Mr Johnson leaned back in his seat, when, slowly stooping down for his
tumbler, he brought it deliberately to his mouth, and took a prolonged
sip. Then shaking his head, he observed, "Politics are awful things to
meddle with--the very thought of what I endured, turns my throat into a
dust-hole." Again he sipped, and again he shook his head. "Young
gentlemen," he said solemnly, "if ever any of you rise to the top of the
profession, and I hope you may--and should his Majesty, King George,
send for you, and offer to make you a Prime Minister, take an old man's
advice, and respectfully decline the honour. Say that standing at the
helm of one of his ships, and fighting her as long as there is a shot in
the locker, is one thing, and standing at the helm of State, and being
badgered by friends and foes alike, is another. You may quote me as an
authority. Well, I was telling you how I managed when I was Prime
Minister to King Rumfiz, and of the trouble caused me by certain
personages in the island of Blarney Botherum.
"I was not long in discovering the tricks of these medicine men, and of
their friends who lived on a trade they called patriotism, but the
difficulty was to catch them. I at last, however, found a few tripping,
and having hung them up, the rest were very soon brought into a state of
implicit obedience to my commands.
"As soon as I had restored peace to the country, I thought that it would
be advisable to reform the constitution. I had some slight difficulty
in comprehending its principles, especially as I only as yet imperfectly
understood the language. My notions were, however, so opposed by the
sages of the country, and so great was the commotion created, that it
was with no slight satisfaction I saw the Lady Stiggins approaching the
island under full sail, as I was one morning sitting on the beach
cutting ducks and drakes with oyster shells over the calm blue water of
the bay.
"I have a good strong voice of my own even now, but then I could make
myself heard three or four miles off at least, and sometimes, when I was
in tone, much farther. The only other man I ever met at all equal to me
was a Frenchman, the master of a privateer; and we once carried on a
conversation together, he sitting on the shores of Calais, I on the
cliffs of Dover. Well, I stood up, and hailing the Lady Stiggins, waved
my hat over my head. My former shipmates heard me, though for a long
time they could not tell where the voice came from. Another old friend,
however, was more quick of hearing, and sight too. I saw a commotion in
the water, as if an arrow was passing through it, so fast did it draw
near. Presently a black fin appeared, and then there was a tremendous
rush, and then who should pop his head out of the water till he ran
himself almost high and dry on the beach, but my pet shark? In his
delight at seeing me he almost got hold of my leg, which, in a fit of
joyful forgetfulness, I believe he would have bitten off, had I not
jumped out of the way.
"Well, as I was saying, the shark did not bite off my leg; the delay
would, at all events, have been inconvenient had he done so. I stroked
his cheeks, and he looked up most lovingly into my face with his
piercing eyes, and then, after he had floundered back into the water, I
got on his back and away we went out to sea towards my ship. My
companions were delighted to see me; the wonder was how they got on
without me. When we dropped our anchor, King Rumfiz and Queen Pillow,
with my wife the Princess Chickchick, came off in a canoe to the ship,
and very much surprised they were to see me on board, not knowing that
my pet shark was in company. My little wife, indeed, thought I was a
ghost, and in her fright jumped overboard, when she was as near as
possible sharing the fate of poor Oilyblubbina, and would have done so
had I not leaped after her and saved her. Not to disappoint my pet, we
gave him afterwards half a dozen fat hogs, which he infinitely
preferred. The captain was so generous with his liquor, that he sent my
royal father and mother-in-law on shore roaring drunk. They were so
happy that they insisted on having a ball at the palace, for which
purpose I issued a decree summoning all the principal people of the
island; and a jolly night we had of it too, the old king toeing-it and
heeling-it away right merrily in the centre of a circle of his admiring
subjects. Everything must have an end, so had my residence in the
island. As I had begun to get rather tired of the monotony of my life
on shore, I determined to make a voyage for the benefit of my health."
"Did you take your wife with you?" asked Gogles, who had swallowed every
word uttered by the boatswain.
"My wife? Oh no; I left her on shore for the benefit of hers. Poor
thing, she cried very much when I went away; it was the last time I saw
her."
"How was that, Mr Johnson?" enquired Grey, "you seem to have been
unfortunate with your wives."
