I told her in a few words.

"Show me the palm of your hand--turn it up at once."

I did so, without the least idea of the reason for the demand; but I

afterwards discovered that it was to ascertain whether I was one of

those who had been transported to the settlement, as they all had the

letter R branded on them.

"Oh, you're not a gaol-bird, then, I see: you may come in; but you'll

give me that bow and arrows if you please."

"Certainly," replied I, "if you wish it."

"Why, there's nothing like making sure in this world; and although you

look a very peaceable, good-looking sort of personage, notwithstanding

your Indian set-out, still I've known just as amiable people as you, in

appearance, very mischievous at times. Now come in, and let us hear

what you have to say for yourself. Jeykell, get some more wood."

One man went out to obey her orders; the other sat by the fire with his

musket between his knees. I sat down by the fire, at the request of the

woman, who had seated herself by the side of the man, and then, on her

repeating her question, I gave her a narrative of my adventures, from

the time that I left Rio.

"Well," says she, "we seldom hear stories like them; it's all the world

like a book; and pray what's that thing (pointing to the diamond in its

case) you have hanging to your neck there? You have left that out in

your history."

"That's a charm given me by my Indian wife, to preserve me from

disasters from wild animals; no panther, wolf, or bear will ever attack

me."

"Well," said she, "if so be it has that power, all I can say is, it's

not a bad charm to wear in these parts, for there are animals enough in

the woods in summer, and round the house all night in winter; but I

don't believe a bit in the charm, and that's the truth; however, if it

does no good, it can't do no harm, so you may keep it on, and welcome."

"May I ask how far it is to James Town?" said I. "What, going to James

Town already? I suppose you expect to be there to-night?"

"Not exactly, my good woman," replied I. "I must trespass upon your

kindness to give me something to eat, for I am hungry."

"Good woman! Bah! And pray how dare you call me good woman? Call me

mistress, if you want anything."

"I beg your pardon," said I. "Well, then, mistress; will you give me

something to eat?"

"Yes, I will. James, fetch the meal-cake and a bit of salt pork, and

give him to eat, while I call the cows from the bush."

The mistress, as I shall in future call her, then put down her musket

and left the cabin. During her absence I entered into conversation with

the man called James, for the other had gone out. To my inquiry how far

it was to James Town, he replied that he really did not know; that he

was sent out a convict, and sold for ten years to the husband of the

mistress, who had died two years ago; that this man had a small vessel,

in which he went to James Town by water, and that he had returned with

him in his vessel; that the distance by water he considered about one

hundred and fifty miles, but by land it was not half that distance; that

he did not know the way, nor did he believe that there was any road as

yet made to James Town, as this plantation was quite by itself, and a

long way from any other. He understood that the nearest plantation was

twenty miles off, and he knew there was no road to it, as no one ever

went or came except by water.

"But," said I, "are not the settlers at war with the Indian tribes that

surround them?"

"Yes; and have been now for three or four years; and the Indians have

done great mischief to the plantations, and killed a great many people,

but the settlers have punished them severely."

"Then how is it that this plantation, which is so solitary, has not been

attacked?"

"Because the mistress's husband was a great friend of the Indians, and,

it is said, used to bring them cargoes of muskets and ammunition from

James Town, contrary to all law and regulation. But if he was friendly

with them, the mistress is not; for she has quarrelled with the

principal chief, and I should not be surprised if we were attacked some

day, and all scalped."

"And what does the mistress say to that?"

"Oh, she don't care; she'd fight a hundred Indians, or white men either.

I never saw such a creature--she's afraid of nothing."

"Who is the other man I saw here?"

"Oh, he's another like myself. There were three of us, but one was

drowned by falling overboard from the sloop."

"Well, but my good fellow, how shall I get to James Town?"

"I'm sure I can't tell; but my idea is that you will never get there

unless mistress chooses."

"Why, surely she won't detain me by force?"

"Won't she?--you don't know her. Why she'd stop an army," replied the

man. "I don't think that she will let you go--I don't know; but that's

my opinion. She wants another hand."

"What, do you mean to say that she'll make me work?"

"I mean to say that, according to the laws of the settlement, she has a

right to detain you. Any person found roving here, who cannot give a

satisfactory account of himself, may be detained till something is heard

about him; for he may be a runaway convict, or a runaway apprentice,

which is much the same, after all. Now, she may say that your account

of yourself is not satisfactory, and therefore she detained you; and if

you won't work, she won't give you to eat; so there you are."

"Well, we will see if she is able."

"Able! If you mean strong enough, why she'd take you up with one hand;

and she is as resolute and severe as she is strong. I had rather have

to deal with three men, and that's the truth."

"What's the truth, James?" cried the mistress, coming in at the door.

"Let's hear the truth from your lips, it will be something new."

"I said that I was sent here for finding a pocket-book, mistress; that's

all."

"Yes; but you did not tell him where you found it--at the bottom of a

gentleman's coat-pocket, you know. You can only tell the truth by

halves yet, I see."

Wishing to ascertain how far the man's suspicions were correct, I said

to her:

"I have good friends in James Town: if I were once there I could procure

money and anything else to any amount that I required."

"Well," says she, "you may have; but I'm afraid that the post don't go

out to-day. One would think, after all your wanderings and

difficulties, that you'd be glad to be quiet a little, and remain here;

so we'll talk about James Town some time about next spring."

"Indeed, mistress, I hope you will not detain me here. I can pay you

handsomely, on my arrival at James Town, for your kind treatment and any

trouble you may take for me."

"Pay me! What do I want with money?--there's no shops here with

ribbons, and calicoes, and muslims; and if there were, I'm not a fine

madam. Money! Why I've no child to leave what I have to--no husband to

spend it for me. I have bags and bags of dollars, young man, which my

husband heaped up, and they are of as much use to me as they are now to

him."

"I am glad that you are so rich, mistress, and more glad that your money

is so little cared for and so little wanted; but if you do not want

money, I do very much want to get back to my friends, who think I am

dead, and mourn for me."

"Well, if they have mourned, their sorrow is over by this time, and

therefore your staying here will not distress them more. I may as well

tell you at once that you shall not go; so make up your mind to be

contented, and you'll fare none the worse for it."

This was said in so decided a tone, that, bearing in mind what I had

heard from the convict servant, I thought it advisable to push the

question no further for the present, making up my mind that I would wait

a short time, and then make my escape, if she still persisted in

detaining me by force; but this I could not venture upon until I was in

possession of fire-arms, and I could not obtain them while she had any

suspicion. I therefore replied--"Well, since you are determined I shall

not go, I have nothing more to say, except that I will wait your

pleasure, and, in the mean time, let me make myself as useful as I can,

for I don't want to eat the bread of idleness."

"You're a very sensible young man," replied she; "and now you shall have

a shirt to put on, which will improve your appearance a great deal."

She then went into the inner room, which I presumed was her bed-room, as

there were but two rooms in the cabin. As she went out, I could not

help wondering at her. On examination, I felt assured that she was more

than six feet high, and her shoulders as broad and her arms as nervous

as a man's of that stature. Her chest was very expanded, but bosom she

had none. In fact, she was a man in woman's clothing, and I began to

doubt her sex. Her features were not bad, had they been of smaller

dimensions, but her nose was too large, although it was straight; her

eyes were grand, but they were surmounted with such coarse eyebrows; her

mouth was well shaped, and her teeth were good and regular, but it was

the mouth of an ogress; her walk was commanding and firm; every action

denoted energy and muscle; and certainly, from the conversation I have

already made known, her mind was quite as masculine as her body--she was

a splendid monster. In a minute she returned, bringing me a good check

shirt and a pair of duck trousers, which I thankfully accepted.

"I've plenty more for those who please me," said she, carelessly; "when

you've put them on, come out to me, and I'll show you the plantation."

In a minute or two I joined her, and she led me round the

tobacco-fields, then to the maize or Indian corn grounds, pointing out

and explaining everything. She also showed me the cows, store pigs, and

poultry. Wishing to please her, I asked many questions, and pretended

to take an interest in all I saw. This pleased her much, and once or

twice she smiled--but such a smile! After an hour's ramble we returned,

and found the two servants very busy, one husking maize, and the other

in the shed where the tobacco was dried. I asked some questions of her

about the tobacco--how many casks or bales she made a year? She replied

that she made it in bales, and sold it by weight.

"It must be heavy carriage from here to James Town?" said I.

"Yes, indeed, if it went that way it never would arrive, I imagine,"

replied she; "but I have a sloop in the river below, which carries it

round."

"When is the time it is harvested and fit to be carried round?" inquired

I.

