the crew had set up a yell of despair on seeing us leave them. Signals
and shouts were still repeated, and a voice, louder in agony than the
rest, implored our help for the love of the blessed Virgin, and offered
riches and absolution to the whole ship’s company if they would but
come back. The captain was pacing fore and aft without appearing to
mind them, when, as if struck with some sudden thought, he lifted his
glass to his eye--seemed to hesitate--walked on--and then, all at once
changing his mind, he ordered the vessel again before the wind.
On speaking the wreck, she proved to be a Spanish felucca from the
island of Cuba, bound for Curaçoa, on the coast of the Curaccas. As all
the boats had been lost in the storm, the people could not leave their
vessel, which had sprung a leak badly and was sinking fast; so our
captain lowered and manned our jolly-boat, and went off to them.
After an absence of a couple of hours he returned with the passengers,
consisting of an elderly person in the garb of a Catholic priest, a
sick gentleman, a young lady, apparently daughter of the latter, and
a female servant. With the utmost difficulty, and writhing under some
excruciating pain, the invalid was got on board, and carried down to
the cabin, where he was laid on a bed on the floor. To the tender of my
professional services the suffering man returned his thanks, and would
have declined them, expressing his conviction of being past human aid,
but the young lady, eagerly catching at even a remote hope of success,
implored him with tears to accept my offer. On examination I found his
fears were but too well grounded. In his endeavours to assist the crew
during the gale he had been standing near the mast, part of which, or
the rigging, having fallen on him, had dislocated several of his ribs
and injured his spine beyond remedy. All that could now be done was to
afford a little temporary relief from pain, which I did; and, leaving
him to the care of the young lady and the priest, I left the cabin.
On deck I found all bustle and confusion. The ship was still lying-to,
and the boats employed in bringing the goods out of the felucca, both
of which were the property of the wounded gentleman. The body of the
old man, Gemmel, had been removed somewhere out of sight; no trace of
blood was visible, and Captain Mahone seemed desirous to banish all
recollections both of our quarrel and its origin.
As the invalid was lying in the cabin, and my state-room occupied by
the lady and her female attendant, I got a temporary berth in the
steerage made up for myself for the night. I had not long thrown
myself down on the cot, which was only divided from the main cabin by
a bulkhead, when I was awakened by the deep groans of the Spaniard.
The violence of his pain had again returned, and between the spasms
I heard the weeping and gentle voice of the lady soothing his agony,
and trying to impart hope--prospects to him which her own hysterical
sobs told plainly she did not herself feel. The priest also frequently
joined, and urged him to confess. To this advice he remained silent for
a while, but at length he addressed the lady:
‘The Padre says true, Isabella. Time wears apace, and I feel that I
shall soon be beyond its limits and above its concerns. But ere I go I
would say that which it would impart peace to my mind to disclose--I
would seek to leave you at least one human being to befriend and
protect you in your utter helplessness. Alas! that Diego di Montaldo’s
daughter should ever be thus destitute! Go, my love! I would be alone a
little while with the father.’
An agony of tears and sobs was the only return made by the poor girl,
while the priest with gentle violence led her into the state-room.
‘Now,’ continued the dying man, ‘listen to me while I have strength.
You have only known me as a merchant in Cuba; but such I have not
always been. Mine is an ancient and noble family in Catalonia; though I
unhappily disgraced it, and have been estranged from it long. I had the
misfortune to have weak and indulgent parents, who idolised me as the
heir of their house, and did not possess resolution enough to thwart
me in any of my wishes or desires, however unreasonable. My boyhood
being thus spoiled, it is no matter of wonder that my youth should have
proved wild and dissolute. My companions were as dissolute as myself,
and much of my time was spent in gambling and other extravagances.
