I am put in command of the Sparrow-Hawk--Am directed to
take four Jacobite Gentlemen secretly on board--Run with
them to Bordeaux--Land them in safety--Dine with the
Governor--Meet with the Widow of the French Gentleman I
had unfortunately killed--Am insulted by her second
Husband--Agree to fight with him--Sail down the River
and prepare for Action.
On our arrival, Captain Levee and I, as soon as we had got rid of the
dust of travel, called upon the owner, who informed us that all the
alterations in Captain Levee's vessel, which was a large lugger of
fourteen guns, and a hundred and twenty men, were complete, and that
my vessel was also ready for me, and manned; but that I had better go
on board and see if any thing else was required, or if there was any
alteration that I would propose. Captain Levee and I immediately went
down to the wharf, alongside of which my vessel lay, that we might
examine her now that she was fitted out as a vessel of war.
She had been a schooner in the Spanish trade, and had been captured
by Captain Levee, who had taken her out from under a battery as she
lay at anchor, having just made her port from a voyage from South
America, being at that time laden with copper and cochineal--a most
valuable prize she had proved--and as she was found to be a surprising
fast sailer, the owner had resolved to fit her out as a privateer.
She was not a large vessel, being of about a hundred and sixty tons,
but she was very beautifully built. She was now armed with eight brass
guns, of a calibre of six pounds each, four howitzers aft, and two
cohorns on the taffrail.
"You have a very sweet little craft here, Elrington," said Captain
Levee, after he had walked all over her, and examined her below and
aloft. "She will sail better than before, I should think, for she then
had a very full cargo, and now her top hamper is a mere nothing. Did
the owner say how many men you had?"
"Fifty-four is, I believe, to be our full complement," I replied, "and
I should think quite enough."
"Yes, if they are good men and true. You may do a great deal with this
vessel, for you see she draws so little water, that you may run in
where I dare not venture. Come, we will now return to our lodgings,
pack up, and each go on board of our vessels. We have had play enough,
now to work again, and in good earnest."
"I was about to propose it myself," I replied, "for with a new vessel,
officers and men not known to me, the sooner I am on board and with
them the better. It will take some time to get every thing and
everybody in their places."
"Spoken like a man who understands his business," replied Captain
Levee. "I wonder whether we shall be sent out together?"
"I can only say, that I hope so," I replied, "as I should profit much
by your experience, and hope to prove to you that, if necessary, I
shall not be a bad second."
And as I made this reply, we arrived at the house where we had lodged.
Captain Levee was a man, who, when once he had decided, was as rapid
as lightning in execution. He sent for a dealer in horses, concluded a
bargain with him in five minutes, paid his lodgings and all demands
upon him, and before noon we were both on board of our respective
vessels. But, previous to the seamen coming up for our boxes, I
observed to him, "I should wish, Levee, that you would let me know, if
it is only at a rough guess, what sum I may be indebted to you; as I
may be fortunate, and if so, it will be but fair to repay you the
money, although your kindness I cannot so easily return."
"I'll tell you exactly," said Levee. "If I take no prizes this cruise,
and you do make money, why then we will, on our return, have another
frolic somewhere, and you shall stand treat. That will make us all
square, if I am not fortunate; but if I am, I consider your pleasant
company to have more than repaid me for any little expense I may have
incurred."
"You are very kind to say that," I replied; "but I hope you will be
fortunate, and not have to depend upon me."
"I hope so too," he replied, laughing. "If we come back safe and
sound, we will take a trip to Bath--I am anxious to see the place."
I mention this conversation, Madam, that I may make you acquainted
with the character of Captain Levee, and prove to you how worthy a man
I had as a companion.
