ascertain Corbett's fortune by this new species of augury. The blue
pigeon flapped his wings, and then he sidled up to the white one; at
last, the white pigeon flew off the wall and settled on the roof of the
adjacent house. "Bravo, white pigeon!" said Corbett; "I shall be here
again in a week." The whole party, laughing, then resumed their seats;
and Morrison's countenance brightened up. As he took the glass of wine
poured out by Pickersgill, he said, "Here's your health, Corbett; it was
all nonsense, after all--for, d'ye see, I can't be put in jail, without
you are. We all sail in the same boat, and when you leave me you take
with you everything that can condemn the vessel--so here's success to
our trip."
"We will all drink that toast, my lads, and then on board," said the
captain; "here's success to our trip."
The captain rose, as did the mates and men, drank the toast, turned down
the drinking-vessels on the table, hastened to the wharf, and, in half
an hour, the _Happy-go-lucky_ was clear of the port of Saint Malo.
CHAPTER FOUR.
PORTLAND BILL.
The _Happy-go-lucky_ sailed with a fresh breeze and a flowing sheet from
Saint Malo, the evening before the _Arrow_ sailed from Barn Pool. The
_Active_ sailed from Portsmouth the morning after.
The yacht, as we before observed, was bound to Cowes, in the Isle of
Wight. The _Active_ had orders to cruise wherever she pleased within
the limits of the admiral's station; and she ran for West Bay, on the
other side of the Bill of Portland. The _Happy-go-lucky_ was also bound
for that bay to land her cargo.
The wind was light, and there was every appearance of fine weather, when
the _Happy-go-lucky_, at ten o'clock on the Tuesday night, made the
Portland lights; as it was impossible to run her cargo that night, she
hove to.
At eleven o'clock the Portland lights were made by the revenue-cutter
_Active_. Mr Appleboy went up to have a look at them, ordered the
cutter to be hove to, and then went down to finish his allowance of
gin-toddy. At twelve o'clock, the yacht _Arrow_ made the Portland
lights, and continued her course, hardly stemming the ebb tide.
Day broke, and the horizon was clear. The first on the look-out were,
of course, the smugglers; they, and those on board the revenue-cutter,
were the only two interested parties--the yacht was neuter.
"There are two cutters in sight, sir," said Corbett, who had the watch;
for Pickersgill, having been up the whole night, had thrown himself down
on the bed with his clothes on.
"What do they look like?" said Pickersgill, who was up in a moment.
"One is a yacht, and the other may be; but I rather think, as far as I
can judge in the grey, that it is our old friend off here."
"What! Old Appleboy?"
"Yes, it looks like him; but the day has scarcely broke yet."
"Well, he can do nothing in a light wind like this; and before the wind
we can show him our heels: but are you sure the other is a yacht?" said
Pickersgill, coming on deck.
"Yes; the king is more careful of his canvas."
"You're right," said Pickersgill, "that is a yacht; and you're right
there again in your guess--that is the stupid old _Active_ which creeps
about creeping for tubs. Well, I see nothing to alarm us at present,
provided it don't fall a dead calm, and then we must take to our boats
as soon as he takes to his; we are four miles from him at least. Watch
his motions, Corbett, and see if he lowers a boat. What does she go
now? Four knots?--that will soon tire their men."
The positions of the three cutters were as follows:--
The _Happy-go-lucky_ was about four miles off Portland Head, and well
into West Bay. The revenue-cutter was close to the Head. The yacht was
outside of the smuggler, about two miles to the westward, and about five
or six miles from the revenue-cutter.
"Two vessels in sight, sir," said Mr Smith, coming down into the cabin
to Mr Appleboy.
"Very well," replied the lieutenant, who was _lying_ down in his
_standing_ bed-place.
"The people say one is the _Happy-go-lucky_, sir," drawled Smith.
"Heh? What! _Happy-go-lucky_? Yes, I recollect; I've boarded her
twenty times--always empty. How's she standing?"
"She stands to the westward now, sir; but she was hove to, they say,
when they first saw her."
"Then she has a cargo in her," and Mr Appleboy shaved himself, dressed,
and went on deck.
"Yes," said the lieutenant, rubbing his eyes again and again, and then
looking through the glass, "it is her, sure enough. Let draw the
foresheet-hands make sail. What vessel's the other?"
"Don't know, sir,--she's a cutter."
"A cutter? Yes, may be a yacht, or may be the new cutter ordered on the
station. Make all sail, Mr Tomkins: hoist our pendant, and fire a
gun--they will understand what we mean then; they don't know the
_Happy-go-lucky_ as well as we do."
