"Although not a correspondent of yours, I take the right

of having watched you through all your childhood, and from a knowledge

of your disposition, to write you a few lines. That you have, by this

time, discarded your father's foolish, nonsensical philosophy, I am

very sure. It was I who advised your going away for that purpose, and

I am sure, that, as a young man of sense, and the heir to a large

property, you will before this have seen the fallacy of your father's

doctrines. Your father tells me that he has requested you to come

home, and allow me to add any weight I may have with you in persuading

you to do the same. It is fortunate for you that the estate is

entailed, or you might soon be a beggar, for there is no saying what

debts he might, in his madness, be guilty of. He has already been

dismissed from the magistracy by the lord-lieutenant, in consequence

of his haranguing the discontented peasantry, and I may say, exciting

them to acts of violence and insubordination. He has been seen

dancing and hurrahing round a stack fired by an incendiary. He has

turned away his keepers, and allowed all poachers to go over the

manor. In short, he is not in his senses; and, although I am far from

advising coercive measures, I do consider that it is absolutely

necessary that you should immediately return home, and look after what

will one day be your property. You have no occasion to follow the

profession, with eight thousand pounds per annum. You have

distinguished yourself, now make room for those who require it for

their subsistence. God bless you. I shall soon hope to shake hands

with you.

"Yours most truly,

"G. MIDDLETON."

There was matter for deep reflection in these two letters, and Jack

never felt before how much his father had been in the wrong. That he

had gradually been weaned from his ideas was true, but still he had,

to a certain degree, clung to them, as we do to a habit; but now he

felt that his eyes were opened; the silly, almost unfeeling letter of

his father upon the occasion of his mother's death, opened his eyes.

For a long while Jack was in a melancholy meditation, and then casting

his eyes upon his watch, he perceived that it was almost dinner-time.

That he could eat his dinner was certain, and he scorned to pretend to

feel what he did not. He therefore dressed himself and went down,

grave, it is true, but not in tears. He spoke little at dinner, and

retired as soon as it was over, presenting his two letters to the

Governor, and asking his advice for the next morning. Gascoigne

followed him, and to him he confided his trouble; and Ned, finding

that Jack was very low-spirited, consoled him to the best of his

power, and brought a bottle of wine which he procured from the butler.

Before they returned to bed, Jack had given his ideas to his friend,

which were approved of, and wishing him a good-night, he threw himself

into bed, and was soon fast asleep.

"One thing is certain, my good fellow," observed the Governor to our

hero, as he gave him back his letters at the breakfast table the next

morning; "that your father is as mad as a March hare. I agree with

that doctor, who appears a sensible man, that you had better go home

immediately."

"And leave the service altogether, sir?" replied Jack.

"Why, I must say, that I do not think you exactly fitted for it. I

shall be sorry to lose you, as you have a wonderful talent for

adventure, and I shall have no more yarns to hear when you return; but,

if I understand right from Captain Wilson, you were brought into the

profession because he thought that the service might be of use in

eradicating false notions, rather than from any intention or necessity

of your following it up as a profession."

"I suspect that was the case, sir," replied Jack; "as, for my own

part, I hardly know why I entered it."

"To find a mare's nest, my lad; I've heard all about it; but never

mind that: the question is now about your leaving it, to look after

your own property, and I think I may venture to say, that I can

arrange all that matter at once, without referring to Admiral or

captain. I will be responsible for you, and you may go home in the

packet, which sails on Wednesday for England."

"Thank you, Sir Thomas, I am much obliged to you," replied Jack.

"You, Mr Gascoigne, I shall, of course, send out by the first

opportunity to rejoin your ship."

"Thank you, Sir Thomas, I am much obliged to you," replied Gascoigne,

making a bow.

"You'll break no more arms, if you please, sir," continued the

Governor; "a man in love may have some excuse in breaking his leg, but

you had none."

"I beg your pardon, sir; if Mr Easy was warranted in breaking his leg

out of love, I submit that I could do no less than break my arm out of

friendship."

"Hold your tongue, sir, or I'll break your head from the very opposite

feeling," replied the Governor, good-humouredly. "But observe, young

man, I shall keep this affair secret, as in honour bound; but let me

advise you, as you have only your profession to look to, to follow it

up steadily. It is high time that you and Mr Easy were separated. He

is independent of the service, and you are not. A young man

possessing such ample means will never be fitted for the duties of a

junior officer. He can do no good for himself, and is certain to do

much harm to others: a continuance of his friendship would probably

end in your ruin, Mr Gascoigne. You must be aware, that if the

greatest indulgence had not been shown to Mr Easy by his captain and

first lieutenant, he never could have remained in the service so long

as he has done."

As the Governor made the last remark in rather a severe tone, our two

midshipmen were silent for a minute. At last Jack observed, very

quietly,--

"And yet, sir, I think, considering all, I have behaved pretty well."

"You have behaved very well, my good lad, on all occasions in which

your courage and conduct, as an officer, have been called forth. I

admit it; and had you been sent to sea with a mind properly regulated,

and without such an unlimited command of money, I have no doubt but

that you would have proved an ornament to the service. Even now I

think you would, if you were to remain in the service under proper

guidance and necessary restrictions, for you have, at least, learnt to

obey, which is absolutely necessary before you are fit to command. But

recollect, what your conduct would have brought upon you, if you had

not been under the parental care of Captain Wilson. But let us say no

more about that: a midshipman with the prospect of eight thousand

pounds a year is an anomaly which the service cannot admit, especially

when that midshipman is resolved to take to himself a wife."

"I hope that you approve of that step, sir."

"That entirely depends upon the merit of the party, which I know

nothing of, except that she has a pretty face, and is of one of the

best Sicilian families. I think the difference of religion a ground

of objection."

"We will argue that point, sir," replied Jack.

"Perhaps it will be the cause of more argument than you think for, Mr

Easy; but every man makes his own bed, and as he makes it, so must he

lie down in it."

"What am I to do about Mesty, sir? I cannot bear the idea of parting

with him."

"I am afraid that you must; I cannot well interfere there."

"He is of little use to the service, sir; he has been sent to sick

quarters as my servant: if he may be permitted to go home with me, I

will procure his discharge as soon as I arrive, and send him on board

the guard-ship till I obtain it."

"I think that, on the whole, he is as well out of the service as in

it, and therefore I will, on consideration, take upon myself the

responsibility, provided you do as you say."

The conversation was here ended, as the Governor had business to

attend to, and Jack and Gascoigne went to their rooms to make their

arrangements.

"The Governor is right," observed Gascoigne; "it is better that we

part, Jack. You have half unfitted me for the service already; I have

a disgust of the midshipmen's berth; the very smell of pitch and tar

has become odious to me. This is all wrong; I must forget you and all

our pleasant cruises on shore, and once more swelter in my greasy

Jacket. When I think that, if our pretended accidents were discovered,

I should be dismissed the service, and the misery which that would

cause to my poor father, I tremble at my escape. The Governor is

right, Jack; we must part, but I hope you never will forget me."

"My hand upon it, Ned. Command my interest, if ever I have any--my

money--what I have, and the house, whether it belongs to me or my

father--as far as you are concerned at least, I adhere to my notions

of perfect equality."

"And abjure them, I trust, Jack, as a universal principle."

"I admit, as the Governor asserts, that my father is as mad as a March

hare."

"That is sufficient; you don't know how glad it makes me to hear you

say that."

The two friends were inseparable during the short time that they

remained together. They talked over their future prospects, their

hopes and anticipations, and when the conversation flagged, Gascoigne

brought up the name of Agnes.

Mesty's delight at leaving the service, and going home with his patron

was indescribable. He laid out a portion of his gold in a suit of

plain clothes, white linen shirts, and in every respect the wardrobe

of a man of fashion; in fact, he was now a complete gentleman's

gentleman; was very particular in frizzing his woolly hair--wore a

white neck-cloth, gloves, and cane. Every one felt inclined to laugh

when he made his appearance; but there was something in Mesty's look,

which, at all events, prevented their doing so before his face. The

day for sailing arrived. Jack took leave of the Governor, thanking

him for his great kindness, and stating his intention of taking Malta

in his way out to Palermo in a month or two. Gascoigne went on board

with him, and did not go down the vessel's side till it was more than

a mile clear of the harbour.

CHAPTER XXXV

Mr Easy's wonderful invention fully explained by himself--much to the

satisfaction of our hero, and it is to be presumed to that also of the

reader.

At last the packet anchored in Falmouth Roads. Jack, accompanied by

Mesty, was soon on shore with his luggage, threw himself into the

mail, arrived in London, and, waiting there two or three days, to

obtain what he considered necessary from a fashionable tailor, ordered

a chaise to Forest Hill. He had not written to his father to announce

his arrival, and it was late in the morning when the chaise drew up at

his father's door.

Jack stepped out and rang the bell. The servants who opened the door

did not know him; they were not the same as those he left.

"Where is Mr Easy?" demanded Jack.

"Who are you?" replied one of the men, in a gruff tone.

"By de powers, you very soon find out who he is," observed Mesty.

"Stay here, and I'll see if he is at home."

"Stay here? stay in the hall like a footman? What do you mean, you

rascal?" cried Jack, attempting to push by the man.

"O, that won't do here, master; this is Equality Hall; one man's as

good as another."

"Not always," replied Jack, knocking him down. "Take that for your

insolence, pack up your traps, and walk out of the house to-morrow

morning."

Mesty, in the meantime, had seized the other by the throat. "What I do

with this fellow, Massa Easy?"

"Leave him now, Mesty: we'll settle their account to-morrow morning. I

presume I shall find my father in the library."

"His father!" said one of the men to the other; "he's not exactly a

chip off the old block."

"We shall have a change, I expect," replied the other, as they walked

away.

"Mesty," cried Jack, in an authoritative tone, "bring those two

rascals back to take the luggage out of the chaise; pay the position,

and tell the housekeeper to show you my room, and yours. Come to me

for orders as soon as you have done this."

"Yes, sir," replied Mesty. "Now come here, you d--n blackguard, and

take tings out of chaise, or by de holy poker I choak your luff, both

of you."

The filed teeth, the savage look, and determination of Mesty, had the

due effect. The men sullenly returned, and unloaded the chaise. In

the meantime, Jack walked into his father's study; his father was

there--the study was lighted up with argand lamps, and Jack looked

with astonishment. Mr Easy was busy with a plaster cast of a human

head, which he pored over, so that he did not perceive the entrance of

his son. The cast of the skull was divided into many compartments,

with writing on each; but what most astonished our hero was the

alteration in the apartment. The book-cases and books had all been

removed, and in the centre, suspended from the ceiling, was an

apparatus which would have puzzled anyone, composed of rods in every

direction, with screws at the end of them, and also tubes in equal

number, one of which communicated with a large air-pump, which stood

on a table. Jack took a short survey, and then walked up to his

father and accosted him.

"What!" exclaimed Mr Easy, "is it possible?--yes, it is my son John!

I'm glad to see you, John,--very glad, indeed," continued the old

gentleman, shaking him by both hands--"very glad that you have come

home; I wanted you--wanted your assistance in my great and glorious

project, which, I thank Heaven, is now advancing rapidly. Very soon

shall equality and the rights of man be proclaimed everywhere. The

pressure from without is enormous, and the bulwarks of our ridiculous

and tyrannical constitution must give way. King, lords, and

aristocrats; landholders, tithe-collectors, church and state, thank

God, will soon be overthrown, and the golden age revived--the

millennium--the true millennium--not what your poor mother talked

about. I am at the head of twenty-nine societies, and if my health

lasts, you will see what I will accomplish now that I have your

assistance, Jack"; and Mr Easy's eyes sparkled and flashed in all the

brilliancy of incipient insanity.

