If, as is asserted, the pleasures of life consist rather in the
anticipation than in the fruition, or perhaps we may say, in the means
taken to enjoy them, rather than in the objects when obtained; so, most
assuredly, is the anticipation of evil worse than the evil itself; and
misfortunes, which appear great and terrible when looked at timidly from
a distance, diminish, if they do not altogether disappear, when grappled
with manfully.
In fact, as somebody or other observed, once upon a time, that whenever
he wrote a philosophical, a beautiful, or a noble sentiment, that
fellow, Shakspeare, was sure to have been before him; I might more
briefly express what I wanted to say, by quoting our great poet--
"Cowards die many times before their death."
Now, as neither Bowse, nor his officers or men, were characters of that
description, but, on the contrary, as brave fellows as ever looked
danger in the face without flinching, they, on their own accounts, cared
very little whether the craft in sight was a pirate or an honest trader.
But it was now very evident that the speronara had an object in
steering, as she was clearly doing, for the brig, and as that object
could scarcely be otherwise than hostile, there was a possibility of
their being attacked; and with one of those unpremeditated cheers which
British seamen cannot refrain from giving at the thoughts of a skirmish,
every man hastened to buckle a cutlass to his side. Powder and shot
were got up, and the small arms and boarding-pikes were placed by the
sides of the guns, ready at hand, to be seized in a moment. The spirit
of the veteran soldier was instantly aroused in the bosom of Colonel
Gauntlett. As he sniffed the air of battle, the querulous, ill-tempered
old gentleman was changed into the cool and gallant officer. As soon as
Mitchell understood what was likely to happen, he was seen to dive into
the cabin, from whence he soon returned, when going up to his master, he
stood before him anticipating his orders.
"Mitchell, my sword and pistols, and bring me some ammunition, too, mark
me."
The servant's hand rose to his cap, and turning round, he again
descended to the cabin, reappearing in less than half a minute with the
weapons. The colonel buckled on his sword with far greater satisfaction
than a dandy tries on a new coat, and after carefully loading and
priming his pistols, which were of exquisite workmanship, he placed
them, with a look of satisfaction, in his belt. Not a word, however,
did he say while thus employed. The first observation was to his
servant.
"Mitchell," he said, "if that rascally felucca attempts to board us, you
are to act as my reserve, remember. We shall have to charge on to her
deck, or her people will charge on to ours, and you are to keep close
behind me, and support me if I require you."
"Yes, your honour," answered Mitchell, in imitation of his master
fastening a cutlass round his waist. "Is it them chaps in the
night-caps on board the little boat out there we've to fight?"
"It is, Mitchell, the people in that felucca now approaching us," said
the colonel.
"Och, then, by the powers, we'll blow them to blazes with these little
darlins alone;" and thereon he pulled forth from his coat-tail pockets a
pair of huge horse-pistols, of antique date and prodigious bore, which
would almost require a rest from which to fire them.
The sun had set, and the short twilight of that southern latitude was
fast disappearing, yet sufficient remained to show the outline of the
speronara as the two vessels drew near to each other, though more
distant objects had long since been shrouded from sight. Her tapering
lateen sails now, as seen in one, appeared like the summit of a lofty
pyramid of dark hue, surrounded by the waves. Then, as they approached
still nearer, and she was almost abeam, the crew were seen standing up,
and watching them with eagerness. Instead, however, of attempting to
pass ahead of the brig, as she came near, she kept away so as pass close
under her quarter. Now came the anxious time. If she was about to
board, she would be alongside in another instant. Bowse, however, felt
that whatever might be his suspicions of her honesty, without some more
presumptive evidence of evil intentions, it would not do for him to
commence hostilities; he therefore, taking his speaking-trumpet in his
hand, went aft, and leaned ever the quarter-rail.
The speronara came rapidly on, and was close to.
"I have one message for you," exclaimed a voice from the deck of the
stranger, in Italian accents--"send boat here."
"I'll see you damned first," exclaimed Bowse. "I've no boat to send--
send yours," he shouted through his speaking-trumpet.
"Heave to, there--I send boat," was shouted in return from the
speronara; and she was immediately seen to hug the wind, her helm was
put down, and about she came on the other tack, the same on which the
_Zodiac_ was sailing, placing herself thus on their weather quarter.
"Keep her away," shouted Bowse to the man at the helm, thinking that the
speronara was about to board him; but immediately he saw he was
mistaken, for instead of her fore-sheet being eased off, it was kept to
windward, and, as she lay hove-to, he observed preparations to launch a
boat into the water. "I suppose, sir, we may let these fellows come on
board?" he said, addressing the colonel, who was by his side; "they can
do us no harm, and they may possibly have a message."