It required about ten days to complete my little schooner with every
thing that I considered requisite, and the politeness of the owner was
extremely gratifying. We were, however, but just complete, when the
owner sent for me in a great hurry, and having taken me into a back
room next to the counting-house, he locked the door, and said--
"Captain Elrington, I have been offered a large sum to do a service to
some unfortunate people; but it is an affair which, for our own sakes,
will demand the utmost secrecy: indeed, you will risk more than I
shall; but at the same time I trust you will not refuse to perform the
service, as I shall lose a considerable advantage. If you will
undertake it, I shall not be ungrateful."
I replied that I was bound to him by many acts of kindness, and that
he might confide in my gratitude.
"Well, then," he replied, lowering his voice, "the fact is this; four
of the Jacobite party, who are hotly pursued, and for whose heads a
large reward is offered, have contrived to escape to this port, and
are here concealed by their friends, who have applied to me to land
them at some port in France."
"I understand," I replied; "I will cheerfully execute the commission."
"I thank you, Captain Elrington; I expected no other answer from you.
I would not put them on board Captain Levee's vessel for many reasons;
but, at the same time, he knows that he is to sail to-morrow, and he
shall wait for you and keep company with you till you have landed
them; after which you may concert your own measures with him, and
decide whether you cruise together or separate."
"Captain Levee will of course know that I have them on board?"
"Certainly; but it is to conceal these people from others in his ship,
and not from him, that they are put on board of your vessel. At the
same time, I confess I have my private reasons as well, which I do not
wish to make known. You can sail to-morrow?"
"I can sail to-night, if you wish," I replied.
"No; to-morrow night will be the time that I have fixed."
"At what time will they come on board?"
"I cannot reply to that till to-morrow. The fact is, that the
government people are on a hot scent; and there is a vessel of war in
the offing, I am told, ready to board any thing and every thing which
comes out. Captain Levee will sail to-morrow morning, and will in all
probability be examined by the government vessel, which is, I
understand, a most rapid sailer."
"Will he submit to it?"
"Yes, he must; and I have given him positive orders not to make the
least attempt to evade her or prevent a search. He will then run to
Holyhead, and lay-to there for you to join him, and you will proceed
together to the port which the people taken on board shall direct,
for that is a part of the agreement they have made with me."
"Then of course I am to evade the king's vessel?"
"Certainly; and I have no doubt but that you will be able so to do.
Your vessel is so fleet, that there will be little difficulty: at all
events, you will do your best: but recollect, that although you must
make every attempt to escape, you must not make any attempt at
resistance--indeed, that would be useless against a vessel of such
force. Should you be in a position which might enable them to board
you, you must find some safe hiding-place for your passengers; for I
hardly need say, that if taken with them on board, the vessel will be
confiscated, and you will run some danger of your life. I have nothing
more to say to you just now, except that you may give out that Captain
Levee sails to-morrow, and that you are to follow him in ten days.
Your powder is on board?"
"Yes; I got it on board as soon as we hauled out in the stream."
"Well, then, you will call here to-morrow morning about eleven
o'clock, not before, and (I hardly need repeat it), but I again
say--secrecy,--as you value your life."
As soon as I had left the owner, I went down to the wharf, stepped
into the boat, and went on board Captain Levee's vessel, which, I have
omitted to state, was named the Arrow. I found him on board, and very
busy getting ready for sea.
"So you are off to-morrow, Levee?" said I, before all the people on
the deck.
"Yes," he replied.
"I wish I was, too; but I am to remain ten days longer, I find."
"I was in hopes we should have cruised together," replied Captain
Levee; "but we must do as our owner wishes. What detains you?--I
thought you were ready."
"I thought so too," I replied; "but we find that the head of the
mainmast is sprung, and we must have a new one. I have just come from
the owner's, and must set to work at once, and get ready for shifting
our mast. So, fare you well, if I do not see you before you sail."
"I am to see the owner to-night," replied Levee. "Shall we not meet
then, and take a parting glass?"
"I fear not, but I will come if I can," I replied; "if not, success to
the Arrow!"
"And success to the Sparrow-Hawk!" replied Levee, "and God bless you,
my good fellow."
