Old Jack, by W. H. G. Kingston. 

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This novel is written as a biography of a seaman, whose life at seastarts as an illiterate boy-seaman, and whose career spans the lasttwenty years of the eighteenth century and the first third of thenineteenth. We learn much of how ships were managed in those days, thepress-gangs, the training, and the life of the common sailor in thefo'cstle. We experience the life aboard a man-of-war, a merchantman, awhaler, and even spend a few years ashore among the cannibals of theFeejee islands. There is a lot of meat in this book (not intended as apun), and the reader will finish it with his or her eyes filled withwonderment. We now give the preface which Kingston himself wrote forthe book. 

Preface, by W. H. G. Kingston. 

I had more than once, in my rambles in the neighbourhood of Blackheath, Greenwich and Woolwich, met an old man walking briskly along, whoseappearance struck me as unusual; but we never even exchangedsalutations. One day, however, when I was in company with my friendCaptain N--- of the Navy, seeing the stranger, he stopped and addresseda few words to him, from which I gleaned that he had been a sailor. Myfriend told me, as we moved on, that he often had conversations onreligious subjects with the old man, who had for long been in a SouthSea whaler, and had seen many parts of the world. My interest was muchexcited. I took an early opportunity of making the acquaintance of OldJack--for such, he told me, was the name by which he was best known; andwithout reluctance he gave me his history. This I now present to thepublic with certain emendations, with which I do not think my youngerreaders will find fault. W. H. G. K. 

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OLD JACK, BY W. H. G. KINGSTON. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

DONNYBROOK FAIR. 

Jack began his story thus:

Of course you've heard of Donnybrook Fair, close to the city of Dublin. What a strange scene it was, to be sure, of uproar and wild confusion--of quarrelling and fighting from beginning to end--of broken heads, ofblack eyes, and bruised shins--of shouting, of shrieking and swearing--of blasphemy and drunkenness in all its forms of brutality. Ay, and asI've heard say, of many a deed of darkness, not omitting murder, andother crimes not less foul and hateful to Him who made this beautifulworld, and gave to man a religion of love and purity. There therollicking, roaring, bullying, fighting, harum-scarum Irishman of oldendays had full swing for all the propensities and vile passions whichhave ruined him at home, and gained him a name and a fame not to beenvied throughout the world. Often have I wondered whether, had a NorthAmerican Indian, or a South-Sea Islander, visited the place, he couldhave been persuaded that he had come to a land of Christian men. Certainly an angel from heaven would have looked upon the assemblage asa multitude of Satan's imps let loose upon the world. They tell me thatthe fair and its bedevilments have pretty well been knocked on the head. I am glad of it, though I have never again been to the spot from theday of which I am about to speak. 

I remember very little of my childish life. Indeed, my memory is nearlya blank up to the time to which I allude. That time was one of thefirst days of that same Donnybrook Fair; but I remember _that_ and goodreason I have so to do. I was, however, but a small chap then, young inyears, and little as to size. 

My father's name was Amos Williams. He came from England and settled inDublin, where he married my mother, who was an Irishwoman. Her name Inever heard. If she had relations, they did not, at all events, ownher. I suspect, from some remarks she once let drop which I did notthen understand, that they had discarded her because she had become aProtestant when she married my father. She was gentle and pious, anddid her utmost, during the short time she remained on earth, to teach methe truths of that glorious gospel to which, in many a trial, she heldfast, as a ship to the sheet-anchor with a gale blowing on a lee-shore. She died young, carried off by a malignant fever. Her last prayers werefor my welfare here and hereafter. Had I always remembered her preceptsI should, I believe, have been in a very different position to what Inow am in my old age. My poor father took her death very much to heart. For days after her funeral he sat on his chair in our little cottagewith his hands before him, scarcely lifting up his head from his breast, forgetting entirely that he ought to go out and seek for work, aswithout it he had no means of finding food for himself and me. I shouldhave starved had not a kind woman, a neighbour, brought me in somepotatoes and buttermilk. Little enough I suspect she had to spare afterfeeding her own children. 

At length my father roused himself to action. Early one morning, seizing his hat and bidding me stay quiet till his return, he rushed outof the house. He was a stonemason. He got work, I believe, but thetempter came in his way. A fellow-workman induced him to enter a whiskyshop. Spirits had, in his early days, been his bane. My mother'sinfluence had kept him sober. He now tried to forget his sorrow inliquor. "Surely I have a right to cure my grief as best I can, " saidhe. Unhappily he did not wait for a reply from conscience. Little foodcould he buy from the remnant of his day's wages. Thus he went on fromday to day, working hard when sober, drinking while he had money to payfor liquor. 

Still his affection for me did not diminish. While in his right mind hecould not bear to have me out of his sight. Every morning we might havebeen seen leaving our cottage, I holding his hand as he went to hiswork; yet nearly as certainly as the evening came round I had to creepsupperless to bed. All day he would keep me playing about in his sight, except when any of his fellow-workmen, or people living near where wehappened to be, wanted a lad to run on an errand. Then I was alwaysglad of the job. Whenever, by happy chance, he came home sober in anevening, he would take me between his knees, and, parting my hair, lookinto my face and weep till his heart seemed ready to burst. But theseoccasions grew less and less frequent. What I have said will show thatI have reason to love the memory of both my parents, in spite of thefaults my unhappy father undoubtedly possessed. 

Several months had thus passed away after my mother's death, when oneafternoon my father entered our cottage where he had left me since themorning. 

"Jack, my boy, " said he, taking my hand, "come along, and I will showyou what _life is_. " Oh, had he said, "what _death is_, " he would havespoken the truth. 

I accompanied him willingly, though I saw at a glance that he hadalready been drinking. Crowds of people were going in the direction wetook. For some days past I had heard the neighbours talking of thefair. I now knew that we were bound there. My mother had never allowedme to go to the place, so I had no notion what it was like. I expectedto see something very grand and very beautiful--I could not tell what. I pushed on into the crowd with my father as eagerly as any one, thinking that we should arrive at the fair at last. I did not know thatwe were already in the middle of it. I remember, however, having aconfused sight of booths, and canvas theatres, and actors in fineclothes strutting about and spouting and trumpeting and drumming; ofrope-dancers and tumblers with painted faces; and doctors in gildedchariots selling all sorts of wonderful remedies for every possiblecomplaint; and the horsemanship, with men leaping through hoops andstriding over six steeds or more at full gallop; and the gingerbreadstalls, and toy shops, and similar wonders; but what was bought and soldat the fair of use to any one I never heard. 

My father had taken me round to several of the shows I have spoken of:when he entered a drinking-booth, and set himself down with me on hisknee, among a number of men who seemed to be drinking hard. Theirexample stimulated him to drink harder than ever, and in a short timehis senses completely left him. As, however, even though the worseliquor, he was peaceable in his disposition, instead of sallying forthas many did in search of adventures, he laid himself down on the groundwith his head against the canvas of the tent, and told me to call himwhen it was morning. Some one at the same time handed me a piece ofgingerbread, so I set myself down by his side to do as he bid me. 

Those were the days of faction fights; and if people happened to have nocause for a quarrel, they very soon found one. The tent we were in waspatronised by Orangemen, and of course was a mark for the attacks of theopposite party. My poor father had slept an hour or so, with three orfour men near him in a similar condition, when a half-drunken body ofmen came by, shillelah in hand, looking out for a row. Unhappily theshapes of the heads of most of the sleepers were clearly developedthrough the canvas. The temptation was not to be resisted--whack--whack--whack! Down came the heavy stick of a sturdy Irishman upon thatof my father. "Get up out of that, and defend yourselves!" sung outtheir assailants. Most of his companions rushed out to avenge theinsult offered them, but my father made no answer. Numbers joined fromall directions--shillelahs were flourished rapidly, and the scrimmagebecame general. I ran to the front of the tent and clapped my hands, and shouted with sympathy. Now the mass of fighting, shrieking menswayed to one side, now to the other; now they advanced, now theyretreated, till by degrees the fight had reached a considerable distancefrom the tent. 

I then went back to my place by my father's side, wondering that he didnot get up to join the fray. I listened, he breathed, but he did notspeak. Still I thought he must be awake. "Father, father, " said I, "get up, do. It's time to go home, sure now. " I shook him gently, buthe made no reply. At length I could hear no sound proceeding from hislips. I cried out in alarm. The keeper of the booth saw that somethingwas wrong, and came and looked curiously into his face. He lifted up myfather's hand. It fell like lead by his side. 

"Why won't father speak to me?" I asked, dreading the answer. 

"He'll never speak again! Your father's dead, lad, " answered the man ina tone of commiseration. 

With what oppressive heaviness did those words strike on my young heart, though at that time I did not fully comprehend the extent of my loss, --that I should never again hear the tone of his voice--that we were forever parted in this world--that I was an orphan, without a human beingto care for me. But though bewildered and confused at that awfulmoment, the words he had uttered as we left home rung strangely in myears--"Lad, I'll show you what life is. " Too truly did he show me whatdeath was. Often and often have I since seen the same promise fulfilledin a similar fearful way. What men call _life_ is a certain road to_death_; death of the body, death of the soul. Of course I did notunderstand this truth in those days; not indeed till long, longafterwards, when I had gone through much pain and suffering, and hadbeen well-nigh worn-out. I was then very ignorant and very simple, andI should probably have been vicious also had not my mother watchfullykept me out of the way of bad example; and even after she was taken fromme, I was prevented from associating with bad companions. 

When I found that my poor father was really dead, I stood wringing myhands and crying bitterly. The sounds of my grief attracted many of thepassers-by; some stopped to inquire its cause, and when they hadsatisfied their curiosity they went their way. At last several seamen, with an independent air, came rolling up near the tent. The leader ofthe party was one of the tallest men I ever saw. Though he stoopedslightly as he walked, his head towered above all the rest of the crowd. 

"What's the matter with the young squeaker there, mate?" he asked in abantering tone, thinking probably that I had broken a toy, or lost alump of gingerbread from my pocket. 

"His daddy's dead, and he's no one to look after him!" shouted an urchinfrom the crowd of bystanders. 

"He's in a bad case then, " replied the seaman, coming up to me. "What, lad! is it true that you have no friends?" he asked, stooping down andtaking me by the hand. 

"No one but father, and he lies there!" I answered, giving way to afresh burst of grief as I pointed to my parent's corpse. 

"He speaks the truth, " observed the man of the booth; "he has no mother, nor kith nor kin that I know of, and must starve if no one takes chargeof him, I suspect. "

The tall sailor looked at me with an expression of countenance which atonce gained my confidence. "What say you, lad, will you come with us?"he asked, pointing to his companions; "we'll take you to sea, and make aman of you!"

"We may get him entered aboard the _Rainbow_, I think, mates, " he added, addressing them. "He'll do as well as the monkey we lost overboardduring the last gale; and though he may be as mischievous now, he willlearn better manners, which Jocko hadn't the sense to do. "

"Oh ay! Bear him along with us, " replied the other sea men; "he'll bebetter afloat, whichever way the wind blows, than starving on shore. "

"Come along, youngster, then, " said the tall seaman; and, withoutwaiting for my reply, he seized me by the arm, and began to move offwith me through the crowd. 

"But what will be done with poor father? Sure I cannot leave him now!"I exclaimed, looking back with anguish at my father's corpse. 

"Oh, we'll see all about that, " answered my new friend; "he shall bewaked in proper style, and have a decent funeral; so you may leave homewith a clear conscience. Never fear!"

I need not dwell longer on the events of that sad day. Aided by some ofthe men who knew my father, and who returned to the tent after the fraywas over, the kind-hearted seamen bore the corpse to our cottage. Thepromise of a supply of whisky easily induced some of the neighbours tocome and howl during the livelong night. This they did with right goodwill, although my father was a Protestant and a foreigner; and I criedand howled in sympathy. I would fain, however, have forgotten my griefin sleep. The seamen had taken their departure, promising to return tolook after me. 

As there was no chance of a man with a fractured skull coming to lifeagain, the funeral speedily took place. The small quantity of furnitureremaining in the cottage was sold; but the proceeds were barelysufficient to pay the expenses. 

Thus I was left, with the exception of a suit of somewhat ragged clotheson my back, as naked and poor as when I came into the world about twelveyears before, with a much more expensive appetite than I then had tosupply. Some boys at that age are well able to take care of themselves, but, as I have said, I was small for my years, and I had been kept by mypoor mother so much by myself, that I knew nothing of the world and itsways. 

Alter the funeral a compassionate neighbour, with a dozen or morechildren of her own to feed, took me to her house till it was settledwhat was to become of me. She and her husband laughed at the idea ofthe tall sailor coming to take me away. 

"I know what sailors are, " said the husband; "they'll just chuck ahandful of silver to the first beggar who asks them for it, and thenthey'll go away and forget all about it! Maybe your friend was onlyafter joking with you, and is off to sea long ago!"

"Oh no! he meant what he said, " I replied; "I know that by the look ofhis face. He's a kind man, I'm certain!"

"It may be better for us all if he comes, but it's not very likely, " wasthe answer. Still I trusted that my new friend would not deceive me. 

I was standing in front of the cottage which was next to that my fatherand I had inhabited, when my heart beat quick at seeing a tall figureturn a corner at the other end of the street. I was certain it was mysailor friend. "It's him! It's him! I knew he'd come!" I shouted, and ran forward to meet him. 

He smiled as he saw my eagerness. "You've not forgotten me, I see, lad, " said he; "well, come along. It's all arranged; and if you're inthe same mind, you've only to say so, and we'll enter you aboard the_Rainbow_!"

I told the tall sailor that I was ready to go wherever he liked to takeme. This seemed to please him. After I had wished the neighbours, whohad been so kind to me, good-bye, he took me by the hand, and led merapidly along in the direction of the docks. Before reaching them, weentered a house where some old gentlemen were sitting at a table. Oneof them asked me if I wished to go to sea and become an admiral. Ireplied, "Yes, surely, " though I did not know what being an admiralmeant; and on this the other old gentlemen laughed, and the first wrotesomething on a paper, which he handed across the table. 

On this a sunburnt fine-looking man stepped forward and wrote on thepaper, and I was then told that I was bound apprentice to CaptainHelfrich, of the _Rainbow_ brig. The fine-looking man was, I found, Captain Helfrich. "Well, that matter is squared now!" exclaimed thetall sailor; "so, youngster, we'll aboard at once, before either you orI get into mischief. "

On our way to the brig, we stopped at a slop clothes-shop. "Here, MrLevi! I want an outfit for this youngster, " said my friend, taking mein. "Let his duds be big enough, that he may have room to grow in them. Good food and sea air will soon make him sprout like a young cabbage. "

The order was literally fulfilled, and I speedily found myself thepossessor of a new suit of sailors' clothes, of two spare shirts, andsundry other articles of dress. My friend made me put them on at once. 

"Now, do the old ones up in that handkerchief, " said he; "we'll find ause for them before long. "

The spare new things he did up into a bundle, and carried it himself. 

"I did not want the Jew to get your old clothes, for which he would haveallowed nothing, " said he, as we left the shop. "We shall soon fall inwith a little ragged fellow, to whom they'll be a rich prize. "

As we went along, two or three boys begged of us, and pointed to theirrags as a plea for their begging. "They'll not do, " said he; "thebetter clothes would ruin them. "

At last, passing along the quays, we saw a little fellow sitting on thestock of an anchor, and looking very miserable. He had no shoes on hisfeet; his trousers were almost legless, and fastened up over oneshoulder by a piece of string, while his arms were thrust into thesleeves of an old coat, much too large for him, and patched and tornagain in all directions. He did not beg, but just looked up into mytall friend's face, as if he saw something pleasing there. 

"What do you want?" said the sailor. 

"Nothing, " answered the boy, not understanding him. 

"You're well off then, lad, " said the tall sailor, smiling at him. "ButI think that you would be the better for some few things in this world--for a suit of clothes, for instance. "

"The very things I do want!" exclaimed the lad. "You've hit it, yourhonour. I'd a dacent suit as ever you'd wish to see, and they were runaway with, just as I'd got the office of an errand-boy with a gentleman, and was in a fair way to make my fortune. "

"Well, then, here's a suit for you, my lad, " said the sailor; "just getyour mother to give them a darning up, and they'll serve your purpose, Idaresay. Give him your bundle. "

"Sure your honour isn't joking with me!" exclaimed the lad, hiscountenance beaming with pleasure as he undid the bundle of clothes, which were certainly very far better than those he had on. "I'm a mademan--that I am! Blessings on your honour, and the young master there!"

"You're welcome, lad, with all my heart, " answered my friend. 

"Oh, it's Terence McSwiney will have to thank you to the end of hisdays, and ever after!" exclaimed the boy, as we were walking on. 

"Well, Terence, I hope you'll get the post, and do your duty in it, "said the tall sailor, moving off to avoid listening to the expressionsof gratitude which the lad poured forth. 

The incident made a deep impression on me. I learned by it that othersmight be worse off than I was, and also that a gift at the right timemight be of the greatest service. Of this I had the proof many yearsafterwards. If the rich and the well-to-do did but know of what usetheir own or their children's cast-off clothes would be to many not onlyamong the labouring classes, but to people of education and refinement, struggling with poverty, they would not carelessly throw them away, orlet them get into the hands of Jews, sold by their servants for a sixthof their value. I must observe that, in the course of my narrative Ishall often make remarks on various ideas which, at the time I speak of, could not possibly have occurred to me. 

The tall sailor and I walked along the quay. All of a sudden itoccurred to me that I did not know his name. I looked up in his faceand asked him. 

"I'm called Peter Poplar, " he answered, with one of his kind smiles. "The name suits me, and I suit the name; so I do not quarrel with it. You'll have to learn the names, pretty quickly too, of all the people onboard. There are a good many of us, and each and every one of them willconsider himself your master, and you'll have to look out to please themall. "

"I'll do my best to please them, Mr Poplar, " said I. 

"That's right! But I say, lad, don't address me so. Call me plainPeter, or Peter Poplar; we don't deal in misters aboard the _Rainbow_. It is all very well for shore-going people to call each other mister; orwhen you speak to an officer, just to show that he is an officer; butsharp's the word with us forward--we haven't time for compliments. "

"But I thought you were an officer, Peter, " said I. "You look likeone. "

"Do I?" he answered, with his pleasant smile. "Well, Jack, perhaps Iought to have been one, and it's my own fault that I am not. But thetruth is, I haven't got the learning necessary for it. I never havelearned to read, and so I haven't been able to master navigation. Without it, you know, a man cannot be an officer, however good a seamanhe may be; and in that point I'll yield to no man. "

Peter, as he spoke, drew himself up to his full height, and I thought helooked fit to be a very great officer indeed; even to be an admiral, such as the old gentleman in the office had spoken of. 

"I am very bad at my books too, " said I. "I can just read a littlethough, and if I can get the chance of falling in with a book, I'll liketo read to you, Peter. "

My friend thanked me, but said books were not often seen aboard the_Rainbow_; nor were they found in many other merchant-craft, for thatmatter, in those days. 

We found the brig just ready to haul out into the outer basin, preparatory to putting to sea. She was a fine large craft, and had beenbuilt for a privateer in the war-time. Her heavy guns had been landed, but she still carried some eight six-pounders; and as she had a strongcrew of fully twenty men, she was well able to defend herself from anypiratical craft, or other gentry of that description. 

When Peter first took me on board, some of the seamen would scarcelybelieve I was the same little boy they had seen at the fair, I looked somuch stouter and stronger in my seaman's dress. I did not much like thelook of the forepeak, into which Peter introduced me, telling me that itwas to be my house and home for the next few years of my life. I hadbeen accustomed to the dingy obscurity of an Irish cabin, but never hadI been, I thought, in a more dark and gloomy habitation than this. 

"Never fear, Jack, you'll soon find yourself at home here, " said Peter, divining my thoughts. While he was speaking, a seaman lighted a lanternwhich hung from a beam, and its glare showed me that the place was moreroomy than I had supposed, and that every part of it was perfectlyclean. I found, indeed, afterwards, that it was very superior to theplaces merchant-seamen are compelled often to live in. Some of the crewslept in standing bed-places ranged round the sides of the vessel, orrather inside her bows, while for others hammocks were slung from thebeams which supported the deck. The chests were arranged to serve asseats, while there was a rack for the plates and mugs belonging to theirmess. 

The greater part of the crew was still on shore. "Now, Jack, that youknow the sort of place we have to live in, I'll show you theaccommodation prepared for the captain and his passengers. It must notmake you envious any more than it does me, for I think that those whohave learning and education should enjoy advantages in proportion. Ifeel that it is my own fault that I do not live in as fine a cabin asthe captain does. "

Even though Peter had thus prepared me to see something very fine, therichness of the cabin fittings and furniture surpassed anything I had inmy simplicity imagined to exist. Perhaps those accustomed to suchthings might not have thought it so very great. I know that there weredamask curtains, and coverings to the sofas, and mirrors, and picturesin gold frames, and mahogany tables and chairs, and cut-glass decanters, and china in racks, and a number of pistols and muskets and cutlasses, all burnished and shining, fixed against a bulkhead. 

"Why, this is a place fit for a king, " I exclaimed; "sure he can't haveanything grander. "

Peter laughed. "The captain prides himself on being very natty, andhaving everything in good order, " said he; "but kings, I fancy, live infiner places than this. However, my reason for bringing you here was toshow you the place, that you may know how to behave yourself should yoube sent for to attend on the captain. You must obey him quickly, tryand understand his wishes, and keep things clean and in their places. If you do this, you are certain to please him. "

Thus it was that my friend kindly tried to prepare me for my new career. "Now, Jack, " said he at last, "I've done my best to set you on yourlegs. You must try to walk alone. I don't want to make a nursing babyof you, remember. " From that day forward Peter left me very much totake care of myself. Still I felt that his eye was watching over me, and this feeling gave me a considerable amount of confidence which Ishould not otherwise have possessed. 

By the next day at noon, the rest of the crew had assembled; the captainand several passengers, mostly merchants and planters, came on board. There was a fair wind blowing down the Liffey. "Open the dock-gates, Mr Thompson, and let her go. She'll find her own way to Jamaica andback again by herself, without a hand at the helm, she knows it sowell, " the captain, as he stood on the poop, sung out to thedock-master. I found that this was a standing joke of his. 

The _Rainbow_ was a regular West India trader, and had had manysuccessful voyages there. Captain Helfrich was chief owner as well asmaster, and was a great favourite with the merchants and planters at thedifferent islands at which he was in the habit of touching, andconsequently had always plenty of passengers, and never had to wait longfor freight. He was very proud of his brig, and of everything connectedwith her. He himself also was a person not a little worthy of note. Hewas, as I have said, a tall, fine man, robust and upright in figure, with large, handsome features, and teeth of pearly whiteness. He wasprobably at this time rather more than forty years old, but not aparticle of his crisp, curly, brown hair had a silvery tint. He had afine beaming smile, though he was very firm and determined, and couldlook very fierce when angry. I had an unbounded respect for him. Thuscommanded, and with as good a crew as ever manned a ship, the _Rainbow_dropped down the Liffey, and made sail to the southward; and under thesepropitious circumstances I found myself fairly launched in my career asa sailor. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

THE BITTERS AND SWEETS OF A SEA-LIFE. 

"And so, Jack, you like a sea-life, do you?" said Peter Poplar to me oneday after we had been about two weeks from port. We had had very fineweather all the time, with a north or easterly wind, and I expected tofind the ocean always as smooth and pleasant as it then was. One goodresult was, that I had been able to pick up a good many of the detailsof my duty, which I should not have done had I been sea-sick, andknocked about in a gale. 

"Yes, thanks to you, Peter, I like it much better than running errandson shore, " I answered. "I don't wish for a pleasanter life. "

Peter laughed. "You've had only the sweets as yet, boy; the bitters areto come, " he observed. "Still, if you get a fair share of the first, you'll have no reason to complain. "

I did not quite understand him. I then only thought of the sweets, ashe called them. The truth was, I had generally been very kindly treatedon board. To be sure, I got a kick, or the taste of a rope's end, nowand then, from some of the men if they happened to be out of humour; butthose were trifles, as I never was much hurt, and Peter told me I wasfortunate to get nothing worse. There was one ill-conditioned fellow, Barney Bogle by name, who lost no opportunity of giving me a cuff forthe merest trifle, if he could do so without being seen by Peter, ofwhom he was mortally afraid. In his presence, the bully always kept hishands off me. Of course it would not have been wise in me to complainof Barney to Peter, as it might have caused a quarrel; so I contentedmyself with doing my best to keep out of my enemy's way, just as a catdoes out of the way of a dog which has taken a fancy to worry her. Captain Helfrich had hitherto taken no notice whatever of me, and heseemed to me so awful a person, that I never expected to be spoken to byhim. Now and then the mates ordered me to do some little job or other, to fetch a swab or a marlinespike, or to hold a paint-pot, but they inno other way noticed me. 

I remember how blue the sky was, and how sparkling the sea, and how hotthe sun at noon shone down on our heads, and how brightly the moonfloated above us at night, and formed a long, long stream of silverylight across the waters; and I used to fancy, as I stood looking at it, that I could hear voices calling to me from far, far-off, and telling meof my sweet, calm-eyed mother, still remembered fondly, and of my poorfather, snatched from me so suddenly. I won't talk much about that sortof thing. It seems now like a long-forgotten dream--I believe that, even then, I was dreaming. 

Well, as I said, the fine weather continued for a long time, till I wasawoken one morning by a loud, roaring, dashing, creaking sound, orrather, I might say, of a mixture of such sounds; and as I began to rubmy eyes, I thought that I should have been hove out of the narrow cribin which I was stowed away in the very bows of the vessel. Sometimes Ifelt the head of the brig lifted up, and then down it came like asledge-hammer into the water; now I felt myself rolled on one side, nowon the other. I fully thought that the vessel must be on the rocks. Not a gleam of light reached me, nor could I hear the sound of a humanvoice. I wanted to be out of the place; but when I tried to get up, Ifelt so sick and wretched, that I lay down again with an idea that itwould be more comfortable to die where I was. At last, however, BarneyBogle came below and discovered me. 

"Turn out, you young skulker; turn out!" he exclaimed, belabouring mewith a rope's end. "Didn't you hear all hands called to shorten sail anhour ago?"

I had no help for it, so on deck I crawled, where the grey light ofmorning was streaming from beneath a dark mass of clouds which hungoverhead, and a gale was blowing which sent the foam flying from thetops of the seas, deluging us fore and aft. Now the brig was lifted upto the summit of a wave, and now down she sank into the trough of thesea, with a liquid wall on one side which, as it came curling on, lookedas if it must inevitably overwhelm her. She was under close-reefedtopsails and storm-jib, and two of the best hands were at the helm. Peter was one of them. I managed to climb up to windward, and to holdon by the weather-fore-rigging, where the rest of the crew werecollected. 

I shall never forget the dark, dreary, and terrific scene which theocean presented to my unaccustomed sight. At first, too, I felt verysick and miserable, and I thought that I would far rather have beenstarving on shore than going to be drowned, as I fancied, and beingtossed about by the rough ocean. Barney, who was on deck before me, abused me as I crawled up near him, and contrived to give me a kick, which, had I let go my hold, as it was calculated to make me do, wouldprobably have been the cause of my immediate destruction. At thatmoment a huge sea came rolling up towards the brig, topping high aboveour deck. I saw Peter Poplar and the other man at the helm looking outanxiously at it. They grasped tighter hold of the spokes of the wheel, and planted their feet firmer on the deck. Captain Helfrich and hismates were standing by the main-rigging. 

"Hold on, hold on for your lives, my men!" he sung out. The crew didnot neglect to obey him, and I clung to a rope like a monkey. Most ofthe passengers were below, sick in their berths. Down came the huge seaupon us like the wall of a city overwhelming its inhabitants. Over ourdeck it rushed with terrific force. I thought to a certainty that wewere sinking. What a horrible noise there was!--wrenching and tearing, and the roar and dashing sound of the waves, and the howling of thewind! All contributed to confuse my senses, so that I forgot altogetherwhere I was. I had an idea, I believe, that the end of the world wascome. Still my shipmates did not shriek out, and I was very muchsurprised to find the brig rise again out of the water, and to see themstanding where they were before, employed in shaking the wet off theirjackets. The deck of the brig, however, presented a scene of no littleconfusion and havoc. Part of her weather-bulwarks forward had beenstove in, the long-boat on the booms had been almost knocked to pieces, and a considerable portion of the after-part of the lee-bulwarks hadbeen washed away, showing the course the sea had taken over us. 

"We must not allow that trick to be played us again, " said the captainto the mates. I had crept as far aft as I dared go, for I did not likethe look of the sea through the broken bulwark, so I could hear him. "Stand by to heave the ship to!" he shouted, and his voice was easilyheard above the sounds of the tempest. "Down with the helm!--In withthe jib!--Hand the maintopsail!" The officers and men, who were attheir stations, flew to obey their orders. I trembled as I saw thethird mate, with several other men, taking in the jib. Having let gothe halliards, and eased off the sheets, hauling away on thedown-hauler; and having got it down on the bowsprit-cap, though nearlyblown out of the bolt-ropes, stowing it away in the foretopmaststaysail-netting. As the bows of the brig now rose and now plunged intothe trough of the sea, I thought they must have been, to a certainty, washed away. The maintopsail was, in the meantime, taken in, and I feltthat I was very glad I was not obliged to lay-out on the yard with theother men. It seemed a wonder how they were not shaken off into thesea, or carried away by the bulging sail. The great thing in taking ina sail in a gale, as I now learned from Peter, is not to allow the sailto shake, or it is very likely to split to pieces. Keep it steadilyfull, and it will bear a great strain. Accordingly, the clew-lines, down-haul-tackle, and weather-brace being manned, the halliards were letgo, the weather-brace hauled in, the weather-sheet started and clewedup; then the bowline and lee-sheets being let go, the sail caught aback, and the men springing on the yard, grasped it in their arms as they hungover it. Folding it in inch by inch, they at length mastered theseeming resistless monster, and passing the gaskets round it, secured itto the yard. Those who for the first time see a topsail furled in aheavy gale may well deem it a terrific operation, and perilous in theextreme to those employed in it. I know that I breathed more freelywhen all the men came down safely from the yard, Barney Bogle among thenumber; and the helm being lashed a-lee, the brig rode like a duck overthe seas. 

There was no time, however, to be idle, and all hands set to work torepair damages. I now saw that the captain, who appeared so fine agentleman in harbour, or when there was nothing to do, could work aswell, if not rather better, than any one. With his coat off, and saw, axe, or hammer in hand, he worked away with the carpenter in fitting anew rail, and planking up the bulwarks; and the steward had twice tocall him to breakfast before he obeyed the summons. His exampleinspired the rest; and in a very short time the bulwarks were madesufficiently secure to serve till the return of fine weather. 

"I told you, Jack, that you would have a taste of the bitters of asea-life before long, " said Peter, as soon as he had time to have a wordwith me. "Let me tell you, however, that this is just nothing, and thatwe shall be very fortunate if we do not fall in with something muchworse before long. "

I knew that Peter would not unnecessarily alarm me, and so I looked upat the dark clouds driving across the sky, and saw the hissing, foamingwaves dancing up wildly around us, looking as if every moment they wereready to swallow up the brig, I asked myself what worse could occur, without our going to the bottom. I had never then been in a regularhurricane or a typhoon, or on a lee-shore on a dark night, surrounded byrocks, or among rapid currents, hurrying the ship within their power todestruction; nor had I been on board a craft when all hands at the pumpscould scarcely keep her afloat; nor had I seen a fire raging. Indeed, Ihappily knew nothing of the numberless dangers and hardships to which aseaman in his career is exposed. I must not say that I was in any wayfrightened. I resolved to keep a bold heart in my body. "Never mind, "I answered to Peter's remark; "while I've got you and the captain onboard, I don't fear anything. "

Peter laughed. "We may be very well in our way, " said he; "but, Jack, my advice is: Trust in God, and hold on by the weather-rigging. Shouldthe ship go down, look out for spar or a plank if there's no boatafloat; and if you can find nothing, swim as long as you can; butwhatever you do, trust in God. "

I have never forgotten Peter's advice. Never have I found that trustdeceive me; and often and often have I been mercifully preserved when Ihad every reason to believe that my last hour had come. I should remarkalso that, badly off as I have often fancied myself, I have soon hadreason to be thankful that I was not in the condition of others aroundme. 

While Peter was speaking, one of the crew sung out, "a sail on theweather-bow!" Sure enough, as we rose on the summit of a sea, a shipcould be seen with all her topsails set running before the wind. Peterremarked that she was standing directly for us. "She is a large ship, by the squareness of her yards; probably either from the West Indies orSouth America, or maybe China, or from some port in the Pacific, and shehas come round the Horn. "

We watched her for some time. "She has a signal of distress flying, sir, " said the first mate, who had been looking at her through a glass. 

"She is in a bad way, then, " remarked the captain. "I fear that unlessthe sea goes down, and she in the meantime can heave-to near us, we canrender her no assistance. "

On came the ship right for us. I thought that she would run us down;so, indeed, I found did others on board. The mates, indeed, went to thewheel to put the helm up to let the brig fall off, that we might get outof her way; but as she approached, she altered her course a little, sothat she might pass clear under our stem. Never shall I forget the lookof that strange ship; for, as she came near us, rolling in the trough ofthe sea, we could see clearly everything going forward on her decks. 

She was a Spaniard, so Peter told me, as he knew from the ensign whichflew out, hoisted half-way to her peak. She was a high-pooped ship, with a deep waist and a lofty forecastle, her upper works narrowing asthey rose, with large lanterns, and much rich carved work all gilt andpainted. Such a craft is never seen now-a-days. 

She was crowded with people. Some were soldiers, worn-out men, withtheir wives and families returning home from the colonies; others werecabin passengers. There were rich Hidalgos, attended on by theirslaves--old men, who had spent their lives abroad in the pursuit ofwealth; and there were fair girls, too, probably their daughters, someyoung and lovely; and there were young men, with life before them, andthinking that life was to be very sweet; and there were children, andinfants in arms, and their fond mothers or nurses anxious to shelterthem from harm. Then there were the officers of the ship and the crew;fierce, dark-bearded men--a mongrel set of various ranks and manynations. She was evidently a rich galleon, returning to old Spain fromone of her ill-governed dependencies in South America. But it was theway in which all these people were employed that made so deep animpression on me. Then the scene looked only like a strange picture. It was not till long afterwards, when I reasoned on what I had observed, that I understood what I now describe. 

The greater number of the men were at the pumps, labouring in a waywhich showed that they fancied their lives depended on their exertions;but the clear streams of water which came out of the scuppers, and theheavy way in which the ship plunged into the trough of the sea, showedthat their labour would too probably be in vain. Others seemedparalysed or pitied, and sat down with their heads on their breastswaiting their fate. Many, as they passed us, came to the side of theirship, and held out their hands imploringly towards us, as if we couldhelp them. But what seemed most dreadful--some of the sailors andsoldiers had got hold of a quantity of wine and spirits, and werereeling about the decks, offering liquor to every one they encountered, and holding out bottles and cans of wine mockingly at us, or as ifinviting us to join them. Several, although they must have given up allhope of assistance from man, might have looked for it from Heaven, forthey were on their knees imploring help--was it from Him who alone cangive it, or was it from their various saints? I don't know. 

Two groups of figures on the poop especially struck me. In the centreof one stood a tall man in rich vestments of gold, and white, andpurple. He had a shorn crown. He was a priest. He was holding aloft agolden crucifix, which I thought the wind would have blown out of hishand, but he must have been a powerful man, and he grasped it fast. Assisting to support him and it were two monks in dark dresses, kneelingon the deck on either side of him. Around them knelt and clung, holdingon to each other, a number of men and women, and among them were somelittle children, holding up their tiny hands in supplication towards thecrucifix. Of course, no sound could reach us, but there seemed to bemuch wailing, and crying, and groaning. Some were stretching out theirarms, others were beating their breasts and tearing their hair. Thepriest stood unmoved, with head erect, uttering prayers, or pronouncingabsolution. At some distance from them were a couple, not to beoverlooked either. One was a fine handsome young man, in the uniform ofa military officer; the other a young and beautiful girl, who lay nearlyfainting in his arms. He looked towards us eagerly, hopefully, as if hefancied that he would plunge with his precious charge into the water. Ithought that at that moment he was going to make the daring leap. Someof the officers of the ship were gathered round the wheel. Just thenthe helm was put down, and we saw some of them with blows and threatsurging the drunken crew to take in the headsails, leaving themaintopsail only to steady the ship. In the operation, however, carelessly performed, the sails were blown to ribbons, and the shipdrifted away to leeward of us. She had before this evidently sufferedseverely. Her boats were gone; her bulwarks in many places stove in;and her bowsprit and foretopmast had been carried away, while, ofcourse, still more serious damage had been sustained in her hull. 

"Shall we be able to do anything for all those poor people?" I asked ofPeter, who stood near me. 

"No, Jack, we shall not, " he answered; "man can't help them. This ship, by the look of her, will not keep above water another half-hour; andthen Heaven have mercy on their souls! I doubt if the captain willventure to lower a boat in this sea to attempt to save them, or if aboat could lift if he did. "

"It's very dreadful, " said I. 

"Yes, Jack; but it's the lot all sailors must be prepared for, " answeredPeter. "Remember, it may be my fate or yours one of these days. Weshould not be afraid; but I repeat it, Jack, we should be prepared. " Idid not quite understand Peter then. 

"Then, Peter, you would not go in the boat if one was lowered?" Iobserved. 

"Wait till the captain says what he wants done, " he answered calmly. "If he thinks a boat can live, and wants volunteers, it's my duty to go, you know. Remember, Jack, obey first, and calculate risk afterwards. "

Peter's predictions as to the fate of the Spanish ship were fulfilledsooner even than he had expected. That moment, while we were looking ather, she settled lower and lower in the water; she rolled still moreheavily; her bow looked as if about to rise, but instead her stem liftedhigh--up it went. There seemed a chasm yawning for her. Into it sheplunged, and down, down she went--the waves wildly rushing over herdecks, and scattering the shrieking multitude assembled on them far andwide over the foaming ocean; mothers, children, husbands, wives, lovers, and friends, the priests and their disciples, were rudely torn asunder, and sent hither and thither. Numbers went down in the vortex of thehuge ship--the men at the pumps, the drunken seamen, some who had clungmadly to the rigging. Others supported themselves on anything whichcould float; and brave swimmers struck out for dear life. 

"I can't stand this, " cried our captain, unconscious that he wasspeaking aloud; "we must try at all risks to save the poor wretches. "

"I'll go, " cried the second mate, Harry Gale, a fine, quiet, gentleman-reared young man as ever I met. 

"I'm one with you, Mr Gale, " cried Peter Poplar, springing aft to thefalls of the lee-quarter-boat, the only one which could be lowered. "Bear a hand here, mates; there'll no time to be lost!"

"Hold fast!" shouted the captain. "No hurry, my men; those who go clearthe boat. The mates will stand by the falls with Jackson and Farr. Allready now!--Lower away!"

The captain gave the word, so that the boat touched the water just atthe best time. Peter Poplar stood in the bows, boat-hook in hand, andmoved off; Mr Gale steered; the three other men were the strongest ofthe ship's company; and truly it required all the care and seamanshipmortal man could possess to keep a boat alive in such a boiling caldronas the wide Atlantic then was. I was very anxious for Peter's safety, for he was indeed my friend. I feared also for the rest. I was fullyalive to the danger of the expedition they were on. 

The boat, keeping under the lee of the brig, dropped down towards thescene of the catastrophe. So fiercely boiling, however, were the waves, that with awful rapidity the greater number of those who had latelypeopled the deck of that big ship were now engulfed beneath them. Some, however, still struggled for existence. 

Had the sea been less violent many might have been saved; for as westood on the deck we could see the poor wretches struggling among thefoam, but by the time the boat reached the spot they had sunk for ever. 

The captain had gone into the main-rigging, and with his outstretchedarm was indicating to the second mate the direction in which to steer;but of course she could venture to go very little out of one particulardirection without a certainty of being swamped. It was very dreadful towatch one human being after another engulfed in the hungry ocean. Wehave just to picture to ourselves how we should be feeling if we were intheir places, to make us eager to save those under like circumstances. 

The most conspicuous object was the tall priest, and towards him theboat was accordingly making her way. Two other figures were at the sametime seen. One floated only a short distance to leeward of the brig; itwas that, I felt certain, of the beautiful girl I had seen supported bythe young officer. She was unconscious of all around, and I believethat even then life had left her frame. She was supported by a piece ofplank, to which probably she had been secured with the last fond effortof affection by him who had thus been unable to provide any means ofescape for himself. He, however, must have struggled bravely forexistence, for I made him out at a short distance beyond, now rising onthe crest of a wave, now sinking into the trough of the sea, but stillswimming on with his eye gazing steadily in the direction of thatfloating form. 

Meantime the boat was making towards the priest. "Give way, lads!"shouted several of our people in their eagerness, forgetting that theycould not possibly be heard. No time was to be lost, for already thepriest's rich dress was saturated with water, and he was sinking lowerand lower, and what at first had supported him was now dragging himdown. Still he did not give in, but, cross in hand, waved the boat on. The distance he was from the boat must have been greater than wesupposed. Suddenly he threw up his arms, and a white-crested top of asea breaking over him, he disappeared for ever amidst a mass of foam. 

Mr Gale saw what had occurred, and instantly turned the boat's headtowards the young officer, who was still swimming on with wonderfulstrength. In this instance the men were more successful; the boat'shead dropped down close to him, and Peter, stretching out his arm, grasped the young man by the shoulder, and hauled him in over the bows, and passed him on into the stern-sheets. Though faint at first, theSpaniard instantly recovered himself, and stood upright in the boat, gazing eagerly around. As the boat rose on a sea, he caught sight ofthe object of his search. He pointed towards the floating form of theyoung lady. Even when first seen, the line by which she had beenhurriedly and imperfectly secured to the plank I observed was loosened. The wash of the sea now parted her from it entirely. The young man sawwhat had occurred. With a cry of anguish, before our people could seizehim, he sprang from the gunwale towards the object of his love, as herdress carried her down beneath the foaming waters. I think he reachedher. They disappeared at the same moment, and never rose again!

Still a few people kept above water, holding on to planks, or swimming, chiefly seamen or soldiers; but most of them had been carried to toogreat a distance from the brig for a boat to save them. It was only bykeeping under our lee, our hull preventing the sea from breaking somuch, that the boat avoided being swamped. Thus we could expect thatonly a very few of those who floated to the last could be saved. No onecould have ventured further than did our brave mate and his crew;--theywould in all probability have thrown away their own lives had notCaptain Helfrich recalled them. He signalled with his hand, but MrGale did not observe him. "Fire a gun there, " he shouted; "quick, foryour lives!" A gun had been ready loaded for the purpose. Its reportserved as the funeral knell of many a despairing wretch. 

The boat put about. The returning alongside was as perilous anoperation almost as the lowering the boat had been. All hands notrequired at the falls stood ready with ropes to heave to our shipmatesshould she be swamped alongside; but the oars being thrown in, Mr Galeand Peter seizing the fall-tackles at the right moment, hooked on, andthe rest of the people handing themselves up by the ropes hanging readyfor them, the boat was hoisted up before the sea again rose under herbottom. It was sad to think: that all their gallant efforts had beenunavailing. In two or three minutes more not a human being of all theSpaniard's crew was to be seen alive; and except a few planks and spars, and here and there a bale or a chest, mere dots in the ocean, we mighthave fancied, as we looked out on those foaming waters, that all thathad passed was some hideous dream. Often, indeed, have I since had thesame dreadful drama acted over before my eyes while I slept; so deep wasthe impression made on me by the reality. Very many things which longafter that time occurred have entirely faded from my memory. 

Had it been possible, (as Peter told me he thought it would have been, had all the crew done their duty), to keep the galleon afloat a fewhours longer, in all probability we should have been the means of savingthe people. In the course of the day the wind fell, and the sea wentdown sufficiently to have allowed our boats to have passed between thetwo vessels without any great risk. Captain Helfrich was certainly nota man to have deserted her while a chance remained of saving a humanbeing. While she floated he would have stuck to her. "Remember, Jack, "said Peter, "the first duty of a ship's company is to stick by eachother--to keep sober, and to obey their officers. Without a head, mencan do nothing. They are like a flock of sheep running here and there, and never getting on. What is a man's duty is best; and you see here, for instance, that the lives of all depend on their doing their duty. "

Sail was again made on the brig, and she was able to lay her course. Atnight, however, it came on to blow again, and by next morning we wereonce more hove-to with more sea, and the wind chopping about and makingit break in a far more dangerous way than it had done on the previousday. I found, when I came on deck after my watch below, all handslooking out at an object which had just been discovered a little abaftthe lee-bow. Some said it was a dead whale; one or two declared that itwas a rock; but the officers, after examining it with their glasses, pronounced it to be a vessel bottom uppermost! The question was, whether the wreck was deserted, or whether any people still clung to it. Hove-to as we were, we made of course considerable lee-way; and keepingin the direction we were then driving, we should before long get nearenough to examine her condition. Had not the brig already received somedamage, Captain Helfrich would, I believe, have run down at once to thewreck; but this, a right care for the safety of his own vessel would notallow him to do. Every instant, too, the gale was increasing, till itblew a perfect hurricane; and not for a moment could a boat have livedhad one been lowered. The wreck drove before the wind, but of course wemoved much faster; it was some hours, however, before we got near enoughto the wreck to discover if anyone was upon it. 

"There are three or four people at least upon it, " exclaimed Mr Gale. "Poor fellows! can we do nothing for them, sir?"

"I cannot allow you to throw away your life, as you would if you hadyour own way, " answered the captain, to whom he spoke. "All we can dois to hope that the wind will go down before we drift out of sight ofeach other. "

Unhappily our course took us some way from the wreck, though near enoughto see clearly the poor fellows on it. How intense must have been theirfeelings of anxiety as they saw us approaching them! and how bittertheir disappointment when they discovered how impossible it was for usto render them any assistance till the weather moderated!

The wreck appeared to be that of a schooner, or brig of a hundred andfifty tons or so. The people were holding on to her keel. There werethree white men and two blacks. They waved their handkerchiefs andcaps, and held out their hands imploringly towards us. Some weresitting astride on the keel; one was lying down, held on by hisshipmates; and another lay right over it looking almost dead. We madeout this through the glasses. Peter got me a look through a telescopewhich one of the men had. It brought the countenances of the poorfellows fearfully near--their expressions of horror and despair could beseen. We longed more than ever for the gale to abate that we might helpthem. Still it blew on as fiercely as ever all day. The wreck remainedduring this time in sight, but of course we were increasing our distancefrom her. 

"What would have happened, " said I to Peter, "if it had been nightinstead of day; and if, instead of passing by the wreck, we had struckagainst her?"

"Why, we should have given her a finishing-stroke, and very likely havestove in our bottom and followed her, " he answered. "I like to hear youask such questions; they show that you think. The event you have spokenof occurs very frequently, I suspect. Numbers of vessels leave port, and are never again heard of. They are either run down, or they runtheir bows against a wreck, or the butt-end of a tree or log of timber;some are burned; some run against icebergs, or fields of ice; and someare ill put together, or rotten, and spring leaks, and so go down: butto my mind the greater number are lost from the first cause I havespoken of. You'll find out in time, Jack, all the perils to which aseaman is exposed, as well as the hardships I once before spoke to youabout. " I did not think at the time how true Peter's words would come. 

We were nearly a mile from the wreck, I suppose, when night came on; butthe captain took her bearings by the compass, that he might know in whatdirection to look for her should he be able to make sail before themorning. I had got pretty well accustomed to the tumbling about by thistime, but I could scarcely sleep for thinking of the poor fellows on thewreck. The night passed away without any change in the weather. Whenmorning came all hands were looking out for the wreck; but we all lookedin vain. There was the leaden sky, the dark-green foaming sea, but nota spot on it to be observed far as the eye could reach. Before noon thewind once more moderated, and making all sail we stood over the placewhere, by our captain's calculations, the wreck would be found. Not asign of her was to be seen. It was too certain that she must have gonedown during the night. 

Every day seemed to have its event. We were again on our proper course, though the sea was still running high, when towards evening an objectwas seen floating ahead of us, just on the lee-bow. We were at no greatdistance, little more than half a mile or so, when first seen, so thatwe were not left long in doubt as to what it was. "A raft!" said one;"A piece of a wreck, " said another; "Some casks, " said a third. 

"Whatever it is, there is a man upon it, " exclaimed Peter; "and, messmates, he's alive! Steady you, " he added, looking at the man at thewheel. "Keep her away a little, " he said, addressing Mr Gale, who hadcharge of the deck. 

The news of what was seen at once spread below, and all hands were soonon deck on the look-out. The man was alive, and saw us coming, for hewaved a handkerchief to attract our notice, lest he might not have beenobserved. We waved to him in return, to keep up his spirits. As weapproached, we saw that the man was dressed as a sailor. He was seatedon a grating, made more buoyant by several pieces of spars and planks. He was leaning against another plank, which he had secured in an uprightposition by means of stays on the grating. Had not the sea been stillvery high, we could have run alongside his raft and picked him offwithout difficulty; but as it was impossible to steer with the necessarynicety, there was a risk of running him down by so doing. We thereforehove-to to windward of him; and Mr Gale, with the boat's crew who hadbefore volunteered, being lowered, they pulled carefully towards him. The man stood up as he saw them approach; and scarcely had the bow ofthe boat touched the grating, than he sprung on board, and without helpstepped over the shoulders of the men into the stern-sheets. Whenthere, however, his strength seemed to give way, and he sank down intothe bottom of the boat in what appeared to be a fainting fit. A fewdrops from a flask, which Mr Gale had thoughtfully carried in hispocket, partially revived the man, though he was unable to help himselfup the side. He was therefore slung on deck, and the boat being hoistedin without damage, we again made sail. 

The man, who was placed on deck with his back against thecompanion-hatch, remained some time in an almost unconscious state; butat length, after much care had been bestowed on him, he recoveredsufficiently to speak. He was a fine, good-looking young man; and hiswell-browned countenance and hands showed that he had been long in atropical climate. A little food, taken slowly, still further revivedhim; and he was soon able to lift himself up and look about him. 

"How was it you came to be where we found you?" asked Captain Helfrich, who was seated near him on the companion-hatch, while I was employed inpolishing up the brass rail of the companion-ladder. 

"Why, I belonged to a ship, the _Oak Tree_, bound from Honduras toBristol with mahogany and logwood, " answered the stranger. "We had madea fair run of it, three days ago, when we were caught in a heavy squall, which carried away our maintop-mast, and did us much damage. Fortunately, I was at supper when all hands were called to shorten sail;and not thinking what I was about, I clapped a whole handful of biscuitand junk into my pocket before I sprang on deck. A few hours afterdark, a heavy sea struck the ship, and carried away our boats andbulwarks, washing me with one or two other poor fellows overboard. Iwas without my shoes, and had only a thin cotton jacket on; so, being agood swimmer, I was able to regain the surface, and to look about me. Away flew the ship before the wind, without a prospect of my being ableto regain her; so I did not trouble myself upon that point. The othermen who had been washed overboard with me had sunk: I could do them nogood. I therefore had only to look after myself. I first cast my eyesabout me, to see what I could get hold of to keep me afloat. The wreckof the bulwarks and boats, with the spars which had been washedoverboard, had sent me some materials; and I got a couple of piecesunder my arms to support me while I looked for more. In the heavy seathat was running, I could not have made much of a raft, when fortunatelymy eye caught a grating; which I managed, after much exertion, to reach. By degrees I fished up other pieces of plank and broken spars, till Ihad formed the raft you found me on. Fortunately, I had started on mycruise just after supper, so that I was able to hold out for some timewithout eating. But when morning came, and there was not a sail insight, I began to feel somewhat down-hearted. However, I soon pluckedup again. Said I to myself, `Though the ocean is wide, there are a goodmany craft afloat, and it will be hard if someone doesn't make me outbefore very long. ' I tried to think of all the wonderful escapes peoplehad made who had been in a similar condition; and I prayed that Godwould deliver me in the same way. One thing weighed on my mind, andstill weighs there: I left a wife and a small child at home, nearBristol; and when the ship arrives there, the poor girl will hear that Iwas was washed overboard, and will believe me dead. When you got nearme, I saw that you were outward-bound; and the thought that she mighthave to go many a month and not hear of me, served more than anythingelse to upset me. My strength gave way, and I went off in a faint, asyou saw, in the bottom of the boat. " He then told the captain that hisname was Walter Stenning. The captain, who was a kind-hearted man, didhis best to raise his spirits; and promised him that if we fell in witha homeward-bound ship he would endeavour to put him on board. 

As it happened, we did not speak any vessel till we reached the WestIndies; so we had to carry Walter Stenning with us. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

THE WEST INDIES. 

"Land! land on the starboard-bow!" was shouted from the foretopmastcross-trees, where several of our men had been, in spite of a pretty hotscorching sun, since dawn, on the look-out for it. 

"Who saw it first?" asked the captain, who was always more anxious whennearing the coast than at any other time. 

"Tom Tillson, " was the answer from aloft. 

"A glass of grog for you, Tom, if it proves to be the land, and you havekept your eyes open to good purpose!" said the captain, preparinghimself to go to the mast-head, where the mates followed him. 

They were satisfied that Tom had fairly won his glass of grog, Isuppose; for, after some time, when I went aloft, I saw a highblue-pointed mountain rising out of the sparkling sea with ranges oflower hills beneath it. 

As we drew in with the shore, we could distinguish the fields ofsugar-cane surrounded by lime-trees, and the white houses of theplanters, and the huts of the negroes; and I thought that I should verymuch like to take a run among the lofty palmetto and the wildcotton-trees and the fig-trees, and to chase the frolicsome monkeys Ihad heard spoken of among their branches. A light silvery mist hungover the whole scene, and made it look doubly beautiful. I asked Peterwhat land it was, for I thought that we had arrived at America itself. He laughed, and said that it was only a little island called SaintChristopher's; and that he'd heard say that it was first discovered bythe great admiral who had found out America, and that he had called itafter his own name. Peter, though he could not read, had a great storeof information, which he had picked up from various people. He was notalways quite correct; and that was from not being able to read, as hewas less able to judge of the truth of what people told him; butaltogether, I learned a great deal from his conversation. 

We came to an anchor before the town of Basseterre, the capital of theisland. It was a clean handsome-looking place, and a number of shipslay before it; while behind it, rising from the wide valley, richlycultivated and beautiful in the extreme, rose the lofty and precipitouscrags of Mount Misery, 3700 feet high. It may well be so-called, for itwould be pain and misery to have to climb up it, and still greater notto be able to come down again!

After the events I have before described, we had come south till we fellin with the trade-winds, which had brought us on a due westerly courseto this place. I did not go on shore; but I heard the captain say thatthe merchants and planters were very civil and polite to him. They had, however, suffered very much in the late war with France. It was in theyear 1782 that a French general, the Marquis de Bouille, having eightthousand men with him, besides a fleet of twenty-nine sail of the line, commanded by the Admiral Count de Grasse, captured the island from theEnglish. It was, however, restored to Great Britain when the war endedthe following year. 

We had a quantity of fruit brought off to us, which did most of us agreat deal of good, after living so long on salt provisions. I rememberhow delicious I thought the shaddock--which is a fruit something like avery large orange. Its outer coat is pale, like a lemon, but verythick. It is divided into quarters by a thin skin, like an orange; andthe taste--which is very refreshing--is between a sweet and an acid. The colour of the inside of some is a pale red--these are the best;others are white inside. Peter told me that he had heard that the treewas brought from the coast of Guinea by a Captain Shaddock, and that thefruit has ever since borne his name. 

We spent three or four days at anchor before this beautiful place; andthen, having landed two or three of our passengers, and put WalterStenning on board a vessel returning to England, once more made sail forour destination. The trade-wind still favoured us, though it was muchlighter than it had been before we entered the Caribbean Sea. 

"Jack, " said Peter to me the afternoon we left Basseterre, "I've goodnews for you. The captain wants a lad in the place of Sam Dermot, whomhe has left on board a homeward-bound ship, for he found that he was notfit for a sea-life, and Mr Gale has been speaking a word in yourfavour. I don't say it's likely to prove as pleasant a life as you leadforward, but if you do your duty and please him, the captain has thepower to advance your interests--and I think he is the man to do it. "

This was good news, I thought; and soon afterwards Mr Gale told me togo into the cabin. The captain, who was looking over some papers, scarcely raised his head as I entered. "Oh, Jack Williams--is that yourname, boy?" said he. "You are to help Roach, the steward. Go to him;he'll show you what you are to do. " The steward soon gave me plenty ofwork cleaning up things; for the captain was a very particular man, andwould always have everything in the best possible order. 

The next morning at daybreak, Mr Gale--whose watch it was at the time--roused me up, and sent me to tell the captain that there was a strangesail on the starboard-bow, which seemed inclined to cross our fore-foot. The captain was soon on deck and examining the stranger with his glass. 

"Well, what do you make of her, Mr Gale?" he asked. She was a low, little vessel, with considerable beam, and a large lateen mainsail, anda jib on a little cock-up bowsprit--something like a 'Mudian rig. 

"She's a suspicious-looking craft; and if it were not that we arewell-armed, and could sink her with a broadside, I should not much likeher neighbourhood, sir, " answered the second mate. As he spoke, a gunwas fired by the stranger, but not at us. 

"He wants to speak us, at all events, " observed Captain Helfrich. "Ifhe had intended us mischief he would have fired at us, I should think. "

"Not quite so certain of that, sir, " answered Mr Jones, the first mate. "Those pirating fellows are up to all sorts of tricks; and if he'shonest he belies himself, for a more roguish craft I never saw. Hedoesn't show any colours, at all events. "

"We'll not be taken by surprise, then, " answered the captain. "Arm thepeople, and see the guns all ready to run out. Boy, get my pistols andcutlass from the steward. Tell him to show himself on deck; and let thegentlemen in the cabin know that if they get up, they may find somethingto amuse them. "

I dived speedily below to deliver my message. While the steward wasgetting ready the captain's arms, I ran round to the berths of thepassengers. One had heard me ask for the pistols; thus the report atonce went round among them that there was fighting in prospect. In afew minutes, therefore, several gentlemen in straw-hats, with yellownankeen trousers and gay dressing-gowns, appeared on deck. 

"What!--is that little hooker the craft we are going to fight, captain?"exclaimed one of them. "We shouldn't have much difficulty in trouncingher, I should think. "

"Not the slightest, sir, if we have the chance, " he answered. "But hercrew would have no difficulty either in cutting all our throats, if weonce let them get on board! The chances are that she has a hundreddesperadoes or more under hatches, and as she can sail round us like awitch, they may choose their own time for coming alongside. I tell you, gentlemen, I would rather she were a hundred miles away than where sheis!"

These remarks of the captain very much altered the manner of some of thegentlemen. They were all ready enough to fight, but they put on muchmore serious countenances than they had at first worn, and kept eyeingthe stranger curiously through their telescopes. Still the strangerkept bowling away before us on our starboard-bow, yawing about so as notgreatly to increase his distance from us. If he could thus outsail usbefore the wind, he would be very certain to beat us hollow on a wind. We had, therefore, not the slightest prospect of being able to get awayfrom him so long as he chose to keep us company. Suddenly he luffed upwith his head to the northward. 

"He thinks that he had better not play us any tricks; he has found outthat we are too strong for him, " observed Mr Jones. Scarcely had themate spoken, when a dozen men or so appeared on the deck of the felucca, and launched a boat from it into the water. As soon as she was afloat, two people stepped into her. One seized the oars, and the other seatedhimself in the stern-sheets. 

"Well, that is a rum-looking little figure!" I heard one of ourpassengers exclaim, bursting into a fit of laughter. "I wonder if he isskipper of that craft?"

"She's not a craft that will stand much joking, " observed the firstmate. "See, sir; she has begun to show that she is not lightly armed. "

He pointed to the deck of the felucca, on which there now appeared atleast full thirty men. They looked like a fierce set of desperadoes. They were of all colours, from the fair skin of the Saxon to the ebonyhue of some of the people of Africa. The captain saw, I suppose, thatthere was no use in trying to prevent the boat from coming alongside;for had he done so, the felucca would very quickly have been after usagain, and might not another time have treated us so civilly. Hetherefore, as soon as the boat shoved off from the side of the felucca, ordered the sails to be clewed up, to allow her more easily to approach. 

As she pulled towards us, we were able to examine the people in her. Hewho sat in the stern-sheets was a little old man, with a littlethree-cornered hat on his head, and a blue long-skirted coat andwaistcoat, richly laced. He had on also, I afterwards saw, knee-breeches, and huge silver buckles to his shoes. His countenanceseemed wizened and dried up like a piece of parchment. Some of theyounger passengers especially seemed to think him, by their remarks, afair subject for their ridicule. The person who pulled was a hugenegro. He must have been as tall as Peter Poplar, but considerablystouter and stronger of limb. He was clothed in a striped cotton dressand straw-hat. It would have been difficult to find two peopleassociated together more unlike each other. The old man took the helm, and by the way he managed the boat it was clear that he was no novice innautical affairs. "What can he want with us!" exclaimed the captain. "We'll treat him with politeness, at all events!" Side-ropes and aladder were therefore prepared; but scarcely had the bowman's boat-hookstruck the side, than the old gentleman had handed himself up by themain-chains on deck with the agility of a monkey, followed by the bignegro. I then saw that he had a brace of silver-mounted pistols stuckin his belt, and that he wore a short sword by his side; but the latterwas apparently more for ornament than use. The negro also had a largebrace of pistols and a cutlass. In the boat were two iron-clampedchests, one of them being very large, the other small. 

The old gentleman singled out the captain as soon as he reached thedeck, and walked up to him. "Ah, Captain Helfrich, I am glad to havefallen in with you!" he exclaimed, in a singularly firm and full voice, with nothing of the tremulousness of age in it. "I've come to ask youfor a passage to Jamaica, as I prefer entering Port-Royal harbour in arespectable steady-going craft like yours, rather than in such a smallcockle-shell as is my little pet there!" As he spoke he pointed with asmile--and such a smile! how wrinkled and crinkled did his face become--to the wicked-looking little felucca. 

"Impossible, sir, " answered the captain; "my cabins are already socrowded that I could not accommodate another person!"

"Oh! how are the places of Mr Wilmot and Mr Noel occupied then?" askedthe stranger with a peculiar look. They were the gentlemen who landedat Saint Kitt's!

The captain started, and looked at his visitor with a scrutinisingglance; but he remained unabashed. 

"How did you learn that?" asked the captain quickly. 

"Oh, there are very few things which happen in these parts the which Idon't know, " answered the stranger quietly. "However, captain, even ifall your cabins are full, that excuse will not serve you. I can stowmyself away anywhere. I've been accustomed to rough it, and Cudjoe herewon't object to prick for a soft plank!" The black, hearing his namepronounced, grinned from ear to ear, though he said nothing. 

Still the captain, who evidently could not make out who his visitor was, and much mistrusted him, was about to refuse the request, when the oldgentleman took him by the button of his coat, as a man does a familiarfriend, and led him aside. What was said I do not know, nor could Ijudge from his countenance how the captain took the communication madeto him--I saw him start, and examine the old man attentively from headto foot. The result, I know, was that the boat and the chests werehoisted on board--the sails were let fall and sheeted home. Thestranger went to the taffrail and waved his hat. On his doing this, thefelucca hauled her wind and stood to the northward. 

Just under the companion-stair was a small cabin, which had been filledwith stores. This was cleared out, and our strange passenger tookpossession of it with his chests, while Cudjoe slept at the door. He atonce made himself at home, and entered into conversation with every one. No one seemed, however, inclined to quiz him. When he was on deck, Iheard the gentlemen in the cabin wondering who he was, for none of themhad the slightest notion about the matter; and if the captain knew, hecertainly would not tell them. The negro never spoke to any of thepassengers or crew. Some said he was dumb; but I knew that was not thecase, for I often heard him and the old gentleman talking, but in alanguage I could not understand. His only care appeared to be to watchover the old gentleman's chests, which had been placed in his cabin, andto keep an eye on the little skiff which had brought them on board. 

Those of the passengers who had lived in the West Indies could donothing for themselves, and were constantly wanting me to perform somelittle job or other for them. I was thus oftener in the cabin than outof it. While I was attending on them, my great amusement was listeningto the yarns which the old gentleman used to spin. They took in all hesaid for fact; but there used to be often a twinkle in his eye whichmade me doubt the truth of all he said. 

"A man who can look back the larger part of a century, as I have done, must have heard a number of strange things, and seen a number of strangepeople and strange sights, unless he has gone through the world with hiseyes and ears closed, which I have not, " he remarked one day whenseveral of the passengers were collected in the cabin. "Gentlemen, Ihave served both on shore and afloat, and have seen as many shots firedas most people. I cannot quite recollect Admiral Benbow's action inthese seas, but I was afloat when that pretty man Edward Teach was theterror of all quiet-going merchantmen. His parents lived at SpanishTown, Jamaica, and were very respectable people. Some of his brothersturned out very well; and one of them was in the king's service, incommand of a company of artillery. He, however, at an early age showedhimself to be of a somewhat wildish disposition, and rather than submitto control, ran away to sea. For many years he knocked about, among notthe best of characters perhaps, in different parts of the world, till hebecame as daring a fellow as ever stepped a plank. In a short time, while still very young, he got together a band of youths much of his ownway of thinking; and they commenced, after the old fashion, the life ofgentlemen rovers. Their mode of proceeding was to run alongside anymerchantman they fell in with, which they thought would prove a prizeworth having. Having taken possession of everything they wanted, theythen made every landsman walk the plank, as they did likewise everyseaman who would not join them. Those only who would take their oaths, and sign their articles, were allowed to live. Mr Teach used to dresshimself out in a wild fashion, and as he wore a great black beard, hecertainly did look very ferocious. From this circumstance he got thename of Blackbeard. I don't fancy that he committed all the actsimputed to him, but he did enough to gain himself a very bad name. Thegovernors of the West India Islands, in those days, and the Americansettlements, were rather fonder of their ease than anything else, sothey allowed him to range those seas with impunity. At last, however, anaval officer, feeling indignant that one man should hold a wholecommunity in awe, undertook to destroy the pirate. He got a ship fittedout, well-armed and well-manned, and larger than any Teach was likely tohave with him. After a long search, he fell in with the pirate. Teachhad never given quarter, and it was not expected that he would take it. More than half drunk, the pirates went to their quarters, and foughtmore like demons than men. The crew of the king's ship had to fightdesperately also. For a long time it was doubtful which would come offthe conqueror. At length, however, a large number of the pirates beingkilled or wounded. Teach was about to blow up his ship. Before, however, he could get below, his ship was boarded by his enemies, and hehad to defend himself from the attack of the gallant English officer. For a long time he fought most desperately, but at last he was broughton his knees; and as he would not surrender, he was cut down, and diedon the spot. Scarcely a third of his men were taken alive, and theywere mostly wounded. His head was cut off and carried to Virginia, where it was stuck on a pole; and where the greater number of thepirates taken were hung in chains, to show to others what very likelywould be their fate if they should design to follow the same course. "

"Why, you seem to know so much about the matter, I suppose you werethere, sir, " said one of the passengers, intending his remark to bejocose. 

"That is possible, young 'un, " answered the old gentleman, fixing hiseyes on the speaker. "Perhaps I formed part of the pirate crew; but youdon't fancy I was hung, do you?"

The young man did not venture a reply. 

"I'll tell you where I saw some service, " continued the old gentleman. "The Spaniards had for a long time ruled it insultingly over the Englishin these seas, fancying that, because we didn't bark, we could not bite. At last a fleet was fitted out in England, and despatched to the WestIndies, under the command of Admiral Vernon, in 1739. He first touchedat Jamaica, where he refreshed his men, and took on board a body oftroops and some pilots, as well as provisions; and, on the 5th ofNovember, sailed for the Spanish town of Porto Bello, which lies on thenorth side of the Isthmus of Darien. Its harbour and strong fortsafforded protection to the Guarda Costas, or Spanish cruisers, whichattempted to put a stop to the commerce of other nations in these seas;and it was, likewise, the great rendezvous of the Spanish merchants fromvarious quarters. The town consisted of five or six hundred houses, andsome public buildings. The inhabitants depended almost entirely on thefair, which was held there every two or three years, and which lastedabout six weeks. The fair took place according to the time when thegalleons arrived from Carthagena, where they first touched to dispose ofpart of their goods. At Porto Bello they were met by the merchants fromLima and Panama, who came, with millions of dollars, to purchase theirmerchandise. So crowded was the place during the fair, that there wasscarcely room to stow the chests of money! The entrance of the harbouris narrow, but widens within; and at the bottom lies the town, in theform of a half moon. At the east end of the town is a huge stable forthe mules employed in the traffic between it and Panama. It is veryunhealthy, as on the east side there is a swamp; and in the harbour, atlow tide, a wide extent of black slimy mud is exposed, exhaling noisomevapours. The town was defended by three forts. The Iron Fort was onthe north side of the harbour's mouth, and had a hundred guns. TheGloria Castle was a mile from the first, on the south side of theharbour, and had a hundred and twenty guns. And lastly, there was thefort called Hieronymo, with twenty guns. The Spaniards having beenwarned of the approach of the English squadron by a fast-sailing vesselwhich escaped from them, were prepared to receive them, and hoped tosend them to the bottom at once. The fleet consisted only of the_Burford_, commanded by the Admiral; the _Hampton Court_, CommodoreBrown; the _Norwich_, Captain Herbert; the _Worcester_, Captain Main;the _Princess Louisa_, Captain Waterhouse; and the _Stafford_, CaptainTrevor. On the 21st they came up with the harbour. The _Hampton Court_first entered, and came to action not a cable's length from the IronFort; and in twenty-five minutes' time fired away about four hundredshot; so that nothing was to be seen but fire and smoke. The _Norwich_came next, the _Worcester_ next, and then the Admiral, who anchoredwithin half a cable's length of the castle: and though he was warmlyreceived, the Spaniards were soon driven from their guns. Then, although no breach was made, the troops were landed, and the boats'crews, climbing up through the embrasures, struck the Spanish flag andhoisted the English colours! The other two forts capitulated next day, and all three were completely demolished; the Spanish troops beingallowed to march out with their arms. The work was done by four ships, for the other two had not come up; and its history serves to show whatmen can do, if they are not afraid of the consequences. The samespirit, in a juster cause, animated Vernon which had animated Morgan andthe Buccaneers of old, and enabled them to succeed in their desperateenterprises. If a thing must be done, or should be done, nevercalculate consequences. If a thing is not urgent, then balance theprobable consequences against the value of the desired result. That hasbeen my way through life, gentlemen. I have never undertaken anythingunless I wished to succeed and had secured the necessary means; and thenI have guarded as best I could against unforeseen circumstances. "

This was the sort of way the old gentleman talked. He told thegentlemen one day that he was not born when the earthquake occurredduring which Port-Royal was swallowed up; but that he had often heardpeople speak of it who had witnessed it. It began about noon on the 7thof June 1692. Nine-tenths of the city and all the wharves sunk at once;and in two minutes from the commencement of the earthquake severalfathoms of water lay over the spot where the streets had just stood. Two thousand persons perished. Some, it was said, who were swallowed upin one place, rose again in another still alive; but that I do not thinkpossible. Very likely they were washed from one place to another, clinging to beams or rafters; and not knowing, in their horror andconfusion, where they had been, were picked up and saved. A mountaintoppled over into a river, and, by blocking up the course, a vast numberof fish were taken, which afforded food to many of the nearly starvinginhabitants. Nearly all the vessels in the harbour were lost; but oneship of war, the _Swan_ frigate, was driven over the tops of the houseswithout capsizing. She received but slight damage, and was the means ofsaving many lives. Scarcely had the earthquake ceased than a feverbroke out, which carried off numbers of people. What with hurricanes, plagues, insurrections of the blacks, and attacks from foreign foes, Jamaica had an uneasy time of it; and it proves her unbounded resourcesthat, in spite of all drawbacks, she has continued wealthy andflourishing. 

The old gentleman said a great deal more about Jamaica, but this was thesubstance, I know, of his remarks. That there was something mysteriousabout the old man was very evident. The captain, I thought, stoodsomewhat in awe of him, and in his absence never even alluded to him. The rest of the passengers, however, indulged in all sorts of suspicionsabout him, though they never expressed them, except among themselves. They spoke freely enough before me, for they fancied, I believe, that Idid not understand them. I was one day beginning to tell Peter what Ihad been hearing. "Jack, " said he, "I have a piece of advice to giveyou, which you'll find useful through life. Never go and repeat whatyou hear about anybody. It's done by people through idleness sometimes, and often through ill-nature, or with a downright evil intention; butwhatever is the cause, it's a contemptible propensity, and is certain tolead to harm. " I promised that I would follow this advice, and I didso. 

Though we had light winds, the strong current which set in from east towest across the Caribbean Sea helped us along, and enabled us to reachJamaica about seven days after we left Saint Kitt's. After coastingalong some way, we cast anchor in Port-Royal Harbour, about five milesfrom Kingston. There were from two to three hundred sail of craft ofall sizes brought up in the harbour. 

Scarcely had we dropped our anchor, when the wind, which had before beenvery light, fell completely. I saw the old gentleman come on deck, andlook round earnestly on every side, and then up at the sky. He thenwent to the captain, and took him aside. 

"I tell you it will be down upon us before very long, " I heard him say. "House your topmasts, and range your cables, and have every anchoryou've got ready for letting go. "

The captain seemed to expostulate: "Not another craft seems to beexpecting danger. "

"Never mind what other crafts are doing, " was the answer. "Take thewarning of a man who has known these seas from his earliest days, and doyou be prepared. If they are lost, it is no reason that you should belost with them. "

The captain at last yielded to the advice of the old gentleman. Thetopmasts were struck and every particle of top hamper was got down ondeck. The cables were all ranged, and two other anchors were carriedout ahead, while full scope was given to the best bower which we haddown. The old gentleman went about the deck seeing that everything wasdone properly. Had we not, indeed, been well-manned the work could nothave been accomplished at all. Oh, how hot and sultry it was! I hadnever before felt anything like it. The pitch bubbled and boiled out ofthe seams on the deck, and the very birds sought shelter far away insome secluded spot. 

"Why has the ship been gut into this condition?" I asked of Peter. 

"Because they think a hurricane is coming, Jack. If there is, we havejust got into harbour in time. I don't see any signs of it myself, except the wind dropping so suddenly; but I suppose the officers knowbest. "

I told him that the old gentleman had persuaded the captain to preparefor whatever was coming. 

"Ah! he knows, depend on't, Jack, " said Peter. "I can't tell what itis, but there is something curious about that old man. He knows a greatdeal about these parts. " Such was the opinion all forward had formed ofthe stranger. 

When the wind fell the sea became like a sheet of glass. A feathercould not have moved over it. It became hotter and closer than ever, and we were glad to get anywhere out of the sun, stifling even as theheat was below. Even the old hands, who were inclined to laugh at thenewcomers' complaints of the heat, confessed that they would rather haveit cooler. The rest of the vessels in the harbour, with few exceptions, had not hitherto been prepared to meet any unusual tempest but lay as iftheir crews were totally regardless of any signs of a change. A few, however, had followed our example by striking their topmasts and gettingout fresh anchors. 

Some of the passengers, meantime, were very anxious to go on shore; butthe stranger urged them to remain on board, and assured them that beforethey could be half-way there the hurricane would be upon them. Two ofthem, however, were incredulous. The boat of a merchantman lying notfar from us, was just then passing with her master in her. 

"Ah! I know Captain Williams well. If he is bound for Kingston, hewill give us a passage!" exclaimed one of the gentlemen; and he hailedthe boat. She came alongside, and refusing all warning, they, takingtheir portmanteaus, got into her. 

"We'll take any message for anyone, " they sung out jokingly as theyshoved off. "The storm you are afraid of will blow over, depend on it. "

"Fools are wise in their own conceit, " muttered the old gentleman, as heturned on his heel. I remember, even now, the sound of their laughteras they pulled away up the harbour. 

The heat continued to increase, though a thick reddish haze overspreadthe sky; but as yet not a vapour floated in it. Suddenly, as if bymagic, from all quarters came hurrying up dark lowering clouds, coveringthe whole concave of heaven, a lurid light only gleaming out from nearthe horizon. Then, amidst the most terrific roars of thunder, thebrightest flashes of lightning, and the rushing, rattling, crashingsound of the tempest, there burst upon us a wind, which made the shipreel like a drunken man, and sent the white foam, torn off the surfaceof the harbour, flying over the deck in sheets, which drenched usthrough and through. In an instant, the surrounding waters were lashedinto the wildest foaming billows. The vessels pitched fearfully intothe seas, and began, one after the other, to drag their anchors. Somebroke adrift altogether, and were hurled along till they were casthelplessly on the shore; and fortunate were any of the crew who couldscramble clear of the hungry waves which rolled after them up the beach. Some of the smaller craft pitched heavily a few times, and thenapparently the sea rushed over them, and down they went to rise no more. I was holding on all the time to the fore-rigging with hands and feet, fearing lest I should be blown away, and expecting every moment to seeour turn come next to be driven on shore. We were, however, exposed toa danger on which I had not calculated: the vessels breaking adrift, ordragging their anchors, might be driven against us, when we and theywould probably have been cast on shore or sunk together. On land, wherever we could see, a terrific scene of confusion and destruction wastaking place; tall trees bent and broke like willow wands, some weretorn up by their roots, and huge boughs were lifted high in the air andcarried along like autumn leaves; houses as well as huts were cast down, and their roofs were carried bodily off through the air. I doubtedwhether I would rather be afloat or on shore, unless I could have gotinto a deep cave, out of the way of the falling walls, and trees, androofs. All this time every one was on deck, --the officers and crew attheir stations, ready to try and avert any danger which might threatenus. With a steady gale we might have cut or slipped and run out to sea;but in a hurricane the wind might have shifted round before we wereclear of the land, and sent the ship bodily on shore. 

While all hands were thus on the look-out, a boat, bottom uppermost, wasseen drifting down near us amidst the foaming waters. One man wasclinging to the keel. He looked imploringly towards us, and seemed tobe shrieking for aid. No assistance could we give him. I coulddistinguish his countenance: it was that of one of the passengers whohad just before persisted in leaving the ship! His companion, and themaster and crew, where were they? He, poor wretch, was borne by us, andmust have perished among the breakers at the mouth of the harbour. Wehad not much time to think of him, for we soon had to look to our ownsafety. A large ship, some way inside of us, was seen to break adrift, and soon after came driving down towards us. Being twice our size, shemight speedily have sunk us. Mr Gale and Peter were at the helm to tryand sheer the brig clear of her as she approached us. This, however, was not easily effected when there was but a slight current. Down camethe ship! "Stand by with your axes, my lads, to cut her clear if shetouches us!" shouted the captain. The ship was still some way off, andbefore she reached us, a schooner broke from her anchorage just ahead ofus and drove towards us. 

The poor fellows on board stood ready to leap on our deck had shetouched us; but she just grazed by, her main-rigging for an instantcatching in ours. A few strokes of an axe cut her clear, and before anyof her crew could reach us she was driven onward. In another instantthe wind catching her side, she turned completely over. There was awild shriek of despair from her hapless crew. For a few moments theystruggled desperately for life; but the wind and the waves quickly drovethose off who had clung to the driving hulk, and soon not a trace ofthem or her could we perceive. 

While this was occurring the old man stood unmoved near the helm, watching the approaching ship. "Arm your people with axes, CaptainHelfrich, you'll want them, " said he quietly. His advice was followed. The ship came driving down on us on the starboard bow. It appeared thatif she struck us she must sink us at the moment. Our helm was put tostarboard, and by sheering a little to the other side, we escaped thedreaded blow. At that instant she turned round, and her main-yard gotfoul of our after-rigging. This brought our sides together, and shehung dragging on us. Instantly all hands flew to cut her adrift, foralready we had begun to drag our anchors. If we escaped sinking atonce, there was certain prospect of both of us being cast on shore. Some of her crew endeavoured to get on board the _Rainbow_; but at themoment they were making the attempt, down came our mainmast, crushingseveral of our people beneath it. I saw the captain fall, and I thoughthe was killed. The first mate was much hurt. Still the ship hung tous, grinding away at our side and quarter, and destroying our bulwarkand boats. The foremast, it was evident, would soon follow themainmast, when the stranger wielding a glittering axe, sprung, with theagility of a young man, towards the stays and other ropes which heldthem, and one after the other severed them. His example was followed byMr Gale and the crew, and in a shorter time than it has taken todescribe the scene, we were freed from our huge destroyer. She wentaway to leeward, and very soon met her fate. 

Still the hurricane raged on. We were not safe, for other vessels mightdrive against us. However, our next work was to clear the wreck. Noone was more active in this than the stranger. At first we thought thatthe captain was dead; but the news spread that, though much injured, hewas still alive. Almost blinded by the spray and rain and vividlightning, the crew worked on. At length the storm ceased almost assuddenly as it had begun; but words cannot describe the scenes ofdestruction which were presented to our eyes on every side, wrecksstrewed the shore, and the plantations inland seemed but masses of ruin. Night at last came, and the ship was made snug. When I went on deckearly in the morning, I looked about for the stranger. Neither he norhis black attendant, nor his chests and boat were to be found. Yet itwas declared that no one had seen them leave the ship! Thisunaccountable disappearance made all hands wonder still more who themysterious stranger could be. Such was my first introduction to theWest Indies. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

THE RETURN HOME. 

"Hurrah! hurrah! Erin-go-bragh!" Such were the cries which the Irishpart of our crew uttered, and in which I through sympathy joined, asonce more the capstan was manned, and the anchor being hove up, and thetopsails sheeted home, we made sail for Dublin. We had been longer thanusual at Kingston; for the damage the brig had received in thehurricane, and the illness of the captain, which impeded the collectionof freight, had much delayed us. In reality our return home broughtvery little satisfaction to me. I had no friends to see, no one to carefor me. I therefore remained on board to assist the ship-keeper; andthe whole time we were in the Dublin dock I scarcely ever set my foot onshore. 

The same thing occurred after my second voyage. I did not attempt toform a friendship with anyone. Not that I was of a sulky disposition;but I was not inclined to make advances, and no one offered me hisfriendship. The ship-keeper, old Pat Hagan, had seen a great deal ofthe world, and picked up a good deal of information in his time, and Iwas never tired of listening to his yarns; and thus, though I had nobooks, I learned more of things in general than if I had bad; for I wasbut a bad reader at any time. Pat trusted to a good memory, for he hadnever looked into a book in his life. Thus, with a pretty fairsecond-hand knowledge of the world, I sailed on my third voyage to theWest Indies in the _Rainbow_. We had the same officers, and several ofthe crew had rejoined her, who were in her when I first went to sea. Ihad now become strong and active, and though still little andyoung-looking, I had all my wits wide-awake, and knew well what I wasabout. The captain had taken another boy in the cabin instead of me, and I was sent forward to learn seamanship; which was, in reality, anadvantage to me, though I had thus a rougher life of it than aft. StillI believe that I never lost the captain's good-will, though he was not aman to talk to me about it. 

Once more, then, the stout old brig was following her accustomed trackacross the Atlantic. Peter Poplar was also on board. We had been abouta fortnight at sea, when, the ship lying almost becalmed with a blue skyoverhead, a large white cloud was seen slowly approaching us. The lowerpart hung down and grew darker and darker, till it formed almost apoint. Below the point was a wild bubbling and boiling of the water, although the surrounding sea was as smooth as glass. 

"What can that be?" said I to Peter. "Are there any fish there?"

"No--fish! certainly not; but you'll soon see, " he answered. "I wish itwere further off; I don't like it so near. "

"Why, what harm can it do?" I asked. 

"Send as stout a ship as we are to the bottom with scant warning!" heanswered. "That's a water-spout. I've seen one rise directly ahead ofa ship, and before there was time to attempt to escape it, down it camebodily on her deck like a heavy sea falling over a vessel. She neverrose again, but went down like a shot. "

"I hope that won't be our fate, " said I. 

