MODERN PHILANTHROPY WHICH, AS USUAL, IS THE CAUSE OF MUCH TROUBLE AND
VEXATION.
In three weeks the _Aurora_, with her prize in tow, arrived at Malta.
The wounded were sent to the hospital, and the gallant Russian captain
recovered from his wounds about the same time as Mr Hawkins, the
chaplain.
Jack, who constantly called to see the chaplain, had a great deal to do
to console him. He would shake his hands as he lay in his bed,
exclaiming against himself. "Oh," Would he say, "the spirit is willing,
but the flesh is weak. That I, a man of God, as they term me, who ought
to have been down with the surgeons, whispering comfort to the
desponding, should have gone on deck (but I could not help it), and have
mixed in such a scene of slaughter! What will become of me?"
Jack attempted to console him by pointing out that not only chaplains
but bishops have been known to fight in armour from time immemorial.
But Mr Hawkins's recovery was long doubtful, from the agitation of his
mind. When he was able to walk, Jack introduced to him the Russian
captain, who was also just out of his bed.
"I am most happy to embrace so gallant an officer," said the Russian,
who recognised his antagonist, throwing his arms round the chaplain, and
giving him a kiss on both cheeks. "What is his rank?" continued he,
addressing himself to Jack, who replied, very quietly, "that he was the
ship's padre."
"The padre!" replied the captain, with surprise, as Hawkins turned away
with confusion. "The padre--par exemple! Well, I always had a great
respect for the church. Pray sir," said he, turning to Easy, "do your
padres always head your boarders?"
"Always, sir," replied Jack; "it's a rule of the service--and the duty
of a padre to show the men the way to heaven. It's our ninety-ninth
article of war."
"You are a fighting nation," replied the Russian, bowing to Hawkins, and
continuing his walk, not exactly pleased that he had been floored by a
parson.
Mr Hawkins continued very disconsolate for some time; he then invalided
and applied himself to his duties on shore, where he would not be
exposed to such temptations from his former habits.
As the _Aurora_, when she was last at Malta, had nearly exhausted the
dockyard for her repairs, she was even longer fitting out this time,
during which Captain Wilson's despatches had been received by the
admiral, and had been acknowledged by a brig sent to Malta. The
admiral, in reply, after complimenting him upon his gallantry and
success, desired that, as soon as he was ready, he should proceed to
Palermo with communications of importance to the authorities, and having
remained there for an answer, was again to return to Malta to pick up
such of his men as might be fit to leave the hospital, and then join the
Toulon fleet. This intelligence was soon known to our hero, who was in
ecstasies at the idea of again seeing Agnes and her brothers. Once more
the _Aurora_ sailed away from the high-crowned rocks of Valette, and
with a fine breeze dashed through the deep blue waves.
But towards the evening the breeze increased, and they were under
double-reefed topsails. On the second day they made the coast of
Sicily, not far from where Easy and Gascoigne had been driven on shore;
the weather was then more moderate, and the sea had, to a great degree,
subsided. They therefore stood in close to the coast, as they had not a
leading wind to Palermo. As they stood in, the glasses, as usual, were
directed to land; observing the villas with which the hills and valleys
were studded, with their white fronts embowered in orange groves.
"What is that, Gascoigne," said Easy, "under that precipice?--it looks
like a vessel."
Gascoigne turned his glass in the direction--"Yes, it is a vessel on the
rocks: by her prow she looks like a galley."
"It is a galley, sir--one of the row galleys--I can make out her bank of
oars," observed the signal-man.
This was reported to Captain Wilson, who also examined her.
"She is on the rocks, certainly," observed he; "and I think I see people
on board. Keep her away a point, quarter-master."
The _Aurora_ was now steered right for the vessel, and in the course of
an hour was not more than a mile from her. Their suppositions were
correct--it was one of the Sicilian government galleys bilged on the
rocks, and they now perceived that there were people on board of her,
making signals with their shirts and pieces of linen.
"They must be the galley-slaves; for I perceive that they do not one of
them change their positions: the galley must have been abandoned by the
officers and seamen, and the slaves left to perish."
"That's very hard," observed Jack to Gascoigne; "they were condemned to
the galleys, but not to death."
"They will not have much mercy from the waves," replied Gascoigne; "they
will all be in kingdom come to-morrow morning, if the breeze comes more
on the land. We have already come up two points this forenoon."
