RIO--EXPEDITION UP THE HARBOUR--YARNS SPUN--HIGSON AND THE MIDSHIPMEN
CAPTURED BY SLAVE-DEALERS--IMPRISONED--TRIED--A FRIEND IN NEED--SENT
BACK TO PRISON--ESCAPE--PURSUED--JACK AS USUAL APPEARS--AGAIN AT SEA--
CHASE A SLAVER--RUN OVER HER AT NIGHT.
Every one knows that Rio de Janeiro is one of the most magnificent
harbours in the world, with its Organ mountains in the distance, its
surrounding heights covered with the richest foliage, its
curiously-shaped rocks at the entrance, and its stately city scattered
along its shores.
On entering, Jack and Terence, much to their satisfaction, found not
only the corvette but the frigate also at anchor. Having gone on board
the admiral's ship to report their arrival and the occurrence which had
taken place at Bahia, they paid a visit to Murray. Of course, Terence
gained great credit for having beaten off the pirates. He was glad to
find that he was to be relieved of the charge of the slaver, which he
had been afraid he might have to carry over to Sierra Leone.
In the harbour lay a considerable squadron of steamers and
sailing-vessels, for which a variety of work had been cut out.
The Brazilian Government had at last united with the English in the
determination of putting a stop to the importation of slaves into the
country, though they acknowledged that their own men-of-war could do
little or nothing; the fact being that the Brazilian officers were more
or less interested in supporting the abominable traffic.
Two or three other ships were in the harbour, taking in water and
provisions before going for a long cruise in the Pacific, and an
expedition was also to be sent to the Parana against General Rosas, who,
setting all treaties at defiance, had stopped up the navigation of the
river. As neither the corvette nor brig were likely to sail for some
days, the officers made excursions on shore. Tom and Desmond were
delighted to find that Archy Gordon had so greatly recovered that he was
able to go to sea in the frigate--he was now nearly as well as ever, but
still was not allowed to take exercise on shore.
They proposed making a trip up the harbour, and Higson got permission to
take the corvette's pinnace.
"You must take care of the youngsters better than you did once upon a
time," said Adair. "Don't expend any of them if you can help it."
"No fear," answered Higson, "I will watch over them as carefully as a
hen does her chickens, or a nurserymaid the half-dozen small children
committed to her care."
A good store of provisions in the way of substantials, with a
proportionate amount of liquor, cigars, and tobacco, was laid in; fish
and fruit might easily be obtained. Their uniform jackets being stowed
away in their carpet-bags, all hands were dressed in white flannel
jackets, white trousers, and straw hats or caps; while their only
weapons were a couple of ships' muskets, the same number of
boarding-pikes, and a brace of pistols. Not that they expected to
require them for their defence, but for the slaughter of any game they
might meet.
The party mustered eight in all, including Snatchblock and Tim Brady, an
Irishman, who was taken to act as cook. Tim's only qualification for
the post was that he professed to be able to boil praties with any man
in the service. The midshipmen had forgotten that no potatoes were
among their stores; but then Tim told a good story and sang a song in
first-rate style, which made ample amends for his deficiency of
knowledge in the culinary art.
Soon after daybreak Higson shoved off from the side of the corvette,
calling on board the brig for the remainder of the party. Then making
sail, they stood away up the harbour. The city was soon left astern as
they glided over the calm waters. In the far distance could be seen the
curiously-shaped Organ mountains, while on either hand rose conical
hills amidst forests of lofty trees of every variety. Cocoa-nuts and
orange groves, palms, and mangroves, and others, bearing a variety of
nuts or blossoms of gorgeous hue, scarlet, orange, yellow, pink, and
white. Gaily-plumaged birds, and beautifully-tinted butterflies, of
wonderful size, flitted through the air. The party, though well
accustomed to the rich vegetation of the West Indies, agreed that few
scenes in the tropics could surpass this in beauty.
Curiously-rigged boats came floating by, some loaded with fruit and
vegetables, others like haystacks gone adrift, and others of
considerable size carrying cattle to the market at Rio. Several
picturesque islets were passed, covered like the main land with rich
vegetation and numberless flowers of various hues.
"Well, I think we shall have a jolly trip of it," exclaimed Tom. "There
is no necessity to bother ourselves by taking observations or keeping a
dead reckoning, but, like the navigators of old, we shall never lose
sight of land."