I shook hands with my kind friend, and went over the side of the
lugger into my boat, and then pulled for my own vessel. As soon as I
got on board, I sent for the officers and men, and said to them--
"We are to shift our mainmast for one that is three feet longer, and
must work hard, that we may be able to sail as soon as possible. I
cannot allow any of you to go on shore till the work is finished; when
it is done, you will have leave as before till we sail."
That afternoon I sent down the topsail-yard and topmast, unbent the
mainsail, main-topsail, and gaff--sent down the topmast and
running-rigging on deck--cast loose the lanyards of the lower rigging,
and quite dismantled the mainmast, so as to make it appear as if we
were about to haul to the wharf and take it out. The men all remained
on board, expecting that we should shift our berth the next day.
On the following morning I laid out a warp to the wharf, as if
intending to haul in; and at the time appointed, I went on shore to
the owner, and told him what I had done.
"But," he said, "I find that you will have to sail this night as soon
as it is dark. How will you get ready?"
I replied that at nightfall I would immediately replace every thing,
and in an hour would be ready for sea.
"If such be the case, you have done well, Mr. Elrington, and I thank
you for your zeal on my behalf, which I shall not forget. Every thing
has been arranged, and you must come up here with some of your seamen
as soon as you are ready to sail. Your men, or rather four of them,
must remain in the house. The four gentlemen who are to be embarked
will be dressed, in seamen's attire, and will carry down their boxes
and trunks as if they were your men taking your things on board. You
will then remain a little distance from the wharf in the boat till
your own men come down, and if there is no discovery you will take
them on board with you; if, on the contrary, there is any suspicion,
and the officers of the government are on the watch, and stop your
men, you will then push off with the passengers, slip your cable if it
is necessary, and make all sail for Holyhead, where you will fall in
with the Arrow, which will be waiting there for you. Is the Arrow
still in sight?"
"No," I replied; "she was out of sight more than an hour ago, and from
our masthead we could see the top-gallant sails of the vessel of war
bearing N.N.W."
"Keep a look-out upon her, and see how she bears at dark," replied the
owner, "for you must not fall in with her if possible. I think you had
better return on board now, that you may keep your people quiet."
When I arrived on board the schooner, I told my officers that I did
not think that we should shift the mast as proposed, and that every
thing must be got ready for refitting. I did not choose to say more,
but I added that I was to go on shore in the evening to smoke a pipe
with the owner, and then I should know for certain. I employed the men
during the whole of the day in doing every thing in preparation which
could be done without exciting suspicion; and as soon as it was dark I
called the men aft, and told them that I thought it was very likely,
from the Arrow not having made her appearance, that we might be sent
to join her immediately, and that I wished them to rig the mainmast,
and make every thing ready for an immediate start, promising them to
serve out some liquor if they worked well. This was sufficient, and in
little more than an hour the mast was secured, the rigging all
complete, and the sails ready for bending. I then ordered the boat to
be manned, and telling the officers that they were to bend the sails,
and have every thing ready for weighing on my return on board, which
would be in an hour, or thereabouts, I pulled on shore, and went up to
the owner's, taking four men with me, and leaving three men in the
boat. I ordered these three men to remain till the others came down
with my trunks and effects, and not to leave the boat on any
consideration.
When I arrived at the owner's, I told him what I had done, and he
commended my arrangements. In the back room I found four gentlemen
dressed in seamen's clothing, and as there was no time to be lost,
they immediately shouldered the trunks and valises; desiring my own
men to remain with the owner to bring down any thing that he might
wish to send on board, I left them in the counting-house. The
gentlemen followed me with their loads down to the boat, and when I
got there the men told me that some people had come down and asked
whose boat it was, and why they were lying there, and that they had
told the people that the captain had taken four men with him to bring
down his things, and that they were waiting for him; so it was lucky
that I said to my men what I did.