"Yes, indeed, I was," replied the unhappy widower; "I have had ten of
them, too. When I came back, I found that the island had been attacked
by the savages, who had carried off my wife and eaten her. It's a fact.
If they had had a reform, and kept me and my gun among them, it
wouldn't have happened--of that I'm certain. Having taken in a supply
of wood, water, and provisions, the Lady Stiggins once more made sail
for the southward."
"I wonder you survived all your misfortunes, Mr Johnson," observed
Spellman, who, next to Gogles and Toby Bluff, seemed to place the most
perfect belief in the boatswain's veracious narratives, as he was
pleased to designate his amusing inventions.
"Why, do you see, Mr Spellman, I'm tough--very tough!" he answered,
with a hoarse laugh. "I doubt if even the head cook of the monarch of
the cannibal islands--King Hoki Poki--could ever make me tender. So you
see I've held out through them all; and there's one thing I may say,
trying as they may have been, they have never taken away my appetite.
Now, young gentlemen, you've had a good long yarn, and my throat feels
like a dust-hole with talking, so I must knock off."
"But you'll tell us the end of your adventures some day, Mr Johnson;
won't you now?" said Gogles, imploringly.
"I'll continue them, perhaps, young gentleman," answered the boatswain,
laughing. "But let me tell you it will take a mighty long time before I
ever get to the end of them. They're inexhaustible--something like the
mint, young gentlemen, where the King has his guineas struck which he
pays to us seamen for fighting for him. We should be in a bad way if
his shiners were to come to an end; and one thing I may promise you, as
long as I've got a brain to think and a tongue to wag, I shall be able
to continue my wonderful and veracious history."
Gogles and Spellman, and even Grey, looked puzzled. I had long
suspected that the origin of Mr Johnson's history was derived from a
source considerably removed from fact; and from the peculiar way in
which he screwed up his mouth, and the merry twinkle of his one eye--for
the other he shut with the comic twist of his nose--I now had not the
slightest doubt of the matter. I cannot say that his narratives were
exactly instructive, but they were at all events highly amusing to us
youngsters. The watch being just then called, an interruption was put
to his narrative. Toby Bluff, and some of the other boys, who had been
listening outside, were scuttling along the deck, spluttering out their
laughter, while the young gentlemen whose watch it was hurried on deck,
and the rest retired to the berth. We left Mr Johnson chuckling
complacently at his own conceits.
I went to the berth, now magnificently lighted by two purser's dips,
which stood on the table, dropping fatness, in company with a
bread-barge of biscuit, some tumblers, earthenware and tin mugs, a
bottle of rum and a can of water, and surrounded by most of the members
of the mess not on duty. Gogles followed me, and took his seat. The
can of water and the biscuit was shoved over to him. He eyed the black
bottle wistfully.
"No, no; that isn't good stuff for babies," said Perigal, shaking his
head; "if we had some milk you should have it, Gogles."
"I wish we had; why don't we keep some cows on board?" whispered Gogles.
"What would you feed them on?" asked Grey.
"Grass and hay, when we could get them, of course," answered Gogles,
sagaciously.
"Not at all," remarked Bobus. "Carpenters' shavings are the things. On
board a ship to which I belonged, we had two goats and a cow to feed our
captain's baby, and whenever we ran short of hay or grass, what do you
think the captain did? Cut their throats and eat them? No, not he.
Why, he was a very ingenious man, and so he had some pairs of green
spectacles made, which he used to clap over their eyes, and then when
the shavings were chopped up fine, they used to eat them greedily,
believing they were grass. He first gave them all the old straw hats he
could collect, but that was an expensive way of feeding them."
"I should think so, Bobus," observed McAllister, who did not like joking
himself, and had an especial antipathy to Bobus's jokes or stories, or
to Bobus himself. "May I ask what ship that was in?"
"What ship? why, the old Thunderer, to the best of my recollection,"
answered Bobus, seriously.
"Everything wonderful happened on board the old Thunderer," observed
McAllister. "Bobus having been left drunk on shore, is the only
survivor of her crew, and there is no one to contradict him."
"I wasn't drunk; I was sick, and you know that perfectly well,"
exclaimed Bobus, getting angry. "I won't have my veracity called in
question. I've the feelings of a gentleman, and my honour to support,
as well as others."