Although Captain Wilson did not join in this conversation, which he
overheard as he stood on the forecastle gun, with his glass over the
hammocks, it appears he was of the same opinion; but he demurred: he had
to choose between allowing so many of his fellow-creatures to perish
miserably, or to let loose upon society a set of miscreants, who would
again enter a course of crime until they were recaptured, and by so
doing probably displease the Sicilian authorities. After some little
reflection he resolved that he would take his chance of the latter. The
_Aurora_ was hove-to in stays, and the two cutters ordered to be lowered
down, and the boat's crew to be armed.
"Mr Easy, do you take one cutter and the armourers; pull on board of
the galley, release those people, and land them in small divisions. Mr
Gascoigne, you will take the other to assist Mr Easy, and when he lands
them in his boat, you will pull by his side ready to act, in case of any
hostile attempt on the part of the scoundrels; for we must not expect
gratitude: of course, land them at the nearest safe spot for
debarkation."
In pursuance of these orders, our two midshipmen pulled away to the
vessel. They found her fixed hard upon the rocks, which had pierced her
slight timbers, and, as they had supposed, the respectable part of her
crew, with the commander, had taken to the boats, leaving the
galley-slaves to their fate. She pulled fifty oars, but had only
thirty-six manned. These oars were forty feet long, and ran in from the
thole-pin with a loom six feet long, each manned by four slaves, who
were chained to their seat before it, by a running chain made fast by a
padlock in amidships. A plank, of two feet wide, ran fore and aft the
vessel between the two banks of oars, for the boatswain to apply the
lash to those who did not sufficiently exert themselves.
"Viva los Inglesos," cried the galley-slaves, as Easy climbed up over
the quarter of the vessel.
"I say, Ned, did you ever see such a precious set of villains?" observed
Easy, as he surveyed the faces of the men who were chained.
"No," replied Gascoigne; "and I think if the captain had seen them as we
have, that he would have left them where they were."
"I don't know--but however, our orders are positive. Armourer, knock
off all the padlocks, beginning aft; when we have a cargo we will land
them. How many are there?--twelve dozen; twelve dozen villains to let
loose upon society. I have a great mind to go on board again and report
my opinion to the captain--one hundred and forty-four villains, who all
deserve hanging--for drowning is too good for them."
"Our orders are to liberate them, Jack."
"Yes; but I should like to argue this point with Captain Wilson."
"They'll send after them fast enough, Jack, and they'll all be in limbo
again before long," replied Gascoigne.
"Well, I suppose we must obey orders; but it goes against my conscience
to save such villainous-looking rascals. Armourer, hammer away."
The armourer, who, with the seamen, appeared very much of Jack's
opinion, and had not commenced his work, now struck off the padlocks,
one by one, with his sledge-hammer. As soon as they were released the
slaves were ordered into the cutter, and when it was sufficiently loaded
Jack shoved off, followed by Gascoigne as guard, and landed them at the
point about a cable's length distant. It required six trips before they
were all landed: the last cargo were on shore, and Easy was desiring the
men to shove off, when one of the galleriens turned round, and cried out
to Jack in a mocking tone, "Addio signor, a reveder la." Jack started,
stared, and in the squalid, naked wretch who addressed him, he
recognised Don Silvio!
"I will acquaint Don Rebiera of your arrival, signor," said the
miscreant, springing up the rocks, and mixing with the rest, who now
commenced hooting and laughing at their preservers.
"Ned," observed Easy to Gascoigne, "we have let that rascal loose."
"More's the pity," replied Gascoigne; "but we have only obeyed orders."
"It can't be helped, but I've a notion there will be some mischief out
of this."
"We obeyed orders," replied Gascoigne.
"We've let the rascals loose not ten miles from Don Rebiera's."
"Obeyed orders, Jack."
"With a whole gang to back him, if he goes there."
"Orders, Jack."
"Agnes at his mercy."
"Captain's orders, Jack."
"I shall argue this point when I go on board," replied Jack.
"Too late, Jack."
"Yes," replied Easy, sinking down on the stern sheets with a look of
despair.
"Give way, my lads, give way."
Jack returned on board and reported what he had done; also that Don
Silvio was among those liberated; and he ventured to mention his fears
of what might take place from their contiguity to the house of Don
Rebiera. Captain Wilson bit his lips: he felt that his philanthropy had
induced him to act without his usual prudence.
"I have done a rash thing, Mr Easy, I am afraid. I should have taken
them all on board and delivered them up to the authorities. I wish I
had thought of that before. We must get to Palermo as fast as we can,
and have the troops sent after these miscreants. Hands 'bout ship, fill
the main-yard."
