“Pass on relentless world! I grieve
No more for all that thou hast riven!
Pass on, in God's name--only leave
The things thou never yet hast given.--”
LUNT.
After every means had been uselessly exhausted to persuade Marble from
his design, it only remained to do all we could to make him comfortable
and secure. Of enemies, there was no danger, and care was not necessary
for defence. We got together, however, some of the timber, planks and
other materials, that were remaining at the shipyard, and built him a
cabin, that offered much better shelter against the tropical storms that
sometimes prevailed, than any tent could yield. We made this cabin
as wide as a plank is long, or twelve feet, and some five or six feet
longer. It was well sided and tightly roofed, having three windows and a
door. The lights of the wreck supplied the first, and her cabin-door the
last. We had hinges, and everything that was necessary to keep things in
their place. There was no chimney required, fire being unnecessary for
warmth in that climate; but the French had brought their camboose
from the wreck, and this we placed under a proper covering at a short
distance from the hut, the strength of one man being insufficient to
move it. We also enclosed, by means of ropes, and posts made of the ribs
of the wreck, a plot of ground of two acres in extent, where the land
was the richest and unshaded, so as to prevent the pigs from injuring
the vegetables; and, poor Marble knowing little of gardening, I had a
melancholy pleasure in seeing the whole piece dug, or rather hoed up,
and sown and planted myself, before we sailed. We put in corn, potatoes,
peas, beans, lettuce, radishes, and several other things, of which
we found the seeds in the French garden. We took pains, moreover, to
transport from the wreck, many articles that it was thought might prove
of use, though they were too heavy for Marble to handle. As there
were near forty of us, all busy in this way for three or four days, we
effected a great deal, and may be said to have got the island in order.
I felt the same interest in the duty, that I should in bestowing a child
for life.
Marble, himself, was not much among us all this time. He rather
complained that I should leave him nothing to do, though I could see
he was touched by the interest we manifested in his welfare. The French
launch had been used as the means of conveyance between the wreck
and the beach, and we found it where it had been left by its original
owners, anchored to-leeward of the island, and abreast of the ship. It
was the last thing I meddled with and it was my care to put it in such a
state that, at need, it might be navigated across that tranquil sea, to
some other island, should Marble feel a desire to abandon his solitude.
The disposition I made of the boat was as follows:--
The launch was large and coppered, and it carried two lug-sails. I had
both masts stepped, with the yards, sails, sheets, &c. prepared, and put
in their places; a stout rope was next carried round the entire boat,
outside, and a few inches below the gunwale, where it was securely
nailed. From this rope, led a number of lanyards, with eyes turned into
their ends. Through these eyes I rove a sort of ridge-rope, leading it
also through the eyes of several stancheons that were firmly stepped on
the thwarts. The effect, when the ridge-rope was set up, was to give
the boat the protection of this waist-cloth, which inclined inboard,
however, sufficiently to leave an open passage between the two sides, of
only about half the beam of the boat. To the ridge-rope and lanyards,
I had tarpaulins firmly attached, tacking their lower edges strongly to
the outer sides of the boat. By this arrangement, when all was in its
place, and properly secured, a sea might break, or a wave slap against
the boat, without her taking in much water. It doubled her security in
this particular, more than answering the purposes of a half-deck and
wash-board. It is true, a very heavy wave might carry all away; but very
heavy waves would probably fill the boat, under any circumstances. Such
a craft could only find safety in her buoyancy; and we made her as safe
as an undecked vessel very well could be.
Marble watched me while I was superintending these changes in the
boat, with a good deal of interest; and one evening--I had announced an
intention to sail next morning, the Major and Emily having actually gone
on board--that evening, he got my arm, and led me away from the spot,
like a man who has urgent business. I could see that he was much
affected, and had strong hopes he intended to announce a change of
purpose. His hand actually trembled, the whole time it grasped my arm.