At that moment the captain came on deck. "Get ready a gun there, forward!" he sung out. "Quick now!" While I had been talking to Peter, a pillar of water had risen out of the sea, so it seemed; and, havingjoined the point hanging from the cloud, came whirling towards us. Hadthere been sufficient wind to send the ship through the water, we mighthave avoided it; but there was scarcely steerage-way on her. I thoughtof what Peter had just told me, and I thought if it does break over us, it will certainly send us to the bottom. The captain ordered the slowmatch to be brought to him, and went forward to the gun, which had beenloaded and run out. On came the water-spout. I could not conceive whathe was going to do. He stooped down, and, running his eye along thegun, fired a shot right through the watery pillar. Down came the liquidmass with a thundering sound into the sea, but clear of the ship, thougheven our deck got a little sprinkling; and when I looked up at the sky, not a sign of a cloud was there. Peter told me that we ought to bethankful that we had escaped the danger so well, for that he had neverbeen in greater risk from a water-spout in his life. 

We used frequently to catch dolphins during the passage, by strikingthem with a small harpoon as they played under the bow of the brig. They are not at all like the creatures I remember carved in stone at theentrance of some gentleman's park near Dublin. They measure about fourfeet in length; are thick in the middle, with a green back and a yellowbelly, and have a sinking between the tip of the snout and the top ofthe head; indeed, they are something like a large salmon. We used toeat them, and they were considered like a fat turbot. 

Frequently flying-fish fell on our deck in attempting to escape fromtheir two enemies--the dolphin and the bonito: but they fell, if notfrom the frying-pan into the fire, from the water into the frying-pan;for we used to eat them also. Indeed nothing comes amiss to a sailor'smess. The flying-fish, which is about the size of a herring, has twolong fins which serve it as wings; but it can only keep in the air solong as its fins remain wet. These fish, like herrings, also swimtogether in large shoals, which, as their pursuers come among them, scatter themselves far and wide. Nothing very particular occurred onthe passage, till once more we made the land. 

I went aloft when I heard the ever-welcome cry from theforetopmast-head: "Land! land on the starboard bow!" Then I saw itrising in a succession of faint blue hills out of the sparkling sea. Peter told me that it was the large island of Hispaniola, or SaintDomingo, and that it belonged partly to Spain and partly to France; butthat there were a great number of blacks and coloured people there, manyof whom were free and possessed considerable wealth. Not long afterthis, in the year 1791, these coloured people rose on the whites, whohad long tyrannised over them, and having murdered vast numbers, declared their island an independent kingdom. 

We were entering, I found, the Caribbean Sea by the Porto Rico passage;and were to coast along the southern shore on our course to Jamaica. Now and then we were sufficiently close in with the land to make outobjects distinctly; but, in general, we kept well out at sea, as it isnot a coast seamen are fond of hugging. The silvery mist of the earlymorning still lay over the land, when, right ahead of us, the whitecanvas of a vessel appeared shining brightly in the rays of the risingsun. The officer of the watch called the attention of the captain toher. Peter and I were also looking out forward. "Why, Jack!" heexclaimed, "she's the very craft which put that old gentleman aboard thetime we came away from Saint Kitt's, you remember?"

"Of course I do, " said I. "She is like her, at all events; and as forthat old gentleman, I shall not forget him and his ways in a hurry. "

"He was a strange man, certainly, " observed Peter. "The captain seemsto have a suspicion about the craft out there. See, he and the matesare talking together. They don't like her looks. "

Still we stood on with all sails set. Much the same scene occurredwhich had happened before, when we saw the felucca off Saint Kitt's. Ammunition was got up--the guns were all ready to run out--thesmall-arms were served out--and the passengers brought out their pistolsand fowling-pieces. Everybody, indeed, became very warlike and heroic. Still the little craft which called forth these demonstrations, as shelay dipping her bows into the swell, with her canvas of whiteness sosnowy, the emblem of purity, looked so innocent and pretty, that alandsman would scarcely have expected any harm to come out of her. Yetthose accustomed to the West Indies had cause to dread that style ofcraft, capable of carrying a numerous crew, of pulling a large number ofoars, and of running up a narrow river, or shallow lagoon, to escapepursuit. 

At last we came up with the felucca. She lay hove-to with her headtowards us. There was, certainly, a very suspicious look about her, from the very apathy with which the few people on deck regarded us. However, as we looked down on her deck, we saw six guns lashed along herbulwarks, and amidship there was something covered with a tarpaulin, which might be a heavier gun than the rest. We stood on till herbroadside was brought to bear on our counter. At that moment, up sprungfrom each hatchway some sixty as ugly-looking cut-throats as I ever wishto see; and they were busily engaged in rapidly casting loose theirguns; and we were on the point of firing, when, who should we see ontheir deck, but the old man who had been our passenger! He instantlyrecognised Captain Helfrich, who was standing near the taffrail, andmaking a sign to the crew of the felucca, they dived below as quickly asthey had appeared. He took off his three-cornered hat and waved it toour captain, who waved his in return; and then he made a sign that hewould come on board us. 

Instantly the captain ordered the sails to be clewed up. Had the oldgentleman been an admiral, he could not have been obeyed more promptly. A boat shoved off from the felucca with four hands in her, and he cameon board us. The big negro was not with him, nor did I see him on thedeck of the felucca. The captain and the stranger were closetedtogether for a quarter of an hour or more; and the latter then coming ondeck, bowed, with somewhat mock politeness to the passengers, who wereassembled staring at him, and stepped into his boat. 

No sooner had he gone, than we again made sail. The felucca lay hove-tosome little time. She then wore round, and stood after us. So rapidlydid she come up with us, that it was very clear we had not the slightestchance of getting away from her, however much we might wish to do so. She kept us company all the day, and at night, in the first watch, Icould see her shadowy form gliding over the sea astern of us. 

Peter and I talked the matter over together in a whisper. "I'll tellyou what I think is something like the truth, " said he. "To my mindit's this:--When the captain was a young man out in these parts, he fellin with that old gentleman, --who isn't so old though as he pretends tobe. Well, the captain went and did something to put himself in hispower; and that's the reason the captain is so afraid of him. And then, from what I see, I suspect that the captain saved him from drowning, ormaybe from hanging; or in some way or other preserved his life; and thatmakes him grateful, and ready to do the captain a good turn; or, at allevents, prevents him from doing him a bad one. If it was not for that, we should have had all our throats cut by those gentry, if we hadn'tmanaged to beat them off; and that would have been no easy job. I maybe wrong altogether, but this is what I think, " continued Peter. "There's one thing, particularly, I want to say to you, Jack: never goand do anything wrong, and fancy that it will end with the thing done. There's many a man who has done a wrong thing in his youth, and has gonethrough life as if he had a rope round his neck, and he has found itturning up here and there, and staring him in the face when he has leastexpected it. When once a bad thing is done, you can't get rid of it--you can't undo it--you can't get away from it, any more than you cancall the dead to life. You may try to forget it; but something or otherwill always remind you of it, as long as you live. Then, remember thereis another life we've got to look to, when every single thing we've doneon earth must be remembered--must be acknowledged--must be made known. You and I, and every sailor, should know that any moment we may be sentinto another world to begin that new life, and to stand before God'sjudgment-seat. I think of this myself sometimes; but I wish that Icould think of it always; and that I ever had remembered it. Had Ialways thought of that awful truth, there are many things I could notpossibly have ventured to do which I have done; and many things which Ihave left undone, which I should have done. Jack, my boy, I say I havedone you some little good, but there's no good I could ever possibly doyou greater than teaching you to remember that truth always. But I mustnot knock off this matter without warning you, that I may be thinkingunjustly of the captain: and I certainly would not speak to anyone elseaboard as I have done to you. "

I thanked Peter for the advice he had given me, and promised that Iwould not repeat what he had said. 

"Can you see the felucca, Tillson?" I heard Mr Gale say to Tom, whowas reputed to have the sharpest eyes aboard. 

"No, sir; she's nowhere where she was, " he answered, after peering forsome time into the darkness astern. 

We all kept looking out for some time, but she did not reappear. Themate seemed to breathe more freely, and I must say that I was glad to berid of the near neighbourhood of the mysterious stranger. When morningbroke, she was nowhere to be seen. Whenever, during that and thefollowing days, a sail appeared anywhere abaft the beam, till her rigwas ascertained, it was instantly surmised that she was the feluccacoming back to overhaul us. Even the mates did not seem quitecomfortable about the matter; and the captain was a changed man. Hisusual buoyant spirits had deserted him, and he was silent andthoughtful. I could not help thinking that Peter's surmises werecorrect. 

At last we brought up once more in Port-Royal Harbour. Having landedour passengers, and discharged our cargo, we sailed again for MorantBay, Saint Thomas's, and other places along the coast, to take in afreight of sugar, which was sent down in hogsheads from the plantationsin the neighbourhood. 

We were rather earlier than usual, and we had some time to wait till thecasks were ready for us. On one of these occasions the captain wasinvited by a planter, Mr Johnstone by name, to pay him a visit at hisfarm, which was some way up the country. In that climate everygentleman has a servant to attend on him; and all the planters, andothers who live there, always have negroes to help them to wash anddress in the morning, to put on their stockings, and all that sort ofthing. As the captain had no black fellow to wait on him, he told methat he should want me to accompany him, and I was too glad to have achance of seeing something of the country. Meantime, to collect ourfreight faster, he had chartered a schooner which was lying idle in theharbour, and sent her round to the various smaller ports to pick it up, and to bring it to the brig. He had put her under charge of Mr Gale, who had with him Peter Poplar and several other of our men, and also afew blacks, who were hired as seamen. 

I thought it very good fun when I found myself once more on a horse; Ihad not got on the back of one since I was a little boy in Dublin, andthen, of course, there was no saddle nor stirrups, and only an old ropefor a bridle. They are generally razor-backed beasts, with one or tworaws, and blind, at least, of one eye. The captain was mounted on astrong Spanish horse well able to bear him, and I followed on a friskylittle animal with his valise and carpet-bags. 

I wish that I could describe the wonderful trees we passed. I rememberthe wild plantains, with huge leaves split into slips, and their redseed-pods hanging down at the end of twisted ropes; the tall palms, withtheir feathery tops; the monster aloes, with their long flashy thornyleaves; and the ferns as large as trees, and yet as beautifully cut asthose in our own country, which clothed every hillside where a fountainflowed forth; and then the countless variety of creepers, whosebeautiful tracery crowned every rock, and hung down in graceful festoonsfrom the lofty trees. Now and then, as passing through a valley andmounting a hill, we stopped and looked back, we caught sight of the bluesparkling sea, with the brig and other vessels in the harbour; a fewwhite sails glancing in the sun, between it and the horizon; and nearerto us, valleys with rich fields and streams of water, and orchards oforanges, limes, and shaddocks; and planters' houses with gardens full ofbeautiful flowers, and negro huts under the shade of the plantain-trees. Then there were those forest-giants, the silk-cotton-trees, and variouskinds of fig-trees and pines, such as in the old world are never seen. But the creepers I have spoken of make the woods still more curious, andunlike anything at home. First, a creeper drops down from a branch 150feet high, and then another falls close to it, and the wind blows andtwists them together; others grow round it till it takes root, and forma lofty pillar which supports the immense mass of twisting and twiningstems above. As we rode along, I saw from many a lofty branch thenet-like nests of the corn-bird hanging at the end of long creepers. Those mischievous rascals, the monkeys, are fond of eggs, and will takegreat pains to get them; so the corn-bird, to outwit them, thus securesher nest. It has an entrance at the bottom, and is shaped like anet-bag full of balls. There the wise bird sits free from danger, swinging backwards and forwards in the breeze. 

We slept that night at the house of a friend of the captain's, who hadcome out with him in the brig. It was a low building of one storey, with steps leading up to it, and built chiefly of wood. A veranda ranall the way round it. The rooms were very large, but not so handsomelyfurnished, I thought, as the captain's cabin. People do eat curiousfood in the West Indies. Among other things, there was a monkey on thetable; but if it had not been for the name of the thing, I cannot saythere was any harm in it. I got a bit of it after it was taken from thetable, and it was very like chicken. There were lizards and snakes, which were very delicate. There was a cabbage cut from the very top ofa lofty tree, the palmetto; but that tree is too valuable to be cut downoften for the purpose. Then there were all sorts of sweetmeats anddishes made with them. I recollect a mass of guava-jelly swimming in abowl full of cream, and wine, and sugar, and citron. There were plentyof substantials also; and wines and liquids of all sorts. I know that Ithought I should very much like to live on shore, and turn planter. Ihad reason afterwards to think that they had bitters as well as sweetsto taste, so I remained contented, as I have ever been, with my lot. 

At night, the captain had a sofa given him to sleep on in thedining-room, and I had a rug in another corner. It was many a longnight since I had slept on shore, and I was constantly startled by thestrange noises I heard. Often it was only the wind rustling in thepalm-trees; but when I opened my eyes, I saw one whole side of the roomsparkling with flashes of light; then it would burst forth on the otherside; and then here and there single bright stars would gleam andvanish; and lastly, the entire roof would be lighted up. I dared notwake the captain to ask what was the matter, and it was not tillafterwards that I discovered that the light was produced by fireflies, which are far more brilliant than the glow-worms of more northernclimes. I had gone to sleep, when, just before daybreak, I was againawoke by a most terrific yelling, and screeching, and laughing, androaring. I thought that the savages were down upon us, or that all thewild beasts in the country were coming to devour us. I could stand itno longer, but shrieked out, "O captain, captain! what's going to happenus?" The captain started up, and listened, and then burst into a fit oflaughter. "Why, you young jackanapes, they are only some of yourbrothers, the monkeys, holding a morning concert, " said he. "Go tosleep again; don't rouse me up for such nonsense as that. "

I found afterwards that the noise did proceed only from monkeys, thoughI did not suppose that such small animals could have made such hideoussounds. To go to sleep again, however, I found was impossible, as I hadalready enjoyed much more than I usually got on a stretch. The captain, on the contrary, went off again directly; but his sleep was muchdisturbed, for he tumbled about and spoke so loudly, that at times Ithought he was awake and calling me. "You'll make me, will you?" Iheard him say. "I don't fear you, Captain Ralph. I--a pirate--so Imight have been called--I was but a lad--I consented to no deed ofblood--It cannot be brought against me--Well, I know--I know--Iacknowledge my debt to you. --You exact it to the uttermost--I'll obeyyou--The merchants deem me an honest trader--What would they say if theyheard me called pirate?--Ha, ha, ha?" He laughed long and bitterly. 

I was very glad that no one else was in the room to hear what thecaptain was saying. A stranger would certainly have thought much worseof him than he deserved. I had now been so long with him that I wasconfident, whatever he might have done in his youth, that he was now anhonest and well-intentioned man. At the same time I could no longerhave any doubts that Peter's surmises about him were correct, "That oldgentleman aboard the felucca is Captain Ralph, then, " I thought tomyself, "If I ever fall in with him, I shall know how to address him, atall events. " At length the captain awoke; and after an early breakfast, the owner took him round the plantation, and I was allowed to followthem. 

The sugar-cane grows about six feet high, and has several stalks on oneroot. It is full of joints, three or four inches apart. The leaves arelight green; the stalk yellow when ripe. The mode of cultivation isinteresting. A trench is dug from one end of the field to the other, and in it longways are laid two rows of cane. From each joint of thesecanes spring a root and several sprouts. They come up soon after theyare planted, and in twelve weeks are two feet high. If they come upirregularly, the field is set on fire from the outside, which drives therats, the great destroyers of the cane, to the centre, where they arekilled. The ashes of the stalks and weeds serve to manure the field, which often produces a better crop than before. The canes are cut witha billhook, one at a time; and being fastened together in faggots, aresent off to the crushing-mill on mules' backs or in carts. Windmillsare much in use. The canes are crushed by rollers and as the juice ispressed out, it runs into a cistern near the boiling-house. There itremains a day, and is then drawn off into a succession of boilers, whereall the refuse is skimmed off. To turn it into grains, lime-water ispoured into it; and when this makes it ferment, a small piece of tallow, the size of a nut, is thrown in. It is next drawn into pots to cool, with holes in the bottom through which the molasses drain off. Rum ismade from the molasses, which being mixed with about five times as muchwater, is put into a still. 

There are three sorts of _cotton-trees_. One creeps on the earth like avine; another is a bushy dwarf tree; and the third is as high as an oak. The second-named, after it has produced very beautiful flowers aboutthe size of a rose, is loaded with a fruit as large as a walnut, theoutward coat of which is black. This fruit, when it is fully ripe, opens, and a down is discovered of extreme whiteness, which is thecotton. The seeds are separated from it by a mill. 

The stem of the cacao-tree is about four inches in diameter. In heightit is about twelve feet from the ground. The cacao grows in pods shapedlike cucumbers. Each pod contains from three to five nuts, the size ofsmall chestnuts, which are separated from each other by a whitesubstance like the pulp of a roasted apple. The pods are found only onthe larger boughs, and at the same time the tree bears blossoms andyoung fruit. The pods are cut down when ripe, and allowed to remainthree or four days in a heap to ferment. The nuts are then cut out, andput into a trough covered with plantain-leaves, where they remain nearlytwenty days; and, lastly, dried three or four weeks in: the sun. Indigois made from an herb not unlike hemp. This is cut, and put into pitswith water; and being continually stirred up, forms a sort of mud, which, when dry, is broken into bits for exportation. 

I will mention one plant more of general use--coffee. It is a shrub, with leaves of a dark-green colour. The berries grow in large clusters. The bean is enclosed in a scarlet pulp, often eaten, but very luscious. One bush produces several pounds. When the fruit is ripe, it turnsblack, and is then gathered; and the berries, being separated from thehusk, are exposed to the sun till quite dry, when they are fit for themarket. 

However, I might go on all day describing the curious plants, and trees, and animals, and birds I saw. I must speak of the ginger. The blade isnot unlike that of wheat. The roots, which are used, are dug up andscraped free from the outward skin by the negroes. This is the best wayof preparing it, and it is then soft and white; but often, from want ofhands, it is boiled, when the root becomes hard and tough, and is ofmuch less value. 

I shall never forget the beautiful humming-birds, with magnificentplumage gleaming in the sun, and tongues fine as needles, yet hollow, with which they suck the juices from flowers. 

We did not, on account of the heat, recommence our journey till theafternoon. The planter accompanied us. I heard him and the captaintalking about the outbreaks of the fugitive negroes in former days. "They are a little inclined to be saucy just now, " I heard him remark. "But we taught them a lesson which they will not easily forget. Thosewe caught we punished in every way we could think of. Hanging was toomild for them. Some we burned before slow fires; others were tied up bythe heels; and others were lashed to stakes, their bodies covered overwith molasses to attract the flies, and then allowed to starve to death. Oh, we know how to punish rebels in this country. "

I listened to what the planter was saying. I could scarcely believe thetestimony of my ears. Was it really a man professing to be a Christianthus talking, thus boasting of the most horrible cruelties which eventhe fiercest savages could not surpass?

The captain replied, that he supposed they deserved what they got, though, for his part, he thought if a man was deserving of death, heshould be hung or shot outright, but that he did not approve of killingpeople by inches. 

From what I heard I was not surprised to find that there were largenumbers of these revolted negroes, under the name of Maroons, livingamong the mountain-fastnesses in the interior of the island, where theycould not be reached; that their numbers were continually augmented byrunaway slaves; and that they declined to submit to the clemency of thewhites. It was quite dark before we reached the house of the planter, where the captain proposed to spend a few days. It stood on the side ofa hill covered with trees, and had a considerable slope below it. Itwas a rough wooden edifice, of one storey, though of considerable size, and had a veranda running round it. Besides the owner, there were theoverseer, and two or three white assistants; and an attorney, agentleman who manages the law business of an estate; and two Englishfriends. Altogether, there was a large party in the house. Duringdinner the company began to talk about pirates, and I saw the captain'scolour change. The attorney said that several piracies had beencommitted lately in the very neighbourhood of Jamaica; and that unarmedvessels, in different parts of the West Indies, were constantly attackedand plundered. They remarked that it was difficult to find out thesepiratical craft. Sometimes the pirates appeared in one guise andsometimes in another; at one time in a schooner, at others in a felucca, or in a brig; and often even in open boats. "Yes, " observed theattorney, "they seem to have excellent information of all that goes onin Kingston. I suspect that they have confederates on shore, who tellthem all they want to know. " I thought the captain would have fallenoff his chair, but he quickly recovered himself, and no one appeared tohave remarked his agitation. They did carry on, to be sure! Whatquantities of wine and rum-punch they drank! How their heads couldstand it I don't know. Two or three of them did roll under the table, when their black slaves came and dragged them off to bed; which musthave raised them in the negroes' opinion. Even the captain, who wasgenerally a very sober man, got up and sang songs and made speeches forhalf an hour when no one was listening. At last the slaves cleared thedining-room, and beds were made up there for several of the party. Iwas afraid that the captain might begin to talk again in his sleep ofhis early days, and accuse himself of being a pirate; and I was anxiousto warn him, lest anyone might be listening; but then, I thought tomyself, they are all so drunk no one will understand him, and he won'tlike to be reminded by me of such things as that. 

The night seemed to be passing quietly away. As I lay on a rug in thecorner of the room, I could hear the sound of some night-birds, orfrogs, or crickets, and the rustling of the wind among theplantain-leaves, till I fell asleep. Before long, however, I startedup, and thought that the monkeys had begun their concert at an earlierhour than usual. There were the most unearthly cries and shrieksimaginable, which seemed to come from all sides of the house, both froma distance and close at hand. For a moment all was silent, and thenthey were repeated louder than before. Had not the company been heavywith drink, they must have been awoke at once. As it was, the seconddischarge of shrieks and cries roused them up, and in another minutepeople came rushing into the dining-hall from different parts of thehouse, their pale countenances showing the terror they felt. "What'sthe matter? what's all this?" they exclaimed. 

"That the negroes have come down from the hills, and that we shall allbe murdered!" exclaimed the master of the house, who had just hurried inwith a rifle in his hand. "Gentlemen, we may defend ourselves, and sellour lives dearly, but that is all I can hope for. "

"Let us see what can be done, " said Captain Helfrich coolly. "Thishouse may not stand a long siege, perhaps, though we'll do our best toprepare it. We'll block up the windows and all outlets as fast as wecan. See, get all the rice and coffee bags to be found, and fill themwith earth; we may soon build up a tolerably strong fortification. "

The captain's confidence and coolness encouraged others, and every oneset to work with a will to make the proposed preparations. All thehousehold slaves, and several blacks residing in the neighbouring hutshad come into the house to share their master's fortunes but the greaternumber had run away and hid themselves. There was no lack of musketsand ammunition; indeed, there were among us weapons sufficient to armtwice as many men as were assembled. The white gentlemen were generallyfull of fight, and began to talk hopefully of quickly driving back theMaroons: but the blacks were in a great state of excitement, and ranabout the house chattering like so many monkeys, tumbling over eachother, and rather impeding than forwarding the work to be done. 

Though matters were serious enough, I, with a youngster'sthoughtlessness, enjoyed a fit of laughter while we were in the middleand hottest hurry of our preparations. It happened that two stoutblackies rushed into the hall from different quarters, one bearing onhis back a sack of earth, the other a bundle of canes or battens. Tiltthey went with heads stooping down right against each other. Theirskulls met with a clap like thunder, and both went sprawling over ontheir backs, with their legs up in the air. The sack burst, and outtumbled the earth; and the bundle of canes separating, lay in a confusedheap. 

"For what you do dat, Jupiter?" exclaimed he of the canes, as he jumpedup ready to make another butt at his opponent. 

"Oh, ki! you stupid Caesar, you 'spose I got eyes all round, " repliedJupiter, leaping on his legs with the empty sack hanging round his nook, and stooping down his head ready to receive the expected assault. 

The black knights were on the point of meeting, and would probably eachhave had another fall, when one of the overseers passing bestowed a fewkicks upon Caesar. Off ran the hero, and Jupiter expecting the sametreatment, took himself off to bring in a fresh bag of earth. 

Ten minutes or a quarter of an hour passed away, but still the rebelsdid not commence their attack. The overseer said that they had utteredthe shrieks to frighten us, and also to get the slaves to desert us, that they might murder us alone. I should have supposed that, likeother savages, they would have crept silently on us, so as to have takenus unawares; but negroes, I have remarked, seldom act like other racesof people. 

During the short time which had passed since the alarm was given, we hadmade very tolerable preparations to receive the rebels. I had beenrunning about, trying to make myself as useful as I could, when thecaptain called me up to him. 

"I'm glad to see you wide-awake, Jack, " said he. "Remember, when thefight begins, as it will before long, stick close to me. I may want tosend you here and there for something or other; and if the worst comes, and we are overpowered, we must try to cut our way out through therascals. Now set to work, and load those muskets; you know how, Ithink. Ay, that will do; keep loading them as fast as I discharge them. We may teach the Niggers a lesson they don't expect. "

I was very proud of being thus spoken to by the captain, for it was thefirst time that he had ever condescended to address me in so familiar away. It was generally--"Boy, bring me my shoes;" "Jump forward there, and call the carpenter. " I resolved to do my best not to disappointhim. 

I placed the powder-flask and bullets on one side of me, and the musketson the other, so that I could load one after the other without alteringmy position. It never occurred to me all the time that there was theslightest degree of danger. I thought that we had only to blaze away atthe Niggers, and that they would run off as fast as their legs couldcarry them. 

Never was I more mistaken. Soon after the captain had spoken to me wewere startled by another thunder-clap of shouts, and shrieks, andunearthly cries, followed by several shot, the ringing taps whichsucceeded each showing that the bullets had struck the house. Presentlya negro, who had been sent to keep a look-out on the roof, came tumblingthrough a skylight, exclaiming, "Dey is coming, dey is coming, oh ki!"Directly after this announcement, the shrieks and cries were heard likea chorus of demons, and it was evident that our enemies were closelysurrounding us. Whichever way we turned, looking up the hill or downthe valley, the terrific noises seemed to come loudest and mostcontinuous from that quarter. 

Captain Helfrich, as if by the direct appointment of all, took thecommand. "Now, my lads, be steady, " he exclaimed; "don't throw yourshots away. You'll want all you've got, and a bullet is worth the lifeof a foe. "

Each man on this grasped his musket; but the negroes held theirs as ifthey were very much more afraid of the weapons doing them harm than ofhurting their enemies. The greater number of the lights in the househad been put out, a few lanterns only remaining here and there, carefully shaded, to show us our way about. Not a word or a sound wasuttered by any of us, and thus in darkness and silence we awaited theonslaught of our enemies. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

THE PLANTER'S HOUSE BESIEGED. 

The Maroons did not leave us long in suspense. Once more uttering themost fearful and bewildering shrieks, they advanced from every quarter, completely surrounding, as we judged, the house. For a minute theyhalted, and must have fired every musket they had among them. Loopholeshad been left in all the windows, and every now and then I peepedthrough one of them, to try and discover what was taking place. Therewas just sufficient light to enable me to see the dusky forms of therebels breaking through the fences and shrubberies which surrounded thehouse. As they arrived, they formed in front, dancing, and shrieking, and firing off their muskets and blunderbusses in the most irregularfashion, expending a great deal of gunpowder, but doing us no harm. 

Captain Helfrich was watching them. When some hundreds had been thuscollected, he suddenly exclaimed, "Now, my lads, give it them! Don'tthrow your shots away on the bushes!"

Obedient to the order, every man in the house fired, and continuedfiring as fast as he could load his musket. I dropped on my kneealongside the arms the captain had appropriated, and as I handed aloaded musket to him he gave me back the one he had fired, which Ireloaded as rapidly as I could. 

This continued for some minutes, the constant shrieks and groans of ourblack assailants showing us that the shot frequently took effect. Ibelieve, indeed, that very few of the captain's missed. Though he firedrapidly, it was always with coolness and steadiness, and it appeared tome that he had singled out his victim before he turned round to take themusket from me. 

As yet none of our people had been killed, though some of the enemy'sshot had found their way through the loopholes in the windows and doors. Growing, however, more desperate at the loss of their companions, andburning for revenge, they rushed up closer to the house, pouring intheir fire, which searched out every hole and cranny. Some of theslaves who incautiously exposed themselves were the first to suffer. Apoor fellow was standing at the window next to me. A bullet struck himon the breast. It was fired from a tree, I suspect. Down he fell, crying out piteously, and writhing in his agony. It was very dreadful. Then the blood rushed out of his mouth in torrents, and he was quiet. Isprang forward, intending to help him. The pale light of the lanternfell on his countenance. He looked perfectly calm. I thought he wasresting, and would get up soon and fire away again. My glance was butmomentary, for the captain called me back to my post. 

The fire on this became hotter and hotter. Two more negroes werestruck. They did not fall, but cried out most piteously. One of theEnglish gentlemen was next shot. He fell without a groan. The captaintold me to run and see where he was hurt. I tried to lift him up, buthis limbs fell down motionless. There was a deep hole in his forehead, through which blood was bubbling. I suspected the truth that he wasdead. I told the captain that he was hit on the head. "Leave him, then, Jack, " said he; "you can do him no good. "

On my return, I looked at the negro who had been first hit. He, too, was motionless. I tried to place him in a sitting posture, but he fellback again. 

"Let him alone, Jack, " cried the captain; "his work is done; he's nolonger a slave. "

I thus found that the negro also was dead. It seemed very dreadful tome; I burst into tears. 

I cried heartily as I knelt loading the muskets, forgetting that in ashort time the captain, and I, and every one in the house, might be inthe same state. Had not the whites shown great determination, all mustbefore this have fallen victims to the rage of the Maroons. Numbers ofour enemies were shot, but still they rushed on, resolved to destroy thehouse and all in it. 

While the uproar they made was at its height, a loud battering was heardat one of the doors. The enemy had cut down the trunk of a young tree, and were endeavouring to break in the door with it. The captain and theother gentlemen shot down several who were thus engaged, but still theypersevered; and, as some fell, fresh assailants rushing up, seized thebattering-ram, and continued the work. The door was stout, but we sawthat it was giving way. It began to crack in every direction. Piecesof furniture and sand-bags were piled up against it, but with littleavail. Each blow shattered a part of it, and soon, with a loud crash, it was driven in, and the fierce, excited faces of our dark foes wereseen above the barricade formed by the bags, and furniture, and brokendoor. Several who attempted to pass over it were shot down, but ourpeople being now much more than ever exposed to the fire of the enemy, proportionably suffered. The shot came in thick among us, and one afterthe other was wounded. 

While the captain and others were defending the breach, thebattering-ram was withdrawn; why, we were not long left in doubt. Toour great horror, the battering, cracking sound was heard in the rear ofthe house. Still we were not at once to be defeated, and some of ourparty hurried to defend the spot. The attack on the front-door had costthe negroes so many lives that they were more cautious in approachingthe second; and, when our party began to fire, they retreated undershelter, leaving the trunk of the tree on the ground. At the same time, they began apparently to weary of their ill success in front of thehouse; for of course they could not be aware that they had killed any ofits defenders. We were thus hoping that they would at length withdraw, when the whole country in front of us seemed to burst into flame. 

"They have set the fields on fire!" exclaimed the planter. 

"No, no, " said Captain Helfrich; "worse than that--see there? Our watchis out, depend on that. Not one of us will see another sun arise. So, my men, let us sally out, and sell our lives dearly. "

I looked through one of the loopholes to see what he meant. Emergingfrom among the trees came hundreds of dusky forms, each man bearing inhis hand a torch which he flourished wildly above his head, dancing andshrieking furiously. 

I thought the captain's advice would be followed, but it was not. Therest of the party were either too badly wounded or wanted nerve for theexploit, and the slaves could not be depended on. All we did was toguard the battered-in door, and to fire away as before. 

On came the Maroons with their frantic gestures, and, to our horror, assoon as they reached the door, they began to throw their torches inamong us. At first we tried to trample out the fire under foot, butthey soon outmastered our powers, and the furniture which composed ourbarricade ignited, so did the walls of the house, and the negroesshrieking and cheering, encouraged each other in throwing in freshtorches to overwhelm us. Still, induced to fight on by my gallantcaptain, we continued our exertions, when the attack on the back-doorwas renewed. It gave way! Loud shouts burst from the Maroons. Theirrevenge was about to be satiated. 

"Now, my lads, follow me, " shouted the captain; "we'll cut our waythrough them. Stick to me, Jack, whatever you do!"

As he said this, he seized a cutlass which lay on the ground, and, before the negroes had time to bring the torches round to that side, herushed through the back-door which they had just battered down. I clungto his skirts as he told me, springing along so as not to impede him;and so heartily did he lay about him with his weapon, cutting off by ablow a head of one and an arm of another, that he speedily clearedhimself a wide passage. Several of our party endeavoured to follow himwith such weapons as they could seize, but, unable to make the progresshe did, they were either knocked down and captured or killed on thespot. On we went towards the wood behind the house, but we had stillnumberless enemies on every side of us, --enemies who seemed resolved notto allow any of their intended victims to escape them. I did not thinkit possible that any man could keep so many foes at bay as did thecaptain. Just as I thought we should escape, his foot caught in asnake-like creeping root which ran along the ground. Over he wentalmost flat on his face; but he did not lose a grasp of his sword. Hetried to rise, and I endeavoured to pull him up. He was almost oncemore on his feet, when another creeper caught his foot. Again he fell, and this time our enemies were too quick for him. Rushing on him byhundreds, they threw themselves on his body, almost suffocating him asthey held him down by main force. I was treated much in the same way, when a huge negro caught me up by the back of the neck, and made as ifhe was about to cut off my head. He did not do so, but held me tightlyby the collar while the rest secured the captain. 

Flames were now bursting forth from every part of the planter's house, and lighted up the surrounding landscape, --the tall plantains and cottonand fig-trees, the tangled mass of creepers and their delicate traceryas they hung from their lofty boughs, the fields of sugar-cane, thecactus-bushes, and numberless other shrubs, and the grey sombremountain-tops beyond. From the way the blacks were running here andthere in dense masses, and the excited shouts I heard, I discovered thatthey were in pursuit of some of the late defenders of the house, who, when too late, were endeavouring to make their escape. Had they closelyfollowed the captain, they might all, perhaps, have cut their waythrough the enemy. 

The blacks seemed to consider the captain a perfect Samson, for theylashed his arms and legs in every way they could think of; and thenmaking a sort of litter, they put him on it, and carried him alongtowards the mountains. They treated me with less ceremony. My firstcaptors handed me over to four of them, who contented themselves withmerely binding my arms, and driving me before them at the points oftheir weapons. Now and then one of them, more vicious than the rest, would dig the point of his spear into me, to expedite my movement. Icould not help turning round each time with a face expressive, Idaresay, of no little anger or pain, at which his companions alllaughed, as if it were a very good joke. They seemed to do this torecompense themselves for the loss of the booty they might have supposedthe rest were collecting from the burning house. 

We had not proceeded far before we were joined by a large band, carryingalong, bound hand and foot, the survivors among the defenders of thehouse. The planter himself, and four or five of his guests, were there, and seven or eight slaves. From the disappearance of the rest of theMaroons, I concluded that they had gone off to attack some otherresidences. 

On we went hour after hour, and when the sun rose, exposed to itsbroiling heat, without stopping. The negroes ate as they went along, but gave us nothing. It would have been a painful journey, at allevents; but when we expected to be tortured and put to death at the endof it, I found it doubly grievous to be endured. I longed for a dagger, and that I might find my arms free, to fight my way out from among them. At last I thought that it would be the best way to appear totallyunconcerned when they hurt me, so that I became no longer a subject fortheir merriment. 

At length, about noon, we stopped to rest; and most of our guards, aftereating their meal of plantains, went to sleep. I thought that it wouldbe a good opportunity to try and get near the captain, to learn if hethought that there was any chance of our escaping. Some few of theMaroons, with arms in their hands, sat up watching us narrowly; Itherefore put on as unconcerned a manner as possible, and lay down onthe ground, pretending to go to sleep likewise. I in return watched ourguards, and one by one I saw sleep exerting its influence over them. Their eyes rolled round in their heads like those of owls; their headsnodded; then they looked up, trying to appear prodigiously wise; but itwould not do, and at length the whole camp was asleep. I consideredthat now or never was my time for communicating with the captain. Though I saw that no one near was likely to observe me, I thought thatsome one at a distance might, and therefore that it would be necessaryto be cautious. Instead of getting up and walking, I rolled myselfgently over and over till I got close up to him. 

"Captain, " said I, very softly--"Captain Helfrich, sir. I am here. What can I do?"

He was drowsy, and at first did not hear me; but soon rousing himself, he turned his eyes towards me, for he could not move his head. "Ah, Jack! is that you?" said he; "we are in a bad plight, lad. "

"Do you think the savages are going to kill us, sir?" said I. 

"No doubt about it, Jack, if we are not rescued, or don't manage toescape, " he answered. "I see little prospect of either event. "

"But what can I do, sir?" I asked. 

"Little enough, I am afraid, lad, " he replied, in a subdued, calm tone. "But stay, if you can manage to get your hands near my teeth, I will tryand bite the bands off them, and then you can loosen the lashings roundmy limbs. We must wait for the night before we try to escape. Weshould now be seen, and pursued immediately. "

I did as he bid me, and by means of his strong teeth he was soon able tofree my hands from the ropes which had confined them. I also at length, with much more difficulty, so far slackened all his bands and thelashings which secured him to the litter, that he might with ease sliphis limbs completely out of them. Having accomplished this importantundertaking, I crawled back to the spot I had before occupied. Scarcelyhad I got there, when a black lifted up his head and looked around. Ithought he had fixed his malignant eyes on me, and had probably been awitness of what I had done. I lay trembling, expecting every moment tohave the wretch pounce upon me and bind my hands tighter than before. However, after a little, he lay down again, and grunted away as before. 

Soon after this another Maroon sat up and looked round, and thenanother, and another; so that I was very glad I had not lost theopportunity of which I had taken advantage. In another quarter of anhour, the whole force was on the move. I looked anxiously to ascertainwhether they had discovered that the captain's bands had been loosened;but without examining him, they lifted up the litter, and bore him on asbefore. In consequence of this I walked on much more cheerily than Ihad previously done, though I still got an occasional prick to hasten mysteps. 

As we advanced, we got into still more hilly and wild country. Allsigns of cultivation had ceased, and vegetation revelled in the mostextravagant profusion. Our chief difficulty was to avoid the pricklypears, and the cacti, and the noose-forming creepers, which extendedacross our path. We were in the advance party; the rest of the whitemen followed at a distance from us, so that we had no prospect ofcommunicating with them. 

The encouragement the captain had given me helped to raise my spirits, and I endeavoured further to keep them up by whistling and singingoccasionally, but it was with a heavy heart that I did so. My greatconsolation was all the time that my friend Peter Poplar was not in thesame predicament. He would have felt it more than any of us. He hadlong been prepared for any misfortune which could happen to him at sea, but he had not made up his mind to undergo hardships on shore as well. 

At last I began to grow very weary of walking so far over such rough anduneven ground, and I was glad to find that the blacks were approachingtheir encampment or village. It consisted of a number of rude huts, built on the summit of a high rock, with steep precipices on every side. A narrow causeway led to it from another rock, which jutted out fromthe side of the hill. It was a very strong place, for it extended toofar into the valley to be reached by musketry from the hill; and thehill itself was too rugged to allow cannon to be dragged up it. Therock appeared to have rude palisades and embankments, to serve asfortifications, over a large portion of its upper surface. As Iexamined it, I saw that our chance of escape from such a place, by anymethod I could imagine, was small indeed. I do not know what thecaptain thought about the matter, but he was not a man to be defeated bydifficulties, or to abandon hope while a spark of life remained. 

As we went along the causeway, a number of women, and children, and dogscame out to meet us, our welcome consisting in a most horriblescreaming, and crying, and barking, which, I suspect, as far as theprisoners were concerned, was far from complimentary. Among them weresome dreadful old crones, who came stretching out their withered, black, parchment arms, shrieking terrifically, and abusing the white men as thecause of all the misery and hardships it had been their lot to endure. Their accusations were, I believe, in most respects, too just. Certainly white men had torn them or their ancestors from their nativeland--white men had brought them across the sea in the crowdedslave-ship--white men had made them slaves, treated them with severityand cruelty, and driven them to seek for freedom from tyranny among thewild rocks and fastnesses where they were now collected. The otherprisoners seemed to feel, by their downcast, miserable looks, that theywere in the power of enemies whom they had justly made relentless, andthat they had no hope of escape. The old crones went up to them, pointed their long bony fingers in their eyes, and hissed and shriekedin their ears. What was said I could not understand, but they wereevidently using every insulting epithet they could imagine to exasperateor terrify their victims. 

I have often thought of that dreadful scene since. How must the acts ofthose white men have risen up before them in their true colours--thewrong they had inflicted on young and innocent girls--the lashesbestowed on men of free and independent natures--the abuse showered ontheir heads--the total neglect of the cultivation of all their moralattributes! Oh, you Christian gentlemen, did it ever occur to you thatthose slaves of yours were men of like passions as yourselves; that theyhad minds capable of cultivation in a high degree, if not as high asyour own; that they had souls like your souls to be saved--souls whichmust be summoned before the judgment-seat of Heaven, to be judged withyours; and that you and they must there stand together before anall-righteous and pure and just God, to receive the reward of the thingsyou have done in this life? Did it occur to you that, had you madethose people true Christians; that, had you taught them the holyreligion you profess--a religion of love and forgiveness--that theywould not now be taking pleasure in tormenting you, in exhibiting thebitter vengeance which rankled in their souls!

I could not help thinking that some such accusing thoughts as these roseto the consciences of the planter and his companions. I know that Iwould not for worlds have changed places with him, though he was theowner of rich fields and wealth long hoarded up, which he was on thepoint of returning to England to enjoy. 

Either on account of my youth, or because, as they saw, I was a sailor, the rebels must have known that I could not have treated them cruelly, and I was allowed to remain quiet. After the whole population had givenvent to their feelings by abusing the prisoners in every possible way, they were thrust into a hut together, and a guard placed over them. Thecaptain and I were then put into another hut, and ordered not to stir onpain of being shot. 

"Not bery good chance of dat!" observed one of our captors, agrey-headed old negro with a facetious countenance, looking at thenumerous lashings which confined our limbs. 

"Better chance than you suppose, old fellow!" thought I to myself; but Ikept as melancholy and unconcerned a look as I could assume. 

I concluded, that as the other prisoners were guarded so were we, andthat we should have very little chance of effecting our escape, unlessour guards fell asleep. The difficulties were, at all events, verygreat. We should, in the first place, have either to scramble down thesides of the rock, or to cross the narrow causeway, where one man as aguard could instantly stop us. There was every probability that theMaroons would place one there. 

For some hours there was a great deal of noise in the village. Theblacks were rejoicing over their victory, and there was no chance of ourguards outside the hut being asleep. I waited, therefore, withoutmoving, till the sounds of revelry subsided, the tom-toms were no longerbeaten, the trumpets ceased braying, and the cymbals clashing. Then Icould hear the guards talking to each other outside. The few words Icould comprehend out of this jargon were not very consolatory. I madeout clearly that they proposed to shoot all their prisoners the nextday, and that, besides those already in camp, they expected a numbermore from other estates which were to be attacked. There appeared onlya possibility that our lives might be prolonged another day, till alltheir forces out on various expeditions were assembled. Little didthose at home, looking at the map of Jamaica, fancy that, in the verycentre of that beautiful island, there existed so numerous a band ofsavages in open revolt against the authority of the king. 

At first our guards were animated enough in their conversation; thentheir voices grew thicker and thicker, and their tones more drowsy anddroning, till they could scarcely have understood what each other said. At last one began to snore, then another, and the last speaker foundhimself without auditors. I longed for him to hold his tongue, and togo to sleep, but talk on he would, though he had no listeners. This, Ithought, was a good opportunity to allow me to speak to the captain, soI crawled up to him. He was awake, waiting for me. 

"What's to be done now, captain?" said I. 

"We must wait the course of events, Jack, " he answered. "I have beenturning over every plan in my mind which affords a chance of escape. Ifwe were to start off now, we should certainly be caught by some of theseblack gentlemen; and if brought back, we should be put under stricterwatch and ward than hitherto. Something may occur during the night, orperhaps to-morrow. At all events, I do not intend to die without afight for it. Try and go to sleep now, and get some rest; you'll wantit for what you may have to go through. Go, lie down, lad; my advice isgood. Don't fear. "

I followed the captain's advice, though it was difficult to go to sleep, and still more so not to fear. I did go to sleep, however, and neverslept more soundly in my life. I was awoke by feeling a hand placed onmy shoulder. It was that of the captain. 

"Jack, " he whispered, "be prepared to follow me if I summon you, but nototherwise. If we can manage to get down the rock, or to cross thecauseway without being seen, we will go; but if not, we must waitanother opportunity. I do not feel as if either of us had come to theend of the cable yet, but how we are to get free I don't know. "

Saying this the captain gently lifted up some of the leaves which formedthe side of the hut, and crept out. His words and tone gave me greatencouragement. I wished that I could have gone with him, but I knewthat I must obey him. 

O how anxiously I waited his return! Minute after minute passed away, and still he did not come back. I began to fear that some harm hadhappened to him--that he might have fallen over the precipice in thedark, or have been captured. It never for a moment occurred to me thathe would desert me. An hour or more must have passed. Still he did notappear. I began to consider whether I could not creep out to search forhim. I could have loosened from off me the ropes which bound my arms inan instant; but I did not want to do so unless I was prepared to runaway altogether. I have heard of people's hair turning grey in a night;mine would, I think, have done so with anxiety had I been older. 

At last the side of the hut was lifted up, and the captain crawled in, and placed himself on the litter on which he had been brought to theplace. "Quick, Jack, " he whispered, "put the ropes round me as theywere before! Those blacks are more wide-awake rascals than I fancied. I have been most of the time lying down not twenty yards from the hut, afraid to move. I was creeping along when I saw a black fellow, withmusket on shoulder, emerge from behind a hut. He stood for some timelooking directly at me, as if he had seen me. He had not though; butdirectly afterwards he began pacing up and down with the steadiness ofan old soldier. I crept on when his back was turned, but never couldmove far enough before he was about again, and scrutinising all theground before him. The only direction in which I could move without thecertainty of being seen was towards this spot, so back again I havecome, with the hope still strong that we might find some other way ofescaping. Once or twice I thought of springing up and killing the man;but in so doing I should very likely have roused others, and we shouldhave lost any future chance of escaping. "

This result of the captain's expedition put me into low spirits again, for I fully expected that the blacks would kill us all in the morning, and my only surprise was that they had not so done already. I did notsay so to the captain, but he, having with his teeth secured the bandsround my arms again, I went and sat down where the blacks had firstplaced me. I did not sleep soundly again, nor did he. I sat silent, anxiously waiting for the morning. 

I think I must have gone off into a doze, when, before daybreak, I wasroused up by a chorus of loud cries and shouts, which was soon answeredby every man, woman, and child in the village, who came rushing out oftheir huts. It was to welcome, I found, a party of their comrades froman attack on one of the neighbouring estates, in which they had come offthe victors, with numerous prisoners and much spoil. There began, asbefore, a horrible din of tom-toms and other musical instruments, mixedwith the very far from musical voices of the old women who had beentormenting us. This continued till the sun rose, and then there was acomparative silence for an hour or so. I suppose the savages werebreakfasting. An this time we were left in suspense as to what was tobe our fate. We did not talk much, and, of course, did not allude toany plan for escaping, lest we should be overheard. 

At last several stout negroes entered the hut, and while some of themlifted up the captain and carried him out, two seized me by the collar, and dragged me after him. I thought that they were about to throw usover the cliffs, or to hang us or shoot us forthwith. I could onlythink of one way by which we had the slightest prospect of escaping. Itwas that the government authorities might have heard of the outbreak, and sent troops to attack the rebels. I did not know in those days thatthose sort of gentlemen considered the art of tying up packages neatlywith red tape to be the most important of their official duties, andthat they were not apt to do anything in a hurry of so triflingimportance as attempting to save the lives of a few people!

We very soon reached a large concourse of people in an open space. Onone side of the ground there was a steep bank, on the top of which achair or throne was placed, whereon sat a tall fine-looking negro, dressed somewhat in military style, while a number of other men satround him. On the level ground, on one side, was a group of some twentywhite men, among whom I recognised our companions in the defence of thehouse. They had their hands bound, and were strongly guarded by armednegroes. We were carried up and placed among them. Two or three otherprisoners arrived after us, and served to increase our unhappy group. 

A sort of trial was then commenced, and several Maroons stepped forward, accusing the whites of unheard-of cruelties, and especially of beingtaken with arms in our hands against the authority of the true andproper chief of the island. It is impossible to describe the absurdlanguage used, and the ceremonies gone through. It would have been acomplete burlesque had not the matter been somewhat too serious. As itwas, when one of the counsellors kicked another for interrupting him, and the judge threw a calabash at their heads to call them to order, Icould not help bursting into a fit of laughter, which was soon quelledwhen one of my guards gave me a progue with the tip of his spear, toremind me where I was. I very nearly broke out again when the one whowas hit looked up and exclaimed, "What dat for, Pompey, you scoundrelyou?--What you tink me made of, hey?"

The judge took no notice of this address, but coolly went on summing upthe evidence placed before him. It was, I must own, clearlycondemnatory of most of the prisoners. On the oaths of the negrowitnesses, they were proved to have committed the most atrocious acts. Some had hung blacks for no sufficient cause, or had shot them, or hadbeaten them to death, or even burned them, or had tortured them withevery refinement of cruelty. Scarcely one present who had not given wayto passion, and barbarously ill-treated their slaves, or caused them tosubmit to the greatest indignity. At length the judge rose from hisseat. He was a remarkably fine, tall man, and as he stretched out onearm towards the prisoners, I could not help acknowledging that there wasmuch grace and dignity in his whole air and manner. To what had beenadduced by others, he added the weight of his own testimony. 

"Me prince not long ago in me own country, --me would be king now, --mecarried off--beaten--kicked--wife torn away--me piccaninnis killed--memade to work with whip--beat, beat, beat on shoulders--me run away--nearly starve and die. Dose men do all dat, and much worse! Daydeserve to die! Shoot dem all--quick! De earth hate dem--no stay on itlonger!" I cannot pretend to say that these were the exact words usedby the chief, but they had a similar signification. 

Immediately we were all seized, each prisoner being held by four blacks, and marched along to an open space near the edge of the precipice. Afiring-party of twenty blacks, which had been told off, followed us, their horrible grins showing the intense satisfaction they felt at beingour executioners. The judge or chief and all the rest of the peopleaccompanied us as spectators. The captain was carried along on hislitter, for the negroes had conceived a very just idea of his prowess, and kept him, as they fancied, more strongly secured than was necessarywith regard to the rest. I stood near him waiting the result. 

Things were now, indeed, looking very serious, and I could not see bywhat possible means we should escape. Still, there was so much buoyancyin my disposition, that, even then, I did not give up all hope. I amafraid that I cannot say I was sustained by any higher principle. Thethought of what death was, did, however, come over me; and I tried topray, to prepare myself for the world into which I saw every probabilitythat I was about to enter. Still, though I wanted to pray, and wishedto go to heaven, I made but a very feeble attempt to do so. I had beenso long unaccustomed to pray, that I could not now find the thoughts orthe words required. My heart was not in a praying state. I had notsought reconciliation with God. I did not know in what to trust, through whom I could alone go into the presence of my Maker cleansedfrom my sins, relieved from the weight of the sinful nature in which Iwas born. Of all this I remained perfectly ignorant. I felt verywretched, like a drowning wretch without a spar or a plank of which Imight catch hold. 

I learned, however, an important lesson. Oh! do you, who read thisnotice of my life, learn it from me. Do not suppose that the time is_coming_ when you may begin to prepare for another world. The time is_come now_ with all of you. From the period you entered this world, from the moment the power of thought and speech was given you, the timehad arrived for you prepare for the world to come--that eternal world ofglory and joy unspeakable, or of misery, regret, and anguish. Rememberthis--note it well--don't ever let it be out of your thoughts. You weresent into this transient, fleeting world, for one sole object--that youmight prepare yourselves in it for the everlasting future. Not that youmight amuse yourselves--not that you might gain wealth, and honours, andreputation--not that you might study hard, and obtain prizes at schoolor college--that you might be the leader in all manly--exercises--thatyou might speak well, or sing well, or draw well, or attain excellencein science--or that you might become rich merchants, or judges, orgenerals, or admirals, or ambassadors, or, indeed, attain the head ofany professions you may choose. These things are all lawful; it may beyour duty thus to rise, but it should not be your aim, it should notalone be in your thoughts; you should have a far higher motive forlabouring hard, for employing your talents: that motive should be toplease God, to obey the laws and precepts of our Lord and Master. Allshould be done from love to him. If you have not got that love for him, pray for it, strive for it, look for guidance from above that you mayobtain it. 

But, as I was saying, in those days I could not have comprehended what Ihave now been speaking about. Finding my efforts to pray almostunavailing, I did pray for deliverance, though I waited my fate insullen indifference, or rather, indeed, somewhat as if I was anunconcerned spectator of what was taking place. 

The chief lifted his arm on high as a sign that the execution was tocommence. The first person led forward was the planter whose house wehad attempted to defend. Oh! what scorn, and loathing, and defiancethere was depicted in his countenance! What triumph and hatred in thatof his executioners! Should such feelings find room in the bosom of adying Christian? I wot not. Again the fatal sign was given. Thefiring-party discharged their muskets, and the planter fell a lifelesscorpse. I tried to turn my eyes away from the scene, but they wererivetted on the spot. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

A TERRIBLE EXECUTION, AND A NARROW ESCAPE. 

One after the other my white companions were led out for execution. Every moment I expected that my turn would come. Very few showed anygreat signs of fear, with the exception of the overseers, who had beenoften and often the actual instruments of cruelty towards those who nowhad them in their power. I am surprised that the ignorant savage blacksdid not torture them as they had themselves been tortured, beforeputting an end to their existence. Perhaps they wished to set anexample of leniency to the civilised whites. They went about theexecution, however, with deliberation, sufficient to make it a veryterrible affair. 

They shot the planter dressed as he was taken. When he had fallen, numbers of the blacks rushed up, and having stripped him, they threw hisbody, after inflicting numberless wounds on it, over the precipice. Ashis clothes had been injured by the bullets, they proceeded to strip thenext person of his garments, with the exception of his trousers andshoes, which they allowed him to retain--the latter, at all events, being of very little use to them. He was one of the overseers, afierce, dark, stern man. He looked as if he was incapable ofexperiencing any of the softer sympathies of our nature. He wasstanding close to me while the planter was being shot, and not one of usknew who would next be selected for execution. When the men who hadtaken out the overseer seized hold of him, he turned deadly pale, andshrieked out for mercy. 

"Don't kill me! don't kill me!" he exclaimed. "I am not fit to die. Icannot go as I am into another world. Oh, let me live! let me live! Iwill toil for you; I will build your cottages; I will till your fields. Kind Africans! hear me: if I have injured anyone, I will repay him anhundred-fold. I'll do anything you require of me; but don't, oh, don'tkill me!"

The negro chief smiled at him scornfully, and the others who surroundedhim grinned horribly in his face. "Hi! hi! you mark my back with hotiron, " said one, gripping him by the shoulder; "you take out de mark?"

"You kill my piccaninni!" cried another in a hissing tone in his ear. "You gib him back, eh? You make him smile in me face 'gain, eh?"

"You take away me young wife!" exclaimed another, in a hoarse voice, looking him in the face. "Where she gone to now, eh? You give her backgood and fond as she once was--no! You repay a hundred-fold!--you undothe harm you have done!"

"Wretched man! go meet the Judge whose laws you have outraged; goencounter the reproachful spirits of those who, in life, you haveirretrievably injured! You are a blot on the world; you must be put outof it. You must stand before your Almighty Judge, your God. He is aGod of mercy to those who have shown mercy. But have you shown it? No!Still you must die!"

The latter expressions were, of course, not uttered by the negroes, butsomething very similar was said; and amid the shouts and execrations ofthe multitude, the wretched man was dragged out, and being shot down, ahundred weapons were plunged in his yet warm and writhing body ere hewas thrown over the cliff to be food for the fowls of the air, which, inspite of the firing, had already settled on the body of the planter, once his superior, now his wretched equal. 

The same scene was enacted with several others. In vain they pleadedfor life, in vain they offered rewards--large bribes, freedom to some, the means of returning to Africa to others who had been brought over. The negroes laughed all offers to scorn. No promises were believed: toooften had they been made and broken; too exquisitely cruel and barbaroushad been the punishments inflicted on prisoners taken in formeroutbreaks, to allow them to lose the gratification of their presentrevenge. 

Often, as this scene has occurred to my mind, have I thought of whatwould be the fate of the planters, and overseers, and other whiteresidents in the Slave States of the American Union, should the negroesever find an opportunity of revolting. What sanguinary massacres wouldtake place! what havoc and destruction would be the result! Few menhave a better right to speak on the subject than I have. I was bornbefore that great country called the United States was a nation. When Icould walk, they were part and parcel of England. I have talked withmen who were engaged in active life before the great Washington saw thelight; who fought against the French on the heights of Abraham, underthe hero Wolfe, and aided to win one of the brightest of her jewels forthe British crown. I, therefore, cannot help looking on the Americansin the light of children--dear relatives; and when I address them, Ispeak to them with love and affection. I say to them, take warning fromthe scene I have been describing; do not submit to the incubus ofslavery a moment longer than you can avoid it. No sensible man expectsyou to throw it off at once; but every right-feeling, right-thinkingman, does expect you to take every means and make every preparation forits abolition, as soon as that important work can be accomplished. Theonly means you have of effecting this object with safety to yourselves, and with justice to those beings with immortal souls now intrusted by aninscrutable decree of Providence to your care, is by educating them, bymaking them Christians, by preparing them for liberty, by setting theman example which they may hereafter follow. Teach them to depend ontheir own exertions for support--to govern themselves--raise them in thescale of humanity: treat them as men should men, and not as Christiansso-called treat the hapless sons of Africa. Remember that the BritishWest India Islands were brought to the verge of ruin, and numberlessfamilies depending on them were ruined, not because the slaves were madefree, but because they were not properly prepared for freedom. Whosefault was that? Not that of the British Government, not that of thenation; but of the planters themselves, of the white inhabitants of theisland. They refused to the last to take any steps to Christianise, toeducate, to raise the moral character of the negroes; and of course thenegroes, when no longer under restraint, revelled in the barbarism inwhich they had been allowed to remain, with all the vices consequent onslavery superadded. 

Should these remarks be read by any citizens of the American SlaveStates, I trust that they will remember what Old Jack says to them. Hehas reason to wish them well, to love them, for he has received muchkindness at the hands of many of their fellow-countrymen; and he repeatsthat they have the power in their own hands to remove for ever from offthem the stigma which now attaches to their name. He does not urge themto do it in consequence of any pressure from without--not at the beckand call of foreigners, but from their own sense of justice; becausethey are convinced that they are doing their duty to God and man; andlastly, that they will be much better served by educated, responsiblefreemen, than by slaves groaning in bondage, and working only fromcompulsion. [See Note. ]

But avast! I cry. I have been driving a long way from the scene I wasdescribing. The negroes I have been mentioning were men who had beenslaves, and had made themselves free, and we see the way they treatedthe whites whom they had got into their power. They were, it must begranted, savages, barbarians, heathens. Their people, who had beencaptured as rebels, had been treated by their white Christian conquerorswith every refinement of cruelty which the malice of man could invent:they had been slain with the most agonising tortures; and yet thesesavages, disdaining such an example, merely shot their prisoners, killing them without inflicting an unnecessary pang. I cannot say thatat the time, however, I thought that they were otherwise than a mostbarbarous set. 

One after the other my companions were led out and shot, and treated astheir predecessors. One, a sturdy Englishman, who had not been long inthe country, it seemed, broke loose, and knocked down several of hisguards. He fought long and bravely with them. Had he been able to gethold of a weapon, he would, I believe, have cut his way out from amongthem. As it was, his fists served him in good stead; and he had alreadyvery nearly cleared himself a path, when a shot from pistol struck himon the knee, and brought him to the ground. Still he struggled bravely;but the negroes, throwing themselves on him, completely overpowered him, and he was at once dragged up to the place of execution. Before he hadtime to look around, or to offer up a prayer to Heaven, a dozen bulletshad pierced his body, and he who was but lately so full of life andstrength was a pallid corpse! I scarcely like to describe the dreadfulscene. Even now I often shudder as I think of it. I have seen men shotdown in battle--I have beheld numbers struggling in the raging sea, which was about to prove their grave; but I never saw men in full healthand strength waiting for their coming death without the means ofstruggling for life--I have never seen men deprived of life in so cooland deliberate a way--I have never so surely expected to be deprivedmyself of life. 

Our numbers had now been dreadfully thinned; the captain, and I, andthree others only remained alive. One of those had become a ravingmaniac, his mind had given way under the horror of death; but now hefeared nothing; he laughed the murderers to scorn; with shouts ofderision on his lips he was shot down. The next man was seized: calmlyhe walked to the spot, and he likewise fell. Will it be the captainnext, or I, or the only other remaining prisoner? The latter wasseized: he looked up to the bright blue sky; to the green woods, wavingwith rich tropical luxuriance of foliage; to the dark faces of thesurrounding multitude; and then at us two, his companions in misfortune;and I shall never forget the look of anguish and terror I saw theredepicted. He saw no help, no chance of escape; in another instant healso was numbered with the dead. Then, indeed, my heart sank within me, for I expected to be like those who were to mortal eyes mere clods ofearth. But instead of seizing me, they approached the captain. Before, however, they could lay their hands on him, his bonds seemed as if bysuperhuman strength to be torn asunder, and up he sprung to do battlefor life! The negroes literally sprung back as they saw him withamazement, and on he bounded towards their chief. No one tried to stophim, and in another instant he had thrown his powerful well-knit limbsso completely around him, that the negro, tall and strong as he was, wasentirely unable to help himself. 

While this scene was enacting I remember seeing another tall negro witha few followers coming along the causeway. When I saw what the captainhad done, remembering also that my bonds could be easily slackened, Icast them off, and sprang after him; and so sudden were my movements, that before any of the astonished blacks could stop me, I had clung tothe legs of the black chief as tightly as I ever clung to atop-gallant-yard in a gale of wind. The chief and his followers were somuch taken by surprise, that no one knew what to say or how to act. Theawe with which the captain had inspired them, and the supernatural mode, as it seemed, by which he had freed himself from his bonds, and freed mealso, made them afraid of approaching lest he should destroy them or thechief. 

The captain saw his advantage, and was not a man to lose it. His lifedepended on his resolution. The horror he must have felt at the scenejust enacted made him resolve not to throw a chance away. As he heldthe chief in his vice-like grasp, with his arms pinioned down, he lookedhim fully in the face and laughed long and loudly. 

"You thought to kill me, did you?" he exclaimed--"you thought that youcould deprive me of life as easily as you did those miserable men youhave just destroyed--me, a man who never injured you or yours; who hasnever wronged one of the sons of Africa. Ay, I can say that with aclear conscience. Often have I benefited them, often have I saved themfrom injury; and perhaps even here there are some who know me, and knowthat I speak the truth. "

"One is here who can prove all he says to be true, " exclaimed a tallnegro, stepping forward from among the crowd. He was the very man I hadremarked approaching the spot along the causeway. 

"My friends, hear me, " he exclaimed. "We have already satisfied ourjust vengeance, and do not let us destroy the innocent with the guilty. Some years ago a ship from Africa, laden with the children of herfruitful soil torn cruelly from their homes, struck on a coral-reef. Aheavy sea dashed over the devoted vessel. Land was in sight, but yetfar-off, blue and indistinct. The white crew had many boats. Theylaunched them and pulled away with heartless indifference, leaving threehundred human beings, men, women, and helpless children, to almostcertain destruction. Night came on. Oh, what a night of horrors! Manydied, some from terror; many were drowned, manacled as they lay in thenoisome hold. When the morning broke a sail appeared in sight. Sheapproached the spot. Some of the negroes who had broken loose madesigns to notify that human beings were still alive on board. The stormhad much abated; a boat was lowered and came close to the wreck. Whenthey saw that no white men were on board, did they pull away and leaveus to our fate? No; they hailed us as fellow-creatures, and told us tocalm our alarms, and that they would do their best to save us. I wasthere--a slave--I who had been a chief in my own country! I asked howmany the boat would hold, and as many, about a dozen, I allowed to enterher at a time. Another boat from the ship soon came to our assistance, and one remained uninjured on board the wreck. We launched her, andmany of the Africans being able to paddle, helped to carry her people tothe ship. Thus all who remained alive on board the wreck were saved. The ship sailed from the spot and approached the land. I asked thebrave captain how he would dispose of us. Some of the people believedthat he would carry us into a port, and there sell us as slaves. Helooked at me hard. `I am no slave-dealer, ' he exclaimed. `Men havecalled me what they deem worse, but that matters not. I should obtain alarge price for you all, and steep my soul in as black a sin as everstained our human nature. No; I will land you on yonder coast, far fromthe habitations of men. There fruit, and roots, and numberlessproductions of kind Nature will amply supply you with food. There youmay be free. I cannot take you back to your own country. I have noother means of helping you. ' The generous captain was as good as hisword--we were landed in safety ere the sun set; and more than that, hesupplied us with such food as he could spare to strengthen us for ourjourney inland to the spot he advised us to seek, where we might remainin safety. Yes, my friends; there is the man who did this noble deed--there is the man whom you were, in your blindness, about so cruelly toslay!"

While the stranger was speaking, I recognised in him the tall negro whohad come on board the brig, on my first voyage, with the mysterious oldman, whom I supposed to be Captain Ralph. As soon as he stepped forwardI felt almost certain that our lives would be spared; but still I didnot let go the chief's legs. He did not often get them so thoroughlypinched, I suspect. 

"I have yet more to tell you, " continued the tall negro. "The nobledeed which that brave man had done was discovered by some of his whitecountrymen, and he was persecuted by them, and compelled to fly for hislife, and for long to become a wanderer over the face of the ocean. They drove him to take to a course of life which they themselvescondemned; and had they captured him, they would have made it plea forhis destruction. "

The harangue which the negro made was even longer than I have given, andthe language was perhaps somewhat more suited to the comprehension ofhis hearers. The effect, at all events, was most satisfactory. Enthusiastic shouts of applause burst from every side; and the chief, inwords and by looks not to be mistaken, assured the captain that both hisand my life would be preserved, and only begged that he would have thegoodness not to squeeze him so tightly. 

On this the captain released him, and the negroes rushing forward, lifted him up on their shoulders, and bore him in triumph round theirvillage. The boys, not to be outdone by their elders, got hold of me assoon as I had let go the chief's legs, and lifting me up in the sameway, followed the captain. Tom-toms were beat, and horns sounded, andcymbals were clashed, and men, and women, and children shrieked andshouted at the top of their voices, and never was heard a wilder outcryand hubbub than that with which we were welcomed as we passed throughthe rebel village. It was far pleasanter than being shot, I thought. The truth is, that so great and sudden was the change in our position, that I could scarcely collect my ideas and convince myself of itsreality. Everything seemed like a dream, both past and present. StillI felt that my life was spared. I tried to be serious, and to bethankful for the mercy shown me; but I am conscious that I succeededvery ill, and allowed my mind to be entirely occupied with the scenegoing forward before my eyes. 

While we were being thus paraded about the village, the women wereengaged in preparing a feast, of which we were invited to partake; and Iknow that, however excited had been my feelings, I had not lost myappetite. 

"Captain, " said I, holding the leg of a roasted monkey in my fist, whilehe was munching away at a stewed snake, or lizard, or some creepingthing or other, "this is pleasanter than feeding the crows down belowthere. I want, sir, to beg the chief's pardon for pinching his legs sotight. I hope that he was not offended. " I spoke in a very differenttone to that in which I had ever before addressed my captain. The truthwas, I felt and acted almost as if I were tipsy. 

The captain looked at me somewhat sternly. "Be more serious, Jack, " heanswered; "we should be thankful to Heaven that we are not as thoseunhappy men are. We have both been mercifully preserved. Restrain yourfeelings, lad; you'll have much to go through before you are out of thefire. "

I do not remember much more about the feast. The negroes ate, anddrank, and laughed, and then got up and danced and sang as merrily as ifthey had not just been the principal actors in a terrific tragedy. Before the feast was over, our old acquaintance the tall negro came upto the captain, and sat himself down by his side. 

"Prepare to leave this at a moment's notice, " said he in a low tone ofvoice. "These people's tempers may change again as rapidly against youas they have lately turned in your favour. They believed what I toldthem of your generosity; but as there is no one here to corroborate theaccount, they might as easily be taught to discredit it. "

"Thanks, my friend, " answered the captain, grasping the negro's hand. "Thanks, Michael; you have indeed repaid any debt you might have thoughtyou owed me. I'll follow your advice, and shall be ready to startwhenever you give the sign. "

"Directly it is dark, then, we must away, you and your young followerthere, " answered the tall negro, whom the captain addressed as Michael. "I have another reason for wishing to be off. This work they have beenabout will certainly bring the military up here; and though they mighthold the place against an army if they knew how, none of them can bedepended on. Now, if you remain here, our friends would expect you tofight for them; and if you were captured by the white men, you would toa certainty be treated as a rebel. "

"Your arguments are quite strong enough, Michael, to make me wish to beoff, " answered the captain, laughing. I did not hear the remainder ofthe conversation. 

The young negroes who had carried me about on their shoulders continuedto treat me very kindly, and brought me all sorts of things to eat, tillreally I could not stuff in a mouthful more. They were much amused byexamining my hands, and face, and clothes, for many of them till thatday had never seen a white boy. They had been born up in themountainous district, where we then were, and where no white person hadever ventured to come. 

At last the negro Michael called the captain and me, and in the hearingof the people, pointing to a hut, told us that it was to be our home. The whole population having had plenty of work for the last few days, retired to their huts, and left us in quiet. As may be supposed, neither the captain nor I ventured to sleep, though, for my part, Iwould very gladly have done so. We waited for some time with no littleanxiety. It was at last relieved by the appearance of Michael. 

"Come, " he whispered, "follow me. I could only ask seamen to take thepath by which I must lead you. " He glided out, and we stepped afterhim. 

There was no moon, but the stars shone forth brightly, and gave ussufficient light to see what was near at hand. Michael led the wayclose to the spot where our companions had been murdered in the morning. On a sudden he disappeared, and I thought that he had fallen over theprecipice. A pang shot through me. But no, he had merely begun todescend by a narrow path cut in the rock. It was indeed both narrow andsteep. Sometimes we had to drop down several feet to a ledge below. There were probably holes in the rock by which people might ascend, butit was too dark to see them. Often we had to press along with ourbreasts to the precipice, holding on to its rugged sides, and with ourbacks over a yawning gulf. I would rather, however, have been on thetopsail-yard-arm in the heaviest gale that ever blew: with a good honestrope in my hand, than where I then was. But darkness prevented ourseeing half its terrors. More than once I thought that I should havegone over; but the captain, whose steps I closely followed, supported mewith his powerful arm, and brought me along in safety. He did not uttera word, and his breath often came fast, as if he was undergoing greatphysical exertion, and was well aware of our perilous position. I knowthat my knees trembled beneath me when Michael told us that we hadreached the bottom. 

"We have gained some miles by this path towards the sea, " said he, "andescaped the risk of being observed. Few even of the people up thereknow the path, and fewer still would venture to descend by it. Now, letus on; we have many miles to go before morning. "

I need not describe our night's journey. For several hours we walked, and often ran on, without stopping even a moment to rest. It isextraordinary what people can do when they are pressed by circumstances. 

We had not accomplished many miles when the moon arose, and shed herlight over the strangely wild and beautiful scene, her beams glancingthrough the tall trees and the numberless creepers which decked theirbranches. Suddenly Michael stopped, and then pressing us back withoutspeaking, conducted us into a thicket composed of prickly pear, cacti, and other strangely-shaped shrubs. Scarcely had he done so when thetramp of men and the sound of horses' feet were heard coming through arocky defile ahead of us, and soon afterwards a body of cavalry passedalong, their helmets and shining arms playing in the moonbeams. Theywere immediately followed by a regiment of infantry, less showy but moreuseful in the style of warfare in which they were likely to engage. Itwould scarcely be believed, at the present day, that several troops ofdragoons were stationed at that time at Kingston, to do what it would bedifficult to say, as they were totally unfit for mountain warfare, andwould scarcely have been of much use to repel invasion. We remainedsilent and concealed as they passed. I concluded that Michael or thecaptain had good reasons not to wish to encounter them. They weregoing, of course, to attack the rebels; but I understood afterwards thatthey obtained but a very slight success, and had to return without inany way contributing to put a stop to the outbreak. That was not donetill some time afterwards, when, by a general amnesty, and a guaranteebeing given for their safety, the Maroons were induced to break up theirconfederacy, and return within the pale of civilisation. 

When daylight came we concealed ourselves in a thick wood, where I couldnot help feeling terribly alarmed lest some snake or other noxiousreptile should injure us while we slept; but Michael assured me that Ineed not fear, and that he would watch that no harm should happen to us. Thus for three nights and a portion of one day we travelled on, tillonce more the bright blue waters of the ocean gladdened our sight. Froma hill we climbed we looked down into a sheltered bay, and there laycalmly at anchor a schooner, which we recognised as the one which hadbeen sent away from the brig under command of Mr Gale. 

We were not long in descending the hill, and hailing her from the shore. Here Michael parted from us, under the plea that he had business whichwould detain him longer in that part of the island. The schooner's boattook us off, and we were soon on board. Mr Gale had heard rumours ofthe attack on the planter's house, and that every one had been murdered, and he was truly glad to see his captain safe; while my kind friendPeter assured me that he was not a little pleased to find that I had notlost the number of my mess. 

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Note. The above was written before the late American Civil War, whichemancipated the slaves of the Southern States. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

A PIRATE STRONGHOLD. 

The little schooner very soon got her cargo on board, and we then put tosea, to return to the brig. We had to make a long reach off-shore toweather a headland, which ran out towards the north, and we were justabout to tack when the wind, which had been very light, failed usaltogether. There we lay, with our sides lazily lapping up theburnished water, and throwing it off again in showers of sparklingdrops, as we rolled away helplessly in the swell. At the same time astrong current was running, which was setting us imperceptiblyoff-shore. However, after having been exposed to it for three or fourhours, I found, on looking up, that we had very much increased ourdistance from the land. The day passed away and the night came, andthere we lay like a log in the water, drifting further and further fromthe land. 

It was truly a solemn night. Every star which floated in the vastexpanse above us was reflected on the surface of the deep; and as Ilooked over the side, I fancied that I could see numberless bright orbsfloating far, far down in the limpid water. Strange sounds reached myears. Suppressed shrieks, and groans, and cries--loud hisses, andmurmuring voices, and strange monsters came up from their rockyweed-covered homes, their fins sparkling, and their eyes flashing asthey clove through the sea. Some would now and again spring into theair and fall back with a loud splash. Others, of huge bulk, I thought, would come and float silently, looking at the little schooner, anintruder on their domain, seemingly devising means how they might driveher from it. I ought to have been below resting, as the captain hadordered me, but I was hot and feverish, and could not remain in theclose atmosphere of the forepeak. As I stood gazing at the sea, Ithought I saw the forms of all the unhappy men murdered by the Maroonspass before me. Each countenance bore the agonised look which I hadbeheld before the fatal signal was given to the firing-party to performthe work of death. They stretched out their hands to me to help them, and moaned piteously, as I stood spell-bound, unable to move. One afterthe other they came gliding by, and then sank down into the water aheadof the schooner. I could stand the dreadful sight no longer, andshrieked out in an attempt to go and help them. 

"What's the matter, lad?" said the voice of Peter Poplar close to myear. "You are overtired--no wonder. Here--I have put a mattress and ablanket for you under shelter. Lie down and take a little rest. You'llwant to use your strength perhaps before long. A sailor should alwayseat when he can, and take his sleep when he can. He is never certainwhen he may have to go without either food or rest. "

I took Peter's advice, and very soon the feelings which oppressed mewore off, and I fell soundly asleep. 

I did not awake till the bright sun was just rising out of themirror-like sea. The calm was as perfect as before; and when I lookedfor the land, I could only just make out its blue and hazy mountainsrising out of the ocean. Hot enough the weather was; but as the sunglided upwards in the sky, a thick mist was drawn over the whole face ofnature. The captain and Mr Gale were on deck, and I saw them scanningthe horizon anxiously on every side. They seemed far from satisfiedwith the look of the weather. Still for some time they could not makeup their minds how to act. 

"What's going to happen now?" said I to Peter some time after this. 

"Do you remember the breeze we had in Kingston Harbour on your firstvoyage?" he asked. 

"What? the hurricane do you mean? Indeed I do, " I replied. "I hope weare not going to have such another in this little craft out here. "

"I'm not so sure of that, Jack, " he replied. "The captain begins tothink so likewise. He'll be for making everything snug, if I mistakenot. "

Peter was right. The order was soon given to strike topmasts, to furlsails, to set up the rigging, to fasten down the hatches, to secureeverything below, and to lash the boats and all spare spars on deck. Everything that could be accomplished was done to prepare the littlecraft for the expected tempest. 

Still everything around us was so calm and quiet that it required nolittle faith in the judgment of our officers to believe that all thispreparation was necessary. Much in the same way do men feel itdifficult to believe in the importance of preparing for another world, when the tide of prosperity carries them along, without care or anxiety, over the sea of life. I have often thought that a gale of wind, alee-shore on a dark night, and the risk of shipwreck, are of use toseamen, to make them prepare for the dangers which sooner or later mustcome upon them. So are all misfortunes--pain, sorrow, loss of friends, deprivation of worldly honours or position--sent to remind people thatthis world is not their abiding-place; that they are sent into it onlythat they may have the opportunity of preparing in it for another and abetter world, which will last for eternity. 

Hour after hour passed away. Still the calm continued. I suspect theofficers themselves began to doubt whether the looked-for hurricanewould ever come. I asked Peter what he thought about it. 

"Come! ay, that it will, " he replied. "More reason that it will comewith all its strength and fury because it is delayed. Look out there!do you see that?"

He pointed towards the now distant land. A dark cloud seemed to berushing out from that direction, and extending rapidly on either side, while below the cloud a long line of white foam came hissing and rollingon towards us. As it reached the spot where we lay, the little vesselheeled over till I thought she would never rise again, and then she wasturned round and round as if she had been a piece of straw. Loudlyroared and howled the fierce blast, and on she drove helplessly beforeit. Every instant the sea rose higher and higher, and the schoonerbegan to pitch, and toss, and tumble about, till I thought she wouldhave been shaken to pieces. 

"Peter, " said I, "we are in a bad way, I am afraid. "

"We should have been in a very much worse way had the wind come fromanother quarter, and driven us towards the land, " he replied, gravely. "Some of the people had begun to grumble because we had been drifted sofar off-shore. We may now be thankful that we were not caught nearer toit, and have already made so much offing. We shall very likely have itround again, and then we shall require all the distance we have come todrive in, and none to spare. "

"I was thinking of the chance we have of going to the bottom, " said I, looking at the huge seas which kept tumbling tumultuously around us. 

"Not much fear of that, " he answered. "We are in a strongly-built andtight little craft; and as long as she keeps off-shore, she'll swim, Ihope. "

Peter's prognostications as to a shift of the wind were speedilyfulfilled, and we found the vessel driving as rapidly towards thedreaded shore as she had before been carried from it. To struggleagainst it was hopeless; our only prospect of safety, should she beblown on it, was to find some creek or river into which we might run;but the probabilities of our finding such a shelter were so very remote, that all we could do was to pray that we might once more be driven awayfrom the treacherous land. Happily such was our fate. Another eddy, asit were, of the whirlwind caught us, and once more we went flying awaytowards the coast of Cuba. That was, however, so far distant that therewas but little fear but that the tempest would have spent its fury longbefore we could reach it. No sail could be set; but the vessel being ingood trim, answered her helm, and kept before the wind. 

Away! away we flew! surrounded with sheets of hissing foam, the wildwaters dancing up madly on every side, threatening, should we stop butfor a moment in our course, to sweep over our decks! Even careless as Ithen was, I could not help feeling grateful that we were not driving ontowards a shore which must speedily stop us in our career; and I thoughtof the many poor fellows who would that day meet a watery grave, theirvessels cast helplessly on the sea-beat rocks. As the wind took usalong with it, we got more than our fair share of the hurricane; and thenight came on while we were still scudding on, exposed to its fury. 

If the scene was wild in the day-time, much more so was it when we weresurrounded by darkness, and a thousand unseen horrors presentedthemselves to our imagination. Though I was not very easily overcome, Ihad suffered so much lately that I felt that I could not endure muchlonger the continuance of this sort of work. At last I fell into a sortof stupor, and I believe that I should have been washed overboard hadnot Peter secured me to the rigging, close to himself. I knew nothingmore till I awoke and found myself lying on the deck, with the sunglancing brightly over the sparkling waters; the schooner, with all sailset, close-hauled, and a gentle breeze blowing. On one side was seen arange of blue hills rising out of the ocean. Peter was kneeling by myside. 

"Get up, Jack, " said he; "you've had a long snooze, but you wanted it, lad, I'm sure. There's some breakfast for you; it will do you goodafter all you have gone through. "

I thanked my kind friend, and swallowed the cocoa and biscuit which hebrought me with no little relish. 

"What! have we so soon got back to Jamaica?" said I, looking over theside, and seeing the blue ranges of hills I have spoken of. 

"Jamaica! no, lad--I wish it was, " he replied. "That's the island ofCuba; and from what I know of it, I wish that we were further off thanwe are. Some ugly customers inhabit it! There has been asuspicious-looking craft for the last hour or so standing out from theland towards us, and as she has long sweeps, she is making good way. Isuspect the captain don't admire her looks, for I have never seen him insuch a way before from the moment he came on deck and caught sight ofher. If we were in the brig we need not have been afraid of her, but inthis little cockle-shell we cannot do much to help ourselves. "

"We can fight, surely!" said I. "We have arms, have we not?"

"What can eight or ten men do against forty or fifty cut-throats, whichprobably that craft out there has on board?" answered Peter. "We'll doour best, however. "

The approaching vessel was lateen-rigged, with two masts, and of greatbeam; and though low in the water, and at a distance looking small, capable of carrying a considerable number of men. Certainly she had avery dishonest appearance. I saw the captain often anxiously lookingout on the weather-side, as if for a sign of more wind; but the gentlebreeze just filled our sails, and gave the craft little more thansteerage-way. All hands kept whistling away most energetically for astronger wind, but it would not come. The felucca, however, sailed veryfast. As we could not get out of her way, the captain hailed, and verypolitely asked her to get out of ours, or rather to steer clear of us. Instead of replying, or acting according to his request, some forty uglyfellows or more, of every hue, from jet-black to white, and in everystyle of costume, sprung up on her decks from below, and directlyafterwards she ranged up alongside of us. The captain, on this, orderedher to sheer off; but instead of so doing, grappling-irons were thrownaboard us, and her fierce-looking crew made a rush to leap on our deck. They were met, however, by our captain, Mr Gale, Peter, and the rest ofour people, who, with pistol and cutlass in hand, were prepared todispute their passage. 