We hastened to put the trunks into the boat, and to get in ourselves
after we had received this intelligence, and then I shoved off from
the wharf, and laid about a stone's throw distant for my other men. At
last we heard them coming down, and shortly afterwards we perceived
that they were stopped by other people, and in altercation with them.
I knew then that the officers were on the alert, and would discover
the stratagem, and therefore desired my men and the gentlemen, who had
each taken an oar in readiness, to give way and pull for the schooner.
As we did so, the king's officers on search who had stopped my four
men came down to the wharf and ordered us to come back, but we made no
reply. As soon as we were alongside, we hoisted the things out of the
boat, veered her astern by a tow-rope, slipped the cable, and made
sail. Fortunately it was very dark, and we were very alert in our
movements. We could perceive lights at the wharf as we sailed out of
the river, and it was clear that we had had a narrow escape; but I
felt no alarm on account of the owner, as I knew that although they
might suspect, they could prove nothing. When about three miles out we
hove to, hoisted in the boat, and shaped our course.
All I had now to fear was the falling in with the ship of war in the
offing, and I placed men to keep a sharp look-out in every direction,
and told the officers that it was necessary that we should avoid her.
When last seen, about an hour before dark, she was well to windward,
and as the wind was from the northward, she would probably sail faster
than we could, as a schooner does not sail so well free as on a wind.
We had run out about four hours, and were steering our course for
Holyhead, when suddenly we perceived the ship of war close to us, and
to leeward. She had been lying with her mainsail to the mast, but she
evidently had made us out, for she filled and set top-gallant sails.
I immediately hauled my wind, and as soon as she had way, she tacked
and followed in pursuit, being then right astern of us, about half a
mile off. It was very dark, and I knew that as our sails were set, and
we bore from her, it would be difficult for her to keep us in sight,
as we only presented what we call the feather-edge of our sails to
her. I therefore steered on under all sail, and finding that the
schooner weathered on her, I kept her away a little, so as to retain
the same bearings, and to leave her faster.
In an hour we could not make out the ship, and were therefore certain
that she could not see us; so, as I wanted to get clear of her, and be
at Holyhead as soon as possible, I lowered down all the sails and put
my helm up, so as to cross her and run to leeward under bare poles,
while she continued her windward chase. This stratagem answered, and
we saw no more of her; for, two hours afterwards, we fell in with the
Arrow, and, hailing her, we both made sail down the Bristol Channel as
fast as we could, and at daybreak there was no vessel in sight, and of
course we had nothing more to fear from the Liverpool cruiser.
As we now sailed rapidly along in company, with the wind on our
quarter, it was high time for me to look to my passengers, who had
remained on deck in perfect silence from the time that they had come
on board. I therefore went up to them, and apologized for not having
as yet paid them that attention that I should have wished to have done
under other circumstances.
"Captain," replied the oldest of them, with a courteous salute, "you
have paid us every attention; you have been extremely active in saving
our lives, and we return you our sincere thanks."
"Yes, indeed," replied a young and handsome man who stood next him,
"Mr. Elrington has saved us from the toils of our enemies; but now
that we are in no fear from that quarter, I must tell him that we have
hardly had a mouthful of food for twenty-four hours, and if he wishes
to save our lives a second time, it will be by ordering a good
breakfast to be prepared for us."
"Campbell speaks the truth, my dear Sir," said the one who had first
spoken. "We have lately gained the knowledge of what it is to hunger
and thirst; and we all join in his request."
"You shall not wait long," I replied; "I will be up again in a moment
or two." I went down into the cabin, and ordering my servant to put on
the table a large piece of pressed Hamburg beef, a cold pie of various
flesh and fowl combined, some bread and cheese, and some bottles of
brandy and usquebaugh, I then went up again, and requested them all to
descend. Hungry they certainly were, and it was incredible the
quantity that they devoured. I should have imagined that they had not
been fed for a week; and I thought that if they were to consume at
that rate, my stock would never last out, and the sooner they were
landed the better. As soon as they left off eating, and had finished
two bottles of usquebaugh, I said to them, "Gentlemen, my orders are
to land you at any port of France that you should prefer. Have you
made up your minds as to which it shall be, for it will be necessary
that we shape a course according to your decision?"