“God bless you! Miles--God bless you, dear boy!” he said, speaking with
difficulty, as soon as we were out of earshot from the others. “If any
being could make me pine for the world, it would be such a friend as
you. I could live on without father or mother, brother or sister, ship
or confidence of my owners, good name even, were I sure of meeting such
a lad as yourself in only every thousandth man I fell in with. But,
young as you are, you know how it is with mankind; and no more need
be said about it. All I ask now is, that you will knock off with this
'making him comfortable,' as you call it, or you'll leave me nothing
to do for myself. I can fit out that boat as well as e'er a man in the
Crisis, I'd have you to know.”
“I am well aware of that, my friend; but I am not so certain that you
_would._ In that boat, I am in hopes you will follow us out to sea, and
come on board again, and take your old place as master.”
Marble shook his head, and I believe he saw by my manner that I had
no serious expectations of the sort I named. We walked some distance
farther, in silence, before he again spoke. Then he said suddenly, and
in a way to show how much his mind was troubled--
“Miles, my dear fellow, you must let me hear from you!”
“Hear from me! By what means, pray? You cannot expect the
Postmaster-General will make a mail-route between New York and this
island?”
“Poh! I'm getting old, and losing my memory. I was generalizing on
friendship, and the like of that, and the idee ran away with me. I know,
of course, when you are out of sight, that I shall be cut off from the
rest of the world--probably shall never see a human face again. But what
of that? My time cannot be long now, and I shall have the fish, fowls
and pigs to talk to. To tell you the truth, Miles. Miss Merton gave me
her own Bible yesterday, and, at my request, she pointed out that part
which gives the account about Moses in the bulrushes, and I've just been
looking it over: it is easy enough, now, to understand why I was called
Moses.”
“But Moses did not think it necessary to go and live in a desert, or on
an uninhabited island, merely because he was found in those bulrushes.”
_“That_ Moses had no occasion to be ashamed of his parents. It was
fear, not shame, that sent him adrift. Nor did Moses ever let a set of
lubberly Frenchmen seize a fine, stout ship, like the Crisis, with a
good, able-bodied crew of forty men on board her.”
“Come, Marble, you have too much sense to talk in this manner. It is,
fortunately, not too late to change your mind; and I will let it be
understood that you did so at my persuasion.”
This was the commencement of a final effort on my part to induce my
friend to abandon his mad project. We conversed quite an hour, until
I had exhausted my breath, as well as my arguments, indeed; and all
without the least success. I pointed out to him the miserable plight he
must be in, in the event of illness; but it was an argument that had
no effect on a man who had never had even a headach in his life. As for
society, he cared not a straw for it when ashore, he often boasted;
and he could not yet appreciate the effects of total solitude. Once or
twice, remarks escaped him as if he thought it possible I might one
day return; but they were ventured in pleasantry, rather than with any
appearance of seriousness. I could see that the self-devoted hermit had
his misgivings, but I could obtain no verbal concession from him to that
effect. He was reminded that the ship must positively sail next day,
since it would not do to trifle with the interests of the owners any
longer.
“I know it, Miles,” Marble answered, “and no more need be said on the
subject. Your people are through with their work, and here comes Neb to
report the boat ready to go off. I shall try my hand ashore to-night,
alone; in the morning, I suppose you would like to take an old shipmate
by the hand for the last time, and you will nat'rally look for me at the
water-side. Good-night! Before we part, however, I may as well thank you
for the supply of clothes I see you have put in my hut. It was scarcely
wanted, as I have enough needles and thread to supply a slop-shop; and
the old duck left by the French will keep me in jackets and trowsers for
the remainder of my days. Good-night, my dear boy! God bless you--God
bless you!”
It was nearly dark, but I could see that Marble's eyes looked moist, and
feel that his hand again trembled. I left him, not without the hope
that the solitude of this night, the first in which he had been left by
himself, would have the effect to lessen his desire to be a hermit.
When I turned in, it was understood that all hands were to be called at
daylight, and the ship unmoored.
