diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:29:22 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:29:22 -0700 |
| commit | 56763c184fb634af36b741491710bd53e66c72cf (patch) | |
| tree | 4aed3e7c639585891f26b146b2f58b5a548ef01f /7281-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '7281-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 7281-h/7281-h.htm | 26652 |
1 files changed, 26652 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/7281-h/7281-h.htm b/7281-h/7281-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0f0732 --- /dev/null +++ b/7281-h/7281-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,26652 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Tom Cringle's Log, by Michael Scott + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Cringle's Log, by Michael Scott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tom Cringle's Log + +Author: Michael Scott + +Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7281] +Last Updated: November 19, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM CRINGLE'S LOG *** + + + + +Produced by John Edward Heaton and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + TOM CRINGLE’S LOG + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Michael Scott + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + (1789—1835) + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I.—The Launching of the Log. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II.—The Cruise of the Torch. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III.—The Quenching of the Torch. + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV.—Scenes on the Costa Firme. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V.—The Piccaroon </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI.—The Cruise of the Spark </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII.—Scenes in Jamaica </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII.—The Chase of the Smuggler + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX.—Cuba Fishermen </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X.—Vomito Prieto. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI.—More Scenes in Jamaica. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII.—The Cruise o the Firebrand + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII.—The Pirate’s Leman </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV.—Scenes in Cuba </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV.—The Cruise of the Wave. The + Action with the Slaver. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI.—The Second Cruise of the Wave + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII.—The Third Cruise of the Wave + </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. Tropical High-links </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX.—The Last of the Log—Tom + Cringle’s Farewell. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER I.—The Launching of the Log. + </h2> + <p> + Dazzled by the glories of Trafalgar, I, Thomas Cringle, one fine morning + in the merry month of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and so + and so, magnanimously determined in my own mind, that the United Kingdom + of Great Britain and Ireland should no longer languish under the want of a + successor to the immortal Nelson, and being then of the great + perpendicular altitude of four feet four inches, and of the mature age of + thirteen years, I thereupon betook myself to the praiseworthy task of + tormenting, to the full extent of my small ability, every man and woman + who had the misfortune of being in any way connected with me, until they + had agreed to exert all their interest, direct or indirect, and + concentrate the same in one focus upon the head and heart of Sir Barnaby + Blueblazes, vice-admiral of the red squadrons a Lord of the Admiralty, and + one of the old plain K.B.‘s (for he flourished before the time when a + gallant action or two tagged half of the letters of the alphabet to a + man’s name, like the tail of a paper kite), in order that he might be + graciously pleased to have me placed on the quarterdeck of one of his + Majesty’s ships of war without delay. + </p> + <p> + The stone I had set thus recklessly a-rolling, had not been in motion + above a fortnight, when it fell with unanticipated violence, and crushed + the heart of my poor mother, while it terribly bruised that of me, Thomas; + for as I sat at breakfast with the dear old woman, one fine Sunday + morning, admiring my new blue jacket and snow white trowsers, and shining + well soaped face, and nicely brushed hair, in the pier glass over the + chimney piece, I therein saw the door behind me open, and Nicodemus, the + waiting man, enter and deliver a letter to the old lady, with a formidable + looking seal. + </p> + <p> + I perceived that she first ogled the superscription, and then the seal, + very ominously, and twice made as if she would have broken the missive + open, but her heart seemed as often to fail her. At length she laid it + down-heaved a long deep sigh—took off her spectacles, which appeared + dim-wiped them, put them on again, and making a sudden effort, tore open + the letter, read it hastily over, but not so rapidly as to prevent her hot + tears falling with a small tiny tap tap on the crackling paper. + </p> + <p> + Presently she pinched my arm, pushed the blistered manuscript under my + nose, and utterly unable to speak to me, rose, covered her face with her + hands, and left the room weeping bitterly. I could hear her praying in a + low, solemn, yet sobbing and almost inarticulate voice, as she crossed the + passage to her own dressing-room.—“Even as thou wilt, oh Lord—not + mine, but thy holy will be done—yet, oh! it is a bitter bitter thing + for a widowed mother to part with her only boy.” + </p> + <p> + Now came my turn—as I read the following epistle three times over, + with a most fierce countenance, before thoroughly understanding whether I + was dreaming or awake—in truth, poor little fellow as I was, I was + fairly stunned. + </p> + <p> + “Admiralty, such a date. + </p> + <p> + “DEAR MADAM, It gives me very great pleasure to say that your son is + appointed to the Breeze frigate, now fitting at Portsmouth for foreign + service. Captain Wigemwell is a most excellent officer, and a good man, + and the schoolmaster on board is an exceedingly decent person I am + informed; so I congratulate you on his good fortune in beginning his + career, in which I wish him all success, under such favourable auspices. + As the boy is, I presume, all ready, you had better send him down on + Thursday next, at latest, as the frigate will go to sea, wind and weather + permitting, positively on Sunday morning.” + </p> + <p> + “I remain, my dear Madam,” + </p> + <p> + “Yours very faithfully,” + </p> + <p> + “BARNABY BLUEBLAZES, K.B.” + </p> + <p> + However much I had been moved by my mother’s grief, my false pride came to + my assistance, and my first impulse was to chant a verse of some old tune, + in a most doleful manner. “All right—all right,” I then exclaimed, + as I thrust half a doubled up muffin into my gob, but it was all chew, + chew, and no swallow—not a morsel could I force down my parched + throat, which tightened like to throttle me. + </p> + <p> + Old Nicodemus had by this time again entered the room, unseen and unheard, + and startled me confoundedly, as he screwed his words in his sharp cracked + voice into my larboard ear. “Jane tells me your mamma is in a sad taking, + Master Tom. You ben’t going to leave us, all on a heap like, be you? + Surely your stay until your sister comes from your uncle Job’s? You know + there are only two on ye—You won’t leave the old lady all alone, + Master Thomas, win ye?’ The worthy old fellow’s voice quavered here, and + the tears hopped over his old cheeks through the flour and tallow like + peas, as he slowly drew a line down the forehead of his well-powdered + pate, with his fore-finger. + </p> + <p> + “No—no—why, yes,” exclaimed I, fairly overcome; “that is—oh + Nic, Nic you old fool, I wish I could cry, man—I wish I could cry!” + and straightway I hied me to my chamber, and wept until I thought my very + heart would have burst. + </p> + <p> + In my innocence and ignorance, child as I was, I had looked forward to + several months preparation; to buying and fitting of uniforms, and dirks, + and cocked hat, and swaggering therein, to my own great glory, and the + envy of all my young relations; and especially I desired to parade my fire—new + honours before the large dark eyes of my darling little creole cousin, + Mary Palma; whereas I was now to be bundled on board, at a few days + warning, out of a ready-made furnishing shop, with lots of ill-made, + glossy, hard mangled duck trowsers, the creases as sharp as the backs of + knives, and—“oh, it never rains, but it pours,” exclaimed I; “surely + all this promptitude is a little de plus in Sir Barnaby.” + </p> + <p> + However, away I was trundled at the time appointed, with an aching heart, + to Portsmouth, after having endured the misery of a first parting from a + fond mother, and a host of kind friends; but, miserable as I was, + according to my preconceived determination, I began my journal the very + day I arrived, that nothing connected with so great a man should be lost, + and most weighty did the matters therein related appear to me at the time; + but seen through the long vista of, I won’t say how many years, I really + must confess that the Log, for long long after I first went to sea in the + Breeze, and subsequently when removed to the old Kraaken line-of-battle + ship, both of which were constantly part of blockading squadrons, could be + compared to nothing more fitly than a dish of trifle, anciently called + syllabub, with a stray plum here and there scattered at the bottom. But + when, after several weary years, I got away in the dear old Torch, on a + separate cruise, incidents came fast enough with a vengeance—stem, + unyielding, iron events, as I found to my heavy cost, which spoke out + trumpet-tongued and fiercely for themselves, and whose tremendous + simplicity required no adventitious aid in the narration to thrill through + the hearts of others. So, to avoid yarn-spinning, I shall evaporate my + early Logs, and blow off as much of the froth as I can, in order to + present the residuum free of flummery to the reader—just to give him + a taste here and there, as it were, of the sort of animal I was at that + time. Thus: + </p> + <p> + Thomas Cringle, his log-book. + </p> + <p> + Arrived in Portsmouth by the Defiance at ten, A.M. on such a day. Waited + on the Commissioner, to whom I had letters, and said I was appointed to + the Breeze. Same day, went on board and took up my berth; stifling hot; + mouldy biscuit; and so on. My mother’s list makes it fifteen shirts, + whereas I only have twelve. + </p> + <p> + Admiral made the signal to weigh, wind at S.W. fresh and squally. + Stockings should be one dozen worsted, three of cotton, two of silk; find + only half a dozen worsted, two of cotton, and one of silk. + </p> + <p> + Fired a gun and weighed. + </p> + <p> + Sailed for the Fleet off Vigo, deucidly sea-sick was told that fat pork + was the best specific, if bolted half raw; did not find it much of a tonic + passed a terrible night, and for four hours of it obliged to keep watch, + more dead than alive. The very second evening we were at sea, it came on + to blow, and the night fell very dark, with heavy rain. Towards eight + bells in the middle watch, I was standing on a gun well forward on the + starboard side, listening to the groaning of the main-tack, as the + swelling sail, the foot of which stretched transversely right athwart the + ship’s deck in a black arch, struggled to tear it up, like some dark + impalpable spirit of the air striving to burst the chains that held him, + and escape high up into the murky clouds, or a giant labouring to uproot + an oak, and wondering in my innocence how hempen cord could brook such + strain when just as the long waited-for strokes of the bell sounded gladly + in mine ear, and the shrill clear note of the whistle of the boatswain’s + mate had been followed by his gruff voice, grumbling hoarsely through the + gale, “Larboard watch, ahoy!” The look-out at the weather gangway, who had + been relieved, and beside whom I had been standing a moment before, + stepped past me, and scrambled up on the booms “Hillo, Howard, where away, + my man?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Only to fetch my”— + </p> + <p> + Crack!—the main tack parted, and up flew the sail with a thundering + flap, loud as the report of a cannon-shot, through which, however, I could + distinctly hear a heavy smash, as the large and ponderous blocks at the + clew of the sail struck the doomed sailor under the ear, and whirled him + off the booms over the fore-yard-arm into the sea, where he perished, as + heaving-to was impossible, and useless if practicable, as his head must + have been smashed to atoms. + </p> + <p> + This is one of the stray plums of the trifle, what follows is a whisk of + the froth, written when we looked into Corunna, about a week after the + embarkation of the army:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + MONODY ON THE DEATH OF SIR JOHN MOORE. + + Farewell, thou pillar of the war, + Warm-hearted soldier, Moore, farewell, + In honour’s firmament a star, + As bright as ere in glory fell. + + Deceived by weak or wicked men, + How gallantly thou stood’st at bay, + Like lion hunted to his den, + Let France tell, on that bloody day. + + No boastful splendour round thy bier, + No blazon’d trophies o’er thy grave; + But thou had’st more, the soldier’s tear, + The heart-warm offering of the brave. + + On Lusitania’s rock-girt coast, + All coffinless thy relics lie, + Where all but honour bright was lost, + Yet thy example shall not die. + + Albeit no funeral knell was rung, + Nor o’er thy tomb in mournful wreath + The laurel twined with cypress hung, + Still shall it live while Britons breathe. + + What though, when thou wert lowly laid, + Instead of all the pomp of woe, + The volley o’er thy bloody bed + Was thunder’d by an envious foe:— + + Inspired by it in after time, + A race of heroes will appear, + The glory of Britannia’s clime, + To emulate thy bright career. + + And there will be, of martial fire, + Those who all danger will endure; + Their first, best aim, but to aspire + To die thy death—the death of Moore. +</pre> + <p> + To return. On the evening of the second day, we were off Falmouth, and + then got a slant of wind that enabled us to lie our course. + </p> + <p> + Next morning, at daybreak, saw a frigate in the northeast quarter, making + signals;—soon after we bore up. Bay of Biscay—tremendous swell—Cape + Finisterre—blockading squadron off Cadiz—in-shore squadron—and + so on, all trifle and no plums. + </p> + <p> + At length the Kraaken, in which I had now served for some time, was + ordered home, and sick of knocking about in a fleet, I got appointed to a + fine eighteen-gun sloop, the Torch, in which we sailed on such a day for + the North Sea—wind foul—weather thick and squally; but towards + evening on the third day, being then off Harwich, it moderated, when we + made more sail, and stood on, and next morning, in the cold, miserable, + drenching haze of an October daybreak, we passed through a fleet of + fishing-boats at anchor. “At anchor,” thought I, “and in the middle of the + sea,”—but so it was—all with their tiny cabooses, smoking + cheerily, and a solitary figure, as broad as it was long, stiffly walking + to and fro on the confined decks of the little vessels. It was now that I + knew the value of the saying, “a fisherman’s walk, two steps and + overboard.” With regard to these same fishermen, I cannot convey a better + notion of them, than by describing one of the two North Sea pilots whom we + had on board. This pilot was a tall, raw-boned subject, about six feet or + so, with a blue face—I could not call it red—and a hawk’s-bill + nose of the colour of bronze. His head was defended from the weather by + what is technically called a south-west, pronounced sow-west,—cap, + which is in shape like the thatch of a dustman, composed of canvass, well + tarred, with no snout, but having a long flap hanging down the back to + carry the rain over the cape of the jacket. His chin was embedded in a red + comforter that rose to his ears. His trunk was first of all cased in a + shirt of worsted stocking-net; over this he had a coarse linen shirt, then + a thick cloth waistcoat; a shag jacket was the next layer, and over that + was rigged the large cumbrous pea jacket, reaching to his knees. As for + his lower spars, the rig was still more peculiar;—first of all, he + had on a pair of most comfortable woollen stockings, what we call fleecy + hosiery—and the beauties are peculiarly nice in this respect—then + a pair of strong fearnaught trowsers; over these again are drawn up + another pair of stockings, thick, coarse, rig-and-furrowed as we call them + in Scotland, and above all this were drawn a pair of long, well-greased, + and liquored boots, reaching half-way up the thigh, and altogether + impervious to wet. However comfortable this costume may be in bad weather + in board, it is clear enough that any culprit so swathed, would stand a + poor chance of being saved, were he to fall overboard. The wind now veered + round and round, and baffled, and checked us off, so that it was the sixth + night after we had taken our departure from Harwich before we saw + Heligoland light. We then bore away for Cuxhaven, and I now knew for the + first time that we had a government emissary of some kind or another on + board, although he had hitherto confined himself strictly to the captain’s + cabin. + </p> + <p> + All at once it came on to blow from the north-east, and we were again + driven back among the English fishing boats. The weather was thick as + buttermilk, so we had to keep the bell constantly ringing, as we could not + see the jib-boom end from the forecastle. Every now and then we heard a + small, hard, clanking tinkle, from the fishing-boats, as if an old pot had + been struck instead of a bell, and a faint hollo, “Fishing-smack,” as we + shot past them in the fog, while we could scarcely see the vessels at all. + The morning after this particular time to which I allude, was darker than + any which had gone before it; absolutely you could not see the breadth of + the ship from you; and as we had not taken the sun for five days, we had + to grope our way almost entirely by the lead. I had the forenoon watch, + during the whole of which we were amongst a little fleet of fishing-boats, + although we could scarcely see them, but being unwilling to lose ground by + lying to, we fired a gun every half hour, to give the small craft notice + of our vicinity, that they might keep their bells a-going. Every three or + four minutes, the marine drum-boy, or some amateur performer,—for + most sailors would give a glass of grog any day to be allowed to beat a + drum for five minutes on end—beat a short roll, and often as we + drove along, under a reefed foresail, and close reefed topsails, we could + hear the answering tinkle before we saw the craft from which it proceeded; + and when we did perceive her as we flew across her stern, we could only + see it, and her mast, and one or two well-swathed, hardy fishermen, the + whole of the little vessel forward being hid in a cloud. + </p> + <p> + I had been invited this day to dine with the Captain, Mr Splinter, the + first lieutenant being also of the party; the cloth had been withdrawn, + and we had all had a glass or two of wine a-piece, when the fog settled + down so thickly, although it was not more than five o’clock in the + afternoon, that the captain desired that the lamp might be lit. It was + done, and I was remarking the contrast between the dull, dusky, brown + light, or rather the palpable London fog that came through the skylight, + and the bright yellow sparkle of the lamp, when the second lieutenant, Mr + Treenail, came down the ladder. + </p> + <p> + “We have shoaled our water to five fathoms, sir—shells and stones.—Here, + Wilson, bring in the lead.” + </p> + <p> + The leadsman, in his pea-jacket and shag trowsers, with the raindrop + hanging to his nose, and a large knot in his cheek from a junk of tobacco + therein stowed, with pale, wet visage, and whiskers sparkling with + moisture, while his long black hair hung damp and lank over his fine + forehead and the stand-up cape of his coat, immediately presented himself + at the door, with the lead in his claws, an octagonal-shaped cone, like + the weight of a window-sash, about eighteen inches long, and two inches + diameter at the bottom, tapering away nearly to a point at top, where it + was flattened, and a hole pierced for the line to be fastened to. At the + lower end—the but-end, as I would say there was a hollow scooped + out, and filled with grease, so that when the lead was cast, the quality + of the soil, sand, or shells, or mud, that came up adhering to this lard, + indicated, along with the depth of water, our situation in the North Sea; + and by this, indeed, we guided our course, in the absence of all + opportunity of ascertaining our position by observations of the sun. + </p> + <p> + The Captain consulted the chart—“Sand and shells; why, you should + have deeper water, Mr Treenail. Any of the fishing-boats near you?” + </p> + <p> + “Not at present, sir; but we cannot be far off some of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, let me know when you come near any of them.” + </p> + <p> + A little after this, as became my situation, I rose and made my bow, and + went on deck. + </p> + <p> + By this time the night had fallen, and it was thicker than ever, so that, + standing beside the man at the wheel, you could not see farther forward + than the booms; yet it was not dark, either,—that is, it was + moonlight, so that the haze, thick as it was, had that silver gauze-like + appearance, as if it had been luminous in itself, that cannot be described + to any one who has not seen it. The gun had been fired just as I came on + deck, but no responding tinkle gave notice of any vessel being in the + neighbourhood. Ten minutes, it may have been a quarter of an hour, when a + short roll of the drum was beaten from the forecastle, where I was + standing. At the moment I thought I heard a holla, but I could not be + sure. Presently I saw a small light, with a misty halo surrounding it, + just under the bowsprit. + </p> + <p> + “Port your helm,” sung out the boatswain,—“port your helm, or we + shall be over a fishing-boat!” + </p> + <p> + A cry arose from beneath a black object was for an instant distinguishable + and the next moment a crash was heard. The sprit-sail-yard rattled, and + broke off sharp at the point where it crossed the bowsprit; and a heavy + smashing thump against our bows told, in fearful language, that we had run + her down. Three of the men and a boy hung on by the rigging of the + bowsprit, and were brought safely on board; but two poor fellows perished + with their boat. It appeared, that they had broken their bell; and + although they saw us coming, they had no better means than shouting, and + showing a light, to advertise us of their vicinity. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the wind once more chopped round, and the weather cleared, + and in four-and-twenty hours thereafter we were off the mouth of the Elbe, + with three miles of white foaming shoals between us and the land at + Cuxhaven, roaring and hissing, as if ready to swallow us up. It was low + water, and, as our object was to land the emissary at Cuxhaven, we had to + wait, having no pilot for the port, although we had the signal flying for + one all morning, until noon, when we ran in close to the green mound which + constituted the rampart of the fort at the entrance. To our great + surprise, when we hoisted our colours and pennant, and fired a gun to + leeward, there was no flag hoisted in answer at the flag-staff, nor was + there any indication of a single living soul on shore to welcome us. Mr + Splinter and the Captain were standing together at the gangway—“Why, + sir,” said the former, “this silence somewhat surprises me: what say you, + Cheragoux?” to the government emissary or messenger already mentioned, who + was peering through the glass close by. + </p> + <p> + “Why, mi Lieutenant, I don’t certain dat all ish right on sore dere.’ + </p> + <p> + “No?” said Captain Deadeye; “why, what do you see?” + </p> + <p> + “It ish not so mosh vat I shee, as vat I no shee, sir, dat trembles me. It + cannot surely be possib dat de Prussian an’ Hanoverian troop have left de + place, and dat dese dem Franceman ave advance so far as de Elbe autrefois, + dat ish, once more?’ + </p> + <p> + “French!” said Deadeye, “Poo, nonsense; no French hereabouts; none nearer + than those cooped up in Hamburgh with Davoust, take my word for it.” + </p> + <p> + “I sall take your vord for any ting else in de large vorld, mi Capitain; + but I see someting glance behind dat rampart, parapet you call, dat look + dem like de shako of de infanterie legere of dat willain de Emperor + Napoleon. Ah! I see de red worsted epaulet of de grenadier also; sacre! + vat is dat pof of vite smoke?” + </p> + <p> + What it was we soon ascertained to our heavy cost, for the shot that had + been fired at us from a long 32-pound gun, took effect right abaft the + foremast, and killed three men outright, and wounded two. Several other + shots followed, but with less sure aim. Returning the fire was of no use, + as our carronades could not have pitched their metal much more than + halfway; or, even if they had been long guns, they would merely have + plumped the balls into the turf rampart, without hurting any one. So we + wisely hauled off, and ran up the river with the young flood for about an + hour, until we anchored close to the Hanoverian bank, near a gap in the + dike, where we waited till the evening. + </p> + <p> + As soon as the night fell, a boat with muffled oars was manned, to carry + the messenger on shore. I was in it; Mr Treenail, the second lieutenant, + steering. We pulled in right for a breach in the dike, lately cut by the + French, in order to inundate the neighbourhood; and as the Elbe at high + water is hereabouts much higher than the surrounding country, we were soon + sucked into the current, and had only to keep our oars in the water, + pulling a stroke now and then to give the boat steerage way. As we shot + through the gap into the smooth water beyond, we once more gave way, the + boat’s head being kept in the direction of lights that we saw twinkling I + in the distance, apparently in some village beyond the inner embankment, + when all at once we dashed in amongst thousands of wild-geese, which rose + with a clang, and a concert of quacking, screaming, and hissing, that was + startling enough. We skimmed steadily on in the same direction “Oars, + men!” We were by this time close to a small cluster of houses, perched on + the forced ground or embankment, and the messenger hailed in German. + </p> + <p> + “Qui vive!” sung out a gruff voice; and we heard the clank of a musket, as + if some one had cast it from his shoulder, and caught it in his hands, as + he brought it down to the charge. Our passenger seemed a little taken + aback; but he hailed again, still in German. “Parole,” replied the man. A + pause. “The watchword, or I fire.” We had none to give. + </p> + <p> + “Pull round, men,” said the lieutenant, with great quickness; “pull the + starboard oars; we are in the wrong box; back water the larboard. That’s + it! give way, men.” + </p> + <p> + A flash-crack went the sentry’s piece, and ping sung the ball over our + heads. Another pause. Then a volley from a whole platoon. Again all was + dark and silent. Presently a field-piece was fired, and several rockets + were let off in our direction, by whose light we could see a whole company + of French soldiers standing to their arms, with several cannon, but we + were speedily out of the reach of their musketry. Several round shots were + now fired, that hissed, recochetting along the water close by us. Not a + word was spoken in the boat all this time; we continued to pull for the + opening in the dike, although, the current being strong against us, we + made but little way; while the chance of being cut off by the Johnny + Crapeau, getting round the top of the embankment, so as to command the gap + before we could reach it, became every moment more alarming. + </p> + <p> + The messenger was in great tribulation, and made several barefaced + attempts to stow himself away under the stem sheets. + </p> + <p> + The gallant fellows who composed the crew strained at their oars until + every thing cracked again; but as the flood made, the current against us + increased, and we barely held our own. “Steer her, out of the current, + man,” said the lieutenant to the coxswain; the man put the tiller to port + as he was ordered. + </p> + <p> + “Vat you do soch a ting for, Mr Capitain Lieutenant?” said the emissary. + “Oh! you not pershave you are rone in order de igh bank! How you sall + satisfy me no France infanterie legere dere, too, more as in de fort, eh? + How you sall satisfy me, Mister Capitain Lieutenant, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Hold your blasted tongue, will you,” said Treenail, “and the infantry + legere be damned simply. Mind your eye, my fine fellow, or I shall be much + inclined to see whether you will be Legere in the Elbe or no. Hark!” + </p> + <p> + We all pricked up our ears, and strained our eyes, while a bright, + spitting sparkling fire of musketry opened at the gap, but there was no + ping pinging of the shot overhead. + </p> + <p> + “They cannot be firing at us, sir,” said the coxswain; “none of them + bullets are telling hereaway.” + </p> + <p> + Presently a smart fire was returned in three distinct clusters from the + water, and whereas the firing at first had only lit up the dark figures of + the French soldiery, and the black outline of the bank on which they were + posted, the flashes that answered them shewed us three armed boats + attempting to force the passage. In a minute the firing ceased; the + measured splash of oars was heard, as boats approached us. + </p> + <p> + “Who’s there?” sung out the lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “Torches,” was the answer. + </p> + <p> + “All’s well, Torches,” rejoined Mr Treenail; and presently the jollyboat, + and launch, and cutter of the Torch, with twenty marines, and thirty-six + seamen, all armed, were alongside. + </p> + <p> + “What cheer, Treenail, my boy?” quoth Mr Splinter. + </p> + <p> + “Why, not much; the French, who we were told had left the Elbe entirely, + are still here, as well as at Cuxhaven, not in force certainly, just + sufficiently strong to pepper us very decently in the outgoing?” + </p> + <p> + “What, are any of the people hurt?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the garrulous emissary. “No, not hurt, but some of us + frightened leetle piece—ah, very mosh, je vous assure.” + </p> + <p> + “Speak for yourself, Master Plenippo,” said Treenail. “But, Splinter, my + man, now since the enemy have occupied the dike in front, how the deuce + shall we get back into the river, tell me that?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said the senior lieutenant, “we must go as we came.” + </p> + <p> + And here the groans from two poor fellows who had been hit were heard from + the bottom of the launch. The cutter was by this time close to us, on the + larboard side, commanded by Mr Julius Caesar Tip, the senior midshipman, + vulgarly called in the ship Bathos, from his rather unromantic name. Here + also a low moaning evinced the precision of the Frenchmen’s fire. + </p> + <p> + “Lord, Mr Treenail, a sharp brush that was.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” quoth Treenail. At this moment three rockets hissed up into the + dark sky, and for an instant the hull and rigging of the sloop of war at + anchor in the river glanced in the blue-white glare, and vanished again, + like a spectre, leaving us in more thick darkness than before. + </p> + <p> + “Gemini! what is that now?” quoth Tip again, as we distinctly heard the + commixed rumbling and rattling sound of artillery scampering along the + dike. + </p> + <p> + “The ship has sent up these rockets to warn us of our danger,” said Mr + Treenail. “What is to be done? Ah, Splinter, we are in a scrape—there + they have brought up field-pieces, don’t you hear?” + </p> + <p> + Splinter had heard it as well as his junior officer. “True enough, + Treenail; so the sooner we make a dash through the opening the better.” + </p> + <p> + “Agreed.” + </p> + <p> + By some impulse peculiar to British sailors, the men were just about + cheering, when their commanding officer’s voice controlled them. “Hark, my + brave fellows, silence, as you value your lives.” + </p> + <p> + So away we pulled, the tide being now nearly on the turn, and presently we + were so near the opening that we could see the signal lights in the + rigging of the sloop of war. All was quiet on the dike. + </p> + <p> + “Thank God, they have retreated after all,” said Mr Treenail. + </p> + <p> + “Whoo—o, whoo—o,” shouted a gruff voice from the shore. + </p> + <p> + “There they are still,” said Splinter. “Marines, stand by, don’t throw + away a shot; men, pull like fury. So—give way, my lads, a minute of + that strain will shoot us alongside of the old brig—that’s it—hurrah!” + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah!” shouted the men in answer, but his and their exclamations were + cut short by a volley of musketry. The fierce mustaches, pale faces, + glazed shakoes, blue uniforms, and red epaulets, of the French infantry, + glanced for a moment, and then all was dark again. + </p> + <p> + “Fire!” The marines in the three boats returned the salute, and by the + flashes we saw three pieces of field. Artillery in the very act of being + unlimbered. We could distinctly hear the clash of the mounted + artillerymen’s sabres against their horses’ flanks as they rode to the + rear, their burnished accoutrements glancing at every sparkle of the + musketry. + </p> + <p> + We pulled like fiends, and being the fastest boat, soon headed the launch + and cutter, who were returning the enemy’s fire brilliantly, when crack—a + six-pound shot drove our boat into staves, and all hands were the next + moment squattering in the water. I sank a good bit, I suppose, for when I + rose to the surface, half drowned and giddy and confused, and striking out + at random, the first thing I recollected was a hard hand being wrung into + my neckerchief, while a gruff voice shouted in my ear. + </p> + <p> + “Rendez vous, mon cher” + </p> + <p> + Resistance was useless. I was forcibly dragged up the bank, where both + musketry and cannon were still playing on the boats, which had, however, + by this time got a good offing. I soon knew they were safe by the Torch + opening a fire of round and grape on the head of the dike, a contain proof + that the boats had been accounted for. The French party now ceased firing, + and retreated by the edge of the inundation, keeping the dike between them + and the brig, all except the artillery, who had to scamper off, running + the gauntlet on the crest of the embankment until they got beyond the + range of the carronades. I was conveyed between two grenadiers along the + water’s edge so long as the ship was firing; but when that ceased, I was + clapped on one of the limbers of the field-guns, and strapped down to it + between two of the artillerymen. + </p> + <p> + We rattled along, until we came up to the French bivouac, where, round a + large fire, kindled in what seemed to have been a farmyard, were assembled + about fifty or sixty French soldiers. Their arms were piled under the low + projecting roof of an outhouse, while the fire flickered upon their dark + figures, and glanced on their bright accoutrements, and lit up the wall of + the house that composed one side of the square. I was immediately marched + between a file of men into a small room, where the commanding officer of + the detachment was seated at a table, a blazing wood fire roaring in the + He was a genteel, slender, dark man, with very large black mustaches, and + fine sparkling black eyes, and had apparently just dismounted, for the mud + was fresh on his boots and trowsers. The latter were blue, with a broad + gold lace down the seam, and fastened by a strap under his boot, from + which projected a long fixed spur, which to me was remarkable as an + unusual dress for a Dire, the British army being, at the time I write of, + still in the age of breeches and gaiters, or tall boots, long cues and + pipeclay—that is, those troops which I had seen at home, although I + believe the great Duke had already relaxed a number of these absurdities + in Spain. + </p> + <p> + His single-breasted coat was buttoned up to his throat, and without an + inch of lace except on his crimson collar, which fitted close round his + neck, and was richly embroidered with gold acorns and oak leaves, as were + the crimson cuffs to his sleeves. He wore two immense and very handsome + gold epaulets. + </p> + <p> + “My good boy,” said he, after the officer who had captured me had told his + story—“so your Government thinks the Emperor is retreating from the + Elbe?” + </p> + <p> + I was a tolerable French scholar as times went, and answered him as well + as I could. + </p> + <p> + “I have said nothing about that, sir; but, from your question, I presume + you command the rear-guard, Colonel?” + </p> + <p> + “How strong is your squadron on the river?” said he, parrying the + question. + </p> + <p> + “There is only one sloop of war, sir”—and I spoke the truth. + </p> + <p> + He looked at me, and smiled incredulously; and then continued “I don’t + command the rear-guard, sir—but I waste time—are the boats + ready?” + </p> + <p> + He was answered in the affirmative. + </p> + <p> + “Then set fire to the houses, and let off the rockets; they will see them + at Cuxhaven—men,” fall in—march—and off we all trundled + towards the river again. + </p> + <p> + When we arrived there, we found ten Blankanese boats, two of them very + large, and fitted with sliding platforms. The four fieldpieces were run on + board, two into each; one hundred and fifty men embarked in them and the + other craft, which I found partly loaded with sacks of corn. I was in one + of the smallest boats with the colonel. When we were all ready to shove + off, “Lafont,” he said, “are the men ready with their couteaux?” + </p> + <p> + “They are, sir,” replied the sergeant. + </p> + <p> + “Then cut the horses’ throats—but no firing.” A few bubbling groans, + and some heavy falls, and a struggling splash or two in the water, showed + that the poor artillery horses had been destroyed. + </p> + <p> + The wind was fair up the river, and away we bowled before it. It was clear + to me that the colonel commanding the post had overrated our strength, + and, under the belief that we had cut him off from Cuxhaven, he had + determined on falling back on Hamburgh. + </p> + <p> + When the morning broke, we were close to the beautiful bank below Altona. + The trees were beginning to assume the russet hue of autumn, and the sun + shone gaily on the pretty villas and bloomin Gartens on the hill side, + while here and there a Chinese pagoda, or other fanciful pleasure-house, + with its gilded trellised work, and little bells depending from the eaves + of its many roofs, glancing like small golden balls, rose from out the + fast thinning recesses of the woods. + </p> + <p> + But there was no life in the scene—‘twas “Greece, but living Greece + no more,”—not a fishing-boat was near, scarcely a solitary figure + crawled along the beach. + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” after we had passed Blankanese, said the colonel quickly. + “Who are those?” as a group of three of four men presented themselves at a + sharp turning of the road, that wound along the foot of the hill close to + the shore. + </p> + <p> + “The uniform of the Prussians,” said one. + </p> + <p> + “Of the Russians,” said another. + </p> + <p> + “Poo,” said a third, “it is a picket of the Prince’s;” and so it was, but + the very fact of his having advanced his outposts so far, showed how he + trembled for his position. + </p> + <p> + After answering their hail, we pushed on, and as the clocks were striking + twelve, we were abreast of the strong beams, that were clamped together + with iron, and constituted the boom or chief water defence of Hamburgh. We + passed through, and found an entire regiment under arms, close by the + Custom-house. Somehow or other, I had drank deep of that John Bull + prejudice, which delights to disparage the physical conformation of our + Gallic neighbours, and hugs itself with the absurd notion, “that on one + pair of English legs doth march three Frenchmen.” But when I saw the + weather-beaten soldierlike veterans, who formed this compact battalion, + part of the elite of the first corps, more commanding in its aspect from + severe service having worn all the gilding and lace away—“there was + not a piece of feather in the host” I felt the reality before me fast + overcoming my preconceived opinion. I had seldom or ever seen so fine a + body of men, tall, square, and muscular, the spread of their shoulders set + off from their large red worsted epaulets, and the solidity of the mass + increased by their wide trowsers, which in my mind contrasted + advantageously with the long gaiters and tight integuments of our own + brave fellows. + </p> + <p> + We approached a group of three mounted officers, and in a few words the + officer, whose prisoner I was, explained the affair to the chef de baton, + whereupon I was immediately placed under the care of’ a sergeant and six + rank and file, and marched along the chief canal for a mile, where I could + not help remarking the numberless large rafts—you could not call + them boats—of unpainted pine timber, which had arrived from the + upper Elbe, loaded with grain: with gardens, absolute gardens, and + cowhouses, and piggeries on board; while their crews of Fierlanders, men, + women, and children, cut a most extraordinary appearance,—the men in + their jackets, with buttons like pot-lids, and trowsers fit to carry a + month’s provender and a couple of children in; and the women with bearings + about the quarters, as if they had cut holes in large cheeses, three feet + in diameter at least, and stuck themselves through them—such sterns—and + as to their costumes, all very fine in a Flemish painting, but the devils + appeared to be awfully nasty in real life. + </p> + <p> + But we carried on until we came to a large open space fronting a beautiful + piece of water, which I was told was the Alster. As I walked through the + narrow streets, I was struck with the peculiarity of the gables of the + tall houses being all turned towards the thoroughfare, and with the + stupendous size of the churches. We halted for a moment, in the porch of + one of the latter, and my notions of decency were not a little outraged, + by seeing it filled with a squadron of dragoons, the men being in the very + act of cleaning their horses. + </p> + <p> + At length we came to the open space on the Alster, a large parade, faced + by a street of splendid houses on the left hand, with a row of trees + between them, and the water on the right. + </p> + <p> + There were two regiments of foot bivouacking here, with their arms piled + under the trees, while, the men were variously employed, some on duty + before the houses, others cleaning their accoutrements, and others again + playing at all kinds of games. Presently we came to a crowd of soldiers + clustered round a particular spot, some laughing, others cracking coarse + jests, but none at all in the least serious. We could not get near enough + to see distinctly what was going on; but we afterwards saw, when the crowd + had dispersed, three men in the dress of respectable burghers, hanging + from a low gibbet,—so low in fact, that although their heads were + not six inches from the beam, their feet were scarcely three from the + ground. I was here placed in a guard-house, and kept there until the + evening, when I was again marched off under my former escort, and we soon + arrived at the door of a large mansion, fronting this parade, where two + sentries were walking backwards and forwards before the door, while five + dragoon horses, linked together, stood in the middle of the street, with + one soldier attending them, but there was no other particular bustle, to + mark the headquarters of the General commanding. We advanced to the + entrance—the sentries carrying arms—and were immediately + ushered into a large saloon, the massive stair winding up along the walls, + with the usual heavy wooden balustrade. We ascended to the first floor, + where we were encountered by three aides-de-camp, in full dress, leaning + with their backs against the hardwood railing, laughing and joking with + each other, while two wall-lamps right opposite cast a bright flashing + light on their splendid uniforms. They were all decorated with one order + or another. + </p> + <p> + We approached. + </p> + <p> + “Whence, and who have we here?” said one of them, a handsome young man, + apparently not above twenty-two, as I judged, with small tiny black, + jet-black, mustaches, and a noble countenance; fine dark eyes, and curls + dark and clustering. + </p> + <p> + The officer of my escort answered, “A young Englishman, enseigne de + vaisseau.” + </p> + <p> + I was no such thing, as a poor middy has no commission, but only his + rating, which even his captain, without a court-martial, can take away at + any time, and turn him before the mast. + </p> + <p> + At this moment, I heard the clang of a sabre, and the jingle of spurs on + the stairs, and the group was joined by my captor, Colonel——. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Colonel!” exclaimed the aides, in a volley, “where the devil have you + come from? We thought you were in Bruxelles at the nearest.” + </p> + <p> + The colonel put his hand on his lips and smiled, and then slapped the + young officer who spoke first with his glove. “Never mind, boys, I have + come to help you here—you will need help before long;—but how + is—?” Here he made a comical contortion of his face, and drew his + ungloved hand across his throat. The young officers laughed, and pointed + to the door. + </p> + <p> + He moved towards it, preceded by the youngest of them, who led the way + into a very lofty and handsome room, elegantly furnished, with some fine + pictures on the walls, a handsome sideboard of plate, a rich Turkey carpet + an unusual thing in Germany—on the floor, and a richly gilt pillar, + at the end of the room farthest from us, the base of which contained a + stove, which, through the joints of the door of it, appeared to be burning + cheerily. + </p> + <p> + There were some very handsome sofas and ottomans scattered through the + room, and a grand piano in one corner, the furniture being covered with + yellow, or amber-coloured velvet, with broad heavy draperies of gold + fringe, like the bullion of an epaulet. There was a small round table near + the stove, on which stood a silver candlestick, with four branches filled + with wax tapers; and bottles of wine, and glasses. At this table sat an + officer, apparently about forty five years of age. There was nothing very + peculiar in his appearance; he Was a middle-sized man, well made + apparently. He sat on one chair, with his legs supported on another. + </p> + <p> + His white-topped boots had been taken off, and replaced by a pair of + slipshod slippers; his splashed white kerseymere pantaloons, seamed with + gold, resting on the unfrayed velvet cushion; his blue coat, covered with + rich embroidery at the bosom and collar, was open, and the lapels thrown + back, displaying a crimson-velvet facing, also richly embroidered, and an + embroidered scarlet waistcoat; a large solitary star glittered on his + breast, and the grand cross of the Legion of Honour sparkled at his + buttonhole; his black neckerchief had been taken off; and his cocked hat + lay beside him on a sofa, massively laced, the edges richly ornamented + with ostrich down; his head was covered with a red velvet cap, with a + thick gold cord twisted two or three turns round it, and ending in two + large tassels of heavy bullion; he wore very large epaulets, and his sword + had been inadvertently, as I conjectured, placed on the table, so that the + steel hilt rested on the ornamental part of the metal stove. + </p> + <p> + His face was good, his hair dark, forehead without a wrinkle, high and + massive, eyes bright and sparkling, nose neither fine nor dumpy—a + fair enough proboscis as noses go. There was an expression about the upper + lip and mouth that I did not like—a constant nervous sort of lifting + of the lip as it were; and as the mustache appeared to have been recently + shaven off, there was a white blueness on the upper lip, that contrasted + unpleasantly with the dark tinge which he had gallantly wrought for on the + glowing sands of Egypt, and the bronzing of his general features from + fierce suns and parching winds. His bare neck and hands were delicately + fair, the former firm and muscular, the latter slender and tapering, like + a woman’s. He was reading a gazette, or some printed paper, when we + entered; and although there was a tolerable clatter of muskets, sabres, + and spurs, he never once lifted his eye in the direction where we stood. + Opposite this personage, on a low chair, with his legs crossed, and eyes + fixed on the ashes that were dropping from the stove, with his brown cloak + hanging from his shoulders, sat a short stout personage, a man about + thirty years of age, with fair flaxen hair, a florid complexion, a very + fair skin, and massive German features. The expression of his face, so far + as such a countenance could be said to have any characteristic expression, + was that of fixed sorrow. + </p> + <p> + But before I could make any other observation, the aide-de-camp approached + with a good spice of fear and trembling, as I could see. + </p> + <p> + “Colonel——to wait on your Highness.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!”—said the officer to whom he spoke,—“ah, colonel, what do + you here? Has the Emperor advanced again?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said the officer, “he has not advanced; but the rear-guard were cut + off by the Prussians, and the light, with the grenadiers, are now in + Cuxhaven.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” replied the general, “but how come you here?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Marshal, we were detached to seize a depot of provisions in a + neighbouring village, and had made preparations to carry them off, when we + were attacked through a gap in the dike, by some armed boats from an + English squadron, and hearing a distant firing at the very moment, which I + concluded to be the Prussian advance, I conceived all chance of rejoining + the main army at an end, and therefore I shoved off in the grain-boats, + and here I am.” + </p> + <p> + “Glad to see you, however,” said the general, “but sorry for the cause why + you have returned.—Who have we got here—what boy is that?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” responded the colonel, “that lad is one of the British officers of + the force that attacked us.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha,” said the general again, “how did you capture him?” + </p> + <p> + “The boat (one of four) in which he was, was blown to pieces by a + six-pound shot. He was the only one of the enemy who swam ashore. The + rest, I am inclined to think, were picked up by the other boats.” + </p> + <p> + “So,” grumbled the general, “British ships in the Elbe!” + </p> + <p> + The colonel continued. “I hope, Marshal, you will allow him his parole? he + is, as you see, quite a child.” + </p> + <p> + “Parole!” replied the Marshall,—“parole! such a mere lad cannot know + the value of his promise.” + </p> + <p> + A sudden fit of rashness came over me. + </p> + <p> + “He is a mere boy,” reiterated the Marshall. “No, no—send him to + prison;” and he resumed the study of the printed paper he had been + reading. + </p> + <p> + I struck in, impelled by despair, for, young as I was, I knew the + character of the man before whom I stood, and I remembered that even a + tiger might be checked by a bold front—“I am an Englishman, sir, and + incapable of breaking my plighted word.” + </p> + <p> + He laid down the paper he was reading, and slowly lifted his eyes, and + fastened them on me,—“Ha,” said he, “ha—so young—so + reckless!” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind him, Marshal,” said the colonel. “If you will grant him his + parole, I.”—“Take it, colonel—take it—take his parole, + not to go beyond the ditch.” + </p> + <p> + “But I decline to give any such promise,” said I, with a hardihood which + at the time surprised me, and has always done so. + </p> + <p> + “Why, my good youth,” said the Marshal in great surprise, “why will you + not take advantage of the offer—a kinder one, let me tell you, than + I am in the habit of making to an enemy?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply, sir, because I will endeavour to escape on the very first + opportunity.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha!” said the Marshal once more, “this to my face? Lafontaine,”—; + to the aide-de-camp,—“a file of soldiers.” The handsome young + officer hesitated hung in the wind, as we say, for a moment—moved, + as I imagined, by my extreme youth. + </p> + <p> + This irritated the Marshal rose, and stamped on the floor. The colonel + essayed to interfere. “Sentry—sentry—a file of grenadiers—take + him forth,” and—here he energetically clutched the steel hilt of his + sword, and instantly dashed it from him—“Sacre!—the devil—what + is that?” and straightway he began to pirouette on one leg round the room, + shaking his right hand, and blowing his fingers. + </p> + <p> + The officers in waiting could not stand it any longer, and burst into a + fit of laughter, in which their commanding officer, after an unavailing + attempt to look serious—I should rather write fierce joined, and + there he was, the bloody Davoust—Duke of Auerstad Prince of Eckmuhl—the + Hamburgh Robespierre—the terrible Davoust—dancing all around + the room, in a regular guffaw, like to split his sides. The heated stove + had made his sword, which rested on it, nearly red-hot. + </p> + <p> + All this while the quiet, plain-looking little man sat still. He now rose; + but I noticed that he had been fixing his eyes intently on me. I thought I + could perceive a tear glistening in them as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Marshal, will you intrust that boy to me?” + </p> + <p> + “Poo,” said the Prince, still laughing, “take him—do what you will + with him;”—then, as if suddenly recollecting himself, “But, Mr——, + you must be answerable for him—he must be at hand if I want him.” + </p> + <p> + The gentleman who had so unexpectedly patronized me rose, and said, + “Marshal, I promise.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said Davoust. “Lafontaine, desire supper to be sent up.” + </p> + <p> + It was brought in, and my new ally and I were shown out. + </p> + <p> + As we went down stairs, we looked into a room on the ground floor, at the + door of which were four soldiers with fixed bayonets. We there saw, for it + was well lit up, about twenty or five-and-twenty respectable-looking men, + very English in appearance, all to their long cloaks, an unusual sort of + garment to my eye at that time. The night was very wet, and the aforesaid + garments were hung on pegs in the wall all around the room, which being + strongly heated by a stove, the moisture rose up in a thick mist and made + the faces of the burghers indistinct. + </p> + <p> + They were all busily engaged talking to each other, some to his neighbour, + the others across the table, but all with an expression of the most + intense anxiety. + </p> + <p> + “Who are these?” said I to my guide. + </p> + <p> + “Ask no questions here” said he, and we passed on. + </p> + <p> + I afterwards learned that they were the hostages seized on for the + contribution of fifty millions of francs, which had been imposed on the + doomed city, and that this very night they had been tom from their + families, and cooped up in the way I had seen them, where, they were + advertised, they must remain until the money should be forthcoming. + </p> + <p> + As we walked along the streets, and crossed the numerous bridges over the + canals and branches of the river, we found all the houses lit up, by + order, as I learned, of the French marshal. The rain descended in + torrents, sparkling past the lights, while the city was a desert, with one + dreadful exception; for we were waylaid at almost every turn by groups of + starving lunatics, their half-naked figures and pale visages glimmering in + the glancing lights, under the dripping rain; and, had it not been for the + numerous sentries scattered along the thoroughfares, I believe we should + have been tom to pieces by bands of moping idiots, now rendered ferocious + from their sufferings, in consequence of the madhouses having been cleared + of their miserable, helpless inmates, in order to be converted into + barracks for the troops. At all of these bridges sentries were posted, + past which my conductor and myself were franked by the sergeant who + accompanied us giving the countersign. At length, civilly touching his + cap, although he did not refuse the piece of money tendered by my friend, + he left us, wishing us good-night, and saying the coast was clear. + </p> + <p> + We proceeded, without farther challenge, until we came to a very + magnificent house, with some fine trees before it. We approached the door, + and rung the doorbell. It was immediately opened, and we entered a large + desolate, looking vestibule, about thirty feet square, filled in the + centre with a number of bales of goods, and a variety of merchandise, + while a heavy wooden stair, with clumsy oak balustrades, wound round the + sides of it. We ascended, and, turning to the right, entered a large well + furnished room, with a table laid out for supper, with lights, and a + comfortable stove at one end. Three young officers of cuirassiers, in + their superb uniforms, whose breast and back pieces were glittering on a + neighbouring sofa, and a colonel of artillery, were standing round the + stove. The colonel, the moment we entered, addressed my conductor: + </p> + <p> + “Ah,——, we are devilish hungry—Ich bin dem Verhungern + nahe and were just on the point of ordering in the provender had you not + appeared.” + </p> + <p> + “A little more than that,” thought I; for the food was already smoking on + the table. + </p> + <p> + Mine host acknowledged the speech with a slight smile. + </p> + <p> + “But who have we here?” said one of the young dragoons. He waited a moment + “Etes—vous Francais?” I gave him no answer. He then addressed me in + German—“Sprechen sie geldufig Deutsch?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” chimed in my conductor, “he does speak a little French + indifferently enough; but still....” + </p> + <p> + Here I was introduced to the young officers, and we all sat down at table; + the colonel, civility itself, pressing my host to drink his own wine, and + eat his own food and even rating the servants for not being sufficiently + alert in their attendance on their own master. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my dear——, how have you sped with the Prince?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, colonel,” said my protector, in his calm way, “as well as I + expected. I was of some service to him when he was here before, at the + time he was taken so very ill, and he has not forgotten it; so I am not + included amongst the unfortunate detainees for the payment of the fine. + But that is not all; for I am allowed to go tomorrow to my father’s, and + here is my passport.” + </p> + <p> + “Wonders will never cease,” said the colonel; “but who is that boy?” + </p> + <p> + “He is one of the crew of the English boats which tried to cut off Colonel——the + other evening, near Cuxhaven. His life was saved by a very laughable + circumstance certainly; merely, by the marshal’s sword, from resting on + the stove, having become almost red-hot.” And here he detailed the whole + transaction as it took place, which set the party a-laughing most + heartily. + </p> + <p> + I will always bear witness to the extreme amenity with which I was now + treated by the French officers. The evening passed over quickly. About + eleven we retired to rest, my friend furnishing me with clothes, and + warning me, that next morning he would call me at daylight, to proceed to + his father’s country-seat, where he intimated that I must remain in the + meantime. + </p> + <p> + Next morning I was roused accordingly, and a long, low, open carriage + rattled up to the door, just before day—dawn. Presently the reveille + was beaten, and answered by the different posts in the city, and on the + ramparts. + </p> + <p> + We drove on, merely showing our passport to the sentries at the different + bridges, until we reached the gate, where we had to pun up until the + officer on duty appeared, and had scrupulously compared our personal + appearance with the written description. All was found correct, and we + drove on. + </p> + <p> + It surprised me very much, after having repeatedly heard of the great + strength of Hamburgh, to look out on the large mound of green turf that + constituted its chief defence. + </p> + <p> + It is all true that there was a deep ditch and glacis beyond; but there + was no covered way, and both the scarp and counterscarp were simple + earthen embankments; so that, had the ditch been filled up with fascines, + there was no wall to face the attacking force after crossing it,—nothing + but a green mound, precipitous enough, certainly, and crowned with a low + parapet of masonry, and bristling with batteries about half way down, so + that the muzzles of the guns were flush with the neighbouring country + beyond the ditch. Still there was wanting, to my imagination, the strength + of the high perpendicular wall, with its gaping embrasures, and frowning + cannon. All this time it never occurred to me, that to breach such a + defence as that we looked upon was impossible. You might have plumped your + shot into it until you had converted it into an iron mine, but no chasm + could have been forced in it by all the artillery in Europe; so battering + in a breach was entirely out of the question, and this, in truth, + constituted the great strength of the place. + </p> + <p> + We arrived, after an hour’s drive, at the villa belonging to my + protector’s family, and walked into a large room, with a comfortable + stove, and extensive preparations made for a comfortable breakfast. + </p> + <p> + Presently three young ladies appeared. They were his sisters,—blue-eyed, + fair-haired, white-skinned, round-sterned, plump little partridges. + </p> + <p> + “Haben sie gefruhstucht?” said the eldest. + </p> + <p> + “Pas encore,” said he in French, with a smile. “But, sisters, I have + brought a stranger here, a young English officer, who was recently + captured in the river.” + </p> + <p> + “An English officer!” exclaimed the three ladies, looking at me, a poor, + little, dirty midshipman, in my soiled linen, unbrushed shoes, dirty + trowsers and jacket, with my little square of white cloth on the collar; + and I began to find the eloquent blood mangling in my cheeks, and tingling + in my ears; but their kindly feelings got the better of a gentle + propensity to laugh, and the youngest said—“Sie sind gerade zu + rechter zeit gekommen:” when, finding that her German was Hebrew to me, + she tried the other tack “Vous arrivez a propos, le dejeuner est pret.” + </p> + <p> + However I soon found, that the moment they were assured that I was in + reality an Englishman, they all spoke English, and exceedingly well too. + Our meal was finished, and I was standing at the window looking out on a + small lawn, where evergreens of the most beautiful kinds were checkered + with little round clumps of most luxuriant hollyhocks, and the fruit trees + in the neighborhood were absolutely bending to the earth under their loads + of apples and pears. Presently my friend came up to me; my curiosity could + no longer be restrained. + </p> + <p> + “Pray, my good sir, what peculiar cause, may I ask, have you for showing + me, an entire stranger to you, all this unexpected kindness? I am fully + aware that I have no claim on you.” + </p> + <p> + “My good boy, you say true; but I have spent the greatest part of my life + in London, although a Hamburgher born, and I consider you, therefore, in + the light of a countryman. Besides, I will not conceal that your gallant + bearing before Davoust riveted my attention, and engaged my good wishes.” + </p> + <p> + “But how come you to have so much influence with the general, I mean?” + </p> + <p> + “For several reasons,” he replied. “For those, amongst others, you heard + the colonel—who has taken the small liberty of turning me out of my + own house in Hamburgh—mention last night at supper. But a man like + Davoust cannot be judged of by common rules. He has, in short, taken a + fancy to me, for which you may thank your stars although your life has + been actually saved by the Prince having burned his fingers,—But + here comes my father.” + </p> + <p> + A venerable old man entered the room, leaning on his stick. I was + introduced in due form. + </p> + <p> + “He had breakfasted in his own room,” he said, “having been ailing; but he + could not rest quietly, after he had heard there was an Englishman in the + house, until he had himself welcomed him.” + </p> + <p> + I shall never forget the kindness I experienced from these worthy people. + For three days I was fed and clothed by them as if I had been a member of + the family. + </p> + <p> + Like a boy as I was, I had risen on the fourth morning at grey dawn, to be + aiding in dragging the fish-pond, so that it might be cleaned out. + </p> + <p> + This was an annual amusement, in which the young men and women in the + family, under happier circumstances, had been in the invariable custom of + joining; and, changed as these were, they still preserved the fashion. The + seine was cast in at one end, loaded at the bottom with heavy sinks, and + buoyant at the top with cork floats. We hauled it along the whole length + of the pond, thereby driving the fish into an enclosure, about twenty feet + square, with a sluice towards the pond, and another fronting the dull + ditch that flowed past beyond it. Whenever we had hunted the whole of the + finny tribes—(barring those slippery youths the eels, who, with all + their cleverness, were left to dry in the mud)—into the toils, we + filled all the tubs, and pots, and pans, and vessels of all kinds and + descriptions, with the fat, honest looking Dutchmen, the carp and tench, + who really submitted to their captivity with all the resignation of most + ancient and quiet fish, scarcely indicating any sense of its irksomeness, + except by a lumbering sluggish flap of their broad heavy tails. + </p> + <p> + A transaction of this kind could not take place amongst a group of young + folk without shouts of laughter, and it was not until we had caught the + whole of the fish in the pond, and placed them in safety, that I had + leisure to look about me. The city lay about four miles distant from us. + The whole country about Hamburgh is level, except the right bank below it + of the noble river on which it stands, the Elbe. The house where I was + domiciled stood on nearly the highest point of this bank, which gradually + sloped down into a swampy hollow, nearly level with the river. It then + rose again gently until the swell was crowned with the beautiful town of + Altona, and immediately beyond appeared the ramparts and tall spires of + the noble city itself. + </p> + <p> + The morning had been thick and foggy, but as the sun rose, the white mist + that had floated over the whole country, gradually concentrated and + settled down into the hollow between us and Hamburgh, covering it with an + impervious veil, which even extended into the city itself, filling the + lower part of it with a dense white bank of fog, which rose so high that + the spires alone, with one or two of the most lofty buildings, appeared a + bove the rolling sea of white fleece-like vapour, as if it had been a + model of the stronghold, in place of the reality, packed in white wool, so + distinct did it appear, diminished as it was in the distance. On the + tallest spire of the place, which was now sparkling in the early sunbeams, + the French flag, the pestilent tricolor, that waved sluggishly in the + faint morning breeze. + </p> + <p> + It attracted my attention, and I pointed it out to my patron. Presently it + was hauled down, and a series of signals was made at the yard-arm of a + spar, that had been slung across it. Who can they be telegraphing to? + thought I, while I could notice my host assume a most anxious and startled + look, while he peered down into the hollow. But he could see nothing, as + the fog bank still filled the whole of the space between the city and the + acclivity where we stood. + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” said I; for I heard, or thought I heard, a low rumbling + rushing noise in the ravine. Mr —— heard it as well as I + apparently, for he put his finger to his lips—as much as to say, + “Hold your tongue, my good boy nous verrons.” + </p> + <p> + It increased—the clattering of horses hoofs, and the clang of + scabbards were heard, and, in a twinkling, the hussar caps of a squadron + of light dragoons emerged from out the fog bank, as, charging up the road, + they passed the small gate of green basket-work at a hand gallop. I ought + to have mentioned before, that my friend’s house was situated about half + way up the ascent, so that the rising ground behind it in the opposite + direction from the city shut out all view towards the country. After the + dragoons passed, there was an interval of two minutes, when a troop of + flying artillery, with three six-pound field-pieces, rattled after the + leading squadron, the horses all in a lather, at full speed, with the guns + bounding and jumping behind them as if they had been playthings, followed + by their caissons. Presently we could see the leading squadron file to the + right—clear the low hedge—and then disappear over the crest of + the hill. Twenty or thirty pioneers, who had been carried forward behind + as many of the cavalry, were now seen busily employed in filling up the + ditch, and cutting down the short scrubby hedge; and presently, the + artillery coming up also, filed off sharply to the right, and formed on + the very summit of the hill, distinctly visible between us and the grey + cold streaks of morning. By the time we had noticed, this, the clatter in + our immediate neighbourhood was renewed, and a group of mounted officers + dashed past us, up the path, like a whirlwind, followed at a distance of + twenty yards, by a single cavalier, apparently a general officer. These + did not stop, as they rode at speed past the spot where the artillery were + in position, but, dipping over the summit, disappeared down the road, from + which they did not appear to diverge, until they were lost to our view + beyond the crest of the hill. The hum and buzz, and, anon, the “measured + tread of marching men,” in the valley between us and Hamburgh, still + continued. The leading files of a light infantry regiment, now appeared, + swinging along at a round trot, with their muskets poised in their right + hands—no knapsacks on their backs. They appeared to follow the route + of the group of mounted officers, until we could see a puff of white + smoke, then another and a third from the field-pieces, followed by + thudding reports, there being no high ground nor precipitous bank nor + water in the neighborhood to reflect the sound, and make it emulate Jove’s + thunder. At this, they struck across the fields, and forming behind the + guns, lay down flat on their faces, where they were soon hid from our view + by the wreaths of white smoke, as the sluggish morning breeze rolled it + down the hill-side towards us. + </p> + <p> + “What the deuce can all this mean—is it a review?” said I, in my + innocence. + </p> + <p> + “A reconnoissance in force,” groaned my friend. “The Allied troops must be + at hand—now, God help us!” + </p> + <p> + The women, like frightened hares, paused to look up in their brother’s + face, as he kept his eye steadily turned towards the ridge of the hill, + and, when he involuntarily wrung his hands, they gave a loud scream, a + fearful concerto, and ran off into the house. + </p> + <p> + The breeze at this moment “aside the shroud of battle cast” and we heard a + faint bugle-call, like an echo, wail in the distance, from beyond the + hill. It was instantly answered by the loud, startling blare of a dozen of + the light infantry bugles above us on the hill-side, and we could see them + suddenly start from their lair, and form; while between us and the + clearing morning sky, the cavalry, magnified into giants in the strong + relief on the outline of the hill, were driven in straggling patrols, like + chaff, over the summit—their sabres sparkling in the level sunbeams, + and the reports of the red flashes of their pistols crackling down upon + us. + </p> + <p> + “They are driven in on the infantry,” said Mr —— He was right + but the light battalion immediately charged over the hill, with a loud + hurrah, after admitting the beaten horse through their intervals, who, + however, to give the devils their due, formed again in a instant, under + the shelter of the high ground. The artillery again opened their fire the + cavalry once more advanced, and presently we could see nothing but the + field-pieces, with their three separate groups of soldiers standing + quietly by them,—a sure proof that the enemy’s pickets were now out + of cannon-shot, and had been driven back on the main body, and that the + reconnoissance was still advancing. + </p> + <p> + What will not an habitual exposure to danger do, even with tender women? + </p> + <p> + “The French have advanced, so let us have our breakfast, Julia, my dear,” + said Mr——as we entered the house. “The Allied Forces would + have been welcome, however; and surely, if they do come, they will respect + our sufferings and helplessness.” + </p> + <p> + The eldest sister, to whom he spoke, shook her head mournfully; but, + nevertheless, betook herself to her task of making coffee. + </p> + <p> + “What rumbling and rattling is that?” said to an old servant who had just + entered the room. + </p> + <p> + “Two wagons with wounded men, sir, have passed onwards towards the town.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said mine host, in great bitterness of spirit. + </p> + <p> + But allons, we proceeded to make the best use of our time—ham, good—fish, + excellent eggs, fresh—coffee, superb—when we again heard the + fieldpieces above us open their fire, and in the intervals we could + distinguish the distant rattle of musketry. Presently this rolling fire + slackened, and, after a few scattering shots here and there, ceased + altogether; but the cannon on the hill still continued to play. + </p> + <p> + We were by this time all standing in a cluster in the porch of the villa, + before which stood the tubs with the finny spoil of the fish-pond, on a + small paddock of velvet grass, about forty yards square, separated from + the high-road by a low ornamental fence of green basket-work, as already + mentioned. The firing from the great guns increased, and every now and + then I thought I heard a distant sound, as if the reports of the guns + above us had been reflected from some precipitous bank. + </p> + <p> + “I did not know that there was any echo here,” said the youngest girl. + </p> + <p> + “Alas, Janette!” said her brother, “I fear that is no echo;” and he put up + his hand to his ear, and listened in breathless suspense. The sound was + repeated. + </p> + <p> + “The Russian cannon replying to those on the hill!” said Mr with startling + energy. “God help us! it can no longer be an affair of posts; the heads of + the Allied columns must be in sight, for the French skirmishers are + unquestionably driven in.” + </p> + <p> + A French officer at this moment rattled past us down the road at speed, + and vanished in the hollow, taking the direction of the town. + </p> + <p> + His hat fell off, as his horse swerved a little at the open gate as he + passed. He never stopped to pick it up. Presently a round shot, with a + loud ringing and hissing sound, pitched over the hill, and knocked one of + the fish-tubs close to us to pieces, scattering the poor fish all about + the lawn. With the recklessness of a mere boy I dashed out, and was busy + picking them up, when Mr——called to me to come back. + </p> + <p> + “Let us go in and await what may befall; I dread what the ty”—here + he prudently checked himself, remembering, no doubt, “that a bird of the + air might carry the matter,”—“I dread what he may do, if they are + really investing the place. At any rate, here, in the very arena where the + struggle will doubtless be fiercest, we cannot abide. So go, my dear + sisters, and pack up whatever you may have most valuable, or most + necessary. Nay, no tears; and I will attend to our poor old father, and + get the carriage ready, if, God help me, I dare use it.” + </p> + <p> + “But where, in the name of all that is fearful, shall we go?” said his + second sister. “Not back to Hamburgh—not to endure another season of + such deep degradation—not to be exposed to the Oh brother, you saw + we all submitted to our fate without a murmur, and laboured cheerfully on + the fortifications, when compelled to do so, by that inhuman monster + Davoust, amidst the ribaldry of a licentious soldiery, merely because poor + Janette had helped to embroider a standard for the brave Hanseatic Legion + you know how we bore this”—here the sweet girl held out her delicate + hands, galled by actual and unwonted labour and many other indignities, + until that awful night, when—“No, brother, we shall await the + arrival of the Russians, even should we see our once happy home converted + into a field of battle; but into the city we shall not go.” + </p> + <p> + “Be it so, then, my dearest, sister.—Wilhehn, put up the stuhl + wagen.” + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely returned into the breakfast-room, when the door opened, + and the very handsome young officer, the aide-de-camp of the Prince, whom + I had seen the night I was carried before Davoust, entered, splashed up to + the eyes, and much heated and excited. I noticed blood on the hilt of his + sword. His orderly sat on his foaming steed, right opposite where I stood, + wiping his bloody sabre on his horse’s mane. The women grew pale; but + still they had presence of mind enough to do the honours with + self-possession. + </p> + <p> + The stranger wished us a good morning; and on being asked to sit down to + breakfast, he unbuckled his sword, threw it from him with a clash on the + floor, and then, with all the grace in the world, addressed himself to + discuss the comestibles. He tried a slight approach to jesting now and + then; but seeing the heaviness of heart which prevailed amongst the women, + he, with the good breeding of a man of the world, forbore to press his + attentions. + </p> + <p> + Breakfast being finished, and the ladies having retired, he rose, buckled + on his sword again, drew on his gloves, and taking his hat in his hand, he + advanced to the window, and desired his men to “fall in.” + </p> + <p> + “Men—what men?” said poor Mr——. + </p> + <p> + “Why, the Marshal has had a company of sapeurs for these three days back + in the adjoining village—they are now here.” + </p> + <p> + “Here!” exclaimed——; “what do the sappers here?” Two of the + soldiers carried slow matches in their hands, while their muskets were + slung at their backs. “There is no mine to be sprung here?” + </p> + <p> + The young officer heard him with great politeness, but declined giving any + answer. The next moment he turned towards the ladies, and was making + himself as agreeable as time and circumstances would admit; when a shot + came crashing through the roof, broke down the ceiling, and knocking the + flue of the stove to pieces, rebounded from the wall, and rolled + harmlessly beneath the table. He was the only person who did not start, or + evince any dread. He merely cast his eyes upward and smiled. He then + turned to poor——, who stood quite collected, but very pale, + near where the stove had stood, and held out his hand to him. + </p> + <p> + “On my honour,” said the young soldier, “it grieves me to the very heart; + but I must obey my orders. It is no longer an affair of posts; the enemy + is pressing on us in force. The Allied columns are in sight; their cannon + shot have but now penetrated your roof; we have but driven in their + pickets; very soon they will be here; and in the event of their advance, + my orders are to burn down this house and the neighbouring village.” + </p> + <p> + A sudden flush rushed into Mr——‘s face. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed! does the Prince really—” + </p> + <p> + The young officer bowed, and with something more of sternness in his + manner than he had yet used, he said, “Mr——, I duly appreciate + your situation, and respect your feelings; but the Prince of Eckmuhl is my + superior officer, and under other circumstances”—Here he slightly + touched the hilt of his sword. + </p> + <p> + “For myself I don’t care,” said——, “but what is to become of + my sisters?” + </p> + <p> + “They must proceed to Hamburgh.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well—let me order the stuhl wagen, and give us, at all events, + half an hour to move our valuables.” + </p> + <p> + Here Mr——exchanged looks with his sisters. + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said the young officer; “and I will myself see you safe into + the city.” + </p> + <p> + Who says that eels cannot be made used to skinning? The poor girls + continued their little preparations with an alacrity and presence of mind + that truly surprised me. There was neither screaming nor fainting, and by + the time the carriage was at the door, they, with two female domestics, + were ready to mount. I cannot better describe their vehicle, than by + comparing it to a canoe mounted on four wheels, connected by a long perch, + with a coachbox at the bow, and three gig bodies hung athwart ships, or + slung inside of the canoe, by leather thongs. At the moment we were + starting, Mr —— came close to me and whispered, “Do you think + your ship will still be in the river?” + </p> + <p> + I answered that I made no doubt she was. + </p> + <p> + “But even if she be not,” said he, “the Holstein bank is open to us. + Anywhere but Hamburgh now.” And the scalding tears ran down his cheeks. + </p> + <p> + At this moment there was a bustle on the hill top, and presently the + artillery began once more to play, while the musketry breezed up again in + the distance. A mounted bugler rode half way down the hill, and sounded + the recall. The young officer hesitated. He man waved his hand, and blew + the advance. + </p> + <p> + “It must be for us—answer it.” His bugle did so. “Bring the pitch, + men the flax—so now—break the windows, and let the air in—set + the house on fire; and, Sergeant Guido, remain to prevent it being + extinguished I shall fire the village as we pass through.” + </p> + <p> + He gave the word to face about; and, desiring the men to follow at the + same swinging run with which the whole of the infantry had originally + advanced, he spurred his horse against the hill, and soon disappeared. + </p> + <p> + My host’s resolution seemed now taken. Turning to the sergeant, “My good + fellow, the reconnoissance will soon be returning; I shall precede it into + the town.” + </p> + <p> + The man, a fine vieux moustache, hesitated. + </p> + <p> + My friend saw it, and hit him in a Frenchman’s most assailable quarter. + </p> + <p> + “The ladies, my good man—the ladies!—You would not have them + drive in pell-mell with the troops, exposed most likely to the fire of the + Prussian advanced-guard, would you?” + </p> + <p> + The man grounded his musket, and touched his cap—“Pass on.” Away we + trundled, until, coming to a cross-road, we turned down towards the river; + and at the angle we could see thick wreaths of smoke curling up into the + air, showing that the barbarous order had been but too effectually + fulfilled. + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” said——. + </p> + <p> + A horse, with his rider entangled and dragged by the stirrup, passed us at + full speed, leaving a long track of blood on the road. + </p> + <p> + “Who is that?” + </p> + <p> + The coachman drove on, and gave no answer; until, at a sharp turn, we came + upon the bruised and now breathless body of the young officer, who had so + recently obeyed the savage behests of his brutal commander. There was a + musket-shot right in the middle of his fine forehead, like a small blue + point, with one or two heavy black drops of blood oozing from it. His pale + features wore a mild and placid expression, evincing that the numberless + lacerations and bruises, which were evident through his tom uniform, had + been inflicted on a breathless corpse. + </p> + <p> + The stuhl wagen had carried on for a mile farther or so, but the firing + seemed to approximate, whereupon our host sung out, “Fahrt Zu, Schwager—Wir + Kommen nicht weiter.” + </p> + <p> + The driver of the stuhl wagen skulled along until we arrived at the + beautiful, at a mile off, but the beastly, when close to, village of + Blankanese. + </p> + <p> + When the voiture stopped in the village, there seemed to be a + nonplusation, to coin a word for the nonce, between my friend and his + sisters. They said something very sharply, and with a degree of + determination that startled me. He gave no answer. Presently the Amazonian + attack was renewed. + </p> + <p> + “We shall go onboard,” said they. “Very well,” said he; “but have + patience, have patience!” + </p> + <p> + “No, no. Wann wird man sich einschiffen mussen?” + </p> + <p> + By this time we were in the heart of the village, and surrounded with a + whole lot, forty at the least, of Blankanese boatmen. We were not long in + selecting one of the fleetest-looking of those very fleet boats, when we + all trundled on board; and I now witnessed what struck me as being an + awful sign of the times. The very coachman of the stuhl wagen, after + conversing a moment with his master, returned to his team, tied the legs + of the poor creatures as they stood, and then with a sharp knife cut their + jugular veins through and through on the right side, having previously + reined them up sharp to the left, so that, before starting, we could see + three of the team, which consisted of four superb bays, level with the + soil and dead; the near wheeler only holding out on his fore-legs. + </p> + <p> + We shoved off at eleven o’clock in the forenoon; and after having twice + been driven into creeks on the Holstein shore by bad weather, we arrived + about two next morning safely on board the Torch, which immediately got + under weigh for England. After my story had been told to the Captain, I + left my preserver, his father, and his sisters in his hands, and I need + scarcely say that they had as hearty a welcome as the worthy old soul + could give them, and dived into the midshipmen’s berth for a morsel of + comfort, where, in a twinkling, I was far into the secrets of a pork pie. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II.—The Cruise of the Torch. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Sleep, gentle sleep— + Wilt thou, upon the high and giddy mast, + Seal up the shipboy’s eyes, and rock his brains, + In cradle of the rude imperious surge; + And in the visitation of the winds, + Who take the ruffian billows by the top, + Curling their monstrous heads, and hanging them + With deafning clamour in the slippery clouds, + That, with the hurry, death itself awakes— + Canst thou, O partial sleep! give thy repose + To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude? + + 2 HENRY IV, Ill. 1. 5, 18—27. +</pre> + <p> + Heligoland light-north and by west—so many leagues—wind + baffling weather hazy—Lady Passengers on deck for the first time. + </p> + <p> + Arrived in the Downs—ordered by signal from the guard—ship to + proceed to Portsmouth. Arrived at Spithead—ordered to fit to receive + a general officer, and six pieces of field artillery, and a Spanish + Ecclesiastic, the Canon of——. Plenty of great guns, at any + rate—a regular park of artillery. + </p> + <p> + Received General —— and his wife, and aide-de-camp, and two + poodle dogs, one white man-servant, one black ditto, and the Canon of + ——, and the six nine-pound field-pieces, and sailed for the + Cove of Cork. + </p> + <p> + It was blowing hard as we stood in for the Old Head of Kinsale pilot boat + breasting the foaming surge like a sea gull—“Carrol Cove” in her + tiny mainsail-pilot jumped into the main channel a bottle of rum swung by + the lead line into the boat—all very clever. + </p> + <p> + Ran in, and anchored under Spike Island. A line-of-battle ship, three + frigates, and a number of merchantmen at anchor-men of war lovely craft, + bands playing—a good deal of the pomp and circumstance of war. Next + forenoon, Mr Treenail, the second lieutenant, sent for me. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Cringle,” said he, “you have an uncle in Cork, I believe?” + </p> + <p> + I said I had. + </p> + <p> + “I am going there on duty to-night; I daresay, if you asked the Captain to + let you accompany me, he would do so.” This was too good an offer not to + be taken advantage of. I plucked up courage, made my bow, asked leave, and + got it; and the evening found my friend the lieutenant, and myself, after + a ride of three hours, during which I, for one, had my bottom sheathing + grievously rubbed, and a considerable botheration at crossing the Ferry at + Passage, safe in our inn at Cork. I soon found out that the object of my + superior officer was to gain information amongst the crimp shops, where + ten men, who had run from one of the West Indiamen, waiting at Cove for + convoy, were stowed away, but I was not let farther into the secret; so I + set out to pay my visit, and after passing a pleasant evening with my + friends, Mr and Mrs Job Cringle, the lieutenant dropped in upon us about + nine o’clock. He was heartily welcomed, and under the plea of our being + obliged to return to the ship early next morning, we soon took leave, and + returned to the inn. As I was turning into the public room, the door was + open, and I could see it full of blowsy-faced monsters, glimmering and + jabbering, through the mist of hot brandy grog and gin twist; with poodle + Benjamins, and greatcoats, and cloaks of all sorts and sizes, steaming on + their pegs, with Barcelonas and comforters, and damp travelling caps of + seal-skin, and blue cloth, and tartan, arranged above the same. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless, such a society in my juvenile estimation, during my short + escapade from the middy’s berth, had its charms, and I was rolling in with + a tolerable swagger, when Mr Treenail pinched my arm. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Cringle, come here, into my room.” + </p> + <p> + From the way in which he spoke, I imagined, in my innocence, that his room + was at my elbow; but no such thing—we had to ascend a long, and not + overclean staircase, to the fourth floor, before we were shown into a + miserable little double-bedded room. So soon as we had entered, the + lieutenant shut the door. + </p> + <p> + “Tom,” said he, “I have taken a fancy to you, and therefore I applied for + leave to bring you with me; but I must expose you to some danger, and, I + will allow, not altogether in a very creditable way either. You must enact + the spy for a short space.” + </p> + <p> + I did not like the notion certainly, but I had little time for + consideration. + </p> + <p> + “Here,” he continued—“here is a bundle.” He threw it on the floor. + “You must rig in the clothes it, contains, and make your way into the + celebrated crimp shop in the neighbourhood, and pick up all the + information you can regarding the haunts of the pressable men at Cove, + especially with regard to the ten seamen who have run from the West + Indiaman we left below. You know the Admiral has forbidden pressing in + Cork, so you must contrive to frighten the blue jackets down to Cove, by + representing yourself as an apprentice of one of the merchant vessels, who + had run from his indentures, and that you had narrowly escaped from a + press-gang this very night here.” + </p> + <p> + I made no scruples, but forthwith arrayed myself in the slops contained in + the bundle; in a pair of shag trowsers, red flannel shirt, coarse blue + cloth jacket, and no waistcoat. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Mr Treenail, “stick a quid of tobacco in your cheek, and take + the cockade out of your hat; or stop, leave it, and ship this striped + woollen night-cap—so—and come along with me.” + </p> + <p> + We left the house, and walked half a mile down the Quay. + </p> + <p> + Presently we arrived before a kind of low grog-shop—a bright lamp + was flaring in the breeze at the door, one of the panes of the glass of it + being broken. + </p> + <p> + Before I entered, Mr Treenail took me to one side—“Tom, Tom Cringle, + you must go into this crimp shop; pass yourself off for an apprentice of + the Guava, bound for Trinidad, the ship that arrived just as we started, + and pick up all the knowledge you can regarding the whereabouts of the + men, for we are, as you know, cruelly ill manned, and must replenish as we + best may.” I entered the house, after having agreed to rejoin my superior + officer, so soon as I considered I had obtained my object. I rapped at the + inner door, in which there was a small unglazed aperture cut, about four + inches square; and I now, for the first time, perceived that a strong + glare of light was cast into the lobby, where I stood, by a large argand + with a brilliant reflector, that like a magazine lantern had been mortised + into the bulkhead, at a height of about two feet above the door in which + the spy-hole was cut. My first signal was not attended to; I rapped again, + and looking round I noticed Mr Treenail flitting backwards and forwards + across the doorway, in the rain with his pale face and his sharp nose, + with the sparkling drop at the end on’t, glancing in the light of the + lamp. I heard a step within, and a very pretty face now appeared at the + wicket. + </p> + <p> + “Who are you saking here, an’ please ye?” + </p> + <p> + “No one in particular, my dear; but if you don’t let me in, I shall be + lodged in jail before five minutes be over.” + </p> + <p> + “I can’t help that, young man,” said she; “but where are ye from, + darling?” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!—I am run from the Guava, now lying at the Cove.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said my beauty, “come in;” and she opened the door, but still kept + it on the chain in such a way, that although, by bobbing, I creeped and + slid in beneath it, yet a common-sized man could not possibly have + squeezed himself through. The instant I entered, the door was once more + banged to, and the next moment I was ushered into the kitchen, a room + about fourteen feet square, with a well sanded floor, a huge dresser on + one side, and over against it a respectable show of pewter dishes in racks + against the wall. There was a long stripe of a deal, table in the middle + of the room—but no tablecloth—at the bottom of which sat a + large, bloated, brandy, or rather whisky-faced savage, dressed in a shabby + great-coat of the hodden grey worn by the Irish peasantry, dirty swan down + vest, and greasy corduroy breeches, worsted stockings, and well-patched + shoes; he was smoking a long pipe. Around the table sat about a dozen + seamen, from whose wet jackets and trowsers the heat of the blazing fire, + that roared up the chimney, sent up a smoky steam that cast a halo round + the lamp, that depended from the roof, and hung down within two feet of + the table, stinking abominably of coarse whale oil. They were, generally + speaking, hardy, weather beaten men, and the greater proportion half, or + more than half drunk. When I entered, I walked up to the landlord. + </p> + <p> + “Yo ho, my young un, whence and whither bound, my hearty?” + </p> + <p> + “The first don’t signify much to you,” said I, “seeing I have wherewithal + in the locker to pay my shot; and as to the second, of that hereafter; so, + old boy, let’s have some grog, and then say if you can ship me with one of + them cowers that are lying alongside the quay?” + </p> + <p> + “My eye, what a lot of brass that small chap has!” grumbled mine host. + </p> + <p> + “Why, my lad, we shall see to-morrow morning; but you gammons so bad about + the rhino, that we must prove you a bit; so, Kate, my dear,”—to the + pretty girl who had let me in—“score a pint of rum against—why, + what is your name?” + </p> + <p> + “What’s that to you?” rejoined I, “let’s have the drink, and don’t doubt + but the shiners shall be forthcoming.” + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah!” shouted the party, most of them now very tipsy. So the rum was + produced forthwith, and as I lighted a pipe and filled a glass of swizzle, + I struck in, “Messmates, I hope you have all shipped?” + </p> + <p> + “No, we haven’t,” said some of them. + </p> + <p> + “Nor shall we be in any hurry, boy,” said others. + </p> + <p> + “Do as you please, but I shall, as soon as I can, I know; and I recommend + all of you making yourselves scarce to-night, and keeping a bright + look-out.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, boy, why?” + </p> + <p> + “Simply because I have just escaped a press-gang, by bracing sharp up at + the corner of the street, and shoving into this dark alley here.” + </p> + <p> + This called forth another volley of oaths and unsavoury exclamations, and + all was bustle and confusion, and packing up of bundles, and settling of + reckonings. + </p> + <p> + “Where,” said one of the seamen,—“where do you go to, my lad?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, if I can’t get shipped to-night, I shall trundles down to Cove + immediately, so as to cross at Passage before daylight, and take my chance + of shipping with some of the outward-bound that are to sail, if the wind + holds, the day after to-morrow. There is to be no pressing when blue Peter + flies at the fore—and that was hoisted this afternoon, I know, and + the foretopsail will be loose to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “D—n my wig, but the small chap is right,” roared one. + </p> + <p> + “I’ve a bloody great mind to go down with him,” stuttered another, after + several unavailing attempts to weigh from the bench, where he had brought + himself to anchor. + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah!” yelled a third, as he hugged me, and nearly suffocated me with + his maudling caresses, “I trundles wid you too, my darling, boy the + piper!” + </p> + <p> + “Have with you, boy—have with him,” shouted half-a-dozen other + voices, while each stuck his oaken twig through the handkerchief that held + his bundle, and shouldered it, clapping his straw or tarpaulin hat, with a + slap on the crown, on one side of his head, and staggering and swaying + about under the influence of the poteen, and slapping his thigh, as he + bent double, laughing like to split himself, till the water ran over his + cheeks from his drunken half-shut eyes, while jets of tobacco juice were + squirting in all directions. + </p> + <p> + I paid the reckoning, urging the party to proceed all the while, and + indicating Pat Doolan’s at the Cove as a good rendezvous; and promising to + overtake them before they reached passage, I parted company at the corner + of the street, and rejoined the lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + Next morning we spent in looking about the town—Cork is a fine town, + contains seventy thousand inhabitants, more or less-safe in that—and + three hundred thousand pigs, driven by herdsmen, with coarse grey + greatcoats. The pigs are not so handsome as those in England, where the + legs are short, and tails curly; here the legs are long, the flanks sharp + and thin, and tails long and straight. + </p> + <p> + All classes speak with a deuced brogue, and worship graven images; arrived + at Cove to a large dinner and here follows a great deal of nonsense of the + same kind. + </p> + <p> + By the time it was half-past ten o’clock, I was preparing to turn in, when + the master at arms called down to me,—“Mr Cringle, you are wanted in + the gunroom.” + </p> + <p> + I put on my jacket again, and immediately proceeded thither, and on my way + I noticed a group of seamen, standing on the starboard gangway, dressed in + pea jackets, under which, by the light of a lantern, carried by one of + them, I could see they were all armed with pistol and cutlass. They + appeared in great glee, and as they made way for me, I could hear one + fellow whisper, “There goes the little beagle.” When I entered the + gunroom, the first lieutenant, master, and purser, were sitting smoking + and enjoying themselves over a glass of cold grog—the gunner taking + the watch on deck the doctor was piping any thing but mellifluously on the + double flageolet, while the Spanish priest, and aide-de-camp to the + general, were playing at chess, and wrangling in bad French. I could hear + Mr Treenail rumbling and stumbling in his stateroom as he accoutred + himself in a jacket similar to those of the armed boat’s crew whom I had + passed, and presently he stepped into the gunroom, armed also with cutlass + and pistol. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Cringle, get ready to go in the boat with me, and bring your arms with + you.” + </p> + <p> + I now knew whereabouts he was, and that my Cork friends were the quarry at + which we aimed. I did as I was ordered, and we immediately pulled on + shore, where, leaving two strong fellows in charge of the boat, with + instructions to fire their pistols and shove off a couple of boat-lengths, + should any suspicious circumstance indicating an attack take place, we + separated, like a pulk of Cossacks coming to the charge, but without the + hourah, with orders to meet before Pat Doolan’s door, as speedily as our + legs could carry us. We had landed about a cable’s length to the right of + the high precipitous bank—up which we stole in straggling parties—on + which that abominable congregation of the most filthy huts ever pig + grunted in is situated, called the Holy Ground. Pat Doolan’s domicile was + in a little dirty lane, about the middle of the village. Presently ten + strapping fellows, including the lieutenant, were before the door, each + man with his stretcher in his hand. It was a very tempestuous, although + moonlight night, occasionally clear, with the moonbeams at one moment + sparkling brightly in the small ripples on the filthy puddles before the + door, and on the gem like water-drops that hung from the eaves of the + thatched roof, and lighting up the dark statue like figures of the men, + and casting their long shadows strongly against the mud wall of the house; + at another, a black cloud as it flew across her disk, cast every thing + into deep shade, while the only noise we heard was the hoarse dashing of + the distant surf, rising and falling on the fitful gusts of the breeze. We + tried the door. It was fast. + </p> + <p> + “Surround the house, men,” said the lieutenant, in a whisper. He rapped + loudly. “Pat Doolan, my man, open the door, will ye?” No answer. “If you + don’t, we shall make free to break it open, Patrick, dear.” + </p> + <p> + All this while the light of a fire, or of candles, streamed through the + joints of the door. The threat at length appeared to have the desired + effect. A poor decrepid old man undid the bolt and let us in. “Ohon a reel + Ohon a reel What make you all this boder for—come you to help us to + wake poor ould Kate there, and bring you the whisky wid you?” + </p> + <p> + “Old man, where is Pat Doolan?” said the lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “Gone to borrow whisky, to wake ould Kate, there—the howling will + begin whenever Mother Doncannon and Mistress Conolly come over from + Middleton, and I look for dem every minute.” + </p> + <p> + There was no vestige of any living thing in the miserable hovel, except + the old fellow. On two low trestles, in the middle of the floor, lay a + coffin with the lid on, on the top of which was stretched the dead body of + an old emaciated woman in her grave-clothes, the quality of which was much + finer than one could have expected to have seen in the midst of the + surrounding squalidness. The face of the corpse was uncovered, the hands + were crossed on the breast, and there was a plate of salt on the stomach. + </p> + <p> + An iron cresset, charged with coarse rancid oil, hung from the roof, the + dull smoky red light flickering on the dead corpse, as the breeze streamed + in through the door and numberless chinks in the walls, making the cold, + rigid, sharp features appear to move, and glimmer, and gibber as it were, + from the changing shades. Close to the head, there was a small door + opening into an apartment of some kind, but the coffin was placed so near + it, that one could not pass between the body and the door. + </p> + <p> + “My good man,” said Treenail, to the solitary mourner, “I must beg leave + to remove the body a bit, and have the goodness to open that door.” + </p> + <p> + “Door, yere honour! It’s no door o’mine—and it’s not opening that + same, that old Phil Carrol shall busy himself wid.” + </p> + <p> + “Carline,” said Mr Treenail, quick and sharp, “remove the body.” It was + done. + </p> + <p> + “Cruel heavy the old dame is, sir, for all her wasted appearance,” said + one of the men. + </p> + <p> + The lieutenant now ranged the press-gang against the wall fronting the + door, and stepping into the middle of the room, drew his pistol and cocked + it. “Messmates,” he sung out, as if addressing the skulkers in the other + room, “I know you are here—the house is surrounded—and unless + you open that door now, by the power, but I’ll fire slap into you.” There + was a bustle, and a rumbling tumbling noise within. “My lads, we are now + sure of your game,” sung out Treenail, with great animation. “Sling that + clumsy bench there.” He pointed to an oaken form about eight feet long, + and nearly three inches thick. To produce a two-inch rope, and junk it + into three lengths, and rig the battering-ram, was the work of an instant. + “One, two, three,”—and bang the door flew open, and there were our + men stowed away, each sitting on the top of his bag, as snug as could be, + although looking very much like condemned thieves. We bound eight of them, + and thrusting a stretcher across their backs, under their arms, and + lashing the fins to the same by good stout lanyards, we were proceeding to + stump our prisoners off to the boat, when, with the innate devilry that I + have inherited, I know not how, but the original sin of which has more + than once nearly cost me my life, I said, without addressing my superior + officer, or any one else, directly—“I should like now to scale ‘my + pistol through that coffin. If I miss, I can’t hurt the old woman; and an + eyelet hole in the coffin itself, will only be an act of civility to the + worms.” + </p> + <p> + I looked towards my superior officer, who answered me with a knowing shake + of the head. I advanced, while all was silent as death—the sharp + click of the pistol lock now struck acutely on my own ear. I presented, + when—crash the lid of the coffin, old woman and all, was dashed off + in an instant, the corpse flying up in the air, and then falling heavily + on the floor, rolling over and over, while a tall handsome fellow, in his + stripped flannel shirt and blue trowsers, with the sweat pouring down over + his face in steams, sat up in the shell. + </p> + <p> + “All right,” said Mr Treenail—“help him out of his berth.” + </p> + <p> + He was pinioned like the rest, and forthwith we walked them all off to the + beach. By this time there was an unusual bustle in the Holy Ground, and we + could hear many an anathema, curses, not loud but deep, ejaculated from + many a half-opened door as we passed along. We reached the boat, and time + it was we did so, for a number of stout fellows, who had followed us in a + gradually increasing crowd, until they amounted to forty at the fewest, + now nearly surrounded us, and kept closing in. As the last of us jumped + into the boat, they made a rush, so that if we had not shoved off with the + speed of light, I think it very likely that we should have been + overpowered. However, we reached the ship in safety, and the day following + we weighed, and stood out to sea with our convoy. + </p> + <p> + It was a very large fleet nearly three hundred sail of merchant vessel and + a noble sight truly. + </p> + <p> + A line-of-battle ship led—and two frigates and three sloops of our + class were stationed on the outskirts of the fleet, whipping them in as it + were. We made Madeira in fourteen days, looked in, but did not anchor; + superb island—magnificent mountains—white town,—and all + very fine, but nothing particular happened for three weeks. One fine + evening, (we had by this time progressed into the trades, and were within + three hundred miles of Barbadoes,) the sun had set bright and clear, after + a most beautiful day, and we were bowling along right before it, rolling + like the very devil; but there was no moon, and although the stars + sparkled brilliantly, yet it was dark, and as we were the sternmost of the + men of war, we had the task of whipping in the sluggards. It was my watch + on deck. A gun from the commodore, who showed a number of lights. “What is + that, Mr Kennedy?” said the captain to the old gunner.—“The + commodore has made the night signal for the sternmost ships to make more + sail and close, sir.” We repeated the signal—and stood on hailing + the dullest of the merchantmen in our neighbourhood to make more sail, and + firing a musket-shot now and then over the more distant of them. By and by + we saw a large West Indiaman suddenly haul her wind, and stand across our + bows. + </p> + <p> + “Forward there!” sung out Mr Splinter, “stand by to fire a shot at that + fellow from the boat gun if he does not bear up. What can he be after? + Sergeant Armstrong,”—to a marine, who was standing close by him in + the waist—“get a musket, and fire over him!” + </p> + <p> + It was done, and the ship immediately bore up on her course again; we now + ranged alongside of him on his larboard quarter. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, the ship, ahoy!”—“Hillo!” was the reply.—“Make more sail, + sir, and run into the body of the fleet, or I shall fire into you; why + don’t you, sir, keep in the wake of the commodore?” No answer. “What meant + you by hauling your wind, just now, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Yesh, Yesh,” at length responded a voice from the merchantman. + </p> + <p> + “Something wrong here,” said Mr Splinter. “Back your maintopsail, sir, and + hoist a light at the peak; I shall send a boat on board of you. + Boatswain’s mate, pipe away the crew of the jolly boat.” We also hove to, + and were in the act of lowering down the boat, when the officer rattled + out. “Keep all fast, with the boat; I can’t comprehend that chap’s + manoeuvres for the soul of me. He has not hove to.” Once more we were + within pistol-shot of him. “Why don’t you heave to, sir?” All silent. + </p> + <p> + Presently we could perceive a confusion and noise of struggling on board, + and angry voices, as if people were trying to force their way up the + hatchways from below; and a heavy thumping on the deck, and a creaking of + the blocks, and rattling of the cordage, while the mainyard was first + braced one way, and then another, as if two parties were striving for the + mastery. At length a voice hailed distinctly “We are captured by a”—A + sudden sharp cry, and a splash overboard, told of some fearful deed. + </p> + <p> + “We are taken by a privateer or pirate,” sung out another voice. This was + followed by a heavy crunching blow, as when the spike of a butcher’s axe + is driven through a bullock’s forehead deep into the brain. + </p> + <p> + By this time all hands had been called, and the word had been passed to + clear away two of the foremost carronades on the starboard side, and to + load them with grape. + </p> + <p> + “On board there—get below, all you of the English crew, as I shall + fire with grape,” sung out the captain. + </p> + <p> + The hint was not taken. The ship at length came to the wind—we + rounded to, under her lee—and an armed boat, with Mr Treenail, and + myself, and sixteen men, with cutlasses, were sent on board. + </p> + <p> + We jumped on deck, and at the gangway, Mr Treenail stumbled, and fell over + the dead body of a man, no doubt the one who had hailed last, with his + scull cloven to the eyes, and a broken cutlass blade sticking in the gash. + We were immediately accosted by the mate, who was lashed down to a + ringbolt close by the bits, with his hands tied at the wrists by sharp + cords, so tightly that the blood was spouting from beneath his nails. + </p> + <p> + “We have been surprised by a privateer schooner, sir; the lieutenant of + her, and twelve men, are now in the cabin.” + </p> + <p> + “Where are the rest of the crew?” + </p> + <p> + “All secured in the forecastle, except the second mate and boatswain, the + men who hailed you just now; the last was knocked on the head, and the + former was stabbed and thrown overboard.” + </p> + <p> + We immediately released the men, eighteen in number, and armed them with + boarding pikes. “What vessel is that astern of us?” said Treenail to the + mate. Before he could answer, a shot from the brig fired at the privateer + showed she was broad awake. Next moment Captain Deadeye hailed. “Have you + mastered the prize crew, Mr Treenail?”—“Aye, aye, sir.”—“Then + keep your course, and keep two lights hoisted at your mizzen peak during + the night, and blue Peter at the main topsail yardarm when the day breaks; + I shall haul my wind after the suspicious sail in your wake.” + </p> + <p> + Another shot, and another, from the brig—the time between each flash + and the report increasing with the distance. By this the lieutenant had + descended to the cabin, followed by his people, while the merchant crew + once more took the charge of the ship, crowding sail into the body of the + fleet. + </p> + <p> + I followed him close, pistol and cutlass in hand, and I shall never forget + the scene that presented itself when I entered. The cabin was that of a + vessel of five hundred tons, elegantly fitted up; the panels filled with + crimson cloth, edged with gold mouldings, with superb damask hangings + before the stem windows and the side berths, and brilliantly lighted up by + two large swinging lamps hung from the deck above, which were reflected + from, and multiplied in, several plate glass mirrors in the panels. In the + recess, which in cold weather had been occupied by the stove, now stood a + splendid grand piano, the silk in the open work above the keys + corresponding with the crimson cloth of the panels; it was open, a Leghom + bonnet with a green veil, a parasol, and two long white gloves, as if + recently pulled off, lay on it, with the very mould of the hands in them. + </p> + <p> + The rudder case was particularly beautiful; it was a richly carved and + gilded palm tree, the stem painted white, and interlaced with golden + fretwork, like the lozenges of a pine-apple, while the leaves spread up + and abroad on the roof. + </p> + <p> + The table was laid for supper, with cold meat, and wine, and a profusion + of silver things, all sparkling brightly; but it was in great disorder, + wine spilt, and glasses broken, and dishes with meat upset, and knives, + and forks, and spoons, scattered all about. She was evidently one of those + London West Indiamen, on board of which I knew there was much splendour + and great comfort. But, alas! the hand of lawless violence had been there. + The captain lay across the table, with his head hanging over the side of + it next to us, and unable to help himself, with his hands tied behind his + back, and a gag in his mouth; his face purple from the blood running to + his head, and the white of his eyes turned up, while his loud stentorous + breathing but too clearly indicated the rupture of a vessel on the brain. + </p> + <p> + He was a stout portly man, and, although we released him on the instant, + and had him bled, and threw water on his face, and did all we could for + him, he never spoke afterwards, and died in half an hour. + </p> + <p> + Four gentlemanly-looking men were sitting at table, lashed to their + chairs, pale and trembling, while six of the most ruffian-looking + scoundrels I ever beheld, stood on the opposite side of the table in a row + fronting us, with the light from the lamps shining full on them. Three of + them were small, but very square mulattoes; one was a South American + Indian, with the square high-boned visage, and long, lank, black glossy + hair of his cast. These four had no clothing besides their trowsers, and + stood with their arms folded, in all the calmness of desperate men, caught + in the very fact of some horrible atrocity, which they knew shut out all + hope of mercy. The two others were white Frenchmen, tall, bushy-whiskered, + sallow desperadoes, but still, wonderful to relate, with, if I may so + speak, the manners of gentlemen. One of them squinted, and had a hair-lip, + which gave him a horrible expression. They were dressed in white trowsers + and shirts, yellow silk sashes round their waists, and a sort of blue + uniform jacket, blue Gascon caps, with the peaks, from each of which + depended a large bullion tassel, hanging down on one side of their heads. + The whole party had apparently made up their minds that resistance was + vain, for their pistols and cutlasses, some of them bloody, had all been + laid on the table, with the buts and handles towards us, contrasting + horribly with the glittering equipage of steel, and crystal, and silver + things, on the snow-white damask table-cloth. They were immediately seized + and ironed, to which they submitted in silence. We next released the + passengers, and were overpowered with thanks, one dancing, one crying, one + laughing, and another praying. But, merciful Heaven! what an object met + our eyes! Drawing aside—the curtain that concealed a sofa, fitted + into a recess, there lay, more dead than alive, a tall and most beautiful + girl, her head resting on her left arm, her clothes disordered and tom, + blood on her bosom, and foam on her mouth, with her long dark hair loose + and dishevelled, and covering the upper part of her deadly pale face, + through which her wild sparkling black eyes, protruding from their + sockets, glanced and glared with the fire of a maniac’s, while her blue + lips kept gibbering an incoherent prayer one moment, and the next + imploring mercy, as if she had still been in the hands of those who knew + not the name; and anon, a low hysterical laugh made our very blood freeze + in our bosoms, which soon ended in a long dismal yell, as she rolled off + the couch upon the hard deck, and lay in a dead faint. + </p> + <p> + Alas the day!—a Maniac she was from that hour. She was the only + daughter of the murdered master of the ship, and never awoke, in her + unclouded reason, to the fearful consciousness of her own dishonour and + her parent’s death. + </p> + <p> + The Torch captured the schooner, and we left the privateer’s men at + Barbadoes to meet their reward, and several of the merchant sailors were + turned over to the guardship, to prove the facts in the first instance, + and to serve his Majesty as impressed men in the second, but scrimp + measure of justice to the poor ship’s crew. + </p> + <p> + Anchored at Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes.—Town seemed built of cards—black + faces—showy dresses of the negroes—dined at Mr C——‘s, + capital dinner little breeze mill at the end of the room, that pumped a + solution of saltpetre and water into a trough of tin, perforated with + small holes, below which, and exposed to the breeze, were ranged the wine + and liqueurs, all in cotton bags; the water then flowed into a well, where + the pump was stepped, and thus was again pumped up and kept circulating. + </p> + <p> + Landed the artillery, the soldiers, officers, and the Spanish Canon + discharged the whole battery. + </p> + <p> + Next morning, weighed at day—dawn, with the trade for Jamaica, and + soon lost sight of the bright blue waters of Carlisle Bay, and the smiling + fields and tall cocoa-nut trees of the beautiful island. In a week after + we arrived off the east end of Jamaica, and that same evening, in + obedience to the orders of the admiral on the Windward Island station, we + hove to in Bull Bay, in order to land despatches, and secure our tithe of + the crews of the merchant-vessels bound for Kingston, and the ports to + leeward, as they passed us. We had fallen in with a pilot canoe off Morant + Bay with four negroes on board, who requested us to hoist in their boat, + and take them all on board, as the pilot schooner, to which they belonged, + had that morning bore up for Kingston, and left instructions to them to + follow her in the first vessel appearing afterwards. We did so, and now, + as it was getting dark, the captain came up to Mr Treenail. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr Treenail, I think we had better heave-to for the night, and in + this case I shall want you to go in the cutter to Port Royal to deliver + the despatches on board the flag-ship.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t think the admiral will be at Port Royal, sir,” responded the + lieutenant; “and, if I might suggest, these black chaps have offered to + take me ashore here on the Palisadoes, a narrow spit of land, not above + one hundred yards across, that divides the harbour from the ocean, and to + haul the canoe across, and take me to the agent’s house in Kingston, who + will doubtless frank me up to the pen, where the admiral resides, and I + shall thus deliver the letters, and be back again by day—dawn.” + </p> + <p> + “Not a bad plan,” said old Deadeye; “put it in execution, and I will go + below and get the despatches immediately.” + </p> + <p> + The canoe was once more hoisted out; the three black fellows, the pilot of + the ship continuing on board, jumped into her alongside. + </p> + <p> + “Had you not better take a couple of hands with you, Mr Treenail?” said + the skipper. + </p> + <p> + “Why, no, sir, I don’t think I shall want them; but if you will spare me + Mr Cringle I will be obliged, in case I want any help.” + </p> + <p> + We shoved off, and as the glowing sun dipped under Portland Point, as the + tongue of land that runs out about four miles to the southward, on the + western side of Port Royal harbour, is called, we arrived within a hundred + yards of the Palisadoes. The surf, at the particular spot we steered for, + did not break on the shore in a rolling curling wave, as it usually does, + but smoothed away under the lee of a small sandy promontory that ran out + into the sea, about half a cable’s length to windward, and then slid up + the smooth white sand, without breaking, in a deep clear green swell, for + the space of twenty yards, gradually shoaling, the colour becoming lighter + and lighter, until it frothed away in a shallow white fringe, that buzzed + as it receded back into the deep green sea, until it was again propelled + forward by the succeeding billow. + </p> + <p> + “I say, friend Bungo, how shall we manage? You don’t mean to swamp us in a + shove through that surf, do you?” said Mr Treenail. + </p> + <p> + “No fear, massa, if you and toder leetle man-of-war buccra, only keep dem + seat when we rise on de crest of de swell dere.” + </p> + <p> + We sat quiet enough. Treenail was coolness itself, and I aped him as well + as I could. The loud murmur, increasing to a roar, of the sea, was trying + enough as we approached, buoyed on the last long undulation. + </p> + <p> + “Now sit still, massa, bote.” + </p> + <p> + We sank down into the trough, and presently were hove forwards with a + smooth sliding motion up on the beach—until grit, grit, we stranded + on the cream-coloured sand, high and dry. + </p> + <p> + “Now jomp, massa, jomp.” + </p> + <p> + We leapt with all our strength, and thereby toppled down on our noses; the + sea receded, and before the next billow approached, we had run the canoe + twenty yards beyond high water mark. + </p> + <p> + It was the work of a very few minutes to haul the canoe across the + sandbank, and to launch it once more in the placid waters of the harbour + of Kingston. We pulled across towards the town, until we landed at the + bottom of Hanover Street; the lights from the cabin windows of the + merchantmen glimmering as e passed, and the town only discernible from a + solitary sparkle here and there. But the contrast when we landed was very + striking. We had come through the darkness of the night in comparative + quietness; and in two hours from the time we had left the old Torch, we + were transferred from her orderly deck to the bustle of a crowded town. + </p> + <p> + One of our crew undertook to be the guide to the agent’s house. We arrived + before it. It was a large mansion, and we could see lights glimmering in + the ground floor; but it was gaily lit up aloft. The house itself stood + back about twenty feet from the street, from which it was separated by an + iron railing. + </p> + <p> + We knocked at the outer-gate, but no one answered. At length our black + guide found out a bell-pull, and presently the clang of a bell resounded + throughout the mansion. Still no one answered. I pushed against, the door, + and found it was open, and Mr Treenail and myself immediately ascended a + flight of six marble steps, and stood in the lower piazza, with the hall, + or lower vestibule, before us. We entered. A very well-dressed brown + woman, who was sitting at her work at a small table, along with two young + girls of the same complexion, instantly rose to receive us. + </p> + <p> + “Beg pardon,” said Mr Treenail, “pray, is this Mr——‘s house?” + “Yes, sir, it is.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you have the goodness to say if he be at home?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes, sir, he is dere upon dinner wid company,” said the lady. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” continued the lieutenant, “say to him, that an officer of his + Majesty’s sloop Torch is below, with despatches for the admiral.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely, sir,—surely,” the dark lady continued;—“Follow me, + sir; and dat small gentleman,—[Thomas Cringle, Esquire, no less!]—him + will better follow me too.” + </p> + <p> + We left the room, and, turning to the right, landed in the lower piazza of + the house, fronting the north. A large clumsy stair occupied the + easternmost end, with a massive mahogany balustrade, but the whole affair + below was very ill lighted. The brown lady preceded us; and planting + herself at the bottom of the staircase, began to shout to some one above. + </p> + <p> + “Toby!—Toby!—buccra gentlemen arrive, Toby.” But no Toby + responded to the call. + </p> + <p> + “My dear madam,” said Treenail, “I have little time for ceremony. Pray + usher us up into Mr——‘s presence.” + </p> + <p> + “Den follow me, gentlemen, please.” + </p> + <p> + Forthwith we all ascended the dark staircase until we reached the first + landing-place, when we heard a noise as of two negroes wrangling on the + steps above us. + </p> + <p> + “You rascal!” sang out one, “take dat; larn you for teal my wittal!”—then + a sharp crack, as if he had smote the culprit across the pate; whereupon, + like a shot, a black fellow, in a handsome livery, trundled down, pursued + by another servant with a large silver ladle in his hand, with which he + was belabouring the fugitive over his flinthard skull, right against our + hostess, with the drumstick of a turkey in his hand, or rather in his + mouth. + </p> + <p> + “Top, you tief—top, you tief!—for me piece dat,” shouted the + pursuer. + </p> + <p> + “You dam rascal!” quoth the dame. But she had no time to utter another + word, before the fugitive pitched, with all his weight, right against her; + and at the very moment another servant came trundling down with a large + tray-full of all kinds of meats—and I especially remember that two + large crystal stands of jellies composed part of his load—so there + we were regularly capsized, and caught all of a heap in the dark + landing-place, half way up the stair; and down the other flight tumbled + our guide, with Mr Treenail and myself, and the two blackies, on the top + of her, Tolling in our descent over, or rather into, another large + mahogany tray which had just been carried out, with a tureen of turtle + soup in it, and a dish of roast-beef, and platefulls of land-crabs, and + the Lord knows what all besides. + </p> + <p> + The crash reached the ear of the landlord, who was seated at the head of + his table in the upper piazza, a long gallery about fifty feet long by + fourteen wide, and he immediately rose and ordered his butler to take a + light. When he came down to ascertain the cause of the uproar, I shall + never forget the scene. + </p> + <p> + There was, first of all, mine host, a remarkably neat personage, standing + on the polished mahogany stair, three steps above his servant, who was a + very well-dressed respectable elderly negro, with a candle in each hand; + and beneath him, on the landing-place, lay two trays of viands, broken + tureens of soup, fragments of dishes, and fractured glasses, and a chaos + of eatables and drinkables, and table gear scattered all about, amidst + which lay scrambling my lieutenant and myself, the brown housekeeper, and + the two negro servants, all more or less covered with gravy and wine + dregs. However, after a good laugh, we gathered ourselves up, and at + length we were ushered on the scene. Mine host, after stifling his + laughter the best way he could, again sat down at the head of his table, + sparkling with crystal and wax lights, while a superb lamp hung overhead. + The company was composed chiefly of naval and military men, but there was + also a sprinkling of civilians, or Muftees, to use a West India + expression. Most of them rose as we entered, and after they had taken a + glass of wine, and had their laugh at our mishap, our landlord retired to + one side with Mr Treenail, while I, poor little middy as I was, remained + standing at the end of the room, close to the head of the stairs. The + gentleman who sat at the foot of the table had his back towards me, I and + was not at first aware of my presence. But the guest at his right hand, a + happy-looking, red-faced, well-dressed man, soon drew his attention + towards me. The party to whom I was thus indebted seemed a very + jovial-looking personage, and appeared to be well known to all hands, and + indeed the life of the party, for, like Falstaff, he was not only witty in + himself, but the cause of wit in others. + </p> + <p> + The gentleman to whom he had pointed me out immediately rose, made his + bow, ordered a chair, and made room for me beside himself, where the + moment it was known that we were direct from home, such a volley of + questions was fired off at me, that I did not know which to answer first. + At length, after Treenail had taken a glass or two of wine, the agent + started him off to the admiral’s pen in his own gig, and I was desired to + stay where I was until he returned. + </p> + <p> + The whole party seemed very happy, my boon ally was fun itself, and I was + much entertained with the mess he made when any of the foreigners at table + addressed him in French or Spanish. I was particularly struck with a + small, thin, dark Spaniard, who told very feelingly how the night before, + on returning home from a party to his own lodgings, on passing through the + piazza, he stumbled against something heavy that lay in his grass-hammock, + which usually hung there. He called for a light, when, to his horror, he + found the body of his old and faithful valet lying in it, dead and cold, + with a knife sticking under his fifth rib—no doubt intended for his + master. The speaker was Bolivar. About midnight, Mr Treenail returned, we + shook hands with Mr——, and once more shoved off; and, guided + by the lights shown on board the Torch, we were safe home again by three + in the morning, when we immediately made sail, and nothing particular + happened until we arrived within a day’s sail of New Providence. It + seemed, that about a week before, a large American brig, bound from + Havanna to Boston, had been captured in this very channel by one of our + men-of-war schooners, and carried into Nassau; out of which port, for + their own security, the authorities had fitted a small schooner, carrying + six guns and twenty-four men. She was commanded by a very gallant fellow—there + is no disputing that—and he must needs emulate the conduct of the + officer who had made the capture—for in a fine clear night, when all + the officers were below rummaging in their kits for the killing things + they should array themselves in on the morrow, so as to smite the Fair of + New Providence to the heart at a blow—Whiss—a shot flew over + our mast-head. + </p> + <p> + “A small schooner lying-to right ahead, sir,” sung out the boatswain from + the forecastle. + </p> + <p> + Before we could beat to quarters, another sung between our masts. We kept + steadily on our course, and as we approached our pigmy antagonist, he bore + up. Presently we were alongside of him. + </p> + <p> + “Heave-to,” hailed the strange sail; “heave-to or I’ll sink you.” + </p> + <p> + The devil you will, you midge, thought I. + </p> + <p> + The captain took the trumpet—“Schooner, ahoy”—no answer “D—n + your blood, sir, if you don’t let every thing go by the run this instant, + I’ll fire a broadside. Strike, sir, to his Britannic Majesty’s sloop + Torch.” + </p> + <p> + The poor fellow commanding the schooner had by this time found out his + mistake and immediately came on board, where, instead of being lauded for + his gallantry, I am sorry to say he was roundly rated for his want of + discernment in mistaking his Majesty’s cruiser for a Yankee merchantman. + </p> + <p> + Next forenoon we arrived at Nassau. + </p> + <p> + In a week after we again sailed for Bermuda, having taken on board ten + American skippers, and several other Yankees, as prisoners of war. + </p> + <p> + For the first three days after we cleared the Passages. We had fine + weather. Wind at east south-east; but after that it came on to blow from + the north-west, and so continued without intermission during the whole of + the passage to Bermuda. On the fourth morning after we left Nassau, we + descried a sail in the south-east quarter, and immediately made sail in + chase. We overhauled her about noon; she hove-to, after being fired at + repeatedly; and, on boarding her, we found she was a Swede from + Charleston, bound to Havre-de-Grace. All the letters we could find on + board were very unceremoniously broken open, and nothing having transpired + that could identify the cargo as enemy’s property, we were bundling over + the side, when a nautical looking subject, who had attracted my attention + from the first, put in his oar. + </p> + <p> + “Lieutenant,” said he, “will you allow me to put this barrel of New York + apples into the boat as a present to Captain Deadeye, from Captain——of + the United States navy?” + </p> + <p> + Mr Treenail bowed, and said he would; and we shoved off and got on board + again, and now there was the devil to pay, from the perplexity old Deadeye + was thrown into, as to whether, here in the heat of the American war, he + was bound to take this American captain prisoner or not. I was no party to + the councils of my superiors, of course, but the foreign ship was finally + allowed to continue her course. + </p> + <p> + The next day I had the forenoon watch; the weather had lulled + unexpectedly, nor was there much sea, and the deck was all alive, to take + advantage of the fine blink, when the man at the mast-head sung out—“Breakers + right ahead, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Breakers!” said Mr Splinter, in great astonishment. “Breakers! why the + man must be mad—I say, Jenkins!” + </p> + <p> + “Breakers close under the bows,” sung out the boatswain from forward. + </p> + <p> + “The devil,” quoth Splinter, and he ran along the gangway, and ascended + the forecastle, while I kept close to his heels. We looked out a-head, and + there we certainly did see a splashing, and boiling, and white foaming of + the ocean, that unquestionably looked very like breakers. Gradually, this + splashing and foaming appearance took a circular whisking shape, as if the + clear green sea, for a space of a hundred yards in diameter, had been + stirred about by a gigantic invisible spurtle, until every thing hissed + again; and the curious part of it was, that the agitation of the water + seemed to keep ahead of us, as if the breeze which impelled us had also + floated it onwards. At length the whirling circle of white foam ascended + higher and higher, and then gradually contracted itself into a spinning + black tube, which wavered about, for all the world, like a gigantic + loch-leech, held by the tail between the finger and thumb, while it was + poking its vast snout about in the clouds in search of a spot to fasten + on. + </p> + <p> + “Is the boat gun on the forecastle loaded?” said Captain Deadeye. + </p> + <p> + “It is, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Then luff a bit—that will do—fire.” + </p> + <p> + The gun was discharged, and down rushed the black wavering pillar in a + watery avalanche, and in a minute after the dark, heaving billows rolled + over the spot whereout it arose, as if no such thing had ever been. + </p> + <p> + This said troubling of the waters was neither more nor less than a + waterspout, which again is neither more nor less than a whirlwind at sea, + which gradually whisks the water round and round, and up and up, as you + see straws so raised, until it reaches a certain height, when it + invariably breaks. Before this I had thought that a waterspout was created + by some next to supernatural exertion of the power of the Deity, in order + to suck up water into the clouds, that they, like the wine-skins in Spain, + may be filled with rain. + </p> + <p> + The morning after the weather was clear and beautiful, although the wind + blew half-a-gale. Nothing particular happened until about seven o’clock in + the evening. I had been invited to dine with the gunroom officers this + day, and every thing was going on smooth and comfortable, when Mr Splinter + spoke. “I say, master, don’t you smell gunpowder?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes I do,” said the little master, “or something deuced like it.” + </p> + <p> + To explain the particular comfort of our position, it may be right to + mention that the magazine of a brig sloop is exactly under the gunroom. + Three of the American skippers had been quartered on the gunroom mess, and + they were all at table. Snuff, snuff, smelled one, and another sniffled, + </p> + <p> + “Gunpowder, I guess, and in a state of ignition.” + </p> + <p> + “Will you not send for the gunner, sir?” said the third. + </p> + <p> + Splinter did not like it, I saw, and this quailed me. + </p> + <p> + The captain’s bell rang. “What smell of brimstone is that, steward?” “I + really can’t tell,” said the man, trembling from head to foot; “Mr + Splinter has sent for the gunner, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “The devil!” said Deadeye, as he hurried on deck. We all followed. A + search was made. + </p> + <p> + “Some matches have caught in the magazine,” said one. + </p> + <p> + “We shall be up and away like sky-rockets,” said another. + </p> + <p> + Several of the American masters ran out on the jib-boom, coveting the + temporary security of being so far removed from the seat of the expected + explosion, and all was alarm and confusion, until it was ascertained that + two of the boys, little skylarking vagabonds, had stolen some pistol + cartridges, and had been making lightning, as it is called, by holding a + lighted candle between the fingers, and putting some loose powder into the + palm of the hand, and then chucking it up into the flame. They got a sound + flogging, on a very unpoetical part of their corpuses, and once more the + ship subsided into her usual orderly discipline. The northwester still + continued, with a clear blue sky, without a cloud overhead by day, and a + bright cold moon by night. It blew so hard for the three succeeding days, + that we could not carry more than close reefed topsails to it, and a + reefed foresail. Indeed, towards six bells in the forenoon watch, it came + thundering down with such violence, and the sea increased so much, that we + had to hand the fore-topsail. + </p> + <p> + This was by no means an easy job. “Ease her a bit,” said the first + lieutenant, “there—shake the wind out of her sails for a moment, + until the men get the canvass”—whirl, a poor fellow pitched off the + lee fore yardarm into the sea. “Up with the helm—heave him the bight + of a rope.” We kept away, but all was confusion, until an American + midshipman, one of the prisoners on board, hove the bight of a rope at + him. The man got it under his arms, and after hauling him along for a + hundred yards at the least—and one may judge of the velocity with + which he was dragged through the water, by the fact that it took the + united strain of ten powerful men to get him in—he was brought + safely on board, pale and blue, when we found that the running of the rope + had crushed in his broad chest below his arms, as if it had been a girl’s + waist, cutting into the very muscles of it and of his back half an inch + deep. He had to be bled before he could breathe, and it was an hour before + the circulation could be restored, by the joint exertions of the surgeon + and gunroom steward, chafing him with spirits and camphor, after he had + been stripped and stowed away between the blankets in his hammock. + </p> + <p> + The same afternoon we fell in with a small prize to the squadron in the + Chesapeake, a dismasted schooner, manned by a prize crew of a midshipman + and six men. She had a signal of distress, an American ensign, with the + union down, hoisted on the jury-mast, across which there was rigged a + solitary lug-sail. It was blowing so hard that we had some difficulty in + boarding her, when we found she was a Baltimore pilot-boat—built + schooner, of about 70 tons burden, laden with flour, and bound for + Bermuda. But three days before, in a sudden squall, they had carried away + both masts short by the board, and the only spar which they had been able + to rig, was a spare topmast which they had jammed into one of the pumps + fortunately she was as tight as a bottle—and stayed it the best way + they could. The captain offered to take the little fellow who had charge + of her, and his crew and cargo, on board, and then scuttle her; but no—all + he wanted was a cask of water and some biscuit; and having had a glass of + grog, he trundled over the side again, and returned to his desolate + command. However, he afterwards brought his prize safe into Bermuda. + </p> + <p> + The weather still continued very rough, but we saw nothing until the + second evening after this. The forenoon had been even more boisterous than + any of the preceding, and we were all fagged enough with “make sail,” and + “shorten sail,” and “all hands,” the whole day through; and as the night + fell, I found myself, for the fourth time, in the maintop. The men had + just lain in from the main topsail yard, when we heard the watch called on + deck, “Starboard watch, ahoy,”—which was a cheery sound to us of the + larboard, who were thus released from duty on deck and allowed to go + below. + </p> + <p> + The men were scrambling down the weather shrouds, and I was preparing to + follow them, when I jammed my left foot in the grating of the top, and + capsized on my nose. I had been up nearly the whole of the previous night, + and on deck the whole of the day, and actively employed too, as during the + greatest part of it it blew a gale. I stooped down in some pain, to see + what had bolted me to the grating, but I had no sooner extricated my foot, + than, over-worked and over fatigued as I was, I fell over in the soundest + sleep that ever I have enjoyed before or since, the back of my neck + resting on a coil of rope, so that my head hung down within it. + </p> + <p> + The rain all this time was beating on me, and I was drenched to the skin. + I must have slept for four hours or so, when I was awakened by a rough + thump on the side from the stumbling foot of the captain of the top, the + word having been passed to shake a reef out of the topsails, the wind + having rather suddenly gone down. It was done; and now broad awake, I + determined not to be caught napping again, so I descended, and swung + myself in on deck out of the main rigging, just as Mr Treenail was + mustering the crew at eight bells. When I landed on the quarterdeck, there + he stood abaft the binnacle, with the light shining on his face, his + glazed hat glancing, and the rain-drop sparkling at the brim of it. He had + noticed me the moment I descended. + </p> + <p> + “Heyday, Master Cringle, you are surely out of your watch. Why, what are + you doing here, eh?” + </p> + <p> + I stepped up to him, and told him the truth, that, being over fatigued, I + had fallen asleep in the top. + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, boy,” said he, “never mind, go below, and turn in; if you + don’t take your rest, you never will be a sailor.” + </p> + <p> + “But what do you see aloft?” glancing his eye upwards, and all the crew on + deck as I passed them looked anxiously up also amongst the rigging, as if + wondering what I saw there, for I had been so chilled in my noose, that my + neck, from resting in the cold on the coil of rope, had become stiffened + and rigid to an intolerable degree; and although, when I first came on + deck, I had by a strong exertion brought my caput to its proper bearings, + yet the moment I was dismissed by my superior officer, I for my own + comfort was glad to conform to the contraction of the muscle, whereby I + once more staved along the deck, glowering up into the heavens, as if I + had seen some wonderful sight there. + </p> + <p> + “What do you see aloft?” repeated Mr Treenail, while the crew, greatly + puzzled, continued to follow my eye, as they thought, and to stare up into + the rigging. + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, I have thereby got a stiff neck—that’s all, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Go and turn in at once, my good boy—make haste, now—tell our + steward to give you a glass of hot grog, and mind your hand that you don’t + get sick.” + </p> + <p> + I did as I was desired, swallowed the grog, and turned in; but I could not + have been in bed above an hour, when the drum beat to quarters, and I had + once more to bundle out on the cold wet deck, where I found all + excitement. At the time I speak of, we had been beaten by the Americans in + several actions of single ships, and our discipline had improved in + proportion as we came to learn by sad experience that the enemy was not to + be undervalued. I found that there was a ship in sight, right a-head of us + apparently carrying all sail. A group of officers were on the forecastle + with night-glasses, the whole crew being stationed in dark clusters round + the guns at quarters. Several of the American skippers were forward + amongst us, and they were of opinion that the chase was a man-of-war, + although our own people seemed to doubt this. One of the skippers insisted + that she was the Hornet, from the unusual shortness of her lower masts, + and the immense squareness of her yards. But the puzzle was, if it were + the Hornet, why she did not shorten sail. Still this might be accounted + for, by her either wishing to make out what we were before she engaged us, + or she might be clearing for action. At this moment a whole cloud of + studdingsails were blown from the yards as if the booms had been carrots; + and to prove that the chase was keeping a bright look-out, she immediately + kept away, and finally bore up dead before the wind, under the impression, + no doubt, that she would draw a-head of us, from her gear being entire, + before we could rig out our light sails again. + </p> + <p> + And so she did for a time, but at length we got within gun-shot. The + American masters were now ordered below, the hatches were clapped on, and + the word passed to see all clear. Our shot was by this time flying over + and over her, and it was evident she was not a man-of-war. We peppered + away—she could not even be a privateer; we were close under her + lee-quarter, and yet she had never fired a shot; and her large swaggering + Yankee ensign was now run up to the peak, only to be hauled down the next + moment. Hurrah! a large cotton ship, from Charlestown to Bourdeaux, prize + to H.M.S. Torch. + </p> + <p> + She was taken possession of, and proved to be the Natches, of four hundred + tons burden, fully loaded with cotton. + </p> + <p> + By the time we got the crew on board, and the second lieutenant, with a + prize crew of fifteen men, had taken charge, the weather began to lour + again, nevertheless we took the prize in tow, and continued on our voyage + for the next three days, without any thing particular happening. It was + the middle watch, and I was sound asleep, when I was startled by a violent + jerking of my hammock, and a cry “that the brig was amongst the breakers.” + I ran on deck in my shirt, where I found all hands, and a scene of + confusion such as I never had witnessed before. The gale had increased, + yet the prize had not been cast off, and the consequence was, that by some + mismanagement or carelessness, the swag of the large ship had suddenly + hove the brig in the wind, and taken the sails a-back. We accordingly + fetched stern way, and ran foul of the prize, and there we were, in a + heavy sea, with our stern grinding against the cotton ship’s high quarter. + </p> + <p> + The main boom, by the first rasp that took place after I came on deck, was + broken short off, and nearly twelve feet of it hove right in over the + taffril; the vessels then closed, and the next rub ground off the ship’s + mizzen channel as clean as if it had been sawed away. Officers shouting, + men swearing, rigging cracking, the vessels crashing and thumping + together, I thought we were gone, when the first lieutenant seized his + trumpet “Silence, men,—hold your tongues, you cowards, and mind the + word of command!” + </p> + <p> + The effect was magical.—“Brace round the foreyard; round with it—set + the jib—that’s it—fore-topmast stay-sail—haul—never + mind if the gale takes it out of the bolt rope”—a thundering flap, + and away it flew in truth down to leeward, like a puff of white smoke.—“Never + mind, men, the jib stands. Belay all that—down with the helm, now + don’t you see she has sternway yet? Zounds! we shall be smashed to atoms + if you don’t mind your hands, you lubbers—main-topsail sheets let + fly—there she pays off, and has headway once more, that’s it—right + your helm now—never mind his spanker-boom, the forestay will stand + it—there—up with the helm, sir we have cleared him hurrah!”—And + a near thing it was too but we soon had every thing snug; and although the + gale continued without any intermission for ten days, at length we ran in + and anchored with our prize in Five Fathom Hole, off the entrance to St + George’s Harbour. + </p> + <p> + It was lucky for us that we got to anchor at the time we did, for that + same afternoon, one of the most tremendous gales of wind from the westward + came on that I ever saw. Fortunately it was steady and did not veer about, + and having good ground-tackle down, we rode it out well enough. The effect + was very uncommon; the wind was howling over our mast-heads, and amongst + the cedar bushes on the cliffs above, while on deck it was nearly calm, + and there was very little swell, being a weather shore; but half a mile + out at sea all was white foam, and the tumbling waves seemed to meet from + north and south, leaving a space of smooth water under the lee of the + island, shaped like the tail of a comet, tapering away, and gradually + roughening and becoming more stormy, until the roaring billows once more + owed allegiance to the genius of the storm. + </p> + <p> + There we rode, with three anchors a-head, in safety through the night; and + next day, availing of a temporary lull, we ran up, and anchored off the + Tanks. Three days after this, the American frigate President was brought + in by the Endymion, and the rest of the squadron. + </p> + <p> + I went on board, in common with every officer in the fleet, and certainly + I never saw a more superb vessel; her scantling was that of a + seventy-four, and she appeared to have been fitted with great cares. I got + a week’s leave at this time, and, as I had letters to several families, I + contrived to spend my time pleasantly enough. + </p> + <p> + Bermuda, as all the world knows, is a cluster of islands in the middle of + the Atlantic. There are Lord knows how many of them, but the beauty of the + little straits and creeks which divide them, no man can describe who has + not seen them. The town of Saint George’s, for instance, looks as if the + houses were cut out of chalk; and one evening the family where I was on a + visit proceeded to the main island, Hamilton, to attend a ball there. We + had to cross three ferries, although the distance was not above nine + miles, if so far. The Mudian women are unquestionably beautiful—so + thought Thomas Moore, a tolerable judge, before me. By the by, touching + this Mudian ball, it was a very gay affair—the women pleasant and + beautiful; but all the men, when they speak, or are spoken to, shut one + eye and spit;—a lucid and succinct description of a community. + </p> + <p> + The second day of my sojourn was fine—the first fine day since our + arrival and with several young ladies of the family, I was prowling + through the cedar wood above St George’s, when a dark good-looking man + passed us; he was dressed in tight worsted net pantaloons and Hessian + boots, and wore a blue frock-coat and two large epaulets, with rich French + bullion, and a round hat. On passing he touched his hat with much grace, + and in the evening I met him in society. It was Commodore Decatur. He was + very much a Frenchman in manner, or, I should rather say, in look, for + although very well bred, he, for one ingredient, by no means possessed a + Frenchman’s volubility; still, he was an exceedingly agreeable and very + handsome man. + </p> + <p> + The following day we spent in a pleasure cruise amongst the three hundred + and sixty-five islands, many of them not above an acre in extent—fancy + an island of an acre in extent!—with a solitary house, a small + garden, a red-skinned family, a piggery, and all around clear deep + pellucid water. None of the islands, or islets, rise to any great height, + but they all shoot precipitously out of the water, as if the whole group, + had originally been one huge platform of rock, with numberless grooves + subsequently chiselled out in it by art. + </p> + <p> + We had to wind our way amongst these manifold small channels for two hours + before we reached the gentleman’s house where we had been invited to dine; + at length, on turning a corner, with both latteen sails drawing + beautifully, we ran bump on a shoal; there was no danger, and knowing that + the Mudians were capital sailors, I sat still. Not so Captain K——, + a round plump little homo,—“Shove her off, my boys, shove her off.” + She would not move, and thereupon he in a fever of gallantry jumped + overboard up to the waist in full fig; and one of the men following his + example, we were soon afloat. The ladies applauded, and the Captain sat in + his wet breaks for the rest of the voyage, in all the consciousness of + being considered a hero. Ducks and onions are the grand staple of Bermuda, + but there was a fearful dearth of both at the time I speak of; a knot of + young West India merchants, who, with heavy purses and large credits on + England, had at this time domiciled themselves in St George’s, to batten + on the spoils of poor Jonathan, having monopolized all the good things of + the place. I happened to be acquainted with one of them, and thereby had + less reason to complain, but many a poor fellow, sent ashore on duty, had + to put up with but Lenten fair at the taverns. At length, having refitted, + we sailed, in company with the Rayo frigate, with a convoy of three + transports, freighted with a regiment for New Orleans, and several + merchantmen, bound for the West Indies. + </p> + <p> + “The still vexed Bermoothes”—I arrived at them in a gale of wind, + and I sailed from them in a gale of wind. What the climate may be in the + summer I don’t know; but during the time I was there, it was one storm + after another. + </p> + <p> + We sailed in the evening with the moon at full, and the wind at + west-north-west. So soon as we got from under the lee of the land, the + breeze struck us, and it came on to blow like thunder, so that we were all + soon reduced to our storm staysails; and there we were, transports, + merchantmen, and men-of-war, rising on the mountainous billows one moment, + and the next losing sight of every thing but the water and sky in the deep + trough of the sea, while the seething foam was blown over us in showers + from the curling manes of the roaring waves. But overhead, all this while, + it was as clear as a lovely winter moon could make it, and the stars shone + brightly in the deep blue sky; there was not even a thin fleecy shred of + cloud racking across the moon’s disk. Oh, the glories of a northwester! + </p> + <p> + But the devil seize such glory! Glory, indeed! with a fleet of transports, + and a regiment of soldiers on board! Glory! why, I daresay five hundred + rank and file, at the fewest, were all cascading at one and the same + moment, a thousand poor fellows turned outside in, like so many pairs of + old stockings. Any glory in that? But to proceed. + </p> + <p> + Next morning the gale still continued, and when the day broke, there was + the frigate standing across our bows, rolling and pitching, as she tore + her way through the boiling sea, under a close-reefed main-topsail and + reefed foresail, with topgallant-yards and royal masts, and every thing + that could be struck with safety in war time, down on deck. There she lay + with her clear black bends, and bright white streaks and long tier of + cannon on the maindeck, and the carronades on the quarterdeck and + forecastle grinning through the ports in the black bulwarks, while the + white hammocks, carefully covered by the hammock-cloths, crowned the + defences of the gallant frigate fore and aft, as she delved through the + green surge,—one minute rolling and rising on the curling white + crest of a mountainous sea, amidst a hissing snowstorm of spray, with her + bright copper glancing from stem to stem, and her scanty white canvass + swelling aloft, and twenty feet of her keel forward occasionally hove into + the air clean out of the water, as if she had been a sea-bird rushing to + take wing,—and the next, sinking entirely out of sight, hull, masts, + and rigging, behind an intervening sea, that rose in hoarse thunder + between us, threatening to overwhelm both us and her. As for the + transports, the largest of the three had lost her fore topmast, and had + bore up under her foresail; another was also scudding under a close reefed + fore-topsail; but the third or head-quarter ship was still lying to + windward, under her storm stay-sails. None of the merchant vessels were to + be seen, having been compelled to bear up in the night, and to run before + it under bare poles. + </p> + <p> + At length, as the sun rose, we got before the wind, and it soon moderated + so far, that we could carry reefed topsails and foresail; and away we all + bowled, with a clear, deep, cold, blue sky, and a bright sun overhead, and + a stormy leaden-coloured ocean, with whitish green-crested billows, below. + The sea continued to go down, and the wind to slacken, until the + afternoon, when the Commodore made the signal for Torch to send, a boat’s + crew, the instant it could be done with safety, on board the dismasted + ship, to assist in repairing damages, and in getting up a + jury-fore-topmast. + </p> + <p> + The damaged ship was at this time on our weather-quarter; we accordingly + handed the fore-topsail, and presently she was alongside. We hailed her, + that we intended to send a boat on board, and desired her to heave-to, as + we did, and presently she rounded to under our lee. One of the + quarter-boats was manned, with three of the carpenter’s crew, and six good + men over and above her complement; but it was no easy matter to get on + board of her, let me tell you, after she had been lowered, carefully + watching the rolls, with four hands in. The moment she touched the water, + the tackles were cleverly unhooked, and the rest of us tumbled on board, + shin leather growing scarce, when we shoved off. With great difficulty, + and not without wet jackets, we, the supernumeraries, got on board, and + the boat returned to the Torch. The evening when we landed in the + lobsterbox, as Jack loves to designate a transport, was too far advanced + for us to do anything towards refitting that night; and the confusion, and + uproar, and numberless abominations of the crowded craft, were irksome to + a greater degree than I expected even, after having been accustomed to the + strict and orderly discipline of a man-of-war. The following forenoon the + Torch was ordered by signal to chase in the south-east quarter, and + hauling out from the fleet, she was soon out of sight. + </p> + <p> + “There goes my house and home,” said I, and a feeling of desolateness came + over me, that I would have been ashamed at the time to have acknowledged. + We stood on, and worked hard all day in repairing the damage sustained + during the gale. + </p> + <p> + At length dinner was announced, and I was invited, as the officer in + charge of the seamen, to go down. The party in the cabin consisted of an + old gizzened Major with a brown wig, and a voice melodious as the + sharpening of a saw—I fancied sometimes that the vibration created + by it set the very glasses in the steward’s pantry a-ringing three + captains and six subalterns, every man of whom, as the devil would have + it, played on the flute, and drew bad sketches, and kept journals. Most of + them were very white and blue in the gills when we sat down, and others of + a dingy sort of whitey-brown, while they ogled the viands in a most + suspicious manner. Evidently most of them had but small confidence in + their moniplies; and one or two, as the ship gave a heavier roll than + usual, looked wistfully towards the door, and half rose from their chairs, + as if in act to bolt. However, hot brandy grog being the order of the day, + we all, landsmen and sailors, got on astonishingly, and numberless long + yarns were spun of what “what’s-his-name of this, and so-and-so of + t’other, did or did not do.” + </p> + <p> + About half-past five in the evening, the captain of the transport, or + rather the agent, an old lieutenant in the navy, and our host, rang his + bell for the steward. + </p> + <p> + “Whereabouts are we in the fleet, steward?” said the ancient. + </p> + <p> + “The stern most ship of all, sir,” said the man. + </p> + <p> + “Where is the Commodore?” “About three miles a-head, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “And the Torch, has she rejoined us?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir; she has been out of sight these two hours; when last seen she + was in chase of something in the south-east quarter, and carrying all the + sail she could stagger under.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, very well.” + </p> + <p> + A song from Master Waistbelt, one of the young officers. Before he had + concluded, the mate came down. By this time it was near sun-down. + </p> + <p> + “Shall we shake a reef out of the main and mizzen-topsails, sir, and set + the mainsail and spanker? The wind has lulled, sir, and there is a strange + sail in the northwest that seems to be dodging us—but she may be one + of the merchantmen after all, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, Mr Leechline,” said our gallant captain. “Mr Bandalier—a + song if you please.” + </p> + <p> + Now the young soldiers on board happened to be men of the world, and + Bandalier, who did not sing, turned off the request with a good-humoured + laugh, alleging his inability with much suavity; but the old rough Turk of + a tar-bucket chose to fire at this, and sang out—“Oh, if you don’t + choose to sing when you are asked, and to sport your damned fine airs....” + </p> + <p> + “Mr Crowfoot.” + </p> + <p> + “Captain,” said the agent, piqued at having his title by courtesy + withheld. + </p> + <p> + “By no mean,” said Major Sawrasp, who had spoken—“I believe I am + speaking to Lieutenant Crowfoot, agent for transport No.—, wherein + it so happens I am commanding officer—so”— + </p> + <p> + Old Crowfoot saw he was in the wrong box, and therefore hove about, and + backed out in good time—making the amende as smoothly as his gruff + nature admitted, and trying to look pleased. + </p> + <p> + Presently the same bothersome mate came down again—“The strange sail + is creeping up on our quarter, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay?” said Crowfoot, “how does she lay?” + </p> + <p> + “She is hauled by the wind on the starboard tack, sir,” continued the + mate. + </p> + <p> + We now went on deck, and found that our suspicious friend had shortened + sail, as if he had made us out, and wag afraid to approach, or was lying + by until nightfall. + </p> + <p> + Sawrasp had before this, with the tact and ease of a soldier and a + gentleman, soldered his feud with Crowfoot, and, with the rest of the + lobsters, was full of fight. The sun at length set, and the night closed + in when the old major again addressed Crowfoot. + </p> + <p> + “My dear fellow, can’t you wait a bit, and let us have a rattle at that + chap?” And old Crowfoot, who never bore a grudge long, seemed much + inclined to fall in with the soldier’s views; and, in fine, although the + weather was now moderate, he did not make sail. Presently the Commodore + fired a gun, and showed lights. It was the signal to close. “Oh, time + enough,” said old Crowfoot—“what is the old man afraid of?” Another + gun and a fresh constellation on board the frigate. It was “an enemy in + the northwest quarter.” + </p> + <p> + “Hah, hah,” sung out the agent, “is it so? Major, what say you to a brush + let her close, eh?—should like to pepper her—wouldn’t you—three + hundred men, eh?” + </p> + <p> + By this time we were all on deck—the schooner came bowling along + under a reefed mainsail and jib, now rising, and presently disappearing + behind the stormy heavings of the roaring sea, the rising moon shining + brightly on her canvass pinions, as if she had been an albatross skimming + along the surface of the foaming water, while her broad white streak + glanced like a silver ribbon along her clear black side. She was a very + large craft of her class, long and low in the water, and evidently very + fast; and it was now clear, from our having been unable as yet to sway up + our fore-topmast, that she took us for a disabled merchantman, which might + be cut off from the convoy. + </p> + <p> + As she approached, we could perceive by the bright moonlight, that she had + six guns of a side, and two long ones on pivots, the one forward on the + forecastle, and the other choke up to the mainmast. + </p> + <p> + Her deck was crowded with dark figures, pike and cutlass in hand; we were + by this time so near that we could see pistols in their belts, and a + trumpet in the hand of a man who stood in the fore rigging, with his feet + on the hammock netting, and his back against the shrouds. We had cleared + away our six eighteen-pound carronades, which composed our starboard + broadside, and loaded them, each with a round shot, and a bag of two + hundred musket-balls, while three hundred soldiers in their foraging + jackets, and with their loaded muskets in their hands, were lying on the + deck, concealed by the quarters, while the blue jackets were sprawling in + groups round the carronades. + </p> + <p> + I was lying down beside the gallant old Major, who had a bugler close to + him, while Crowfoot was standing on the gun nearest us; but getting tired + of this recumbent position, I crept aft, until I could see through a spare + port. + </p> + <p> + “Why don’t the rascals fire?” quoth Sawrasp. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, that would alarm the Commodore. They intend to walk quietly on board + of us; but they will find themselves mistaken a little,” whispered + Crowfoot. + </p> + <p> + “Mind, men, no firing till the bugle sounds,” said the Major. + </p> + <p> + The word was passed along. + </p> + <p> + The schooner was by this time ploughing through it within half pistolshot, + with the white water dashing away from her bows, and buzzing past her + sides her crew as thick as peas on her deck. Once or twice she hauled her + wind a little, and then again kept away from us, as if irresolute what to + do. At length, without hailing, and all silent as the grave, she put her + helm a-starboard, and ranged alongside. + </p> + <p> + “Now, my boys, give it him,” shouted Crowfoot—“Fire!” + </p> + <p> + “Ready, men,” shouted the Major—“Present—fire!” + </p> + <p> + The bugles sounded, the cannon roared, the musketry rattled, and the men + cheered, and all was hurra, and fire, and fury. The breeze was strong + enough to carry all the smoke forward, and I saw the deck of the schooner, + where the moment before all was still and motionless, and filled with dark + figures, till there scarcely appeared standing room, at once converted + into a shambles. The blasting fiery tempest had laid low nearly the whole + mass, like a maize plant before a hurricane; and such a cry arose, as if + “Men fought on earth, and fiends in upper air.” + </p> + <p> + Scarcely a man was on his legs, the whole crew seemed to have been + levelled with the deck, many dead, no doubt, and most wounded, while we + could see numbers endeavouring to creep towards the hatches, while the + black blood, in horrible streams, gushed and gurgled through her scuppers + down her sides, and across the bright white streak that glanced in the + moonlight. + </p> + <p> + Some one on board of the privateer now hailed, “We have surrendered; cease + firing, sir.” But devil a bit—we continued blazing away—a + lantern was run up to his main gaff, and then lowered again. + </p> + <p> + “We have struck, sir,” shouted another voice, “don’t murder us don’t fire, + sir, for Godsake.” + </p> + <p> + But fire we still did; no sailor has the least compunction at even running + down a privateer. Mercy to privateersmen is unknown. “Give them the stem,” + is the word, the curs being regarded by Jack at the best as highwaymen; + so, when he found we still peppered away, and sailing two feet for our + one, the schooner at length, in their desperation, hauled her wind, and + speedily got beyond range of our carronades, having all this time never + fired a shot. Shortly after this we ran—under the Rayo’s stern she + was lying to. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Crowfoot what have you been after? I have a great mind to report you, + sir.” + </p> + <p> + “We could not help it, sir,” sung out Crowfoot in a most dolorous tone, in + answer to the captain of the frigate; “we have been nearly taken, sir, by + a privateer, sir—an immense vessel, sir, that sails, like a witch, + sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Keep close in my wake then, sir,” rejoined the captain, in a gruff tone, + and immediately the Rayo bore up. + </p> + <p> + Next morning we were all carrying as much sail as we could crowd. By this + time we had gotten our jury-fore-topmast up, and the Rayo, having kept + astern in the night, was now under topsails, and top-gallant sails, with + the wet canvass at the head of the sails, showing that the reefs had been + freshly shaken out—rolling wedge like on the swell, and rapidly + shooting a-head, to resume her station. As she passed us, and let fall her + foresail, she made the signal to make more sail, her object being to get + through the Caicos Passage, into which we were now entering, before + nightfall. It was eleven o’clock in the forenoon. A fine clear breezy day, + fresh and pleasant, sometimes cloudy overhead, but always breaking away + again, with a bit of a sneezer, and a small shower. As the sun rose there + were indications of squalls in the north-eastern quarter, and about noon + one of them was whitening to windward. So “hands by the topgallant + clew-lines” was the word, and we were all standing by to shorten sail, + when the Commodore came to the wind as sharp and suddenly as if he had + anchored; but on a second look, I saw his sheets were let fly, haulyards + let go, and apparently all was confusion on board of her. I ran to the + side and looked over. The long hearing dark blue swell had changed into a + light green hissing ripple. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds, Captain Crowfoot, shoal water—why it breaks—we shall + be ashore!” + </p> + <p> + “Down with the helm-brace round the yards,” shouted Crow foot; “that’s it + steady—luff, my man;” and the danger was so imminent that even the + studding-sail haulyards were not let go and the consequence was, that the + booms snapped off like carrots, as we came to the wind. + </p> + <p> + “Lord help us, we shall never weather that foaming reef there set the + spanker—haul out—haul down the foretopmast—staysail—so, + mind your luff, my man.” + </p> + <p> + The frigate now began to fire right and left, and the hissing of the shot + overhead was a fearful augury of what was to take place; so sudden was the + accident, that they had not had time to draw the round shot. The other + transports were equally fortunate with ourselves, in weathering the shoal, + and presently we were all close hauled to windward of the reef, until we + weathered the easternmost prong, when we bore up. But, poor Rayo! she had + struck on a coral reef, where the Admiralty charts laid down fifteen + fathoms water; and although there was some talk at the time of an error in + judgment, in not having the lead going in the chains, still do I believe + there was no fault lying at the door of her gallant captain. By the time + we had weathered the reef, the frigate had swung off from the pinnacle of + rock on which she had been in a manner impaled, and was making all the + sail she could, with a fothered sail under her bows, and chain-pumps + clanging, and whole cataracts of water gushing from them, clear white jets + spouting from all the scuppers, fore and aft. She made the signal to + close. The next, alas! was the British ensign, seized, union down in the + main rigging, the sign of the uttermost distress. Still we all bowled + along together, but her yards were not squared, nor her sails set with her + customary precision, and her lurches became more and more sickening, until + at length she rolled so heavily, that she dipped both yardarms alternately + in the water, and reeled to and fro like a drunken man. + </p> + <p> + “What is that splash?” + </p> + <p> + It was the larboard-bow long eighteen-pound gun hove overboard, and + watching the roll, the whole broadside, one after another, was cast into + the sea. The clang of the chain-pumps increased, the water rushed in at + one side of the main-deck, and out at the other, in absolute cascades from + the ports. At this moment the whole fleet of boats were alongside, keeping + way with the ship, in the light breeze. Her main-topsail was hove aback, + while the captain’s voice resounded through the ship. + </p> + <p> + “Now, men—all hands—bags and hammocks—starboard watch, + the starboard side—larboard watch, the larboard side—no + rushing now—she will swim this hour to come.” + </p> + <p> + The bags, and hammocks, and officers’ kits, were handed into the boats; + the men were told off over the side, as quietly by watches as if at + muster, the officers last. At length the first lieutenant came down. By + this time she was settling perceptibly in the water; but the old captain + still stood on the gangway, holding by the iron stanchion, where, taking + off his hat, he remained uncovered for a moment, with the tears standing + in his eyes. He then replaced it, descended, and took his place in the + ship’s launch—the last man to leave the ship; and there was little + time to spare, for we had scarcely shoved off a few yards, to clear the + spars of the wreck, when she sended forward, heavily and sickly, on the + long swell.—She never rose to the opposite heave of the sea again, + but gradually sank by the head. The hull disappeared slowly and + dignifiedly, the ensign fluttered and vanished beneath the dark ocean—I + could have fancied reluctantly as if it had been drawn down through a + trap-door. The topsails next disappeared, the fore-topsail sinking + fastest; and last of all, the white pennant at the main-topgallant-mast + head, after flickering and struggling in the wind, flew up in the setting + sun as if imbued with—life, like a stream of white fire, or as if it + had been the spirit leaving the body, and was then drawn down into the + abyss, and the last vestige of the Rayo vanished for ever. The crew, as if + moved by one common impulse, gave three cheers. + </p> + <p> + The captain now stood up in his boat—“Men, the Rayo is no more, but + it is my duty to tell you, that although you are now to be distributed + amongst the transports, you are still amenable to martial law; I am aware, + men, this hint may not be necessary, still it is right you should know + it.” + </p> + <p> + When the old hooker clipped out of sight, there was not a dry eye in the + whole fleet. “There she goes, the dear old beauty,” said one of her crew. + “There goes the blessed old black b——h,” quoth another. “Ah, + many a merry night have we had in the clever little craft,” quoth a third; + and there was really a tolerable shedding of tears and squirting of + tobacco juice. But the blue ripple had scarcely blown over the glasslike + surface of the sea where she had sunk, when the buoyancy of young hearts, + with the prospect of a good furlough amongst the lobster boxes for a time, + seemed to be uppermost amongst the men. The officers, I saw and knew, felt + very differently. + </p> + <p> + “My eye!” sung out an old quartermaster incur boat, perched well forward + with his back against the ring in the stem, and his arms crossed, after + having been busily employed rummaging in his bag, “my eye, what a pity—oh, + what a pity!” + </p> + <p> + Come, there is some feeling, genuine, at all events, thought I. + </p> + <p> + “My,” said Bill Chestree, the captain of the foretop, “what is can’t be + helped, old Fizgig; old Rayo has gone down, and”—“Old Rayo be d——d, + Master Bill,” said the man; “but may I be flogged, if I han’t forgotten + half a pound of negro head baccy in Dick Catgut’s bag.” + </p> + <p> + “Launch ahoy!” hailed a half drunken voice from one of the boats astern of + us. “Hillo,” responded the coxswain. The poor skipper even pricked up his + ears. “Have you got Dick Catgut’s fiddle among ye?” This said Dick Catgut + was the corporal of marines, and the prime instigator of all the fun + amongst the men. “No, no,” said several voices, “no fiddle here.” The hail + passed round among the other boats, “No fiddle.” “I would rather lose + three days grog than have his fiddle mislaid,” quoth the man who pulled + the bow oar. + </p> + <p> + “Why don’t you ask Dick himself?” said our coxswain. + </p> + <p> + “Aye—true enough—Dick, Dick Catgut!” but no one answered. + Alas! poor Dick was nowhere to be found; he had been mislaid as well as + his fiddle. He had broken into the spirit room, as it turned out, and + having got drunk, did not come to time when the frigate sunk. + </p> + <p> + Our ship, immediately after the frigate’s crew had been bestowed, and the + boats got in, hoisted the Commodore’s light, and the following morning we + fell in with the Torch, off the east end of Jamaica, which, after seeing + the transports safe into Kingston, and taking out me and my people, bore + up through the Gulf, and resumed her cruising ground on the edge of the + Gulf stream, between 25 degrees and 30 degrees north latitude. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III.—The Quenching of the Torch. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Then rose from sea to sky, the wild farewell.” + BYRON, DON JUAN, II. 409 +</pre> + <p> + The evening was closing in dark and rainy, with every appearance of a gale + from the westward, and the weather had become so thick and boisterous, + that the lieutenant of the watch had ordered the look-out at the mast-head + down on deck. The man, on his way down, had gone into the maintop to bring + away some things he had placed there in going aloft, and was in the act of + leaving it, when he sung out,—“A sail on the weather-bow.” + </p> + <p> + “What does she look like?” + </p> + <p> + “Can’t rightly say, sir; she is in the middle of the thick weather to + windward.” + </p> + <p> + “Stay where you are a little.—Jenkins, jump forward, and see what + you can make of her from the foreyard.” + </p> + <p> + Whilst the topman was obeying his instructions, the look-out again hailed + “She is a ship, sir, close-hauled on the same tack——the + weather clears, and I can see her now.” + </p> + <p> + The wind, ever since noon, had been blowing in heavy squalls, with + appalling lulls between them. One of these gusts had been so violent as to + bury in the sea the lee-guns in the waist, although the brig had nothing + set but her close-reefed main-topsail, and reefed foresail. It was now + spending, its fury, and she was beginning to roll heavily, when, with a + suddenness almost incredible to one unacquainted with these latitudes, the + veil of mist that had hung to windward the whole day was rent and drawn + aside, and the red and level rays of the setting sun flashed at once, + through a long arch of glowing clouds, on the black hull and tall spars of + his Britannic Majesty’s sloop, Torch. And, true enough, we were not the + only spectators of this gloomy splendour; for, right in the wake of the + moon-like sun, now half sunk in the sea, at the distance of a mile or + more, lay a long warlike-looking craft, apparently a frigate or heavy + corvette, rolling heavily and silently in the trough of the sea, with her + masts, yards, and the scanty sail she had set, in strong relief against + the glorious horizon. + </p> + <p> + Jenkins now hailed from the foreyard—“The strange sail is bearing + up, sir.” + </p> + <p> + As he spoke, a flash was seen, followed, after what seemed a long + interval, by the deadened report of the gun, as if it had been an echo, + and the sharp, half-ringing half-hissing sound of the shot. It fell short, + but close to us, and was evidently thrown from a heavy cannon, from the + length of the range. + </p> + <p> + Mr Splinter, the first lieutenant, jumped from the gun he stood on. + </p> + <p> + “Quartermaster, keep her away a bit”—and dived into the cabin to + make his report. + </p> + <p> + Captain Deadeye was a staid, stiff-rumped, wall-eyed, old first + lieutenantish-looking veteran, with his coat of a regular Rodney cut, + broad skirts, long waist, and standup collar, over which dangled either a + queue, or a marlinspike with a tuft of oakum at the end of it,—it + would have puzzled Old Nick to say which. His lower spars were cased in + tight unmentionables of what had once been white kerseymere, and long + boots, the coal-skuttle tops of which served as scuppers to carry off the + drainings from his coat-flaps in bad weather; he was, in fact, the “last + of the sea-monsters,” but, like all his tribe, as brave as steel, and, + when put to it, as alert as a cat. + </p> + <p> + He no sooner heard Splinter’s report, than he sprung up the ladder, + brushing the tumbler of swizzle he had just brewed clean out of the fiddle + into the lap of Mr Saveall, the purser, who had dined with him, and nearly + extinguishing the said purser, by his arm striking the bowl of the pipe he + was smoking, thereby forcing the shank half-way down his throat. + </p> + <p> + “My glass, Wilson,” to his steward. + </p> + <p> + “She is close to, sir; you can see her plainly without it,” said Mr + Treenail, the second lieutenant, from the weather nettings, where he was + reconnoitring. + </p> + <p> + After a long look through his starboard blinker, (this other skylight had + been shut up ever since Aboukir,) Deadeye gave orders to “clear away the + weather-bow gun;” and as it was now getting too dark for flags to be seen + distinctly, he desired that three lanterns might be got ready for hoisting + vertically in the main-rigging. + </p> + <p> + “All ready forward there?” + </p> + <p> + “All ready, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Then hoist away the lights, and throw a shot across her forefoot I fire!” + Bang went our carronade, but our friend to windward paid no regard to the + private signal; he had shaken a reef out of his topsails, and wars coming + down fast upon us. + </p> + <p> + It war clear that old Blowhard had at first taken him for one of our own + cruisers, and meant to signalize him, “all regular and shipshape,” to use + his own expression. Most of us, however, thought it would have been wiser + to have made sail, and widened our distance, a little, in place of + bothering with old fashioned manoeuvres, which might end in our catching a + tartar; but the skipper had been all his life in line-of-battle ships, or + heavy frigates; and it was a tough job, under, any circumstances, to + persuade him of the propriety of “up-stick-and-away,” as we soon felt to + our cost. + </p> + <p> + The enemy, for such he evidently was, now all at once yawed, and indulged + us with a sight of his teeth; and there he was, fifteen ports of a side on + his maindeck, with the due quantum of carronades on his quarterdeck and + forecastle; whilst his short lower masts, white canvass, and the + tremendous hoist in his topsails, showed him to be a heavy American + frigate; and it was equally certain that he had cleverly hooked us under + his lee, within comfortable range of his long twenty-fours. To convince + the most unbelieving, three jets of flame, amidst wreaths of white smoke, + now glanced from his main-deck; but in this instance, the sound of the + cannon was followed by a sharp crackle and a shower of splinters from the + foreyard. + </p> + <p> + It was clear we had got an ugly customer—poor Jenkins now called to + Treenail, who was standing forward near the gun which had been fired “Och, + sir, and it’s badly wounded we are here.” + </p> + <p> + The officer was a Patlander, as well as the seaman. “Which of you my boy?” + the growing seriousness of the affair in no way checking his propensity to + fun,—“Which of you,—you, or the yard?” + </p> + <p> + “Both of us, your honour; but the yard badliest.” + </p> + <p> + “The devil!—Come down, then, or get into the top, and I will you + looked after presently.” + </p> + <p> + The poor fellow crawled off the yard into the foretop, as he was ordered, + where he was found after the brush, badly wounded by a splinter in the + breast. + </p> + <p> + Jonathan, no doubt “calculated,” as well he might, that this taste of his + quality would be quite sufficient for a little eighteen-gun sloop, close + under his lee; but the fight was not to be so easily taken out of Deadeye, + although even to his optic it was now high time to be off. + </p> + <p> + “All hands make sail, Mr Splinter; that chap is too heavy for us. Mr + Kelson,” to the carpenter, “jump up and see what the foreyard will carry. + Keep her away, my man,” to the seaman at the helm. “Crack on, Mr Splinter, + shake all the reefs out,——set the fore-topsail, and loose + topgallant-sails;—stand by to sheet home; and see all clear to rig + the booms out, if the breeze lulls.” + </p> + <p> + In less than a minute we were bowling along before it; but the wind was + breezing up again, and no one could say how long the wounded foreyard + would carry the weight and drag of the sails. To mend the matter, Jonathan + was coming up hand over hand with the freshening breeze, under a press of + canvass; it was clear that escape was next to impossible. + </p> + <p> + “Clear away the larboard guns!” I absolutely jumped off the deck with + astonishment—who could have spoken it? It appeared such downright + madness to show fight under the very muzzles of the guns of an enemy, half + of whose broadside was sufficient to sink us. It was the captain, however, + and there was nothing for it but to obey. + </p> + <p> + In an instant, the creaking and screaming of the carronade slides, the + rattling of the carriage of the long twelve-pounder amidships, the + thumping and punching of handspikes, and the dancing and jumping of jack + himself, were heard through the whistling of the breeze, as the guns were + being shotted and run out. In a few seconds all was still again, but the + rushing sound of the vessel going through the water, and of the rising + gale amongst the rigging. + </p> + <p> + The men stood clustered at their quarters, their cutlasses buckled round + their waists, all without jackets and waistcoats, and many with nothing + but their trowsers on. + </p> + <p> + “Now, men, mind your aim; our only chance is to wing him. I will yaw the + ship, and as your guns come to bear, slap it right into his bows. + Starboard your helm, my man, and bring her to the wind.” As she came + round, blaze went our carronades and long-gun in succession, with goodwill + and good aim, and down came his foretop-sail on the cap, with all the + superincumbent spars and gear; the head of the topmast had been shot away. + The men instinctively cheered. “That will do; now knock off, my boys, and + let us run for it. Keep her away again; make all sail.” + </p> + <p> + Jonathan was for an instant paralysed by our impudence; but just as we + were getting before the wind, he yawed, and let drive his whole broadside; + and fearfully did it transmogrify us. Half an hour before we were as gay a + little sloop as ever floated, with a crew of 120 as fine fellows as ever + manned a British man-of-war. The iron-shower sped—ten of the hundred + and twenty never saw the sun rise again; seventeen more were wounded, + three mortally; we had eight shot between wind and water, our maintop-mast + shot away as clean as a carrot, and our hull and rigging otherwise + regularly cut to pieces. Another broadside succeeded; but by this time we + had bore up thanks to the loss of our after sail, we could do nothing + else; and what was better luck still, whilst the loss of our maintop-mast + paid the brig off on the one hand, the loss of head-sail in the frigate + brought her as quickly to the wind on the other; thus most of her shot + fell astern of us; and, before she could bear up again in chase, the + squall struck her, and carried her maintop-mast overboard. + </p> + <p> + This gave us a start, crippled and bedevilled though we were; and as the + night fell, we contrived to lose sight of our large friend. With + breathless anxiety did we carry on through that night, expecting every + lurch to send our remaining topmast by the board; but the weather + moderated, and next morning the sun shone on our bloodstained decks, at + anchor off the entrance to St George’s harbour. + </p> + <p> + I was the mate of the watch, and, as day dawned, I had amused myself with + other younkers over the side, examining the shot holes and other injuries + sustained from the fire of the frigate, and contrasting the clean, sharp, + well-defined apertures, made by the 24-pound shot from the long guns, with + the bruised and splintered ones from the 32-pound carronades; but the men + had begun to wash down the decks, and the first gush of clotted blood an + water from the scuppers fairly turned me sick. I turned away, when Mr + Kennedy, our gunner, a good steady old Scotchman, with whom I was a bit of + a favourite, came up to me—“Mr Cringle, the Captain has sent for + you; poor Mr Johnstone is fast going, he wants to see you.” + </p> + <p> + I knew my young messmate had been wounded, for I had seen him carried + below after the frigate’s second broadside; but the excitement of a boy, + who had seldom smelled powder fired in anger before, had kept me on deck + the whole night, and it never once occurred to me to ask for him, until + the old gunner spoke. + </p> + <p> + I hastened down to our small confined berth, where I saw a sight that + quickly brought me to myself. Poor Johnstone was indeed going; a grapeshot + had struck him, and torn his belly open. There he lay in his bloody + hammock on the deck, pale and motionless as if he had already departed, + except a slight twitching at the corners of his mouth, and a convulsive + contraction and distension of his nostrils. + </p> + <p> + His brown ringlets still clustered over his marble forehead, but they were + drenched in the cold sweat of death. The surgeon could do nothing for him, + and had left him; but our old captain—bless him for it—I + little expected, from his usual crusty bearing, to find him so employed—had + knelt by his side, and, whilst he read from the Prayer-book one of those + beautiful petitions in our Church service to Almighty God, for mercy to + the passing soul of one so young, and so early cut off, the tears trickled + down the old man’s cheeks, and filled the furrows worn in them by the + washing up of many a salt spray. On the other side of his narrow bed, + fomenting the rigid muscles of his neck and chest, sate Mistress Connolly, + one of three women on board—a rough enough creature, Heaven knows! + in common weather; but her stifled sobs showed that the mournful sight had + stirred up all the woman within her. She had opened the bosom of the poor + boy’s shirt, and untying the riband that fastened a small gold crucifix + round his neck, she placed it in his cold hand. The young midshipman was + of a respectable family in Limerick, her native place, and a Catholic—another + strand of the cord that bound her to him. When the Captain finished + reading, he bent over the departing youth and kissed his cheek. “Your + young messmate just now desired to see you, Mr Cringle, but it is too + late, he is insensible and dying.” Whilst he spoke, a strong shiver passed + through the boy’s frame, his face became slightly convulsed, and all was + over! + </p> + <p> + The Captain rose, and Connolly, with a delicacy of feeling which many + might not have looked for in her situation, spread one of our clean mess + tablecloths over the body. “And is it really gone you are, my poor dear + boy!” forgetting all difference of rank in the fulness of her heart. “Who + will tell this to your mother, and nobody here to wake you but ould Kate + Connolly, and no time will they be giving me, nor whisky—Ochon! + ochon!” + </p> + <p> + But enough and to spare of this piping work. The boatswain’s whistle now + called me to the gangway, to superintend the handling up, from a shore + boat alongside, a supply of the grand staples of the island—ducks + and onions. The three Mudians in her were characteristic samples of the + inhabitants. Their faces and sins, where exposed, were not tanned, but + absolutely burnt into a fiery-red colour by the sun. They guessed and + drawled like any buckskin from Virginia, superadding to their + accomplishments their insular peculiarity of always shutting one eye when + they spoke to you. They are all Yankees at bottom; and if they could get + their 365 Islands—so they call the large stones on which they live—under + weigh, they would not be long in towing them into the Chesapeake. + </p> + <p> + The word had been passed to get six of the larboard-guns and all the shot + over to the other side, to give the brig a list of a streak or two + a-starboard, so that the stage on which the carpenter and his crew were at + work over the side, stopping the shot holes about the water line, might + swing clear of the wash of the sea. I had jumped from the nettings, where + I was perched, to assist in unbolting one of the carronade slides, when I + slipped and capsized against a peg sticking out of one of the scuppers. I + took it for something else, and d——d the ring-bolt + incontinently. Caboose, the cook, was passing with his mate, a Jamaica + negro of the name of John Crow, at the time. “Don’t d——n the + remains of your fellow-mortals, Master Cringle; that is my leg.” The cook + of a man-of-war is no small beer; he is his Majesty’s warrant-officer, a + much bigger wig than a poor little mid, with whom it is condescension on + his part to jest. + </p> + <p> + It seems to be a sort of rule, that no old sailor who has not lost a limb, + or an eye at least, shall be eligible to the office; but as the kind of + maiming is so far circumscribed that all cooks must have two arms, a + laughable proportion of them have but one leg. Besides the honour, the + perquisites are good; accordingly, all old quartermasters, captains of + tops, etc. look forward to the cookdom, as the cardinals look to the + popedom; and really there is some analogy between them, for neither are + preferred from any especial fitness for the office. A cardinal is made + pope because he is old, infirm, and imbecile,—our friend Caboose was + made cook because he had been Lord Nelson’s coxswain, was a drunken + rascal, and had a wooden leg; for, as to his gastronomical qualifications, + he knew no more of the science than just sufficient to watch the copper + where the salt junk and potatoes were boiling. Having been a little in the + wind overnight, he had quartered himself, in the superabundance of his + heroism, at a gun where he had no business to be, and in running it out, + he had jammed his toe in a scupper hole, so fast that there was no + extricating him; and notwithstanding his piteous entreaty “to be eased out + handsomely, as the leg was made out of a plank of the Victory, and the + ring at the end out of one of her bolts,” the captain of the gun finding, + after a stout pull, that the man was like to come home in his hand without + the leg, was forced “to break him short off,” as he phrased it, to get him + out of the way, and let the carriage traverse. In the morning when he + sobered, he had quite forgotten where the leg was, and how he broke it; he + therefore got Kelson to splice the stump with the but-end of a mop; but in + the hurry it had been left three inches too long, so he had to jerk + himself up to the top of his peg at every step. The Doctor, glad to + breathe the fresh air after the horrible work he had gone through, was + leaning over the side speaking to Kelson. When I fell, he turned round and + drew Cookee’s fire on himself. “Doctor, you have not prescribed for me + yet.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Caboose, I have not; what is wrong?” + </p> + <p> + “Wrong, sir? why, I have lost my leg, and the Captain’s clerk says I am + not in the Return!—Look here, sir, had Doctor Kelson not coopered + me, where should I have been?—Why, Doctor, had I been looked after, + amputation might have been unnecessary; a fish might have done, whereas I + have had to be spliced.” + </p> + <p> + He was here cut short by the voice of his mate, who had gone forward to + slay a pig for the gunroom mess. “Oh, Lad, oh!—Massa Caboose!—Dem + dam Yankee!—De Purser killed, massa!—Dem shoot him troo de + head!—Oh, Lad!” + </p> + <p> + Captain Deadeye had come on deck. “You John Crow, what is wrong with you?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, de Purser killed, Captain, dat all.” + </p> + <p> + “Purser killed?—Doctor, is Saveall hurt?” + </p> + <p> + Treenail could stand it no longer. “No, sir, no; it is one of the gunroom + pigs that we shipped at Halifax three cruises ago; I am sure I don’t know + how he survived one, but the seamen took a fancy to him, and nicknamed him + the Purser. You know, sir, they make pets of any thing, and every thing, + at a pinch!” + </p> + <p> + Here John Crow drew the carcass from the hog-pen, and sure enough a shot + had cut the poor Purser’s head nearly off. Blackee looked at him with a + most whimsical expression; they saynno one can fathom a negro’s affection + for a pig. “Poor Purser! de people call him Purser, sir, because him + knowing chap; him cabbage all de grub, slush, and stuff in him own corner, + and give only de small bit, and de bad piece, to de older pig; so + Captain.” + </p> + <p> + Splinter saw the poor fellow was like to get into a scrape. “That will do, + John Crow—forward with you now, and lend a hand to cat the anchor.—All + hands up anchor!” The boatswain’s hoarse voice repeated the command, and + he n turn was re-echoed by his mates. The capstan was manned, and the crew + stamped, round to a point of wart most villainously performed by a bad + drummer and a worse fifer, in as high glee as if those who were killed had + been snug and well in their hammocks on the berth-deck—, in place of + at the bottom of the sea, with each a shot at his feet. We weighed, and + began to work up, tack and tack, towards the island of Ireland, where the + arsenal is, amongst a perfect labyrinth of shoals, through which the + Mudian pilot conned the ship with great skill, taking his stand, to our no + small wonderment, not at the gangway or poop, as usual, but on the + bowsprit end, so that he might see the rocks under foot, and shun them + accordingly, for they are so steep and numerous, (they look like large + fish in the clear water,) and the channel is so intricate, that you have + to go quite close to them. At noon we arrived at the anchorage, and hauled + our moorings on board. + </p> + <p> + We had refitted, and been four days at sea, on our voyage to Jamaica, when + the gunroom officers gave our mess a blow-out. + </p> + <p> + The increased motion and rushing of the vessel through the water, the + groaning of the masts, the howling of the rising gale, and the frequent + trampling of the watch on deck, were prophetic of wet jackets to some of + us; still, midshipman-like, we were as happy as a good dinner and some + wine could make us, until the old gunner shoved his weather beaten phiz + and bald pate in at the door. “Beg pardon, Mr Splinter, but if you will + spare Mr Cringle on the forecastle for an hour until the moon rises.” + </p> + <p> + (“Spare, quotha, is his Majesty’s officer a joint stool?”) + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr Kennedy, why? here, man, take a glass of grog.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, sir. It is coming on a roughish night, sir; the running + ships should be crossing us hereabouts; indeed more than once I thought + there was a strange sail close aboard of us, the scud is flying so low, + and in such white flakes; and none of us have an eye like Mr Cringle, + unless it be John Crow, and he is all but frozen.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Tom, I suppose you will go”—Angelice, from a first lieutenant + to a mid—“Brush instanter.” + </p> + <p> + Having changed my uniform, for shag-trowsers, pea-jacket, and south-west + cap, I went forward, and took my station, in no pleasant humour, on the + stowed foretopmast-staysail, with my arm round the stay. I had been half + an hour there, the weather was getting worse, the rain was beating in my + face, and the spray from the stem was flashing over me, as it roared + through the waste of sparkling and hissing waters. I turned my back to the + weather for a moment, to press my hand on my strained eyes. When I opened + them again, I saw the gunner’s gaunt high-featured visage thrust anxiously + forward; his profile looked as if rubbed over with phosphorus, and his + whole person as if we had been playing at snap-dragon. “What has come over + you, Mr Kennedy?—who is burning the bluelight now?” + </p> + <p> + “A wiser man than I am must tell you that; look forward, Mr Cringle—look + there; what do your books say to that?” + </p> + <p> + I looked forth, and saw, at the extreme end of the jib-boom, what I had + read of, certainly, but never expected to see, a pale, greenish, glowworm + coloured flame, of the size and shape of the frosted glass shade over the + swinging lamp in the gunroom. It drew out and flattened as the vessel + pitched and rose again, and as she sheered about, it wavered round the + point that seemed to attract it, like a soapsud bubble blown from a + tobacco pipe before it is shaken into the air; at the core it was + comparatively bright, but gradually faded into a halo. It shed a baleful + and ominous light on the surrounding objects; the cup of sailors on the + forecastle looked like spectres, and they shrunk together, and whispered + when it began to roll slowly along the spar towards where the boatswain + was sitting at my feet. At this instant something slid down the stay, and + a cold clammy hand passed round my neck. I was within an ace of losing my + hold, and tumbling overboard. “Heaven have mercy on me, what’s that?” + </p> + <p> + “It’s that skylarking son of a gun, Jem Sparkle’s monkey, sir. You, Jem, + you’ll never rest till that brute is made shark bait of.” + </p> + <p> + But Jackoo vanished up the stay again, chuckling and grinning in the + ghostly radiance, as if he had been the “Spirit of the Lamp.” The light + was still there, but a cloud of mist, like a burst of vapour from a steam + boiler, came down upon the gale, and flew past, when it disappeared. I + followed the white mass as it sailed down the wind; it did not, as it + appeared to me, vanish in the darkness, but seemed to remain in sight to + leeward, as if checked by a sudden flaw; yet none of our sails were taken + aback. A thought flashed on me. I peered still more intensely into the + night. I was now certain. “A sail, broad on the lee bow.” + </p> + <p> + The ship was in a buz in a moment. The Captain answered from the + quarterdeck—“Thank you, Mr Cringle. How shall we steer?” + </p> + <p> + “Keep her away a couple of points, sir, steady.” + </p> + <p> + “Steady,” sung the man at the helm; and the slow melancholy cadence, + although a familiar sound to me, now moaned through the rushing of the + wind, and smote upon my heart as if it had been the wailing of a spirit. + </p> + <p> + I turned to the boatswain, who was now standing beside me—“Is that + you or Davy Jones steering, Mr Nipper? if you had not been here bodily at + my elbow, I could have sworn that was your voice.” + </p> + <p> + When the gunner made the same remark it startled the poor fellow he tried + to take it as a joke, but could not. “There may be a laced hammock with a + shot in it, for some of us ere morning.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment, to my dismay, the object we were chasing shortened, + gradually fell abeam of us, and finally disappeared. “The Flying + Dutchman.” + </p> + <p> + “I can’t see her at all now.” + </p> + <p> + “She will be a fore-and-aft-rigged vessel that has tacked, sir,” said the + gunner. And sure enough, after a few seconds, I saw the white object + lengthen, and draw out again abaft our beam. + </p> + <p> + “The chase has tacked sir,” I sung out; “put the helm down, or she will, + go to windward of us.” + </p> + <p> + We tacked also, and time it was we did so, for the rising moon now showed + us a large schooner under a crowd of sail. We edged down on her, when + finding her manoeuvre detected, she brailed up her flat sails, and bore up + before the wind. This was our best point of sailing, and we cracked on, + the captain rubbing his hands—“It’s my turn to be the big un this + time.” Although blowing a strong north-easter, it was now clear moonlight + and we hammered away from bow guns, but whenever a shot told amongst the + rigging, the injury was repaired as if by magic. It was evident we had + repeatedly hulled her, from the glimmering white streaks along her counter + and, across her stern, occasioned by the splintering of the timber, but it + seemed to produce no effect. + </p> + <p> + At length we drew well up on her quarter. She continued all black hull and + white sail, not a soul to be seen on deck, except a dark object, which we + took for the man at the helm. “What schooner’s that?” No answer. + “Heave-to, or I’ll sink you.” Still all silent. “Sergeant Armstrong, do + you think you could pick off that chap at the wheel?” The marine jumped on + the forecastle, and levelled his piece, when a musket-shot from the + schooner crashed through his skull, and he fell dead. The old skipper’s + blood was up. “Forecastle, there! Mr Nipper, clap a canister of grape over + the round shot into the boat-gun, and give it to him.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir!” gleefully rejoined the boatswain, forgetting the augury and + every thing else in the excitement of the moment. In a twinkling, the + square foresail-topsail-topgallant-royal—and studdingsail haulyards + were let go by the run on board of the schooner, as if they had been shot + away, and he put his helm hard aport as, if to round to. + </p> + <p> + “Rake him, sir, or give him the stem. He has not surrendered. I know their + game. Give him your broadside, sir, or he is off to windward of you like a + shot.—No, no! we have him now; heave to, Mr Splinter, heave-to!” We + did so, and that so suddenly, that the studdingsail booms snapped like + pipe-shanks, short off by the irons. Notwithstanding, we had shot two + hundred yards to leeward before we could lay our maintopsail to the mast. + I ran to windward. The schooner’s yards and rigging were now black with + men, clustered like bees swanning, her square-sails were being close + furled, her fore and—aft sails set, and away she was, close-hauled + and dead to windward of us. + </p> + <p> + “So much for undervaluing our American friends,” grumbled Mr Splinter. + </p> + <p> + We made all sail in chase, blazing away to little purpose; we had no + chance on a bowline, and when our amigo had satisfied himself of his + superiority by one or two short tacks, he deliberately hauled down his + flying jib and gaff-topsail, took a reef in his mainsail, triced up the + bunt of his foresail, and fired his long thirty-two at us. The shot came + in at the third aftermost port on the starboard side, and dismounted the + carronade, smashing the slide, and wounding three men. The second shot + missed, and as it was madness to remain to be peppered, probably winged, + whilst every one of ours fell short, we reluctantly kept away on our + course, having the gratification of hearing a clear well-blown bugle on + board the schooner play up “Yankee Doodle.” + </p> + <p> + As the brig fell off, our long-gun was run out to have a parting crack at + her, when the third and last shot from the schooner struck the sill of the + midship-port, and made the white splinters fly from the solid oak like + bright silver sparks in the moonlight. A sharp piercing cry rose into the + air—my soul identified that death-shriek with the voice that I had + heard, and I saw the man who was standing with the lanyard of the lock in + his hand drop heavily across the breech, and discharge the gun in his + fall. Thereupon a blood-red glare shot up into the cold blue sky, as if a + volcano had burst forth from beneath the mighty deep, followed by a roar, + and a shattering crash, and a mingling of unearthly cries and groans, and + a concussion of the air, and of the water, as if our whole broadside had + been fired at once. Then a solitary splash here, and a dip there, and + short sharp yells, and low choking bubbling moans, as the hissing + fragments of the noble vessel we had seen fell into the sea, and the last + of her gallant crew vanished for ever beneath that pale broad moon. We + were alone, and once more, all was dark, and wild, and stormy. Fearfully + had that ball sped, fired by a dead man’s hand. But what is it that clings + black and doubled across that fatal cannon, dripping and heavy, and + choking the scuppers with clotting gore, and swaying to and fro with the + motion of the vessel, like a bloody fleece? + </p> + <p> + “Who is it that was hit at the gun there?” + </p> + <p> + “Mr Nipper, the boatswain, sir. The last shot has cut him in two.” + </p> + <p> + After this most melancholy incident we continued on our voyage to Jamaica, + nothing particular occurring until we anchored at Port Royal, where we had + a regular overhaul of the old Bark, and after this was completed, we were + ordered down to the leeward part of the island to afford protection to the + coasting trade. One fine morning, about a fortnight after we had left Port + Royal, the Torch was lying at anchor in Bluefields Bay. It was between + eight and nine; the land-wind had died away, and the sea-breeze had not + set in—there was not a breath stirring. The pennant from the + masthead fell sluggishly down, and clung amongst the rigging like a dead + snake, whilst the folds of the St George’s ensign that hung from the + mizzen-peak, were as motionless as if they had been carved in marble. + </p> + <p> + The anchorage was one unbroken mirror, except where its glass-like surface + was shivered into sparkling ripples by the gambols of a skipjack, or the + flashing stoop of his enemy the pelican; and the reflection of the vessel + was so clear and steady, that at the distance of a cable’s length you + could not distinguish the water-line, nor tell where the substance ended + and shadow began, until the casual dashing of a bucket overboard for a few + moments broke up the phantom ship; but the wavering fragments soon + reunited, and she again floated double, like the swan of the poet. The + heat was so intense, that the iron stanchions of the awning could not be + grasped with the hand, and where the decks were not screened by it, the + pitch boiledout from the seams. The swell rolled in from the offing in + long shining undulations, like a sea of quicksilver, whilst every now and + then a flying fish would spark out from the unruffled bosom of the heaving + water, and shoot away like a silver arrow, until it dropped with a flash + into the sea again. There was not a cloud in the heavens, but a quivering + blue haze hung over the land, through which the white sugar-works and + overseers’ houses on the distant estates appeared to twinkle like objects + seen through a thin smoke, whilst each of the tall stems of the cocoa—nut + trees on the beach, when looked at steadfastly, seemed to be turning round + with a small spiral motion, like so many endless screws. There was a + dreamy indistinctness about the outlines of the hills, even in the + immediate vicinity, which increased as they receded, until the Blue + Mountains in the horizon melted into sky. The crew were listlessly + spinning oakum, and mending sails, under the shade of the awning; the only + exceptions to the general languor were John Crow the black, and jackoo the + monkey. The former (who was an improvisatore of a rough stamp) sat out on + the bowsprit, through choice, beyond the shade of the canvass, without hat + or shirt, like a bronze bust, busy with his task, whatever that might be, + singing at the top of his pipe, and between whiles confabulating with his + hairy ally, as if he had been a messmate. The monkey was hanging by the + tail from the dolphin-striker, admiring what John Crow called “his own dam + ogly face in the water.” + </p> + <p> + “Tail like yours would be good ting for a sailor, jackoo, it would leave + his two hands free aloft—more use, more hornament, too, I’m sure, + den de piece of greasy junk dat hangs from de Captain’s taffril.—Now + I shall sing to you, how dat Corromantee rascal, my fader, was sell me on + de Gold Coast. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Two red nightcap, one long knife, + All him get for Quackoo, + For gun next day him sell him wife, + You tink dat good song, lackoo?” + </pre> + <p> + “Chocko, chocko,” chattered the monkey, as if in answer. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you tink so—sensible honimal!—What is dat? shark?—Jackoo, + come up, sir: don’t you see dat big shovel—nosed fis looking at you? + Pull your handout of the water—Caramighty!” + </p> + <p> + The negro threw himself on the gammoning of the bowsprit to take hold of + the poor ape, who, mistaking his kind intention, and ignorant of his + danger, shrunk from him, lost his hold, and fell into the sea. The shark + instantly sank to have a run, then dashed at his prey, raising his snout + over him, and shooting his head and shoulders three or four feet out of + the water, with poor Jackoo shrieking in his jaws, whilst his small bones + crackled and crunched under the monster’s triple row of teeth. + </p> + <p> + Whilst this small tragedy was acting—and painful enough it was to + the kind-hearted negro—I was looking out towards the eastern + horizon, watching the first dark-blue ripple of the sea-breeze, when a + rushing noise passed over my head. I looked up and saw a gawnaso, the + large carrion-crow of the tropics, sailing, contrary to the habits of its + kind, seaward over the brig. I followed it with my eye, until it vanished + in the distance, when my attention was attracted by a dark speck far out + in the offing, with a little tiny white sail. With my glass I made it out + to be a ship’s boat, but I saw no one on board, and the sail was idly + flapping about the mast. + </p> + <p> + On making my report, I was desired to pull towards it in the gig; and as + we approached, one of the crew said he thought he saw some one peering + over the bow. We drew nearer, and I saw him distinctly. + </p> + <p> + “Why don’t you haul the sheet aft, and come down to us, sir?” + </p> + <p> + He neither moved nor answered, but, as the boat rose and fell on the short + sea raised by the first of the breeze, the face kept mopping and mowing at + us over the gunwale. + </p> + <p> + “I will soon teach you manners, my fine fellow! give way, men” and I fired + my musket, when the crow that I had seen, rose from the boat into the air, + but immediately alighted again, to our astonishment, vulture-like with + out-stretched wings, upon the head. + </p> + <p> + Under the shadow of this horrible plume, the face seemed on the instant to + alter like the hideous changes in a dream. It appeared to become of a + deathlike paleness, and anon streaked with blood. Another stroke of the + oar—the chin had fallen down, and the tongue was hanging out. + Another pull—the eyes were gone, and from their sockets, brains and + blood were fermenting and flowing down the cheeks. It was the face of a + putrefying corpse. In this floating coffin we found the body of another + sailor, doubled across one of the thwarts, with a long Spanish knife + sticking between his ribs, as if he had died in some mortal struggle, or, + what was equally probable, had put an end to himself in his frenzy; whilst + along the bottom of the boat, arranged with some show of care, and covered + by a piece of canvass stretched across an oar above it, lay the remains of + a beautiful boy, about fourteen years of age, apparently but a few hours + dead. Some biscuit, a roll of jerked beef, and an earthen water-jar, lay + beside him, showing that hunger at least could have had no share in his + destruction but the pipkin was dry, and the small water-cask in the bow + was staved, and empty. + </p> + <p> + We had no sooner cast our grappling over the bow, and begun to tow the + boat to the ship, than the abominable bird that we had scared settled down + into it again, notwithstanding our proximity, and began to peck at the + face of the dead boy. At this moment we heard a gibbering noise, and saw + something like a bundle of old rags roll out from beneath the stem-sheets, + and whatever it was, apparently make a fruitless attempt to drive the + gallinaso from its prey. Heaven and earth, what an object met our eyes! It + was a full-grown man, but so wasted, that one of the boys lifted him by + his belt with one hand. His knees were drawn up to his chin, his hands + were like the talons of a bird, while the falling in of his + chocolate-coloured and withered features gave an unearthly relief to his + forehead, over which the horny and transparent skin was braced so tightly + that it seemed ready to crack. But in the midst of this desolation, his + deep-set coal-black eyes sparkled like two diamonds with the fever of his + sufferings; there was a fearful fascination in their flashing brightness, + contrasted with the deathlike aspect of the face, and rigidity of the + frame. When sensible of our presence he tried to speak, but could only + utter a low moaning sound. At length—“Agua, agua”—we had not a + drop of water in the boat. “El muchacho esta moriendo de sed—Agua.” + </p> + <p> + We got on board, and the surgeon gave the poor fellow some weak tepid + grog. It acted like magic. He gradually uncoiled himself, his voice, from + being weak and husky, became comparative strong and clear. “El hijo—Agua + para mi Pedrillo—No le hace pari mi—oh la noche pasado, la + noche pasado!” He was told to compose himself, and that his boy would be + taken care of. “Dexa me verlo entonces, oh Dios, dexa me verlo”——and + he crawled, grovelling on his chest, like a crushed worm, across the deck, + until he got his head over the port sill, and looked down into the boat. + He there beheld the pale face of his dead son; it was the last object he + ever saw, “Ay de mi!” he groaned heavily, and dropped his face against the + ship’s side—He was dead. + </p> + <p> + After spending several months in the service already alluded to, we were + ordered on a cruise off the coast of Terra Firma. + </p> + <p> + Morillo was at this time besieging Carthagena by land, while a Spanish + squadron, under Admiral Enrile, blockaded the place by sea; and it pleased + the officer who commanded the inshore division to conceive, while the old + Torch was quietly beating up along the coast, that we had an intention of + forcing the blockade. + </p> + <p> + The night before had been gusty and tempestuous—all hands had been + called three times, so that at last, thinking there was no use in going + below, I lay down on the stern sheets of the boat over the stern—an + awkward berth certainly, but a spare tarpaulins had that morning been + stretched over the after part of the boat to dry, and I therefore + ensconced myself beneath it. just before daylight, however, the brig, by a + sudden shift of wind, was taken aback, and fetching stern-way, a sea + struck her. How I escaped I never could tell, but I was pitched right in + on deck over the poop, and much bruised, where I found a sad scene of + confusion, with the captain and several of the officers in their shirts, + and the men tumbling up from below as fast as they could—while, + amongst other incidents, one of our passengers who occupied a small cabin + under the poop, having gone to sleep with the stern port open, the sea had + surged in through it with such violence as to wash him out on deck in his + shirt, where he lay sprawling among the feet of the men. However, we soon + got all right, and in five minutes the sloop was once more tearing through + it on a wind; but the boat where I had been sleeping was smashed into + staves, all that remained of her being the stem and stern-post dangling + from the tackles at the ends of the davits. + </p> + <p> + At this time it was grey dawn, and we were working up in shore, without + dreaming of breaking the blockade, when it fell stark calm. Presently the + Spanish squadron, anchored under Punto Canoa, perceived us, when a + corvette, two schooners, a cutter, and eight gunboats, got under weigh, + the latter of which soon swept close to us, ranging themselves on our bows + and quarters; and although we showed our colours, and made the private + international signal, they continued firing at us for about an hour, + without, however, doing any damage, as they had chosen a wary distance. At + length some of the shot falling near us, the skipper cleared for action, + and with his own hand fired a 32-pounder at the nearest gun-boat, the crew + of which bobbed as if they, had seen the shot coming. This opened the eyes + of the Dons, who thereupon ceased firing; and as a light breeze had now + set down, they immediately made sail in pursuit of a schooner that had + watched the opportunity of their being employed with us to run in under + the walls, and was at this moment chased by a ship and a gun-boat, who had + got within gun-shot and kept up a brisk fire on her. So soon as the others + came up, all hands opened on the gallant little hooker who was forcing the + blockade, and peppered away; and there she was, like a hare, with a whole + pack of harriers after her, sailing and sweeping in under their fire + towards the doomed city. As the wind was very light, the blockading + squadron now manned their boats, and some of them were coming fast, when a + raffle of musketry from the small craft sent them to the right about, and + presently the chase was safely at anchor under the battery of Santa + Catalina. + </p> + <p> + But the fun was to come-for by this time some of the vessels that held her + in chase, had got becalmed under the batteries, which immediately opened + on them cheerily; and down came a topgallant-mast here, and a topsail-yard + there, and a studdingsail t’other place-and such a squealing and creaking + of blocks and rattling of the gear, while yards braced hither and thither, + and topping-lifts let go, and sheets let fly, showed that the Dons were in + a sad quandary; and no wonder, for we could see the shot from the long + 32-pounders on the walls, falling very thick all around several of them. + However, at 4 P.M. we had worked up alongside of the Commodore, when the + old skipper gave our friend such a rating, that I don’t think he will ever + forget it. + </p> + <p> + On the day following our being fired at, I was sent, being a good + Spaniard, along with the second lieutenant—poor Treenail—to + Morillo’s headquarters. We got an order to the officer commanding the + nearest post on shore, to provide us with horses; but before reaching it, + we had to walk, under a roasting sun, about two miles through miry roads, + until we arrived at the barrier, where we found a detachment of artillery, + but the commanding officer could only give us one poor broken-winded + horse, and a jackass, on which we were to proceed to headquarters on the + morrow; and here, under a thatched hut of the most primitive construction, + consisting simply of cross sticks and palm branches, we had to spend the + night, the poor fellows being as kind as their own misery would let them. + </p> + <p> + Next morning we proceeded, accompanied by a hussar, through dreadful + roads, where the poor creatures we bestrode sunk to the belly at every + flounder, until about four p.m., when we met two negroes and found, to our + great distress, that the soldier who was our guide and escort, had led us + out of our way, and that we were in very truth then travelling towards the + town. We therefore hove-about and returned to Palanquillo, a village that + we had passed through that very morning, leaving the hussar and his horse + sticking fast in a slough. We arrived about nightfall, and as the village + was almost entirely deserted, we were driven to take up our quarters in an + old house, that seemed formerly to have been used as a distillery. Here we + found a Spanish lieutenant and several soldiers quartered, all of them + suffering more or less from dysentery; and after passing a very + comfortless night on hard benches, we rose at grey dawn, with our hands + and faces blistered from musquitto bites, and our hair full of wood ticks, + or garapatos. We again started on our journey to headquarters, and finally + arrived at Torrecilla at two o’clock in the afternoon. Both the + Commander-in-Chief Morillo, and Admiral Enrile, had that morning proceeded + to the works at Boca Chica, so we only found El Senor Montalvo, the + Captain-General of the Province, a little kiln-dried diminutive Spaniard. + Morillo used to call him “uno muneco Creollo,” but withal he was a + gentlemanlike man in his manners. + </p> + <p> + He received us very civilly; we delivered our despatches; and the same + evening we made our bow, and having obtained fresh horses, set out on our + return, and arrived at the village of Santa Rosa at nine at night, where + we slept; and next morning continuing on our journey, we got once more + safely on board of the old Brig at twelve o’clock at noon, in a miserable + plight, not having had our clothes off for three days. As for me I was + used to roughing it, and in my humble equipment any disarrangement was not + particularly discernible, but in poor Treenail, one of the nattiest + fellows in the service, it was a very different matter. He had issued + forth on the enterprise, cased in tight blue pantaloons that fitted him + like his skin, over which were drawn long well-polished Hessian boots, + each with a formidable tassel at top, and his coat was buttoned close up + to the chin, with a blazing swab on the right shoulder, while a laced + cocked hat and dress sword completed his equipment. But, alas! when we + were accounted for on board of the old Torch, there was a fearful + dilapidation of his external man. First of all, his inexpressibles were + absolutely tom into shreds by the briers and prickly bushes through which + we had been travelling, and fluttered from his waistband like the stripes + we see depending from an ancient Roman or Grecian coat of armour; his coat + had only one skirt, and the bullion of the epaulet was reduced to a strand + or two, while the tag that held the brim, or flaps of the cocked hat up, + had given way, so that, although he looked fierce enough, stem on, still, + when you had a sternview, the after part hung down his back like the tail + of the hat of one of Landseer’s flying dustmen. + </p> + <p> + After this, we experienced, with little intermission, most dreadful + weather for two weeks, until at length we were nearly torn in pieces, and + the Captain was about abandoning his ground, and returning to Port Royal, + when it came on to blow with redoubled violence. We struggled against it + for twelve hours, but were finally obliged to heave-to, the sea all the + while running tremendously high. + </p> + <p> + About noon on the day I speak of, the weather had begun to look a little + better, but the sea had if any thing increased. I had just come on deck, + when Mr Splinter sung out—“Look out for that sea, quartermaster!—Mind + your starboard helm!—Ease her, man—ease her!” + </p> + <p> + On it came, rolling as high as the foreyard, and tumbled in over the bows, + green, clear, and unbroken. It filled the deep waist of the Torch in an + instant, and as I rose half smothered in the midst of a jumble of men, + pigs, hencoops, and spare spars, I had nearly lost an eye by a floating + boarding-pike that was lanced at me by the jauglet of the water. As for + the boats on the booms, they had all gone to sea separately, and were + bobbing at us in a squadron to leeward, the launch acting as commodore, + with a crew of a dozen sheep, whose bleating as she rose on the crest of a + wave came back upon us, faintly blending with the hoarse roaring of the + storm, and seeming to cry, “No more mutton for you, my boys!” + </p> + <p> + At length the lee ports were forced out—the pumps promptly rigged + and manned—buckets slung and at work down the hatchways; and + although we had narrowly escaped being swamped, and it continued to blow + hard, with a heavy sea, the men, confident in the qualities of the ship, + worked with glee, shaking their feathers, and quizzing each other. But + anon a sudden and appalling change came over the sea and the sky, that + made the stoutest amongst us quail and draw his breath thick. The + firmament darkened—the horizon seeme to contract—the sea + became black as ink—the wind fell to a dead calm—the teeming + clouds descended and filled the murky arch of heaven with their whirling + masses, until they appeared to touch our mast-heads, but there was neither + lightning nor rain, not one glancing flash, not one refreshing drop—the + windows of the sky had been sealed up by Him who had said to the storm, + “Peace, be still.” + </p> + <p> + During this deathlike pause, infinitely more awful than the heaviest gale, + every sound on board, the voices of the men, even the creaking of the + bulkheads, was heard with startling distinctness; and the water-logged + brig, having no wind to steady her, laboured so heavily in the trough of + the sea, that we expected her masts to go overboard every moment. + </p> + <p> + “Do you see and hear that, sir?” said Lieutenant Treenail to the Captain. + </p> + <p> + We all looked eagerly forth in the direction indicated. There was a white + line in fearful contrast with the clouds and the rest of the ocean, + gleaming on the extreme verge of the horizon—it grew broader—a + low increasing growl was heard—a thick blinding mist came driving up + a-stern of us, whose small drops pierced into the skin like sharp hail. + </p> + <p> + “Is it rain?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no—salt, salt.” + </p> + <p> + And now the fierce Spirit of the Hurricane himself, the sea Azrael, in + storm and in darkness, came thundering on with stunning violence, tearing + off the snowy scalps of the tortured billows, and with tremendous and + sheer force, crushing down beneath his chariot wheels their mountainous + and howling ridges into one level plain of foaming water. Our chainplates, + strong fastenings, and clenched bolts, drew like pliant wires, shrouds and + stays were torn away like the summer gossamer, and our masts and spars, + crackling before his fury like dry reeds in autumn, were blown clean out + of the ship, over her bows, into the sea. + </p> + <p> + Had we shown a shred of the strongest sail in the vessel, it would have + been blown out of the bolt-rope in an instant; we had, therefore, to get + her before the wind, by crossing a spar on the stump of the foremast, with + four men at the wheel, one watch at the pumps, and, the other clearing the + wreck. But our spirits were soon dashed, when the old carpenter, one of + the coolest and bravest men in the ship, rose through the forehatch, pale + as a ghost, with his white hairs streaming straight out in the wind. He + did not speak to any of us, but clambered aft, towards the capstan, to + which the Captain had lashed himself. + </p> + <p> + “The water is rushing in forward like a mill-stream, sir; we have either + started a but, or the wreck of the foremast has gone through her bows, for + she is fast settling down by the head.” + </p> + <p> + “Get the boatswain to father a sail then, man, and try it over the leak; + but don’t alarm the people, Mr Kelson.” + </p> + <p> + The brig was, indeed, rapidly losing her buoyancy, and when the next heavy + sea rose ahead of us, she gave a drunken sickening lurch, and pitched + right into it, groaning and trembling in every plank, like a guilty and + condemned thing in the prospect of impending punishment. + </p> + <p> + “Stand by, to heave the guns overboard.” + </p> + <p> + Too late, too late—Oh God, that cry!—I was stunned and + drowning, a chaos of wreck was beneath me, and around me, and above me, + and blue agonized gasping faces, and struggling arms, and colourless + clutching hands, and despairing yells for help, where help was impossible; + when I felt a sharp bite on the neck, and breathed again. My Newfoundland + dog, Sneezer, had snatched at me, and dragged me out of the eddy of the + sinking vessel. + </p> + <p> + For life, for dear life, nearly suffocated amidst—the hissing spray, + we reached the cutter, the dog and his helpless master. + </p> + <p> + For three miserable days, I had been exposed, half naked and bareheaded, + in an open boat, without water, or food, or shade. The third fierce + cloudless West Indian noon was long passed, and once more the dry burning + sun sank in the west, like a red-hot shield of iron. In my horrible + extremity, I imprecated the wrath of Heaven on my defenceless head, and + shaking my clenched hands against the brazen sky, I called aloud on the + Almighty, “Oh, let me never see him rise again!” I glared on the noble + dog, as he lay dying at the bottom of the boat; madness seized me, I tore + his throat with my teeth, not for food, but that I might drink his hot + blood it flowed, and vampire-like, I would have gorged myself; but as he + turned his dull, grey, glazing eye on me, the pulses of my heart stopped, + and I fell senseless. + </p> + <p> + When my recollection returned, I was stretched on some fresh plantain + leaves, in a low smoky hut, with my faithful dog lying beside me, whining + and licking my hands and face. On the rude joists that bound the rafters + of the roof together, rested a light canoe with its paddles, and over + against me, on the wall, hung some Indian fishing implements, and a + long-barrelled Spanish gun. Underneath lay a corpse, wrapped in a + boat-sail, on which was clumsily written, with charcoal,—“The body + of John Deadeye, Esq. late Commander of his Britannic Majesty’s Sloop, + Torch.” + </p> + <p> + There was a fire on the floor, at which Lieutenant Splinter, in his shirt + and trowsers, drenched, unshorn, and deathlike, was roasting a joint of + meat, whilst a dwarfish Indian, stark naked, sat opposite to him, + squatting on his hams, more like a large bull-frog than a man, and fanning + the flame with a palm leaf. In the dark corner of the hut half a dozen + miserable sheep shrunk huddled together. Through the open door I saw the + stars in the deep blue heaven, and the cold beams of the newly risen moon + were dancing in a long flickering wake of silver light on the ever-heaving + bosom of the ocean, whilst the melancholy murmur of the surf breaking on + the shore, came booming on the gentle night-wind. I was instantly + persuaded that I had been nourished during my delirium; for the fierceness + of my sufferings was assuaged, and I was comparatively strong. I anxiously + enquired of the Lieutenant the fate of our shipmates. + </p> + <p> + “All gone down in the old Torch; and had it not been for the launch and + our four-footed friends there, I should not have been here to have told + it; but raw mutton, with the wool on, is not a mess to thrive on, Tom. All + that the sharks have left of the Captain and five sea men came ashore last + night. I have buried the poor fellows on the beach where they lay as well + as I could, with an oar-blade for a shovel, and the bronze ornament there + [pointing to the Indian] for an assistant.” + </p> + <p> + Here he looked towards the body; and the honest fellow’s voice shook as he + continued. + </p> + <p> + “But seeing you were alive, I thought if you did recover, it would be + gratifying to both of us, after having weathered it so long with him + through gale and sunshine, to lay the kind-hearted old man’s head on its + everlasting pillow as decently as our forlorn condition permitted.” + </p> + <p> + As the Lieutenant spoke, Sneezer seemed to think his watch was up, and + drew off towards the fire. Clung and famished, the poor brute could no + longer resist the temptation, but, making a desperate snatch at the joint, + bolted through the door with it, hotly pursued by the Bull-frog. + </p> + <p> + “Drop the leg of mutton, Sneezer,” roared the Lieutenant, “drop the + mutton-drop it, sir, drop it, drop it.” And away raced his Majesty’s + officer in pursuit of the canine pirate. + </p> + <p> + After a little, he and the Indian returned, the former with the joint in + his hand; and presently the dog stole into the hut after them, and + patiently lay down in a corner, until the Lieutenant good-humouredly threw + the bone to him after our comfortless meal had been finished. + </p> + <p> + I was so weak that my shipmate considerately refrained from pressing his + society on me; and we, therefore, all betook ourselves to rest for the + night. + </p> + <p> + To COMMODORE CHRISTOPHER NORTH. + </p> + <p> + DEAR OLD GENTLEMAN, + </p> + <p> + Your chief devil has got me into a terrible mess by a misprint in last + Chapter—confound my cramp fist—regarding which Old Splinter + (erst of the Torch,) has ever since quizzed me very nearly up to gunpowder + mark. + </p> + <p> + To the matter—The said imp makes me say, in page 84, standing on the + bowsprit, that “the spray from the stern was flashing over me, as it + roared through the waste of sparkling and hissing waters.” Now, I don’t + dispute the roaring of sterns-in season. But,—me, if you or any + other man shall make Tom Cringle’s stern roar, out of season, on + compulsion. I wrote STEM, the cutwater of the ship, the coulter as it were—the + head of her, not the tail, as the devil would have it. And again, when the + privateer hauls his wind suddenly to let the Torch shoot past him, and + thereby gain the weather-gage, when old Splinter should sing out, as it + was written—but, confound the fist once more “Give her the stem”—that + is, run her down and sink her, the stem being the strongest part, as the + stern is the weakest, he, Belzebub, judging, I presume, of the respective + strength of the two ends from his own comparative anatomy, makes him say, + “Give her the stern,” as if he were going to let drive at her with that + end. “Poo, nonsense—it don’t signify.” But it does signify, old man. + </p> + <p> + To touch you more near—you yourself have been known to get fou and + pugnacious on great occasions—the visit of royalty, for instance—it + is on record. A mountain foreigner from Rossshire engages you, for some + unknown insult, in single combat, and, leagued with John Barleycorn, (let + us imagine an impossibility,) floors you by a peg on the gnomon—the + wound is in the front—your snout is broken, but your honour is + whole. Would it be so, were the Gael to allege, that “her mainsell had + coupit you by a pig kick on her preach?” By all the gods, he of the + laconic garment, the “thousand hill man,” would have been careering on a + cloud after his “freen” Ossian, with the moon shining through him, within + that very hour. + </p> + <p> + Still I would not have bothered you; but I know his Most Gracious Majesty + King William, God bless him! (who can forget poor Burns’s “Tarry Breeks?”) + either has noticed it, or will notice it, the instant he comes to that + part of the Log. Now this, without explanation, is inconvenient, trowsers + being likely to come as high up in these days as pantaloons, and I have + some claim on him, seeing that my uncle, Job Cringle, some five-and-forty + years ago, at Jamaica, in the town of Port Royal, had his headrails + smashed, the neb of his nose (stem) bitten off by a bungo, and the end of + his spine (stern-post), that mysterious point, where man ends, and monkey + begins, grievously shaken in a spree at Kitty Finnans, in Prince William + Henry’s company. + </p> + <p> + “Poo, nonsense.” Indeed!—Why, the very devil himself, the author of + the evil, shall be convinced that there is much peril in the transposition + of ends. I will ask him—“What is a sternutation?” (words being his + weapons) “What is a sternutation?” He shall answer learnedly by the card—“A + sneeze,” the nose or stem being the organ. Then he shall ask Jem Sparkle + “What is a sternutation?”—You laugh, old gentleman; but your devil’s + “mistack” looks every inch as queer to a sailor as our topman’s answer + would sound to you. + </p> + <p> + Yours with all cordiality, notwithstanding, + </p> + <p> + “THOMAS CRINGLE.” <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV.—Scenes on the Costa Firme. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Here lies a sheer hulk, poor Tom Bowline.” + + Charles Dibdin, + + “Tom Bowling,” Line 1. +</pre> + <p> + I was awakened by the low growling, and short bark of the dog. The night + was far spent; the tiny sparks of the fire-flies that were glancing in the + doorway began to grow pale; the chirping of the crickets and lizards, and + the snore of the tree-toad, waxed fainter, and the wild cry of the + tiger-cat was no longer heard. The terral, or land-wind, which is usually + strongest towards morning, moaned loudly on the hillside, and came rushing + past with a melancholy sough, through the brushwood that surrounded the + hut, shaking off the heavy dew from the palm and cocoa-nut trees, like + large drops of rain. + </p> + <p> + The hollow tap of the woodpecker; the clear flute-note of the Pavo del + monte; the discordant shriek of the macaw; the shrill chirr of the wild + Guinea fowl; and the chattering of the paroquets, began to be heard from + the wood. The ill-omened gaflinaso was sailing and circling round the hut, + and the tall flamingo was stalking on the shallows of the lagoon, the + haunt of the disgusting alligator, that lay beneath, divided from the sea + by a narrow mud-bank, where a group of pelicans, perched on the wreck of + one of our boats, were pluming themselves before taking wing. In the east, + the deep blue of the firmament, from which the lesser stars were fast + fading, all but the “Eye of Mom,” was warming into magnificent purple, and + the amber rays of the yet unrisen sun were shooting up, streamer-like, + with intervals between, through the parting clouds, as they broke away + with a passing shower, that fell like a veil of silver gauze between us + and the first primrose-coloured streaks of a tropical dawn. + </p> + <p> + “That’s a musket shot,” said the Lieutenant. The Indian crept on his belly + to the door, dropped his chin on the ground, and placed his open palms + behind his ears. The distant wail of a bugle was heard, then three or four + dropping shots again, in rapid succession. Mr Splinter stooped to go + forth, but the Indian caught him by the leg, uttering the single word + “Espanoles.” + </p> + <p> + On the instant, a young Indian woman, with a shrieking infant in her arms, + rushed to the door. There was a blue gunshot wound in her neck, from which + two or three large black clotting gouts of blood were trickling. Her long + black hair was streaming in coarse braids, and her features were pinched + and sharpened, as if in the agony of death. She glanced wildly behind, and + gasped out “Escapa, Oreeque, escape, para mi, soi muerto ya.” Another + shot, and the miserable creature convulsively clasped her child, whose + small shrill cry I often fancy I hear to this hour blending with its + mother’s death-shriek, and, falling backwards, rolled over the brow of the + hill out of sight. The ball had pierced the heart of the parent through + the body of her offspring. By this time a party of Spanish soldiers had + surrounded the hut, one of whom, kneeling before the low door, pointed his + musket into it. The Indian, who had seen his wife and child thus cruelly + shot down before his face, now fired his rifle, and the man feel dead. + “Siga mi Querida Bondia—maldito.” Then springing to his feet, and + stretching himself to his full height, with his arms extended towards + Heaven, while a strong shiver shook him like an ague fit, he yelled forth + the last words he ever uttered, “Venga la suerte, ya soi listo,” and + resumed his squatting position on the ground. + </p> + <p> + Half a dozen musket balls were now fired at random through the wattles of + the hut, while the Lieutenant, who spoke Spanish well, sung out lustily, + that we were English officers who had been shipwrecked. + </p> + <p> + “Mentira,” growled the officer of the party, “Piratas son ustedes.” + “Pirates leagued with Indian bravoes; fire the hut, soldiers, and burn the + scoundrels!” + </p> + <p> + There was no time to be lost; Mr Splinter made a vigorous attempt to get + out, in which I seconded him with all the strength that remained to me, + but they beat us back again with the butts of their muskets. + </p> + <p> + “Where are your commissions, your uniforms, if you be British officers?” + We had neither, and our fate appeared inevitable. + </p> + <p> + The doorway was filled with brushwood, fire was set to the hut, and we + heard the crackling of the palm thatch, while thick stifling wreaths of + white smoke burst in upon us through the roof. + </p> + <p> + “Lend a hand, Tom, now or never, and kick up the dark man there;” but he + sat still as a statue. We laid our shoulders to the end wall, and heaved + at it with all our might; when we were nearly at the last gasp it gave + way, and we rushed headlong into the middle of the party, followed by + Sneezer with his shaggy coat, that was full of clots of tar, blazing like + a torch. He unceremoniously seized par le queue, the soldier who had + throttled me, setting fire to the skirts of his coat, and blowing up his + cartouche box. I believe, under Providence, that the ludicrousness of this + attack saved us from being bayoneted on the spot. It gave time for Mr + Splinter to recover his breath, when, being a powerful man, he shook off + the two soldiers who had seized him, and dashed into the burning hut + again. I thought he was mad, especially when I saw him return with his + clothes and hair on fire, dragging out the body of the Captain. He + unfolded the sail it was wrapped in, and pointing to the remains of the + naval uniform in which the mutilated and putrefying corpse was dressed, he + said sternly to the officer—“We are in your power, and you may + murder us if you will; but that was my Captain four days ago, and you see, + he at least was a British officer—satisfy yourself.” The person he + addressed, a handsome young Spaniard, with a clear olive complexion, oval + face, small brown mustaches, and large black eyes, shuddered at the + horrible spectacle, but did as he was requested. + </p> + <p> + When he saw the crown and anchor, and his Majesty’s cipher on the + appointments of the dead officer, he became convinced of our quality, and + changed his tone—“Es verdad, son de la marina Englesa. But, + gentlemen, were there not three persons in the hut?” + </p> + <p> + There were indeed—the flames had consumed the dry roof and walls + with incredible rapidity, which by this time had fallen in, but Oreeque + was nowhere to be seen. I thought I saw something move in the midst of the + fire, but it might have been fancy. Again, the white ashes heaved, and a + half-consumed hand and arm were thrust through the smouldering mass, then + a human head, with the scalp burnt from the skull, and the flesh from the + chaps and cheekbones; the trunk next appeared, the bleeding ribs laid + bare, and the miserable Indian, with his limbs like scorched rafters, + stood upright before us, like a demon in the midst of the fire. He made no + attempt to escape, but reeling to and fro like a drunken man, fell + headlong, raising clouds of smoke and a shower of sparks in his fall. + Alas! poor Oreeque, the newly risen sun was now shining on your ashes, and + on the dead bodies of the ill-starred Bondia and her child, whose bones, + ere his setting, the birds of the air, and beasts of the forest, will + leave as white and fleshless as your own. The officer, who belonged to the + army investing Carthagena, now treated us with great civility; he heard + our story, and desired his men to assist us in burying the remains of our + late commander. + </p> + <p> + We remained all day on the same part of the coast, but towards evening the + party fell back on the outpost to which they belonged—after + travelling an hour or so we emerged from a dry river course, in which the + night had overtaken us, and came suddenly on a small plateau, where the + post was established on the promontory of “Punto Canoa.” There may be + braver soldiers at a charge, although that I doubt, if they be properly + led, but none more picturesque in a bivouac than the Spanish. A gigantic + wild cotton-tree, to which our largest English oaks would have been but as + dwarfs, rose on one side, and overshadowed the whole level space. The + bright beams of the full moon glanced among the topmost leaves, and tipped + the higher branches with silver, contrasting strangely with the scene + below, where a large watch-fire cast a strong red glare on the surrounding + objects, throwing up dense volumes of smoke, which eddied in dun wreaths + amongst the foliage, and hung in the still night air like a canopy, about + ten feet from the ground, leaving the space beneath comparatively clear. + </p> + <p> + A temporary guard-house, with a rude verandah of bamboos and palm leaves, + had been built between two of the immense spurs of the mighty tree, that + shot out many yards from the parent stem like wooden buttresses, whilst + overhead there was a sort of stage, made of planks laid across the lower + boughs, supporting a quantity of provisions covered with tarpaulins. The + sentries in the background with their glancing arms, were seen pacing on + their watch; some of the guard were asleep on wooden benches, and on the + platform amongst the branches, where a little baboon-looking old man, in + the dress of a drummer, had perched himself, and sat playing a Biscayan + air on a sort of bagpipe; others were gathered round the fire, cooking + their food, or cleaning their arms. It shone brightly on the long line of + Spanish transports that were moored below, stem on to the beach, and on + the white sails of the armed craft that were still hovering under weigh in + the offing, which, as the night wore on, stole in, one after another like + phantoms of the ocean, and letting go their anchors with a splash, and a + hollow rattle of the cable, remained still and silent like the rest. + Farther off, it fell in a crimson stream on the surface of the sheltered + bay, struggling with the light of the gentle moon, and tinging with blood + the small waves that twinkled in her silver wake, across which a guard + boat would now and then glide, like a fairy thing, the arms of the men + flashing back the red light. + </p> + <p> + Beyond the influence of the hot smoky glare, the glorious planet reassumed + her sway in the midst of her attendant stars, and the relieved eye + wandered forth into the lovely night, where the noiseless sheet-lightning + was glancing, and ever and anon lighting up for an instant some fantastic + shape in the fleecy clouds, like prodigies forerunning the destruction of + the stronghold over which they impended; while beneath, the lofty ridge of + the convent-crowned Popa, the citadel of San Felipe bristling with cannon, + the white batteries and many towers of the fated city of Carthagena, and + the Spanish blockading squadron at anchor before it, slept in the + moonlight. + </p> + <p> + We were civilly received by the captain, who apologized for the discomfort + under which we must pass the night. He gave us the best he had, and that + was bad enough, both of food and wine, before showing us into the hut, + where we found a rough deal coffin lying on the very bench that was to be + our bed. This he ordered away with all the coolness in the world. “It was + only one of his people who had died that morning of vomito, or yellow + fever.” + </p> + <p> + “Comfortable country this,” quoth Splinter, “and a pleasant morning we + have had of it, Tom!” + </p> + <p> + Next morning, we proceeded towards the Spanish headquarters, provided with + horses through the kindness of the captain of the outpost, and preceded by + a guide on an ass. He was a moreno, or man of colour, who in place of + bestriding his beast, gathered his limbs under him, and sat crosslegged on + it like a tailor; so that when you saw the two “end on,” the effect was + laughable enough, the flank and tail of the ass appearing to constitute + the lower part of the man, as if he had been a sort of composite animal, + like the ancient satyr. The road traversed a low swampy country, from + which the rank moisture arose in a hot palpable mist, and crossed several + shallow lagoons, from two to six feet deep of tepid, muddy, brackish + water, some of them half a mile broad, and swarming with wild waterfowl. + On these occasions, our friend the Satyr was signalled to make sail ahead + on his donkey to pilot us; and as the water deepened, he would betake + himself to swimming in its wake, holding on by the tail, and shouting, + “Cuidado Burrico, Cuidado que no te ahogas.” + </p> + <p> + While passing through the largest of these, we noticed several calabashes + about pistol-shot on our right; and as we fancied one of them bobbed now + and then it struck me they might be Indian fishing floats. To satisfy my + curiosity, I hauled my wind, and leaving the track we were on, swam my + horse towards the group. The two first that I lifted had nothing attached + to them, but proved to be mere empty gourds floating before the wind; but + when I tried to seize the largest, it eluded my grasp in a most + incomprehensible manner, and slid away astern of me with a curious hollow + gabbling sort of noise, whereupon my palfrey snorted and reared, and + nearly capsized me over his bows. What a noble fish, thought I, as I + tacked in chase, but my Bucephalus refused to face it. I therefore bore up + to join my companions again; but in requital of the disappointment, + smashed the gourd in passing with the stick I held in my hand, when, to my + unutterable surprise, and amidst shouts of laughter from our moreno, the + head and shoulders of an Indian, with a quantity of sedges tied round his + neck, and buoyed up by half-a-dozen dead teal fastened by the legs to his + girdle, started up before me. “Ave Maria, purissima! you have broken my + head, senior.” But as the vegetable helmet had saved his skull, of itself + possibly none of the softest, a small piece of money spliced the feud + between us; and as he fitted his pate with another calabash, preparatory + to resuming his cruise, he joined in our merriment, although from a + different cause.—“What can these English simpletons see so very + comical in a poor Indian catching wild-ducks?” + </p> + <p> + Shortly after, we entered a forest of magnificent trees, whose sombre + shade, on first passing from the intolerable glare of the sun, seemed + absolute darkness. The branches were alive with innumerable tropical birds + and insects, and were laced together by a thick tracery of withes, along + which a guana would occasionally dart, coming nearest of all the reptiles + I had seen to the shape of the fabled dragon. + </p> + <p> + But how different from the clean steams and beautiful green sward of our + English woods! Here, you were confined to a quagmire by impervious + underwood of prickly pear, penguin, and speargrass; and when we rode under + the drooping branches of the trees, that the leaves might brush away the + halo of musquittoes, flying ants, and other winged plagues that buzzed + about our temples, we found, to our dismay, that we had made bad worse by + the introduction of a whole colony of garapatos, or wood-ticks, into our + eyebrows and hair. At length, for the second time, so far as I was + concerned, we reached the reached the headquarters at Torrecilla, and were + well received by the Spanish commander-in-chief, a tall, good-looking, + soldierlike man, whose personal qualities had an excellent foil in the + captain-general of the province, an old friend of mine, as already + mentioned, and who certainly looked full as like a dancing-master, or, at + the best, perruquier en general to the staff, as a viceroy. + </p> + <p> + General Morillo, however, had a great share of Sancho Panza shrewdness, + and I will add kindness, about him. We were drenched and miserable when we + arrived, yet he might have turned us over, naturally enough, to the care + of his staff. No such thing; the first thing he did was to walk both of us + behind a canvass screen, that shut off one end of the large barnlike room, + where a long table was laid for dinner. This was his sleeping apartment, + and drawing out of a leather bag two suits of uniform, he rigged us almost + with his own hands. Presently a point of war was sounded by half-a-dozen + trumpeters, and Splinter and I made our appearance each in the dress of a + Spanish general. The party consisted of Morillo’s personal staff, the + captain-general, the inquisidor general, and several colonels and majors + of different regiments. In all, twenty people sat down to dinner; among + whom were several young Spanish noblemen, some of whom I had met on my + former visit, who, having served in the Peninsular war under the great + Duke, made their advances with great cordiality. Strange enough—Splinter + and I were the only parties present in uniform; all the others, priests + and soldiers, were clothed in gingham coats and white trowsers. + </p> + <p> + The besieging force at this time was composed of about five thousand + Spaniards, as fine troops as I ever saw, and three thousand Creoles under + the command of that desperate fellow Morales. I was not long in + recognising an old friend of mine in the person of Captain Bayer, an + aide-de-camp of Morillo, amongst the company. He was very kind and + attentive, and rather startled me by speaking very tolerable English now, + from a kindly motive I make no question, whereas, when I had known him + before in Kingston, he professed to speak nothing but Spanish or French. + He was a German by birth, and lived to rise to the rank of colonel in the + Spanish army, where he subsequently greatly distinguished himself, but he + at length fell in some obscure skirmish in New Granada; and my old ally + Morillo, Count of Carthagena, is now living in penury, an exile in Paris. + </p> + <p> + After being, as related, furnished with food and raiment, we retired to + our quatres, a most primitive sort of couch, being a simple wooden frame, + with a piece of canvass stretched over it. However, if we had no + mattresses, we had none of the disagreeables often incidental to them, + and, fatigue proved a good opiate, for we slept soundly until the drums + and trumpets of the troops, getting under arms, awoke us at daylight. The + army was under weigh to occupy Carthagena, which had fallen through + famine, and we had no choice but to accompany it. + </p> + <p> + I knew nothing of the misery of a siege but by description; the reality + even to me, case-hardened as I was by my own recent sufferings, was + dreadful. We entered by the gate of the raval, or suburb. There was not a + living thing to be seen in the street; the houses had been pulled down, + that the fire of the place might not be obstructed in the event of a + lodgment in the outwork. We passed on, the military music echoing + mournfully amongst the ruined walls, to the main gate, or Puerto de Tiera, + which was also open, and the drawbridge lowered. Under the archway, we saw + a delicate female, worn to the bone, and weak as an infant, gathering + garbage of the most loathsome description, the possession of which had + been successfully disputed by a carrion crow. A little farther on, the + bodies of an old man and two small children were putrefying in the sun, + while beside them lay a miserable, wasted, dying negro, vainly + endeavouring to keep at a distance with a palm branch a number of the same + obscene birds that were already devouring the carcass of one of the + infants; before two hours, the faithful servant, and those he attempted to + defend, were equally the prey of the disgusting gallinaso. The houses, as + we proceeded, appeared entirely deserted, except where a solitary spectre + like inhabitant appeared at a balcony, and feebly exclaimed, “Viva, los + Espanoles! Viva, Fernando Septimo!”—We saw no domestic animal + whatsoever, not even a cat or a dog; but I will not dwell on these + horrible details any longer. + </p> + <p> + One morning, shortly after our arrival, as we strolled beyond the land + gate, we came to a place where four banquillos (a sort of short bench or + stool, with an upright post at one end firmly fixed into the ground) were + placed opposite a dead wall. They were painted black, and we were not left + long in suspense as to their use; for solemn music, and the roll of + muffled drums in the distance, were fearful indications of what we were to + witness. + </p> + <p> + First came an entire regiment of Spanish infantry, which, filing off, + formed three sides of a square,—the wall near which the banquillos + were placed forming the fourth; then eight priests, and as many choristers + chanting the service for the dying; next came several mounted officers of + the staff, and four firing parties of twelve men each. Three Spanish + American prisoners followed, dressed in white, with crucifixes in their + hands, each supported, more dead than alive, by two priests; but when the + fourth victim appeared, we could neither look at nor think of any thing + else. + </p> + <p> + On enquiry we found he was an Englishman, of the name of S——: + English, that is, in all except the place of his birth, for his whole + education had been English, as were his parents and all his family; but it + came out, accidentally I believe, on his trial, that he had been born at + Buenos Ayres, and having joined the patriots, this brought treason home to + him, which he was now led forth to expiate. Whilst his fellow-sufferers + appeared crushed down to the very earth, under their intense agony, so + that they had to be supported as they tottered towards the place of + execution, he stepped firmly and manfully out, and seemed impatient when + at any time, from the crowding in front, the procession was obliged to + halt. At length they reached the fatal spot, and his three companions in + misery being placed astride on the banquillos, their arms twisted round + the upright posts, and fastened to them with cords, their backs being + towards the soldiers. Mr S——walked firmly up to the vacant + bench, knelt down, and covering his face with his hands, rested his head + on the edge of it. For a brief space he seemed to be engaged in prayer, + during which he sobbed audibly, but soon recovering himself, he rose, and + folding his arms across his breast, sat down slowly and deliberately on + the banquillo, facing the firing party with an unshrinking eye. + </p> + <p> + He was now told that he must turn his back and submit to be tied like the + others. He resisted this, but on force being attempted to be used, he + sprung to his feet, and stretching out his hand, while a dark red flush + passed transiently across his pale face, he exclaimed in a loud voice, + “Thus, thus, and not otherwise, you may butcher me, but I am an Englishman + and no traitor, nor will I die the death of one.” Moved by his gallantry, + the soldiers withdrew, and left him standing. At this time the sun was + intensely hot, it was high noon, and the monk who attended Mr S——held + an umbrella over his head; but the preparations being completed, he kissed + him on both cheeks, while the hot tears trickled down his own, and was + stepping back, when the unhappy man said to him, with the most perfect + composure, “Todavia padre, todavia, mucho me gusta la sombra.” But the + time had arrived, the kind-hearted monk was obliged to retire. The signal + was given, the musketry rattled, and they were as clods of the valley + “Truly,” quoth old Splinter, “a man does sometimes become a horse by being + born in a stable.” + </p> + <p> + Some time after this we were allowed to go to the village of Turbaco, a + few miles distant from the city, for change of air. On the third morning + after our arrival, about the dawning, I was suddenly awakened by a shower + of dust on my face, and a violent shaking of the bed, accompanied by a low + grumbling unearthly noise, which seemed to pass immediately under where I + lay. Were I to liken it to any thing I had ever experienced before, it + would be to the lumbering and tremor of a large waggon in a tempestuous + night, heard and felt through the thin walls of a London house.—Like—yet + how fearfully different! + </p> + <p> + In a few seconds the motion ceased, and the noise gradually died away in + hollow echoes in the distance—whereupon ensued such a crowing of + cocks, cackling of geese, barking of dogs, lowing of kine, neighing of + horses, and shouting of men, women, and children amongst the negro and + coloured domestics, as baffles all description, whilst the various white + inmates of the house (the rooms, for air and coolness, being without + ceiling, and simply divided by partitions run up about ten feet high) + were, one and all, calling to their servants and each other, in accents + which did not by any means evince great composure. In a moment this hubbub + again sank into the deepest silence—man, and the beasts of the + field, and the fowls of the air, became mute with breathless awe, at the + impending tremendous manifestation of the power of that Almighty Being in + whose hands the hills are as a very little thing—for the appalling + voice of the earthquake was once more heard growling afar off, like + distant thunder mingling with the rushing of a mighty wind, waxing louder + and louder as it approached, and upheaving the sure and firm-set earth + into long undulations, as if its surface had been the rolling swell of the + fathomless ocean. The house rocked, pictures of saints fell from the + walls, tables and chairs were overturned, the window frames were forced + out of their embrasures and broken in pieces, beams and rafters groaned + and screamed, crushing the tiles of the roof into ten thousand fragments. + In several places the ground split open into chasms a fathom wide, with an + explosion like a cannon-shot; the very foundation of the house seemed to + be sinking under us; and whilst men and women rushed like maniacs naked + into the fields, with a yell as if the Day of Judgment had arrived, and + the whole brute creation, in an agony of fear, made the most desperate + attempts to break forth from their enclosures into the open air, the end + wall of my apartment was shaken down; and falling outwards with a + deafening crash, disclosed, in the dull grey mysterious twilight of + morning, the huge gnarled trees that overshadowed the building, bending + and groaning, amidst clouds of dust, as if they had been tormented by a + tempest, although the air was calm and motionless as death. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V.—The Piccaroon + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ours the wild life in tumult still to range.” + + Byron, The Corsair, I. 7. +</pre> + <p> + Some time after this, we once more returned to Carthagena, to be at hand + should any opportunity occur for Jamaica, and we were lounging about one + forenoon on the fortifications, looking with sickening hearts out to + seaward, when a voice struck up the following negro ditty close to us: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Fader was a Corramantee, + Moder was a Mingo, + Black picaniny buccra wantee, + So dem sell a me Peter, by jingo, + Jiggery, jiggery, jiggery.” + </pre> + <p> + “Well sung, Massa Bungo,” exclaimed Mr Splinter; “where do you hail from, + my hearty?” + </p> + <p> + “Hiflo! Bungo, indeed! free and easy dat, anyhow. Who you yousef, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Peter,” continued the Lieutenant, “don’t you know me?” “Cannot say + dat I do,” rejoined the negro, very gravely, without lifting his head, as + he sat mending his jacket in one of the embrasures near the water gate of + the arsenal—“Have not de honour of your acquaintance, sir.” + </p> + <p> + He then resumed his scream, for song it could not be called:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Mammy Sally’s daughter, + Lose him shoe in an old canoe, + Dat lay halffull of water, + And den she knew not what to do. + Jiggery, jig”— +</pre> + <p> + “Confound your jiggery, jiggery, sir! But I know you well enough, my man; + and you can scarcely have forgotten Lieutenant Splinter of the Torch, one + would think?” + </p> + <p> + However, it was clear that the poor fellow really had not known us; for + the name so startled him, that, in his hurry to unlace his legs from under + him, as he sat tailor-fashion, he fairly capsized out of his perch, and + toppled down on his nose—a feature fortunately so flattened by the + hand of nature, that I question if it could have been rendered more obtuse + had he fallen out of the maintop on a timber-head, or a marine officer’s. + </p> + <p> + “Eh!—no—yes, him sure enough; and who is de picaniny hofficer—Oh! + I see, Massa Tom Cringle? Garamighty, gentlemen, where have you drop from?—Where + is de old Torch? Many a time hab I Peter Mangrove, pilot to Him Britanic + Majesty squadron, taken de old brig in and through amongst de keys at Port + Royal!” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, and how often did you scour her copper against the coral reefs, + Peter?” + </p> + <p> + His Majesty’s pilot gave a knowing look, and laid his hand on his breast + “No more of dat if you love me, massa.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, it don’t signify now, my boy; she will never give you that + trouble again—foundered—all hands lost, Peter, but the two you + see before you.” + </p> + <p> + “Werry sorry, Massa Plinter, werry sorry—What! de black cooksmate + and all?—But misfortune can’t be help. Stop till I put up my needle, + and I will take a turn wid you.” Here he drew himself up with a great deal + of absurd gravity. “Proper dat British hofficer in distress should assist + one anoder—We shall consult togeder.—How can I serve you?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Peter, if you could help us to a passage to Port Royal, it would be + serving us most essentially. When we used to be lying there, a week seldom + passed without one of the squadron arriving from this; but here have we + been for more than a month, without a single pennant belonging to the + station having looked in: our money is running short, and if we are to + hold on in Carthagena for another six weeks, we shall not have a shot left + in the locker—not a copper to tinkle on a tombstone.” + </p> + <p> + The negro looked steadfastly at us, then carefully around. There was no + one near. + </p> + <p> + “You see, Massa Plinter, I am desirable to serve you, for one little + reason of my own; but, beside dat, it is good for me at present to make + some friend wid de hofficer of de squadron, being as how dat I am absent + widout leave.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I perceive—a large R against your name in the master + attendant’s books, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “You have hit it, sir, werry close; besides I long mosh to return to my + poor wife, Nancy Cator, dat I leave, wagabone dat I is, just about to be + confine.” + </p> + <p> + I could not resist putting in my oar. + </p> + <p> + “I saw Nancy just before we sailed, Peter,—fine child that; not + quite so black as you, though.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, massa,” said Snowball, grinning and showing his white teeth, “you + know I am soch a terrible black fellow—But you are a leetle out at + present, massa—I meant, about to be confine in de workhouse, for + stealing de admiral’s Muscovy ducks;” and he laughed loud and long.—“However, + if you will promise dat you will stand my friends, I will put you in de + way of getting a shove across to de east end of Jamaica; and I will go wid + you, too, for company.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you,” rejoined Mr Splinter; “but how do you mean to manage this? + There is no Kingston trader here at present, and you don’t mean to make a + start of it in an open boat, do you?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I don’t; but in de first place—as you are a gentleman, + will you try and get me off when we get to Jamaica? Secondly, wi you + promise dat you will not seek to know more of de vessel you may go in, nor + of her crew, than dey are willing to tell you, provided you are landed + safe?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Peter, I scarcely think you would deceive us, for you know I saved + your bacon in that awkward affair, when through drunkenness you plumped + the Torch ashore, so”— + </p> + <p> + “Forget dat, sir,——forget dat!—Never shall poor black + pilot forget how you saved him from being seized upt when de gratings, + boatswain’s mates, and all, were ready at de gangway@never shall poor + black rascal forget dat.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I do not think you would wittingly betray us into trouble, Peter; + and as I guess you mean one of the forced traders, we will venture in her, + rather than kick about here any longer, and pay a moderate sum for our + passage.” + </p> + <p> + “Den wait here five minute,”—and so saying he slipt down through the + embrasure into a canoe that lay beneath, and in a trice we saw him jump on + board of a long low nondescript kind of craft, that lay moored within + pistol-shot of the walls. + </p> + <p> + She was a large shallow vessel, coppered to the bends, of great breadth of + beam, with bright sides, like an American, so painted as to give her a + clumsy mercantile sheer externally, but there were many things that belied + this to a nautical eye: her copper, for instance, was bright as burnished + gold on her very sharp bows and beautiful run; and we could see from the + bastion where we stood, that her decks were flush and level. She had no + cannon mounted that were visible, but we distinguished grooves on her + well-scrubbed decks, as from the recent traversing of carronade slides, + while the bolts and rings in her high and solid bulwarks shone clear and + bright in the ardent noontide. There was a tarpawling stretched over a + quantity of rubbish, old sails, old junk, and hencoops rather + ostentatiously piled up forward, which we conjectured might conceal a long + gun. + </p> + <p> + She was a very taught-rigged hermaphrodite, or brig forward and schooner + aft. Her foremast and bowsprit were immensely strong and heavy, and her + mainmast was so long and tapering, that the wonder was, how the few + shrouds and stays about it could support it: it was the handsomest stick + we had ever seen. Her upper spars were on the same scale, tapering away + through topmast, topgallant-mast, royal and skysail-masts, until they + fined away into slender wands. The sails, that were loose to dry, were + old, and patched, And evidently displayed to cloak the character of the + vessel, by an ostentatious show of their unserviceable condition, but her + rigging was beautifully fitted, every rope lying in the chafe of another + being carefully served with hide. There were several large bushy-whiskered + fellows lounging about the deck, with their hair gathered into dirty net + bags, like the fishermen of Barcelona; many had red silk sashes round + their waists, through which were stuck their long knives, in shark-skin + sheaths. Their numbers were not so great as to excite suspicion; but a + certain daring reckless manner, would at once have distinguished them, + independently of any thing else, from the quiet, hard-worked, redshirted + merchant seaman. + </p> + <p> + “That chap is not much to be trusted,” said the Lieutenant; “his bunting + would make a few jackets for Joseph, I take it.” But we had little time to + be critical before our friend Peter came paddling back with another + blackamoor in the stem, of as ungainly an exterior as could well be, + imagined. He was a very large man, whose weight every now and then, as + they breasted the short sea, cocked up the snout of the canoe with Peter + Mangrove in it, as if he had been a cork, leaving him to flourish his + paddle in the air, like the weatherwheel of a steam-boat in a sea-way. The + new-comer was strong and broad-shouldered, with long muscular arms, and a + chest like Hercules; but his legs and thighs were, for his bulk, + remarkably puny and misshapen. A thick fell of black wool, in close tufts, + as if his face had been stuck full of cloves, covered his chin and upper + lip; and his hair, if hair it could be called, was twisted into a hundred + short plaits, that bristled out, and gave his head, when he took his hat + off, the appearance of a porcupine. There was a large sabre-cut across his + nose, and down his cheek, and he wore two immense gold earings. His dress + consisted of short cotton drawers, that did not reach within two inches of + his knee, leaving his thin cucumber shanks (on which the small bullet-like + calf appeared to have been stuck before, through mistake, in place of + abaft) naked to the shoe; a check shirt, and an enormously large Panama + hat, made of a sort of cane, split small, and worn shovel-fashion. + Notwithstanding, he made his bow by no means ungracefully, and offered his + services in choice Spanish, but spoke English as soon as he heard who we + were. + </p> + <p> + “Pray, sir, are you the master of that vessel?” said the lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, I am the mate, and I learn you are desirous of a passage to + Jamaica.” This was spoken with a broad Scotch accent. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, we are,” said I, in very great astonishment; “but we will not sail + with the devil; and who ever saw a negro Scotchman before, the spirit of + Nicol Jarvie conjured into a blackamoor’s skin!” + </p> + <p> + The fellow laughed. “I am black, as you see; so were my father and mother + before me.” And he looked at me, as much as to say, I have read the book + you quote from. “But I was born in the good town of Port—Glasgow, + notwithstanding, and many a voyage I have made as cabin-boy and cook, in + the good ship the Peggy Bogle, with worthy old jock Hunter; but that + matters not. I was told you wanted to go to Jamaica; I dare say our + captain will take you for a moderate passage-money. But here he comes to + speak for himself.—Captain Vanderbosh, here are two shipwrecked + British officers, who wish to be put on shore on the east end of Jamaica; + will you take them, and what will you charge for their passage?” + </p> + <p> + The man he spoke to was nearly as tall as himself; he was a sunburnt, + angular, raw-boned, iron-visaged veteran, with a nose in shape and colour + like the bowl of his own pipe, but not at all, according to the received + idea, like a Dutchman. His dress was quizzicaly enough, white trowsers, a + long-flapped embroidered waistcoat, that might have belonged to a Spanish + grandee, with an old-fashioned French-cut coat, showing the frayed marks + where the lace had been stripped off, voluminous in the skirts, but very + tight in the sleeves, which were so short as to leave his large bony paws, + and six inches of his arm above the wrist, exposed; altogether, it fitted + him like a purser’s shirt on a handspike. + </p> + <p> + “Vy, for von hondred thaler, I will land dem safe in Mancheoneal Bay; but + how shall ve manage, Villiamson? De cabin vas point yesterday.” + </p> + <p> + The Scotch negro nodded. “Never mind; I dare say the smell of the paint + won’t signify to the gentlemen.” + </p> + <p> + The bargain was ratified, we agreed to pay the stipulated sum, and that + same evening, having dropped down with the last of the seabreeze, we set + sail from Bocca Chica, and began working up under the lee of the headland + of Punto Canoa. When off the San Domingo Gate, we burned a blue light, + which was immediately answered by another in shore of us. In the glare, we + could perceive two boats, full of men. Any one who has ever played at + snapdragon, can imagine the unearthly appearance of objects when seen by + this species of firework. In the present instance, it was held aloft on a + boat-hook, and cast a strong spectral light on the band of lawless + ruffians, who were so crowded together, that they entirely filled the + boats, no part of which could be seen. It seemed as if two clusters of + fiends, suddenly vomited forth from hell, were floating on the surface of + the midnight sea, in the midst of brimstone flames. In a few moments, our + crew was strengthened by about forty as ugly Christians as I ever set eyes + on. They were of all ages, countries, complexions, and tongues, and looked + as if they had been kidnapped by a pressgang, as they had knocked off from + the Tower of Babel. From the moment they came on board, Captain Vanderbosh + was shorn of all his glory, and sank into the petty officer, while, to our + amazement, the Scottish negro took the command, evincing great coolness, + energy, and skill. He ordered the schooner to be wore, as soon as we had + shipped the men, and laid her head off the land, then set all hands to + shift the old suit of sails, and to bend new ones. + </p> + <p> + “Why did you not shift your canvass before we started?” said I to the + Dutch captain, or mate, or whatever he might be. + </p> + <p> + “Vy vont you be content to take a quiet passage and hax no question?” was + the uncivil rejoinder, which I felt inclined to resent, until I remembered + that we were in the hands of the Philistines, where a quarrel would have + been worse than useless. I was gulping down the insult as well as I could, + when the black captain came-aft, and, with the air of an equal, invited us + into the cabin to take a glass of grog. We had scarcely sat down before we + heard a noise like the swaying up of guns, or some other heavy articles, + from the hold. + </p> + <p> + I caught Mr Splinter’s eye—he nodded, but said nothing. In half an + hour afterwards, when we went on deck, we saw by the light of the moon, + twelve eighteen-pound carronades mounted, six of a side, with their + accompaniments of rammers and sponges, water buckets, boxes of round, + grape, and canister, and tubs of wadding, while the combings of the + hatchways were thickly studded with round shot. The tarpawling and lumber + forward had disappeared, and there lay long Tom ready levelled, grinning + on his pivot. + </p> + <p> + The ropes were all coiled away, and laid down in regular man-of-war + fashion; while an ugly gruff beast of a Spanish mulatto, apparently the + officer of the watch, walked the weather-side of the quarter-deck, in the + true pendulum style. Look-outs were placed aft, and at the gangways and + bows, who every now and then passed the word to keep a bright look-out, + while the rest of the watch were stretched silent, but evidently broad + awake, under the lee of the boat. We noticed that each man had his cutlass + buckled round his waist, that the boarding-pikes had been cut loose from + the main boom, round which they had been stopped, and that about thirty + muskets were ranged along a fixed-rack, that ran athwart ships, near the + main hatchway. + </p> + <p> + By the time we had reconnoitred thus far, the night became overcast, and a + thick bank of clouds began to rise to windward; some heavy drops of rain + fell, and the thunder grumbled at a distance. The black veil crept + gradually on, until it shrouded the whole firmament, and left us in as + dark a night as ever poor devils were out in. By and by, a narrow streak + of bright moonlight appeared under the lower edge of the bank, defining + the dark outlines of the tumbling multitudinous billows on the horizon, as + distinctly as if they had been pasteboard waves in a theatre. + </p> + <p> + “Is that a sail to windward, in the clear, think you?” said Mr Splinter to + me in a whisper. At this moment it lightened vividly. “I am sure it is,” + continued he—“I could see her white canvass glance just now.” + </p> + <p> + I looked steadily, and, at last, caught the small dark speck against the + bright background, rising and falling on the swell of the sea like a + feather. + </p> + <p> + As we stood on, she was seen more distinctly, but, to all appearance, + nobody was aware of her proximity. We were mistaken in this, however, for + the captain suddenly jumped on a gun, and gave his orders with a fiery + energy that startled us. + </p> + <p> + “Leroux!” A small French boy was at his side in a moment. “Forward, and + call all hands to shorten sail; but, doucement, you land crab!—Man + the fore clew-garnets.—Hands by the topgallant clewlines-peak and + throat haulyards—jib down-haul—rise tacks and sheets—let + go—clew up—settle away the main—gaff there!” + </p> + <p> + In almost as short a space as I have taken to write it, every inch of + canvass was close furled—every light, except the one in the + binnacle, and that was cautiously masked, carefully extinguished—a + hundred and twenty men at quarters, and the ship under bare poles. The + head yards were then squared, and we bore up before the wind. The + stratagem proved successful; the strange sail could be seen through the + night glasses, cracking on close to the wind, evidently under the + impression that we had tacked. + </p> + <p> + “Dere she goes, chasing de Gobel,” said the Dutchman. + </p> + <p> + She now burned a blue light, by which we saw she was a heavy cutter + without doubt our old fellow-cruiser the Spark. The Dutchman had come to + the same conclusion. + </p> + <p> + “My eye, Captain, no use to dodge from her; it is only dat footy little + King’s cutter on de Jamaica station.” + </p> + <p> + “It is her, true enough,” answered Williamson; “and she is from Santa + Martha with a freight of specie, I know. I will try a brush with her + by....” + </p> + <p> + Splinter struck in before he could finish his irreverent exclamation. “If + your conjecture be true, I know the craft—a heavy vessel of her + class, and you may depend on hard knocks, and small profit if you do take + her; while, if she takes you”— + </p> + <p> + “I’ll be hanged if she does”—and he grinned at the conceit—then + setting his teeth hard, “or rather, I will blow the schooner up with my + own hand before I strike; better that than have one’s bones bleached in + chains on a key at Port Royal.—But, you see you cannot control us, + gentlemen; so get down into the cable tier and take Peter Mangrove with + you. I would not willingly see those come to harm who have trusted me.” + </p> + <p> + However, there was no shot flying as yet, we therefore staid on deck. All + sail was once more made; the carronades were cast loose on both sides, and + double-shotted; the long gun slewed round; the tack of the fore-and-aft + foresail hauled up, and we kept by the wind, and stood after the cutter, + whose white canvass we could still see through the gloom like a + snow-wreath. + </p> + <p> + As soon as she saw us she tacked and stood towards us, and came bowling + along gallantly, with the water roaring and flashing at her bows. As the + vessels neared each other, they both shortened sail, and finding that we + could not weather her, we steered close under her lee. + </p> + <p> + As we crossed on opposite tacks her commander hailed, “Ho, the brigantine, + ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + “Hillo!” sung out Blackie, as he backed his maintopsail. + </p> + <p> + “What schooner is that?” + </p> + <p> + “The Spanish schooner Caridad.” + </p> + <p> + “Whence, and whither bound?” + </p> + <p> + “Carthagena to Porto Rico.” + </p> + <p> + “Heave-to, and send your boat on board.” + </p> + <p> + “We have none that will swim, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well—bring-to, and I will send mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Call away the boarders,” said our captain, in a low stern tone; “let them + crouch out of sight behind the boat.” + </p> + <p> + The cutter wore, and hove-to under our lee quarter, within pistol shot. We + heard the rattle of the ropes running through the davit blocks, and the + splash of the jolly boat touching the water, then the measured stroke of + the oars, as they glanced like silver in the sparkling sea, and a voice + calling out, “Give way, my lads.” + </p> + <p> + The character of the vessel we were on board of was now evident; and the + bitter reflection that we were chained to the stake on board of a pirate, + on the eve of a fierce contest with one of our own cruisers, was + aggravated by the consideration that the cutter had fallen into a snare, + by which a whole boat’s crew would be sacrificed before a shot was fired. + </p> + <p> + I watched my opportunity as she pulled up alongside, and called out, + leaning well over the nettings, “Get back to your ship! treachery! get + back to your ship!” + </p> + <p> + The little French serpent was at my side with the speed of thought, his + long clear knife glancing in one hand, while the fingers of the other were + laid on his lips. He could not have said more plainly, “Hold your tongue + or I’ll cut your throat;” but Sneezer now startled him by rushing between + us, and giving a short angry growl. + </p> + <p> + The officer in the boat had heard me imperfectly; he rose up—“I + won’t go back, my good man, until I see what you are made of; and as he + spoke he sprung on board, but the instant he got over the bulwarks he was + caught by two strong hands, gagged and thrown bodily down the main + hatchway. + </p> + <p> + “Heave,” cried a voice, “and with a will!” and four cold 32-pound shot + were hove at once into the boat alongside, which crashing through her + bottom, swamped her in a moment, precipitating the miserable crew into the + boiling sea. Their shrieks still ring in my ears as they clung to the oars + and some loose planks of the boat. + </p> + <p> + “Bring up the officer, and take out the gag,” said Williamson. + </p> + <p> + Poor Walcolm, who had been an old messmate of mine, was now dragged to the + gangway half-naked, his face bleeding, and heavily ironed, when the + blackamoor, clapping a pistol to his head, bid him, as he feared instant + death, hail “that the boat had swamped under the counter, and to send + another.” The poor fellow, who appeared stunned and confused, did so, but + without seeming to know what he said. + </p> + <p> + “Good God,” said Mr Splinter, “don’t you mean to pick up the boat’s crew?” + </p> + <p> + The blood curdled to my heart as the black savage answered in a voice of + thunder, “Let them drown and be d——d! fill, and stand on!” + </p> + <p> + But the clouds by this time broke away, and the mild moon shone clear and + bright once more, upon this scene of most atrocious villainy. By her light + the cutter’s people could see that there was no one struggling in the + water now, and that the people must either have been saved, or were past + all earthly aid; but the infamous deception was not entirely at an end. + </p> + <p> + The captain of the cutter, seeing we were making sail, did the same, and + after having shot ahead of us, hailed once more. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Walcolm, why don’t you run to leeward, and heave-to, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Answer him instantly, and hail again for another boat,” said the sable + fiend, and cocked his pistol. + </p> + <p> + The click went to my heart. The young midshipman turned his pale mild + countenance, laced with his blood, upwards towards the moon and stars, as + one who had looked his last look on earth; the large tears were flowing + down his cheeks, and mingling with the crimson streaks, and a flood of + silver light fell on the fine features of the poor boy, as he said firmly, + “Never.” The miscreant fired, and he fell dead. + </p> + <p> + “Up with the helm, and wear across her stern.” The order was obeyed. + “Fire!” The whole broadside was poured in, and we could hear the shot + rattle and tear along the cutter’s deck, and the shrieks and groans of the + wounded, while the white splinters glanced away in all directions. + </p> + <p> + We now ranged alongside, and close action commenced, and never do I expect + to see such an infernal scene again. Up to this moment there had been + neither confusion nor noise on board the pirate—all had been + coolness and order; but when the yards locked, the crew broke loose from + all control they ceased to be men they were demons, for they threw their + own dead and wounded, as they were mown down like grass by the cutter’s + grape, indiscriminately down the hatchways to get clear of them. They had + stript themselves almost naked; and although they fought with the most + desperate courage, yelling and cursing, each in his own tongue, most + hideously, yet their very numbers, pent up in a small vessel, were against + them. At length, amidst the fire, and smoke, and hellish uproar, we could + see that the deck had become a very shambles; and unless they soon carried + the cutter by boarding, it was clear that the coolness and discipline of + my own glorious service must prevail, even against such fearful odds, the + superior size of the vessel, greater number of guns, and heavier metal. + The pirates seemed aware of this themselves, for they now made a desperate + attempt forward to carry their antagonist by boarding, led on by the black + captain. Just at this moment, the cutter’s main-boom fell across the + schooner’s deck, close to where we were sheltering ourselves from the shot + the best way we could; and while the rush forward was being made, by a + sudden impulse Splinter and I, followed by Peter and the dog, (who with + wonderful sagacity, seeing the uselessness of resistance, had cowered + quietly by my side during the whole row) scrambled along it as the + cutter’s people were repelling the attack on her bow, and all four of us + in our haste jumped down on the poor Irishman at the wheel. + </p> + <p> + “Murder, fire, rape, and robbery! it is capsized, stove in, sunk, burned, + and destroyed I am! Captain, Captain, we are carried aft here—Och, + hubbaboo for Patrick Donnally!” + </p> + <p> + There was no time to be lost; if any of the crew came aft, we were dead + men, so we tumbled down through the cabin skylight, men and beast, the + hatch having been knocked off by a shot, and stowed ourselves away in the + side berths. The noise on deck soon ceased the cannon were again plied + gradually the fire slackened, and we could hear that the pirate had + scraped clear and escaped. Some time after this, the lieutenant commanding + the cutter came down. Poor Mr Douglas! both Mr Splinter and I knew him + well. He sat down and covered his face with his hands, while the blood + oozed down between his fingers. He had received a cutlass wound on the + head in the attack. His right arm was bound up with his neckcloth, and he + was very pale. + </p> + <p> + “Steward, bring me a light.—Ask the doctor how many are killed and + wounded; and, do you hear, tell him to come to me when he is done forward, + but not a moment sooner. To have been so mauled and duped by a cursed + buccaneer; and my poor boat’s crew.” + </p> + <p> + Splinter groaned. He started—but at this moment the man returned + again. + </p> + <p> + “Thirteen killed, your honour, and fifteen wounded; scarcely one of us + untouched.” The poor fellow’s own skull was bound round with a bloody + cloth. + </p> + <p> + “God help me! God help me! but they have died the death of men. Who knows + what death the poor fellows in the boat have died?” Here he was cut short + by a tremendous scuffle on the ladder, down which an old quarter-master + was trundled neck and crop into the cabin. “How now, Jones?” + </p> + <p> + “Please your honour,” said the man, as soon as he had gathered himself up, + and had time to turn his quid, and smooth down his hair; but again the + uproar was renewed, and Donnally was lugged in, scrambling and struggling, + between two seamen—“this here Irish chap, your honour, has lost his + wits, if so be he ever had any, your honour. He has gone mad through + fright.” + </p> + <p> + “Fright be d——d!” roared Donnally; “no man ever frightened me: + but as his honour was skewering them bloody thieves forward, I was boarded + and carried aft by the devil, your honour—pooped by Beelzebub, by—,” + and he rapped his fist on the table until every thing on it danced again. + “There were four of them, yeer honour—a black one and two blue ones—and + a piebald one, with four legs and a bushy tail—each with two horns + on his head, for all the world like those on Father M’Cleary’s red cow—no, + she was humbled—it is Father Clannachan’s I mane—no, not his + neither, for his was the parish bull; fait, I don’t know what I mane, + except that they had all horns on their heads, and vomited fire, and had + each of them a tail at his stem, twisting and twining like a conger eel, + with a blue light at the end on’t.” + </p> + <p> + “And dat’s a lie, if ever dere was one,” exclaimed Peter Mangrove, jumping + from the berth. “Look at me, you Irish tief, and tell me if I have a blue + light or a conger eel at my stem?” + </p> + <p> + This was too much for poor Donnally. He yelled out, “You’ll believe your + own eyes now, yeer honour, when you see one o’dem bodily before you! Let + me go—let me go” and, rushing up the ladder, he would, in all + probability, have ended his earthly career in the salt sea, had his bullet + head not encountered the broadest part of the purser, who was in the act + of descending, with such violence, that he shot him out of the companion + several feet above the deck, as if he had been discharged from a culverin; + but the recoil sent poor Donnally, stunned and senseless, to the bottom of + the ladder. There was no standing all this; we laughed outright, and made + ourselves known to Mr Douglas, who received us cordially, and in a week we + were landed at Port Royal. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI.—The Cruise of the Spark + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ours are the tears, though few, sincerely shed.” + + Byron, The Corsair, I.35. +</pre> + <p> + The only other midshipman on board the cutter beside young Walcolm, whose + miserable death we had witnessed, twas a light delicate little fellow, + about fourteen years old, of the name of Duncan; he was the smallest boy + of his age I ever saw, and had been badly hurt in repelling the attack of + the pirate. His wound was a lacerated puncture in the left shoulder from a + boarding pike, but it appeared to be healing kindly, and for some days we + thought he was doing well. However, about five o’clock in the afternoon on + which we made Jamaica, the surgeon accosted Mr Douglas as we were walking + the deck together. + </p> + <p> + “I fear little Duncan is going to slip through my fingers after all, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “No!—I thought he had been better.” + </p> + <p> + “So he was till about noon, when a twitching of the muscles came on, which + I fear betokens lock jaw; he wavers, too, now and then, a bad sign of + itself where there is a fretting wound.” + </p> + <p> + We went below, where, notwithstanding the wind—sail that was let + down close to where his hammock was slung, the heat of the small vessel + was suffocating. The large coarse tallow candle in the purser’s lantern, + that hung beside his shoulder, around which the loathsome cockroaches + fluttered like moths in a summer evening, filled the between decks with a + rancid oil smell, and with smoke as from a torch, while it ran down and + melted like fat before a fire. It cast a dull sickly, gleam on the pale + face of the brown-hefted, girlish-looking lad, as he lay in his narrow + hammock. When we entered, an old quartermaster was rubbing his legs, which + were jerking about like the limbs of a galvanized frog, while two of the + boys held his arms, also violently convulsed. The poor little fellow was + crying and sobbing most piteously, but made a strong effort to compose + himself and “be a man” when he saw us. + </p> + <p> + “This is so good of you, Mr Cringle! you will take charge of my letter to + my sister, I know you will?—I say, Anson,” to the quartermaster, “do + lift me up a little till I try and finish it.—It will be a sore + heart to poor Sarah; she has no mother now, nor father, and aunt is not + over kind,”—and again he wept bitterly. “Confound this jumping hand, + it won’t keep steady, all I can do.—I say, Doctor, I shan’t die this + time, shall I?” + </p> + <p> + “I hope not, my fine little fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t think I shall; I shall live to be a man yet, in spite of that + bloody buccaneer’s pike, I know I shall.” God help me, the death rattle + was already in his throat, and the flame was flickering in the socket; + even as he spoke, the muscles of his neck stiffened to such a degree that + I thought he was choked, but the violence of the convulsion quickly + subsided. “I am done for, Doctor!” he could no longer open his mouth, but + spoke through his clenched teeth—“I feel it now!—God Almighty + receive my soul, and protect my poor sister!” The arch-enemy was indeed + advancing to the final struggle, for he now gave a sudden and sharp cry, + and stretched out his legs and arms, which instantly became as rigid as + marble, and in his agony he turned his face to the side I stood on, but he + was no longer sensible. “Sister,” he said with difficulty—“Don’t let + them throw me overboard; there are sharks here.” + </p> + <p> + “Land on the lee bow,”—sung out the man at the masthead. + </p> + <p> + The common life sound would not have moved any of us in the routine of + duty, but bursting in, under such circumstances, it made us all start, as + if it had been something unusual; the dying midshipman heard it, and said + calmly—“Land,—I will never see it.—But how blue all your + lips look.—It is cold, piercing cold, and dark, dark.” Something + seemed to rise in his throat, his features sharpened still more, and he + tried to gasp, but his clenched teeth prevented him—he was gone. + </p> + <p> + I went on deck with a heavy heart, and, on looking in the direction + indicated, I beheld the towering Blue Mountain peak rising high above the + horizon, even at the distance of fifty miles, with its outline clear and + distinct against the splendid western sky, now gloriously illumined by the + light of the set sun. We stood on under easy sail for the night, and next + morning when the day broke, we were off the east end of the magnificent + Island of Jamaica. The stupendous peak now appeared to rise close aboard + of us, with a large solitary star sparkling on his forehead, and reared + his forest-crowned summit high into the cold blue sky, impending over us + in frowning magnificence, while the long dark range of the Blue Mountains, + with their outlines hard and clear in the grey light, sloped away on each + side of him as if they had been the Giant’s shoulders. Great masses of + white mist hung on their sides about half-way down, but all the valleys + and coast as yet slept in the darkness. We could see that the land-wind + was blowing strong in shore, from the darker colour of the water, and the + speed with which the coasters, only distinguishable by their white sails, + slid along; while astern of us, out at sea, yet within a cable’s length, + for we had scarcely shot beyond its influence, the prevailing trade-wind + blew a smart breeze, coming up strong to a defined line, beyond which and + between it and the influence of the land-wind, there was a belt of dull + lead-coloured sea, about half a mile broad, with a long heavy ground-swell + rolling, but smooth as glass, and without even a ripple on the surface, in + the midst of which we presently lay dead becalmed. + </p> + <p> + The heavy dew was shaken in large drops out of the wet flapping sails, + against which the reef points pattered like hail as the vessel rolled. The + decks were wet and slippery, and our jackets saturated with moisture; but + we enjoyed the luxury of cold to a degree that made the sea water when + dashed about the decks, as they were being holystoned, appear absolutely + warm. Presently all nature awoke in its freshness so suddenly, that it + looked like a change of scene in a theatre. The sun, as yet set to us, + rose to the huge peak, and glanced like lightning on his summit, making it + gleam like a ruby; presently the clouds on his shaggy ribs rolled upwards, + enveloping his head and shoulders, and were replaced by the thin blue + mists which ascended from the valleys, forming a fleecy canopy, beneath + which appeared hill and dale, woods and cultivated lands, where all had + been undistinguishable a minute before, and gushing streams burst from the + mountain sides like gouts of froth, marking their course in the level + grounds by the vapours they sent up. Then breeze—mill towers burst + into light, and cattle—mills, with their cone—shaped roofs, + and overseers houses, and water-mills, with the white spray falling from + the wheels, and sugar-works, with long pennants of white smoke streaming + from the boiling-house chimneys seaward in the morning wind. Immediately + after, gangs of negroes were seen at work; loaded waggons, with enormous + teams of fourteen to twenty oxen dragging them, rolled along the roads; + long strings of mules loaded with canes were threading the fields; + drogging vessels were seen to shove out from every cove; the morning song + of the black fishermen was heard, while their tiny canoes, like black + specks, started up suddenly on all sides of us, as if they had floated + from the bottom of the sea; and the smiling scene burst at once, and as if + by magic, on us, in all its coolness and beauty, under the cheering + influence of the rapidly rising sun. We fired a gun, and made the signal + for a pilot; upon which a canoe, with three negroes in it, shoved off from + a small schooner lying to about a mile to leeward. They were soon + alongside, when one of the three jumped on board. This was the pilot, a + slave, as I knew; and I remember the time, when, in my innocence, I would + have expected to see something very squalid and miserable, but there was + nothing of the kind; for I never in my life saw a more spruce saltwater + dandy, in a small way. He was well dressed, according to a seaman’s notion—clean + white trowsers, check shirt, with white lapels, neatly fastened at the + throat with a black ribbon, smart straw hat; and altogether he carried an + appearance of comfort—I was going to write independence—about + him, that I was by no means prepared for. He moved about with a swaggering + roll, grinning and laughing with the seamen. + </p> + <p> + “I say, blackie,” said Mr Douglas. + </p> + <p> + “John Lodge, massa, if you please, massa; blackie is not politeful, sir;” + whereupon he showed his white teeth again. + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, John Lodge, you are running us in too close surely;” and the + remark seemed seasonable enough to a stranger, for the rocks on the bold + shore were now within half pistol shot. + </p> + <p> + “Mind your eye,” shouted old Anson. “You will have us ashore, you black + rascal!” + </p> + <p> + “You, sir, what water have you here?” sung out Mr Splinter. + </p> + <p> + “Salt water, massa,” rapped out Lodge, fairly dumfounded by such a volley + of questions—“You hab six fadom good here, massa;” but suspecting he + had gone too far—“I take de Tonnant, big ship as him is, close to + dat reef, sir, you might have jump ashore, so you need not frighten for + your leetle dish of a hooker; beside, massa, my character is at stake, you + know”—then another grin and bow. + </p> + <p> + There was no use in being angry with the poor fellow, so he was allowed to + have his own way until we anchored in the evening at Port Royal. + </p> + <p> + The morning after we arrived, I went ashore with a boat’s crew to perform + the magnanimous operation of cutting brooms; we pulled ashore for Green + Bay, under the guns of the Twelve Apostles—a heavy battery of twelve + cannon, where there is a tombstone with an inscription, setting forth that + the party over whom it was erected, had been actually swallowed up in the + great earthquake that destroyed the opposite town, but subsequently + disgorged again; being, perchance, an unseemly morsel. + </p> + <p> + We approached the beach—“Oars”—the men laid them in. + </p> + <p> + “What sort of nuts be them, Peter Coamings?” said the coxswain to a new + hand who had been lately impressed, and was now standing at the bow ready + to fend off. + </p> + <p> + Peter broke off one of the branches from the bush nearest him. + </p> + <p> + “Smite my timbers, do the trees here bear shellfish?” + </p> + <p> + The tide in the Gulf of Mexico does not ebb and flow above two feet, + except at the springs, and the ends of the drooping branches of the + mangrove-trees, that here cover the shore, are clustered, within the wash + of the water, with a small well-flavoured oyster. The first thing the + seamen did when they got ashore, was to fasten an oakum tail to the rump + of one of the most lubberly of the cutter’s crew; they then gave him ten + yards’ law, when they started in chase, shouting amongst the bushes, and + switching each other like the veriest schoolboys. I had walked some + distance along the beach, pelting the amphibious little creatures, half + crab, half lobster, called soldiers, which kept shouldering their large + claws, and running out and in their little burrows, as the small ripple + twinkled on the sand in the rising sun, when two men-of-wars boats, each + with three officers in the stern, suddenly pulled round a little + promontory that intercepted my view ahead. Being somewhat out of the line + of my duty, so far from my boat, I squatted amongst the brushwood, + thinking they would pass by; but, as the devil would have it, they pulled + directly for the place where I was ensconced, beached their boats, and + jumped on shore. “Here’s a mess,” thought I. + </p> + <p> + I soon made out that one of the officers was Captain Pinkem of the Flash, + and that the parties saluted each other with that stern courtesy which + augured no good. + </p> + <p> + “So, so, my masters, not enough of fighting on the coast of America, but + you must have a little private defacing of God’s image amongst + yourselves?” + </p> + <p> + Pinkem spoke first. “Mr Clinch,” (I now knew he addressed the first + lieutenant of the flagship)—“Mr Clinch, it is not too late to + prevent unpleasant consequences; I ask you again, at the eleventh hour, + will you make an apology?” + </p> + <p> + He seemed hurried and fidgety in his manner; which rather surprised me, as + I knew he was a seasoned hand in these matters, and it contrasted + unfavourably with the calm bearing of his antagonist, who by this time had + thrown his hat on the ground, and stood with one foot on the handkerchief + that marked his position, the distance, twelve paces, having already been + measured. By the by, his position was deucedly near in a line with the + grey stone behind which I lay perdu; nevertheless, the risk I ran did not + prevent me noticing that he was very pale, and had much the air of a brave + man come to die in a bad cause. He looked upwards for a second for two, + and then answered, slowly and distinctly, “Captain Pinkem, I now repeat + what I said before; this rencontre is none of my seeking. You accuse me of + having spoken slightingly of you seven years ago, when I was a mere boy. + You have the evidence of a gallant officer that I did so; therefore I may + not gainsay it; but of uttering the words imputed to me, I declare, upon + my honour, I have no recollection.” He paused. + </p> + <p> + “That won’t do, my fine fellow,” said Pinkem. + </p> + <p> + “You are unreasonable,” rejoined Clinch, in the same measured tone, “to + expect farther amende for uttering words which I have no conviction of + having spoken; yet to any other officer in the service I would not + hesitate to make a more direct apology, but you know your credit as a + pistol-shot renders this impossible.” + </p> + <p> + “Sorry for it, Mr Clinch, sorry for it.” + </p> + <p> + Here the pistols were handed to the principals by their respective + seconds. In their attitudes, the proficient and the novice were strikingly + contrasted; (by this time I had crept round so as to have a view of both + parties, or rather, if the truth must be told, to be out of the line of + fire.) Pinkem stood with his side accurately turned towards his + antagonist, so as to present the smallest possible surface; his head was, + as it struck me, painfully slewed round, with his eye looking steadily at + Clinch, over his right shoulder, whilst his arm was brought down close to + his thigh, with the cock of the pistol turned outwards, so that his weapon + must have covered his opponent by the simple raising of his arm below the + elbow. Clinch, on the other hand, stood fronting him, with the whole + breadth of his chest; holding his weapon awkwardly across his body, with + both hands. Pinkem appeared unwilling to take him at such advantage, for, + although violent and headstrong, and but too frequently the slave of his + passions, he had some noble traits in his character. + </p> + <p> + “Turn your feather edge to me, Mr Clinch; take a fair chance, man.” + </p> + <p> + The lieutenant bowed, and I thought would have spoken, but he was checked + by the dread of being thought to fear; however, took the advice, and in an + instant the word was given—“Are you both ready?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes.” + </p> + <p> + “Then fire!” + </p> + <p> + Clinch fired without deliberation. I saw him, for my eyes were fixed on + him, expecting to see him fall. He stood firm, however, which was more + than I did, as at the instant, a piece of the bullion of an epaulet, at + first taken for a pellet of baser metal, struck me sharply on the nose, + and shook my equanimity confoundedly; at length I turned to look at + Pinkem, and there he stood with his arm raised, and pistol levelled, but + he had not fired. He stood thus whilst I might have counted ten, like a + finger-post, then dropping his hand, his weapon went off, but without aim, + the bullet striking the sand near his feet, and down he came headlong to + the ground. He fell with his face turned towards me, and I never shall + forget the horrible expression of it. His healthy complexion had, given + place to a deadly blue, the eyes were wide open and straining in their + sockets, the upper lip was drawn up, showing his teeth in a most frightful + grin, the blood gushed from his mouth as if impelled by the strokes of a + force pump, while his hands griped and dug into the sand. + </p> + <p> + Before the sun set, he was a dead man. + </p> + <p> + “A neat morning’s work, gentlemen,” thought I. + </p> + <p> + The two surgeons came up, opened his dress, felt his pulse, and shook + their heads; the boats crews grouped around them—he was lifted into + his gig, the word was given to shove off, and—I returned to my + broom-cutters. + </p> + <p> + When we got on board, the gunner who had the watch was taking his + fisherman’s walk on the starboard side of the quarterdeck, and kept + looking steadily at the land, as if to avoid seeing poor little Duncan’s + coffin, that lay on a grating near the gangway. The crew, assisted by + thirty men from the flag-ship, were employed in twenty different ways, + repairing damages, and were bustling about, laughing, joking, and singing, + with small regard to the melancholy object before their eyes, when Mr + Douglas put his head up the ladder—“Now, Jackson, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + The old fellow’s countenance fell as if his heart was wrung by the order + he had to give. + </p> + <p> + “Aloft there! lie out, you Perkins, and reeve a whip on the starboard + yard-arm to lower Mr”—The rest stuck in his throat, but, as if + ashamed of his softheartedness, he threw as much gruffness as he could + into his voice as he sung out—“Beat to quarters there!—knock + off, men!” + </p> + <p> + The roll of the drum stayed the confusion and noise of the people at work + in an instant, who immediately ranged themselves, in their clean frocks + and trowsers, on each side of the quarterdeck. At a given signal, the + white deal coffin, wrapped in its befitting pall, the meteor flag of + England, swung high above the hammock nettings between us and the bright + blue sky, to the long clear note of the boatswain’s whistle, which soon + ending in a short chirrup, told that it now rested on the thwarts of the + boat alongside. We pulled ashore, and it was a slight perchance to move a + woman, to see the poor little fellow’s hat and bit of a dirk lying on his + coffin, whilst the body was carried by four ships boys, the eldest + scarcely fourteen. I noticed the tears stand in Anson’s eyes as the coffin + was lowered into the grave,—the boy had been wounded close to him,—and + when we heard the hollow battle of the earth on the coffin,—an + unusual sound to a sailor,—he shuddered. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Master Cringle,” he said, in a whisper, “he was as kind hearted, and + as brave a lad as ever trod on shoe leather,—none of the larkings of + the men in the clear moonlight nights ever reached the cabin through him,—nor + was he the boy to rouse the watch from under the lee of the boats in bad + weather, to curry with the lieutenant, while he knew the look-outs were as + bright as beagles,—and where was the man in our watch that wanted + baccy while Mr Duncan had a shiner left?” The poor fellow drew the back of + his horny hand across his eyes, and grumbled out as he turned away, “And + here am I, Bill Anson, such a swab as to be ashamed of being sorry for + him.” + </p> + <p> + We were now turned over into the receiving ship the old Spark, and + fortunately there were captains enough in port to try us for the loss of + the Torch, so we got over our court-martial speedily, and the very day I + got back my dirk, the packet brought me out a lieutenant’s Commission. + Being now my own master for a season, I determined to visit some relations + I had in the island, to whom I had never yet been introduced; so I shook + hands with old Splinter, packed my kit, and went to the wharf to charter a + wherry to carry me up to Kingston. The moment my object was perceived by + the black boat-men, I was surrounded by a mob of them, pulling and hauling + each other, and shouting forth the various qualifications of their boats, + with such vehemence, that I was nearly deafened. + </p> + <p> + “Massa, no see Pam be Civil, sail like a witch, tack like a dolphin?” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t believe him, massa; Ballahoo is de boat dat can beat him.” + </p> + <p> + “Dam lie dat, as I am a gentleman!” roared a ragged black vagabond. + </p> + <p> + “Come in de Monkey, massa; no flying fish can beat she.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t boder de gentleman,” yelled a fourth,—“massa love de stamp + and go—no so, massa?” as he saw me make a step in the direction of + his boat. “Oh yes—so get out of de way, you black rascals,”—the + fellow was as black as a sloe himself—“make room for man-of-war + buccra; him leetle just now, but will be admiral one day.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, the fellow who had thus appropriated me, without more ado, + levelled his head like a battering ram, and began to batter in breach all + who stood in his way. He first ran a tilt against Pam be Civil, and shot + him like a rocket into the sea; the Monkey fared no better; the Ballahoo + had to swim for it; and having thus opened a way by main force, I at + length got safely moored in the stern sheets; but just as we were shoving + off, Mr Callaloo, the clergyman of Port Royal, a tall yellow personage, + begged for a passage, and was accordingly taken on board. As it was high + water, my boatmen chose the five foot channel, as the boat channel near to + Gallows Point is called, by which a long stretch would be saved, and we + were cracking on cheerily, my mind full of my recent promotion, when, + scur, scur, scur, we stuck fast on the bank. Our black boatmen, being + little encumbered with clothes, jumped overboard in a covey like so many + wild-ducks, shouting, as they dropped into the water, “We must all get + out,—we must all get out;” whereupon Mr Callaloo, a sort of Dominie + Sampson in his way, promptly leaped overboard up to his waist in the + water. The negroes were thunderstruck. + </p> + <p> + “Massa Parson Callaloo, you mad surely, you mad!” + </p> + <p> + “Children, I am not mad, but obedient—you said we must all get out” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure, massa, and you no see we all did get out?” + </p> + <p> + “And did you not see that I got out too?” rejoined the parson, still in + the water, and somewhat nettled. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, lud, massa! we no mean you—we meant poor nigger, not white man + parson.” + </p> + <p> + “You said all, children, and thereupon I leaped,” pronouncing the last + word in two syllables—“be more correct in your grammar next time.” + </p> + <p> + The worthy but eccentric old chap then scrambled on board again, amidst + the suppressed laughter of the boatmen, and kept his seat, wet clothes and + all, until we reached Kingston. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII.—Scenes in Jamaica + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Excellent—why this is the best fooling when all is done.’ + + Twelfth Night, II. iii. 29—30. +</pre> + <p> + I confess that I did not promise myself much pleasure from my cruise + ashore; somehow or other I had made up my mind to believe, that in + Jamaica, putting aside the magnificence and natural beauty of the face of + he country, there was little to interest me. I had pictured to myself the + slaves—a miserable, squalid, half fed, ill-clothed, over-worked race—and + their masters, and the white inhabitants generally, as an + unwholesome-looking crew of saffron faced tyrants, who wore straw hats + with umbrella brims, wide trowsers, and calico jackets, living on pepper + pot and land crabs, and drinking sangaree and smoking cigars the whole + day; in a word, that all that Bryan Edwards and others had written + regarding the civilisation of the West Indies was a fable. But I was + agreeably undeceived; for although I did meet with some extraordinary + characters, and witnessed not a few rum scenes, yet, on the whole, I + gratefully bear witness to the great hospitality of the inhabitants, both + in the towns and in the country. In Kingston the society was exceedingly + good, as good, I can freely affirm, as I ever met with in any provincial + town anywhere; and there prevailed a warmth of heart, and a kindliness + both in the males and females of those families to which I had the good + fortune to be introduced, that I never experienced out of Jamaica. + </p> + <p> + At the period I am describing, the island was in the hey-day of its + prosperity, and the harbour of Kingston was full of shipping. I had never + before seen so superb a mercantile haven; it is completely landlocked, and + the whole navy of England might ride in it commodiously. + </p> + <p> + On the sea face it is almost impregnable, for it would be little short of + a miracle for an invading squadron to wind its way through the labyrinth + of shoals and reefs lying off the mouth of it, amongst which the channels + are so narrow and intricate, that at three or four points the sinking of a + sand barge would effectually block up all ingress; but, independently of + this, the entrance at Port Royal is defended by very strong works, the + guns ranging the whole way across, while, a little farther on, the + attacking ships would be exposed to a cross fire from the heavy metal of + the Apostles’ Battery; and even assuming all these obstacles to be + overcome, and the passage into the harbour forced, before they could pass + the narrows to get up to the anchorage at Kingston, they would be blown + out of the water by a raking fire from sixty pieces of large cannon on + Fort Augusta, which is so situated that they would have to turn to + windward for at least half an hour, in a strait which, at the widest, + would not allow them to reach beyond musket-shot of the walls. + Fortunately, as yet Mr Canning had not called his New World into + existence, and the whole of the trade of Terra Firma, from Porto Cavello + down to Chagres, the greater part of the trade of the islands of Cuba and + San Domingo, and even that of Lima and San Blas, and the other ports of + the Pacific, carried on across the Isthmus of Darien, centred in Kingston, + the usual supplies through Cadiz being stopped by the advance of the + French in the Peninsula. The result of this princely traffic, more + magnificent than that of Tyre, was a stream of gold and silver flowing + into the Bank of England, to the extent of three millions of pounds + sterling annually, in return for British manufactures; thus supplying the + sinews of war to the government at home, and, besides the advantage of so + large a mart, employing an immense amount of British tonnage, and many + thousand seamen; and in numberless ways opening up new outlets to British + enterprise and capital. Alas! alas! where is all this now? The echo of the + empty stores might answer “where!” + </p> + <p> + On arriving at Kingston, my first object was to seek out Mr the admiral’s + agent, and one of the most extensive merchants in the place, in order to + deliver some letters to him, and get his advice as to my future + proceedings. Mr Callaloo undertook to be my pilot, striding along a-beam + of me, and leaving in his wake two serpentine dottings on the pavement + from the droppings of water from his voluminous coat-skirts, which had + been thoroughly soaked by his recent ducking. + </p> + <p> + Every thing appeared to be thriving, and as we passed along, the hot sandy + streets were crowded with drays conveying goods from the wharfs to the + stores, and from the stores to the Spanish Posadas. The merchants of the + place, active, sharp-looking men, were seen grouped under the piazzas in + earnest conversation with their Spanish customers, or perched on the top + of the bales and boxes just landed, waiting to hook the gingham-coated, + Moorish-looking Dons, as they came along with cigars in their mouths, and + a train of negro servants following them with fire buckets on their heads, + filled with pesos fuertes. The appearance of the town itself was novel and + pleasing; the houses, chiefly of two stories, looked as if they had been + built of cards, most of them being surrounded with piazzas from ten to + fourteen feet wide, gaily painted green and white, and formed by the roofs + projecting beyond the brick walls or shells of the houses. On the + ground-floor these piazzas are open, and in the lower part of the town, + where the houses are built contiguous to each other, they form a covered + way, affording a most grateful shelter from the sun, on each side of the + streets, which last are unpaved, and more like dry river courses, than + thoroughfares in a Christian town. On the floor above, the balconies are + shut in with a sort of movable blinds, called “jealousies,’ like large + bladed Venetian blinds, fixed in frames, with here and there a glazed sash + to admit light in bad weather when the blinds are closed. In the upper + part of the town the effect is very beautiful, every house standing + detached from its neighbour, in its little garden filled with vines, + fruittrees, stately palms, and cocoa-nut trees, with a court of negro + houses and offices behind, and a patriarchal-looking draw-well in the + centre, generally overshadowed by a magnificent wild tamarind. When I + arrived at the great merchant’s place of business, I was shown into a + lofty cool room, with a range of desks along the walls, where a dozen + clerks were quill-driving. In the centre sat my man, a small sallow, yet + perfectly gentlemanlike personage. + </p> + <p> + “Dat is massa” quoth my black usher. + </p> + <p> + I accordingly walked up to him, and presented my letter. He never lifted + his head from his paper, which I had half a mind to resent; but at the + moment there was a bustle in the piazza, and a group of naval officers, + amongst whom was the admiral, came in. My silent friend was now alert + enough, and profuse of his bows and smiles. + </p> + <p> + “Who have we here? Who is that boy, L——?” said the admiral to + his secretary. + </p> + <p> + “Young Cringle, sir; the only one except Mr Splinter saved from the Torch; + he was first on the Admiralty list t’other day.” + </p> + <p> + “What, the lad Willoughby spoke so well of?” + </p> + <p> + “The same, sir; he got his promotion by last packet.” + </p> + <p> + “I know, I know. I say, Mr Cringle, you are appointed to the Firebrand, do + you know that?”—I did not know it, and began to fear my cruise on + shore was all up.—“But I don’t look for her from Havanna for a + month; so leave your address with L——, that you may get the + order to join when she does come.” + </p> + <p> + It appeared that I had seen the worst of the agent, for he gave me a very + kind invitation to stay some days with him, and drove me home in his + ketureen, a sort of sedan chair with the front and sides knocked out, and + mounted on a gig body. + </p> + <p> + Before dinner we were lounging about the piazza, and looking down into the + street, when a negro funeral came past, preceded by a squad of drunken + black vagabonds, singing and playing on gumbies, or African drums, made + out of pieces of hollow trees, about six feet long, with skins braced over + them, each carried by one man, while another beats it with his open hands. + The coffin was borne along on the heads of two negroes—a negro + carries every thing on his head, from a bale of goods to a wine-glass or + tea-cup. It is a practice for the bearers, when they come near the house + of any one against whom the deceased was supposed to have had a grudge, to + pretend that the coffin will not pass by, and in the present case, when + they came opposite to where we stood, they began to wheel round and round, + and to stagger under their load, while the choristers shouted at the top + of their lungs. + </p> + <p> + “We beg you, shipmate, for come along—do, broder, come away;” then + another reel. “What, you no wantee go in a hole, eh? You hab grudge + against somebody lif here, eh?”—Another devil of a lurch “Massa——‘s + housekeeper, eh? Ah, it must be!”—A tremendous stagger—“Oh, + Massa——, dollar for drink; someting to hold play [negro wake] + in Spring-path, [the negro burying-ground;] Bediacko say him won’t pass + ‘less you give it.” And here they began to spin round more violently than + before; but at the instant a drove of bullocks coming along, they got + entangled amongst them, and down went body and bearers and all, the coffin + bursting in the fall, and the dead corpse, with its white grave-clothes + and black face, rolling over and over in the sand amongst the feet of the + cattle. It was immediately caught up, however, bundled into the coffin + again, and away they staggered, drumming and singing as loudly as before. + </p> + <p> + The party at dinner was a large one; every thing in good style, wines + superb, turtle, &c., magnificent, and the company exceedingly + companionable. A Mr Francis Fyall, (a great planting attorney, that is, an + agent for a number of proprietors of estates, who preferred living in + England, and paying a commission to him for managing in Jamaica, to facing + the climate themselves,) to whom I had an introduction, rather posed me, + by asking me during dinner, if I would take any thing in the long way with + him, which he explained by saying he would be glad to take a glass of + small beer with me. This, after a deluge of Madeira, Champagne, and all + manner of light wines, was rather trying; but I kept my countenance as + well I could. One thing I remember struck me as remarkable; just as we + were rising to go to the drawing-room, a cloud of winged ants burst in + upon us through the open windows, and had it not been for the glass-shades + would have extinguished the candles; but when they had once settled on the + table, they deliberately wriggled themselves free of their wings, as one + would cast off a great-coat, and crept away in their simple and more + humble capacity of creeping things. + </p> + <p> + Next day I went to wait on my relation, Mrs Palma. I had had a + confoundedly hot walk through the burning sand streets, and was nearly + blinded by the reflection from them, as I ascended the front stairs. There + are no carpets in the houses in Jamaica; but the floors, which are often + mahogany, are beautifully polished, and shine like a well-kept dinner + table. They are, of course, very slippery, and require wary walking till + one gets accustomed to them. The rooms are made exceedingly dark during + the heat of the day, according to the prevailing practice in all ardent + climates. A black footman, very handsomely dressed, all to his bare legs, + (I thought at first he had black silk stocking on,) preceded me, and when + he reached the drawing-room door, asked my name. I told him, “Mr Cringle,”—whereupon + he sung out, to my dismay—“Massa Captain Ringtail to wait pan + Misses.” + </p> + <p> + This put me out a little—especially as I heard some one say “Captain + who—what a very odd name?” + </p> + <p> + But I had no time for reflection, as I had not blundered three steps out + of the glare of the piazza, into the palpable obscure of the darkened + drawing-room, black as night from the contrast, when I capsized headlong + over an ottoman in the middle of the apartment, and floundered right into + the centre of a group of young ladies, and one or two lapdogs, by whom it + was conjointly occupied. Trying to recover myself, I slipped on the + glasslike floor, and came down stern foremost; and being now regularly at + the slack end, for I could not well get lower, I sat still, scratching my + caput in the midst of a gay company of morning visitors, enjoying the + gratifying consciousness that I was distinctly visible to them, although + my dazzled optics could as yet distinguish nothing. To add to my + pleasurable sensations, I now perceived, from the coldness of the floor, + that in MY downfall the catastrophe of my unmentionables had been + grievously rent, but I had nothing for it but sitting patiently still + amidst the suppressed laughter of the company, until I became accustomed + to the twilight, and they, like bright stars, began to dawn on my + bewildered senses in all their loveliness, and prodigiously handsome women + some of’ them were, for the Creoles, so far as figure is concerned, are + generally perfect, while beautiful features are not wanting, and my travel + had reconciled me to the absence of the rose from their cheeks. My eldest + cousin Mary (where is there a name like Mary?) now approached; she and I + were old friends, and many a junketing we used to have in my father’s + house during the holydays, when she was a boarding-school girl in England. + My hardihood and self-possession returned, under the double gratification + of seeing her, and the certainty that my blushes (for my cheeks were + glowing like hot iron) could not have been observed in the subdued green + light that pervaded the room.—“Well, Tom, since you are no longer + dazzled, and see us all now, you had better get up, hadn’t you—you + see mamma is waiting there to embrace you?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I think myself I had better;—but when I broached—to so + suddenly, I split my lower canvass, Mary, and I cannot budge until your + mother lends me a petticoat.” + </p> + <p> + “A what? you are crazy, Tom” + </p> + <p> + “Not a whit, not a whit, why I have split my—ahem. This is speaking + plain, an’t it?” + </p> + <p> + Away tripped the sylph-like girl, and in a twinkling reappeared with the + desired garment, which in a convulsion of laughter she slipped over my + head as I sat on the floor; and having fastened it properly round my + waist, I rose and paid my respects to my warm hearted relations. But that + petticoat—it could not have been the old woman’s, there could have + been no such virtue in an old woman’s petticoat; no, no, it must either + have been a charmed garment, or—Mary’s own; for from that hour I was + a lost man, and the devoted slave of her large black eyes, and high pale + forehead. “Oh, murder you speak of the sun dazzling; what is it to the + lustre of that same eye of yours, Mary!” + </p> + <p> + In the evening I escorted the ladies to a ball, (by the way, a West India + ball-room being a perfect lantern, open to the four winds of heaven, is + cooler, notwithstanding the climate, than a ball-room anywhere else,) and + a very gay affair it turned out to be, although I had more trouble in + getting admittance than I bargained for, and was witness to as comical a + row (considering the very frivolous origin of it, and the quality of the + parties engaged in it) as ever took place even in that peppery country, + where, I verily believe, the temper of the people, generous though it be + in the main, is hotter than the climate, and that, God knows! is + soporiferous enough. I was walking through the entrance saloon with my + fair cousin on my arm, stepping out like a hero to the opening crash of a + fine military band, towards the entrance of the splendid ball-room filled + with elegant company, brilliantly lighted up and ornamented with the most + rare and beautiful shrubs and flowers, which no European conservatory + could have furnished forth, and arched overhead with palm branches and a + profusion of evergreens, while the polished floor, like one vast mirror, + reflected the fine forms of the pale but lovely black-eyed and black + haired West Indian dames, glancing amidst the more sombre dressed of their + partners, while the whole group was relieved by being here and there + spangled with a rich naval or military uniform. As we approached, a + constable put his staff across the doorway. + </p> + <p> + “Beg pardon, sir, but you are not in full dress.” + </p> + <p> + Now this was the first night whereon I had sported my lieutenant’s + uniform, and with my gold swab on my shoulder, the sparkling bullion + glancing in the corner of my eye at the very moment, my dress-sword by my + side, gold buckles in my shoes, and spotless white trowsers, I had, in my + innocence, considered myself a deuced killing fellow, and felt proportion + ably mortified at this address. + </p> + <p> + “No one can be admitted in trowsers, sir,” said the man. + </p> + <p> + “Shiver my timbers!” I could not help the exclamation, the transactions of + the morning crowding on my recollection; “shiver my timbers! is my fate in + this strange country to be for ever irrevocably bound up in a pair of + breeches?” + </p> + <p> + My cousin pinched my arm.