In a few minutes the _Active_ was under a press of sail; she hoisted her
pendant, and fired a gun. The smuggler perceived that the _Active_ had
recognised her, and she also threw out more canvas, and ran off more to
the westward.
"There's a gun, sir," reported one of the men to Mr Stewart, on board
of the yacht.
"Yes; give me the glass--a revenue-cutter; then this vessel in shore
running towards us must be a smuggler."
"She has just now made all sail, sir."
"Yes, there's no doubt of it. I will go down to his lordship; keep her
as she goes."
Mr Stewart then went down to inform Lord B--- of the circumstance. Not
only Lord B--- but most of the gentlemen came on deck; as did soon
afterwards the ladies, who had received the intelligence from Lord B---,
who spoke to them through the door of the cabin.
But the smuggler had more wind than the revenue-cutter, and increased
her distance.
"If we were to wear round, my lord," observed Mr Stewart, "she is just
abreast of us and in shore, we could prevent her escape."
"Round with her, Mr Stewart," said Lord B---; "we must do our duty and
protect the laws."
"That will not be fair, papa," said Cecilia Ossulton; "we have no
quarrel with the smuggler: I'm sure the ladies have not, for they bring
us beautiful things."
"Miss Ossulton," observed her aunt, "it is not proper for you to offer
an opinion."
The yacht wore round, and, sailing so fast, the smuggler had little
chance of escaping her; but to chase is one thing--to capture, another.
"Let us give her a gun," said Lord B---, "that will frighten her; and he
dare not cross our hawse."
The gun was loaded, and not being more than a mile from the smuggler,
actually threw the ball almost a quarter of the way.
The gentlemen, as well as Lord B---, were equally excited by the ardour
of pursuit; but the wind died away, and at last it was nearly calm. The
revenue-cutter's boats were out, and coming up fast.
"Let us get our boat out, Stewart," said his lordship, "and help them;
it is quite calm now."
The boat was soon out: it was a very large one, usually stowed on, and
occupying a large portion of, the deck. It pulled six oars; and when it
was manned, Mr Stewart jumped in, and Lord B--- followed him.
"But you have no arms," said Mr Hautaine.
"The smugglers never resist now," observed Stewart.
"Then you are going on a very gallant expedition, indeed," observed
Cecilia Ossulton; "I wish you joy."
But Lord B--- was too much excited to pay attention. They shoved off,
and pulled towards the smuggler.
At this time the revenue boats were about five miles astern of the
_Happy-go-lucky_, and the yacht about three-quarters of a mile from her
in the offing. Pickersgill had, of course, observed the motions of the
yacht; had seen her wear on chase, hoist her ensign and pendant, and
fire her gun.
"Well," said he, "this is the blackest ingratitude! To be attacked by
the very people whom we smuggle for! I only wish she may come up with
us; and, let her attempt to interfere, she shall rue the day: I don't
much like this, though."
As we before observed, it fell nearly calm, and the revenue boats were
in chase. Pickersgill watched them as they came up.
"What shall we do?" said Corbett,--"get the boat out?"
"Yes," replied Pickersgill, "we will get the boat out, and have the
goods in her all ready; but we can pull faster than they do, in the
first place; and, in the next, they will be pretty well tired before
they come up to us. We are fresh, and shall soon walk away from them;
so I shall not leave the vessel till they are within half a mile. We
must sink the ankers, that they may not seize the vessel, for it is not
worth while taking them with us. Pass them along, ready to run them
over the bows, that they may not see us and swear to it. But we have a
good half hour, and more."
"Ay, and you may hold all fast if you choose," said Morrison, "although
it's better to be on the right side and get ready; otherwise, before
half an hour, I'll swear that we are out of their sight. Look there,"
said he, pointing to the eastward at a heavy bank, "it's coming right
down upon us, as I said it would."
"True enough; but still there is no saying which will come first,
Morrison, the boats or the fog; so we must be prepared."
"Hilloa! What's this? Why, there's a boat coming from the yacht!"
Pickersgill took out his glass.
"Yes, and the yacht's own boat with the name painted on her bows. Well,
let them come--we will have no ceremony in resisting them; they are not
in the Act of Parliament, and must take the consequences. We have
nought to fear. Get stretchers, my lads, and hand-spikes; they row six
oars, and are three in the stern-sheets: they must be good men if they
take us."
In a few minutes Lord B--- was close to the smuggler.
"Boat ahoy! What do you want?"
"Surrender in the king's name."
"To what, and to whom, and what are we to surrender? We are an English
vessel coasting along shore."
