WITHOUT A PROFESSION--AN IRISH "SQUIREEN"--NEWS FROM ABROAD--UNCLE
NICHOLAS AND HIS FAMILY--PREPARATIONS FOR THE VOYAGE--TIM FLANAGAN--
PARTING CALLS--ON BOARD THE "LIBERTY"--OUR FELLOW-PASSENGERS--
TABLE-TALK--A FRIENDLY HINT--A SAIL ON THE STARBOARD BOW--MONSIEUR
LEJOILLIE--LITTLE PAUL OVERBOARD--GALLANTRY OF ROCHFORD--THE LION OF THE
DAY.
I had just left school, in a very undecided state of mind as to what
profession I should select. The honest truth is, that I had no great
fancy for one more than for another. I should have preferred that of a
gentleman at large, with an independent fortune. But it had been so
ordained that I should not possess the latter very satisfactory means of
subsistence; and it was necessary, if I wished to support myself like a
gentleman, that I should choose some calling by which I could at least
obtain an income, supposing that I had not the talent to realise a large
fortune.
My father, Captain Michael Kearney, had a small estate, but it was
slightly encumbered, like many another in old Ireland; and he had no
intention of beggaring my brother and sister in order to benefit me. In
a certain sense, it is true, they were provided for. Ellen had married
Captain Patrick Maloney of the Rangers, who had, however, little beyond
his pay to live on. My younger brother, Barry, had entered the navy;
but as he drew fifty pounds a year and occasionally other sums from my
father's pocket, it cannot be said that he was off his hands. I also
had once thought of becoming a sailor, for the sake of visiting foreign
lands; but I had allowed the time to pass, and was now considered too
old to go to sea. I then took a fancy for the army; but my father
declared that he could not afford to purchase a commission for me, and I
had no chance of getting one in any other way. I talked of the law; but
when I heard of the dry books I should have to study, and the drier
parchments over which I should have to pore, I shuddered at the thought,
and hastily abandoned the idea.
My kind aunt, Honor Molloy,--the sister of my mother, who had been dead
some years,--pathetically urged me to enter the church, in the hope, as
she said, that that would keep me in the right way; but I honestly felt
that the church was not my vocation, and that I was much more likely to
go the wrong way if I assumed an office for which I was unfit. Then she
proposed that I should become a doctor; but I declared that I hated
physic, and could never bring myself to drug my fellow-creatures with
stuff which I would not take myself. My father offered to try to get me
into a government office, though he acknowledged that he had but slight
interest with people in authority, and that I might have a long time to
wait before I could obtain a satisfactory appointment. He suggested, in
the meantime, that I might become a clerk in a mercantile house, and
that I might one day become a partner; but that day seemed so very far
off in the perspective, that I begged he would not trouble himself about
the matter, deciding rather to seek for some government appointment,
either at home or abroad.
"Well, Maurice, my boy, you'll become wiser as you grow older, and
you'll be glad to accept the first offer made you," remarked my father.
He, however, immediately wrote to Dublin, to the only friend of the
family who was likely to render us assistance. This was Councillor
Roacharty, who in the course of a few days replied that he would do his
best; but that his friend Maurice must put his impatience under lock and
key until Ireland had her rights, and Irishmen ruled their green island
home. As I confidently hoped that this happy event would soon be an
accomplished fact, I was content; but my father was not so well
satisfied as I was with the councillor's reply.
Meantime I shot, fished, hunted, and visited our neighbours, and was
rapidly adopting the habits and customs of Irish squireens, when one
day, returning home from shooting, just before dinner, I found my father
deeply engaged in reading a foreign-looking letter. So absorbed was he
in its contents that he did not perceive my entrance. Not wishing to
disturb him, I retired to get rid of my muddy boots and leggings; and on
my return, dinner was on the table. During the meal he was unusually
silent, not even inquiring what sport I had had. Dinner over, he drew
his chair to the fire, and I followed his example. Taking the letter I
had before seen out of his pocket, he glanced it over, and then looking
up at me, he said--
"Maurice, you'll be after wondering about the contents of this epistle.
I have been thinking over it before telling you."
"I observed that you had received a letter," I answered. "I hope it
contains no bad news."
