IN WHICH OUR HERO BECOMES EXCESSIVELY UNWELL, AND AGREES TO GO THROUGH A
COURSE OF MEDICINE.
The hammocks were not piped down that night: some were taken
indiscriminately for the wounded, but the rest remained in the nettings,
for all hands were busy preparing jury-masts and jury-rigging, and Mr
Pottyfar was so well employed that, for twelve hours, his hands were not
in his pockets. It was indeed a dreadful night: the waves were
mountains high, and chased the frigate in their fury, cresting,
breaking, and roaring at her taffrail; but she flew before them with the
wings of the wind; four men at the helm assisted by others at the
relieving tackles below. Jack, having been thanked on and washed off
the quarter-deck, thought that he had done quite enough; he was as deep
as he could swim before he had satisfied all the scruples of the
chaplain, and stowing himself away on one of the lockers of the
midshipmen's berth, was soon fast asleep, notwithstanding that the
frigate rolled gunwale under. Gascoigne had done much better; he had
taken down a hammock, as he said, for a poor wounded man, hung it up,
and turned in himself. The consequence was, that the next morning the
surgeon, who saw him lying in the hammock, had put him down in the
report; but as Gascoigne had got up as well as ever, he laughed, and
scratched his name out of the list of wounded.
Before morning, the ship had been pumped out dry, and all below made as
secure and safe as circumstances would permit; but the gale still
continued its violence, and there was anything but comfort on board.
"I say, Martin, you ought to be thrown overboard," said Gascoigne; "all
this comes from your croaking you're a Mother Carey's chicken."
"I wish I had been any one's chicken," replied Martin; "but the devil a
thing to nestle under have I had since I can well remember."
"What a bore to have no galley fire lighted," said one of the
youngsters, "no tea, and not allowed any grog."
"The gale will last three days," replied Martin, "and by that time we
shall not be far from the admiral; it won't blow home there."
"Well, then, we shall be ordered in directly, and I shall go on shore
to-morrow," replied Easy.
"Yes, if you're ill," replied Gascoigne.
"Never fear, I shall be sick enough: we shall be there at least six
weeks, and then we'll forget all this."
"Yes," replied Martin, "we may forget it, but will the poor fellows
whose limbs are shrivelled forget it? and will poor Miles, the
boatswain, who is blind for ever?"
"Very true, Martin, we are thinking about ourselves, not thankful for
our escape, and not feeling for others," replied Gascoigne.
"Give us your hand, Ned," said Jack Easy. "And, Martin, we ought to
thank you for telling us the truth--we are a selfish set of fellows."
"Still we took our share with the others," replied one of the
midshipmen.
"That's more reason for us to be grateful and to pity them," replied
Jack; "suppose you had lost your arm or your eyesight--we should have
pitied you; so now pity others."
"Well, so I do, now I think of it."
"Think oftener, youngster," observed Martin, going on deck.
What a change from the morning of the day before!--but twenty-four hours
had passed away, and the sea had been smooth, the frigate dashed through
the blue water, proud in all her canvas, graceful as a swan. Since
that, there had been fire, tempest, lightning, disaster, danger, and
death; her masts were tossed about on the snowy waves hundreds of miles
away from her--and she, a wreck, was rolling heavily, groaning and
complaining in every timber as she urged her impetuous race with the
furious-running sea.
How wrong are those on shore who assert that sailors are not
religious!--how is it possible, supposing them to be possessed of
feeling, to be otherwise? On shore, where you have nothing but the
change of seasons, each in his own peculiar beauty--nothing but the
blessings of the earth, its fruit, its flowers--nothing but the bounty,
the comforts, the luxuries which have been invented, where you can rise
in the morning in peace, and lay down your head at night in security--
God may be neglected and forgotten for a long time; but at sea, when
each gale is a warning, each disaster acts as a check, each escape as a
homily upon the forbearance of Providence, that man must be indeed
brutalised who does not feel that God is there. On shore we seldom view
Him but in all His beauty and kindness; but at sea we are as often
reminded how terrible He is in His wrath. Can it be supposed that the
occurrences of the last twenty-four hours were lost upon the mind of any
one man in that ship? No, no. In their courage and activity they might
appear reckless, but in their hearts they acknowledged and bowed unto
their God.
