AN AMERICAN SKIPPER GIVES IMPORTANT INFORMATION--JACK LEADS A BOAT
ATTACK ON A SLAVER IN THE RIO FRIO--CAPTURE--SLAVER BLOWN UP--THE
SUPPLEJACK EXPOSED TO A HOT FIRE--THE CORVETTE AND BRIG IN THE HARBOUR
OF PARANAGUA--SLAVERS ATTACKED--SEVERAL PRIZES MADE--FIRED AT FROM THE
SHORE--ENGAGEMENT WITH A FORT--PRIZES DESTROYED--CARRY ONE OFF--A MAN
OVERBOARD--PICKED UP--HIS HAIR TURNS WHITE.
The corvette and brig had been cruising for some days in company, having
chased several vessels, some of which got away, while others were found
to be honest traders. They were some way to the southward of Cape Frio,
when land just being in sight, a brig was made out, standing towards
them. She hoisted American colours, and as she approached, passing
close to the corvette, a man, who appeared to be her skipper, standing
on the poop-deck, hailed.
"If you will heave to I will come aboard you, as I have information to
give."
The corvette was immediately brought to the wind, her foretopsail
backed, the brig performing the same movement, when a boat was lowered,
and a stout florid man, a Yankee in appearance from truck to kelson,
dressed in Quaker costume, came alongside in her. Quickly climbing on
deck, without making the usual salutation performed by visitors to a
man-of-war, he advanced towards Murray, and introduced himself as
Captain Aaron Sturge, of the brig _Good Hope_ bound for Boston.
"This ship, I guess, friend, is one of the cruisers engaged in putting
down the slave-trade," he said.
Murray replied in the affirmative, and inquired what information he had
to give.
"It is this, friend; I have just come out of the Rio Frio, where I left
a wicked-looking craft, called the _Rival_, nearly ready for sea, which
will carry, I guess, six hundred slaves at least. She is a vessel I
heard that the British cruisers have been long looking after; so if thou
dost wish to catch her, now is thy time, and I would advise thee to
stand in at once, and thou mayest cut her off as she comes out, or, what
would be more certain, catch her before she puts to sea."
Murray thanked the Yankee skipper for his information, and invited him
below.
"No, friend, I thank thee. The sooner thou art on thy way toward the
coast and I on mine northward, the better. Thou will do thy best to
take this vessel?"
Murray assured him that he would, and would lose not a moment in
standing in for the land.
The honest skipper then shaking hands, swung himself down the side into
his boat, and returned to the brig, which stood away to the southward,
while the _Tudor_ and _Supplejack_, hauling their wind, stood towards
the coast. Murray hoped to be off the mouth of the harbour some time
after dark. He hailed Jack, and told him what he intended to do.
His plan was to send the brig in with the boats and capture the slaver,
before she got under weigh, or, should she sail that evening, catch her
as she was coming out. As the vessels drew near the land, a sharp
lookout was kept, on the chance of the slaver having put to sea, but no
sail appeared in sight, and some time after nightfall, having got well
in with the land, they hove to, to wait for daybreak.
Just before dawn Murray despatched two of his boats, one under charge of
Higson, and the other of the master, with directions to Jack to stand in
directly there was light enough to see his way. Jack, having a good
chart, felt confident of being able to take the brig in without a pilot.
Directly the first streaks of dawn appeared in the sky, he put the
brig's head towards the harbour. The sea breeze set in sooner than
usual, and, having a leading wind, he rapidly stood on towing the boats.
He was soon passing through the narrow entrance.
"I see a number of fellows coming along the beach, some of them with
arms in their hands. They probably suspect us, and will give us some
trouble when we are coming out again," said Bevan.
"I shall care very little for that, provided we get hold of the slaver.
I only hope that she has not given us the slip," answered Jack.
"There she is, sir, high up the harbour," cried Bevan. "Her topsails
are loose, and had the wind held she would probably have been under
weigh by this time."
"We have her safe enough now, however," said Jack.
The brig stood on for some way, but the wind fell light, the current was
running out, and the channel here was far more intricate than the part
already passed through. Jack determined, therefore, to bring up, and to
board the slaver with the boats. Those selected for the expedition
eagerly leaped into them. Jack took command of the whole, five in
number, leaving Bevan in charge of the brig.