—“Hush, Tom; go home and get mamma’s + petticoat.” + </p> + <p> + The man was peremptory; and as there was no use in getting into a squabble + about such a trifle, I handed my partner over to the care of a gentleman + of the party, who was fortunately accoutred according to rule, and, + stepping to my quarters, I equipped myself in a pair of tight nether + integuments, and returned to the ball-room. By this time there was the + devil to pay; the entrance saloon was crowded with military and naval men, + high in oath, and headed by no less a person than a general officer, and a + one-armed man, one of the chief civil officers in the place, and who had + been a sailor in his youth. I was just in time to see the advance of the + combined column to the door of the ball-room, through which they drove the + picket of constables like chaff, and then halted. The one-armed + functionary, a most powerful and very handsome man, now detached himself + from the phalanx, and strode up to the advanced guard of stewards + clustered in front of the ladies, who had shrunk together into a corner of + the room, like so many frightened hares. + </p> + <p> + The place being now patent to me, I walked up to comfort my party, and + could see all that passed. The champion of the Excluded had taken the + precaution to roll up the legs of his trowsers, and to tie them tightly at + the knee with his garters, which gave him the appearance of a Dutch + skipper; and in all the consciousness of being now properly arrayed, he + walked up to one of the men in authority—a small pot bellied + gentleman, and set himself to intercede for the attacking column, the head + of which was still lowering at the door. But the little steward speedily + interrupted him. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr Singlefist, rules must be maintained, and let me see,” here he + peered through his glass at the substantial supporters of our friend,—“as + I live, you yourself are inadmissible.” + </p> + <p> + The giant laughed. + </p> + <p> + “Damn the body, he must have been a tailor!—Charge, my fine fellows, + and throw the constables out of the window, and the stewards after them. + Every man his bird; and here goes for my Cock Robin.” With that he made a + grab at his Lilliputian antagonist, but missed him, as he slid away + amongst the women like an eel, while his pursuer, brandishing his wooden + arm on high, to which I now perceived, for the first time, that there was + a large steel hook appended, exclaimed in a broad Scotch accent, “Ah, if I + had but caught the creature, I would have clapt this in his mouth, and + played him like a salmon.” + </p> + <p> + At this signal, in poured the mass of soldiers and sailors; the constables + vanished in an instant; the stewards were driven back upon the ladies; and + such fainting and screaming, and swearing and threatening, and shying of + cards, and fixing of time and place for a cool turn in the morning, it had + never been my good fortune to witness before or since. My wig! thought I, + a precious country, where a man’s life may be periled by the fashion of + the covering to his nakedness! + </p> + <p> + Next day, Mr Fyall, who, I afterwards learned, was a most estimable man in + substantials, although somewhat eccentric in small matters, called and + invited me to accompany him on a cruise amongst some of the estates under + his management. This was the very thing I desired, and three days + afterwards I left my kind friends in Kingston, and set forth on my visit + to Mr Fyall, who lived about seven miles from town.. + </p> + <p> + The morning was fine as usual, although about noon the clouds, thin and + fleecy and transparent at first, but gradually settling down more dense + and heavy, began to congregate on the summit of the Liguanea Mountains, + which rise about four miles distant, to a height of near 5000 feet, in + rear of the town. It thundered too a little now and then in the same + direction, but this was an every-day occurrence in Jamaica at this season, + and as I had only seven miles to go, off I started in a gig of mine + host’s, with my portmanteau well secured under a tarpawlin, in defiance of + all threatening appearances, crowding sail, and urging the noble roan that + had me in tow close upon thirteen knots. I had not gone above three miles, + however, when the sky in a moment changed from the intense glare of a + tropical noontide to the deepest gloom, as if a bad angel had suddenly + overshadowed us, and interposed his dark wings between us and the blessed + sun; indeed, so instantaneous was the effect, that it reminded me of the + withdrawing of the foot-lights in a theatre. The road now wound round the + base of a precipitous spur from the Liguanea Mountains, which, instead of + melting onto the level country by gradual decreasing undulations, shot + boldly out nearly a mile from the main range, and so abruptly, that it + seemed mortised into the plain, like a rugged promontory running into a + frozen lake. On looking up along the ridge of this prong, I saw the + lowering mass of black clouds gradually spread out, and detach themselves + from the summits of the loftier mountains, to which they had clung the + whole morning, and begin to roll slowly down the hill, seeming to touch + the tree tops, while along their lower edges hung a fringe of dark vapour, + or rather shreds of cloud in rapid motion, that shifted about, and shot + out and shortened like streamers. + </p> + <p> + As yet there was no lightning nor rain, and in the expectation of escaping + the shower, as the wind was with me, I made more sail, pushing the horse + into a gallop, to the great discomposure of the negro who sat beside me. + </p> + <p> + “Massa, you can’t escape it, you are galloping into it; don’t massa hear + de sound of de rain coming along against de wind, and smell de earthy + smell of him like one new-made grave?” + </p> + <p> + “The sound of the rain.” In another clime, long, long ago, I had often + read at my old mother’s knee, “And Elijah said unto Ahab, there is a sound + of abundance of rain, prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the + rain stop thee not; and it came to pass, in the meanwhile, that the heaven + was dark with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.” + </p> + <p> + I looked, and so it was, for in an instant a white sheet of the heaviest + rain I had ever seen (if rain it might be called, for it was more like a + water-spout) fell from the lower edge of the black cloud, with a strong + rushing noise, that increased as it approached to a loud roar like that of + a waterfall. As it came along, it seemed to devour the rocks and trees, + for they disappeared behind the watery screen the instant it reached them. + </p> + <p> + We saw it a-head of us for more than a mile coming along the road, + preceded by a black line from the moistening of the white dust, right in + the wind’s eye, and with such an even front, that I verily believe it was + descending in bucketsful on my horse’s head, while as yet not one drop had + reached me. At this moment the adjutant-general of the forces, Colonel F——, + of the Coldstream Guards, in his tandem, drawn by two sprightly blood + bays, with his servant, a light boy, mounted Creole fashion on the leader, + was coming up in my wake at a spot where the road sank into a hollow, and + was traversed by a watercourse already running knee deep, although dry as + a bone but the minute before. + </p> + <p> + I was now drenched to the skin, the water pouring out in cascades from + both sides of the vehicle, when just as I reached the top of the opposite + bank, there was a flash of lightning so vivid, accompanied by an explosion + so loud and tremendous, that my horse, trembling from stem to stem, stood + dead still; the dusky youth by my side jumped out, and buried his snout in + the mud, like a porker in Spain nuzzling for acorns, and I felt more + queerish than I would willingly have confessed to. I could have knelt and + prayed. The noise of the thunder was a sharp ear-piercing crash, as if the + whole vault of heaven had been made of glass, and had been shivered at a + blow by the hand of the Almighty. + </p> + <p> + It was, I am sure, twenty seconds before the usual roar and rumbling + reverberation of the report from the hills, and among the clouds, was + heard. + </p> + <p> + I drove on, and arrived just in time to dress for dinner, but I did not + learn till next day, that the flash which paralysed me, had struck dead + the Colonel’s servant and leading horse, as he ascended the bank of the + ravine, by this time so much swollen, that the body of the lad was washed + off the road into the neighbouring gully, where it was found, when the + waters subsided, entirely covered with sand. + </p> + <p> + I found the party congregated in the piazza around Mr Fyall, who was + passing his jokes, without much regard to the feelings of his guests, and + exhibiting as great a disregard of the common civilities and courtesies of + life as can well be imagined. One of the party was a little red-faced + gentleman, Peregrine Whiffle, Esquire, by name who, in Jamaica parlance, + was designated an extraordinary master in Chancery; the overseer of the + pen, or breeding farm, in the great house as it is called, or mansionhouse + of which Mr Fyall resided, and a merry, laughing, intelligent, round, + red-faced man, with a sort of Duncan Knockdunder nose, through the wide + nostrils of which you could see a cable’s length into his head; he was + either Fyall’s head clerk, or a sort of first lieutenant; these personages + and myself composed the party. The dinner itself was excellent, although + rather of the rough and round order; the wines and food intrinsically + good; but my appetite was not increased by the exhibition of a deformed, + bloated negro child, about ten years old, which Mr Fyall planted at his + elbow, and, by way of practical joke, stuffed to repletion with all kinds + of food and strong drink, until the little dingy brute was carried out + drunk. + </p> + <p> + The wine circulated freely, and by and by Fyall indulged in some + remarkable stories of his youth, for he was the only speaker, which I + found some difficulty in swallowing, until at length, on one thumper being + tabled, involving an impossibility, and utterly indigestible, I + involuntarily exclaimed, “by Jupiter!” + </p> + <p> + “You want any ting, massa?” promptly chimed in the black servant at my + elbow, a diminutive kiln-dried old negro. + </p> + <p> + “No,” said I, rather caught. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, me tink you call for Jupiter.” + </p> + <p> + I looked in the baboon’s face—“Why, if I did; what then?” + </p> + <p> + “Only me Jupiter, at massa service, dat all.” + </p> + <p> + “You are, eh, no great shakes of a Thunderer; and who is that tall square + man standing behind your master’s chair?” + </p> + <p> + “Daddy Cupid, massa.” + </p> + <p> + “And the old woman who is carrying away the dishes in the piazza?” + </p> + <p> + “Mammy Weenus.” + </p> + <p> + “Daddy Cupid, and Mammy Weenus—Shade of Homer!” + </p> + <p> + Jupiter, to my surprise, shrunk from my side, as if he had received a + blow, and the next moment I could hear him communing with Venus in the + piazza. + </p> + <p> + “For true, dat leetle man-of-war buccra must be Obeah man: how de debil + him come to sabe dat it was stable-boy Homer who broke de candle shade on + massa right hand, dat one wid de piece broken out of de edge?” and here he + pointed towards it with his chin—a negro always points with his + chin. + </p> + <p> + I had never slept on shore out of Kingston before; the night season in the + country in dear old England, we all know, is usually one of the deepest + stillness—here it was any thing but still;—as the evening + closed in, there arose a loud humming noise, a compound of the buzzing, + and chirping, and whistling, and croaking of numberless reptiles and + insects, on the earth, in the air, and in the water. I was awakened out of + my first sleep by it, not that the sound was disagreeable, but it was + unusual; and every now and then a beetle, the size of your thumb, would + bang in through the open window, cruise round the room with a noise like a + humming-top, and then dance a quadrille with half-a-dozen bats; while the + fire-flies glanced like sparks, spangling the folds of the muslin curtains + of the bed. The croak of the tree-toad, too, a genteel reptile, with all + the usual loveable properties of his species, about the size of the crown + of your hat, sounded from the neighbouring swamp, like some one snoring in + the piazza, blending harmoniously with the nasal concert got up by + Jupiter, and some other heathen deities, who were sleeping there almost + naked, excepting the head, which every negro swathes during the night with + as much flannel and as many handkerchiefs as he can command. By the way, + they all slept on their faces—I wonder if this will account for + their flat noses. + </p> + <p> + Next morning we started at daylight, cracking along at the rate of twelve + knots an hour in a sort of gig, with one horse in the shafts, and another + hooked on a-breast of him to a sort of studdingsail-boom, or outrigger, + and followed by three mounted servants, each with a led horse and two + sumpter mules. + </p> + <p> + In the evening we arrived at an estate under Mr Fyall’s management, having + passed a party of maroons immediately before. I never saw finer men tall, + strapping fellows, dressed exactly as they should be and the climate + requires; wide duck trowsers, over these a loose shirt, of duck also, + gathered at the waist by a broad leathern belt, through which, on one + side, their short cutlass is stuck, while on the other hangs a leathern + pouch for ball, and a loose thong across one shoulder, supports, on the + opposite hip, a large powder-horn and haversack. This, with a straw hat, + and a short gun in their hand, with a sling to be used on a march, + completes their equipment—in better keeping with the climate, than + the padded coats, heavy caps, tight cross-belts, and ponderous muskets of + our regulars. As we drove up to the door, the overseer began to bawl, + “Boys, boys!” and kept blowing a dog-call. All servants in the country in + the West Indies, be they as old as Methuselah, are called boys. In the + present instance, half-a-dozen black fellows forthwith appeared, to take + our luggage, and attend on massa in other respects. The great man was as + austere to the poor overseer, as if he had been guilty of some + misdemeanour, and after a few short, crabbed words, desired him to get + supper, “do you hear?” + </p> + <p> + The meat consisted of plantation fare-salted fish, plantains and yams, and + a piece of goat mutton. Another “observe,”—a South Down mutton, + after sojourning a year or two here, does not become a goat exactly, but + he changes his heavy warm fleece, and wears long hair; and his progeny + after him, if bred on the hot plains, never assume the wool again. Mr + Fyall and I sat down, and then in walked four mutes, stout young fellows, + not over-well dressed, and with faces burnt to the colour of brick-dust. + They were the bookkeepers, so called because they never see a book, their + province being to attend the negroes in the field, and to superintend the + manufacture of sugar and rum in the boiling and distilling-houses. + </p> + <p> + One of them, the head bookkeeper, as he was called, appeared literally + roasted by the intensity of the sun’s rays. + </p> + <p> + “How is Baldy Steer?” said the overseer to this person. + </p> + <p> + “Better to-day, sir—I drenched him with train—oil and + sulphur.” + </p> + <p> + “The devil you did,” thought I—“alas! for Baldy.” “And Mary, and + Caroline, and the rest of that lot?” “Are sent to Perkin’s Red Rover, sir; + but I believe some of them are in calf already by Bullfinch—and I + have cut Peter for the lampas.” The knife and fork dropped from my hands. + “What can all this mean? is this their boasted kindness to their slaves? + One of a family drenched with train-oil and brimstone, another cut for + some horrible complaint never heard of before, called lampas, and the + females sent to the Red Rover, some being in calf already!” But I soon + perceived that the baked man was the cowboy or shepherd of the estate, + making his report of the casualties amongst his bullocks, mules, and + heifers. + </p> + <p> + “Juliet Ridge will not yield, sir,” quoth another. + </p> + <p> + “Who is this next? a stubborn concern she must be.” + </p> + <p> + “The liquor is very poor.” Here he helped himself to rum and water, the + rum coming up about an inch in the glass, regular half and half, fit to + float a marlinspike. + </p> + <p> + “It is more than yours is,” thought I; and I again stared in wonderment, + until I perceived he spoke of the juice of a cane patch. + </p> + <p> + At this time a tall, lathy gentleman came in, wearing a most original cut + coatee. He was a most extraordinary built man; he had absolutely no body, + his bottom being placed between his shoulders, but what was wanted in + corpus was made up in legs, indeed he looked like a pair of compasses, + buttoned together at the shoulders, and supporting a yellow phiz half a + yard long, thatched with a fell of sandy hair, falling down lank and + greasy on each side of his face. Fyall called him Buckskin, which, with + some other circumstances, made me guess that he was neither more nor less + than an American smuggler. + </p> + <p> + After supper, a glass of punch was filled for each person, the overseer + gave a rap on the table with his knuckles, and off started the + bookkeepers, like shots out of shovels, leaving the Yankee, Mr Fyall, the + overseer, and myself, at table. + </p> + <p> + I was very tired, and reckoned on going to bed now—but no such + thing. Fyall ordered Jupiter to bring a case from his gig-box, containing + some capital brandy. A new brewage of punch took place, and I found about + the small hours that we were all verging fast towards drunkenness, or + something very like that same. The Yankee was specially plied by Fyall, + evidently with an object, and he soon succeeded in making him helplessly + drunk. + </p> + <p> + The fun now “grew fast and furious,”—a large wash-tub was ordered + in, placed under a beam at the corner of the room, and filled with water; + a sack and a three-inch rope were then called for, and promptly produced + by the blackies, who, apparently accustomed to Fyall’s pranks, grinned + with delight.—Buckskin was thrust into the sack, feet foremost; the + mouth of it was then gathered round his throat with a string, and I was + set to splice a bight in the rope, so as to fit under his arms without + running, which might have choked him. All things being prepared, the slack + end was thrown over the beam. He was soused in the tub, the word was given + to hoist away, and we ran him up to the roof, and then belayed the rope + round the body of the overseer, who was able to sit on his chair, and that + was all. The cold bath, and the being hung up to dry, speedily sobered the + American, but his arms being within the sack, he could do nothing for his + own emancipation; he kept swearing, however, and entreating, and dancing + with rage, every jerk drawing the cord tighter round the waist of the + overseer, who, unaware of his situation, thought himself bewitched as he + was drawn with violence by starts along the floor, with the chair as it + were glued to him. At length the patient extricated one of his arms, and + laying hold of the beam above him, drew himself up, and then letting go + his hold suddenly, fairly lifted the drunken overseer, chair and all, + several feet from the ground, so as to bring him on a level with himself, + and then, in mid air, began to pummel his counterpoise with right + goodwill. At length, fearful of the consequences from the fury into which + the man had worked himself, Fyall and I dashed out the candles, and fled + to our rooms, where, after barricading the doors, we shouted to the + servants to let the gentlemen down. + </p> + <p> + The next morning had been fixed for duck-shooting, and the overseer and I + were creeping along amongst the mangrove bushes on the shore, to get a + shot at some teal, when we saw our friend the pair of compasses crossing + the small bay in his boat, towards his little pilotboat-built schooner, + which was moored in a small creek opposite, the brushwood concealing every + thing but her masts. My companion, as wild an Irishman as I ever knew, + hailed him,— + </p> + <p> + “Hillo, Obadiah—Buckskin—you Yankee rascal, heave-to. Come + ashore here—come ashore.” + </p> + <p> + Obed, smoking his pipe, deliberately uncoiled himself—I thou as he + rose, there was to be no end of him—and stood upright in the boat, + like an ill-rigged jurymast. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Master Tummas, you ben’t no friend of mine, I guess, a’ter last + night’s work; you hears how I coughs?”—and he began to wheezle and + crow in a most remarkable fashion. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind,” rejoined the overseer; “if you go round that point, and put + up the ducks—by the piper, but I’ll fire at you!” + </p> + <p> + Obed neighed like a horse expecting his oats, which was meant as a laugh + of derision. “Do you think your birding-piece can touch me here away, + Master Tummas?” And again he nichered more loudly than before. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t provoke me to try, you yellow snake, you!” + </p> + <p> + “Try, and be d——d, and there’s a mark for thee,” unveiling a + certain part of his body, not his face. + </p> + <p> + The overseer, or bushes, to give him his Jamaica name, looked at me and + smiled, then coolly lifted his long Spanish barrel, and fired. Down + dropped the smuggler, and ashore came the boat. + </p> + <p> + “I am mortally wounded, Master Tummas,” quoth Obed; and I was confoundedly + frightened at first, from the unusual proximity of the injured part to his + head; but the overseer, as soon as he could get off the ground, where he + had thrown himself in an uncontrollable fit of laughter, had the man + stripped and laid across a log, where he set his servant to pick out the + pellets with a penknife. + </p> + <p> + Next night I was awakened out of my first sleep by a peculiar sort of tap, + tap, on the floor, as if a cat with walnut shells had been moving about + the room. The feline race, in all its varieties, is my detestation, so I + slipped out of bed to expel the intruder; but the instant my toe touched + the ground, it was seized as if by a smith’s forceps. I drew it into bed, + but the annoyance followed it; and in an agony of alarm and pain, I thrust + my hand down, when my thumb was instantly manacled to the other suffering + member. I now lost my wits altogether, and roared murder, which brought a + servant in with a light, and there I was, thumb and toe, in the clinch of + a land-crab. + </p> + <p> + I had been exceedingly struck with the beauty of the negro villages on the + old settled estates, which are usually situated in the most picturesque + spots, and I determined to visit the one which lay on a sunny bank full in + view from my window, divided on two sides from the cane pieces by a + precipitous ravine, and on the other two by a high logwood hedge, so like + hawthorn, that I could scarcely tell the difference, even when close to + it. + </p> + <p> + At a distance it had the appearance of one entire orchard of fruit trees, + where were mingled together the pyramidal orange, in fruit and in flower, + the former in all its stages from green to dropping ripe,—the + citron, lemon, and lime-trees, the stately, glossy-leaved star-apple, the + golden shaddock and grape-fruit, with their slender branches bending under + their ponderous yellow fruit,—the cashew, with its apple like those + of the cities of the plain, fair to look at, but acrid to the taste, to + which the far-famed nut is appended like a bud,—the avocada, with + its brobdignag pear, as large as a purser’s lantern,—the + bread-fruit, with a leaf, one of which would have covered Adam like a + bishop’s apron, and a fruit for all the world in size and shape like a + blackamoor’s head; while for underwood you had the green, fresh, + dew-spangled plantain, round which in the hottest day there is always a + halo of coolness,—the coco root, the yam and granadillo, with their + long vines twining up the neighbouring trees and shrubs like hop tendrils,—and + peas and beans, in all their endless variety of blossom and of odour, from + the Lima bean, with a stalk as thick as my arm, to the mouse pea, three + inches high,—the pineapple, literally growing in, and constituting, + with its prickly leaves, part of the hedgerows,—the custard-apple, + like russet bags of cold pudding,—the cocoa and coffee bushes, and + the devil knows what all, that is delightful in nature besides; while + aloft, the tall graceful cocoa-nut, the majestic palm, and the gigantic + wild cotton-tree, shot up here and there like minarets far above the rest, + high into the blue heavens. + </p> + <p> + I entered one of the narrow winding footpaths, where an immense variety of + convolvuli crept along the penguin fences, disclosing their delicate + flowers in the morning freshness, (all that class here shut shop at noon,) + and passion flowers of all sizes, from a soup plate to a thumb ring. + </p> + <p> + The huts were substantially thatched with palm leaves, and the walls woven + with a basket-work of twigs, plastered over with clay, and whitewashed; + the floors were of baked clay, dry and comfortable. They all consisted of + a hall and a sleeping-room off each side of it: in many of the former I + noticed mahogany sideboards and chairs, and glass decanters, while a whole + lot of African drums and flutes, and sometimes a good gun, hung from the + rafters; and it would have gladdened an Irishman’s heart to have seen the + adjoining piggeries. Before one of the houses an old woman was taking care + of a dozen black infants, little naked, glossy, black guinea pigs, with + party coloured beads tied round their loins, each squatted like a little + Indian pagod in the middle of a large wooden bowl, to keep it off the damp + ground. + </p> + <p> + While I was pursuing my ramble, a large conch-shell was blown at the + overseer’s house, and the different gangs turned in to dinner; they came + along, dancing and shouting, and playing tricks on each other in the + little paths, in all the happy anticipation of a good dinner, and an hour + and a half to eat it in, the men well clad in Osnaburg frocks and + trowsers, and the women in baize petticoats and Osnaburg shifts, with a + neat printed calico short gown over all. + </p> + <p> + “And these are slaves,” thought I, “and this is West Indian bondage! Oh + that some of my well-meaning anti-slavery friends were here, to judge from + the evidence of their own senses!” + </p> + <p> + The following night there was to be a grand play or wake in the negro + houses, over the head cooper, who had died in the morning, and I + determined to be present at it, although the overseer tried to dissuade + me, saying that no white person ever broke in on these orgies, that the + negroes were very averse to their doing so, and that neither he, nor any + of the white people on the estate, had ever been present on such an + occasion. This very interdict excited my curiosity still more; so I rose + about midnight, and let myself gently down through the window, and shaped + my course in the direction of the negro houses, guided by a loud drumming, + which, as I came nearer, every now and then sunk into a low murmuring + roll, when a strong bass voice would burst forth into a wild recitative; + to which succeeded a loud piercing chorus of female voices, during which + the drums were beaten with great vehemence; this was succeeded by another + solo, and so on. There was no moon, and I had to thread my way along one + of the winding footpaths by starlight. When I arrived within a stone-cast + of the hut before which the play was being held, I left the beaten track, + and crept onwards, until I gained the shelter of the stem of a wild + cotton-tree, behind which I skulked unseen. + </p> + <p> + The scene was wild enough. Before the door a circle was formed by about + twenty women, all in their best clothes, sitting on the ground, and + swaying their bodies to and fro, while they sung in chorus the wild dirge + already mentioned, the words of which I could not make out; in the centre + of the circle sat four men playing on gumbies, or the long drum formerly + described, while a fifth stood behind them, with a conch-shell, which he + kept sounding at intervals. Other three negroes kept circling round the + outer verge of the circle of women, naked all to their waist cloths, + spinning about and about with their hands above their heads, like so many + dancing dervishes. It was one of these three that from time to time took + up the recitative, the female chorus breaking in after each line. Close to + the drummers lay the body in an open coffin, supported on two low stools + or trestles; a piece of flaming resinous wood was stuck in the ground at + the head, and another at the feet; and a lump of kneaded clay, in which + another torchlike splinter was fixed, rested on the breast. An old man, + naked like the solo singer, was digging a grave close to where the body + lay. The following was the chant:— + </p> + <p> + “I say, broder, you can’t go yet.” + </p> + <p> + THEN THE CHORUS OF FEMALE VOICES + </p> + <p> + “When de morning star rise, den we put you in a hole.” + </p> + <p> + CHORUS AGAIN + </p> + <p> + “Den you go in a Africa, you see Fetish dere.” + </p> + <p> + CHORUS + </p> + <p> + “You shall nyam goat dere, wid all your family.” + </p> + <p> + CHORUS + </p> + <p> + “Buccra can’t come dere; say, dam rascal, why you no work?” + </p> + <p> + CHORUS + </p> + <p> + “Buccra can’t catch Duppy, no, no.” + </p> + <p> + CHORUS + </p> + <p> + Three calabashes, or gourds, with pork, yams, and rum, were placed on a + small bench that stood close to the head of the bier, and at right angles + to it. + </p> + <p> + In a little while, the women, singing-men, and drummers, suddenly gave a + loud shout, or rather yell, clapped their hands three times, and then + rushed into the surrounding cottages, leaving the old grave-digger alone + with the body. + </p> + <p> + He had completed the grave, and had squatted himself on his hams beside + the coffin, swinging his body as the women had done, and uttering a low + moaning sound, frequently ending in a loud pech, like that of a paviour + when he brings down his rammer. + </p> + <p> + I noticed he kept looking towards the east, watching, as I conjectured, + the first appearance of the morning star, but it was yet too early. + </p> + <p> + He lifted the gourd with the pork, and took a large mouthful. + </p> + <p> + “How is dis? I can’t put dis meat in Quacco’s coffin, dere is salt in de + pork; Duppy can’t bear salt,” another large mouthful—“Duppy hate + salt too much,”—here he ate it all up, and placed the empty gourd in + the coffin. He then took up the one with boiled yam in it, and tasted it + also. + </p> + <p> + “Salt here too—who de debil do such a ting?—must not let Duppy + taste dat.” He discussed this also, placing the empty vessel in the coffin + as he had done with the other. He then came to the calabash with the rum. + There is no salt there, thought I. + </p> + <p> + “Rum! ah, Duppy love rum—if it be well strong, let me see Massa + Niger, who put water in a dis rum, eh? Duppy will never touch dat”—a + long pull—“no, no, never touch dat.” Here he finished the whole, and + placed the empty vessel beside the others; then gradually sunk back on his + hams with his mouth open, and his eyes starting from the sockets, as he + peered up into the tree, apparently at some terrible object. I looked up + also, and saw a large yellow snake, nearly ten feet long, let itself + gradually down directly over the coffin, between me and the bright glare, + (the outline of its glossy mottled skin glancing in the strong light, + which gave its dark opaque body the appearance of being edged with flame, + and its glittering tongue, that of a red hot wire,) with its tail round a + limb of the cottontree, until its head reached within an inch of the dead + man’s face, which it licked with its long forked tongue, uttering a loud + hissing noise. + </p> + <p> + I was fascinated with terror, and could not move a muscle; at length the + creature slowly swung itself up again, and disappeared amongst the + branches. + </p> + <p> + Quashie gained courage, as the rum began to operate, and the snake to + disappear. “Come to catch Quaccols Duppy, before him get to Africa, sure + as can be. De metody parson say de debil old sarpant—dat must be old + sarpant, for I never see so big one, so it must be debil.” + </p> + <p> + He caught a glimpse of my face at this moment; it seemed that I had no + powers of fascination like the snake, for he roared out, “Murder, murder, + de debil, de debil, first like a sarpent, den like himself; see him white + face behind de tree; see him white face behind de tree;” and then, in the + extremity of his fear, he popt, head foremost, into the grave, leaving his + quivering legs and feet sticking upwards, as if he had been planted by the + head, like a forked parsnip reversed. + </p> + <p> + At this uproar, a number of negroes ran out of the nearest houses, and, to + my surprise, four white seamen appeared suddenly amongst them, who, the + moment they got sight of my uniform, as I ran away, gave chase, and having + overtaken me, as I stumbled in the dark path, immediately pinioned me. + They were all armed, and I had no doubt were part of the crew of the + smuggling schooner, and that they had a depot amongst the negro houses. + </p> + <p> + “Yo ho, my hearty, heave-to, or here goes with a brace of bullets.” + </p> + <p> + I told them who I was, and that curiosity alone brought me there. + </p> + <p> + “Gammon, tell that to the marines; you’re a spy, messmate, and on board + you go with us, so sure as I be Paul Brandywine.” + </p> + <p> + Here was a change with a vengeance. An hour before I was surrounded by + friends, and resting comfortably, in my ward bed, and now I was a prisoner + to a set of brigands, who were smugglers at the best, and what might they + not be at the worst? I had no chance of escape by any sudden effort of + strength or activity, for a piece of a handspike had been thrust across my + back, passing under both of my arms, which were tightly lashed to it, as + if I had been trussed for roasting, so that I could no more run, with a + chance of escape, than a goose without her pinions. After we left the + negro houses, I perceived, with some surprise, that my captors kept the + beaten tract, leading directly to, and past the overseer’s dwelling. + “Come, here is a chance, at all events,” argued I to myself. “If I get + within hail, I will alarm the lieges, if a deuced good pipe don’t fail + me.” + </p> + <p> + This determination had scarcely been framed in my mind, when, as if my + very thoughts had been audible, the smuggler next me on the right hand + drew a pistol, and held it close to my starboard ear. + </p> + <p> + “Friend, if you tries to raise the house, or speaks to any Niger, or other + person we meets, I’ll walk through your skull with two ounces of lead.” + </p> + <p> + “You are particularly obliging,” said I; “but what do you promise + yourselves by carrying me off? Were you to murder me, you would be none + the richer; for I have no valuables about me, as you may easily ascertain + by searching me.” + </p> + <p> + “And do you think that freeborn Americans like we have kidnapped you for + your dirty rings, and watch, and mayhap a few dollars, which I takes you + to mean by your waluboles, as you calls them?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, what, in the devil’s name, have you kidnapped me for?” And I + began to feel my choler overpowering my discretion, when Mr Paul + Brandywine, who I now suspected to be the mate of the smuggler, took the + small liberty of jerking the landyard, that had been made fast to the + middle of the handspike, so violently, that I thought both my shoulders w + ere dislocated; for I was fairly checked down on my back, just as you may + have seen a pig-merchant on the Fermoy road bring an uproarious boar to + his marrowbones; while the man who had previously threatened to blow my + brains out, knelt beside me, and civilly insinuated, that “if I was tired + of my life, he calculated I had better speak as loud again.” + </p> + <p> + There was no jest in all this; so I had nothing for it but to walk + silently along with my escort, after having gathered myself up as well as + I could. We crept so close under the windows of the overseer’s house, + where we picked up a lot of empty ankers, slung on a long pole, that I + fancied I heard, or really did hear, some one snore—oh how I envied + the sleeper! At length we reached the beach, where we found two men lying + on their oars, in what, so far as I could distinguish, appeared to be a + sharp swift-looking whale boat, which they kept close to, with her head + seaward, however, to be ready for a start should any thing suspicious + appear near to them. + </p> + <p> + The boat-keeper hailed promptly, “Who goes there?” as they feathered their + oars. + </p> + <p> + “The tidy little Wave,” was the answer. + </p> + <p> + No more words passed, and the men who had, in the first instance, pulled a + stroke or two to give the boat way, now backed water, and tailed her on to + the beach, when we all stepped on board. + </p> + <p> + Two of my captors now took each an oar; we shoved off, and glanced away + through the darkness, along the smooth surface of the sparkling sea, until + we reached the schooner, by this time hauled out into the fairway at the + mouth of the cove, where she lay hove short, with her mainsail hoisted up, + riding to the land-wind, and apparently all ready to cants and be off the + moment the boat returned. + </p> + <p> + As we came alongside, the captain of her, my friend Obediah, as I had no + difficulty in guessing, from his very out of the way configuration, dark + as it was, called out, “I says, Paul, who have you got in the starn-sheets + there?” + </p> + <p> + “A bloody spy, captain; he who was with the overseer when he peppered your + sheathing t’other morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Oho, bring him on board—bring him on board. I knows there be a + man-of-war schooner close aboard of the island somewheres hereabouts. I + sees through it all, smash my eyes!—I sees through it. But what kept + you, Paul? Don’t you see the morning star has risen?” + </p> + <p> + By this time I stood on the deck of the little vessel, which was no above + a foot out of the water; and Obediah, as he spoke, pointed to the small + dark pit of a companion, for there was no light below, nor indeed anywhere + on board, except in the binnacle, and that carefully masked, indicating by + his threatening manner, that I was to get below as speedily as possible. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t you see the morning star, sir? Why, the sun will be up in an hour, + I calculate, and then the sea-breeze will be down on us before we get any + thing of an offing.” + </p> + <p> + The mention of the morning star recalled vividly to my recollection the + scene I had so recently witnessed at the negro wake; it seemed there was + another person beside poor Quacco, likely to be crammed into a hole before + the day broke, and to be carried to Africa too, for what I knew; but one + must needs go when the devil drives, so I slipped down into the cabin, and + the schooner having weighed, made sail to the northward. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII.—The Chase of the Smuggler + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Would I were in an alehouse in London, + I would give all my fame for a pot of ale, and safety.’ + + Henry V, III. II. 12—13. +</pre> + <p> + The crib in which I was confined was as dark as pitch, and, as I soon + found, as hot as the black-hole in Calcutta. I don’t pretend to be braver + than my neighbours, but I would pluck any man by the beard who called me + coward. In my small way I had in my time faced death in various shapes; + but it had always been above board, with the open heaven overhead, and + generally I had a goodly fellowship in danger, and the eyes of others were + upon me. No wonder, then, that the sinking of the heart within me, which I + now experienced for the first time, was bitter exceedingly, and grievous + to be ‘borne. Cooped up in a small suffocating cabin, scarcely eight feet + square, and not above four feet high, with the certainty of being + murdered, as I conceived, were I to try to force my way on deck, and the + knowledge that all my earthly prospects, all my dreams of promotion, were + likely to be blasted, and for ever ruined by my sudden spiriting away, not + to take into the heavy tale the misery which my poor mother and my friends + must suffer, when they came to know it—and “who will tell this to + thee, Mary?” rose to my throat, but could get no farther for a cursed bump + that was like to throttle me. Why should I blush to own it—when the + gipsy, after all, junked an old rich goutified coffee-planter at the + eleventh hour, and married me, and is now the mother of half-a-dozen + little Cringles or so? However, I made a strong effort to bear my + misfortunes like a man, and, folding my arms, I sat down on a chest to + abide my fate, whatever that might be, with as much composure as I could + command, when half-a-dozen cockroaches flew flicker against my face. + </p> + <p> + For the information of those who have never seen this delicious insect, I + take leave to mention here, that, when full grown, it is a large dingy + brown-coloured beetle, about two inches long, with six legs, and two f + eelers as long as its body. It has a strong anti-hysterical flavour, + something between rotten cheese and assafoetida, and seldom stirs aboard + when the sun is up, but lies concealed in the most obscure and obscene + crevices it can creep into; so that, when it is seen, its wings and body + are thickly covered with dust and dirt of various shades, which any + culprit who chances to fall asleep with his mouth open, is sure to reap + the benefit of, as it has a great propensity to walk into it, partly for + the sake of the crumbs adhering to the masticators, and also, apparently, + with a scientific desire to inspect, by accurate admeasurement with the + aforesaid antennae, the state and condition of the whole potato trap. + </p> + <p> + At the same time I felt something gnawing the toe of my boot, which I + inferred to be a rat—another agreeable customer for which I had a + special abhorrence; but, as for beetles of all kinds, from my boyhood up, + they had been an abomination unto me, and a cockroach is the most + abominable of all beetles; so between the two I was speedily roused from + my state of supine, or rather dogged endurance; and, forgetting the + geography of my position, I sprung to my feet, whereby I nearly fractured + my skull against the low deck above. I first tried the skylight; it was + battened down—then the companion hatch; it was locked—but the + ladder leading up to it being cooler than the noisome vapour bath I had + left, I remained standing in it, trying to catch a mouthful of fresh air + through the joints of the door. All this while we had been slipping along + shore with the land-wind on our beam, at the rate of five or six knots, + but so gently and silently, that I could distinctly hear the roar of the + surf, as the long smooth swell broke on the beach, which, from the + loudness of the noise, could not be above a mile to windward of us. I + perceived at the same time that the schooner, although going free, did not + keep away nor take all the advantage of the land-wind to make his easting, + before the sea-breeze set down, that he might have done, so that it was + evident he did not intend to beat up, so as to fetch the Crooked Island + Passage, which would have been his course, had he been bound for the + States; but was standing over to the Cuba shore, at that time swarming + with pirates. + </p> + <p> + It was now good daylight, and the terral gradually died away, and left us + rolling gunwale under, as we rose and fell on the long seas, with our + sails flapping, bulkheads creaking and screaming, and mainboom + jig-jigging, as if it would have torn every thing to pieces. I could hear + my friend Obed walking the deck, and whistling manfully for the + sea-breeze, and exclaiming from time to time in his barbarous lingo, + “Souffle, souffle, San Antonio.” But the saint had no bowels, and there we + lay roasting until near ten o’clock in the forenoon. During all this + period, Obed, who was shortsighted, as I learned afterwards, kept desiring + his right arm, Paul Brandywine, to keep a bright look-out for the + sea-breeze to windward, or rather to the eastward, for there was no wind—because + he knowed it often times tumbling down right sudden and dangerous at this + season about the corner of the island hereabouts; and the pride of the + morning often brought a shower with it, fit to level a maize plat smooth + as his hand. + </p> + <p> + “No black clouds to windward yet, Paul?” + </p> + <p> + Paul could see nothing, and the question was repeated three or four times. + </p> + <p> + “There is a small black cloud about the size of my hand to windward, sir, + right in the wake of the sun, just now, but it won’t come to any thing; I + sees no signs of any wind.” + </p> + <p> + “And Elijah said to his servant, Go up now, and look towards the sea, and + he went up and looked, and said there is nothing; and he said go again + seven times, and it came to pass the seventh time, that he said behold + there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” + </p> + <p> + I knew what this foreboded, which, as I thought, was more than friend Obed + did; for he shortened no sail, and kept all his kites abroad, for no use + as it struck me, unless he wished to wear them out by flapping against the + masts. He was indeed a strange mixture of skill and carelessness; but, + when fairly stirred up, one of the most daring and expert and + self-possessed seamen I had ever seen, as very soon had an ugly + opportunity of ascertaining. + </p> + <p> + The cloud on the horizon continued to rise rapidly, spreading over the + whole eastern sky, and the morning began to lower very ominously; but + there was no sudden squall, the first of the breeze coming down as usual + in cats’ paws, and freshening gradually; nor did I expect there would be, + although I was certain it would soon blow a merry capful of wind, which + might take in some of the schooner’s small sails, and pretty considerably + bother us, unless we could better our offing speedily, for it blew right + on shore, which, by the setting in of the sea-breeze, was now close under + our lee. + </p> + <p> + At length the sniffler reached us, and the sharp little vessel began to + speak, as the rushing sound through the water is called; while the wind + sang like an Eolian harp through the taut weather-rigging. Presently I + heard the word given to take in the two gaff-topsails and flying jib, + which was scarcely done, when the moaning sound roughened into a roar, and + the little vessel began to yerk at the head seas, as if she would have cut + through them, in place of rising to them, and to lie over, as if Davy + Jones himself had clapperclawed the mast heads, and was in the act of + using them as levers to capsize her, while the sails were tugging at her, + as if they would have torn the spars out of her, so that I expected every + moment, either that she would turn over, keel up, or that the masts would + snap short off by the deck. + </p> + <p> + All this, which I would without the smallest feeling of dread, on the + contrary with exhilaration, have faced cheerily on deck in the course of + duty, proved at the time, under my circumstances, most alarming and + painful to me; a fair-strae death out of the maintop, or off the + weather-yard arm, would to my imagination have been an easy exit + comparatively; but to be choked in this abominable hole, and drowned + darkling like a blind puppy—the very thought made me frantic, and I + shouted and tumbled about, until I missed my footing and fell backwards + down the ladder, from the bottom of which I scuttled away to the lee-side + of the cabin, quiet, through absolute despair and exhaustion from the heat + and closeness. + </p> + <p> + I had remarked that from the time the breeze freshened, the everlasting + Yankee drawling of the crew, and the endless confabulation of the captain + and his mate, had entirely ceased, and nothing was now heard on deck but + the angry voice of the raging elements, and at intervals a shrill piercing + word or two from Obed, in the altered tone of which I had some difficulty + in recognising his pipe, which rose clear and distinct above the roar of + the sea and wind, and was always answered by a prompt, sharp, “ay, ay, + sir,” from the men. There was no circumlocution, nor calculating, nor + guessing now, but all hands seemed to be doing their duty energetically + and well. “Come, the vagabonds are sailors after all, we shan’t be swamped + this turn;” and I resumed my place on the companion ladder, with more ease + of mind, and a vast deal more composure, than when I was pitched from it + when the squall came on. In a moment after I could hear the captain sing + out, loud even above the howling of the wind and rushing of the water, + “There it comes at last—put your helm hard a-port-down with it, + Paul, down with it, man-luff, and shake the wind out of her sails, or over + we goes, clean and for ever.’ Everything was jammed, nothing could be let + go, nor was there an axe at hand to make short work with the sheets and + haulyards; and for a second or two I thought it was all over, the water + rushing half way up her decks, and bubbling into the companion through the + crevices; but at length the lively little craft came gaily to the wind, + shaking her plumage like a wild duck; the sails were got in, all to the + foresail, which was set with the bonnet off, and then she lay-to like a + seagull, without shipping a drop of water. In the comparative stillness I + could now distinctly hear every word that was said on deck. + </p> + <p> + “Pretty near it; rather close shaving that same, captain,” quoth Paul, + with a congratulatory chuckle; “but I say, sir, what is that wreath of + smoke rising from Annotta Bay over the headland?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, how should I know, Paul? Negroes burning brush, I guess.” + </p> + <p> + “The smoke from brushwood never rose and flew over the bluff with that + swirl, I calculate; it is a gun, or I mistake.” + </p> + <p> + And he stepped to the companion for the purpose, as I conceived, of taking + out the spy-glass, which usually hangs there in brackets fitted to hold + it; he undid the hatch and pushed it back, when I popped my head out, to + the no small dismay of the mate; but Obed was up to me, and while with one + hand he seized the glass, he ran the sliding top sharp up against my neck, + till he pinned me into a kind of pillory, to my great annoyance; so I had + to beg to be released, and once more slunk back into my hole. There was a + long pause; at length Paul, to whom the skipper had handed the spy-glass, + spoke. + </p> + <p> + “A schooner, sir, is rounding the point.” + </p> + <p> + As I afterwards learned, the negroes who had witnessed my capture, + especially the old man who had taken me for his infernal majesty, had + raised the alarm, so soon as they could venture down to the overseer’s + house, which was on the smuggling boat shoving off, and Mr Fyall + immediately despatched an express to the Lieutenant commanding the Gleam, + then lying in Annotta Bay, about ten miles distant, when she instantly + slipped and shoved out. + </p> + <p> + “Well, I can’t help it if there be,” rejoined the captain. Another pause. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I don’t like her, sir; she looks like a man-of-war-and that must + have been the smoke of the gun she fired on weighing.’ + </p> + <p> + “Eh?” sharply answered Obed, “if it be, it will be a hanging matter if we + are caught with this young splice on board; he may belong to her for what + I know. Look again, Paul.” + </p> + <p> + A long, long look. + </p> + <p> + “A man-of-war schooner, sure enough, sir; I can see her ensign and + pennant, now that she is clear of the land.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh Lord, oh Lord!” cried Obed, in great perplexity, “what shall we do?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, pull foot, Captain,” promptly replied Paul; “the breeze has lulled, + and in light winds she will have no chance with the tidy little Wave.” + </p> + <p> + I could now perceive that the smugglers made all sail, and I heard the + frequent swish—swish of the water, as they threw bucketfuls on the + sails, to thicken them and make them hold more wind, while we edged away, + keeping as close to the wind, however, as we could, without stopping her + way. + </p> + <p> + “Starboard,” quoth Obed—“rap full, Jem—let her walk through + it, my boy—there, main and foresail, flat as boards; why, she will + stand the main-gaff-topsail yet—set it, Paul, set it;” and his heart + warmed as he gained confidence in the qualifications of his vessel. “Come, + weather me now, see how she trips it along—poo, I was an ass to + quail, wan’t I, Paul?” + </p> + <p> + No chance, now, thought I, as I descended once more; “I may as well go and + be suffocated at once.” I knocked my foot against something, in stepping + off the ladder, which, on putting down my hand, I found to be tinder-box, + with steel and flint. I had formerly ascertained there was a candle in the + cabin, on the small table, stuck into a bottle; so I immediately struck a + light, and as I knew that meekness and solicitation, having been tried in + vain, would not serve me, I determined to go on the other tack, and to see + how far an assumption of coolness and self-possession, or, it might be, a + dash of bravado, whether true or feigned, might not at least ensure me + some consideration and better treatment from the lawless gang into whose + hands I had fallen. + </p> + <p> + So I set to and ransacked the lockers, where, amongst a vast variety of + miscellaneous matters, I was not long in finding a bottle of very + tolerable rum, some salt junk, some biscuit, and a goglet or porous + earthen jar of water, with some capital cigars. By this time I was like to + faint with the heat and smell; so I filled a tumbler with good + half-and-half and swigged it off. The effect was speedy; I thought I could + eat a bit, so I attacked the salt junk and made a hearty meal, after which + I replenished my tumbler, lighted a cigar, pulled off my coat and + waistcoat, and, with a sort of desperate glee, struck up at the top of my + pipe, “Ye Mariners of England.” My joviality was soon noticed on deck. + </p> + <p> + “Eh, what be that?” quoth Obed,—“that be none of our ditties, I + guess? who is singing below there?’ + </p> + <p> + “We be all on deck, sir,’ responded Paul. + </p> + <p> + “It can’t be the spy, eh?—sure enough it must be he, and no one + else; the heat and choke must have made him mad.” + </p> + <p> + “We shall soon see,” said Paul, as he removed the skylight, and looked + down into the cabin. + </p> + <p> + Obed looked over his shoulder, peering at me with his little short-sighted + pig’s eyes, into which, in my pot valiancy, I immediately chucked half a + tumbler of very strong grog, and under cover of it attempted to bolt + through the scuttle, and thereby gain the deck; but Paul, with his + shoulder of mutton fist, gave me a very unceremonious rebuff, and down I + dropped again. + </p> + <p> + “You makes yourself at home, I sees, and be hanged to you,” said Obed, + laying the emphasis on the last word, pronouncing it “yoo—oo” in two + syllables. + </p> + <p> + “I do, indeed, and be d——d to yoo—oo,” I replied; “and + why should I not? the visit was not volunteered, you know so come down, + you long-legged Yankee smuggling scoundrel, or I’ll blow your bloody + buccaneering craft out of the water like the peel of an onion. You see I + have got the magazine scuttle up, and there are the barrels of powder, and + here is the candle, so”— + </p> + <p> + Obed laughed like the beginning of the bray of the jackass before he + swings off into his “heehaw, heehaw.”—“Smash my eyes, man, but them + barrels be full of pimento, all but that one with the red mark, and that + be crackers fresh and sharp from the Brandywine mills.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, gunpowder or pimento, I’ll set fire to it if you don’t be + civil.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I will be civil; you are a curious chap, a brave slip, to carry it + so, with no friend near; so, civil I will be.” + </p> + <p> + He unlocked the companion hatch and came down to the cabin, doubling his + long limbs up like foot-rules, to suit the low roof. + </p> + <p> + “Free and easy, my man,” continued the Captain, as he entered. “Well, I + forgive you—we are quits now—and if we were not beyond the + Island Craft, I would put you ashore, but I can’t stand back now.” “Why, + may I ask?” “Simply, because one of your men-of-war schooners an’t more + than hull down astarn of me at this moment; she is working up in shore, + and has not chased me as yet; indeed she may save herself the trouble, for + ne’er a schooner in your blasted service has any chance with the tidy + little Wave.” + </p> + <p> + I was by no means so sure of this. + </p> + <p> + “Well Master Obediah, it may turn up as you say, and in a light wind, I + know you will either sail or sweep away from any one of them; but, to be + on the square with you, if it comes on to blow, that same hooker, which I + take to be his Britannic Majesty’s schooner Gleam, will, from his greater + beam, and superior length, out carry and forereach on you, ay, and weather + on you too, hand over hand; so this is my compact—if he nails you, + you will require a friend at court, and I will stand that friend; if you + escape—and I will not interfere either by advice or otherwise, + either to get you taken or to get you clear will you promise to put me on + board of the first English merchant vessel we fall in with, or, at the + longest, to land me at St Jago de Cuba, and I will promise you, on my + honour, notwithstanding all that has been said or done, that I will never + hereafter inform against you, or in any way get you into trouble if I can + help it. Is it done? Will you ive me your hand upon it?” + </p> + <p> + Obed did not hesitate a moment; he clenched my hand, and squeezed it till + the blood nearly spouted from my finger-ends; one might conceive of + Norwegian bears greeting each other after this fashion, but I trust no + Christian will ever, in time coming, subject my digits to a similar + species of torture. + </p> + <p> + “Agreed, my boy, I have promised, and you may depend on me; smuggler + though I be, and somewhat worse on occasion mayhap, I never breaks my + word.” + </p> + <p> + There was an earnestness about the poor fellow, in which I thought there + could be no deception, and from that moment we were on what I may call a + very friendly footing for a prisoner and his jailer. + </p> + <p> + “Well, now, I believe you, so let us have a glass of grog, and”— + </p> + <p> + Here the mate sung out, “Captain, come on deck, if you please; quickly, + sir, quickly.” + </p> + <p> + By this time it had begun to breeze up again, and as the wind rose, I + could see the spirits of the crew fell, as if conscious they had no chance + if it freshened. When we went on deck, Paul was still peering through the + telescope. + </p> + <p> + “The schooner has tacked, sir.” A dead silence; then giving the glass a + swing, and driving the joints into each other, with such vehemence as if + he would have broken them in pieces, he exclaimed, “She is after us, so + sure as I ben’t a niger.” + </p> + <p> + “No! is she though?” eagerly enquired the captain, as he at length seized + the spy-glass, twisting and turning it about and about, as he tried to hit + his own very peculiar focus. At length he took a long, long, breathless + look, while the eyes of the whole crew, some fifteen hands or so, were + riveted upon him with the most intense anxiety. + </p> + <p> + “What a gaff-topsail she has got—my eye!—and a ringtail with + more cloths in it than our squaresail—and the breeze comes down + stronger and stronger!” + </p> + <p> + All this while I looked out equally excited, but with a very different + interest. “Come, this will do,’ thought I; ‘she is after us; and if old + Dick Casket brings that fiery sea-breeze he has now along with him, we + shall puzzle the smuggler, for all his long start.” + </p> + <p> + “There’s a gun, sir,” cried Paul, trembling from head to foot. + </p> + <p> + “Sure enough,” said the skipper; “and it must be a signal. And there go + three flags at the fore.—She must, I’ll bet a hundred dollars, have + taken our tidy little Wave for the Admiral’s tender that was lying in + Morant Bay.” + </p> + <p> + “Blarney,” thought I; “tidy as your little Wave is, she won’t deceive old + Dick—he is not the man to take a herring for a horse; she must be + making signals to some man-of-war in sight.” + </p> + <p> + “A strange sail right a-head,” sung out three men from forward all at + once. + </p> + <p> + “Didn’t I say so?”—I had only thought so. “Come, Master Obediah, it + thickens now, you’re in for it,” said I. + </p> + <p> + But he was not in the least shaken; as the matter grew serious, he seemed + to brace up to meet it. He had been flurried at the first, but he was + collected and cool as a cucumber now, when he saw every thing depending on + his seamanship and judgment. Not so Paul, who seemed to have made up his + mind that they must be taken. + </p> + <p> + “Jezebel Brandywine, you are but a widowed old lady, I calculate. I shall + never see the broad, smooth Chesapeake again—no more peach brandy + for Paul;” and folding his arms, he set himself doggedly down on the low + tafferel. + </p> + <p> + Little did I think at the time how fearfully the poor fellow’s foreboding + was so soon to be fulfilled. + </p> + <p> + “There again,” said I, “a second puff to windward.” This was another + signal gun I knew; and I went forward to where the captain was + reconnoitring the sail a-head through the glass. “Let me see,” said I, + “and I will be honest with you, and tell you if I know her.” + </p> + <p> + He handed me the glass at once, and the instant I saw the top of her + courses above the water, I was sure, from the red cross in her foresail, + that she was the Firebrand, the very corvette to which I was appointed. + She was so well to windward, that I considered it next to impossible that + we should weather her, but Obediah seemed determined to try it. After + seeing his little vessel snug under mainsail, foresail, and jib, which was + as much as she could stagger under, and every thing right and tight, and + all clear to make more sail should the breeze lull, he ordered the men + below, and took the helm himself. What queer animals sailors are! We were + rising the corvette fast; and on going aft again from the bows, where I + had been looking at her, I cast my eye down the hatchway into the men’s + berth, and there were the whole crew at breakfast, laughing and joking, + and enjoying themselves, as heartily, apparently, nay, I verily believe in + reality, as if they had been in a yacht on a cruise of pleasure, in place + of having one enemy nearly within gunshot astern, and another trying to + cut them off ahead. + </p> + <p> + At this moment the schooner in chase luffed up in the wind, and I noticed + the foot of the foresail lift. “You’ll have it now, friend Obed; there’s + at you in earnest.” While I spoke, a column of thick white smoke spouted + over the bows of the Gleam, about twenty yards to windward, and then blew + back again amongst the sails and rigging, as if a gauze veil had for an + instant been thrown over the little vessel, rolling off down the wind to + leeward, in whirling eddies, growing thinner and thinner, until it + disappeared altogether. I heard the report this time, and the shot fell + close alongside of us. + </p> + <p> + “A good mark with that apple,” coolly observed the Captain; “the Long Tom + must be a tearer, to pitch its mouthful of iron this length.” + </p> + <p> + Another succeeded; and if I had been still pinned up in the companion, + there would have been no log now, for it went crash through into the hold. + </p> + <p> + “Go it, my boys,” shouted I; “a few more as well aimed, and heigh for the + Firebrand’s gunroom!” + </p> + <p> + At the mention of the Firebrand I thought Obed started, but he soon + recovered himself, and looking at me with all the apparent composure in + the world, he smiled as he said, “Not so fast, Lieutenant; you and I have + not drank our last glass of swizzle yet, I guess. If I can but weather + that chap ahead, I don’t fear the schooner.” + </p> + <p> + The corvette had by this time answered the signal from the Gleam, and had + hauled his wind also, so that I did not conceive it possible that the Wave + could scrape clear, without coming under his broadside. + </p> + <p> + “You won’t try it, Obed, surely?’ + </p> + <p> + “Answer me this, and I’ll tell you,” rejoined he. “Does that corvette now + carry long 18’s or 32-pound carronades?” + </p> + <p> + “She carries 32-pound carronades.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then you’ll not sling your cot in her gunroom this cruise.” + </p> + <p> + All this time the little Wave was carrying to it gallantly, her jib-boom + bending like whalebone, and her long slender topmasts whipping about like + a couple of fishing-rods, as she thrashed at it, sending the spray + flashing over her mastheads at every pitch; but notwithstanding her + weatherly qualities, the heavy cross sea, as she drove into it, headed her + off bodily, and she could not prevent the Gleam from creeping up on her + weather quarter, where she peppered away from her long 24-pounder, + throwing the shot over and over us. + </p> + <p> + To tack, therefore, would have been to run into the lion’s mouth, and to + bear up was equally hopeless, as the corvette, going free, would have + chased her under water; the only chance remaining was to stand on, and + trust to the breeze taking off, and try to weather the ship, now about + three miles distant on our lee bow, braced sharp up on the opposite tack, + and evidently quite aware of our game. + </p> + <p> + As the corvette and the Wave neared each other, he threw a shot at us from + the boat gun on his topgallant forecastle, as if to ascertain beyond all + doubt the extent of our insanity, and whether we were serious in our + attempt to weather him and escape. + </p> + <p> + Obed held right on his course, like grim Death. Another bullet whistled + over our mastheads, and, with the aid of the glass, I could see by the + twinkling of feet, and here and there a busy peering face through the + ports, that the crew were at quarters fore and aft, while fourteen marines + or so were all ready rigged on the poop, and the nettings were bristling + through the whole length of the ship, with fifty or sixty small-arm men. + </p> + <p> + All this I took care to communicate to Obediah. “I say, my good friend, I + see little to laugh at in all this. If you do go to windward of him at + all, which I greatly doubt, you will have to cross his fore-foot within + pistol-shot at the farthest, and then you will have to rasp along his + whole broadside of great and small, and they are right well prepared and + ready for you, that I can tell you; the skipper of that ship has had some + dedication, I guess, in the war on your coast, for he seems up to your + tricks, and I don’t doubt but he will tip you the stem, if need be, with + as little compunction as I would kill a cockroach, devil confound the + whole breed! There,—I see his marines and small-arm men handling + their firelocks, as thick as sparrows under the lee of a hedge in a + snow-storm, and the people are training the bull-dogs fore and aft. Why, + this is downright, stark staring lunacy, Obed; we shall be smashed like an + eggshell, and all hands of us whipped off to Davy, from your cursed + foolhardiness.” + </p> + <p> + I had made several pauses in my address, expecting an answer, but Obed was + mute as a stone. At length I took the glass from my eye, and turned round + to look at him, startled by his silence. + </p> + <p> + I might have heard of such things, but I had never before seen the working + of the spirit so forcibly and fearfully demonstrated by the aspect of the + outward man. With the exception of myself, he was the only man on deck, as + before mentioned, and by this time he was squatted down on it, with his + long legs and thighs thrust down into the cabin, through the open + skylight. The little vessel happened to carry a weather helm, so that his + long sinewy arms, with their large veins and leaders strained to cracking, + covered but a small way below the elbow by his jacket, were stretched as + far as they could clutch the tiller to windward, and his enormous head, + supported on his very short trunk, that seemed to be countersunk into the + deck, gave him a most extraordinary appearance. But this was not all; his + complexion, usually sallow and sunburnt, was now ghastly and blue, like + that of the corpse of a drowned man; the muscles of the neck, and the + flesh of the cheeks and chin were rigid and fixed, and shrunk into one + half of their usual compass; the lips were so compressed that they had + almost entirely disappeared, and all that marked his mouth was a black + line; the nostrils were distended, and thin and transparent, while the + forehead was shrivelled into the most minute and immovable wrinkles, as if + done with a crimping instrument while over his eyes, or rather his eye, + for he kept one closed as if it had been hermetically sealed, he had + lashed with half a dozen turns of spun-yarn a wooden socket, like the + but-end of an opera glass, fitted with some sort of magnifier, through + which he peered out ahead most intensely, stooping down, and stretching + his long bare neck to its utmost reach, that he might see under the foot + of the foresail. + </p> + <p> + I had scarcely time to observe all this, when a round shot came through + the head of the mainsail, grazing the mast, and the very next instant a + bushel of grape, from one of the bow guns, a 32-pound carronade, was + crashed in on us amidships. I flung down the glass, and dived through the + companion into the cabin—I am not ashamed to own it; and any man who + would undervalue my courage in consequence, can never, taking into + consideration the peculiarities of my situation, have known the appalling + sound, or infernal effect of a discharge of grape. Round shot in + broadsides is a joke to it; musketry is a joke to it; but only conjure up + in your imagination, a shower of iron bullets, of the size of well-grown + plums, to the number of from sixty to one hundred and twenty, taking + effect within a circle, not above ten feet in diameter, and that all this + time there was neither honour nor glory in the case, for I was a miserable + captive, and I fancy I may save myself the trouble of farther enlargement. + </p> + <p> + I found that the crew had by this time started and taken up the planks of + the cabin floor, and had stowed themselves well down into the run, so as + to be as much out of harm’s way as they could manage, but there was + neither fear nor flinching amongst them; and although totally devoid of + all gasconade—on the contrary, they had taken all the precautions + men could do in their situation, to keep out of harm’s way, or at least to + lessen the danger—there they sat, silent, and cool, and determined. + “I shall never undervalue an American as an enemy again,” thought I. I lay + down on the side of the little vessel, now nearly level as she lay over, + alongside of Paul Brandywine, in a position that commanded a view of + Obed’s face through the small scuttle. Ten minutes might have elapsed—a + tearing crash—and a rattle on the deck overhead, as if a shower of + stones had been thrown from aloft on it. + </p> + <p> + “That’s through the mainmast, I expect,” quoth Paul. + </p> + <p> + I looked from him to the Captain; a black thick stream of blood was + trickling down behind his ear. Paul had noticed it also. + </p> + <p> + “You are hurt by one of them splinters, I see; give me the helm now, + Captain;” and, crushed down as the poor fellow appeared to be under some + fearful and mysterious consciousness of impending danger, he nevertheless + addressed himself to take his Captain’s place. + </p> + <p> + “Hold your blasted tongue”—was the polite rejoinder. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Captain,”—shouted your humble servant, “you may as well eat + pease with a pitchfork, as try to weather him. You are hooked, man, + flounder as you will. Old Nick can’t shake you clear—so I won’t + stand this any longer;” and making a spring, I jammed myself through the + skylight, until I sat on the deck, looking aft, and confronting him, and + there we were, stuck up like the two kings of Brentford, or a couple of + smiling cherries on one stalk. I have often laughed over the figure we + must have cut, but at the time there was that going on that would have + made Comus himself look grave. I had at length fairly aroused the sleeping + devil within him. + </p> + <p> + “Look out there, Lieutenant—look out there,”—and he pointed + with his sinister claw down to leeward. I did so—whew!—what a + sight for poor Master Thomas Cringle! “You are booked for an outside + place, Master Tommy,” thought I to myself—for there was the corvette + in very truth—she had just tacked, and was close aboard of us on our + lee quarter, within musket-shot at the farthest, bowling along upon a + wind, with the green, hissing, multitudinous sea surging along her sides, + and washing up in foam, like snow flakes, through the mid-ship ports, far + aft on the quarterdeck, to the glorification of jack, who never minds a + wet jacket, so long as he witnesses the discomfiture of his ally, Peter + Pipeclay. The press of canvass she was carrying laid her over, until her + copper sheathing, clear as glass, and glancing like gold, was seen high + above the water, throughout her whole length, above which rose her glossy + jet black bends, surmounted by a milk-white streak, broken at regular + intervals into eleven goodly ports, from which the British cannon, ugly + customers at the best, were grinning, tompion out, open-mouthed at us; and + above all, the clean, well-stowed white hammocks filled the nettings, from + tafferel to cathead oh! that I had been in one of them, snug on the berth + deck! Aloft, a cloud of white sail swelled to the breeze, till the cloth + seemed inclined to say goodby to the bolt ropes, bending the masts like + willow-wands, as if the devil, determined to beat Paganini himself, was + preparing fiddlesticks to play a spring with, on the cracking and + straining weather shrouds and backstays, and tearing her sharp wedge-like + bows out of the bowels of the long swell, until the cutwater, and ten + yards of the keel next to it, were hove clean out of the sea, into which + she would descend again with a roaring plunge, burying every thing up to + the hause-holes, and driving the brine into mist, over the fore-top, like + vapour from a waterfall, through which, as she rose again, the bright red + copper on her bows flashed back the sunbeams in momentary rainbows. We + were so near, that I could with the naked eye distinctly see the faces of + the men. There were at least 150 determined fellows at quarters, and + clustered with muskets in their hands, wherever they could be posted to + most advantage. + </p> + <p> + There they were in groups about the ports, (I could even see the captains + of the guns, examining the locks,) in their clean white frocks and + trowsers, the officers of the ship, and the marines, clearly + distinguishable by their blue or red jackets. I could discern the very + sparkle of the epaulets. + </p> + <p> + High overhead, the red cross, that for a thousand years “has braved the + battle and the breeze,” blew out strong from the peak, like a sheet of + flickering white flame, or a thing instinct with life, struggling to tear + away the ensign haulyards, and to escape high into the clouds; while, from + the main-royal-masthead, the long white pennant streamed upwards into the + azure heavens, like a ray of silver light. Oh! it was a sight “most + beautiful to see,” as the old song hath it,——-but I confess I + would have preferred that pleasure from t’other side of the hedge. + </p> + <p> + There was no hailing nor trumpeting, although, as we crossed on opposite + tacks when we first weathered her, just before she hove in stays, I had + heard a shrill voice sing out, “Take good aim, men—Fire”; but now + each cannon in thunder shot forth its glance of flame, without a word + being uttered, as she kept away to bring them to bear in succession, while + the long feathery cloud of whirling white smoke that shrouded her sides + from stem to stem, was sparkling brilliantly throughout with crackling + musketry, for all the world like fire-flies in a bank of night fog from + the hills, until the breeze blew it back again through the rigging, and + once more unveiled the lovely craft in all her pride and glory. + </p> + <p> + “You see all that?’ said Obed. + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I do, and I feel something too’; for a sharp rasping jar was + repeated in rapid succession three or four times, as so many shot struck + our hull, and made the splinters glance about merrily; and the musketballs + were mottling our top sides and spars, plumping into the timber, whit + whit! as thick as ever you saw schoolboys’ plastering a church door with + clay-pellets. There was a heavy groan, and a stir amongst the seamen in + the run. + </p> + <p> + “And, pray, do you see and hear all that yourself, Master Obed? The iron + has clenched some of your chaps down there.—Stay a bit, you shall + have a better dose presently, you obstinate old”— + </p> + <p> + He waved his hand, and interrupted me with great energy—“I dare not + give in, I cannot give in; all I have in the world swims in the little + hooker, and strike I will not so long as two planks stick together. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” quoth I, “you are simply a damned, cold-blooded, calculating + scoundrel—brave I will never call you.” I saw he was now stung to + the quick. + </p> + <p> + “Lieutenant, smuggler as I am, don’t goad me to what worse I may have + been; there are some deeds done in my time, which at a moment like this I + don’t much like to think upon. I am a desperate man, Master Cringle; + don’t, for your own sake, as well as mine, try me too far.’ + </p> + <p> + “Well but”—persisted I. He would hear nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Enough said, sir, enough said; there was not an honester trader nor a + happier man in all the Union, until your infernal pillaging an burning + squadron in the Chesapeake captured and ruined me; but I paid it off on + the prize-master, although we were driven on the rocks after all. I paid + it off, and, God help me, I have never thriven since, enemy although he + was. I see the poor fellow’s face yet, as I!”—He checked himself + suddenly, as if aware that he might say more than could be conveniently + retracted. “But I dare not be taken; let that satisfy you, Master Cringle, + so go below—below with you, sir”—I saw he had succeeded in + lashing himself into a fury—“or, by the Almighty God, who hears me, + I shall be tempted to do another deed, the remembrance of which will haunt + me till my dying day.” + </p> + <p> + All this passed in no time, as we say, much quicker than one can read it; + and I now saw that the corvette had braced up sharp to the wind again, on + the same tack that we were on; so I slipped down like an eel, and once + more stretched myself beside Paul, on the lee side of the cabin. We soon + found that she was indeed after us in earnest, by the renewal of the + cannonade, and the breezing up of the small arms again. Two round shot now + tore right through the deck, just beneath the larboard coamings of the + main hatchway; the little vessel’s deck, as she lay over, being altogether + exposed to, the enemy’s fire, they made her whole frame tremble again, + smashing every thing in their way to shivers, and going right out through + her bottom on the opposite side, within a dozen streaks of her keel, while + the rattling of the clustered grapeshot every now and then made us start, + the musketry all the while peppering away like a hail shower. Still the + skipper, who I expected every moment to see puffed away from the tiller + like smoke, held upon deck as if he had been bullet-proof, and seemed to + escape the hellish tornado of missiles of all sorts and sizes by a + miracle. + </p> + <p> + “He is in league with the old one, Paul,” said I; “howsoever, you must be + nabbed, for you see the ship is forereaching on you, and you can’t go on + t’other tack, surely, with these pretty eyelet holes between wind and + water on the weather side there? Your captain is mad why will you, then, + and all these poor fellows, go down, because he dare not surrender, for + some good deed of his own, eh?” + </p> + <p> + The roar of the cannon and noise of the musketry made it necessary for me + to raise my voice here, which the small scuttle, like Dionysius’s ear, + conveyed unexpectedly to my friend, the captain, on deck. + </p> + <p> + “Hand me up my pistols, Paul.” + </p> + <p> + It had struck me before, and I was now certain, that from the time he had + become so intensely excited as he was now, he spoke with a pure English + accent, without the smallest dash of Yankeeism. + </p> + <p> + “So, so; I see—no wonder you won’t strike, you renegade,” cried I. + </p> + <p> + “You have tampered with my crew, sir, and abused me,” he announced, in a + stem, slow tone, much more alarming than his former fierceness, “so take + that, to quiet you;” and deuce take me if he did not, the moment he + received the pistols from his mate, fire slap at me, the ball piercing the + large muscle of my neck on the right side, missing the artery by the + merest accident. Thinking I was done for, I covered my face with my hands, + and commanded myself to God, with all the resignation that could be + expected from a poor young fellow in my grievous circumstances, expecting + to be cut off in the prima vera of his days, and to part for ever from—. + Poo, that there line is not my forte. However, finding the haemorrhage by + no means great, and that the wound was in fact slight, I took the + captain’s rather strong hint to be still, and lay quiet, until a 32-pound + shot struck us bang on the quarter. The subdued force with which it came, + showed that we were widening our distance, for it did not drive through + and through with a crash, but lodged in a timber; nevertheless it started + one of the planks across which Paul and I lay, and pitched us both with + extreme violence bodily into the run amongst the men, three of them lying + amongst the ballast, which was covered with blood, two badly wounded, and + one dead. I came off with some slight bruises, however; not so the poor + mate. He had been nearest the end or but that was started, which thereby + struck him so forcibly, that it fractured his spine, and dashed him + amongst his shipmates, shrieking piercingly in his great agony, and + clutching whatever he could grasp with his hands, and tearing whatever he + could reach with his teeth, while his limbs below his waist were dead and + paralysed. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Christ! water, water,” he cried, “water, for the love of God, water!” + The crew did all they could; but his torments increased—the blood + began to flow from his mouth—his hands became clay—cold and + pulseless—his features sharp, blue, and death—like—his + respiration difficult—the choking death—rattle succeeded, and + in ten minutes he was dead. + </p> + <p> + This was the last shot that told—every report became more and more + faint, and the musketry soon ceased altogether. + </p> + <p> + The breeze had taken off, and the Wave, resuming her superiority in light + winds, had escaped. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX.—Cuba Fishermen + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “El Pescador de Puerto Escondido, + Pesca mas que Peseado, + Quando la Luna redonda Reflexado en la mar profunda. + Pero cuidado, + El pobre sera el nino perdido Si esta por Anglisman cogido. + Ay de mi”. +</pre> + <p> + It was now five in the afternoon, and the breeze continued to fall, and + the sea to go down, until sunset, by which time we had I run the corvette + hull down, and the schooner nearly out of sight. Right ahead of us rose + the high land of Cuba, to the westward of Cape Maize, clear and + well-defined against the northern sky; and as we neither hauled our wind + to weather the east end of the island, nor edged away for St Jago, it was + evident, beyond all doubt, that we were running right in for some one of + the piratical haunts on the Cuba coast. + </p> + <p> + The crew now set to work, and removed the remains of their late messmate, + and the two wounded men, from where they lay upon the ballast in the Run, + to their own berth forward in the bow of the little vessel; they then + replaced the planks which they had started, and arranged the dead body of + the mate along the cabin floor, close to where I lay, faint and bleeding, + and more heavily bruised than I had at first thought. + </p> + <p> + The captain was still at the helm; he had never spoken a word either to me + or any of the crew, since he had taken the trifling liberty of shooting me + through the neck, and no thanks to him that the wound was not mortal; but + he now resumed his American accent, and began to drawl out the necessary + orders for repairing damages. + </p> + <p> + When I went on deck shortly afterwards, I was surprised beyond measure to + perceive the injury the little vessel had sustained, and the uncommon + speed, handiness, and skill, with which it had been repaired. However + lazily the command might appear to have been given, the execution of it + was quick as lightning. The crew, now reduced to ten working hands, had, + with an almost miraculous promptitude, knotted and spliced the rigging, + mended and shifted sails, fished the sprung and wounded spars, and plugged + and nailed lead over the shot-holes, and all within half an hour. + </p> + <p> + I don’t like Americans; I never did, and never shall like them; I have + seldom met with an American gentleman, in the large and complete sense of + the terms. I have no wish to eat with them, drink with them, deal with, or + consort with them in any way; but let me tell the whole truth, nor fight + with them, were it not for the laurels to be acquired, by overcoming an + enemy so brave, determined, and alert, and every way so worthy of one’s + steel, as they have always proved. One used to fight with a Frenchman, as + a matter of course, and for the fun of the thing as it were, never + dreaming of the possibility of Johnny Crapeau beating us, where there was + any thing approaching to an equality of force; but, say as much as we + please about larger ships and more men, and a variety of excuses which + proud John Bull, with some truth very often I will admit, has + pertinaciously thrust forward to palliate his losses during the short war, + a regard for truth and fair dealing, which I hope are no scarce qualities + amongst British seamen, compels me to admit, that although I would of + course peril my life and credit more readily with an English crew, yet I + believe a feather would turn the scale between the two countries, so far + as courage and seamanship goes; and let it not be forgotten, although we + have now regained our superiority in this respect, yet, in gunnery and + smallarm practice, we were as thoroughly weathered on by the Americans + during the war, as we overtopped them in the bulldog courage with which + our boarders handled those genuine English weapons, the cutlass and the + pike. + </p> + <p> + After the captain had given his orders, and seen the men fairly at work, + he came down to the cabin, still ghastly and pale, but with none of that + ferocity stamped on his grim features, from the outpouring of which I had + suffered so severely. He never once looked my way, no more than if I had + been a bundle of old junk; but folding his hands on his knee, he sat down + on a small locker, against which the feet of the dead mate rested, and + gazed earnestly on his face, which was immediately under the open + skylight, through which, by this time, the clear cold rays of the moon + streamed full on it, the short twilight having already fled, chained as it + is in these climates to the chariot wheels of the burning sun. My eye + naturally followed his, but I speedily withdrew it. I had often bent over + comrades who had been killed by gunshot wounds, and always remarked, what + is well-known, that the features wore a benign expression, bland and + gentle, and contented as the face of a sleeping infant, while their limbs + were composed decently, often gracefully, like one resting after great + fatigue, as if nature, like an affectionate nurse, had arranged the + deathbed of her departing child with more than usual care, preparatory to + his last long sleep; whereas those who had died from the thrust of a pike, + or the blow of a cutlass, however mild the living expression of their + countenance might have been, were always fearfully contorted both in body + and face. + </p> + <p> + In the present instance, the eyes were wide open, white, prominent, and + glazed like those of a dead fish; the hair, which was remarkably fine, and + had been worn in long ringlets, amongst which a large gold earring + glittered, the poor fellow having been a nautical dandy of the first water + was drenched and clotted into heavy masses with the death-sweat, and had + fallen back on the deck from his forehead, which was well formed, high, + broad and massive. His nose was transparent, thin, and sharp, the tense + skin on the bridge of it glancing in the silver light, as if it had been + glass. His mouth was puckered on one side into angular wrinkles, like a + curtain drawn up awry, while a clotted stream of black gore crept from it + sluggishly down his right cheek, and coagulated in a heap on the deck. His + lower jaw had fallen, and there he lay agape with his mouth full of blood. + </p> + <p> + His legs, indeed his whole body below his loins, where the fracture of the + spine had taken place, rested precisely as they had been arranged after he + died; but the excessive swelling and puffing out of his broad chest, + contrasted shockingly with the shrinking of the body at the pit of the + stomach, by which the arch of the ribs was left as well defined as if the + skin had been drawn over a skeleton, and the distortion of the muscles of + the cheeks and throat evinced the fearful strength of the convulsions + which had preceded his dissolution. It was evident, indeed, that + throughout his whole person above the waist, the nervous system had been + utterly shattered; the arms, especially, appeared to have been awfully + distorted, for when crossed on his breast, they had to be forcibly + fastened down at the wrists by a band of spun-yam to the buttons of his + jacket. His right hand was shut, with the exception of the forefinger, + which was extended, pointing upwards; but the whole arm, from the shoulder + down, had the horrible appearance of struggling to get free from the cord + which confined it. + </p> + <p> + Obed, by the time I had noticed all this, had knelt beside the shoulder of + the corpse, and I could see by the moonlight that flickered across his + face as the vessel rolled in the declining breeze, that he had pushed off + his eye the uncouth spyglass which he had fastened over it during the + chase, so that it now stood out from the middle of his forehead like a + stunted horn; but, in truth, “it was not exalted,” for he appeared crushed + down to the very earth by the sadness of the scene before him, and I + noticed the frequent sparkle of a heavy tear as it fell from his iron + visage on the face of the dead man. At length he untied the string that + fastened the eyeglass round his head, and taking a coarse towel from a + locker, he spunged poor Paul’s face and neck with rum, and then fastened + up his lower jaw with the lanyard. Having performed this melancholy + office, the poor fellow’s feelings could no longer be restrained by my + presence. + </p> + <p> + “God help me, I have not now one friend in the wide world. When I had + neither home, nor food, nor clothing, he sheltered me, and fed me, and + clothed me, when a single word would have gained him five hundred dollars, + and run me up to the fore yardarm in a wreath of white smoke; but he was + true as steel; and oh that he was now doing for me what I have done for + him! who would have moaned over me,—me, who am now without wife or + child, and have disgraced all my kin! alack-a-day, alack-a-day!”—And + he sobbed and wept aloud, as if his very heart would have burst in twain.—“But + I will soon follow you, Paul; I have had my warning already; I know it, + and I believe it.” At this instant the dead hand of the mate burst the + ligature that kept it down across his body, and slowly rose up and + remained in a beckoning attitude. I was seized with a cold shivering from + head to foot, and would have shrieked aloud, had it not been for very + shame, but Obed was unmoved.—“I know it, Paul. I know it. I am + ready, and I shall not be long behind you.” + </p> + <p> + He fastened the arm down once more, and having called a couple of hands to + assist him, they lashed up the remains of their shipmate in his hammock, + with a piece of iron ballast at his feet, and then, without more ado, + handed the body up through the skylight; and I heard the heavy splash as + they cast it into the sea. When this was done, the captain returned to the + cabin, bringing a light with him, filled and drank off a glass of strong + grog. Yet he did not even now deign to notice me, which was by no means + soothing; and I found that, since he wouldn’t speak, I must, at all + hazards. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Obed, do you ever read your Bible?” He looked steadily at me with + his lacklustre eyes. “Because, if you do, you may perhaps have fallen in + with some such passages as the following:—Behold I am in your hand; + but know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring + innocent blood upon yourselves.” + </p> + <p> + “It is true, Mr Cringle, I feel the truth of it here,” and he laid his + large bony hand on his heart. “Yet I do not ask you to forgive me; I don’t + expect that you can or will; but unless the devil gets possession of me + again—which, so sure as ever there was a demoniac in this world, he + had this afternoon when you so tempted me—I hope soon to place you + in safety, either in a friendly port, or on board of a British vessel; and + then what becomes of me is of little consequence, now since the only + living soul who cared a dollar for me is at rest amongst the coral + branches at the bottom of the deep green sea.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, man,” rejoined I, “leave off this stuff; something has turned your + brain, surely; people must die in their beds, you now, if they be not + shot, or put out of the way somehow or other; and as for my small affair, + why I forgive you, man—from my heart I forgive you; were it only for + the oddity of your scantling, mental and corporeal, I would do so; and you + see I am not much hurting—so lend me a hand, like a good fellow, to + wash the wound with a little spirits—it will stop the bleeding, and + the stiffness will soon go off.” + </p> + <p> + “Lieutenant Cringle, I need not tell what I know you have found out, that + I am not the vulgar Yankee smuggler, fit only to be made a butt of by you + and your friends, that you no doubt at first took me for; but who or what + I am, or what I may have been, you shall never know—but I will tell + you this much....” + </p> + <p> + “Devil confound the fellow!—why this is too much upon the brogue, + Obed. Will you help me to dress my wound, man, and leave off your cursed + sentimental speeches, which you must have gleaned from some old novel or + another? I’ll hear it all by and by.” + </p> + <p> + At this period I was a reckless young chap, with strong nerves, and my own + share of that animal courage, which generally oozes out at one’s finger + ends when one gets married and turned of thirty; nevertheless I did watch + with some anxiety the effect which my unceremonious interruption was to + have upon him. I was agreeably surprised to find that he took it all in + good part, and set himself, with great alacrity and kindness even, to put + me to rights, and so successfully, that when I was washed and cleansed, + and fairly coopered up, I found myself quite able to take my place at the + table; and having no fear of the College of Surgeons before my eyes, I + helped myself to a little of the needful, and in the plenitude of my + heart, I asked Obed’s pardon for my ill-bred interruption. + </p> + <p> + “It was not quite the thing to cut you short in the middle of your Newgate + Calendar, Obed—beg pardon, your story I mean; no offence now, none + in the world—eh? But where the deuce, man, got you this fine linen + of Egypt?” looking at the sleeves of the shirt Obed had obliged me with, + as I sat without my coat. “I had not dreamt you had any thing so luxurious + in your kit.” + </p> + <p> + I saw his brow begin to lower again, so the devil prompted me to advert, + by way of changing the subject, to a file of newspapers, which, as it + turned out, might have proved to be by far the most dangerous topic I + could have hit upon. He had laid them aside, having taken them out of the + locker when he was rummaging for the linen. “What have we here? Kingston + Chronicle, Montego Bay Gazette, Falmouth Advertiser. A great newsmonger + you must be. What arrivals?—let me see;—you know I am a week + from headquarters. Let me see.” + </p> + <p> + At first he made a motion as if he would have snatched them out of my + hands, but speedily appeared to give up the idea, merely murmuring “What + can it signify now?” + </p> + <p> + I continued to read—“Chanticleer from a cruise—Tonnant from + Barbadoes Pique from Port-au-Prince. Oh, the next interests me the + Firebrand is daily expected from Havanna; she is to come through the gulf, + round Cape Antonio, and beat up the haunts of the pirates all along the + Cuba shore.” I was certain now that at the mention of this corvette mine + host winced in earnest. This made me anxious to probe him farther. “Why, + what means this pencil mark—‘Firebrand’s number off the Chesapeake + was 1022?’ How the deuce, my fine fellow, do you know that?” + </p> + <p> + He shook his head, but said nothing, and I went on reading the pencil + memoranda—“But this is most probably changed; she now carries a red + cross in the head of her foresail, and has very short lower masts like the + Hornet.” Still he made me no answer. I proceeded—“Stop, let me see + what merchant ships are about sailing. Loading for Liverpool, the John + Gladstone, Peter Ponderous master;” and after it, again in pencil “Only + sugar: goes through the gulf.—Only sugar,” said I, still fishing; + “too bulky, I suppose.—Ariel, Jenkins Whitehaven;” remark—“sugar, + coffee, and logwood. Nuestra Senora de los Dolores, to sail for Chagres on + 7th proximo;” remark—“rich cargo of bale goods, but no chance of + overtaking her.” “El Rayo to sail for St Jago de Cuba on the 10th + proximo;” remark—“sails fast; armed with a long gun and musketry; + thirty hands; about ten Spanish passengers; valuable cargo of dry goods; + mainmast rakes well aft; new cloth in the foresail about half-way up; will + be off the Moro about the 13th.—And what is this written in ink + under the above?—The San Pedro from Chagres, and Marianita from + Santa Martha, although rich, have both got convoy.—Ah, too strong + for your friends, Obed—I see, I see.—Francis Baring, Loan + French, master—an odd name, rather, for a skipper;” remark—“forty + seroons of cochineal and some specie; is to sail from Morant Bay on 5th + proximo, to go through the windward passage; may be expected off Cape St + Nicolas on the 12th, or thereby.” I laid down the paper and looked him + full in the face. “Nicolas is an ominous name. I fear the good ship + Francis Baring will find it so. Some of the worthy saint’s clerks to be + fallen in with off the Mole, eh? Don’t you think as I do, Obed?” Still + silent. “Why you seem to take great delight in noting the intended + departures and expected arrivals, my friend—merely to satisfy your + curiosity, of course; but, to come to close quarters with you, captain, I + now know pretty well the object of your visiting Jamaica now and then you + are indeed no vulgar smuggler.” + </p> + <p> + “It is well for you and good for myself, Mr Cringle, that something weighs + heavy at my heart at this moment, and that there is that about you which, + notwithstanding your ill-timed jesting, commands my respect, and engages + my goodwill—had it not been so, you would have been alongside of + poor Paul at this moment.” He leant his arms upon the table, and gazed + intensely on my face as he continued in a solemn tremulous tone—“Do + you believe in auguries, Mr Cringle? Do you believe that coming events + cast their shadows before?’”—oh, that little Wiggy Campbell had been + beside me to have seen the figure and face of the man who now quoted him! + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I do, it is part of the creed of every sailor to do so; I do believe + that people have had forewarnings of peril to themselves or their + friends.” + </p> + <p> + “Then what do you think of the mate beckoning me with his dead hand to + follow him?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you are raving, Obed; you saw that he had been much convulsed, and + that the limb, from the contraction of the sinews, was forcibly kept down + in the position it broke loose from—the spunyarn gave way, and of + course it started up—nothing wonderful in all this although it did + at the time somewhat startle me, I confess.” + </p> + <p> + “It may be so, it may be so. I don’t know,” rejoined he, “but taken along + with what I saw before”—Here his voice sank into so hollow and + sepulchral a tone as to be almost unintelligible. “But there is no use in + arguing on the subject. Answer me this, Lieutenant Cringle, and truly, so + help you God at your utmost need, did the mate leave the cabin at any + moment after I was wounded by the splinter?” And he seized one of my hands + convulsively with his iron paw, while he pointed up through the open + scuttle towards heaven with the other, which trembled like a reed. The + moon shone strong on the upper part of his countenance, while the yellow + smoky glare of the candle over which he bent, blending harshly and + inharmoniously with the pale silver light, fell full on his uncouth + figure, and on his long scraggy bare neck and chin and cheeks, giving + altogether a most unearthly expression to his savage features, from the + conflicting tints and changing shadows cast by the flickering moonbeams + streaming fitfully through the skylight, as the vessel rolled to and fro, + and by the large torchlike candle as it wavered in the night wind. The + Prince of the Powers of the Air might have sat for his picture by proxy. + It was just such a face as one has dreamed of after a hot supper and cold + ale, when the whisky had been forgotten—horrible, changing, vague, + glimmering, and undefined; and as if something was still wanting to + complete the utter frightfulness of his aspect, the splinter wound in his + head burst out afresh from his violent agitation, and streamed down in + heavy drops from his forehead, falling warm on my hand. I was much shaken + at being adjured in this tremendous way, with the hot blood gluing our + hands together, but I returned his grasp as steadily as I could, while I + replied, with all the composure he had left me, and that would not have + quite filled a Winchester bushel. + </p> + <p> + “He never left my side from the time he offered to take your place after + you had been wounded.” + </p> + <p> + He fell back against the locker as if he had been shot through the heart. + His grasp relaxed, he drew his breath very hard, and I thought he had + fainted. + </p> + <p> + “Then it was not him that stood by me; I thought it might have been him, + but I was a fool, it was impossible.” + </p> + <p> + He made a desperate effort to recover his composure, and succeeded. + </p> + <p> + “And, pray, Master Obediah,” quoth I, “what did you see?” + </p> + <p> + He answered me sharply—“Never mind, never mind—here, Potomac, + lend us a hand to sling a cot for this gentleman; there now, see the + lanyard is sound, and the lacing all tight and snug—now put that + mattrass into it, and there is linen in the chest.” + </p> + <p> + In a trice my couch was rigged, all comfortable, snow-white linen, nice + pillow, soft mattrass, &c. and Obed, filling me another tumbler, + helped himself also; he then drank to my health, wished me a sound sleep, + promised to call me at daylight, and as he left the cabin he said, “Mr + Cringle, had it been my object to have injured you, I would not have + waited until now. You are quite safe so far as depends on me, so take your + rest—good night, once more.” + </p> + <p> + I tumbled into bed, and never once opened my eyes until Obed called me at + daylight, that is, at five in the morning, according to his promise. + </p> + <p> + By this time we were well in with the Cuba shore; the land might be two + miles from us, as we could see the white surf. Out at sea, although all + around was clear as crystal, there was nothing to be seen of the Gleam or + Firebrand, but there were ten or twelve fishing canoes, each manned with + from four to six hands, close aboard of us;—we seemed to have got + becalmed in the middle of a small fleet of them. The nearest to us hailed + in Spanish, in a very friendly way. + </p> + <p> + “Como estamos Capitan, que hay de nuevo; hay algo de bueno, para los + pobres Pescadores?” and the fellow who had spoken laughed loudly. + </p> + <p> + The Captain desired him to come on board, and then drew him aside, + conversing earnestly with him. The Spanish fisherman was a very powerful + man; he was equipped in a blue cotton shirt, Osnaburg trowsers, sandals of + untanned bullock’s hide, a straw hat, and wore the eternal greasy red sash + and long knife. He was a bold, daring looking fellow, and frequently + looked frowningly on me, and shook his head impatiently, while the + Captain, as it seemed, was explaining to him who I was. Just in this nick + of time my friend Potomac handed up my uniform coat, (I had previously + been performing my ablutions on deck in my shirt and trowsers,) which I + put on, swab and all, thinking no harm. But there must have been mighty + great offence nevertheless, for the fisherman, in a twinkling, casting a + fierce look at me, jumped overboard like a feather, clearing the rail like + a flying fish, and swam to his canoe that had shoved off a few paces. + </p> + <p> + When he got on board he stood up and shook his clenched fist at Obed, + shouting, “Picaro, traidor, Ingleses hay abordo, quieres enganarnos!” He + then held up the blade of his paddle, a signal which all the canoes + answered in a moment in the same manner, and then pulled towards the land, + from whence a felucca, invisible until that moment, now swept out, as if + she had floated up to the surface by magic, for I could see neither creek + nor indentation on the shore, nor the smallest symptom of any entrance to + a port or cove. For a few minutes the canoes clustered round this + necromantic craft, and I could notice that two or three hands from each of + them jumped on board; they then paddled off in a string, and vanished one + by one amongst the mangrove bushes as suddenly as the felucca had + appeared. All this puzzled me exceedingly I looked at Obed he was + evidently sorely perplexed. + </p> + <p> + “I had thought to have put you on board a British vessel before this, or + failing that, to have run down, and landed you at St Jago, Mr Cringle, as + I promised; but you see I am prevented by these honest men there. Get + below, and as you value your life, and, I may say, mine, keep your temper, + and be civil.” + </p> + <p> + I did as he suggested but peeped out of the cabin skylight to see what was + going on, notwithstanding. The felucca was armed with a heavy carronade on + a pivot, and as full of men as she could hold, fierce, half naked, savage + looking fellows,—she swept rapidly up to us, and closing on our + larboard quarter, threw about five-and-twenty of her genteel young people + on board, who immediately secured the crew, and seized Obed. However, + they, that is, the common sailors, seemed to have no great stomach for the + job, and had it not been for the fellow I had frightened overboard, I + don’t think one of them would have touched him. Obed bore all this with + great equanimity. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Francisco,” he said, to this personage, in good Spanish, “why, what + madness is this? your suspicions are groundless; it is as I tell you, he + is my prisoner, and whatever he may have been to me, he can be no spy on + you.” + </p> + <p> + “Cuchillo entonces,” was the savage reply. + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” persisted Obediah, “get cool, man, get cool; I am pledged that + no harm shall come to him; and farther I have promised to put him ashore + at St Jago, and I will be as good as my word.” + </p> + <p> + “You can’t if you would,” rejoined Francisco; “the Snake is at anchor + under the Moro.” + </p> + <p> + “Then he must go with us.” + </p> + <p> + “We shall see as to that,” said the other; then raising his voice he + shouted to his ragamuffins, “Comrades, we are betrayed; there is an + English officer on board, who can be nothing but a spy; follow me!” + </p> + <p> + And he dashed down the companion ladder, knife in hand, while I sprung + through the small scuttle, like a rat out of one hole when a ferret is put + in at the other, and crept as close to Obed as I could; Francisco when he + missed me, came on deck again. The Captain had now seized a cutlass in one + hand, and held a cocked pistol in the other. It appeared he had greater + control, the nature of which I now began to comprehend, over the felucca’s + people, than Francisco bargained for, as the moment the latter went below, + they released him, and went forward in a body. My persecutor again + advanced close up to me, seized me by the collar with one hand, and tried + to drag me forward, brandishing his naked knife aloft in the other. + </p> + <p> + Obed promptly caught his sword-arm—“Francisco,” he exclaimed, still + in Spanish, “fool, madman, let go your hold! let go, or by the Heaven + above us, and the hell we are both hastening to, I will strike you dead!” + </p> + <p> + The man paused, and looked round to his own people, and seeing one or two + encouraging glances and gestures amongst them, he again attempted to drag + me away from my hold on the tafferel. Something flashed in the sun, and + the man fell! his left arm, the hand of which still clutched my throat, + while mine grasped its wrist, had been shred from his body by Obed’s + cutlass, like a twig; and, oh God, my blood curdles to my heart even now + when I think of it! the dead fingers kept the grasp sufficiently long to + allow the arm to fall heavily against my side, where it hung for some + seconds, until the muscles relaxed and it dropped on the deck. The instant + that Obed struck the blow, he caught hold of my hand, threw away his + cutlass, and advanced towards the group of the felucca’s men, pistol in + hand. + </p> + <p> + “Am I not your captain, ye cowards—have I ever deceived you yet—have + I ever flinched from heading you where the danger was greatest—have + you not all that I am worth in your hands, and will you murder me now?” + </p> + <p> + “Viva, el noble capitan, viva!” + </p> + <p> + And the tide turned as rapidly in our favour as it had lately ebbed + against us. + </p> + <p> + “As for that scoundrel, he has got no more than he deserves,” said he, + turning to where Francisco lay, bleeding like a carcass in the shambles; + “but tie up his arm some of ye, I would be sorry he bled to death.” + </p> + <p> + It was unavailing, the large arteries had emptied his whole lifeblood he + had already gone to his account. + </p> + <p> + This most miserable transaction, with all its concomitant horrors, to my + astonishment, did not seem to make much impression on Obed, who now, + turning to me, said, with perfect composure,—“You have there another + melancholy voucher for my sincerity,” pointing to the body; “but time + presses, and you must now submit to be blindfolded, and that without + further explanation at present.” + </p> + <p> + I did so with the best grace I could, and was led below, where two + beauties, with loaded pistols, and a drawn knife each, obliged me with + their society, one seated on each side of me on the small locker, like two + deputy butchers ready to operate on an unfortunate veal. It had now fallen + dead calm, and, from what I heard, I conjectured that the felucca was + sweeping in towards the land with us in tow, for the sound of the surf + grew louder and louder. By and by we seemed to slide beyond the long + smooth swell into broken water, for the little vessel pitched sharp and + suddenly, and again all was still, and we seemed to have sailed into some + landlocked cove. From the loud echo of the voices on deck, I judged that + we were in a narrow canal, the banks of which were reflecting the sound; + presently this ceased, and although we skimmed along as motionless as + before, I no longer heard the splash of the felucca’s sweeps; the roar of + the sea gradually died away, until it sounded like distant thunder, and I + thought we touched the ground now and then, although slightly. All at once + the Spanish part of the crew, for we still had a number of the felucca’s + people with us, sang out “Palanca,” and we began to pole along a narrow + marshy lagoon, coming so near the shore occasionally, that our sides were + brushed by the branches of the mangrove bushes. Again the channel seemed + to widen, and I could hear the felucca once more ply her sweeps. In about + ten minutes after this the anchor was let go, and for a quarter of an + hour, nothing was heard on deck but the bustle of the people furling + sails, coiling down the ropes, and getting every thing in order, as is + usual in coming into port. It was evident that several boats had boarded + us soon after we anchored, as I could make out part of the greetings + between the strangers and Obed, in which my own name recurred more than + once. In a little while all was still again, and Obed called down the + companion to my guards, that I might come on deck,—a boon I was not + long in availing myself of. + </p> + <p> + We were anchored nearly in the centre of a shallow swampy lagoon, about a + mile across, as near as I could judge; two very large schooners, heavily + armed, were moored ahead of us, one on each bow, and another rather + smaller lay close under our stern; they all had sails bent, and every + thing apparently in high order, and were full of men. The shore, to the + distance of a bow-shot from the water all around us, was low, marshy, and + covered with an impervious jungle of thick strong reeds and wild canes, + with here and there a thicket of mangroves; a little farther off, the land + swelled into lofty hills, covered to the very summit with heavy timber, + but every thing had a moist, green, steamy appearance, as if it had been + the region of perpetual rain. “Lots of yellow fever here,” thought I, as + the heavy rank smell of decayed vegetable matter came off on the faint + sickly breeze, and the sluggish fog banks crept along the dull + clay-coloured motionless surface of the tepid water. The sea view was + quite shut out—I looked all round and could discern no vestige of + the entrance. Right ahead there was about a furlong of land cleared at the + only spot which one could call a beach,—that is, a hard shore of + sand and pebbles. Had you tried to get ashore at any other point, your + fate would have been that of the Master of Ravenswood; as fatal, that is, + without the gentility; for you would have been suffocated in black mud, in + place of clean sea-sand. There was a long shed in the centre of this + cleared spot, covered in with boards, and thatched with palm leaves; it + was open below, a sort of capstan-house, where a vast quantity of sails, + anchors, cordage, and most kinds of sea stores were stowed, carefully + covered over with tarpawling. Overhead there was a flooring laid along the + couples of the roof, the whole length of the shed, forming a loft of + nearly sixty feet long, divided by bulkheads into a variety of apartments, + lit by small rude windows in the thatch, where the crews of the vessels, I + concluded, were occasionally lodged during the time they might be under + repair. The boat was manned, and Obed took me ashore with him. + </p> + <p> + We landed near the shed I have described, beneath which we encountered + about forty of the most uncouth and ferocious-looking rascals that my eyes + had ever been blessed withal; they were of every shade, from the woolly + Negro and long-haired Indian, to the sallow American and fair Biscayan; + and as they intermitted their various occupations of mending sails, + fitting and stretching rigging, splicing ropes, making spun-yam, coopering + gun carriages, grinding pikes and cutlasses, and filling cartridges, to + look at me, they grinned and nodded to each other, and made sundry signs + and gestures which made me regret many a past peccadillo that in more + prosperous times I little thought on or repented of, and I internally + prayed that I might be prepared to die as became a man, for my fate + appeared to be sealed. The only ray of hope that shot into my mind, + through all this gloom, came from the respect the thieves, one and all, + paid the Captain; and, as I had reaped the benefit of assuming an outward + recklessness and daring, which I really did not at heart possess, I + screwed myself up to maintain the same port still, and swaggered along, + jabbering in my broken Spanish, right and left, and jesting even with the + most infamous-looking scoundrels of the whole lot, while, God he knows, my + heart was palpitating like a girl’s when she is asked to be married. Obed + led the way up a ladder into the loft, where we found several messes at + dinner; and passing through various rooms, in which a number of hammocks + were slung, we at length arrived at the eastern end, which was boarded off + into an apartment eighteen or twenty feet square, lighted by a small + port-hole in the end, about ten feet from the ground. I could see several + huts from this window, built just on the edge of the high wood, where some + of the country people seemed to be moving about, and round which a large + flock of pigs and from twenty to thirty bullocks were grazing. All beyond, + as far as the eye could reach, was one continuous forest, without any + vestige of a living thing; not even a thin wreath of blue smoke evinced + the presence of a fellow-creature; I seemed to be hopelessly cut off from + all succour, and my heart again died within me. + </p> + <p> + “I am sorry to say you must consider yourself a prisoner here for a few + days,” said Obed. + </p> + <p> + I could only groan. + </p> + <p> + “But the moment the coast is clear, I will be as good as my word, and land + you at St Jago.” + </p> + <p> + I groaned again. The man was moved. + </p> + <p> + “I would I could do so sooner,” he continued; “but you see by how + precarious a tenure I hold my control over these people; therefore I must + be cautious, for your sake as well as my own, or they would make little of + murdering both of us, especially as the fellow who would have cut your + throat this morning has many friends amongst them; above all, I dare not + leave them for any purpose for some days. I must recover my seat, in + which, by the necessary severity you witnessed, I have been somewhat + shaken. So goodbye; there is cold meat in that locker, and some claret to + wash it down with. Don’t, I again warn you, venture out during the + afternoon or night. I will be with you betimes in the morning. So goodbye + so long. Your cot, you see, is ready slung.” + </p> + <p> + He turned to depart, when, as if recollecting himself, he stooped down, + and taking hold of a ring, he lifted up a trap door, from which there was + a ladder leading down to the capstan-house. “I had forgotten this + entrance; it will be more convenient for me in my visits.” + </p> + <p> + In my heart I believe he intended this as a hint that I should escape + through the hole at some quiet opportunity; and he was descending the + ladder, when he stopped and looked round, greatly mortified, as it struck + me. + </p> + <p> + “I forgot to mention that a sentry has been placed, I don’t know by whose + orders, at the foot of the ladder, to whom I must give orders to fire at + you, if you venture to descend. You see how the land lies; I can’t help + it.” + </p> + <p> + This was spoken in a low tone, then aloud—“There are books on that + shelf behind the canvass screen; if you can settle to them, they may amuse + you.” + </p> + <p> + He left me, and I sat down disconsolate enough. I found some Spanish + books, and a volume of Lord Byron’s poetry, containing the first canto of + Childe Harold, two numbers of Blackwood, with several other English books + and magazines, the names of the owners on all of them being carefully + erased. + </p> + <p> + But there was nothing else that indicated the marauding life of friend + Obediah, whose apartment I conjectured was now my prison, if I except a + pretty extensive assortment of arms, pistols, and cutlasses, and a range + of massive cases, with iron clamps, which were ranged along one side of + the room. I paid my respects to the provender and claret; the hashed + chicken was particularly good; bones rather large or so, but flesh white + and delicate. Had I known that I was dining upon a guana, or large wood + lizard, I scarcely think I would have made so hearty a meal. Long cork, + No. 2, followed ditto, No. 1; and as the shades of evening, as poets say, + began to fall by the time I had finished it, I toppled quietly into my + cot, said my prayers such as they were, and fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + It must have been towards morning, from the damp freshness of the air that + came through the open window, when I was roused by the howling of a dog, a + sound which always moves me. I shook myself; but before I was thoroughly + awake, it ceased; it appeared to have been close under my window. + </p> + <p> + I was turning to go to sleep again, when a female, in a small suppressed + voice, sung the following snatch of a vulgar Port Royal ditty, which I + scarcely forgive myself for introducing here to polite society. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Young hofficer come home at night, + Him give me ring and kisses; + Nine months, one picaniny white, + Him white almost like missis. + But missis fum my back wid switch, + Him say de shild for massa; + But massa say him” + </pre> + <p> + The singer broke off suddenly, as if disturbed by the approach of some + one. + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush, you old foolish—” said a man’s voice, in the same low + whispering tone; “you will waken de dronken sentry dere, when we shall all + be put in iron. Hush, he will know my voice more better.” + </p> + <p> + It was now clear that some one wished to attract my attention; besides, I + had a dreamy recollection of having heard both the male and female voices + before. I listened, therefore, all alive. The man began to sing in the + same low tone. + </p> + <p> + “Newfoundland dog love him master de morest Of all de dog ever I see; Let + him starve him, and kick him, and cuff him de sorest, Difference none + never makee to he.” + </p> + <p> + There was a pause for a minute or two. + </p> + <p> + “It no use,” the same voice continued; “him either no dere, or he won’t + hear us.” + </p> + <p> + “Stop,” said the female, “stop; woman head good for someting. I know who + he shall hear.—Here, good dog, sing psalm; good dog, sing psalm,’ + and thereupon a long loud melancholy howl rose wailing through the night + air. + </p> + <p> + “If that be not my dear old dog Sneezer, it is a deuced good imitation of + him,” thought I. + </p> + <p> + The woman again spoke—“Yowl leetle piece more, good dog,” and the + howl was repeated. + </p> + <p> + I was now certain. By this time I had risen, and stood at the open window; + but it was too dark to see any thing distinctly below. I could barely + distinguish two dark figures, and what I concluded was the dog sitting on + end between them. + </p> + <p> + “Who are you?” “What do you want with me?” + </p> + <p> + “Speak softly, massa, speak softly, or the sentry may hear us, for all de + rum I give him.” + </p> + <p> + Here the dog recognised me, and nearly spoiled sport altogether; indeed it + might have cost us our lives, for he began to bark and frisk about, and to + leap violently against the end of the capstan-house, in vain endeavours to + reach the window.. “Down, Sneezer, down, sir; you used to be a dog of some + sense; down.” + </p> + <p> + But Sneezer’s joy had capsized his discretion, and the sound of my voice + pronouncing his name drove him mad altogether, and he bounded against the + end of the shed, like a battering-ram. + </p> + <p> + “Stop, man, stop,” and I held down the bight of my neckcloth, with an end + in each hand. He retired, took a noble run, and in a trice hooked his + forepaws in the handkerchief, and I hauled him in at the window. “Now, + Sneezer, down with you, sir, down with you, or your rampaging will get all + our throats cut.” He cowered at my feet, and was still as a lamb from that + moment. I stepped to the window. “Now, who are you, and what do you want?” + said I. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, massa, you no know me?” + </p> + <p> + “How the devil should I? Don’t you see it is as dark as pitch?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, massa, I will tell you; it is me, massa.” + </p> + <p> + “I make no great doubt of that; but who may you be?” + </p> + <p> + “Lord, you are de foolis person now; make me talk to him,” said the + female. “Massa, never mind he, dat stupid fellow is my husband, and surely + massa know me?” + </p> + <p> + “Now, my very worthy friends, I think you want to make yourselves known to + me; and if so, pray have the goodness to tell me your names, that is, if I + can in any way serve you.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure you can, massa; for dat purpose I come here.” + </p> + <p> + The woman hooked the word out of his mouth. “Yes, massa, you must know me + is Nancy, and dat old stupid is my husband Peter Mangrove, him who” here + Peter chimed in—“Yes, massa, Peter Mangrove is de person you have de + honour to address, and”—here he lowered his voice still more, + although the whole dialogue from the commencement had been conducted in no + higher tone than a loud whisper—“we have secured one big large + canoe, near de mout of dis dam hole, which, wid your help, I tink we shall + be able to launch troo de surf; and once in smoot water, den no fear but + we shall run down de coast safely before de wind till we reach. St Jago.” + </p> + <p> + My heart jumped against my ribs. Here’s an unexpected chance, thought I. + “But, Peter, how in the name of mumbo jumbo, came you here?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, massa, you do forget a leetle, dat I am a Creole negro, and not a + naked tatooed African, whose exploits, dat is de wonderful ting him never + do in him’s own country, him get embroidered and pinked in gunpowder on + him breach; beside, I am a Christian gentleman like youshef; so d——n + mumbo jumbo, Massa Cringle.” + </p> + <p> + I saw where I had erred. “So say I, Peter, d——n mumbo jumbo + particularly; but how came you here, man? tell me that.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, massa, I was out in de pilot boat schooner, wid my wife here, and + five more hands, waiting for de outward bound, finking no harm, when dem + piratical rascal catch we, and carry us off. Yankee privateer bad enough; + but who ever hear of pilot being carry off? blasphemy dat—carry off + pilot! Who ever dream of such a ting? every shivilized peoples respect + pilot—carry off pilot!—oh Lord” and he groaned in spirit for + several seconds. + </p> + <p> + “And the dog?” enquired I. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, massa, I could not leave him at home; and since you was good enough + to board him wid us, he has messed wid us, ay and slept wid us; and when + we started last, although he showed some dislike at going on board, I had + only to say, Sneezer, we go look for you master and he make such a bound, + dat he capsize my old woman dere, heel, over head; oh dear, what display, + Nancy, you was exhibit!” + </p> + <p> + “Hold your tongue, Peter; you hab no decency, you old willain.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but, Peter, speak out; when are we to make the attempt? where are + the rest of your crew?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh dear! oh dear! dat is de worstest; oh dear!” and he began to cry and + sob like the veriest child. “Oh, massa,”—after he had somewhat + recovered himself;—“Oh, massa, dese people debits. Why, de make all + de oder on board walk de plank, wid two ten pound shot, one at each foot. + Oh, if you had seen de clear shining blue skin, as de became leetle and + leetle, and more leetler, down far in de clear green sea! Oh dear! oh + dear! Only to tink dat each wavering black spot was fellow-creature like + one-shef, wid de heart’s blood warm in his bosom at de very instant of + time we lost sight of him for ever!” + </p> + <p> + “God bless me,” said I; “and how did you escape, and the black dog, and + the black—ahem—beg pardon—your wife I mean; how were you + spared?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, massa! I can’t say; but bad as de were, de seemed to have a liking + for brute beasts, so dem save Sneezer, and my wife, and myshef; we were de + only quadrupeds saved out of de whole crew Oh dear! Oh dear!” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well; I know enough now. I will spare you the pain of any farther + recital, Peter; so tell me what I am to do.” + </p> + <p> + “Stop, massa, till I see if de sentry be still sound. I know de fellow, he + was one on dem; let me see”—and I heard him through the loose + flooring boards walk to the foot of the trap ladder leading up to my + berth. The soliloquy that followed was very curious of its kind. The negro + had excited himself by a recapitulation of the cruelties exercised on his + unfortunate shipmates, and the unwarrantable caption of himself and rib, a + deed that in the nautical calendar would rank in atrocity with the murder + of a herald or the bearer of a flag of truce. He kept murmuring to + himself, as he groped about in the dark for the sentry “Catch pilot! who + ever hear of such a ting? I suppose dem would have pull down light-house, + if dere had been any for pull. Where is dis sentry rascal?—him + surely no sober yet?” + </p> + <p> + The sentry had fallen asleep as he leant back on the ladder, and had + gradually slid down into a sitting position, with his head leaning against + one of the steps, as he reclined with his back towards it, thus exposing + his throat and neck to the groping paw of the black pilot. + </p> + <p> + “Ah—here him is, snoring heavy as my Nancy—well, dronk still; + no fear of him overhearing we—nice position him lie in—quite + convenient—could cut his troat now—slice him like a pumpkin—de + debil is surely busy wid me, Peter. I find de very clasp—knife in my + starboard pocket beginning to open of himshef.” + </p> + <p> + I tapped on the floor with my foot. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, tank you, Massa Tom—de debil nearly get we all in a scrape just + now. However, I see him is quite sound—de sentry dat is, for de oder + never sleep, you know.” He had again come under the window. “Now, + Lieutenant, in two word, to-morrow night at two bells, in de middle watch, + I will be here, and we shall make a start of it; will you venture, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Will I?—to be sure I will; but why not now, Peter? why not now?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, massa, you no smell de daylight; near daybreak already, sir. Can’t + make try dis night, but to-morrow night I shall be here punctual.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, but the dog, man? If he be found in my quarters, we shall be + blown, and I scarcely think he will leave me.” + </p> + <p> + “Garamighty! true enough, massa; what is to be done? De people know de dog + was catch wid me, and if he be found wid you, den de will sospect we + communication togidder. What is to be done?” + </p> + <p> + I was myself not a little perplexed, when Nancy whispered, “De dog have + more sense den many Christian person. Tell him he must go wid us dis one + night, no tell him dis night, else him won’t; say dis one night, and dat + if him don’t, we shall all be deaded; try him, massa.” + </p> + <p> + I had benefited by more extraordinary hints before now, although, well as + I knew the sagacity of the poor brute, I could not venture to hope it + would come up to the expectations of Mrs Mangrove. But I’ll try. “Here, + Sneezer, here, my boy; you must go home with Peter tonight, or we shall + all get into a deuced mess; so here, my boy, here is the bight of the + handkerchief again, and through the window you must go; come, Sneezer, + come.” + </p> + <p> + To my great joy and surprise, the poor dumb beast rose from where he had + coiled himself at my feet, and after having actually embraced me, by + putting his forepaws on my shoulders, as he stood on his hind legs, and + licked my face from ear to ear, uttering a low, fondling, nuzzling sort of + whine, like a nurse caressing a child, he at once leapt on the window + sill, put his forepaws through the handkerchief, and was dropped to the + ground again. I could immediately perceive the two dark figures of the + pilot and his wife, followed by the dog, glide away as noiselessly as if + they had been spirits of the night, until they were lost under the shade + of the thick jungle. + </p> + <p> + I turned in, and—what will not youth and fatigue do?—I fell + once more fast asleep, and never opened my eyes until Obed shook me in my + cot about eight o’clock in the morning. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Lieutenant. I have sent up your breakfast, but you don’t + seem inclined to eat it.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t you believe it, my dear Obed. I have been sound asleep till this + moment; only stop till I have slipped on my—those shoes, if you + please thank you—waistcoat—that will do. Now—coffee, + fish, yams, and plantains, and biscuit, white as snow, and short as—and + eggs and zounds! claret to finish with?—Why, Obed, you surely don’t + desire that I should enjoy all these delicacies in solitary blessedness?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I intend to breakfast with you, if my society be not disagreeable.” + </p> + <p> + “Disagreeable! Not in the least, quite the contrary. That black grouper + looks remarkably beautiful. Another piece of yam, if you please.—Shall + I fill you a cup of coffee, Obed? For my own part, I always stow the + ground tier of my cargo dry, and then take a topdressing. Write this down + as an approved axiom with all thorough breakfast eaters. Why, man, you are + off your feed; what are you turning up your ear for, in that + incomprehensible fashion, like a duck in thunder? A little of the claret—thank + you. The very best butter I have ever eaten out of Ireland—now, some + of that avocado pear—and as for biscuit, Leman never came up to it. + I say, man,—hillo, where are you?—rouse ye out of your brown + study, man.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you hear that, Mr Cringle?” + </p> + <p> + “Hear what?—I heard nothing,” rejoined I; “but hand me over that + land crab.—Thank you, and you may send the spawl of that creeping + thing along with it; that guana. I had a dislike to eating a lizard at + first, but I have got over it somehow;—and a slice of ham, a small + taste of the unclean beast, Obed—peach-fed, I’ll warrant.” + </p> + <p> + There was a pause. The report of a great gun came booming along, + reverberated from side to side of the lagoon, the echoes growing shorter + and shorter, and weaker and weaker, until they growled themselves asleep + in a hollow rumble like distant thunder. + </p> + <p> + “Ha, ha! Dick Casket for a thousand! Old Blowhard has stuck in your + skirts, Master Obed—but Lord help me, man! let us finish our + breakfast; he won’t be here this half hour.” + </p> + <p> + I expected to see mine host’s forehead lowering like a thunder cloud from + my ill-timed funning; but to my surprise, his countenance exhibited more + amenity than I thought had been in the nature of the beast, as he replied,— + </p> + <p> + “Why, lieutenant, the felucca put to sea last night, to keep a bright + look-out at the mouth of our cove here. I suppose that is him overhauling + some vessel.” + </p> + <p> + “It may be so;—hush! there’s another gun—Two!” + </p> + <p> + Obed changed countenance at the double report. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Obed, the felucca did not carry more than one gun when I saw her, + and she has had no time to load and fire again.” + </p> + <p> + He did not answer a word, but continued, with a piece of guana on the end + of, his fork in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, as if he had + been touched by the wand of a magician. Presently we heard one or two + dropping shots, quickly thickening into a rattle of musketry. He threw + down his food, picked up his hat, and trundled down stairs, as if the + devil had kicked him. “Pedro, que hay?” I could hear him say to some one + below, who appeared to have arrived in great haste, for he gasped for + breath. + </p> + <p> + “Aqui viene la feluca,” answered Pedro; “perseguido por dos Lanchas + Canoneras llenas de Gente.” + </p> + <p> + “Abordo entonces, abordo todo el mundo; arma arma, aqui vienen los + Engleses; arma, arma!” + </p> + <p> + And all from that instant was a regular hillabaloo. The drums on board the + schooners beat to quarters, a great bell, formerly the ornament of some + goodly ship, no doubt, which had been slung in the fork of a tree, clanged + away at a furious rate, the crews were hurrying to and fro, shouting to + each other in Creole Spanish, and Yankee English, while every cannon-shot + from the felucca or the boat guns came louder and louder, and the small + arms peppered away sharper and sharper. The shouts of the men engaged, + both friends and foes, were now heard, and I could hear Obed’s voice on + board the largest schooner, which lay full in view from my window, giving + orders, not only to his own crew, but to those of the others. I heard him + distinctly sing out, after ordering them to haul upon the spring on his + cable, “Now, men, I need not tell you to fight bravely, for if you are + taken every devil of you will be hanged, so hoist away the signal,” and a + small black ball flew up through the rigging, until it reached the main + topgallant-masthead of the schooner, where it hung a moment, and in the + next blew out in a large black swallow-tailed flag, like a commodore’s + broad pennant. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” shrieked he, “let me see who dares give in with this voucher for + his honesty flying aloft!” I twisted and craned myself out of the window, + to get a view of what—was going on elsewhere; however, I could see + nothing but Obed’s large schooner from it, all the other craft were out of + the range of my eye, being hid by the projecting roof of the shed. The + noise continued—the shouting rose higher than ever—the other + schooners opened their fire, both cannon and musketry; and from the + increasing vehemence of the Spanish exclamations, and the cheering on + board Obed’s vessels, I concluded the attacking party were having the + worst of it. My dog Sneezer now came jumping and scrambling up the trap + stair, his paws slipping between the bars at every step, his mouth wide + open, and his tongue hanging out, while he barked, and yelled, and gasped + to get at me, as if his life depended on it. After him I could see the + round woolly pate of Peter Mangrove, Esquire, as excited apparently as the + dog, and as anxious to get up; but they got jammed together in the small + hatch, and stuck there, man and beast. At length Peter spoke— + </p> + <p> + “Now, sir, now! Nancy has run on before to the beach wid two paddles; now + for it, now for it.” + </p> + <p> + Down trundled master, and dog, and pilot. By this time there was no one in + the lower part of the shed, which was full of smoke, while the infernal + tumult on the water still raged as furiously as ever, the shot of all + sorts and sizes hissing, and splashing, and ricochetting along the smooth + surface of the harbour, as if there had been a sleet of musket and + cannonballs and grape. Peter struck out at the top of his speed, Sneezer + and I followed: we soon reached the jungle, dashed through a path that had + been recently cleared with a cutlass or billhook, for the twigs were + freshly shred, and in about ten minutes reached the high wood. However, no + rest for the wicked, although the row seemed lessening now. + </p> + <p> + “Some one has got the worst of it,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, massa,” quoth Peter, “or we shan’t get de betterest ourshef.” + </p> + <p> + And away we galloped again, until I had scarcely a rag an inch square on + my back, or anywhere else, and my skin was tom in pieces by the prickly + bushes and spear grass. The sound of firing now ceased entirely, although + there was still loud shouting now and then. + </p> + <p> + “Push on, massa—dem will soon miss we.” + </p> + <p> + “True enough, Peter—but what is that?” as we came to a bundle of + clouts walloping about in the morass. + </p> + <p> + “De debil it must be, I tink,” said the pilot. “No, my Nancy it is, + sticking in the mud up to her waist; what shall us do? you fink, massa, we + hab time for can stop to pick she out?” + </p> + <p> + “Heaven have mercy, Peter—yes, unquestionably.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, massa, you know best.” + </p> + <p> + So we tugged at the sable heroine, and first one leg came home out of the + tenacious clay, with a plop, then the other was drawn out of the quagmire. + We then relieved her of the paddles, and each taking hold of one of the + poor half-dead creature’s hands, we succeeded in getting down to the + beach, about half a mile to leeward of the entrance to the cove. We found + the canoe there, plumped Nancy stem foremost into the bottom of it for + ballast, gathered all our remaining energies for a grand shove, and ran + her like lightning into the surf, till the water flashed over and over us, + reaching to our necks. Next moment we were both swimming, and the canoe, + although full of water, beyond the surf, rising and falling on the long + swell. We scrambled on board, set Nancy to bale with Peter’s hat, seized + our paddles, and skulled away like fury for ten minutes right out to sea, + without looking once about us, until a musket-shot whistled over our + heads, then another, and a third; and I had just time to hold up a white + handkerchief, to prevent a whole platoon being let drive at us from the + deck of his Britannic Majesty’s schooner Gleam, lying-to about a cable’s + length to windward of us, with the Firebrand a mile astern of her out at + sea. In five minutes we got on board of the former. + </p> + <p> + “Mercy on me, Tom Cringle, and is this the way we are to meet again?” said + old Dick Gasket, as he held out his large, bony, sunburnt hand to me. “You + have led me a nice dance, in a vain attempt to redeem you from bondage, + Tom; but I am delighted to see you although I have not had the credit of + being your deliverer—very glad to see you, Tom; but come along man, + come down with me, and let me rig you, not quite a Stultze’s fit, you + know, but a jury rig you shall have, as good as Dick Casket’s kit can + furnish forth, for really you are in a miserable plight, man.” + </p> + <p> + “Bad enough indeed. Mr Casket—many thanks though—bad enough, + as you say; but I would that your boats crew were in so good a plight.” + </p> + <p> + Mr Gasket looked earnestly at me—“Why, I have my own misgivings, + Cringle; this morning at day-break, the Firebrand in company, we fell in + with an armed felucca. It was dead calm, and she was out of gun shot, + close in with the land. The Firebrand immediately sent the cutter on board + full armed, with instructions to me to man the launch, and arm her with + the boat-gun, and then to send both boats to overhaul the felucca. I did + so, standing in as quickly as the light air would take me, to support + them; the felucca all this while sweeping in shore as fast as she could + pull. But the boats were too nimble for her, and our launch had already + saluted her twice from the six pounder in the bow, when the sea-breeze + came thundering down in a white squall, that reefed our gaff-topsail in a + trice, and blew away a whole lot of light sails, like so many paper-kites. + When it cleared away, the devil a felucca, boat, or any thing else, was to + be seen. Capsized they could not have been, for all three were not likely + to have gone that way; and as to any creek they could have run into, why + we could see none. That they had pulled in shore, however, was our + conclusion; but here have we been, the whole morning, firing signal guns + every five minutes without success.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you hear no firing after the squall?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Why, some of my people thought they did, but it was that hollow, + tremulous, reverberating kind of sound, that it might have been thunder; + and the breeze blew too strong to have allowed us to hear musketry a mile + and a half to windward. I did think I saw some smoke rise, and blow off + now and then, but” “But me no buts, Master Richard Casket; Peter Mangrove + here, as well as myself, saw your people pursue the felucca into the + lion’s den, and I fear they have been crushed in his jaws.” I briefly + related what we had seen—Casket was in great distress. + </p> + <p> + “They must have been taken, Cringle. The fools! to allow themselves to be + trepanned in this way. We must stand out and speak the corvette. All hands + make sail!” + </p> + <p> + I could not help smiling at the grandeur of Dick’s emphasis on the all, + when twenty hands, one-third of them boys, and the rest landsmen, + scrambled up from below, and began to pull and haul in no very seamanlike + fashion. He noticed it. + </p> + <p> + “A—h, Tom, I know what you are grinning at, but I fear it has been + no laughing matter to my poor boats crew—all my best hands gone, God + help me!” + </p> + <p> + Presently being under the Firebrand’s lee quarter, we lowered down the + boat and went on board, where, for the first time, the extreme + ludicrousness of my appearance and following flashed on me. There we were + all in a bunch, the dog, Mr and Mrs Mangrove, and Thomas Cringle, + gentleman, such in appearance as I shall shortly describe them. + </p> + <p> + Old Richard Gasket, Esq., first clambered up the side and made his bow to + the Hon. Captain Transom, who was standing near the gangway, on the + snow-white deck, amidst a group of officers, where every thing was in the + most apple-pie order, himself, both in mind and apparel, the most polished + concern in the ship; while the whole crew, with the exception of the + unfortunate absentees in the cutter, were scrambling, to get a good view + of us. + </p> + <p> + I have already said, that my uniform was torn to pieces; trowsers ditto; + my shoes had parted company in the quagmire; and as for hat, it was left + in my cot. I had a dirty bandage tied round my neck, performing the + twofold office of a cravat and a dressing to my wound; while the blood + from the scratches had dried into black streaks adown and across my face + and paws, and I was altogether so begrimed with mud that my mother would + not have known me. Dick made his salaam, and then took up a position + beside the sally-port, with an important face, like a showman exhibiting + wild beastesses, a regular “stir-him-up-with-a-long pole” sort of look. I + followed him “This is Lieutenant Cringle, Captain Transom.” + </p> + <p> + “The devil it is!” said Transom, trying in vain to keep his gravity. “Why, + I see it is—How do you do, Mr Cringle? glad to see you.” + </p> + <p> + “This is Peter Mangrove, branch-pilot,” continued Casket, as Peter, + bowing, tried to slide past out of sight. + </p> + <p> + Till this instant I had not time to look at him—he was even a much + queerer-looking figure than myself. He had been encumbered with no garment + besides his trowsers when we started, and these had been reduced, in the + scramble through the brake, to a waistband and two knee bands, from which + a few shreds fluttered in the breeze, the rest of his canvass having been + entirely torn out of the bolt-ropes. For an upper dress he had borrowed a + waistcoat without sleeves from the purser of the schooner, which hung + loose and unbuttoned before, while behind, being somewhat of the shortest, + some very prominent parts of his stem frame were disclosed, as even an + apology for a shirt he had none. Being a decent man, however, he had tied + his large straw hat round his waist, by strings fastened to the broad + brims, which nearly met behind, so that the crown covered his loins + before, like a petard, while the sameness of his black naked body was + relieved by being laced with blood from numberless lacerations. + </p> + <p> + Next came the female—“This is the pilot’s wife, Captain Transom,” + again sung out old Dick; but decency won’t let me venture on a description + of poor Nancy’s equipment, beyond mentioning, that one of the Gleam’s crew + had given her a pair of old trowsers, which, as a sailor has no bottom, + and Nancy was not a sailor, were most ludicrously scanty at top, and devil + another rag of any kind had the poor creature on, but a handkerchief + across her bosom. There was no standing all this; the crew forward and in + the waist were all on the broad grin, while the officers, after struggling + to maintain their gravity until they were nearly suffocated, fairly gave + in, and the whole ship echoed with the most uproarious laughter; a young + villain, whether a Mid or no I could not tell, yelling out in the throng, + “Hurra for Tom Cringle’s Tail!” + </p> + <p> + I was fairly beginning to lose countenance, when up jumped Sneezer to my + relief out of the boat, with an old cocked hat lashed on his head, a + marine’s jacket buttoned round his body, and his coalblack muzzle bedaubed + with pipe-clay, regularly monkeyfied, the momentary handiwork of some + wicked little reefers, while a small pipe sung out quietly, as if not + intended to reach the quarterdeck, although it did do so, “And here comes + the last joint of Mr Cringle’s Tail.” The dog began floundering and + jumping about, and walloping amongst the people, most of whom knew him, + and immediately drew their attention from me and my party to himself; for + away they all bundled forward, dog and men tumbling and scrambling about + like so many children, leaving the coast clear to me and my attendants. + The absurdity of the whole exhibition had for an instant, even under the + very nose of a proverbially taught hand, led to freedoms which I had + believed impossible in a man-of-war. However, there was too much serious + matter in hand, independently of any other consideration, to allow the + merriment created by our appearance to last long. + </p> + <p> + Captain Transom, immediately on being informed how matters stood, with + seamanlike promptitude determined to lighten the Gleam, and send her in + with the boats, for the purpose of destroying the haunt of the pirates, + and recovering the men, if they were still alive; but before any thing + could be done, it came on to blow, and for a week we had great difficulty + in maintaining our position off the coast against the strength of the gale + and lee current. + </p> + <p> + It was on the Sunday morning after I had escaped that it moderated + sufficiently for our purpose, when both vessels stood close in, and Peter + and I were sent to reconnoitre the entrance of the port in the gig. Having + sounded and taken the bearings of the land, we returned on board, when the + Gleam’s provisions were taken out and her water started. The ballast was + then shifted, so as to bring her by the head, that she might thus draw + less water by being on an even keel, all sharp vessels of her class + requiring much deeper water aft than forward; the corvette’s launch, with + a 12-pound carronade fitted, was then manned and armed with thirty seamen + and marines, under the command of the second lieutenant; the jolly boat + and the two quarter boats, each with twelve men, followed in a string, + under the third lieutenant, the master, and the senior midshipman; thirty + picked hands were added to the schooner’s crew, and I was desired to take + the gig with six smart hands and Peter Mangrove, and to accompany the + whole as pilot; but to pull out of danger so soon as the action commenced, + so as to be ready to help any disabled boat, or to carry orders from the + commanding officer. + </p> + <p> + At nine in the morning, we gave three cheers, and leaving the corvette, + with barely forty hands on board, the Gleam made sail towards the + harbour’s mouth, with the boats in tow; but when we got within musket shot + of the entrance, the breeze failed us, when the order of sailing was + reversed, the boats now taking the schooner in tow, preceded by your + humble servant in the gig. We dashed safely through the small canal of + blue water, which divided the surf at the harbour’s mouth, having hit it + to a nicety; but when about a pistolshot from the entrance, the channel + narrowed to a muddy creek, not more than twenty yards wide, with high + trees, and thick underwood close to the water’s edge. All was silent, the + sun shone clown upon us like the concentrated rays of a burning glass, and + there was no breeze to dissipate the heavy dank mist that hovered over the + surface of the unwholesome canal, nor was there any appearance of a living + thing, save and except a few startled waterfowl, and some guanoes on the + trees, and now and then an alligator, like a black log of charred wood, + would roll off a slimy bank of brown mud, with a splash into the water. + </p> + <p> + We rowed on, the schooner every now and then taking the ground, but she + was always quickly warped off again by a kedge; at length, after we had in + all proceeded, it might be, about a mile from the beach, we came to a boom + of strong timber clamped with iron, stretching across the creek. We were + not unprepared for this; one of two old 32-pound carronades, which, in + anticipation of some obstruction of the sort, had been got on deck from + amongst the Gleam’s ballast, and properly slung, was now made fast to the + middle timber of the boom, and let go, when the weight of it sunk it to + the bottom, and we passed on. We pulled on for about half a mile further, + when I noticed, high up on a sunny cliff, that shot boldly out into the + clear blue heavens, a small red flag suddenly run up to the top of a tall, + scathed, branchless palm tree, where it flared for a moment in the breeze + like the flame of a torch, and then as suddenly disappeared. “Come, they + are on the look-out for us I see.” + </p> + <p> + The hills continued to close on us as we advanced, and that so + precipitously, that we might have been crushed to pieces had half-a dozen + active fellows, without any risk to themselves, for the trees would have + screened them, simply loosened some of the fragments of rock that impended + over us, so threateningly, it seemed, as if a little finger could have + sent them bounding and thundering down the mountain side; but this either + was not the game of the people we were in search of, or Obed’s spirit and + energy had been crushed out of him by the heart depressing belief that his + hours were numbered, for no active obstruction was offered. + </p> + <p> + We now suddenly rounded an abrupt corner of the creek, and there we were + full in front of the schooners, who, with the felucca in advance, were + lying in line of battle, with springs on their cables. The horrible black + pennant was, in the present instance, nowhere to be seen; indeed, why such + an impolitic step as ever to have shown it at all was taken in the first + attack, I never could understand; for the force was too small to have + created any serious fear of being captured, (unless indeed it had been + taken for an advanced guard, supported by a stronger,) while it must have + appeared probable to Obediah, that the loss of the two boats would in all + likelihood lead to a more powerful attempt, when, if it were successful, + the damning fact of having fought under such an infernal emblem must have + ensured a pirate’s death on the gibbet to every soul who was taken, unless + he had intended to have murdered all the witnesses of it. But since proof + in my person and the pilot’s existed, now, if ever, was the time for + mortal resistance, and to have hoisted it, for they knew that they all + fought with halters about their necks. They had all the Spanish flag + flying except the Wave, which showed American colours, and the felucca, + which had a white flag hoisted, from which last, whenever our gig + appeared, a canoe shoved off, and pulled towards us. The officer, if such + he might be called, also carried a white flag in his hand. He was a + daring-looking fellow, and dashed up along-side of me. The + incomprehensible folly of trying at this time of day to cloak the real + character of the vessels, puzzled me, and does so to this hour. I have + never got a clew to it, unless it was that Obed’s strong mind had given + way before his superstitious fears, and others had now assumed the right + of both judging and acting for him in this his closing scene. The pirate + officer at once recognised me, but seemed neither surprised nor + disconcerted at the strength of the force which accompanied me. He asked + me in Spanish if I commanded it; I told him I did not, that the captain of + the schooner was the senior officer. + </p> + <p> + “Then will you be good enough, to go on board with me, to interpret for + me?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly.” + </p> + <p> + In half a minute we were both on the Gleam’s deck, the crews of the boats + that had her in tow lying on their oars. + </p> + <p> + “You are the commander of this force?” said the Spaniard. + </p> + <p> + “I am,” said old Gasket, who had figged himself out in full puff, after + the manner of the ancients, as if he had been going to church, instead of + to fight; “and who the hell are you?” + </p> + <p> + “I command one of these Spanish schooners, sir, which your boats so + unwarrantably attacked a week ago, although you are at peace with Spain. + But even had they been enemies, they were in a friendly port, which should + have protected them.” + </p> + <p> + “All very good oysters,” quoth old Dick; “and pray was it an honest trick + of you to cabbage my young friend, Lieutenant Cringle there, as if you had + been slavers kidnapping the Bungoes in the Bight of Biafra, and then to + fire on and murder my people when sent in to claim him?” + </p> + <p> + “As to carrying off that young gentleman, it was no affair of ours; he was + brought away by the master of that American schooner; but so far as + regards firing on your boats, I believe they fired first. But the crews + are not murdered; on the contrary, they have been well used, and are now + on board that felucca. I am come to surrender the whole fifteen to you.” + </p> + <p> + “The whole fifteen! and what have you made of the other twelve?” + </p> + <p> + “Gastados,” said the fellow, with all the sangfroid in the world, + “gastados, (spent or expended) by their own folly.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, they are expended, are they? then give us the fifteen.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, but you will in this case withdraw your force, of course.” + </p> + <p> + “We shall see about that—go and send us the men.” He jumped down + into the canoe, and shoved off;—whenever he reached the felucca, he + struck the white flag, and hoisted the Spanish in its stead, and by + hauling on a spring, he brought her to cover the largest schooner so + effectually, that we could not fire a shot at her without going through + the felucca. We could see all the men leave this latter vessel in two + canoes, and go on board one of the other craft. There was now no time to + be lost, so I dashed at the felucca in the gig, and broke open the + hatches, where we found the captured seamen and their gallant leader, + Lieutenant——, in a sorry plight, expecting nothing but to be + blown up, or instant death by shot or the knife. We released them, and, + sending to the Gleam for ammunition and small arms, led the way in the + felucca, by Mr Gasket’s orders, to the attack, the corvette’s launch + supporting us; while the schooner with the other craft were scraping up as + fast as they could. We made straight for the largest schooner, which with + her consorts now opened a heavy fire of grape and musketry, which we + returned with interest. I can tell little of what took place till I found + myself on the pirate’s quarterdeck, after a desperate tussle, and having + driven the crew overboard, with dead and wounded men thickly strewn about, + and our fellows busy firing at their surviving antagonists, as they were + trying to gain the shore by swimming. + </p> + <p> + Although the schooner we carried was the Commodore, and commanded by + Obediah in person, yet the pirates, that is, the Spanish part of them, by + no means showed the fight I expected. While we were approaching, no fire + could be hotter, and their yells and cheers were tremendous; but the + instant we laid her along-side with the felucca, and swept her decks with + a discharge of grape from the carronade, under cover of which we boarded + on the quarter, while the launch’s people scrambled up at the bows, their + hearts failed, a regular panic overtook them, and they jumped overboard, + without waiting for a taste either of cutlass or boarding-pike. The + captain himself, however, with about ten Americans, stood at bay round the + long gun, which, notwithstanding their great inferiority in point of + numbers to our party, they manfully fired three several times at us, after + we had carried her aft; but we were so close that the grape came past us + like a round shot, and only killed one hand at each discharge, whereas at + thirty yards farther off, by having had room to spread, it might have made + a pretty tableau of the whole party. I hailed Obed twice to surrender, + while our people, staggered by the extreme hardihood of the small group, + hung back for an instant; but he either did not hear me, or would not, for + the only reply he seemed inclined to make was by slewing round the gun so + as to bring me on with it, and the next moment a general rush was made, + when the whole party was cut down, with three exceptions, one of whom was + Obed himself, who getting on the gun, made a desperate bound over the + men’s heads, and jumped overboard. He struck out gallantly, the shot + pattering round him like the first of a thunder shower, but he dived + apparently unhurt, and I lost sight of him. + </p> + <p> + The other vessels having also been carried, the firing was all on our side + by this time, and I, along with the other officers, was exerting myself to + stop the butchery. + </p> + <p> + “Cease firing, men; for shame, you see they no longer resist.” And my + voice was obeyed by all except the fifteen we had released, who were + absolutely mad with fury-perfect fiends; such uncontrollable fierceness I + had never witnessed, indeed, I had nearly cut one of them down before I + could make them knock off firing. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t fire, sir,” cried I to one. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir; but that scoundrel made me wash his shirts,” and he let + drive at a poor devil, who was squattering and swimming away towards the + shore, and shot him through the head. + </p> + <p> + “By heavens! I will run you through, if you fire at that man!” shouted I + to another, a marine, who was taking aim at no less a personage than + friend Obed, who had risen to breathe, and was swimming after the others, + but the very last man of all. + </p> + <p> + “No, by G—? he made me wash his trowsers, sir.” + </p> + <p> + He fired—the pirate stretched out his arms, turned slowly on his + back, with his face towards me. I thought he gave me a sort of “Et tu, + Brute” look, but I dare say it was fancy—his feet began to sink, and + he gradually disappeared, a few bubbles of froth and blood marking the + spot where he went down. He had been shot dead. I will not attempt to + describe my feelings at this moment, they burned themselves in on my heart + at the time, and the impression is indelible. Whether I had or had not + acted, in one sense, unjustly, by ousting myself so conspicuously forward + in the attempt to capture him, after what had passed between us, forced + itself upon my judgment. I had certainly promised that I would, in no way + that I could help, be instrumental in his destruction or seizure, provided + he landed me at St Jago, or put me on board a friendly vessel. He did + neither, so his part of the compact might be considered broken; but then + it was out of his power to have fulfilled it; besides, he not only + threatened my life subsequently, but actually wounded me; still, however, + on great provocation. But what “is writ, is writ.” He has gone to his + account, pirate as he was, murderer if you will; yet I had, and still + have, a tear for his memory,—and many a time have I prayed on my + bare knees that his blue agonized dying look might be erased from my + brain; but this can never be. What he had been I never learned; but it is + my deliberate opinion, that, with a clear stage and opportunity, he would + have forced himself out from the surface of society for good or for evil. + The unfortunates who survived him, but to expiate their crimes on the + gibbet at Port Royal, said he had joined them from a New York privateer, + but they knew nothing farther of him beyond the fact, that by his skill + and desperate courage, within a month he had by common acclaim been + elected captain of the whole band. There was a story current on board the + corvette, of a small trading craft, with a person answering his + description, having been captured in the Chesapeake, by one of the + squadron, and sent to Halifax for adjudication, (the master, as in most + cases of the kind, being left on board,) which from that hour had never + been heard of, neither vessel, nor prize crew, nor captain, until two + Americans were taken out of a slaver, off the Cape de Verds by the + Firebrand, about a year afterwards, after a most brave and determined + attempt to escape, both of whom were however allowed to enter, but + subsequently deserted off Sandy Hook by swimming ashore, in consequence of + a pressed hand hinting that one of them, surmised to be Obed, had been the + master of the vessel above mentioned. + </p> + <p> + All resistance having ceased, the few of the pirates who escaped having + scampered into the woods, where it would have been vain to follow them, we + secured our prisoners, and at the close of a bloody day, for fatal had it + been to friend and foe, the prizes were got under weigh, and before + nightfall we were all at sea, sailing in a fleet, under convoy of the + corvette and Gleam. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X.—Vomito Prieto. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “This disease is beyond my practice.” + + Macbeth, Vi.59. +</pre> + <p> + The second and acting third-lieutenants were on board the prizes—the + purser was busy in his vocation—the doctor ditto Indeed, he and his + mates had more on their hands than they could well manage. The first + lieutenant was engaged on deck, and the master was in his cot, suffering + from a severe contusion; so when got on board the corvette, and dived into + the gunroom in search ol some crumbs of comfort, the deuce a living soul + was there to welcome me, except the gunroom steward, who speedily produced + some cold meat, and asked me if I would take a glass of swizzle. + </p> + <p> + The food I had no great fancy to, although I had not tasted a morsel since + six o’clock in the morning, and it was now eight in the evening; but the + offer of the grog sounded gratefully in mine ear, and I was about tackling + to a stout rummer of the same, when a smart dandified shaver, with gay + mother-of-pearl buttons on his jacket, as thick set as peas, presented his + tallow chops at the door. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Transom desires me to say, that he will be glad of your company + in the cabin, Mr Cringle.” + </p> + <p> + “My compliments—I will wait on him so soon as I have had a snack. We + have had no dinner in the gunroom to-day yet, you know, Mafame.