Before the day was over a jury-foremast had been got up, and sail having
been put upon it, the ship was steered with greater ease and safety--the
main brace had been spliced to cheer up the exhausted crew, and the
hammocks were piped down.
As Gascoigne had observed, some of the men were not very much pleased to
find that they were minus their blankets, but Captain Wilson ordered
their losses to be supplied by the purser and expended by the master;
this quite altered the case, as they obtained new blankets in most cases
for old ones; but still it was impossible to light the galley fire, and
the men sat on their chests and nibbled biscuit. By twelve o'clock that
night the gale broke, and more sail was necessarily put on the scudding
vessel, for the sea still ran fast and mountains high. At daylight the
sun burst out and shone brightly on them, the sea went gradually down,
the fire was lighted, and Mr Pottyfar, whose hands were again in his
pockets, at twelve o'clock gave the welcome order to pipe to dinner. As
soon as the men had eaten their dinner, the frigate was once more
brought to the wind, her jury-mast forward improved upon, and more sail
made upon it. The next morning there was nothing of the gale left
except the dire effects which it had produced, the black and riven stump
of the foremost still holding up a terrific warning of the power and
fury of the elements.
Three days more, and the _Aurora_ joined the Toulon fleet. When she was
first seen it was imagined by those on board of the other ships that she
had been in action; but they soon learned that the conflict had been
against more direful weapons than any yet invented by mortal hands.
Captain Wilson waited upon the admiral, and of course received immediate
orders to repair to port and refit. In a few hours the _Aurora_ had
shaped her course for Malta, and by sunset the Toulon fleet were no
longer in sight.
"By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but that terrible sort of gale the other
day anyhow--I tink one time we all go to Davy Joney's lacker."
"Very true, Mesty; I hope never to meet with such another."
"Den, Massa Easy, why you go to sea? When man ab no money, noting to
eat, den he go to sea, but everybody say you ab plenty money--why you
come to sea?"
"I'm sure I don't know," replied Jack thoughtfully; "I came to sea on
account of equality and the rights of man."
"Eh, Massa Easy, you come to wrong place anyhow; now I tink a good deal
lately, and by all de power, I tink equality all stuff."
"All stuff, Mesty, why? you used to think otherwise."
"Yes, Massa Easy, but den I boil de kettle for all young gentleman. Now
dat I ship's corporal and hab cane, I tink so no longer."
Jack made no reply, but he thought the more. The reader must have
perceived that Jack's notions of equality were rapidly disappearing; he
defended them more from habit, and perhaps a wilfulness which would not
allow him to acknowledge himself wrong; to which may be added his love
of argument. Already he had accustomed himself to obedience to his
superiors, and, notwithstanding his arguments, he would admit of no
resistance from those below him; not that it was hardly ever attempted,
for Jack was anything but a tyrant, and was much beloved by all in the
ship. Every day brought its lesson, and Captain Wilson was now
satisfied that Jack had been almost cured of the effects of his father's
ridiculous philosophy.
After a few minutes, Mesty tapped his cane on the funnel, and
recommenced.
"Then why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?"
"I don't know, Mesty; I don't dislike it."
"But, Massa Easy, why you stay in midshipman berth--eat hard biscuit,
salt pig, salt horse, when you can go shore, and live like gentleman?
Dat very foolish! Why not be your own master? By all power! suppose I
had money, catch me board ship. Little sea very good, Massa Easy--open
one eyes; but tink of the lightning t'other night: poor massa boatswain,
he shut um eyes for ebber!"
"Very true, Mesty."
"Me hope you tink of this, sar, and when you go on shore, you take Mesty
wid you: he sarve you well, Massa Easy, long as he live, by de holy St.
Patrick. And den, Massa Easy, you marry wife--hab pickaninny--lib like
gentleman. You tink of this, Massa Easy."
The mention of the word marriage turned the thoughts of our hero to his
Agnes, and he made no reply. Mesty walked away, leaving our hero in
deep thought.
