Battles and wounds, death and destruction, and all the other
concomitants of warfare, may be interesting matters to read about, but
the reality is very far from pleasant or desirable. Even Jack Rogers
and Paddy Adair could not help coming to this conclusion during the
night they spent off Lagos, surrounded by their wounded, and dead, and
dying companions. They were also not a little anxious about Murray, of
whom they could obtain no information. The stars kept shining forth
from the dark sky, the surface of the river was smooth as glass, on
either side around them was the squadron of steamers and boats, while in
the distance could be observed the lights of the black city, from which
every now and then a flash might be seen as a negro took it into his
head to fire off his musket, or perhaps, while handling it, let it
explode unintentionally. At length daylight returned. Directly
everybody was on the alert, but as yet no signal was made to recommence
the attack. Whatever heroes of romance might have done, modern warriors
require rest and refreshment, so the men set to work to cook and eat
their breakfasts. While this was going on, a boat was seen approaching
the squadron. She was the gig Murray commanded. He himself was on
board. His shipmates warmly welcomed him.
"Where have you been? What have you been about? We feared you were
lost," exclaimed several voices.
"It is a somewhat long story," he answered. "After the retreat was
ordered yesterday I saw some negroes pulling off in a canoe to the
northward of the island, and not thinking of consequences, I pursued
them. Away we went at good speed, but they paddled faster. It did not
occur to me at the time that they were making their escape from the
town. When I looked astern I found that our own boats had gone to the
southward, and that between me and them was a large body of native
canoes. To attempt to pass them would have been madness, so I pulled on
up the river. The blacks were so engaged in the fight, that I was not
perceived. I therefore pulled up the stream till it was dark, and then
lay hid for some time to rest and refresh my men. I bethought me that
having got thus far, I would employ myself profitably. I therefore
dropped an anchor, and let the men take a couple of hours' sleep; then
once more getting under weigh, I dropped down, sounding as I came, and
passed right round to the west of the island. When abreast of it I saw
dark objects moving across the channel, and found that they were canoes
crossing and recrossing, and I have no doubt carrying off household
goods and other property, and perhaps some of the inhabitants were
making their escape. At all events, it looks as if the natives were not
very sanguine of success. I had to wait till I had an opportunity of
threading my way between them, and it was only just at daybreak that I
was able to get clear. I must now go and make my report to the
captain."
Not long after this the signal was given to attack, and the whole
squadron was quickly in movement. There was not a man engaged who was
not resolved to redeem, if possible, the loss of the previous day. The
boats, as before, pulled round to the northward, where the houses of the
king and his prime ministers, as well as of the European slave-dealers,
were situated, while the steamers took up positions on either side of
the town. There was no mistake this time as to what was to be done.
The sad loss of life which occurred on the previous day arose, it must
be remembered, entirely in consequence of the grounding of the steamer.
This made it necessary to land in the face of a hot fire and to storm
the stockades, while it also brought about the subsequent disasters.
The signal was given and the steamers and boats opened a steady and
well-directed fire, which soon began to tell. House after house was
seen to be in flames. The blacks returned it, but with very different
spirits to the previous day. They had fancied after the apparent defeat
the English had suffered on the previous day, they would not again
venture to attack them. Steadily the boats fired away. "Hurrah!
hurrah! hurrah!" A loud cheer ran through the line. A shot had entered
the house of Tappis, Kosoko's prime minister, and set it on fire. He
was one of the most determined supporters of the slave-trade, and the
chief instigator of the first attack on the boats of the squadron. Soon
after the gun in a battery below his house was capsized, while the men
working it were driven out by a well-directed rocket sent among them.