One evening at play I quarrelled with a young nobleman of high rank
and influence. We were both of us hot and passionate, so we drew on
the spot and fought, and I had the misfortune to run him through the
heart, and leave him dead. Not daring to remain longer at home, I fled
in disguise to Barcelona, where I procured a passage in a vessel for
the Spanish Main. On our voyage we were captured by Moorish pirates;
and the roving and adventurous mode of life of these bold and daring
men suiting both my inclinations and finances, I agreed to make one of
their number. For many months we were successful in our enterprises; we
ranged the whole of these seas, and made a number of prizes, some of
which were rich ships of our own colonies. In course of time we amassed
such a quantity of specie as to make us unwilling to venture it in one
bottom; so we agreed to hide it ashore, and divide it on our return
from our next expedition. But our good fortune forsook us this time.
During a calm the boats of the Guarda-costa came on us, overpowered the
ship, and made all the crew, except myself and two others, prisoners.
We escaped with our boat, and succeeded in gaining the island of Cuba,
where both of my comrades died of fever. Subsequent events induced me
to settle at St. Juan de Buenavista, where I married, and as a merchant
prospered and became a rich man. But my happiness lasted not! My wife
caught the yellow fever and died, leaving me only this one child.
I now loathed the scene of my departed happiness, and felt all the
longings of an exile to revisit my native country. For this purpose I
converted all my effects into money, and am thus far on my way to the
hidden treasure with which I intended to return to Spain. But the green
hills of Catalonia will never more gladden mine eyes! My hopes and
wishes were only for my poor girl. Holy father! you know not a parent’s
feelings--its anxiety and its fears. The thoughts of leaving my child
to the mercy of strangers--or, it may be, to their barbarities--is far
more dreadful than the anguish of my personal sufferings. With you
rests my only hope. Promise me your protection for her, and the half of
all my wealth is yours.’
‘Earthly treasures,’ replied the priest, ‘avail not with one whose
desires are fixed beyond the little handful of dust which perisheth.
My life is devoted to the service of my Creator, and the conversion of
ignorant men--men who have never heard of His salvation. I was bound on
an errand of mercy, and if the heathen receive the light of truth, how
much more a daughter of our most holy Church? I, therefore, on behalf
of our community, accept of your offer, and swear on this blessed
emblem to fulfil all your wishes to the best of my poor abilities.’
‘Enough; enough!’ said Montaldo. ‘I am satisfied. Among that
archipelago of desert islands, known by the name of the Roccas,
situated on the coast of the province of Venezuela, in New Grenada,
there is one called the Wolf Rock; it is the longest and most northern
of the group, and lies the most to seaward. At the eastern point, which
runs a little way into the sea, there stands an old vanilla tree,
blasted and withered, and retaining but a single solitary branch.
On the eve of the Festival of St. Jago the moon will be at her full
in the west. At twenty minutes past midnight she will attain to her
highest altitude in the heavens, and then the shadow of the tree will
be thrown due east. Watch till the branch and stem of the tree unite
and form only one line of shade. Mark its extremity; for there, ten
feet below the surface, the cask containing the gold is buried. The
gold, father, was sinfully got; but fasts and penances have been done,
masses without number have been said, and I trust that the blessed
Virgin has interceded for the forgiveness of that great wickedness! I
have now confessed all, and confide in your promise; and as you perform
your oath, so will the blessing or curse of a dying man abide with you.
I feel faint--dying. Oh! let me clasp my child once more to my heart
before I----’
Here the rest of the sentence became indistinct from the death-rattle
in his throat. I leaped off my cot and sprang up the hatchway, and had
my foot on the top of the companion ladder when a piercing shriek from
below making me quicken my steps I missed my hold, and fell against
some person crouching on the outside of the cabin door. It was pitch
dark, so that I could not see. ‘Who is that?’ I demanded, but there was
no answer, and the person with whom I had collided rose and, without
uttering a single word, softly ascended the companion-way ladder; but
as he emerged into the faint light which still lingered in the horizon
I fancied that I could distinguish him to be the captain.