Talcott came to call me, at the indicated moment. I had made him
chief-mate, and taken one of the Philadelphians for second officer; a
young man who had every requisite for the station, and one more than
was necessary, or a love of liquor. But, drunkards do tolerably well
on board a ship in which reasonable discipline is maintained. For that
matter, Neptune ought to be a profound moralist, as youths are very
generally sent to sea to cure most of the ethical flings. Talcott was
directed to unmoor, and heave short. As for myself, I got into a boat
and pulled ashore, with an intention of making a last and strong appeal
to Marble.
No one was visible on the island when we reached it. The pigs and fowls
were already in motion, however, and were gathering near the door of the
hut, where Marble was accustomed to feed them about that hour; the fowls
on _sugar_, principally. I proceeded to the door, opened it, entered the
place, and found it empty! Its late inmate was then up, and abroad. He
had probably passed a sleepless night, and sought relief in the fresh
air of the morning. I looked for him in the adjacent grove, on the outer
beach, and in most of his usual haunts. He was nowhere visible. A little
vexed at having so long a walk before me, at a moment when we were so
much pressed for time, I was about to follow the grove to a distant part
of the island, to a spot that I knew Marble frequented a good deal, when
moody; but my steps were arrested by an accidental glance at the lagoon.
I missed the Frenchman's launch, or the boat I had: myself caused to be
rigged with so much care, the previous day, for the intended hermit's
especial advantage. This was a large boat; one that had been constructed
to weigh a heavy anchor; and I had left her, moored between a grapnel
and the shore, so securely, as to forbid the idea she could have been
moved, in so quiet a time, without the aid of hands. Rushing to the
water, I got into my own boat, and pulled directly on board.
On reaching the ship, a muster of all hands was ordered. The result
proved that everybody was present, and at duty. It followed that Marble,
alone, had carried the boat out of the lagoon. The men who had had the
anchor-watches during the past night, were questioned on the subject;
but no one had seen or heard anything of a movement in the launch. Mr.
Talcott was told to continue his duty, while I went aloft myself, to
look at the offing. I was soon in the main-top-mast cross-trees, where
a view was commanded of the whole island, a few covers excepted, of all
the water within the reef, and of a wide range without. Nowhere was the
boat or Marble to be seen. It was barely possible that he had concealed
himself behind the wreck, though I did not see how even this could be
done, unless he had taken the precaution to strike the launch's masts.
By this time, our last anchor was aweigh, and the ship was clear of
the bottom. The top-sails had been hoisted before I went aloft, and
everything was now ready for filling away. Too anxious to go on deck,
under such circumstances, and a lofty position being the best for
ascertaining the presence of rocks, I determined to remain where I was,
and conn the ship through the passes, in my own person. An order was
accordingly given to set the jib, and to swing the head-yards, and get
the spanker on the ship. In a minute, the Crisis was again in motion,
moving steadily towards the inlet. As the lagoon was not entirely free
from danger, coral rocks rising in places quite near the surface of the
water, I was obliged to be attentive to the pilot's duty, until we
got into the outer bay, when this particular danger in a great measure
disappeared. I could then look about me with more freedom. Though we so
far changed our position, as respected the wreck, as to open new views
of it, no launch was to be seen behind it. By the time the ship reached
the passage through the reef, I had little hope of finding it there.
We had got to be too familiar with the channels, to have any difficulty
in taking the ship through them; and we were soon fairly to windward of
the reef. Our course, however, lay to leeward; and we passed round the
southern side of the rocks, under the same easy canvass, until we got
abreast, and within half a cable's length of the wreck. To aid my own
eyes, I had called up Talcott and Neb; but neither of us could obtain
the least glimpse of the launch. Nothing was to be seen about the wreck;
though I took the precaution to send a boat to it. All was useless.
Marble had gone out to sea, quite alone, in the Frenchman's launch; and,
though twenty pairs of eyes were now aloft, no one could even fancy that
he saw anything in the offing, that resembled a boat.
