"Never mind them," he replied; "they are, I am assured, faithful to the
backbone, and know how matters stand. There is little use of giving
such men half-confidences."
"Then," said I, "I'll make play with my tongue while I can. I like the
fun amazingly. What do you propose to do, sir, next?"
"In the first place, when we get up to the territory of the old chief,
Mulai Mohamed, we must leave our escort and proceed alone to his
village. We must present ourselves at his residence, and, inquiring
whether he has jewels to sell or wishes to buy others, must endeavour to
gain access to the inmates of his harem; or, at all events, we must try
to meet with Major Norman, or some of the crew of the _Ariadne_.
However, we must be guided entirely by circumstances."
It was a great satisfaction to me to be able to talk, for I fancied that
I should have had to hold my tongue from the moment I set foot on shore.
I wish that my space would allow me to describe my journey, for it
lasted a considerable number of days, and was very amusing. We pushed
on as rapidly as the strength of our steeds would allow, though that was
far from fast enough to suit Mr Vernon's impatience. We met with a
variety of adventures also. At night we used to halt, and pitch our
tent, and fetch water, and cook our supper; while our followers would
sit before the fire, recounting their adventures, or boasting of the
deeds of their ancestors or friends, or telling tales of genii or
ghouls, and a variety of other beings, in whose existence they firmly
believe. As we journeyed on, we killed a quantity of game, chiefly
partridges, which crossed our path in great numbers; and now and then we
got a shot at a wild boar, and knocked him over. At night, watch was
always kept with a good fire, or we should have had the jackals, who
were always howling round us, paying us a visit. These beasts the Moors
do not object to eat, though they will not touch pig. We one day fell
in with an encampment of a powerful tribe, the Sheikh of which insisted
on my master, Taleb Moostafa, otherwise Lieutenant Vernon, dining with
him. I accompanied him for the pleasure of looking on, though, of
course, I was not expected to eat likewise. On arriving at the tent of
the Sheikh, we found him seated within it, on a cushion, covered with
thick skin, another being placed for the Taleb, or scribe, for to that
learned profession Mr Vernon thought he might venture to belong. A
variety of compliments having passed, a table was brought in and placed
between them. It was circular, about two feet in diameter, and scarcely
more than six inches from the ground, richly inlaid and painted in
arabesque. A large bowl, full of a highly-seasoned soup, with some sort
of macaroni in it, was first placed on the table. The bowl contained
spoons, with which the guests were to help themselves at the same time.
Next came a plate of beef, much stewed, and garnished with melons; and
lastly a huge dish of kesksoo,--a thick porridge, made of wheaten flour
piled up, which the Sheikh attacked most vigorously, while my master
attempted to follow his example. When dinner was over, some of the
tribe assembled on horseback, and played all sorts of pranks. Some
stood on their heads while their horses went; they charged each other at
a rapid speed; they changed places with their companions at full gallop;
then they would dash up to where we stood, and, discharging their
muskets, wheel about and give place to others, who followed at their
heels. Some would dash their haicks or turbans on the ground, and
leaning from their horses, would pick them up, without for an instant
slackening their speed. Next they shot at a mark, a flower on a pile of
stones being their target; and certainly they managed to hit it in a
wonderful way. The same men, however, would probably have but a poor
bag of game to show after a day's walk over the moors in Scotland. Our
friendly Sheikh accompanied us some way on our journey on the following
day, with many good wishes for our welfare. I must leave out the rest
of our adventures, till one evening, Hamed, our chief guide, pointing to
a line of lofty mountains which fringed the coast, exclaimed--
"There, most learned Taleb, at the foot of yonder mountains, you will
find the residence of the fierce Sheikh you seek. Further we dare not
go, as we have no wish to feel our throats being cut. Here we will
remain till you return, if you ever do return, which Allah grant may
soon be, though I am doubtful of it. If you do not come back, we will
report your loss to your friends, and trust they may find means to
avenge you."
Taleb Mohammed laughed at this speech, though he saw the difficulties in
our way; and next morning, leaving our tents and heavy baggage, we
entered the district of the Reefian chief. It was towards evening that
we approached his dwelling, which we discovered from its superior size
to the rest of the neighbouring sun-dried brick cottages, thatched with
reeds. It was surrounded by a garden, full of melon plants and vines,
and many other fruits, delicious in a hot climate; and backed by fields
of Indian corn. Before entering the village, we ascended a height,
whence Mr Vernon took a long anxious glance over the blue sea with his
telescope, which he had brought with him.