House after house now caught fire. Most of the non-combatants had
before this fled, the rest were next seen hurriedly making their escape
with cries of terror and dismay. Still the garrison, with a bravery
worthy of a better cause, held out. The firing on both sides became
more rapid, but the English redoubled their exertions. Showers of shot,
and shell, and rockets were flying into the devoted town. Suddenly a
fearful roar was heard. Earth and stones, and fragments of timber mixed
with human forms, were seen to rise up into the air. One of the enemy's
chief magazines had exploded. From that moment the conflagration
extended more rapidly and fiercely than before, till the whole city
appeared to be in a blaze, the flames rising up in ruddy pyramids and
supporting a dark canopy overhead--a fit funeral pall for those who had
fallen in the strife. There could be no longer any doubt that the fate
of Lagos was decided. A broad creek ran through part of the town. This
stopped the flames. Kosoko's house was still standing. A boat was
directed especially to destroy it; but the commander of the expedition,
influenced by truly Christian motives, resolved, before doing more
injury to the town, to give Kosoko an opportunity of capitulating. The
next day was Sunday. He resolved, should the blacks commit no act of
hostility, to make it also a day of rest. Recalling all the boats, he
sent in therefore a flag of truce, by a friendly chief, to Kosoko,
allowing him till Monday morning to consider his proposals. Once more,
therefore, on Saturday evening, the squadron retired from before the
town; but very different were the feelings of those engaged from what
they had been on Friday. Now success appeared certain, then a heavy
loss and defeat had been the termination of their day's labour. Still,
as the three midshipmen met on board Jack's boat, their conversation was
far sadder than it was wont to be. So probably was that of the
commanders of the expedition.
"To think that we should have spent all this time before a town
fortified only by slaving rascals, and manned by blacks, and after all
not yet to be masters of it!" exclaimed Jack, with some bitterness in
his tone.
"It comes very much of the common English fault of despising our
enemies," observed Murray. "We are apt to forget that though fellows
have black or tawny skins, they have got brains in their heads."
"Still we don't often find enemies who have the pluck of Britons," said
Adair.
"No, and that is the reason why we are ultimately so generally
successful," answered Murray. "But that does not prevent us from
frequently, in the first place, meeting with defeat and disgrace, and
losing numberless valuable lives. I do not mean to say that what
happened on Friday could have been avoided, but it is very sad to think
of the poor fellows who have lost their lives, as well as of the many
now suffering from their wounds; so we won't talk more about the
matter."
That night passed like the former ones, and Sunday was gliding
tranquilly away, spent in most instances by the crews on board the
vessels and boats, after the example of their commander, as a Sunday
should be passed, when it was ascertained that the usurper and his prime
minister, and the greater number of his troops, had abandoned the city.
The English commander, therefore, sent to direct the negro auxiliaries
who had accompanied King Akitoye from Abeokuta to escort him into the
city, and to install him in his office. This was done, and they took
possession of the houses which had escaped the conflagration, while a
small portion only of the British forces entered that evening and spiked
the guns in the chief batteries turned towards the river. The next
morning fifty-two guns were destroyed or embarked. Murray was among
those who went on shore. In his letter home he made the following
remarks:--
"The greater part of the stronghold of slavery is now little more than a
heap of ashes; but enough of the works remain to show the cunning
methods devised by the blacks for entrapping us into ambushes had we
assaulted it. In truth, the place is a great deal stronger than we had
any notion of. One thing I must say, that, in spite of the reverses we
at first experienced, every officer and man engaged in the affair did
his utmost, and behaved as British seamen always should behave; and it
must be the consolation of the relations and friends of the gallant
fellows who lost their lives, that a very important work has been
performed, and that the capture of this stronghold of the slave-trade
will prove one of the severest blows that hateful traffic has ever
experienced. It has done much also, I trust, to advance the cause of
religion and civilisation in Africa, and will help, I hope, to wipe away
the dark stain which is attached to many of the so-called Christian
nations of the world. Akitoye is now installed King of Lagos. He
professes great friendship for the English, as well as for the people of
Abeokuta. If he proves the stern enemy of the slave-trade and the true
friend of Christianity, we shall not have fought in vain."
On searching for the Spanish and Portuguese slave-dealers, by whom the
Lagos people had been trained to arms, none were to be found. They had
fled, and as their property was completely destroyed, they have never
since returned. The midshipmen heard that their old acquaintance Don
Diogo was one of those who had establishments there, but they could not
hear anything of him, nor what had become of the felucca, on board of
which he was last seen. One thing was very certain, that his love for
the English generally, or for them in particular, could not have been
increased when he found that all his property in Lagos had been
destroyed. The squadron at length once more put to sea, and Lagos has
ever since virtually been under the jurisdiction of the British
Government, who retain it for the purpose of keeping in check the
traffic in slaves.