"But you shouldn't support it by telling crammers," said McAllister, who
took a pleasure in irritating poor Bobus.
"Order!" cried Perigal, who was always a peacemaker. "Come, Mac, let
Bobus spin his yarns, and do you spin yours; and now just go on with
that story about the Highlands which you had begun the other evening,
when the squall struck the ship."
McAllister was soon in the midst of some wonderful Highland legend,
while attempting to listen to which I fell fast asleep.
We were once more at anchor in Port Royal harbour. Several other ships
of war were there. On one occasion I had the honour of dining with
Captain Collyer, when two or three captains and several lieutenants and
midshipmen were present. Among the captains was rather a fine-looking
man, a Captain Staghorn, commanding the Daring frigate. He was an
Irishman, and though I thought our boatswain could beat any man at
pulling the longbow, I must say Captain Staghorn equalled him. He
poured forth the most astounding stories with wonderful rapidity and
self-assurance. I observed that all the other officers bowed politely
at the end of each, no one questioning any of his statements. Even
Captain Collyer let him run on without differing from him in the
slightest degree. I took a dislike to him from the first from his
overbearing manner at times. Still he was certainly amusing, and
everybody present laughed very much at his jokes. He talked
incessantly, and did not scruple to interrupt anybody speaking. Among
his stories was an account he gave of his own prowess, when a lieutenant
in command of a schooner. He was sent in search of a piratical craft.
He came up with her, and running alongside, sprang on board, expecting
his men to follow. The vessels, he declared, separated, but he laid
about him with such good will that he not only kept the pirates at bay,
but drove them below before his own schooner again got alongside.
Captain Collyer, politely bowing, observed that he had often heard of
his having taken a piratical craft in a very gallant way, which, in
fact, he had, but not, as he asserted, alone; he had a dozen stout hands
to back him, which makes all the difference. The name of a cousin of
mine, Captain Ceaton, was mentioned. I had just before received the
news from home that he had been appointed to the command of a corvette
which would very probably be sent out to the West Indies. He was only a
lieutenant when I came to sea, and had not long been a commander. I had
seen but little of him, but I knew him to be a thoroughly brave honest
fellow. What, therefore, was my surprise and annoyance to hear Captain
Staghorn open out roundly on him, and abuse him in no measured terms.
One of the other captains asked why he did so.
"Why?" exclaimed Captain Staghorn, "five years ago or more he was a
lieutenant of a ship I commanded. On his being superseded, at length,
the lieutenant who succeeded him asked him what sort of a person I was,
and he had the impudence to say that I was a very good sort of fellow,
but used the longbow pretty frequently. I won't say how this came to my
ears, but I made a vow, and I'll keep it, that I'll force him to go out
with me, and I'll shoot him."
The other captains tried to convince Captain Staghorn that Ceaton could
not have intended to offend him, as he was a man who would never offend
anyone. Captain Staghorn muttered within his teeth, "I will, though."
I was very much induced to say "But you do draw with the longbow, and
Ceaton only spoke the truth." I restrained myself, however, wisely; for
though the other captains might be convinced that I only said what was
the case, they would very much disapprove of a midshipman expressing
himself freely about a post-captain. Coffee was soon handed round, and
we midshipmen, according to wont, retired. We repaired to the
quarter-deck, where the master, as he occasionally did in harbour, had
taken charge of the watch, the rest of the lieutenants not dining in the
cabin being on shore. He was a very worthy man, but we had no great
respect for him, and we took liberties on which we should not have
ventured with Mr Bryan or the third lieutenant, or even with Mr
Fitzgerald. For some time the influence of the cabin was on us, and we
behaved with sufficient dignity. One of the midshipmen of the Daring
walked the deck with me, and opened out confidentially with regard to
his captain, whom, however, he held in great awe. He told me that he
was very brave, and had done all sorts of wonderful things; that he did
not seem to set value on his own life or on that of anyone else; that he
was very quarrelsome, and a dead shot; that he had killed three men in
duels, and wounded half a dozen more; and that he never forgot or
forgave what he considered an insult or an injury. My friend continued,
"When we dine with him, he tells us the most extraordinary stories, and
if we do not laugh at the right place and pretend to believe them, we
are sure to get mast-headed, or punished in some other way, before many
hours are over."