Jack sighed, and to turn the conversation he observed, "You have made

a great change in this room, sir. What may all this be for? Is it a

machine to improve equality and the rights of man?"

"My dear son," replied Mr Easy, sitting down and crossing his legs

complacently, with his two hands under his right thigh, according to

his usual custom, when much pleased with himself,--"why, my dear son,

that is not exactly the case, and yet you have shown some degree of

perception even in your guess; for if my invention succeeds (and I

have no doubt of it), I shall have discovered the great art of

rectifying the mistakes of nature, and giving an equality of

organisation to the whole species, of introducing all the finer organs

of humanity, and of destroying the baser. It is a splendid invention,

Jack, very splendid. They may talk of Call and Spurzheim, and all

those; but what have they done? nothing but divided the brain into

sections, classed the organs, and discovered where they reside; but

what good result has been gained from that? the murderer by nature

remained a murderer--the benevolent man a benevolent man--he could not

alter his organisation. I have found out how to change all that."

"Surely, sir, you would not interfere with the organ of benevolence."

"But indeed I must, Jack. I, myself, am suffering from my organ of

benevolence being too large: I must reduce it, and then I shall be

capable of greater things, shall not be so terrified by difficulties,

shall overlook trifles, and only carry on great schemes for universal

equality and the supreme rights of man. I have put myself into that

machine every morning for two hours, for these last three months, and

I feel now that I am daily losing a great portion."

"Will you do me the favour to explain an invention so extraordinary,

sir?" said our hero.

"Most willingly, my boy. You observe that in the centre there is a

frame to confine the human head, somewhat larger than the head itself,

and that the head rests upon the iron collar beneath. When the head

is thus firmly fixed, suppose I want to reduce the size of any

particular organ, I take the boss corresponding to where that organ is

situated in the cranium, and fix it on it. For you will observe that

all the bosses inside of the top of the frame correspond to the organs

as described in this plaster cast on the table. I then screw down

pretty tight, and increase the pressure daily, until the organ

disappears altogether, or is reduced to the size required."

"I comprehend that part perfectly, sir," replied Jack; "but now

explain to me by what method you contrive to raise an organ which does

not previously exist."

"That," replied Mr Easy, "is the greatest perfection of the whole

invention, for without I could do that, I could have done little. I

feel convinced that this invention of mine will immortalise me.

Observe all these little bell-glasses which communicate with the

air-pump; I shave my patient's head, grease it a little, and fix on

the bell-glass, which is exactly shaped to fit the organ in length and

breadth. I work the air-pump, and raise the organ by an exhausted

receiver. It cannot fail. There is my butler, now; a man who escaped

hanging last spring assizes on an undoubted charge of murder. I

selected him on purpose; I have flattened down murder to nothing, and

I have raised benevolence till it's like a wen."

"I am afraid my poor father's head is an exhausted receiver," thought

Jack, who then replied, "Well, sir, if it succeeds it will be a good

invention."

"If it succeeds!--why, it has succeeded--it cannot fail. It has cost

me near two thousand pounds. By-the-bye, Jack, you have drawn very

liberally lately, and I had some trouble, with my own expenses, to

meet your bills; not that I complain--but what with societies, and my

machine, and tenants refusing to pay their rents, on the principle

that the farms are no more mine than theirs, which I admit to be true,

I have had some difficulty in meeting all demands."

"The Governor was right," thought Jack, who now inquired after Dr

Middleton.

"Ah, poor silly man! he's alive yet--I believe doing well. He is one

who will interfere with the business of others, complains of my

servants--very silly man indeed--but I let him have his own way. So I

did your poor mother. Silly woman, Mrs Easy--but never mind that."

"If you please, sir, I have also a complaint to make of the servants

for their insolence to me: but we will adjourn, if you please, as I

wish to have some refreshment."

"Certainly, Jack, if you are hungry; I will go with you. Complain of

my servants, say you?--there must be some mistake--they are all

shaved, and wear wigs, and I put them in the machine every other

morning: but I mean to make an alteration in one respect. You

observe, Jack, it requires more dignity: we must raise the whole

machinery some feet, ascend it with state as a throne, for it is the

throne of reason, the victory of mind over nature."

"As you please, sir; but I am really hungry just now." Jack

and his father went into the drawing-room and rang the bell; not being

answered, Jack rose and rang again.

"My dear sir," observed Mr Easy, "you must not be in a hurry; every

man naturally provides for his own wants first, and afterwards for

those of others. Now my servants--"

"Are a set of insolent scoundrels, sir, and insolence I never permit.

I knocked one down as I entered your house, and, with your permission,

I will discharge two, at least, to-morrow."

"My dear son," exclaimed Mr Easy, "you knocked my servant down!--are

you not aware, by the laws of equality--"

"I am aware of this, my dear father," replied Jack, "that by all the

laws of society we have a right to expect civility and obedience from

those we pay and feed."

"Pay and feed! Why, my dear son,--my dear Jack,--you must recollect--"

"I recollect, sir, very well; but if your servants do not come to

their recollection in a very short time, either I or they must quit

the house."

"But, my dear boy, have you forgotten the principles I instilled into

you? Did you not go to sea to obtain that equality foiled by tyranny

and despotism here on shore? Do you not acknowledge and support my

philosophy?"

"We'll argue that point to-morrow, sir--at present I want to obtain my

supper"; and Jack rang the bell furiously.

The butler made his appearance at this last summons, and he was

followed by Mesty, who looked like a demon with anger.

"Mercy on me, whom have we here?"

"My servant, father," exclaimed Jack, starting up; "one that I can

trust to, and who will obey me. Mesty, I wish some supper and wine to

be brought immediately--see that scoundrel gets it ready in a moment.

If he does not, throw him out of the door, and lock him out. You

understand me."

"Yes, Massa," grinned Mesty; "now you hab supper very quick, or Mesty

know the reason why. Follow me, sar," cried Mesty, in an imperative

tone to the butler: "quick, sar, or by de holy poker, I show you what

Mesty can do;" and Mesty grinned in his wrath.

"Bring supper and wine immediately," said Mr Easy, giving an order

such as the butler had never heard since he had been in the house.

The butler quitted the room, followed by the Ashantee. "My dear boy--

my Jack--I can make every allowance for hunger, it is often the cause

of theft and crime in the present unnatural state of society--but

really you are too violent. The principles."

"Your principles are all confounded nonsense, father," cried Jack, in

a rage.

"What, Jack!--my son-what do I hear? This from you--nonsense! Why,

Jack, what has Captain Wilson been doing with you?"

"Bringing me to my senses, sir."

"Oh dear! oh dear! my dear Jack, you will certainly make me lose

mine."

"Gone already," thought Jack.

"That you, my child, so carefully brought up in the great and glorious

school of philosophy, should behave this way--should be so violent--

forget your sublime philosophy, and all--just like Esau, selling your

birthright for a mess of pottage. Oh, Jack, you'll kill me! and yet I

love you, Jack--whom else have I to love in this world? Never mind,

we'll argue the point, my boy--I'll convince you--in a week all will

be right again."

"It shall, sir, if I can manage it," replied Jack.

"That's right, I love to hear you say so--that's consoling, very

consoling--but I think now, I was wrong to let you go to sea, Jack."

"Indeed you were not, father."

"Well, I'm glad to hear you say so: I thought they had ruined you,

destroyed all your philosophy--but it will be all right again--you

shall come to our societies, Jack--I am president--you shall hear me

speak, Jack--you shall hear me thunder like Demosthenes--but here

comes the tray."

The butler, followed by Mesty, who attended him as if he was his

prisoner, now made his appearance with the tray, laid it down in a

sulky manner and retired. Jack desired Mesty to remain.

"Well, Mesty, how are they getting on in the servants' hall?"

"Regular mutiny, sar--ab swear dat they no stand our nonsense, and dat

we both leave the house to-morrow."

"Do you hear, sir? your servants declare that I shall leave your house

to-morrow."

"You leave my house, Jack, after four years' absence!--no, no. I'll

reason with them--I'll make them a speech. You don't know how I can

speak, Jack."

"Look you, father, I cannot stand this; either give me a carte-blanche

to arrange this household as I please, or I shall quit it myself

to-morrow morning."

"Quit my house, Jack! no, no--shake hands and make friends with them;

be civil, and they will serve you--but you know, upon the principles-"

"Principles of the devil!" cried Jack, in a rage.

"Of the devil, Jack; dear me! I wish you had never gone to sea."

"In one word, sir, do you consent, or am I to leave the house?"

"Leave the house! O no; not leave the house, Jack. I have no son but

you. Then do as you please--but you must not send away my murderer,

for I must have him cured, and shown as a proof of my wonderful

invention."

"Mesty, get my pistols ready for to-morrow morning, and your own too--

do ye hear?"

"All ready, massa," replied Mesty; "I tink dat right." "Right!--

pistols, Jack! What do you mean?"

"It is possible, father, that you may not have yet quite cured your

murderer, and therefore it is as well to be prepared. I will now wish

you good-night; but, before I go, you will be pleased to summon one of

the servants, that he may inform the others that the household is

under my control for the future."

The bell was again rung, and was this time answered with more

expedition. Jack told the servant, in presence of his father, that,

with the consent of the latter, he should hereafter take the whole

control of the establishment, and that Mesty would be the majordomo

from whom they would receive their orders. The man stared, and cast

an appealing look to Mr Easy, who hesitated, and at last said--

"Yes, William; you'll apologise to all, and say that I have made the

arrangement."

"You apologise to none, sir," cried Jack; "but tell them that I will

arrange the whole business to-morrow morning. Tell the woman to come

here and show me my bed-room. Mesty, get your supper and then come up

to me; if they dare to refuse you, recollect who does, and point them

out to-morrow morning. That will do, sir; away with you, and bring

flat candlesticks."

CHAPTER XXXVI

In which Jack takes up the other side of the argument, and proves that

he can argue as well on one side as the other.

This scene may give some idea of the state of Mr Easy's household upon

our hero's arrival. The poor lunatic, for such we must call him, was

at the mercy of his servants, who robbed, laughed at, and neglected

him. The waste and expense were enormous. Our hero, who found how

matters stood, went to bed, and lay the best part of the night

resolving what to do. He determined to send for Dr Middleton, and

consult him.

The next morning, Jack rose early; Mesty was in the room, with warm

water, as soon as he rang.

"By de power, Massa Easy, your fader very silly old man."

"I'm afraid so," replied Jack.

"He not right here," observed Mesty, putting his fingers to his head.

Jack sighed, and desired Mesty to send one of the grooms up to the

door. When the man knocked he desired him to mount a horse and ride

over to Dr Middleton, and request his immediate attendance.

The man, who was really a good servant, replied, "Yes, sir," very

respectfully, and hastened away.

Jack went down to breakfast, and found it all ready, but his father

was not in the room: he went to his study, and found him occupied,

with the carpenter, who was making a sort of a frame as the model of

the platform or dais, to be raised under the wonderful invention. Mr

Easy was so busy that he could not come to breakfast, so Jack took his

alone. An hour after this, Dr Middleton's carriage drove up to the

door. The Doctor heartily greeted our hero.

"My dear sir--for so I suppose I must now call you--I am heartily glad

that you have returned. I can assure you that it is not a moment too

soon."

"I have found out that already, Doctor," replied Jack; "sit down. Have

you breakfasted?"

"No, I have not; for I was so anxious to see you, that I ordered my

carriage at once."

"Then sit down, Doctor, and we will talk over matters quietly."

