Captain Moncrieff was desirous of entering the Caribbean Sea through the
Sail-rock passage, which separates the barren island of St. Thomas from
Porto Rico. But when we reached the latitude of those islands we beheld,
on our starboard bow, the mountainous country on the eastern part of
Hayti. The island of Porto Rico was soon afterwards seen on the other
bow, and directly ahead was the little island of Mona, rising abruptly
from the sea. Instead of striking the Sail-rock passage we found
ourselves in the centre of the Mona passage, a hundred and twenty miles
to leeward of Sail-rock, and twenty or thirty miles westward of the
meridian of LaGuayra.
Although Captain Moncrieff was glad of an opportunity to ascertain
his true position, he was mortified at finding himself westward of his
destined port. The Young Pilot was immediately hauled on a wind, and we
crossed the Caribbean Sea with a fine breeze, and one morning beheld
the Rocas, a cluster of barren rocks, right ahead. We passed over a bank
extending from this group of rocks, and with a fishing-line trailing
astern and a piece of the rind of pork for bait, caught a quantity of
Spanish mackerel, a fish of excellent flavor, weighing four or five
pounds each.
And I will here state, for the benefit of those navigators who have
little experience in those seas, that on the edge of soundings in all
parts of the West Indies, and particularly on the edges of the Bahamas
and Salt Key Bank, abundance of fish of excellent quality, as black
perch, kingfish, barracooter, and Spanish mackerel, may be taken by
trailing during a breeze, in any reasonable quantity.
By steering a course directly from the Rocas to LaGuayra we could
have reached that port on the following day, but Captain Moncrieff
was impressed with the idea that a strong current was setting to the
westward. Therefore, instead of proceeding directly to the Spanish Main,
as he should have done, he commenced beating to windward, and continued
this absurd process for two days, when, having made the island of
Tortuga, he satisfied himself he was far enough to windward, and
that there was no current at that time in those seas. The helm
was accordingly put up, and with a free wind we now steered to the
south-west, to fall in with the coast somewhere near Cape Codera.
We made the land about fifty miles to windward of LaGuayra, in the
afternoon, about three o'clock. Captain Moncrieff clapped his hands in
ecstasy when he saw the land. "If this breeze holds," said he, "we can
run along under easy sail and be off the harbor before daylight tomorrow
morning."
His exultation was moderated by the sight of a large topsail schooner
on our starboard quarter, dead to windward, steering towards us under
a heavy press of sail, and coming up hand over hand. We hoisted our
square-sail and wet our other sails, but the schooner gained upon us
rapidly. Ere the darkness of night concealed us from her view, we became
aware that the schooner in chase was a Spanish government vessel, termed
a Guarda Costa, one of the very few armed vessels stationed on that
coast to show that the blockade of the Patriot ports on the Spanish Main
was not a mere paper blockade.
A hasty consultation between the captain and the mate was now held, to
devise means of keeping out of the clutches of the Spaniard during the
night. They both agreed in the opinion that the Guarda Costa would keep
on the course she was steering when last seen, with the expectation of
soon overhauling us. Therefore, the best mode of disappointing those
expectations would be to change our course, run directly towards the
shore, dowse every sail, and remain concealed by the darkness until
morning.
The stratagem devised by the combined wisdom of the officers was carried
into effect. We ran in under the land and hauled down every sail, thus
presenting so small a surface to the eye that it was almost impossible
we should be seen during the night. It was deemed advisable to keep a
good look-out, and Captain Moncrieff volunteered to keep the watch from
eight o'clock to eleven. Mr. Campbell was to be on deck from eleven
o'clock until three, when I was to be called to keep the look-out until
daylight.