The frigate had been some weeks at sea before she at length fell in with
the _Archer_, which Murray had then to rejoin. All three of the
midshipmen were beginning to look forward to the time when they might
hope once more to return to England. Still they were perfectly content,
till the time arrived, steadily to go on in the performance of their
duty.
When Murray left the frigate he took with him his two parrots, Polly and
Nelly, but Queerface remained, and Adair declared that under his
judicious system of education he had become one of the most learned and
sagacious of monkeys. He said that it reminded him very much of Don
Diogo, and so he and Jack amused themselves by rigging him out in a
dress similar to that in which they had seen the old Don appear. The
imitation was so good that the moment Queerface sprang up on deck the
likeness was recognised by all who saw him. When Adair went away in
boats he usually took Queerface with him to afford amusement to his men.
The frigate had been for some time cruising on to the southward,
without meeting with any success, when, there being every appearance of
calm weather, Captain Lascelles ordered away two of the boats to cruise
in search of slavers, one to the northward and the other to the
southward. Jack, to his great satisfaction, got command of the pinnace,
and Adair, who would otherwise have remained on board, volunteered to
accompany him with Queerface, to make sport for the crew. Dick Needham
was also of the party. Away they pulled to the northward, and before
sunset they were out of sight of the ship.
"We must have a prize somehow or other," cried Adair; "it will never do
to return without one."
"Just such a one as you and I took in the Mediterranean when we first
went to sea," said Jack, laughing. "However, we'll do our best: what do
you say to it, Master Queerface?" There sat the monkey in the
stern-sheets, dressed in a broad-brimmed straw hat, nankeen trousers, a
light blue jacket, and a red neckcloth, just as Don Diogo had appeared
when Jack had last seen him. Queerface seemed in no way to disapprove
of the hat and jacket, but his lower garments at times somewhat puzzled
him; however, he altogether behaved himself very well. There was so
little wind that Jack did not even step his masts. He thus hoped to get
close to any slaver, should he see one, without being discovered. He
had his trusty rifle ready, and from frequently practising he was even a
better shot than before. Adair had picked up a very fair rifle at
Sierra Leone, but he could not pretend to equal Jack as a shot. They
both well knew that they could not hope to take a prize without exerting
themselves, and they were, therefore, constantly standing up and looking
about on all sides in search of a sail. They were off a part of the
coast whence numerous cargoes of slaves were still embarked. A short
time before sunset they made the land. Soon after this, as Jack was
standing up on the stern-sheets, his eye fell on a white spark
glistening brightly in the oblique rays of the departing luminary. He
brought his glass to bear on the subject. Adair took a look at it, and
so did Needham. They all agreed that the sail in sight was a square
topsail schooner standing off the land.
"Then she must pass close to us," cried Jack. "We'll be on the watch
for her."
Another look they all took before the sun sank below the horizon
confirmed them in this opinion. The last few hours of daylight were
spent by the crew in examining their pistols, in seeing that their
cutlasses were ready at hand, and everything prepared for boarding at a
moment's notice. All hands then turned to and had a good supper, after
which, as they said, they were up to anything.
The boat floated quietly on the almost calm waters, for though the men
lay on their oars, they did not pull a stroke. Not a word was spoken
above the lowest whisper. There were sounds, for the ocean itself is
never, even in a calm, altogether silent. Ever and anon there was a
splash, sometimes caused by the boat as the smooth undulations rose up
as it seemed from the depths below, and made her roll lazily for an
instant from side to side, or some fish rose to the surface with
wide-open mouths, or leaped up into the air, or one of the monsters of
the unfathomed waters came to have a gaze at the strange thing which
floated over their liquid home. A slight mist came over the land with
the night air, damp and unwholesome enough, but Jack and Terence little
regarded that point, as it contributed much to conceal the boat from the
approaching stranger, though they had little doubt that her more lofty
sails would easily be seen above it. Time passed on. They calculated
that the schooner must be drawing near them.
Once more Jack stood up. "There she is," he whispered, as he sank into
his seat. "Away to the northward. Out oars, lads, as gently as
possible. In ten minutes we shall be alongside of her." The oars had
been muffled, and with the long, steady strokes made by the men,
scarcely a splash was heard. They might well hope to be up to the
stranger without being discovered. On glided the boat. It was an
exciting moment. The sails of a large topsail schooner rose up out of
the mist before them.
