Jack goes on another cruise--Love and diplomacy--Jack proves himself
as clever for three, and upsets all the arrangements of the high
contracting powers.
A few days after the arrival of the Harpy at Port Mahon a cutter came
in with despatches from the Admiral. Captain Wilson found that he was
posted into the Aurora frigate, in which a vacancy had been made by
the result of our hero's transgressions.
Mr Sawbridge was raised to the rank of commander, and appointed to the
command of the Harpy. The Admiral informed Captain Wilson that he
must detain the Aurora until the arrival of another frigate, hourly
expected, and then she would be sent down to Mahon for him to take the
command of her. Further, he intimated that a supply of live bullocks
would be very agreeable, and begged that he would send to Tetuan
immediately.
Captain Wilson had lost so many officers that he knew not whom to
send: indeed, now he was no longer in command of the Harpy, and there
was but one lieutenant and no master or master's mate. Gascoigne and
Jack were the only two serviceable midshipmen, and he was afraid to
trust them on any expedition in which expedition was required.
"What shall we do, Sawbridge? shall we send Easy or Gascoigne, or
both, or neither?--for if the bullocks are not forthcoming, the
Admiral will not let them off as we do."
"We must send somebody, Wilson," replied Captain Sawbridge, "and it is
the custom to send two officers, as one receives the bullocks on
board, while the other attends to the embarkation."
"Well, then send both, Sawbridge, but lecture them well first." "I
don't think they can get into any mischief there," replied Sawbridge;
"and it's such a hole that they will be glad to get away from it."
Easy and Gascoigne were summoned, listened very respectfully to all
Captain Sawbridge said, promised to conduct themselves with the utmost
propriety, received a letter to the vice-consul, and were sent with
their hammocks and chests in the cabin on board the Eliza, Ann, brig,
of two hundred and sixteen tons, chartered by government--the master
and crew of which were all busy forward heaving up their anchors.
The master of the transport came aft to receive them: he was short,
red-haired young man, with hands as broad as the flappers of a turtle;
he was broad-faced, broad-shouldered, well freckled, and pug-nosed;
but if not very handsome he was remarkably good humoured. As soon as
the chests and hammocks were on deck, he told them that when he could
get the anchor up and make sail, he would give them some bottled
porter. Jack proposed that he should get the porter up, and they
would drink it while he got the anchor up, as it would save time.
"It may save time, mayhap, but it won't save porter," replied the
master; "however, you shall have it."
He called the boy, ordered him to bring up the porter, and then went
forward. Jack made the boy bring up two chairs, put the porter on the
companion hatch, and he and Gascoigne sat down. The anchor was
weighed, and the transport ran out under her foretopsail, as they were
light-handed, and had to secure the anchor. The transport passed
within ten yards of the Harpy, and Captain Sawbridge, when he
perceived the two midshipmen taking it so very easy, sitting in their
chairs with their legs crossed, arms folded, and their porter before
them, had a very great mind to order the transport to heave-to, but he
could spare no other officer, so he walked away saying to himself,
"There'll be another yarn for the Governor, or I'm mistaken."
As soon as sail was made on the transport, the master, whose name was
Hogg, came up to our hero, and asked him how he found the porter. Jack
declared that he never could venture an opinion upon the first
bottle--"So, Captain Hogg, we'll trouble you for a second"--after which
they troubled him for a third--begged for a fourth--must drink his
health in a fifth--and finally pointed out the propriety of making up
the half-dozen. By this time they found themselves rather light-headed;
so, desiring Captain Hogg to keep a sharp look-out, and not to call
them on any account whatever, they retired to their hammocks.
The next morning they awoke late; the breeze was fresh and fair: they
requested Captain Hogg not to consider the expense, as they would pay
for all they ate and drank, and all he did, into the bargain, and
promised him a fit-out when they got to Tetuan.
What with this promise and calling him captain, our hero and Gascoigne
won the master's heart, and being a very good tempered fellow, they
did what they pleased. Jack also tossed a doubloon to the men for
them to drink on their arrival, and all the men of the transport were
in a transport at Jack's coming to "reign over them." It must be
acknowledged that Jack's reign was, for the most part of it, "happy
and glorious." At last they arrived at Tetuan, and our Pylades and
Orestes went on shore to call upon the vice-consul, accompanied by
Captain Hogg. They produced their credentials, and demanded bullocks.
The vice-consul was a very young man, short and thin, and
light-haired; his father had held the situation before him, and he had
been appointed his successor because nobody else had thought the
situation worth applying for. Nevertheless, Mr Hicks was impressed
with the immense responsibility of his office. It was, however, a
place of some little emolument at this moment, and Mr Hicks had plenty
on his hands besides his sister, who, being the only English lady
there, set the fashion of the place, and usurped all the attention of
the gentlemen mariners who occasionally came for bullocks. But Miss
Hicks knew her own importance, and had successively refused three
midshipmen, one master's mate, and an acting purser. African bullocks
were plentiful at Tetuan, but English ladies were scarce; moreover,
she had a pretty little fortune of her own, to wit, three hundred
dollars in a canvas bag, left her by her father, and entirely at her
own disposal.
Miss Hicks was very like her brother, except that she was more
dumpling in her figure, with flaxen hair; her features were rather
pretty, and her skin very fair. As soon as the preliminaries had been
entered into, and arrangements made in a small room with bare walls,
which Mr Hicks denominated his office, they were asked to walk into
the parlour to be introduced to the vice-consul's sister. Miss Hicks
tossed her head at the two midshipmen, but smiled most graciously at
Captain Hogg. She knew the relative ranks of midshipman and captain.
After a short time she requested the honour of Captain Hogg's company
to dinner, and begged that he would bring his midshipmen with him, at
which Jack and Gascoigne looked at each other and burst out in a
laugh, and Miss Hicks was very near rescinding the latter part of her
invitation.
As soon as they were out of the house, they told the captain to go on
board and get all ready whilst they walked round the town. Having
peeped into every part of it, and stared at Arabs, Moors, and Jews,
till they were tired, they proceeded to the landing-place, where they
met the captain, who informed them that he had done nothing, because
the men were all drunk with Jack's doubloon. Jack replied that a
doubloon would not last for ever, and that the sooner they drank it
out the better. They then returned to the vice-consul's, whom they
requested to procure for them fifty dozen of fowls, twenty sheep, and
a great many other articles which might be obtained at the place; for,
as Jack said, they would live well going up to Toulon, and if there
were any of the stock left they would give them to the Admiral, for
Jack had taken the precaution to put his father's philosophy once more
to the proof before he quitted Mahon. As Jack gave such a liberal
order, and the vice-consul cheated him out of at least one-third of
what he paid, Mr Hicks thought he could do no less than offer beds to
our midshipmen as well as to Captain Hogg; so, as soon as dinner was
over, they ordered Captain Hogg to go on board and bring their things
on shore, which he did.
As the time usual for transports remaining at Tetuan before they could
be completed with bullocks was three weeks, our midshipmen decided
upon staying at least so long if they could find anything to do; or if
they could not, doing nothing was infinitely preferable to doing duty.
So they took up their quarters at the vice-consul's, sending for
porter and other things which were not to be had but from the
transport; and Jack, to prove that he was not a swindler, as Captain
Tartar had called him, gave Captain Hogg a hundred dollars on account,
for Captain Hogg had a large stock of porter and English luxuries,
which he had brought out as a venture, and of which he had still a
considerable portion left. As, therefore, our midshipmen not only were
cheated by the vice-consul, but they also supplied his table. Mr
Hicks was very hospitable, and everything was at their service except
Miss Julia, who turned up her nose at a midshipman, even upon full
pay; but she made great advances to the captain, who, on his part, was
desperately in love: so the mate and the men made all ready for the
bullocks, Jack and Gascoigne made themselves comfortable, and Captain
Hogg made love, and thus passed the first week.
The chamber of Easy and Gascoigne was at the top of the house, and
finding it excessively warm, Gascoigne had forced his way up to the
flat roof above (for the houses are all built in that way in most
Mahomedan countries, to enable the occupants to enjoy the cool of the
evening, and sometimes to sleep there). Those roofs, where houses are
built next to each other, are divided by a wall of several feet, to
insure that privacy which the Mahomedan customs demand.
Gascoigne had not been long up there before he heard the voice of a
female, singing a plaintive air in a low tone, on the other side of
the wall. Gascoigne sang well himself, and having a very fine ear, he
was pleased with the correctness of the notes, although he had never
heard the air before. He leant against the wall, smoked his cigar,
and listened. It was repeated again and again at intervals; Gascoigne
soon caught the notes, which sounded so clear and pure in the silence
of the night.
At last they ceased, and having waited another half-hour in vain, our
midshipman returned to his bed, humming the air which had so pleased
his ear. It haunted him during his sleep, and rang in his ears when
he awoke, as it is well known any new air that pleases us will do.
Before breakfast was ready, Gascoigne had put English words to it, and
sang them over and over again. He inquired of the vice-consul who
lived in the next house, and was answered, that it was an old Moor,
who was reported to be wealthy, and to have a daughter, whom many of
the people had asked in marriage, but whether for her wealth or for
her beauty he could not tell; he had, however, heard that she was very
handsome. Gascoigne made no further inquiries, but went out with Jack
and Captain Hogg, and on board to see the water got in for the
bullocks.
"Where did you pick up that air, Gascoigne? It is very pretty, but I
never heard you sing it before."
Gascoigne told him, and also what he had heard from Mr Hicks. "I am
determined, Jack, to see that girl if I can. Hicks can talk Arabic
fast enough; just ask him the Arabic for these words--'Don't be
afraid--I love you--I cannot speak your tongue', and put them down on
paper as they are pronounced."
Jack rallied Gascoigne upon his fancy, which could end in nothing.
"Perhaps not," replied Gascoigne; "and I should have cared nothing
about it, if she had not sung so well. I really believe the way to my
heart is through my ear;--however, I shall try to-night, and soon find
if she has the feeling which I think she has. Now let us go back; I'm
tired of looking at women with garments up to their eyes, and men in
dirt up to their foreheads."
As they entered the house they heard an altercation between Mr and
Miss Hicks. "I shall never give my consent, Julia; one of those
midshipmen you turn your nose up at is worth a dozen Hoggs."
"Now, if we only knew the price of a hog in this country," observed
Easy, "we should be able to calculate our exact value, Ned."
"A hog, being an unclean animal, is not--"
"Hush," said Jack.
"Mr Hicks," replied Miss Julia, "I am mistress of myself and my
fortune, and I shall do as I please."
"Depend upon it, you shall not, Julia. I consider it my duty to
prevent you from making an improper match: and, as his Majesty's
representative here, I cannot allow you to marry this young man."
"Mercy on us!" said Gascoigne, "his Majesty's representative!"
"I shall not ask your consent," replied the lady.
"Yes, but you shall not marry without my consent. I have, as you
know, Julia, from my situation here, as one of his Majesty's 'corps
diplomatick,' great power, and I shall forbid the banns; in fact, it
is only I who can marry you."
"Then I'll marry elsewhere."
"And what will you do on board of the transport until you are able to
be married?"
"I shall do as I think proper," replied the lady; "and I'll thank you
for none of your indelicate insinuations."
So saying, the lady bounced out of the room into her own, and our
midshipmen then made a noise in the passage to intimate that they had
come in. They found Mr Hicks looking very red and vice-consular
indeed, but he recovered himself; and Captain Hogg making his
appearance, they went to dinner; but Miss Julia would not make her
appearance, and Mr Hicks was barely civil to the captain, but he was
soon afterwards called out, and our midshipmen went into the office to
enable the two lovers to meet. They were heard then talking together,
and after a time they said less, and their language was more tender.
"Let us see what's going on, Jack," said Gascoigne; and they walked
softly, so as to perceive the two lovers, who were too busy to be on
the look-out.
Captain Hogg was requesting a lock of his mistress's hair. The plump
Julia could deny him nothing; she let fall her flaxen tresses, and
taking out the scissors cut off a thick bunch from her hair behind,
which she presented to the captain; it was at least a foot and a half
long, and an inch in circumference. The captain took it in his
immense hand, and thrust it into his coat-pocket behind, but one
thrust down to the bottom would not get it in, so he thrust again and
again until it was all coiled away like a cable in a tier.