Talcott and myself had a private interview on the subject of Marble's
probable course. My mate was of opinion, that our friend had made the
best of his way for some of the inhabited islands, unwilling to remain
here, when it came to the pinch, and yet ashamed to rejoin us. I could
hardly believe this; in such a case, I thought he would have waited
until we had sailed; when he might have left the island also, and nobody
been the wiser. To this Talcott answered that Marble probably feared our
importunities; possibly, compulsion. It seemed singular to me, that a
man who regretted his hasty decision, should adopt such a course;
and yet I was at a loss to explain the matter much more to my own
satisfaction. Nevertheless, there was no remedy. We were as much in the
dark as it was possible to be with a knowledge of the circumstance that
the bird had flown.
We hovered around the reef for several hours, most of which time I
passed in the cross-trees, and some of it on the royal-yard. Once,
I thought I saw a small speck on the ocean, dead to windward, that
resembled a boat's sail; but there were so many birds flying about, and
glancing beneath the sun's rays, that I was reluctantly compelled to
admit it was probably one of them. At meridian, therefore, I gave the
order to square away, and to make sail on our course. This was done
with the greatest reluctance, however, and not without a good deal of
vaciliation of purpose. The ship moved away from the land rapidly, and
by two o'clock, the line of cocoa-nut trees that fringed the horizon
astern, sunk entirely beneath the rolling margin of our view. From that
moment, I abandoned the expectation of ever seeing Moses Marble again,
though the occurrence left all of us sad, for several days.
Major Merton and his daughter were on the poop, nearly the whole of this
morning. Neither interfered in the least; for the old soldier was too
familiar with discipline to venture an opinion concerning the management
of the ship. When we met at dinner, however, the conversation naturally
turned on the disappearance of our old friend.
“It is a thousand pities that pride should have prevented Marble from
acknowledging his mistake,” observed the Major, “and thus kept him from
getting a safe passage to Canton, where he might have left you, and
joined another ship had he thought it necessary.”
“Where we shall do the same thing, I suppose, dear sir,” added
Emily, with a manner that I thought marked, “and thus relieve Captain
Wallingford from the encumbrance of our presence.”
“Me!--call your delightful society anything but an enumbrance, I beg of
you, Miss Merton,” I rejoined in haste.
“Now, that Mr. Le Compte has furnished this comfortable cabin, and
you are no longer at any inconvenience to yourselves, I would not be
deprived of the advantage and pleasure of this association, for more
than I dare mention.”
Emily looked gratified; while her father appeared to me to be
thoughtful. After a brief pause, however, the Major resumed the
discourse.
“I should certainly feel myself bound to make many apologies for the
trouble we are giving,” he said, “especially, since I understand from
Wallingford, he will not accept, either for himself or his owners,
anything like compensation even for the food we consume, were it not
that we are here by constraint, and not by any agency of our own. As
soon as we reach Canton, however, I shall feel it a duty to get on board
the first English ship that will receive us.”
I stole a glance at Emily, but could not understand the expression of
her countenance, as she heard this announcement. Of course, I made an
earnest protest against the Major's doing anything of the sort; and yet
I could not well find any sufficient reason for urging him to remain
where he was, beyond my own gratification. I could not go to either
England, or Bombay; and I took it for granted Major Merton wished to
proceed, at once, to one, if not to both of these places. We conversed,
a little generally perhaps, on the subject for some time longer; and
when I left the cabin, it struck me, Emily's melancholy had, in no
degree, lessened.
It is a long road to traverse over half of the Pacific. Weeks and weeks
were thus occupied; Talcott and myself profiting by every suitable
occasion, to enjoy the advantages of the association chance had thus
thrown in our way. I make no doubt I was greatly benefited by my
constant communications with the Mertons; the Major being a cultivated,
though not a particularly brilliant, man; while I conceive it to
be utterly impossible for two young men, of our time of life and
profession, to be daily, almost hourly, in the company of a young woman
like Emily Merton, without losing some of the peculiar roughness of
the sea, and getting, in its place, some small portion of the gentler
qualities of the saloon. I date a certain _a plomb_, an absence of
shyness in the company of females, from this habitual intercourse
with one of the sex who had, herself, been carefully educated in
the conventionalities of respectable, if not of very elegant or
sophisticated society.
