Once more Harry gazed on the coast of England. He felt an earnest
longing to go on shore and see Mabel. He wished to tell her that her
father had escaped death, and that, although a prisoner, he might soon
return home. The "Latona," the frigate on board which Harry found
himself, sailed swiftly up the Channel, and rounding the Isle of Wight,
came to an anchor at Spithead. A large fleet lay there, under the
command of Lord Bridport. Harry, with several others, asked leave to go
on shore. He was sternly refused. The captain of the frigate was one
of those men who seemed to take delight in tyrannising over their crews
and in making them miserable. No, not although Harry pleaded his
shipwreck and the suffering he had gone through. The captain turned a
deaf ear to his entreaties. Several ships' companies had similar causes
of complaint.
Harry soon discovered that something was going forward among the men,
but he was not trusted. Disaffection rapidly spread among the crews of
the ships. At length they began to speak openly of their grievances.
Harry, finding it impossible to get on shore, wrote two letters: one to
Mabel, the other to Roger Kyffin. He told Mabel, that in all the
dangers he had gone through, he was true to her as ever. He described
the sinking of the ship, and his satisfaction at having been the means
of saving her father's life. His chief disappointment was at not
finding himself, as yet, on the quarter-deck, but still he trusted that
an opportunity would occur to enable him to make his way there. To Mr.
Kyffin he wrote as before, assuring him that he had heartily repented
the follies he had committed, and that he trusted he might have the
means of clearing his character from any imputation which his sudden
flight might have cast on it. It must be remembered that Harry was not
aware of the accusations brought against him, and that Sleech, instead
of defending him, had done his utmost to confirm the idea of his guilt.
The letter addressed to Mabel reached Lynderton, but being addressed to
Stanmore Park, was sent there by the postmaster, an especial ally of Mr.
Sleech. That gentleman received it, and he had an idea that it might
contain some information: at all events, it might be worth perusal. His
colour changed somewhat as he read on.
"The captain alive!" he exclaimed. "So ho! That may give trouble. I
wish he was fathoms deep down in the ocean. And this young fellow, this
Mistress Mabel loves him! Well, if she marries him, there will be a
couple of beggars wedded. And she disdains my son Silas, the creature!
We will pull her proud heart down yet, in spite of her father. I don't
like the captain coming to life again, though; I must consult Silas.
Tom's a fool: there is no use talking to him. I must send for Silas
post haste. He has got more wits than all the family put together."
The result of the letter Mr. Kyffin received has already been seen at
the commencement of the narrative. Before that he had begun to fear
that his ward was really dead. The letter had reassured him, but left
him very much in the dark as to where Harry was to be found.
Harry had another letter to write; it was, however, not on his own
account, but on that of his friend Jacob, who was ignorant of an art not
generally possessed by seamen in those days. It was addressed to Mary
Tanner, Mabel's waiting-maid.
"Well, Jacob," said Harry, as he sat down on the maindeck alongside a
gun with a piece of board as table, "I will write, gladly, but you must
tell me what to say."
"Tell her I love her as much as ever, and that I am glad to come to life
again, if it was only for the sake of seeking her. And now just write
down, `I am glad to say that fine young chap, Harry Tú (you know who I
mean, Mary), saved our captain's life when the ship went down, and we
were on the raft; leaped overboard, swam ever so far, and brought him
safe to it. The captain, however, does not know to this day who he is,
and thinks he's one Andrew Brown.'"
"I don't think I can say so much: it's like sounding my own praises,"
observed Harry.
"No, I tell you; it isn't you sounding them; it's me writing the letter,
and you just puts down what I say; so go ahead, Harry!"
Harry continued. The letter was almost as long as his own, but he did
not grudge the trouble. It was at once despatched, but instead of being
addressed to Stanmore Park, it was directed to Widow Tuttle's cottage,
where, Jacob stated, it was his belief that Mary would frequently go,
and she might then give his mother the first account of his safety.