"That's a liberal girl," whispered Jack, "she gives by wholesale what
it will take some time to retail. But here comes Mr Hicks, let's give
them warning; I like Hogg, and as she fancies pork, she shall have it,
if I can contrive to help them."
That night Gascoigne went again on the roof, and after waiting some
time heard the same air repeated: he waited until it was concluded,
and then, in a very low tone, sung it himself to the words he had
arranged for it. For some time all was silent, and then the singing
recommenced, but it was not to the same air. Gascoigne waited until
the new air had been repeated several times, and then, giving full
scope to his fine tenor voice, sang the first air again. It echoed
through the silence of the night air, and then he waited, but in vain;
the soft voice of the female was heard no more, and Gascoigne retired
to rest.
This continued for three or four nights, Gascoigne singing the same
airs the ensuing night that he had heard the preceding, until at last
it appeared that the female had no longer any fear, but changed the
airs so as to be amused with the repetition of them next evening. On
the fifth night she sang the first air, and our midshipman responding,
she then sang another, until she had sung them all, waiting each time
for the response. The wall was not more than eight feet high, and
Gascoigne now determined, with the assistance of Jack, to have a sight
of his unknown songstress. He asked Captain Hogg to bring on shore
some inch line, and he contrived to make a ladder with three or four
poles which were upstairs, used for drying linen. He fixed them
against the wall without noise, all ready for the evening. It was a
beautiful, clear moonlight night, when he went up, accompanied by
Jack. The air was again sung, and repeated by Gascoigne, who then
softly mounted the ladder, held by Jack, and raised his head above the
wall; he perceived a young Moorish girl, splendidly dressed,
half-lying on an ottoman, with her eyes fixed upon the moon, whose
rays enabled him to observe that she was indeed beautiful. She
appeared lost in contemplation; and Gascoigne would have given the
world to have divined her thoughts. Satisfied with what he had seen,
he descended, and singing one of the airs, he then repeated the words,
"Do not be afraid--I love you--I cannot speak your language." He then
sang another of the airs, and after he had finished he again repeated
the words in Arabic; but there was no reply. He sang the third air,
and again repeated the words, when, to his delight, he heard an answer
in Lingua Franca.
"Can you speak in this tongue?"
"Yes," replied Gascoigne, "I can, Allah be praised! Be not afraid--I
love you."
"I know you not; who are you? you are not of my people."
"No, but I will be anything that you wish. I am a Frank, and an
English officer."
At this reply of Gascoigne there was a pause.
"Am I then despised?" said Gascoigne.
"No, not despised; but you are not of my people, or of my land; speak
no more, or you will be heard."
"I obey," replied Gascoigne, "since you wish it; but I shall pine till
to-morrow's moon. I go to dream of you. Allah protect you!"
"How amazingly poetical you were in your language, Ned," said Easy,
when they went down into their room.
"To be sure, Jack, I've read the Arabian Nights. You never saw such
eyes in your life; what a houri she is!"
"Is she as handsome as Agnes, Ned?"
"Twice as handsome by moonlight."
"That's all moonshine, and so will be your courting, for it will come
to nothing."
"Not if I can help it."
"Why, Gascoigne, what would you do with a wife?"
"Just exactly what you would do, Jack."
"I mean, my dear Ned, can you afford to marry?"
"Not while the old Governor lives, but I know he has some money in the
funds. He told me one day that I could not expect more than three
thousand pounds. You know I have sisters."
"And before you come into that you'll have three thousand children."
"That's a large family, Jack," replied Gascoigne, bursting out into
laughter, in which our hero joined.
"Well, you know I only wanted to argue the point with you."
"I know that, Jack. But I think we're counting our chickens before
they are hatched, which is foolish."
"In every other case except when we venture upon matrimony."
"Why, Jack, you're becoming quite sensible."
"My wisdom is for my friends, my folly for myself. Good-night."
But Jack did not go to sleep.
"I must not allow Gascoigne to do such a foolish thing," thought he.
"Marry a dark girl on midshipman's pay, if he succeeds--get his throat
cut if he does not."
As Jack said, his wisdom was for his friends, and he was so generous
that he reserved none for his own occasions.
Miss Julia Hicks, as we before observed, set the fashions at Tetuan,
and her style of dress was not unbecoming. The Moorish women wore
large veils, or they may be called what you will, for their
head-dresses descend to their heels at times and cover the whole body,
leaving an eye to peep with, and hiding everything else. Now Miss
Hicks found this much more convenient than the bonnet, as she might
walk out in the heat of the sun without burning her fair skin, and
stare at everybody and everything without being stared at in return.
She therefore never went out without one of these overalls, composed
of several yards of fine muslin. Her dress in the house was usually
of coloured sarcenet, for a small vessel came into the port one day
during her father's lifetime, unloaded a great quantity of bales of
goods with English marks, and, as the vessel had gone out in ballast,
there was a surmise on his part by what means they came into the
captain's possession. He therefore cited the captain up to the
Governor, but the affair was amicably arranged by the vice-consul
receiving about one quarter of the cargo in bales of silks and
muslins. Miss Hicks had therefore all her dresses of blue, green, and
yellow sarcenet, which, with the white muslin overall, made her as
conspicuous as the only Frankish lady in the town had a right to be,
and there was not a dog which barked in Tetuan which did not know the
sister of the vice-consul, although few had seen her face.
Now it occurred to Jack, as Gascoigne was determined to carry on his
amour, that in case of surprise it would be as well if he dressed
himself as Miss Hicks. He proposed it to Gascoigne the next morning,
who approved of the idea, and in the course of the day, when Miss
Hicks was busy with Captain Hogg, he contrived to abstract one of her
dresses and muslin overalls, which he could do in safety, as there
were plenty of them, for Miss Hicks was not troubled with
mantua-makers' bills.
When Gascoigne went up on the roof the ensuing night, he put on the
apparel of Miss Hicks, and looked very like her as far as figure went,
although a little taller. He waited for the Moorish girl to sing, but
she did not; so he crept up the ladder and looked over the wall, when
he observed that she was reclining as before in deep thought. His
head, covered with the muslin, caught her eye, and she gave a faint
scream.
"Fear not, lady," said Gascoigne, "it is not the first time that I
have beheld that sweet face. I sigh for a companion. What would I
not give to be sitting by your side! I am not of your creed, 'tis
true, but does it therefore follow that we should not love each
other?"
The Moorish girl was about to reply, when Gascoigne received an answer
from a quarter whence he little expected it. It was from the Moor
himself, who, hearing his daughter's scream, had come swiftly up to
the roof.
"Does the Frankish lily wish to mingle her perfumes with the dark
violet?" said he; for he had often seen the sister of the vice-consul,
and he imagined it was she who had come on the roof and ascended the
wall to speak with his daughter.
Gascoigne had presence of mind to avail himself of this fortunate
mistake. "I am alone, worthy Moor," replied he, pulling the muslin
over his face, "and I pine for a companion. I have been charmed by the
nightingale on the roof of your dwelling; but I thought not to meet
the face of a man when I took courage to climb this ladder."
"If the Frankish lily will have courage to descend, she can sit by the
side of the dark violet."
Gascoigne thought it advisable to make no reply.
"Fear not," said the old Moor; "what is an old man but a woman!" and
the Moor brought a ladder, which he placed against the wall.
After a pause Gascoigne said, "It is my fate"; and he then descended,
and was led by the Moor to the mattress upon which his daughter
reclined. The Moor then took his seat near them, and they entered
into conversation. Gascoigne knew quite enough of the vice-consul and
his sister to play his part, and he thought proper to tell the Moor
that her brother wished to give her as wife to the captain of the
ship, whom she abhorred, and would take her to a cold and foggy
climate; that she had been born here, and wished to live and die here,
and would prefer passing her life in his women's apartments to leaving
this country. At which, Abdel Faza, for such was his name, felt very
amorous. He put his hand to his forehead, salaamed, and told
Gascoigne that his zenana, and all that were in it, were hers, as well
as his house and himself. After an hour's conversation, in which
Azar, his daughter, did not join, the old Moor asked Gascoigne to
descend into the women's apartment; and observing his daughter's
silence, said to her--
"Azar, you are angry that this Frankish houri should come to the
apartments of which you have hitherto been sole mistress. Fear not,
you will soon be another's, for Osman Ali has asked thee for his wife,
and I have listened to his request."
Now Osman Ali was as old as her father, and Azar hated him. She
offered her hand tremblingly, and led Gascoigne into the zenana. The
Moor attended them to the threshold, bowed, and left them.
That Gascoigne had time to press his suit, and that he did not lose
such a golden opportunity, may easily be imagined, and her father's
communication relative to Osman Ali very much assisted our
midshipman's cause.
He left the zenana, like most midshipmen, in love; that is, a little
above quicksilver boiling heat. Jack, who had remained in a state of
some suspense all this time, was not sorry to hear voices in an
amicable tone, and in a few minutes afterwards he perceived that
Gascoigne was ascending the ladder. It occurred to our hero that it
was perhaps advisable that he should not be seen, as the Moor in his
gallantry might come up the ladder with his supposed lady. He was
right, for Abdel Faza not only followed her up the ladder on his side
but assisted her to descend on the other, and with great ceremony took
his leave.
Gascoigne hastened to Jack, who had been peeping, and gave him a
detail of what had passed, describing Azar as the most beautiful,
fascinating, and fond creature that ever was created. After half an
hour's relation he stopped short, because he discovered that Jack was
fast asleep.
The visits of Gascoigne were repeated every night; old Abdel Faza
became every time more gallant, and our midshipman was under the
necessity of assuming a virtue if he had it not. He pretended to be
very modest.
In the meantime Captain Hogg continued his attentions to the real Miss
Hicks. The mate proceeded to get the bullocks on board, and as more
than three weeks had already passed away, it was time to think of
departing for Toulon; but Captain Hogg was too much in love; and as
for Gascoigne, he intended, like all midshipmen in love, to give up
the service. Jack reasoned with the captain, who appeared to listen to
reason, because Miss Hicks had agreed to follow his fortunes, and
crown his transports in the transport Mary Ann. He therefore proposed
that they should get away as fast as they could, and as soon as they
had weighed the anchor he would come on shore, take off Miss Hicks,
and make all sail for Toulon.
Jack might have suffered this; the difficulty was with Gascoigne, who
would not hear of going away without his lovely Azar. At last Jack
planned a scheme which he thought would succeed, and which would be a
good joke to tell the Governor. He therefore appeared to consent to
Gascoigne's carrying off his little Moor, and they canvassed how it
was to be managed. Jack then told Gascoigne that he had hit upon a
plan which would succeed.
"I find," said he, "from Captain Hogg, that he has an intention of
carrying off Miss Hicks, and when I sounded him as to his having a
lady with him, he objected to it immediately, saying, that he must
have all the cabin to himself and his intended. Now, in the first
place, I have no notion of giving up the cabin to Miss Hicks or Mrs
Hogg. It will be very uncomfortable to be shut out, because he wishes
to make love; I therefore am determined that he shall not take off
Miss Hicks. He has proposed to me that he shall go on board, and get
the brig under way, leaving me with a boat on shore to sign the
vouchers, and that Miss Hicks shall slip into the boat when I go off
at dusk. Now I will not bring off Miss Hicks; if he wants to marry
her, let him do it when I am not on board. I have paid for everything,
and I consider the cabin as mine.
"Look you, Ned, if you wish to carry off your little Moor, there is
but one way, and that is a very simple one; leave her a dress of Miss
Hicks's when you go there to-morrow night, and tell her to slip down
at dusk, and come out of the house: all the danger will be in her own
house, for as soon as she is out, she will be supposed to be the
vice-consul's sister, and will not be observed or questioned. I will
look out for and bring her on board instead of Miss Hicks. Hogg will
have the brig under way, and will be too happy to make all sail, and
she shall lock the cabin inside, so that the mistake shall not be
discovered till the next morning, and we shall have a good laugh at
Captain Hogg."
Gascoigne pronounced that Jack's scheme was capital, and agreed to it,
thanking him, and declaring that he was the best friend that he ever
had. "So I will be," thought Jack, "but you will not acknowledge it
at first." Jack then went to Captain Hogg, and appeared to enter
warmly into his views, but told him that Hicks suspected what was
going on, and had told him so, at the same time declaring that he
would not lose sight of his sister until after Hogg was on board.
"Now," says Jack, "you know you cannot do the thing by main force; so
the best plan will be for you to go on board and get under way,
leaving me to bring off Miss Hicks, when her brother will imagine all
danger to be over."
