Day after day went by. Though we occasionally saw a sail, we kept out
of her way.
At length, one morning the look-out shouted, "A sail on the starboard
quarter!"
We were just then setting royals, which we did not carry at night. We
watched the stranger. "She has borne up in chase," cried La Touche, who
had gone aloft.
Dubois immediately ordered the brig to be kept before the wind, and
studding-sails to be set on either side. The wind freshened, and away
we flew before it. The brig being lightly laden, it was her best point
of sailing, as I had observed. It took us out of our course, however.
I sincerely hoped that the wind would increase, and that it should carry
away some of our spars, and thus enable our pursuer to come up with us,
for I took it for granted that she was English. The Frenchmen watched
her eagerly, for we could see her topsails from the deck.
"Do you think we shall get away from her?" I asked La Touche in an
indifferent tone, as if it were a matter of no consequence to me.
"I hope so," he replied. "This brig is a regular little fly-away, and
your frigates are not generally fast sailers."
"But why do you think she is one of our frigates?" I asked. "She may
be French after all, and you may be running away from a friend."
"I think she is English, because none of our cruisers are likely to be
hereabouts at present," he answered; and then, as if he had said
something without thought, correcting himself, he added, "Of course she
may be French; but we think it safest to keep out of the way of all
men-of-war."
The topsails of the stranger rose gradually above the horizon; she was
evidently a large vessel--a frigate, if not a line-of-battle ship. The
little brig flew on gaily, as if feeling as eager to get away as were
those on board.
"Ah, my friend! a stern chase is a long chase," observed Dubois, who saw
me watching the stranger. "You are not going to rejoin your ship just
yet."
"I have made up my mind to be content with whatever happens," I said.
"You are wise," answered Dubois. "It is the best thing under all
circumstances."
Still I did not despair of being overtaken. Perhaps she might be the
_Liffy_ herself, which had gone back to Jamaica, and was now returning
to the south. We had a brisk breeze, though it did not increase, and
the brig continued running on at her utmost speed. When I looked again,
some time afterwards, it did not appear to me that the stranger had
gained on us. The hours passed slowly on; evening, however, at length
approached, and I was afraid that during the night Dubois would alter
the brig's course, and that we should manage to escape. When I went
below for our meals, I endeavoured to maintain as calm a countenance as
I could, and to appear as cheerful as usual.
"You are a brave _garcon_," said Dubois, as we sat at supper. "We
should be very sorry to lose your society, and I'll endeavour to keep
you on board as long as I can."
I thanked him, and said that I hoped to have the satisfaction of
returning his courtesy, should the tables once more be turned. At last
darkness came on, and our pursuer was lost to sight. As it was useless
to remain on deck, I turned in, and Larry as usual followed me below.
Whether it was from the excitement I had gone through, or from having
remained on deck all day, I cannot say; but I fell asleep immediately my
head touched the pillow, and slept as soundly as a top. When I awoke, I
saw by the dim light coming through the bull's-eye that the day had
broken, and I hurried on deck, anxious to know if our pursuer was still
in sight Dubois and La Touche were there. I saluted them as usual.
They did not appear quite as cheerful as they did on the previous day.
The brig was still before the wind, with every stitch of canvas she
could carry set. On looking astern, there was our pursuer, though hull
down, but considerably nearer than before.
"Do not be too sanguine that she will come up with us. When the breeze
freshens, we shall again get away from her," said Dubois.
"It is of course what you wish, monsieur," I observed.
"I've been after dreaming, Mr Terence, that that craft is the _Liffy_,
and that we were again on board her, as merry as crickets," said Larry,
coming to my side.
"But dreams, they say, go by contraries," I answered. "It would have
been better not to have dreamed that."
"Shure, thin, I wish that I had dreamed that we had run her out of
sight," he answered.
Soon after the wind got up, and was soon blowing as freshly as on the
day before. The Frenchmen's spirits once more rose. Larry's and mine
fell. The big ship, however, continued about the same distance off; but
as long as she did not gain on us, our captors did not mind. At length
it seemed to me that we were actually drawing ahead. Perhaps we might
be leading our pursuer further out of her course than she wished to go,
and she would give up the chase. The Frenchmen, from their remarks,
seemed to think so.