"It is now turning fast," said she; "all that you see hanging in the

drying sheds has been already drawn; in three or four weeks it will be

housed, and then we begin to pack: in about two months from this the

sloop will take it round."

"But is it not expensive keeping a sloop on purpose, with men to have

her in charge?" inquired I, to hear what she would say.

"The sloop lies at anchor, without a soul on board," said she. "No one

ever comes up this river. I believe Captain Smith, who made the

settlement, did so once. There is another river, about twenty miles

further down, which is occasionally frequented by buccaneers, I am

told--indeed, I know it, for my husband had more to do with them than

perhaps was good for his soul, but this little river is never visited."

"Then your servants take her round?"

"Yes; I leave one in charge, and take two with me."

"But you have but two."

"Not till you came--one died; but now I have three," and she smiled at

me again.

If I had not been so afraid of affronting her, I certainly would have

said to her, "Do anything, I beg, but smile."

I said no more on that point. She called Jeykell, who was in the

tobacco-shed, and desired him to kill a couple of chickens, and bring

them in. We then entered the cabin, and she observed--"I don't doubt

but you are tired with so much fatigue; you look so; go and sleep on one

of their beds; you shall have one for yourself by night."

I was not sorry to do as she proposed, for I was tired out. I lay down,

and I did not wake till she called me and told me that dinner was ready.

I was quite ready for that also, and I sat down with her, but the two

convict servants did not. She ate in proportion to her size, and that

is saying enough. After dinner she left me, and went with her two men

on her farming avocations, and I was for a long while cogitating on what

had passed. I perceived that I was completely in her power, and that it

was only by obtaining her good-will that I had any chance of getting

away, and I made up my mind to act accordingly. I found a comfortable

bed, of the husks of Indian corn, prepared for me at night, in an

ante-room where the two servant-men slept. It was a luxury that I had

not enjoyed for a long while. For several days I remained very quiet,

and apparently very contented. My mistress gave me no hard work,

chiefly sending me on messages or taking me out with her. She made the

distinction between me and the convicts that I always took my meals with

her and they did not. In short, I was treated as a friend and visitor

more than anything else, and had I not been so anxious about going to

England, I certainly had no reason to complain except of my detention,

and this, it was evident, it was not in her power to prevent, as, until

the sloop went away with the tobacco, she had no means of sending me

away. One day, however, as I was walking past the tobacco-shed, I heard

my name mentioned by the two convicts, and stopping I heard James say:

"Depend upon it, that's what she's after, Jeykell; and he is to be our

master, whether he likes it or not."

"Well, I shouldn't wonder," replied the other; "she does make pure love

to him, that's certain."

"Very true; everything's fierce with her--even love--and so he'll find

it if he don't fancy her."

"Yes, indeed:--well, I'd rather serve another ten years than she should

fall in love with me."

"And if I had my choice, whether to be her husband or to swing, I should

take the cord in preference."

"Well, I pity him from my heart; for he is a good youth and a

fair-spoken and a handsome, too; and I'm sure that he has no idea of his

unfortunate situation."

"No idea, indeed," said I to myself, as I walked away. "Merciful

Heaven! Is it possible!" And when I thought over her conduct, and what

had passed between us, I perceived not only that the convicts were right

in their supposition, but that I had, by wishing to make myself

agreeable to her, even assisted in bringing affairs to this crisis.

That very day she had said to me: "I was very young when I married, only

fourteen, and I lived with my husband nine years. He is dead more than

a year now."

When she said that, which she did at dinner, while she was clawing the

flesh off a wild turkey, there was something so ridiculous in that

feminine confession, coming from such a masculine mouth, that I felt

very much inclined to laugh, but I replied:

"You are a young widow, and ought to think of another husband."

Again, when she said, "If ever I marry again, it shall not be a man who

has been burnt on the hand. No, no, my husband shall be able to open

both hands and show them."

I replied, "You are right there. I would never disgrace myself by

marrying a convict."

When I thought of these and many other conversations which had passed

between us, I had no doubt, in my own mind, but that the convicts were

correct in their suppositions, and I was disgusted at my own blindness.

"At all events," said I to myself, after a long cogitation, "if she

wants to marry me, she must go to James Town for a parson, and if I once

get there, I will contrive, as soon as extra constables are sworn in, to

break off the match." But, seriously, I was in an awkward plight.

There was something in that woman that was awful, and I could imagine

her revenge to be most deadly. I thought the old Indian squaw to be bad

enough, but this new mistress was a thousand times worse. What a hard

fate, I thought, was mine, that I should be thus forced to marry against

my will, and be separated from her whom I adored. I was a long while

turning over the matter in my mind, and at last I resolved that I would

make no alteration in my behaviour, but behave to her as before, and

that if the affair was precipitated by my mistress, that I would be off

to the woods, and take my chance of wild beasts and wild Indians, rather

than consent to her wishes. I then went into the cabin, where I found

her alone.

"Alexander," said she (she would know my Christian name, and called me

by it), "they say widows court the men, and that they are privileged to

do so," (I turned pale, for I little thought that there was to be an

explanation so soon;) "at all events, whether they are or not, I know

that a woman in my position cannot well expect a young man in yours to

venture without encouragement. Now, Alexander, I have long perceived

your feelings and your wishes, and I have only to say that mine are such

as yours," (oh, I wish they were, thought I), "and therefore you have

but to ask and to have."

I was mute with fear and despair, and could not find a reply to make to

her.

"Why do you not answer, Alexander? Do you think me too forward?"

"No," stammered I; "you are very kind, but this is so unexpected--so

unlooked for--so unhoped for--I am so overcome."

Observe, Madam, how strangely the sexes were changed. I was the woman

in this instance.

"I should like to consult my friends."

"Consult your fiddlesticks," replied she, quickly. "Who have you got to

consult? I hope, Alexander," said she, setting her broad teeth

together, "that you are not trifling with me?"

"Indeed, I never should think of trifling with your mistress," replied

I. "I feel much obliged to you for showing such a preference for me."

"I think, Alexander, that you ought; so now then, if you please, give me

your answer," replied she.

"Had I been prepared for your kindness, I would have done so at once,

but I have many serious questions to put to myself, and, if you please,

we will renew the subject to-morrow morning. I will then tell you

candidly how I am situated; and if after that you do not withdraw your

proposal, I shall be most happy to be yours as soon as we can go to

James Town to be married."

"If," replied she, "you mean to insinuate, Alexander, that you have a

wife in England, that is of no consequence in this settlement; for those

who live here are free from all English marriages; and as for going to

James Town, that is quite unnecessary. If the people in the settlement

were to wait for a parson when they married, they would never be married

at all. All that is necessary is, that we shall draw up an agreement of

marriage on paper, sign it, and have it witnessed. However, as I

perceive that you are flurried, I will wait till to-morrow morning for

your decision."

My mistress then rose from her stool, and went into her chamber,

shutting to the door with more emphasis than was at all agreeable to my

nerves. I walked out into the open air to recover myself, and to

reflect upon what course I should take in this awkward and dangerous

dilemma. Marrying was out of the question--but how to avoid it? It was

almost like being stopped by a highwayman. He says, "Your money or your

life." My mistress's demand was, "Marriage or your life." There was

but one hope, which was to escape that very night, and take my chance in

the woods, and so I resolved to do.

I did not go in till dark; my mistress was in her own room; the two

convicts were sitting by the fire. I took my seat by them, but did not

speak, except in a whisper, telling them that their mistress was not

well, and that we had better go to bed, and not talk. They stared at me

at the idea of the mistress being ill; they had never known her to

complain of anything since they resided with her; but the hint was

sufficient. They went to bed, and so did I with my clothes on, watching

the crevices of the door of her room to see if her lamp was out. In

about half an hour the little thin beams through the chinks of her door

disappeared, and then I knew that she had gone to bed. I watched two

hours more before I ventured to stir. The convicts were both snoring

loud, and effectually drowned any slight noise I might make in moving

about. I went to the locker, secured all the cold meat for provision,

took down one of the muskets and ammunition-belts, and, having put the

latter over my shoulders, I then took the musket in my hand and crept

softly to the door of the cabin. Here was the only difficulty; once

out, but five yards off, and I was clear. I removed the heavy wooden

bar, without noise, and had now only to draw the bolt. I put my finger

to it, and was sliding it gently and successfully back, when my throat

was seized, and I was hurled back on the floor of the cabin. I was so

stunned by the violence of the fall, that for a short time I was

insensible. When I recovered, I felt a great weight upon my chest, and

opening my eyes found my mistress sitting upon me, and giving orders to

the convicts, one of whom had already lighted the lamp.

