On the 9th of March, 1793, his Britannic Majesty's gun-brig "Scourge"
weighed, and stood out to sea from the anchorage at Spithead, under
single-reefed topsails, her commander having received orders to cruise
for a month in the chops of the Channel. The "Scourge" was a 16-gun
brig, but having been despatched to sea in a great hurry, after
receiving somewhat extensive repairs at the dockyard, she had only eight
long 6-pounders mounted, and, for the same reason, she was considerably
short-handed, her _crew_ amounting only to seventy men and boys, of whom
quite one half were eminently "green" hands. War with France had just
been once more declared, the various dockyards were busy night and day
preparing and turning out ships for service, and the officers were glad
to get hold of almost any class of men for their ships, provided only
that they were strong and able-bodied.
In this dashing little brig, I--Ralph Chester--held the exalted and
responsible post of midshipman; my appointment, on the morning in
question, being exactly one week old. I had only joined the ship,
however, three days before, and in the interval had been made the victim
of almost every practical joke which the ingenuity of my fellow-mids
could devise. It is not my purpose to recount these tricks, for
stirring times were at hand, and adventures of a sterner and far more
interesting nature were to meet me at the very outset of my career,
crowding thick and fast upon each other's heels; and it is in the
recital of these adventures that I hope to excite and gratify the
curiosity of my readers. A few--and _only_ a few--words are necessary
by way of personal introduction. My father--the Reverend Henry
Chester--was rector of the parish of --, which, as everybody knows,
enjoys the advantage of being located in the heart of the loveliest
scenery in Hampshire. Our family was not a large one; there were only
four of us--two boys and two girls--exclusive of my parents; which was a
decidedly fortunate circumstance, for if my father's family was
moderate, his income was still more so, and my poor mother's ingenuity
was often taxed to the utmost to make both ends meet, and at the same
time maintain for us all such outward tokens of respectability as became
the rector's family.
My elder brother, Henry, was destined to follow in the paternal
footsteps by entering the church. My sisters Florence and Amy (my
juniors respectively by two and four years) would, it was hoped,
contract in due time suitable marriages, with the friendly aid and
countenance of some of our more wealthy relations; and, for myself, my
dear father was most anxious that I should devote the few abilities with
which I had been endowed by nature to the study of the law. Personally
about the most unambitious man who ever lived, my father's ambition for
his children was absolutely boundless; and I believe, could the truth
have been arrived at, he quite hoped in course of time to see his sons,
the one Primate of England, and the other in possession of the woolsack.
But the prospect of spending my days in groping through musty law-books,
hunting up obscure precedents, convincing an enlightened jury, through
the medium of my persuasive arguments and impassioned eloquence, of the
innocence of rascals carrying the word "rogue" legibly imprinted upon
their countenances, and other operations of a kindred nature, had no
attractions whatever for me; my tastes and proclivities were all in
favour of an active outdoor existence; and, though I was prepared to
yield obedience if my father chose to _insist_ upon my following so
uncongenial an occupation, I felt that it was only due to myself to
point out to him that it would be utterly out of my power to infuse any
spirit or enthusiasm into my pursuit of it.
My father, on learning how utterly distasteful to me were his plans for
my future, at once waived his own inclinations, and came to the point by
inviting me to state specifically _what_ occupation I should prefer;
and, after taking a little time to give the question my most careful
consideration, I informed him that I had made up my mind to go into the
navy, if he saw no objection, and if I could get there. My decision
gave great concern to both my parents, and indeed I may say to the whole
family; but as time went on and it became every day more apparent that I
had set my heart upon going to sea, it was at length decided to yield to
my wishes; and the only question which then remained was how to get me
afloat under the most favourable auspices.
This question, fortunately for me, admitted of an easy solution. An
uncle of my mother--Sir Peregrine Portfire, K.B., Vice-admiral of the
Red, etcetera, etcetera--was applied to; and within a fortnight I was
directed to join the "Scourge" forthwith. A letter arrived by the same
post from my great-uncle, containing an enclosure addressed to Commander
George Brisac, soliciting his good service in my behalf, which enclosure
I was instructed to present to the gentleman addressed on joining the
ship.