"As you think fit, Captain Bowse," returned the colonel, who was so
pleased with the master's coolness and bearing, that he no longer
refused to give him the usual title,--"I've no objection. They can't
eat us; and if they meditate running alongside, they will see we are
prepared for them."
"Put the helm down, my lad, round in the weather after-braces, and lay
the main-yard square--brace up the head yards--rouse in the main sheet--
ease off the head sheets."
These orders being executed, and the brig brought to the wind, she was
hove to, with her head in the same direction as that of the speronara.
That vessel could just be seen to windward, looking dark against the
western sky, and far larger than she really was, slowly forging ahead,
while a small boat could just be discerned traversing the intervening
space.
"Well, as we are to have no fighting, I suppose, I will just go and
relieve the anxiety of my little girl," said the colonel, whose good
humour was now in the ascendant.
No sooner did his niece see him than she flew into his arms, and kissed
his cheek affectionately--an example Marianna, in the exuberance of her
joy at finding there was to be no fighting, was nearly imitating.
"Oh, dear uncle, I am so glad that there is no danger to be encountered.
You cannot tell how anxious I have been."
"Well, missie, since you don't like the cabin you shall come on deck and
see what next takes place; we are going to have some visitors, it
appears." Saying this, he gallantly placed a shawl on her shoulders,
and gave his hand to lead her on deck.
While the boat of the speronara was approaching, three or four of the
_Zodiac's_ crew were collected by the foremost gun, watching her
progress with no little interest. Two of them were regular salts of the
old school, who still delighted in ear-rings and pigtails, though, in
compliment to the degenerate taste of the times, they wore the latter
ornaments much smaller than they had done in their younger days. They
were prime seamen, and fellows who were ready to go down with their
colours flying rather than strike to an enemy.
"You have heard tell on the _Flying Dutchman_, of course, Bill," said
Jem Marline, casting a look to windward at the speronara, and hitching
up his trousers, while he squirted a stream of tobacco-juice through the
port.
"On course," answered Bill Rullock, "I haven't been to sea near thirty
years without, messmate."
"Did you ever cast eyes on the chap, though?" asked Jem.
"Can't say as how I have," answered Bill. "But there's many they say
who has, and few who ever lived to tell of it. But what was you
thinking on, Jem?"
"Why you see, Bill," replied his chum, "I don't altogether like the
circumbendibus ways of that ere chap to windward. You see, first in
Malta harbour, we falls in with him or one like him, for I don't say,
mind you, that that ere craft is the same which nearly ran foul on us
yesterday; then out he goes right ahead of us, and then just as it's got
dark, down he comes again, and wants to send a boat aboard us. Now you
see as how that's the thing I don't in no manner of ways approve on. If
I was our skipper, I would send a round shot right into the boat, sooner
than any of his people should step on this deck. That's just the trick
the cursed Dutchman's up to."
"No manner o' doubt about it," said Bill gravely; "but you know, Jem,
they say the Dutchman's cruising ground is off the Cape, in a
full-rigged ship, and I never heard on his coming into these parts."
"True as gospel, old shipmate, but how should we know that he hasn't got
tired of the Cape, and taken a trip up here?" argued Jem. "And as to
the matter of the rig, he may shift his craft according to the sea he's
in. Besides, you know as how if there's one _Flying Dutchman_, there
may be two, and this fellow may have come to trouble us here, up the
straits. Depend on't, Bill, the less company one keeps with them sort
of gentry the better."
"Very true, Jem, but suppose a chap out of that boat then does come on
board, what's to happen think ye?" asked Bill, in a tone which showed
that he in no way doubted his messmate's account.
"Why I can't say exactly, because as how I never seed what he does; but
from what I've heard, I believe he tries to slip a letter like into the
skipper's or some 'un's hand who's green enough to take it; and then the
chap, who's no better nor Davy Jones himself, gives a loud laugh, and
down goes the ship to the bottom, or else a hurricane is sure to get up
and drive her ashore. But here comes that cursed felucca's boat. I
wish we might just let fly at her; it would save mischief, I'll be
sworn."
"Bear a hand there with a rope for the boat coming alongside," sung out
the captain in a loud voice, which sounded as ominous of evil to the
ears of the superstitious crew. "Bring a lantern here to the gangway,"
he added. Bowse, with his first mate and Colonel Gauntlett, stood near
the gangway, which was lighted up with a lantern to receive the
strangers, as a small boat containing in all only four persons, came
round under the brig's stern. They pulled only two oars, and two people
were seated in the stern sheet. "Keep an eye to windward there,
Larkins, on that felucca," said the first mate to the second, as he went
to his captain's summons. "I don't altogether think her cut honest."