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it was in the knowledge of that the Captain sent me, sir. He has not + had any dinner either; but it is now on the table, and he waits for you.” + </p> + <p> + I was but little in spirits, and, to say sooth, was fitter for my bed than + society; but the Captain’s advances had been made with so much kindliness, + that I got up, and made a strong endeavour to rouse myself; and, having + made my toilet as well as my slender means admitted, I followed the + Captain’s steward into the cabin. + </p> + <p> + I started—why, I could not well tell—as the sentry at the door + stood to his arms when I passed in; and, as if I had been actually + possessed by some wandering spirit, who had taken the small liberty of + using my faculties and tongue without my concurrence, I hastily asked the + man if he was an American?—He stared in great astonishment for a + short space, turned his quid—and then rapped out, as angrily as + respect for a commissioned officer would let him,—“No, by ——, + sir!” + </p> + <p> + This startled me as much as the question I had almost unconsciously—and, + I may say, involuntarily—put to the marine had surprised him, and I + made a full stop, and leant back against the door-post. The Captain, who + was walking up and down the cabin, had heard me speak, but without + comprehending the nature of my question, and now recalled me in some + measure to myself, by enquiring if I wanted any thing. I replied, + hurriedly, that I did not. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr Cringle, dinner is ready—so take that chair at the foot of + the table, will you?” + </p> + <p> + I sat down, mechanically, as it appeared to me—for a strange + swimming dizzy sort of sensation had suddenly overtaken me, accompanied by + a whoreson tingling, as Shakespeare hath it, in my ears. I was unable to + eat a morsel; but I could have drunk the ocean, had it been claret or + vin-de-grave-to both of which I helped myself as largely as good manners + would allow, or a little beyond, mayhap. All this while the Captain was + stowing his cargo with great zeal, and tifting away at the fluids as + became an honest sailor after so long a fast, interlarding his operations + with a civil word to me now and then, without any especial regard as to + the answer I made him, or, indeed, caring greatly whether I answered him + or not. + </p> + <p> + “Sharp work you must have had, Mr Cringle—should have liked to have + been with you myself. Help yourself, before passing that bottle—zounds, + man, never take a bottle by the bilge—grasp the neck, man, at least + in this fervent climate—thank you. Pity you had not caught the + captain though. What you told me of that man very much interested me, + coupled with the prevailing reports regarding him in the ship—daring + dog he must have been—can’t forget how gallantly he weathered us + when we chased him.” + </p> + <p> + I broke silence for the first time. Indeed, I could scarcely have done so + sooner, even had I chosen it, for the gallant officer was rather + continuous in his yam-spinning. However, he had nearly dined, and was + leaning back, allowing the champaigne to trickle leisurely from a glass + half a yard long, which he had applied to his lips, when I said, “Well, + the imagination does sometimes play one strange tricks—I verily + believe in second sight now, Captain, for at this very instant I am + regularly the fool of my senses,——but pray don’t laugh at me;” + and I lay back on my chair, and pressed my hands over my shut eyes and hot + burning temples, which were now throbbing as if the arteries would have + burst. + </p> + <p> + The Captain, who was evidently much surprised at my abruptness, said + something hurriedly and rather sharply in answer, but I could not for the + life of me mark what it was. I opened my eyes again, and looked towards + the object that had before riveted my attention. It was neither more nor + less than the Captain’s cloak, a plain, unpretending, substantial blue + garment, lined with white, which, on coming below, he had cast carelessly + down on the locker, that ran across the after part of the cabin behind + him. It was about eighteen feet from me, and as there was no light nearer + it than the swinging lamp over the table at which we were seated, the + whole of the cabin thereabouts was thrown considerably into shade. The + cape of the cloak was turned over, showing the white lining, and was + rather bundled as it were into a round heap, about the size of a man’s + head. When first I looked at it, there was a dreamy, glimmering + indistinctness about it that I could not well understand, and I would have + said, had it been possible, that the wrinkles and folds in it were + beginning to be instinct with motion, to creep and crawl as it were. At + all events, the false impression was so strong as to jar my nerves, and + make me shudder with horror. I knew there was no such d—ting, as + well as Macbeth—, but nevertheless it was with an indescribable + feeling of curiosity, dashed with awe, that I stared intently at it, as if + fascinated, while almost unwittingly I made the remark already mentioned. + </p> + <p> + I had expected that the unaccountable appearance which had excited my + attention so strongly would have vanished with the closing of my eyes; but + it did not, for when I looked at it again, the working and shifting of the + folds of the cloth still continued, and even more distinctly than before. + </p> + <p> + “Very extraordinary all this,” I murmured to myself. + </p> + <p> + “Pray, Mr Cringle, be sociable, man,” said the Captain; “what the deuce do + you see, that you stare over my shoulder in that way? Were a woman now, I + should tremble to look behind me, while you were glaring aft in that wild, + moonstruck sort of fashion.” + </p> + <p> + “By all that is astonishing,” I exclaimed in great agitation, “if the + folds of the cape have not arranged themselves into the very likeness of + his dying face! Why it is his face, and no fanciful grouping of my heated + brain. Look there, sir—look there—I know it can’t be but there + he lies,—the very features and upper part of the body, lith and + limb, as when he disappeared beneath the water when he was shot dead.” + </p> + <p> + I felt the boiling blood, that had been rushing through my system like + streams of molten lead, suddenly freeze and coagulate about my heart, + impeding my respiration to a degree that I thought I should have been + suffocated. I had the feeling as if my soul was going to take wing. It was + not fear, nor could I say I was in pain, but it was so utterly unlike any + thing I had ever experienced before, and so indescribable, that I thought + to myself—“this may be death.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, what a changeable rose you are, Master Cringle,” said Captain + Transom, good-naturedly; “your face was like the north-west moon in a fog + but a minute ago, and now it is as pale as a lily@blue white, I declare. + Why, my man, you must be ill, and seriously too.” + </p> + <p> + His voice dissipated the hideous chimera—the folds fell, and + relapsed into their own shape, and the cloak was once more a cloak, and + nothing more—I drew a long breath. “Ah, it is gone at last, thank + God!”—and then aware of the strange effect my unaccountable + incoherence must have had on the skipper, I thought to brazen it out by + trying the free and easy line, which was neither more nor less than arrant + impertinence in our relative positions. “Why, I have been heated a little, + and amusing myself with sundry vain imaginings, but allow me to take wine + with you, Captain,” filling a tumbler with vin-de-grave to the brim, as I + spoke. “Success to you, sir—here’s to your speedy promotion—may + you soon get a crack frigate; as for me I intend to be Archbishop of + Canterbury, or maid of honour to the Queen of Sheba, or something in the + heathen mythology.” + </p> + <p> + I drank off the wine, although I had the greatest difficulty in steadying + my trembling hand, and carrying it to my lips; but notwithstanding my + increasing giddiness, and the buzzing in my ears, and swimming of mine + eyes, I noticed the Captain’s face of amazement as he exclaimed, “The boy + is either mad or drunk, by Jupiter!” + </p> + <p> + I could not stand his searching and angry look, and in turning my eye, it + again fell on the cloak, which now seemed to be stretched out at greater + length, and to be altogether more voluminous than it was before. I was + forcibly struck with this, for I was certain no one had touched it. + </p> + <p> + “By heavens! it heaves,” I exclaimed, much moved—“how is this? I + never thought to have believed such things,——it stirs again—it + takes the figure of a man—as if it were a pall covering his body. + Pray, Captain Transom, what trick is this?—Is there any thing below + that cloak there?” + </p> + <p> + “What cloak do you mean?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, that blue one lying on the locker there—is there any cat or + dog in the cabin? “—and I started on my legs.—“Captain + Transom,” I continued, with great vehemence, “for the love of God tell me + what is there below that cloak.” + </p> + <p> + He looked surprised beyond all measure. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr Cringle, I cannot for the soul of me comprehend you; indeed I + cannot; but, Mafame, indulge him. See if there be any thing below my + cloak.” + </p> + <p> + The servant walked to the locker, and lifted up the cape of it, and was in + the act of taking it from the locker, when I impetuously, desired the man + to leave it alone. + </p> + <p> + “I can’t look on him again,” said I; while the faintishness increased, so + that I could hardly speak. “Don’t move the covering from his face, for + God’s sake—don’t remove it,” and I lay back in my chair, screening + my eyes from the lamp with my hands, and shuddering with an icy chill from + head to foot. + </p> + <p> + The Captain, who had hitherto maintained the well-bred, patronizing, + although somewhat distant, air of a superior officer to an inferior who + was his guest, addressed me now in an altered tone, and with a brotherly + kindness. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Cringle, I have some knowledge of you, and I know many of your + friends; so I must take the liberty of an old acquaintance with you. This + day’s work has been a severe one, and your share in it, especially after + your past fatigues, has been very trying, and as I will report it, I hope + it may clap a good spoke in your wheel; but you are overheated, and have + been over-excited; fatigue has broken you down, and I must really request + you will take something warm, and turn in.—Here, Mafame, get the + carpenter’s mate to secure that cleat on the weather-side there, and sling + my spare cot for Mr Cringle. You will be cooler here than in the gunroom.” + </p> + <p> + I heard his words without comprehending their meaning. I sat and stared at + him, quite conscious, all the time, of the extreme impropriety, not to say + indecency, of my conduct; but there was a spell on me; I tried to speak, + but could not; and, believing that I was either possessed by some dumb + evil, or struck with palsy, I rose up, bowed to Captain Transom, and + straightway hied me on deck. + </p> + <p> + I could hear him say to his servant, as I was going up the ladder, “Look + after that young gentleman, Mafame, and send Isaac to the doctor, and bid + him come here now;” and then, in a commiserating tone—“Poor young + fellow, what a pity!” + </p> + <p> + When I got on deck all was quiet. The cool fresh air had an instantaneous + effect on my shattered nerves, the violent throbbing in my head ceased, + and I began to hug myself with the notion that my distemper, whatever it + might have been, had beaten a retreat. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly I felt so collected and comfortable, as to be quite alive to the + loveliness of the scene. It was a beautiful moonlight night; such a night + as is nowhere to be seen without the Tropics, and not often within them. + There was just breeze enough to set the sail to sleep, although not so + strong as to prevent their giving a low murmuring flap now and then, when + the corvette rolled a little heavier than usual on the long swell. There + was not a cloud to be seen in the sky, not even a stray shred of thin + fleecy gauzelike vapour, to mark the direction of the upper current of the + air, by its course across the moon’s disk, which was now at the full, and + about half-way up her track in the liquid heavens. + </p> + <p> + The small twinkling lights from millions of lesser stars, in that part of + the firmament where she hung, round as a silver pot-lid shield I mean, + were swamped in the flood of greenish-white radiance shed by her, and it + was only a few of the first magnitude, with a planet here and there, that + were visible to the naked eye, in the neighbourhood of her crystal bright + globe; but the clear depth, and dark translucent purity of the profound, + when the eye tried to pierce into it at the zenith, where the stars once + more shone and sparkled thick and brightly, beyond the merging influence + of the pale cold orb, no man can describe now——one could, once—but + rest his soul, he is dead and then to look forth far into the night, + across the dark ridge of many a heaving swell of living water—but, + “Thomas Cringle, ahoy where the devil are you cruising to” So, to come + back to my story. I went aft, and mounted the small poop, and looked + towards the aforesaid moon, a glorious resplendent tropical moon, and not + the paper lantern affair hanging in an atmosphere of fog and smoke, about + which your blear-eyed poets haven’t so much. By the by, these gentry are + fond of singing of the blessed sun—were they sailors they would + bless the moon also, and be—to them, in place of writing much + wearisome poetry regarding her blighting propensities. But I have lost the + end of my yarn once more, in the strands of these parentheses. Lord, what + a word to pronounce in the plural!—I can no more get out now, than a + girl’s silk worm from the innermost of a nest of pill boxes, where, to + ride the simile to death at once, I have warped the thread of my story so + round and round me, that I can’t for the life of me unravel it. Very odd + all this. Since I have recovered of this fever, every thing is slack about + me; I can’t set up the shrouds and backstays of my mind, not to speak of + bobstays, if I should die for it. The running rigging is all right enough, + and the canvass is there; but I either can’t set it, or when I do, I find + I have too little ballast, or I get involved amongst shoals, and white + water, and breakers—don’t you hear them roar?—which I cannot + weather, and crooked channels, under some lee-shore, through which I + cannot scrape clear. So down must go the anchor, as at present, and there—there + goes the chain cable, rushing and rumbling through the hausehole. But I + suppose it will be all right by and by, as I get stronger. + </p> + <p> + “But rouse thee, Thomas! Where is this end of your yarn, that you are + blameying about?” + </p> + <p> + “Avast heaving, you swab you—avast—if you had as much calomel + in your corpus as I have at this present speaking—why you would be a + lad of more mettle than I take you for, that is all.—You would have + about as much quicksilver in your stomach, as I have in my purse, and all + my silver has been quick, ever since I remember, like the jests of the + gravedigger in Hamlett—but, as you say, where the devil is the end + of this yarn?” + </p> + <p> + Ah, here it is! so off we go again—and looked forward towards the + rising moon, whose shining wake of glow-worm-coloured light, sparkling in + the small waves, that danced in the gentle wind on the heaving bosom of + the dark blue sea, was right a-head of us, like a river of quicksilver + with its course diminished in the distance to a point, flowing towards us, + from the extreme verge of the horizon, through a rolling sea of ink, with + the waters of which for a time it disdained to blend. Concentrated, and + shining like polished silver afar off—intense and sparkling as it + streamed down nearer, but becoming less and less brilliant as it Widened + in its approach to us, until, like the stream of the great Estuary of the + Magdalena, losing itself in the salt waste of waters, it gradually melted + beneath us and around us into the darkness. + </p> + <p> + I looked aloft—every object appeared sharply cut out against the + dark firmament, and the swaying of the mast-heads to and fro, as the + vessel rolled, was so steady and slow, that they seemed stationary, while + it was the moon and stars which appeared to vibrate and swing from side to + side, high over head, like the vacillation of the clouds in a theatre, + when the scene is first let down. + </p> + <p> + The masts, and yards, and standing and running rigging, looked like black + pillars, and bars, and wires of iron, reared against the sky, by some + mighty spirit of the night; and the sails, as the moon shone dimly through + them, were as dark as if they had been tarpawlings. But when I walked + forward and looked aft, what a beauteous change! Now each mast, with its + gently swelling canvass, the higher sails decreasing in size, until they + tapered away nearly to a point, though topsail, topgallant sail, royal and + skysails, showed like towers of snow, and the cordage like silver threads, + while each dark spar seemed to be of ebony, fished with ivory, as a flood + of cold, pale, mild light streamed from the beauteous planet over the + whole stupendous machine, lighting up the sand white decks, on which the + shadows of the men, and of every object that intercepted the moonbeams, + were cast as strongly as if the planks had been inlaid with jet. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing moving about the decks. The lookouts, aft, and at the + gangways, sat or stood like statues half bronze, half alabaster. The old + quartermaster, who was cunning the ship, and had perched himself on a + carronade, with his arm leaning on the weather nettings, was equally + motionless. The watch had all disappeared forward, or were stowed out of + sight under the lee of the boats; the first Lieutenant, as if captivated + by the serenity of the scene, was leaning with folded arms on the weather + gangway, looking abroad upon the ocean, and whistling now and then either + for a wind, or for want of thought. The only being who showed sign of life + was the man at the wheel, and he scarcely moved, except now and then to + give her a spoke or two, when the cheep of the tiller-rope, running + through the well-greased leading blocks, would grate on the ear as a sound + of some importance; while in daylight, in the ordinary bustle of the ship, + no one could say he ever heard it. + </p> + <p> + Three bells!—“Keep a bright look-out there,” sung out the + Lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” from the four look-out men, in a volley. + </p> + <p> + Then from the weather-gangway, “All’s well” rose shrill into the night + air. + </p> + <p> + The watchword was echoed by the man on the forecastle, re-echoed by the + lee-gangway look-out, and ending with the response of the man on the poop. + My dream was dissipated—and so was the first lieutenant’s, who had + but little poetry in his composition, honest man. + </p> + <p> + “Fine night, Mr Cringle. Look aloft, how beautifully set the sails are; + that mizzen-topsail is well cut, eh? Sits well, don’t it? But confound the + lubbers! Boatswain’s mate, call the watch.” + </p> + <p> + Whi—whew, whi—whew, chirrup, chip, chip—the deck was + alive in an instant, “as bees biz out wi” angry fyke. + </p> + <p> + “Where is the captain of the mizzen-top?” growled the man in authority. + </p> + <p> + “Here, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Here, sir!—look at the weather-clew of the mizzen-topsail, sir, + look at that sail, sir,—how many turns can you count in that clew, + sir? Spring it, you no—sailor you—spring it, and set the sail + again.” + </p> + <p> + How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable all this appeared to me at the + time I will remember; but the obnoxious turns were shaken out, and the + sail set again so as to please even the fastidious eye of the Lieutenant, + who, seeing nothing more to find fault with, addressed me once more. + </p> + <p> + “Have had no grub since morning, Mr Cringle; all the others are away in + the prizes; you are as good as one of us now, only want the order to join, + you know—so will you oblige me, and take charge of the deck, until I + go below and change my clothes, and gobble a bit?” + </p> + <p> + “Unquestionably,—with much pleasure.” + </p> + <p> + He forthwith dived, and I walked aft a few steps towards where the old + quartermaster was standing on the gun. + </p> + <p> + “How is her head, Quartermaster?” + </p> + <p> + “South-east and by south, sir. If the wind holds, we shall weather Morant + Point, I think, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Very like, very like.—What is that glancing backwards and forwards + across the port-hole there, Quartermaster?” + </p> + <p> + “I told you so, Mafame,” said the man; “what are you skylarking about the + mizen-chains for, man?—Come in, will you, come in.” + </p> + <p> + The Captain’s caution to his servant flashed on me. + </p> + <p> + “Come in, my man, and give my respects to the Captain, and tell him that I + am quite well now; the fresh air has perfectly restored me.” + </p> + <p> + “I will, sir,” said Mafame, half ashamed at being detected in his office + of inspector-general of my actions; but the Doctor, to whom he had been + sent, having now got a leisure moment from his labour in the shambles, + came up and made enquiries as to how I felt. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Doctor, I thought I was in for a fever half an hour ago, but it is + quite gone off, or nearly so—there, feel my pulse.”—It was + regular, and there was no particular heat of skin. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I don’t think there is much the matter with you. Mafame, tell the + Captain so; but turn in and take some rest as soon as you can, and I will + see you in the morning—and here,” feeling in his waistcoat pocket, + “here are a couple of capers for you; take them now, will you?” (And he + handed me two blue pills, which I the next moment chucked overboard, to + cure some bilious dolphin of the liver complaint.) I promised to do so + whenever the Lieutenant relieved the deck, which would, I made no + question, be within half an hour. + </p> + <p> + “Very well, that will do—good-night. I am regularly done up myself,” + quoth the Medico, as he descended to the gunroom. + </p> + <p> + At this time of night, the prizes were all in a cluster under our lee + quarter, like small icebergs covered with snow, and carrying every rag + they could set. The Gleam was a good way a-stern, as if to whip them in, + and to take care that no stray piccaroon should make a dash at any of + them. They slid noiselessly along like phantoms of the deep, every thing + in the air and in the water was so still—I crossed to the lee side + of the deck to look at them—The Wave, seeing some one on the hammock + nettings, sheered close to, under the Firebrand’s lee quarter, and some + one asked, “Do you want to speak us?” The man’s voice, reflected from the + concave surface of the schooner’s mainsail, had a hollow, echoing sound, + that startled me. + </p> + <p> + “I should know that voice,” said I to myself, “and the figure steering the + schooner.” + </p> + <p> + The throbbing in my head and the dizzy feel, which had capsized my + judgment in the cabin, again returned with increased violence—“It + was no deception after all,” thought I, “no cheat of the senses—I + now believe such things are.” + </p> + <p> + The same voice now called out, “Come away, Tom, come away,” no doubt to + some other seaman on board the little vessel, but my heated fancy did not + so construe it. The col real again overtook me, and I ejaculated, “God + have mercy upon me a sinner!” + </p> + <p> + “Why don’t you come, Tom?” said the voice once more. + </p> + <p> + It was Obed’s. At this very instant of time, the Wave forged a-head into + the Firebrand’s shadow, so that her sails, but a moment before white as + wool in the bright moonbeams suffered a sudden eclipse, and became black + as ink. + </p> + <p> + “His dark spirit is there,” said I, audibly, “and calls me—go I + will, whatever may befall.” + </p> + <p> + I hailed the schooner, or rather I had only to speak, and that in a low + tone, for she was now close under the counter “Send your boat, for since + you call, I know I must come.” + </p> + <p> + A small canoe slid off her deck; two ship boys got into it, and pulled + under the starboard mizzen-chains, which entirely concealed them, as they + held on for a moment with a boat-hook in the dark shadow of the ship. This + was done so silently, that neither the lookout on the poop, who was rather + on the weather-side at the moment, nor the man at the lee gangway, who + happened to be looking out forward, heard them, or saw me, as I slipped + down unperceived. + </p> + <p> + “Pull back again, my lads; quick now, quick.” + </p> + <p> + In a moment, I was along-side, the next I was on deck, and in this short + space a change had come over the spirit of my dream, for I now was again + conscious that I was on board the Wave with a prize crew. My imagination + had taken another direction. + </p> + <p> + “Now Mr——, I beg pardon, I forget your name,”—I had + never heard it, “make more sail, and haul out from the fleet for + Mancheoneal Bay; I have despatches for the admiral—So, crack on.” + </p> + <p> + The midshipman who was in charge of her never for an instant doubted but + that all was right; sail was made, and as the light breeze was the very + thing for the little Wave, she began to snorer through it like smoke. When + she had shot a cable’s length a-head of the Firebrand, we kept away a + point or two, so as to stand more in for the land, and, like most maniacs, + I was inwardly exulting at the success of my manoeuvre, when we heard the + corvette’s bell struck rapidly. Her maintop-sail was suddenly laid to the + mast, whilst a loud voice echoed amongst the sails—“Any one see hi—in + in the waist—anybody see him forward there?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, no.” + </p> + <p> + “After guard, fire, and let go the life—buoy—lower away the + quarter boats—jolly-boat also.” + </p> + <p> + We saw the flash, and presently the small blue light of the buoy, blazing + and disappearing, as it rose and fell on the waves, in the corvette’s + wake, sailed away astern, sparkling fitfully, like an ignis fatuus. The + cordage rattled through the davit blocks, as the boats dashed into the + water—the splash of the oars was heard, and presently the twinkle of + the life-buoy was lost in the lurid glare of the blue lights, held aloft + in each boat, where the crews were standing up, looking like spectres by + the ghastly blaze, and anxiously peering about for some sign of the + drowning man. + </p> + <p> + “A man overboard,” was repeated from one to another of the prize crew. + </p> + <p> + “Sure enough,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Shall we stand back, sir?” said the midshipman. + </p> + <p> + “To what purpose?—there are enough there without us—no, no; + crack on, we can do no good—carry on, carry on!” + </p> + <p> + We did so, and I now found severe shooting pains, more racking than the + sharpest rheumatism I had ever suffered, pervading my whole body. They + increased until I suffered the most excruciating agony, as if my bones had + been converted into red-hot tubes of iron, and the marrow in them had been + dried up with fervent heat, and I was obliged to beg that a hammock might + be spread on deck, on which I lay down, pleading great fatigue and want of + sleep as my excuse. + </p> + <p> + My thirst was unquenchable; the more I drank, the hotter it became. My + tongue, and mouth, and throat, were burning, as if molten lead had been + poured down into my stomach, while the most violent retching came on every + ten minutes. The prize crew, poor fellows, did all they could once or + twice they seemed about standing back to the ship, but, “make sail, make + sail,” was my only cry. They did so, and there I lay without any thing + between me and the wet planks but a thin sailor’s blanket and the canvass + of the hammock, through the livelong night, and with no covering but a + damp boatcloak, raving at times during the hot fits, at others having my + power of utterance frozen up during the cold ones. The men, once or twice, + offered to carry me below, but the idea was horrible to me. + </p> + <p> + “No, no—not there—for heaven’s sake not there! If you do take + me down, I am sure I shall see him, and the dead mate—No, no + overboard rather, throw me overboard rather.” + </p> + <p> + Oh, what would I not have given for the luxury of a flood of tears!—But + the fountains of mine eyes were dried up, and seared as with a red-hot + iron—my skin was parched, and hot, hot, as if every pore had been + hermetically sealed; there was a hell within me and about me as if the + deck on which I lay had been steel at a white heat, and the gushing blood, + as under the action of a force-pump, throbbed through my head, like it + would have burst on my brain—and such a racking, splitting headache—no + language can describe it, and yet ever and anon in the midst of this + raging fire, this furnace at my heart, seven times heated, a sudden icy + shivering chill would shake me, and pierce through and through me, even + when the roasting fever was at the hottest. + </p> + <p> + At length the day broke on the long, long, moist, steamy night, and once + more the sun rose to bless every thing but me. As the morning wore on, my + torments increased with the heat, and I lay sweltering on deck, in a + furious delirium, held down forcibly by two men, who were relieved by + others every now and then, while I raved about Obed, and Paul, and the + scenes I had witnessed on board during the chase, and in the attack. None + of my rough but kind nurses expected I could have held on till nightfall; + but shortly after sunset I became more collected, and, as I was afterwards + told, whenever any little office was performed for me, whenever some drink + was held to my lips, I would say to the gruff sunburnt, black-whiskered, + square shouldered topman who might be my Ganymede for the occasion, “Thank + you, Mary; Heaven bless your pale face, Mary; bless you, bless you!” + </p> + <p> + It seemed my fancy had shaken itself clear of the fearful objects that had + so pertinaciously haunted me before, and occupying itself with pleasing + recollections, had produced a corresponding cahn in the animal; but the + poor fellow to whom I had expressed myself so endearingly, was, I learned, + most awfully put out and dismayed. He twisted and turned his iron features + into all manner of ludicrous combinations, under the laughter of his mates—“Now, + Peter, may I be—but I would rather be shot at, than hear the poor + young gentleman so quiz me in his madness.” + </p> + <p> + Then again—as I praised his lovely taper fingers—they were + more like bunches of frosted carrots, dipped in a tar-bucket, with the + tails snapt short off, where about an inch thick. + </p> + <p> + “My taper fingers—oh lord! Now, Peter, I can’t stomach this any + longer, I’ll give you my grog for the next two days, if you will take my + spell here—My taper fingers—murder!” + </p> + <p> + As the evening closed in we saw the high land of Jamaica, but it was the + following afternoon before we were off the entrance of Mancheoneal Bay. + All this period, although it must have been one of great physical + suffering, has ever, to my ethereal part, remained a dead blank. The first + thing I remember afterwards, was being carried ashore in the dark in a + hammock slung on two oars, so as to form a sort of rude palanquin, and + laid down at a short distance from the overseer’s house where my troubles + had originally commenced. I soon became perfectly sensible and collected, + but I was so weak I could not speak; after resting a little, the men again + lifted me and proceeded. The door of the dining-hall, which was the back + entrance into the overseer’s house, opened flush into the little garden + through which we had come in—there were lights, and sounds of music, + singing, and jovialty within. The farther end of the room, at the door of + which I now rested, opened into the piazza, or open veranda, which crossed + it at right angles, and constituted the front of the house, forming, with + this apartment, a figure somewhat like the letter T. I stood at the foot + of the letter, as it were, and as I looked towards the piazza, which was + gaily lit up, I could see it was crowded with male and female negroes in + their holyday apparel, with their wholesome clear brown-black skins, not + blue-black as they appear in our cold country, and beautiful white teeth, + and sparkling black eyes, amongst whom were several gumbie-men and + flute-players, and John Canoes, as the negro Jack Pudding is called; the + latter distinguishable by wearing white false faces, and enormous shocks + of horsehair, fastened on to their woolly pates. Their character hovers + somewhere between that of a harlequin and a clown, as they dance about, + and thread through the negro groups, quizzing the women and slapping the + men; and at Christmas time, the grand negro carnival, they don’t confine + their practical jokes to their own colour, but take all manner of comical + liberties with the whites equally with their fellow bondsmen. + </p> + <p> + The blackamoor visitors had suddenly, to all appearance, broken off their + dancing, and were now clustered behind a rather remarkable group, who were + seated at supper in the dining-room, near to where I stood, forming, as it + were, the foreground in the scene. Mr Fyall himself was there, and a + rosy-gilled, happy-looking man, who I thought I had seen before; this much + I could discern, for the light fell strong on them, especially on the face + of the latter, which shone like a star of the first magnitude, or a + lighthouse in the red gleam—the usual family of the overseer, the + book-keepers that is, and the worthy who had been the proximate cause of + all my sufferings, the overseer himself, were there too, as if they had + been sitting still at table where I saw them now, ever since I left them + three weeks before—at least my fancy did me the favour to + annihilate, for the nonce, all intermediate time between the point of my + departure on the night of the cooper’s funeral, and the moment when I now + revisited them. + </p> + <p> + I was lifted out of the hammock, and supported to the door between two + seamen. The fresh, nice-looking man before mentioned, Aaron Bang, Esquire, + by name, an incipient planting attorney in the neighbourhood, of great + promise, was in the act of singing a song, for it was during some + holyday-time, which had broken down the stiff observances of a Jamaica + planter’s life. There he sat, lolling back on his chair, with his feet + upon the table, and a cigar, half consumed, in his hand. He had twisted up + his mouth and mirth-provoking nose, which, by an unaccountable control + over some muscle, present in the visage of no other human being, he made + to describe a small circle round the centre of his face, and slewing his + head on one side, he was warbling, ore Yotundo, some melodious ditty, with + infinite complacency, and, to all appearance, to the great delight of his + auditory, when his eyes lighted on me,—he was petrified in a moment, + I seemed to have blasted him,——his warbling ceased + instantaneously, the colour faded from his cheeks, but there he sat, with + open mouth, and in the same attitude as if he still sung, and I had + suddenly become deaf, or as if he and his immediate compotators, and the + group of blackies beyond, had all been on the instant turned to stone by a + slap from one of their own John Canoes. I must have been in truth a + terrible spectacle; my skin was yellow, not as saffron, but as the skin of + a ripe lime; the white of my eyes, to use an Irishism, ditto; my mouth and + lips had festered and broke out, as we say in Scotland; my head was bound + round with a napkin—none of the cleanest, you may swear; my dress + was a pair of dirty duck trowsers, and my shirt, with the boat-cloak that + had been my only counterpane on board of the little vessel, hanging from + my shoulders. + </p> + <p> + Lazarus himself could scarcely have been a more appalling object, when the + voice of him who spoke as never man spake, said, “Lazarus come forth.” + </p> + <p> + I made an unavailing attempt to cross the threshold, but could not. I was + spellbound, or there was an invisible barrier erected against me, which I + could not overleap. The buzzing in my ears, the pain and throbbing in my + head, and racking aches, once more bent me to the earth, ill and reduced + as I was, a relapse, thought I; and I felt my judgment once more giving + way before the sweltering fiend, who had retreated but for a moment to + renew his attacks with still greater fierceness. The moment he once more + entered into me—the instant that I was possessed—I cannot call + it by any other name—an unnatural strength pervaded my shrunken + muscles and emaciated frame, and I stepped boldly into the hall. While I + had stood at the door, listless and feeble as a child, hanging on the arms + of the two topmen, after they had raised me from the hammock, the whole + party had sat silently gazing at me, with their faculties paralysed with + terror. But now, when I stumped into the room like the marble statue in + Don Juan, and glared on them, my eyes sparkling with unearthly brilliancy + under the fierce distemper which had anew thrust its red hot fingers into + my maw, and was at the moment seething my brain in its hellish caldron, + the negroes in the piazza, one and all, men, women, and children, + evanished into the night, and the whole party in the foreground started to + their legs, as if they had been suddenly galvanized; the table and chairs + were overset, and whites and blacks trundled, and scrambled, and bundled + over and over each other, neck and crop, as if the very devil had come to + invite them to dinner in propria personal horns, tail, and all. + </p> + <p> + “Duppy come! Duppy come! Massa Tom Cringle ghost stand at for we door; we + all shall dead, oh—we all shall go dead, oh!” bellowed the father of + gods, my old ally Jupiter. + </p> + <p> + “Guid guide us, that’s an awful sicht!” quod the Scotch bookkeeper. + </p> + <p> + “By the hockeytt speak if you be a ghost, or I’ll exercise [exorcise] ye + wid this butt of a musket,” quoth the cowboy@an Irishman to be sure, whose + round bullet head was discernible in the human mass, by his black, + twinkling, half-drunken-looking eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Well-a-day,” groaned another of them, a Welshman, I believe, with a face + as long as my arm, and a drawl worthy of a Methodist parson; “and what can + it be-flesh and blood, it is not—can these dry bones live?” + </p> + <p> + Ill as I was, however, I could perceive that all this row had now more of + a tipsy frolic in it—whatever it might have had at first—than + absolute fear; for the red-faced visitor, and Mr Fyall, as if half + ashamed, speedily extricated themselves from the chaos of chairs and + living creatures, righted the table, replaced the candles, and having sat + down, looking as grave as judges on the bench, Aaron Bang exclaimed—“I’ll + bet a dozen, it is the poor fellow himself returned on our hands, + half-dead from the rascally treatment he has met with at the hands of + these smuggling thieves!” + </p> + <p> + “Smugglers, or no,” said Fyall, “you are right for once, my peony rose, I + do believe.” + </p> + <p> + But Aaron was a leetle staggered, notwithstanding, when I stumped towards + him, as already described, and he shifted back and back as I advanced, + with a most laughable cast of countenance, between jest and earnest, while + Fyall kept shouting to him—“If it be his ghost, try him in Latin, Mr + Bang—speak Latin to him, Aaron Bang—nothing for a ghost like + Latin, it is their mother tongue.” + </p> + <p> + Bang, who, it seemed, plumed himself on his erudition, forthwith began + “Quae maribus solum tribuunter.” Aaron’s conceit of exorcising a spirit + with the fag-end of an old grammar rule would have tickled me under most + circumstances; but I was far past laughing. I had more need, God help me, + to pray. I made another step. He hitched his chair back. “Bam, Bo, Rem!” + shouted the incipient planting attorney. Another hitch, which carried him + clean out of the supper-room, and across the narrow piazza; but, in this + last movement, he made a regular false step, the two back feet of his + chair dropping over the first step of the front stairs, whereupon he lost + his balance, and toppling over, vanished in a twinkling, and rolled down + half-a-dozen steps, heels over head, until he lay sprawling on the manger + or mule-trough before the door, where the Ceases are fed under busha’s own + eye on all estates—for this excellent and most cogent reason, that + otherwise the maize or guinea-com, belonging of right to poor mulo, would + generally go towards improving the condition, not of the quadruped, but of + the biped quashiet who had charge of him—and there he lay in a + convulsion of laughter. + </p> + <p> + The two seamen, who supported me between them, were at first so completely + dumfoundered by all this, that they could not speak. At length, however, + Timothy Tailtackle lost his patience, and found his tongue. + </p> + <p> + “This may be Jamaica frolic, good gentlemen, and all very comical in its + way; but, d——n me, if it be either gentlemanlike or Christian + like, to be after funning and fuddling, while a fellow creature, and his + Majesty’s commissioned officer to boot, stands before you, all but dead of + one of your blasted fevers.” + </p> + <p> + The honest fellow’s straightforward appeal, far from giving offence to the + kindhearted people to whom it was made, was not only taken in good part, + but Mr Fyall himself took the lead in setting the whole household + immediately to work, to have me properly cared for. The best room in the + house was given up to me. I was carefully shifted and put to bed; but + during all that night and the following day, I was raving in a furious + fever, so that I had to be forcibly held down in my bed, sometimes for + half an hour at a time. + </p> + <p> + I say, messmate, have you ever had the yellow fever, the vomito prieto, + black vomit, as the Spaniards call it?—No?—have you ever had a + bad bilious fever then? No bad bilious fever either?—Why, then, you + are a most unfortunate creature; for you have never known what it was to + be in Heaven, nor eke the other place. Oh the delight, the blessedness of + the languor of recovery, when one finds himself in a large airy room, with + a dreamy indistinct recollection of great past suffering, endured in a + small miserable vessel within the tropics, where you have been roasted one + moment by the vertical rays of the sun, and the next annealed hissing hot + by the salt sea spray;—in a broad luxurious bed, some cool sunny + morning, with the fresh sea breeze whistling through the open windows that + look into the piazza, and rustling the folds of the clean wire gauze + musquitto net that serves you for bed-curtains; while beyond you look + forth into the sequestered court-yard, overshadowed by one vast umbrageous + kennip tree, that makes every thing look green and cool and fresh beneath, + and whose branches the rushing wind is rasping cheerily on the shingles of + the roof-and oh, how passing sweet is the lullaby from the humming of + numberless glancing bright-hued flies, of all sorts and sizes, sparkling + among the green leaves like chips of a prism, and the fitful whirring of + the fairy-flitting humming bird, now here, now there, like winged gems, or + living atoms of the rainbow, round which their tiny wings, moving too + quickly to be visible, form little haloes—and the palm tree at the + house-corner is shaking its long hard leaves, making a sound for all the + world like the pattering of rain; and the orange-tree top, with ripe + fruit, and green fruit, and white blossoms, is waving to and fro flush + with the window-sill, dashing the fragrant odour into your room at every + whish; and the double Jessamine is twining up the papaw (whose fruit, if + rubbed on a bull’s hide, immediately converts it into a tender beef-steak) + and absolutely stifling you with sweet perfume; and then the sangaree old + Madeira, two parts of water, no more, and nutmeg and not a taste out of a + thimble, but a rummerful of it, my boy, that would drown your first-born + at his christening, if he slipped into it, and no stinting in the use of + this ocean; on the contrary, the tidy old brown nurse, or mayhap a buxom + young one, at your bedside, with ever and anon a lettle more panada, (d——n + panada, I had forgotten that!) “and den some more sangaree; it will do + massa good, strengthen him tomack”—and, but I am out of breath, and + must lie to for a brief space. + </p> + <p> + I opened my eyes late in the morning of the second day after landing, and + saw Mr Fyall and the excellent Aaron Bang sitting one on each side of my + bed. Although weak as a sucking infant, I had a strong persuasion on my + mind that all danger was over, and that I was convalescent. I had no + feverish symptom whatsoever, but felt cool and comfortable, with a fine + balmy moisture on my skin; as yet, however, I spoke with great difficulty. + </p> + <p> + Aaron noticed this. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t exert yourself too much, Tom; take it coolly, man, and thank God + that you are now fairly round the corner. Is your head painful?” + </p> + <p> + “No—why should it?” + </p> + <p> + Mr Fyall smiled, and I put up my hand—it was all I could do, for my + limbs appeared loaded with lead at the extremities, and when I touched any + part of my frame, with my hand for instance, there was no concurring + sensation conveyed by the nerves of the two parts; sometimes I felt as if + touched by the hand of another; at others, as if I had touched the person + of some one else. When I raised my hand to my forehead, my fingers + instinctively moved to take hold of my hair, for I was in no small degree + proud of some luxuriant brown curls, which the women used to praise. Alas + and alack-a-day! in place of ringlets, glossy with Macassar oil, I found a + cool young tender plantain-leaf bound round my temples. + </p> + <p> + “What is all this?” said I. “A kale-blade, where my hair used to be!” + </p> + <p> + “How came this kale-blade here, And how came it here?” + </p> + <p> + Sung friend Bang, laughing, for he had great powers of laughter, and I saw + he kept his quizzical face turned towards some object at the head of the + bed, which I could not see. + </p> + <p> + “You may say that, Aaron—where’s my wig, you rogue, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, Tom,” said Fyall, “your hair will soon grow again, won’t it, + miss?” + </p> + <p> + “Miss! miss!” and I screwed my neck round, and lo!—“Ah, Mary, and + are you the Delilah who have shorn my locks—you wicked young female + lady you!” + </p> + <p> + She smiled and nodded to Aaron, who was a deuced favourite with the + ladies, black, brown, and white, (I give the pas to the staple of the + country—hope no offence,) as well as with every one else who ever + knew him. + </p> + <p> + “How dare you, friend Bang, shave and blister my head, you dog?” said I. + “You cannibal Indian, you have scalped me; you are a regular Mohawk.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, Tom—never mind, my boy,” said he. “Ay, you may blush, + Mary Palma. Cringle there will fight, but he will have ‘Palmam qui meruit + ferat’ for his motto yet, take my word for it.” + </p> + <p> + The sight of my cousin’s lovely face, and the heavenly music of her + tongue, made me so forgiving, that I could be angry with no one.—At + this moment a nice-looking elderly man slid into the room as noiselessly + as a cat. + </p> + <p> + “How are you, Lieutenant? Why, you are positively gay this morning! + Preserve me!—why have you taken off the dressing from your head?” + </p> + <p> + “Preserve me—you may say that, Doctor—why, you seem to have + preserved me, and pickled me after a very remarkable fashion, certainly! + Why, man, do you intend to make a mummy of me, with all your swaddlings? + Now, what is that crackling on my chest? More plantain-leaves, as I live!” + </p> + <p> + “Only another blister, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Only another blister—and my feet—Zounds! what have you been + doing with my feet? The soles are as tender as if I had been bastinadoed.” + </p> + <p> + “Only cataplasms, sir; mustard and bird-pepper poultices nothing more.” + </p> + <p> + “Mustard and bird-pepper poultices!—and pray, what is that long + fiddle case supported on two chairs in the piazza!” + </p> + <p> + “What case?” said the good Doctor, and his eye followed mine. “Oh, my + gun-case. I am a great sportsman, you must know—but draw down that + blind, Mr Bang, if you please, the breeze is too strong.” + </p> + <p> + “Gun-case! I would rather have taken it for your game-box, Doctor. + However, thanks be to Heaven, you have not bagged me this bout.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment, I heard a violent scratching and jumping on the roof of + the house, and presently a loud croak, and a strong rushing noise, as of a + large bird taking flight—“What is that, Doctor?” + </p> + <p> + “The devil,” said he, laughing, “at least your evil genius, Lieutenant, it + is the carrion crows, the large John—Crows, as they are called, + flying away. They have been holding a council of war upon you since early + dawn, expecting (I may tell you, now you are so well) that it might likely + soon turn into a coroner’s inquest.” + </p> + <p> + “John—Crow!—Coroner’s inquest!—Cool shavers those West + India chaps, after all!” muttered I; and again I lay back, and offered up + my heart, warm thanks to the Almighty, for his great mercy to me a sinner. + </p> + <p> + My aunt and cousin had been on a visit in the neighbourhood, and overnight + Mr Fyall had kindly sent for them to receive my last sigh, for to all + appearance I was fast going. Oh, the gratitude of my heart, the tears of + joy I wept in my weak blessedness, and the overflowing of heart that I + experienced towards that almighty and ever-merciful Being who had spared + me, and brought me out of my great sickness, to look round on dear + friends, and on the idol of my heart, once more, after all my grievous + sufferings! I took Mary’s hand—I could not raise it for lack of + strength, or I would have kissed it; but, as she leant over me, Fyall came + behind her and gently pressed her sweet lips to mine, while the dear girl + blushed as red as Aaron Bang’s face. By this my aunt herself had come into + the room, and a warm congratulations, and last, although not least, + Timothy Tailtackle made his appearance in the piazza at the window, with a + clean, joyful, well shaven countenance. He grinned, turned his quid, + pulled up his trowsers, smoothed down his hair with his hand, and gave a + sort of half-tipsy shamble, meant for a bow, as he entered the bedroom. + </p> + <p> + “You have forereached on Davy this time, sir. Heaven be praised for it! He + was close aboard of you, howsomdever, sir, once or twice.” Then he bowed + round the room again, with a sort of swing or caper, whichever you choose + to call it, as if he had been the party obliged. “Kind folk, these, sir,” + he continued, in what was meant for sotto voce, and for my ear alone, but + it was more like the growling of a mastiff puppy than any thing else. + “Kind folk, sir—bad as their mountebanking looked the first night, + sir—why, Lord bless your honour, may they make a marine of me, if + they han’t set a Bungo to wait on us, Bill and I, that is—and we has + grog more than does us good—and grub, my eye!—only think, sir—Bill + and Timothy Tailtackle waited on by a black Bungo!” and he doubled himself + up, chuckling and hugging himself, with infinite glee. + </p> + <p> + “All now went merry as a marriage bell.” I was carefully conveyed to + Kingston, where I rallied under my aunt’s hospitable roof, as rapidly + almost as I had sickened, and within a fortnight, all bypast strangeness + explained to my superiors, I at length occupied my berth in the + Firebrand’s gunroom, as third lieutenant of the ship. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI.—More Scenes in Jamaica. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + There be land-rats and water-rats—water-thieves + and land-thieves I mean pirates. + + The Merchant Of Venice, I. iii. 22—24. +</pre> + <p> + The malady from whose fangs I had just escaped, was at this time making + fearful ravages amongst the troops and white inhabitants of Jamaica + generally; nor was the squadron exempted from the afflicting visitation, + although it suffered in a smaller degree. + </p> + <p> + I had occasion at this time to visit Uppark camp, a military post about a + mile and a half from Kingston, where two regiments of infantry, and a + detachment of artillery, were stationed. + </p> + <p> + In the forenoon, I walked out in company with an officer, a relation of my + own, whom I had gone to visit; enjoying the fresh sea breeze that whistled + past us in half a gale of wind, although the sun was vertical, and shining + into the bottom of a pint pot, as the sailors have it. + </p> + <p> + The barracks were built on what appeared to me a very dry situation + (although I have since heard it alleged that there was a swamp to windward + of it, over which the sea breeze blew, but this I did not see,) + considerably elevated above the hot sandy plain on which Kingston stands, + and sloping gently towards the sea. They were splendid, large, airy two + story buildings, well raised off the ground on brick pillars, so that + there was a perfectly free ventilation of air between the surface of the + earth and the floor of the first story, as well as through the whole of + the upper rooms. A large balcony, or piazza, ran along the whole of the + south front, both above and below, which shaded the brick shell of the + house from the sun, and afforded a cool and convenient lounge for the men. + The outhouses of all kinds were well thrown back into the rear, so that in + front there was nothing to intercept the sea-breeze. The officers’ + quarters stood in advance of the men’s barracks, and were, as might be + expected, still more comfortable; and in front of all were the + field-officer’s houses, the whole of substantial brick and mortar. This + superb establishment stood in an extensive lawn, not surpassed in beauty + by any nobleman’s park that I had ever seen. It was immediately after the + rains when I visited it; the grass was luxuriant and newly cut, and the + trees, which grew in detached clumps, were most magnificent. We clambered + up into one of them, a large umbrageous wild cotton-tree, which cast a + shadow on the ground—the sun being, as already mentioned, right + overhead—of thirty paces in diameter; but still it was but a + dwarfish plant of its kind, for I have measured others whose gigantic + shadows, at the same hour, were upwards of one hundred and fifty feet in + diameter, and their trunks, one in particular that overhangs the Spanish + Town road, twenty feet through of solid timber; that is, not including the + enormous spurs that shoot out like buttresses, and end in strong twisted + roots, that strike deep into the earth, and form stays, as it were, to the + tree in all directions. + </p> + <p> + Our object, however—publish it not in Askalon was, not so much to + admire the charms of nature, as to enjoy the luxury of a real Havannah + cigar, in solitary comfort; and a glorious perch we had selected. The + shade was grateful beyond measure. The fresh breeze was rushing, almost + roaring, through the leaves and groaning branches, and every thing around + was green, and fragrant, and Cool, and delicious; by comparison that is, + for the thermometer would, I daresay, have still vouched for eighty + degrees. The branches overhead were alive with a variety of beautiful + lizards, and birds of the gayest plumage; amongst others, a score of small + chattering green paroquets were hopping close to us, and playing at bopeep + from the lower surfaces of the leaves of the wild pine, (a sort of + Brobdignag parasite, that grows, like the mistletoe, in the clefts of the + larger trees,) to which they clung, as green and shining as the leaves + themselves, and ever and anon popping their little heads and shoulders + over to peer at us; while the red-breasted woodpecker kept drumming on + every hollow part of the bark, for all the world, like old Kelson, the + carpenter of the Torch, tapping along the top sides for the dry rot. All + around us the men were lounging about in the shade, and sprawling on the + grass in their foraging caps and light jackets, with an officer here and + there lying reading, or sauntering about, bearding Phoebus himself, to + watch for a shot at a swallow, as it skimmed past; while goats and horses, + sheep and cattle, were browsing the fresh grass, or sheltering themselves + from the heat beneath the trees. All nature seemed alive and happy—a + little drowsy from the heat or so, but that did not much signify—when + two carts, each drawn by a mule, and driven by a negro, approached the + tree whereon we were perched. A solitary sergeant accompanied them, and + they appeared, when a bowshot distant, to be loaded with white deal boxes. + </p> + <p> + I paid little attention to them until they drove under the tree. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Snowdrop,” said the non-commissioned officer, “where be them black + rascals, them pioneers—where is the fateague party, my Lily white, + who ought to have the trench dug by this time?” + </p> + <p> + “Dere now,” grumbled the negro, “dere now—easy ting to deal wid + white gentleman, but debil cannot satisfy dem worsted sash.” Then aloud—“Me + no know, sir—me can’t tell—no for me business to dig hole—I + only carry what you fill him up wid;” and the vampire, looking over his + shoulder, cast his eye towards his load, and grinned until his white teeth + glanced from ear to ear. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said the Irish sergeant, “I could brain you, but it is not worth + while!”—I question if he could, however, knowing as I did the + thickness of their skulls, “Ah, here they come!”—and a dozen half + drunken, more than half-naked, bloated, villainous-looking blackamoors, + with shovels and pick-axes on their shoulders, came along the road, + laughing and singing most lustily. They passed beneath where we sat, and, + when about a stonecast beyond, they all jumped into a trench or pit, which + I had not noticed before, about twenty feet long, by eight wide. It was + already nearly six feet deep, but it seemed they had instructions to sink + it further, for they first plied their pickaxes, and then began to shovel + out the earth. When they had completed their labour, the sergeant, who had + been superintending their operations, returned to where the carts were + still standing beneath the tree. One of them had six coffins in it, with + the name of the tenant of each, and number of his company, marked in red + chalk on the smallest end! + </p> + <p> + “I say, Snowdrop,” said the sergeant, “how do you come to have only five + bodies, when Cucumbershin there has six?” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I hab no more as five, and weight enough too. You no see + Corporal Bumblechops dere? You knows how big he was.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but where is Sergeant Heavystern? why did you not fetch him away + with the others?” + </p> + <p> + The negro answered doggedly, “Massa Sergeant, you should remember dem no + die of consumption—cough you call him—nor fever and ague, nor + any ting dat waste dem—for tree day gone—no more—all + were mount guard—tout and fat; so as for Sergeant Heavystern, him + left in de dead-house at de hospital.” + </p> + <p> + “I guessed as much, you dingy tief,” said the sergeant, “but I will break + your bones, if you don’t give me a sufficing reason why you left him.”—And + he approached Snowdrop, with his cane raised in act to strike. + </p> + <p> + “Top, massa,” shouted the negro; “me will tell you—Dr Plaget desire + dat Heavystern should be leave.” + </p> + <p> + “Confound Dr Plaget”—and he smote the pioneer across the pate, + whereby he broke his stick, although, as I anticipated, without much + hurting his man—but the sergeant instantly saw his error, and with + the piece of the baton he gave Snowdrop a tap on the shin-bone, that set + him pirouetting on one leg, with the other in his hand, like a tee-totum. + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, did you not bring as many as Cucumbershin, sir?” “Becaase” + screamed Snowdrop, in great wrath, now all alive and kicking from the + smart—“Becaase Cucumbershin is loaded wid light infantry, sir, and + all of mine are grenadier, Massa Sergeant—dat dem good reason + surely!” + </p> + <p> + “No, it is not, sir; go back and fetch Heavystern immediately, or by the + powers but I will”—“Massa Sergeant, you must be mad—Dr Plaget—you + won’t yeerie—but him say, five grenadier—especially wid + Corporal Bumblechop for one—is good load—ay, wery tif load—equal + to seven tallion company [battallion, I presume], and more better load, + great deal, den six light infantry—beside him say, tell Sergeant + Pivot to send you back at five in de afternoon wid four more coffin, by + which time he would have anoder load, and in trute de load was ready + prepare in de deadhouse before I come away, only dem were not well cold + just yet.” + </p> + <p> + I was mightily shocked at all this—but my chum took it very coolly.—He + slightly raised one side of his mouth, and, giving a knowing wink with his + eye, lighted a fresh cigar, and continued to puff away with all the + composure in the world. + </p> + <p> + At length the forenoon wore away, and the bugles sounded for dinner, when + we adjourned to the messroom. It was a very large and handsome saloon, + standing alone in the lawn, and quite detached from all the other + buildings, but the curtailed dimensions of the table in the middle of it, + and the ominous crowding together of the regimental plate, like a + show-table in Rundle and Bridge’s back shop, gave startling proofs of the + ravages of the “pestilence that walketh in darkness, and the destruction + that wasteth at noonday;” for although the whole regiment was in barracks, + there were only nine covers laid, one of which was for me. The + lieutenant-colonel, the major, and, I believe, fifteen other officers, had + already been gathered to their fathers, within four months from the day on + which the regiment landed from the transports. Their warfare was o’er, and + they slept well. At the first, when the insidious disease began to creep + on apace, and to evince its deadly virulence, all was dismay and anxiety—downright, + slavish, unmanly fear, even amongst casehardened veterans, who had + weathered the whole Peninsular war, and finished off with Waterloo. The + next week passed over—the mortality increasing, but the dismay + decreasing and so it wore on, until it reached its horrible climax, at the + time I speak of, by which period there was absolutely no dread at all. A + reckless gaiety had succeeded not the screwing up of one’s courage for the + nonce, to mount a breach, or to lay an enemy’s frigate aboard, where the + substratum of fear is present, although cased over by an energetic + exertion of the will; but an unnatural light-heartedness, for which + account, ye philosophers, for I cannot—and this, too, amongst men + who, although as steel in the field, yet whenever a common cold overtook + them in quarters, or a small twinge of rheumatic pain, would, under other + circumstances, have caudled and beflannelled themselves, and bored you for + your sympathy, at no allowance, as they say. + </p> + <p> + The major elect, that is, the senior captain, was in the chair; as for the + lieutenant-colonel’s vacancy, that was too high an aspiration for any man + in the regiment. A stranger of rank, and interest, and money, would of + course get that step, for the two deaths in the regimental staff made but + one captain a major, as my neighbour on the left hand feelingly remarked. + All was fun and joviality; we had a capital dinner, and no allusion + whatever, direct or indirect, was made to the prevailing mortal epidemic, + until the surgeon came in, about eight o’clock in the evening. + </p> + <p> + “Sit down, doctor,” said the president—“take some wine; can + recommend the Madeira, claret but so, so your health.” + </p> + <p> + The doctor bowed, and soon became as happy and merry as the rest; so we + carried on, until about ten o’clock, when the lights began to waltz a + little, and propagate also, and I found I had got enough, or, + peradventure, a little more than enough, when the senior captain rose, and + walked very composedly out of the room—but I noticed him pinch the + doctor’s shoulder as he passed. + </p> + <p> + The Medico thereupon stole quietly after him; but we did not seem to miss + either—a young sub had usurped the deserted throne, and there we + were all once more in full career, singing and bousing, and cracking. bad + jokes to our hearts’ content. By-and-by, in comes the doctor once more. + </p> + <p> + “Doctor,” quoth young sub, “take some wine; can’t recommend the Madeira + this time,” mimicking his predecessor very successfully; “the claret, you + know, has been condemned, but a little hot brandy and water, eh?” + </p> + <p> + The doctor once more bowed his pate, made his hot stuff, and volunteered a + song.—After he had finished, and we had all hammered on the table to + his honour and glory, until every thing danced again as if it had been a + matter of very trivial concern, he said, “Sorry I was away so long; but + old Spatterdash has got a damned thick skin, I can tell you—could + scarcely get the lancet into him—I thought I should have had to send + for a spring phleme—to tip him the veterinary, you know—and he + won’t take physic: so I fear he will have but a poor chance.” + </p> + <p> + Spatterdash was no other than mine host who had just vacated! + </p> + <p> + “What, do you really think he is in for it?” said the second oldest + captain who sat next me; and as he spoke he drew his leg from beneath the + table, and, turning out his dexter heel, seemed to contemplate the site of + the prospective fixed spur. + </p> + <p> + “I do, indeed,” quoth Dr Plaget. He died within three days! + </p> + <p> + But as I do not intend to write an essay on yellow fever, I will make an + end, and get on shipboard as fast as I can, after stating one strong fact, + authenticated to me by many unimpeachable witnesses. It is this; that this + dreadful epidemic, or contagious fever—call it which you will, has + never appeared, or been propagated at or beyond an altitude of 3000 feet + above the level of the sea, although people seized with it on the hot + sultry plains, and removed thither, have unquestionably died. In a country + like Jamaica, with a range of lofty mountains, far exceeding this height, + intersecting the island through nearly its whole length, might not + Government, after satisfying themselves of the truth of the fact, improve + on the hint? Might not a main-guard suffice in Kingston, for instance, + while the regiments were in quarters half-way up the Liguanea Mountains, + within twelve miles actual distance from the town, and within view of it, + so that during the day, by a semaphore on the mountain, and another at the + barrack of the outpost, a constant and instantaneous communication could + be kept up, and, if need were, by lights in the night? + </p> + <p> + The admiral, for instance, had a semaphore in the stationary flagship at + Port Royal, which communicated with another at his Pen, or residence, near + Kingston; and this again rattled off the information to the mountain + retreat, where he occasionally retired to careen; and it is fitting to + state also, that in all the mountain districts of Jamaica which I visited, + there is abundance of excellent water and plenty of fuel. These matters + are worth consideration, one would think; however, allons—it is no + business of Tom Cringle’s. + </p> + <p> + Speaking of telegraphing, I will relate an anecdote here, if you will wait + until I mend my pen. I had landed at Greenwich wharf on duty—this + was the nearest point of communication between Port Royal and the + Admiral’s Pen—where, finding the flag lieutenant, he drove me up in + his ketureen to lunch. While we were regaling ourselves, the old signalman + came into the piazza, and with several most remarkable obeisances, gave us + to know that there were flags hoisted on the signalmast, at the mountain + settlement, of which he could make nothing, the uppermost was neither the + interrogative, the affirmative, nor the negative, nor in fact any thing + that with the book he could make sense of. + </p> + <p> + “Odd enough,” said the lieutenant; “hand me the glass,” and he peered away + for half a minute. “Confound me if I can make heads or tails of it either; + there, Cringle, what do you think? How do you construe it?” + </p> + <p> + I took the telescope. Uppermost there was hoisted on the signal mast a + large tablecloth, not altogether immaculate, and under it a towel, as I + guessed, for it was too opaque for bunting, and too white, although I + could not affirm that it was fresh out of the fold either. + </p> + <p> + “I am puzzled,” said I, as I spied away again. Meanwhile there was no + acknowledgment made at our semaphore—“There, down they go,” I + continued “Why, it must be a mistake, Stop, here’s a new batch going up + above the green trees—There goes the tablecloth once more, and the + towel, and deuce take me, if I can compare the lowermost to any thing but + a dishclout—why, it must be a dishclout.” + </p> + <p> + The flags, or substitutes for them, streamed another minute in the breeze, + but as there was still no answer made from our end of the string, they + were once more hauled down—We waited another minute—“Why, here + goes the same signal up again, tablecloth, towel, dishclout, and all—What + the diable have we got here? A red ball, two pennants under. What can that + mean?—Ball—it is the bonnet-rouge, or I am a Dutchman, with + two short streamers” Another look—“A red night-cap and a pair of + stockings, by all that is portentous!” exclaimed I. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I see, I see!” said the lieutenant, laughing, “signal-man, + acknowledge it.” + </p> + <p> + It was done, and down came all the flags in a trice. It appeared, on + enquiry, that the washing cart, which ought to have been sent up that + morning, had been forgotten; and the Admiral and his secretary having + ridden out, there was no one who could make the proper signal for it. So + the old housekeeper took this singular method of having the cart + despatched, and it was sent off accordingly. + </p> + <p> + For the first week after I entered on my new office, I was busily engaged + on board; during which time my mind was quite made up, that the most + rising man in his Majesty’s service, beyond all compare, was Lieutenant + Thomas Cringle, third of the Firebrand. During this eventful period I + never addressed a note to any friend on shore, or to a brother officer, + without writing in the left-hand lower corner of the envelope, “Lieutenant + Cringle,” and clapping three dashing, &c. &c. &c below the + party’s name for whom it was intended. + </p> + <p> + “Must let ‘em know that an officer of my rank in the service knows + somewhat of the courtesies of life, eh?” + </p> + <p> + In about ten days, however, we had gotten the ship into high order and + ready for sea, and now the glory and honour of command, like my only + epaulet, that had been soaked while on duty in one or two showers, and + afterwards regularly bronzed in the sun, began to tarnish, and lose the + new gloss, like every thing else in this weary world. It was about this + time, while sitting at breakfast in the gunroom one fine morning, with the + other officers of our mess, gossiping about I hardly remember what, that + we heard the captain’s voice on deck. + </p> + <p> + “Call the first lieutenant.” + </p> + <p> + “He is at breakfast, sir,” said the man, whoever he might have been, to + whom the order was addressed. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind then—Here, boatswain’s mate—Pipe away the men who + were captured in the boats; tell them to clean themselves, and send Mr——to + me”—(This was the officer who had been taken prisoner along with + them in the first attack)—“they are wanted in Kingston at the trial + today. Stop, tell Mr Cringle also to get ready to go in the gig.” + </p> + <p> + The pirates, to the amount of forty-five, had been transferred to Kingston + jail some days previously, preparatory to their trial, which, as + above-mentioned, was fixed for this day. + </p> + <p> + We pulled cheerily up to Kingston, and, landing at the Wherry wharf, + marched along the hot dusty streets, under a broiling sun, Captain + Transom, the other Lieutenant, and myself, in full puff, leading the van, + followed by about fourteen seamen, in white straw hats, with broad black + ribbons, and clean white frocks and trowsers, headed by a boatswain’s + mate, with his silver whistle hung round his neck—as respectable a + tail as any Christian could desire to swinge behind him; and, man for man, + I would willingly have perilled my promotion upon their walloping, with no + offensive weapons but their stretchers, the Following, claymores and all, + of any proud, disagreeable, would-be mighty mountaineer, that ever turned + up his supercilious, whisky blossomed snout at Bailie Jarvie. On they + came, square-shouldered, narrow-flanked, tall, strapping fellows, tumbling + and rolling about the piazzas in knots of three and four, until, at the + corner of King Street, they came bolt up upon a well-known large, fat, + brown lady, famous for her manufacture of spruce beer. + </p> + <p> + “Avast, avast a bit”—sung out one of the topmen—“let the nobs + heave a head, will ye, and let’s have a pull.” + </p> + <p> + “Here, old mother Slush,” sung out another of the cutter’s crew. “Hand us + up a dozen bottles of spruce, do you hear?” + </p> + <p> + “Dozen battle of pruce!” groaned the old woman—“who shall pay me?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, do you think the Firebrands are thieves, you old canary, you?” + </p> + <p> + “How much, eh?” said the boatswain’s mate. + </p> + <p> + “Twelve feepennies,” quoth the matron. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, ah!” said one of the men—“Twelve times five is half a crown; + there’s a dollar for you, old mother Popandchokem—now give me back + five shillings.” + </p> + <p> + “Eigh, oh!” whined out the spruce merchant; “you dem rascal, who tell you + dat your dollar more wort den any one else money eh? How can give you back + five shilling and keep back twelve feepenny—eh?” The culprit, who + had stood the Cocker of the company, had by this time gained his end, + which was to draw the fat damsel a step or two from the large tub + half-full of water, where the bottles were packed, and to engage her + attention by stirring up her bile, or corruption, as they call it in + Scotland, while his messmates instantly seized the opportunity, and a + bottle a-piece also, and, as I turned round to look for them, there they + all were in a circle taking the meridian altitude of the sun, or as if + they had been taking aim at the pigeons on the eaves of the houses above + them with Indian mouth tubes. + </p> + <p> + They then replaced the bottles in the tub, paid the woman more than she + asked; but, by way of taking out the change, they chucked her stern + foremost into the water amongst her merchandise, and then shouldered the + vessel, old woman and all, and away they staggered with her, the empty + bottles clattering together in the water, and the old lady swearing and + bouncing and squattering amongst them, while jack shouted to her to hold + her tongue, or they would let her go by the run bodily. Thus they stumped + in the wake of their captain, until he arrived at the door of the + Courthouse, to the great entertainment of the bystanders, cutting the + strings that confined the corks of the stone bottles as they bowled along, + popping the spruce into each other’s faces, and the faces of the negroes, + as they ran out of the stores to look at jack in his frolic, and now and + then taking a shot at the old woman’s cockemony itself, as she was held + kicking and spurring high above their heads. + </p> + <p> + At length the captain, who was no great way ahead, saw what was going on, + which was the signal for doucinog the whole affair, spruce-woman, tub, and + bottles; and the party gathering themselves up, mustered close aboard of + us, as grave as members of the General Assembly. + </p> + <p> + The regular courthouse of the city being under repair, the Admiralty + Sessions were held in a large room occupied temporarily for the purpose. + At one end, raised two steps above the level of the floor, was the bench, + on which were seated the Judge of the Admiralty Court, supported by two + post captains in full uniform, who are ex-officio judges of this court in + the colonies, one on each side. On the right, the jury, composed of + merchants of the place, and respectable planters of the neighbourhood, + were enclosed in a sort of box, with a common white pine railing + separating it from the rest of the court. There was a long table in front + of the bench, at which a lot of blackrobed devil’s limbs of lawyers, were + ranged—but both amongst them, and on the bench, the want of the + cauliflower wigs was sorely felt by me, as well as by the seamen, who + considered it little less than murder, that men in crops-black shock-pated + fellows—should sit in judgment on their fellow-creatures, where life + and death were in the scales. + </p> + <p> + On the left hand of the bench, the motley public, white, black, and of + every intermediate shade—were grouped; as also in front of the dock, + which was large. It might have been made with a view to the possibility of + fifteen unfortunates or so being arraigned at one time; but now there were + no fewer than forty-three jammed and pegged together into it, like sheep + in a Smithfield pen the evening before market-day. These were the forty + thieves—the pirates. They were all, without exception, clean, well + shaven, and decently rigged in white trowsers, linen or check shirts, and + held their broad Panama sombreros in their hands. + </p> + <p> + Most of them wore the red silk sash round the waist. They had generally + large bushy whiskers, and not a few had earrings of massive gold, (why + call wearing earrings puppyism? Shakspeare wore earrings, or the Chandos + portrait lies,) and chains of the same metal round their necks, + supporting, as I concluded, a crucifix, hid in the bosom of the shirt. A + Spaniard can’t murder a man comfortably, if he has not his crucifix about + him. + </p> + <p> + They were, collectively, the most daring, intrepid, Salvator Rosa looking + men I had ever seen. Most of them were above the middle size, and the + spread of their shoulders, the grace with which their arms were hung, and + finely developed muscles of the chest and neck, the latter exposed + completely by the folding back of their shirt collars, cut large and + square, after the Spanish fashion, beat the finest boat’s-crew we could + muster all to nothing. Some of them were of mixed blood, that is, the + cross between the European Spaniard and the aboriginal Indian of Cuba, a + race long since sacrificed on tile altar of Mammon, the white man’s god. + </p> + <p> + Their hair, generally speaking, was long, and curled over the forehead + black and glossy, or hung down to their shoulders in ringlets, that a + dandy of the second Charles’s time would have given his little finger for. + The forehead in most was high and broad, and of a clear olive, the nose + straight, springing boldly from the brow, the cheeks oval, and the mouth—every + Spaniard has a beautiful mouth, until he spoils it with the beastly cigar, + as far as his well-formed firm lips can be spoiled; but his teeth he + generally does destroy early in life. Take the whole, however, and deduct + for the teeth, I had never seen so handsome a set of men; and I am sure no + woman, had she been there, would have gainsayed me. They stood up, and + looked forth upon their judges and the jury like brave men, desperadoes + though they were. They were, without exception, calm and collected, as if + aware that they had small chance of escape, but still determined not to + give that chance away. One young man especially attracted my attention, + from the bold, cool self-possession of his bearing. He was in the very + front of the dock, and dressed in no way different from the rest, so far + as his under garments were concerned, unless it were that they were of a + finer quality. He wore a short green velvet jacket, profusely studded with + knobs and chains, like small chain-shot, of solid gold, similar to the + shifting button lately introduced by our dandies in their waistcoats. It + was not put on, but hung on one shoulder, being fastened across his breast + by the two empty sleeves tied together in a knot. He also wore the red + silk sash, through which a broad gold cord ran twining like the strand of + a rope. He had no earrings, but his hair was the most beautiful I had ever + seen in a male—long and black, jet black and glossy. It was turned + up and fastened in a club on the crown of his head with a large pin, I + should rather say skewer, of silver; but the outlandishness of the fashion + was not offensive, when I came to take into the account the beauty of the + plaiting, and of the long raven lovelocks that hung down behind each of + his small transparent ears, and the short Hyperion-like curls that + clustered thick and richly on his high, pale, broad forehead. His eyes + were large, black, and swimming, like a woman’s; his nose straight and + thin; and such a mouth, such an under-lip, full and melting; and teeth + regular and white, and utterly free from the pollution of tobacco; and a + beautifully moulded small chin, rounding off, and merging in his round, + massive, muscular neck. + </p> + <p> + I had never seen so fine a face, such perfection of features, and such a + clear, dark, smooth skin. It was a finer face than Lord Byron’s, whom I + had seen more than once, and wanted that hellish curl of the lip; and, as + to figure, he could, to look at him, at any time have eaten up his + lordship stoop and roop to his breakfast. It was the countenance, in a + word, of a most beautiful youth, melancholy, indeed, and anxious evidently + anxious; for the large pearls that coursed each other down his forehead + and cheek, and the slight quivering of the under-lip, every now and then + evinced the powerful struggle that was going on within. His figure was, if + possible, superior to his face. It was not quite filled up, set, as we + call it, but the arch of his chest was magnificent, his shoulders square, + arms well put on; but his neck—“Have you seen the Apollo, + neighbour?”—“No, but the cast of it at Somerset House.”—“Well, + that will do—so you know the sort of neck he had.” His waist was + fine, hips beautifully moulded; and although his under limbs were shrouded + in his wide trowsers, they were evidently of a piece with what was seen + and developed; and this was vouched for by the turn of his ankle and + well-shaped foot on which he wore a small Spanish grass slipper, fitted + with great nicety. He was at least six feet two in height, and such as I + have described him; there he stood, with his hands grasping the rail + before him and looking intently at a wigless lawyer who was opening the + accusation, while he had one ear turned a little towards the sworn + interpreter of the court, whose province it was, at every pause, to + explain to the prisoners what the learned gentleman was stating. From time + to time he said a word or two to a square-built, dark, ferocious-looking + man standing next him, apparently about forty years of age, who, as well + as his fellow prisoners, appeared to pay him great respect; and I could + notice the expression of their countenances change as his rose or fell. + </p> + <p> + The indictment had been read before I came in, and, as already mentioned, + the lawyer was proceeding with his accusatory speech, and, as it appeared + to me, the young Spaniard had some difficulty in understanding the + interpreter’s explanation. Whenever he saw me, he exclaimed, “Ah! aqui + viene, el Senor Teniente—ahora sabremos ahora, ahora;” and he + beckoned to me to draw near. I did so. + </p> + <p> + “I beg pardon, Mr Cringle,” he said in Spanish, with the ease and grace of + a nobleman “but I believe the interpreter to be incapable, and I am + certain that what I say is not fittingly explained to the judges; neither + do I believe he can give me a sound notion of what the advocate (avocado) + is alleging against us. May I entreat you to solicit the bench for + permission to take his place? I know you will expect no apology for the + trouble from a man in my situation.” + </p> + <p> + This unexpected address in open court took me fairly aback, and I stopped + short while in the act of passing the open space in front of the dock, + which was kept clear by six marines in white jackets, whose muskets, fixed + bayonets, and uniform caps, seemed out of place to my mind in a criminal + court. The lawyer suddenly suspended his harangue, while the judges fixed + their eyes on me, and so did the audience, confound them! To be the focus + of so many eyes was trying to my modesty; for, although unacquainted with + bettermost society, still, below any little manner that I had acquired, + there was, and always will be, an under stratum of bashfulness, or + sheepishness, or mauvaise honte, call it which you will; and the torture, + the breaking on the wheel, with which a man of that temperament perceives + the eyes of a whole courthouse, for instance, attracted to him, none but a + bashful man can understand. At length I summoned courage to speak. + </p> + <p> + “May it please your honours, this poor fellow, on his own behalf, and on + the part of his fellow-prisoners, complains of the incapacity of the sworn + interpreter, and requests that I may be made the channel of communication + in his stead.” + </p> + <p> + This was a tremendous effort, and once more the whole blood of my body + rushed to my cheeks and forehead, and I “sweat extremely.” The judges, he + of the black robe and those of the epaulet, communed together. + </p> + <p> + “Have you any objection to be sworn, Mr Cringle?” + </p> + <p> + “None in the least, provided the court considers me competent, and the + accused are willing to trust to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Si, si!” exclaimed the young Spaniard, as if comprehending what was going + on—“Somos contentos—todos, todos!” and he looked round, like a + prince, on his fellow—culprits. A low murmuring, “Si, si—contento, + contento!” passed amongst the group. + </p> + <p> + “The accused, please your honours, are willing to trust to my + correctness.” + </p> + <p> + “Pray, Mr Cringle, don’t make yourself the advocate of these men, mind + that,” said the—, lawyer sans wig. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t intend it, sir,” I said, slightly stung; “but if you had suffered + what I have done at their hands, peradventure such a caution to you would + have been unnecessary.” + </p> + <p> + The sarcasm told, I was glad to see; but remembering where I was, I hauled + but of action with the man of words, simply giving the last shot “I am + sure no English gentleman would willingly throw any difficulty in the way + of the poor fellows being made aware of what is given in evidence against + them, bad as they may be.” + </p> + <p> + He was about rejoining, for a lawyer would as soon let you have the last + word as a sweep or a baker the wall, when the officer of court approached + and swore me in, and the trial proceeded. + </p> + <p> + The whole party were proved by fifty witnesses to have been taken in arms + on board of the schooners in the Cove; and farther, it was proved that no + commission or authority to cruise whatsoever was found on board any of + them, a strong proof that they were pirates. + </p> + <p> + “Que dice, que dice?” enquired the young Spaniard already mentioned. + </p> + <p> + I said that the court seemed to infer, and were pressing it on the jury, + that the absence of any commission or letter of marque from a superior + officer, or from any of the Spanish authorities, was strong evidence that + they were marauders—in fact pirates. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” he exclaimed; “gracias, gracias!” Then, with an agitated hand, he + drew from his bosom a parchment, folded like the manifest of a merchant + ship, and at the same moment the gruff fierce-looking elderly man did the + same, with another similar instrument from his own breast. + </p> + <p> + “Here, here are the commissions—here are authorities from the + Captain General of Cuba. Read them.” + </p> + <p> + I looked over them; they were regular to all appearance; at least as there + were no autographs in court of the Spanish Viceroy, or any of his + officers, whose signatures, either real or forged, were affixed to the + instruments, with which to compare them, there was a great chance, I + conjectured, so far as I saw, that they would be acquitted: and in this + case we, his majesty’s officers, would have been converted into the + transgressing party; for if it were established that the vessels taken + were bona fide Guarda Costas, we should be placed in an awkward + predicament, in having captured them by force of arms, not to take into + account the having violated the sanctity of a friendly port. + </p> + <p> + But I could see that this unexpected production of regular papers by their + officers had surprised the pirates themselves, as much as it had done me,—whether + it was a heinous offence of mine or not to conceal this impression from + the court, (there is some dispute about the matter to this hour between me + and my conscience,) I cannot tell; but I was determined to stick + scrupulously to the temporary duties of my office, without stating what I + suspected, or even translating some sudden expressions overheard by me, + that would have shaken the credibility of the documents. + </p> + <p> + “Comissiones, comissiones!” for instance, was murmured by a weather beaten + Spaniard, with a fine bald head, from which two small tufts of grey hair + stood out above his ears, and with a superb Moorish face “Comissiones es + decir patentes—Si hay comissiones, el Diablo, mismo, les ha hecho!” + </p> + <p> + The court was apparently nonplussed—not so the wigless man of law. + His pea green visage assumed a more ghastly hue, and the expression of his + eyes became absolutely blasting. He looked altogether like a cat sure of + her mouse, but willing to let it play in fancied joy of escaping, as he + said softly to the Jew crier, who was perched in a high chair above the + heads of the people, like an ugly corbie in its dirty nest—“Crier, + call Job Rumbletithump, mate of the Porpoise.” + </p> + <p> + “Job Rumbletithump, come into court!” + </p> + <p> + “Here,” quoth Job, as a stout, bluff honest-looking sailor rolled into the + witnessbox. + </p> + <p> + “Now, clerk of the crown, please to swear in the mate of the Porpoise.” It + was done. “Now, my man, you were taken going through the Caicos Passage in + the Porpoise by pirates, in August last—were you not?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Turn your face to the jury, and speak up, sir. Do you see any of the + honest men who made free with you in that dock, sir? Look at them, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “The mate walked up to the dock, stopped, and fixed his eyes intently on + the young Spaniard. I stared breathlessly at him also. He grows pale as + death—his lip quivers—the large drops of sweat once more burst + from his brow. I grew sick, sick. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, your honour,” said the mate. + </p> + <p> + “Yes—ah!” said the devil’s limb, chuckling—“we are getting on + the trail at last. Can you swear to more than one?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, your honour.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes!” again responded the sans wig. “How many?” + </p> + <p> + The man counted them off. “Fifteen, sir. That young fellow there is the + man who cut Captain Spurtel’s throat, after violating his wife before his + eyes.” + </p> + <p> + “God forgive me, is it possible?” gasped Thomas Cringle. + </p> + <p> + “There’s a monster in human form for you, gentlemen,” continued devil’s + limb. “Go on, Mr Rumbletithump.” + </p> + <p> + “That other man next him hung me up by the heels, and seared me on the + bare”—Here honest job had just time to divert the current of his + speech into a loud “whew.” + </p> + <p> + “Seared you on the whew!” quoth the facetious lawyer, determined to have + his jest, even in the face of forty-three of his fellow creatures + trembling on the brink of eternity. “Explain, sir, tell the court where + you were seared, and how you were seared, and all about your being + seared.” + </p> + <p> + Job twisted and lolloped about, as if he was looking out for some opening + to bolt through; but all egress was shut up. + </p> + <p> + “Why, please your honour,” the eloquent blood mantling in his honest + sunburnt cheeks; while from my heart I pitied the poor fellow, for he was + absolutely broiling in his bashfulness—“He seared me onon—why, + please your honour, he seared me on—with a redhot iron!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I guessed as much, if he seared you at all; but where did he sear + you? Come now,” coaxingly, “tell the court where and how he applied the + actual cautery.” + </p> + <p> + Job being thus driven to his wit’s end, turned and stood at bay. “Now I + will tell you, your honour, if you will but sit down for a moment, and + answer me one question.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure; why, Job, you brighten on us. There, I am down now for your + question.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, sir,” quoth Rumbletithump, imitating his tormentor’s manner much + more cleverly than I expected, “what part of your honour’s body touches + your chair?” + </p> + <p> + “How, sir!” said the man of words—“how dare you, sir, take such a + liberty, sir?” while a murmuring laugh hummed through the court. + </p> + <p> + “Now, sir, since you won’t answer me, sir,” said Job, elevated by his + victory, while his hoarse voice roughened into a loud growl, “I will + answer myself. I was seared, sir, where”— + </p> + <p> + “Silence!” quoth the crier at this instant drowning the mate’s voice, so + that I could not catch the words he used. + </p> + <p> + “And there you have it, sir. Put me in jail, if you like, sir.” + </p> + <p> + The murmur was bursting out into a guffaw, when the judge interfered. But + there was no longer any attempt at ill-timed jesting on the part of the + bar, which was but bad taste at the best on so solemn an occasion. + </p> + <p> + Job continued, “I was burnt into the very muscle until I told where the + gold was stowed away.” + </p> + <p> + “Aha!” screamed the lawyer, forgetting his recent discomfiture in the + gladness of his success. “And all the rest were abetting, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “The rest of the fifteen were, sir.” + </p> + <p> + But the prosecutor, a glutton in his way, had thought he had bagged the + whole forty-three. And so he ultimately did before the evening closed in, + as most of the others were identified by other witnesses; and when they + could not actually be sworn to, the piracies were brought home to them by + circumstantial evidence; such, for instance, as having been captured on + board of the craft we had taken, which again were identified as the very + vessels which had plundered the merchantmen and murdered several of their + crews, so that by six o’clock the jury had returned a verdict of Guilty—and + I believe there never was a juster—against the whole of them. The + finding, and sentence of death following thereupon, seemed not to create + any strong effect upon the prisoners. They had all seen how the trial was + going; and, long before this, the bitterness of death seemed to be past. + </p> + <p> + I could hear one of our boat’s crew, who was standing behind me, say to + his neighbour, “Why, Jem, surely he is in joke. Why, he don’t mean to + condemn them to be hanged seriously, without his wig, eh?” + </p> + <p> + Immediately after the judgment was pronounced, which, both as to import, + and literally, I had translated to them, Captain Transom, who was sitting + on the bench beside his brother officers, nodded to me, “I say, Mr + Cringle, tell the coxswain to call Pearl, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + I passed the word to one of the Firebrand’s marines, who was on duty, who + again repeated the order to a seaman who was standing at the door. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Moses, call the clergyman.” + </p> + <p> + Now this Pearl was no other than the seaman who pulled the stroke-oar in + the gig; a very handsome negro, and the man who afterwards forked Whiffle + out of the water—tall, powerful, and muscular, and altogether one of + the best men in the ship. The rest of the boat’s crew, from his + complexion, had fastened the sobriquet of the clergyman on him. + </p> + <p> + “Call the clergyman.” + </p> + <p> + The superseded interpreter, who was standing near, seemingly took no + notice, immediately traduced this literally to the unhappy men. A murmur + arose amongst them. + </p> + <p> + “Que—el padre ya! Somos en Capilla entonces—poco tiempo, poco + tiempo!” + </p> + <p> + They had thought that the clergyman having been sent for, the sentence was + immediately to be executed, but I undeceived them; and, in ten minutes + after they were condemned, they were marched off under a strong escort of + foot to the jail. + </p> + <p> + I must make a long story short. Two days afterwards, I was ordered with + the launch to Kingston, early in the morning, to receive twenty-five of + the pirates who had been ordered for execution that morning at Gallows + Point. It was little past four in the morning when we arrived at the + Wherry wharf, where they were already clustered, with their hands pinioned + behind their backs, silent and sad, but all of them calm, and evincing no + unmanly fear of death. + </p> + <p> + I don’t know if other people have noticed it, but this was one of several + instances where I have seen foreigners—Frenchmen, Italians, and + Spaniards, for instance—meet death, inevitable death, with greater + firmness than British soldiers or sailors. Let me explain. In the field, + or grappling in mortal combat, on the blood-slippery quarterdeck of an + enemy’s vessel, British soldier or sailor is the bravest of the brave. No + soldier or sailor of any other country, saving and excepting those damned + Yankees, can stand against them—they would be utterly overpowered—their + hearts would fail them—they would either be cut down thrust through, + or they would turn and flee. Yet those same men who have turned and fled, + will meet death, but it must be as I said, inevitable, unavoidable death, + not only more firmly than their conquerors would do in their + circumstances, but with an intrepidity oh, do not call it indifference!—altogether + astonishing. Be it their religion, or their physical conformation, or what + it may, all I have to do with, is the fact, which I record as undeniable. + Out of five-and twenty individuals, in the present instance, not a sigh + was heard, nor a moan, nor a querulous word. They stepped lightly into the + boats, and seated themselves in silence. When told by the seamen to make + room, or to shift so as not to be in the way of the oars, they did so with + alacrity, and almost with an air of civility, although they knew that + within half an hour their earthly career must close for ever. + </p> + <p> + The young Spaniard who had stood forward so conspicuously on the trial, + was in my boat; in stepping in he accidentally trod on my foot in passing + forward; he turned and apologized, with much natural politeness “he hoped + he had not hurt me?” + </p> + <p> + I answered kindly, I presume—who could have done so harshly? This + emboldened him apparently, for he stopped, and asked leave to sit by me. I + consented, while an incomprehensible feeling crept over me; and when once + I had time to recollect myself, I shrunk from him, as a blood stained + brute, with whom even in his extremity it was unfitting for me to hold any + intercourse. When he noticed my repugnance to remain near him, he + addressed me hastily, as if afraid that I would destroy the opportunity he + seemed to desire. + </p> + <p> + “God did not always leave me the slave of my passions,” he said, in a low, + deep, most musical voice. “The day has been when I would have shrunk as + you do—but time presses. You have a mother?” said he—I + assented—“and an only sister?” As it happened, he was right here + too. “And—and”—here he hesitated, and his voice shook and + trembled with the most intense and heart-crushing emotion—“y una mas + cara que ambos?” Mary, you can tell whether in this he did not also speak + truth. I acknowledged there was another being more dear to me than either. + “Then,” said he, “take this chain from my neck, and the crucifix, and a + small miniature from my bosom; but not yet—not till I leave the + boat. You will find an address affixed to the string of the latter. Your + course of service may lead you to St Jago if not, a brother officer may.” + His voice became inaudible; his hot scalding tears dropped fast on my + hand, and the ravisher, the murderer, the pirate, wept as an innocent and + helpless infant. “You will deliver it. Promise a dying man—promise a + great sinner.” But it was momentary—he quelled the passion with a + fierce and savage energy, as he said sternly, “Promise! promise!” I did + so, and I fulfilled it. + </p> + <p> + The day broke. I took the jewels and miniature from his neck, as he led + the way with the firm step of a hero, in ascending the long gibbet. The + halters were adjusted, when he stepped towards the side I was on, as far + as the rope would let him, “Dexa me verla—dexa me verla, una vez + mas!” I held up the miniature. He looked—he glared intensely at it. + “Adios, Maria, seas feliz mi querida, feliz—feliz Maria—adios—adios—Maria + Mar”. + </p> + <p> + The rope severed thy name from his lips, sweet girl; but not until it also + severed his soul from his body, and sent him to his tremendous account—young + in years, but old in wickedness—to answer at that tribunal, where we + must all appear, to the God who made him, and whose gifts he had so + fearfully abused, for thy broken heart and early death, amongst the other + scarlet atrocities of his short but ill spent life. + </p> + <p> + The signal had been given—the lumbering flap of the long drop was + heard, and five-and-twenty human beings were wavering in the sea breeze in + the agonies of death! The other eighteen suffered on the same spot the + week following; and for long after, this fearful and bloody example struck + terror into the Cuba fishermen. + </p> + <p> + “Strange now, that the majority—ahem—of my beauties and + favourites through life have been called Mary. There is my own Mary—un + peu passee certainly—but deil mean her, for half a dozen lit”—“Now, + Tom Cringle, don’t bother with your sentimentality, but get along, do.”—“Well, + I will get along—but have patience, you Hottentot Venus—you + Lord Nugent, you. So once more we make sail.” + </p> + <p> + Next morning, soon after gunfire, I landed at the Wherry wharf in Port + Royal. It was barely daylight, but, to my surprise, I found my friend + Peregrine Whiffle seated on a Spanish chair, close to the edge of the + wharf, smoking a cigar. This piece of furniture is an arm-chair strongly + framed with hard-wood, over which, back and bottom, a tanned hide is + stretched, which, in a hot climate, forms a most luxurious seat, the back + tumbling out at an angle of 45 degrees, while the skin yields to every + movement, and does not harbour a nest of biting ants, or a litter of + scorpions, or any other of the customary occupants of a cushion that has + been in Jamaica for a year. + </p> + <p> + He did not know me as I passed; but his small glimmering red face + instantly identified the worthy little old man to me. + </p> + <p> + “Good morning, Mr Whiffle—the top of the morning to you, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Hillo,” responded Peregrine—“Tom, is it you?—how d’ye do, man—how + d’ye do?” and he started to his feet, and almost embraced me. + </p> + <p> + Now, I had never met the said Peregrine Whiffle but twice in my life; once + at Mr Fyall’s, and once during the few days I remained in Kingston, before + I set out on my travels; but he was a warm hearted kindly old fellow, and, + from knowing all my friends there very intimately, he, as a matter of + course, became equally familiar with me. + </p> + <p> + “Why the diable came you not to see me, man? Have been here for change of + air, to recruit, you know, after that demon, the gout, had been so + perplexing me, ever since you came to anchor—the Firebrand, I mean—as + for you, you have been mad one while, and philandering with those + inconvenient white ladies the other. You’ll cure of that, my boy you’ll + come to the original comforts of the country soon, no fear!” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps I may, perhaps not.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, your cousin Mary, I forgot—fine girl, Tom—may do for you + at home yonder,” (all Creoles speak of England as home, although they may + never have seen it,) “but she can’t make pepper-pot, nor give a dish of + land crabs as land crabs should be given, nor see to the serving up of a + ringtail pigeon, nor rub a beefsteak to the rotting turn with a bruised + papaw, nor compose a medicated bath, nor, nor—oh, confound it, Tom, + she will be, when you marry her, a cold, comfortless, motionless Creole + icicle!” + </p> + <p> + I let him have his swing. “Never mind her then, never mind her, my dear + sir; but time presses and I must be off, I must indeed, so good morning; I + wish you a good morning, sir.” + </p> + <p> + He started to his feet, and caught hold of me. “Sha’n’t go, Tom, + impossible—come along with me to my lodgings, and breakfast with me. + Here, Pilfer, Pilfer,” to his black valet, “give me my stick, and massu + the chair, and run home and order breakfast—cold calipiver—our + Jamaica salmon, you know, Tom-tea and coffee pickled mackerel, eggs, and + cold tongue—any thing that Mother Dingychops can give us; so bolt, + Pilfer, bolt!” + </p> + <p> + I told him that before I came ashore I had heard the gig’s-crew piped + away, and that I therefore expected, as Jonathan says, that the captain + would be after me immediately; so that I wished at all events to get away + from where we were, as I had no desire to be caught gossiping about when + my superior might be expected to pass. + </p> + <p> + “True, boy, true”—as he shackled himself to me, and we began to + crawl along towards the wharf-gate leading into the town. Captain Transom + by this time had landed, and came up with us. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Transom,” said Whiffle, “glad to see you. I say, why won’t you allow + Mr Cringle here to go over to Spanish Town with me for a couple of days, + eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I don’t remember that Mr Cringle has ever asked leave.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, sir, I neither did ask leave, nor have I thought of doing so,” + said I. + </p> + <p> + “But I do for you,” chimed in my friend Whiffle. “Come, captain, give him + leave, just for two days, that’s a prime chap. Why, Tom, you see you have + got it, so off with you and come to me with your kit as soon as possible; + I will hobble on and make the coffee and chocolate; and, Captain Transom, + come along and breakfast with me too. No refusal, I require society. + Nearly drowned yesterday, do you know that? Off this same cursed wharf too—just + here. I was looking down at the small fish playing about the piles, + precisely in this position; one of them was as bright in the scales as a + gold fish in my old grandmother’s glass globe, and I had to crane over the + ledge in this fashion,” suiting the action to the word, “when away I went”— + </p> + <p> + And, to our unutterable surprise, splash went Peregrine Whiffle, Esquire, + for the second time, and there—he was shouting, and puffing, and + splashing in the water. We were both so convulsed with laughter that I + believe he would have been drowned for us; but the boat-keeper of the gig, + the strong athletic negro before mentioned, promptly jumped on the wharf + with his boat-hook, and caught the dapper little old beau by the waistband + of his breeches, swaying him up, frightened enough, with his little coat + skirts fluttering in the breeze, and no wonder, but not much the worse for + it all. + </p> + <p> + “Diable porte l’amour,” whispered Captain Transom. + </p> + <p> + “Swallowed a Scotch pint of salt water to a certainty—run, Pilfer, + bring me some brandy—gout will be into my stomach, sure as fate—feel + him now—run, Pilfer, run, or gout will beat you—a dead heat + that will be!” And he keckled at his small joke very complacently. + </p> + <p> + We had him carried by our people to his lodgings, where, after shifting + and brandying to some tune, he took his place at the breakfast table, and + did the honours with his usual amenity and warm heartedness. + </p> + <p> + After breakfast Peregrine remembered, what the sly rogue had never + forgotten I suspect, that he was engaged to dine with his friend Mr + Pepperpot Wagtail, in Kingston. + </p> + <p> + “But it don’t signify, Wagtail will be delighted to see you, Tom + hospitable fellow Wagtail—and, now I recollect myself, Fyall and + Aaron Bang are to be there; dang it, were it not for the gout, we should + have a night on’t!” + </p> + <p> + After breakfast we started in a canoe for Kingston, touching at the + Firebrand for my kit. + </p> + <p> + Moses Yerk, the unpoetical first lieutenant, was standing well forward on + the quarterdeck as I passed over the side to get into the canoe, with the + gunroom steward following me, carrying my kit under his arm. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom, good for you, one lark after another.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t like that fellow,” quoth Whiffle; “he is quarrelsome in his drink + for a thousand, I know it by the cut of his jib.” + </p> + <p> + He had better have held his tongue, honest man; for as he looked up broad + in Yerk’s face, who was leaning over the hammocks, the scupper immediately + over head, through whose instrumentality I never knew, was suddenly + cleared, and a rush of dirty water, that had been lodged there since the + decks had been washed down at daydawn, splashed slapdash over his head and + shoulders and into his mouth, so as to set the dear little man a-coughing + so violently that I thought he would have been throttled. Before he had + recovered sufficiently to find his tongue, we had pulled fifty yards from + the ship, and a little farther on we overtook the captain, who had + preceded us in the cutter, into which we transhipped ourselves. But + Whiffle never could acquit Yerk of having been, directly or indirectly, + the cause of his suffering from the impure shower. + </p> + <p> + This day was the first of the Negro Carnival or Christmas Holydays, and at + the distance of two miles from Kingston the sound of the negro drums and + horns, the barbarous music and yelling of the different African tribes, + and the more mellow singing of the Set Girls, came off upon the breeze + loud and strong. + </p> + <p> + When we got nearer, the wharfs and different streets, as we successively + opened them, were crowded with blackamoors, men, women, and children, + dancing and singing and shouting, and all rigged out in their best. When + we landed on the agents wharf we were immediately surrounded by a group of + these merry-makers, which happened to be the Butchers John Canoe party, + and a curious exhibition it unquestionably was. The prominent character + was, as usual, the John Canoe or Jack Pudding. He was a light, active, + clean made young Creole negro, without shoes or stockings; he wore a pair + of light jean small-clothes, all too wide, but confined at the knees, + below and above, by bands of red tape, after the manner that Malvolio + would have called cross-gartering. He wore a splendid blue velvet + waistcoat, with old-fashioned flaps coming down over his hips, and covered + with tarnished embroidery. His shirt was absent on leave, I suppose, but + at the wrists of his coat he had tin or white iron frills, with loose + pieces attached, which tinkled as he moved, and set off the dingy paws + that were stuck through these strange manacles, like black wax tapers in + silver candlesticks. His coat was an old blue artillery uniform one, with + a small bell hung to the extreme points of the swallow-tailed skirts, and + three tarnished epaulets; one on each shoulder, and, O ye immortal gods! O + Mars omnipotent! the biggest of the three stuck at his rump, the point + d’appuit for a sheep’s tail. He had an enormous cocked hat on, to which + was appended in front a white false-face or mask, of a most methodistical + expression, while, Janus like, there was another face behind, of the most + quizzical description, a sort of living Antithesis, both being garnished + and overtopped with one coarse wig, made of the hair of bullocks tails, on + which the chapeau was strapped down with a broad band of gold lace. He + skipped up to us with a white wand in one hand and a dirty handkerchief in + the other, and with sundry moppings and mowings, first wiping my shoes + with his mouchoir, then my face, (murder, what a flavour of salt fish and + onions it had!) he made a smart enough pirouette, and then sprung on the + back of a nondescript animal, that now advanced capering and jumping about + after the most grotesque fashion that can be imagined. This was the signal + for the music to begin. The performers were two gigantic men, dressed in + calf-skins entire, head, four legs, and tail. The skin of the head was + made to fit like a hood, the two fore-feet hung dangling down in front, + one over each shoulder, while the other two legs, or hind-feet, and the + tail, trailed behind on the ground; deuce another article they had on in + the shape of clothing except a handkerchief, of some flaming pattern, tied + round the waist. There were also two flute-players in sheepskins, looking + still more outlandish from the horns on the animals heads being preserved; + and three stout fellows, who were dressed in the common white frock and + trowsers, who kept sounding on bullocks horns. These formed the band as it + were, and might be considered John’s immediate tail or following; but he + was also accompanied by about fifty of the butcher negroes, all neatly + dressed-blue jackets, white shirts, and Osnaburgh trowsers, with their + steels and knife-cases by their sides, as bright as Turkish yataghans, and + they all wore clean blue and white striped aprons. I could see and tell + what they were; but the Thing John Canoe had perched himself upon I could + make nothing of. At length I began to comprehend the device. + </p> + <p> + The Magnus Apollo of the party, the poet and chief musician, the + nondescript already mentioned, was no less than the boatswain of the + butcher-gang, answering to the driver in an agricultural one. He was + clothed in an entire bullock’s hide horns, tail, and the other + particulars, the whole of the skull being retained, and the effect of the + voice growling through the jaws of the beast was most startling. His legs + were enveloped in the skin of the hind-legs, while the arms were cased in + that of the fore, the hands protruding a little above the hoofs, and, as + he walked reared up on his hind-legs, he used, in order to support the + load of the John Canoe who had perched on his shoulders, like a monkey on + a dancing bear, a strong stick, or sprit, with a crutch top to it, which + he leant his breast on every now and then. After the creature, which I + will call the Device for shortness, had capered with its extra load, as if + it had been a feather, for a minute or two, it came to a stand-still, and, + sticking the end of the sprit into the ground, and tucking the crutch of + it under its chin, it motioned to one of the attendants, who thereupon + handed, of all things in the world, a fiddle to the ox. He then shook off + the John Canoe, who began to caper about as before, while the Device set + up a deuced good pipe, and sung and played, barbarously enough, I will + admit, to the tune of Guinea Corn, the following ditty: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Massa Buccra lobfor see, + Bullock caper like monkee, + Dance, and shump, and poke him toe, + Like one humane person—just so.” + </pre> + <p> + And hereupon the tail of the beast, some fifty strong, music men, John + Canoe and all, began to rampauge about, as if they had been possessed by a + devil whose name was Legion: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “But Massa Buccra have white love, + soft and silken like one dove. + To brown girl—him barely shivel, + to black girl—oh, Lord, de Devil!” + </pre> + <p> + Then a tremendous gallopading, in the which Tailtackle was nearly capsized + over the wharf. He looked quietly over the edge of it. + </p> + <p> + “Boat keeper, hand me up that switch of a stretcher,” (Friend, if thou + be’st not nautical, thou knowest what a rack-pin, something of the + stoutest is.) + </p> + <p> + The boy did so, and Tailtackle, after moistening well his dexter claw with + tobacco juice, seized the stick with his left by the middle, and balancing + it for a second or two, he began to fasten the end of it into his right + fist, as if he had been screwing a bolt into a socket. Having satisfied + himself that his grip was secure, he let go the hold with his left hand, + and crossed his arms on his breast, with the weapon projecting over his + left shoulder, like the drone of a bagpipe. + </p> + <p> + The Device continued his chant, giving the seaman a wide berth, however: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “But when him once two tree year here, + Him tink white lady wery great boder; + De coloured peoples, never fear, + Ah, him lob him de morest nor any oder.” + </pre> + <p> + Then another tumblification of the whole party. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “But top-one time bad fever catch him, + colour’d peoples kindly watch him + in sick-room, nurse voice like music + from him hand taste sweet de physic. + Another trampoline.” + + “So alway come—in two tree year, + and so wid you, massa never fear + brown girl for cook—for wife—for nurse: + buccra lady—poo—no wort a curse.” + </pre> + <p> + “Get away, you scandalous scoundrel,” cried I; “away with you, sir!” + </p> + <p> + Here the morrice-dancers began to circle round old Tailtackle, keeping him + on the move, spinning round like a weathercock in a whirlwind, while they + shouted, “Oh, massa, one macaronilt if you please.” To get quit of their + importunity, Captain Transom gave them one. “Ah, good massa, tank you, + sweet massa!” And away danced John Canoe and his tail, careering up the + street. + </p> + <p> + In the same way all the other crafts and trades had their Gumbimen, + Hornblowers, John Canoes, and Nondescript. The Gardeners came nearest of + any thing I had seen before to the Mayday boys in London; with this + advantage, that their jack-in-the—Green was incomparably more + beautiful, from the superior bloom of the larger flowers used in composing + it. + </p> + <p> + The very workhouse people, whose province it is to guard the Negro + culprits who may be committed to it, and to inflict punishment on them, + when required, had their John Canoe and Device; and their prime jest + seemed to be every now and then to throw the fellow down who enacted the + latter at the corner of a street, and to administer a sound flogging to + him. The John Canoe, who was the workhouse driver, was dressed up in a + lawyer’s cast off gown and bands, black silk breeches, no stockings nor + shoes, but with sandals of bullock’s hide strapped on his great splay + feet, a small cocked hat on his head, to which were appended a large + cauliflower wig, and the usual white false-face, bearing a very laughable + resemblance to Chief-justice S——, with whom I happened to be + personally acquainted. + </p> + <p> + The whole party which accompanied these two worthies, musicians and tail, + were dressed out so as to give a tolerable resemblance of the Bar broke + loose, and they were all pretty considerably well drunk. As we passed + along, the Device was once more laid down, and we could notice a shield of + tough hide strapped over the fellow’s stem frame, so as to save the lashes + of the cat, which John Canoe was administering with all his force, while + the Device walloped about and yelled, as if he had been receiving the + punishment on his naked flesh. Presently, as he rolled over and over in + the sand, bellowing to the life, I noticed the leather shield slip upwards + to the small of his back, leaving the lower story uncovered in reality; + but the driver and his tail were too drunk to observe this, and the former + continued to lay on and laugh, while one of his people stood by in all the + gravity of drunkenness, counting, as a first Lieutenant does, when a poor + fellow is polishing at the gangway,—“Twenty-twenty-one twenty-two”—and + so on, while the patient roared you, an it were any thing but a + nightingales At length he broke away from the men who held him, after + receiving a most sufficient flogging, to revenge which he immediately + fastened on the John Canoe, wrenched his cat from him, and employed it so + scientifically on him and his followers, giving them passing taps on the + shins now and then with the handle, by way of spice to the dose, that the + whole crew pulled foot as if Old Nick had held them in chase. + </p> + <p> + The very children, urchins of five and six years old, had their + Lilliputian John Canoes and Devices. But the beautiful part of the + exhibition was the Set Girls. They danced along the streets, in bands of + from fifteen to thirty. There were brown sets, and black sets, and sets of + all the intermediate gradations of colour. Each set was dressed pin for + pin alike, and carried umbrellas or parasols of the same colour and size, + held over their nice showy, well put on toques, or Madras handkerchiefs, + all of the same pattern, tied round their heads, fresh out of the fold.—They + sang, as they swam along the streets, in the most luxurious attitudes. I + had never seen more beautiful creatures than there were amongst the brown + sets—clear olive complexions, and fine faces, elegant carriages, + splendid figures,—full, plump, and magnificent. + </p> + <p> + Most of the Sets were as much of a size as Lord——‘s eighteen + daughters, sailing down Regent Street, like a Charity School of a Sunday, + led by a rum-looking old beadle—others again had large Roman + matron-looking women in the leading files, the figurantes in their tails + becoming slighter and smaller, as they tapered away, until they ended in + leetle picaniny, no bigger as my tumb, but always preserving the + uniformity of dress, and colour of the umbrella or parasol. Sometimes the + breeze, on opening a corner, would strike the stern most of a set composed + in this manner of small fry, and stagger the little things, getting + beneath their tiny umbrellas, and fairly blowing them out of the line, and + ruffling their ribbons and finery, as if they had been tulips bending and + shaking their leaves before it. But the colours were never blended in the + same set—no blackie ever interloped with the browns, nor did the + browns in any case mix with the sables—always keeping in mind—black + woman—brown lady. + </p> + <p> + But, as if the whole city had been tom-fooling, a loud burst of military + music was now heard, and the north end of the street we were ascending, + which leads out of the Place d’Armes or parade, that occupies the centre + of the town, was filled with a cloud of dust, that rose as high as the + house tops, through which the head of a column of troops sparkled; swords, + and bayonets, and gay uniforms glancing in the sun. This was the Kingston + regiment marching down to the Court-house in the lower part of the town, + to mount the Christmas guards, which is always carefully attended to, in + case any of the John Canoes should take a small fancy to burn or pillage + the town, or to rise and cut the throats of their masters, or any little + innocent recreation of the kind, out of compliment to Dr Lushington, or + Messrs Macauley and Babington. + </p> + <p> + First came a tolerably good band, a little too drummy, but still not amiss—well + dressed, only the performers being of all colours, from white, down to + jet-black, had a curious hodge-podge, or piebald appearance. Then came a + dozen mounted officers at the very least colonels-in-chief, and colonels, + and lieutenant-colonels, and majors all very fine, and very bad horsemen. + Then the grenadier company, composed of white clerks of the place, very + fine-looking young men indeed—another white company followed, not + quite so smart looking—then came a century of the children of + Israel, not over military in appearance—the days of Joshua, the son + of Nun, had passed away, the glory had long departed from their house,—a + phalanx of light browns succeeded, then a company of dark browns, or + mulattoes; the regular half and—half in this, as well as in grog, is + the best mixture after all, then quashie himself, or a company of free + blacks, who, with the browns, seemed the best soldiers of the set, + excepting the flank companies—and after blackie the battalion again + gradually whitened away, until it ended in a very fine light company of + buccras, smart young fellows as need be—all the officers were white, + and all the soldiers, whatever their caste or colour, free of course. + Another battalion succeeded, composed in the same way, and really I was + agreeably surprised to find the indigenous force of the colony so + efficient. I had never seen any thing more soldier-like amongst our + volunteers at home. Presently a halt was called, and a mounted officer, + evidently desirous of showing off, galloped up to where we were standing, + and began to swear at the drivers of a wagon, with a long team of sixteen + bullocks, who had placed their vehicle, whether intentionally or not I + could not tell, directly across the street, where being met by another + wagon of the same kind, coming through the opposite lane, a regular jam + had taken place, as they had contrived, being redolent of new rum, to lock + their wheels, and twist their lines of bullocks together in much admired + confusion. + </p> + <p> + “Out of the way, sir, out of the way, you black rascals—don’t you + see the regiment coming?” + </p> + <p> + The men spanked their long whips, and shouted to the steers by name “Back, + back—Caesar—Antony—Crab, back, sir, back;” and they + whistled loud and long, but Caesar and the rest only became more and more + involved. + </p> + <p> + “Order arms,” roared another officer, fairly beaten by the bullocks and + wagons—“Stand at ease.” + </p> + <p> + On this last signal, a whole cloud of spruce-beer sellers started fiercely + from under the piazzas. + </p> + <p> + “An insurrection of the slave population, mayhap,”—thought I, but + their object was a very peaceable one, for presently, I verily believe, + every man and officer in the regiment, had a tumbler of this, to me, most + delicious beverage at his head—the drawing of the corks was more + like street—firing than any thing else—a regular feu de joue. + In the meantime, a council of war seemed to be holden by the mounted + officers, as to how the obstacle in front was to be overcome; but at this + moment confusion became worse confounded, by the approach of what I + concluded to be the white man’s John Canoe party, mounted by way of + preeminence. First came a trumpeter John Canoe with a black face, which + was all in rule, as his black counterparts wore white ones; but his + Device, a curious little old man, dressed in a sort of blue uniform, and + mounted on the skeleton, or ghost, of a gig-horse, I could make nothing + of. It carried a drawn sword in its hand, with which it made various + flourishes, at each one of which I trembled for its Rosinante’s ears. The + Device was followed by about fifty other odd-looking creatures all on + horseback; but they had no more seat than so many pairs of tongs, which in + truth they greatly resembled, and made no show, and less fun. So we were + wishing them out of the way, when some one whispered that the Kingston + Light Horse mustered strong this morning. I found afterwards that every + man who kept a good horse, or could ride, invariably served in the foot—all + free persons must join some corps or other; so that the troop, as it was + called, was composed exclusively of those who could not ride, and who kept + no saddle horses. + </p> + <p> + The line was now formed, and after a variety of cumbrous manoeuvres out of + Dundas, sixteen at the least, the regiment was countermarched, and filed + along another street, where they gave three cheers, in honour of their + having had a drink of spruce, and of having circumvented the bullocks and + wagons. A little farther on we encountered four beautiful nine-pounder + fieldpieces, each lumbering along, drawn by half a dozen mules, and + accompanied by three or four negroes, but with no escort whatsoever. + </p> + <p> + “I say, quashie, where are the bombardiers, the artillerymen?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, massa, dem all gone to drink pruce.” + </p> + <p> + “What, more spruce!—spruce—nothing but spruce!” quoth I. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, massa—after dem drink pruce done, dem all go to him + breakfast, massa—left we for take de gun to de barrack—beg one + feepenny, massa”—as the price of the information, I suppose. + </p> + <p> + “Are the guns loaded?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Me no sabe, massa—top, I shall see.” And the fellow to whom I + addressed myself stepped forward, and began to squint into the muzzle of + one of the fieldpieces, slewing his head from side to side, with absurd + gravity, like a magpie peeping into a marrow-bone. “Him most be load— + no daylight come troo de touch-hole—take care make me try him.” And + without more ado he shook out the red embers from his pipe right on the + touch-hole of the gun, when the fragment of a broken tube spun up in a + small jet of flame, that made me start and jump back. + </p> + <p> + “How dare you, you scoundrel?” said the captain. + </p> + <p> + “Eigh, massa, him no hax me to see if him be load—so I was try see. + Indeed, I tink him is load after all yet.” + </p> + <p> + He stepped forward, and entered his rammer into the cannon, after an + unavailing attempt to blow with his blubber-lips through the touch hole. + </p> + <p> + Noticing that it did not produce the ringing sound it would have done in + an empty gun, but went home with a soft thud, I sung out, “Stand clear, + sir. By Jupiter, the gun is loaded.” + </p> + <p> + The negro continued to bash at it with all his might. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, the fellow who was driving the mules attached to the + fieldpiece, turned his head, and saw what was going on. In a trice he + snatched up another rammer, and, without any warning, came crack over the + fellow’s cranium to whom we had been speaking, as hard as he could draw, + making the instrument quiver again. + </p> + <p> + “Dem you, ye, ye Jericho—ah so you bash my brokefast—eh? You + no see me tick him into de gun before we yoke de mule, dem, eh? You tief + you, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “No!” roared the other—“You Walkandyam, you hab no brokefast, you + liard, at least I never see him.” + </p> + <p> + “Dem lie dat!” replied Walkandnyam—“look in de gun.” Jericho peered + into it again. + </p> + <p> + “Dere, you son of a—” (I sha’n’t say what)—“dere, I see de red + flannin wadding over de cartridge—Your brokefast!—you be dem!” + roared Jericho. + </p> + <p> + And he made at him as if he would have eaten him alive. + </p> + <p> + “You be dem youshef!” shrieked Walkandnyam—“and de red wadding be + dem!” as he took a screw, and hooked out, not a cartridge certainly, but + his own nightcap, full of yams and salt fish, smashed into a paste by + Jericho’s rammer. + </p> + <p> + In the frenzy of his rage, he dashed this into his opponent’s face, and + they both stripped in a second. Separating several yards, they levelled + their heads like two telescopes on stands, and ran butt at each other like + ram-goats, and quite as odoriferous, making the welkin ring again as their + flint-hard skulls cracked together. Finding each other invulnerable in + this direction, they closed, and began scrambling and biting and kicking, + and tumbling over and over in the sand; while the skipper and I stood by + cheering them on, and nearly suffocated with laughter. They never once + struck with their closed fists I noticed; so they were not much hurt. It + was great cry and little wool; and at length they got tired, and hauled + off by mutual consent, finishing off as usual with an appeal to us—“beg + one feepenny, massa!” + </p> + <p> + At six o’clock we drove to Mr Pepperpot Wagtail’s. The party was a + bachelor’s one, and, when we walked up the front steps, there was our host + in person, standing to receive us at the door; while, on each side of him, + there were five or six of his visitors, all sitting with their legs cocked + up, their feet resting on a sort of surbase, above which the jealousies, + or movable blinds of the piazza, were fixed. + </p> + <p> + I was introduced to the whole party seriatim—and as each of the cock + legs dropped his trams, he started up, caught hold of my hand, and wrung + it as if I had been his dearest and oldest friend. + </p> + <p> + Were I to designate Jamaica as a community, I would call it a handshaking + people. I have often laughed heartily upon seeing two cronies meeting in + the streets of Kingston after a temporary separation; when about + pistol-shot asunder, both would begin to tug and rug at the right-hand + glove, but it is frequently a mighty serious affair in that hissing hot + climate to get the gauntlet off; they approach,—one, a smart urbane + little man, who would not disgrace St James’s Street, being more + kiln-dried and less moist in his corporeals than his country friend, has + contrived to extract his paw, and holds it out in act to shake. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! how do you do, Ratoon?” quoth the Kingston man. + </p> + <p> + “Quite well, Shingle,” rejoins the gloved, a stout red-faced sudoriferous + yam-fed planter, dressed in blue-white jean trowsers and waistcoat, with + long Hessian boots drawn up to his knee over the former, and a spannew + square-skirted blue coatee, with lots of clear brass buttons: a broad + brimmed black silk hat, worn white at the edge of the crown—wearing + a very small neckcloth, above which shoots up an enormous shirt collar, + the peaks of which might serve for winkers to a starting horse, and + carrying a large whip in his hand—“Quite well, my dear fellow,” + while he persists in dragging at it—the other homo all the while + standing in the absurd position of a finger-post—at length off comes + the glove—piecemeal perhaps—a finger first, for instance—then + a thumb—at length they tackle to, and shake each other like the very + devil—not a sober pump-handle shake, but a regular jiggery jiggery, + as if they were trying to dislocate each other’s arms—and, confound + them, even then they don’t let go—they cling like sucker fish, and + talk and wallop about, and throw themselves back and laugh, and then + another jiggery jiggery. + </p> + <p> + On horseback, this custom is conspicuously ridiculous—I have nearly + gone into fits at beholding two men careering along the road at a hand + gallop each on a goodish horse, with his negro boy astern of him on a + mule, in clean frock and trowsers, and smart glazed hat with broad gold + band, with massa’s umbrella in a leathem case slung across his shoulders, + and his portmanteau behind him on a mail pillion covered with a snow white + sheep’s fleece—suddenly they pull up on recognising each other, + when, tucking their whips under their arms, or crossing them in their + teeth, it may be they commence the rugging and riving operation. In this + case, Shingle’s bit of blood swerves, we may assume—Ratoon rides at + him—Shingle fairly turns tail, and starts out at full speed, Ratoon + thundering in his rear, with out-stretched arm; and it does happen, I am + assured, that the hot pursuit often continues for a mile, before the + desired clapperclaw is obtained. But when two lusty planters meet on + horseback, then indeed Greek meets Greek. They, begin the interview by + shouting to each other, while fifty yards off, pulling away at the gloves + all the while—“How are you, Canetop?—glad to see you, Canetop. + How do you do, I hope.”—“How are you, Yamfu, my dear fellow?” their + horses fretting and jumping all the time—and if the Jack Spaniards + or gadflies be rife, they have, even when denuded for the shake, to spur + at each other, more like a Knight Templar and a Saracen charging in mortal + combat, than two men merely struggling to be civil; an after all they have + often to get their black servants alongside to hold their horses, for + shake they must, were they to break their necks in the attempt. Why they + won’t shake hands with their gloves on, I am sure I can’t tell. It would + be much cooler and nicer—lots of Scotchmen in the community too. + </p> + <p> + This hand-shaking, however, was followed by an invitation to dinner from + each individual in the company. I looked at Captain Transom, as much as to + say, “Can they mean us to take them at their word?” He nodded. + </p> + <p> + “We are sorry, that being under orders to go to sea on Sunday morning, + neither Mr Cringle nor myself can have the pleasure of accepting such kind + invitations.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, when you come back you know—one day you must give me.” + </p> + <p> + “And I won’t be denied,” quoth a second. + </p> + <p> + “Liberty Hall, you know, so to me you must come, no ceremony,” said a + third—and so on. + </p> + <p> + At length, no less a man drove up to the door, than Judge——. + When he drew up, his servant, who was sitting behind on a small projection + of the ketureen, came round and took a parcel out of the gig, closely + wrapped in a blanket—“Bring that carefully in, Leonidas,” said the + Judge, who now stumped up stairs with a small saw in his hand. He received + the parcel, and, laying it down carefully in a corner, he placed the saw + on it, and then came up and shook hands with Wagtail, and made his bow + very gracefully. + </p> + <p> + “What—can’t you do without your ice and sour claret yet?” said + Wagtail. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, never mind,” said the Judge; and here dinner being announced, + we all adjourned to the dining room, where a very splendid entertainment + was set out, to which we set to, and in the end, as it will appear, did + the utmost justice to it. + </p> + <p> + The wines were most exquisite. Madeira, for instance, never can be drunk + in perfection anywhere out of the Tropics. You may have the wine as good + at home, although I doubt it, but then you have not the climate to drink + it in—I would say the same of most of the delicate French wines—that + is, those that will stand the voyage—Burgundy of course not + included; but never mind, let us get along. + </p> + <p> + All the decanters were covered with cotton bags, kept wet with saltpetre + and water, so that the evaporation carried on powerfully by the stream of + air that flowed across the room, through the open doors and windows, made + the fluids quite as cool as was desirable to worthies sitting luxuriating + with the thermometer at 80 or thereby; yet, from the free current, I was + in no way made aware of this degree of heat by any oppressive sensation; + and I found in the West Indies as well as in the East, although the wind + in the latter is more dry and parching, that a current of heated air, if + it be moderately dry, even with the thermometer at 95 in the shade, is + really not so enervating or oppressive as I have found it in the + stagnating atmosphere on the sunny side of Pall Mall, with the mercury + barely at 75. A cargo of ice had a little before this arrived at Kingston, + and at first all the inhabitants who could afford it iced every thing, + wine, water, cold meats, fruits, and the Lord knows what all, tea, I + believe, amongst other things; (by the way, I have tried this, and it is a + luxury of its kind;) but the regular old stagers, who knew what was what, + and had a regard for their interiors, soon began to eschew the ice in + every way, saving and expecting to cool the water they washed their thin + faces and hands in; so we had no ice, nor did we miss it, but the judge + had a plateful of chips on the table before him, one of which he every now + and then popped into his long thin bell-glass of claret, diluting it, I + should have thought, in rather a heathenish manner; but n’importe, he + worked away, sawing off pieces now and then from the large lump in the + blanket, (to save the tear and wear attending a fracture,) which was + handed to him by his servant, so that by eleven o’clock at night, allowing + for the water, he must have concealed his three bottles of pure claret, + besides garnishing with a lot of white wines. In fine, we all carried on + astonishingly, some good singing was given, a practical joke was tried on + now and then by Fyall, and we continued mighty happy. As to the singing + part of it,—the landlord, with a bad voice, and worse ear, opened + the rorytory, by volunteering a very extraordinary squeak; fortunately it + was not very long, but it gave him a plea to screw a song out of his + right-hand neighbour, who in turn acquired the same right of compelling + the person next to him to make a fool of himself; at last it came to + Transom, who, by the by, sung exceedingly well, but he had got more wine + than usual, and essayed the coquette a bit. + </p> + <p> + “Bring the wet nightcap!” quoth our host. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it is that you are at?” said Transom, and he sung as required; but it + was all pearls before swine, I fear. + </p> + <p> + At last we stuck fast at Fyall. Music! there was not one particle in his + whole composition; so the wet nightcap already impended over him, when I + sung out, “Let him tell a story, Mr Wagtail! Let him tell a story!” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, Tom,” said Fyall; “I owe you a good turn for that, my boy.” + </p> + <p> + “Fyall’s story—Mr Fyall’s story!” resounded on all hands. Fyall, + glad to escape the song and wet nightcap, instantly began. + </p> + <p> + “Why, my friends, you all know Isaac Grimm, the Jew snuff merchant and + cigar maker, in Harbour Street. Well, Isaac had a brother, Ezekiel by + name, who carried on business in Curacao; you may have heard of him too. + Ezekiel was often down here for the purpose of laying in provisions, and + purchasing dry goods. You all know that?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly!” shouted both Captain Transom and myself in a breath, although + we had never heard of him before. + </p> + <p> + “Hah, I knew it!”—Well then, Ezekiel was very rich; he came down in + August last, in the Pickle schooner, and, as bad luck would have it, he + fell sick of the fever.—“Isaac,” quoth Ezekiel, “I am wery sheek; I + tink I shall tie.” “Hope note, dear proder; you hab no vife, nor shildir; + pity you should tie, Ezekiel. Ave you make your vill, Ezekiel?” “Yesh; de + vill is make. I leavish every ting to you, Isaac, on von condition, dat + you send my pody to be bury in Curacao. I love dat place; twenty years + since I lef de Minories, all dat time I cheat dere, and tell lie dere, and + lif dere happily. Oh, you most sent my pody for its puryment to Curacao!” + “I will do dat, mine proder.” “Den I depart in peace, dear Isaac;” and the + Israelite was as good as his word for once. He did die. Isaac, according + to his promise, applied to the captains of several schooners; none of them + would take the dead body. “What shall I do?” thought Isaac, “de monish + mosh not be loss.” So he straightway had Ezekiel (for even a Jew won’t + keep long in that climate) cut up and packed with pickle into two barrels, + marked, “Prime mess pork, Leicester, M’Call and Co. Cork” He then shipped + the same in the Fan Fan, taking bills of lading in accordance with the + brand, deliverable to Mordecai Levi of Curacao, to whom he sent the + requisite instructions. The vessel sailed. Off St Domingo she carried away + a mast, tried to fetch Carthagena under a jury-spar—fell to leeward, + and finally brought up at Honduras. + </p> + <p> + Three months after, Isaac encountered the master of the schooner in the + streets of Kingston. “Ah, mine goot captain—how is you you lookish + tin ave you been sheek?” “No, Moses I am well enough, thank you—poor + a bit, but sound in health, thank God. You have heard of my having carried + away the mainmast, and, after kicking about fifteen days on short + allowance, having been obliged to bear up for Honduras?” “I know noting of + all dat,” said Isaac; “sorry for it, captain—very sad inteed” “Sad—you + may say that, Moses. But I am honest although poor, and here is your bill + of lading for your two barrels of provisions; Prime mess, it says damned + tough, say I—Howsomedever,” pulling out his purse, “the present + value on Bogle, Jopp, and Co’s. wharf is L.5, 6s. 8d. the barrel; so there + are two doubloons, Moses, and now discharge the account on the back of the + bill of lading, will you?” “Vy should I take payment, captain? if de”—(pork + stuck in his throat like ‘amen’ in Macbeth,) “if de barrel ish lost, it + can’t be help—de act of God, you know.” “I am an honest man, Isaac,” + continued the captain, “although a poor one, and I must tell the truth—we + carried on with our own as long as it lasted, at length we had to break + bulk, and your two barrels being nearest the hatchway, why we ate them + first, that’s all. Lord, what has come over you?”—Isaac grew pale as + a corpse.—“Oh, mine Got—mine poor proder, dat you ever was + live, to tie in Jamaic—Oh tear, oh tear!” + </p> + <p> + “Did they eat the head and hands and—” + </p> + <p> + “Hold your tongue, Tom Cringle, don’t interrupt me; you did not eat them; + I tell it as it was told to me. So Isaac Grimm,” continued Fyall, “was + fairly overcome; the kindly feelings of his nature were at length stirred + up, and as he turned away, he wept—blew his nose hard, like a + Chaldean trumpet in the new moon—and while the large tears coursed + each other down his care-worn cheeks, he exclaimed, wringing the captain’s + hand, in a voice tremulous and scarcely audible from extreme emotion,” + “Oh, Isaac Grimm, Isaac Grimm—tid not your heart mishgive you, ven + you vas commit te great blasphemy of invoish Ezekiel—flesh of your + flesh, pone of your pone—as por—de onclean peast, I mean. If + you hat put invoish him ash peef, surely te earthly tabernacle of him, as + always sheet in de high places in te Sinacogue, would never have been + allow to pass troo te powels of te pershicuting Nazareen. Ah, mine goot + captain mine very tear friend—vat—vat—vat av you done + wid de cask, captain?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh most lame and impotent conclusion,” sung out the judge, who by this + time had become deucedly prosy, and all hands arose, as if by common + consent, and agreed that we had got enough. + </p> + <p> + So off we started in groups.—Fyall, Captain Transom, Whiffle, Aaron + Bang, and myself, sallied forth in a bunch, pretty well inclined for a + lark, you may guess. There are no lamps in the streets of Kingston, and as + all the decent part of the community are in their cavies by half-past nine + in the evening, and as it was now “the witching time o’ night,” there was + not a soul in the streets that we saw, except a solitary town guard now + and then, lurking about some dark corner under the piazzas. These same + streets, which were wide and comfortable enough in the daytime, had become + unaccountably narrow and intricate since six o’clock in the evening; and, + although the object of the party was to convoy Captain Transom and myself + to our boat at the Ordnance Wharf, it struck me that we were as frequently + on a totally different tack. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Cringle, my boy,” stuttered out my superior, Lieutenant and + Captain being both drowned in and equalized by the claret—“why, Tom, + Tom Cringle, you dog—don’t you hear your superior officer speak, + sir, eh?” + </p> + <p> + My superior officer, during this address, was standing with both arms + round a pillar of the piazza. + </p> + <p> + “I am here, sir,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I know that; but why don’t you speak when I Hillo where’s Aaron, and + Fyall, and the rest, eh?” + </p> + <p> + They had been attracted by sounds of revelry in a splendid mansion in the + next street, which we could see was lit up with great brilliancy, and had + at this time shot about fifty yards ahead of us, working to windward, tack + and tack, like Commodore Trunnion. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I see,” said Transom; “let us heave ahead, Tom—now, do ye hear?— + stand you with your white trowsers against the next pillar.” The ranges + supporting the piazza were at distances of about twenty feet from each + other.—“Ah, stand there now—I see it.”—So he weighted + from the one he had tackled to, and making a staggering bolt of it, ran up + to the pillar against which I stood, its position being marked by my white + vestments, where he again hooked on for a second or two, until I had taken + up a new position. + </p> + <p> + “There, my boy, that’s the way to lay out a warp—right in the wind’s + eye, Tom—we shall fairly beat those lubbers who are tacking in the + stream—nothing like warping in the dead water near the shore—mark + that down, Tom—never beat in a tideway when you can warp up along + shore in the dead water—Damn the judge’s ice” (hiccup) “he has + poisoned me with that piece he plopped in my last whitewash of Madeira. He + a judge! He may be a good crim—criminal judge, but no judge of wine—Why + don’t you laugh, Tom, eh?—and then his saw—the rasp of a saw I + hate—wish it, and a whole nest more, had been in his legal stomach—full + of old saws Shakespeare—he, he—why don’t you laugh, Tom?—Poisoned + by the judge, by Jupiter—Now, here we are fairly abreast of them—Hillo! + Fyall, what are you after?” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, hush,” said Fyall, with drunken gravity. + </p> + <p> + “And hush, hush,” said Aaron Bang. + </p> + <p> + “Come here, Tom, come here,” said Whiffle, in a whisper. We were now + directly under the piazza of the fine house, in the first floor of which + some gay scene was enacting. “Here, Tom, here—now stand there—hold + by that pillar there. I say, Transom, give me a lift.” + </p> + <p> + “Can’t, Whiffle, can’t, for the soul of me, Peregrine, my dear—but I + see, I see.” + </p> + <p> + With that the gallant captain got down on all fours; Whiffle, a small + light man, got on his back, and, with the aid of Bang and Fyall, managed + to scramble up on my shoulders, where he stood, holding by the window sill + above, with a foot on each side of my head. His little red face was thus + raised flush with the window sill, so that he could see into the dark + piazza on the first floor, and right through into the magnificent and + sparkling drawing room beyond. + </p> + <p> + “Now tell us what’s to be seen,” said Aaron. + </p> + <p> + “Stop, stop,” rejoined Whiffle—“My eye, what a lot of splendid women + no men—a regular lady party—Hush! a song.” A harp was struck, + and a symphony of Beethoven’s played with great taste—A song, low + and melancholy, from two females followed. + </p> + <p> + “The music of the spheres!” quoth Whiffle. + </p> + <p> + We were rapt—we had been inspired before—and, drunk as we + were, there we sat or stood, as best suited us, exhibiting the strange + sight of a cluster of silent tipsy men. At length, at one of the finest + swells, I heard a curious gurgling sound overhead, as if some one was + being gagged, and I fancied Peregrine became lighter on my shoulders—Another + fine dieaway note—I was sure of it. + </p> + <p> + “Bang, Bang—Fyall—He is evaporating with delight—no + weight at all, growing more and more ethereal—lighter and lighter, + as I am a gentleman he is off—going, going, gone—exhaled into + the blue heavens, by all that is wonderful!” + </p> + <p> + Puzzled beyond measure, I stept hurriedly back, and capsized over the + captain, who was still enacting the joint-stool on all-fours behind me, by + which Whiffle had mounted to my crosstrees, and there we rolled in the + sand, master and man. + </p> + <p> + “Murdered, Tom Cringle—murdered—you have hogged me like the + old Ramilies—broke my back, Tom—spoiled my quadrilling for + ever and a day; d——n the judge’s ice though, and the saw + particularly.” + </p> + <p> + “Where is he—where is Whiffle?” enquired all hands, in a volley. + </p> + <p> + “The devil only knows,” said I; “he has flown up into the clouds, catch + him who can. He has left this earth anyhow, that is clear.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha, ha!” cried Fyall, in great glee, who had seen him drawn into the + window by several white figures, after they had tied a silk handkerchief + over his mouth; “Follow me, my boys;” and we all scrambled after him to + the front door of the house, to which we ascended by a handsome flight of + marble steps, and when there, we began to thunder away for admittance. The + door was opened by a very respectable looking elderly gentleman, with well + powdered hair, and attended by two menservants in handsome liveries, + carrying lights. His bearing and gentlemanlike deportment had an immediate + effect on me, and I believe on the others too. He knew Fyall and Whiffle, + it appeared. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Fyall,” he said, with much gentleness, “I know it is only meant as a + frolic, but really I hope you will now end it. Amongst yourselves, + gentlemen, this may be all very well, but considering my religion, and the + slights we Hebrews are so often exposed to, myself and my family are more + sensitive and pervious to insult than you can well understand.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear fellow,” quoth Fyall, “we are all very sorry; the fact is, we had + some d——d bad shaddock after dinner, which has made us very + giddy and foolish somehow. Do you know, I could almost fancy I had been + drinking wine.” + </p> + <p> + “Cool and deliciously impudent that same, (hiccup,)” quoth the skipper. + </p> + <p> + “But hand us back little Whiffle,” continued Fyall, “and we shall be off.” + </p> + <p> + Here Whiffie’s voice was heard from the drawing room. “Here, Fyall!— + Tom Cringle!—Here, here, or I shall be murdered!” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! I see,” said Mr H. “this way, gentlemen. Come, I will deliver the + culprit to you;” and we followed him into the drawing room, a most + magnificent saloon, at least forty feet by thirty, brilliantly lit up with + crystal lamps, and massive silver candelabra, and filled with elegant + furniture, which was reflected, along with the chandeliers that hung from + the centre of the coach roof, by several large mirrors, in rich frames, as + well as in the highly polished mahogany floor. + </p> + <p> + There, in the middle of the room, the other end of it being occupied by a + bevy of twelve or fifteen richly-dressed females, visitors, as we + conjectured, sat our friend Peregrine, pinioned into a large easy chair, + with shawls and scarfs, amidst a sea of silk cushions, by four beautiful + young women, black hair and eyes, clear white skins, fine figures, and + little clothing. A young Jewess is a beautiful animal, although, like the + unclean—confound the metaphor—which they abhor—they + don’t improve by age. + </p> + <p> + When we entered, the blushing girls, who had been beating Whiffle over his + spindle shins, with their large garden fans, dashed through a side door, + unable to contain their laughter, which we heard long after they had + vanished, echoing through the lofty galleries of the house. Our captive + knight being restored to us, we made our bows to the other ladies, who + were expiring with laughter, and took our leave, with little Whiffle on + our shoulders—the worthy Hebrew, whom I afterwards knew in London, + sending his servant and gig with Captain Transom and myself to the wharf. + There we tumbled ourselves into the boat, and got on board the Firebrand + about three in the morning. We were by this time pretty well sobered; at + four a gun was fired, the topsails were let fall, and sheeted home, and + topgallant-sails set over them, the ship having previously been hove + short; at half-past, the cable being right up and down—another gun + the drums and fifes beat merrily, spin flew the capstan, tramp went the + men that manned it. We were under weigh— Eastward, ho!—for + Santiago de Cuba. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII.—The Cruise o the Firebrand + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Shewing, amongst other pleasant matters well worthy of being + recorded, how Thomas communed with his two Consciences. +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Oh, who can tell, save he whose heart hath tried, + And danced in triumph o’er the waters wide, + The exulting sense, the pulse’s maddening play, + That thrills the wanderer of that trackless way?” + + Byron, The Corsair, 1.9—16. +</pre> + <p> + We had to beat up for three days before we could weather the east end of + Jamaica, and tearing work we had of it. I had seen bad weather and heavy + seas in several quarters of the globe—I had tumbled about under a + close-reefed main-topsail and reefed foresail, on the long seas in the Bay + of Biscay—I had been kicked about in a seventy-four, off the Cape of + Good Hope, as if she had been a cork—I had been hove hither and + thither, by the short jumble of the North Sea, about Heligoland, and the + shoals lying off the mouth of the Elbe, when every thing over head was + black as thunder, and all beneath as white as snow—I had enjoyed the + luxury of being tom in pieces by a northwester, which compelled us to + lie-to for ten days at a stretch, under storm stay-sails, off the coast of + Yankeeland, with a clear, deep, cold, blue sky above us, without a cloud, + where the sun shone brightly the whole time by day, and a glorious harvest + moon by night, as if they were smiling in derision upon our riven and + strained ship, as she reeled to and fro like a wounded Titan; at one time + buried in the trough of the sea, at another cast upwards towards the + heavens by the throes of the tormented waters, from the troubled bosom of + the bounding and roaring ocean, amidst hundreds of miniature rainbows, + (ay, rainbows by night as well as by day,) in a hissing storm of white, + foaming, seething spray, torn from the curling and rolling bright green + crests of the mountainous billows. And I have had more than one narrow + squeak for it in the neighbourhood of the “still vexed Bermoothes,” + besides various other small affairs, written in this Boke; but the devil + such another tumblefication had I ever experienced-not as to danger, for + there was none except to our spars and rigging, but as to discomfort as I + did in that short, cross, splashing, and boiling sea, off Morant Point. By + noon, however, on the second day, having had a slant from the land wind in + the night previous, we got well to windward of the long sandy spit that + forms the east end of the island, and were in the act of getting a small + pull of the weather braces, before edging away for St Jago, when the wind + fell suddenly, and in half an hour it was stark calm—‘una furiosa + calma,’ as the Spanish sailors quaintly enough call it. + </p> + <p> + We got rolling tackles up, and the topgallant-masts down, and studding + sails out of the tops, and lessened the lumber and weight aloft in every + way we could think of, but, nevertheless, we continued to roll gunwale + under, dipping the main-yardarm into the water every now and then, and + setting every thing adrift, below and on deck, that was not bolted down, + or otherwise well secured. + </p> + <p> + When I went down to dinner, the scene was extremely good. Old Yerk, the + first lieutenant, was in the chair—one of the boys was jammed at his + side, with his claws fastened round the foot of the table, holding a + tureen of boiling pease-soup, with lumps of pork swimming in it, which the + aforesaid Yerk was baling forth with great assiduity to his messmates. + Hydrostatics were much in vogue—the tendency of fluids to regain + their equilibrium (confound them, they have often in the shape of claret + destroyed mine) was beautifully illustrated, as the contents of each + carefully balanced soup-plate kept swaying about on the principle of the + spirit level. The Doctor was croupier, and as it was a return to dinner to + the captain, all hands were regularly figged out, the lieutenants, with + their epaulets and best coats, and the master, purser, and doctor, all + fittingly attired. When I first entered, as I made my obeisance to the + captain, I thought I saw an empty seat next him, but the matter of the + soup was rather an engrossing concern, and took up my attention, so that I + paid no particular regard to the circumstance; however, when we had all + discussed the same, and were drinking our first glass of Tenerife, I + raised my eyes to hob and nob with the master, when ye gods and little + fishes—who should they light on, but the merry phiz merry, also! no + more—of Aaron Bang, Esquire, who, during the soup interlude, had + slid into the vacant chair unperceived by me. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr Bang, where, in the name of all that is comical, where have you + dropped from?” Alas! poor Aaron—Aaron in a rolling sea was of no + kindred to Aaron ashore. His rosy gills were no longer rosy, his round + plump face seemed to be covered with parchment from an old bass drum, cut + out from the centre where most bronzed by the drumstruck—there was + no speculation in his eyes that he did glare withal—and his lips, + which were usually firm and open, disclosing his nice teeth, in frequent + grin, were held together, as if he had been in grievous pain. At length he + did venture to open them—and, like the ghost of Hamlet’s father, “it + lifted up its head and did address itself to motion, as it would speak.” + But they began to quiver, and he once more screwed them together, as if he + feared the very exertion of uttering a word or two might unsettle his + moniplies. + </p> + <p> + The master was an odd garrulous small man, who had a certain number of + stated jokes, which, so long as they were endured, he unmercifully + inflicted on his messmates. I had come in for my share, as a new comer, as + well as the rest; but even with me, although I had been but recently + appointed, they had already began to pall, and wax wearisome; and blind as + the beetle of a body was, he could not help seeing this. So poor Bang, + unable to return a shot, sea-sick and crestfallen, offered a target that + he could not resist taking aim at. Dinner was half over, and Bang had not + eaten any thing, when, unseasonable as the hour was, the little pot—valiant + master, primed with two tumblers of grog, in defiance of the captain’s + presence, fairly fastened on him, like a remora, and pinned him down with + one of his longwinded stories about Captain David Jones, in the Phantome, + during a cruise off Cape Flyaway, having run foul of a whale, and thereby + nearly foundered; and that at length having got the monster harpooned and + speared, and the devil knows what, but it ended in getting her alongside, + when they scuttled the leviathan, and then, wonderful to relate, they + found a Greenlandman, with royal yards crossed, in her maw, and the + captain and mate in the cabin quarrelling about the reckoning. + </p> + <p> + “What do you think of that, Mr Bang—as well they might be, Mr Bang—as + well they might be?” Bang said nothing, but at the moment—whether + the said Aaron lent wings to the bird or no I cannot tell—a goose, + swimming in apple sauce, which he was, with a most stern countenance, + endeavouring to carve, fetched away right over the gunwale of the dish; + and taking a whole boat of melted butter with it, splashed across the + table during a tremendous roll, that made every thing creak and groan + again, right into the small master’s lap who was his vis-a-vis. I could + hear Aaron grumble out something about—“Strange affinity-birds of a + feather.” But his time was up, his minutes were numbered, and like a shot + he bolted from the table, skulling or rather clawing away towards the + door, by the backs of the chairs, like a green parrot, until he reached + the marine at the bottom of the ladder, at the door of the captain’s + cabin, round whose neck he immediately fetterlocked his fins. + </p> + <p> + He had only time to exclaim to his new ally, “My dear fellow, get me some + brandy and water, for the love of mercy”—when he blew up, with an + explosion like the bursting of a steam-boiler—“Oh dear, oh dear,” we + could hear him murmuring in the lulls of his agony then another loud + report—“there goes my yesterday’s supper-hot grog and toasted + cheese” another roar, as if the spirit was leaving its earthly tabernacle + “dinner-claret—Madeira—all cruel bad in a second + edition-cheese, teal, and ringtail pigeon—black crabs calapi and + turtle soup”—as his fleshly indulgences of the previous day rose up + in judgment against him, like a man’s evil deeds on his death-bed. At + length-the various strata of his interior were entirely excavated—“Ah!—I + have got to my breakfast-to the simple tea and toast at last.—Brandy + and water, my dear Transom, brandy and water, my darling, hot, without + sugar”—and “Brandy and water” died in echoes in the distance as he + was stowed away into his cot in the captain’s cabin. It seems that it had + been all arranged between him and Transom, that he was to set off for St + Thomas in the East, the morning on which we sailed, and to get a shove out + in the pilot-boat schooner, from Morant Bay, to join us for the cruise; + and accordingly he had come on board the night previous when I was below, + and being somewhat qualmish he had wisely kept his cot; the fun of the + thing depending, as it seemed, on all hands carefully keeping it from me + that he was on board. + </p> + <p> + I apprehend most people indulge in the fancy that they have Consciences, + such as they are. I myself now—even I, Thomas Cringle, Esquire, + amongst sundry vain imaginings, conceive that I have a Conscience somewhat + of the caoutchouc order I will confess stretching a little upon occasion, + when the gale of my passions blows high, nevertheless a highly respectable + Conscience, as things go a stalwart unchancy customer, who will not be + gainsaid or contradicted; but he may be disobeyed, although never with + impunity. It is all true that a young, well-fledged gentlewoman, for she + is furnished with a most swift pair of wings, called Prosperity, sometimes + gets the better of Master Conscience, and smothers the Grim Feature for a + time, under the bed of eider down, whereon you and her ladyship are + reposing. But she is a sad jilt in many instances, this same Prosperity; + for some fine morning, with the sun glancing in through the crevices of + the window-shutters, just at the nick when, after turning yourself, and + rubbing your eyes, you courageously thrust forth one leg, with a + determination to don your gramashes without more delay. “Tom,” says she + “Tom Cringle, I have got tired of you, Thomas; besides, I hear my next + door neighbour, Madame Adversity, tirling at the door pin; so give me my + down bed, Tom, and I’m off.” With that she bangs open the window, and + before I recover from my surprise, launches forth, with a loud whir, + mattrass and all, leaving me, Pilgarlic, lying on the paillasse. Well, her + nest is scarcely cold, when in comes me Mistress Adversity, a wee + outspoken sour crabbit gizzened anatomy of an old woman—“You + ne’erdoweel, Tam,” quoth she, “is it no enough that you consort with that + scarlet limmer, who has just yescaped thorough the winday, but ye maun + smoors my firstborn, puir Conscience, atween ye? Whare hae ye stowed him, + mantell me that?” And the ancient damosel gives me a shrewd clip on the + skull with the poker. “That’s right, mother,” quoth Conscience, from + beneath the straw mattrass—“Give it to him—he’ll no hear me + another devel, mother.” And I found that my own weight, deserted as I was + by that—ahem—Prosperity, was no longer sufficient to keep him + down. So up he rose, with a loud pech; and while the old woman keelhauled + me with a poker on one side, he yerked at me on the other, until at length + he gave me a regular cross buttock, and then between them they diddled me + outright. When I was fairly floored, “Now, my man,” said Adversity, “I + bear no spite; if you will but listen to my boy there, we shall be good + friends still. He is never unreasonable. He has no objections to your + consorting even with Madame Prosperity, in a decent way; but he will not + consent to your letting her get the better of you, nor to your doting on + her, even to the giving her a share of your bed, when she should never be + allowed to get farther than the servants hall, for she should be kept in + subjection, or she’ll ruin you for ever, Thomas.