Jack and Adair thought they saw a little beyond her the pointed tops of
another craft slowly moving over the bank of fog. If they should both
prove enemies there would be fearful odds against them. They numbered
only eleven people in all--eight pulling, Needham, and themselves.
Still they did not hesitate.
"We'll take one, and then be ready for the other," whispered Jack.
Adair nodded his assent. Still discretion might have been the best part
of valour in this case.
"That further craft is a felucca," again whispered Jack. "I can see the
tops of her lateen sails above the mist. Perhaps she's the old Don's
craft. Never mind, we'll be ready for him."
In two minutes more they were close up to the schooner. No notice had
hitherto been taken of them by those on board. They flattered
themselves that they were not perceived. They dashed alongside.
"Who are you? who are you?" said a fierce voice in Spanish. "Speak,
speak, who are you?"
"A boat of her Britannic Majesty's ship _Ranger_," answered Jack, who
understood what was said. "Heave-to, I want to come on board you." He
said this as the boat was hooking on, and he and Terence, followed by
their men, were about to spring on deck, when again the same person who
had before hailed, sang out, "Heave, heave, sink the boat and the
scoundrel heretics. Have no mercy on them."
At that instant down came half a dozen round shots into the bottom of
the boat, rattling through the planks, while pistols were fired in their
faces, and pikes were thrust at them, and swords flourished above their
heads. They were prepared for opposition, so, in spite of this, cutlass
in hand, they sprang up the side of the vessel without much difficulty,
as her bulwarks were low, and attacked their assailants. Jack had time
to seize his rifle, for he saw the water rushing into his boat, and he
felt that she was sinking under their feet. Followed by Queerface, who,
through fright, chattered away louder than ever, the English seamen
gained the deck of the slaver. Such undoubtedly she was, if not worse.
Jack saw that they had nearly taken her by surprise, for but few men
were at that moment on deck; but others, some only half dressed, were
rushing out of both the fore and after cabins. The first who had
received them made so bold a stand that time was allowed for the whole
of the Spanish crew to assemble. They far outnumbered the English.
Still the gallant young midshipmen and their followers fought on
undaunted. Suddenly Queerface, who had hitherto kept behind the rest,
jumped up into the rigging and looked over them.
"Don Diogo! Don Diogo!" cried several of the slaver's crew; "how comes
he to be with these men? There must be some mistake."
"Quacko--Quacko--Quacko," cried Queerface, and scud up the rigging out
of harm's way.
The Spaniards could not make it out. The delay, however, was an
advantage to the English, as it enabled them to cast their eyes around
and see the state of affairs. The greater number of their enemies were
forward, so Jack and most of his party sprang on in that direction,
hoping to dispose of them first. The fellows stood their ground, firing
their pistols and flourishing their swords, and two of the English were
shot, and Jack got an ugly cut across his shoulder. Still he pressed
on, and compelled at length the Spaniards to take refuge in their cabin
under the topgallant forecastle. Meantime Terence was keeping the
slaver's captain and officers in check, but he had lost a man, who was
struck to the deck, and Needham too was wounded. Matters were going
very hard with Jack and his followers. Still ten British seamen might
well have hoped to conquer the whole of a slaver's crew. The fight had
now become desperate. The Spanish captain had probably all his fortune
embarked in the venture, Jack and his party had to struggle for life and
liberty. Again and again they made desperate rushes at the afterpart of
the vessel, and at length they pushed the Spaniards so hard that they
almost drove them overboard, when two sails were seen emerging from out
of the fog and gliding up alongside. In another instant, not Queerface,
but the veritable Don Diogo himself was seen to spring on board,
followed by a dozen or more villainous-looking ruffians.
"What's all this? what's all this?" his harsh croaking voice was heard
shouting in Spanish. "Down with the English pirates, down with them!"
Hearing the cry, the Spaniards, who had taken refuge forward, rushed out
again, and though Jack called to Terence to fight to the last, and that
they would sell their lives dearly, they found themselves literally
borne down by numbers, and their cutlasses whirled out of their hands.
"We have done our best, Paddy, we can do no more," exclaimed Jack, as he
and Terence found themselves standing side by side, with their hands
secured and lashed to the mainmast. Needham and the rest of the people
who were able to move were treated in the same way.