"Faith, it is difficult to say whether it's good or bad," he replied.
"You have heard me speak about your Uncle Nicholas, who went away many
years ago to America, but of whose subsequent adventures, or whether he
was alive or dead, I had obtained no certain tidings. This letter is
from him. He tells me that after knocking about in various parts of the
Union, he found his way to Florida, down south, where he married a
Spanish lady, Donna Maria Dulce Gallostra, of ancient family, young and
beautiful, and, what was of no small consequence, considering his own
financial condition, the owner of a fine estate. She has blessed him
with three children,--two daughters, Rita and Juanita, and a son,
Carlos: the former take after him, and are regular Irish girls, fair and
pretty, fond of riding, fishing, and boating, full of life and spirits;
while the boy, Carlos, takes after his mother, being a dark-eyed,
handsome little chap, but restive as an unbroken colt, and passionate in
the extreme when roused,--for his mother has humoured and spoiled him
until she has lost all control over the young rascal, so that he fancies
he can rule the roost better than his parents. Your uncle describes the
country as being in a somewhat disturbed condition. The Indians are
greatly irritated, and even threaten the destruction of the whites, in
consequence of the intention of the United States Government to drive
them out of the country across the Mississippi. His own health has
lately been giving way, and he is very anxious as to what would become
of his wife and daughters in the event of his death. His wife, Donna
Maria, he says, though a charming woman, has very little notion how to
manage the estate, and his son is too young to help her, or to take care
of himself; while his daughters, delightful young creatures as they are,
do not appear to possess the requisite qualifications. Having lately
seen my name in an Irish newspaper, and knowing from this that I had
come back to the old place, he determined to write to me, to implore me,
by the brotherly affection which always existed between us when we were
together, to come out and take charge of his daughters, whom he proposes
to leave to my care in his will. Carlos will, on the death of his
mother, inherit the Florida estate, unless in the meantime the boy
succumbs, which my brother fears is not improbable. In that case his
daughters would come into possession of the property; but as it is not
in a part of the country in which it is desirable that they should live,
he has arranged for the sale of the estate on the death of their mother.
The girls have had three or four years' schooling in Philadelphia, and
have only lately returned to the south. Although they appear at present
to enjoy the untrammelled life they lead, he thinks they will soon grow
tired of it, and wish for a more civilised state of existence. He
appeals to me so earnestly that I am unwilling to refuse his request;
and he urges me to cross the Atlantic immediately, if I desire to be of
service to him before he dies."
"Sure then, father, what could be easier than to take me with you!" I
exclaimed. "I would help you, and look after my cousins; and I daresay
Carlos and I would get on together very well. Besides, I should like to
see Florida. I have heard something about the country--that there is no
end of game and sport of all sorts to be had in it."
"Bless my heart, I never thought of that!" exclaimed my father. "Well,
as it may be some time before you can possibly obtain employment,
perhaps you could not do better than accompany me. There will be the
additional expense; but your uncle generously offers to pay the cost of
my voyage, and I shall see what funds I can raise. We'll leave old
Molly in charge of the place till we return, so that there will not be
the expense of housekeeping. As my brother urges me to come without
delay, we will forthwith set about our preparations. I have been too
long in a marching regiment to require many hours for getting ready."
I was delighted that my father had agreed to my proposal, and that he
could not think of any other way to dispose of me. We talked the matter
over until we settled that we should start for Dublin the next day if
possible, and thence crossing to Liverpool, look out there for a vessel
bound for one of the southern ports of the United States,--either
Charleston or Savannah.
As soon as we had finished our talk, I jumped up and set about getting
our traps in order.
"You're the boy not to let the grass grow under your feet," observed my
father, well pleased at my alacrity.
Our first care was to look over our guns and sporting gear; the next, to
put up such clothing as we thought we should require. My father then
sent off for his agent; and I, meantime, wrote by his direction several
letters of business.
While I was thus engaged, Tim Flanagan--an old follower of my father,
who had served in his regiment, and on getting his discharge had come to
live with us, uniting the offices of butler, groom, and general
factotum--made his appearance, I having told him to come in as soon as
his work was over.
