The sea-breach'd vessel can no longer bear
The floods that o'er her burst in dread career.
The labouring hull already seems half fill'd
With water, through an hundred leaks distill'd:
Thus drench'd by every wave, her riven deck,
Stript and defenceless, floats a naked wreck.
FALCONER.
Newton remained at Bridgetown, under the roof of Mr Kingston, for more
than three weeks, by which time the brig was laden, and waiting for
convoy to proceed to England.
Mr Berecroft had made every preparation for his voyage, when an
unexpected circumstance occurred, which eventually proved the occasion
of great hardship and danger to Newton. This was, the master of a large
ship, belonging to the same owners, and then lying in Carlisle Bay, to
proceed homeward by the same convoy, had so ingratiated himself with a
wealthy widow residing upon the island, that rather than he should again
trust himself to the fickle element, she had been induced to surrender
up to him her plantation, her negroes, and her fair self, all equally
bound to honour and obey through their future lives.
Mr Berecroft, in consequence of this resignation of his brother
captain, was appointed to the command of the larger vessel; and Jackson,
the first-mate, ordered to take the command of the Eliza and Jane. This
was a sad blow to Newton, and one which he could not avoid, as Mr
Berecroft could not take him in his new ship, all the sub ordinate
situations being already filled up.
At first, he was inclined to quit the brig; but by the advice of Mr
Berecroft and Kingston, he was persuaded to go the passage home, as he
was now first-mate of the vessel, and would incur forfeiture of all
wages if he broke the articles which he had signed at Liverpool.
Unpleasant as the prospect was, he was further induced by Berecroft's
assurance, that now Jackson was provided for, he would arrange with the
owners that Newton should be appointed the first-mate of his own ship,
as soon as they arrived in England.
In a few days the men-of-war made their appearance. Newton who had
remained on shore until the last moment, shook hands with his friendly
patron, and thanking Mr Kingston for his kindness, went on board of the
vessel with a sorrowful and foreboding heart.
Nor was he at all inclined to cheer up as he stepped on the deck of the
brig, and beheld Jackson with a handspike, still brandishing over his
head, standing across the body of one of the seamen, whom he had just
dashed to the deck with the implement in his hand. At the sight of
Newton, the wrath of the new captain appeared to be increased. He eyed
him malevolently, and then observed with a sneer, "that's what all
skulkers may expect on board of my vessel."
Newton made no answer, and Jackson went forward, where the remainder of
the crew were heaving up the anchor with the windlass. Newton walked up
to the seaman, who appeared still insensible, and examined him. The
iron plate at the end of the handspike had cut deep into the skull, and
there was every appearance of a contusion of the brain.
Calling the boy who attended the cabin, Newton, with his assistance,
carried the man below and laid him in his berth. He then repaired on
deck, and took the helm, the anchor of the brig being a-trip. In a
quarter of an hour the sail was on her, and she followed the course
steered by the men-of-war, who were about to run through the other
islands, and pick up several vessels, who were for their protection.
"If you expect an easy berth, as first-mate, you are mistaken, my
joker," said Jackson to Newton, as he steered the vessel; "you've
skulked long enough, and shall now work double tides, or take the
consequence. If you don't, I'll be damned!"
"I shall do my duty, Mr Jackson," replied Newton, "and fear no
consequences."
"Indeed! you saw how I settled a skulk just now;--beware of his fate!"
"I neither anticipate it nor fear it, Mr Jackson. If it comes to hand
spikes, two can play at that game. I rather think that before many
hours are over you will be sorry for your violence, for I believe that
man to be in considerable danger. Even now, I should recommend you to
demand surgical assistance from the frigate."
"Demand it, if you dare--I am captain of this ship, sir. The rascal may
die and be damned!"
To this disgusting speech Newton made no reply. He had made up his mind
to put up with every thing short of downright aggression, and for three
days more, he obeyed all orders, however arbitrary and however annoying.
During this period the man who had been injured became gradually worse;
his illness increased rapidly, and on the fifth day he became delirious
and in a state of high fever, when Newton again pointed out the
propriety of asking surgical aid from one of the men-of-war. This
suggestion was answered by Jackson, who was now really alarmed, with a
volley of oaths and execrations, ending with a fiat refusal. The crew
of the brig murmured, and collected together forward, looking
occasionally at the men-of-war as they spoke in whispers to each other;
but they were afraid of Jackson's violence, and none ventured to speak
out. Jackson paced the deck in a state of irritation and excitement as
he listened to the ravings of his victim, which were loud enough to be
heard all over the vessel. As the evening closed, the men, taking the
opportunity of Jackson's going below, went up to Newton, who was walking
aft, and stated their determination that the next morning, whether the
master consented to it or not, they would hail the frigate, and demand
surgical assistance for their shipmate. In the midst of the colloquy
Jackson, who hearing the noise overhead of the people coming aft, had a
suspicion of the cause, and had been listening at the bottom of the
ladder to what was said, came up the hatchway, and accusing Newton of
attempting to raise a mutiny, ordered him immediately to his cabin,
stating his intention of sending him on board of the frigate the next
morning to be placed in confinement.