Sailors' letters in those days often went astray. This, however, after
considerable delay, reached its destination; and sure enough, on that
very day, Mary was paying the widow a visit. Thus her sorrow was
quickly turned into joy; although somewhat subdued, when she found that
Jacob had no chance of leaving his ship to come and see her. After she
had read the letter two or three times to the widow, she hastened back
with it to rejoice the heart of poor Mabel.
Important events were at this time taking place on board the fleet.
Some time before, petitions had been sent up from all the line-of-battle
ships at Portsmouth to Lord Howe, making various not unreasonable
requests. It had been observed, however, by one of the red-tape
officials, that all the petitions were written by one person, and
couched in the same language, and therefore it was believed that they
were the productions of some factious or mad-brained individual, who was
not worthy of notice. They were accordingly thrown on one side, and no
answers were returned. After this the fleet put to sea. On its return,
the seamen finding that their petitions had not been replied to, were
much irritated, justly feeling that those who were fighting their
country's battles were worthy of respect. Several violent and
disaffected persons were found on board every ship, and these worked on
the minds of the other seamen. A general correspondence was established
throughout the whole fleet, and at length it was unanimously agreed by
the respective crews, that no ship should lift an anchor till a redress
of grievances was obtained.
The morning of the 13th of April arrived. Lord Bridport ordered the
signal for weighing to be thrown out on board the flag-ship. Instead of
obeying it, the seamen of the "Queen Charlotte" ran up the shrouds, and
gave three cheers as the signal for mutiny. This was answered in the
same manner by every ship in the fleet. The captains and their
officers, although taken by surprise by this sudden act of disobedience,
used every means in their power to persuade the men to return to their
duty, but all their exertions were ineffectual. They were, however,
treated with every respect, the seamen declaring that they were ready to
obey their orders as soon as they had received ample assurance from the
Government that their grievances would immediately be redressed.
On the following day, two delegates were appointed from each ship, to
represent the whole fleet, and the admiral's cabin on the "Queen
Charlotte" was fixed as a place where they should meet to hold their
deliberations. On the 15th every man in the fleet was sworn to support
the cause in which he had embarked. They next proceeded to reeve ropes
at the foreyard-arms, as a sign that they intended to run up any who
disobeyed them, and after this they turned all officers out of the fleet
who had by their behaviour in any way offended them. The day after this
a committee of the Board of Admiralty arrived at Portsmouth, and made
several propositions to the delegates, hoping to induce them to return
to their duty. Nothing, however, would satisfy the seamen, unless the
arrangements were sanctioned by the King and Parliament, and a general
pardon guaranteed by proclamation. After this several admirals visited
them with the same want of success. Lord Bridport, in consequence,
struck his flag, declaring that he would not again hoist it. The ships
on this loaded all their guns, kept watch as at sea, and put everything
in a state of defence, confining all the officers to their respective
ships. Happily wise counsels prevailed on shore. The King especially
urged his Ministers to yield to the just demands of the seamen, and Lord
Bridport was sent on board the fleet, informing the men that all their
grievances were redressed, and that his Majesty had granted a pardon to
all offenders. These events took place while the "Latona," on board
which Harry and Jacob then were, was at Spithead. She was soon
afterwards sent round to the Thames. On her passage she encountered a
heavy gale, and was run into by another ship, and reduced almost to a
wreck. Being afterwards driven on shore, she received so much damage
that she was towed up, not without difficulty, into Sheerness, to
undergo a thorough repair. Her crew in the meantime were turned over to
other ships, Harry and Jacob being sent on board the "Sandwich," then
one of the ships forming the fleet at the Nore. Several of the most
mutinously disposed of the frigate's crew were also sent on board the
same ship.
Grievously had poor Harry's expectation of rising in the service been
disappointed! Sent about from ship to ship, he had no means of becoming
known to his superior officers, nor had any opportunity been afforded
him for distinguishing himself. The romance, too, which he expected to
find in a life at sea had terribly worn off. He was among rough,
uneducated men, and although many of them were kind-hearted, generous,
and humane, there were not a few ruffians and villains of all sorts.