"A very unpleasant character," I observed, though its hideousness did
not strike me so forcibly in those days as it does now. "I shouldn't
like to serve with him."
"Nor did I at first," said my friend, "but I have got accustomed to his
style; and some of our fellows have taken a leaf out of his book, and
boast and quarrel as much as he does."
I thought to myself of the old saying, "Like master, like men," and
adapted it, "Like captain, like midshipmen."
"I would rather serve under Captain Collyer," I remarked. "He does not
quarrel with or shoot his companions, and I do not believe that there is
a braver man in the service."
Our conversation was interrupted by a chase after poor Gogles, whom
Spellman and others had started up the mizen-rigging, giving him a
minute's start. If they caught him he was to receive a cobbing; if he
escaped he was to give them one, if he could. Poor Gogles had certainly
made but a bad bargain. All the rest of the youngsters, including the
Daring's midshipman and me, soon joined in the chase--not all, however,
to catch Gogles, but rather to impede his pursuers, and to give him a
better chance of escape. Although he had not an over allowance of wits,
he was very active, and had great tenacity of grip--qualities more
valuable to skylarking midshipmen, rope-dancers, and monkeys, than
brains.
Up went Gogles valiantly to the topgallant mast-head, and, waiting till
Spellman had got close up to him, under pretence of being tired, he slid
down the lift on to the yard-arm, and running in on the yard, had
descended to the cross-trees, leaving all his pursuers above him. In
similar ways he contrived to evade his pursuers, I and others helping
him by pulling at their legs, or getting above them and stopping their
way up. He had, I considered, fairly won the right to cob all the
party; but, grown bold by his success, he descended by the lift to the
topsail yard-arm, and was about to stoop down to traverse the brace to
the mainmast, when, from hearing Spellman's shout, he looked up, and,
missing his grasp, over he went headlong into the water.
I was at the time on the cross-jack yard. I ran to the end. Though
Gogles could swim, he was, I at once saw, stunned by the fall. I did
not stop to consider whether there was danger or not, but, slipping off
my jacket, which I threw in board, and kicking off my shoes, I plunged
in after him, fortunately not losing my breath in my fall. I looked
about for Gogles. He was just sinking. I swam towards him, for there
was a current running which had drifted him already to some distance.
No sooner did I reach him, however, than like a squid he threw his arms
about me, and made it impossible for me to strike out. I entreated him
to free me, but he evidently did not understand what I said. The dread
that we should both be drowned came over me. I kicked my legs about as
much as I could, but I could not shout out for fear of filling my mouth
with water. I thought of sharks--indeed of all sorts of horrible
things. We appeared to be drifting farther from the ship.
Preparations were being made to lower a boat, but I felt that before it
could reach me I must sink. Just then I caught sight of the boatswain's
long nose over the hammock nettings, and the next instant he had slid
down a rope overboard, and was striking out towards me. "Shout, boy I
shout, my son! and kick away--kick away," he kept exclaiming, as with
sturdy strokes he clave the water, in his progress making himself all
the time as much noise as possible.
I guessed the reason of his cries, for I saw a black fin in the
distance. Had I been alone when I saw that ill-omened fin I believe
that I should have quickly sunk; but the feeling that I had my messmate
to support, and that the honest boatswain was coming to my help, kept me
up. I did as Mr Johnson directed me, and kept kicking with all my
might, and shouting too, whenever I could get my mouth clear of the
water. Still I got more down it than was pleasant. I saw something
gleaming in Mr Johnson's hand. It was a long Spanish knife.
Gogles had been quiet for some time, but just then he began to struggle,
and again clasped me round the neck. I felt as if I was sinking, and
was earnestly wishing that Mr Johnson was a few yards nearer, when I
saw him suddenly turn aside and strike off to the left. My eye followed
him with an intensity of interest such as I cannot describe. It caught
the gleam of his knife, and then what was my horror to find that he had
disappeared. It was but for a moment. Directly afterwards he rose
again, surrounded by a circle of crimson, and a huge black body floated
up near him, lashing the water. He darted forward, and, seizing Gogles,
released me from his grasp.
"Swim on, Mr Merry, swim on," he shouted, shoving me before him. "Here
comes the boat."