"I shall obey your order," replied Newton, "as you are in command of
this vessel. I only hope that you will adhere to your resolution of
communicating with the frigate." So saying, he descended the companion
hatch.
But Jackson, who, both from the information of the cabin-boy, and the
fact that the incoherent ravings of his victim became hourly more
feeble, thought himself in jeopardy, had no such intention. As the
night closed in, he remained on deck gradually taking off first one sail
and then another, until the brig was left far astern of the rest of the
convoy, and the next morning there was no other vessel in sight; then,
on pretence of rejoining them, he made all sail, at the same time
changing his course, so as to pass between two of the islands. Newton
was the only one on board who understood navigation besides Jackson, and
therefore the only one who could prove that he was escaping from the
convoy. He was in confinement below; and the men, whatever may have
been their suspicions, could not prove that they were not steering as
they ought.
About twelve o'clock on that day the poor sailor breathed his last.
Jackson, who was prepared for the event, had already made up his mind
how to proceed. The men murmured, and proposed securing Jackson as a
prisoner, and offering the command to Newton. They went below and made
the proposal to him; but he refused, observing that until it was proved
by the laws of the land that Jackson had murdered their shipmate, he was
not guilty, and therefore they had no right to dispossess him of his
command; and until their evidence could be taken by some of the
authorities he must remain; further pointing out to them, that as he
could be seized immediately upon his arrival at an English port, or
falling in with a man-of-war during their passage, the ends of justice
would be equally answered, as if they committed themselves by taking the
law into their own hands.
The men, although not satisfied, acquiesced, and returned to their duty
on deck. Jackson's conduct towards them was now quite altered; he not
only treated them with lenity, but supplied them with extra liquor and
other indulgences, which, as captain, he could command. Newton,
however, he still detained under an arrest, watching him most carefully
each time that he was necessitated to come on deck. The fact was,
Jackson, aware that his life would be forfeited to the laws of his
country, had resolved to wreck the brig, upon one of the reefs to the
northward, then take to his boats, and escape to one of the French
islands. At this instigation, the body of the man had been thrown
overboard by some of the crew, when they were in a state of half
intoxication.
Newton, who had been below four days, had retired as usual to his
hammock, when a sudden shock, accompanied by the fall of the masts by
the board, woke him from a sound sleep to all the horrors of shipwreck.
The water pouring rapidly through the sides of the vessel, proved to him
that there was no chance of escape except by the boats. The shriek, so
awful when raised in the gloom of night by seamen anticipating immediate
death, the hurried footsteps above him, the confusion of many voices,
with the heavy blows from the waves against the side of the vessel, told
him that danger was imminent, even if escape were possible. He drew on
his trousers, and rushed to the door of his cabin. Merciful Heaven!
what was his surprise, his horror, to find that it was fastened outside.
A moment's thought at the malignity of the wretch (for it was indeed
Jackson, who, during the night, had taken such steps for his
destruction) was followed by exertions to escape. Placing his shoulders
against his sea-chest, and his feet against the door, his body in nearly
a horizontal position, he made a violent effort to break open the door.
The lock gave way, but the door did not open more than one or two
inches, for Jackson to make sure had coiled down against it a hawser
which lay a few yards further forward in the steerage, the weight of
which the strength of no five men could remove. Maddened with the idea
of perishing by such treachery, Newton again exerted his frantic efforts
again and again without success. Between each pause, the voices of the
seamen asking for the oars and other articles belonging to the long
boat, proved to him that every moment of delay was a _nail_ in his
coffin. Again and again were his efforts repeated with almost
superhuman strength; but the door remained fixed as ever. At last, it
occurred to him that the hawser, which he had previously ascertained by
passing his hand through the small aperture which he had made, might
only lay against the lower part of the door, and that the upper part
might be _free_. He applied his strength above, and found the door to
yield: by repeated attempts he at last succeeded in kicking the upper
panels to pieces, and having forced his body through the aperture,
Newton rushed on deck with the little strength he had remaining.
The men--the boat--were not there: he hailed, but they heard him not; he
strained his eyes--but they had disappeared in the gloom of the night;
and Newton, overcome with exhaustion and disappointment, fell down
senseless on the deck.