The pirates, for such there could be no doubt our visitors were, hadfour or more guns mounted on their deck; but they seemed resolved todepend rather on their overwhelming numbers than on them for victory. They had not calculated, apparently, what a few determined men could do. "Stand back, ye scoundrels!" shouted our brave captain, in a voicewhich made the ruffians look up with amazement, though I do not thinkthey understood his words. He gave them further force by a sweep of hiscutlass, with which he cut off the head of the nearest of hisassailants. Peter, whose arm was almost as powerful, treated another inthe same way; and Mr Gale knocked a third over with his pistol beforeany of them had time to get hold of our rigging. This determinedresistance caused them to draw back for an instant, which enabled Peter, with one of the other men, to cast loose the grappling-irons forward. At the same time two of the pirates, who were attempting to leap onboard, were dealt such heavy blows on the head that they were knockedoverboard before any of their companions could help them. "Well done, my lads!" cried the captain. "Keep up the game in this way, and we mayyet beat off the villains!" Saying this he sprang aft to drive back agang of the pirates, who were attempting to board on our quarter. Twoof the first paid dearly for their temerity, and were cut down by eitherthe captain or Mr Gale. I got a long pike, and kept poking away overthe bulwarks at every fellow I could reach. Several pistols were firedat me, but missed their aim; but at last the pike was dragged out of myhands, and thrown overboard. Unfortunately there was so little windthat the pirates, by getting out a sweep on the opposite side of theirvessel, brought her head aboard, and at the same time made a rush to geton our deck. Peter, with two of our men, hurried to repel them; but abullet at that moment struck one of them on the breast, and knocked himover. Poor fellow! I tried to save him as he fell; but the heavy wayin which he came to the deck showed me that his fighting days were over. I ran to help Peter and my other shipmates, but the pirates pressed usso hard that we had little hope of keeping them out. In the meantimealso a stout active little Spaniard, followed by two or three blacks andanother white man, made a spring at our bulwarks about midships; andthough one of our men, Tom Hardy, most bravely threw himself beforethem, they gained the deck, and cut him down before any furtheropposition could be offered. Others followed them, and gaining thewhole centre part of the vessel, our crew were completely divided. Wehad lost two men. Thus the captain, Mr Gale, and one man held the deckaft; while Peter, another man, and I still stood at our post forward. But what could we hope to do against the crowd of ruffians who swarmedon board? At the same moment they pressed towards us and the captain, and would have carried us overboard had we not sung out, and asked forquarter. The bravery which the captain and the rest had displayedseemed to have won their admiration and respect; for instead of cuttingus down and throwing us into the sea, they instantly granted us thequarter we asked. Our arms were taken from us, and we were ordered togo on board the felucca, while the pirates proceeded to rifle theschooner. Except the hogsheads of sugar, which would not have been ofmuch use to them, they found very little, I suspect, to repay them forthe heavy cost of our capture. The vessel, however, would probably havebeen of some value to them, as she was a fine little craft. 

The schooner having a crew put on board her, the two vessels stood awayto the westward. Peter told me that he suspected we were bound to oneof the numerous small islands--keys they are called--which are found ingreat numbers off the south coast of Cuba. We were allowed to walkabout the deck without molestation; but our position was far from apleasant one, for any moment our captors might take it into their headsto make us walk the plank, or to get rid of us by some other means. Ihad never seen a person made to walk the plank, but I had heard itdescribed as a favourite method employed by pirates to get rid of theirprisoners. A long plank is run out over the side, and the victim, blindfolded, is made to walk along it. When he gets to the outer end, the inner part is tilted up, and he is slid into the sea. I earnestlyprayed that such might not be our fate, and yet I could not see whatbetter we could expect. We had evidently fallen into the hands ofdesperate outlaws, not likely to be influenced by any of the dictates ofhumanity. At all events, we were likely to be kept prisoners, andprobably made to work as slaves for these villains, without a chance ofescaping. The captain seemed most cast down. He would, of course, mostcertainly be thought to be lost. His vessel would sail without him, andreport his death at home. As he was a married man, with severalchildren, the trial was indeed great to him. 

I tried to make out who was the captain of the pirates, but theyappeared at first to me to be all equal. A fat, sturdy mulatto, was, Iafter a time suspected, the chief mate, or one of the principalofficers; and the Spaniard, who had first succeeded in boarding us, wasanother. Not one of them spoke a word of English, though from the firstI suspected that two or more of the white men understood it, if theywere not Englishmen or people from the American colonies. At allevents, I followed Peter's advice--not to say anything about which itmight be well not to have heard. I have often seen people get intogreat scrapes, and bring most disagreeable consequences on themselves, from disregarding that rule. Never say anything among foreigners, inyour own or any other language, which you do not wish them tounderstand; or even give expression to your feelings in looks, whicheven savages, you should remember, can frequently comprehend. 

Our two poor shipmates who had been wounded died, I hope, before we leftthe schooner. At all events, the pirates threw them overboard. Including Peter and me, there were thus only three foremast-men, besidesthe blacks, and a mulatto who had been shipped as pilot for the tripround the coast. We all kept together sitting on and about one of theguns; but very little conversation passed between us. The captain andMr Gale walked the deck near us, but they said very little to eachother. A negro brought us, towards the evening, a large dish of farina, with some sort of meat stewed in it. Though not over pleasant to thelook, it was acceptable enough to hungry men, for we had had nothing toeat since the morning. A more palatable-looking dish was placed beforethe captain and Mr Gale. This care of us showed that they did not, atall events, intend to starve us to death, as they would scarcely havefed people whom they intended to kill. 

I observed the Spaniard and the mulatto mate occasionally going down anafter-hatchway, which I supposed led into the chief cabin, but for whatreason they went I could not tell; and I observed that whenever thecaptain and Mr Gale approached the spot, a guard stationed there turnedthem back. When night came on, a sail was handed to us, which we spreadover the gun, and crept under it; and I observed that a couple ofmattresses were sent on deck, and that a sail was secured over thebulwarks, to make a somewhat better tent for our officers. 

We passed the whole of the next day much as we had done the first. Theblack, and white, and coloured crew did not regard us with very friendlylooks; but they did not molest us. A dark-skinned lad would, however, occasionally come up to me when neither of the mates were looking, andtouching a formidable-looking knife he wore in his sheath, signify thathe should enjoy running the point into me. Some relation of his hadbeen among the men killed, and this made him feel bitter towards us. Peter, who saw the action, advised me to remain quiet, and to take nonotice of it. "He only wants an excuse for a quarrel, and therefore, unless you wish to please him, do not give it, " observed my friend. Ifollowed his advice, not only at the present, but on many futureoccasions, and thus avoided many of the quarrels and disputes into whichI saw others plunged. The men who brought us our food growled a littleat us, as if they would much rather have been making us food for thefish; but as we made them no answer, they went away and left us toourselves. As the wind was generally light, we did not make muchprogress. Thus another night passed away. 

When the morning of the next day broke, I saw that we were running inamong reefs, which I could tell by the ripple of the otherwise calmwater breaking over them. Ahead was a low sandy shore, mangrove-busheslining some portion of it, with palms and plantains, and a few othertropical trees, rising beyond them. As we sailed on, threading theglass-like channels, the sun rose higher and higher, and shone down withintense heat on our heads, drawing forth, at the same time, a thingauze-like mist over the whole scene. "This is a regular trap, "observed Peter. "If a man once gets in here, I defy him to find his wayout again, unless he was born and bred on the spot. " The captain andMr Gale were watching the progress of the vessel, and tried to look asunconcerned as possible; but they were evidently considering if it werepossible to take a vessel out by the way they had come in. 

At length we entered the mouth of a narrow creek, lined with themangrove-bushes I have spoken of on either side; some growing in thebright pure water, others with their branches just dipping into theclear liquid, and so distinctly reflected that I could not tell wherethe real bough ended and its phantom-likeness began. After running onfor half a mile, and making frequent turns, we found ourselves in a widelagoon, several other craft of different sizes and rigs being at anchorin it. On shore, there was a collection of large wooden sheds lookinglike stores, and some huts, and a few buildings of more pretensions, apparently dwelling-houses. There was nothing like order or regularityin the arrangement of the village; but each store or cottage seemed tohave been placed as suited the fancy of the owner, the whole wearing avery nautical, shipwreck appearance. Many of the roofs were formed ofthe bottoms of boats; sails, with a coating of paint or tar, were nailedover others; and the planks and ribs of vessels had entered largely intothe construction of all the edifices. I made these observations as wewere shortening sail and coming to an anchor. It was very clearly apirate stronghold, and had been probably so for some years. The pirateshad allowed us to remain on deck and see the approach to it, evidentlytrusting to the difficulties of the navigation to prevent any of usfinding our way out of it, or in again, should we obtain our liberty. Though art had done nothing, nature had done everything to make theplace impregnable, unless a pilot could be found to show an enemy theway. Against such a result they had several safeguards: each man ofthis fraternity had bound himself by an oath not to betray any of theirsecrets. The Spanish authorities took very little cognisance of them, as their own vessels were not attacked; while at that time the governorsof the West India Islands did not trouble themselves much about rootingout piracy; and it was only when some act of especial atrocity had beencommitted, that, if a man-of-war was in the way, she was sent in chaseof the pirate. 

As soon as we had dropped our anchor, several boats came off from theshore with people eager to learn the news we brought. They lookedsuspiciously at us, and seemed not very well satisfied at the result oftheir inquiries. It was far from pleasant to see a number ofcut-throat-looking fellows parading up and down before us with theirhands on the hilts of their long knives, with which they kept playing asif anxious to try their temper in our bodies. Captain Helfrich stoodall the time with folded arms leaning against the bulwarks, and all wecould do was to imitate his example. I was not sorry, however, when themulatto mate intimated to us that we were to get into the boat and go onshore, as I thought that we should then probably be more out of the wayof our irascible-looking friends. We were ordered into one boat withMr Gale, while the captain was carried away in another. This seriouslyexcited our apprehension, as we could not tell what evil might beintended him. He, however, though very grave, seemed to be under noapprehension, but stepped into the boat as if he was going on shore onhis own business. 

As soon as we landed, we were marched up to one of the store-likebuildings; and a ladder being shown us, up which we went through a trapwhich closed behind us, we found ourselves in a large airy loft. Thefurniture consisted of some heaps of the straw or leaves of Indian corn. It looked clean, and was, therefore, more suited to our wants thanwould have been any number of pieces of the handsomest furniture--suchas marble tables, mahogany sideboards, satin-wood wardrobes, or gold andchina vases. As Peter observed, when he threw himself on one of theheaps: "Never mind, my lads, we're rich if we've got what we want. Ifour friends below would send us up a dish of turtle and rice, or some oftheir ollas, we, at any rate, shall have no reason to complain of ourlot. We shall get out of this one of these days; so, in the meantime, let us make ourselves comfortable. " Peter's good temper kept up thespirits of the rest of our party. I have often found the advantage ofhaving a person like Peter among a number of people placed incircumstances like ours, either in prison, or cast away, or detained insome disagreeable place; and I have, therefore, always endeavoured toimitate him in that respect, as well as in others, by keeping up my ownspirits, and by cheering my companions in misfortune. Mr Gale, undermost circumstances, would have contributed to support us; but on thepresent occasion he was evidently too much weighed down with graveapprehensions as to what was likely to befall us all, to act as he wouldotherwise have done. Not having anything else to do, and being verytired, we all went to sleep. 

After some hours, for the sun was low by that time, we were awoke. Hearing a bolt being withdrawn, and looking up, I saw the trap lifted, and a negro appeared. On his head he carried a large bowl, with somewooden spoons in it. He placed the bowl before us, and signified thatwe might eat its contents. Curiously enough, it contained the verything Peter had been wishing for--a stew of turtle and rice, a thing notto be despised by hungry men. It was very good, I know. After eatingit, we went to sleep again, and for my own part I did not awake tilldaylight. After some time, a bowl of a sort of porridge was brought us, and some plantains, which, with pork, forms the common food of thepeople of Cuba. Twice in the day food was brought us. It was bothabundant and good, so that we had no reason to complain of the way thepirates treated us. The great puzzle was to discover why it was thatthey were so civil. Had they kept us on bread and water, and spared ourlives, we should have had reason to be grateful; as the usual mode ofproceeding of such gentry, we understood, always was to shoot all whowould not take the oaths and join them. 

We were not allowed to go out of the place, or to hold intercourse withanybody. The only light which was let into the place came from a holein the roof above our heads. It was so placed that we could not manageto climb up to it. I managed, however, to find a chink in the floor, near the trap; and whenever I looked through it, I saw a man with amusket standing there as a guard. 

Three or four days thus passed away. We could hear nothing of thecaptain, for the only person we saw was the negro, and when we askedhim, he only shook his head, and intimated that he did not understandwhat we said. Mr Gale, after a time, aroused himself, and gave usinstructions in various matters; and Peter and one of the other men toldsome capital stories, and we all took it by turns to sing songs. I wasnot a bad hand at that, by-the-by; I had learned several as a child, andhad picked up others since then, and as my voice was a good one, mysongs were generally favourites. 

The time, however, began to hang rather heavily on our hands, when oneevening a stranger made his appearance, and looking at me, said inEnglish, "Youngster, you are wanted. " I was startled at hearing thesound of an English voice; but I, of course, thought the captain wantedme, so I went, very willing to accompany him. The trap was boltedbehind me. He took me to one of the largest cottages I had observed, and entering it, pointed to a door, and told me to go in. I did so, andthere I saw seated at a table the identical old gentleman whom Ibelieved to be called Captain Ralph. He did not look a day older thanwhen he came on board the _Rainbow_ off Saint Kitt's, and he wore thesame old-fashioned three-cornered hat and laced-coat. 

"You have seen me before, lad, " said he, eyeing me closely. 

"Yes, sir, " said I, resolving to be frank with him; "on board the_Rainbow_. "

"You are attached to your captain, and would wish to do him a service?"he added. 

"Yes, sir, " said I. "What do you want me to do?"

"Tell him that all his people have taken the oaths and joined theconfederacy, " he answered, looking at me hard. 

"I don't know what oaths, or what else you mean, sir, " I answered. "Icannot tell him anything that is not true. "

"What? a ship-boy with a conscience?" he exclaimed, bursting into a fitof laughter. "I tell you, lad, you must do as you are bid. "

"Yes, sir, I'll do what my captain tells me, " I replied, simply. "Butfor the matter of saying anything to deceive him, I won't do it. I'lltell him the truth, and then he'll know how to act. "

He looked at me very hard for a moment or so, and then rang a bell byhis side. From what he had said, I hoped that the captain was safe andwell. The same man who had brought me in appeared. 

"Send Diego here to take care of this youngster, and bring in one of theother men, the tall one--I will try what I can make of him, " he said;and the white man disappeared. 

Directly afterwards, a sturdy black man came in. Captain Ralph pointedto me. He seized me by the collar, and held me a prisoner on one sideof the room. In a short time Peter was brought in. 

"You find life and liberty sweet, my man?" said the old gentleman, addressing him. 

"I've no objection to either, " answered Peter sturdily. 

"You've been well-treated since you've been here?" said Captain Ralph. 

"I've no reason to complain, " was Peter's laconic reply. 

"Very well; you may judge that I do not wish you ill, " observed CaptainRalph. "Now, I won't conceal it from you, we have a body of people onthis island who don't own any laws except those of our own making. Alarge number of them are Spaniards, and I want a few honest Englishmen, who will stick by one another, to join us. What do you say? Are youinclined to join us? Your captain will, I have no doubt, and so willthis lad and the rest of your shipmates. "

I shook my head. Captain Ralph did not see me, but the negro did, andgave me a cuff on the head in consequence. I had not fancied that thenegro understood English, but from this circumstance I have no doubt hedid. 

Peter gave a hitch to his trousers when the question was put to him, andthen vehemently scratched his head. "Look ye here, sir, " he answered ina firm voice, which showed that he had made up his mind how to act, "Iam much obliged for the treatment I and my shipmates have received sincewe came to this place, barring the being kept inside a sort of prison, so to speak; but you must just understand, sir, that I've been broughtup to be an honest man, and an honest man I hope to remain to the end ofmy days; and so, as to taking any oath to turn pirate, or in any way toassociate with those who do, I'll not do it. So now you've my answer. "

The pirate chief--for so I may as well at once call him--seemed to besomewhat taken aback at this answer; but he laughed as I had beforeheard him. "You _Rainbow_ lads have odd notions of your own abouthonesty! We'll see what the rest of you have to say on the subject. "

Mr Gale was next sent for. He, as may be supposed, at once refused tojoin the pirates. The other men, fancying that we had joined them, promised to do so; but it struck me that Captain Ralph did not lookparticularly well satisfied at hearing their reply. 

What his intentions were we could not tell, for he ordered us all atonce to be taken back to our place of confinement, under a guard of fiveor six men, who stood outside ready for that purpose. What had becomeof the captain puzzled us most to discover. We said nothing, however, as we went along, for we were pretty certain that the people who hadcharge of us perfectly understood English, if they were not mostlyEnglishmen. 

We remained two or three days longer shut up, in a state of great doubtand uncertainty. Sometimes we fancied that we should be taken out andshot; at others, that we might be set at liberty. However, I could nothelp hoping that Captain Ralph was well-disposed towards us. What thepirates were about all this time we could not tell; but we supposed thatthey could scarcely remain idle, and if we were to make our escape atall, we looked forward to the time when the greater portion were goneaway on some expedition. 

We very soon got tired of not being able to see what was going forwardin the outer world. We accordingly hunted about the roof, to find aspot where we could remove the shingles, or split planks of wood whichformed it, without leaving any marks which might be observed. This, after a little time, we succeeded in doing with our knives; and thus weformed a look-out hole on each side of the building. On one side, wecould see all over the harbour; on another, we looked down towards themouth; a third looked over a very uninviting country inland, with themountains of Cuba seen in the far distance, blue and indistinct; while, by looking through the fourth, we discovered that we were separated fromthe open sea by a piece of land little more than a mile in width. Wecould not, of course, see what was going forward close under thebuildings, but we could observe the movements of people on shore at alittle distance off. Our ears, however, helped us when our eyesightfailed. One of us was always on the look-out at each hole, while thefifth kept watch at the chink, to give timely notice of anybody'sapproach to the ladder. 

For some days we had observed the people busily employed in fitting, rigging, and in shaping and altering spars. At length there was anunusual bustle, and boats were continually going backwards and forwardsbetween the vessels, carrying stores of various sorts. It was clearthat there was at length an expedition on foot. We naturally fanciedthat it would produce some change in our position, but whether forbetter or worse remained to be seen. 

The next morning the harbour was covered with boats carrying people onboard the vessels; and directly afterwards six of them got under way, and stood out towards the sea. Whether or not Captain Ralph went withthem we could not discover. We could not perceive our own schooner inthe harbour, but there was a vessel which we thought might be her lyingout towards the mouth of the creek. There were still, we remarked, agood number of people left on the island. We saw them moving about inall directions for some hours after the fleet had sailed, and then theyretired into the huts and sheds which served as their homes. Such wasthe state of things when we lay down to rest that night. 

About midnight, we were startled by hearing the trap-door lifted. Atthe same time a man appeared with a lantern in his hand. I recognisedhim as the person who had conducted me to the presence of Captain Ralph. 

"I have come here as a friend, my men, " he said in a low voice, puttingdown the lantern. "You have shown that you can be faithful to your owncaptain, and mine, therefore, believes that he can trust you to do him aservice. Is he right?"

"Yes, " answered Mr Gale, speaking for the rest of us; "anything which, as honest men, we can do to help him we will gladly undertake. "

"That's right, " said the stranger. "You must know, then, that we havehere men of various nations. Many of them are Spaniards. They andother foreigners have lately been growing more and more jealous of ourcaptain. He has done two or three things lately to offend theirprejudices, certainly. The consequence is, that they have hatched aconspiracy, which has just been discovered, to murder him and all theEnglish in the place; you all will be among the first victims. Inasking you to fight for us, I invite you to fight for your own lives. To show that I trust you, I have brought you some pistols andammunition, and a bundle of swords done up in this sail. The villainshave fixed on an hour before daybreak to begin the attack on us. Armyourselves, and be ready to sally forth at a moment's notice. They willsound a trumpet as a signal to their party to begin the work ofslaughter. I will try to be here before then. If I am not, make yourway to Captain Ralph's quarters. He will have, before that, releasedyour captain, who will put himself at your head. You will also bejoined by four or five men, who, like me, will be glad to get away fromthis den, and regain our liberty at any cost. I must stay no longer, orI may be missed. Be prompt and firm, and we may come off conquerors. Remember, however, it is victory or death for all of us!"

These words came like a thunder-clap among us. We could scarcelybelieve our ears. Mr Gale, however, at once replied, that we wouldundertake exactly to follow the stranger's directions, as we clearlyunderstood the dangerous predicament in which we all stood. The instanthe received our reply, he hurried from the loft, and we could see hisfigure from our loophole proceeding to the upper part of the settlement. 

Our first care was to examine the package, which we found contained thearms he had promised. We immediately loaded the pistols, and buckled onthe cutlasses, and then stood ready to descend at the expected signal. To men long shut up as we had been, any excitement is acceptable; sothat, far from feeling any alarm at what we had heard, scarcely anythingcould have contributed so much to raise our spirits. I truly believethat we valued the prospect of obtaining our liberty much more from thechance of having to fight for it. We were only eager for the fray tobegin. We could not tell exactly how we were to find out our enemies;but Mr Gale charged us not to attack anyone till we were attacked, unless we received directions from Captain Helfrich, or the stranger whohad just visited us. 

The state of things which existed, it appeared, among this community ofsea-robbers, showed me a truth which I have since found frequentlyconfirmed, that oaths are of little or no value among men who arecontinually breaking God's laws. They are kept as a rule only as longas it is convenient or necessary to each individual to keep them; butthe moment he thinks it to his advantage to break them, he does sowithout the slightest compunction. The terrific oaths which weresupposed to bind together the ruffians of the Blackbeard school, wereover and over again broken, and would never have been kept unlessinterest, or the lowest superstition, had held the ruffians faithful tothem. The value of an oath, as a pledge taken in the sight of theAlmighty God, they could not comprehend. Much the same was evidentlythe case in the present instance; and here there was every prospect of along existing community of outlaws breaking up from internaldissensions. We could only earnestly hope that such might be theirfate. "Depend on it, Jack, my boy, " said Peter to me, when talking onthe subject, "there's only one thing can bind men truly together, andthat is honesty of purpose. Real friendship cannot exist among knaves. "In my long life I have invariably found his remarks verified. 

Hour after hour passed away while we waited for the signal. Of coursewe were very anxious, but our spirits rather rose than fell as we talkedover the various plans which it might be necessary for us to adopt toeffect our escape. We had an advantage the pirate who visited us didnot suspect: we had surveyed the ground from our look-out, and knew thatour own schooner, or one like her, was at the mouth of the harbour. Weagreed, as soon as we had driven back the Spaniards and their party, toset fire to their stores; and while they were endeavouring to put themout, to make a rush for the boats, and thus to effect our escape downthe lagoon. 

The night had become very silent--not a sound was heard, either on shoreor on the water. There was a gentle land-breeze blowing, which would beall in our favour if once we could get to the vessel. Suddenly theshrill blast of a trumpet was heard. Peter gave one glance through theloophole, and said he saw torches flaming in the upper part of thevillage; and presently loud shouts and cries burst forth from the samedirection. We slid down the ladder as fast as one could follow theother, Mr Gale leading. If a guard had been there, he had run off atthe first sound of the trumpet. We hurried on in the direction we hadbeen desired to take. We had not gone far when we were met by thestranger. "No time to lose; on, my lads!" he exclaimed, leading theway. Before us torches were waving, and there were the flashes offire-arms. Their reports were heard, as was the clash of steel. Weadvanced together rapidly. Suddenly flames burst out of one of thelarge stores. The building itself and its contents, probably being ofinflammable materials, blazed up fiercely, and its light fell on thefigures of a number of men fighting desperately. One person wasconspicuous above those of all the others. It was that of our owncaptain. As we saw him we raised a cheer, which must have reached hisears. He answered it with a shout such as few but he could give. Againwe cheered, and dashed on with redoubled speed. We were but just intime to help him. He stood with his back against a wall, almostsurrounded with enemies, bestriding the body of Captain Ralph; while hisright hand wielded a huge sword, such as few but he could use toadvantage. "On, my lads! Charge the villains!" he shouted. We needednot the command, but rushed against the mass of Spaniards, mulattoes, and blacks, who were besetting him, with such hearty good-will, and ourattack being, at the same time, so unexpected, that we drove them back, helter-skelter, some hundred yards, killing and wounding a number ofthem in the way. We should have gone further, but we were recalled bythe captain's voice. We found him lifting Captain Ralph's body in hisarms. "To the boats! to the boats!" shouted some of the Englishmen, each of whom bore, I perceived, a considerable bundle on his shoulders. We, supporting our captain, followed the way they led. Five or sixboats, with their oars and sails in them, were in the water at a roughwooden quay. We jumped into them, and shoved off. 

Several English had been killed, and some had been wounded, whom theircomrades had assisted to the water-side. The scene was lighted up bythe blaze of several wooden stores and other buildings. Among them wasCaptain Ralph's cottage. The lights from the flaming mass fell on alarge body of Spaniards, who had rallied, and were advancing rapidlytowards us. "It matters not, " shouted some of our new companions, witha laugh of derision; "they'll find no boats to pursue us; and when theyget back to their homes, they'll discover that not a few of their goldingots are gone. Hurrah! hurrah! Give way, my lads, though! They'llbring their guns to bear upon us if we do not make good way down thecreek. " We had all jumped into the nearest boats at hand, without anyrespect to order, and the stoutest hands had seized the oars. I foundmyself in the boat with my captain and Captain Ralph. The old man layin the stern-sheets supported in my captain's arms. He still lived, buthe appeared to be badly wounded. Neither spoke for some time. Thecaptain told me to take the yoke-lines, and to steer according to hisdirections. Peter pulled one of the oars, and our boat took the lead;but, to my surprise, my captain seemed to know all the turnings of thecreek as well as any of the pirates. 

We had got but a short distance when our opponents reached the side ofthe water, when, finding no boats, they began rapidly firing away at us. Though the light from the blazing buildings fell on us, it did notenable them to judge accurately of the distance we were from them, andmost of their shot went over our heads. Though we had plenty of arms inthe boat, we did not attempt to return their fire; but some of ourlawless companions gave vent to their anger in shouts and execrations. 

Wild as the scene had hitherto been, it was yet further heightened by aloud explosion, which sent fragments of burning embers falling evenaround the boats. At the sound, Captain Ralph raised his head andlooked towards the village. "They have lost their expected prize, andmany of them have received what they little expected!" he exclaimed, with that peculiar low laugh in which I had before heard him indulge. He had for the moment forgotten his condition. He was, I saw clearly, desperately wounded. The exertion of moving and speaking was greaterthan he could bear, and he sunk back into the captain's arms. 

The bullets were all this time flying thickly about the boats, though wewere rapidly increasing our distance from the shore. Several of themhad whistled by my ear. Then I heard one strike close to me with apeculiar dead sound. At the same moment a sharp, unearthly cry rung inmy ear. It was uttered by Captain Ralph. "Helfrich!" he exclaimed, "they have done for me. I thought that I had secured all I required, and might live henceforth in peace. I die with unnumbered sins on myconscience, without one good act performed, with every advantageneglected, with a thousand opportunities of reformation thrown away. Ihave lived a life of imposture, outraging all laws, human and divine, and I die miserably without hope--without hope--without hope! Oh, saveme! save me! save me!" The last words the miserable man gasped out withdifficulty. Scarcely had he spoken them, when his head fell down overhis breast, a convulsive shudder passed through his frame, and the oncedreaded pirate was dead!

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

PIRATES IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 

The balls from the pirates' muskets not a little increased the rapidityof our movements. Two or three men in the other boats were hit, and onewas killed. When Captain Helfrich discovered what had occurred, hecarefully closed the old pirate's eyes, and placed the body on the seatby his side. His men, however, evinced very little sorrow at his death. Who he was, and what he had done during his life, I was never ableclearly to learn. He was a man of education, and a first-rate seaman, as I had had an opportunity of observing; and I should think that hewould have succeeded in any line of life he might have chosen to adopt. He selected, unhappily, a very bad one, for I believe that his wholecareer had been lawless; but that, rather from the peculiarity of histemper than from any fear of committing evil, he had usually abstained, when he had the power in his own hands, from shedding blood. 

The grey dawn broke as we were pulling down the creek, and just as theheadmost boat touched the side of a schooner which lay at its mouth, thesun rose in a blaze of glory out of the smooth dark blue ocean. Peter, looking over his shoulder, recognised her as our little sugar vessel. We were soon alongside. Friends to our lawless companions were onboard. The cable was hove short, the mainsail was set, and all wasready to weigh in a moment. As many boats as the schooner could stow ondeck: were hoisted on board; the rest went ahead to tow her out. Theplan of escape had been well arranged by Captain Ralph and hisfollowers. When they found that their long-trusted leader was dead, their dismay was great. No time, however, was to be lost. A man whohad gone to the mast-head, whence he could look over the mangrove-bushesinto the lagoon, reported that some of the vessels there were makingsail in pursuit. We, however, had a good start of them. Still, withouta leader, there was some confusion, and the energies of the people werenot applied to their full advantage. 

Suddenly there arose a cry among them that a captain must be chosen. "The English captain! the English captain!--Captain Helfrich is ourman!" was shouted by all the pirates; and it was very evident that, whether he would or not, they would compel him to take the post. 

"My men, I am obliged to you for your good opinion of me, " said CaptainHelfrich, standing up among them; "still I cannot be your captain. Iwill be your pilot to take you out of this harbour, and to enable you togain a place of safety, on one condition, that you disperse at the timeI point out to you. I make this agreement for your own advantage. Ifyou keep together, you are certain before long to get into trouble. Will you trust me?"

"We agree! we agree!" was replied on all sides. "We trust you, sir, forwe know you mean us well. "

"Then heave up the anchor, sheet home the headsails, up with the helm, and let her cast to starboard, " cried the captain, almost in the samebreath. 

A man was stationed at the bowsprit-end, and another at the mast-head, to give notice of any rocks beneath the water which might lie in ourcourse; but Captain Helfrich seemed scarcely to require suchinformation. The little schooner threaded the narrow and intricatepassage with unerring accuracy, every instant the rapidity of herprogress being increased by the freshening wind. It was well, indeed, for our safety that we had a steady breeze, for while we were stillwithin the labyrinth of reefs, several vessels were seen emerging fromamong the mangrove-bushes. As they advanced, they fired their guns atus; but we were still far beyond their range. Had it not been, indeed, for the many turns in the passage, we should have been so far away thatthey could not have hoped to reach us. We had only our heels to dependon, for, with so overpowering a force, the Spaniards must easily haveovercome us. Our great danger consisted in the possibility of strikingon a rock before we could get clear of the reefs. On this probabilityour enemies calculated when they came in pursuit. 

We had several reaches to pass through, which in no way increased ourdistance from them through the air, and at last several of their shotcame whistling over our mast-heads. One went through our mainsail. Wecould only stand still and look at our enemies, while our little vesselmade the best of her way from them. 

"Hurrah, my lads! we are in the last reach, " shouted our captain; "infive minutes we shall be in clear water!"

The men shouted in return. Stronger blew the breeze, making the bluesea sparkle and leap outside. On either hand it broke in masses offoam, which leaped high into the air. On we flew! A narrow channel ofsmooth water was before us. We glided through it. "Hurrah--hurrah! weare free--we are free!"

I remember how fresh and pure I thought the sea air smelt. With whatfreedom I breathed, after being shut up so long in a hot loft! Thebreeze was easterly--a wind which would carry us on a bowline toJamaica. Every sail the little schooner could carry was set on her. Our pursuers were not, however, yet willing to give up the chase. Onceclear, with the open sea before us, we distanced them fast, and thesailing qualities of the little schooner being very fair, we had littlefear of being overtaken. 

From what I saw of our present companions, I certainly should not haveliked to have associated much with them. While danger threatened, theywere quiet enough; but as the prospect of being overtaken decreased, they grew more reckless and overbearing in their manner, and showed withhow little provocation they would be ready to break into a quarrel withus, or among themselves. Thanks to Mr Gale's and Peter's example, wewere not likely to give them cause for that. As they had been preparedfor flight, they had not only put on a considerable quantity ofadditional clothing, but each man carried round his waist a belt filledwith gold and silver coins, while his pockets were filled with jewelsand such silver ornaments and other articles of value which he couldmanage to stow away in them. This much impeded their activity, though, of course, it was but natural that they should wish to carry away withthem as much as they could of those spoils, to gain which they hadhazarded the loss both of life and soul!

"It will be as well, for their own sakes, that none of those fellowsfall overboard, " observed Peter to me when none of them were near tolisten; "they'll go down like a shot, and then what will be the use tothem of all the dollars and the gold they have collected? What's theuse of it to them now? just to spend in the grossest folly anddebauchery; and for the sake of collecting it, they have been living alife of murder and rapine! All I can say is that I don't want to changeplaces with them, though their pockets are full and mine are empty!" Iagreed with Peter that neither would I, and we had good reason beforelong to think the same. 

We were still not clear of danger from our pursuers. The breezefreshened so much that it was with difficulty we could stagger alongunder the press of canvas we carried; and as the Spaniards' vessels weremuch larger, had we been compelled to shorten sail, they might easilyhave come up with us. If they did, we well knew that we could expect nomercy from them. Still the chase was very exciting. However, I wouldrather be the pursuer than the pursued; and I suppose that a hare, or afox, or a stag would, if it could express its opinion, agree with me inthe latter remark. Fortunately for us the breeze kept very steady; andas, after a time, the Spaniards found that they lost ground rather thangained on us, they tacked and stood back towards the Cuban coast. Thisevent was noticed with loud cheers by all our people, nor was I slack injoining them. 

Our passage, till we sighted the coast of Jamaica, was very rapid. Captain Helfrich had made some arrangement with the pirates as to theirfuture course. I do not know what it was. Some were to go away intheir boats in different directions; some wished to land, and others tobe put on board homeward-bound vessels. They wanted to take theschooner, but, of course, he could not willingly let them have her, asshe was not his property. I suspect that they had formed a plan to takeher; but their designs, if such existed, were defeated. 

Among the cargo were some small casks of rum. A knowledge of this factthe captain wished to keep concealed from everybody on board. Unhappily, however, the pirates discovered them, and, in spite ofCaptain Helfrich's remonstrances and warnings, they very soon had themup and broached on deck. Every minute they became more and more riotousand inclined to quarrel among themselves. Again the captain warned themthat they would betray themselves; but laughingly they answered thatthey knew him well, and that he would take care that they got into nomischief. 

The wind heading us, we had to stand in-shore, so as to beat up towardsKingston. There was a little sea on, but not enough to prevent ourobserving objects some way below the surface. Peter and I were lookingover the side--one of the other men being at the helm--when we noticed adark pointed object floating alongside; another came up near it. Looking down, we with a shudder discovered the long tapering bodies oftwo sharks swimming just on our quarter. Nothing is so hateful to asailor, even when he has a sound plank under his feet, as a sight ofthose tigers of the deep. Happening shortly after to go over to theother side, and glancing my eye over the bulwarks, with almost a thrillof horror I saw two others precisely in the same relative position. Atfirst I thought they must be the same, but going back to the other side, there were those first seen just as they had been before. 

"I don't like the look of those brutes, " said Peter. "I am notsuperstitious, but I never have seen sharks swimming along as those arebut what some mischief or other has happened--a man has fallenoverboard, or something of that sort!"

I, as may be supposed, shared fully in Peter's feelings, and set to workwondering what the harm would be. 

I had not long to wait. The schooner had tacked, and was laying prettywell along-shore, with her head off it, and about a mile distant. Oneof the pirates, with drunken gravity, had insisted that he was not goingto be idle, and that he would tend the fore-sheet. The state of thingson board had made the captain doubly anxious to get in before night, andwe were, therefore, carrying on perhaps even more sail than the littlecraft could well bear. We were taking the water in well over our bows;but that seemed in no way to inconvenience the hardy pirates, as theysat on the deck at their levels. I will not attempt to paint thepicture presented by the pirates. The horrid oaths and blasphemy, theobscene songs, the shouts of maniac laughter, may be better imaginedthan described. 

Peter and I and the other men had gone aft, where was also the captain, while Mr Gale stood at the helm. The sun was perhaps an hour above thehorizon. Frequently the captain had turned his eyes in the direction ofKingston Harbour. A sail was seen standing out of the harbour, steeringtowards us, for the purpose, evidently, of getting a good offing beforenightfall. As her topsails appeared above the horizon, we could makeout very clearly that she was a brig. 

"Hand me up my glass, Jack, " said the captain with animation. He took along, steady look at her, and then handed the glass to Mr Gale, whoseplace Peter took at the helm. 

While they were all looking eagerly at the approaching brig, I felt theschooner heel over even more than she had been doing. The captainlikewise became sensible of the movement. He looked round--

"Let go the fore-sheet!" he shouted loudly. Mr Gale at the same momentsprang forward to execute the order; but the pirate who was tending itheld it on tight with drunken stupidity. Mr Gale tried to drag himaway from it; but the man, instead of letting go, gave a turn, andjammed the sheet. Down came the squall on us with redoubled strength. The little vessel heeled over till her gunwale was buried in the sea. The water rose higher and higher up her deck. It was too late to cutthe sheet. No skill could save her. 

Down, down went the vessel! Shrieks and cries arose, but they were nolonger the sounds of revelry. They were those of horror and hopelessdismay, uttered by the pirates as they found the vessel sinking undertheir feet and they were thrown struggling into the water. So suddenlydid she go over, and so rapidly did she fill, that even the most soberhad no time to consider how they could save themselves, much less hadthose wretched drunken men. Overloaded as they were with clothes andbooty, they could neither swim nor struggle towards the spars, andplanks, and oars, and boats, which were floating about on every side. 

When Mr Gale found that it was too late to save the schooner, he sprungback towards one of the boats which had been stowed right aft on theweather-side; the captain, Peter, and I, with our men, had been cuttingthe lashings which had secured it with our knives; and giving it a shoveas the deck of the vessel touched the water, we were able to get clearjust as she went down. The mate had not quite reached the boat, butPeter, leaning forward, hauled him in before he was drawn into thevortex made by the schooner as she sunk. To clear her, we had ofnecessity to shove astern, and this drove us still further from the spotwhere the rest of the people were still struggling in the waves. Someof the soberest had managed to disencumber themselves of their clothing, and to clutch hold of spars to support themselves; but they had anotherdanger, from the seaman's remorseless enemy, to contend with. We nowguessed why the sharks had been accompanying us; or could they havescented the dead body of the pirate chief, which we had still on board?Why the captain had not buried him I do not know. 

Scarcely had we leaped into the boat, when the terrific shrieks of thestruggling pirates reminded us of what we had seen. In an instant themonsters were at them, and one after the other, with fearful rapidity, they were dragged from the supports to which they clung, their bodiesmangled, and limbs torn asunder. We got out our oars as quickly aspossible, and pulled back, endeavouring to save some; but before wecould reach the nearest man a shark had seized him, and we could see hisarms helplessly stretched out, as he was dragged down through the clearwaters. On we pulled towards another, but he likewise was carried offafter he had already seized the boatswain's oar, and thought himselfsafe. A third cried out to us piteously to come and save him. Wepulled towards him with all our might; but fast as we flew through thewater, two huge sharks went faster, and before we could reach him he wastheir prey, literally torn in sunder between them. He was the last whoyet floated; the others had gone down at once, or had been torn topieces with all their wealth about them. While we were looking round, an object rose to the surface. 

"What means that?" exclaimed our captain with an expression of horrorand alarm such as I did not believe his countenance capable of wearing. 

It was the body of the old pirate: his face was turned towards us, andone of his arms moved as if beckoning us to follow him!

"No, no--you do not want me! I have visited you once at your summons!I'll no longer obey you!" shouted our captain with a hoarse voice, staring wildly; then he sank down into the stern-sheets overcome withhis emotions. 

For a minute, fancying that the old pirate was alive, we pulled towardshim; then we remembered that he had been placed in a rough coffin ofthick light wood, the lid of which had not been secured. Some nails, probably, had caught the clothes and kept the body in. When the vesselsunk the coffin had floated through the hatchway, the lid being knockedoff; and thus the old man was once more presented to our view. 

The monsters who had so speedily disposed of his wretched followers nowdarted forward to attack the coffin. Round and round they turned it;one arm was seized, then another, and we saw the body dragged down witha dozen sharks surrounding it, tearing it limb from limb!

Our captain very quickly recovered himself, and passing his hand overhis brow, as if to shut out some dreadful vision, ordered us in a calmtone to pull towards the approaching brig. As we pulled from the spot, the water appeared here and there tinged with a crimson tint; butscarcely a vestige of the unfortunate little schooner remained. Thebrig approached. 

"She is the _Rainbow_, sir; there can be no doubt of it!" exclaimedPeter, who had been eyeing her narrowly over his right shoulder. 

He was right. On her people seeing a boat she was hove-to, and we werevery quickly on board. I need not describe the surprise of Mr Jones, the first mate, who had now command of her as captain, or of the officerwho had been shipped instead of Mr Gale. Of course, we had all longbeen given over as lost. 

Mr Jones very willingly gave up his command to Captain Helfrich, andre-occupied his post as first mate; but the new officer who had beenshipped, in a most foolish way nourished a peculiar dislike not only forMr Gale for superseding him, but towards all of us, and took everyopportunity of showing it. The vessel had got a full cargo in, and wason her way back to Dublin. At first, however, he pretended that hewished to be very kind to me, in consequence of the hardships I had gonethrough, and the narrow escape I had of death from the Maroons. Ofcourse, there was no reason for keeping that part of our adventuressecret, so I gave him a full account of all that had occurred; but thenhe led me on to describe the hurricane, and our capture by the pirates;and from the interest he took in the questions he asked me, I felt thathe had some sinister motive for his inquiries. This made me hold mytongue for the time; and when I told Peter all the mate had asked me, hetold me that I was perfectly right not to give him any furtherinformation, as he was sure that he would make a bad use of it. Weneither of us liked the expression of the man's countenance, or hismanner to his superiors, or us his inferiors. Time was to show us thatwe were right in our conjectures. 

When the extra mate found that he could get nothing out of Peter or mehe attacked the other men; and from what they confessed to us they hadtold him, we feared that he had obtained from them all the informationhe required. He left the brig directly we entered port, and immediatelyreturned to Jamaica. 

Captain Helfrich was received in Dublin as one who had returned from thedead; for the account of his supposed death had preceded us, and hiswife had actually assumed widow's mourning for him. His suddenappearance very nearly cost her her life. 

We took the usual time to refit the brig, and then sailed once more forthe same destination. We had the usual number of passengers, and allwent well till we reached Kingston. 

After we had lain a little time there, we saw from the captain's mannerthat all was not going well with him; and Peter told me that from whathe heard on shore, that he was accused of having been leagued withpirates; and that all sorts of things were said about him. This, to aman of the captain's temperament, was very trying. Those who knew himbest, must have been perfectly convinced that, for many years past, hecould not possibly have been guilty of any act of piracy; although Icould have little doubt that, in his early days, he must, in some way orother, have been connected with the person whom I knew alone by the nameof Captain Ralph. It was a practical evidence of the truth of thatsaying of Holy Writ, that the sins of his youth rise up in judgmentagainst a man in his old age. 

We had little difficulty in tracing the reports to the malignity of theman who had acted as mate during the last passage home. In consequenceof these reports, Captain Helfrich had considerable difficulty inobtaining a cargo for the brig; and so disgusted was he with all theannoyance he had received, that he resolved not to return again to theWest Indies. 

At last, however, we were ready to sail. The evening before we were togo to sea, a boat came alongside, pulled by black men, with one man onlyin the stern-sheets. He asked to see Captain Helfrich. I looked overthe side, and recognised him as Michael, the tall negro who had been themeans of rescuing us from the Maroons. Mr Gale sent me to let thecaptain know that a person wanted to see him, and of course I told himwho he was. The captain accordingly directed me to invite him below atonce. I did so, and remained in the cabin. 

"I've come, captain, " said he, "to ask a favour of you. "

"Anything you ask I am bound to grant, " answered the captain. 

"All I have to beg is a passage to England, " replied the negro. "I goto seek in your country that liberty which I can find nowhere else. Foryears have I been striving to instil into my unhappy countrymen aknowledge of their true position; but they are too ignorant, toogross-minded to understand me. I have had no wish to set them againsttheir masters. In most instances, both parties have been born to theposition they occupy, and cannot help themselves. All I want is, thatthe masters should do them justice, and should treat them as men--ashuman beings with souls, with like passions, with like thoughts asthemselves--that they should do their best to improve their minds, toeducate them, to prepare them for that liberty they must sooner or laterobtain. The question is, how will it be obtained? By fair and gentlemeans, granted--not taken by force as a right, or by violence andbloodshed. I have tried all means. I have leagued with all classes ofmen to commence, in some way or other, the work. Thus, for a time, Iassociated with Captain Ralph; but he grossly deceived me, as he dideverybody else. I joined the Maroon bands, in the idea that force mightavail; but in that respect I found that I was totally wrong in mycalculations. I have tried to influence the planters, to show themtheir true interests: that with a well-instructed peasantry they wouldget far more work done, and at a smaller cost, than they do now withtheir gangs of ignorant slaves; but they laugh my notions to scorn. They fancy, because they find the negro ignorant, brutal, and stupid, that he can never be anything else. They forget that they made him sowhen they made him or his ancestors slaves; and that it must take morethan one generation of gentle, watchful, judicious education to raisehim out of the wretched state in which he now grovels. Nophilanthropist would wish them to emancipate their slaves now withoutlong previous training, to fit them for liberty. If they ever free themwithout that training, they will ruin their properties. I find faultwith them for not commencing that training at once, for not teachingthem the religion they themselves profess, for not in any way attemptingto enlighten their ignorance. Perhaps I may induce people in England toadvocate the negro's cause; but yet if Christian men here, on the sceneof their sufferings, do not care for them, how can I expect people at adistance to listen to their cries, to labour that they may obtainjustice?"

Michael said much more on the same subject. Our captain listened, butdid not clearly understand him; nor did I at the time. He, however, willingly granted him a passage, and treated him with the attention hedeserved at our hands during it. 

Michael was a man far beyond his time. Not many blacks are like him;but I have met some with comprehensive minds equal to those of any whitemen. The vicious system to which the generality are subject, stunts ordestroys all mental development; but had they the advantages of thewhites, I believe as many buds in the one case as in the other wouldbear rich fruit. Michael left us in Dublin, and it was not till longafterwards that I heard his subsequent fate. 

We had a prosperous passage to Dublin, and nothing occurred during itworthy of being mentioned. The captain very slowly recovered his usualspirits, but was completely himself again before we reached home. 

The _Rainbow_ remained longer in dock than usual, and during the time Ihad charge of her, Peter took the opportunity of visiting his friends, who lived some miles from Liverpool. 

My life was almost like that of a hermit's though surrounded bymultitudes. I scarcely spoke to anyone. I amused myself, however, inmy own way. I cut out all sorts of things in wood and bone, andpractised every variety of knot-and-splice. At last it occurred to methat I would try to make a model of the brig. I bought at a timber-yarda soft piece of white American pine, without a knot in it; and as I hadcharge of the carpenter's tools, I got some of the chisels and gougessharpened up, and set to work. With rule and compass I drew two linesfor her keel on one side, and then pencilled out the shape of her deckon the other. I first, by-the-by, made a scale of so many parts of aninch to a foot, and measured every part of the brig I could reach. Having got the shape of her deck exact, and her depth, I used to goahead and astern and look at her shape, and then come aboard again, andchisel away at my model. I shaved off very little of the wood at atime, and my eye being correct, I made one side exactly equal to theother. Then fixing the wood in a vice, I scooped out the whole of theinterior with an even thickness on every side. At length the hull wascompleted very much to my satisfaction. Then I got a piece of thinplank for her deck, and built on her bulwarks, with the windlass, thebinnacle, caboose, and combings of her hatchway complete. Next Icommenced rigging her. I formed all the blocks, and expended many apenny in purchasing whipcord and twine of different thickness, as wellas linen for her sails. Having often carefully watched the sailmakersat work, and helped them when they would allow me, I was able not onlyto cut out the sails properly, but to fasten on the bolt-ropes, and tomark exactly the divisions of the cloths. I had also to bring thepainter's art into play; and to fashion with a file various stancheons, and belaying-pins, and such like things, out of bits of iron and copper;indeed, I am vain to say that I made a very complete model. When shewas perfectly completed, I walked round and round her with no littlesatisfaction, surveying her from every quarter, and placing her in everypossible position--indeed, I was never tired of trimming sails. I hadhad a purpose in building her, for I wanted to present her to my kindcaptain for one of his little boys, whom I had seen occasionally onboard. 

Old Pat Hagan, though too advanced in years to be intrusted entirelywith the charge of the ship, occasionally came down to enable me to takea run on shore. The first day, therefore, that he made his appearance, I started with my model on my head to the captain's residence. 

"Who has sent you here, Jack, with that pretty little craft?" askedCaptain Helfrich, as I was shown into his parlour, where he with hiswife and children were sitting. 

"Why, sir, as I hoped that you would not think me taking too much onmyself in offering it to Master James, I made bold to bring it myself, "I replied, looking down and feeling somewhat bashful at the praise mymodel was receiving. 

"I cannot refuse your pretty gift, Jack, which, I am sure is given witha good heart. But where did you pick her up my man?" answered thecaptain. "But just let me look at her nearer. Why, she is the verymodel of the _Rainbow_!"

When I told him that I had built her myself, he still further praisedme, as did his lady; and Master James was delighted with his present, and jumped about round her, and thanked me over and over again. 

"I am very much pleased, my lad, with this little craft, and from theway you have built her, and, still more, from your general conduct, Itell you that you would be fitted to become an officer if you had butthe necessary education. You must try and obtain that, and I will havemy eye on you. The next time you come home, you shall go to school; andsee if you cannot pick up some knowledge of reading during the voyage. "

I constantly think of the saying, "Man proposes, but Heaven disposes. "So I found it in this instance. My kind captain would have done all heintended, but his plans for my benefit were frustrated by circumstancesthen unforeseen by either of us. 

A few days after this, we sailed for the Mediterranean. We had shippeda couple more guns, and four additional hands. In those days it wasnecessary for merchantmen frequenting that sea to be strongly armed, forit was sadly infested by pirates. There were Moorish pirates, Saleerovers, and others, who went to sea in large vessels as well as inboats, and robbed indiscriminately all vessels they could overpower;then there were Algerine pirates, who had still larger vessels, and weresuperior to them in numbers; and, lastly, there were Greek pirates, every island and rock in the Aegean Sea harbouring some of them. Longyears of Turkish misrule and tyranny had thoroughly enslaved and debasedthe great mass of the people; and the more daring and adventurousspirits, finding all lawful exercise of their energies denied them onshore, sought instead for such excitement and profit as piracy couldafford them afloat. Some of them darted out in small boats from thesheltered coves and bays when any unarmed merchantman was becalmed nearthem; while others, in well-formed and well-manned vessels of largesize, cruised about in all directions in search of prizes. Sometimestheir strongholds, when discovered by the Turks, were attacked anddestroyed, but generally they carried on their system of rapine withperfect impunity; and though the people of other governments complained, they had no legal power to punish the subjects of a friendly nation. Sothe Greeks, rejoicing in impunity, grew more and more audacious, tillthey levied contributions on all the civilised nations of Europe whosetraders ventured into the Levant. Such was the state of things when the_Rainbow_ sailed on her first voyage to Smyrna. Captain Helfrich hadbeen there before, and he knew the character of the people he had todeal with. 

We met with bad weather soon after leaving the Channel, and had alreadybeen driven some way to the westward, when, as we were in about thelatitude of Lisbon, it came on to blow harder than ever from theeastward. Had we been close in with the land, this would not havesignified; but before we could beat up again, a continuance of northerlyand easterly gales drove us to the southward of the Gut of Gibraltar. When there, they left us in a dead calm, with our sails idly flappingagainst the masts, and rolling bulwarks under in the heavy swell theyhad caused on Old Ocean's bosom. 

The sun arose over the distant Morocco coast--not then in sight, however--and sent his rays down on our decks with an ardour which madethe pitch bubble and hiss up out of the seams. Not a ripple disturbedthe rounded smoothness of the heaving swells, while even the bubblesthrown off from our sides refused to float to any distance from us. Wewere not the only occupants of our own horizon. Some eight miles off, or so, there was another brig rolling away much in the same fashion thatwe were. All hands were anxious for a breeze, as we in no way liked theheat after the cold of a northern clime, though it mattered nothing tous whether we made a quick or a slow passage. We whistled, as sailorsalways whistle when they want a breeze; but the breeze did not come thefaster for all our whistling. I never knew it do so, with all myexperience. What folly, indeed, in man to suppose that He who rules thewinds and waves should alter his laws in consequence of their punyefforts to make a wind with their mouths! In those days, of course, Idid not think about the matter. I whistled because others whistled; butif any of us had been asked on what ground we founded our hope that thewind would come in consequence, I suspect that we should have been verymuch puzzled to return a satisfactory answer. 

"What countryman do you make that craft out there to be, Mr Gale?" saidthe captain, handing the mate the glass through which he had beenlooking. 

"Not an Englishman, certainly, " was the reply, after the usual steadyglance. "I should say, from the whiteness of her canvas, and her lightupper-rigging, that she belongs to some of those turban-wearing peoplealong the African coast in there, or up the Straits. They are seldompleasant customers for an unarmed craft to come across. "

"I had formed the same idea of her, " observed Captain Helfrich. "Weknow pretty well, however, how to deal with such gentry: and if she comeacross us, she'll find that she has caught a Tartar. "

I told Peter what I had heard; and he, I found, after looking throughthe telescope, formed much the same opinion of the stranger. 

The day wore on, and still the calm continued, so that we in no waydecreased our distance from her. Night also overtook us, while we layrolling away helplessly as before. The swell, however, was going downgradually; as it did so, the brig became more steady in the water. 

It was about the first hour of the morning-watch, which Peter and I werekeeping, when he asked me suddenly if I did not hear oars. I listened:there could be no doubt about it. There was more than one boat, and theoars were pulled pretty rapidly too. The night was not dark, thoughthere was no moon; but a mist floated on the surface of the water, andserved to veil it from our sight, though right overhead the stars couldstill be seen glimmering faintly in the sky. 

Peter instantly went and reported what he had heard to Mr Gale, who wasofficer of the watch. After listening for some time he could hear nosound, and seemed to doubt the correctness of our assertion. The boatshad probably ceased pulling, for a purpose at which we could only thenconjecture. At last the sound of the oars reached Mr Gale's ears also. 

"There's something in this, " he exclaimed. "Jack, go and call thecaptain. "

Captain Helfrich was on deck in an instant. 

"The crew of some vessel which has foundered, and taken to their boats, "suggested the mate. 

"From what quarter does the sound come?" asked the captain, listeningattentively. "Visitors from the brig we saw last night, " he cried out. "Depend on it, they come to us with no good intention. "

His experience in the West Indies and elsewhere had taught him to beprepared for any such emergency as the present. He was not above beingprepared, and he knew that the greatest folly is to despise an enemy. 

"Turn the hands up, Mr Gale. Get the arm-chest open, and the gunsloaded and run out. We must be ready. No noise, though: if anyoneintends to surprise us, it is as well that we should surprise theminstead. "

The watch below were instantly on deck, and in a few minutes everypreparation was made for the reception of an enemy. Still we could notsee any boats, but the louder sound of oars in the rowlocks convinced usthat they were approaching. Again the sound ceased. 

"They are not quite certain of our position, " observed Mr Gale. "Ifthey were people escaping from a wreck, and not aware that a vessel isnear, they would have pulled steadily on. "

"You are right, " said the captain. "Have a torch ready to heave inamong them, that I may make certain who they are before I give the wordto fire. It won't do to run the risk of hurting friends; but when onceyou hear the word, my men, blaze away with all your might. If they areenemies, they will not be such as will give us quarter, however loudlywe may cry for it. "

A murmur ran round among the people, to signify that we would obey thecaptain's orders. The atrocities committed of late years by theAlgerines, and the subjects of the Emperor of Morocco, had made thosepeople the dread of all sea-going people, and gained them aproportionate amount of hatred. 

Once more the sound of oars was heard, and in a short time even theirsplash in the water could be distinguished. There are few things moretrying to a man's nerves than to know that an enemy is approaching, andnot to be able to discover his strength or form, or the quarter fromwhence he is coming. Our cutlasses were buckled on, our muskets wereready to be seized, and the slow matches were in our hands, butconcealed, so that the enemy might not perceive them. Mr Gale stoodwith a torch ready to light at a moment's notice. Slowly the boatsapproached. Apparently they seemed to think some caution necessary, orperhaps they could not see how we lay, and wished to attack us accordingto some preconcerted plan. There was a pause. I know that my heartbeat pretty quick to learn what would follow. Then there was a dashtowards us, and we could hear the sound even from the rowers' chests asthey strained at their oars. Dark forms were seen gliding out of thedarkness. Suddenly the bright light of a torch burst forth on our deck. Mr Gale waved it above his head, and threw it towards the boats, itsglare showing us swarthy features, and turbaned heads, and colouredvests, and jewelled arms. There could be no doubt as to the characterof our midnight visitors. 

"Fire!" shouted the captain; "fire! and aim low. "

Our guns, loaded with langrage, sent forth a deadly shower among thepirate crew. Shrieks and groans arose in return. We followed it upwith a discharge of musketry. The enemy were completely taken bysurprise. Many, abandoning their oars, ceased pulling towards us. Thisgave us time to reload our guns and small-arms. Their leaders, itseemed, were attempting to rally them. Once more we could distinguishtheir dark forms amid the gloom of night. 

"Fire!" again shouted our captain. 

The shrieks and groans were redoubled, and the boats again disappearedin the darkness. We remained at our quarters expecting their return. They did not come. A light breeze from the southward and westward atlength sprung up, and we were able to shape our course towards the Rockof Gibraltar, and when the morning broke no sail was in sight. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

A SHIP WITHOUT A CREW. 

We touched at Gibraltar, that the captain might obtain information as tothe ports he was to call at. Smyrna, we found, was to be our ultimatedestination. He gave notice of the attack made on us by the pirate, anda brig of war was sent to look out for her. I shall have a good dealmore to say about our turbaned friends by-and-by. Gibraltar I thought awonderful place, with the face of its high rock, which stands out intothe sea, cut full of galleries, and ports with heavy guns grinning fromthem in every direction. Of course, the seamen very often do not knowat what port the ship is to touch, or whereabouts they are. Such was mycase: I had never seen a chart of the Mediterranean. The first definitenotion I got of it was from Peter, who afterwards drew one for me with apiece of chalk on the lid of his chest. I only knew that we weresteering towards the east, and that we were likely to see severalstrange places and many strange people. 

Some time after leaving Gibraltar, I had just come on deck one night tokeep my watch, when out of the dark ocean, as it seemed, I saw a brightlight burst forth and blaze up into the sky. I thought some ship musthave blown up; but the light continued, and grew stronger and stronger, and reached higher and higher. The fire seemed to spout out, and thento fall in a shower on every side, something like the branches of aweeping ash, or some wide-spreading tree. The ship was standing towardsit, and I thought we should certainly be burned. 

"Oh, Peter, Peter, " I exclaimed, "what is the matter? Surely the worldhas caught fire, and we shall all be destroyed!"

"No fear of that just yet, lad, " he answered, laughing. "That's only aburning island, which is called Stromboli. There are some mountains inthese parts, as I have heard say, which send out such a quantity of hotstones, and ashes, and boiling earth, that whole towns, and villages, and fields are overwhelmed and buried. In those countries you may buyfor a penny as much fruit as you can carry, and get as much wine as youcan drink for twopence, while all sorts of other good things are verycheap; and the weather is almost always like summer. But, for my part, I would rather live in Old England, with the foul weather and the fairwe get there, and a piece of beef, often somewhat hard to come at, thanin a country where your house may any moment be knocked down by anearthquake or covered up with hot ashes. To my mind, all countries havetheir advantages and their drawbacks; and the great thing is, to begrateful for the one, and to learn how to guard against the other. "

We touched at several places on our passage. Malta was one of them. The English had not at that time taken possession of it. 

At length we reached Smyrna, which is partly situated on level ground, the harbour backed by a lofty hill. There is more trade here than inany other place in the East. The climate, though hot, is very fine; butthe place is often shaken by earthquakes, which have at times causedgreat destruction to lives and property. That dreadful scourge, also, the plague, is a frequent visitor. The former may truly be said to bebeyond man's control; but the latter is, I am certain, brought aboutvery much by the dirty habits of the people, and their ill-ventilatedand ill-drained habitations. 

In the neighbourhood of Smyrna grow great quantities of figs, which aredried and packed in boxes and baskets. They formed part of our cargohome. We had likewise raisins and other dried fruits, and preserves, and rich silks and embroideries. None of the seamen were allowed to goon shore, for Christians were very likely to get insulted, if notill-treated, by the Turks. In those days they used to look upon allChristians as dogs, and to behave towards them as such. Besides Turks, there were a great number of Jews and Greeks, and people from every partof the East, living at Smyrna; but all had to submit to the caprices andignorance of the first. 

I was not sorry when we once more made sail, with the ship's head to thewestward. We had a somewhat tedious passage down the Mediterranean, having frequent baffling or light winds. At times of the year gales, however, blow with great fury in that sea, though they seldom last long. Most to be dreaded are the sudden gales which, under the name of "whitesqualls, " have sent many a vessel, caught unprepared, to the bottom. 

At last we reached Gibraltar again. The Captain inquired if anythinghad been seen of the pirate which had attempted to surprise us with herboats; but the brig of war had returned without hearing anything of her. We remained but a day at the Rock. We took on board there the crew ofa ship which had foundered at sea, and had been brought in by a Greekbrig which had picked them up, and, for a wonder, had not murdered them. However, as they were nearly naked, and had promised the Greeks areward if they arrived in safety, more was to be got by keeping themalive than by killing them. We were thus very strongly manned. 

Foul winds and a heavy gale made us stand a good way to the westward onour passage home, after getting clear of the Gut. Soon after sunriseone morning a sail was reported away to windward, running down towardsus, the wind being about on her quarter. As she approached with allsail set, she appeared to be sailing very wildly; that is to say, instead of keeping a steady, straight course, her head went now on oneside, now on the other, as if a drunken man was at the helm. Thecaptain and mates were looking at her through their glasses. 

"She looks like an English craft, by the cut of her canvas, " observedMr Gale. 

"I can make out the ensign at her peak, and there's no doubt she isEnglish, " answered the captain. "There is something wrong aboard her, however, depend on that. I suspect that they have had a fever amongthem, or the plague, and that all her people are sick, and they have notstrength to shorten sail. "

"Perhaps there is a mutiny aboard, or the people are all quarrellingamong each other, " observed Mr Gale. "I have known of such things:when the master and officers have ill-treated the men, the crew haverisen against them, and either hove them overboard or confined thembelow, and carried the ship into an enemy's port. "

I was surprised at the expression of the captain's countenance while themate was speaking. The words seemed to remind him, I thought, of someoccurrence of his youth. 

"Depend on it, Gale, no good ever came of such a deed, " he remarked. "Either the actors in such work have gone on all their lives afraid ofdetection, or have very speedily paid the penalty of it. Unless a manhas become a hardened wretch, the recollection of such an act will throwa gloom over the whole of his after-life, and blight all his earthlyprospects. "

"Not if he feels that he is forgiven, surely, sir, " said the mate, looking at him steadfastly. "Sincere repentance and firm trust in themerits of One who died for us will gain us that boon, I am certain. Iam not learned in divinity, but this much I know and feel; and I believethat it is the sum and substance of what a Christian should know andfeel. "

I had never heard Mr Gale speak in that way before. I did not knoweven that he was what is called a religious man. I certainly neverheard him swear or abuse any of the men, or accuse them wrongfully, astoo many officers do; but I just thought him a quiet, brave, amiableyoung man, who was content to do his duty and let other people followtheir own ways. I afterwards had reason to know that he was even morethan that. He was eminently judicious, and he now felt that the timehad arrived when he might speak a word in season to good effect. Thecaptain listened, and after some time I saw him put out his hand andgrasp that of Mr Gale; but he said nothing in reply. Meantime the brigwas drawing near to us. 

"Have a boat ready to board her, " cried the captain, after he had againexamined her through his glasses. "It is strange, indeed; I can see noone on her deck. "

The _Rainbow_ was now hove-to, and a boat was lowered. I went in her;so did Peter. Mr Gale had charge of her. We all were, by thecaptain's orders, strongly armed, and he directed the mate to approachcautiously, so as not to be taken by surprise. I never met a braver manthan the captain, or one who, at the same time, was more cautious andcareful of the lives of his people. During my apprenticeship with him, on several occasions, had it not been for this constant caution and carenot to be taken by surprise, both he and all his people would have beendestroyed. 

While the boat pulled towards the stranger, the brig, with her guns runout, and the people at their quarters ready to fire, stood so as tocross her bows, and to punish her should any treachery be intended. Wehad to be careful in going alongside, lest she should run us down; foras her head now went in one direction, now in another, it was difficultto determine on which side she would come. She was a fine large brig, fully as large as the _Rainbow_, and it did look strange to see hersailing along over the wide Atlantic without apparently a human being toguide her course. Still, from what I had heard the captain say, I couldnot help fancying that there was some trick, and fully expected to see anumber of men start up the moment we touched her side, and either sendour boat to the bottom with a cold shot, or seize us and carry us asprisoners below. It was a satisfaction, however, to feel that, with theshipwrecked crew, we had plenty of men on board to carry the ship home, and to punish those who might injure us. 

I must say that I felt rather curious as, giving way, we dashedalongside the stranger, and Peter with his boat-hook catching hold ofthe fore-chains, we, with our cutlasses in our mouths, scrambled onboard. No one appeared. A perfect silence reigned over the deck. Ourfirst business was to shorten sail, and round-to the ship. Mr Galeflew to the helm, and put it down, while we flattened in thetopsail-braces, and clewed up top-gallant-sails, and brailed up thecourses, throwing the foretop-sail aback. As this work occupied all ourattention, we had no time to make any remarks as to the state of affairson deck. As I was running forward, my foot slipped in a wet mass and Icame to the deck. Jumping up again, I seized the rope at which I hadbeen ordered to haul. When the work was done, and the ship hove-to, Ilooked at my hands. A cold shudder came over me: they were covered with_blood_!

I gave a cry of horror and disgust. It attracted the attention of myshipmates. We now looked along the deck. In several places were otherdark clotted marks scarcely yet dry. Other signs there were whichshowed that plunder had been the object of the deadly attack, which, itwas evident, had been made on the crew of the brig. Articles of dresswere strewed about, and cases of provisions, nautical instruments, booksand charts, and opened bales of merchandise; but there were no signs ofa struggle--nothing to show that the hapless crew had even been enabledto fight for their lives. 

"What has been the matter aboard?" shouted Captain Helfrich, as the_Rainbow_ passed close to us. 

"Murder, sir! foul murder!--there can be no doubt of it, " answered MrGale, who was about to descend the companion-hatch. I with othersfollowed him. 

What a scene of havoc, confusion, and wanton destruction the cabinpresented, as seen in the dim light which came down the companion-hatch, for the covering of the skylight was on. There had evidently been afierce strife there. A mirror over the stove was broken to atoms--thechairs were overturned--china-plates and cut-glasses lay scattered aboutin fragments amid clothing, and books, and boxes; the cabin lamp and acabin compass, and stores of every sort, of which the lockers had beenrifled--chests and trunks lay open, despoiled of their contents, but nohuman form, either alive or dead, was to be seen. 

Mr Gale ordered the hands on deck to lift off the skylight. As thebright sunshine came down into the cabin, the full horror of the scenewas exhibited. Among a mass of articles, such as I have enumerated, which lay on the cabin table, were six human heads with ghastly grins, holding pieces of meat in their mouths! They were placed at each sideof the table, and knives, and forks, and plates with food, were placedbefore them! They had evidently thus been arranged in savage mockery bytheir ruthless murderers, as they were about to leave the scene of theiratrocity. We searched about: no bodies were found. On one side of thecabin there was a complete pool of blood, though part of it had beenlapped up by the bedclothes, which had been dragged from one of theberths. The beds in the other state-rooms had been undisturbed. 

Everything in the cabin showed us that the vessel was English; and thiswas confirmed by opening the books, which were all in English. So, asfar as we could judge, were the countenances of the murdered people--Iwill not say men; for on examining one of the heads, our horror wasincreased by discovering that one of them was that of a woman--young andbeautiful she had been. Oh, what a scene of horror must her eyes lasthave beheld; with what anguish must her heart last have beat! Even indeath the features of the murdered men wore various expressions. Horroron one was clearly portrayed--desperate determination on that ofanother--fierce rage showed itself on the face of another. So Ifancied; but, at all events, had I known any of the people, I think thatI should have recognised them. There were the same Anglo-Saxon featurescommon to all. The complexions of some were fair, and of otherssunburnt. There was one with a weather-beaten countenance, and largebushy whiskers, whom we took to be one of the officers of the ship, while most of the others had the smooth complexions of shore-goingpeople, and were probably those of passengers. 

What we had already discovered plainly told the story of thecatastrophe. The brig had been surprised in the evening by somepiratical miscreants, while the captain and passengers, and some of theofficers probably, were below at supper. The watch on deck must haveinstantly been overpowered before those below had time to come to theirassistance. Some, probably hearing a scuffle, and coming on deck, wereinstantly slaughtered, or, it might have been, secured and carried offall prisoners. The people in the cabin could not even have been awareof what was going forward, and the first announcement of the misfortunewhich had befallen them, was the appearance of the pirates rushing intothe cabin. Rising from the table, they had seized whatever weapons camenearest to hand to defend themselves. Desperately they might havefought, but all in vain. One clearly had been dragged from bed, holdingfast to the clothes. Most likely the unfortunate lady had been sotreated, and deprived of life on the body of her husband. 

Mr Gale's opinion was, that the captain's head was not among those inthe cabin; but that, on first hearing the scuffle, he had sprung ondeck, as being nearest the door, to ascertain its cause. This opinionwas afterwards confirmed by the discoveries we made. As soon as theyhad been overpowered, their heads must have been cut off, perhaps tomake the rest show where any valuables they might possess wereconcealed. However performed, at all events the butchery was complete. Never, indeed, have my eyes beheld a scene of greater horror. Deathalone, we know, may bring peace and joy; but death under such outrageousaspects as those I have described, affrights the soul. 

While some of the men went forward to ascertain the state of matters inthe forepeak, Mr Gale kept Peter and me to look after the ship'spapers. We hunted about in a number of places for some time withoutavail. At last I went into what I concluded to be the master's cabin, and in a tin case, under his pillow, I found them. I took them to MrGale, who glanced over them. 

"The _Dolphin_, the vessel is called, " he observed. "Ah, and here's aname I think I remember, --Walter Stenning, master. Why, Poplar, is notthat the name of the young man we picked up at sea a few voyages back tothe West Indies?"

"Yes, sir; the very same, " answered Peter. "I've had notice of himsince then, and I heard say that he had become master and owner of afine craft, and gone with his wife and family to live out in one of thecolonies; I don't know which. "

"Halifax, Nova Scotia, the brig hails from, I see. She was bound fromBristol to Demerara, " continued Mr Gale, reading on from the papers. "I suppose, though, we shall have to send her to Halifax, where, as faras I can make out, her owners reside, as well as the merchants who haveshipped most of her freight. "

While the mate was still looking over the papers, Captain Helfrich, whohad come on board in another boat, entered the cabin. He was moreaffected than any of us by the horrid sight which met his eyes. 

"Who can have done this?" he exclaimed, casting his eyes round in everydirection. "Ah, what is that I see in the corner there?" He pointed towhat proved to be a Moorish turban; while near it lay a piece of asabre, which, from its curved form, evidently belonged to the samepeople. 

"This work was done, I doubt not, by the very villains who attempted tosurprise us, " he observed, as I handed him the articles to examine. "Wemay truly be thankful that they did not find us unprepared, as they didthe unfortunate people of this vessel, or their lot might have beenours. "

"Indeed we have cause of gratitude to God, who, in His mercy, preservedus, " responded Mr Gale. "I wish that we could find the people who didthis work, to stop their committing further mischief. "

"The miscreants cannot be far-off, " exclaimed the captain. "If we couldfall in with them, we might punish them in a way they little expect. "

"I suspect, sir, when the Moors let the brig go free, they must havehauled their wind, and kept away to the eastward, " observed Mr Gale. "They are not fond, in general, of keeping so far away from their ownshores. "

"You are right, Gale, " said the captain. "However, though I think wemight find them, I should not be justified in going out of our course tolook for them. We must, therefore, consider how we are to dispose ofthe brig. As far as I can judge, without thinking more of the matter, Iam bound to send her to Halifax at once to her owners, from whom weshall obtain the proper salvage. Now, as I shall be glad to do what Ithink will be of service to you, I will give you the command of her, with a few hands whom I can spare; while with the seamen whom we have aspassengers on board, the _Rainbow_ will still be sufficiently manned toreach home in safety. "

Mr Gale did not refuse the captain's offer, and I was far from sorrywhen I found that he had selected Peter Poplar and me among the peoplewho were to accompany him. Besides us, as the shipwrecked seamen wereall anxious to reach England, and would not volunteer, we had only threeother men; so that, considering the size of the _Dolphin_, we weresomewhat short-handed. 

Before committing the heads to the deep, we examined their features, andit was the opinion of all on board, who had known Walter Stenning, thatnone of them bore any resemblance to him; so that if the young man, whohad for so long been on board the _Rainbow_, was the same person wholately commanded this unfortunate vessel, his fate was still uncertain. Too probably, however, he had been murdered by the miscreants on deck. Scarcely less melancholy would be his lot if he still survived, for hewould have been carried away to Morocco, and there sold as a slave, tolabour in the fields or gardens. 

One or two other bits of arms and ornaments were found about the deck;and the captain, on examining them, gave it as his opinion that thepirate was one of those craft which had long been known under the nameof Salee Rovers. At one time the greater number of vessels fitted outby the Moors to plunder on the high seas hailed from that port. Beforethe captain left the vessel, every part of her was examined, but not atrace of a living being could be found. Still, too clearly to bemistaken did she tell her own dreadful tale. The log-book showed that, three days before, she had been in a dead calm since sunrise, and that astrange sail was in sight. Little did her crew dream of the woe thatstranger was to work them!

We were allowed to go on board the _Rainbow_ to get our chests, and towish our shipmates good-bye; and then I bade farewell to my old captain, and the craft I had learned to love as a seaman only can, --the vesselwithin whose wide timbers I had spent many a happy day, and which hadcarried me in safety across many a wide sea. 

We found nearly everything we required on board the _Dolphin_. It tooksome time, however, to get her to rights, to wash out the stains ofblood, and to put the cabin in order, and to remove all remnants of thehorrid deed which had been enacted there. It was some time, however, before Mr Gale could prevail on himself to take possession of thecabin. At last all the necessary arrangements on board the _Dolphin_were made, and Captain Helfrich ordering Mr Gale to proceed on hisvoyage, bore away to the north-east, while we kept to the westward ofnorth. I felt very strange as I found myself on board a new vessel, andsaw the old one, in which I had served for so many years, sailing awayfrom us. I should have felt very forlorn and melancholy if Peter hadnot been with me. I was also very much attached to Mr Gale, and wasvery glad that he was now my captain. 

The Irish, I have observed, generally possess a considerable amount ofimagination, and I conclude that I inherited no small share of thatquality from my poor mother. I remember that the first night I passedon board the _Dolphin_, I fancied in my sleep that I saw again the wholeof the scene of horror which had so short a time before been enactedthere. Several times I jumped up, thinking that the rovers were comingon board, and that I had to fight for my life. Then I fancied that Iheard the cries and the groans of the poor fellows who had slept where Iwas sleeping, and had met their death close to where I lay; and I lookedout and saw them writhing and struggling in the hands of their barbarousmurderers. 

Peter, instead of laughing at me when I told him of my dreams, answeredme that the surest way to banish all such thoughts, was to say myprayers earnestly at night whenever I turned in, and to pray that Imight be preserved from all dangers, and especially from the fate whichhad overtaken these poor men. I was very fortunate in falling in, atthis time of my life, with two such men as Mr Gale and Peter Poplar. The latter was uneducated, certainly, but had learned his religion fromthe Bible, and therefore he possessed the true principles, theessentials of a saving faith; and he was the instrument of graduallyopening my mind and heart to them. 

Captain Gale, for so I shall now call him, had a very sharp look-outkept lest we should again fall in with the Salee Rover, or any of hisconsorts, which, it was very probable, might still be hovering about inthat part of the ocean. The first day after parting company with the_Rainbow_ passed by without a single sail heaving in sight. The breezehad got round to the southward, so that we had a fair wind; and as itwas light, we were able to carry all the canvas we could set. At night, however, as we were somewhat short-handed, the captain ordered us tofurl top-gallant-sails, and to take a reef in the topsails, that wemight be better prepared should it come on to blow. The second night, however, passed away, and the same fine weather continued. 

The next morning, soon after daybreak, Captain Gale came on deck, andordered us to loose top-gallant-sails. On going aloft to obey theorder, as I cast my eyes round the horizon, I saw, right away on ourweather-beam, just rising out of the water, the top-gallant-sails of abrig, close-hauled, standing, I judged, across our course. I hailed thedeck to say what I had observed; and after the reefs were shaken out ofthe topsails, the captain told me to keep aloft to watch the movementsof the stranger. She stood steadily on till she rose her topsails outof the water, and then, as I judged, on seeing us, kept more away, so asto cut us off. On hearing this, the captain himself went aloft to havea look at the stranger. He remained some time, examining her narrowlythrough his glass. The breeze had freshened up a good deal, and it wasnot a time, I should have supposed, to have made more sail; but themoment he came down, he ordered us to set studden-sails and royals. 

"We must make the craft put her best leg foremost, " said he to Peter. "I do not altogether like the look of that ship out there. She iscertainly not English; and by her movements she seems very much inclinedto overhaul us. Just tell us what you think about the matter. "

Peter took the glass, and went aloft. He also was some time there. When he came down, he handed the glass to the captain without speaking. 

"Well, Peter, what do you think of her?" asked the latter. Peter tookoff his hat, and passed his hand over his brow. "Why, to say the truth, Captain Gale, I don't like her looks at all. If ever one craft was likeanother, she's like that strange brig which lay becalmed near us thetime when we were attacked before going up the Mediterranean. It'sdifficult to tell one vessel from another, but I very much suspect thatshe's the very same piratical rascal we before fell in with, and thatthis brig is no stranger to her either. "

The captain replied, that he was afraid his apprehensions were toowell-founded. 

The next question was, how we were to escape from the corsair, shouldthe stranger really be her. A couple of hours passed away, and althoughwe were going at a good rate through the water, there could be no doubtthat she was coming up with us. It was now blowing a stiffish breeze, and I saw the captain and Peter often casting an anxious glance aloft, to see whether the masts and spars would bear the heavy strain put onthem. Happily there was not much sea; and though the studden-sail-boomsbent and cracked again, they held on bravely. Our great hope was, thatwe might be able to keep well ahead of the stranger till night came on;and then that, by hauling our wind, he might pass us in the dark. Wehad already got as much wind as the brig could stagger under, and thusone of the greatest dangers we had to apprehend was from carrying awayany of our spars. Over and over again the captain looked up at themast-head, and exclaimed, "Hold on, good sticks, hold on, and serve us agood turn!"

A stern chase is a long chase; and though this was not quite a sternchase, by-the-by, it was nearly one, and we hoped it might prove so longas to have no end. Still our pursuer kept after us. As he drew nearer, we had less and less doubt that he was the very Salee Rover we hadbefore so much to do with. At the same time, our hopes of escaping himdecreased. Peter had set himself down on the heel of the bowsprit torest. I brought him his dinner there, for he had not left the deck fora moment since the morning. He did not look up for some time till Ibegged him to eat. Still he did not answer. At last I asked him whathe was thinking about. 

"Why, Jack, how we may manage to escape from the pirate, " he answeredafter some time. "A very curious idea has struck me, and if the captainwill listen to me, we'll put it into execution. It can do no harm, andif our pursuer comes up with us, I think it will make him haul his windin a pretty considerable hurry. "

I asked Peter to tell me his plan, wondering what it could possibly be. 

"I take it, you see, that the brig out there is the very same whichattacked this vessel, and her crew, of course, know that there was not aliving soul left on board, but that there were six heads in the cabin, "he answered, speaking very slow. "Now, in my wild young days, I wasonce for some time behind the scenes of a theatre, and if I had been ascholar I might have become a play-actor. When there, I saw whatwonders a little paint, and canvas, and pasteboard could work. As thereare six of us, I propose to put a false neck over each of our heads, andI'll manage to paint in a quarter less than no time, six as ugly facesas you ever saw, on as many balls of canvas, which I'll stuff withoakum. So each of us will have a head to hold in his hand. Unless someaccident happens, we certainly can manage to keep ahead of the rovertill nightfall. Then we'll just mix up a number of lumps of gunpowderand sulphur, and place them about the deck before each of us. As soonas the rover ranges up alongside, we'll fire them all at the samemoment, and I shall be very much mistaken if the cut-throats don't thinkthat there's a company on board they would rather not have anything todo with. "

I could not help laughing at Peter's quaint notion--still, howeverlittle effect it might have on civilised people, I thought it was verylikely to scare away the sort of men who composed the Moorish crew, andI advised him instantly to propose it to the captain. Peter, accordingly, bolting his dinner with a haste which showed that he wasthinking more about his idea than it, went aft, and opened up the case. Captain Gale listened more attentively than I expected, and, after alittle consideration, said that he thought it was very likely tosucceed. The plan once adopted, all hands set energetically to work tomake the required preparations. 

There was, fortunately, an abundance of materials. I got out thepaint-pots, and mixed the colours according to Peter's directions. Hehimself, with canvas and palm needles, fitted the necks, cutting holesfor us to see through them; the other men were employed in making sixprodigious round balls for heads, and covering one part with shakings, to serve as hair. He undertook to stand at the helm, and to have hishead at the end of the boat-hook by his side, that he might lift it upat the proper moment. All the frying-pans and shallow pots which couldbe found were collected, and the captain made with damp gunpowder anumber of what schoolboys call "Vesuviuses. " These, however, were verymuch larger than the contents of a schoolboy's purse would allow him tomake. He tried one of them, and found it sent forth a lurid glare, which even in the day-time showed what effect it would produce at night. 

Before sunset all our preparations were completed; and when dressed up, a very curious and horrid crew we most certainly did look. Had therebeen more of us, the effect might perhaps have been increased. We nowwaited almost with boyish impatience for the coming up of the rover toput our trick into execution. Captain Gale was, however, too wise totrust to it till all other means of escape had failed. The wind hadrather fallen than increased, and this was an advantage to us in twoways: it enabled us to shorten sail with less difficulty than we shouldotherwise have done; and we found that, with less wind, we went fasterin proportion through the water than did our pursuer. 

It was with feelings such as I had very seldom before experienced, thatI saw the sun sinking towards the ocean, surrounded with a blaze ofglory; its bright rays falling on the loftier sails of the rover, whilethey still reached our courses. Down it went beneath its watery home, and I questioned very much with myself whether I should ever again seeit rise. I had no great confidence in Peter's trick, nor do I supposethat he had much himself, when he came seriously to think about thematter; but still, if overtaken, we had no other means of escaping--wecould not fight, and still less could we have any hope from the mercy ofour foes. I did not, however, mention my doubts to Peter, and far lesswould I have done so to any of the other men. Young as I was, I hadseen enough of the world to have learned the value of discretion. 

As the daylight disappeared, a grey canopy of clouds was spread over thesky, sufficiently thick to obscure the stars. Thus the night was morethan usually dark. Still, as the atmosphere was free from mist, seamen's eyes could distinguish objects at a considerable distance off. With much anxiety we watched the rover, in the hope that the growingdarkness would hide her from our view; but still we could see herfollowing closely in our wake, and thus, of course, there was everyprobability that she could see us. We could not expect that thedarkness would increase; consequently there would have been no use inaltering our course, as it would have been perceived on board; so all wecould do was to stand boldly on as before. At the rate she wasoverhauling us, as the captain calculated, she would be up with us bymidnight. I should have liked to have shortened sail, and brought thematter to an issue, but Captain Gale was not a man to act thus unwisely. He knew that we might fall in with some friendly vessel, or that thepirate might give up the chase, or that some sudden change in theweather might enable us to escape at the last moment. Everything, however, was prepared; and thus standing at our posts, we waited theresult. 

Nearer and nearer drew the pirate. We were within range of her guns, still she did not fire. On she came. She was close upon our quarter. 

"Wait till I give the word, " said the captain, in a low voice. She wasranging up on our beam. 

"Ready!" exclaimed the captain. "Now!"