"It is possible that the Brazilians may imitate the example of those
fellows at Bahia, and attempt to attack you," said Jack to Bevan; "you
will therefore keep a good lookout, and allow no boat to approach under
any pretence whatever. Order them to keep off, and fire a musket-shot
or two ahead of them, as a sign that you are in earnest. If they still
come on, fire the carronades into them, and drive them back as you best
can."
The boats shoved off and made good way towards the slaver. Jack
observed a horseman or two galloping along the shore, but no attempt was
made to molest the English, though they passed round a couple of points
within musket-shot. At last the slaver was seen at anchor right ahead.
The expected prize before them, the boats' crews gave way with a will,
Jack's boat leading.
He had ordered Higson to board on the port side, while he attacked on
the starboard. The schooner's sails, though they had been loose when
first seen, had in the meantime been furled. One man only was visible
on board her, he was composedly walking the quarterdeck with a glass
under his arm, through which he had been watching the approaching boats.
As they got close he hailed in broken English, and ordered them to keep
off.
"No, no; we intend to come aboard and examine that schooner," cried
Jack.
"And I say you shall not," answered the man; "if you attempt it you must
stand by the consequences."
"We intend to do so. Give way, lads," shouted Jack. As he spoke, the
schooner's ports were opened. Her hitherto silent decks appeared
crowded with men, while the next instant, four guns, run out on either
side, let fly a shower of grape and canister, while twenty or thirty men
opened fire with muskets. Happily the guns did no damage, for the boats
were already close up to the schooner's sides, though two or three men
were slightly wounded by the bullets which came in sharp thuds against
the gunwales.
"Board her, my lads," shouted Jack; and he and his followers threw
themselves quickly on deck. The slaver's crew stood their ground for a
few seconds only; then, throwing down their cutlasses and muskets, they
sprang overboard, and attempted to make their way to the not distant
bank. A few had been cut down at the first onslaught; half-a-dozen
yielded themselves prisoners, and two had tumbled into the boats, making
eight in all captured. The others, in shoals, were swimming for their
lives. The seamen, irritated at the opposition they had met with, would
have shot them down, but Jack ordered them to desist.
"These fellows are not to be treated as enemies, now that they have
abandoned their vessel. It was their duty to defend her," he shouted
out, knocking up their muskets. "We must now get her out of this before
their friends collect on the shore, or we shall find it rather a hot
berth, I suspect."
The cable was cut, and the boats, taking the prize in tow, began to make
way down the harbour. They had not, however, got far from the spot,
before several shots struck the schooner, fired from some men who had
already collected on the shore. No one was hurt, and she was soon
beyond the range of the muskets. As the breeze increased it became very
hard work, towing the schooner against it; still Jack determined, if
possible, to carry her off. As they approached one of the points which
they had to round, they observed a number of armed men collecting on it.
To avoid them the schooner was kept over to the opposite side. Just
then a squall struck her and drove her on a bank. The Brazilians,
encouraged by this, opened a hot fire, and though at some distance,
several of their shot struck the schooner. In spite of it, Jack ordered
warps to be got out, and endeavoured to haul her off. Two of his men
had been hit and he in vain endeavoured to get the prize into deep
water. Ahead was a bank over which he found it impossible to haul her;
she had driven, indeed, into a bay, shoal water being found ahead,
astern, and on her port side.
"It must be done, though I am sorry to lose so fine a craft; we must
blow her up," he said to Higson.
Several casks of powder were found on board. They were placed in her
hold, surrounded by such combustible materials as could be quickly
gathered together. All hands were then ordered into the boats; Jack,
with Higson and Needham, set her on fire simultaneously amidships and
fore and aft. They then jumped into the boats, and Jack, anxious to
have his men safe from further risk of being shot, gave the order to
pull down the river as fast as they could lay their backs to the oars.
The Brazilians probably fancied that they had taken to flight, and three
boats, which had been concealed behind the point, were now seen shoving
off for the schooner. They had got more than half way towards her when
the flames burst out through all the hatchways; still they pulled on,
hoping to extinguish them. The people in the leading boat were on the
point of jumping on board, when the flames catching the gunpowder, up
she went, her masts and spars shooting towards the sky, with fragments
of her decks, while her sides split in all directions. Whether any of
the Brazilians were injured could not be discovered; two of their boats
pulled away in hot haste, the third following far more slowly. It was
the general opinion that the people in her must have suffered severely,
as they were close to the side of the vessel when she blew up.
