RECOMMENDED TO SIR PETER PARKER.--JOIN CHATHAM WITH GRAMPUS AND TOM
ROCKETS--MY MESSMATE O'DRISCOLL.--APPOINTED TO COMMAND PIGOT TENDER.--
CRUISE WITH O'DRISCOLL.--CHASE AND CAPTURE A SCHOONER.--FIND TWO LADIES
ON BOARD.--NEW STYLE OF EXISTENCE.--DISCOVER SKIPPER'S PLOT TO RE-TAKE
HIS VESSEL.--MADELINE CARLYON AND MRS. TARLETON.--CAUGHT IN A HEAVY
GALE.
One forenoon a midshipman from HMS Chatham came on board, with a letter
from the admiral, Sir Peter Parker, to Captain Hudson. The Chatham was
at that time Sir Peter's flag-ship. The midshipman was of course asked
below and pressed to stop for dinner. In a remarkably short space of
time he made himself at home with all hands. He had a very red head of
hair, very red eyes, and very red face indeed. I have never met a
redder person, but he was far from ugly, and his countenance was brimful
of good-nature and humour. He and I quickly became friends. He caught
my name.
"Faith, that's not a bad name you've got of your own," said he. "Mine
is Patrick O'Driscoll. If it happens not to be particularly well known
to fame just yet, I purpose to make it as notorious as it was in the
good old days in my native land."
While O'Driscoll was entertaining us with some racy anecdotes I was sent
for by Captain Hudson into his cabin.
"Take a seat, Mr Hurry," said he, in his usual kind way. "I have an
offer to make which I hope will prove satisfactory to you. Sir Peter
Parker has applied to me for some mates and midshipmen, and I have
especially named you, as I am sure you will do credit to my
recommendation. He has asked also for some of my people, and as you
seem to have attached to you old Nol Grampus and Tom Rockets, they may,
if they wish it, accompany you, for I like to see an officer with
followers. It speaks well for both parties. I have not yet determined
who else I shall send. I have recommended you because I have no doubt
that you will get a step by the change."
I warmly thanked my captain for the kind interest he had shown in my
welfare. And here let me pay a just tribute to the character of my old
commander. A more kind-hearted gentleman, or a braver or better officer
never walked the deck of a man-of-war. I was sorry to leave my
messmates of the Orpheus; but for the reason Captain Hudson gave me, the
opportunity of serving under so distinguished an officer as Sir Peter
Parker was not to be lost. I will pass over all my leave-takings.
Midshipmen are not much addicted to the sentimentals. Let me be
supposed alongside the Chatham, accompanied by Nol Grampus, Tom Rockets,
and the chest which contained all my worldly possessions. Those
possessions were, by-the-bye, considerably decreased in quantity and
value since I left my paternal mansion two years before.
On stepping on board I was met by my red-haired friend.
"Ah! Hurry, my boy, it's myself then is glad to see you!" he exclaimed,
squeezing my fingers and wringing my hand with a vehemence almost
sufficient to dislocate my wrist.
"Happy to meet you," I answered, not letting him discover that he had
hurt me.
This demonstrative mode of greeting was a trick of his, I found, to try,
as he said, what people were made of. Sometimes, however, he caught a
Tartar to his cost. The Chatham's midshipmen were a more rollicking set
than my late shipmates. However, I knew comparatively but little of
them, for, as it turned out, during the greater part of the time I
belonged to the ship I was away on detached duty. Scarcely had I joined
her, when I was sent on shore in command of a party of men to clear a
transport lying in Rhode Island. While I was engaged in this far from
pleasant duty I had to put up at the Cat and Fiddle Tavern, kept by a
certain Mrs Grimalkin. To cover her sympathy with the rebels she used
to exhibit on all public occasions an exuberance of loyalty which I
thought rather suspicious. By watching her narrowly I was not long in
discovering that she kept up a constant communication with the enemy,
and gave them notice of all our proceedings. However, once knowing
this, I was on my guard, and used to amuse myself by telling her all
sorts of wonderful tales of what we had done, and what it was proposed
to do to bring the country to subjection. I hope that I was the means
also of sending some of the American cruisers to look after merchantmen
which had gone in totally different directions, and of making others
keep clear of fleets which had no existence.