"Many thanks, Mr Easy," replied Captain Hogg; "it will be capital, and
I'll arrange it all with my Sophy. How very kind of you!"
"But, Hogg, will you promise me secrecy?"
"Yes," replied the captain.
"That Gascoigne is a very silly fellow, and wants to run away with a
girl he has made acquaintance with here; and what do you think he has
proposed? that after the ship was under way, that I shall carry her
off in the boat; and he has borrowed one of the dresses of Miss Hicks,
that it may appear to be her. I have agreed to it, but as I am
determined that he shall not commit such a folly, I shall bring off
Miss Hicks instead; and, observe, Hogg, he is that sort of wild
fellow, that if he was to find that I had cheated him, he would
immediately go on shore and be left behind; therefore we must hand
Miss Hicks down in the cabin, and she will lock the door all night, so
that he may not observe the trick till the next morning, and then we
shall have a fine laugh at him."
Captain Hogg replied it would be an excellent joke, as Gascoigne did
before him.
Now it must be observed, that the water and the bullocks, and the
sheep and fowls, were all on board; and Mr Hicks, having received his
money from Jack, had very much altered his manner; he was barely
civil, for as he had got all he could out of our hero, he was anxious
to get rid of him as well as of Captain Hogg. Our hero was very
indignant at this, but as it would not suit his present views,
pretended not to notice it--on the contrary, he professed the warmest
friendship for the vice-consul, and took an opportunity of saying that
he could not return his kindness in a better way than by informing him
of the plot which had been arranged. He then told him of the intended
escape of his sister, and that he was the person intended to bring her
off.
"Infamous, by heavens!" cried the vice-consul; "I shall write to the
foreign office on the subject."
"I think," said Jack, "it will be much better to do what I shall
propose, which will end in a hearty laugh, and to the confusion of
Captain Hogg. Do you dress yourself in your sister's clothes, and I
will bring you off instead of her. Let him imagine that he has your
sister secure; I will hand you down to the cabin, and do you lock
yourself in. He cannot sail without my orders, and I will not sign
the vouchers. The next morning we will open the cabin-door and have a
good laugh at him. Desire your boat to be off at daylight to take you
on shore, and I will then make him proceed to Toulon forthwith. It
will be a capital joke."
So thought the vice-consul, as well as Gascoigne and Captain Hogg. He
shook hands with Jack, and was as civil to him as before.
That night Gascoigne left one of Miss Hicks's many dresses with Azar,
who agreed to follow his fortunes, and who packed up all the jewels
and money she could lay her hands upon. Poor little child, she
trembled with fear and delight. Miss Hicks smuggled, as she thought,
a box of clothes on board, and in the box was her fortune of three
hundred dollars. Mr Hicks laughed in his sleeve, so did Jack; and
every one went to bed with expectations that their wishes would be
realised. After an early dinner, Captain Hogg and Gascoigne went on
board, both squeezing Jack's hand as if they were never to see him
again, and looks of intelligence passed between all the parties.
As soon as they were out of the door the vice-consul chuckled and Miss
Hicks, who thought he chuckled at the idea of having rid himself of
Captain Hogg, chuckled still more as she looked at our hero, who was
her confidant; and our hero, for reasons known to the reader, chuckled
more than either of them.
A little before dark, the boat was sent on shore from the brig, which
was now under way, and Mr Hicks, as had been agreed, said that he
should go into the office and prepare the vouchers--that is, put on
his sister's clothes. Miss Hicks immediately rose, and wishing our
hero a pleasant voyage, as had been agreed, said that she should
retire for the night, as she had a bad headache--she wished her
brother good-night, and went into her room to wait another hour, when
our hero, having shoved off the boat to deceive the vice-consul, was
to return, meet her in the garden, and take her off to the brig. Our
hero then went into the office and assisted the vice-consul, who took
off all his own clothes and tied them up in a handkerchief, intending
to resume them after he had gone into the cabin.
As soon as he was ready, Jack carried his bundle and led the supposed
Miss Hicks down to the boat. They shoved off in a great hurry, and
Jack took an opportunity of dropping Mr Hicks's bundle overboard. As
soon as they arrived alongside, Mr Hicks ascended, and was handed by
Jack down into the cabin: he squeezed Jack's hand as he entered,
saying in a whisper, "To-morrow morning what a laugh we shall have!"
and then he locked the door. In the meantime the boat was hooked on
and hoisted up, and Jack took the precaution to have the dead lights
lowered, that Mr Hicks might not be able to ascertain what was going
on. Gascoigne came up to our hero and squeezed his hand.
"I'm so much obliged to you, Jack. I say, to-morrow morning what a
laugh we shall have!"
As soon as the boat was up, and the mainyard filled, Captain Hogg also
came up to our hero, shaking him by the hand and thanking him; and he
too concluded by saying, "I say, Mr Easy, to-morrow morning what a
laugh we shall have!"
"Let those laugh who win," thought Jack. The wind was fair, the watch
was set, the course was steered, and all went down to their hammocks,
and went to sleep, waiting for to-morrow morning. Mr Hicks, also,
having nothing better to do, went to sleep, and by the morning dawn,
the transport Mary Ann was more than a hundred miles from the African
shore.
CHAPTER XXIV
Our hero plays the very devil.
We must leave the reader to imagine the effect of the next morning's
denouement. Everyone was in a fury except Jack, who did nothing but
laugh. The captain wanted to return to obtain Miss Hicks, Gascoigne
to obtain Azar, and the vice-consul to obtain his liberty--but the
wind was foul for their return, and Jack soon gained the captain on
his side. He pointed out to him that, in the first place, if he
presumed to return, he would forfeit his charter bond; in the second,
he would have to pay for all the bullocks that died; in the third,
that if he wished to take Miss Hicks as his wife, he must not first
injure her character by having her on board before the solemnity; and
lastly, that he could always go and marry her whenever he pleased; the
brother could not prevent him. All this was very good advice, and the
captain became quite calm and rational, and set his studding-sails
below and aloft.
As for Gascoigne, it was no use reasoning with him, so it was agreed
that he should have satisfaction as soon as they could get on shore
again. Mr Hicks was the most violent; he insisted that the vessel
should return, while both Jack and the captain refused, although he
threatened them with the whole foreign office. He insisted upon
having his clothes, but Jack replied that they had tumbled overboard
as they pulled from the shore. He then commanded the mate and men to
take the vessel back, but they laughed at him and his woman's clothes.
"At all events, I'll have you turned out of the service," said he to
our hero in his fury. "I shall be extremely obliged to you," said
Jack--and Captain Hogg was so much amused with the vice-consul's
appearance in his sister's clothes, that he quite forgot his own
disappointment in laughing at his intended brother-in-law. He made
friends again with Jack, who regained his ascendancy, and ordered out
the porter on the capstern-head. They had an excellent dinner, but Mr
Hicks refused to join them, which however did not spoil the appetite
of Jack or the captain: as for Gascoigne, he could not eat a mouthful,
but he drank to excess, looking over the rim of his tumbler, as if he
could devour our hero, who only laughed the more.
Mr Hicks had applied to the men to lend him some clothes, but Jack had
foreseen that, and he was omnipotent. There was not a jacket or a
pair of trousers to be had for love or money. Mr Hicks then
considered it advisable to lower his tone, and he applied to Captain
Hogg, who begged to be excused without he consented to his marriage
with his sister, to which Mr Hicks gave an indignant negative. He
then applied to Gascoigne, who told him in a very surly tone to go to
h--l. At last he applied to our hero, who laughed, and said that he
would see him d---d first. So Mr Hicks sat down in his petticoats and
vowed revenge. Gascoigne, who had drunk much and eaten nothing,
turned in and went to sleep--while Captain Hogg and our hero drank
porter on the capstern.
Thus passed the first day, and the wind was famously fair--the
bullocks lowed, the cocks crew, the sheep baa'd, and the Mary Ann made
upwards of two hundred miles. Jack took possession of the other berth
in the cabin, and his Majesty's representative was obliged to lie down
in his petticoats upon a topsail which lay between decks, with a
bullock on each side of him, who every now and then made a dart at him
with their horns, as if they knew that it was to him that they were
indebted for their embarkation and being destined to drive the scurvy
out of the Toulon fleet.
We cannot enter into the details of the passage, which, as the wind
was fair, was accomplished in ten days without the loss of a bullock.
During this time Mr Hicks condescended to eat without speaking,
imagining that the hour of retribution would come when they joined the
Admiral. Gascoigne gradually recovered himself, but did not speak to
our hero, who continued to laugh and drink porter. On the eleventh
morning they were in the midst of the Toulon fleet, and Mr Hicks
smiled exultingly as he passed our hero in his petticoats, and
wondered that Jack showed no signs of trepidation.
The fleet hove-to, Jack ran under the Admiral's stern, lowered down
his boat, and went on board, showed his credentials, and reported his
bullocks. The general signal was made, there was a fair division of
the spoil, and then the Admiral asked our hero whether the master of
the transport had any other stock on board. Jack replied that he had
not; but that, having been told by the Governor of Malta that they
might be acceptable, he had bought a few sheep and some dozen of
fowls, which were much at his service, if he would accept of them. The
Admiral was much obliged to the Governor, and also to Jack, for
thinking of him, but would not, of course, accept of the stock without
paying for them. He requested him to send all of them on board that
he could spare, and then asked Jack to dine with him, for Jack had put
on his best attire, and looked very much of a gentleman.
"Mr Easy," said the flag-captain, who had been looking at the
transport with his glass, "is that the master's wife on board?"
"No, sir," replied Jack; "it's the vice-consul."
"What, in petticoats! the vice-consul?"
"Yes, the vice-consul of Tetuan. He came on board in that dress when
the brig was under way, and I considered it my duty not to delay,
being aware how very important it was that the fleet should be
provided with fresh beef."
"What is all this, Mr Easy?" said the Admiral; "there has been some
trick here. You will oblige me by coming into the cabin."
Easy followed the Admiral and flag-captain into the cabin, and then
boldly told the whole story how he tricked them all. It was
impossible for either of them to help laughing, and when they began to
laugh, it was almost as impossible to stop.
"Mr Easy," said the Admiral at last, "I do not altogether blame you;
it appears to me the captain of the transport would have delayed
sailing because he was in love--and that Mr Gascoigne would have
stayed behind because he was infatuated, independent of the ill-will
against the English which would have been excited by the abduction of
the girl. But I think you might have contrived to manage all that
without putting the vice-consul in petticoats."
"I acted to the best of my judgment, sir," replied Jack, very humbly.
"And altogether you have done well. Captain Malcolm, send a boat for
the vice-consul."
Mr Hicks was too impatient to tell his wrongs to care for his being in
his sister's clothes: he came on board, and although the tittering was
great, he imagined that it would soon be all in his favour, when it
was known that he was a diplomatic. He told his story, and waited for
the decision of the Admiral, which was to crush our hero, who stood
with the midshipmen on the lee side of the deck; but the Admiral
replied, "Mr Hicks, in the first place, this appears to me to be a
family affair concerning the marriage of your sister, with which I
have nothing to do. You went on board of your own free will in
woman's clothes. Mr Easy's orders were positive, and he obeyed them.
It was his duty to sail as soon as the transport was ready. You may
forward your complaint if you please, but, as a friend, I tell you
that it will probably occasion your dismissal; for these kind of
pranks are not understood at the foreign office. You may return to
the transport, which, after she has touched at Mahon, will proceed
again to Tetuan. The boat is alongside, sir."
Mr Hicks, astonished at the want of respect paid to a vice-consul,
shoved his petticoats between his legs, and went down the side amidst
the laughter of the whole of the ship's company. Our hero dined with
the Admiral, and was well received. He got his orders to sail that
night for Minorca, and as soon as dinner was over he returned on
board, where he found Captain Hogg very busy selling his porter--
Gascoigne walking the deck in a brown study--and Mr Hicks solus abaft,
sulking in his petticoats.
As soon as they were clear of the boats, the Mary Ann hoisted her
ensign and made sail, and as all the porter was not yet sold, Jack
ordered up a bottle.