"Pull on board, my lads," cried Stewart; "I am a king's officer: we know
her."
The boat darted alongside, and Stewart and Lord B---, followed by the
men, jumped on the deck.
"Well, gentlemen, what do you want?" said Pickersgill.
"We seize you! You are a smuggler,--there's no denying it: look at the
casks of spirits stretched along the deck."
"We never said that we were not smugglers," replied Pickersgill; "but
what is that to you? You are not a king's ship, or employed by the
revenue."
"No; but we carry a pendant, and it is our duty to protect the laws."
"And who are you?" said Pickersgill.
"I am Lord B---."
"Then, my lord, allow me to say that you would do much better to attend
to the framing of laws, and leave people of less consequence, like those
astern of me, to execute them. `Mind your own business,' is an old
adage. We shall not hurt you, my lord, as you have only employed words,
but we shall put it out of your power to hurt us. Come aft, my lads.
Now, my lord, resistance is useless; we are double your numbers, and you
have caught a Tartar."
Lord B--- and Mr Stewart perceived that they were in an awkward
predicament.
"You may do what you please," observed Mr Stewart, "but the revenue
boats are coming up, recollect."
"Look you, sir, do you see the revenue-cutter?" said Pickersgill.
Stewart looked in that direction and saw that she was hidden in the fog.
"In five minutes, sir, the boats will be out of sight also, and so will
your vessel; we have nothing to fear from them."
"Indeed, my lord, we had better return," said Mr Stewart, who perceived
that Pickersgill was right.
"I beg your pardon, you will not go on board your yacht so soon as you
expect. Take the oars out of the boat; my lads, two or three of you,
and throw in a couple of our paddles for them to reach the shore with.
The rest of you knock down the first man who offers to resist. You are
not aware, perhaps, my lord, that you have attempted _piracy_ on the
high seas?"
Stewart looked at Lord B---. It was true enough. The men of the yacht
could offer no resistance; the oars were taken out of the boat and the
men put in again.
"My lord," said Pickersgill, "your boat is manned, do me the favour to
step into it; and you, sir, do the same. I should be sorry to lay my
hands upon a peer of the realm, or a king's officer even on half pay."
Remonstrance was vain; his lordship was led to the boat by two of the
smugglers, and Stewart followed.
"I will leave your oars, my lord, at the Weymouth Custom-house, and I
trust this will be a lesson to you in future to `mind your own
business.'"
The boat was shoved off from the sloop by the smugglers, and was soon
lost sight of in the fog, which had now covered the revenue boats as
well as the yacht, at the same time it brought down a breeze from the
eastward.
"Haul to the wind, Morrison," said Pickersgill, "we will stand out to
get rid of the boats; if they pull on they will take it for granted that
we shall run into the bay, as will the revenue-cutter."
Pickersgill and Corbett were in conversation abaft for a short time,
when the former desired the course to be altered two points.
"Keep silence all of you, my lads, and let me know if you hear a gun or
a bell from the yacht," said Pickersgill.
"There is a gun, sir, close to us," said one of the men; "the sound was
right ahead."
"That will do, keep her as she goes. Aft here, my lads; we cannot run
our cargo in the bay, for the cutter has been seen to chase us, and they
will all be on the look-out at the preventive stations for us on shore.
Now, my lads, I have made up my mind that, as these yacht gentlemen have
thought proper to interfere, that I will take possession of the yacht
for a few days. We shall then outsail everything, go where we like
unsuspected, and land our cargo with ease. I shall run alongside of
her--she can have but few hands on board; and mind, do not hurt anybody,
but be civil and obey my orders. Morrison, you and your four men and
the boy will remain on board as before, and take the vessel to
Cherbourg, where we will join you."
In a short time another gun was fired from the yacht.
Those on board, particularly the ladies, were alarmed; the fog was very
thick, and they could not distinguish the length of the vessel. They
had seen the boat board, but had not seen her turned adrift without
oars, as the fog came on just at that time. The yacht was left with
only three seamen on board, and should it come on bad weather, they were
in an awkward predicament. Mr Hautaine had taken the command, and
ordered the guns to be fired that the boat might be enabled to find
them. The fourth gun was loading, when they perceived the smuggler's
cutter close to them looming through the fog.
"Here they are," cried the seamen; "and they have brought the prize
along with them! Three cheers for the _Arrow_!"
"Hilloa! You'll be on board of us?" cried Hautaine.
"That's exactly what I intend to be, sir," replied Pickersgill, jumping
on the quarter-deck, followed by his men.
"Who the devil are you?"
"That's exactly the same question that I asked Lord B--- when he boarded
us," replied Pickersgill, taking off his hat to the ladies.
