VISIT RUINS OF TRUXILLO.--THE COMMODORE RECEIVES ME AND MY GALLEON WITH
JOY.--FEARFUL SICKNESS ON BOARD SQUADRON.--THE ISLAND OF RATTAN.--
CAPSIZED IN A SQUALL.--SHIP RIGHTS.--BEAT OFF A PRIVATEER.--REACH
JAMAICA.--THE SAINT DOMINGO CONDEMNED, AND CARGO PLACED ON BOARD THE
ROTTEN LEVIATHAN.--REJOIN THE CHARON.--SAIL WITH CONVOY.--PIRATICAL
EXPLOITS.--SINKING OF LEVIATHAN, AND MY HOPES OF PRIZE-MONEY LOST.--
REACH THE DOWNS, AND START FOR FALMOUTH.
Whenever the duties of the ship would allow me to go on shore, I
repaired to the ruins of Truxillo, for I was never weary of wandering
among its deserted streets and exploring its shattered edifices.
Meantime the repairs of the ship went on as expeditiously as possible,
and by the 16th of November we had set up our rigging, got all the wood
and water we could stowaway on board, and made every other requisite
preparation for encountering a winter passage to England. I had
arranged to sail the next day, when at noon it was reported to me that a
brig was seen standing into the bay.
"Make the signal for the people to hurry on board," was my reply as I
went on deck.
Having examined the stranger through the glass, I thought she looked
suspicious, so I hoisted the private signal and waited with some little
anxiety to ascertain if it was answered. The fact that we had got
possession of the Saint Domingo, with all her wealth on board, would be
known to the Spaniards, and if they should discover that she was
separated from the rest of the fleet, they would very naturally send in
quest of her. The signal was not answered. "My lads, I suspect we
shall have a fight for it," I sung out, as I gave the order to prepare
for action, resolved to put the ship in as good a state of defence as
circumstances would allow. The ship was armed with sixteen
four-pounders, and four six-pounders, besides swivels and cohorns. I
first got springs on my cables, so as to have complete command over the
ship, and as I had not men sufficient to fight all the guns, I ran them
all over on one side, in order to make the first broadside as formidable
as possible. I hoped thus to sink or disable our antagonist, or to make
her sheer off. Should she, however, venture to board, I had no fear, as
I felt certain that my men would not fear to encounter twice their
number. They were full of fight, and the way they went about their
preparations gave me every confidence that we should succeed. The brig
approached us with a great deal of caution. If we did not like her
looks, she evidently did not like ours. I knew that it would be best to
show I was ready for her, so as soon as she was within range of my guns
I hoisted my colours and fired a shot ahead of her. The next was a
moment of suspense, and I believe my people were not a little
disappointed when she hoisted an English ensign and fired a gun to
leeward. Having sailed close past us and hailed, she brought up at a
short distance from me. She then lowered a boat, and Lieutenant
Butcher, whom I had before met, came on board, and informed me that the
commodore had hired the brig and sent him in charge of her to look-out
for the Saint Domingo, which he had heard had been lost on the
Solomadinas, the most dangerous rocks on the coast.
"A ship we spoke informed us that you had been seen to go on shore, and
we hoped that though the galleon might be lost, we might save some of
your lives," he added; "however, I am heartily glad to find you all
alive and the old craft afloat."
"Not more glad than I am, that we have escaped all the dangers we have
encountered," I replied, and I told him of all the narrow escapes we had
had.
He then informed me that the Charon and Lowestoffe had several times
nearly been lost, and were now at Port Royal Harbour, in the Island of
Rattan.
To that place I found that I was at once to proceed. I will not
describe all the incidents which occurred before I got there. I must
try and hurry on with my adventures, or I shall never bring them to an
end.
By the 19th I got off the harbour, and, making a signal for assistance,
some boats came out to help tow me in, and by six o'clock I was safely
moored under the guns of the squadron. The commodore was delighted to
see me. I did not flatter myself so much because of my own merits, as
on account of the richly-freighted old galleon. However, I was not
addicted to trouble myself as to the cause of any attention I might
receive, or any compliments which might be paid me; but I always
received them with a good grace, as if they were invariably due to my
own especial merits. The commodore told me that he should at once send
me on to Jamaica, under convoy of the Lowestoffe, and gave me directions
to get ready again for sea. I had a number of visitors on board, who
came to congratulate me on my escape, and to have a look at the galleon,
which was much such a craft as some of the followers of Columbus might
have sailed in to conquer the New World. I found the squadron in a very
sickly state. No less than two-thirds of the crews were living on shore
in huts and tents, suffering from sickness, and since the time they had
left Omoa they had buried upwards of a hundred men, the master of the
Lowestoffe being among them. Altogether I know in a very short time
they lost one hundred and twenty men--while I had not lost one on board
the galleon. Rattan itself was not supposed to be unhealthy, but at
this time there were no inhabitants on it. When the war broke out with
Spain, one of her first acts was to attack our settlements on the coast
of Honduras, and totally to put a stop to our logwood trade. The
merchants and traders connected with that business accordingly earnestly
solicited the commodore to take possession of the Island of Rattan,
which is admirably placed to guard the entrance to the Gulf of Honduras.