Jack fearing that his vessel might be attacked, made the best of his way
on board. On the arrival of the boats alongside, Bevan reported that he
had not been molested, but that he had seen a considerable number of
boats pulling along the shore, towards a spot further down, where people
were collected in crowds. Though Jack felt perfectly confident that
even should they venture to attack him he should beat them off, being
anxious to avoid bloodshed, he resolved to get under weigh as soon as
possible. The breeze, however, still blowing up the harbour, he had to
wait till it died away, and the land breeze reassumed its power.
It was an anxious time, for without a pilot he dare not attempt to heat
out of the harbour.
"At all events, if they do show their noses, we can give them a taste of
Long Tom, sir," said Needham; "it's my opinion they will not come nearer
if they hear him bark."
The brig lay with her sails loose and her cable hove short: still not a
breath of air stirred the glass-like surface of the harbour.
Jack did not wish to risk the loss of his vessel by attempting to cross
the bar without a leading wind, besides which from the example the
Brazilians had given of their disposition they might take the
opportunity of attacking her while passing along the narrow channel he
would have to traverse.
He hoped to get out before nightfall. At length the pennant which long
had hung up and down the mast, began to move. Again it dropped, but at
length out it blew steadily, while here and there gentle ripples
appeared on the surface of the water.
"Hands, up anchor and make sail," shouted Jack.
The boats quickly towed the brig round, the canvas was let drop, and
away she glided. As she increased her speed, the boats were dropped
astern, and now with a fair breeze the gallant little brig under all
sail stood towards the mouth of the harbour. As she neared the
narrowest part of the channel a number of people were seen collecting on
the beach. On her approach they ran behind the high bank, sheltered by
which they opened a hot fire with muskets and rifles, the bullets
whizzing over the brig. Jack on this ordered all hands to lie down,
with the exception of the helmsman, the man in the chains, and the
lookout forward, while he himself stood at his post, conning the vessel.
The wind held fair, and after having been peppered for about ten minutes
with a few stray shots sticking into her sides and hammocks, and a
splinter or two torn off the masts, the _Supplejack_ bounded gaily out
to sea, having performed her duty, and being able to laugh at her
opponents. None of the men struck had been much hurt, so the affair was
altogether satisfactory. Just as it was getting dark, she met the
corvette, which had stood in as close as was safe, to meet her.
The two vessels now stood to the southward, for the purpose of looking
into the harbour of Paranagua, a notorious slave-mart, about three
hundred miles from Rio. They came off the bay or gulf, as it may
probably be called, soon after dawn on the third day after leaving the
scene of their last exploit.
On one side of the somewhat narrow entrance lay a fort in which they
could count fourteen or fifteen guns frowning down upon them.
"We might have some hot work if we were entering an enemy port,"
observed Murray. "The Brazilian officer in command will, however,
scarcely dare to molest us, even though he may be favourably disposed to
the slave-traders."
As a precautionary measure, however, the crews were sent to quarters,
and, the corvette leading, the two vessels stood into the harbour. As
he approached, Murray dipped his flag, the salute being duly returned
from the fort. He accordingly stood on, intending to run up the harbour
till he came in sight of the vessels he expected to find there. Jack,
following his leader, did the same, and passed unmolested.
The two men-of-war proceeded on for some distance, but no vessels
appeared, and Murray began to fear that the slavers had had some
intimation that the port was likely to be visited by British cruisers,
and had slipped away in time. Ahead lay an island with buildings on it.
Some were dwelling-houses, others were long sheds of a suspicious
character. As the water was still deep, and the channel tolerably wide,
he stood on, when rounding a point he saw several large vessels lying at
anchor, which from their appearance, as well as from the sheds and
leaguers, or huge casks for holding water, which lay on the shore,
together with planking for slave-decks, and other articles easily
distinguishable through the telescope, he had no doubt were slavers. As
the channel at this point became very narrow and intricate he thought it
prudent not to stand on farther, and dropping his anchor, he ordered
Jack to do the same. He then got a spring on his cable, so as to be
able to bring his broadside to bear on the vessels, and to cover the
boats which he intended to send forthwith to attack them.