Mid-day arrived; an observation was taken. I found that we were in the
latitude of the Virgin Islands, still a long way from Guadaloupe. When
once among the islands, we should very easily escape during the night.
Dubois and La Touche were congratulating themselves, when the look-out
aloft shouted, "Several sail in sight to the south-east!"
La Touche, immediately on hearing this, went to the masthead. I should
have liked to have followed him, eager to know what they were. He said
nothing till he came down. I then saw by the way he spoke to Dubois
that he considered them to be enemies. After a short consultation the
helm was put to starboard, and the brig headed more to the north; the
yards were braced up, though the studding-sails were still set. In my
eagerness to ascertain what the strangers were, I sprang aloft without
waiting to ask leave of Dubois. He did not, however, call me down. As
I got to the topgallant masthead I looked eagerly to the southward, and
I made out what I took to be a large fleet standing to the eastward,
while here and there ships were scattered about, which I took to be
frigates. I had no doubt that Dubois concluded they were English, and
had therefore no wish to run in among them. We had heard before we left
Jamaica that Sir George Rodney was expected out to join Sir Samuel Hood,
and I had little doubt but that the fleet in sight was that of either
the one or the other of those admirals. Whether the brig would escape
them or not was doubtful, and I expected every instant to see either a
frigate or corvette coming in chase of us. Our other pursuer could not
have seen the ships visible from our masthead, and would therefore not
understand the reason for our change of course. Had it been earlier in
the day, our capture by either one or the other would have been certain;
but Dubois might now manage, by good seamanship, to slip between the
two. The wind increased, and our starboard studding-sails were taken
in; we carried those on our larboard side to the last. Having satisfied
myself, I returned on deck.
"Do you know what those ships are away to the southward?" asked Dubois.
"Yes, monsieur, I believe them to be English," I answered. "And you
expect them to catch us, do you?" he said.
"That depends on circumstances," I replied; "but I know your
determination, and believe that you will make every effort to escape."
"You may be sure of that," he said, laughing. "See how I'm carrying on.
Many would have shortened sail before this."
I made no reply, but looked aloft. The brig was literally tearing
through the water; the breeze was increasing; the sails were bulging
out, every rope stretched out to its utmost tension; the studding-sails
pulled and tugged as if eager to fly away. Presently there came a loud
crack, and both studding-sail booms broke off close to the irons. The
men attempted to get in the fluttering canvas.
"Cut! cut!" cried Dubois. "Let them go!"
The wind shifted a point or two, and we had to haul still more up. As I
had been unable lately to look at the chart, I could not make out
exactly for what place we were steering, but I could distinguish several
blue hillocks rising out of the ocean, which I knew must be small
islands, either the Virgin Islands or others in their neighbourhood. We
were now steering due north. I again went aloft. The main body of the
fleet was no longer in sight, but three or four white sails could be
seen shining brightly in the rays of the setting sun far away astern,
while our pursuer could still be distinguished over our larboard
quarter, yet apparently no nearer than before. On returning on deck
Dubois looked at me with a smile of satisfaction.
"We are not caught yet," he said. "But bear it patiently, my young
friend. We all have our trials."
I made no reply, but walked to the other side of the deck. It was again
night; the steward came and invited me down to supper, in which I joined
Dubois, while La Touche remained on deck. He did not think fit to tell
me what were his intentions, and though I should have liked to have
known, I did not ask him. At last I turned in, and tried to go to
sleep. I should not have minded hearing the brig go crash on shore, so
vexed did I feel at the idea of her having escaped. Still I could not
but admire the determination of the two young French officers, and again
better feelings rose in my breast. At length I fell fast asleep. As I
had no watch to keep, I slept on, as usual, until daylight streamed in
through the bull's-eye over my head, when, to my surprise, I heard the
sound of the cable slipping out, and knew that the brig had come to an
anchor. I dressed as speedily as I could, and went on deck. We were in
a fine harbour with numerous vessels of all sizes and nations--Spanish,
French, Dutch, and Danish (the latter predominating)--floating on its
bosom, and among them a frigate, with the colours of England flying at
her peak. I knew, therefore, that we were in a neutral port, for which
Dubois had steered when he found he could not otherwise escape. On
examining the frigate more narrowly, my heart gave a bound, for I felt
almost sure that she was the _Liffy_, but as several vessels were
between us I could not make her out very clearly.