"For mercy's sake, get off my chest," said I, in a faint voice.

"Yes, I will, but not yet," replied my mistress. "Now, James, hand them

to me."

James handed some chains to his mistress, who, turning round as she sat

on my body, made the manacle at the end of the chain fast round my

ankle. This went with a snap-spring, which could not be opened without

a key belonging to it. At last she rose off my body, and I could

breathe free. She then called to the convicts, saying:

"Go both of you into the tobacco-shed, and wait there till I call you

out. If I find you one foot nearer to us, I'll flay you alive."

The servants ran off as fast as they could. When they were gone, my

mistress said:

"So you were about to escape, were you? You would avoid the chances of

matrimony, and now you have other chances which you little dreamt of."

"I thought it was the wisest thing that I could do," replied I. "Since

I must be plain, I am sacredly betrothed to another person, and I could

not even for you break my faith. I meant to have told you so to-morrow

morning, but I was afraid it would annoy you, and therefore I wished to

go away without giving you any answer."

"Well, Sir, I offered to be your wife, which would have made you my lord

and master. You refuse it, and now I make you my slave. I give you

your option; you shall either consent to be my husband, or you shall

remain as you are, and toil hard; but any time that you think better of

it, and are willing to embrace my offer, you will be free, and I will be

as a wife in subjection."

"So you say," replied I; "but suppose I was to make you angry after I

married you, you would do to me as you have done now. I may, perhaps,

one day get free from this chain, but, once married to you, I am a slave

for ever."

"You may think otherwise before long," replied she; "in the mean time,

you may walk out and cool yourself."

She then returned to her room, and I rose, having determined to walk out

and cool myself, as she proposed; but when I was on my legs, I found

that to the other end of the chain, which was very heavy and about two

yards long, was riveted an iron ball of about thirty pounds weight, so

that I could not walk without carrying this heavy weight in my hands,

for it could not be dragged. I lifted up the iron ball, and went out of

the house. I was no longer afraid of her. I was in too great a rage to

fear anything. As I calmed, I considered my case, and found it to be

hopeless; as I thought of Amy, and the many months of hope deferred, I

wept bitterly; and I had no consolation, for the reader may recollect

that I lost my Bible when I was sent on shore, naked almost, by the

rascally captain of the Transcendant.

I had now been twenty months away from Liverpool, and I felt as if my

chance of seeing her that I loved was indeed hopeless. I might remain

chained in such a solitude for years, or I might expire under her

barbarous treatment, for I fully knew what I had to expect. However, I

was resolved. I prayed fervently for support and succour in my time of

trouble, and became more composed. I remained out the whole of the

night, and watched the rising sun. The two convicts came out to their

work, and shrugged their shoulders as they passed me, but they dared not

speak to me.

My mistress at last came out. She commenced with abuse, but I gave no

answer. She tried soothing, but I was mute. At last she became frantic

in her passion, hurled me away from her, and after being dreadfully

beaten I fell to the ground. She put her foot upon my neck, and she

stood there, looking like a fury. She loaded me with epithets, and then

of a sudden went down on her knees by me, and begged my pardon, calling

me her dear Alexander--her life--entreating me to accede to her wishes.

Never was there such a tigress in love before, I really believe.

"Hear me," replied I; "as long as I am chained, I never will give any

answer upon the present subject, that I swear."

She rose from my side, and walked away.

It is impossible, my dear Madam, for me to describe what I suffered from

this woman for more than six weeks, during which she kept me chained in

this way--at one time entreating me, the next moment kicking me, and

throwing me down. I had no peace--my life became a burden to me, and I

often entreated her, in mercy, to put an end to my sufferings. I also

had my paroxysms of rage, and then would spurn her, spit at her, and do

everything I could, and say all that I could imagine, to show my hatred

and contempt. At other times I was sullen, and that always annoyed her.

She would bear my reproaches patiently--bear any thing, so long as I

would talk; but if I remained obstinately silent, then, in a short time,

her fury would break forth. I pitied her, notwithstanding her

ill-treatment, for the woman did love me (after her own fashion) most

intensely.

It was on the seventh week of my confinement on the chain, that one

morning very early, as I was lying in the tobacco-shed, for she had

turned me out of the cabin, I perceived among the trees, which were

about three hundred yards from the cabin, two Indians, in what is called

their war-paint, which is a sign that they were on a hostile excursion.

I remained perfectly quiet, and well concealed, that I might watch them.

The convicts had more than once told me that the Indians would attack

us, in consequence of an insult which my mistress had offered to their

chief, with whom her husband had been so friendly; and when they stated

what had passed, I agreed with them that they would not fail to resent

the insult as soon as they could. I had therefore always been on the

look-out, but had never seen any Indians before. My mistress, to whom I

had, in our days of sweet converse, spoken about them, always laughed at

the idea of their attacking her, and said that they might come if they

liked. She had made every preparation for them, as she had loop-holes

stuffed up with moss just below the roof of the cabin, from which you

could fire down upon them till they were within four yards of the cabin,

and other loop-holes, from which you might shoot them when close to; the

window and door were impregnable, and, provided that we were once in the

cabin, there was no doubt but that a serious, if not effectual,

resistance might be made. That the Indians were reconnoitring the cabin

was evident, and that they did not do so for nothing was equally

certain. After a while, during which I made out six of them, they fell

back in the wood, and disappeared. The dog at that moment came out to

me, and it was probably the sight of the dog which made them retreat, as

they feared that he would have given notice of their being so close to

us. I waited till the convicts came out, and then I went into the

cabin, and said:

"You drove me out of the house last night, and I come to return good for

evil. As I lay in the tobacco-shed, I saw six Indians in the wood, to

the east of the cabin, reconnoitring, and I have no doubt but that you

will be attacked this night, so I give you notice."

"And you hope that, by this fear of their attack, you will be set free,

is it not?"

"It is perfectly indifferent to me whether I am or not. I have often

asked you to put an end to my misery, and as you have not done it, I

shall bless those Indians for the friendly act; a blow of a tomahawk

will release me, if you will not."

"Well, then, let them come with their tomahawks," replied she, "and I

will protect you from them, for no one shall release you but myself."

"As you please," replied I; "I have done my duty in telling you what I

have seen, and you may take precautions or not; for myself I care

nothing."

So saying, I lifted up my ball of iron and went away out of the door. I

remained out of doors the whole of the day, and therefore did not know

whether my mistress took any precautions or not, but I told the two

convicts what I had seen, and advised them not to go far from the cabin,

as they would run great danger.

They inquired of me where I had seen the Indians and I pointed out the

spot in the wood, after which they went away. I was certain that the

attack would be on this night, as there was no moon till three hours

before daybreak; and as it was very dark it would probably take place in

the early part of the night. I had made up my mind what I would do,

which was not in any way to defend the cabin while chained, but, when I

was freed, I would fight to the last, so that I might be killed where I

stood, and not be taken alive and tortured.

I did not go out from home all that day, and, to my surprise, I was not

molested by my mistress. At dark she called the convicts, but they did

not answer; she came out to look for them, and asked me whether I had

seen them.

I told her that I had not seen them for two hours, and I had thought

that they were in the house.

"Did you tell them about the Indians?"

"Yes, I did," I replied, "and stated my opinion that they would attack

us this night, and I advised them not to go far from the cabin, or they

might be cut off."

"Then the cowardly sneaks have run off to the woods, and left us to

defend ourselves how we can."

"I shall not defend myself," replied I. "I shall stay here where I am.

I wait for death, and will not avoid it."

"Come into the house," said she, abruptly.

"No," replied I, "I will not."

"You will not," said she, and, catching up the chain and ball in one

hand, with her other arm she caught me round the waist, and carried me

into the house.

"Well," replied I, "it is only deferring it a little longer; they will

force their way in it at last, and I will die here."

"Wait until they arrive," replied my mistress. "But do you mean to say

that you will not defend the house?"

"Certainly not, as long as I am chained as a slave," replied I.

My mistress made no reply, but busied herself with barring the door and

window. She then placed the table and stools so that she might stand

upon them and fire out of the upper loop-holes; pulled the moss out of

the loop-holes; took down the muskets--of which there were six--from

their rests; examined the priming of those which were loaded, and loaded

those which were not. She then got out a supply of powder and ball,

which she put ready on the table, brought the axes out, that they might

be at hand, examined the water-jars to ascertain whether the convicts

had filled them as she had ordered, and then, when all was prepared for

defence, she removed the lamp into the inner room, leaving the one we

were in so dark, that the Indians could not, by looking through the

chinks or loop-holes, discover where the occupants of the cabin might

be. All these arrangements she made with the greatest coolness, and I

could not help admiring her courage and self-possession.

