broadside as she advanced, which was answered with all the guns that
could be brought to bear on that side of the ship, and then, by a
manoeuvre skilfully executed, the Albatross was made to wear round the
schooner, pouring in a volley of musketry, till she presented her other
side, from which another sweeping fire belched forth. The shot crashed
through the timbers of the pirate, committing dreadful slaughter upon
her closely packed deck, and when the smoke which enveloped her bows
cleared away, it was seen that her foretop-mast had gone, her sails had
been shot through in numerous places, and a considerable portion of
her rigging hung in ragged shreds. Three cheers from the crew of the
Albatross, and groans, and shouts and imprecations from the schooner,
evinced the effect the firing had in both ships.
The pirate bore up as if with the intention of running alongside to
board, and poured in her broadside as she advanced, which killed six or
seven men, and wounded several others; but her opponent waited till she
was within about three ships' length, and then gave her the contents
of all her available carronades. The mizen and mainmast of the pirate,
which had previously been wounded, now fell by the board. At this
instant the schooner fell foul of the Albatross on her larboard quarter,
and the pirates made several desperate attempts to board, but the crew
of the other ship kept up such a murderous discharge of musketry and
small arms from her tops as well as from her decks, that every attempt
was ineffectual, and the Albatross wearing off, discharged her larboard
quarter-deck guns, and such of the main-deck guns as could be brought to
bear, into the schooner's larboard bow.
The excitement on board the Albatross was now at its height. Every man
was at his post, and one spirit seemed to stir the whole. The wounded
were carried down to the surgeon as soon as their hurts were known, and
the dead thrown into the sea that they might not incommode the living.
Oriel Porphyry continued in one of the most exposed parts of the ship
encouraging the men, and firing a musket whenever the ships were near
enough for him to do so with any effect. Broadside after broadside
followed from the Albatross in rapid succession, sweeping the decks of
the schooner, and splitting her timbers into fragments. But the pirate
captain still made every exertion to board the merchant ship. His vessel
was scarcely manageable, and nearly half her crew were either killed
or wounded: but he bore up to his opponent with the same dauntless
resolution that had distinguished him throughout his career; he cheered
his men on to the fight; and continued to discharge every gun that could
be brought into play.
A quick and well-directed fire of musketry was kept up from the tops and
forecastle of the Albatross, and her quarter deck guns were discharged
with scarcely any intermission and with dreadful effect. The schooner
now fell on board the merchant ship on the starboard quarter, and the
pirates lashed her bowsprit to the stump of their mainmast; but the
lashings soon afterwards gave way, and the two vessels, yard-arm and
yard-arm, continued to pour into each other their sweeping broadsides,
very much to the advantage of the Albatross, who was crippling her
opponent at every discharge, and slaughtering her crew.
At this time the main-mast of the pirate fell over the side, and as the
smoke cleared away, she was seen with her ports jammed in, her decks
torn up in several places, her hull battered, and every part of her
wearing the appearance of a complete wreck. But Captain Death was not a
man to think of surrendering. When his vessel became short of hands, he
assisted in working a gun; and as soon as he could get the two ships
close alongside, he headed a party that lashed them together, and then,
followed by the remainder of his crew--men of all nations, of all
colours, and of every kind of costume, rushed upon the deck of the
Albatross.
The fight now became one of hand to hand. The pistol, the pike, and
the cutlass seemed the only weapons in requisition. The crew of the
Albatross hurried to the place where Captain Death, Lieutenant Rifle,
and their followers were hewing their way with the most desperate
valour. Oriel Porphyry, the captain, Climberkin, and Boggle headed
their party, cheering them on, and cutting down their opponents. Oriel
Porphyry was engaged with a gigantic negro, whose head he severed at a
blow, and then attacked a second and a third with the same spirit, and
with a similar effect. Old Hearty beheld his ancient enemy, first known
to him by the name of Scrumpydike, and frantic with the remembrance of
what he had once suffered at his hands, he rushed upon him, cutlass in
hand. A pistol was discharged at his head as he advanced which missed
its object, and the two were immediately engaged in hacking at each
other with all their strength and skill. The old man in strength was the
equal of his opponent, but he was his superior at the weapon, at which
he had been practising ever since their previous fight, with the desire
of having his revenge should they meet again. The struggle was a fierce
one, but it was brief. Hearty cut his opponent's sword-arm above the
elbow with such force that it severed the bone, and at the same moment
the young midshipman Loop run him through the body with a boarding-pike.