It had belonged to the English in the late war, but by the treaty of
peace made at its termination it was restored to the Spaniards, or
rather abandoned, and all the works on it had been destroyed. In
consequence, however, of the requisition of the merchants which I have
spoken of, the commodore, on the 25th of November, 1779, again took
possession of it in the name of his Britannic Majesty, and immediately
set to work to put the place in as good a state of defence as
circumstances would allow. A number of logwood cutters and other
settlers, as well as some merchants and traders, had already arrived
there. These were at once regularly drilled and taught the use of their
arms. Each of the ships of the squadron also launched two of their
guns, which we mounted on the works for the defence of the harbour,
while they were furnished likewise with an abundant supply of ammunition
and stores of all sorts. The harbour of Port Royal is, without doubt,
as good a one as any in the West Indies, and so well formed is it by
nature for defence, that with a small amount of art employed on it, I
should think that it might be made perfectly impregnable from any attack
by sea. At the time of which I speak the island was entirely
uncultivated, and produced only the trees and shrubs nature had planted
there; but from what I saw of the soil and from what others who knew
more about agricultural affairs than I did, I had no doubt that in a few
years it would become a very flourishing spot, and amply repay the
planters who might settle on it. Just now it was serving as the
burial-place of many poor fellows, who were carried off day after day by
the malignant fever which had got among them. It was sad to go on shore
to visit the sick and dying, and all the time to feel that one could be
of no use to them. I had seen a good deal of that sort of thing lately,
but it had not hardened my heart. At last I scarcely went on shore at
all. Nothing I found so depressing to my spirits as to see the long
rows of graves beneath which so many of my poor countrymen were
sleeping, and still more to see them day by day increasing in number.
While I was getting ready for sea, the Charon, having taken on board the
whole cargo of the Saint Joseph galleon, sailed with the purpose of
proceeding at once to England, leaving the Pomona at Rattan, to bring
off the sick as soon as it was deemed practicable and safe to remove
them.
On the 26th of November, having taken leave of the commodore and saluted
him with three hearty cheers, such as he well deserved, and having on
board several passengers, some of whom were taken prisoners at Omoa, I
put to sea in company with the Lowestoffe. Scarcely had I done
breakfast next morning, and was congratulating myself on having a
pleasant run to Jamaica, when Nol Grampus entered my cabin with the
pleasing intelligence that the Saint Domingo had sprung a leak.
"Allowing to her being manned by heretics, as the Spaniards would say,"
I exclaimed petulantly as I hurried out, and with the carpenter
endeavoured to ascertain where the injury was to be found. At the same
time I set both the pumps going; but do all we could, we could not keep
the leak under. At length I most unwillingly gave orders to hoist the
signal of distress. As soon as it was seen on board the Lowestoffe her
boats were sent to my assistance.
On inquiring among the Spanish prisoners I found from them that she had
been struck by lightning in the harbour of Omoa, and had been injured in
some place aft. On examining I discovered the injury to exist under the
larboard counter, and having got some lead nailed on over the leak, I
soon had the pleasure of seeing the water sensibly decrease. One danger
over, it was not long before I had to encounter another of a still more
serious nature, and I had great reason to fear that after all I had gone
through I should still not succeed in carrying my prize into port. Had
I been followed by the curse of some revengeful old witch I could
scarcely have been compelled to encounter more difficulties and mishaps;
such a witch as Shakespeare describes as sailing in a sieve, and like a
rat without a tail doing something dreadful.
On the 29th the wind was favourable and light, and the big galleon was
gliding swiftly over a smooth, laughing sea, when, the decks having been
washed down, I was taking a turn, as was my custom before breakfast,
with Martin.
"Fine weather, sir," he remarked. "After all our mishaps there seems a
fair prospect of our getting into port in safety."
"There's many a slip between the cup and the lip, and for my part I
never again will make sure of a thing till I have got it in my hand, and
then I should look very sharp that it does not jump out again," was my
answer, for I was, I own, beginning to be discontented with sublunary
affairs in general.
"Oh, no fear now, I think, but what we shall get the rich old galleon
safe into port at last, and some day touch the prize-money she will
bring us," remarked Martin, rubbing his hands at the thought of the
wealth he was about to obtain, and the way in which he would very soon
manage to get through it.
"Breakfast ready, sir," said Tom Rockets, coming up to me and touching
his cap. He was doing the duty of Jenker, my steward, who had broken
his leg in one of the many gales we had encountered.
I invited Martin to breakfast with me. When we left the deck the wind
was light and the sky had scarcely a cloud floating on it to dim its
splendour. We had finished a plate of scraped salt beef, and had begun
upon a salt herring, (what would I not have given for a fresh, juicy
mutton chop!) I had just taken a cup of coffee and Martin was helping
himself, holding up the coffee-pot, when I saw it and him and the
breakfast-things gliding away to leeward, and felt myself following
them. There was a terrific roaring sound and a loud rush of waters
almost overwhelming the shouts and cries of the people on deck. Over
went everything in a confused mass. I rushed out of the cabin, followed
by Martin, to ascertain what had occurred, though I had no doubt about
the matter. The ship had overset in one of the sudden squalls to which
these seas are liable. There she lay like a log, with her sails almost
in the water. She appeared to me to be going lower and lower every
instant. Nothing could exceed the confusion the deck presented. The
crew were rushing about and letting go any ropes they could lay hands
on, in accordance with the orders of the officer of the watch to take in
sail. The lady passengers were shrieking out for help as they paddled
about to leeward, and the men were in vain endeavouring to afford it,
shouting and striking out in the water and endeavouring to climb up
towards the weather bulwarks.
"There go all our hopes of wealth," I thought to myself as I saw the
condition of the ship. Strange that that should be the first idea which
came into my head. I did not think that the ship would swim many
minutes longer. I looked out for the Lowestoffe. She was not far-off,
and was lowering her boats, to come to our assistance. Only one chance
of saving the ship remained. We must cut away the masts. I gave the
necessary order. While some of the crew set to work on the rigging with
their knives, I sung out for an axe. One had fallen overboard the day
before. Another was not to be found.
"Can no one find an axe?" I sung out, not a little enraged. "Bear a
hand, then."
Rockets was searching in one direction, Nol Grampus in others, with
several of the rest of the men, while I felt almost frantic, expecting
the ship to fill and go down every instant. The officers were hurrying
about for the same object. Were the ship to go down, I felt many lives
might be lost, for the frigate's boats could scarcely save all hands
with the passengers. The confusion and noise was increased, it must be
remembered, by the roaring of the wind and the dashing of the seas over
us.
