"Cut, lads, cut!"
Just as he had uttered the words, a succession of crashes reached our
ears, and the brig righted with a suddenness and force which threw us
off our legs. We quickly, however, had the ladder replaced, and sprang
up on deck. We found that both the masts had been carried away by the
board and were trailing alongside. Tom Pim was holding on to the
starboard bulwarks, while Jack Patchett was at the helm, steering the
brig before the gale. None of the men appeared to have been lost or
injured, but were standing forward, looking very much astonished at what
had happened.
"The first thing to do is to clear the wreck," cried Nettleship, and he
called the men aft; while I ran down to get up some axes which we had
seen in the cabin.
When I returned on deck, to my surprise I found that the wind had
suddenly fallen. The brig had been struck by a white squall, which
frequently occurs in the Mediterranean, and either whips the masts out
of a vessel, or sends her to the bottom.
We accordingly, under Nettleship's directions, began hauling the masts
alongside, to obtain such spars as we could that might serve us to form
jury-masts. We could scarcely hope, with the limited strength we
possessed, to get the masts on deck. We were thus employed till dark.
We had saved the spars and some of the sails, though it was rather
difficult to avoid staving in the boats, which had been lowered that we
might effect our object. The weather might again change, and it was
important to get up jury-masts as soon as possible.
During the night, however, we could do but little, as the men required
rest. One half, therefore, were allowed to turn in. The night was as
calm as the greater part of the day had been. At dawn we all turned out
and set to work. We were thus employed, when I saw several sail
standing down towards us, and bringing a breeze with them. I pointed
them out to Nettleship.
"It's to be hoped the wind will continue moderate," he said, "or we may
be driven nearer to the African coast than may be pleasant."
We were at this time just out of sight of land, to the northward of
Algiers. As the ships got nearer, we made them out to be a large fleet,
several being line-of-battle ships, others frigates, and vessels of
various rigs. In a short time many more came in sight, till we could
count upwards of one hundred. These appeared not to be all. The larger
number had lateen sails and long tapering yards.
"What can they be about?" asked Tom.
"That's more than I can say," said Nettleship; "but I suspect they are
bound upon some expedition or other,--perhaps to attack the Algerines."
As we got near enough to make out their flags, we distinguished four to
be Spanish ships, two had Maltese flags flying; there were two
Portuguese, and one Sicilian.
"Then I have no doubt about it," said Nettleship, "for the Dons and
Portingales have the chief trade up the Levant, and are likely to suffer
most from those rascally corsairs. Since Blake gave them a good
drubbing they have generally been pretty careful how they interfere with
English vessels; but we have strong proof in this unfortunate craft that
they want another thrashing to keep them in order."
As we had not as yet got up our jury-masts, we were unable to move out
of their way, and there appeared to be some risk of our being run down.
Every now and then Jack Patchett hailed with his stentorian voice, and
warned the vessels approaching us that they might pass ahead or astern,
as the case might be. At last a Spanish man-of-war, carrying an
admiral's flag, was sailing quite close to us, when a voice asked from
her deck in English--
"Can we render you any assistance?"
"The best assistance you can give us, is to take us in tow, and carry us
to Gibraltar," answered Nettleship.
He said this without the slightest expectation of its being done.
"We'll heave to and send a tow-rope on board," was the answer; and
presently the line-of-battle ship, shortening sail, hove-to under our
lee. A couple of boats being lowered, came rowing towards us. Their
object, we found, was to tow us close enough to receive a hawser on
board.
As one of them came alongside, an officer stepped on to our deck, and,
advancing towards Nettleship, said--
"I am an Englishman, and have joined an expedition to attack Algiers,
for my hatred and detestation of the cruelty the Algerians inflict on
the unfortunate Europeans they capture. An English vessel in which I
sailed lately up the Levant was attacked, and not until we had lost
several men did we succeed in beating off the Algerines."
Nettleship explained that the _Daisy_ had also been plundered and her
people murdered.
"That is a good reason why you should join us in our proposed attack on
Algiers," said the officer. "I must introduce myself to you as Henry
Vernon, a name not unknown to fame. I am a nephew of the admiral, and
my desire is to emulate his deeds."
Nettleship at once agreed to accompany the fleet, and expressed his
readiness to take part in the expected engagement.
"We have no help for it," he said to Tom and me; "and I think I am
justified in agreeing to Mr Vernon's proposal. We shall, I expect, see
some heavy work. Algiers is a strong place, I'm told, and the Algerines
are not likely to knock under without trying to defend themselves."
Tom and I were of course well pleased with this.
The Spanish ship, the _Guerrero_ having taken us in tow, continued her
course after the fleet. We waited just out of sight of land till
nightfall, when, some of the smaller vessels piloting ahead, we stood in
towards the Bay of Algiers.
Before daybreak the troops were embarked on board a number of galleys
and gunboats, which landed them a short distance from the town.
By Harry Vernon's advice we dropped our anchor out of range of the
Algerine guns, as the brig could not be of any assistance in the attack.