—Conscience is a + rough lad, I grant you, and I am keen and snell also; but never mind, take + his advice, and you’ll be some credit to your freens yet, ye scoonrel.” I + did so, and the old lady’s visits became shorter and shorter, and more and + more distant, until at length they ceased altogether; and once more + Prosperity, like a dove with its heaven-borrowed hues all glowing in the + morning sun, pitched one morning on my windowsill. It was in June. “Tom, I + am come back again.” I glowered at her with all my bir. She made a step or + two towards me, and the lesson of Adversity was fast evaporating into thin + air, when, lo! the sleeping lion himself awoke. “Thomas,” said Conscience, + in a voice that made my flesh creep, “not into your bed, neither into your + bosom, Thomas. Be civil to the young woman, but remember what your best + friend Adversity told you, and never let her be more than your handmaiden + again; free to come, free to go, but never more to be your mistress.” I + screw myself about, and twist, and turn in great perplexity—Hard + enough all this, and I am half inclined to try to throttle Conscience + outright. + </p> + <p> + But to make a long story short—I was resolute—“Step into the + parlour, my dearest I hope we shall never part any more; but you must not + get the upper hand, you know. So step into the other room, and whenever I + get my inexpressibles on, I will come to you there.” + </p> + <p> + But this Conscience, about which I am now hovering, seldom acts the + monitor in this way, unless against respectable crimes, such as murder, + debauching your friend’s wife, or stealing. But the chield I have to do + with for the present, and who has led to this rigmarole, is a sort of + deputy Conscience, a looker—out after small affairs—peccadilloes. + The grewsome carle, Conscience Senior, you can grapple with, for he only + steps forth on great occasions, when he says sternly—and the + mischief is, that what he says, we know to be true—says he, “Thomas + Cringle”—he never calls me Tom, or Mister, or Lieutenant—“Thomas + Cringle,” says he, “if you do that thing, you shall be damned.” “Lud-a + mercy,” quoth I, Thomas, “I will perpend, Master Conscience” and I set + myself to eschew the evil deed, with all my might. But Conscience the + Younger—whom I will take leave to call by Quashie’s appellative + hereafter, Conshy—is a funny little fellow, and another guess sort + oft a chap altogether. An instance—“I say, Tom, my boy—Tom + Cringle—why the deuce now”—he won’t say “the Devil” for the + world—“Why the deuce, Tom, don’t you confine yourself to a pint of + wine at dinner, eh?” quoth Conshy. “Why will you not give up your toddy + after it? You are ruining your interior, Thomas, my fine fellow—the + gout is on the look out for you, your legs are spindling, and your paunch + is increasing. Read Hamlet’s speech to Polonius, Tom, and if you don’t + find all the marks of premature old age creeping on you, then am I, + Conshy, a Dutchman, that’s all.” Now Conshy always lectures you in the + watches of the night; I generally think his advice is good at breakfast + time, and during the forenoon, egad, I think it excellent and most + reasonable, and I determine to stick by it and if Conshy and I dine alone, + I do adhere to his maxims most rigidly; but if any of my old allies should + topple in to dinner, Conshy, who is a solitary mechanic, bolts instanter. + Still I remember him for a time—we sit down—the dinner is + good. “I say, Jack, a glass of wine, Peter what shall we have?” and until + the pint a-piece is discussed, all is right between Conshy and I. But then + comes some grouse. Hook, in his double-refined nonsense, palavers about + the blasphemy of white wine after brown game—and he is not far wrong + either;—at least I never thought he was, so long as my Hermitage + lasted; but at the time I speak of, it was still to the fore—so the + moment the pint a-piece was out, “Hold hard, Tom, now,” cheeps little + Conshy. “Why, only one glass of Hermitage, Conshy.” Conshy shakes his + head. Cheese—after the manner of the ancients—Hook again—“Only + one glass of port, Conshy.” He shakes his head, and at length the cloth is + drawn, and a confounded old steward of mine, who is now installed as + butler, brings in the crystal decanters, sparkling to the wax lights poor + as I am, I consider mutton fat still damnable—and every thing as it + should be, down to a finger-glass. “Now, Mary, where are the children?” I + am resolute. “Jack, I can’t drink—out of sorts, my boy so mind + yourself, you and Peter.—Now, Conshy,” says I, “where are you now, + my boy?” But just at this instant, jack strikes out, with “Cringle, order + me a tumbler—something hot—I don’t care what it is.”—“Ditto,” + quoth Peter; and down crumbles all my fine fabric of resolutions, only to + be rebuilt tomorrow, before breakfast again, or at any odd moment, when + one’s flesh is somewhat fishified. Another instance. “I say, Tom,” says + Conshy, “do give over looking at that smart girl tripping it along t’other + side of the street.”—“Presently, my dear little man,” says I. “Tight + little woman that, Conshy; handsome bows; good bearings forward; tumbles + home sweetly about the waist, and tumbles out well above the hips; what a + beautiful run! and spars clean and tight; back-stays well set up.”—“Now, + Tom, you vagabond, give over. Have you not a wife of your own?”—“To + be sure I have, Conshy, my darling; but toujours per” “Have done, now, you + are going too far,” says Conshy.—“Oh, you be—“. “Thomas,” + cries a still stern voice, from the very inmost recesses of my heart. Wee + Conshy holds up his finger, and pricks his ear. “Do you hear him?” says + he.—“I hear,” says I, “I hear and tremble.” Now, to apply. Conshy + has been nudging me for this half hour to hold my tongue regarding Aaron + Bang’s sea-sickness.—“It is absolutely indecent,” quoth he. “Can’t + help it, Conshy; no more than the extra tumbler; those who are delicate + need not read it; those who are indelicate won’t be the worse of it.”—“But,” + persists Conshy—“I have other hairs in your neck, Master Tommy—you + are growing a bit of a buffoon on us, and sorry am I to say it, sometimes + not altogether, as a man with a rank imagination may construe you, a very + decent one. Now, my good boy, I would have you to remember that what you + write is condemned in the pages of Old Christopher to an amber + immortalization,” (Ohon for the Provost!) “nay, don’t perk and smile, I + mean no compliment, for you are but the straw in the amber, Tom, and the + only wonder is, how the deuce you got there.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear Conshy” + </p> + <p> + “Hold your tongue, Tom—let me say out my say, and finish my advice—and + how will you answer to my father, in your old age, when youth, and health, + and wealth, may have flown, if you find any thing in this your Log + calculated to bring a blush on an innocent cheek, Tom, when the time shall + have for ever passed away wherein you could have remedied the injury? For + Conscience will speak to you then, not as I do now, in friendly + confidence, and impelled by a sincere regard for you, you right hearted, + but thoughtless, slapdash vagabond.” + </p> + <p> + There must have been a great deal of absurd perplexity in my visage, as I + sat receiving my rebuke, for I noticed Conshy smile, which gave me + courage. + </p> + <p> + “I will reform, Conshy, and that immediately; but my moral is good, man.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, Tom, I will take you at your word, so set about it, set about + it.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Conshy—a word in your starboard lug—why don’t you go to + the fountain-head—why don’t you try your hand in a curtain lecture + on Old Kit North himself, the hoary sinner who seduced me?” + </p> + <p> + Conshy could no longer contain himself; the very idea of Old Kit having a + conscience of any kind or description whatever, so tickled him, that he + burst into a most uproarious fit of laughter, which I was in great hopes + would have choked him, and thus made me well quit of him for ever. For + some time I listened in great amazement, but there was something so + infectious in his fun, that presently I began to laugh too, which only + increased his cachinnation, so there were Conshy and I roaring, and + shouting, with the tears running down our cheeks. + </p> + <p> + “Kit listen to me!—Oh, Lord” + </p> + <p> + “You are swearing, Conshy,” said I, rubbing my hands at having caught him + tripping. + </p> + <p> + “And enough to make a Quaker swear,” quoth he, still laughing. “No, no, + Kit never listens to me—why, he would never listen even to my + father, until the gout and the Catholic Relief Bill, and last of all, the + Reform Bill, broke him down, and softened his heart.” + </p> + <p> + So there is an allegory for you, worthy of John Bunyan. + </p> + <p> + Next morning we got the breeze again, when we bore away for Santiago de + Cuba, and arrived off the Moro Castle on the fifth evening at sunset, + after leaving Port Royal harbour. The Spaniards, in their better days, + were a kind of coral worms; wherever they planted their colonies, they + immediately set to covering themselves in with stone and mortar; applying + their own entire energies, and the whole strength of their Indian + captives, first to the erection of a fort; their second object (postponed + to the other only through absolute necessity) being then to build a temple + to their God. Gradually vast fabrics appeared, where before there was + nothing but one eternal forest, or a howling wilderness; and although it + does come over one, when looking at the splendid moles, and firm-built + bastions, and stupendous churches of the New World—the latter + surpassing, or at the lest equalling in magnificence and grandeur those of + Old Spain herself—that they are all cemented by the blood and sweat + of millions of gentle Indians, of whose harmless existence in many + quarters, they remain the only monuments, still it is a melancholy + reflection to look back and picture to one’s self what Spain was, and to + compare her, in her high and palmy state, with what she is now—to + compare her present condition even with what she was when, as a young + midshipman, I first visited her glorious Transatlantic colonies. + </p> + <p> + Until the Peninsula was overrun by the French, Buenos Ayres, La Guayra, + Porto Cavello, Maracaibo, Santa Martha, and that stronghold of the west, + the key of the Isthmus of Darien, Cartagena de las Indias, with Porto + Bello, and Vera Cruz, on the Atlantic shores of South America, were all + prosperous and happy—“Llenas de plata;” and on the Western coast, + Valparaiso, Lima, Panama, and San Bias, were thriving and increasing in + population and wealth. England, through her colonies, was at that time + driving a lucrative trade with all of them; but the demon of change was + abroad, blown thither by the pestilent breath of European liberalism. What + a vineyard for Abbe Sieyes to have laboured in! Every Capitania would have + become a purchaser of one of his cut and dried constitutions. Indeed he + could not have turned them out of hand fast enough. The enlightened few, + in these countries, were as a drop in the bucket to the unenlightened + many; and although no doubt there were numbers of the former who were + well-meaning men, yet they were one and all guilty of that prime political + blunder, in common with our Whig friends at home, of expecting a set of + semi-barbarians to see the beauty of, and to conform to, their newfangled + codes of free institutions, for which they were as ready as I am to die at + this present moment. Bolivar, in his early fever of patriotism, made the + same mistake, although his shrewd mind, in his later career, saw that a + despotism, pure or impure—I will not qualify it—was your only + government for the savages he had at one time dignified with the name of + fellow-patriots. But he came to this wholesome conclusion too late; he + tried backs it is true, but it would not do; the fiend had been unchained, + and at length hunted him broken hearted into his grave. + </p> + <p> + But the men of mind tell us, that those countries are now going through + the political fermentation, which by and by will clear, when the sediment + will be deposited, and the different ranks will each take their + acknowledged and undisputed stations in society; and the United States are + once and again quoted against we of the adverse faction, as If there were + the most remote analogy between their population, originally composed of + all the cleverest scoundrels of Europe, and the barbarians of Spanish + America, where a few master spirits, all old Spaniards, did indeed for a + season stick fiery off from the dark mass of savages amongst whom their + lot was cast, like stars in a moonless night, but only to suffer a speedy + eclipse from the clouds and storm which they themselves had set in motion. + We shall see. The scum as yet is uppermost, and does not seem likely to + subside, but it may boil over. In Cuba, however, all was at the time + quiet, and still is, I believe, prosperous, and that too without having + come through this said blessed political fermentation. + </p> + <p> + During the night we stood off and on under easy sail, and next morning, + when the day broke, with a strong breeze and a fresh shower, we were about + two miles off the Moro Castle, at the entrance of Santiago de Cuba. + </p> + <p> + I went aloft to look round me. The sea-breeze blew strong, until it + reached within half a mile of the shore, where it stopped short, shooting + in cat’s-paws occasionally into the smooth belt of water beyond, where the + long unbroken swell rolled like molten silver in the rising sun, without a + ripple on its surface, until it dashed its gigantic undulations against + the face of the precipitous cliffs on the shore, and flew up in smoke. The + entrance to the harbour is very narrow, and looked from my perch like a + zig-zag chasm in the rock, inlaid at the bottom with polished blue steel; + so clear, and cahn, and pellucid was the still water, wherein the frowning + rocks, and magnificent trees on the banks, and the white Moro, rising with + its grinning tiers of cannon, battery above battery, were reflected veluti + in speculum, as if it had been in a mirror. + </p> + <p> + We had shortened sail, and fired a gun, and the signal for a pilot was + flying, when the Captain hailed me. “Does the sea breeze blow into the + harbour yet, Mr Cringle?” + </p> + <p> + “Not yet, sir; but it is creeping in fast.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well. Let me know when we can run in. Mr Yerk, back the main + topsail, and heave the ship to.” + </p> + <p> + Presently the pilot canoe, with the Spanish flag flying in the stem, came + alongside; and the pilot, a tall brown man, a Moreno, as the Spaniards + say, came on board. He wore a glazed cocked hat, rather an out-of-the-way + finish to his figure, which was rigged in a simple Osnaburg shirt, and + pair of trowsers. He came on the quarterdeck, and made his bow to the + captain with all the ease in the world, wished him a good morning, and + taking his place by the quartermaster at the conn, he took charge of the + ship. “Senor,” quoth he to me, “is de harbour blow up yet? I mean, you see + de viento walking into him?—de terral—dat is land-wind—has + he cease?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” I answered; “the belt of smooth water is growing narrower fast; but + the sea breeze does not blow into the channel yet. Now it has reached the + entrance.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, den make sail, Senior Capitan; fill de main-topsail.” We stood in, + the scene becoming more and more magnificent as we approached the land. + </p> + <p> + The fresh green shores of this glorious island lay before us, fringed with + white surf, as the everlasting ocean in its approach to it gradually + changed its dark blue colour, as the water shoaled, into a bright joyous + green under the blazing sun, as if in sympathy with the genius of the fair + land, before it tumbled at his feet its gently swelling billows, in + shaking thunders on the reefs and rocky face of the coast, against which + they were driven up in clouds, the incense of their sacrifice. The + undulating hills in the vicinity were all, either cleared, and covered + with the greenest verdure that imagination can picture, over which strayed + large herds of cattle, or with forests of gigantic trees, from amongst + which, every now and then, peeped out some palm thatched mountain + settlement, with its small thread of blue smoke floating up into the calm + clear morning air, while the blue hills in the distance rose higher and + higher, and more and more blue, and dreamy, and indistinct, until their + rugged summits could not be distinguished from the clouds through the + glimmering hot haze of the tropics. + </p> + <p> + “By the mark seven,” sung out the leadsman in the starboard chains. + “Quarter less three,” responded he in the larboard, showing that the + inequalities of the surface at the bottom of the sea, even in the breadth + of the ship, were at least as abrupt as those presented above water by the + sides of the natural canal into which we were now running. By this time, + on our right hand, we were within pistol shot of the Moro, where the + channel is not above fifty yards across; indeed there is a chain, made + fast to a rock on the opposite side, that can be hove up by a capstan + until it is level with the water, so as to constitute an insurmountable + obstacle to any attempt to force an entrance in time of war. As we stood + in, the golden flag of Spain rose slowly on the staff at the Water + Battery, and Cast its large sleepy folds abroad in the breeze; but, + instead of floating over mailclad men, or Spanish soldiers in warlike + array, three poor devils of half naked mulattoes stuck their heads out of + an embrasure under its shadow. “Senor Capitan,” they shouted, ‘una Botella + de Roma, por el honor del pais.’ We were mighty close upon leaving the + bones of the old ship here, by the by; for at the very instant of entering + the harbour’s mouth, the land wind checked us off, and very nearly hove us + broadside on upon the rocks below the castle, against which the swell was + breaking in thunder. + </p> + <p> + “Let go the anchor,” sung out the captain. + </p> + <p> + “All gone, sir,” promptly responded the boatswain from the forecastle. And + as he spoke, we struck once, twice, and very heavily the third time. But + the breeze coming in strong, we fetched away again; and as the cable was + promptly cut, we got safely off. However, on weighing the anchor + afterwards, we found the water had been so shoal under the bows, that the + ship, when she stranded, had struck it, and broken the stock short off by + the ring. The only laughable part of the story consisted in the old cook, + an Irishman, with one leg and half an eye, scrambling out of the galley + nearly naked, in his trowsers, shirt, and greasy nightcap, and sprawling + on all fours after two tubsful of yams, which the third thump had capsized + all over the deck. “Oh you scurvy-looking tief,” said he, eying the pilot; + “if it was running us ashore you were set on, why the blazes couldn’t ye + wait until the yams, were in the copper, bad luck to ye—and them all + scraped too! I do believe, if they even had been taties, it would have + been all the same to you.” We stood on, the channel narrowing still more + the rocks rising to a height of at least five hundred feet from the + water’s edge, as sharply and precipitously as if they had only yesterday + been split asunder; the splintered projections and pinnacles on one side, + having each their corresponding fissures and indentations on the other, as + if the hand of a giant could have closed them together again. + </p> + <p> + Noble trees shot out in all directions wherever they could find a little + earth and a crevice to hold on by, almost meeting overhead in several + places, and alive with all kinds of birds and beasts incidental to the + climate; parrots of all sorts, great and small, clomb, and hung, and + fluttered amongst the branches; and pigeons of numberless varieties; and + the glancing woodpecker, with his small hammer like tap, tap, tap; and the + West India nightingale, and humming birds of all hues; while cranes, + black, white, and grey, frightened from their fishing-stations, stalked + and peeped about, as awkwardly as a warrant-officer in his long skirted + coat on a Sunday; while whole flocks of ducks flew across the mastheads + and through the rigging; and the dragon-like guanas, and lizards of many + kinds, disported themselves amongst the branches, not lazily or + loathsomely, as we, who have only seen a lizard in our cold climate, are + apt to picture, but alert, and quick as lightning, their colours changing + with the changing light or the hues of the objects to which they clung, + becoming literally in one respect portions of the landscape. + </p> + <p> + And then the dark, transparent crystal depth of the pure waters under + foot, reflecting all nature so steadily and distinctly, that in the + hollows, where the overhanging foliage of the laurel-like bushes darkened + the scene, you could not for your life tell where the elements met, so + blended were earth and sea. + </p> + <p> + “Starboard,” said I. I had now come on deck. “Starboard, or the main + topgallant-masthead will befoul of the limb of that tree. Foretop, there—lie + out on the larboard fore-yardarm, and be ready to shove her off, if she + sheers too close.” + </p> + <p> + “Let go the anchor,” struck in the first lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + Splash—the cable rumbled through the hause-hole. + </p> + <p> + “Now here are we brought up in paradise,” quoth the doctor. + </p> + <p> + “Curukity coo-curukity coo,” sung out a great bushy-whiskered sailor from + the crows nest, who turned out to be no other than our old friend Timothy + Tailtackle, quite juvenilffied by the laughing scene. “Here am I, Jack, a + booby amongst the singing-birds,” crowed he to one of his messmates in the + maintop, as he clutched a branch of a tree in his hand, and swung himself + up into it. But the ship, as Old Nick would have it, at the very instant + dropped astern a yew yards in swinging to her anchor, and that so + suddenly, that she left him on his perch in the tree, converting his jest, + poor fellow, into melancholy earnest. “Oh Lord, sir!” sung out Timotheus, + in a great quandary. “Captain, do heave ahead a bit—Murder—I + shall never get down again! Do, Mr Yerk, if you please, sir!” And there he + sat twisting and craning himself about, and screwing his features into + combinations evincing the most comical perplexity. + </p> + <p> + The captain, by the way of a bit of fun, pretended not to hear him. + “Maintop, there,” quoth he. + </p> + <p> + The midshipman in the top answered him, “Ay, ay, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Not you, Mr Reefpoint; the captain of the top I want.” + </p> + <p> + “He is not in the top, sir,” responded little Reefpoint, chuckling like to + choke himself. + </p> + <p> + “Where the devil is he, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Here, sir,” squealed Timothy, his usual gruff voice spindling into a + small cheep through his great perplexity. “Here, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “What are you doing there, sir? Come down this moment, sir. Rig out the + main-topmast-studding-sail-boom, Mr Reefpoint, and tell him to slew + himself down by that long water-withe.” + </p> + <p> + To hear was to obey. Poor Timothy clambered down to the fork of the tree, + from which the withe depended, and immediately began to warp himself down, + until he reached within three or four yards of the starboard + fore-topsail-yardarm; but the corvette still dropped astern, so that, + after a vain attempt to hook on by his feet, he swung off into mid air, + hanging by his hands. + </p> + <p> + It was no longer a joke. “Here, you black fellows in the pilot canoe,” + shouted the captain, as he threw them a rope himself. “Pass the end of + that line round the stump yonder—that one below the cliff, there—now + pull like devils, pull.” + </p> + <p> + They did not understand a word he said; but, comprehending his gestures, + did what he wished. + </p> + <p> + “Now haul on the line, men—gently, that will do. Missed it again,” + continued the skipper, as the poor fellow once more made a fruitless + attempt to swing himself on to the yard. + </p> + <p> + “Pay out the warp again,” sung out Tailtackle—“quick, quick, let the + ship swing from under, and leave me scope to dive, or I shall be obliged + to let go, and be killed on the deck.” + </p> + <p> + “God bless me, yes,” said Transom, “stick out the warp, let her swing to + her anchor.” + </p> + <p> + In an instant all eyes were again fastened with intense anxiety on the + poor fellow, whose strength was fast failing, and his grasp plainly + relaxing. + </p> + <p> + “See all clear to pick me up, messmates.” + </p> + <p> + Tailtackle slipped down to the extreme end of the black withe, that looked + like a scorched snake, pressed his legs close together, pointing his toes + downwards, and then steadying himself for a moment, with his hands right + above his head, and his arms at the full stretch, he dropped, struck the + water fairly, entering its dark blue depths without a splash, and + instantly disappeared, leaving a white frothy mark on the surface. + </p> + <p> + “Did you ever see any thing better done?” said Yerk. “Why he clipped into + the water with the speed of light, as clean and clear as if he had been a + marlinspike.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank heaven!” gasped the captain; for if he had struck the water + horizontally, or fallen headlong, he would have been shattered in pieces + every bone would have been broken—he would have been as completely + smashed as if he had dropped upon one of the limestone rocks on the + ironbound shore. + </p> + <p> + “Ship, ahoy!” We were all breathlessly looking over the side where he + fell, expecting to see him rise again; but the hail came from the water on + t’other side. “Ship, ahoy—throw me a rope, good people—a rope, + if you please. Do you mean to careen the ship, that you have all run to + the starboard side, leaving me to be drowned to port here?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Tailtackle! well done, old boy,” sung out a volley of voices, men and + officers, rejoiced to see the honest fellow alive. He clambered on board, + in the bight of one of twenty ropes that were hove to him. + </p> + <p> + When he came on deck the captain slyly said, “I don’t think you’ll go a + bird nesting in a hurry again, Tailtackle.” + </p> + <p> + Tim looked with a most quizzical expression at his captain, all blue and + breathless and dripping as he was; and then sticking his tongue slightly + in his cheek, he turned away, without addressing him directly, but + murmuring as he went, “A glass of grog now.” + </p> + <p> + The Captain, with whom he was a favourite, took the hint. “Go below now, + and turn in till eight bells, Tailtackle. Mafame,” to his steward, “send + him a glass of hot brandy grog.” + </p> + <p> + “A northwester,” whispered Tim aside to the functionary; “half and half, + tallow chops—eh!” + </p> + <p> + About an hour after this a very melancholy accident happened to a poor boy + on board, of about fifteen years of age, who had already become a great + favourite of mine from his modest, quiet deportment, as well as of all the + gunroom-officers, although he had not been above a fortnight in the ship. + He had let himself down over the bows by the cable to bathe. There were + several of his comrades standing on the forecastle looking at him, and he + asked one of them to go out on the spritsail-yard, and look round to see + if there were any sharks in the neighbourhood; but all around was deep, + clear, green water. He kept hold of the cable, however, and seemed + determined not to put himself in harm’s way, until a little wicked urchin, + who used to wait on the warrant-officers mess, a small meddling snipe of a + creature, who got flogged in well-behaved weeks only once, began to taunt + my little mild favourite. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you chicken-heart, I’ll wager a thimbleful of grog, that such a + tailor as you are in the water can’t for the life of you swim out to the + buoy there.” + </p> + <p> + “Never you mind, Pepperbottom,” said the boy, giving the imp the name he + had richly earned by repeated flagellations. “Never you mind. I am not + ashamed to show my naked hide, you know. But it is against orders in these + seas to go overboard, unless with a sail underfoot; so I sha’n’t run the + risk of being tattooed by the boatswain’s mate, like some one I could tell + of.” + </p> + <p> + “Coward,” muttered the little wasp, “you are afraid, sir;” and the other + boys abetting the mischief-maker, the lad was goaded to leave his hold of + the cable, and strike out for the buoy. He reached it, and then turned, + and pulled towards the ship again, when he caught my eye. + </p> + <p> + “Who is that overboard? How dare you, sir, disobey the standing order of + the ship? Come in, boy; come in.” + </p> + <p> + My hailing the little fellow shoved him off his balance, and he lost his + presence of mind for a moment or two, during which he, if any thing, + widened his distance from the ship. + </p> + <p> + At this instant the lad on the spritsail-yard sung out quick and suddenly, + “A shark, a shark!” + </p> + <p> + And the monster, like a silver pillar, suddenly shot up perpendicularly + from out the dark green depths of the sleeping pool, with the waters + sparkling and hissing around him, as if he had been a sea demon rushing on + his prey. + </p> + <p> + “Pull for the cable, Louis,” shouted fifty voices at once—“pull for + the cable.” + </p> + <p> + The boy did so—we all ran forward. He reached the cable grasped it + with both hands, and hung on, but before he could swing himself out of the + water, the fierce fish had turned. His whitish green belly glanced in the + sun—the poor little fellow gave a heart splitting yell, which was + shattered amongst the impending rocks into piercing echoes, and these + again were reverberated from cavern, to cavern, until they died away + amongst the hollows in the distance, as if they had been the faint shrieks + of the damned—yet he held fast for a second or two—the + ravenous tyrant of the sea tug, tugging at him, till the stiff, taught + cable shook again. At length he was torn from his hold, but did not + disappear; the animal continuing on the surface crunching his prey with + his teeth, and digging at him with his jaws, as if trying to gorge a + morsel too large to be swallowed, and making the water flash up in foam + over the boats in pursuit, by the powerful strokes of his tail, but + without ever letting go his hold. The poor lad only cried once more but + such a cry—oh God, I never shall forget it!—and, could it be + possible, in his last shriek, his piercing expiring cry, his young voice + seemed to pronounce my name—at least so I thought at the time, and + others thought so too. The next moment he appeared quite dead. No less + than three boats had been in the water alongside when the accident + happened, and they were all on the spot by this time. And there was the + bleeding and mangled boy, torn along the surface of the water by the + shark, with the boats in pursuit, leaving a long stream of blood, mottled + with white specks of fat and marrow in his wake. At length the man in the + bow of the gig laid hold of him by the arm, another sailor caught the + other arm, boat-hooks and oars were dug into and launched at the monster, + who relinquished his prey at last, stripping off the flesh, however, from + the upper part of the right thigh, until his teeth reached the knee, where + he nipped the shank clean off, and made sail with the leg in his jaws. + </p> + <p> + Poor little Louis never once moved after we took him in.—I thought I + heard a small still stem voice thrill along my nerves, as if an echo of + the beating of my heart had become articulate. “Thomas, a fortnight ago + you impressed that poor boy—who was, and now is not—out of a + Bristol ship.” Alas conscience spoke no more than the truth. + </p> + <p> + Our instructions were to be at St Jago, until three British ships, then + loading, were ready for sea, and then to convey them through the Caicos, + or windward passage. As our stay was therefore likely to be ten days or a + fortnight at the shortest, the boats were hoisted out, and we made our + little arrangements and preparations for taking all the recreation in our + power; and our worthy skipper, taught and stiff as he was at sea, always + encouraged all kinds of fun and larking, both amongst the men and the + officers, on occasions like the present. Amongst his other pleasant + qualities, he was a great boat racer, constantly building and altering + gigs and pulling boats, at his own expense, and matching the men against + each other for small prizes. + </p> + <p> + He had just finished what the old carpenter considered his chef d’oeuvre, + and a curious affair this same masterpiece was. In the first place it was + forty-two feet long over all, and only three and a half feet beam—the + planking was not much above an eighth of an inch in thickness, so that if + one of the crew had slipped his foot off the stretcher, it must have gone + through the bottom. There was a standing order that no man was to go into + it with shoes on. She was to pull six oars, and her crew were the captains + of the tops, the primest seamen in the ship, and the steersman, no less a + character than the skipper himself. + </p> + <p> + Her name, for I love to be particular, was the Dragonfly; she was painted + out and in of a bright red, amounting to a flame colour, oars red the men + wearing trowsers and shirts of red flannel, and red net nightcaps—which + common uniform the captain himself wore. I think I have said before, that + he was a very handsome man, but if I have not I say so now, and when he + had taken his seat, and the gigs, all fine men, were seated each with his + oar held upright upon his knees ready to be dropped into the water at the + same instant, the craft and her crew formed to my eye as pretty a + plaything for grown children as ever was seen. “Give way, men,” the oars + dipped as clean as so many knives, without a sparkle, the gallant fellows + stretched out, and away shot the Dragonfly, like an arrow, the green water + foaming into white smoke at the bows, and hissing away in her wake. + </p> + <p> + She disappeared in a twinkling round a reach of the canal where we were + anchored, and we, the officers, for we must needs have our boat also, were + making ready to be off, to have a shot at some beautiful cranes that, + floating on their large pinions, slowly passed us with their long legs + stuck straight out astern, and their longer necks gathered into their + crops, when we heard a loud shouting in the direction where the Captain’s + boat had vanished. Presently the Devil’s Darning Needle, as the Scotch + part of the crew loved to call the Dragonfly, stuck her long snout round + the headland, and came spinning along with a Spanish canoe manned by four + negroes, and steered by an elderly gentleman, a sharp acute-looking little + man, in a gingham coat, in her wake, also pulling very fast; however, the + Don seemed dead beat, and the captain was in great glee. By this time, + both boats were alongside, and the old Spaniard, Don Ricardo Campana, + addressed the captain, judging that he was one of the seamen. “Is the + Captain on board?” said he in Spanish. The Captain, who understood the + language, but did not speak it, answered him in French, which Don Ricardo + seemed to speak fluently, “No, sir, the Captain is not on board; but there + is Mr Yerk, the first lieutenant, at the gangway.” He had come for the + letter-bag he said, and if we had any newspapers, and could spare them, it + would be conferring a great favour on him. + </p> + <p> + He got his letters and newspapers handed down, and very civilly gave the + Captain a dollar, who touched his cap, tipped the money to the men, and + winking slightly to old Yerk and the rest of us, addressed himself to + shove off. The old Don, drawing up his eyebrows a little, (I guess he + rather saw who was who, for all his make-believe innocence,) bowed to the + officers at the gangway, sat down, and desiring his people to use their + broad-bladed, clumsy looking oars, or paddles, began to move awkwardly + away. We, that is the gunroom officers, all except the second Lieutenant, + who had the watch, and the master, now got into our own gig also, rowed by + ourselves, and away we all went in a covey; the purser and doctor, and + three of the middies forward, Thomas Cringle, gentleman, pulling the + stroke oar, with old Moses Yerk as coxswain; and as the Dragonflies were + all red, so we were all seagreen, boat, oars, trowsers, shirts, and + nightcaps. We soon distanced the cumbrous looking Don, and the strain was + between the Devil’s Darning Needle and our boat the Watersprite, which was + making capital play, for although we had not the bottom of the topmen, yet + we had more blood, so to speak, and we had already beaten them, in their + last gig, all to sticks. But Dragonfly was a new boat, and now in the + water for the first time. + </p> + <p> + We were both of us so intent on our own match, that we lost sight of the + Spaniard altogether, and the Captain and the first Lieutenant were bobbing + in the stern sheets of their respective gigs like a couple of souple Tams, + as intent on the game as if all our lives had depended on it, when in an + instant the long black dirty prow of the canoe was thrust in between us, + the old Don singing out, “Dexa mi lugar, paysanos, dexa mi lugar, mis + hijos.” We kept away right and left, to look at the miracle;—and + there lay the canoe, rumbling and splashing, with her crew walloping + about, and grinning and yelling like incarnate fiends, and as naked as the + day they were born, and the old Don himself so staid and so sedate and + drawley as he was a minute before, now all alive, shouting “Tira + diablitos, tira!” flourishing a small paddle, with which he steered, about + his head like a wheel, and dancing and jumping about in his seat, as if + his bottom had been a haggis with quicksilver in it. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds,” roared the skipper,—“why, topmen—why, gentlemen, + give way for the honour of the ship—Gentlemen, stretch out—Men, + pull like devils; twenty pounds if you beat him.” + </p> + <p> + We pulled, and they pulled, and the water roared, and the men strained + their muscles and sinews to cracking, and all was splash, splash, and + whiz, whiz, and pech, pech, about us, but it would not do the canoe headed + us like a shot, and in passing, the cool old Don again subsided into a + calm as suddenly as he had been roused from it, and sitting once more, + stiff as a poker, turned round and touched his sombrero, “I will tell that + you are coming, gentlemen.” + </p> + <p> + It was now the evening, near nightfall, and we had been so intent on + beating our awkward-looking opponent, that we had none of us time to look + at the splendid scene that burst upon our view, on rounding a precipitous + rock, from the crevices of which some magnificent trees shot up—their + gnarled trunks and twisted branches overhanging the canal where we were + pulling, and anticipating the fast-falling darkness that was creeping over + the fair face of nature; and there we floated, in the deep shadow of the + cliff and trees Dragonflies and Water Sprites, motionless and silent, the + boats floating so lightly that they scarcely seemed to touch the water, + the men resting on their oars, and all of us rapt with the magnificence of + the scenery around us, beneath us, and above us. + </p> + <p> + The left or western bank of the narrow entrance to the harbour, from which + we were now debauching, ran out in all its precipitousness and beauty, + (with its dark evergreen bushes overshadowing the deep blue waters, and + its gigantic trees shooting forth high into the glowing western sky, their + topmost branches gold-tipped in the flood of radiance shed by the rapidly + sinking sun, while all below where we lay was grey cold shade,) until it + joined the northern shore, when it sloped away gradually towards the east; + the higher parts of the town sparkled in the evening sun, on this dun + ridge, like golden turrets on the back of an elephant, while the houses + that were in the shade covered the declivity with their dark masses, until + it sank down to the water’s edge. On the right hand the haven opened + boldly out into a basin about four miles broad by seven long, in which the + placid waters spread out beyond the shadow of the western bank into one + vast sheet of molten gold, with the canoe tearing along the shining + surface, her side glancing in the sun, and her paddles flashing back his + rays, and leaving a long train of living fire sparkling in her wake. + </p> + <p> + It was now about six o’clock in the evening; the sun had set to us, as we + pulled along under the frowning brow of the cliff, where the birds were + fast settling on their nightly perches, with small happy twitterings, and + the lizards and numberless other chirping things began to send forth their + evening hymn to the great Being who made them and us, and a solitary white + sailing owl would every now and then flit spectre like from one green + tuft, across the bald face of the cliff, to another, and the small divers + around us were breaking up the black surface of the waters into little + sparkling circles as they fished for their suppers. All was becoming brown + and indistinct near us; but the level beams of the setting sun still + lingered with a golden radiance upon the lovely city, and the shipping at + anchor before it, making their sails, where loosed to dry, glance like + leaves of gold, and their spars, and masts, and rigging like wires of + gold, and gilding their flags, which were waving majestically and slow + from the peaks in the evening breeze; and the Moorish-looking steeples of + the churches were yet sparkling in the glorious blaze, which was gradually + deepening into gorgeous crimson, while the large pillars of the cathedral, + then building on the highest part of the ridge, stood out like brazen + monuments, softening even as we looked into a Stonehenge of amethysts. One + half of every object, shipping, houses, trees, and hills, was gloriously + illuminated; but even as we looked, the lower part of the town gradually + sank into darkness, and faded from our sight—the deepening gloom + cast by the high bank above us, like the dark shadow of a bad spirit, + gradually crept on, and on, and extended farther and farther; the sailing + water-fowl in regular lines, no longer made the water flash up like flame; + the russet mantle of eve was fast extending over the entire hemisphere; + the glancing minarets, and the tallest trees, and the topgallant-yards and + masts of the shipping, alone flashed back the dying effulgence of the + glorious orb, which every moment grew fainter and fainter, and redder and + redder, until it shaded into purple, and the loud deep bell of the convent + of La Merced swung over the still waters, announcing the arrival of + even-song and the departure of day. + </p> + <p> + “Had we not better pull back to supper, sir?” quoth Moses Yerk to the + captain. We all started, the men dipped their oars, our dreams were + dispelled, the charm was broken—“Confound the matter-of-fact + blockhead,” or something very like it, grumbled the captain—“but + give way, men,” fast followed, and we returned towards the ship. We had + not pulled fifty yards, when we heard the distant rattle of the muskets of + the sentries at the gangways, as they discharged them at sundown, and were + remarking, as we were rowing leisurely along, upon the strange effect + produced by the reports, as they were frittered away amongst the + overhanging cliffs in chattering reverberations, when the captain suddenly + sung out, “Oars!” All hands lay on them. “Look there,” he continued—“There—between + the gigs—saw you ever any thing like that, gentlemen?” We all leant + over; and although the boats, from the way they had, were skimming along + nearer seven than five knots—there lay a large shark; he must have + been twelve feet long at the shortest, swimming right in the middle, and + equidistant from both, and keeping way with us most accurately. + </p> + <p> + He was distinctly visible, from the strong and vivid phosphorescence + excited by his rapid motion through the sleeping waters of the dark creek, + which lit up his jaws, and head, and whole body; his eyes were especially + luminous, while a long wake of sparkles streamed away astern of him from + the lashing of his tail. As the boats lost their speed, the luminousness + of his appearance faded gradually as he shortened sail also, until he + disappeared altogether. He was then at rest, and suspended motionless in + the water; and the only thing that indicated his proximity, was an + occasional sparkle from the motion of a fin. We brought the boats nearer + together, after pulling a stroke or two, but he seemed to sink as we + closed, until at last we could merely perceive an indistinct halo far down + in the clear black profound. But as we separated, and resumed our original + position, he again rose near the surface; and although the ripple and dip + of the oars rendered him invisible while we were pulling, yet the moment + we again rested on them, there was the monster, like a persecuting fiend, + once more right between us, glaring on us, and apparently watching every + Motion. It was a terrible spectacle, and rendered still more striking by + the melancholy occurrence of the forenoon. + </p> + <p> + “That’s the very identical, damnable baste himself, as murthered poor + little Louis this morning, yeer honour; I knows him from the tom flesh of + him under his larboard blinker, sir—just where Wiggens’s boathook + punished him,” quoth the Irish captain of the mizentop. “A water-kelpie,” + murmured another of the Captain’s gigs, a Scotchman. + </p> + <p> + The men were evidently alarmed. “Stretch out, men; never mind the shark. + He can’t jump into, the boat surely,” said the skipper. “What the deuce + are you afraid of?” + </p> + <p> + We arrived within pistol-shot of the ship. As we approached, the sentry + hailed, “Boat, ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + “Firebrand,” sung out the skipper, in reply. + </p> + <p> + “Man the side-gangway lanterns there,” quoth the officer on duty; and by + the time we were close to, there were two sidesmen over the side with the + manropes ready stuck out to our grasp, and two boys with lanterns above + them. We got on deck, the officers touching their hats, and speedily the + Captain dived down the ladder, saying, as he descended, “Mr Yerk, I shall + be happy to see you and your boat’s crew at supper, or rather to a late + dinner, at eight o’clock; but come down a moment as you are. Tailtackle, + bring the gigs into the cabin to get a glass of grog, will you?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” responded Timothy. “Down with you, you flaming thieves, and + see you don’t snort and sniffle in your grog, as if you were in your own + mess, like so many pigs slushing at the same trough.’ + </p> + <p> + “Lord love you, Tim,” rejoined one of the topmen, “who made you master of + the ceremonies, old Ironfist, eh? Where learnt you your breeding? Among + the cockatoos up yonder?” + </p> + <p> + Tim laughed, who, although he ought to have been in his bed, had taken his + seat in the Dragonfly when her crew were piped over the side in the + evening, and thereby subjected himself to a rap over the knuckles from the + Captain; but where the offence might be said to consist in a too assiduous + discharge of his duty, it was easily forgiven, unfortunate as the issue of + the race had been. So down we all trundled into the cabin, masters and + men. It was brilliantly lighted up, the table sparkling with crystal and + wine, and glancing with silver plate; and there on a sofa lay Aaron Bang + in all his pristine beauty, and fresh from his toilet, for he had just got + out of his cot after an eight-and-forty hours sojourn therein—nice + white neck cloth white jean waistcoat and trowsers, and span—new + blue coat He was reading when we entered; and the Captain, in his + flame-coloured costume, was close aboard of him before he raised his eyes, + and rather staggered him a bit; but when seven sea-green spirits followed, + he was exceedingly nonplussed, and then came the six red Dragonflies, who + ranged themselves three on each side of the door, with their net-bags in + their hands, smoothing down their hair, and sidling and fidgeting about at + finding themselves so far out of their element as the cabin. + </p> + <p> + “Mafame,” said the Captain, “a glass of grog apiece to the Dragonflies” + and a tumbler of liquid amber (to borrow from my old friend Cooper) + sparkled in the large bony claw of each of them. “Now, drink Mr Bang’s + health.” They, as in duty bound, let fly at our amigo in a volley. + </p> + <p> + “Your health, Mr Bang.” + </p> + <p> + Aaron sprung from his seat, and made his salaam, and the Dragonflies + bundled out of the cabin again. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Transom, John Canoeing still—always some frolic in the + wind.” + </p> + <p> + We, the Water Sprites, had shifted and rigged, and were all mustered aft + on the poop, enjoying the little air there was, as it fanned gently, and + waiting for the announcement of supper. It was a pitch-dark night, neither + moon nor stars. The murky clouds seemed to have settled down on the + mastheads, shrouding every object in the thickest gloom. + </p> + <p> + “Ready with the gun forward there, Mr Catwell?” said Yerk. + </p> + <p> + “All ready, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Fire!” + </p> + <p> + Pent up as we were in a narrow channel, walled in on each side with + towering precipitous rocks, the explosion, multiplied by the echoes into a + whole broadside, was tremendous, and absolutely deafening. + </p> + <p> + The cold, grey, threatening rocks, and the large overhanging twisted + branches of the trees, and the clear black water, and the white Moro in + the distance, glanced for an instant, and then all was again veiled in + utter darkness, and down came a rattling shower of sand and stones from + the cliffs, and of rotten branches, and heavy dew from the trees, + sparkling in the water like a shower of diamonds; and the birds of the air + screamed, and, frightened from their nests and perches in crevices, and on + the boughs of the trees, took flight with a strong rushing noise, that put + one in mind of the rising of the fallen angels from the infernal council + in Paradise Lost; and the cattle on the mountain-side lowed, and the fish, + large and small, like darts and arrows of fire, sparkled up from the black + abyss of waters, and swam in haloes of flame round the ship in every + direction, as if they had been the ghosts of a shipwrecked crew, haunting + the scene of their destruction; and the guanas and large lizards which had + been shaken from the trees, skimmed and struggled on the surface in + glances of fire, like evil spirits watching to seize them as their prey. + At length the screaming and shrieking of the birds, and clang of their the + cattle, ceased; and the startled fish oozy caverns at the bottom of the + sea, disappeared; and all was again black and undistinguishable, the deathlike + silence being only broken by the hoarse murmuring of the distant surf. + </p> + <p> + “Magnificent!” burst from the Captain. “Messenger, send Mr Portfire here.” + The gunpowder functionary, he of the flannel cartridge, appeared. “Gunner, + send one of your mates into the maintop, and let him bum a blue light.” + </p> + <p> + The lurid glare blazed up balefully amongst the spars and rigging, + lighting up the decks, and blasting the crew into the likeness of the host + of Sennacherib, when the day broke on them, and they were all dead + corpses. A—stem of us, indistinct from the distance, the white Moro + Castle reappeared, and rose frowning, tier above tier, like a Tower of + Babel, with its summit veiled in the clouds, and the startled sea-fowl + wheeling above the higher batteries, like snowflakes blown about in storm; + while, near at hand, the rocks on each side of us looked as if fresh + splintered asunder, with the sulphurous flames which had split them still + burning; the trees looked no longer green, but were sicklied o’er with a + pale ashy colour, as if sheeted ghosts were holding their midnight orgies + amongst their branches-cranes, and waterfowl, and birds of many kinds, and + all the insect and reptile tribes, their gaudy noontide colours merged + into one and the same fearful deathlike sameness, flitted and sailed and + circled above us, and chattered, and screamed, and shrieked; and the + unearthly-looking guanas, and numberless creeping things, ran out on the + boughs to peer at us, and a large snake twined itself up a scathed stump + that shot out from a shattered pinnacle of rock that overhung us, with its + glossy skin, glancing like the brazen serpent set up by Moses in the camp + of the Israelites; and the cattle on the beetling summit of the cliff + craned over the precipitous ledge to look down upon us; and while every + thing around us and above us was thus glancing in the blue and ghastly + radiance, the band struck up a low moaning air; the light burnt out, and + once more we were cast, by the contrast, into even more palpable darkness + than before. I was entranced, and stood with folded arms, looking forth + into the night, and musing intensely on the appalling scene which had just + vanished like a feverish dream—“Dinner waits, sir,” quoth Mafame. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I am coming;” and kicking all my romance to Old Nick, I descended, + and we had a pleasant night of it, and some wine and some fun, and there + an end—but I have often dreamed of that dark pool, and the scenes I + witnessed there that day and night. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII.—The Pirate’s Leman + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “When lovely woman stoops to folly, + And finds too late that men betray, + What charm can soothe her melancholy, + What art can wash her guilt away?” + + “The only art her guilt can cover, + To hide her shame from every eye, + To give repentance to her lover, + And wring his bosom, is to die.” + + —Oliver Goldsmith, “Song” From The Vicar Of Wakefield. +</pre> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ay Dios, si sera possible que he ya hallado lugar que pueda + servir de escondida sepultura a la carga pesada deste + cuerpo, que tan contra mi voluntad sostengo?” + + —Don Quixote De La Mancha. +</pre> + <p> + The next morning after breakfast I proceeded to Santiago, and landed at + the custom house wharf, where I found everything bustle, dust, and heat; + several of the captains of the English vessels were there, who immediately + made up to me, and reported how far advanced in their lading they were, + and enquired when we were to give them convoy, the latest news from + Kingston, &c. At length I saw our friend Ricardo Campana going along + one of the neighbouring streets, and I immediately made sail in chase. He + at once recognised me, gave me a cordial shake of the hand, and enquired + how he could serve me. I produced two letters which I had brought for him, + but which had been forgotten in the bustle of the preceding day; they were + introductory, and although sealed, I had some reason to conjecture that my + friend, Mr Pepperpot Wagtail, had done me much more than justice. Campana, + with great kindness, immediately invited me to his house. “We foreigners,” + said he, “don’t keep your hours; I am just going home to breakfast.” It + was past eleven in the forenoon. I was about excusing myself on the plea + of having already breakfasted, when he silenced me. “Why, I guessed as + much, Mr Lieutenant, but then you have not lunched; you can call it lunch, + you know, if it will ease your conscience.” There was no saying nay to all + this civility, so we stumped along the burning streets, through a mile of + houses, large massive buildings, but very different in externals from the + gay domiciles of Kingston. Aaron Bang afterwards used to say that they + looked more like prisons than dwelling-houses, and he was not in this very + much out. Most of them were built of brick and plastered over, with large + windows, in front of each of which, like the houses in the south of Spain, + there was erected a large heavy wooden balcony, projecting far enough from + the wall to allow a Spanish chair, such as I have already described, to be + placed in it. The front of these verandas was closed in with a row of + heavy balustrades at the bottom, of a variety of shapes, and by clumsy + carved woodwork above, which effectually prevented you from seeing into + the interior. The whole had a Moorish air, and in the upper part of the + town there was a Sabbath— like stillness prevailing, which was only + broken now and then by the tinkle of a guitar from one of the aforesaid + verandas, or by the rattling of a crazy volante, a sort of covered gig, + drawn by a broken kneed and broken winded mule, with a kiln dried old + Spaniard or dona in it. + </p> + <p> + The lower part of the town had been busy enough, and the stir and hum of + it rendered the quietude of the upper part of it more striking. + </p> + <p> + A shovel hatted friar now suddenly accosted us. + </p> + <p> + “Senor Campana—ese pobre familia de Cangrejo! Lastima! Lastima!” + “Cangrejo—Cangrejo!” muttered I; “why, it is the very name attached + to the miniature.” + </p> + <p> + Campana turned to the priest, and they conversed earnestly together for + some moments, when he left him, and we again held on our way. I could not + help asking him what family that was, whose situation the “padre” seemed + so feelingly to bemoan. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind,” said he, “never mind; they were a proud family once, but + that is all over now—come along.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” said I, “I have a very peculiar cause of interest with regard to + this family. You are aware, of course, of the trial and execution of the + pirates in Kingston, the most conspicuous of whom was a young man called + Federico Cangrejo, from whom....” + </p> + <p> + “Mr Cringle,” said he, solemnly, “at a fitting time I will hear you + regarding that matter; at present I entreat you will not press it.” + </p> + <p> + Good manners would not allow me to push it farther, and we trudged along + together, until we arrived at Don Ricardo Campana’s door. It was a large + brick building, plastered over as already described, and whitewashed. + There was a projecting stair in front, with a flight of steps to the right + and left, with a parapet wall towards the street. There were two large + windows, with the wooden veranda or lattice already described, on the + first floor, and on the second a range of smaller windows, of the same + kind. What answered to our ground floor was used as a warehouse, and + filled with dry goods, sugar, coffee, hides, and a vast variety of + miscellaneous articles. We ascended the stairs, and entered a lofty room, + cool and dark, and paved with large diamond— shaped bricks, and + every way desirable for a West India lounge, all to the furniture, which + was meagre enough; three or four chairs, a worm— eaten old leathern + sofa, and a large clumsy hardwood table in the midst. + </p> + <p> + There were several children playing about, little sallow devils, although, + I dare say, they could all of them have been furnished with certificates + of white parentage, upon whom one or two negro women were hovering in + attendance beyond a large folding door that fronted the entrance. + </p> + <p> + When we entered, the eldest of the children, a little girl of about eight + years old, was sitting in the doorway, playing with a small blue toy that + I could make nothing of, until on a nearer inspection I found it to be a + live land-crab, which the little lady had manacled with a thread by the + foot, the thread being fastened to a nail driven into a seam of the floor. + </p> + <p> + As an article of food, I was already familiar with this creature, but I + had never seen a living one before; it was in every respect like a sea + crab, only smaller, the body being at the widest not above three inches + across the back. It fed without any apparent fear, and while it pattered + over the tiled floor, with its hard claws, it would now and then stop and + seize a crum of bread in its forceps, and feed itself like a little + monkey. By the time I had exchanged a few words with the little lady, the + large door that opened into the hall on the right hand moved, and mine + hostess made her appearance; a small woman, dressed in a black gown, very + laxly fitted. She was the very converse of our old ship, she never missed + stays, although I did cruelly. + </p> + <p> + “This is my friend, Lieutenant Cringle,” said mine host. + </p> + <p> + “A las pies de usted, senora,” responded your humble servant. + </p> + <p> + “I am very glad to see you,” said the lady; “but breakfast is ready; + welcome, sir, welcome.” + </p> + <p> + The food was not amiss, the coffee decidedly good, and the chocolate, + wherein, if you had planted a teaspoon, it would have stood upright, was + excellent. When we had done with substantials, dulce, that is the fruit of + the guava preserved, in small wooden boxes, (like drums of figs,) after + being made into a kind of jam, was placed on the table, and mine host and + his spouse had eaten a bushel of it apiece, and drank a gallon of that + most heathenish beverage, cold clear water, before the repast was + considered ended. After a hearty meal and a pint of claret, I felt rather + inclined to sit still, and expatiate for an hour or so, but Campana roused + me, and asked whether or not I felt inclined to go and look at the town. I + had no apology, and although I would much rather have sat still, I rose to + accompany him, when in walked Captain Transom and Mr Bang. They were also + kindly received by Don Ricardo. + </p> + <p> + “Clad of the honour of this visit,” said he in French, with a slight lift + of the corner of his mouth; “I hope neither you nor your boat’s crew took + any harm after the heat of yesterday.” + </p> + <p> + Transom laughed. + </p> + <p> + “Why, you did beat us very neatly, Don Ricardo. Pray, where got you that + canoe? But a lady Mrs Campana, I presume?—Have the goodness to + introduce me.” + </p> + <p> + The skipper was presented in due form, the lady receiving him without the + least mauvaise honte, which, after all, I believe to be indigenous to our + island. Aaron was next introduced, who, as he spoke no lingo, as I knows + of, to borrow Timotheus Tailtackle’s phraseology but English, was rather + posed in the interview. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom, tell her I wish she may live a thousand years. Ah, so, that + will do.” + </p> + <p> + Madama made her conge, and hoped “El Senora Maria un asiento.” “Mucho, + mucho,” sung out Bang, who meant by that that he was much obliged. + </p> + <p> + At length Don Ricardo came to our aid. He had arranged a party into the + country for next morning, and invited us all to come back to a tertulia in + the evening, and to take beds in his house, he undertaking to provide + bestias to carry us. + </p> + <p> + We therefore strolled out, a good deal puzzled what to make of ourselves + until the evening, when we fell in with one of the captains of the English + ships then loading, who told us that there was a sort of hotel a little + way down the street, where we might dine at two o’clock at the table + d’hote. It was as yet only twelve, so we stumbled into this hotel to + reconnoitre, and a sorry affair it was. The public room was fitted with + rough wooden tables, at which Spaniards, Americans, and Englishmen, sat + and smoked, and drank sangaree, hot punch, or cold grog, as best suited + them, and committed a vast variety of miscellaneous abominations during + their potations. We were about giving up all thoughts of the place, and + had turned to go to the door, when in popped our friend Don Ricardo. He + saw we were somewhat abroad. + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen,” said he, “if I may ask, have you any engagement to dinner?” + </p> + <p> + “No, we have none.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, will you do me the honour of partaking of my family fare, at + three o’clock? I did not venture to invite you before, because I knew you + had other letters to deliver, and I wished to leave you masters of your + own time.” We gladly accepted his kind offer; he had made his bow, and was + cruising amongst the smokers, and punch drinkers, where the blue coated + masters of the English merchantmen and American skippers, were hobbing and + nobbing with the gingham-coated Dons, for the whole Spanish part of the + community were figged out in Glasgow and Paisley ginghams; when the + priest, who had attracted our attention in the morning, came up to him, + and drew him aside. They talked earnestly together, the clerigo, every now + and then, indicating by significant nods and glances towards us, that we + formed the burden of his song, whatever that might be. Campana seemed + exceedingly unwilling to communicate the message, which we guessed he had + been entreated to carry to us, and made one or two attempts to shove the + friar in propria persona towards us, that he might himself tell his own + story. At length they advanced together to where we stood, when he + addressed me. + </p> + <p> + “You must pardon me, Lieutenant; but as the proverb hath it, strange + countries, strange manners; my friend here, Padre Carera, brings a message + from El Senor Picador Cangrejo, one of our magnates, that he will consider + it an especial favour if you will can on him, either this forenoon or + tomorrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, who is this Cangrejo, Don Ricardo? if he be not the father of the + poor fellow I mentioned, there must be some mystery about him.” + </p> + <p> + “No mystery,” chimed in the monk; “no mystery, God help us, but mucha, + mucha miseria, hijo mio; much misery, sir, and more impending, and none to + help save only”—He did not finish the sentence, but taking off his + shovel hat, and shewing his finely turned bald head, he looked up to + heaven, and crossed himself, the tears trickling down his wrinkled cheeks. + “But,” continued he, “you will come, Mr Cringle?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said I, “tomorrow I will call, if my friend Don Ricardo will + be my guide.” This being fixed, we strolled about until dinnertime, friend + Aaron making his remarks regarding the people and their domiciles with + great naivety. + </p> + <p> + “Strange now, Tom, I had expected to see little else amongst the slave + population here than misery and starvation; whereas, so far as I can + observe, they are all deucedly well cared for, and fat, and contented; and + from the enquiries I was making amongst the captains of the merchantmen”—(“Masters,” + interjected Captain Transom, “Master of a merchantman, Captain of a + man-of-war.”) “Well, captains of merchantmen,—masters, I mean,—I + find that the people whom they employ are generally free; and, farther, + that the slaves are not more than three to one free person, yet they + export a great deal of produce, Captain Transom—must keep my eyes + about me.” And so he did, as will be seen by and by. But the dinner hour + drew near, and we repaired to Don Ricardo’s, where we found a party of + eight assembled, and our appearance was the signal for the repast being + ordered in. It was laid out in the entrance hall. The table was of massive + mahogany, the chairs of the same material, with stuffed bottoms, covered + with a dingy-coloured morocco, which might have been red once. But devil a + dish of any kind was on the snow-white table-cloth when we sat down, and + our situations, or the places we were expected to fill at the board, were + only indicated by a large knife and silver fork and spoon laid down for + each person. The company consisted of Don Ricardo Campana, la Senora + Campana, and a brother of hers, two dark young men, who were Don Ricardo’s + clerks, and three young women, ladies, or senoras, as I ought to have + called them, who were sitting so far back into the shade, at the dark end + of the room, when we entered, that I could not tell what they were. Our + hostess was, although a little woman, a good looking dark Spaniard, not + very polished, but very kind; and seeing that our friend Aaron was the + most helpless amongst us, she took him under her especial care, and made + many a civil speech to him, although her husband did not fail to advertise + her, that he understood not one word of Spanish, that is, of all she was + saying to him. However, he replied to her kindnesses by his never-failing + exclamation of “mucho, mucho,” and they appeared to be getting on + extremely well. “Bring dinner,” quoth Don Ricardo, “trae la comida;” and + four black female domestics entered, the first with a large dish of + pillaffe, or fowls smothered in rice and onions; the second with a + nondescript melange, flesh, fish, and fowl apparently, strongly flavoured + with garlic; the third bore a dish of jerked beef, cut into long shreds, + and swimming in seba or lard; and the fourth bore a large dish full of + that indescribable thing known by those who read Don Quixote, as an olla + podrida. The sable handmaidens began to circulate round the table, and + every one helped himself to the dish that he most fancied. At length they + placed them on the board, and brought massive silver salvers, with snow + white bread, twisted into strands in the baking, like junks of a cable; + and water jars, and yams nicely roasted and wrapped in plantain leaves. + These were in like manner handed round, and then deposited on the table, + and the domestics vanished. + </p> + <p> + We all got on cheerily enough, and both the Captain and myself were + finishing off with the olla podrida, with which, it so happened, we were + familiar, and friend Bang, taking the time from us, took heart of grace + and straightway followed our example. There was a pause rather an irksome + one from its continuance, so much so indeed, that knocking off from my + more immediate business of gorging the aforesaid olla podrida, I looked + up, and as it so happened, by accident towards our friend Bang and there + he was munching and screwing up his energies to swallow a large mouthful + of the mixture, against which his stomach appeared to rebel. “Smollet’s + feast after the manner of the ancients,” whispered Transom. At length he + made a vigorous effort and straightway sung out “l’eau de vie, Don + Ricardibus—some brandy, mon ami—for the love of all the + respectable saints in your heathenish calendar.” + </p> + <p> + Mine host laughed, but the females were most confoundedly posed. The + younger ones ran for aromatic salts, while the lady of the house fetched + some very peculiar distilled waters. She, in her kindness, filled a glass + and helped Bang, but the instant he perceived the flavour, he thrust it + away. + </p> + <p> + “Anniseed—damn anniseed—no, no—obliged—mucho, + mucho but brandy plaino, that is simple of itself, if you please—that’s + it Lord love you, my dear madam—may you live a thousand years + though.” + </p> + <p> + The pure brandy was administered, and once more the dark beauties + reappeared, the first carrying a bottle of vin-de-grave, the second one of + vino tinto, or claret, and the third one of l’eau de vie, for Aaron’s + peculiar use. These were placed before the landlord, who helped himself to + half a pint of claret, which he poured into a large tumbler, and then + putting a drop or two of water into it, tasted it, and sent it to his + wife. In like manner, he gave a smaller quantity to each of the other + Senoras, when the whole female part of the family drank our healths in a + volley. But all this time the devil a thing drinkable was there before we + males, but goblets of pure cold water. Bang’s “mucho mucho” even failed + him, for he had only in his modesty got a thimbleful of brandy to qualify + the olla podrida. However, in a twinkling a beautiful long-necked bottle + of claret was planted at each of our right hands, and of course we lost no + time in returning the unlooked-for civility of the ladies. Until this + moment I had not got a proper glimpse of the three Virgins of the Sun, who + were seated at table with us. They were very pretty Moorish-looking girls, + as like as peas, dark hair, black eyes, clear colourless olive complexion, + and no stays; but young and elastic as their figures were, this was no + disadvantage. They were all three dressed in black silk petticoats, over a + sort of cambric chemise, with large frills hanging down at the bosom, but + gown, properly so called, they had none, their arms being unencumbered + with any clothing heavier than a shoulder-strap. The eldest was a fine + full young woman of about nineteen; the second was more tall and stately, + but slighter; and the youngest, was—oh, she was an angel of light—such + hair, such eyes, and such a mouth; then her neck and bosom when the wearer + is, as in the present case she was, young and beautiful. They all wore a + long plain white gauze strap, like a broad ribbon, (little Reefpoint + afterwards said they wore boat pennants at their mastheads,) I don’t know + what Madam Maradon Carson would call it, in their hair, which fell down + from amongst the braids nearly to their heels, and then they replied in + their magnificent language, when casually addressed during dinner, with so + much naivete. We, the males of the party, had drank little or nothing, a + bottle of claret or so apiece, and a dram of brandy, to qualify a little + vin-de-grave that we had flirted with during dinner, when our landlord + rose, along with his brother-in-law, wished us a good afternoon, and + departed to his counting house, saying he would be back by dark, leaving + the Captain and I, and friend Bang, to amuse the ladies the best way we + could, as the clerks had taken wing along with their master. Don Ricardo’s + departure seemed to be the signal for all hands breaking loose, and a + regular romping match took place, the girls producing their guitars, and + we were all mighty frolicsome and happy, when a couple of padres from the + convent of La Merced, in their white flannel gowns, black girdles, and + shaven crowns, suddenly entered the hall. We the foreign part of the + society, calculated on being pulled up by the clerigos, but deuce a bit; + on the contrary, the young females clustered round them, laughing and + joking, while the Senora Campana presented them with goblets of claret, in + which they drank our healths, once and again, and before long they were + gamboling about, all shaven and shorn, like a couple of three-year olds. + Bang had a large share of their assiduity, and to see him waltzing with a + fine active, and what I fancy to be a rarity, a clean looking priest, with + his ever recurring “mucho, mucho,” was rather entertaining. + </p> + <p> + The director of the postoffice, and a man who was called the “Corregidor + de Tabaco,” literally the “corrector of tobacco,” dropped in about this + time, and one or two ladies, relatives of Mrs Campana, and Don Ricardo + returning soon after, we had sweet meats and liqueurs, and coffee, and + chocolate, and a game at monte, and maco, and were, in fact, very happy. + But the happiest day, as well as the most miserable, must have an end, and + the merry party dropped off, one after another, until we were left all + alone with our host’s family. Madama soon after took her departure, + wishing us a goodnight. She had no sooner gone, than Bang began to shoot + out his horns a bit. “I say, Tom, ask the Don to let us have a drop of + something hot, will you, a tumbler of hot brandy and water after the + waltzing, eh? I don’t see the bedroom candles yet.” Nor would he, if we + had sat there till doomsday. Campana seemed to have understood Bang, the + brandy was immediately forthcoming, and we drew in to the table to enjoy + ourselves, Bang waxing talkative. “Now what odd names,— why, what a + strange office it must be for his Majesty of Spain to employ at every port + a corrector of tobacco; that his liege subjects may not be imposed on, I + suppose—what capital cigars this same corrector must have, eh?” + </p> + <p> + I suppose it is scarcely necessary to mention, that throughout all the + Spanish American possessions, tobacco is a royal monopoly, and that the + officer above alluded to is the functionary who has the management of it. + Don Ricardo, hearing something about cigars, took the hint, and + immediately produced a straw case from his pocket, and handed it to Bang. + </p> + <p> + “Mucho, mucho,” quoth Bang; “capital, real Havannah.” + </p> + <p> + So now, since we had all gotten fairly into the clouds, there was no + saying how long we should have remained in the seventh heaven much would + have depended upon the continuance of the supply of brandy—but two + female slaves presently made their appearance, each carrying a quatre. I + believe I have already described this easily rigged couch somewhere; it is + a hard-wood frame, like what supports the loose top of a laundry table, + with canvass stretched over the top of it, but in such a manner that it + can be folded up flat, and laid against the wall when not in use, while a + bed can be immediately constructed by simply opening it and stretching the + canvass. The handmaidens accordingly set to work to arrange two beds, or + quatres, one on each side of the table where we were sitting, while Bang + sat eyeing them askance, in a kind of wonderment as to the object of the + preparations, which were by no means new either to the Captain or me, who, + looking on them as matters of course, continued in close confabulation + with Don Ricardo during the operations. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom,” at length quoth Bang, “are you to be laid out on one of + those outlandish pieces of machinery—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I suppose so; and comfortable enough beds they are, I can assure + you.” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t fancy them much, however,” said Bang; “rather flimsy the + framework.” + </p> + <p> + The servants now very unceremoniously, no leave asked, began to clear away + all the glasses and tumblers on the table. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo!” said the skipper, casting an enquiring glance at Campana, who, + however, did not return it, but, as a matter of course apparently, rose, + and taking a chair to the other end of the room, close by the door of an + apartment which opened from it, began in cold blood to unlace and + disburden himself of all his apparel, even unto his shirt. + </p> + <p> + This surprised us all a good deal, but our wonderment was lost on the Don, + who got up from his seat, and in his linen garment, which was deucedly + laconic, made his formal bow, wished us goodnight, and presenting the + reverse of his medal, which was extremely picturesque, he vanished through + the door. By this, the ebony ladies had cleared the table of the crystal, + and had capped it with a yellow leather mattrass, with pillows of the + same, both embossed with large tufts of red silk; on this they placed one + sheet, and leaving a silver apparatus at the head, they disappeared—“Buenos + noches, senores—las camas estan listas.” + </p> + <p> + Bang had been unable to speak from excess of astonishment; but the skipper + and I, finding there was no help for it, had followed Campana’s example, + and kept pace with him in our peeling, so that by the time he disappeared, + we were ready to topple into our quatres, which we accordingly did, and by + this time we were both at full length, with our heads cased each in one of + Don Ricardo’s silk nightcaps, contemplating Bang’s appearance, as he sat + in disconsolate mood in his chair at the head of the table, with the + fag-end of a cigar in the corner of his cheek. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Bang,” said Transom, “turn in, and let us have a snooze, will ye?” + </p> + <p> + Bang did not seem to like it much. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds, Transom, did you ever hear of a gentleman being put to bed on a + table? Why, it must be a quiz. Only fancy me dished out and served up like + a great calipi in the shell! However, here goes—But surely this is + in sorry taste; we had our chocolate a couple of hours ago—capital + it was by the by—in vulgar Staffordshire china, and now they give us + silver....” + </p> + <p> + “Be decent, Bang,” cut in the skipper, who was by this time more than half + asleep. “Be decent, and go to bed—that’s a good fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, well” Aaron undressed himself, and lay down; and there he was laid + out, with a candle on each side of his head, his red face surmounted by a + redder handkerchief tied round his head, sticking out above the white + sheet; and supported by Captain Transom and myself, one on each side. All + was now quiet. I got up and put out the candles, and as I fell asleep, I + could hear Aaron laughing to himself “Dished, and served up, deuced like + Saint Barts. I was intended for a doctor, Tom, you must know. I hope the + Don is not a medical amateur; I trust he won’t have a touch at me before + morning. Rum subject I should make. Possibly he may want to practice + cutting for the stone—he! he!” All was silent for some time. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo—what is that?” said Aaron again, as if suddenly aroused from + his slumbers—“I say, none of your fun, Transom.” + </p> + <p> + A large bat was flaffing about, and I could hear him occasionally whir + near our faces. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, a bat—hate bats—how the skipper snores! I hope there be + no resurrection-men in St Jago, or I shall be stolen away to a certainty + before morning. How should I look as a skeleton in a glass-case, eh?” + </p> + <p> + I heard no more, until, it might be, about midnight, when I was awakened, + and frightened out of my wits, by Bang rolling off the table on to my + quatre, which he broke in his fall, and then we both rolled over and over + on the floor. + </p> + <p> + “Murder!” roared Bang. “I am bewitched and bedevilled. Murder! a scorpion + has dropped from the roof into my mouth, and stung me on the nose. Murder! + Tom—Tom Cringle—Captain—Transom, my dear fellows, awake + and send for the doctor. Oh my wig—oh dear oh dear.” + </p> + <p> + At this uproar I could hear Don Ricardo striking a light, and presently he + appeared with a candle in his hand, more than half naked, with la senora + peering through the half-opened door behind him. + </p> + <p> + “Ave Maria purissima—what is the matter? Where is el Senior Bang?” + </p> + <p> + “Mucho, mucho,” shouted Bang from below the table. “Send for a doctoribus, + Senor Richarsum. I am dead and t’other thing help!—help!” + </p> + <p> + “Dios guardo usted,” again ejaculated Campana. “What has befallen him?” + addressing the skipper, who was by this time on his head’s antipodes in + bed, rubbing his eyes, and in great amazement. + </p> + <p> + “Tell him, my dear Transom, that a scorpion fell from the roof, and stung + me on the nose.” + </p> + <p> + “What says he?” enquired the Spaniard. + </p> + <p> + Poor Transom’s intellect was at this time none of the clearest, being more + than half asleep, and not quite so sober as a hermit is wont to be; + besides, he must needs speak Spanish, of which he was by no means master, + which led to a very comical blunder. Alacran, in Spanish, means scorpion, + and Cayman, an alligator, not very similar in sound certainly, but the + termination being the same, he selected in the hurry the wrong phrase. + </p> + <p> + “He says,” replied Transom in bad Spanish, “that he has swallowed an + alligator, or something of that sort, sir.” Then a loud yawn. + </p> + <p> + “Swallowed a what?” rejoined Campana, greatly astonished. + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” snorted the captain—“I am wrong—he says he has been + stung by an alligator.” + </p> + <p> + “Stung by an alligator!—impossible.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then,” persisted the skipper, “if he be not stung by an alligator, + or if he has not really swallowed one, at all events an alligator has + either stung or swallowed him—so make the most of it, Don Ricardo.” + </p> + <p> + “Why this is absurd, with all submission,” continued Campana; “how the + deuce could he swallow an alligator, or an alligator get into my house to + annoy him?” + </p> + <p> + “D—n it,” said Transom, half tipsy and very sleepy, “that’s his look + out. You are very unreasonable, Don Ricardo; all that is the affair of + friend Bang and the alligator; my purpose is solely to convey his meaning + faithfully”—a loud snore. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said Campana, laughing, “I see, I see; I left your friend sobre + mesa, [on the table,] but now I see he is sub rosa.” + </p> + <p> + “Help, good people, help!” roared Bang—“help, or my nose will reach + from this to the Moro Castle—Help!” + </p> + <p> + We got him out, and were I to live a thousand years, which would be a + tolerably good spell, I don’t think I could forget his appearance. His + nose, usually the smallest article of the kind that I ever saw, was now + swollen as large as my fist, and as purple as a mulberry—the + distension of the skin, from the venomous sting of the reptile—for + stung he had been by a scorpion—made it semi—transparent, so + that it looked like a large blob of currant jelly hung on a peg in the + middle of his face, or a gigantic leech, gorged with blood, giving his + visage the semblance of some grotesque old-fashioned dial, with a + fantastic gnomon. + </p> + <p> + “A poultice—a poultice—a poultice, good people, or I shall + presently be all nose together,”—and a poultice was promptly + manufactured from mashed pumpkin, and he was put to bed, with his face + covered up with it, as if an Italian artist had been taking a cast of his + beauties in plaster of Paris. + </p> + <p> + In the application of this said poultice, however, we had nearly + extinguished poor Aaron amongst us, by suffocating him outright; for the + skipper, who was the operating surgeon in the first instance, with me for + his mate, clapped a whole ladleful over his mouth and nose, which, besides + being scalding hot, sealed those orifices effectually, and indeed about a + couple of tablespoonfuls had actually been forced down his gullet, + notwithstanding his struggles, and exclamations of “Pumpkin bad—softened + with castor oil—d——n it, skipper, you’ll choke me” spurt—sputter—sputter—“choke + me, man.” + </p> + <p> + “Cuidado,” said Don Ricardo; “let me manage”—and he got a small tube + of wild cane, which he stuck into Bang’s mouth, through a hole in the + poultice-cloth, and set a negro servant to watch that it did not sink into + his gullet, as he fell asleep, and with instructions to take the poultice + off whenever the pain abated; and there he lay on his back, whistling + through this artificial beak, like a sick snipe. + </p> + <p> + At length, however, all hands of us seemed to have fallen asleep, but + towards the dawning I was awakened by repeated bursts of suppressed + laughter, and upon looking in the direction from whence the sounds + proceeded, I was surprised beyond all measure to observe Transom in a + corner of the room in his trowsers and shirt, squatted like a tailor on + his hams, with one of the sable damsels on her knees beside him holding a + candle, while his Majesty’s Post Captain was plying his needle in a style + and with a dexterity that would have charmed our friend Stultze + exceedingly, and every now and then bending double over his work, and + swinging his body backwards and forwards with the water welling from his + eyes, laughing all the while like to choke himself. As for his bronze + candlestick, I thought she would have expired on the spot, with her white + teeth glancing like ivory, and the tears running down her cheeks, as she + every now and then clapped a handkerchief on her mouth to smother the + uncontrollable uproariousness of her mirth. + </p> + <p> + “Why, captain, what spree is this?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Never you mind, but come here. I say, Mr Cringle, do you see him piping + away there”—and there he was, sure enough, still gurgling through + the wild cane—with his black guardian, whose province it was to have + removed the poultice, sound asleep, snoring in the huge chair at Bang’s + head, wherein he had established himself, while the candle at his + patient’s cheek was flickering in the socket. + </p> + <p> + My superior was evidently bent on wickedness. + </p> + <p> + “Get up and put on your trowsers, man.” + </p> + <p> + I did so. + </p> + <p> + “Now wait a bit till I cooper him—Here, my darling”—to the + sable virgin who was now on the qui vive, bustling about—“here,” + said the captain, sticking out a leg of Bang’s trowsers, “hold you there, + my dear.” + </p> + <p> + She happened to be a native of Haiti, and comprehended his French. + </p> + <p> + “Now hold you that, Mr Cringle.” + </p> + <p> + I took hold of the other leg, and held it in a fitting position, while + Transom deliberately sewed them both up. + </p> + <p> + “Now for the coat sleeves” + </p> + <p> + We sealed them in a similar manner. + </p> + <p> + “So—now for his shirt.” + </p> + <p> + We sewed up the stem, and then the stern, converting it into an + outlandish-looking pillow-case, and finally both sleeves; and last of all, + we got two live land-crabs from the servants, by dint of persuasion and a + little plata, and clapped one into each stocking foot. + </p> + <p> + We then dressed ourselves, and when all was ready, we got a piece of tape + for a landyard, and made one end fast to the handle of a large earthen + water-jar, full to the brim, which we placed on Bangs pillow, and passed + the other end round the neck of the sleeping negro. + </p> + <p> + “Now get you to bed,” said the captain to the dingy handmaiden, “and stand + by to be off, Mr Cringle.” + </p> + <p> + He stepped to Don Ricardo’s bedroom door, and tapped loudly. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo!” quoth the Don. On this hint, like men springing a mine, the last + who leave the sap, we sprang into the street, when the skipper turned, and + taking aim with a large custard apple which he had armed himself with (I + have formerly described this fruit as resembling a russet bag of cold + pudding), he let fly. Spin flew the apple—bash on the blackamoor’s + obtuse snout. He started back, and in his terror and astonishment threw a + somersault over the back of his chair—gush poured the water—smash + fell the pipkin—“murder” roared Bang, dashing off the poultice—cast, + with such fury that it lighted in the street—and away we raced at + the top of our speed. + </p> + <p> + We ran as fast as our legs could carry us for two hundred yards, and then + turning, walked deliberately home again, as if we had been out taking a + walk in the cool morning air. + </p> + <p> + As we approached, we heard the yells of a negro, and Bang high in oath. + </p> + <p> + “You black rascal, nothing must serve your turn but practising your John + Canoe tricks upon a gentleman—take that, you villain, as a small + recompense for floating me out of my bed—or rather off the table,” + and the ludicrousness of his couch seemed to come over the worthy fellow + once more, and he laughed loud and long—“Poor devil, I hope I have + not hurt you? here, Quashi, there’s a pistole, go buy a plaster for your + broken pate.” + </p> + <p> + By this we had returned in front of the house, and as we ascended the + front stairs, we again heard a loud racketing within; but blackie’s voice + was now wanting in the row, wherein the Spaniard and our friend appeared + to be the dramatis personae—and sure enough there was Don Ricardo + and Bang at it, tooth and nail. + </p> + <p> + “Allow me to assist you,” quoth the Don. + </p> + <p> + “Oh no—mucho—mucho,” quoth Bang, who was spinning round and + round in his shirt on one leg, trying to thrust his foot into his + trowsers; but the garment was impervious; and after emulating Noblet in a + pirouette, he sat down in despair. We appeared—“Ah, Transom, glad to + see you some evil spirit has bewitched me, I believe—overnight I was + stung to death by a scorpion—half an hour ago I was deluged by an + invisible spirit—and just now when I got up, and began to pull on my + stockings, Lord! a land crab was in the toe part, and see how he has + scarified me” forking up his peg—“I then tried my trowsers,” he + continued in a most doleful tone—“and lo! the legs are sealed. And + look at my face, saw you ever such an unfortunate? But the devil take you, + Transom, I see through your tricks now, and will pay you off for this yet, + take my word for it.” + </p> + <p> + The truth is, that our amigo Aaron had gotten an awful fright on his first + awakening after his cold bath, for he had given the poor black fellow an + ugly blow upon the face, before he had gathered his senses well about him, + and the next moment seeing the blood streaming from his nose, and mixing + with the custard-like pulp of the fruit with which his face was plastered, + he took it into his noodle that he had knocked the man’s brains out. + However, we righted the worthy fellow the best way we could, and shortly + afterwards coffee, was brought, and Bang having got himself shaven and + dressed began to forget all his botherations. But before we left the + house, madama, Don Ricardo’s better-half, insisted on anointing his nose + with some mixture famous for reptile-bites. His natural good-breeding made + him submit to the application, which was neither more nor less than an + infusion of indigo and ginger, with which the worthy lady painted our + friend’s face and muzzle in a most ludicrous manner—it was heads and + tails between him and an ancient Briton. Reefpoint at this moment appeared + at the door with a letter from the merchant captains, which had been sent + down to the corvette, regarding the time of sailing, and acquainting us + when they would be ready. While Captain Transom was perusing it, Bang was + practising Spanish at the expense of Don Ricardo, whom he had boxed into a + corner; but all his Spanish seemed to be scraps of schoolboy Latin, and I + noticed that Campana had the greatest difficulty in keeping his + countenance. At length Don Ricardo approached us—“Gentlemen, I have + laid out a little plan for the dav; it is my wife’s saint’s day, and a + holyday in the family, so we propose going to a coffee property of mine + about ten miles from Santiago, and staying till morning—What say + you?” + </p> + <p> + I chimed in—“I fear, sir, that I shall be unable to accompany you, + even if Captain Transom should be good enough to give me leave, as I have + an errand to do for that unhappy young fellow that we spoke about last + evening—some trinkets which I promised to deliver here they are”—and + I produced the miniature and crucifix. + </p> + <p> + Campana winced—“Unpleasant, certainly, Lieutenant”—said he. + </p> + <p> + “I know it will be so myself, but I have promised” + </p> + <p> + “Then far be it from me to induce you to break your promise,” said the + worthy man. “My son,” said he, gravely, “the friar you saw yesterday is + confessor to Don Picador Cangrejo’s family; his reason for asking to + obtain an interview with you was from its being known that you were active + in capturing the unfortunate men with whom young Federico Cangrejo, his + only son, was leagued. Oh that poor, poor boy! Had you known him, + gentlemen, as I knew him, poor, poor Federico!” + </p> + <p> + “He was an awful villain, however, you must allow,” said the Captain. + </p> + <p> + “Granted in the fullest sense, my dear sir,” rejoined Campana; “but we are + all frail, erring creatures, and he was hardly dealt by. He is now gone to + his heavy, heavy account, and I may as well tell you the poor boy’s sad + story at once. Had you but seen him in his prattling infancy, in his sunny + boyhood!” + </p> + <p> + “He was the only son of a rich old father, an honest worldly man, and of a + most peevish, irascible temper. Poor Federico, and his sister Francisca, + his only sister, were often cruelly used; and his orphan cousin, my sweet + god-daughter, Maria Olivera, their playmate, was, if any thing, more + harshly treated; for although his mother was and is a most excellent + woman, and always stood between them and the old man’s ill temper, yet at + the time I speak of she had returned to Spain, where a long period of ill + health detained her for upwards of three years. Federico by this time was + nineteen years of age, tall, handsome, and accomplished beyond all the + youth of his rank and time of life in Cuba: But you have seen him, + gentlemen—in his extremity; it is true—yet, fallen as he was, + I mistake if you thought him a common man or good, or for evil, my heart + told me he would be conspicuous, and I was, alas the day! too true a + prophet. His attachment to his cousin, who, on the death of her mother, + had become an inmate of Don Picador’s house, had been evident to all but + the purblind old man for a long time; and when he did discover it, he + imperatively forbade all intercourse between them, as, forsooth, he had + projected a richer match for him, and shut Maria up in a corner of his + large mansion, Federico, haughty and proud, could not stomach this. He + ceased to reside at his father’s estate, which had been confided to his + management, and began to frequent the billiard table, and monte-tables, + and taverns, and in a thousand ways gave, from less to more, such + unendurable offence, that his father at length shut his door against him, + and turned him, with twenty doubloons in his pocket, into the street.” + </p> + <p> + “Friends interceded, for the feud soon became public, and, amongst others, + I essayed to heal it; and with the fond, although passionate father, I + easily succeeded; but how true it is, ‘that evil communication corrupts + good manners!’ I found Federico, by this time, linked in bands of steel + with a junto of desperadoes, whose calling was any thing but equivocal; + and implacable to a degree, that, knowing him as I had known him, I had + believed impossible. But, alas, the human heart is indeed desperately + wicked. I struggled long with the excellent Father Carera to bring about a + reconciliation, and thought we had succeeded, as Federico was induced to + return to his father’s house once more, and for many days and weeks we all + flattered ourselves that he had reformed; until one morning, about four + months ago, he was discovered coming out of his cousin’s room about the + dawning by his father, who immediately charged him with seducing his ward. + High words ensued. Poor Maria rushed out and threw herself at her uncle’s + feet. The old man, in a transport of fury, kicked her on the face as she + lay prostrate; whereupon, God help me, he was felled to the earth by his + own flesh, and bone, and blood—by his abandoned son.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘What rein can hold licentious wickedness, + When down the hill he holds his fierce career?’ +</pre> + <p> + “The rest is soon told;—he joined the pirate vessels at Puerto + Escondido, and, from his daring and reckless intrepidity, soon rose to + command amongst them, and was proceeding in his infernal career, when the + God whom he had so fearfully defied at length sent him to expiate his + crimes on the scaffold.” + </p> + <p> + “But the priest”—said I, much excited. + </p> + <p> + “True,” continued Don Ricardo, “Padre Carera brought a joint message from + his poor mother, and sister, and—and, oh my darling god-child, my + heart—dear Maria!”. And the kind old man wept bitterly. I was much + moved. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr Cringle,” said Transom, “if you have promised to deliver the + trinkets in propria persona, there’s an end, take leave—nothing + doing down yonder—send Tailtackle for clothes. Mr Reefpoint, go to + the boat and send up Tailtackle; so go you must to these unfortunates, and + we shall then start on our cruise to the Coffee Estate with our worthy + host.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Campana; “the family are in the country; they live about four + miles from Santiago, on the very road to my property, and we shall call on + our way; but I don’t much admire these interviews there will be a scene, I + fear.” + </p> + <p> + “Not on my part,” said I; “but call I must, for I solemnly promised,” and + presented the miniature to Don Ricardo. + </p> + <p> + Campana looked at it. It was exquisitely finished, and represented a most + beautiful girl, a dark, large-eyed, sparkling, Spanish beauty. “Oh, my + dear, dear child,” murmured Don Ricardo, “how like this was to what you + were; how changed you are now from what it is—alas! alas! But come, + gentlemen, my wife is ready, and my two nieces,” the pretty girls who were + of our party the previous evening—“and here are the horses.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment the little midshipman, Master Reefpoint, a great favourite + of mine, by the by, reappeared, with Tailtackle behind him, carrying my + bundle. I was regularly caught, as the clothes, on the chance of a lark, + had been brought from the ship, although stowed out of sight under the + stern-sheets of the boat. + </p> + <p> + “Here are your clothes, Mr Cringle,” quoth middy. + </p> + <p> + “Devil confound your civility,” internally murmured I. + </p> + <p> + The captain twigged, and smiled. Upon which little Reefy stole up to me + “Lord, Mr Cringle, could you but get me leave to go, it would be such + a....” + </p> + <p> + “Hold your tongue, boy, how can I....” + </p> + <p> + Transom struck in—“Master Reefpoint, I see what you are driving at; + but how shall the Firebrand be taken care of when you are away, eh? + besides, you have no clothes, and we shall be away a couple of days most + probably.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, sir, I have clothes; I have a hair-brush and a tooth-brush, and + two shirt collars, in my waistcoat pocket.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, can we venture to lumber our kind friends with this giant, Mr + Cringle, and can we really leave the ship without him?” Little Reefy was + now all alive. “Tailtackle, go on board—say we shall be back to + dinner the day after tomorrow,” said the Captain. + </p> + <p> + We now made ready for the start, and certainly the cavalcade was rather a + remarkable one. First, there was an old lumbering family volante, a sort + of gig, with four posts or uprights supporting a canopy covered with + leather, and with a high dash-iron or splashboard in front. There were + curtains depending from this canopy, which on occasion could be let down, + so as to cover in the sides and front. The whole was of the most clumsy + workmanship that can be imagined, and hung by untanned leather straps in a + square wooden frame, from the front of which again protruded two shafts, + straight as Corinthian pillars, and equally substantial, embracing an + uncommonly fine mule, one of the largest and handsomest of the species + which I had seen. The harnessing partook of the same kind of unwieldy + strength and solidity, and was richly embossed with silver and dirt. + Astride on this mulo sat a household negro, with a huge thong of bullock’s + hide in one hand, and the reins in the other. In this voiture were + ensconced La Senora Campana, a portly concern, as already mentioned, two + of her bright black-eyed laughing nieces, and Master Reefpoint, invisible + as he lay smothered amongst the ladies, all to his little glazed cocked + hat, and jabbering away in a most unintelligible fashion, so far as the + young ladies, and eke the old one, were concerned. However, they appeared + all mightily tickled by little Reefy, either mentally or physically, for + off they trundled, laughing and skirting loud above the noise and creaking + of the volante. Then came three small, ambling, stoutish long-tailed + ponies, the biggest not above fourteen hands high; these were the barbs + intended for mine host, the skipper, and myself, caparisoned with high + demipique old-fashioned Spanish saddles, mounted with silver stirrups, and + clumsy bridles, with a ton of rusty iron in each poor brute’s mouth for a + bit, and curbs like a piece of our chain cable, all very rich, and, as + before mentioned with regard to the volante, far from clean. Their pace + was a fast run, a compound of walk, trot, and canter, or rather of a trot + and a canter, the latter broken down and frittered away through the + instrumentality of a ferocious Mameluke bit, but as easy as an armchair; + and this was, I speak it feelingly, a great convenience, as a sailor is + not a Centaur, not altogether of a piece with his horse, as it were; yet + both Captain Transom and myself were rather goodish horsemen for + nauticals, although rather apt to go over the bows upon broaching-to + suddenly. Don Ricardo’s costume would have been thought a little out of + the way in Leicestershire; most people put on their boots when they do a + riding go, but he chose to mount in shoes and white cotton stockings, and + white jean small-clothes, with a flowing yellow-striped gingham coat, the + skirts of which fluttered in the breeze behind him, his withered face + shaded by a huge Panama hat, and—with enormous silver spurs on his + heels, the rowels two inches in diameter. + </p> + <p> + Away lumbered the volante, and away we pranced after it. For the first two + miles the scenery was tame enough; but after that, the gently swelling + eminences on each side of the road rose abruptly into rugged mountains; + and the dell between them, which had hitherto been verdant with waving + guinea grass, became covered with large trees, under the dark shade of + which we lost sight of the sun, and the contrast made every thing around + us for a time almost undistinguishable. The forest continued to overshadow + the high-road for two miles further, only broken by a small cleared patch + now and then, where the sharp-spiked limestone rocks shot up like + minarets, and the fire scathed stumps of the felled trees stood out + amongst the rotten earth in the crevices, from which, however, sprang yams + and cocoas, and peas of all kinds, and granadillos, and a profusion of + herbs and roots, with the greatest luxuriance. + </p> + <p> + At length we came suddenly upon a cleared space; a most beautiful spot of + ground, where, in the centre of a green plot of velvet grass, intersected + with numberless small walks, gravelled from a neighbouring rivulet, stood + a large one-story wooden edifice, built in the form of a square, with a + court-yard in the centre. From the moistness of the atmosphere, the + outside of the unpainted weatherboarding had a green damp appearance, and + so far as the house itself was concerned, there was an air of great + discomfort about the place. A large open balcony ran round the whole house + on the outside; and fronting us there was a clumsy wooden porch supported + on pillars, with the open door yawning behind it. + </p> + <p> + The hills on both sides were cleared, and planted with most luxuriant + coffee-bushes, and provision grounds, while the house was shaded by + several splendid star-apple and kennip-trees, and there was a border of + rich flowering shrubs surrounding it on all sides. The hand of woman had + been there! + </p> + <p> + A few half-naked negroes were lounging about, and on hearing our approach + they immediately came up and stared wildly at us. + </p> + <p> + “All fresh from the ship these,” quoth Bang. + </p> + <p> + “Can’t be,” said Transom. “Try and see.” + </p> + <p> + I spoke some of the commonest Spanish expressions to them, but they + neither understood them, nor could they answer me. But Bang was more + successful in Eboe and Mandingo, both of which he spoke fluently + accomplishments which I ought to have expected, by the by, when I declared + he was little skilled in any tongue but English. + </p> + <p> + Large herds of cattle were grazing on the skirts of the wood, and about + one hundred mules were scrambling and picking their food in a rocky + river-course which bisected the valley. The hills, tree-covered, rose + around this solitary residence in all directions, as if it had been + situated in the bottom of a punch-bowl; while a small waterfall, about + thirty feet high, fell so near one of the corners of the building, that + when the wind set that way, as I afterwards found, the spray moistened my + hair through the open window in my sleeping apartment. We proceeded to the + door and dismounted, following the example of our host, and proceeded to + help the gentlewomen to alight from the volante. When we were all + accounted for in the porch, Don Ricardo began to shout, “Criados, criados, + ven aca-pendejos, ven aca!” the call was for some time unattended to; at + length, two tall, good-looking, decently— dressed negroes made their + appearance, and took charge of our bestias and carriage; but all this time + there was no appearance by any living creature belonging to the family. + </p> + <p> + The dark hall, into which the porch opened was paved with the usual + diamond-shaped bricks or tiles, but was not ceiled, the rafters of the + roof being exposed; there was little or no furniture in it, that we could + see, except a clumsy table in the centre of the room, and one or two of + the leather-backed reclining chairs, such as Whiffle used to patronize. + Several doors opened from this comfortless saloon, which was innocent of + paint, into other apartments, one of which was ajar. + </p> + <p> + “Estrailo,” murmured Don Ricardo, “muy estrailo!” + </p> + <p> + “Coolish reception this, Tom.” quoth Aaron Bang. + </p> + <p> + “Deucedly so,” said the skipper. + </p> + <p> + But Campana, hooking his little fat wife under his arm, while we did the + agreeable to the nieces, now addressed himself to enter, with the constant + preliminary ejaculation of all well-bred Spaniards in crossing a friend’s + threshold, “Ave Maria purissima,” when we were checked by a loud tearing + fit of coughing, which seemed almost to suffocate the patient, and female + voices in great alarm, proceeding from the room beyond. + </p> + <p> + Presently a little anatomy of a man presented himself at the door of the + apartment, wringing his hands, and apparently in great misery. Campana and + his wife, with all the alacrity of kind hearted people, immediately went + up to him, and said something which I did not overhear, but the poor + creature to whom they spoke appeared quite bewildered. “What is it, Don + Picador?” at length we could hear Campana say,—“what is it? Is it my + poor dear Maria who is worse, or what—speak, man—may my wife + enter?” + </p> + <p> + “Si, si—yes, yes,” said the afflicted Don Picador—“yes, yes, + let her go in—send—for I am unable to think or act—send + one of my people back post to Santiago for the doctor—haste, haste. + Sangre—hecha sangre por la boca.” + </p> + <p> + “Good God, why did you not say so before?” rejoined Campana. + </p> + <p> + Here his wife called loudly to her husband, “Ricardo, Ricardo, por amor de + su alma, manda por el medico, she has burst a blood vessel Maria is + dying!” + </p> + <p> + “Let me mount myself; I will go myself.”—And the excellent man + rushed for the door, when the poor heart-broken Picador clung to his + knees. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, don’t leave me. Send some one else” + </p> + <p> + “Take care, man, let me go” + </p> + <p> + Transom and I volunteered in a breath—“No, no, I will go myself,” + continued Don Ricardo; “let go, man—God help me, the old creature is + crazed,—el viejo no vale.” + </p> + <p> + “Here, here! help, Don Ricardo!” cried his wife. + </p> + <p> + Off started Transom for the doctor, and into the room rushed Don Picador + and Campana, and, from the sounds in the sick-chamber, all seemed bustle + and confusion; at length the former appeared to be endeavouring to lift + the poor sufferer, so as to enable her to sit up in bed; in the meantime + her coughing had gradually abated into a low suffocating convulsive gasp. + </p> + <p> + “So, so, Ii ft her up, man,’ we could hear Campana say; ‘lift her up quick—or + she will be suffocated.” + </p> + <p> + At length, in a moment of great irritation, excited on the one hand by his + intense interest in the poor suffering girl, and anger at the peevish, + helpless Don Picador, Don Ricardo, to our unutterable surprise, rapped + out, in gude broad Scotch, as he brushed away Senor Cangrejo from the + bedside with a violence that spun him out of the door—“God—the + auld doited deevil is as fusionless as a docken.” + </p> + <p> + My jaw dropped—I was thunderstruck—Bang’s eye met mine + “Murder!” quoth Bang, so soon as his astonishment let him collect breath + enough, “and here I have been for two whole days practising Spanish, to my + great improvement no doubt, upon a Scotchman how Edified he must have + been!” + </p> + <p> + “But the docken, man,” said I—“fusionless as a docken—how + classic! what an exclamation to proceed from the mouth of a solemn Don!” + </p> + <p> + “No gibes regarding the docken,” promptly chimed in Bang; “it is a highly + respectable vegetable, let me tell you, and useful on occasion, which is + more.” + </p> + <p> + The noise in the room ceased, and presently Campana joined us. “We must + proceed,” said he, “it will never do for you to deliver the jewels now, Mr + Cringle; she is too much excited already, even from seeing me.” + </p> + <p> + But it was more easy to determine on proceeding than to put it in + execution, for a heavy cloud, that had been overhanging the small valley + the whole morning, had by this time spread out and covered the entire face + of nature like a sable pall; the birds of the air flew low, and seemed + perfectly gorged with the superabundance of flies, which were thickly + betaking themselves for shelter under the evergreen leaves of the bushes. + All the winged creation, great and small, were fast hastening to the cover + of the leaves and branches of the trees. The cattle were speeding to the + hollows under the impending rocks; negroes, men, women, and children, were + hurrying with their hoes on their shoulders past the windows to their + huts. Several large bloodhounds had ventured into the hall, and were + crouching with a low whine at our feet. The huge carrion crows were the + only living things which seemed to brave the approaching chubasco, and + were soaring high up in the heavens, appearing to touch the black agitated + fringe of the lowering thunderclouds. All other kinds of winged creatures, + parrots, and pigeons, and cranes, had vanished by this time under the + thickest trees, and into the deepest coverts, and the wild-ducks were + shooting past in long lines, piercing the thick air with outstretched neck + and clanging wing. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the wind fell, and the sound of the waterfall increased, and grew + rough and loud, and the undefinable rushing noise that precedes a heavy + fall of rain in the tropics, the voice of the wilderness, moaned through + the high woods, until at length the clouds sank upon the valley in boiling + mists, rolling halfway down the surrounding hills; and the water of the + stream, whose scanty rill but an instant before hissed over the precipice, + in a small transparent ribbon of clear glass-green, sprinkled with white + foam, and then threaded its way round the large rocks in its capacious + channel, like a silver eel twisting through a dry desert, now changed in a + moment to a dark turgid chocolate colour; and even as we stood and looked, + lo! a column of water from the mountains pitched in thunder over the face + of the precipice, making the earth tremble, and driving up from the rugged + face of the everlasting rocks in smoke, and forcing the air into eddies + and sudden blasts which tossed the branches of the trees that overhung it, + as they were dimly seen through clouds of drizzle, as if they had been + shaken by a tempest, although there was not a breath stirring elsewhere + out of heaven; while little wavering spiral wreaths of mist rose up thick + from the surface of the boiling pool at the bottom of the cataract, like + miniature water spouts, until they were dispersed by the agitation of the + air above. + </p> + <p> + At length the swollen torrent rolled roaring down the narrow valley, + filling the whole water-course, about fifty yards wide, and advancing with + a solid front a fathom high—a fathom deep does not convey the idea + like a stream of lava, or as one may conceive of the Red Sea, when, at the + stretching forth of the hand of the prophet of the Lord, its mighty waters + rolled back and stood heaped up as a wall to the host of Israel. The + channel of the stream, which but a minute before I could have leaped + across, was the next instant filled, and utterly impassable. + </p> + <p> + “You can’t possibly move,” said Don Picador; “you can neither go on nor + retreat; you must stay until the river subsides.” And the rain now began + pattering in large drops, like scattering shots preceding an engagement, + on the wooden shingles with which the house was roofed, gradually + increasing to a loud rushing noise, which, as the rooms were not ceiled, + prevented a word being heard. + </p> + <p> + Don Ricardo began to fret and fidget most awfully,—“Beginning of the + seasons—why, we may not get away for a week and all the ships will + be kept back in their loading.” + </p> + <p> + All this time, the poor sufferer’s tearing cough was heard in the lulls of + the rain; but it gradually became less and less severe, and the lady of + the house, and Senora Campana, and Don Picador’s daughter, at length slid + into the room on tiptoe, leaving one of Don Ricardo’s nieces in the room + with the sick person. + </p> + <p> + “She is asleep—hush.” The weather continued as bad as ever, and we + passed a very comfortless forenoon of it, Picador, Campana, Bang, and + myself, perambulating the large dark hall, while the ladies were clustered + together in a corner with their work. At length the weather cleared, and I + could get a glimpse of mine hostess and her fair daughter. The former was + a very handsome woman, about forty; she was tall, and finely formed; her + ample figure set off by the very simple, yet, to my taste, very elegant + dress formerly described: it was neither more nor less than the plain + black silk petticoat over a chemise, made full at the bosom, with a great + quantity of lace frills; her dark glossy hair was gathered on the crown of + her head in one long braid, twisted round and round, and rising up like a + small turret. Over all she wore a loose shawl of yellow silk crape. But + the daughter, I never shall forget her! Tall and full, and magnificently + shaped—every motion was instinct with grace. Her beautiful black + hair hung a yard down her back, long and glossy, in three distinct braids, + while it was shaded, Madonna-like, off her high and commanding forehead; + her eyebrows—to use little Reefy’s simile—looked as if cut out + of a mouse’s skin; and her eyes themselves, large, dark, and soft, yet + brilliant and sparkling at the same time, however contradictory this may, + read; her nose was straight, and her cheeks firm and oval, and her mouth, + her full lips, her ivory teeth, her neck and bosom, were perfect, the + latter if any giving promise of too matronly a womanhood; but at the time + I saw her, nothing could have been more beautiful; and, above all, there + was an inexpressible charm in the clear transparent darkness of her + colourless skin, into which you thought you could look; her shoulders, and + the upper part of her arms, were peculiarly beautiful. Nothing is so + exquisitely lovely as the upper part of a beautiful woman’s arm, and yet + we have lived to see this admirable feature shrouded and lost in those + abominable gigots.—Why won’t you, Master Kit North, lend a hand, and + originate a crusade against those vile appendages? I will lead into action + if you like—“Woe unto the women that sew pillows to all armholes,” + Ezekiel, xiii. 18. May I venture on such a quotation in such a place?—She + was extremely like her brother; and her fine face was overspread with the + pale cast of thought a settled melancholy, like the shadow of a cloud in a + calm day on a summer landscape, mantled over her fine features; and + although she moved with the air of a princess, and was possessed of that + natural politeness which far surpasses all artificial polish, yet the + heaviness of her heart was apparent in every motion, as well as in all she + said. + </p> + <p> + Many people labour under an unaccountable delusion, imagining, in their + hallucination, that a Frenchwoman, for instance, or even an Englishwoman + nay, some in their madness have been heard to say that a Scotchwoman has + been known to walk. Egregious errors all! An Irishwoman of the true + Milesian descent can walk a step or two sometimes, but all other women, + fair or brown, short or tall, stout or thin, only stump, shuffle, jig, or + amble—none but a Spaniard can walk. + </p> + <p> + Once or twice she tried to enter into conversation with me on indifferent + subjects; but there was a constant tendency to approach (against her own + prearranged determination) the one, all-absorbing one, the fate of her + poor brother. “Oh, had you but known him, Mr Cringle had you but known him + in his boyhood, before bad company had corrupted him!” exclaimed she, + after having asked me if he died penitent and she turned away and wept. + “Francisca,” said a low hoarse female voice from the other room; + “Francisca, ven aca, mi querida hermana.” The sweet girl rose, and sped + across the floor with the grace of Taglioni, (oh, the legs Taglionis! as + poor dear Bang would have ventured to have said, if the sylphide had then + been known,) and presently returning, whispered something to her mother, + who rose and drew Don Picador aside. The waspish old man shook himself + clear of his wife, as he said with indecent asperity—“No, no, she + will but make a fool of herself.” + </p> + <p> + His wife drew herself up. + </p> + <p> + “She never made a fool of herself, Don Picador, but once; and God forgive + those who were the cause of it. It is not kind of you, it is not kind.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” rejoined the querulous old man, “do as you will, do as you + will,—always crossing me, always crossing.” + </p> + <p> + His wife took no farther notice, but stepped across the room to me, “Our + poor dying Maria knows you are here; and probably you are not aware that + he wrote to her after his”—her voice quavered after his + condemnation, the night before he suffered, that you were the only one who + shewed him kindness; and she has also read the newspapers giving an + account of the trial. She wishes to see you will you pleasure her? Senora + Campana has made her acquainted that you are the bearer of some trinkets + belonging to him, from which she infers you witnessed his last moments, as + one of them, she was told, was her picture, poor dear girl; and she knew + that must have grown to his heart till the last. But it will be too + agitating. I will try and dissuade her from the interview until the doctor + comes, at all events.’ + </p> + <p> + The worthy lady stepped again into Maria’s apartment, and I could not + avoid hearing what passed. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Maria, Mr Cringle has no objection to wait on you; but after your + severe attack this morning, I don’t think it will be wise. Delay it until + Dr Bergara comes—at any rate, until the evening, Maria.” + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” she said, in a weak, plaintive voice, although husky from the + phlegm which was fast coagulating in her throat—“Mother, I already + have ceased to be of this world; I am dying, dearest mother, fast dying; + and oh, thou All-good and All-merciful Being, against whom I have + fearfully sinned, would that the last struggle were now o’er, and that my + weary spirit were released, and my shame hidden in the silent tomb, and my + sufferings and very name forgotten!” She paused and gasped for breath; I + thought it was all over with her; but she rallied again and proceeded + “Time is rapidly ebbing from me, dearest mother,—for mother I must + call you, more than a mother have you been to me—and the ocean of + eternity is opening to my view. If I am to see him at all, I must see him + now; I shall be more agitated by the expectation of the interview than by + seeing him at once. Oh! let me see him now, let me look on one who + witnessed his last moments.” + </p> + <p> + I could see Senora Cangrejo where she stood. She crossed her hands on her + bosom, and looked up towards heaven, and then turned mournfully towards + me, and beckoned me to approach. I entered the small room, which had been + fitted up by the poor girl with some taste; the furniture was better than + any I had seen in a Spanish house before, and there was a mat on the + floor, and some exquisite miniatures and small landscapes on the walls. It + was her boudoir, opening apparently into a bedroom beyond. It was lighted + by a large open unglazed window, with a row of wooden balustrades beyond + it, forming part of a small balcony. A Carmelite friar, a venerable old + man, with the hot tears fast falling from his old eyes over his wrinkled + cheeks, whom I presently found to be the excellent Padre Carera, sat in a + large chair by the bedside, with a silver cup in his hand, beside which + lay a large crucifix of the same metal; he had just administered extreme + unction, and the viaticum, he fondly hoped, would prove a passport for his + dear child to another and a better world. As I entered he rose, held out + his hand to me, and moved round to the bottom of the bed. + </p> + <p> + The shutters had been opened, and, with a suddenness which no one can + comprehend who has not lived in these climates, the sun now shone brightly + on the flowers and garden plants which grew in a range of pots on the + balcony, and lighted up the pale features of a lovely girl, lovely even in + the jaws of death, as she lay with her face towards the light, supported + in a reclining position on cushions, on a red morocco mattrass, laid on a + sort of frame or bed. + </p> + <p> + “Light was her form, and darkly delicate, that brow, whereon her native + sun had sat, but had not marr’d.” + </p> + <p> + She was tall, so far as I could judge, but oh, how attenuated! Her lower + limbs absolutely made no impression on the mattrass, to which her frame + appeared to cling, giving a ghastly conspicuousness to the oedematoust + swelling of her feet, and to her person, for, alas! She was in a way to + have become a mother. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The offspring of his wayward youth, + When he betrayed Bianca’s truth; + The maid whose folly could confide + In him, who made her not his bride. +</pre> + <p> + Her hand, grasping her pocket-handkerchief, drenched, alas, with blood, + hung over the side of the bed, thin and pale, with her long taper fingers + as transparent as if they had been fresh cut alabaster, with the blue + veins winding through her wrists, and her bosom wasted and shrunk, and her + neck no thicker than her arm, with the pulsations of the large arteries as + plain and evident as if the skin had been a film, and her beautiful + features, although now sharpened by the near approaching death agony, her + lovely mouth, her straight nose, her arched eyebrows, black, like + pencilled jet lines, and her small ears,—and oh, who can describe + her rich black raven hair, lying combed out, and spread all over the bed + and pillow? She was dressed in a long loose gown of white crape; it looked + like a winding-sheet; but the fire of her eyes—I have purposely not + ventured to describe them—the unearthly brilliancy of her large, + full, swimming eye! + </p> + <p> + When I entered, I bowed, and remained standing near the door. She said + something, but in so low a voice that I could not catch the words; and + when I stepped nearer, on purpose to hear more distinctly, all at once the + blood mantled in her cheeks and forehead and throat, like the last gleam + of the setting sun; but it faded as rapidly, and once more she lay pale as + her smock. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Yet not such blush, as mounts when health would show, + All the heart’s hue in that delightful glow; + But ‘twas a hectic tint of secret care, + That for a burning moment fever’d there; + And the wild sparkle of her eye seemd caught + From high, and lighten’d with electric thought; + Though its black orb these long low lashes fringe, + Had temper’d with a melancholy tinge.” + </pre> + <p> + Her voice was becoming more and more weak, she said, so she must be + prompt. “You have some trinkets for me, Mr Cringle?” I presented them. She + kissed the crucifix fervently, and then looked mournfully on her own + miniature. “This was thought like once, Mr Cringle.—Are the + newspaper accounts of his trial correct?” she next asked. I answered, that + in the main facts they were. “And do you believe in the commission of all + these alleged atrocities by him?” I remained silent. “Yes, they are but + too true. Hush, hush,” said she “look there.” + </p> + <p> + I did as she requested. There, glancing bright in the sunshine, a most + beautiful butterfly fluttered in the air, in the very middle of the open + window. When we first saw it, it was flitting gaily and happily amongst + the plants and flowers that were blooming in the balcony, but it gradually + became more and more slow on the wing, and at last poised itself so + unusually steadily for an insect of its class, that even had Maria not + spoken, it would have attracted my attention. Below it, on the window + sill, near the wall, with head erect, and its little basilisk eyes + upturned towards the lovely fly, crouched a camelion lizard; its beautiful + body, when I first looked at it, was a bright sea-green. It moved into the + sunshine, a little away from the shade of the laurel bush, which grew on + the side it first appeared on, and suddenly the back became transparent + amber, the legs and belly continuing green. From its breast under the + chin, it every now and then shot out a semicircular film of a bright + scarlet colour, like a leaf of a tulip stretched vertically, or the + pectoral fin of a fish. + </p> + <p> + This was evidently a decoy, and the poor fly was by degrees drawn down + towards it, either under the impression of its being in reality a flower, + or impelled by some impulse which it could not resist. It gradually + fluttered nearer and more near, the reptile remaining all the while steady + as a stone, until it made a sudden spring, and in the next moment the + small meally wings were quivering on each side of the camelion’s tiny + jaws. While in the act of gorging its prey, a little fork, like a wire, + was projected from the opposite corner of the window; presently a small + round black snout, with a pair of little fiery blasting eyes, appeared, + and a thin black neck glanced in the sun. The lizard saw it. I could fancy + it trembled. Its body became of a dark blue, then ashy pale; the imitation + of the flower, the gaudy fin was withdrawn, it appeared to shrink back as + far as it could, but it was nailed or fascinated to the window sill, for + its feet did not move. The head of the snake approached, with its long + forked tongue shooting out and shortening, and with a low hissing noise. + By this time about two feet of its body was visible, lying with its white + belly on the wooden beam, moving forward with a small horizontal wavy + motion, the head and six inches of the neck being a little raised. I + shrunk back from the serpent, but no one else seemed to have any dread of + it; indeed, I afterwards learned, that this kind being good mousers, and + otherwise quite harmless, were, if any thing, encouraged about houses in + the country. I looked again; its open mouth was now within an inch of the + lizard, which by this time seemed utterly paralysed and motionless; the + next instant its head was drawn into the snake’s mouth, and by degrees the + whole body disappeared, as the reptile gorged it, and I could perceive + from the lump which gradually moved down the snake’s neck, that it had + been sucked into its stomach. Involuntarily I raised my hand, when the + whole suddenly disappeared. + </p> + <p> + I turned, I could scarcely tell why, to look at the dying girl. A + transient flush had again lit up her pale wasted face. She was evidently + greatly excited. “Can you read me that riddle, Mr Cringle? Does no analogy + present itself to you between what you have seen, between the mysterious + power possessed by these subtle reptiles, and Look—look again.” + </p> + <p> + A large and still more lovely butterfly suddenly rose from beneath where + the snake had vanished, all glittering in the dazzling sunshine, and after + fluttering for a moment, floated steadily up into the air, and disappeared + in the blue sky. My eye followed it as long as it was visible, and when it + once more declined to where we had seen the snake, I saw a most splendid + dragonfly, about three inches long, like a golden bodkin, with its + gauze-like wings moving so quickly, as it hung steadily poised in mid air, + like a hawk preparing to stoop, that the body seemed to be surrounded by + silver tissue, or a bright halo, while it glanced in the sunbeam. + </p> + <p> + “Can you not read it yet, Mr Cringle? can you not read my story in the + fate of the first beautiful fly, and the miserable end of my Federico, in + that of the lizard? And oh, may the last appearance of the ethereal thing, + which but now rose, and melted into the lovely sky, be a true type of what + I shall be! But that poor insect, that remains there suspended between + heaven and earth, shall I say hell, what am I to think of it?” + </p> + <p> + The dragonfly was still there. She continued—“En purgatorio, ah + Dios, tu quedas en purgatorio,” as if the fly had represented the unhappy + young pirate’s soul in limbo. Oh, let no one smile at the quaintness of + the dying fancy of the poor heart-crushed girl. The weather began to lower + again, the wind came past us moaningly—the sun was obscured large + drops of rain fell heavily into the room—a sudden dazzling flash of + lightning took place, and the dragonfly was no longer there. A long low + wild cry was heard. I started, and my flesh creeped. The cry was repeated. + “Es el—el mismo, y ningun otro. Me venga, Federico; me venga, mi + querido!” shrieked poor Maria, with a supernatural energy, and with such + piercing distinctness that it was heard shrill even above the rolling + thunder. + </p> + <p> + I turned to look at Maria—another flash. It glanced on the crucifix + which the old priest had elevated at the foot of the bed, full in her + view. It was nearer, the thunder was louder. “Is that the rain-drops which + are falling heavily on the floor through the open window?” Oh God! Oh God! + it is her warm heart’s-blood, which was bubbling from her mouth like a + crimson fountain. Her pale fingers were clasped on her bosom in the + attitude of prayer—a gentle quiver of her frame and the poor broken + hearted girl, and her unborn babe, “sleeped the sleep that knows no + waking.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV.—Scenes in Cuba + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Ariel.—Safely in harbour, + Is the king’s ship; in the deep nook, where, once, + Thou call’dst me up at midnight to fetch dew, + From the still—vexed Bermoothes—there she’s hid. + + The Tempest, I. ii 227—29. +</pre> + <p> + The spirit had indeed fled—the ethereal essence had departed—and + the poor wasted and blood-stained husk which lay before us, could no + longer be moved by our sorrows, or gratified by our sympathy. Yet I stood + riveted to the spot, until I was aroused by the deep-toned voice of Padre + Carera, who, lifting up his hands towards heaven, addressed the Almighty + in extempore prayer, beseeching his mercy to our erring sister who had + just departed. The unusualness of this startled me.—“As the tree + falls, so must it lie,” had been the creed of my forefathers, and was + mine; but now for the first time I heard a clergyman wrestling in mental + agony, and interceding with the God who hath said, “Repent before the + night cometh, in which no man can work,” for a sinful creature, whose + worn-out frame was now as a clod of the valley. But I had little time for + consideration, as presently all the negro servants of the establishment + set up a loud howl, as if they had lost their nearest and dearest. “Oh, + our poor dear young mistress is dead! She has gone to the bosom of the + Virgin! She is gone to be happy!”—“Then why the deuce make such a + yelling?” quoth Bang in the other room, when this had been translated to + him. Clad to leave the chamber of death, I entered the large hall, where I + had left our friend. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom—awful work. Hear how the rain pours, and murder—such + a flash! Why, in Jamaica, we don’t startle greatly at lightning, but + absolutely I heard it hiss—there, again”—the noise of the + thunder stopped further colloquy, and the wind now burst down the valley + with a loud roar. + </p> + <p> + Don Ricardo joined us. “My good friends—we are in a scrape here—what + is to be done?—a melancholy affair altogether.”—Bang’s + curiosity here fairly got the better of him. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Don Ricardibus—do—beg pardon, though—do give + over this humbugging outlandish lingo of yours—speak like a + Christian, in your mother tongue, and leave off your Spanish, which now, + since I know it is all a bam, seems to sit as strangely on you as my + grandmother’s toupe would on Tom Cringle’s Mary.” + </p> + <p> + “Now do pray, Mr Bang,” said I, when Don Ricardo broke in “Why, Mr Bang, I + am, as you now know, a Scotchman.” + </p> + <p> + “How do I know any such thing—that is, for a certainty—while + you keep cruising amongst so many lingoes, as Tom there says?” + </p> + <p> + “The docken, man,” said I.—Don Ricardo smiled. + </p> + <p> + “I am a Scotchman, my dear sir; and the same person who, in his youth, was + neither more nor less than wee Richy Cloche, in the long town of Kirkaldy, + and in his old age Don Ricardo Campana of St Jago de Cuba. But more of + this anon,—at present we are in the house of mourning, and alas the + day! that it should be so.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the storm had increased most fearfully, and as Don Ricardo, + Aaron, and myself, sat in the dark damp corner of the large gloomy hall, + we could scarcely see each other, for the lightning had now ceased, and + the darkness was so thick, that had it not been for the light from the + large funeral wax tapers, which had been instantly lit upon poor Maria’s + death, in the room where she lay, that streamed through the open door, we + should have been unable to see our very fingers before us. + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” said Campana; “heard you nothing, gentlemen?” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “By this the storm grew loud apace, + The water-wraith was shrieking; + And in the scowl of heaven each face, + Grew dark as they were speaking.” + </pre> + <p> + In the lulls of the rain and the blast, the same long low cry was heard + which had startled me by Maria’s bedside, and occasioned the sudden and + fatal exertion which had been the cause of the bursting out afresh of the + blood vessel. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said I, “it is little more than three o’clock in the afternoon yet, + dark as it is; let us sally out, Mr Bang, for I verify believe that the + hollo we have heard is my Captain’s voice, and, if I conjecture rightly, + he must have arrived at the other side of the river, probably with the + Doctor.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Tom,” quoth Aaron, “it is only three in the afternoon, as you say, + although by the sky I could almost vouch for its being midnight,—but + I don’t like that shouting—Did you ever read of a water-kelpie, Don + Richy?” + </p> + <p> + “Poo, poo, nonsense,” said the Don; “Mr Cringle is, I fear, right enough.” + At this moment the wind thundered at the door and window shutters, and + howled amongst the neighbouring trees and round the roof, as if it would + have blown the house down upon our devoted heads. The cry was again heard, + during a momentary pause. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds!” said Bang, “it is the skipper’s voice, as sure as fate—he + must be in danger—let us go and see, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + “Take me with you,” said Campana,—the foremost always when any good + deed was to be done——and, in place of clapping on his + great-coat to meet the storm, to our unutterable surprise, he began to + disrobe himself, all to his trowsers and large straw hat. He then called + one of the servants, “Trae me un lasso.” The lasso, a long thong of + plaited hide, was forthwith brought; he coiled it up in his left hand. + “Now, Pedro,” said he to the negro servant who had fetched it, (a tall + strapping fellow,) “you and Caspar follow me. Gentlemen, are you ready?” + Caspar appeared, properly accoutred, with a long pole in one hand and a + thong similar to Don Ricardo’s in the other, he as well as his comrade + being stark naked all to their waistcloths. “Ah, well done, my sons,” said + Don Ricardo, as both the negroes prepared to follow him. So off we started + to the door, although we heard the tormenta raging without with appalling + fury. Bang undid the latch, and the next moment he was flat on his back, + the large leaf having flown open with tremendous violence, capsizing him + like an infant. + </p> + <p> + The Padre from the inner chamber came to our assistance, and by our joint + exertions we at length got the door to again and barricaded, after which + we made our exit from the lee-side of the house by a window. Under other + circumstances, it would have been difficult to refrain from laughing at + the appearance we made. We were all drenched in an instant after we left + the shelter of the house, and there was old Campana, naked to the waist, + with his large sombrero and long pigtail hanging down his back, like a + mandarin of twenty buttons. Next followed his two black assistants, naked + as I have described them, all three with their coils of rope in their + hands, like a hangman and his deputies; then advanced friend Bang and + myself, without our coats or hats, with handkerchiefs tied round our + heads, and our bodies bent down so as to stem the gale as strongly as we + could. + </p> + <p> + But the planting attorney, a great schemer, a kind of Will Wimble in his + way, had thought fit, of all things in the world, to bring his umbrella, + which the wind, as might have been expected, reversed most unceremoniously + the moment he attempted to hoist it, and tore it from the staff, so that, + on the impulse of the moment, he had to clutch the flying red silk and + thrust his head through the centre, where the stick had stood, as if he + had been some curious flower. As we turned the corner of the house, the + full force of the storm met us right in the teeth, when flap flew Don + Ricardo’s hat past us; but the two blackamoors had taken the precaution to + strap each of theirs down with a strong grass lanyard. We continued to + work to windward, while every now and then the hollo came past us on the + gale louder and louder, until it guided us to the fording which we had + crossed on our first arrival. We stopped there;—the red torrent was + rushing tumultuously past us, but we saw nothing save a few wet and + shivering negroes on the opposite side, who had sheltered themselves under + a cliff, and were busily employed in attempting to light a fire. The + holloing continued. + </p> + <p> + “Why, what can be wrong?” at length said Don Ricardo, and he shouted to + the people on the opposite side. + </p> + <p> + He might as well have spared his breath, for, although they saw his + gestures and the motion of his lips, they no more heard him than we did + them, as they very considerately in return made mouths at us, bellowing no + doubt that they could not hear us. + </p> + <p> + “Don Ricardo—Don Ricardo!” at this crisis sung out Caspar, who had + clambered up the rock, to have a peep about him—“Ave Maria—Alla + son dos pobres, que peresquen pronto, si nosotros no pueden Hydros.” + </p> + <p> + “Whereabouts?” said Campana—“whereabouts? speak, man, speak.” + </p> + <p> + “Down in the valley—about a quarter of a league, I see two men on a + large rock, in the middle of the stream; the wind is in that direction, it + must be them we heard.” + </p> + <p> + “God be gracious to us! true enough—true enough—let us go to + them then, my children.” And we again all cantered off after the excellent + Don Ricardo. But before we could reach the spot, we had to make a detour, + and come down upon it from the precipitous brow of the beetling cliff + above, for there was no beach nor shore to the swollen river, which was + here very deep and surged, rushing under the hollow bank with + comparatively little noise, which was the reason why we heard the cries so + distinctly. + </p> + <p> + The unfortunates who were in peril, whoever they might be, seemed to + comprehend our motions, for one of them held out a white handkerchief, + which I immediately answered by a similar signal, when the shouting + ceased, until, guided by the negroes, we reached the verge of the cliff, + and looked down from the red crumbling bank on the foaming water, as it + swept past beneath. It was here about thirty yards broad, divided by a + rocky wedge like islet, on which grew a profusion of dark bushes and one + large tree, whose topmost branches were on a level with us where we stood. + This tree was divided, about twelve feet from the root, into two limbs in + the fork of which sat, like a big monkey, no less a personage than Captain + Transom himself, wet and dripping, with his clothes besmeared with mud, + and shivering with cold. At the foot of the tree sat in rueful mood, a + small antique beau of an old man in a coat which had once been blue silk, + wearing breeches, the original colour of which no man could tell, and + without his wig, his clear bald pate shining amidst the surrounding + desolation like an ostrich’s egg. Beside these worthies stood two + trembling way-worn mules with drooping heads, their long ears hanging down + most disconsolately. The moment we came in sight, the skipper hailed us. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I am hoarse with bawling, Don Ricardo, but here am I and el Doctor + Pavo Real, in as sorry a plight as any two gentlemen need be. On + attempting the ford two hours ago, blockheads as we were beg pardon, Don + Pavo”—the doctor bowed, and grinned like a baboon—“we had + nearly been drowned; indeed, we should have been drowned entirely, had we + not brought up on this island of Barataria here.—But how is the + young lady? tell me that,” said the excellent-hearted fellow, even in the + midst of his own danger. + </p> + <p> + “Mind Yourself, my beautiful child,” cried Bang. “How are we to get you on + terra firma?” + </p> + <p> + “Poo—in the easiest way possible,” rejoined he, with true seamanlike + self-possession. “I see you have ropes—Tom Cringle, heave me the end + of the line which Don Ricardo carries, will you?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no—I can do that myself,” said Don Ricardo, and with a swing he + hove the leathern noose at the skipper, and whipped it over his neck in a + twinkling. The Scotch Spaniard, I saw, was pluming himself on his skill, + but Transom was up to him, for in an instant he dropped out of it, while + in slipping through he let it fall over a broken limb of the tree. + </p> + <p> + “Such an eel—such an eel!” shouted the attendant negroes, both + expert hands with the lasso themselves. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Don Ricardo, since I am not to be had, make your end of the thong + fast round that large stone there.” Campana did so. “Ah, that will do.” + And so saying, the skipper warped himself to the top of the cliff with + great agility. He was no sooner in safety himself, however, than the idea + of having left the poor doctor in peril flashed on him. + </p> + <p> + “I must return—I must return! If the river rises, the body will be + drowned out and out.” + </p> + <p> + And notwithstanding our entreaties, he did return as he came, and + descending the tree, began apparently to argue with the little Medico, and + to endeavour to persuade him to ascend, and make his escape as he himself + had done; but it would not do. Pavo Real—as brave a little man as + ever was seen—made many salaams and obeisances, but move he would + not. He shook his head repeatedly, in a very solemn way, as if he had + said, “My very excellent friends, I am much obliged to you, but it is + impossible; my dignity would be compromised by such a proceeding.” + </p> + <p> + Presently Transom appeared to wax very emphatic, and pointed to a pinnacle + of limestone rock, which had stood out like a small steeple above the + surface of the flashing, dark red eddies, when we first arrived on the + spot, but now only stopped the water with a loud gurgle, the top rising + and disappearing as the stream surged past, like, buov jangling in a + tideway. The small man still shook his head, but the water now rose so + rapidly, that there was scarcely dry standing room for the two poor devils + of mules, while the doctor and the skipper had the greatest difficulty in + finding a footing for themselves. + </p> + <p> + Time and circumstances began to press, and Transom, after, another + unavailing attempt to persuade the doctor, began apparently to rouse + himself, and muster his energies. He first drove the mules forcibly into + the stream at the side opposite where we stood, which was the deepest + water, and least broken by rocks and stones, and we had the pleasure to + see them scramble out safe and sound; he then put his hand to his mouth, + and hailed us to throw him a rope, it was done—he caught it, and + then by a significant gesture to Campana, gave him to understand that now + was the time. The Don, comprehending him, hove his noose with great + precision, right over the little doctor’s head, and before he recovered + from his surprise, the captain slipped it under his arms, and signed to + haul taught, while the Medico kicked, and spurred, and backed like a + restive horse. At one and the same moment, Transom made fast a guy round + his waist, and we hoisted away, while he hauled on the other line, so that + we landed the Lilliputian Esculapius safe on the top of the bank, with the + wind nearly out of his body, however, from his violent exertions, and the + running of the noose. + </p> + <p> + It was now the work of a moment for the Captain to ascend the tree and + again warp himself ashore, when he set himself to apologize with all his + might and main, pleading strong necessity; and having succeeded in + pacifying the offended dignity of the doctor, we turned towards the house. + </p> + <p> + “Look out there,” sung out Campana sharply. + </p> + <p> + Time indeed, thought I, for right ahead of us, as if an invisible gigantic + ploughshare had passed over the woods, a valley or chasm was suddenly + opened down the hill-side with a noise like thunder, and branches and + whole limbs of trees were instantly torn away, and tossed into the air + like straws. + </p> + <p> + “Down on your noses, my fine fellows,” cried the skipper. We were all flat + in an instant except the Medico, the stubborn little brute, who stood + until the tornado reached him, when in a twinkling he was cast on his + back, with a violence sufficient, as I thought, to have driven his breath + for ever and aye out of his body. While we lay we heard all kinds of + things hurtle past us through the air, pieces of timber, branches of + trees, coffee-bushes, and even stones. Presently it lulled again, and we + got on end to look round us. + </p> + <p> + “How will the old house stand all this, Don Ricardo?” said the drenched + skipper. He had to shout to be heard. The Don was too busy to answer, but + once more strode on towards the dwelling, as I expected something even + worse than we had experienced to be still awaiting us. By the time we + reached it, it was full of negroes, men, women, and children, whose huts + had already been destroyed, poor, drenched, miserable devils, with + scarcely any clothing and to crown our comfort, we found the roof leaking + in many places. By this time the night began to fall, and our prospects + were far from flattering. The rain had entirely ceased, nor was there any + lightning, but the storm was most tremendous, blowing in gusts, and + veering round from east to north with the speed of thought. The force of + the gale, however, gradually declined, until the wind subsided altogether, + and every thing became quite still. The low murmured conversation of the + poor negroes who environed us, was heard distinctly; the hard breathing of + the sleeping children could even be distinguished. But I was by no means + sure that the hurricane was over, and Don Ricardo and the rest seemed to + think as I did, for there was not a word interchanged between us for some + time. + </p> + <p> + “Do you hear that?” at length said Aaron Bang, as a low moaning sound rose + wailing into the night air. It approached and grew louder. + </p> + <p> + “The voice of the approaching tempest amongst the higher branches of the + trees,” said the Captain. + </p> + <p> + The rushing noise overhead increased, but still all was so calm where we + sat, that you could have heard a pin drop. Poo, thought I, it has passed + over us after all—no fear now, when one reflects how completely + sheltered we are. Suddenly, however, the lights in the room where the body + lay were blown out, and the roof groaned and creaked as if it had been the + bulkheads of a ship in a tempestuous sea. + </p> + <p> + “We shall have to cut and run from this anchorage presently, after all,” + said I; “the house will never hold on till morning.” + </p> + <p> + The words were scarcely out of my mouth, when, as if a thunderbolt had + struck it, one of the windows in the hall was driven in with a roar, as if + the Falls of Niagara had been pouring overhead, and the tempest having + thus forced an entrance, the roof of that part of the house where we sat + was blown up, as if by gunpowder—ay, in the twinkling of an eye; and + there we were with the bare walls, and the angry heaven overhead, and the + rain descending in bucketfuls. Fortunately, two large joists or couples, + being deeply embedded in the substance of the walls, remained, when the + rafters and ridgepole were torn away, or we must have been crushed in the + ruins. + </p> + <p> + There was again a deathlike lull, the wind fell to a small melancholy + sough amongst the tree-tops, and once more, where we sat, there was not a + breath stirring. So complete was the calm now, that after a light had been + struck, and placed on the floor in the middle of the room, showing the + surrounding group of shivering half-naked savages, with fearful + distinctness, the flame shot up straight as an arrow, clear and bright, + although the distant roar of the storm still thundered afar off as it + rushed over the mountain above us. + </p> + <p> + This unexpected stillness frightened the women even more than the + fierceness of the gale when at the loudest had done. + </p> + <p> + “We must go forth,” said Senora Campana; “the elements are only gathering + themselves for a more dreadful hurricane than what we have already + experienced. We must go forth to the little chapel in the wood, or the + next burst may, and will, bury us under the walls;” and she moved towards + Maria’s room, where, by this time, lights had again been placed. “We must + move the body,” we could hear her say; “we must all proceed to the chapel; + in a few minutes the storm will be raging again louder than ever.” + </p> + <p> + “And my wife is very right,” said Don Ricardo; “so, Caspar, call the other + people; have some mats, and quatres, and mattresses carried down to the + chapel, and we shall all remove, for, with half of the roof gone, it is + but tempting the Almighty to remain here longer.” + </p> + <p> + The word was passed, and we were soon under weigh, four negroes leading + the van, carrying the uncoffined body of the poor girl on a sofa; while + two servants, with large splinters of a sort of resinous wood for + flambeaux, walked by the side of it. Next followed the women of the + family, covered up with all the cloaks and spare garments that could be + collected; then came Don Picador Cangrejo, with Ricardo Campana, the + skipper, Aaron Bang, and myself; the procession being closed by the + household negroes, with more lights, which all burned steadily and clear. + </p> + <p> + We descended through a magnificent natural avenue of lofty trees (whose + brown moss-grown trunks and fantastic boughs were strongly lit up by the + blaze of the torches; while the fresh white splinter-marks where the + branches had been tom off by the storm, glanced bright and clear, and the + rain-drops on the dark leaves sparkled like diamonds) towards the river, + along whose brink the brimful red-foaming waters rushed past us, close by + the edge of the path, now ebbing suddenly a foot or so, and then surging + up again beyond their former bounds, as if large stones or trunks of trees + above, were from time to time damming up the troubled waters, and then + giving way. After walking about four hundred yards, we came to a small but + massive chapel, fronting the river, the back part resting against a rocky + bank, with two superb cypress-trees growing, one on each side of the door; + we entered, Padre Carera leading the way. The whole area of the interior + of the building did not exceed a parallelogram of twenty feet by twelve. + At the eastern end, fronting the door, there was a small altar-piece of + hard-wood, richly ornamented with silver, and one or two bare wooden + benches standing on the tiled floor; but the chief security we had that + the building would withstand the storm, consisted in its having no window + or aperture whatsoever, excepting two small ports, one on each side of the + altar piece, and the door, which was a massive frame of hardwood planking. + </p> + <p> + The body was deposited at the foot of the altar, and the ladies, having + been wrapped up in cloaks and blankets, were safely lodged in quatres, + while we, the gentlemen of the comfortless party, seated ourselves, + disconsolately enough, on the wooden benches. + </p> + <p> + The door was made fast, after the servants had kindled a blazing wood fire + on the floor; and although the flickering light cast by the wax tapers in + the six large silver candlesticks which were planted beside the bier, as + it blended with the red glare of the fire, and fell strong on the pale + uncovered features of the corpse, and on the anxious faces of the women, + was often startling enough, yet being conscious of a certain degree of + security from the thickness of the walls, we made up our minds to spend + the night where we were, as well as we could. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom Cringle,” said Aaron Bang, “all the females are snug there, + you see; we have a blazing fire on the hearth, and here is some comfort + for we men slaves;” whereupon he produced two bottles of brandy. Don + Ricardo Campana, with whom Bang seemed now to be absolutely in league, or, + in vulgar phrase, as thick as pickpockets, had brought a goblet of water, + and a small silver drinking cup, with him, so we passed the creature + round, and tried all we could to while away the tedious night. But, as if + a sudden thought had struck Aaron, he here tucked the brandy bottle under + his arm, and asking me to carry the vessel with the water, he advanced, + cup in hand, towards the ladies. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Tom, interpret carefully.” + </p> + <p> + “Ahem—Madam and Senoras, this is a heavy night for all of us, but + the chapel is damp—allow me to comfort you.” + </p> + <p> + “Muchisimos gracias,” was the gratifying answer, and Bang accordingly gave + each of our fair friends a heart-warming taste of brandy and water. There + was now calm for a full hour, and the Captain had stepped out to + reconnoitre; on his return he reported that the swollen stream had very + much subsided. + </p> + <p> + “Well, we shall get away, I hope, tomorrow morning, after all,” whispered + Bang. + </p> + <p> + He had scarcely spoken when it began to pelt and rain again, as if a + waterspout had burst overhead, but there was no wind. + </p> + <p> + “Come, that is the clearing up of it,” said Cloche. + </p> + <p> + At this precise moment the priest was sitting with folded arms, beyond the + body, on a stool or trestle, in the alcove or recess where it lay. Right + overhead was one of the small round apertures in the gable of the chapel, + which, opening on the bank, appeared to the eye a round black spot in the + whitewashed wall. The bright wax lights shed a strong lustre on the worthy + Clerigo’s figure, face, and fine bald head which shone like silver, while + the deeper light of the embers on the floor was reflected in ruby tints + from the large silver crucifix that hung at his waist. The rushing of the + swollen river prevented me hearing distinctly, but it occurred to me once + or twice, that a strange! gurgling sound proceeded from the aforesaid + round aperture. The Padre seemed to hear it also, for every now and then + he looked up, and once he rose and peered anxiously through it; but + apparently unable to distinguish any thing, he sat down again. However, my + attention, had been excited, and half asleep as I was, I kept glimmering + in the direction of the Clerigo. + </p> + <p> + The Captain’s deep snore had gradually lengthened out, so as to vouch for + his forgetfulness, and Bang, Ricardo, Dr Pavo Real, and the ladies, had + all subsided into the most perfect quietude, when I noticed, and I quaked + and trembled like an aspen leaf as I did so, a long black paw, thrust + through, and down from the dark aperture immediately over Padre Carera’s + head, which, whatever it was, it appeared to scratch sharply, and then + giving the caput a smart cuff, vanished. The Priest started, put up his + hand, and rubbed his head, but seeing nothing, again leant back, and was + about departing to the land of nod, like the others, once more. However, + in a few minutes, the same paw again protruded, and this time a peering + black snout, with two glancing eyes, was thrust through the hole after it. + The paw kept swinging about like a pendulum for a few seconds, and was + then suddenly thrust into the Padre’s open mouth as he lay back asleep, + and again giving him another smart crack, vanished as before. + </p> + <p> + “Hobble, gobble,” gurgled the Priest, nearly choked. + </p> + <p> + “Ave Maria purissima, que bocado—what a mouthful!—What can + that be?” + </p> + <p> + This was more than I knew, I must confess, and altogether I was consumedly + puzzled, but, from a disinclination to alarm the women, I held my tongue. + Padre Carera this time moved away to the other side from beneath the hole, + but still within two feet of it—in fact, he could not get in this + direction farther for the altar-piece—and being still half asleep, + he lay back once more against the wall to finish his nap, taking the + precaution, however, to clap on his long shovel hat, shaped like a small + canoe, crosswise, with the peaks standing out from each side of his head, + in place of wearing it fore and aft, as usual. Well, thought I, a strange + party certainly; but drowsiness was fast settling down on me also, when + the same black paw was again thrust through the hole, and I distinctly + heard a nuzzling, whining, short bark. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, but + before I was quite awake, the head and neck of a large Newfoundland dog + was shoved into the chapel through the round aperture, and making a long + stretch, with the black paws thrust down and resting on the wall, + supporting the creature, the animal suddenly snatched the Padre’s hat off + his head, and giving it an angry worry—as much as to say, “Confound + it—I had hoped to have had the head in it”—it dropped it on + the floor, and with a loud yell, Sneezer, my own old dear Sneezer, leaped + into the midst of us, floundering amongst the sleeping women, and kicking + the firebrands about, making them hiss again with the water he shook from + his shaggy coat, and frightening all hands like the very devil. + </p> + <p> + “Sneezer, you villain, how came you here!” I exclaimed, in great amazement—“How + came you here, sir?” The dog knew me at once, and when benches were reared + against him, after the women had huddled into a corner, and every thing + was in sad confusion, he ran to me, and leaped on my neck, gasping and + yelping; but finding that I was angry, and in no mood for toying, he + planted himself on end so suddenly, in the middle of the floor, close by + the fire, that all our hands were stayed, and no one could find in his + heart to strike the poor dumb brute, he sat so quiet and motionless. + “Sneezer, my boy, what have you to say—where have you come from?” He + looked in the direction of the door, and then walked deliberately towards + it, and tried to open it with his paws. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said the Captain, “that little scamp, who would insist on riding + with me to St Jago, to see, as he said, if he might not be of use in + fetching the surgeon from the ship in case I could not find Dr Bergara, + has come back, although I desired him to stay on board. The puppy must + have returned in his cursed troublesome zeal, for in no other way could + your dog be here. Certainly, however, he did not know that I had fallen in + with Dr Pavo Real;” and the good-natured fellow’s heart melted, as he + continued—“Returned—why, he may be drowned—Cringle, take + care little Reefpoint be not drowned.” + </p> + <p> + Sneezer lowered his black snout, and for a moment poked it into the white + ashes of the fire, and then raising it and stretching his neck upwards to + its full length, he gave a short bark, and then a long loud howl. + </p> + <p> + “My life upon it, the poor boy is gone,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “But what can we do?” said Don Ricardo; “it is as dark as pitch.” + </p> + <p> + And we again set ourselves to have a small rally at the brandy and water, + as a resolver of our doubts, whether we should sit still till daybreak, or + sally forth now and run the chance of being drowned, with but small hope + of doing any good; and the old priest having left the other end of the + chapel, where the ladies were once more reposing, now came to join our + council of war, and to have his share of the agua ardiente. + </p> + <p> + The noise of the rain increased, and there was still a little puff of wind + now and then, so that the Padre, taking an alfombra, or small mat, used to + kneel on, and placing it on the step where the folding doors opened + inwards, took a cloak on his shoulders, and sat himself down with his back + against the leaves, to keep them closed, as the lock or bolt was broken, + and was in the act of swigging off his cupful of comfort, when a strong + gust drove the door open, as if the devil himself had kicked it, capsized + the Padre, blew out the lights once more, and scattered the brands of the + fire all about us. Transom and I started up, the women shrieked; but + before we could get the door to again, in rode little Reefpoint on a mule, + with the doctor of the Firebrand behind him, bound, or lashed, as we call + it, to him by a strong thong. The black servants and the females took them + for incarnate fiends, I fancy, for the yells and shrieks they set up were + tremendous. + </p> + <p> + “Yo, ho!” sung out little Reefy; “don’t be frightened, ladies—Lord + love ye, I am half drowned, and the doctor here is altogether so quite + entirely drowned, I assure you.—I say, Medico, an’t it true?” And + the little Irish rogue slewed his head round, and gave the exhausted + doctor a most comical look. + </p> + <p> + “Not quite,” quoth the doctor, “but deuced near it. I say, Captain, would + you have known us? why, we are dyed chocolate colour, you see, in that + river, flowing not with milk and honey, but with something miraculously + like pea soup, water I cannot call it.” + </p> + <p> + “But Heaven help us, why did you try the ford, man?” said Bang. + </p> + <p> + “You may say that, sir,” responded wee Reefy; “but our mule was knocked + up, and it was so dark and tempestuous, that we should have perished by + the road if we had tried back for St Jago; so seeing a light here, the + only indication of a living thing, and the stream looking narrow and + comparatively quiet—confound it, it was all the deeper though—we + shoved across.” + </p> + <p> + “But, bless me, if you had been thrown in the stream, lashed together as + you are, you would have been drowned to a certainty,” said the Captain. + </p> + <p> + “Oh,” said little Reefy, “the doctor was not on the mule in crossing no, + no, Captain, I knew better—I had him in tow, sir; but after we + crossed he was so faint and chill, that I had to lash myself to him to + keep him from sliding over the animal’s counter, and walk he could not.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Master Reefpoint, why came you back? did I not desire you to remain + on board of the Firebrand, sir?” + </p> + <p> + The midshipman looked nonplussed. “Why, Captain, I forgot to take my + clothes with me, and—and—in truth, sir, I thought our surgeon + would be of more use than any outlandish Gallipot that you could carry + back.” + </p> + <p> + The good intentions of the lad saved him farther reproof, although I could + not help smiling at his coming back for his clothes, when his whole + wardrobe on starting was confined to the two false collars and a + toothbrush. + </p> + <p> + “But where is the young lady?” said the doctor. + </p> + <p> + “Beyond your help, my dear doctor,” said the skipper; “she is dead—all + that remains of her you see within that small railing there.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, indeed!” quoth the Medico, “poor girl—poor girl—deep + decline, wasted, terribly wasted,” said he, as he returned from the + railing of the altar-piece, where he had been to look down upon the body; + and then, as if there never had been such a being as poor Maria Olivera in + existence, he continued, “Pray, Mr Bang, what may you have in that + bottle?” + </p> + <p> + “Brandy, to be sure, doctor,” said Bang. + </p> + <p> + “A thimbleful then, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + “By all means”—and the planting attorney handed the black bottle to + the surgeon, who applied it to his lips, without more circumlocution. + </p> + <p> + “Lord love us!—poisoned—Oh, gemini!