Jack was much pleased with the result of his explanation with the
Admiral, and he felt that, for once, he had not only got into no
scrape himself, but that he had prevented others. Gascoigne walked
the deck gloomily; the fact was, that he was very unhappy: he had had
time to reflect, and now that the first violence had subsided, he felt
that our hero had done him a real service, and had prevented him from
committing an act of egregious folly; and yet he had summoned this
friend to meet him in the field--and such had been his gratitude. He
would have given the world to recall what had passed, and to make
friends, but he felt ashamed, as most people do, to acknowledge his
error; he had, however, almost made up his mind to it, and was walking
up and down thinking in what manner he might contrive it, when Jack,
who was sitting, as usual, in a chair by the capstern with his porter
by him, said to himself, "Now I'll lay my life that Ned wants to make
friends, and is ashamed to speak first; I may be mistaken, and he may
fly off at a tangent; but even if I am, at all events it will not be I
who am wrong--I'll try him." Jack waited till Gascoigne passed him
again, and then said, looking kindly and knowingly in his face,--
"I say, Ned, will you have a glass of porter?"
Gascoigne smiled, and Jack held out his hand; the reconciliation was
effected in a moment, and the subject of quarrel was not canvassed by
either party.
"We shall be at Minorca in a day or two," observed Jack, after a
while; "now I shall be glad to get there. Do you know, Ned, that I
feel very much satisfied with myself; I have got into no scrape this
time, and I shall, notwithstanding, have a good story to tell the
Governor when I go to Malta."
"Partly at my expense," replied Gascoigne.
"Why, you will figure a little in it, but others will figure much
more."
"I wonder what has become of that poor girl," observed Gascoigne, who
could not refrain from mentioning her; "what hurts me most is, that
she must think me such a brute."
"No doubt of that, Ned,--take another glass of porter."
"Her father gave me this large diamond."
"The old goat--sell it, and drink his health with it."
"No, I'll keep it in memory of his daughter." Here Gascoigne fell into
a melancholy reverie, and Jack thought of Agnes.
In two days they arrived at Mahon, and found the Aurora already there,
in the command of Captain Wilson. Mr Hicks had persuaded Captain Hogg
to furnish him with clothes, Jack having taken off the injunction as
soon as he had quitted the Admiral. Mr Hicks was aware, that if the
Admiral would not listen to his complaint, it was no use speaking to a
captain: so he remained on board a pensioner upon Captain Hogg, and
after our midshipmen quitted the transport they became very good
friends. Mr Hicks consented to the match, and Captain Hogg was made
happy. As for poor Azar, she had wandered about until she was tired,
in Miss Hicks's dress, and at last returned broken hearted to her
father's, and was admitted by Abdel Faza himself; he imagined it was
Miss Hicks, and was in transports--he discovered it was his daughter,
and he was in a fury. The next day she went to the zenana of Osman
Ali.
When Jack reported himself he did not tell the history of the
elopements, that he might not hurt the feelings of Gascoigne. Captain
Wilson was satisfied with the manner in which he had executed his
orders, and asked him, "whether he preferred staying in the Harpy, or
following him into the Aurora."
Jack hesitated. "Speak frankly, Mr Easy; if you prefer Captain
Sawbridge to me, I shall not be affronted."
"No, sir," replied Easy, "I do not prefer Captain Sawbridge to you;
you have both been equally kind to me, but I prefer you. But the fact
is, sir, that I do not much like to part with Gascoigne or--"
"Or who?" said the captain, smiling.
"With Mesty, sir; you may think me very foolish, but I should not be
alive at this moment, if it had not been for him."
"I do not consider gratitude to be foolish, Mr Easy," replied Captain
Wilson. "Mr Gascoigne I intend to take with me, if he chooses to
come, as I have a great respect for his father, and no fault to find
with him, that is, generally speaking; but as for Mesty--why he is a
good man, and as you have behaved yourself very well, perhaps I may
think of it."
The next day Mesty was included among the boat's crew taken with him
by Captain Wilson, according to the regulations of the service, and
appointed to the same situation under the master at arms of the
Aurora. Gascoigne and our hero were also discharged into the frigate.
As our hero never has shown any remarkable predilection for duty, the
reader will not be surprised at his requesting from Captain Wilson a
few days on shore, previous to his going on board of the Aurora.
Captain Wilson allowed the same licence to Gascoigne, as they had both
been cooped up for some time on board of a transport. Our hero took up
his quarters at the only respectable hotel in the town, and whenever
he could meet an officer of the Aurora, he very politely begged the
pleasure of his company to dinner. Jack's reputation had gone before
him, and the midshipmen drank his wine and swore he was a trump. Not
that Jack was to be deceived, but, upon the principles of equality, he
argued that it was the duty of those who could afford dinners to give
them to those who could not. This was a sad error on Jack's part; but
he had not yet learnt the value of money; he was such a fool as to
think that the only real use of it was to make other people happy. It
must, however, be offered in his extenuation that he was a midshipman
and a philosopher, and not yet eighteen.
At last Jack had remained so long on shore, keeping open house, and
the first lieutenant of the Aurora found the officers so much more
anxious for leave, now that they were at little or no expense, that he
sent him a very polite message, requesting the pleasure of his company
on board that evening. Jack returned an equally polite answer,
informing the first lieutenant that not being aware that he wished to
see him, he had promised to accompany some friends to a masquerade
that night, but that he would not fail to pay his respects to him the
next day. The first lieutenant admitted the excuse, and our hero,
after having entertained half-a-dozen of the Auroras, for the Harpy
had sailed two days before, dressed himself for the masquerade, which
was held in a church about two miles and a half from Mahon.
Jack had selected the costume of the devil, as being the most
appropriate, and mounting a jackass, he rode down in his dress to the
masquerade. But, as Jack was just going in, he perceived a yellow
carriage, with two footmen in gaudy liveries, draw up, and with his
usual politeness, when the footmen opened the door, offered his arm to
hand out a fat old dowager covered with diamonds; the lady looked up,
and perceiving Jack covered with hair, with his trident and his horns,
and long tail, gave a loud scream, and would have fallen had it not
been for Captain Wilson, who, in his full uniform, was coming in, and
caught her in his arms: while the old lady thanked him, and Captain
Wilson bowed, Jack hastily retreated. "I shall make no conquests
to-night," thought he; so he entered the church, and joined the crowd;
but it was so dense that it was hardly possible to move, and our hero
soon got tired of flourishing his trident, and sticking it into
people, who wondered what the devil he meant.
"This is stupid work," thought Jack, "I may have more fun outside": so
Jack put on his cloak, left the masquerade, and went out in search of
adventures. He walked into the open country, about half a mile, until
he came to a splendid house, standing in a garden of orange trees,
which he determined to reconnoitre. He observed that a window was
open and lights were in the room; and he climbed up to the window, and
just opened the white curtain and looked in. On a bed lay an elderly
person, evidently dying, and by the side of the bed were three
priests, one of whom held the crucifix in his hand, another the
censer, and a third was sitting at a table with a paper, pen, and ink.
As Jack understood Spanish, he listened, and heard one of the priests
say:
"Your sins have been enormous, my son, and I cannot give you extreme
unction or absolution unless you make some amends."
"I have," answered the moribund, "left money for ten thousand masses
to be said for my soul."
"Five hundred thousand masses are not sufficient: how have you gained
your enormous wealth? by usury and robbing the poor."
"I have left a thousand dollars to be distributed among the poor on
the day of my funeral."
"One thousand dollars is nothing--you must leave all your property to
holy church."
"And my children!" replied the dying man, faintly.
"What are your children compared to your salvation? reply not: either
consent, or not only do I refuse you the consolation of the dying, but
I excommunicate--"
"Mercy, holy father, mercy!" said the old man, in a dying voice.
"There is no mercy, you are damned for ever and ever. Amen. Now hear:
excommunicabo te--"
"Stop--stop--have you the paper ready?"
"Tis here, all ready, by which you revoke all former wills, and endow
the holy church with your property. We will read it, for God forbid
that it should be said that the holy church received an involuntary
gift."
"I will sign it," replied the dying man, "but my sight fails me; be
quick, absolve me." And the paper was signed, with difficulty, as the
priests supported the dying man. "And now--absolve me."
"I do absolve thee," replied the priest, who then went through the
ceremony.
"Now this is a confounded rascally business," said Jack to himself;
who then dropped his cloak, jumped upon the window-sill, opened wide
the window-curtains with both hands, and uttered a yelling kind of
"ha! ha! ha! ha!"
The priests turned round, saw the demon as they imagined dropped the
paper on the table, and threw themselves with their faces on the
floor.
"Exorciso te," stammered one. "Ha! ha! ha! ha!" repeated Jack,
entering the room, and taking up the paper which he burnt by the flame
of the candle. Our hero looked at the old man on the bed; his jaw had
fallen, his eyes were turned. He was dead. Jack then gave one more
"ha! ha! ha! ha!" to keep the priests in their places, blew out the
candles, made a spring out of the window, caught up his cloak, and
disappeared as fast as his legs could carry him.
Jack ran until he was out of breath, and then he stopped, and sat down
by the side of the road. It was broad moonlight, and Jack knew not
where he was: "but Minorca has not many high roads," thought Jack,
"and I shall find my way home. Now, let me see,--I have done some
good this evening. I have prevented those rogues from disinheriting a
family. I wonder who they are; they ought to be infinitely obliged to
me. But if the priests find me out, what shall I do? I never dare
come on shore again--they'd have me in the Inquisition. I wonder where
I am," said Jack; "I will get on that hill, and see if I can take a
departure."
The hill was formed by the road being cut perpendicularly almost
through it, and was perhaps some twelve or fourteen feet high. Jack
ascended it, and looked about him. "There is the sea, at all events,
with the full moon silvering the waves," said Jack, turning from the
road, "and here is the road; then that must be the way to Port Mahon.
But what comes here?--it's a carriage. Why, it's the yellow carriage
of that old lady with her diamonds, and her two splashy footmen!"
Jack was watching it as it passed the road under him, when of a
sudden, he perceived about a dozen men rush out, and seize the horses'
heads,--a discharge of fire-arms, the coachman dropped off the box, and
the two footmen dropped from behind. The robbers then opened the
door, and were hauling out the fat old lady covered with diamonds.
Jack thought a second--it occurred to him, that although he could not
cope with so many, he might frighten them, as he had frightened one
set of robbers already that night. The old lady had just been tumbled
out of the carriage-door, like a large bundle of clothes tied up for
the wash, when Jack, throwing off his cloak, and advancing to the edge
of the precipice, with the full moon behind him throwing out his
figure in strong relief, raised his trident, and just as they were
raising their knives, yelled a most unearthly "ha, ha, ha, ha!"
The robbers looked up, and forgetting the masquerade, for there is a
double tremor in guilt, screamed with fear; most of them ran away, and
dropped after a hundred yards; others remained paralysed and
insensible. Jack descended the hill, went to the assistance of the
old lady, who had swooned, and had to put her into the carriage; but
although our hero was very strong, this was a work of no small
difficulty. After one or two attempts, he lowered down the steps and
contrived to bump her on the first, from the first he purchased her on
the second, and from the second he at last seated her at the door of
the carriage.
Jack had no time to be over-polite. He then threw her back into the
bottom of the carriage, her heels went up to the top, Jack shoved in
her petticoats as fast as he could, for decency, and then shutting the
door seized the reins, and jumped upon the box. "I don't know the
way," thought Jack, "but we must needs go when the devil drives"; so
sticking his trident into the horses, they set off at a rattling pace,
passing over the bodies of the two robbers, who had held the reins,
and who both lay before him in a swoon. As soon as he had brought the
horses into a trot, he slackened the reins, for, as Jack wisely
argued, they will be certain to go home if I let them have their own
way The horses, before they arrived at the town, turned off, and
stopped at a large country house.
That he might not frighten the people, Jack had put on his cloak, and
taken off his mask and head-piece, which he had laid beside him on the
box. At the sound of the carriage-wheels the servants came out, when
Jack, in few words, told them what had happened. Some of the servants
ran in, and a young lady made her appearance, while the others were
helping the old lady out of the carriage, who had recovered her
senses, but had been so much frightened that she had remained in the
posture in which Jack had put her.
As soon as she was out, Jack descended from the coach-box and entered
the house. He stated to the young lady what had taken place, and how
opportunely he had frightened away the robbers, just as they were
about to murder her relation; and also suggested the propriety of
sending after the servants who had fallen in the attack; which was
immediately done by a strong and well-armed party collected for the
occasion. Jack, having made his speech, made a very polite bow and
took his leave, stating that he was an English officer belonging to a
frigate in the harbour. He knew his way back, and in half an hour was
again at the inn, and found his comrades. Jack thought it advisable
to keep his own secret, and therefore merely said, that he had taken a
long walk in the country; and soon afterwards went to bed.