With a malignant scowl he fell dead on the deck.
Oriel Porphyry had endeavoured to come in contact with the pirate
captain, whom he observed at a short distance from him cutting down all
by whom he was opposed; but several times he was attacked by some other
of the gang whom he was obliged to dispose of before he could have the
slightest chance of getting at him. At last Captain Death saw his former
companion, and freeing himself from those with whom he was engaged, he
hurried towards him, waving his uplifted sword streaming with blood, and
shouting exclamations of rage and defiance.
"It is you I have sought far and near since you escaped me, but there's
no escape for you now;" muttered the pirate, as he rushed furiously
upon the young merchant, and strived by the force and rapidity of his
blows to bring the combat to a speedy termination. But he was engaged
with one of the most accomplished swordsmen in existence, with a
well-tried weapon, and a spirit burning to destroy the wretch with whom
he fought. He parried dexterously, and warded off with the greatest ease
the most furious blows that were aimed at him; and the blood flowing
from wounds in the captain's head and shoulder soon proved that he was
not content with acting merely on the defensive. During the struggle
these two got separated from the other combatants, and they stood in a
part of the deck unnoticed by the men engaged on either side. Death,
smarting from his wounds, pressed upon his antagonist with increasing
rage and violence; but the latter, knowing that the victory was in his
own hands, allowed the other to exhaust his strength in unavailing
blows; then when he found the pirate's exertions slacken, his sword
flashed about with a rapidity that baffled the eye, and seemed to draw
blood at every stroke. He followed him with a strength of arm that
appeared perfectly irresistible, beating down his defence, and striking
aside his blows; but just as he was hurrying forward to put a finishing
stroke to the contest, he tumbled over a dead body, and fell unarmed at
the feet of his foe.
"Ah, ha!" shouted the pirate chief, while a gleam of malignant
satisfaction shot from his eyes; "your doom is sealed." He swung round
his sabre to bring it with all his strength upon the head of his
defenceless antagonist, but before the blow had time to descend he heard
a slight shriek, a rush of feet, and the next moment received two pistol
bullets in his body. Oriel Porphyry regained his footing as Captain
Death fell staggering on the deck, and with a wild cry of exultation
Eureka rushed into his arms.
The pirates on the fall of their leader became dispirited; but knowing
what would be their reward if taken, they returned to their ship,
fighting desperately every inch of the way, and the strife was renewed
upon their own deck till every man of them was cut down. The crew
of the Albatross had upon the termination of the conflict dispersed
themselves over the schooner with the intention of securing whatever
valuables she might contain, when they were obliged to make a rapid
retreat to their own vessel, as the schooner was rapidly sinking, but
they did not depart without bringing with them a prisoner whom they had
found secreted in the hold. The lashings were immediately cut away, and
the Albatross had just time to sheer off, when the pirate filled and
went down.
"Well, master Log!" exclaimed Boggle to his trembling prisoner; "I likes
to ha' particular notions o' things in general, as every man as is a man
and thinks like a man should have, and I has a notion o' you as is werry
particular; arn't you a willain?"
"A villain--a villain--a great villain--a very great villain--indeed I
may say a pretty considerable, atrocious, abominable tarnation villain,
mister Boggle!" cried the other with a look that showed that he had been
entirely put out of conceit of himself.
"What you says true's parfectly right," said the second lieutenant;
"and I must pay you the compliment to acknowledge as how you shows a
deal o' gumption in your 'splanation o' your own character. Don't you
desarve to be spiflicated?"
"Spiflicated--spiflicated--well spiflicated--regularly spiflicated--I
must confess that I ought to be right down regularly spiflicated,
smothered, smashed, dished up and done for;" acknowledged the
unfortunate captain's clerk, with a most woeful physiognomy and a
sincerity of manner that carried conviction to his hearers.