"No; but we must stand by to lower the sail pretty sharply if a squall
comes off one of those pointed hills there," observed Higson, "and that
is not at all unlikely to happen."
"Who is after getting hungry?" sung out Desmond. "I suspect it must be
past eight bells, and so I vote we land, and look out for a pleasant
place to take our dinner."
"There is one," said Higson, pointing to a spot where the landing
appeared easy, and there was a tolerably wide space of open ground
backed by an orange grove, on the branches of which golden and green
fruit, with white and pink blossoms, all hung together.
All hands were soon on shore, with such provisions as they required, and
the greater number employed themselves in collecting wood for their
proposed fire, which was soon blazing away. From the sparkling stream
which rushed down from the mountains, they obtained a supply of water.
The dark green leaves of the orange-trees overhead afforded sufficient
shade, and they were soon all seated round a substantial repast, to
which they were well inclined to do full justice.
"We have not far to go for our dessert," said Tom, as he eyed the
oranges hanging temptingly above his head. Archy Gordon was of opinion,
however, that as they were not growing wild they must belong to
somebody; and that unless the owner would consent to part with his
fruit, they would not be right to take them. As may be supposed,
however, he was in the minority, though Higson acknowledged that if the
owner could be found he was entitled to payment should he demand it. In
the meantime Snatchblock and his companion, who were not troubled with
any scruples on the subject, collected their hats full and emptied them
out on the ground by the side of the officers. On this all hands,
including Archy himself, were soon employed in discussing the delicious
fruit to their hearts' content.
"I doubt whether I ever did eat such delicious oranges," exclaimed
Desmond, sucking away at orange after orange. "All the pips grow on the
outside. What a convenient arrangement for a person in a hurry! I have
seen many a black fellow with a mouth big enough to take in a whole one,
though such a bolus would be apt to stick in his gullet if he were to
swallow one before putting his teeth into it."
"Well, youngsters, if we are to get far up the harbour before dark we
must be off," said Higson. "Come, let us pack up our traps, and take
care not to leave any pots or pans on shore."
The party soon got once more in the boat, but the wind failing them they
had to depend on their oars in making headway. Wishing to go as far as
they could before nightfall they pulled on cheerfully, amusing
themselves, now by singing many a merry song, now shouting, now spinning
yarns, some of them, it must be owned, oft-repeated tales. The scenery
appeared as beautiful as at first. At length as evening was
approaching, and Higson began to feel hungry, he once more put in for
the shore at a spot somewhat resembling that on which they had landed
for dinner. Here, too, was running water, a grove of orange-trees, and
not far off several gigantic mangroves, with figs and grapes in
abundance.
"Faith! we are in a regular paradise," observed Desmond.
"We may revel in fruits, at all events," said Higson.
They agreed, as no houses were to be seen, and as they were not likely
to be interrupted, that they would bring up here for the night, and get
a bathe in the morning before starting. The fire was lighted as usual;
cocoa and coffee put on and made, while the provisions they had brought
were spread on the ground. Not intending to proceed farther they were
in no hurry, and fully enjoyed their meal, finishing off with an extra
glass of grog or two, which naturally produced the usual songs and
yarns, till they all declared that they felt remarkably happy.
Snatchblock and Tim Brady presented them with a liberal supply of fruit,
which was generous on the part of the two men, considering that it had
cost them nothing. It was eaten, however, with not the less relish.
As the merry party smoked their cigars or pipes, sucked oranges, and
sipped their grog, many a yarn of bygone days was told. Snatchblock and
Tim Brady took their part. On such expeditions as these, steady men are
permitted a familiarity not allowable on board. Higson had already told
two or three stories, and had just described an amusing scene on the
coast of Africa, when Ben Snatchblock chimed in.
"Do you mind, Mr Higson, when we were aboard the _Corsair_ together on
the coast? We saw many curious sights among the niggers; they seem
altogether a different sort of people to those over here. You know,
young gentlemen, we always ship a dozen or more black fellows aboard, to
do the hard work, wooding, and watering, and such like, which would
pretty nigh kill white men if they were to attempt it in the hot sun of
the coast. The blacks we got were called Kroomen; they altogether beat
any other niggers I have ever fallen in with in these parts--fine, big,
active fellows, and strong as any Englishman, and stronger than most,
and as brave as need be; in fact, we could not get on without them. The
slavers never come near the Kroomen's country. In the first place they
are very hard to catch, as they fight desperately, and not one of them
would ever consent to be turned into a slave. Most of those along the
coast, who have served on board men-of-war or merchantmen, speak a
little English; some speak it pretty well. They are neat and clean in
their persons, and their houses are far better furnished than those of
the blacks in general, with chairs, tables, looking-glasses, and china,
and all sorts of things, just like civilised Christians. When a gang is
engaged for a ship they always have a head man, with a mate under him,
who is called his favourite man. You will remember, Mr Higson, sir,
the fellow we had aboard the _Corsair_, who was called Dan Ropeyarn; a
great big fellow he was, too--stood six feet six without his shoes,
seeing he never wore such things. He could lift up me and Tim Brady
here--and we are not chickens--one in each hand. Dan was a good-natured
fellow, which was fortunate, for it would not have done to offend him.