"Why, my friend, you were very nearly captured by these picaroons," they
heard Don Diogo remark to the other Spanish captain. "But where is a
lantern?--let me see whom we have caught."
The lantern was brought, and the Don came round and held it up to their
faces.
"Ha! ha!" he exclaimed, with a most sardonic grin. "Your obedient
humble servant, gentlemen. I told you we should meet again, and we have
met. What do you expect after all the tricks you have played me?"
Neither Jack nor Terence deigned a reply.
"Ah, speak, pirates," he exclaimed, stamping furiously on the deck; "the
yard-arm, a sharp knife, or a walk on the plank? Whichever you like. I
grant you your choice."
Still neither of the midshipmen would reply. What was the use of so
doing?
"We must kill every one of them," exclaimed the Don, speaking in
Spanish, turning to the other captain. "I have a long account to settle
with these English generally, and these lads especially. They have been
the cause of nearly all my losses. They cannot repay me, but I can take
my revenge, and that is something."
"Certainly, certainly, my friend," answered the other: "you can hang, or
drown, or shoot them, as you think fit. It is a matter of perfect
indifference to me."
These were the last words poor Jack heard as the two worthies entered
the cabin.
"We are in a bad case, Jack, I am afraid," said Adair, "though I could
not exactly make out what the fellows said."
"It was not pleasant," answered Jack, briefly. "Terence, have you ever
thought of dying?"
"Yes, I have; that is to say, I have known that I was running many a
chance of being knocked on the head or finished in some way or other,"
answered Adair, with some little hesitation.
"Then, Terence, my dear fellow, let us look at it as an awful reality,
which is about speedily to overtake us," said Jack solemnly. "These
fellows threaten to at once take our lives; depend on it, they will put
their threats into execution."
"It is hard to bear, Jack dear," replied Adair; "I am so sorry for you
and for all your brothers and sisters at home. I don't think mine care
much for me; that's one comfort. But I say, I wish that the blackguards
would let us have our arms free, that we might still have a fight for
our lives."
"Don't speak thus, Terence," said Jack, who was almost overcome by
Adair's allusion to his family. "Don't let us think of the past, but
keep our thoughts fixed on the future world we are about to enter, and
think how very unfit we are of ourselves for the glorious place we would
wish to go to."
Terence listened, and responded in the same tone to his messmate. Much
more they said to the same effect, nor did they forget to offer up their
prayers for preservation from the terrible danger which threatened them.
Then, with the calmness of Christians and brave men, they awaited the
doom they believed prepared for them. Such consolation as they could
give also they offered to the survivors of their crew. Two poor fellows
had been killed outright; another was bleeding to death on the deck, nor
would the brutal Spaniards offer him the slightest assistance, while
they prevented his shipmates from giving it him. Jack himself was
suffering also much pain from his wound, while he felt so faint from
loss of blood that he could scarcely support himself. He had told
Needham that the Spaniards threatened to kill them all.
"Well, sir, they may do it if they dare, but they will be sure to be
caught some day or other," answered Needham. "I wouldn't change places
with them. We shall die having done our duty; they will be hung up like
dogs. If I knew their lingo I would tell them so."
The English were not long left in quiet. So many of the Spaniards had
been wounded that some time was spent by them in bandaging up their
hurts, and as soon as this was done they came on deck eager to wreak
their vengeance on their captive foes. They now came about them with
their long knives, flourishing them before their eyes, and pretending to
stab at them. Some indeed, more brutal than the rest, actually stuck
their knives into their flesh, but though blood was drawn, the seamen
generally disdained even to utter a word, though one or two said, "I'll
tell you what, you villains, if I can get my fists at liberty, I'll give
it you." At length Don Diogo and the captain of the schooner came out
from the cabin. They had apparently made up their minds what to do.
The latter gave orders to reeve ropes to each yard-arm, while planks
were got up and placed over the sides, secured on board by lanyards. On
these being cut, of course the end of the plank overboard would
instantly sink down and let the person standing on it into the water.
Don Diogo had, it seemed, taken upon himself the direction of the
executions. Jack and Adair had supposed that the Spaniards would wait
till the morning to kill them, but the little Don evidently had no wish
to delay his vengeance.
"Cast the prisoners loose, and bring them aft," he cried out. "Now, you
scoundrel heretics, what have you got to say for yourselves? Nothing?