Nettleship had resolved to go on board the flag-ship to assist. Tom
and I asked him to take us with him. He replied that it was impossible
for both of us to go, but that Tom Pim should remain in charge of the
brig with four hands, while the rest of us should go on board the
_Guerrero_ to assist in working her guns. Tom did not at all like this
arrangement, but Nettleship replied that as he was senior to me, he was
the proper person to take charge of the brig. We shook hands with him
as we went down the side to go on board the flag-ship.
"Never mind, Tom," said Nettleship, "you're doing your duty by remaining
where you are."
The Admiral Don Antonio Barcelo expressed his pleasure, through Harry
Vernon, at having the assistance of so many English officers and men,
whose noted courage, he said, would animate his crew.
The wind being fair at daybreak, the line-of-battle ships stood slowly
in, each having to take up an appointed position before the town. The
ships were stationed as close as they could venture, the gun and mortar
boats being placed in the intervals between them, but still closer to
the shore.
Scarcely had the anchors been dropped and the sails furled, than the
Algerines began blazing away along the whole line of their batteries,
the ships discharging their broadsides at the same moment. The troops
had been ordered to make an assault at the same time; and it was hoped
by the combined efforts of the land and sea forces that the pirates
would soon be compelled to yield.
After some hours of firing, however, news was brought to the admiral
that the assault made by the troops had failed, and as far as we could
judge from what we could see through the wreaths of smoke which
enveloped the ships, no impression had been made on the walls of the
city, though the flames bursting forth here and there showed that some
of the houses inside had been set on fire. Don Antonio Barcelo, thus
finding that his efforts were unavailing, the wind having shifted,
ordered the ships to get under weigh, and stand out of the reach of the
Algerine shot.
We had lost a few men, but had not been at sufficiently close quarters
to receive much damage. Vernon was much disappointed, and so were we;
but the admiral assured him that he would go at it again the next day,
after the troops had had a little breathing-time.
He was as good as his word; and soon after dawn the fleet again stood
in, and recommenced the attack. The Algerines, however, kept up so
tremendous a fire, that some of the ships, being much damaged, withdrew
to a safer distance. The admiral also received information that the
enemy had made a sortie on the troops, and had driven them back with
fearful slaughter. Still he was undaunted, and declared his intention
of succeeding.
"If he would dismiss a few of the Maltese and Sicilian ships, he would
have a better chance of doing so," said Vernon. "The Spaniards and
Portuguese are brave enough, but they are not much given to coming to
close quarters, while the others would keep out of the fight altogether
if they could."
Another attack was accordingly planned, and Don Antonio ordered the
smaller craft to stand closer in than before. The other ships, however,
brought up at a respectful distance when they found the Algerine shot
came rattling aboard them. Judging by the thunder of the guns and the
amount of the smoke, it seemed to me impossible that the Algerines could
long stand out against our assaults. In all directions houses were seen
in flames; and I thought that the whole city must be burned down, for
the flames were extending, yet the guns and batteries replied with as
much briskness as at first. Again news was brought from the shore that
the troops had made another assault, but that the Algerines had sallied
out, and were cutting them fearfully up. On this Don Barcelo notified
his intention of going himself to lead them, and invited Vernon to
accompany him.
"If you like to come and see what is going on, I can give you a seat in
the boat," said Vernon, an offer I was delighted to accept.
We at once pulled off from the side of the flag-ship. The admiral had
promised Vernon the command of one of the ships, the captain of which
had shown the white feather, and he expected to have the honour of
leading the attack and taking the ships in closer. Away we pulled, but
we had not gone very far when a couple of shots struck the boat herself,
killing three men. I remember hearing two distinct crashes, and the
next moment found myself in the water, and about to sink. I believe I
should have gone down, had not a friendly hand held me up; and, looking
to see who it was, I recognised the face of my faithful follower, Larry
Harrigan.
"It's all right, Mr Terence, and I'll not let you go while I can keep
my feet moving," he cried out, energetically treading water. "We will
swim back to the big ship, and there'll be plenty of ropes hung over the
sides by this time."
The distance, however, was considerable, and, independent of the chances
of being hit by the round shot which were plunging into the water around
us, I doubted whether we could swim as far, even though I did my best to
second his efforts to keep me afloat. We were now joined by Patchett,
who came swimming up, and offered to assist Larry in supporting me.
"Hurrah! here comes a boat," cried Patchett.
Looking round, I saw one approaching, and soon made out Nettleship
standing up in the stern-sheets; but as the shots from the Algerine
batteries came plunging into the water close to her, it seemed doubtful
whether she would reach us. She soon, however, got up uninjured, and I
and my companions were taken on board. We then went on to where two
persons were still floating. The one was Vernon. He had been gallantly
supporting the Spanish admiral.
"Take him aboard first," cried Vernon; "he's unable to help himself."
We accordingly hauled in the Don, while Vernon held on with one hand to
the gunwale of the boat. Nor till the admiral was safe would Vernon
allow us to lift him in. He sat down, looking very ghastly.
"Why, my dear fellow, you are yourself wounded," said Nettleship,
examining his shoulder, from which the blood was flowing.
"Yes, I fancy I was hit," answered Vernon, though I have not had time
yet to think about it.
"The sooner you're under the doctor's care the better," said Nettleship,
as he got the boat round. "Now give way, lads."