a short time, in a sling. +</P> + +<P> +Among the ship's company who were wounded was Mesty; he had been hurt +with a splinter before the Trident was taken by the board, but had +remained on deck, and had followed our hero, watching over him and +protecting him as a father. He had done even more, for he had with +Jack thrown himself before Captain Wilson, at a time that he had +received such a blow with the flat of a sword as to stun him, and bring +him down on his knee. And Jack had taken good care that Captain Wilson +should not be ignorant, as he really would have been, of this timely +service on the part of Mesty, who certainly, although with a great deal +of "sangfroid" in his composition when in repose, was a fiend incarnate +when his blood was up. +</P> + +<P> +"But you must have been with Mesty," observed Captain Wilson, "when he +did me the service." +</P> + +<P> +"I was with him, sir," replied Jack, with great modesty; "but was of +very little service." +</P> + +<P> +"How is your friend Gascoigne this evening?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, not very bad, sir—he wants a glass of grog." +</P> + +<P> +"And Mr Martin?" Jack shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, the surgeon thinks he will do well." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, and so I told Martin; but he said that it was very well to +give him hope—but that he thought otherwise." +</P> + +<P> +"You must manage him, Mr Easy; tell him that he is sure of his +promotion." +</P> + +<P> +"I have, sir, but he won't believe it. He never will believe it till +he has his commission signed. I really think that an acting order would +do more than the doctor can." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mr Easy, he shall have one to-morrow morning. Have you seen Mr +Pottyfar? he, I am afraid, is very bad." +</P> + +<P> +"Very bad, sir; and they say is worse every day, and yet his wound is +healthy, and ought to be doing well." +</P> + +<P> +Such was the conversation between Jack and his captain, as they sat at +breakfast on the third morning after the action. +</P> + +<P> +The next day Easy took down an acting order for Martin, and put it into +his hands. The mate read it over as he lay bandaged in his hammock. +</P> + +<P> +"It's only an acting order, Jack," said he; "it may not be confirmed." +Jack swore, by all the articles of war, that it would be; but Martin +replied that he was sure it never would. +</P> + +<P> +"No, no," said the mate, "I knew very well that I never should be made. +If it is not confirmed, I may live; but if it is, I am sure to die." +</P> + +<P> +Everyone that went to Martin's hammock wished him joy, of his +promotion; but six days after the action, poor Martin's remains were +consigned to the deep. +</P> + +<P> +The next person who followed him was Mr Pottyfar, the first lieutenant, +who had contrived, wounded as he was, to reach a packet of the +universal medicine, and had taken so many bottles before he was found +out, that he was one morning found dead in his bed, with more than two +dozen empty phials under his pillow, and by the side of his mattress. +He was not buried with his hands in his pockets, but when sewed up in +his hammock, they were, at all events, laid in the right position. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap30"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Modern philanthropy, which, as usual, <BR> +is the cause of much trouble and vexation. +</H4> + +<P> +In three weeks the Aurora, with her prize in tow, arrived at Malta. The +wounded were sent to the hospital, and the gallant Russian captain +recovered from his wounds about the same time as Mr Hawkins, the +chaplain. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, who constantly called to see the chaplain, had a great deal to do +to console him. He would shake his hands as he lay in his bed, +exclaiming against himself. "Oh," would he say, "the spirit is +willing, but the flesh is weak. That I, a man of God, as they term me, +who ought to have been down with the surgeons, whispering comfort to +the desponding, should have gone on deck (but I could not help it), and +have mixed in such a scene of slaughter. What will become of me?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack attempted to console him by pointing out, that not only chaplains, +but bishops, have been known to fight in armour from time immemorial. +But Mr Hawkins's recovery, was long doubtful, from the agitation of his +mind. When he was able to walk, Jack introduced to him the Russian +captain, who was also just out of his bed. +</P> + +<P> +"I am most happy to embrace so gallant an officer," said the Russian, +who recognised his antagonist, throwing his arms round the chaplain, +and giving him a kiss on both cheeks. "What is his rank?" continued +he, addressing himself to Jack, who replied, very quietly, "that he was +the ship's padre." +</P> + +<P> +"The padre!" replied the captain, with surprise, as Hawkins turned away +with confusion. "The padre—par exemple! Well, I always had a great +respect for the church. Pray, sir," said he, turning to Easy, "do your +padres always head your boarders?" +</P> + +<P> +"Always, sir," replied Jack; "it's a rule of the service—and the duty +of a padre to show the men the way to heaven. It's our ninety-ninth +article of war." +</P> + +<P> +"You are a fighting nation," replied the Russian, bowing to Hawkins, +and continuing his walk, not exactly pleased that he had been floored +by a parson. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Hawkins continued very disconsolate for some time; he then +invalided, and applied himself to his duties on shore, where he would +not be exposed to such temptations from his former habits. +</P> + +<P> +As the Aurora, when she was last at Malta, had nearly exhausted the +dockyard for her repairs, she was even longer fitting out this time, +during which Captain Wilson's despatches had been received by the +Admiral, and had been acknowledged by a brig sent to Malta. The +Admiral, in reply, after complimenting him upon his gallantry and +success, desired that, as soon as he was ready, he should proceed to +Palermo with communications of importance to the authorities, and +having remained there for an answer, was again to return to Malta to +pick up such of his men as might be fit to leave the hospital, and then +join the Toulon fleet. This intelligence was soon known to our hero, +who was in ecstasies at the idea of again seeing Agnes and her +brothers. Once more the Aurora sailed away from the high crowned rocks +of Valette, and with a fine breeze dashed through the deep blue waves. +</P> + +<P> +But towards the evening the breeze increased, and they were under +double-reefed topsails. On the second day they made the coast of +Sicily, not far from where Easy and Gascoigne had been driven on shore; +the weather was then more moderate, and the sea had, to a great degree, +subsided. They therefore stood in close to the coast, as they had not +a leading wind to Palermo. As they stood in, the glasses, as usual, +were directed to land; observing the villas with which the hills and +valleys were studded, with their white fronts embowered in orange +groves. +</P> + +<P> +"What is that, Gascoigne," said Easy, "under that precipice?—it looks +like a vessel." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne turned his glass in the direction—"Yes, it is a vessel on +the rocks: by her prow she looks like a galley." +</P> + +<P> +"It is a galley, sir—one of the row galleys—I can make out her bank +of oars," observed the signal-man. +</P> + +<P> +This was reported to Captain Wilson, who also examined her. +</P> + +<P> +"She is on the rocks, certainly," observed he; "and I think I see +people on board. Keep her away a point, quarter-master." +</P> + +<P> +The Aurora was now steered right for the vessel, and in the course of +an hour was not more than a mile from her. Their suppositions were +correct—it was one of the Sicilian government galleys bilged on the +rocks, and they now perceived that there were people on board of her, +making signals with their shirts and pieces of linen. +</P> + +<P> +"They must be the galley-slaves; for I perceive that they do not one of +them change their positions: the galley must have been abandoned by +their officers and seamen, and the slaves left to perish." +</P> + +<P> +"That's very hard," observed Jack to Gascoigne; "they were condemned to +the galleys, but not to death." +</P> + +<P> +"They will not have much mercy from the waves," replied Gascoigne; +"they will all be in kingdom come to-morrow morning, if the breeze +comes more on the land. We have already come up two points this +forenoon." +</P> + +<P> +Although Captain Wilson did not join in this conversation, which he +overheard as he stood on the forecastle gun, with his glass over the +hammocks, it appears he was of the same opinion: but he demurred: he +had to choose between allowing so many of his fellow creatures to +perish miserably, or to let loose upon society a set of miscreants, who +would again enter a course of crime until they were re-captured, and, +by so doing, probably displease the Sicilian authorities. After some +little reflection he resolved that he would take his chance of the +latter. The Aurora was hove-to in stays, and the two cutters ordered +to be lowered down, and the boat's crew to be armed. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy, do you take one cutter, and the armourers; pull on board of +the galley, release those people, and land them in small divisions. Mr +Gascoigne, you will take the other to assist Mr Easy, and when he lands +them in his boat, you will pull by his side ready to act, in case of +any hostile attempt on the part of the scoundrels; for we must not +expect gratitude: of course, land them at the nearest safe spot for +debarkation." +</P> + +<P> +In pursuance of these orders, our two midshipmen pulled away to the +vessel. They found her fixed hard upon the rocks, which had pierced +her slight timbers, and, as they had supposed, the respectable part of +her crew, with the commander, had taken to the boats, leaving the +galley-slaves to their fate. She pulled fifty oars, but had only +thirty-six manned. These oars were forty feet long, and ran in from +the thole-pin with a loom six feet long, each manned by four slaves, +who were chained to their seat before it, by a running chain made fast +by a padlock in amidships. A plank, of two feet wide, ran fore and aft +the vessel between the two banks of oars, for the boatswain to apply +the lash to those who did not sufficiently exert themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"Viva los Inglesos!" cried the galley-slaves, as Easy climbed up over +the quarter of the vessel. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, Ned, did you ever see such a precious set of villains?" +observed Easy, as he surveyed the faces of the men who were chained. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Gascoigne; "and I think if the captain had seen them as +we have, that he would have left them where they were." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know—but, however, our orders are positive. Armourer, knock +off all the padlocks, beginning aft; when we have a cargo we will land +them. How many are there?—twelve dozen—twelve dozen villains to let +loose upon society. I have a great mind to go on board again and +report my opinion to the captain—one hundred and forty-four villains, +who all deserve hanging—for drowning is too good for them." +</P> + +<P> +"Our orders are to liberate them, Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; but I should like to argue this point with Captain Wilson." +</P> + +<P> +"They'll send after them fast enough, Jack, and they'll all be in limbo +again before long," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I suppose we must obey orders; but it goes against my conscience +to save such villainous-looking rascals. Armourer, hammer away." +</P> + +<P> +The armourer, who with the seamen appeared very much of Jack's opinion, +and had not commenced his work, now struck off the padlocks one by one +with his sledgehammer. As soon as they were released the slaves were +ordered into the cutter, and when it was sufficiently loaded Jack +shoved off, followed by Gascoigne as guard, and landed them at the +point about a cable's length distant. It required six trips before +they were all landed; the last cargo were on shore, and Easy was +desiring the men to shove off, when one of the galleriens turned round, +and cried out to Jack in a mocking tone, "Addio, signor, a reveder la." +Jack started, stared, and, in the squalid, naked wretch who addressed +him, he recognised Don Silvio! +</P> + +<P> +"I will acquaint Don Rebiera of your arrival, signor," said the +miscreant, springing up the rocks, and mixing with the rest, who now +commenced hooting and laughing at their preservers. +</P> + +<P> +"Ned," observed Easy to Gascoigne, "we have let that rascal loose." +</P> + +<P> +"More's the pity," replied Gascoigne; "but we have only obeyed orders." +</P> + +<P> +"It can't be helped, but I've a notion there will be some mischief out +of this." +</P> + +<P> +"We obeyed orders," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"We've let the rascals loose not ten miles from Don Rebiera's." +</P> + +<P> +"Obeyed orders, Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"With a whole gang to back him, if he goes there." +</P> + +<P> +"Orders, Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"Agnes at his mercy—" +</P> + +<P> +"Captain's orders, Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall argue this point when I go on board," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Too late, Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Easy, sinking down on the stem sheets with a look of +despair. "Give way, my lads, give way." +</P> + +<P> +Jack returned on board, and reported what he had done: also that Don +Silvio was among those liberated; and he ventured to mention his fears +of what might take place from their contiguity to the house of Don +Rebiera. Captain Wilson bit his lips: he felt that his philanthropy +had induced him to act without his usual prudence. +</P> + +<P> +"I have done a rash thing, Mr Easy, I am afraid. I should have taken +them all on board and delivered them up to the authorities. I wish I +had thought of that before. We must get to Palermo as fast as we can, +and have the troops sent after these miscreants. Hands 'bout ship, +fill the main yard." +</P> + +<P> +The wind had veered round, and the Aurora was now able to lay up clear +of the island of Maritimo. The next morning she anchored in Palermo +Roads and gave immediate notice to the authorities, who, wishing +Captain Wilson's philanthropy at the devil, immediately despatched a +large body of troops in quest of the liberated malefactors. Captain +Wilson, feeling for Jack's anxiety about his friends, called him over +to him on deck, and gave him and Gascoigne permission to go on shore. +</P> + +<P> +"Will you allow me to take Mesty with me, sir, if you please?" said +Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Mr Easy; but recollect that, even with Mesty, you are no match +for one hundred and fifty men; so be prudent. I send you to relieve +your anxiety, not to run into danger." +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, sir," replied Jack, touching his hat, and walking away +quietly till he came to the hatchway, when he darted down like a shot, +and was immediately occupied with his preparations. +</P> + +<P> +In half an hour our two midshipmen, with Mesty, had landed, and +proceeded to the inn where they had put up before: they were armed up +to the teeth. Their first inquiries were for Don Philip and his +brother. +</P> + +<P> +"Both on leave of absence," replied the landlord, "and staying with Don +Rebiera." +</P> + +<P> +"That's some comfort," thought Jack. "Now we must get horses as fast +as we can. Mesty, can you ride?" +</P> + +<P> +"By all de power, can I ride, Massa Easy; suppose you ride Kentucky +horse, you ride anyting." +</P> + +<P> +In half an hour four horses and a guide were procured, and at eight +o'clock in the morning the party set off in the direction of Don +Rebiera's country seat. +</P> + +<P> +They had not ridden more than six miles when they came up with one of +the detachments sent out in pursuit of the liberated criminals. Our +hero recognised the commanding officer as an old acquaintance, and +imparting to him the release of Don Silvio, and his fears upon Don +Rebiera's account, begged him to direct his attention that way. +</P> + +<P> +"Corpo di Bacco—you are right, Signor Mid," replied the officer, "but +Don Philip is there, and his brother too, I believe. I will be there by +ten o'clock to-morrow morning; we will march almost the whole night." +</P> + +<P> +"They have no arms," observed Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"No, but they will soon get them: they will go to some small town in a +body, plunder it, and then seek the protection of the mountains. Your +captain has given us a pretty job." +</P> + +<P> +Jack exchanged a few more words, and then, excusing himself on account +of his haste, put the spurs to his horse and regained his own party, +who now proceeded at a rapid pace. +</P> + +<P> +"O signor!" said the guide, "we shall kill the horses." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll pay for them," said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but we shall kill them before we get there, Jack," replied +Gascoigne, "and have to walk the rest of the way." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Ned; let's pull up, and give them their wind." +</P> + +<P> +"By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but my shirt stick to my ribs," cried +Mesty, whose black face was hung with dewdrops from their rapid course. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, Mesty." It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when +they arrived at the seat of Don Rebiera. Jack threw himself off his +jaded steed, and hastened into the house, followed by Gascoigne. They +found the whole family collected in the large sitting-room, quite +ignorant of any danger threatening them, and equally astonished and +pleased at the arrival of their old friends. Jack flew to Agnes, who +screamed when she saw him, and felt so giddy afterwards that he was +obliged to support her. Having seated her again, he was kindly greeted +by the old people and the two young officers. After a few minutes +dedicated to mutual inquiries, our hero stated the cause of their +expeditious arrival. +</P> + +<P> +"Don Silvio with one hundred and fifty galleriens, let loose on the +coast yesterday afternoon!" exclaimed Don Rebiera; "you are right, I +only wonder they were not here last night. But I expect Pedro from the +town; he has gone down with a load of wine: he will bring us +intelligence." +</P> + +<P> +"At all events, we must be prepared," said Don Philip; "the troops, you +say, will be here to-morrow morning." +</P> + +<P> +"Holy Virgin!" exclaimed the ladies, in a breath. +</P> + +<P> +"How many can we muster?" said Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"We have five men here, or we shall have by the evening," replied Don +Philip—"all, I think, good men—my father, my brother, and myself." +</P> + +<P> +"We are three—four with the guide, whom I know nothing about." +</P> + +<P> +"Twelve in all—not one too many; but I think that now we are prepared, +if they attack, we can hold out till the morning." +</P> + +<P> +"Had we not better send the ladies away?" said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Who is to escort them?" replied Don Philip; "we shall only weaken our +force; besides, they may fall into the miscreants' hands." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall we all leave the house together? they can but plunder it," +observed Don Rebiera. +</P> + +<P> +"Still, we may be intercepted by them, and our whole force will be +nothing against so many," observed Don Philip, "if we are without +defence, whereas in the house we shall have an advantage." +</P> + +<P> +"E'vero," replied Don Rebiera, thoughtfully; "then let us prepare, for +depend upon it Don Silvio will not lose such an opportunity to wreak +his vengeance. He will be here to-night: I only wonder he has not been +here with his companions before. However, Pedro will arrive in two +hours." +</P> + +<P> +"We must now see what means we have of defence," said Philip. "Come, +brother—will you come, sir?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap31"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A regular set-to, in which the parties beaten are not knocked down, <BR> +but rise higher and higher at each discomfiture—Nothing but the<BR> +troops could have prevented them from going up to heaven. +</H4> + +<P> +Don Rebiera and his two sons quitted the room, Gascoigne entered into +conversation with the senora, while Easy took this opportunity of +addressing Agnes. He had been too much occupied with the consultation +to pay her much attention before. He had spoken, with his eyes fixed +upon her, and had been surprised at the improvement which had taken +place in less than a year. He now went to her, and asked her, in a low +voice, "whether she had received his letter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes!" replied she, colouring. +</P> + +<P> +"And were you angry with what I said, Agnes?" in a low tone. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied she, casting her eyes down on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"I repeat now what I said, Agnes—I have never forgotten you." +</P> + +<P> +"But—" +</P> + +<P> +"But what?" +</P> + +<P> +"Father Thomaso." +</P> + +<P> +"What of him?" +</P> + +<P> +"He never will—" +</P> + +<P> +"Will what?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are a heretic, he says." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell him to mind his own business." +</P> + +<P> +"He has great influence with my father and mother." +</P> + +<P> +"Your brothers are on our side." +</P> + +<P> +"I know that, but there will be great difficulty. Our religion is not +the same. He must talk to you—he will convert you." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll argue that point, Agnes. I will convert him if he has common +sense; if not, it's no use arguing with him. Where is he?" +</P> + +<P> +"He will soon be at home." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me, Agnes, if you had your own will, would you marry me?" "I +don't know; I have never seen anyone I liked so well." +</P> + +<P> +"Is that all?" +</P> + +<P> +"Is it not enough for a maiden to say?" replied Agnes, raising her +eyes, and looking reproachfully. "Signor, let me go, here comes my +father." +</P> + +<P> +Notwithstanding, Jack cast his eyes to the window, where Gascoigne and +the senora were in converse, and, perceiving that the old lady's back +was turned, he pressed Agnes to his bosom before he released her. The +gentlemen then returned with all the fire-arms and destructive weapons +they could collect. +</P> + +<P> +"We have enough," observed Don Philip, "to arm all the people we have +with us." +</P> + +<P> +"And we are well armed," replied Jack, who had left Agnes standing +alone. "What now are your plans?" +</P> + +<P> +"Those we must now consult about. It appears—" but at this moment the +conversation was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Pedro, who had +been despatched to the town with the load of wine. He rushed in, +flurried and heated, with his red cap in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"How now, Pedro, back so early!" +</P> + +<P> +"O signor!" exclaimed the man—"they have taken the cart and the wine, +and have drawn it away, up to the mountains." +</P> + +<P> +"Who?" inquired Don Rebiera. +</P> + +<P> +"The galley-slaves who have been let loose—and by the body of our +blessed saint, they have done pretty mischief—they have broken into +the houses, robbed everything—murdered many—clothed themselves with +the best—collected all the arms, provisions, and wine they could lay +their hands on, and have marched away into the mountains. This took +place last night. As I was coming down within a mile of the town, they +met me with my loaded cart, and they turned the bullocks round and +drove them away along with the rest. By the blessed Virgin! but they +are stained with blood, but not altogether of men, for they have cut up +some of the oxen. I heard this from one of the herdsmen, but he too +fled, and could not tell me more. But, signor, I heard them mention +your name." +</P> + +<P> +"I have no doubt of it," replied Don Rebiera. "As for the wine, I only +hope they will drink too much of it to-night. But, Pedro, they will be +here, and we must defend ourselves—so call the men together; I must +speak to them." +</P> + +<P> +"We shall never see the bullocks again," observed Pedro, mournfully. +</P> + +<P> +"No: but we shall never see one another again, if we do not take care. +I have information they come here to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Holy Saint Francis! and they say there are a thousand of them." +</P> + +<P> +"Not quite so many, to my knowledge," observed Jack. "They told me that +a great many were killed in their attack upon the town, before they +mastered it." +</P> + +<P> +"So much the better. Go now, Pedro, drink a cup of wine, and then call +the other men." +</P> + +<P> +The house was barricaded as well as circumstances would permit; the +first story was also made a fortress by loading the landing place with +armoires and chests of drawers. The upper story, or attic, if it might +be so called, was defended in the same way, that they might retreat +from one to the other if the doors were forced. +</P> + +<P> +It was eight o'clock in the evening before all was ready, and they were +still occupied with the last defence, under the superintendence of +Mesty, who showed himself an able engineer, when they heard the sound +of an approaching multitude. They looked out of one of the windows, +and perceived the house surrounded by the galley-slaves, in number +apparently about a hundred. They were all dressed in a most fantastic +manner with whatever they could pick up: some had fire-arms, but the +most of them were supplied with only swords or knives. With them came +also their cortege of plunder: carts of various descriptions, loaded +with provisions of all sorts, and wine; women lashed down with ropes, +sails from the vessels and boats to supply them with covering in the +mountains, hay and straw, and mattresses. Their plunder appeared to be +well chosen for their exigencies. To the carts were tied a variety of +cattle, intended to accompany them to their retreat. They all appeared +to be under a leader, who was issuing directions—that leader was soon +recognised by those in the house to be Don Silvio. +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, you show me dat man," said Mesty, when he heard the +conversation between Easy and the Rebieras; "only let me know him." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you see him there, Mesty, walking down in front of those men? He +has a musket in his hand, a jacket with silver buttons, and white +trousers." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Massa Easy, me see him well—let me look little more—dat enough." +</P> + +<P> +The galley-slaves appeared to be very anxious to surround the house +that no one should escape, and Don Silvio was arranging the men. +</P> + +<P> +"Ned," said Jack, "let us show him that we are here. He said that he +would acquaint Don Rebiera with our arrival—let us prove to him that +he is too late." +</P> + +<P> +"It would not be a bad plan," replied Gascoigne; "if it were possible +that these fellows had any gratitude among them, some of them might +relent at the idea of attacking those who saved them." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit; but it will prove to them that there are more in the house +than they think for; and we can frighten some of them by telling them +that the soldiers are near at hand." +</P> + +<P> +Jack immediately threw up the casement, and called out in a loud voice, +"Don Silvio! galley-slave! Don Silvio!" +</P> + +<P> +The party hailed turned round, and beheld Jack, Gascoigne, and Mesty, +standing at the window of the upper floor. +</P> + +<P> +"We have saved you the trouble of announcing us," called out Gascoigne. +"We are here to receive you." +</P> + +<P> +"And in three hours the troops will be here, so you must be quick, Don +Silvio," continued Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"A reveder la," continued Gascoigne, letting fly his pistol at Don +Silvio. +</P> + +<P> +The window was then immediately closed. The appearance of our heroes, +and their communication of the speedy arrival of the troops, was not +without effect. The criminals trembled at the idea; Don Silvio was mad +with rage—he pointed out to the men the necessity of immediate +attack—the improbability of the troops arriving so soon, and the +wealth which he expected was locked up by Don Rebiera in his mansion. +This rallied them, and they advanced to the doors, which they attempted +to force without success, losing several men by the occasional fire +from those within the house. Finding their efforts, after half an +hour's repeated attempts, to be useless, they retreated, and then +bringing up a long piece of timber, which required sixty men to carry +it, they ran with it against the door, and the weight and impetus of +the timber drove it off its hinges, and an entrance was obtained; by +this time it was dark, the lower story had been abandoned, but the +barricade at the head of the stairs opposed their progress. Convenient +loop-holes had been prepared by the defenders, who now opened a smart +fire upon the assailants, the latter having no means of returning it +effectually, had they had ammunition for their muskets, which +fortunately they had not been able to procure. The combat now became +fierce, and the galley-slaves were several times repulsed with great +loss during a contest of two hours; but, encouraged by Don Silvio, and +refreshed by repeated draughts of wine, they continued by degrees +removing the barriers opposed to them. +</P> + +<P> +"We shall have to retreat," exclaimed Don Rebiera; "very soon they will +have torn down all. What do you think, Signor Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Hold this as long as we can. How are we off for ammunition?" +</P> + +<P> +"Plenty as yet—plenty to last for six hours, I think." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you say, Mesty?" +</P> + +<P> +"By holy St Patrig, I say hold out here—they got no fire-arms and we +ab um at arm-length." +</P> + +<P> +This decision was the occasion of the first defence being held for two +hours more, an occasional relief being afforded by the retreat of the +convicts to the covered carts. +</P> + +<P> +At last it was evident that the barricade was no longer tenable, for +the heavy pieces of furniture they had heaped up to oppose entrance, +were completely hammered to fragments by poles brought up by the +assailants, and used as battering-rams. The retreat was sounded; they +all hastened to the other story, where the ladies were already placed, +and the galley-slaves were soon in possession of the first +floor—exasperated by the defence, mad with wine and victory, but +finding nothing. +</P> + +<P> +Again was the attack made upon the second landing, but, as the stairs +were now narrower, and their defences stronger in proportion, they, for +a long while, gained no advantage. On the contrary, many of their men +were wounded, and taken down below. +</P> + +<P> +The darkness of the night prevented both parties from seeing +distinctly, which was rather in favour of the assailants. Many climbed +over the fortress of piled-up furniture, and were killed as soon as +they appeared on the other side, and, at last, the only ammunition used +was against those who made this rash attempt. For four long hours did +this assault and defence continue, until daylight came, and then the +plan of assault was altered: they again brought up the poles, hammered +the pieces of furniture into fragments, and gained ground. The +defenders were worn out with fatigue, but flinched not; they knew that +their lives, and the lives of those dearest to them, were at stake, and +they never relaxed their exertions; still the criminals, with Silvio at +their head, progressed, the distance between the parties gradually +decreased, and there was but one massive chest of drawers now defending +the landing-place, and over which there was a constant succession of +blows from long poles and cutlasses, returned with the bullets from +their pistols. +</P> + +<P> +"We must now fight for our lives," exclaimed Gascoigne to Easy, "for +what else can we do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Do?—get on the roof and fight there, then," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"By-the-bye, that's well thought of, Jack," said Gascoigne. "Mesty, up +and see if there is any place we can retreat to in case of need." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty hastened to obey, and soon returned with a report that there was +a trap-door leading into the loft under the roof, and that they could +draw the ladder up after them. +</P> + +<P> +"Then we may laugh at them," cried Jack. "Mesty, stay here while I and +Gascoigne assist the ladies up," explaining to the Rebieras and to +their domestics why they went. +</P> + +<P> +Easy and Gascoigne hastened to the signora and Agnes, conducted them up +the ladder into the loft, and requested them to have no fear; they then +returned to the defences on the stairs, and joined their companions. +They found them hard pressed, and that there was little chance of +holding out much longer; but the stairs were narrow, and the assailants +could not bring their force against them. But now, as the defences +were nearly destroyed, although the convicts could not reach them with +their knives, they brought up a large supply of heavy stones, which +they threw with great force and execution. Two of Don Rebiera's men +and Don Martin were struck down, and this new weapon proved most fatal. +</P> + +<P> +"We must retreat, Jack," said Gascoigne; "the stones can do no harm +where we are going to. What think you, Don Philip?" +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you; let those who are wounded be first carried up, and +then we will follow." +</P> + +<P> +This was effected, and as soon as the wounded men were carried up the +ladder, and the arms taken up to prevent their falling into the hands +of the assailants, for they were now of little use to them, the +ammunition being exhausted, the whole body went into the large room +which contained the trap-door of the loft, and, as soon as they were +up, they drew the ladder after them. They had hardly effected this, +when they were followed with the yells and shouting of the +galley-slaves, who had passed the last barriers, and thought themselves +sure of their prey: but they were disappointed—they found them more +secure than ever. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing could exceed the rage of Don Silvio at the protracted +resistance of the party, and the security of their retreat. To get at +them was impossible, so he determined to set fire to the room, and +suffocate them, if he could do no otherwise. He gave his directions to +his men, who rushed down for straw, but in so doing, he carelessly +passed under the trap-door, and Mesty, who had carried up with him two +or three of the stones, dashed one down on the head of Don Silvio, who +fell immediately. He was carried away, but his orders were put in +execution; the room was filled with straw and fodder, and lighted. The +effects were soon felt: the trap-door had been shut, but the heat and +smoke burst through; after a time, the planks and rafters took fire, +and their situation was terrible. A small trap-window in the roof, on +the side of the house, was knocked open, and gave them a temporary +relief; but now the rafters burned and crackled, and the smoke burst on +them in thick columns. They could not see, and with difficulty could +breathe. Fortunately the room below that which had been fired was but +one out of four on the attics, and, as the loft they were in spread +over the whole of the roof, they were able to remove far from it. The +house was slated with massive slate of some hundred weights each, and +it was not found possible to remove them so as to give air although +frequent attempts were made. Donna Rebiera sank exhausted in the arms +of her husband, and Agnes fell into those of our hero, who, enveloped +in the smoke, kissed her again and again; and she, poor girl, thinking +that they must all inevitably perish, made no scruple, in what she +supposed her last moment, of returning these proofs of her ardent +attachment. +</P> + +<P> +"Massy Easy, help me here,—Massa Gascoigne come here. Now heab wid +all your might: when we get one off we get plenty." +</P> + +<P> +Summoned by Mesty, Jack and Gascoigne put their shoulders to one of the +lower slates; it yielded, was disengaged, and slid down with a loud +rattling below. The ladies were brought to it, and their heads put +outside; they soon recovered; and now that they had removed one, they +found no difficulty in removing others. In a few minutes they were all +with their heads in the open air, but still the house was on fire +below, and they had no chance of escape. It was while they were +debating upon that point, and consulting as to their chance of safety, +that a breeze of wind wafted the smoke that issued from the roof away +from them, and they beheld the detachment of troops making up to the +house; a loud cheer was given, and attracted the notice of the +soldiers. They perceived Easy and his companions; the house was +surrounded and entered in an instant. +</P> + +<P> +The galley-slaves who were in the house, searching for the treasure +reported by Don Silvio to be concealed, were captured or killed, and in +five minutes the troops had possession. But how to assist those above +was the difficulty. The room below was in flames, and burning +fiercely. There were no ladders that could reach so high, and there +were no means of getting to them. The commandant made signs from +below, as if to ask what he was to do. +</P> + +<P> +"I see no chance," observed Don Philip, mournfully. "Easy, my dear +fellow, and you, Gascoigne, I am sorry that the feuds of our family +should have brought you to such a dreadful death; but what can be done?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," replied Jack, "unless we could get ropes." +</P> + +<P> +"You quite sure, Massy Easy, that all galley rascals below gone?" asked +Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Easy, "you may see that; look at some of them bound +there, under charge of the soldiers." +</P> + +<P> +"Den, sar, I tink it high time we go too." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I, Mesty; but how?" +</P> + +<P> +"How? stop a little. Come, help me, Massy Easy; dis board" (for the +loft was floored) "is loose; come help, all of you." +</P> + +<P> +They all went, and with united strength pulled up the board. "Now +strike like hell!—and drive down de plaster," said Mesty, commencing +the operation. +</P> + +<P> +In a few minutes they had beaten an opening into one of the rooms below +not on fire, pulled up another board, and Mesty having fetched the +ladder, they all descended in safety, and, to the astonishment of the +commandant of the troops, walked out of the door of the house, those +who had been stunned with the stones having so far recovered as to +require little assistance. +</P> + +<P> +The soldiers shouted as they saw them appear, supporting the females. +The commanding officer, who was an intimate friend of Don Philip, flew +to his arms. The prisoners were carefully examined by Mesty, and Don +Silvio was not among them. He might, however, be among the dead who +were left in the house, which now began to burn furiously. The +galley-slaves who were captured amounted in number to forty-seven. +Their dead they could not count. The major part of the plunder, and +the carts, were still where they had been drawn up. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the culprits had been secured, the attention of the troops +was directed to putting out the flames, but their attempts were +ineffectual; the mansion was burned to the bare walls, and but little +of the furniture saved; indeed, the major part of it had been destroyed +in the attack made by Don Silvio and his adherents. +</P> + +<P> +Leaving directions with Pedro and his people, that the property +collected by the miscreants should be restored to the owners, Don +Rebiera ordered the horses, and with the whole party put himself under +the protection of the troops, who, as soon as they had been refreshed, +and taken some repose, bent their way back to Palermo with the +galley-slaves, bound and linked together in a long double row. +</P> + +<P> +They halted when they had gone half-way, and remained for the night. +The next day at noon, Don Rebiera and his family were once more in +their palazzo, and our two midshipmen and Mesty took their leave, and +repaired on board to make themselves a little less like +chimney-sweepers. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson was not out of the ship. Jack made his report, and then +went down below, very much pleased at what had passed, especially as he +would have another long yarn for the Governor on his return to Malta. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap32"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero and Gascoigne ought to be ashamed of themselves, <BR> +and did feel what might be called midshipmite compunction. +</H4> + +<P> +The Aurora continued three weeks at Palermo, during which the most +active search had been made for the remainder of the galley-slaves, and +some few had been captured, but still Don Silvio, a considerable +number, were at large; and it was said that they had retired to the +fastnesses in the mountains. Our hero was constantly on shore at Don +Rebiera's house, and, after what had passed, he was now looked upon as +soon to become a member of the family. The difference of religion was +overlooked by Don Rebiera and the relations—by all but the confessor, +Father Thomaso, who now began to agitate and fulminate into the ears of +the Donna Rebiera all the pains and penalties attending heretical +connection, such as excommunication and utter damnation. The effects +of his remonstrances were soon visible, and Jack found that there was +constraint on the part of the old lady, tears on the part of Agnes, and +all father confessors heartily wished at the devil ten times a day, on +the part of Don Philip and his brother. At last he wormed the truth +out of Agnes, who told her tale, and wept bitterly. +</P> + +<P> +"Ned, I don't much like the appearance of things," observed Jack; "I +must get rid of that Father Thomaso." +</P> + +<P> +"You'll find that rather difficult," observed Gascoigne; "besides, if +you were rid of him you would have his place filled up with another." +</P> + +<P> +"He has frightened that poor old woman into the dismals, and she has +the pains of purgatory on her already. I shall go and talk to Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"How can Mesty help you?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know, but you can't; so, for want of better advice, I'll try +the Ashantee." Our hero went to Mesty, and laid the difficult affair +open to him. +</P> + +<P> +"I see," said Mesty, showing his filed teeth, "you want him skull." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I don't, Mesty; but I want him out of the way." +</P> + +<P> +"How that possible, Massy Easy?—ship sail day after to-morrow. Now +'pose I ab time, I soon manage all dat. Stop a little." +</P> + +<P> +"Confound it! but there's no stopping," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose, Massy Easy, you get leave go on shore—not come off again." +</P> + +<P> +"That will be deserting, Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"By holy poker, I ab it—you go on shore and break your leg." +</P> + +<P> +"Break my leg!—break my leave, you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Massy Easy—you break your leg—den captain leave you shore, and +leave me to take care of you." +</P> + +<P> +"But why should I break my leg, and how am I to break my leg?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only pretend break leg, Massa Easy. Go talk Massa Don Philip, he +manage all dat. Suppose man break his leg in seven pieces, it is not +possible to take him board." +</P> + +<P> +"Seven pieces, Mesty! that's rather too many. However, I'll think of +this." +</P> + +<P> +Jack then went back and consulted Gascoigne, who approved of Mesty's +advice, and thought the scheme feasible. +</P> + +<P> +"If we could only pretend that we were thrown out of a caricola, you +break your leg, a compound fracture of course, I break my arm—both +left on shore at sick quarters, with Mesty to take care of us." +</P> + +<P> +"Capital, indeed," replied Jack; "I really would not mind it if it +really took place; at all events we'll overturn the caricola." +</P> + +<P> +"But shall we get leave the last day?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it's two days since I have been on shore, for I have not liked to +go to Don Rebiera's since what Agnes told me. Besides, my clothes are +all on shore, and that will be an excuse for a few hours." +</P> + +<P> +Our two midshipmen applied for leave the next morning to be off in the +afternoon. The first lieutenant gave them permission. They hastened +to the hotel, sent for Don Philip, and made him a party to their plan. +He readily promised his assistance, for he had resolved that our hero +should marry his sister, and was fearful of the effect of his absence, +coupled with Friar Thomaso's influence over his mother. He went to the +surgeon of his regiment, who immediately entered into the scheme. +</P> + +<P> +Our two midshipmen got into a caricola, rattled up and down the +streets, and perceiving Captain Wilson at his window, flogged the horse +into a gallop; when abreast of the barracks Jack ran the wheel against +a bank, and threw himself and Gascoigne out. Midshipmen are never hurt +by these accidents, but fortunately for the success of the enterprise +their faces were cut and bruised. Don Philip was standing by: he +called the men to pick up our two scamps, carried them into the +barracks, and sent for the surgeons, who undressed them, put Jack's +left leg into a multitude of splints, and did the same to Gascoigne's +arm. They were then put to bed, their contused faces, with the blood, +left "in statu quo," while Don Philip sent an orderly, as from the +commandant, to Captain Wilson, to acquaint him that two of his officers +had been thrown out of a caricola, and were lying dangerously hurt at +the barracks. +</P> + +<P> +"Good heavens, it must be Mr Easy and Mr Gascoigne!" said Captain +Wilson, when the intelligence was communicated; "I saw them galloping +down the street like two madmen just now. Coxswain, take the gig on +board and then tell the surgeon to come on shore immediately, and bring +him up to me at the barracks." +</P> + +<P> +Captain Wilson then put on his hat, buckled on his sword, and hastened +to ascertain the extent of the injury. Don Philip kept out of the way, +but the captain was ushered into the room by one of the officers, where +he found, in two beds, our two midshipmen stretched out, the surgeon of +the forces and the regimental surgeon in consultation between them, +while attendants were standing by each bed with restoratives. The +medical gentlemen saluted Captain Wilson, and looked very grave, talked +about fractures, contusions, injuries, in the most interminable +manner—hoped that Mr Easy would recover—but had doubts. The other +gentleman might do well with care; that is, so far as his arm was +concerned, but there appeared to be a concussion of the brain. Captain +Wilson looked at the cut and blood-smeared faces of the two young men, +and waited with anxiety the arrival of his own surgeon, who came at +last, puffing with the haste he had made, and received the report of +the brothers of the faculty. +</P> + +<P> +The leg of Mr Easy fractured in two places—had been set—bone +protruding—impossible to move him. Gascoigne, arm, compound +fracture—contusion of the brain not certain. Now that all this would +have been discovered to be false if the surgeon had been able to +examine, is true; but how could he not credit the surgeon of the forces +and the regimental surgeon, and how could he put the young men to fresh +tortures by removing splints and unsetting limbs? Politeness, if +nothing else, prevented his so doing, for it would have been as much as +to say that either he did not credit their report, or that he doubted +their skill. He looked at our hero and his companion, who kept their +eyes closed, and breathed heavily with their mouths open, put on a +grave face, as well as his brothers in the art, and reported to Captain +Wilson. +</P> + +<P> +"But when can they be moved, Mr Daly?" inquired the latter; "I cannot +wait; we must sail to-morrow, or the next day at the farthest." +</P> + +<P> +The surgeon, as in duty bound, put the question to the others, who +replied that there would be great risk in moving before the fever, +which might be expected the next day, and which might last ten days; +but that Captain Wilson had better not think of removing them, as they +should have every care and attention where they were, and could rejoin +the ship at Malta. Mr Daly, the surgeon, agreed that this would be the +most prudent step, and Captain Wilson then gave his consent. +</P> + +<P> +That being settled, he walked up to the bed of Gascoigne, and spoke to +him; but Gascoigne knew that he was to have a concussion of the brain, +and he made no reply, nor gave any signs of knowing that Captain Wilson +was near him. He then went to our hero, who, at the sound of Captain +Wilson's voice, slowly opened his eyes without moving his head, and +appeared to recognise him. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you in much pain, Easy?" said the captain, kindly. Easy closed his +eyes again, and murmured, "Mesty, Mesty!" +</P> + +<P> +"He wants his servant, the ship's corporal, sir," said the surgeon. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," replied Captain Wilson, "he had better have him: he is a +faithful fellow, and will nurse him well. When you go on board, Mr +Daly, desire the first lieutenant to send Mesty on shore with Mr +Gascoigne's and Mr Easy's chests, and his own bag and hammock. Good +heavens! I would not for a thousand pounds that this accident had +occurred. Poor foolish boys—they run in couples, and if one's in a +scrape the other is sure to share it. Gentlemen, I return you many +thanks for your kindness, and I must accept of your promised care for +my unfortunate officers. I sail to-morrow at daylight. You will oblige +me by informing their friends, the Rebieras, of their mischance, as I +am sure they will contribute all they can to their comfort." So saying, +Captain Wilson bowed and quitted the room, followed by the surgeon. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the door was closed the two midshipmen turned their heads +round and looked at each other, but they were afraid to speak at first, +in case of the return of the surgeon. As soon as it was announced to +them that Captain Wilson and Mr Daly were outside the barrack-gate, our +hero commenced—"Do you know, Ned, that my conscience smites me, and if +it had not been that I should have betrayed those who wish to oblige +us, when poor Captain Wilson appeared so much hurt and annoyed at our +accident, I was very near getting up and telling him of the imposition, +to relieve his mind." +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you, Jack, and I felt much the same—but what's done +cannot be undone. We must now keep up the imposition for the sake of +those who, to help us, have deceived him." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think that you would find an English surgeon who would have +consented to such an imposition." +</P> + +<P> +"No, that is certain; but after all, it is an imposition that has hurt +nobody." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I do not wish to moralise—but I repent of my share in the deceit; +and had it to be done over again I would not consent to it." +</P> + +<P> +"Not even for——? but I won't mention her name in barracks." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know," replied Jack; "but let's say no more about it, and +thank these gentlemen for their kindness." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, but we must keep it up until we see the Aurora under all sail." +</P> + +<P> +"And longer too," replied Jack; "we must not let the affair get wind +even on shore. We must not recover quickly, but still appear to +recover. Don Rebiera and his wife must be deceived. I have a plot in +my head, but I cannot work it out clear till I see Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +Don Philip now came in. He had seen Captain Wilson, who had requested +him to look after the two invalids, and stated his intention to sail +the next morning. They consulted with him, and it was agreed that no +one should be acquainted with the real fact but his brother Martin, and +that all Palermo should be as much deceived as Captain Wilson, for if +not, it would put Father Thomaso on the "qui vive," and make him +fulminate more than ever. Our midshipmen ate an excellent dinner, and +then remained in bed conversing till it was time to go to sleep; but +long before that, Mesty had made his appearance with their clothes. The +eyes of the Ashantee said all that was necessary—he never spoke a +word, but unlashed his hammock and lay down in a corner, and they were +soon all three asleep. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning Captain Wilson called to ascertain how our hero and +his companion were, but the room had been darkened, and he could not +see their faces plainly. Easy thanked him for his kindness in allowing +Mesty to attend them, and having received his orders as to their +joining the ship as soon as they recovered, and having promised to be +very cautious in their behaviour and keep out of all scrapes, he wished +them a speedy recovery, and departed. +</P> + +<P> +In little more than half an hour afterwards, Mesty, who had been +peeping out of the shutters, suddenly threw them open with a loud laugh. +</P> + +<P> +The Aurora was under way, with studding sails below and aloft standing +out of the roads. Jack and Gascoigne got up, threw off the splints, and +danced about in their shirts. As soon as they were quiet again, Mesty +said in a grave tone, "Den why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mesty, I've asked myself that question often enough lately; +because I'm a fool, I suppose." +</P> + +<P> +"And I, because I can't help it," replied Gascoigne; "never mind, we +are on shore now, and I look for a famous cruise." +</P> + +<P> +"But first we must see what the ground is we are to cruise on," replied +Jack; "so, Mesty, let us have a palaver, as they say in your country." +</P> + +<P> +The two midshipmen got into their beds, and Mesty sat on the chest +between them, looking as grave as a judge. The question was, how to +get rid of the padre Thomaso. Was he to be thrown over the mole-head +to the fishes—or his skull broke—was Mesty's knife to be resorted +to—was he to be kidnapped or poisoned—or were fair means to be +employed—persuasion, bribery? Every one knows how difficult it is to +get rid of a priest. +</P> + +<P> +As our hero and Gascoigne were not Italians, they thought that bribery +would be the more English-like way of doing the thing; so they composed +a letter, to be delivered by Mesty to the friar, in which Jack offered +to Father Thomaso the moderate sum of one thousand dollars, provided he +would allow the marriage to proceed, and not frighten the old lady with +ecclesiastical squibs and crackers. +</P> + +<P> +As Mesty was often on shore with Jack, and knew the friar very well by +sight, it was agreed that the letter should be confided to his charge; +but as it was not consistent that a person in such a state as our hero +was represented to be should sit up and write letters, the delivery was +deferred for a few days, when after waiting that time, Mesty delivered +the letter to the friar, and made signs that he was to take back the +answer. The friar beckoned him that he was to accompany him to his +room, where he read the letter, and then again made signs to him to +follow him. The friar led the way to his monastery, and as soon as +Mesty was in his cell, he summoned another who could speak English to +act as interpreter. +</P> + +<P> +"Is your master recovering?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Mesty, "he is at present doing well." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you served him long?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you very fond of him? does he treat you well, give you plenty of +money?" +</P> + +<P> +At these questions, the artful black conceived that there was something +in the wind, and he therefore very quietly replied, "I do not care much +for him." +</P> + +<P> +The friar fixed his keen eye upon Mesty, and perceived there was a +savage look about the black, from which he augured that he was a man +who would suit his purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"Your master offers me a thousand dollars; would you wish to gain this +money for yourself?" +</P> + +<P> +Mesty grinned, and showed his sharp-filed teeth. "It would make me a +rich man in my own country." +</P> + +<P> +"It would," replied the friar; "now, you shall have it, if you will +only give your master a small powder." +</P> + +<P> +"I understand," replied Mesty; "hab those things in my country." +</P> + +<P> +"Well—do you consent?—if so, I will write the letter to get the +money." +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose they find me out?" replied Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"You will be safe, and you shall be sent away as soon as possible—say, +will you consent?" +</P> + +<P> +"The whole thousand dollars?" +</P> + +<P> +"Every one of them." +</P> + +<P> +"Den give me the powder!" +</P> + +<P> +"Stay a little", replied the friar, who went out of the cell, and, in +about ten minutes, returned with an answer to our hero's letter, and a +paper containing a greyish powder. +</P> + +<P> +"Give him this in his soup or anything—spread it on his meat, or mix +it up with his sugar if he eats an orange." +</P> + +<P> +"I see," replied Mesty. "The dollars shall be yours, I swear it on the +holy cross." Mesty grinned horribly, took his credentials, and then +asked, "When I come again?" +</P> + +<P> +"As soon as you have received the money bring it to me at Don +Rebiera's—then give the powder: as soon as it is given you must let me +know, for you must not remain in Palermo. I will myself conduct you to +a place of safety." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty then quitted the cell, and was shown out of the monastery. +</P> + +<P> +"By de holy poker, he one d—n rascal!" muttered Mesty, as he was once +in the open air. "But stop a little." +</P> + +<P> +The Ashantee soon arrived at the barracks, and repeated the whole of +the conference between him and Friar Thomaso. +</P> + +<P> +"It must be poison, of course," observed Gascoigne; "suppose we try it +upon some animal?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, Massa Gascoigne," replied Mesty, "I try it myself, by-and-bye. Now +what we do?" +</P> + +<P> +"I must give you the order for the thousand dollars, Mesty," replied +Jack. "The rascal here writes to me that for that sum, he will consent +not only not to oppose me, but agrees to assist my cause; but the great +question is, whether he will keep his word with you, Mesty; if not, I +shall lose my money. So therefore we must now have another palaver, +and argue the point." +</P> + +<P> +The point was argued between Jack and Gascoigne. A thousand dollars +was a large sum, but Jack's father was a philosopher. After many pros +and cons, it was at last decided that the money should be given to +Mesty; but Mesty should state, when he took the money to the friar, +that he had administered the powder, and claim it when he presented it. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, the order for the money was given to Mesty, and he went +to Friar Thomaso with it. The friar hastened with Mesty to the +monastery, and sent for the interpreter. +</P> + +<P> +"You have given it?" inquired the friar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes—not one hour ago. Here de order for de money." +</P> + +<P> +"You must run for the money before he is dead, for the powder is very +rapid." +</P> + +<P> +"And me," replied Mesty, apparently much alarmed, "where am I to go?" +</P> + +<P> +"As soon as you bring the money here, you must go back to the barracks. +Remain there till he is dead, and then return here. I will have all +ready, and take you, as soon as it is dusk, to a monastery of our order +in the mountains, where no one will think of looking for you, till the +affair is blown over; and then I will find you a passage in some vessel +out of the island." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty hastened for the money, and taking it in a large bag to the +monastery, delivered it to the friar's charge, and then returned to the +barracks to Easy and Gascoigne. It was agreed that he should go with +the friar, who would probably remain away some time; indeed, Mesty +insisted upon so doing. Mesty stayed two hours, and then returned +about dusk to the monastery, and reported the death of our hero. He +remained there until it was dark, and then the friar ordered him to tie +the bag of dollars to his saddle-bow. They mounted two mules, which +stood already caparisoned, and quitted Palermo. +</P> + +<P> +In the morning Don Philip, as usual, made his appearance, and told our +hero that the friar had been summoned away by the abbot, and would not +return for some time. +</P> + +<P> +"I came to tell you this news," said Don Philip, "as I thought it would +please you; the sooner you are now well the better. I mean to propose +your being both removed to my father's palazzo, and then you can +recover your lost ground during the confessor's absence." +</P> + +<P> +"And I have the means," replied Jack, showing the friar's letter. Don +Philip read it with astonishment, but was still more surprised when he +heard the whole story from Jack. He was for a time silent: at last he +said,— +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry for your poor black." "Why so?" replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"You will never see him again, depend upon it. A thousand dollars +would sign the death warrant of a thousand blacks; but there is another +reason—they will put him out of the way, that he may not give +evidence. Where is the powder?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mesty has it; he would not part with it." +</P> + +<P> +"He is a shrewd fellow, that black; he may be too much for the friar," +replied Don Philip. +</P> + +<P> +"He means mischief, I'm sure," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Still I feel a great deal of alarm about him," replied Easy; "I wish +now that I had not let him go." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure that he went?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I am not; but the friar told him that he should take him to the +mountains as soon as it was dark." +</P> + +<P> +"And probably he will," replied Don Philip, "as the best place to get +rid of him. However, the whole of this story must be told both to my +father and my mother; to the former, that he may take the right +measures, and to my mother, that it may open her eyes. Give me the +copy of the letter you wrote to the friar, and then I shall have it +all." +</P> + +<P> +The report of the accident which had occurred to Easy and Gascoigne had +been spread and fully believed throughout Palermo. Indeed, as usual, it +had been magnified, and asserted that they could not recover. To Agnes +only had the case been imparted in confidence by Don Philip, for her +distress at the first intelligence had been so great that her brother +could not conceal it. +</P> + +<P> +Two days after Don Philip had made his parents acquainted with the +villainy of the friar, the midshipmen were transported to the palazzo, +much to the surprise of everybody, and much to the renown of the +surgeons, who were indemnified for their duplicity and falsehood by an +amazing extension of their credit as skilful men. +</P> + +<P> +After their arrival at the palazzo, Don Rebiera was also entrusted with +the secret, but it went no farther. As now there was no particular +hurry for our hero to get well, he was contented and happy in the +society of Agnes and her parents; the old lady, after she had been +informed of the conduct of Friar Thomaso, having turned round in our +hero's favour, and made a vow never to have a confessor in the house +again. Jack and Gascoigne were now as happy as could be; all their +alarm was about Mesty, for whose return they were most anxious. +</P> + +<P> +To Don Rebiera, Jack made known formally his intentions with regard to +Agnes. He fully satisfied him as to his qualifications and his +property, and Don Rebiera was fully aware of his debt of gratitude to +our hero. But all he required was the consent of Jack's father, and +until this was obtained, he would not consent to the marriage taking +place. Jack attempted to argue the point; his father, he said, had +married without consulting him, and therefore he had a right to marry +without consulting his father. But Don Rebiera, not having any +acquaintance with the rights of man and equality, did not feel the full +force of Jack's argument, and made it a sine qua non that his parents +should write and consent to the alliance before it took place. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap33"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Mesty should be called throughout Mephistopheles, <BR> +for it abounds in black cloaks, disguises, daggers, and dark deeds. +</H4> + +<P> +On the fourth evening after the removal of our two midshipmen to the +palazzo of Don Rebiera, as they were sitting in company with Agnes and +Don Philip in their own room, a friar made his appearance at the door. +They all started, for by his height they imagined him to be Friar +Thomaso, but no one addressed him. The friar shut the door without +saying a word, and then lifting up his cowl, which had been drawn over +it, discovered the black face of Mesty. Agnes screamed, and all sprang +from their seats at this unusual and unexpected apparition. Mesty +grinned, and there was that in his countenance which said that he had +much to communicate. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is the friar—Mesty?" inquired Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a little, Massa—suppose we lock door first, and den I tell all." +</P> + +<P> +Taking this precaution, Mesty threw off the friar's gown, and appeared +in his own dress, with the bag of dollars slung round his body. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Massa Easy, I hab a long story to tell—so I tink I better begin +at the beginning." +</P> + +<P> +"It is the most approved method," replied Jack, "but stop when I hold +up my finger, that we may translate what you say to the lady and Don +Philip." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat all right, sar. Friar and I get on two mule as soon as it quite +dark. He make me carry all tousand dollars—and we ride out of town. +We go up mountain and mountain, but the moon get up shine and we go on +cheek by jowl—he nebber say one word, and I nebber say one word, +'cause I no speak his lingo, and he no understand my English. About +two o'clock in de morning, we stop at a house and stay dere till eight +o'clock, and den we go on again all next day, up all mountain, only +stop once, eat a bit bread and drink lilly wine. Second night come on, +and den we stop again, and people bow very low to him, and woman bring +in rabbit for make supper. I go in the kitchen, woman make stew smell +very nice, so I nod my head, and I say very good, and she make a face, +and throw on table black loaf of bread and garlic, and make sign dat +for my supper; good enough for black fellow, and dat rabbit stew for +friar. Den I say to myself, stop a little; suppose friar hab all de +rabbit, I tink I give him a lilly powder." +</P> + +<P> +"The powder, Mesty?" exclaimed Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"What does he say?" inquired Don Philip. +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne translated all that Mesty had communicated. The interest of +the narrative now became exciting. Mesty continued:— +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Massa Easy, den woman she go for dish to put stew in, and I take +de powder and drop it in de pot, and den I sit down again and eat black +bread, she say good enough for black man. She tir up de stew once +more, and den she pour it out into dish, and take it to friar. He lick +um chops, by all de powers, and he like um so well he pick all de +bones, and wipe up gravy with him bread. You tink it very nice, Massa +Friar, tink I; but stop a little. After he drink a whole bottle of +wine, he tell me bring mules to de door, and he put him hands on de +woman head, and dat de way he pay for him supper. +</P> + +<P> +"The moon shone bright, and we go up all mountain, always go up, and +'bout two hour, he get off him mule and he put him hand so, and set +down on de rock. He twist, and he turn, and he groan, for half an +hour, and den he look at me, as much as to say, you black villain, you +do this? for he not able to speak, and den I pull out de paper of de +powder, and I show him, and make him sign he swallow it: he look again, +and I laugh at him and he die." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, Mesty, Mesty," exclaimed our hero; "you should not have done that, +there will mischief come from it." +</P> + +<P> +"Now he dead, Massa Easy, so much less mischief." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne then interpreted to Don Philip and Agnes, the former of whom +looked very grave, and the latter terrified. +</P> + +<P> +"Let him go on," said Don Philip; "I am most anxious to hear what he +did with the body." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty, at the request of our hero, proceeded: "Den I thought what I +should do, and I said I would hide him, and I tink I take his coat for +myself, so I pull off him coat and I pull off all his oder clothes—he +not wear many—and I take the body in my arm, and carry him where I +find a great split in de rock above all road. I throw him in, and den I +throw plenty large pieces rock on him till I no see him any more; den I +take de two mules and get on mine wid de dollars, and lead de other +three four mile, till I come to a large wood—take off him saddle and +bridle, turn him adrift. Den I tear up all clothes all in lilly bits, +hide one piece here, noder piece dere, and de saddle and bridle in de +bush. All right, now, I say so I put on friar cloak, hide my face, get +on my mule, and den I look where I shall go—so I say, I not be in dis +road anyhow, I pass through wood till I find nother. I go 'bout two +mile—moon go down, all dark, and five six men catch hold my bridle, +and they all got arms, so I do noting—they speak to me, but I no +answer, and nebber show my face. They find all dollars (d—n um) fast +enough, and they lead me away through the wood. Last we come to a large +fire in de wood, plenty of men lie about, some eat and some drink. +They pull me off, and I hold down my head and fold my arms, just like +friar do. They bring me along to one man, and pour out all my dollar +before him. He give some order, and they take me away, and I peep +through the cloak, and I say to myself, he that d—n galley-slave +rascal Don Silvio." +</P> + +<P> +"Don Silvio!" cried Jack. "What does he say of Don Silvio?" demanded +Don Philip. Mesty's narrative was again translated, and he continued. +</P> + +<P> +"Dey led me away about fifty yards, tie me to tree, and den they leave +me, and dey all drink and make merry, nebber offer me anything, so, I +hab noting den to eat; I eat de ropes and gnaw them through and den I +stay there two hour until all go asleep, and all quiet; for I say to +myself, stop a little. Den when dey all fast asleep, I take out my +knife and I crawl 'long de ground, as we do in our country +sometime—and den I stop and look 'bout me; no man watch but two, and +dey look out for squarl, not look in board where I was. I crawl again +till I lay down alongside that d—n galley-slave Don Silvio. He lie +fast asleep with my bag thousand dollars under him head. So I tink, +'you not hab dem long, you rascal. I look round—all right, and I drive +my knife good aim into him heart and press toder hand on him mouth, but +he make no noise; he struggle little and look up, and den I throw off +de head of de gown and show him my black face, and he look and he try +to speak; but I stop dat, for down go my knife again, and de d—n +galley-slave dead as herring." +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, Mesty, we must tell this to Don Philip," said Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Dead! Don Silvio dead! well, Mesty, we are eternally obliged to you, +for there was no safety for my father while he was living. Let him go +on." +</P> + +<P> +"So when I put de knife through his body, I lie down by him as if +noting had happened, for ten minutes, and den I take de bag of dollars +from under him head, and den I feel him all over, and I find him +pistols and him purse, which I hab here, all gold. So I take them and +I look—all asleep, and I crawl back to de tree. Den I stay to tink a +little; de man on watch come up and look at me, but he tink all right +and he go away again. Lucky ting, by de power, dat I go back to tree. +I wait again, and den I crawl and crawl till I clear of all, and den I +take to my heel and run for um life, till daylight come, and den I so +tired I lie down in bush; I stay in bush all day, and den I set off +again back here, for I find road and know my way. I not eat den for one +day and one night, and come to house where I put my head in and find +woman there. I not able to speak, so I help myself, and not show my +face. She not like dat and make a bobbery, but I lift up my cloak and +show my black face and white teeth, and den she tink me de debil. She +run out of de house and I help myself very quick, and den set off and +come close here yesterday morning. I hide myself all day and come in at +night, and now, Massa Easy, you ab haf de whole truth and you ab your +tousand dollars—and you ab got rid of de rascal friar and de d—n +galley-slave, Don Silvio." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell them all this, Ned," said Jack, who, whilst Gascoigne was so +employed, talked with Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"I was very much frightened for you, Mesty," said Jack; "but still I +thought you quite as cunning as the friar, and so it has turned out; +but the thousand dollars ought to be yours." +</P> + +<P> +"No, sar," replied Mesty, "the dollars not mine; but I hab plenty of +gold in Don Silvio's purse—plenty, plenty of gold. I keep my +property, Massa Easy, and you keep yours." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid that this affair may be found out, Mesty; the woman will +spread the report of having been attacked by a black friar, and that +will lead to suspicion, as the other friars of the convent knew that +you left with Friar Thomaso." +</P> + +<P> +"So I tink dat, but when a man starve, he quite forget his thought." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't blame you; but now I must talk to Don Philip." +</P> + +<P> +"Suppose you no objection, while you talk I eat something from the +table then, Massa Easy, for I hungry enough to eat de friar, mule and +all." +</P> + +<P> +"Eat, my good fellow, and drink as much as you please." +</P> + +<P> +The consultation between our two midshipmen and Don Philip was not +long: they perceived the immediate necessity for the departure of +Mesty, and the suspicion which would attach to themselves. Don Philip +and Agnes left them, to go to Don Rebiera, and make him acquainted with +what had passed, and to ask his advice. +</P> + +<P> +When they went into the room, Don Rebiera immediately accosted his son. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you heard, Philip, that Friar Thomaso has returned at last?