I thought so. Well, I will be merciful. You shall choose the mode of
your death. What shall it be--will you be hung or walk the plank?
There are plenty of sharks alongside who will be happy to entomb you
either way."
No one replied to this address.
"Speak, you heretics," he cried, stamping with rage.
The two midshipmen cast their eyes about them to assure themselves that
what was taking place was a reality; the whole scene appeared so like
some horrid dream that they could scarcely believe it true. As they
looked up they discovered that a strong breeze had sprung up, and that
the vessel was moving rapidly through the water. The deck was crowded
with seamen, many of whom held lanterns, so that the whole ship was
lighted.
"It is time to begin," cried the Don. "Come, as you will not choose for
yourselves, I must choose for you. Here, seize that lad and run him up
to the mainyard-arm."
He pointed at Adair. Several of the ruffian crew rushed forward and
seized poor Terence, and dragged him up to the rope which hung from the
yard-arm. They were about to take hold of it to adjust it round Adair's
neck, when down by it came gliding an apparition which, in the uncertain
light cast by the lanterns aloft, looked so like old Don Diogo himself,
that the superstitious Spaniards, believing that it was his wraith or
ghost, let go the rope and sprang back to the other side of the vessel.
The old Don was not less astonished than the rest, but not exactly
recognising himself, it occurred to him that some spirit of evil had
come on board to watch his proceedings. Queerface, meantime, for the
apparition was no other than him, seeing the confusion he had created,
shinned up the rope again, and on reaching the yard-arm, finding it
slack, hauled it up after him, and there he sat chattering away and
wondering what the strangers were going to do to his master. The wicked
old Don, though astonished at first, was not altogether overcome, and
soon recovering himself, began to get an idea of the true state of the
case. Once more he ordered the crew to go on with their cruel work, but
no one would venture aloft to overhaul the whip, and Queerface showed no
disposition to help them. The Don began to swear and stamp with rage,
calling them all by certain uncomplimentary epithets, in which the
Spanish language is so rich. The crew swore and abused him in return.
In the midst of the confusion a voice hailed them through a
speaking-trumpet.
"What schooner is that? Heave-to, or I will fire into you."
"We are in the hands of a set of bloody pirates. I'm Jack Rogers," sang
out Jack, at the top of his voice. Never had he sung out louder.
"Take that for speaking," exclaimed the little Don, levelling a pistol
at his head. He pulled the trigger. It missed fire, and before he
could again cock the lock, Needham, who had been working his hands free,
sprang aft, and with a blow of his fist levelled him with the deck. It
was the signal for the Spaniards to set upon them, and they would all
have been cut down, but the next instant a loud crash was heard, and the
dark hull of a man-of-war brig, with her taunt masts and wide spread of
canvas, was seen ranging up alongside. The next instant twenty or more
stout English seamen, led by Alick Murray, came pouring down on the
slaver's deck. The brig which had thus providentially fallen in with
them was the _Archer_. She was on her passage to the northward with
despatches for Captain Lascelles, recalling him and his frigate
homewards. The news was received by all hands with unmitigated joy.
The tables on board the schooner were quickly turned. The Spaniards
were all handcuffed, and a strict guard set over them. The midshipmen
and their followers went on board the brig, where they were cordially
welcomed, and their wounds looked to. The felucca escaped, but as she
was never again heard of, it was supposed that she was lost in a fierce
gale which occurred two days afterwards. The schooner was found to be
full of slaves, and proved a rich prize. Don Diogo escaped hanging, but
was reduced to abject beggary, for he had not even the means of leaving
Sierra Leone, and very soon afterwards was found dead on the beach.
This was the last adventure either of the three midshipmen met with on
the coast of Africa. They were all three pretty well tired of it, and
delighted indeed were they when they once more found themselves in sight
of Old England. The frigate and brig were paid off about the same time,
and Alick and Terence accompanied Jack to that often-talked-of and
well-loved home of his in Northamptonshire. It must not be forgotten
that they had in their train the most sensible of travelled apes.
Master Queerface, who, by his amusing antics and performances, and
extraordinary monkeyish sagacity, gained the admiration of the whole
surrounding neighbourhood. There they remained for some weeks, when,
after Alick and Terence had paid a short visit to their own friends,
they were all once more summoned afloat.