At last Grampus appeared with a couple of axes. I seized one and sprung
to the mainmast. He rushed forward. I had lifted up my gleaming
weapon, and was about to give the fatal stroke, when there was a sudden
lull of the wind, and the stout old galleon, no longer feeling its
pressure, sprang up and righted herself in an instant, sending a dozen
of the crew across the deck and all the passengers spinning about in
every direction. Except a little of the standing rigging cut, a few
shins broken, and a complete ducking received by all the passengers, no
damage had occurred. We soon got the lady passengers put to rights, and
seated on the hencoops, where they had been taking their breakfast, the
coffee-cups picked up, the men restored to their legs, and their cigars
re-lighted, and everything in its proper place, while the boats which
had been coming to our help returned to their frigate.
"All's well that ends well," was Martin's observation when we again sat
down to a fresh supply of coffee, red herrings, and biscuits.
Nothing else occurred till the 5th of December, when one of the Spanish
prisoners was found dead in his bed in the gun-room.
On the 8th we made Jamaica, but were beating away under the south-west
end of the island, till the 15th, when I carried away my
fore-topsail-yard, and had to put into Bluefields Bay to repair the
loss.
On the 16th we sailed again with the Lowestoffe. In the evening, as we
were pretty close in with the shore, the Lowestoffe signalised that a
suspicious schooner was in sight and made sail in chase. Scarcely had
we sunk her courses below the horizon when another vessel appeared from
under the land, standing towards us. She was also a schooner, and we
were not long in making up our minds that she was an enemy's privateer.
I did not fear her though. We loaded and ran out all our guns and
prepared for the encounter. I knew that my men would not yield while
the galleon kept afloat, and so I did not watch the Lowestoffe's
departure with so much anxiety as I might otherwise have done. Tom
Rockets and others were tightening in their waist-bands, fastening
handkerchiefs round their heads, feeling the edges of their cutlasses,
and making all the other usual preparations for a fight.
The stranger came on boldly towards us. I had no doubt of the character
of the schooner, but as she sailed two knots to our one there was no use
in attempting to try and escape her. It was not long before she got
within gun-shot and exhibited her true character by running up the
Spanish ensign and by firing one of her bow-chasers at us. As our guns
would not carry so far as hers I let her come on considerably nearer
before I returned the compliment. The privateer, thinking that they
were going to make an easy victory of us, fired again, but the shot, as
had the first, flew wide of us. I saw that my people were impatient to
fire in return.
"Hold fast, my lads," I cried out. "Let her come on a little nearer,
and we'll show her that she has caught a Tartar for once in a way."
I waited for another ten minutes, but as I saw the way in which the
well-armed daring little craft approached us I could not help thinking
to myself, "I wonder whether this will be another slip between the cup
and the lip." I, of course, did not show what I thought. I now judged
that we had got her well within range of all our guns. Again she fired,
and the shot flew through our rigging.
"Now give it her, my lads," I sung out. "Blaze away!"
The men were not slow to obey the order. Our broadside told with
fearful effect. Many of our shot tore along her decks, killing and
wounding a considerable number of her crew. Notwithstanding this the
schooner stood after us. From the spirited way in which she came on I
thought that she must be American, and, knowing the rich prize we should
prove, had determined at all risks to get hold of us. She only carried
six guns, but they were heavier than ours, and while her crew were amply
strong to man them, mine could not fight more than half the guns we had.
The contest, therefore, was much more equal than at first appeared to
be the case. Still I had not much fear as to the results, especially if
the privateer really was Spanish, for however bravely or furiously
Spaniards come on, and however much bravado they make, I have always
found that they never can withstand English pluck and determination. As
soon as we had fired our first broadside we loaded again as fast as we
could, while the schooner gave us the contents of her three guns from
one side, and was about to keep away and run under our stern to fire the
three on the other--the first having done us no little damage, wounded
one of our masts, and cut a poor fellow almost in two--but just as she
was on the point of firing we let fly four or five of our after guns
right down upon her, and one of the shot striking the helmsman, knocked
him over, and before another man could take his place the schooner had
flown up again into the wind. Her starboard broadside not being loaded,
we were able to give her another dose before she was ready to fire, and
in the meantime the report of the guns being heard on board the
Lowestoffe, she was seen standing towards us under all sail.
The privateer had now had quite sufficient taste of our quality, and
greatly to my vexation and to that, I believe, of everyone on board, she
hauled her wind and stood away from us on a bow-line, a point of sailing
on which we had no chance of overtaking her. We gave her, however, a
parting salute and three cheers and many a hearty wish that she had
stopped to receive the thrashing we all felt confident we should have
bestowed on her.
The Lowestoffe soon came up and chased her for a few miles, having in
the course of it recaptured a prize which the privateer had just before
taken. Had not the captain of the Lowestoffe been apprehensive that
some more of these privateering gentlemen might try to get hold of my
tenderly-loved galleon, he would probably have continued the chase and
captured the schooner herself, but remembering that a bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush, he wisely would not allow himself to be
tempted on, but returned to keep ward and watch over me.
"You said, sir, that there was many a slip between the cup and the lip,"
observed Martin, as on the morning of the 18th December, 1779, we
sighted the entrance to Port Royal Harbour, Jamaica, and with a fair
breeze stood into it with our rich prize, followed closely by our
faithful guardian the Lowestoffe.
"Yes, my boy, but we have not touched the rhino yet, and even then it
may be long before the sweets reach our mouth," was my answer. "So I
have always found it to be, and so I always expect to find it. These
bales of indigo which are said to be worth so much, are rather
cumbersome articles to put into our pockets and walk off with. The ship
has to cross the Atlantic and the cash has to pass through the hands of
merchants, and brokers, and prize-agents before we touch it."
