Your highness may be surprised, that being in the possession of wealth,
rank, and my charming Cerise, I should have again ventured upon the
treacherous ocean. Of course your highness has heard of the revolution
which took place in France, and all the horrors which attended it.
"France! Yes, I believe there is a country of that name; I can't say
that I ever heard of the revolution. Holy Prophet! but these people
have strange ideas," continued the pacha to the vizier; "to imagine that
we must know or care about what is going on in their barbarous
countries. You may proceed, Huckaback."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It will be necessary to say a few words upon the subject, your highness,
but I will be as concise as possible. One day, a party of men from my
native city (Marseilles), dressed in red caps, their shirt sleeves
tucked up, and armed with various weapons, surrounded my chateau,
insisting upon my immediately informing them whether I was for the
summoning of the estates-general. I answered, most certainly, if they
wished it. They cheered me, and went away.
Shortly afterwards, they came to ascertain if I approved of the national
convention. I answered, that I approved of it excessively. They were
satisfied, and again disappeared. They came a third time, to inquire if
I was a republican, to which I gave the affirmative. A fourth, to know
whether I sided with the Girondists; I declared myself one of that
party, and hoped that I should be asked no more questions. But before
two or three months had passed away, another party came to ascertain
whether I was a real Jacobin, which I solemnly pronounced myself to
be;--a second time, to know whether I thought proper to be called
citizen, or have my head cut off; I declared in favour of the former,
and made them a present of my title of marquis. But at last they
surrounded my house with loud cries declaring that I was an aristocrat,
and insisted upon carrying my head away upon a pike. This I considered
a subject of remonstrance. I assured them that I was no aristocrat,
although I had purchased the property; and that, on the contrary, I was
a citizen barber from Marseilles; that I had relinquished the title of
marquis, which I had bought with the property, and had therefore no
claim whatever to aristocracy. But they insisted upon proofs, and
ordering my valets to bring down the materials, desired me to shave a
dozen of their party. I shaved for my life, and acquitted myself so
much to their satisfaction that they all embraced me, and were about to
depart, when one of the women demanded that my wife (whose
aristocratical descent was known) should be surrendered up, as a proof
of my sincerity. We all have our moments of weakness; had I had the
prudence to comply with the request, things would have ended happily,
but I was foolish enough, although I had been married twelve years, to
demur at the prospect of the head of my charming Cerise being carried
away on a pike. I represented to them (as she clung to me for
protection), that although of noble descent, she had reduced herself to
my level by marrying a citizen barber. After a short consultation, they
agreed that she was sufficiently degraded to live. They contented
themselves with breaking open my cellar, that they might drink my
health, and departed. But, your highness, I had soon cause to repent of
my folly. Cerise was a charming woman, and an affectionate wife in
adversity, but prosperity was her ruin, as well as mine. She had
already had an affair with a Comte, who had lately been dismissed for a
handsome young abbe but we do not mind these little _egaremens_ in our
country, and I neither had leisure nor inclination to interfere with her
arrangements. Satisfied with her sincere friendship for me, I could
easily forgive a few trifling infidelities, and nothing had disturbed
the serenity or gaiety of our establishment until this unfortunate
_expose_ which I was obliged to make, and to prove the truth of in her
presence, viz. that I had been a barber. Her pride revolted at the idea
of having formed such a connection, her feelings towards me were changed
to those of the most deadly hatred; and although I had saved her life,
she ungratefully resolved to sacrifice mine. The little abbe's head had
been taken off several weeks before, and she now formed a liaison with
one of the jacobin associes, on condition that he would prove his
attachment, by denouncing me as an aristocrat.
Fortunately, I had notice given to me in sufficient time to make my
escape to Toulon. Leaving my wife, and, what was of more consequence,
the whole of my property in the hands of the jacobin, I joined the mob
and vowing vengeance upon all aristocrats, became one of the most
violent leaders of the _sans culottes_. Two months afterwards, when the
gates of Toulon had been opened to the army, and I was assisting at a
noyade, I had the pleasure of seeing my jacobin _locum tenens_, who had
been denounced in his turn, tied back to back to a female; it was my
adored Cerise. I had no time to speak to her, for they were hurried on
board of the vessel. It sank with them, and some hundreds more; and as
the beautiful auburn hair of my wife was borne up from her shoulders,
upon which it had been hanging loose, and floated a second or two on the
wave after her head had disappeared, I sighed at the remembrance of the
transitory enjoyment of competence and love which I had shared with my
charming Cerise.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"And is she really dead now, Huckaback?" inquired the pacha.