"A mighty fuss about a very small affair, I suspect," muttered the
colonel, as a figure was seen to ascend from the boat up the side of the
brig.
The stranger was dressed in the Phrygian cap, and simple garb of a
Sicilian mariner. His appearance, as far as it could be judged of by
the dim light of the lantern, was anything but prepossessing. A
profusion of long, straggling, grizzly locks, once probably of raven
hue, which evidently had not felt the barber's scissors for many a year,
concealed the greater part of his face which was still further hidden by
a patch over one eye, and a handkerchief bound round his head, while his
mouth was surrounded by an enormous pair of moustachios, and a beard of
similar character, so that little more than the tip of a red nose, and a
rolling fierce eye was visible. As he reached the deck, this handsome
personage bowed to the group before him, without speaking, while he
glanced his eye round at the crew, who still wore their cutlasses, and
at the other weapons which were placed ready for use.
Behind the group I have described, stood several of the crew, among whom
were Jem Marline, and his chum Bill Bullock, and if the stranger had
been able to read the expression of their countenances, he would
certainly have been a bold man, had he not felt some apprehension; for
they spoke almost as plainly as words could do, that had they the power,
they would, without ceremony, heave him into the sea. There were fear,
suspicion, and dislike, strangely blended with the usual bold
recklessness which had given a character to their features a sudden
emotion could not obliterate. Fortunately, however, the light of the
lantern fell in such a way as to throw them, where they stood, into
shade.
"What is it you want with us, signor?" said Bowse, in his usual blunt
tone, seeing that the other did not speak.
"To carry us all to Davy Jones, if we don't look sharp," muttered Jem
Marline to his messmate. "The beggar will be handing a letter directly,
and then stand by for squall."
The stranger shook his head, as if not comprehending what was said.
"That's it," whispered Jem, in a tone of terror. "He don't speak. He
never does."
Bowse repeated the question, in the _lingua Franca_ of those seas.
The stranger shook his head.
"He does not understand our lingo," observed Bowse. "Here, Timmins, you
speak a little Italian--just ask this gentleman what he wants aboard
here."
"Ay, ay, sir," said the mate coming forward, and asking the question in
execrable Italian.
Again the stranger shook his head, as if not comprehending the question,
and finding that not much progress was likely to be made at this rate,
he turned round, and leaning through the gangway, beckoned his companion
to come on deck. As he drew back, another person appeared, dressed
precisely in the same manner; but evidently very much younger. A long
moustache shaded his mouth, and wild elf-locks concealed the greater
portion of his face, and from a patch down one side of his cheek, he
looked as if, like his elder companion, he had been engaged in some
severe fighting. The light of the lantern, as he reached the deck,
seemed particularly to annoy him, and he stood with his eyes cast on the
deck, shading them with one of his hands, nor could he meet the glance
of any of those surrounding him.
"What do you wish to explain?" said the second stranger in Italian,
bowing with a not ungraceful bend, and a touch of his hand to his cap.
"Oh! you can speak, can you? Well, that's all right," said Timmins.
"And now, if you please, tell us why it is the felucca there was so
anxious to speak to us?"
"_Si, signor_," answered the younger stranger, very slowly; and in an
Italian which was mostly understood, he then explained that the
speronara, of which his father was master, had, that afternoon, fallen
in with an Austrian man-of-war brig, which had brought her to, and sent
a boat on board her. The officers, he said, informed them that the
noted Greek pirate Zappa, in his famous brig the _Sea Hawk_, had lately
been heard of not far from the mouth of the Adriatic, and that he had
plundered and destroyed several vessels. The Austrian, he said, had
given him despatches for the governor of Malta, relative to the subject,
as also to the Neapolitan Government, with a reward for carrying them,
and had charged them to inform all vessels they should fall in with of
what had occurred.
"Then he did not tell you to speak us in particular," said Timmins.
"_Si, signor_, he expressly--oh! no--not you in particular--oh, no,"
replied the young man.
"Have you nothing further to tell us?" said Timmins. "Because you see,
though we are much obliged to you for your information, we are in a
hurry to be on our course again, and if you should happen to fall in
with the Signor Zappa and his brig the _Sea Hawk_, just tell him that
the _Zodiac_ will give him a warm reception if he attempts to play off
any of his tricks upon her."