"There is a stir among the vessels," observed Adair, "and two of them
have got under weigh, and are standing out towards us."
Murray accordingly ordered him and Higson to board them, and ascertain
their character. One carried the British and the other the American
flag. The boats were lowered and the two vessels in a short time coming
up were boarded. Neither of them made any resistance. Their papers
were found to be correct--they were honest traders.
"As soon as we saw you approaching, we two agreed to stand out from
among the black sheep. The rest of the craft in there are one and all
slavers, and if you take or destroy them they will only get their due,"
said the American master.
He then gave a description of the vessels, and the number of guns and
men they carried. Terence thanked him for the information, and the two
vessels were allowed to continue their course down the river.
Murray now ordered five boats under the command of Jack to board and
overhaul all the vessels lying at anchor off the island.
One was a large ship, two were brigs, and a fourth a wicked-looking
schooner, evidently a slaver. The question was whether they would offer
resistance. The ship was seen getting a spring on her cable, which
looked something like it; Jack was therefore prepared for all
contingencies.
"We will take the smallest ones in detail, and that big fellow will then
see that he has no chance of assistance," he said to Higson.
Further off lay another large ship with the Brazilian colours flying,
and two barques, one an American, the other a Portuguese, with a
brigantine, which, as Needham remarked, from truck to kelson had the cut
of a slaver.
"We will take them all, lads, never fear. They have got into a net, and
it will be a hard matter for them to make their way out again. The
truth is, they thought we should never find our way up here; but they
have discovered their mistake, and have made their last voyages with
blackies aboard, I hope."
The boats were pulling on steadily towards the first brig, a beautiful
vessel, with sharp bows and clean run; she would be a prize worth
having, Jack knew, as she would give no end of trouble to the British
cruisers engaged in the suppression of the slave-trade. A number of men
were seen on board, but, as the flotilla approached, they jumped into
their boats and pulled for the shore. The brig was immediately boarded,
when not a soul was found in her, though she had her cargo on board; she
was completely fitted for the slave-trade. Jack, suspecting treachery,
had her thoroughly examined.
"All's right, sir," said Needham. "The crew were in too great a fright
to think of anything but saving themselves, or they might, to be sure,
have laid a slow match to the magazine, and tried to blow us up. The
only pity is that she has no sails on board. It will be a job to know
what to do with her."
Jack had, in the meantime, sent the other boats to take possession of
the second brig. This also was abandoned by her crew. She, too, was
found fully fitted for the slave-trade. They now headed the boats
towards the ship, the broadside of which having been brought to bear on
them, she was apparently prepared for a determined resistance. Ordering
Adair to pull for her stern and Higson for the bows, Jack and Needham
dashed up alongside. As they approached the ship opened fire with
round, grapeshot, and musketry, but, as is often the case, when men
fight in a bad cause, the slaver's crew took uncertain aim, and no one
was hurt in either of the boats. The Brazilians had soon cause to
repent of their folly in attempting to defend themselves; the English
seamen quickly climbing up the side, they at once gave way, and rushing
across the deck sprang overboard, and attempted to swim towards the
shore. Some of the seamen, enraged at the opposition they had made,
picked up the muskets from the decks, and would have fired after their
retreating foe, had not Jack, as on a previous occasion, stopped them.
"Let the wretches, though they deserve punishment, have a chance for
their lives," he said.
Several boats putting off from the shore picked up most of the swimmers,
though some were seen to go down before they were rescued.
The ship was a remarkably fine one, called the _Andorinha_. On
examining her she was found to be American built, while the flag of the
United States was discovered on board. Another discovery was also made.
Her stern was covered by a piece of painted canvas, on ripping off
which there appeared the name of the _Mary Jane_, of Greenport, in large
letters, and as she carried two whale-boats on her quarters, the most
vigilant of British cruisers might have passed her without the slightest
suspicion of her real character.