—so +the servants tell me." +</P> + +<P> +"The report may be fortunate," replied Don Philip; "but I have another +story to tell you." +</P> + +<P> +He then sat down and imparted to Don Rebiera all the adventures of +Mesty. Don Rebiera was for some time in deep thought; at last he +replied,— +</P> + +<P> +"That Don Silvio is no more is fortunate, and the negro would be +entitled to reward for his destruction—but for the friar, that is a +bad business. The negro might remain and tell the whole story, and the +facts might be proved by the evidence of Signor Easy, and the letters; +but what then? we should raise the whole host of the clergy against our +house, and we have suffered too much from them already; the best plan +would be the immediate departure, not only of the negro but of our two +young friends. The supposition of Friar Thomaso being here, and their +departure with the negro servant to rejoin their ship, will remove much +suspicion and destroy all inquiry. They must be off immediately. Go +to them, Philip, and point out to them the absolute necessity of this +measure, and tell our young friend that I rigidly adhere to my promise, +and as soon as he has his father's sanction I will bestow upon him my +daughter. In the meantime I will send down and see if a vessel can be +chartered for Malta." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero and Gascoigne fully admitted the wisdom of this measure, and +prepared for their departure; indeed, now that Don Rebiera's resolution +had been made known to our hero, he cared more for obtaining his +father's consent than he did for remaining to enjoy himself at Palermo; +and before noon of the next day all was ready, the vessel had been +procured, Jack took his leave of Agnes and her mother, and, accompanied +by Don Rebiera and Don Phillip (for Don Martin was on duty a few miles +from Palermo), went down to the beach, and, having bid them farewell, +embarked with Gascoigne and Mesty on board of the two-masted lateen +which had been engaged, and before sunset not a steeple of Palermo was +to be seen. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you thinking of, Jack?" said Gascoigne, after our hero had +been silent half an hour. +</P> + +<P> +"I have been thinking, Ned, that we are well out of it." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I," replied Gascoigne; and here the conversation dropped for a +time. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you thinking of now, Jack?" said Gascoigne, after a long +pause. +</P> + +<P> +"I've been thinking that I've a good story for the old Governor." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," replied Gascoigne; and both were again silent for some +time. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you thinking of now, Jack?" said Gascoigne, after another +long interval. +</P> + +<P> +"I've been thinking that I shall leave the service," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish you would take me with you," replied Gascoigne, with a sigh; +and again they were both in deep contemplation. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you thinking of now, Jack?" said Gascoigne again. +</P> + +<P> +"Of Agnes," replied our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, if that's the case, I'll call you when supper's ready. In the +meantime I'll go and talk with Mesty." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap34"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXIV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Jack leaves the service, in which he had no business, <BR> +and goes home to mind his own business. +</H4> + +<P> +On the fourth day they arrived at Malta, and our two midshipmen, as +soon as they had settled with the padrone of the vessel, went up to the +government house. They found the Governor in the veranda, who held out +both his hands, one to each. +</P> + +<P> +"Glad to see you, my lads. Well, Jack, how's the leg—all right? don't +limp? And your arm, Gascoigne?" +</P> + +<P> +"All right, sir, and as sound as ever it was," replied they both. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you're in luck, and have made more haste than you deserve, after +your mad pranks: but now sit down, and I suppose, my friend Jack, you +have a story to tell me." +</P> + +<P> +"O yes, Sir Thomas, and a very long one." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I won't have it now, for I expect people on business; we'll have +it after dinner. Get your things up and take possession of your rooms. +The Aurora sailed four days ago. You've had a wonderful recovery." +</P> + +<P> +"Wonderful, sir!" replied our hero; "all Palermo rings with it." +</P> + +<P> +"Well you may go now—I shall see you at dinner. Wilson will be +delighted when he hears that you have got round again, for he was +low-spirited about it, I can tell you, which is more than you deserve." +</P> + +<P> +"He's right there," said our hero to Gascoigne, as they walked away. +</P> + +<P> +When dinner was over, Jack narrated to the Governor the adventures of +Mesty, with which he was much interested; but when they were quite +alone in the evening, the Governor called our two midshipmen into the +veranda, and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Now my lads, I'm not going to preach, as the saying is, but I've been +long enough in the world to know that a compound fracture of the leg is +not cured in fourteen or sixteen days. I ask you to tell me the truth. +Did not you deceive Captain Wilson on this point?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am ashamed to say that we did, sir," replied Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"How did you manage that, and why?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack then went into further details relative to himself and his amour, +stating his wish to be left behind, and all that had passed. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, there's some excuse for you, but none for the surgeons. If any +surgeon here had played such a trick, I would have hung him, as sure as +I'm Governor. This affair of yours has become serious. Mr Easy, we +must have some conversation on the matter to-morrow morning." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning the packet from England was reported off the harbour's +mouth. After breakfast the letters were brought on shore, and the +Governor sent for our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy, here are two letters for you; I am sorry to say, with black +seals. I trust that they do not bring the intelligence of the death of +any very near relative." +</P> + +<P> +Jack bowed without speaking, took the letters, and went to his room. +The first he opened was from his father. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"MY DEAR JOHN, +</P> + +<P> +"You will be much grieved to hear that your poor mother, after sitting +in the corner for nearly two years waiting for the millennium, appeared +to pine away; whether from disappointment or not I do not know; but at +last, in spite of all Dr Middleton could do, she departed this life; +and, as the millennium would not come to her as she expected, it is to +be hoped she is gone to the millennium. She was a good wife, and I +always let her have her own way. Dr Middleton does not appear to be +satisfied as to the cause of her death, and has wished to examine; but +I said no, for I am a philosopher, and it is no use looking for causes +after effects; but I have done since her death what she never would +permit me to do during her life. I have had her head shaved, and +examined it very carefully as a phrenologist, and most curiously has +she proved the truth of the sublime science. I will give you the +result. Determination, very prominent; Benevolence, small; Caution, +extreme; Veneration, not very great; Philoprogenitiveness, strange to +say, is very large, considering she has but one child; Imagination, +very strong: you know, my dear boy, she was always imagining some +nonsense or another. Her other organs were all moderate. Poor dear +creature! she is gone, and we may well wail, for a better mother or a +better wife never existed. And now, my dear boy, I must request that +you call for your discharge, and come home as soon as possible. I +cannot exist without you, and I require your assistance in the grand +work I have in contemplation. The time is at hand, the cause of +equality will soon triumph; the abject slaves now hold up their heads; +I have electrified them with my speeches, but I am getting old and +feeble; I require my son to leave my mantle to, as one prophet did to +another, and then I will, like him, ascend in glory. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Your affectionate Father, +<BR> +"NICODEMUS EASY". +</P> + +<P> +From this it would appear, thought Jack, that my mother is dead, and +that my father is mad. For some time our hero remained in a melancholy +mood; he dropped many tears to the memory of his mother, whom, if he +had never respected, he had much loved: and it was not till half an +hour had elapsed, that he thought of opening the other letter. It was +from Dr Middleton. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"MY DEAR BOY, +</P> + +<P> +"Although not a correspondent of yours, I take the right of having +watched you through all your childhood, and from a knowledge of your +disposition, to write you a few lines. That you have, by this time, +discarded your father's foolish, nonsensical philosophy, I am very +sure. It was I who advised your going away for that purpose, and I am +sure, that, as a young man of sense, and the heir to a large property, +you will before this have seen the fallacy of your father's doctrines. +Your father tells me that he has requested you to come home, and allow +me to add any weight I may have with you in persuading you to do the +same. It is fortunate for you that the estate is entailed, or you +might soon be a beggar, for there is no saying what debts he might, in +his madness, be guilty of. He has already been dismissed from the +magistracy by the lord-lieutenant, in consequence of his haranguing the +discontented peasantry, and I may say, exciting them to acts of +violence and insubordination. He has been seen dancing and hurrahing +round a stack fired by an incendiary. He has turned away his keepers, +and allowed all poachers to go over the manor. In short, he is not in +his senses; and, although I am far from advising coercive measures, I +do consider that it is absolutely necessary that you should immediately +return home, and look after what will one day be your property. You +have no occasion to follow the profession, with eight thousand pounds +per annum. You have distinguished yourself, now make room for those +who require it for their subsistence. God bless you. I shall soon hope +to shake hands with you. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Yours most truly, +<BR> +"G. MIDDLETON." +</P> + +<P> +There was matter for deep reflection in these two letters, and Jack +never felt before how much his father had been in the wrong. That he +had gradually been weaned from his ideas was true, but still he had, to +a certain degree, clung to them, as we do to a habit; but now he felt +that his eyes were opened; the silly, almost unfeeling letter of his +father upon the occasion of his mother's death, opened his eyes. For a +long while Jack was in a melancholy meditation, and then casting his +eyes upon his watch, he perceived that it was almost dinner-time. That +he could eat his dinner was certain, and he scorned to pretend to feel +what he did not. He therefore dressed himself and went down, grave, it +is true, but not in tears. He spoke little at dinner, and retired as +soon as it was over, presenting his two letters to the Governor, and +asking his advice for the next morning. Gascoigne followed him, and to +him he confided his trouble; and Ned, finding that Jack was very +low-spirited, consoled him to the best of his power, and brought a +bottle of wine which he procured from the butler. Before they returned +to bed, Jack had given his ideas to his friend, which were approved of, +and wishing him a good-night, he threw himself into bed, and was soon +fast asleep. +</P> + +<P> +"One thing is certain, my good fellow," observed the Governor to our +hero, as he gave him back his letters at the breakfast table the next +morning; "that your father is as mad as a March hare. I agree with that +doctor, who appears a sensible man, that you had better go home +immediately." +</P> + +<P> +"And leave the service altogether, sir?" replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I must say, that I do not think you exactly fitted for it. I +shall be sorry to lose you, as you have a wonderful talent for +adventure, and I shall have no more yarns to hear when you return; but, +if I understand right from Captain Wilson, you were brought into the +profession because he thought that the service might be of use in +eradicating false notions, rather than from any intention or necessity +of your following it up as a profession." +</P> + +<P> +"I suspect that was the case, sir," replied Jack; "as, for my own part, +I hardly know why I entered it." +</P> + +<P> +"To find a mare's nest, my lad; I've heard all about it; but never mind +that: the question is now about your leaving it, to look after your own +property, and I think I may venture to say, that I can arrange all that +matter at once, without referring to Admiral or captain. I will be +responsible for you, and you may go home in the packet, which sails on +Wednesday for England." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Sir Thomas, I am much obliged to you," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"You, Mr Gascoigne, I shall, of course, send out by the first +opportunity to rejoin your ship." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Sir Thomas, I am much obliged to you," replied Gascoigne, +making a bow. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll break no more arms, if you please, sir," continued the +Governor; "a man in love may have some excuse in breaking his leg, but +you had none." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon, sir; if Mr Easy was warranted in breaking his leg +out of love, I submit that I could do no less than break my arm out of +friendship." +</P> + +<P> +"Hold your tongue, sir, or I'll break your head from the very opposite +feeling," replied the Governor, good-humouredly. "But observe, young +man, I shall keep this affair secret, as in honour bound; but let me +advise you, as you have only your profession to look to, to follow it +up steadily. It is high time that you and Mr Easy were separated. He +is independent of the service, and you are not. A young man possessing +such ample means will never be fitted for the duties of a junior +officer. He can do no good for himself, and is certain to do much harm +to others: a continuance of his friendship would probably end in your +ruin, Mr Gascoigne. You must be aware, that if the greatest indulgence +had not been shown to Mr Easy by his captain and first lieutenant, he +never could have remained in the service so long as he has done." +</P> + +<P> +As the Governor made the last remark in rather a severe tone, our two +midshipmen were silent for a minute. At last Jack observed, very +quietly,— +</P> + +<P> +"And yet, sir, I think, considering all, I have behaved pretty well." +</P> + +<P> +"You have behaved very well, my good lad, on all occasions in which +your courage and conduct, as an officer, have been called forth. I +admit it; and had you been sent to sea with a mind properly regulated, +and without such an unlimited command of money, I have no doubt but +that you would have proved an ornament to the service. Even now I think +you would, if you were to remain in the service under proper guidance +and necessary restrictions, for you have, at least, learnt to obey, +which is absolutely necessary before you are fit to command. But +recollect, what your conduct would have brought upon you, if you had +not been under the parental care of Captain Wilson. But let us say no +more about that: a midshipman with the prospect of eight thousand +pounds a year is an anomaly which the service cannot admit, especially +when that midshipman is resolved to take to himself a wife." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope that you approve of that step, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"That entirely depends upon the merit of the party, which I know +nothing of, except that she has a pretty face, and is of one of the +best Sicilian families. I think the difference of religion a ground of +objection." +</P> + +<P> +"We will argue that point, sir," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps it will be the cause of more argument than you think for, Mr +Easy; but every man makes his own bed, and as he makes it, so must he +lie down in it." +</P> + +<P> +"What am I to do about Mesty, sir? I cannot bear the idea of parting +with him." +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid that you must; I cannot well interfere there." +</P> + +<P> +"He is of little use to the service, sir; he has been sent to sick +quarters as my servant: if he may be permitted to go home with me, I +will procure his discharge as soon as I arrive, and send him on board +the guard-ship till I obtain it." +</P> + +<P> +"I think that, on the whole, he is as well out of the service as in it, +and therefore I will, on consideration, take upon myself the +responsibility, provided you do as you say." +</P> + +<P> +The conversation was here ended, as the Governor had business to attend +to, and Jack and Gascoigne went to their rooms to make their +arrangements. +</P> + +<P> +"The Governor is right," observed Gascoigne; "it is better that we +part, Jack. You have half unfitted me for the service already; I have +a disgust of the midshipmen's berth; the very smell of pitch and tar +has become odious to me. This is all wrong; I must forget you and all +our pleasant cruises on shore, and once more swelter in my greasy +Jacket. When I think that, if our pretended accidents were discovered, +I should be dismissed the service, and the misery which that would +cause to my poor father, I tremble at my escape. The Governor is +right, Jack; we must part, but I hope you never will forget me." +</P> + +<P> +"My hand upon it, Ned. Command my interest, if ever I have any—my +money—what I have, and the house, whether it belongs to me or my +father—as far as you are concerned at least, I adhere to my notions of +perfect equality." +</P> + +<P> +"And abjure them, I trust, Jack, as a universal principle." +</P> + +<P> +"I admit, as the Governor asserts, that my father is as mad as a March +hare." +</P> + +<P> +"That is sufficient; you don't know how glad it makes me to hear you +say that." +</P> + +<P> +The two friends were inseparable during the short time that they +remained together. They talked over their future prospects, their +hopes and anticipations, and when the conversation flagged, Gascoigne +brought up the name of Agnes. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty's delight at leaving the service, and going home with his patron +was indescribable. He laid out a portion of his gold in a suit of +plain clothes, white linen shirts, and in every respect the wardrobe of +a man of fashion; in fact, he was now a complete gentleman's gentleman; +was very particular in frizzing his woolly hair—wore a white +neck-cloth, gloves, and cane. Every one felt inclined to laugh when he +made his appearance; but there was something in Mesty's look, which, at +all events, prevented their doing so before his face. The day for +sailing arrived. Jack took leave of the Governor, thanking him for his +great kindness, and stating his intention of taking Malta in his way +out to Palermo in a month or two. Gascoigne went on board with him, +and did not go down the vessel's side till it was more than a mile +clear of the harbour. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap35"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXV +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Mr Easy's wonderful invention fully explained by himself—much <BR> +to the satisfaction of our hero, and it is to be presumed to <BR> +that also of the reader. +</H4> + + +<P> +At last the packet anchored in Falmouth Roads. Jack, accompanied by +Mesty, was soon on shore with his luggage, threw himself into the mail, +arrived in London, and, waiting there two or three days, to obtain what +he considered necessary from a fashionable tailor, ordered a chaise to +Forest Hill. He had not written to his father to announce his arrival, +and it was late in the morning when the chaise drew up at his father's +door. +</P> + +<P> +Jack stepped out and rang the bell. The servants who opened the door +did not know him; they were not the same as those he left. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is Mr Easy?" demanded Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Who are you?" replied one of the men, in a gruff tone. +</P> + +<P> +"By de powers, you very soon find out who he is," observed Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"Stay here, and I'll see if he is at home." +</P> + +<P> +"Stay here? stay in the hall like a footman? What do you mean, you +rascal?" cried Jack, attempting to push by the man. +</P> + +<P> +"O, that won't do here, master; this is Equality Hall; one man's as +good as another." +</P> + +<P> +"Not always," replied Jack, knocking him down. "Take that for your +insolence, pack up your traps, and walk out of the house to-morrow +morning." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty, in the meantime, had seized the other by the throat. "What I do +with this fellow, Massa Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Leave him now, Mesty: we'll settle their account to-morrow morning. I +presume I shall find my father in the library." +</P> + +<P> +"His father!" said one of the men to the other; "he's not exactly a +chip off the old block." +</P> + +<P> +"We shall have a change, I expect," replied the other, as they walked +away. +</P> + +<P> +"Mesty," cried Jack, in an authoritative tone, "bring those two rascals +back to take the luggage out of the chaise; pay the position, and tell +the housekeeper to show you my room, and yours. Come to me for orders +as soon as you have done this." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Mesty. "Now come here, you d—n blackguard, and +take tings out of chaise, or by de holy poker I choak your luff, both +of you." +</P> + +<P> +The filed teeth, the savage look, and determination of Mesty, had the +due effect. The men sullenly returned, and unloaded the chaise. In the +meantime, Jack walked into his father's study; his father was +there—the study was lighted up with argand lamps, and Jack looked with +astonishment. Mr Easy was busy with a plaster cast of a human head, +which he pored over, so that he did not perceive the entrance of his +son. The cast of the skull was divided into many compartments, with +writing on each; but what most astonished our hero was the alteration +in the apartment. The book-cases and books had all been removed, and +in the centre, suspended from the ceiling, was an apparatus which would +have puzzled anyone, composed of rods in every direction, with screws +at the end of them, and also tubes in equal number, one of which +communicated with a large air-pump, which stood on a table. Jack took +a short survey, and then walked up to his father and accosted him. +</P> + +<P> +"What!" exclaimed Mr Easy, "is it possible?—yes, it is my son John! +I'm glad to see you, John,—very glad, indeed," continued the old +gentleman, shaking him by both hands—"very glad that you have come +home; I wanted you—wanted your assistance in my great and glorious +project, which, I thank Heaven, is now advancing rapidly. Very soon +shall equality and the rights of man be proclaimed everywhere. The +pressure from without is enormous, and the bulwarks of our ridiculous +and tyrannical constitution must give way. King, lords, and +aristocrats; landholders, tithe-collectors, church and state, thank +God, will soon be overthrown, and the golden age revived—the +millennium—the true millennium—not what your poor mother talked +about. I am at the head of twenty-nine societies, and if my health +lasts, you will see what I will accomplish now that I have your +assistance, Jack"; and Mr Easy's eyes sparkled and flashed in all the +brilliancy of incipient insanity. +</P> + +<P> +Jack sighed, and to turn the conversation he observed, "You have made a +great change in this room, sir. What may all this be for? Is it a +machine to improve equality and the rights of man?" +</P> + +<P> +"My dear son," replied Mr Easy, sitting down and crossing his legs +complacently, with his two hands under his right thigh, according to +his usual custom, when much pleased with himself,—"why, my dear son, +that is not exactly the case, and yet you have shown some degree of +perception even in your guess; for if my invention succeeds (and I have +no doubt of it), I shall have discovered the great art of rectifying +the mistakes of nature, and giving an equality of organisation to the +whole species, of introducing all the finer organs of humanity, and of +destroying the baser. It is a splendid invention, Jack, very splendid. +They may talk of Call and Spurzheim, and all those; but what have they +done? nothing but divided the brain into sections, classed the organs, +and discovered where they reside; but what good result has been gained +from that? the murderer by nature remained a murderer—the benevolent +man a benevolent man—he could not alter his organisation. I have +found out how to change all that." +</P> + +<P> +"Surely, sir, you would not interfere with the organ of benevolence." +</P> + +<P> +"But indeed I must, Jack. I, myself, am suffering from my organ of +benevolence being too large: I must reduce it, and then I shall be +capable of greater things, shall not be so terrified by difficulties, +shall overlook trifles, and only carry on great schemes for universal +equality and the supreme rights of man. I have put myself into that +machine every morning for two hours, for these last three months, and I +feel now that I am daily losing a great portion." +</P> + +<P> +"Will you do me the favour to explain an invention so extraordinary, +sir?" said our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Most willingly, my boy. You observe that in the centre there is a +frame to confine the human head, somewhat larger than the head itself, +and that the head rests upon the iron collar beneath. When the head is +thus firmly fixed, suppose I want to reduce the size of any particular +organ, I take the boss corresponding to where that organ is situated in +the cranium, and fix it on it. For you will observe that all the +bosses inside of the top of the frame correspond to the organs as +described in this plaster cast on the table. I then screw down pretty +tight, and increase the pressure daily, until the organ disappears +altogether, or is reduced to the size required." +</P> + +<P> +"I comprehend that part perfectly, sir," replied Jack; "but now explain +to me by what method you contrive to raise an organ which does not +previously exist." +</P> + +<P> +"That," replied Mr Easy, "is the greatest perfection of the whole +invention, for without I could do that, I could have done little. I +feel convinced that this invention of mine will immortalise me. Observe +all these little bell-glasses which communicate with the air-pump; I +shave my patient's head, grease it a little, and fix on the bell-glass, +which is exactly shaped to fit the organ in length and breadth. I work +the air-pump, and raise the organ by an exhausted receiver. It cannot +fail. There is my butler, now; a man who escaped hanging last spring +assizes on an undoubted charge of murder. I selected him on purpose; I +have flattened down murder to nothing, and I have raised benevolence +till it's like a wen." +</P> + +<P> +"I am afraid my poor father's head is an exhausted receiver," thought +Jack, who then replied, "Well, sir, if it succeeds it will be a good +invention." +</P> + +<P> +"If it succeeds!