"Tim, I'm thinking of running across to America for a few weeks, or
months it may be, with Maurice here. I have not quite made up my mind
how to find you employment. In the meantime, Molly will look after the
house, and Dan Rafferty will mind the farm."
"Sure, if your honour's going to foreign lands, you wouldn't be afther
leavin' me behind?" interrupted Tim. "An' the young masther going away
too! Though there might be work enough for me, I had much rather be
followin' you, capt'n, whether it's fighting or hunting you'd be afther.
It isn't wages I want; so just let it be settled, if you plase, that I
go with you and the young masther. I've heard say that there are
Indians, rattlesnakes, and panthers, and all sorts of wild beasts out in
them parts, an' he'll be wantin' a steady man to be at hand to help him;
and sure Tim Flanagan's the right person to be following his masther's
son. So just say the word, capt'n dear, an' I'll be ready to march the
moment I get the route."
To my infinite satisfaction, my father answered, "If you wish it, Tim,
you shall accompany us. In case anything should happen to me, I should
be glad to think that Maurice had some one ready to stand by his side;
and there's no human being to whom I would so readily intrust him as to
you."
"It's mighty thankful I am to ye, capt'n; an' we'll be afther seeing
about the baggage, and getting all things ready for the march."
Molly came in after Tim, and frequently applied her apron to her eyes,
as my father went on to describe his plans. She was distressed at
hearing of the illness of Master Nicholas, as she called my uncle, and
at the thought of our going away.
"It's your honour and Mr. Maurice going off that grieves me," she said.
"Sure, if you must go, you must. I'll not let the house go to ruin for
want of dusting and cleaning, and looking afther the poultry and the
pigs, and Dan Rafferty and the boys!"
Molly was much comforted when my father assured her that he could
intrust the place to her care with perfect confidence.
In pretty good spirits she set to work to overhaul our wardrobe, and
prepare everything for packing. There was little sleep for any of us
that night; and the next morning, as soon as my father had made certain
necessary arrangements with Mr. Nolan, the attorney, his agent, we
started for Dublin by Bianconi's car, which passed our gate. Having
settled some money matters, we visited Councillor Roacharty, who, with a
bland smile, assured me that he would not forget my wishes during my
absence. We then went on to Belfast, whence we crossed to Liverpool.
Here, on our arrival, we immediately called on various shipping agents,
and, much to our satisfaction, found that a vessel which was to sail
that evening for Savannah had cabin accommodation for two or three
additional passengers. A few hours after, we found ourselves again
afloat on board the good ship _Liberty_, of four hundred tons, belonging
to Liverpool, gliding down the Mersey with a fair breeze, which, we
hoped, would carry us quickly across the Atlantic.
My father and Tim, who were old voyagers, lost no time in making
themselves at home--the former with the captain, mates, and cabin
passengers; the latter with the seamen and his companions in the
steerage.
We had an assemblage of various nationalities. Almost every one on
board was interested to some extent in the growth of cotton, the chief
produce of Georgia, to the principal port of which we were bound. While
we sat round the table at supper, the relative values of sea-island
cotton and upland cotton, and the best modes of manufacturing sugar and
tobacco, were the general subjects of conversation; but as I knew no
more about these articles than I did of the cultivation of cloves and
nutmegs, I could only sit and listen: though I was able to note the
remarks of others, and tried to gain some idea of the character of the
speakers. Two other persons were at first as silent as myself. One of
them at length began to ask a few questions, speaking with a strong
French accent. He appeared far more interested in what was said than
the other. I heard him addressed as Monsieur Lejoillie. On inquiring
about him from the gentleman who sat next me, he replied--
"What! don't you know him? If you had seen his luggage coming on board
you would have guessed--cases of all sorts, mostly empty, except a few
containing instruments and bottles. He is a great naturalist,--and, I
may add, linguist, for I don't know how many languages he speaks. Not
equal to our own Audubon, I guess, but a man of wonderful talent,
notwithstanding. But, to confess the truth, I am not very well versed
in the matters in which he excels."
This information impressed me with a due respect for Monsieur Lejoillie,
and I hoped to become better acquainted with him before long.
A remark made by the hitherto silent personage on the subject of
slavery, which caused many of the party to prick up their ears and cast
angry looks at the speaker, showed me that he was a fellow-countryman.