"Yes, your highness, she is."
"_Allah karim_--God is most merciful. There is an end of that woman at
last; now the story will go on."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have reason to believe that I should have become a person of some
consequence if I had been able to remain in France, but another foolish
attempt on my part to save the life of the old lawyer at Marseilles, who
had assisted me in recovering part of my father's property, rendered me
suspected. Aware that between suspicion and the guillotine there were
but few hours of existence, I contrived to get on board of an Italian
brig that had put in from stress of weather, and made my escape. The
vessel was bound to North America for a cargo of salt fish, to be
consumed on the ensuing Lent, and had a crew of fifteen men. The
captain was very ill when we sailed, owing, as he said, to a cup of wine
which his wife had mixed with her tears, and persuaded him to drink at
their parting. He gradually declined as we proceeded on our voyage,
until at last he was not able to quit his bed; and no person on board
except myself having any knowledge of keeping a ship's reckoning, that
duty devolved upon me.
A few days before his death, the captain sent for me. "Francois," said
he, "my wife has poisoned me, that I might not return to interrupt a
connection which she had formed during my absence. I have no children,
and no relations that have ever cared for me. I am the owner of the
cargo, as well as the captain of this vessel, and it is my intention to
make it over to you; I consider that you have the greatest claim to it,
as there is nobody on board except yourself who can navigate her.
Understand me, it is not out of any particular regard, so much as to
prevent my wife from obtaining my property, that I select you as my
heir; you have, therefore, to thank Heaven for your good fortune, more
than you have me. I have but one request to make in return, which is,
that you will faithfully promise to cause five hundred masses to be said
for my soul, upon your arrival in Italy."
I readily made the promise which he required, and the captain drew up a
will, which he read and executed before the whole of the crew, by which
the vessel and cargo were made over to me. Two days afterwards he
expired. We sewed him up in a hammock, and threw him overboard.
Although it was quite calm at the time, a gale sprung up immediately
afterwards, which eventually increased to a hurricane.
We were obliged to bear up, and for several days scudded under bare
poles, until I found that we were in the very centre of the Atlantic,
out of the track of any vessels. Gradually the weather became more
settled, and we again spread our canvas to the breeze. To my surprise,
I observed, that although by my reckoning we were nearly one thousand
miles from any land, several aquatic birds were hovering about the ship,
of a description that seldom go far from the shore. I watched them as
the sun went down, and perceived that they took their flight to the
south-east. Anxious to discover any land, not hitherto described, I
steered the ship in that direction during the night, and early on the
next morning we found ourselves close to an island, apparently ten or
fifteen miles long, very high, and of a conical shape, which I knew was
not laid down upon any chart. I resolved to examine it, and dropped my
anchor in a small bay, at the bottom of which a few houses announced
that it was inhabited; although I could not distinguish any thing like
guns or fortification. We had not furled our sails, when a boat shoved
off from the shore and pulled towards us. She soon came alongside, and
astonished us as much by the peculiarity of her structure, as by the
appearance of the people who were on board.
She was a wide canoe, very beautifully carved and inlaid, or rather
veneered, with gold ornaments. She had a flag, hoisted to a staff,
hanging over the stern, the field of which was white, with a
representation of a fountain, worked in gold thread, in the centre. The
three men who were in her, particularly the one seated in the stern
sheets, were very richly attired in dresses worked in gold thread. But
what astonished us more than all was the peculiarity of their
complexions, which, although they were very well-featured men, were of a
beautiful light blue--their eyes black, and their hair of a rich auburn.
The personage in the stern sheets ascended the side, and addressing me
in excellent Portuguese, inquired if I could speak the language.