He was not what is called a beauty though; he had a mouth so wide that
we used to declare he somehow or other managed to shift his ears farther
back when he had a mind to grin, and show his white teeth. Dan's mate
or favourite man was called Tom Saucepan. He was a pretty strong
fellow, but he was not equal to Dan, and in point of good looks there
wasn't much to make one jealous of the other, though maybe the black
damsels of their own country have a different opinion from ours on the
subject. One evening we were going down the Sheba river, which was
pretty broad you mind, sir. The wind was light, and the water as smooth
as glass. We had been on somewhat short commons for a month or two, for
the slave-dealers prevented the people when they could from bringing off
fresh provisions. Suddenly the lookout from the masthead, who had been
in a South Sea whaler, shouted out--
"`A turtle, floating down stream, sir.'
"The commander asked Dan Ropeyarn if he could catch the turtle.
"`Oh, yes, sare; I do dat same,' he answered, and calling Tom Saucepan
he lowered his canoe, when taking a harpoon and a long line they shoved
off. Dan, as Tom paddled him along, made the end of the line fast to
the harpoon, but not to the canoe, for he knew well enough that if the
turtle was to give but one pull, unless the line was directly over the
bows, the canoe would be capsized in a moment. Away he went, and we all
watched him eagerly from the deck, our mouths watering with the thoughts
of the turtle soup we hoped to get for dinner next day.
"Dan was too wise to let the turtle know that he was coming, so he made
Tom paddle up cautiously astern of the creature, while he stood in the
bows with his harpoon raised in his hand, ready to strike. Not one of
us could have stood upright in such a cranky sort of concern as she was;
if we had tried it, we should have gone over in a moment; still, as we
looked at Dan, so steadily he stood, we might have fancied that his feet
were planted on firm ground. Some of us thought he would miss the
turtle after all, but we were wrong. Away flew the harpoon right into
the creature's back. It did not stop quiet after this, but off it
started, running out the line, which Dan had coiled away at the bottom
of the canoe, like lightning. Somehow or other, however, the line
caught Dan's leg, and in an instant whisked him overboard and capsized
the canoe. Away he was dragged, leaving the canoe astern; he did not
let go of the rope though, not he, but catching the end he took it in
his teeth, grinning tremendously, passing it as he did so between his
legs. He must have found that wet rope a pretty hard saddle, I have a
notion, as he had nothing on in the way of trowsers. Now up the stream
he paddled with his hands, just as composedly as if he was taking a swim
for his own amusement. Now and then, the turtle in its agony would dive
or dash off at a great rate, and he would be drawn back, but the line
was too long to let him be dragged under the water.
"Tom Saucepan had, in the meantime, caught hold of the stern of the
canoe, and, seizing her by both hands, he gave her a violent rock, and
in an instant righted her; another rock, and he had freed her of water;
then in he sprang, legs first, over the stern, and began baling away
with his hat. He had kept the paddle in his mouth all the time.
"The commander had ordered a boat to be lowered to assist Dan, but
before even she reached the water Tom had not only righted the canoe,
but had got up to Dan and taken him on board, and there was the nearly
done-for turtle towing them quietly through the water. In a few minutes
the turtle had lost its strength, and, instead of the turtle towing the
canoe, the canoe was towing the turtle. We hoisted it on board, and I
mind that it weighed two hundred pounds.
"I shall not forget that turtle, Mr Higson, for you and the other
officers sent us three bottles of wine to mix with the soup. It was a
rare good stuff, that it was," and Ben smacked his lips at the
recollection of the feast, which an alderman would not have despised.
