A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
Our fears as to what fate might overtake the _Essex_ while we were away
and she had only four men to care for her, were forgotten in a great
measure as we neared the Britisher.
Probably the question in the minds of all was as to whether the stranger
would show fight. I know it fully occupied my thoughts; but, greatly to
my surprise, I was not very much afraid of what might happen. Perhaps
because there were so many things to think about, I gave less heed to
the enemy than I would have done under other circumstances.
There is no good reason why I should spin out this portion of the yarn
any longer than is absolutely necessary, more especially since there is
so much of later happening and greater importance to be set down.
It is enough to say that we approached the enemy in proper fashion,
ready for any kind of a scrimmage, and instead of firing a gun he hauled
down his colors as the others had done. Cowardly though I was, it
disappointed me because these Britishers submitted so tamely.
We now had, as the second prize of the day, the letter of marque ship
_Greenwich_, three hundred and thirty-eight tons burden, carrying ten
guns and a crew of twenty-five men.
Captain Porter had taken many chances in sending us all away at the same
time, yet by doing so he had gained another prize which, had she been
left at liberty, might have worked serious mischief to our merchantmen.
It can readily be supposed that we did not lose any time in getting back
to the frigate. Men enough to take care of the prisoners and work the
prize were left on board, and the remainder of us pulled to the _Essex_
at full speed, feeling, when we went on deck once more, as if the old
ship had escaped some deadly peril.
By the time the remainder of our fleet came up, bringing with them the
two boats we had sent out during the night, the _Essex_ was lying
alongside two fine prizes which had not cost us a single charge of
powder.
We now had four prizes, in addition to the _Barclay_, and I was arguing
with Phil as to how it would be possible to care for them all, and at
the same time take any more, when Master Hackett joined us.
"I reckon you lads think the old _Essex_ has got about as much as she
can stagger under, eh?" he began; and I repeated to him what Phil and I
had been saying.
"I allow we've got a good big job on our hands, lads," the old man said,
speaking thoughtfully, as if weighing well every word, "an' now's come
the time when Captain Porter is bound to make port. We're feedin' a
crowd of men, an' can't do any great amount of work with so many craft
to look after."
"Will we go to Valparaiso?" Phil asked, thinking of Benson.
"It's beyond an old shellback like me to say, lad; but if I was the
captain of this 'ere frigate, I'd think twice before I poked my nose
into that port the second time."
"Why? They treated us well before."
"Ay, an' that's why I'd keep my weather-eye liftin' while we're in these
waters. England is a strong nation, an' these 'ere young republics won't
dare hold out against her commands very long. There'll be a big lot of
kickin' in Great Britain when word is sent there of what we've been
doin', an' you'll find that she'll shut every port on the Pacific
against us."
I did not fully understand all Master Hackett said; but no particular
harm was done because of my ignorance, since it matters little whether a
boy aboard ship knows the whys and wherefores of everything.
However, there must have been good reasoning in the old man's words,
since Captain Porter did exactly that which Master Hackett would have
advised.
When prize crews were on board all our captured ships we were so short
of hands that Lieutenant Gamble of the marines was given charge of the
_Greenwich_, because we had no naval officer to put in command, and the
entire fleet was gotten under way without unnecessary delay.
None of us on the gun-deck knew for what port we were bound, until the
19th of June, when we ran into the harbor of Tumbez, and came to anchor.
Why it was, none of our old sea lawyers could determine satisfactorily;
but not one of the crew was given shore liberty. There was no unusual
amount of work to be done on the ships, yet we were kept aboard as close
as if there was danger some of us might desert.
The captain went on shore every day to bargain for provisions to be
paid for with the money we captured from the _Nocton_, and boatloads of
stores were put aboard this ship or that; therefore it was certain the
inhabitants were friendly, or would be so long as our cash lasted.
There was no little amount of grumbling because we were kept so snug;
but as a matter of course none of the hard words were spoken where they
might be overheard by the officers, therefore nothing came of it.
Five days after we let go our ground tackle three sail were seen
standing into the bay, and we were summoned to get the frigate under
way, but the order was countermanded when those on the foremost ship
lowered a boat as if to come ashore.
Captain Porter waited to learn who the visitors were, and soon we had
the great satisfaction of seeing Lieutenant Downes in the stern-sheets
of the boat, although it puzzled us not a little as to why he had
returned thus soon.
Of course the lieutenant came on board the _Essex_, as did those who had
manned his boat, and we of the gun-deck heard the whole story of the
_Georgiana's_ adventures while Mr. Downes was having his confab in the
cabin.