"Is there any more to be done, Alexander?" said she, in a mild voice.

"Where is the dog?" replied I.

"Tied up in the tobacco-shed," said she.

"Then there is no more to be done," replied I; "the dog will give you

notice of their coming, as they will first occupy the tobacco-shed as an

advanced post."

"Alexander, will you promise not to escape if I set you free?"

"Certainly not," replied I. "You set me free for your own purposes,

because you wish me to help to defend your property; and then, forsooth,

when the Indians are beat off, you will chain me again."

"No, no; that was not my feeling, as I sit here alive," replied she;

"but I was thinking that, if forced to retreat from the cabin, you would

never be able to escape, and I never could save you; but they should

hack me to pieces first."

"Answer me one question," said I. "In a time of peril like this, would

you, as a conscientious person, think that you were justified in

retaining in such fetters even a convict who had robbed you? And if you

feel that you would not, on what grounds do you act in this way to a man

whom you profess to love?--I leave it to your conscience."

She remained silent for some time: when the dog barked, and she started

up.

"I believe I am mad, or a fool," said she, sweeping back her hair from

her forehead.

She then took the key of the manacle out of her dress, and released me.

"Alexander--"

"Silence!" said I, putting my hand to her mouth, "this is no time to be

heard speaking. Silence!" repeated I in a whisper, "I hear them, they

are round the house."

I stood upon one of the stools and looked through a loop-hole. It was

very dark, but as the Indians stood on the hill, there was clear sky

behind them as low down as their waists, and I could perceive their

motions, as they appeared to be receiving orders from their chief; and

they advanced to the door of the cabin with axes and tomahawks. My

mistress had mounted on the table at the same time that I had got on the

stool. We now got down again without speaking, and, each taking a

musket, we kneeled down at the lower loop-holes which I have described.

On second thoughts I mounted the stool, whispering to her, "Don't fire

till I do."

The Indians came to the door and tapped, one asking in English to be let

in. No reply was given, and they commenced their attack upon the door

with their axes. As soon as this aggression took place, I took good aim

at their chief, as I presumed him to be, who was now standing alone on

the hill. I fired. He fell immediately.

As I leaped from the stool my mistress discharged her musket, and we

both caught up others and returned to the loop-holes below. By this

time the blows of the axes were incessant, and made the cabin-door

tremble and the dust to fly down in showers from the roof; but the door

was of double oak with iron braces, and not easily to be cut through;

and the bars which held it were of great size and strength.

It was some time before we could get another shot at an Indian, but at

last I succeeded, and as his comrades were taking the body away my

mistress shot another. After this the blows of the axes ceased, and

they evidently had retreated. I then went into the inner room and

extinguished the lamp, that they might not be able to see us--for the

lamp gave a faint light. We returned to the table, and loaded the

muskets in the dark.

As I put my musket on the table, my mistress said, "Will they come

again?"

"Yes;" replied I, "I think they will; but if you wish to talk, we had

better retreat to the fire-place: there we shall be safe from any shot."

We retreated to the fire-place, and sat down on the ashes; it just held

us both, and my mistress took this opportunity of embracing me,

saying--"Dear Alexander, if I had a thousand lives, I would sacrifice

them for you."

"We have but one," replied I, "and that one I will devote for your

defence; I can do no more."

"Who did you fire at?" said she.

"The chief, as I believe, who was on the hill giving orders. He fell;

and I think that he fell dead."

"Then depend upon it they will retreat," said she.

"I think not; they will be revenged, if they possibly can; and we must

expect a hard fight for it."

"Why, what can they do? They never can break through the door, and when

daylight comes we can shoot them by dozens."

"Depend upon it," said I, "they will try to burn us out. The wind is

high, which is all in their favour, and I suspect they are now gone to

collect fire-wood."

"And if they do fire the cabin, what shall we do? I never thought of

that."

"We must remain in it as long as we can, and then sally out and fight to

the last; but everything depends on circumstances. Be guided by me, and

I will save you if I can."

"Be guided by you!"

"Yes! Recollect I am not in chains now, and that although you have the

courage of a man, still you have not been so accustomed to warfare as I

have been. I have long been accustomed to command, to plan, and to

execute, in times of peril like this."

"You have great strength and courage; I little thought what a lion I had

chained up," replied she. "Well, I love you all the better for it, and

I will be guided by you, for I perceive already that you have the best

head of the two. Hark! What is that?"

"It is what I said," replied I; "they are laying fire-wood against the

logs of the cabin on the windward side--(this was on the side opposite

to the door). Now we must try if we cannot pick off some more of them,"

said I, rising and taking a musket. "Bring the stools over to this

side, for we must fire from the upper loop-holes."

We remained at our posts for some time without seeing an Indian. They

had gone back to the wood for more combustibles. At last we perceived

them coming back with the wood. I should imagine there were at least

twenty of them.

"Now, take good aim," said I.

We both fired almost at the same moment, and three Indians fell.

"Get down, and give me another musket," said I to my mistress.

She handed me one, and, taking another for herself, resumed her station.

We fired several times; sometimes with and sometimes without success;

for the Indians went away twice for fire-wood before they had collected

what they considered sufficient. By this time it was piled up to the

eaves of the cabin, and our loop-holes were shut up; we therefore went

over to the other side, where the door was, to see if there were any

Indians there, but could not see one. We had been on the look-out for

about five minutes, when the crackling of the wood, and the smoke

forcing itself though the crevices between the logs, told us that the

fire had been applied, and the wind soon fanned it up so that the flame

poured through every chink and loop-hole, and lighted up the cabin.

"We must retreat to the fire-place," said I. "Come quickly, or we shall

be shot."

"Why so?" said she, as she did as I requested.

"They will peep through the loop-holes on the side of the cabin where

the door is and see us plainly, until the cabin is filled with smoke,

which it soon will be."

"But tell me what we are to do now, for I feel if this smoke increases

we shall not be able to speak to one another."

This she said about five minutes after we had remained standing in the

fire-place, with our heads up the chimney.

"Perhaps it will be as well," replied I, "that I do speak so. This

fierce wind drives the smoke to leeward in volumes, but the great burst

of smoke will be when the roof is well on fire. It is now burning

fiercely on the windward side, but we must wait till the lee-side has

caught, and then the volume of smoke will be greater. The great point

is to hit the precise time of opening the door, and escaping shrouded in

a volume of smoke. If too soon, they will perceive us, and we shall be

shot down; if too late, the roof will fall upon us, and we shall be

smothered or burnt. We had better now, I think, leave this, and be all

ready. Our best weapon, if we had to fight our way, will be an axe.

Let us each take one; and, by now going near to the door, and putting

our mouths to one of the loop-holes, we shall breathe freer, and unbar

the door at the right time. Do you agree with me?"

"You are right," said she; "you are a _man_, and I am a _woman_."

We left the fire-place, and, having felt for and found the axes, we went

near the door, and put our mouths to the loop-holes below; and the smoke

passing above them enabled us to breathe freer. I looked out and

perceived that, with the exception of about six yards to leeward of the

cabin, there was a dense volume of smoke rolling along the ground for a

long distance; and that if we could only once gain it without being

perceived, we should probably be saved. I therefore unbarred the door,

drew the bolt, and held it in my hand, all ready for a start. The cabin

was now in flames in every part as well as the roof. I touched my

mistress, and then took her hand in mine, watching at the loop-hole. At

last, when the heat was almost unbearable, an eddy of the wind drove

back the smoke close to the lee-side of the cabin, and all was dark. I

jumped up, opened the door, and dragged my mistress after me; we walked

out into the black mass completely hid from our enemies, and then

running hand-in-hand as fast as we could to leeward in the centre of the

smoke, we found ourselves at least one hundred yards from the cabin

without the Indians having any idea that we were not still inside. As

we retreated, the density of the smoke became less, and I then told her

to run for her life, as the Indians would discover that the door of the

cabin was open and that we had escaped--and so it proved. We were still

a hundred yards from the wood when a yell was given which proved that

they had discovered our escape and were in pursuit. We gained the wood;

I turned round a moment to look behind me, and perceived at least forty

or fifty Indians in full pursuit of us--the foremost about two hundred

yards distant.

"Now we must run for it, mistress," said I, "and we must no longer take

hands. We shall have to thread the wood. Away! We have no time to

lose."