I little thought at the time how necessary my warning was, and how well
it was not to reckon too much on the riches which might so easily take
to themselves wings and flee away. Still, as I have before said, I
could not help believing that I should some day or other possess the
portion which was my due; and over and over again I conjured up the
delightful picture when I should find myself once more in America, no
longer as an enemy to her sons, but as the affianced husband of Madeline
Carlyon and the friend and companion of her kindred and people.
In high spirits, therefore, and with no small amount of pride in my
heart, I sailed up the harbour and saluted Sir Peter Parker with
thirteen guns, which compliment he returned with eleven. After this
expenditure of gunpowder I hurried up to pay my respects to him, and was
received with all his usual kindness and urbanity. To my astonishment,
and somewhat, I own, to my disappointment, I found my own ship, the
Charon, at anchor among the rest of the fleet. I thought that she had
long ago sailed for England. On going on board I soon was made
acquainted with the cause of her return. On her passage through the
Gulf of Florida she had spoken HMS Salisbury, from which ship Captain
Luttrell gained the information that many very disparaging reports
reflecting on his honour were circulating in Jamaica respecting his
conduct at the taking of Omoa. This made him at once resolve to return
to the island, to vindicate his character. He immediately demanded a
Court of Inquiry, which was held on board the Niger, when he was
honourably acquitted of one and all the malicious charges alleged
against him. Officers, especially in the navy, would always do well to
imitate the commodore's conduct in this particular. All men may have
dirt thrown at them, but the honourable man will never allow it to
remain a moment longer than can be avoided, lest it should leave a stain
behind.
Captain Luttrell's return to Jamaica had a considerable influence on my
fortunes. I was in high feather at having so far escaped all the
dangers of the voyage with the old Galleon, and was making every
preparation to fit her yet further for encountering the passage in
mid-winter across the Atlantic. During this period I had not altogether
an unpleasant time of it, for the merchants and planters of Kingston
were proverbially hospitable, and I had many friends among them, so that
every moment I could spare from my duties on board ship was occupied in
receiving the attentions and civilities they showered on me. This was
all very agreeable. I made haste to enjoy the moments as they passed,
for I expected to be at sea and far away in a very few days. My
pleasure was, however, of shorter duration even than I anticipated. I
met O'Driscoll one day, who had just come from the admiral.
"I say, Hurry, my boy," he began; "do you know what they talk of doing
with your old galleon?"
"Send her to sea at once, before her repairs are finished," I answered.
"It's the way they too often do things."
"Not a bit of it," he replied. "They say that she is not fit to go to
sea, so they propose transferring her cargo to the old `Leviathan,'
which to my certain knowledge is very much out of repair, and sending
her home with it."
"Some abominable job!" I exclaimed, stamping with rage. "It's too bad,
after all I have gone through, to deprive me of the credit I ought to
have gained. I won't believe it."
I soon found, however, that O'Driscoll's account was too true. A survey
was held on the Saint Domingo, and she was condemned as unfit to proceed
on her voyage to England. Her cargo, consisting of twelve hundred and
thirty-two saroons of indigo, and a large quantity of sarsaparilla and
hides, was put on board HMS Leviathan, and her captain was to have three
thousand pounds freight. I protested as loudly as I could against this
decision. I asserted that the Saint Domingo was far more calculated to
take home so valuable and bulky a cargo than the Leviathan, or any other
man-of-war, and I undertook, with twenty of my people, who had been in
her already for three months, to carry her across the Atlantic in
safety. All I could say was of no avail. Not only I, but many other
officers said the same thing. The affair was decided against us, and I
saw, with no small regret, the whole of the Saint Domingo's cargo
transferred to the rotten old Leviathan.
On the 16th of January, 1780, having given up the hull of the Saint
Domingo to our agent at Jamaica, I joined the Charon, with my two
followers, for the first time since my appointment to her. On the next
day we sailed from Port Royal, in company with his Majesty's ships Ruby,
Lyon, Bristol, Leviathan, Salisbury, James, Resource, Lowestoffe,
Pallas, Galatrea, Delight, and about ninety sail of merchant vessels.
Except the capture of a Spanish privateer, and a vessel laden with
mahogany, nothing particular occurred till the 9th of February, in
latitude 29 degrees north, and longitude 72 degrees west, when the
admiral and his squadron put about to return to Jamaica, leaving us and
the Leviathan in charge of the convoy, to pursue our way to England.
We had hard work enough in keeping our convoy together, and in whipping
up the laggards. In spite of the danger they ran of being picked up by
privateers, some were continually getting out of the order of sailing.
The Leviathan kept ahead, and led as well as she could, while we did the
duty of huntsman, or of whipper-in. One night when it was my watch on
deck, as I was keeping a bright look-out in all directions, I saw the
flash of a gun on our lee quarter, and the sound directly after reached
my ears. It was, it struck me, from a petronel, or some small piece of
ordnance such as merchantmen carried in those days. I reported the
circumstance to Captain Luttrell, who ordered me at once to make sail in
that direction. One or two other shots followed, and I could just
discern the flashes of pistols, though the reports did not reach our
ears. The night was very dark, but we were able to steer clear of some
of the convoy, which had been near us on our lee quarter. I had
carefully taken the bearings of the spot where I had seen the flashes.
We were not long in getting up to it. There was a large barque under
sail, steering somewhat wildly, but still keeping after the fleet. We
hailed as we got close to her, but received no answer. A second time we
hailed, still louder, but there was no reply. We then fired a shot
across her bows, but she stood on as before. On this the captain
directed me to take a boat and board her. There was not much sea, but
in the wild way in which she was steering about, and in the extreme
darkness, this would, I knew, be no very easy matter. However, singing
out for volunteers, I soon had eight good hands to man a boat, and away
we pulled towards the barque. As we got near I again hailed. As
before, there was no reply. At last, watching the proper moment, I
pulled in towards her, and hooked on to her mizen-chains. We soon, with
lanterns in hand, scrambled on board. As I was hurrying along the deck,
I stepped on some substance which very nearly made me measure my length
on it. I called to Tom Rockets, who was of course near me, to throw the
light of his lantern on the spot. It was blood. There could be no
doubt of it. The deck in several places was moist with the same, but
yet no one had we seen. Aft there was no one. The helm was lashed
amidships, and the ship was left to steer herself. Ordering a hand to
the wheel, to keep her close after the Charon, I again traversed the
deck to examine her forward. On my way I stumbled over two human forms.