"I likes to make ev'ry fellar comfortable arter his own fashion," said
Boggle, with the utmost gravity; and then addressing a sailor who was
grinning from ear to ear at a few paces distant, he cried, "I say,
Solemnchops! just rig a noose in the main top gallant halyards."
"I'll do it wi' pleasure for the gentleman, sir;" replied the man,
benevolently hastening to execute the command.
"Now, master Log, I begs to say as how I got no notion o' hurtin' any o'
your feelins," continued the lieutenant; "but I considers it necessary
for your health as you should be hanged. I knows unkimmon well as human
natur' is human natur', and in consequence o' that ere I comes to the
conclusion as it is the most properest thing as is for you to make
yourself agreeable to your friends wi' a dance upon nuffin. But afore I
leaves you in this here moloncholy perdickyment, I think 't will be but
friendly in me to hint to you as how you ought to die like a respectable
'dividual; arn't you rayther a miserable sinner?"
"A miserable sinner!--a miserable sinner! a very miserable sinner--a
very shocking miserable sinner, indeed I may say a very extraordinary
shocking miserable sinner, and no mistake;" cried the unhappy Log.
More dead than alive the trembling wretch had the noose placed round his
neck, and was run up to the halyards, accompanied by the consolations of
the friendly Boggle.
"Hullo! what are you about there? Let that man down directly!" shouted
the captain as he approached the scene, and the ex-captain's clerk
descended upon the deck with a velocity that sent all the breath out of
his body. "What's the meaning o' this?"
"Why, you see, sir," replied the second lieutenant, with his usual
gravity; "I can't say as Master Log be given to drinkin, but I sartainly
seed him just now unkimmonly elewated."
CHAP. XI.
THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN DEATH, AND THE MEETING OF THE SHIPS.
"There's no saving his life, don't you see;" remarked Tourniquet, who
had discovered that Captain Death was not quite dead, and had been
examining his wounds. "Every effort would be useless here, all skill
unavailing; and there are many others in imminent danger, to whom I
might be of service."
"Stop, he moves!" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, as he stood gazing on the
changing features of the dying pirate.
Captain Death lay extended on his back on the deck where he had fallen.
His sword was still firmly grasped in his hand, and both his arms were
stretched out nearly at right angles with his body. The long silken cap
in which he used to confine his black hair had fallen off, and the hair
fell in disordered masses, clotted with blood, around his face. He had
allowed his beard and moustachios to grow, and they now added to the
natural ferocity of his countenance. His jacket, of the richest velvet,
was cut through in several places, and stiffened with gore, which had
run down and soiled the crimson shawl of embroidered silk he wore girded
round his waist, and had more conspicuously stained his lower garments
of linen. His face was livid, and his eyes blood-shot, and the
expression which was impressed upon them kept continually changing
from pain to rage, and from rage to hate. Occasionally some convulsive
movement of the muscles would more strongly distort his features, and
his body writhed and twisted as if in great agony. After a long fit of
violent shuddering, which shook every part of his body, his face assumed
a more tranquil expression, and his lips moved as if with an effort to
speak.
"Virgo!" he whispered; "'tis your father. He comes to drag me to the
halter. See how he glares at me! He laughs. He shows me his chains. No,
no, no! 'Tis not that savage old man. 'Tis not him. There is no one.
Come to me, my preserver, come to me; and let the refreshing purity of
your caresses drive away the evil thoughts which have made my nature so
abandoned and desperate. There is the little bed, with its clean white
curtains; there are the flowers. There, there! I see you all again,
reminding me of a state of innocence I was unworthy to share. Come, my
preserver, come!"
"He is delirious, don't you see;" observed the doctor.
"Do you think there is any possibility of his recovering?" inquired the
young merchant.
"Not the slightest; he won't live an hour;" replied Tourniquet.
"Hush!" exclaimed Oriel; "he speaks again."
"Virgo! 'tis time to rise. See how the rosy morning dawns upon the room!
Let me kiss you before you leave me: there! my soul is on my lips, and
I drink in a better life from yours. Draw around the curtains. My face
is on the pillow; I cannot see you, but my blessings follow you wherever
you go. Ah! you leave the room, and all is strife and hate and passion
within me."
"He's talking of that young creature that was so fond of him, don't you
see," said the doctor; "though for my part I can't comprehend what she
could see in him to like."