Leaving the crew of one of the boats on board the ship under the command
of Tom, who was vastly proud of the confidence placed in him, Jack
pulled on for the other large Brazilian ship. The captain received him
on board with a smiling countenance, for the fellow well knew that
though evidently a slaver, she could not be touched. All the slave
fittings had been landed, and lay abreast of her along the shore. The
American brig, which was next boarded, was as clearly intended for the
same nefarious traffic, but as she had not yet been fitted up with
slave-decks, though they also were discovered close to her ready to be
shipped, with her leaguers and other fittings.
The day's work was not yet over; a brigantine lay temptingly near,
inviting a visit. The boats soon surrounded her, she was found to be
the _Stella_, a vessel which had long eluded the vigilance of British
cruisers.
Though some of her fittings had been landed, a sufficient quantity
remained to condemn her. Jack, however, having to secure his other
prizes, was obliged to leave her, intending to visit her the next day;
he therefore pulled back to the brigs, and commenced towing and warping
them towards the corvette.
The channel through which they had to pass was excessively narrow, and,
unfortunately, Jack, forgetting that the boats might pass in a direct
line where the vessels could not follow, they both took the ground. Now
came the task of hauling them off; it was accomplished, however, and
they were brought at length to an anchor between the two men-of-war. He
next pulled back to the ship, and reached her just as darkness came on.
He found Tom and his crew on the alert; he had seen a number of boats
coming off from the shore, with the intention, he fully believed, of
attacking him.
"But we would have treated them just as Mr Adair did the slave-dealers
at Bahia," he exclaimed. "We had all our arms loaded, and if they had
come near us, we should have given them a pretty warm reception, you may
depend upon that."
Jack felt very sure that Tom would have done so, though he was glad he
had not been exposed to the danger he would have had to run.
Sounding as he went, Jack got the ship safely under the guns of the
corvette at a late hour of the night. The skulking crews of the
slavers, eager as they might have been to regain the vessels taken from
them, dared not attack them, and the night passed off quietly. Next
morning by daybreak the boats again put off; the most important vessel
to capture was the brigantine, and they at once pulled for her. As they
approached, they made out several boats pulling backwards and forwards
between her and the shore. Jack regretted that he had not left a prize
crew on board, though he had acted, as he thought at the time, for the
best.
"Give way, my lads, those fellows are after some mischief, we must put a
stop to it," he shouted.
The brigantine lay floating on the calm water, her taunt, raking masts,
and the tracery of her spars and rigging reflected in its surface. She
was just the style of craft to please a seaman's eye. The men gave way,
in a few minutes they hoped to be aboard her. Suddenly her masts moved
to starboard, then over they heeled to port, when, gradually, her bows
sank, and down she glided, head foremost, beneath the surface of the
water.
"What a pity!" broke from the lips of those in the stern sheets of the
boats, who had observed what had taken place; the look of astonishment
in the countenances of the men at the oars, when, turning their heads,
they found the brigantine had disappeared, was almost ludicrous. Had
they got hold of any of the Brazilians they would have made them pay
dearly for their trick. It was very evident that the vessel had been
scuttled during the night, to prevent her from falling into the hands of
the English, while the crew had landed every article of value from her.
Jack was thus compelled to be contented with his three prizes, none of
the other vessels could be touched. It now coming on to blow hard, it
was impossible to get under weigh. The time, however, was employed in
fitting the ship for sea; Higson and a prize crew had charge of her.
Murray intended to tow one of the brigs, while Jack was to tow the
other. All hands on board both vessels were hard at work till sunset.
The next morning, the wind coming down the harbour, they got under
weigh, and proceeded down the gulf. In a short time, the squadron got
abreast of the fort, the commandant of which was well aware that the
English had, in accordance with the wishes of his own government,
performed their duty in capturing the slavers, and Murray therefore
expected to pass without molestation. He saluted as usual, and was
standing on, when a gun was fired at the corvette.
"What are the fellows about!" he exclaimed.
"It may have been let off by mistake," observed Adair.
"That was not let off by mistake, though," exclaimed Murray, as a shot
from a second gun whistled close under the stern, followed immediately
by another, which, however, passed ahead.
"Beat to quarters," cried Murray, "the fellows mean mischief."
Scarcely had the first roll of the drum sounded than the eager crew
sprang to their guns.