So saying, I snatched my hand from her and sprang forward; she following

me as fast as she could, more fearful, evidently, of my making my escape

from her than of her own escape from the Indians. As soon as I was a

hundred yards in the wood, I turned short to the right, and fled with

all my speed in that direction, because I hoped by this means to deceive

the Indians, and it was easier to run where the wood was not so thick.

My mistress followed me close; she would have hallooed to me, but she

had not breath after the first half-mile. I found out that I was more

fleet than she was. Whether encumbered with her clothes, or perhaps not

so much used to exercise, I heard her panting after me. I could easily

have left her, but my fear was that she would have called to me, and if

she had, the Indians would have heard her, and have known the direction

I had taken, and, when once on my trail, they would, as soon as daylight

came, have followed me by it to any distance; I therefore slackened my

speed so as just to enable my mistress to keep up with me at about ten

yards' distance; when we had run about three miles I felt certain that

she could not proceed much further: speak she could not, and as I ran

without once looking behind me, she could make no sign. I continued at

a less rapid pace for about a mile further. I did this to enable her to

keep up with me, and to recover my own breath as much as possible

previous to a start. The voices of the Indians had long been out of

hearing, and it was clear that they had not discovered the direction

which we had taken. I knew, therefore, that they could not hear her now

if she did cry out as loud as she could, and I gradually increased my

speed, till I could no longer hear her panting behind me; I then went

off at my full speed, and after a few minutes I heard her voice at some

distance faintly calling out my name. "Yes," thought I, "but I have not

forgotten the ball and chain; and if you thought that you had let loose

a lion while we were in the cabin, you shall find that you have loosed a

deer in the woods." I then stopped for a few moments to recover my

breath; I did not, however, wait long; I was afraid that my mistress

might recover her breath as well as myself, and I again set off as fast

as I could. The idea of torture from the Indians, or again being kept

confined by my mistress, gave me endurance which I thought myself

incapable of. Before morning I calculated that I had run at least

twenty miles, if not more.

With the perspiration running down me in streams, and hardly able to

drag one leg before the other, I at last, just about daybreak, gave it

up, when I threw myself on the ground, and dropped out of my hand my

axe, which I had carried the whole way. I lay there for more than half

an hour, tormented with thirst, but quite unable to move. At last I

recovered; and, as I well knew that the Indians would divide in parties

of three or four, and hunt every part of the woods, and by daylight

probably discover my track, I rose and prepared to resume my toil, when,

looking round me, I perceived that I was exactly on the spot where I had

followed the deer, and had fallen in with the Jolly Rover, as he termed

himself, who had pointed out the way to the plantations. I turned and

saw the river below, and as he had told me that the Indians never came

there, I resolved to go to the river, where, at least, I should find

shell-fish and water. I did so; and in half an hour arrived at the

skirts of the wood, and found that the river was about four hundred

yards from me and clear of trees at the mouth for some distance. I went

down to the river, which ran swiftly cut, and I drank till I was ready

to burst. I then rose on my feet, and walked along its banks towards

the mouth, thinking what I should do. To get to James Town appeared to

me to be an impossibility, unless by water, and I was not likely to meet

with any other vessel here but a pirate. Should I, then, go aboard of a

pirate? It appeared to me to be my only resource, and that I should be

happy if I could find one.

By this time I had arrived at the mouth of the river, and, looking out

to seaward, I saw a schooner at anchor. She was about three miles off.

That she was a pirate vessel, I presumed. Should I go on board of her

or not? And if so, how was I to get on board? All her boats were up;

and I surmised that she had just left the river with the intention of

sailing as soon as there was any wind, for now it was calm. The river

ran out swiftly, and I thought I should be able to swim the distance

with the assistance I should obtain from the current, which swept down

right for her, and she was riding to its strength.

I was demurring. I had been perhaps two hours on the beach, waiting to

see if she might send a boat on shore, when, as I stood at the

river-side, still hesitating, I happened to turn round and perceived

three Indians coming down upon me as fast as they could. I hesitated no

longer, but plunged into the stream, and was swept out two hundred yards

before they arrived at the beach. I made for the schooner; and the

current ran out so fast, that in half an hour I was close to her. I

swam for her cable, which I clung to, and then shouted loudly. This

induced some of the crew to look over the bows, and they handed me a

bowling knot, into which I fixed myself, and was hauled on board.

I was dragged aft to give an account of myself, and I stated in few

words that I had been pursued by the Indians, and swam off to save my

life.

"Hav'n't we met before?" said a rough voice.

I looked, and saw the Jolly Rover whom I had fallen in with on shore. I

said, "Yes; I was escaping from the Indians when I met you, and you

showed me the direction of the plantations."

"All's right," said he. "It's a true bill; and were those Indians after

you that we saw on the beach just now?"

"Yes," I replied; and then I stated how it was that they had attacked

our cabin, and how we had escaped.

"That was well done, and so you swam off three miles. Fire and water

won't hurt you; that's clear. You're just the man for us. What

thing-um-bob is this that you have hung round your neck?" said he,

taking up the leathern bag with the diamond in it.

"That," replied I--a sudden thought having struck me--"is my caul; I was

born with a caul, and I have always worn it, as it saves a man from

drowning."

"No wonder that you swam three miles, then," replied the man.

You must know, Madam, that some people are born with a membrane over the

face, which is termed a caul, and there has been a vulgar error that

such people can never be drowned, especially if they wear this caul

about their person in after-life. Sailors are superstitious in many

things, but particularly in this, and my caul was therefore as

much-respected by them as it hung round my neck, as it was by the

Indians when they thought it was what they call "magic" or "medicine."

"Well," said the Jolly Rover, "as you had so much fire, so much water,

and so much running, I think you won't be sorry to have a biscuit and

glass of grog, and then turn in; to-morrow we will talk to you."

I went down below, very glad to accept the offer, and as I was regaling

myself, who should come up to me but two of the Portuguese who had been

wrecked in the xebeque, and put on shore with me in the little boat by

the captain of the Transcendant. I was very glad to see them. They

told me that, after great hardship and suffering, they had arrived

famished at the banks of this river, and had been taken on board by the

pirates, and had remained with them ever since; that they were very

anxious to get away, but never had an opportunity. I begged them not to

say who I was, but merely that I was once a shipmate of theirs. They

promised, and being very tired, I then lay down and fell asleep. I was

so worn out, that I did not wake till the next morning, when I found

that we were under all sail running down to the southward. I saw the

Jolly Rover, as I had termed him, on deck, (his real or assumed name, I

don't know which, I found out to be Toplift,) sitting on a gun abaft.

He called me to him. I said:

"Are you the captain?"

"Yes," he replied, "for want of a better. I told you months ago what we

were, so it's no use repeating it. Do you intend to join us?"

"Then," replied I, "I will be very candid with you. I have been driven,

as it were, on board of your vessel, but certainly without knowing

exactly what she was. Now, captain, I have to ask you one question:--

Would you, if you could go on shore in England, with plenty of money at

your command, and plenty of good friends,--would you be here?"

"No; certainly not," replied he.

"Well; I am in that position. If once in England, I have money enough

to live upon, and plenty of friends; I therefore naturally want to get

back to England, and not to run the risk of my neck on board of this

vessel."

"That's very true," replied he, "but there are other considerations; my

men won't have a man on board who will not swear fidelity, and if you

will not, I cannot protect you,--they will throw you overboard. We

don't carry passengers."

"That's very true, also; and I will swear fidelity so far as this, that

you never shall be betrayed by me, and I never will appear as a witness

against one of you; it were most ungrateful if I did. While I am on

board, I will do any duty you please to put me to, for I cannot expect

to eat my bread for nothing."

"And suppose we come to action?"

"There's the difficulty," replied I; "against an English ship I never

will fight."

"But if we are opposed to any other nation, and there is a chance of our

being overpowered?"

"Why, then, if you are overpowered, as I shall be flung along with the

rest, I think I must do all I can to save my own life; but, overpowered

or not, I will not fire a shot or draw a cutlass against my own

countrymen."

"Well, I cannot deny but that's all very fair."

"I think," replied I, "it is as much as you can expect; especially as I

never will share any prize-money."

"Well; I will talk to the men, and hear what they say; but, now, answer

me one question--Are you not a seaman?"

"I will answer the truth to everything; I am a seaman, and I have

commanded a privateer. I have served many years in privateers, and have

seen a great deal of hard fighting."

"So I thought," replied he; "and now answer me another question,--Was it

not you that played that trick to that French privateer captain at

Bordeaux?"

"Yes it was," replied I; "but how came you to know that?"