The light of the lantern, which fell on their countenances, showed me
that they were not Englishmen--dark-bearded, swarthy fellows, dressed in
true buccaneer style. I had little doubt that they were pirates, or
belonging to the crew of one of the Spanish privateers, most of which
deserved no better character. Farther on were two or three English
seamen, so they seemed. Here evidently had been a desperate fight, but
it was too clear which party had gained the victory. Two other bodies
were found locked in a deadly embrace--an English seaman and a Spaniard.
One had been endeavouring to force the other overboard. The Spaniard's
knife was sticking in the Englishman's throat, but the latter had not
died till he had strangled his antagonist. A few moments sufficed to
reveal this tale of horror. I looked out to endeavour to discern the
pirate. I fancied that I could make out the sails of a fore and aft
vessel to leeward, but when I looked again I could see nothing of them.
I had now to examine the vessel below. I went aft into the cabin.
There also had been a desperate struggle. The master apparently had
been surprised in his cot, and lay half out of it, stabbed to the heart.
Several passengers had sprung out of their berths, it seemed, and been
shot or stabbed before they could reach the door of the cabin. The
mate, I judged, and two other men, lay in a pool of blood just inside
the door. They had retreated there, fighting for their lives. The
table and chairs were upset and broken. One of the pirates had fallen,
and so hurried had been the retreat of his companions that they had been
unable to carry him off. He still breathed when I threw the light of
the lantern on his face, but the moment he was moved he fell back and,
with a deep groan, died. I marched through the whole of the vessel; not
a living soul was found on board. On returning on deck, I again looked
out for the pirate--not that I had much hopes of seeing her. All
appeared dark to leeward, the Charon's stern lanterns only being visible
just ahead of me. As I was peering into the gloom, suddenly a bright
light burst forth, as it seemed, out of the ocean. Up it rose,
increasing in size, a vast mass of flame into the air. I could
distinguish, with the greatest clearness, the masts and spars and canvas
of a schooner, lifting upwards high above the surface of the dark sea.
Then they seemed to separate into a thousand fragments, and to fall down
in showers of sparks on every side. For a moment I was in doubt whether
what I saw was a reality or some hallucination of the mind, such as the
imagination of a sleeper conjures up, but from the exclamations I heard
around me I was soon convinced that the pirate crew who had effected all
the mischief we had witnessed had met with a sudden and just retribution
for their crimes, and that they and their vessel had been blown up.
The next morning a midshipman and ten men were sent to relieve me, and
to take charge of the barque, which proved to be a vessel bound for
Bristol. Sad was the tale she would have to convey to the wives and
families of her officers and crew. On the 20th a signal of distress was
seen flying on board one of our convoy. A couple of boats were manned,
and I pulled away to her assistance. As we got near we saw the crew
waving to us, some in the rigging, and some leaning over the sides. Her
boats, I concluded, had been knocked to pieces in a gale. At all events
none were lowered. The people waved and shouted more vehemently than
ever. They had good reason for so doing. I saw by the way that the
vessel was labouring, and by her depth in the water, that she was on the
point of sinking. Already she had given one or two ominous rolls. I
cried out to my men to pull up alongside as fast as they could. We were
soon up to her. "Leap, leap!" was the shout. I was afraid that the
boats might get foul of some of the rigging, or be drawn into the
vortex. Not a moment was to be lost. The merchantman's crew saw their
danger, and threw themselves headlong over the bulwarks. The deck was
already almost awash with the sea. Some reached the boats unhurt,
others got much bruised, and two poor fellows plunged into the water.
One of them sank before we could get hold of him, and the other we had
considerable difficulty in saving from the vortex made by the foundering
ship.
"Shove off! shove off!" I had to cry out. "Give way--give way, my
lads!"
We had barely time to get clear of the vessel before she gave a terrific
roll, her stern lifted, and down she went, as if dragged by some
invisible power towards the depths of the ocean. We hurried back to the
Charon, without attempting to pick up anything, for the weather was
coming on bad, and the boats were already as full as they could hold. I
could not help remarking how little the men seemed to care for the loss
of their ship. Most of them grumbled about losing their bags, but as to
any thought of gratitude for their preservation, it did not seem to
occur to them that there was any necessity for feeling it. Had no other
ship been near, or had their vessel gone down in the night, not one of
them would have been saved.
"Oh, they are a precious rough lot, are my men," observed the master.
"There's nothing they wouldn't do, and nothing they care for."
I thought as he spoke that he was precious rough himself, and that it
was very much owing to him, and men like him, that merchant-seamen are
so often little better than barbarians--without a thought of religion,
or a knowledge of a future life. Several more days passed by, and we
were making good progress. I little guessed what was in store for us.