Jack imitated his example; both vessels opened their broadsides, firing
shot and shell as fast as their guns could be brought to bear.
The fort, meantime, fired showers of grape, canister, and round shot.
"This is hotter work than we met with up the Saint Juan; I did not
expect such fun," exclaimed Desmond.
"We had only muskets, and we have now got big guns to pay back the
compliments we receive," observed Archy, who was standing near him.
"Yes, but the enemy have stone walls, instead of timber stockades to
protect them," said Desmond; "it's very good fun, though."
"I don't call that fun," cried Archy, as a round shot struck a seaman at
one of the guns near them on the breast, and laid him dead on the deck,
before he had time to utter a groan. A grape shot, the next moment, hit
another man on the shoulder, and he was carried below. Two others were
shortly afterwards wounded.
Fortunately the wind held, or the men-of-war might have suffered much
more than they did. The object of the Brazilians was probably to compel
them to abandon their prizes, which would have undoubtedly been
immediately taken possession of.
Murray signalled Higson to keep further off the fort, to escape the risk
of damage.
The English ships, having passed the front of the battery, had their
sterns exposed to a raking fire from the sea face of it, which they were
unable to return, in consequence of the vessels in tow. One of the
after guns of the _Tudor_, was, however, fitted for throwing shells, and
as Murray could bring it to bear, when the openings between the vessels
astern would allow of it, he occasionally fired one into the fort. Long
Tom did his duty, and Jack had the satisfaction of believing that his
shot produced as much effect as those of the corvette.
"On my word I should like to land and storm that fort, to punish the
rascals," he exclaimed.
"I am afraid that as it is on a friendly territory, that would be
unlawful," observed Bevan.
"Then people on friendly territory should not attack those engaged in
the performance of their duty," answered Jack; "give them a parting
shot, Needham; we shall soon be out of range of their guns, if the
breeze holds."
"I will do my best to make it tell," said Dick; training Long Tom aft as
far as possible. He fired--the effect of the shot was to silence the
gun which had for some minutes annoyed them the most, and it was
conjectured, therefore, that it must have either killed several of the
gunners, or injured the carriage. The next shot which came from the
fort, fell short of the brig. As soon as the vessels were completely
out of range, Murray ordered the anchors to be dropped.
A heavy sea setting over the bar at the entrance he considered it unwise
to attempt crossing till the top of high water. The place in which he
had brought up was not however altogether free from danger. On either
hand were wild rugged rocks, while a line of foaming surf stretched
across the mouth of the harbour. As it would be impossible to cross
with the two prize-brigs, Murray determined at once to destroy them.
The two cutters and the _Supplejack's_ jollyboat were directed to
perform this service. Tom and Desmond agreed to go and see the fun, and
just as the brig's boat was shoving off they jumped into her, unobserved
by Jack. The boats having taken charge of the brigs, towed them
half-a-mile from the ships. They were then set on fire, and were soon
in a blaze fore and aft, when the wind, having more power than the tide,
rapidly carried them towards the foaming breakers. The corvette's two
boats were returning, when Jack, looking round to ascertain what had
become of his boat, caught sight of her close to one of the blazing
vessels, on the point of being driven among the dangerous breakers.
Having discovered that the two youngsters had gone in her, he naturally
felt doubly anxious on their account, and suspected that some accident
must have happened to prevent her return. Instantly jumping into the
pinnace with the best hands he could collect, he pulled away for the
boat, the crew of which were labouring desperately to head her off the
breakers. He had gone but a short distance when he caught sight of the
two brigs, like huge floating bonfires, gliding into the midst of the
foaming waters, which danced up wildly around them, as if greedy for
their prey. A few seconds the vessels struggled with the wild breakers,
then their keels grated on the sharp rocks, they rose and fell a few
seconds more, when, the waters leaping triumphantly over them, they were
shattered into a thousand fragments, which were scattered on every side.
Jack's interest was, however, centred on the boat which was already
awfully near the breakers, and once in them her fate would be that of
the slavers. His men strained every muscle to reach her. Already
scarcely half a cable's length existed between her and the inner line of
breakers, a foaming sea had burst close astern. Jack dashing forward
shouted to the bowman to have a rope ready. It was hove on board as he
swept round, and securing it he steered away from the dangerous spot.