"Because I was the mate of a merchant vessel that had been captured, and

I saw you three or four times as you passed the vessel I was on board

of; for, being put in quarantine, we were not sent to prison till the

pratique was given. I thought that I knew you again."

"I have no concealment to make."

"No: but I will tell you candidly, my men, if they knew all this, would

not allow you to leave the vessel. Indeed, you might be captain if you

pleased, for I do not suit them. Our captain--for I was his officer--

was killed about six months ago; and I really am not fit for the

office--I am too tender-hearted."

"Well; you don't look so," replied I, laughing.

"Can't judge of outsides," replied he; "but it's a fact. They say that

they will be all condemned if taken, from my not destroying the crews of

the vessels we take; that they will be so many witnesses against them;

and I cannot make up my mind to cold-blooded murder. I am bad enough; I

rob on the high seas; I kill on the high seas--for we must kill when we

fight; but I cannot commit deliberate murder either at sea or on shore,

and so I tell them. If any one else could navigate the vessel, I should

be superseded immediately."

"I am glad to hear you say what you have, captain; it makes me less

dissatisfied at finding myself here. Well; I have said all I can, and I

must trust to you to manage with your ship's company."

"It will be a difficult job," said he, musing.

"Tell them," replied I, "that I was once a captain of a vessel like this

(after all, there is not so much difference between a pirate and a

privateer as you may think)--and that I will not be under the command of

any one."

"If they hear that, they will give you the command of this vessel."

"I will refuse to take it; and give my reasons."

"Well; I'll tell them that: I leave you to settle with them how you can;

but," added he, in a low tone, "there are some desperate villains among

them."

"That I take for granted," replied I; "so now I leave you to speak to

them."

Toplift did so. He told them that I was a pirate captain, who had lost

his vessel and been thrown on shore, but I refused to join any ship

except as captain of her; that I would not serve as first officer, and

would obey no one. He told them that he knew me before, and he narrated

the business at Bordeaux when I commanded a privateer, extolling me, as

I afterwards found, beyond all measure.

The crew, having heard what he had to say, went forward, and, after

consultation, came to Toplift and said that I must take the oath.

Toplift replied that he had desired me so to do, and that I had answered

that I would not. "But," said he, "you had better speak to him

yourselves. Call all hands aft and hear what he has to say."

This was done, and I was sent for.

"I have told them what you said, Sir. I don't know your name."

"I have no name," replied I, proudly, "except `Captain,'--that's my

name."

The fact is, Madam, I was determined to carry it out bravely; knowing

that it is the best way to deal with such people as I now had in hand.

"Well, then, Captain, I have told the men that you will not take the

oath."

"Take the oath!" replied I, with scorn; "no; I administer the oath to

others. I make them take it. I make them swear fidelity to me. Such

has been my conduct, and I shall not depart from it."

"Well, but, Captain Toplift, you don't mean to say that he is to remain

on board with us and not take the oath," said a surly-looking ruffian.

"In spite of you, he shall take the oath, Captain Toplift."

"Captain Toplift," said I, calmly, "do you allow one of your crew to use

such language as this? Had I been captain of this ship, I would have

blown his brains out as he stood. You don't know how to deal with these

rascals. I do."

Captain Toplift, who appeared much pleased at being supported in this

way by me--(strange that a single individual, whom they might have

thrown overboard in a minute, should have gained such an ascendency, but

so it was)--and who perceived that the men fell back, as if taken by

surprise, then said, "Captain, you have taught me a good lesson, which I

will take advantage of. Seize that fellow and put him in irons."

"Hah!" cried the man, seeing that no man touched him; "who is to bell

the cat! Hah!" and drew his cutlass.

"I will, then," said I to Captain Toplift, "if you desire it;" and

stepping forward I went up to the man, saying, "Come, come, my good

fellow, this won't do here; I am used to deal with such chaps as you,

and I can manage worse than you, a good deal."

I advanced till I was within the stroke of his cutlass before he was

aware of it, and, seizing him by the waist, I threw him flat on his back

and put my foot on his neck.

"Now," cried I, in an authoritative voice, "put this man in irons

immediately--refuse who dares. Here, you Sirs, lay hold of this

fellow," continued I, looking to the Portuguese; who accordingly came

forward and led him away, assisted by others, who now joined them.

"Are there any more mutineers here?" inquired I; "if so let them step

forward."

No one stirred.

"My lads," said I, "it is very true that I have refused to take the

oath, for the oath is not given to those who command, but to those who

obey; but at the same time I am not one to betray you. You know who I

am; and is it likely?"

"No, no," replied the men.

"Sir," asked one of them, who had been most forward and insolent, "will

you be our captain?--say but the word,--you are the sort of man we

want."

"You have a captain already," replied I, "and in a few weeks I shall

command a vessel of my own; I cannot, therefore, accept your offer; but

while I am on board I will do all in my power to assist Captain Toplift

in any way, and you can desire no more. And now, my men, as an old

hand, I have but this advice to give you, which is--to return to your

duty; for everything in a vessel of this description depends upon

obedience; and to you, Captain Toplift, I have also advice to give,

which is--to shoot the first man who behaves as that scoundrel did who

is now in irons. Boatswain! Pipe down."

I hardly knew whether this latter order would be obeyed by the

boatswain, or, if obeyed by the boatswain, whether it would be obeyed by

the men; but, to my great satisfaction, it was; and the men retired

peaceably.

"Well, Captain Toplift," said I, "I have done you no harm, and myself

some good."

"You have indeed," replied he; "come down into the cabin." When we were

in the cabin he said, "You have unarmed and subdued the most mutinous

rascal in the vessel, and you have strengthened my authority. They

fully believe you are what you assert from your behaviour, and I feel,

with you at my side, I shall get on better with these fellows than I

have done. But now, to keep up the idea, you must, of course, mess in

the cabin with me, and I can offer you clothes, not my own, but those of

the former captain, which will suit your shape and make."

I readily agreed with him; and, having equipped myself in the clothes he

offered me, which were handsome, I soon afterwards went on deck with

him, and received the greatest respect from the men as I passed them. A

cot was slung for me in the cabin, and I lived altogether with Captain

Toplift, who was a good-hearted, rough sort of a man, certainly wholly

unfit for the command of a vessel manned by such a set of miscreants,

and employed on such a service. He told me that he had been taken three

years before by a pirate vessel, and finding that he could navigate,

they had detained him by force, and that at last he had become

accustomed to his position.

"We all must live," said he, "and I had no other means of livelihood

left me; but it's sorely against my conscience, and that's the truth.

However, I am used to it now, and that reconciles you to anything,

except murder in cold blood, and that I never will consent to."

On my inquiring where they were about to cruise, he said, on the Spanish

Main.

"But," said I, "it is peace with the Spaniards just now."

"I hardly knew," said he, "it was peace. Not that peace makes any

difference to us, for we take everything; but you refer to myself, I

know, and I tell you frankly that I have preferred this cruise merely

that we may not fall in with English vessels, which we are not likely to

do there. I wish I was out of her with all my heart and soul."

"No doubt of it, Captain Toplift, I think you are sincere. Suppose you

put into one of the inlets of Jamaica, they won't know where we are; let

us take a boat on shore and leave her. I will provide for you, and you

shall gain your living in an honest way."

"God bless you, Sir," said he; "I will try what I can do. We must talk

the matter over, for they may suspect something, and then it would be

all over with us."

We continued to run down till we were in the latitude of the Virgin

Isles, and then we altered her course for Jamaica. The first and second

mates generally received information of Captain Toplift as to his

movements and intentions, which they communicated to the crew. If the

crew disapproved of them, they said so, and they were considered to have

some voice in the matter.

Now, although no navigators, these men knew enough of a chart and a

course to find that there must be some reason for its being altered as

it was, instead of running down by the Spanish Main, and they inquired

why the cruise was altered.

Captain Toplift replied that he had taken my advice, and that I had

assured him that at the back of the island of Jamaica we should

certainly fall in with some rich Spanish vessels, if we lay there quiet

in some nook or another for a short time, as this was their time for

coming up from the south to the Havannah, where they rendezvoused for a

convoy.

This reply appeared very satisfactory to the crew, for they were all

cheerful and obedient, and we ran down to Jamaica, and when we were

close in shore we shortened sail and hove-to. We remained three or four

days in the offing, that we might not cause any suspicion by our leaving

too soon. Captain Toplift then told the mates that I proposed anchoring

in some secret bay or inlet, as we were certain to see the Spanish ships

if we could send any one ashore on the hills to look out for them. This

was agreed to, and we made sail and ran along the coast, looking out for

some convenient anchorage.