Often, as I kept my midnight watch, my thoughts flew to Madeline
Carlyon, and I delighted to picture to myself the happiness which I
anticipated when I should one day be united to her. Of course I could
not tell how or when that was to be, but I had so often and so long
dwelt on the subject that I began to consider my union with her as a
settled thing, that was to be a reality. Of one thing I was most
certain, that she fully returned the affection I had bestowed on her. I
pictured to myself how delightful it would be to bring her over to
England as my wife--to introduce her to my father and mother and my
relations, and to witness the admiration I was certain they would bestow
on her. However, I did not intend to trouble my readers with a minute
account of my own private thoughts and feelings, and yet, had I
neglected to speak again of Miss Carlyon, I might have been accused of
having heartlessly forgotten one for whom I had before expressed so
ardent an affection. Most of my hopes of the successful termination of
my love were based, it must be remembered, on the fortune which floated
within the ribs of the huge Leviathan, and then my feelings may well be
imagined, when, on the morning of the 24th of February, I saw a signal
of distress flying on board her. I instantly communicated the
circumstance to Captain Luttrell, who ordered all our boats to go to her
aid. What was the matter we could not tell. Some thought a fire might
have broken out among her cargo--others that she had sprung a leak. At
all events it was very evident that her demand for relief was urgent.
The boats were speedily lowered. Several of the merchantmen were
sending off theirs also, and away we pulled towards her as fast as we
could. I was the first on board. I found all the men with their bags
on deck, and the officers collected with traps of all sorts. I did not
see the captain and first lieutenant. The second lieutenant I knew, and
spoke to him.
"We have been holding a council of war, and it has been resolved to
abandon the ship, as there does not appear to be the slightest prospect
of being able to keep her afloat a day or perhaps an hour longer," he
remarked with a look in which I thought that there was some little
amount of shame mingled. "You see, it would not do to risk the lives of
the people, or our own either, on the mere chance of keeping the old
ship afloat a few days longer at most. The cargo they have put into her
is more than she can carry--that is very evident."
"Yes, indeed--that ought to have been known before?" I exclaimed,
stamping with my foot vehemently on the deck. I could not for the life
of me help the action. "And is this valuable cargo to be allowed to
sink to the bottom of the sea without anyone straining a muscle to save
it? That shall not be, and though every body else is afraid of
remaining on board, I'll undertake to stay by her and do my best to keep
her afloat."
"You'll make your offers to your own captain, sir," said the captain of
the Leviathan, who just then appeared on deck. "If he thinks fit to
accept them, he must be answerable for your life. My officers and I
have come to the decision that to remain on board is certain
destruction. No human power can keep the ship afloat."
To all this I of course said nothing. I had been too long a midshipman
not to know that the less a subordinate differs with his superior
officer the better. I therefore merely stated that the boats I
commanded were at the captain's disposal, to convey him and his people
on board the Charon, or any of the vessels in the convoy.
The captain, I thought, looked not a little sheepish, though he tried to
brazen it out by as pompous a manner as he could assume. For want of
sufficient courage and energy he was not only losing three thousand
pounds, which he would have received on arriving in England, but
allowing a number of other people to lose the hard-won wealth which
might have been theirs. It was a very bitter subject to think of, I
know. The captain had made up his mind to abandon the ship, and
accordingly every boat alongside as well as their own was filled with
the men and their bags, and the officers and their private effects.
Many preferred taking passages in the merchantmen rather than be crowded
up and subject to the discipline of a man-of-war. The captain of the
Leviathan resolved on going on board the Charon, and when he got there
it struck me that Captain Luttrell received him with an expression of
scorn on his countenance which I thought he fully deserved. The men who
had been in the boats declared that from what they saw of the old ship
she would, with a good crew on board, be able to swim for many a day to
come. I of course did not keep silence, but complained bitterly among
my shipmates of the cowardice which had caused so valuable a cargo to be
deserted. Finding that I could get plenty of support I resolved to ask
Commodore Luttrell to let me go on board and try and save the cargo.
When I expressed my intention the whole ship's company begged that they
might be allowed to go with me. I told them that I would take as many
as I could. The commodore, who had been hearing all the reasons given
by the captain of the Leviathan for deserting her, at first tried to
dissuade me from going, but when he found that I persisted, in his usual
kind way he told me that I might take fifty men, and that he heartily
wished me success in my enterprise. By the time I had selected my crew
and got the boats in the water it was quite dark. My object was to try
and keep the ship afloat during the night, and in the morning to
endeavour to discover where the worst leaks were to be found. I had but
two boats, so that I could only take part of my crew at a time--the
boats were to return for the rest. We shoved off with the full
intention of saving the old ship. I felt sure I could do it. Nol
Grampus and Tom Rockets were with me, and all were men I knew I could
trust. The night was somewhat dark, and there was a good deal of sea
on, so that the danger we had to encounter was not small. As we drew
near the abandoned ship I saw that she was tumbling about and rolling in
a fearful manner. Even in daytime, when we could have watched her
movements and better calculated the proper moment to pull up alongside
and hook on, the risk would have been very great, and now it was
positively terrific. Now the ship came down with a roaring slush into
the sea, as if she was never coming up again, and then suddenly she rose
and away she rolled over on the other side, lifting her keel almost out
of the water. Still to go back was impossible--I could not bring myself
to do it. At every risk I determined to get on board. I watched
anxiously for the moment. She seemed to be rolling away from us, and I
calculated that we should have time to spring on board just as she
returned.
"Now, my lads, give way!" I sang out.
They did give way, poor fellows. A sea sent us closer up alongside than
I expected. Over again rolled the vast lumbering hull--down--right down
upon us it came. Oh, mercy! A cry of horror rose--shrieks for help.
The boat was dashed to fragments and pressed under the ship's bilge. I
found myself struggling in the waves with my poor fellows around me. I
made a desperate effort to reach the main-chains. Now I was driven
back, and all I could see was the dark hull of the old ship rolling
above me, and I seemed to be sinking down into total darkness. Then the
sea lifted me in its rough embrace just as I thought my last moment had
come, and carried me right up to the very spot at which I was aiming.
My struggles had so much exhausted my strength that I do not think I
could have grasped it, but a strong arm seized mine and lifted me up,
and a voice I recognised as that of Nol Grampus exclaimed--
"All right, mate, here you are!"