And what a story it was! We cheered and yelled as our old shipmates
spun it off, and nearly went wild with rejoicing.
Here is the yarn boiled down, and that it was true we knew full well,
for yonder were the prizes coming to close under the _Georgiana_ stern.
It seems that after leaving us Lieutenant Downes cruised off James's
Island, where he fell in with two Britishers. Hoisting the English
colors, he soon had the captains of the whalers sitting comfortably in
his cabin, and then he told them who he was. Well, the prizes were taken
without resistance, as a matter of course, and the United States entered
into possession, less what prize money would be coming to us, of the
ship _Catherine_ of two hundred and seventy tons burden, carrying eight
guns and twenty-nine men, and the _Rose_, two hundred and twenty tons,
eight guns and twenty-one men.
After manning these prizes, Lieutenant Downes had only twenty as a crew
all told, and yet that fact did not prevent him from giving chase next
day to the whaler _Hector_, a ship of two hundred and seventy tons,
twenty-five men, and carrying eleven guns, although she was pierced for
twenty.
This last craft was a Britisher who stood ready to fight, and when Mr.
Downes understood that he had an action on his hands, with hardly men
enough to work his ship, he put the prisoners in irons so that they
might not be able to lend a hand to their countrymen.
When the _Hector_ was ordered to surrender she refused, and Mr. Downes
let her have a broadside which brought down her main-topmast. The crew
had good pluck, however, and fought their ship until nearly all her
standing and running rigging was shot away, when they could do no less
than haul down their colors. The Britishers had two men killed and six
wounded.
After putting a prize crew on board this last capture, Lieutenant Downes
had but ten men left in the _Georgiana_, and, including the wounded, he
held seventy-three prisoners. Now it seems that the _Rose_ was an old
tub of a ship which it wouldn't pay to bring into port under the
circumstances; therefore he threw her guns overboard, and filled her
with the prisoners, on condition that they head direct for St. Helena.
When that had been done he steered for Tumbez, for it appears that he
and Captain Porter had agreed to go there when it was necessary to make
a port.
Now our fleet consisted of nine sail, and it began to look as if we
might take possession of every port in the Pacific Ocean, if we were so
minded. The beauty of it was that all our ships and ammunition had come
from the Britishers, which was surely an economical way of carrying on a
war.
Even Phil and I were puffed up with pride because of what had been
accomplished, and we crowed as loud as any man on the gun-deck when we
went over and over again the "luck of the _Essex_."
We soon learned that the fleet was not yet to the captain's liking, and
on the morning after the arrival of Mr. Downes our people set about
making a change.
The _Atlantic_, which, as you will remember, we captured just before
running for Tumbez, was an hundred tons larger than the _Georgiana_, and
had shown herself to be a better sailer, as well as possessing superior
qualifications for a cruiser; therefore Mr. Downes and his crew were
transferred to her. Twenty guns were mounted in this new sloop of war,
and she was manned by sixty men. Her name was changed to _Essex Junior_,
and a right trim little ship she was, I can assure you.
The _Greenwich_ we made over into a store-ship, and all the spare stores
of the other vessels were put into her. She was armed with twenty guns,
but had no more of a crew than was absolutely necessary to work her;
therefore we could not count that she would do much in the way of making
prizes.
The carpenters were yet busily at work on the _Essex Junior_ when we
left port; but we had become accustomed to fitting at sea, therefore a
little thing like that did not disturb the most nervous.
A brave show we made as we passed out of the harbor with the stars and
stripes floating in the breeze, and I would have given half my share of
prize money if the people at home could have seen us, and known how this
squadron had been gotten together.
We were yet at sea on the Fourth of July, and then was held a Yankee
celebration which must have astonished the mermaids. Every ship fired a
salute, and, what pleased us most, did it with powder we had taken from
the Britishers. We had plum duff till we could eat no more, to say
nothing of roast pig, vegetables, and other such cabin stores as tickle
the appetite.
Phil and I had by this time come to believe we were quite brave, and
counted on the moment when in action we should do that which would cause
Captain Porter to praise us from the quarter-deck in the presence of all
the ship's company.
On the 9th of July the _Essex Junior_ was in good sailing trim, and the
fleet was hove to in order to part company with the new sloop of war.
Our commander had decided to send the prizes, _Hector_, _Catherine_,
_Policy_, and _Montezuma_, as well as the recaptured ship _Barclay_,
into Valparaiso, and Commandant Downes was to take charge of the matter.