Some of these, when they discovered that he was a gentleman by birth,
took especial pleasure in annoying him. He had not failed, however, in
obtaining a certain amount of position among them, while he was
respected by those who knew him best. One of the men on board
especially took notice of him: his name was Richard Parker. He was a
clever fellow; had been, Harry heard, a petty officer; but for
disrespectful conduct to his superiors had been disrated. This seemed
to rankle in his heart. He possessed, too, a certain amount of
education, and he felt himself, and perhaps really was, equal in that
respect to many officers.
Parker had made it his business to discover all the most mutinously
disposed men in his own ship, as also by degrees on board the other
ships of the fleet--thus, in course of time, there were several hundred
men scattered about the fleet ready to obey any commands he might issue.
What his ultimate aims were Harry could not discover. Parker soon saw
that he must proceed carefully with Harry, if he wished to secure his
assistance. To Harry, indeed, his plans appeared very moderate, and all
calculated really to forward the best interests of the seamen.
"I must trust to you, Brown, then to help me," said Parker. "You are
just the fellow I want for a right-hand man, on whom I may thoroughly
rely. If men like you and I, and others of sense and education, don't
watch over the welfare of our poor fellow-seamen, depend upon it they
will soon again be treated as they were before. To my mind, although we
have gained something by the little outbreak of the fleet at Spithead,
we have not gained enough, and more must be done. Brown, I know you
will help me. I want to send letters round to each ship in the fleet,
and advise the men to select delegates, as was done at Spithead."
Harry saw no reason for refusing, and wrote letters, which Parker
sighed. His advice was implicitly followed, and in a short time
delegates from all the ships arrived on board the "Sandwich," which at
that time carried the flag of Vice-Admiral Buckner. A council of
delegates was formed, and Richard Parker was appointed president.
Certain petitions were drawn up, which were sent to the Admiralty. The
principal part of them were refused, but the men were promised
forgiveness if they would at once return to their duty. Admiral
Buckner, who delivered this message, was laughed at in return, and the
boats of the fleet being instantly manned, the crews went into the
harbour, and brought out all the gunboats, and proceeded to the Great
Nore. As they passed the fort at Sheerness, they fired at it in
defiance, though without doing any damage. On their return they struck
the flag of Vice-Admiral Buckner, and hoisted the red flag for mutiny in
its stead. All the ships also which lay near Sheerness were compelled
to drop down to the Great Nore, in order to concentrate the scene of
their operations. Among them was the "Saint Fiorenzo," which had just
been fitted up to carry one of the royal princesses, just married to the
Prince of Wurtemburg, over to Germany. Harry and Jacob talked over the
proceedings of their shipmates. They could not but perceive that they
were very dangerous, and, indeed, more serious grievances having been so
speedily redressed, utterly unjustifiable. Still Harry was
unfortunately committed to the cause of the mutineers, especially from
having written the letters, and otherwise aided Parker.
Parker doubted him, but still treated him with considerable attention.
Vain were all the efforts made by the Commissioners of the Admiralty to
bring the crews back to obedience. So bold, indeed, did the delegates
become, that they landed in various places, and supplied themselves with
the provisions they required. It was their constant custom to land at
Sheerness, where they held conferences with the greatest publicity, and
afterwards paraded the streets, with flags flying and music playing,
Parker, as the admiral of the rebel fleet, marching at the head of the
procession. They went on board, also, all the ships they could visit,
persuading the crews to join them. In spite of Harry's objections to go
on shore, Parker insisted on several occasions that he should accompany
him.
"I tell you, my lad, I am your friend, and will bear you harmless,"
answered the rebel chief; "and go you must. I want you."
Harry knew that it would be dangerous to disobey, but he did not
consider the still greater danger of being seen in company with the most
desperate of the mutineers.