"Mr. Elrington, on that point we would wish to advise with you. I
hardly need say that our object is to escape, and that falling in with
and being captured by a ship of war, and there are many out in pursuit
of us and other unfortunate adherents to the house of Stuart, would be
extremely disagreeable, as our heads and our bodies would certainly
part company, if we were taken. Now, which port do you think we should
be most likely to reach with least chance of interruption?"
"I think," I replied, "as you pay me the compliment to ask my opinion,
that it would be better to run down the Bay of Biscay, and then put in
the port of Bordeaux, or any other, where you could be landed in
safety; and my reason is this: the Channel is full of cruisers looking
after those of your party who are attempting to escape; and my vessel
will be chased and searched. Now, although we might sail faster than
any one vessel in the Channel, yet it is very possible that in running
away from one, we may fall into the jaws of another. And besides, we
are two privateers, and cruising off Bordeaux will excite no
suspicion, as it is a favourite cruising-ground; so that, if we were
boarded, there would be little danger of discovery; but, of course, as
long as I can prevent that, by taking to my heels, I shall not be
boarded by any one. The only objection to what I propose is, that you
will be confined longer in a vessel than you may like, or than you
would be if you were to gain a nearer port."
"I agree with the captain of the vessel," said a grave-looking
personage, who had not yet spoken, and whom I afterwards discovered to
be a Catholic priest, "the stanchest adherent to the cause could not
have given better advice, and I should recommend that it be followed."
The others were of the same opinion; and, in consequence, I edged the
schooner down to the Arrow, and hailed Captain Levee, stating that we
were to run to Bordeaux. After that I prepared for them sleeping
accommodations as well as I could, and on my making apologies, they
laughed, and told me such stories of their hardships during their
escape, that I was not surprised at their not being difficult. I found
out their names by their addressing one another, to be Campbell,
M'Intyre, Ferguson, and M'Donald; all of them very refined gentlemen,
and of excellent discourse. They were very merry, and laughed at all
that they had suffered; sang Jacobite songs, as they were termed, and
certainly did not spare my locker of wine. The wind continued fair,
and we met with no interruption, and on the fourth evening, at dusk,
we made the mouth of the Garonne, and then hove to, with our heads off
shore, for the night. Captain Levee then came on board, and I
introduced him to my passengers. To my surprise, after some
conversation, he said--
"I have now escorted Captain Elrington, according to the orders I
received, and shall return to Liverpool as soon as possible; if,
therefore, gentlemen, you have any letters to send to your friends
announcing your safety, I shall be most happy to present them in any
way you may suggest as most advisable."
That Captain Levee had some object in saying this, I was quite
certain; and therefore I made no remark. The passengers thanked him
for his proposal; and, being provided with writing materials, they all
wrote to their friends, and put their letters into Captain Levee's
hands, who then bade them farewell, and went on deck with me.
"Of course, you were not serious in what you said, Captain Levee?" I
inquired, as we walked forward.
"No," he replied; "but I considered it prudent to make them believe
so. Although Englishmen, they are enemies to our country, so far as
they are enemies to our government, and, of course, wish no harm to
the French, who have so warmly supported them. Now, if they knew that
I remained here waiting for your coming out of the river, they would
say so, and I might lose the chance of a good prize, as nothing would
sail, if they knew that the coast was not clear. Now, I shall part
company with you in an hour, and make all sail for England, as they
may suppose, but without fail, to-morrow night I shall be off here
again, about five leagues from the port, with my sails furled;
therefore, stay in the river as long as they will let you, as, while
you are in port with the flag of truce, vessels may sail out."