Two of her oars had been lost alongside the burning brig, and another
had been sprung; and had not assistance come, the boat and all on board
would in another minute to a certainty have been engulfed. As Jack made
his way back to the brig he was received with loud cheers from the
corvette and prize.
He was thankful when he at length reached the deck of the _Supplejack_,
feeling that he ought to punish the two youngsters for their misconduct,
though very unwilling to do so. He contented himself with giving them a
severe lecture, and pointing out to them the fearful risk they had run
of losing their lives.
"When duty calls you, it is quite a different matter," he observed:
"then never be daunted by danger. Your duty was to remain on board.
Had you been lost I should have had double cause to mourn for you, as
you would have uselessly thrown your lives away."
"That's just what Admiral Triton said to me," observed Tom to Desmond.
"Jack is right--no doubt about that."
By this time the tide had sufficiently risen to allow a passage over the
bar, and Murray being unwilling to lose a favourable wind by a longer
delay, the anchors were hove up, sail was made, and the two men-of-war,
with the captured slaver, leaving the fort astern, dashed proudly out to
sea. They had, however, to keep their pumps going, in consequence of
the large amount of water which had rushed into them before the
shot-holes they had received could be thoroughly plugged. Murray then
gave Higson directions to carry the slaver to Saint Helena, and, after
delivering her up, to return to Rio by the first opportunity.
The midshipmen were sorry to lose him, for he never forgot that he had
been their messmate, and, notwithstanding his few eccentricities, he was
always kind and considerate.
While he steered to the eastward, the corvette and brig shaped a course
for Rio. The result of the expedition had been the destruction of three
noted slavers, and the capture of a fourth, while their owners had
learnt an important lesson, that the risks of the trade in which they
were engaged were considerably increased, and that it might possibly be
wiser to abandon it.
Next night, during Adair's watch, a pampeiro, a squall off the Pampas so
called, suddenly struck the ship; the boatswain's shrill whistle
summoned all hands to shorten sail; happily, the tacks and sheets were
let fly before its full force was felt.
Ned Somers, a foretop-man, on the lee yardarm, with the earring in hand,
was struck by the wild, flapping sail, and overboard he fell. Murray,
who had now come on deck, saw the accident, and the instant the ship
could be brought to the wind, ordering a boat to be lowered, he cried
out for volunteers to man her. Adair sprang into her, and Snatchblock
took the bow oar. Other hands followed. The man's cries directed them,
as they believed, towards where he was floating. Away the boat dashed
through the foaming waters, but when they reached the spot the man was
nowhere to be seen. They pulled round and round it, shouting to him,
but no answer came. Unwillingly, at length Adair put the boat's head
towards the ship. The men had not pulled many strokes when Snatchblock
felt a blow on the bow of the boat, and by a sudden impulse (there was
no time for thought) stretching himself over the gunwale, he plunged
down his arm and got hold of the missing man, whom eager hands assisted
him to haul on board. Somers was immediately passed aft, and, as fast
as the crew could pull, the boat returned to the ship.
The man, who still breathed, was hoisted on deck, and placed under the
surgeon's hands.
Strange to say, he seemed next morning to outward appearance not much
the worse for his accident.
From that day, however, he was in reality a changed man. Once among the
most high-spirited and joyous of the crew, he became melancholy and
silent, though he went through his duty as usual. About a month
afterwards, as Adair was going forward, he saw a whitehaired man sitting
on the coamings of the fore-hatchway.
"Where did that old man come from?" he asked of Snatchblock.
"I never saw so strange a thing in all my life, sir," was the answer.
"Last night when he turned in his hair was as black as mine, and this
morning, when the hammocks were piped up, it was as you see it. _That
man, sir, is Ned Somers_!"
Adair could scarcely believe what he heard till he spoke to poor Ned,
who, however, not having a looking-glass, did not seem to be aware of
the change. After this he grew weaker and weaker; his nervous system,
when he fell overboard, had received a shock which was too much for him.
Murray had resolved to send him home, when the surgeon reported that
the poor fellow had not many hours to live. Before night he breathed
his last, and was buried in the seaman's wide sepulchre, the Ocean. He
survived the accident scarcely three months.