I answered in the affirmative, and he then welcomed us in the name of
the king, upon my arrival at the island--asking me the number of my
crew, whether I had any sick on board, and many other particulars, all
of which he noted down upon tablets of gold, with a piece of red
cinnabar.
Having replied to all his interrogations, I then obtained from him the
following particulars; viz., That the island had been originally peopled
by one of the ships belonging to Vasco de Gama's squadron, which,
returning from the East Indies laden with the produce of the east, and
specimens of the various inhabitants of the newly discovered
territories, had been cast away and utterly wrecked. That the island,
which otherwise was fertile and well-stocked, was one mine of gold,
which in the absence of other metals, they were necessitated to employ
for every article and utensil in common use. But the greatest curiosity
which the island contained, was a fountain of water at the foot of the
centre peak, of a beautiful colour, and producing longevity to those who
drank of it, from which it had received the name of the Isle of the
Golden Fountain. That when they had landed, about three hundred years
ago, they consisted of various nations and colours, male and female; but
the climate and the use of the waters, had, in the course of time,
produced the change in their complexions which we beheld, and all the
inhabitants were now of that peculiar tint, with the exception that the
females were not so dark as the men. Few ships had ever touched there;
and the crews of those who had fallen in with the island, had preferred
remaining, which accounted for its being so totally unknown: that the
king was very partial to strangers, and always received them at his
palace, which was built close to the Golden Fountain. He concluded by
requesting me to accompany him on shore, and pay my respects--stating,
that if I wished to quit the island, his majesty would permit me to load
my vessel with as much as she could carry of the metal so precious in
other countries, but so little valued in this.
I must acknowledge that I was quite overjoyed at his narration. I
considered my fortune to be made, and hastened to accompany the
ambassador, who stated that the king would not be pleased if I did not
permit the major part of my ship's company to attend me to the palace.
As the men were very eager to go on shore after the account which they
had heard, and he assured me that the wind never blew home in the bay,
which was on the lee-side of the island, I consented to their wishes,
and allowed all but two to quit the vessel.
We were much surprised when we landed at the village, to perceive that
even the pig-troughs, posts, and rails, and indeed every article in
which metal could be employed, were of solid gold; but we had not time
for examination, as we found several sledges, drawn by small bullocks,
waiting for us near the beach.
We mounted, and the animals set off in a swift canter, upon a smooth and
ascending road, and in less than two hours we arrived at the king's
palace, which was an extensive building, not very remarkable in its
structure, excepting the unusual sight of the large columns of gold,
supporting the porticos, which extended from it on every side. But when
we had alighted and were proceeding through the porticos, I was
astonished at the wonderful finish of the statues which embellished
them. They were mounted on plinths of the burnished metal, and carved
out of a sort of light blue chalcedony, which, joined with their
masterly execution, gave them the appearance of life. I was surprised
at the strange attitudes which the sculptors had chosen to represent,
all more or less distorted, although the human proportions were
admirable. Some appeared as if they had been placed on their legs when
asleep, others laughing or crying, nay, one or two were represented in
the act of vomiting. Amongst the whole I could not perceive one image
in which the human form was represented in a noble or graceful posture,
and I pitied the taste of those who could have employed workmen of such
extraordinary talents in representing the image of his Maker, under such
a degrading variety of postures. I was about to make this remark to my
conductor, but I was checked by the remembrance, that I was in a king's
palace, not in a studio; and that kings have their fancies, which they
are not inclined to submit to public criticism.
When we arrived at the end of the portico, two lofty doors were thrown
open, and we were struck dumb with the magnificence of the scene which
presented itself to our eyes.