The men bent to their oars, and the brave boatswain swam on with all his
might. With a jerk he threw Gogles into the boat, and gave me a shove
up as I was climbing in, which very nearly sent me over on the other
side; he then sprang after us with surprising agility, turning as soon
as he had got his feet out of the water, and striking with all his might
at a huge creature which followed close at our heels. I saw the flash
of the monster's white throat.
"Habet," shouted our third lieutenant, who was--a rare thing in those
days in the navy--somewhat of a scholar. Mr Johnson had inflicted a
mortal wound on another shark, who was immediately surrounded by his
amiable brethren, eager to devour him as they had missed us. It is not
difficult to conceive what would have been our fate had we remained
another minute in the water, after the boatswain had killed the first
shark.
"You indeed did that bravely, Mr Johnson," said Mr Haisleden, as we
returned to the frigate. "I never saw anything like it. Where did you
learn that trick?"
"In the south seas, sir," answered the boatswain in a quiet tone, very
different from his usual boastful manner. "I was once wrecked on an
island, where I saw the natives swim off and attack sharks with their
common knives; and I said to myself, what a savage does an Englishman
can do, if he takes time and practises. So as I had little chance of
getting away for many months, or it might be years, I set to and learned
to swim like the natives, and then to fight the sharks. It was no easy
matter, and at first it was trying work to see one of the monsters
making towards me and the native who accompanied me; but after I had
seen the way in which he managed, I was no longer afraid, and soon
became as expert as any of them. No man knows what he can do till he
tries. I've been the means of saving the life of more than one shipmate
by thus knowing how to manage the brutes."
"Why, you've ridden on a shark, Mr Johnson," said Gogles, opening his
eyes.
"Gammon!" answered the boatswain, twisting his nose. "I am speaking the
truth now."
By this time we had reached the side of the frigate. Captain Collyer
was on deck. He warmly thanked Mr Johnson for his gallantry in jumping
over to save us, and we received the congratulations of our friends at
our escape, but I found that it was generally supposed I had fallen
overboard as well as Gogles; nor did I feel inclined to explain matters.
"I should have mast-headed the youngsters for sky larking on board the
Daring," observed Captain Staghorn to one of our officers, as he took a
sharp and hurried turn on the quarter-deck.
"I'm glad I don't belong to your ship, my jewel," thought I, as I
overheard him.
Gogles and I were sent below to our hammocks, and Mr Johnson followed
us to put on dry clothes.
"I'll set all to rights, Mr Merry," he observed, in a kind tone; "I saw
how it all happened, and the brave way in which you jumped after the
other youngster; but I wouldn't say anything before that strange
captain. I know him well. He's a pest in the service, and always was.
Had it not been for him I should have been on the quarter-deck.
However, I must go and shift myself. Turn in and take a glass of grog;
you'll be all to rights to-morrow morning."
Now the excitement was over, I felt very weary and uncomfortable, and
was not sorry to follow his advice. As Mr Johnson had predicted, the
next day I was not a bit the worse for my adventure; but poor Gogles
took several days to recover from his fright, and the quantity of salt
water he had imbibed.
I found that Captain Collyer treated me with more than his usual
kindness, nor was I long in discovering that this arose from the account
the boatswain took care should be conveyed to him of my conduct. I
felt, however, that I was far more indebted to Mr Johnson than Gogles
was to me. I had jumped overboard from impulse, he with forethought and
deliberate coolness. The circumstance cemented our friendship more
closely than ever, and I am certain that he loved me as a son. With his
rough exterior, loud voice, and bravery, his heart was as gentle as a
woman's. I have seen tears trickle down his rough cheeks at a tale of
sorrow, while with purse and sympathy he was ever ready to relieve
distress, and I am convinced that he never wronged man, woman, or child
in his life.
Two days after this, the signal was made that the Pearl corvette was in
the offing. As soon as she entered the harbour, I got leave to pay my
cousin Ceaton a visit. He was an admirer of my sister Bertha, if not
actually engaged to her, which I thought he might be by this time, and I
was anxious to get news from home, as well as to see him. A kinder,
better fellow never breathed. His manners were most gentlemanly, and
gentle, too, and, though brave as a lion, he had never been known to
quarrel with a shipmate or any other person. He received me as a
brother, and very soon told me that, on his return to England, he hoped
to assume that character. He had a great deal to tell me about home,
and said that I must stay on board and dine with him.