In a moment a terrifically lurid glare was cast over our decks. Up wentthe helmsman's gory head at the end of a boarding-pike, though hesteered as steadily as before, while we all shook ours in our hands, andat the same moment gave vent to the most unearthly shrieks, and groans, and cries, our headless helmsman shrieking and shouting louder than anyof us. At this we all again shook our ghastly heads. Peter had giventhe necks the appearance of dropping blood, and again we shrieked andgroaned louder than ever. 

The effect on board the rover was instantaneous. The crew must havefully thought that they had got hold of some demon-craft as a punishmentfor their crimes. Down went their helm; the tacks and sheets seemed allto be flying away together; and the topsails came down on their caps. Ropes were let go, but no one thought of hauling on others, or belayingthem; no one seemed to know what they were about; and many even shriekedand cried out with terror and dismay. Nothing could have been morecomplete than the success of our trick. 

We were all eagerly watching its effect, when, just as the vessels wereparting, a figure was seen to spring into the main-rigging of the rover. We all saw him, and all recognised the person as no other than WalterStenning, the late master of the _Dolphin_. On we sailed. The darkoutline of the rover grew less and less distinct, till it was totallylost in the gloom of night. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

THE WATER-LOGGED SHIP. 

For the remainder of the night we kept anxiously looking over thetaffrail, lest our enemy should have again made sail in chase. Morethan once I thought I saw the rover's shadowy form stealing up towardsus through the darkness; but just as I expected to make it out clearly, to my great relief it dissipated into mist. Voices, also, I thought, seemed to be shouting after us from out of the gloom; but neither didthey ever assume any distinctness, and fancy, I found, had caused thecreation of them both. Slowly the night passed away, and as soon as thefirst bright streaks of dawn appeared in the grey sky, the captain wenthimself aloft to take a survey of the horizon. 

"There is not a sail in sight in any quarter, " he exclaimed to Peter, ashe returned on deck. "To your clever suggestion we owe our own livesand the safety of the ship; but clever as it was, I would not adviseothers to try a similar one. They might not meet with enemies so easilydeceived. "

"No, sir, " answered Peter, "certainly not; and, for my part, I wouldmuch rather have beat off the scoundrels in a fair stand-up fight thanwith such a play-acting trick as that; but then, you see, air, it wasHobson's choice--neck or nothing with us!"

Peter's curious contrivances were kept, that they might be shown as anevidence of the way in which we had escaped from the rover. Theappearance of Walter Stenning on board the rover was a subject ofconstant conversation among us. There could be no doubt, then, that hehad been carried on board the rover, and that his life had beenpreserved. This would be a satisfaction to his friends, though amelancholy one, as his ultimate fate must still be uncertain. 

We had still a long passage before us to Halifax, and might meet withmany adventures. At all events, we could scarcely expect to escape somebad weather, though it was not likely we should encounter the rover, orany of her consorts, as gentry of that class were not fond of venturinginto northern latitudes. For more than a couple of weeks the fineweather continued, and we met with no event worthy of note. We had, however, to learn somewhat more of the sufferings which people meet withon the wide ocean. 

One morning the sky became overcast; the water was of that dull leadenhue, striped with white foam, which gives so gloomy an aspect to theocean; and heavy squalls compelled us to shorten sail as fast as allhands could get through the task. For the greater part of the day thesqualls continued; but in the afternoon, though it was hazy, the weatheragain improved. 

I was looking out, when I saw through the mist what I took to be a sail. There was something strange about her rig--I could not make it out. Accordingly, I reported it to the captain, who came on deck. He calledPeter to him. 

"She looks to me like a vessel in distress, with most of her spars andupper-rigging carried away, " he observed. She was about six miles off, on the lee-bow. Accordingly, the brig was kept away towards her. 

Heavy squalls of rain occasionally blew over us, and for a timecompletely hid the wreck from view. When it cleared for an instant, wemade out that she had an English ensign reversed secured to themain-rigging. Her mainmast alone was standing entire, her foremast hadgone by the board, her mizzen-mast was carried away at the top, and partonly of her bowsprit remained. Her maintop-mast-yard was still crossed;but the sail, torn to ribbons, now fluttered in the wind, and notanother inch of canvas had she set. 

"She looks dreadfully knocked about, " observed the captain. "And fromthe way she rolls in the trough of the sea, there can be no doubt thatshe is water-logged. If it were not for the signal flying, I shouldscarcely expect to find anyone on board. "

We had as much sail set as we could venture to carry, so that we couldnot make greater speed towards her; but the squalls increased in number, and night was coming on, so that we began to fear that we should beunable to get up to her before darkness hid her from our sight. Evenwhen we had got up to her, unless she had her own boats, short-handed aswe were, with a heavy sea running, we could scarcely hope to render hermuch assistance. Still Captain Gale was not the man to neglect makingthe attempt. Some, I am sorry to say, would have sailed on their way, and allowed any poor wretches who might have been on the wreck to perishmiserably. As we approached the wreck, we could just distinguishthrough the driving mists and thickening gloom of night, several humanbeings leaning against the stumps of her masts, or sitting on her deckeagerly waving to us. The captain on seeing them exclaimed--

"Peter, we must do something to save those poor fellows. "

"I should think: so, sir, " was the answer. "If you let me have a boat, with Jack there, and one hand besides, I'll undertake to get on boardand bring them off. I know that it would leave you terriblyshort-handed if we were lost; but I don't think that there's any chanceof that, and I'm sure that we shall be protected in doing what's right. "

"You shall have your way, Peter; I cannot refuse you, " exclaimed thecaptain, warmly. "We'll heave the brig to to leeward of the wreck, sothat if you can manage to get the poor fellows into the boat, you canwith less difficulty drop aboard of us again. "

According to this plan, we ran under the stern of the ship and roundedto. I never saw a more complete wreck yet floating on the surface. Herentire bulwarks, her boats, caboose, booms--indeed everything on deck--had been completely carried away, and the sea even now occasionallywashed entirely over her. It was not an easy matter to lower our boat, but it was done without an accident; and Peter, Andrew Blair, a fineyoung fellow, and I, pulled away in her for the wreck. The unfortunatewretches on board waved us on. Several more made their appearance, aswe approached, from behind a sail which had been triced up round themainmast, which appeared to be the only shelter they had from theinclemency of the weather. They were all holding on to ropes secured tothe masts or rigging, for without them they would certainly at once havebeen washed off the deck into the sea. 

On getting nearer, we saw one or two heads looking at us from above thecompanion-hatch, which had escaped, and seemed to have afforded someshelter to others. We pulled as close to her as we could venture to go. 

"Remember if we come alongside only four of you at a time must get intothe boat, or we shall all lose our lives together!" shouted Peter. "Doyou hear me there?"

They signified that they did hear; but Peter's caution was veryunnecessary, for few of them could do more than crawl, and none of them, without assistance, could have got into the boat. 

"I see what must be done, " said Peter to us. "You two remain in theboat. There's a rope towing overboard from the main-rigging; I'll gethold of it, and haul myself on her deck, and then, as best I can, I'lldrop the poor fellows into the boat!"

To propose was with him to act. As the boat with the send of the seaapproached the wreck, while we fended her off he seized the rope, whichhe found secure, and though the water, as it came pouring down toleeward, washed over him, he hauled himself up in a moment on her deck, and stood among the miserable wretches who peopled it. They crawledround him, and grasped his legs, to show their gratitude to him as theirdeliverer. I saw by his action that he was telling them that there wasnot a moment to be lost. Beckoning to us to approach, he seized one ofthem up in his arms as if he had been an infant, and grasping the ropewith one hand, swung himself off from the side of the ship, anddeposited his burden in the boat, or rather in our arms, as we stoodready to receive him. In a moment he was on the deck, and lifting upanother human being, sprung as before into the boat. 

"How many of you are there?" he asked of one who seemed to be thestrongest of the crew, and looked by his dress like an officer. Once hehad evidently been a stout, broad-shouldered, muscular young man, now hewas a mere skeleton like the rest. 

"Twelve or fourteen there were this morning, but I know not how many maysince have died, " was the answer, given in a hollow tone scarcelyaudible. 

"Then we'll take four at a time to the brig, and we shall have to makethree trips, " answered Peter. "We must not venture with more, though asto weight the boat would carry the whole of you. Now, my lad, " hecontinued, addressing the mate, for so the man who had spoken proved tobe, "just do you come with us this trip. I'll lend you a hand into theboat. "

"No, no!" answered the fine fellow; "take some of the others who areworse off than I am. There were a couple of women. They will be foundaft under the companion-hatch. "

As no persuasion would make the mate alter his determination, Peterhurried aft, and diving under the hatch, returned with what looked likea long bundle of clothes in his arms. "Gently, now, " he sung out; "shehas life in her, but very little of it. "

The clothes enveloped a female form, but so emaciated that she seemed tobe of no weight whatever. Before placing her in the boat, Peter poureda few drops of liquid down her throat from a flask the captain had givenhim. 

"There's no use to bring the other poor thing; her sufferings are over, "he observed, as he lifted in another man. "And now, my lads, we'll putthese on board. "

We soon dropped down to the brig, and with less difficulty got the poorwretches up the side. The captain proposed sending the two other handsinstead of Blair and me, but we begged that we might be allowed toreturn to the wreck. 

Once more we pulled away from the brig, the boat, it must be remembered, tumbling and tossing about, now sunk in the trough of the sea, nowrising to the top of a foam-crested wave; the sky overhead threateningand cloudy; a dense mist driving in our faces; and darkness rapidlycoming on. We had the lives of fellow-creatures to save, and wepersevered. Again the undaunted Peter sprung on board the wreck. 

"Take care of that man!" exclaimed the mate, as an extraordinary-lookingfigure, in a long dressing-gown, with strips of canvas fastened abouthis head, ran up from behind the woman; "he is not altogether right inhis mind, I fear. "

"Avaunt, ye pirates! ye plunderers! ye marauders!" shrieked out theperson spoken of. "How dare ye venture on board my noble ship? Awaywith ye! away! away!" and flourishing a piece of timber which he hadwrenched, it seemed, from the side of the ship, he advanced towardsPeter. 

My shipmate would have been struck down by the maniac's blow, had he notsprung nimbly aside, and then, rushing in, he closed with the wretchedbeing, and wrenched the weapon out of his grasp. The madman's strengthwas exhausted. 

"I yield! I yield me!" he cried; and though he was a tall man, Peterlifted him up as he had done the others, and handed him to us. He layquiet enough in the bottom of the boat, regarding the wreck he wasleaving with a stare of wonder. 

Three other men were lifted in, but still the mate refused to leavewhile any remained alive on board. As we were leaving the wreck asecond time, a man lifted himself up from the deck, and stood for amoment gazing at us. 

"What! again deserted!" he exclaimed, shrieking frantically. "Oh, takeme! take me!" and staggering forward, before the mate could prevent himhe cast himself headlong into the sea. We endeavoured to put back, buthe floated scarcely a moment, and then the foaming waters closed overhis head. It was another of the numberless instances I have witnessedof the crime and folly of not waiting with calmness and resignation forwhat the Almighty has in his providence prepared for us. I trust thatthe poor man's mind had given way in this instance; but even that resultis often produced by a want of reliance on God's mercy. 

We put our hapless freight on board the brig, and a third time returnedto the wreck. Besides the brave mate, Peter found only two more peoplealive on board. Several were dead. At the earnest solicitation of themate, Peter helped him to commit them to the deep. It was a melancholyand loathsome task, for some had been long dead. 

The delay also was of serious consequence. More than once I summonedPeter, for another thick squall of rain had come on, and when I glancedround for an instant to look for the brig, she was nowhere to be seen!A pang of dread ran through my heart, and all sorts of horrid ideasrushed into my head. I thought that the squall might have struck her, and that she might have capsized, or that she might have drifted so farto leeward that we might not be able to find her. I said nothing, however, but helped Peter to take the mate and the other two survivorsoff the wreck. Then, indeed, the question pressed on us, What hasbecome of the brig?

"Cheer up, my lads!" cried Peter; "hold on yet a while; we'll see herpresently. "

We waited with intense anxiety, and the darkness seemed every instantincreasing. It was, however, only the result of the tail of the squallpassing by. Suddenly a bright light burst forth, which we knew mustproceed from the deck of the brig. 

"The captain has not forgotten the trick we played the pirates!"exclaimed Peter. "Shove off, my lads!"

With lightened hearts we pulled away to leeward, and were soon once moreon the deck of the brig, with our boat hoisted up and secured. Everycare and attention which we could possibly bestow was paid to the poorstarving wretches. Captain Gale was enlightened as well as brave andgenerous, so that he knew well how to treat them. First he gave themonly a little liquid--tea and cocoa; and then after a time a littlesimple arrowroot; afterwards he gave them some with broth; and, lastly, he mixed a few drops of wine with the arrowroot. 

Scarcely, however, had we got them down below, than the gale which hadbeen threatening came on; and while the captain went to the helm, allhands had to spring aloft to shorten sail. Happily the gale was in ourfavour, so that we were able to run before it, and keep our course. There can be little doubt that had we not providentially appeared thatvery night, everybody on board the wreck would have perished. We hadhard work enough to do the duty of the ship and to attend to ourpassengers, who could for some days do nothing to help themselves. Theywere all too weak to speak without fatigue, so we forbore to questionthem as to the particulars of the events which had brought them into thecondition in which we had found them. 

For some days all we knew was, that the ship was the _Eagle_, fromQuebec, laden with timber, and that she had been six weeks very nearlyin the condition we found her--water-logged, with spars and sailscarried away. The captain had died, and the lady we had rescued was hiswife. Poor thing! at first she was almost insensible to everything; butwhen she recovered her health and strength, it was pitiable to see hergrief. 

The tall, gaunt man, whom we found deranged, had been a merchant'sclerk, and had gone out to Canada in the vain hope of findingemployment. Disappointed in his expectations, he was returning home. At first he appeared to recover strength, but a relapse took place, andhe rapidly seemed to grow weaker and weaker. I was sent to watch him. Suddenly he sat up in his berth, and glared wildly around. 

"Where am I?--where am I going?--what has occurred?" he exclaimed. "Tell me, young man. I have had a horrid dream. For worlds I would notdream it again!" Then his voice lowered, and, rubbing his hand acrosshis brow, he added, in a low, calm tone--

"I know all about it. I am going to a land where I have only oneaccount to render; but my Judge will be great and just; and there is Onein whom I trust who has taken all my sins on Himself. Young man, thankall those who have been kind to me. I am grateful. Good-night!" Hefell back on his pillow, and was dead. 

Among those saved was one other passenger. The rest consisted of thefirst mate, and the crew of the ship. With one of the crew, a youngCanadian, who was making his second trip to sea, I formed a strongfriendship; Adam De Lisle was his name. From him I learned theparticulars of the disaster. 

"You must know, " he observed, "that the timber which is sent from Canadato England is cut down from forests many hundreds of miles up thecountry. Numerous large and rapid rivers run into the great river SaintLawrence. At the fall of the year gangs of woodcutters, under regularleaders, proceed up these rivers in canoes, with a supply of food, andevery requisite, to enable them to spend the winter far from the haunts, of civilisation. Arrived at the forest they have selected for theiroperations, they build their habitations, and then set to work to cutdown the trees they require. These, when shaped into square logs, assoon as snow has fallen, and ice covers the water, are dragged to thenearest stream. When spring returns, they are bound together in smallrafts, and floated down towards the main river. Sometimes, when rapidsoccur, they are separated, and a few trees are allowed to glide downtogether. Slides have, of late years, been formed by the sides of therapids, through which the timber descends without injury. At the footof the rapids the rafts are re-formed, and ultimately, when they reachthe Saint Lawrence, they are made so large that huts are built on them, in which their conductors live till they reach Quebec. This theyfrequently do not do till the end of the summer, when all the ships havesailed. The timber, therefore, remains in shallow docks at the mouth ofthe Charles River, which runs into the Saint Lawrence on one side ofQuebec, till the following spring. The timber is often shipped througha large port in the bow of a ship, but a quantity is also piled upondeck, and lashed there to ring-bolts, making a ship with so great aweight above board very uneasy in a sea. Thus, I think, more accidentshappen to the spars and rigging of timber-ships than to any other, though they have an advantage in floating longer than other craft. 

"The _Eagle_ was one of the first ships which left Quebec this year, with a crew of eighteen, all told fore-and-aft, with the captain's wifeand several passengers. Scarcely had we got clear of the Gulf when wefell in with bad weather; and about ten days afterwards, a heavy galesprung up from the westward. It was night. The sea soon ran very high, and the ship being deep, and steering ill, before she could be gotbefore the wind, it made a clear breach over her. There she layhelplessly in the trough of the sea, most of her bulwarks carried away, and the water pouring down her companion-hatch, and deluging the cabin. It soon found its way forward, and every instant we thought she wouldcapsize. The captain ordered the main and mizzen topsail-sheets to becut away, for there was no time to let them go, or clew-up the sails;but still the ship lay helpless and unable to answer her helm. Two menwent to the helm, while others rigged relieving-tackles, and at lengthall the after-sail being taken off her, the headsail filled, and oncemore she ran before the wind. This was a great relief, but still thewater was gaining on us. The seas continued rolling up after us highabove the poop, and at length one broke on board, carrying the taffrailclean away, and sweeping the after-part of the deck. Had we not hadsafety-lines passed across the deck, the greater number of us would atonce have been washed overboard. Our sufferings had now become intense, both from cold and hunger. All the provisions we could get at werespoiled with salt water, and the few clothes we had on were drenchedalso with water, and the wind pierced through them to our very bones. We still managed to keep a close-reefed foretop-sail on the ship, with amainstay-sail and trysail, or we could not have avoided being constantlypooped. The gale, in a short time, increased in fury as the sea did inheight. Again it made a clean breach over the ship. All the bulwarkswere carried away; and the ring-bolts being torn from the decks, thedeck timber, which consisted of large logs, was washed overboard, aswere all our boats. At the same moment the foresail blew clean out ofthe bolt-ropes; and all those we could muster fit for duty had notstrength sufficient to go aloft to set another. We knew well that oursafety much depended on our being able to keep sail on the ship; buteach man felt that his death would be the consequence if he attempted togo aloft, with that raging sea tumbling the ship about in everydirection, the wind howling round him, and the torn sail flappingfiercely in his face. Still we managed to keep the ship before thewind, and thus, by easing the strain on her, she was prevented fromgoing to pieces, which she would otherwise inevitably have done. 

"Our first mate, James Carr, was a fine fellow. To look at him, youwould not have supposed that he had so much endurance in his body. Hisspirit kept him up. When very few besides he and I could bear up, hewent about the decks as if nothing unusual had occurred. He was aslight, fair man, and far from strongly-built; but he was a thoughtful, reading, and more than that, a religious man. Those who had led thewildest and most careless lives, and had no faith or hope to sustainthem, were the first to succumb. I held out--first, because I believedthat God would sustain me; and because I had a good constitution, whichI had never injured by vice and debauchery, as too many of the rest haddone. The captain was a good, kind man, and he did his best for us aslong as his strength lasted. The little food we could get at wascarefully husbanded, and all hands were put on short allowance. Manydays thus passed away, the ship running before the wind, and stillkeeping together. At length the wind lulled, and we began to lookforward with hope to the future. The caboose had hitherto stood, andthe cook managed to light a fire in it, and to dress several meals, which we ate with comparative comfort. As long as there was a moderatebreeze the ship ran steadily before it, but what many people would havethought an advantage, proved our greatest bane. Too much wind hadinjured us--too little almost destroyed us. It fell a dead calm; andthis, far from bettering our condition, made the ship roll still morethan ever, and soon reduced us to the condition in which you found us. The greater part of the bowsprit had already gone, the foremast was nextrolled out of her, and then the mizzen-mast went--the mainmast must havebeen an unusually good stick, or that would have gone likewise. We hadscarcely strength left to cut away the wreck. Hitherto, though allhands were growing daily weaker, no deaths had occurred, nor had anyoneany particular sickness. However, anxiety of mind now helped to makeour poor captain ill, and he took to his cot. The daily provision foreach of us consisted also of but three ounces of bread, and half a pintof water. We agreed to this, because we felt that it was enough tosustain life for some time, and that it was better to have a little eachday than have to go many days without any food at all. The officersproposed, however, before long, to diminish even this small allowance--though, by mixing a little spirits with the water, our food sustained usmore than it would otherwise have done. Starvation, after a time, beganto tell sadly on our tempers; and we, who had generally lived ingood-fellowship with each other, spent the day in wrangling andpeevishness. A breeze, however, had again sprung up, which seemed tosteady the ship, though we could not keep her on her proper course. Such was the state of things, when one morning Mr Carr going on deck, as was his custom, to take a look-out, and to hoist our signal ofdistress, he shouted out, `Sail, ho!'

"How did our hearts leap with joy as we heard those words! We allcrawled up as best we could to take a look at the stranger, which wehoped would save us. She saw us, and drew nearer. The captain got themate and me to help him up on deck, and then, as he saw the approachingvessel, his heart bursting forth with gratitude, he called on us all toreturn thanks to God for the deliverance he hoped was at hand. His poorwife, who had held out bravely, and scarcely ever left his side, weptwith joy at the thought that his life might yet be spared. 

"`Now, my lads, let's see if we cannot get the ship somewhat clear ofwater, ' exclaimed Mr Carr, going to the pumps; `It will never do tohave it said that we did nothing to help ourselves. '

"I believe he did this to employ the men's minds till assistance couldreach us. He set the example, which we all followed; and, weak as wewere, we pumped away with such good-will that she rose perceptibly inthe water, showing us that there was no leak to injure her. 

"At last the stranger, a large brig, reached us, and heaving-to just toleeward, Mr Carr gave him an account of all that had happened to us. 

"The master of the brig said that he was himself somewhat short ofprovisions, but would send us what he could venture to give in his ownboat. We thanked him with grateful hearts. Still the boat did notcome. There was some consultation on board; we could not tell what. Abreeze from the westward again sprung up. It was a fair wind for thestranger. 

"`What's he about now?' exclaimed several voices, trembling withagitation. 

"He put up his helm and filled his headsails. 

"`He'll go about directly, and heave-to on the other tack, ' said MrCarr. 

"Still the stranger stood on. 

"`Where can he be going to?' again exclaimed several of us. 

"On, on he stood, steadily, with all sail set! Oh, how bitter were thewords which followed him! Could that heartless stranger have heardthem, would he have ventured to brave the fate to which he had left somany of his fellow-creatures? How completely had he forgotten thatgolden rule, `Do unto others as you would wish others to do unto you!'What will be his thoughts some day when he is suffering from all themiseries to which we were exposed, when he remembers the wreck hedeserted on the wild ocean! Hour after hour we watched him anxiously, scarcely believing, till his topsails dipped beneath the horizon, thatso heartless a wretch existed in the creation. "

"Ay, it's another proof of the depth of man's vileness, and wickedness, and contempt of the laws of a God of mercy, " observed Peter Poplar. "Ihave known many such instances almost as bad; so I am not surprised. "

"When we found that we really were deserted, the spirits of all of usand the minds of some gave way. Several of the crew broke into thespirit-room, which they could now reach, and, broaching a cask ofliquor, endeavoured to forget their miseries by getting drunk. The mateand I, and most of the passengers, abstained from the temptation. Thosewho indulged in it were the first to pay the penalty by a miserabledeath. 

"Still discipline had been maintained. Mr Carr called on me toaccompany him round the ship in search of anything which might serve asfood to stay the cravings of hunger. We discovered a few pounds ofcandles, some bits of old leather, leather shoes, a rug, a couple ofhides; but our greatest prize was about a gallon of lamp-oil, and someoil intended to mix with paint. These we brought into the cabin, to bekept in safety. While we were there, Mr Carr's eyes fell on oldTrojan, the captain's favourite Newfoundland dog, as he lay almost dyingunder his master's cot. The captain very naturally had not broughthimself to order its death. 

"`I am sorry, sir, ' said Mr Carr, `to propose what I do; but that dogmay be the means of preserving the lives of all of us. We must killhim. '

"`You'll be proposing to kill and eat each other before long, ' exclaimedthe poor master, in a querulous tone. 

"`Heaven forbid!' answered the mate. `But to take the life of a brutebeast is a different matter. I don't see how we can spare him. Even ifwe do, he will not live long, and now his blood alone will be of greatimportance. '

"At last the captain consented to the death of his favourite, and poorTrojan was led up on deck to be put to death. Before he was killed, weall of us took an anxious look round the horizon, to ascertain that nosail was near. We would gladly, even then, have saved the poor dog'slife. The cravings of hunger soon, however, drove all feelings ofremorse from our bosoms. The faithful brute looked up into our faces, and his eyes said as clearly as if he had spoken the words, `I know thatit is necessary--be quick about it. ' How carefully we husbanded everydrop of the blood! The mate got a teaspoon, and served it out with thatmeasure full to each of us at a time, while the flesh was reserved foranother day. 

"I cannot describe how those wretched days passed away. Except the mateand three others of us, no one could even stand. The captain lay in hiscot growing worse and worse. I was on deck one afternoon with Mr Carr, steering and keeping the ship's head to the eastward, when we werestartled by a faint shriek from the cabin. Presently afterwards thecaptain rushed on deck. 

"`Mutiny! mutiny!' he exclaimed, frantically flourishing his arms about. `But I'll take care that no one takes the ship from me. I'll shoot thefirst man who approaches me, be he whom he may. See here here!'

"He drew a brace of pistols from his bosom, and presented them at us. Happily, one missed fire; the ball from the other passed close to MrCarr's head. 

"`That's right, sir, ' said Mr Carr, quite coolly. `Now you've quelledthe mutiny, let's go below. '

"He signed to one of the other men, who crawled aft to help me to steer, while he took the captain below. This outbreak was the last flaring upof the poor man's almost exhausted strength. His wife watched him asthe flame of life sank lower and lower in the socket; and two days afterthat, when I went into the cabin, I found her fainting beside him, andhe was dead. She entreated that the body might be allowed to remain inthe cabin another day; but the next she allowed the mate and me toremove it, and to commit it to the sea. 

"Oh, how sad and melancholy were those long, dreary nights, as we stoodat the helm, the gale howling over our heads, the ship groaning andcreaking, and the seas roaring up astern and threatening every moment towash us from our uncertain support--darkness above us, darkness on everyside!

"At last not a particle of food remained. Mr Carr made another searchinto every cranny of the ship. Some grease was found; it served to keeplife in us another day. Then the dreadful information spread among usthat there was nothing else. Relief must come, or we must die. 

"`Others have lived under like circumstances, ' said one, looking upunder his scowling brow. 

"`Ay, if it's necessary, it must be done, ' hissed another. 

"`There is no need why we should all die, ' growled a third. 

"They clearly understood what each other meant. I was listening, butcould: not believe the horrid truth. Those who were but able to movecrawled aft to Mr Carr, to tell him of their determination. For longhe would not listen to them, but drove them forward, calling themcannibals, and telling them to wait God's providence. For my own part, I felt that I would rather have died than have agreed to theirproposals. What they wanted was that lots should be drawn, and that hewho drew the shortest should be put to death, and the one next should bethe executioner. The captain's wife was to be free. At last theirimportunity became so great that Mr Carr agreed that, should no sailappear at the end of another twenty-four hours, he would no longeroppose their wishes. Before that time, two of those who were most eagerfor the dreadful mode of sustaining life, or most fearful of death, weresummoned away. The crime was prevented; no one had to become amurderer. I will not describe how my wretched shipmates sustained life. Mr Carr abstained from the dreadful repast. So did I and one or twoothers; and though we lost in strength, our sufferings were much lessacute, and our minds more tranquil, and our judgment far clearer thanwas the case with those who thus indulged their appetites. What wemight have done I know not, had not God in his mercy sent your brig toour aid, with men on board with hearts to feel for us, and courage, inspite of all dangers, to rescue us. Some time before this the ship hadbecome completely water-logged; and we, being driven from all shelterbelow, were reduced to the state in which you found us. "

The account De Lisle gave of Mr Carr raised him very much in myopinion, and I thought at the time that he was just the man I shouldlike to sail with. We more than once spoke on the subject of thecondition to which the crew of the _Eagle_ had been reduced. 

"To my mind, " observed De Lisle, "I cannot believe that people arejustified in taking away the life of a fellow-creature even to preservetheir own. I thought so at the time, and I think so now, that our dutyis to resign ourselves implicitly to God's will--to do our very utmostto preserve our lives, and to leave the rest in his hands. "

Peter agreed with him. He told him that he wondered Mr Carr did notmix up the grease on which they had fed with very fine saw-dust, as itwould have made it go much further. De Lisle replied, that had theyeven supposed such a thing would have been beneficial, they had no meansof making fine saw-dust, as they could get at no saw, and every particleof wood, as well as everything else, was soaked with wet. 

After all the dangers and adventures we had gone through, it was with nolittle satisfaction that, as I was stationed on the look-out aloft, Iespied land on the starboard-bow, which Captain Gale pronounced to bethat of Nova Scotia, a little to the westward of Cape Spry. We were insight of Sambro Head just at nightfall, but had to lay off till themorning before we could run in among the numerous islets which existbetween that point and Devil's Island. 

Thus another night had to be passed on board by our weary shipwreckedvisitors. Dark and dreary it proved. The wind came off cold andcheerless, in fitful gusts, from the shore, and moaned and howledthrough the rigging; the rain beat on our decks; and broken cross-seastumbled and danced round us like imps of evil, eager to prevent ourescaping from their malign influence. Thus wore on the night. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

ADVENTURES IN MOROCCO--SEARCH FOR THE LOST CAPTAIN. 

As the morning sun arose, lighting up Sambro Head in the distance, theclouds of night dispersed from off the sky, and with a fair breeze weran in under the forts which guard McNab's Island, at the entrance ofthe fine harbour of Halifax. The capital of Nova Scotia stands on theside of a hill facing the east, which rises gradually from the water'sedge. Its streets are wide, well laid out, and handsome, mostlycrossing each other at right angles, and extending along the shores ofthe harbour for a distance of two miles, and running inland about half amile. Fine wharfs, at which ships of any burden can discharge theircargoes, extend along the water's edge; above them are the warehousesand merchants' stores; and then come the public buildings; and, lastly, the houses of the more wealthy inhabitants. The harbour is very fine, and would hold as large a fleet as ever put to sea. The naval dockyardis also a handsome establishment, and it is the chief naval station inBritish North America. As it is completely open to the influence of thesea air, its anchorage is very seldom blocked up by ice. It isaltogether an important place, and would become still more important inwar-time. 

As soon as we had dropped our anchor, Captain Gale, taking me with himto carry his papers and other articles, went on shore to find out theowners of the _Dolphin_. Davidson and Stenning were their names, thelatter being the brother of the master, who was also part owner. He wasdreadfully overcome when Captain Gale announced his errand. 

"What do you mean, sir? My brave brother Walter dead! murdered byrascally pirates!" he exclaimed. "Oh, impossible!--it's too horrid!What will his poor wife do?"

"I have my hopes that he may still be numbered among the living, "replied Captain Gale. And he then recounted all that had occurredconnected with the Salee rover. 

Both the gentlemen complimented the captain on the way he had behaved, and then begged him to wait to see Mrs Walter Stenning, who wasresiding there. After some time, during which her brother-in-law waspreparing her for the captain's communication, we were called in to seethe lady. She begged that I might come too, that she might question meabout having seen her husband in the rigging of the rover. She was notvery young, but she was handsome, and very modest-looking; and as shewas dressed in mourning, she appeared very interesting, and I for onethought that I should be ready to do anything to please her. Shelistened attentively to all the captain had to say; and after talking tohim some time, cross-questioned me very narrowly as to how I knew thathe was the man I had seen on board the rover. 

"It was him--it was him, I am certain!" she exclaimed. "My good andnoble husband cannot be killed. His life has been spared. I feel it--Iknow it. I'll go and find him out. I'll search for him everywhere. I'll rescue him even if he is in the very heart of Morocco. "

"I fear, madam, that's more than you or any other woman can accomplish, "answered Captain Gale. "But if any human being is able to rescue yourhusband, even though the risk may be very great, I for one shall be morethan glad to engage in the work. If he's above the water and above theearth, we'll find him. "

There spoke the warm-hearted impetuous sailor. He did not stop toconsider difficulties, but at once undertook to do what his heartprompted. It was not quite at the spur of the moment either, because hehad, from the moment he thought Stenning dead, been feeling a sentimentof pity for his widow; and now he saw her sweet, amiable face, he wasstill more anxious to relieve her grief. 

Mrs Stenning, as may be supposed, could scarcely find words to thankCaptain Gale for his offer; and when he repeated it the following day, the owners replied that they would most thankfully accept it, and wouldput him in charge of the _Dolphin_, that he might go out in her tocommence his search. 

In the meantime, the people we had picked up at sea were landed, andtaken care of by the inhabitants of the place. Mrs Stenning insistedon taking charge of poor Mrs Ellis, the widow of the captain of the_Eagle_; and Mr Carr volunteered to join the _Dolphin_, to go in searchof Walter Stenning, with whom, curiously enough, he was well acquainted. Captain Gale at once offered to take me instead of sending me home, ashad been arranged he should do; and, of course, I was delighted to joinhim. Peter Poplar at once volunteered to accompany him; as indeed didall the crew of the brig, and some of the seamen we saved from thewreck: the greater number were, however, too ill to serve again at sea. 

The articles, as it happened, which composed the cargo, being much indemand at the time, sold well; and the owners were the better able, therefore, to fit out the brig in as liberal a way as could be desired. She was, accordingly, strongly armed, and well able to contend with anyrover or other vessel we might meet on the African coast. After thelessons we had received, also, we were not likely to be taken bysurprise, --the mode in which the pirates of those days usually attemptedto capture their prey. 

Mrs Stenning used frequently to come on board, to superintend theoutfit of the ship, and to hasten the workmen; and thus everybodyworking with a will, and with an important object in view, she was soonready for sea. Often and often, on the contrary, have I seen work whichmight and should have been rapidly performed, most vexatiously delayedthrough the laziness, or ignorance, or carelessness of those employed onit. One man has not taken a correct measure; another has forgotten togive a simple order; a third has put off a small piece of work to dosomething else which was not so much required; a fourth has ill-fitted aportion of the machine, or has broken what he calls some trifle which hehas not replaced; and so forth. How much better would it be if they, and all whose eyes read my story, would but remember that saying of HolyWrit--"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. "

Yes, in that Book, if men would but search earnestly, they would findwith an overflowing abundance all that they can require to guide themaright, both in everything in regard to this life, as well as to makethem wise unto salvation. But, then, they must not hope to be guidedpartly by the rules and maxims of the world, and partly by those of theBible. They must study the Bible by the light which the Bible affords--not by man's light or man's wisdom. They must not suppose that a merecursory or occasional reading will suffice. They must read itdiligently with all their heart, with an earnest prayer forenlightenment, and with an honest wish to comprehend it fully, and aresolution to be guided by its precepts. Let the worldly-mindedunderstand that those who do so succeed best, and are at the same timethe happiest men in the world in the long-run. However, Old Jack doesnot want to preach just now. If his readers will not believe him, deeply does he mourn the inevitable consequences to them. 

The brig, as I said, was soon ready for sea. It might have appearedthat the shortest way to proceed about our expedition would have been tosail at once for Morocco; but as the productions of Nova Scotia arechiefly food and timber, and such articles were in no request in thatpart of Africa, it was necessary to go first to England with a cargo, and then to take in what was required, such as cotton and woollenmanufactures, hardware, arms, and ammunition. Accordingly, we took onboard some quintals of dry fish, and barrels of flour, and beef, andpork, and pickled fish, and staves, and shingles, and lath-wood, andhoops, and such like productions of the forest. At that time, however, the country did not produce any large quantity of those articles forexportation. 

The owners directed us first to proceed to Bristol, where we were todischarge our cargo, and to take on board another suited to the Moroccomarkets. Our departure excited great interest in Halifax, where WalterStenning and his family were well-known; and his poor wife was one ofthe last people to leave the brig before she sailed. 

Once more, then, we were at sea. Several occurrences took place duringthe voyage which would be worth narrating, had not I other subjects ofmore interest to describe. People talk a great deal of the monotony ofthis or that existence, and especially of a long sea voyage. For mypart, I have learned to believe that no day is altogether barren ofincident, if people would but learn to look inwardly as well asoutwardly. Something of interest is always taking place in nature, butmen must keep their senses awake to observe it; so some process isalways going forward in a man's moral being, but his conscience must bealive to take note of it. 

We reached Bristol in six weeks--not a bad passage in those days, whennavigation had not made the strides it since has. We brought the firstaccount of all the events I have described, and as the passengers andmost of the crew of the _Dolphin_ had belonged to Bristol, severalfamilies of the place were plunged in deep grief, and a universal desireprevailed to recover any of those who might have been carried intocaptivity, and to ascertain further particulars of the tragedy. Notime, therefore, was lost in shipping a fresh cargo, and in furnishingus with such supplies as might be required. 

Our directions were to proceed first to the port of Alarache, whereresided a merchant who corresponded occasionally with our Bristolconsignees. From him we were to obtain an interpreter, and to proceedto such other ports as might be judged advantageous according to theinformation he might furnish. We had a fair run to Cape Spartel, thenorth-western point of Africa. It then fell calm for a day or so. After this we had very light and baffling winds, and we sighted morethan one suspicious-looking craft; but they did not, apparently, likeour appearance, and made sail away from us. At length we came offAlarache. A bar runs across the mouth of the harbour, which even atspring-tides prevents large ships from entering, though there weresufficient water on it to allow us to get over. No pilot came out, soCaptain Gale resolved to make a bold stroke, and to carry the brig in byhimself. 

It was nearly high-water, and the breeze was favourable as we stoodtowards the land. The sky and sea were blue and bright, with a line offoam where the water ran over the shallower part of the bar. Dark rocksand yellow sands were before us, with white-washed, flat-roofed houses, and here and there a minaret or cupola of a mosque, and tall, slender, wide-spreading topped date-trees scattered over the landscape; whilelower down, protecting the town, was a frowning castle or fort, with afew vessels at anchor before it. A boat-load of officials, with verybrown faces, white dresses, and red caps, came off to inquire ourbusiness, and get bucksheesh, as the Turks call such gratuities as theycan collect from travellers and voyagers. The captain could only replyby showing a document in Moorish with which he had been furnished, andrepeating the name of Mynheer Von Donk, the Dutch merchant at the place, to whom we were consigned. This, in the course of a couple of hours, produced Mynheer Von Donk himself, to ascertain what was required ofhim. I cannot pretend to say that all Dutch merchants are like him, forif so, they must be a very funny set of people. He was very short andvery fat, with queer little sparkling eyes, and a biggish snub-nose, andthick lips, and hair so long and stiff that his three-cornered hat couldscarcely keep it from starting out all round his bullet-shaped head. Hehad on very very wide brown breeches; and very very large silver bucklesto his shoes; and a waistcoat of yellow silk, embroidered all over withstrange designs, and so ample that it almost superseded the necessity ofbreeches; and his brown coat looked as if made with a due preparationfor the still further enlargement of its respectable owner. Mynheerinformed the captain that he could speak every language under the sunlike a native; but, as Peter remarked, then it must have been like anative who had lived away from home all his life, and forgotten hismother-tongue. We, however, made out that it was very necessary to becautious in our dealings with the Moors, as they were the greatestthieves and rogues in the world, and that they would only desire anopportunity of seizing the brig, and making slaves of us all; but thatwhile we remained in Alarache, we should be safe under his protection. 

When Captain Gale explained to him the real object of the voyage, hebrightened up considerably, as he saw that he might have an opportunityof making even more out of the ship than he at first expected. I do notsay that Mynheer Von Donk was destitute of human sympathies; but he hadgone out to that far from agreeable place to make money, and money hewas resolved to make by every means in his power. He was ready enougheven to promise to assist in finding poor Captain Stenning, provided hecould be paid for it--he preferred labouring in a laudable object withpay, to labouring in an object which was not laudable, if no more moneywas to be made in one way than in another; but he had no desire tolabour in anything without pay. 

We saw very little of the shore in this place, for he asked that weshould not be allowed to land, except in company with one of ourofficers and his interpreter. We had, however, a pretty brisk trafficfor the goods we had brought, we taking chiefly hard dollars in return;however, the captain did not refuse some articles, such as bees-wax, hides, copper; dates, and almonds, and other fruits not likely to spoilby keeping. It was, at the same time, important that we should not fillup entirely with merchandise, that we might have an excuse for visitingother ports. As far as we could judge, the dangers we had heard of hadbeen very much exaggerated, and arose chiefly from the careless andoften violent conduct of those who visited the country. Captain Gale, aided by Mr Carr, kept the strictest discipline on board; and we musthave gained the character of being very quiet well-disposed traders, without a thought beyond disposing of our merchandise. Our guns merelyshowed that we were able to defend what had been placed under our care. 

Meantime Mynheer Von Donk was making every inquiry in his power forCaptain Stenning, or any of the survivors from the massacre on board the_Dolphin_. He ascertained that no such vessel as we described had comeinto Alarache, but that one exactly answering her description belongedto the port of Salee, some leagues to the southward, and that she hadbeen on a long cruise, and had returned about the time the captaincalculated she might, with some booty and some captives on board. Whathad become of them he could not learn, but concluded that, as they hadnot been sent to the northward, they were still in the neighbourhood. 

One day, the interpreter having come on board, we got under way, andwithout let or hindrance stood over the bar. We lay up wellalong-shore, which is in some places very mountainous and rocky, and thefollowing day we were off Salee. This is also a bar harbour, but, waiting for high-tide, we ran over it, and came to an anchor oppositethe town, and near an old fort, the guns of which did not look veryformidable. As we ran up the harbour we looked anxiously around toascertain if our friend the rover was there; but no vessel exactly likeher could we see, though there were several suspicious-looking craft, which, no doubt, were engaged in the same calling. Salee itself iscomposed chiefly of mean houses, with very narrow dirty steep streets;but some of the dwellings in the higher part of the town are of greaterpretensions as to size and architectural beauty. 

Our consignee in this place was an Armenian merchant, who presented agreat contrast in outward appearance to Mynheer Von Donk. Keon y Kyatwas tall, and thin, and sallow and grave, dressed in long dark robes, and a high-pointed cap of Astrakan fur, --he looked more like a learnedmonk than a merchant; but in one point he was exactly like his respectedcorrespondent, --he came to the country to make money, and money he wasresolved to make, at all events! This circumstance, however, was anadvantage to our enterprise, as he was willing for money to afford usthat assistance which he would, probably, otherwise have refused. 

Our interpreter, Sidy Yeusiff, was a character in his way, thoughcertainly not one to be imitated. His mother was a Christian slave, anIrish Roman Catholic, married to a Mohammedan Moor. She had brought himup in her own faith, in which he continued till her death, when, toobtain his liberty, he professed that of his stepfather. He had all thevices consequent on slavery. He was cringing, cowardly, false, andutterly destitute of all principle; but, at the same time, so plausible, that it was difficult not to believe that he was speaking the truth. Hewas a young, pleasant-looking man; and as he used to come forward andtalk freely with the seamen, he became a favourite on board. Poorfellow! had he been brought up under more favourable circumstances, howdifferent might have been his character! His professed object was, ofcourse, to interpret for the captain in all matters connected with thesale of the cargo; but he used to take every opportunity of going onshore to try and gain information about Captain Stenning or any of hiscompanions. 

I had few opportunities of making remarks about the people of thisplace, but Sidy corrected some of the notions I had first formed. Theboys all go bare-headed; the men wear red caps. They have their hairshaved off their heads, with the exception of a tuft on the top, bywhich they expect Mohammed will draw them up to paradise. I have seenit remarked that Mohammed, who had very erroneous notions on scientificsubjects, fixed the articles for the religious belief of his followersaccording to them, thereby entirely disproving their divine origin;whereas the writers of the Bible, guided by inspiration, made numerousstatements which, with the knowledge then possessed by mankind, wouldhave been impossible for them to understand clearly unless explained tothem by the Holy Spirit, but which subsequent discoveries in sciencehave shown to be beautifully and exactly correct. 

Mohammed thought that the world was flat, and so placed his paradise inan atmosphere above it. 

To return to the dress of the Moors. They wear long beards and largewhiskers, but shave their upper lip and directly under the chin. Agentleman of the upper class wears a long shirt without a collar, andover it a sort of spencer or waistcoat, joined before and behind. Again, over this he puts a very large coat, ornamented with numberlessbuttons, and with sleeves reaching only to his elbows. His coat, whichhe folds round him, is secured by a thick coloured sash or girdle, intowhich he sticks a very long knife or dagger, and where he carries hismoney, supposing he has any. He wears only a pair of linen drawersreaching to the ankle. His shoes are of goat-skin, very well-dressed, the sole being but of one thickness. He wears over his dress a finewhite blanket, with which he can completely shroud himself, leaving onlyhis right arm exposed. It is called a haik. Some of these haiks arevery fine and transparent, while others are thicker and more fit forgeneral use. In cold weather he puts on a bournous or capote, with ahood such as the Greek fishermen and sailors wear. A labouring man doesnot wear a shirt, and his drawers come only as far as his knee, leavingthe rest of his leg exposed. 

The women's clothes are cut something like those of the men. Round thehead they wear a coloured sash, which hangs down to the waist; theirhair is plaited; and they have the usual gold and silver ornaments intheir ears and on their fingers, and red shoes. The poorer classes wearnecklaces, and silver or copper rings on their fingers and thumbs. Their shirts are beautifully ornamented in front, to look like lace. When they leave the house they put on drawers of great length, whichthey turn up into numerous folds over their legs, giving them a veryawkward appearance. Besides the haik, which is like that of a man's, alady wears a linen cloth over her face, to conceal it from the profanevulgar when abroad. Such were the people we saw moving about on shore. 

Day after day passed by, and no account could we gain of poor CaptainStenning. It was very clear, also, that if we did, we should not beable to obtain his liberation by force. At last one day the captainsent for me. 

"Williams, " said he, "I have had news of one of the _Dolphin's_ people, if not of Captain Stenning himself. I must myself go and see him, and Iwant a companion in whom I have perfect confidence. As you are asteady, sensible man, with good nerve, I shall be glad to take you withme, if you are willing to accompany me. I should probably have takenPoplar, but his figure is so conspicuous that he would have beenremarked. "

I was much pleased with the way in which he spoke of me, and I told himthat I was ready to follow wherever he chose to lead the way. 

"That is the spirit I expected to find in you, " he replied. 

"It is, however, right that you should understand that there isconsiderable danger in the expedition; for if our errand was to bediscovered, we should certainly be sacrificed to the fury of the Moors. "

"I've no fear about that, sir, " said I. "A man cannot expect to bealways able to do what is right without running some risk and takingsome trouble. "

Sidy that evening brought us off some Moorish clothes, in which thecaptain and I rigged ourselves out. We certainly did look two funnyfigures, I thought, as we turned ourselves round and round in them. Sidy had not forgotten a couple of long knives, to which the captainadded a brace of pistols a piece. I was very glad it was dusk when weleft the ship, for I should not have liked my shipmates to have seen mewith my bare legs and slippers, and a dirty blanket over my head justlike an old Irishwoman. 

A shore-boat was alongside--a sort of canoe turned up at both ends, andflat-bottomed. An old Moor sat in her. Sidy had bribed him to put uson shore, and to ask no questions. He told him that we were Moors, whohad had business on board the brig, and that we desired to land withoutnotice. He accordingly pulled to an unfrequented part of the harbour, and we stepped on shore, as we believed, unnoticed. The captain andSidy led the way, I following in the character of a servant. Of course, if spoken to, I was to be dumb. We passed along a narrow sandy road, with low stone walls on either side skirting the town, till we arrivedat the entrance of a house of somewhat larger dimensions than those ofthe neighbouring edifices. This, I found, was the residence of a Germanrenegade and a merchant, who had, by Sidy's means, been bribed to assistus. 

We were ushered into his presence as Moorish guests come to visit him. He was seated cross-legged on a cushion at one end of a room, with alarge pipe by his side. The apartment was not very finely furnished, seeing that it had little else in it besides a few other cushions likethe one he sat on. Certainly he looked exactly like an old Moor, and Icould not persuade myself that he was not one. He invited us to sitdown; which the captain and Sidy did near him, while I tucked my legsunder me at a distance. After he had bowed and talked a little throughthe interpreter, he clapped his hands, and some slaves brought each ofus a pipe--not an unpleasant thing just then to my taste. Again heclapped his hands, and the slaves brought in some low, odd, littletables, one of which was placed before each of us. There was a bowl ofporridge, and some plates with little lumps of fried meat, and rice, anddates, but not a drop of grog or liquor of any sort. Afterwards, however, coffee was brought to us in cups scarcely bigger than thimbles;but it did little more than just warm up my tongue. As soon as theslaves had withdrawn, I was not a little surprised to hear the seemingMoor address the captain in tolerable English. 

"So you want to find one of your captured countrymen?" said he. "Well, to-morrow morning I start on a journey to visit a friend who has one asa slave. His description answers that of him whom you seek. I willobtain for you a short conversation with him. You must contrive themeans of rescuing him. I can do no more. "

After some further talk on the subject our host got up, and, havingcarefully examined all the outlets to the room to ascertain that no onewas looking in, produced a stout black bottle from a chest, and someglasses. I found that the bottle contained most veritable Schiedam. 

"Now, as I don't think this good stuff was known to Master Mohammed whenhe played his pranks on earth, he cannot object to any of his faithfulfollowers tasting a drop of it now and then. "

Thereon he poured out a glass for each of us, and winked at Sidy, asmuch as to say, "We understand each other--we are both of us rogues. "The captain took but little; so did I: but Muly Hassan the merchant, andthe interpreter, did not stop their potations till they had finished thebottle, and both were very drunk. The merchant had sense enough left tohide his bottle, and then his slaves came and made him up a couch in onecorner of the room. They also prepared beds for us in the othercorners. 

The next morning we were up before break of day, and mounted on somesmall horses, almost hid by their gaily-coloured saddle-cloths andtrappings. And such saddles! Rising up in peaks ahead and astern, adrunken tailor could not have tumbled off one of them had he tried. Ido not remember much about the appearance of the country. A largeportion was lying waste; but there were fields of various sorts of corn, and even vineyards, though the grapes produced from them were not, Isuppose, used for the manufacture of wine: indeed, I know that they areeaten both fresh and dried. Date-trees were, however, in greatabundance, the fruit being one of the principal articles of food amongthe people. The roads were very bad; and altogether there was an air ofmisery and neglect which will always be seen where the ruler is a tyrantand the people are slaves. We rested in some sheds put up for theaccommodation of passengers during the heat of the day, and in theafternoon proceeded on to our destination. 

"Now, my friends, look out for your countryman, " said the renegade. "You will probably see him tending cattle or labouring in the fieldsamong other slaves. He is probably in his own dress, and you willeasily recognise him. "

Curiously enough, we had not ridden on for ten minutes further, when, not far from the road, we saw a man seated on a bank a short distancefrom the road, and looking very sorrowful and dispirited. His dress wasthat of a seaman. I looked round, and seeing no one near except our ownparty, I slipped off my horse, and ran up to him. Of course, he thoughtI was a Moor, and he looked as if he would have fainted with surprisewhen he heard me hail him in English. 

"Who are you? What do you come here for?" he exclaimed, panting forbreath. 

"I belong to the _Dolphin_ brig, and I came here to try and find CaptainStenning and any of his companions. "

"Heaven be praised, then?" he exclaimed, bursting into tears. "He and Iare the only survivors of that demon-possessed craft which he commanded. But how came your vessel to be called by the name of one which provedso unfortunate?"

"I cannot tell you all about that just now, " I answered, seeing thatmuch time would be lost if I entered into particulars. I thereforemerely explained the steps we had taken to discover them, and asked himwhat had become of Captain Stenning. 

"The captain! He has been in this very place till within the last threeor four weeks, when the Moors carried him away to serve on board one oftheir ships--the very ship which captured us. They found out that hewas the captain and understood navigation, so they took him to navigateone of their piratical craft. I was sick and unfit for work, or theywould have taken me likewise; but they saw that I was only a man beforethe mast, and guessed that I did not understand navigation. What hassince become of the captain I don't know. There is no one here I cantalk to. They set me to work by signs, which, if I do not understand, they sharpen my wits with a lash; and they take care that I shall notrun away, by securing me at night with a chain round my leg. There areseveral other slaves employed by the same master, but not one of themunderstands a word of English. "

The young man's name was Jacob Lyal, he told me; and he said that he wasjust out of his apprenticeship when he joined the _Dolphin_. 

"I have a father and mother, and brothers and sisters, at home, inSomersetshire, and it would make their hearts sorrowful if they heardthat I was left a slave in this barbarous country; so you'll do all youcan to help me, " he exclaimed, as I was about to leave him, for I wasafraid of remaining longer lest we should be observed. 

Just as I was going, however, I told him to try and arrange some plan bywhich we might have a talk with him, and let him know how things stoodbefore we left the place, should we be unable to take him with us. Healso described very accurately the sort of place in which he was lockedup at night; and I promised, if I could, to go and have some moreconversation with him. As we did not lose time in talking of anythingexcept the matter in hand, I was speedily able to rejoin the captain andhis companions. The captain approved of the arrangements I had made, though he was very sorry that there was no immediate prospect of meetingwith Captain Stenning. 

We were received with all the usual marks of respect by the old Moor whoowned the property. He had been a pirate in his youth, and cut-throatsand robbed without compunction; but he was now a dignified oldgentleman, who looked as if he had been engaged in rural affairs all hislife. I came in for almost as much of the attention and good fare asthe captain; for in that country a beggar may eat off the same table, orrather the same floor, and sit under the same roof as a prince. Theexcuse for the visit was to sell to the old Moor some of the goodsaboard the _Dolphin_, specimens of which the captain had brought withhim. 

As soon after our arrival as we had shaken the dust out of our clothes, and washed our faces and our hands and feet, we were ushered by slavesinto a hall, at one end of which sat the old Moor, and the captain andthe renegade and the interpreter were placed on each side of him, and Isat a little further off, tucking up my legs as I had done before; andthen some black slaves in white dresses brought in a little table foreach of us, with all sorts of curious things to eat, which I need notdescribe, for in that country one feast is very much like another. Therenegade had also brought a case; but that it contained somethingbesides merchandise he proved by producing, one after the other, severalof his favourite bottles of Schiedam, which apparently were no lessacceptable to the old Moor than to him. I am not, however, fond ofdescribing such scenes, or of picturing such gross hypocrites as therenegade and the old Moor. 

I gained an advantage, however, from their drunken habits; for as soonas it was dark I stole out of the house, and tried to find my way to theshed where Lyal told me he was chained at night. I had taken good noteof the bearings of the place as we rode along. I knew that if I wasfound prying about, I should run a great chance of being killed; butstill I was resolved to run every risk to try and rescue the poor fellowfrom captivity. Of course, as the captain afterwards told me, we mighthave gone home to England, and laid the state of the case before theGovernment; and after a year or so spent in diplomatising, the poorfellow, if he was still alive, might have been released, or the Emperorof Morocco might have declared that he could not find him, or that hewas dead; and thus he would have remained on, like many others, incaptivity. 

There was a little light from the moon, which enabled me to mark theoutlines of the house I was leaving, as well as to find my way. Twoservants were stationed in the entrance passage, but they had wrappedthemselves up in their haiks and gone soundly to sleep, so I steppedover their bodies without waking them. Every person about the house, indeed, seemed to have gone to sleep, but the dogs were more faithfulthan the human beings, and some of them barked furiously as I walkedalong. They were either chained or locked up, and finding my footstepsgoing from them, they were soon silent. At length I reached the shed Iwas in search of. It was near a cottage, with several other similarsheds in the neighbourhood. As I came to the entrance, a voice said--

"Come in; but speak low. "

At first I could see no one, but on going further in, I discovered theobject of my search sitting in a corner on a heap of straw. He waschained there, and could not move. 

"It gives me new life to see a countryman here, and one who wants tohelp me, " said the poor fellow. "I thought all the world had desertedme, and that I should be left to die in this strange land, among worsethan heathens, who treat me as a dog; or that I should be tempted togive up my faith and turn Mohammedan, as others have done. "

I cannot repeat all our conversation. At last an idea struck me. 

"I'll tell you what, " said I; "just do you pretend to be mad, and playall sorts of strange pranks, and do all the mischief you can; and thenthe captain will propose to buy you, and perhaps the old Moor will sellyou a bargain, and be glad to be rid of you. "

"A very good idea, " he answered. "But here am I chained up like a dog, and how am I to get free?"

"No fear, " said I, producing a knife which Peter had given me, containing all sorts of implements, and among them a file. "You shallsoon be at liberty, at all events. "

Accordingly I set to work, and in less than an hour I had filed thechain from off his legs. While we were filing away, we arranged what hewas to do. He was to make a huge cap, with a high peak of straw, and hewas to cut his jacket into shreds, and a red handkerchief I had intostrips, and to fasten them about him in long streamers, and he was totake a thick pole in his hand, covered much in the same way, and then hewas to rush into the house, shrieking and crying out as if a pack ofhounds were after him. 

"They will not wonder at seeing me mad, for I have done already manystrange things, and very little work, since I came here, " he remarked. "But what it to become of the chain?"

"You had better carry that with you, and clank it in their faces, " saidI. "Make as if you had bitten it through. That will astonish them, andthey will, at all events, be afraid to come near your teeth. "

To make a long story short, we worked away with a will, and in half anhour or so he was rigged out in a sufficiently strange fashion. I haveno doubt, had Peter been with us, he would have improved on ourarrangement. I then, advising Lyal to follow me in a short time, stoleback, and took my place unobserved in the old Moor's dining-hall. Thecaptain guessed what I had been doing, but the rest of the party hadbeen too much engaged in their potations to miss me. After a littletime I stole over to the captain and told him the arrangements I hadmade, that he might be ready to act accordingly. 

In a short time the silence which had hitherto prevailed was broken by aterrible uproar of dogs barking, and men hallooing and crying out at thetop of their voices; while, above all, arose as unearthly shrieks as Ihad ever heard. Presently in rushed a crowd of black and brownservants, followed by a figure which I recognised as that of Lyal, though he had much improved his appearance by fastening a haik over hisshoulders and another round his waist, while he waved above his head atorch, at the risk of setting his high straw-cap on fire. The peopleall separated before him, as he dashed on, right up to the old Moor, who, with a drunken gaze of terror and astonishment, stared at himwithout speaking. 

"Ho! ho!" shouted the sailor, seizing him by the nose; "old fellow, Ihave you now!"

Thereon he kicked over the jar of Schiedam, the contents of which he seton fire with his torch; and keeping fast hold of the old Moor's nose, who in his fright knew not how to resist, dragged him round and roundthe room, shouting and shrieking all the time like a very demoniac. 

The place would have been meantime set on fire had not the captain and Iquenched the flames, while the renegade and the interpreter, in theirdrunken humours, could only lean back on their cushions, and laugh as ifthey would split their sides at the extraordinary predicament of ourhost. 

"I say, countrymen, if you had but your horses ready, we might gallopaway before all these people knew where they are, " shouted Lyal. "Who'll just take a spell at the old fellow's nose, for I am tired ofholding on?"

On this Captain Gale thought that it was time to interfere, and he and Igoing up to the old Moor, pretended to use great exertion in draggingaway the sailor from him. The captain then led him back to his seat, while I held Lyal. 

"Here, Sidy, " said the captain to the interpreter; "tell the old manthat if he will give me fifty dollars, I will take that madman off hishands. "

When the old Moor had somewhat recovered his composure, Sidy explainedthe offer. "He says that he can kill him, and so get him out of hisway!" was the answer. "He dare not do that, " put in the renegade; "allthe people here will own him as inspired. Abate your price, and stickto it. "

Finally, the captain consented to carry away the madman on having twentydollars added to the price he was to receive for his goods. 

"Take him! take him!" exclaimed the old Moor. "The man who can eatthrough iron, drive all my slaves before him, set fire to my house, andpull me by the nose, is better away from me than near! Take care, though, that he does not come back again!"

The captain promised that he would take very good care of that; and thenext day, with joyful hearts at our unexpected success, we set forwardon our return-journey to Salee. As the renegade and Sidy were both tobe rewarded according to our success, they were well content; and bytheir aid, the same night we got on board the brig with our recoveredcountryman without being observed. We had now to turn the whole of ourattention to the recovery of Captain Stenning; and every excuse whichCaptain Gale could think of was made for our stay in the harbour. Still, we had very little of our cargo left, and every day saw itdecrease. The spring-tides were also coming on, when there was thegreatest depth of water on the bar, and we could the most easily makeour escape without a pilot. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

THE SALEE ROVER AND THE BRITISH CORVETTE. 

As we lay at our anchors off Salee, we had a view from the mast-head ofthe open sea, over a point of land which ran out below the town. Snugas we were, it was one day blowing a heavy gale outside from thenorthward. Dark clouds chased each other across the sky, and theocean--black and gloomy--was sprinkled over with white-topped seas. Iwas engaged aloft about the rigging, when I observed a sail to thenorth-west staggering along with as much canvas as she could carry. Sorapidly did she make her way through the water, that I soon perceivedthat she was a brig, and that she was standing towards the harbour. Thereason of her carrying so much sail, with so heavy a gale blowing, wassoon explained. Two or three miles astern of her came a large ship, with all her topsails set, evidently in chase. The latter, better ablefrom her size to bear a heavy press of sail, was coming up with herrapidly. On seeing this I hailed the deck, and the captain, and MrCarr, and Peter, and others, soon came aloft to watch the progress ofthe chase. 

"I make it all out clearly, " exclaimed the captain, after watching thestate of affairs through his glass. "That craft is the very rover whichplundered this vessel, or exactly like her; and the ship is a Britishman-of-war corvette, which is in chase of her. I can make out theEnglish ensign clearly. The rover hopes to get into port before theguns of the corvette can be brought to bear on her; and that's just whatI hope the rascal won't be able to do. "

"But that's the very craft Stenning is said to be on board, " observedMr Carr. "Poor fellow, it will go hard with him when the corvette'sguns begin to play on the brig. "

"I wish that we could run out and bring her to action, so as to give thecorvette time to come up and take possession, " said I to Peter, who wasnear me. 

"If the weather were moderate we might do it; but, with this galeblowing, I doubt if even our captain would run the risk, " he answered. "Besides you see, Jack, all the people we have had anything to do withhere would get into a great scrape if we played such a trick to one oftheir vessels. Yet I tell you, lad, I would like the fun amazingly. The villains don't deserve any mercy at our hands. "

While Peter and I were discussing the subject, so were the captain andMr Carr. They gave up the idea of running out to meet the rover, asthereby they would have but little chance of saving the life of WalterStenning, if he was still on board. By this time, both the brig andship had drawn close in-shore, and every movement could clearly beobserved with the naked eye. Poor Jacob Lyal had come aloft; and assoon as he recognised the brig, he was nearly falling on deck, overpowered with all the dreadful recollections her appearance conjuredup. 

No vessel, unless one well acquainted with the coast, could haveventured to stand in as close as the brig had done. She was now about amile from the entrance of the harbour; and the corvette, outside of her, had just begun to fire a bow-gun now and then, to try its range. Atlast a shot went through one of the brig's topsails. She, in return, fired, endeavouring to cripple her pursuer, thus to have time to rununder the shelter which was so near. Never have I witnessed a moreexciting scene. Our mast-heads were soon crowded with spectators. Eventhe sluggish Moors rushed out of their houses, and went to theneighbouring heights to watch what was going forward. Their interestwas, however, on the other side of the question. Many of them must havehad relatives and friends on board the rover, and they were as anxiousfor her escape as we were to see her captured. The action now becamewarm--both corvette and brig were firing away as fast as they couldload. 

"Hurrah! the pirate seems to be getting the worst of it, " said I toPeter. "The rovers will meet with their deserts before long, I hope. "

"So do I, " he answered. "But do you know, Jack, I'm more anxious aboutthe corvette. If she were to receive any damage, and not be able tohaul off-shore, she is, do you see, on an enemy's coast, and all herpeople would be made prisoners, if not murdered; while the brig has aport under her lee, and can run in even if she gets a good deal ofknocking about. "

While we were thus talking, the corvette had drawn still nearer to thebrig, and her shot began to tell with considerable effect. Down camethe brig's maintop-gallant-mast, the spars hanging by the rigging. Wenext saw several hands going aloft to clear it away, when another shotstruck the maintop-mast. The Moors attempted in haste to slide down thestays and shrouds, but scarcely had they begun their descent when themast bent over to leeward, and down it came with a crash, jerking offmany of them into the sea. There in vain they struggled for life; thecombatants flew on, leaving them to their fate. Still the brig had hermainsail set, and with the gale there was blowing, that was sufficientafter-canvas for her to carry with advantage. She ceased firing. "Hurrah! she is going to strike, " we exclaimed; but the wreck of themaintop-mast was quickly cleared away, and she commenced again withgreater briskness than ever. In return, the corvette plied her fast andfuriously with shot, which must have told pretty severely among herpeople on deck, though, of course, we could not see the damage which wasdone. The brig was within a quarter of a mile of the mouth of theharbour. It was high-tide, but we well knew that there was not watersufficient on the bar to allow the corvette to enter. Still, on sheboldly came in hot chase. 

"She cannot surely fancy that she can venture in, " exclaimed CaptainGale. "She'll be lost to a certainty if she does. Poor fellows! notone will escape with their lives should she strike. Carr, we must runout, and try and pick some of them up, at all hazards. The wind issufficiently to the northward to carry us clear, and the people on shoreare so engaged in watching the chase, that they will not observe usgetting under way till we are clear from the guns of the castle. "

"Ay, ay, sir, with all my heart, " answered the mate. "I'm not quitecertain that the brig will get scot-free either. "

As he spoke, I saw a thick smoke ascending from the deck of the rover. 

"She's on fire! she's on fire!" shouted several of us. But then wethought of poor Stenning, and what would become of him. 

"All hands make sail, " cried the captain, descending on deck. "We mustslip, Mr Carr. There's no time for heaving up the anchor. "

The crew could scarcely refrain from giving vent to their feelings ofexcitement in a shout. 

"Silence, my lads; we must not let the Moors know what we are about. "

Never did a crew let fall the topsails with greater good-will than wedid. We had kept two reefs in them for an emergency. I now saw thewisdom of the captain's forethought when he gave the order, as some timebefore we had loosed sails. 

We were riding with the ship's head towards the mouth of the river, thetide still running in. Thus, being strongly manned with willing hearts, we were soon under way. No one from the shore observed us, or, at allevents, came off to stop us. Sidy, the interpreter, was fortunately onshore, so that we had no trouble about him, and the captain knew that hecould easily pay him through the consignee of the ship. Captain Gale'sintention was, I learned, to run down to the mouth of the harbour, andto anchor if necessary. We got a cable ranged accordingly, with ananchor ready to let go. The brig quickly felt the force of the wind, and, happily canting the right way, and her sails filling, away sheflew, heeling over to the gale towards the open sea. The captain, orone of the mates, or Peter, had been constantly sailing about theharbour, as if to amuse themselves, or to catch fish, but in reality tosound the depth of the water, and to make themselves thoroughlyacquainted with the harbour. We thus required no pilot to carry us out. 

As we rounded the point I have described, the mouth of the river laybefore us--a long line of surf, with heavy breakers rolling and roaringin from the sea, apparently barring our exit. Outside of it was thecorvette, close-hauled with three reefs in her topsail, standingoff-shore, and, as far as we could see, uninjured. But the pirate brig, where was she?

A dark mass of rocks lay at the northern part of the entrance to theharbour. Over them the sea broke furiously; and amid the masses of foamwhich flew high into the air was the black hull of a vessel, withshattered masts and spars heaving up amid the breakers; while from thecentre of it, as if striving with the waves which should most speedilydestroy it, bright flames were bursting forth and raging furiously. Aswe gazed with horror at the dreadful spectacle, feeling our compassionexcited rather for our hapless countryman, whom we believed to be onboard, than for the ruthless wretches who formed her crew, there was aloud explosion, and fragments of wreck, and what had once been humanbeings, were thrown up into the air; and by the time they had againfallen into the foaming water, no portion of the rover remained to showwhere she just had been. 

We were now about a quarter of a mile from the bar, and not a moment wasto be lost in deciding what was to be done, whether we were to bring-upor to attempt to cross. In the line of breakers which rolled over thebar, a spot was observed where the water was smoother, and which thecaptain knew to be the deepest channel. 

"We may run out there without fear, light as we are; and if we remain, these Mohammedan fanatics will certainly revenge themselves on us forthe destruction of their friends, " he observed to Mr Carr, who agreedwith him that the attempt should be made, though far from free of risk. And most people, indeed, would have agreed that the passage washazardous in the extreme, but yet no one on board doubted that it wasthe right thing to do. 

The second mate, who was at the helm with another steady hand, wasordered to steer towards the opening. The tide was still running instrong, which gave us greater command over the vessel than would haveotherwise been the case. All hands were at their stations, and everyone of us knew the position we were in. A shift of wind, the leastcarelessness, the carrying away a spar or rope, might bring upon us thesame fate which had destroyed the rover. Scarcely had the determinationI have mentioned been arrived at, when, as I was looking out ahead, Isaw on the starboard-bow a spar floating in the water. I looked again;a man was holding on to it, and drifting up towards us. I was certain Isaw him lift up his hand and wave it. I immediately reported thecircumstance to the captain. 

"Although he is probably one of those wretched Moors, he is afellow-creature, and it is our duty to try and save him, " he observed. "About-ship! helm a-lee!" he sung out. 

The brig, under her topsails, worked like a top, and we had ample roomto put her about and heave her to. Just as we had done so, the sparcame drifting up close to us. Again the man clinging to it waved hishand. His unshorn head of light curling hair showed that he was noMoor. 

"Here, mates, just pay out this line as I want it!" sung out Peter, passing the bight of a rope under his arms and leaping overboard. "I'lltackle him to, I warrant. "

In an instant he was in the water, and a few strokes bringing him up tothe spar as it floated by, he grasped hold of the person hanging to it, and then sung out, "Haul away, my lads; it's all right!"

The whole incident took place, it seemed, in a few seconds. Once morehe was on the deck, and there could be no doubt of it, with no otherthan Walter Stenning in his arms! The poor fellow breathed, but thedangers he had gone through, and the sudden restoration to safety, hadovercome him, and he lay almost unconscious on the deck. 

"Now, sir, the sooner we fill and stand out of this the better, " saidPeter, turning to the captain, after he had placed Stenning on the deck. "I did not speak of it before, but just now I saw another of thosepiratical fellows getting under way just from opposite where we lay, doubtless to be after us. "

Peter's remark was found to be true; and up the harbour another brig wasseen making sail, of course with the hope of overtaking us. I, withanother man, received orders to carry Captain Stenning below, which wedid, placing him on a mattress on the floor of the cabin, and thenhurried up again to attend to our duty. 

Once more the brig was put about, and head up towards the passage. Onwe rushed, the foam flying over us as we approached the spot. Shelifted to the first rolling sea, and then down she came, as if she muststrike the sand below; but another roller came tumbling in, and mountinglike a sea-bird on its summit, she descended on the other side amidclouds of spray, again to mount another huge wave, and then to rush onwith impetuous force as she felt the blast which laid her over almost onher beam-ends towards the open ocean. Still, on either hand, wildfoaming water broke in mountain masses around us; but on we sped. "Holdon! hold on for your lives!" shouted the captain, as yet anothermountain sea came thundering on towards us, close upon a previous oneover which we had ridden in safety. The brig seemed to spring at it, asif able to dash it aside; but vain indeed was the attempt. High aboveus it rose. Right into it we went, and for a moment I thought all wasover. Along our decks it found its way, and fell in torrents below, sweeping everything before it; but still buoyantly our brave vessel flewon, and wave after wave being surmounted, a loud shout burst from allhands as once more we found ourselves in the open sea, following in thewake of the British corvette. 

As soon as we were in safety, the captain called me below to attend toCaptain Stenning. We found him sitting up on the mattress, and, as heheld on by the leg of the table, looking somewhat wildly around him. 

"Where am I? what is all this that has happened?" he exclaimed, as weappeared. 

"That you are safe aboard the _Dolphin_, my friend, and that you haveescaped from the wreck of a Moorish pirate, " answered the captain. "Butbefore I answer more questions, we'll just get off your wet clothes, andclap you into bed with a glass of hot grog. "

This we accordingly did, and the result was that the poor fellow verysoon fell fast asleep--the best thing he could do under thecircumstances. 

When I went on deck, I found that the Moorish brig which had pursued us, seeing the fate which had befallen her companion, and that we had gotsafe over the bar, had put about, and stood back again to her anchorage. 

"I should have begrudged the rascals our anchor and cable, " said Peter. "But as we have got Mr Stenning back safe, they are welcome to them, though I would rather see the honest hemp used to hang some of theknaves. "

The gale, which truly seemed to have effected its purpose in thedestruction of the miscreant rovers, now began to abate its fury, andbefore dark we came up with the corvette, which had hove-to in order tospeak us. We found that she was His Britannic Majesty's sloop-of-war_Syren_, of eighteen guns; and the captain directed us to lay by himtill the morning, when he would send on board to hear all theparticulars of what had occurred. 

Meantime I had been sent to sit by Captain Stenning, to be ready toattend to him when he awoke. When he did so, I called Captain Gale tohim. The account I then heard of his adventures was very short. Wehad, indeed, guessed very nearly the truth. The _Dolphin_ had beensurprised by the pirates, and while he, with some of his crew, were invain attempting to defend her deck, he had been struck down. When hereturned to consciousness, he found himself on board the pirate, withtwo or three others, of whom Lyal alone survived. The pirates had beendriven from their prey by the appearance of a large ship, which theytook to be a man-of-war; and in revenge, he concluded, they murdered allwho then remained on board. He and Lyal would have been killed also;but their lives were saved by a Moor, whom he once saved at Gibraltarfrom ill-treatment by some English seamen, with whom he had quarrelled. Though the Moor had saved his life, he had not interest to do more forhim at that time. 

When the pirates again fell in with the _Dolphin_, and were frightenedfrom attacking her by the trick Peter invented, thinking some evilspirits possessed the vessel, they made all sail to return to port. Heconfessed that he was himself very much astonished, and could in no wayaccount for what he had witnessed. Had he not received the explanationwe gave him, he should all his life have believed that the appearance hehad beheld was produced by supernatural agency. 

When carried into port, he, with Lyal, was sold to the old Moor, as weknew; but his friend had not forgotten him. The rover much wanted askilful navigator, and thinking that he would prefer a life ofcomparative freedom at sea to slavery on shore, he repurchased him, andcarried him on board the brig. He was rather disappointed, however, tofind that, without a quadrant or nautical almanac, the captain could beof very little use to them in that way. He told us, indeed, that thepirates were very nearly killing him for his supposed obstinacy, becausehe could not tell them one day whereabouts they were, when they puttheir own rough instruments into his hands. He had great difficulty inexplaining that, without his own books and charts, he could be of littlehelp to them. However, they promised to attack an English vessel beforelong, that they might supply him. 

With this object in view, they made sail towards the corvette, whichthey took for a merchantman, and thus very nearly caught a Tartar. Theydiscovered their mistake only when within six miles or so of her; and bythen suddenly altering their course, and standing away from her underall sail, her suspicions were excited, and she made chase after them. In such terror were the pirates, when they found themselves so hardpressed, that they seemed to forget him, or his life would probably havebeen sacrificed; but as he was left himself, he was allowed to considerthe best means of preserving it. When, therefore, he saw that the brigmust inevitably strike the rocks, he seized a loose spar on the deck andsprang overboard, trusting that the current would carry him through thebreakers into smooth water. He had seen us coming out, and guessingthat the brig was an English trader, hoped to be picked up by her. Hissurprise and pleasure at meeting with Lyal was very great. 

"It would have been a great to damper my own satisfaction, if I thoughtthat you had still been left in slavery, " he remarked, as he wrung theseaman's hand. 

"Well, sir, I can only say that I would go back and be chained up like adog, as I was before, for the sake of seeing you free, and sent safehome to your wife and family, " returned the honest fellow, passing thecuff of his jacket across his eyes, to brush away a tear which hisfeelings had brought them. 

Yes; the rough sailor has got just the same sort of feelings inside hisbosom which dwells within the silken vest of any young lady or gentlemanwho can weep over a novel, or better, sometimes, a deed of heroism; andright honest, genuine feelings, they are too--which is more than can besaid for those hackneyed sentiments possessed by people who have livedall their lives in what they choose to call the great world. 

Altogether, never was an enterprise more successful than ours hadhitherto been. We had not only succeeded in recovering both thesurvivors of the _Dolphin's_ crew at small cost, but, from the highprices we had obtained for our merchandise, we had paid all the probableexpenses of the voyage, and left a handsome profit for our owners. 

The next morning we were close up with the corvette, when a lieutenantfrom her boarded us to learn all the particulars we had to describe. The two masters, with Lyal and I, were then requested by the lieutenantto accompany him aboard the ship-of-war, to give a further account tothe captain himself of what had occurred. Captain Hudson received usvery kindly; and while our two captains sat down, we stood with our hatsin our hands behind their chairs. I remember that he laughed veryheartily at my idea of rigging up Lyal as a madman, and at the way heput my advice in practice, by pulling the old Moor's nose. 

"Well, gentlemen, " said Captain Hudson, "from the account you have givenme, I think we have ample grounds to enable the British Government tomake a demand on that of Morocco for compensation; so that if you willaccompany me to England, I hope to obtain ample satisfaction for you. "

Neither Lyal nor I exactly understood what all this meant; but CaptainGale had an inkling that very little satisfaction would result either tohim or Captain Stenning. 

"Thank you, sir, " he answered; "but I can't accept your offer, for mybrother-master wants to return to his wife and family, and my ownersdirected me to make the best of my way back to Halifax. "

"Of course these are strong arguments against the execution of mywishes, " returned Captain Hudson. "You will, I conclude, thereforeproceed on your voyage, and give your evidence when you return toEngland. But I find, Captain Gale, that you are more strongly mannedthan is necessary for a merchantman. These two young men will remain onboard the _Syren_, and one of my lieutenants will accompany you to yourbrig, and select a few more. However, we will not leave youshort-handed; but His Majesty's ships must be manned, do you see?"

"It is very hard, sir. All my people are volunteers on what appeared asomewhat hazardous expedition, and are anxious to return to theirfamilies, " replied Captain Gale. "You will allow me, without offence, to observe, that one of these young men has only just been released fromslavery, and that the other is an apprentice. "

"The first does not belong to your crew, so it is my duty to take careof him; and if the other is still an apprentice, I cannot keep him, butI shall like to see his papers. Mistakes in these matters sometimesoccur. We do everything according to law, do you see, Mr Gale. "Captain Hudson spoke very mildly and blandly, but there was something inhis eye which showed that he was not to be trifled with. 

"You will understand, sir, " he continued, turning to Captain Stenning, "I have the power to press you. Under the circumstances of the case, Iwill not, unless I am forced to do it; but your friend will throw noimpediment in the way of my getting any of the hands I may require. Iwill not detain you, gentlemen, and I wish you a prosperous voyage and ahappy termination to your enterprise. "

This, then, was the object for which the naval captain wished tocommunicate with the _Dolphin_. It was not with the best possible gracethat the two masters got up to take their leave; and yet CaptainStenning well knew that he was completely in the power of the commanderof the sloop-of-war, and that there was no law to prevent him from beingsent to do duty before the mast on board of her. 

They both shook hands warmly and kindly with Lyal, and promised to sendhim a spare chest, with such things as could be collected; for of coursehe had but a scanty outfit. As they were going, I put out my hand also. 

"You'll let me shake hands, sir, won't you?" said I. "There's many akind act you've done me, Captain Gale, from the time I was a littlehelpless lad till now; and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, andmay Heaven bless you, sir. "

"Why, what's all this about?" exclaimed my kind captain, "You have yourpapers, Jack, and you cannot, as an apprentice, be touched. "

"But the papers won't protect me, sir; I am no longer an apprentice, " Ianswered. "Not long ago, I got a mate to look over them for me, and Iwas, I find, out of my apprenticeship a month ago. "

"There is no use giving in without an attempt to escape; I'll see whatcan be done, " he answered. "May I not take this man with me, sir?" heasked, turning to Captain Hudson, who stood on the quarter-deck, and ofcourse had not heard this part of our conversation. 

"Send his papers and his chest likewise, " was the only answer thecaptain of the _Syren_ deigned to give. 

Before the brig's boat shoved off, I went over the side, and sent many amessage to Peter Poplar and the rest of my shipmates. I regrettedleaving the brig, but I was more sorry at the thought of parting fromPeter than for any other reason. 

As I looked at the _Dolphin_ with the eye of that affection which aseaman soon gains for a vessel in which he is tolerably happy, Iobserved that the man-of-war's boat was already alongside. In a shorttime she shoved off, and pulled back to the corvette. There wereseveral chests, and five people besides her crew in her. I rubbed myeyes. Could I believe them? Among the people sat Peter Poplar! Hesprung up the side, and was soon engaged in shaking hands with severalof the _Syren's_ crew. 

"What! are you pressed, Peter?" said I to him; and in my heart I couldnot be very sorry to have him with me. 

"Not exactly that either, " he answered. "You see, Jack, I found thatyou were pressed, or would be to a certainty, and I did not like to haveone whom I had nursed up almost from a baby on the salt waters, so tospeak, altogether out of my sight, though you are big enough now to takecare of yourself; so, says I to myself, Well, if they take me, I'll gowith a free will--I don't mind. However, when the lieutenant picked outthe men he would like to have, and who have no protection, he passed meover, thinking that, on account of my age, he could not touch me. Butamong the men he chose was poor Bill Jackson, who has a wife and smallfamily at Halifax, and who only came the voyage from his love forCaptain Stenning, and was going to give up the sea and live on shorewith his wife's relations up the country. I never saw a poor fellow socut up and broken-hearted when he saw all his hopes blown to the winds, and knew that, for many a long year, he might not see his wife or littleones. He knows well the ups and downs of a sailor's life, and that verylikely he might never see them again. I know that I could not stand hisgrief. Captain Gale did all he could to get the lieutenant to let himoff, but nothing would do. The only answer was, `His Majesty wantsseamen, and seamen he must have. '

"`So he shall!' said I, walking up to the officer. `Now, sir, if youwill let that man go, you may have me in his stead; and I'll make boldto say, that there isn't a man aboard this brig but will acknowledgethat, blow high or blow low, I'm his equal, either aloft or at the helm, or in handling the lead. What say you, mates? Who'll speak for me? Itisn't because I want to boast, you know; but I do want to save poor BillJackson from being pressed aboard a man-of-war!'

"`He speaks the truth, that he does!' exclaimed all the crew, who weremustered on deck. `There are few of us can come up to him. '

"`I tell you, sir, ' said Captain Gale, `I should be very sorry to loseeither Jackson or Poplar; but if you ask me which is the best seaman ofthe two, I am bound to say that Poplar is; and besides, in him you get awilling hand, who loves the sea, which I am sure poor Jackson does not. '

"`Then Poplar let us have, by all means, ' answered the lieutenant, telling Jackson that he was free, and ordering us all to be smart ingetting our traps ready to take with us. 

"The captain, meantime, told me to bring him your papers, which I did, though I well knew that they were no protection to you, and so hediscovered, and so I got your chest ready with the rest: and so you see, Jack, you and I are man-of-war's men, and so, lad, let's do our dutylike men, and stand up boldly for our king and country. "

Peter's hearty way of talking gave me spirits which I should nototherwise have felt. I never had before stood on the deck of aman-of-war, but I had heard a good deal about the cruelty and injusticepractised on board them, from some of my shipmates; and I had, with thegreat mass of merchant-seamen in those days, and for many yearsafterwards, formed a strong prejudice against them. From the systemwhich was practised in some ships, I naturally, with others, formed anopinion of the whole navy; and when I first found myself a pressed-manon board the _Syren_, I looked forward to a life of ill-treatment andwretchedness till I could again obtain my freedom. I truly believe, indeed, that had I not had Peter again as my counsellor, I should haveyielded to the force of my impression, and have been guilty of the veryconduct which would have brought me into trouble. I found a number ofpressed-men and discontented men, and not a few bad characters in theship, who were always ready to grumble at what was done, and whose greataim seemed to be how they could oftenest shirk duty, most speedily getdrunk, and most readily break the rules and regulations of the service. At first I was inclined to think them somewhat fine fellows, lads ofspirit, whose example was worthy of imitation; but Peter observing mytendency, very soon put their conduct in its true light. 