On my entering the cabin I found the Spaniard dead, and his daughter
lying in a state of insensibility by his side; while the black servant
was howling and tearing her hair like one in a frenzy. The priest was
entirely absorbed in his devotions, so, without disturbing him, I
lifted the lady and bore her into the state-room. The greater part of
the night was passed in trying to restore her to sensation. Fit after
fit followed each other in such quick succession that I began to have
fears for the result; but at length the hysterical paroxysm subsided,
and tears coming to her relief she grew somewhat composed, when I left
her in charge of her attendant.
The next day was spent in taking out the remainder of the felucca’s
cargo. There seemed now no anxiety on the captain’s part to proceed on
his voyage. He appeared to have forgotten the necessity, expressed on
a former occasion, of being in port within a limited time. During the
days that followed he was often in a state of inebriety, for the wine
and spirits of the Spaniards were lavishly served out to the whole
ship’s company, with whom he also mixed more, and he changed that
haughtiness of bearing which had marked his conduct hitherto.
Yielding to the passionate entreaties of Isabella, the old Spaniard’s
body was kept for several days, but at last she grew reconciled to
her father’s remains being committed to the deep, and one evening as
the sun was setting the body was brought on deck swathed in canvas,
and the priest conducted a mass, and solemnly intoned the following
prayer:--‘May the angels conduct thee into Paradise; may the martyrs
receive thee at thy coming; and mayst thou have eternal rest with
Lazarus, who was formerly poor!’ He then sprinkled the body with holy
water, and continued:--‘As it hath pleased God to take the soul of our
dear brother here departed unto Himself, we therefore commit his body
to the deep, in the sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection on
that day when the sea shall give up its dead. Let him rest in peace!’
The Spaniards present responded ‘Amen!’ and the priest repeating ‘May
his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen!’ he made the sign of the Cross,
the end of the grating was gently elevated, and the corpse heavily
plunged into the water. The waves parted, heaving and foaming round
the body as it disappeared, when, to our horror and astonishment, we
beheld it the next minute slowly return to the surface deprived of the
canvas covering in which it had been sewed. The dead man came up as
he had gone down, in an upright position, and floated a little time
with his back to the vessel, but the motion of the water turned him
round by degrees till we distinctly saw his face. The head was thrown
back, and the eyes wide open, and under the strong stream of light
poured on them from the setting sun they seemed to glare ghastly and
fearfully upwards. His grey hair, long and dishevelled, floated about
his face, at times partially obscuring it; and one arm, stretched forth
and agitated by the action of the waves, appeared as if in the act of
threatening us. When the first burst of horror had subsided, I caught
hold of Isabella to prevent her seeing the body, and was leading her
off when some of our sailors whispered that it was the murdered man,
old James Gemmel. The captain had been hitherto looking on with the
rest without having apparently recognised him, but when the name struck
his ear he shrank back and involuntarily exclaimed, ‘It’s a lie! It’s
an infamous lie! Who dares to say he was murdered? But don’t let him
come on board; for God’s sake keep him down, or he’ll take us with
him to the bottom! Will nobody keep him down? Will nobody shove him
off? Helm a-lee!’ he bawled out, waving his hand to the man at the
wheel; but the man had deserted his post, eager to see what was going
on; the skipper, therefore, ran to the wheel himself, and again issued
his commands, ‘Let go the main-topsail weather-braces, and bring round
the yard! Let them go, I say!’ His orders were speedily executed. The
vessel gathered way, and we quickly shot past the body of the old man.
For several days after this we pursued our course with a favourable
wind, which drove us swiftly forward on our voyage. The captain now
kept himself constantly intoxicated, seldom made his appearance in
the cabin, but left us altogether to the care of the steward. All
subordination was now at an end; his whole time was spent among
the seamen, with whom he mixed familiarly, and was addressed by
them without the slightest portion of that respect or deference
commonly paid to the captain of a vessel. The appearance of the men
also was much altered. From the careless mirth and gaiety, and the
characteristic good humour of sailors, there was now a sullenness and
gloom only visible. A constant whispering, a constant caballing was
going on, a perpetual discussion, as if some design of moment was in
agitation, or some step of deep importance was about to be taken. All
sociality and confidence towards each other were banished. In place of
conversing together in a body as formerly, they now walked about in
detached parties, and among them the boatswain and carpenter seemed
to take an active lead. Yet, in the midst of all this disorder, a few
of the crew kept themselves separate, taking no share in the general
consultation, but from the anxiety expressed in their countenances,
as well as in that of the mate, I foresaw some storm was brewing, and
about to burst on our heads.