I heard Monsieur Lejoillie say to him, in a low voice, "Hush, my young
friend! Liberty, equality, and fraternity may be very fine things to
talk about in the Old World; for being incompatible with our advanced
state of civilisation, people can there afford to laugh at such notions.
It is quite a different thing in the New World, where hostile races are
brought close together; and I would advise you not to give expression to
your opinions except among intimate friends, or they may prove
inconvenient, if not dangerous to you."
"My heart burns with indignation when I think of the wrongs inflicted on
those noble red men, the rightful inheritors of the soil, and on the
down-trodden negroes, dragged from their native land to become the
helpless slaves of arbitrary tyrants," answered the other.
"Hush, hush, my friend!" again repeated Monsieur Lejoillie. "Such
words, just as they may be, are not suited to the atmosphere of the land
for which we are bound. I entreat you not to let them pass your lips in
mixed society, such as is here assembled."
Fortunately at this moment a warm discussion engaged the attention of
most of the persons at table, who failed to hear the remarks made by my
countryman, or the friendly advice given him by the naturalist. I saw
that an old gentleman was seated near the former, a young lady only
intervening. The old gentleman, who was listening to what was said,
cast a look more of pity than of anger at the young man, but did not
speak. The lady smiled, and said in a pleasant, sweet voice, "I would
counsel you, Mr. Rochford, to follow the advice of Monsieur Lejoillie.
There are some on board who would resent such remarks as you have made.
You must pass some time among us before you can form a correct opinion
as to the way the Indians or the slaves are treated. You may discover
that the red men are not quite the heroes you suppose, and that the
negroes are far better off with us than they would be in their own
country."
"Faith! I cannot but desire to be guided by so fair an adviser,"
answered Rochford, in a rich Irish brogue, bowing as he spoke.
The next day, as we were sailing down the Channel, I spoke to my
countryman, Maulins Rochford--for such I learned was his name--not
letting him understand that I had overheard his remarks on the previous
evening. When he found that I was a countryman, he became frank and
communicative. He was two or three years older than myself. His
appearance and manner were prepossessing, and we at once became
intimate. He had lately, by the death of his parents, come into a small
property; but instead of spending his time idly at home in hunting and
shooting, as many in his position do, he was anxious to be of use to his
fellow-creatures. Having but a limited knowledge of the subject, and no
one to consult, he had taken it into his head that he might aid the red
men in retaining their rights, and the slave population in obtaining
theirs. He was warm-hearted and generous, and from his manner, I had
little doubt, as brave as steel. By many he would have been looked upon
as a crazy enthusiast or a dangerous character, for whom the walls of a
prison or a mad-house would prove the safest abode. He, however, had
the discretion to follow the advice he had received, and did not again
in public broach the subject of Indian rights or the iniquity of
slavery. They were, however, common subjects of conversation between
us, and he almost won me over to his opinions. What he intended to do
he did not say. Indeed, I found that he had no very definite plan of
proceeding. Had I been by myself, I do not know how I might have acted,
but I fortunately did not commit myself by promising to aid him in any
of his schemes.
I found the old gentleman I have spoken of was Mr. Archelaus Shurtleff,
a judge, whose residence was in Florida. The young lady, whom I at
first supposed to be his daughter, was his wife. They had but one
child, called Paul, a fine little fellow four or five years old, who
happened to be with his black nurse in their cabin when I first saw
them, and hence I did not discover my mistake until the next day. The
kind old gentleman told my father and myself that he should be very
happy to see us at his house, which was not far from that of my Uncle
Nicholas, with whom he was well acquainted. My father replied that he
would gladly pay him a visit, provided the state of his brother's health
and spirits would allow him to do so.
"Sorry to hear that our friend Nicholas is ill," said the judge. "As to
his spirits, he is over anxious about the state of the country. He is
always apprehending an attack from the red men. It is a mistaken fancy
of his. They'll never dare to interfere with the settlers. They know
too well the fearful retribution that would overtake them."
The worthy judge and his wife, who appeared to have taken a liking for
Rochford, had frequent conversations with him, and he told me that they
had given him an invitation to their home, which he had gladly accepted.