"There she is, D'Arcy," he exclaimed at length, in an animated tone,
pointing to a white speck just seen above the horizon, which I made out
to be a ship's royal. "I knew that Captain Poynder would be up to his
time. Now we can depend on help from without, if we can but find our
friends."
It was near the time that the voice of the Mueddin, from the summit of
the village mosque, announced that the hour of evening prayer had
arrived, and called on the faithful to worship Allah, when we entered
the village. Without halting, we rode at once up to the entrance-gate
of the great man's abode. Cool confidence afforded us the best chance
of success. We were brought up at a porch, with a closed gate, in a
high wall which ran round the mansion. We knocked loudly, and after a
time the gate was opened by a slave, who salaamed low as he demanded our
business.
"To see your great, powerful, and most illustrious master, etcetera,
etcetera, etcetera," said Mr Vernon, in Arabic. "Tell him that I have
come to treat with him about a matter of great importance."
The slave on this disappeared, keeping us outside, though he shortly
returned, with two or three more slaves and a couple of armed men. Two
of the slaves taking our steeds, the first signed us to advance, and led
the way through a garden full of sweet-scented plants, the verbena, the
jessamine, and rose, and shaded by luxuriant vines, trailed on bamboo
trellice-work over head, the fruit hanging down in tempting bunches
within our reach. In front of an alcove, or summer-house, on a rich
carpet, sat a stout old man, in flowing robes, and long white beard,
which hung down over his breast. We bowed low, and then stood still
before him, for he did not offer us cushions to sit on; while Mr
Vernon, paying the fullest compliments his knowledge of the language
could command, opened his business.
"I do not understand clearly what all this is about," said the old
Sheikh, in reply. "Jewels to sell and jewels to buy. Perhaps to-morrow
I may understand better. Come again in the forenoon, and show me your
wares, and we will see what is to be done."
Taking this remark as a signal that we were dismissed, we salaamed as
before, and retired down the garden. We had reached the entrance, when
a slave overtook us, and informed us that his master would allow us to
sleep in a guest-room, opening into an outer court-yard, on one side of
the main entrance. Mr Vernon told me afterwards, that not having any
definite plan, he thought it would be wise to accept the Sheikh's offer
with a good grace, as more likely not to excite suspicion. The room to
which we were shown was a small one, without windows or furniture, some
little apertures over the entrance alone admitting light and air when
the door was shut. It had the advantage, however, of enabling us to get
out without being observed. Still a great difficulty remained--how we
were to obtain any information about Miss Norman in the first place, and
how we were to gain access to her in the second. In my character of a
slave, I assisted the Sheikh's slaves in bringing in the box of jewels,
the saddle-bags, and saddles, and horse-cloths, as well as our blankets,
which we had brought to form our beds at night. Our room being
arranged, Mr Vernon told me to remain within, while he went out to try
and obtain some information in the village, advising me in the meantime
to amuse myself with my fiddle, which had already delighted the ears of
many of the believers of the Prophet of Mecca during our long journey.
I had some misgivings about his going, for I was afraid that the
villagers might suspect his character, and might ill-treat him. For
myself I had no fear as long as I could continue to feign dumbness, as
my character was easily kept up. He had told the Sheikh's people that I
was a Nazarene lad, who was ignorant of their language. Being dumb,
they considered me under the peculiar care of Providence.
After a little time, having recovered my spirits and cast all
forebodings from me--which are, after all, but the result of a morbid
imagination, or of a want of trust in God's providence,--I sat myself
down on the chest, and pulling my fiddle out of its case, began playing
away most vigorously some of the old tunes Hanks had taught me. I had
gone through some five or six of them, when a voice, which I felt sure I
had often heard, hailed--
"Hillo! shipmate, what part of the world do you come from?" The faint
light which came through the door was obscured by the figure of a
seaman.
"Why!" I exclaimed, forgetting that I was dumb, as he stepped into the
room,--"why, if I can believe my senses, there is Jack Stretcher
himself."
"What! is that you, Mr D'Arcy?" he answered; coming up to me, and
taking my hand. "I should not have known you in that rum rig, sir, if
it hadn't been for your voice, I declare."