The king was seated on a throne of the most splendid workmanship; the
precious metal had been oxidised to every shade of colour, and was
wrought in beautiful mosaic: the walls and ceiling were entirely covered
with the same, in some parts burnished, to reflect as mirrors, in others
elaborately carved in ornamental fretwork, as peculiar from the elegance
of its design, as from the superiority of its execution. On each side
of the throne extending to the door at which we entered, were a row of
ladies, and behind them raised on a platform about two feet higher,
another row of courtiers--all dressed in stuffs of cloth of gold, which
were embroidered with flowers of variously coloured metal, so as to
present the most perfect imitation of nature. The women were very fair
compared to the men, and their cerulean tint was far from being
disagreeable, as it gave a transparency to their complexions; but none
of them could be compared to the king's daughter, who was nearly white,
and of the most perfect symmetry in feature and in form; her auburn hair
was so long, that it hung down to the bottom of her dress, and was
ornamented with small chains and ornaments of polished steel, which were
entwined in its tresses. She sat at the foot of the throne, near to the
king, and I was so astonished at her heavenly appearance, that I could
not remember the compliments which I had intended to pay his majesty,
but remained speechless before him.
The king received us very graciously, asking me many questions, and
broke up the audience (after half an hour), desiring some of the
handsomest ladies to select one of my companions, and each hold herself
responsible for his comfort and amusement. I forgot to mention, that as
every country has its peculiar customs, one here appeared to me very
singular. When I asked the gentleman usher what was the usual homage
paid to the king of the country, he informed me that you advanced your
hand before you, on a level with your face, and snapped your fingers at
him. That the louder you could snap them, the more accomplished and
elegant you were considered. But in my confusion I quite forgot his
injunctions; and it was not until the ladies all snapped their fingers
in obedience to the commands of their sovereign, that I recollected the
omission which I had been guilty of. Before the king retired, he
intimated that he expected we should take up our abodes at the palace
for some days, and we should have the honour of sitting at his table, in
the afternoon's banquet.
The whole of the company separated; those who had charge of my
companions leading them different ways, leaving me alone with the
princess, who had risen from her seat when directed by her father to
take charge of me. I could have fallen down and worshipped her: as it
was, I involuntarily dropped on one knee, and looked up in her face as
if I had been contemplating a celestial visitant.
She smiled, and addressed me: "I am ordered to attend to your happiness
and comfort, and I obey my father's commands with pleasure. I only
trust that your happiness may be more lasting than it usually is in this
deceitful world," and she sighed deeply.
I continued in my position at her feet, and encouraged by her urbanity,
poured forth a torrent of what to the many are considered compliments,
but which to her were but truths. I became eloquent from excitation;
and being at this time, as I before observed to your highness, a very
personable man, I perceived that she was pleased with my efforts to
obtain her favour.
"I have more than once had this duty allotted to me, when strangers have
visited the island," observed she; "but I have always been wearied, and
have called in my women to assist me. I have never yet seen one like
you; you are gentle, and of a very different description from those who
generally have been introduced as the captains of vessels which have
arrived here. I then was indifferent if not glad, when my duty was at
an end; but I feel otherwise now,"--and she again sighed.
"If it depended upon me, fair princess, and upon my wishes, I am afraid
that you would consider the duration of it to be most tedious. Never
have I beheld any creature so perfect and so beautiful! O that your
task might be continued for the term of my existence!"
"It probably may," answered she, gravely; and then, as if recollecting
herself, she assumed a more cheerful air, and continued: "but we are
losing time, which should be otherwise employed. Come, sir, permit me
to obey my father's commands, and try to beguile the hours by
contributing to your amusement."
Offering me her hand, which I respectfully raised to my lips, she then
conducted me over the palace, directing my attention to every object
that she considered worthy of notice; and we had passed two or three
hours in conversation, and remarks upon the objects before us, when I
expressed my wish to behold the curious fountain from which the island
took its name.
"I shall obey you," replied she: and again her face assumed a mournful
cast. She led the way to a hall of black marble, in the centre of which
the fountain threw up its water to the height of twelve, or fourteen
feet, and fell into a spacious basin. The water of it, when in a body,
shone with all the colours of the rainbow, and the sparkling drops which
were thrown out on every side were brilliant as the purest gold.
"How beautiful!" exclaimed I, after some minutes of silent admiration.
"These, then, are the waters of longevity."
"And also of intoxication," replied the princess. "They will be
produced at the banquet of the king; and, O sir! be temperate, very
temperate, in the use of them."
I promised that I would, and we continued our walk to the porticos of
the palace, where I pointed to the statues of blue chalcedony, and
begged her to inform me by whom they had been executed, and why they
were all in such grotesque and absurd positions.