Our pleasant conversation was interrupted by the announcement of Major
O'Grady. The name made me feel uncomfortable, for he was one of the
soldier officers who had dined on board the Doris, and appeared to be on
very intimate terms with Captain Staghorn. He was just that stiff,
punctilious-mannered, grey-eyed person, for whom I have had always a
peculiar antipathy. He hummed and hawed, and looked sternly at me, as
if he could have eaten me up, and thought my presence especially
impertinent; but budge for him I would not, till desired by my cousin to
do so. At last he had to say, "I beg your pardon, Commander Ceaton, but
the business I have come on cannot be discussed in the presence of a
youngster."
"Go on deck, Marmaduke," said my cousin.
Unwillingly I obeyed. My worst apprehensions were confirmed. Captain
Staghorn was resolved to carry out his diabolical intentions. What
could be done? I felt that Charles Ceaton had never fired a pistol
except in open warfare, and as to practising for the sake of being the
better able to kill a fellow-creature, I knew that was abhorrent to his
nature.
I hurried on deck as ordered, but as the skylight was off, and Major
O'Grady spoke in a loud, and it seemed a bullying voice, I could hear
nearly every word he said, nor did I consider myself wrong in drawing
near to listen.
"I am not at all aware of ever having made use of the words imputed to
me," said my cousin, calmly.
"That is as much as to say, Commander Ceaton, that you consider my
friend capable of uttering a falsehood," answered the Major, in a
deliberate tone.
"Not at all, sir. I am simply stating the fact, that I cannot clearly
recall having uttered the expressions you mention," said my cousin.
"Then you do not deny that you said something of the sort; indeed
something to afford my friend Captain Staghorn sufficient ground for
demanding an ample and perfect apology?" said the Major, in his former
slow way.
"I shall deny nothing," said my cousin, at length nettled beyond
endurance. He must be, too, I was certain, well aware of Captain
Staghorn's reputation as a dead shot, and on that account resolved to go
out and fight him. In those days, for an officer of the army of navy to
refuse to fight a duel, however thrust on him, was to be disgraced in
the eyes of his professional brethren, poor weak mortals like
themselves. They forgot that the code of honour by which they chose to
act, was not the code by which they were to be tried in another world.
"Then, Commander Ceaton, you cannot, of course, refuse to give Captain
Staghorn the satisfaction he demands?" said the Major.
"Certainly not," answered my cousin.
"You, of course, have a friend with whom I may settle preliminaries,"
said the major. "The sooner these affairs are got over the better."
"Undoubtedly," said my cousin, with unusual bitterness in his tone. "My
first-lieutenant wid act for me. He is a man of honour and a friend. I
have perfect confidence in him. I will send him to you."
I moved away from the skylight. My cousin came on deck, where he was
joined by Mr Sandford, who, after a minute's conversation, went into
the cabin. He and the major very quickly came on deck, the latter
bowing stiffly as he descended to his boat alongside. I felt very much
inclined to walk up to him, and to say, "If your friend shoots my
cousin, and brother that is to be, I'll shoot you;" but I did not. I,
however, watched with no friendly eyes the soldier officer, as he sat in
his boat stiff as a ramrod, while he returned to the Daring. I pondered
how I could prevent this duel. I felt that it was not fair that one man
who had never held a duelling-pistol in his hand, should be compelled to
fight another who could snuff a candle at twelve paces without putting
it out. I wanted to find out when and where they were to meet.
My cousin returned to the cabin with Mr Sandford. The latter remained
with him for some time, and when he returned on deck he looked very
grave and sad. Never more clearly were the evils of duelling brought
home to me. Here was a man in the prime of life, who might long be
useful to his country and mankind, about to be murdered, simply because
he would not apologise for expressions which he could not recollect
having uttered. My poor sister Bertha, too--how miserable his untimely
death would make her.
I walked the deck feeling more unhappy than I had ever before done. The
midshipmen of the corvette kept aloof from me, fancying that my cousin
had communicated some ill news, or perhaps that I was in disgrace. I
don't know. I was glad that no one came and spoke to me. The dinner
hour at last arrived, and I went into the cabin. Of course I was
supposed not to know anything about the contemplated duel, and I tried
to appear as cheerful as before. Besides Mr Sandford, the purser dined
in the cabin, and no allusion even was made to the major's visit. My
cousin endeavoured to keep up the conversation, and smiled at the
purser's bad puns, which he had probably heard a hundred times before.