"You see, Jack, " said he, "those fellows are, in the first place, actinga sneaking, unfair part, to their shipmates. The duty has to be gotthrough, and so the willing, good men, have to do the work which thoseknaves neglect. Then they benefit by the laws of the country; and thecountry would go to ruin if it was without a navy, and the navy couldnot be kept up without the rules and regulations which they are alwaystrying to break through. As to their drunkenness, it unfits them forduty. No man knows what he may do when he is drunk; and besides makinghim ill at the time, he who drinks to excess is guilty of suicide, as sodoing will most certainly shorten his life. Just think what excuse willa man have to offer when he has thus hurried himself into the presenceof his Maker! How awful will be the doom he cannot fail to receive!Then, again, those idle fellows who try to avoid work, are alwaysgetting into trouble, for no officer will find any excuse for them, orattempt to shield them; and they thus spend a much longer time than theyidle away in the black list, or with the tingling of the cat on theirbacks. But, Jack, I don't want any of these to be your motives foracting rightly. One motive should be sufficient for us all--and thatis, the wish to do our duty to our God. "

I repeat here my kind friend's advice, but it was long, very long, before it seemed to sink into the sandy soil of my heart, and to bringforth fruit. I am very glad that the press-gang system no longerexists. No man can any longer be forced to serve on board a man-of-war. The case, such as I have described, may appear hard when the master ofa merchantman was deprived of a considerable portion of his crew--hardto him, and hard to the pressed-men, and harder in a pecuniary point ofview to the underwriters, the property they had insured being therebymade much more liable to shipwreck; but still it was not one-tenth partas hard as numberless cases which I have known during my career afloat. 

Little did I think when, from the mast-head of the _Dolphin_, I firstsaw the _Syren_ heave in sight, that before that time on the followingday I should form one of her crew. Such is the ever-changing scene of asailor's life!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

JACK A MAN-OF-WAR'S-MAN. 

There is a time of life when a person feels that he has left for everhis boyish days and stepped into manhood. I felt that I had passed thatboundary when I found myself rated as an able seaman on board the_Syren_ sloop of war. I was now under a far stricter system ofdiscipline than I had been accustomed to. At first I felt it somewhatgalling; but I soon saw that without the greatest regularity it would beimpossible to keep order among the crew of a ship even of the size ofthe _Syren_. 

My early days I had spent on board a merchantman, and had met with manyadventures somewhat strange and exciting. I did not expect to meet withfewer in my new career, though they would probably be of a differentcharacter. The result of my last, in which I had aided in rescuing twoof my countrymen from captivity, had proved most satisfactory. JacobLyal, one of them, was now with me, and I knew he would speak well of meamong my new shipmates. The other, Captain Stenning, late master of the_Dolphin_, was on board that vessel, and, I hoped, would soon be enabledto rejoin his wife and family in Halifax. Captain Gale, her presentmaster, would also, I knew, speak favourably of me to my first commanderin the _Rainbow_, Captain Helfrich, whenever he should fall in with him. I pity the man who does not desire to be thought well of by those whoknow him, and who does not feel that he deserves their good wishes. Icertainly had not made many friends, but those I had found were true andfast ones; and a great source of satisfaction to me was the having withme Peter Poplar, my first and best friend--that true-hearted seaman whohad saved me from starvation--who had tended me as a father in myboyhood and youth--who had given me a profession which would enable meto support myself while health and strength remained--and who had everendeavoured to instil into me those true principles which would enableme to steer clear of the rocks and quicksands to be found in my coursethrough life. 

The wind had fallen and become fair; the helm of the corvette was putdown, the sails were trimmed, and, under a crowd of canvas such as fewmerchantmen can attempt to set, we quickly ran the coast of Africa outof sight--the last we saw of its sandy shores being over our starboardquarter. The commander of the _Syren_, Captain Hudson, was, I found, very much liked by the crew, as, although he was a strict officer, hewas a just one, and known to be a thorough seaman. He was a gentlemanalso in all respects, a brave man, and kind-hearted; and these are thequalities which sailors with good reason respect. Without possessingthem, no man is fit to be placed in command over his fellow-men. My oldship, the _Dolphin_, continued in our company for several days, duringwhich we made the best of our way to the northward, the wind, thoughscant, enabling us, close-hauled, to keep a course in that direction. When somewhere about the latitude of Lisbon, a ship hove in eight, standing towards us under all sail. As her courses rose above thewater, she was pronounced to be a frigate; and as her hull appeared, such was found to be the case. Then commenced such a hauling up anddown of flags as I had never before seen. What it all meant I could nottell, but it seemed to produce a great commotion among the officers; andsoon the news ran along the deck that war was declared--war with France. It was the beginning of a long and bloody struggle. 

Meantime, we hove-to, as the frigate had done, and Captain Hudson wenton board her. When he returned, we found that we were ordered into theBritish Channel. The frigate, a new ship, just fitted out, with herofficers in glittering uniforms, and her white wide-spread of canvas, and her fresh paint, and her brightly burnished sides looked, I thought, the very picture of a gay and gallant craft, as, passing close to us, she glided by through the sparkling sea. I could not help comparing herwith the weather-beaten, wall-sided, ill-formed, slow-sailingmerchantmen I had been accustomed to see, and I began to feel a pride inbelonging to a man-of-war which I had not hitherto experienced. 

Before proceeding on our course, Captain Hudson signalled the _Dolphin_, which had been hove-to, and informed Captain Gale that war had brokenout, advising him to make the best of his way to Halifax. It was nottill some years afterwards that I heard she reached that place insafety, and that Captain Stenning had had the happiness of beingre-united to his wife and family. 

No sooner was the news of war received on board the _Syren_, thaneverybody seemed to wake up into activity. No one had time for a momentto be idle fore or aft. The armourer's crew were employed in polishingup muskets, and pistols, and sharpening cutlasses. For hours togetherwe were practised at the small-arms and great-guns, which had neverbefore been thought of. The gunners were busy making cartridges; thecarpenters, plugs for shot-holes; indeed, we all felt that people shouldalways feel that there was work to do. We had good reason to rejoicebefore the cruise was up that we had not been idle. 

We reached Plymouth without meeting with an enemy or taking a prize. What a state of bustle and excitement the place was in!Carriages-and-four dashing through the streets at all hours of the day;troops marching here and there, with drums and fifes playing--somecoming in, others embarking for foreign lands; artisans of all sortshurrying in, certain to get work at high wages; men-of-war, andmerchantmen, and store-ships, and troop-ships sailing in and out everyday; boats laden with men and chests pulling across the harbour; seamencrowding every quay; pressgangs at work catching men to fight England'sbattles; and then such hurrying to and fro, and shrieking of women, andshouting of men, and crying of children, and revelling, and laughter, and scenes of extravagance, and debauchery, and vice I had never beforebeheld, and did not think could exist in a civilised part of the globe. 

Having refitted with as little delay as possible, and again put to sea, we found ourselves off the north coast of Spain, far into the Bay ofBiscay. For some time we were employed in looking along the coast ofFrance, and picking up all the small coasters we could lay eyes on. Wedid a great deal of damage to a number of poor people, and taught themthat war was a very disagreeable thing, so that they must heartily havewished it over, or rather, that it never had begun; but I doubt if wedid ourselves any good in the way of collecting prize-money; at allevents, I know that I never got any. At length, one morning, when wecould just make out the French coast like a thin wavy blue line on thehorizon, beyond which a rich yellow glow was bursting forth, theforerunner of the glorious sun, a sail was seen, hull down, to thenorthward, and apparently standing in on a bowline for the land. Theship, as was usual when cruising, had been quietly jogging on under hertopsails during the night. "All hands, make sail in chase!" was thecheerful sound which made us spring on deck to our stations; and in afew minutes the corvette, with royals and studding-sails alow and aloft, was kept away after the stranger. The latter, which was pronounced tobe a large topsail schooner, was soon seen to bear up, and to set allthe canvas she could carry, in an endeavour to escape. The chase was alarge and fast vessel of her class, for it was not till some time afterbreakfast that we could see half-way down her mainsail from the deck. Still, we were gaining on her. She, meantime, was edging away in forthe land, so that there was little doubt that she was an enemy'svessel--probably, from the way she made sail, a privateer with a numberof hands on board, if not a man-of-war. Hour after hour we continuedthe chase, till the French coast rose clear and distinct on ourstarboard-bow. 

Jacob Lyal and I were at this time stationed in the foretop, of whichPeter Poplar was captain, though he was shortly afterwards made aquarter-master. We thus saw every movement of the chase. She, bydegrees, edged away again more to the northward, as if wishing to avoidthe coast thereabout. We had begun the chase soon after daylight, andthe evening was now drawing on, when, close in with the land, we madeout a large ship standing along-shore, the rays of the sinking sunshining brilliantly on her snowy canvas. The schooner hauled up towardsher, and then kept away again, as if she did not like her appearance. 

"What do you make her out to be?" said I to Peter, pointing to the ship. 

"Why, Jack, from the squareness of her yards and the whiteness of hercanvas, I should say she is a man-of-war--probably a frigate, and athundering big frigate, too, if I am not much mistaken. "

"I suppose, from the French schooner keeping away from her, she is anEnglish frigate, " said I. 

"Not so sure of that either, Jack, " he answered. "We don't know thatthe schooner is French, in the first place; and even if she is, she maybe mistaken as to the character of the frigate, or she may have alteredher course just to deceive us, so as to let the frigate come up with uswithout our taking alarm about her. Never fancy that you have made aright guess and neglect to take precautions, in case you should bewrong. "

"Why, if she is an enemy's frigate, she'll sink us, " said Lyal. "Weshall have to up stick and run for it!"

"Never do you fear that, lad, " answered Peter, somewhat sternly, Ithought. "Run?--no! If that is a French frigate it will just give usan opportunity of showing what British pluck can do. Our lads know howto handle their guns and small-arms--thanks to the practice some of thegrumblers complained of--and if we don't give a good account of thatship out there, my name is not Peter Poplar. "

The spirit with which Peter spoke soon animated both Lyal and me, andwhen we were relieved from our watch, and repeated his words, they wereresponded to by all the crew, and their great wish was that the frigatein sight should prove an enemy, that they might show how they wouldtreat her. 

What the officers thought about the matter we could not tell, but as itgrew dark the chase of the schooner was abandoned, studding-sails weretaken in, and the ship was hauled on a wind and stood off-shore. As maybe supposed, no one turned in that night; the hammocks remained in thenettings, and the ship was got ready for action. 

From the way the frigate was steering at nightfall, there could belittle doubt that she was following in our track. Anxiously we lookedout for her lights astern. Hour after hour passed away, and no sign ofher appeared, and we began to fear that she had missed us altogether. 

At last a small glimmer was soon twinkling away in the darkness, and bydegrees it grew larger and larger; and then out of the dense obscurity--for no moon nor stars were visible--there glided a dark towering mass, like some phantom giant talking over the deep. The drum beat toquarters, and the crew sprung eagerly to their guns. Every man wasstripped to the waist, round which he had fastened a handkerchief, withanother round his head, and had his cutlass ready to board or to repelboarders. 

In spite of the wish for battle we had all expressed, I could not helpfeeling a sensation of awe, if not of dread, creep over me, as westood--thus in silence and darkness at our guns, expecting the attack ofan enemy of vastly superior force. The muscular forms of our sturdycrew could just be distinguished grouped round their guns, the palelight of the ship's lanterns falling here and there upon them in fitfulflashes, as the officers went their rounds to see that every one was athis station, or as the boys handed up shot and powder from below. Wewere prepared, I say, but still, I believe, the general impression aftwas, that the stranger would prove a friend. 

As she drew nearer, the order was given to make the privatenight-signal. Up went the lanterns to the mast-head. It was a momentof breathless suspense. No answering signal of friendship was made inreturn. In another instant, however, that unmistakable one of hatredand defiance--a shot--came whistling over our heads. It was replied toby one of our stern-chasers; and we then went about, that we might keepthe weather-gauge--a most important point under present circumstances. 

The enemy, to avoid being raked, had to do the same. "Give it them now, my lads!" shouted the captain. "Let every shot tell, and show the bigone what a little craft can do when her crew have the will to make herspeak!" Loud cheers were the reply to the address, and instantly everygun sent forth its flame of fire; and I believe that not a shot failedto take some effect on the hull or rigging of our opponent. Now hotlybroadside to broadside, at the distance of half-gun-shot from eachother, we stood in towards the land. As fast as they could be run inloaded, our guns discharged their deadly showers. All the time we wereedging closer towards each other, and as we got within hail we could seethat considerable damage had already been suffered by the frigate. Thisgave fresh encouragement to us, and we blazed away with more heartygood-will than before. The enemy's shot had, however, been telling nota little on us. Several of our men had lost the number of their mess, and more had been wounded; but no damage of consequence had beenreceived aloft, and any the hull had received had been quickly repairedby our carpenter and his active crew. 

Amid the roar of the guns a loud shout burst from our people. I lookedup. The frigate's mizzen-topmast had been shot away, and came tumblingdown on deck. Our fore-topgallant-topmast, however, soon followed, cutthrough by a round-shot; but that was of little consequence, as ourtopsail-yard was uninjured, and the topsail still stood. We were notlong in clearing the wreck, but for a moment there was a cessation offiring. Just then a hail came across the dark waters from theFrenchman's deck. 

"Do you strike, Sare? Do you strike?" was asked through aspeaking-trumpet. Our captain seized his trumpet in return. 

"Certainly, monsieur, certainly. We have been and intend to go onstriking, just in the way Englishmen have the fashion of doing. "

A loud laugh burst from our crew at this answer. It just suited ourtastes, and then such a hearty cheer was uttered as could not havefailed to convince the Frenchman that our captain was likely to bebacked by his people to the utmost. Our guns were not long silent, andonce more the darkness of night was illuminated by the bright sheets offlame which burst forth in almost a continuous stream from their mouths. 

What a contrast to the previous awful silence was there in the report ofthe guns, the rattle of musketry, the shouts of the officers, the cheersof the men, the crashing of spars and timber as the shot struck home, and the shrieks, and cries, and groans of the wounded! To theseexpressions of pain even the bravest cannot help giving way, whenwounded where the nerves are most sensitive. 

Several times the enemy attempted to close, when her greatlyprepondering force of men would have told with fearful effect on ourdecks; but each time the attempt was made it was dexterously avoided byour captain. We had, however, begun to suffer considerably in spars andrigging, and the number of our killed and wounded was increasing. Oursecond lieutenant had been severely injured by the fall of theforetop-gallant-mast. A midshipman, a young lad who had just come tosea, was struck down close to me. I lifted him up in my arms for amoment, to get him carried below out of harm's way; but the terribleinjury he had received convinced me that no help could avail him. I putmy hand on his heart: it had ceased to beat. Yet what voice soundedmore full of life and spirit than his as we cheered at the captain'sanswer to the Frenchman's hail? On the other side of me a fine youngfellow fell mortally wounded. He was just my own age, but not, like me, left alone in the world--he had many dear ones in his humble home. Hefelt that he had not many moments to live, though his mind was as activeas ever. 

"Williams!" he faintly cried. "Stoop down, lad! Don't let them take mebelow: I want to die here! And I say--you know my poor mother, andSally, and George: just tell them that you saw the last of me; that Ithought of them, and prayed for them, and that I hope we may meet inthat far, far-off port to which we are all bound! I haven't forgot theprayers mother taught me, tell her. It will comfort her to know that!Good-bye, Jack!"

He pressed my hand as he uttered these words, but instantly afterwardshis fingers relaxed. His spirit had fled, and I returned to my duty atmy gun!

There were not many seamen, unhappily, in those days, like poor JamesMartin. Another shipmate was killed not far from me, and he dieduttering fearful curses on our enemies, utterly ignorant of the futureworld into which he was entering. 

Thus we fought on. Although we were severely punishing our bigopponent, we could not feel that we were getting the best of the fight. 

"Do you think we shall take her?" said I to Peter, during another shortcessation of firing. 

"I scarcely expect that, " he answered. "But I am pretty certain that hewon't take us. See, hurrah! He's been hit again pretty hard!"

As he spoke, the frigate's mizzen-mast, which must have been beforebadly wounded, went by the board, and at the same time her main-yardcame down by the run on deck, no doubt doing further damage by the fall. 

To show the enemy that our spirits were as high as ever, we cheeredagain; but, as if in retaliation, several shots, in quick succession, struck our foretopmast, and it, and the yard, and all our headsail, camethundering down on deck, in a confused mass of wreck, disabling severalof our people, and rendering our foremost gun useless for a time. I wasthankful that I had been stationed at a gun instead of being aloft. Some of the officers hurried forward to get the wreck cleared away, while others encouraged the men to persevere in the strife--not that anyencouragement was necessary, for we were all eager to continue it, stillhoping to make prize of our antagonist. 

What had become of the schooner meantime we could not tell. We couldonly suppose that she was an unarmed vessel. Had she been armed, shemight have proved a very disagreeable addition to the force with whichwe had to contend. 

While we were clearing the wreck of the foretopmast, another broadsidewas poured into us, which we returned with our after-guns. It appearedto me, as I looked up again at her after loading, that the frigate wasincreasing her distance from us. There could be no mistake about it. Her helm had been put up, and she was running off before the wind. Didn't we cheer heartily! but then we remembered that, deprived of ourheadsail, we could not follow--so we cheered again, and sent a few shotsflying after her, like a dog's farewell bark, just to show her that weclaimed the victory, and would be ready for her if she chose to comeback; and then we set to work with a will to repair damages. 

Our couple of hours' night work had produced not a few, and sadlychanged the appearance of our trim little sloop. Still, as our foremastwas standing, we were able to make headsail on the ship, and we hoped bythe following morning to get matters sufficiently to rights to be ableto renew the engagement should our opponent again venture to attack us. I, in common with many of the younger men, was very much disappointed atnot having captured the frigate; but Peter and others who had fought inthe last war, told us that we were very fortunate in not havingourselves been obliged to strike, as our opponent could not have mountedless than six-and-thirty, if not forty guns--more than twice as many aswe carried. Notwithstanding this, we only hoped to see her again in themorning; and as soon as daylight appeared several eager pairs of eyeswere aloft looking out for her. There, hull down to the northward, appeared a sail, which was most probably our opponent; but she wasrunning directly before the wind. 

At first we supposed that our captain would follow her; but though asbrave a man as need be, as he had proved himself, he saw that theprobability of capturing the frigate was too small to justify him inmaking the attempt--in doing which he was much more likely to lose hisown ship. Shattered, indeed, did we look when the sun shone down on ourblood-stained decks; and still more sad were the scenes which thewounded and dying presented below. I will not, however, now dwell onthem. Several shot had gone through the ship's sides, some between windand water; but the holes had been quickly plugged by the carpenter'screw. Altogether, so shattered was the sloop, that, unwilling as ourcaptain was to give up the cruise, he had no resource but to make thebest of his way to Plymouth. We arrived there ten days after theengagement; but the pumps had to be kept going all the time, and theship was ordered into dock to undergo a thorough repair. 

It is impossible for me to describe all the scenes of which I waswitness during that interesting period of England's naval history; butthere was one I must not omit, as it shows what presence of mind andcourage can do, in rescuing people even from the greatest difficulties. 

At that time the French revolutionary party, so well named RedRepublicans, were inflicting, with unsparing barbarity, the mostdreadful atrocities on any of their unhappy countrymen who were evensuspected of entertaining monarchical principles. The inhabitants ofToulon, as well as of several other places, were known to be favourableto the cause of their sovereign; and to afford them support, Lord Hood--then commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean--landed a body of Englishand Spanish troops, and took possession of the town and forts while hisown fleet, with one sent by Spain to join him, entered the harbour. 

At this time a number of supernumeraries, of whom I was one, sailed fromPlymouth to join various ships in the Mediterranean, and, in course oftime, I found myself on board the _Juno_, a fine 32-gun frigate, commanded by Captain Samuel Hood. We sailed from Malta early in theyear 1794, with some officers and a few troops, to reinforce the scantygarrison at Toulon, then besieged, as was reported, by a formidable armyof the Republicans, amounting to thirty-three thousand men, underGenerals Kellerman and Carteaux. 

The _Juno_ was just the sort of dashing frigate a young fellow of spiritwould wish to belong to, and her Captain was just the man he would wishto serve under. Strict discipline was kept up on board, and all handswere made to know their duty, and to do it. Her officers, too, were assmart a set as ever stepped. I was very fortunate in this, because forthe first time since I came to sea I was among strangers, with theexception of Jacob Lyal, who had joined her with me. Peter Poplar wasfar away in another ship, and I own I missed him sorely. Still. I hadlearned my duty, and I hoped to continue to do it. 

We had a quick passage from Malta, and made the French coast just beforenightfall. We had carried on all sail, in the hope of getting in whiledaylight lasted, as the captain was anxious to deliver his despatchesand land his passengers, and be out again in search of any straycruisers of the enemy. The wind, however, fell so light that we wereunable to do as he hoped. But he was not a man to be turned from hispurpose. Accordingly, rather than lose a day, he stood boldly in forthe harbour-mouth, which is not a difficult one to make. We expectedthat a pilot would have come out to us, but none appeared; and as nosignal was made for one, it was then known that the captain intended tofind his way in in the dark. 

Trusty men were placed in the chains with the lead; all hands were attheir stations; those with the sharpest eyes were placed as look-outs;the captain stood, trumpet in hand, on the quarter-deck, ready to issuehis orders. Not a word was spoken fore or aft. The wind was light, andnearly abeam. Thus, with a dead silence reigning on board, the gallantfrigate entered the harbour of Toulon. The officers, with theirnight-glasses in hand, were anxiously looking out for the British fleet, that they might ascertain where the frigate was to bring-up. In vainthey swept them round in every direction; no fleet was to be seen. Thecircumstance was reported to the captain. 

"The easterly winds we have had have sent a heavy sea rolling in here. They must have run into the inner harbour to avoid it. We must followthem there, " was his answer. "Shorten sail! Let the ship stand inunder her topsails. "

The courses were accordingly brailed up, and the top-gallant-sailsfurled, and under easy sail we stood up the inner harbour. Stillnothing could we see of the fleet--not a light did any of the shipsshow. 

On we glided through the calm water. "A brig ahead, sir!" shouted thethird lieutenant from forward. 

"Shall we weather her?" asked the captain. 

The answer was in the negative. "Set the foresail and spanker! Ready, about-ship!"

Scarcely had the boatswain's shrill pipe uttered the appropriate call, than the sails were let fall and sheeted home; and as soon as thefrigate felt the effect they produced, the helm was put a-lee, and shewent about close under the stern of the brig, which lay in her course. A loud hail came from the brig, but I for one could not make out whatwas said. 

"That's not an English brig, " observed one of the officers near me. Shelay off what is called the Grand Tour Point. 

"He is inquiring our name, " said another officer. 

"His Britannic Majesty's frigate _Juno_, " shouted the first lieutenant. 

"Wah--wah--wah!" or sounds something like that, came from the brig. Some one also shouted, "Viva!"

"Whereabouts is the English fleet?" asked the captain. "Have theysailed? Is the admiral still here?"

"Wah--wah--wah!" was the only answer we got. The questions wererepeated in French. 

"Yes--yes; oui--oui; wah--wah--wah!" was again the reply. 

"That's a French merchant-brig. They cannot make out what we say. Thefleet must have gone over to the other side of the harbour. "

Directly afterwards, the words, "Luff--luff!" reached our ears. 

"They are afraid we shall be ashore, sir, " said the first lieutenant. 

"Then down with the helm!" shouted the captain. The order was promptlyobeyed, and the frigate came up almost head to wind; but scarcely aminute had passed when we felt that she had run stem on to the ground;but so light was the wind, and so slight was the way on her, that nodamage of any sort was done. 

Of course the order was immediately given to clew-up and hand the sails;and in another minute or so the _Juno_ lay with all sails furled rightup in the centre of the harbour of Toulon, with a line of heavybatteries between her and the sea. While we were handing sails, a boatwas seen to put off from the brig; but instead of coming aboard us, shepulled away rapidly in the direction of the town. 

Before, however, we were even off the yards, a flaw of wind took theship's head, and happily drove it off the bank, when the anchor was letgo, and she lay with her head up the harbour. Still, however, she hungon the bank by the stern, while her rudder remained immovable anduseless. Seeing this, the captain ordered a kedge to be carried out towarp her off; which, as she hung very lightly, could easily be done. Toperform this operation the launch was lowered; but being a heavy boat, it took some time to get her into the water. Warps and the kedge-anchorwere then placed in her, and her crew pulled away with the kedge in theproper direction to haul her off. While we were thus engaged, a boatwas seen coming down the harbour. 

"What boat's that?" hailed the sentry from forward. 

"Ay, ay, " was the answer. 

"Officers coming alongside!" cried the sentry--such being the answergiven by naval officers when hailed by a ship-of-war. A captain repeatsthe name of his ship. 

The gangway was manned to receive the visitors. Every one was puzzledto know the meaning of a visit at so unusual an hour, and anxious toknow what it meant. A well-manned boat came alongside, and two Frenchofficers, with several other people, scrambled up on deck. 

"Be smart, then, my lads, with the kedge, " sung out Mr Webley, thirdlieutenant, from forward. "We must get the ship afloat before the winddrives her further on. "

The French officers looked about the decks for an instant, and then, followed by their people, went aft to the captain, who was standing onthe quarter-deck ready to receive them. 

"Monsieur le Capitaine, " said one of them, taking off his hat and bowingpolitely, "I am sent by the chief of the port to compliment you on theway you have brought your ship into this loyal port, but to expressregret that the regulations he has been compelled to issue make itnecessary for you to go over to the southern side of the harbour, thereto perform a quarantine for a short ten days or so, as you come fromAlexandria, an infected place. "

"But we don't come from Alexandria; we come from Malta, which is not aninfected place, " answered the captain. 

"Then, monsieur, Malta is an infected place, " returned the officer, quickly. 

"I cannot understand that, " answered Captain Hood. "I have to delivermy despatches, and some supernumeraries for the army here, and then tobe away again as fast as possible. I beg, gentlemen, you will inform mewhere the _Victory_, Lord Hood's ship, is. I must be guided by hisorders. "

"Certainly, monsieur, certainly, " said the Frenchman, bowing with abland smile. "We will pilot you to him. "

I remember thinking, as the Frenchmen walked along the deck, that therewas a good deal of swagger in their manner, but I only set it down toGallic impudence. While this conversation was going on, one of ourmidshipmen, a smart youngster--Mowbray, I think, was his name--had beeninquisitively examining the Frenchmen, and he now hurried up to thecaptain, and drew him aside. 

"Just look, sir--those are Republican cockades!" he whispered. "As thelight of a lantern fell on their hats, I observed it. There's sometrick put upon us. "

"In truth you are right, my lad, I greatly fear, " answered the captain, in an agitated voice. "Where do you say Lord Hood is?" he asked, turning abruptly to the Frenchman. 

"My Lord Hood! He is not here. He has long ago departed. We have nolords here, " answered the French officer in a sneering tone. "You havemade a great mistake, and are like a rat in a hole. The truth is, Monsieur le Capitaine, you and your ship's company are prisoners! Butmake yourself easy--the English are good people--we will treat themkindly. "

"Prisoners!" exclaimed Captain Hood and the officers standing near, intones of dismay. "Prisoners! impossible!" But the assertion was tootrue. 

Lord Hood had been compelled to evacuate Toulon some time before, withall the forces under his command, after blowing up, by the aid of SirSidney Smith, several of the forts, and destroying or carrying awayevery ship in the harbour; while the unfortunate inhabitants wereexposed to all the cruelties which their sanguinary opponents couldinflict on them. 

As may be supposed, the Republican Frenchmen exulted in the idea ofhaving so easily captured an English frigate, and a large number ofEnglishmen on whom they might retaliate for some of the losses theirparty had sustained. As ill news travels quickly, so in an instant thewords in everybody's mouth were, "We are prisoners! we are prisoners!"Some would scarcely believe it, and the officers and many of the menhurried aft in a body to ascertain the fact. Mr Webley had remainedforward, and before we had been able to haul on the warp she had laidout, he promptly recalled the launch, and ordered the people out of herup the side. The boatswain was standing near him. 

"See, " he exclaimed, "there's a flaw of wind just come down the harbour. If it holds, the Frenchmen, even should this report be true, need notbe quite so sure as they think that they have caught us. "

Saying this, he hurried aft to the captain, while the boatswain, not tolose time, made all the necessary preparations for making sail andcutting the cable. 

"I believe, sir, that we shall be able to fetch out, if we can get herunder sail, " said the lieutenant in the captain's ear. The words madehim start, and restored vigour to his heart. 

"Thank you, Webley, thank you, " exclaimed the captain, when the thirdlieutenant told him that the wind had come ahead. "We'll make theattempt, and may Heaven prosper it!"

Without a moment's delay, the first lieutenant issued the order to makesail, while Mr Webley hurried forward to see the cable cut, as shetended the right way. Like larks we sprang aloft to loose the topsails, and all was done so silently and so rapidly, that the Frenchmen couldnot make out what was occurring. 

"Gentlemen, " said the captain, politely addressing the officers, "I musttrouble you to step below. We have duty in this ship to carry on whichwill not require your presence. "

"But, " exclaimed the Frenchmen, uttering all the oaths in their amplevocabulary, "you are our prisoners. We do not choose to obey yourorders. "

"You mistake; you are ours! Englishmen do not yield unless to greatlysuperior force, " exclaimed our captain. "Gentlemen, you must go below. "

The Frenchmen laughed scornfully. "Treason! mutiny!" they exclaimed, drawing their sabres, and attempting to make a rush to the gangway; butas they turned, they found themselves confronted by a file of marines, with fixed bayonets presented at them!

Rage, and fury, and disappointed revenge were in the tones of theirvoices, as they gave vent to their feelings in oaths and execrationswhile they were being handed below. Not a man of their boat's crewescaped, for all had come on board to witness the capture, as theysupposed, of a British frigate. 

During this time the topsails had been let fall, and in less than threeminutes were sheeted home. The headsails filled. At the very momentthey did so, a stronger puff of wind came right down the harbour. "Cut, cut!" was the word. Round swung her head towards the open sea. Almostwith a bound it seemed her stern lifted off the ground. "Hurrah!hurrah! We are free! we are free!" was the joyful cry. Now, come shotor shell, or whatever our foemen choose to send. We have our brave shipunder command, and if our stout sticks do but stand, we may yet escapethe trap into which we have so unwarily fallen. 

Such were the sentiments which were felt, if not expressed, by all onboard the frigate. Plenty of sharp eyes were on shore, watching throughthe gloom of night, as far as they were able, the movements of theEnglish frigate, expecting to see her every moment glide up the harbour, where, of course, troops had been rapidly collected to take possessionof the prize, and conduct us within the precincts of a French prison. 

The Republicans must soon have discovered that their plan to capture ushad not been altogether successful. As we sailed down the harbour, instead of up, as they had expected, lights began to gleam from thevarious strong forts which lined each side of the harbour below us, andalso from the deck of our friend the brig, off Great Tower Point. Then, as we glided on, every moment gathering fresh way, from all directions ahot fire was opened on us. As with the light wind there was blowing itwas necessary to be rid of every obstruction, both our barge and theFrenchmen's boat were cut adrift, though we would gladly have preventedeven them from falling into their hands. 

There was now no longer any necessity for concealment. The drums beatto quarters, the guns were cast loose, and as we passed down the harbourwe began to return the compliments our enemies were so liberallybestowing on us. We had our guns ready in time to give our friend thebrig a good dose, but what mischief we inflicted we could not tell; and, to do her justice, she was not slack in her attempts to cripple us. Thus in an instant the harbour, so lately sleeping in silence, and, asit were, shrouded in the solemn gloom of night, was rudely awaked andlighted up with the roar and bright flashes of a hundred guns, which, fast as they could be discharged, sent forth a continuous fire at ourseemingly devoted ship. Thus far all had proceeded well; but we werefar from free of danger. Shot after shot struck us, several times wewere hulled, but not a man had yet been hit, when, to our dismay, thewind grew very scant, and seemed about to head us. 

"If it shifts a couple of points more to the southward, we shall have tobeat out of this place!" exclaimed the captain of the gun at which I wasstationed. "Never mind, lads; we'll teach these Frenchmen what aBritish frigate can do in spite of all that. "

Still the _Juno_ steadily held on her course. The wind backed once moreand came down the harbour, and on she glided. The enemy's guns were, however, telling on us with fearful effect--our topsails were riddledwith shot, and our rigging much cut up; but as the damage occurred, ouractive crew flew here and there to repair it, as well as time and thedarkness would allow. Now the harbour opened out broadly before us, andthe line of open sea could be perceived ahead. Our masts and sparsstood unharmed, the firing from the forts grew fainter and fainter. Scarcely a shot reached us. On we stood. The shot began to dropastern. For several minutes not one had struck us. The Frenchmen triedin their rage, but all in vain. 

"We are free! we are free indeed! Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" burst withone voice from all our crew, and the gallant _Juno_ bounded forward onthe wide ocean, to show what British daring, judgment, and promptitudewill effect, even although the most fearful odds are ranged againstsuccess. 

I trust that some on board that ship felt also that a mercifulProvidence had preserved us from a galling and painful lot, which wouldhave endured for many a long year, to do our duty to Heaven and ourcountry. I trust that the example set by the crew of the _Juno_ willserve as an example to all British seamen--never to yield while there isa possibility of escape. 

Well, it was amusing to see how the Frenchmen did stamp and rage whenthey found that, instead of capturing us, they had been taken prisoners;but we treated them very civilly, and after a few shrugs and grimaces, like people having to take physic, we soon had the men singing andjigging away as merry as crickets. 

I remained for some time on board the _Juno_, and left her on a veryshort notice, and very much also against my own will. 

One dark night, as, with a convoy of merchantmen under our charge, wewere standing for Gibraltar, the watch below were roused up with the cryof, "All hands shorten sail!" I and others, tossing on our clothes, sprang aloft through the darkness, with a fierce wind blowing in ourfaces, to reef topsails. Scarcely had I reached the lee foretop-sailyard-arm, and had, as I believed, the earing in my hand, when, how Icannot tell, I found myself jerked off the yard; and ere I could securea firm grasp of the rope I held, I found myself hurled through themidnight air, clutching emptiness, till I reached the foam-coveredwater, through which the ship was hurriedly ploughing her way. I heardthe cry, "A man overboard! a man overboard!" but the ship had beencarrying too much sail, and without shortening it, it was impossible toround-to in order to pick me up. From the frigate, therefore, I knewthat I could expect no help. I do not believe that for a moment after Ifell I lost my consciousness, though I suspect that before I fell I wasmore asleep than awake. I had on only my shirt and light duck-trousers, so I threw myself on my back, to consider what was best to be done. There were plenty of vessels, I knew, astern of the frigate, but therewas little chance of being seen by any of them, or of their being ableto pick me up if they did see me. 

How long I could have remained floating on my back I don't know--somehours, I suppose, in smooth water; but as it was, the squall had blownup a sea, and the spray kept dashing over my head and half drowned me. On a sudden I found my head strike against something with so much forceas almost to stun me, and, turning round, I found myself in contact witha large object. I caught hold of it. Ropes were hanging down from itinto the water; I climbed up by them, and found that it was the top andparts of the topmast of a ship of large size. I felt thankful that Iwas not likely to die for some time, unless the weather grew worse; andI did not allow myself to reflect that even a worse death might be instore for me--that of starvation. I had my knife secured by a lanyardround my neck, so I began to haul up the ropes, and endeavoured to formas secure a resting-place for myself as circumstances would allow. WhenI had done all I could, I looked round through the darkness for thechance of discovering a sail; but none could I see, so I sat down, and, strange to say, fell asleep. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

TYRANNY--WAR AND MUTINY, WITH A GLIMPSE OF HOME COMFORTS BETWEEN. 

As I said, I went to sleep hanging on to a piece of wreck in the middleof the Mediterranean. It was not an agreeable position to be in, certainly, but it might have been worse. I might have been in themiddle of the Atlantic, or the Bay of Biscay, or near a countryinhabited by cannibals, or with nothing to float on, as was the casetill I got hold of the shattered mast. I did not feel it a very seriousmatter, I suppose, for I slept soundly. I knew that the sea at thattime was swarming with vessels--men-of-war, transports, store-ships, andmerchantmen, sailing in every direction, and I hoped one or the otherwould pick me up. 

At last the sun shining in my eyes awoke me, and looking around, I saw, about two miles or so to the eastward, a brig with her foretopmast goneand maintopsail-yard carried away. The damage had been done, I had nodoubt, by the squall which had sent me out of my warm hammock into thecold water. The squall had passed over, and the sea was almost assmooth as glass. I had a handkerchief round my waist. I took it off, and, standing as high as I could on the wreck, I waved it above my head. I waited anxiously to see if my signal had produced any effect; but thebrig's crew were all so busily engaged in repairing the damage she hadreceived, that they did not see me. So I sat down again, hoping thatby-and-by they might knock off work, and find a moment to look aboutthem. One comfort was, that while the calm lasted the brig was notlikely to go far away from me. 

The time seemed very long, and I was beginning to get hungry too as thehour of breakfast drew on. So I got up again and waved my handkerchief, and could not help shouting, though I well knew that no one at such adistance could hear me. I waved till my arm ached, and still I wasunobserved; so I sat down a second time, and began to consider whatmeans existed of attracting the attention of the people aboard the brig. I thought of swimming to her; but I reflected that it would be betterto let well alone, and that, as there was a long distance to traversebefore I could reach her, I might lose my strength, and sink withoutbeing observed. The sun, however, rose higher and higher in the sky, and I grew still more hungry; so for a third time I stood up and waved, and shouted, and played all sorts of curious antics, in my eagerness toattract notice. At length there was a stir aboard, and I thought I sawsome one waving in return. I was right. A quarter-boat was lowered, and a fast galley pulled towards me. I was not a little pleased when Isaw them coming. They were soon up to me, and though I had not beenlong floating on the broken mast, I can only say that I left it withvery considerable satisfaction. The brig, I found, belonged, as I hadsuspected, to the _Juno's_ convoy. As we approached her, I looked witha scrutinising eye at her hull. I thought I knew her build. 

"What brig's that?" I asked, with no little interest. 

"Why, the old _Rainbow_, lad, " answered one of the boat's crew. "A goodcraft she is still, though she's seen plenty of work in her day. "

So I was indebted for my preservation to my old ship--my sea-cradle, Imight call her. I hauled myself up her side, and there on herquarter-deck stood Captain Gale, working away as usual with his people, encouraging them by word and action. He seemed very glad to see me, asI am sure I was to see him. 

"I see, sir, " said I, after having had a little talk with him, "you haveplenty of work to do aboard, so, if I may just have some food to putlife into me, I'll turn to and lend a hand. "

"Ready as ever for work, Jack, I see!" said he, smiling. "I am glad themen-of-war haven't knocked that out of you. "

Fortunately the fine weather continued, and by nightfall we were able torig a jury-mast and make sail on the brig. By the time we reachedGibraltar the _Juno_ had sailed, and, as may be supposed, I being apressed-man, did not feel myself bound to follow her. I was very wellsatisfied with the treatment I had received in the navy, and do notthink that I should have quitted it for any other vessel but my ownbrig; but as Captain Gale was willing to take me, I could not resist thetemptation of remaining with him. After nearly foundering in a heavygale, being more than once chased by an enemy's cruiser, and narrowlyescaping being run down by one of our own line-of-battle-ships, wereached Bristol, to which we were then bound, in safety. 

I had not forgotten my promise to poor James Martin, my shipmate in the_Syren_, who was killed in our action with the French frigate; andknowing that his family lived at a village within forty or fifty milesof Bristol, I set off to visit them. Except a small amount of pay dueto me for the voyage home, I had little enough money in my pocket, so Iwas obliged to go on foot. I had never seen anything of the interior ofEngland before, and knew nothing of its varied beauties, especially ofits rural districts--the rich meadows, the waving corn-fields, the thickwoods, and, more than all, the shady lanes and green hedges, full ofroses and honeysuckles, with numberless beautiful flowers growing on themossy bank beneath them. But still deeper impression did thesequestered village make on me, with its open green and neat cottages, surrounded by pretty gardens; and its clear pond, with gravelly bed; andits neighbouring coppice; and its quiet church, with graceful spire; andthe neat and unpretending parsonage; and the old minister, with thincheeks and long white hair, and grave, yet kind loving countenance, towhom all smiled and courtesied or doffed their hats as he passed; andthe long low school-house, with rosy, noisy children rushing out of it, and scattering here and there instantly to begin their play; and thebuxom mothers and old dames coming out from their doors to watch them, or to chat with each other in the intervals of work; and the sheep onthe sunny downs above; and the sparkling stream which came murmuring by, half overgrown with bushes, so that its pleasant sound alone showed itslocality; and its deep pool, where the trout loved to lie; and thecattle in the green meadow, seeking for shade under the tall elms, orwith lazy strokes of their tails whisking off the flies; and the boyswhistling in the fields; and the men, with long white smocks and gayhandkerchiefs worked in front, tending the plough or harrow, or drivingthe lightly-laden waggon or cart with sturdy well-fed horses. And thenthe air of tranquillity and repose which pervaded the spot, thecontentment visible everywhere, made an impression on me which time hasnever been able to obliterate, and which, in far, far-off regions, hascome back on me with greater force than ever, and prevented me fromremaining, as many of my companions did, among their half-savageinhabitants, to enjoy the supposed delights of idleness, and has renewedin me the desire to end my days in my fatherland. 

In such a scene as I have described I found the family of my poorshipmate. I easily made myself known. They had no doubt of the truthof my story, and gave me a kind though tearful welcome. The old motherseized my arm and pushed me into a seat, which she mechanically wipedwith her blue apron; the tall sunburned father, with grizzled locks, anddressed in long smock and yellow gaiters, grasped my hand. 

"And you were with our James when he was struck down in battle, and hethought of us all here! Bless him!"

The old man could say no more. I told him how he not only thought ofthem, but prayed for them, and spoke of the great comfort which theprayers his mother had taught him had been to him, especially in hislast mortal agony. 

The old woman alone wept, but not vehemently. They had long before thisheard of his death. My message rather brought comfort than sorrow. 

After a time George came in--a sturdy young man, with well-knit limbs, and round, good-humoured countenance, with the universal smock, andshoes few legs but such as his could lift. When I spoke of James, hiscountenance grew sad, and, rising from his three-legged stool, he leftthe cottage, and did not return for nearly half an hour. 

One daughter came in from milking the cows at a neighbouring farm. Shereminded me of James. How neat and clean she looked, even coming fromwork! and how modest and retiring in her manner! She might have beenpretty--I don't remember: she was far better than pretty, I judged fromall she said. Her sisters were away at service, I found. She askedmany questions about James; and though her voice was more than eversubdued when she mentioned his name, my replies seemed to give hersatisfaction. But I had the sense gradually to leave off talking of mydead shipmate, and began to tell them of the adventures I had gonethrough, and of the strange scenes I had witnessed. 

There was an old black oak desk, or sloping board, near the smalllatticed window in the thick wall. On the desk was a large well-wornBible open, with a green spectacle-case to keep down the page. Aftersupper the old man approached it, as was evidently his custom; and, while all sat round in reverential silence, he began to read slowly anddistinctly, though not without difficulty, from the Word of God. Onething struck me--that he read not for form's sake, but that he and hishearers might reap instruction for faith and practice from what he read. He was evidently aware of the truth, that those sacred pages before himwere written for our instruction, to be a guide unto our feet, and alight unto our path. Then he prayed--his words came from his heart--forall present, and for guidance and protection for those absent. He didnot forget our king and country, and pleaded that God would prosperEngland's arms by sea and land in a righteous struggle. Surely thoseprayers, rising from many a humble hearth, were not unheeded by the Kingof kings. Then, I say to those who themselves believe, teach, oh, teachthe poor to pray! for their own sakes, for your sake, for England'ssake. Such prayers alone can maintain her as she is--great, glorious, and free. 

The Martins would not let me go to the village inn, as I proposed, butinsisted on my taking a shake-down in the common room with George. Therest slept in a room above. The moonlight came through the latticewindow. I saw George sitting up in his bed. 

"Are you asleep, Williams!" he asked, gently. 

"No, " I replied. 

"Then tell me now about poor James, " he answered. 

I was not slack in obeying his wishes, and for many an hour I went ontelling him all the anecdotes I could think of connected with JamesMartin, from the moment I first knew him till I saw him committed to hiswatery grave. 

"Thank you, master, " he said quietly when I ceased; and as I lay down Iheard many a sob bursting from his sturdy bosom. "That lad may be aChaw-bacon, " I thought to myself; "but he has got a heart for all theworld just like a sailor's. "

By daybreak next morning the family were astir, and went cheerfullyabout their daily labours. George had some two or three miles to go tothe farm on which he found employment; the old man and Susan had worknear at hand. 

I spent a whole day in that quiet village, wandering about among thefields and lanes, and over the downs, till the family assembled again inthe evening when their work was done. The next morning I took mydeparture. I had learned from a shipmate what would certainly beacceptable in a country district, and had brought with me a package oftea and sugar, which I left as a parting gift for poor James's mother. I remember that I put it down somewhat abruptly on the table after I hadshaken hands, exclaiming, "That's for you, mother!" and with my smallbundle at the end of my stick, I rushed out of the cottage, and took theway back to Bristol. 

That was the only glimpse of English country-life I ever got, till--anold, broken-down man--my career at sea was ended. I was on shore oftenenough, but what scenes did I witness among docks, and narrow streets, and in the precincts of great commercial towns? What can the sailor whonever strays beyond these know of all the civilising influences of awell-ordered country home? As I say, I never forgot that quiet scene, short as was the glimpse I obtained; and it had an influence on me forall my after-life, which, at the time, I could not have suspected. Evenat first when I got back to Bristol, and breathed the moral atmospherewith which I was surrounded, I longed to be once more away on the freeocean. 

The old brig was soon ready again for sea; but as he was about to sail, Captain Gale was taken so ill that he could not proceed, and anothermaster was sent in his stead. I ought to have mentioned that CaptainHelfrich had sold her to some Bristol merchants, and had got a largeship instead, which traded round Cape Horn. Captain Grindall was a veryplausible man on shore, so he easily deceived the owners; but directlyhe got into blue water he took to his spirit bottle, and then cursed andswore, and brutally tyrannised over everybody under his orders. I hadseen a good deal of cruelty, and injustice, and suffering in the navy, and had heard of more, but nothing could surpass what that man made hiscrew feel while he was out of sight of land. The first mate, MrCrosby, who, with Captain Gale, had appeared a quiet sort of man, thoughrather sulky and ill-tempered at times, imitated the master's example. 

We were bound for Barbadoes, in the West Indies. We had not gothalf-way there, when one of the crew fell sick. Poor fellow! he had notstrength to work, but the master and Mr Crosby said that he had, andthat they would make him; so they came down into the forepeak and hauledhim out of his berth, and drove him with a rope's end on deck. He triedto work, but fell down; so they lashed him to the main-rigging in thehot sun, and there left him, daring any of us to release him, or to takehim even a drop of water. I wonder that treatment did not kill him. 

Two days after that, when there was some sea on, and the brig waspitching heavily, he fell down again, and Mr Crosby caught sight ofhim, and kicked him in the rib; and when the second mate, who was aquiet young man, and generally frightened at the other two, tried tointerfere, he threatened to knock him down with a handspike. Then, because poor Taylor called them by some name they deserved, they draggedhim aft by his hair, and then triced him up to the main-rigging by theheels. I was in the watch below; of the rest of the crew, one was atthe helm, another forward, and the others aloft; so that there was noone to interfere. At last, the man forward looked down the fore-scuttleand told us what had happened. We sprung on deck. Taylor was gettingblack in the face. It was more than we could stand, and in a body werushed aft, and before the mate could interfere, for the captain wasbelow, we cut him down, and carried him forward. The mate sung out, "Mutiny!" and the captain came on deck with his pistols. But we toldhim he might shoot one and all of us, but we would not see a messmatemurdered before our eyes. Our determined manner somewhat awed thecaptain, and swearing that he would be even with us before long, he letus have our way. Poor Taylor did not die at once, as we expected hewould; but that night he was in a high fever, and raved and shriekedtill he made us all tremble with terror. 

At noon next day the captain observed that Taylor was not on deck. Heasked why he did not come. No one answered. "Then I'll soon learn thecause, " he exclaimed, leaping down forward. In another moment he sprungup again, followed by Taylor. The hair of the latter was all standingon end; his eyeballs were starting from their sockets; he had only hisshirt on, with the sleeves rolled up, showing his thin bony arms andlegs. He was shrieking terrifically. The captain attempted to kick himback as he appeared above the hatchway; but he evaded the blow, andstood on deck confronting his persecutor. The strength of madness wasupon him. He made a spring at the captain, and would have hurled him, Iverily believe, overboard; but at that moment the first mate rushingforward, struck the poor fellow a blow on the back of the head with ahandspike. He gave one glance at his murderer as he fell, and in a fewminutes his limbs stiffened, and he was dead. The captain and mate wentaft as he fell, leaving him on the deck, and talked together. 

After some time the mate sung out, "Rouse that fellow up, some of youthere! Ill or not ill, he must do his duty. " None of us spoke orstirred, and at last he came forward and kicked the corpse, as if tomake the man get up. We guessed all the time that he knew perfectlywell that Taylor was dead. There he lay where he fell, till the secondmate, who had been below, came on deck, and, going up to the body, discovered the truth. He, of course, reported the man's death to thecaptain. 

"Heave the carcass overboard, Mr Sims, " was the answer. "Let's hear nomore about the rascal. "

Sailors have a dislike to have a dead body in the ship; so, before nightset in, we lashed it up in a piece of canvas, and with a shot at thefeet, committed it to the sea. Strange as it may appear, when the matefound that we had taken the canvas for this purpose, he made it anexcuse for further abuse and ill-treatment. Not a day passed but one orother of us got a kick or a blow from him or the captain. They made oneyoung lad very nearly leap overboard, where he would have been drowned. I hauled him back, and calming him down, showed him the enormity of thesin he was going to commit, and urged him to bear his trials, as theymust shortly be over. 

At last we reached Carlisle Bay, where we brought up off Bridge Town, the capital of the fertile island Barbadoes. The town lies round thebay, and contains some handsome houses and broad streets. This islandis more level than most of the West India isles, with the exception ofthe north-eastern quarter, called Scotland, when there is an elevationof a thousand feet above the sea. It is rather less in size than theIsle of Wight. What a wretched voyage had we had! How miserable andcrushed in spirit did I feel! The scene struck me, therefore, aspeculiarly beautiful, as, gliding up the bay, we saw spread out beforeus the blue waters, fringed by the tall, graceful palms; the shiningwhite houses, circling round the shore; the trim, gallant men-of-war;the merchantmen with their many-coloured flags; the numerous boatspulling here and there, manned by shouting, grinning, laughingnegroes;--and then the planters' houses, and woods, and fields ofsugar-cane, and farms in the distance, made me feel that such scenes aswe had gone through could no longer be enacted with impunity. 

The moment we dropped our anchor, the captain went on shore; and I foundthat, to be beforehand with any of us who might inform against him, hehad given his own version of Taylor's death; which, of course, his matewas ready to corroborate. When he returned on board, he gave atriumphant glance forward, as much as to say, I have you still in mypower. So he had, as we found when once more we were at sea. I wasglad that the young lad Thompson, whom he had so ill-treated, desertedthe day before we sailed, and, I believe, entered aboard a man-of-war, where he was safe. 

While in harbour we had been quiet enough, but we had not been two daysat sea before the captain and mate commenced their old system oftyranny. Everybody was ill-treated, and this time I was the chiefvictim. Kicked and struck on the slightest pretext, and compelled toperform the most disgusting offices, I soon felt myself a degraded beingboth in body and mind; and when I thought of what I had been on boardthe _Juno_, and what I now was, I shrunk from making the comparison. But I was to obtain relief in a way I little expected. 

I was in the second mate's watch. Early one morning, about four bellsin the middle watch--that is to say, about two o'clock--I had just beenrelieved from my trick at the helm. The weather was thick and squally, and the night very dark. The look-out was careless, or had badeyesight; and the mate, knowing this, was constantly going forwardhimself. I was leisurely going along the deck, when I heard him singout, --"A sail on the starboard-bow! Luff!--luff all you can!" I sprangforward. The ship was nearer to us than he supposed. Right stem on shecame, towering like a huge mountain above us. In an instant the brig'sbows were cut down to the water's edge. I sung out to those on deck tofollow me, and clung on to whatever I could first get hold of. Itproved to be the ship's bobstay. I climbed up it on to the bowsprit, and, as I looked down, I saw her going right over the vessel I had justleft--her decks sinking from sight beneath the dark waters. The tallmasts, and spars, and sails followed: down, down they went, drawn by anirresistible force! It seemed like some dreadful dream. Before I couldsecure myself on the bowsprit, they had disappeared in the unfathomableabyss. Not a cry or a groan reached my ears from my drowningshipmates--unwarned, unprepared they died. Such has been many a haplessseaman's fate. One only escaped. He had hold of the dolphin-striker. I could just distinguish his form through the darkness as he followedme. I slid down to help him, and with difficulty hauled him up on thebowsprit. He seemed horror-struck at what had occurred; and so, indeed, we might both well be, and thankful that we had been preserved. Suchwas the end of the old _Rainbow_. 

I now first sung out, and gave notice of our escape to those on boardthe ship. Several of the crew had rushed forward, and now helped poorMr Sims and me off the bowsprit. We heard, meantime, the officers ofthe ship ordering the boats to be lowered; and she being hove up intothe wind, one from each quarter was soon manned and in the water. Whilethe two mates of the ship, anxious to save the lives of theirfellow-creatures, pulled about in every direction near where the brigwas supposed to have gone down, I was looking over the bows, hoping thatsome of my poor shipmates might yet survive; but no answering cry wasmade to the repeated shouts of the boats' crews. At last the boatsreturned on board, and I found that the mate and I were the onlysurvivors of the _Rainbow_. Had she not been an old vessel, I do notthink that she would so easily have foundered from the blow shereceived. 

I found that the ship I was on board of was the _Rebecca_, a large WestIndiaman, trading between London and Barbadoes, to which place she wasthen bound, so that I should have to return there instead of going home. The captain sent for the mate and me into the cuddy-cabin, to inquireabout the vessel to which we had belonged. He was a quiet, kind-mannered man, and seemed very much cut up at the loss of the brig, though he said that he could not blame his people for what had occurred. When we had given him all the information he required, he directed thatwe should have berths and food supplied us. I turned in gladly, thoughit was some time before I went to sleep, and even then I could not getrid of the recollection of the sinking brig, which had borne me insafety for so many a long year over the wide ocean. 

The next morning I was told that the mate was very ill. The doctor ofthe ship had been attending him, but said that his case was hopeless. Isat by him all day. Sometimes he would be perfectly quiet and donothing but moan; and then he would start up, and shriek out, --"Luff!--luff!--or she'll be into us!" and then sink down again, overcome withhorror at the recollection of the event. Towards night he grew worse, and, after several fearful shrieks, he sunk back and expired. 

Thus twice in less than two years was I mercifully preserved fromdestruction. There were a number of passengers on board, who were verykind to me, and took pleasure in asking me questions about my life atsea, and in listening to the accounts of my adventures. Among them wasa young gentleman, who, when he heard the name of the _Rainbow_ brig, and that she sailed out of Dublin, made many inquiries about her. Hetold me that he knew Dublin well, and had often heard of the formerowners of the _Rainbow_. He was, I found, going out to Bridge Town, totake the management of a large mercantile house there. 

"You must come and see me when we get there, " said he one day. "I amnot certain, but I think we have met before. "

"Where could that have been? I don't remember you, sir, " I said. 

"Hadn't you a very tall seaman aboard the brig when you first went tosea in her?" he asked abruptly. 

"Yes, of course, sir!" I exclaimed. "Peter Poplar, my best of friends;I owe everything to him. "

"So do I, then, I suspect, " said he warmly. "Do you remember a littlelad sitting crying on the quays at Dublin, to whom he gave a bundle ofold clothes? Yours, I believe, they were. "

"Yes, " said I; "I remember, too, how grateful he seemed for them, andhow Peter walked away with me that he might not listen to his thanks. "

"He had reason to be thankful, " said the gentleman. "That suit ofclothes enabled him to obtain a situation, where, by honesty andperseverance, and an earnest wish to promote his kind master'sinterests, he rose by degrees to hold the most responsible situation inhis establishment. Do you remember the boy's name?"

"No, sir, " I replied. "I am not quite certain. "

"Was it Terence, do you think?" he asked. 

"Yes, sir!" I exclaimed. "Terence it was--Terence McSwiney--that washis name. I remember it now, for he repeated it several times. "

"That is my name, " said the gentleman; "and I, Jack, am the very littlelad to whom your kind friend gave your old clothes. I would much liketo meet him again, to thank him, as I do you, for your share of thefavour conferred on me. Of one thing you may be certain--I have notbeen idle. When not engaged in my master's business, I was employed instudy and in improving my own mind. I never lost an opportunity ofgaining knowledge, and never willingly wasted a moment. "

Mr McSwiney told me a good deal more about himself, and I felt how verydifferent a life I had led, and how little I had ever done to improve mymind or to gain knowledge. I even then thought that it was too late tobegin, and so I went on in my idleness. 

The day before we reached Carlisle Bay the captain sent for me, and toldme that the passengers had been interested in my history, and that, as Ihad lost all my kit in the brig, they had made a collection to enable meto purchase a new one. This he presented to me in the shape of thirtydollars. I expressed myself, as I felt, very grateful for the kindnessI had received. 

Although Mr McSwiney had once been in the same rank of life to which Ibelonged, and in one respect even worse off, because I had a suit ofclothes on my back when he had none, I did not, in consequence, addresshim as an equal. He seemed to appreciate my feeling, and I believe thatI thereby secured his esteem. He would have taken me to the lodging hehad engaged at Bridge Town, but I said, "No, sir, thank you; I willremain on board the ship till I get a berth in some other craft. I haveno fancy for living ashore. " I went up to see him several times, and weparted, I believe, with mutual feelings of regard. He had more thanrepaid me for the benefit I had been formerly the means of doing him, and he as well as I soon found that our habits of thought were sodifferent that we could not associate on really equal terms, howevermuch we might wish the attempt to succeed. 

Finding a brig, the _Jane and Mary_, short of hands, sailing for theport of Hull, I shipped on board her. I was not much better off in herthough, than I had been in the _Rainbow_ with Captain Grindall. Thecaptain and mates did not proceed to such extremities as he and MrCrosby did, but they were rough, ignorant, ill-tempered men, and treatedthe crew as brutes, looking upon them as mere machines, out of whom theywere to get as much work as their strength would allow. When we reachedHull I was glad to leave the _Jane and Mary_; and without even going onshore for a day's spree--as most of the other hands did, and accordinglyfell in with press-gangs--I transferred myself to a barque trading toArchangel, on the north coast of Russia. 

By the time I got back, I had had enough of a northern voyage, so forthe first time went on shore at Hull. Sailors' lodging-houses aregenerally dirty, foul traps, kept by wretches whose great aim is tofleece the guests of everything they may possess at least cost tothemselves. I got into one of this class, for, of course, I did notknow where to go. A shipmate had invited me to accompany him, saying hehad been very well-treated--though I found afterwards he had beensupplied with as much food and liquor as he wanted, and indulged inevery vice, and then, when he hadn't a farthing in his pocket, put onboard a trader half drunk, and sent to sea. I found myself undergoingvery shortly the same sort of treatment he had received; and when Irefused to drink more, or yield to other temptations, such fierce, angryscowls were cast on me, that I was anxious to get away. They began, indeed, to quarrel with me; but seeing that had not much effect, theybecame very civil and polite. In a short time the man of the house--asturdy ruffian, with a Jewish cast of countenance--went to the cupboard, and I saw him pouring out several tumblers of grog. I pretended not tobe watching him, but went on talking to my companions as before. Directly afterwards his wife got up and placed a tumbler by the side ofeach of us, taking one--

"There are your Saturday's night-caps, my lads, " said she, sitting downopposite to us. "Let us drink to sweethearts and wives, and lovers andfriends; a bloody war, and plenty of prize-money!" And with a leer outof her evil eye, she gulped down half the contents of the tumblerbetween her thick lips. 

Now I had seen old Growler fumbling with several bottles at the dresser, and as I passed my nose over the tumbler which his wife placed near me, a certain rank odour arose from it which I did not like. How to avoiddrinking it I was puzzled, as I did not wish to show the suspicion Ifelt that it was drugged. Luckily the tumbler stood on a little roundtable by itself; so I jumped up on a sudden, as if something had stungme, and upset the table with the tumbler and its contents! Old Growlerpretended to be very sorry for the accident, and insisted on mixinganother. "No, thank you, master, " I answered; "I've been very clumsy, and must pay the penalty by the loss of the grog. " The couple looked ateach other and then at me with such an evil glance, that I believe hadit not been for my companions they would at that moment have turned meout into the street. 

There were six seamen in the room, lately discharged from differentmerchantmen. The house was at the end of a dirty, narrow court, all theinhabitants of which were of the lowest description. As we were sittingsmoking, a tap was heard at the door. Old Growler went to it. Severalquestions were asked by a person outside. He came back in a hurry, andbeckoned to his wife to come and answer them. "There are someman-of-war's men outside, " said he. "They say that they are come tolook for a deserter. They'll soon make my missus open the door, soyou've no time to lose, my lads. Be quick, then; through the door, andstowaway in the coal-shed. " The house had a back-door, or it would nothave been fit for old Growler's purposes; and the door opened into whatthey called a garden, but it was a bit of dirty barren ground, strewnwith broken bricks and crockery, and bits of rotten wood, with sometumble-down sheds on either side of it. In one of these he proposed weshould hide. As we opened the door, however, to rush out, we foundourselves confronted by a dozen stout seamen; and before we could makethe slightest resistance, we were all of us bound hand and foot. Thefront-door being opened, an officer and several men entered through it, and a large party of us assembled in Mrs Growler's kitchen. Thelieutenant and midshipman who commanded the press-gang took very coollythe abuse which our worthy host and hostess so liberally bestowed onthem. We were allowed to go, two and two at a time, under escort, tocollect our traps, and then marched down to a couple of boats waitingfor us at the quay. In a short time we were put on board a cutter, witha number of other men who had been picked up in a similar way. Therewas a good deal of grumbling, and some of the men seemed to have beenvery hardly dealt with; but I cannot say that my change of lot made meparticularly unhappy. 

Another night's foray on shore considerably increased our numbers;besides which several volunteers, mostly landsmen, were obtained, andthe cutter then sailed to discharge her passengers into the ships mostrequiring men. I and several others found ourselves going up the sideof His Majesty's ship _Glutton_, of 50 guns, commanded by Captain HenryTrollope. As I stood on the deck looking about me, previous to beingsummoned aft, I saw on the other side the tall figure of a man whoseback was turned towards me. My heart beat with surprise and joy, for Ifelt almost sure he must be Peter Poplar. He shortly turned his head. I was right. He was no other than my old friend. I sprung over to him, and warmly grasped his hand. He started when he saw me, stared at mewith astonishment, and for a minute could not speak. 

"Is it really you, Jack?" he at length exclaimed. "Why, lad, I thoughtyou were dead. I was told that you had been lost overboard from the_Juno_. "

"So I was, " said I; "but I was found by an old friend, who in the endplayed me a somewhat scurvy trick. " And I told him in a few words allthat had occurred to me since we had been paid off from the _Syren_. 

"Well, I am right glad to see you, lad--that I am, " he exclaimed, againwringing my hand. 

My yarn was scarcely out when I was summoned to have my name entered onthe ship's books, and to hear my rating, which was that of "ableseaman. " The _Glutton_ had been an Indiaman, measuring 1400 tons, andhad been purchased into the service. She was now armed with the thennewly-invented carronades, 68-pounders on the lower, and 32-pounders onthe upper deck. This was a weight of metal no ship had, I believe, previously carried; and Captain Trollope was very anxious to try itseffect on the ships of the enemy, rightly believing that it would not alittle astonish them. 

Our first cruise was off the coast of Flanders. We had not long to waitbefore an enemy was seen. On the 15th of July, when the days werelongest and the weather fine, early in the afternoon six ships were seenfrom the mast-head running before the wind; and soon afterwards, furtherto leeward, appeared a brig and a cutter, which they were apparentlybearing down to join. I was at the helm when the captain made out whatthey were. 

"Four French frigates and two corvettes. They will just suit us!" saidhe, shutting up his glass with a smile of satisfaction. 

"A heavy squadron for one ship to attack, " observed one of thelieutenants. 

"One!--every man on board will be sorry they ever met _us_!" said thecaptain. He knew that the officer who spoke was not one likely toflinch from the work to be done. 

We were standing directly for the enemy, whose ships were pretty closein with the land. Notwithstanding the apparently overwhelming numbersof the foe, the ship, with the greatest alacrity, was cleared foraction. 

"Shall we really fight them?" asked a youngster of Peter, who was agreat favourite with all the midshipmen. 

"Ay--that we shall, sir, " he answered. "The captain only wishes thatthere were twice as many ships to fight. "

"That's all right!" exclaimed the young midshipman. "I was afraid thatsome trick was intended, and that we should soon have to up stick, andrun for it. "

"No, no; no fear of that! I don't think our captain is the man to runfrom anything. "

It was now about eight o'clock in the evening, and the French ships, having formed in line, seemed to have no intention of avoiding us. Afeeling of pride and confidence animated the bosoms of all our crew aswe stood round the short heavy guns with which our ship was armed, whileadvancing towards an enemy of a force apparently so overwhelming. OneFrench frigate, the _Brutus_, was a razeed 64-gun ship, and now carried46 guns. Then there were the _Incorruptible_, of 32 guns; the_Magicienne_, of 36; the _Republicain_, of 28; and the two corvettes, of22 guns each. 

On we stood. Whatever the enemy did, we were not to fire till we gotclose up to them. There were to be no long shots with us. It hadbecome almost dark before we arrived abreast of the three sternmostships. "Take care that not a gun is fired till I give the order, " criedthe captain. "Steer for that big fellow there. " This was the _Brutus_, the second from the van. We were within thirty yards of this ship. "Strike to His Britannic Majesty's ship _Glutton_!" cried the captain, waving to the Frenchman. This order the Frenchmen were not likely toobey. Up went the French colours at the peaks of all the ships, andimmediately they began firing as they could bring their guns to bear. We glided on a few yards nearer the opponent our captain had singledout. "Now, give it them, my lads!" he shouted; and immediately wepoured our whole broadside into the hull of our enemy. The effects wereas terrific as unexpected--she seemed literally to reel with the forceof the concussion. Meantime, the leading ship stood past us towindward, with the intention of cutting us up with her shot; but she gotmore than she bargained for, in the shape of our larboard-broadside. The heavy shot, nearly every one of which told, shattered her hull, toreopen her decks, and damaged her spars. Meantime we were standing on thelarboard-tack, with the French commodore to leeward of us, with whom wewere exchanging a hot fire--rather hotter than he liked, indeed. 

The pilot had been anxiously watching the coast--not indeed relishing, probably, the sort of work going on. He now hurried up to the captain:"We shall be on shore to a certainty, sir, if we stand on in thiscourse. "

"Never fear, " answered Captain Trollope. "When the Frenchman takes theground, do you go about. "

All this time the enemy's shot were flying about us terribly, cutting upour spars and rigging; but, strange to say, as I looked around, I didnot see one wounded! It was light enough all the time to enable us tosee all the enemy's ships, and yet sufficiently dark to allow the flashof the guns to have its full effect, as we and our many opponentsrapidly discharged them at each other. Still the French commodore stoodon. Perhaps he hoped to drive us on shore. At last he was compelled totack. Captain Trollope had been waiting the opportunity. The instanthe hove in stays, we, who had been reserving our fire, poured in ourbroadside, raking him fore and aft with murderous effect. 

"All hands about-ship!" was now the cry. So cut up was our rigging, however, that we had no little difficulty in getting her about. Ourmasts also were badly wounded. It was a question whether they wouldcarry our canvas. 

"Hands aloft!--reef topsails!" was the next order given. Up we sprung, most unwillingly leaving our gnus, while the French ships, one after theother, stood away from us, glad to get out of reach of our fire thoughthey did not fail to give us a parting salute. 

We were as smart as we could in reefing topsails, but as much of ourrunning-gear was cut up, we were longer than usual; and the Frenchmen, finding that we had ceased firing, took it into their heads. I suppose, that we were going to strike, for they all tacked and once more stoodback towards us. 

"To your guns, my lads! to your guns!" was the cry, as we swung down offthe yards; and then didn't we open fire again upon them in fine style!In a few minutes they had had enough of it, and hauled off as fast astheir legs could carry them. If they hadn't so cruelly wounded ourmasts and spars we should have caught some of them. We made all thesail we could venture to carry; but they had faster keels than we couldboast of, so we had no hope of success. 

They stood away for Flushing, and I afterwards heard that one of themsunk as soon as she got there, and that all had their decks completelyripped up, besides losing a great number of men, and suffering terriblyin other ways. Strange as it may seem, we had not a single man killed, but one captain of marines and one marine only were wounded. We had togo into harbour to repair damages; and when the news of the actionreached London, the merchants were so pleased with it, that, incommemoration of it, they presented Captain Trollope with a handsomepiece of plate. He deserved it, for a braver or more dashing officerdid not exist, as I had many opportunities of proving. 

Some time after this, occurred those events in the navy which might haveproved the destruction of the British Empire. I speak of the mutinieswhich broke out at the Nore, at Spithead, and elsewhere. Theparticulars are generally so well-known, that I will not attempt todescribe them; but the circumstance I am about to mention is known, Ifancy, to very few. It is an example of what courage and determinationmay effect. 

On board the _Glutton_, as in most large ships, we had a number of badcharacters--runaway apprentices, lawyers' clerks, broken-down tradesmen, footmen dismissed for knavery, play-actors, tinkers, gipsies, pickpockets, thieves of all sorts; indeed, the magistrates on shoreseemed to think nothing was too bad to send on board a man-of-war. These men were, of course, always ready for mischief of any sort. Thereis no denying it, the seamen also were often cruelly ill-treated, fleeced on all sides, cheated out of pay, supplied with bad provisions, and barbarously tyrannised over by their officers. Now, on thecontrary, a man-of-war's man is better fed, better lodged, better andmore cheaply clothed, and in sickness better taken care of, than anyclass of labouring-men. When he has completed twenty-one years'service, he may retire with a pension for life of from tenpence tofourteen-pence a day; and when worn-out by age or infirmity, he may bearup for that magnificent institution, Greenwich Hospital, there among oldcomrades to end his days in peace. 

The mutiny I was speaking of had been going on for some time. The justdemands of the seamen had been listened to, and their grievancesremedied, when the mutiny broke out afresh, and, instigated byevil-disposed persons, the crews either landed their officers or putthem under confinement, and made fresh demands, many of which it wasimpossible to grant. Our ship, with others of Lord Duncan's squadron, was brought up in Yarmouth Roads. The delegates had been tampering withus. Messages had at different times been sent on board, and I knew thatsomething wrong was going forward; but what it was I could not tell. Iwas known to be a friend of Peter Poplar's, and no one doubted hisremaining stanch to his captain and officers, so I am proud to say thatthey would not trust me. 

One day I found Peter sitting down between decks, looking very grave. Iasked him if something was not the matter with him. 

"A great deal, Jack, " he answered; "I don't like the look of things. You must know, Jack, that the ships at the Nore have again hoisted thered flag, and the mutineers swear that they'll make every ship of thefleet join them. What they now want, I don't know. They have got allthe chief grievances redressed, and everything which reasonable mencould expect granted. They'll not be content till all the delegates aremade admirals, I suppose. "

"Still, I hope that we shall not be following their example, " said I. "We have a good number of black sheep on board, but still, I think, there are enough honest men to keep them in check. "

"That's the very thing I doubt, Jack, " he whispered. "I don't like thethoughts of peaching on a shipmate, but when villains are plottingtreachery, as some on board here are doing, we have but one duty toperform. I must carry the information to the captain. In case theyfind me out, and heave me overboard, or trice me up at the yard-arm--asthey are likely enough to do--if you live take care that my memory istreated with justice. Now, Jack, there is no time to lose; I'll tellthe captain that he may trust to you and a few others, but the greaternumber of the ship's company have been won over by the promises of thatartful fellow Parker and his mates. " Saying this, Peter walked boldlyaft, and, unsuspected, entered the captain's cabin. 

He told me afterwards that Captain Trollope received the informationvery calmly, nor did he seem at all to doubt its correctness. The planwas to wait till the ship was under way to proceed on a cruise in theNorth Sea, and then to seize the captain and all the officers, and tocarry the ship instead to the Nore. Several other ships had alreadyweighed without orders, and had joined the mutineers at the Nore. Nopreparation, however, was made that I saw for the expected event. 

The next day Peter and I were sent for into the cabin. "Take up thesethings, and accompany me, " said the captain to us. There was a compassand a basket of provisions; and I saw that the captain had a pistol-caseunder his arm. Leaving the cabin, he led the way below to the door ofthe magazine. If any of the mutineers observed him, I don't supposethey guessed what he was about. 

The powder-magazine of a man-of-war has a clear space round it--a sortof ante-room, which is kept clear of everything, so as to decrease therisk of fire reaching it. This ante-room has a grated door before it. The captain produced a key, and opening the grated door, went in, takingfrom us the articles we carried. He then locked himself in from theinside. This done, he opened the inner door of the magazine, exposing anumber of powder-flasks to view. Having arranged his table and chairs, with the compass and his pistols, and some books he had brought, he saidquietly, as if to himself, "I'm ready for them!"

"Williams, " he continued, "go and request the first lieutenant to comehere. Poplar, do you go among the people, and say I directed you tocall some of them to see me. "

I quickly performed my part of the duty; but Poplar was longer incollecting any of the people. He, however, at last returned with abouttwenty of them. 

The first lieutenant seemed very much astonished at the summons, andcould not make out what it meant. I fancy, indeed, when he got downthere, and saw the captain quietly sitting in the powder-magazine, as ifhe was going to take up his berth there for the future, for an instanthe thought him out of his senses. He did not long continue in that ideawhen the captain began to address him and the people who were assembledoutside the grating. 

"Turn the hands up, and get the ship under way!" he sung out in a loudvoice. "The pilot will carry her through the passage, and then steer aneasterly course till you receive further orders. "

"Now, men, you've heard the orders I have given to the first lieutenant. I intend to have them obeyed. Other ships' companies have refused toobey orders, and have joined the mutineers at the Nore. This exampleshall not be followed on board this ship. I'd sooner die than see suchdisgrace brought on the ship I command. You all know me. The instant Ifind the course I have given altered--you see the magazine and thispistol--we all go up together!"

Some of the mutineers--for Peter had taken care to summon those he mostsuspected--lingered below; but the boatswain's whistle sounded shrillyalong the decks, and one more glance at the determined eye of thecaptain sent them flying up to obey its summons. I shall never forgetthe appearance of that dauntless man as he sat still and alone in thatdark place, prepared by a dire necessity to hurl himself and all withhim to a terrible destruction. It was a subject truly worthy of thepainter's highest art. We all, indeed, did know him, and knew that, whatever the cost, he was a man to do what he had threatened. The shipwas quickly got under way, and while the larger number of the ships ofthe squadron ran for the Nore against the wishes of their officers, we, to the surprise of all, who little knew what extraordinary influenceguided our course, stood out to sea in search of the enemies of ourcountry. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

JACK A PRISONER--A PRIVATEER AND A SLAVER. 

On leaving the _Glutton_, I was struck down by sickness, and lay formany long months in the hospital at Portsmouth, scarcely expecting torecover. Oh, how hideous did Death, which I had braved a hundred timesin open fight, appear as silently he stalked along the wards of thehospital! I trembled as I thought of the past;--how small was the hopeI had in the future! There was no one to bring me comfort--no one toafford counsel--no one to point out the right, the only way by which asinner can be justified in the sight of a pure, just, holy God. Manygood resolutions I made--as many were soon afterwards broken. Irecovered; health returned to my veins--vigour to my arm. Once more Iwas afloat in a dashing frigate. 

We were off the Frenchman's coast. In a deep bay lay a number of theenemy's vessels. It was necessary to ascertain their character. Theywere supposed to be gun-boats. Our second lieutenant, Mr Ronald--anoble specimen of a naval officer, and as active as a cat, though he hadbut one leg--was directed to take the gig, a fast-pulling boat, and togain all the information he could. I was with him; so was Peter. Thefrigate had made sail, as if about to leave the coast; but as soon as itwas dark, she stood back again. The gig was lowered, and we shoved off. 

In dead silence, with muffled oars, we pulled in towards the shore. Weknew that the enemy mustered strong in the neighbourhood. Thus it wasnecessary to be cautious. Not a word was spoken. The phosphorescentlight sparkled from the blades of our oars, appearing brighter from thedarkness which prevailed, but that could not be seen at any distance. The time for our expedition had been well selected. We had pitchydarkness to favour our advance; but we knew that the moon would soonrise, and enable us to make the necessary observations. We pulledslowly in, for the tide was with us, and Mr Ronald told us to reserveour strength till it would be most required. As we got close in withthe shore, we could make out the masts of a number of vessels, in aconfused mass; but what they were without more light, it was impossibleto say without going close up to them. Mr Ronald was not a man toleave his work half done through fear of consequences, so we pulled ontill our oars almost touched some of the outer vessels. Our officermade his remarks as we continued our course round the bay. 

Not a sound had broken the stillness of the night except the almostinaudible dip of our oars in the water. The clouds, which had hithertoobscured the sky, floated gradually away; the stars shone forth brightand clear, their sparkling orbs reflected in the smooth water; and then, rising from behind the land, the moon shed her calm silvery gleam acrossthe sheltered bay. We were at the time under the shadow of some highland. "Give way, my lads; it is time we should be out of this!"whispered the lieutenant. It was time indeed! Peter's quick eye, looking seaward, observed several dark objects floating in the distance. "Boats in!" he said, pointing in that direction. The lieutenant lookedthere also. There could be no doubt about it. There were four largeboats. He ordered us to lay on our oars, to watch in what directionthey would pull. We hoped that they had not as yet observed us. Thepeople in the boats seemed to be holding a conference. At last theyparted. One pulled across the mouth of the bay in one direction; one inthe other; but two advanced up the bay. There seemed no possibility ofour escaping without being seen. Still it was far from Mr Ronald'sintention of giving in till he was actually laid hold of. Hitherto theshade of the cliff prevented our being seen. The gap between the boatsthrough which we could hope to escape widened more and more. Meantime, our thoughts were occupied in the contemplation of the pleasures of aFrench prison, of which we had too often heard to have any wish to enjoythem. Mr Ronald watched our opportunity. "Now, my lads, " hewhispered, "give way with a will!" We needed no encouragement. As arat darts out of the corner in which it has taken shelter when the dogsstand ready on either side hoping to catch it, so we darted out from oursheltered nook towards the open sea. 

The movement drew the attention of the French boats towards us, and inanother minute all four were steering courses which would give themevery prospect of cutting us off. We were all armed, but it would havebeen madness to attempt to beat off so overwhelming a force. We had totrust alone to the fleetness of our heels. We might have a prospect ofdistancing the two boats which had gone up the bay, and which were onour larboard-hand, but we must inevitably run the gauntlet between theother two. The question was, whether we could pass through them beforethey closed in on us. We made the strong ash sticks bend again as wesent the boat flying through the bubbling water. We sung out in oureagerness, encouraging each other. Every moment the space between thetwo boats was narrowing. We did not give in though. The Frenchmen nowsaw that there was a chance of our escaping, and began firing. Thebullets flew thickly about our heads. Several hit the gunwale of theboat, but none of us were hurt. Their firing rather encouraged us topersevere, in the hope of escaping. 

At last I felt a severe blow on my arm, and involuntarily dropped myoar. A bullet had struck it. Still, I was sure it was not broken; so Itook my handkerchief off my neck, and bound it up. I seized my oar, andpulled on. "Oh, the blackguards! sure if they'd give us a fair start, and not be sending their dirty bullets at us, we'd be after bating thementirely, now!" sung out an Irishman, who pulled the bow-oar. Manypeople would, under the circumstances we were placed in, have given upbefore this; but Mr Ronald still hoped that we might dodge our enemies, and escape. The boats were not a hundred yards on either side of us. They gave way with a will. So did we. Still we might slip betweenthem. If we did, we should have a good start; and pulling fast, as wecould do, we might escape, should they not continue firing at us; buthow could we expect them to be so lenient? On they came; narrow, indeed, grew the space between them. We dashed on. With a cry ofdismay, we saw that our efforts were of no avail! With such force didthey come on, that they literally almost cut our boat in two; and as shesunk between them, we had to jump out--some into one boat, some into theother--to save ourselves from drowning, and to find ourselves prisoners. 

How the Frenchmen did jabber away, and ask us all sorts of questions, none of which we could answer, from not being able to muster a word ofFrench amongst us. The other boats came up, and then there was stillmore jabbering; and then the Frenchmen made us all get into one boat, and pulled with us towards a point of land on the east side of the bay. The boat soon reached a small, rough pier, and then two of the men, jumping on shore, ran off towards the town, which stood a little way offfrom us. We sat, meantime, wondering what was to be our fate. 

Shortly afterwards the tramp of feet was heard, and six or eightsoldiers, or militiamen, or gendarmes, appeared, and halted near us. The officer of the boat then had a talk with them, and committed us totheir charge. I have no doubt he told them to take good care that wedid not run away. The boat, we concluded, had to row watch, and couldnot remain long absent from her post. The soldiers, before receivingus, grounded arms; shoved their ramrods down their muskets, to show usthat they were loaded; examined the primings in the pans, and then, presenting their bayonets at our backs, in most unpleasant proximity, ordered us to advance. Our cutlasses had been taken away, and, ofcourse, the muskets had gone down with the gig; but both Mr Ronald andPeter had their pistols stuck in their belts, inside their great-coats, so the Frenchmen did not discover them. We did not wish our firstcaptors good-bye, nor exchange a word with each other, but, seeing therewas no help for it, slowly stumbled on over the uneven ground ahead ofour guards. I hoped that they would keep their footing better than wedid; for, if not, some of us would stand a great chance of being runthrough with their bayonets. Had we not been unarmed, and aware thatthe boat was within hail, I don't think we should have allowed ourselvesto have been carried along as prisoners. 

However, our walk was soon at an end, and we reached the tower, whichstood a short distance along-shore from where we landed, and not threehundred yards from the beach. It appeared to be in a very tumble-downruinous condition, as we inspected it from the outside. We concludedthat we should have to wait here till the following morning, beforebeing marched off to prison. Whether the tower had been built for afort, or only a mill, or a look-out place, it was difficult to discoverin the scant light we had. There was a small arched door before us, with some stone winding-steps leading up from it. The sergeant incommand of the party pointed to it, and some of the men gave us a gentleprick with the end of their bayonets, singing out, at the same time, some words which we guessed to be a command to go up there. 

"Let me go first, sir, " exclaimed Peter Poplar, springing through thedoor. "There may be some trap in the way, and it's hard that you shouldhave to fall down that, at all events. "

When we were all in, the soldiers followed, making us go winding-up tillwe reached a chamber at the top of the building. The French soldierssaw us all in, and then shoving to the door, they shut it with a loudbang; but as there was no sound of bolts or bars, we guessed that therewere none to the door. 

The light of the moon shone directly in through a loop-holed slip of awindow, and we saw some billets of wood, and a small cask or two, and afew three-legged stools, with a broken table, and the remains of abedstead, showing that the place had once been inhabited. Mr Ronaldtook a seat, and told us to follow his example; so we all sat down, feeling certainly very melancholy at first. We had much reason to bemelancholy, for by this time we had heard a good deal about Frenchprisons, and the treatment English prisoners received in them; and wecould scarcely fancy a worse fate than to have to spend our future daysin one. The lieutenant, however, was not the man to allow himself orothers long to indulge in such thoughts. He got up. 