At length we reached the China seas, and falling in to windward, we made
a quick run to Canton. It now became necessary for me to attend to the
ship and the interests of my owners; suffering my passengers to land
at Whampoa, with the understanding we were to meet before either party
sailed. I soon disposed of the sandal-wood and skins, and found no
difficulty in procuring teas, nankins, china-ware, and the other
articles pointed out, in the instructions to poor Captain Williams.
I profited by the occasion, also, to make certain purchases on my own
account, that I had a presentiment would be particularly agreeable
to the future mistress of Clawbonny, let that lady turn out to be
whomsoever she might. The dollars obtained on the west coast of South
America enabled me to do this; my instructions giving the necessary
authority to use a few of them on private account. My privilege as
master rendered all proper.
In a word, the residence of six or eight weeks at Canton, proved a very
advantageous affair for those whose money was embarked in the Crisis.
Sandal-wood and sea-otter skins brought particularly high prices; while
teas, and the manufactures of the country, happened to be low. I had no
merit in this; not a particle; and yet I reaped the advantage, so far as
advantage was connected with the mere reputation of the voyage; success
being of nearly as great account in commerce, as in war. It is true,
I worked like a dog; for I worked under an entirely novel sense of
responsibility, and with a feeling I am certain that could never have
oppressed me in the care of my own property; and I deserved some portion
of the credit subsequently obtained. At all events, I was heartily
rejoiced when the hatches were on, and the ship was once more ready for
sea.
It now became a duty, as well as a pleasure, to seek Major Merton, whom
I had seen but once or twice during the last two months. He had passed
that time at Whampao, while I had been either at the factories, or
on board. The Major was occupied when I called; and Emily received me
alone. When she learned that I was ready to sail for home, and had
come to take my leave, it was easy to see that she was uneasy, if
not distressed. I felt unhappy at parting too, and perhaps I had less
scruple about saying as much.
“God only knows, Miss Merton, whether we are ever to be permitted to see
each other again,” I remarked, after the preliminary explanations had
been made.
The reader will remember that I am now an old man, and that vanity no
longer has any of that influence over me which it might be supposed
to possess over one of more juvenile hopes and feelings; that I relate
facts, without reference to their effect on myself, beyond the general
salvo of some lingering weaknesses of humanity. I trust, therefore, I
shall be understood in all my necessary allusions to the estimation in
which I was apparently held by others. Emily fairly started when I
made this remark concerning the probable duration of the approaching
separation, and the colour left her cheek. Her pretty white hand
shook, so that she had difficulty in using her needle; and there was an
appearance of agitation and distress about the charming girl, that I had
never before witnessed in one whose manner was usually so self-possessed
and calm. I _now_ know the reason why I did not throw myself on my
knees, and beg the charming girl to consent to accompany me to America,
though I wondered at myself afterwards, when I came to reflect coolly
on all that passed, for my stoicism. I will not affirm that I fancied
Emily's agitation to be altogether owing to myself; but I confess to
an inability to account for it, in any other manner, as agreeable
to myself. The appearance of Major Merton at that instant, however,
prevented everything like a scene, and probably restored us both to
a consciousness of the necessity of seeming calm. As for the Major,
himself, he was evidently far from being unconcerned, something having
occurred to disturb him. So very apparent was this, that I commenced the
discourse by asking if he were unwell.
“Always _that,_ I fear, Miles,” he answered; “my physician has just told
me frankly, unless I get into a cold climate as soon as possible, my
life will not be worth six months' purchase.”
“Then sail with me, sir,” I cried, with an eagerness and heartiness that
must have proved my sincerity. “Happily, I am not too late to make the
offer; and, as for getting away, I am ready to sail to-morrow!”
“I am forbidden to go near Bombay,” continued the Major, looking
anxiously at his daughter; “and that appointment must be abandoned. If I
could continue to hold it, there is no probability of a chance to reach
my station this half-year.”
“So much the better for me, sir. In four or five months from this
moment, I will land you in New York, where you will find the climate
cold enough for any disease. I ask you as friends--as guests--not as
passengers; and to prove it, the table of the upper cabin, in future,
shall be mine. I have barely left room in the lower cabin to sleep or
dress in, having filled it with my own private venture, as is my right.”