Our errand was soon explained; and he then told me that, having been
offered a berth as second mate of the _Ariadne_, he had obtained his
discharge from the cutter. To my great satisfaction, he told me that
Major Norman was really a slave in the Sheikh's house, and that his
daughter was in the harem. What had become of the rest of the crew he
could not tell.
While I had been speaking, I had been scraping away to drown my voice,
in case anybody came near. I now urged Jack to go and find the major,
to let him know that help was at hand.
"Time enough by-and-by, when he comes in from the fields, where they've
sent the poor gentleman to work. They put me to field labour at first,
but they found out that I was handy as a rigger, so they've put me to
refitting some of their craft. They've given me to understand that if
I'll consent to turn Moor or Turk, or somewhat of that sort, and worship
their Prophet, they'll make me a captain, or admiral for what I know,
and will give me one of their black-eyed young women for a wife; but
I'll see them all triced up at their own yard-arms before I changes my
religion, or forgets my own faithful rosy-cheeked Poll at home."
I applauded his resolution, and charged him to adhere to it in ease he
should not escape.
"No fear of me, sir, I hope," he answered. "But, I say, sir," he added,
in a serious tone, "I hope Mr Vernon, who used to be a very nice young
gentleman when I knew him in the _Turtle_, ain't turned Turk in
earnest."
I assured him that he was only acting the part for a short time, which,
I believed, was lawful.
"Well, I'm glad of that, sir," he replied. "But, I say, sir, what do
you think?" He looked out of the door, and then came back, and
continued,--"I see a number of these Moorish fellows coming here, drawn,
it's pretty clear, by your music. Now I'll just see if we can't
astonish the natives. Do you strike up a right jolly hornpipe, and I'll
toe and heel it till all's blue, and see if I don't make them understand
what a real sailor can do with his feet when he's inclined."
The idea pleased me amazingly; so I came to the door, and began to
scrape away right merrily, while Jack commenced one of the wildest
hornpipes I ever saw danced. How he cut and shuffled,--how he crossed
his feet and sprang up in the air, and kicked and capered,--it is almost
impossible to describe. I could scarcely forbear laughing myself,
especially when I saw a number of grave long-bearded Moors assembled
round him, with looks of mute astonishment and admiration at his
agility.
Mr Vernon soon joined them, and was as much astonished, evidently, as
the rest. At last even Jack's physical powers could hold out no longer,
and, exhausted, he threw himself down on one of our horse-rugs near the
door. He had, however, not remained there long, when one of the
Sheikh's slaves made his appearance, and, salaaming Mr Vernon, said
that his master had been informed that his young follower possessed a
wonderful instrument, and a wonderful talent for playing on it, and that
he wished to hear him. He intimated also to Jack that he must get up
and go through his hornpipe again. Jack, nothing loth, sprang to his
feet, and, as he passed Mr Vernon he whispered, "Now's your time, sir;
look about you."
We and several of the spectators were now forthwith ushered into the
presence of the great chief. We found him seated in the garden-porch of
his house, a number of lamps hanging from the trees around him. It was
a picturesque and romantic scene. Four or five persons--mostly grave
old gentlemen with long white beards--sat on cushions on either side of
him; while others, in rich dresses, which betokened some rank, stood
behind him. He had evidently been having a dinner party, and now wanted
an evening entertainment. Mr Vernon salaamed before him, and asked
what was the pleasure of so generous, magnificent, and grand a chief.
"Why, this: Understanding your young slave can play in a wondrous
manner, I wish to hear him," said the Sheikh. "But tell me, O merchant!
how is it that he can communicate with my captive, as I am told he does.
They must have been acquainted before."
This question at first puzzled the pretended Turk, but he promptly
replied, "O most wise and sagacious chief, worthy of being monarch of
the faithful, know that these Nazarenes are in their youth instructed in
many arts and sciences. Some play on instruments, some dance, others
sing, or paint likenesses of men and beasts, strange abomination as that
may appear. Now my slave is one who has learned to play on an
instrument, and he who has the happiness to be owned by your highness,
is one who has learned to dance."
"I see, I see," exclaimed the chief; "and it is a sin that two such
accomplished slaves should belong to different masters; therefore,
merchant, what price do you fix on yours? for, if he answers my
expectations, I intend to become his purchaser."
This announcement puzzled Mr Vernon somewhat; but, of course, he could
not refuse at once.