"You of course perceive the state of your father. He has been some

time quite unfit to manage his own affairs."

"So I am afraid." "What do you intend to do, then--put them in the

hands of trustees?"

"I will be trustee for myself, Dr Middleton. I could not do the other

without submitting my poor father to a process, and confinement, which

I cannot think of."

"I can assure you, that there are not many in Bedlam worse than he is;

but I perfectly agree with you; that is, if he will consent to your

taking charge of the property."

"A power of attorney will be all that is requisite," replied Jack;

"that is, as soon as I have rid the house of the set of miscreants who

are in it; and who are now in open mutiny."

"I think," replied the Doctor, "that you will have some trouble. You

know the character of the butler."

"Yes, I have it from my father's own mouth. I really should take it as

a great favour, Dr Middleton, if you could stay here a day or two. I

know that you have retired from practice."

"I would have made the same offer, my young friend. I will come here

with two of my servants; for you must discharge these."

"I have one of my own who is worth his weight in gold--that will be

sufficient. I will dismiss every man you think I ought; and as for

the women, we can give them warning, and replace them at leisure."

"That is exactly what I should propose," replied the Doctor. "I will

now go, if you please; procure the assistance of a couple of

constables, and also of your father's former legal adviser, who shall

prepare a power of attorney."

"Yes," replied Jack, "and we must then find out the tenants who refuse

to pay upon the principles of equality, and he shall serve them with

notice immediately."

"I am rejoiced, my dear young friend, to perceive that your father's

absurd notions have not taken root."

"They lasted some time, nevertheless, Doctor," replied Jack, laughing.

"Well, then, I will only quit you for an hour or two, and then, as you

wish it, will take up my quarters here as long as you find me useful."

In the forenoon, Dr Middleton again made his appearance, accompanied

by Mr Hanson, the solicitor, bringing with him his portmanteau and his

servants. Mr Easy had come into the parlour, and was at breakfast

when they entered. He received them very coolly; but a little

judicious praise of the wonderful invention had its due effect; and

after Jack had reminded him of his promise that, in future, he was to

control the household, he was easily persuaded to sign the order for

his so doing--that is, the power of attorney.

Mr Easy also gave up to Jack the key of his escritoire, and Mr Hanson

possessed himself of the books, papers, and receipts necessary to

ascertain the state of his affairs, and the rents which had not yet

been paid up. In the meantime the constables arrived. The servants

were all summoned; Mr Hanson showed them the power of attorney,

empowering Jack to act for his father, and, in less than half an hour

afterwards, all the men-servants, but two grooms, were dismissed; the

presence of the constables and Mesty prevented any resistance, but not

without various threats on the part of the butler, whose name was

O'Rourke. Thus, in twenty-four hours, Jack had made a reformation in

the household.

Mr Easy took no notice of anything; he returned to his study and his

wonderful invention. Mesty had received the keys of the cellar, and

had now complete control over those who remained. Dr Middleton, Mr

Hanson, Mr Easy, and Jack, sat down to dinner, and everything wore the

appearance of order and comfort. Mr Easy ate very heartily, but said

nothing till after dinner, when as was his usual custom, he commenced

arguing upon the truth and soundness of his philosophy.

"By-the-bye, my dear son, if I recollect right, you told me last night

that you were no longer of my opinion. Now, if you please, we will

argue this point."

"I'll argue the point with all my heart, sir," replied Jack, "will you

begin?"

"Let's fill our glasses," cried Mr Easy, triumphantly; "let's fill our

glasses, and then I will bring Jack back to the proper way of

thinking. Now then, my son, I trust you will not deny that we are all

born equal."

"I do deny it, sir," replied Jack; "I deny it in toto--deny it from

the evidence of our own senses, and from the authority of Scripture.

To suppose all men were born equal, is to suppose that they are

equally endowed with the same strength, and with the same capacity of

mind, which we know is not the case. I deny it from Scripture, from

which I could quote many passages; but I will restrict myself to one--

the parable of the Talents: 'To one he gave five talents, to another

but one,' holding them responsible for the trust reposed in them. We

are all intended to fill various situations in society, and are

provided by Heaven accordingly."

"That may be," replied Mr Easy; "but that does not prove that the

earth was not intended to be equally distributed among all alike."

"I beg your pardon; the proof that that was not the intention of

Providence, is that that equality, allowing it to be put in practice,

could never be maintained."

"Not maintained!--no, because the strong oppress the weak, tyrants

rise up and conquer--men combine to do wrong."

"Not so, my dear father; I say it could not be maintained without the

organisation of each individual had been equalised, and several other

points established. For instance, allowing that every man had, ab

origins, a certain portion of ground. He who was the strongest or the

cleverest would soon cause his to yield more than others would, and

thus the equality be destroyed. Again, if one couple had ten children

and another had none, then again would equality be broken in upon, as

the land that supports two in the one instance, would have to feed

twelve in the other. You perceive, therefore, that without rapine or

injustice, your equality could not be preserved."

"But, Jack, allowing that there might be some diversity from such

causes, that would be a very different thing from the present

monstrous state of society, in which we have kings and lords, and

people, rolling in wealth, while others are in a state of pauperism,

and obliged to steal for their daily bread."

"My dear father, I consider that it is to this inequality that society

owes its firmest cementation--that we are enabled to live in peace and

happiness, protected by just laws, each doing his duty in that state

of life to which he is called, rising above or sinking in the scale of

society according as he has been entrusted with the five talents or

the one. Equality can and does exist nowhere. We are told that it

does not exist in heaven itself--how can it exist upon earth?"

"But that is only asserted, Jack, and it is not proof that it ought

not to exist."

"Let us argue the point, father, coolly. Let us examine a little what

would be the effect if all was equality. Were all equal in beauty

there would be no beauty, for beauty is only by comparison--were all

equal in strength, conflicts would be interminable--were all equal in

rank, and power, and possessions, the greatest charms of existence

would be destroyed--generosity, gratitude, and half the finer virtues

would be unknown. The first principle of our religion, charity, could

not be practised--pity would never be called forth--benevolence, your

great organ, would be useless, and self-denial a blank letter. Were

all equal in ability, there would be no instruction, no talent, no

genius--nothing to admire, nothing to copy, to respect--nothing to

rouse emulation, or stimulate to praiseworthy ambition. Why, my dear

father, what an idle, unprofitable, weary world would this be, if it

were based on equality!"

"But, allowing all that, Jack," replied Mr Easy, "and I will say you

argue well in a bad cause, why should the inequality be carried so

far--king and lords, for instance?"

"The most lasting and imperishable form of building is that of the

pyramid, which defies ages, and to that may the most perfect form of

society be compared. It is based upon the many, and rising by

degrees, it becomes less as wealth, talent, and rank increase in the

individual, until it ends at the apex or monarch, above all. Yet each

several stone from the apex to the base is necessary for the

preservation of the structure, and fulfils its duty in its allotted

place. Could you prove that those at the summit possess the greatest

share of happiness in this world, then, indeed, you have a position to

argue on; but it is well known that such is not the case; and provided

he is of a contented mind, the peasant is more happy than the king,

surrounded as the latter is by cares and anxiety."

"Very well argued, indeed, my dear sir," observed Dr Middleton.

"But, my dear boy, there are other states of society than monarchy; we

have republics and despotisms."

"We have, but how long do they last compared to the first? There is a

cycle in the changes which never varies. A monarchy may be overthrown

by a revolution, and republicanism succeed, but that is shortly

followed by despotism, till, after a time, monarchy succeeds again by

unanimous consent, as the most legitimate and equitable form of

government; but in none of these do you find a single advance to

equality. In a republic, those who govern are more powerful than the

rulers in a restricted monarchy--a president is greater than a king,

and next to a despot, whose will is law. Even in small societies you

find, that some will naturally take the lead and assume domination. We

commence the system at school, when we are first thrown into society,

and there we are taught systems of petty tyranny. There are some few

points in which we obtain equality in this world, and that equality

can only be obtained under a well-regulated form of society, and

consists in an equal administration of justice and of laws, to which

we have agreed to submit for the benefit of the whole--the equal right

to live and not be permitted to starve, which has been obtained in

this country. And when we are called to account, we shall have equal

justice. Now my dear father, you have my opinion."

"Yes, my dear, this is all very well in the abstract; but how does it

work?"

"It works well. The luxury, the pampered state, the idleness--if you

please, the wickedness--of the rich, all contribute to the support,

the comfort, and employment of the poor. You may behold extravagance

it is a vice; but that very extravagance circulates money, and the

vice of one contributes to the happiness of many. The only vice which

is not redeemed by producing commensurate good, is avarice. If all

were equal, there would be no arts, no manufactures, no industry, no

employment. As it is, the inequality of the distribution of wealth may

be compared to the heart, pouring forth the blood like a steam-engine

through the human frame, the same blood returning from the extremities

by the veins, to be again propelled, and keep up a healthy and

vigorous circulation."

"Bravo, Jack!" said Dr Middleton. "Have you anything to reply, sir?"

continued he, addressing Mr Easy.

"To reply, sir?" replied Mr Easy, with scorn; "why, he has not given

me half an argument yet: why that black servant even laughs at him--

look at him there showing his teeth. Can he forget the horrors of

slavery? can he forget the base unfeeling lash? No, sir, he has

suffered, and he can estimate the divine right of equality. Ask him

now, ask him, if you dare, Jack, whether he will admit the truth of

your argument."

"Well, I'll ask him," replied Jack, "and I tell you candidly that he

was once one of your disciples. Mesty, what's your opinion of

equality?"

"Equality, Massa Easy?" replied Mesty, pulling up his cravat; "I say

d--n equality, now I majordomo."

"The rascal deserves to be a slave all his life."

"True, I ab been slave--but I a prince in my own country. Massa Easy

tell how many skulls I have."

"Skulls--skulls--do you know anything of the sublime science? Are you

a phrenologist?"

"I know man's skull very well in Ashantee country, anyhow."

"Then if you know that, you must be one. I had no idea that the

science had extended so far--maybe it was brought from thence. I will

have some talk with you to-morrow. This is very curious. Dr

Middleton, is it not?"

"Very, indeed, Mr Easy."

"I shall feel his head to-morrow after breakfast, and if there is

anything wrong, I shall correct it with my machine. By-the-bye, I

have quite forgot, gentlemen; you will excuse me, but I wish to see

what the carpenter has done for me, and after that I shall attend the

meeting of the society. Jack, my boy, won't you come and hear my

speech?"

"Thank you, sir, but I cannot well leave your friends."

Mr Easy quitted the room.

"Are you aware, my dear sir, that your father has opened his preserves

to all the poachers?" said Mr Hanson.

"The devil he has!"

"Yes, he has allowed several gangs of gipsies to locate themselves in

his woods much to the annoyance of the neighbourhood, who suffer from

their depredations," continued Dr Middleton.

"I find, by the receipts and books, that there is nearly two years

rental of the estate due; some tenants have paid up in full, others

not for four years. I reckon fourteen thousand pounds still in

arrear."

"You will oblige me by taking immediate steps, Mr Hanson, for the

recovery of the sums due."

"Most certainly, Mr John. I trust your father will not commit himself

to-night as he has done lately."

When they rose to retire, Dr Middleton took out, hero by the hand.

"You do not know, my dear fellow, what pleasure it gives me to find

that, in spite of the doting of your mother and the madness of your

father, you have turned out so well. It is very fortunate that you

have come home; I trust you will now give up the profession."

"I have given it up, sir; which, by-the-bye, reminds me that I have

not applied for either my discharge or that of my servant; but I

cannot spare time yet, so I shall not report myself."