"Well, but what business have you here?"
"Exactly the same question which I put to Lord B---," replied
Pickersgill.
"Where is Lord B---, sir?" said Cecilia Ossulton, going up to the
smuggler; "is he safe?"
"Yes, madam, he is safe; at least he is in his boat with all his men,
and unhurt: but you must excuse me if I request you and the other ladies
to go down below while I speak to these gentlemen. Be under no alarm,
miss, you will receive neither insult nor ill-treatment--I have only
taken possession of this vessel for the present."
"Take possession," cried Hautaine, "of a yacht."
"Yes, sir, since the owner of the yacht thought proper to attempt to
take possession of me. I always thought that yachts were
pleasure-vessels, sailing about for amusement, respected themselves, and
not interfering with others; but it appears that such is not the case.
The owner of this yacht has thought proper to break through the
neutrality and commence aggression, and under such circumstances I have
now, in retaliation, taken possession of her."
"And, pray, what do you mean to do, sir?"
"Simply for a few days to make an exchange. I shall send you on board
of my vessel as smugglers, while I remain here with the ladies and amuse
myself with yachting."
"Why, sir, you cannot mean--"
"I have said, gentlemen, and that is enough; I should be sorry to resort
to violence, but I must be obeyed. You have, I perceive, three seamen
only left: they are not sufficient to take charge of the vessel, and
Lord B--- and the others you will not meet for several days. My regard
for the ladies, even common humanity, points out to me that I cannot
leave the vessel in this crippled condition. At the same time, I must
have hands on board of my own, you will oblige me by going on board and
taking her safely into port. It is the least return you can make for my
kindness. In those dresses, gentlemen, you will not be able to do your
duty: oblige me by shifting and putting on these." Corbett handed a
flannel shirt, a rough jacket and trousers, to Messrs. Hautaine,
Ossulton, Vaughan, and Seagrove. After some useless resistance they
were stripped, and having put on the smugglers' attire, they were handed
on board of the _Happy-go-lucky_.
The three English seamen were also sent on board and confined below, as
well as Ossulton's servant, who was also equipped like his master, and
confined below with the seamen. Corbett and the men then handed up all
the smuggled goods into the yacht, dropped the boat, and made it fast
astern, and Morrison having received his directions, the vessels
separated, Morrison running for Cherbourg, and Pickersgill steering the
yacht along shore to the westward. About an hour after this exchange
had been effected the fog cleared up, and showed the revenue-cutter hove
to for her boats, which had pulled back and were close on board of her,
and the _Happy-go-lucky_ about three miles in the offing; Lord B--- and
his boat's crew were about four miles in shore, paddling and drifting
with the tide towards Portland. As soon as the boats were on board, the
revenue-cutter made all sail after the smuggler, paying no attention to
the yacht, and either not seeing or not caring about the boat which was
drifting about in West Bay.
CHAPTER FIVE.
THE TRAVESTY.
"Here we are, Corbett, and now I only wish my venture had been double,"
observed Pickersgill; "but I shall not allow business to absorb me
wholly--we must add a little amusement. It appears to me, Corbett, that
the gentleman's clothes which lie there will fit you, and those of the
good-looking fellow who was spokesman will, I am sure, suit me well.
Now let us dress ourselves, and then for breakfast."
Pickersgill then exchanged his clothes for those of Mr Hautaine, and
Corbett fitted on those of Mr Ossulton. The steward was summoned up,
and he dared not disobey; he appeared on deck, trembling.
"Steward--you will take these clothes below," said Pickersgill, "and,
observe, that I now command this yacht; and during the time that I am on
board you will pay me the same respect as you did Lord B---: nay, more,
you will always address me as Lord B---. You will prepare dinner and
breakfast, and do your duty just as if his lordship was on board, and
take care that you feed us well, for I will not allow the ladies to be
entertained in a less sumptuous manner than before. You will tell the
cook what I say; and now that you have heard me, take care that you
obey; if not, recollect that I have my own men here, and if I but point
with my finger, _overboard you go_. Do you perfectly comprehend me?"
"Yes,--sir," stammered the steward.
"Yes, _sir_!--what did I tell you, sirrah?--Yes, my lord. Do you
understand me?"
"Yes--my lord."
"Pray, steward, whose clothes has this gentleman put on?"
"Mr--Mr Ossulton's, I think--sir--my lord, I mean."
"Very well, steward; then recollect, in future you always address that
gentleman as _Mr Ossulton_."
"Yes, my lord," and the steward went down below, and was obliged to take
a couple of glasses of brandy to keep himself from fainting.