"He is unworthy of being possessed by your highness," he replied; "for
nature has not allowed him the power of speech. But, rather than speak
of that matter, let him show you a specimen of his art."
He then made a sign to me, and I struck up Jack's favourite hornpipe;
the Moors, old and young, black beards and grey, short and long, forming
a circle round him. Up he jumped, and, with arms akimbo, commenced his
dance. If he had before shuffled, and kicked, and capered, he now
redoubled his efforts, snapping his fingers, clapping his hands, turning
and twisting in every conceivable way. Scarcely ever before was such a
hornpipe danced. It drew forth rounds of applause from even the gravest
of the spectators. The chief was delighted. Turning to one of his
attendants, he gave an order, which I did not then comprehend. Mr
Vernon had kept outside the circle, to be ready for any emergency which,
as Jack hinted, might occur. I, meantime, played away a variety of
other tunes, till Jack, jumping up from the spot where he had thrown
himself, made a sign to me to begin another hornpipe. This time he even
outdid either of his former attempts; indeed, before, I believe that he
was only shamming being tired; for my fingers and elbows began to ache
before his legs or breath gave any signs of his wish to end the dance.
"Change the tune, Mr D'Arcy. Wallop-ahoo-aboo! I'll just give them an
Irish jig to keep them staring."
A jig I played, and a jig he danced, with agility enough to win the
heart of any Nora Creina in old Ireland. Then I tried a Scotch reel,
and he almost outdid the jig: nor did he cease till he saw Mr Vernon
rejoin the circle.
"Now if we haven't bamboozled the old gentleman famously, my name's not
Jack Stretcher!" he exclaimed with a loud laugh, slapping his thigh; an
action which was naturally supposed by his audience to mark the _finale_
of his barbaric dances.
Exclamations of wonder broke from the lips of all around; and I, having
played a few more airs, we were dismissed, graciously, to our dormitory.
Mr Vernon then told me that, while Jack was dancing, he had managed to
speak both to Major Norman and his daughter, the chief having sent for
the inmates of his harem to witness the strange seaman's dancing.
It was arranged that we should the following night try to communicate
with the frigate's boats; and if they could manage to send a party on
shore, that we should scale the walls of the harem, and carry off Miss
Norman--they being ready to support us. She, at at all events, would be
prepared for the emergency.
Mr Vernon told me that, from what he heard, there would be no use
negotiating, as the old chief boasted that he never had given up a slave
he had taken, and never would. He was also subject to fits of fury, so
that no time was to be lost in carrying out our plans. The great
difficulty was to communicate with the boats, but Jack undertook the
task. While employed in the harbour he had observed where some small
skiffs lay, and he declared that he could easily steal off with one of
them, and should without difficulty fall in with the boats. The next
day was to be spent in marking out our line of retreat, and in settling
the spot at which the boats were to land.
In the afternoon Mr Vernon was sent for to exhibit his jewels, and I
went with him. The Sheikh laughed at the idea of he himself having any
to sell, but he had no objection to buy some; and that the ladies of the
harem might select for themselves, we were ushered to the entrance of
its sacred precincts. I kept my eyes very sharp about me, and I saw
that, by scaling a not very high wall, we could easily get up to the
very door of the harem, which was separated from the main building. I
at once recognised Miss Norman, though she was veiled like the rest of
the ladies. She came forward to examine the jewels, and looked at
several which the Sheikh offered her. One after the other she put them
back into the box, till at last Mr Vernon contrived, unobserved, to
slip a paper into her hand.
"It's all right," thought I. "Miss Norman will now be prepared when we
are ready to help her to escape."
A few jewels were bought; but Mr Vernon signifying that he would be
happy to return on the following day, should any of the ladies desire to
change their mind, they unanimously declared that he must certainly
come.
Several times during the day Jack made excuses for coming up from the
harbour, and each tune brought his ample pockets full of rope. As soon
as it was dark he came cautiously into our chamber, where we all set to
work, and in a short time had manufactured a rope-ladder quite long
enough to go over the garden wall.
"Now," said he, "I must be off, and try and fall in with the frigate's
boats. I have a skiff all ready, but I may have some way to pull; so
don't, sir, make a start till I come back and let you know all's right."
Several very anxious hours passed away after Jack's departure, and Mr
Vernon and I at last began to fear that some accident had occurred to
him, or that he had missed the boats, and that we should have to risk
another day within the old Sheikh's power. Major Norman and his
daughter must have been still more anxious, for they were separated from
each other, and less able to account for the delay than we were. At
length our anxious ears caught the sound of a light footstep, and Jack
poked his head in at the door.