"I understand you, and will do all I can to assist your views, Captain
Levee. Now, we will go down again. I will give you a receipt for a
coil of rope, which you will send your boat for, and write a letter to
the owners, after which you will wish me good bye, and make sail."
"Exactly," Captain Levee replied, who then ordered his boat to go for
a coil of three inch, and bring it on board.
We then descended to the cabin, and I wrote a letter to the owner, and
also a receipt for the coil of rope, which I delivered to Captain
Levee. The boat soon returned from the lugger, the rope was taken on
board, and then Captain Levee wished me farewell, and made his polite
adieus to the gentlemen who followed him on deck, and waited there
till he had hoisted in his boat, and made all sail.
"How long will she be before she arrives at Liverpool with this
wind?" inquired Mr. Campbell.
"She will carry her canvas night and day," I replied; "and, therefore,
as she sails so fast, I should say in five or six days."
"Well, I am grateful that we have such an early and safe opportunity
of communicating with our friends in England, we might have waited two
months otherwise."
"Very true," replied the priest, "but Heaven has assisted our anxious
wishes. Let us be grateful for all things."
My passengers watched the lugger until she was nearly out of sight. I
dare say that their thoughts were, that those on board of her were
going to the country of their birth, from which they were exiles,
probably for ever: they did not speak, but went down below, and
retired to their beds. At daylight the next morning I ran the schooner
in; and as soon as I was within three miles of the coast, I hoisted
the white flag of truce, and stood for the mouth of the river Garonne.
I perceived that the batteries were manned, but not a shot was fired,
and we entered the river.
When we were a mile up the river, we were boarded by the French
authorities, and my passengers, who had dressed themselves in their
proper costume, informed the officer in the boat who they were, upon
which he was very polite, and calling a pilot out of the boat, the
schooner was taken charge of by him, and we very soon afterwards,
having wind and tide in our favour, were anchored alongside of two
large merchant vessels and a French privateer of sixteen guns, which I
instantly recognized as our old antagonist off Hispaniola, in the
action in which the Revenge was captured, and Captain Weatherall lost
his life. However, I kept my knowledge to myself, as the French
officer and the Jacobite gentleman were present. As soon as we had
anchored, the passengers were requested to go into the boat, and the
French officer and I to accompany them, that I might report myself to
the governor, and we pulled away to the town, one of my boats
following with the passengers' luggage.
On our landing, there was a great crowd assembled, and they looked
very hard at me, as I was dressed in my lace coat and a cocked-up
hat, also bound with broad gold lace. On our arrival in the presence
of the governor, we were received with much urbanity; and as I had
brought the Jacobite gentlemen in my schooner, it was presumed that I
was favourable to the cause, and I was very politely treated. The
governor invited us all to dine with him on that day. I made some
excuse, saying, that I was anxious to return to Liverpool; that I
might fit out for the coast of Africa, in which service I was to be
employed by my owners; but the passengers insisted upon my staying a
day or two, and the governor added to their solicitations, his own.
I therefore accepted, not only because I was glad to have an
opportunity to see so celebrated a town, but because it would meet the
views of Captain Levee. We took leave of the governor, and went to an
hotel, and I then sent my boat on board for necessaries, and hired a
handsome apartment in the hotel. I had not been there half an hour,
when the priest came to me and said, "Captain, you are not aware of
the rank and consequence of the three gentlemen whom you have been so
successful in escorting to a place of safety. I am requested by them
to make you a handsome remuneration for your kindness and skilful
conduct on this occasion."
"Sir," I replied, "that must not be. I am most happy in having
assisted in the escape of unfortunate gentlemen; and all the pleasure
I feel at having so done would be destroyed if I were to accept of
what you offer. It is useless to repeat it; and if you do, I shall
consider it an insult, and immediately repair on board of my vessel.
You will therefore tender my best thanks and my refusal, with ardent
wishes for their future welfare."