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, doctor,” said Transom, “what has come over you?” + </p> + <p> + “Poisoned, Captain—only taste.” + </p> + <p> + The bottle contained soy. It was some time before we could get the poor + man quieted; and when at length he was stretched along a bench, and the + fire stirred up, and new wood added to it, the fresh air of early morning + began to be scented. At this time we missed Padre Carera, and, in truth, + we all fell fast asleep; but in about an hour or so afterwards, I was + awoke by some one stepping across me. The same cause had stirred Transom. + It was Aaron Bang who had been to look out at the door. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Cringle, look here—the Padre and the servants are digging a + grave close to the chapel—are they going to bury the poor girl so + suddenly?” + </p> + <p> + I stepped to the door; the wind had entirely fallen—but it rained + very fast—the small chapel door looked out on the still swollen, but + subsiding river, and beyond that on the mountain, which rose abruptly from + the opposite bank. On the side of the hill facing us was situated a negro + village, of about thirty huts, where lights were already twinkling, as if + the inmates were preparing to go forth to their work. Far above them, on + the ridge, there was a clear cold streak towards the east, against which + the outline of the mountain, and the large trees which grew on it, were + sharply cut out; but overhead, the firmament was as yet dark and + threatening. The morning star had just risen, and was sparkling bright and + clear through the branches of a magnificent tree, that shot out from the + highest part of the hill; it seemed to have attracted the Captain’s + attention as well as mine. + </p> + <p> + “Were I romantic now, Mr Cringle, I could expatiate on that view. How + cold, and clear, and chaste, every thing looks! The elements have subsided + into a perfect calm, every thing is quiet and still, but there is no + warmth, no comfort in the scene.” + </p> + <p> + “What a soaking rain!” said Aaron Bang; “why, the drops are as small as + pin points, and so thick!—a Scotch mist is a joke to them. Unusual + all this, Captain. You know our rain in Jamaica usually descends in + bucketfuls, unless it be regularly set in for a week, and them, but then + only, it becomes what in England we are in the habit of calling a soaking + rain. One good thing, however,—while it descends so quietly, the + earth will absorb it all, and that furious river will not continue + swollen.” + </p> + <p> + “Probably not,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Cringle,” said the skipper, “do you mark that tree on the ridge of the + mountain, that large tree in such conspicuous relief against the eastern + sky?” + </p> + <p> + “I do, Captain. But—heaven help us!—what necromancy is this! + It seems to sink into the mountain-top—why, I only see the uppermost + branches now. It has disappeared, and yet the outline of the hill is as + distinct and well defined as ever; I can even see the cattle on the ridge, + although, they are running about in a very incomprehensible way + certainly.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush!” said Don Ricardo, “hush!—the Padre is reading the funeral + service in the chapel, preparatory to the body being brought out.” + </p> + <p> + And so he was. But a low grumbling noise, gradually increasing was now + distinctly audible. The monk hurried on with the prescribed form—he + finished it—and we were about moving the body to carry it forth—Bang + and I being in the very act of stooping down to lift the bier, when the + Captain sung out sharp and quick,—“Here, Tom!” the urgency of the + appeal abolishing the Mister—“Here!—zounds, the whole + hill-side is in motion!” And as he spoke I beheld the negro village, that + hung on the opposite bank, gradually fetch way, houses, trees, and all, + with a loud, harsh, grating sound. + </p> + <p> + “God defend us!” I involuntarily exclaimed. + </p> + <p> + “Stand clear,” shouted the skipper; “the whole hill-side opposite is under + weigh, and we shall be bothered here presently.” + </p> + <p> + He was right—the entire face of the hill over against us was by this + time in motion, sliding over the substratum of rock like a first rate + gliding along the well-greased ways at launching—an earthy + avalanche. Presently the rough, rattling, and crashing sound, from the + disrupture of the soil, and the breaking of the branches, and tearing up + by the roots of the largest trees, gave warning of some tremendous + incident. The lights in the huts still burned, but houses and all + continued to slide down the declivity; and anon a loud startled + exclamation was heard here and there, and then a pause, but the low + mysterious hurtling sound never ceased. + </p> + <p> + At length a loud continuous yell echoed along the hillside. The noise + increased—the rushing sound came stronger and stronger the river + rose higher, and roared louder; it overleaped the lintel of the door—the + fire on the floor hissed for a moment, and then expired in smouldering + wreaths of white smoke—the discoloured torrent gurgled into the + chapel, and reached the altar-piece; and while the cries from the hillside + were highest, and bitterest, and most despairing, it suddenly filled the + chapel to the top of the low doorpost; and although the large tapers which + had been lit near the altar-piece were as yet unextinguished, like meteors + sparkling on a troubled sea, all was misery and consternation. + </p> + <p> + “Have patience, and be composed, now,” shouted Don Ricardo. “If it + increases, we can escape through the apertures here, behind the altar + piece, and from thence to the high ground beyond. The heavy rain has + loosened the soil on the opposite bank, and it has slid into the river + course, negro houses and all. But be composed, my dears nothing + supernatural in all this; and rest assured, although the river has + unquestionably been forced from its channel, that there is no danger, if + you will only maintain your self-possession.” + </p> + <p> + And there we were—an inhabitant of a cold climate cannot go along + with me in the description. We were all alarmed, but we were not chilled + cold is a great daunter of bravery. At New Orleans, the black regiments, + in the heart of the forenoon, were really the most efficient corps of the + army; but in the morning, when the hoarfrost was on the long wire-grass, + they were but as a broken reed. “Him too cold for brave today,” said the + sergeant of the grenadier company of the West India regiment, which was + brigaded in the ill-omened advance, when we attacked New Orleans; but + here, having heat, and seeing none of the women egregiously alarmed, we + all took heart of grace, and really there was no quailing amongst us. + </p> + <p> + Senora Campana and her two nieces, Senora Cangrejo and her angelic + daughter, had all betaken themselves to a sort of seat, enclosing the + altar in a semicircle, with the pea soup-coloured water up to their knees. + Not a word—not an exclamation of fear escaped from them, although + the gushing eddies from the open door showed that the soil from the + opposite hill was fast settling down, and usurping the former channel of + the river. + </p> + <p> + “All very fine this to read of,” at last exclaimed Aaron Bang. “Zounds, we + shall be drowned. Look out, Transom; Tom Cringle, look out; for my part, I + shall dive through the door, and take my chance.” + </p> + <p> + “No use in that,” said Don Ricardo; “the two round openings there at the + west end of the chapel, open on a dry shelf, from which the ground slopes + easily upward to the house; let us put the ladies through them, and then + we males can shift for ourselves as we best may.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment the water rose so high, that the bier on which the corpse + of poor Maria Olivera lay stark and stiff, was floated off the trestles, + and turning on its edge, after glancing for a moment in the light cast by + the wax tapers, it sank into the thick brown water, and was no more seen. + </p> + <p> + The old priest murmured a prayer, but the effect on us was electric. + “Sauve qui peut” was now the cry; and Sneezer, quite in his element, began + to cruise all about, threatening the tapers with instant extinction. + </p> + <p> + “Ladies, get through the holes,” shouted Don Ricardo. “Captain, get you + out first.” + </p> + <p> + “Can’t desert my ship,” said the gallant fellow; “the last to quit where + danger is, my dear sir. It is my charter; but, Mr Cringle, go you, and + hand the ladies out.” + </p> + <p> + “I’ll be d——d if I do,” said I. “Beg pardon, sir; I simply + mean to say, that I cannot usurp the pas from you.” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” quoth Don Ricardo—a more discreet personage than any one of + us “I will go myself;” and forthwith he screwed himself through one of the + round holes in the wall behind the altar-piece. “Give me out one of the + wax tapers—there is no wind now,” said Don Ricardo “and hand out my + wife, Captain Transom.” + </p> + <p> + “Ave Maria!” said the matron, “I shall never get through that hole.” + </p> + <p> + “Try, my dear madam,” said Bang, for by this time we were all deucedly + alarmed at our situation. “Try, madam;” and we lifted her towards the hole—fairly + entered her into it head foremost, and all was smooth, till a certain part + of the excellent woman’s earthly tabernacle stuck fast. + </p> + <p> + We could hear her invoking all the saints in the calendar on the outside + to “make her thin;” but the flesh and muscle were obdurate through she + would not go, until—delicacy being now blown to the winds, Captain + Transom placed his shoulder to the old lady’s extremity, and with the + regular “Oh, heave oh!” shot her through the aperture into her husband’s + arms. The young ladies we ejected much more easily, although Francesca + Cangrejo did stick a little too. The priest was next passed, then Don + Picador; and so we went on, until in rotation we had all made our exit, + and were perched shivering on the high bank. God defend us! we had not + been a minute there when the rushing of the stream increased the rain once + more fell in torrents several large trees came down with a fearful impetus + in the roaring torrent, and struck the corner of the chapel. It shook—we + could see the small cross on the eastern gable tremble. Another stump + surged against it—it gave way—and in a minute afterwards there + was not a vestige remaining of the whole fabric. + </p> + <p> + “What a funeral for thee, Maria!” said Don Ricardo. + </p> + <p> + Not a vestige of the body was ever found. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing now for it. We all stopped, and turned, and looked, + there was not a stone of the building to be seen—all was red + precipitous bank, or dark flowing river—so we turned our steps + towards the house. The sun by this time had risen. We found the northern + range of rooms still entire, so we made the most of it; and, by dint of + the Captain’s and my nautical skill, before dinner-time, there was rigged + a canvass jury-roof over the southern part of the fabric, and we were + once-more seated in comparative comfort at our meal. But it was all + melancholy work enough. However, at last we retired to our beds; and next + morning, when I awoke, there was the small stream once more trickling over + the face of the rock, with the slight spray wafting into my bedroom, a + little discoloured certainly, but as quietly as if no storm had taken + place. + </p> + <p> + We were kept at Don Picador’s for three days, as, from the shooting of the + soil from the opposite hill, the river had been dammed up, and its channel + altered, so that there was no venturing across. Three Negroes were + unfortunately drowned, when the bank shot, as Bang called it. But the + wonder passed away; and by nine o’clock on the fourth morning, when we + mounted our mules to proceed, there was little apparently on the fair face + of nature to mark that such fearful scenes had been. However, when we did + get under weigh, we found that the hurricane had not passed over us + without leaving fearful evidences of its violence. + </p> + <p> + We had breakfasted—the women had wept—Don Ricardo had blown + his nose— Aaron Bang had blundered and fidgeted about and the + bestias were at the door. We embraced the ladies. + </p> + <p> + “My son,” said Senora Cangrejo, “we shall most likely never meet again. + You have your country to go to—you have a mother. Oh, may she never + suffer the pangs which have wrung my heart But I know—I know that + she never will.” I bowed. “We may never indeed, in all likelihood we shall + never meet again!” continued she, in a rich, deep-toned, mellow voice; + “but if your way of life shall ever lead you to Cordova, you will be sure + of having many visitors, and many a door will open to you, if you will but + give out that you have shown kindness to Maria Olivera, or to any one + connected with her.” She wept—and bent over me, pressing both her + hands on the crown of my head. “May that great God, who careth not for + rank or station, for nation or for country, bless you, my son—bless + you!” + </p> + <p> + All this was sorry work. She kissed me on the forehead, and turned away. + Her daughter was standing close to her, “like Niobe, all tears.” + “Farewell, Mr Cringle—may you be happy!” I kissed her hand—she + turned to the Captain. He looked inexpressible things, and taking her + hand, held it to his breast; and then, making a slight genuflection, + pressed it to his lips. He appeared to be amazingly energetic, and she + seemed to struggle to be released. He recovered himself, however—made + a solemn bow——the ladies vanished. We shook hands with old Don + Picador, mounted our mules, and bid a last adieu to the Valley of the + Hurricane. + </p> + <p> + We ambled along for some time in silence. At length the skipper dropped + astern, until he got alongside of me. “I say, Tom”—I was well aware + that he never called me Tom unless he was fou, or his heart was full, + honest man—“Tom, what think you of Francesca Cangrejo?” + </p> + <p> + Oh ho! sits the wind in that quarter? thought I. “Why, I don’t know, + Captain—I have seen her to disadvantage—so much misery fine + woman though—rather large to my taste—but....” + </p> + <p> + “Confound your buts,” quoth the Captain. “But, never mind push on, push + on.”—I may tell the gentle reader in his ear, that the worthy + fellow, at the moment when I send this chapter to the press, has his flag, + and that Francesca Cangrejo is no less a personage than his wife. + </p> + <p> + However, let us get along. “Doctor Pavo Real,” said Don Ricardo,.now since + you have been good enough to spare us a day, let us get the heart of your + secret out of you. Why, you must have been pretty well frightened on the + island there.’ + </p> + <p> + “Never so much frightened in my life, Don Ricardo; that English captain is + a most tempestuous man—but all has ended well; and after having seen + you to the crossing, I will bid you good-by.” + </p> + <p> + “Poo—nonsense.” “Come along—here is the English Medico, your + brother Esculapius; so, come along, you can return in the morning.” “But + the sick folk in Santiago....” + </p> + <p> + “Will be none the sicker for your absence, Doctor Pavo Real,” responded + Don Ricardo. + </p> + <p> + The little Doctor laughed, and away we all cantered—Don Ricardo + leading, followed by his wife and nieces, on three stout mules, sitting, + not on side-saddles, but on a kind of chair, with a foot-board on the + larboard side to support the feet—then followed the two Calens, and + little Reefpoint, while the Captain and I brought up the rear. We had not + proceeded five hundred yards, when we were brought to a stand-still by a + mighty tree, which had been thrown down by the wind fairly across the + road. On the right hand there was a perpendicular rock rising up to a + height of five hundred feet; and on the left an equally precipitous + descent, without either ledge or parapet to prevent one from falling over. + What was to be done? We could not by any exertion of strength remove the + tree; and if we sent back for assistance, it would have been a work of + time. SO we dismounted, got the ladies to alight, and Aaron Bang, Transom, + and myself, like true knights-errant, undertook to ride the mulos over the + stump. + </p> + <p> + Aaron Bang led gallantly, and made a deuced good jump of it, Transom + followed, and made not quite so clever an exhibition—I then rattled + at it, and down came mule and rider. However, we were accounted for on the + right side. + </p> + <p> + “But what shall become of us?” shouted the English doctor. + </p> + <p> + “And as for me, I shall return,” said the Spanish Medico. + </p> + <p> + “Lord love you, no,” said little Reefpoint; “here, lash me to my beast, + and no fear.” The doctor made him fast, as desired, round the mule’s neck + with a stout thong, and then drove him at the barricade, and over they + came, man and beast, although, to tell the truth, little Reefy alighted + well out on the neck with a hand grasping each ear. However, he was a + gallant little fellow, and in nowise discouraged, so he undertook to bring + over the other quadrupeds; and in little more than a quarter of an hour we + were all under weigh on the opposite side, in full sail towards Don + Ricardo’s property. But as we proceeded up the valley, the destruction + caused by the storm became more and more apparent. Trees were strewn about + in, all directions, having been tom up by the roots—road there was + literally none; and by the time we reached the coffee estate, after a + ride, or scramble, more properly speaking, of three hours, we were all + pretty much tired. In some places the road at the best was but a rocky + shelf of Limestone not exceeding twelve inches in width, where, if you had + slipped, down you would have gone a thousand feet. At this time it was + white and clean, as if it had been newly chiselled, all the soil and sand + having been washed away by the recent heavy rains. + </p> + <p> + The situation was beautiful; the house stood on a platform scraped out of + the hillside, with a beautiful view of the whole country down to St Jago. + The accommodation was good; more comforts, more English comforts, in the + mansion than I had yet seen in Cuba; and as it was built of solid slabs of + limestone, and roofed with strong hardwood timbers and rafters, and tiled, + it had sustained comparatively little injury, as it had the advantage of + being at the same time sheltered by the overhanging cliff. It stood in the + middle of a large platform of hard sun-dried clay, plastered over, and as + white as chalk, which extended about forty feet from the eaves of the + house, in every direction, on which the coffee was cured. This platform + was surrounded on all sides by the greenest grass I had ever seen, and + overshadowed, not the house alone, but the whole level space, by one vast + wild fig-tree. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom, do you see that Scotchman hugging the Creole, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Scotchman!” said I, looking towards Don Ricardo, who certainly did not + appear to be particularly amorous; on the contrary, we had just alighted, + and the worthy man was enacting groom. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” continued Bang, “the Scotchman hugging the Creole; look at that + tree—do you see the trunk of it?” + </p> + <p> + I did look at it. It was a magnificent cedar, with a tall straight stem, + covered over with a curious sort of fretwork, wove by the branches of some + strong parasitical plant, which had warped itself round and round it, by + numberless snakelike convolutions, as if it had been a vegetable Laocoon. + The tree itself shot up branchless to the uncommon height of fifty feet; + the average girth of the hunk being four-and twenty feet, or eight-feet in + diameter. The leaf of the cedar is small, not unlike the ash; but when I + looked up, I noticed that the feelers of this ligneous serpent had twisted + round the larger boughs, and blended their broad leaves with those of the + tree, so that it looked like two trees grafted into one; but, as Aaron + Bang said, in a very few years the cedar would entirely disappear, its + growth being impeded, its pith extracted, and its core rotted, by the + baleful embraces of the wild fig, of “this Scotchman hugging the Creole.” + After we had fairly shaken into our places, there was every promise of a + very pleasant visit. Our host had a tolerable cellar, and although there + was not much of style in his establishment, still there was a fair + allowance of comfort, every thing considered. The evening after we arrived + was most beautiful. The house, situated on its white plateau of barbicues, + as the coffee platforms are called, where large piles of the berries in + their red cherry like husks had been blackening in the sun the whole + forenoon, and on which a gang of negroes was now employed covering them up + with tarpawlins for the night, stood in the centre of an amphitheatre of + mountains, the front box, as it were, the stage part opening on a bird’s + eye-view of the distant town and harbour, with the everlasting ocean + beyond it, the currents and flaws of wind making its surface look like + ice, as we were too distant to discern the heaving of the swell, or the + motion of the billows. The fast falling shades of evening were deepened by + the sombrous shadow of the immense tree overhead, and all down in the deep + valley was now becoming dark and undistinguishable, through the blue + vapours that were gradually floating up towards us. To the left, on the + shoulder of the Horseshoe Hill, the sunbeams still lingered, and the + gigantic shadows of the trees on the right hand prong were strongly cast + across the valley on a red precipitous bank near the top of it. The sun + was descending beyond the wood, flashing through the branches, as if they + had been on fire. He disappeared. It was a most lovely still evening—the + air—but hear the skipper. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “It is the hour when from the boughs, + The nightingale’s high note is heard; + It is the hour when lovers vows, + Seem sweet in every whisper’d word; + And gentle winds and waters near, + Make music to the lonely ear. + Each flower the dews have lightly wet, + And in the sky the stars are met, + And on the wave is deeper blue, + And on the leaf is browner hue, + And in the heaven that clear obscure, + So softly dark, and darkly pure, + Which follows the decline of day, + When twilight melts beneath the moon away.” + </pre> + <p> + “Well recited, skipper,” shouted Bang. “Given as the noble poet’s verses + should be given. I did not know the extent of your accomplishments; grown + poetical ever since you saw Francesca Cangrejo, eh?” + </p> + <p> + The darkness hid the gallant captain’s blushes, if blush he did. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Don Ricardo, who are those?”—half-a-dozen well-clad negroes + had approached the house by this time—“Ask them, Mr Bang; take your + friend Mr Cringle for an interpreter.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I will. Tom, who are they? Ask them—do.” + </p> + <p> + I put the question, “Do you belong to the property?” + </p> + <p> + The foremost, a handsome Negro answered me, “No, we don’t, sir; at least, + not till tomorrow.” + </p> + <p> + “Not till tomorrow?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir; somos caballeros hoy” (we are gentlemen to-day.) + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen today; and, pray, what shall you be tomorrow?” + </p> + <p> + “Esclavos otra ves,” (slaves again, sir,) rejoined the poor fellow, nowise + daunted. + </p> + <p> + “And you, my darling,” said I to a nice well-dressed girl, who seemed to + be the sister of the spokesman, “.what are you today, may I ask?” + </p> + <p> + She laughed—“Esclava, a slave to-day, but to-morrow I shall be + free.” + </p> + <p> + “Very strange.” + </p> + <p> + “Not at all, senor; there are six of us in a family, and one of us is free + each day, all to father there,” pointing to an old grey-headed negro, who + stood by, leaning on his staff—“he is free two days in the week; and + as I am going to have a child,”—a cool admission,—“I want to + buy another day for myself too—but Don Ricardo will tell you all + about it.” + </p> + <p> + The Don by this time chimed in, talking kindly to the poor creatures; but + we had to retire, as dinner was now announced, to which we sat down. + </p> + <p> + Don Ricardo had been altogether Spanish in Santiago, because he lived + there amongst Spaniards, and every thing was Spanish about him; so with + the tact of his countrymen he had gradually been merged into the society + in which he moved, and having married a very high caste Spanish lady, he + at length became regularly amalgamated with the community. But here, in + his mountain retreat, sole master, his slaves in attendance on him, he was + once more an Englishman, in externals, as he always was at heart, and + Richie Cloche, from the Lang Toon of Kirkaldy, shone forth in all his + glory as the kind hearted landlord. His head household servant was an + English, or rather a Jamaica negro; his equipment, so far as the dinner + set out was concerned, was pure English; he would not even speak any thing + but English himself. + </p> + <p> + The entertainment was exceedingly good,—the only thing that puzzled + us uninitiated subjects, was a fricassee of Macaca worms, that is, the + worm which breeds in the rotten trunk of the cotton-tree, a beautiful + little insect, as big as a miller’s thumb, with a white trunk and a black + head in one word, a gigantic caterpillar. + </p> + <p> + Bang fed thereon—he had been accustomed to it in Jamaica in some + Creole families where he visited, he said—but it was beyond my + compass. However, all this while we were having a great deal of fun, when + Senora Campana addressed her husband—“My dear, you are now in your + English mood, so I suppose we must go.” We had dined at six, and it might + now be about eight. Don Ricardo, with all the complacency in the world, + bowed, as much as to say, you are right, my dear, you may go, when his + youngest niece addressed him. + </p> + <p> + “Tio—my uncle,” said she, in a low silver-toned voice, “Juana and I + have brought our guitars”— + </p> + <p> + “Not another word to be said,” quoth Transom—“the guitars by all + means.” + </p> + <p> + The girls in an instant, without any preparatory blushing, or other + botheration, rose, slipped their heads and right arms through the black + ribbons that supported their instruments, and stepped into the middle of + the room. + </p> + <p> + “The Moorish Maid of Granada,” said Senora Campana. They nodded. + </p> + <p> + “You shall take Fernando, the sailor’s part,” said Senora Candalaria, the + youngest sister, to Juana, “for your voice is deeper than mine, and I + shall be Anna.” + </p> + <p> + “Agreed,” said Juana, with a lovely smile, and an arch twinkle of her eye + towards me, and then launched forth in full tide, accompanying her sweet + and mellow voice on that too much neglected instrument, the guitar. It was + a wild, irregular sort of ditty, with one or two startling arabesque + bursts in it. As near as may be, the following conveys the meaning, but + not the poetry. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + The Moorish Maid of Granada + + FERNANDO + + The setting moon hangs over the hill; + On the dark pure breast of the mountain lake + Still trembles her greenish silver wake, + And the blue mist floats over the rill. + And the cold streaks of dawning appear, + Giving token that sunrise is near; + And the fast clearing east is flushing, + And the watery clouds are blushing; + And the day-star is sparkling on high, + Like the fire of my Anna’s dark eye. + The ruby-red clouds in the east + Float like islands upon the sea, + When the winds are asleep on its breast; + Ah, would that such calm were for me! + + And see, the first streamer-like ray + From the unrisen god of day, + Is piercing the ruby-red clouds, + Shooting up like golden shrouds: + And like silver gauze falls the shower, + Leaving diamonds on bank, bush, and bower, + Amidst many unopened flower. + Why walks the dark maid of Granada? + + ANNA + + At evening when labour is done, + And cool’d in the sea is the sun; + And the dew sparkles clear on the rose, + And the flowers are beginning to close, + Which at nightfall again in the calm. + + Their incense to God breathe in balm; + And the bat flickers up in the sky, + And the beetle hums moaningly by; + And to rest in the brake speeds the deer, + While the nightingale sings loud and clear. + + Scorched by the heat of the sun’s fierce light, + The sweetest flowers are bending most + Upon their slender stems; + More faint are they than if tempest tost, + Till they drink of the sparkling gems + That fall from the eye of night. + + Hark! from lattices guitars are tinkling, + And though in heaven the stars are twinkling, + No tell-tale moon looks over the mountain, + To peer at her pale cold face in the fountain; + And serenader’s mellow voice, + Wailing of war, or warbling of love, + Of love, while the melting maid of his choice, + Leans out from her bower above. + + All is soft and yielding towards night, + When blending darkness shrouds all from the sight; + But chaste, chaste, is this cold, pure light, + Sang the Moorish maid of Granada. +</pre> + <p> + After the song, we all applauded, and the ladies having made their conges, + retired. The Captain and I looked towards Aaron Bang and Don Ricardo; they + were tooth and nail at something which we could not understand. So we + wisely held our tongues. + </p> + <p> + “Very strange all this,” quoth Bang. + </p> + <p> + “Not at all,” said Ricardo. “As I tell you, every slave here can have + himself or herself appraised, at any time they may choose, with liberty to + purchase their freedom day by day.” + </p> + <p> + “But that would be compulsory manunmission,” quoth Bang. + </p> + <p> + “And if it be,” said Ricardo, “what then? The scheme works well here why + should it not do so there—I mean with you, who have so many + advantages over us?” + </p> + <p> + This is an unentertaining subject to most people, but having no bias + myself, I have considered it but justice to insert in my log the following + letter, which Bang, honest fellow, addressed to me, some years after the + time I speak of. + </p> + <p> + MY DEAR CRINGLE, + </p> + <p> + “Since I last saw you in London, it is nearly, but not quite, three years + ago. I considered at the time we parted, that if I lived at the rate of + L3000 a-year, I was not spending one-half of my average income, and on the + faith of this I did plead guilty to my house in Park Lane, and a carriage + for my wife,——and, in short, I spent my L3000 a year. Where am + I now? In the old shop at Mammee Gully—my two eldest daughters, + little things, in the very middle of their education, hastily ordered out, + shipped as it were, like two bales of goods to Jamaica—my eldest + nephew, whom I had adopted, obliged to exchange from the—Light + Dragoons, and to enter a foot regiment, receiving the difference, which + but cleared him from his mess accounts. But the world says I was + extravagant. Like Timon, however—No, d——n Timon. I spent + money when I thought I had it, and therein I did no more than the Duke of + Bedford, or Lord Grosvenor or many another worthy peer; and now when I no + longer have it, why, I cut my coat by my cloth, have made up my mind to + perpetual banishment here, and I owe no man a farthing.” + </p> + <p> + But all this is wandering from the subject. We are now asked in direct + terms to free our slaves. I will not even glance at the injustice of this + demand, the horrible infraction of rights that it would lead to; all this + I will leave untouched; but, my dear fellow, were men in your service or + the army to do us justice, each in his small sphere in England, how much + good might you not do us? Officers of rank are, of all others, the most + influential witnesses we could adduce, if they, like you, have had + opportunities of judging for themselves. But I am rambling from my object. + You may remember our escapade into Cuba, a thousand years ago, when you + were a lieutenant of the Firebrand. Well, you may also remember Don + Ricardo’s doctrine regarding the gradual emancipation of the negroes, and + how we saw his plan in full operation at least I did, for you knew little + of these matters. Well, last year I made a note of what then passed, and + sent it to an eminent West India merchant in London, who had it published + in the Courier, but it did not seem to please either one party or the + other; a signal proof, one would have thought, that there was some good in + it. At a later period, I requested the same gentleman to have it published + in Blackwood, where it would at least have had a fair trial on its own + merits, but it was refused insertion. My very worthy friend, who acted for + old Kit at that time as secretary of state for colonial affairs, did not + like it, I presume; it trenched a little, it would seem, on the integrity + of his great question; it approached to something like compulsory + manumission, about which he does rave. Why will he not think on this + subject like a Christian man? The country—I say so—will never + sanction the retaining in bondage of any slave, who is willing to pay his + master his fair appraised value. + </p> + <p> + Our friend——injures us, and himself too, a leetle by his ultra + notions. However, hear what I propose, and what, as I have told you + formerly, was published in the Courier by no less a man than Lord——. + </p> + <p> + Scheme for the gradual Abolition of Slavery. + </p> + <p> + The following scheme of redemption for the slaves in our colonies is akin + to a practice that prevails in some of the Spanish settlements. + </p> + <p> + We have now bishops, (a most excellent measure,) and we may presume that + the inferior clergy will be much more efficient than heretofore. It is + therefore proposed,—That every slave, on attaining the age of twenty + one years, should be, by act of Parliament, competent to apply to his + parish clergyman, and signify his desire to be appraised. The clergyman’s + business would then be to select two respectable appraisers from amongst + his parishioners, who should value the slave, calling in an umpire if they + disagreed. + </p> + <p> + As men even of good principles will often be more or less swayed by the + peculiar interests of the body to which they belong, the rector should be + instructed, if he saw any flagrant swerving from an honest appraisement, + to notify the same to his bishop, who, by application to the governor, if + need were, could thereby rectify it. When the slave was thus valued, the + valuation should be registered by the rector, in a book to be kept for + that purpose, an attested copy of which should be annually lodged amongst + the archives of the colony. + </p> + <p> + We shall assume a case, where a slave is valued for L120, Jamaica + currency. He soon, by working by-hours, selling the produce of his + provision grounds, etc. Acquires L20; and how easily and frequently this + is done, every one knows, who is at all acquainted with West India + affairs. + </p> + <p> + He then shall have a right to pay to his owner this L20 as the price of + his Monday for ever, and his owner shall be bound to receive it. A similar + sum would purchase him his freedom on Tuesday; and other four instalments, + to use a West India phrase, would buy him free altogether. You will + notice, I consider that he is already free on the Sunday. Now, where is + the insurmountable difficulty here? The planter may be put to + inconvenience, certainly, great inconvenience, but he has compensation, + and the slave has his freedom—if he deserves it; and as his + emancipation in nine cases out of ten would be a work of time, he would, + as he approached absolute freedom, become more civilized, that is, more + fit to be free; and as he became more civilized, new wants would spring + up, so that when he was finally free, he would not be content to work a + day or two in the week for subsistence merely. He would work the whole six + to buy many little comforts, which, as a slave suddenly emancipated, he + never would have thought of. + </p> + <p> + As the slave becomes free, I would have his owner’s allowance of + provisions and clothing decrease gradually. + </p> + <p> + It may be objected—suppose slaves partly free, to be taken in + execution, and sold for debt. I answer, let them be so. Why cannot three + days of a man’s labour be sold by the deputy marshal as well as six? + </p> + <p> + Again—Suppose the gang is mortgaged, or liable to judgments against + the owner of it. I still answer, let it be so—only, in this case let + the slave pay his instalments into court, in place of paying them to his + owners, and let him apply to his rector for information in such a case. + </p> + <p> + By the register I would have kept, every one could at once see what + property an owner had in his gang—that is, how many were actually + slaves, and how many were in progress of becoming free. Thus well disposed + and industrious slaves would soon become freemen. But the idle and + worthless would still continue slaves, and why the devil shouldn’t they? + </p> + <p> + (Signed) A. B——. + </p> + <p> + There does seem to be a rough, yet vigorous sound sense in all this. But I + take leave of the subject, which I do not profess to understand; only I am + willing to bear witness in favour of my old friends, so far as I can, + conscientiously. + </p> + <p> + We returned next day to Santiago, and had then to undergo the bitterness + of parting. With me it was a slight affair, but the skipper! However, I + will not dwell on it. We reached the town towards evening. The women were + ready to weep, I saw; but we all turned in, and next morning at breakfast + we were moved, I will admit—some more, some less. Little Reefy, poor + fellow, was crying like a child; indeed he was little more, being barely + fifteen. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! Mr Cringle, I wish I had never seen Miss Candalaria de los Dolores; + indeed I do.” + </p> + <p> + This was Don Ricardo’s youngest niece. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Reefy, Reefy,” said I, “you must make haste, and be made post, and + then....” + </p> + <p> + “What does he call her?” said Aaron. + </p> + <p> + “Senora Tomassa Candalaria de los Dolores Gonzales y Vallejo,” blubbered + out little Reefy. + </p> + <p> + “What a complicated piece of machinery she must be!” gravely rejoined + Bang. + </p> + <p> + The meal was protracted to a very unusual length, but time and tide wait + for no man. We rose. Aaron Bang advanced to make his bow to our kind + hostess; he held out his hand, but she, to Aaron’s great surprise + apparently, pushed it on one side and regularly closing with our friend, + hugged him in right earnest. I have before mentioned that she was a very + small woman; so, as the devil would have it, the golden pin in her hair + was thrust into Aaron’s eye, which made him jump back, wherein he lost his + balance, and away he went, dragging Madama Campana down on the top of him. + However, none of us could—laugh now; we parted, jumped into our + boat, and proceeded straight to the anchorage, where three British + merchantmen were by this time riding all ready for sea. We got on board. + “Mr Yerk,” said the Captain, “fire a gun, and hoist blue Peter at the + fore. Loose the foretopsail.” The masters came on board for their + instructions; we passed but a melancholy evening of it, and next morning I + took my last look of Santiago de Cuba. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV.—The Cruise of the Wave. The Action with the Slaver. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘O’er the glad waters of the dark blue sea, + Our thoughts as boundless, and our souls as free, + Far as the breeze can bear the billow’s foam, + Survey our empire, and behold our home. + These are our realms, no limits to their sway. + Our flag the sceptre all who meet obey.’ + + Byron, The Corsair, I. 1-6. +</pre> + <p> + At three o’clock next morning, about an hour and a half before daydawn, I + was roused from my cot by the gruff voice of the boatswain on deck “All + hands up anchor.” + </p> + <p> + The next moment the gunroom steward entered with a lantern, which he + placed on the table—“Gentlemen, all hands up anchor, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + “Botheration!” grumbled one. + </p> + <p> + “Oh dear!” yawned another. + </p> + <p> + “How merrily we live that sailors be!” sung another in a most doleful + strain, and in all the bitterness of heart consequent on being roused out + of a warm nest so unceremoniously. But no help for it; so up we all got, + and opening the door of my berth, I got out, and sat me down on the bench + that ran along the starboard side of the table. + </p> + <p> + For the benefit of the uninitiated, let me describe a gunroom on board of + a sloop of war. Everybody knows that the Captain’s cabin occupies the + after part of the ship; next to it, on the same deck, is the gunroom. In a + corvette, such as the Firebrand, it is a room, as, near as may be, twenty + feet long by twelve wide, and lighted by a long scuttle, or skylight, in + the deck above. On each side of this room runs a row of small chambers, + seven feet long by six feet wide, boarded off from the main saloon, or, in + nautical phrase, separated from it by bulkheads, each with a door and + small window opening into the same, and, generally speaking, with a small + scuttle in the side of the ship towards the sea. These are the officers’ + sleeping apartments, in which they have each a chest of drawers and + basin-stand; while overhead is suspended a cot, or hammock, kept asunder + by a wooden frame, six feet long by about two broad, slung from cleats + nailed to the beams above, by two lanyards fastened to rings, one at the + head, and the other at the foot; from which radiate a number of smaller + cords, which are fastened to the canvass of the cot; while a small strip + of canvass runs from head to foot on each side, so as to prevent the + sleeper from rolling out. The dimensions of the gunroom are, as will be + seen, very much circumscribed by the side berths; and when you take into + account, that the centre is occupied by a long table, running the whole + length of the room, flanked by a wooden bench, with a high back to it, on + each side, and a large clumsy chair at the head, and another at the foot, + not forgetting the sideboard at the head of the table, (full of knives, + forks, spoons, tumblers, glasses &c. &c. &c. stuck into + mahogany sockets,) all of which are made fast to the deck by strong cleats + and staples, and bands of spunyarn, so as to prevent them fetching way, or + moving, when the vessel pitches or rolls, you will understand that there + is no great scope to expatiate upon, free of the table, benches, and + bulkheads of the cabins. While I sat monopolizing the full light of the + lantern, and accoutring myself as decently as the hurry would admit of, I + noticed the officers, in their nightgowns and night-caps, as they + extricated themselves from their coops; and picturesque-looking subjects + enough there were amongst them, in all conscience. At length, that is in + about ten minutes from the time we were called, we were all at stations—a + gun was fired, and we weighed, and then stood out to sea, running along + about four knots, with the land—wind right aft. Having made an + offing of three miles or so, we outran the terral, and got becalmed in the + belt of smooth water between it and the sea-breeze. It was striking to see + the three merchant-ships gradually draw out from the land, until we were + all clustered together in a bunch, with a half a gale of wind curling the + blue waves within musket-shot, while all was long swell and smooth water + with us. At length the breeze reached us, and we made sail with our convoy + to the southward and eastward, the lumbering merchantmen crowding every + inch of canvass, while we could hardly keep astern, under close-reefed + topsails, foresail, jib, and spanker. + </p> + <p> + “Pipe to breakfast,” said the Captain to Mr Yerk. + </p> + <p> + “A sail abeam of us to windward!” + </p> + <p> + “What is she?” sung out the skipper to the man at the masthead who had + hailed. + </p> + <p> + “A small schooner, sir; she has fired a gun, and hoisted an ensign and + pennant.” + </p> + <p> + “How is she steering?” + </p> + <p> + “She has edged away for us, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well.—Mr Yerk, make the signal for the convoy to stand on.” + Then to the boatswain— + </p> + <p> + “Mr Catwell, have the men gone to breakfast?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, but they are just going.” + </p> + <p> + “Then pipe belay with breakfast for a minute, will you? All hands make + sail!” + </p> + <p> + “Crack on, Mr Yerk, and let us overhaul this small swaggerer.” + </p> + <p> + In a trice we had all sail set, and were staggering along on the larboard + tack, close upon a wind. We hauled out from the merchant ships like smoke, + and presently the schooner was seen from the deck.—“Go to breakfast + now.” The crew disappeared, all to the officers, man at the helm, + quartermaster at the conn, and signalman. + </p> + <p> + The first lieutenant had the book open on the drum of the capstan before + him. “Make our number,” said the Captain. It was done. “What does she + answer?” + </p> + <p> + The signalman answered from the fore-rigging, where he had perched himself + with his glass—“She makes the signal to telegraph, sir—3, 9, + 2, at the fore, sir”—and so on; which translated was simply this—“The + Wave, with despatches from the admiral.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, ho,” said Transom; “what is she sent for? Whenever the people have + got their breakfast, tack, and stand towards her, Mr Yerk.” + </p> + <p> + The little vessel approached.—“Shorten sail, Mr Yerk, and heave the + ship to,” said the Captain to the first lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “All hands, Mr Catwell.” + </p> + <p> + Presently the boatswain’s whistle rung sharp and clear, while his gruff + voice, to which his mates bore any thing but mellow burdens, echoed + through the ship—“All hands shorten sail-fore and mainsails haul + up-haul down to jib—in topgallant sails—now back the + main-topsail.” + </p> + <p> + By heaving-to, we brought the Wave on our weather bow. She was now within + a cable’s length of the corvette; the captain was standing on the second + foremost, gun, on the larboard side. “Mafame,” to his steward, “hand me up + my trumpet.” He hailed the little vessel “Ho, the Wave, ahoy!” + </p> + <p> + Presently the responding “hillo” came down the wind to us from the officer + in command of her, like an echo—“Run under our stern and heave to, + to leeward.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir.” + </p> + <p> + As the Wave came to the wind, she lowered down her boat, and Mr Jigmaree, + the boatswain of the dockyard in Jamaica, came on board, and, touching his + hat, presented his despatches to the Captain. Presently he and the skipper + retired into the cabin, and all hands were inspecting the Wave in her new + character of one of his Britannic Majesty’s cruisers. When I had last seen + her she was a most beautiful little craft, both in hull and rigging, as + ever delighted the eye of a sailor; but the dockyard riggers and + carpenters had fairly bedeviled her, at least so far as appearances went. + First, they had replaced the light rail on her gunwale, by heavy solid + bulwarks four feet high, surmounted by hammock nettings, at least another + foot, so that the symmetrical little vessel, that formerly floated on the + foam light as a seagull, now looked like a clumsy dish-shaped Dutch + dogger. Her long slender wands of masts, which used to swig about, as if + there were neither shrouds nor stays to support them, were now as taut and + stiff as church steeples, with four heavy shrouds of a side, and stays and + back-stays, and the Devil knows what all. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” quoth Tailtackle, “if them heave’em taughts at the yard have not + taken the speed out of the little beauty, I am a Dutchman.” Timotheus, I + may state in the bygoing, was not a Dutchman; he was fundamentally any + thing but a Dutchman; but his opinion was sound, and soon verified to my + cost. Jigmaree now approached. + </p> + <p> + “The Captain wants you in the cabin, sir,” said he. I descended, and found + the skipper seated at a table with his clerk beside him, and several open + letters lying before him. “Sit down, Mr Cringle.” I took a chair. “There—read + that,” and he threw an open letter across the table to me, which ran as + follows: + </p> + <p> + SIR, + </p> + <p> + “The Vice—Admiral, commanding on the Jamaica station, desires me to + say, that the bearer, the boatswain of the dockyard, Mr Luke Jigmaree, has + instructions to cruise for, and if possible to fall in with you, before + you weather Cape Maize, and falling in with you, to deliver up charge of + the vessel to you, as well as of the five negroes, and the pilot, Peter + Mangrove, who are on board of her. The Wave having been armed and fitted + with every thing considered necessary, you are to man her with thirty-five + of your crew, including officers, and to place her under the command of + Lieutenant Thomas Cringle, who is to be furnished with a copy of this + letter authenticated by your signature, and to whom you will give written + instructions, that he is first of all to cruise in the great Cuba channel, + until the 14th proximo, for the prevention of piracy, and the suppression + of the slave-trade carried on between the island of Cuba and the coast of + Africa, and to detain and carry into Havanna, or Nassau, New Providence, + all vessels having slaves on board, which he may have reason to believe + have been shipped beyond the prescribed limits on the African coast as + specified in the margin; and after the 14th he is to proceed direct to New + Providence if unsuccessful, there to land Mr Jigmaree, and the dockyard + negroes, and await your return from the northward, after having seen the + merchantmen clear of the Caicos passage. When you have rejoined the Wave + at Nassau, you are to proceed with her as your tender to Crooked Island, + and there to await instructions from the Vice-Admiral, which shall be + transmitted by the packet to sail on the 9th proximo, to the care of the + postmaster. I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant.” + </p> + <p> + ————, Sec. + </p> + <p> + To the Hon. Captain Transom, etc. + </p> + <p> + To say sooth, I was by no means amorous of this independent command, as an + idea had, at the time I speak of, gone abroad in the navy, the + lieutenants, commanding small vessels, seldom rose higher, unless through + extraordinary interest, and I took the liberty of stating my repugnance to + my captain. + </p> + <p> + He smiled, and threw over another letter to me; it was a private one from + the Admiral’s Secretary, and was as follows:(Confidential.) + </p> + <p> + My DEAR TRANSOM, + </p> + <p> + “The Vice Admiral has got a hint from Sir——, to kick that wild + splice, young Cringle, about a bit. It seems he is a nephew of Old + Blueblazes, and as he has taken a fancy to the lad, he has promised his + mother that he will do his utmost to give him opportunities of being + knocked on the head, for all of which the old lady has professed herself + wonderfully indebted. As the puppy has peculiar notions, hint, directly or + indirectly, that he is not to be permanently bolted down to the little and + that if half a dozen skippers (you, my darling, among the rest) were to + evaporate during the approaching hot months, he may have some small chance + of t’other swab. Write me, and mind the claret and curacoa. Put no address + on either; and on coming to anchor, send notice to old Peterkin in the + lodge at the Master Attendant’s, and he will relieve you and the pies de + gallo, some calm evening, of all farther trouble regarding them. Don’t + forget the turtle from Crooked Island, and the cigars.” + </p> + <p> + “Always, my dear Transom,” + </p> + <p> + “Yours sincerely,” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I forgot. The Admiral begs you will spare him some steady old hands + to act as gunner, boatswain, &c.—elderly men, if you please, who + will shorten sail before the squall strikes him. If you float him away + with a crew of boys, the little scamp will get bothered, or capsized, in a + jiffy. All this for your worship’s government. How do you live with your + passenger—prime follow, an’t he? My love to him. Lady——is + dying to see him again.” + </p> + <p> + “WELL, MR CRINGLE, what say you?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course, I must obey, sir;—highly flattered by Mr Secretary’s + good opinion, any how.” + </p> + <p> + The Captain laughed heartily. + </p> + <p> + “It is nearly calm, I see. We must set about manning this seventy four for + you, without delay. So, come along, Captain Cringle.” + </p> + <p> + When we got on deck,—“Hail the Wave to close, Mr Yerk,” said + Transom. “Lower away the boat, and pipe away the yaulers, boatswain’s + mate.” + </p> + <p> + Presently the Captain and I were on the Wave’s deck, where I was much + surprised to find no less personages than Pepperpot Wagtail, and Paul + Gelid, Esquires. Mr Gelid, a conch, or native of the Bahamas, was the same + yawning, drawling, long-legged Creole as ever. He had been ill with fever, + and had asked a passage to Nassau, where his brother was established. At + bottom, however, he was an excellent fellow, warm hearted, honourable, and + upright. As for little Wagtail—oh, he was a delight!—a small + round man, with all the Jamaica Creole irritability of temper, but also + all the Jamaica warmth of heart about him straightforward, and + scrupulously conscientious in his dealings, but devoted to good cheer in + every shape. He had also been ailing, and had adventured on the cruise in + order to recruit. I scarcely know how to describe his figure better than + by comparing his corpus to an egg, with his little feet stuck through the + bottom of the shell; but he was amazingly active withal. + </p> + <p> + Both the Captain and myself were rejoiced to see our old friends; and it + was immediately fixed that they should go on board the corvette, and sling + their cots alongside of Mr Bang, so long as the courses—of the two + vessels lay together. This being carried into execution, we set about our + arrangements. Our precious blockheads at the dockyard had fitted a + thirty-two pound carronade on the pivot, and stuck two long sixes, one on + each side of the little vessel. I hate carronades. I had, before now, seen + thirty-two pound shot thrown by them jump off a ship’s side with a rebound + like a football, when a shot from an eighteen— pounder long gun went + crash, at the same range, through both sides of the ship, whipping off a + leg and arm, or aiblins a head or two, in its transit. + </p> + <p> + “My dear sir,” said I, “don’t shove me adrift with that old pot there do + lend me one of your long brass eighteen-pounders.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Master Cringle, what is your antipathy to carronades?” + </p> + <p> + “I have no absolute antipathy to them, sir—they are all very well in + their way. For instance, I wish you would fit me with two twelvepound + carronades instead of those two popgun long sixes. These, with thirty + muskets, and thirty-five men or so, would make me very complete.” + </p> + <p> + “A modest request,” said Captain Transom. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Tom Cringle, you have overshot your mark, my fine fellow,” thought + I; but it was all right, and that forenoon the cutter was hoisted out with + the guns in her, and the others dismounted and sent back in exchange; and + in fine, after three days’ hard work, I took the command of H.B.M. + schooner, Wave, with Timothy Tailtackle as gunner, the senior midshipman + as master, one of the carpenter’s crew as carpenter, and a + boatswain’s-mate as boatswain, a surgeon’s mate as surgeon, the captain’s + clerk as purser, and thirty foremast-men, besides the blackies, as the + crew. But the sailing of the little beauty had been regularly spoiled. We + could still in light winds weather on’ the corvette, it is true, but then + she was a slow top, unless it blew half a gale of wind; and as for going + any thing free, why a sand barge would have beaten us.—We kept + company with the Firebrand until we weathered Cape Maize. It was near five + o’clock in the afternoon, the corvette was about half a mile on our + lee-bow, when, while walking the deck, after an early dinner, Tailtackle + came up to me. + </p> + <p> + “The Commodore has hove-to, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Very like,” said I; “to allow the merchant-ships to close, I presume.” + </p> + <p> + “A gun,” said little Reefpoint. “Ah—what signal now?”—It was + the signal to close. + </p> + <p> + “Put the helm up and run down to him,” said I. It was done—and + presently the comfortable feeling of bowling along before the breeze, + succeeded the sharp yerking digging motion of the little vessel, tearing + and pitching through a head sea, close upon a wind. The water was buzzing + under our bows, and we were once more close under the stern of the + corvette. There was a boat alongside ready manned. The Captain hailed, “I + sent your orders on board, Mr Cringle, to bear up on your separate + cruise.” At the same moment, the Firebrand’s ensign and pennant were + hoisted—we did the same—a gun from the Commodore—ditto + from the tidy little Wave—and lo! Thomas Cringle, esquire, launched + for the first time on his own bottom. + </p> + <p> + By this time the boat was alongside, with Messieurs Aaron Bang, Pepperpot + Wagtail, and Paul Gelid—the former with his cot, and half a dozen + cases of wine, and some pigs, and some poultry, all under the charge of + his black servant. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo,” said I—“Mr Wagtail is at home here, you know, Mr Bang, and + so is Mr Gelid; but to what lucky chance am I indebted for your society, + my dear sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank your stars, Tom—Captain Cringle, I beg pardon—and be + grateful; I am sick of rumbling tumbling in company with these heavy tools + of merchantmen, so I entreated Transom to let me go and take a turn with + you, promising to join the Firebrand again at Nassau.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I am delighted,”—and so I really was. “But, my dear sir—I + may lead you a dance, and, peradventure into trouble—a small vessel + may catch a Tartar, you know. + </p> + <p> + “D—n the expense,” rejoined my jovial ally; “why, the hot little + epicurean Wagtail, and Gelid, cold and frozen as he is, have both taken a + fancy to me—and no wonder, knowing my pleasant qualities as they do + ahem; so, for their sakes, I volunteer on this piece of knight-errantry as + much as’— + </p> + <p> + “Poo—you be starved, Aaron dear,” rapped out little Wagtail; “you + came here, because you thought you should have more fun, and escape the + formality of the big ship, and eke the Captain’s sour claret.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” said Gelid, “my fine fellow,” with his usual Creole drawl, “you did + not wait for my opinion. Ah—oh—why, Captain Cringle, a + thousand pardons. Friend Bang, there, swears that he can’t do without you; + and all he says about me is neither more nor less than humbug—ah.” + </p> + <p> + “My lovely yellowsnake,” quoth Aaron, “and my amiable dumpling, gentlemen + both, now, do hold your tongues.—Why, Tom, here we are, never you + mind how, after half a quarrel with the skipper—will you take us, or + will you send us back, like rejected addresses?” + </p> + <p> + “Send you back, my boys! No, no, too happy to get you.” Another gun from + the corvette. “Firebrands, you must shove off. My compliments, Wiggins, to + the Captain, and there’s a trifle for you to drink my health, when you get + into port.” The boat shoved off—the corvette filled her maintopsail. + “Put the helm down—ease off the mainsheet stand by to run up the + squaresail. How is her head, Mr Tailtackle?” + </p> + <p> + Timothy gave a most extraordinary grin at my bestowing the Mister on him + for the first time. + </p> + <p> + “North-west, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Keep her so”—and having bore up, we rapidly widened our distance + from the Commodore and the fleet. + </p> + <p> + All men know, or should know, that on board of a man-of-war, there is + never any “yo heave oh’ing.” That is confined to merchant vessels. But + when the crew are having a strong pull of any rope, it is allowable for + the man next the belaying pin, to sing out, in order t@6 give unity to the + drag, “one-two-three,” the strain of the other men increasing with the + figure. The tack of the mainsail had got jammed somehow, and on my + desiring it to be hauled up, the men, whose province it was, were unable + to start it. + </p> + <p> + “Something foul aloft,” said I. + </p> + <p> + Tailtackle came up. “What are you fiddling at, men? Give me here-one + two-three.” + </p> + <p> + Crack went the strands of the rope under the paws of the Titan, whereby + the head of the outermost sailor pitched right into Gelid’s stomach, + knocked him over and capsized him head foremost into the wind sail which + was let down through the skylight into the little well cabin of the + schooner. It so happened that there was a bucket full of Spanish brown + paint standing on the table in the cabin, right below the hoop of the + canvass funnel, and into it plopped the august pate of Paul Gelid, + esquire. Bang had, in the meantime, caught him by the heels, and with the + assistance of Pearl, the handsome negro formerly noticed, who, from his + steadiness, had been spared to me as a quartermaster, the conch was once + more hoisted on deck, with a scalp of red paint, reaching down over his + eyes. + </p> + <p> + “I say,” quoth Bang, “Gelid, my darling, not quite so smooth as the real + Macassar, eh? Shall I try my hand—can shave beautifully—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” drawled Gelid, “don’t require it—lucky my head was shaved in + that last fever, Aaron dear. Ah—let me think—you tall man—you + sailor— fellow—ah—do me the favour to scrape me with + your knife—ah—and pray call my servant.” + </p> + <p> + Timothy, to whom he had addressed himself, set to, and scraped the red + paint off his poll; and having called his servant, Chew Chew, handed him + over to the negro, who, giving his arm to him, helped him below, and with + the assistance of Cologne water, contrived to scrub him decently clean. + </p> + <p> + As the evening fell, the breeze freshened; and during the night it blew + strong, so that from the time we bore up, and parted company with the + Firebrand, until day-dawn next morning, we had run 130 miles or thereby to + the northward and westward, and were then on the edge of the Great Bahama + Bank. The breeze now failed us, and we lay roasting in the sun until + mid-day, the current sweeping us to the northward, and still farther on to + the bank, until the water shoaled to three fathoms. At this time the sun + was blazing fiercely right overhead; and from the shallowness of the + water, there was not the smallest swell, or undulation of the surface. The + sea, as far as the eye could reach, was a sparkling light green, from the + snow-white sand at the bottom, as if a level desert had been suddenly + submerged under a few feet of crystal clear water, which formed a cheery + spectacle, when compared with the customary leaden, or dark blue-colour of + the rolling fathomless ocean. It was now dead calm.—“Fishing lines + there—Idlers, fishing lines,” said I; and in a minute there were + forty of them down over the side. + </p> + <p> + In Europe, fish in their shapes partake of the sedate character of the + people who inhabit the coasts of the seas or rivers in which they swim at + least I think so. The salmon, the trout, the cod, and all the other tribes + of the finny people, are reputable in their shapes, and altogether + respectable-looking creatures. But, within the tropics, Dame Nature plays + strange vagaries; and here, on the great Bahama Bank, every new customer, + as he floundered in on deck—no joke to him, poor fellow—elicited + shouts of laughter from the crew. They were in no respect shaped like fish + of our cold climates; some were all head others all tail-some, so far as + shape went, had their heads where, with submission, I conceived their + tails should have been; and then the colours, the intense brilliancy of + the scales of these monstrous looking animals! We hooked up a lot of + bonitos, 10 Lbs apiece, at the least. But Wagtail took small account of + them. + </p> + <p> + “Here,” said Bang, at this moment, “by all that is wonderful, look here!” + And he drew up a fish about a foot long, with a crop like a pigeon of the + tumbler kind, which began to make a loud snorting noise. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” drawled Gelid, “good fish, with claret sauce.” + </p> + <p> + “Daresay,” rejoined Aaron; “but do your Bahama fish speak, Paul, eh? + Balaam’s ass was a joke to this fellow.” + </p> + <p> + I have already said that the water was not quite three fathoms deep, and + it was so clear that I could see down to the very sand, and there were the + fish cruising about in great numbers. + </p> + <p> + “Haul in, Wagtail—you have hooked him,” and up came a beautiful + black grouper, about four pounds weight. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, there is the regular jiggery-jiggery,” sung out little Reefpoint, at + the same moment, as he in turn began to pull up his line. “Stand by to + land him,” and a red snapper, for all the world like a gigantic gold fish, + was hauled on board; and so we carried on, black snappers, red snappers, + and rock fish, and a vast variety, for all of which, however, Wagtail had + names pat, until at length I caught a most lovely dolphin—a beauty + to look at—but dry, terribly dry to eat. I cast it on the deck, and + the chameleon tints of the dying fish, about which so many lies have been + said and sung, were just beginning to fade, and wax pale, and ashy, and + deathlike, when I felt another strong jiggery jiggery at my line, which + little Reefpoint had, in the meantime, baited afresh. “Zounds! I have + caught a whale—a shark at the very least” and I pulled him in, hand + over hand. + </p> + <p> + “A most noble Jew fish,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “A Jew fish!” responded Wagtail. + </p> + <p> + “A Jew fish!” said Aaron Bang. + </p> + <p> + “A Jew fish!” said Paul Gelid. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Cringle,” continued Wagtail, “when do you dine?” + </p> + <p> + “At three, as usual.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, Mr Reefpoint, will you have the great kindness to cast off your + sink, and hook that splendid fellow by the tail—only through the + gristle—don’t prick him in the flesh—and let him meander about + till half-past two?” + </p> + <p> + Reefy was half inclined to be angry at the idea of his Majesty’s officer + being converted into a cook’s mate. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said I, “we shall put him in a tub of water, here on deck, Mr + Wagtail, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + “God bless me, no!” quoth the gastronome. “Why, he is strong as an eagle, + and will smash himself to mummy in half an hour in a tub. No—no see, + he weighs twelve pounds at the very lightest. Lord! Mr Cringle, I am + surprised at you.” + </p> + <p> + The fish was let overboard again, according to his desire, and hauled in + at the very moment he indicated by his watch, when, having seen him cut up + and cleaned, with his own eyes—I believe I may say with his own + hands—he betook himself to his small crib to dress. + </p> + <p> + At dinner our Creole friend was very entertaining. Bang drew him out, and + had him to talk on all his favourite topics in a most amusing manner. All + at once Gelid lay back on his chair. + </p> + <p> + “My God,” said he, “I have broken my tooth with that confounded hard + biscuit—terrible—really: ah!”—and he screwed up his + face, as if he had been eating sourcrout, or had heard of the death of a + dear friend. + </p> + <p> + “Poo,” quoth Aaron, “any comb maker will furnish you forth as good as new; + those grinders you brag of are not your own, Gelid, you know that.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, Aaron, my dear, I know nothing of the kind; but this I know, that + I have broken a most lovely white front tooth, ah!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you be hanged,” said Aaron; “why, you have been bechopped any time + these ten years, I know.” + </p> + <p> + The time wore on, and it might have been half past seven when we went on + deck. + </p> + <p> + It was a very dark night—Tailtackle had the watch. “Any thing in + sight, Mr Tailtackle?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, no, sir; but I have just asked your steward for your night glass, + as, once or twice—but it is so thick—Pray, sir, how far are we + off the Hole in the Wall?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sixty miles at the least.” + </p> + <p> + The Hole in the Wall is a very remarkable rock in the Crooked Island + Passage, greatly resembling, as the name betokens, a wall breached by the + sea, or by battering cannon, which rises abruptly out of the water, to a + height of forty feet. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” quoth Tailtackle sharply, “there must be a sail close aboard of + us, to windward there.” + </p> + <p> + “Where?” said I. “Quick, send for my night-glass.” + </p> + <p> + “I have it here in my hand, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me see”—and I peered through it until my eyes ached again. I + could see nothing, and resumed my walk on the quarterdeck. Tailtackle, in + the meantime, continued to look through the telescope, and as I turned + from aft to walk forward, a few minutes after this—“Why, sir,” said + he, “it clears a bit, and I see the object that has puzzled me again.” + </p> + <p> + “Eh? give me the glass”—in a second I caught it. “By Jupiter, you + say true, Tailtackle! beat to quarters—quick—clear away the + long gun forward there!” + </p> + <p> + All was bustle for a minute. I kept my eye on the object, but I could not + make out more, than that it was a strange sail; I could neither judge of + her size nor her rig, from the distance, and the extreme darkness of the + night. At length I handed the glass to Tailtackle again. We were at this + time standing in towards the Cuba shore, with a fine breeze, and going + along seven knots, as near as could be. + </p> + <p> + “Give the glass to Mr Jigmaree, Mr Tailtackle, and come forward here, and + see all snug.” + </p> + <p> + The long gun was slewed round—both carronades were run out, all + three being loaded, double shotted, and carefully primed—the whole + crew, with our black supernumeraries, being at quarters. + </p> + <p> + “I see her quite distinct now, sir,” sung out Timotheus. + </p> + <p> + “Well, what looks she like?” + </p> + <p> + “A large brig, sir, by the wind on the same tack—you can see her now + without the glass—there—with the naked eye.” + </p> + <p> + I looked, and certainly fancied I saw some towering object rising high and + dark to windward, like some mighty spectre walking the deep, but I could + discern nothing more. + </p> + <p> + “She is a large vessel, sure enough, sir,” said Timothy once more “now she + is hauling up her courses, sir—she takes in topgallant sails why, + she is bearing up across our bows, sir—mind she don’t rake us.” + </p> + <p> + “The deuce!” said I. I now saw the chase very distinctly bear up. “Put the + helm up—keep her away a bit—steady at that will do—fire + a shot across her bows, Mr Tailtackle—and, Mr Reefpoint, show the + private signal.” The gun was fired, and the lights shown, but our spectral + friend was all darkness and silence. “Mr Scarfemwell,” said I to the + carpenter, “stand by the long gun. Tailtackle, I don’t like that chap open + the magazine.” By this time the strange sail was on our quarter, we + shortened sail, while he, finding that his manoeuvre of crossing our bows + had been foiled by our bearing up also, got the foretack on board again, + and set his topgallant sails, all very cleverly. He was not far out of + pistol-shot. Tailtackle, in his shirt and trowsers, and felt shoes, now + stuck his head up the main hatchway. + </p> + <p> + “I would recommend your getting the hatches on, sir—that fellow is + not honest, sir, take my word for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, Mr Tailtackle, never mind. Forward, there; Mr Jigmaree, slap + a round shot into him, since he won’t speak, or heave-to—right + between his masts, do you hear—are you ready?” + </p> + <p> + “All ready, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Fire.” The gun was fired, and simultaneously we heard a crash on board + the strange sail, followed by a piercing yell, similar to what the negroes + raise over a dead comrade, and then a long melancholy howl. + </p> + <p> + “A slaver, and the shot has told, sir,” said Mr Handlead, the master. + </p> + <p> + “Then we shall have some fun for it,” thought I. I had scarcely spoken, + when the brig once more shortened sail; and the instant that the foresail + rose, he let fly his bow gun at us—then another, another, and + another. + </p> + <p> + “Nine guns of a side, as I am a sinner,” quoth jigmaree; and three of the + shot struck us, mortally wounded one poor fellow, and damaged poor little + Reefy by a splinter in the side. + </p> + <p> + “Stand by, men—take good aim—fire”—and we again let + drive the long gun and carronade; but our friend was too quick for us, for + by this time he had once more hauled his wind, and made sail as close to + it as he could stagger. We crowded every thing in chase, but he had the + heels of us, and in an hour he was once more nearly out of sight in the + dark night, right to windward. + </p> + <p> + “Keep, at him, Mr Jigmaree;” and as I feared he was running us in under + the land, I dived to consult the chart. There, in the cabin, I found + Wagtail, Gelid, and Bang, sitting smoking on each side of the small table, + with some brandy and water before them. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” quoth Gelid, “ah! fighting a little? Not pleasant in the evening, + certainly.” + </p> + <p> + “Confound you,” said Aaron, “why will you bother at this awkward moment?” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Wagtail was a good deal discomposed. + </p> + <p> + “My dear fellow, hand me over that deviled biscuit.” + </p> + <p> + Bang handed him over the dish, slipping into it some fragments of ship + biscuit, as hard as flint. All this time I was busy poring over the chart. + Wagtail took up a piece and popt it into his mouth. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds, Bang—my dear Aaron, what dentist are you in league with? + Gelid first breaks his pet fang, and now you”— + </p> + <p> + “Poo, poo,” quoth his friend, “don’t bother now—hillo—what the + deuce I say, Wagtail—Gelid, my lad, look there”—as one of the + seamen, with another following him, brought down on his back the poor + fellow who had been wounded, and laid his bloody load on the table. + </p> + <p> + To those who are unacquainted with these matters, it may be right to say, + that the captain’s cabin, in a small vessel like the Wave, is often in an + emergency used as a cockpit—and so it was in the present instance. + </p> + <p> + “Beg pardon, Captain and gentlemen,” said the surgeon, “but I must, I + fear, perform an ugly operation on this poor fellow. I fancy you had + better go on deck, gentlemen.” + </p> + <p> + Now I had an opportunity to see of what sterling metal my friends were at + bottom made. Mr Bang in a twinkling had his coat off. + </p> + <p> + “Doctor, I can be of use, I know it—no skill, but steady nerves,” + although he had reckoned a leetle without his host here,—“And I can + swathe a bandage too, although no surgeon,” said Wagtail. + </p> + <p> + Gelid said nothing, but he was in the end the best surgeon’s mate amongst + them. The poor fellow, Wiggins, one of the captain’s gigs, and a most + excellent man, in quarterdeck parlance, was now laid on the table a fine + handsome young fellow, faint and pale, very pale, but courageous as a + lion, even in his extremity. It appeared that a round shot had shattered + his leg above the knee. A tourniquet had been applied on his thigh, and + there was not much bleeding. + </p> + <p> + “Captain,” said the poor fellow, while Bang supported him in his arms, “I + shall do yet, sir; indeed I have no great pain.” + </p> + <p> + All this time the surgeon was cutting off his trowsers, and then, to be + sure, a terrible spectacle presented itself. The foot and leg, blue and + shrunk, were connected with the thigh by a band of muscle about two inches + wide, and an inch thick; that fined away to a bunch of white tendons or + sinews at the knee, which again swelled out as they melted into the + muscles of the calf of the leg; but as for the knee bone, it was smashed + to pieces, leaving white spikes protruding from the shattered limb above, + as well as from the shank beneath. The doctor gave the poor fellow a large + dose of laudanum in a glass of brandy, and then proceeded to amputate the + limb, high up on the thigh. Bang stood the knife part of it very steadily, + but the instant the saw rasped against the shattered bone he shuddered. + </p> + <p> + “I am going, Cringle—can’t stand that—sick as a dog”—and + he was so faint that I had to relieve him in supporting the poor fellow. + Wagtail had also to go on deck, but Paul Gelid remained firm as a rock. + The limb was cut off, the arteries taken up very cleverly, and the surgeon + was in the act of slacking the tourniquet a little, when the thread that + fastened the largest, or femoral artery, suddenly gave way and a gush like + the jet from a fire-engine took place. The poor fellow had just time to + cry out, “Take that cold hand off my heart!” when his chest collapsed, his + jaw fell, and in an instant his pulse stopped. + </p> + <p> + “Dead as Julius Caesar, Captain,” said Gelid, with his usual deliberation. + Dead enough, thought I; and I was leaving the cabin to resume my post on + deck, when I stumbled against something at the ladder foot. + </p> + <p> + “My, what is that?” grumbled I. + </p> + <p> + “It is me, sir,” said a small faint voice. + </p> + <p> + “You!—who are you?” + </p> + <p> + “Reefpoint, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Bless me, boy, what are you doing here? Not hurt, I hope?” + </p> + <p> + “A little, sir—a graze from a splinter, sir—the same shot that + struck poor Wiggins knocked it off, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Why did you not go to the doctor, then, Mr Reefpoint?” + </p> + <p> + “I waited till he was done with Wiggins, sir; but now, since it is all + over with him, I will go and be dressed.” + </p> + <p> + His voice grew fainter and fainter, until I could scarcely hear him. I got + him in my arms, and helped him into the cabin, where, on stripping the + poor little fellow, it was found that he was much hurt on the right side, + just above the hip. Bang’s kind heart, for by this time a glass of water + had cured him of his faintness, shone conspicuous on this occasion. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Reefy—little Reefy—you are not hurt, my man—Surely + you are not wounded—such a little fellow,—I should have as + soon thought of firing at a musquitto.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, sir, but I am; see here.”—Bang looked at the hurt, as he + supported the wounded midshipman in his arms. + </p> + <p> + “God help me,” said the excellent fellow, “you seem to me fitter for your + mother’s nursery, my poor dear boy, than to be knocked about in this + coarse way here.” + </p> + <p> + Reefy, at this moment, fell over into his arms, in a dead faint. + </p> + <p> + “You must take my berth, with the Captain’s permission,” said Aaron, while + he and Wagtail undressed him with the greatest care, and placed him in the + narrow crib. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, my dear sir,” moaned little Reefpoint; “were my mother here, + sir she would thank you too.” + </p> + <p> + Stern duty now called me on deck, and I heard no more. The night was still + very dark, and I could see nothing of the chase, but I made all the sail I + could in the direction which I calculated she would steer, trusting that, + before morning, we might get another glimpse of her. In a little while + Bang came on deck. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom, now since little Reefy is asleep—what think you big + craft that—nearly caught a Tartar—not very sorry he has + escaped, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, my dear sir, I trust he has not escaped; I hope, when the day + breaks, now since we have less wind, that we may have a tussle with him + yet.” + </p> + <p> + “No, you don’t wish it, do you, really and truly?” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, I do, sir; and the only thing which bothers me is the peril that + you and your friends must necessarily encounter.” + </p> + <p> + “Poo, poo, don’t mind us, Tom, don’t mind us; but an’t he too big for you, + Tom?” + </p> + <p> + He said this in such a comical way, that, for the life of me, I could not + help laughing. + </p> + <p> + “Why, we shall see; but attack him I must, and shall, if I can get at him. + However, we shall wait till morning; so I recommend your turning in, now + since they have cleared away the cockpit out of the cabin; so good-night, + my dear sir—I must stay here, I fear.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-night, Tom; God bless you. I shall go and comfort Wagtail and Paul.” + </p> + <p> + I was at this time standing well aft on the larboard side of the deck, + close abaft of the tiller-rope, so that, with no earthly disposition to be + an eavesdropper, I could neither help seeing nor hearing what was going on + in the cabin, as the small open skylight was close to my All vestiges of + the cockpit had been cleared away, and the table was laid for supper. + Wagtail and Gelid were sitting on the side I stood on, so that I could not + see them, although I heard every word they said. Presently Bang entered, + and sat down opposite his allies. He crossed his arms, and leant down over + the table, looking at them steadily. + </p> + <p> + “My dear Aaron,” I could hear little Wagtail say, “speak, man, don’t + frighten a body so.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Bang,” drawled out Paul, “jests are good, being well-timed; what can + you mean by that face of yours now, since the fighting is all over?” + </p> + <p> + My curiosity fairly overcame my good manners, and I moved round more + amidships, so as to command a view of both parties, as they sat opposite + each other at the narrow table. + </p> + <p> + Bang still held his peace for another minute; at length, in a very solemn + tone, he said, “Gentlemen, do you ever say your prayers?” I don’t know if + I mentioned it before, but Aaron had a most musical deep mellow voice, and + now it absolutely thrilled to my very soul. + </p> + <p> + Wagtail and Paul looked at him, and then at each other, with a most absurd + expression—between fear and jest—between crying and laughing + but gave him no answer. + </p> + <p> + “Are you, my lads, such blockheads as to be ashamed to acknowledge that + you say your prayers?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” aid Gelid, “why, ah no—not—that is” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you Catholics are all so bigoted,—I suppose we should cross + ourselves, eh?” said Wagtail hastily. + </p> + <p> + “I am a Catholic, Master Wagtail,” rejoined Bang—“better that than + nothing. Before sunrise, we may both have proved the truth of our creeds, + if you have one; but if you mean it as a taunt, Wagtail, it does discredit + to your judgment to select such a moment, to say nothing of your heart. + However, you cannot make me angry with you, Pepperpot, you little Creole + wasp, do as you will.” A slight smile here curled Aaron’s lip for an + instant, although he immediately resumed the solemn tone in which he had + previously spoken.—“But I had hoped that two such old friends, as + you both have been to me, would not altogether have made up their minds in + cold blood, if advertised of their danger, to run the chance of dying like + dogs in a ditch, without one preparatory thought towards that tremendous + Being, before whom we may all stand before morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Murder!” quoth Wagtail, fairly frightened; “are you really serious, + Aaron? I did not—would not, for the world, hurt your feelings in + earnest, my dear; why do you desire so earnestly to know whether or not I + ever say my prayers?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, don’t bother, man,” rejoined Bang, resuming his usual friendly tone; + “you had better say boldly that you do not, without any roundaboutation.” + </p> + <p> + “But why, my dear Bang, why do you ask the question?” persisted Wagtail, + in a deuced quandary. + </p> + <p> + “Simply,”—and here our friend’s voice once more fell to the low deep + serious tone in which he had opened the conference,—“simply because, + in my humble estimation, if you don’t say your prayers tonight, it is + three to one you shall never pray again.” + </p> + <p> + “The deuce!” said Pepperpot, twisting himself in all directions, as if his + inexpressibles had been nailed to his seat, and he was trying to escape + from them. “What, in the devil’s name, mean you, man?” + </p> + <p> + “I mean neither more nor less than what I say. I speak English, don’t I? I + say, that that pestilent young fellow Cringle told me half an hour ago, + that he was determined, as he words it, to stick to this Guineaman, who is + three times his size, has eighteen guns, while Master Tommy has only + three; and whose crew, I will venture to say, triples our number; and the + snipe, from what I know of him, is the very man to keep his word so what + say you, my darling, eh?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, very inconvenient, ah,—I shall stay below,” said Paul. + </p> + <p> + “So shall I,” quoth Pepperpot; “won’t stick my nose on deck, Aaron dear, + no, not for the whole world.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Bang, in the same steady low tone, “you shall do as you + please, ah,”—and here he very successfully imitated our amigo + Gelid’s drawl—“and as best suits you, ah; but I have consulted the + gunner, an old ally of mine, who, to be plain with you—ah—says + that the danger from splinter wounds below, is much greater than from + their musketry on deck—ah—the risk from the round shot being + pretty equal—ah—in either situation.” At this announcement you + could have jumped down either Wagtail’s or Gelid’s throat,—Wagtail’s + for choice—without touching their teeth. “Farther, the aforesaid + Timothy, and be hanged to him, deponeth, that the only place in a small + vessel where we could have had a moderate chance of safety was the Run,—so + called, I presume, from people running to it for safety; but where the + deuce this sanctuary is situated I know not, nor does it signify greatly, + for it is now converted into a spare powder magazine, and of course sealed + to us. So here we are, my lads, in as neat a taking as ever three + unfortunate gentlemen were in, in this weary world. However, now since I + have comforted you, let us go to bed-time enough to think on all this in + the morning, and I am consumedly tired.” + </p> + <p> + I heard no more, and resumed my solitary walk on deck, peering every now + and then through the night-glass, until my eyes ached again. The tedious + night at length wore away, and the grey dawn found me sound asleep, + leaning out at the gangway. They had scarcely begun to wash down the + decks, when we discerned our friend of the preceding night, about four + miles to windward, close hauled on the same tack, apparently running in + for the Cuba shore, as fast as canvass could carry him. If this was his + object, we had proved too quick for him, as by casting off stays, and + slacking shrouds, and, in every way we could think of, loosening the rigid + trim of the little vessel, we had in a great measure recovered her + sailing; so when he found he was cut off from the land, he resolutely bore + up, took in his top-gallant sails, hauled up his courses, fired a gun, and + hoisted his large Spanish ensign, all in regular man-of-war fashion. By + this time it was broad daylight, and Wagtail, Gelid, and Bang, were all + three on deck, performing their morning ablutions. As for myself, I was + well forward, near the long gun. Pegtop, Mr Bang’s black valet, came up to + me. + </p> + <p> + “Please, Massa Captain, can you spare me any muskets?” + </p> + <p> + “Any muskets?” said I; “why, half a dozen if you choose.” + </p> + <p> + “De wery number my massa told me to hax for. Tank you, Massa Captain.” And + forthwith he and the other two black servants in attendance on Wagtail and + Gelid, each seized his two muskets out of the arm-chest, with the + corresponding ammunition, and, like so many sable Robinson Crusoes, were + stumping aft, when I again accosted the aforesaid Pegtop. + </p> + <p> + “I say, my man, now since you have got the muskets, does your master + really intend to fight?” The negro stopped short, and faced right round, + his countenance expressing very great surprise and wonderment. “Massa Bang + fight? Massa Aaron Bang fight?” and he looked up in my face with the most + seriocomic expression that could be imagined. “Ah, massa,” continued the + poor fellow,—“you is joking—surely you is joking—my + Massa Aaron Bang fight? Oh, massa, surely you can’t know he—surely + you never see him shoot snipe, and wild-duck—oh dear, why him kill + wild duck on de wing—ah, me often see him knock down teal wid single + ball, one hundred—ah, one hundred and fifty yards—and man + surely more big mark den teal?” + </p> + <p> + “Granted,” I said; “but a teal has not a loaded musket in its claws, a + Spanish buccaneer may have a small difference, Master Pegtop, that?” + </p> + <p> + “None at all, master,” chimed in Pegtop, “very energetically myshef, + Gabriel Pegtop, Christian man as me is, am one of de Falmouth black shot. + Ah, I have been in de woods wid Massa Aaron, one time particular, when dem + wery debils, Sambo Moses, Corromantee Tom, and Eboe Peter, took to de + bush, at Crabyaw estate—after breakfast—ten black shot me was + one, go out along wid our good massa, Massa Aaron. Oh Lord, we walk troo + de cool wood, and over de hot cleared ground, six hour, when every body + say,—No use dis, Massa Bang—all we tired too much—must + stop here—kindle fire—cook wittal. Ah, top dem who hab white + liver, said Massa Aaron; you, Pegtop, take you fusee and cutlass, and + follow me, my shild—Massa Aaron alway call me him shild, and troo + enough, as parson Calaloo say, him family wery much like Joseph coat—many + colour among dem, massa—though none quite so deep as mine eider”—and + here the negro grinned at his own jest. “Well, I was follow him, or rader + was go before him, opening up de pass wid me cutlass, troo de wery tangle + underwood. We walk four hour—see no one, all still and quiet—no + breeze shake de tree—oh, I sweat too much—dem hot, massa, sun + shine right down, when we could catch glimpse of him—yet no trace of + de runaways. At length, on turning corner, perched on small platform of + rock, overshadowed by plumes of bamboos, like ostrich feather lady wear at + de ball, who shall we see but dem wery dividual d——rascail I + was mention, standing all tree, each wid one carabine pointed at us, at + him shoulder, and cutlass at him side? Pegtop, my boy, said Massa Aaron, + we is in for it—follow me, but don’t fire. So him pick off Sambo + Moses—oh! cool as one cucumber. Now, say he, man to man,—and + wid dat him tro him gun on de ground, and drawing him cutlass, we push up—in + one moment him and Corromantee Tom close. Tom put up him hand to fend him + head whip—ah—massa cutlass shred de hand at de wrist, like one + carrot down Tom go—atop of him jump Massa Aaron. I master de leetle + one, Eboe Peter, and we carry dem both prisoners into Falmouth.—Massa + Aaron fight? Ah, massa, no hax dat question again.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but will Mr Gelid fight?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “I tink him will too—great friend of Massa Bang—good duck—shot + too oh yes, fink Massa Paul will fight.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said I, “your friends are all heroes, Pegtop—will Mr Wagtail + fight also?” He stole close up to me, and exchanged his smart Creole + gibberish for a quiet sedate accent, as he whispered. + </p> + <p> + “Not so sure of he—nice little fat man, but too fond of him belly. + When I wait behind Massa Aaron chair, Pegtop sometime hear funny ting. One + gentleman say—Ah, dat month we hear Lord Wellington take Saint + Sebastian—when dat is, what time we hear dat news, Massa Wagtail? + him say.—Eh, say Massa Wagtail—oh, we hear of dem news, dat + wery day de first of de ringtail pigeon come to market. Den again, Dat big + fight dem had at soch anoder place, when we hear of dat, Massa Wagtail?—say + somebody else. Oh, oh, de wery day we hab dat beautiful grouper wid claret + sauce at Massa Whiffie’s. Oh, make me laugh to hear white gentleman mark + great fight in him memory by what him eat de day de news come; so, Massa + Captain Cringle, me no quite sure weder Massa Wagtail will fight or no.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, Pegtop, Chew Chew, and Yampea, each shouldered two muskets + apiece, and betook themselves to the after part of the schooner, where + they forthwith set themselves to scour, and oil, and clean the same, in a + most skilful manner. I expected the breeze would have freshened as the day + broke, but I was disappointed; it fell, towards six o’clock, nearly calm. + Come, thought I, we may as well go to breakfast; and my guests and I + forthwith sat down to our morning meal. Soon after, the wind died away + altogether—and “out sweeps” was the word; but I soon saw we had no + chance with the chase at this game, and as to attacking him with the + boats, it was entirely out of the question; neither could I, in the + prospect of a battle, afford to murder the people, by pulling all day + under a roasting sun, against one who could man his sweeps with relays of + slaves, without one of his crew putting a finger to them; so I reluctantly + laid them in, and there I stood looking at him the whole forenoon, as he + gradually drew ahead of us. At length I piped to dinner, and the men + having finished theirs, were again on deck; but the calm still continued; + and seeing no chance of it freshening, about four in the afternoon we sat + down to ours in the cabin. There was little said; my friends, although + brave and resolute men, were naturally happy to see the brig creeping away + from us, as fighting could only bring them danger; and my own feelings + were of that mixed quality, that while I determined to do all I could to + bring him to action, it would not have broken my heart had he escaped. We + had scarcely finished dinner, however, when the rushing of the water past + the run of the little vessel, and the steadiness with which she skimmed + along, shewed that the light air had freshened. + </p> + <p> + Presently Tailtackle came down. “The breeze has set down, sir; the strange + sail has got it strong to windward, and brings it along with him + cheerily.” + </p> + <p> + “Beat to quarters, then, Tailtackle; all hands stand by to shorten sail. + How is she standing?” + </p> + <p> + “Right down for us, sir.” + </p> + <p> + I went on deck, and there was the Guineaman about two miles to windward, + evidently cleared for action, with her decks crowded with men, bowling + along steadily under her single-reefed topsails. + </p> + <p> + I saw all clear. Wagtail and Gelid had followed me on deck, and were now + busy with their black servants inspecting the muskets. But Bang still + remained in the cabin. I went down. He was gobbling his last plantain, and + forking up along with it most respectable slices of cheese, when I + entered. + </p> + <p> + I had seen before I left the deck that an action was now unavoidable, and + judging from the disparity of force, I had my own doubts as to the issue. + I need scarcely say that I was greatly excited. It was my first command: + My future standing in the service depended on my conduct now, and, God + help me, I was all this while a mere lad, not more than twenty one years + old. A strange indescribable feeling had come over me, and an irresistible + desire to disburden my mind to the excellent man before me. I sat down. + </p> + <p> + “Hey day,” quoth Bang, as he laid down his coffee cup; “why, Tom, what + ails you? You look deuced pale, my boy.” + </p> + <p> + “Up all night, sir, and bothered all day,” said I; “wearied enough, I can + tell you.” + </p> + <p> + I felt a strong tremor pervade my whole frame at this moment; and I was + impelled to speak by some unknown impulse, which I could not account for + nor analyze. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Bang, you are the only friend whom I could count on in these + countries; you know all about me and mine, and, I believe, would willingly + do a kind action to my father’s son.” + </p> + <p> + “What are you at, Tom, my dear boy? come to the point, man.” + </p> + <p> + “I will. I am distressed beyond measure at having led you and your + excellent friends, Wagtail and Gelid, into this danger; but I could not + help it, and I have satisfied my conscience on that point; so I have only + to entreat that you will stay below, and not unnecessarily expose + yourselves. And if I should fall—may I take this liberty, my dear + sir,” and I involuntarily took his hand,—“if I should fall, and I + doubt if I shall ever see the sun set again, as we are fearfully + overmatched” Bang struck in. + </p> + <p> + “Why, if our friend be too big—why not be off then? Pull foot, man, + eh?—Havannah under your lee?” + </p> + <p> + “A thousand reasons against it, my dear sir. I am a young man and a young + officer, my character is to make in the service—No, no, it is + impossible—an older and more tried hand might have bore up, but I + must fight it out. If any stray shot carries me off, my dear sir, will you + take”—Mary, I would have said, but I could not pronounce her name + for the soul of me—“will you take charge of her miniature, and say I + died as I have”—a choking lump rose in my throat, and I could not + proceed for a second; “and will you send my writing desk to my poor + mother, there are letters in”—the lump grew bigger, the hot tears + streamed from my eyes in torrents. I trembled like an aspen leaf, and + grasping my excellent friend’s hand more firmly, I sunk down on my knees + in a passion of tears, and wept like a woman, and fervently prayed to that + great God, in whose almighty hand I stood, that I might that day do my + duty as an English seaman. Bang knelt by me. Presently the passion was + quelled. I rose, and so did he. + </p> + <p> + “Before you, my dear sir, I am not ashamed to have....” + </p> + <p> + “Don’t mention it my good boy—don’t mention it; neither of us, as + the old general said, will fight a bit the worse.” + </p> + <p> + I looked at him. “Do you then mean to fight?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I do—why not? I have no wife,”—he did not say he + had no children—“Fight? To be sure I do.” + </p> + <p> + “Another gun, sir,” said Tailtackle, through the open skylight. Now all + was bustle, and we hastened on deck. Our antagonist was a large brig, + three hundred tons at the least, a long low vessel, painted black, out and + in, and her sides round as an apple, with immensely square yards. She was + apparently full of men. The sun was getting low, and she was coming down + fast on us, on the verge of the dark blue water of the sea breeze. I could + make out ten ports and nine guns of a side. I inwardly prayed they might + not be long ones, but I was not a little startled to see through the glass + that there were crowds of naked negroes at quarters, and on the forecastle + and poop. That she was a contraband Guineaman, I had already made up my + mind to believe; and that she had some fifty hands of a crew, I also + considered likely; but that her captain should have resorted to such a + perilous measure, perilous to themselves as well as to us, as arming the + captive slaves, was quite unexpected, and not a little alarming, as it + evinced his determination to make the most desperate resistance. + </p> + <p> + Tailtackle was standing beside me at this time, with his jacket off, his + cutlass girded on his thigh, and the belt drawn very tight. All the rest + of the crew were armed in a similar fashion; the small-arm-men with + muskets in their hands, and the rest at quarters at the guns; while the + pikes were cast loose from the spars round which they had been stopped, + with tubs of wadding, and boxes of grape, all ready ranged, and every + thing clear for action. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Tailtackle” said I, “you are gunner here, and should be in the + magazine. Cast off that cutlass; it is not your province to lead the + boarders.” The poor fellow blushed, having, in the excitement of the + moment, forgotten that he was any thing more than captain of the + Firebrand’s maintop. + </p> + <p> + “Mr Timotheus,” said Bang, “have you one of these bodkins to spare?” + </p> + <p> + Timothy laughed. “Certainly, sir; but you don’t mean to head the boarders, + sir—do you?” + </p> + <p> + “Who knows, now since I have learned to walk on this dancing cork of a + craft?” rejoined Aaron, with a grim smile, while he pulled off his coat, + braced on his cutlass, and tied a large red cotton shawl round his head. + He then took off his neckerchief and fastened it round his waist, as tight + as he could draw. + </p> + <p> + “Strange that all men in peril—on the uneasiness, like,” said he, + “should always gird themselves as tightly as they can.” + </p> + <p> + The slaver was now within musket-shot, when he put his helm to port, with + the view of passing under our stem. To prevent being raked, we had to luff + up sharp in the wind, and fire a broadside. I noticed the white splinters + glance from his black wales; and once more the same sharp yell rung in our + ears, followed by the long melancholy howl, already described. + </p> + <p> + “We have pinned some of the poor blacks again,” said Tailtackle, who still + lingered on the deck; small space for remark, for the slaver again fired + his broadside at us, with the same cool precision as before. + </p> + <p> + “Down with the helm, and let her come round,” said I; “that will do + master, run across his stern—Out sweeps forward, and keep her there + get the other carronade over to leeward—that is it—now, blaze + away while he is becalmed—fire, small-arm-men, and take good aim.” + </p> + <p> + We were now right across his stern, with his spanker boom within ten yards + of us; and although he worked his two stem chasers with great + determination, and poured whole showers of musketry from his rigging, and + poop, and cabin-windows, yet, from the cleverness with which our sweeps + were pulled, and the accuracy with which we were kept in our position, + right athwart his stern, our fire, both from the cannon and musketry, the + former loaded with round and grape, was telling, I could see, with fearful + effect. + </p> + <p> + Crash—“There, my lads, down goes his main-topmast—pepper him + well, while they are blinded and confused among the wreck. Fire away—there + goes the peak, shot away cleverly, close by the throat. Don’t cease + firing, although his flag be down—it was none of his doing. There, + my lads, there he has it again; you have shot away the weather fore + topsail sheet, and he cannot get from under you.” + </p> + <p> + Two men at this moment lay out on his larboard foreyard-arm, apparently + with the intention of splicing the sheet, and getting the clew of the + fore-topsail once more down to the yard; if they had succeeded in this, + the vessel would again have fetched way, and drawn out from under our + fire. Mr Bang and Paul Gelid had all this time been firing with murderous + precision, from where they had ensconced themselves under the shelter of + the larboard bulwark, close to the taffrail, with their three black + servants in the cabin, loading the six muskets, and little Wagtail, who + was no great shot, sitting on the deck, handing them up and down. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mr Bang,” cried I, “for the love of Heaven”—and may Heaven + forgive me for the ill-placed exclamation—“mark these two men—down + with them?” + </p> + <p> + Bang turned towards me with all the coolness in the world “What, those + chaps on the end of the long stick?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes—yes,” (I here spoke of the larboard foreyard-arm,) “yes, down + with them.” + </p> + <p> + He lifted his piece as steadily as if he had really been duck shooting. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Gelid, my lad, take you the innermost.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” quoth Paul. They fired—and down dropped both men, and + squattered for a moment in the water, like wounded waterfowl, and then + sank for ever, leaving two small puddles of blood on the surface. + </p> + <p> + “Now, master,” shouted I, “put the helm up and lay him alongside—there + stand by with the grapplings—one round the backstay the other + through the chainplate there—so,—you have it.” As we ranged + under his counter “Mainchains are your chance, men—boarders, follow + me.” And in the enthusiasm of the moment I jumped into the slaver’s main + channel, followed by twenty-eight men. We were in the act of getting over + the netting when the enemy rallied, and fired a volley of small arms, + which sent four out of the twenty-eight to their account, and wounded + three more. We gained the quarterdeck, where the Spanish captain, and + about forty of his crew, shewed a determined front, cutlass and pistol in + hand we charged them—they stood their ground. Tailtackle (who, the + moment he heard the boarders called, had jumped out of the magazine, and + followed me) at a blow clove the Spanish captain to the chine; the + lieutenant, or second in command, was my bird, and I had disabled him by a + sabre-cut on the sword-arm, when he drew his pistol, and shot me through + the left shoulder. I felt no pain, but a sharp pinch, and then a cold + sensation, as if water had been poured down my neck. + </p> + <p> + Jigmaree was close by me with a boarding-pike, and our fellows were + fighting with all the gallantry inherent in British sailors. For a moment + the battle was poised in equal scales. At length our antagonists gave way, + when about fifteen of the slaves, naked barbarians, who had been ranged + with muskets in their hands on the forecastle, suddenly jumped down into + the waist with a yell, and came to the rescue of the Spanish part of the + crew. + </p> + <p> + I thought we were lost. Our people, all but Tailtackle, poor Handlead, and + Jigmaree, held back. The Spaniards rallied, and fought with renewed + courage, and it was now, not for glory, but for dear life, as all retreat + was cut off by the parting of the grapplings and warps, that had lashed + the schooner alongside of the slaver, for the Wave had by this time forged + a-head, and lay across the brig’s bows, in place of being on her quarter, + with her foremast jammed against the slaver’s bowsprit, whose + spritsail-yard crossed our deck between the masts. We could not therefore + retreat to our own vessel if we had wished it, as the Spaniards had + possession of the waist and forecastle; all at once, however, a discharge + of round and grape crashed through the bridleport of the brig, and swept + off three of the black auxiliaries before mentioned, and wounded as many + more, and the next moment an unexpected ally appeared on the field. When + we boarded, the Wave had been left with only Peter Mangrove; the five + dockyard negroes; Pearl, one of the Captain’s gigs, the handsome black + already introduced on the scene; poor little Reefpoint, who, as already + stated, was badly hurt; Aaron Bang, Paul Gelid, and Wagtail. But this + Pearl without price, at the very moment of time when I thought the game + was up, jumped on deck through the bowport, cutlass in hand, followed by + the five black carpenters and Peter Mangrove, after whom appeared no less + a personage than Aaron Bang himself and the three blackamoor valets, armed + with boarding-pikes. Bang flourished his cutlass for an instant. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Pearl, my darling, shout to them in Coromantee—shout;” and + forthwith the black quartermaster sung out, “Coromantee Sheik Cocoloo, + kockemony populorum fiz;” which, as I afterwards learned, being + interpreted, is, “Behold the Sultan Cocoloo, the great ostrich, with a + feather in his tail like a palm branch; fight for him, you sons of female + dogs.” In an instant the black Spanish auxiliaries sided with Pearl, and + Bang, and the negroes, and joined in charging the white Spaniards, who + were speedily driven down the main hatchway, leaving one half of their + number dead, or badly wounded, on the blood slippery deck. But they still + made a desperate defence, by firing up the hatchway. I hailed them to + surrender. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds,” cried Jigmaree, “there’s the clink of hammers they are knocking + off the fetters of the slaves.” + </p> + <p> + “If you let the blacks loose,” I sung out in Spanish, “by the Heaven above + us, I will blow you up, although I should go with you! Hold your hands, + Spaniards! Mind what you do, madmen!” + </p> + <p> + “On with the hatches, men,” shouted Tailtackle. + </p> + <p> + They had been thrown overboard, or put out of the way, they could nowhere + be seen. The firing from below continued. + </p> + <p> + “Cast loose that carronade there; clap in a canister of grape, so now run + it forward, and fire down the hatchway.” It was done, and taking effect + amongst the pent-up slaves, such a yell arose—oh God! oh God!—I + never can forget it. Still the maniacs continued firing up the hatchway. + </p> + <p> + “Load and fire again.” My people were now furious, and fought more like + incarnate fiends broke loose from hell than human beings. + </p> + <p> + “Run the gun up to the hatchway once more.” They ran the carronade so + furiously forward, that the coaming, or ledge, was split off, and down + went the gun, carriage and all, with a crash into the hold. Presently + smoke appeared rising up the fore-hatchway. + </p> + <p> + “They have set fire to the brig; overboard!—regain the schooner, or + we shall all be blown into the air like peels of onions!” sung out little + Jigmaree. + </p> + <p> + But where was the Wave? She had broke away, and was now a cable’s length + ahead, apparently fast leaving us, with Paul Gelid and Wagtail, and poor + little Reefpoint, who, badly wounded as he was, had left his hammock, and + come on deck in the emergency, making signs of their inability to cut away + the halyards; and the tiller being shot away, the schooner had become + utterly unmanageable. + </p> + <p> + “UP,—and let fall the foresail, men—down with the fore tack + cheerily now—get way on the brig, and overhaul the Wave promptly, or + we are lost,” cried I. It was done with all the coolness of desperate men. + I took the helm, and presently we were once more alongside of our own + vessel. Time we were so, for about one hundred and fifty of the slaves, + whose shackles had been knocked off, now scrambled up the fore hatchway, + and we had only time to jump overboard, when they made a rush aft; and no + doubt, exhausted as we were, they would have massacred us on the spot, + frantic and furious as they evidently were from the murderous fire of + grape that had been directed down the hatchway. + </p> + <p> + But the fire was quicker than they. The smouldering smoke that was rising + like a pillar of cloud from the fore hatchway, was now streaked with + tongues of red flame, which, licking the masts and spars, ran up and + caught the sails and rigging. In an instant, the fire spread to every part + of the gear aloft, while the other element, the sea, was also striving for + the mastery in the destruction of the doomed vessel; for our shot, or the + fall of the carronade into the hold, had started some of the bottom + planks, and she was fast settling down by the head. We could hear the + water rushing in like a mill stream. The fire increased her guns went off + as they became heated—she gave a sudden heel—and while five + hundred human beings, pent up in her noisome hold, split the heavens with + their piercing death-yells, down she went with a heavy lurch, head + foremost, right in the wake of the setting sun, whose level rays made the + thick dun wreaths that burst from her as she disappeared, glow with the + hue of the amethyst; and while the whirling clouds, gilded by his dying + radiance, curled up into the blue sky, in rolling masses, growing thinner + and thinner, until they vanished away, even like the wreck whereout they + arose,—and the circling eddies, created by her sinking, no longer + sparkled and flashed in the red light—and the stilled waters where + she had gone down, as if oil had been cast on them, were spread out like + polished silver, shining like a mirror, while all around was dark blue + ripple,—a puff of fat black smoke, denser than any we had yet seen, + suddenly emerged with a loud gurgling noise, from out the deep bosom of + the calmed sea, and rose like a balloon, rolling slowly upwards, until it + reached a little way above our mastheads, where it melted and spread out + into a dark pall, that overhung the scene of death, as if the incense of + such a horrible and polluted sacrifice could not ascend into the pure + heaven, but had been again crushed back upon our devoted heads, as a + palpable manifestation of the wrath of Him who hath said—“Thou shalt + not kill.” + </p> + <p> + For a few moments all was silent as the grave, and I felt as if the air + had become too thick for breathing, while I looked up like another Cain. + </p> + <p> + Presently, about one hundred and fifty of the slaves, men, women, and + children, who had been drawn down by the vortex, rose amidst numberless + pieces of smoking wreck, to the surface of the sea; the strongest yelling + like fiends in their despair, while the weaker, the women, and the + helpless gasping little ones, were choking, and gurgling, and sinking all + around. Yea, the small thin expiring cry of the innocent sucking infant + tom from its sinking mother’s breast, as she held it for a brief moment + above the waters, which had already for ever closed over herself, was + there. But we could not perceive one single individual of her white crew; + like desperate men, they had all gone down with the brig. We picked up + about one half of the miserable Africans, and—my pen trembles as I + write it—fell necessity compelled us to fire on the remainder, as it + was utterly impossible for us to take them on board. Oh that I could erase + such a scene for ever from my memory! One incident I cannot help relating. + We had saved a woman, a handsome clear skinned girl, of about sixteen + years of age. She was very faint when we got her in, and was lying with + her head over a port—sill, when a strong athletic young negro swam + to the part of the schooner where she was. She held down her hand to him; + he was in the act of grasping it, when he was shot through the heart from + above. She instantly jumped overboard, and, clasping him in her arms, they + sank, and disappeared together. “Oh, woman, whatever may be the colour of + your skin, your heart is of one only!” said Aaron. + </p> + <p> + Soon all was quiet; a wounded black here and there was shrieking in his + great agony, and struggling for a moment before he sank into his watery + grave for ever; a few pieces of wreck were floating and sparkling on the + surface of the deep in the blood red sunbeams, which streamed in a flood + of glorious light on the bloody deck, shattered hull, and torn rigging of + the Wave, and on the dead bodies and mangled limbs of those who had + fallen; while some heavy scattering drops of rain fell sparkling from a + passing cloud, as if Nature had wept in pity over the dismal scene; or as + if they had been blessed tears, shed by an angel, in his heavenward + course, as he hovered for a moment, and looked down in pity on the + fantastic tricks played by the worm of a day—by weak man, in his + little moment of power and ferocity. I said something—ill and + hastily. Aaron was close beside me, sitting on a carronade slide, while + the surgeon was dressing a pike wound in his neck. He looked up solemnly + in my face, and then pointed to the blessed luminary, that was now sinking + in the sea, and blazing up into the resplendent heavens—“Cringle, + for shame for shame—your impatience is blasphemous. Remember this + morning and thank Him”—here he looked up and crossed himself—“thank + Him who, while he has called poor Mr Handlead, and so many brave fellows + to their last awful reckoning, has mercifully brought us to the end of + this fearful day;—oh, thank Him, Tom, that you have seen the sun set + once more!” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI.—The Second Cruise of the Wave + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I longed to see the Isles that gem, + Old Ocean’s purple diadem, + I sought by turns, and saw them all.” + + Byron, The Bride Of Abydos, II. 355—57. +</pre> + <p> + The puncture in Mr Bang’s neck from the boarding-pike was not very deep, + still it was an ugly lacerated wound; and if The had not to use his own + phrase, been somewhat bullnecked, there is no saying what the consequences + might have been. + </p> + <p> + “Tom, my boy,” said he, after the doctor was done with him, “I am nicely + coopered now—nearly as good as new—a little stiffish or so + lucky to have such a comfortable coating of muscle, otherwise the carotid + would have been in danger. So come here, and take your turn, and I will + hold the candle.” + </p> + <p> + It was dead calm, and as I had desired the cabin to be again used as a + cockpit, it was at this time full of poor fellows, waiting to have their + wounds dressed, whenever the surgeon could go below. The lantern was + brought, and sitting down on a wadding tub, I stripped. The ball, which I + knew had lodged in the fleshy part of my left shoulder, had first of all + struck me right over the collar-bone, from which it had glanced, and then + buried itself in the muscle of the arm, just below the skin, where it + stood out, as if it had been a sloe both in shape and colour. The + collar-bone was much shattered, and my chest was a good deal shaken, and + greatly bruised; but I had perceived nothing of all this at the time I was + shot; the sole perceptible sensation was the feeling of cold water running + down, and the pinch in the shoulder, as already described. I was much + surprised (every man who has been seriously hit being entitled to + expatiate) with the extreme smallness of the puncture in the skin through + which the ball had entered; you could not have forced a pea through it, + and there was scarcely any flow of blood. + </p> + <p> + “A very simple affair this, sir,” said the surgeon, as he made a minute + incision right over the ball, the instrument cutting into the cold dull + lead with a cheep, and then pressing his fingers, one on each side of it, + it jumped out nearly into Aaron’s mouth. + </p> + <p> + “A pretty sugar-plum, Tom—if that collar-bone of yours had not been + all the harder, you would have been embalmed in a gazette, to use your own + favourite expression. But, my good boy, your bruise on the chest is + serious; you must go to bed, and take care of yourself.” + </p> + <p> + Alas! there was no bed for me to go to. The cabin was occupied by the + wounded, where the surgeon was still at work. Out of our small crew, nine + had been killed, and eleven wounded, counting passengers—twenty out + of forty-two—a fearful proportion. + </p> + <p> + The night had now fallen. + </p> + <p> + “Pearl, send some of the people aft, and get a spare square-sail from the + sailmaker, and....” + </p> + <p> + “Will the awning not do, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure it will,” said I—it did not occur to me. “Get the awning + triced up to the stancheons, and tell my steward to get the beds on deck a + few flags to shut us in will make the thing complete.” + </p> + <p> + It was done; and while the sharp cries of the wounded, who were + immediately under the knife of the doctor, and the low moans of those + whose wounds had been dressed, or were waiting their turn, reached our + ears distinctly through the small skylight, our beds were arranged on + deck, under the shelter of the awning, a curtain of flags veiling our + quarters from the gaze of the crew. Paul Gelid and Pepperpot occupied the + starboard side of the little vessel; Aaron Bang and myself the larboard. + By this time it was close on eight o’clock in the evening. I had merely + looked in on our friends, ensconced as they were in their temporary + hurricane house; for I had more work than I could accomplish on deck in + repairing damages. Most of our standing, and great part of our running + rigging, had been shot away, which the tired crew were busied in splicing + and knotting the best way they could. Our mainmast was very badly wounded + close to the deck. It was fished as scientifically as our circumstances + admitted. The foremast had fortunately escaped—it was untouched; but + there were no fewer than thirteen round shot through our hull, five of + them between wind and water. + </p> + <p> + When every thing had been done which ingenuity could devise, or the most + determined perseverance execute, I returned to our canvass—shed aft, + and found Mr Wagtail sitting on the deck, arranging, with the help of my + steward, the supper equipment to the best of his ability. Our meal, as may + easily be imagined, was frugal in le extreme—salt beef, biscuit, + some roasted yams, and cold grog—some of Aaron’s excellent rum. But + I mark it down, that I question if any one of the four who partook of it, + ever made so hearty a supper before or since. We worked away at the junk + until we had polished the bone, clean as an elephant’s tusk, and the + roasted yams disappeared in bushelfuls; while the old rum sank in the + bottle, like mercury in the barometer indicating an approaching gale. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom,” quoth Aaron, “how do you feel, my boy?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, not quite so buoyant as I could wish. To me it has been a day of + fearful responsibility.” + </p> + <p> + “And well it may,” said he. “As for myself, I go to rest with the + tremendous consciousness that even I, who am not a professional butcher, + have this blessed day shed more than one fellow-creature’s blood-a + trembling consideration-and all for what, Tom? You met a big ship in the + dark, and desired her to stop. She said she would not—You said, ‘You + shall.’—She rejoined, ‘I’ll be d——d if I do.’ And + thereupon you set about compelling her; and certainly you have interrupted + her course to some purpose, at the trivial cost of the lives of only five + or six hundred human beings, whose hearts were beating cheerily in their + bosoms within these last six hours, but whose bodies are now food for + fishes.” + </p> + <p> + I was stung. + </p> + <p> + “At your hands, my dear sir, I did not expect this, and” + </p> + <p> + “Hush,” said he, “I don’t blame you—it is all right; but why will + not the Government at home arrange by treaty that this nefarious trade + should be entirely put down? Surely all our victories by sea and land + might warrant our stipulating for so much, in place of huggermuggering + with doubtful ill-defined treaties, specifying that you Johnny Crapeau, + and you Jack Spaniard, shall steal men, and deal in human flesh, in such + and such a degree of latitude only, while, if you pick up one single slave + a league to the northward or southward of the prescribed line of coast, + then we shall blow you out of the water wherever we meet you. Why should + poor devils, who live in one degree of latitude, be allowed to be + kidnapped, whilst we make it felony to steal their immediate neighbours?” + Aaron waxed warm as he proceeded. “Why will not Englishmen lend a hand to + put down the slave-trade amongst our opponents in sugar growing, before + they so recklessly endeavour to crush slavery in our own worn-out + colonies, utterly disregardless of our rights and lives? Mind, Tom, I + don’t defend slavery, I sincerely wish we could do without it, but am I to + be the only one to pay the piper in compassing its extinction? If, + however, it really be that Upas-tree, under whose baleful shade every + kindly feeling in the human bosom, whether of master or servant, withers + and dies, I ask, who planted it? If it possess the magical, and + incredible, and most pestilential quality, that the English gentleman, who + shall be virtuous and beneficent, and just in all his ways, before he + leaves home, and after he returns home, shall, during his temporary + sojourn within its influence become a very Nero for cruelty, and have his + warm heart of flesh smuggled out of his bosom, by some hocus pocus, + utterly unintelligible to any unprejudiced rational being, or indurated + into the flint of the nether millstone, or frozen into a lump of ice.” + </p> + <p> + “Lord!” ejaculated Wagtail, “only fancy a snowball in a man’s stomach, and + in Jamaica too!” + </p> + <p> + “Hold your tongue, Waggy, my love,” continued Aaron; “if all this were so, + I would again ask, who planted it?—say not that we did it—I am + a planter, but I did not plant slavery. I found it growing and + flourishing, and fostered by the Government, and made my home amongst the + branches like a respectable corbie craw, or a pelican in a wild— + duck’s nest, with all my pretty little tender black branchers hopping + about me, along with numberless other unfortunates, and now find that the + tree is being uprooted by the very hands that planted and nourished it, + and seduced me to live in it, and all....” + </p> + <p> + I laughed aloud—“Come, come, my dear sir, you are a perfect Lord + Castlereagh in the congruity of your figures. How the deuce can any living + thing exist among the poisonous branches of the Upas-tree—or a + wild-duck build....” + </p> + <p> + “Get along with your criticism, Tom—and don’t laugh, hang it, don’t + laugh—but who told you that a corbie cannot?” + </p> + <p> + “Why there are no corbies in Java.” + </p> + <p> + “Pah—botheration—there are pelicans then; but you know it is + not an Upas-tree, you know it is all a chimera, and, like the air-drawn + dagger of Macbeth, ‘that there is no such thing.’ Now, that is a good + burst, Gelid, my lad, a’nt it?” said Bang, as he drew a long breath, and + again launched forth. + </p> + <p> + “Our Government shall quarrel about sixpence here or sixpence there of + discriminative duty in a foreign port, while they have clapped a knife to + our throats, and a flaming fagot to our houses, by absurd edicts and + fanatical intermeddling with our own colonies, where the slave-trade has + notoriously, and to their own conviction, entirely ceased; while, I say it + again, they will not put out their little finger to prevent, nay, they + calmly look on, and permit a traffic utterly repugnant to all the best + feelings of our nature, and baneful to an incalculable degree to our own + West Indian possessions; provided, forsooth, the slaves be stolen within + certain limits, which, as no one can prove, naturally leads to this + infernal contraband, the suppression of which—Lord, what a thing to + think of!—has nearly deprived the world of the invaluable services + of me, Aaron Bang, Esquire, Member of Council of the Island of Jamaica, + and Custos Rotulorum Populorum Jig of the Parish of——” + </p> + <p> + “Lord,” said Wagtail, “why, the yam is not half done.” + </p> + <p> + “But the rum is—ah!” drawled Gelid. + </p> + <p> + “D——n the yam and the rum too,” rapped out Bang. “Why, you + belly-gods, you have interrupted such a torrent of eloquence!” + </p> + <p> + I began to guess that our friends were waxing peppery. “Why, gentlemen, I + don’t know how you feel, but I am regularly done up—it is quite + calm, and I hope we shall all sleep, so good-night.” + </p> + <p> + We nestled in, and the sun had risen before I was called next morning. I + hope “I rose a sadder and a wiser man. Upon that morrow’s morn.” + </p> + <p> + “On deck, there,” said I, while dressing. Mr Peter Swop, one of the + Firebrand’s master-mates, and now, in consequence of poor Handlead’s + death, acting-master of the Wave, popped in his head through the opening + in the flags. “How is the weather, Mr Swop?” + </p> + <p> + “Calm all night, sir; not a breath stirring, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Are the sails shifted?” said I, “and the starboard main-shrouds + replaced?” + </p> + <p> + “They are not yet, sir; the sails are on deck, and the rigging is now + stretching, and will be all ready to get over the masthead by breakfast + time, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “How is her head?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” rejoined Swop, “it has been boxing all round the compass, sir, for + these last twelve hours; at present it is north-east.” “Have we drifted + much since last night, Mr Swop?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir—much where we were, sir,” rejoined the master. “There are + several pieces of wreck, and three dead bodies floating close to, sir.” + </p> + <p> + By this time I was dressed, and had gone from under the awning on deck. + The first thing I did was to glance my eye over the nettings, and there + perceived on our quarter, three dead bodies, as Mr Swop had said, floating——one + a white Spaniard, and the others the corpses of two unfortunate Africans, + who had perished miserably when the brig went down. The white man’s + remains, swollen as they were, from the heat of the climate, and sudden + putrefaction consequent thereon, floated quietly within pistol-shot, + motionless and still; but the bodies of the two negroes were nearly hidden + by the clustering sea-birds which had perched on them. There were at least + two dozen shipped on each carcass, busy with their beaks and claws, while, + on the other hand, the water in the immediate neighbourhood seemed quite + alive, from the rushing and walloping of numberless fishes, who were + tearing the prey piecemeal. The view was any thing but pleasant, and I + naturally turned my eyes forward to see what was going on in the bows of + the schooner. I was startled from the number of black faces which I saw. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr Tailtackle, how many of these poor creatures have we on board?” + </p> + <p> + “There are fifty-nine, sir, under hatches in the fore-hold,” said Timothy, + “and thirty-five on deck; but I hope we shan’t have them long, sir. It + looks like a breeze to windward. We shall have it before long, sir.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment Mr Bang came on deck. + </p> + <p> + “Lord, Tom, I thought it was a flea-bite, last night, but, mercy, I am as + stiff and sore as a gentleman need be. How do you feel? I see you have one + of your fins in a sling—eh?” + </p> + <p> + “I am a little stiff, certainly; however, that will go off; but come + forward here, my dear sir; come here, and look at this shot-hole—saw + you ever anything like that?” + </p> + <p> + This was the smashing of one of our pumps from a round shot, the splinters + from which were stuck into the bottom of the launch, which overhung it, + forming really a figure very like the letter A. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t take it to myself, Tom—no, not at all.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment the black savages on the forecastle discovered our friend, + and shouts of “Sheik Cocoloo” rent the skies. Mr Bang, for a moment, + appeared startled, so far as I could judge, he had forgotten that part of + his exploit, and did not know what to make of it, until at last the actual + meaning seemed to flash on him, when, with a shout of laughter, he bolted + in through the opening of the flags to his former quarters below the + awning. I descended to the cabin, breakfast having been announced, and sat + down to our meal, confronted by Paul Gelid and Pepperpot Wagtail. + Presently we heard Aaron sing out, the small skuttle being right overhead, + “Pegtop, come here, Pegtop, I say, help me on with my neckcloth—so—that + will do; now I shall go on deck. Why, Pearl, my boy, what do you want?” + and before Pearl could get a word in, Aaron continued, “I say, Pearl, go + to the other end of the ship, and tell your Coromantee friends that it is + all a humbug that I am not the Sultan Cocoloo; farther more, that I have + not a feather in my tail like a palm branch, of the truth of which I offer + to give them ocular proof.” + </p> + <p> + Pearl made his salaam. “Oh, sir, I fear that we must not say too much on + that subject; we have not irons for one half of them savage negirs;” the + fellow was as black as a coal himself; “and were they to be undeceived, + why, reduced as our crew is, they might at any time rise on, and massacre + the whole watch.” + </p> + <p> + “The devil!” we could hear friend Aaron say; “oh, then, go forward, and + assure them that I am a bigger ostrich than ever, and I shall astonish + them presently, take my word for it. Pegtop, come here, you scoundrel,” he + continued; “I say, Pegtop, get me out my uniform coat,”—our friend + was a captain of Jamaica militia—“so—and my sword—that + will do—and here, pull off my trowsers it will be more classical to + perambulate in my shirt, in case it really be necessary to persuade them + that the palm branch was all a figure of speech. Now, my hat—there—walk + before me, and fan me with the top of that herring barrel.” + </p> + <p> + This was a lid of one of the wadding-tubs, which, to come up to Jigmaree’s + notions of neatness, had been fitted with covers, and forth stumped Bang, + preceded by Pegtop doing the honours. But the instant he appeared from + beneath the flags, the same wild shout arose from the captive slaves + forward, and such of them as were not fettered, immediately began to + bundle and tumble round our friend, rubbing their flat noses and woolly + heads all over him, and taking hold of the hem of his garment, whereby his + personal decency was so seriously periled, that, after an unavailing + attempt to shake them off, he fairly bolted, and ran for shelter, once + more, under the awning, amidst the suppressed mirth of the whole crew, + Aaron himself laughing louder than any of them all the while. “I say, Tom, + and fellow sufferers,” quoth he, after he had run to earth under the + awning, and looking down the scuttle into the cabin where we were at + breakfast, “how am I to get into the cabin? if I go out on the quarterdeck + but one arm’s length, in order to reach the companion, these barbarians + will be at me again. Ah, I see.” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon, without more ado, he stuck his legs down through the small + hatch right over the breakfast table, with the intention of descending, + and the first thing he accomplished, was to pop his foot into a large dish + of scalding hominy, or hasty-pudding, made of Indian corn meal, with which + Wagtail was in the habit of commencing his stowage at breakfast. But this + proving too hot for comfort, he instantly drew it out, and in his attempt + to reascend, he stuck his bespattered toe into Paul Gelid’s mouth. “Oh! + oh!” exclaimed Paul, while little Wagtail lay back laughing like to die; + but the next instant Bang gave another struggle, or wallop, like a pelloch + in shoal-water, whereby Pepperpot borrowed a good kick on the side of the + head, and down came the Great Ostrich, Aaron Bang, but without any feather + in his tail, as I can avouch, slap upon the table, smashing cups and + saucers, and hominy, and devil knows what all, to pieces, as he floundered + on the board. This was so absurd, that we were all obliged to give + uncontrolled course to our mirth for a minute or two, when, making the + best of the wreck, we contrived to breakfast in tolerable comfort. + </p> + <p> + Soon after the meal was finished, a light air enabled us once more to lie + our course, and we gradually crept to the northward, until twelve o’clock + in the forenoon, after which time it fell calm again. I went down to the + cabin; Bang had been overhauling my small library, when a shelf gave way + (the whole affair having been injured by a round shot in the action, which + had tom right through the cabin), so down came several scrolls, rolled up, + and covered with brown paper. + </p> + <p> + “What are all these?” I could hear our friend say. “They are my logs,” + said I. + </p> + <p> + “Your what?” + </p> + <p> + “My private journals.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, I see,” said Aaron. “I will have a turn at them, with your + permission. But what is this so carefully bound with red tape, and sealed, + and marked—let me see, ‘Thomas Cringle, his log-book.’” + </p> + <p> + He looked at me.—“Why, my dear sir, to say the truth, that is my + first attempt; full of trash, believe me;—what else could you + expect, from so mere a lad as I was when I wrote it?” + </p> + <p> + “The child is father to the man, Tom, my boy; so may I peruse it; may I + read it for the edification of my learned allies,—Pepperpot Wagtail, + and Paul Gelid, esquires?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” I replied, “no objection in the world, but you will laugh at + me, I know; still, do as you please, only, had you not better have your + wound dressed first?” + </p> + <p> + “My wound! Poo, poo! just enough to swear by—a flea-bite never mind + it; so here goes”—and he read aloud what is detailed in the + “Launching of the Log,” making his remarks with so much naivete, that I + daresay the reader will be glad to hear a few of them. His anxiety, for + instance, when he read of the young aide-de-camp being shot and dragged by + the stirrup, to know “what became of the empty horse,” was very + entertaining; and when he had read the description of Davoust’s face and + person, where I describe his nose, as neither fine nor dumpy—a fair + enough proboscis as noses go, he laid down the Log with the most laughable + seriousness. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” quoth he, “very inexplicit all this, Tom. Why, I am most curious in + noses. I judge of character altogether from the nose. I never lose sight + of a man’s snout, albeit I never saw the tip of my own. You may rely on + it, that it is all a mistake to consider the regular Roman nose, with a + curve like a shoemaker’s paring knife, or the straight Grecian, with a + thin transparent ridge, that you can see through, or the Deutsch + meerschaum, or the Saxon pump-handle, or the Scotch mull, or any other + nose, that can be taken hold of, as the standard gnomon. No, no; I never + saw a man with a large nose who was not a blockhead—eh! Gelid, my + love? The pimple for me—the regular pimple but allons.”—And + where, having introduced the German refugees to Captain Deadeye, I go on + to say that I thereupon dived into the midshipmen’s berth for a morsel of + comfort, and was soon “far into the secrets of a pork pie,”—he lay + back, and exclaimed with a long drawling emphasis—“A pork pie!” + </p> + <p> + “A pork pie!” said Paul Gelid. + </p> + <p> + “Why, do you know,” said Mr Wagtail—“I—why, I never in all my + life saw a pork pie.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear Pepperpot,” chimed in Gelid, “we both forget. Don’t you remember + the day we dined with the Admiral at the pen, in July last?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Wagtail, “I totally forget it.” Bang, I saw was all this while + chuckling to himself—“I absolutely forget it altogether.” + </p> + <p> + “Bless me,” said Gelid, “don’t you remember the beautiful calipeever we + had that day?” + </p> + <p> + “Really I do not,” said Pepperpot, “I have had so many good feeds there.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” continued Gelid, “Lord love you, Wagtail, not remember that + calipeever, so crisp in the broiling?” + </p> + <p> + “No,” said Wagtail, “really I do not.” + </p> + <p> + “Lord, man, it had a pudding in its belly.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, now I remember,” said Wagtail. + </p> + <p> + Bang laughed outright, and I could not help making a hole in my manners + also, even prepared as I was for my jest by my sable crony Pegtop.—To + proceed. + </p> + <p> + Aaron looked at me with one of his quizzical grins; “Cringle, my darling, + do you keep these Logs still?” + </p> + <p> + “I do, my dear sir, invariably.” + </p> + <p> + “What,” struck in little Wagtail, “the deuce!—for instance shall I, + and Paul, and Aaron there, all be embalmed or preserved” (“Say pickled,” + quoth the latter) “in these said Logs of yours?” This was too absurd, and + I could not answer my allies for laughing. As for Gelid, he had been + swaying himself backwards and forwards, half asleep, on the hind legs of + his chair all this while, puffing away at a cigar. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said he half asleep, and but partly overhearing what was going on; + “ah, Tom, my dear, you don’t say that we shall all be handed down to our + poster”—a long yawn—“to our poster” another yawn—when + Bang, watching his opportunity as he sat opposite, gently touched one of + the fore-legs of the balanced chair with his toe, while he finished + Gelid’s sentence by interjecting, “iors,” as the conch fell back and + floundered over on his stem; his tormentor drawling out in wicked mimicry. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, dear Gelid, so sure as you have been landed down on your posteriors + now—ah—you shall be handed down to your posterity hereafter, + by that pestilent little scamp Cringle. Ah, Tom, I know you. Paul, Paul, + it will be paulo postfuturum with you, my lad.” + </p> + <p> + Here we were interrupted by my steward’s entering with his tallow face. + “Dinner on the table, sir.” We adjourned accordingly. + </p> + <p> + After dinner we carried on very much as usual, although the events of the + previous day had their natural effect; there was little mirth, and no loud + laughter. Once more we all turned in, the calm still continuing, and next + morning after breakfast, friend Aaron took to the Log again. + </p> + <p> + But the most amusing exhibition took place when he came to the description + of the row in the dark stair at the agent’s house, where the negroes fight + for the scraps, and capsize Treenail, myself, and the brown lady, down the + steps. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I say, Tom,” again quoth Aaron, “I never knew before, that you were + in Jamaica at the period you here write of.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, my dear sir, I scarcely can say that I was there, my visit was so + hurried.” + </p> + <p> + “Hurried!” rejoined he, “hurried—by no means; were you not in the + island for four or five hours? Ah, long enough to have authorized your + writing an anti-slavery pamphlet of one hundred and fifty pages.” + </p> + <p> + I smiled. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, you may laugh, my boy, but it is true—what a subject for an + anti— slavery lecture—listen and be instructed.” Here our + friend shook himself as a bruiser does to ascertain that all is right + before he throws up his guard, and for the first five minutes he only + jerked his right shoulder this way and his left shoulder t’other way, + while his fins walloped down against his sides like empty sleeves; at + length, as he warmed, he stretched forth his arms like Saint Paul in the + Cartoon and although he now and then could not help sticking his tongue in + his cheek, still the exhibition was so true and so exquisitely comical, + that I never shall forget it.—“The whole white inhabitants of + Kingston are luxurious monsters, living in more than Eastern splendour; + and their universal practice, during their magnificent repasts, is to + entertain themselves, by compelling their black servants to belabour each + other across the pate with silver ladles, and to stick drumsticks of + turkeys down each other’s throats. Merciful heaven! only picture the + miserable slaves, each with the spaul of a turkey sticking in his gob; + dwell upon that, my dearly beloved hearers, dwell upon that—and then + let those who have the atrocious hardihood to do so, speak of the + kindliness of the planters hearts. Kindliness! kindliness, to cram the leg + of a turkey down a man’s throat, while his yoke-fellow in bondage is + fracturing his tender woolly skull—for all negroes, as is well + known, have craniums, much thinner, and more fragile than an egg-shell—with + so tremendous a weapon as a silver ladle? Ay, a silver ladle!!! Some + people make light of a silver ladle as an instrument of punishment—it + is spoken of as a very slight affair, and that the blows inflicted by it + are mere child’s play. If any of you, my beloved hearers, labour under + this delusion, and will allow me, for your edification, to hammer you + about the chops with one of the aforesaid silver soup-ladles of those + yellow tyrants, for one little half hour, I pledge myself the delusion + shall be dispelled once and for ever. Well then, after this fearful scene + has continued for, I dare not say how long—the black butler—ay, + the black butler, a slave himself—oh, my friends, even the black + butlers are slaves the very men who minister the wine in health which + maketh their hearts glad, and the castor oil in sickness, which maketh + them any thing but of a cheerful countenance—this very black butler + is desired, on peril of having a drumstick stuck into his own gizzard + also, and his skull fractured by the aforesaid iron ladles—red hot, + it may be—ay, and who shall say they are not full of molten lead? + yes, molten lead— does not our reverend brother Lachrimac Roarem say + that the ladles might have been full of molten lead, and what evidence + have we on the other side, that they were not full of molten lead? Why, + none at all, none— nothing but the oaths of all the naval and + military officers who have ever served in these pestilent settlements; and + of all the planters and merchants in the West Indies, the interested + planters—those planters who suborn all the navy and army to a man—those + planters whose molasses is but another name for human blood. (Here a large + puff and blow, and a swabification of the white handkerchief, while the + congregation blow a flourish of trumpets.) My friends—(another puff)—my + friends—we all know, my friends, that bullocks blood is largely used + in the sugar refineries in England, but, alas! there is no bullocks blood + used in the refineries in the West Indies. This I will prove to you on the + oath of six dissenting clergymen. No. What then is the inference? Oh, is + it not palpable? Do you not every day, as jurors, hang men on + circumstantial evidence? Are not many of yourselves hanged and transported + every year, on the simple fact being proved, of your being found stooping + down in pity over some poor fellow with a broken head, with your hands in + his breeches pockets in order to help him up? And can you fail to draw the + proper inference in the present case? Oh, no! no! my friends, it is the + blood of the negroes that is used in these refining pandemoniums of the + poor negroes, who are worth one hundred pounds apiece to their masters, + and on whose health and capacity for work these same planters absolutely + and entirely depend.” + </p> + <p> + Here our friend gathered all his energies, and began to roar like a + perfect bull of Bashan, and to swing his arms about like the sails of a + windmill, and to stamp and jump, and lollop about with his body as he went + on. + </p> + <p> + “Well, this butler, this poor black butler—this poor black slave + butler this poor black Christian slave butler—for he may have been a + Christian, and most likely was a Christian, and indeed must have been a + Christian—is enforced, after all the cruelties already related, on + pain of being choked with the leg of a turkey himself, and having molten + lead poured down his own throat, to do what?—who would not weep?—to—to—to + chuck each of his fellow-servants, poor miserable creatures! each with a + bone in his throat, and molten lead in his belly, and a fractured skull—to + chuck them, neck and croup, one after another, down a dark staircase, a + pitch-dark staircase, amidst a chaos of plates and dishes, and the hardest + and most expensive china, and the finest cut crystal— that the + wounds inflicted may be the keener and silver spoons, and knives and + forks. Yea, my Christian brethren, carving knives and pitchforks right + down on the top of their brown mistresses, who are thereby invariably + bruised like the clown in the pantomime—at least as I am told he is, + for I never go to such profane Places—oh, no!—bruised as flat + as pancakes, and generally murdered outright on the spot. Last of all the + landlord gets up, and kicks the miserable butler himself down after his + mates, into the very heart of the living mass; and this not once and away, + but every day in the week, Sundays not excepted. Oh, my dear, dear + hearers, can you can you, with your fleshy hearts thumping and bumping + against your small ribs, forget the black butler, and the mulatto + concubines, and the pitchforks, and the iron ladles full of molten lead? + My feelings overpower me, I must conclude. Go in peace, and ponder these + things in your hearts, and pay your sixpences at the doors.—Exeunt + omnes, piping their eyes, and blowing their noses.” + </p> + <p> + Our shouts of laughter interrupted our friend, who never moved a muscle. + </p> + <p> + Again, where old Crowfoot asks his steward—“How does the privateer + lay?” + </p> + <p> + “There again now,” said Aaron, with an irritable grin,—“why, Tom, + your style is most pestilent—you lay here and you lay there—are + you sure that you are not a hen, Tom?” + </p> + <p> + One more touch at Massa Aaron, and I have done. After coming to the + description of the horrible carnage that the fire from the Transport + caused on the privateer’s deck before she sheered off, I remarked “I never + recall that early and dismal scene to my recollection,—the awful + havoc created on the schooner’s deck by our fire, the struggling, and + crawling, and wriggling of the dark mass of wounded men, as they + endeavoured, fruitlessly, to shelter themselves from our guns, even behind + the dead bodies of their slain shipmates—without conjuring up a very + fearful and harrowing image.” + </p> + <p> + “Were you ever at Biggleswade, my dear sir?” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I have,” said Mr Bang. + </p> + <p> + “Then did you ever see an eel-pot, with the water drawn off, when the + snake-like fish were twining, and twisting, and crawling, like Brobdignag + maggots, in living knots, a horrible and disgusting mass of living + abomination, amidst the filthy slime at the bottom?” + </p> + <p> + “Ach—have done, Tom—hang your similes. Can’t you cut your coat + by me, man? Only observe the delicacy of mine.” + </p> + <p> + “The corby craw for instance,” said I, laughing. + </p> + <p> + “Ever at Biggleswade!” struck in Paul Gelid. “Ever at Biggleswade! Lord + love you, Cringle, we have all been at Biggleswade. Don’t you know,” (how + he conceived I should have known, I am sure I never could tell,) “don’t + you know that Wagtail and I once made a voyage to England, ay, in the + hurricane months, too—ah—for the express purpose of eating + eels there,—and Lord, Tom, my dear fellow,” (here he sunk his voice + into a most dolorous key,) “let me tell you that we were caught in a + hurricane, in the Gulf, and very nearly lost, when, instead of eating + eels, sharks would have eaten usah—and at length driven into + Havannah— ah. And when we did get home”—(here I thought my + excellent friend would have cried outright)—“Lord, sir! we found + that the fall was not the season to eat eels in after all—ah—that + is, in perfection. But we found out from Whiffle, whom we met in town, and + who had learned it from the guard of the North mail, that one of the last + season’s pots was still on hand at Biggleswade; so down we trundled in the + mail that very evening.” + </p> + <p> + “And don’t you remember the awful cold I caught that night, being obliged + to go outside?” quoth Waggy. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, and so you did, my dear fellow,” continued his ally. + </p> + <p> + “But gracious—on alighting, we found that the agent of a confounded + gormandizing Lord Mayor had that very evening boned the entire contents of + the only remaining pot, for a cursed livery dinnerah. Eels, indeed! we got + none but those of the new catch, full of mud, and tasting of mud and red + worms. Wagtail was really very ill in consequence—ah.” + </p> + <p> + Pepperpot had all this while listened with mute attention, as if the + narrative had been most moving, and I question not he thought so; but Bang—oh, + the rogue!—looked also very grave and sympathizing, but there was a + laughing devil in his eye, that showed he was inwardly enjoying the + beautiful rise of his friends. + </p> + <p> + We were here interrupted by a hail from the look-out man at the masthead,——‘Land + right a-head.’ + </p> + <p> + “What does it look like?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “It makes in low hummocks, sir. Now I see houses on the highest one.” + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah, Nassau, New Providence, ho!” + </p> + <p> + Shortly after we made the land about Nassau, the breeze died away, and it + fell nearly calm. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Thomas,” quoth Aaron, “for this night at least we must still be + your guests, and lumber you on board of your seventy-four. No chance, so + far as I see, of getting into port to-night; at least if we do, it will be + too late to go on shore.” + </p> + <p> + He said truly, and we therefore made up our mind to sit down once more to + our rough and round dinner, in the small, hot, choky cabin of the Wave. As + it happened, we were all in high glee. I flattered myself that my conduct + in the late affair would hoist me up a step or two on the roster for + promotion, and my excellent friends were delighted at the idea of getting + on shore. + </p> + <p> + After the cloth had been drawn, Mr Bang opened his fire. + </p> + <p> + “Tom, my boy, I respect your service, but I have no great ambition to + belong to it. I am sure no bribe that I am aware of could ever tempt me to + make ‘my home upon the deep,’ and I really am not sure that it is a very + gentlemanly calling after all.—Nay, don’t look glum; what I meant + was, the egregious weariness of spirit you must all undergo from + consorting with the same men day after day, hearing the same jokes + repeated for the hundredth time, and, whichever way you turn, seeing the + same faces morning, noon, and night, and listening to the same voices. Oh! + I should die in a year’s time were I to become a sailor.” + </p> + <p> + “But,” rejoined I, “you have your land bores in the same way that we have + our sea bores; and we have this advantage over you, that if the devil + should stand at the door, we can always escape from them sooner or later, + and can buoy up our souls with the certainty that we can so escape from + them at the end of the cruise at the farthest; whereas if you happen to + have taken root amidst a colony of bores on shore, why you never can + escape, unless you sacrifice all your temporalities for that purpose; + ergo, my dear sir, our life has its advantages, and yours has it + disadvantages.” + </p> + <p> + “Too true—too true,” rejoined Mr Bang. “In fact, judging from my own + small experience, Borism is fast attaining a head it never reached before. + Speechifying is the crying and prominent vice of the age. Why will the + ganders not recollect that eloquence is the gift of heaven, Thomas? A man + may improve it unquestionably, but the Promethean fire, the electrical + spark, must be from on high. No mental perseverance or education could + ever have made a Demosthenes, or a Cicero, in the ages long past; nor an + Edmund Burke.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor an Aaron Bang in times present,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Hide my roseate blushes, Thomas,” quoth Aaron, as he continued—“Would + that men would speak according to their gifts, study Shakspeare and Don + Quixote, and learn of me; and that the real blockhead would content + himself with speaking when he is spoken to, drinking when he is drunken + to, and ganging to the kirk when the bell rings. You never can go into a + party nowadays, that you don’t meet with some shallow, prosing, pestilent + ass of a fellow, who thinks that empty sound is conversation; and not + unfrequently there is a spice of malignity in the blockhead’s composition; + but a creature of this calibre you can wither, for it is not worth + crushing, by withholding the sunshine of your countenance from it, or by + leaving it to drivel on, until the utter contempt of the whole company + claps to change the figure—a wet night—cap as an extinguisher + on it, and its small stinking flame flickers and goes out of itself. Then + there is your sentimental water-fly, who blaws in the lugs of the women, + and clips the King’s English, and your high-flying dominie body, who + whumles them outright. I speak in a figure. But all these are as dust in + the balance to the wearisome man of ponderous acquirements, the solemn + blockhead who usurps the pas, and if he happen to be rich, fancies himself + entitled to prose and palaver away, as if he were Sir Oracle, or as if the + pence in his purse could ever fructify the cauld parritch in his pate into + pregnant brain. There is a plateful of P’s for you at any rate, Tom. + Beautiful exemplification of the art alliterative—an’t it?” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Oh that Heaven the gift would gie us, + To see ourselves as others see us!’ +</pre> + <p> + My dear boy, speechifying has extinguished conversation. Public meetings, + God knows, are rife enough, and why will the numskulls not confine their + infernal dullness to them? why not be satisfied with splitting the ears of + the groundlings there? why will they not consider that convivial + conversation should be lively as the sparkle of musketry, brilliant, + sharp, and sprightly, and not like the thundering of heavy cannon, or + heavier bombs.—But no—you shall ask one of the Drawleys across + the table to take wine. ‘Ah,’ says he—and how he makes out the + concatenation, God only knows—‘this puts me in mind, Mr Thingumbob, + of what happened when I was chairman of the county club, on such a day. + Alarming times these were, and deucedly nervous I was when I got up to + return thanks. My friends, said I, this unexpected and most unlooked— + for honour—this’—Here blowing all your breeding to the winds, + you fire a question across his bows into the fat pleasant fellow, who + speaks for society beyond him, and expect to find that the dull sailor has + hauled his wind, or dropped astern—(do you twig how nautical I have + become in my lingo under Tailtackle’s tuition, Tom?)—but, alas! no + sooner has the sparkle of our fat friend’s wit lit up the whole worshipful + society, than at the first lull, down comes Drawley again upon you, like a + heavy-sterned Dutch dogger, right before the wind—‘As I was saying—this + unexpected and most unlooked-for honour’—and there you are pinned to + the stake, and compelled to stand the fire of all his blunt bird-boltst + for half an hour on end. At length his mud has all dribbled from him, and + you hug yourself—‘Ah,—come, here is a talking man opening his + fire, so we shall have some conversation at last.’ But alas and alack a + day! Prosey the second chimes in, and works away, and hems and haws, and + hawks up some old scraps of schoolboy Latin and Greek, which are all + Hebrew to you, honest man, until at length he finishes off by some solemn + twaddle about fossil turnips and vitrified brickbats; and thus concludes + Fozy No. 2. Oh, shade of Edie Ochiltree! that we should stand in the taunt + of such unmerciful spendthrifts of our time on earth! Besides, the devil + of it is, that whatever may be said of the flippant palaverers, the heavy + bores are generally most excellent and amiable men, so that one can’t + abuse the sumphs with any thing like a quiet conscience.” + </p> + <p> + “Come,” said I, “my dear sir, you are growing satirical.” + </p> + <p> + “Quarter less three,” sung out the leadsman in the chains. + </p> + <p> + We were now running in past the end of Hog Island to the port of Nassau, + where the lights were sparkling brightly. We anchored, but it was too late + to go on shore that evening, so, after a parting glass of swizzle, we all + turned in for the night. + </p> + <p> + To be near the wharf, for the convenience of refitting, I had run the + schooner close in, being aware of the complete security of the harbour, so + that in the night I could feel the little vessel gently take the ground. + This awoke me and several of the crew, for accustomed as sailors are to + the smooth bounding motion of a buoyant vessel, rising and falling on the + heaving bosom of the ocean, the least touch on the solid ground, or + against any hard floating substance, thrills to their hearts with + electrical quickness. Through the thin bulkhead I could hear the officers + speaking to each other. + </p> + <p> + “We are touching the ground,” said one. + </p> + <p> + “And if we be, there is no sea here—all smooth-land-locked + entirely,” quoth another. + </p> + <p> + So all hands of us, except the watch on deck, snoozed away once more into + the land of deep forgetfulness. We had all for some days previously been + over-worked, and over-fatigued; indeed, ever since the action had caused + the duty of the little vessel to devolve on one half of her original crew, + those who had escaped had been subjected to great privations, and were + nearly worn out. + </p> + <p> + It might have been four bells in the middle watch, when I was awakened by + the discontinuance of Mr Swop’s heavy step over head; but judging that the + poor fellow might have toppled over into a slight temporary snooze, I + thought little of it, persuaded as I was that the vessel was lying in the + most perfect safety. In this belief I was falling over once more, when I + heard a short startled grunt from one of the men in the steerage,—then + a sudden sharp exclamation from another—a louder ejaculation of + surprise from a third—and presently Mr Wagtail, who was sleeping on + a matrass spread on the locker below me, gave a spluttering cough. A heavy + splash followed, and, simultaneously, several of the men forward shouted + out “Ship MI of water—water up to our hammocks;” while Waggy, who + had rolled off his narrow couch, sang out at the top of his pipe, “I am + drowned, Bang. Tom Cringle, my dear—Gelid, I am drowned— we + are all drowned—the ship is at the bottom of the sea, and we shall + have eels enough here, if we had none at Biggleswade. Oh! murder! murder!” + </p> + <p> + “Sound the well,” I could hear Tailtackle, who had run on deck, sing out. + </p> + <p> + “No use in that,” I called out, as I splashed out of my warm cot, up to my + knees in water. + </p> + <p> + “Bring a light, Mr Tailtackle; a bottom plank must have started, or a but, + or a hidden-end. The schooner is full of water beyond doubt, and as the + tide is still making, stand by to hoist out the boats, and get the wounded + into them. But don’t be alarmed, men; the schooner is on the ground, and + it is near high-water. So be cool and quiet. Don’t bother now—don’t.” + </p> + <p> + By the time I had finished my extempore speech I was on deck, where I soon + found that, in very truth, there was no use in sounding the well, or + manning the pumps either, as some wounded plank had been crushed out + bodily by the pressure of the vessel when she took the ground; and there + she lay—the tidy little Wave—regularly bilged, with the tide + flowing into her. + </p> + <p> + Every one of the crew was now on the alert. Bedding and bags and some + provisions were placed in the boats of the schooner; and several craft + from the shore, hearing the alarm, were now alongside; so danger there was + none, except that of catching cold, and I therefore bethought me of + looking in on my guests in the cabin. I descended and waded into our late + dormitory with a candle in my hand and the water nearly up to my waist. I + there found my steward, also with a light, splashing about in the water, + catching a stray hat here, and fishing up a spare coat there, and + anchoring a chair, with a piece of spunyarn, to the pillar of the small + side-berth on the starboard side, while our friend Massa Aaron was coolly + lying in his cot on the larboard, the bottom of which was by this time + within an inch of the surface of the water, and bestirring himself in an + attempt to get his trowsers on, which by some lucky chance he had stowed + away under his pillow overnight, and there he was sticking up first one + peg and then another, until by sidling and shifting in his narrow lair, he + contrived to rig himself in his nether garments. “But, steward, my good + man,” he was saying when I entered, “where is my coat, eh?” The man groped + for a moment down in the water, which his nose dipped into, with his + shirt-sleeves tucked up to his arm-pits, and then held up some dark + object, that, to me at least, looked like a piece of black cloth hooked + out of a dyer’s vat. Alas! this was Massa Aaron’s coat; and while the hats + were bobbing at each other in the other corner like seventy-fours, with a + squadron of shoes in their wakes, and Wagtail was sitting in the + side-berth with his wet night-gown drawn about him, his muscular + development in high relief through the clinging drapery, and bemoaning his + fate in the most pathetic manner—that can be conceived, our ally + Aaron exclaimed, “I say, Tom, how do you like the cut of my Sunday coat, + eh?” while our friend Paul Gelid, who it seems had slept through the whole + row, was at length startled out of his sleep, and sticking one of his long + shanks over the side of his cot in act to descend, immersed it in the cold + salt brine. + </p> + <p> + “Lord! Wagtail,” he exclaimed, “my dear fellow, the cabin is full of water—we + are sinking—ah! Deucedly annoying to be drowned in this hole, amidst + dirty water, like a tubful of ill—washed potatoes—ah.” + </p> + <p> + “Tom—Tom Cringle,” shouted Mr Bang at this juncture, while he looked + over the edge of his cot on the stramash below, “saw ever any man the like + of that? Why, see there—there, just under your candle, Tom—a + bird’s nest floating about with a mavis in it, as I am a gentleman.” + </p> + <p> + “D——n your bird’s nest and mavis too, whatever that may be,” + roared little Mr Pepperpot. + </p> + <p> + “By Jupiter, it is my wig, with a live rat in it.” + </p> + <p> + “Confound your wig!—ah,” quoth Paul, as the steward fished up what I + took at first for a pair of brimfull water-stoups. “Zounds! look at my + boots.” + </p> + <p> + “And confound both the wig and boots, say I,” sung out Mr Bang. “Look at + my Sunday coat. Why, who set the ship onfire, Tom?” + </p> + <p> + Here his eye caught mine, and a few words sufficed to explain how we were + situated, and then the only bother was how to get ashore, and where we + were to sojourn, so as to have our clothes dried, as nothing could now be + done until daylight. I therefore got our friends safely into a Nassau boat + alongside, with their wet trunks and portmanteaus in charge of their black + servants, and left them to fish their way to their lodging-house as they + best could. By this, the wounded and the sound part of the crew had been + placed on board of two merchant brigs, that lay close to us; and the + masters of them proving accommodating men, I got them alongside, as the + tide flowed, one on the starboard, the other on the larboard side, right + over the Wave; and next forenoon, when they took the ground, we rigged two + spare topmasts from one vessel to another, and making the main and fore + rigging of the schooner fast to them, as the tide once more made, we + weighed her, and floated her alongside of the sheer-hulk, against which we + were enabled to heave her out, so as to get at the leak, and then by + rigging bilge-pumps, we contrived to free her and keep her dry. The + damaged plank was soon removed; and, being in a fair way to surmount all + my difficulties, about half-past five in the evening I equipped myself in + dry clothes, and proceeded on shore to call on our friends at their new + domicile. When I entered. I was shown into the dining hall by my ally, + Pegtop. + </p> + <p> + “Massa will be here presently, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh—tell him he need not hurry himself:—But how are Mr Bang + and his friends?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dem all wery so so, only Massa Wagtail hab take soch a terrible cold, + dat him tink he is going to dead; him wery sorry for himshef, for true + massa.” + </p> + <p> + “But where are the gentlemen, Pegtop?” + </p> + <p> + “All, every one on dem, is in him bed. Wet clothes have been drying all + day.” + </p> + <p> + “And when do they mean to dine?” + </p> + <p> + Here Pegtop doubled himself up, and laughed like to split himself. + </p> + <p> + “Dem is all dining in bed, Massa. Shall I show you to dem?” + </p> + <p> + “I shall be obliged; but don’t let me intrude. Give my compliments, and + say I have looked in simply to enquire after their health.” + </p> + <p> + Here Mr Wagtail shouted from the inner apartment. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo! Tom, my boy! Tom Cringle!—here, my lad, here!” + </p> + <p> + I was shown into the room from whence the voice proceeded, which happened + to be Massa Aaron’s bedroom: and there were my three friends stretched on + sofas, in their night-clothes, with a blanket, sheet, and counterpane over + each, forming three sides of a square round a long table, on which a most + capital dinner was smoking, with wines of several kinds, and a perfect + galaxy of wax candles, and their sable valets, in nice clean attire, and + smart livery coats, waiting on them. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Tom,” quoth Massa Paul, “delighted to see you,—come, you seem + to have dry clothes on, so take the head of the table.” + </p> + <p> + I did so; and broke ground forthwith with great zeal. + </p> + <p> + “Tom, a glass of wine, my dear,” said Aaron. “Don’t you admire us + classical, after the manner of the ancients, eh? Wagtail’s head-dress, and + Paul’s night-cap—oh, the comforts of a woollen one! Ah, Tom, Tom, + the Greeks had no Kilmamock—none.” + </p> + <p> + We all carried on cheerily, and Bang began to sparkle. + </p> + <p> + “Well, now since you have weighed the schooner and found not much wanting + I feel my spirits rising again.—A glass of champagne, Tom, your + health, boy.—The dip the old hooker has got must have surprises the + rats and cockroaches. Do you know, Tom, I really have an idea of writing a + history of the cruise; only I am deterred from the melancholy + consciousness that every blockhead nowadays fancies he can write.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, my dear sir, are you not coquetting for a compliment? Don’t we all + know, that many of the crack articles in Ebony’s Mag” “Bah,” clapping his + hand on my mouth; “hold your tongue; all wrong in that....” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if it be not you then, I scarcely know to whom to attribute them. + Until lately, I only knew you as the warm hearted West Indian gentleman; + but now I am certain I am to....” + </p> + <p> + “Tom, hold your tongue, my beautiful little man. For, although I must + plead guilty to having mixed a little in literary society in my younger + days—Alas! my heart, those days are gane.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr Swop,” continued Mr Bang, as the master was ushered into the room. + “Plate and glasses for Mr Swop.” + </p> + <p> + The sailor bowed, perched himself on the very edge of his chair, scarcely + within long arm’s length of the table, and sitting bolt upright, as if he + had swallowed a spare studdingsail-boom, drank our healths, and smoothed + down his hair on his brow. + </p> + <p> + “Captain, I come to report the schooner ready to...” + </p> + <p> + “Poo,” rattled out Mr Bang; “time for your tale by and by;—help + yourself to some of that capital beef, Peter,—So—Yes, my + love,” continued our friend, resuming his yarn. “I once coped even with + John Wilson himself. Yea, in the fullness of my powers, I feared not even + the Professor.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed!” said I. + </p> + <p> + “True, as I am a gentleman. Why, I once, in a public trial of skill, beat + him, even him, by eighteen measured inches, from toe to heel.” + </p> + <p> + I stared. + </p> + <p> + “I was the slighter man of the two, certainly. Still, in a flying leap, I + always had the best of it, until he astonished the world with the Isle of + Palms. From that day forth, my springiness and elasticity left me. Fallen + was my muscles brawny vaunt. I quailed. My genius stood rebuked before + him. Nevertheless, at hop-step-and-jump I was his match still. When out + came the City of the Plague! From that the Great Ostrich could not hold + the candle to the Flying Philosopher. And now, heaven help me! I can + scarcely cover nineteen feet, with every advantage of ground for the run. + It is true, the Professor was always in condition, and never required + training; now, unless I had time for my hard food, I was seldom in wind.” + </p> + <p> + Mr Peter Swop, emboldened and brightened by the wine he had so + industriously swilled, and willing to contribute his quota of + conversation, having previously jumbled in his noddle what Mr Bang had + said about an ostrich, and hard food, asked, across the table “Do you + believe ostriches eat iron, Mr Bang?” + </p> + <p> + Mr Bang slowly put down his glass, and looking with the most imperturbable + seriousness the innocent master right in the face, exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Ostriches eat iron!—Do I believe ostriches eat iron, did you say, + Mr Swop? Will you have the great kindness to tell me if this glass of + madeira be poison, Mr Swop? Why, when Captain Cringle there was in the + Bight of Benin, from which ‘One comes out where a hundred go in,’ on board + of the—what—d’ye-call-her? I forget her name—they had a + tame ostrich, which was the wonder of the whole squadron. At the first go + off it had plenty of food, but at length they had to put it on short + allowance of a Winchester bushel of tenpenny nails and a pump-bolt a day; + but their supplies failing, they had even to reduce this quantity, whereby + the poor bird, after unavailing endeavours to get at the iron ballast, was + driven to pick out the iron bolts of the ship in the clear moonlight + nights, when no one was thinking of it; so that the craft would soon have + been a perfect wreck. And as the commodore would not hear of the creature + being killed, Tom there undertook to keep it on copper bolts and sheathing + until they reached Cape Coast. But it would not do; the copper soured on + its stomach, and it died. Believe an ostrich eats iron, quotha! But to + return to the training for the jump I used to stick to beef-steaks and a + thimbleful of Burton ale; and again I tried the dried knuckle parts of + legs of five-year-old black faced muttons; but, latterly, I trained best, + so far as wind was concerned, on birsled pease and whisky....” + </p> + <p> + “On what?” shouted I, in great astonishment. “On what?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my boys; parched pease and whisky. Charge properly with birsled + pease, and if you take a caulkers just as you begin your run, there is the + linstock to the gun for you, and away you fly through the air on the + self-propelling principle of the Congreve Rocket. Well might that amiable, + and venerable, and most learned Theban, Cockibus Bungo, who always held + the stakes on these great occasions, exclaim, in his astonishment, to + Cheesey, the janitor of many days—as ‘Like fire from flint I glanced + away,’ disdaining the laws of gravitation—by Mercury, I swear,—yea, + by his winged heel, I shall have at the Professor yet, if I live, and + whisky and birsled pease fail me not.” + </p> + <p> + Here Paul and I laughed outright; but Mr Wagtail appeared out of sorts, + somehow; and Swop looked first at one, and then at another, with a look of + the most ludicrous uncertainty as to whether Mr Bang was quizzing him, or + telling a verity. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Wagtail,” said Gelid, “what ails you, my boy?” + </p> + <p> + I looked towards our little amiable fat friend. His face was much flushed, + although I learned that he had been unusually abstemious, and he appeared + heated and restless, and had evidently feverish symptoms about him. + </p> + <p> + “Who’s there?” said Wagtail, looking towards the door with a raised look. + </p> + <p> + It was Tailtackle, with two of the boys carrying a litter, followed by + Peter Mangrove, as if he had been chief mourner at a funeral. Out of the + litter a black paw, with fishes or splints whipped round it by a band of + spunyam, protruded, and kept swaying about like a pendulum. + </p> + <p> + “What have you got there, Mr Tailtackle?” + </p> + <p> + The gunner turned round. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, it is a vagary of Peter Mangrove’s, sir. Not contented with getting + the doctor to set Sneezer’s starboard foreleg, he insists on bringing him + away from amongst the people at the capstan-house.” + </p> + <p> + “True, Massa—Massa Tailtackle say true; de poor dumb dog never shall + cure him leg none at all, mong de men dere; dey all love him so mosh, and + make of him so mosh, and stuff him wid salt wittal so mosh, till him blood + inflammation like a hell; and den him so good temper, and so gratify wid + dere attention, dat I believe him will eat till him kickeriboo of sorefut, + [surfeit, I presumed;] and, beside, I know de dog healt will instantly + mend if him see you. Oh, Massa Aaron, [our friend was smiling,] it not + like you to make fun of poor black fellow, when him is take de part of + soch old friend as poor Sneezer. De Captain dere cannot laugh, dat is if + him will only tink on dat fearful cove at Puerto Escondido, and what + Sneezer did for bote of we dere.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, Mangrove, my man,” said Mr Bang, “I will ask leave of my + friends here to have the dog bestowed in a corner of the piazza, so let + the boys lay him down there, and here is a glass of grog for you—so. + Now go back again,”—as the poor fellow had drank our health’s. + </p> + <p> + Here Sneezer, who had been still as a mouse all this while, put his black + snout out of the hammock, and began to cheep and whine in his gladness at + seeing his master, and the large tears ran down his coal black muzzle as + he licked my hand, while every now and then he gave a short fondling bark, + as if he had said, “Ah, master, I thought you had forgotten me altogether, + ever since the action where I got my leg broke by a grape-shot, but I find + I am mistaken.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, Tailtackle, what say you?” + </p> + <p> + “We may ease off the tackles to-morrow afternoon,” said the gunner, “and + right the schooner, sir; we have put in a dozen cashew knees, as tough as + leather, and bolted the planks tight and fast. You saw these heavy + quarters did us no good, sir; I hope you will beautify her again, now + since the Spaniard’s shot has pretty well demolished them already. I hope + you won’t replace them, sir. I hope Captain Transom may see her as she + should be, as she was when your honour had your first pleasure cruise in + her.” Here—but I may have dreamed it I thought the quid in the + honest fellow’s cheek stuck out in higher relief than usual for a short + space. + </p> + <p> + “We shall see, we shall see,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Don Timotheus,” quoth Bang, “you don’t mean to be off without + drinking our healths?” as he tipped him a tumbler of brandy grog of very + dangerous strength. + </p> + <p> + The warrant officer drank it, and vanished, and presently Mr Gelid’s + brother, who had just returned from one of the out islands, made his + appearance, and after the greeting between them was over, the stranger + advanced, and with much grace invited us en masse to his house. But by + this time Mr Wagtail was so ill, that we could not move that night, our + chief concern now being to see him properly bestowed; and very soon I was + convinced that his disease was a violent bilious fever. + </p> + <p> + The old brown landlady, like all her caste, was a most excellent nurse; + and after the most approved and skilful surgeon of the town had seen him, + and prescribed what was thought right, we all turned in. Next morning, + before any of us were up, a whole plateful of cards were handed to us, and + during the forenoon these were followed by as many invitations to dinner. + We had difficulty in making our election, but that day I remember we dined + at the beautiful Mrs C——‘s, and in the evening adjourned to a + ball—a very gay affair; and I do freely avow, that I never saw so + many pretty women in a community of the same size before. Oh! it was a + little paradise, and not without its Eve. But such an Eve! I scarcely + think the old Serpent himself could have found it in his heart to have + beguiled her. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom, my dear boy,” said Mr Bang, “do you see that darling? Oh, who + can picture to himself, without a tear, that such a creature of light, + such an ethereal-looking thing, whose step ‘would ne’er wear out the + everlasting flint,’ that floating gossamer on the thin air, shall one day + become an anxious-looking, sharp-featured, pale-faced, loud tongued, + thin-bosomed, broad bottomed wife!” + </p> + <p> + The next day, or rather in the same night, his Majesty’s ship Rabo + arrived, and the first tidings we had of it in the morning were + communicated by Captain Qeuedechat himself, an honest, uproarious sailor, + who chose to begin, as many a worthy ends, by driving up to the door of + the lodging in a cart. + </p> + <p> + “Is the Captain of the small schooner that was swamped, here?” he asked of + Massa Pegtop. + </p> + <p> + Free and easy this, thought I. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, Captain Cringle is here, but him no get up yet.” “Oh, never + mind, tell him not to hurry himself; but where is the table laid for + breakfast?” + </p> + <p> + “Here, sir,” said Pegtop, as he showed him into the piazza. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, that will do—so give me the newspaper—tol de rol,” and he + began reading and singing, in all the buoyancy of mind consequent on + escaping from shipboard after a three months cruise. + </p> + <p> + I dressed and came to him as soon as I could; and the gallant Captain, + whom I had figured to myself a fine light gossamer lad of twenty-two, + stared me in the face as a fat elderly cock of forty at the least; and as + to bulk, I would not have guaranteed that eighteen stone could have made + him kick the beam. However, he was an excellent fellow, and that day he + and his crew were of most essential service in assisting me in refitting + the Wave, for which I shall always be grateful. I had spent the greater + part of the forenoon in my professional duty, but after two o’clock I had + knocked off, in order to make a few calls on the families to whom I had + introductions, and who were afterwards so signally kind to me. I then + returned to our lodgings in order to dress for dinner, before I sallied + forth to worthy old Mr N——‘s, where we were all to dine, when + I met Aaron. + </p> + <p> + “No chance of our removing to Peter Gelid’s this evening.” + </p> + <p> + “Why?” I asked. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, poor Pepperpot Wagtail is become alarmingly ill; inflammatory + symptoms have appeared, and”—Here the colloquy was cut short by the + entrance of Mrs Peter Celid—a pretty woman enough. She had come to + learn herself from our landlady, how Mr Wagtail was, and with the + kindliness of the country, she volunteered to visit poor little Waggy in + his sick-bed. I did not go into the room with her; but when she returned, + she startled us all a good deal, by stating her opinion that the worthy + man was really very ill, in which she was corroborated by the doctor, who + now arrived. So soon as the medico saw him, he bled him, and after + prescribing a lot of effervescing draughts, and various febrifuge + mixtures, he left a large blister with the old brown landlady, to be + applied over his stomach if the wavering and flightiness did not leave him + before morning. We returned early after dinner from Mr N——‘s + to our lodgings, and as I knew Gelid was expected at his brother’s in the + evening, to meet a large assemblage of kindred, and as the night was rainy + and tempestuous, I persuaded him to trust the watch to me; and as our + brown landlady had been up nearly the whole of the previous night, I sent + for Tailtackle to spell me, while the black valets acted with great + assiduity in their capacity of surgeon’s mates. About two in the morning Mr + Wagtail became delirious, and it was all that I could do, aided by my + sable assistants, and an old black nurse, to hold him down in his bed. Now + was the time to clap on the blister, but he repeatedly tore it off, so + that at length we had to give it up for an impracticable job; and + Tailtackle, whom I had called from his pallet, where he had gone to lie + down for an hour, placed the caustico, as the Spaniards call it, at the + side of the bed. + </p> + <p> + “No use in trying this any more at present,” said I; “we must wait until + he gets quieter, Mr Tailtackle; so go to your bed, and I shall lie down on + this sofa here, where Marie Paparoche” (this was our old landlady) “has + spread sheets, I see, and made all comfortable. And send Mr Bang’s + servant, will you;” (friend Aaron had ridden into the country after dinner + to visit a friend, and the storm, as I conjectured, had kept him there;) + “he is fresh, and will call me in case I be wanted, or Mr Wagtail gets + worse.” + </p> + <p> + I lay down, and soon fell fast asleep, and I remembered nothing, until I + awoke about eleven o’clock next morning, and heard Mr Bang speaking to + Wagtail, at whose bedside he was standing. + </p> + <p> + “Pepperpot, my dear, be thankful—you are quite cool—a fine + moisture on your skin this morning—be thankful, my little man how + did your blister rise?” + </p> + <p> + “My good friend,” quoth Wagtail, in a thin weak voice, “I can’t tell—I + don’t know; but this I perceive, that I am unable to rise, whether it has + risen or no.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah—weak,” quoth Gelid, who had now entered the room. + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” said Pepperpot, “not so weak as deucedly sore, and on a very + unromantic spot, my dears.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Aaron, “the pit of the stomach is not a very genteel + department, nor the abdomen neither.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Wagtail, “I have no blister on either of those places, but if + it were possible to dream of such a thing, I would say it had been clapped + on....” + </p> + <p> + Here his innate propriety tongue-tied him. + </p> + <p> + “Eh?” said Aaron; “what—has the caustico that was intended for the + frontiers of Belgium been clapped by mistake on the broad Pays Bas?” + </p> + <p> + And so in very truth it turned out; for while we slept, the patient had + risen, and sat down on the blister that lay, as already mentioned, on a + chair at his bedside, and again toppling into bed, had fallen into a sound + sleep, from which he had but a few moments before the time I write of + awoke. + </p> + <p> + “Why, now,” continued Aaron, to the doctor of the Wave who had just + entered—“why, here is a discovery, my dear doctor. You clap a hot + blister on a poor fellow’s head to cool it, but Doctor Cringle there has + cooled Master Wagtail’s brain, by blistering his stern—eh?—Make + notes, and mind you report this to the College of Surgeons.” + </p> + <p> + I cleared myself of these imputations. Wagtail recovered; our refitting + was completed; our wood, and water, and provisions, replenished; and, + after spending one of the happiest fortnights of my life, in one continued + round of gaiety, I prepared to leave—with tears in my eyes, I will + confess—the clear waters, bright blue skies, glorious climate, and + warm hearted community of Nassau, New Providence. Well might that old + villain Blackbeard have made this sweet spot his favourite rendezvous. By + the way, this same John Teach or Blackbeard, had fourteen wives in the + lovely island; and I am not sure but I could have picked out something + approximating to the aforesaid number myself, with time and opportunity, + from among such a galaxy of loveliness as then shone and sparkled in this + dear little town. Speaking of the pirate Blackbeard, I ought to have + related that one morning when I was at breakfast at Mrs C——‘s, + the amiable, and beautiful, and innocent girl matron ay, you supercilious + son of a sea-cook, you may turn up your nose at the expression, but if you + could have seen the burden of my song as I saw her, and felt the + elegancies of her manner and conversation as I felt them—but let us + stick to Blackbeard, if you please. We were all comfortably seated at + breakfast; I had finished my sixth egg, had concealed a beautiful dried + snapper, before which even a rizzard haddock sank into insignificance, and + was bethinking me of finishing off with a slice of Scotch mutton-ham, when + in slid Mr Bang. He was received with all possible cordiality, and + commenced operations very vigorously. + </p> + <p> + He was an amazing favourite of our hostess, (as where was he not a + favourite?) so that it was some time before he even looked my way. We were + in the midst of a discussion regarding the beauty of New Providence, and + the West India Islands in general; and I was remarking that nature had + been liberal, that the scenery was unquestionably magnificent in the + larger islands, and beautiful in the smaller; but there were none of those + heart-stirring reminiscences, none of those thrilling electrical + associations, which vibrate to the heart at visiting scenes in Europe + famous in antiquity—famous as the spot in which recent victories had + been achieved—famous even for the very freebooters, who once held + unlawful sway in the neighbourhood. “Why, there never has flourished + hereabouts, for instance, even one thoroughly melodramatic thief.” Massa + Aaron let me go on, until he had nearly finished his breakfast. At length + he fired a shot at me. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom, you are expatiating, I see. Nothing heart stirring, say you? + In new countries it would bother you to have old associations certainly; + and you have had your Rob Roy, I grant you, and the old country has had + her Robin Hood. But has not Jamaica had her Three fingered Jack? Ay, a + more gentlemanlike scoundrel than either of the former. When did jack + refuse a piece of yam, and a cordial from his horn, to the wayworn man, + white or black? When did he injure a woman? When did Jack refuse food and + a draught of cold water, the greatest boon, in our ardent climate, that he + could offer, to a wearied child? Oh, there was much poetry in the poor + fellow! And here, had they not that most melodramatic (as you choose to + word it) of thieves, Blackbeard, before whom Bluebeard must for ever hide + his diminished head? Why, Bluebeard had only one wife at a time, although + he murdered five of them, whereas Blackbeard had seldom fewer than a + dozen, and he was never known to murder above three. But I have fallen in + with such a treasure! Oh, such a discovery! I have been communing with + Noah himself with an old negro, who remembers this very Blackbeard—the + pirate Blackbeard.” + </p> + <p> + “The deuce,” said I; “impossible!” “But it is true. Why it is only + ninety-four years ago since the scoundrel flourished, and this old cock is + one hundred and ten. I have jotted it down—worth a hundred pounds. + Read, my adorable Mrs C——, read.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear Mr Bang,” said she, “had you not better read it yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “You, if you please,” quoth Aaron, who forthwith set himself to make the + best use of his time. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + MEMOIR OF JOHN TEACH, ESQUIRE VULGARLY CALLED BLACKBEARD. + BY AARON BANGS, ESQUIRE, F.R.S. + + “He was the mildest mannered man. + That ever scuttled ship, or cut a throat; + With such true breeding of a gentleman, + You never could discern his real thought. + Pity he loved adventurous life’s variety, + He was so great a loss to good society.” + </pre> + <p> + John Teach, or Blackbeard, was a very eminent man—a very handsome + man, and a very devil amongst the ladies. + </p> + <p> + He was a Welshman, and introduced the leek into Nassau about the year + 1718, and was a very remarkable personage, although, from some singular + imperfection in his moral constitution, he never could distinguish clearly + between meum and tuum. + </p> + <p> + He found his patrimony was not sufficient to support him; and as he + disliked agricultural pursuits as much as mercantile, he got together + forty or fifty fine young men one day, and borrowed a vessel from some + merchants that was lying at the Nore, and set sail for the Bahamas. On his + way he fell in with several West Indiamen, and, sending a boat on board of + each, he asked them for the loan of provisions and wine, and all their + gold, and silver, and clothes, which request was in every instance but one + civilly acceded to; whereupon, drinking their good healths, he returned to + his ship. In the instance where he had been uncivilly treated, to show his + forbearance, he saluted them with twenty one guns; but by some accident + the shot had not been withdrawn, so that unfortunately the contumacious + ill bred craft sank, and as Blackbeard’s own vessel was very crowded, he + was unable to save any of the crew. He was a great admirer of fine air, + and accordingly established himself on the island of New Providence, and + invited a number of elegant young men, who were fond of pleasure cruises, + to visit him, so that presently he found it necessary to launch forth in + order to borrow more provisions. + </p> + <p> + At this period he was a great dandy; and amongst other vagaries, he + allowed his beard to grow a foot long at the shortest, and then plaited it + into three strands, indicating that he was a bashaw of no common + dimensions. He wore red breeches, but no stockings, and sandals of + bullock’s hide. He was a perfect Egyptian in his curiousness in fine + linen, and his shirt was always white as the driven snow when it was + clean, which was the first Sunday of every month. In waistcoats he was + especially select; but the cut of them very much depended on the fashion + in favour with the last gentleman he had borrowed from. He never wore any + thing but a full dress purple velvet coat, under which bristled three + brace of pistols, and two naked stilettoes, only eighteen inches long, and + he had generally a lighted match fizzing in the bow of his cocked scraper + whereat he lighted his pipe, or fired off a cannon, as pleased him. + </p> + <p> + One of his favourite amusements, when he got half slewed, was to adjourn + to the hold with his compotators, and kindling some brimstone matches, to + dance and roar, as if he had been the devil himself, until his allies were + nearly suffocated. At another time he would blow out the candles in the + cabin, and blaze away with his loaded pistols at random, right and left, + whereby he severely wounded the feelings of some of his intimates by the + poignancy of his wit, all of which he considered a most excellent joke. + But he was kind to his fourteen wives so long as he was sober, as it is + known that he never murdered above three of them. His borrowing, however, + gave offence to our government, no one can tell how; and at length two of + our frigates, the Lime and Pearl, then cruising off the American coast, + after driving him from his, stronghold, hunted him down in an inlet in + North Carolina, where, in an eight-gun schooner, with thirty desperate + fellows, he made a defence worthy of his honourable life, and fought so + furiously that he killed and wounded more men of the attacking party than + his own crew consisted of; and following up his success, he boarded, sword + in hand, the headmost of the two armed sloops, which had been detached by + the frigates, with ninety men on board, to capture him; and being followed + by twelve men and his trusty lieutenant, he would have carried her out and + out, maugre the disparity of force, had he not fainted from loss of blood, + when, falling on his back, he died where he fell, like a hero—“His + face to the sky, and his feet to the foe” leaving eleven forlorn widows, + being the fourteen wives, minus the three that he had throttled. + </p> + <p> + “NO CHIVALROUS ASSOCIATIONS indeed! Match me such a character as this.” + </p> + <p> + We all applauded to the echo. But I must end my song, for I should never + tire in dwelling on the happy days we spent in this most enchanting little + island. The lovely blithe girls, and the hospitable kind hearted men, and + the children! I never saw such cherubs, with all the sprightliness of the + little pale-faced creoles of the West Indies, while the healthy bloom of + Old England blossomed on their cheeks. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom,” said Massa Aaron, on one occasion when I was rather tedious + on the subject, “all those little cherubs, as you call them, at least the + most of them, are the offspring of the cotton bales captured in the + American war.” + </p> + <p> + “The what?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “The children of the American war—and I will prove it thus taking + the time from no less an authority than Hamlet, when he chose to follow + the great Dictator, Julius Caesar himself, through all the corruption of + our physical nature, until he found him stopping a beer barrel—(only + imagine the froth of one of our disinterested friend Buxton’s beer + barrels, savouring of quassia, not hop, fizzing through the clay of Julius + Caesar the Roman!)—as thus: If there had been no Yankee war, there + would have been no prize cargoes of cotton sent into Nassau; if there had + been no prize cargoes sent into Nassau, there would have been little money + made; if there had been little money made, there would have been fewer + marriages; if there had been fewer marriages, there would have been fewer + cherubs. There is logic for you, my darling.” + </p> + <p> + “Your last is a non sequitur, my dear sir,” said I, laughing. “But, in the + main, Parson Malthus is right, out of Ireland that is, after all.” + </p> + <p> + That evening I got into a small scrape, by impressing three apprentices + out of a Scotch brig, and if Mr Bang had not stood my friend, I might + have, got into serious trouble. Thanks to him, the affair was soldered. + </p> + <p> + When on the eve of sailing, my excellent friends, Messrs Bang, Gelid, and + Wagtail, determined, in consequence of letters which they had received + from Jamaica, to return home in a beautiful armed brig that was to sail in + a few days, laden with flour. I cannot well describe how much this moved + me. Young and enthusiastic as I was, I had grappled myself with hooks of + steel to Mr Bang; and now, when he unexpectedly communicated his intention + of leaving me, I felt more forlorn and deserted than I was willing to + plead to. + </p> + <p> + “My dear boy,” said he, “make my peace with Transom. If urgent business + had not pressed me, I would not have broken my promise to rejoin him; but + I am imperiously called for in Jamaica, where I hope soon to see you.” He + continued, with a slight tremor in his voice, which thrilled to my heart, + as it vouched for the strength of his regard,—“If ever I am where + you may come, Tom, and you don’t make my house your home, provided you + have not a better of your own, I will never forgive you.” He paused. “You + young fellows sometimes spend faster than you should do, and quarterly + bills are long of coming round. I have drawn for more money than I want. I + wish you would—let me be your banker for a hundred pounds, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + I squeezed his hand. “No, no—many, many thanks, my dear sir but I + never outrun the constable. Goodbye, God bless you. Farewell, Mr Wagtail—Mr + Gelid, adieu.” I tumbled into the boat and pulled on board. The first + thing I did was to send the wine and sea stock, a most exuberant + assortment unquestionably, belonging to my Jamaica friends, ashore; but, + to my surprise, the boat was sent back, with Mr Bang’s card, on which was + written in pencil, “Don’t affront us, Captain Cringle.” Thereupon I got + the schooner under weigh, and no event worth narrating turned up until we + anchored close to the post office at Crooked Island, two days after. + </p> + <p> + We found the Firebrand there, and the post-office mail-boat, with her red + flag and white horse in it, and I went on board the corvette to deliver my + official letter, detailing the incidents of the cruise, and was most + graciously received by my captain. + </p> + <p> + There was a sail in sight when we anchored, which at first we took for the + Jamaica packet; but it turned out to be the Tinker, friend Bang’s + flour-loaded brig; and by five in the evening our friends were all three + once more restored to us, but, alas! so far as regarded two of them, only + for a moment. Messrs Gelid and Wagtail had, on second thoughts, it seems, + hauled their wind to lay in a stock of turtle at Crooked Island, and I + went ashore with them, and assisted in the selection from the turtle + crawls filled with beautiful clear water, and lots of fine lively + fresh-caught fish, the postmaster being the turtle merchant. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Paul, happier in the fish way here than you were at Biggleswade + eh?” said Aaron. + </p> + <p> + After we had completed our purchases, our friends went on board the + corvette, and I was invited to meet them at dinner, where the aforesaid + postmaster, a stout conch, with a square-cut coatee and red cape and + cuffs, was also a guest. + </p> + <p> + He must have had but a dull time of it, as there were no other white + inhabitants that I saw, on the island besides himself; his wife having + gone to Nassau, which he looked on as the prime city of the world, to be + confined, as he told us. Bang said, that she must rather have gone to be + delivered from confinement; and, in truth, Crooked Island was a most + desolate domicile for a lady; our friend the postmaster’s family, and a + few negroes employed in catching turtle, and making salt, and dressing + some scrubby cotton-trees, composing the whole population. In the evening + the packet did arrive, however, and Captain Transom received his orders. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Transom, my boy,” quoth Bang towards nightfall, “the best of + friends must part—we must move—good—night—we shall + be off presently good—by”—and he held out his hand. + </p> + <p> + “Devil a bit,” said Transom; “Bang, you shall not go, neither you nor your + friends. You promised, in fact shipped with me for the cruise, and Lady——has + my word and honour that you shall be restored to her longing eye, sound + and safe—so you must all remain, and send down the flour brig to say + you are coming.” + </p> + <p> + To make a long story short, Massa Aaron was boned, but his friends were + obdurate, so we all weighed that night; the Tinker bearing up for Jamaica, + while we kept by the wind, steering for Conaives in St Domingo. + </p> + <p> + The third day we were off Cape St Nicholas, and getting a slant of wind + from the westward, we ran up the Bight of Leogane all that night, but + towards morning it fell calm; we were close in under the highland, about + two miles from the shore, and the night was the darkest I ever was out in + anywhere. There were neither moon nor stars to be seen, and the dark + clouds settled down, until they appeared to rest upon our mastheads, + compressing, as it were, the hot steamy air upon us until it became too + dense for breathing. In the early part of the night it had rained in heavy + showers now and then, and there were one or two faint flashes of + lightning, and some heavy peals of thunder, which rolled amongst the + distant hills in loud shaking reverberations, which gradually became + fainter and fainter, until they grumbled away in the distance in hoarse + murmurs, like the low notes of an organ in one of our old cathedrals; but + now there was neither rain nor wind—all nature seemed fearfully + hushed; for where we lay, in the smooth bight, there was no swell, not + even a ripple on the glasslike sea; the sound of the shifting of a + handspike, or the tread of the men, as they ran to haul on—a rope, + or the creaking of the rudder, sounded loud and distinct. The sea in our + neighbourhood was strongly phosphorescent, so that the smallest chip + thrown overboard struck fire from the water, as if it had been a piece of + iron cast on flint; and when you looked over the quarter, as I delight to + do, and tried to penetrate into the dark clear profound beneath, you every + now and then saw a burst of pale light, like a halo, far down in the + depths of the green sea, caused by the motion of some fish, or of what + Jack, no great natural philosopher, usually calls blubbers; and when the + dolphin or skip-jack leapt into the air, they sparkled out from the still + bosom of the deep dark water like rockets, until they fell again into + their element in a flash of fire. This evening the corvette had showed no + lights, and although I conjectured she was not far from us, still I could + not with any certainty indicate her whereabouts. It might now have been + about three o’clock, and I was standing on the aftermost gun on the + starboard side, peering into the impervious darkness over the tafferel, + with my dear old dog Sneezer by my side, nuzzling and fondling after his + affectionate fashion, while the pilot, Peter Mangrove, stood within + handspike length of me. The dog had been growling, but all in fun, and + snapping at me, when in a moment he hauled off, planted his paws on the + rail, looked forth into the night, and gave a short, anxious bark, Ii e + the solitary pop of the sentry’s musket to alarm the main guard in outpost + work. + </p> + <p> + Peter Mangrove advanced, and put his arm round the dog’s neck. “What you + see, my shild?” said the black pilot. + </p> + <p> + Sneezer uplifted his voice, and gave a long continuous growl. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said Mangrove sharply, “Massa Captain, something near we—never + doubt dat—de dog yeerie someting we can’t yeerie, and see someting + we can’t see.” + </p> + <p> + I had lived long enough never to despise any caution, from whatever + quarter it proceeded. So I listened, still as a stone. Presently I thought + I heard the distant splash of oars. I placed my hand behind my ear, and + waited with breathless attention. Immediately I saw the sparkling dip of + them in the calm black water, as if a boat, and a large one, was pulling + very fast towards us. “Look out, hail that boat,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Boat ahoy!” sung out the man, to whom I had spoken. No answer. “Coming + here?” reiterated the seaman. No better success. The boat or canoe, or + whatever it might be, was by this time close aboard of us, within + pistol-shot at the farthest—no time to be lost, so I hailed myself, + and this time the challenge did produce an answer. + </p> + <p> + “Sore boat-fruit and wegitab.” + </p> + <p> + “Shore boat, with fruit and vegetables, at this time of night—I + don’t like it,” said I. “Boatswain’s mate,—all hands—pipe away + the boarders. Cutlasses, men—quick, a piratical row—boat is + close to.” And verily we had little time to lose, when a large canoe or + row—boat, pulling twelve oars at the fewest, and carrying twenty—five + men, or thereabouts, swept up on our larboard quarter, hooked on, and the + next moment upwards of twenty unlooked—for visitors scrambled up our + shallow side, and jumped on board. All this took place so suddenly that + there were not ten of my people ready to receive them, but those ten were + the prime men of the ship. + </p> + <p> + “Surrender, you scoundrels—surrender. You have boarded a man-of-war. + Down with your arms, or we shall kill you to a man.” + </p> + <p> + But they either did not understand me, or did not believe me, for the + answer was a blow from a cutlass, which, if I had not parried with my + night-glass, which it broke in pieces, might have effectually stopped my + promotion. + </p> + <p> + “Cut them down, boarders, down with them—they are pirates,” shouted + I; “heave cold shot into their boat alongside—all hands, Mr + Rousemout,” to the boatswain, “call all hands.” + </p> + <p> + We closed. The assailants had no firearms, but they were armed with swords + and long knives, and as they fought with desperation, several of our + people were cruelly haggled; and after the first charge, the combatants on + both sides became so blended, that it was impossible to strike a blow, + without running the risk of cutting down a friend. By this time all hands + were on deck; the boat alongside had been swamped by the cold shot that + had been hove crashing through her bottom, when down came a shower from + the surcharged clouds, or waterspout—call it which you will—that + absolutely deluged the decks, the scuppers being utterly unable to carry + off the water. So long as the pirates fought in a body, I had no fears, + as, dark as it was, our men, who held together, knew where to strike and + thrust; but when the torrent of rain descended in bucketfuls, the former + broke away, and were pursued singly into various corners about the deck, + all escape being cut off from the swamping of their boat. Still they were + not vanquished, and I ran aft to the binnacle, where a blue light was + stowed away,—one of several that we had got on deck to bum that + night, in order to point out our whereabouts to the Firebrand. I fired it, + and rushing forward cutlass-in-hand, we set on the gang of black + desperadoes with such fury, that after killing two of them outright, and + wounding and taking prisoners seven, we drove the rest overboard into the + sea, where the small-armed men, who by this time had tackled to their + muskets, made short work of them, guided as they were by the sparkling of + the dark water, as they struck out and swam for their lives. The blue + light was immediately answered by another from the corvette, which lay + about a mile off; but before her boats, two of which were immediately + armed and manned, could reach us, we had defeated our antagonists, and the + rain had increased to such a degree, that the heavy drops, as they fell + with a strong rushing noise into the sea, flashed it up into one entire + sheet of fire. + </p> + <p> + We—secured our prisoners, all blacks and mulattoes, the most + villainous looking scoundrels I had ever seen, and shortly after it came + on to thunder and lighten, as if heaven and earth had been falling + together. A most vivid flash—it almost blinded me. Presently the + Firebrand burnt another blue light, whereby we saw that her maintopmast + was gone close by the cap, with the topsail, and upper spars, and yards, + and gear, all hanging down in a lumbering mass of confused wreck; she had + been struck by the levin brand, which had killed four men, and stunned + several more. + </p> + <p> + By this time the cold grey streaks of morning appeared in the eastern + horizon, and soon after the day broke; and by two o’clock in the + afternoon, both corvette and schooner were at anchor at Conaives. The + village, for town it could not be called, stands on a low hot plain, as if + the washings of the mountains on the left hand side as we stood in had + been carried out into the sea, and formed into a white plateau of sand; + all was hot and stunted, and scrubby. We brought up inside of the + corvette, in three fathoms water. My superior officer had made the private + signal to come on board and dine. I dressed, and the boat was lowered + down, and we pulled for the corvette, but our course lay under the stern + of the two English ships that were lying there loading cargoes of coffee. + </p> + <p> + “Pray, sir,” said a decent-looking man, who leant on the tafferel of one + of them—“Pray, sir, are you going on board of the Commodore?” + </p> + <p> + “I am,” I answered. + </p> + <p> + “I am invited there too, sir; will you have the kindness to say I will be + there presently?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly—give way, men.” + </p> + <p> + Presently we were alongside the corvette, and the next moment we stood on + her deck, holystoned white and clean, with my stanch friend Captain + Transom and his officers, all in full fig, walking to and fro under the + awning, a most magnificent naval lounge, being thirty two feet wide at the + gangway, and extending fifty feet or more aft, until it narrowed to twenty + at the tafferel. We were all—the two masters of the merchantmen, + decent respectable men in their way, included—graciously received, + and sat down to an excellent dinner, Mr Bang taking the lead as usual in + all the fun; and we were just on the verge of cigars and cold grog, when + the first lieutenant came down and said that the captain of the port had + come off, and was then on board. + </p> + <p> + “Show him in,” said Captain Transom, and a tall, vulgar-looking + blackamoor, dressed apparently in the cast-off coat of a French grenadier + officer, entered the cabin with his chapeau in his hand, and a Madras + handkerchief tied round his woolly skull. He made his bow, and remained + standing near the door. + </p> + <p> + “You are the captain of the port?” said Captain Transom. The man answered + in French, that he was. “Why, then, take a chair, sir, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + He begged to be excused and after tipping off his bumper of claret, and + receiving the Captain’s report, he made his bow and departed. + </p> + <p> + I returned to the Wave, and next morning I breakfasted on board of the + Commodore, and afterwards we all proceeded on shore to Monsieur B——‘s, + to whom Massa Aaron was known. The town, if I may call it so, had + certainly a very desolate appearance. There was nothing stirring; and + although a group of idlers, amounting to about twenty or thirty, did + collect about us on the end of the wharf, which, by the by, was terribly + out of repair, yet they all appeared ill clad, and in no way so well + furnished as the blackies in Jamaica; and when we marched up through a + hot, sandy, unpaved street into the town, the low, one-story, shabby + looking houses were falling into decay, and the streets more resembled + river-courses than thoroughfares, while the large carrion crows were + picking garbage on the very crown of the causeway, without apparently + entertaining the least fear of us, or of the negro children who were + playing close to them, so near, in fact, that every now and then one of + the urchins would aim a blow at one of the obscene birds, when it would + give a loud discordant croak, and jump a pace or two, with outspread + wings, but without taking flight. Still many of the women, who were + sitting under the small piazzas, or projecting eaves of the houses, with + their little stalls, filled with pullicate handkerchiefs, and pieces of + muslin, and ginghams for sale, were healthy-looking, and appeared + comfortable and happy. As we advanced into the town, almost every male we + met was a soldier, all rigged and well dressed, too, in the French + uniform; in fact, the remarkable man, King Henry, or Christophe, took care + to have his troops well fed and clothed in every case. On our way we had + to pass by the Commandant, Baron B——‘s house, when it occurred + to Captain Transom that we ought to stop and pay our respects; but Mr + Bang, being bound by no such etiquette, bore up for his friend Monsieur B——‘s. + As we approached the house—a long, low, one-story building, with a + narrow piazza, and a range of unglazed windows, staring open, with their + wooden shutters, like ports in a ship’s side, towards the street—we + found a sentry at the door, who, when we announced ourselves, carried arms + all in regular style. Presently a very good looking negro, in a handsome + aide-de-camp’s uniform, appeared, and, hat in hand, with all the grace in + the world, ushered us into the presence of the Baron, who was lounging in + a Spanish chair half asleep, but on hearing us announced he rose, and + received us with great amenity. He was a fat elderly negro, so far as I + could judge, about sixty years of age, and was dressed in very wide jean + trowsers, over which a pair of well polished Hessian boots were drawn, + which, by adhering close to his legs, gave him, in contrast with the wide + puffing of his garments above, the appearance of being underlimbed, which + he by no means was, being a stout old Turk. + </p> + <p> + After a profusion of congees and fine speeches, and superabundant + assurances of the esteem in which his master King Henry held our master + King George, we made our bows and repaired to Monsieur B——‘s, + where I was engaged to dine. As for Captain Transom, he went on board that + evening to superintend the repairs of the ship. + </p> + <p> + There was no one to meet us but Monsieur B——and his daughter, + a tall and very elegant brown girl, who had been educated in France, and + did the honours incomparably well. We sat down, Massa Aaron whispering in + my lug, that in Jamaica it was not quite the thing to introduce brown + ladies at dinner; but, as he said, “Why not? Neither you nor I are high + caste creoles—so en avant.” + </p> + <p> + Dinner was nearly over, when Baron B——‘s aide-de-camp slid + into the room. Monsieur B——rose. “Captain Latour, you are + welcome—be seated. I hope you have not dined?” + </p> + <p> + “Why no,” said the negro officer, as he drew a chair, while he exchanged + glances with the beautiful Eugenie, and sat himself down close to el Senor + Bang. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo, Quashie! Whereaway, my lad? a little above the salt, an’t you?” + ejaculated our amigo; while Pegtop, who had just come on shore, and was + standing behind his master, stared and gaped in the greatest wonderment. + But Mr Bang’s natural good breeding, and knowledge of the world, instantly + recalled him to time and circumstances; and when the young officer looked + at him, regarding him with some surprise, he bowed, and invited him, in + the best French he could muster, to drink wine. The aide-de-camp was, as I + have said, jet-black as the ace of spades, but he was, notwithstanding, so + far as figure went, a very handsome man tall and well made, especially + about the shoulders, which were beautifully formed, and, in the estimation + of a statuary, would probably have balanced the cucumber curve of the + shin; his face, however, was regular negro-flat nose, heavy lips, fine + eyes, and beautiful teeth, and he wore two immense gold earrings. His + woolly head was bound round with a pullicate handkerchief, which we had + not noticed until he took off his laced cocked hat. His coat was the exact + pattern of the French staff uniform at the time—plain blue, without + lace, except at the cape and cuffs, which were of scarlet cloth, covered + with rich embroidery. He wore a very handsome straight sword, with steel + scabbard, and the white trowsers, and long Hessian boots, already + described as part of the costume of his general. + </p> + <p> + Mr Bang, as I have said, had rallied by this time, and with the tact of a + gentleman, appeared to have forgotten whether his new ally was black, + blue, or green, while the claret, stimulating him into self possession, + was evaporating in broken French. But his man Pegtop had been pushed off + his balance altogether; his equanimity was utterly gone. When the young + officer brushed past him, at the first go off, while he was rinsing some + glasses in the passage, his sword banged against Pegtop’s derriere as he + stooped down over his work. He started and looked round, and merely + exclaimed—“Eigh, Massa Niger, wurra dat!” But now, when, standing + behind his master’s chair, he saw the aide-de-camp consorting with him + whom he looked upon as the greatest man in existence, on terms of + equality, all his faculties were paralysed. + </p> + <p> + “Pegtop,” said I, “hand me some yam, if you please.” + </p> + <p> + He looked at me all agape, as if he had been half strangled. + </p> + <p> + “Pegtop, you scoundrel,” quoth massa Aaron, “don’t you hear what Captain + Cringle says, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh yes, massa;” and thereupon the sable valet brought me a bottle of fish + sauce, which he endeavoured to pour into my wineglass. All this while + Eugenie and the aide-de-camp were playing the agreeable—and in very + good taste, too, let me tell you. + </p> + <p> + I had just drank wine with mine host, when I cast my eye along the passage + that led out of the room, and there was Pegtop dancing, and jumping, and + smiting his thigh, in an ecstasy of laughter, as he doubled himself up, + with the tears welling over his cheeks. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Lord! Oh!—Massa Bang bow, and make face, and drink wine, and do + every ting shivil, to one dam black rascall nigger!—Oh, blackee more + worser clan me, Gabriel Pegtop——Oh, Lard!—ha! ha! ha!”—Thereupon + he threw himself down in the piazza, amongst plates and dishes and shouted + and laughed in a perfect frenzy, until Mr Bang got up, and thrust the poor + fellow out of doors, in a pelting shower, which soon so far quelled the + hysterical passion, that he came in again, grave as a judge, and took his + place behind his master’s chair once more, and every thing went on + smoothly. The aide-de-camp, who appeared quite unconscious that he was the + cause of the poor fellow’s mirth, renewed his attentions to Eugenie; and + Mr Bang, Monsieur B——, and myself, were again engaged in + conversation, and our friend Pegtop was in the act of handing a slice of + melon to the black officer, when a file of soldiers, with fixed bayonets, + stept into the piazza, and ordered arms, one taking up his station on each + side of the door. Presently another aide-de-camp, booted and spurred, + dashed after them; and, as soon as he crossed the threshold, sung out, + “Place, pour Monsieur le Baron.” + </p> + <p> + The electrical nerve was again touched—“Oh!—oh!—oh! + Caramighty! here comes anoder on dem,” roared Pegtop, sticking the slice + of melon, which was intended for Mademoiselle Eugenie, into his own mouth, + to quell the paroxysm, if possible, (while he fractured the plate on the + black aide’s skull,) and immediately blew it out again, with an explosion, + and a scattering of the fragments, as if it had been the blasting of a + stone quarry. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds, this is too much,”—exclaimed Bang, as he rose and kicked + the poor fellow out again, with such vehemence, that his skull, + encountering the paunch of our friend the Baron, who was entering from the + street at that instant, capsized him outright, and away rolled his + Excellency the General de Division, Commandant de L’Arrondissement, &c. + &c. digging his spurs into poor Pegtop’s transom, and sacring + furiously, while the black servant roared as if he had been harpooned by + the very devil. The aides started to their feet and one of them looked at + Mr Bang, and touched the hilt of his sword, grinding the word + ‘satisfaction’ between his teeth, while the other ordered the sentries to + run the poor fellow, whose mirth had been so uproarious, through. However, + he got off with one or two brogues in a very safe place; and when Monsieur + B——explained how matters stood, and that the “pauvre diable,” + as the black Baron coolly called him, was a mere servant, and an + uncultivated creature, and that no insult was meant, we had all a hearty + laugh, and every thing rolled right again. At length the Baron and his + black tail rose to wish us a good evening, and we were thinking of + finishing off with a cigar and a glass of cold grog, when Monsieur B——‘s + daughter returned into the piazza, very pale, and evidently much + frightened. “Mon pere,” said she while her voice quavered from excessive + agitation—“My father—why do the soldiers remain?” + </p> + <p> + We all peered into the dark passage, and there, true enough, were the + black sentries at their posts beside the doorway, still and motionless as + statues. Monsieur B——, poor fellow, fell back in his chair at + the sight, as if he had been shot through the heart. + </p> + <p> + “My fate is sealed—I am lost—oh, Eugenie!” were the only words + he could utter. + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” exclaimed the weeping girl, “God forbid—the Baron is a + kind hearted man—King Henry cannot—no, no—he knows you + are not disaffected, he will not injure you.” + </p> + <p> + Here one of the black aides-de-camp suddenly returned. It was the poor + fellow who had been making love to Eugenie during the entertainment. He + looked absolutely blue with dismay; his voice shook, and his knees knocked + together as he approached our host. + </p> + <p> + He tried to speak, but could not. “Oh, Pierre, Pierre,” moaned, or rather + gasped Eugenie, “what have you come to communicate? what dreadful news are + you the bearer of?” He held out an open letter to poor B——, + who, unable to read it from excessive agitation, handed it to me. It ran + thus: + </p> + <p> + “MONSIEUR LE BARON, Monsieur—has been arrested here this morning; he + is a white Frenchman, and there are strong suspicions against him. Place + his partner M. B——under the surveillance of the police + instantly. You are made answerable for his safe custody.” + </p> + <p> + “Witness his Majesty’s hand and seal, at Sans Souci, this——” + </p> + <p> + The Count. + </p> + <p> + “Then I am doomed,” groaned poor Mr B——. His daughter fainted, + the black officer wept, and having laid his senseless mistress on a sofa, + he approached and wrung B——‘s hand. “Alas, my dear sir—how + my heart bleeds! But cheer up—King Henry is just—all may be + right—all may still be right; and so far as my duty to him will + allow, you may count on nothing being done here that is not absolutely + necessary for holding ourselves blameless with the Government.” + </p> + <p> + Enough and to spare of this. We slept on shore that night, and a very neat + catastrophe was likely to have ensued thereupon. Intending to go on board + ship at daybreak, I had got up and dressed myself, and opened the door + into the street to let myself out, when I stumbled unwittingly against the + black sentry, who must have been half asleep, for he immediately stepped + several paces back, and presenting his musket, the clear barrel glancing + in the moonlight, snapped it at me. Fortunately it missed fire, which gave + me time to explain that it was not M. B——, attempting to + escape; but that day week he was marched to the prison of La Force, near + Cape Henry, where his partner had been previously lodged; and from that + hour to this, neither of them were ever heard of. Next evening I again + went ashore, but I was denied admittance to him; and, as my orders were + imperative not to interfere in any way, I had to return on board with a + heavy heart. + </p> + <p> + The day following, Captain Transom and myself paid a formal I visit to the + black Baron, in order to leave no stone unturned to obtain poor B——‘s + release if we could. Mr Bang accompanied us. We found the sable dignitary + lounging in a grass hammock, (slung from corner to corner of a very + comfortless room, for the floor was tiled, the windows were unglazed, and + there was no furniture whatsoever but an old-fashioned mahogany sideboard + and three wicker chairs) apparently half-asleep, or ruminating after his + breakfast. On our being announced by a half-naked negro servant, who + aroused him, he got up and received us very kindly I beg his lordship’s + pardon, I should write graciously—and made us take wine and biscuit, + and talked and rattled; but I saw he carefully avoided the subject which + he evidently knew was the object of our visit. At length, finding it would + be impossible for him to parry it much longer single-handed, with tact + worthy of a man of fashion, he called out “Marie! Marie!” Our eyes + followed his, and we saw a young and very handsome brown lady rise, whom + we had perceived seated at her work when we first entered, in a small dark + back porch, and advance after curtseying to us seriatim, with great + elegance, as the old fat niger introduced her to us as “Madame la + Baronne.” + </p> + <p> + “His wife?” whispered Aaron; “the old rank goat!” + </p> + <p> + Her brown ladyship did the honours of the wine-ewer with the perfect + quietude and ease of a well-bred woman. She was a most lovely clear + skinned quadroon girl. She could not have been twenty; tall and + beautifully shaped. Her long coal-black tresses were dressed high on her + head, which was bound round with the everlasting Madras handkerchief, in + which pale blue was the prevailing colour; but it was elegantly adjusted, + and did not come down far enough to shade the fine development of her + majestic forehead—Pasta’s in Semiramide was not more commanding. Her + eyebrows were delicately arched and sharply defined, and her eyes of jet + were large and swimming; her nose had not utterly abjured its African + origin, neither had her lips, but, notwithstanding, her countenance shone + with all the beauty of expression so conspicuous in the Egyptian sphinx + Abyssinian, but most sweet—while her teeth were as the finest ivory, + and her chin and throat, and bosom, as if her bust had been an antique + statue of the rarest workmanship. The only ornaments she wore were two + large virgin gold ear-rings, massive yellow hoops without any carving, but + so heavy that they seemed to weigh down the small thin transparent ears + which they perforated; and a broad black velvet band round her neck, to + which was appended a large massive crucifix of the same metal. She also + wore two broad bracelets of black velvet clasped with gold. Her + beautifully moulded form was scarcely veiled by a cambric chemise, with + exceedingly short sleeves, over which she wore a rose-coloured silk + petticoat, short enough to display a finely formed foot and ankle, with a + well-selected pearl white silk stocking, and a neat low-cut French black + kid shoe. As for gown, she had none. She wore a large-sparkling diamond + ring on her marriage finger, and we were all bowing before the deity, when + our attention was arrested by a cloud of dust at the top of the street, + and presently a solitary black dragoon sparked out from it, his + accoutrements and headpiece blazing in the sun, then three more abreast, + and immediately a troop of five-and-twenty cavaliers, or thereabouts, came + thundering down the street. They formed opposite the Baron’s house, and I + will say I never saw a better appointed troop of horse anywhere. Presently + an aide-de-camp scampered up; and having arrived opposite the door, + dismounted, and entering, exclaimed, “Les Comtes de Lemonade et + Marmalade.”—“The who?” said Mr Bang; but presently two very handsome + young men of colour, in splendid uniforms, rode up, followed by a + glittering staff, of at least twenty mounted officers. They alighted, and + entering, made their bow to Baron B——. The youngest, the Count + Lemonade, spoke very decent English, and what between Mr Bang’s and my + bad, and Captain Transom’s very good, French, we all made ourselves + agreeable. I may state here, that Lemonade and Marmalade are two districts + of the island of St Domingo, which had been pitched on by Christophe to + give titles to two of his fire—new nobility. The grandees had come + on a survey of the district, and although we did not fail to press the + matter of poor B——‘s release, yet they either had no authority + to interfere in the matter, or they would not acknowledge that they had, + so we reluctantly took leave, and went on shipboard. + </p> + <p> + “Tom, you villain,” said Mr Bang, as we stepped into the boat, “if my eye + had caught yours when these noblemen made their entree, I should have + exploded with laughter, and most likely have had my throat cut for my + pains. Pray, did his highness of Lemonade carry a punch-ladle in his hand? + I am sure I expected he of Marmalade to have carried a jelly can? Oh, Tom, + at the moment I heard them announced, my dear old mother flitted before my + mind’s eye, with the bright, well-scoured, large brass pans in the + background, as she superintended her handmaidens in their annual + preservations.” + </p> + <p> + After the fruitless interview, we weighed, and sailed for Port au Prince, + where we arrived the following evening. + </p> + <p> + I had heard much of the magnificence of the scenery in the Bight of + Leogane, but the reality far surpassed what I had pictured to myself. The + breeze, towards noon of the following day, had come up in a gentle air + from the westward, and we were gliding along before it like a spread + eagle, with all our light sails abroad to catch the sweet zephyr, which + was not even strong enough to ruffle the silver surface of the landlocked + sea, that glowed beneath the blazing midday sun, with a dolphin here and + there cleaving the shining surface with an arrowy ripple, and a + brown-skinned shark glaring on us, far down in the deep, clear, green + profound, like a water fiend, and a slow-sailing pelican overhead, after a + long sweep on poised wing, dropping into the sea like lead, and flashing + up the water like the bursting of a shell, as we sailed up into a glorious + amphitheatre of stupendous mountains, covered with one eternal forest, + that rose gradually from the hot sandy plains that skirted the shore; + while what had once been smiling fields, and rich sugar plantations, in + the long misty level districts at their bases, were now covered with + brushwood, fast rising up into one impervious thicket; and as the Island + of Conave closed in the view behind us to seaward, the sun sank beyond it, + amidst rolling masses of golden and blood-red clouds, giving token of a + goodly day to-morrow, and gilding the outline of the rocky islet (as if to + a certain depth it had been transparent) with a golden halo, gradually + deepening into imperial purple. Beyond the shadow of the tree-covered + islet, on the left hand, rose the town of Port-au-Prince, with its long + streets rising like terraces on the gently swelling shore, while the + mountains behind it, still gold tipped in the declining sunbeams, seemed + to impend frowningly over it, and the shipping in the roadstead at anchor + off the town were just beginning to fade from our sight in the gradually + increasing darkness, and a solitary light began to sparkle in a cabin + window and then disappear, and to twinkle for a moment in the piazzas of + the houses on shore like a will-of-the-wisp, and the chirping buzz of + myriads of insects and reptiles was coming off from the island a-stem of + us, borne on the wings of the light wind, which, charged with rich odours + from the closing flowers, fanned us “like the sweet south, soft breathing + o’er a bed of violets,” when a sudden flash and a jet of white smoke + puffed out from the hill-fort above the town, the report thundering + amongst the everlasting hills, and gradually rumbling itself away into the + distant ravines and valleys, like a lion growling itself to sleep, and the + shades of night fell on the dead face of nature like a pall, and all was + undistinguishable.—When I had written thus far—it was at + Port-au-Prince, at Mr S——‘s—Mr Bang entered—“Ah! + Tom—at the log, polishing—using the plane—shaping out + something for Ebony let me see.” + </p> + <p> + Here our friend read the preceding paragraphs. They did not please him. + </p> + <p> + “Don’t like it, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + “No? Pray, why, my dear sir?—I have tried to” “Hold your tongue, my + good boy.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Cease, rude Boreas, blustering railer, + List old ladies o’er your tea, + At description Tom’s a tailor, + When he is compared to me. + Tooral looral loo.” + </pre> + <p> + “Attend—brevity is the soul of wit,—ahem. Listen how I shall + crush all your lengthy yam into an eggshell. ‘The Bight of Leogane is a + horseshoe—Cape St Nicholas is the caulker on the northern heel Cape + Tiberoon, the ditto on the south—Port-au-Prince is the tip at the + toe towards the east—Conaives, Leogane, Petit Trouve, &c. &c. + &c. are the nails, and the Island of Gonave is the frog.’ Now every + human being who knows that a horse has four legs and a tail—of + course this includes all the human race, excepting tailors and sailors—must + understand this at once; it is palpable and plain, although no man could + have put it so perspicuously, excepting my friend William Cobbettt or + myself. By the way, speaking of horses, that blood thing of the old + Baron’s nearly gave you your quietus t’other day, Tom. Why will you always + pass the flank of a horse in place of going ahead of him, to use your own + phrase? Never ride near a led horse on passing when you can help it; give + him a wide berth, or clap the groom’s corpus between you and his heels; + and never, never go near the croup of any quadruped bigger than a cat, for + even a cow’s is inconvenient, when you can by any possibility help it.” + </p> + <p> + I laughed—“Well, well, my dear sir—but you undervalue my + equestrian capability somewhat too, for I do pretend to know that a horse + has four legs and a tail.” + </p> + <p> + There was no pleasing Aaron this morning, I saw. + </p> + <p> + “Then, Tummas, my man, you know a deuced deal more than I do. As for the + tail, conceditur—but devilish few horses have four legs nowadays, + take my word for it. However, here comes Transom; I am off to have a + lounge with him, and I will finish the veterinary lecture at some more + convenient season. Tol lol de rol.”—Exit singing. + </p> + <p> + The morning after this I went ashore at daylight, and, guided by the sound + of military music, proceeded to the Place Republicain, or square before + President Petion’s palaces where I found eight regiments of foot under + arms, with their bands playing, and in the act of defiling before General + Boyer who commanded the arrondissement. This was the garrison of + Port-au-Prince, but neither the personal appearance of the troops, nor + their appointments, were at all equal to those of King Henry’s well + dressed and well drilled cohorts that we saw at Conaives. The President’s + guards were certainly fine men, and a squadron of dismounted cavalry, in + splendid blue uniforms, with scarlet trowsers richly laced, might have + vied with the elite of Nap’s own, barring the black faces. But the + materiel of the other regiments was not superfine, as M. Boyer, before + whom they were defiling, might have said. + </p> + <p> + I went to breakfast with Mr S——, one of the English merchants + of the place, a kind and most hospitable man; and under his guidance, the + Captain, Mr Bang, and I, proceeded afterwards to call on Petion. + Christophe, or King Henry, had some time before retired from the siege of + Port-au-Prince, and we found the town in a very miserable state. Many of + the houses were injured from shot; the President’s palace, for instance, + was perforated in several places, which had not been repaired. In the + antechamber you could see the blue heavens through the shot holes in the + roof.—“Next time I come to court, Tom,” said Mr Bang, “I will bring + an umbrella.” Turning out of the parade, we passed through a rickety, + unpainted open gate, in a wall about six feet high; the space beyond was + an open green or grass-plot, parched and burned up by the sun, with a + common fowl here and there fluttering and hotching in the hole she had + scratched in the and soil; but there was neither sentry nor servant to be + seen, nor any of the usual pomp and circumstance about a great man’s + dwelling. Presently we were in front of a long, low, one story building, + with a flight of steps leading up into an entrance hall, furnished with + several gaudy sofas, and half-a-dozen chairs with a plain wooden floor, on + which a slight approach to the usual West India polish had been attempted, + but mightily behind the elegant domiciles of my Kingston friends in this + respect. In the centre of this room stood three young officers, fair + mulattoes, with their plumed cocked-hats in their hands, and dressed very + handsomely in French uniforms; and it always struck me as curious, that + men who hated the very name of Frenchman, as the devil hates holy water, + should copy all the customs and manners of the detested people so closely. + I may mention here once for all, that Petion’s officers, who, generally + speaking, were all men of colour, and not negroes, were as much superior + in education, and, I fear I must say, in intellect, as they certainly were + in personal appearance, to the black officers of King Henry, as his + soldiery were superior to those of the neighbouring black republic. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Monsieur S——, comment vous portez vous? je suis bien aise + de vous voir,” said one of the young officers; “how are you, how have you + been?” + </p> + <p> + “Vous devenez tout a fait rare,” quoth a second. “Le President will be + delighted to see you. Why, he says he thought you must have been dead, and + les messieurs La....” + </p> + <p> + “Who?—introduce us.” + </p> + <p> + It was done in due form—the Honourable Captain Transom, Captain + Cringle of his Britannic Majesty’s schooner, Wave, and Aaron Bang, + Esquire. And presently we were all as thick as pickpockets. + </p> + <p> + “But come, the President will be delighted to see you.” We followed the + officer who spoke, as he marshalled us along, and in an inner chamber, + wherein there were also several large holes in the ceiling through which + the sun shone, we found President Petion, the black Washington, sitting on + a very old ragged sofa, amidst a confused mass of papers, dressed in a + blue military undress frock, white trowsers, and the everlasting Madras + handkerchief bound round his brows. He was much darker than I expected to + have seen him, darker than one usually sees a mulatto, or the direct cross + between the negro and the white, yet his features were in no way akin to + those of an African. His nose was as high, sharp, and well defined as that + of any Hindoo I ever saw in the Hoogly, and his hair was fine and silky. + In fact, dark as he was, he was at least three removes from the African; + and when I mention that he had been long in Europe—he was even for a + short space acting adjutant general of the army of Italy with Napoleon—his + general manner, which was extremely good, kind and affable, was not matter + of so much surprise. + </p> + <p> + He rose to receive us with much grace, and entered into conversation with + all the ease and polish of a gentleman—“le me porte assez bien + aujourd’hui; but I have been very unwell, M. S——, so tell me + the news.” Early as it was, he immediately ordered in coffee; it was + brought by two black servants, followed by a most sylph-like girl, about + twelve years of age, the President’s natural daughter; she was fairer than + her father, and acquitted herself very gracefully. She was rigged, pin for + pin, like a little woman, with a perfect turret of artificial flowers + twined amongst the braids of her beautiful hair; and although her neck was + rather overloaded with ornaments, and her poor little ears were stretching + under the weight of the heavy gold and emerald earrings, while her + bracelets were like manacles, yet I had never seen a more lovely little + girl. She wore a frock of green Chinese crape, beneath which appeared the + prettiest little feet in the world. + </p> + <p> + We were invited to attend a ball in the evening, given in honour of the + President’s birthday, and after a sumptuous dinner at our friend M. S——‘s, + we all adjourned to the gay scene. There was a company of grenadiers of + the President’s guard, with their band, on duty in front of the palace, as + a guard of honour; they carried arms as we passed, all in good style; and + at the door we met two aides-de-camp in full dress, one of whom ushered us + into an anteroom, where a crowd of brown, with a sprinkling of black + ladies, and a whole host of brown and black officers, with a white foreign + merchant here and there, were drinking coffee, and taking refreshments of + one kind or another. The ladies were dressed in the very height of the + newest Parisian fashion of the day hats and feathers, and jewellery, real + or fictitious, short sleeves, and shorter petticoats fine silks, and broad + blonde trimmings and flounces, and low-cut corsages—some of them + even venturing on rouge, which gave them the appearance of purple dahlias; + but as to manner, all lady-like and proper; while the men, most of them + militaires, were as fine as gold and silver lace, and gay uniforms, and + dress-swords could make them and all was blaze, and sparkle, and jingle; + but the black officers, in general, covered their woolly pates with Madras + handkerchiefs, as if ashamed to show them, the brown officers alone + venturing to show their own hair. Presently a military band struck up with + a sudden crash in the inner-room, and the large folding doors being thrown + open, the ballroom lay before us, in the centre of which stood the + President, surrounded by his very splendid staff, with his daughter on his + arm. He was dressed in a plain blue uniform, with gold epaulets, and + acquitted himself extremely well, conversing freely on European politics, + and giving his remarks with great shrewdness, and a very peculiar naivete. + As for his daughter, however much she might appear to have been + overdressed in the morning, she was now simple in her attire as a little + shepherdesses plain white muslin frock, white sash, white shoes, white + gloves, pearl ear-rings and necklace, and a simple, but most beautiful, + camilla japonica in her hair. Dancing now commenced, and all that I shall + say is, that before I had been an hour in the room, I had forgotten + whether the faces around me were black, brown, or white; every thing was + conducted with such decorum. However, I could see that the fine jet was + not altogether the approved style of beauty, and that many a very handsome + woolly-headed belle was destined to ornament the walls, until a few of the + young white merchants made a dash amongst them, more for the fun of the + thing, as it struck me, than any thing else, which piqued some of the + brown officers, and for the rest of the evening blackee had it hollow. And + there was friend Aaron waltzing with a very splendid woman, elegantly + dressed, but black as a coal, with long kid gloves, between which and the + sleeve of her gown, a space of two inches of the black skin, like an ebony + armlet, was visible; while her white dress, and rich white satin hat, and + a lofty plume of feathers, with a pearl necklace and diamond earrings, set + off her loveliness most conspicuously. At every wheel round Mr Bang slewed + his head a little on one side, and peeped in at one of her bright eyes, + and then tossing his cranium on t’other side, took a squint in at the + other, and then cast his eyes towards the roof, and muttered with his lips + as if he had been shot all of a heap by the blind boy’s but-shaft; but + every now and then as we passed, the rogue would stick his tongue in his + cheek, yet so slightly as to be perceptible to no one but myself. After + this heat, Massa Aaron and myself were perambulating the ballroom, quite + satisfied with our own prowess and I was churming to myself, “Voulez vous + dansez, mademoiselle”—“De tout mon coeur,” said a buxom brown dame, + about eighteen stone by the coffee-mill in St James’s Street. That devil + Aaron gave me a look that I swore I would pay him for, the villain; as the + extensive mademoiselle, suiting the action to the word, started up, and + hooked on, and as a cotillion had been called, there I was, figuring away + most emphatically, to Bang and Transom’s great entertainment. At length + the dance was at an end, And a waltz was once more called, and having done + my duty, I thought I might slip out between the acts; so I offered to hand + my solid armful to her seat—“Certainement vouz pouvez bien restez + encore un moment.” + </p> + <p> + The devil confound you and Aaron Bang, thought I—but waltz I must, + and away we whirled until the room spun round faster than we did, and when + I was at length emancipated, my dark fair and fat one whispered, in a + regular die-away, “J’espere vous revoir bientot.” All this while there was + a heavy firing of champagne and other corks, and the fun grew so fast and + furious, that I remembered very little more of the matter, until the + morning breeze whistled through my muslin curtains, or musquitto net, + about noon on the following day. + </p> + <p> + I arose, and found mine host setting out to bathe at Madame Le Clerc’s + bath, at Marquesan. I rode with him; and after a cool dip we breakfasted + with President Petion at his country-house there, and met with great + kindness. About the house itself there was nothing particularly to + distinguish it from many others in the neighbourhood; but the little + statues, and fragments of marble steps, and detached portions of old + fashioned wrought-iron railing, which had been grouped together, so as to + form an ornamental terrace below it, facing the sea, showed that it had + been a compilation from the ruins of the houses of the rich French + planters, which were now blackening in the sun on the plain of Leogane. A + couple of Buenos Ayrean privateers were riding at anchor in the bight just + below the windows, manned, as I afterwards found, by Americans. The + President, in his quiet way, after contemplating them through his glass, + said, “Ces pavilions sont bien neuf.” + </p> + <p> + The next morning, as we were pulling in my gig, no less a man than Massa + Aaron steering, to board the Arethusa, one of the merchantmen lying at + anchor off the town, we were nearly run down by getting athwart the bows + of an American schooner standing in for the port. As it was, her cutwater + gave us so smart a crack that I thought we were done for; but our + Palinurus, finding he could not clear her, with his inherent self + possession put his helm to port, and kept away on the same course as the + schooner, so that we got off with the loss of our two larboard oars, which + were snapped off like parsnips, and a good heavy bump that nearly drove us + into staves. + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, my dear sir, never mind,” said I; “but hereafter listen to + the old song:” + </p> + <p> + ‘Steer clear of the stem of a sailing ship.’ + </p> + <p> + “Massa Aaron was down on me like lightning” + </p> + <p> + “Or the stern of a kicking horse, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + While I continued— + </p> + <p> + ‘Or you a wet jacket may catch, and a dip.’ + </p> + <p> + He again cleverly clipped the word out of my mouth, + </p> + <p> + “Or a kick on the croup, which is worse, Tom.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, my dear sir, you are an improvisatore of the first quality.” + </p> + <p> + We rowed ashore, and nothing particular happened that day, until we sat + down to dinner at Mr S—‘s. We had a very agreeable party. Captain + Transom and Mr Bang were, as usual, the life of the company; and it was + verging towards eight o’clock in the evening, when an English sailor, + apparently belonging to the merchant service, came into the piazza, and + planted himself opposite to the window where I sat. + </p> + <p> + He made various nautical salaams, until he had attracted my attention. + “Excuse me,” I said to Mr S——, “there is some one in the + piazza wanting me.” I rose. + </p> + <p> + “Are you Captain Transom?” said the man. + </p> + <p> + “No, I am not. There is the Captain; do you want him?” + </p> + <p> + “If you please, sir,” said the man. + </p> + <p> + I called my superior officer into the narrow dark piazza. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my man,” said Transom, “what want you with me?” + </p> + <p> + “I am sent, sir, to you from the Captain of the Haytian ship, the E——, + to request a visit from you, and to ask for a prayer book.” + </p> + <p> + “A what?” said Transom. + </p> + <p> + “A prayer book, sir. I suppose you know that he and the Captain of that + other Haytian ship, the P——, are condemned to be shot tomorrow + morning.” + </p> + <p> + “I know nothing of all this,” said Transom. “Do you, Cringle?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Then let us adjourn to the dining room again; or, stop, ask Mr S——and + Mr Bang to step-here for a moment.” + </p> + <p> + They appeared; and when Transom explained the affair, so far as consisted + with his knowledge, Mr S——told us that the two unfortunates in + question were, one of them, a Guernsey man, and the other a man of colour, + a native of St Vincent’s, whom the President had promoted to the command + of two Haytian ships that had been employed in carrying coffee to England; + but on their last return voyage, they had introduced a quantity of base + Birmingham coin into the Republic; which fact having been proved on their + trial, they had been convicted of treason against the state, condemned, + and were now under sentence of death; and the government being purely + military, they were to be shot tomorrow morning. A boat was immediately + sent on board, the messenger returned with a prayer book; and we prepared + to visit the miserable men. + </p> + <p> + Mr Bang insisted on joining us—ever first where misery was to be + relieved—and we proceeded towards the prison. Following the sailor, + who was the mate of one of the ships, presently we arrived before the door + of the place where the unfortunate men were confined. We were speedily + admitted; but the building had none of the common appurtenances of a + prison. There were neither long galleries, nor strong ironbound and + clamped doors, to pass through; nor jailers with rusty keys jingling; nor + fetters clanking; for we had not made two steps past the black grenadiers + who guarded the door, when a sergeant showed us into a long ill-lighted + room, about thirty feet by twelve—in truth, it was more like a + gallery than a room—with the windows into the street open, and no + precautions taken, apparently at least, to prevent the escape of the + condemned. In truth, if they had broken forth, I imagine the kind hearted + President would not have made any very serious enquiry as to the how. + </p> + <p> + There was a small rickety old card table, covered with tattered green + cloth, standing in the middle of the floor, which was composed of dirty + unpolished pitch pine planks, and on this table glimmered two brown wax + candles, in old fashioned brass candlesticks. Between us and the table, + forming a sort of line across the floor, stood four black soldiers, with + their muskets at their shoulders, while beyond them sat, in old fashioned + armchairs, three figures, whose appearance I never can forget. + </p> + <p> + The man fronting us rose on our entrance. He was an uncommonly handsome + elderly personage; his age I should guess to have been about fifty. He was + dressed in white trowsers and shirt, and wore no coat; his head was very + bald, but he had large and very dark whiskers and eyebrows, above which + towered a most splendid forehead, white, massive, and spreading. His eyes + were deep-set and sparkling, but he was pale, very pale, and his fine + features were sharp and pinched. He sat with his hands clasped together, + and resting on the table, his fingers twitching to and fro convulsively, + while his under jaw had dropped a little, and from the constant motion of + his head, and the heaving of his chest, it was clear that he was breathing + quick and painfully. + </p> + <p> + The figure on his right hand was altogether a more vulgar-looking + personage. He was a man of colour, his caste being indicated by his short + curly black hair, and his African descent vouched for by his obtuse + features; but he was composed and steady in his bearing. He was dressed in + white trowsers and waistcoat, and a blue surtout; and on our entrance he + rose, and remained standing. But the person on the elder prisoner’s left + hand riveted my attention more than either of the other two. She was a + respectable looking, little, thin woman, but dressed with great neatness, + in a plain black silk gown. Her sharp features were high and well formed; + her eyes and mouth were not particularly noticeable, but her hair was most + beautiful—her long shining auburn hair—although she must have + been forty years of age, and her skin was like the driven snow. When we + entered, she was seated on the left hand of the eldest prisoner, and was + lying back on her chair, with her arms crossed on her bosom, her eyes wide + open, and staring upwards towards the roof, with the tears coursing each + other down over her cheeks, while her lower jaw had fallen down, as if she + had been dead—her breathing was scarcely perceptible—her bosom + remaining still as a frozen sea, for the space of a minute, when she would + draw a long breath, with a low moaning noise, to which succeeded a + convulsive crowing gasp, like a child in the hooping-cough, and all would + be still again. + </p> + <p> + At length Captain Transom addressed the elder prisoner. “You have sent for + us, Mr——what can we do for you, in accordance with our duty as + English officers?” + </p> + <p> + The poor man looked at us with a vacant stare—but his fellow + sufferer instantly spoke. “Gentlemen, this is kind—very kind. I sent + my mate to borrow a prayer book from you, for our consolation now must + flow from above—man cannot comfort us.” + </p> + <p> + The female, who was the elder prisoner’s wife, suddenly leant forward in + her chair, and peered intently into Mr Bang’s face “Prayer book,” said she—“prayer + book—why, I have a prayer book I will go for my prayer book”—and + she rose quickly from her seat, + </p> + <p> + “Restez”—quoth the black sergeant—the word seemed to rouse her—she + laid her head on her hands, on the table, and sobbed out as if her heart + were bursting—“Oh God! oh God! is it come to this—is it come + to this?” the frail table trembling beneath her, with her heart crushing + emotion. His wife’s misery now seemed to recall the elder prisoner to + himself. He made a strong effort, and in a great degree recovered his + composure. + </p> + <p> + “Captain Transom,” said he, “I believe you know our story. That we have + been justly condemned I admit, but it is a fearful thing to die, Captain, + in a strange country, and by the hands of these barbarians, and to leave + my own dear”—Here his voice altogether failed him—presently he + resumed. “The Government have sealed up my papers and packages, and I have + neither Bible nor prayer book—will you spare us the use of one, or + both, for this night, sir?” + </p> + <p> + The Captain said, he had brought a prayer book, and did all he could to + comfort the poor fellows. But, alas! their grief “knew not consolation’s + name.” + </p> + <p> + Captain Transom read prayers, which were listened to by both of the + miserable men with the greatest devotion, while all the while, the poor + woman never moved a muscle, every faculty appearing to be once more frozen + up by grief and misery. At length, the elder prisoner again spoke. “I know + I have no claim on you, gentlemen; but I am an Englishman at least I hope + I may call myself an Englishman, and my wife there is an Englishwoman—when + I am gone oh, gentlemen, what is to become of her? If I were but sure that + she would be cared for, and enabled to return to her friends, the + bitterness of death would be past.” Here the poor woman threw herself + round her husband’s neck, and gave a shrill sharp cry, and relaxing her + hold, fell down across his knees, with her head hanging back, and her face + towards the roof, in a dead faint. For a minute or two, the husband’s sole + concern seemed to be the condition of his wife. + </p> + <p> + “I will undertake that she shall be sent safe to England, my good man,” + said Mr Bang. + </p> + <p> + The felon looked at him—drew one hand across his eyes, which were + misty with tears, held down his head, and again looked up at length he + found his tongue. “That God who rewardeth good deeds here, that God whom I + have offended, before whom I must answer for my sins by daybreak to + morrow, will reward you—I can only thank you.” He seized Mr Bang’s + hand and kissed it. + </p> + <p> + With heavy hearts we left the miserable group, and I may mention here, + that Mr Bang was as good as his word, and paid the poor woman’s passage + home, and, so far as I know, she is now restored to her family. + </p> + <p> + We slept that night at Mr S——‘s, and as the morning dawned we + mounted our horses, which our worthy host had kindly desired to be ready, + in order to enable us to take our exercise in the cool of the morning. As + we rode past the Place d’armes, or open space in front of the President’s + palace, we heard sounds of military music, and asked the first chance + passenger what was going on. “Execution militaire; or rather,” said the + man, “the two sea captains, who introduced the base money, are to be shot + this morning—there against the rampart.” Of the fact we were aware, + but we did not dream that we had ridden so near the whereabouts. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, indeed?”—said Mr Bang. He looked towards the Captain. “My dear + Transom, I have no wish to witness so horrible a sight, but still—what + say you—shall we pull up, or ride on?” + </p> + <p> + The truth was that Captain Transom and myself were both of us desirous of + seeing the execution—from what impelling motive, let learned + blockheads, who have never gloated over a hanging, determine; and quickly + it was determined that we should wait and witness it. + </p> + <p> + First advanced a whole regiment of the President’s guards, then a + battalion of infantry of the line, close to which followed a whole bevy of + priests clad in white, which contrasted conspicuously with their brown and + black faces. After them marched two firing parties of twelve men each, + drafted indiscriminately, as it would appear, from the whole garrison; for + the grenadier cap was there intermingled with the glazed shako of the + battalion company, and the light morion of the dismounted dragoon. Then + came the prisoners. The elder culprit, respectably clothed in white shirt, + waistcoat, and trowsers, and blue coat, with an Indian silk yellow + handkerchief bound round his head. His lips were compressed together with + an unnatural firmness, and his features were sharpened like those of a + corpse. His complexion was ashy blue. His eyes were half shut, but every + now and then he opened them wide, and gave a startling rapid glance about + him, and occasionally he staggered a little in his gait. As he approached + the place of execution, his eyelids fell, his under-jaw dropped, his arms + hung dangling by his side like empty sleeves; still he walked on, + mechanically keeping time, like an automaton, to the measured tread of the + soldiery. His fellow sufferer followed him. His eye was bright, his + complexion healthy, his step firm, and he immediately recognised us in the + throng, made a bow to Captain Transom, and held out his hand to Mr Bang, + who was nearest to him, and shook it cordially. The procession moved on. + The troops formed into three sides of a square, the remaining one being + the earthen mound, that constituted the rampart of the place. A halt was + called. The two firing parties advanced to the sound of muffled drums, and + having arrived at the crest of the glacis, right over the counterscarp, + they halted on what, in a more regular fortification, would have been + termed the covered way. The prisoners, perfectly unfettered, advanced + between them, stepped down with a firm step into the ditch, led each by a + grenadier. In the centre of it they turned and kneeled, neither of their + eyes being bound. A priest advanced, and seemed to pray with the brown man + fervently; another offered spiritual consolation to the Englishman, who + seemed now to have rallied his torpid faculties, but he waved him away + impatiently, and taking a book from his bosom, seemed to repeat a prayer + from it with great fervour. At this very instant of time, Mr Bang caught + his eye. He dropped the book on the ground, placed one hand on his heart, + while he pointed upwards towards heaven with the other, calling out in a + loud clear voice, “Remember!” Aaron bowed. A mounted officer now rode + quickly up to the brink of the ditch, and called out, “Depechez.” + </p> + <p> + The priests left the miserable men, and all was still as death for a + minute. A low solitary tap of the drum—the firing parties came to + the recover, and presently taking the time from the sword of the staff + officer who had spoken, came down to the present, and fired a rattling, + straggling volley. The brown man sprang up into the air three or four + feet, and fell dead; he had been shot through the heart; but the white man + was only wounded, and had fallen, writhing, and struggling, and shrieking, + to the ground. I heard him distinctly call out, as the reserve of six men + stepped into the ditch, “Dans la tete dans la tete.” One of the grenadiers + advanced, and, putting his musket close to his face, fired. The ball + splashed into his skull, through the left eye, setting fire to his hair + and clothes, and the handkerchief bound round his head, and making the + brains and blood flash up all over his face, and the person of the soldier + who had given him the coup de grace. + </p> + <p> + A strong murmuring noise, like the rushing of many waters, growled amongst + the ranks and the surrounding spectators, while a short sharp exclamation + of horror every now and then gushed out shrill and clear, and fearfully + distinct above the appalling monotony. + </p> + <p> + The miserable man stretched out his legs and arms straight and rigidly, a + strong shiver pervaded his whole frame, his jaw fell, his muscles relaxed, + and he and his brother in calamity became a portion of the bloody clay on + which they were stretched. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII.—The Third Cruise of the Wave + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean-roll! + Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain: + Man marks the earth with ruin—his control + Stops with the shore,—upon the watery plain + The wrecks are all thy deed, nor doth remain + A shadow of man’s ravage, save his own, + When for a moment, like a drop of rain + He sinks into thy depths with bubbling groan, + Without a grave, unknell’d, uncoffin’d, and unknown. + + Byron, Childe Harold, IV 1603—11. +</pre> + <p> + I had been invited to breakfast on board the corvette, on the morning + after this; and Captain Transom, Mr Bang, and myself, were comfortably + seated at our meal on the quarterdeck, under the awning, skreened off by + flags from the view of the men. The ship was riding to a small westerly + breeze, that was rippling up the bight. The ports on each quarter, as well + as the two in the stern, were open, through which we had an extensive view + of Port-au-Prince, and the surrounding country. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Transom,” said our amigo Massa Aaron, “I am quite persuaded that the + town astern of us there must always have been, and is now, exceedingly + unhealthy. Only reflect on its situation; it fronts the west, with the hot + sickening afternoon’s sun blazing on it every evening, along the glowing + mirror of the calm bight, under whose influence the fat black mud that + composes the beach must send up most pestilent effluvia; while in the + forenoon it is shut out from the influence of the regular easterly + sea-breeze, or trade-wind, by the high land behind. However, as I don’t + mean to stay here longer than I can help, it is not my affair; and as Mr. + S——will be waiting for us, pray order your carriage, my dear + fellow, and let us go on shore.” + </p> + <p> + The carriage our friend spoke of, was the captain’s gig, by this time + alongside, ready manned, each of the six seamen who composed her crew, + with his oar resting between his knees, the blade pointed upwards towards + the sky. We all go in “Shove off” dip fell the oars into the water “Give + way, men” the good ash staves groaned, and cheeped, and the water buzzed, + and away we shot towards the wharf. We landed, and having proceeded to Mr + S—-’s, we found horses ready for us, to take our promised ride into + the beautiful plain of the Cul de Sac, lying to the northward and eastward + of the town; the cavalcade being led by Massa Aaron and myself, while Mr S——rode + beside Captain Transom. + </p> + <p> + Aforetime, from the estates situated on this most magnificent plain, + (which extends about fifteen miles into the interior, while its width + varies from ten to five miles, being surrounded by hills on three sides,) + there used to be produced no less than thirty thousand hogsheads of sugar. + This was during the ancient regime; whereas, now, I believe, the only + articles it yields beyond plantains, yams, and pot herbs for the supply of + the town, are a few gallons of syrup, and a few puncheons of tafla, a very + inferior kind of rum. The whole extent of the sea like plain, for there is + throughout scarcely any inequality higher than my staff, was once covered + with well-cultivated fields and happy homes; but now, alas! with brushwood + from six to ten feet high,—in truth, by one sea of jungle, through + which you have to thread your difficult way along narrow, hot, sandy + bridle-paths, (with the sand flies and musquittoes flaying you alive,) + which every now and then lead you to some old ruinous court-yard, with the + ground strewed with broken boilers and mill-rollers, and decaying hardwood + timbers, and crumbling bricks; while, a little further on, you shall find + the blackened roofless walls of what was most probably an unfortunate + planter’s once happy home, where the midnight brigand came and found peace + and comfort, and all the elegancies of life, and left-blood and ashes; + with the wild flowers growing on the window sills, and the prickly pear on + the tops of the walls, while marble steps, and old shutters, and window + hinges, and pieces of china, are strewn all about; the only tenant now + being most likely an old miserable negro who has sheltered himself in a + coarsely thatched hut, in a corner of what had once been a gay and well + furnished saloon. + </p> + <p> + After having extended our ride, under a hot broiling sun, until two + o’clock in the afternoon, we hove about, and returned towards the town. We + had not ridden on our homeward journey above three miles, when we overtook + a tall good-looking negro, dressed in white Osnaburg trowsers, rolled up + to his knees, and a check shirt. He wore neither shoes nor stockings, but + his head was bound round with the usual handkerchief, over which he wore a + large glazed cocked hat, with a most conspicuous Haytian blue-and-red + cockade. He was goading on a jackass before him, loaded with a goodly + burden apparently; but what it was we could not tell, as the whole was + covered by a large sheepskin, with the wool outermost. I was pricking past + the man, when Mr S——sung out to me to shorten sail, and the + next moment he startled me by addressing the pedestrian as Colonel + Gabaroche. The colonel returned the salute, and seemed in no way put out + from being detected in this rather unmilitary predicament. He was going up + to Port-au-Prince to take his turn of duty with his regiment. Presently up + came another half-naked black fellow, with the same kind of glazed hat and + handkerchief under it; but he was mounted, and his nag was not a bad one + by any means. It was Colonel Gabaroche’s Captain of Grenadiers, Papotiere + by name. He was introduced to us, and we all moved jabbering along. At the + time I write of, the military force of the Haytian Republic was composed + of one third of the whole male population capable of bearing arms, which + third was obliged to be on permanent duty for four months every year; but + the individuals of the quota were allowed to follow their callings as + merchants, planters, or agriculturists, during the remaining eight months; + they were, I believe, fed by Government during their four months of + permanent duty. The weather, by the time we had ridden a couple of miles + farther, began to lower, and presently, large heavy drops of rain fell, + and preserving their globular shape, rolled like peas, or rather like + bullets, amidst the small finely pulverized dust of the sandy path. + “Umbrella” was the word—but this was a luxury unknown to our + military friends. However, the colonel immediately unfurled a blanket from + beneath the sheepskin, and sticking his head through a hole in the centre + of it, there he stalked like a herald in his tabard, with the blanket + hanging down before and behind him. As for the captain he dismounted, + disencumbered himself of his trowsers, which he crammed under the mat that + served him for a saddle, and taking off his shirt, he stowed it away in + the capacious crown of his cocked hat, while he once more bestrid his + Bucephalus in puris naturalibus, but conversing with all the ease in the + world, and the most perfect sangfroid, while the thunder shower came down + in bucketfuls. In about half an hour, we arrived at the skirt of the + brushwood or jungle, and found on our left hand some rice fields, which + from appearance we could not have distinguished from young wheat; but on a + nearer approach, we perceived that the soil, if soil it could be called on + which there was no walking, was a soft mud, the only passages through the + fields, and along the ridges, being by planks, on which several of the + labourers were standing as we passed, one of whom turning to look at us, + slipped off, and instantly sunk amidst the rotten slime up to his waist. + The neighbourhood of these rice swamps is generally extremely unhealthy. + At length we got on board the Firebrand, drenched to the skin, to a late + dinner, after which it was determined by Captain Transom—of which + intention, by the by, with all his familiarity, I had not the smallest + previous notice—that I should cross the island to Jacmel, in order + to communicate with the merchant-ships loading there; and by the time I + returned, it was supposed the Firebrand would be ready for sea, when I was + to be detached in the Wave, to whip in the craft at the different out + ports, after which we were all to sail in a fleet to Port Royal. + </p> + <p> + “I say, skipper,” quoth Mr Bang, “I have a great mind to ride with Tom + what say you?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Aaron, you are using me ill; that shaver is seducing you altogether; + but come, you won’t be a week away, and if you want to go, I see no + objection.” + </p> + <p> + It was fixed accordingly, and on the morrow Mr Bang and I completed our + arrangements, hired horses, and a guide, and all being in order, clothes + packed, and every thing else made ready for the cruise, we rode out along + with Mr S——(we were to dine and sleep at his house) to view + the fortifications on the hill above the town, the site of Christophe’s + operations when he besieged the place; and pretty hot work they must have + had of it, for in two different places the trenches of the besiegers had + been pushed on to the very crest of the glacis, and in one the + counterscarp had been fairly blown into the ditch, disclosing the gallery + of the mine behind, as if it had been a cave, the crest of the glacis + having remained entire. We walked into it, and Mr S——pointed + out where the President’s troops, in Fort Republicain, had countermined, + and absolutely entered the other chamber from beneath, after the + explosion, and, sword in hand, cut off the storming party, (which had by + this time descended into the ditch,) and drove them up through the breach + into the fort, where they were made prisoners. + </p> + <p> + The assault had been given three times in one night, and he trembled for + the town; however, Petion’s courage and indomitable resolution saved them + all. For by making a sally from the south gate at grey dawn, even when the + firing on the hill was hottest, and turning the enemy’s flank, he poured + into the trenches, routed the covering party, stormed the batteries, + spiked the guns, and that evening’s sun glanced on the bayonets of King + Henry’s troops as they raised the siege, and fell back in great confusion + on their lines, leaving the whole of their battering train, and a great + quantity of ammunition, behind them. + </p> + <p> + Next morning we were called at daylight, and having accoutred ourselves + for the journey, we descended and found two stout ponies, the biggest not + fourteen hands high, ready saddled, with old fashioned demi piques, and + large holsters at each of the saddlebows. A very stout mule was furnished + for Monsieur Pegtop; and our black guide, who had contracted for our + transit across the island, was also in attendance, mounted on a very + active, well-actioned horse. We had coffee, and started. By the time we + reached Leogane, the sun was high and fierce. Here we breakfasted in a low + one—story building, our host being no smaller man than Major L——of + the Fourth Regiment of the line. We got our chocolate, and eggs, and + fricasseed fowl, and roasted yam, and in fact made, even according to + friend Aaron’s conception of matters, an exceedingly comfortable + breakfast. + </p> + <p> + Mr Bang here insisted on being paymaster, and tendered a sum that the + black major thought so extravagantly great, considering the entertainment + we had received, that he declined taking more than one half. However, Mr + Bang, after several unavailing attempts to press the money on the man, + who, by the by, was simply a good looking blackamoor, dressed in a check + shirt, coarse but clean white duck trowsers, with the omnipresent + handkerchief bound round his head, and finding that he could not persist + without giving offence, was about pocketing the same, when Pegtop audibly + whispered him, “Massa, you ever shee black niger refuse money before? but + don’t take it to heart, massa; me, Pegtop, will pocket him, if dat foolis + black person won’t.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you for nothing, Master Pegtop,” said Aaron. + </p> + <p> + We proceeded, and rode across the beautiful plain, gradually sloping up + from the mangrove—covered beach, until it swelled into the first + range of hills that formed the pedestal of the high precipitous ridge that + intersected the southern prong of the island, winding our way through the + ruins of sugar plantations, with fragments of the machinery and implements + employed in the manufacture scattered about, and half sunk into the soil + of the fields, which were fast becoming impervious jungle, and + interrupting our progress along the narrow bridle-paths. At length we + began to ascend, and the comparative coolness of the climate soon evinced + that we were rapidly leaving the hot plains, as the air became purer, and + thinner, at every turn. After a long, hot, hot ride, we reached the top of + the ridge, and turning back had a most magnificent view of the whole Bight + of Leogane, and of the Horseshoe, and Aaron’s Frog; even the tops of the + mountains above the Mole, which could not have been nearer than seventy + miles, were visible, floating like islands or blue clouds in the misty + distance. Aaron took off his hat, reined up, and turning the head of his + Bucephalus towards the placid waters we had left, stretched forth his + hand: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘Ethereal air, and ye swift-winged winds, + Ye rivers springing from fresh founts, ye waves + That o’er the interminable ocean wreathe + Your crisped smiles, thou all-producing Earth, + And thee, bright Sun, I call, whose flaming orb + Views the wide world beneath. See!’ +</pre> + <p> + Nearly got a stroke of the sun, Tom—what Whiffle would call a cul de + sac by taking off my chapeau in my poetical frenzy so shove on. + </p> + <p> + We continued our journey through most magnificent defiles, and under long + avenues of the most superb trees, until, deeply embosomed in the very + heart of the eternal forest, we came to a shady clump of bamboos, + overhanging, with their ostrich-feather-like plumes, a round pool of + water, mantled or creamed over with a bright green coating, as if it had + been vegetable velvet, but nothing akin to the noisome scum that ferments + on a stagnant pool in England. It was about the time we had promised + ourselves dinner, and in fact our black guide and Pegtop had dismounted, + to make their preparations. + </p> + <p> + “Why, we surely cannot dine here? you don’t mean to drink of that stagnant + pool, my dear sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Siste paulisper, my boy,” said Mr Bang, as he stooped down, and skimmed + off the green covering with his hand, disclosing the water below, pure and + limpid as a crystal-clear fountain. We dined on the brink, and discussed a + bottle of vin-de-grave a-piece, and then had a small pull at brandy and + water; but we ate very little, although I was very hungry, but Mr Bang + would not let me feed largely. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Tom, you really do not understand things. When one rides a goodish + journey on end—say seventy miles or so—on the same horse, one + never feeds the trusty creature with half a bushel of oats; at least if + any wooden spoon does, the chances are he knocks him up. No, no—you + give him a mouthful of corn, but plenty to drink, little meal and water + here, and a bottle of porter in water there, and he brings you in + handsomely. Zounds! how would you yourself, Tom, like to dine on turtle + soup and venison, in the middle of a hissing hot ride of sixty miles, + thirty of them to be covered after the feed? Lord! what between the rich + food and the punch, you would have fermented like a brewer’s vat before + you reached the end of the journey; and if you had not a boll imperial + measure of carbonate of soda with you, the chances are you would explode + like a catamaran, your head flying through some old woman’s window, and + capsizing her teapot on the one hand, while on the other your four + quarters are scattered north, south, east, and west. But Gaudeamus, sweet + is pleasure after pains Tom, and all you sailors and tailors—I love + to class you together—are tender—not hearted creatures. + Strange now that there should be three classes of his Majesty’s subjects, + who never can be taught to ride,—to whom riding is, in fact, a + physical impossibility; and these three are the aforesaid sailors and + tailors, and dragoon officers. However, hand me the brandy bottle; and, + Pegtop, spate me that black jack that you are rinsing—so. Useful + commodity, a cup of this kind.” here our friend dashed in a large + qualifier of cognac, “it not only conceals the quality of the water, for + you can sometimes perceive the animalculae hereabouts without a + microscope, but also the strength of the libation. So—a piece of + biscuit now, and the smallest morsel of that cold tongue—your + health, Thomas”—a long pull—“speedy promotion to you, Thomas.” + Here our friend rested the jug on his knee. “Were you ever at a Gaudeamus + of Presbyterian clergymen on the Monday after the Sacrament Sunday, Tom, + that is, at the dinner at the manse?” + </p> + <p> + “No, my dear sir; you know I am an Episcopalian.” + </p> + <p> + “And I am a Roman Catholic. What then? I have been at a Gaudeamus, and why + might not you have been at one too? Oh the fun of such a meeting! the + feast of reason, and the flow of Ferintosh, I and the rich stories, ay, + fatter than ever I would venture on, and the cricket-like chirps of + laughter of the probationer, and the loud independent guffaw of the placed + minister, and the sly innuendos about the land round the Jordan, when our + freens get half foo. Oh how I honour a Gaudeamus! And why,” he continued, + “should the excellent men not rejoice, Tom? Are they not the very men who + should be happy? Is a minister to be for ever boxed up in his pulpit—for + ever to be wagging his pow, bald, black, or grizzled as it may be, beneath + his sounding board, like a bullfrog below a toadstool. And like the + aforesaid respectable quadruped or biped (it has always puzzled me which + to call it), is he never to drink any thing stronger than water? Hath not + a minister eyes? hath not a minister hands, organs, dimensions, senses, + affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, + subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled + by the same winter and summer, that another man is? If you prick them, do + they not bleed? If you tickle them, do they not laugh? And shall we grudge + them a Caudeamus now and then? Shall opera peracta ludemus be in the + mouths of an mankind, from the dirty little greasy-faced schoolboy, who + wears a red gown and learns the Humanities and Whiggery in the Nineveh of + the West, I as the Bailie glories to call it, to the King upon his throne, + and a dead letter, as well as a dead language, to them, and them only? + Forbid it, the Honourable the Lord Provost—forbid it, the Honourable + the Lord Provost and all the Bailies, and those who sit in Council with + them! Forbid it,—the whole august aggregate of terror to evildoers, + and praise of them who do well! Forbid it, the Devil and Dr Faustus!” + </p> + <p> + By this time I had smuggled the jug out of our amigo’s claw, and had done + honour to his pledge. “Do you know, my dear Mr Bang, I have always been + surprised that a man of your strong intellect, and clear views of most + matters, should continue, in profession at least, a Roman Catholic?” + </p> + <p> + Aaron looked at me with a seriousness, an unaffected seriousness in his + manner, that possessed me with the notion that I had taken an + unwarrantable liberty. “Profession,” at length said he, slowly and + deliberately, apparently weighing every word carefully as it fell from + him, as one is apt to do when approaching an interesting subject, on which + you desire not to be misunderstood—“Profession—what right have + you to assume this of me or any man, that my mode of faith is but + profession?” and then the kind-hearted fellow, perceiving that his rebuke + had mortified me, altering his tone, continued, but still with a strong + tinge of melancholy in his manner—“Alas! Tom, how often will weak + man, in his great arrogance, assume the prerogative of his Maker, and + attempt to judge—honestly, we will even allow, according to his + conception—of the heart and secret things of another, but too often, + in reality, by the evil scale of his own! Shall the potsherd say to his + frail fellow, Thou art weak, but I am strong? Shall the moudiewort say to + his brother mole—(I say, Quashie, mind that mule of yours don’t + snort in the water, will ye?)—Blind art thou, but lo, I see? Ah, + Tom, I am a Roman Catholic; but is it thou who shalt venture down into the + depths of my heart, and then say, whether I be so in profession only, or + in stern unswerving sincerity?” + </p> + <p> + I found I had unwittingly touched a string that vibrated to his heart. “I + am a Roman Catholic, but, I humbly trust, not a bigoted one; for were it + not against the canons of both our churches, I fear I should incline to + the doctrine of Pope.” + </p> + <p> + ‘He can’t be wrong whose life is in the right.’ + </p> + <p> + “My fathers, Tom, were all Catholics before me; they may have been wrong; + but I am only my father’s son—not a better, and, I fear, I fear, not + so wise a man.—Pray, Tom, did you ever hear of even a good Jew, who, + being converted, did not become a bad Christian? Have you not all your + life had a repugnance to consort with a sinner converted from the faith of + his fathers, whether they were Jews or Gentiles, Hindoos or Mahomedans, + dwellers in Mesopotamia, or beyond Jordan? You have such a repugnance, + Tom, I know; and I have it too.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” I proceeded, on the strength of the brandy grog, “in the case of + an unenlightened, or ignorant, or half-educated man, I might indeed + suspect duplicity, or even hypocrisy, at the bottom of the abjuration of + his fathers creed; but in a gentleman of your acquirements and + knowledge....” + </p> + <p> + “There again now, Cringle, you are wrong. The clodhopper might be + conscientious in a change of creed, but as to the advantage I have over + him from superior knowledge!—Knowledge, Tom! what do I know—what + does the greatest and the best of us know—to venture on a saying + somewhat of the tritest—but that he knows nothing? Oh, my dear boy, + you and I have hitherto consorted together on the deck of life, so to + speak, with the bright joyous sun sparkling, and the blue heavens laughing + overhead, and the clear green sea dancing under foot, and the merry breeze + buzzing past us right cheerily. We have seen but the fair-weather side of + each other, Thomas, without considering that all men have their deep + feelings, that lie far, far down in the hold of their hearts, were they + but stirred up. Ay, you smile at my figures, but I repeat it—in the + deep hold of their hearts; and may I not follow out the image with verity + and modesty, and say that those feelings, often too deep for tears, are + the ballast that keeps the whole ship in trim, and without which we should + be every hour of our existence liable to be driven out of our heavenward + course, yea, to broach—to and founder, and sink for ever, under one + of the many squalls in this world of storms? And here, in this most + beautiful spot, with the deep, dark, crystal-clear pool at our feet, + fringed with the velvet grass, and the green quivering leaf above + flickering between us and the bright blue cloudless sky, and the + everlasting rocks, with those diamond-like tears trickling down their + rugged cheeks, impending over us,—and those gigantic gnarled trees, + with their tracery of black withes fantastically tangled, whose naked + roots twist and twine amongst the fissures, like serpents trying to + shelter themselves from the scorching rays of the vertical sun, and those + feather-like bamboos high arching overhead, and screening us under their + noble canopy,—and the cool plantains, their broad ragged leaves + bending under the weight of dew-spangles, and the half-opened + wild-flowers,—yea, even here, the ardent noontide sleeping on the + hill, when even the quickeyed lizard lies still, and no longer rustles + through the dry grass, and there is not a breath of air strong enough out + of heaven to stir the gossamer that floats before us, or to wave that wild + flower on its hair like stem, or to ruffle the fairy plumage of the + humming-bird, that, against the custom of its kind, is now quietly perched + thereon; and while the bills of the chattering paroquets, that are peering + at us from the branches above, are closed, and the woodpecker interrupts + his tapping to look down upon us, and the only sound we hear is the + moaning of the wood-pigeon, and the lulling buzz of myriads of happy + insects booming on the ear, loud as the rushing of a distant waterfall—(Confound + these musquittoes, though!)—Even here, on this:” + </p> + <p> + ‘So sweet a spot of earth, you might, I ween, Have guessed some + congregation of the elves, To sport by summer moons, had shaped it for + themselves.’ + </p> + <p> + Even in such a place could I look forward without a shudder, to set up my + everlasting rest, to lay my weary bones in the earth, and to mingle my + clay with that whereout it was moulded. No fear of being houcked here, + Thomas, and preserved in a glass case, like a stuffed woodcock, in + Surgeons Hall. I am a barbarian, Tom, in these respects—I am a + barbarian, and nothing of a philosopher. Quiero Paz is to be my epitaph. + Quiero Paz—‘Cursed be he who stirs these bones.’ Did not even + Shakspeare write it? What poetry in this spot, Thomas! Oh, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, + There is a rapture on the lonely shore, + There is society, where none intrudes, + By the deep sea, and music in its roar: + I love not man the less, but nature more, + From these our interviews, in which I steal + From all I may be, or have been before, + To mingle with the universe, and feel + What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.’ +</pre> + <p> + “Yes, even here where nature is all beautiful and every thing, and man + abject and nothing even here, Tom, amidst the loneliness of earth, rugged + and half-mad as you must sometimes have thought me, a fellow wholly made + up of quips and jests,—even I at this moment could, like an + aboriginal Charibl of the land, ‘lift up my voice to the Great Spirit,’ + and kneel, and weep, and pray.” + </p> + <p> + I was much moved. + </p> + <p> + “You have spoken of knowledge, Tom. Knowledge—what do I know? Of + myself I know as little as I do of any other grub that crawls on the + surface of this world of sin and suffering; and what I do know, adds + little to my self-esteem, Tom, and affords small encouragement to enquire + further.—Knowledge, say you? How is that particle of sand here? I + cannot tell. How grew that blade of grass? I do not know. Even when I look + into that jug of brandy grog, (I’ll trouble you for it, Thomas,) all that + I know is, that if I drink it, it will make me drunk, and a more + desperately wicked creature, if that were possible, than I am already. And + when I look forth on the higher and more noble objects of the visible + creation, abroad on this beautiful earth, above on the glorious universe + studded with shining orbs, without number numberless, what can I make of + them? Nothing absolutely nothing—yet they are all creatures like + myself. But—if I try—audaciously try—to strain my finite + faculties, in the futile attempt to take in what is infinite—if I + aspiringly, but hopelessly, grapple with the idea of the immensity of + space, for instance, which my reason yet tells me must of necessity be + boundless—do I not fall fluttering to the earth again, like an owl + flying against the noontide sun? Again, when I venture to think of + eternity—ay, when, reptile as I feel myself to be, I even look up + towards heaven, and bend my erring thoughts towards the Most High, the + Maker of all things, who was, and is, and is to come; whose flaming + minister, even while I speak, is pouring down a flood of intolerable day + on one half of the dry earth, and all that therein is; and when I reflect + on what this tremendous, this inscrutable Being has done for me and my + sinful race, so beautifully shown forth in both our creeds, what do I + know? but that I am a poor miserable worm, crushed before the moth, whose + only song should be the miserere, whose only prayer ‘God be merciful to me + a sinner!” + </p> + <p> + There was a long pause, and I began to fear that my friend was shaken in + his mind, for he continued to look steadfastly into the clear black water, + where he had skimmed off the green velvet coating with his stick. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, and is it even so? and is it Tom Cringle who thinks and says that I + am a man likely to profess to believe what he knows in his heart to be a + lie? A Roman Catholic! Had I lived before the Roman Conquest I would have + been a Druid, for it is not under the echoing domes of our magnificent + cathedrals, with all the grandeur of our ritual, the flaming tapers, and + bands of choristers, and the pealing organ, and smoking censers, and + silver-toned bells, and white-robed priests, that the depths of my heart + are stirred up. It is here, and not in a temple made with hands, however + gorgeous—here, in the secret places of the everlasting forest,—it + is in such a place as this that I feel the immortal spark within me + kindling into a flame, and wavering up heavenward. I am superstitious, + Thomas, I am superstitious, when left alone in such a scene as this. I can + walk through a country churchyard at midnight, and stumble amongst the + rank grass that covers the graves of those I have lived with and loved, + even if they be ‘green in death, and festering in their shrouds,’ with the + wind moaning amongst the stunted yew-trees, and the rain splashing and + scattering on the moss covered tombstones, and the blinding blue lightning + flashing, while the headstones glance like an array of sheeted ghosts, and + the thunder is grumbling overhead, without a qualm-direness of this kind + cannot once daunt me; it is here and now, when all nature sleeps in the + ardent noontide, that I become superstitious, and would not willingly be + left alone. Thoughts too deep for tears!—ay, indeed, and there be + such thoughts, that, long after time has allowed them to subside, and + when, to the cold eye of the world, all is clear and smooth above, will, + when stirred up, like the sediment of this fountain of the wood, discolour + and embitter the whole stream of life once more, even after the lapse of + long long years. When my heart crushing loss was recent—when the + wound was green, I could not walk abroad at this to me witching time of + day, without a stock or a stone, a distant mark on the hill-side, or the + outline of the grey cliff above, taking the very fashion of her face, or + figure, on which I would gaze, and gaze, as if spell-bound, until I knew + not whether to call it a grouping of the imagination, or a reality from + without—or her, with whom I fondly hoped to have travelled the weary + road of life. Friends approved—fortune smiled—one little + month, and we should have been one; but it pleased Him, to whom in my + present frame of mind I dare not look up, to blight my beautiful flower, + to canker my rose-bud, to change the fair countenance of my Elizabeth, and + send her away. She drooped and died, even like that pale flower under the + scorching sun; and I was driven forth to worship Mammon, in these + sweltering climes; but the sting remains, the barbed arrow sticks fast.” + </p> + <p> + Here the cleared surface of the water, into which he was steadfastly + looking, was gradually contracted into a small round spot about a foot in + diameter, by the settling back of the green floating matter that he had + skimmed aside. His countenance became very pale; he appeared even more + excited than he had hitherto been. + </p> + <p> + “By heavens! look in that water, if the green covering of it has not + arranged itself round the clear spot into the shape of a medallion into + her features! I had dreamed of such things before, but now it is a + palpable reality—it is her face—her straight nose—her + Grecian upper lip—her beautiful forehead, and her very bust!—even,” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ‘As when years apace had bound her lovely waist with woman’s zone.’ +</pre> + <p> + “Oh, Elizabeth—Elizabeth!” + </p> + <p> + Here his whole frame shook with the most intense emotion, but at length, + tears, unwonted tears, did come to his relief, and he hid his face in his + hands, and wept bitterly. I was now convinced he was mad, but I durst not + interrupt him. At length he slowly removed his hands, by which time, + however, a beautiful small black diver, the most minute species of duck + that I ever saw—it was not so big as my fist—but which is + common in woodland ponds in the West Indies, had risen in the centre of + the eye of the fountain, while all was so still that it floated quietly + like a leaf on the water, apparently without the least fear of us. + </p> + <p> + “The devil appeared in Paradise under the shape of a cormorant,” said Mr + Bang, half angrily, as he gazed sternly at the unlooked for visitor; “what + imp art thou?” + </p> + <p> + Tip—the little fellow dived; presently it rose again in the same + place, and lifting up its little foot, scratched the side of its tiny + yellow bill and little red-spotted head, shook its small wings, bright and + changeable as shot silk, with a snow-white pen-feather in each, and then + tipped up its little purple tail, and once more disappeared. + </p> + <p> + Aaron’s features were gradually relaxing; a change was coming over the + spirit of his dream. The bird appeared for the third time, looked him in + the face, first turning up one little sparkling eye, and then another, + with its neck changing its hues like a pigeon’s. Aaron began to smile; he + gently raised his stick—“Do you cock your fud at me, you tiny thief, + you?”—and thereupon he struck at it with his stick. Tip the duck + dived, and did not rise again; and all that he got was a sprinkling shower + in the face, from the water flashing up at his blow, and once more the + green covering settled back again, and the bust of his dead love, or what + he fancied to be so, disappeared. Aaron laughed outright, arose, and began + to shout to the black guide, who, along with Pegtop, had taken the beasts + into the wood in search of provender. “Ayez le bont de donnez moi mon + cheval? Bring us the horsos, Massa Bungo-venga los quadrupedos—make + haste, vite, mucho, mucho.” + </p> + <p> + Come, there is my Massa Aaron once more, at all events, thought I; but oh, + how unlike the Aaron of five minutes ago! + </p> + <p> + “So now let us mount, my boy,” said he, and we shoved along until the + evening fell, and the sun bid us good-by very abruptly. “Cheep, Cheep,” + sung the lizards—“chirp, chirp,” sung the crickets, “snore, snore,” + moaned the tree-toad—and it was night. + </p> + <p> + “Dame Nature shifts the scene without much warning here, Thomas,” said + Massa Aaron; “we must get along, Doechez, mon cher—doechez, diggez + votre spurs into the flankibus of votre cheval, mon ami,” shouted Aaron to + our guide. + </p> + <p> + “Oui, monsieur,” replied the man, ‘mais’ + </p> + <p> + I did not like this ominous “but,” nevertheless we rode on. No more did + Massa Aaron. The guide repeated his mais again. “Mais, mon filo,” said + Bang, “mais—que meanez vous by baaing comme un sheep, eh? Que vizzy + vous, eh?” + </p> + <p> + We were at this time riding in a bridle-road, to which the worst sheep + paths in Westmoreland would have been a railway, with our horses every now + and then stumbling and coming down on their noses on the deep red earth, + while we as often stood a chance of being pitched bodily against some tree + on the path-side. But we were by this time all alive again, the dullness + of repletion having evaporated; and Mr Bang, I fancied, began to peer + anxiously about him, and to fidget a good deal, and to murmur and grumble + something in his gizzard about “arms—no arms,” as, feeling in his + starboard holster, he detected a regular long cork of claret, where he had + hoped to clutch a pistol, while in the larboard, by the praiseworthy + forethought of our guide, a good roasted capon was ensconced. “I say, Tom + tohoo mind I don’t shoot you,” presenting the bottle of claret. “If it had + been soda water, and the wire not all the stronger, I might have had a + chance in this climate—but we are somewhat caught here, my dear we + have no arms.” + </p> + <p> + “Poo,” said I, “never mind—no danger at hand, take my word for it.” + </p> + <p> + “May be not, may be not—but, Pegtop, you scoundrel, why did you not + fetch my pistols?” + </p> + <p> + “Eigh, you go fight, massa?” + </p> + <p> + “Fight! no, you booby; but could not your own numscull—the fellow’s + a fool—so come—ride on, ride on.” + </p> + <p> + Presently we came to an open space, free of trees, where the moon shone + brightly; it was a round precipitous hollow, that had been excavated + apparently by the action of a small clear stream or spout of water, that + sparkled in the moonbeams like a web of silver tissue, as it leaped in a + crystal arch over our heads from the top of a rock about twenty feet high, + that rose on our right hand, the summit clearly and sharply defined + against the blue firmament, while, on the left, was a small hollow or + ravine, down which the rivulet gurgled and vanished; while ahead the same + impervious forest prevailed, beneath which we had been travelling for so + many hours. + </p> + <p> + The road led right through this rugged hollow, crossing it about the + middle, or, if any thing, nearer the base of the cliff; and the whole + clear space between the rock and the branches of the opposite trees might + have measured twenty yards. In front of us, the path took a turn to the + left, as if again entering below the dark shadow of the wood; but towards + the right, with the moon shining brightly on it, there was a most + beautiful bank, clear of underwood, and covered with the finest short + velvet grass that could be dreamed of as a fitting sward to be pressed by + fairy feet. We all halted in the centre of the open space. + </p> + <p> + “See how the moonlight sleeps on yonder bank!” said I. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know what sleeps there, Tom,” said Aaron; “but does that figure + sleep, think you?” pointing to the dark crest of the precipitous eminence + of the right hand, from which the moonlight rill was gushing, as if it had + been smitten by the rod of the Prophet. + </p> + <p> + I started, and looked—a dark half—naked figure, with an + enormous cap of the shaggy skin of some wild creature, was kneeling on one + knee, on the very pinnacle with a carabine resting across his thigh. I + noticed our guide tremble from head to foot, but he did not speak. + </p> + <p> + “Vous avez des arms?” said Bang, as he continued with great fluency, but + little grammar; “ayez le bonte de cockez votre pistolettes?” + </p> + <p> + The man gave no answer. We heard the click of the carabine lock. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds!” said Aaron, with his usual energy when excited, “if you won’t + use them, give them to me;” and forthwith he snatched both pistols from + our guide’s holsters. “Now, Tom, get on. Shove t’other blackie a-head of + you, Pegtop, will you? Confound you for forgetting my Mantons, you + villain. I will bring up the rear.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I will get on,” said I. “but here, give me a pistol.” + </p> + <p> + “Ridez vous en avant, blackimoribus ambos—en avant, you black + rascals laissez le Capitan and me pour fightez”—shouted Bang, as the + black guide, guessing his meaning, spurred his horse against the moonlight + bank. + </p> + <p> + “Ah—ah!” exclaimed the man, as he wheeled about after he had ridden + a pace or two under the shadow of the trees—“Voila ces autres + brigands la.” + </p> + <p> + “Where?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “There,” said the man in an ecstasy of fear—“there”—and + peering up into the forest, where the checkering dancing moonlight was + flickering on the dun, herbless soil, as the gentle night-breeze made the + leaves of the trees twinkle to and fro, I saw three dark figures advancing + upon us. + </p> + <p> + “Here’s a catastrophe, Tom, my boy” quoth Aaron, who, now that he had + satisfied himself that the pistols were properly loaded and primed, had + resumed all his wonted coolness in danger. “Ask that fellow who is + enacting the statue on the top of the rock what he wants. I am a tolerable + shot, you know; and if he means evil, I shall nick him before he can carry + his carabine to his shoulder, take my word for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Who is there, and what do you want?” No answer, the man above us + continued as still as if he had actually been a statue of bronze. + Presently one of the three men in the wood sounded a short snorting note + on a bullock’s horn. + </p> + <p> + It would seem that until this moment their comrade above us had not been + aware of their vicinity, for he immediately called out in the patois of St + Domingo, “advance, and seize the travellers;” and thereupon was in the act + of raising his piece to his shoulder, when crack—Bang tired his + pistol. The man uttered a loud hah, but did not fall. + </p> + <p> + “Missed him, by all that is wonderful!” said my companion. “Now, Tom, it + is your turn.” + </p> + <p> + I levelled, and was in the very act of pulling the trigger, when the dark + figure fell over slowly and stiffly on his back, and then began to + struggle violently, and to cough loudly, as if he were suffocating. At + length he rolled over and down the face of the rock, where he was caught + by a strong clump of brushwood, and there he hung, while the coughing and + crowing increased, and I felt a warm shower, as of heated water, sputter + over my face. It was hot hot and salt—God of my fathers! it was + blood. But there was no time for consideration; the three figures by this + had been reinforced by six more, and they now, with a most fiendish yell, + jumped down into the hollow basin, and surrounded us. + </p> + <p> + “Lay down your arms,” one of them shouted. + </p> + <p> + “No,” I exclaimed; “we are British officers, and armed, and determined to + sell our lives dearly; and if you do succeed in murdering us, you may rest + assured you shall be hunted down by bloodhounds.” + </p> + <p> + I thought the game was up, and little dreamed that the name of Briton + would, amongst the fastnesses of Haiti, have proved a talisman; but it did + so. “We have no wish to injure you, but you must follow us, and see our + general,” said the man who appeared to take the lead amongst them. Here + two of the men scrambled up the face of the rock, and brought their + wounded comrade down from where he hung, and laid him on the bank; he had + been shot through the lungs, and could not speak. After a minute’s + conversation, they lifted him on their shoulders; and as our guide and + Monsieur Pegtop had been instantly bound, we were only two to nine armed + men, and accordingly had nothing for it but to follow the bearers of the + wounded man, with our horses tumbling and scrambling up the river course, + into which, by their order, we had now turned. + </p> + <p> + We proceeded in this way for about half a mile, when it was evident that + the jaded beasts could not travel farther amongst the twisted trunks of + trees and fragments of rock with which the river-course was now strewed. + We therefore dismounted, and were compelled to leave them in charge of two + of the brigands, and immediately began to scramble up the hill-side, + through a narrow footpath, in one of the otherwise most impervious + thickets that I had ever seen. Presently a black savage, half-naked like + his companions, hailed, and told us to stand. Some password that we could + not understand was given by our captors, and we proceeded, still + ascending, until, turning sharp off to the left, we came suddenly round a + pinnacle of rock, and looked down into a deep dell, with a winding path + leading to the brink of it. It was a round cockpit of a place, surrounded + with precipitous limestone-rocks on all sides, from the fissures of which + large trees and bushes sprung, while the bottom was a level piece of + ground, covered with long hay-like grass, evidently much trodden down. + Close to the high bank, right opposite, and about thirty yards from us, a + wood-fire was sparkling cheerily against the grey rock; while, on the side + next us, the roofs of several huts were visible, but there was no one + moving about that we could see. The moment, however, that the man with the + horn sounded a rough and most unmelodious blast, there was a buzz and a + stir below, and many a short grunt arose out of the pit, and long yawns, + and eigh, eighs! while a dozen splinters of resinous wood were instantly + lit, and held aloft, by whose light I saw fifty or sixty half-naked, but + well armed blacks, gazing up at us from beneath, their white eyes and + whiter teeth glancing. Most of them had muskets and long knives, and + several wore the military shake, while others had their heads bound round + with the never-failing handkerchief. At length a fierce-looking fellow, + dressed in short drawers, a round blue jacket, a pair of epaulets, and a + most enormous cocked hat, placed a sort of rough ladder, a prank with + notches cut in it with a hatchet, against the bank next us, and in a loud + voice desired us to descend. I did so with fear and trembling, but Mr Bang + never lost his presence of mind for a moment; and, in answer to the black + chief’s questions, I again rested our plea on our being British officers, + despatched on service from a squadron (and as I used the word, the poor + little Wave and solitary corvette rose up before me) across the island to + Jacmel, to communicate with another British force lying there. The man + heard me with great patience; but when I looked round the circle of + tatterdemalions, for there was ne’er a shirt in the whole company—Falstaff’s + men were a joke to them—with their bright arms sparkling to the red + glare of the torches, that flared like tongues of flame overhead, while + they grinned with their ivory teeth, and glared fiercely with their white + eyeballs on us—I felt that our lives were not worth an hour’s + purchase. + </p> + <p> + At length the leader spoke—“I am General Sanchez, driven to dispute + President Petion’s sway by his injustice to me—but I trust our + quarrel is not hopeless; will you, gentlemen, on your return to + Port-au-Prince, use your influence with him to withdraw his decree against + me?” + </p> + <p> + This was so much out of the way the idea of our being deputed to mediate + between such great personages as President Petion and one of his rebel + generals, was altogether so absurd, that, under other circumstances, I + would have laughed in the black fellow’s face. However, a jest here might + have cost us our lives; so we looked serious, and promised. + </p> + <p> + “Upon your honours”—said the poor fellow. + </p> + <p> + “Upon our words of honour”—we rejoined. + </p> + <p> + “Then embrace me”—and the savage thereupon, stinking of tobacco and + cocoa-nut oil, hugged me, and kissed me on both cheeks, and then did the + agreeable in a similar way to Mr Bang. Here the coughing and moaning of + the wounded man broke in upon the conference. + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” said Sanchez. One of his people told him. “Ah!” said he, + with a good deal of savageness in his tone—“A—ha! blood?” + </p> + <p> + We promptly explained how it happened;—for a few moments, I did not + know how he might take it. + </p> + <p> + “But I forgive you,” at length said he—“however, my men may revenge + their comrade. You must drink and eat with them.” + </p> + <p> + This was said aside to us, as it were. He ordered some roasted plantains + to be brought, and mixed some cruel bad tafia with water in an enormous + gourd. He ate, and then took a pull himself we followed,—and he then + walked round the circle, and carefully observed that every one had tasted + also. Being satisfied on this head, he abruptly ordered us to ascend the + ladder, and to pass on our way. + </p> + <p> + The poor fellow was mad, I believe. However, some time afterwards, the + President hunted him down, and got hold of him, but I believe he never + punished him. As for the wounded man, whether he did live or die, Tom + Cringle does not know. + </p> + <p> + We were reconducted by our former escort to where we left our horses, + remounted, and without farther let or hinderance arrived by day dawn at + the straggling town of Jacmel. The situation is very beautiful, the town + being built on the hillside, looking out seaward on a very safe roadstead, + the anchorage being defended to the southward by bright blue shoals, and + white breakers, that curl and roar over the coral reefs and ledges. As we + rode up to Mr S——‘s, the principal merchant in the place, and + a Frenchman, we were again struck with the dilapidated condition of the + houses, and the generally ruinous state of the town. The brown and black + population appeared to be lounging about in the most absolute idleness; + and here, as at Port-au-Prince, every second man you met was a soldier. + The women sitting in their little shops, nicely set out with a variety of + gay printed goods, and the crews of the English vessels loading coffee, + were the only individuals who seemed to be capable of any exertion. + </p> + <p> + “I say, Tom,” quoth Massa Aaron, “do you see that old fellow there?” + </p> + <p> + “What? that old grey-headed negro sitting in the arbour there?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes—the patriarch is sitting under the shadow of his own Lima + bean.” + </p> + <p> + And so in very truth he was. The stem was three inches in diameter, and + the branches had been trained along and over a sparred arch, and were + loaded with pods. + </p> + <p> + “I shall believe in the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, henceforth and + for ever,” said I. + </p> + <p> + We were most kindly entertained by Mr S——, and spent two or + three days very happily. The evening of the day on which we arrived, we + had strolled out about nine o’clock to take the air—our host and his + clerks being busy in the counting-house—and were on our way home, + when we looked in on them at their desks, before ascending to the + apartments above. There were five clerks and Mr S——, all + working away on the top of their tall mahogany tripods, by the light of + their brown home-made wax candles, while three masters of merchantmen were + sitting in a corner, comparing bills of lading, making up manifests, and I + do not know what beside. + </p> + <p> + “It is now about time to close,” said Mr S——; “have you any + objection to a little music, gentlemen? or are you too much fatigued?” + </p> + <p> + “Music—music,” said Mr Bang, “I delight in good music, but”—He + was cut short by the whole bunch, the clerks and their master, closing + their ledgers, and journals, and day-books, and cashbooks with a bang, + while one hooked up a fiddle, another a clarionet, another a flute, &c, + while Mr S——offered, with a smile, his own clarionet to Massa + Aaron, and holding out at the same time, with the true good-breeding of a + Frenchman, a span-new reed. To my unutterable surprise he took it sucked + in his lips—wet the reed in his mouth; then passing his hand across + his muzzle, coolly asked Mr S——what the piece was to be? + “Adeste fideles, if you please,” said S——, rather taken aback. + Mr Bang nodded—sounded a bar or two gave another very scientific + flourish, and then calmly awaited the opening. He then tendered a fiddle + to me altogether beyond my compass—but I offered to officiate on the + kettledrum, the drummer being competent to something else. At a signal + from our host away they all launched in full crash, and very melodious it + was too, let me tell you, Aaron’s instrument telling most famously. + </p> + <p> + The next day we went to visit a tafia property in the neighbourhood. On + our way we passed a dozen miserable-looking blacks, cleaning canes, + followed by an ugly Turk of a brown man, almost naked, with the + omnipresent glazed cocked-hat, and a drawn cutlass in his hand. He was + abusing the poor devils most lustily as we rode along, and stood so + pertinaciously in the path, that I could not for the life of me pass + without jostling him. “Le vous demands pardon,” said I, with a most abject + salaam to my saddle-bow. He knit his brows and shut his teeth hard, as he + ground out between the glancing ivory, “Sacre!—voila ces foutres + blancs la,”—clutching the hilt of his couteau firmly all the while. + I thought he would have struck me. But Mr S——coming up, + mollified the savage, and we rode on. + </p> + <p> + The tafia estate was a sore affair. It had once been a prosperous sugar + plantation, as the broken panes and ruined houses, blackened by fire, were + melancholy vouchers for; but now the whole cultivation was reduced to + about a couple of acres of wiry sugar canes, and the boiling and + distilling was carried on in a small unroofed nook of the original works. + </p> + <p> + Two days after this we returned to Port-au-Prince, and I could not help + admiring the justness of Aaron’s former description; for noisome + exhalations were rising thick, as the evening sun shone hot and sickly on + the long bank of fat black mud that covers the beach beneath the town. We + found Captain Transom at Mr S——‘s. I made my report of the + state of the merchantmen loading on the south side of the island, and + returned to rest, deucedly tired and stiff with my ride. Next morning Bang + entered my room. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo, Tom—the skipper has been shouting for you this half hour—get + up, man—get up.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear sir, I am awfully tired.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” sung Bang—“‘I have a silent sorrow here’ eh?” + </p> + <p> + It was true enough; no sailor rides seventy miles on end with impunity. + That same evening we bid adieu to our excellent host Mr S——, + and the rising moon shone on us under weigh for Kingston, where two days + after we safely anchored with the homeward bound trade. “The roaring seas + Is not a place of ease,” says a Point ditty. No more is the command of a + small schooner in the West Indies. We had scarcely anchored, when the + boarding officer from the flag-ship brought me a message to repair thither + immediately. I did so. As I stepped on deck, the lieutenant was leaning on + the drumhead of the capstan, with the signal-book open before him, while + the signal-man was telling off the semaphore, which was rattling away at + the Admiral’s pen, situated about five miles off. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Cringle,” said he, without turning his head, “how are you? glad to + see you—wish you joy, my lad. Here, lend me a hand, will you? it + concerns you.” I took the book, and as the man reported, I pieced the + following comfortable sentence together. + </p> + <p> + “Desire—Wave—fit—wood—water—instantly—to + take convoy to Spanish Main—to-morrow morning—Mr Cringle—remain + on board—orders will be sent—evening.” + </p> + <p> + “Heigh ho, says Rowley,” sang I Thomas, in great wrath and bitterness of + spirit. “D——d hard—am I a duck, to live in the water + altogether, entirely?” + </p> + <p> + “Tom, my boy,” sung out a voice from the water. It was Aaron Bang’s, who, + along with Transom, had seen me go on board the receiving ship. “Come + along, man—come along—Transom is going to make interest to get + you a furlough on shore; so come along, and dine with us in Kingston.” + </p> + <p> + “I am ordered to sea to-morrow morning, my dear sir,” said I, like to cry.—“No!”—“Too + true, too true.” So no help for it, I took a sad farewell of my friends, + received my orders, laid in my provisions and water, hauled out into the + fairway, and sailed for Santa Martha next morning at daybreak, with three + merchant schooners under convoy one for Santa Martha—another for + Carthagena—and the third for Porto-Bello. + </p> + <p> + We sailed on the 24th of such a month, and, after a pleasant passage, + anchored at Santa Martha, at 8 AM, on the 31st. When we came to anchor, we + saluted, which seemed to have been a somewhat unexpected honour, as the + return was fired from the fort after a most primitive fashion. A black + fellow appeared with a shovel of live embers, one of which another sans + culotte caught up in his hand, chucking it from one palm to another, until + he ran to the breech of the first gun, where, clapping it on the + touch-hole, he fired it off, and so on seriatim, through the whole + battery, until the required number of guns were given, several of which, + by the by, were shotted, as we could hear the balls whiz overhead. The + town lies on a small plain, at the foot of very high mountains, or rather + on a sand-bank, formed from the washings from these mountains. The summit + of the highest of them, we could see from the deck, was covered with snow, + which at sunrise, in the clear light of the cool grey dawn, shone, when + struck by the first rays of the sun, like one entire amethyst. Oh, how + often I longed for the wings of the eagle, to waft me from the hot deck of + the little vessel, where the thermometer in the shade stood at 95, far up + amongst the shining glaciers, to be comforted with cold! + </p> + <p> + One striking natural phenomenon is exhibited here, arising out of the + vicinity of this stupendous prong of the Cordilleras. The sea breeze blows + into the harbour all day, but in the night, or rather towards morning, the + cold air from the high regions rushes down, and blows with such violence + off the land, that my convoy and myself were nearly blown out to sea the + first night after we arrived; and it was only by following the practice of + the native craft, and anchoring close under the lee of the beach—in + fact, by having an anchor high and dry on the shore itself—the + player, as the Spaniards call it—that we could count on riding + through the night with security or comfort. + </p> + <p> + There are several small islands at the entrance of the harbour, on the + highest of which is a fort, that might easily be rendered impregnable; it + commands both the town and harbour. The place itself deserves little + notice; the houses are mean, and interspersed with negro huts, but there + is one fine church, with several tolerable paintings in it. One struck me + as especially grotesque, although I had often seen queer things in Roman + Catholic churches in Europe. It was a representation of Hell, with Old + Nicholas, under the guise of a dragon, entertaining himself with the soul + of an unfortunate heretic in his claws, who certainly appeared far from + comfortable; while a lot of his angels were washing the sins off a set of + fine young men, as you would the dirt off scabbit potatoes, in a sea of + liquid fire. But their saints!—I often rejoiced that Aaron Bang was + not with me; we should unquestionably have quarrelled; for as to the + manner in which they were dressed and decorated, the most fantastic mode a + girl ever did up her doll in, was a joke to it. Still these wooden deities + are treated with such veneration; that I do believe their ornaments, which + are of massive gold and silver, are never, or very rarely, stolen. + </p> + <p> + On the evening of the 2nd of the following month we sailed again, but + having been baffled by calms and light winds, it was the 4th before we + anchored off the St Domingo gate at Carthagena, and next morning we + dropped down to Boca Chica, and saw our charge, a fine dashing schooner of + 150 tons, safe into the harbour. About 9 AM, we had weighed, but we had + scarcely got the anchor catted, when it came on to blow great guns from + the northwester most unusual thing hereabouts—so it was down anchor + again; and as I had made up my mind not to attempt it again before + morning, I got the gig in the water with all convenient speed; and that + same forenoon I reached the town, and immediately called on the Viceroy, + but under very different circumstances from the time Mr Splinter and I had + entered it along with the conquering army. + </p> + <p> + We dined with the magnate, and found a very large party assembled. Amongst + others, I especially recollect that the Inquisidor—General was + conspicuous; but every one, with the exception of the Captain General and + his immediate staff, was arrayed in gingham jackets; so there was not much + style in the affair. + </p> + <p> + I had before dinner an opportunity to inspect the works of Carthagena at + my leisure. It is unquestionably a very strong place, the walls, which are + built of solid masonry, being armed with at least three hundred pieces of + brass cannon, while the continued ebb and flow of the tide in the ditch + creates a current so strong, that it would be next to impossible to fill + it up, as fascines would be carried away by the current—so that, + were the walls even breached, it would be impracticable to storm them. The + appearance of Carthagena from the sea, that is, from a vessel anchored off + the St Domingo gate, is very beautiful, and picturesque. It is situated on + a sandy island, or rather a group of islands; and the beach here shoals so + gradually, that boats of even very small draught of water cannot approach + within musket-shot. The walls and numerous batteries have a very + commanding appearance. The spires and towers on the churches are numerous, + and many of them were decorated with flags when we were there; and the + green trees shooting up amidst the red-tiled houses afforded a beautiful + relief to the prospect. A little behind the town, on a gentle acclivity, + is the citadel, or fort San Felipe, whose appearance conveys an idea of + impregnable strength; (but all this sort of thing, is it not written in + Roderick Random?) and on the ship like hill beyond it, the only other + eminence in the neighbourhood, stands the convent of the Popa, like a poop + lantern on the high stern of a ship, from which indeed it takes its name. + This convent had been strongly fortified; and, commanding San Felipe, was + of great use to Morillo, who carried it by assault during the siege, and + held it until the insurgents shelled him out from the citadel. The effect, + when I first saw it, was increased by the whole scene—city, and + batteries, and Popa—being reflected in the calm smooth sea, as + distinctly as if it had been glass; so clear, in fact, was the reflection, + that you could scarcely distinguish the shadow from the reality. We + weighed next morning—that is on the sixth of the month, and arrived + safe at Porto-Bello on the 11th, after a tedious passage, during which we + had continual rains, accompanied with vivid lightning and tremendous + thunder. I had expected to have fallen in with one of our frigates here; + but I afterwards learned that, although I had slid down cheerily along + shore, the weather current that prevailed farther out at sea had swept her + away to the eastward; so I ran in and anchored, and immediately waited on + the Governor, who received me in what might once have been a barn, + although it did not now deserve the name. + </p> + <p> + Porto—Bello was originally called Nombre de Dios, having received + the former name from the English when we took it. It is a miserable, + dirty, damp hole, surrounded by high forest-clad hills, round which + everlasting mists curl and obscure the sun, whose rays, at any chance + moment when they do reach the steamy swamp on which it is built or the + waters of the lead-coloured, land-locked cove that constitutes the + harbour, immediately exhale the thick sickly moisture, in clouds of + sluggish white vapours, smelling diabolically of decayed vegetables, and + slime, and mud. I will venture a remark that will be found, I am + persuaded, pretty near the truth, that there were twenty carrion crows to + be seen in the streets for every inhabitant—the people seem every + way worthy of such an abode, saffron, dingy, miserable, emaciated looking + devils. As for the place itself, it appeared to my eyes one large + hospital, inhabited by patients in the yellow fever. During the whole of + the following day, there was still no appearance of the frigate, and I had + in consequence now to execute the ulterior part of my orders, which were, + that if I did not find her at anchor when I arrived, or if she did not + make her appearance within forty eight hours thereafter, I was myself to + leave the Wave in Porto—Bello, and proceed overland across the + isthmus to Panama, and to deliver, on board of H. M. S. Bandera, into the + Captain’s own hands, a large packet with despatches from the Government at + home, as I understood, of great importance, touching the conduct of our + squadron, with reference to the vagaries of some of the mushroom American + Republics on the Pacific. But if I fell in with the frigate, then I was to + deliver the said packet to the Captain, and return immediately in the Wave + to Port Royal. + </p> + <p> + Having, therefore, obtained letters from the Governor of Porto—Bello + to the Commandant at Chagres, I chartered a canoe with four stout canoemen + and a steersman, or patron, as he is called, to convey me to Cruzes; and + having laid in a good stock of eatables and drinkables, and selected the + black pilot, Peter Mangrove, to go as my servant, accompanied by his + never-failing companion, Sneezer, and taking my hammock and double + barrelled gun, and a brace of pistols with me, we shoved off at Six A.M. + on the morning of the 14th. + </p> + <p> + It was a rum sort of conveyance this said canoe of mine. In the first + place, it was near forty feet long, and only five broad at the broadest, + being hollowed out of one single wild cotton-tree; how this was to be + pulled through the sea on the coast, by four men, I could not divine. + However, I was assured by the old thief who chartered it to me, that it + would be all right; whereas, had my innocence not been imposed on, I + might, in a caiuco, or smaller canoe, have made the passage in one half + the time it took me. + </p> + <p> + About ten feet of the after part was thatched with palm leaves, over a + framework of broad ash hoops; which awning, called the toldo, was open + both towards the steersman that guided us with a long broad-bladed paddle + in the stern, and in the direction of the men forward, who, on starting, + stripped themselves stark naked, and, giving a loud yell every now and + then, began to pull their oars, or long paddles, after a most + extraordinary fashion. First, when they lay back to the strain, they + jumped backwards and upwards on to the thwart with their feet, and then, + as they once more feathered their paddles again, they came crack down on + their bottoms with a loud skelp on the seats, upon which they again + mounted at the next stroke, and so on. + </p> + <p> + When we cleared the harbour it was fine and serene, but about noon it came + on to blow violently from the northeast. All this while we were coasting + it along about pistol-shot from the white coral beach, with the clear + light green swell on our right hand, and beyond it the dark and stormy + waters of the blue rolling ocean; and the snow-white roaring surf on our + left. By the time I speak of, the swell had been lashed up into breaking + waves, and after shipping more salt water than I had bargained for, we + were obliged, about four PM, to shove into a cove within the reef, called + Naranja. + </p> + <p> + Along this part of the coast there is a chain of salt-water lagoons, + divided from the sea by the coral beach, the crest of which is covered + here and there with clumps of stunted mangroves. + </p> + <p> + This beach, strangely enough, is higher than the land immediately behind + it, as if it had been a dike, or natural breakwater, thrown up by the sea. + Every here and there, there were gaps in this natural dike, and it was + through one of these we shoved, and soon swung to our grapnel in perfect + security, but in a most outlandish situation certainly. + </p> + <p> + As we rode to the easterly breeze, there was the beach as described, + almost level with the water, on our left hand, the land or lee side of it + covered with most beautiful white sand and shells, with whole warrens of + land-crabs running out and in their holes like little rabbits, their tiny + green bodies seeming to roll up and down, for I was not near enough to see + their feet, or the mode of their locomotion, like bushels of grapeshot + trundling all about on the shining white shore. Beyond, the roaring surf + was flashing up over the clumps of green bushes, and thundering on the + seaward face. On the right hand, ahead of us, and astern of us, the + prospect was shut in by impervious thickets of mangroves, while in the + distance the blue hills rose glimmering and indistinct, as seen through + the steamy atmosphere. We were anchored in a stripe of clear water, about + three hundred yards long by fifty broad. There, was a clear space abeam of + us landward, of about half an acre in extent, on which was built a + solitary Indian hut close to the water’s edge, with a small canoe drawn up + close to the door. We had not been long at anchor when the canoe was + launched, and a monkey—looking naked old man paddled off, and + brought us a most beautiful chicken turtle, some yams, and a few oranges. + I asked him his price. He rejoined, “Por amor de Dios”—that it was + his saint’s day, and he meant it as a gift. However, he did not refuse a + dollar when tendered to him before he paddled away. + </p> + <p> + That night, when we were all at supper, master and men, I heard and felt a + sharp crack against the side of the canoe. “Hillo, Peter, what is that?” + said I. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing, sir,” quoth Peter, who was enjoying his scraps abaft, with the + headman, patron, or whatever you may call him, of my crew. There was a + blazing fire kindled on a bed of white sand, forward in the bow of the + canoe, round which the four bogas, or canoemen, were seated, with three + sticks stuck up triangularly over the fire, from which depended an earthen + pot, in which they were cooking their suppers. + </p> + <p> + I had rigged my hammock between the foremost and aftermost hoops of the + toldo, and as I was fatigued and sleepy, and it was now getting late, I + desired to betake myself to rest; so I was just flirting with a piece of + ham, preparatory to the cold grog, when I again felt a similar thump and + rattle against the side of the canoe. There was a small aperture in the + palm thatch, right opposite to where I was sitting, on the outside of + which I now heard a rustling noise, and presently a long snout was thrust + through, and into the canoe, which kept opening and shutting with a sharp + rattling noise. It was more like two long splinters of mud covered and + half-decayed timber, than any thing I can compare it to; but as the lower + jaw was opened, like a pair of Brobdignag scissors, a formidable row of + teeth was unmasked, the snout from the tip to the eyes being nearly three + feet long. The scene at this moment was exceedingly good, as seen by the + light of a small, bright, silver lamp, fed with spirits of wine, that I + always travelled with, which hung from one of the hoops of the toldo. + First, there was our friend Peter Mangrove, cowering in a corner under the + after part of the awning, covered up with a blanket, and shaken as if with + an ague-fit, with the patron peering over his shoulder, no less alarmed. + Sneezer, the dog, was sitting on end, with his black nose resting on the + table, waiting patiently for his crumbs; and the black boatmen were + forward in the bow of the canoe, jabbering, and laughing, and munching, as + they clustered round a sparkling fire. When I first saw the apparition of + the diabolical looking snout, I was in a manner fascinated, and could + neither speak nor move. Mangrove and the patron were also paralysed with + fear, and the others did not see it; so Sneezer was the only creature + amongst us, aware of the danger, who seemed to have his wits about him, + for the instant he noticed it, he calmly lifted his nose off the table, + and gave a short startled bark, and then crouched and drew himself back as + if in the act to spring, glancing his eyes from the monstrous jaws to my + face, and nuzzling and whining with a laughing expression, and giving a + small yelp now and then, and again riveting his eyes with intense + earnestness on the alligator, telling me as plainly as if he had spoken it—“If + you choose, master, I will attack it, as in duty bound, but really such a + customer is not at all in my way.” And not only did he say this, but he + shewed his intellect was clear, and no way warped through fear, for he now + stood on his hind legs, and holding on the hammock with his fore paws, he + thrust his snout below the pillow, and pulled out one of my pistols, which + always garnished the head of my bed, on such expeditions as the present. + </p> + <p> + My presence of mind returned at witnessing the courage and sagacity of my + noble dog. I seized the loaded pistol, and as by this time the eyes of the + alligator were inside of the toldo, I clapped the muzzle to the larboard + one, and fired. The creature jerked back so suddenly and convulsively, + that part of the toldo was tom away: and as the dead monster fell off, the + canoe rolled as if in a seaway. My crew shouted “Que es esto?” Peter + Mangrove cheered—Sneezer barked and yelled at a glorious rate, and + could scarcely be held in the canoe—and looking overboard, we saw + the monster, twelve feet long at least, upturn his white belly to the + rising moon, struggle for a moment with his short paws, and after a + solitary heavy lash of his scaly tale, he floated away astern of us, dead + and still. To proceed poor Peter Mangrove, whose nerves were consumedly + shaken by this interlude, was seized during the night with a roasting + fever, brought on in a great measure, I believe, by fear, at finding + himself so far out of his latitude; and that he had grievous doubts as to + the issue of our voyage, and as to where we were bound for, was abundantly + evident. I dosed him most copiously with salt water, a very cooling + medicine, and no lack of it at hand. + </p> + <p> + We weighed at grey dawn, on the morning of the 15th, and at 11 o’clock, AM + arrived at Chagres, a more miserable place, were that credible, even than + Porto—Bello. The eastern side of the harbour is formed by a small + promontory that runs out into the sea about five hundred yards, with a + bright little bay to windward; while a long muddy mangrove-covered spit + forms the right hand bank as you enter the mouth or estuary of the river + Chagres on the west. The easternmost bluff is a narrow saddle, with a fort + erected on the extreme point facing the sea, which, so far as situation is + concerned, is, or ought to be, impregnable, the rock being precipitous on + three faces, while it is cut off to landward by a deep dry ditch, about + thirty feet wide, across which a movable drawbridge is let down, and this + compartment of the defences is all very regular, with scarp and + counterscarp, covered—way and glacis. The brass guns mounted on the + castle were numerous and beautiful, but every thing was in miserable + disrepair; several of the guns, for instance, had settled down bodily on + the platform, having fallen through the crushed rotten carriages. I found + an efficient garrison in this stronghold of three old negroes, who had not + even a musket of any kind, but the commandant was not in the castle when I + paid my visit; however, one of the invincibles undertook to pilot me to El + Senor Torre’s house, where his honour was dining. The best house in the + place this was, by the by, although only a thatched hut; and here I found + his Excellency the Commandant, a little shrivelled insignificant-looking + creature. He was about sitting down to his dinner, of which he invited me + to partake, and as I was very hungry, I contrived to do justice to the + first dish, but my stomach was grievously offended at the second, which + seemed to me to be a compound of garlic, brick dust, and train oil, so + that I was glad to hurry on board of my canoe, to settle all with a little + good Madeira. + </p> + <p> + At four P.m. I proceeded up the river, which is here about a hundred yards + across, and very deep; it rolls sluggishly along through a low swampy + country, covered to the water’s edge with thick sedges and underwood, + below which the water stagnates, and generates myriads of musquittoes, and + other troublesome insects, and sends up whole clouds of noxious vapours, + redolent of yellow fever, and ague, and cramps, and all manner of + comfortable things. + </p> + <p> + At ten P.M. we anchored by a grapnel in the stream, and I set Peter + Mangrove forthwith to officiate in his new capacity of cook, and really he + made a deuced good one. I then slung my hammock under the toldo, and + lighting a slow match, at the end of it forwards, to smoke away the + musquittoes, having previously covered the aftermost end with a mat, I + wrapped myself in my cloak, and turned in to take my snooze. We weighed + again about two in the morning. As the day dawned the dull grey steamy + clouds settled down on us once more, while the rain fell in a regular + waterspout. It was anything but a cheering prospect to look along the + dreary vistas of the dull brimful Lethe-like stream, with nothing to be + seen but the heavy lowering sky above, the red swollen water beneath, and + the gigantic trees high towering overhead, and growing close to the + water’s edge, laced together with black snake-like withes, while the + jungle was thick and impervious, and actually grew down into the water, + for beach, or shore, or cleared bank, there was none,—all water and + underwood, except where a heavy soft slimy steaming black bank of mud hove + its shining back from out the dead waters near the shore, with one or more + monstrous alligators sleeping on it, like dirty rotten logs of wood, + scarcely deigning to lift their abominable long snouts to look at us as we + passed, or to raise their long scaly tails, with the black mud sticking to + the scales in great lumps—oh—horrible—most horrible! But + the creatures, although no beauties certainly, are harmless after all. For + instance, I never heard a well-authenticated case of their attacking a + human being hereabouts; pigs and fowls they do tithe, however, like any + parson. I don’t mean to say that they would not make free with a little + fat dumpling of a piccaniny, if he were thrown to them, but they seem to + have no ferocious propensities. I shot one of them; he was about twelve + feet long; the bullet entered in the joints of the mail, below the + shoulder of the fore paw, where the hide was tender; but if you fire at + them with the scale, that is, with the monster looking at you, a musket + ball will glance. I have often in this my log spoken of the Brobdignag + lizards, the guanas. I brought down one this day, about three feet long, + and found it, notwithstanding its dragon like appearance, very good + eating. At eleven AM on the 18th, we arrived at the village of Cruzes, the + point where the river ceases to be navigable for canoes, and from whence + you take horse, or rather mule, for Panama. For about fifteen or twenty + miles below Cruzes, the river becomes rapid, and full of shoals, when the + oars are laid aside, and the canoes are propelled by long poles. + </p> + <p> + The Town, as it is called, is a poor miserable place, composed chiefly of + negro huts; however, a Spanish trader of the name of Villaverde, who had + come over in the Wave as a passenger, and had preceded me in a lighter + canoe, and to whom I had shown some kindness, now repaid it, as far as lay + in his power. + </p> + <p> + He lodged me for the night, and hired mules for me to proceed to Panama in + the morning; so I slung my hammock in an old Spanish soldier’s house, who + keeps a kind of posada, and was called by my friend Villaverde at daydawn, + whose object was, not to tell me to get ready for my journey, but to ask + me if I would go and bathe before starting. Rather a rum sort of request, + it struck me; nevertheless, a purification, after the many disagreeables I + had endured, could not come amiss; and slipping on my trowsers, and + casting my cloak on my shoulders, away we trudged to a very beautiful + spot, about a mile above Cruzes, where, to my surprise, I found a score of + Crusafios, all Altering in the water, puffing and blowing and shouting. + Now an alligator might pick and choose, thought I; however, no one seemed + in the least afraid, so I dashed amongst them. Presently, about + pistol-shot from us, a group of females appeared. Come, thought I, rather + too much for a modest young man this too; and deuce take me, as I am a + gentleman, if the whole bevy did not disrobe in cold blood, and squatter, + naked as their mother Eve was in the garden of Eden, before she took to + the herbage, right into the middle of the stream, skirting and laughing, + as if not even a male musquitto had been within twenty miles. However, my + neighbour took no notice of them; it seemed all a matter of course. But + let that pass. About eight o’clock A.M. I got under weigh, with Peter + Mangrove, on two good stout mules, and a black guide running before me + with a long stick, with which he sprung over the sloughs and stones in the + road with great agility; I would have backed him against many a passable + hunter, to do four miles over a close country in a steeple-chase. + </p> + <p> + Panama is distant from Cruzes about seven leagues. The road is somewhat + like what the Highland ones must have been before General Wade took them + in hand, and only passable for mules; indeed, in many places where it had + been hewn out of the rock in zigzags on the face of the hill, it is + scarcely passable for two persons meeting. But the scenery on each side is + very beautiful, as it winds, for the most part, amongst steep rocks, over + shadowed by magnificent trees, amongst which birds of all sizes, and of + the most beautiful plumage, are perpetually glancing, while a monkey, + every here and there, would sit grimacing, and chattering, and scratching + himself in the cleft of a tree. + </p> + <p> + I should think, judging from my barometer—but I may have made an + inaccurate calculation, and I have not Humboldt by me—that the ridge + of the highest is fifteen hundred feet above the level of the sea, so that + it would be next to impossible to join the two seas at this point by a + canal with water in it. However, I expect to see a joint Stock Company set + a-going some fine day yet for the purpose of cutting it, that is, when the + national capital next accumulates (and Lord knows when that will be) to a + plethora, and people’s purses become so distended that they require + bleeding. + </p> + <p> + After travelling about twenty miles, the scene gradually opens, and one + begins to dream about Vasco Nunez and the enthusiastic first explorers of + the Isthmus; but my first view of the Pacific was through a drenching + shower of rain, that wet me to the skin, and rather kept my imagination + under, for this said imagination of mine is like a barn-door chuckey brisk + and crouse enough when the sun shines, and the sky is blue, and plenty of + grub at hand, but I can’t write poetry when I am could, and hungry, and + drooked. Still, when I caught my first glimpse of the distant Pacific, I + felt that, even through a miserable drizzle, it was a noble prospect. + </p> + <p> + As you proceed, you occasionally pass through small open savannahs, which + become larger, and the clear spaces wider, until the forest you have been + travelling under gradually breaks into beautiful clumps of trees, like + those in a gentleman’s park, and every here and there a placid clear piece + of water spreads out, full of pond turtle, which I believe to be one and + the same with the tortoise, and eels; the latter of which, by the by, are + very sociable creatures, for in the clear moonlight nights, with the + bright sparkling dew on the short moist grass, they frequently travel from + one pond to another, wriggling along the grass like snakes. I have myself + found them fifty yards from the water; but whether the errand was love or + war, or merely to drink tea with some of the slippery young females in the + next pool, and then return again, the deponent sayeth not. + </p> + <p> + As you approach the town, the open spaces before-mentioned become more + frequent, until at length you gain a rising ground, about three miles from + Panama, where, as the sun again shone out, the view became truly + enchanting. + </p> + <p> + There lay the town of Panama, built on a small tongue of land, jutting + into the Pacific, surrounded by walls, which might have been a formidable + defence once, but I wish my promotion depended on my rattling the old + bricks and stones about their ears, with one single frigate, if I could + only get near enough; but in the impossibility of this lies the strength + of the place, as the water shoals so gradually, that the tide retires + nearly a mile and a half from the walls, rising, I consider, near eighteen + feet at the springs, while, on the opposite side of the Isthmus, at + Chagres for instance, there is scarcely any at all, the gulf stream + neutralizing it almost entirely. + </p> + <p> + On the right hand a hill overhangs the town, rising precipitously to the + height of a thousand feet or thereabouts, on the extreme pinnacle of which + is erected a signal station, called the Vigia, which, at the instant I saw + it, was telegraphing to some craft out at sea. As for the city, to assume + our friend Mr Bang’s mode of description, it was shaped like a tadpole, + the body representing the city, and the suburb the tail; or a stewpan, the + city and its fortifications being the pan, while the handle, tending + obliquely towards us, was the Raval, or long street, extending + Savannahward, without the walls. At the distance from which we viewed it, + the red-tiled houses, cathedral, with its towers, and the numerous + monasteries and nunneries, seemed girt in with a white ribbon, while a + series of black spots here and there denoted the cannon on the batteries. + To the left of the town, there was a whole flotilla of small craft, brigs, + schooners, and vegetable boats; while farther out at sea, beyond the + fortifications, three large ships rode at anchor; and beyond them again, + the beautiful group of islands lying about five miles off the town, + appeared to float on and were reflected in the calm, glasslike expanse of + the Pacific, like emeralds chased in silver, while the ocean itself, + towards the horizon, seemed to rise up like a scene in a theatre, or a + burnished bright silver wall, growing more and more blue, and hazy and + indistinct, as it ascended, until it melted into the cloudless heaven, so + that no one could tell where water and sky met. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Thou glorious mirror, in all time, + Calm or convulsed—in breeze, or gale, or storm, + Icing the pole, or in the torrid clime + Dark heaving boundless, endless, and sublime, + The image of Eternity—the throne + Of the Invisible.” + </pre> + <p> + While a sperm whale every now and then rose between us and the islands, + and spouted up a high double jet into the air, like a blast of steam, and + then, with a heavy flounder of his broad tail, slowly sank again; and a + boat here and there glided athwart the scene, and a sleepy sail arose with + a slow motion and a fitful rattle, and a greasy cheep, on the mast of some + vessel, getting all ready to weigh, while small floating trails of blue + smoke were streaming away astern from the tiny cabooses of the craft at + anchor, and a mournful distant “yo heave oh” came booming past us on the + light air, and the everlasting tinkle of the convent bells sounded + cheerily, and the lowing of the kine around us called up old associations + in my bosom, as I looked forth on the glorious spectacle from beneath a + magnificent bower of orange-trees and shaddocks, while all manner of + wild-flowers blossomed and bloomed around us. + </p> + <p> + We arrived at Panama about three PM, covered to the eyes with mud, and + after some little difficulty, I found out Senor Hombrecillo Justo’s house, + who received me very kindly. Next morning I waited on the Governor, made + my bow and told him my errand. He was abundantly civil; professing himself + ready to serve me in any way, and promising to give me the earliest + intelligence of the arrival of the Bandera. I then returned to mine + host’s, to whom I had strong letters of introduction from some Kingston + friends. + </p> + <p> + I soon found that I had landed amongst a family of originals. Mine host + was a little thin withered body, with a face that might have vied with the + monkey whom the council of Aberdeen took for a sugar planter. He wore his + own grey hair in a long greasy queue, and his costume, when I first saw + him, was white cotton stockings, white jean small clothes and waistcoat, + and a little light-blue silk coat; he wore large solid gold buckles in his + shoes, and knee-buckles of the same. His voice was small and squeaking, + and when heated in argument, or crossed by any member of family,—and + he was very touchy—it became so shrill and indistinct that it + pierced the ear without being in the least intelligible. In those + paroxysms he did not walk, but sprung from place to place like a + grasshopper, with unlooked-for agility, avoiding the chairs and tables and + other movables with great dexterity. I often thought he would have broken + whatever came in his way; but although his erratic orbit was small, he + performed his evolutions with great precision and security. His general + temper, however, was very kind, humane, and good-humoured, and he seldom + remained long under the influence of passion. His character, both as a man + and a merchant, was unimpeachable, and, indeed, proverbial in the place. + His better half appeared to be some years older, and also a good deal of + an original. She was a little short thick woman; but, stout as she was + when I had the honour of an embrace, she must have been once much stouter, + for her skin appeared from the colour and texture to have come to her at + second hand, and to have originally belonged to a much larger person, for + it bagged and hung in flaps about her jowls and bosom, like an ill-cut + maintopsail, which sits clumsily about the clews. I think I could have + reefed her with advantage, below the chin. + </p> + <p> + Her usual dress was a shift, with a whole sailroom of frills about the + sleeves and bosom, and a heavy pink taffeta petticoat, (gowns being only + worn by these fair ones as you put on a greatcoat, that is, when they go + abroad,) and a small round apron like a flap of black silk. Over these she + wore a Spanish aroba, or twenty-five pounds weight of gold chains, saints, + and crucifixes, and a large black velvet patch, of the size of a wafer, on + each temple, which I found, by the by, to be an ornament very much in + fashion amongst the fair of Panama. Her hair, or rather the scanty remnant + thereof, was plaited into two grizzled braids, with a black bow of ribbon + at the end of each, and hung straight down her back. Like may excellent + wives, she loved to circulate her spouse’s blood by a little well-timed + opposition now and then; but she never tried her strength too far, and she + always softened down in proportion as he waxed energetic, and began to + accelerate his motions, so that by the time he had given one or two hops, + she had either fairly given in, or moved out. They had no children, but + had in a manner adopted a little black creature about four years old, + which, being a female, the lady had christened by the familiar diminutive + of Diablita. + </p> + <p> + Another curiosity was the maternal aunt of Don Hombrecillo, a little + superannuated woman about four feet high, if she could have stood erect, + but old age had long since bent her nearly double; she was on the verge of + eighty-five years of age, and had outlived all her faculties. This poor + old creature, in place of being respectably lodged and taken care of, was + allowed to go about the house, tame, without any fixed abode so far as I + could learn; nor did she always meet with that attention, I am sorry to + say it, from the family, or even from the servants, that she was entitled + to from her extreme helplessness. She had a droll custom of eating all her + meals walking, and it was her practice to move around the dinner-table in + this her dotage, and to commit pranks, that, against my will, made me + laugh, and even in despite of the feelings of pity and self-humiliation + that arose in my bosom at the sight of such miserable imbecility in a + fellow-creature. Thus keeping on the wing as I have described, it was her + practice to cruise about behind the chairs, occasionally snatching pieces + of food from before the guests, so slyly, that the first intimation of her + intentions was the appearance of her yellow shrivelled birdlike claw in + your plate. + </p> + <p> + The brother of our host was a little stout man, but still very like Senor + Justo himself. For instance, I always gloried in likening the latter to a + dried prune; then, to conceive of his plump brother, imagine him boiled, + and so swell out the creases in his skin, and there you have him. + </p> + <p> + This little dumpling was very asthmatic, and used to blow like a porpoise + by the time he reached the top of the stairs. The only time he had ever + been out of Panama was whilst he made a short visit to Lima, the wonders + of which he used to chant unceasingly. But the continual cause of my + annoyance—I fear I must write disgust—was the stepmother of + mine host, a large fat dirty old woman. She had a pouch under her chin + like a pelican, while her complexion, from the quantity of oil and foul + feeding in which she delighted, was a greasy mahogany. She despised the + unnatural luxuries of knives and forks, constantly devouring her meat with + her fingers, whatever its consistency might be; if flesh, she tore it with + both hands; if soup, she—bah! and, as the devil would have it, the + venerable beauty chose to take a fancy to me. Oh, she was a balloon! I + have often expected to see her rise to the roof. + </p> + <p> + These polished personages may be called Senor Justo’s family, but it was + occasionally increased by various others; none of whom, however, can I + heave-to to describe at present. + </p> + <p> + The day after my arrival, the operation of covering dollar boxes with wet + hides had been going on in the dinner saloon the whole forenoon, which + drove me forth to look about me; but I returned about half-past two, this + being the hour of dinner, and found all the family, excepting mine + hostess, assembled, and my appearance was the signal for dinner being + ordered in. I may mention here, that this worthy family were all firmly + impressed with the idea, that an Englishman was an ostrich, possessing a + stomach capable of holding and digesting four times as much as any other + person; and under this belief they were so outrageously kind, that I was + often literally stuffed to suffocation when I first came amongst them; and + when at length I resolutely refused to be immolated after this fashion, + they swore I was sick, or did not like my food, which was next door to + insulting them. El Senor Justo’s fat dumpling of a brother thought medical + advice ought to be taken, for when he was in Lima several seamen belonging + to an English whaler had died, and he had remarked, the twaddling body, + that they had invariably lost their appetites previous to their + dissolution. + </p> + <p> + But to return. Dinner being ordered, was promptly placed on the table, and + mine host insisted on planting me at the foot thereof, while he sat on my + left hand; so the party sat down; but the chair opposite, that ought to + have been filled by Madama herself, was still vacant. + </p> + <p> + “Adonde esta su ama,” quoth Don Hombrecillo to one of the black waiting + wenches. The girl said she did not know, but she would go and see. It is + necessary to mention here that the worthy Senor’s counting-house was in a + back building, separated from the house that fronted the street by a + narrow court, and in a small closet off this counting-house, my quatre had + been rigged the previous night, and there had my luggage been deposited. + Amongst other articles in my commissariat, there was a basket with + half-a-dozen of champagne, and some hock, and a bottle of brandy, that I + had placed under Peter Mangrove’s care to comfort us in the wilderness. We + all lay back in our chairs to wait for the lady of the house, but neither + did she nor Tomassa, the name of the handmaiden who had been despatched in + search of her, seem inclined to make their appearance. Don Hombrecillo + became impatient. + </p> + <p> + “Josefa,”—to another of the servants—“run and desire your + mistress to come here immediately.” Away she flew, but neither did this + second pigeon return. Mine host now lost his temper entirely, and + spluttered out, as loud as he could roar, “Somos comiendo, Panchita, somos + comiendo;” and forthwith, as if in spite, he began to fork up his food, + until he had nearly choked himself. Presently a short startled scream was + heard from the counting-house, then a low suppressed laugh, then a loud + shout, a long uproarious peal of laughter, and the two black servants came + thundering across the wooden gangway or drawbridge, that connected the + room where we sat with the outhouse, driven onwards by their mistress + herself. They flew across the end of the dining room into the small + balcony fronting the lane and began without ceremony to shout across the + narrow street to a Carmelite priest, who was in a gallery of the opposite + monastery, “that their mistress was possessed.” + </p> + <p> + Presently in danced our landlady, in propria persona, jumping and + screaming and laughing, and snapping her fingers, and spinning round like + a Turkish dervish, “mira el fandango, mira el fandangodexa me baylar, dexa + me baylar—See my fandango, see my fandangolet me dance let me dance—ha, + ha, ha.” + </p> + <p> + “Panchita,” screamed Justo, in extreme wrath, “tu es loco, you are mad sit + down, por amor de Dios—seas decente—be decent.” + </p> + <p> + She continued gamboling about, “loven soy y virgin—I am young and a + virgin—y tu Viejo diablo que queres tu,—and you, old devil, + what do you want, eh?—Una virgin por Dios soy—I am young,” and + seizing a boiled fowl from the dish, she let fly at her husband’s head, + but missed him, fortunately; whereupon she made a regular grab at him with + her paw, but he slid under the table, in all haste, roaring out,—“Ave + Maria, que es esso—manda por el Padre—Send for the priest, y + trae una puerco, en donde echar el demonio, manda, manda—send for a + priest, and a pig, into which the demon may be cast,—send—” + “Dexa me, dexa me baylar” continued the old dame—“tu no vale, Bobo + viejo, you are of no use, you old blockhead—you are a forked radish, + and not a man—let me catch you, let me catch you,” and here she made + a second attempt, and got hold of his queue, by which she forcibly dragged + him from beneath the table, until fortunately, the ribbon that tied it + slid off in her hand, and the little Senor instantly ran back to this + burrow, with the speed of a rabbit, while his wife sung out, “tu gastas + calzones, eh? para que, damelos damelos, yo los quitare?” and if she had + caught the worthy man, I believe she would really have shaken him out of + his garments, peeled him on the spot, and appropriated them to herself as + her threat ran. “I am a cat, a dog, and the devilhoo—hoo—hoo—let + me catch you, you miserable wretch, you forked radish, and if I don’t peel + off your breeches,—I shall wear them, I shall wear them,—Ave + Maria.” Here she threw herself into a chair, being completely blown; but + after a gasp or two, she started to her legs again, dancing and singing + and snapping her fingers, as if she had held castanets between them, + “Venga—Venga—dexa me baylar Dankee, Dankee la—Dankee, + Dankee la—mi guitarra—mi guitarra Dankee, Dankee la—ha, + ha, ha,”—and away she trundled down stairs again, where she met the + priest who had been sent for, in the lower hall, who happened to be very + handsome young man. Seeing the state she was in, and utterly unable to + account for it, he bobbed, as she threw herself on him, eluded her + embraces, and then bolted up stairs, followed by Mrs Potiphart at full + speed.—“Padre, father,” cried she, “stop till I peel that forked + radish there, and I will give you his breeches—Dankee, Dankee.” All + this while, Don Hombrecillo was squeaking out from his lair, at the top of + his pipe—“Padre, padre, trae el puerco, venga el puerco—echar + el demonio—echar el demonio bring the pig, the pig, and cast out the + devil.”—“Mi guitarra, canta, canta y bayle, viejo diablito, canta o + yo te matarras—Bring my guitar, dance, dance and sing, you little + old devil you, or I’ll murder you, dankee, dankee.” + </p> + <p> + In fine, I was at length obliged to lend a hand, and she was bodily laid + hold of, and put to bed, where she soon fell into a sound sleep, and next + morning awoke in her sound senses, totally unconscious of all that had + passed, excepting that she remembered having taken a glass of the + Englishman’s small beer. + </p> + <p> + Now the secret was out. The worthy woman, like most South American + Spaniards, was distractedly fond of cervesa blanca, or small beer, and + seeing the champagne bottles with their wired corks (beer requiring to be + so secured in hot climates,) in my basket, she could not resist making + free with a bottle, and, as I charitably concluded, small beer being a + rarity in those countries, she did not find out the difference until it + was made evident by the issue; however, I have it from authority, that she + never afterwards ventured on any thing weaker than brandy, and from that + hour, utterly eschewed that most dangerous liquor, cervesa blanca. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. Tropical High-links + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Now, massa, pipe belay + Wid your weary, weary Log, O; + Peter sick of him, me say, + Ah! sick more as one dog, O.” + + —The Humble Petition Of + Peter Mangrove, Branch Pilot. +</pre> + <p> + Like all Portuguese towns, and most Spanish, Panama does not realize the + idea which a stranger forms of it from the first view, as he descends from + the savannah. The houses are generally built of wood, and three stories + high: in the first or ground floor, are the shops; in the second, the + merchants have their warehouses; and in the third, they usually live with + their families. Those three different regions, sorry am I to say it, are + all very dirty; indeed they may be said to be the positive, comparative, + and superlative degrees of uncleanness. There are no glazed sashes in the + windows, so that when it rains, and the shutters are closed, you are + involved in utter darkness. The furniture is miserably scanty—some + old fashioned, high backed, hardwood chairs, with a profusion of tarnished + gilding; a table or two, in the same style, with a long grass hammock + slung from corner to corner, intersecting the room diagonally, which, as + they hang very low, about six inches only from the floor, it was not once + only, that entering a house during the siesta, when the windows were + darkened, I have tumbled headlong over a Don or Dofia, taking his or her + forenoon nap. But if movables were scarce, there was no paucity of silver + dishes; basins, spit boxes, censers, and utensils of all shapes, + descriptions, and sizes, of this precious metal, were scattered about + without any order or regularity, while some nameless articles, also of + silver, were thrust far out of their latitude, and shone conspicuously in + the very centre of the rooms. The floors were usually either of hard-wood + plank, ill kept; or terraced, or tiled; some indeed were flagged with + marble, but this was rare; and as for the luxury of a carpet, it was + utterly unknown, the nearest approach to it being a grass mat, plaited + prettily enough, called an estera. Round the walls of the house are + usually hung a lot of dingy faced, worm eaten pictures of saints, and + several crucifixes, which appear to be held in great veneration. The + streets are paved, but exceedingly indifferently; and the frequent rains, + or rather waterspouts, (and from the position of the place, between the + two vast oceans of the Atlantic and Pacific, they have considerably more + than their own share of moisture,) washing away the soil and sand from + between the stones, render the footing for bass of all kinds extremely + insecure. There are five monasteries of different orders, and a convent of + nuns, within the walls, most of which, I believe, are but poorly endowed. + All these have handsome churches attached to them; that of La Merced is + very splendid. The cathedral is also a fine building, with some good + pictures, and several lay relics of Pizarro, Almagro, and Vasco Nufiez, + that riveted my attention; while their fragments of the Vera Cruz, and + arrow points that had quivered in the muscles of St Sebastian, were passed + by as weak inventions of the enemy. + </p> + <p> + The week after my arrival was a fast, the men eating only once in the + twenty our hours, (as for the women, who the deuce can tell how often a + woman eats?) and during this period all the houses were stripped of their + pictures, lamps, and ornaments, to dress out the churches, which were + beautifully illuminated in the evenings, while a succession of friars + performed service in them continually. High mass is, even to the eye of a + heretic, a very splendid ceremony; and the music in this outlandish corner + was unexpectedly good, every thing considered; in the church of La Merced, + especially, they had a very fine organ, and the congregation joined in the + Jubilate with very good taste. By the way, in this same church, on the + right of the high altar, there was a deep and lofty recess, covered with a + thick black veil, in which stood concealed a figure of our Saviour, as + large as life, hanging on a great cross, with the blood flowing from his + wounds, and all kinds of horrible accompaniments. At a certain stage of + the service, a drum was beaten by one of the brethren, upon which the veil + was withdrawn, when the whole congregation prostrated themselves before + the image, with every appearance of the greatest devotion. Even the + passengers in the streets within ear-shot of the drum, stopped and + uncovered themselves, and muttered a prayer; while the inmates of the + houses knelt, and crossed themselves, with all the externals of deep + humility; although, very probably, they were at the moment calculating in + their minds the profits on the last adventure from Kingston. One custom + particularly struck me as being very beautiful. As the night shuts in, + after a noisy prelude on all the old pots in the different steeples + throughout the city, there is a dead pause; presently the great bell of + the cathedral tolls slowly, once or twice, at which every person stops + from his employment, whatever that may be, or wherever he may be, uncovers + himself, and says a short prayer—all hands remaining still and + silent for a minute or more, when the great bell tolls again, and once + more every thing rolls on as usual. + </p> + <p> + On the fourth evening of my residence in Panama, I had retired early to + rest. My trusty knave, Peter Mangrove, and trustier still, my dog Sneezer, + had both fallen asleep on the floor, at the foot of my bed, if the piece + of machinery on which I lay deserved that name, when in the dead of night + I was awakened by a slight noise at the door. I shook myself and listened. + Presently it opened, and the old woman that I have already described as + part and portion of Don Hombrecillo Justo’s family, entered the room in + her usual very scanty dress, with a lighted candle in her hand, led by a + little naked negro child. I was curious to see what she would do, but I + was not certain how the dog might relish the intrusion; so I put my hand + over my quatre, and snapping my finger and thumb, Sneezer immediately rose + and came to my bedside. I immediately judged, from the comical expression + of his face, as seen by the taper of the intruder, that he thought it was + some piece of fun, for he walked quietly up, and confronting the old lady, + deliberately took the candlestick out of her hand. The little black urchin + thereupon began shouting, “Perro Demonio—Perro Demonio” and in their + struggle to escape, she and the old lady tumbled headlong over the + sleeping pilot, whereby the candle was extinguished, and we were left in + utter darkness. I had therefore nothing for it but to get out of bed, and + go down to the cobbler, who lived in the entresol, to get a light. He had + not gone to sleep and I gave him no small alarm; indeed he was near + absconding at my unseasonable intrusion, but at length I obtained the + object of my visit, and returned to my room, when, on opening the door, I + saw poor Mangrove lying on his back in the middle of the floor, with his + legs and arms extended as if he had been on the rack, his eyes set, his + mouth open, and every faculty benumbed by fear. At his feet sat the negro + child, almost as much terrified as he was, and crying most lamentably; + while, at a little distance, sat the spectre of the old woman, scratching + its head with the greatest composure, and exclaiming in Spanish, “a little + brandy for love of the Holy Virgin.” But the most curious part of it was + the conduct of our old friend Sneezer. There he was sitting on end upon + the table, grinning and showing his ivory teeth, his eyes of jet sparkling + like diamonds with fun and frolic, and evidently laughing, after his + fashion, like to split himself, as he every now and then gave a large + sweeping whisk of his tail, like a cat watching a mouse. At length I got + the cobbler and his sable rib to take charge of the wanderers, and once + more fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + On my first arrival, I was somewhat surprised at my Spanish acquaintances + always putting, up their umbrellas when abroad after nightfall in the + streets; the city had its evil customs, it seemed, as well as others of + more note, with this disadvantage, that no one had the discretion to sing + out gardyloo. + </p> + <p> + There was another solemn fast about this time, in honour of a saint having + had a tooth drawn, or some equally important event, and Don Hombrecillo + and I had been at the evening service in the church of the convent of La + Merced, situated, as I have already mentioned, directly opposite his + house, on the other side of the lane; and this being over, we were on the + eve of returning home, when the flannel-robed superior came up and invited + us into the refectory, whereunto, after some palaver, we agreed to + adjourn, and had a good supper, and some bad Malaga wine, which, however, + seemed to suit the palates of the Frailes, if taking a very decent + quantity thereof were any proof of the same. Presently two of the lay + brothers produced their fiddles, and as I was determined not to be + outdone, I volunteered a song, and, as a key-stone to my politeness, sent + to Don Hombrecillo’s for the residue of my brandy, which, coming after the + bad wine, acted most cordially, opening the hearts of all hands like an + oyster knife, the Superior’s especially, who in turn drew on his private + treasure also, when out came a large green vitrified earthen pipkin, one + of those round-bottomed jars that won’t stand on end, but must perforce + lie on their sides, as if it had been a type of the predicament in which + some of us were to be placed ere long through its agency. The large cork, + buried an inch deep in green wax, was withdrawn from the long neck, and + out gurgled most capital old Xeres. So we worked away until we were all + pretty well fou, and anon we began to dance; and there were half-a-dozen + friars, and old Justo and myself, in great glee, jumping and gamboling + about, and making fools of ourselves after a very fantastic fashion—the + witches in Macbeth as an illustration. + </p> + <p> + At length, after being two months in Panama, and still no appearance of + the Bandera, I received a letter from the Admiral, desiring me to rejoin + the Wave immediately, as it was then known that the line of battle ship + had returned to the River Plate. Like most young men, who have hearts of + flesh in their bosoms, I had in this short space begun to have my likings—may + I not call them friendships?—in this, at the time I write of, most + primitive community; and the idea of bidding farewell to it, most likely + for ever, sank deep. However, I was His Majesty’s officer, and my services + and obedience were his, although my feelings were my own; and, + accordingly, stifling the latter, I prepared for my departure. + </p> + <p> + On the very day whereon I was recalled, a sister of mine host’s—a + most reverend mechanic, who had been fourteen years married without chick + or child—was brought to bed, to the unutterable surprise of her + spouse, and of all the little world in Panama, of a male infant. It had + rained the whole day, notwithstanding which, and its being the only + authenticated production ever published by the venerable young lady, the + piccaniny was carried to the Franciscan church, a distance of half a mile, + at nine o’clock at night, through a perfect storm, to be christened, and + the evil star of poor Mangrove rose high in the ascendant on the occasion. + </p> + <p> + After the ceremony, I was returning home chilled with standing uncovered + for an hour in a cold damp church, and walking very fast, in order to + bring myself into heat, when, on turning a corner, I heard a sound of + flutes and fiddles in the street, and from the number of lanterns and + torches that accompanied it, I conjectured rightly that it was a Function + of no small importance—no less, in fact, than a procession in honour + of the Virgin. Poor Mangrove at this time was pattering close to my heels, + and I could hear him chuckling and laughing to himself. + </p> + <p> + “What dis can be—I say, Sneezer”—to his never-failing + companion “what you tink, John Canoe—after Spanish fashion, it mosh + be, eh?” + </p> + <p> + The dog began to jump and gambol about. + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” continued the black pilot, “no doubt it must be John Canoe I may + dance—why not—eh?—oh, yes—I shall dance.” + </p> + <p> + And as the music struck into rather a quicker tune at the moment, our + ebony friend began to caper and jump about as if he had been in Jamaica at + Christmas time, whereupon one of the choristers, or music boys, as they + were called, a beautiful youth, about forty years of age, six feet high, + and proportionally strong, without the least warning incontinently smote + our amigo across the pate with a brazen saint that he carried, and felled + him to the earth; indeed, if el Senor Justo had not been on the spot to + interfere, we should have had a scene of it in all likelihood, as the + instant the man delivered his blow, Sneezer’s jaws were at his throat, and + had he not fortunately obeyed me, and let go at the sound of my voice, we + might have had a double of Macaire and the dog of Montargis. As it was, + the noble animal, before he let go, brought the culprit to the ground like + a shot. I immediately stood forward, and got the feud soldered as well as + I could, in which the worthy Justo cordially lent me a hand. + </p> + <p> + Next morning I rode out on my mule, to take my last dip in the Quebrada of + the Loseria, which was a rapid in a beautiful little rivulet, distant from + Panama about three miles, and a most exquisite bath it was. Let me + describe it. After riding a couple of miles, and leaving the open + savannah, you struck off sharp to the left through a narrow bridle-path + into the wood, with an impervious forest on either hand, and proceeding a + mile farther, you came suddenly upon a small rushing, roaring, miniature + cascade, where the pent-up waters leaped through a narrow gap in the + limestone rock, that you could have stepped across, down a tiny fall about + a fathom high, into a round foaming buzzing basin, twenty feet in + diameter, where the clear cool water bubbled and eddied round and round + like a boiling cauldron, until it rushed away once more over the lower + ledge, and again disappeared, murmuring beneath the thick foliage of the + rustling branches. The pool was about ten feet deep, and never was any + thing more luxurious in a hot climate. + </p> + <p> + After having performed my morning ablutions, and looking with a heavy + heart at the sweet stream, and at every stock and stone, and shrub and + tree, as objects I was never to see again; I trotted on, followed by Peter + Mangrove, my man-at-arms, who bestrode his mule gallantly, to Don + Hombrecillo’s pen, as the little man delighted to call his country house, + situated about five miles from Panama, and which I was previously informed + had been given up to the use of his two maiden sisters. I got there about + half past ten in the forenoon, and found that el Senor Justo had arrived + before me. The situation was most beautiful; the house was embosomed in + high wood; the lowest spurs put forth by the gigantic trees being far + above the ridge-pole of the wooden fabric. It was a low one story building + of unpainted timber, which, from the action of the weather, had been + bleached on the outside into a whitish grey appearance, streaked by + numerous green weather-stains, and raised about five feet on wooden posts, + so that there was room for a flock of goats to shelter themselves below + it. Access was had to the interior by a rickety rattle-trap of a wooden + ladder, or stair of half-a-dozen steps, at the top of which you landed in + an unceiled hall, with the rafters of the roof exposed, and the bare green + vitrified tiles for a canopy, while a small sleeping apartment opened off + each end. In the centre room there was no furniture except two grass + hammocks slung across the room, and three or four old-fashioned leather, + or rather hide covered chairs, and an old rickety table; while overhead + the tiles were displaced in one or two places, where the droppings from + the leaves of the trees, and the sough of their rustling in the wind, came + through. There were no inmates visible when we entered but a little negro + girl, of whom el Senor Hombrecillo asked “where the Senoras were?”—“En + capillo,” said the urchin. Whereupon we turned back and proceeded to a + little tiny stone chapel, little bigger than a dog-house, the smallest + affair in the shape of a church I had ever seen, about a pistol-shot + distant in the wood, where we found the two old ladies and Senor Justo’s + natural son engaged at their devotions. On being aware of our presence, + they made haste with the service, and, having finished it, arose and + embraced their brother, while the son approached and kissed his hand. + </p> + <p> + One of the ancient demoiselles appeared in bad health; nevertheless, they + both gave us a very hearty reception, and prepared breakfast for us; + fricasseed fowls, a little too much of the lard, but still, fish from the + neighbouring stream, &c., and I was doing the agreeable to the best of + my poor ability, when el Senor Justo asked me abruptly if I would go, and + bathe. A curious country, thought I, and a strange way people have of + doing things. After a hearty meal, instead of giving you time to ruminate, + and to allow the gastric juices to operate, away they lug you to be + plumped over head and ears into a pool of ice cold water. I rose, + confoundedly against my inclinations I will confess, and, we proceeded to + a small rocky waterfall, where a man might wash himself certainly, but as + to swimming, which is to me the grand desideratum, it was impossible, so I + prowled away down the stream, to look out for a pool, and at last I was + successful. On returning, as I only took a dip to swear by, the situation + of my venerable Spanish ally was entertaining enough. There he was, the + most forlorn little mandrake eye ever rested on, cowering like a large + frog under the tiny cascade, stark naked, with his knees drawn up to his + chin, and his grey queue gathered carefully under a green gourd or + calabash that he wore on his head, while his natural son was dashing water + in his face, as if the shower bath overhead had not been sufficient. + </p> + <p> + “Soy banando—soy banando, capitan—fresco—fresquito,” + squealed Hombrecillo; while, splash between every exclamation, his dutiful + son let fly a gourdfull of agua at his head. + </p> + <p> + That same evening we returned to Panama; and next morning, being the 22d + of such a month, I left my kind friends, and, with Peter Mangrove, + proceeded on our journey to Cruces, mounted on two stout mules. I got + there late in the evening, the road, from the heavy rains, being in sad + condition; but next morning the recua, or convoy of silver, which was to + follow me for shipment on merchants account to Kingston, had not arrived. + Presently I received a letter from Don Justo, sent express, to intimate + that the muleteers had proceeded immediately after we had started for + about a mile beyond the suburbs, where they were stopped by the officer of + a kind of military post or barrier, under pretence of the passport being + irregular; and this difficulty was no sooner cleared up, than the accounts + of a bullfight, that was unexpectedly to take place that forenoon, reached + them, when the whole bunch, half drunk as they were, started off to Panama + again, leaving the money with the soldiers; nor would they return, or be + prevailed on to proceed, until the following morning. However, on the + 24th, at noon, the money did arrive, which was immediately embarked on + board of a large canoe that I had provided; and, having shipped a + beautiful little mule also, of which I had made a purchase at Panama, we + proceeded down the river to the village of Gorgona, where we slept. My + apartment was rather a primitive concern. It was simply a roof or shed, + thatched with palm-tree leaves, about twelve feet long by eight broad, and + supported on four upright posts at the corners, the eaves being about six + feet high. Under this I slung my grass hammock transversely from corner to + corner, tricing it well up to the rafters, so that it hung about five feet + from the ground; while beneath Mangrove lit a fire, for the twofold + purpose, as it struck me, of driving off the musquittoes, and converting + his Majesty’s officer into ham or hung beef; and after having made mulo + fast to one of the posts, with a bundle of malojo, or the green stems of + Indian corn or maize, under his nose, he borrowed a plank from a + neighbouring hut, and laid himself down on it at full length, covered up + with a blanket, as if he had been a corpse, and soon fell fast asleep. As + for Sneezer, he lay with his black muzzle resting on his fore paws, which + were thrust out straight before him, until they almost stirred up the + white embers of the fire; with his eyes shut, and apparently asleep, but + from the constant nervous twitchings and pricking up of his ears, and his + haunches being gathered up well under him, and a small quick switch of his + tail now and then, it was evident he was broad awake, and considered + himself on duty. All continued quiet and silent in our bivouac until + midnight, however, except the rushing of the river hard by, when I was + awakened by the shaking of the shed from the violent struggles of mulo to + break loose, his strong trembling thrilling along the taught cord that + held him, down the lanyard of my hammock to my neck, as he drew himself in + the intervals of his struggles as far back as he could, proving that the + poor brute suffered under a paroxysm of fear. “What noise is that?” I + roused myself. It was repeated. It was a wild cry, or rather a loud shrill + mew, gradually sinking into a deep growl. “What the deuce is that, + Sneezer?” said I. The dog made no answer, but merely wagged his tail once, + as if he had said, “Wait a bit now, master; you shall see how well I shall + acquit myself, for this is in my way.” Ten yards from the shed under which + I slept, there was a pigsty, surrounded by a sort of tiny stockade a + fathom high, make of split cane, wove into wickerwork between upright + rails sunk into the ground; and by the clear moonlight I could, as I lay + in my hammock, see an animal larger than an English bulldog, but with the + stealthy pace of the cat, crawl on in a crouching attitude until within + ten feet of the sty, when it stopped, looked round, and then drew itself + back, and made a scrambling jump against the cane defence, hooking on to + the top of it by its fore paws. the claws of its hind feet scratching and + rasping against the dry cane splits, until it had gathered its legs into a + bunch, like the aforesaid puss, on the top of the enclosure; from which + elevation the creature seemed to be reconnoitring the unclean beasts + within. I grasped my pistols. Mangrove was still sound asleep. The + struggles of mulo increased; I could hear the sweat raining off him; but + Sneezer, to my great surprise, remained motionless as before. We now heard + the alarmed grunts, and occasionally a sharp squeak, from the piggery, as + if the beauties had only now become aware of the vicinity of their + dangerous neighbour, who, having apparently made his selection, suddenly + dropped down amongst them; when mulo burst from his fastenings with a yell + enough to frighten the devil, tearing away the upright to which the + lanyard of my hammock was made fast, whereby I was pitched like a shot + right down on Mangrove’s corpus, while a volley of grunting and squeaking + split the sky, such as I never heard before; while, in the very nick, + Sneezer, starting from his lair with a loud bark, sprang at a bound into + the enclosure, which he topped like a first rate hunter; and Peter + Mangrove, awakening all of a heap from my falling on him, jumped upon his + feet as noisy as the rest. + </p> + <p> + “Caramighty in a tap—wurra all dis—my tomach bruise home to my + backbone like one pancake;” and, while the short fierce bark of the noble + dog was blended with the agonized cry of the gatto del monte, the shrill + treble of the poor porkers rose high above both, and mulo was galloping + through the village with the post after him, like a dog with a pan at his + tail, making the most unearthly noises; for it was neither bray nor neigh. + The villagers ran out of their huts, headed by the Padre Cura, and all was + commotion and uproar. Lights were procured. The noise in the sty + continued, and Mangrove, the warm hearted creature, unsheathing his knife, + clambered over the fence to the rescue of his four footed ally, and + disappeared, shouting, “Sneezer often fight for Peter, so Peter now will + fight for he;” and soon began to blend his shouts with the cries of the + enraged beasts within. At length the mania spread to me upon hearing the + poor fellow shout, “Tiger here, Captain tiger here tiger too many for we—Lud-a-mercy—tiger + too many for we, sir,—if you no help we, we shall be torn in piece.” + Then a violent struggle, and a renewal of the uproar, and of the barking, + and yelling, and squeaking. It was now no joke; the life of a + fellow-creature was at stake. So I scrambled up after the pilot to the top + of the fence, with a loaded pistol in my hand, a young active Spaniard + following with a large brown wax candle, that burned like a torch; and + looking down on the melee below, there Sneezer lay with the throat of the + leopard in his jaws, evidently much exhausted, but still giving the + creature a cruel shake now and then, while Mangrove was endeavouring to + throttle the brute with his bare hands. As for the poor pigs, they were + all huddled together, squeaking and grunting most melodiously in the + corner. I held down the light. “Now, Peter, cut his throat, man—cut + his throat.” + </p> + <p> + Mangrove, the moment he saw where he was, drew his knife across the + leopard’s weasand, and killed him on the spot. The glorious dog, the very + instant he felt he had a dead antagonist in his fangs, let go his hold, + and making a jump with all his remaining strength, for he was bleeding + much, and terribly torn, I caught him by the nape of the neck, and, in my + attempt to lift him over and place him on the outside, down I went, dog + and all, amongst the pigs, upon the bloody carcass; out of which mess I + was gathered by the Cura and the standers by in a very beautiful + condition; for, what between the filth of the sty and blood of the + leopard, and so forth, I was not altogether a fit subject, for a side box + at the Opera. + </p> + <p> + This same tiger or leopard had committed great depredations in the + neighbourhood for months before, but he had always escaped, although he + had been repeatedly wounded; so Peter and I became as great men for the + two hours longer that we sojourned in Gorgona, as if we had killed the + dragon of Wantley. Our quarry was indeed a noble animal, nearly seven feet + from, the nose to the tip of the tail. At day dawn, having purchased his + skin for three dollars, I shoved off; and, on the 25th, at five in the + evening, having had a strong current with us the whole way down, we + arrived at Chagres once more. I found a boat from the Wave waiting for me, + and to prevent unnecessary delay, I resolved to proceed with the canoe + along the coast to Porto Bello, as there was a strong weather current + running, and no wind; and, accordingly, we proceeded next morning, with + the canoe in tow, but towards the afternoon it came on to blow, which + forced us into a small cove, where we remained for the night in a very + uncomfortable situation, as the awning proved an indifferent shelter from + the rain, that descended in torrents. + </p> + <p> + We had made ourselves as snug as it was possible to be in such weather, + under an awning of boat sails, and had kindled a fire in a tub at the + bottom of the boat, at which we had made ready some slices of beef, and + roasted some yams, and were, all hands, master and men, making ourselves + comfortable with a glass of grog, when the warp by which we rode suddenly + parted, from a puff of wind that eddied down on us over the little cape, + and before we could get the oars out, we were tailing on the beach at the + opposite side of the small bay. However, we soon regained our original + position, by which time all was calm again where we lay; and this time, we + sent the end of the line ashore, making it fast round a tree, and once + more rode in safety. But I could not sleep, and the rain having ceased, + the clouds broke away, and the moon once more shone out cold, bright, and + clear. I had stepped forward from under the temporary awning, and was + standing on the thwart, looking out to windward, endeavouring to judge of + the weather at sea, and debating in my own mind whether it would be + prudent to weigh before daylight, or remain where we were. But all in the + offing, beyond the small headland, under the lee of which we lay, was dark + and stormy water, and white crested howling waves, although our snug + little bay continued placid and clear, with the moonbeams dancing on the + twinkling ripple, that was lap, lapping, an& sparkling like silver on + the snow-white beach of sand and broken shells; while the hills on shore + that rose high and abrupt close to, were covered with thick jungle, from + which, here and there, a pinnacle of naked grey rock would shoot up like a + gigantic spectre, or a tall tree would cast its long black shadow over the + waving sea of green leaves that undulated in the breeze beneath. + </p> + <p> + As the wind was veering about rather capriciously, I had cast my eye + anxiously along the warp, to see how it bore the strain, when to my + surprise it appeared to thicken at the end next the tree, and presently + something like a screw, about a foot long, that occasionally shone like + glass in the moonlight, began to move along the taught line, with a spiral + motion. All this time one of the boys was fast asleep, resting on his + folded arms on the gunwale, his head having dropped down on the stem of + the boat; but one of the Spanish bogas in the canoe, which was anchored + close to us, seeing me gazing at something, now looked in the same + direction; the instant he caught the object, he thumped with his palms on + the side of the canoe exclaiming, in a loud alarmed tone— “Culebra—culebra,—a + snake, a snake,”—on which the reptile made a sudden and rapid slide + down the line towards the bow of the boat where the poor lad was sleeping, + and immediately afterwards dropped into the sea. + </p> + <p> + The sailor rose and walked aft, as if nothing had happened, amongst his + messmates, who had been alarmed by the cries of the Spanish canoe man, and + I was thinking little of the matter, when I heard some anxious whispering + amongst them. + </p> + <p> + “Fred,” said one of the men, “what is wrong, that you breathe so hard?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, boy, what ails you?” said another. + </p> + <p> + “Something has stung me,” at length said the poor little fellow, speaking + thick, as if he had laboured under sore throat. The truth flashed on me, a + candle was lit, and, on looking at him, he appeared stunned, complained of + cold, and suddenly assumed a wild startled look. + </p> + <p> + He evinced great anxiety and restlessness, accompanied by a sudden and + severe prostration of strength—still continuing to complain of great + and increasing cold and chilliness, but he did not shiver. As yet no part + of his body was swollen, except very slightly about the wound; however, + there was a rapidly increasing rigidity of the muscles of the neck and + throat, and within half an hour after he was bit, he was utterly unable to + swallow even liquids. The small whip-snake, the most deadly asp in the + whole list of noxious reptiles peculiar to South America, was not above + fourteen inches long; it had made four small punctures with its fangs, + right over the left jugular vein, about an inch below the chin. There was + no blood oozing from them, but a circle about the size of a crownpiece of + dark red surrounded them, gradually melting into blue at the outer rim, + which again became fainter and fainter, until it disappeared in the + natural colour of the skin. By the advice of he Spanish boatman, we + applied an embrocation of the leaves of the palma Christi, or castor-oil + nut, as hot as the lad could bear it, but we had neither oil nor hot milk + to give internally, both of which they informed us often proved specifics. + Rather than lie at anchor, until morning, under these melancholy + circumstances, I shoved out into the rough water, but we made little of + it, and when the day broke, I saw that the poor fellow’s fate was sealed. + His voice had become inarticulate, the coldness had increased, all motion + in the extremities had ceased, the legs and arms became quite stiff, the + respiration slow and difficult, as if the blood had coagulated, and could + no longer circulate through the heart; or as if, from some unaccountable + effect of the poison on the nerves, the action of the former had been + impeded;— still the poor little fellow was perfectly sensible, and + his eye bright and restless. His breathing became still more interrupted—he + could no longer be said to breathe, but gasped—and in another half + hour, like a steam-engine when the fire is withdrawn, the strokes, or + contractions and expansions of his heart became slower and slower, until + they ceased altogether. + </p> + <p> + From the very moment of his death, the body began rapidly to swell, and + become discoloured; the face and neck, especially, were nearly as black as + ink within half an hour of it, when blood began to flow from the mouth, + and other symptoms of rapid decomposition succeeded each other so fast, + that by nine in the morning we had to sew him up in a boat sail, with a + large stone, and launch the body into the sea. + </p> + <p> + We continued to struggle against the breeze until eleven o’clock in the + forenoon of the 27th, when the wind again increased to such a pitch, that + we had to cast off our tow, and leave her on the coast under the charge of + little Reefpoint, with instructions to remain in the creek where he was, + until the schooner picked him up; we then pushed once more through the + surf for Porto Bello, where we arrived in safety at five P.m. Next morning + at daylight we got under weigh, and stood down for the canoe, and having + received the money on board, and the Spaniards who accompanied it, and + poor mulo, we made sail for Kingston, Jamaica, and on the 4th of the + following month were off Carthagena once more, having been delayed by + calms and light winds. The captain of the port shoved out to us, and I + immediately recognized him as the officer to whom poor old Deadeye once + gave a deuced fright, when we were off the town, in the old Torch, during + the siege, and about a fortnight before she foundered in the hurricane; + but in the present instance he was all civility; on his departure we made + sail, and arrived at Kingston, safe and sound, in the unusually short + passage of sixty hours from the time we left Carthagena. + </p> + <p> + Here the first thing I did was to call on some of my old friends, with one + of whom I found a letter lying for me from Mr Bang, requesting a visit at + his domicile in St Thomas in the Vale so soon as I arrived; and through + the extreme kindness of my Kingston allies, I had, on my intention of + accepting it being known, at least half a dozen gigs offered to me, with + servants and horses, and I don’t know what all. I made my selection, and + had arranged to start at day-dawn next morning, when a cousin of mine, + young Palma, came in where I was dining, and said that his mother and the + family had arrived in town that very day, and were bound on a picnic party + next morning to visit the Falls in St David’s. I agreed to go, and to + postpone my visit to friend Aaron for the present; and very splendid + scenery did we see; but as I had seen the Falls of Niagara, of course I + was not astonished. There was a favourite haunt and cave of Three-fingered + Jack shown to us in the neighbourhood, very picturesque and romantic, and + all that sort of thing, but I was escorting my Mary, and the fine scenery + and roaring waters were at this time thrown away on me. However, there was + one incident amusing enough. Mary and I had wandered away from the rest of + the party, about a mile above the cascade, where the river was quiet and + still, and divided into several tiny streams or pools, by huge stones that + had rolled from the precipitous banks, down into its channel; when on + turning an angle of the rock, we came unexpectedly on my old ally Whiffle, + with a cigar in his mouth, seated on a cane bottomed chair, close to the + brink of the water, with a little low table at his right hand, on which + stood a plate of cold meat, over which his black servant held a green + branch, with which he was brushing the flies away, while a large rummer of + cold brandy grog was immersed in the pool at his feet, covered up with a + cool plantain leaf. He held a long fishing rod in his hands, eighteen feet + at the shortest, fit to catch salmon with, which he had to keep nearly + upright, in order to let his hook drop into the pool, which was not above + five feet wide—why he did not heave it by hand I am sure I cannot + tell; indeed, I would as soon have thought of angling for gold fish in my + aunt’s glass globe—and there he sat fishing with great complacency. + However, he seemed a little put out when we came up. “Ah, Tom, how do you + do?—Miss, your most obsequious—no rain mullet deucedly shy, + Tom— ah! what a glorious nibble—there—there again—I + have him;” and sure enough, he had hooked a fine mountain mullet, weighing + about a pound and a half, and in the ecstasy of the moment, and his hurry + to land him handsomely, he regularly capsized in his chair, upset the + rummer of brandy grog and table and all the rest of it. We had a good + laugh, and then rejoined our party, and that evening we all sojourned at + Lucky Valley, a splendid coffee estate, with a most excellent man and an + exceedingly obliging fellow for a landlord. + </p> + <p> + Next day we took a long ride, to visit a German gentleman, who had + succeeded in a wonderful manner in taming fish. He received us very + hospitably, and after lunch, we all proceeded to his garden, through which + ran a beautiful stream of the clearest water. It was about four feet + broad, and a foot deep, where it entered the garden, but gradually widened + in consequence of a dam with stakes at the top having been erected at the + lower part of it, until it became a pool twelve feet broad, and four feet + deep, of the most beautiful crystal clear water that can be imagined, + while the margin on both sides was fringed with the fairest flowers that + Europe or the tropics could afford. We all peered into the stream, but + could see nothing except an occasional glance of a white scale or fin now + and then.—“Liverpool!” shouted the old German who was doing the + honours—“Liverpool, come bring de food for de fis.” Liverpool, a + respectable-looking negro, approached, and stooping down at the water’s + edge, held a piece of roasted plantain close to the surface of it. In an + instant, upwards of a hundred mullet, large fine fish, some of them above + a foot long, rushed from out the dark clear depths of the quiet pool, and + jumped, and walloped, and struggled for the food, although the whole party + were standing close by. Several of the ladies afterwards tried their hand, + and the fish, although not apparently quite so confident, after a tack + here and a tack there, always in the end came close to and made a grab at + what was held to them. + </p> + <p> + That evening I returned to Kingston, where I found an order lying for me + to repair as second-lieutenant on board the Firebrand once more, and to + resign the command of the Wave to no less a man than Moses Yerk, esquire; + and a happy man was Moses, and a gallant fellow he proved himself in her, + and earned laurels and good freights of specie, and is now comfortably + domiciled amongst his friends. + </p> + <p> + The only two Waves, that I successfully made interest at their own request + to get back with me, were Tailtackle, and little Reefpoint. + </p> + <p> + Time wore on—days and weeks and months passed away, during which we + were almost constantly at sea, but incidents worth relating had grown + scarce, as we were now in piping times of peace, when even a stray pirate + had become a rarity, and a luxury denied to all but the small craft + people. On one of our cruises, however, we had been working up all morning + to the southward of the Pedro shoals, with the wind strong at east, a hard + fiery sea-breeze. We had hove-about, some three hours before, and were + standing in towards the land, on the starboard tack, when the look-out at + the masthead hailed. + </p> + <p> + “The water shoals on the weather bow, sir;” and presently, “breakers right + ahead.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” I replied—“all right.” + </p> + <p> + “We are nearing the reefs, sir,” said I, walking aft and addressing + Captain Transom; “shall we stand by to go about, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly—heave in stays as soon as you like, Mr Cringle.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment the man aloft again sung out—“There is a wreck on the + weather most point of the long reef, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay! what does she look like?” + </p> + <p> + “I see the stumps of two lower masts, but the bowsprit is gone, sir—I + think she must be a schooner or a brig, sir.” + </p> + <p> + The Captain was standing by, and looked up to me, as I stood on the long + eighteen at the weather-gangway. + </p> + <p> + “Is the breeze not too strong, Mr Cringle?” + </p> + <p> + I glanced my eye over the side—“Why, no, sir—a boat will live + well enough—there is not so much sea in shore here.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well—haul the courses up, and heave-to.” + </p> + <p> + It was done. + </p> + <p> + “Pipe away the yawlers, boatswain’s mate.” + </p> + <p> + The boat over the lee-quarter was lowered, and I was sent to reconnoitre + the object that had attracted our attention. As we approached, we passed + the floating swollen carcasses of several bullocks, and some pieces of + wreck; and getting into smooth water, under the lee of the reef, we pulled + up under the stem of the shattered hull which lay across it, and scrambled + on deck by the boat tackles, that hung from the davits, as if the + jolly-boat had recently been lowered. The vessel was a large Spanish + schooner, apparently about one hundred and eighty tons burden, nearly new; + every thing strong and well fitted about her, with a beautiful spacious + flush-deck, surrounded by high solid bulwarks. All the boats had + disappeared; they might either have been carried away by the crew, or + washed overboard by the sea. Both masts were gone about ten feet above the + deck; which, with the whole of their spars and canvass, and the wreck of + the bowsprit, were lumbering and rattling against the lee-side of the + vessel, and splashing about in the broken water, being still attached to + the hull by the standing rigging, no part of which had been cut away. The + mainsail, foresail, fore-topsail, fore-staysail, and jib were all set, so + she must most likely have gone on the reef, either under a press of + canvass in the night, in ignorance of its vicinity, or by missing stays. + </p> + <p> + She lay on her beam-ends across the coral rock, on which there was about + three feet water where shallowest, and had fallen over to leeward, + presenting her starboard broadside to the sea, which surged along it in a + slanting direction, while the lee gunwale was under water. The boiling + white breakers were dashing right against her bows, lifting them up with + every send, and thundering them down again against the flint— hard + coral spikes, with a loud gritting rumble; while every now and then the + sea made a fair breach over them, flashing up over the whole deck aft to + the tafferel in a snow storm of frothy flakes. Forward in the bows there + lay, in one horrible fermenting and putrefying mass, the carcasses of + about twenty bullocks, part of her deck-load of cattle, rotted into one + hideous lump, with the individual bodies of the poor brutes almost + obliterated and undistinguishable, while streams of decomposed animal + matter were ever and anon flowing down to leeward, although as often + washed away by the hissing waters. But how shall I describe the scene of + horror that presented itself in the after part of the vessel, under the + lee of the weather-bulwarks! + </p> + <p> + There, lashed to the ring-bolts, and sheltered from the sun and sea, by a + piece of canvass, stretched across a broken oar, lay, more than half + naked, the dead bodies of an elderly female, and three young women; one of + the latter with two lifeless children fastened by handkerchiefs to her + waist, while each of the other two had the corpse of an infant firmly + clasped in her arms. + </p> + <p> + It was the dry season, and as they lay right in the wake of the windward + ports, exposed to a thorough draft of air, and were defended from the sun + and the spray, no putrefaction had taken place; the bodies looked like + mummies, the shrunken muscles, and wasted features, being covered with a + dry horny skin, like parchment; even the eyes remained full and round, as + if they had been covered over with a hard dim scale. + </p> + <p> + On looking down into the steerage, we saw another corpse, that of a tall + young slip of a Spanish girl, surging about in the water, which reached + nearly to the deck, with her long black hair floating and spread out all + over her neck and bosom, but it was so offensive and decayed, that we were + glad to look another way. There was no male corpse to be seen, which, + coupled with the absence of the boats, evinced but too clearly that the + crew had left the females, with their helpless infants, on the wreck to + perish. There was a small roundhouse on the after-part of the deck, in + which we found three other women alive, but wasted to skeletons. We took + them into the boat, but one died in getting her over the side; the other + two we got on board, and I am glad to say that they both recovered. For + two days neither could speak; there seemed to be some rigidity about the + throat and mouth that prevented them; but at length the youngest—(the + other was her servant)—a very handsome woman, became strong enough + to tell us, “that it was the schooner Caridad that we had boarded, bound + from Rio de la Hache to Savana la Mar, where she was to have discharged + her deck-load of cattle, and afterwards to have proceeded to Batabano, in + Cuba. She had struck, as I surmised, in the night, about a fortnight + before we fell in with her; and next morning, the crew and male passengers + took to the boats, which with difficulty contained them, leaving the women + under a promise to come back that evening, with assistance from the shore, + but they never appeared, nor were they ever after heard of.” And here the + poor thing cried as if her heart would break. “Even my own Juan, my + husband, left me and my child to perish on the wreck. Oh God! Oh God! I + could not have left him—I could not have left him.” + </p> + <p> + There had been three families on board, with their servants, who were + emigrating to Cuba, all of whom had been abandoned by the males, who, as + already related, must in all human probability have perished after their + unmanly desertion. As the whole of the provisions were under water, and + could not be got at, the survivors had subsisted on raw flesh so long as + they had strength to cut it, or power to swallow it; what made the poor + creature tell it, I cannot imagine, if it were not to give the most vivid + picture possible, in her conception, of their loneliness and desolation, + but she said, “no sea-bird even ever came near us.” + </p> + <p> + It were harrowing to repeat the heart-rendering description given by her, + of the sickening of the heart when the first night fell, and still no + tidings of the boats; the second sun set—still the horizon was + speckless; the next dreary day wore to an end, and three innocent helpless + children were dead corpses; on the fourth, madness seized on their + mothers, and—but I will not dwell on such horrors. + </p> + <p> + During these manifold goings and comings I naturally enlarged the circle + of my acquaintance in the island, especially in Kingston, the mercantile + capital; and often does my heart glow within me, when the scenes I have + witnessed in that land of fun and fever rise up before me after the lapse + of many years, under the influence of a good fire and a glass of old + Madeira. Take the following sample of Jamaica High Jinks as one of many. + On a certain occasion I had gone to dine with Mr Isaac Shingle, and + extensive American merchant, and a most estimable man, who considerately + sent his gig down to the wherry wharf for me. At six o’clock I arrived at + my friend’s mansion, situated in the upper part of the town, a spacious + one-story house, overshadowed by two fine old trees, and situated back + from the street about ten yards; the intervening space being laid out in a + beautiful little garden, raised considerably above the level of the + adjoining thoroughfare, from which it was divided by a low parapet wall, + surmounted by a green painted wooden railing. There was a flight of six + brick steps from the street to the garden, and you ascended from the + latter to the house itself, which was raised on brick pillars a fathom + high, by another stair of eight, broad marble slabs. The usual verandah, + or piazza, ran along the whole front, beyond which you entered a large and + lofty, but very darksome hall, answering to our European drawing room into + which the bedrooms opened on each side. It did strike me at first as odd, + that the principal room in the house should be a dark dungeon of a place, + with nothing but borrowed lights, until I again recollected that darkness + and coolness were convertible terms within the tropics. Advancing through + this room you entered, by a pair of folding doors, on a very handsome + dining room, situated in what I believe is called a back jamb, a sort of + outrigger to the house, fitted all round with movable blinds, or + jealousies, and open like a lantern to all the winds of heaven except the + west, in which direction the main body of the house warded off the + sickening beams of the setting sun. And how sickening they are, let the + weary sentries under the pillars of the Jamaica viceroy’s house in Spanish + Town tell, reflected as they were there from the hot brick walls of the + palace. + </p> + <p> + This room again communicated with the back yard, in which the negro + houses, kitchen, and other offices were situated, by a wooden stair of the + same elevation as that in front. Here the table was laid for dinner, + covered with the finest diaper, and snow-white napkins, and silver + wine-coolers, and silver forks, and fine steel, and cut glass, and cool + green finger-glasses with lime leaves floating within, and tall wax lights + shaded from the breeze in thin glass barrels, and an epergne filled with + flowers, with a fragrant fresh-gathered lime in each of the small + leaf-like branches, and salt-cellars with red peppers in them, &c. + &c. all of which made the tout ensemble the most captivating + imaginable to a hungry man. + </p> + <p> + I found a large party assembled in the piazza and the dark hall, to whom I + was introduced in due form. In Jamaica, of all countries I ever was in, it + is a most difficult matter for a stranger to ascertain the real names of + the guests at a bachelor dinner like the present, where all the parties + were intimate—there were so many soubriquets amongst them; for + instance, a highly respectable merchant of the place, with some fine young + women for daughters, by the way, from the peculiarity of a prominent front + tooth, was generally known as the Grand Duke of Tuscany; while an equally + respectable elderly man, with a slight touch of paralysis in his head, was + christened Old Steady in the West, because he never kept his head still; + so, whether some of the names of the present party were real or + fictitious, I really cannot tell. + </p> + <p> + First, there was Mr Seco, a very neat gentlemanlike little man, perfectly + well bred, and full of French phrases. Then came Mr Eschylus Stave, a + tall, raw-boned, well-informed personage; a bit of a quiz on occasion, but + withal a pleasant fellow. Mr Isaac Shingle, mine host, a sallow, sharp, + hatchet-faced, small, but warm hearted and kind, as I often experienced + during my sojourn in the west, only sometimes a little peppery and + argumentative. Then came Mr Jacob Bumble, a sleek fat— pated + Scotchman. Next I was introduced to Mr Alonzo Smoothpate, a very handsome + fellow, with an uncommon share of natural good-breeding and politeness. + Again I clapper-clawed, according to the fashion of the country, a violent + shake of the paw being the Jamaica investment to acquaintanceship, with Mr + Percales, whom I took for a foreign Jew somehow or other at first, from + his uncommon name, until I heard him speak, and perceived he was an + Englishman; indeed, his fresh complexion, very neat person, and + gentlemanlike deportment, when I had time to reflect, would of themselves + have disconnected him from all kindred with the sons of Levi. Then came a + long, dark-complexioned, curly-pated slip of a lad, with white teeth and + high strongly marked features, considerably pitted with small-pox. He + seemed the great promoter of fun and wickedness in the party, and was + familiarly addressed as the Don, although I believe his real name was Mr + Lucifer Longtram. Then there was Mr Aspen Tremble, a fresh-looking, + pleasant, well informed man, but withal a little nervous, his cheeks + quivering when he spoke like shapes of calf’s foot jelly; after him came + an exceedingly polite old gentleman, wearing hair-powder and a queue, + ycleped Nicodemus; and a very devil of a little chap, of the name of + Rubiochico, a great ally in wickedness with Master Longtram; the last in + this eventful history being a staid, sedate looking, elderly-young man, of + the name of Onyx Steady, an extensive foreign merchant, with a species of + dry caustic readiness about him that was dangerous enough.—We sat + down, Isaac Shingle doing the honours, confronted by Eschylus Stave, and + all was right, and smooth, and pleasant, and in no way different from a + party of well bred men in England. + </p> + <p> + When the second course appeared, I noticed that the blackie, who brought + in two nice tender little ducklings, with the concomitant green peas, both + just come in season, was chuckling, and grinning, and showing his white + teeth most vehemently, as he placed both dishes right under Jacob Bumble’s + nose. Shingle and Longtram exchanged looks. I saw there was some mischief + toward, and presently, as if by some preconcerted signal, every body asked + for duck, duck, duck. Bumble, with whom the dish was a prime favourite, + carved away with a most stern countenance, until he had got half through + the second bird, when some unpleasant recollection seemed to come over + him, and his countenance fell; and lying back on his chair, he gave a deep + sigh. But “Mr Bumble, that breast, if you please thank you,”—“Mr + Bumble, that back, if you please,” succeeded each other rapidly, until all + that remained of the last of the ducklings was a beautiful little leg, + which, under cover of the following story, Jacob cannily smuggled on to + his own plate. + </p> + <p> + “Why, gentlemen, a most remarkable circumstance happened to me while + dressing for dinner. You all know I am next door neighbour to our friend + Shingle—our premises being only divided by a brick wall, about eight + feet high. Well, my dressing room window looks out on this wall, between + which and the house, I have my duck pen....” + </p> + <p> + “Your what?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “My poultry yard—as I like to see the creatures fed myself—and + I was particularly admiring two beautiful ducklings which I had been + carefully fattening for a whole week”—(here our friend’s voice + shook, and a tear glistened in his eye)—“when first one and then + another jumped out of the little pond, and successively made a grab at + something which I could not see, and immediately began to shake their + wings, and struggle with their feet, as if they were dancing, until, as + with one accord—deuce take me!”—(here he almost blubbered + aloud)—“if they did not walk up the brick wall with all the + deliberation in the world, merely helping themselves over the top by a + small flaff of their wings; and where they have gone, none of Shingle’s + people know.” + </p> + <p> + “I’ll trouble you for that leg, Julius,” said Longtram, at this juncture, + to a servant, who whipped away the plate from under Bumble’s arm, before + he could prevent him, who looked after it as if it had been a pound of his + own flesh. It seemed that Longtram, who had arrived rather early, had + found a fishing-tackle in the piazza, and knowing the localities of + Bumble’s premises, as well as his peculiarities, he, by way of adding his + quota to the entertainment, baited two hooks with pieces of raw potatoes, + and throwing them over the wall, had, in conjunction with Julius the + black, hooked up the two ducklings out of the pen, to the amazement of + Squire Bumble. + </p> + <p> + By and by, as the evening wore on, I saw the Longtram lad making + demonstrations to bring on a general drink, in which he was nobly seconded + by Rubiochico; and, I grieve to say it, I was no ways loath, nor indeed + were any of the company.—There had been a great deal of mirth and + frolic during dinner,—all within proper bounds, however,—but + as the night made upon us, we set more sail—more, as it turned out, + than some of us had ballast for—when lo! towards ten of the clock, + up started Mr Eschylus to give us a speech. His seat was at the bottom of + the table, with the back of his chair close to the door that opened into + the yard; and after he had got his breath out, on I forget what topic; he + sat down, and lay back on his balanced chair, stretching out his long legs + with great complacency. However, they did not prove a sufficient + counterpoise to his very square shoulders, which, obeying the laws of + gravitation, destroyed his equilibrium, and threw him a somersault, when + exit Eschylus Stave, esquire, head foremost, with a formidable rumble + tumble and hurry—scurry, down the back steps, his long shanks + disappearing last, and clipping between us, and the bright moon like a + pair of flails. + </p> + <p> + However, there was no damage done; and, after a good laugh, Stave’s own + being loudest of all, the Don and Rubiochico righted him, and helped him + once more into his chair. + </p> + <p> + Jacob Bumble now favoured us with a song, that sounded as if he had been + barrelled up in a puncheon, and was cantando through the bunghole; then + Rubiochico sang, and the Don sang, and we all sang and bumpered away; and + Mr Seco got on the table, and gave us the newest quadrille step; and, in + fine, we were all becoming dangerously drunk. Longtram, especially, had + become uproarious beyond all bounds, and, getting up from his chair, he + took a short run of a step or two, and sprang right over the table, + whereby he smashed the epergne full of fruit and flowers, scattering the + contents all about like hail, and driving a volley of preserved limes like + grapeshot, in all their syrup and stickiness, slap into my face—a + stray one spinning with a sloppy whit into Jacob Bumble’s open mouth as he + sang, like a musket-ball into a winter turnip; while a fine preserved + pineapple flew bash on Isaac Shingle’s sharp snout, like the bursting of a + shrapnel shell. + </p> + <p> + “D——n it,” hiccuped Shingle, “wont stand this any longer, by + JuJu jupiter! Give over your practicals, Lucifer. Confound it, Don, give + over—do, now, you mad long legged son of a gun!”—Here the Don + caught Shingle round the waist, and whipping him bodily out of his chair, + carried him kicking and spurring into the hall, now well lit up, and laid + him on a sofa, and then returning, coolly installed himself in his seat. + </p> + <p> + In a little we heard the squeaking of a pig in the street, and our friend + Shingle’s voice high in oath. I sallied forth to see the cause of the + uproar, and found our host engaged in single combat with a drawn + sword-stick that sparkled blue and bright in the moonbeam, his antagonist + being a strong porker that he had taken for a town guard, and had hemmed + into a corner formed by the stair and the garden wall, which, on being + pressed, made a dash between his spindleshanks, and fairly capsized him + into my arms. I carried him back to his couch again; and, thinking it was + high time to be off, as I saw that Smoothpate, and Steady, and Nicodemus, + and the more composed part of the company, had already absconded, I seized + my hat, and made sail in the direction of the former’s house, where I was + to sleep, when that devil Longtram made up to me. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo, my little man of war—heave-to a bit, and take me with you. + Why what is that? what the deuce is that?” We were at this time staggering + along under the dark piazza of a long line of low wooden houses, every now + and then thundering against the thin boards or bulkheads that constituted + the side next the street, making, as we could distinctly hear, the inmates + start and snort in the inside, as they turned themselves in their beds. In + the darkest part of the piazza, there was the figure of a man in the + attitude of a telescope levelled on its stand, with its head, as it were, + counter-sunk or morticed into the wooden partition. Tipsy as we both were, + we stopped in great surprise. + </p> + <p> + “D—n it, Cringle,” said the Don, his philosophy utterly at fault, + “the trunk of a man without a head,—how is this?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Mr Longtram,” I replied, “this is our friend Mr Smoothpate, or I + mistake greatly.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me see,” said Longtram,—“if it be him, he used to have a head + somewhere, I know.—Let me see.—Oh, it is him; you are right, + my boy; and here is his head after all, and a devil of a size it has grown + to since dinner-time to be sure.—But I know his features bald pate—high + forehead and cheekbones.” + </p> + <p> + Nota Bene. We were still in the piazza, where Smoothpate was + unquestionably present in the body, but the head was within the house, and + altogether, as I can avouch, beyond the Don’s ken. + </p> + <p> + “Where?” said I, groping about—“very odd, for deuce take me if I can + see his head.—Why, he has none—a phenomenon—four legs + and a tail, but no head, as I am a gentleman—lively enough, too, he + is, don’t seem to miss it much.” Here poor Smoothpate made a violent + walloping in a vain attempt to disentangle himself. + </p> + <p> + We could now hear shouts of laughter within, and a voice that I was sure + belonged to Mr Smoothpate, begging to be released from the pillory he had + placed himself in by removing a board in the wooden partition, and sliding + it up, and then thrusting his caput from without into the interior of the + house, to the no small amazement of the brown fiddler and his daughter who + inhabited the same, and who had immediately secured their prize by + slipping the displaced board down again, wedging it firmly on the back of + his neck, as if he had been fitted for the guillotine, thus nailing him + fast, unless he had bolted, and left his head in pawn. + </p> + <p> + We now entered, and perceived it was really Don Alonzo’s flushed but very + handsome countenance that was grinning at us from where it was fixed, like + a large peony rose stuck against the wall. After a hearty laugh we + relieved him, and being now joined by Percales, who came up in his gig, + with Mr Smoothpate’s following in his wake, we embarked for an airing at + half-past one in the morning—Smoothpate and Percales, Longtram and + Tom Cringle. Amongst other exploits, we broke into a proscribed + conventicle of drunken negroes—but I am rather ashamed of this part + of the transaction, and intended to have held my tongue, had Aaron managed + his, although it was notorious as the haunt of all the thieves and slight + ladies of the place; here we found parson Charley, a celebrated black + preacher, three parts drunk, extorting, as Mawworm says, a number of + devotees, male and female, all very tipsy, in a most blasphemous fashion, + the table being covered with rummers of punch, and fragments of pies and + cold meat; but this did not render our conduct more excusable, I will + acknowledge. Finally, as a trophy, Percales, who was a wickeder little + chap than I took him for, with Longtram’s help, unshipped the bell of the + conventicle from the little belfry, and fastening it below Smoothpate’s + gig, we dashed back to Mr Shingle’s with it clanging at every jolt. In our + progress the horse took fright, and ran away, and no wonder. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds, Don, the weather-rein has parted—what shall we do?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Do?” rejoined Lucifer, with drunken gravity—“haul on the other, to + be sure—there is one left, an’t there?—so hard a-port, and run + him up against that gun at the street corner, will ye? That will stop him, + or the devil is in it.” + </p> + <p> + Crash—it was done—and over the horse’s ears we both flew like + skyrockets; but, strange to tell, although we had wedged the wheel of the + ketureen fast as a wreck on a reef, with the cannon that was stuck into + the ground postwise between it and the body, there was no damage done + beyond the springing of the starboard shaft, so, with the assistance of + the negro servant, who had been thrown from his perch behind, by a shock + that frightened him out of his wits, we hove the voiture off again, and + arrived in safety at friend Shingle’s once more. Here we found the table + set out with devilled turkey, and a variety of high-spiced dishes; and, to + make a long story short, we had another set to, during which, as an + interlude, Longtram capsized Shingle out of the sofa he had again lain + down on, in an attempt to jump over it, and broke his arm; and, being the + soberest man of the company, I started off, guided by a negro servant, for + Doctor Greyfriars. On our return, the first thing that met our eyes was + the redoubted Don himself, lying on his back where he had fallen at his + leap, with his head over the step at the door of the piazza. I thought his + neck was broken; and the doctor, considering that he was the culprit to be + carved, forthwith had him carried in, his coat taken off, and was about + striking a phleme into him, when Isaac’s voice sounded from the inner + apartment, where he had lain all the while below the sofa like a crushed + frog, the party in the background, who were boosing away, being totally + unconscious of his mishap, as they sat at table in the room beyond, + enjoying themselves, impressed apparently with the belief that the whole + affair was a lark. + </p> + <p> + “Doctor, doctor,” shouted he in great pain,—“here, here—it is + me that is murdered—that chap is only dead drunk, but I am really + dead, or will be, if you don’t help.” + </p> + <p> + At length the arm was set, and Shingle put to bed, and the whole crew + dispersed themselves, each moving off as well as he could towards his own + home. + </p> + <p> + But the cream of the jest was richest next day. Parson Charley, who, drunk + as he had been overnight, still retained a confused recollection of the + parties who had made the irruption, in the morning applied to Mr + Smoothpate to have his bell restored, when the latter told him, with the + utmost gravity, that Mr Onyx Steady was the culprit, who, by the by, had + disappeared from Shingle’s before the bell interlude, and, in fact, was + wholly ignorant of the transaction. “Certainly,” quoth Smoothpate, with + the greatest seriousness, “a most unlikely person, I will confess, + Charley, as he is a grave, respectable man; still, you know, the most + demure cats sometimes steal cream, Charley; so, parson, my good man, Mr + Onyx Steady has your bell, and no one else.” + </p> + <p> + Whereupon, away trudged Charley to Mr Steady’s warehouse, pulling off his + hat with a formal salaam, “Good Massa Onyx—sweet Massa Teady—pray + give me de bell.” Here the sable clerigo gathered himself up, and leant + composedly on his long staff, hat still in hand, and ear turned towards Mr + Steady, awaiting his answer. + </p> + <p> + “Bell!” ejaculated Steady, in great amazement,—“bell! what bell?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, good, sweet Massa Onyx, dear Massa Onyx Teady, every body know you + good person—quiet, wise somebody you is—all person sabe dat,” + whined Charley; then slipping near our friend, he whispered to him—“but + de best of we lob bit of fon now and dende best of we lef to himshef + sometime.” + </p> + <p> + “Confound the fellow!” quoth Onyx, rather pushed off his balance by such + an unlooked—for attack before his clerks; “get out of my house, sir + what the mischief do I know of you or your infernal bell? I wish the + tongue of it was in your stomach—get out, sir, away with you.” + </p> + <p> + Charley could stand this no longer, and losing patience, “D—n me + eye, you is de tief, sir—so give me de bell, Massa Teady, or I sall + pull you go before de Mayor, Massa Teady, and you sall be shame, Massa + Teady; and it may be you sall be export to de Bay of Honduras, Massa + Teady. Aha, how you will like dat, Massa Teady? you sall be export may be + for break into chapel, during sarvice, and teal bell—aha, teal bell—who + ever yeerie one crime equal to dat!” + </p> + <p> + “My good man,” quoth Onyx, who now felt the absurdity of the affair, “I + know nothing of all this—believe me there is a mistake. Who sent you + here?” + </p> + <p> + “Massa Smoothpate,” roared Charley, “Massa Smoothpate, he who neber tell + lie to nobody, Massa Smoothpate sent me, sir, so de debil if you no give + up de bell I sall....” + </p> + <p> + “Mr Smoothpate—oh ho!” sung out Steady, ‘I see, I see’—Finally + the affair was cleared up, a little hush-money made him snug, and Charley + having got back his instrument, bore no malice, so he and Steady resumed + their former friendly footing—the “statu quo ante bellum.” + </p> + <p> + Another story and I have done. + </p> + <p> + About a week after this, several of the same party again met at dinner, + when my excellent friend Mr Nicodemus amused us exceedingly by the + following story, which, for want of a better title, I shall relate under + the head of: + </p> + <p> + A Slippery Youth + </p> + <p> + “We all know,” quoth old Nic, “that house robberies have been very rife of + late, and on peril even of having the laugh against me, I will tell you + how I suffered, no longer than three nights ago; so, Tom Cringle, will you + and Bang have the charity to hold your tongues, and be instructed? + </p> + <p> + “Old Gelid, Longtram, Steady, and myself, had been eating ratoons, at the + Fortner’s domicile, and it was about nine in the evening when I got home. + We had taken next to no wine, a pint of Madeira apiece during dinner, and + six bottles of claret between us afterwards, so I went to bed as cool as a + cucumber, and slept soundly for several hours, until awakened by my old + gander—now do be quiet, Cringle—by my old watchman of a + gander, cackling like a hero. I struck my repeater—half past one so + I turned myself, and was once more falling over into the arms of Morpheus, + when I thought I saw some dark object flit silently across the open window + that looks into the piazza, between me and the deep blue and as yet + moonless sky. This somewhat startled me, but it might have been one of the + servants. Still I got up and looked out, but I could see nothing. It did + certainly strike me once or twice, that there was some dark object + cowering in the deep gloom caused by the shade of the orange tree at the + end of the piazza, but I persuaded myself it was fancy, and once more + slipped into my nest. However, the circumstance had put sleep to flight. + Half an hour might have passed, and the deep dark purity of the eastern + sky was rapidly quickening into a greenish azure, the forerunner of the + rising moon,” (“oh, confound your poetry,” said Rubiochico,) “which was + fast swamping the sparkling stars, like a bright river flowing over + diamonds, when the old gander again set up his gabblement and trumpeted + more loudly than before. ‘If you were not so tough, my noisy old cock’—thought + I—‘next Michaelmas should be your last.’ So I now resolutely shut my + eyes, and tried to sleep perforce, in which usually fruitless attempt, I + was actually beginning to succeed, do you know, when a strong odour of + palm oil came through the window, and on opening my eyes, I saw by the + increasing light a naked negro standing at it, with his head and shoulders + in sharp relief against the pale broad disk of the moon, at that moment + just peering over the dark summit of the Long mountain. + </p> + <p> + “I rubbed my eyes, and looked again; the dark figure was still there, but + as if aware that some one was on the watch, it gradually sank down, until + nothing but the round bullet head appeared above the window sill. This was + trying enough, but I made an effort, and lay still. The stratagem + succeeded; the figure, deceived by my feigned snoring and quietude, slowly + rose, and once more stood erect. Presently it slipped one foot into the + room, and then another, but so noiselessly that when I saw the black + figure standing before me on the floor, I had some misgivings as to its + being really a being of this world. However, I had small space for + speculation, when it slid past the foot of the bed towards my open bureau—I + seized the opportunity—started up—turned the key of the door—and + planted myself right between the thief and the open window. ‘Now, you + scoundrel, surrender, or I will murder you on the spot.’ I had scarcely + spoken the word, when with the speed of light, the fellow threw himself on + me—we closed—I fell—when, clip, he slipped through my + fingers like an eel—bolted through the window—cleared the + balcony at a bound, and disappeared. The thief had stripped himself as + naked as he was born, and soaped his woolly scull, and smeared his whole + corpus with palm oil, so that in the struggle I was charmingly + lubricated.” + </p> + <p> + Nicodemus here lay back on his chair, evidently desirous of our + considering this the whole of the story, but he was not to be let off so + easily, for presently Longtram, with a wicked twinkle of his eye, chimed + in. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, and what happened next, old Nic—did nothing follow, eh?” + </p> + <p> + Nic’s countenance assumed an irresolute expression; he saw he was jammed + up in the wind, so at a venture he determined to sham deafness. + </p> + <p> + “Take wine, Lucifer—a glass of Hermitage?” + </p> + <p> + “With great pleasure,” said his Satanic majesty. The propitiatory + libation, however, did not work, for no sooner had his glass touched the + mahogany again, than he returned to the charge. + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mr Nicodemus, since you won’t, I will tell the company the reason of + so nice an old gentleman wearing Baltimore flour in his hair instead of + perfumed Mareschale powder, and none of the freshest either, let me tell + you; why, I have seen three weavels take flight from your august pate + since we sat down to dinner.” + </p> + <p> + Old Nic, seeing he was caught, met the attack with the greatest good + humour. + </p> + <p> + “Why, I will tell the whole truth, Lucifer, if you don’t bother.” (“The + devil thank you,” said Longtram.)—“So you must know,” continued + Nicodemus, “that I immediately roused the servants, searched the premises + in every direction without success—nothing could be seen; but, at + the suggestion of my valet, I lit a small spirit lamp, and placed it on + the table at my bed-side, on which it pleased him to place my brace of + Mantons, loaded with slug, and my naked small sword, so that, thought I, + if the thief ventures back, he shall not slip through my fingers again so + easily. I do confess that these imposing preparations did appear to me + somewhat preposterous, even at the time, as it was not, to say the least + of it, very probable that my slippery gentleman would return the same + night. However, my servant in his zeal was not to be denied, and I was not + so fit to judge as usual, from having missed my customary quantity of wine + after dinner the previous day; so, seeing all right, I turned in, thus + bristling like a porcupine, and slept soundly until daylight, when I + bethought me of getting up. I then rose-slipped on my nightgown—and,”—here + Nicodemus laughed more loudly than ever, “as I am a gentleman, my spirit + lamp—naked sword—loaded pistols—my diamond breast-pin, + and all my clothes, even unto my unmentionables, had disappeared; but what + was the cruelest cut of all, my box of Mareschale powder, my patent puff, + and all my pomade divine had also vanished; and true enough, as Lucifer + says, it so happened that from the delay in the arrival of the running + ships, there was not an ounce of either powder or pomatum to be had in the + whole town, so I have been driven in my extremity—oh most horrible + declension!—to keep my tail on hog’s lard and Baltimore flour ever + since.” + </p> + <p> + “Well but”—persisted Lucifer—“who the deuce was the man in the + moon? Come, tell us. And what has become of the queue you so tenderly + nourished, for you sport a crop, Master Nic, now, I perceive?” + </p> + <p> + Here Nicodemus was neither to hold nor to bind; he was absolutely + suffocating with laughter, as he shrieked out, with long intervals + between. + </p> + <p> + “Why, the robber was my own favourite body-servant, Crabclaw, after all, + and be d——d to him—the identical man who advised the + warlike demonstrations; and as for the pigtail, why, on the very second + night of the flour and grease, it was so cruelly damaged by a rat while I + slept, that I had to amputate the whole affair, stoop and roop, this very + morning.” And so saying, the excellent creature fell back in his chair, + like to choke from the uproariousness of his mirth, while the tears + streamed down his cheeks and washed channels in the flour, as if he had + been a tattooed Mandingo. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX.—The Last of the Log—Tom Cringle’s Farewell. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And whether we shall meet again, I know not.” + + Julius Caesar, VI. 114. +</pre> + <p> + One fine morning about this time, we had just anchored on our return from + a cruise, when I received, as I was dressing, a letter from the secretary, + desiring me instantly to wait on the Admiral, as I was promoted to the + rank of commander, (how I did dance and sing, my eye!) and appointed to + the Lotus—Leaf, of eighteen guns, then refitting at the dockyard, + and under orders for England. + </p> + <p> + I accordingly, after calling and making my bow, proceeded to the dockyard + to enter on my new command, and I was happy in being able to get + Tailtackle and Reefpoint once more removed along with me. + </p> + <p> + The gunner of Lotus—Leaf having died, Timotheus got an acting + warrant, which I rejoice to say was ultimately confirmed, and little + Reefy, now a commander in the service, weathered it many a day with me + afterwards, both as midshipman and lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + After seeing every thing in a fair train on board, I applied for a + fortnight’s leave, which I got, as the trade which I was to convoy had not + yet congregated, nor were they likely to do so before the expiry of this + period. + </p> + <p> + Having paid my respects at the Admiral’s pen, I returned to Kingston. Most + of the houses in the lower part of the town are surmounted by a small + lookout, as it is called, like a little belfry, and usually furnished with + one or more good telescopes, fitted with green blinds. It is the habit of + the Kingstonians to resort in great numbers to those gardemange-looking + boxes, whenever a strange sail appears in the offing, or any circumstance + takes place at sea worth reconnoitring. It was about nine o’clock on a + fine morning, and I had taken my stand in one of them, peering out towards + the east, but no white speck on the verge of the horizon indicated an + approaching sail, so I slewed round the glass to the westward, to have a + squint at the goings on amongst the squadron, lying at anchor at Port + Royal, about six miles off, then mustering no fewer than eighteen + pennants, viz. one line of battle ship, one fifty, five frigates, two + corvettes, one ship-sloop, four eighteen gun brigs, three schooners, and a + cutter. All was quiet, not even one solitary signal making amongst them; + so I again scoured the horizon towards the east, when I noticed a very + dashing schooner, which had sailed that morning, as she crept along the + Palisadoes. She was lying up the inner channel, taking advantage of the + land-wind, in place of staggering away to the southward through the + ship-channel, already within the influence of the sea breeze, but which + was as yet neutralized close in shore where she was by the terral. The + speed of the craft—the rapidity with which she slid along the land + with the light air, riveted my attention. On enquiry, I found she was the + Carthagenian schooner Josefa. At this moment the splash of oars was heard + right below where we stood, and a very roguish-looking craft, also + schooner-rigged, about a hundred tons burden apparently, passed rapidly + beneath us, tearing up the shining surface of the sleeping harbour, with + no fewer than fourteen sweeps. She was very heavily rigged, with her main + mast raking over the tafferel, and full of men. I noticed she had a long + gun on a pivot, and several carronades mounted. Presently there was a good + deal of whispering amongst the group of half-a-dozen gentlemen who were + with me in the lookout, who, from their conversation, I soon found were + underwriters on the schooner outside. + </p> + <p> + “Heyday,” said one, “the Antonio is off somewhat suddenly this morning.” + </p> + <p> + “Where may that schooner, that is sweeping so handsomely down harbour, + belong to?” said I to the gentleman who had spoken. + </p> + <p> + ‘To Havanna,’ was the answer; “but I fear he intends to overhaul the + Josefa there, and she would be a good prize to him, now since Carthagena + has thrown off allegiance to Spain.” + </p> + <p> + “But he will never venture to infract the neutrality of the waters + surely,” rejoined I, “within sight of the squadron too?” + </p> + <p> + The gentleman I spoke to smiled incredulously; and as I had nothing + particular to do for a couple of hours, I resolved to remain and see the + issue. In a few minutes, the sea-breeze came thundering down, in half a + gale of wind, singing through the rigging of the ships alongside of the + wharfs, and making the wooden blinds rattle again. The Antonio laid in her + sweeps, spread her canvass in an instant, and was lying-to, off the fort + at Port Royal, to land her pass, in little more than half-an-hour from the + time she passed us, a distance of no less than seven miles, as she had to + sail it. In a minute the jib sheet was again hauled over to leeward, and + away she was like an arrow, crowding all sail. I had seldom seen a vessel + so weatherly before. In an hour more, she was abreast of the town, and + abeam of the Josefa, who, from being cooped up in the narrow inner + channel, had, ever since the sea-breeze set down, been bothering with + short tacks, about, and about, every minute. Presently the Antonio dashed + in through a streak of blue water in the reef, so narrow, that to look at + it, I did not think a boat could have passed, and got between the Josefa + and Port Royal, when he took in his gaff-topsail, and hauled down his + flying-jib, but made no hostile demonstration, beyond keeping dead to + leeward, tack for tack with the Josefa; and once, when the latter seemed + about to bear up and run past him, I noticed the foot of his foresail + lift, and his sails shiver as he came to the wind, as much as to say, + “Luff again, my lady, or I’ll fire at you.” It was now clear Josefa did + not like her playmate, for she cracked on all the canvass she could carry; + and, having tried every other manoeuvre to escape without effect, she at + length, with reckless desperation, edged away a point, and flew like smoke + through another gap, even smaller and shallower than the one the Antonio + had entered by. We all held our breath until she got into blue water + again, expecting every moment to see her stick fast, and her masts tumble + over the side; but she scraped clear very cleverly, and the next moment + was tearing and plunging through the tumbling waves outside of the reefs. + Antonio, as I expected, followed her, but all very quietly, still keeping + well to leeward, however. Thus they continued for half an hour, running to + the southward and eastward, when I noticed the Havanero, who had gradually + crept up under the Josefa’s lee-quarter, hoist his colours and pennant, + and fire a gun at her. She immediately tacked in great confusion, and made + all sail to get back through the canal into the inner channel, with the + other schooner close at her heels, blazing away from his long gun as fast + as he could load. A Spaniard, who was one of the principal owners of the + Josefa’s cargo, happened to be standing beside me in the lookout; at every + shot, he would, with a face of the most intense anxiety, while the + perspiration hailed off his brow, slap his hands on his thighs, and shrink + down on his hams, cowering his head at the same time, as if the shot had + been aimed at him, and he was trying to shun it, apostrophizing himself, + with an agitated voice, as follows: + </p> + <p> + “Valga me Dios, que demonio, que demonio! Ah, Pancho Roque, tu es ruinado, + mi amigo.” Another shot. “Tu es ruinado, chicatico, tan cierto como navos + no son coles.” A third flash. “Oh, rabo de lechon de San Antonio, que es + eso, que es eso!” + </p> + <p> + Neck and neck, however, in came the Josefa, staggering right through the + narrow channel once more, persecuted by the Antonio, with the white + breakers foaming and flashing close to on each side of her, but by this + time there was a third party in the game. I had noticed a lot of signals + made in the flag-ship. Presently one of the sloops of war fired a gun, and + before the smoke blew off, she was under weigh, with her topsails, + spanker, and fore-topmast-staysail set. This was his Majesty’s sloop of + war Seaflower, which had slipped from her moorings, and was now crowding + all sail in chase of the arrogant Don, who had dared to fire a shot in + anger in the sanctuary of British waters. All this while, the Antonio had + been so intent on hooking the Carthagenian, that the sloop was nearly up + to him before he hove about and gave up the chase; and now the tables were + beautifully turned on him, for the Seaflower’s shot was flying over and + over him in whole broadsides, and he must have been taken, when, crack, + away went the sloop’s foretopgallant mast, which gave the rogue a start. + In an hour he was away to windward as far as you could see, and his + pursuer and the Josefa were once more at anchor in Port Royal. + </p> + <p> + That evening I returned to the dockyard, where I found every thing going + on with Lotus—Leaf as I could wish. So I returned, after a three + days sojourn on board, to Kingston, and next afternoon mounted my horse, + or rather a horse that a friend was fool enough to lend me, at the agent’s + wharf, with the thermometer at ninety-five in the shade, and cantering + off, landed at my aunt Mrs Palma’s mountain residence, where the mercury + stood at sixty-two at nightfall, just in time to dress for dinner. I need + not say that we had a pleasant party, as Mary was there; so, having rigged + very killingly as I thought, I made my appearance at dinner, a mighty man, + indeed, with my two epaulets; but to my great disappointment, when I + walked into the piazza, not a soul seemed to acknowledge my promotion. How + blind people are! thought I. Even my cousins, little creole urchins, + dressed in small transparent cambric shifts, tied into a knot over their + tails, and with devil the thing else on, seemed to perceive no difference, + as they pulled me about, with a volley of “Cousin Taam, what you bring + we?” + </p> + <p> + At length, dinner was announced, and we adjourned from the dark balcony to + the dining room. “Come, there is light enough here; my rank will be + noticed now, surely—but no, so patience.” The only males of the + party were the doctor of the district, two Kingston gentlemen, and Colonel + B—— of the Guards; the ladies at dinner being my aunt, Mary, + and her younger sister. We sat down all in high glee; I was sitting + opposite my dearie. “Deuced strange—neither does she take any notice + of my two epaulets;” and I glanced my eye, to be sure that they were both + really there. I then, with some small misgiving, stole a look towards the + Colonel—a very handsome fellow, with all the ease and polish of a + soldier and a gentleman about him. “The devil, it cannot be, surely,” for + the black-eyed and black-haired pale face, seemed annoyingly attentive to + the militaire. At length this said officer addressed me, “Captain Cringle, + do me the honour to take wine.” Mary started at the Captain. + </p> + <p> + “She gazed, she redden’d like a rose, Syne pale as ony lily.” + </p> + <p> + Aha, thought I, all right still. She trembled extremely, and her mother at + length noticed it, I saw; but all this while, B—— was + balancing a land-crab on his silver fork, while, with a wine-glass in his + other claw, he was ogling me in some wonderment. I saw the awkwardness of + the affair, and seizing a bottle of catchup for one of sercial, I filled + my glass with such vehemence, that I spilt a great part of it; but even + the colour and flavour did not recover me; so, with a face like a + northwest moon, I swilled off the potion, and instantly fell back in my + chair “Poisoned! by all that is nonsensical—poisoned catchup oh + Lord!” and off I started to my bedroom, where, by dint of an ocean of hot + water, I got quit of the sauce, and clinching the whole with a caulker of + brandy, I returned to the dinner-table a good deal abashed, I will + confess, but endeavouring most emphatically all the while to laugh it off + as a good jest. But my Mary was flown; she had been ailing for some days, + her mother alleged, and she required rest. Presently my aunt rose, and we + were left to our bottle, and sorry am I to say it, I bumpered away, from + some strong unaccountable impulse, until I got three parts drunk, to the + great surprise of the rest of the party, for guzzling wine was not + certainly a failing of mine, unless on the strong provocation of good + fellowship. + </p> + <p> + Mary did not appear that evening, and I may as well tell the whole truth, + that she was pledged to marry me whenever I got my step; and next morning + all this sort of thing was duly communicated to mamma, &c. &c. + &c., and I was the happiest, and so forth—all of which, as it + concerns no one but myself, if you please, we shall say no more about it. + </p> + <p> + The beautiful cottage where we were sojourning was situated about three + thousand feet above the level of the sea, and half way up the great prong + of the Blue Mountains, known by the name of the Liguanea range, which + rises behind, and overhangs the city of Kingston. The road to it, after + you have ridden about five miles over the hot plain of Liguanea, brings + you to Hope estate, where an anatomy of an old watchman greeted me with + the negro’s constant solicitation—“Massa, me beg you for one + fee-penny.” This youth was, as authentic records show, one hundred and + forty years old only.—The Hope is situated in the very gorge of the + pass, wherein you have to travel nine miles farther, through most + magnificent scenery; at one time struggling among the hot stones of the + all but dry river-course; at others, winding along the breezy cliffs, on + mule-paths not twelve inches wide, with a perpendicular wall of rock + rising five hundred feet above you on one side, while a dark gulf, a + thousand feet deep, yawned on the other, from the bottom of which arose + the hoarse murmur of the foliage-screened brook. Noble trees spread their + boughs overhead, and the most beautiful shrubs and bushes grew and + blossomed close at hand, and all was moist, and cool, and fresh, until you + turned the bare pinnacle of some limestone-rock, naked as the summit of + the Andes, where the hot sun, even through the thin attenuated air of that + altitude, would suddenly blaze on you so fiercely, that your eyes were + blinded and your face blistered, as if you had been suddenly transported + within the influence of a sirocco. Well, now, since you know the road, let + us take a walk after breakfast. It shall be a beautiful clear day—not + a speck or cloud in the heavens. Mary is with me. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Tom,” says she, “you were very sentimental last evening.” + </p> + <p> + “Sentimental! I was deucedly sick, let me tell you—a wineglassful of + cold catchup is rather trying even to a lover’s stomach, Mary. Murder, I + never was so sick, even in my first cruise in the old Breeze! Bah! Do you + know I did not think of you for an hour afterwards?—not until that + bumper of brandy stayed my calamity. But come, when shall we be married, + Maria? Oh! have done with your blushing and botheration tomorrow or next + day? It would not be quite the thing this evening, would it?” + </p> + <p> + “Tom, you are crazy. Time enough, surely, when we all meet in England.” + </p> + <p> + “And when may that be?” said I, drawing her arm closer through mine. “No, + no—tomorrow I will call on the admiral; and as you are all going to + England in the fleet at any rate, I will ask his leave to give you a + passage.” + </p> + <p> + All of which, as I said before, being parish news, we shall drop a veil + over it—so a small touch at the scenery again. + </p> + <p> + Immediately under foot rose several lower ranges of mountains those + nearest us, covered with the laurel-looking coffee-bushes, interspersed + with negro villages hanging amongst the fruit-trees like clusters of birds + nests on the hillside, with a bright green patch of plantain suckers here + and there, and a white painted overseer’s house peeping from out the wood, + and herds of cattle in the Guinea-grass pieces. Beyond these, stretched + out the lovely plain of Liguanea, covered with luxuriant cane-pieces, and + groups of negro houses, and Guinea-grass pastures of even a deeper green + than that of the canes; and small towns of sugar-works rose every here and + there, with their threads of white smoke floating up into the clear sky, + while, as the plain receded, the cultivation disappeared, and it gradually + became sterile, hot, and sandy, until the Long Mountain hove its back like + a whale from out the sea-like level of the plain; while to the right of it + appeared the city of Kingston, like a model, with its parade, or place + d’armes, in the centre, from which its long lines of hot sandy streets + stretched out at right angles, with the military post of Up park camp, + situated about a mile and a half to the northward and eastward of the + town. Through a tolerably good glass, the church spire looked like a + needle, the trees about the houses like bushes, the tall cocoa-nut trees + like harebells; a slow crawling black speck here and there denoted a + carriage moving along, while waggons, with their teams of eighteen and + twenty oxen, looked like so many centipedes. At the camp, the two + regiments drawn out on parade, with two nine-pounders on each flank, and + their attendant gunners, looked like a red sparkling line, with two black + spots at each end, surrounded by small black dots. Presently the red line + wavered, and finally broke up, as the regiments wheeled into open column, + when the whole fifteen hundred men crawled past three little scarlet + spots, denoting the general and his staff. When they began to manoeuvre, + each company looked like a single piece in a game at chess; and as they + fired by companies, the little tiny puffs of smoke floated up like wreaths + of wool, suddenly surmounting and overlaying the red lines, while the + light companies breaking away into skirmishers, seemed, for all the world, + like two red bricks suddenly cast down, and shattered on the ground, + whereby the fragments were scattered all over the green fields, and under + the noble trees, the biggest of which looked like small cabbages. At + length the line was again formed, and the inspection being over, it broke + up once more, and the minute red fragments presently vanished altogether + like a nest of ants, the guns, looking like so many barleycorns, under the + long lines of barracks, that looked no bigger than houses in a child’s + toy. As for the other arm, we of the navy had no reason to glorify + ourselves. For, while the review proceeded on shore, a strange man-of-war + hove in sight in the offing, looming like a mussel-shell, although she was + a forty-four-gun frigate, and ran down before the wind, close to the + Palisadoes, or natural tongue of land, which juts out like a bow from Rock + Fort, to the eastward of Kingston, and hoops in the harbour, and then + lengthens out, trending about five miles due west, where it widens out + into a sandy flat, on which the town and forts of Port Royal are situated. + She was saluting the admiral when I first saw her. A red spark and a small + puff on the starboard side—a puff, but no spark, on the larboard, + which was the side farthest from us, but no report from either reached our + ears; and presently down came the little red flag, and up went the St + George’s ensign, white, with a red cross, while the sails of the gallant + craft seemed about the size of those of a little schoolboy’s plaything. + After a short interval, the flag ship, a seventy four, lying at Port + Royal, returned the salute. She, again, appeared somewhat loftier; she + might have been an oyster-shell; while the squadron of four frigates, two + sloops of war, and several brigs and schooners, looked like ants in the + wake of a beetle. As for the dear little Wave, I can compare her to + nothing but a musquitto, and the large 500—ton West Indiamen lying + off Kingston, five miles nearer, were but as small cock-boats to the eye. + In the offing the sea appeared like ice, for the waves were not seen at + all, and the swell could only be marked by the difference in the + reflection of the sun’s rays as it rose and fell, while a hot haze hung + over the whole, making every thing indistinct, so that the water blended + into sky, without the line of demarcation being visible. But even as we + looked forth on this most glorious scene, a small black cloud rose to + windward. At this time we were both sitting on the grass on a most + beautiful bank, beneath an orange-tree—the ominous appearance + increased in size—the sea breeze was suddenly stifled—the + swelling sails of the frigate that had first saluted, fell, and, as she + rolled, flattened in against the masts the rustling of the green leaves + overhead ceased. + </p> + <p> + The cloud rolled onward from the east, and spread out, and out, as it + sailed in from seaward, and on, and on, until it gradually covered the + whole scene from our view, (shipping, and harbour, and town, and camp, and + sugar estates,) boiling and rolling in black eddies under our feet. Anon + the thunder began to grumble, and the zigzag lightning to fork out from + one dark mass into another, while all, where we sat, was bright and + smiling under the unclouded noon-day sun. This continued for half an hour, + when at length the sombre appearance of the clouds below us brightened + into a sea of white fleecy vapour like wool, which gradually broke away + into detached masses, discovering another layer of still thinner vapour + underneath, which again parted, disclosing through the interstices a fresh + gauze-like veil of transparent mist, through which the lower ranges of + hills, and the sugar estates, and the town and shipping, were once more + dimly visible; but this in turn vanished, and the clouds, attracted by the + hills, floated away, and hung around them in festoons, and gradually rose + and rose until presently we were enveloped in mist, and Mary spoke. “Tom, + there will be thunder here what shall we do?” + </p> + <p> + “Poo, never mind. Mary, you have a conductor on the house.” + </p> + <p> + “True,” said she; “but the servants, when the post that supported it was + blown down t’other day, very judiciously unlinked the rods, and now, since + I remember me, they are, to use your phrase, ‘stowed away’ below the + house;” and so they were, sure enough. However, we had no more thunder, + and soon the only indications of the spent storm were the red discoloured + appearance of the margin of the harbour, from the rush of muddy water off + the land, and the chocolate colour of the previously snow-white sandy + roads, that now twisted through the plain like black snakes, and a fleecy + dolphin-shaped cloud here and there stretching out, and floating + horizontally in the blue sky, as if it had been hooked to the precipitous + mountain tops above us. Next day it was agreed that we should all return + to Kingston, and the day after that, we proceeded to Mr Bangs’s Pen, on + the Spanish Town road, as a sort of halfway house, or stepping stone to + his beautiful residence in St Thomas in the Vale, where we were all + invited to spend a fortnight. Our friend himself was on the other side of + the island, but he was to join us in the valley, and we found our comforts + carefully attended to; and as the day after we had set up our tent at the + Pen was to be one of rest to my aunt, I took the opportunity of paying my + respects to the admiral, who was then careening at his mountain retreat in + the vicinity with his family. Accordingly, I took horse, and rode along + the margin of the great lagoon, on the Spanish Town road, through + tremendous defiles; and after being driven into a watchman’s hut by the + rain, I reached the house, and was most graciously received by Sir Samuel + Semaphore and his lady, and their lovely daughters. Oh, the most splendid + women that ever were built! The youngest is now, I believe, the prime + ornament of the Scottish Peerage; and I never can forget the pleasure I so + frequently experienced in those days in the society of this delightful + family. The same evening I returned to the Pen. On my way I fell in with + three officers in white jackets, and broad-brimmed straw hats, wading up + to the waist amongst the reeds of the lagoon, with guns held high above + their heads. They were shooting ducks, it seemed; and their negro servants + were heard ploutering and shouting amidst the thickets of the crackling + reeds, while their dogs were swimming all about them. + </p> + <p> + “Hillo!” shouted the nearest—“Cringle, my lad—whither bound? + how is Sir Samuel and Lady Semaphore, eh? Capital sport, ten brace of teal + there”—and the spokesman threw two beautiful birds ashore to me. + This wise man of the bulrushes was no less a personage than Sir Jeremy + Mayo, the commander of the forces, one of the bravest fellows in the army, + and respected and beloved by all who ever knew him, but a regular dare + devil of an Irishman, who, not satisfied with his chance of yellow fever + on shore, had thus chosen to hunt for it with his staff, in the Caymanas + Lagoon. + </p> + <p> + Next morning, we set out in earnest on our travels for St Thomas in the + Vale, in two of our friend Bang’s gigs, and my aunt’s ketureen, laden with + her black maiden and a lot of bandboxes, while two mounted servants + brought up the rear, and my old friend Jupiter, who had descended, not + from the clouds, but from the excellent Mr Fyall, who was by this time + gathered to his fathers, to Massa Aaron, rode a musket shot ahead of the + convoy to clear away, or give notice of any impediments, of wagons or + carts, or droves of cattle, that might be meeting us. + </p> + <p> + After driving five miles or so, we reached the seat of government, Spanish + Town. Here we stopped at the Speaker’s house—by the way, one of the + handsomest and most agreeable men I ever saw—intending to proceed in + the afternoon to our destination. But the rain in the forenoon fell so + heavily, that we had to delay our journey until next morning; and that + afternoon I spent in attending the debates in the House of Assembly, where + every thing was conducted with much greater decorum than I ever saw + maintained in the House of Commons, and no great daring in the assertion + either. The Hall itself, fitted with polished mahogany benches, was + handsome and well aired, and between it and the grand court, as it is + called, occupying the other end of the building, which was then sitting, + there is a large cool saloon, generally in term time well filled with + wigless lawyers and their clients. The House of Assembly (this saloon and + the court-house forming one side of the square) is situated over against + the Government House; while another side is occupied by a very handsome + temple, covering in a statue erected to Lord Rodney, the saviour of the + Island, as he is always called, from having crushed the fleet of Count de + Grasse. + </p> + <p> + At length, at grey-dawn the next day, as the report of the morning gun + came booming along the level plain from Port Royal, we weighed and finally + started on our cruise. As we drove up towards St Thomas in the Vale, from + Spanish Town, along the hot sandy road, the plain gradually roughened into + small rocky eminences, covered with patches of bushes here and there, with + luxuriant Guinea-grass growing in the clefts; the road then sank between + abrupt little hills the Guinea corn fields began to disappear, the grass + became greener, the trees rose higher, the air felt fresher and cooler, + and proceeding still farther, the hills on either side swelled into + mountains, and became rocky and precipitous, and drew together, as it + were, until they appeared to impend over us. We had now arrived at the + gorge of the pass, leading into the valley, through which flowed a most + beautiful limpid clear blue stream, along the margin of which the road + wound, while the tree-clothed precipices rose five hundred feet + perpendicularly on each brink. Presently we crossed a wooden bridge, + supported by a stone pier in the centre, when Jupiter pricked a-head to + give notice of the approach of waggons, that our cavalcade might haul up, + out of danger, into some nook in the rock, to allow the lumbersome teams + to pass. + </p> + <p> + “What is that?”—I was driving my dearie in the leading gig—“is + that a pistol shot?” It was the crack of the long whip carried by the + negro waggoner, reverberated from hill to hill, and from cliff to cliff; + and presently the father of gods came thundering down the steep acclivity + we were ascending. + </p> + <p> + “Massa, draw up into dat corner; draw up.” + </p> + <p> + I did as I was desired, and presently the shrill whistle of the negro + waggoners, and the increasing sharpness of the reports of their loud + whips, the handles of which were as long as fishing-rods, and their wild + exclamations to their cattle, to whom they addressed themselves by name, + as if they had been reasonable creatures, gave notice of the near approach + of a train of no fewer than seven waggons, each with three drivers, + eighteen oxen, three hogsheads of sugar, and two puncheons of rum. + </p> + <p> + Come, thought I—if the negroes are overworked, it is more than the + bullocks are, at all events. They passed us with abundance of yelling and + cracking, and as soon as the coast was clear, we again pursued our way up + the ravine, than which nothing could be more beautiful or magnificent. On + our right hand now rose, almost perpendicularly, the everlasting rocks, to + a height of a thousand feet, covered with the richest foliage that + imagination can picture, while here and there a sharp steeple-like + pinnacle of grey-stone, overgrown with lichens, shot up, and out from the + face of them, into the blue sky, mixing with the tall forest trees that + overhung the road, festooned with ivy and withes of different kinds, like + the rigging of a ship, round which the tendrils of many a beautiful + wild-flower crept twining up, while all was fresh with the sparkling dew + that showered down on us, with every breath of wind, like rain. On our + left foamed the roaring river, and on the other brink the opposite bank + rose equally precipitously, clothed also with superb trees, that spread + their blending boughs over the chasm, until they wove themselves together + with those that grew on the side we were on, qualifying the noonday + fierceness of a Jamaica sun into a green cool twilight, while the long + misty reaches of the blue river, with white foaming rapids here and there, + and the cattle wading in them, lengthened out beneath in the distance. Oh! + the very look of it refreshed one unspeakably. + </p> + <p> + Presently a group of half-a-dozen country Buccras-overseers, or + coffee-planters, most likely, or possibly larger fish than either—hove + in sight, all in their blue-white jean trowsers, and long Hessian boots + pulled up over them, and new blue square-cut, bright-buttoned coatees, and + thread-bare silk broad-brimmed hats. They dashed past us on goodish nags, + followed at a distance of three hundred yards by a covey of + negro-servants, mounted on mules, in white Osnaburg trowsers, with a shirt + or frock over them, no stockings, each with one spur, and the stirrup-iron + held firmly between the great and second toes, while a snow-white sheep’s + fleece covered their massas portmanteaus, strapped on to the mail pillion + behind. We drove on for about seven miles, after entering the pass, the + whole scenery of which was by far the finest thing I had ever seen, the + precipices on each side becoming more and more rugged and abrupt as we + advanced, until all at once we emerged from the chasm on the parish of St + Thomas in the Vale, which opened on us like a magical illusion, in all its + green luxuriance and freshness. But by this time we were deucedly tired, + and Massa Aaron’s mansion, situated on its little airy hill above a sea of + canes, which rose and fell before the passing breeze like the waves of the + ocean, was the most consolatory object in the view; and thither we drove + is fast as our wearied horses could carry us, and found every thing most + carefully prepared for our reception. Having dressed, we had a glorious + dinner, lots of good wine; and, the happiest of the happy, I tumbled into + bed, dreaming of leading a division of line-of-battle ships into action, + and of Mary, and of our eldest son being my first lieutenant. + </p> + <p> + “Massa”—quoth Jupiter—“you take cup of coffee, dis marning, + massa?” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you—certainly.” + </p> + <p> + It was by this time grey dawn. My window had been left open the evening + before, when it was hot and sultry enough, but it was now cold and damp, + and a wetting mist boiled in through the open sash, like rolling wreaths + of white smoke. + </p> + <p> + “What is that—where are we in the North Sea, or on the top of Mont + Blanc? Why, clouds may be all in your way, Massa Jupiter, but....” + </p> + <p> + “Cloud!” rejoined the Deity—“him no more den marning fag, massa; + always hab him over de Vale in de morning, until de sun melt him. And + where is you?—why, you is in Massa Aaron house, here in St Thomas in + de Vale—and Miss.” + </p> + <p> + “Miss”—said I—“what Miss?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, for you Miss,” rejoined Jupiter with a grin, “Miss Mary up and dress + already, and de horses are at de door; him wait for you to ride wid him + before breakfast, massa, and to see de clearing of de fag.” + </p> + <p> + “Ride before breakfast!—see the clearing of the fog!” grumbled I. + “Romantic it may be, but consumedly inconvenient.” However, my knighthood + was at stake; so up I got, drank my coffee, dressed, and adjourned to the + piazza, where my adorable was all ready rigged with riding-habit and whip; + straightway we mounted, she into her side saddle with her riding-habit, + and who knows how many petticoats beneath her, while I, Pilgarlic, + embarked in thin jean trowsers upon a cold, damp, indeed wet, saddle, that + made me shiver again. But I was understood to be in love; ergo, I was + expected to be agreeable. However, a damp saddle and a thin pair of + trowsers allays one’s ardour a good deal too. But if any one had seen the + impervious fog in which we sat—why, you could not see a tree three + yards from you—a cabbage looked like a laurel bush, and Sneezer + became a dromedary, and the negroes passing the little gate to their work + were absolute Titans. Boom, a long reverberating noise thundered in the + distance, and amongst the hills, gradually dying away in a hollow rumble. + “The admiral tumbling down the hatchway, Tom—the morning gun fired + at Port Royal,” said Mary; and so it was. + </p> + <p> + The fire-flies were still glancing amongst the leaves of the beautiful + orange-trees in front of the house; but we could see no farther, the whole + view being shrouded under the thick watery veil which rolled and boiled + about us, sometimes thick, and sometimes thinner; hovering between a mist + and small rain, and wetting ones hair, and face, and clothes, most + completely. We descended from the eminence on which the house stood, rode + along the level at the foot of it, and, after a canter of a couple of + miles, we began to ascend a bridle-path, through the Guinea-grass + pastures, which rose rank and soaking wet, as high as one’s saddlebow, + drenching me to the skin, in the few patches where I was not wet before. + All this while the fog continued as thick as ever; at length we suddenly + rose above it—rode out of it, as it were. + </p> + <p> + St Thomas in the Vale is, as the name denotes, a deep valley, about ten + miles long by six broad, into which there is but one inlet comfortably + passable for carriages—the road along which we had come. The hills, + by which it is surrounded on all sides, are, for the most part, covered + with Guinea—grass pastures on the lower ranges, and with coffee + plantations and provision grounds higher up. When we had ridden clear of + the mist, the sun was shining brightly overhead, and every thing was fresh + and sparkling with dewdrops near us; but the vale was still concealed + under the wool-like sea of white mist, only pierced here and there by a + tall cocoa—nut tree rising above it, like the mast of a foundered + vessel. But anon the higher ridges of the grass pieces appeared, as the + fog undulated in fleecy waves in the passing breeze, which, as it rose and + sank like the swell of the ocean, disclosed every now and then the works + on some high-lying sugar estate, and again rolled over them like the tide + covering the shallows of the sea, while shouts of laughter, and the + whooping of the negroes in the fields, rose from out the obscurity, + blended with the signal cries of the sugar boilers to the stockholemen of + “Fire, fire grand copper, grand copper,” and the ca cawing, like so many + rooks, of the children driving the mules and oxen in the mills, and the + everlasting splashing and panting of the water-wheel of the estate + immediately below us, and the crashing and smashing of the canes, as they + were crushed between the mill rollers; and the cracking of the wain and + waggonmen’s long whips, and the rumbling, and creaking, and squealing of + the machinery of the mills, and of the carriage-wheels; while the smoke + from the unseen chimney stalks of the sugar-works rose whirling darkly up + through the watery veil, like spinning waterspouts, from out the bosom of + the great deep. Anon the veil rose, and we were once more gradually + enveloped in clouds. Presently the thickest of the mist floated up, and + rose above us like a gauze-like canopy of fleecy clouds overhanging the + whole level plain, through which the red quenched sun, which a moment + before was flaming with intolerable brightness overhead, suddenly assumed + the appearance of a round red globe in an apothecary’s window, surrounded + by a broad yellow sickly halo, which dimly lit up, as if the sun had been + in eclipse, the cane-fields, then in arrow, as it is called, (a lavender + coloured flower, about three feet long, that shoots out from the top of + the cane, denoting that it is mature, and fit to be ground,) and the + Guinea-grass plats, and the nice-looking houses of the bushas, and the + busy mill-yards, and the noisy gangs of negroes in the field, which were + all disclosed, as if by the change of a scene. + </p> + <p> + At length, in love as we were, we remembered our breakfast; and beginning + to descend, we encountered in the path a gang of about three dozen little + glossy black piccaninies going to their work, the oldest not above twelve + years of age, under the care of an old negress. They had all their little + packies, or calabashes, on their heads, full of provisions; while an old + cook, with a bundle of fagots on her head, and a fire stick in her hand, + brought up the rear, her province being to cook the food which the tiny + little work-people carried. Presently one or two book-keepers, or deputy + white superintendents on the plantation, also passed,—strong healthy + looking young fellows, in stuff jackets and white trowsers, and all with + good cudgels in their hands. The mist, which had continued to rise up and + up, growing thinner and thinner as it ascended, now rent overhead about + the middle of the vale, and the masses, like scattered clouds, drew + towards the ledge of the hills that surrounded it, like floating chips of + wood in a tub of water, sailing in long shreds towards @he most + precipitous peaks, to which as they ascended they attached themselves, and + remained at rest. And now the fierce sun, reasserting his supremacy, shone + once more in all his tropical fierceness right down on the steamy earth, + and all was glare, and heat, and bustle. + </p> + <p> + Next morning, I rode out at daylight along with Mr Bang, who had arrived + on the previous evening. We stopped to breakfast at a property of his + about four miles distant, and certainly we had no reason to complain of + our fare-fresh fish from the gully, nicely roasted yams, a capital junk of + salt beef, a dish I always glory in on shore, although a hint of it at sea + makes me quake; and, after our repast, I once more took the road to see + the estate, in company of my learned friend. There was a long narrow + saddle, or ridge of limestone, about five hundred feet high, that + separated the southern quarter of the parish from the northern. The + cane-pieces, and cultivated part of the estate, lay in a dead level of + deep black mould, to the southward of this ridge, from out which the + latter rose abruptly. The lower part of the ridge was clothed with the + most luxuriant orange, shaddock, lime, star-apple, breadfruit, and custard + apple-trees, besides numberless others that I cannot particularize, while + the summit was shaded by tall forest timber. Proceeding along a rough + bridle path for the space of two miles, we attained the highest part of + the saddle, and turned sharp off to the right, to follow a small footpath + that had been billed in the bush, being the lines recently run by the + land-surveyor between Mr Bang’s property and the neighbouring estate, the + course of which mine host was desirous of personally inspecting. We + therefore left our horses in charge of the servants, who had followed us + running behind, holding on by the tails of our horses, and began to brush + through the narrow path cut in the hot underwood. After walking a hundred + yards or so, we arrived at the point where the path ended abruptly, + abutting against a large tree that had been felled, the stump of which + remained, being about three feet high, and at least five in diameter. Mr + Bang immediately perched himself on it to look about him, to see the lay + of the land over the sea of brushwood. I remained below, complaining + loudly of the heat and confined air of my situation, and swabbing all the + while most energetically, when I saw my friend start. + </p> + <p> + “Zounds, Tom, look behind you!” We had nothing but our riding switches in + our hands. A large snake, about ten feet long, had closed up the path in + our rear, sliding slowly from one branch to another, and hissing and + striking out its forked tongue, as it twisted itself, at the height of my + head from the ground, amongst the trees and bushes, round and round about, + occasionally twining its neck round a tree as thick as my body, on one + side of the path, and its tail round another, larger in girth than my leg, + on the other; when it would, with prodigious strength, but the greatest + ease, and the most oily smoothness, bend the smaller tree like a hoop, + until the trunks nearly touched, although growing full six feet asunder; + as if a tackle fall, or other strong purchase, had been applied; but + continuing all the while it was putting forth its power, to glide soapily + along, quite unconcernedly, and to all appearance as pliant as a leather + thong,—shooting out its glancing neck, and glowering about with its + little blasting fiery eyes,—and sliding the forepart of the body + onwards without pausing, as if there had been no strain on the tail + whatsoever, until the stems of the two trees were at length brought + together, when it let the smaller go with a loud spank, that shook the dew + off the neighbouring branches, and the perspiration from Tom Cringle’s + forehead-whose nerves were not more steady than the tree-like rain, and + frightened all the birds in the neighbourhood; while it, the only + unstartled thing, continued steadily and silently on its course,—turning + and looking at us, and poking its head within arm’s length, and raising it + with a loud hiss, and a threatening attitude, on our smallest motion. + </p> + <p> + “A modern group of the Laocoon—lord, what a neckcloth we shall both + have presently!” thought I. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, the serpent seemed to be emboldened from our quietude, and came + so near, that I thought I perceived the hot glow of its breath, with its + scales glancing like gold and silver, and its diamond-like eyes sparkling; + but all so still and smooth, that unless it were an occasional hiss, its + motions were noiseless as those of an apparition. + </p> + <p> + At length the devil came fairly between us, and I could stand it no + longer. We had both up to this period been really and truly fascinated; + but the very instant that the coast was clear in my wake, by the snake + heading me, and gliding between me and Mr Bang, my manhood forsook me all + of a heap, and, turning tail, I gave a loud shout, and started off down + the path at speed, never once looking behind, and leaving Bang to his + fate, perched on his pedestal, like the laughing satyr; however, the next + moment I heard him thundering in my rear. My panic had been contagious, + for the instant my sudden motion had frightened the snake out of his way, + he started forth after me at speed, and away we both raced, until a stump + caught my foot, and both of us, after flying through the air a couple of + fathoms or so, trundled head over heels, over and over, shouting and + laughing. Pegtop now came up to us in no small surprise, but the adventure + was at an end, and we returned to Mr Bangs to dinner. + </p> + <p> + Here we had an agreeable addition to our party in Sir Jeremy Mayo, and the + family of the Admiral, Sir Samuel Semaphore, his lady, his two most + amiable daughters, and the husband of the eldest. + </p> + <p> + Next morning we rode out to breakfast with a very worthy man, Mr + Stornaway, the overseer of Mount Olive estate, in the neighbourhood of + which there were several natural curiosities to be seen. Although the + extent of our party startled him a good deal, he received us most + hospitably. He ushered us into the piazza, where breakfast was laid, when + uprose ten thousand flies from the breakfast table, that was covered with + marmalade, and guava jelly, and nicely roasted yams, and fair white bread; + and the fragrant bread-fruit roasted in the ashes, and wrapped in plantain + leaves; while the chocolate and coffee pots—the latter equal in + cubic content to one of the Wave’s water-butts emulated each other in the + fragrance of the odours which they sent forth; and avocado pears, and + potted calipiver, and cold pork hams, and really, I cannot repeat the + numberless luxuries that flanked the main body of the entertainment on a + side table, all strong provocative to fall to. + </p> + <p> + “You, Quacco—Peter—Monkey”—shouted Stornaway—“where + are you, with your brushes; don’t you see the flies covering the table?” + The three sable pages forthwith appeared, each with a large green branch + in his hand, which they waved over the viands, and we sat down and had a + most splendid breakfast. Lady Semaphore and I—for I have always had + a touch of the old woman in me—were exceedingly tickled with the way + in which the piccaniny mummas, that is, the mothers of the negro children, + received our friend Bang. After breakfast, a regular muster took place + under the piazza of all the children on the property, under eight years of + age, accompanied by their mothers. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Massa Bang,” shouted one, “why you no come see we oftener? you forget + your poor piccaniny hereabout.” + </p> + <p> + “You grow foolish old man now,” quoth another. + </p> + <p> + “You no wort—you go live in town, an no care about we who make Massa + money here; you no see we all tarving here;” and the nice cleanly looking + fat matron, who made the remark, laughed loudly. + </p> + <p> + He entered into the spirit of the affair with great kindliness, and + verily, before he got clear, his pockets were as empty as a half-pay + lieutenant’s. His fee pennies were flying about in all directions. + </p> + <p> + After breakfast we went to view the natural bridge, a band of rock that + connects two hills together, and beneath which a roaring stream rushes, + hid entirely by the bushes and trees that grow on each side of the ravine. + We descended by a circuitous footpath into the river course, and walked + under the natural arch, and certainly never was any thing finer; a regular + Der Freyschutz dell. The arch overhead was nearly fifty feet high, and the + echo was superb, as we found, when the sweet voices of the ladies, + blending in softest harmony—(lord, how fine you become, Tom!)—in + one of Moore’s melodies, were reflected back on us at the close with the + most thrilling distinctness; while a stone, pitched against any of the + ivy-like creepers, with which the face of the rock was covered, was sure + to dislodge a whole cloud of birds, and not infrequently a slow-sailing + white-winged owl. Shortly after the Riomagno Gully, as it is called, + passes this most interesting spot, it sinks, and runs for three miles + under ground, and again reappears on the surface, and gurgles over the + stones, as if nothing had happened. By the by, this is a common vagary of + nature in Jamaica. For instance, the Rio Cobre, I think it is, which, + after a subterranean course of three miles, suddenly gushes out of the + solid rock at Bybrook estate, in a solid cube of clear cold water, three + feet in diameter; and I remember, in a cruise that I had at another period + of my life, in the leeward part of the Island, we came to an estate, where + the supply of water for the machinery rose up within the bounds of the + mill-dam itself, into which there was no flow, with such force, that above + the spring, if I might so call it, the bubbling water was projected into a + blunt cone, like the bottom of a cauldron, the apex of which was a foot + higher than the level of the pond, although the latter was eighteen feet + deep. + </p> + <p> + After an exceedingly pleasant day we returned home, and next morning, when + I got out of bed, I complained of a violent itching and pain, a sort of + nondescript sensation, a mixture of pain and pleasure in my starboard + great toe, and on reconnoitring, I discovered it to be a good deal + inflamed on the ball, round a blue spot about the size of a pinhead. + Pegtop had come into the room, and while he was placing my clothes in + order, I asked him “What this could be—gout, think you, Massa Pegtop—gout?” + </p> + <p> + “Gote, massa—gote—no, no, him chiger, massa—chiger—little + something like one flea; poke him head under de kin, dere lay egg; ah, + great luxury to creole gentleman and lady, dat chiger; sweet pain, creole + miss say—nice for cratch him, him say.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it may be a creole luxury, Pegtop, but I wish you would relieve me + of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely, massa surely, if you wish it,” said Pegtop, in some surprise at + my want of taste. “Lend me your penknife den, massa;” and he gabbled away + as he extracted from my flesh the chiger bag-like a blue pill in size and + colour. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, massa, top till you marry creole wife,—she will tell you me say + true; ah, daresay Miss Mary himself love chiger to tickle him—to be + sure him love to be tickle—him love to be tickle—ay, all + Creole miss love to be tickle—he, he, he!” + </p> + <p> + By agreement, Mr Bang and I met Mr Stornaway this morning, in order to + visit some other estates together, and during our ride I was particularly + gratified by his company. He was a man of solid and very extensive + acquirements, and far above what his situation in life at that time led + one to expect. When I revisited the island some years afterwards, I was + rejoiced to find that his intrinsic worth and ability had floated him up + into a very extensive business, and I believe he is now a man of property. + I rather think he is engaged in some statistical work connected with + Jamaica, which, I am certain, will do him credit whenever it appears. Odd + enough, the very first time I saw him, I said I was sure he would succeed + in the world; and I am glad to find I was a true prophet. To return: Our + chief object at present was to visit a neighbouring estate, the overseer + of which was, we were led to believe from a message sent to Mr Bang, very + ill with fever. He was a most respectable young man, Mr Stomaway told me, + a Swede by birth, who had came over to England with his parents at the + early age of eight years, where both he and his cousin Agatha had + continued, until he embarked for the West Indies. This was an orphan girl + whom his father had adopted, and both of them, as he had often told Mr + Stornaway, had utterly forgotten their Swedish,—in fact, they + understood no language but English at the time he embarked. I have been + thus particular, from a very extraordinary phenomenon that occurred + immediately, preceding his dissolution, of which I was a witness. + </p> + <p> + We rode up in front of the door, close to the fixed manger, where the + horses and mules belonging to the busha are usually fed, and encountered a + negro servant on a mule, with an umbrella-case slung across his back, and + a portmanteau behind him, covered with the usual sheep’s fleece, and + holding a saddle horse. + </p> + <p> + “Where is your master?” said Mr Bang. + </p> + <p> + “De dactor is in de hose,” replied quashie. “Busha dere upon dying.” + </p> + <p> + We ascended the rocky unhewn steps, and entered the cool, dark hall, + smelling strong of camphor, and slid over the polished floors towards an + open door, that led into the back piazza, where we were received by the + head book-keeper and carpenter. They told us that the overseer had been + seized three days before with fever, and was now desperately ill; and + presently the doctor came forth out of the sick-room. + </p> + <p> + “Poor Wedderfelt is fast going, sir—cold at the extremities already + very bad fever—the bilious remittent of the country, of the worst + type.” + </p> + <p> + All this while the servants, male and female, were whispering to each + other; while a poor little black fellow sat at the door of the room, + crying bitterly—this was the overseer’s servant. We entered the + room. which was darkened from the jealousies being, all shut, except one + of the uppermost, which happening to be broken, there was a strong pencil + of light cast across the head of the bed where the sick man lay while the + rest of the room was involved in gloom. + </p> + <p> + The sufferer seemed in the last stage of yellow fever; his skin was a + bright yellow, his nose sharp, and his general features very much pinched. + His head had been shaven, and there was a handkerchief bound round it over + a plantain leaf, the mark of the blister coming low down on his forehead, + where the skin was shrivelled like dry parchment apparently it had not + risen. There was also a blister on his chest. He was very restless, + clutching the bedclothes, and tossing his limbs about; his mouth was + ulcerated, and blood oozed from the corners; his eyes were a deep yellow, + with the pupil much dilated, and very, lustrous; he was breathing with a + heavy moaning noise when we entered, and looked wildly round, mistaking Mr + Bang and me for some other persons. Presently he began to speak very + quickly, and to lift one of his hands repeatedly close to his face, as if + there was something in it he wished to look at. I presently saw that it + held a miniature of a fair haired, blue-eyed Scandinavian girl; but + apparently he could not see it, from the increasing dimness of his eyes, + which seemed to distress him greatly. After a still minute, during which + no sound was heard but his own heavy breathing, he again began to speak + very rapidly, but no one in the room could make out what he said. I + listened attentively—it struck me is being like—I was certain + of it—it was Swedish, which in health he had entirely forgotten, but + now in his dying moments vividly remembered. Alas, it was a melancholy and + a moving sight, to perceive all the hitherto engrossing thoughts and + incidents of his youth and manhood, all save the love of one dear object, + suddenly vanish from the tablet of his memory, ground away and abrased, as + it were, by his great agony—or like worthless rubbish, removed from + above some beautiful ancient inscription, which for ages it had hid, + disclosing in all their primeval freshness, sharp cut into his dieing + heart, the long smothered, but never to be obliterated impressions of his + early, childhood. I could plainly distinguish the name Agatha, whenever he + peered with fast glazing eyes on the miniature. All this while a nice + little brown child was lying playing with his watch and seals on the bed + beside him, while a handsome coloured girl, a slight young creature, + apparently its mother, sat on the other side of the dying man, supporting + his head on her lap, and wetting his mouth every now and then with a cloth + dipped in brandy. + </p> + <p> + As he raised the miniature to his face, she would gently endeavour to turn + away his hand, that he might not look at one whom she, poor thing, no + doubt considered was usurping the place in his fluttering heart, that she + long fancied had been filled by herself solely; and at other times she + would vainly try to coax it out of his cold hand, but the dieing grasp was + now one of iron, and her attempts evidently discomposed the departing + sinner; but all was done kindly and quietly, and a flood of tears would + every now and then stream down her cheeks, as she failed in her + endeavours, or as the murmured, gasped name, Agatha, reached her ear. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said she, “him heart riot wid me now—it far away in him own + country, him never will make me yeerie what him say again no more.” + </p> + <p> + Oh, woman, woman! who can fathom that heart of thine! By this time the + hiccup grew stronger, and all at once he sat up strong in his bed without + assistance, “light as if he felt no wound;” but immediately thereafter + gave a strong shudder, ejecting from his mouth a jet of dark matter like + the grounds of chocolate, and fell back dead whereupon the negroes began + to howl and shriek in such a horrible fashion, that we were glad to leave + the scene. + </p> + <p> + Next day, when we returned to attend the poor fellow’s funeral, we found a + complete bivouac of horses and black servants below the trees in front of + the house, which was full of neighbouring planters and overseers, all + walking about, and talking, and laughing, as if it had been a public + meeting on parish business. Some of them occasionally went into the room + to look at the body as it lay in the open coffin, the lid of which was at + length screwed down, and the corpse carried on four negroes shoulders to + its long home, followed by the brown girl and all the servants, the latter + weeping and howling,—but she, poor thing, said not a word, although + her heart seemed, from the convulsive heaving of her bosom, like to burst. + He was buried under a neighbouring orange-tree, the service being read by + the Irish carpenter of the estate, who got half a page into the marriage + service by mistake before either he or any one else noticed he was wrong. + </p> + <p> + Three days after this the admiral extended my leave for a fortnight, which + I spent in a tour round this most glorious island with friend Aaron, whose + smiling face, like the sun, (more like the nor’west moon in a fog, by the + by,) seemed to diffuse warmth, and comfort, and happiness, wherever he + went, while Sir Samuel and his charming family, and the general, and my + dearie, and her aunt, returned home; and after a three weeks philandering, + I was married, and all that sort of thing, and a week afterwards embarked + with my treasure for I had half a million of dollars on freight, as well + as my own particular jewel; and don’t grin at the former, for they gave me + a handsome sum, and helped to rig us when we got to Ould England, where + Lotus—Leaf was paid off, and I settled for a time on shore, the + happiest, &c. &c. &c., until some years afterwards, when the + wee Cringles began to tumble home so deucedly fast, that I had to cut and + run, and once more betake myself to the salt sea. My aunt and her family + returned at the same time to England, in a merchant ship under my convoy, + and became our neighbours. Bang also got married soon after to Miss + Lucretia Wagtail, by whom he got the Slap estate. But old Gelid and my + other allies remain, I believe, in single blessedness until this hour. + </p> + <p> + MY TALE is told—my yarn is ended,—and were I to spin it + longer, I fear it would be only bending it “end for end;” yet still I + linger, “like the sough of an auld sang” on the ear, loath to pronounce + that stern heart crushing word, that yet “has been, and must be,” and + which, during my boisterous and unsettled morning, has been, alas! a too + familiar one with me. I hope I shall always bless Heaven for my fair + Blinks, although, as the day has wore on, I have had my own share of lee + currents, hard gales, and foul weather; and many an old and dear friend + has lately swamped alongside of me, while few new ones have shoved out to + replace them. But suffering, that scathes the heart, does not always make + it callous; and I feel much of the woman hanging about mine still, even + now, when the tide is on the turn with me, and the iron voice of the + inexorable First—Lieutenant, Time, has sung out, “Strike the bell + eight,”—every chime smiting on my soul as if an angel spoke, to warn + me, that my stormy forenoon watch is at length over—that the sun, + now passing the meridian, must soon decline towards the western horizon, + and who shall assure himself of a cloudless setting. + </p> + <p> + I have, in very truth, now reached the summit of the bald spray washed + promontory, and stand on the slippery ledge of the cliff, that trembles to + the thundering of the surge beneath; but the plunge must be made—so + at once, Farewell all hands, and God bless ye. If, while chucking the cap + about at a venture—but I hope and trust there has been no such thing—it + has alighted on the head of some ancient ally, and pinched in any the + remotest degree, I hereby express my most sincere and heartfelt regret; + and to such a one I would say, as he said, who wrote for all time, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I have shot Mine arrow o’er the house, and hurt my brother.” + </pre> + <p> + Thus I cut my stick while the play is good, and before the public gets + wearied of me; and, as for the Log, it is now launched, swim, or founder; + if those things be good, it will float from its own buoyancy; if they be + naught, let it sink at once and for ever—all that Tom Cringle + expects at the hands of his countrymen is—A CLEAR STAGE, AND NO + FAVOUR. + </p> + <p> + THE END. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tom Cringle’s Log, by Michael Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM CRINGLE’S LOG *** + +***** This file should be named 7281-h.htm or 7281-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/2/8/7281/ + +Produced by John Edward Heaton and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at + www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” + or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +“Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. + +The Foundation’s principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email +contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the +Foundation’s web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> |