The wind had veered round, and the _Aurora_ was now able to lay up clear
of the island of Maritimo. The next morning she anchored in Palermo
Roads--gave immediate notice to the authorities, who, wishing Captain
Wilson's philanthropy at the devil, immediately dispatched a large body
of troops in quest of the liberated malefactors. Captain Wilson,
feeling for Jack's anxiety about his friends, called him over to him on
deck, and gave him and Gascoigne permission to go on shore.
"Will you allow me to take Mesty with me, sir, if you please?" said
Jack.
"Yes, Mr Easy: but recollect that, even with Mesty, you are no match
for one hundred and fifty men, so be prudent. I send, you to relieve
your anxiety, not to run into danger."
"Of course, sir," replied Jack, touching his hat, and walking away
quietly till he came to the hatch-way, when he darted down like a shot,
and was immediately occupied with his preparations.
In half an hour our two midshipmen, with Mesty, had landed, and
proceeded to the inn where they had put up before: they were armed up to
the teeth. Their first inquiries were for Don Philip and his brother.
"Both on leave of absence," replied the landlord, "and staying with Don
Rebiera."
"That's some comfort," thought Jack. "Now we must get horses as fast as
we can.--Mesty, can you ride?"
"By all de power can I ride, Massa Easy; suppose you ride Kentucky
horse, you ride anyting."
In half an hour four horses and a guide were procured, and at eight
o'clock in the morning the party set off in the direction of Don
Rebiera's country-seat.
They had not ridden more than six miles when they came up with one of
the detachments sent out in pursuit of the liberated criminals. Our
hero recognised the commanding officer as an old acquaintance, and
imparting to him the release of Don Silvio, and his fears upon Don
Rebiera's account, begged him to direct his attention that way.
"Corpo di Bacco--you are right, Signor Mid," replied the officer, "but
Don Philip is there, and his brother too, I believe. I will be there by
ten o'clock to-morrow morning; we will march almost the whole night."
"They have no arms," observed Easy.
"No, but they will soon get them: they will go to some small town in a
body, plunder it, and then seek the protection of the mountains. Your
captain has given us a pretty job."
Jack exchanged a few more words, and then, excusing himself on account
of his haste, put the spurs to his horse and regained his own party, who
now proceeded at a rapid pace.
"O Signor!" said the guide, "we shall kill the horses."
"I'll pay for them," said Jack.
"Yes, but we shall kill them before we get there, Jack," replied
Gascoigne, "and have to walk the rest of the way."
"Very true, Ned; let's pull up, and give them their wind."
"By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but my shirt stick to my ribs," cried
Mesty, whose black face was hung with dewdrops from their rapid course.
"Never mind, Mesty."
It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when they arrived at the seat
of Don Rebiera. Jack threw himself off his jaded steed, and hastened
into the house, followed by Gascoigne. They found the whole family
collected in the large sitting-room, quite ignorant of any danger
threatening them, and equally astonished and pleased at the arrival of
their old friends. Jack flew to Agnes, who screamed when she saw him,
and felt so giddy afterwards that he was obliged to support her. Having
seated her again, he was kindly greeted by the old people and the two
young officers. After a few minutes dedicated to mutual inquiries, our
hero stated the cause of their expeditious arrival.
"Don Silvio with one hundred and fifty galleriens, let loose on the
coast yesterday afternoon!" exclaimed Don Rebiera; "you are right, I
only wonder they were not here last night. But I expect Pedro from the
town; he has gone down with a load of wine: he will bring us
intelligence."
"At all events, we must be prepared," said Don Philip, "the troops you
say will be here to-morrow morning."
"Holy Virgin!" exclaimed the ladies in a breath.
"How many can we muster?" said Gascoigne.
"We will have five men here, or we shall have by the evening," replied
Don Philip--"all, I think, good men--my father, my brother and myself."
"We are three--four with the guide, whom I know nothing about."
"Twelve in all--not one too many; but I think that now we are prepared,
if they attack, we can hold out till the morning."
"Had we not better send the ladies away?" said Jack.
"Who is to escort them?" replied Don Philip; "we shall only weaken our
force: besides, they may fall into the miscreants' hands."
"Shall we all leave the house together? they can but plunder it,"
observed Don Rebiera.
"Still we may be intercepted by them, and our whole force will be
nothing against so many," observed Don Philip, "if we are without
defence, whereas in the house we shall have an advantage."
"E vero," replied Don Rebiera, thoughtfully; "then let us prepare, for
depend upon it Don Silvio will not lose such an opportunity to wreak his
vengeance. He will be here to-night: I only wonder he has not been here
with his companions before. However, Pedro will arrive in two hours."
"We must now see what means we have of defence," said Philip. "Come,
brother--will you come, sir?"