We parted company about noon, the frigate, with the _Greenwich_ and
_Georgiana_, remaining hove to until the _Essex Junior_ and her convoy
were hull down in the distance, after which we squared away for a cruise
among the Gallipagos, so the marines who had stood guard in the cabin
reported; but we knew that between where we then were and the islands in
question was a good chance of taking more prizes, and, because of the
"luck of the _Essex_," reckoned on adding to our list of captures before
arriving at this new cruising ground.
We counted on having our average good fortune; but never dreamed,
confident though we were, of the success which was so soon to be ours.
Four days after we parted company with our prizes and the _Essex
Junior_, that is to say, on the 13th day of July, the lookouts sighted
three sail off Banks's Bay, all on a wind, but a good deal separated.
Phil and I were no longer excited by such information. Both of us felt
elated; but we had thus far captured everything which had been sighted,
and when a sail was reported, we of the gun-deck at once reckoned her
as a prize. Had we failed to take two or three craft during our cruise,
then we would have been in suspense until the chase was ended; but so
good had been our fortune that the worst grumblers among the crew began
to find fault because the Britishers fell into our hands like over-ripe
apples.
Our little fleet was in a bunch, hardly more than a quarter of a mile
separating each craft, when the word was given that more ships had come
up to be captured; and on this day we had an opportunity of learning how
well the squadron could manoeuvre.
Captain Porter signalled that he would give chase to the ship in the
middle of the line, which was farthest down to leeward, while the
_Greenwich_ and the _Georgiana_ endeavored to cut off one of the others.
This race was different from others which had fallen to our lot,
inasmuch as we were eager to know what was going on astern as well as
ahead; and every man jack of us off duty gathered on the
forecastle-deck, confident that all three of the strangers would be
taken, but curious as to how it might be done.
We of the frigate overhauled our portion of the chase rapidly; but the
stranger was so far to leeward that we were forced to run a long
distance from our consorts, and when the _Essex_ was a couple of
leagues off, those who were watching astern could see that one of the
strangers which we had left for the _Georgiana_ and the _Greenwich_ to
look after, had tacked, and was evidently manoeuvring to cut the
_Georgiana_ out.
Now had matters become interesting for a verity. Short-handed as our
consorts were, there was a good chance that one would be captured while
we were running to leeward, and I literally held my breath in suspense,
expecting each moment to see the tiny wisp of red and white which we
knew to be the stars and stripes, hauled down in response to the
stranger's threats.
If any proof had been needed that Yankees were not inclined to surrender
without a fight, we had it then, when we saw the _Greenwich_ heave to,
take a portion of the crew from the _Georgiana_, and bear boldly down on
the enemy.
What a cheer went up from our men when this had been done! I was proud
of my countrymen then, and could have hugged every old shellback on
board the _Greenwich_ with a good zest, had it been possible to get at
them.
"I'll answer for it that our comrades hold those two Britishers in check
until we can get back," Master Hackett said in a tone of satisfaction,
and again we cheered until those on the ship we were overhauling so
rapidly must have heard and wondered why we were making such a fuss
about the capture of a whaler.
Well, we bore down on the chase hand over hand, and when we were so near
that a shot might have been pitched into any part of her, the ship hove
to without the slightest show of resistance.
Captain Porter hailed as the British colors were hauled down, and then
we learned that this last prize was the English whaler _Charlton_, two
hundred and seventy-four tons, with ten guns and twenty-one men.
Her officers were transferred to the _Essex_, a prize crew was thrown on
board in a twinkling, and the frigate hauled her wind to take care of
the others.
Captain Porter was so eager for information that he questioned the
captain of the _Charlton_ on the quarter-deck, and many of the gun-deck
inquisitives heard the whole story.
By this means our commander learned that the largest of the ships we now
counted on taking was the _Seringapatam_, three hundred and fifty-seven
tons, carrying fourteen guns and forty men. It was this craft which had
been manoeuvring to cut out the _Georgiana_, and unless we had been
near at hand to lend assistance the job might have been done.
The other Britisher was the _New Zealander_, of two hundred and
fifty-nine tons, eight guns, and twenty-three men.
The _Seringapatam_ had been built for a cruiser, so our prisoners said,
and was the most dangerous ship, so far as the American trade was
concerned, of any craft west of Cape Horn.
There was not one of us who did not feel the most intense desire to
capture this craft, and particularly to do so before she could work any
serious damage to our consorts.
We could see that the _Greenwich_ had already gone into action with the
Britisher, and we cheered ourselves hoarse by way of encouragement to
the brave fellows who had tackled a craft heavier than themselves,
although there was not the slightest chance they would hear our cries.