Mrs Grimalkin was a Dutch woman by extraction, and retained the
appearance and many of the habits of her ancestors. Numberless were the
petticoats she wore, and unceasing were the ablutions which her
clean-tiled floors received. She was in the main not a bad old soul,
and I dare say she considered herself perfectly justified, in
consideration of the cause I served, in charging me a preposterous
amount for my board and lodging while I resided under her roof.
Having cleared the transport, I returned on board. A few days
afterwards Sir Peter sent for me, and expressing his satisfactions with
what he had observed of my conduct, appointed me to the command of the
Pigot tender, the officer who had hitherto had charge of her being on
the sick list. A midshipman's berth is a very jolly place, but still
there is nothing like being captain of one's own ship, so thanking the
admiral for the good opinion he had formed of me, with a light heart I
hurried below to prepare for my change of quarters. I had not been thus
engaged many minutes, when I was joined by O'Driscoll, with a broad grin
on his countenance.
"Well, brother skipper," said he, "how do you feel with your new
dignity?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Why, faith, that I've got command of the `Lady Parker,' a very tidy
craft, and that we are to cruise in company. Arrah, now--won't we have
a jovial time of it, my jewel!"
"I hope so," said I; "if we don't happen to meet with poor Luscombe's
ill-luck. There are two sides to every question, remember."
"Arrah, now. Never look at the reverse of a pleasing picture, Hurry,"
he replied. "Because Luscombe met with ill-luck, we have a better
chance of good luck, do ye see. So now let's get aboard our respective
ships. I feel wonderfully grown since I received my appointment."
Luscombe, one of our master's mates, had, while in charge of a schooner,
fitted out as a tender, been a short time before captured by the enemy,
after losing all his men, while he himself had been severely wounded.
Our orders were to make the best of our way to Long Island Sound, where
we were to deliver some despatches to HMS Syren, and then, after
cruising a week off Gay Head, to return to Rhode Island. Both our
vessels were ready for sea, so, having obtained leave to take Grampus
and Tom Rockets with me, we pulled on board, and got under weigh. A
fine breeze carried us to sea, and did not desert us till we made the
shores of Long Island. We ran into the Sound and delivered our
despatches on board the Syren. The spot wore a very different aspect to
that which it had borne when I was last there. Now the whole country
was in possession of the royal troops, who were under the full belief
that it was henceforward to remain their own. The reports were that the
whole of the American forces were completely disorganised and
disheartened, and that they would never again be able to make head
against the royalists. The truth was what was supposed, but they had a
man at their head who was a host in himself, and by his courage, his
wisdom, and energy, he made amends for all deficiencies. George
Washington was truly the man who established the American Republic. For
that great work he was especially appointed by Heaven. Unhappily, the
people of whom he made a nation have too often since forgotten his
precepts and example. The farther they have departed from it the less
dignified and respected they have been. But I am anticipating events.
O'Driscoll and I would have been right glad of an excuse to remain at
New York, but we had not even sprung a spar, and our craft were as tight
as bottles, and our crews did not want a single dose of physic among
them, so we were obliged to put to sea again that evening. We however
contrived to pick up a round of beef, two legs of mutton, and a turkey,
with a sack of potatoes, and some other vegetables, out of a bumboat
which had come down to supply the Syren, and which we waylaid before she
reached that ship. I must not forget also some soft tack, three dozen
of bottled ale, and a cheese, which set us up in the comestible way for
some time. Just as we got to sea the wind veered round to the east and
south-east, and with a favourable breeze, under easy sail, we stood to
the northward. The next day O'Driscoll came aboard to dine with me. I
had the turkey. The bird had made so many objections to remaining in
the coop into which I put him, that I was obliged to kill him. He was
consequently rather tough, but midshipmen's teeth don't stand at
trifles, and we made considerable progress in devouring him.