The next morning our hero, who was always a man of his word, packed up
his portmanteau, and paid his bill. He had just completed this heavy
operation, when somebody wanted to speak to him, and a sort of
half-clerical, half-legal sort of looking gentleman was introduced,
who, with a starched face and prim air, said that he came to request
in writing the name of the officer who was dressed as a devil, in the
masquerade of the night before.
Jack looked at his interrogator, and thought of the priests and the
Inquisition. "No, no," thought he, "that won't do; a name I must
give, but it shall be one that you dare not meddle with. A midshipman
you might get hold of, but it's more than the whole island dare to
touch a post-captain of one of his Majesty's frigates." So Jack took
the paper and wrote Captain Henry Wilson, of his Majesty's ship
Aurora.
The prim man made a prim bow, folded up the paper and left the room.
Jack threw the waiter half a doubloon, lighted his cigar, and went on
board.
CHAPTER XXV
In which the old proverb is illustrated, "That you must not count your
chickens before they are hatched."
The first lieutenant of the Aurora was a very good officer in many
respects, but, as a midshipman, he had contracted the habit of putting
his hands in his pockets, and could never keep them out, even when the
ship was in a gale of wind; and hands are of some use in a heavy
lurch. He had more than once received serious injury from falling on
these occasions, but habit was too powerful; and, although he had once
broken his leg by falling down the hatchway, and had moreover a large
scar on his forehead, received from being thrown to leeward against
one of the guns, he still continued the practice; indeed, it was said
that once when it was necessary for him to go aloft, he had actually
taken the two first rounds of the Jacob's ladder without withdrawing
them, until, losing his balance, he discovered that it was not quite
so easy to go aloft with his hands in his pockets. In fact, there was
no getting up his hands, even when all hands were turned up.
He had another peculiarity, which was, that he had taken a peculiar
fancy to a quack medicine, called Enouy's Universal Medicine for all
Mankind; and Mr Pottyfar was convinced in his own mind that the label
was no libel, except from the greatness of its truth. In his opinion,
it cured everything, and he spent one of his quarterly bills every
year in bottles of this stuff; which he not only took himself every
time he was unwell, but occasionally when quite well, to prevent his
falling sick. He recommended it to everybody in the ship, and nothing
pleased him so much as to give a dose of it to everyone who could be
persuaded to take it. The officers laughed at him, but it was
generally behind his back, for he became very angry if contradicted
upon this one point, upon which he certainly might be considered to be
a little cracked. He was indefatigable in making proselytes to his
creed, and expatiated upon the virtues of the medicine, for an hour
running, proving the truth of his assertions by a pamphlet, which,
with his hands, he always carried in his trousers' pocket.
Jack reported himself when he came on board, and Mr Pottyfar, who was
on the quarter-deck at the time, expressed a hope that Mr Easy would
take his share of the duty, now that he had had such a spell on shore;
to which Jack very graciously acceded, and then went down below, where
he found Gascoigne and his new messmates, with most of whom he was
already acquainted.
"Well, Easy," said Gascoigne, "have you had enough of the shore?"
"Quite," replied Jack, recollecting that, after the events of the
night before, he was just as well on board; "I don't intend to ask for
any more leave."
"Perhaps it's quite as well, for Mr Pottyfar is not very liberal on
that score, I can tell you; there is but one way of getting leave from
him."
"Indeed!" replied Jack; "and what is that?"
"You must pretend that you are not well, take some of his quack
medicine, and then he will allow you a run on shore to work it off."
"Oh! that's it, is it? well then, as soon as we anchor in Valette,
I'll go through a regular course, but not till then."
"It ought to suit you, Jack; it's an equality medicine; cures one
disorder just as well as the other."
"Or kills--which levels all the patients. You're right, Gascoigne, I
must patronise that stuff--for more reasons than one. Who was that
person on deck in mufti?"
"The mufti, Jack; in other words, the chaplain of the ship, but he's a
prime sailor, nevertheless."
"How's that?"
"Why, he was brought up on the quarter-deck, served his time, was
acting lieutenant for two years, and then, somehow or another, he bore
up for the church."
"Indeed--what were his reasons?"
"No one knows--but they say he has been unhappy ever since."
"Why so?"
"Because he did a very foolish thing, which cannot now be remedied. He
supposed at the time that he would make a good parson, and now that he
has long got over his fit, he finds himself wholly unfit for it--he is
still the officer in heart, and is always struggling with his natural
bent, which is very contrary to what a parson should feel."
"Why don't they allow parsons to be broke by a court-martial, and
turned out of the service, or to resign their commissions, like other
people?"
"It won't do, Jack--they serve heaven--there's a difference between
that and serving his Majesty."
"Well, I don't understand these things. When do we sail?"
"The day after to-morrow."
"To join the fleet of Toulon?"
"Yes: but I suppose we shall be driven on the Spanish coast going
there. I never knew a man-of-war that was not."
"No; wind always blows from the south, going up the Mediterranean."
"Perhaps you'll take another prize, Jack--mind you don't go away
without the articles of war."
"I won't go away without Mesty, if I can help it. O dear, how
abominable a midshipman's berth is after a long run on shore! I
positively must go on deck and look at the shore, if I can do nothing
else."
"Why, ten minutes ago you had had enough of it?"
"Yes, but ten minutes here has made me feel quite sick. I shall go to
the first lieutenant for a dose."
"I say, Easy, we must both be physicked on the same day."
"To be sure; but stop till we get to Malta."
Jack went on deck, made acquaintance with the chaplain and some of the
officers whom he had not known, then climbed up into the main-top,
where he took a seat on the armolest, and, as he looked at the shore,
thought over the events that had passed, until Agnes came to his
memory, and he thought only of her. When a mid is in love, he always
goes aloft to think of the object of his affection; why, I don't know,
except that his reverie is not so likely to be disturbed by an order
from a superior officer.
The Aurora sailed on the second day, and, with a fine breeze, stood
across, making as much northing as easting; the consequence was, that
one fine morning they saw the Spanish coast before they saw the Toulon
fleet. Mr Pottyfar took his hands out of his pockets, because he
could not examine the coast through a telescope without so doing; but
this, it is said, was the first time that he had done so on the
quarter-deck from the day that the ship had sailed from Port Mahon.
Captain Wilson was also occupied with his telescope, so were many of
the officers and midshipmen, and the men at the mastheads used their
eyes, but there was nothing but a few small fishing-boats to be seen.
So they all went down to breakfast, as the ship was hove-to close in
with the land.
"What will Easy bet," said one of the midshipmen, "that we don't see a
prize to-day?"
"I will not bet that we do not see a vessel--but I'll bet you what you
please, that we do not take one before twelve o'clock at night."
"No, no, that won't do--just let the teapot travel over this way, for
it's my forenoon watch."
"It's a fine morning," observed one of the mates, of the name of
Martin; "but I've a notion it won't be a fine evening."
"Why not?" inquired another.
"I've now been eight years in the Mediterranean, and know something
about the weather. There's a watery sky, and the wind is very steady.
If we are not under double-reefed topsails to-night, say I'm no
conjurer."
"That you will be, all the same, if we are under bare poles," said
another.
"You're devilish free with your tongue, my youngster--Easy, pull his
ears for me."
"Pull them easy, Jack, then," said the boy, laughing.
"All hands make sail!" now resounded at the hatchways.
"There they are, depend upon it," cried Gascoigne, catching up his hat
and bolting out of the berth, followed by all the others except
Martin, who had just been relieved, and thought that his presence in
the waist might be dispensed with for the short time, at least, which
it took him to swallow a cup of tea.
It was very true; a galliot and four lateen vessels had just made
their appearance round the easternmost point, and as soon as they
observed the frigate, had hauled their wind. In a minute the Aurora
was under a press of canvas, and the telescopes were all directed to
the vessels.
"All deeply laden, sir," observed Mr Hawkins, the chaplain; "how the
topsail of the galliot is scored!"
"They have a fresh breeze just now," observed Captain Wilson to the
first lieutenant.
"Yes, sir, and it's coming down fast."
"Hands by the royal halyards, there."
The Aurora careened with the canvas to the rapidly-increasing
breeze.
"Top-gallant sheet and halyards."
"Luff you may, quarter-master; luff, I tell you. A small pull of that
weather maintop-gallant brace--that will do," said the master.
"Top-men aloft there;--stand by to clew up the royals and, Captain
Wilson, shall we take them in?--I'm afraid of that pole--it bends now
like a coach-whip," said Mr Pottyfar, looking up aloft, with his hands
in both pockets.
"In royals--lower away."
"They are going about, sir," said the second lieutenant, Mr Haswell.
"Look out," observed the chaplain, "it's coming."
Again the breeze increased, and the frigate was borne down. "Hands
reef topsails in stays, Mr Pottyfar."
"Aye, aye, sir--'bout ship."
The helm was put down and the topsails lowered and reefed in stays.
"Very well, my lads, very well indeed," said Captain Wilson.
Again the topsails were hoisted and top-gallant sheets home It was a
strong breeze, although the water was smooth, and the Aurora dashed
through at the rate of eight miles an hour, with her weather leeches
lifting.
"Didn't I tell you so?" said Martin to his messmates on the gangway
"but there's more yet, my boys."
"We must take the top-gallant sails off her," said Captain Wilson,
looking aloft--for the frigate now careened to her bearings, and the
wind was increasing and squally. "Try them a little longer"; but
another squall came suddenly--the halyards were lowered, and the sails
clewed up and furled.
In the meantime the frigate had rapidly gained upon the vessels, which
still carried on every stitch of canvas, making short tacks in-shore.
The Aurora was again put about with her head towards them, and they
were not two points on her weather-bow. The sky, which had been clear
in the morning, was now overcast, the sun was obscured with opaque
white clouds, and the sea was rising fast. Another ten minutes, and
then they were under double-reefed topsails and the squalls were
accompanied with heavy rain. The frigate now dashed through the
waves, foaming in her course, and straining under the press of sail.
The horizon was so thick that the vessels ahead were no longer to be
seen.
"We shall have it, I expect," said Captain Wilson.
"Didn't I say so?" observed Martin to Gascoigne. "We take no prizes
this day, depend upon it."
"We must have another hand to the wheel, sir, if you please," said the
quarter-master, who was assisting the helmsman.
Mr Pottyfar, with his hands concealed as usual, stood by the capstern.
"I fear, sir, we cannot carry the mainsail much longer."
"No," observed the chaplain, "I was thinking so."
"Captain Wilson, if you please, we are very close in," said the
master; "don't you think we had better go about?"
"Yes, Mr Jones. Hands about ship--and, yes, by heavens we must!--up
mainsail." The mainsail was taken off, and the frigate appeared to be
immediately relieved. She no longer jerked and plunged as before.
"We're very near the land, Captain Wilson; thick as it is, I think I
can make out the loom of it--shall we wear round, sir?" continued the
master.
"Yes, hands wear ship--put the helm up." It was but just in time, for,
as the frigate flew round, describing a circle, as she payed off
before the wind, they could perceive the breakers lashing the
precipitous coast, not two cables' length from them.
"I had no idea we were so near," observed the captain, compressing his
lips--"can they see anything of those vessels?"
"I have not seen them this quarter of an hour, sir," replied the
signal-man, protecting his glass from the rain under his jacket.
"How's her head now, quarter-master?"
"South south-east, sir."
The sky now assumed a different appearance--the white clouds had been
exchanged for others dark and murky, the wind roared at intervals, and
the rain came down in torrents. Captain Wilson went down into the
cabin to examine the barometer.
"The barometer has risen," said he on his return on deck. "Is the
wind steady?"
"No, sir, she's up and off three points."
"This will end in a south-wester." The wet and heavy sails now flapped
from the shifting of the wind.
"Up with the helm, quarter-master."
"Up it is--she's off to south-by-west."
The wind lulled, the rain came down in a deluge--for a
minute it was quite calm, and the frigate was on an even keel.
"Man the braces. We shall be taken aback, directly, depend upon it."
The braces were hardly stretched along before this was the case. The
wind flew round to the south-west with a loud roar, and it was
fortunate that they were prepared--the yards were braced round, and
the master asked the captain, what course they were to steer.
