SAIL FOR LIVERPOOL IN THE SALLY AND KITTY--FALL IN WITH A GALE--BOY
OVERBOARD--NEARLY DROWNED IN ATTEMPTING TO SAVE HIM--SEE THE OWNERS AT
LIVERPOOL--EMBARK IN THE DALRYMPLE FOR THE COAST OF AFRICA--ARRIVE OFF
SENEGAL.
A great deal of prize-money being due to us, I called upon the agent at
Port Royal to obtain an advance. I found him in a puzzle. Owing to the
death of Captain Weatherall and so many of the officers, he hardly knew
whether those who applied to him were entitled to prize-money or not.
Whether he thought I appeared more honest than the others, or from what
cause I know not, he requested me, as I knew everything that had passed,
to remain with him for a short time: and, finding that I could read and
write well, he obtained from me correct lists of the privateer's crew,
with those who were killed, and on what occasion. All this information
I was able to give him, as well as the ratings of the parties; for on
more than one occasion the privateer's-men had come to him representing
themselves as petty officers when they were only common seamen on board,
and had in consequence received from him a larger advance than they were
entitled to. As soon as his accounts were pretty well made up, he asked
me whether I intended to go to England, as if so he would send me home
with all the papers and documents to the owner at Liverpool, who would
require my assistance to arrange the accounts; and, as I had had quite
enough of privateering for a time, I consented to go. About two months
after leaving the hospital, during which I had passed a very pleasant
life, and quite recovered from my wounds and injuries, I sailed for
Liverpool in the Sally and Kitty West-Indiaman, commanded by Captain
Clarke, a very violent man.
We had not sailed twelve hours before we fell in with a gale, which
lasted several days, and we kept under close-reef-topsails and
storm-staysails. The gale lasting a week raised a mountainous swell,
but it was very long and regular. On the seventh day the wind abated,
but the swell continued, and at evening there was very little wind, when
a circumstance occurred which had nearly cost me my life, as you will
acknowledge, Madam, when I relate the story to you. During the
dog-watch, between six and eight, some hands being employed in the
foretop, the other watch below at supper, and the captain and all the
officers in the cabin, I being at the helm heard a voice, apparently
rising out of the sea, calling me by name. Surprised, I ran to the side
of the ship, and saw a youth named Richard Pallant in the water going
astern. He had fallen out of the forechains, and, knowing that I was at
the helm, had shouted to me for help. I immediately called all hands,
crying, "A man overboard." The captain hastened on deck with all the
others, and ordered the helm a-lee. The ship went about, and then fell
round off, driving fast before the swell, till at last we brought her
to.
The captain, although a resolute man, was much confused and perplexed at
the boy's danger--for his friends were people of property at Ipswich,
and had confided the boy to his particular care. He ran backwards and
forwards, crying out that the boy must perish, as the swell was so high
that he dared not send a boat, for the boat could not live in such a
sea, and if the boat were lost with the crew there would not be hands
enow left on board to take the vessel home. As the youth was not a
hundred yards from the vessel, I stated the possibility of swimming to
him with the deep-sea line, which would be strong enough to haul both
him and the man who swam to him on board. Captain Clarke, in a great
rage, swore that it was impossible, and asked me who the devil would go.
Piqued at his answer, and anxious to preserve the life of the youth, I
offered to try it myself. I stripped, and, making the line fast round
my body, plunged from the ship's side into the sea. It was a new
deep-sea line, and stiff in the coil, so that, not drawing close round
me, it slipped, and I swam through it, but catching it as it slipped
over my feet, I made it secure by putting my head and one arm through
the noose. I swam direct for the boy, and found that I swam with ease,
owing to the strength and buoyant nature of the water in those
latitudes. I had not swum more than half-way before the line got foul
on the coil on board, and, checking me suddenly, it pulled me backwards
and under water. I recovered myself and struck out again. During this
time, to clear the line on board, they had cut some of the entangled
parts, and in the confusion and hurry severed the wrong part, so that
the end went overboard, and I had half the coil of line hanging to me,
and at the same time was adrift from the ship. They immediately hailed
me to return, but from the booming of the waves I could not hear what
they said, and thought that they were encouraging me to proceed. I
shouted in return to show the confidence which I had in myself. I
easily mounted the waves as they breasted me, but still I made my way
very slowly against such a swell, and saw the boy only at intervals when
I was on the top of the wave. He could swim very little, and did not
make for the ship, but, with his eyes fixed upon the sky, paddled like a
dog to keep himself above water. I now began to feel the weight of the
line upon me, and to fear that I should never hold out. I began to
repent of my rashness, and thought I had only sacrificed myself without
any chance of saving him. I persevered, nevertheless, and having, as I
guessed, come to the spot where the boy was, I looked round, and not
seeing him was afraid that he had gone down, but on mounting the next
wave I saw him in the hollow, struggling hard to keep above water, and
almost spent with his long exertion.