"I hope that we shall meet there," I observed. "At all events, as we
shall not be far away from each other, we may have some sport together,
and kill no end of crocodiles, bears, deer, and other wild beasts and
birds of all sorts."
I had expected that in crossing the Atlantic we should have encountered
at least a gale or two of wind, and witnessed the sea foaming and
roaring and running mountains high. Instead of this, with the exception
of a little tossing and pitching for a week or two, we ran along over a
smooth ocean, generally with a fair wind and delightful weather.
Occasionally, when we were becalmed, the sun shone down on our heads,
and sent us in search of every shady spot that could be found. Most of
our companions were accustomed to a hotter atmosphere, which they told
us we should find when we got on shore; but even they kept out of the
rays of the sun as much as possible. When a breeze sprang up, we glided
along with studding-sails on either side at the rate of some seven or
eight knots an hour, and the look-out forward shouted, "A sail on the
starboard bow!"
The captain remarked that, from the way she was standing, she would pass
close to us. Most of the passengers on deck hurried across to look at
the stranger. Rochford, who was seated on a coil of rope writing in his
note-book, continued his occupation without moving.
Lejoillie, who had just come from the cuddy, sauntered along the deck
towards him.
"What, my friend, are you inditing sonnets to your lady's eyebrow, or
composing your first speech as president of your model republic?" he
said in his bantering way.
"Whatever I am about, I am not fond of being interrupted," answered
Rochford, looking up with a more angry glance than I had yet seen on his
countenance.
"My dear friend," exclaimed Lejoillie, taking his hands out of his
pockets and stepping forward, "I am sincerely sorry, and beg your
pardon. I thought you would like to see yonder fine ship as she passes
us. Happily the world is at peace, or I should fear she was an enemy,
and had some intention of attacking the _Liberty_; neither can she be a
pirate, as our captain does not endeavour to keep out of her way."
Rochford, quickly appeased, rose to look at the stranger. Instead,
however, of crossing to where the rest of the passengers were standing,
I saw him dart aft towards one of the ports, all of which had been left
open to admit of a free current of air. At the same time, little Paul's
black nurse, Rosa, uttering a wild shriek, fell to the deck. I guessed
what had happened. The child had escaped from her arms, and running
heedlessly away, had fallen overboard through the port. Rochford, who
had seen the occurrence, without stopping for one instant, plunged in
after him. I felt inclined to follow, but I distrusted my own powers of
swimming. I had, however, what was of far more use, presence of mind to
run aft and drop a grating, which was fortunately at hand, over the
side, and shout out, at the top of my voice, "Man overboard!"
While some ladies gathered round the poor mother, who was almost frantic
with grief, and others attended to the nurse, who had gone off in a
swoon, the captain issued the necessary orders for shortening sail; for,
with all the flying-kites set, it was impossible, until the canvas was
taken off the ship, to bring her up to the wind.
The judge, in the meantime, retained his calmness and presence of mind
in a wonderful manner. My father, Lejoillie, Tim Flanagan, and two or
three others, made preparations, under the superintendence of the second
mate, for lowering a boat, every man of the crew being required to
shorten sail. The helm was put down, the yards braced up, and the ship
quickly brought to the wind. I was going to assist in lowering the
boat, when the captain called me aft, and told me to keep an eye on Mr.
Rochford and the child.
Not having stopped to throw off his clothes, the moment he reached the
water he struck out towards the boy, who had just risen after his first
plunge: his head, I saw, was above the surface, and he had unconsciously
turned on his back, stretching out his little arms for help. In another
instant Rochford got up, and holding the child's face well out of the
water, was evidently trying to dispel his fears; then looking round, he
saw the grating, towards which he at once swam, and placed the child
upon it. All this time the ship was, of course, running away from the
spot, and gradually he and his little charge became less and less
distinct. I saw, however, that he was holding on to the grating, which,
I was thankful to see, perfectly supported the child. A very long time
seemed to elapse before I heard the order to put the helm down, and I
even fancied that the ship was running away altogether from where little
Paul and Rochford were floating. But what was my horror just then to
see a black fin come gliding by. On the previous day we had passed
several huge monsters of the deep. What if the shark should discover
our fellow-passenger! I longed to be able to shout out to him to keep
his legs moving; but he could not have heard me, even if I had shouted
ever so loudly, and by so doing I should have still further alarmed the
judge and his poor wife. Had Rochford been seized, there would have
been little hope of the child escaping.