"We must give it up," observed Captain Wilson, holding on by the
belaying pin. "Shape our course for Cape Sicie, Mr Jones."
And the Aurora flew before the gale, under her foresail and topsails
close reefed. The weather was now so thick that nothing could be
observed twenty yards from the vessel; the thunder pealed, and the
lightning darted in every direction over the dark expanse. The watch
was called as soon as the sails were trimmed, and all who could went
below, wet, uncomfortable, and disappointed.
"What an old Jonah you are, Martin," said Gascoigne.
"Yes, I am," replied he; "but we have the worst to come yet, in my
opinion. I recollect, not two hundred miles from where we are now, we
had just such a gale in the Favourite, and we as nearly went down,
when--"
At this moment a tremendous noise was heard above, a shock was felt
throughout the whole ship, which trembled fore and aft as if it was
about to fall into pieces: loud shrieks were followed by plaintive
cries, the lower deck was filled with smoke, and the frigate was down
on her beam ends. Without exchanging a word, the whole of the
occupants of the berth flew out, and were up the hatchway, not knowing
what to think, but convinced that some dreadful accident had taken
place.
On their gaining the deck it was at once explained; the foremast of
the frigate had been struck by lightning, had been riven into several
pieces, and had fallen over the larboard bow, carrying with it the
main-topmast and jib-boom. The jagged stump of the foremast was in
flames, and burned brightly, notwithstanding the rain fell in
torrents. The ship, as soon as the foremast and main topmast had gone
overboard, broached-to furiously, throwing the men over the wheel and
dashing them senseless against the carronades; the forecastle, the
forepart of the main deck, and even the lower deck, were spread with
men, either killed or seriously wounded, or insensible from the
electric shock. The frigate was on her beam ends, and the sea broke
furiously over her; all was dark as pitch, except the light from the
blazing stump of the foremast, appearing like a torch, held up by the
wild demons of the storm, or when occasionally the gleaming lightning
cast a momentary glare, threatening every moment to repeat its attack
upon the vessel, while the deafening thunder burst almost on their
devoted heads.
All was dismay and confusion for a minute or two: at last Captain
Wilson, who had himself lost his sight for a short time, called for
the carpenter and axes--they climbed up, that is, two or three of
them, and he pointed to the mizzen-mast; the master was also there,
and he cut loose the axes for the seamen to use; in a few minutes the
mizzen-mast fell over the quarter, and the helm being put hard up, the
frigate payed off and slowly righted. But the horror of the scene was
not yet over. The boatswain, who had been on the forecastle, had been
led below, for his vision was gone for ever. The men who lay
scattered about had been examined, and they were assisting them down
to the care of the surgeon, when the cry of "Fire!" issued from the
lower deck. The ship had taken fire at the coal-hole and carpenter's
store-room, and the smoke that now ascended was intense.
"Call the drummer," said Captain Wilson, "and let him beat to
quarters--all hands to their stations--let the pumps be rigged and the
buckets passed along. Mr Martin, see that the wounded men are taken
down below. Where's Mr Haswell? Mr Pottyfar, station the men to pass
the water on by hand on the lower deck. I will go there myself. Mr
Jones, take charge of the ship."
Pottyfar, who actually had taken his hands out of his pockets,
hastened down to comply with the captain's orders on the main deck, as
Captain Wilson descended to the deck below.
"I say, Jack, this is very different from this morning," observed
Gascoigne.
"Yes," replied Jack, "so it is; but I say, Gascoigne, what's the best
thing to do?--when the chimney's on fire on shore, they put a wet
blanket over it."
"Yes," replied Gascoigne; "but when the coal-hole's on fire on board,
they will not find that sufficient."
"At all events, wet blankets must be a good firing, Ned, so let us
pull out the hammocks; cut the lanyards and get some out--we can but
offer them, you know, and if they do no good, at least it will show
our zeal."
"Yes, Jack, and I think when they turn in again, those whose blankets
you take will agree with you, that zeal makes the service very
uncomfortable. However, I think you are right."
The two midshipmen collected three or four hands, and in a very short
time they had more blankets than they could carry--there was no
trouble in wetting them, for the main deck was afloat--and followed by
the men they had collected, Easy and Gascoigne went down with large
bundles in their arms to where Captain Wilson was giving directions to
the men.
"Excellent, Mr Easy, excellent, Mr Gascoigne" said Captain Wilson.
"Come, my lads, throw them over now, and stamp upon them well"; the
men's jackets and the captain's coat had already been sacrificed to
the same object.
Easy called the other midshipmen, and they went up for a further
supply; but there was no occasion, the fire had been smothered: still
the danger had been so great that the fore magazine had been floated.
During all this, which lasted perhaps a quarter of an hour, the
frigate had rolled gunwale under, and many were the accidents which
occurred. At last all danger from fire had ceased, and the men were
ordered to return to their quarters, when three officers and
forty-seven men were found absent--seven of them were dead, most of
them were already under the care of the surgeon, but some were still
lying in the scuppers.
No one had been more active or more brave during this time of danger,
than Mr Hawkins, the chaplain. He was everywhere, and when Captain
Wilson went down to put out the fire he was there, encouraging the men
and exerting himself most gallantly. He and Mesty came aft when all
was over, one just as black as the other. The chaplain sat down and
wrung his hands--"God forgive me!" said he, "God forgive me!"
"Why so, sir?" said Easy, who stood near. "I am sure you need not be
ashamed of what you have done."
"No, no, not ashamed of what I've done; but, Mr Easy--I have sworn so,
sworn such oaths at the men in haste--I, the chaplain! God forgive
me!--I meant nothing." It was very true that Mr Hawkins had sworn a
great deal during his exertions, but he was at that time the
quarter-deck officer and not the chaplain; the example to the men and
his gallantry had been most serviceable.
"Indeed, sir," said Easy, who saw the chaplain was in great
tribulation, and hoped to pacify him, "I was certainly not there all
the time, but I only heard you say, 'God bless you, my men! be smart,'
and so on; surely, that is not swearing."
"Was it that I said, Mr Easy, are you sure? I really had an idea that
I had d---d them all in heaps, as some of them deserved--no, no, not
deserved. Did I really bless them--nothing but bless them?"
"Yes, sir," said Mesty, who perceived what Jack wanted: "it was
nothing, I assure you, but 'God bless you, Captain Wilson!--Bless your
heart, my good men!-Bless the king!' and so on. You do nothing but
shower down blessing and wet blanket."
"I told you so," said Jack. "Well, Mr Easy, you've made me very
happy," replied the chaplain; "I was afraid it was otherwise."
So indeed it was, for the chaplain had sworn like a boatswain; but as
Jack and Mesty had turned all his curses into blessings, the poor man
gave himself absolution, and shaking hands with Jack, hoped he would
come down into the gun-room and take a glass of grog; nor did he
forget Mesty, who received a good allowance at the gun-room door, to
which Jack gladly consented, as the rum in the middy's berth had all
been exhausted after the rainy morning; but Jack was interrupted in
his third glass, by somebody telling him the captain wanted to speak
with Mr Hawkins and with him.
Jack went up, and found the captain on the quarter-deck with the
officers. "Mr Easy," said Captain Wilson, "I have sent for you, Mr
Hawkins, and Mr Gascoigne, to thank you on the quarter-deck, for your
exertions and presence of mind on this trying occasion." Mr Hawkins
made a bow. Gascoigne said nothing, but he thought of having extra
leave when they arrived at Malta. Jack felt inclined to make a
speech, and began something about when there was danger that it
levelled every one to an equality even on board of a man-of-war.
"By no means, Mr Easy," replied Captain Wilson; "it does the very
contrary; for it proves which is the best man, and those who are the
best raise themselves at once above the rest."
Jack was very much inclined to argue the point, but he took the
compliment and held his tongue, which was the wisest thing he could
have done; so he made his bow, and was about to go down into the
midshipmen's berth when the frigate was pooped by a tremendous sea,
which washed all those who did not hold on down into the waist. Jack
was among the number, and naturally catching at the first object which
touched him, he caught hold of the chaplain by the leg, who commenced
swearing most terribly: but before he could finish the oath, the water
which had burst into the cabin through the windows--for the dead
lights, in the confusion, had not yet been shipped--burst out of the
cross bulk-heads, sweeping like a torrent the marine, the cabin-door,
and everything else in its force, and floating Jack and the chaplain
with several others down the main hatchway on to the lower deck. The
lower deck being also full of water, men and chests were rolling and
tossing about, and Jack was sometimes in company with the chaplain,
and at other times separated; at last they both recovered their legs,
and gained the midshipmen's berth, which, although afloat, was still a
haven of security. Mr Hawkins spluttered and spit, and so did Jack,
until he began to laugh.
"This is very trying, Mr Easy," said the chaplain; "very trying indeed
to the temper. I hope I have not sworn I hope not."
"Not a word," said Jack--"I was close to you all the time--you only
said 'God preserve us!'"
"Only that? I was afraid that I said 'God d--n it!'"
"Quite a mistake, Mr Hawkins. Let's go into the gun-room, and try to
wash this salt water out of our mouths, and then I will tell you all
you said, as far as I could hear it, word for word."
So Jack by this means got another glass of grog, which was very
acceptable in his wet condition, and made himself very comfortable,
while those on deck were putting on the dead lights, and very busy
setting the goose-wings of the mainsail, to prevent the frigate from
being pooped a second time.
CHAPTER XXVI
In which our hero becomes excessively unwell, and agrees to go through
a course of medicine.
The hammocks were not piped down that night: some were taken
indiscriminately for the wounded, but the rest remained in the
nettings, for all hands were busy preparing jury masts and jury
rigging, and Mr Pottyfar was so well employed that for twelve hours
his hands were not in his pockets. It was indeed a dreadful night:
the waves were mountains high, and chased the frigate in their fury,
cresting, breaking, and roaring at her taffrail. But she flew before
them with the wings of the wind; four men at the helm, assisted by
others at the relieving tackles below. Jack, having been thanked on
and washed off the quarter-deck, thought that he had done quite
enough: he was as deep as he could swim before he had satisfied all
the scruples of the Chaplin and, stowing himself away on one of the
lockers of the midshipmen's berth, was soon fast asleep,
notwithstanding that the frigate rolled gunwale under. Gascoigne had
done much better; he had taken down a hammock, as he said, for a poor
wounded man, hung it up and turned in himself. The consequence was,
that the next morning the surgeon, who saw him lying in the hammock,
had put him down in the report, but as Gascoigne had got up as well as
ever, he laughed and scratched his name out of the list of wounded.
Before morning the ship had been pumped out dry, and all below made as
secure and safe as circumstances would permit; but the gale still
continued its violence, and there was anything but comfort onboard.
"I say, Martin, you ought to be thrown overboard!" said Gascoigne;
"all this comes from your croaking--you're a Mother Cary's chicken."
"I wish I had been anyone's chicken," replied Martin; "but the devil a
thing to nestle under have I had since I can well remember."
"What a bore to have no galley-fire lighted," said one of the
youngsters; "no tea, and not allowed any grog."
"The gale will last three days," replied Martin, "and by that time we
shall not be far from the Admiral; it won't blow home there."
"Well, then, we shall be ordered in directly, and I shall go on shore
to-morrow," replied Easy.
"Yes, if you're ill," replied Gascoigne.
"Never fear, I shall be sick enough. We shall be there at least six
weeks, and then we'll forget all this."
"Yes," replied Martin, "we may forget it, but will the poor fellows
whose limbs are shrivelled forget it? and will poor Miles, the
boatswain, who is blind forever?"
"Very true, Martin; we are thinking about ourselves, not thankful for
our escape, and not feeling for others," replied Gascoigne.
"Give us your hand, Ned," said Jack Easy. "And, Martin, we ought to
thank you for telling us the truth--we are a selfish set of fellows."
"Still we took our share with the others," replied one of the
midshipman.
"That's more reason for us to be grateful and to pity them," replied
Jack; "suppose you had lost your arm or your eyesight--we would have
pitied you; so now pity others."
"Well, so I do, now I think of it."
"Think oftener, youngster," observed Martin, going on deck. What a
change from the morning of the day before; but twenty-four hours had
passed away, and the sea had been smooth; the frigate dashed through
the blue water, proud in all her canvas, graceful as a swan. Since
that there had been fire, tempest, lightning, disaster, danger, and
death; her masts were tossed about on the snowy waves, hundreds of
miles away from her, and she--a wreck--was rolling heavily, groaning
and complaining in every timber, as she urged her impetuous race with
the furious running sea.