"I shall not forget Dan's face, as I saw it through the glass, while he
held the rope in his mouth, paddling away up the river, with the
turtle's stern to his, or the wonderfully rapid way in which Tom
Saucepan righted his canoe," said Higson, laughing.
"We saw some curious sights aboard the old brig, sir," observed Ben.
"Do you remember the capsizing the commander got one day?"
"I am not quite certain, but I think that you, Ben, were the very man
who did the deed."
"Oh no, sir, it wasn't me," answered Ben; "it was Billy Blazes, as we
used to call him."
"What was it, Mr Higson?" asked Tom and Desmond.
"Well, you see, youngsters, we carried pretty taunt masts and square
yards; and as several sister brigs of ours had been lost, with all
hands, the commander considered it as well to be cautious, so that we
might not go and keep them company. It became therefore necessary to
make the men sharp when all hands were turned up to shorten sail; and he
let it be understood that he intended on such occasions to punish the
last man off the lower deck. He was a tall, thin man--so tall that he
found his height very inconvenient in a ten-gun brig, and he used to put
his looking-glass on deck and his head through the cabin skylight when
he wanted to shave in the morning. Billy Blazes, who was a
quartermaster, was about as short and stout as the commander was tall
and thin. One day, just as the commander came on deck, and was standing
near the companion hatchway, seeing a squall coming along the water, he
shouted pretty sharply--
"`All hands, shorten sail!'
"Now Billy--as I take it for granted that Snatchblock is right in saying
it was he--was below, doing something or other, and guessing that he
would be late if he came up the main hatchway, he bolted through the
gunroom passage, thinking that no one would see him, and up he sprang by
the companion hatchway. At that moment the commander turned round, and,
receiving Billy's head in the pit of his stomach, was doubled up, and
sent sprawling over on the deck, the pain preventing him from seeing who
had done the deed. Billy did not, you may be sure, stop to apologise;
but up the rigging he sprang, before the commander or any of the
officers knew who it was, and you may depend upon it he did not inform
them. His messmates kept his secret, and it was not till the brig was
paid off that the truth slipped out."
"I remember the same system as that you speak of being carried on in a
ship I once served in," observed Norris. "The first lieutenant used to
put down the name of the last man off the lower deck on a slip of paper,
and at the end of three months he took out the slip, and counted who had
been most frequently guilty, and they were invariably punished.
However, as several good men got punished, the system became very
unpopular, and as many deserted in consequence it was given up."
On this Tom told some of the stories about black-listing which he had
heard from Admiral Triton.
"I once served under a captain in that respect like Jerry Hawthorne,"
said Higson. "Not that he was in general severe, I must own; but he
used to come down pretty sharply on us midshipmen occasionally. We were
in the Mediterranean, and brought up in Malta harbour. I and two other
youngsters were greatly addicted to fishing. This the captain did not
approve of, as he said that the bait and lines dirtied the ship's side,
and so he issued an order against it. Still fish we would, whenever we
had a chance, and we three, knowing that the captain had gone on shore,
were thus engaged one day, when he unexpectedly returned on board, and
found us hauling up fish after fish, which left their scales sticking to
the frigate's polished sides. He sent for us aft.
"`I will show you, my lads, how to fish,' he said, with a bland smile,
and thereon he ordered three boarding-pikes to be brought, to each of
which he had about four feet of rope yarn secured, with a hand-lead at
the end. `Now, come along, lads, and you shall begin your fishing,' he
said, with a quiet chuckle, and he then made each of us hold a
boarding-pike straight out over the taffrail, at arm's length, during
the whole of the watch, telling the first lieutenant to keep an eye on
us. You may be sure our arms ached; and when the lieutenant turned
another way, we took the liberty of letting the pikes rest on the rail.
Every now and then the captain would come up, and with that bland smile
of his ask us in a cheerful voice--
"`Have you caught any fish, my lads?' and when we said `No, sir,' he
would answer--
"`Try a little longer; you will have better luck by-and-by.'
"I can tell you, it was about as aggravating a punishment as I ever
endured. It cured us, for the time at least, of our love of fishing."
"You must have seen some wonderful things in the course of your career,
Mr Higson," observed Tom.
"I have indeed, youngster," answered the lieutenant. "One of the most
wonderful was in that brig we were speaking of, and Snatchblock was the
man who played the most important part in the drama. It was a very
short one, though.