This conversation had more effect upon Jack than would have been
imagined, and he very often found he was putting to himself the question
of Mesty--"Why do you stay at sea?" He had not entered the service with
any particular view, except to find equality; and he could not but
acknowledge to himself that, as Mesty observed, he had come to the wrong
place. He had never even thought of staying to serve his time, nor had
he looked forward to promotion, and one day commanding a ship. He had
only cared for the present, without indulging in a future anticipation
of any reward, except in a union with Agnes. Mesty's observations
occasioned Jack to reflect upon the future for the first time in his
life; and he was always perplexed when he put the question of Mesty, and
tried to answer to himself as to what were his intentions in remaining
in the service.
Nevertheless, Jack did his duty very much to the satisfaction of Mr
Pottyfar; and after a tedious passage, from baffling and light winds,
the _Aurora_ arrived at Malta. Our hero had had some conversation with
his friend Gascoigne, in which he canvassed his future plans; all of
which, however, ended in one settled point, which was that he was to
marry Agnes. As for the rest, Gascoigne was of opinion that Jack ought
to follow up the service, and become a captain, but there was plenty of
time to think about that, as he observed, now all they had to consider
was how to get on shore; for the refitting of the ship was an excuse for
detaining them on board, which they knew Mr Pottyfar would avail
himself of. Jack dined in the gun-room on the day of their arrival, and
he resolved that he would ask that very evening. Captain Wilson was
already on shore at the Governor's. Now, there had been a little
difference of opinion between Mr Pottyfar and Mr Hawkins, the
chaplain, on a point of seamanship; and most of the officers sided with
the chaplain, who, as we have before observed, was a first-rate seaman.
It had ended in high words, for Mr Hawkins had forgotten himself so far
as to tell the first lieutenant that he had a great deal to learn, not
having even got over the midshipman's trick of keeping his hands in his
pockets; and Mr Pottyfar had replied that it was very well for him as
chaplain to insult others, knowing that his cassock protected him. This
was a bitter reply to Mr Hawkins, who at the very time that the
insinuation made his blood boil, was also reminded that his profession
forbade a retort: he rushed into his cabin, poor fellow, having no other
method left, vented his indignation in tears, and then consoled himself
by degrees with prayer. In the meantime, Mr Pottyfar had gone on deck,
wroth with Hawkins and his messmates, as well as displeased with
himself. He was, indeed, in a humour to be pleased with nobody, and in
a most unfortunate humour to be asked leave by a midshipman.
Nevertheless, Jack politely took off his hat, and requested leave to go
on shore and see his friend the Governor. Upon which Mr Pottyfar
turned round to him, with his feet spread wide open, and thrusting his
hands to the very bottom of his pockets, as if in determination, said,
"Mr Easy, you know the state of the ship; we have everything to do--new
masts, new rigging, everything almost to refit--and yet you ask to go on
shore! Now, sir, you may take this answer for yourself and all the
other midshipmen in the ship, that not one soul of you puts his foot on
shore until we are all a-taunto."
"Allow me to observe, sir," said our hero, "that it is very true that
all our services may be required when the duty commences, but this being
Saturday night, and to-morrow Sunday, the frigate will not be even moved
till Monday morning; and as the work cannot begin before that, I trust
you will permit leave until that time."
"My opinion is different, sir," replied the first lieutenant.
"Perhaps, sir, you will allow me to argue the point," replied Jack.
"No, sir, I never allow argument; walk over to the other side of the
deck, if you please."
"Oh, certainly, sir," said Jack, "if you wish it."
Jack's first idea was to go on shore without leave, but from this he was
persuaded by Gascoigne, who told him that it would displease Captain
Wilson, and that old Tom, the Governor, would not receive him. Jack
agreed to this, and then, after a flourish about the rights of man,
tyranny, oppression, and so forth, he walked forward to the forecastle,
where he found his friend Mesty, who had heard all that had passed, and
who insidiously said to him in a low tone:
"Why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?"