“You are as generous as kind, Miles; but what will your owners think of
such an arrangement?”
“They have no right to complain. The cabin and passengers, should any
of the last offer, after deducting a very small allowance for the ship's
portion of the food and water, are mine by agreement. All the better
food I find at my own charge; and, should you insist on remunerating the
owners for the coarser, or such as they find, you can do so, it will be
less than a hundred dollars, at the most.”
“On these conditions, then, I shall thankfully profit by your offer;
attaching, however, one more that I trust you may be permitted to
fulfil. It is important to me that I reach England--can you touch at St.
Helena?”
“Willingly, if it be your wish. The health of the crew, moreover, may
render it desirable.”
“There, then, I will quit you, if an opportunity offer to proceed to
England. Our bargain is made, dear Miles; and to-morrow I shall be ready
to embark.”
I think Emily never looked more beautiful than she did while listening
to this arrangement. It doubtless relieved her mind on the painful
subject of her father's health, and I fancied it relieved it also on the
subject of our own immediate separation. Months must elapse before we
could reach St. Helena; and who could foresee what those months might
bring forth? As I had a good deal to do at such a moment, I took my
leave, with my feelings lightened, as it might be, of a burthen. The
reader will at once infer, I was in love. But he will be mistaken. I was
not in love; though my imagination, to use a cant phrase of some of the
sects, was greatly exercised. Lucy, even then, had a hold of my _heart_
in a way of which I was ignorant myself; but it was not in nature for a
youth, just approaching his majority, to pass months and months, almost
alone, in the society of a lovely girl who was a year or two his junior,
and not admit some degree of tenderness towards her in big feelings. The
circumstances were sufficient to try the constancy of the most faithful
swain that ever lived. Then, it must be remembered that I had never
professed love to Lucy--was not at all aware that she entertained any
other sentiment towards me than that she entertained towards Rupert;
whereas Emily--but I will not prove myself a coxcomb on paper, whatever
I might have been, at the moment, in my own imagination.
Next day, at the appointed hour, I had the happiness to receive my old
passengers. It struck me that Talcott was as much gratified as I was
myself; for he, too, had both pleasure and improvement in Emily Morton's
society. It has often been said that the English East-India ships are
noted for quarrelling and making love. The quarrels may be accounted for
on the same principle as the love-making, viz., propinquity; the same
proximity producing hostility in whose sterner natures, that, in others
of a gentler cast, produces its opposite feeling. We sailed, and it is
scarcely necessary to tell the reader how much the tedium of so long a
voyage, and the monotony of a sea-voyage, was relieved by the graces
and gentle intercourse of our upper cabin. The other apartment being so
crowded and hot, I passed most of my time in the poop, which was both
light and airy. Here I generally found the father and daughter, though
often the latter alone. I played reasonably well on the flute and
violin, and had learned to accompany Emily on her piano, which, it will
be remembered, Mons. Le Compte had caused to be transferred from the
Bombay ship to his own vessel, and which had subsequently been saved
from the wreck.
Talcott played also on the flute, far better than I did myself; and we
frequently made a trio, producing very respectable sea-music--better,
indeed, than Neptune often got for his smiles. In this manner, then,
we travelled our long road, sometimes contending with head-winds and
cross-seas, sometimes becalmed, and sometimes slipping along at a rate
that rendered everybody contented and happy.
In passing the Straits of Sunda, I related to Major Merton and Emily the
incidents of the John's affair with the proas, and her subsequent loss
on the island of Madagascar; and was rewarded by the interest they
took in the tale. We all spoke of Marble, as indeed we often did, and
expressed our regrets at his absence. The fate of my old shipmate was
frequently discussed among us, there being a great diversity of opinion
on the subject. As for the Major, he thought poor Marble must be lost
at sea, for he did not perceive how any one man could manage a boat all
alone by himself. Talcott, who had juster notions of what a seaman could
do, was of opinion that our late commander had run to leeward, in the
hope of finding some inhabited island, preferring the association of
even cannibals, when it came to the trying moment, to total solitude.