Our ship, meaning the _Greenwich_, was manoeuvred beautifully; she
poured in three broadsides before the enemy could get into position to
fire one, and we were yet more than a league distant when the Britisher
showed that she had had enough. As her colors came down we cheered and
shouted like wild men, some of the old shellbacks dancing around the
deck like apes who have suddenly gone mad; but before many minutes
passed we saw that we had begun our rejoicings a trifle too early.
After giving token of surrender the captain of the _Seringapatam_
evidently thought he yet had an opportunity to escape, for he slipped
off to windward before a prize crew could be thrown on board.
We gazed in breathless suspense as the _Greenwich_, never stopping to
pick up the crew in the two boats which had been lowered to take
possession of the prize, crept up on the enemy's quarter and poured in
such a fire as was most surprising, considering the number of men which
were left on board.
The Britisher soon came to understand that we Yankees were too much for
him, even though he outclassed us both as to metal and men, for he wore
around and came down to us as meekly as any lamb.
Captain Porter lost no time in throwing a prize crew on board, after
transshipping the officers, and away we went for the _New Zealander_,
who was doing her feeble best to crawl out of the way; but succeeding
very badly.
When we passed within half a mile of the _Greenwich_ our crew lined the
yards and gave her the heartiest of salutes, while Captain Porter
winked at the performance when he should have reprimanded us severely
for daring to do so without permission or orders.
The _New Zealander_ was taken without opposition, and again we found
ourselves with more prizes and prisoners than could conveniently be
managed.
Before nightfall Captain Porter learned that the commander of the
_Seringapatam_ had taken one prize illegally, he having no letter of
marque; and since this was neither more nor less than piracy, the
venturesome Britisher was put in irons to be sent home for trial.
Next morning the _Charlton's_ guns, ammunition, small arms, and spare
sails were taken out; all the prisoners were put on board, and she was
allowed to make sail for Rio de Janeiro, every man jack being under
parole to go to that port and none other.
Hardly had she filled away on her course than we set to work putting the
_Seringapatam_ into shape for our own use. The guns of the _New
Zealander_ were mounted in her, which brought up the number to
twenty-two, but we could leave on board no more than a sufficient crew
to work her.
Then orders were given that the oil which we had taken, and which was
stored on the _Essex_, the _Greenwich_, and the _Georgiana_, should be
put on board the latter ship, and she sent home.
Loading a ship in mid ocean with such heavy articles as casks of oil, is
a slow and laborious task, as we soon learned. It was necessary to sling
each hogshead into a boat, pull to the craft which was being loaded, and
there hoist it inboard, working disadvantageously all the while because
of the heavy swell.
It was not until the 24th day of July that the _Georgiana_ was ready for
the voyage to the United States, and then the captain of the
_Seringapatam_ had been sent on board as a prisoner to be closely
guarded; but no crew selected to take charge of her.
On this evening our men, greasy and stained with their work of handling
oil, were called amidships while Captain Porter stood on the break of
the quarter.
All hands knew that we were now to learn who would sail in the
_Georgiana_, and each man looked at his neighbor to know how he felt
about going home while the most dangerous portion of the work yet
remained to be done, which would be when the British men-of-war came
around the Horn to wind up our career.
The captain began by reminding us that our term of service had nearly
expired, and that a certain number must be sent home to work the
_Georgiana_.
"I will give you all the same show," he said; "and if too many
volunteer to make up the crew, we will take those whose time of
enlistment is nearest at an end. You are to think it over this evening;
try to settle the matter among yourselves; but if that can't be done, I
will take a hand at it to-morrow morning."
With this we were dismissed, and once all hands were on the gun-deck,
with the exception of those who remained above on watch, a most
tremendous jawing was begun. Every man tried to speak at the same time,
and the uproar was so great that no single word could be distinguished.
I could not make out whether the men were excited lest they should not
be able to go, or if there was a desire to remain.
Phil and I went into a corner by ourselves, where we could hear each
other speak, and there I asked him what he thought about volunteering
for the _Georgiana_.
"I count on staying here, if Captain Porter don't drive me out," he said
emphatically, thus showing that his decision had been made before we
came below. "You know, Ezra, that I don't amount to much when it comes
to a show of bravery; but I'm not such a coward as to turn now, when the
greatest danger is yet to be met."
I flung my arms around the dear fellow and kissed him on both cheeks.
He had spoken that which was in my own heart, although I could not have
put it in such proper words; and then it was decided between us that we
would remain by the _Essex_ so long as should be permitted us.
By the time we two had settled the question, Master Hackett had
succeeded in quieting the wranglers sufficiently to make himself heard,
and the old man proved to be quite a dandy at handling a meeting.