"You don't know the pirate," exclaimed the young man vehemently, "he--"
"Do you know him?" said Timmins, fixing his eye upon him. The man's
glance quailed before that of the stout sailor.
"Oh no, signor, I don't know him--I have heard of him though."
"Oh! is that it?" said the mate, interpreting what he heard to the
captain.
"Well, just ask him and his father if they will come down below, and
take a glass of something before they shove off," said Bowse.
A few words were exchanged between the two strangers in a low tone, and
there appeared to be some hesitation on the part of the elder; but, at
last, they consented, and followed the master into an outer cabin, which
he had retained as his own, and where he and his mate messed. A door
from it opened into the cabins engaged by the colonel, who, when he saw
the strangers, retired also with his niece into their cabin.
As the door between the two stood open, all that took place in one could
be heard in the other.
"Let the Italians come in here, Mr Bowse," said the colonel, from the
inner cabin. "I will give them a glass of sherry which they will like
better than rum and water, and it will do them more good than their own
thin wash."
When the strangers, who, directed by the signs made by the master, found
themselves in the presence of a lady, they stood somewhat abashed, it
seemed, and bowed respectfully as they quaffed off the wine offered to
them. The bright light which was shed from a lamp hanging from the deck
seemed also much to annoy their eyes, long accustomed to darkness, and
they kept their faces shaded by their hands during the short time they
were in the cabin, so that little or nothing of their feature? could be
seen.
For an instant, however, the eyes of the youngest fell on Ada, and, at
that moment, there gleamed in them a peculiar expression, which she
could not help remarking; but what it meant to say, she was at a loss to
comprehend. It was certainly a look of intelligence, as if he expected
to be understood; but there was also blended with it an expression of
admiration, pity, and regret, which further puzzled her. At all events,
she was convinced that, by that look, he intended to convey some
meaning, which he dared not otherwise explain.
The strangers remained scarcely a minute below, and respectfully wishing
the occupants of the cabin a good evening, they took their leave. The
elder went first, and as the second followed, he appeared to stumble at
the door. As he did so, he let a folded paper fall from his hand, and,
at the same instant, he gave a hurried glance at Ada over his shoulder.
Before she had time to tell him of his loss, he had sprung up the
companion-ladder. The strangers were quickly in their boat, which, with
rapid strokes, pulled back towards the speronara.
"Up with the helm, my lad," exclaimed the captain, in a hurried tone, to
the man at the wheel, as soon as the boat left the side, "haul aft the
head sheets--ease off the main sheet; Mr Timmins, we'll keep her on her
right course."
"Ay, ay, sir," answered the mate--shouting as the brig's head fell off,
"square away the head yards, my men; come, be sharp about it."
"And what do you think, Timmins, of those fellows' account of the
Austrian brig and the pirate? It seems somewhat strange, doesn't it?"
said Bowse, as he walked the deck with his first officer as soon as they
had put the ship on her former course. The speronara still lay hove to
right astern, her outline every instant becoming more indistinct as the
brig ran from her.
"Why, sir," replied the mate, in return to his commander's question. "I
don't think any good of it, and that's a fact; but if you ask if I
believe it, I don't do that neither. These Italians are much given to
lying at best, as far as my experience goes; and I believe we have just
heard a pretty round lie, though I don't say there was no truth
altogether in it. To my mind, if there is such a chap as that Zap--what
do they call him, the pirate--it is much more likely that he is on board
that felucca, or perhaps he was one of the fellows who came on board us,
than that an Austrian man-of-war brig should have sent her cruising
about to give notice of him to English merchantmen."
"Well, Timmins, that's my view of the case," replied Bowse; "I think the
Austrian brig would have stood on to Malta herself, seeing she must have
been almost in sight of it, instead of sending a craft of that sort with
a message. Besides, what business had the speronara there at all?"
"There's something very suspicious about it, at all events," returned
the mate. "Now, though I don't often listen to what the men say,
Captain Bowse, and they generally get hold of the wrong end of a thing,
yet they have often an inkling of what's right and wrong. Well, sir,
they've already got all sorts of stories aboard here, about the _Flying
Dutchman_ and such-like stuff, and they don't at all like the look of
things. When you were below with the strangers, they talked of throwing
them crop and heels overboard and letting them swim to their boats, and
I believe if you hadn't come up with them on deck yourself, they would
not have let me prevent them."
"I believe the people are right, Timmins, in thinking that the two
fellows who stood on our deck lately are knaves, but it wouldn't have
done to heave them overboard," said the master. "However, they are not
likely to do us any harm if we keep a bright look-out, and should any
rascally pirate attack us, I'm sure all on board here will stand to
their guns like men."