"Why, indeed," thought Jack, boiling with indignation, "to be cooped up
here at the will of another? I am a fool--Mesty is right--I'll ask for
my discharge to-morrow." Jack went down below and told Gascoigne what
he had determined to do.
"You'll do no such thing, Jack," replied Gascoigne "depend upon it,
you'll have plenty of leave in a day or two. Pottyfar was in a pet with
the chaplain, who was too much for him. Captain Wilson will be on board
by nine o'clock."
Nevertheless, Jack walked his first watch in the _magnificents_, as all
middies do when they cannot go on shore, and turned in at twelve
o'clock, with the resolution of sticking to his purpose, and quitting
his Majesty's service; in fact, of presenting his Majesty with his
between two and three years' time, served as midshipman, all free,
gratis, and for nothing, except his provisions and his pay, which some
captains are bold enough to assert that they not only are not worth, but
not even the salt that accompanies it; forgetting that they were once
midshipmen themselves, and at the period were, of course, about the same
value.
The next morning Captain Wilson came off; the ship's company were
mustered, the service read by Mr Hawkins, and Jack, as soon as all the
official duties were over, was about to go up to the captain, when the
captain said to him:
"Mr Easy, the Governor desired me to bring you on shore to dine with
him, and he has a bed at your service."
Jack touched his hat, and ran down below, to make his few preparations.
By the time that Mesty, who had taken charge of his chest, etcetera, had
put his necessaries in the boat, Jack had almost made up his mind that
his Majesty should not be deprived yet awhile of so valuable an officer.
Jack returned on deck, and found that the captain was not yet ready; he
went up to Mr Pottyfar, and told him that the captain had ordered him
to go on shore with him; and Mr Pottyfar, who had quite got over his
spleen, said:
"Very well, Mr Easy--I wish you a great deal of pleasure."
"This is very different from yesterday," thought Jack; "suppose I try
the medicine?"
"I am not very well, Mr Pottyfar, and those pills of the doctor's don't
agree with me--I always am ill if I am long without air and exercise."
"Very true," said the first lieutenant, "people require air and
exercise. I've no opinion of the doctor's remedies; the only thing that
is worth a farthing is the universal medicine."
"I should so long to try it, sir," replied Jack; "I read the book one
day, and it said that if you took it daily for a fortnight or three
weeks, and with plenty of air and exercise, it would do wonders."
"And it's very true," replied Mr Pottyfar, "and if you'd like to try it
you shall--I have plenty--shall I give you a dose now?"
"If you please, sir," replied Jack; "and tell me how often I am to take
it, for my head aches all day."
Mr Pottyfar took Jack down, and putting into his hand three or four
bottles of the preparation, told him that he was to take thirty drops at
night, when he went to bed, not to drink more than two glasses of wine,
and to avoid the heat of the sun.
"But, sir," replied Jack, who had put the bottles in his pocket, "I am
afraid that I cannot take it for long; for as the ship is ready for
fitting, I shall be exposed to the sun all day."
"Yes, if you are wanted, Mr Easy; but we have plenty here without you;
and when you are unwell you cannot be expected to work. Take care of
your health; and I trust, indeed I am sure, that you will find this
medicine wonderfully efficacious."
"I will begin to-night, sir, if you please," replied Jack, "and I am
very much obliged to you. I sleep at the Governor's--shall I come on
board to-morrow morning?"
"No, no; take care of yourself, and get well; I shall be glad to hear
that you get better. Send me word how it acts."
"I will, sir, send you word by the boat every day," replied Jack,
delighted; "I am very much obliged to you, sir. Gascoigne and I were
thinking of asking you, but did not like to do so: he, poor fellow,
suffers from headaches almost as bad as I do, and the doctor's pills are
of no use to him."
"He shall have some, too, Mr Easy. I thought he looked pale. I'll see
to it this afternoon. Recollect, moderate exercise, Mr Easy, and avoid
the sun at midday."
"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I'll not forget;" and off went Jack,
delighted. He ordered Mesty to put up his whole portmanteau instead of
the small bundle he put into the boat, and telling Gascoigne what a
spoke he had put into his wheel, was soon in the boat with the captain,
and went on shore, where he was cordially greeted by the Governor.