"That is a question which I cannot answer, further than that they were
made in the island. We must now return, as the king's banquet will be
ready."
We sat down at the table of the king, that is to say, I and my
companions; for no courtiers, male or female, were permitted to have the
same honour. Each lady stood behind the person who had been intrusted
to her charge, and waited upon him. My gallantry, as a Frenchman, was
sorely wounded at the idea of my charming princess performing the duties
of a menial, and I expressed my feelings to her in a low tone of voice.
She shook her head, as if to rebuke me, and I said no more. When we had
finished the banquet, his majesty ordered the water of the golden
fountain to be produced, which it immediately was, by those in
attendance, and extolling its virtues, desired a cup to be filled for
each guest, which was handed to him by the attendant ladies.
As the princess presented the cup, she contrived to press one of her
fingers against mine, before she removed them, to remind me of my
promise. I drank but sparingly, but the effects were instantaneous--my
spirits rose buoyant, and I felt a sort of intellectual intoxication.
At a sign made by the king, the ladies now took their seats beside us,
and by their attention and caresses increased the desire for the water,
which they supplied in abundance. I must confess that at each sip that
I took, the princess, who had taken her seat by me, appeared so much
more charming in my eyes, that notwithstanding the repeated pressure of
her foot to remind me of my promise, I could not resist the impulse to
drink.
The boatswain and one of the seamen were very drunken characters, and
had very soon poured down so much of the water, that they dropped off
their stools on the marble pavement, without sense or motion. This
recalled me to my senses, which were rapidly stealing away; I rose from
my seat, and pointing out to my companions that it would ill become them
to intoxicate themselves in the presence of his majesty, requested that
they would drink no more, but leave the table before they were
incapacitated from paying the proper attentions to their fair
conductors. The last argument had more weight than the first; and
notwithstanding the remonstrances of the king, who showed the greatest
anxiety that we should remain, the party rose from the table and
separated. The two men who were intoxicated were carried away by some
of the courtiers, and the king with marks of displeasure quitted the
hall. I was again left alone with my charming princess, and inflamed
with the exhilarating draught which I had taken, I threw myself at her
feet, declaring my violent passion, and my wish never to quit the
island, if I could be blessed with a reciprocal feeling on her part. I
perceived that I had made an impression; and following up my success, I
protested and she listened, until the evening closed in and found us
still seated upon the steps of the throne. At last she rose and said,
"I know not whether you be sincere in what you say, but I must
acknowledge that I hope you are; and I shall be very miserable if it
should prove otherwise. But you are now under the effects of the
intoxicating water, and may deceive yourself. Come, sir, it is time
that I conduct you to your chamber, where you must sleep away the
exhilarating effects of the golden fountain. To-morrow morning, if you
are of the same opinion, I may be induced to make a discovery."
The next morning I woke without any headache from the intemperance of
the previous night. As soon as I quitted the apartment I met the
princess outside. "I am still in the same mind, dear princess," said I,
implanting a kiss upon her hand, "to live for you alone, or die if I
cannot remain with you."
She smiled, and answered, "Then for you will I sacrifice every thing;
for until I beheld you, I never was aware that I had a heart. Rise and
follow me, and you shall know all."
We passed the large hall, with which the whole of the bed-chambers
communicated, and she conducted me through a dark passage to a room, in
which were several golden plinths without statues. At the further end
of it I perceived, to my horror, that two of them were already occupied
with the forms of the boatswain and sailor who had been intoxicated the
night before. They were now changed into the same blue chalcedony of
which the statues in the porticos were composed.
"Do you recognise these figures?" inquired the princess.
"I do, indeed," answered I with amazement.