As we were so doing, a vessel hove in sight, and we immediately made all

sail in chase. As she did not attempt to avoid us, we hauled off as she

came near, to see what she might be. She then hoisted a yellow flag at

her peak (for she was an hermaphrodite brig); this puzzled us not a

little, and we edged down towards her, for she was very rakish-looking,

except in her sails.

As we neared, finding, I suppose, that we did not answer her signals,

and we were not the vessel she expected us to be, she suddenly altered

her course before the wind, setting all the sail that she possibly

could. We immediately crowded canvass in chase, and came up with her

fast. As we ran, the mate and I looked at her through the glass, and I

made her out to be the Transcendant, the captain of which had treated us

so cruelly when we were in the boat, and who had robbed us of our money

and clothes. I called the Portuguese and desired them to look at the

vessel through the glass, and give me their opinion. They directly said

that it was the vessel I supposed.

"Let us only catch the rascal," said I, "and we will pay him in his own

coin;" and I immediately gave directions for the better trimming of the

sails, so anxious was I to come up with him.

The men of the schooner were much pleased at the anxiety I displayed to

come up with the chase, and by the alacrity with which they obeyed me I

saw how anxious they were that I should be their captain. In two hours

we were within gun-shot, and sent one of our bow-chasers after him.

Perceiving that it was useless to run, the fellow hove-to, and as we

came alongside he was all ready with his boat to come on board. He did

so, and at first I kept out of sight to hear what he would say. He was

followed up the side by his amiable son. Captain Toplift received him

on deck, and he looked around him, saying, "I believe I am right. I was

afraid I had made more mistakes than one. I believe you are in the free

trade?"

"Yes," replied Toplift, "we are."

"Yes, I thought so, captain, but I expected to meet another schooner

which is very like to yours, and is also in the trade. I made my signal

to her, as, when she has anything to get rid of, why I take it off her

hands. Perhaps you may have something of the kind which is not exactly

safe to show,--church-plate and the like. I pay ready money--that's my

plan."

As it afterwards appeared, Madam, this scoundrel had been in the free

trade, or pirating, himself for many years, but he had taken an

opportunity of walking off with a large sum of money belonging to the

pirate crew, and with this money he had purchased his property in

Virginia and the brig which he now commanded. Although he did not

follow up the free trade any more, he had made arrangements with a

pirate captain whom he met at Port Royal to meet them at the back of the

island and receive such articles as the pirate might want to turn into

cash, by which he, of course, took care to secure large profits.

This he had done several times, and as he sold his cargo at Port Royal

for dollars, he had always cash to pay for what the pirate wished to get

rid of. But he had now run into the lion's jaws, for not only were I

and the Portuguese on board to denounce him as a robber, but, what was

still more unfortunate for him, three of the pirate's crew, whom had he

swindled out of their property, were also on board of us, and recognised

him immediately.

As Captain Toplift knew how I had been treated by him, he thought it was

time he should be confronted with me, and to his question as to whether

there was anything to dispose of, he replied to him, "You must put that

question to the captain. There he is."

The fellow turned to me; he looked at me, stared, and was mute, when his

cub of a boy cried out, "As sure as a gun it's he, father, and no

mistake."

"Oh, you imp of Satan, you know me, do you?" replied I. "Yes, it is he.

Send all the men aft."

The men came fast enough. They were only waiting till I had spoken to

them to come and give information against him.

"Now, my lads," said I, "this is a scoundrel who fell in with some of us

when we were in distress, after we had lost our vessel. Instead of

behaving as one seaman does to another, he robbed us of all we had, and

turned us adrift naked to be killed by the Indians. Of all, I and the

two Portuguese you took on board about four months back are the only

three left: the others perished. The one who was with me was burnt to

death by the Indians, and I narrowly escaped. I leave you to decide

what this scoundrel merits."

"But there is more against him, captain," said the men, and then four of

them stepped out and declared that he had run away with the money

belonging to the crew of which they were a part, and that the sum he had

stolen amounted to 25,000 dollars.

"What have you to say for yourself?" said I to him.

"That I've been a cursed fool to be caught as I have been."

"What will they do, father?"

"Hang us, I suppose," replied he.

"Captain Toplift," said I, "I do not command this vessel, and I shall

therefore leave you to decide upon the fate of this miscreant;" and,

having said that, I was going below to the cabin, when the captain of

the Transcendant's son ran to me, and said, "I want to speak to you,

Sir, when you are alone."

"What are you after, Peleg?" cried his father.

"I'm going to save your life, father, if I can," replied he.

"You'll be clever if you do that, boy," said the man, sneeringly.

I allowed the boy to follow me down into the cabin, and then asked him

what he had to say.

"I have that to tell you which is of more value than the lives of a

hundred boys like me."

"Boys like you? Why I thought it was to save your father's life that

you came down, Sir?"

"Pooh!" said he, "let him hang; he was born for a halter. I am come to

save my own life. I only said that to gammon him."

"You're a hopeful youth," said I; "and pray what is that you can tell me

that will save your own neck from the halter?"

"That which will save your own, most likely," replied the boy, "and

tit-for-tat's all fair."

"Well, let's hear it then," replied I.

"No, not unless you promise. I can swing, if need be, as well as

father, but I'd rather not, 'cause I know where all his money is

hidden."

"I can't make any promise," replied I.

"Then I can't tell," replied he, "so I may e'en go on deck and tell

father that I cannot manage it;" and as he said the latter part of this

speech, the undaunted little villain actually laughed at the idea of

gammoning his father, as he termed it.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and he will not depart from

it, is mostly true; but it is more certain that if you train a child up

in the way that he should not go, he will be a more true disciple.

Could there be a more decided proof of the above than the behaviour of

this young villain? But his father had made him so, and thus was he

rewarded.

"Stop," said I, for I had reflected whether, after all, there were any

grounds for hanging the boy, and come to a conclusion that a jury would

have probably acquitted him. "Stop," said I; "you say that what you can

tell is of the greatest consequence."

"And becomes of more consequence every minute that passes," replied he.

"I will tell you everything, and let you into father's secrets. I peach

upon father altogether."

"Well, then," replied I, "if what you have to disclose proves important,

I will do all I can to save your life, and I have no doubt that I shall

be able so to do."

"No more have I," replied he, "or I would not have come to you. Now

then, father came to the back of the island to do a little business with

a pirate schooner, as he said just now; and he has very often done it

before, as he said just now; but father did not tell you all. When we

were in Port Royal, father went to the captain of a king's vessel who is

there, having been sent to put down the pirates if possible, and he

offered this captain of the king's ship, for a certain sum, to put our

friends that we exchange with into his hands."

"What, betray his friend the pirate?"

"Yes, father agreed that he would come round as he has done this day,

and would contrive to chaffer and bargain with him and keep him so late

in the bay that the king's ship should come upon him all of a sudden and

take him, and this was father's intention, only you have pinned him.

The king's ship will be round that point in two hours or thereabouts, so

if you are found here you will be taken and handed as sure as I ain't

hanged yet. Now ain't this important news, and worth all I asked for

it?"

"It certainly is, if it is true, boy."

"Oh, I'll prove it, for I always goes with father, and he trusts me with

everything. I saw the paper signed. The king's ship is called the

Vestal, and the captain who signed the paper signed it Philip Musgrave."

"Indeed," said I, turning away, for I did not wish the boy to perceive

my emotion at this announcement. I recovered myself as soon as I could,

and said to him, "Boy, I will keep my promise. Do you stay below, and I

will go on deck and plead for your life."

"Mayn't I go on deck for a bit?" said he.

"What to wish your father good-bye? No, no, you had better spare

yourself and him that painful meeting."

"No, I don't want to wish him good-bye,--I'll wait till it's over, only

I never did see a man hanged, and I have a curiosity to have just a

peep."

"Out, you little monster," cried I, running up on deck, for the

information I had received was too important not to be immediately taken

advantage of.

"Well, captain, has the boy saved his father's life?"

"No," replied I, in a loud voice.

"Then, up he goes," said the men, for the halter had been round his neck

and run out to the yard-arm for some time, and the men had manned the

rope, only awaiting my return on deck. In a second, the captain of the

Transcendant was swinging in the air, and certainly if ever a scoundrel

merited his fate it was that man. Shortly afterwards I turned round,

and there was the young hopeful looking at his father's body swinging to

and fro with the motion of the vessel.

I looked in vain for a tear in his eye; there was not a symptom of

emotion. Seeing me look sternly at him, he hastened down below again.