I talked whenever I could about home--the dear old hall--my sisters and
brothers, and my father and mother. I observed that a shade of pain
passed over his countenance whenever I mentioned my sisters. I was
unwise in doing so, unless it could have had the effect of shaking his
resolution, and inducing him to send to Captain Staghorn, and to tell
him that of men the world might say what they chose, but that he would
not go forth to break the law of God, to take his life or to lose his
own. But why do I say that? I now know that nothing but the love of
God, and of God's law implanted in his heart, would have induced him
thus to act. Abstractedly he knew that he was about to do a wrong
thing, but had he been really making God's law the rule of his life, he
would not have hesitated one moment, but the moment Major O'Grady had
opened the subject, he would have told him plainly that he feared God
more than man; that if he wronged Captain Staghorn, even though
unintentionally, he would make him all the amends in his power, but that
fight he would not. His conduct, however, very clearly showed--brave,
and honest, and generous, and kind-hearted as he was, a man to be
esteemed and loved--that he feared man, and what man might say, more
than God, and how God would judge. Numbers act thus; but numbers perish
of a plague. That there are many, does not save them.
It must be understood that I did not think thus at the time. I was only
a little, less careless and thoughtless than those around me. I was
very sorry, though, that my cousin was going out to fight with a man who
was a dead shot, because I was afraid he would be killed, and that my
sister Bertha, whom I loved dearly, would be made miserable. It did
occur to me, as I looked at his open and intelligent countenance, his
broad chest and manly form, how sad it was that, by that time the next
day, he might be laid in the cold grave.
Dinner progressed slowly. Under other circumstances he would have
thought me especially stupid, for there was a feeling in my throat and a
weight at my heart which effectually stopped me from being lively.
After coffee had been taken, I mechanically rose with the rest, and went
on deck. I had not been there long, before it occurred to me that I
ought to have wished him goodbye, as a boat was alongside to carry some
liberty-men on board the Doris. I desired the sentry to ask if I might
see him, and was immediately admitted.
"I am glad that you are come, Marmaduke," he observed. "We cannot tell
what may happen to us in this climate. Yellow Jack may lay his fist on
us, or a hurricane may send our craft to the bottom; so, you see, I have
thought it better to do up a little packet, which, in case of anything
happening to me, I wish you would give to Bertha from me. I don't wish
to die, but in case I should, tell her that my last thoughts were about
her, and my prayers for her welfare. Oh! Marmaduke, she is one in a
thousand. Cherish her as the apple of your eye. You do not know her
excellences."
He went on very justly praising Bertha for some time, till there was a
tremulousness came into his voice which compelled him to stop, and I
very nearly blubbered outright. At last he told me to return to the
Doris, and come and dine with him the next day.
"That is to say," he added, "if Yellow Jack has not got a grip of me in
the meantime."
With a heavy heart I went back to the frigate. I took two or three
turns on deck, considering if I could do anything, when it occurred to
me that I would confide the matter to Mr Johnson, and get his advice,
and, it might be, assistance. I found him as usual, when the duties of
the day were over, seated in his cabin, reading a book by the light of a
ship's lantern. He put down his book when I entered, and seeing by my
countenance that something was wrong, said--
"What is the matter now, Mr Merry? I'll do what I can, depend on
that."
I told him all I knew, and asked him if there was any way of preventing
my cousin being shot. He looked grave and thoughtful.
"And these men pretend to have sense in their heads!" he muttered.
"Sense! they haven't ten grains of it. Haven't they a chance, every day
of their lives, of having their brains knocked out all in the way of
duty, and they must needs try and kill each other very contrary to the
way of duty. I never really wished to be a Lord of the Admiralty, but
if I was, and had my way, I would break every officer who called out
another, or accepted a challenge, or acted as second."
"Then you'd have those hung who killed their men?" I exclaimed,
entering into his views.