"Such are the effects," continued she, "of intoxication from the water
of the golden fountain. They contain in solution so large a quantity of
the matter which by mineralogists is denominated silex, that once allow
the senses to be overpowered by repeated draughts, and in a few hours
the effects which you behold will be produced. It is by these means
that my father has obtained the variety and number of statues which you
have seen--all of whom were once visitors to the island in different
ships, not one of the crews of which have ever returned. It has also
the power of producing longevity, and hardening the hearts of those who
use it in moderation. My father's cruelty, therefore, is not thought of
by his subjects, who, if convicted of any heinous crime, are forced to
drink this water, and are erected as monuments of his displeasure in
various parts of the island. You may ask, how is it that I have not as
little remorse as the other inhabitants? The fact is, that I was
naturally of a kind and tender heart; and my mother, who lamented it
because she felt that it would not add to my happiness in this world of
cruelty and deceit, was more than ever anxious that I should drink the
waters; but what is forced upon us in childhood, is generally remembered
as we grow up with disgust. The consequence is, that I have never used
the waters since her death, which happened when I was but seven years
old. Had I not made this discovery, in all probability you and all your
companions would have fallen victims this evening, when the banquet will
be spread and the water will be produced as before. My prepossession in
your favour has, I trust, been the means of preserving the lives of
those who remain."
"Cursed treachery!" exclaimed I; "and, now what is to be done?"
"You must escape. Caution your men not to drink this evening, and make
some excuse to repair on board for an hour or two in the forenoon of
to-morrow. As for me--"
"Without you, princess, I cannot--will not go. Either consent to
accompany me, or here I stay, risking all; for I had sooner be a
senseless statue upon a plinth in the portico of your abode, than quit
the island with a broken heart."
"Then he is true; and there are some who are good--some who are not
deceitful in this world;" exclaimed the princess, falling on her knees,
as the tears trickled down her cheeks. "I am sure you'll treat me
kindly," continued she, holding my hand in hers; "if you do not, I shall
die."
I pressed her to my bosom, and vowed to love her till death; and we
hastened back to my chamber, that we might consult upon our
arrangements. I found an opportunity, in the course of the forenoon, to
acquaint all my companions of their danger, except one whom I could not
meet with.
In the evening we again sat down to the banquet, and soon after the
water had been produced, the one who had not been warned fell off his
chair in a state of intoxication. I made this an excuse for drinking no
more. Assuming an angry tone towards my companions, I apologised to the
king for their want of respect in his presence, and rose from the table
in spite of all his remonstrances. The next morning I stated to the
king that I wished to return to my ship for an hour or two, that I might
bring him a present of ivory, which I had been informed would be
acceptable. The princess offered to attend us, and the king, satisfied
with her surveillance, consented to our departure, on condition that we
would not fail to return in time for the banquet, which we most
faithfully promised. While the sledges were preparing, I requested the
princess to obtain several flasks of the golden water, that I might
present them as curiosities to all the learned societies in Europe.
This she accomplished, and stowing them in her own sledge with several
articles of wearing apparel, not only took them from the palace
unperceived, but they were carried on board without the knowledge of my
companions. I immediately cut my cables, and made all sail out of the
bay without any molestation, as the natives did not suspect my
intentions; I never felt more happy than when I found myself once more
floating on the wave, in company with my beautiful princess, whose
affectionate manners endeared me to her more and more every day.
Unfortunately, in our hurry to escape, we quite overlooked the
circumstance of our water-casks being nearly empty, and we were soon
reduced to half a pint per diem. To render our situation more
disastrous, the weather became intensely hot, and the people, in spite
of all my remonstrances, contrived every night to steal a part of the
water which was not yet expended, so that at last we found ourselves
becalmed, without a drop of water on board.
But all my apprehensions were now swallowed up by one of greater
interest. A fever seized my dear princess, who, accustomed to every
luxury, and a beautiful climate, could not bear up against the close
confinement of a vessel under a tropical sun. Notwithstanding all my
care and attention, in three days after she was attacked she expired in
my arms, blessing me for my attachment and my love, and regretting that
she was summoned from the world so soon after she had discovered that
there was an object in it worth living for. I threw myself upon--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here the renegade appeared to be much affected; he covered his face with
the wide sleeve of his under garment, and was silent.
"By God and his Prophet, these Franks are great fool about women,"
observed the pacha to Mustapha. "I must own, though, that I like this
princess better than Cerise, and I am very sorry that she is dead.