Everything passed off well during the first and second watches of
the night. At three o'clock I was roused out by the mate, and took my
station on deck. I could not divest myself of the idea that the Guarda
Costa had divined our intentions and was quietly lying to, somewhere in
our vicinity, sure of finding us snugly under her guns at the dawn of
the day. There was no moon in the heavens, nevertheless the horizon
was well defined, and a large object could be seen at the distance of
a couple of miles. I took a careful look around the horizon, waited
a short time and looked again. I suffered my eyes to dwell on that
quarter, in a north-east direction, where the schooner had been seen
the evening before, and after a while I beheld a speck darker than the
surrounding atmosphere.
Might it not exist only in imagination? I turned away my eyes and took a
survey of the horizon in another direction, and again looked towards the
quarter where the dark object had appeared. It was still there. Feeling
assured I was not the victim of error, I ventured to call Captain
Moncrieff, who hastened on deck followed by the mate. I gave him my
reasons for disturbing his slumbers, and pointed to the dark speck
which had arrested my attention. They both looked in the direction I
indicated, but could see nothing. The captain swept the horizon with
his spy glass, then turning to me, said, "Hawser, you have persuaded
yourself that the Guarda Costa is still in that direction, than which
nothing can be more unlikely, and your fancy has conjured up a vision
that is visible to no one but yourself."
"It is no fancy, sir," said I, boldly. "I KNOW there is a vessel in that
direction. I can see it distinctly; and you may mark my words that the
sooner we get the schooner under sail, the greater will be the chance of
escaping capture."
Mr. Campbell, with a sneering laugh, remarked that his eyes never yet
deceived him, and that he could see as far in the dark as any one! The
captain, however, was staggered by the obstinacy with which I adhered to
my statement, and said to the mate, "It is possible that Hawser may
see something in that quarter which we cannot see, and as it is nearly
daylight it may be well to get the schooner under sail and commence
running down the coast."
We began to hoist our sails; but before the foresail was set, a flash of
light appeared in the north-east followed by the report of a gun,
thus confirming the correctness of my assertion and establishing the
excellence of my eyesight. We lost no time in getting sail on the
schooner; and now Captain Moncrieff regretted that instead of running
in towards the land he had not adopted means during the night of getting
the weather-gage, when he could have laughed at the efforts of the
Guarda Costa to interrupt our voyage.
Daylight appeared in the east, when the Spanish schooner was plainly
seen; also another vessel which had fallen into her hands whilst she was
quietly lying to, hoping to pounce upon us. As soon as objects could be
distinctly seen, the boat of the Guarda Costa was returning from a
visit to the stranger, and the Spaniard having got a glimpse of the
pilot-boat, showed a determination to become better acquainted with the
object of our voyage. The affair became exciting. We were close in with
the shore, running directly before the wind with a fresh breeze. The
schooner had got in our wake and was crowding all sail in pursuit.
It soon became manifest that we could not escape. Our pursuer was hardly
a gunshot off, and slowly but surely lessening the space between us. The
sagacious Mr. Campbell regarded our capture as inevitable, and, true
to his characteristics, repeated the stratagem which had served him so
successfully when we were molested by the Patriot privateer. He doffed
his old garments, which were not worth stealing, and clad himself from
top to toe in two or three complete suits of his best clothing. He came
on deck resembling a swathed mummy, and perspiring freely under the
heavy load.
When the Guarda Costa had approached within fair gunshot, and we were
every minute expecting an iron shower, we saw at a short distance
ahead on a projecting point of land, a fort on which several guns were
mounted, and the Patriot flag was waving from a tall flagstaff. The
masts of some small vessels were also visible over the point.
"There is a snug harbor," exclaimed Captain Moncrieff, "defended by a
fort and in possession of the Patriots. We will run in under the guns of
our friends and come to anchor. Hurrah, we are all right at last!" And
he cut a pigeon-wing with a dexterity of which I had hardly believed him
capable.
And now an armed felucca shot out from the harbor beyond the fort with
the Patriot flag flying at the peak. She was full of men, evidently a
privateer, and with long sweeps pulled swiftly towards us. When within
hearing, a fierce-looking fellow, with pistols in his belt and a
sabre at his side, stepped upon the gunwale and hailed us in tolerable
English.