"After what you have said, Captain Elrington, I will, of course, not
resume the offer. I will tell my fellow-passengers what you have said,
and I am sure that they will, as I do, admire your high sense of
honour."--The priest shook me by the hand, and then quitted my
apartment. I did not see the other passengers till it was the hour to
go to dine at the governor's, when they embraced me cordially, and the
one calling himself Campbell said, "Should you ever be in distress or
a prisoner in this country, recollect you have a friend who is ready
to serve you. Here is an address to a lady, to whom you must write,
and say that you wish the assistance of your passenger to
Bordeaux--that will be sufficient--I trust you may never require it."
We had a pleasant dinner at the governor's, and among the people
invited to meet us, I perceived the French captain of the privateer. I
knew him immediately, although he did not recognize me. We had some
conversation together, and he spoke about his cruises in the West
Indies, and asked me whether I knew Captain Weatherall. I said there
was a Captain Weatherall who commanded the Revenge privateer, and who
was killed when his vessel was taken.
"Exactly," said the captain; "he was a brave man, and fought nobly,
and so did all his people--they fought like devils."
"Yes," I replied, "they fought as long as they could, but Captain
Weatherall was very short-handed. He had but fifty-five men on board
at the commencement of the action."
"More than that, I'm sure," replied the French captain.
"He had not, I assure you," I replied; "he had lost so many in an
attack on shore, and had so many away in prizes."
Our conversation had attracted general notice, and a French army
officer observed, "Monsieur speaks so positively, that one would
imagine that he was actually on board."
"And so I was, Sir," replied I, "and have my wounds to show for it. I
knew this officer immediately I saw him, for I was close to Captain
Weatherall at the time that this officer expostulated with him before
the action; and I crossed my sword with him during the combat."
"You have convinced me that you were on board," replied the captain of
the privateer, "by your mentioning the expostulations previous to the
combat taking place. I am delighted to have met with so brave an
enemy, for every man on board that vessel was a hero."
The conversation was then general, and many particulars were asked;
and I will do the French captain the justice to say, that he was very
correct in all his statements, and neither vaunted his own success,
nor did us less than justice.
The party then broke up to go to the theatre, and afterwards we
repaired to the hotel. I remained there two days more, and on the last
of these two days I had promised to sup with the French captain of the
privateer, who had called upon me, and behaved very politely. The
following day, after noon, when the tide served, I was to sail.
Accordingly, after the theatre was over, I went with the French
captain to his house, in company with two or three more. Supper was on
the table when we arrived there, and we went into the room, waiting
for the presence of the captain's lady, who had not gone to the
theatre, and to whom I had not been introduced. After a few minutes
she made her appearance, and as she entered the room, I was struck
with her extreme beauty, although she was past the meridian of life. I
thought I had seen her face before, and as she came forward with her
husband, it at once rushed into my mind that she was the widow of the
French gentleman who had so gallantly fought his vessel, and who fell
by my hand--the lady who was nursing her son at the King's Hospital at
Jamaica, and who had been so inveterate against me. Our eyes met, and
her cheeks flushed; she recognized me, and I coloured deeply as I
bowed to her. She was taken with a faintness, and fell back.
Fortunately her husband received her in his arms.
"What is the matter, my love?" he said.
"Nothing; but I am taken with a vertigo," replied she; "it will go off
directly. Make my excuses to the company, while I retire for a few
minutes."
Her husband went out of the room, and after a minute or two came back,
saying that Madam was not well enough to return to the room, and
begged that they would admit her excuse, and sit down to supper
without her. Whether his wife had informed him of who I was, I know
not; but nothing could exceed the civility of the French captain
towards me during the supper. We did not, however, remain very late,
as the lady of the house was indisposed.
I found out, as I walked home with another French officer, that the
captain of the privateer had fallen in with the French lady on her
return from Jamaica, where her son died in the hospital, and had
married her; and that, moreover, unlike most French husbands, he was
most ardently attached to her.