I will not detain my readers by introducing them to the officers of the
"Scourge;" my sojourn on board that ship was but a short one, so short,
indeed, that I scarcely had time to become acquainted with them myself;
and, as I never fell in with any of them again in after-life, what
little it is necessary for the reader to know concerning them he will
glean in the progress of the narrative. And now to resume the thread of
my story.
The "Scourge," when we left her, was standing out to sea under single-
reefed topsails. The wind was about W.N.W., blowing strong, with
frequent squalls of mingled rain and sleet. The sky was entirely
obscured by dull, dirty, ragged-looking clouds, which hung so low that
they seemed to touch our trucks as they swept rapidly along overhead.
The sea under the shelter of the land was of course smooth, but as we
drew rapidly off the shore (the brig proving to be a wonderfully fast
little craft, to the intense satisfaction of all hands), we soon got
into rougher water; and then to the original miseries of rain and cold
were added the discomfort of frequent and copious showers of icy spray,
which, coming in over the weather bow, flew right aft and out over the
lee quarter, treating everybody, with the utmost impartiality, to a good
drenching on its way. All hands, from the skipper downward,
disregarding appearances, carefully enwrapped their carcases from head
to foot in oilskin; and if anything had been needed to complete the all-
pervading aspect of cold and wretchedness which the scene presented, it
would have been found in contemplation of the wet and shiny appearance
of the crew, each with a little stream of water trickling off the flap
of his sou'-wester down his back, and with hair and whiskers blowing
drenched and bedraggled about his pinched and purple visage.
The crowning misery of all--sea-sickness--I was happily spared, and I
was thus enabled to go about my duty without experiencing a wish that
some kindly sea would wash me overboard and end my life and my
wretchedness together; but, as it was, the circumstances attendant upon
my first experience of active service were such as might well have
damped the ardour of one even more enthusiastic than myself. My pride,
or my obstinacy, however, were such, that having once put my hand to the
plough, I was quite determined that nothing short of actual physical
incapacity should compel me to turn back.
We stretched off the land, close-hauled upon the starboard tack, the
whole of that day, and the greater part of the succeeding night; the
skipper's object being, as I gathered from a remark or two which I
overheard between him and the first lieutenant, to get well over toward
the French coast; where, if fortune favoured us, we might be lucky
enough to pick up a prize or two.
As the day wore on, the wind increased considerably in strength, and at
the end of the first dog-watch orders were given to take down another
reef in the topsails, and to stow the courses. The topsail yards were
accordingly lowered down upon the caps, and the crew proceeded aloft to
execute this duty, some of the green hands evincing a very marked
disinclination to go more than half-way up the lower rigging; and when
at length, by dint of mingled force and persuasion, they were got as
high as the tops, two or three refused point-blank to lay out upon the
yards. The first lieutenant raved at them, stamped furiously upon the
deck, and threatened unutterable things if they did not lay out
forthwith; and the captains of the tops, not to be behindhand, proceeded
vigorously to "freshen their way" with a rope's end. This latter
persuasive appeared to have the desired effect; and, slowly and with
excessive caution, the men proceeded to lay out. Suddenly the foot of
one of them on the main-yard slipped; he clung convulsively for a moment
to the yard, and then whirled off backwards, striking the main-rigging
on the weather side, and rebounding into the sea.
Instantly there arose the startling cry of "A man overboard!" I know
not what possessed me, but in the excitement of the moment, and without
in the least thinking of what I was doing, I no sooner saw the man
strike the water than I rushed aft, leaped upon the taffrail, and,
pausing a single instant to mark the spot where he fell, raised my hands
above my head, and took a most scientific header into the boiling surge.
As I was descending toward the water I heard a hearty cheer from the
men, and then the icy cold waves closed over my head; there was a
rushing sound in my ears, and darkness all around me.