How wrong are those on shore who assert that sailors are not
religious!--how is it possible, supposing them to be possessed of
feeling, to be otherwise? On shore, where you have nothing but the
change of seasons, each in its own peculiar beauty--nothing but the
blessings of the earth, its fruits, its flowers--nothing but the
bounty, the comforts, the luxuries which have been invented, where you
can rise in the morning in peace, and lay down your head at night in
security--God may be neglected and forgotten for a long time; but at
sea, when each gale is a warning, each disaster acts as a check, each
escape as a homily upon the forbearance of Providence, that man must
be indeed brutalised who does not feel that God is there. On shore we
seldom view Him but in all His beauty and kindness; but at sea we are
as often reminded how terrible He is in His wrath. Can it be supposed
that the occurrences of the last twenty-four hours were lost upon the
minds of any one man in that ship? No, no. In their courage and
activity they might appear reckless, but in their hearts they
acknowledged and bowed unto their God.
Before the day was over, a jury-foremast had been got up, and sail
having been put upon it, the ship was steered with greater ease and
safety--the main brace had been spliced to cheer up the exhausted
crew, and the hammocks were piped down.
As Gascoigne had observed, some of the men were not very much pleased
to find that they were minus their blankets, but Captain Wilson
ordered their losses to be supplied by the purser and expended by the
master; this quite altered the case, as they obtained new blankets in
most cases for old ones, but still it was impossible to light the
galley fire, and the men sat on their chests and nibbled biscuit. By
twelve o'clock that night the gale broke, and more sail was
necessarily put on the scudding vessels for the sea still ran fast and
mountains high. At daylight the sun burst out and shone brightly on
them, the sea went gradually down, the fire was lighted, and Mr
Pottyfar, whose hands were again in his pockets, at twelve o'clock
gave the welcome order to pipe to dinner. As soon as the men had
eaten their dinner, the frigate was once more brought to the wind, her
jury-mast forward improved upon, and more sail made upon it. The next
morning there was nothing of the gale left except the dire effects
which it had produced, the black and riven stump of the foremast still
holding up a terrific warning of the power and fury of the elements.
Three days more, and the Aurora joined the Toulon fleet. When she was
first seen it was imagined by those on board of the other ships that
she had been in action, but they soon learnt that the conflict had
been against more direful weapons than any yet invented by mortal
hands. Captain Wilson waited upon the Admiral, and of course received
immediate orders to repair to port and refit. In a few hours the
Aurora had shaped her course for Malta, and by sunset the Toulon fleet
were no longer in sight.
"By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but that terrible sort of gale the
other day anyhow--I tink one time, we all go to Davy Joney's lacker."
"Very true, Mesty; I hope never to meet with such another."
"Den, Massa Easy, why you go to sea? when man ab no money, noting to
eat, den he go to sea, but everybody say you ab plenty money why you
come to sea?"
"I'm sure I don't know," replied Jack, thoughtfully; "I came to sea on
account of equality and the rights of man."
"Eh, Massa Easy, you come to wrong place anyhow. Now I tink a good
deal lately, and by all de power, I tink equality all stuff."
"All stuff, Mesty, why? You used to think otherwise."
"Yes, Massa Easy, but den I boil de kettle for all young gentleman.
Now dat I ship's corporal and hab cane, I tink so no longer."
Jack made no reply, but he thought the more. The reader must have
perceived that Jack's notions of equality were rapidly disappearing;
he defended them more from habit, and perhaps a wilfulness which would
not allow him to acknowledge himself wrong;--to which may be added his
love of argument. Already he had accustomed himself to obedience of
his superiors, and, notwithstanding his arguments, he would admit of
no resistance from those below him; not that it was hardly ever
attempted, for Jack was anything but a tyrant and was much beloved by
all in the ship. Every day brought its lesson, and Captain Wilson was
now satisfied that Jack had been almost cured of the effects of his
father's ridiculous philosophy.
After a few minutes, Mesty tapped his cane on the funnel and
recommenced. "Then why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?"
"I don't know, Mesty, I don't dislike it."
"But, Massa Easy, why you stay in midshipman berth, eat hard biscuit,
salt pig, salt horse, when you can go shore and live like gentleman?
Dat very foolish! Why not be your own master? By all power! suppose
I had money, catch me board ship. Little sea very good, Massa Easy,
open one's eyes; but tink of the lightning t'other night. Poor massa
boatswain he shut um eyes for ebber!"
"Very true, Mesty."
"Me hope you fink of this, sar, and when you go on shore you take
Mesty wid you. He sarve you well, Massa Easy, long as he live, by de
holy St Patrick. And den, Massa Easy, you marry wife--hab
pickaninny--lib like gentleman. You tink of this, Massa Easy."
The mention of the word marriage turned the thoughts of our hero to
his Agnes and he made no reply. Mesty walked away leaving our hero
in deep thought.
This conversation had more effect upon Jack than would have been
imagined, and he very often found he was putting to himself the
question of Mesty--"Why do you stay at sea?" He had not entered the
service with any particular view, except to find equality, and he
could not but acknowledge to himself that, as Mesty observed, he had
come to the wrong place. He had never even thought of staying to
serve his time, nor had he looked forward to promotion, and one day
commanding a ship. He had only cared for the present, without
indulging in a future anticipation of any reward, except in a union
with Agnes. Mesty's observations occasioned Jack to reflect upon the
future for the first time in his life; and he was always perplexed
when he put the question of Mesty, and tried to answer to himself as
to what were his intentions in remaining in the service.
Nevertheless Jack did his duty very much to the satisfaction of Mr
Pottyfar; and after a tedious passage, from baffling and light winds,
the Aurora arrived at Malta. Our hero had had some conversation with
his friend Gascoigne, in which he canvassed his future plans; all of
which, however, ended in one settled point, which was that he was to
marry Agnes. As for the rest, Gascoigne was of opinion that Jack
ought to follow up the service and become a captain. But there was
plenty of time to think about that, as he observed; now all they had
to consider was how to get on shore, for the refitting of the ship was
an excuse for detaining them on board, which they knew Mr Pottyfar
would avail himself of.
Jack dined in the gun-room on the day of their arrival, and he
resolved that he would ask that very evening. Captain Wilson was
already on shore at the Governor's. Now, there had been a little
difference of opinion between Mr Pottyfar and Mr Hawkins, the
chaplain, on a point of seamanship, and most of the officers sided
with the chaplain, who, as we have before observed, was a first-rate
seaman. It had ended in high words, for Mr Hawkins had forgotten
himself so far as to tell the first lieutenant that he had a great
deal to learn, not having even got over the midshipman's trick of
keeping his hands in his pockets; and Mr Pottyfar had replied that it
was very well for him as chaplain to insult others, knowing that his
cassock protected him.
This was a bitter reply to Mr Hawkins, who at the very time that the
insinuation made his blood boil, was also reminded that his profession
forbade a retort. He rushed into his cabin, poor fellow, having no
other method left, vented his indignation in tears, and then consoled
himself by degrees with prayer. In the meantime Mr Pottyfar had gone
on deck, wroth with Hawkins and with his messmates, as well as
displeased with himself. He was, indeed, in a humour to be pleased
with nobody, and in a most unfortunate humour to be asked leave by a
midshipman. Nevertheless, Jack politely took off his hat, and
requested leave to go on shore and see his friend the Governor. Upon
which Mr Pottyfar turned round to him, with his feet spread wide open,
and, thrusting his hands to the very bottom of his pockets, as if in
determination, said:
"Mr Easy, you know the state of the ship. We have everything to do--
new masts, new rigging, everything almost to refit--and yet you ask to
go on shore! Now, sir, you may take this answer for yourself, and all
the other midshipmen in the ship, that not one soul of you puts his
foot on shore until we are again all a-taunto."
"Allow me to observe, sir," said our hero, "that it is very true that
all our services may be required when the duty commences, but this
being Saturday night, and to-morrow Sunday, the frigate will not be
even moved till Monday morning; and as the work cannot begin before
that, I trust you will permit leave until that time."
"My opinion is different, sir," replied the first lieutenant.
"Perhaps, sir, you will allow me to argue the point," replied Jack.
"No, sir, I never allow argument; walk over to the other side of the
deck, if you please."
"O certainly, sir," said Jack, "if you wish it." Jack's first idea was
to go on shore without leave, but from this he was persuaded by
Gascoigne, who told him that it would displease Captain Wilson, and
that old Tom, the Governor, would not receive him. Jack agreed to
this, and then, after a flourish about the rights of man, tyranny,
oppression, and so forth, he walked forward to the forecastle, where
he found his friend Mesty, who had heard all that had passed, and who
insidiously said to him in a low tone--
"Why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?"
"Why, indeed," thought Jack, boiling with indignation; "to be cooped
up here at the will of another? I am a fool--Mesty is right--I'll ask
for my discharge to-morrow." Jack went down below, and told Gascoigne
what he had determined to do.
"You'll do no such thing, Jack," replied Gascoigne; "depend upon it,
you'll have plenty of leave in a day or two. Pottyfar was in a pet
with the chaplain, who was too much for him. Captain Wilson will be
on board by nine o'clock."
Nevertheless, Jack walked his first watch in the magnificents, as all
Biddies do when they cannot go on shore, and turned in at twelve
o'clock with the resolution of sticking to his purpose, and quitting
his majesty's service; in fact, of presenting his Majesty with his
between two and three years' time, served as midshipman, all free,
gratis, and for nothing, except his provisions and his pay, which some
captains are bold enough to assert that they not only are not worth,
but not even the salt that accompanies it; forgetting that they were
once midshipmen themselves, and at the period were, of course, of
about the same value.
The next morning Captain Wilson came off; the ship's company were
mustered, the service read by Mr Hawkins, and Jack, as soon as all the
official duties were over, was about to go up to the captain, when the
captain said to him,--"Mr Easy, the Governor desired me to bring you
on shore to dine with him, and he has a bed at your service."
Jack touched his hat and ran down below, to make his few preparations.
By the time that Mesty, who had taken charge of his chest, etc, had
put his necessaries in the boat, Jack had almost made up his mind that
his Majesty should not be deprived yet awhile of so valuable an
officer. Jack returned on deck, and found that the captain was not
yet ready; he went up to Mr Pottyfar, and told him that the captain
had ordered him to go on shore with him; and Mr Pottyfar, who had
quite got over his spleen, said,--
"Very well, Mr Easy--I wish you a great deal of pleasure."
"This is very different from yesterday," thought Jack; "suppose I try
the medicine?"
"I am not very well, Mr Pottyfar, and those pills of the doctor's
don't agree with me--I always am ill if I am long without air and
exercise."
"Very true," said the first lieutenant, "people require air and
exercise. I've no opinion of the doctor's remedies; the only thing
that is worth a farthing is the universal medicine."
"I should so long to try it, sir," replied Jack; "I read the book one
day, and it said that if you took it daily for a fortnight or three
weeks, and with plenty of air and exercise, it would do wonders."
"And it's very true," replied Mr Pottyfar; "and if you'd like to try
it you shall--I have plenty--shall I give you a dose now?"
"If you please, sir," replied Jack; "and tell me how often I am to
take it, for my head aches all day."
Mr Pottyfar took Jack down, and putting into his hand three or four
bottles of the preparation, told him that he was to take thirty drops
at night, when he went to bed, not to drink more than two glasses of
wine, and to avoid the heat of the sun.
"But, sir," replied Jack, who had put the bottles in his pocket, "I am
afraid that I cannot take it long; for as the ship is ready for
fitting, I shall be exposed to the sun all day."
"Yes, if you are wanted, Mr Easy; but we have plenty here without you;
and when you are unwell you cannot be expected to work. Take care of
your health; and I trust, indeed I am sure, that you will find this
medicine wonderfully efficacious."
"I will begin to-night, sir, if you please," replied Jack, "and I am
very much obliged to you. I sleep at the Governor's--shall I come on
board to-morrow morning?"
"No, no; take care of yourself, and get well; I shall be glad to hear
that you get better. Send me word how it acts."
"I will, sir, send you word by the boat every day," replied Jack,
delighted; "I am very much obliged to you, sir. Gascoigne and I were
thinking of asking you, but did not like to do so: he, poor fellow,
suffers from headaches almost as bad as I do, and the doctor's pills
are of no use to him."