"Captain," said he, "that Spanish schooner is one great rascal. If he
should board your vessel, HE WILL CUT ALL YOUR THROATS!"
"Can I enter that harbor?" inquired Captain Moncrieff, greatly alarmed
at such a sanguinary piece of intelligence.
"Certainly, certainly! There, and there only you will be safe. Follow
the felucca, and we will pilot you in."
The felucca rounded the point, closely followed by the pilot-boat. We
entered a snug little bay, well sheltered from the regular winds and
waves, and agreeably to the directions of our new and zealous friends
let go an anchor; at the same time the Guarda Costa fired a gun, hauled
down her colors, gave up the chase, and steered away to the northward.
We were boarded by the commander of the felucca and the officer who had
so kindly told us of the bloody intentions of our pursuers. They shook
Captain Moncrieff by the hand, and congratulated him on having baffled
the enemy.
"But," asked Captain Moncrieff, "will not the blood-thirsty Spaniards
return at night, send in an armed boat and cut us out from under the
guns of the fort?"
"O, no! There's no fear of that," replied the commander of the felucca,
with a savage smile which I did not half like. "Be not alarmed. WE will
take good care of you," and he clapped his hand significantly on the
hilt of his sabre!
I was an attentive observer of every event which took place, and was by
no means satisfied with the proceedings. The sudden apparition of the
felucca, the departure of the Guarda Costa without firing a shot, and
the exultation of the officers who boarded us, and which they tried in
vain to conceal, all convinced me there was some mystery which it was
not in my power to fathom.
"Where are you bound, captain?" inquired the officious commander of the
felucca.
"To LaGuayra, if it still belongs to the Patriots," replied Moncrieff.
"That is right," exclaimed the grinning corsair. "You are a good
patriot, and have letters and intelligence which will be valuable to our
friends in LaGuayra!"
"Certainly," replied Moncrieff. "I have letters in abundance, and any
thing in my power to aid in establishing the independence of the Spanish
Provinces on the Main I will do with pleasure."
The commander of the felucca expressed satisfaction at such noble
sentiments, and added, "I will, with your permission, go below and
examine your papers."
Hardly had the two captains left the deck, when the loud report of a gun
from the fort echoed across the water, and down came the Patriot flag
from the flagstaff! It was immediately replaced by the sickly emblem of
Spain. A musket was fired from the felucca, and the Spanish ensign waved
also at her peak! Moncrieff heard the firing and rushed on deck just as
an ill-looking fellow, who had for some time been busy about the signal
halliards, near the taffrail, was running up a Spanish flag, WITH THE
STARS AND STRIPES BENEATH! He saw at a glance that he was the victim
of an ingenious trick. He was terribly agitated his features, usually
florid, were as pale as death. "What is the meaning of all this?" he
exclaimed, in a husky voice.
"A BUENO prize, captain! A BUENO prize!" replied the exulting commander
of the felucca, patting him affectionately on the shoulder.
The affair required but little explanation. The fort was a Spanish fort.
The felucca was a Spanish privateer, belonging to Porto Cabello, and her
commander had adroitly managed to capture the pilot-boat just as we were
about to fall into the jaws of the Guarda Costa. The commander of the
felucca had furthermore wormed out of the unsuspecting Moncrieff all the
secrets of his mission, and paved the way for the confiscation of our
little schooner.
Moncrieff stormed and raved like a madman; but there was no remedy. The
Spaniards were too well pleased with the success of their stratagem to
notice his anger, and the captain on reflection was somewhat consoled by
the idea that if he had missed the felucca he could not have escaped
the Guarda Costa. On conversing further with his captors, he ascertained
that the ship, to reach which was the object of his mission, was now at
Porto Cabello, which place had been recently captured by the royalists
after a hard battle. He further learned that it was the intention of his
captors to proceed directly to Porto Cabello with their prize.