"This is very jolly, Captain Hurry," said O'Driscoll, pouring out for
himself a glass of foaming ale. "Here's to you, man, and I don't care
how long we're on our cruise."
"It will soon come to an end if this wind lasts," I remarked.
"Not a bit of it, if we're inclined to make it longer," he replied.
"Suppose now, a craft was to make her appearance in the south-east, we
should have to make sail after her, and it might be many a day before we
got back to port, do ye see. Do you twig, my boy, eh?"
"Oh, yes, O'Driscoll. I understand you perfectly," said I. "But that
sort of conduct does not exactly come up to my notion of our duty to the
service. We might get a long cruise, certainly, but I don't think we
should enjoy it, and we might just possibly fall into the hands of an
enemy, and end it in a prison on shore."
"Ha! ha! ha! that would be an unpleasant termination to our independent
commands," he replied, laughing. "Well, I suppose to do our duty is the
best policy. I shouldn't like the catastrophe you picture so vividly."
One thing I must say in O'Driscoll's favour, though his fertile brain
conceived all sorts of mischief, he was very ready to abandon any of his
proposals when he found that others objected to them. Though hot enough
at times, and ready enough to fight anybody and everybody who came in
his way, his anger was as quickly appeased. Thus also he was easily
persuaded by me to adhere to the letter of his instructions, and, in
perfect good-humour with all the world, he accompanied me on deck to
smoke our cigars. It was one of those lovely days, which occur
frequently in autumn in that part of the world, called by the Americans
the Indian summer. A thin, gauze-like mist hung over the face of the
deep--scarcely dense enough, however, to mitigate the heat of the sun's
rays, which, darting forth from the pure, blue sky, sparkled brightly on
the crisply curling wavelets, stirred up by a light southerly breeze.
Everything gave promise of a continuance of fine weather, and so, like
two pachas, we sat on the deck, calmly contemplating with philosophic
indifference all sublunary affairs. Not another sail was to be seen
within the circle of our horizon besides our two small craft, so that as
we had nothing else with which to compare ourselves, we were content to
believe that we were two very important personages indeed. We had our
coffee brought to us in due form. It was not a common beverage among
midshipmen, certainly in those days, but Tom had learned to make it well
of a Spanish seaman on board the Orpheus. We finished our repast with
more than one glass of grog apiece, but not sufficient, I am happy to
say, to risk the equilibrium of either our minds or bodies. While we
were discussing the seaman's favourite beverage, O'Driscoll indulged me,
and by necessity my ship's company, with some of his choicest songs,
trolled forth in a full, clear voice, and the liquor loosening the
muscles of his tongue, every word came forth with the richest brogue of
his native land. At first the people listened attentively as they sat
forward. Then they by degrees crept up nearer and nearer, till at
length Pat Doolan, a compatriot of the minstrel, seemingly unable any
longer to contain himself, burst forth into the full chorus of one of
the songs. To stop him would have been impossible. The poor fellow
flung his whole soul into the melody. What a flood of recollections--of
long pent-up feelings--it brought back! Sooner than hold silence he
would have jumped overboard, I believe. The example was infectious.
One by one the rest of the crew took up the strain. Not one but had the
spirit of melody within him; and there we were, officers and crew, all
singing away together like mad people, or as if our lives depended on
the noise we made.
At sun-down we hove-to, and O'Driscoll returned on board his own vessel,
insisting on my returning his visit the next day. The weather proving
calm, I was enabled to fulfil my engagement, and a merry time we had of
it. So pleasant did I find this sort of life, that I began to persuade
myself that there would be no outrageous impropriety in acceding to
O'Driscoll's proposal to lengthen our voyage. Two days thus passed
pleasantly away, during which we made but little progress in our voyage.
We might possibly by carrying a greater press of sail have made more,
but we were, as I have observed, in no hurry to bring it to an end.