Dubois, who had probably been on deck most of the night, had gone below;
and La Touche was engaged in issuing his orders to the crew. I took
care to conceal my feelings, and on speaking to Larry I found he had not
suspected that the frigate was the _Liffy_. Still he might do so, and I
told him that I believed her to be our ship, charging him on no account
to exhibit his feelings.
"Shure, Mr Terence, that's a hard matter," he exclaimed. "I half feel
inclined to leap out of my skin and get aboard her."
"We must try to do that by some means or other," I said; "but how to
accomplish it is the question. Even if Captain Macnamara knew that we
were on board this brig, he could not come and take us by force."
"Why not, Mr Terence?" exclaimed Larry in surprise. "Shure if I see
one of our boats pulling by, I'll be after shouting at the top of my
voice, to tell them we're here, and to axe them to come and take us off.
Our captain's not the man to desert us, nor Mr Saunders either; and as
soon as they know that we're prisoners, they'll be after sending a
couple of boats to release us; or maybe they'll bring the frigate round,
and blaze away at the brig till they sink her."
"That would be an unpleasant way of proceeding for us, at all events," I
answered, laughing. "The reason they can't take us by force is, that
this is a neutral port, and all vessels in here must keep the peace
towards each other; so that if Monsieur Dubois refuses to give us up,
our captain can't compel him. We must therefore manage to get away by
ourselves if we are to be free."
"Thin, Mr Terence, that's just what we will be after doing," said
Larry, taking off his hat and scratching his head while he considered
how the undertaking could be accomplished. "Couldn't we just slip
overboard at night and swim to the frigate? It wouldn't be further than
I have swum many a time in the Shannon."
"But the Shannon and this place are very different," I answered. "Jack
Shark keeps as sharp a look-out here as he does in Port Royal harbour;
and we may chance to have our legs nipped off before we can get up the
side of the frigate."
"Shure, Mr Terence, thin I never thought of that," said Larry; "but
maybe the officers will go on shore, and they don't keep very strict
watch aboard here, so I might just manage to slip a grating and a spar
or two over the side, to make a raft; then we might paddle on it to the
frigate."
"I don't see any better plan than you propose," I answered; "though I
would risk a swim and the chances of encountering a shark rather than
not make the attempt to escape; for, even supposing the frigate on the
other side of those merchantmen should not prove to be the _Liffy_, we
should be welcome on board. It is of the greatest importance that the
captain should know of the despatches the brig is carrying to
Guadaloupe, so that a watch may be kept on her movements, and that she
may be pursued and captured outside the harbour."
"Thin, Mr Terence, let me go alone; I'd have no difficulty in slipping
overboard, and there's less chance of my being missed," said Larry.
"When her captain knows that you're aboard the brig, he'll be after her
in a jiffy."
"No, no, Larry; I can never let you go alone. Whatever we do, we'll do
together."
"That's like you, Mr Terence. Just trust to me, thin; only do you be
ready for a start directly it's dark, and I'll be keeping a look-out on
deck for the chance of one of the _Liffy's_ boats coming near, to let
them know that we're aboard."
Tantalising as it was to see the ship, as I supposed, to which I
belonged within a short distance of me, and yet not be able to
communicate with her, I felt that I could do nothing for the present,
and that it was prudent not to be seen talking too much with Larry. I
therefore told him to keep away from me during the day, unless he had
something particular to say, while I went below again, to finish my
toilet and wait for breakfast.