"All right," he whispered. "The boats are ready to pull in when I
signalise them. While you, gentlemen, go and get the young lady, I'll
be off and call the major."
Eagerly Mr Vernon and I hurried out, carrying the ladder between us.
It was a wonder some of the numerous dogs, found in every Moorish
village, did not give tongue at us. We reached the part of the wall
nearest the harem. Mr Vernon soon clambered up it, and, hoisting up
the ladder, secured one end on the garden side, by pegs in the ground,
which we had before prepared; while I held down the outer side. I heard
him give a low whistle, as he had arranged. While I was anxiously
waiting his return, I felt a hand placed on my shoulder. I started with
horror, and almost let go the ladder, for I thought it was a Moor come
to capture me, and that our enterprise had failed; but, looking up, I
saw Jack's honest face, and Major Norman behind him.
"I think, sir," said Jack, "if you were to go over the wall, and help
the lady up, it would make quicker work, and it won't take you long to
follow."
His advice seemed so good that I did as he recommended. Fortunately I
did so, for I do not think otherwise the ladder would have kept in its
place. I found Mr Vernon waiting at the door of the harem, in despair
almost at the non-appearance of Miss Norman. At length the bars within
were gently removed, and, the door opening, she stepped forth into the
garden. There was no time for greeting. Closing the door, Mr Vernon
took her hand, and hurried on to the ladder. Climbing up, he had lifted
her over the wall, and placed her in safety in her father's arms, and I
was following, when a door in another part of the building flew open,
and a bright light streaming forth, I saw the old chief and a number of
his attendants, with arms in their hands, rush out into the garden. I
was over the wall in an instant, pulling the ladder after me, and not
waiting to see which way they came.
"Fly, sir, fly!" I exclaimed. "The old tiger is after us."
No second warning was necessary, and Mr Vernon and her father, lifting
Miss Norman between them, hurried along the road towards the beach, Jack
and I bringing up the rear, to keep our pursuers at bay. Lights now
appeared in different parts of the village, and just as we turned a
corner we saw the old Sheikh and his people in hot pursuit of us.
"Run, sir! run as fast as your legs can carry you, and bring up the
people from the boats," cried Jack, as he saw our enemies coming after
us, and drawing a cutlass with which he had provided himself from the
boats, and buckled to his side. "I'll keep these chaps off from the
young lady till help comes to us, I'll warrant."
I darted forward as fast as my legs could carry me. I was afraid every
instant of being stopped by some Moor who might dart out from his house;
but happily at that time the inhabitants of the village were fast
asleep, and as yet there had been no noise to awaken them. Fortunately
the old Sheikh was too fat to move fast; and his slaves, probably, had
no fancy to encounter the formidable Englishman, whose agility of heel
had made them fancy him little short of a Gin, or evil spirit of some
sort. At last I reached the little creek where the boats were lying,
the men resting on their oars, ready to shove off at a moment's warning.
"Help! help!" I exclaimed, panting for breath. "Help! or Mr Vernon
will be retaken."
In a moment Adam Stallman, and a dozen men from the different boats,
were by my side. All had been arranged for the emergency which had
occurred. On we ran, in close order, at a double-quick step. Scarcely
were we in time. The Moors were up to our friends, but Jack was laying
about him in such gallant style, that no one could manage to lay hold
upon them. His sword flew round his head like a flash of lightning; and
though his opponents cut and thrust at him from all sides, he remained
unhurt, while he had drawn blood from several of their sides. He
shouted, and shrieked, and leaped about, springing now on one side, now
on the other, yet back again in the middle of the road, if they
attempted to press too much forward. Stallman, seeing at a glance how
affairs stood, divided his people, so that they could encircle Mr
Vernon and his friends; and then, coming up to Jack's assistance, for a
moment entirely drove back his assailants. By this time the whole
village was aroused, and the Moors, collecting in numbers from the
houses, attacked us furiously on all sides. Our brave fellows, however,
kept them at bay, and retreated in good order towards the boats. We had
no time to lose, in truth, for they were making for the boats
themselves, and, if they got in our rear, might cut us off, and
overpower also the party left in the boats. It was with no small
satisfaction that I heard the voice of Dicky Sharpe shouting out to us
to come on; and then a brisk fire from the men with him cleared the
intervening space of Reefians, who had got ahead of us. The old chief
and his slaves had hitherto not fired, either for fear of hurting Miss
Norman, or because they had no powder or firearms. Now, however, the
blood of all parties was up, and pistols began to flash, and sabres to
clash, and a hot fight was going on, as we made a dash for the boats,
and Miss Norman was lifted safely in. The Reefians now rushed furiously
down on us. Adam Stallman and Jack Stretcher were the last men in, they
keeping a whole host of Moors at bay, while the boats were being shoved
off; then, by a desperate leap, Jack, by Stallman's order, got into one
of the boats, while he himself sprang into another. Alas! at that
moment a volley came rattling down among us, and before Stallman could
take his seat he fell into the bottom of the boat. It was the one I had
reached. I stooped down.