CHAPTER XXXVII

In which our hero finds himself an orphan, and resolves to go to sea

again without the smallest idea of equality.

The next morning, when they met at breakfast, Mr Easy did not make his

appearance, and Jack inquired of Mesty where he was.

"They say down below that the old gentleman not come home last night."

"Did not come home!" said Dr Middleton; "this must be looked to."

"He great rascal, dat butler man," said Mesty to Jack; "but de old

gentleman not sleep in his bed, dat for sure."

"Make enquiries when he went out," said Jack.

"I hope no accident has happened," observed Mr Hanson; "but his

company has lately been very strange."

"Nobody see him go out, sar, last night," reported Mesty.

"Very likely he is in his study," observed Dr Middleton; "he may have

remained all night, fast asleep, by his wonderful invention."

"I'll go and see," replied Jack.

Dr Middleton accompanied him, and Mesty followed. They opened the

door, and beheld a spectacle which made them recoil with horror. There

was Mr Easy, with his head in the machine, the platform below fallen

from under him, hanging, with his toes just touching the ground. Dr

Middleton hastened to him, and, assisted by Mesty and our hero, took

him out of the steel collar which was round his neck: but life had

been extinct for many hours, and, on examination, it was found that

the poor old gentleman's neck was dislocated.

It was surmised that the accident must have taken place the evening

before, and it was easy to account for it. Mr Easy, who had had the

machine raised four feet higher, for the platform and steps to be

placed underneath, must have mounted on the frame modelled by the

carpenter for his work, and have fixed his head in, for the knob was

pressed on his bump of benevolence. The framework, hastily put

together with a few short nails, had given way with his weight, and

the sudden fall had dislocated his neck.

Mr Hanson led away our hero, who was much shocked at this unfortunate

and tragical end of his poor father, while Dr Middleton ordered the

body to be taken up into a bed-room, and immediately despatched a

messenger to the coroner of the county. Poor Mr Easy had told his son

but the day before, that he felt convinced that this wonderful

invention would immortalise him, and so it had, although not exactly

in the sense that he anticipated.

We must pass over the few days of sorrow, and closed shutters, which

always are given to these scenes. The coroner's inquest and the

funeral over, daylight was again admitted, our hero's spirits revived,

and he found himself in possession of a splendid property, and his own

master.

He was not of age, it is true, for he wanted nine months; but on

opening the will of his father, he found that Dr Middleton was his

sole guardian. Mr Hanson, on examining and collecting the papers,

which were in the greatest confusion, discovered bank-notes in

different corners, and huddled up with bills and receipts, to the

amount of two thousand pounds, and further, a cheque signed by Captain

Wilson on his banker, for the thousand pounds advanced by Mr Easy,

dated more than fifteen months back.

Dr Middleton wrote to the Admiralty, informing them that family

affairs necessitated Mr John Easy, who had been left at sick quarters,

to leave his Majesty's service, requesting his discharge from it

forthwith. The Admiralty were graciously pleased to grant the

request, and lose the services of a midshipman. The Admiralty were

also pleased to grant the discharge of Mesty, on the sum required for

a substitute being paid in.

The gipsies were routed out of their abodes, and sent once more to

wander. The gamekeepers were restored, the preserves cleared of all

poachers, and the gentry of the country were not a little pleased at

Jack's succession, for they had wished that Mr Easy's neck had been

broken long ago. The societies were dissolved, since, now that Mr

Easy no longer paid for the beer, there was nothing to meet for. Cards

and compliments were sent from all parts of the county, and every one

was anxious that our hero should come of age, as then he would be able

to marry, to give dinners, subscribe to the foxhounds, and live as a

gentleman ought to do.

But during all these speculations, Jack had made Dr Middleton

acquainted with the history of his amour with Agnes de Rebiera, and

all particulars connected therewith, also with his determination to go

out to bring her home as his wife. Dr Middleton saw no objection to

the match, and he perceived that our hero was sincere. And Jack had

made inquiries when the packet would sail for Malta, when Mesty, who

stood behind his chair, observed,--

"Packet bad vessel, Massa Easy. Why not go out in man-of-war?"

"Very true," replied Jack; "but you know, Mesty, that is not so easy."

"And den how come home, sar? Suppose you and Missy Agnes taken

prisoner--put in prison?"

"Very true," replied Jack; "and as for a passage home in a man-of-war,

that will be more difficult still."

"Den I tink, sar, suppose you buy one fine vessel--plenty of guns--

take out letter of marque--plenty of men, and bring Missy Agnes home

like a lady. You captain of your own ship."

"That deserves consideration, Mesty," replied Jack, who thought of it

during that night: and the next day resolved to follow Mesty's advice.

The Portsmouth paper lay on the breakfast-table. Jack took it up, and

his eye was caught by an advertisement for the sale of the Joan d'Arc,

prize to H.M. ship Thetis, brigantine of 278 tons, copper-bottomed,

armed, en flutes with all her stores, spars, sails, running and

standing rigging, then lying in the harbour of Portsmouth, to take

place on the following Wednesday.

Jack rang the bell, and ordered post-horses.

"Where are you going, my dear boy?" inquired Dr Middleton.

"To Portsmouth, Doctor."

"And pray what for, if not an impertinent question?"

Jack then gave Dr Middleton an insight into his plan, and requested

that he would allow him to do so, as there was plenty of ready money.

"But the expense will be enormous."

"It will be heavy, sir, I grant; but I have calculated it pretty

nearly, and I shall not spend at the rate of more than my income.

Besides, as letter of marque, I shall have the right of capture; in

fact, I mean to take out a privateer's regular licence."

"But not to remain there and cruise?"

"No, upon my honour; I am too anxious to get home again. You must not

refuse me, my dear guardian."

"As a lady is in the case, I will not, my dear boy; but be careful

what you are about."

"Never fear, sir, I will be back in four months, at the farthest; but

I must now set off and ascertain if the vessel answers the description

given in the advertisement."

Jack threw himself into the chariot. Mesty mounted into the rumble,

and in two hours they were at Portsmouth; went to the agent, viewed

the vessel, which proved to be a very fine fast-sailing craft, well

found, with six brass carronades on each side. The cabins were

handsome, fitted up with bird's-eye maple, and gilt mouldings.

This will do, thought Jack: a couple of long brass nines, forty men

and six boys, and she will be just the thing we require. So Mesty and

Jack went on shore again, and returned to Forest Hill to dinner, when

he desired Mr Hanson to set off for Portsmouth, and bid at the sale

for the vessel, as he wished to purchase her. This was Monday, and on

Wednesday Mr Hanson purchased her, as she stood, for 1,750 pounds,

which was considered about half her value.

Dr Middleton had, in the meantime, been thinking very seriously of

Jack's project. He could see no objection to it, provided that he was

steady and prudent, but in both these qualities Jack had not exactly

been tried. He therefore determined to look out for some steady naval

lieutenant, and make it a sine qua non that our hero should be

accompanied by him, and that he should go out as sailing-master. Now

that the vessel was purchased, he informed Jack of his wish; indeed,

as Dr Middleton observed, his duty as guardian demanded this

precaution, and our hero, who felt very grateful to Dr Middleton,

immediately acquiesced.

"And, by-the-bye, Doctor, see that he is a good navigator; for

although I can fudge a day's work pretty well, latterly I have been

out of practice."

Everyone was now busy: Jack and Mesty at Portsmouth, fitting out the

vessel, and offering three guineas ahead to the crimps for every good

able seaman--Mr Hanson obtaining the English register, and the letters

of licence, and Dr Middleton in search of a good naval dry-nurse. Jack

found time to write to Don Philip and Agnes, apprising them of the

death of his father, and his intentions.

In about six weeks all was ready, and the brigantine, which had taken

out her British register and licence under the name of the Rebiera,

went out of harbour, and anchored at Spithead. Dr Middleton had

procured, as he thought, a very fit person to sail with Jack, and our

hero and Mesty embarked, wishing the Doctor and Solicitor good-bye,

and leaving them nothing to do but to pay the bills.

The person selected by Dr Middleton, by the advice of an old friend of

his, a purser in the navy, who lived at Southsea, was a Lieutenant

Oxbelly, who, with the ship's company, which had been collected,

received our hero as their captain and owner upon his arrival on

board. There certainly was no small contrast between our hero's

active slight figure and handsome person, set off with a blue coat,

something like the present yacht-club uniform, and that of his second

in command, who waddled to the side to receive him. He was a very

short man, with an uncommon protuberance of stomach, with shoulders

and arms too short for his body, and hands much too large, more like

the paws of a Polar bear than anything else. He wore trousers, shoes,

and buckles. On his head was a foraging cap, which, when he took it

off, showed that he was quite bald. His age might be about fifty-five

or sixty; his complexion florid, no whiskers, and little beard, nose

straight, lips thin, teeth black with chewing, and always a little

brown dribble from the left corner of his mouth (there was a leak

there, he said). Altogether his countenance was prepossessing, for it

was honest and manly, but his waist was preposterous.

"Steady enough," thought Jack, as he returned Mr Oxbelly's salute.

"How do you do, sir?" said Jack; "I trust we shall be good shipmates,"

for Jack had not seen him before.

"Mr Easy," replied the lieutenant, "I never quarrel with anyone,

except (I won't tell a story) with my wife."

"I am sorry that you have ever domestic dissensions, Mr Oxbelly."

"And I only quarrel with her at night, sir. She will take up more

than her share of the bed, and won't allow me to sleep single; but

never mind that, sir; now will you please to muster the men?"

"If you please, Mr Oxbelly."

The men were mustered, and Jack made them a long speech upon

subordination, discipline, activity, duty, and so forth.

"A very good speech, Mr Easy," said Mr Oxbelly, as the men went

forward; "I wish my wife had heard it. But, sir, if you please, we'll

now get under way as fast as we can, for there is a Channel cruiser

working up at St Helen's, and we may give him the go-by by running

through the Needles."

"But what need we care for the Channel cruiser?"

"You forget, sir, that as soon as she drops her anchor she will come

on board and take a fancy to at least ten of our men."

"But they are protected."

"Yes, sir, but that's no protection, now-a-days. I have sailed in a

privateer at least three years, and I know that they have no respect

for letters of marque or for privateers."

"I believe you are right, Mr Oxbelly; so, if you please, we will up

with the anchor at once."

The crew of the Rebiera had been well chosen; they were prime

men-of-war's men, most of whom had deserted from the various ships on

the station, and, of course, were most anxious to be off. In a few

minutes the Rebiera was under way with all sail set below and aloft.

She was in excellent trim and flew through the water; the wind was

fair, and by night they had passed Portland Lights, and the next

morning were steering a course for the Bay of Biscay without having

encountered what they feared more than an enemy,--a British cruiser to

overhaul them.

"I think we shall do now, sir," observed Mr Oxbelly to our hero; "we

have made a famous run. It's twelve o'clock, and if you please I'll

work the latitude, and let you know what it is. We must shape our

course so as not to run in with the Brest squadron. A little more

westing, sir. I'll be up in one minute. My wife--but I'll tell you

about that when I come up."

"Latitude 41 degs 12 min, sir. I was about to say that my wife, when

she was on board of the privateer that I commanded--"

"Board of the privateer, Mr Oxbelly?"

"Yes, sir, would go; told her it was impossible, but she wouldn't

listen to reason--came on board, flopped herself into the standing

bed-place, and said that there she was for the cruise--little Billy

with her--"

"What! your child, too?"

"Yes, two years old--fine boy--always laughed when the guns were

fired, while his mother stood on the ladder and held him on the top of

the booby-hatch."

"I wonder that Mrs Oxbelly let you come here now?"