"We were shortening sail when a young midshipman, very small for his
age, fell from the fore-topgallant-yard. You must have thought that he
must, to a certainty, have been dashed to pieces: so he would have been,
but Snatchblock, who was on the fore-topsail-yard caught him as he fell
in a vice-like grasp, and placed him on the yard, thus saving his life."
"I cannot tell you how I did it, sir," said Snatchblock. "All I can
fancy is, I heard him coming, for it was but a moment after he let go
his hold that I had him tight enough."
"Do you mind, sir, Pat O'connor falling from aloft? He and another man
were in the main-topmast-crosstrees when they took to quarrelling. What
it was about I don't know; but Pat said something which made the other
hit him, and over went Pat, striking, as he fell, the mainsail with his
head, which took the skin right off his face, and down he came on deck,
his face all gory, and his shirt and trousers covered with blood. We
ran to him, thinking that every bone in his body must have been broken,
and expecting to find him dead, when up he jumped, and doubling his
fists began swearing terribly at the other,--I don't think I ever heard
a fellow swear more,--telling him to come down, and he would fight him
then and there. He was just as if he had gone mad, and he didn't seem
to think for a moment of the fearful danger he had escaped. I have
known a man killed just falling a few feet, and others, like those we
have been speaking about, falling from aloft, and yet not the worse for
it. I remember once going round the Horn when a man fell from the
fore-topsail-yard. The ship was running eight knots or so before a
strong breeze, over a long, heavy swell, though the sea was not
breaking. It was some time before she could be rounded to; but the man
was a strong swimmer, and struck out bravely. While we were watching
the poor fellow an immense albatross came sweeping down towards him.
Several of us cried out that he would be killed. Those birds with their
strong bills can drill a hole in a man's skull in a moment. We shouted
at the top of our voices, but the man could not hear us. Fortunately he
saw the bird coming, and whipping off his shoe he held it in his hand to
defend himself. Down swooped the albatross, when seizing the shoe in
its beak off it flew again, and did not drop it for a minute or more. A
boat was lowered, and the man picked up not much the worse; and the
surgeon of the ship, who had got his rifle ready, shot the same
albatross some minutes after. It measured, I mind, fourteen feet and a
few inches from tip to tip of its wings."
Yarn after yarn of a similar character was spun, till some of the party
got up saying, that they must stretch their legs, and off they strolled
along the shore to collect anything to be found, leaving Higson, Archy,
and Tom, and Desmond still at the supper table.
While the rest were absent, Higson, who was leaning back enjoying his
cigar, happening to look round, observed several men coming out of the
orange grove.
"Hillo! what can those fellows want?" he said, sitting up.
"They seem friendly enough, but there are a good many others behind the
trees," observed Tom.
The strangers approached nearer. They appeared by their costumes to be
country people, and except the long sticks they carried in their hands
no weapons were observed among them. Stopping a few yards off they
stood staring at the young officers without addressing them, though they
made remarks to each other. Norris was the only one of the party who
pretended to speak Portuguese.
"You must be our interpreter. Ask what they want," said Higson.
Norris did his best to put the question, but the natives did not seem to
understand him, as they made no reply. Seeing only the young lieutenant
and his four companions the rest of the party being still at a distance,
the strangers became more familiar. While some gathered close round
them others went to the boat: one stooping down picked up a musket,
while another got hold of a boarding-pike, which lay on the grass at a
little distance, and began examining them.
"I don't quite like the way these fellows are behaving," said Higson.
"Hang it all! I have left my pistols in the boat, or I would make them
keep their distance."
"Tell them, Norris, that we beg they will stand a little way off, and
explain their object in paying us a visit."
Norris thereon addressed the natives in the best Portuguese he could
muster, but they did not apparently choose to understand him. Presently
the men who had gone down to the boat scrambled into her, and shouting
to the others shoved off, and began to make their way towards another
landing-place some distance along the shore.
"Hillo! you fellows! come back. What are you about?" shouted Higson,
darting forward.
Directly he did so four of the natives threw themselves upon him, and
though he knocked over one, and gave another a black eye, they succeeded
in tripping him up, and before he could strike another blow they had his
arms fast behind his back. Norris and the three midshipmen were rushing
to his assistance when they were treated in the same manner, two or
three of the natives seizing each one of them, and quickly securing
their arms.
"Well, you fellows, what are you going to do with us, I should like to
know?" exclaimed Higson, feeling naturally very indignant. "We are
British officers, and I can tell you that if you don't set us at
liberty, and bring back our boat, you will have to pay for it. Tell
them what I say, Norris."