"My lads," said I to the men, who were all on deck, "I have received

intelligence of that importance that I recommend that we should cut that

vessel adrift, and make sail without a moment's loss of time."

"What, not plunder?" cried the men, looking at the Transcendant.

"No, not think of it, if you are wise."

At this reply all of the men exclaimed that "that would not do"--"that

plunder they would"--that "I was not the captain of the vessel,"--and

many more expressions, showing how soon a man may lose popularity on

board of a pirate vessel.

"I gave my opinion, my men, and if you will hear why I said so--"

"No, no, out boats," cried they all, and simultaneously ran to lower

down the boats, for it was now calm, that they might tow the schooner

alongside of the Transcendant.

"You might as well talk to the wind as talk to them when there is

plunder to be obtained," said Toplift to me in a low tone.

"Come down with me," said I, "and I will tell you what I have heard."

"Ain't they going to plunder the brig?" said Master Peleg, when we came

down; "I know where father's dollars are," and up he ran on deck.

I made a short remark upon the depravity of the boy, and then informed

Captain Toplift of what he had told me.

"If you had told them, they would not have paid attention to you. The

boat's crew who came with the captain have told them that there is money

on board, and all authority is now at an end."

"Well," replied I, "I believe that the boy has told the truth."

"And what do you mean to do?"

"Remain below quietly, if I am allowed," replied I.

"But I cannot," said he; "they would throw me overboard."

"Make as bad a fight of it as you can," replied I.

"That I will," said Captain Toplift, "and with so superior a force

opposed, we cannot stand long. But I must tell you where you must be."

"Where?" replied I.

"At the entrance of the magazine, for as sure as we stand here they will

blow up the vessel rather than be taken. Not all of them, but two or

three I know are determined so to do, and resolute enough to do it. My

pistols are there. You have only to open this door, and you are in the

magazine passage. See," said he, opening the door, "there is the

scuttle where they hand the powder up."

"I will be on the watch, depend upon it; and, Captain Toplift, if the

schooner is taken, and I am alive, you may have no fear for yourself."

"Now let us go on deck again."

"I will follow you," replied I.

"I am alone at last, thank Heaven!" said I to myself. "What a position

am I in, and how much will be in suspense before twenty-four hours are

over! My own brother here, not ten miles perhaps from me, commanding

the vessel which will attack this on which I am on board. That they

will take us I have no doubt; but what risk do I run--of death by shot,

or by their blowing up the vessel in spite of me, or of no quarter being

given. Well, I wish it were decided. At all events, I am long supposed

dead, and I shall not be recognised among the heaps of the bodies."

I then went to the locker and took out my duck frock and trousers,

determining that I would, if I were killed, be killed in those clothes,

and be thrown overboard as a common seaman. I then went on deck, for I

heard the grating of the sides of the two vessels, and knew that they

were in contact.

All was uproar and confusion on board of the Transcendant, but there was

nobody on board the schooner except Toplift and myself. I cannot say

that I never saw such a scene, for I had seen quite as bad on board of a

privateer. The common seamen, as well as the soldiers, when let loose

to plunder, are like maniacs. In half an hour they had broken open

everything, cut the crew to pieces, and found out the hoard of dollars,

which was shown them by young Peleg, who tried for his share, but for so

doing received a chop with a cutlass, which cut off his right ear, and

wounded him severely on the shoulder; but his right arm was not

disabled, and while the man that out him down was bending over a heap of

dollars, which took both hands to lift them, the boy ran his knife deep

into the man's side, who fell mortally wounded. The rush for the

dollars thus at the mercy of the rest was so great, that Peleg was not

minded, and he crept away and came on board the schooner. We saw that

he was bleeding profusely, but we asked no questions, and he went down

the ladder forward.

"What has that young villain been after?" said Toplift.

"I presume he has been quarrelling for plunder, and considered that he

had a greater right to his father's money than anybody else."

Among other plunder the people had not forgotten to look for liquor, and

an hour had not passed before three-fourths of the men were more or less

intoxicated. They had found plenty of good clothes, and were strutting

about with gold-laced waistcoats and embroidered coats over their dirty

frocks. The uproar increased every minute, when Toplift, who had been

looking out with the glass, exclaimed, "There she is, by all that's

sacred!"

I caught the glass out of his hand, and found it was the king's ship.

She was a large flush vessel, apparently of eighteen or twenty guns,

just opening from the point, and not seven miles from us. We were still

becalmed, and she was bringing the wind down with her, so that to escape

appeared impossible.

"Now, what shall we do?" said Captain Toplift; "shall we allow her to

come down upon us and say nothing to the men, or shall we point out the

danger and persuade them to come on board and prepare?"

"You must do as you please," replied I, "I am indifferent which. It

will be dark in another hour, and she will not be down by that time. I

would rather avoid fighting, and get away from the schooner quietly if I

could, but that I fear is impossible now."

"Well, I must go on board of the brig and let them know, for if they

find it out themselves they will throw us overboard."

Captain Toplift then went on board of the brig, and railing to the men

who were still sober, told them that there was a king's ship coming down

upon them not seven miles off. This had the effect of putting an end to

the confusion and noise of a great portion of the men, who hastened on

board of the schooner, but others, who were intoxicated, were with

difficulty persuaded to return.

At last they were all got on board, and the schooner, clear from the

brig, was made ready for action; but Toplift was obliged to make some

alteration in the stationing of the men, as those who were to hand up

the powder were all of them tipsy. By the time that the schooner was

ready, and the breeze had come down to her, the corvette was not more

than three miles from us; but it was quite dark, for there is no

twilight in those parts. We consulted what course we should take to

avoid her, if possible, and agreed that we would stand in shore and pass

her if we possibly could. We knew that, if seen, we were then certain

to be obliged to fight; but if not seen, we might escape.

We then shifted the helm and bore up across her bows, but we had not

steered in this direction more than a quarter of an hour, when the

Transcendant was perceived to be on fire, having been fired by the

drunken men before they left her, and soon afterwards she burst out into

flames that threw a strong light to a great distance, discovering the

corvette to us at two miles' distance, and of course exposing us to the

corvette, who immediately altered her course for us. We had therefore

only to fight, and the crew, being most of them in liquor, declared that

they would fight till the schooner sunk under them. In a quarter of an

hour, the corvette being close to us, and standing stem on, we opened

our fire, raking her masts and yards, and then I went down below. I had

changed my clothes for the duck trousers and shirt which I had swum on

board in, and I now remained quietly in the cabin. A few minutes

afterwards the corvette opened her fire, and the shot did great

execution. The cries of the wounded and the shouts of the tipsy men

were mingled together, but the crew of the schooner fired with great

rapidity, and sustained the unequal conflict most gallantly.

After a time some men darted down into the cabin. I was then at the

door which led to the magazine passage, and busied myself handing up the

powder, as it secured me from observation, and it was supposed that I

was one of the crew sent down for that duty.

The men roared out, "Where is the captain? We want him to fight the

ship. Toplift is an old fool, and don't know what he is about."

I made no reply, but with my back towards them continued to hand up the

powder, and, having changed my dress, they did not recognise me, so they

rushed upon deck again.

The corvette was now alongside of the schooner, pouring in her

broadsides with fatal execution, the shot passing in every direction

through her, so that there was as much danger below as on deck, and it

was evident that the schooner could not oppose them much longer. Still

they continued to fire with great resolution, being now sobered into

more steadiness than at first. But by this time more than half the men

were killed and wounded, and our guns were encumbered with the wreck and

bodies. I heard them, at the very time that a crashing broadside was

poured in by the corvette, cry out, "Avast firing for a moment and clear

the decks."

They did so, and, having thrown the bodies overboard and cut away the

spars and rigging which had fallen, so as to enable them to work their

guns, during which time three broadsides were poured in, they remanned

their guns, and fought with as much spirit as before. I could not help

admiring the courage of the scoundrels, for nothing could exceed it; but

resistance was useless, further than they preferred dying at their guns

to being hanged on the gibbet.

But the shouts of the pirates and the reports of the guns gradually

decreased. The men were swept away by the enemy's fire, and the guns

were one by one disabled. The schooner's sides were torn out, and the

water poured in so fast that it was rising to the magazine. I heard a

cry of boarders, and the striking of the two vessels together, and then

there was a rush down below, when a man came aft to the magazine

passage. It was the fellow whom I had struck down on the quarter-deck

and had put into irons.

"Come along," said he, to the others; "we'll send the corvette and

ourselves all to the devil together. Out of the way there."

"Stand back," said I.

"Stand back," replied he, pointing his pistol down to the magazine.