"Where are you hurt, Stallman? Oh! tell me, tell me," I exclaimed,
taking his hand.
"In my side; lend me a handkerchief, pray," he answered, faintly. "But
give way, my lads--give way; never mind me."
The men had stopped in their exertions for a moment, and were leaning
forward to discover if he was much hurt. They needed not, however, a
second order, for volley after volley came rattling over us; while the
foremost and more daring Reefians in their rage rushed into the water,
in the hope of seizing us. Some who grasped the gunnel had reason to
repent their temerity; for we dealt them such blows with our cutlasses,
that they were compelled to let go, every wound they received increasing
their fury. Others waded after us up to their arm-pits, firing their
pistols, and cutting at us with their scimitars, shouting fiercely at us
all the time, and grinding their teeth with rage and disappointment. It
was no child's play; for, had they caught us, they would have destroyed
every one of the party. By dint of great exertion the boats were at
length got clear and into deep water. By the flashes of the firearms I
could see the old Sheikh standing on the beach, and trying to urge his
followers to pursue us still further. When they found that all hope of
preventing our embarkation had gone, they hurried of to the harbour to
launch their own boats for the pursuit. We had a long way to pull,
several of our people were hurt, and the boats were likewise full of
men; so that we felt we were far from certain of escaping after all.
Mr Vernon ordered the gun in the bow of his boat to be fired, to draw
the attention of the frigate, should she not have heard the sound of the
musketry; and I followed his example. By this time we were a couple of
miles or more away from the shore, but the frigate was still some five
or six miles from us. Before long, by the light of the dawn just
breaking, we could see the Reefian boats stealing out from the land; but
we had now no great fear of being caught. Still our enemies pulled very
fast, and were animated with every feeling of rage and revenge to excite
them to exertion. Hitherto there had been a dead calm, which much
facilitated our progress; and as the gloom of night cleared away, we
could see, in the grey of the morning, the frigate's topsails hanging
uselessly in the brails. I kept anxiously looking back at our pursuers.
"Do they gain on us?" asked Stallman, who sat propped up in the
stern-sheets.
"I fear so," I replied; "but the frigate is still not so very far off."
"If they overtake us, I will ask you, D'Arcy, to drop astern a little,
and try and keep them at bay, so as to afford the first gig a better
chance of escaping," he said, faintly.
This was the boat Miss Norman was in.
"Of course, Stallman," I answered, "every one here will do their best to
defend the young lady. Won't you, my lads?"
"Ay, ay, sir; never fear," replied the men, with one voice, at the same
time giving a cheer. "Hurra! hurra!"
The enemy's boats were now drawing uncomfortably near, and the headmost
ones had begun to fire, though their shot did not reach us. Still it
was too evident that they would be up to us before the frigate could
come to our assistance. There she still lay, like a log on the water.