"We are in a bad plight, certainly, my lads, " said he; "but we'll see ifwe cannot mend it. I have been in a worse plight myself--and so, Idaresay, have you--and managed to escape without damage. Perhaps we maydo so in this case. "

"Yes, sir, " said Peter; "indeed I have. " And he described how we hadescaped from the pirates' den in Cuba. 

I told my companions how I had been preserved from being murdered by theMaroons; and altogether we soon got each other's spirits up. My woundedarm hurt me not a little, but Peter took off my jacket, and bound it upcarefully; and though I cannot say that the pain was much decreased, Iresolved to bear it without complaining. 

Meantime, Mr Ronald made a minute examination of the place of ourconfinement; and by stepping on the table he discovered a hole in theroof, which he found that he could, without difficulty, make as large ashe might wish. He at once set to work to do so, we all talking andwalking about the room, to conceal any noise he might make. When he hadgot the hole large enough to admit his body, Peter, putting his shoulderunder him, gave him a hoist through it, and with his hands and elbows hequickly scrambled up on the roof. As it sloped very much he could notwalk about, so he sat himself down to make his observations. Havingdone so, and stayed some time to consider matters and form his plans, hecame back into the room. 

"My lads, " said he, calling us round him, "you must clearly understandthe position we are in. We are prisoners to our greatest enemies. Theymay choose to consider us as spies, and may cut our throats, or shoot usas such; and, at all events, they will send us to prison, and there keepus, as they have done many of our countrymen, till the war is over. Now, while I was on the roof I saw, not far from the beach, a small boatmoored; and a mile or so away, I made out what I take to be a fleet offishing-boats. What I propose is, to knock over the sentry at the door, and, if we can, we'll surprise the rest of the soldiers, and gag andbind them. If they show fight, it can't be helped: we must kill them. At all events, we must prevent them from raising an alarm, or followingus. We will then make the best of our way to the beach, and I willundertake to swim off, and bring in the small boat I saw there. When weget her, it will be very hard if we cannot cut out some fishing-smack orother, in which we can cross over to England. If we don't succeed, weshall probably get killed ourselves; but if we do, we shall obtain ourliberty, and that is worth a struggle. "

This speech inspirited us all, and we could scarcely refrain fromshouting, as we promised to follow his directions, and to stick by himthrough thick and thin. 

The Frenchmen seeing that he had a wooden leg, and hearing him stump upand down, of course fancied that he would never attempt to run away; orthat if he did make the attempt, he would not go without them finding itout. This, perhaps, made them more careless in the way they watched us. At all events, they had not even then found out what stuff Englishsailors are made of; and I don't think they ever will. 

"Then, my lads, there's no time to be lost, " said the lieutenant. "Areyou all ready?"

"Yes, sir, " said Peter, speaking for the rest; "but I beg pardon, sir, won't your leg be heard as we go down, and it may give notice to theFrenchmen?"

"I have thought of that, " said Mr Ronald, fastening a handkerchiefround the end of the stump. "Now, I shall tread as softly as a cat. "

We had all taken off our shoes, and armed ourselves with the legs of thetable and the legs of the stools we had found in the room. My heartbeat quick. Never had I been engaged in so daring a work. We dared nottry the door till the moment we were to rush out. Mr Ronald gave thesignal, and he leading the way, we threw open the door, and, before thesentry could turn his head, or even cry out, we had our hands on hismouth, and throwing him down backwards among us, we squeezed everybreath out of his body. Whether he lived or died, I cannot say. Weseized his musket and bayonet and sword, and without a moment's delay, which would have been fatal, we rushed on, and sprung like wild beastsinto the room where our guards were sitting. Some were sleeping; otherswere playing at cards; two were talking with their heads bent together. They had not time to look up even before we were upon them. Mr Ronaldran one of the card-players through with the sword we had taken from theguard; Peter killed another with the bayonet. I shall not forget hislook of astonishment and dismay when he saw us standing before him. Oneof the other men knocked over a third with the leg of the table. Beforethe others could seize their arms, we had got hold of them. Mr Ronaldwas obliged to kill another man, who fought so desperately that we couldnot otherwise master him; and throwing ourselves on the remaining three, we bound and gagged them, and lashed them to the benches on which theyhad been sitting. The whole affair did not take us a minute. It wasvery bloody work, but it could not be helped. We then hurried to thebottom of the tower, and broke open the door. We had been prisoners avery short time, and could scarcely believe ourselves to be free. 

Hastening down to the beach, Mr Ronald stripped off his clothes, andplunging into the water, with his knife in his mouth, swam off towardsthe little boat he had before observed. Had it not been for my wound, Iwould gladly have gone instead of him. In spite of his wooden leg, heswam fast and strongly, and soon reached the boat. Getting into her, hecut her from her moorings, and then quickly paddled her to the more. More than once we had turned a glance inland, lest we mould have beenobserved; but, without interruption, Mr Ronald dressed, and then all ofus getting into the boat, we pulled out seaward. She was too small toallow us, with any prospect of safety, to cross the Channel in her, sothat we could not yet consider our enterprise accomplished. 

We had armed ourselves with the soldiers' weapons, so that, had therebeen a strong breeze off-shore, we should not have been afraid to haveattacked and attempted to cut out any merchant vessel or otherwell-armed craft. As it was, Mr Ronald judged that it would be wiserto endeavour to capture one of the fishing-boats he had seen. Mufflingour oars, therefore, in dead silence we pulled out towards the largestof the fleet, and which lay the outermost of them all. Glidingalongside, we stepped softly on board. Her crew were, as we expected, asleep, and before they had opened their eyes we had our hands on theirthroats and our knees on their bosoms. As there were only three men anda boy, we easily mastered them; and, having bound and gagged them, weput them into the forepeak, while we proceeded to haul up the anchor andget the vessel under way. 

As soon as we could attend to our prisoners, we made signs to them thatwe would not hurt them; and I fancied that they considered themselvesvery fortunate in not having their throats cut, or being thrownoverboard, by those terrible monsters, "_les betes Anglais_. " There wasa light air off the shore, and, with very great satisfaction, we stoodaway from it. Anxiously we looked towards the coast we were leaving, but, as far as our eyes could pierce the gloom, we could not discoverany vessel in pursuit of us. Still we were not free from danger, as wewere likely enough to fall in with a French vessel, and again findourselves prisoners. Mr Ronald, who was as kind and thoughtful as hewas brave, told me to go to sleep; but my arm gave me too much pain toallow me to do so. 

The hours of night passed by, and day dawned; the bright sun arose on acloudless sky. The coast of France rose in blue ridges astern of us, but not a sail was in sight all round the horizon. As our prospect ofescaping recapture improved, our appetites, which we had not thoughtabout, reminded us that we had gone a long time without eating; but whenwe came to examine the fishermen's lockers, we found only a little blackbread aboard, and a most scanty supply of water. They made usunderstand that their boat had gone on shore with some of their comradesto bring off water and provisions. Mr Ronald insisted on preservingmost of the water for me, as a fever was already on me, and I wassuffering dreadfully from thirst. 

The wind was very light, and we made but little way. As the sun rose, however, clouds began to collect to the northward, and the sky overheadbecame covered over with those long wavy white lines which go by thename of "mares' tails, " and which always betoken wind. Still we stoodon as before. Every now and then, however, a puff would come whichthrew the sails aback; but it quickly passed away, to be succeededshortly by a stronger and more continuous one. At last the breezeheaded us altogether, freshening up rapidly, till Mr Ronald called allhands to reef sails. The wind soon got the sea up, and in a short timewe were pitching away close-hauled, with the boat's head to thenorth-west. Changed, indeed, was the weather since the morning: thenall had been bright, and blue, and calm; now, in the afternoon, the skyhung dark and gloomy, with heavy clouds, and green foam-topped seasdanced wildly around us. I do not know what Mr Ronald thought aboutthe matter, but as I lay on my back suffering from pain, hunger, andthirst, I began to question whether the ill-found boat would livethrough the sea which was getting up. 

Meantime a sharp look-out was kept for any vessel which might put us onshore anywhere on the English coast. At length a sail was seen to theeastward, and after watching her for some time, both Mr Ronald andPeter were of opinion that she would cross our course. This newscheered the spirits of all hands, for they had begun to suffer painfullyfrom hunger and thirst. No one had taken more than a very small pieceof black bread, for we could not deprive the poor French fishermen oftheir share of food. We were most anxious, on several accounts, thatthe stranger should get up to us before dark--in the first place, thatwe might ascertain whether she was friend or foe, and also lest weshould miss her altogether. Should she prove French, we hoped, in spiteof our hunger, still to avoid her. To mislead any enemies, we got outthe Frenchmen's clothes left on board, and rigged ourselves out asfishermen. 

"I feel pretty sure that vessel is English, sir, " said Peter, who hadbeen watching the stranger. "But still I can't make out what is thematter with her; she has been handled pretty roughly, I suspect. "

Mr Ronald pronounced her to be a brig-of-war without any after-sailset; and as she drew near, we saw that there was good reason for this, as her mainmast had been carried away by the board, while her hull alsohad been much knocked about. It was clear that she had been in action. Mr Ronald waved to her; and, to our no small satisfaction, we saw herclewing up her sails to speak to us. 

Before going alongside, however, Mr Ronald released the Frenchmen, and, as he thought, explained to them that we were going on board the brig, and that they might return to the French coast. The Frenchmen stretchedtheir limbs, and looked about them while we were going alongside thebrig. This was an operation not altogether easy or free of risk, but wesucceeded in getting hold of her. Mr Ronald went up first, followed bythe other men; and as I was far too weak to help myself up, Peter hadgone up the side, and was singing out for a rope, when the Frenchmen, instigated by what notion I know not, but fancying, I believe, that theywere to be made prisoners, cut off the tow-rope, and hoisting theforesail, put down the helm, and stood away from the brig. Active asmonkeys, they soon swayed up the mainsail, and, hauling close on a wind, they rapidly left the brig astern. I saw Peter eagerly waving to themto come back, and I have no doubt but that he fancied if they did notthey would murder me. The brig, having no after-sail, could not haulher wind, so that my shipmates were perfectly unable to recover me. Icertainly could do nothing to help myself, so I lay quiet, and trustedthat the Frenchmen would have pity on me. I still thought they mightmurder me; and, at all events, expected that I should be sent to aFrench prison. I only hoped that we might not reach the part of thecoast we had come from, for I could scarcely expect to escape being putto death when it was known that I was one of the party who had killedthe French soldiers placed to guard us. 

I do not think, at the same time, that the Frenchmen had any murderousintentions. They were so pleased at recovering their boat and theirliberty, that they were inclined to treat me civilly, if not kindly, andthey continued to supply me with bread and water as I required. As wewere half-way across the Channel, and they had lost their reckoning, wewere not likely, I hoped, to make a good landfall in their attempt toreach their home. 

With anxious eyes I watched the brig on board which my shipmates hadtaken refuge, but darkness coming on, we very soon lost sight of her. My heart sunk within me, and I burst into a fit of tears, the first Ihad shed for many a long year. They were as anxious to avoid meetingany vessel as we had just been to find one. The wind had again choppedround to the southward, and though not blowing very strong, we made butlittle progress. 

All night we stood on under close-reefed canvas, and when the nextmorning dawned, I saw land to the southward. Its appearance evidentlypuzzled the Frenchmen. I guessed it to be no other than that of theisland of Guernsey; while not a mile off, standing towards us under hertopsails, was a large schooner. Had the Frenchmen altered their course, and run away from her, it would have excited the suspicions of those onboard, so they kept on as before. This plan, however, did not availthem. A shot, which before long came whistling across our fore-foot, showed them that they were wanted alongside the schooner. The schoonerhoisted English colours, and from her general appearance I had no doubtthat she was a privateer. As soon, therefore, as the boat wentalongside, I sung out that I was an Englishman, and a prisoner. 

"Halloa! Who's that?" said a man, looking over the side of theschooner. "What! Jack Williams, is that you?" The speaker, withoutwaiting for my reply, let himself down into the boat, and as he graspedmy hand, I recognised him as my old acquaintance Jacob Lyal. 

Pointing to my arm, I told him that I had been wounded, and how ill Iwas; and he at once sung out for a sling, and in another minute I wassafely placed on the deck of the vessel. 

The captain of the schooner then ordered the Frenchmen into the boat, and putting some of his people in her, she was dropped astern. I don'tknow what he said to the Frenchmen, but they seemed far from contentedwith the change of lot. I learned afterwards that he wanted the boat togo in and cut out some French merchantmen. 

The schooner had a surgeon on board, and when the captain heard theaccount I gave Lyal of my late adventures, he directed that I should beimmediately placed under his charge. I flesh, as soon as the feverabated, I got rapidly well and fit for duty. 

The schooner was, I found, the _Black Joke_, belonging to the island ofGuernsey. Lyal so worked on my imagination, by the accounts he gave ofthe life of a privateer's-man, and the prize-money to be made, that hesoon persuaded me to enter aboard her. There cannot be the shadow of adoubt that I ought to have gone back, by the first opportunity, to joinmy own ship; though, of course, I knew that, under the circumstances ofthe case, I ran very little fear of punishment by not doing so, should Iat any time happen to fall in with her. The schooner was a very largevessel of her class, and mounted sixteen 6-pounders, with a crew of someeighty men or more. Captain Savage, who commanded her, was a bolddashing fellow, but he cared nothing for honour, or glory, orpatriotism. He had only one object in view in fighting--it was to makemoney. Privateering was the shortest and easiest way he knew of, and ashis professional knowledge and experience fitted him for the life, hetook the command of the _Black Joke_. His first officer, Mr LeGosselen, was just the man for the sort of work to be done. He was astrongly-built, short, bull-necked man, and a first-rate seaman; butwhatever human sympathies he might have had in his youth had allapparently been washed out of him. 

The schooner had only left Guernsey, after a refit, the day before I wastaken on board her. I had been a fortnight in her before any prize ofconsequence was made. A few coasters had been surprised by means of thefishing-boat, but their cargoes were of very little value, and only twoor three were worth sending into port. Of the rest, some were sunk, andothers allowed to continue on their voyage, after anything worth havingwas taken out of them. The time had at last arrived when Captain Savagehoped to fall in with a convoy of French ships coming home from the WestIndies. For a week or more we cruised about in the latitude they wouldprobably be found in, but we saw nothing of them. 

At length, at daybreak one morning, several sail were seen hull down tothe northward, and steering east. The wind was about south, so we stoodaway close-hauled towards them, in order to reconnoitre them moreperfectly. As the sun rose, and we drew nearer, many more appeared, their white sails dotting the ocean far and wide. 

"That's what we've been looking for, my lads!" cried the captain, pointing them out to the crew. "If we get hold of two or three of thosefellows, we shall soon line our pockets with gold. "

A loud cheer fore and aft showed that the speech suited the taste of hishearers. Great, indeed, was the contrast in the discipline between aprivateer and a man-of-war. There was plenty of flogging, and swearing, and rope's-ending, which the officers considered necessary to keep uptheir authority; but there was also a free-and-easy swagger, and anindependent air about the men, which showed that they consideredthemselves on a par with their officers, and that they could quit thevessel whenever they fancied a change. At first I did not at all likeit, but by degrees I got accustomed to the life, and imitated theexample of all around. 

We stood on cautiously towards the Frenchmen, the officers' glassesbeing continually turned towards them, to watch for any suspiciousmovement in the fleet. The captain had no doubt what they were, and allday we continued hovering about them, like a bird of prey ready topounce down on its victim. We got near enough to make out a man-of-warin the van, and another in the centre of the fleet, while a number ofstragglers brought up the rear. Of some of these latter we hoped tomake prizes. Having ascertained this much, we stood off again fromthem, that, should our appearance have raised their suspicions, theymight be again set to rest. Marking well the course they were steering, we knew that we should easily again fall in with them. 

The nights, to favour our enterprise, had been very dark, so that wemight hope to pick out several, provided no noise was made, withoutbeing discovered. We waited anxiously for night to put our enterpriseinto execution; and as the sun set, we crowded all sail to come up withthe convoy. Few vessels could surpass the schooner in her sailingqualities, which made her peculiarly fitted for the sort of work she wasemployed in. 

By midnight, we made out on our starboard-bow several sail, which we hadno doubt were some of the sternmost vessels of the French convoy; so westood towards them without hesitation. If any of the Frenchmen caughtsight of the privateer, they probably took her for one of their ownfleet. Slowly, their dark, misty-like forms glided by, while we watchedthem with eager eyes, wondering which the captain would select as ourfirst victim. At last came a large brig. She was somewhat high out ofthe water, and her main-topgallant-mast had been carried away. 

"That's the craft for us, boys!" cried Captain Savage, pointing her out. "Her cargo's light, and probably the most valuable; and I doubt notthat she has some wealthy passengers with their jewel-boxes with them. We will run them aboard, and try if we can't take them without firing ashot!"

We had got to windward of the fleet, and the helm being put up, we edgeddown towards the brig which it had been determined to take. In deadsilence we approached our victim. As we drew near, the strangerobserved us, and her people must have suspected that all was not right. He hailed, and inquired what schooner we were. 

"The French schooner _Concorde_, " answered our captain, who knew that avessel of that name had been out in the West Indies. For a short timethe answer seemed to satisfy the Frenchmen; but seeing us approach stillnearer, they hailed again, and told us to keep off. 

Captain Savage did not deign a reply, but our grappling-irons beingready, our helm was put hard a starboard, we ran alongside the brig, andhad her fast locked in a deadly embrace. 

Although the Frenchmen's suspicions had been aroused, they had made nopreparations to receive us; yet as we ran her on board, we saw thatthere were numbers of people on her deck. "Follow me, my lads!" shoutedMr Le Gosselen, who saw that to secure an easy victory there was notime to be lost; and before any of the Frenchmen had time to stand totheir arms, some fifty of us had sprung on their deck and attacked them, previously driving some overboard, others fore and aft, and the restbelow. The greater number of our opponents seemed to be soldiers, bytheir dress and the way they fought. In vain their officers called tothem to stand firm, and tried to rally them to the last; they themselveswere pistolled or cut down, and in less than five minutes we weremasters of the whole deck, with the exception of the after-part of thepoop. Here a band of men stood firm, evidently surrounding a person ofsuperior rank. He fought like a lion, and was likely to delay ourvictory, or to prevent it altogether. Seeing this, Captain Savage, whowas himself the best swordsman I ever met, calling twenty of us tofollow him, sprang on board over the quarter; and thus attacked in frontand on one side, the French officers were driven across the deck. Ablow from Captain Savage's cutlass brought their chief on his knee. Atthat moment a piercing shriek arose high above the din of battle. Howmournful! how full of agony it sounded! We had not before perceived awoman standing alone and unharmed among the wounded, the dead, and thedying, for not one of those who had opposed us had escaped. 

"Spare my father's life! hurt not more his grey hairs!" she cried out inFrench. 

"That depends on circumstances, mademoiselle, " answered the captain ofthe privateer. "Here, my lads; carry the lady and the old man on boardthe schooner out of harm's way; we must secure the brig before we thinkof anything else. "

I was one of those to whom the captain spoke. I shall never forget thegrief and agony of the poor young lady as she bent over her father. Hewas desperately wounded. I saw that he could not speak; but he stillbreathed. We lifted him as gently as we could, and carried him aboardthe schooner, into the captain's cabin; we then assisted the young lady, who followed eagerly, not knowing where she was going. All her thoughtsand feelings were concentrated on her father. We placed him on thesofa, and I then went and called the surgeon to attend him. MrBlister's knowledge of his profession was very slight, and his practicalexperience limited; but still he had some notion of binding up a wound, and, at all events, he would treat a patient more gently than any of therough hands belonging to the schooner. 

While what I have described was going on, the second officer, with adozen men under him, had been directed to clew-up the brig's sails, soas to let her drop as much as possible astern of the rest of the fleet, no others appearing to be following. This had been done; and we hadhopes that the flash of the pistols had not been seen, or the reportsheard by any of the vessels in advance. 

Having obeyed the orders, I again went on board the brig. The deck wasnow entirely in our possession. While some of our people were silencingseveral of the French crew, who still madly held out below, I followedthe captain into the cabin. While we had been fighting on deck, othersof our crew had found their way there, and, mad with rage at theopposition they had encountered, had spared neither age nor sex. Icannot venture to describe the scene of horror and confusion. Therewere several ladies, and their attendants, and children--among them, infants in arms, or just able to lisp their parents' names. Alreadythey were in the power of my ruffian companions. Shrieks of despair, cries for mercy rose from among them. Tables and chairs, and furnitureof all sorts, lay broken on the door. Several dead bodies lay at theentrance of the cabin--officers, as was shown by their uniform; anotherlay leaning against the bulkhead, gasping out his last breath. We haddiscovered enough to show us why our capture was so crowded with people. She was a merchantman, in which the governor of one of the islands, together with his staff and their families, had taken their passage, while a body of soldiers had likewise been put on board. 

Captain Savage, to do him justice, when he found that the brig wascompletely in his power, did his best to rescue her unfortunateprisoners from further molestation, though in this he was but illseconded by his officers. Rushing in among the men, he ordered them ondeck, and to carry the dead bodies with them. One man refused to obeyhim. 

"Mutiny!" he exclaimed. "This is the way I put it down. " He levelledhis pistol, and shot the man dead. "Here, take this fellow and heavehim overboard with the rest, " he added, as the body fell to the deck. 

I with others obeyed, for all saw the stern justice of the proceeding. "My men, " he continued, "we must make sail away from her as fast aspossible; for after what has occurred we can expect but little mercyshould we fall into the hands of our enemies. "

By this proceeding the cabin was cleared, and the wretched inmates wereleft in solitude, to mourn over their cruel fate. The captain placedLyal, and one or two of the more steady men, to guard the door. Iaccompanied him on deck. Among the crew and passengers in that fiercethough short night-battle, more than half had fallen; and, contrary towhat is usually the case, the greater number had been killed. The rest, many of whom were wounded, were collected forward, all of them withtheir hands lashed behind their backs. They, believing themselves tohave been captured by pirates, fully expected to be put to death. Ourcrew, when not actually executing the commands of the officers, wereengaged all the time in plundering. The ladies had been stripped oftheir jewels, the officers of their watches and money; and every cornerof the ship was ransacked for plate and other valuables, while clothesand private property of all sorts were laid hold of and carried off; andthe men, even in the midst of their pillage, amused themselves byputting on officers' coats, silk waistcoats, and cocked-hats. 

The captain now ordered the vessels to be separated. He, with thesecond mate and about forty men, remained in the brig, to commence themore serious work of examining the cargo; while the rest, greatly totheir discontent, with about two-thirds of the male prisoners, wereordered aboard the schooner. The two vessels then made sail to thesouthward, on a course which would enable us, if we wished, to run downon the following night and pick out another prize. 

The examination of our capture was proceeded with very rapidly, andfound of great value. The governor was carrying home a large fortune, much of it in specie; and the brig being an old trader, and considered afine vessel, many merchants had shipped money by her. The poor ladieswere left in possession of the cabin, and the captain ordered what foodcould be found to be taken down to them, while he directed the secondmate, who was rather kinder-hearted than the first, to take charge ofher, and to carry her into Guernsey. All things being arranged, thecaptain, leaving a prize-crew aboard the brig, returned to the schooner, and I accompanied him. The surgeon met us as we stepped aboard. Thecaptain asked for the old governor. 

"Why, I suspect he will slip through our fingers. I have no power tokeep him, " answered the surgeon. 

"We must do what we can for the old man, " observed the captain, withmore feeling than I thought he possessed. "For his daughter's sake, Ihope he won't die. What can she do, left alone in the world? Williams, you seem to understand the sort of thing, go in and see what you cando. "

I obeyed the order gladly. I entered the cabin. Already was the poorgirl left alone in the world. Her father's corpse lay on the sofa, andshe had fallen in a swoon across it. 

I did not go and call the surgeon. I knew that he did not feel for her, and could not help her. So, lifting her gently up, I removed thecorpse, which I covered with a flag, and placed her on the sofa instead. I then got water and sprinkled it on her face, and bathed her temples. The captain came in, and found me thus engaged. 

"Where's the old man?" he exclaimed, looking astonished. 

I pointed to the flag. He lifted it up. 

"What! dead!" he said. "Poor, poor thing!" I don't know if at thatmoment the thought of the amount of misery of which we had been thecause flashed across his mind. It did across mine. 

Often have I since thought, what an accursed trade is that of aprivateer's-man. Licensed pirates at best; and often, as they performtheir work, no better than the worst of pirates. 

"What's to be done?" he continued, talking to himself. "I cannot standthe girl's sorrow. We must get the body out of the way, at all events. "

He stopped, and shaded his eyes with his hand. He had a family at home. Among them a daughter--tall and graceful, like that poor girl. "Williams, " he said abruptly, "call the surgeon. "

When Blister came, he told him to ascertain if the old man were reallydead. He stooped down, and lifting the flag, examined the body. 

"Yes, " he answered, in a perfectly satisfied tone. "I said he woulddie. There's no doubt about it. " I believe he would have been vexedhad he recovered to contradict him. 

"We must bury him, then, " said the captain. "We'll do it decently. Hewas a fine old man, and fought like a lion. Send the sailmaker here. "The surgeon did as he was bid. 

"Don't let him touch the poor girl, Jack, " he said. "She is better asshe is. She would never let us remove her father's body, if she wereconscious of what was going forward. "

The sailmaker came, and received orders to get a hammock with a shot atthe feet, in which to enclose the old soldier's corpse. Among theprisoners was a French priest. The captain sent for him; and he and afew officers who had escaped assembled on deck, the captain havingexplained to them that he wished to pay the last respect to a braveenemy. They, as Frenchmen know how to do, expressed themselvesgratified at the compliment; and all stood around while the body wasbrought from below. Having been shown to them, it was secured in thehammock which had been prepared for the purpose. It was then placed ona plank at an open port, with the old soldier's hat and sword. Thepriest offered up some of the prayers of his Church, and all stood withhats off in reverential awe. 

The prayers were finished--the captain had lifted his hand, as a signalto launch the body into the deep, when at that moment the tall, gracefulfigure of a lady appeared on deck. She cast one wild, hurried, inquiring glance around. Her eye fell on the shrouded corpse as itglided into the deep. With a piercing shriek, which rung far over thewaters, she cried, "Father, I follow you!" and before anyone couldprevent her, she sprung over the schooner's low bulwarks into the bluesea, within the first circles formed by her parent's form, as itvanished from our sight. In an instant all present rushed to the side;the boats were lowered rapidly; but as we looked around, no sign didthere appear of the unhappy young lady. Such was the result of ournight's exploit! "It is better, perhaps, that it was so, " said thecaptain, dashing a tear from his eye. 

I cannot say that the catastrophe made any lasting impression even onhim. It did not on me. That very night we stood again up to theconvoy, and were successful in picking out another of them without beingdiscovered. Both vessels reached Guernsey in safety, and turned outvaluable prizes. 

I cannot pretend to give even an outline of all the adventures I metwith while serving on board the privateer. From her fast-sailingqualities, and the daring and talent of her commander, she was verysuccessful. We were constantly on the look-out for single merchantmen;and, unless they were strongly armed, they were nearly certain to becomeour prey. We never attacked an armed vessel if we could help it, andnever fought if we could escape an enemy capable of injuring us. Nowand then, when we thought that we were going to make prize of a richmerchantman, we found that we had caught a Tartar, and had to up stickand run for it. Twice we were very nearly caught; and should have been, had not night come to our aid, and enabled us to haul our wind withoutbeing seen, and thus get out of our pursuer's way. 

Once, flight was impossible, and we found ourselves brought to action inthe chops of the Channel by a French sloop-of-war of eighteen guns. Captain Savage, however, gave evidence of his skill and courage by theway he handled the schooner against so superior a force. By makingseveral rapid tacks, we got the weather-gauge of our opponent; and then, after the exchange of several broadsides, we stood across his bows, whenwe delivered so well-directed a raking-fire that we brought his topmastdown by the run. We had not escaped without the loss of several men, besides getting an ugly wound in our mainmast; so, to avoid any furtherdisaster, and being perfectly content with the glory of having crippledan opponent of force so superior, we hauled our wind and stood upChannel. The Frenchman was afterwards fallen in with, and captured by acorvette of her own size. 

I have, I think, sufficiently described the occupation of a privateer. What I might have become, under the instruction of my old friend Peter, and the strict discipline of a man-of-war, I know not. On board theprivateer, with the constant influence of bad example, I was becomingworse and worse, and more the slave of all the evil ways of the world. After serving on board the schooner for more than three years, I waspaid off with my pocket full of prize-money, and, shipping on board atrader, I found my way to Liverpool. 

That port then, as now, afforded every facility to a seaman to get ridof his hard-earned gains. In a few weeks I had but a few shillingsleft. I had not the satisfaction of feeling that I had done any goodwith it. How it all went I don't know. I believe that I was robbed ofa large portion. I was so disgusted with my folly, that I was ready toengage in any enterprise, of however questionable a character, where Ihad the prospect of gaining more, which I resolved I would spend morediscreetly. 

Liverpool at that time fitted out a number of slavers--the slave-trade, which was afterwards prohibited, being then lawful, and having manyrespectable people engaged in it. Hearing from a shipmate that the_Royal Oak_, a ship of eighteen guns, with a letter-of-marquecommission, was fitting out for the coast of Africa, and was in want ofhands, I went and entered on board her. She carried, all told, eightyhands. I found two or three old shipmates aboard her, but no one whom Icould call a friend. 

We reached the coast without any adventure, and in those days the slaveswho had come down from the interior being collected in depots, ready forshipment, we soon got our cargo on board. For several years I remainedin this trade, sometimes carrying our cargo of hapless beings to Rio deJaneiro or other parts of the Brazils, and sometimes to the West Indies. It never occurred to me that there was anything wrong in the system. All the lessons I had received in the West Indies, in my early days, were thrown away. The pay was good; the work not hard, though prettyfrequently we lost our people by fever; and so I thought no more aboutthe matter. 

At length I found my way back to Liverpool, just as the battle ofWaterloo and Napoleon's abdication brought the blessings of peace toEurope. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

WHALING IN THE SOUTH-SEA. 

Every sea-port in England was thronged with seamen whom the cessation ofwar had cast on shore without employment, when as I was strolling alongthe quays of Liverpool with my hands in my pockets, in rather adisconsolate mood, wondering in what direction my wayward fate wouldcarry me, I ran bolt up against a post near which a gentleman wasstanding, and somehow or other managed to tumble over him. 

"Beg pardon, sir, " said I, looking up in his face; "I did not see you. "

"No harm done, my man; but stop, " said he, as I was moving on; "I thinkI remember that voice and face. Jack Williams, I am certain?"

"Yes, that's certain, " said I, looking at him hard. "And I may makebold to guess that you, sir, are Mr Carr. "

"You are right in your guess, Jack;--that is to say, I have been CaptainCarr for some years past. I am glad to have fallen in with you, for Iam fitting out a ship for a long voyage, and I like to have men with mewhom I know and can trust. "

"Glad to have your good opinion, sir, and without another question I'llship with you, " I answered. "Where are you bound for?"

"A South-Sea whaling-voyage, " he answered. "I have been at it for someyears now, both as mate and master, and I tell you there's nothing likeit for excitement and novelty. There's our craft, Jack; the _Drake_ isher name. Look at her. Not a finer ship for her size sails out ofLiverpool--measures five hundred tons, and carries forty hands. You'lllike the life, depend on it; and I say, if you fall in with any goodmen, let me know. I like to have trustworthy men serving with me. "

I promised to do as he desired, and then went on board to have a look atthe ship. I found her everything I could wish, and felt perfectlysatisfied with the arrangement I had made. Having set my mind at easeon that point, I began to consider how I should pass my time till the_Drake_ was ready to receive her crew on board, for she was still in thehands of the carpenters. I bethought me, then, that I would run acrossto Dublin, to try and find out my old captain. I found a large smack--aregular passage vessel--just sailing, so I went aboard, and in two dayswe reached that port. On landing I inquired for Captain Helfrich, for Ihad forgotten where he lived. "There he goes along the quays, " answeredthe person I had addressed; and I saw a gentleman whom, from his figure, I did not doubt was him. 

"Captain Helfrich, sir, I beg pardon; but I'm glad to see you looking sowell. I'm Jack Williams, " I exclaimed, running after him. 

"That's my name; but I do not remember you, my man, " he answered. 

"I served my apprenticeship with you, and you were very kind to me, sir, " I replied; but as I spoke I looked more narrowly in his face, andsaw a much younger man than I expected to meet. 

"Ah! you take me for my father, as others have done, " he remarked, laughing. "He has given up the sea long ago, but he will be glad tomeet an old shipmate; and now I think of it, I have to thank you for themodel of his old craft the _Rainbow_. Come along by all means; I'mgoing to his house. You'll find him much changed, though. "

So I did, indeed, and it made me reflect how many years of my life hadpassed away. I found my old captain seated before the fire in a largearm-chair, with a book and spectacles on a table by his side, and ahandkerchief over his knees. His hair was long and white as snow, andhis cheeks thin and fallen in about the mouth; but still the hue ofhealth had not altogether fled. He received me kindly and frankly, andseemed much pleased at my coming so far to see him. He desired to hearall about me, and was greatly moved at the account I gave him of the_Rainbow's_ loss. He was sorry to find that all the time I had been atsea I had not improved my condition in the world. I confessed that itwas owing to my idleness and unwillingness to learn. 

"Ah, I have learned many a lesson I did not know in my youth, from thisbook here, Jack, " said he, pointing to the book by his side, which wasthe Bible. "I now know in whom to trust; and had I known Him in thedays of my youth, how much grief and shame I might have avoided!Mercifully, God has by His grace taught me to see my own errors; and Ihave endeavoured to remedy them as far as I have been able, in the way Ihave brought up my son. I have taught him what I learned from thisbook: `Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. '"

I was very much struck by the way my old captain, I may say the oncepirate, spoke; and I afterwards learned that he had not failed to instilinto his son the better principles he had imbibed. Still I am bound tosay that he was an exception to the general rule; for, as far as myexperience goes, men who grow careless of their duty to God andindifferent to religion, continue through life increasing in hardness ofheart and conscience, without a thought of the past or a fear for thefuture--truly, living as if they had no souls to care for, as if therewere no God who rules the world. Dreadful is their end! Therefore Isay to all my readers: Never put off for a single hour--for a singleminute--repentance and a diligent searching for newness of life. Youknow not what an hour, what a minute may bring forth. You may besuddenly summoned to die, and there may be no time for repentance. 

Among other questions, Captain Helfrich kindly inquired for my oldfriend Peter Poplar. How ashamed I felt of my own ingratitude, myheartlessness, when I could not tell him! No one I had met could tellme whether he still survived, or whether he had fallen among thethousands of brave men who had died that England might be free. Ipromised to make further inquiries before I sailed, and, should I failto hear of him, to set out on my return from my proposed voyage with theexpress purpose of discovering him. 

That visit to my old captain is one of the few things performed of myown accord on which I can look back with satisfaction. The next day Isailed for Liverpool. 

Many strange and curious coincidences have occurred to me during mylife. Two days before the _Drake_ was ready for sea, having failed togain any tidings of Peter, I was standing on the quay--work being over--in the evening, with my hands in my pockets, just taking a look at myfuture home, when I observed a boat-load of men landing from a sloopwhich had lately brought up in the river. By their cut I knew that theywere men-of-war's men. Several of them I saw had been wounded, and, judging by their shattered frames, pretty severely handled. One was atall thin man. The sleeve on his right side hung looped up to a button, and he leaned over on the opposite side, as if to balance himself. Ilooked eagerly in his face, for I doubted not I knew his figure. It wasPeter Poplar himself! I sprung eagerly forward. Captain Helfrich'sappearance had made me feel old, but Peter's weather-beaten countenanceand grizzly hair reminded me that my own manhood must be waning. For amoment I do not think he knew me. He had thought me dead--killed by theFrench fishermen, or murdered in prison. At all events he had heardnothing of me from the moment I was carried off in the fishing-boat. How kindly and warmly he shook my hand with his remaining one!

"I've lost a flipper, Jack, you see, " said he, sticking out his stump. "I never mind. It was for the sake of Old England; and I have got apension, and there's Greenwich ready for me when I like to bear up forit. There's still stuff in me, and if I had been wanted, I'd have keptafloat; but as I'm not wanted, I'm going to have a look at some of mykith and kin, on whom I haven't set eyes since the war began. Many ofthem are gone, I fear. So do you, Jack, come along with me. They willgive you a welcome, I know. "

I told him how sorry I was that I could not go, as I had entered aboardthe whaler; but I spent the evening with him, and all the next day; andhe came and had a look at the _Drake_, and Captain Carr was very glad tosee him, and told him that he wished he had him even now with him. Icannot say how much this meeting with my old friend again lightened myheart; still I felt ashamed that I should have been in a trader, andaway from one who had been more to me than a father, while he was noblyfighting the battles of our country. He had bravely served from ship toship through the whole of the war. He, however, did not utter a word ofblame. He only found fault with himself. 

"I told you once, Jack, " said he, "that I ought to have been a master, had it not been for my own ignorance, instead of before the mast; andhaving missed that, had I not continued too idle to learn, I might havegot a boatswain's warrant. I tell you this because, though you are nolonger a youngster, you have many years before you, I hope, and maystill get the learning which books alone can give you, and without whichyou must ever remain before the mast. "

I need not say that he made me promise to find him out on my return. Ishall never forget the kindly, fatherly glance the old man gave me as helooked down from the top of the coach which was to take him on his wayto the home he had so long left. 

The _Drake_, ready for sea, had hauled out into the stream. She mightat once have been known as a South-Sea whaler by the height she was outof the water, and by the boats which hung from their davits around her, painted white, light though strongly-built, with their stems and sternssharp alike, and with a slight curve in their keels--each from abouttwenty-six to nearly thirty feet in length. Although she had provisionsenough on board--casks of beef, and pork, and bread, (meaning biscuit), and flour, and suet, and raisins, and rum, and lime-juice, and otherantiscorbutics--to last us for nearly four years, they were notsufficient to bring her much down in the water, as she was built tocarry many hundred barrels of oil, which we hoped to collect before ourreturn. I may as well here describe the fittings of a whale-boat. Inthe after-part is an upright rounded post, called the loggerhead, bywhich to secure the end of the harpoon-line; and in the bows is a groovethrough which it runs out. It is furnished with two lines, each ofwhich is coiled away in a tub ready for use. It has four harpoons;three or more lances; several small flags, called "whifts, " to stickinto the dead whale, by which it may be recognised at a distance when itmay be necessary to chase another; and two or more "drogues, " four-sidedpieces of board to be attached to the end of the whale-line when it ishove overboard, and which, being dragged with its surface against thewater, impedes the progress of the whale. Besides these things, eachboat is supplied with a case in which are stowed several necessaryarticles, the most important being a lantern and tinder-box--the lanternto be used as a signal when caught out at night--a compass, and perhapsa small cooking-apparatus. A whale-boat, when going in chase, has acrew of six men: one is called the headsman, the other the boat-steerer. The headsman has the command of the boat. He is either the captain, orone of his mates, or one of the most experienced hands on board. The_Drake_ was a strongly-built, well-found ship, and as the greater numberof the crew were experienced hands, and we had confidence in ourcaptain, we had every prospect of a satisfactory voyage. The crew arenot paid wages, but share in proportion to their rank or rating, according to the undertaking. Provisions are, however, supplied them, so that although a man may, as sometimes happens, make very little allthe time he is out, he cannot lose. Still, want of success falls veryheavily on the married men who have families to support. 

The evening before we were to sail, one of the crew fell so sick that itwas evident he could not go the voyage; so the captain ordered thesecond mate with several hands to take him ashore. Although not shippedas an able seaman, he was a strong, active young man, and it wasnecessary to supply his place. While some of the others carried thesick man to the hospital, I remained in the boat at the quay. While Iwas sitting, just looking up to watch what was taking place on shore, ayoung man in a seaman's dress came down the slip and hailed me. By theway he walked, and the look of his hands, I saw at a glance that he wasnot a seaman. 

"I say, mate, " said he, in a sort of put-on manner, "I see that you'vejust landed one of your people. Does your captain, think you, wantanother man in his stead?"

"I suppose so, " I answered, looking at him hard, to make out what hewas, though I didn't succeed. "But the mate will be down presently--you'd better ask him. He may meantime have shipped another hand. "

"I'll run the chance, " he replied. "I'll go up and fetch my chest frommy lodging. Just tell him, if he comes down in the meantime, that a manhas volunteered to join. You can judge whether I'm likely to be fit forwork. " He spoke in an off-hand, easy way, and without waiting for myreply, he walked rapidly up from the quay. 

The mate, directly after, came down without having found a man to histaste. I told him that one had offered--a strongly-built, active-looking, intelligent man, just cut out for a sailor, though, as Isaid, I did not think he was one. Mr Marsh, the mate, listened to myaccount, and as he stepped into the boat, seemed to be looking for thestranger. After waiting a few minutes, as the man did not appear, hegave the order to shove off. 

"There he comes, sir, " said I, seeing him walking rapidly along the quaywith a seaman's bag over his shoulder, while a porter accompanied himcarrying a moderate-sized chest. 

"If you want another hand, I'm ready to ship for the voyage, " said he, coming down the slip, and abruptly addressing the mate. 

"Seaman or not, he'll do, " said Mr Marsh to himself. "Well, put yourtraps into the boat, and come aboard, and we'll see what the captain hasto say to the matter, " he answered, aloud. 

The young man dropped a shilling into the hand of the porter, who lookedat the coin and then at his countenance, and touched his hat. Thestranger sat down on his chest in the bow of the boat, and we were soonon board. The captain then sent for him aft, and held him inconversation for half an hour or more. What was said I do not know; butthe result was, that the young man came forward and told me that he hadbeen entered as one of the crew, requesting me to show him where he wasto stow his chest and bag. "In the forepeak, " said I; but he evidentlydid not know where that was, so without saying a word I helped him downwith it. 

The first night we were at sea I had the middle watch, and scarcely hadI made a dozen turns on deck, when he joined me. "What is your name?"said he; "I did not catch it. " I told him. 

"Well, " he continued, "there is no use denying it--I am not a sailor. The captain knows this; but I have promised soon to become one, and Iwant to keep my promise. Will you help me to do so, by teaching me allI want to know?"

I told him I would do all I could for him, but that, as this was myfirst voyage in a whaler, I could not help him much about whalingmatters. 

"Oh, that will soon come, " he answered. "I seldom see a thing done oncethat I cannot do afterwards; but I want you to help me in seamanship. Ihave been constantly on the water, and know how to handle a boat, butnever before made a voyage. "

I was so pleased with the frank way in which he acknowledged hisignorance, and the hearty desire he showed to learn, that I resolved toinstruct him in everything I knew. 

I never found anybody pick up information so rapidly as he did. It wasonly necessary to show him once how to do a thing, while he kept hissharp eye fixed on the work, and ever after he did it almost if notquite as well. He very soon dropped the nautical phraseology he hadassumed when he came on board, and which was clearly not habitual tohim; and though he picked up all our phrases, he made use of them morein a joking way than as if he spoke them without thought, as we did. 

From the way he spoke, or from his manner when he addressed any of hismessmates or the officers, or from the way he walked the deck, it wasdifficult to suppose him anything else than a gentleman-born, or agentleman by education, whatever he had now become, and he at once gotthe name forward of "Gentleman Ned. " I asked him his name the day afterhe came on board. 

"Oh, ay. I forgot that, " he answered, quickly. "Call me Newman--NedNewman. It's not a bad name, is it?" So Ned Newman he was called; butI felt pretty certain from the first that it was not his real name. 

He was good-looking, with fair hair and complexion, and a determined, firm expression about the mouth. He seemed to put perfect confidence inme, and we at once became great friends--not that we had at first manyideas in common, for I was very ignorant, and he knew more than Isupposed it possible for any man to know. He showed me his chest, whichsurprised me not a little. Most of his clothes were contained in hisbag. He had not a large kit, but everything was new and of the bestmaterials, calculated to outlast three times the quantity of sailors'common slops. Instead of clothes, his chest contained a spy-glass, aquadrant, just like those of the officers, and a good stock of books, which I found were in a variety of languages, and some even, Iafterwards learned, were in Greek. Then he had all sorts ofdrawing-materials--papers, and pencils, and sketch-books, and acolour-box, and mathematical instruments, and even a chronometer. Hehad a writing-case, and a tool-box, and a flute and violin, and somemusic-books. I asked him if he could use the quadrant. 

"I never took an observation in my life; but I can work a day's work aswell as a lunar, so I think that I may soon learn the practical part ofthe business, " he answered. 

I pointed to his musical instruments. "Yes; I play occasionally, when Iwish to dispel an evil spirit; but books are my great resource. Jack, you lose much pleasure from your ignorance of the rudiments of learning. Take my advice and study. It's not too late to begin. Nonsense!difficult! everything worth doing is difficult! There's pleasure inovercoming difficulties. Come, you have begun to teach me seamanship--to knot and splice--to reef and steer. I'll teach you to read, and thenthe way is open to you to teach yourself whatever you like. Navigation!certainly. Why, you would have been master of a vessel by this time ifyou had known that. " In the interval of Newman's remarks I was makingexcuses for my ignorance; but he would listen to none of them, and Ipromised, old as I was, to put myself under his instruction, and toendeavour to be as apt a pupil to him as he was to me. 

As I have said, I never saw anyone learn so rapidly as he did everythingwhich came in his way. Before six weeks had passed, there was verylittle remaining for me to teach him. Every knot and splice he masteredin a week or so, and could make them as neatly as I did. I don't thinkhe had ever before been up a ship's mast; but from the first day he wasconstantly aloft, examining the rigging, and seeing where all the ropesled to. I had shown him how to reef and furl sails, and the very firstsquall we had, he was among the foremost aloft to lay-out on the yard. His hands went as readily as those of the oldest seaman into thetar-bucket; and so, though when he came aboard they were fair and soft, they soon became as brown and hard as any of ours. With the theory ofseamanship he was already well acquainted--such as the way by which thewind acts on the sails, the resistance offered by the water on the hull, and so on; so that, when any manoeuvre was performed, he at once knewthe reason of it. It is not too much to say that before we crossed theline he was as good a seaman, in many respects, as most of the hands onboard; and certainly he would have made a better officer than any of usforward. 

We were bound round Cape Horn, and Captain Carr intended to try hisfortune on the borders of the Antarctic ice-fields, in the neighbourhoodof New Zealand and the coast of Japan, among the East India Islands; andthose wide-spreading groups, among which are found the Friendly Islands, the Navigators, the Feejees, the New Hebrides, the Loyalty Islands, andNew Caledonia, and known under the general name of Polynesia. Perhapsother places might be visited, so that we had a pretty wide range overwhich our voyage was likely to extend. People at home are little aware, in general, of the great number of places a South-Seaman visits in thecourse of a three or four years' whaling-voyage; and certainly in noother trade is a lad of a roving disposition so likely to be able togratify his tastes. 

The first place we touched at was Porto Praya, in the island of SaintJago, one of the Cape de Verds, our captain being anxious to fill upwith water, and to get for the crew a supply of fruit and vegetables andpoultry, which are here to be procured in abundance. Sailors, however, are apt to forget that fruit, at all events, is not to be found all theyear round; and I have seen people very indignant because thefruit-trees were not bearing their ripe produce at the very moment theywere honouring the place by their presence, and heartily abuse previousvisitors for having deceived them. 

I was one of the boat's crew which went on shore to get provisions, andwe were half pulled to pieces, as we entered the town, by men, women, and boys--brown, yellow, and black--chattering away in a jargon ofhalf-African half-Portuguese, as they thrust before our eyes a dozenchickens a few weeks old, all strung together; baskets of eggs, ortamarinds, or dates, or bananas, and bunches of luscious grapes, andpointed to piles of cocoa-nuts, oranges, or limes, heaped up oncocoa-nut leaves close at hand. The place seemed filled with beggars, pigs, monkeys, slatternly females, small donkeys, and big oxen; dirtysoldiers and idle sailors of all the shades and colours whichdistinguish the human race, dressed in handkerchiefs, and shirts, andjackets, and petticoats of every hue of the rainbow--the only thing theyhad in common being their dirt. Indeed, dirt predominates throughoutthe streets and dwellings, and in every direction. The houses, thoughmean, from being white-washed deceive a stranger at a little distance asto the cleanliness of the place. From a spirited sketch Newman made ofthe scene I have described, I here discovered his talent for drawing. 

We next touched at the Falkland Islands, then uninhabited, except by afew Gauchos, who had crossed from South America with a herd of cattle, which have since increased to a prodigious number, as they thrive wellon the tussac grass, the chief natural production of the country. Thefresh beef afforded by a couple of oxen was very acceptable, andcontributed to keep us in health. 

Even before crossing the line, we had been on the look-out for whales, and all the boats and gear were in readiness to be lowered, and to go inchase at a moment's notice. Everybody on board a whaler must bewide-awake, and prepared for all emergencies, or the ship may chance toreturn home with an empty hold. In no position in which a seaman can beplaced is it so necessary to belong to the _try_ fraternity. If whalesare not to be found on one fishing-ground, the ship must move toanother; and if not seen there, she must sail on till she chases themround the globe. So if, when a whale is seen, the harpooner misses hisaim, and the fish dives and swims a mile or more off, he must watch andwatch till she rises, and _try_ again. This try principle should befollowed in all the concerns of life. Whatever ought to be done, _try_and do it; never suppose a work cannot be done till it has been tried--perseverance in duty is absolutely necessary. Its neglect must bringruin. 

We had a look-out at each mast-head, and one of the mates, or theboatswain, and sometimes the captain, was stationed at thefore-topgallant yard-arm. Sharp eyes were, therefore, constantlywatching every part of the ocean, as our ship floated over it to thevery verge of the horizon in search of the well-known spout of thewhales. Great improvements have taken place since the time I speak ofin the apparatus employed in the whale-fishery. I am told that guns arenow used with which to send the harpoon into the whale's body, while inmy time it was driven by sheer strength and dexterity of arm, as theharpooner stood up at his full height in the bow of the tossingwhale-boat, close to the huge monster, one blow of whose tail issufficient to dash her into atoms. 

We were, it must be understood, in search of the sperm whale, which is avery different animal from what is called the black or Greenland whale, whose chief habitation is towards the North Polar regions, though foundin other parts of the ocean. There are several sorts of whales, but Iwill not attempt to give a learned dissertation on them. I should not, indeed, have thought much about the matter, had not Newman called myattention to it. I should have hunted them, and killed them, and boileddown their blubber, with the notion that we had the produce of so many_fish_ on board. Now naturalists, as he told me, assert that whalesshould not be called _fish_. They swim and live in the water, and so dofish; they have no legs, nor have fish; but their implements oflocomotion are more like arms than fins. But whales do what no fish do:they bring forth their young alive--they suckle them, and tend them withthe fondest affection in their youth. They have warm blood, and adouble circulation; and they breathe the atmospheric air by true lungs. The tail of a fish is placed vertically, or up and down; that of awhale, horizontally--that is to say, its broadest part is parallel withthe surface of the water. The tail of a large whale is upwards of 20feet wide, and with a superficies of 100 square feet, and it is moved bymuscles of immense strength. This will give some idea of the terrificforce with which it can strike a boat. I have, indeed, heard ofinstances where a whale has stove in a ship's bottom, and caused her tofounder, with little time for the crew to escape. Their progressivemovement is effected entirely by the tail; sometimes, when wishing toadvance leisurely, by an oblique lateral and downward impulse, first onone side and then on the other, just as a boat is sent through the waterwhen sculled with an oar; but when rushing through the deep at theirgreatest speed, they strike the water, now upwards and now downwards, with a rapid motion and vast force. As whales breathe the atmosphericair, they must come to the surface frequently for a fresh supply. Theyhave then to throw out the water which has got into their mouths whenfeeding. This they do by closing a valve leading to the nasal passages, and forcing it by means of air through the blow-hole placed in the upperpart of the head. It is this necessity of whales for breathing at thesurface which enables man to make them his prey, in spite of theirimmense strength, while their spouts point out to him the place wherethey are to be found. 

The remarks I have made apply in common to the two chief sorts ofwhales, but the Greenland whale is a very different animal from thesperm whale, of which we were in search. The Greenland whale, (_Balaenamysticetus_), is also called the common, true, or whale-bone whale. Iremember once, in a man-of-war, falling in with a dead whale in aperfect calm. We towed it alongside, but so ignorant was everybody onboard of natural history, that no one knew where the whale-bone was tobe found. At the cost of great trouble, with a horrible odour to ournoses, we cut out a jaw-bone; which was perfectly valueless, except tomake the front of a summer-house for our commander; and we then let ourprize go with its rich contents, and glad enough we were to get rid ofit. 

The Greenland whale is less in size than the sperm--its length beingabout 60 feet. The head occupies about a third of the entire length. It is narrow above, and broad, flat, and rounded beneath, so as to allowit to move rapidly under the water. The body is largest about themiddle, and tapers suddenly towards the tail. The general colour is ablackish-grey, with part of the lower jaw, and throat, and belly white. The lips are five or six feet high, the eyes very small, and theexternal opening of the ears scarcely perceptible. The pectoral fins orarms are not long, and are placed about two feet behind the angle of thelips. The black whale has no teeth; but from the upper palate and jawthere hang down perpendicularly numerous parallel laminae--the baleen, or whale-bone, as it is called. [Footnote: The baleen or whale-bone Ihave described forms a most valuable portion of the produce afforded bythe black whale, although not so valuable as the oil extracted from thesame animal. ] These filaments fill up the whole of the cavity of themouth, and form a most complete strainer, so that only the most minuteanimals can enter. This is necessary, as the swallow is too small toadmit even the smallest fish. When a black whale feeds, it throws upmillions of small animals at a time with its thick lower lip, into thestraining apparatus I have described; and as they are scarcelyperceptible to the naked eye, when its vast size is considered someslight notion may be formed of the prodigious number it must consume atmeal. 

There is another whale, found in the northern regions, called therazor-backed whale, from a prominent ridge on its back. It is found 100feet long. As it is constantly moving along at the rate of five milesan hour, and is very powerful and active, frequently breaking away andcarrying lines and gear with it, only the most daring whalers, indefault of other prey, venture to attack it. There is a third sort ofwhale, called the broad-nosed whale, which is in many respects like arazor-back, but smaller--its length being from 50 to 80 feet. 

The smallest sort is the beaked whale, which is about 25 feet long. Great numbers of this whale are often caught in the deep bays and firthsof Shetland and Orkney. 

I must now give an account of the spermaceti whale, (the _Physetermacrocephalus_), to capture which was the object of our voyage. It isfound through every part of the South Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, andfrequently makes its way to far northern latitudes. Still the southernseas must be considered its chief abode. In appearance and habits it isvery different from the black whale. It is nearly as long as therazor-back, and exceeds it in bulk. In length it may be said to be from80 to 85 feet, and from 30 to 35 in circumference. Looking at a spermwhale, the stem on its nose or snout appears very thick, and perfectlyblunt, like a huge mallet about to strike. The head is a third part ofthe length of the body. At its junction with the body a hump rises, which we whalers call the _bunch of the neck_. Behind this is thethickest part of the body, which tapers off till there is another risewhich we call the hump, in the shape of a pyramid--then commences the_small_, as we call it, or tail, with a ridge partly down it. The"small" gradually tapers till it contracts very much; and at the end theflukes, or what landsmen would call the tail, is joined on. In theimmense head is contained the case, which is a cavity of almosttriangular shape, and of great size, containing, when the whale isalive, that oily substance or fluid called spermaceti. I havefrequently seen a ton taken from the case of one whale, which is fullyten large barrels. The use to the whale of the spermaceti in its headis, that, being much lighter than water, it can rise with great facilityto the surface, and elevate its blow-hole above it. Its mouth is ofgreat size, extending all the length of its head, or, as I have said, athird of its whole length. Its jaws narrow forward to almost a point--indeed, the lower one does so; and thus, as it swims along, like thestem of a ship, it serves to divide the water wedge, parting to make wayfor its huge body--the blunt snout being all the time like the loftyforecastle of an old-fashioned ship, clear of the waves high up aboveit. The inside of the monstrous cavity, the mouth, has nothing like thebaleen or whale-bone, such as is found in the Greenland whale; but inthe lower jaw it has a formidable row of large teeth of conical shape, forty-two in number. It has, however, none in the upper jaw; butinstead, there are holes into which fit the points of those in thelower. These teeth are blunt, and are not used for biting ormastication, but merely to keep in the food which has entered its mouth. This food is chiefly the _Squid_ or _Sepia octopus_, known also by thename of the cuttle-fish. In the South-Seas they are of enormous size, and, with their long feelers or arms growing out of their heads, aresufficiently strong to hold a man under the water and to kill him. 

The sperm whale, however, swallows a variety of other fish. It catchesthem, not by swimming after them, but by opening wide its mouth andletting its prey swim into it! We will suppose ourselves looking downthat vast mouth, as the lower jaw hangs perpendicularly to the belly;incapable it seems of moving. The interior of the throat is verylarge--capable of swallowing a man; the tongue is very small anddelicate, and of a pure white colour; so are the teeth, which glistenbrilliantly; and so is the whole interior. Fish are particularlyattracted by their white appearance. They take it, perhaps, to be somemarble hall erected for their accommodation; so in they swim, big andlittle squid equally beguiled! How the whale's mouth must water when hefeels a fine huge juicy octopus playing about his tongue! Up goes thelower jaw like a trap-door, and cephalapods, small and large, find theirbright marble palace turned into a dark, black prison, from which thereis no return; for, giving a turn with his tongue, he gulps them all downwith a smack which must make old Ocean resound!

In another respect, the sperm is very different from the Greenlandwhale. It seems to know the power of its jaws, and will sometimes turnon its pursuers and attack them, though generally a timid animal, anddisposed to seek safety by flight. The general opinion is, that spermwhales often fight with each other, as we have caught them with theirlower jaws twisted in a variety of directions, and otherwise injured. The sperm whale's eyes are very small, with movable eyelids, and areplaced directly above the angle of the mouth, or a third part of itswhole length distant from the snout. It is very quick-sighted, as it isalso quick of hearing. Its ears--small round holes, which will notadmit a little finger--are placed directly behind the eyes. The fins, which, as I have said, might be called paws, are close to the angle ofthe mouth. I have known a female whale support her young on them; andthey are used to balance the body, to steer by, and, when hard pressed, to sink with greater rapidity below the surface. The skin of the whaleis perfectly smooth, though old bulls get rough marks about them. As arule, though black above and white below, as they advance in years, likehuman beings, they get grey on the head. Oftentimes an old grey-headedbull proves a dangerous enemy. 

I have with greater minuteness than I intended given an account of thesperm whale. Its habits and mode of capture I will describe in thecourse of my narrative. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

INCIDENTS OF WHALING. 

Away, away the good ship flew to round the far-famed Cape Horn. Sternand majestic it rose on our starboard-hand; its hoary front, as itlooked down on the meeting of two mighty oceans, bore traces of many aterrific storm. Now all was calm and bright, though the vastundulations of the ocean over which the ship rode, as they met theresistance of the cliffs, were dashed in cataracts of spray high up inthe air, and gave evidence of what would be the effect when a storm wasraging across them. There was something more grand in the contemplationthan in the actual appearance of the scene, when we reflected where wewere--on the confines of those two great seas which encompass the earth, and which wash the shores of nations so different in character--the onehaving attained the height of civilisation, the other being still sunkin the depths of a barbarism too terrible almost for contemplation, as Iafterwards had good reason to know. Then there was that strange, vast, dreamy swell--the breathings, as it were, of some giant monster. Itseemed as if some wondrous force were ever acting on that vast body ofwater--that it could not for a moment rest quiet in its bed, but mustever go heaving on, in calm and sunshine as well as in storm andtempest. There was likewise in sight that wild weather-beaten shore, inhabited, as report declared, by men of gigantic stature and untameablefierceness; while to the south lay those mysterious frost-bound regionsuntrod by the foot of man--the land of vast glaciers, mighty icebergs, and wide extended fields of ice. On we sped with a favouring breeze, till we floated calmly on the smooth surface of the Pacific off thecoast of Chili. 

With regard to Patagonia, old Knowles told me he had been there, butthat, as far as he saw, the people were not much larger than theinhabitants of many other countries. Some were big men; a few nearlyseven feet high, and proportionably stout. They are capital mimics--thevery parrots or magpies of the genus Man. 

"I say, Jack, bear a hand there now, " exclaimed one, repeating the wordsafter a sailor who had just spoken. 

"What! do you speak English, old fellow? Give us your flipper then, "said Knowles, thinking he had found a civilised man in that distantregion. 

"What! do you speak English, old fellow? Give us your flipper then, "repeated the savage with a grin, putting out his hand. 

"I should think I did! What other lingo am I likely to speak?" answeredKnowles, shaking the Patagonian's huge paw. 

"What other lingo am I likely to speak?" said the savage, with perfectclearness. 

"Why, I should have thought your own native Patagonian, if you are aPatagonian, " exclaimed Knowles, examining the savage's not over-handsomephysiognomy. 

"If you are a Patagonian!" said the savage, looking in like manner intoKnowles' face. 

"I--I'm an Englishman, I tell you!" cried Tom, somewhat puzzled. 

"I'm an Englishman, I tell you!" cried the Patagonian in the sameindignant tone. 

"That's just what I want to arrive at, " said Tom. "So now just tell mewhere we can get some good baccy and a glass of honest grog. "

The Patagonian repeated the words. 

"But I ask you!" said Tom. 

"But I ask you!" said the savage. 

"I tell you I'm a stranger here!" exclaimed Tom. 

"I tell you I'm a stranger here!" cried the savage. 

"Where do you come from then?" asked Tom. 

"Where do you come from then?" repeated the savage. 

"I tell you I'm an Englishman, " cried Knowles, getting angry. 

"I tell you I'm an Englishman!" exclaimed the Patagonian in the sameindignant tones. 

"That's more than I'll believe; and, to speak my mind plainly, I believethat you are an arrant, bamboozling hum-bug!" cried Tom. "No offence, though. You understand me?"

Whether it was Tom's expression of countenance, or the tone of hisvoice, I know not, but as he uttered these words, all the savages burstinto loud fits of merry laughter; and as he thought they were laughingat him, he said that he should have liked to have gone in among them, and knocked them down right and left with his fists; but they were suchprecious big fellows, that he thought he should have got the worst of itin the scrimmage. 

He used with infinite gusto frequently to tell the story for ouramusement. 

I am not quite certain, however, whether he was describing thePatagonians or the inhabitants of Terra del Fuego. The latter are verygreat mimics and are much smaller in size, less clothed, and more savagein appearance than the Patagonians. 

We touched at Valparaiso, in Chili, or, as it may be called, the Vale ofParadise. It is certainly by nature a very beautiful and healthy spot, built on a number of high hills with ravines intervening; but man, byhis evil practices and crimes, made it, when I was there, much more likethe Vale of Pandemonium. Drunkenness and all sorts of crimes werecommon, and the _cuchillo_--the long knife--was in constant requisitionamong the Spaniards, scarcely a night passing without one or moremurders being committed. It was then little more than a village, buthas now become quite a large town, with a number of English and Americanmerchants settled there. The houses are built with very thick walls, towithstand the constant attacks of earthquakes which they have toundergo. Having supplied ourselves with fresh provisions and water, wesailed, and stretched away into the wide Pacific. 

We had left the coast of Chili about a day's sail astern. A lighteasterly breeze was just ruffling the blue sea--the noon-day sun shiningbrightly over it--the hands going listlessly about their work, ratherout of spirits at our want of success, not a whale having hitherto beenseen--when the cheery shout of the first mate reached our ears from thelook-out, of "There she spouts! there she spouts, boys!"

In an instant every one was aroused into the fullest activity--the watchbelow sprung on deck--Captain Carr hurried from his cabin, and with hishand to his mouth, shouted eagerly, "Where away?--where away?"

"About a mile on the starboard-bow, " cried Mr Benson, the first mate, in return. 

"Lower the boats, my lads!" exclaimed the captain, preparing to go inthe leading one himself; the first and third mate and the boatswain wentin command of the others. Both Newman and I, as new hands, remained onboard, as did the second mate, to take charge of the ship. 

Before the boats were in the water, the whale had ceased spouting; butjust as they were shoving off, the look-out broke forth in a cheerfulchorus, "There again--there again--there again!" the signal that thewhale was once more sending up its spout of spray into the air. Thewords were taken up by all on deck, while we pointed with excited looksat the whale, whose vast head and hump could be clearly distinguished ashe swam, unsuspicious of evil, through the calm waters of the deep. Away flew the boats, urged on by rapid strokes, in hot pursuit. Thecaptain took the lead. We who were left behind felt that we wereaccompanying them in heart and spirit. The foam bubbled and hissedround the bows of the boats as they clove their way through the water. Not a moment was there to lose--the distance was great--the whale hadbeen for some time breathing, and might go down, and perhaps be lostaltogether, before the boats could get up to her, or they might have tochase her for many miles before they could again reach her. Meantime, the wind being fair, the ship was kept almost in the wake of the boats. Away they flew; each was anxious to strike the first whale, but thecaptain's took the lead, and maintained it. As they got nearer themonster, it was necessary to be careful, lest he should take the alarm, and, seeing his pursuers, go down to escape them. The men bent to theiroars even more energetically than before; the captain stood up, harpoonin hand; his weapon was raised on high; we thought that the next instantit would be buried in the monster, when up went his small--the enormousflukes rose high in air--"Back of all!--back of all!" we cried; not thatour voices could be heard. If not, that terrific stroke it is givingwill shiver the boat in atoms. The boat glided out of the way, but justin time, though her crew were drenched with spray. Down went thewhale--far, far into the depths of the ocean. 

Nothing is to be had without trying for it--our captain knew this well. All eyes were now turned to watch where the whale would next rise, forrise, we knew, he before long must, and in all probability within sight;so the boats paddled slowly on, the men reserving their strength for themoment when it would be required; while we on board shortened sail, thatwe might have the ship more under command, to follow wherever they mightlead. Every one was watching with intense eagerness; the four boatswere separated a short distance from each other; now and then theofficers would stand up to see if the monster had risen, and then theywould turn their gaze towards the ship for a signal from the look-outaboard. Still the time passed away, and no whale appeared. 

An hour had elapsed, when again the inspiriting shout was heard of"There she spouts! there she spouts!" the look-outs pointing, as before, over the starboard-bow, where the whale had again risen, not much morethan a mile away from the boats. Again they were in rapid movement. Wedoubted not that this time they would reach the monster. Through ourglasses we made him out to be a bull--an old greyhead, and probably acunning fellow, one likely to try every dodge which a whale can think ofto escape, and if failing to do that, and hard pressed, one who waslikely to turn on his pursuers, and attack them with his open jaws ormighty flukes. 

"Well, whatever freak he takes, our captain is the man to meet him, "observed old Tom Knowles--a long-experienced hand in the South-Seas, butwho, having hurt his arm, was unable to go in the boats. "As long asdaylight lasts, he'll not give up the chase. "

I had thought that when a whale was seen, it was merely necessary topull after him, dig the harpoons into him, and allow him to drag theboats along till he died; but I found it was often a far more difficulttask than this to kill a whale. 

"There again--there again!" shouted the look-outs from aloft; and thecry was repeated by all on deck, while the whale continued spouting. Fast as at first, if not faster, the boats flew after him--the captain'sagain leading. 

"This time we'll have him, surely, " exclaimed Newman, who was as eageras any of us. 

"Not quite so sure of that, Ned, " observed old Knowles. "I've seen oneof these old chaps go down half-a-dozen times before a harpoon wasstruck in him, and, after all, with three or four in his side, breakaway, and carry them off just as the sun was setting, and there was nochance of getting another sight of him. I say, never be certain thatyou've got him, till he's safe in the casks. I've seen one, after hehas been killed, go down like a shot, for no reason that anyone on boardcould tell, except to spite us for having caught him. "

While old Tom was speaking, the boats had approached close to the whale. For my own part, after what I had heard, I fully expected to see himlift his flukes, and go down as he had done before. The captain's boatwas up to him--the rest hung back, not to run the risk of alarming thewary monster. The captain stood up in the bows--a fine bold figure helooked, as he poised his glittering harpoon in his right hand, highabove his head. "There!--peak your oars, " cried old Tom, as the crewraised them with a flourish to a perpendicular position, having giventhe boat sufficient impetus to take her alongside the whale. Off flewthe weapon, impelled by the captain's unerring arm, and buried itself upto the socket in the fat coating with which the leviathan was clothed. 

"It's socket up!" cried old Knowles. "Hurrah, lads--hurrah! our firstwhale's struck--good-luck, good-luck--hurrah, hurrah!" The cheer wastaken up by all on board, as well as by those in the boats. They nowgave way with a will after the whale; the harpooner, as another boat gotup, sending his weapon into its side. 

But it is no child's play now. The captain had time to dart a lanceinto him, when, "Stern all--stern all!" was now the cry of the headsman;and the crews, with their utmost strength, backed the boats out of theway of the infuriated animal, which in his agony began to lash the waterwith his huge flukes, and strike out in every direction with a forcewhich would have shattered to atoms any boat they met. Now his vasthead rose completely out of the water--now his tail, as he writhed withthe pain the weapons had inflicted. The whole surface of thesurrounding ocean was lashed into foam by the reiterated strokes ofthose mighty flukes, while the boats were deluged with the spray hethrew aloft--the sound of the blows reverberating far away across thewater. The boat-steerer now stood ready to let the lines run throughthe loggerhead over the bows of the boat. Should anyone be seized bytheir coils as they are running out, his death would be certain. Soonfinding the hopelessness of contending with his enemies above water, thewhale lifted his flukes and sounded. 

Down, down he went into the depths of the ocean. Away flew the lineover the bows of the boat. Its rapid motion would have set fire to thewood, had not the headsman kept pouring water over it, as it passedthrough its groove. 

An oar was held up from the captain's boat: it was a sign that nearlythe whole of their line, of two hundred fathoms, had run out. Withcaution, and yet rapidity, the first mate in the second boat bent on hisline; soon the captain's came to an end, and then that flew out asrapidly as the first had done. To assist in stopping the whale'sdownward course, drogues were now bent on to the line as it ran out; butthey appeared to have little more effect in impeding his progress than alog-ship has in stopping the way of a vessel; and yet they have, inreality, much more, as every pound-weight in addition tells on the backof a racer. 

Again an oar went up, and the third boat bent on, adding more drogues tostop his way. They at length appeared to have effect. "There; haul inthe slack, " cried old Tom. "He's rising, lads; he's rising!"

The boat-steerer was seen in the last boat busily coiling away the linein the tub as he hauled it in. When he had got all his line, thatbelonging to the next boat was in like manner coiled away; then thecaptain's line was hauled in. 

Thick bubbles now rose in rapid succession to the surface, followed by acommotion of the water, and the huge head of the monster rushed suddenlyupward, sending forth a dense spout on high. The captain's boat was nowhauled gently on, the boat-steerer guiding it close up to the fin of thewounded whale. Again Captain Carr stood up with his long lance in hand, and plunged it, as few on board could have done, deep into his side. Atthe same moment the rest of the boats pulled up on the opposite side, the harpooner in the leading one striking his harpoon into him. Againthe cry arose of "Stern all--stern all!" It was time, indeed, to getout of the way, for the whale seemed to feel that he was engaged in hislast struggles for freedom and for life. He threw himself with all hismonstrous bulk completely out of the water, in a vain attempt to getloose from his foes. Off from him all the boats backed. 

He now became the assailant. He rushed at them with his head and lowerjaw let drop, seemingly capable of devouring one of them entire. Ialmost thought he would; but he was already fatigued with his wounds andprevious exertions. The line, too, of the mate's boat had many timesencircled his body. Suddenly it parts! The boat of the captain, afterhe had darted his lance, was backed in time, and got clear from thewhale's attack, but the first mate was not so fortunate. The whaleseemed to have singled him out as the victim of his revenge. Having invain lashed at him with his flukes, he turned towards him with his head, rushing on with terrific force. He caught the boat as she wasretreating, in an instant capsizing her, and sending all her crewstruggling in the waves. I thought he would immediately have destroyedthem; but he swam on, they happily escaping the blows of his flukes, andwent head out across the ocean, followed by the first boat and the twoothers. 

Were they going to allow our shipmates to perish unaided? I thought andfully expected to hear the second mate order another boat to be loweredto go to their assistance. But they did not require any. Two of themen could not swim, but the others supported them till they got them upto the boat, from which they had been a little way separated, and thenby pressing down the gunwale they quickly righted her. They then, holding on on either side, baled away till they could get into her, andstill have her gunwale above water, when they very quickly freed heraltogether. Everything had been secured in the boat, so that nothingwas lost; and as soon as she was to right, off she started again in thechase. 

Away flew the captain's boat, dragged on by the line, at the rate, itseemed, of full ten knots an hour. The other boats followed as fast astheir crews could lay their backs to the oars; but for a long time theycould gain nothing on him, but were fast falling astern. We had againfilled, and were standing on. At last he began to slacken his pace. The loss of blood from his many wounds, and his evident exertions, wererapidly weakening him. Still, so far-off had he gone, that thecaptain's boat was scarce to be seen, and the others were mere specks onthe ocean. 

Once again, however, we were overtaking them. The captain was once morehauling in the slack--the other boats were getting up--the headsmenstanding, harpoon in hand, ready to give the whale fresh and still moredeadly wounds. They ranged up alongside, and harpoons and lances flewfrom the boats. The monster no longer threw up water alone, but bloodwas sent in a thick spout from his blow-hole, sprinkling the men in theboats, and staining the bright blue sea around. Still, in spite of allhis foes, he struggled on bravely for life. Lashing the water, so as todrive his relentless assailants to a distance, he once more lifted hisflukes and sounded; but they were prepared to let the lines run. Downhe went again. 

"He'll be lost--he'll be lost!" I exclaimed, as did others notaccustomed to the work. 

"Not a bit of it on that account, " said old Knowles. "He can't remainlong under water after what he's gone through. He'll be up again soon;and then stand by, my hearties, for his flurry!"

Old Knowles was right. Up came the whale again, at a short distanceonly from where he had gone down, having dragged out from each boat nota hundred fathoms of line. Once more the boats approached, and freshlances were darted into him; but they quickly had to retreat, for nowhis head went up, now his tail; now he sprung again right out of thewater, twisting and turning in every direction. 

"He has his death-pang on him, " cried Old Knowles. "He'll be oursbefore long;--but, ah! one of them has caught it!"

One of the boats had indeed caught it. We could not tell which, for theothers were covered with the foam and ensanguined water cast on everyside by the monster in his wild contortions. The fragments layfloating, scattered far and wide, and several men were seen striking outtowards the other boats, half-turning their heads, as if in expectationof being pursued. But, as we counted their number, they did not appearto be all there. There were but five. One, we feared, was missing. Anxiously we kept our eyes fixed on the spot, hoping to see ourshipmate, whoever he might be, appear. 

"Hurrah!--he's there--he's there!" we shouted, as we discovered thesixth man swimming out from among the mass of bloody foam whichsurrounded the whale, who for an instant seemed to be resting from hisexertions. While the boats were taking them on board, again the whaledarted rapidly out, but this time it was to perform the segment of acircle. 

"He's in his flurry, lads--he's in his flurry!" shouted old Knowles. "He'll be dead in another minute. "

"Last scene of all, which ends this strange, eventful history, " saidNewman, who through his glass had been eagerly watching the chase. Asthe words went out of his mouth the whale rolled over on his side, awell-won prize, and loud shouts from the crews of the boats and from allon deck rent the air. 

The fragments of the shattered boat being collected, and the threeremaining ones made fast to the whale, they began towing it towards theship, while we made sail to meet them. 

All hands were employed for an instant in congratulating each other whenwe got the whale alongside, and then every means were taken to secure itfor "cutting-in"--so the operation of taking off the blubber is called. The coopers had meantime been getting ready the large caldrons forboiling the blubber; which operation is called "trying-out. " A ropepassed round the windlass, and rove through a block fast to the head ofthe mainmast, was carried over the side, with a large hook at the end ofit. The first thing done was to cut off the head of the whale, which, with the neck-part up, was strongly secured, and floated astern. 

"That head has got better than a ton of oil in it, " observed oldKnowles, who was aiding the work. "It's worth no end of money. "

"Wears yet a precious jewel in his crown, " observed Newman, leaningeagerly over the side. "It's fine work this, though. "

A stage had been let down at the side of the vessel, on which those whohad cut off the head were stationed. One of them now made a hole in theblubber with the instrument used for cutting-in, called a spade. A ropewas then fastened round the waist of another man, and he descended onthe body of the whale, taking the hook I have spoken of in his hand. This hook he fastened into the hole he had cut. The operation nowbegan. 

Some with spades cut the blubber or fat mass which surrounds the bodyinto a strip between two and three feet wide, in a spiral form, whileothers hoisted away on the tackle to which the hook was attached. Slowly the blanket-piece, thus cut off, ascended over the side, the bodyturning round and round as its coat or bandage, for so we may call it, was unwound. By the side of the pots were _horses_--blocks of wood--onwhich the blubber was cut up. As the long strip was drawn up, anotherhook was secured lower down, and the upper part of the blanket-piece wascut off and chopped into thin pieces on the blocks. The pieces werethen thrown into big pots, under which fires were kindled. After thefirst caldrons-full had been boiled, the lumps of blubber from which theoil had been extracted were taken out, and served as fuel to continueour fires. In reality, the whole operation was performed in a verycleanly and orderly way; but a stranger at a distance would scarcelythink so. 

Night overtook us while we were engaged in the work, and watch and watchwe continued it, lest a gale might spring up and compel us to abandonour prize before it was all secured. No scene could be wilder or moreunearthly than that presented during the night by the whaler's decks. The lurid fires surrounding the seething caldrons cast a red glare onall around--on the masts and rigging of the ship, enveloped in the densewreaths of smoke which ascended from them--on the sturdy forms of theseamen, with their muscular arms bared to the shoulder. Some werecutting off huge blanket-pieces; others chopping them small on thehorses; others throwing them into the pots, or with long poles stirringthe boiling fluid, or raking out the scraps, as the refuse is called, tofeed the flames; while others, again, were drawing off the oil into thecasks ready to receive it, and stowing them away in the hold. 

The whole of the following day and the following night found us employedin a similar manner. At last the whole carcass was stripped to the veryflukes of every particle of blubber, and, to our no little satisfaction, cast loose to float away, and to become a feast for the fish of the seaand the birds of the air. The head, full of the valuable spermaceti, was now floated alongside. A bucket was then forced down through theneck; by means of a long pole, into the case, till, by repeated dips, itwas entirely emptied of its contents; and, as Knowles predicted, thecase was found to contain even more than a ton of oil. The spermacetiwas carefully boiled by itself--an operation necessary to preserve it. The blubber surrounding the head was also taken off and boiled down, andthe empty skull was then cast loose, and sunk, by its own weight, withrapidity to the bottom--there, perhaps, to form the caverned abode ofsome marine monster never yet seen by human eye. It took us nearlythree days to cut-in, try-out, and stow away that huge whale, theproduce altogether being no less than eighty-five barrels! We brokeforth into loud shouts when our work was accomplished and our first fishstowed away. 

I have no great sympathy with those who talk of the cruelty of the work. A whale feels acutely, no doubt, and so does a mouse or a sparrow, whenwounded; but not having huge bodies to twist and turn about in theiragony, they do not appear to suffer so much as does the mighty monarchof the deep. I suspect that the amount of pain felt by the small animalis equally great with that felt by the large one. However, I would makemy argument a plea for merciful treatment of all alike, and urge thatpain should never be unnecessarily inflicted on even the smallest ofcreated beings in whose nostrils is the breath of life. 

Our success put us all in spirits, and we were ready to do or to dareanything. Our captain had heard that sperm whales were to be found inthe icy seas towards the Antarctic Pole, and, accordingly, beforekeeping across to New Zealand and the isles of the Indian Ocean, heresolved to take a cruise to the south for a few weeks in order to tryour fortune. Over the seas on which we were sailing it was necessary, both night and day, to keep a very sharp look-out; not only for whales, but to avoid the dangers of coral-reefs, and islands of all sizes, whichin many parts sprinkle it so thickly. 

"Land ahead!" was shouted from the foretopmast-head one forenoon, as wewere slowly gliding over the blue surface of the deep. As we got upwith it, we saw that it was a long, low, almost barren island, a fewtrees only in the higher parts retrieving it from actual sterility. Itwas a wild, desolate, melancholy-looking spot, such as would make a manshudder at the very thought of being wrecked on it. At one end, insidea reef over which the surf was breaking violently, lay a dark object. As the officers were inspecting it through their glasses, theypronounced it to be a wreck. There could be no doubt about it, andCaptain Carr resolved at once to visit the spot, to discover whether anyof the crew still remained alive. 

As we stood on, a loud sound of roaring and yelping reached our ears, and we saw on many of the rocks which surrounded the island a vastnumber of seals, of the sort called "sea-lions. " Newman and several ofus were eager to get in among them, to knock some of them on the head, that we might make ourselves caps and jackets for our cruise in the icyseas. The captain was equally anxious to get some seal-skins, and hetold us that, after we had visited the wreck, and explored the island, we should try and catch some of the animals. 

Seals are curious-looking creatures. The head, with its large mildeyes, and snout, and whiskers, looks like that of some good-natured, intelligent dog; and one expects, as they are swimming, to see four legsand a thin curly tail come out of the water. Instead of that, the bodynarrows away till there is seen a tail like that of a fish. Thehind-feet are like those of a duck when in the water, and the front oneshave, beyond the skin, only a flapper or paw with claws, at the end ofit. They are covered with thick, glossy hair, closely set against theskin. The form of their jaws and teeth proves that they arecarnivorous, and they are known to live on fish, crabs, and sea-birds. The birds they catch in the water, as they can swim with great rapidityand ease. They can remain also for a considerable time under the water, without coming to the surface to breathe. 

The sea-lion, which was the species of seal we were hoping to attack, grows to the length of ten feet. The colour is of a yellowish-brown, and the males have a large mane, which covers their neck and shoulders, so that they have very much the appearance of lions when their upperpart alone is seen above the water. Such were the monsters which seemedto be guarding the island towards which we were pulling, their roarvying in loudness with the hoarse sound of the surf as it beat on therock-bound shore. 

Newman and I were in the captain's boat. As we pulled in for the land, we saw that the surf rolled up on every side, and for some time we couldnot discover a clear spot through which we might urge the boats. Wecontinued pulling on for half a mile or more, and caught sight of whatappeared to be a channel between the reefs. The captain ordered us togive way, and bending to our oars, we pulled on with a will. A sailorloves a run on shore, even though that shore may be but a barren sand;but here we had two objects to excite our interest. The deserted wreckclaimed our first attention. It was easy to see how she had got intoher present position. An unusually high-tide and heavy gale must havelifted her over the reef, and driven her on shore; and the wind fallingbefore she had time to go to pieces, must have left her comparativelysafe from further injury. The captain stood up in his boat to watch foran opportunity to enter the passage. 

"Now, again, my lads, give way!" he shouted. The boat lifted on thesummit of a roller, and rushing on with the dark rocks and hissing foamon either side of us, in another instant we found ourselves calmlyfloating in a reef-surrounded lagoon or bay. We had to pull back forsome distance to get to the wreck, and as we advanced, we looked alongthe shore to discover, if we could, traces of any of the crew. All, however, was silent and desolate. 

From the appearance of the island, Newman observed that he thought itmust be the crater of an extinct volcano, and that even the lapse ofages had allowed scarcely soil enough to collect on it, to permit ofmore than the scanty vegetation which was visible. 