The moment the ship was hove-to, having pointed out to the captain the
exact position of those in the water, and being unable to restrain my
eagerness, I sprang forward, and just had time to glide down the falls
into the boat, which, under the charge of the mate, pulled by her crew,
was shoving off.
"Glad you have come, sir," said the mate; "you can nurse the child when
we get him into the boat."
"If we do," I said, and I pointed with a thrill of horror to the fin of
the shark as its wicked eye glanced up at us. The fear seized me that
it might follow the boat and discover Rochford. "I wish I had a pistol
to shoot it!" I exclaimed.
Without answering, the mate seized the after oar and struck with all his
force, the edge of the blade entering the water at the shark's back.
The brute disappeared, and, I trusted, had sunk far down into the depths
of the ocean. Away we pulled as hard as the men could lay their backs
to the oars, the appearance of the shark making them still more eager to
get up to the assistance of the brave young man and the child. To my
joy I saw, as I got closer, that little Paul was resting securely on the
grating, while Rochford was striking out with his feet, and one of his
hands being still at liberty.
"Bear a hand, friends!" he cried out. "Take the child on board first,
and the sooner you help me in I'll be obliged to you. There are some
ugly brutes cruising about here who have a mighty fancy for my legs."
The boat approached the grating. I leaned over to grasp the little boy
as soon as I could reach him, and as I did so I heard the mate tell the
men to keep striking the water with their oars.
We soon had Paul safe. Not until then would Rochford allow the crew to
help him on board. He had a providential escape as it was, for scarcely
were his feet well over the gunwale, when the brute of a shark shoved
its hideous snout above the surface, getting, however, an ugly prick in
the nose for his pains from a boat-hook.
Rochford was well-nigh exhausted; but owing to his courage and presence
of mind, the child appeared very little the worse for its plunge. What
would have been his fate, however, had the monster of a shark we saw
been near at hand at the moment he fell overboard!
We were speedily alongside, and I had the satisfaction of handing the
little boy to his parents. The poor mother was about to thank me,
supposing that I had been the means of saving him; but I pointed to
Rochford, who stood dripping wet on deck, as the man who had performed
the gallant act.
The judge wrung his hand. "I thank you, sir! I thank you!" he
exclaimed.
The mother burst into tears as she held the child to her heart; then
taking Rochford's hand, she pressed it to her lips. The nurse, seeing
the child was saved, quickly recovered, and exhibited her gratitude in
even a more demonstrative way than her master and mistress.
I came in for a share of their thanks when they were informed that I had
thrown the grating overboard which had contributed so much to save the
lives both of the little boy and our friend.
Rochford having assured those who had collected round him to pay
compliments, that he had really done nothing to deserve all the fine
things that were said, dived below to change his wet garments. In a
short time afterwards he appeared on deck as if nothing particular had
happened.
As may be supposed, he became a greater favourite than ever with the
judge and his wife; and even some of those who had before looked at him
askance, acknowledged that he was a very fine fellow.
The ship was again put before the wind, and away she stood on her
westward course.
Among those who looked upon Rochford as a hero was Tim Flanagan, who
regarded his fellow-countryman with unbounded admiration, and declared
himself ready to go through fire and water to serve him. Lejoillie had
also taken a great liking to him, and they frequently walked the deck
together, engaged in earnest conversation. Following the Frenchman's
advice, Rochford had been very careful not again to express his
political opinions in public, though he did not hesitate to talk freely
to me, as I have no doubt he did to the naturalist.
He was thus generally liked, and with the ladies, especially, he became
a great favourite. No one, indeed, would have considered him a
dangerous character, if one had seen him, whenever he could get little
Paul out of the black nurse's arms, carrying the child about and playing
with him on deck, but taking very good care that he should not again
slip through a port.
The weather continued brilliant; and the numerous sea-birds, which
flitted high in the air or hovered round the ship, told us that we were
nearing the end of our voyage.