I swam down to him, and, hailing him, found he was still sensible, but
utterly exhausted. I desired him to hold on by my hand but not to touch
my body, as we should both sink. He promised to obey me, and I held out
my right hand to him, and made a signal for them to haul in on board,
for I had no idea that the line had been cut. I was frightened when I
perceived the distance that the ship was from me--at least a quarter of
a mile. I knew that the deep-sea line was but a hundred fathoms in
length, and therefore that I must be adrift, and my heart sunk within
me. All the horrors of my situation came upon me, and I felt that I was
lost; but although death appeared inevitable, I still struggled for
life--but the rope now weighed me down more and more. While swimming
forward it trailed behind, and although it impeded my way, I did not
feel half its weight. Now, however, that I was stationary, it sank
deep, and pulled me down with it. The waves, too, which, while I
breasted them and saw them approach, I easily rose over, being now
behind us, broke over our heads, burying us under them, or rolling us
over by their force.
I tried to disengage myself from the line, but the noose being jammed,
and having the boy in one hand, I could not possibly effect it. But
what gave me courage in my difficulties was, that I perceived that the
people on board were getting out the boat; for although the captain
would not run the risk for one person, now that two were overboard, and
one of them risking his life for the other, the men insisted that the
boat should be hoisted out. It was an anxious time to me, but at last I
had the satisfaction of seeing her clear of the ship, and pulling round
her bow. The danger was, however, considered so great, that when they
came to man the boat only three men could be found who would go in her,
and in the confusion they came away with but two oars and no rudder.
Under these disadvantages they of course pulled very slowly against a
mountainous sea, as they were obliged to steer with the oars to meet it,
that the boat might not be swamped. But the sight of the boat was
sufficient to keep me up. My exertions were certainly incredible; but
what will not a man do when in fear of death! As it approached--slowly
and slowly did my powers decrease. I was now often under water with the
boy, and rose again to fresh exertion, when at last a crested wave broke
over us, and down we went several feet under the water. The force of
the sea drove the boy against me, and he seized me by the loins with my
head downwards. I struggled to disengage myself! It was impossible. I
gave myself up for lost--and what a crowd of thoughts and memories
passed through my brain in a few moments, for it could not have been
longer! At last, being head downwards, I dived deeper, although I was
bursting from so long holding my breath under water.
This had the desired effect. Finding me sinking instead of rising with
him, the boy let go his hold that he might gain the surface. I turned
and followed him, and drew breath once more. Another moment had sealed
our fates. I no longer thought of saving the boy, but struck out for
the boat which was now near me. Perceiving this, the boy cried out to
me for pity's sake not to leave him. I felt myself so far recovered
from my exhaustion, that I thought I could save him as well as myself,
and compassion induced me to turn back. I again gave him my hand,
charging him on his life not to attempt to grapple with me, and again
resumed the arduous struggle of keeping him as well as myself above
water. My strength was nearly gone, the boat approached but slowly, and
we now sunk constantly under the water, rising every few seconds to draw
breath. Merciful God! How slow appeared the approach of the boat.
Struggle after struggle--fainter and fainter still--still I floated. At
last my senses almost left me, I took in water in quantities. I felt I
was in green fields, when I was seized by the men and thrown into the
bottom of the boat, where I lay senseless alongside of the boy. There
was great danger and difficulty in getting again to the ship. More than
once the boat was half filled by the following seas, and when they
gained the ship it was impossible to get us out, as, had they approached
the side, the boat would have been dashed to atoms. They lowered the
tackles from the yard-arms. The three men clambered up them, leaving us
to take our chance of the boat being got in, or her being stove to
pieces, in which latter case we should have been lost. They did get us
in, with great damage to the boat, but we were saved. The line was
still round me, and it was found that I had been supporting the weight
of seventy yards. So sore was I with such exertion, that I kept my
hammock for many days, during which I reviewed my past life, and vowed
amendment.
We arrived at Liverpool without any further adventure worth recording,
and I immediately called upon the owner with the papers intrusted to me.
I gave him all the information he required, and he asked me whether I
should like to return to privateering, or to go as mate of a vessel
bound to the coast of Africa. I inquired what her destination was to
be, and, as I found that she was to go to Senegal for ivory, wax,
gold-dust, and other articles, in exchange for English prints and
cutlery, I consented. I mention this, as, had she been employed in the
slave-trade, as were most of the vessels from Liverpool to the Coast, I
would not have joined her. A few days afterwards I went on board of the
Dalrymple, Captain Jones, as mate; we had a very quick passage to
Senegal, and brought our vessel to an anchor off the bar.