I thought he had gone to windward, the boat being so well equipped for
that service, and that Marble was in the expectation of falling in with
some of the whalers, who were known to be cruising in certain latitudes.
I was greatly struck, however, by a remark made by Emily, on the evening
of the very day when we passed the Straits of Sunda.
“Should the truth be ever known, gentlemen,” she said, “I am of opinion
it will be found that poor Mr. Marble only left the island to escape
from your importunities, and returned to it after the ship disappeared;
and that he is there at this moment, enjoying all the happiness of a
hermit.”
This might be true, and from that hour the thought would occasionally
recur to my mind. As I looked forward to passing at least several more
years at sea, I secretly determined to ascertain the fact for myself,
should occasion ever offer. In the mean time, the Crisis had reached a
part of the ocean where, in those days, it was incumbent on those who
had the charge of a ship to keep a vigilant look-out for enemies. It
seems we were not fated to run the gauntlet of these pirates entirely
unharmed.
Early on the following morning, I was awoke by Talcott's giving me a
hearty shake of the shoulder.
“Turn out at once, Captain Wallingford,” cried my mate, “the rascals are
closing around us like crows about a carcase. As bad luck will have it,
we have neither room nor breeze, to spare. Everything looks like a busy
morning for us, sir.”
In just three minutes from that moment, I was on deck, where all hands
were soon collected, the men tumbling up, with their jackets in their
hands. Major Merton was already on the poop, surveying the scene with a
glass of his own; while the two mates were clearing away the guns,
and getting the ship in a state to make a suitable defence. To me, the
situation was altogether novel. I had been six times in the presence of
enemies before, and twice as commander; but never under circumstances
that called so imperiously for seamanship and good conduct. The ocean
seemed covered with enemies, Major Merton declaring that he could count
no less than twenty-eight proas, all full of men, and some of them armed
with artillery. These chaps were ahead, astern, to windward, and to
leeward; and, what was worse, they had just wind enough to suit their
purposes, there being about a five-knot breeze. It was evident that
the craft acted in concert, and that they were desperately bent on
our capture, having closed around us in this manner in the night.
Nevertheless, we were a warm ship for a merchantman; and not a man in
the Crisis betrayed any feeling that indicated any other desire than a
wish to resist to the last. As for Neb, the fellow was in a broad grin,
the whole time; he considered the affair as a bit of fun. Yet this negro
was afraid to visit certain places about the farm in the dark, and could
not have been induced to cross a church-yard alone, under a bright sun,
I feel well persuaded. He was the oddest mixture of superstitious dread
and lion-hearted courage, I ever met with in my life.
It was still early, when the proas were near enough to commence serious
operations. This they did, by a nearly simultaneous discharge of about a
dozen guns, principally sixes, that they carried mounted in their bows.
The shot came whistling in among our spars and rigging, literally from
every direction, and three struck, though they were not of a size to do
any serious injury. Our people were at quarters, having managed to man
both batteries, though it left scarcely any one to look after the braces
and rigging, and none but the officers with small-arms.
Mr. Merton must have felt that he and his daughter's liberty, if not
their lives, were in the keeping of a very youthful commander; still,
his military habits of subordination were so strong, he did not venture
even a suggestion. I had my own plan, and was just of an age to think
it derogatory to my rank, to ask advice of any one. The proas were
strongest ahead and on both bows, where they were collecting to the
number of near twenty, evidently with the intention of boarding, should
an opportunity offer; while, astern, and on our quarter, they were much
fewer, and far more scattered. The reason of all this was apparent by
our course, the pirates naturally supposing we should continue to stand
on.
Orders were given to haul up the mainsail and to man the spanker-brails.