—why, it has succeeded—it cannot fail. It has cost +me near two thousand pounds. By-the-bye, Jack, you have drawn very +liberally lately, and I had some trouble, with my own expenses, to meet +your bills; not that I complain—but what with societies, and my +machine, and tenants refusing to pay their rents, on the principle that +the farms are no more mine than theirs, which I admit to be true, I +have had some difficulty in meeting all demands." +</P> + +<P> +"The Governor was right," thought Jack, who now inquired after Dr +Middleton. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, poor silly man! he's alive yet—I believe doing well. He is one +who will interfere with the business of others, complains of my +servants—very silly man indeed—but I let him have his own way. So I +did your poor mother. Silly woman, Mrs Easy—but never mind that." +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir, I have also a complaint to make of the servants +for their insolence to me: but we will adjourn, if you please, as I +wish to have some refreshment." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, Jack, if you are hungry; I will go with you. Complain of my +servants, say you?—there must be some mistake—they are all shaved, +and wear wigs, and I put them in the machine every other morning: but I +mean to make an alteration in one respect. You observe, Jack, it +requires more dignity: we must raise the whole machinery some feet, +ascend it with state as a throne, for it is the throne of reason, the +victory of mind over nature." +</P> + +<P> +"As you please, sir; but I am really hungry just now." Jack and +his father went into the drawing-room and rang the bell; not being +answered, Jack rose and rang again. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear sir," observed Mr Easy, "you must not be in a hurry; every man +naturally provides for his own wants first, and afterwards for those of +others. Now my servants—" +</P> + +<P> +"Are a set of insolent scoundrels, sir, and insolence I never permit. I +knocked one down as I entered your house, and, with your permission, I +will discharge two, at least, to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear son," exclaimed Mr Easy, "you knocked my servant down!—are +you not aware, by the laws of equality—" +</P> + +<P> +"I am aware of this, my dear father," replied Jack, "that by all the +laws of society we have a right to expect civility and obedience from +those we pay and feed." +</P> + +<P> +"Pay and feed! Why, my dear son,—my dear Jack,—you must recollect—" +</P> + +<P> +"I recollect, sir, very well; but if your servants do not come to their +recollection in a very short time, either I or they must quit the +house." +</P> + +<P> +"But, my dear boy, have you forgotten the principles I instilled into +you? Did you not go to sea to obtain that equality foiled by tyranny +and despotism here on shore? Do you not acknowledge and support my +philosophy?" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll argue that point to-morrow, sir—at present I want to obtain my +supper"; and Jack rang the bell furiously. +</P> + +<P> +The butler made his appearance at this last summons, and he was +followed by Mesty, who looked like a demon with anger. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy on me, whom have we here?" +</P> + +<P> +"My servant, father," exclaimed Jack, starting up; "one that I can +trust to, and who will obey me. Mesty, I wish some supper and wine to +be brought immediately—see that scoundrel gets it ready in a moment. +If he does not, throw him out of the door, and lock him out. You +understand me." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Massa," grinned Mesty; "now you hab supper very quick, or Mesty +know the reason why. Follow me, sar," cried Mesty, in an imperative +tone to the butler: "quick, sar, or by de holy poker, I show you what +Mesty can do;" and Mesty grinned in his wrath. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring supper and wine immediately," said Mr Easy, giving an order such +as the butler had never heard since he had been in the house. +</P> + +<P> +The butler quitted the room, followed by the Ashantee. "My dear boy—my +Jack—I can make every allowance for hunger, it is often the cause of +theft and crime in the present unnatural state of society—but really +you are too violent. The principles." +</P> + +<P> +"Your principles are all confounded nonsense, father," cried Jack, in a +rage. +</P> + +<P> +"What, Jack!—my son-what do I hear? This from you—nonsense! Why, +Jack, what has Captain Wilson been doing with you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Bringing me to my senses, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh dear! oh dear! my dear Jack, you will certainly make me lose mine." +</P> + +<P> +"Gone already," thought Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"That you, my child, so carefully brought up in the great and glorious +school of philosophy, should behave this way—should be so +violent—forget your sublime philosophy, and all—just like Esau, +selling your birthright for a mess of pottage. Oh, Jack, you'll kill +me! and yet I love you, Jack—whom else have I to love in this world? +Never mind, we'll argue the point, my boy—I'll convince you—in a week +all will be right again." +</P> + +<P> +"It shall, sir, if I can manage it," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"That's right, I love to hear you say so—that's consoling, very +consoling—but I think now, I was wrong to let you go to sea, Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed you were not, father." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'm glad to hear you say so: I thought they had ruined you, +destroyed all your philosophy—but it will be all right again—you +shall come to our societies, Jack—I am president—you shall hear me +speak, Jack—you shall hear me thunder like Demosthenes—but here comes +the tray." +</P> + +<P> +The butler, followed by Mesty, who attended him as if he was his +prisoner, now made his appearance with the tray, laid it down in a +sulky manner and retired. Jack desired Mesty to remain. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Mesty, how are they getting on in the servants' hall?" +</P> + +<P> +"Regular mutiny, sar—ab swear dat they no stand our nonsense, and dat +we both leave the house to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you hear, sir? your servants declare that I shall leave your house +to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"You leave my house, Jack, after four years' absence!—no, no. I'll +reason with them—I'll make them a speech. You don't know how I can +speak, Jack." +</P> + +<P> +"Look you, father, I cannot stand this; either give me a carte-blanche +to arrange this household as I please, or I shall quit it myself +to-morrow morning." +</P> + +<P> +"Quit my house, Jack! no, no—shake hands and make friends with them; +be civil, and they will serve you—but you know, upon the principles-" +</P> + +<P> +"Principles of the devil!" cried Jack, in a rage. +</P> + +<P> +"Of the devil, Jack; dear me! I wish you had never gone to sea." +</P> + +<P> +"In one word, sir, do you consent, or am I to leave the house?" +</P> + +<P> +"Leave the house! O no; not leave the house, Jack. I have no son but +you. Then do as you please—but you must not send away my murderer, +for I must have him cured, and shown as a proof of my wonderful +invention." +</P> + +<P> +"Mesty, get my pistols ready for to-morrow morning, and your own +too—do ye hear?" +</P> + +<P> +"All ready, massa," replied Mesty; "I tink dat right." +"Right!—pistols, Jack! What do you mean?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is possible, father, that you may not have yet quite cured your +murderer, and therefore it is as well to be prepared. I will now wish +you good-night; but, before I go, you will be pleased to summon one of +the servants, that he may inform the others that the household is under +my control for the future." +</P> + +<P> +The bell was again rung, and was this time answered with more +expedition. Jack told the servant, in presence of his father, that, +with the consent of the latter, he should hereafter take the whole +control of the establishment, and that Mesty would be the majordomo +from whom they would receive their orders. The man stared, and cast an +appealing look to Mr Easy, who hesitated, and at last said— +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, William; you'll apologise to all, and say that I have made the +arrangement." +</P> + +<P> +"You apologise to none, sir," cried Jack; "but tell them that I will +arrange the whole business to-morrow morning. Tell the woman to come +here and show me my bed-room. Mesty, get your supper and then come up +to me; if they dare to refuse you, recollect who does, and point them +out to-morrow morning. That will do, sir; away with you, and bring +flat candlesticks." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap36"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXVI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which Jack takes up the other side of the argument, <BR> +and proves that he can argue as well on one side as the other. +</H4> + +<P> +This scene may give some idea of the state of Mr Easy's household upon +our hero's arrival. The poor lunatic, for such we must call him, was +at the mercy of his servants, who robbed, laughed at, and neglected +him. The waste and expense were enormous. Our hero, who found how +matters stood, went to bed, and lay the best part of the night +resolving what to do. He determined to send for Dr Middleton, and +consult him. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning, Jack rose early; Mesty was in the room, with warm +water, as soon as he rang. +</P> + +<P> +"By de power, Massa Easy, your fader very silly old man." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid so," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"He not right here," observed Mesty, putting his fingers to his head. +</P> + +<P> +Jack sighed, and desired Mesty to send one of the grooms up to the +door. When the man knocked he desired him to mount a horse and ride +over to Dr Middleton, and request his immediate attendance. +</P> + +<P> +The man, who was really a good servant, replied, "Yes, sir," very +respectfully, and hastened away. +</P> + +<P> +Jack went down to breakfast, and found it all ready, but his father was +not in the room: he went to his study, and found him occupied, with the +carpenter, who was making a sort of a frame as the model of the +platform or dais, to be raised under the wonderful invention. Mr Easy +was so busy that he could not come to breakfast, so Jack took his +alone. An hour after this, Dr Middleton's carriage drove up to the +door. The Doctor heartily greeted our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear sir—for so I suppose I must now call you—I am heartily glad +that you have returned. I can assure you that it is not a moment too +soon." +</P> + +<P> +"I have found out that already, Doctor," replied Jack; "sit down. Have +you breakfasted?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I have not; for I was so anxious to see you, that I ordered my +carriage at once." +</P> + +<P> +"Then sit down, Doctor, and we will talk over matters quietly." +</P> + +<P> +"You of course perceive the state of your father. He has been some +time quite unfit to manage his own affairs." +</P> + +<P> +"So I am afraid." "What do you intend to do, then—put them in the +hands of trustees?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will be trustee for myself, Dr Middleton. I could not do the other +without submitting my poor father to a process, and confinement, which +I cannot think of." +</P> + +<P> +"I can assure you, that there are not many in Bedlam worse than he is; +but I perfectly agree with you; that is, if he will consent to your +taking charge of the property." +</P> + +<P> +"A power of attorney will be all that is requisite," replied Jack; +"that is, as soon as I have rid the house of the set of miscreants who +are in it; and who are now in open mutiny." +</P> + +<P> +"I think," replied the Doctor, "that you will have some trouble. You +know the character of the butler." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have it from my father's own mouth. I really should take it as +a great favour, Dr Middleton, if you could stay here a day or two. I +know that you have retired from practice." +</P> + +<P> +"I would have made the same offer, my young friend. I will come here +with two of my servants; for you must discharge these." +</P> + +<P> +"I have one of my own who is worth his weight in gold—that will be +sufficient. I will dismiss every man you think I ought; and as for the +women, we can give them warning, and replace them at leisure." +</P> + +<P> +"That is exactly what I should propose," replied the Doctor. "I will +now go, if you please; procure the assistance of a couple of +constables, and also of your father's former legal adviser, who shall +prepare a power of attorney." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Jack, "and we must then find out the tenants who refuse +to pay upon the principles of equality, and he shall serve them with +notice immediately." +</P> + +<P> +"I am rejoiced, my dear young friend, to perceive that your father's +absurd notions have not taken root." +</P> + +<P> +"They lasted some time, nevertheless, Doctor," replied Jack, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then, I will only quit you for an hour or two, and then, as you +wish it, will take up my quarters here as long as you find me useful." +</P> + +<P> +In the forenoon, Dr Middleton again made his appearance, accompanied by +Mr Hanson, the solicitor, bringing with him his portmanteau and his +servants. Mr Easy had come into the parlour, and was at breakfast when +they entered. He received them very coolly; but a little judicious +praise of the wonderful invention had its due effect; and after Jack +had reminded him of his promise that, in future, he was to control the +household, he was easily persuaded to sign the order for his so +doing—that is, the power of attorney. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Easy also gave up to Jack the key of his escritoire, and Mr Hanson +possessed himself of the books, papers, and receipts necessary to +ascertain the state of his affairs, and the rents which had not yet +been paid up. In the meantime the constables arrived. The servants +were all summoned; Mr Hanson showed them the power of attorney, +empowering Jack to act for his father, and, in less than half an hour +afterwards, all the men-servants, but two grooms, were dismissed; the +presence of the constables and Mesty prevented any resistance, but not +without various threats on the part of the butler, whose name was +O'Rourke. Thus, in twenty-four hours, Jack had made a reformation in +the household. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Easy took no notice of anything; he returned to his study and his +wonderful invention. Mesty had received the keys of the cellar, and +had now complete control over those who remained. Dr Middleton, Mr +Hanson, Mr Easy, and Jack, sat down to dinner, and everything wore the +appearance of order and comfort. Mr Easy ate very heartily, but said +nothing till after dinner, when as was his usual custom, he commenced +arguing upon the truth and soundness of his philosophy. +</P> + +<P> +"By-the-bye, my dear son, if I recollect right, you told me last night +that you were no longer of my opinion. Now, if you please, we will +argue this point." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll argue the point with all my heart, sir," replied Jack, "will you +begin?" +</P> + +<P> +"Let's fill our glasses," cried Mr Easy, triumphantly; "let's fill our +glasses, and then I will bring Jack back to the proper way of thinking. +Now then, my son, I trust you will not deny that we are all born equal." +</P> + +<P> +"I do deny it, sir," replied Jack; "I deny it in toto—deny it from the +evidence of our own senses, and from the authority of Scripture. To +suppose all men were born equal, is to suppose that they are equally +endowed with the same strength, and with the same capacity of mind, +which we know is not the case. I deny it from Scripture, from which I +could quote many passages; but I will restrict myself to one—the +parable of the Talents: 'To one he gave five talents, to another but +one,' holding them responsible for the trust reposed in them. We are +all intended to fill various situations in society, and are provided by +Heaven accordingly." +</P> + +<P> +"That may be," replied Mr Easy; "but that does not prove that the earth +was not intended to be equally distributed among all alike." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon; the proof that that was not the intention of +Providence, is that that equality, allowing it to be put in practice, +could never be maintained." +</P> + +<P> +"Not maintained!—no, because the strong oppress the weak, tyrants rise +up and conquer—men combine to do wrong." +</P> + +<P> +"Not so, my dear father; I say it could not be maintained without the +organisation of each individual had been equalised, and several other +points established. For instance, allowing that every man had, ab +origins, a certain portion of ground. He who was the strongest or the +cleverest would soon cause his to yield more than others would, and +thus the equality be destroyed. Again, if one couple had ten children +and another had none, then again would equality be broken in upon, as +the land that supports two in the one instance, would have to feed +twelve in the other. You perceive, therefore, that without rapine or +injustice, your equality could not be preserved." +</P> + +<P> +"But, Jack, allowing that there might be some diversity from such +causes, that would be a very different thing from the present monstrous +state of society, in which we have kings and lords, and people, rolling +in wealth, while others are in a state of pauperism, and obliged to +steal for their daily bread." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear father, I consider that it is to this inequality that society +owes its firmest cementation—that we are enabled to live in peace and +happiness, protected by just laws, each doing his duty in that state of +life to which he is called, rising above or sinking in the scale of +society according as he has been entrusted with the five talents or the +one. Equality can and does exist nowhere. We are told that it does +not exist in heaven itself—how can it exist upon earth?" +</P> + +<P> +"But that is only asserted, Jack, and it is not proof that it ought not +to exist." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us argue the point, father, coolly. Let us examine a little what +would be the effect if all was equality. Were all equal in beauty +there would be no beauty, for beauty is only by comparison—were all +equal in strength, conflicts would be interminable—were all equal in +rank, and power, and possessions, the greatest charms of existence +would be destroyed—generosity, gratitude, and half the finer virtues +would be unknown. The first principle of our religion, charity, could +not be practised—pity would never be called forth—benevolence, your +great organ, would be useless, and self-denial a blank letter. Were all +equal in ability, there would be no instruction, no talent, no +genius—nothing to admire, nothing to copy, to respect—nothing to +rouse emulation, or stimulate to praiseworthy ambition. Why, my dear +father, what an idle, unprofitable, weary world would this be, if it +were based on equality!" +</P> + +<P> +"But, allowing all that, Jack," replied Mr Easy, "and I will say you +argue well in a bad cause, why should the inequality be carried so +far—king and lords, for instance?" +</P> + +<P> +"The most lasting and imperishable form of building is that of the +pyramid, which defies ages, and to that may the most perfect form of +society be compared. It is based upon the many, and rising by degrees, +it becomes less as wealth, talent, and rank increase in the individual, +until it ends at the apex or monarch, above all. Yet each several +stone from the apex to the base is necessary for the preservation of +the structure, and fulfils its duty in its allotted place. Could you +prove that those at the summit possess the greatest share of happiness +in this world, then, indeed, you have a position to argue on; but it is +well known that such is not the case; and provided he is of a contented +mind, the peasant is more happy than the king, surrounded as the latter +is by cares and anxiety." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well argued, indeed, my dear sir," observed Dr Middleton. +</P> + +<P> +"But, my dear boy, there are other states of society than monarchy; we +have republics and despotisms." +</P> + +<P> +"We have, but how long do they last compared to the first? There is a +cycle in the changes which never varies. A monarchy may be overthrown +by a revolution, and republicanism succeed, but that is shortly +followed by despotism, till, after a time, monarchy succeeds again by +unanimous consent, as the most legitimate and equitable form of +government; but in none of these do you find a single advance to +equality. In a republic, those who govern are more powerful than the +rulers in a restricted monarchy—a president is greater than a king, +and next to a despot, whose will is law. Even in small societies you +find, that some will naturally take the lead and assume domination. We +commence the system at school, when we are first thrown into society, +and there we are taught systems of petty tyranny. There are some few +points in which we obtain equality in this world, and that equality can +only be obtained under a well-regulated form of society, and consists +in an equal administration of justice and of laws, to which we have +agreed to submit for the benefit of the whole—the equal right to live +and not be permitted to starve, which has been obtained in this +country. And when we are called to account, we shall have equal +justice. Now my dear father, you have my opinion." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my dear, this is all very well in the abstract; but how does it +work?" +</P> + +<P> +"It works well. The luxury, the pampered state, the idleness—if you +please, the wickedness—of the rich, all contribute to the support, the +comfort, and employment of the poor. You may behold extravagance,—it +is a vice; but that very extravagance circulates money, and the vice of +one contributes to the happiness of many. The only vice which is not +redeemed by producing commensurate good, is avarice. If all were equal, +there would be no arts, no manufactures, no industry, no employment. As +it is, the inequality of the distribution of wealth may be compared to +the heart, pouring forth the blood like a steam-engine through the +human frame, the same blood returning from the extremities by the +veins, to be again propelled, and keep up a healthy and vigorous +circulation." +</P> + +<P> +"Bravo, Jack!" said Dr Middleton. "Have you anything to reply, sir?" +continued he, addressing Mr Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"To reply, sir?" replied Mr Easy, with scorn; "why, he has not given me +half an argument yet: why that black servant even laughs at him—look +at him there showing his teeth. Can he forget the horrors of slavery? +can he forget the base unfeeling lash? No, sir, he has suffered, and +he can estimate the divine right of equality. Ask him now, ask him, if +you dare, Jack, whether he will admit the truth of your argument." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I'll ask him," replied Jack, "and I tell you candidly that he +was once one of your disciples. Mesty, what's your opinion of +equality?" +</P> + +<P> +"Equality, Massa Easy?" replied Mesty, pulling up his cravat; "I say +d—n equality, now I majordomo." +</P> + +<P> +"The rascal deserves to be a slave all his life." +</P> + +<P> +"True, I ab been slave—but I a prince in my own country. Massa Easy +tell how many skulls I have." +</P> + +<P> +"Skulls—skulls—do you know anything of the sublime science? Are you a +phrenologist?