"So you would, sir, but I'll explain that--she thinks I'm in London

about my half-pay. She knows all by this time, and frets, I don't

doubt; but that will make her thin, and then there will be more room

in the bed. Mrs Oxbelly is a very stout woman."

"Why, you are not a little man!"

"No, not little--tending to be lusty, as the saying is--that is, in

good condition. It's very strange that Mrs Oxbelly has an idea that

she is not large. I cannot persuade her to it. That's the reason we

always spar in bed. She says it is I, and I know that it is she who

takes the largest share of it."

"Perhaps you may both be right."

"No, no; it is she who creates all the disturbance. If I get nearer

to the wall she jams me up till I am as thin as a thread paper. If I

put her inside and stay outside, she cuts me out as you do a cask, by

the chime, till I tumble out of bed."

"Why don't you make your bed larger, Mr Oxbelly?"

"Sir, I have proposed it, but my wife will have it that the bed is

large enough if I would not toss in my sleep. I can't convince her.

However, she'll have it all to herself now. I slept well last night,

for the first time since I left the Boadicea."

"The Boadicea?"

"Yes, sir, I was second lieutenant of the Boadicea for three years."

"She's a fine frigate, I'm told."

"On the contrary, such a pinched-up little craft below I never saw.

Why, Mr Easy, I could hardly get into the door of my cabin--and yet,

as you must see, I'm not a large man."

"Good heavens! is it possible," thought Jack, "that this man does not

really know that he is monstrous?"

Yet such was the case. Mr Oxbelly had no idea that he was otherwise

than in good condition, although he had probably not seen his knees

for years. It was his obesity that was the great objection to him,

for in every other point there was nothing against him. He had, upon

one pretence and another, been shifted, by the manoeuvres of the

captains, out of different ships, until he went up to the Admiralty to

know if there was any charge against him. The first lord at once

perceived the charge to be preferred, and made a mark against his name

as not fit for anything but harbour duty. Out of employment, he had

taken the command of a privateer cutter, when his wife, who was

excessively fond, would, as he said, follow him with little Billy. He

was sober, steady, knew his duty well; but he weighed twenty-six

stone, and his weight had swamped him in the service.

His wish, long indulged, had become, as Shakespeare says, the father

of his thoughts and he had really at last brought himself to think

that he was not by any means what could be considered a fat man. His

wife, as he said, was also a very stout woman, and this exuberance of

flesh on both sides, was the only, but continual, ground of dispute.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

In which our hero, as usual, gets into the very middle of it.

On the eleventh day the Rebiera entered the straits, and the rock of

Gibraltar was in sight as the sun went down; after which the wind fell

light, and about midnight it became calm, and they drifted up. At

sunrise they were roused by the report of heavy guns, and perceived an

English frigate about eight miles further up the straits, and more in

the mid-channel, engaging nine or ten Spanish gun-boats, which had

come out from Algesiras to attack her. It still continued a dead

calm, and the boats of the frigate were all ahead towing her, so as to

bring her broadside to bear upon the Spanish flotilla. The

reverberating of the heavy cannon on both sides over the placid

surface of the water--the white smoke ascending as the sun rose in

brilliancy in a clear blue sky--the distant echoes repeated from the

high hills--had a very beautiful effect for those who are partial to

the picturesque. But Jack thought it advisable to prepare for action

instead of watching for tints--and, in a short time, all was ready.

"They'll not come to us, Mr Easy, as long as they have the frigate to

hammer at; but still we had better be prepared, for we cannot well

pass them without having a few shot. When I came up the straits in

the privateer we were attacked by two and fought them for three hours;

their shot dashed the water over our decks till they were wet fore and

aft, but somehow or another they never hit us--we were as low as they

were. I'll be bound but they'll hull the frigate though. Mrs Oxbelly

and Billy were on deck the whole time--and Billy was quite delighted,

and cried when they took him down to breakfast."

"Why, Mrs Oxbelly must be very courageous."

"Cares neither for shot nor shell, sir--laughs when they whiz over her

head, and tells Billy to hark. But, sir, it's not surprising; her

father is a major, and her two brothers are lieutenants in the

bombardiers."

"That, indeed," replied Jack--"but, see, there is a breeze springing

up from the westward."--

"Very true, Mr Easy, and a steady one it will be, for it comes up dark

and slow; so much the better for the frigate, for she'll get little

honour and plenty of mauling at this work."

"I hope we shall take it up with us," observed Jack; "how far do you

reckon the gun-boats from the shore?"

"I should think about five miles, or rather less."

"Trim sails, Mr Oxbelly--perhaps we may cut one or two of these off--

steer in-shore of them."

"Exactly. Up there, my lads, set top-gallant studding sails, topmast

studdings to hand--rig out the booms--keep as you go now, my lads--we

shall be well in-shore of them, and out of the range of the

batteries."

The breeze came down fresh, and all sail was set upon the Rebiera. She

took the wind down with her, and it passed her but little--half a mile

ahead of them all was still and smooth as a glass mirror, and they

neared and gained in-shore at the same time. The gun-boats were still

engaging the frigate, and did not appear to pay any attention to the

Rebiera coming down. At last the breeze reached them and the frigate,

light at first and then gradually increasing, while the Rebiera foamed

through the water, and had now every chance of cutting off some of the

gun-boats. The frigate trimmed her sails and steered towards the

flotilla, which now thought proper to haul off and put their heads

in-shore, followed by the frigate firing her bow-chasers. But the

Rebiera was now within half gun-shot in-shore, and steering so as to

intercept them. As she rapidly closed, the flotilla scarcely knew how

to act; to attack her would be to lose time, and allow the frigate to

come up and occasion their own capture; so they satisfied themselves

with firing at her as she continued to run down between them and the

land. As they neared, Jack opened his fire with his eighteen-pound

carronades and long nines. The gun-boats returned his fire, and they

were within a quarter of a mile, when Jack shortened sail to his

topsails, and a warm engagement took place, which ended in one of the

gun-boats being, in a few minutes, dismasted. The frigate, under all

canvas, came rapidly up, and her shot now fell thick. The flotilla

then ceased firing, passing about two cables length ahead of the

Rebiera, and making all possible sail for the land. Jack now fired at

the flotilla as they passed, with his larboard broadside, while with

his starboard he poured in grape and canister upon the unfortunate

gun-boat which was dismasted, and, which soon hauled down her colours.

In a few minutes more the remainder were too far distant for the

carronades, and, as they did not fire, Jack turned his attention to

take possession of his prize, sending a boat with ten men on board,

and heaving-to close to her to take her in tow. Ten minutes more and

the frigate was also hove-to a cable's length from the Rebiera, and

our hero lowered down his other quarter-boat to go on board.

"Have we any men hurt, Mr Oxbelly?" inquired Jack.

"Only two; Spearling has lost his thumb with a piece of langrage, and

James has a bad wound in the thigh."

"Very well; I will ask for the surgeon to come on board." Jack pulled

to the frigate, and went up the side, touched his hat in due form, and

was introduced by the midshipmen to the other side, where the captain

stood.

"Mr Easy!" exclaimed the captain. "Captain Sawbridge!" replied our

hero, with surprise.

"Good heavens! what brought you here?" said the captain; "and what

vessel is that?"

"The Rebiera, letter of marque, commanded and owned by Mr Easy,"

replied Jack, laughing.

Captain Sawbridge gave him his hand. "Come down with me into the

cabin, Mr Easy; I am very glad to see you. Give you great credit for

your conduct, and am still more anxious to know what has induced you

to come out again. I knew that you had left the service."

Jack, in a very few words, told his object in fitting out the Rebiera;

"but," continued Jack, "allow me to congratulate you upon your

promotion, which I was not aware of. May I ask where you left the

Harpy, and what is the name of your frigate?"

"The Latona. I have only been appointed to her one month, after an

action in which the Harpy took a large corvette, and am ordered home

with despatches to England. We sailed yesterday evening from

Gibraltar, were becalmed the whole night, and attacked this morning by

the gun-boats."

"How is Captain Wilson, sir?"

"I believe he is very well, but I have not seen him."

"How did you know, then, that I had left the service, Captain

Sawbridge?"

"From Mr Gascoigne, who is now on board."

"Gascoigne!" exclaimed our hero.

"Yes, he was sent up to join the Aurora by the governor, but she had

left the fleet, and having served his time, and a passing day being

ordered, he passed, and thought he might as well go home with me and

see if he could make any interest for his promotion."

"Pray, Captain Sawbridge, is the gun-boat our prize or yours?"

"It ought to be wholly yours; but the fact is, by the regulations, we

share."

"With all my heart, sir. Will you send an assistant-surgeon on board

to look after two of my men who are hurt?"

"Yes, directly; now send your boat away, Easy, with directions to your

officer in command. We must go back to Gibraltar, for we have

received some injury, and, I am sorry to say, lost some men. You are

going then, I presume, to stay on board and dine with me: we shall be

at anchor before night."

"I will with pleasure, sir. But now I will send my boat away and

shake hands with Gascoigne."

Gascoigne was under the half-deck waiting to receive his friend, for

he had seen him come up the side from his station on the forecastle. A

hurried conversation took place, after our hero had dismissed his boat

with the assistant-surgeon in it to dress the two wounded men. Jack

then went on deck, talked with the officers, looked with pleasure at

the Rebiera with the gun-boat in tow, keeping company with the

frigate, although only under the same canvas--promised Gascoigne to

spend the next day with him either on shore or on board the Rebiera,

and then returned to the cabin, where he had a long conference with

Captain Sawbridge.

"When you first entered the service, Easy," said Captain Sawbridge, "I

thought that the sooner the service was rid of you the better: now

that you have left it, I feel that it has lost one who, in all

probability, would have proved a credit to it."

"Many thanks, sir," replied Jack; "but how can I be a midshipman with

eight thousand pounds a year?"

"I agree with you that it is impossible:--but dinner is serving: go

into the after-cabin and the steward will give you all you require."

Our hero, whose face and hands were not a little grimed with the

gunpowder, washed himself, combed out his curly black hair, and found

all the party in the fore-cabin. Gascoigne, who had not been asked in

the forenoon, was, by the consideration of Captain Sawbridge, added to

the number. Before dinner was long off the table, the first

lieutenant reported that it was necessary to turn the hands up, as

they were close to the anchorage. The party, therefore, broke up

sooner than otherwise would have been the case; and as soon as the

Latona's sails were furled, Captain Sawbridge went on shore to

acquaint the governor with the results of the action. He asked Jack

to accompany him, but our hero, wishing to be with Gascoigne, excused

himself until the next day.

"And now, Easy," said Gascoigne, as soon as the captain had gone over

the side, "I will ask permission to go on board with you--or will you

ask?"

"I will ask," replied Jack; "a gentleman of fortune has more weight

with a first lieutenant than a midshipman."

So Jack went up to the first lieutenant, and with one of his polite

bows, hoped, "if duty would permit, he would honour him by coming on

board that evening with some of his officers, to see the Rebiera and

to drink a bottle or two of champagne."

The first lieutenant, as the Rebiera was anchored not two cables

lengths from him, replied, "that as soon as he had shifted the

prisoners and secured the gun-boat, he would be very glad": so did

three or four more of the officers, and then Jack begged as a favour,

that his old friend, Mr Gascoigne, might be permitted to go with him

now, as he had important packages to entrust to his care to England.

The first lieutenant was very willing, and Gascoigne and our hero

jumped into the boat, and were once more in all the confidence of

tried and deserved friendship.

"Jack, I've been thinking of it, and I've made up my mind," said

Gascoigne. "I shall gain little or nothing by going home for my

promotion: I may as well stay here, and as I have served my time and

passed, my pay is now of little consequence. Will you take me with

you?"