Since Montaldo’s death Isabella had been in the habit of leaving her
cabin after sunset to enjoy the coolness of the evening breeze, and
in this she was sometimes joined by the priest, but more frequently
was only attended by her woman. One evening she came up as usual, and
after walking backward and forward on deck with me till the dews
began to fall, she turned to go below, but just as she approached
the companion-way one of the sailors, whom we had rescued from the
felucca, who now, in the absence of all discipline, lounged about the
quarter-deck without rebuke, shut down the head, and throwing himself
on it, declared that none should make him rise without the reward of a
kiss. This piece of insolence was received with an encouraging laugh by
his fellows, and several slang expressions of wit were uttered, which
were loudly applauded by those around. Without a word of remonstrance,
Isabella timidly stooped, and would have attempted getting down the
ladder without disturbing the men, when, burning with indignation,
I seized the rascal by the collar, and pitched him head foremost
along the deck. In an instant he got on his legs, and pulling a long
clasp-knife out of his pocket, with a loud imprecation made towards
me. All the other sailors likewise made a motion to assist him, and I
expected to be assailed on all hands, when the mate interfered, and
laying hold of the marline-spike which I had caught up wherewith to
defend myself, pushed me back as he whispered:
‘Are you mad that you interfere? For heaven’s sake keep quiet, for I
have no authority over the crew now!’ And he spoke the truth, for the
negro, brandishing his knife, and supported by his comrades, was again
advancing, when the hoarse voice of the boatswain, as he ran to the
scene of the action, arrested his progress.
‘Hollo! you there; what’s the squall for? Avast! avast! Mingo. Off
hands is fair play. Ship that blade of yours, or I’ll send my fist
through your ribs, and make daylight shine through them in a minute.’
I related the behaviour of the fellow, and was requesting him to order
the others forward, when I was cut short by his exclaiming, to my
astonishment:
‘We shall do as we like here, young man! We are all alike free in a
British ship. But damn his eyes for an insolent son of a sea cook. He
wants to kiss this pretty lady! I’ll let him know she belongs to his
betters! The black wench is good enough for him any day. Come, my
dear!’ he continued, turning to Isabella; ‘give me the same fee, and
I’ll undertake to clear the way for you myself.’
He made as if he meant to approach her, when, careless of what the
consequences might be to myself, I hastily stepped forward, and,
lifting up the head of the companion, allowed Isabella to run below.
‘This lady is no fit subject for either wit or insolence,’ said I,
shutting the doors, ‘and he is less than man who would insult an
unprotected female.’
For a little while he stood eyeing me, as if hesitating whether he
should resent my interference or remain passive. At length he turned
slowly and doggedly away, as he uttered:
‘You ruffle big, and crow with a brisk note, sir. But I’ve seen me do
as wonderful a thing as twist your windpipe, and send you over the side
to cool yourself a bit; and so I would serve you in the turning of a
wave, if it wasn’t that we may have use for you yet! I see in what
quarter the wind sets; but mind your eye! for sink me if I don’t keep a
sharp look-out ahead over you.’
I now saw that things had come to a crisis--that the crew meant to turn
pirates, and I was going to be detained among them for the sake of my
professional services. I could not without a shudder reflect on what
must be the fate of Isabella among such a gang of reckless villains;
but I firmly resolved that, come what might, my protection and care
over her should cease but with my life.