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know man's skull very well in Ashantee country, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"Then if you know that, you must be one. I had no idea that the science +had extended so far—maybe it was brought from thence. I will have +some talk with you to-morrow. This is very curious. Dr Middleton, is +it not?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very, indeed, Mr Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall feel his head to-morrow after breakfast, and if there is +anything wrong, I shall correct it with my machine. By-the-bye, I have +quite forgot, gentlemen; you will excuse me, but I wish to see what the +carpenter has done for me, and after that I shall attend the meeting of +the society. Jack, my boy, won't you come and hear my speech?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, sir, but I cannot well leave your friends." +</P> + +<P> +Mr Easy quitted the room. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you aware, my dear sir, that your father has opened his preserves +to all the poachers?" said Mr Hanson. +</P> + +<P> +"The devil he has!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he has allowed several gangs of gipsies to locate themselves in +his woods much to the annoyance of the neighbourhood, who suffer from +their depredations," continued Dr Middleton. +</P> + +<P> +"I find, by the receipts and books, that there is nearly two years +rental of the estate due; some tenants have paid up in full, others not +for four years. I reckon fourteen thousand pounds still in arrear." +</P> + +<P> +"You will oblige me by taking immediate steps, Mr Hanson, for the +recovery of the sums due." +</P> + +<P> +"Most certainly, Mr John. I trust your father will not commit himself +to-night as he has done lately." +</P> + +<P> +When they rose to retire, Dr Middleton took out, hero by the hand. "You +do not know, my dear fellow, what pleasure it gives me to find that, in +spite of the doting of your mother and the madness of your father, you +have turned out so well. It is very fortunate that you have come home; +I trust you will now give up the profession." +</P> + +<P> +"I have given it up, sir; which, by-the-bye, reminds me that I have not +applied for either my discharge or that of my servant; but I cannot +spare time yet, so I shall not report myself." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap37"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXVII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero finds himself an orphan, and resolves <BR> +to go to sea again without the smallest idea of equality. +</H4> + +<P> +The next morning, when they met at breakfast, Mr Easy did not make his +appearance, and Jack inquired of Mesty where he was. +</P> + +<P> +"They say down below that the old gentleman not come home last night." +</P> + +<P> +"Did not come home!" said Dr Middleton; "this must be looked to." +</P> + +<P> +"He great rascal, dat butler man," said Mesty to Jack; "but de old +gentleman not sleep in his bed, dat for sure." +</P> + +<P> +"Make enquiries when he went out," said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope no accident has happened," observed Mr Hanson; "but his company +has lately been very strange." +</P> + +<P> +"Nobody see him go out, sar, last night," reported Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"Very likely he is in his study," observed Dr Middleton; "he may have +remained all night, fast asleep, by his wonderful invention." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go and see," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton accompanied him, and Mesty followed. They opened the +door, and beheld a spectacle which made them recoil with horror. There +was Mr Easy, with his head in the machine, the platform below fallen +from under him, hanging, with his toes just touching the ground. Dr +Middleton hastened to him, and, assisted by Mesty and our hero, took +him out of the steel collar which was round his neck: but life had been +extinct for many hours, and, on examination, it was found that the poor +old gentleman's neck was dislocated. +</P> + +<P> +It was surmised that the accident must have taken place the evening +before, and it was easy to account for it. Mr Easy, who had had the +machine raised four feet higher, for the platform and steps to be +placed underneath, must have mounted on the frame modelled by the +carpenter for his work, and have fixed his head in, for the knob was +pressed on his bump of benevolence. The framework, hastily put +together with a few short nails, had given way with his weight, and the +sudden fall had dislocated his neck. +</P> + +<P> +Mr Hanson led away our hero, who was much shocked at this unfortunate +and tragical end of his poor father, while Dr Middleton ordered the +body to be taken up into a bed-room, and immediately despatched a +messenger to the coroner of the county. Poor Mr Easy had told his son +but the day before, that he felt convinced that this wonderful +invention would immortalise him, and so it had, although not exactly in +the sense that he anticipated. +</P> + +<P> +We must pass over the few days of sorrow, and closed shutters, which +always are given to these scenes. The coroner's inquest and the +funeral over, daylight was again admitted, our hero's spirits revived, +and he found himself in possession of a splendid property, and his own +master. +</P> + +<P> +He was not of age, it is true, for he wanted nine months; but on +opening the will of his father, he found that Dr Middleton was his sole +guardian. Mr Hanson, on examining and collecting the papers, which +were in the greatest confusion, discovered bank-notes in different +corners, and huddled up with bills and receipts, to the amount of two +thousand pounds, and further, a cheque signed by Captain Wilson on his +banker, for the thousand pounds advanced by Mr Easy, dated more than +fifteen months back. +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton wrote to the Admiralty, informing them that family affairs +necessitated Mr John Easy, who had been left at sick quarters, to leave +his Majesty's service, requesting his discharge from it forthwith. The +Admiralty were graciously pleased to grant the request, and lose the +services of a midshipman. The Admiralty were also pleased to grant the +discharge of Mesty, on the sum required for a substitute being paid in. +</P> + +<P> +The gipsies were routed out of their abodes, and sent once more to +wander. The gamekeepers were restored, the preserves cleared of all +poachers, and the gentry of the country were not a little pleased at +Jack's succession, for they had wished that Mr Easy's neck had been +broken long ago. The societies were dissolved, since, now that Mr Easy +no longer paid for the beer, there was nothing to meet for. Cards and +compliments were sent from all parts of the county, and every one was +anxious that our hero should come of age, as then he would be able to +marry, to give dinners, subscribe to the foxhounds, and live as a +gentleman ought to do. +</P> + +<P> +But during all these speculations, Jack had made Dr Middleton +acquainted with the history of his amour with Agnes de Rebiera, and all +particulars connected therewith, also with his determination to go out +to bring her home as his wife. Dr Middleton saw no objection to the +match, and he perceived that our hero was sincere. And Jack had made +inquiries when the packet would sail for Malta, when Mesty, who stood +behind his chair, observed,— +</P> + +<P> +"Packet bad vessel, Massa Easy. Why not go out in man-of-war?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," replied Jack; "but you know, Mesty, that is not so easy." +</P> + +<P> +"And den how come home, sar? Suppose you and Missy Agnes taken +prisoner—put in prison?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," replied Jack; "and as for a passage home in a man-of-war, +that will be more difficult still." +</P> + +<P> +"Den I tink, sar, suppose you buy one fine vessel—plenty of guns—take +out letter of marque—plenty of men, and bring Missy Agnes home like a +lady. You captain of your own ship." +</P> + +<P> +"That deserves consideration, Mesty," replied Jack, who thought of it +during that night: and the next day resolved to follow Mesty's advice. +The Portsmouth paper lay on the breakfast-table. Jack took it up, and +his eye was caught by an advertisement for the sale of the Joan d'Arc, +prize to H.M. ship Thetis, brigantine of 278 tons, copper-bottomed, +armed, en flutes with all her stores, spars, sails, running and +standing rigging, then lying in the harbour of Portsmouth, to take +place on the following Wednesday. +</P> + +<P> +Jack rang the bell, and ordered post-horses. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are you going, my dear boy?" inquired Dr Middleton. +</P> + +<P> +"To Portsmouth, Doctor." +</P> + +<P> +"And pray what for, if not an impertinent question?" +</P> + +<P> +Jack then gave Dr Middleton an insight into his plan, and requested +that he would allow him to do so, as there was plenty of ready money. +</P> + +<P> +"But the expense will be enormous." +</P> + +<P> +"It will be heavy, sir, I grant; but I have calculated it pretty +nearly, and I shall not spend at the rate of more than my income. +Besides, as letter of marque, I shall have the right of capture; in +fact, I mean to take out a privateer's regular licence." +</P> + +<P> +"But not to remain there and cruise?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, upon my honour; I am too anxious to get home again. You must not +refuse me, my dear guardian." +</P> + +<P> +"As a lady is in the case, I will not, my dear boy; but be careful what +you are about." +</P> + +<P> +"Never fear, sir, I will be back in four months, at the farthest; but I +must now set off and ascertain if the vessel answers the description +given in the advertisement." +</P> + +<P> +Jack threw himself into the chariot. Mesty mounted into the rumble, +and in two hours they were at Portsmouth; went to the agent, viewed the +vessel, which proved to be a very fine fast-sailing craft, well found, +with six brass carronades on each side. The cabins were handsome, +fitted up with bird's-eye maple, and gilt mouldings. +</P> + +<P> +This will do, thought Jack: a couple of long brass nines, forty men and +six boys, and she will be just the thing we require. So Mesty and Jack +went on shore again, and returned to Forest Hill to dinner, when he +desired Mr Hanson to set off for Portsmouth, and bid at the sale for +the vessel, as he wished to purchase her. This was Monday, and on +Wednesday Mr Hanson purchased her, as she stood, for 1,750 pounds, +which was considered about half her value. +</P> + +<P> +Dr Middleton had, in the meantime, been thinking very seriously of +Jack's project. He could see no objection to it, provided that he was +steady and prudent, but in both these qualities Jack had not exactly +been tried. He therefore determined to look out for some steady naval +lieutenant, and make it a sine qua non that our hero should be +accompanied by him, and that he should go out as sailing-master. Now +that the vessel was purchased, he informed Jack of his wish; indeed, as +Dr Middleton observed, his duty as guardian demanded this precaution, +and our hero, who felt very grateful to Dr Middleton, immediately +acquiesced. +</P> + +<P> +"And, by-the-bye, Doctor, see that he is a good navigator; for although +I can fudge a day's work pretty well, latterly I have been out of +practice." +</P> + +<P> +Everyone was now busy: Jack and Mesty at Portsmouth, fitting out the +vessel, and offering three guineas ahead to the crimps for every good +able seaman—Mr Hanson obtaining the English register, and the letters +of licence, and Dr Middleton in search of a good naval dry-nurse. Jack +found time to write to Don Philip and Agnes, apprising them of the +death of his father, and his intentions. +</P> + +<P> +In about six weeks all was ready, and the brigantine, which had taken +out her British register and licence under the name of the Rebiera, +went out of harbour, and anchored at Spithead. Dr Middleton had +procured, as he thought, a very fit person to sail with Jack, and our +hero and Mesty embarked, wishing the Doctor and Solicitor good-bye, and +leaving them nothing to do but to pay the bills. +</P> + +<P> +The person selected by Dr Middleton, by the advice of an old friend of +his, a purser in the navy, who lived at Southsea, was a Lieutenant +Oxbelly, who, with the ship's company, which had been collected, +received our hero as their captain and owner upon his arrival on board. +There certainly was no small contrast between our hero's active slight +figure and handsome person, set off with a blue coat, something like +the present yacht-club uniform, and that of his second in command, who +waddled to the side to receive him. He was a very short man, with an +uncommon protuberance of stomach, with shoulders and arms too short for +his body, and hands much too large, more like the paws of a Polar bear +than anything else. He wore trousers, shoes, and buckles. On his head +was a foraging cap, which, when he took it off, showed that he was +quite bald. His age might be about fifty-five or sixty; his complexion +florid, no whiskers, and little beard, nose straight, lips thin, teeth +black with chewing, and always a little brown dribble from the left +corner of his mouth (there was a leak there, he said). Altogether his +countenance was prepossessing, for it was honest and manly, but his +waist was preposterous. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady enough," thought Jack, as he returned Mr Oxbelly's salute. +</P> + +<P> +"How do you do, sir?" said Jack; "I trust we shall be good shipmates," +for Jack had not seen him before. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy," replied the lieutenant, "I never quarrel with anyone, except +(I won't tell a story) with my wife." +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry that you have ever domestic dissensions, Mr Oxbelly." +</P> + +<P> +"And I only quarrel with her at night, sir. She will take up more than +her share of the bed, and won't allow me to sleep single; but never +mind that, sir; now will you please to muster the men?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, Mr Oxbelly." +</P> + +<P> +The men were mustered, and Jack made them a long speech upon +subordination, discipline, activity, duty, and so forth. +</P> + +<P> +"A very good speech, Mr Easy," said Mr Oxbelly, as the men went +forward; "I wish my wife had heard it. But, sir, if you please, we'll +now get under way as fast as we can, for there is a Channel cruiser +working up at St Helen's, and we may give him the go-by by running +through the Needles." +</P> + +<P> +"But what need we care for the Channel cruiser?" +</P> + +<P> +"You forget, sir, that as soon as she drops her anchor she will come on +board and take a fancy to at least ten of our men." +</P> + +<P> +"But they are protected." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, but that's no protection, now-a-days. I have sailed in a +privateer at least three years, and I know that they have no respect +for letters of marque or for privateers." +</P> + +<P> +"I believe you are right, Mr Oxbelly; so, if you please, we will up +with the anchor at once." +</P> + +<P> +The crew of the Rebiera had been well chosen; they were prime +men-of-war's men, most of whom had deserted from the various ships on +the station, and, of course, were most anxious to be off. In a few +minutes the Rebiera was under way with all sail set below and aloft. +She was in excellent trim and flew through the water; the wind was +fair, and by night they had passed Portland Lights, and the next +morning were steering a course for the Bay of Biscay without having +encountered what they feared more than an enemy,—a British cruiser to +overhaul them. +</P> + +<P> +"I think we shall do now, sir," observed Mr Oxbelly to our hero; "we +have made a famous run. It's twelve o'clock, and if you please I'll +work the latitude, and let you know what it is. We must shape our +course so as not to run in with the Brest squadron. A little more +westing, sir. I'll be up in one minute. My wife—but I'll tell you +about that when I come up." +</P> + +<P> +"Latitude 41 degs 12 min, sir. I was about to say that my wife, when +she was on board of the privateer that I commanded—" +</P> + +<P> +"Board of the privateer, Mr Oxbelly?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, would go; told her it was impossible, but she wouldn't +listen to reason—came on board, flopped herself into the standing +bed-place, and said that there she was for the cruise—little Billy +with her—" +</P> + +<P> +"What! your child, too?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, two years old—fine boy—always laughed when the guns were fired, +while his mother stood on the ladder and held him on the top of the +booby-hatch." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder that Mrs Oxbelly let you come here now?" +</P> + +<P> +"So you would, sir, but I'll explain that—she thinks I'm in London +about my half-pay. She knows all by this time, and frets, I don't +doubt; but that will make her thin, and then there will be more room in +the bed. Mrs Oxbelly is a very stout woman." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, you are not a little man!" +</P> + +<P> +"No, not little—tending to be lusty, as the saying is—that is, in +good condition. It's very strange that Mrs Oxbelly has an idea that +she is not large. I cannot persuade her to it. That's the reason we +always spar in bed. She says it is I, and I know that it is she who +takes the largest share of it." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps you may both be right." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no; it is she who creates all the disturbance. If I get nearer to +the wall she jams me up till I am as thin as a thread paper. If I put +her inside and stay outside, she cuts me out as you do a cask, by the +chime, till I tumble out of bed." +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you make your bed larger, Mr Oxbelly?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sir, I have proposed it, but my wife will have it that the bed is +large enough if I would not toss in my sleep. I can't convince her. +However, she'll have it all to herself now. I slept well last night, +for the first time since I left the Boadicea." +</P> + +<P> +"The Boadicea?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, I was second lieutenant of the Boadicea for three years." +</P> + +<P> +"She's a fine frigate, I'm told." +</P> + +<P> +"On the contrary, such a pinched-up little craft below I never saw. +Why, Mr Easy, I could hardly get into the door of my cabin—and yet, as +you must see, I'm not a large man." +</P> + +<P> +"Good heavens! is it possible," thought Jack, "that this man does not +really know that he is monstrous?" +</P> + +<P> +Yet such was the case. Mr Oxbelly had no idea that he was otherwise +than in good condition, although he had probably not seen his knees for +years. It was his obesity that was the great objection to him, for in +every other point there was nothing against him. He had, upon one +pretence and another, been shifted, by the manoeuvres of the captains, +out of different ships, until he went up to the Admiralty to know if +there was any charge against him. The first lord at once perceived the +charge to be preferred, and made a mark against his name as not fit for +anything but harbour duty. Out of employment, he had taken the command +of a privateer cutter, when his wife, who was excessively fond, would, +as he said, follow him with little Billy. He was sober, steady, knew +his duty well; but he weighed twenty-six stone, and his weight had +swamped him in the service. +</P> + +<P> +His wish, long indulged, had become, as Shakespeare says, the father of +his thoughts and he had really at last brought himself to think that he +was not by any means what could be considered a fat man. His wife, as +he said, was also a very stout woman, and this exuberance of flesh on +both sides, was the only, but continual, ground of dispute. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap38"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXVIII +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which our hero, as usual, gets into the very middle of it. +</H4> + +<P> +On the eleventh day the Rebiera entered the straits, and the rock of +Gibraltar was in sight as the sun went down; after which the wind fell +light, and about midnight it became calm, and they drifted up. At +sunrise they were roused by the report of heavy guns, and perceived an +English frigate about eight miles further up the straits, and more in +the mid-channel, engaging nine or ten Spanish gun-boats, which had come +out from Algesiras to attack her. It still continued a dead calm, and +the boats of the frigate were all ahead towing her, so as to bring her +broadside to bear upon the Spanish flotilla. The reverberating of the +heavy cannon on both sides over the placid surface of the water—the +white smoke ascending as the sun rose in brilliancy in a clear blue +sky—the distant echoes repeated from the high hills—had a very +beautiful effect for those who are partial to the picturesque. But Jack +thought it advisable to prepare for action instead of watching for +tints—and, in a short time, all was ready. +</P> + +<P> +"They'll not come to us, Mr Easy, as long as they have the frigate to +hammer at; but still we had better be prepared, for we cannot well pass +them without having a few shot. When I came up the straits in the +privateer we were attacked by two and fought them for three hours; +their shot dashed the water over our decks till they were wet fore and +aft, but somehow or another they never hit us—we were as low as they +were. I'll be bound but they'll hull the frigate though. Mrs Oxbelly +and Billy were on deck the whole time—and Billy was quite delighted, +and cried when they took him down to breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Mrs Oxbelly must be very courageous." +</P> + +<P> +"Cares neither for shot nor shell, sir—laughs when they whiz over her +head, and tells Billy to hark. But, sir, it's not surprising; her +father is a major, and her two brothers are lieutenants in the +bombardiers." +</P> + +<P> +"That, indeed," replied Jack—"but, see, there is a breeze springing up +from the westward."— +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mr Easy, and a steady one it will be, for it comes up dark +and slow; so much the better for the frigate, for she'll get little +honour and plenty of mauling at this work." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope we shall take it up with us," observed Jack; "how far do you +reckon the gun-boats from the shore?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should think about five miles, or rather less." +</P> + +<P> +"Trim sails, Mr Oxbelly—perhaps we may cut one or two of these +off—steer in-shore of them." +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly. Up there, my lads, set top-gallant studding sails, topmast +studdings to hand—rig out the booms—keep as you go now, my lads—we +shall be well in-shore of them, and out of the range of the batteries." +</P> + +<P> +The breeze came down fresh, and all sail was set upon the Rebiera. She +took the wind down with her, and it passed her but little—half a mile +ahead of them all was still and smooth as a glass mirror, and they +neared and gained in-shore at the same time. The gun-boats were still +engaging the frigate, and did not appear to pay any attention to the +Rebiera coming down. At last the breeze reached them and the frigate, +light at first and then gradually increasing, while the Rebiera foamed +through the water, and had now every chance of cutting off some of the +gun-boats. The frigate trimmed her sails and steered towards the +flotilla, which now thought proper to haul off and put their heads +in-shore, followed by the frigate firing her bow-chasers. But the +Rebiera was now within half gun-shot in-shore, and steering so as to +intercept them. As she rapidly closed, the flotilla scarcely knew how +to act; to attack her would be to lose time, and allow the frigate to +come up and occasion their own capture; so they satisfied themselves +with firing at her as she continued to run down between them and the +land. As they neared, Jack opened his fire with his eighteen-pound +carronades and long nines. The gun-boats returned his fire, and they +were within a quarter of a mile, when Jack shortened sail to his +topsails, and a warm engagement took place, which ended in one of the +gun-boats being, in a few minutes, dismasted. The frigate, under all +canvas, came rapidly up, and her shot now fell thick. The flotilla +then ceased firing, passing about two cables length ahead of the +Rebiera, and making all possible sail for the land. Jack now fired at +the flotilla as they passed, with his larboard broadside, while with +his starboard he poured in grape and canister upon the unfortunate +gun-boat which was dismasted, and, which soon hauled down her colours. +In a few minutes more the remainder were too far distant for the +carronades, and, as they did not fire, Jack turned his attention to +take possession of his prize, sending a boat with ten men on board, and +heaving-to close to her to take her in tow. Ten minutes more and the +frigate was also hove-to a cable's length from the Rebiera, and our +hero lowered down his other quarter-boat to go on board. +</P> + +<P> +"Have we any men hurt, Mr Oxbelly?" inquired Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Only two; Spearling has lost his thumb with a piece of langrage, and +James has a bad wound in the thigh." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well; I will ask for the surgeon to come on board." Jack pulled +to the frigate, and went up the side, touched his hat in due form, and +was introduced by the midshipmen to the other side, where the captain +stood. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Easy!" exclaimed the captain. "Captain Sawbridge!" replied our +hero, with surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Good heavens! what brought you here?" said the captain; "and what +vessel is that?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Rebiera, letter of marque, commanded and owned by Mr Easy," +replied Jack, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +Captain Sawbridge gave him his hand. "Come down with me into the +cabin, Mr Easy; I am very glad to see you. Give you great credit for +your conduct, and am still more anxious to know what has induced you to +come out again. I knew that you had left the service." +</P> + +<P> +Jack, in a very few words, told his object in fitting out the Rebiera; +"but," continued Jack, "allow me to congratulate you upon your +promotion, which I was not aware of. May I ask where you left the +Harpy, and what is the name of your frigate?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Latona. I have only been appointed to her one month, after an +action in which the Harpy took a large corvette, and am ordered home +with despatches to England. We sailed yesterday evening from +Gibraltar, were becalmed the whole night, and attacked this morning by +the gun-boats." +</P> + +<P> +"How is Captain Wilson, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe he is very well, but I have not seen him." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you know, then, that I had left the service, Captain +Sawbridge?" +</P> + +<P> +"From Mr Gascoigne, who is now on board." +</P> + +<P> +"Gascoigne!" exclaimed our hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, he was sent up to join the Aurora by the governor, but she had +left the fleet, and having served his time, and a passing day being +ordered, he passed, and thought he might as well go home with me and +see if he could make any interest for his promotion." +</P> + +<P> +"Pray, Captain Sawbridge, is the gun-boat our prize or yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"It ought to be wholly yours; but the fact is, by the regulations, we +share." +</P> + +<P> +"With all my heart, sir. Will you send an assistant-surgeon on board +to look after two of my men who are hurt?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, directly; now send your boat away, Easy, with directions to your +officer in command. We must go back to Gibraltar, for we have received +some injury, and, I am sorry to say, lost some men. You are going +then, I presume, to stay on board and dine with me: we shall be at +anchor before night." +</P> + +<P> +"I will with pleasure, sir. But now I will send my boat away and shake +hands with Gascoigne." +</P> + +<P> +Gascoigne was under the half-deck waiting to receive his friend, for he +had seen him come up the side from his station on the forecastle. A +hurried conversation took place, after our hero had dismissed his boat +with the assistant-surgeon in it to dress the two wounded men. Jack +then went on deck, talked with the officers, looked with pleasure at +the Rebiera with the gun-boat in tow, keeping company with the frigate, +although only under the same canvas—promised Gascoigne to spend the +next day with him either on shore or on board the Rebiera, and then +returned to the cabin, where he had a long conference with Captain +Sawbridge. +</P> + +<P> +"When you first entered the service, Easy," said Captain Sawbridge, "I +thought that the sooner the service was rid of you the better: now that +you have left it, I feel that it has lost one who, in all probability, +would have proved a credit to it." +</P> + +<P> +"Many thanks, sir," replied Jack; "but how can I be a midshipman with +eight thousand pounds a year?" +</P> + +<P> +"I agree with you that it is impossible:—but dinner is serving: go +into the after-cabin and the steward will give you all you require." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero, whose face and hands were not a little grimed with the +gunpowder, washed himself, combed out his curly black hair, and found +all the party in the fore-cabin. Gascoigne, who had not been asked in +the forenoon, was, by the consideration of Captain Sawbridge, added to +the number. Before dinner was long off the table, the first lieutenant +reported that it was necessary to turn the hands up, as they were close +to the anchorage. The party, therefore, broke up sooner than otherwise +would have been the case; and as soon as the Latona's sails were +furled, Captain Sawbridge went on shore to acquaint the governor with +the results of the action. He asked Jack to accompany him, but our +hero, wishing to be with Gascoigne, excused himself until the next day. +</P> + +<P> +"And now, Easy," said Gascoigne, as soon as the captain had gone over +the side, "I will ask permission to go on board with you—or will you +ask?" +</P> + +<P> +"I will ask," replied Jack; "a gentleman of fortune has more weight +with a first lieutenant than a midshipman." +</P> + +<P> +So Jack went up to the first lieutenant, and with one of his polite +bows, hoped, "if duty would permit, he would honour him by coming on +board that evening with some of his officers, to see the Rebiera and to +drink a bottle or two of champagne." +</P> + +<P> +The first lieutenant, as the Rebiera was anchored not two cables +lengths from him, replied, "that as soon as he had shifted the +prisoners and secured the gun-boat, he would be very glad": so did +three or four more of the officers, and then Jack begged as a favour, +that his old friend, Mr Gascoigne, might be permitted to go with him +now, as he had important packages to entrust to his care to England. +The first lieutenant was very willing, and Gascoigne and our hero +jumped into the boat, and were once more in all the confidence of tried +and deserved friendship. +</P> + +<P> +"Jack, I've been thinking of it, and I've made up my mind," said +Gascoigne. "I shall gain little or nothing by going home for my +promotion: I may as well stay here, and as I have served my time and +passed, my pay is now of little consequence. Will you take me with +you?" +</P> + +<P> +"It was exactly what I was thinking of, Ned. Do you think that Captain +Sawbridge will consent?" +</P> + +<P> +"I do: he knows how I am circumstanced, and that my going home was +merely because I was tired of looking after the Aurora." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll go together and ask him to-morrow," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"At all events, you'll have a more gentlemanly companion than Mr +Oxbelly." +</P> + +<P> +"But not so steady, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +The first lieutenant and officers came on board, and passed a merry +evening. There's nothing passes time more agreeably away than +champagne, and if you do not affront this regal wine by mixing him with +any other, he never punishes you the next morning. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap39"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXIX +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +A council of war, in which Jack decides <BR> +that he will have one more cruise. +</H4> + +<P> +As Captain Sawbridge did not return on board that evening, Easy went on +shore and called upon him at the governor's, to whom he was introduced, +and received an invitation to dine with him. As Gascoigne could not +come on shore, our hero took this opportunity of making his request to +Captain Sawbridge, stating that the person he had with him was not such +as he wished and could confide everything to; that is, not one to whom +he could talk about Agnes. Jack, as he found that Captain Sawbridge +did not immediately assent, pressed the matter hard: at last Captain +Sawbridge, who reflected that Gascoigne's interest hereafter would be +much greater through his friend Easy, than any other quarter, and that +the more the friendship was cemented the more advantageous it might +prove to Gascoigne, gave his consent to our hero's wish, who called on +board of the Latona to acquaint Gascoigne and the first lieutenant of +Captain Sawbridge's intentions, and then went on board of the Rebiera +and ordered Mesty to come with his portmanteau on shore to the inn, +that he might dress for dinner. Gascoigne, now considered as not +belonging to the Latona, was permitted to accompany him: and Jack found +himself looking out of the window at which he had hung out his trousers +upon the memorable occasion when the boatswain had to follow his own +precept, of duty before decency. +</P> + +<P> +"What scenes of adventures I have passed through since that," thought +Jack; "not much more than four years ago, then not three weeks in the +service." Whereupon Jack fell into a deep reverie, and thought of the +baboon and of Agnes. +</P> + +<P> +The repairs of the Latona were all made good by the next day, and +Gascoigne, having received his discharge ticket, went on board of the +Rebiera. The gun-boat was put into the hands of the agent, and shortly +afterwards purchased by government. The Rebiera's crew did not, +however, obtain their prize-money and share of the head-money, for she +had seventy men on board, until their return, but, as they said, they +had broken the ice and that was everything. Moreover, it gave them +confidence in themselves, in their vessel, and in their commander. Our +hero weighed a short time after the Latona, having first taken leave of +Captain Sawbridge, and committed to his care a letter to Dr Middleton. +</P> + +<P> +Once more behold the trio together,—the two midshipmen hanging over +the taffrail, and Mesty standing by them. They had rounded Europa +Point, and, with a fine breeze off the land, were lying close-hauled +along the Spanish shore. Mr Oxbelly was also walking near them. +</P> + +<P> +"When I was cruising here it was very different," observed Jack: "I had +a vessel which I did not know how to manage, a crew which I could not +command, and had it not been for Mesty, what would have become of me!" +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, you know very well how to get out of scrapes, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and how to get into them," continued Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"And how to get others out of them, too, Ned." +</P> + +<P> +"'No more of that, Hal, an thou lovest me'," quoted Gascoigne. "I have +often wondered what has been the lot of poor Azar." +</P> + +<P> +"The lot of most women, Ned, in every country—prized at first, +neglected afterwards—the lot she might have had with you." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps so," replied Ned, with a sigh. +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, you get eberybody out of scrape; you get me out of scrape." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not recollect how, Mesty." +</P> + +<P> +"You get me out from boil kettle for young gentlemen—dat devil of a +scrape." +</P> + +<P> +"And I'm sure I've got you out of a scrape, Mr Oxbelly." +</P> + +<P> +"How so. Mr Easy?" "How so!—have I not prevented your quarrelling +with your wife every night?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, sir, you have been the means. But do you know when we were +engaging the other day, I could not help saying to myself, I wish my +wife was here now, holding little Billy at the hatchway." +</P> + +<P> +"But at night, Mr Oxbelly." +</P> + +<P> +"At night!—why, then I'm afraid I should have wished her home +again—it's astonishing how comfortable I sleep now every night. +Besides, in this climate it would be intolerable. Mrs Oxbelly is a +very large woman—very large indeed." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, but now we must hold a council of war. Are we to run up the +coast, or to shape a course direct for Palermo?" +</P> + +<P> +"Course direct, and we shall take nothing, that is certain," said +Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"If we take nothing we shall make no prize-money," continued Oxbelly. +</P> + +<P> +"If we make no prize-money the men will be discontented," said Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"If no ab noting to do—it will be d——d 'tupid," continued Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +"Now then the other side of the question. If we steer for Palermo, we +shall be sooner there and sooner home." +</P> + +<P> +"To which I reply," said Gascoigne, "that the shorter the cruise is, +the less I shall have of your company." +</P> + +<P> +"And I shall have to sleep with Mrs Oxbelly," continued Oxbelly. +</P> + +<P> +"Hab fine ship, fine gun, fine men, and do noting," cried Mesty. "By de +power, I no like dat, Massa Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"You want eight months of coming of age, Jack," observed Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"It won't make a difference of more than three or four weeks," said Mr +Oxbelly; "and the expenses have been very great." +</P> + +<P> +"But—" +</P> + +<P> +"But what, Jack?" +</P> + +<P> +"Agnes." +</P> + +<P> +"Agnes will be better defended going home by men who have been +accustomed to be in action. And, as for her waiting a little longer, +it will only make her love you a little more." +</P> + +<P> +"Sleep single a little longer, Mr Easy, it's very pleasant," said Mr +Oxbelly. +</P> + +<P> +"That's not very bad advice of yours," observed Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a little, Massa Easy," said Mesty, "you know dat very good +advice." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, then," replied Jack, "I will, as I am quite in the minority. We +will work up the whole coast—up to Toulon. After all, there's +something very pleasant in commanding your own ship, and I'm not in a +hurry to resign it—so that point's decided." +</P> + +<P> +The Rebiera was steered into the land, and at sunset they were not four +miles from the lofty blue mountains which overhang the town of Malaga. +There were many vessels lying at the bottom of the bay, close in with +the town; the wind now fell light, and the Rebiera, as she could not +fetch the town, tacked as if she were a merchant vessel standing in, +and showed American colours, a hint which they took from perceiving +three or four large vessels lying in the outer roads, with the colours +of that nation hoisted at the peak. +</P> + +<P> +"What is your intention, Jack?" said Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll be hanged if I know yet. I think of working up to the outer +roads, and anchoring at night—boarding the American vessels, and +gaining intelligence." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bad idea; we shall then learn if there is anything to be done, +and if not, we may be off at daylight." +</P> + +<P> +"The pratique boat will not come off after sunset." +</P> + +<P> +"And if they did, we could pass for an American, bound to Barcelona or +anywhere else—the outer roads where the vessels lie are hardly within +gun-shot." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty, who had resumed his sailor's clothes, now observed, "What we do, +Massa Easy, we do quickly—time for all ting, time for show face and +fight—time for hide face, crawl, and steal." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mesty, we'll crawl this time, and steal if we can. It's not +the warfare I like best of the two." +</P> + +<P> +"Both good, Massa Easy; suppose you no steal board of polacca ship, you +not see Missy Agnes." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mesty. Bout ship, Mr Oxbelly." +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Oxbelly not good for boat service," observed Mesty, showing his +teeth. +</P> + +<P> +It was dark before the Rebiera was anchored in the outer roads, a +cable's length astern of the outermost American vessel. One of her +quarter-boats was lowered down, and Gascoigne and our hero pulled +alongside, and, lying on their oars, hailed, and asked the name of the +vessel. +</P> + +<P> +"So help me Gad, just now I forget her name," replied a negro, looking +over the gangway. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's the captain?" +</P> + +<P> +"So help me Gad, he gone on shore." +</P> + +<P> +"Is the mate on board?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, so help me Gad—he gone shore, too." +</P> + +<P> +"Who is aboard then?" +</P> + +<P> +"So help me Gad, nobody on board but Pompey—and dat me." +</P> + +<P> +"Good ship-keepers, at all events," said Jack. "A ship in the outer +roads, with only a black fellow on board! I say, Pompey, do they +always leave you in charge of the vessel?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sar; but to-night great pleasure on shore. Eberybody dance and +sing, get drunk, kick up bobbery, and all dat." +</P> + +<P> +"What, is it a festival?" +</P> + +<P> +"So help me Gad, I no know, sar." +</P> + +<P> +"Is there anyone on board of the other vessels?" +</P> + +<P> +"Eberybody gone on shore. Suppose they have black man, he stay on +board." +</P> + +<P> +"Good-night, Pompey." +</P> + +<P> +"Good-night, sar. Who I say call when captain come on board?" +</P> + +<P> +"Captain Easy." +</P> + +<P> +"Captain He-see, very well, sar." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero pulled to another ship, and found it equally deserted; but at +the third he found the second mate with his arm in a sling, and from +him they gained the information that it was a great festival, being the +last day of the carnival; and that everyone was thinking of nothing but +amusement. +</P> + +<P> +"I've a notion," said the mate, in reply, "that you're American." +</P> + +<P> +"You've guessed right," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"What ship, and from what port?" +</P> + +<P> +"Rhode Island, the Susan and Mary," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"I thought you were north. We're of New York. What news do you bring?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing," replied he, "we are from Liverpool last." +</P> + +<P> +A succession of questions was now put by the American mate, and +answered very skilfully by Gascoigne, who then inquired how the market +was? +</P> + +<P> +It was necessary to make and reply to all these enquiries before they +could ask apparently indifferent questions of American traders; at +last, Gascoigne enquired,— +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think they would allow us to go on shore? the pratique boat has +not been on board." +</P> + +<P> +"They'll never find you out if you are off before daylight; I doubt if +they know that you are anchored. Besides, from Liverpool you would +have a clean bill of health, and if they found it out, they would not +say much; they're not over particular, I've a notion." +</P> + +<P> +"What are those vessels lying in-shore?" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess they have olive oil on board, the chief on 'em. But there are +two double lateens come in from Valparaiso the day before yesterday, +with hides and copper. How they 'scaped the British, I can't tell, but +they did, that's sure enough." +</P> + +<P> +"Good-night, then." +</P> + +<P> +"You won't take a glass of sling this fine night with a countryman?" +</P> + +<P> +"To-morrow, my good fellow, to-morrow; we must go on shore now." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero and Gascoigne returned on board the Rebiera, consulted with +Oxbelly and Mesty, and then manned and armed the two quarter and stern +boats. They thought it advisable not to hoist out their long-boat; no +fire-arms were permitted to be taken, lest, going off by accident or +otherwise, an alarm should be given. Our hero and Mesty proceeded in +the first boat, and pulled in for the town; Gascoigne shortly after in +the second, and the boatswain in the jolly-boat, followed at some +distance. +</P> + +<P> +There was no notice taken of them; they pulled gently down to the +landing-place, which was deserted. There was a blaze of light, and the +sounds of revelry in every quarter on shore; but the vessels appeared +equally deserted as the American ones in the offing. +</P> + +<P> +Finding themselves unobserved, for they had taken the precaution to +pull only two oars in each boat, they dropped gently alongside one of +the double-masted lateen vessels, and Mesty stepped on board. He +peeped down in the cabin, and perceived a man lying on the lockers; he +came up in his stealthy manner, closed the hatch softly, and said, "All +right." Jack left Gascoigne to take out this vessel, which he did very +successfully, for it was very dark; and although there were sentries +posted not far off, their eyes and ears were turned towards the town, +listening to the music. +</P> + +<P> +A second vessel, her consort, was boarded in the same way, but here +they found a man on deck whom they were obliged to seize and gag. They +put him down in the cabin, and Mesty, with another boat's crew, cut her +cables, and swept her gently out towards the American vessels. One more +vessel was required, and Jack, pulling two oars as usual, saluted a +galliot heavily laden, but of what her cargo consisted was not known. +In this vessel they found two men in the cabin playing cards, whom they +seized and bound and, cutting her cables, were obliged to make sail +upon her, as she was much too large to sweep out. As they were making +sail they, however, met with an interruption which they did not expect. +The crew belonging to the vessel, having had enough amusement for the +evening, and intending to sail the next morning, had thought it right +to come off sooner than the others: it was then about midnight or a +little later, and while some of Jack's men were aloft, for he had six +with him, Jack, to his annoyance, heard a boat coming off from the +shore, the men in her singing a chorus. The galliot was at that time +just under steerage way, her topsails had been loosed and her jib +hoisted, but the former had not been sheeted home, for the three men +below could not, in the dark, find the ropes. The other three men were +on the fore-yard loosing the foresail, and Jack was undetermined +whether to call them down immediately, or to allow them to loose the +sail, and thus get good way on the vessel, so as to prevent the boat, +which was loaded with men, from overtaking them. The boat was not more +than twenty yards from the galliot, when, not finding her where they +left her, they pulled to the right, and lay on their oars. This gave a +moment of time, but they very soon spied her out. "Caramba!" was the +exclamation—and the head of the boat was pulled round. +</P> + +<P> +"Down, my lads, in a moment by the swifters," cried Jack. "Here's a +boat on board of us." +</P> + +<P> +The men were in a few seconds on deck, and the others, who had now +sheeted home the topsails, hastened aft. The vessel soon gathered +way, but before that her way was sufficient, the boat had pulled under +the counter, and the Spaniards, letting their oars swing fore and aft, +were climbing up, their knives in their teeth. A scuffle ensued, and +they were thrown down again, but they renewed their attempt. Our hero, +perceiving a small water or wine cask lashed to the gunwale, cut it +loose with his cutlass, and with one of the men, who was by his side, +pushed it over, and dropped it into the boat. It struck the gunwale, +stove a plank, and the boat began to fill rapidly; in the meantime the +galliot had gained way—the boat could not longer be held on, from its +weight, and dropped astern with the men in it. Those who were half in +and half out were left clinging to the gunwale of the vessel, and as +they climbed up were secured, and put down in the cabin. Fortunately, +no fire-arms having been used on either side, the alarm was not given +generally, but the sentry reported fighting on board one of the +vessels, and the people of the guard-boat were collected, and pulled +out; but they only arrived in time to see that the galliot was under +way, and that the two other vessels from Valparaiso were not in their +berths. +</P> + +<P> +They hastened on shore, gave the alarm: the gun-boats, of which there +were three at the mole, were ordered out, but half the crew and all the +officers were on shore, some at balls, others drinking at taverns or +posadas; before they could be collected, all three vessels were +alongside of the Rebiera: and not aware that anything had been +discovered, our hero and his crew were lulled in security. Jack had +gone on board, leaving fourteen of his men on board the +galliot—Gascoigne had done the same—Mesty still remained on board his +vessel; and they were congratulating themselves, and ordering the men +on board to the windlass, when they heard the sound of oars. +</P> + +<P> +"Silence!—what is that?" exclaimed Oxbelly. +</P> + +<P> +"The gun-boats or row-boats, as sure as I'm alive!" +</P> + +<P> +At this moment Mesty jumped up the side. +</P> + +<P> +"Massa Easy, I hear row-boat not far off." +</P> + +<P> +"So do we, Mesty. Gascoigne, jump into the boat—tell the men in the +prizes to make all sail right out, and leave us to defend their +retreat—stay on board of one and divide your men." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat all right, Massa Easy. Mr Gascoigne, be smart—and now, sar, cut +cable and make sail; no time get up anchor." +</P> + +<P> +This order was given, but although the men were aloft in a moment, and +very expeditious, as the Rebiera payed her head round and the jib was +hoisted, they could perceive the boom of the three gun-boats pulling +and sailing not five cables length from them. Although rather +short-handed, topsails, courses and top-gallant sails were soon set, +the men down to their quarters, and the guns cast loose, before the +gun-boats were close under their stern. Then Jack rounded to, braced +up, and the Rebiera stood across them to the westward. +</P> + +<P> +"Why the devil don't they fire?" said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I tink because they no ab powder," said Mesty. Mesty was right—the +ammunition chests of the gun-boats were always landed when they were at +the mole, in case of accidents, which might arise from the crew being +continually with cigars in their mouths, and in the hurry they had +quite forgotten to put them on board. +</P> + +<P> +"At all events, we have powder," said Jack, "and now we'll prove it. +Grape and canister, my lads, and take good aim." +</P> + +<P> +The commanders of the gun-boats had hailed each other, and agreed to +board the Rebiera, but she now had good way on her, and sailed faster +than they pulled. A well-directed broadside astonished them—they had +no idea of her force; and the execution done was so great, that they +first lay on their oars and then pulled back to the mole with all +speed, leaving the Rebiera in quiet possession of her prizes, which had +already gained two miles in the offing. +</P> + +<P> +The Rebiera, as soon as Jack perceived that the gun-boats had +retreated, was put before the wind, and soon closed with her captures, +when she was hove-to till daylight with the three vessels in company. +Gascoigne returned on board, prize-masters were selected, and Jack +determined to keep them all with him, and take them to Palermo. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap40"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XL +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +In which there is another slight difference of opinion <BR> +between those who should be friends. +</H4> + +<P> +The two lateen vessels proved of considerable value, being laden with +copper, hides, and cochineal. The galliot was laden with sweet-oil, +and was also no despicable prize. At daylight they were all ready, +and, to the mortification of the good people of Malaga, sailed away to +the eastward without interruption. +</P> + +<P> +"Me tink we do dat job pretty well, Massa Easy," observed Mesty, as he +laid the breakfast table. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing like trying," replied Gascoigne; "I'm sure when we stood into +the bay I would have sold all my prize-money for a doubloon. How do I +share, Jack?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only as one of the crew, Ned, for you are a supernumerary, and our +articles and agreement for prize-money were signed previous to our +sailing." +</P> + +<P> +"I ought to share with Mr Oxbelly's class by rights," replied Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"That would be to take half my prize-money away. I shall want it all, +Mr Gascoigne, to pacify my wife for giving her the slip." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, very well; I'll get all I can." +</P> + +<P> +For ten days they ran down the coast, going much too fast for the +wishes of the crew, who were anxious to make more money. They seized a +fishing-boat and put on board of her the four prisoners, which they had +found in the vessels, and arrived off Barcelona, without falling in +with friend or foe. The next morning, the wind being very light, they +discovered a large vessel at daylight astern of them to the westward, +and soon made her out to be a frigate. She made all sail in chase, but +that gave them very little uneasiness, as they felt assured that she +was a British cruiser. One fear, however, came over them, that she +would, if she came up with them, impress a portion of their men. +</P> + +<P> +"As certain as I'm here, and Mrs Oxbelly's at Southsea," said Oxbelly, +"they'll take some of the men—the more so as, supposing us to be a +Spanish convoy, they will be disappointed." +</P> + +<P> +"They will hardly take them out of the prizes," observed Easy. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know that; men must be had for his Majesty's service somehow. +It's not their fault, Mr Easy—the navy must be manned, and as things +are so, so things must be. It's the king's prerogative, Mr Easy, and +we cannot fight the battles of the country without it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Gascoigne, "and although, as soon as the services of +seamen are no longer wanted, you find that there are demagogues on +shore who exclaim against impressment, they are quiet enough on the +point when they know that their lives and property depend upon sailors' +exertions." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mr Gascoigne, but it's not our fault if we are obliged to +take men by force; it's the fault of those who do not legislate so as +to prevent the necessity. Mrs Oxbelly used to say that she would +easily manage the matter if she were Chancellor of the Exchequer." +</P> + +<P> +"I dare say Mrs Oxbelly would make a very good Chancellor of the +Exchequer," replied Gascoigne, smiling; "one thing is certain, that if +they gave the subject half the consideration they have others of less +magnitude, an arrangement might be made by which his Majesty's navy +would never be short of men." +</P> + +<P> +"No doubt, no doubt, Mr Gascoigne; but, nevertheless, the king's +prerogative must never be given up." +</P> + +<P> +"There I agree with you, Mr Oxbelly; it must be held in case of sudden +emergency and absolute need." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll argue that point by-and-bye," replied Jack; "now let us consult +as to our measures. My opinion is, that if I made more sail we should +beat the frigate, but she would come up with the prizes." +</P> + +<P> +"That's the best thing we can do, Mr Easy; but let us send a boat on +board of them, and take out all the men that can possibly be spared, +that there may be no excuse for impressing them." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Gascoigne; "and as the wind is falling it is possible it +may fall calm, and they may send their boats; suppose we separate a +mile or two from each other." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat very good advice, Massa Gascoigne," observed Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +This plan was acted upon; only three men were left in the lateens, and +four in the galliot, and the vessels, in obedience to the orders, +sheered off on both sides of the Rebiera, who made all sail and started +ahead of the prizes. This manoeuvre was perceived on board of the +frigate, and made them sure that it was a Spanish convoy attempting to +escape. The fire-engine was got on deck, sails wetted, and every +exertion made to come up. But about four o'clock in the afternoon, +when the frigate was eight or nine miles off, it fell calm, as +Gascoigne had predicted, and the heads of all the vessels, as well as +the frigate, were now round the compass. +</P> + +<P> +"There's out boats," said Mr Oxbelly; "they will have a long pull, and +all for nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"How savage they will be!" observed Gascoigne. "Never mind that," +replied Jack; "Mesty says that dinner is ready." +</P> + +<P> +After dinner, they all went on deck, and found that the boats had +separated, one pulling for each of the prizes, and two for the Rebiera. +In less than an hour, they would probably be alongside. +</P> + +<P> +"And now let us decide how we are to act. We must not resist, if they +attempt to impress the men?" +</P> + +<P> +"I've been thinking upon that matter, Mr Easy, and it appears to me +that the men must be permitted to act as they please, and that we must +be neuter. I, as a lieutenant in his Majesty's service, cannot of +course act, neither can Mr Gascoigne. You are not in the service, but +I should recommend you to do the same. That the men have a right to +resist, if possible, is admitted; they always do so, and never are +punished for so doing. Under the guns of the frigate, of course we +should only have to submit; but those two boats do not contain more +than twenty-five men, I should think, and our men are the stronger +party. We had better leave it to them, and stand neuter." +</P> + +<P> +"Dat very good advice," said Mesty; "leab it to us": and Mesty walked +away forward where the seamen were already in consultation. +</P> + +<P> +Jack also agreed to the prudence of this measure, and he perceived that +the seamen, after a consultation with Mesty, were all arming themselves +for resistance. +</P> + +<P> +The boats were now close on board, and English colours were hoisted at +the gaff. This did not, however, check the impetus of the boats, who, +with their ensigns trailing in the still water astern of them, dashed +alongside, and an officer leaped on board, cutlass in hand, followed by +the seamen of the frigate. The men of the Rebiera remained collected +forward—Easy, Gascoigne, and Oxbelly aft. +</P> + +<P> +"What vessel is this?" cried the lieutenant who commanded the boats. +</P> + +<P> +Jack, with the greatest politeness, took off his hat, and told him that +it was the Rebiera letter of marque, and that the papers were ready for +his inspection. +</P> + +<P> +"And the other vessels?" +</P> + +<P> +"Prizes to the Rebiera, cut out of Malaga Bay," replied Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you are a privateer," observed the disappointed officer. "Where +are your papers?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mr Oxbelly, oblige me by bringing them up," said Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Fat Jack of the bone house," observed the lieutenant, looking at +Oxbelly. +</P> + +<P> +"A lieutenant in his Majesty's service, of longer standing than +yourself, young man," replied Oxbelly, firmly;—"and who, if he ever +meets you in any other situation, will make you answer for your +insolent remark." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed!" observed the lieutenant, ironically; "now, if you had said +you were once a boatswain or gunner." +</P> + +<P> +"Consider yourself kicked," roared Oxbelly, losing his temper. +</P> + +<P> +"Heyday! why, you old porpoise!" +</P> + +<P> +"Sir," observed Jack, who listened with indignation, "Mr Oxbelly is a +lieutenant in his Majesty's service, and you have no right to insult +him, even if he were not." +</P> + +<P> +"I presume you are all officers," replied the lieutenant. "I am, sir," +retorted Gascoigne, "an officer in his Majesty's service, and on board +of this vessel by permission of Captain Sawbridge of the Latona." +</P> + +<P> +"And I was, until a few months ago, sir," continued Jack; "at present I +am captain and owner of this vessel—but here are the papers. You will +have no obstruction from us in the execution of your duty—at the same +time, I call upon the two young gentlemen by your side, and your own +men, to bear witness to what takes place." +</P> + +<P> +"O very well, sir—just as you please. Your papers, I perceive, are +all right. Now you will oblige me by mustering your men." +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, sir," replied Jack: "send all the men aft to muster, Mr +Oxbelly." +</P> + +<P> +The men came aft to the mainmast, with Mesty at their head, and +answered to their names. As the men passed over, the lieutenant made a +pencil-mark against ten of them, who appeared the finest seamen; and, +when the roll had been called, he ordered those men to get their bags +and go into the boat. +</P> + +<P> +"Sir, as you must observe, I am short-handed, with my men away in +prizes; and I, as commander of this vessel, protest against this +proceeding: if you insist upon taking them, of course I can do +nothing," observed Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"I do insist, sir; I'm not going on board empty-handed, at all events." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, sir, I can say no more," said Jack, walking aft to the taffrail, +to which Oxbelly and Gascoigne had retreated. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, my lads, get those men in the boat," said the lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +But the men had all retreated forward in a body, with Mesty at their +head, and had armed themselves. Some of the seamen of the frigate had +gone forward, in obedience to their officer, to lead the men selected +into the boat; but they were immediately desired to keep back. The +scuffle forward attracted the notice of the lieutenant, who immediately +summoned all his men out of the boats. +</P> + +<P> +"Mutiny, by heavens! Come up all of you, my lads." +</P> + +<P> +Mesty then came forward, with a sabre in one hand and a pistol in the +other, and then addressed the seamen of the frigate:— +</P> + +<P> +"I tell you dis, my lads—you not so strong as we—you not got better +arms—we not under gun of frigate now, and ab determination not to go +board. 'Pose you want us, come take us—'pose you can. By all de +power, but we make mince-meat of you, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +The seamen paused—they were ready to fight for their country, but not +to be killed by or kill those who were their own countrymen, and who +were doing exactly what they would have done themselves. The lieutenant +thought otherwise; he was exasperated at this sensation. +</P> + +<P> +"You black scoundrel, I left you out because I thought you not worth +having, but now I'll add you to the number." +</P> + +<P> +"Stop a little," replied Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +The lieutenant would not take the Ashantee's very prudent advice; he +flew forward to seize Mesty, who, striking him a blow with the flat of +his sabre, almost levelled him to the deck. At this the men and other +officers of the frigate darted forward; but after a short scuffle, in +which a few wounds were received, were beaten back into the boats. The +lieutenant was thrown in after them, by the nervous arm of Mesty—and +assailed by cold shot and other missiles, they sheered off with +precipitation, and pulled back in the direction of the frigate. +</P> + +<P> +"There will be a row about this," said Oxbelly, "as soon as they come +clear of the vessel. If the frigate gets hold of us she will show us +no mercy. There is a breeze coming from the north-west. How +fortunate! we shall be three leagues to windward, and may escape." +</P> + +<P> +"I doubt if she could catch us. At any point of sailing they may come +up with the prizes, but can do nothing with them." +</P> + +<P> +"No, the boats which boarded them are already returned to the frigate; +she must wait for them, and that will give us a start, and it will be +night before they can make sail." +</P> + +<P> +"Fire a gun for the prizes to close," said Jack; "we will put the men +on board again, and then be off to Palermo as fast as we can." +</P> + +<P> +"We can do no better," said Oxbelly. "If ever I chance to meet that +fellow again, I will trouble him to repeat his words. Trim the sails, +my lads." +</P> + +<P> +"His language was unpardonable," observed Jack. +</P> + +<P> +"Since I've been in the service, Mr Easy, I have always observed that +some officers appear to imagine, that because they are under the king's +pennant, they are warranted in insulting and tyrannising over all those +who have not the honour to hoist it; whereas, the very fact of their +being king's officers should be an inducement to them to show an +example of courtesy and gentlemanly conduct in the execution of their +duty, however unpleasant it may be." +</P> + +<P> +"It is only those who, insignificant themselves, want to make +themselves of importance by the pennant they serve under," replied our +hero. +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, Mr Easy; but you are not aware that a great part of the +ill-will shown to the service is owing to the insolence of those young +men in office. The king's name is a warrant for every species of +tyranny and unwarrantable conduct. I remember Mrs Oxbelly telling one +of them, when—" +</P> + +<P> +"I beg your pardon, Mr Oxbelly," interrupted Jack, "but we have no time +to chat now; the breeze is coming down fast, and I perceive the prizes +are closing. Let us lower down the boat, send the men on board again, +and give them their orders—which I will do in writing, in case they +part company." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true, sir. It will be dark in half an hour, and as we are now +standing in-shore, they will think that we intend to remain on the +coast. As soon as it is quite dark we will shape our course for +Palermo. I will go down and look at the chart." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap41"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLI +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +Which winds up the nautical adventures of Mr Midshipman Easy. +</H4> + +<P> +In half an hour the prizes were again alongside, the men put on board, +and the boat hoisted up. The frigate still remained becalmed to +leeward, and hoisted in her boats. They watched until she was hid by +the shades of night, and then wearing round stood away, with the wind +two points free, for the coast of Sicily. The next morning when the +sun rose there was nothing in sight. Strange anomaly, in a state of +high civilisation, where you find your own countrymen avoided and more +dreaded than even your foes! +</P> + +<P> +The run was prosperous, the weather was fine, and the prizes did not +part company. +</P> + +<P> +On the sixteenth day the Rebiera and her convoy anchored in Palermo +Bay. The wind was light in the morning that they stood in, and as Jack +had a large blue flag with Rebiera in white letters hoisted at the +main, Don Philip and Don Martin were on board and greeting our hero, +before the Rebiera's anchor had plunged into the clear blue water. +</P> + +<P> +The information which our hero received, after having been assured of +the health of Agnes and her parents, was satisfactory. The +disappearance of the friar had, at first, occasioned much surprise; but +as the servants of Don Rebiera swore to his return without the black, +and the letter of Don Rebiera, sent to the convent, requesting his +presence, was opened and read, there was no suspicion against the +family. A hundred conjectures had been afloat, but gradually they had +subsided, and it was at last supposed that he had been carried off by +the banditti, some of whom had been taken, and acknowledged that they +had seized a friar, on a day which they could not recollect. The reader +will remember that it was Mesty. +</P> + +<P> +The Rebiera received pratique, and Jack hastened on shore with Don +Philip and his brother, and was once more in company of Agnes, who, in +our hero's opinion, had improved since his departure. Most young men +in love think the same after an absence, provided it is not too long. +The prizes were sold and the money distributed, and every man was +satisfied, as the cargoes fetched a larger sum than they had +anticipated. +</P> + +<P> +We must pass over the pros and cons of Don Rebiera and his lady, the +pleading of Jack for immediate nuptials, the unwillingness of the +mother to part with her only daughter, the family consultation, the +dowry, and all these particulars. A month after his arrival Jack was +married, and was, of course, as happy as the day was long. +</P> + +<P> +A few days afterwards, Mr Oxbelly advised departure, as the expenses of +the vessel were heavy, and it was his duty so to do. Don Philip and +Don Martin obtained leave to go to England, with their sister and her +husband. Nevertheless, Jack, who found Palermo a very pleasant +residence, was persuaded by the Don and his wife to remain there a +month, and then there was crying and sobbing, and embracing, and +embarking; and at last the Rebiera, whose cabins had been arranged for +the reception of the party, weighed and made sail for Malta, Jack +having promised to call upon the governor. +</P> + +<P> +In four days they anchored in Valette Harbour, and Jack paid his +respects to his old friend, who was very glad to see him. The governor +sent his own barge for Mrs Easy, and she was installed in the state +apartments, which were acknowledged to be very comfortable. Our hero +had, as usual, a long story to tell the governor, and the governor +listened to it very attentively, probably because he thought it would +be the last, which opportunity Jack employed to narrate the unfortunate +end of his father. +</P> + +<P> +"I would not have said so at the time, Mr Easy, but now the wound is +healed, I tell you, that it is the best thing that could have +happened—poor old gentleman! he was mad indeed." +</P> + +<P> +Our hero remained a fortnight at Malta, and then Signora Easy was +re-embarked, and once more the Rebiera made sail. +</P> + +<P> +"Fare you well, my lad; what I have seen of your brothers-in-law +pleases me much; and as for your wife, it will be your own fault if she +is not all that you would wish. If ever I come to England again, I +will pay my first visit to Forest Hill. God bless you!" +</P> + +<P> +But Sir Thomas never did go back to England, and this was their final +adieu. Once more the Rebiera pursued her course, stopped a day or two +at Gibraltar, shared the proceeds of the captured gun-boat, and then +made sail for England, where she arrived without adventure or accident +in three weeks. Thus ended the last cruise of Mr Midshipman Easy. As +soon as their quarantine at the Motherbank was over, they disembarked, +and found Dr Middleton and Mr Hanson waiting for them at the George +Hotel. Our hero scarcely had time to introduce his wife, when the +waiter said, that a lady wished to speak to him. She did not wait to +know if Jack was visible, but forced her way past him. Jack looked at +her large proportions, and decided at once that it must be Mrs Oxbelly, +in which conjecture he was right. +</P> + +<P> +"Pray, sir, what do you mean by carrying off my husband in that way?" +exclaimed the lady, red with anger. +</P> + +<P> +"God forbid that I should have to carry your husband, Mrs Oxbelly, he +is rather too heavy." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir, but it's little better than kidnapping, and there's a law +for kidnapping children at all events. I shall send my lawyer to you, +that you may depend upon." +</P> + +<P> +"You hardly can consider your husband as a child, Mrs Oxbelly," replied +Jack, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, sir, we shall see. Pray, where is he now?" +</P> + +<P> +"He is on board, Mrs Oxbelly, and will be delighted to see you." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not quite so sure of that." +</P> + +<P> +"He's very anxious to see little Billy," said Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you know of little Billy, young man?" +</P> + +<P> +"And more than anxious to be on shore again. He's quite tired of +sleeping single, Mrs Oxbelly." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, very well, he has been talking, has he? very well," exclaimed the +lady, in a rage. +</P> + +<P> +"But," said Easy, "I am happy to say, that with pay and prize-money, +during his short absence, he has brought home nearly five hundred +pounds." +</P> + +<P> +"Five hundred pounds!—you don't say so, sir?" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly; +"are you sure of that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Quite sure," rejoined Gascoigne. +</P> + +<P> +"Five hundred pounds!—Well, that is comfortable—dear me! how glad I +shall be to see him! Well, Mr Easy, it was hard to part with him in so +unhandsome a way—but all's for the best in this world. What a dear +nice lady your wife is, Mr Easy—but I won't intrude beg pardon. Where +is the brig, Mr Easy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Now coming into harbour," replied Gascoigne; "if you bargain, you can +get off for twopence." +</P> + +<P> +"Five hundred pounds!" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly, whose wrath was now +appeased. +</P> + +<P> +"By all power, she no fool of a woman dat," said Mesty, as she +retreated curtseying. "I fink Mr Oxbelly very right sleep tingle." +</P> + +<P> +We have now come to the end of our hero's adventures: that afternoon +they all started for Forest Hill, where everything was ready for their +reception. The Rebiera's men were paid off, and were soon distributed +on board of his Majesty's ships; the vessel was sold, and Mr Oxbelly +retired to Southsea, to the society of his wife and little Billy. +Whether he obtained from his wife a divorce de thoro is not handed down. +</P> + +<P> +OUR HERO, who was now of age, invited all within twenty miles of home +to balls and dinners, became a great favourite, kept a pack of hounds, +rode with the foremost, received a deputation to stand for the county, +on the conservative interest, was elected without much expense, which +was very wonderful, and took his seat in Parliament. Don Philip and Don +Martin, after two months' stay, took their passage back to Palermo, +fully satisfied with the prospects of their sister as to competence and +happiness. Jack had no occasion to argue the point with Agnes; she +conformed at once to the religion of her husband, proved an excellent +and affectionate wife, and eventually the mother of four children, +three boys and a girl. +</P> + +<P> +Mesty held his post with dignity, and proved himself trustworthy. +Gascoigne, by the interest of the conservative member, soon obtained +the rank of post-captain, and was always his devoted and sincere friend. +</P> + +<P> +And thus ends the history of Mr Midshipman Easy. +</P> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 6629 ***</div> +</body> + +</HTML> + |