Come, Huckaback, go on. Where did you throw yourself?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On her body (continued the renegade, mournfully), where I remained for
many hours. At last I rose in a frenzy quite indifferent as to life or
death. I went on deck, where I found my crew much in the same
condition, from their agonising thirst; but I mocked them, and laughed
at the smooth expanse of water, which, far as the eye could reach, was
not rippled by the slightest breeze, and turned my eyes up in derision
to the sun, who poured down his vertical streams of light and heat, as
if he would consume us with his powerful rays. I thought but of one
subject, I had but one desire, which was, to rejoin the object of my
adoration. On a sudden I called to mind the flasks of golden water,
which till then I had forgotten, and rushing down into the cabin, I
determined to intoxicate myself, and quit this world of disappointment
and unrealised fruition. As if fearful that the spirit of my loved
princess should have already so far journeyed to the realms of bliss,
that I might not be able to discern her when I had shaken off the
incumbrance of an earthly body, and was at liberty to pursue, I seized a
flask, and pouring out the water with a hand trembling with anxiety,
drank off a glass. I was hastily refilling it, when the gurgling sound
struck upon the ears of my companions, who rushing down like the
fainting animals who hear the music of the fountain in the desert,
poured tumultuously into the cabin, and in spite of all my remonstrances
to leave me sufficient for the completion of my desires, seized upon the
flask in my hand, as well as upon all those that remained, emptied them
in a few seconds with their copious draughts, and returned laughing and
shouting to the deck above.
The water which I had already drunk produced one good effect; it
hardened my heart for the time, and I fell into a sort of stoical
indifference, which lasted many hours. I then repaired on deck, where I
found all my companions changed into blue chalcedony--not one alive.
The heavens, too, had changed; clouds obscured the sun, the wind was
rising, and ever and anon a mournful gust blew through the shrouds; the
birds were screaming on the wing, and the water-line of the black
horizon was fringed with a narrow ridge of foam. The thunder rolled at
a distance, and I perceived that convulsion of the elements was at hand.
The sails were all set, and without assistance I could not reduce them;
but I was indifferent to my fate. The lightning now darted in every
direction, and large drops of rain pattered on the deck. With the means
of existence, the desire of life returned: I spread out the spare sails,
and as the torrents descended, and the vessel bowed to her gunwale in
submission of the blast, I filled the empty casks. I thought of nothing
else until my task was completed. I strode carelessly over the bodies
of my companions, the sails were blown from the yards, the yards
themselves were snapt asunder, the top-masts fell over the sides, the
vessel flew before the boiling surge; but I heeded not--I filled the
casks with water. When I had finished my labours, a reaction took
place, and I recollected the loss which I had sustained. I descended to
the cabin. There she lay in all her beauty. I kissed the cold cheek, I
wrapped up the adored image, carried it on deck, and launched it into
the wave; and, as it disappeared under the raging billows, I felt as if
my heart, in its struggles to escape, had burst the strings which
confined it in my bosom, and leapt into the angry flood to join her.