I did not much fear the enemy; but I knew if they overtook us, even if
we escaped, it would be the cause of much more bloodshed. Presently, as
I was thinking of this, I saw a light ripple curling over the smooth,
shining surface of the leaden-coloured sea. Another and another
cat's-paw followed; the frigate let fall her topsails--they were sheeted
home; sail after sail was set; and just then, as the sun rose in a blaze
of glory, our gallant ship was seen standing towards us--a magnificent
and welcome sight--under a press of canvas, lighted up by the bright
rays of the warmth-giving luminary. A simultaneous cheer rose from the
boats' crews as they beheld the spectacle; and, with redoubled efforts,
they gave way to meet the ship. The Reefians saw that their prospect of
catching us was gone; and giving us a parting, though happily harmless
volley, they pulled round, and made all haste to the shore, to avoid
being themselves in their turn pursued and captured. We were, soon
after this, on board, and heartily welcomed. The poor fellows--there
were four or five of them who had been badly wounded--were carried to
their hammocks, and tended carefully by the surgeon. Adam Stallman was
conveyed to Mr Vernon's berth in the gun-room. He was evidently more
hurt than anybody else. The doctor gave a very unfavourable report of
his case to the captain from the first. Every one on board grieved much
to hear of his danger, for he was much beloved; but he seemed calm and
contented. When I saw him his looks were cheerful--a smile was on his
lips. Few would have believed that he was a person about shortly to
die, and that he full well knew it. It was not a stoical indifference
to death; not the courage of a man endowed with physical hardihood; but
true Christian fortitude and resignation to the will of God, trust in
his Maker's promises, hope in the future, which supported him. We were
now returning to Malta; for Captain Poynder saw that there would be no
use of attempting to punish the Reefians for their late acts, and that
we should certainly only be the chief sufferers if we attacked them.
One day Adam Stallman sent for Dicky Sharpe and me.
"My dear boys," he said, "I have sometimes given you good advice, and I
much regret that I have not given you more, as you always took it well.
I may never have an opportunity of speaking to you again."
"Oh! don't say so, Stallman," sobbed my young messmate. "Don't die!
You must recover, and stay with us."
"Life and death are in God's hands alone," replied Adam Stallman. "As
you have a regard for me, promise me that you will try not to forget
what I say to you. Remember always that you were sent into this world
as a place of trial--that you have numberless bad propensities existing
in you, and many temptations constantly offered to you--that your trial
consists in the way you conquer the one and resist the other; but also
recollect that you have no power whatever of yourselves to do this--that
of yourselves you would not even know how to resist--you would not know
that it was necessary to resist. But then you must know that God is
just, merciful, and kind; that He has given mankind a guide, not only to
tell them that they must resist, but to show them how to resist
temptation--how to conquer evil propensities; that if they will pray to
Him, He will give them knowledge and grace, and strength sufficient for
all their wants. In that guide--that Book of books--He tells them that
He sent His only Son, that His sufferings and death might be accepted
instead of their eternal suffering and death, to which their sins would
most justly have consigned them. Therefore, my dear boys, I want you to
study, that book, day after day--never give it up. But, at the same
time, do not fancy that you are doing a meritorious act by merely
reading it. You must examine it, and treasure it, as you would a
precious gift. You should read it with thankfulness and joy that God
has given you that precious gift. You are not doing him any service by
reading it. The acts alone which result from reading it do him any
service; and, after all, those acts are only your bounden duty. Common
gratitude demands them from you. Never forget. You must pray daily--
pray for grace, and faith, and strength, and knowledge; and be assured
that God will give them to you at last. Never cease praying. What I
have said may seem hard to you, my dear boys; but it is the truth; and I
could not have died happy without saying it, as I felt that it was my
duty to say it. Be religious, and never be ashamed of your religion.
Hoist your colours in sight of the enemy, and fight bravely under them
wherever you go."
Much more our friend said, but the above was the pith of his discourse.
I believe that neither my young messmate nor I ever forgot what he said.
By following his advice, we have found a comfort, a joy, a strength,
which we should never otherwise have known. Our kind friend's
forebodings were speedily fulfilled; and before we reached Malta he had,
in perfect peace, yielded up his life to the God who gave it.
"What! did the good Adam Stallman really die?" some of my young readers
may ask. Yes; good and bad, rich and poor, of all ranks and stations in
society, are often summoned in their joyous youth, their flowering
manhood, by a just God, to render up an account of their mode of life.
Oh! my young friends, remember that you, too, may be summoned away from
this bright world, and all you hold dear, in an hour, a day, a year--at
a moment you think not of; and that you, too, must render up an account
of how you have lived on earth before the great, the just, the
All-seeing Judge; that every thought of your heart, every action you
have performed, will then be laid bare; and that, unless you can say, I
did my duty to the best of my power and knowledge, and I trusted to
Christ to save me, it were better, far better, that you had never been
born. I shall be glad to find that my adventures amuse you, but I
should also deeply blame myself if I did not try and make you understand
these things; and I should feel that it were also far better that my
book had not been written.