The men were taken from the starboard battery, exclusively, to perform
this work. When all was ready, the helm was put up, and the ship was
brought as short round on her heel, as possible, hauling up, on an
easy bowline, on the other tack. In coming round, we delivered all our
larboard guns among the crowd of enemies, well crammed with grape; and
the distance being just right for scattering, this broadside was not
without effect. As soon as braced up, on the other tack, we opened
starboard and larboard, on such of the chaps as came within range;
clearing our way as we went. The headmost proas all came round in chase;
but, being from half a mile to a mile astern, we had time to open a way
out of the circle, and to drive all the proas who were now ahead of
us, to take refuge among the crowd of their fellows. The manoeuvre was
handsomely executed; and, in twenty minutes we ceased firing, having all
our enemies to the westward of us, and in one group: this was an immense
advantage, as it enabled us to fight with a single broadside, prevented
our being raked, and rendered our own fire more destructive, by exposing
to it a more concentrated, and, at the same time, a larger object. I
ought to have said before, that the wind was at the southward.
The Crisis now tacked, setting the courses and royals. The ship lay up
well, and the proas having collected around their admiral, there was a
prospect of her passing to windward of everything. Six of the fellows,
however, seemed determined to prevent this, by hauling close on a wind,
and attempting to cross our bows, firing as they did so. The ship stood
on, apparently as if to intercept them; when, finding ourselves near
enough, we kept away about three points, and swept directly down in the
very centre of the main body of the proas. As this was done, the enemy,
taken by surprise, cleared a way for us, and we passed the whole of
them, delivering grape and canister, as fast as we could deal it out. In
the height of the affair, and the thickest of the smoke, three or four
of the proas were seen quite near us, attempting to close; but I did not
think it necessary to call the people from the guns, which were worked
with great quickness, and did heavy execution. I fancy the pirates found
it hotter than they liked, for they did not keep on with us; though our
lofty sails gave us an advantage, and would have enabled us to leave
them, had they pursued a different course. As it was, we were clear of
them, in about five minutes; and the smoke beginning to rise, we soon
got a view of what had been done in that brief space. In order to
increase our distance, however, we still kept away, running pretty fast
through the water.
By the confusion which prevailed among the pirates, the rascals had been
well peppered. One had actually sunk, and five or six were round the
spot, endeavouring to pick up the crew. Three more had suffered in
their spars, and the movements indicated that all had enough. As soon as
satisfied of this, I hauled the ship up to her course, and we continued
to leave the cluster of boats, which remained around the spot where
their consort had gone down. Those of the fellows to windward, however,
did not seem disposed to give it up, but followed us for two hours, by
which time the rest of their flotilla were hull down. Believing there
was now plenty of room, I tacked towards these persevering gentry, when
they went about like tops, and hauled off sharp on a wind. We tacked
once more to our course, and were followed no further.
The captain of a pepper ship afterwards told me, that our assailants
lost forty-seven men, mostly killed, or died of their hurts, and that
he had understood that the same officer commanded the Crisis that had
commanded the “John,” in _her_ affair, near the same spot. We had some
rigging cut, a few of our spars slightly injured, and two men hurt, one
of whom happened to be Neb. The man most hurt died before we reached
the Cape, but more from the want of surgical assistance, than from the
original character of his wound. As for Neb, he went to duty before we
reached St. Helena. For my part, I was surprised one of the proas did
not get down his throat, his grin being wide enough, during the whole
affair, to admit of the passage of a two-decker.
We went into the island, as had been agreed, but no ship offering and
none being expected soon, it became necessary for my passengers to
continue on with us to New York. Emily had behaved uncommonly well in
the brush with the pirates, and everybody was glad to keep her in the
ship. The men swore she brought good luck, forgetting that the poor girl
must have met with much ill-luck, in order to be in the situation in
which she was actually placed.
Nothing occurred on the passage from St. Helena to New York, worthy of
being specially recorded. It was rather long, but I cannot say it was
unpleasant. At length our reckoning told us to look out for land. The
Major and Emily were on deck, all expectation, and ere long we heard the
welcome cry. A hazy cloud was just visible on our lee-bow. It grew more
and more dense and distinct, until it showed the hues and furrows of a
mountain-side. The low point of the Hook, and the higher land beyond,
then came in view. We glided past the light, doubled the Spit, and got
into the upper bay, just an hour before the sun of a beautiful day in
June was setting. This was in the year of our Lord 1802.