On the morning of the 14th, as I lay fast asleep in my cot, it having
been my middle watch, I felt my shoulder shaken, while a rough voice
exclaimed--
"There's a sail in sight, Mr Hurry, sir, on the lee-bow. She's the cut
of an American merchantman."
Looking up, I saw the weather-beaten countenance of Nol Grampus bending
over me.
"Keep her away, and make all sail in chase," I answered, springing up;
"I'll be on deck in a trice."
I was not many seconds behind old Nol. The Lady Parker was on our
weather-quarter. Her people had not been so quick-sighted as we were,
but when they saw us making sail, they did the same. Away we both went
in hot pursuit of the stranger, which proved to be a schooner. When she
made us out she apparently took fright, and likewise set every stitch of
canvas she could carry to escape.
There is nothing so exciting as a chase, whether on shore or afloat.
Next to it is a race. Here we had both combined, for we wanted to catch
the enemy and to beat the Lady Parker. The breeze freshened, but the
Pigot looked up to her canvas famously; and sweeter to our ears than any
music just then was the loud gush of the yielding waters as they were
parted by the sharp bows of my little craft.
"You are a darling now!" cried old Nol, as he looked up at the canvas,
ever and anon, to see that each sail drew its best. "Just show us what
your heels can do this time, at all events." The schooner seemed to
understand him, and went faster and faster. We were somewhat distancing
the Lady Parker, and coming up with the chase.
"If the breeze holds, sir, we shall be within gun-shot in half an hour,
and then there'll be but little chance for that small hooker there,"
observed Grampus, chuckling. She was a bigger vessel than the Pigot,
by-the-bye.
"It's just possible that one of the enemy's cruisers may heave in sight,
and spoil our sport before then," said I; "such a thing has occurred
before now, and there are plenty of them in these seas."
"The more call for speed, then, sir," replied Nol. "Hurrah--blow your
best, good breeze, and don't stint us."
In even less time than Grampus had predicted, we got the schooner within
range of our guns. I half expected to see her haul her wind and show
fight. We began to blaze away with our bow-chasers, but she stood
steadily on, taking not the slightest notice of us. Rockets and I had
both tried our hands at a shot, but without effect, so I sent him to the
helm, and called Grampus forward, to see what he could do. More than
once he looked along the gun without firing. "Here goes," he at length
exclaimed, applying the match. I watched eagerly. Away flew the shot--
it struck. I could see the splinters fly, and down came by the run the
main-topmast of the chase. All hands gave a grand hurrah. Still the
chase stood on. In a short time, however, we saw that there was some
confusion on board. The ensign was hauled down--then run up, and then
hauled down again.
Just as we fancied that she was going to heave-to, up went the ensign
once more, and the hands were seen going aloft, to clear away the wreck
of the top-mast.
"What can the fellow be about?" said I; "he cannot hope to escape us."
"Perhaps, sir, he sees a big friend ahead, whom he thinks will come to
his assistance," observed Grampus.
"We must give him another dose, then, to stop him before his friend
appears. Fire low this time!" I exclaimed, for my blood was up at the
thoughts of his escaping us. We yawed a little so as to bring all our
starboard guns to bear. The shot took effect, and there appeared more
confusion than before on deck. "Let them have it again," I sung out;
"this time they must give in!" The guns were loaded, and our people
were about to fire, when, as I was looking through my telescope, I saw
two figures rush on deck, and which instantly made me arrest the order
to fire. They were women. By their gestures they were evidently
endeavouring to persuade the crew to continue their endeavours to escape
or to yield at once. Which it was I could not determine, but while they
remained on deck I could not bring myself again to fire on the vessel.
I hoped that we should be able to capture her without doing her further
injury. On we stood, therefore, as before. The ladies remained on
deck. I kept my eye on them, intending to fire at the schooner's
rigging the moment they went below. I told Grampus my reason for not
firing. "That's right, sir," he answered warmly; "no man who's fit to
be a man ever hurts a woman if he can help it, whether old or young, or
whatever her nation--or black or white. And they, d'ye see, bless their
hearts, repays us; for no matter where it is, if a man is sick or
wounded, or in distress, they are always ready to help him and nurse him
and pity him--bless them, says I. I don't know what we should do
without them."