As we approached the wreck, we found that she had gone stem on into themouth of a little creek, and there had been held fast by two rocks. Herbuild at once made us suspect that she was a whaler like ourselves. Allher boats and bulwarks were gone, and her stern was much stove in. Hermain and mizzen-masts had been carried away, so had her foretopmast andthe head of the foremast below the top, the stump only remaining. Onthis a yard still hung across, and the tattered fragment of a sail, showing us that she had run stem on into her present position. As herstern could be approached by water which was quite smooth, we ran theboats under it, and climbed on board. The sea had made a clean breachthrough the stern, and inundated the cabin, which presented a scene ofruin and desolation. The bulkheads had been knocked away; the contentsof the sideboard, and sleeping-places, and lockers, all lay scatteredabout, shattered into fragments, in the wildest confusion, among sand, and slimy sea-weed, and shells, which thickly coated the whole of thelower part of the cabin; while the hold itself, between which and thecabin all the partitions had been knocked away, was full of water. Noliving being remained on board to tell us how the catastrophe hadoccurred. On going forward, we found that the rocks between which shewas jammed were separated from the shore, and that without a boat itwould have been difficult to get aboard. After the captain had examinedthe wreck, he gave it as his opinion that she had been there three orfour years, if not longer. One thing appeared certain, that she couldnot have got where she was without people on board to steer her; andthen the question arose, what had become of them?

If any of them were still alive on the shore, they must long ago haveseen the ship, and would have been waiting to receive us. The captainthought that they might have possibly been taken off by another shipsoon after the wreck; still he resolved not to return without havingsearched thoroughly for them. We pulled round astern of the wreck, andthere, in a sort of natural dock, found an easy landing-place. 

As we walked across the island, we found that some of the lower spots, the dells and valleys, produced a greater amount of vegetation than hadappeared at a distance; but could not retrieve the character ofdesolation given by the black, barren hills, and dark abrupt cliffswhich arose on every side. We had given up all expectation of findinganyone alive, or any signs of the spot ever having been inhabited, whenwe heard a cry from Newman, who had wandered a little on one side. 

We found him standing on a green hillock, raised a little above thevalley, whence on one side a wide view over the blue sparkling sea couldbe obtained, with some shrubs of semi-tropical luxuriance, and thebright yellow sands forming the foreground, while behind arose the darkfrowning cliffs and hills I have described. On the top of the hillockwere four mounds, side by side, and at one end of each was seen a rough, flat piece of wood, a rude substitute for a grave-stone. There werenames on them of Englishmen, and dates showing that they had died atintervals of a month or two from one another. 

Where were the survivors?--who had buried these men? was now thequestion. A group of cocoa-nut trees, all that were on the island, marked the spot. It was one selected with much taste. The discoveryinduced us to persevere in our search. We wandered on for another hour, turning in every direction; for so full of undulations was the island, that we might easily have passed the very spot we were in search of. Atlast we were again called together by a shout from Newman. 

We found him standing before a rude hut erected in front of a cave, which formed, indeed, a back apartment to it. There was only one roughbed-place on one side of it, though there were several stools, and atable in the centre. A seaman's chest stood open, and contained a fewarticles of clothing. There were two muskets, and some powder-flaskshung up against the wall; but there was no food, although an iron potand a saucepan, with a place where a fire had been made, showed thatprovisions had at one time been cooked there. On a shelf there wereseveral books, both in English and in foreign languages, and above themwas a flute with a music-book. A few carpenter's tools were arranged onanother shelf. Several things showed that the place had last beeninhabited by a person of superior education. On opening the books, aname was found in several of them. It was that of William Evans. Twoof them Newman discovered to be on medical subjects, which of coursemade us conjecture that they had belonged to the surgeon of the ship. The decayed state of the books showed that it was long since they hadbeen opened, and on a further examination of the hut, it also was foundto be in a very dilapidated condition. From the number of things leftin the hut, Captain Carr surmised that the last occupants must have leftthe place very suddenly, if, indeed, they had left it at all. One thingwas certain, that we were not likely to find any of them on the island. 

We were, therefore, on our return to the boats, when I saw the figure ofa man sitting, with his back to a rock, on a gentle slope, whence a viewcould be obtained of the blue ocean. I had separated a little from mycompanions. I called to him, and I thought I heard him answer, "Halloa, who calls?" His face was turned away from me, and he did not move. Icalled again, and at that moment Newman broke through the brushwood, andjoined me. Together we climbed the hill, both equally surprised thatthe man we saw did not get up to meet us. In another minute we were byhis side. The straw-hat, stained and in tatters, covered a skull; theclothes, decayed and discoloured, hung loosely on a fleshless skeleton. A book was by his side. It was a copy of a Latin poet--Horace, Newmantold me. Before him was another book of manuscript; and, as we lookedabout, we picked up the remains of pencil, which had dropped from thedead man's fingers. Newman opened the manuscript, and though it wasrotten, and the characters much defaced, he could still decipher them. He glanced his eye rapidly over them. 

"Ah! poor fellow, his appears to have been a sad fate, " he remarked, with a voice full of sadness. "Compelled by a strong necessity to leaveEngland--to wrench asunder all the ties which held him there, and embarkon board a South-sea-man as surgeon--he seems to have had a hard life ofit with a drunken, brutal captain, and ignorant--not a human being withwhom he could sympathise. Unable to return home, after three years'service he exchanged into another ship. His master and officers, withall the boats, were away in chase of whales, which had appeared aboutthem in great numbers, when a gale arose. The crew, already too muchweakened by that scourge of the ocean, the scurvy, and the loss ofseveral men, were unable to shorten sail. The boats were far out ofsight, as they believed, to windward. In vain they endeavoured to beatup to them. The main and mizzen-masts went by the board; and the galestill further increasing, they were compelled to run before it, withouta prospect of picking up their shipmates in the boats. 

"Away they drove for several days before the wind, till one night allwho were below were thrown out of their berths by a violent concussion. Again and again the ship struck--the sea beat in her stern. They rushedon deck. It was to find nearly all those who had been there washedaway. The next instant, the ship again lifting, was carried into smoothwater, and finally jammed fast in the position we had found her. 

"Five only of all the crew then survived, and they were the most sickly. The writer was himself suffering from illness; happily, however, hebore up against it. They collected all the provisions, and all articleslikely to be useful, which the sea had not destroyed, and carried themon shore, which they easily reached by means of a raft. 

"They had food enough to last them for some time; but they had but ascanty supply of water. In vain they searched through the island--nosprings were to be found. With great labour they got up all the casksof water still uninjured from the hold, and resolved to husband thecontents. They formed themselves a habitation. They made reservoirs inwhich to catch the rain when it fell; but, in those latitudes, for manyweeks together no rain falls. For a time, with their fire-arms, theykilled a few birds; but their ammunition failed them, and they couldkill no more. Their water was at last expended, and for many weekstogether the only moisture they could obtain was by chewing the leavesof the shrubs and grass they found. They continued, as at first, veryweak. They talked of building a boat from the wreck, but had neitherstrength nor knowledge among them sufficient for the undertaking. 

"At last their spirits gave way, and disease made fearful progress withthem all. One by one they died, and the survivors buried them. Thewriter of the sad journal was alone left. " Alas! not a word did he sayabout seeking consolation where alone it can be given--not a thoughtabout another world and judgment to come. The writer seemed to pridehimself on his heathen stoicism--heathen expressions of resignation werealone mentioned. His dying eyes had rested on the pages of Horace--hisdying thoughts, were they heavenward?

"In vain had he crawled to the spot where we found him, day after day, in the faint hopes of seeing a ship to bear him away. Three long yearshad thus passed, and all the food that had been brought on shore hadbeen consumed; and he had not strength to search for more, so he came upthere and sat himself down, and his spirit passed away. "

Mr Newman had read this rapid sketch of the last events in the life ofthis unhappy exile before the captain came up, when he handed him thejournal. The captain desired Newman to keep the "Horace, " observingthat he could not himself understand the contents. 

We had found some tools in the hut, with which we dug a shallow graveclose to where we had found these sad remains of mortality, and in it weplaced them. On the rock above we cut the name of William Evans, andthe date of the day on which we found him dead. Loading ourselves withthe articles found in the hut, Newman being allowed to take most of thebooks as his share, we returned to the boats. 

Although a longer time had been spent on shore than the captainintended, he allowed us to endeavour to capture some of the sea-lions. After pulling, however, some way along the lagoon, we discovered thatthey could not be approached from the land-side, as they had taken uptheir quarters on some high rocks, almost islands by themselves, inadvance of the reefs. We were, therefore, compelled to pass into theopen sea before attacking them--the passage by which we entered; and, waiting an opportunity, we dashed through in safety. 

As we approached the largest rock, it was curious to watch the hundreds, or, I may say, thousands of fierce-looking monsters which covered itsslippery surface. It would have required bold men, not acquainted withtheir habits, to attack them, as they looked down upon us from theirseemingly unapproachable fortress. On one side, the surf broke far toofiercely to allow the boats to venture near; but on the other, althoughthere was a good deal of surf, Captain Carr told us we might land. Theonly way, however, to get on shore was to pull in on the summit of abreaker; and while those in the bow leaped out on the rock, the rest ofthe crew had to pull back the boat again with all their force intosmooth water. We were armed for the attack with two or three harpoons, a lance, and the boat's stretchers. 

"Stand by, my lads--now's the time!" shouted our captain, as the twoboats rolled in towards the shore. He led the way, lance in hand;Newman and I and old Knowles following from his boat. Our suddenappearance on the confines of their fortress evidently not a littleastonished the sea-lions. Opening wide their jaws, and gnashing withtheir formidable tusks, they glanced at us from the heights above, andthen, with reiterated and terrific roars, began to descend withimpetuous force, as if with their overwhelming numbers to drive us intothe sea. An old sea-lion led the van--a fierce monster, who lookedcapable of competing with all of us together. So he might, if he hadpossessed legs instead of fins or flappers, the latter only enabling himto twist and turn and slide down the inclined plane on which we stoodinto the sea. On the beasts came in dense masses, roaring and snarling. I certainly did look for a moment at the boats, and wish myself safeback again in them; but it was only for a moment, for our antagonistsdemanded all our strength and agility to compete with them. Our captainadvanced boldly towards the old leader, and as he came right at him, plunged his lance into his side. It had not the effect of stopping thebeast in his career; but, instead, very nearly carried him and the lanceinto the water. Old Knowles was, I thought, very inadequately armedonly with a thick stick, which he always carried on shore with him, curiously cut and carved, and fastened to his wrist by a lanyard. 

"Let me alone, " said he; "Old Trusty is better in a scrimmage, whetherwith man or beast, than all your fire-arms and steel weapons. He alwaysgoes off, and never gets blunt. "

Newman and I were armed with harpoons. Newman, following the captain'sexample, plunged his harpoon into the side of a seal, just as the beast, with the greatest impetus, was sliding down the rock. In attempting tostop its way, his foot slipped, and with the line coiled round his arm, before any of us could go to his assistance, he was dragged off into theboiling waters. He was a first-rate swimmer, but with so huge asea-monster attached to him, how could he hope to escape. The rocksloped in a different direction to where the boats were, so that theycould render him no assistance. I thought of the scene we had justwitnessed--the unhappy exile dying alone on the desert island--and Idreaded a similar fate for my friend. With a cry of dismay we lookedtowards the drowning man. He disappeared among the foaming breakers. 

Still, but with little hope, we watched the spot. Yes--there was hishead! He was swimming free! Bravely he mounted the crest of a roller;it rushed in for the rock; but before he could find his footing, or wecould stretch out our arms to help him, he was carried off again amongthe foaming waves. Meantime old Knowles had climbed up the rock in theface of the sea-lions, whom he was knocking on the head right and leftwith his club, and signalled the boats to pull round to Newman'sassistance. Still, however, with only a couple of hands in each, itwould take, I saw, a considerable time before they could reach him, andI resolved to make one attempt to save his life, at the risk, though itmight be, of my own. Sticking my harpoon in a crevice of the rock whichmy eye at that instant fell on, I seized the end of the line, and inspite of the sea-lions, which kept rushing past me, I struck out intothe surf as I saw Newman once more approaching. Happily I grasped himby the collar as the sea was once more heaving him back, and the captainand other shipmates coming to our assistance, we were hauled safely upthe rocks. 

There was not now a moment to be lost if we would capture any seals. Although many had escaped, still a good number remained near; andfollowing the example set by old Knowles, we began laying about us onevery side most lustily with our weapons, bestowing heavy blows on theheads of the frightened beasts. One blow was generally sufficient tostun, if not to kill them outright, and we then quickly despatched themwith our knives. "On, my lads, on!" cried the captain; and up the rockysteep we went, meeting the maddened inhabitants as they came flounderingdown upon us. We had literally often to climb over the fallen bodies ofthe slain. Sometimes one of our party would miss his footing, and heand half-a-dozen seals would go sliding away down the rock, the beastsbiting at him, and he struggling to get free, and in no small terror ofbeing carried away into the surf. Such would inevitably have been thelot of more than one of us had not we all kept a watch to help eachother out of such difficulties. 

Our captain's combat with the old lion was the most severe. As thecaptain, unwilling to lose his lance or the beast, holding on to theformer, was dragged downwards, they reached a ledge of rock which slopedin an opposite direction to the surrounding parts, and thus formed atable on which they could rest. Here the monster, finding that he couldnot escape from his opponent, turned bravely to bay, and grinning withhis large, strong teeth, made fiercely at him. The captain held onpertinaciously to the handle of the spear, springing actively out of theway of the beast's mouth, as in its contortions and struggles itapproached him too nearly. The lion roared, and snarled, and struggled, and the captain held on bravely, but I believe would soon have had tolet go had not old Knowles, springing down the rock, given the animal ablow on the head with his stick, which effectually settled him. 

There were many other single combats, and more of one man againsthalf-a-dozen beasts; but the result was that we came off victoriouswithout the loss of anyone, while we could boast of having killedupwards of sixty seals. Our next work was to flay them. This, in thehands of experienced operators, was soon performed, and in a short timewe had sufficient skins ready to load our boats, and to make caps andjackets for all hands, besides what were required for the ship's use. The boats now came back to the spot where we were to embark, and bycarefully waiting our time, we leaped on board with no other damage thanwet jackets. 

"Williams, " said Newman, as we were pulling on shore, "you have noblypreserved my life at the risk of your own. I trust that I may begrateful. "

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

WHALING AND SEAL-CATCHING IN THE ICY REGIONS. 

Strong breezes, and cold and thick weather, showed us that we weregetting out of the genial latitudes, in which, without much success, wehad been for some time cruising, and were approaching those icy regionswhich encircle the Antarctic Pole. Newman had made such progress in hisknowledge of seamanship, that he was not only considered competent toundertake all the ordinary duties of a seaman, but was more trusted thanmany of the older hands. He soon gave evidence that this confidence wasnot misplaced. He and I were in the same watch. This was a greatsatisfaction to me, as I benefited largely by his conversation, which Iwas now beginning fully to appreciate. 

One night we had the middle watch, and were together on the look-outforward. It was unusually dark; neither moon nor stars were visible, and the clouds hung down in a thick canopy over us. A strong breeze wasblowing from the southward and eastward, and we were standing to thesouth-west with our port-tacks aboard. The sea was not very heavy, butit struck me at the time that it was somewhat uneven and irregular, andthis made me suspect that we might be in the neighbourhood of land orfields of ice. Newman was talking of the Aurora Australis, and tellingme how much he longed to see its effect in its fullest brilliancy, whensuddenly he seized my arm with a firm grasp. 

"Williams!" he exclaimed, "do you see that unusual whiteness glimmeringthere ahead, and on our starboard bow? I hear the surf beating on it!I'm sure it's an iceberg! Starboard your helm! Luff all you can!Starboard for your lives!" he shouted, rushing aft to see this done. Imeantime called on those on deck to get a pull at the head-braces; aninch might save the ship. 

There was no time for ceremony; no time to announce the fact in set formto the officer of the watch. This was the second mate. He was, happily, a sensible man. He at once comprehended the emergency, andgave the necessary orders to brace up the yards, and bring the shipclose upon a wind. We were not a moment too soon in anything that wasdone. The white glimmering appearance grew every instant more distinct, till it resolved itself into a vast massive iceberg towering high abovethe mast-heads, while the roar of the breakers which dashed against itssides increased in loudness. The ship heeled over to the gale till heryard-arms seemed almost to touch the floating mountain. Still she stoodup bravely to her canvas, closely hugging the wind. Had a rope beenrotten, had a spar given way, our fate might have been sealed. In oneinstant after striking, the ship and everything in her might have beendashed to atoms. 

The man with firmest nerves among all our crew watched that lofty berg, as we rushed by it in our midnight course, with feelings of awe andanxiety, if not of alarm, and drew a breath more freely when he lookedover the quarter and saw the danger past. It was not the only one weencountered that night. Sail had been shortened; but it was evidentlynecessary, after the warning we had received, to keep the ship as muchas possible under command. 

On, on we flew through the murky night, the gale every moment increasingin force, and the sea rising and breaking in unexpected directions. Wehad again kept away on our course. Sail was still further reduced. Thecold had before been considerable; it now much increased, and our deckswere covered with ice. Captain Carr had, the moment we sighted theiceberg, come on deck; the watch below were called, and every one was athis post. It was not a time for anyone to be spared. We had evidentlygot into the icy regions sooner than had been expected. Intending toget out of them, the captain gave the order to keep away; but scarcelyhad we done so when an ice-field was seen extending away on our lee-bowand ahead, and we were again obliged to haul up, hoping to get round it. On, therefore, we sailed; but as we advanced we found the ice-fieldextending away on our starboard-beam, the sea breaking over it with anoise which warned us what would be the consequence if we should strikeit. 

Let our position be pictured for an instant. The fierce waves dashingwildly and irregularly about us; the storm raging fiercely; the shipdriving onwards through pitchy darkness; wide, massive fields of iceextending on every side; huge icebergs floating around we knew notwhere; no lighthouse, no chart to guide us; our eyes and ears stretchedto the utmost, giving but short warning of approaching danger. Such arethe scenes which wear out a commander's strength, and make his hair turnquickly grey. We knew full well that dangers still thickly surroundedus, and heartily did we wish for the return of day to see them. Newmanand I were again forward. I was telling him that I had heard of a shipstriking a berg, and of several of her people being saved on it, whileshe went down, when he startled me by singing out with a voice ofthunder, "Ice ahead!" At the same moment old Knowles cried out, "Ice onthe weather-bow!" and immediately I had to echo the shout with "Ice onthe lee-bow!" and another cried, "Ice abeam!"

To tack would have been instant destruction; to wear, there was no room. Every moment we expected to feel the awful crash as the stout shipencountered the hard ice. Captain Carr rushed forward. We must dashonward. Though no opening could be seen, there might be one! Onward wecareered. Every man held his breath; and pale, I doubt not, turned thefaces of the bravest. Suddenly, high above us, on the weather-side, appeared another iceberg. The sea became almost calm; but it was acalmness fraught with danger rather than safety. The sails, caught bythe eddy-wind, were taken aback. In another moment we might have beendriven, without power of saving ourselves, under that frowning cliff ofice. The storm raged above us--before us--behind us--on every side butthere we lay, as if exhausted. Still the ship had way on her, and wecontinued our course. The channel was too narrow to allow the helm tobe put up. 

Just as she was losing her way, and would inevitably, through the forceof the eddy-wind, have got stern-way on her, her headsails again feltthe force of the gale, and, like a hound loosed from the leash, shestarted forward on her course. Again we were plunging madly through thewildly breaking seas; but the wind blew steadily, and the ice-fieldswidened away on either side till they were lost to view. Once again wewere saved by a merciful Providence from an almost inevitabledestruction. Still, we had some hours of darkness before us, and anunknown sea full of ice-islands through which we must pass. Not an eyewas closed that night. Again we were close to one, but we were nowbetter able to distinguish them than at first. This time we had to keepaway, and run to the northward; but before long, there arose ahead of usa fourth iceberg. Again we sprung to the braces, the helm was put down, and, once more close-hauled, we weathered the danger. 

Thus we hurried on--narrowly escaping danger after danger till daylightapproached. Before, however, the sun arose, the gale fell; the cloudscleared away; and a bright gleam appeared in the eastern sky. Up shotthe glorious sun, and never shall I forget the scene of gorgeousmagnificence his bright rays lighted. Both sky and sea became of a deepblue--the water calm and clear as crystal--while all around us floatedmountains of brilliant whiteness, like masses of the purest alabaster, of every varied form and size. Many were 200 feet high, and nearly athird of a mile in length. Some had perpendicular sides, with levelsummits--fit foundations, it might seem, for building cities of marblepalaces, or fortresses for the kings of the East. Some, again, werebroken into every fantastic form conceivable--towers and turrets, spiresand minarets, domes and cupolas; here, the edifices found most commonlyunder the symbol of the crescent; there, those of the cross: Normancastles, Gothic cathedrals, Turkish mosques, Grecian temples, Chinesepagodas, were all here fully represented, and repeated in a thousanddifferent ways. Others had been broken or melted into the forms ofjagged cliffs, gigantic arches, lofty caverns, penetrating far away intothe interior. Scarcely a shape which is to be found among the buttingcrags, sea-beat headlands, or mountain summits, in every part of theworld, was not there represented in the most brilliant and purest ofmaterials. Whole cities, too, were there to be seen pictured; squaresand streets, and winding lanes, running up from the water's edge, like aruined Genoa, with marble palaces, and churches, and alabasterfountains, and huge piles of buildings of every possible form standingproudly up amid the ocean, the whole appearing like some scene ofenchantment rather than a palpable reality. Here was seen a loftymountain rent in two by some fierce convulsion of nature; there, a cityoverturned: here, rocks upheaved and scattered around in wild confusion;there, deep gorges, impenetrable ravines, and terrific precipices;--indeed, here Nature, in her wildest and most romantic forms, was fullyrepresented. The beauty of the wondrous spectacle was heightened whenthe sun arose, from the varied gorgeous tints which flashed frommountain-top and beetling cliff, from tower, turret, and pinnacle, whereits bright rays fell on them as they slowly moved round in theireccentric courses. No words, however, can describe the dazzlingwhiteness and brilliancy of the floating masses. From some of the mostlofty, fountains might be seen gushing down, as from a mountain's topwhen the fierce rays of the sun melt the long-hardened snow; while inand out of the deep caverns the sea-birds flew and screamed, peoplingthose dreary solitudes with joyous life. 

The sun soon melted the ice from off our decks and rigging, and as wesailed onward the air became warm and genial. The most insensible of uscould not but admire the scene; but Newman could scarcely repress hisexclamations of delight and surprise. His sketch-book was brought out, and rapidly he committed to paper some of the most remarkable portionsof the beautiful scene. Still, no pencil, no colours could representthe glorious, the magnificent tints in which the sea and sky, and themajestic varied-shaped icebergs, were bathed, as the sun, bursting forthfrom his ocean-bed, glided upwards in the eastern heavens. Numbers ofbirds came circling round the ship in their rapid flight, or were seenperched on the pinnacles of the bergs, or flying among their cavernedrecesses--albatrosses, snow-white petrels, penguins, and ducks ofvarious sorts. 

The albatross--Diomedea, as Newman called it--is the most powerful andlargest of all aquatic birds. Its long hard beak is very strong, and ofa pale yellow colour. The feet are webbed. I have seen some, the wingsof which, when extended, measured fifteen feet from tip to tip, whilethey weighed upwards of twenty pounds. It feeds while on the wing, andis very voracious, pouncing down on any object which its piercing eyecan discover in the water; and many a poor fellow, when swimming for hislife, having fallen overboard, has been struck by one, and sunk to riseno more. 

The snow-white petrel is a beautiful bird, and in its colours offers astrong contrast to the stormy petrel, (_Thalassidroma_), the chief partof whose plumage is of a sooty black, and others dark brown. Instead ofbeing dreaded by seamen, it ought to be looked upon as their friend, forit seems to know long before they do when a storm is approaching, and byits piercing cry and mode of flight warns them of the coming danger. Seamen, however, instead of being grateful, like the world of old, theworld at present, and the world as it ever will be, look upon theselittle prophets with dread and hatred, and in their ignorance andstupidity consider them the cause of the evil portended. 

Penguins are found only in the Antarctic Ocean. They derive their namefrom _pinguis_, "fat, " they being noted for that quality. Their legsare placed so far back that, when on shore, they stand almost upright. Though on land their movements are very awkward, yet when in the water--which, more than the air, must be considered their natural element, astheir wings are too small to allow them to fly--they are bold birds, andwill bravely defend themselves or their young when attacked, and willadvance on a retreating enemy. 

We had not been long in these icy regions before we reaped an amplereward for all the dangers we had encountered. As we looked over theside, we observed the water full of animalcules, while vast quantitiesof shrimps of various sorts were seen in the neighbourhood of theicebergs; but what still more raised our hopes of finding whales, werethe numbers of large squid, or cuttle-fish, on which, as I have said, they chiefly feed. We were watching a huge fellow floating near theship, with outstretched tentaculae, of arms, extending an immensedistance from his head, and with which he was dragging up into hisvoracious mouth thousands of animalculae every moment--and from his sizehe seemed capable of encircling the body of any unfortunate person hemight find swimming--when the cry was heard from aloft of "There she, spouts--there she spouts!"

In an instant Newman's lecture of natural history, which he was givingus, was brought to a conclusion. All hands were on deck, and four boatswere manned and lowered, and pulled away after no less than three finebull whales, which appeared at the same instant round the ship. Thereis a danger in attacking a whale near an iceberg which is avoided in theopen sea. When he is fast, he may sound under it, and come up on theother side; but instinct warns him not to come up so as to strike hishead against it. 

Newman and I had already gone in the boats, and had proved ourselves nobad oarsmen on the occasion. He, indeed, had been allowed by thecaptain to use the harpoon when one of the officers was ill, and hadsucceeded in striking his first fish in a way which gained him muchcredit. On this occasion, however, we both remained on board. 

Suddenly, not far from the ship, another whale rose to the surface, and, in a most extraordinary manner, began to turn, and twist, to throw halfhis huge bulk at a time out of the water, and furiously to lash it withhis tail till he was surrounded with a mass of foam. The boats were inanother direction, or we should have thought he had been wounded, andhad a lance or harpoon sticking in him, from which he was endeavouringto free himself. He swam on, however, and approached the ship, stillcontinuing his extraordinary contortions. As he drew near, he liftedhis enormous head out of the water, when we saw hanging to his lower jawa large fish, twenty feet long or so, from which he was thus in vainendeavouring to free himself! We had no little cause to be alarmed, ashe drew near, for the safety of the ship herself; for, in the blindnessof his agony, he might unintentionally strike her, or he might rushagainst her side to get rid of his pertinacious enemy. More than oncethe whale threw himself completely out of the water; but the fish stillhung on to his bleeding jaw. Together they fell again into the sea, while all around them was stained of a crimson hue from the blood socopiously flowing from the worried monster. 

"That's a killer!" cried old Tom. "He'll not let go the whale till hehas him in his flurry, and then he and his mates will make a feast ofhim. They have great strong teeth, bigger than a shark's, and are themost voracious fish I ever saw. They bait a whale just as dogs do awild beast, or a bull, and seldom fail to kill him if they once get holdof him. "

This killer had a long dorsal fin, and a brown back and white belly. Oncame the whale and the fish, twisting and turning as before. We allstood ready to try and send them off--though very little use that wouldhave been, I own. Happily they floundered by just astern of the ship;but so violent were their movements, and by such a mass of foam andblood were they surrounded, that it was difficult to observe theappearance of the killer. Equally impossible would it have been to haveapproached the whale to harpoon him without an almost certainty oflosing the boat and the lives of all her crew. We could, therefore, only hope that the whale might be conquered when still within sight, sothat the boats might carry off the prize from the relentless killer. Away went the monster and his tormentor. Soon we could no longerdistinguish them from the deck; but on going aloft, we again caughtsight of them, still floundering on as before. 

"That fish gives us a lesson of what pertinacity will accomplish, evenin conquering the greatest of difficulties, " observed Newman, laughing. "I admire the way in which he sticks to his object. He has made up hismind to kill the whale, and kill the whale he will. "

"Ay, and eat him too, Ned, as he deserves, " said old Knowles. "Some ofus might learn a lesson from that fish, I'm thinking. "

"I have been killing whales all my life, " Newman remarked to me with aforced laugh. "But somehow or other, Jack, I never have found out howto eat them. "

"Overcoming difficulties, but not benefiting by them!" said I. "Theremust be a fault somewhere. "

"Ay, Jack, ay--a fault in myself, and a curse well-deserved, " heanswered, bitterly, and then was silent. I never before had heard himspeak in that way, and I did not venture to ask for an explanation. 

That saying of Newman became common ever afterwards on board, when wesaw a man determined to do a thing--"Kill the whale he will!"

I have often thought since, how seldom sailors, especially, learn to eatwhales. What sums of money they make and throw carelessly away!--amplysufficient to enable them to pass the end of their days in comfort onshore, or to provide respectably for their families, instead, as isoften the case with the merchant-seaman, ending their days in apoor-house, or leaving their families to the cold charity of the world. Brother seamen, learn wisdom! Prepare for the future of this life; and, more than all, prepare for the life to come. 

Two of the whales chased were captured and brought alongside, when weset to work to cut-in and try-out with all the rapidity we could exert. In those high southern latitudes the weather is very variable, and weknew that a change might come and deprive us of our prey. We were, however, fortunate in securing both whales, and between them they gaveus one hundred and sixty barrels of fine oil. Before, however, theboats had returned with their prizes, the whale and the killer had gotfar out of sight even from the mast-head. We continued for some timefishing in those quarters, amply rewarded for the dangers we hadencountered by the success we met with. Sometimes, however, we weredays and days together without even seeing a whale; and several werelost, after chasing them with much toil and difficulty. 

Newman contributed much all the time to keep the people in good humour, by always finding them employment; and Captain Carr, unlike some mastersI have met with, afforded him every assistance in his plans. Amongother things, he established regular classes below, and, with theexception of one or two very idle, stupid fellows, all the crew belongedto one or other of them. Besides a reading and writing class, he had anarithmetic and geography class, and a music and a drawing class. Hissinging class was the most numerous, and he very soon taught nearly allhands to sing together in admirable tune and time. I at firstexclusively attended the reading and writing class, devoting everymoment I was off duty to my books; so that, much to my own surprise anddelight, I soon found that I could read with ease and satisfaction. Writing was a more difficult task: to one whose fingers had never beenaccustomed to the cramped position required for holding a pen. Still, Newman had a way of overcoming that difficulty. Making me throw theweight of my body on my left side, he left my right hand and fingersfree, and kept me for some time with a dry pen simply moving up and downacross the page. Even when I had begun to form letters, at thecommencement of every lesson he made me follow this plan for a fewminutes, that, as he said, I might get my fingers into training before Idisfigured the paper and became disgusted with my own performance. Hehimself seemed never to grow weary of teaching. No ignorance orstupidity daunted him; and it used to surprise me that a man of suchextensive information and extraordinary talents, should take the troubleof imparting knowledge to people who were so immeasurably his inferiors. I used to observe, from the first, that he was never for a moment idle. "Ned must always be doing something or other, " old Tom observed of him. "It's all the better for him that he is afloat. If he were on shore, he would be doing mischief. " His great object seemed to be to fly fromhimself. Sometimes, when I was talking with him, from the strangenessof his remarks, and from his bursts of feeling, I thought that theremust be a touch of madness about him; but then, again, immediatelyafterwards, he would say something so full of thought and sense, that Ibanished the idea. 

To me he proved the greatest blessing. I was becoming a new character. I had discovered powers within me of which I before had no conception. I had gone on through life, if not rejoicing in my ignorance, at leastindifferent to it. I had picked up a certain amount of knowledge fromthe conversation of others, but it was ill-digested, and I was full ofthe grossest prejudices. I have scarcely, indeed, given a correctnotion of what I was up to this time. I might describe myself just as Ionce heard a shipmate spoken of--as _just an ignorant common sailor_. Such I had been. I could now read. I could dive into the rich storescollected by other minds, and make them my own. Without robbing others, I could appropriate their wealth, and enjoy all the benefits it couldafford. Once having begun to read, the taste grew on me. I readthrough and through every book Newman possessed. 

After a time, as his talents came to be known and appreciated by thecaptain, and officers, and surgeon, he was able to borrow books fromthem, which he allowed me to read. Although not many of them were veryenlightening, they served to show me my own ignorance from the allusionsthey made, which I was totally unable to comprehend; and this only mademe desire to gain further information, which it was somewhat difficultto obtain. As to Newman himself, he literally devoured every book whichcame in his way. He soon read through every book to be found on board;and whenever we fell in with another ship, he used to borrow all hecould, or exchange his own books for others. Unfortunately, theliterature in those days to be found at sea was generally of a veryinferior character, and not at all calculated to improve its readers. Still, some knowledge was gleaned from all but the worst, and someerrors and prejudices corrected. Newman had, however, certainfavourites among his books, both English and foreign, which he would onno account have parted with. These he used frequently to read to me inour spare hours, or when we were engaged in such work as required ourhands alone to be employed. I observed, indeed, after a little time, that we had far less employment found for us than had been the case inother ships on board which I had served; and this, I suspect, wasbecause we found it for ourselves, or rather Newman found it for us. Inever met with men so contented and happy as we all became; and this Icould only account for by supposing that we were interested in ourvarious occupations. 

Newman was also the great peacemaker on board. Whenever a disputearose, he always inquired the point at issue, and, without allowing timefor the temper of either party to become irritated, he generallycontrived to settle the matter. If he could not manage that, he used totry and raise a laugh by some absurd observation, or would place theposition assumed by one man or the other in so ridiculous a light, thathe seldom failed to show him that he was wrong. 

One thing I remarked about Newman was, that he never alluded to anyreligious subject. I never saw him pray. He had no Bible orPrayer-book with him. I never heard him give utterance to a sentimentof piety, or of trust in God's mercy or fear of his anger. I did, onthe contrary, frequently hear him praise the Greek and Romanphilosophers of old, and he often spoke of the stoicism and heroism ofthe heathens. Still he neither blasphemed, nor cursed, nor swore, nordid he ever attempt to instil any infidel notions into the minds of anyof us. However, I fear that he was, to all intents and purposes, aheathen. I doubt, indeed, whether he ever had any religion. I suspectthat he was brought up without any; and that at no time, during theperiod he was gaining his education, did he meet with anyone to instructhim. I could not even then help contrasting the confiding piety andtrue religion of my old shipmates, Peter Poplar and Captain Gale, withthe entire want of it which he displayed. 

Indeed, Captain Carr, though a kind and worthy man, and a good sailor, was sadly unenlightened as to the truth; and all the years I served withhim we neither had prayers nor any religious observance whatever onboard. On a Sunday, if the weather was fine, and no whales were insight, we put on clean clothes, mended and washed our old ones, and hadan additional glass of grog served out, with less work than usual givenus to do. On board most South-Seamen every day in the week was much thesame. It was a fact, I fear, and one painful to contemplate, thatNewman, with all his great and varied talents, lived on as if there wereno God in the world. I do not mention this without a purpose. It seemsstrange that it was from such a man I received the instruction whichenabled me ultimately to attain to a knowledge of, and active belief in, the truth. It shows by what varied instruments God works to bring abouthis gracious purposes. It convinced me of the power and effect ofgrace. Here was I, sunk deep myself in ignorance, and living amongthose who were equally unaware of the truth, called out of darkness intoHis marvellous light. But I am anticipating events. 

We continued cruising near the Antarctic Circle during the few shortmonths of summer with unvaried success. We had frequent displays atnight of the Aurora Australis. Sometimes the whole southern hemispherewould be covered with arches of a beautiful straw-colour, from whichstreamers would radiate, both upwards and downwards, of a pureglittering white. The stars would be glittering brightly overhead;while, from east-south-east to west-north-west, a number of concentricarches would appear, forming a complete canopy in the sky; then suddenlythey would vanish, again shortly to appear. Some nights it appeared inthe form of cumuli, tinged with pale yellow; and behind them arosebrilliant red, purple, orange, and yellow tints, streaming upwards ininnumerable radiations, with every combination of shade which thesecolours could produce. Another night we saw a bright crescent, and fromit feathery-edged rays, of a pale orange colour, branched off in everydirection, while across it a succession of the prismatic coloursappeared rapidly to flit. Indeed, it is difficult to describe thevarious forms which the Aurora assumes. 

One of the most curious sights I ever beheld we witnessed some timeafter this. It was the appearance of the sun and moon above the horizonat the same time: the moon, which was nearly full, throwing her light--stolen from the sun, which blazed forth at the same time--on the worldof icebergs. It was as if we had been looking on two distinct scenes. On one side, the bright rays of the luminary of day were throwing agolden hue on the vast mountain masses of ice which floated on the bluewaters; on the other, the pale orb of night cast a silvery fringe on theclouds which surrounded it. There was, indeed, no night; thebinnacle-lamp was not even lighted; and we were able to continue, without cessation, trying-out a whale, whose carcase floated alongside. Among other curious things I observed, were large masses of rock--boulders they are called--embedded in the base and centre of icebergs. It shows that they must originally have been formed on shore, and thenfloated away by some unusually high-tide or commotion of the sea. Itexplains also the appearance of boulders in places where it would bedifficult otherwise to account for their being found. 

I have seen birds in great numbers on rocks in the ocean, in differentparts of the globe, but never have I beheld so many as there were on anisland we one day sighted before steering north. There was but littlewind, and as the captain thought a supply of birds, although of asomewhat fishy taste, would be an acceptable addition to our daily fareof salt junk and salt pork, he directed the third mate, with Newman, me, and four other men, to take a boat and bring off as many as we couldkill. Calm as it was, the surf rolled so heavily in on the rocks thatit was a work of no little difficulty and danger to approach them so asto gain a footing out of the reach of the waves. The mate ordered ananchor to be let go, and, veering away on the cable, we droppedgradually in; and while, boat-hook in hand, one at a time leaped onshore, the boat-keepers with their oars kept the boat head to sea, andas soon as we had landed, which we did not succeed in doing without athorough ducking, they hauled the boat off beyond the breakers. 

The island on which we stood was a wild, desolate place. Not a tree ora shrub was to be seen; but the hills, which rose to a considerableheight above the ocean, were covered with a long thick grass, of acharacter similar to what grows on the Falkland Islands. Here and theredark rocks cropped out, and the sides of the island were formed in manyparts of lofty, precipitous cliffs; while in others, such as the placewe had landed on, were rugged rocks sloping gradually down to the sea. A thick fringe of kelp, a slippery sort of sea-weed, added somewhat tothe difficulties of our landing. As we advanced, we were assailed bythe most frightful gabbling, and screeching, and quacking I ever heard, from thousands and thousands of wild-fowls, chiefly penguins of variousspecies. The whole hillside was literally covered with them and theireggs in dense masses. Nothing daunted at our appearance, when theyfound that the hubbub they made could not compel us to retreat, theycommenced a fierce attack on us with their beaks, pulling at ourtrousers and pecking at our flesh. In our own defence we were obligedto lay about us with the boat's stretchers, and to knock them right andleft on the head. Some, however, took warning from the fate of theircompanions; but while those at a distance gabbled and screeched louderthan ever, those in the front waddled boldly up to the assault. As faras we could judge, we must have slaughtered the whole colony, or beenpecked to death by them if we had attempted to sit down to rest. Everyinch of their native soil, like true patriots, they bravely disputedwith us; and when any of us, for fun, retreated, to see what they woulddo, they advanced erect and determined, rolling their heads from side toside in the most comical way, their power of vision residing only in thelower part of each eye. Then they would throw their heads backwards, and utter sounds very like the braying of a jackass; from whichcircumstance they have been called the Jackass Penguins. All the time, their little wings were actively employed as legs to expedite theirmovements. When in the water, they use their wings as fins to dive. When they rise again after a dive, they come up with so sudden a dash, instantly being down again, that it is often difficult to say whetherthey are fish or fowl. The most acceptable part of the spoils weretheir eggs, which we picked up in great quantities, and stowed away forsafety in our caps and hats. Newman and I being in advance of theparty, came upon a large rock, on and about which were perched a numberof much larger birds than those we had seen below. They sat quietlylooking at us till we approached, and then they commenced scolding us asthe others had done. They appeared to be arranged in the most perfectorder, in ranks like those of an army, each class being by themselves. In one place were hen-birds sitting on their eggs; in another, themother-birds tending their newly-hatched young; while their mates wereaway over the ocean fishing for their dinners--a labour in which thehens very soon assist their partners. The moulting birds sit bythemselves; and the bachelors, I conclude, have also to dwell insolitude. When we frightened the sitting-hens, we observed that theyhad a peculiar way of lifting up their eggs between their legs, andwaddling off with them. These birds which were much larger than thoseseen below, are called King Penguins. We each carried off one over ourshoulders as trophies. 

After we left the ship, another boat was lowered to attack somesea-lions, which had been observed on a rock a little way off. We sawour shipmates commencing the attack as we went up the hill. Severalwere harpooned. One huge monster, notwithstanding a severe wound, managed to make his escape. As we returned down the hill, we foundourselves at the edge of a deep gully, into which the sea dashed, leaping up on either side, but leaving in the centre a space ofcomparatively clear water. As we looked down into it, we saw itcuriously disturbed, and soon there rose to the surface two monsters, which seemed to be attacking each other with the greatest fury. Wecould have no doubt that they were sea-lions; and from the blood whichflowed from the neck of one of them, we guessed that he was the one wehad seen wounded. No animals on shore could have fought moredesperately, although their teeth alone could be used as weapons ofassault. They swam at each other, seizing each other's snouts, andfins, and lips, and struggled, and turned, and floundered about, till abig sea rushing up, carried both of them out of our sight. 

"Such are human combats, " observed Newman, with one of his peculiarlaughs. "The sharks or the birds of prey will alone benefit by theirfolly. "

While we were speaking, we saw several huge albatrosses flying, at thespeed almost of lightning, towards the island. Instantly they pounceddown on some of the birds we had killed; but finding that they had notyet a sufficiently high flavour to suit their palates, they picked upsome of the eggs which we had compelled the jackass penguins to desert, and flew off with them, it was impossible to say where. We returned tothe ship with a boat-load of birds and eggs, but not without a thoroughducking. 

While I am on the subject of natural history, I will describe anotherspecies of seal, which we found on some islands on which we landed. Wewent on shore, as we had before done, armed with clubs and lances, tocapture some of them. It required a knowledge of their inert andslothful character to give us courage to attack them with the weaponswhich we possessed, for in size and appearance they were mostformidable-looking monsters. They were from twenty-five to thirty feetlong, and some eighteen feet in circumference. Their heads are armedwith large tusks and formidable teeth, and the male has the power ofelongating the upper lip into the form of a proboscis, from whichcircumstance they are called sea-elephants. They are only found inthose regions in the summer, as they migrate into warmer latitudes inthe winter. We very quickly dispatched a number of them with blows onthe head, and then towed them off to the ship, where each produced someeighty gallons of oil. Their skins also, which are of great use formany purposes, were preserved. 

The nights were again shortening, when, just before dark, it came on toblow hard. Sail was taken off the ship, and those with the best eyes onboard were stationed on each bow and at the bowsprit-end, to give noticeof any dangers in sight. We were standing to the westward, going free, our captain intending soon to haul up for the northward. It was thedarkest part of the still short night, when the lookers-out ahead gavenotice that they heard the crashing sound of ice grinding together. Directly afterwards the words "Ice ahead!" echoed along the deck. Immediately the starboard tacks were hauled aboard, and the ship waskept to the northward. 

Again the startling cry was heard, "Ice on the lee-bow!" then "Iceahead!" The ship had good way on her. The helm was put down. We flewto the tacks and sheets, and about she came, her counter actuallygrazing a sheet of ice, against which in another moment she would havestruck! We could now only steer to the southward, where we knew moreice must be found, so that we must speedily be about again. It wasnecessary to keep sufficient sail on the ship to enable us to work herquickly. 

On we stood into the darkness, with a knowledge that danger was ahead ofus. "Ice! ice ahead!" was again the cry. We wore about, but just intime to escape contact with it. We could not tell all the time whetherthe ice-fields might not be closing on us. Every tack we made wasshorter and shorter. Still, our only hope was to beat out of the narrowpassage into which the ship had run. 

Many tacks were made. A huge iceberg, dimly glimmering through theobscurity, towered up before us; yet, though dim, not the less terrific. The helm was put down. There might be space between it and thefield-ice to the southward of it. The southern field hove in sight; wetacked, but just in time. Then on we rushed towards the iceberg, beating closely into the wind. Again it appeared on our lee-bow; theship heeled over to the breeze. On we rushed--a flaw of wind heading uswould send us to destruction. The wind held steady. 

On, on we rushed, the foam flying over our bows and freezing as it fell. A towering cliff of ice appeared over our mast-heads--still we hurriedon. There was a loud thundering clash. The stoutest held their breathfor fear. Our deck was deluged with spray. Several quickly-followingseas struck our stern, lifting the ship before them. The summit of thevast iceberg had fallen--perhaps by the concussion of the air as wemoved under it. A moment later, and we should have been crushed toatoms--driven far, far down into the depths of the ocean! The icebergwas passed. It seemed to be guarding the portals of that narrow inlet. As the dawn came on, we could discover the ice trending away to leeward. All day we stood on, gradually increasing our distance from icebergsand fields of ice, till we had, to our no little satisfaction, left themfar astern. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

A VISIT TO JAVA. 

We had won many a prize from the vasty deep with no little toil, andvisited many strange people living under burning suns, when we foundourselves at anchor in the Roads of Batavia, the capital of the largeand fertile island of Java. It was taken by the English in the year1811 from the Dutch, or rather from the French, who had temporarypossession of it. The British fleet employed on the occasion was underthe command of Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, and the army under that ofGeneral Wetherall and Colonel Gillespie. That admirable and talentedman, Sir Stamford Raffles--the greatest benefactor the islands of theEast had ever known, till Sir James Brooke followed in his footsteps, was then appointed governor, and had his counsels and prayers beenfollowed, it would still have been a bright jewel in the British crown. Unhappily neither were heeded. His letters describing the fertility andunbounded resources, when properly developed, of that immense territory, remained unread, unopened at the Colonial Office; and at the generalpeace Java was cast back as a worthless trifle into the heap to beenjoyed by others, which England had gained by so much blood andtreasure. The Dutch took possession, and very speedily re-establishedthe system of close monopoly and grinding tyranny which the enlightenedpolicy of Sir Stamford Raffles had abolished. 

Newman had now so completely established himself in the good opinion ofthe captain, that he was treated more as an officer than a foremast-man, and whenever duty would allow, he was permitted to go on shore to visitwhatever was worthy of notice. He looked upon me completely in thelight of a pupil, in whose advancement he had the deepest interest. "Never mind how old you are, " he used to say; "you will outlive me yetby many a year, and will have plenty of use for all the information youcan pick up before you die. " I little thought at the time how true hiswords would prove. He used in joke to call me hardy Old Jack; andcertainly for many years I never had had an hour's illness. The truthis, that I was gifted with a sound constitution, and had avoided playingtricks with it, as a great number of people do, and then complain of thesicknesses with which they are afflicted, shutting their eyes to thefact that they have brought them on themselves entirely in consequenceof their own folly. 

While we lay at Batavia, I was constantly on shore with Newman. TheRoads of Batavia are rather more than a quarter of a league from thecity, and are guarded from the prevailing winds by a dozen small islandsoutside them. The ground on which the city stands bears evident signsof having been thrown up by the sea, but rises gradually to themountains ten leagues off behind it. The River Jacatra runs through thecity, and it is intersected likewise in all directions by canals. Ithas also a moat running round it, as likewise a wall of coral-rock. Itsdefences consist of twenty bastions, and a castle near the sea, with amud-bank in front of it. It is, indeed, completely a Dutch city. Butbesides its numberless canals and ditches, as it is situated in a deadmarshy flat, and is surrounded with dirty fens, bogs, and morasses, overwhich a tropical sun sends down its burning rays, drawing up noxiousvapours of every description, it may be considered, taken all in all, asone of the most unhealthy cities of the civilised world. By care andproper drainage these defects might be amended, and, as the generaltemperature of the atmosphere is not excessive, it might become ashealthy as any other place in those regions. 

Java is about two hundred miles long and forty broad, and has numerousdeep inlets along the northern coast, where ships may anchor during thegood or south-east monsoon. A chain of mountains, from which a numberof rivers descend to the sea, runs down the centre, and divides theisland into two parts. The air is cooled by the sea-breezes, which, asin the West Indies, set in every day. The soil is particularly rich. It is cultivated by buffaloes, and in some places one is sufficient todrag a plough. Java produces rice of a first-rate quality, sugar inabundance, cotton in considerable quantities, salt, timber, indigo, coffee, pepper, and various kinds of spices. 

Java is, in reality, governed by the Dutch East India Company; but it isdivided into a number of provinces, ruled over by puppet princes withthe title of Sultan. At the court of each, one of the Company's chiefofficers, or head merchants, as they are called, resides. In some ofthe provinces these petty emperors have been deposed, and they aregoverned by one of the Company's officers, under the title of Resident. The religion of these princes is Mohammedan, as is that of the nativesgenerally, though intermixed with many superstitious observances. Nogovernment rules a country with a more despotic system, or is morejealous of foreign interference with its trade. I suspect, also, thatnone has done more injury to the advancement of civilisation in theEast, from their readiness to submit to all the absurd customs anddegrading ceremonies imposed on them by the Chinese and othersemi-barbarous nations, for the purpose of advancing their mercantileinterests. Taught by them, these people look upon all Europeans astribes of mean and despicable traders, who have neither the power northe spirit to resent any injuries inflicted on them. 

In the environs of Batavia are a number of villages, some inhabited byMalays, and others by Chinese, who visit the island in great numbers, and carry on a considerable trade, notwithstanding the persecutions towhich they have at times been subject. In various beautiful spots, bothnear the city or the neighbouring hills, and along the sea-shore, arefound the large and handsome country residences of the chief merchantsand other authorities connected with the Company. There are fiveprincipal roads which lead from the city towards the country, and whichare planted with high and shady trees. One of the most beautiful roadsleading to the Port of Jacatra is closely planted with a double row ofmango-trees, and both sides of it are embellished with large andpleasant gardens, and many fine and elegant buildings. All the roadsare much of the same description, and give a character of finishedcultivation to the neighbourhood of the city. Both sides of thestreets, as well as of the numerous canals, are planted with fine trees, so that the country all round Batavia may well be characterised as atropical Holland. 

The governor-general usually resides at his country-seat, calledWeltevreeden, a superb mansion, about an hour and a quarter's walk fromthe city. He there resides in great state, and never goes about withoutbeing attended by a body-guard, dressed in coats of scarlet cloth richlylaced with gold. 

The ordinary habitations of the Europeans are of brick, run up in alight airy manner, and stuccoed on the outside. They have sash-windows. The interiors are all on the same plan. The fronts are in generalnarrow, and the houses extend back a long way from the street. Frontingthe entrance, a narrow passage, with a parlour on one side, leads to alarge long room, lighted from an inner court, into which it opens. Thisapartment is called the "gallery, " and here the family live and dine. The floors are of large, square, dark-red stones. No hangings are to beseen, but the walls are neatly stuccoed and whitened. The furnitureconsists of some arm-chairs and two or three sofas. On the walls arenumerous looking-glasses, and chandeliers or lamps are hung in a rowalong the ceiling of the gallery, and are lighted up in the evening. The stairs leading to the upper rooms are generally at the end of thegallery. The upper parts of the houses are divided much as below. Theyare generally but scantily provided with furniture; indeed, from theheat of the climate but little is required. Behind the gallery are thelodgings for the slaves, the kitchen, and the out-houses. Instead ofbeing glazed, the windows are often closed with a lath-work of rattans. 

Few of those in the city have gardens. In the country, on the contrary, the greatest attention is paid to them, many of which are verybeautiful, though laid out in the formal Dutch style, as they are fullof the choicest flowers and shrubs. Newman was especially struck withthem. 

"Ah, this would indeed be a beautiful country to live in, if peoplecould but manage not to die!" he exclaimed. Unhealthy as the countryundoubtedly is, the city itself is far worse, so that, as a place ofresidence, it is almost abandoned by the more wealthy merchants, whoonly visit it as a place of business--their fine mansions being turnedinto stores or counting-houses. 

Europeans at Batavia, of whatever nation, live much in the same way. They rise at daybreak, and sit for some time cooling themselves in thethinnest dress in which they have passed the night; then they dress, andbreakfast on coffee or tea, and are at their offices at eight. Theywork till nearly noon, when they dine, and take a nap till four, whenthey again attend to business till six. Afterwards they drive out, ormix in social intercourse in an informal way till nine, when they sup, and retire to bed at eleven. Newman, whose means of observation weregreater than mine, told me that the men had their parties together, andthe ladies theirs, which I should consider a very bad arrangement. Themen of higher rank--the upper merchants--are each attended by a slave, holding an umbrella behind him; but a junior merchant must carry hisumbrella himself. 

The women marry very young, are very ill-educated, and pass much oftheir time lolling on sofas, talking and laughing with their slaves, whom another moment they will order to be whipped for the slightestoffence. Those born in the country have very supple joints, and cantwist their fingers, hands, and arms in almost every direction. Whatcan be expected from women who are abandoned, almost as soon as born, tothe care of ignorant slaves--little or no care being taken to inculcatemoral or religious principles into their plastic minds, till they havefully imbibed all the superstitious notions and prejudices which areheld by their attendants? While saying this, I must urge parents athome never--if they value the eternal happiness of their children--ifthey wish them to imbibe right principles, and to avoid perniciousones--to commit them to the charge of persons, however decent in theirbehaviour, who are not likely, from their want of education, to be ableto instil them. Parents, children were given you by God; and at yourhands he will require them. On your care, on your exertions, on yourprayers, it depends whether they grow up a blessing to you and tothemselves, or become miserable and lost. Still, children, nothing willexonerate you, when you become free agents, and understand good fromevil, if you reject the good and choose the evil. You have more needfor prayer, more need for exertion, more need for self-control, toconquer the vices which have grown up with you; and, believe Old Jack, however you may be weighed down with them, if you will but _try_, if youwill but cast all your burden on Him who is alone able to bear it, youwill succeed. 

Provisions of all sorts we found abundant and cheap. The fruits are thecocoa, areca, banana, papaya, white and red shaddock, mangostan, rambootang, ananas, and betel. Saffron is collected there, and everydescription of allspice. The betel is a creeping-plant with an aromaticleaf. The natives spread over the leaf a little slaked-lime, and placeat one end a small piece of areca-nut and cardamom. They then roll theleaf up, and masticate it for hours together. It blackens their teethand reddens their lips, and gives an effect which the Chinese and Malaysadmire considerably. 

Java abounds in serpents--the smallest is the most dangerous. Its biteis said to cause death. It is scarcely thicker than a candle, and fromtwo to three feet long. They are of various colours:--some grey, spotted with white; and others green, with bright red and white streaks. We heard of one twenty feet long, and of the thickness of a man's arm;and saw another stuffed, as big round as the body of a man, and aboutfifteen feet long. The Javanese are likewise plagued with ants, and allsorts of creeping things. 

Having given a faint sketch of the mode of life of the rulers of thiswealth-giving island, I must briefly describe the native inhabitants, asalso some of the numerous tribes which flock there from other quarters. 

As I have already observed, the native princes, the nominal governors ofthe greater part of the country, are kept in the most perfect subjectionby the Company; and the common Javanese are in the most abject state ofslavery. The labourer is not only obliged, at fixed periods, to delivera certain quantity of the fruits of his industry to the regent placedover him on behalf of the Company, for whatever price the latter choosesto allow him, and that price, moreover, paid in goods, which are chargedto him at ten times their real value; but he likewise cannot considerwhat may remain as his own property, not being permitted to do with itwhat he may think fit, nor allowed to sell it to others at a higher or alower rate; on the contrary, he is compelled to part with this also, aswell as with what the Company claimed of him, to the same petty tyrant, at an arbitrary price, very much below its real value. 

The Javanese, like all people living under a torrid zone and a despoticgovernment, are of an indolent disposition, and, it is said, requiregreat excitement to make them work; but the real secret of theiridleness is the certainty that they will not be allowed to enjoy thefruits of their labour. Possessing no certain property, they aresatisfied with little. The food of those who inhabit the level countryis rice and fish; but those who dwell in the mountains use a root called_tallas_, with salt. This salt they make out of the ashes of wood. Their dwellings are little huts, constructed of bamboos, plastered withmud, and thatched with broad leaves. Their furniture consists of abedstead made of bamboos, a block on which to pound their rice, two potsfor boiling food, and a few cocoa-nut shells for drinking. They seldomlive much beyond their fiftieth year. They were converted to Islamismabout 1406, when the Arabian Chick-Ibn Molana came over, and, marryingthe daughter of the king of Damak, received as her portion the provinceof Cheribon. Their mosques are generally of wood, and perfectlyunadorned; but the tomb and mosque of the said Ibn Molana form amagnificent edifice. They do not place their dead in coffins, but wrapthem in linen, and place a stone at the head and another at the foot ofthe grave, as seats for the two angels who, after their death, examineinto their conduct while in this world. 

The Javanese are, in general, well-shaped; of a light-brown colour; withblack eyes and hair, their eyes being much sunk in the head. They haveflattish noses and large mouths. In figure, they are generally thin, though muscular; here and there only a corpulent person being seen. Thewomen, when young, have softer features than the men; but when they growold, it is difficult to conceive any human being more hideous than theybecome. A man's dress consists of a pair of linen breeches, scarcelyreaching half-way down the thighs, and over this a sort of shirt of blueor black coarse cotton cloth, which hangs loose below the knee. Thehair of the head is bound up in a handkerchief, in the form of a turban. A woman's dress consists of a coarse chintz cloth, wrapped twice roundthe body, fastened under the bosom, and hanging down to the calf of theleg; over this is a short jacket, which reaches to the waist. Nocovering is worn on the head, but the hair is bound up in a fillet, andfastened at the back of the head with large pins. Sometimes chaplets offlowers are worn. Children run about without clothes till they areeight years old. Of course, I have been speaking only of the lowerclasses. The upper generally dress with great magnificence. 

The Javanese are not much employed as domestic servants, but slaves havebeen brought from the coast of Bengal, Malabar, Sumatra, and otherparts, as well as from Celebes, and often become very accomplishedservants. They are generally well-treated, and behave well; but theirgreat vice is gaming, to which they are tempted by the Chinese, who keepthe gaming-houses, and are much too cunning to allow the poor slaves toregain what they may have lost. This vice, as is the case elsewhere, tempts them to rob their masters and to commit many other crimes, forthe sake of supplying themselves with money to continue the practice, orto recover what they have lost. 

There are said to be a hundred thousand Chinese in and about Batavia, the whole population amounting only to a hundred and sixty thousand, made up of natives, Armenians, Persians, Arabs, Malays, Negroes, andEuropeans. We were witnesses of a curious spectacle one day, when theChinese assembled from far and near to visit the tombs of theirancestors at Jacatra, near the site of the capital of that ancientkingdom. The road from Batavia to Jacatra is a very fine one. Oneither side it is adorned with magnificent palaces, occupied by thecouncillors of the Indies, the principal persons in the Company'sservice, and the richest merchants. In front of these palaces, parallelto the causeway, is a navigable canal crossed by bridges veryingeniously constructed of bamboo. On the opposite banks are numerousnative villages, which are seen peeping through the cocoa, banana, papaya, and other bushy shrubs, with which every hut is surrounded. Near the ancient capital is the fortress to which the unhappy Prince ofGenea withdrew when the Dutch conquered the kingdom, and where he losthis life fighting desperately. 

In the Chinese burying-place are great numbers of tombs, withinscriptions specifying the time of the death, age, name, and virtues ofthose whose remains are within. The tombs are much ornamented, andsurrounded with cypresses; and on either side are benches on which therelatives and friends may rest when they come to perform their funeralduties. On the present occasion the tombs were ornamented with wreathsof paper or silk of different colours, and three wax tapers were burningon each. Provisions, also, were either sent or brought, and placed asofferings on the tombs. The most opulent were distinguished from therest by the richness of their viands--fish, fruit, sweetmeats, andbeverages. These provisions, having been left for some hours on thetombs, were partly consumed by the family of the deceased, some wasoffered to the spectators, and the rest carried away. Roasted fowls, which had been kept whole on purpose, were, however, left behind bysome; for what purpose I could not ascertain. These travelled Chinesehad got over many of their national prejudices, and very politelyoffered Newman and me some of the good things; of which we partook withno little satisfaction, though, as my companion observed, a cemetery wasan odd place to pic-nic in. 

Movable theatres were erected on one side of the cemetery, and templeshad been built on the plain below. These temples are large saloons, ornamented with grotesque and antique statues, especially thoserepresenting Josi in the midst of his family. Josi, a disciple ofConfucius, and afterwards his most confidential friend, rose from thedregs of the people, and became the greatest legislator of his nation. After the death of Confucius, the emperor banished him; so he retired inthe bosom of his family to the low state from which he had sprung, wherehe declared that he enjoyed far more true happiness than he had everdone in his exalted position. To him and his benignant laws the Chineseare indebted for the preservation of their manners, customs, and dress. He is always represented in his retirement after his labours for thepublic good were concluded. We had here, as Newman observed, an exampleof the way in which the ancients deified their great men, and learned toworship them. 

Opposite each idol were burning red wax tapers, of different sizes, andmatches of incense. An altar or table covered with dainties stood inthe middle of the temple, surrounded by idols; and in a room behind itwas another altar, surmounted with a statue of Josi. An old bonze orpriest of venerable aspect, with a long white beard, stood up, recitingsome prayers in a low voice. He had on his head a white straw-hat, inthe shape of a cone. On the top of it was a little ball of gold, andbehind a small tuft of red silk. He kept continually bowing with greatregularity, and every now and then let fall a piece of wood like aruler, which he as often picked up again. He was habited in a tunic oftransparent violet silk, with a girdle of twisted silk ornamented withgold; and to it were attached the instruments required for the ceremony. Over this he wore a gold-embroidered robe, with long sleeves turned upat the wrists. It was of violet colour, and a strong material; and, being closed all round, must have been put on over the head. On hisbreast and back were two plates of rich gold embroidery, representing aneagle, or a bird like one. In his hand he had a large fan, the case ofwhich hung at his girdle like a knife-sheath. His slippers were squareat the toes, and embroidered with gold; but his legs were bare. 

Under the vestibule of the temple, a hog and a goat, with the horns on, were killed as burnt-offerings, and placed on a stand, with theirentrails before them. The interior of the temple was filled with tablescovered with preserved fruits and tea, where the bonzes and rich peoplewere sitting eating, drinking, and smoking; but none of the multitudeventured in. Many female bonzes, or bonzesses, were in the vestibule, dressed in violet silk robes, but without embroidery. Their hair wastwisted and turned up behind, forming a round tuft, fastened with twodiamond-headed pins. These tufts were stuck round with other very richpins, forming the beams of a most brilliant sun. They took no part thatwe saw in the ceremonies. 

What I have described seemed to be a prelude to the ceremonies. Thebonzes, fifteen in number, left the vestry to the sound of shrill, noisymusic. They took their stations before the altar, where they made manygenuflexions and gestures. They then presented to the high-priest, whohad no distinguishing mark, many meats which were on the altar. On thishe made various signs, pronouncing some words in a whining tone oflamentation. After having made various libations with several liquors, which he spread over the offerings, the other bonzes replaced them onthe altar. One of them then took a card, containing characters, fromwhich he sung. Judging from the loud laughter of part of the auditory, the words seemed to have little analogy to the ceremony. Every bonzeheld in his hand a box filled with incense matches, one of which helighted as soon as its predecessor was extinguished. After a repetitionof this ceremony, during which the music was never discontinued, theyentered the side-room to take refreshment. Having drunk their tea, theywent in procession to a second temple, where the same ceremony was gonethrough. Thence they repaired to the theatre. When they had reachedthe front of it they halted. "Are they going to act?" said I. "Ishould not be surprised, " observed Newman. "What are they but actors?The people, you see, have taken no part whatever in the matter. " Thechief bonze mounted the theatre alone, and having made many violentgestures and exclamations, again descended, when the performances began. During these ceremonies the gates of the temples, and both sides of thetheatres, were filled with common Chinese, a large number of whom werechildren, playing different games of chance. I never saw people so fondof gaming as they are. 

A part of the roasted poultry was left all night on the tombs, thecommon people imagining that at that period the dead assemble and eat itup. People in misfortune strew amulets over the graves of theirancestors, to obtain their favour. These amulets are bits of silkpaper, on which are spread pieces of leaf silver, which they fancypasses current as a paper-money among the dead. I could not ascertainwhether the hog and goat were actually offered up with any ceremony, orsimply left to be devoured by the priests. 

"Have you ever seen anything like this before?" asked Newman, as we wereon our way back to the ship. 

"Yes, I think I have, " I answered. 

"So have I, " he remarked, "in a Roman Catholic church. The priests ofRome--ancient and modern--and these bonzes are much alike. They haveboth copied their ceremonies from the Jews and the heathens of old, travestying them somewhat, to make them pass for their own. Depend onit Josi understood human nature, and knew what would suit the taste ofthe vulgar. "

So numerous are the Chinese in Java, and so inclined to revolt, that theDutch government are always careful to provide them with amusements. Ineach place there is a chief, with the title of "captain, " who isanswerable for their good conduct. He is obliged to maintain, at hisown cost, a troop of female actors, called Bayadeers. They perform, without exception, every night, from nine o'clock till daybreak, in akind of theatre, in the middle of the street. The play, as far as wecould make out, represents the wars of the Tartars against the Chinese. Various chiefs, in different costumes, with their faces smeared black orwhite, or masked, come to announce a new war, in which they anticipategreat success. They harangue the soldiers with violent gestures. Thencomes a general or emperor, and, making another speech, gets up on atable with a chair on the top of it, when he takes his seat at the backof the stage. The combatants then come in with long spears, and, fighting desperately, one party runs away, while the other has to listento a long speech on their bravery. The Tartars are known by their shortcoats, large trousers, helmets, sabres, and great shields. The roaringmusic of gom-goms never stops during the performance. 

One day we visited the Chinese quarter, where there are an immensenumber of gaming and eating tables. The seats, as well as the tables, are made of bamboo. The Chinese eat with two little sticks, and use aspoon of china with a short crooked handle. Each article of food isserved on a little dish like a saucer. The jelly, minced meats, andsoup, are generally cold, while their beverages are hot. The chief isarrack, sugar, and hot water. The favourite dish is part of a dog, of aspecies with a smooth skin, which they carefully fatten. It is eatenwith every kind of sauce. No people eat so much pork as the Chinese. The hundred thousand Chinese in Batavia are said to feed at least fourhundred thousand pigs, which increase not a little the bad odours of theplace. Whether they do it to keep the Jews at a distance, I do notknow, but the two people do not get on well together. 

We used to meet in the Chinese company, or quarter, curious processionsof men, with marked or painted faces, having kettle-drums, gom-goms, andtambourines. Some, grotesquely dressed, were carried on poles or inhampers, ornamented with paper, ribbons, and little bells; some wereseated on monsters, like our representations of sea-horses. Theseprocessions are in honour of the spirit of evil. The reason they givefor them is, that as the Divinity is infinitely good, it is notnecessary to implore him; but the devil, on the contrary, must befeasted and amused, to prevent him from going about and committingmischief. In every Chinese house, in a sort of shrine, is a picture ofConfucius, represented as a great fat man, with the devil at his sidetempting him. On each side are pots of flowers and tapers of red wax, gilt, which are lighted on certain days, together with a little lamp infront, just as is seen in Romish chapels. 

Chinese girls are always shut up, and employed in sewing and embroidery;and parents arrange marriages without the couple having even seen eachother. The poorer sort, however, are allowed to serve in their shops. We heard the people generally well spoken of, as being good fathers, sons, husbands, and friends. They carry on every art and traffic, andengross nearly all the house and ship building in Batavia, though theypay enormous annual duties to the Company on their industry and trade. Among other duties, they pay for being allowed to let their nails growlong, especially that of the little finger, as it is a proof that theydo not work for their living. The twisted tail, which they wearextremely long, often down to their knees, pays in proportion to itslength. It is measured every year at a fixed time. To cut off the tailof a Chinaman, or to pare his nails, is looked upon as a most severepunishment. Their dress consists of large trousers, and round coats, which reach to the middle of the thighs. It is either of black or verybright sky-blue. White is worn for mourning; and when for a very nearrelative, the collar has a rent in it. They have a custom of keepingtheir dead for some days in the house, which, in such a warm climate, frequently causes bad fevers. A Chinese house, where a death hashappened, is known by a white cloth hung in lieu of the door. 

This information, through Newman's help, I picked up during our visitson shore. The ship had been at anchor about a week, when we again wenton shore, and had walked on for an hour or so, when, a little beyondFort Ansol, we found ourselves in front of a Chinese temple, standing ina grove of cocoa-nut trees by the side of a rivulet, among very prettyscenery. The building was about twenty feet long, and twelve wide. Theentrance was through a railing into a small area, and then into a hall, at the end of which was the sanctuary. In the middle of the hall, justwithin the door, was an altar, on which red wax tapers were burning. There was also an image of a lion, richly gilt. At the end of the hallwas a picture of an old man and a woman, with crowns on their heads, andabout two feet high. They were, I suppose, Josi and his wife. While wewere there, several people came in, and prostrating themselves beforethe picture, knocked their heads continually against the ground. Atlast a man came in to consult the idols by divination. He had in hishand two small longitudinal pieces of wood, flat on one side, and roundon the other. Holding these pieces of wood, with the flat sides towardeach other, he let them fall on the ground. As they fell, with the flator round side up, so he augured well or ill of some proposed enterpriseor project. He let the sticks fall upwards of twenty times, but seemedas ill-contented as at first with the promises they made. Every timethey prognosticated evil, he shook his head with a most disconsolatelook. I could not help saying, "Try it again, Chinaman; don't give in. "Whether he understood me or not I do not know, but down he went on theground, and thumped his head very hard and often. Then he jumped up andthrew the sticks, and I suppose the omen proved favourable, for with ajoyful countenance he lighted a thick candle and placed it on the altar. As soon as he was gone, the cunning old bonze blew it out and sold itto the next comer. 

We must not be surprised to hear that the Chinese at times revoltagainst the authority of the Europeans among whom they live, and commitmurders and other atrocities; and then to hear of a cruel massacrecommitted by the Dutch upon them in Batavia. On one occasion, manythousands had collected; and some of them having been guilty of murdersand robberies, a considerable apprehension was excited against the wholebody. The Council, therefore, determined that every Chinese who couldnot prove that he was obtaining an honest livelihood, should betransported to Ceylon, to be employed as a slave in the service of theCompany. Among others, a number of Chinese of wealth were seized; and areport getting abroad that all were to be thus treated, they flew toarms, and quitting the city in great numbers, took up their quarters inthe mountains, and strengthened themselves so much as to render the fateof Batavia itself precarious. 

In this dilemma the Council offered the rebels an amnesty; but this theyrefused, and marching towards the city, ravaged the country on everyside. Here, however, they met with a severe repulse; and when theinfuriated soldiers and sailors returned into the city, supposing thatthe Chinese who had remained quiet within their houses were about torevolt, they attacked them wherever they could be found. All theChinese, men, women, and children, without distinction, were put to thesword; the prisoners in chains were slaughtered; and even some wealthypeople, who had fled to Europeans for safety, were, through theviolation of every principle of humanity and morality, delivered up totheir sanguinary pursuers--the Europeans embezzling the propertyconfided to them. Thus, all the Chinese, both innocent and guilty, wereexterminated. Notwithstanding this, however, thousands rushed in soonafter to supply their places! It was apprehended that this occurrencewould excite the indignation of the Emperor of China, and, perhaps, induce him to stop their trade with his country; but when they sentdeputies to apologise, their fears were shown to be groundless by histruly paternal reply, --to the effect that he was little solicitous forthe fate of unworthy subjects, who, in the pursuit of lucre, had quittedtheir country, and abandoned the tombs of their ancestors!

Notwithstanding the unhealthiness of the climate, and the impedimentsthrown in the way of commerce by the unwise restrictions of the Dutch, the Roads of Batavia are always full of the flags of all nations, attracted by the profit merchants are still able to make. As Bataviais, or rather was, before Singapore was established, the sole depot forthe spices of the Moluccas and the productions of the island of Java, consisting of rice, coffee, sugar, arrack, and pepper, ships were comingcontinually from every part of India, Africa, and even Europe; and asthey were not allowed to take away coin, they were compelled to fill upwith some or other of the above-mentioned productions. The trade, indeed, was one almost exclusively of barter. 

Bengal sent drugs, patnas, blue cloths, different kinds of stuffs, andopium; which were exchanged for rice, sugar, coffee, tea, spices, arrack, a small quantity of silks, and china-ware. The kings of Achenand Natal, in the island of Sumatra, sent camphor--the best which isknown--benzoin, birds'-nests, calin, and elephants' teeth; and in returntook opium, rice, patnas, and frocks, which were made at Java, Macassar, and the Moluccas. The princes of the Isle of Borneo sent gold dust, diamonds, and birds'-nests; and took opium, rice, patnas, frocks, gunpowder, and small guns, as they said, to defend themselves againstpirates, but, in reality, for their own use as pirates. 

The Americans brought kerseymeres, cloths, hats, gold-wire, silver-galloon, stationery, wine, beer, Seltzer water, provisions, andpiastres; in exchange for spices, sugar, arrack, tea, coffee, rice, rushes, and Chinese silk and porcelain. The Muscat ships broughtpiastres and gum-arabic; those from the Isle of France, wine, olive-oil, vinegar, hams, cheese, soap, common trinkets, and ebony. 

From the Cape of Good Hope were received kitchen-garden seeds, butter, Constantia and Madeira wines; while the Chinese brought immensequantities of porcelain and silks of every kind, taking in return opium, ebony, sandal-wood, spices, and birds'-nests. These nests are half thesize of a woman's hand. They are made by a very small sea-swallow, (_Hirundo esculenta_), and consist of a glutinous substance, interwovenwith filaments. They are found in the cavities of steep rocks on thecoast of all the Sunda Islands, on the northern shores of Australia, andin many other parts of the Indian Seas. The native way of procuringthem is by fixing a stick on the summit of the precipice, with arope-ladder secured to it, whence the hunters descend in their searchinto the most perilous situations. Although they have neither taste norsmell, yet, from being supposed to be both tonic and a powerfulstimulant, they are an ingredient in all the ragouts of the most wealthypeople in China. They make an excellent broth. The white nests aremost in request. They are prepared by being first washed in three orfour changes of lukewarm water. When they have been some time in it, they puff up like large vermicelli. Europeans, indeed, discover nothingmore in this singular dish than an insipid jelly, very much indeedresembling vermicelli, when simply boiled. 

After Java was restored to the Dutch, England still carried on aconsiderable commerce with the island; but it is far smaller than itwould be under a less restricted system. 

The Dutch were for long the only European nation who kept up anycommercial communication with Japan, because no other would submit tothe absurd restrictions and degrading ceremonies imposed by thatbarbarian power. Every year, the governor-general sent a ship offifteen hundred tons, laden with kerseymeres, fine cloths, clock-work, and spices. These were chiefly exchanged for bars of copper, which weremade into a very clumsy kind of coin for paying the native and Europeantroops, as well as the people employed in the counting-houses of Javaand the Moluccas. These ingots are of the finest red copper, and asthick as the finger. They are cut into two, four, six, and eightsous-pieces of Holland. The value is inscribed on them. This coin istermed in the Malay language _baton_, which signifies a stone. Thecaptain, however, brings back furniture, fans, various articles ofcopper, and sabres--the temper of the blades of which equals the bestworkmanship of Turkey. The cargo always contains a present to theemperor; and he, in return, sends one to the Dutch governor-general. 

When the Batavian ship is seen, the emperor's agent hails it, to demandwhether the captain is a Christian. He replies that he is Dutch, when asignal is made for him to approach. From that moment he is boarded byinnumerable armed boats. He is first boarded to see that he has neitherwomen nor books; for the law is very severe against the introduction ofeither into the island. Were either found on board, the ship would besent back without being allowed to anchor. This visit concluded, themerchandise is landed, the ship is disarmed and unrigged without the aidof the captain or crew, and the guns and rigging are carried on shore. The captain transmits the bill of lading to the emperor's agent, with anote of what he desires in exchange, and waits quietly for themerchandise he is to have in return. Provisions are amply supplied inthe meantime to the crew. When the return merchandise is ready on thebeach, the emperor having notified what he chooses for the ensuing year, the Japanese themselves again load the vessel, replace her rigging, andrestore her arms, papers, and effects, of which they took possession onher arrival. There is no instance of anything having been lost; indeed, the Dutch speak of the Japanese as a most honest people. They are saidto leave their shops and stores without guards or clerks. If a Japanesegoes to a shop, and finds no one there, he takes the article he wants, lays down the value marked on it, and goes out. All the streets of thetowns are closed at night by iron gates, and each Japanese isresponsible for his neighbour; so they are all interested that no harmshould happen to one another. When a theft is committed in any quarter, and the author cannot be discovered, the crier, (who is a kind of policeagent), the judge of the division, and the neighbours are compelled tomake good the loss, and are subject to severe corporal punishment. 

Very little in those days was known of the interior of Japan, as theDutch ambassadors were compelled to submit to the most humiliatingconditions to keep up their intercourse with the country. On visitingthe capital, they were conveyed in palanquins, well enclosed with fixedlattice-work, like prison-vans in England; and the bearers dared not, for fear of their lives, indulge them with a view of the country throughwhich they passed. This information about Japan Newman gained from oneof the officers of the ship trading there. To return to Java. 

One day when we were on shore, we saw a great confusion among the crowd, who were dispersing on every side, as if in mortal dread of something;and presently we saw a half-naked Malay with a long dagger in his hand, striking right and left at everybody he met, killing some and woundingothers. As he ran on, crying out in his frenzy, "_Amok--amok--amok_!kill--kill--kill!" we saw some of the police dashing towards him withlong poles, at the end of which was a fork of wood with iron spikesinside it. He dodged by several of them, killing one on his way, tillat last a guard met him full in front, and he ran in on the fork, whenhe was immediately pinned to the ground; but even then he struck out onevery side with his glittering weapon. 

This is what is called running a _muck_! from the word used _amok_--kill! He had, as is the custom, taken a large quantity of opium, andthus excited himself to fury in consequence of some supposed or realinjury he had received from his master! Most of these mucks are run byslaves brought from Celebes. Being mortally wounded, he was immediatelybroken alive on the wheel, in the presence of two councillors ofjustice. 

It is remarkable, that at Batavia, where the assassins, when takenalive, are broken on the wheel, the mucks are of great frequency; whileat Bencoolen, where they are executed in the most simple and least cruelway, they seldom occur. Slaves who have murdered their masters, wereexecuted with the most horrible barbarity by being impaled. An iron waspassed down their backs, so as not to touch any vital part, and by itthey were suspended, one end of the iron rod being fixed in a post tenfeet from the ground. If the weather is dry, they may live on many daysin that horrid position; but if water enters the wound, mortificationensues, and they quickly die. 

The Javanese emperors used till lately to throw their criminals to wildbeasts, or compelled them to enter into combat with them. I heard astory of a Javanese who was condemned to be torn in pieces by tigers. On being thrown down from the top of a large cage, he fell across theback of the largest and fiercest of them, where he sat astride! Sointimidated was the animal, that he did not attempt to injure him; whilethe others, awed by the unusual appearance, endeavoured to avoid him!The poor wretch, however, having been condemned to death, was shot deadin the cage. This custom was, however, prohibited by the French. Ofcourse I have been speaking of a state of things as they existed someyears ago, and I daresay some improvements have taken place; but at thesame time the Dutch are of a very conservative disposition, and Isuspect that most of my descriptions would be found correct even at thepresent day. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

STRANGE ADVENTURES AND NAVAL EXPLOITS. 

Not very long before we sailed, Newman and I had gone on shore, hetaking a large sketch-book under his arm; and striking up into thecountry, we reached a beautiful spot, the outlines of which he wished tocommit to paper. We sat ourselves down under the shade of awide-spreading palm, not far from the road. While Newman took thesketch with his pencil, and in a masterly way threw in the colours, Iread to him from a volume, I think, of the "Spectator. " During thistime a gentleman, attended by two servants in handsome liveries rode by. Seeing two common sailors, as our dresses showed we were, employed in away so unusual, he dismounted, and, prompted by curiosity, came to seewhat the draughtsman had produced. He had been watching us for morethan a minute before Newman observed him. Newman had a quick, promptmanner in addressing people, which arose somewhat from pride, I suspect, lest they should look down upon him; and seeing a stranger, he at oncespoke to him in German, remarking on the beauty of the scenery. Thegentleman stared at being thus addressed, but replied in the samelanguage, asking leave to look at the sketch he had just finished. Newman frankly showed him that and several others, which the strangeradmired. 

"You are a German, I presume?" said the gentleman. 

Newman replied that he was an Englishman. 

"You speak Dutch also, perhaps?" asked the stranger. 

"Slightly, " said Newman; "but I prefer German, though I am more fluentin French. "

"Ah, that is a tongue I am fond of, " remarked the gentleman. "But may Iask where you picked up your knowledge of languages?"

"In the world, " replied Newman, carelessly. "'Tis a large book, and itsleaves are never closed. "

"I am afraid that you will think me impertinent if I continue to askquestions, " said the stranger; "but I shall be glad to know to what shipyou belong?"

Newman told him. 

"Ah, I know your captain--an honest man. I am under great obligationsto him. Are many of his crew able to amuse themselves as you two appearto be doing?"

"Some have lately taken to drawing and singing, and a few who could notread when the voyage began are now apt scholars, " answered Newman, carelessly. "We have occasionally a good deal of spare time on board awhaler, though we often have to work hard enough. "

A little further conversation passed. "I must not longer detain youfrom your task, " said the gentleman. "I hope that we shall meet again. "

He bowed to Newman, and nodded good-naturedly to me. He saw that I wasbut a common sailor, at the same time that he evidently discerned theeducated gentleman in my friend. When I speak of Newman as a gentleman, it must be understood that he was not particularly polished or refinedin his manners or habits, though more so far than were those with whomhe associated forward. His manners were too blunt and independent to becalled polished, and he could rough it as well as any of us, eating thesame coarse food and wearing the same rough clothes as we did, withoutinconvenience. 

When the gentleman had gone, Newman and I discussed who he could be. "Rather an inquisitive old fellow, I suspect, " said Newman. "He is aDutchman, I judge, by the way he pronounced both German and French, though he spoke them well. "

"How are you so well able to distinguish the difference inpronunciation?" I asked. 

"I was educated in Germany, " he answered. "I learned a good many thingsthere besides what my tutors intended to teach me. You must not supposethat I could have picked up the various bits of information I possess inany English place of education. As it is, we beat most other nations inwhatever we set our hands to; but if English lads had the same style ofinstruction given in most of the countries in Europe, modified to suitour characters, we should beat them all hollow, wherever we encounteredthem abroad. "

It must be remembered that this conversation took place many years ago, and that very considerable improvements have since taken place in thestyle of education afforded to boys in many of our schools in England. 

We thought very little at the time of our encounter with the Dutchgentleman, though, as it proved, it had a very great influence onNewman's fate. 

When we got on board, we found that the ship was likely to remain sometime longer in the Roads, and that we might have a chance of seeingsomething more of the country. As Malays, or natives, are employed inthose hot climates to do the hard work on board ship, as Kroomen are onthe coast of Africa--such as wooding and watering--we had more leisuretime than we should otherwise have enjoyed. That evening a number ofus, among whom was Tom Knowles, were sitting on the forecastle spinningyarns, when he told us what I did not know before--that he had servedaboard a man-of-war at the taking of Java. 

"You must know, mates, " he began, taking out his quid and stowing itaway in his waistcoat-pocket, "I belonged to a whaler which was lost outhere, when those of her crew who escaped were picked up by an Indiamanand carried to Madras. I with others was there pressed on board the_Caroline_ frigate. I didn't much like it at first; but when I hadshaken myself, and looked about me, and heard that the captain was afine sort of a fellow, I thought it was just as well to do my duty likea man, and to make myself happy. Captain Cole, that was his name, wasn't a chap to let the grass grow under the ship's bottom. Directlyafter I joined, we were ordered off to Amboyna, in company with the_Piemontaise_, Captain Foote; the 18-gun brig _Barracouta_; andtransport _Mandarin_, with a hundred European soldiers. We heard thatwhen the captain went to take his leave of the admiral--Drury was hisname--he asked leave just to knock up some of the Dutch settlements onthe way. 