When I rose to the surface, I found myself close to the drowning man,
who was struggling feebly and in an aimless sort of way, apparently half
stunned, and lying face downwards in the water. Swimming happened to be
one of the very few accomplishments in which I excelled, otherwise I do
not think it at all probable I should have leapt overboard so
unhesitatingly; be that as it may, though I had never been in rough
water before, and though, now that I was overboard, the sea seemed
incomparably more tempestuous than it had appeared to be from the ship's
deck, I felt perfectly at home. Paddling cautiously up to the man, I
seized him by the hair, and turned him over on his back, then threw
myself upon my back, and dragged his head up high enough upon my breast
to lift his mouth out of water, supporting him and myself by vigorous
strokes with my feet. Looking round, as we rose on the crest of a sea,
I could dimly descry the brig through the rapidly increasing gloom; and
to my horror she appeared to be a long distance away. I had time only,
however, for a momentary glance, when we sank into the trough, and I
lost sight of her. A few seconds afterwards I caught sight of her
again, and this time she was displaying in her rigging a lantern, the
sight of which I regarded (rightly, as it afterwards turned out) as a
sign and token that every effort would be used to recover us, and truly
the feeble gleam, appearing and disappearing as we rose and fell upon
the agitated surface of the sea, was to me a very star of hope and
encouragement.
My vigorous efforts to keep myself and the man afloat soon told upon me,
and I began to fear that I should be obliged to abandon my prize in
order to preserve my own life; luckily for us both, however, my
companion had ceased to struggle, and now lay supported within my arms,
to all appearance dead. As the time dragged heavily away, I grew more
and more exhausted, and at length the man slipped from my relaxing grasp
and began to sink. Happily at this instant I caught a momentary glimpse
of a small object standing out black and distinct against the narrow
belt of light lying along the western horizon, and I felt instinctively
that it was a boat coming in search of us; the sight imparted new energy
to my nerveless frame, and, recovering my grasp upon the man just as he
was sinking beyond my reach, I determined to keep him above water until
succour arrived, or go down with him.
How anxiously I kept watch upon the boat, and the desperate efforts I
made to keep afloat, it would be impossible to describe. The dancing
craft appeared to be lying at anchor upon the water, though in reality
she was foaming down towards us before the wind and sea, propelled by
the strong arms of eight of the stoutest oarsmen in the ship. At
length, however, she was near enough to enable me to discern the bow man
standing up, one hand shading his eyes, and the other grasping a boat-
hook. Presently a hail came down upon the wind toward us from the boat,
and directly afterwards another. I was by this time too weak to reply;
and could only hope that they would pull on until close enough to see
us; to my inexpressible horror, however, when some seven or eight
lengths away, the boat's head swerved sharply aside, and the craft
darted off upon a course at right angles to her former one. Then indeed
I uttered a shriek loud enough to awake the seven sleepers, and
immediately went under. I thought it was now all over with us both; but
the love of life is strong, especially in the young, and a convulsive
struggle brought us once more to the surface; but, blinded with salt
water, and with my senses fast leaving me, I no longer looked round for
the boat, but battled desperately, though more than half unconsciously,
for life; still retaining, with the tenacious grasp of the drowning, my
hold upon my companion. I at length heard faintly, and as though in a
dream, a voice saying, "There they are! port, sir, hard!" and then all
became an utter blank.
The first indication of returning consciousness was the sound of the
surgeon's voice saying, "All right! he is coming to; and we shall save
him yet."
"Thank God for that!" presently exclaimed another voice, which I
recognised as the skipper's; "I would not have lost the lad for the
worth of all that I possess. I never saw a more plucky thing in all my
life; and, if he lives, he will grow up to be an ornament to the
service."
At this point I opened my eyes, and found those of the speaker bent upon
me with an expression of deep solicitude. I furthermore found that I
had been stripped of my wet clothing, and was lying in the captain's own
cot, with the doctor and one of the seamen rubbing my limbs and body so
vigorously with their bare hands, in the endeavour to restore a brisk
circulation, that I seemed to be in imminent danger of being flayed
alive.
"How do you feel now, my boy?" inquired the skipper, as he bent over the
side of the cot, and laid his hand kindly upon my own.
"Very much better, sir, thank you," I replied; though, to tell the
truth, I was at that moment enduring the most acute pain in every nerve
of my body--the physical suffering attendant upon the returning tide of
life being actually much greater than that experienced while I was
undergoing the process of drowning.
"That's right," returned he, in a cheery tone of voice; "I am glad to
hear it, as every man in the ship will be. You have performed a right
gallant action, and I am sure you will be glad to know that your efforts
have not been in vain. The poor fellow whom you rescued is alive, and
likely to do well."