"There's no knowing," replied Oriel Porphyry; "the love of woman is a
mystery which none properly understand and few appreciate."
"She's dead!" exclaimed the pirate in a heart-broken voice; "she's dead!
the innocent, the good, the gentle, the fearless, the confiding one, who
would have plucked the rank weeds from my sinful nature, has perished
and left me none like her in the world. She died for me--for me, a
wretch unworthy to breathe in her presence. All is lost. There is no
goodness now remaining on the earth. She's dead! she's dead!"
"I did not think he had so much natural feeling in him;" said the young
merchant.
"There's nothing so evil but what has some good in it, don't you see;"
replied the surgeon.
The expression in the features of Captain Death now underwent a complete
change: it became fierce, daring, and revengeful. His body appeared
violently agitated, and his arms moved with convulsive twitches.
"Pipe all hands to quarters!" shouted the dying pirate with all
his remaining strength. "Make sail--clear away for fighting--run
out the guns and shot them.--She's a rich merchantman, and there's
enough in her to enrich us all. Pour out a broadside--there goes her
main-mast:--another, and her mizenmast goes by the board. Sweep her
quarter deck with our quarter deck guns, and pour down upon her a fire
of musketry from the tops. Board her by the bow-sprit. Now, boys, follow
me and cut down all." Here the features of the dying pirate became
absolutely terrific, and he made some desperate struggles to rise from
the ground, in which he at last succeeded; when, waving his sword round
his head, he sung in a piercing voice--
"We stifle ev'ry cry,
Ev'ry cry,--ev'ry cry--
We stifle ev'ry cry, Captain Death!
And then we spread our sails that are filled with welcome gales,
Singing, 'Dead men tell no tales,'
Captain Death! Captain Death!
Singing, 'Dead men tell no tales,' Captain Death."
"Ah!" screamed the singer, while an expression of the most intense agony
distorted his features. He dropped the sword he had held; he drew both
his hands suddenly to his wounded side, and staggering back, gasping
frightfully for breath, he fell violently on his back.
"He's dead, don't you see;" said the doctor.
"A sail on the starboard quarter;" cried a man aloft.
"No more pirates, I hope;" exclaimed Fortyfolios, who had just ventured
on deck.
"It is not quite impossible, don't you see;" was the surgeon's
encouraging reply, and both almost immediately descended the hatchway,
one to look after his patients, and the other to look after himself.
Oriel Porphyry hastened to the captain, whom he found standing in the
waist, examining the distant vessel through a glass.
"Any more fighting preparing for us?" inquired the young merchant.
"Can't exactly say yet, sir, but it's best to be prepared;" replied old
Hearty, as he gave some orders to the men around him. "She looms large,
and looks as if she was arter standing right across our fore-foot. Now
she's alterin her course, and is comin with all sail set right down upon
us. Call all hands to quarters: Climberkin, let the guns be shotted,
and the dead bodies flung into the sea;--and yet I think she's a
merchantman. Scrunch me, if it arn't my old ship, the Whittington!"
"What, my father's vessel?" asked Oriel Porphyry.
"The very same!" cried the old man with delight. "I knows her better
nor any ship I ever sailed in. No doubt she wants to speak with us.
Bring her head up to the wind, helmsman! I wonder whether my old captain
is alive still? He was a right-down trump. But what a mazement he'll be
in to find me in command o' the Albatross."
"I know Captain Barter well. I've met him frequently at my father's
table, and a very gentlemanly, sensible man he is;" said the young
merchant. "I have no doubt he's brought me some communication from
Columbus."
"We shall soon see, sir, as we shall be alongside very shortly;"
observed Hearty.
"Is master Oriel Porphyry on board?" was shouted from the Whittington,
as the ships neared each other. Oriel caught up a speaking trumpet.
"Yes, Captain Barter, I am here;" he replied.
"I will come on board, sir, if you please, as soon as a boat is
lowered;" said the captain of the Whittington.
"Have you any communication for me from my father?" inquired Oriel.
"I have, sir; and 'tis of great consequence," replied the other.