"`Well, ' says the admiral, `there's no harm just frightening them alittle, and you may be able to surprise a port or two; but don't go andget into mischief, now, and hurt yourselves. There are severalimpregnable places, such as Banda, for instance, which it would be outof the question for you to attack. Vast heaps of wealth are stored upthere, so the Dutch will take precious good care that you don't get intothe place. '

"`We'll see about that, ' thought the captain to himself, winking withthe eye which was turned away from the admiral. `Of course, sir, we'lldo nothing rash, ' says he. `It isn't the way of English sailors. Weare always steady, sure sort of fellows. '

"`That's right, ' says the admiral; and away went the captain, havingmade up his mind to a thing or two. 

"We reached Palo-Penang on the 30th May, in the year 1810. There thecaptain persuaded the governor to let him have about twentyartillery-men and a lot of scaling-ladders; and having learned somethingmore about the chief place in Banda, called Banda-Neira, he kept to theresolution he had all along in his mind, to try and get possession ofit. In spite of the south-east monsoon, away we sailed, therefore, forthe Java Sea. As it would not have done to let the Dutchmen in otherplaces guess what we were about to do, he determined to take the shipthrough the passage between the big island of Borneo and Malwalli. Itwas a touch-and-go matter to get through, for in every direction therewere coral-reefs, which would pretty soon have brought us up if we hadrun on them; but we had look-outs at the jib-boom-end and thetopsail-yard-arms, and as the water was clear, and the weather fine, weescaped all danger. 

"Early in the morning, on the 8th of July, we made the Banda Islands, and by night were up with the place called Banda-Neira. As we stood in, the guns from the fort opened on us; but seeing they did us no harm, they soon left off throwing away their powder. That very evening therewas a sudden change in the weather, and it came on to blow and rain veryhard. 

"`Too good a chance to be thrown away, ' thought the captain. `We shallnever be able to take this place in common ship-shape fashion; but asthe Mynheers won't be expecting us on such a bad night as this, andwhat's more, won't hear us coming, I'll just see if we can't get onshore in the boats and give them a surprise. '

"Now, anyone looking at Banda-Neira would have thought that it would bequite impossible to take it with the small force we had got with us;but, as I said, our captain wasn't a man to trouble his head aboutimpossibilities. 

"The place was two miles long and half a mile wide, and protected by noless than ten sea-batteries and two strong forts--one called Belgica, and the other Nassau. They commanded each other, as they did the tensea-batteries. The first alone mounted fifty-two heavy guns; andaltogether there were no less than one hundred and thirty-eight guns inthe place. Having run in within two cables' length of the shore, wedropped our anchors, and at 11 p. M. The boats under the command ofCaptain Cole shoved off with three hundred and ninety men, includingofficers. The place we were to pull for was the east point of Banda. What a night it was--blowing and raining like fury and dark as pitch!but that, in many respects, was all the better for us. Captains Coleand Kenah arrived first at the appointed spot in their gigs, and only bydegrees did some of the other boats get up there--it was so difficult tofind our way. The boat I was in, with several others, grounded on acoral-reef, not a hundred yards from a sea-battery, which we foundmounted no less than ten long 18-pounders; and as they pointed directlyon the reef, they could very soon have knocked us all to pieces. Fortunately, the garrison slept so soundly, or the rain and wind madesuch a clatter, that they did not discover us. Overboard we all jumped, and soon had the boats afloat, and pulling on, we reached a snug littlesandy cove, surrounded by trees or jungle. Here the captain musteredus, and found that he had only got about a hundred and forty seamen andmarines, and forty red jackets, with Captain Kenah, five lieutenants, and some soldier officers. Among the lieutenants was one calledLieutenant Edmund Lyons, with whom I afterwards was at the taking ofanother place, of which I'll tell you presently. Well, as I was saying, it was pelting and blowing and as black as pitch; and though we hadlittle more than half our force on shore, our captain did not like togive up the enterprise, so says he, `My lads, I should just like to takepossession of some of these forts, but we are a small number to do it, Iown; yet, if I thought all would follow, I'd lead the way. '

"We didn't shout, but we told him that, to a man, we were ready to gowherever he thought fit to lead us. 

"`Then, ' said he, `we'll just walk into the Dutchmen's castles beforethey've time to rub their eyes. '

"Captain Kenah, with a party of us armed with pikes, on this at onceadvanced to the rear of the nearest battery. Not a word was spoken, andthe noise of the storm drowned the sound of our footsteps. We got closeup to the fort--a sentry was marching up and down--a pike was into himbefore he could discharge his musket--and in an instant we were over theramparts. We could see the Dutchmen, match in hand, at their guns onthe sea side, and very much surprised were they to find us in theirrear, knocking them down right and left, before they had time to fire ashot. They cried for quarter, and we had sixty of them prisoners in afew minutes. Leaving a few men to take charge of the battery, CaptainKenah was pushing on to take possession of the next, when Captain Colesent to say he had got hold of a guide, and was going to take FortBelgica itself. 

"Away we went along a narrow winding path, towards the castle. TheDutchmen's bugles were sounding in all directions, showing us that theywere awake; but probably they didn't know where their enemies were to befound. We had got close up to the citadel before we were discovered;and then, though they began firing away pretty briskly, as they couldnot see us, and were, I guess, in a mortal fright, none of us were hit. Those in front had the scaling-ladders, and, with their help, we managedto climb up the steep bank on which the castle stood; and in no time, itseemed, we were in possession of all the lower works. We were not inthough yet; but we soon hauled up the scaling-ladders, and began toplace them against the wall of the citadel, when we found out that theywere too short--more's the shame to the fellows who made them! Theenemy discovering this, began peppering away at us with musketry, andfired several round-shot into the bargain. Here was a sell! We beganto think that we should have to be about-ship, when what should we see, but the gates open to let in the governor and some other officers whohad been sleeping outside the walls. The opportunity was not to belost. Led by our gallant captain, we made a dash at the gate. Thecolonel defended it bravely, but he and several of his men were killedin a minute, and on we rushed into the very centre of the fort. Neverwere fellows in such a mortal fright as were the Dutchmen. Daylightjust then breaking, we saw them scrambling and leaping, like a flock ofsheep, over the walls. However, some of the officers, and fortyartillery-men, gave themselves up as prisoners. 

"We now had the British Jack flying away on the flagstaff above ourheads. Still, we were a very small band to hold the forts we hadconquered, and we looked out with no little anxiety for the arrival ofthe rest of our force. What had become of the boats we could not tell;but as the sun rose, we saw the _Caroline_ and the other ships standingin towards the town. 

"The Dutchmen did not know our numbers, probably; so the captain, putting a bold face on the matter, sent a flag of truce to Fort Nassau, to say that if the troops didn't behave themselves, and cease firing, hewould fire into them with a vengeance, and into the city to boot. Now, from what we had done, the Dutchmen, having no doubt that he would keephis word, hauled down their flag; and before many hours were out, thinking discretion the best part of valour, their whole force, regularsand militia, to the number of one thousand and five hundred, laid downtheir arms on the glacis of Fort Nassau. Thus you see what a few bravemen, when well led, can do. 

"Of our one hundred and eighty men, we lost very few. Our lessfortunate shipmates in the boats, after knocking about all night, gotalongside the transport _Mandarin_. Captain Foote was left as governorof the island with a garrison, while we went on to Amboyna. Our captainwas a fine fellow. The ship's company afterwards presented him with asword worth a hundred guineas, to show their love and estimation of hisbravery. Several cups and swords were presented to him by the officersand soldiers. I can't tell you what loads of prize-money we got fromthat place, but I can tell you that it very soon found its way out ofthe pockets of most of us. 

"Well, as I was saying, I afterwards joined the _Minden_ 74, to whichship Lieutenant Edmund Lyons belonged. We had been cruising with asquadron off this place, Batavia. Now there was at the north-easternend of Java, not far from the Straits of Madura, a very strong fort orcastle on Pauka Point, lately erected, called Fort Marrack. It was aconsiderable annoyance to all ships passing that way, and it wastherefore deemed important to destroy it. However, as only between fourand five hundred men could be spared for the enterprise, it was givenup, as that number was looked upon as insufficient for the undertaking. However, the _Minden_, having on board a number of Dutch prisoners, Lieutenant Lyons was directed to land them in the launch and cutter atBatavia. I was in the launch. After we had put the Mynheers on shore, we stood along the coast to the eastward, for the lieutenant was in nohurry to get back to the ship. He had got something in his head, do yousee? He remembered what he had helped to do with Captain Cole; so sayshe to himself, `I'll just see if we can't play the Dutchmen just suchanother trick with regard to this here Fort Marrack. ' When he had got athing into his head to do, which he thought could be done, it was noeasy matter for anyone else to knock it out again, till he had triedwhether he was right or wrong. 

"Two days after landing the prisoners, we got up to the fort just atdark. The lieutenant had a look at it, just to arrange his plan; and wethen ran under a point of land, where we lay snug out of sight till thedarkest part of the night. At first the moon was up, and would havediscovered us to the enemy. The fort mounted fifty-four heavy guns, andhad a garrison of one hundred and eighty regulars; but what did we carefor that! We waited eagerly for the moon to go down, and then we bothpulled away with muffled oars for the fort. There was a good deal ofsurf on the shore, but we hoped its noise, aided by the darkness, wouldprevent our approach being discovered. However, the Dutchmen hadlearned to be more awake than when we took Fort Belgica, and as we gotclose under the land, the sentinels let off their muskets to give thealarm. No time was to be lost. Lieutenant Lyons ordered us to run theboats through the surf right on to the shore, under the very muzzles ofthe guns in the lower tier. `On, my lads!--on!' he exclaimed, leadingus, sword in hand, right up over the embankment into the lower batterybefore the Dutchmen had time to look round them. We found the gunnersas before, with their matches in their hands, and had to kill three ofthem to prevent their firing. Having knocked down every man we found, we did not stop to look around, but followed our gallant leader into theupper battery, which, in as little time as I have taken to describe, wasin our possession. It was `Hurrah, my boys!--at them!' and after aminute's cutting, and slashing, and firing of pistols, and dashing themat each other's heads, the place was ours. That's the way we used to dothings in the war, when once a plan had been determined on by ourofficers!

"But we had still plenty of work to do, for when we went on and reachedthe highest part of the fort, we found a large body of Dutch troopsdrawn up to receive us. Nothing daunted by this, our gallantlieutenant, singing in Dutch, and French, and English, and all sorts oflanguages, that he had got four hundred men at his back, and would giveno quarter if any opposition was offered, we fired a volley, and at themagain we went, cutlass, and pike, and bayonet in hand. Whether they hadDutch courage in them or not, I don't know, but certainly they did notlike our appearance; and as we came up with them they turned tail, andoff they went helter-skelter through a gateway in the rear of the fort. After them we went, and sent the last man out with a hearty good kick, and shut the gate after him!

"No sooner had we got the fort to ourselves than the enemy beganpeppering away at us from a fort in the rear, and from a couple ofgun-boats; and considering that we hadn't the four hundred men thelieutenant talked of, but only just the two boats' crews, we had enoughto do to spike the guns, and to keep up a brisk fire in return. You maybe sure, mates, we were as busy as ants doing all the mischief we couldin a short time. We had a young midshipman with us, Mr Franks, notfifteen years old; and while the fire was at the hottest, in the middleof it he hoisted the British ensign on the flagstaff on the top of thefort. 

"While we were busy spiking the gnus, and firing away right and left, wemade out, through the darkness, what we took to be a large body of Dutchtroops. There were plenty of light carriage guns in the fort; and wheninformation was brought him, Lieutenant Lyons ordered us to slue roundtwo of them, and bring them close up to the gate. When we had done so, he and Mr Langton loaded them up to the muzzles with grape and musketballs. On came the enemy. He let them get close up to the gate, andthen he and the midshipman fired slap in among them. It was much morethan they expected, and lest they should get another dose, they putabout in a great hurry, and off they went as fast as they could pelt, wehallooing and hurrahing after them. You may be sure we didn't followthem, or they would soon have found out the trick we had played them. All the time no one had been killed, and only Mr Langton and three menslightly wounded; but from the number of troops brought against him, MrLyons saw that we could not hope to hold the fort; so while the Dutchtroops were scampering off in one direction, we bolted over the rampartsin the other. When we got down to the beach, we were not a little takenaback by finding that the surf had driven the barge right up on theshore and bilged her; but, fortunately, the cutter was still afloat. Sowe all got into her as silently as mice, and shoved off, leaving thefort to take care of itself. We were much amused by seeing the Dutchmenoutside firing away into it as hard as ever. When they discovered theirmistake, I don't know; but whenever they did, they must have found allthe guns spiked, and the British ensign flying triumphantly over theirheads, to show them who had done all the mischief. 

"We got safely back to the _Minden_ next day, none of us much the worsefor the exploit. Soon after that, the whole of Java and itsdependencies capitulated to Sir Robert Stopford and General Wetherall. This was the only service I saw in the navy--for within a year of thattime I got my discharge, and once more joined a whaler. "

Old Tom's account of these two gallant exploits was received by allhands with great applause, for that is just the sort of work in whichseamen delight, and I know that all of us wished we had been with him. I need scarcely say that the Lieutenant Edmund Lyons of those days wasafterwards the well-known Admiral Lord Lyons, who, from thatcommencement, won his way up to his well-deserved honours. 

Two days after our encounter with the Dutch gentleman on shore, thecaptain sent for Newman into his cabin. He was some time away; and whenhe came forward, I saw that his countenance wore an unusually pleasedexpression. 

"What has happened?" I asked. 

"Why, the captain tells me that the stranger we met the other day is aMr Von Kniper, some great man or other, with whom he has long beenacquainted; and that he has sent to request the captain to bring me todine with him. The captain is very good-natured about it, and says thathe shall be very happy to take me. But it will be difficult to find adress to go in. It will never do to appear in a round jacket. So, taking all things into consideration, I think that I shall decline thehonour. "

"That would be a pity, " said I. "You don't know to what the visit maylead. "

"To be stared at and patronised as the common sailor who can draw andtalk German; and then to have the cold shoulder turned towards me thenext day, or to be passed unrecognised!" he answered, with no littlebitterness. "I am more independent, and safer from annoyance, in theposition I have chosen to occupy. I'll not go out of it. "

I tried to reason him out of his resolution. 

"It may be a turning-point in your fortune, " I observed. 

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leadson to fortune, " he repeated. "You don't suppose that the flood willever set in for me. The current has been too long running the other wayfor me ever to expect it to change. I am content to let it continue itsold course, and swim merrily with it. "

Had Newman been left to himself, I do not know that he would havealtered his opinion; but soon after this the captain again sent to seehim. 

"Well, Jack, I must needs go where the wind drives, " he remarked, as hecame forward. "Our skipper is certainly a very good-natured fellow. Henot only insists on my going with him to the house of Mynheer VonKniper, but tells me that he has made arrangements for rigging me out infull fig for the occasion. It will be very good fun, I daresay; and Ionly wish that you could be there to enjoy it. "

"If I saw you happy, I should be happy; but I could not enjoy such ascene as that myself. I should feel so completely like a fish out ofwater. "

"Oh, nonsense!" he answered; "a man has only quietly to observe whatothers do, and not to attempt to show himself off, or to broach anysubject, and he will generally pass muster as a well-behaved person. However, as Mr Von Kniper did not ask you to come, of course you cannotgo. Well, I dare say that I shall have enough to make you laugh when Icome back. "

I am not at all certain that Newman was right in his last observation. Practice and experience are absolutely necessary to fit a person for anystation of life; and no wise man will ever wish to step into one forwhich he is not fitted by education or habit, or to associate with thosewith whom he has no ideas or associations in common. The great mistakenumbers of well-intentioned people make, is the wish to rise in theworld themselves, or that their children may rise in it to a superiorstation to that in which they were themselves born. They forget thatthe reason why they were sent into the world was to prepare them foranother and a better existence; that this world is no abiding-place; andthat, therefore, it is worse than folly to take toil and trouble toclimb up a few steps in the ladder which will enable us to look down onour fellow-worms still crawling below us. There is one most importantthing parents should teach their children--one most important thingchildren should desire--"To do their duty in that station of life inwhich it has pleased God to call them. " Their sole motive should belove to their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, who thus commanded them toact. At the same time, they may be well assured that if they do theirduty with all their heart--if they do diligently whatever their handfinds to do--they will not fail to be placed in those posts of honourand responsibility which even worldly men are always anxious to get suchpersons to fill. We see how Joseph was raised to honour in Egypt, howDaniel was respected at the court of Babylon. The Bible is full of suchexamples, and those examples were given for our instruction. Those menrose, not because they wished to rise, but because they strove to dotheir duty--to worship the Lord their God with singleness of heart. 

Poor Newman! I saw that under his pretended indifference there was nolittle satisfaction at the thought of occupying, even for a day, aposition in which he probably had once been accustomed to shine. Myonly fear was, that when he got back to the forepeak, and our roughmanners and rougher conversation, he would remark the contrast, andbecome discontented with the lot he had chosen. 

The next day he and the captain went on shore to the dinner-party. Ashe stepped into the boat, and took his seat in the stern-sheets, I couldnot help remarking how completely the gentleman he looked. I must ownthat I waited with no little anxiety for his return, to hear what hadoccurred. I never before had been so intimate with any man as withNewman. I told him without reserve all that was in my heart, and hespoke freely to me, at the same time that he never once, even in themost remote manner, alluded to his past history. It was merelycasually, when speaking of Mynheer Von Kniper, that he mentioned havingbeen educated in Germany, or probably he would never even have told methat. On religious subjects, also, he never uttered an opinion; butfrom his very silence I had reason to believe that he entertainednotions which were very far removed from the truth. Among all his bookshe had no Bible, and no works bearing on religion. He appeared to havestudiously kept all such out of his library, as he did religion itselfout of his thoughts. If I ever alluded to it, even in the remotestdegree, he instantly turned the conversation; and whenever it wasmentioned in the berth, which was, indeed, very seldom, his countenanceassumed a look of cold, callous indifference, or a marked expression ofscorn, which indicated too plainly what were his real opinions on thesubject. 

With regard to myself, I had always been a believer, though a sadly coldand careless one, except when roused by some particular occurrences, asI have mentioned in the course of my history. I still at this timecontinued much in the same dangerous state, but in other respects agreat change had occurred. Deeply, indeed, was I indebted to Newman forit. He had awakened my mind out of its long sleep, and if I could notcall myself an educated man, I at least had learned to prize theadvantages of education, and was endeavouring to improve myself, and wasgreedy to gain knowledge wherever I could obtain it. No person couldhave devoted himself more earnestly to my instruction than did myfriend. He seemed never to weary in helping me over difficulties; andif I took a pleasure in learning, he certainly took a still greater inteaching me. Without his aid I could not have made a tenth part of theprogress I had done. I now read fluently, and even wrote tolerably. Ihad read through and mastered even more than the outlines of ancient andmodern history, and with several periods I was tolerably conversant. Iknew something of the past and present state of every country in theworld, though I could not boast of knowing much about the mere names ofthe chief towns and rivers. I had read the lives of several men who hadstood forward prominently in the world, and I had mastered some of theimportant facts of natural science. I need not further describe theamount of my knowledge. I could not have attained half I have mentionedhad I not read on steadily, and carefully eschewed anything likedesultory reading--that is to say, as far as the limited library towhich I had access would allow. I did not always read the books I mighthave desired, but I diligently read the best I could obtain. If I, therefore, did so much in a short time with indifferent means, how muchmight be done with all the advantages possessed by those on shore!

Late in the evening Newman came back. The first thing he did on gettingon board was to go below and shift his clothes. He then sat himselfdown on the windlass, with his arms folded across his bosom; and when Iwent up to him, he burst into aloud fit of laughter. 

"I thought it would be so!" he exclaimed, when he recovered himself. "Mynheer Von Kniper was very polite, and so was his wife; and theyintroduced me to all their company. I believe the governor-general wasthere, or some great person. They paid me much more attention than theydid the captain, who, if he had not been a right honest, good-naturedfellow, might have been not a little jealous. First one person talkedto me in one language, then another would come up with a differenttongue in his mouth, and I had to show off in great style. Then I wasasked to exhibit my drawings, and they were handed about and held up tothe light, and admired by all hands as wonderful productions of art. Infact, I saw clearly I was the lion of the evening. I thought that sortof thing was only done in civilised, polite England; but I suppose lionhunters and lion exhibiters are to be found in all parts of the world. To do Mynheer Von Kniper justice, I must say that he had no hand in thework. During dinner nothing could be pleasanter or kinder than hisconversation and manner; and certainly I had reason to believe that hewished me well. At length people got weary of hearing me roar, and allhad had a look at the wonderful common sailor, and so the skipper seemedto think that it was time to be off; but our host would not allow us, and insisted that after the rest of the guests were gone, we should stopto have some supper. During the meal, Mynheer Von Kniper introduced thesubject of drawing, and telling me that he longed to have all the scenesof whale catching and killing fully illustrated, asked if I wouldundertake to do a set of drawings for him on that subject. I could notrefuse to do as he wished, after all the civilities he had shown me; soI told him that I should be very happy; but he then gently hinted thathe wished me to undertake the task as a regular commission, and hebegged that I would put what price I thought fit on my productions. Ihave made up my mind, at all events, to do them. I think every man hasa perfect right to make a profit of his talents, especially if herequires money. I do not. I have now got a profession--a right nobleone too! I am now a more independent man than had I been toiling on foryears at a desk, or dancing attendance in some great man's ante-chamberfor some of the patronage he may have to bestow. You think that I havebenefited you by teaching you to read and write. Now, in reality, Ihave merely given you the implements of a trade--the means of gainingknowledge. You have given me knowledge--you have taught me a tradeitself. Therefore, Williams, you see that I am still your debtor. "

For some time he talked on in this strain. I clearly saw that he waspleased with the attention shown him, in spite of his belief to thecontrary. I would not for one moment exhibit Newman as an example, orhold him up as a fine character. He had very great faults and manyweaknesses. I do not know that he had strength of character. He had anindependent spirit in some respects, a clear perception, andconsiderable talent. His greatly superior education raised him muchabove the associates among whom he had thrown himself. 

Soon after this the ship was ready for sea, and as we had not above acouple of hundred barrels to fill, we hoped soon to be on our homewardvoyage. It was the winter season, and we were bound for the coast ofJapan. We were, however, several months before we got a full ship; andthen, with joyful hearts to most on board, we once more made sail forOld England. 

During all the time, Newman was busily employed in finishing up thesketches of whale catching, and very beautiful productions they were. Nothing could be more correct or truth-like. Very different they were, indeed, from the drawings I have since often seen, where the whale hashad its flukes put on the wrong way, and boats are represented as beingtossed high up in the air, some thirty feet, at least, and broken intwo, while the crews are seen tumbling down like snowflakes, with armsand legs sprawling out right over the whale. I have seen many a boatsmashed, but never one sent up in that fashion into the air. Newman wasanxious to send these sketches to Mynheer Von Kniper; but as noopportunity occurred, he was afraid that he would be compelled to waittill another voyage to present them himself. Captain Carr promised, assoon as the ship could be refitted, to return on another voyage to thoseseas. 

We had a quick passage home. I remained, as I had often before done, tolook after the ship. Newman, when he had received his share of profits, which was very considerable, went on shore. What became of him I do notknow. Not seeing anything of him, I was afraid that he was not going toreturn. Something there evidently was very mysterious about hishistory. I had a great desire to discover it; still, I saw no chance ofdoing so. 

Hitherto I had always squandered away my money in the most foolishmanner. I now got Captain Carr to invest some of it for me, and, retaining a little for pocket-money, with the rest I purchased the bestbooks I could find, and other articles which I thought likely to beuseful to me in a three years' voyage. At last the ship was ready againfor sea. Tom Knowles and most of the other old hands had joined; for, being wise men, when they had found a good captain they liked to stickby him. We hauled out into the stream; but still, greatly to mydisappointment, Newman did not appear. 

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

BATAVIA AND THE FEEJEE ISLANDS. 

The pilot was on board, the topsails were loosed, and the order had beengiven to heave up the anchor, when a boat was seen coming off from thesouthern shore of the Mersey. A seaman sprung up the ship's side, and acouple of chests were hoisted up after him. I was aloft. I looked downon deck and saw Newman. I found that he had written to the captain, whohad reserved a berth for him, but it was still before the mast. He hadthe promise, he told me, of a mate's berth should a vacancy occur; buthe observed, "I am not ambitious. With what I have I am content. " Heasked no questions as to what I had been doing. It was not his way. Hewas certainly free from vulgar curiosity; neither did he volunteer togive me any account of himself. I told him one day what I had done withthe proceeds of the last voyage. 

"Ah, you are wiser than I am, Williams, " he answered, with a tone ofbitterness. "I thought so, or I should not have tried to make you myfriend. I have been seeing life, as it is called. I wanted to discoverwhat changes had taken place in the world during my absence--as if theworld could ever change. I found it deceitful, vain, and frivolous asbefore. I have been buying experience. The whole remainder of mypossessions lies stowed away in those two chests. The most valuableportions are a few new books for you and I to read and discuss; and thistime I have not forgotten a suit of shore going clothes, in case I haveto appear again in the character of a gentleman. And now, farewell--along farewell to England's shores! It may be that I shall never treadthem again! Why should I regret it? There are brighter skies andricher lands in another hemisphere. "

We had a quick run to Cape Horn, which we rounded in safety; and thenstanding across the Pacific, we steered for the fishing-ground off thecoast of Japan. We were, as in our former voyage, very successfulindeed. I suspect that success in whaling, as in most other affairs oflife, depends very much on the practical knowledge, the perseverance, and talent of those engaged in it. The master of a successful whalerwill be found to unite all these qualifications. He meets with whales, because, exercising his judgment, and making use of the information hehas collected, he goes to the ground where they are likely to be metwith; he catches them, because he sets about it in the best way; and hebrings his ship home in safety, because he never for a moment relaxeshis care and watchfulness to guard against misfortune. For my own part, I do not believe in luck. I have never yet met with an instance of alucky or an unlucky man in which I could not trace the effect to thecause. 

We were lucky, because Captain Carr was a judicious, persevering, sensible man; and thus, in our first year's fishing, we got more than athird full. At the end of that time we found ourselves brought up oncemore off Batavia. 

The captain, in the kindest way, invited Newman at once to accompany himon shore. "Bring your drawings with you for Mynheer Von Kniper, " saidhe. "I doubt not that he will be glad to see them. "

On receiving the invitation, Newman dived below. When he returned ondeck his appearance was completely changed. Instead of the roughseaman, he appeared as a well-dressed gentleman, and certainly morerefined in appearance than either the captain or any of the officers. Captain Carr looked at him with an eye of satisfaction; and it was verypleasant to observe how perfectly free he was from any petty feeling ofjealousy at seeing himself eclipsed by one of his own men. As the boatshoved off from the ship's side I thought to myself--"Depend on it, there is something in store for Newman; he will not come back in thecynical spirit in which he seemed to be after his first visit. "

I had made excellent use of all my spare time during our passage out, and had added considerably to my stock of knowledge. Newman's bookswere all admirably selected, and were of excellent service to me. Themore I read, the more I wished to read--to gain information on points onwhich I found myself ignorant. Happily one of the crew, a fine, steadyyoung man, had a Bible with him; and he having offered it to me, for thefirst time in my life I began to read its sacred pages. As I read on Iwas forcibly struck with its simplicity and beauty, its fulness andminuteness, and yet the immense amount of matter it contained. I beganto compare one part with another--the prophecies with their fulfilment--one point of the history with the rest--the great variety of subjectsand style, and yet the beautiful adaptation of the various parts withthe whole; nor did I neglect to compare sacred with profane history, orto remark how one corroborates the other--just as modern science, thegreater advances it makes, is found to confirm more and more the trothof the accounts given by the sacred writers. Still all this time myheart was not turned to the right way. I had discovered a new andinexhaustible source of interest, but that was all. 

Newman did not return on board till the next day. He was much elated inspirits when he appeared, though he tried to repress the feeling. 

"Well, Jack, the tide has begun to flow at last, " said he: "you shallhear all about it. Mynheer Von Kniper was excessively pleased with thedrawings I took him, and the more so when I begged he would accept themfrom me. "

"`I have often thought about you, ' said he; `and, I must confess, littleexpected to see you return here. I rejoice to see you back, for youmust know that I have an offer to make you, which I hope you will thinkfit to accept. We have been for some time in want of a commander forone of the Colonial Government schooners, and I have ascertained fromyour captain that you are in every respect fitted for the post, and thathe will give you your discharge from his ship. I have therefore greatsatisfaction in offering it to you. '

"I scarcely knew how to express myself in thanking him; so I took hishand, and shaking it heartily, told him that I was very much obliged tohim, and that I placed myself entirely under his directions. So it wassettled, and that same evening he presented me with my commissionsigned, and here I am, a lieutenant commander in the Dutch ColonialNavy! It is, in truth, a hop, step, and a jump into a post of honour Ilittle expected, nor can I yet realise the greatness of the change. "

I congratulated Newman most sincerely on the prospects thus opened up tohim, though I regretted being so completely separated from him, as Imust expect to be, for the future. He suggested the possibility of myfollowing him, but that I at once saw was not likely to occur. In thefirst place, Captain Carr was not likely to allow a steady hand to leavehim so early in the voyage; and probably the Dutch authorities would notbe very ready to give a berth to another Englishman on board the samevessel; added to which, I had some misgivings as to serving under theirflag. 

Newman, of course, saw the first of these objections; and probably, ifthe truth were known, though he might not have been ready to confess itto himself after the intimate terms on which we had been together, hewould have found it inconvenient while he was captain to have had mebefore the mast. It must be remembered that, though my mind wasbeginning to be cultivated, I was still a rough, hardy sailor inappearance and manners. I had never in my life dreamed of aspiring toany command, and I did not feel myself fitted for any post above thatwhich I then held. 

While I say this I would point out that it is very necessary to becautious in judging from appearances. A man may have a very refinedmind under a somewhat rough exterior, and a very coarse, bad one withina handsome, attractive outside. Generally speaking, with a few minutes'conversation, the appearance of a person and the expression of hiscountenance will show what is likely to be found within; but it is farwiser not to place more than ordinary confidence in the companions amongwhom we are thrown until they have been duly tried and found to walkrightly in their conduct towards God and man. 

Newman seemed to be in no way elated by his change of fortune, andshowed himself free from a very common littleness of mind, for he spentthe rest of the day among us forward, talking and chatting with allhands as freely as before; and while he was packing his chests, hemanaged to find some little present as a keepsake for each of us. Thenhe sat himself down on his chest, and gave us an earnest lecture in hisold style on the advantages of education, and urged us all to continueour studies as before, and to show by our conduct to each other and toour officers the superiority of educated, intelligent men over ignorantand uncultivated ones. 

When he went aft to wish the officers good-bye, he was treated verykindly and politely by them, all of them congratulating him on his goodfortune; and as he descended the ship's side for the last time, we gavehim three as hearty cheers as ever rose from the deck of a whaler with afull hold; and little Jim, the smallest boy on board, blubbered as ifhis heart would break at the loss of one whom he had learned to look onas his best friend. 

Before we sailed he had his schooner fitted out and manned with astrange crew of Malays, Chinese, Dutchmen, Frenchmen, and not a fewrepresentatives of other nations. He sent me a note insisting on mygoing to see him on board. His schooner was a fine little vessel, though built in the colony by Chinese. She measured some hundred andfifty tons, and, well handled, was fit to go anywhere; but this would bedifficult work, I saw, with his mongrel crew. His cabin was fitted upin the complete way I should have expected him to have planned. It was, indeed, a very different sort of place from that in which he had longbeen accustomed to live--much more like, in the handsomeness of itsfittings and its accommodation, to the luxurious cabin of the oldRainbow, which I used to see in my youth. He himself, too, was greatlychanged in his appearance from the rough sailor he had long been. Whendressed in plain clothes, he looked like a gentleman certainly, but nota polished one; but in a uniform which became him perfectly, he was avery good-looking officer. He was conscious of the improvement. 

"I begin to think that there are yet higher steps for me to climb, Williams, " he observed, after he had cordially welcomed me and orderedrefreshments to be brought in. "Who knows but that one day I may becomean admiral, or a governor of one of these islands? I am becomingambitious, I assure you. I thought it was not in me. I was till latelyperfectly contented with my lot. I proposed spending my youth knockingabout in these seas, and when I found old age creeping on me, settlingdown in one of the many thousand beautiful isles of the bright Pacificto spend the remainder of my days. Now that dream has passed away, andI feel an anxiety to climb. I am growing more and more ambitious; for Isee that there are plenty of things in this world worth living for--plenty of golden fruit to be plucked, if a man has but the daring toscramble up the tree in spite of the thorns and knots in the way, andreach out to the branches. "

What did I reply to Newman? Did I offer him good advice? Alas, no! Ithought not to say to him, Do thy duty in that station of life to whichit has pleased God to call thee, regardless of this world's tinselprizes. Look steadily forward to another and a better world for thyreward. This he did not. This world, and this alone, entirely occupiedhis attention. He only thought of the gratification of the moment. Blindly and obstinately he shut out from his contemplations all thoughtsof his eternal interests. 

Newman's man-of-war schooner and the stout old whaler the _Drake_ leftBatavia Roads the same day. We were bound for the ground offNavigator's and some of the neighbouring groups of islands. We werefortunate enough to kill a couple of whales on our passage, and withintwo years after leaving England had nearly filled up all our casks. Ibegan to consider whether I should remain in the ship, or, supposingCaptain Carr would be willing to give me my discharge, whether I shouldjoin another ship lately come out, and thus, by saving the long voyagehome and back, more speedily accomplish what was now the aim of myexistence--to make a sum sufficient to enable me to remain at home forthe rest of my days. I was now advancing in life. I had seen a greatdeal of hard service, and I began to long for rest. Such is the desireimplanted in the bosom of all men--rest for the mind, rest for the body, rest for the soul. In youth, when health, and vigour, and animalspirits are at their highest, it is not developed, but when age comeson, and the body begins to feel the symptoms of decay, the mind growsweary and the spirits flag. Then rest is sought for--rest is looked foras the panacea for all evils. Yet who ever found rest in this world--perfect tranquillity and joy? No one. Still that such is the fact Ihad yet to learn. Yet, would a beneficent Creator have implanted thedesire in the human heart without affording the means of gratifying it?Certain I am that He would not; but thus, in his infinite wisdom, heshows us the vanity of this world, and points to another and a better, where assuredly it may be found. 

I took an opportunity of mentioning the subject of my thoughts to thecaptain, and he promised me that, if no other of the crew left when theship was full, should we fall in with another wanting hands, he wouldcomply with my wish, and, moreover, invest my share of the profits ofthe voyage as I might direct. 

We had been for some time on the ground I have spoken of when we foundourselves in a perfect calm. By slow degrees the usual sea went down, and even the swell of the mighty ocean subsided. The crew sat lazilyabout the deck--some making air-nets for hats, others pointing ropes, working a mouse, or making a pudding, or a dolphin, or turning in agasket; some leaned idly over the rail, and others slept still more idlybelow; while a few, not altogether unmindful of our old shipmate'sinstructions, were bending over their books or using their pencils. Some also were carving with their knives strange devices on bones, orcutting out rings from the shell of the tortoise. 

"Ah, I wish we had Ned Newman aboard here!" exclaimed one. "He wouldsoon set us all alive. "

"Why can't you set yourselves alive?" said Tom Knowles, looking up fromhis work on a rope he had in hand. "Idle chaps are always talking ofgetting some one else to do what they ought to do for themselves. Justtry now. Let's try a stave at all events. Come, I'll strike up. "

Old Tom's proposal pleased all hands, and soon a melody, if not verysweet, at least harmonious, floated over the blue sea. 

Whether the whales came to listen to our music, I cannot say; but whilewe were all joining in chorus, the ever-exciting shout of "There shespouts--there she spouts!" broke in upon it; and, springing to our feet, the boats were lowered and manned, and in less than three minutes fourof them were gliding away as fast as they could be sent through thewater, after two whales which made their appearance together, not farapart from each other. 

The captain's boat got hold of the first without much difficulty; but ashe was a strong old bull, he played all sorts of antics, and other twoboats were called to assist in his capture. Meantime the third mate'sboat, in which I was, went after the other whale, which sounded just aswe got up to him. For some reason or other, he very soon appeared againa mile ahead, and away we went in chase. Again he played us the sametrick, but this time he was longer under water, and must have goneupwards of two miles away before he once more came up. The more sporthe seemed disposed to give us, the less inclined were we to lose him, soafter him we went as fast as before--not faster, for that would havebeen difficult. As we got near, we saw that he was lying very quiet, and we did not think he saw us, so we had out our paddles, and beganstealing up to him as cautiously as a cat does to a mouse--only in thiscase it was rather more like the mouse creeping up to the cat. Thethird mate was a well-built, powerful young man. Holding up his hand asa sign to us to be cautious, he stepped forward, and there he stood, harpoon in hand, as we glided on towards the monster. Down came theheavy harpoon, and it was buried, socket up, in the side of the monster!In an instant the acute pain woke him up. "Stern all!" was now thecry, and we had to back away from him in a great hurry, as, raising hismighty flukes, he went head down, sounding till he almost took away thewhole of our line. Fortunately he met with the bottom, perhaps acoral-reef, and up he came, striking away head out at a great speed inthe direction he had before taken. So intent were we on the chase, thatwe had little time to observe what was doing with the other whale, though, of course, we took the bearings of the ship, as we were rapidlywhirled away till we completely lost sight of her. This was no unusualoccurrence, nor did it in the smallest degree excite our apprehension, as we had never failed, with more or less trouble, to find our ship inthe course of the day or night. On we went, as I say, making thesmooth, bright sea hiss and bubble as the white foam frothed up over ourbows. 

The instant the whale slackened his speed we hauled in the line, so asto get up to him to thrust a lance or two into his body; but he wasevidently a knowing old fellow, for by the time we had got half of itin, he was off again like a shot, spouting away every now and then, asif to show us in what capital breath he was for a long-run. At last hestopped, and began to turn slowly round. We thought that we had gothim. "Hurrah, lads!" cried Barney Brian, an old boat-steerer. "Haul insteadily now--his last swim is over. " We hauled away an the line with awill, and the mate stood, lance in hand, ready to plunge it into hisside, when he shouted, "Stern all--veer away the line, lads!" It wastime--up went the flukes of the monster, and in another instant he wassounding, drawing the line out of the tub at a terrific rate. Wethought we should have lost him altogether, and we looked anxiously atthe line as coil after coil disappeared, and we remembered that we hadnone to bend on to the end of it. It would have been better for us ifhe had broken away. Just, however, before the last coil flew out, up hecame again, and seemed inclined to go on as before. Then he stopped, and we hauled in on the line. We had got within twenty fathoms of himwhen all of a sudden an idea seemed to strike him. He slewed completelyround so as to face us. "I'll just give you a taste of my quality, andsee if I can't teach you to let me alone, " he seemed to say. At allevents he must have thought it, for with open mouth, showing thetremendous teeth in his lower jaw, and head half lifted out of thewater, he made directly at us. Never was a boat in a more perilousposition--out of sight of land, and the ship nowhere to be seen, andthus all by ourselves to engage in single combat with a monster soenormous! To get out of his way by mere speed was impossible, for hecould swim faster than we could pull; but we did our best to dodge him, our undaunted mate standing ready to plunge a spear into his side shouldwe manage for a moment to get behind him. First, we pulled on one sideas he came towards us, and then on the other; but rapidly as we turned, he slewed himself round, and at last, getting us under his snout, hemade a dash at the boat, and sent her spinning away twenty yards beforehim, bottom uppermost, while we all lay scattered round about her, shouting and calling to each other for help. Had he at once gone off, and dragged the boat after him, he would have left us to perishmiserably, and this was the fate we dreaded; but instead of that, whilewe lay holding onto oars, or striking out to regain the boat, he swamround us, examining the mischief he had done. More than once I thoughthe was going to make another charge at us with his open mouth, when, hadhe done so, he would have killed one or more, though he might not haveswallowed any of us. That I never heard of a whale doing. 

We, meantime, made all haste back to the boat, picking up whatever wecould lay hands on in our way. We were not a little hurried in ourmovements by seeing two or more sharks, which had been attracted to thespot by the blood flowing from the monster; and they would just as soonhave taken a meal off us as a nibble at him, which is all they wouldhave got for some time, probably. 

"Never fear, my lads!" shouted Mr Trevett, the mate. "Strike out withyour feet, and heave over the boat. Quick now!--so!--over she comes!We'll soon have her baled out. "

Baling with hats and caps, as we hung round the gunwale, and strikingout with a will, to keep the sharks at a distance, we were enabled toclear the boat sufficiently of water to allow us to get in, just as abig shark, impatient of delay, made a dart at the mate's leg--for he wasthe last in--and very nearly caught his foot. We quickly had the boatto rights, but we found that we had lost two very valuable articles--ourtinder-box and compass; so that we could neither make a signal to theship nor tell in what direction to steer should thick or cloudy weathercome on. We had, however, no time to meditate on our misfortune, forscarcely were we once more seated on the thwarts, oars in hand, than thewhale, as if waiting the signal, started off again, head out, just as hehad done before. His speed, however, was very much slackened; andthough, after we had hauled in the line a little, he made an attempt tosound, he quickly returned to the surface, still more exhausted by theeffort. 

At length we managed to get near enough to him to enable Mr Trevett togive him a thrust with his lance. Deep in it went, the monster almostleaping out of the water with the agony of the wound. A vital part hadbeen pierced. "He's in his flurry! Stern all--stern all!" was shouted. It was time that we were out of his way; for, swimming round and round, he beat the water with his flukes with terrific force, sufficient tohave dashed us to atoms had he touched us, throwing the life-blood overus from his spout, and dashing the surrounding ocean, ensanguined withthe ruddy stream, into a mass of foam. This mighty convulsion was hislast effort. Over he rolled, and he was our well-earned prize. 

But now we had killed him, it became a serious question how we were toget back to the ship. In what direction was she to be found? As welooked about, we saw that the weather, which had hitherto been so fine, was evidently about to change. The sky was full of the unmistakablesigns of a heavy gale. Long fleecy clouds with curling ends layscattered over it, and darker masses were banking up rapidly in thesouthward. We had now ample time to consider our position, as we lay onto the dead whale. We had neither light nor compass, and all ourprovisions were spoiled or lost. One keg of water alone had beenrecovered, and we found among us a few quids of tobacco. The nearestislands to the northward were, we knew, inhabited by the very worstdescription of cannibals, and, though white men occasionally traded withthem for provisions, it was necessary to be constantly watchful toprevent surprise. The crews of several vessels not having taken theproper precautions, had been cut off and murdered. Night also wasrapidly approaching, and we could not possibly reach the ship, even didwe know where to find her, before dark, probably not for several hours. However, the mate, feeling that the first object was to try and save ourlives, resolved to pull for the ship, leaving the whale with flags stuckon its side, in the hope that we might again find it. With much regret, therefore, we quitted our hard-earned prize, and pulled away, as webelieved, to the northward, in the direction where we had left the ship. 

We had not pulled long, however, when the gloom of night came on, andthe gale which we had seen brewing burst over the ocean, quickly tearingup its sleeping bosom into foam-crested, tumbling seas, which everyinstant rose higher and higher. We soon also discovered that we couldmake no head against them, and that, by attempting to do so, we shouldonly weary ourselves in vain. 

"We must put the boat about, and run before it, " said Mr Trevett. "Hoist the lug--haul aft the sheet!" It was done, and away we flew, careering over the fast-rising seas through the pitchy darkness ofnight!

"Where are we going to?" was the question. Still no other courseremained for us to follow. To attempt to head the heavy seas now risingwas impossible. No one spoke--a fear of coming evil settled down on ourhearts. Darker and darker grew the night--the clouds seemed to comedown from the sky and settle close over our heads, meeting the troubledwildly-leaping waves. 

On we flew--the seas, as they curled and hissed up alongside of us, tumbling over the gunwale, and making it necessary for all hands tocontinue baling. Our only hope was that the ship might run before thegale and overtake us; but then we remembered that she probably had awhale alongside, and that the captain would not like to desert it aslong as he could hold on. All hope, therefore, of help from mandeserted us. 

On we went--death every instant threatening us--a death amid that dark, wild, troubled, storm-tossed ocean! At length the fierce roar of thewind and sea seemed to increase. We looked out before us into thedarkness. "Breakers!--breakers ahead!" we shouted. A thrill of horrorran through our veins. In another moment we should be dashed to athousand fragments among the wild rocks over which they so fiercelybroke. To attempt to haul off in such a sea would have consigned us toan equally certain fate. The imminence of the danger seemed to sharpenour vision. A mass of foam, which seemed to leap high up into the darksky, lay before us. Not a moment could a boat live attempting to passthrough it. On both sides we turned our anxious gaze, to discover ifany spot existed where the sea broke with less violence. Almostsimultaneously we shouted, "A passage on the starboard-bow!"

There appeared, if our eyes deceived us not, a dark space where the lineof huge breakers was divided. We were rushing headlong to destruction. Not an instant was to be lost. The helm was put to port. We rose onthe crest of a vast rolling sea. Down it came, thundering on the rockson either side of us, throwing over them heavy showers of spray, sufficient almost to swamp us. Still we floated unharmed. The searolled on between what, in the darkness, appeared like walls of foam, and in another instant we found ourselves floating beyond the fierceturmoil of waters, just tossed gently by the waves, which found theirway over the reef into a large lagoon within it!

A shore fringed with trees lay before us. In five minutes we werelanded safely on it, and the boat was secured to the stump of a fallentree. It was too dark to allow us to attempt to penetrate into theinterior, to ascertain the sort of place on which we had been thrown;so, returning to the boat and baling her out, we wrung our wet clothesand lay down to seek that rest we all, after our violent exertions andanxiety, so much needed. 

It must have been nearly daylight when we went to sleep. I know not howlong we had slept. It would have been better for us had we driven sleepfar from our eyelids, and been ready to pull out and wander over theinhospitable ocean the moment the gale abated, rather than have remainedwhere we were. I was the first to open my eyes, and, looking up, I sawto my horror a nearly naked savage looking down into the boat withprying eyes from the bank above us. He was almost jet-black, with negrofeatures and a full beard and moustache. His hair was frizzled out to agreat size and covered by a brownish turban. Round his waist he worethe usual maro or kilt, with something like a shawl or plaid over hisshoulders; and in his hand he held a long formidable-looking spear. From the turban on his head, I afterwards discovered that he was achief. 

"Eugh! eugh!" he cried, as he saw me opening my eyes to look at him, andhis menacing attitude and ferocious aspect made a most uncomfortablefeeling creep over me. 

"Up, lads, up! and shove off!" I shouted to my companions, jumpingforward myself to cut the painter. They started to their feet at mysummons, looking up with a bewildered stare at the shore; and well theymight so have done, for there stood some twenty or more fierce-lookingsavages, whom the exclamation of their chief had called to his side, andbefore we could get the oars out, a shower of spears came rattling downamong us. Poor Mr Trevett was pierced through, and fell with a deepgroan to the bottom of the boat; another of my companions sprung up ashe was struck, and went headlong overboard; others were badly wounded;and one man only besides me was unhurt by the first shower of missiles. Seeing that we still persevered in trying to get the boat off, thesavages came rushing down the bank; and though I had cut the painter, before I could give the boat sufficient impetus to get out of their way, they had seized the gunwale and hauled her up on the beach. 

All hope of escape was now at an end. We were each of us seized bythree or four of the savages, while, by the chief's directions, twoothers plunged into the water, and soon returned with the body of theman who had fallen overboard. To my horror, our poor wounded companionswere instantly stabbed by these wretches, apparently for no other reasonthan because they offered some resistance to being dragged roughlyalong; and thus Brian and I were the only two who remained alive ofthose who had so lately escaped from the stormy ocean. Some of thesavages, I saw, were left to take care of the boat in which the bodiesof those who had been killed were placed. 

As we climbed to the top of a hill, and I looked back over the blueocean, now shining brightly in the morning sun, I saw that the storm hadceased; and--I am certain my eyes did not deceive me--I saw in theoffing the white canvas of a ship, which I felt sure must be the_Drake_, probably searching for those who were never to be found. 

From the appearance of the people and their cruel proceedings, I had nodoubt but that we had fallen on one of the Feejee islands; and, fromtheir well-known character, I knew what our fate would probably be. Imyself had little, it might seem, to live for; but still life is _dear_to all of us, and I considered what I could do to preserve mine. I knewthat most savages, as well as eastern nations, look upon a persondeprived of his intellect as sacred, so I at once resolved to act themadman. On this, summoning all my strength, I gave vent to the loudestroar I could utter, finishing with a burst of laughter; and when myguards, in their surprise, let me go, I started forward, leaping, andsinging, and dancing, with the greatest extravagance, pointing to theway I saw the chief was going, and pretending to conduct him with manybows and flourishes worthy of a French dancing-master. Desperate as thedevice was, it appeared to have its effect, for neither the chief norany of his companions again attempted to interfere with me, though theydragged poor Brian on as before. He, of course, could not make out whathad happened to me, and I could not venture to advise him to imitate myconduct, as I thought, very probably, should I do so, that both of uswould fail in saving our lives by it. He, however, seeing the fatewhich had befallen our companions by refusing to walk on willingly, proceeded wherever his guards chose to lead him. 

After passing through woods and large patches of cultivated ground, wereached a village of considerable size, and were led to what I supposedwas the house of the principal chief, the father of the young man whohad captured us. It stood on a raised platform of stone, and was builtentirely of wood, with elliptical ends, the beams ornamented withcoloured cocoa-nut plait. The side walls were solid, with windows, theframes of which were bound together to represent a kind of fluting, andwhich had a very ornamented appearance. The interior was divided intoseveral compartments by screens of native cloth dyed with turmeric; andas the children and several of the people were painted with the samepigment, the whole had a very yellow appearance. The front and back ofthe edifice were formed of long laths, bent like a bow, and thatchedwith cocoa-nut leaves, something like the front of some bathing-machinesin England. Under the roof, supported by beams, was a floor oflattice-work, which seemed to be the store-room of the house, as bundlesof cloth and articles of various sorts were piled up there; while on theground were scattered different utensils for cooking or eating from--such as bowls of glazed crockery of native manufacture, and plenty ofwell-made mats. On one of the walls were hung up some strings of whaleteeth--articles which pass for money among those people. 

At one end of the chief hall, on a pile of mats, sat a stout old man, with a huge turban and large beard and moustache, and wrapped in thickfolds of native cloth. Savage as he looked, there was a good deal ofdignity and intelligence about him. Keeping up the character I hadassumed, I instantly began to salaam, as I had seen the Moors do, and toturn about on one leg, and then to leap and spring up, and clap myhands, singing out "Whallop-ado-ahoo!--Erin-go-bragh!" at the top of myvoice, in a way to astonish the natives, if it did not gain theirrespect. My heart all the time felt as if it would break with shame andterror--with shame, at having to behave so, and with terror, lest Ishould, after all, not succeed. 

The old chief and the young one, with the people who accompanied him, had a great deal of conversation about us, I found--the old oneremarking that we had both of us "salt water in our eye, " and mustsubmit to the law. Now, by the law, or rather custom, of the Feejees, every person cast on shore on their coasts is killed and eaten! I hadnumberless proofs of the truth of this. 

The result of the conversation about me was, that I was tabooed--to beheld sacred, as it were--and that my life was to be spared. They triedto make me understand this at the time, and I partly comprehended theirmeaning. To prove their sincerity, the old chief had a number of dishesof various sorts of vegetables and fruit brought in, with a young pigbaked whole, of which he made me partake. This I did very willingly, for I was very hungry, and the viands looked very tempting. When I hadeaten a good meal, I jumped up and shook the old chief and his son veryheartily by the hand; and then sitting down on a mat, I threw myselfback, and began singing away at the top of my voice, as if I had beenperfectly contented with my lot. When, however, I got up to leave thehouse, signs were made to me that I was to stay where I was. This, Iconcluded, was that notice might be given to the people that I wastabooed, and that they were not to interfere with me, or I should in allprobability have been clubbed by the first native I met, who might havesuspected that I had been cast upon their shore by the late gale. 

I felt very anxious to ascertain what had become of Brian. He had notbeen allowed to enter the chief's house with me, but, as we approachedthe village, had been led off in a different direction. Suspecting thehorrible practice of the savages, and hearing nothing of him as the daygrew on, I became very much alarmed for his safety. 

At night a mat was pointed out to me on which I was to sleep; but it waslong before I could close my eyes, and every instant I expected to findmyself seized and carried off by the savages. I did sleep, however, atlast, and the next morning I found myself at liberty to wander out whereI pleased. Food was first brought to me, and then, having performedvarious curious antics to keep up the belief of my insanity, I left thehouse and took the way up a neighbouring hill. 

I had not gone far before I came to what was evidently a native temple, shaded by tall and graceful trees. It was a high-pointed building, formed of bamboos, and hung with strings of bones and screens of nativecloth. I saw arms of various sorts, and an altar with two human skullson it, made into drinking cups. I was considering how I could find mypoor companion, when, near the temple, I entered an open space withseveral small erections of stone, which I discovered on examination wereovens. In the centre of the space was what I took at first to be thefigure of a man cut out of wood, and painted over in a curious way withmany colours. I went up to it. Horror almost overcame me--I recognisedthe countenance of my lost companion Brian! while some clothes hung upon poles hard by, and some human bones scattered under them, showed mewhat had been the fate of the rest of our boat's crew. I rushedshrieking from the spot, and for many a day I had no occasion to feignmadness--I really was, I believe, out of my mind. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

LIFE AMONG THE SAVAGES--JACK'S ESCAPE AND RETURN HOME. 

Drearily passed the time of my sojourn in that benighted region. Dayafter day I sought in vain for the means of escape. Vessels oftentouched at the island; but directly they appeared, a strict watch waskept on me, and if I went towards the shore, I was told to go back andremain in the chief's house till they had sailed. Under somecircumstances I might have been tolerably happy. The climate wasdelightful and healthy; there were provisions in abundance--yams andbananas and plantains, cocoa-nuts and shaddocks, pumpkins andpine-apples, guavas and water-melons--indeed, all the tropical fruitsand vegetables, with a good supply of pigs for meat. The chiefs treatedme with kindness and consideration; the people with respect, barbarousand savage though they were; but the scenes of horror I was constantlywitnessing, and could not prevent, had so powerful an effect on my mindthat time rolled on with me in a dreamy sort of existence. I scarcelyknew how the months passed by--whether, indeed, as it seemed to me, years had elapsed since I landed on that fatal spot. 

I had not believed beings so bloodthirsty and savage existed on the faceof the earth, possessing, at the same time, so much intelligence andtalent. Their houses and temples are very neatly built; the tapa-cloth, which they make from the paper-mulberry by beating it out, is of a finetexture, of great length, and often ingeniously ornamented; theycultivate a large number of the fruits of the earth with much attention;the way in which they fortify their villages appears almost scientific. The town in which I lived was surrounded by several deep moats, orditches, one within the other, arranged with so much intricacy, that itwas at first difficult to find my way out of it; then there were severalwalls, and in the centre a sort of citadel on a hill surmounted by arock. On the summit of the rock stood a flagstaff, on which washoisted, in war-time, the flag of defiance. 

I had been many months there in the condition of a prisoner, if not aslave, before I was allowed to go beyond the fortifications. At lastthe young chief invited me to accompany him. He did not explain wherehe was going. He and all those with him were painted in their gayestcolours. We reached the sea-shore, and embarked in a large doublecanoe, with an out-rigger to prevent her capsizing. Several othercanoes accompanied us. 

We sailed on till we came to an island. At no great distance from thewater rose a high hill with a fort on the top of it. I remained onboard the canoe, while the chief and his followers landed. As soon asthey had done so, they began to shout out and to abuse the people in thefort, daring them to come down. After a time, about a dozen left thefort, and descended the hill to meet the invaders. Our chief hadstationed some of his people behind an embankment, and as soon as theseincautious warriors appeared, they drew their bows and shot three ofthem. Then the people in the fort rushed down in great numbers tosecure their fallen companions; but in doing so, more were shot, andothers clubbed by our party, who carried off the bodies of the threefirst killed, as well as most of the others, and then, with loud shoutsof triumph, retired to their canoes. With these spoils we sailed back. 

We were received in the village with every demonstration of joy. In theevening of the same day, when I went out, I found that all the slain hadbeen carried to the grove before the temple, and were placed in rows, with their bodies covered over with paint. The chiefs and all theprincipal men of the tribe were assembling from far and near. Thepriest of the town was standing near the temple, and the butcher, as hewas called, a bloodthirsty monster, was ready with the implements of hishorrid trade, while his assistants were employed in heating the ovens. I rushed from the spot; but, instigated by a curiosity I could notrepress, I again returned, and witnessed a scene of the most disgustingcannibalism the mind could imagine. The bodies of the slain were baked, and then cut up by the priest or butcher, and distributed among thechiefs and principal men, none of the women or lower orders beingallowed to partake of the horrible banquet. What struck me was theavidity with which the savages seized the fragments and devoured them. I would have avoided giving the dreadful account, were it not to showthe depth of wickedness into which human nature, when left to itself, will inevitably sink. Often have I seen parties of men set out for theexpress purpose of capturing and murdering their fellow-creatures--people of the same colour and race, and chiefly helpless women andchildren--to satisfy their disgusting propensities--frequently tofurnish a banquet on the visit of some neighbouring and friendly chiefs. 

Some people have pretended to doubt the existence of cannibalism as aregular custom, though unable to deny that it has been resorted to underthe pressure of hunger; but the Feejee islands afford numberlessundoubted proofs that hundreds of people were yearly slaughtered togratify the unnatural taste of their ferocious chiefs. Wars wereundertaken for the express purpose of obtaining victims; all persons, friends or strangers, thrown by the stormy ocean on their inhospitableshores, were destroyed; their own slaves were often killed; and men, women, and children among the lower orders, even of friendly tribes, were frequently kidnapped and carried off for the same purpose. 

But, praise be to God! heart-rending as are the scenes I have witnessedand the accounts I have heard, all-powerful means exist to overcome thisand other horrible, though long established customs. The Christianfaith, when carried to those benighted lands by devoted men, who goforth in love and obedience to Him who died for them, and in firmconfidence that He is all-powerful to preserve them, and to make Hisname known among the heathen, is the sure and effectual means to conquerthe giant evil. Before its bright beams, the dark gloom of savagebarbarism and superstition has been put to flight, by the untiringefforts of Christian missionaries; and I am told, that among even theFeejee islands, wherever they have planted the Cross, numbers haveflocked round it, and in many places the whole character of the peoplehas been changed. I am describing simply barbarism as it existed, andas it still does exist, in numberless places in those beautiful regionsof the earth's fair surface; and I would point out to those who read myhistory, how much it is their duty to inquire into the truth of thestatements I make, and to support by all the means at their disposalthose who are engaged in our Lord's service in overcoming the evil, byteaching the pure, simple, evangelical faith as it is in Christ Jesus--His incarnation--His sufferings--His atonement--His propitiation offeredonce--His intercession ever making--the cleansing power of His blood--our acceptance by an all-holy God through Him. Let these great truthsbe made known to the heathen, and, by the divine blessing, their minds, dark as they may have been, will accept them with joy and thankfulness. 

But to return to my life on the island. My master, the old chief, wassaid to be a very civil and polite man; but I have seen him, when theinhabitants of the tributary or slave states were bringing him theirquota of provisions, if he did not think that they were approaching hisabode in a sufficiently humble posture by stooping almost to the ground, deliberately take his bow and shoot one of them through the heart. Therest, not daring to interfere, or to run away, would continue theirprogress as if nothing had happened, while the body of the unfortunatewretch would be carried off to the bake-house. To approach his house onone side, a river had to be crossed, swarming with sharks; and often hewould make the slaves swim across, and if one of them were bitten by ashark, and still managed to get across, he was instantly on landingkilled for the same dreadful purpose. 

Some months after my arrival, the chief's house was burned down--thoughthe rolls of cloth, and much of his more valuable property, were saved. He at once issued his commands to the people of all the tributaryvillages to bring in materials for the erection of another on a muchlarger scale. Meantime we lived in huts, quickly erected on hisproperty. When the day arrived to commence the building, I saw thatfour very deep and large holes had been dug to receive the corner posts. These posts were brought up with great ceremony to the spot. At thesame time, four slaves, strong, muscular young men, were brought up, andwhen the posts were placed upright in the holes, a slave was made todescend into each of them, and as I looked in, I saw them clingingtightly round the posts. I concluded that they were to remain there tohold the posts upright till the earth was shovelled in; but what was myhorror to find that they were to remain for ever in that position!While they stood in all their health and strength, looking up withlonging eyes into the blue sky, others threw in the earth, and beat itdown with heavy mallets over their heads. I shuddered at the spectacle, but heart-broken as I was I dared not interfere. 

Our old chief had resolved to build a fleet of large double canoes, withwhich to bring the inhabitants of another island under subjection. Ithad been his chief care and attention for some years past. At length aportion was finished and ready for launching. Before this ceremonycould be performed, it was necessary to attack a village at somedistance, to obtain victims to offer in sacrifice to the evil spiritsthey worshipped, in order that success might attend their operations. The young chief and his party set out with his warriors, and attacking avillage in the dead of night, carried off fifty of its unfortunateinhabitants. 

The next day, the shrieking wretches were brought to the dockyard. Thatthey might be kept in a proper position to serve as ways or rollers overwhich the canoes might pass, each person was securely lashed to twobanana-trees, lengthways--one in front, and the other behind him. Thusutterly unable to move, with their faces upwards, they were placed inrows between the canoes and the water. Ropes were then attached to thecanoes, which, it must be understood, are very heavy, and numbershauling away on them, they were dragged over the yet breathing, livingmass of human beings, whose shrieks and groans of agony rent the air, mingled with the wild shouts and songs of their inhuman murderers, tillthe former were silenced in death. I need not say what became of thebodies of the victims thus horribly immolated. The ceremony ended witha great feast, at which all the chiefs and principal men assembled fromfar and near, and which lasted several days. 

With the young chief I was on intimate terms, and I believe that he hadformed an attachment to me, and was anxious to preserve me from injury. In our excursions about the country, we visited one day a temple at theend of a small pond, and I saw him throw into it some bread-fruit andother provisions. Looking into the pond, and wondering what this wasfor, I observed a large monster with a body as thick as a man's leg, anda hideous head, which I took to be a great snake, but which he told mewas an eel of vast age, showing me some eels to explain his meaning, andalso that it was a spirit which he worshipped. This was the onlyworship I ever saw him engaged in. 

I had spent upwards of a year on the island, or it may have been two, when the old chief fell ill. He sat moping by himself in the corner ofhis house, and no one could tell what was the matter with him. One dayhis son came in, and taking his hand, just as if he had been going tosay something very affectionately to him, told him that the time hadarrived when it would be better for him to die! The old man bowed hishead, and replied that he was of the same opinion! The son mentioned aday for the burial, to which the old man willingly consented; and tillthe time arrived, as if a weight had been taken off his mind, he seemedvery much the better that everything had been so satisfactorilyarranged. I could discover no compunction on the part of the son, norregret on that of the father, who was cheerful and contented, and atehis meals with far more relish than he had before done. As the fatalday approached I attempted to remonstrate with the young chief on sounnatural a proceeding; but he sternly rebuked me, and told me not tointerfere with the immemorial customs of the people. His father hadbeen chief long enough--he was worn-out and weary of life--and hehimself wished to be chief. When he should become old, his son wouldprobably wish to finish him in the same honourable way, and that heshould be content to submit to the usage of his nation. 

The day arrived, and all the relatives and friends and neighbouringchiefs assembled. The old chief got up, and was followed by aprocession of all his people, some bearing spades, and others clothswith which to wrap him up in the grave. The grave was about four feetdeep. A cloth having been spread at the bottom, the old man wasconducted to it. He stepped down with as little unwillingness as if hehad been entering a bath, and having been placed on his back, the clothwas folded over him. Instantly others began shovelling in the earth, and then his son and nearest relatives came and stamped it down, exerting all their force with their feet. Not a sound was uttered bythe old man. Leaves were scattered on the grave, and then all engagedin the ceremony went and washed at a neighbouring stream. 

This done, they returned to the old chief's house, where a feast wasprepared; and having eaten as much food and drunk as much angona as theycould, they got up and commenced dancing in the most frantic manner, making a most hideous uproar with their drums, conch-shells, and otherinstruments, and shrieking and howling at the top of their voices. After this, the principal chiefs entered the houses of the late chief'swives, armed with a sort of bowstring. With these they proceededdeliberately to kill the unfortunate women, one after the other, tillabout twenty were thus executed. The new chief's mother had beforedied, or she would have been murdered in the same way. Many of themseemed perfectly willing to submit to their fate, though several, withshrieks and cries, endeavoured to escape, but were brought back andcompelled to submit their necks to the executioners. 

The young man at once assumed the functions of chief, and seemeddisposed to be no less cruel and bloodthirsty than his father. Soonafter, the news was brought that a vessel had anchored in a bay a shortdistance from the town. She was said to be full of all sorts ofvaluable commodities; of fire-arms and weapons of all sorts; of cloths, and tools, and other articles likely to be attractive to savages. Atonce the cupidity of the young chief was excited. If he could getpossession of these things, he might become the most wealthy andpowerful of all the chiefs of his nation, and bring the other tribesinto perfect subjection to him. A council of his most trusty followerswas called, and his plan explained to them. They at once agreed to aidhim in its execution. 

I trembled for the fate of the unfortunate crew of the ship, andresolved, if possible, to warn them of their danger. How was I tosucceed? I would try, I thought, and swim off to the vessel; I wouldrisk my own life for the purpose. Pretending not to have understoodwhat was proposed, I walked about in as unconcerned a manner aspossible. I lay down at night in my usual place in the chief's house, intending to get up when all were asleep, and run along the shore till Icame abreast of where I supposed the vessel would be. Anxiously Iwaited for the time. I got up and reached the door. Just as I steppedout into the night air I felt a hand placed on my shoulder! I must havetrembled. It was the hand of the chief. 

"Ah, I know what you are about, " said he. "You wish to escape to thewhite people, to tell them what we are going to do. I suspected you. That cannot be. You will see that it would be wiser for you not to jointhem. Come with me to-morrow, and you will see. "

My first plan was thus defeated. Still I hoped that I might meet someof the white crew of the vessel and warn them of their danger. Idetermined to try. 

The next morning the chief and his warriors collected, and all theircanoes were launched and paddled off to a point which concealed themfrom the stranger vessel. The smaller canoes were loaded with fruitsand vegetables of all sorts, and about twenty men and boys without armsand in the most peaceable garb, paddled off to her. 

On getting up, I found that the chief had appointed two men to attend onme and watch my movements. Everything conspired, therefore, to defeatall my hopes of warning the strangers of the fate intended for them. 

I was allowed to proceed to a high hill, whence I could look down on thevessel, which lay in a bay at my feet. I longed to have the wings of abird, to fly down and tell the crew of the intentions of the savages, whose small canoes now began to flock about her. Several of the chiefsreached her deck, and began offering presents of fruit and vegetables tothe officers, and pointing to the shore, as if to indicate that if theywould come there they would be received with a hearty welcome. Iguessed, from the build of the vessel, that she was not English. Atlast I saw a boat lowered into the water, and a French flag flying overher stern. Though I had often been engaged in deadly strife with thosefighting under that ensign, I was nevertheless anxious to save the livesof those I saw. Yet I could not speak a word of French, and probablythey would not have understood my warning even if I could have giventhem one. 

Not only one, but two boats were lowered; and, as far as I could see, noone was armed. What could have thus so speedily enticed them on shore?Looking along the beach, I saw it lined with a number of people, mostlywomen and children. There were young girls with baskets of fruit, andolder women with vegetables, and little boys with sucking pigs and otherdainties, and children running about and playing on the sands. As thiswas not the usual custom of the savages, I guessed too well that it wasan artful device of the chief to entrap the unwary strangers. By thetime the boats had reached the shore, the women and children graduallydrew off, and I saw two bodies of savages stealing down through thewoods on either side of them. Oh, how I longed to warn them of theirperil! I would, at every risk, have shouted out, but they would nothave understood me. I remained spell-bound. 

Meantime, three or four of the large canoes stole out from behind thepoint, and gradually approached the doomed ship, the chiefs in them, when they were perceived, waving their hands in token of amity to thoseon board. If the party on shore observed them, I do not know; theyappeared to have no fear, no suspicion of treachery. The aim of thecunning savages was to get them to separate from each other. Thesellers of fruit got in among them, and enticed one on one side, and oneon the other; and when this had been accomplished I saw a warrior, withhis club concealed under his cloak, glide noiselessly in and attachhimself to each of the unsuspecting white men. The large canoes, fullof warriors, had likewise been incautiously allowed to get alongside thebrig, and soon her decks were crowded with savages, making signs, andlaughing, and pretending to traffic with the crew. 

On a sudden, a conch-shell was sounded by the chief. Before its hoarsebraying had died away, the deadly weapons of the savages had descendedwith terrific force on the heads of the white men on the shore. Manyfell, killed at once; others attempted to run to the boats, but werepursued and quickly dispatched. On board, the plot of the chief seemedto be equally successful. Though some resistance was offered andseveral shots were fired, all was unavailing--not a white man ultimatelyescaped; and in a few minutes their bodies were brought on shore in oneof the canoes, while the others followed towing the brig, whose cablethe savages had cut, that they might the more easily plunder her. 

As soon as she was brought close to the shore, a scene of havoc anddestruction commenced on board. Some climbed the masts to unrig her, others rushed into the hold to get out the cargo, and numbers hurried tothe cabin to carry off the lighter articles which it contained. 

The chief, as may be supposed, got the lion's share; and his house wassoon full of fire-arms and other weapons, and clothes, and trinkets, andcrockery, and articles of every description. He himself had come onshore, but numbers still remained on board, working away in the hold, and lowering down the rigging from aloft, when there was a loudexplosion, and the deck of the vessel, with all on board, was lifted upand blown into the air! Not a human being on board escaped. Fragmentsof the wreck and mangled bodies came falling thick around, while flamesburst out on every side from the hull, the scene of the late atrocity. 

The chief was very angry at the loss of so much property, but seemed inno way to regret the lives of so many of his subjects. 

I took occasion to tell him that the catastrophe was a judgment on himfor the number of murders and the robbery he had committed. 

He replied that he did not understand what I meant--that white men hadoften come to those islands in their ships, and had kidnapped hispeople, or shot them down with their guns, or beaten them, for sometrifling misunderstanding or theft of little importance they might havecommitted, and that he was only treating them as other white people hadtreated his countrymen. 

No reasoning that I was able to use after this could convince him thathe had acted wrongly. Indeed I knew that there was too much truth inhis assertion; and much have those navigators to answer for who haveacted unfairly towards savages, when those savages, following the law oftheir untutored nature, have retaliated on subsequent voyagers with atenfold measure of vengeance. 

After this occurrence, I was always seeking an opportunity to escapefrom this blood-stained spot of earth. Whichever way I turned had beena scene of murder, and I loathed the sight of the sanguinary perpetratorof so many atrocities. 

I might employ many an hour in describing the dreadful customs andsuperstitions of these people. Every day my desire to escape from themincreased. Three or four vessels in the course of the next year calledoff the island, but the crews seemed to be cautious; and, at all events, no attempt was made to surprise them. As each appeared, I found myselfnarrowly watched, so I had no opportunity of communicating with them. 

I had now for some time been looked upon as a sane man, and had employedmyself in working in various ways for the chief. It at last struck me, that if I were again to feign madness I might obtain greater liberty. On putting my idea into execution, I found that it had the desiredeffect; and I was allowed from that time forward to go about wherever Iliked, and to pry into people's houses and gardens, and even into thetemples. I soon found my way down to the sea-shore, and used to pretendto be busy in picking up shells, and in stringing them together intonecklaces and bracelets for my own adornment. Then I made others, whichI presented, with many a strange antic, to anybody I met. Day after daydid I continue this employment, my eye wandering anxiously over the bluesea in search of the wished-for vessel. 

Drearily passed the time, without a human being with whom I couldexchange an idea we might hold in common. I learned then fully toappreciate the value of the society and sympathy of my fellow-men. Atlength, one day as I sat at my usual occupation on the shore, my eyesfell on a white speck just rising above the horizon. Anxiously, intently did I watch it. Slowly it increased. First I made out thetopgallant-sails; then the topsails; and at last the courses of asquare-rigged schooner. She approached the island. Oh, how my heartbeat within me for fear she might not come near the part where I was!

There was a channel through which vessels had more than once passed. Apoint of land ran out into it, covered almost to the end with trees. Towards this point I ran, concealing myself as much as I could among thetrees from the people on shore. I reached the point unobserved. I hadhoped to find a canoe there, but there was none. I looked about, and atlast discovered a log of banana-wood, which is very light. It had beencast on shore. With my knife I cut a stick with a broad end, to serveas a paddle and to defend myself against the sharks which abound on thecoast. I was ready to run all risks. I had become desperate. I feltsure that if I were observed by the natives I should be brought back andslaughtered. Still that idea did not daunt me. At every hazard I wasresolved to get on board, or to perish in the attempt. 

Eagerly I kept my eye on the vessel. On she came. She was steering forthe channel. I got my log ready to launch. It was with no small dreadthat I looked around to ascertain that I was not observed. I watchedfor the moment to commence my perilous voyage, when, by pulling directlyout from the shore, I thought I could fetch her. I had secured two longoutriggers at each end of my log, to prevent it from turning round; thetendrils of the wild vine served me as rope. The time arrived to launchforth. With all my strength shoving the log into the water, I took myseat on it, and with might and main using my paddle, I worked on myrough canoe towards the schooner. 

Now commenced the most dangerous part of the enterprise, as I drew outfrom the point and became exposed to the view of the people on shore. Every now and then I gave a hasty glance over my shoulder to ascertainif I were followed. 

For a long time no one observed me. I had nearly gained a position bywhich the schooner must pass, when, to my dismay, I saw a large canoeputting off from the shore. If I could not gain the side of theschooner before she reached me, I was undone. 

Again I took to my paddle, and urged on the slow-moving machine towardsthe approaching vessel; still the canoe was rapidly drawing near. Everyinstant I expected to find an arrow sticking in my body. The thoughtmade me redouble my efforts. 

On came the schooner. I shouted out, "Have mercy on an unfortunateEnglishman!" I saw many swarthy faces on her forecastle. I thoughtthat I might not be understood. What was my joy then to see her brailup her sails, for she had a leading wind, and lower her boat!

The boat approached me. I leaped into her just as a shower of arrowswas sent flying after me. Most of them fell short, but some struck theboat. Those on board the schooner seeing this, instantly let fly avolley of musketry at my pursuers, and made them pull back with nolittle rapidity towards the shore. The moment my eye had time to lookabout the vessel, I thought that I recognised her. I was not mistaken;she was Newman's schooner, and Newman himself was standing on thequarter-deck, not as I had for so long known him, but in dress andappearance like an officer. He, of course, did not know me. How shouldhe? I was thin and haggard with care and anxiety. Of my seaman'sclothes but a small portion now remained, and the few garments I hadwere made of the native cloth, but had been torn in my run among thetrees, and afterwards almost destroyed in the water. Altogether, I wasa miserable figure. 

I resolved not to make myself known to my old friend, but still I wasanxious to guard him against the treachery of the natives. Seeing thatI appeared to wish to speak to him, he sent for me aft to give anaccount of myself. I had not talked five minutes when he exclaimed, "Iam quite certain I know that voice and mode of expression. Who are you, my man?"

I at once told him. He grasped my hand cordially, and greeted me as hewould have done in the forecastle of the _Drake_. Directly he made meat home, and told me that I must mess in his cabin. 

"You must be clothed, so I will dress you as an officer. As we have noboatswain on board, I will at once appoint you to fill the berth. That's all settled; and after you have had some food, I must hear allthat has happened to you since we parted. " He told me that he was wellaware of the treacherous disposition of the natives, and that he wasalways on his guard. 

How delightful it was to feel myself out of the power of thosebloodthirsty savages, and to be sitting at dinner with an intelligentcompanion! He had been in the schooner ever since we parted; and somuch satisfaction had he given the Dutch authorities, that he had beenpromised shortly the command of the largest vessel on the station. Hewas in high spirits, and told me that he expected, on his return toBatavia, to marry a lady of considerable fortune, and that he lookedupon his prosperity as certain. "Pretty well, is it not, I have done, remembering the point from which I started only a few years ago?"

I very soon recovered my health and strength on board the schooner. Newman had been sent to examine these and other neighbouring groups ofislands. We cruised about among them for some months, and then oncemore shaped our course for Batavia. 

On getting on board, I had no little difficulty at first in speakingEnglish, and I found that I had almost entirely forgotten how to readand write. Newman, however, used to have me every day into his cabin, and I very soon recovered the knowledge I had lost. Indeed, he took asmuch pains to instruct me as he had done on board the whaler, and heencouraged me with the hope that he might get me appointed as one of hismates while he remained in the schooner. But alas! I found that in onepoint he was still unchanged. Religion was yet a stranger to his soul. 

At length we reached Batavia. He went on shore in high spirits, tellingme that he was going to visit the lady to whom he was engaged; but helet me know that he must call also on another who had formed anattachment for him, that he might pacify her respecting his intendedmarriage. I feared from what he said that all was not right. Iexpected him on board again that night, but he did not return. 

In the morning he did not come, so with some anxiety I went on shore toinquire for him. For a long time I searched in vain. At last I met aperson whom I guessed to be an Englishman. 

"Your captain do you ask for?" he answered. "Look there!"

Some police-officers stood at the door of a house. They allowed me toenter. On the floor of a room at the side lay a body. A cloth coveredthe face. I lifted it up. There I beheld all that remained of thehighly endowed Edward Newman, for by no other name did I know him. Hehad been poisoned through fiery jealousy. A cup, in pretendedfriendship, had been laughingly offered him. Unsuspiciously he haddrunk of it. The Government seized the murderess, who paid the penaltyof her crime with her life. 

Thus died one who was well calculated to shine in the higher walks oflife. Who he was, whence he came, or even the slightest clue to hisprevious history, I was never able to ascertain. In a strange land hedied, far away from kindred and friends--if, indeed, he had any--hisfate for ever unknown to them. Let this be a warning to those who hearthe sad conclusion of his history. The highest talents, and the mostundaunted courage and perseverance, will avail a man nothing, unless atthe same time he be under the guidance of principle. 

The death of my friend threw me completely adrift, and I was glad tofind an opportunity of working my passage to England on board a shipjust going to sail for Liverpool. 

Once more I stood on my native shore, a care-worn, weather-beaten man, well advanced in years. On inquiring for the bank in which I hadinvested the savings of my former voyage, I found that it had failed, and that I was as poor as when I began the world, with this difference, that I had a profession, and had bought a large amount of experiencewith the money I had squandered--which is not always the case withspend-thrifts. 

I made inquiries for Captain Carr, but could hear nothing of him. As Iconcluded that he had invested the money made by my last voyage in the_Drake_, I supposed that also to have been lost by the bank. I thoughtthis a very great misfortune, as I wished to have settled on shore insome business or other. Perhaps I might have chosen that of a publican, as many sailors do. However, I had now no resource but to go to seaagain. 

While in this humour I fell in with an old shipmate. We had beentogether in the _Glutton_, and one or two other ships, so we knew eachother directly. He told me that he belonged to a revenue-cutter thenstationed in the Mersey, and that she was short of hands, especially ofthree or four steady men; and when I mentioned to him that I had beenboatswain of a man-of-war schooner, he said that he was certain I wouldget a berth on board. I was weary of foreign voyages, so I accompaniedhim at once, as he proposed, to the commander, and was enteredimmediately. 

Ever since have I had reason to bless that day. The commander was apious, excellent man, who, aware of the value of his own soul, was eversolicitous for the eternal welfare of all those placed under hisauthority. He soon found that though I had some knowledge of the Bible, and much of other things, I was ignorant of the way of salvation. Hecalled me often into his cabin. Kindly and affectionately he spoke tome, and set before me the truth of the gospel as it is in Christ Jesus. As he spoke to me, so did he, from time to time, to all the rest. He, truly, was not ashamed of the Master he served. At an early age he hadhoisted his flag, and had ever since fought bravely under it, againstthe scorn of the world, against evil in all shapes. Even the mostobdurate were softened and influenced by the example he set, though theymight not receive the truth with gladness of heart. We were what allships' companies might become--a Christian crew, though not withoutfaults and shortcomings; but we loved Christ, and worshipped him withsingleness of heart. At the same time I am very certain that no crewever more efficiently did their duty to their country than we performedours. 

For three years I served on board that vessel, and at the end of thattime was sent round to Woolwich, where she had been fitted out, to bepaid off. 

The last time I landed at Liverpool, I met an old gentleman walkingalong the street. I looked in his face. It was Captain Carr! I toldhim who I was. Of course he had thought I had been lost, and was verymuch surprised to see me. He was shocked to hear of the death of mycompanions, and deeply interested in the account I gave him of mycaptivity. To my no little satisfaction he told me that he had notinvested the money, which was mine by rights, from the last voyage; andthat he thought he could obtain fifty pounds from the owners as my shareof profits. This sum I afterwards received. It was all that remainedout of the thousands I had made in the course of my life. 

I was now sixty years of age. I had recovered my health on board thecutter, but though strong and hearty, I felt I was no longer fit forsea. I found, however, on application, that I could obtain employmentas a rigger in the dockyard; and in that work I spent some years. Itook a little cottage on the hill, which I furnished by means of themoney I received from Captain Carr, and made myself perfectlycomfortable. 

Directly I was settled, I started off next day for Greenwich Hospital, for I thought that I should very likely fall in with some old shipmatesthere. I went into the chapel and sat myself down--no one hindering me. As the men were coming out when service was over, I saw before me atall, thin old pensioner, bending under the weight of years, and restingon a staff as he walked before me. I came behind as he reached the openair, and looked up in his face. It wore the same kind, benignant, mildexpression which I remembered so well in the countenance of PeterPoplar. I waited till he got down the steps. 

"Just lean on me, sir, " said I. "You have carried me before now, if Imistake not. " He looked hard at my face. A tear dimmed his eye. 

"Yes, yes--it's the boy himself, " he whispered in a tremulous voice. "But you are `Old Jack' now. " I loved the name he gave me, and eversince to the lads I meet and talk with I have called myself by it. 

A few weeks after that, I sat by the bedside of my kind, noble oldfriend--talking of that glorious eternity into which his spirit enteredbefore I left him. 

After I had been settled for some years, I met an old shipmate, sick, and I saw plainly dying. He had been a lad when I knew him. He hadwith him a little girl, his only child, some ten years old. His wifewas dead. He had no friends. I promised as he lay on his death-bed totake charge of the lassie. He blessed me, and died. I took her to mycottage, and she has ever since been a comfort and a solace to me--adaughter by adoption, if not by blood. 

Not long after this event, I met my former commander in the cutter. Heasked me how I was employed. I told him as a rigger, but that Isometimes found my strength scarcely equal to the work; but when thatfailed, I was sure God would provide for me as He had always done. 

He replied that he had no doubt of it--that even then there was work forwhich I was well fitted ready for me--that he belonged to a societywhich had been formed to distribute, at a low price, religious and otherpublications among those classes who were accustomed to purchase themost pernicious style of literature, frequently from not having betteroffered to them; and that if I would undertake the work, he would get meappointed to it. I gladly accepted his offer, and have ever since beena humble, though I feel sure not an inefficient, labourer in makingknown the good tidings of great joy among the almost heathen populationof our own land, as a colporteur. 

I have told my tale. I have offered many an example of what religioncan do, and of what the want of it will produce. I have uttered many awarning. One more I must repeat: Remember that this world affords norest to the soul--this world is unstable and fleeting--those who persistin making the utmost it can offer their aim, are striving to clutch apassing shadow. Oh! never forget it is but a place of preparation--aplace of trial--for all human beings alike. To commence mother life allare hastening--all must commence ere long. High and low, rich and poor, young and old--those in health and those in sickness--the light-heartedand happy--the miserable and forlorn--all alike are going the same road, and entering into a condition which, whether wretched or joyous, willlast for eternity. Though the rest of what I have said may beforgotten, let this great truth be remembered, and you will have gaineda pearl of great price from reading the life of OLD JACK. 

THE END.