"It was exactly what I was thinking of, Ned. Do you think that

Captain Sawbridge will consent?"

"I do: he knows how I am circumstanced, and that my going home was

merely because I was tired of looking after the Aurora."

"We'll go together and ask him to-morrow," replied Jack.

"At all events, you'll have a more gentlemanly companion than Mr

Oxbelly."

"But not so steady, Ned."

The first lieutenant and officers came on board, and passed a merry

evening. There's nothing passes time more agreeably away than

champagne, and if you do not affront this regal wine by mixing him

with any other, he never punishes you the next morning.

CHAPTER XXXIX

A council of war, in which Jack decides that he will have one more

cruise.

As Captain Sawbridge did not return on board that evening, Easy went

on shore and called upon him at the governor's, to whom he was

introduced, and received an invitation to dine with him. As Gascoigne

could not come on shore, our hero took this opportunity of making his

request to Captain Sawbridge, stating that the person he had with him

was not such as he wished and could confide everything to; that is,

not one to whom he could talk about Agnes. Jack, as he found that

Captain Sawbridge did not immediately assent, pressed the matter hard:

at last Captain Sawbridge, who reflected that Gascoigne's interest

hereafter would be much greater through his friend Easy, than any

other quarter, and that the more the friendship was cemented the more

advantageous it might prove to Gascoigne, gave his consent to our

hero's wish, who called on board of the Latona to acquaint Gascoigne

and the first lieutenant of Captain Sawbridge's intentions, and then

went on board of the Rebiera and ordered Mesty to come with his

portmanteau on shore to the inn, that he might dress for dinner.

Gascoigne, now considered as not belonging to the Latona, was

permitted to accompany him: and Jack found himself looking out of the

window at which he had hung out his trousers upon the memorable

occasion when the boatswain had to follow his own precept, of duty

before decency.

"What scenes of adventures I have passed through since that," thought

Jack; "not much more than four years ago, then not three weeks in the

service." Whereupon Jack fell into a deep reverie, and thought of the

baboon and of Agnes.

The repairs of the Latona were all made good by the next day, and

Gascoigne, having received his discharge ticket, went on board of the

Rebiera. The gun-boat was put into the hands of the agent, and

shortly afterwards purchased by government. The Rebiera's crew did

not, however, obtain their prize-money and share of the head-money,

for she had seventy men on board, until their return, but, as they

said, they had broken the ice and that was everything. Moreover, it

gave them confidence in themselves, in their vessel, and in their

commander. Our hero weighed a short time after the Latona, having

first taken leave of Captain Sawbridge, and committed to his care a

letter to Dr Middleton.

Once more behold the trio together,--the two midshipmen hanging over

the taffrail, and Mesty standing by them. They had rounded Europa

Point, and, with a fine breeze off the land, were lying close-hauled

along the Spanish shore. Mr Oxbelly was also walking near them.

"When I was cruising here it was very different," observed Jack: "I

had a vessel which I did not know how to manage, a crew which I could

not command, and had it not been for Mesty, what would have become of

me!"

"Massa Easy, you know very well how to get out of scrapes, anyhow."

"Yes, and how to get into them," continued Gascoigne.

"And how to get others out of them, too, Ned."

"'No more of that, Hal, an thou lovest me'," quoted Gascoigne. "I have

often wondered what has been the lot of poor Azar."

"The lot of most women, Ned, in every country--prized at first,

neglected afterwards--the lot she might have had with you."

"Perhaps so," replied Ned, with a sigh.

"Massa Easy, you get eberybody out of scrape; you get me out of

scrape."

"I do not recollect how, Mesty."

"You get me out from boil kettle for young gentlemen--dat

devil of a scrape."

"And I'm sure I've got you out of a scrape, Mr Oxbelly."

"How so. Mr Easy?" "How so!--have I not prevented your quarrelling

with your wife every night?"

"Certainly, sir, you have been the means. But do you know when we

were engaging the other day, I could not help saying to myself, I wish

my wife was here now, holding little Billy at the hatchway."

"But at night, Mr Oxbelly."

"At night!--why, then I'm afraid I should have wished her home again--

it's astonishing how comfortable I sleep now every night. Besides, in

this climate it would be intolerable. Mrs Oxbelly is a very large

woman--very large indeed."

"Well, but now we must hold a council of war. Are we to run up the

coast, or to shape a course direct for Palermo?"

"Course direct, and we shall take nothing, that is certain," said

Gascoigne.

"If we take nothing we shall make no prize-money," continued Oxbelly.

"If we make no prize-money the men will be discontented," said Easy.

"If no ab noting to do-it will be d---d 'tupid," continued Mesty.

"Now then the other side of the question. If we steer for Palermo, we

shall be sooner there and sooner home."

"To which I reply," said Gascoigne, "that the shorter the cruise is,

the less I shall have of your company."

"And I shall have to sleep with Mrs Oxbelly," continued Oxbelly.

"Hab fine ship, fine gun, fine men, and do noting," cried Mesty. "By

de power, I no like dat, Massa Easy."

"You want eight months of coming of age, Jack," observed Gascoigne.

"It won't make a difference of more than three or four weeks," said Mr

Oxbelly; "and the expenses have been very great."

"But--"

"But what, Jack?"

"Agnes."

"Agnes will be better defended going home by men who have been

accustomed to be in action. And, as for her waiting a little longer,

it will only make her love you a little more."

"Sleep single a little longer, Mr Easy, it's very pleasant," said Mr

Oxbelly.

"That's not very bad advice of yours," observed Gascoigne.

"Stop a little, Massa Easy," said Mesty, "you know dat very good

advice."

"Well, then," replied Jack, "I will, as I am quite in the minority. We

will work up the whole coast--up to Toulon. After all, there's

something very pleasant in commanding your own ship, and I'm not in a

hurry to resign it--so that point's decided."

The Rebiera was steered into the land, and at sunset they were not

four miles from the lofty blue mountains which overhang the town of

Malaga. There were many vessels lying at the bottom of the bay, close

in with the town; the wind now fell light, and the Rebiera, as she

could not fetch the town, tacked as if she were a merchant vessel

standing in, and showed American colours, a hint which they took from

perceiving three or four large vessels lying in the outer roads, with

the colours of that nation hoisted at the peak.

"What is your intention, Jack?" said Gascoigne.

"I'll be hanged if I know yet. I think of working up to the outer

roads, and anchoring at night--boarding the American vessels, and

gaining intelligence."

"Not a bad idea; we shall then learn if there is anything to be done,

and if not, we may be off at daylight."

"The pratique boat will not come off after sunset."

"And if they did, we could pass for an American, bound to Barcelona or

anywhere else--the outer roads where the vessels lie are hardly within

gun-shot."

Mesty, who had resumed his sailor's clothes, now observed, "What we

do, Massa Easy, we do quickly--time for all ting, time for show face

and fight--time for hide face, crawl, and steal."

"Very true, Mesty, we'll crawl this time, and steal if we can. It's

not the warfare I like best of the two."

"Both good, Massa Easy; suppose you no steal board of polacca ship,

you not see Missy Agnes."

"Very true, Mesty. Bout ship, Mr Oxbelly."

"Mr Oxbelly not good for boat service," observed Mesty, showing his

teeth.

It was dark before the Rebiera was anchored in the outer roads, a

cable's length astern of the outermost American vessel. One of her

quarter-boats was lowered down, and Gascoigne and our hero pulled

alongside, and, lying on their oars, hailed, and asked the name of the

vessel.

"So help me Gad, just now I forget her name," replied a negro, looking

over the gangway.

"Who's the captain?"

"So help me Gad, he gone on shore."

"Is the mate on board?"

"No, so help me Gad--he gone shore, too."

"Who is aboard then?"

"So help me Gad, nobody on board but Pompey--and dat me."

"Good ship-keepers, at all events," said Jack. "A ship in the outer

roads, with only a black fellow on board! I say, Pompey, do they

always leave you in charge of the vessel?"

"No, sar; but to-night great pleasure on shore. Eberybody dance and

sing, get drunk, kick up bobbery, and all dat."

"What, is it a festival?"

"So help me Gad, I no know, sar."

"Is there anyone on board of the other vessels?"

"Eberybody gone on shore. Suppose they have black man, he stay on

board."

"Good-night, Pompey."

"Good-night, sar. Who I say call when captain come on board?"

"Captain Easy."

"Captain He-see, very well, sar."

Our hero pulled to another ship, and found it equally deserted; but at

the third he found the second mate with his arm in a sling, and from

him they gained the information that it was a great festival, being

the last day of the carnival; and that everyone was thinking of

nothing but amusement.

"I've a notion," said the mate, in reply, "that you're American."

"You've guessed right," replied Jack.

"What ship, and from what port?"

"Rhode Island, the Susan and Mary," replied Gascoigne.

"I thought you were north. We're of New York. What news do you

bring?"

"Nothing," replied he, "we are from Liverpool last."

A succession of questions was now put by the American mate, and

answered very skilfully by Gascoigne, who then inquired how the market

was?

It was necessary to make and reply to all these enquiries before they

could ask apparently indifferent questions of American traders; at

last, Gascoigne enquired,--

"Do you think they would allow us to go on shore? the pratique boat

has not been on board."

"They'll never find you out if you are off before daylight; I doubt if

they know that you are anchored. Besides, from Liverpool you would

have a clean bill of health, and if they found it out, they would not

say much; they're not over particular, I've a notion."

"What are those vessels lying in-shore?"

"I guess they have olive oil on board, the chief on 'em. But there

are two double lateens come in from Valparaiso the day before

yesterday, with hides and copper. How they 'scaped the British, I

can't tell, but they did, that's sure enough."

"Good-night, then."

"You won't take a glass of sling this fine night with a countryman?"

"To-morrow, my good fellow, to-morrow; we must go on shore now."

Our hero and Gascoigne returned on board the Rebiera, consulted with

Oxbelly and Mesty, and then manned and armed the two quarter and

stern boats. They thought it advisable not to hoist out their

long-boat; no fire-arms were permitted to be taken, lest, going off by

accident or otherwise, an alarm should be given. Our hero and Mesty

proceeded in the first boat, and pulled in for the town; Gascoigne

shortly after in the second, and the boatswain in the jolly-boat,

followed at some distance.

There was no notice taken of them; they pulled gently down to the

landing-place, which was deserted. There was a blaze of light, and

the sounds of revelry in every quarter on shore; but the vessels

appeared equally deserted as the American ones in the offing.

Finding themselves unobserved, for they had taken the precaution to

pull only two oars in each boat, they dropped gently alongside one of

the double-masted lateen vessels, and Mesty stepped on board. He

peeped down in the cabin, and perceived a man lying on the lockers; he

came up in his stealthy manner, closed the hatch softly, and said,

"All right." Jack left Gascoigne to take out this vessel, which he did

very successfully, for it was very dark; and although there were

sentries posted not far off, their eyes and ears were turned towards

the town, listening to the music.