"Who are they, and what are they, Mr Maddox?" cried the lady's-maid,
who had been weeping.
"Pirates!--_bloody murderous, stick-at-nothing_ pirates!" replied the
steward.
"Oh!" screamed the lady's-maid, "what will become of us, poor
unprotected females?" And she hastened into the cabin, to impart this
dreadful intelligence.
The ladies in the cabin were not in a very enviable situation. As for
the elder Miss Ossulton (but perhaps, it will be better in future to
distinguish the two ladies, by calling the elder simply Miss Ossulton,
and her niece, Cecilia), she was sitting with her salts to her nose,
agonised with a mixture of trepidation and wounded pride. Mrs
Lascelles was weeping, but weeping gently. Cecilia was sad, and her
heart was beating with anxiety and suspense--when the maid rushed in.
"O madam! O miss! O Mrs Lascelles! I have found it all out!--they
are murderous, bloody, do-everything pirates!"
"Mercy on us!" exclaimed Miss Ossulton; "surely they will never dare--?"
"Oh, ma'am, they dare anything!--they just now were for throwing the
steward overboard; and they have rummaged for all the portmanteaus, and
dressed themselves in the gentlemen's best clothes. The captain of them
told the steward that he was Lord B---, and that if he dared to call him
anything else, he would cut his throat from ear to ear; and if the cook
don't give them a good dinner, they swear that they'll chop his right
hand off, and make him eat it without pepper or salt!"
Miss Ossulton screamed, and went off into hysterics. Mrs Lascelles and
Cecilia went to her assistance; but the latter had not forgotten the
very different behaviour of Jack Pickersgill, and his polite manners,
when he boarded the vessel. She did not therefore believe what the maid
had reported, but still her anxiety and suspense were great, especially
about her father. After having restored her aunt she put on her bonnet,
which was lying on the sofa.
"Where are you going, dear?" said Mrs Lascelles.
"On deck," replied Cecilia. "I must and will speak to these men."
"Gracious heaven, Miss Ossulton! Going on deck! Have you heard what
Phoebe says?"
"Yes, aunt, I have; but I can wait here no longer."
"Stop her! Stop her!--she will be murdered!--she will be--she is mad!"
screamed Miss Ossulton; but no one attempted to stop Cecilia, and on
deck she went. On her arrival she found Jack Pickersgill and Corbett
walking the deck, one of the smugglers at the helm, and the rest
forward, and as quiet as the crew of the yacht. As soon as she made her
appearance Jack took off his hat, and made her a bow.
"I do not know whom I have the honour of addressing, young lady; but I
am flattered with this mark of confidence. You feel, and I assure you,
you feel correctly, that you are not exactly in lawless hands."
Cecilia looked with more surprise than fear at Pickersgill. Mr
Hautaine's dress became him; he was a handsome, fine-looking man, and
had nothing of the ruffian in his appearance; unless, like Byron's
Corsair, he was _half savage, half soft_. She could not help thinking
that she had met many with less pretensions, as far as appearance went,
to the claims of a gentleman, at Almack's and other fashionable circles.
"I have ventured on deck, sir," said Cecilia, with a little
tremulousness in her voice, "to request, as a favour, that you will
inform me what your intentions may be with regard to the vessel and with
regard to the ladies!"
"And I feel much obliged to you for so doing, and I assure you I will,
as far as I have made up my own mind, answer you candidly: but you
tremble--allow me to conduct you to a seat. In few words, then, to
remove your present alarm, I intend that the vessel shall be returned to
its owner, with every article in it as religiously respected as if they
were church property. With respect to you, and the other ladies on
board, I pledge you my honour that you have nothing to fear; that you
shall be treated with every respect; your privacy never invaded; and
that, in a few days, you will be restored to your friends. Young lady,
I pledge my hopes of future salvation to the truth of this; but, at the
same time, I must make a few conditions, which, however, will not be
very severe."
"But, sir," replied Cecilia, much relieved, for Pickersgill had stood by
her in the most respectful manner, "you are, I presume, the captain of
the smuggler? Pray answer me one question more--What became of the boat
with Lord B---? He is my father."
"I left him in his boat, without a hair of his head touched, young lady;
but I took away the oars."
"Then he will perish!" cried Cecilia, putting her handkerchief to her
eyes.
"No, young lady; he is on shore, probably, by this time. Although I
took away his means of assisting to capture us, I left him the means of
gaining the land. It is not every one who would have done that, after
his conduct to us."
"I begged him not to go," said Cecilia; "I told him that it was not
fair, and that he had no quarrel with the smugglers."