"Well, we'll put you ashore at the back of the Wight; I suppose that
will do for you?" he answered, in a good-natured tone.
I thanked him for his offer; and we went on talking very amicably for
some time, till we had run some fifteen miles from the coast. I think,
from the first, the old man had some suspicions of me; but I had acted
my part well, and I fancied that I had succeeded in lulling them.
Just as I thought all was right, as ill-luck would have it, I happened
to want to use my pocket-handkerchief, and in searching for it I
incautiously threw open my jacket and exposed my uniform buttons to
view.
In the first place, the sort of boy I pretended to be would not have
possessed such an article as a pocket-handkerchief; and I ought to have
remembered that the sight of the crown and anchor would not be
acceptable to persons of my friends' vocation.
"Why--hullo, youngster! who are you, I should like to know?" exclaimed
the old skipper, seizing me by the arm, and giving me no gentle shake.
"He's a spy, surely, and no mistake," cried several of the crew. "Heave
the young shrimp overboard."
"Overboard with him!" exclaimed the rest in chorus. "We'll teach the
Government to send their whelps to hunt us out in this fashion."
I own that I began to feel very uncomfortable; for the threatening looks
of the fellows were in no way calculated to lessen my apprehensions.
Now my feelings always prompt me to try and escape from a dilemma by at
once candidly confessing the truth. I therefore acknowledged that I
belonged to a revenue cutter, and explained what had occurred.
"I only obeyed the orders of my superior officers in attacking the
lugger," I observed, in as bold a tone as I could manage to muster.
"Her people carried me off against my will; and, as I wanted to get
home, I came aboard you; but I never thought of doing you or any of your
friends harm, if I could help it. How am I to blame, then?"
"Never listen to his chaff; heave him overboard, I say," growled out one
of the men.
"Thank you all the same, master," said I, looking him as boldly as I
could in the face; "but I'd rather stay aboard till I can get put
decently on shore, and not have to swim there, as you would have me do."
"Swim! By God, you wouldn't swim long, I expect," said the ruffian.
"Faith, I've no fancy for trying, either," I answered. "If I intended
treachery, do you think, masters, I should have put myself in your power
as I have done? just answer me that."
"Well, now, I don't think as how you would," exclaimed the old skipper.
"You're a brave lad anyhow, and deserve a better calling than trying to
injure poor fellows who are just doing their best to make a honest
livelihood for their families."
"Well," said I, seeing the favourable impression I was making, "I'm
going soon to be appointed to a frigate on a foreign station, so there's
little chance of my falling in with you again. If you kill me you will
be hung, that's certain, for murder is always out some day or other."
"Don't be coming any of your Irish blarney over us," growled out a
sour-looking ruffian. "If you're a spy, overboard you go, that's all."
"I'm no spy," I answered in an indignant tone. "All I ask of you is to
put me on shore anywhere at the back of the Wight, and I'll give you my
word none of you will be the worse for my being here."
The skipper gave an approving nod as I pleaded for my life. Some of the
ruffians seemed to give way.
"Just tell me, then, what harm can a small chap like me do you?" I
continued. "How do I know what you've got on board, or what you're
going to do with it. Be good-natured fellows now, and if I can ever do
you a good turn, I will."
"Oh, come, let the little chap alone; there's no harm in him, I'm sure!"
exclaimed one of the smugglers, slapping me on the shoulder. "Cheer up,
my lad; we'll do you no harm."
The others soon came round, and shaking me by the hand, declared that I
was a brave little cock, and they only wished I was one of them.
A coarse but plentiful dinner was soon afterwards placed on the deck,
the chief part of it appearing in a square iron pot, round which we sat
as merry as crickets; and there was I hob-nobbing with a band of
smugglers as if we were the best friends in the world.
Towards evening we made the land, no cutter being in sight. I had a
sovereign and a few shillings in my pocket, which I offered the old
skipper, but he would receive nothing; and, as good as his word, as soon
as it was dark, he ran in and put me on shore not far from Shanklin. As
there was some sea on the beach, all hands got not a little wet, but
they took it in good part, and wished me a hearty good-bye as I set off
to clamber up the cliffs. I at length found a path which took me into
the high road; as soon as I reached it I began to make the best of my
way towards Ryde. My legs ached, but I ran and walked as fast as I
could. I had not proceeded far when I heard the sound of wheels coming
along the road. A cart soon overtook me.
"Is this the road to Ryde?" I asked.
"Yes, it be," said the driver. "Be you going there?"
"If I can manage to get as far," I answered.
"Well, if you be tired, jump in, and I'll gie ye a lift; I be going most
of the way," replied the good Samaritan. I obeyed with alacrity, and
took my seat by his side. He was one of the substantial farmers who
abound in the island. I gave him an account of my adventures, at which
he was much amused; nor did he seem to have any very great antipathy to
my smuggling friends.
"Lord bless 'e! they wouldn't have hurt your little fingers," he
remarked, when I told him how the crew of the cutter had threatened my
life. He would not part from me till he had deposited me at the gates
of Daisy Cottage. The lights were shining through the drawing-room
windows. My aunt was sitting working, and sweet Alice Marlow had a book
before her. They both looked very sad, I thought. I tapped at the
window, which opened to the ground, to call their attention, and grinned
a "How-d'ye-do" through the glass. No sooner did Alice see my face,
than letting her book fall, she gave a loud scream, as if she had seen a
spectre.
"Hillo! what's the matter?" I exclaimed, shaking the handle of the
window. "Let me in, aunt, please; I'm not a thief or a ghost, on my
word." My aunt, more courageous than the little girl, had risen from
her seat, and my voice assuring her of my identity, she opened the door,
and I very soon convinced her and Alice that I was a living being by
kissing them both, and then devouring every scrap of supper she set
before me. I found that, from Hanks' report, they had been led to
believe that the Frenchmen had knocked me on the head; and were mourning
for me accordingly. My aunt was, I verily believe, employed in making a
black gown to put on for my sake. My uncle had sailed again to look
after the lugger, so that I was able to enjoy the height of a
midshipman's felicity, a holiday on shore. Three days afterwards the
_Serpent_ came back, having re-captured the lugger and two hundred tubs.
I saw Captain Didot, who was very angry at finding that I had escaped,
and vowed he would pay me off in a different coin, if he ever caught me
again. I told him he might, if he ever did.