Tom Rockets had just before reached the same place, and together they
hauled me up out of the water. Some of the other men had climbed up by
the main-chains, and others by the mizen-chains; but when we all at last
got on deck and I began to muster them, I found that seven poor fellows
were missing. There was no time to grieve about their loss. Our
business was to try and get the crew of the other boat--the jolly-boat--
on board, and to set to work to see if the ship herself could be kept
afloat. Warning them of what had happened, we stood by with ropes to
tell them to approach at the proper time. I waited till the ship was
actually rolling over on that side, and then singing out to them they
got alongside just as she was on an even keel. They were not many
moments in scrambling on board. The boat's falls were happily rove, so
we hooked on and hoisted her up out of harm's way. Not a boat belonging
to the ship remained, and here was I in a sinking craft, with only
twenty-two men instead of the fifty I had expected to have to stand by
me--a dark night--a heavy sea--a gale brewing--not far from an enemy's
shore--not that that mattered much, by-the-bye. Still, thinking about
our condition would do no good--action was what was required. My first
care was to sound the well. There were nine feet of water in the hold.
It was no wonder she tumbled about in the strange way she was doing. It
was only surprising that she kept afloat at all. Grampus proposed
returning to the Charon for more people; but as I thought very likely,
when Captain Luttrell heard that so many had been lost, he would not
allow any more to come, I would not let him go. Besides, I had no fancy
to be left in a sinking ship, without even a boat to take my people and
me off, should she, without more warning, go down. Instead of that I
made my men a speech--a very short one, though--told them that if we set
to work with a will we might yet, without further aid, keep the old
Leviathan at the top of the water till the morning, when more hands
would come to our assistance, and we might probably save some of the
rich cargo on board. They at once saw the justness of my remarks, and
they knew that the Charon had no other boats remaining in which the rest
of those who had volunteered could come to our assistance. Accordingly,
having trimmed sails as well as could be done to keep way with the
convoy, I ordered the pumps to be manned, and we all set to with a will.
Everyone worked as if they felt their lives depended on it; so they
did, I was convinced, for had we relaxed for ten minutes the old ship
might have given one plunge too much and gone down. I took my spell
with the rest, or rather, I may say, that I and all the rest laboured
away with scarcely an interval of rest. After two hours' hard pumping I
sent Grampus to ascertain whether we had in any way diminished the water
in the hold. All we had done was to get it under about a foot. From
the quantity of water we had pumped out I therefore knew that the leak
or rather leaks must be very bad ones. Still, if I had had my fifty men
with me, I should have been able, I was sure, unless the weather came on
very bad, to keep the leaks under. However, I resolved to keep up my
own spirits and those of the people with me as well as I could. Now and
then I shouted out a few words of encouragement, then I sang a few
snatches of some well-known song, or cut a joke or two suited to the
taste of my followers. This kept them in good spirits and prevented
them from thinking of the dangerous predicament in which we were placed.
Hour after hour dragged its heavy footsteps along, and often I felt so
weary that I thought I must throw myself down on the deck and give in.
Then I would take a few minutes' rest, sitting on a gun, and go at it
again.
Everything contributed to make me persevere, and not the least, I must
own, was my anger and disgust at the shameful and cowardly way in which
the ship had been abandoned. Oh, how I wished for daylight! and yet
daylight I knew was far-off. I kept Grampus and Rockets near me that I
might send them, as might be necessary, to ascertain the state of
affairs in different parts of the ship. In a small craft I might more
easily have known what was going forward, but in a huge lumbering ship
like the Leviathan I could not tell what might be occurring. When the
condition of a ship has become desperate, sailors have very often broken
into the spirit-room, and, getting drunk, have allowed her to sink with
them. I had my fears that my poor fellows, when they became weary,
would be guilty of some similar excess.
"Well, Grampus, how is the ship getting on?" I asked, after he had
returned from one of the trips on which I had despatched him.
"The old craft is sucking in almost as much water as our fine fellows
drive out of her, sir, but for all that there isn't one of them shirking
his duty," he answered, in a cheerful voice. "If we could have a glass
of grog apiece served out among us, I don't think as how it would do us
any harm."
"I'll see to it," I replied. "Here, give me a spell; I'll get some
myself from the spirit-room." Searching about I found a can, and
lantern in hand I descended to the lower regions of the ship. As I
groped my way there, the strange noises which assailed my ears--the
creakings, the groans, the wash of the water--almost deafened me. I
felt strongly inclined to turn back, for I could not help fancying that
the ship was that instant about to go down. The air, too, was close and
pestiferous, as if all the foul vapours had been forced up from the
inward recesses of the hold. She continued pitching and rolling in a
way so unusual that I could scarcely keep my legs. This was owing to
the unseamanlike mode in which the cargo had been stowed: indeed, a ship
of war was not calculated to carry a cargo at all, in addition to her
own stores, water and ammunition.
At length I filled my can and returned with it on deck, filling it up on
my way at one of the water-casks. Then I went round and served it out
to the people, and never was grog more thankfully received. It did them
all a great deal of good, and I am certain that on this occasion, by
pouring the spirit down their own throats, they were enabled to get a
great deal more of the water out of the ship. I took very sparingly of
it myself, for I never was in the habit of taking much liquor of any
sort, and I felt the vast importance, under present circumstances
especially, that it was for me to keep my head cool. Not only on this
occasion, but on all others did I feel this; indeed, though the licence
of the times allowed a great deal of hard drinking on shore, I held the
vice in just abhorrence. In the navy especially, more men have been
ruined body and soul by drunkenness than by any other way, and many a
fine fellow who would have been an ornament to his profession have I
seen completely lost to it and to his country by giving way to the vice.
I will say that I considered it very creditable to my fellows that,
although they might at any time have found their way to the spirit-room,
they never for a moment left the pumps, and only took the grog I served
out to them.