The two ladies kept their posts, walking the deck, and every now and
then stopping and eyeing us--taking our distance, I thought. We were
rapidly decreasing it, however, and to me it appeared that the chase had
very little chance of escaping. I must own that I was now doubly
anxious to come up with her. All sorts of romantic ideas came crowding
into my imagination, and I quite forgot that, after all, the petticoats
might belong to the skipper's double-fisted wife and rosy-cheeked,
loud-voiced daughter. Still, whatever they were, I would not for worlds
have run the risk of hurting them.
As time sped away the more eager did I become to solve the problem.
When my eye began to ache with watching the chase, Nol took the glass.
I had had my breakfast brought on deck. I ate my dinner there also. I
was just washing down the cold salt junk and biscuit with a glass of rum
and water, when Grampus exclaimed--
"The petticoats has wapperated, sir--that they has."
I jumped up, overturning my glass of swizzle, and putting the helm to
starboard, sung--
"Fire away, but high, my lads--take care, now."
Grampus had handed me the glass and hurried to a gun. Never was there a
better marksman. His eye coolly glanced along the iron tube. He fired.
The schooner's fore-yard was shot away in the slings, and directly
afterwards her fore-top-mast went tumbling over her bows.
"Hurrah!" shouted Nol, "we've got her now, my lads."
I watched through my glass. The females did not return on deck. I only
hoped that they were not frightened at the mischief we had committed.
The chase was now a complete wreck aloft. Still her ensign was kept
flying at her peak. Just, however, as I was about to yaw once more, it
was hauled down, and she was luffed up into the wind. We were very soon
up with her. Heaving-to just to windward of her, I ordered a boat to be
lowered, and, with Tom Rockets and two other hands, pulled aboard. I
directed Grampus to keep a very sharp watch on the movements of the
schooner, should I go below, for the rebels were up to so many tricks
that it was necessary to be prepared for them.
As I stepped on the deck of the prize, I was met by a man whom I took to
be the master. He was a tall, lank man, and one of the most
melancholy-looking beings I ever beheld. I looked round for the
females.
"If they belong to our thread-paper friend here, the chances are that
their attractions are but small," I thought to myself. Still I was very
curious to see them.
"Well, Mr Officer," said the master, without giving me time to speak,
"if it's any satisfaction to you, you'll understand that you've ruined a
hard-working man with a large family by this capture, and frightened
nearly to death two females aboard here."
He spoke in a slow, drawling tone, but there was something in it which
made me fully believe him.
"It cannot be helped. I do but my duty," I answered.
"Your duty, sir! Is it the duty of a man, a gentleman, to attack the
weak and the oppressed?" said a deep voice close to my ear.
The melancholy skipper had not spoken, the tones were too feminine for
him. I turned, and saw standing near me a lady who had evidently just
ascended from the cabin. I started. She was something so unlike what I
had expected to see. Her figure, though slight, was tall and
commanding, and a black dress set off the brilliant whiteness of her
complexion. Her dark eyes flashed with fire as she spoke. Her features
also, I saw, were very handsome. I have not often been abashed, such a
feeling does not usually run in the blood of the Hurrys, but I was on
this occasion completely taken aback. I felt that I should have liked
to have jumped into my boat and pulled back to my own craft without
saying a word. However, I mustered courage to speak.
"Pardon me, madam," I stuttered out, "I obey the commands of my lawful
sovereign, though those commands are, I own, often painful."
"The excuse all mercenaries make," said the lady, with bitter scorn in
her voice. "And now, sir, that we are your captives, may I ask what you
purpose doing with us?"
This question was rather a poser. I could not let the prize go free,
and yet I had no wish to detain any women as prisoners.
"I cannot answer the question at once, madam," I replied; "but I will do
my best to land you as soon as possible at the nearest point I am able
to reach, to wherever you may wish to go."