A prize-master and eight men, armed to the teeth, were put on board.
Mr. Campbell was ordered into the felucca without an opportunity of
relieving himself of his extra clothing. The rays of the sun in that
sheltered harbor seemed endued with a tenfold degree of calorie; and the
poor fellow, as he stepped over the side, bowed down by the weight of
his garments and sweltering with heat, was a legitimate object of pity,
although a martyr to his selfish propensities.
We left the harbor on our way to Porto Cabello; but our progress was
slow, being interrupted by calms. The prize crew of the Young Pilot were
attentive to their duties and faithful and vigilant during the night.
They were divided into two watches, and four of them, armed with pistols
and cutlasses, paced the deck at all hours. Nevertheless, on the third
day after leaving port, the felucca being out of sight in the north-east
chasing a suspicious-looking vessel, Captain Moncrieff, having raised
and fortified his courage by an extra portion of cognac, called me into
the cabin and broached the subject of retaking the schooner!
"Hawser," said he, "I cannot reconcile myself to the loss of my
vessel; the idea of being tricked out of her by a set of garlic-eating
ragamuffins puts me out of all patience. I have as good a pair of
pistols as were ever manufactured, which I concealed when the schooner
was searched. With these, and a good cutlass in my hand, I would face a
dozen of these cowardly Spaniards at any time. If you will stand by me
we will drive every mother's son of them overboard!"
I saw that Moncrieff was so drunk he could hardly stand. Indeed, it was
only at such times his courage was roused to fighting heat. I attempted
to calm his excitement by representing the slender chance of success we
should have in open combat with eight or ten men completely armed; that
it was far more likely we should be thrown overboard than the prize
crew. I also argued that even if we should be successful in the
desperate contest we should gain nothing, but on the contrary lose the
opportunity of proceeding to Porto Cabello where the ship Charity was
now lying; that in every point of view his design was objectionable,
as well as impracticable; and furthermore, the attempt would be an
ungrateful return for the civilities and indulgence we had received from
the prize-master and his associates.
My remonstrances only served to increase the fury of Moncrieff, who
swore that single-handed he would retake the schooner. With his back
against the mainmast and a good claymore in his hand, he would cut down
every man one after another!
I found he was too far gone to listen to reason; and it is possible he
might have staggered on deck, pistol in hand, and been shot down for
his pains, if the prize-master, attracted by his loud and threatening
language, had not listened to a part of the conversation; and as the
captain was on the point of sallying forth, like a doughty champion of
old, in search of hard knocks, his collar was grasped by a couple of
stout men; and he was roughly laid on his back and handcuffed in
a trice. His pistols were found and appropriated to the use of the
prize-master as spoils of the vanquished, and he would have been treated
with great harshness had I not interfered and pointed out the brandy
bottle as the guilty originator of the plot. The brandy was promptly
secured, to be punished hereafter. The captain was relieved of his
manacles and shoved into his berth, where he slept off his valorous
propensities, and awoke a few hours afterwards a different man, who
could hardly be drubbed into a plot which would endanger his own life.
In spite of calms, and light winds, and Patriot cruisers, we reached
Porto Cabello on the fifth day after leaving the little harbor where we
were so handsomely entrapped. The felucca entered the port at the same
time, and Mr. Campbell was permitted to join us once more; and he did
it with an alacrity which, I confess to my shame, furnished me with no
little amusement. The sufferings of the poor man while in the felucca
can hardly be imagined. He was exposed in that hot climate, and during
the prevalence of calms, to the fiercest rays of the sun, while loaded
with clothes enough to keep him uncomfortably warm during a polar
winter. And he felt compelled to bear his burden without murmuring or
seeking to be relieved, lest his companions should suspect his reasons
for bearing his whole wardrobe on his back, and take umbrage at such a
reflection on their honor!