I felt too weak to make any reply to this gratifying speech, a fact
which the doctor instantly perceived, for he turned to the skipper and
remarked, "With your permission, sir, we will now leave the lad in quiet
to sleep off his exhaustion. I will just mix him a simple restorative,
while your steward tucks him in and makes him comfortable for the night;
after which I think we may safely leave the rest to nature, though, of
course, I shall look in upon both of my patients from time to time, so
as to make quite sure that they are going on all right."
If the worthy medico fulfilled his promise to "look in" upon me during
the night--and I feel quite sure he did--I was blissfully unconscious of
the fact, for under the soothing influence of the restorative draught,
and the warmth of the blankets liberally heaped upon me by the captain's
steward, I speedily sank into a deep, dreamless, refreshing slumber--a
delicious oblivion--from which I awoke in the morning to find myself
very little the worse for my exertions of the previous night.
When I opened my eyes I saw, through the open door of the state-room,
that the sun was streaming brightly down through the skylight, lighting
up the cosy little cabin, bringing out to the fullest advantage the
flowing tints of three or four well-executed pictures, which were
secured to the bulkheads, and altogether imparting a delightfully
cheerful appearance to the apartment. The vessel, however, was in
violent motion; I could, from my position in the cot, look out through
the stern windows; and I saw that there was a heavy sea running, and the
roar of the wind through the rigging, which was distinctly audible above
the sound of creaking timbers, rattling doors, trampling feet, and the
_swish_ of heavy showers of spray upon the deck, told me it was blowing
hard. I felt so greatly recovered, however, that I resolved to get up,
and, springing out of the cot, I proceeded to dress myself with as much
alacrity as the rolling and pitching of the ship would permit. While
engaged in this occupation, the doctor entered the cabin.
"Hillo!" he exclaimed, "turning out, eh? Well done, young gentleman.
Steady! you have not shipped your sea-legs yet, as our friend the first
lieutenant would say; you must be cautious, or you will be thrown
against something or other, and get a nasty knock. Well, and how do you
feel this morning?"
"A trifle weak," I replied, "that's all. I dare say I shall be better
when I have had breakfast."
"That's your sort," responded the jolly old medico; "if you are hungry,
there is not much wrong with you; but you mentioned breakfast. Have you
any notion what time it may happen to be?"
"Not much," I replied; "but I fear it is rather late."
"That depends upon what you call late," he retorted. "Some of your
town-bred dandies are only in their first nap about this time. As a
matter of absolute fact, however, it has just gone eight bells, or noon;
so that you see, my young friend, breakfast is over long enough ago.
But I dare say Patterson can find something for you all the same." He
rang a small hand-bell which stood on the table, and the captain's
steward made his appearance. "Patterson," said the doctor, "this young
gentleman complains that he is hungry. Have you any trifle, such as the
wing of a chicken, or something of that sort, in your pantry that you
could give him?"
"No, sir," replied the man, with a grin, "I'm afraid I've not. But if a
nice rasher of bacon and a cup of coffee will do--"
"Splendidly," I interrupted. "To tell you the truth, doctor, I am
hungry enough to eat a horse, harness and all; so I shall be very glad
to have either a rasher of bacon or anything else that is quickly
obtainable."
Patterson was not long in getting ready the promised repast, which I
cleared to the last morsel; after which I made my way on deck. The
skipper was there, promenading the weather side of the quarter-deck, the
first luff jogging fore and aft alongside of him. I was called up, a
few kind inquiries made, together with a eulogistic remark or two upon
my conduct of the previous evening; and the whole neatly finished off
with an intimation that, having begun so well, great things would be
expected of me in future, and that, having established a reputation for
zeal and gallantry, it was hoped I would do my utmost to maintain it;
after which I was dismissed. I soon found that my exploit had placed me
upon quite a different footing in the ship from that which I had
occupied before. The men treated me with real respect, instead of the
good-humoured burlesque thereof which they had accorded me hitherto; and
my fellow-mids at once received me into the berth upon a footing of
perfect equality with themselves, each one striving to do me some little
kindness or show me some little attention, in place of playing off
disagreeable practical jokes upon me. They would not have been
midshipmen had they not had a jocular remark or two to make upon the
subject, but it was all said in good part. The wind continued to blow
hard during the whole of that day, but toward sunset it moderated
somewhat, and veered a point or two to the northward. The ship had been
under close-reefed topsails and fore-topmast staysail ever since
midnight of the night before.