"He shall have some too, Mr Easy; I thought he looked pale. I'll see
to it this afternoon. Recollect, moderate exercise, Mr Easy, and
avoid the sun at midday."
"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I'll not forget"; and off went Jack,
delighted. He ordered Mesty to put up his whole portmanteau instead
of the small bundle he put into the boat, and telling Gascoigne what a
spoke he had put into his wheel, was soon in the boat with the
captain, and went on shore, where he was cordially greeted by the
Governor.
CHAPTER XXVII
In which Captain Wilson is repaid with interest for Jack's borrowing
his name, proving that a good name is as good as a legacy.
"Well, Jack, my boy, have you any long story ready for me?" inquired
the Governor.
"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I have one or two very good ones."
"Very well, we'll hear them after dinner," replied old Tom. "In the
meantime find out your room and take possession."
"That must not be for very long, Governor," observed Captain Wilson.
"Mr Easy must learn his duty, and there is a good opportunity now."
"If you please, sir," replied Jack, "I'm on the sick list."
"Sick list," said Captain Wilson; "you were not in the report I was
given this morning."
"No, I'm on Mr Pottyfar's list, and I'm going through a course of the
universal medicine."
"What's all this, Jack, what's all this? There's some story here.
Don't be afraid of the captain--you've me to back you," said the
Governor.
Jack was not at all afraid of the captain, so he told him how the
first lieutenant had refused him leave the evening before, and how he
had now given him permission to remain, and try the universal
medicine, at which the Governor laughed heartily, nor could Captain
Wilson refrain from joining.
"But, Mr Easy," replied the captain, after a pause, "if Mr Pottyfar
will allow you to stay on shore, I cannot--you have your duty to
learn. You must be aware that now is your time, and you must not lose
opportunities that do not occur every day. You must acknowledge the
truth of what I say."
"Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I admit it all, provided I do intend to
follow the profession"; and so saying our hero bowed, and left the
veranda where they had been talking.
This hint of Jack's, thrown out by him, more with the intention of
preventing his being sent on board than with any definite idea, was
not lost upon either the captain or the Governor.
"Does he jib, then?" observed the Governor. "On the contrary, I never
knew him more attentive, and so entirely getting rid of his former
notions. He has behaved most nobly in the gale, and there has not
been one complaint against him--I never was more astonished--he must
have meant something."
"I'll tell you what he means, Wilson--that he does not like to be sent
on board, nothing more. He's not to be cooped up--you may lead him,
but not drive him."
"Yes but the service will not admit of it. I never could allow it--he
must do his duty like the rest, and conform to the rules."
"Exactly, so he must; but look ye, Wilson, you must not lose him: it's
all easily settled--appoint him your orderly midshipman to and from
the ship, that will be employment, and he can always remain here at
night I will tell him that I have asked, as a favour, what I now do,
and leave me to find out what he is thinking about."
"It may be done that way certainly", replied Captain Wilson, musing "and
you are more likely, to get his intentions from him than I am. I am
afraid he has too great a command of money ever to be fond of the
ship; it is the ruin of a junior officer to be so lavishly supplied."
"He's a long way from ruin yet, Wilson--he's a very fine fellow, even
by your own acknowledgment. You humoured him out of gratitude to his
father, when he first came into the service; humour him a little now
to keep him in it. Besides, if your first lieutenant is such a fool
with his universal medicine, can you wonder at a midshipman taking
advantage of it?"
"No, but I ought not to allow him to do so with my eyes open."
"He has made it known to you upon honour, and you ought not to take
advantage of his confidence: but still what I proposed would, I think,
be the best, for then he will be at his duty in a way that will suit
all parties. You, because you employ him on service--the first
lieutenant, because Jack can take his medicine--and Jack, because he
can dine with me every day."
"Well, I suppose it must be so," replied Captain Wilson, laughing;
"but still, I trust, you will discover what is working in his mind to
induce him to give me that answer, Governor."
"Never fear, Jack shall confess, and lay his soul as bare as that of a
Catholic bigot before his padre."
The party sat down to dinner, and what with the Governor's
aide-de-camp and those invited, it was pretty numerous. After the
cloth had been removed, the Governor called upon Jack for his stories,
whereupon, much to the surprise of Captain Wilson, who had never heard
one word of it, for the Admiral had not mentioned anything about it to
him during the short time the Aurora was with the Toulon fleet, our
hero gave the Governor and the company the narrative of all that
happened in the Mary Ann transport--the loves of Captain Hogg and Miss
Hicks-the adventures of Gascoigne--and his plan, by which he baulked
them all. The Governor was delighted, and Captain Wilson not a little
astonished.
"You prevented a very foolish thing, Mr Easy, and behaved very well,"
observed the captain, laughing again at the idea; "but you never told
me of all this."
"No, sir," replied Jack, "I have always reserved my stories for the
Governor's table, where I am sure to meet you, and then telling once
does for all."
Jack received his appointment as orderly midshipman, and everything
went on well; for, of his own accord, he stayed on board the major
part of the day to learn his duty, which very much pleased the captain
and Mr Pottyfar. In this Jack showed a great deal of good sense, and
Captain Wilson did not repent of the indulgence he had shown him.
Jack's health improved daily, much to Mr Pottyfar's satisfaction, who
imagined that he took the universal medicine night and morning.
Gascoigne also was a patient under the first lieutenant's hands, and
often on shore with our hero, who thought no more of quitting the
service.
For seven weeks they had now remained in harbour, for even the masts
had to be made, when, one day, Captain Wilson opened a letter he
received at breakfast-time, and having read it, laid it down with the
greatest surprise depicted in his countenance. "Good heavens what can
this mean?" said he.
"What's the matter, Wilson?" said the Governor. "Just hear its
contents, Sir Thomas." Captain Wilson then read in Spanish as
follows:--
"HONOURABLE SIR,
"It is my duty to advise you that the Honourable Lady Senora Alforgas
de Cuzman, now deceased, has, in her testament bequeathed to you the
sum of one thousand doubloons in gold as a testimony of your kind
services on the night of the 12th of August. If you will authorise any
merchant here to receive the money, it shall be paid forthwith, or
remitted in any way you please to appoint. May you live a thousand
years!
"Your most obedient servant,
"ALFONZO XEREZ."
Jack heard the letter read, rose quietly, whistled low, as if not
attending to it, and then slipped out of the room, unperceived by the
Governor or Captain Wilson.
The fact was, that although Jack had longed to tell the Governor about
his adventures after the masquerade, he did not like yet awhile, until
he was sure that there were no consequences--because he had given the
captain's name instead of his own. As soon as he heard the letter
read, he at once perceived that it had been the old lady, and not the
priests, who had made the inquiry, and that by giving Captain Wilson's
name, he had obtained for him this fine legacy. Jack was delighted,
but still puzzled, so he walked out of the room to reflect a little.
"What can it mean?" said Captain Wilson. "I never rendered any
services to anyone on the 12th of August or after it. It is some
mistake--12th of August--that was the day of the grand masquerade."
"A lucky one for you, at all events--for you know, mistake or not, no
one else can touch the legacy. It can only be paid to you."
"I never heard of anything taking place at the masquerade--I was
there, but I left early, for I was not very well. Mr Easy," said
Captain Wilson, turning round; but Jack was gone.
"Was he at the masquerade?" asked the Governor. "Yes, I know he was,
for the first lieutenant told me that he requested not to come on
board till the next day."
"Depend upon it," replied the Governor, striking his fist upon the
table, "that Jack's at the bottom of it."
"I should not be surprised at his being at the bottom of anything,"
replied Captain Wilson, laughing.
"Leave it to me, Wilson; I'll find it out."
After a little more conversation, Captain Wilson went on board,
leaving Jack on purpose that the Governor might pump him. But this
Sir Thomas had no occasion to do, for Jack had made up his mind to
make the Governor his confidant, and he immediately told him the whole
story. The Governor held his sides at our hero's description,
especially at his ruse of giving the captain's name instead of his
own.
"You'll kill me, Jack, before you've done with me," said old Tom, at
last; "but now, what is to be done?"
Our hero now became grave; he pointed out to the Governor that he
himself had plenty of money, and would come into a large fortune, and
that Captain Wilson was poor, with a large family. All Jack wanted
the Governor to manage was, that Captain Wilson might consent to
accept the legacy.
"Right, boy, right! you're my own boy," replied the Governor, "but we
must think of this, for Wilson is the very soul of honour, and there
might be some difficulty about it. You have told nobody?"
"Not a soul but you, Sir Thomas."
"It will never do to tell him all this, Jack, for he would insist that
the legacy belonged to you."
"I have it, sir," replied Jack. "When I was going into the masquerade
I offered to hand this very old lady, who was covered with diamonds
out of her carriage, and she was so frightened at my dress of the
devil that she would have fallen down had it not been for Captain
Wilson who supported her, and she was very thankful to him."
"You are right, Jack," replied the Governor, after a short pause:
"that will, I think, do. I must tell him the story of the friars,
because I swore you had something to do with it--but I'll tell him no
more. Leave it all to me."
Captain Wilson returned in the afternoon, and found the Governor on
the veranda.
"I have had some talk with young Easy," said the Governor, "and he has
told me a strange story about that night, which he was afraid to tell
to everybody."
The Governor then narrated the history of the friars and the will.
"Well, but," observed Captain Wilson, "the history of that will afford
no clue to the legacy."
"No it does not; but still, as I said, Jack had a hand in this. He
frightened the old lady as a devil, and you caught her in your arms
and saved her from falling, so he had a hand in it, you see."
"I do now remember that I did save a very dowager-like old personage
from falling at the sight of a devil, who, of course, must have been
our friend Easy."
"Well, and that accounts for the whole of it."
"A thousand doubloons for picking up an old lady!"
"Yes, why not?--have you not heard of a man having a fortune left him
for merely opening the pew door of a church, to an old gentleman?"
"Yes, but it appears so strange."
"There's nothing strange in this world, Wilson, nothing at a We may
slave for years and get no reward, and do a trifle out of politeness
and become independent. In my opinion, this mystery is unravelled.
The old lady, for I knew the family, must have died immensely rich:
she knew you in your full uniform, and she asked your name; a heavy
fall would have been to one so fat a most serious affair; you saved
her, and she has rewarded you handsomely."
"Well," replied Captain Wilson, "as I can give no other explanation, I
suppose yours is the correct one; but it's hardly fair to take a
thousand doubloons from her relations merely for an act of civility."
"You really are quite ridiculous; the old lady owned half Murcia, to
my knowledge. It is no more to them than anyone leaving you a suit of
mourning in an English legacy. I wish you joy; it will help you with a
large family, and in justice to them you are bound to take it.
Everybody does as he pleases with his own money,--depend upon it, you
saved her from breaking her leg short off at the hip joint."
"Upon that supposition I presume I must accept of the legacy," replied
Captain Wilson, laughing.
"Of course; send for it at once. The rate of exchange is now high. I
will give you government bills, which will make it nearly four
thousand pounds."
"Four thousand pounds for preventing an old woman from falling,"
replied Captain Wilson.
"Devilish well paid, Wilson, and I congratulate you."
"For how much am I indebted to the father of young Easy!" observed
Captain Wilson, after a silence of some minutes; "if he had not
assisted me when I was appointed to a ship, I should not have gained
my promotion--nor three thousand pounds I have made in prize-money--
the command of a fine frigate--and now four thousand pounds in a
windfall."
The Governor thought that he was more indebted to Jack than to his
father for some of these advantages, but he was careful not to point
them out.
"It's very true," observed the Governor, "that Mr Easy was of service
to you when you were appointed; but allow me to observe, that for your
ship, your prize-money, and for your windfall, you have been wholly
indebted to your own gallantry, in both senses of the word; still Mr
Easy is a fine generous fellow, and so is his son, I can tell you.
By-the-bye, I had a long conversation with him the other day."
"About himself?"
"Yes, all about himself. He appears to me to have come into the
service without any particular motive, and will be just as likely to
leave it in the same way. He appears to be very much in love with
that Sicilian nobleman's daughter. I find that he has written to her,
and to her brother, since he has been here."
"That he came into the service in search of what he never will find in
this world, I know very well; and I presume that he has found that
out--and that he will follow up the service is also very doubtful; but
I do not wish that he should leave it yet, it is doing him great
good," replied Captain Wilson.