La Touche had been too busy to speak to me, and Dubois was still asleep.
I remained in my berth until the steward announced that breakfast was
ready, when I met the two officers, who had just come below. They
politely invited me to take a seat at the table.
"Well, you see, we have managed to escape your cruisers," said Dubois,
as he poured me out a cup of coffee. "We have reason to congratulate
ourselves, as we were very hard pressed."
"I must compliment you, monsieur, on your skilful seamanship," I said.
"I do so with sincerity, although I should have been very glad had you
been caught. However, I am prepared to bear my disappointment
philosophically. We have not yet reached Guadaloupe, and I don't
despair of regaining my liberty, though I conclude you'll not consider
yourself justified in letting me leave the brig?"
"For your sake I wish that we could," said La Touche; "but you are known
to be on board, and we should have to account for you; so I'm afraid you
must exercise the philosophy you speak of." Imitating the Frenchman, I
shrugged my shoulders, as if I was perfectly resigned to my fate. I
made no remark about the English frigate in the harbour, as the
Frenchmen didn't allude to her, though they could not have supposed that
I was ignorant of her being there.
I saw that the brig was riding at single anchor and hove short, and I
expected that Dubois was waiting for an opportunity of slipping out of
the harbour before the frigate was prepared to follow him. That she
would do so, should the brig be discovered to be an English vessel, a
prize to the French, there could be no doubt, unless detained by some
matter of more importance.
After breakfast we walked the deck for some time, and then Dubois
ordered La Touche to take a boat and pull round the harbour.
"See as you pass yonder frigate there, how she's riding," he said;
"whether she appears to be ready to put to sea, and learn, if you can
ascertain, what brought her in here. I wouldn't have come in had I
known that we should have found so unpleasant a neighbour."
"Do you know what frigate she is?" he asked, turning to me.
"As I can't see her hull clearly, were I perfectly acquainted with her I
should be unable to answer your questions, monsieur," I replied.
"Well, then, favour me by going aloft with my telescope, and you'll
then, by looking down on her deck, be able to tell me whether you
recognise any of those on board, or have to your knowledge seen the
frigate before."
From his manner I believed he had not an idea that I suspected the
frigate to be the _Liffy_.
I willingly agreed; and, taking the glass, went aloft. All my doubts
were at an end. I at once made out Captain Macnamara walking the
starboard side of the quarter-deck with Mr Saunders. On the opposite
side, I distinguished several of my messmates by their figures. Some of
the men were forward, but the greater number were below, and I could see
no signs of any intentions of getting under way. I waited a
considerable time, and heartily I wished for a pair of wings, that I
might fly over the masts of the other vessels, and pitch down on her
deck. No sight could have been more tantalising. I descended at last,
and returning the telescope to Dubois, said--
"I confess frankly that I know the frigate. She is the one to which I
belong."
"Is she a fast vessel?" inquired Dubois.
"She is considered so, monsieur," I answered.
"Faster than this brig?" he asked.
"Certainly, unless in a very light wind," I said. "If you expect to be
chased, you have very little chance of escape from her, I should think."
"I must hope for the best," he said. "There's a fine breeze out of the
harbour, and we may be off again before the frigate finds we are moving.
We have the advantage of being concealed from her sight, and she dare
not fire a gun or send a boat after us, even should she wish it, till
we're three leagues outside the harbour."
Dubois spoke in a confident tone, as if he did not think that there was
the slightest chance I should even try to make my escape. I was
dreading all the time that he would ask me to give my word not to do so.
He didn't, however, appear to think of that. In a short time La Touche
came back, and reported, as I knew he would, that the frigate didn't
appear to be preparing to sail. Scarcely had he come on board than the
wind began to drop, till it became a stark calm. I saw the officers
exchange looks with each other as they observed the dog vane hanging
right up and down. It was very certain that we could not move, for we
had not boats sufficient to tow the brig out of the harbour. There was
every prospect of the calm continuing for many hours. The Frenchmen, by
the way they paced the deck, showed their vexation, every now and then
giving an impatient stamp with their feet.