THE DEAD MAN ATTENDS AT THE AUCTION OF HIS OWN EFFECTS, AND BIDS THE
SALE TO STOP--ONE MORE THAN WAS WANTED--PETER STEPS INTO HIS OWN SHOES
AGAIN--CAPTAIN HAWKINS TAKES A FRIENDLY INTEREST IN PETER'S PAPERS--RIGA
BALSAM STERNLY REFUSED TO BE ADMITTED FOR THE RELIEF OF THE SHIP'S
COMPANY.
As soon as the sails were furled, I thanked the master of the vessel for
his kindness, and requested the boat. He ordered it to be manned,
saying, "How glad your captain will be to see you!" I doubted that. We
shook hands, and I pulled to the _Rattlesnake_, which lay about two
cables' length astern of us. I had put on a jacket, when I left the
brig on service, and coming in a merchantman's boat, no attention was
paid to me; indeed, owing to circumstances, no one was on the look-out,
and I ascended the side unperceived.
The men and officers were on the quarter-deck, attending the sale of
dead men's effects before the mast, and every eye was fixed upon six
pairs of nankeen trowsers exposed by the purser's steward, which I
recognised as my own. "Nine shillings for six pairs of nankeen
trowsers," cried the purser's steward.
"Come, my men, they're worth more than that," observed the captain, who
appeared to be very facetious. "It's better to be in his trowsers than
in his shoes." This brutal remark created a silence for a moment.
"Well, then, steward, let them go. One would think that pulling on his
trowsers would make you as afraid as he was," continued the captain
laughing.
"Shame!" was cried out by one or two of the officers, and I recognised
Swinburne's voice as one.
"More likely if they put on yours," cried I, in a loud indignant tone.
Everybody started, and turned round; Captain Hawkins staggered to a
carronade: "I beg to report myself as having rejoined my ship, sir,"
continued I.
"Hurrah, my lads! three cheers for Mr Simple," said Swinburne.
The men gave them with emphasis. The captain looked at me, and without
saying a word, hastily retreated to his cabin. I perceived, as he went
down, that he had his arm in a sling. I thanked the men for their kind
feeling towards me, shook hands with Thompson and Webster, who warmly
congratulated me, and then with old Swinburne (who nearly wrung my arm
off, and gave my shoulder such pain, as to make me cry out), and with
the others who extended theirs. I desired the sale of my effects to be
stopped; fortunately for me, it had but just begun, and the articles
were all returned. Thompson had informed the captain that he knew my
father's address, and would take charge of my clothes, and send them
home, but the captain would not allow him.
In a few minutes, I received a letter from the captain, desiring me to
acquaint him in writing, for the information of the senior officer, in
what manner I had escaped. I went down below, when I found one very
melancholy face, that of the passed-midshipman of the _Acasta_, who had
received an acting order in my place. When I went to my desk, I found
two important articles missing; one, my private letter-book, and the
other, the journal which I kept of what passed, and from which this
narrative has been compiled. I inquired of my messmates, who stated
that the desk had not been looked into by any one but the captain, who,
of course, must have possessed himself of those important documents.
I wrote a letter containing a short narrative of what had happened, and,
at the same time, another on service to the captain, requesting that he
would deliver up my property, the private journal, and letter-book in
his possession. The captain, as soon as he received my letters, sent up
word for his boat to be manned. As soon as it was manned, I reported
it, and then begged to know whether he intended to comply with my
request. He answered that he should not, and then went on deck, and
quitted the brig to pull on board of the senior officer. I therefore
determined immediately to write to the captain of the _Acasta_,
acquainting him with the conduct of Captain Hawkins, and requesting his
interference. This I did immediately, and the boat that had brought me
on board not having left the brig, I sent the letter by it, requesting
them to put it into the hands of one of the officers. The letter was
received previous to Captain Hawkins' visit being over; and the captain
of the _Acasta_ put it into his hands, inquiring if the statement were
correct. Captain Hawkins replied, that it was true that he had detained
these papers, as there was so much mutiny and disaffection in them, and
that he should not return them to me.
"That I cannot permit," replied the captain of the _Acasta_, who was
aware of the character of Captain Hawkins; "if, by mistake, you have
been put in possession of any of Mr Simple's secrets, you are bound in
honour not to make use of them; neither can you retain property not your
own."
But Captain Hawkins was determined, and refused to give them to me.
"Well, then, Captain Hawkins," replied the captain of the _Acasta_, you
will oblige me by remaining on my quarter-deck till I come out of the
cabin.
The captain of the _Acasta_ then wrote an order, directing Captain
Hawkins immediately to deliver up to _him_ the papers of mine in his
possession; and coming out of the cabin, put it into Captain Hawkins'
hands, saying, "Now, sir, here is a written order from your superior
officer. Disobey it, if you dare. If you do, I will put you under an
arrest, and try you by a court-martial."
Captain Hawkins bit his lip at the order.
"Your boat is manned, sir," said the captain of the _Acasta_, in a
severe tone.
Captain Hawkins came on board, sealed up the books, and sent them to the
captain of the _Acasta_, who redirected them to me, on His Majesty's
service, and returned them by the same boat. The public may therefore
thank the captain of the _Acasta_ for the memoirs which they are now
reading.
From my messmates I gained the following intelligence of what had passed
after I had quitted the brig. The fire of the praam had cut them up
severely, and Captain Hawkins had been struck in the arm with a piece of
the hammock rail, which had been shot away shortly after I left.
Although the skin only was razed, he thought proper to consider himself
badly wounded; and giving up the command to Mr Webster, the second
lieutenant, had retreated below, where he remained until the action was
over. When Mr Webster reported the return of the boats, with the
capture of the gun-boat, and my supposed death, he was delighted, that
he quite forgot his wound, and ran on deck, rubbing his hands as he
walked up and down. At last he recollected himself, went down into his
cabin, and came up again with his arm in a sling.
During the short time that we remained in port, I took care that _Riga
balsam_ should not be allowed to come alongside, and the men were all
sober. We received orders from the captain of the _Acasta_ to join the
admiral, who was off the Texel, in pursuance of directions he had
received from the Admiralty to despatch one of the squadron, and we were
selected from the dislike which he had taken to Captain Hawkins.