To be prepared for the worst, I immediately went below, loaded two
pistols which I had brought on board with me, and concealed them in
my breast, securing at the same time all my money and papers about my
person. While thus employed, one of the cabin boys came down for a
telescope, saying that a sail had hove in sight to windward. Upon this
I followed him up, and found the crew collected together in a clamorous
consultation as to the course they should follow. Some were for laying
to till she came near enough, and seizing her if a merchantman; and
if not, they could easily sheer off. But this motion was overruled by
the majority, who judged it best to keep clear for fear of accidents.
Accordingly, all the spare canvas was set, and we were soon gaining
large before the wind. But the ‘Ariadne,’ though reckoned the fastest
vessel that ever left the Clyde when close hauled on a wind, was by no
means so fleet when squared and going free. She had now met with her
match, for the stranger was evidently gaining rapidly on us, and in two
hours we saw it was impossible for us to escape. The priest and I were
ordered down, with a threat of instant death if we offered to come on
deck, or made any attempt to attract observation.
I now communicated to Isabella my apprehensions with respect to the
crew, along with my resolution to leave the vessel if the other proved
a man-of-war, and earnestly advised both her and the priest to take
advantage of it also. She thanked me with a look and a smile that told
me how sensible she was of the interest I took in her welfare, and
expressed her willingness to be guided by me in whatever way I thought
best.
Shortly after this we heard a gun fired to bring us to, and the
‘Ariadne’ hailed and questioned as to her port and destination. The
answers, it appeared, were thought evasive and unsatisfactory, for
we were ordered to come close under the lee quarter of her Majesty’s
sloop-of-war ‘Tartar,’ while an officer was sent to examine our papers,
for it appeared the ‘Tartar’ had been specially detailed to keep a
look-out in those waters for a notorious pirate, who had committed
some extraordinary deeds of daring while flying the English flag, and
pretending to be a peaceful trader. This was now our only chance, and
I resolved that if the officer did not come below I would force the
companion door, and claim his protection. But I was not put to this
alternative. As soon as he arrived, I heard him desire the hatches to
be taken off, so that he could examine the hold. The inspection did
not satisfy him, for he hailed the sloop, and reported that there were
Spanish goods on board, which did not appear in the manifest.
‘Then remain on board, and keep stern lights burning all night, and
take charge of the ship,’ was the reply. In a state of irksome suspense
we remained nearly two hours, expecting every moment to hear the
officer descending. At length, to our relief, the companion doors were
unlocked, and a young man, attended by our captain, entered the cabin.
He looked surprised on seeing us, and, bowing to Isabella, apologised
for intruding at such an unseasonable hour.
‘But I was not given to understand,’ he added, ‘that there were
passengers in the ship--prisoners I should rather pronounce it, Captain
Mahone, for you seem to have had them under lock and key, which is
rather an unusual mode of treating ladies, at least in a vessel
supposed to be bound on a trading voyage. No wine, sir,’ he continued,
motioning away the bottle which the captain was hastily placing on the
table, ‘no wine, but be pleased to show me your register and bill of
lading.’
He had not been long seated to inspect them when a shuffling and
hurried sound of feet was heard overhead, and a voice calling on ‘Mr.
Wright’ for assistance showed that some scuffle had taken place above.
Instantaneously we all started to our feet, and the lieutenant was
in the act of drawing his sword, when, accidentally looking round, I
observed Mahone presenting a pistol behind. With a cry of warning, I
threw myself forward, and had just time to strike the weapon slightly
aside, when it went off. The ball narrowly missed the head of Wright,
for whom it had been aimed, but struck the priest over the right eye,
and the unfortunate man, making one desperate and convulsive leap as
high as the ceiling, sunk down dead, and before the captain could fire
again I discharged the contents of my pistol into his breast. We then
rushed up on deck, but it was only to find that the boat’s crew had
been mastered, and to behold the last of the men tumbled overboard. The
pirates then dispersed, and exerted themselves to get the ship speedily
under way, while the boatswain sang out to extinguish the stern lights
that the ‘Tartar’ might not be guided by them.