Oriel Porphyry was now all anxiety and impatience to know the
intelligence he was promised. He hurried to the quarter-deck to receive
his visitor, and strode backwards and forwards with hasty steps till he
made his appearance. Now he thought that the news must be bad, and in a
moment after he imagined that it was good. One instant he anticipated
the death of his father, and in the next, hoped that he had been raised
by his fellow-citizens to the highest honours in the nation. And in this
way his mind continued changing its impressions for the better and for
the worse, till he had worked himself into a state of considerable
excitement, when Captain Barter advanced towards him.
He was an elderly man, of gentlemanly appearance; neat in his dress, and
polite in his deportment. His face was pale, and slightly marked with
wrinkles; and his features were mild and pleasing. His hair was gray,
and his body rather thin; but he was perfectly upright in his walk, and
his step was firm and manly.
"I regret I have unpleasant intelligence to communicate to you, sir,"
said Captain Barter, after they had exchanged the customary salutations.
"It is then as I suspected," exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, earnestly. "My
father is dead."
"No, sir, it is not so bad as that," replied the captain, as if
hesitating in making the communication.
"What is it then? let me know immediately. I am sure by your manner it
is something dreadful," cried the young merchant.
"Your father is a prisoner," said Captain Barter, with a look of sincere
commiseration.
"Have they dared?" exclaimed Oriel.
"But I am sorry to say it is worse than that, sir," added his companion.
"What! what is it? Do not keep me in suspense--I implore you to tell
me," cried the other.
"He is ordered for execution," said the captain.
"The miscreants!" muttered the young merchant. "But I knew it would
be so. I knew they would not rest satisfied with their privileges
curtailed. I knew they would seek the first opportunity to regain their
lost power. I was convinced that they would regard my father as their
enemy, and sacrifice him on the earliest occasion. But tell me how it
was brought about? I would know all."
"After the revolution, which effected those important changes in the
government of which you have been informed," said Captain Barter,
"nothing could have exceeded the appearance of good will which existed
in every part of the empire. The emperor seemed desirous of nothing so
much as gratifying the people; and his ministers appeared to emulate
each other in endeavouring to become popular. Public fêtes were given
in honour of the revolution, at which the emperor assisted in person;
and measures of the most liberal character were passed through the
legislature, without a division. All was harmony and social order.
The citizens congratulated each other on the improved state of the
country--the industrious classes found themselves provided with
sufficient employment, at a fair recompense--trade again became
brisk--commerce flourished; and abundance seemed to be generally
diffused over the whole surface of Columbia."
"A mere trick!" exclaimed Oriel Porphyry; "nothing but an artifice to
lull the people into a fancied security, I'll wager my existence."
"Just so, sir," replied the captain. "The leaders of the people had
now nothing to complain of. Every improvement was made before they had
time to offer a suggestion on the subject; and that being rendered
comparatively useless, they quickly lost their influence over their
fellow-citizens. Your father, observing how well things were proceeding,
withdrew himself from all participation in politics, considering that
his services were no longer required, and devoted himself to his
commercial pursuits, and to the realisation of those philanthropic
desires that have distinguished every portion of his existence. He
became again so completely the private citizen, that no person unaware
of the circumstances could have imagined that he had recently played so
important a part in the late changes. All the most influential of the
popular leaders gradually retired into private life in the same manner."
"I see the scheme," cried Oriel, eagerly. "The vile treachery becomes
manifest. How well 'twas planned. How artfully designed. Oh! these
planners and plotters are a brilliant set; they are too wise for us poor
citizens."
"So they proved, sir," continued the captain; "for while the things I
have related were being done, the government gradually and imperceptibly
concentrated a military force in the metropolis, by calling in portions
of the garrisons distributed over the empire; and these were well
supplied with all the necessaries of war, and liberally paid, and
officered by men upon whom the government could depend. Soon after this,
on the pretence that they were no longer necessary, the national guards
were disbanded and deprived of their arms. Suspicion was now created
among the sharp-sighted few; but the public generally did not appear to
have the slightest notion of the danger which threatened them. As the
object of the emperor and his party began to assume a more threatening
aspect, the leaders of the people took the alarm, and endeavoured to
awaken their fellow-citizens to a sense of their danger. In the course
of a few hours every one of them was securely lodged in a dungeon."