I had breakfasted the next morning, and packed up my clothes
preparatory to going on board, and had just returned from a visit of
leave-taking with the governor, when who should walk up into my
apartment but the French captain of the privateer, accompanied by
three or four French officers of the army. I perceived by his looks
when he entered that he was a little excited, but I met him cordially.
He began a conversation about his action with Captain Weatherall, and
instead of speaking handsomely as he had done before, he used
expressions which I considered offensive, and I at once took him up by
observing that being under a flag of truce, it was impossible for me
to notice what he said.
"No," he replied; "but I wish we were once more on the high seas
together, for I have a little debt of gratitude to pay off."
"Well," I replied, "you may have; and I should not be sorry to give
you an opportunity, if it were possible."
"May I inquire whether you intend to go home as a cartel, and carry
your flag of truce to Liverpool?"
"No, Sir," I replied; "I shall haul down my flag of truce as soon as I
am out of gun-shot of your batteries. I understand what you mean, Sir.
It is very true that your vessel carries nearly double the number of
men and guns that mine does, but nevertheless I shall haul down my
flag of truce, as I say I will."
"Not if I follow you down the river, I presume?" he said with a sort
of sneer.
"Follow me, if you dare," I cried; "you will meet with your master,
depend upon it."
"Sacre!" replied he, in a passion, "I will blow you out of the water;
and if I take you I will hang you for a pirate."
"Not the last, certainly," I said coolly.
"Look you, Sir," he cried, shutting his fist upon the palm of his
other hand, "if I take you, I will hang you; and if you take me, you
may serve me in the same way. Is it a bargain, or are you a coward?"
"Gentlemen," I said to the officers present, "you must feel that your
countryman is not behaving well. He has insulted me grossly. I will,
however, consent to his terms on one condition, which is, that he will
permit one of you, after he has sailed, to make known the conditions
upon which we fight to his wife; and that one of you will pledge me
his honour that he will impart these conditions as soon as we are
gone."
"Agree to do so--pledge yourself to do so, Xavier," cried the French
captain to one of the officers present.
"Since you wish it, certainly," he said.
"You pledge yourself to make the conditions known to Madam, as soon as
we have sailed?"
"I do, upon the honour of an officer and a gentleman," replied he,
"painful as it will be to me."
"Then, captain," I replied, "I agree to your conditions, and one or
the other of us shall hang."
You may suppose, Madam, that I must have been in a state of great
irritation to have consented to such terms. I was so, and could not
brook such insult in the presence of the French officers. Moreover, as
you will observe, in my conversation I did not commit myself in any
way. There was nothing dishonourable. I told him that I should haul
down my flag of truce, and I also told him that he would meet with his
master, which was true enough, as he would meet with the Arrow,
commanded by Captain Levee, as well as with my vessel; while he
thought that he would have to fight with my inferior vessel alone,
and, making sure of conquest, he purposely insulted me, to make me
accept such conditions as would administer to the revenge of his wife,
who had evidently worked him up to act in such a manner; and I
accepted them, because I hoped the fate would be his if Captain Levee
joined me, and if not, I was determined that I never would be taken
alive.
After I had agreed to his conditions, they all took a very ceremonious
leave, and I bowed them out with great mock humility. I then bade
farewell to my passengers, who lodged in the same hotel, and went down
to my boat, and pulled on board. As soon as the tide served, the pilot
came on board, and we got under weigh. I observed a great bustle, and
a hurrying to and fro of boats on board of the French privateer, and
we had not gone above two miles down the river, before I perceived the
men were aloft and lowering her sails. I told my officers that I had
received a challenge from the French privateer, and had accepted it,
and that we must get every thing ready for action. They were much
astonished at this, as the disparity of force was so great, but they
went cheerfully to their duty, as did the men, among whom the news was
soon spread.