"Hold your jaw, you lubbers!" he shouted with such a volume of sound
that he must have been heard distinctly by those on the quarter-deck.
"The captain wants to know how many of us is achin' to get home before
the Britishers send half a dozen frigates down here to blow us out of
the water, an' he'll never get the information unless you settle down
into peaceable sailormen. There's no use waggin' your chins over this
thing; every man has a right to do what pleases him best, an' now he's
got a fair chance. What I say is this: Let them as want to go aboard the
_Georgiana_ toddle to the port side, and them who count on holdin' by
the old hooker, step over to starboard."
The men looked around curiously for an instant, and then every one of
them moved to starboard, Phil and I among the rest.
There was a broad grin on Master Hackett's face when he cried with a
semblance of anger:--
"This 'ere won't do at all. Some of us are bound to go, seein's how we
can't let that cargo of oil run to waste. Of course _I'll_ hold to the
frigate; but them as have got wives an' children ashore ought 'er get
over to port, an' we'll feel no shame for 'em, knowin' as we do that a
crew must be made up for the _Georgiana_."
"It's none of your business how many wives or children we've got, Hiram
Hackett!" one of the throng shouted. "It's as much our right as yours to
stick to the frigate, an' we count on doin' it. Why not send the boys?
They can do the work of sailormen aboard the _Georgiana_! Then you'll
have two towards a crew."
"Come here, you skulkers!" Master Hackett roared, looking at Phil and
me, and there was nothing for it but to step out from among the crew.
"Act as spokesman, Phil," I whispered. "You can go ahead of me when it
comes to jawing; but remember that they can't drive us off unless the
captain gives the word, and I'm thinking that my cousin Stephen will
stand up for our rights."
"Are you two infants ready to obey orders an' go aboard the
_Georgiana_?" Master Hackett asked, looking as fierce as if he counted
on eating us.
"No, sir!" Phil shouted at the full strength of his lungs. "We've got
as much right to stay as you have, an' we won't volunteer!"
"Three cheers for the infants!" some one shouted, and the men yelled
until their throats were like to split.
Then the crew crowded around Master Hackett, each man trying to make
himself heard, and I understood that there was little chance of finding
a crew for the _Georgiana_ if every one was to do as he pleased.
By this time the noise was so great that Lieutenant McKnight was sent
below to learn whether or no a riot was in progress, and, luckily, I
succeeded in gaining speech with him before the men knew he was on the
gun-deck.
"Surely you will stand our friend in this matter, Cousin Stephen," I
said, clutching him by the coat-sleeve without regard to the
proprieties; for it is looked upon as insubordination for a common
sailor to lay hold of an officer.
"In what way, Ezra? Are so many eager to see home again that you fear
there'll be no room for you?"
"It's just the other way, sir," Phil broke in. "Not a man will
volunteer, and some of them have said that we two lads must go whether
we like it or not."
"It isn't right to force us because we are lads!" I cried. "We've done
our duty so far as we knew, and our age shouldn't give license for
injustice!"
"See here, my lads, you're not looking at this matter in the proper
light. We shall soon be turning and twisting to get out of a British
frigate's way, and many of us will lose the number of his mess before
the _Essex_ doubles Cape Horn again. You can go now without being called
a coward, and it's far better to get out of the scrape while affairs are
flourishing as they are at present."
"Are you going in the _Georgiana_, Cousin Stephen?" I asked.
"What? Me? Never, unless the captain gives a positive order to that
effect."
"If you are allowed to remain, why should we be forced to go?"
He turned from me quickly, and, without making any attempt to restore
order, went on deck.
The men jawed and argued more violently than ever after my cousin
disappeared, and very soon the master-at-arms came below with an order
for every man jack of us to show himself abaft the mainmast.
We found the captain waiting for us as before; and although there was
very good reason why he should read the riot act because of the uproar,
I understood by the expression on his face that he was well pleased the
men had not shown a willingness to leave the frigate.
When all hands had quieted down once more he made a little speech in
which he thanked us for being so eager to stay by the _Essex_, and
declared that he felt proud of every old barnacle there; but at the same
time it was absolutely necessary a crew be sent on board the
_Georgiana_.
"Those men who have families must go," he said finally, after declaring
that it had become necessary for him to settle the matter, since the
crew themselves could not. "A list shall be made out of such as have
others depending upon them, and it will then be posted on the gun-deck.
Abide by my decision as you ever have, and I will make it my solemn duty
to let the people of the United States know that those who returned in
the _Georgiana_ did not do so of their own free will."
We were sent below once more, and Phil and I felt well content, for by
the captain's ruling we could not be sent home in the oil-laden craft.