A second vessel, her consort, was boarded in the same way, but here

they found a man on deck whom they were obliged to seize and gag. They

put him down in the cabin, and Mesty, with another boat's crew, cut

her cables, and swept her gently out towards the American vessels. One

more vessel was required, and Jack, pulling two oars as usual, saluted

a galliot heavily laden, but of what her cargo consisted was not

known. In this vessel they found two men in the cabin playing cards,

whom they seized and bound and, cutting her cables, were obliged to

make sail upon her, as she was much too large to sweep out. As they

were making sail they, however, met with an interruption which they

did not expect. The crew belonging to the vessel, having had enough

amusement for the evening, and intending to sail the next morning, had

thought it right to come off sooner than the others: it was then about

midnight or a little later, and while some of Jack's men were aloft,

for he had six with him, Jack, to his annoyance, heard a boat coming

off from the shore, the men in her singing a chorus. The galliot was

at that time just under steerage way, her topsails had been loosed and

her jib hoisted, but the former had not been sheeted home, for the

three men below could not, in the dark, find the ropes. The other

three men were on the fore-yard loosing the foresail, and Jack was

undetermined whether to call them down immediately, or to allow them

to loose the sail, and thus get good way on the vessel, so as to

prevent the boat, which was loaded with men, from overtaking them. The

boat was not more than twenty yards from the galliot, when, not

finding her where they left her, they pulled to the right, and lay on

their oars. This gave a moment of time, but they very soon spied her

out. "Caramba!" was the exclamation--and the head of the boat was

pulled round.

"Down, my lads, in a moment by the swifters," cried Jack. "Here's a

boat on board of us."

The men were in a few seconds on deck, and the others, who had now

sheeted home the topsails, hastened aft. The vessel soon gathered

way, but before that her way was sufficient, the boat had pulled under

the counter, and the Spaniards, letting their oars swing fore and aft,

were climbing up, their knives in their teeth. A scuffle ensued, and

they were thrown down again, but they renewed their attempt. Our

hero, perceiving a small water or wine cask lashed to the gunwale, cut

it loose with his cutlass, and with one of the men, who was by his

side, pushed it over, and dropped it into the boat. It struck the

gunwale, stove a plank, and the boat began to fill rapidly; in the

meantime the galliot had gained way--the boat could not longer be held

on, from its weight, and dropped astern with the men in it. Those who

were half in and half out were left clinging to the gunwale of the

vessel, and as they climbed up were secured, and put down in the

cabin. Fortunately, no fire-arms having been used on either side, the

alarm was not given generally, but the sentry reported fighting on

board one of the vessels, and the people of the guard-boat were

collected, and pulled out; but they only arrived in time to see that

the galliot was under way, and that the two other vessels from

Valparaiso were not in their berths.

They hastened on shore, gave the alarm: the gun-boats, of which there

were three at the mole, were ordered out, but half the crew and all

the officers were on shore, some at balls, others drinking at taverns

or posadas; before they could be collected, all three vessels were

alongside of the Rebiera: and not aware that anything had been

discovered, our hero and his crew were lulled in security. Jack had

gone on board, leaving fourteen of his men on board the galliot--

Gascoigne had done the same--Mesty still remained on board his vessel;

and they were congratulating themselves, and ordering the men on board

to the windlass, when they heard the sound of oars.

"Silence!--what is that?" exclaimed Oxbelly.

"The gun-boats or row-boats, as sure as I'm alive!"

At this moment Mesty jumped up the side.

"Massa Easy, I hear row-boat not far off."

"So do we, Mesty. Gascoigne, jump into the boat--tell the men in the

prizes to make all sail right out, and leave us to defend their

retreat--stay on board of one and divide your men."

"Dat all right, Massa Easy. Mr Gascoigne, be smart--and now, sar, cut

cable and make sail; no time get up anchor."

This order was given, but although the men were aloft in a moment, and

very expeditious, as the Rebiera payed her head round and the jib was

hoisted, they could perceive the boom of the three gun-boats pulling

and sailing not five cables length from them. Although rather

short-handed, topsails, courses and top-gallant sails were soon set,

the men down to their quarters, and the guns cast loose, before the

gun-boats were close under their stern. Then Jack rounded to, braced

up, and the Rebiera stood across them to the westward.

"Why the devil don't they fire?" said Jack.

"I tink because they no ab powder," said Mesty. Mesty was right--the

ammunition chests of the gun-boats were always landed when they were

at the mole, in case of accidents, which might arise from the crew

being continually with cigars in their mouths, and in the hurry they

had quite forgotten to put them on board.

"At all events, we have powder," said Jack, "and now we'll prove it.

Grape and canister, my lads, and take good aim."

The commanders of the gun-boats had hailed each other, and agreed to

board the Rebiera, but she now had good way on her, and sailed faster

than they pulled. A well-directed broadside astonished them--they had

no idea of her force; and the execution done was so great, that they

first lay on their oars and then pulled back to the mole with all

speed, leaving the Rebiera in quiet possession of her prizes, which

had already gained two miles in the offing.

The Rebiera, as soon as Jack perceived that the gun-boats had

retreated, was put before the wind, and soon closed with her captures,

when she was hove-to till daylight with the three vessels in company.

Gascoigne returned on board, prize-masters were selected, and Jack

determined to keep them all with him, and take them to Palermo.

CHAPTER XL

In which there is another slight difference of opinion between those

who should be friends.

The two lateen vessels proved of considerable value, being laden with

copper, hides, and cochineal. The galliot was laden with sweet-oil,

and was also no despicable prize. At daylight they were all ready,

and, to the mortification of the good people of Malaga, sailed away to

the eastward without interruption.

"Me tink we do dat job pretty well, Massa Easy," observed Mesty, as he

laid the breakfast table.

"Nothing like trying," replied Gascoigne; "I'm sure when we stood into

the bay I would have sold all my prize-money for a doubloon. How do I

share, Jack?"

"Only as one of the crew, Ned, for you are a supernumerary, and our

articles and agreement for prize-money were signed previous to our

sailing."

"I ought to share with Mr Oxbelly's class by rights," replied

Gascoigne.

"That would be to take half my prize-money away. I shall want it all,

Mr Gascoigne, to pacify my wife for giving her the slip."

"Ah, very well; I'll get all I can."

For ten days they ran down the coast, going much too fast for the

wishes of the crew, who were anxious to make more money. They seized

a fishing-boat and put on board of her the four prisoners, which they

had found in the vessels, and arrived off Barcelona, without falling

in with friend or foe. The next morning, the wind being very light,

they discovered a large vessel at daylight astern of them to the

westward, and soon made her out to be a frigate. She made all sail in

chase, but that gave them very little uneasiness, as they felt assured

that she was a British cruiser. One fear, however, came over them,

that she would, if she came up with them, impress a portion of their

men.

"As certain as I'm here, and Mrs Oxbelly's at Southsea," said Oxbelly,

"they'll take some of the men--the more so as, supposing us to be a

Spanish convoy, they will be disappointed."

"They will hardly take them out of the prizes," observed Easy.

"I don't know that; men must be had for his Majesty's service somehow.

It's not their fault, Mr Easy--the navy must be manned, and as things

are so, so things must be. It's the king's prerogative, Mr Easy, and

we cannot fight the battles of the country without it."

"Yes," replied Gascoigne, "and although, as soon as the services of

seamen are no longer wanted, you find that there are demagogues on

shore who exclaim against impressment, they are quiet enough on the

point when they know that their lives and property depend upon

sailors' exertions."

"Very true, Mr Gascoigne, but it's not our fault if we are obliged to

take men by force; it's the fault of those who do not legislate so as

to prevent the necessity. Mrs Oxbelly used to say that she would

easily manage the matter if she were Chancellor of the Exchequer."

"I dare say Mrs Oxbelly would make a very good Chancellor of the

Exchequer," replied Gascoigne, smiling; "one thing is certain, that if

they gave the subject half the consideration they have others of less

magnitude, an arrangement might be made by which his Majesty's navy

would never be short of men."

"No doubt, no doubt, Mr Gascoigne; but, nevertheless, the king's

prerogative must never be given up."

"There I agree with you, Mr Oxbelly; it must be held in case of sudden

emergency and absolute need."

"We'll argue that point by-and-bye," replied Jack; "now let us consult

as to our measures. My opinion is, that if I made more sail we should

beat the frigate, but she would come up with the prizes."

"That's the best thing we can do, Mr Easy; but let us send a boat on

board of them, and take out all the men that can possibly be spared,

that there may be no excuse for impressing them."

"Yes," replied Gascoigne; "and as the wind is falling it is possible

it may fall calm, and they may send their boats; suppose we separate a

mile or two from each other."

"Dat very good advice, Massa Gascoigne," observed Mesty.

This plan was acted upon; only three men were left in the lateens, and

four in the galliot, and the vessels, in obedience to the orders,

sheered off on both sides of the Rebiera, who made all sail and

started ahead of the prizes. This manoeuvre was perceived on board of

the frigate, and made them sure that it was a Spanish convoy

attempting to escape. The fire-engine was got on deck, sails wetted,

and every exertion made to come up. But about four o'clock in the

afternoon, when the frigate was eight or nine miles off, it fell calm,

as Gascoigne had predicted, and the heads of all the vessels, as well

as the frigate, were now round the compass.

"There's out boats," said Mr Oxbelly; "they will have a long pull, and

all for nothing."

"How savage they will be!" observed Gascoigne. "Never mind that,"

replied Jack; "Mesty says that dinner is ready."

After dinner, they all went on deck, and found that the boats had

separated, one pulling for each of the prizes, and two for the

Rebiera. In less than an hour, they would probably be alongside.

"And now let us decide how we are to act. We must not resist, if they

attempt to impress the men?"

"I've been thinking upon that matter, Mr Easy, and it appears to me

that the men must be permitted to act as they please, and that we must

be neuter. I, as a lieutenant in his Majesty's service, cannot of

course act, neither can Mr Gascoigne. You are not in the service, but

I should recommend you to do the same. That the men have a right to

resist, if possible, is admitted; they always do so, and never are

punished for so doing. Under the guns of the frigate, of course we

should only have to submit; but those two boats do not contain more

than twenty-five men, I should think, and our men are the stronger

party. We had better leave it to them, and stand neuter."

"Dat very good advice," said Mesty; "leab it to us": and Mesty walked

away forward where the seamen were already in consultation.

Jack also agreed to the prudence of this measure, and he perceived

that the seamen, after a consultation with Mesty, were all arming

themselves for resistance.

The boats were now close on board, and English colours were hoisted at

the gaff. This did not, however, check the impetus of the boats, who,

with their ensigns trailing in the still water astern of them, dashed

alongside, and an officer leaped on board, cutlass in hand, followed

by the seamen of the frigate. The men of the Rebiera remained

collected forward--Easy, Gascoigne, and Oxbelly aft.

"What vessel is this?" cried the lieutenant who commanded the boats.

Jack, with the greatest politeness, took off his hat, and told him

that it was the Rebiera letter of marque, and that the papers were

ready for his inspection.

"And the other vessels?"

"Prizes to the Rebiera, cut out of Malaga Bay," replied Jack.

"Then you are a privateer," observed the disappointed officer. "Where

are your papers?"

"Mr Oxbelly, oblige me by bringing them up," said Jack.

"Fat Jack of the bone house," observed the lieutenant, looking at

Oxbelly.

"A lieutenant in his Majesty's service, of longer standing than

yourself, young man," replied Oxbelly, firmly;--"and who, if he ever

meets you in any other situation, will make you answer for your

insolent remark."

"Indeed!" observed the lieutenant, ironically; "now, if you had said

you were once a boatswain or gunner."

"Consider yourself kicked," roared Oxbelly, losing his temper.

"Heyday! why, you old porpoise!"

"Sir," observed Jack, who listened with indignation, "Mr Oxbelly is a

lieutenant in his Majesty's service, and you have no right to insult

him, even if he were not."

"I presume you are all officers," replied the lieutenant. "I am, sir,"

retorted Gascoigne, "an officer in his Majesty's service, and on board

of this vessel by permission of Captain Sawbridge of the Latona."