"No, I would not. I would leave them to the just punishment their own
consciences would inflict ere long," he answered gravely. "But I would
not allow men like Captain Staghorn to retain His Majesty's commission,
and to ride roughshod over his brother officers, just because he fears
God's wrath less than they do. But you ask me how this duel is to be
prevented? If you were to let the admiral himself know, he would not
interfere. The only way I can think of, would be to shoot Captain
Staghorn first, and that wouldn't be quite the thing. Even if we could
give him a settler, we must never do evil that good may come of it; I
know that. The fact is, I am at fault, Mr Merry. If either of them
were living on shore, something might be done; but it's no easy matter,
and that you'll allow, to get hold of two captains of men-of-war living
on board their own ships."
I agreed with him with a heavy heart. We twisted and turned the matter
over in every way, but did not succeed in seeing daylight through it.
Perhaps if we had known how and where to seek for assistance, we might
have found it. It was my first watch. After our supper of biscuits and
rum and water, I went on deck, and when my watch was over, turned into
my hammock with cruel apprehensions as to the news I should hear in the
morning.
I was somewhat surprised to find myself sent for, as soon as I was
dressed, into the captain's cabin. I felt anxious, for I thought that
it must be something about my cousin. The captain, however, wanted
simply to tell me to take a note on board the Daring, and to return with
an answer.
It was a lovely morning; the water was as smooth as glass, the sky pure
and bright, and the distant landscape which I have before described
looking romantic and lovely in the extreme. As I shoved off from the
frigate I saw a boat from the Pearl; the captain's gig I guessed, cross
our bows and pull towards the shore of the Palisades some little way up
the harbour. I was soon alongside the Daring, and as I crossed the
quarter-deck with the note in my hand, I saw that Captain Staghorn, who
was in full uniform, was about to go on shore. The officers on duty
were ranged on either side of the gangway in the usual manner. Major
O'Grady, stiff and sour, was by his side. There was a terrible savage
look, I thought, in Captain Staghorn's grey evil eye. I stepped across
the deck to deliver my note. Before I gave it, I heard him say as he
walked along the deck, "I only intend to wing the fellow, major. I
swore long ago I'd punish him, and I will keep my word."
The major made a grim face, and muttered, "The brain is the best
billet." I handed my note.
"Wait, youngster," he said, sharply, "I shall be back presently, I'll
send an answer then;" and crumpling up the note, he put it in his
pocket.
As he was just stepping down the gangway ladder, he turned, and said
aloud to his first-lieutenant, "Should the admiral and Captain so-and-so
arrive before I return give my compliments and say that I was compelled
to go on shore, but shall be back immediately." I found that Captain
Staghorn had invited a large party to breakfast with him on that
morning, and that their arrival on board was every minute expected.
"Ay, ay, sir," answered the first-lieutenant; and Captain Staghorn and
Major O'Grady took their seats. The oars fell with a splash into the
water, and the gig darted away in the direction taken by the Pearl's
boat. I watched the two boats pulling up the harbour as long as they
continued in sight. I had never in my life felt so anxious and grieved.
From what I had been told of Captain Staghorn, and of his wonderful
skill as a shot, I did not for a moment doubt that my poor cousin's life
was completely in his power, and from the words uttered by that
evil-visaged major, I had a dreadful apprehension that he would exercise
his skill to my relative's destruction. My grief was not only on his
account, but on that of my dear sister Bertha. I thought of the bitter
sorrow she would suffer when she heard how he had died. Had he been
killed in action with the enemies of his country, she would have mourned
his loss long and deeply; for time, I knew, would soften such sorrow;
but to hear that, weakly yielding to an abominable custom, he had died
infringing the laws of God and man, would prove to a person with a mind
and opinions such as hers almost unsupportable. "It will kill her, it
will kill her!" I kept exclaiming to myself, and I could scarcely help
wringing my hands and giving way to tears. I have often since thought,
that if boys and men did but reflect more than they are apt to do of the
sorrow and suffering which their acts may cause to those they leave at
home, whom they love dearly, and on whom they would be really unwilling
to inflict the slightest pain, they would often pause before they
plunged into sin and folly. I fancied that no one would know what the
two captains had gone about, and was walking the deck in solitude,
meditating, as I have said, on the cruel event about to occur, when I
was accosted by the midshipman who had paid the Doris a visit a few days
before, and invited down to breakfast.