Even the longest night must have an end. It was with no little
satisfaction and gratitude also that I hailed the first faint streaks of
light in the eastern sky. As the light increased, and I saw that we
were surrounded by a number of vessels, with the Charon at no great
distance, my spirits rose, and instead of wishing at once to abandon the
Leviathan I bethought me that it still might be possible to get some of
her cargo out of her before she went to the depths below, if go she
must. Grampus agreed with me that this object might be effected. I
signalled my intentions accordingly to the Charon, and very soon I had
the satisfaction of seeing the commodore speaking a number of the
merchantmen. They quickly replied, and he then signalled to me to set
to work and get up the cargo as fast as I could. I could have wished to
be supplied with more men, but, weak-handed as I was, after my faithful
fellows had taken such food as could be found for breakfast, we set to
work and rigged tackles and cranes to hoist up the indigo and
sarsaparilla and anything on which we could lay hands. It was heavy
work, for the old ship was still rolling very much, and we were all
pretty well knocked up with what we had gone through in the night. The
appearance of half-a-dozen boats or more, however, pulling towards us
gave us fresh spirits. We sang away cheerily as we got saroon after
saroon of indigo up on deck. This was, however, only part of the
labour; the greatest difficulty was to lower them into the boats. The
wind fortunately fell, and I was able to get up altogether during the
day no less than 123 saroons of indigo, valued at sixteen thousand
pounds. Why more assistance was not given me I cannot say. I do not
like to dwell on the subject. In the evening the masters signalled to
their boats to return, and my people and I were left alone once more on
board the rotten old ship, with only the jolly-boat in which to make our
escape should she go down. As the sun set the sky looked very windy,
and there was considerably more sea than there had been all day. I
called Grampus to my councils. He agreed with me in not at all liking
the look of the weather. The people were ready to stay by me as long as
I thought fit to remain on board, but they had already begun to express
a wish to return to the Charon.
Taking all things into consideration I resolved to follow this course,
and with a heavy heart ordered the people into the jolly-boat. I was
the last man to quit the ship, and as I went down the side I certainly
did not expect to see her afloat the next morning. I had no time,
however, for sentimental regrets, for the sea was getting up, the sky
was looking very wild and windy, and darkness was fast coming on. The
boat also was much overcrowded. We, however, left the Leviathan's side
without an accident, and pulled slowly towards the Charon. She lay
across the sea, and was rolling considerably when we got near her. We
pulled up under her quarter. The bowman stood up, boat-hook in hand, to
catch hold of the rope hove to us, when, losing his balance, he was
pitched overboard. In vain his mates forward tried to catch hold of
him; the next sea, probably, struck his head against the ship's side,
and he sank from our sight. While we were endeavouring to save him,
indeed, the boat herself very nearly capsized, when probably all or most
of us in her would have lost our lives. Happily, however, as it was, we
managed to scramble on board, and the jolly-boat was hoisted up safe.
The commodore, as did my brother-officers, complimented me very much on
what I had done, but as I had been left alone, I thought very unfairly,
in my glory, I cannot say that I valued their compliments at a very high
rate. I knew that I had done my duty at all events, and that was enough
for me. Captain Luttrell, however, of his own accord agreed to remain
by the Leviathan till the morning, in the hopes of being able to get
more of her cargo out of her. Out of spirits at the loss of so many
poor fellows, and after all at having done so little, I entered the
gun-room. Supper was placed before me; I could scarcely touch it.
Getting rid of my wet clothes, I threw myself at last into my berth, and
scarcely had my head touched my pillow than I was fast asleep. Still
the thought of the Leviathan haunted me, and I continued dreaming of the
scenes I had gone through during the time I had been on board her. At
last I awoke, and, slipping on my clothes, found my way on deck. There
she lay--a dark, misty-looking object--rolling away even more violently
than before, so it seemed to me. Still she was afloat, and while she
remained above water I still had hopes of saving more of her cargo. As
I gazed at her a strange sensation came over me. I know that I began to
talk loudly and to wave my hand, and to play all sorts of antics. How
long I was doing this I do not know, when one of my brother-officers put
his hand on my shoulder and said, "You have had hard work, Hurry; bed is
the best place for you." I let him lead me below without a word of
remonstrance. It struck eight bells in the morning watch when I once
more awoke. I hurried on deck; the sky was dark and lowering--the
leaden seas tumbling about with snow-white crests, from which the foam
flew away to leeward, blown by a strong gale, which seemed every moment
increasing. We were still close to the Leviathan. I kept gazing at her
with a sort of stupid stare I dare say it looked like.
"It will not do, Hurry," said Captain Luttrell. "We must give it up. I
cannot risk your life or those of any of our people on board the old
ship again."
I was scarcely inclined to acquiesce in his remark. I wanted to make
another effort to save the ship, and regretted that I had not remained
on board all night. Just then she made two or three rolls heavier than
usual--a sea appeared suddenly to lift up her stern--she made a plunge
forward. I watched, expecting her to rise again--but no. It was her
last plunge. Like the huge monster from which she took her name, she
dived down beneath the waves; the waters washed over her decks;
gradually her masts sank till the pennant alone was to be seen streaming
upwards for an instant, till that also was drawn down to the depths of
the ocean. I could not help uttering a groan of grief, not for the
wealth which I thus saw engulfed beneath the waves, but for the
destruction of all the hopes I had been so fondly cherishing.
The signal was now made for the convoy to continue on their course. The
bad weather which had been brewing now coming on, ship after ship parted
company from us, and at length, after a passage of six weeks, we reached
the Downs on the 21st of March without a single one of the convoy with
us. I had been absent from home just five years and a half. I had left
it a boy--if not in age, in habits and feelings; I had come back an
officer--bearing his Majesty's commission as lieutenant, with ideas
expanded and feelings wonderfully changed. Without any difficulty, the
moment I applied for leave Captain Luttrell granted it, and, taking Tom
Rockets with me, I set off immediately for London on my way to Falmouth.