"And I was, until a few months ago, sir," continued Jack; "at present

I am captain and owner of this vessel--but here are the papers. You

will have no obstruction from us in the execution of your duty--at the

same time, I call upon the two young gentlemen by your side, and your

own men, to bear witness to what takes place."

"O very well, sir--just as you please. Your papers, I perceive, are

all right. Now you will oblige me by mustering your men."

"Certainly, sir," replied Jack: "send all the men aft to muster, Mr

Oxbelly."

The men came aft to the mainmast, with Mesty at their head, and

answered to their names. As the men passed over, the lieutenant made

a pencil-mark against ten of them, who appeared the finest seamen;

and, when the roll had been called, he ordered those men to get their

bags and go into the boat.

"Sir, as you must observe, I am short-handed, with my men away in

prizes; and I, as commander of this vessel, protest against this

proceeding: if you insist upon taking them, of course I can do

nothing," observed Jack.

"I do insist, sir; I'm not going on board empty-handed, at all

events."

"Well, sir, I can say no more," said Jack, walking aft to the

taffrail, to which Oxbelly and Gascoigne had retreated.

"Come, my lads, get those men in the boat," said the lieutenant.

But the men had all retreated forward in a body, with Mesty at their

head, and had armed themselves. Some of the seamen of the frigate had

gone forward, in obedience to their officer, to lead the men selected

into the boat; but they were immediately desired to keep back. The

scuffle forward attracted the notice of the lieutenant, who

immediately summoned all his men out of the boats.

"Mutiny, by heavens! Come up all of you, my lads."

Mesty then came forward, with a sabre in one hand and a pistol in the

other, and then addressed the seamen of the frigate:--

"I tell you dis, my lads--you not so strong as we--you not got better

arms--we not under gun of frigate now, and ab determination not to go

board. 'Pose you want us, come take us--'pose you can. By all de

power, but we make mince-meat of you, anyhow."

The seamen paused--they were ready to fight for their country, but not

to be killed by or kill those who were their own countrymen, and who

were doing exactly what they would have done themselves. The

lieutenant thought otherwise; he was exasperated at this sensation.

"You black scoundrel, I left you out because I thought you not worth

having, but now I'll add you to the number."

"Stop a little," replied Mesty.

The lieutenant would not take the Ashantee's very prudent advice; he

flew forward to seize Mesty, who, striking him a blow with the flat of

his sabre, almost levelled him to the deck. At this the men and other

officers of the frigate darted forward; but after a short scuffle, in

which a few wounds were received, were beaten back into the boats. The

lieutenant was thrown in after them, by the nervous arm of Mesty--and

assailed by cold shot and other missiles, they sheered off with

precipitation, and pulled back in the direction of the frigate.

"There will be a row about this," said Oxbelly, "as soon as they come

clear of the vessel. If the frigate gets hold of us she will show us

no mercy. There is a breeze coming from the north-west. How

fortunate! we shall be three leagues to windward, and may escape."

"I doubt if she could catch us. At any point of sailing they may come

up with the prizes, but can do nothing with them."

"No, the boats which boarded them are already returned to the frigate;

she must wait for them, and that will give us a start, and it will be

night before they can make sail."

"Fire a gun for the prizes to close," said Jack; "we will put the men

on board again, and then be off to Palermo as fast as we can."

"We can do no better," said Oxbelly. "If ever I chance to meet that

fellow again, I will trouble him to repeat his words. Trim the sails,

my lads."

"His language was unpardonable," observed Jack.

"Since I've been in the service, Mr Easy, I have always observed that

some officers appear to imagine, that because they are under the

king's pennant, they are warranted in insulting and tyrannising over

all those who have not the honour to hoist it; whereas, the very fact

of their being king's officers should be an inducement to them to show

an example of courtesy and gentlemanly conduct in the execution of

their duty, however unpleasant it may be."

"It is only those who, insignificant themselves, want to make

themselves of importance by the pennant they serve under," replied our

hero.

"Very true, Mr Easy; but you are not aware that a great part of the

ill-will shown to the service is owing to the insolence of those young

men in office. The king's name is a warrant for every species of

tyranny and unwarrantable conduct. I remember Mrs Oxbelly telling one

of them, when--"

"I beg your pardon, Mr Oxbelly," interrupted Jack, "but we have no

time to chat now; the breeze is coming down fast, and I perceive the

prizes are closing. Let us lower down the boat, send the men on board

again, and give them their orders--which I will do in writing, in case

they part company."

"Very true, sir. It will be dark in half an hour, and as we are now

standing in-shore, they will think that we intend to remain on the

coast. As soon as it is quite dark we will shape our course for

Palermo. I will go down and look at the chart."

CHAPTER XLI

Which winds up the nautical adventures of Mr Midshipman Easy.

In half an hour the prizes were again alongside, the men put on board,

and the boat hoisted up. The frigate still remained becalmed to

leeward, and hoisted in her boats. They watched until she was hid by

the shades of night, and then wearing round stood away, with the wind

two points free, for the coast of Sicily. The next morning when the

sun rose there was nothing in sight. Strange anomaly, in a state of

high civilisation, where you find your own countrymen avoided and more

dreaded than even your foes!

The run was prosperous, the weather was fine, and the prizes did not

part company.

On the sixteenth day the Rebiera and her convoy anchored in Palermo

Bay. The wind was light in the morning that they stood in, and as

Jack had a large blue flag with Rebiera in white letters hoisted at

the main, Don Philip and Don Martin were on board and greeting our

hero, before the Rebiera's anchor had plunged into the clear blue

water.

The information which our hero received, after having been assured of

the health of Agnes and her parents, was satisfactory. The

disappearance of the friar had, at first, occasioned much surprise;

but as the servants of Don Rebiera swore to his return without the

black, and the letter of Don Rebiera, sent to the convent, requesting

his presence, was opened and read, there was no suspicion against the

family. A hundred conjectures had been afloat, but gradually they had

subsided, and it was at last supposed that he had been carried off by

the banditti, some of whom had been taken, and acknowledged that they

had seized a friar, on a day which they could not recollect. The

reader will remember that it was Mesty.

The Rebiera received pratique, and Jack hastened on shore with Don

Philip and his brother, and was once more in company of Agnes, who, in

our hero's opinion, had improved since his departure. Most young men

in love think the same after an absence, provided it is not too long.

The prizes were sold and the money distributed, and every man was

satisfied, as the cargoes fetched a larger sum than they had

anticipated.

We must pass over the pros and cons of Don Rebiera and his lady, the

pleading of Jack for immediate nuptials, the unwillingness of the

mother to part with her only daughter, the family consultation, the

dowry, and all these particulars. A month after his arrival Jack was

married, and was, of course, as happy as the day was long.

A few days afterwards, Mr Oxbelly advised departure, as the expenses

of the vessel were heavy, and it was his duty so to do. Don Philip

and Don Martin obtained leave to go to England, with their sister and

her husband. Nevertheless, Jack, who found Palermo a very pleasant

residence, was persuaded by the Don and his wife to remain there a

month, and then there was crying and sobbing, and embracing, and

embarking; and at last the Rebiera, whose cabins had been arranged for

the reception of the party, weighed and made sail for Malta, Jack

having promised to call upon the governor.

In four days they anchored in Valette Harbour, and Jack paid his

respects to his old friend, who was very glad to see him. The

governor sent his own barge for Mrs Easy, and she was installed in the

state apartments, which were acknowledged to be very comfortable. Our

hero had, as usual, a long story to tell the governor, and the

governor listened to it very attentively, probably because he thought

it would be the last, which opportunity Jack employed to narrate the

unfortunate end of his father.

"I would not have said so at the time, Mr Easy, but now the wound is

healed, I tell you, that it is the best thing that could have

happened--poor old gentleman! he was mad indeed."

Our hero remained a fortnight at Malta, and then Signora Easy was

re-embarked, and once more the Rebiera made sail.

"Fare you well, my lad; what I have seen of your brothers-in-law

pleases me much; and as for your wife, it will be your own fault if

she is not all that you would wish. If ever I come to England again,

I will pay my first visit to Forest Hill. God bless you!"

But Sir Thomas never did go back to England, and this was their final

adieu. Once more the Rebiera pursued her course, stopped a day or two

at Gibraltar, shared the proceeds of the captured gun-boat, and then

made sail for England, where she arrived without adventure or accident

in three weeks. Thus ended the last cruise of Mr Midshipman Easy. As

soon as their quarantine at the Motherbank was over, they disembarked,

and found Dr Middleton and Mr Hanson waiting for them at the George

Hotel. Our hero scarcely had time to introduce his wife, when the

waiter said, that a lady wished to speak to him. She did not wait to

know if Jack was visible, but forced her way past him. Jack looked at

her large proportions, and decided at once that it must be Mrs

Oxbelly, in which conjecture he was right.

"Pray, sir, what do you mean by carrying off my husband in that way?"

exclaimed the lady, red with anger.

"God forbid that I should have to carry your husband, Mrs Oxbelly, he

is rather too heavy."

"Yes, sir, but it's little better than kidnapping, and there's a law

for kidnapping children at all events. I shall send my lawyer to you,

that you may depend upon."

"You hardly can consider your husband as a child, Mrs Oxbelly,"

replied Jack, laughing.

"Very well, sir, we shall see. Pray, where is he now?"

"He is on board, Mrs Oxbelly, and will be delighted to see you."

"I'm not quite so sure of that."

"He's very anxious to see little Billy," said Gascoigne.

"What do you know of little Billy, young man?"

"And more than anxious to be on shore again. He's quite tired of

sleeping single, Mrs Oxbelly."

"Ah, very well, he has been talking, has he? very well," exclaimed the

lady, in a rage.

"But," said Easy, "I am happy to say, that with pay and prize-money,

during his short absence, he has brought home nearly five hundred

pounds."

"Five hundred pounds!--you don't say so, sir?" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly;

"are you sure of that?"

"Quite sure," rejoined Gascoigne.

"Five hundred pounds!--Well, that is comfortable--dear me! how glad I

shall be to see him! Well, Mr Easy, it was hard to part with him in

so unhandsome a way--but all's for the best in this world. What a dear

nice lady your wife is, Mr Easy--but I won't intrude beg pardon. Where

is the brig, Mr Easy?"

"Now coming into harbour," replied Gascoigne; "if you bargain, you can

get off for twopence."

"Five hundred pounds!" exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly, whose wrath was now

appeased.

"By all power, she no fool of a woman dat," said Mesty, as she

retreated curtseying. "I fink Mr Oxbelly very right sleep tingle."

We have now come to the end of our hero's adventures: that afternoon

they all started for Forest Hill, where everything was ready for their

reception. The Rebiera's men were paid off, and were soon distributed

on board of his Majesty's ships; the vessel was sold, and Mr Oxbelly

retired to Southsea, to the society of his wife and little Billy.

Whether he obtained from his wife a divorce de thoro is not handed

down.

OUR HERO, who was now of age, invited all within twenty miles of home

to balls and dinners, became a great favourite, kept a pack of hounds,

rode with the foremost, received a deputation to stand for the county,

on the conservative interest, was elected without much expense, which

was very wonderful, and took his seat in Parliament. Don Philip and

Don Martin, after two months' stay, took their passage back to

Palermo, fully satisfied with the prospects of their sister as to

competence and happiness. Jack had no occasion to argue the point

with Agnes; she conformed at once to the religion of her husband,

proved an excellent and affectionate wife, and eventually the mother

of four children, three boys and a girl.

Mesty held his post with dignity, and proved himself trustworthy.

Gascoigne, by the interest of the conservative member, soon obtained

the rank of post-captain, and was always his devoted and sincere

friend.

And thus ends the history of Mr Midshipman Easy.