Exhausted with my feelings, I fell down in a swoon; how long I remained
I cannot exactly say, but it was nearly dark when I lost my
recollection, and broad daylight when I recovered. The vessel was still
flying before the gale, which now roared in its resistless fury; the
tattered fragments of the sails were blown out before the lower yards
like so many streamers and pennants, and the wrecks of the topmasts were
still towing alongside through the foaming surge. The indurated bodies
of my companions were lying about the decks, washed by the water which
poured into the vessel, as she rolled deeply from one side to the other,
presenting her gunwales as if courting the admittance of the wave. "Are
you, then, tired of your existence, as well as I?" thought I,
apostrophising the vessel. "Have you found out at last, that while you
swim you've nought to encounter but difficulty and danger? That you
enter your haven but to renew your tasks, and again become a beast of
burthen that when empty you must bow to the slightest breeze, and when
laden must groan and labour for the good of others. Have--"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Holy Prophet! I never heard of people talking to ships before, and I
don't understand it," observed the pacha. "Leave out all you said to
the ship, and all the ship said to you in reply, and go on with your
story."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The gale lasted for three days, and then it as suddenly fell calm. I
had observed by the compass that we had been running to the eastward,
and I supposed that we were not very far from the Western Isles. As I
surveyed the bodies of my companions, it occurred to me that they ought
to fetch a high price in Italy as specimens of art, and I resolved to
dispose of them as the work of men. Having no other employment, I
brought up the spare planks from below, and made packing-cases for them
all. It was with some difficulty that I contrived, by means of tackles,
to lower them to the hold, which I succeeded in accomplishing with
safety excepting in one instance, when, from the tackle-fall giving way,
the image fell to the bottom of the vessel, and being very brittle, was
broken into pieces. As it was no longer of any value as a statue, I
broke it up to examine it, and I can assure your highness that it was
very wonderful to witness how every part of the human body was changed
into flint, of a colour corresponding with that which it had been when
living. The heart was red, and on my arrival in Italy I had several
seals made from it, which were pronounced by the lapidaries who cut them
to be of the finest blood-red cornelian. I have now a piece of the dark
stone of which the liver was composed, which I keep for striking a
light. As it afterwards proved, almost all of it was valuable, for the
alternate fat and lean formed a variety of beautiful onyxes and
sardonyx, which I disposed of very advantageously to the cameo
engravers. I was several days employed in packing up, but I had plenty
of provisions and water, and had no doubt that I should be seen by some
vessel before they were expended. Three weeks had elapsed, when one
morning I went on deck, and saw land on both sides of me. I immediately
recognised the rock of Gibraltar, and the Straits, through which I was
drifting. I was boarded by a Spanish gun-boat from Algesiras, and
having stated that all my crew had died two months before of the yellow
fever, I was towed in, put into quarantine for forty days, and then
permitted to equip my vessel and procure sailors. This I was enabled to
do by selling two of the flasks which held the water, and which, like
all the other utensils of the island from which I had escaped, were of
pure gold.
I did not think it prudent to go to Leghorn, where not only the vessel
might be recognised, and the widow give me some trouble, but the statues
also might have been identified as the men who had sailed in the vessel,
and occasion my being burnt as a necromancer by the Inquisition. I
directed my course for Naples, where I arrived in safety. Having
disembarked my metamorphosed crew, I hired a large room to exhibit them,
and expected to realise a considerable sum; but as I could not name the
artist, and the figures had not the grace which the Italians admire,
they remained on my hands, and were even found fault with as not being
well executed. I sold two of the least prepossessing to a Sicilian
nobleman, who I understood had a large country seat decorated with
monstrosities; and I then determined, as I had received a high price for
the pieces of the one which had been broken up, to retail the others in
the same way. It answered admirably, and I received more money for the
fragments than I had asked for the images in an unmutilated state. The
remainder of the golden flasks also realised a large sum; I produced
them one by one, and disposed of them to English collectors, as having
been purloined by the excavators from the ruins of Pompeii. I had now
plenty of money, and resolved to return to my native city. An
opportunity offering, I embarked, and safely arrived at Marseilles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Did you fulfil your promise to the Italian captain, by having five
hundred masses said for his soul?" inquired Mustapha.
"Upon my salvation! I never thought of it to this moment," replied the
renegade.
"Such, your highness are the adventures of my fifth voyage; and I trust,
that the narration of them has afforded you entertainment."
"Yes," observed the pacha, rising, "that was some thing like a voyage.
Mustapha, give him thirty pieces of gold. Huckaback, we will hear your
sixth voyage to-morrow"--and the pacha retired behind the screen, and,
as usual, went into the apartment of the women.
"Pray, Selim, was there any truth in that history of the princess? I
thought at first that it was all invention; but when you wept--"
"That was for the sake of effect," answered the renegade: "when I get
warmed with my story, I often work myself up to a degree that I almost
believe it myself."
"Holy Prophet! what a talent!" rejoined Mustapha. "What an excellent
prime minister you would have made in your own country! Here's your
money; will your next voyage be as good?"
"I'll try, at all events; as I find that the _principal_ increases with
the _interest_," said the renegade, chinking the sequins in his hand.
_Au revoir_, as we say in France--and the renegade quitted the divan.
"Allah--what a talent!" muttered the vizier to himself, as the renegade
disappeared.