On one occasion, when he was on shore with Parker, after the delegates,
as usual, had paraded the streets, they entered the dockyard, where Lord
Keith, Sir Charles Grey, Admiral Buckner, and several other naval
officers, who had just come down from London, were assembled.
The seamen were proceeding in their usual swaggering style across the
dockyard, when they came face to face with the venerable Admiral. He
fixed his stern gaze on them, asking them how mutineers and enemies of
their king and country thus dared to enter one of the royal dockyards?
Even Parker, bold and daring as he was, for an instant was staggered,
and found no words to reply. Just then, drums and fifes were heard, and
an infantry militia regiment marched into the dockyard. The delegates,
nothing daunted, drew up, facing them.
Parker had taken the precaution to leave orders on board the ships that
should he and his companions be seized, two officers on board every ship
should instantly be taken hold of, and ropes rove at the end of the
foreyard-arm be made fast round their necks.
Harry, who was among the delegates, found himself placed near several of
the officers of the militia regiment. Among them he saw a face he knew.
It was that of young Gilby, he was certain. The recognition appeared
mutual. Gilby nodded to him.
"I heard that you were at sea, old fellow, but didn't quite expect to
find you in such company," he cried out.
Harry made no answer, and endeavoured to avoid his gaze. Never had he
felt so humbled and annoyed.
Among the group of naval officers were the captains of some of the ships
who had come on shore. One of them was the captain of the "Saint
Fiorenzo." A young midshipman of the same ship, standing near Lord
Keith, on seeing all the principal leaders of the mutineers together,
exclaimed--
"Why not make one bold cast, and catch them all in the same net? It
would quickly put a stop to the mutiny."
The admiral turned round as he heard the voice:
"You don't know what you are talking about youngster," he observed,
recollecting that the mutineers had their officers in their power on the
ships.
In consequence of this they behaved with the greatest boldness and
audacity in the presence of the Lords of the Admiralty, and in spite of
the troops arrayed against them. A board was held by their lordships at
the Commissioner's house, when the delegates were invited to attend.
All expostulations, however, proved ineffectual. The mutineers
increased their demands, and grew more insolent in their behaviour. At
length their lordships, signifying to the seamen that no further
concessions would be granted, returned to town.
On this, further meetings were held on board the ships, at which Harry
was compelled by Parker to attend as his secretary. One day, in the
presence of Tuttle and several other seamen, Harry expostulated, telling
Parker that he did not approve of holding out after so many concessions
had been made.
"The first man who disobeys my orders will have a bullet sent through
his head," exclaimed Parker, drawing a pistol. "Disobey me at your
peril, Andrew Brown," he continued, levelling the weapon.
Harry stood firm. A murmur of disapprobation broke out among the men.
"I don't care whether you agree or disagree, but I ask you again, Brown,
whether you will attend me as I order you or not?"
"I will attend you if you force me, but again protest against your
proceedings."
"Come into the cabin then," exclaimed Parker, fiercely, "and do as I
order you."
Harry was compelled to obey.
The delegates having assembled, a fierce discussion took place as to
their future proceedings. Some were for yielding: others, led by
Parker, determined to hold out; while a considerable number proposed, in
case their demands were still refused, to carry the fleet over to a
French port. This traitorous proposition was happily over-ruled by the
majority--indeed, many thought that if it was proposed to the men, they
themselves would refuse to obey. Finally it was determined to hold out,
in the hope of compelling the Government to yield. One of the means
taken by the mutineers was to blockade the Thames, and several ships
were moored across the river, to prevent a free passage up to London or
down. In order to concentrate their force also, the fleet which lay at
Sheerness was compelled to drop down to the Great Nore. The
line-of-battle ships were then drawn up in a line, about half a mile
from each other, with their broadsides abreast. In the space between
the line-of-battle ships, the merchantmen and other vessels which had
been detained were moored. As all communication was stopped with the
shore, the mutineers supplied themselves with water and provisions from
these vessels.
All this time, strange as it may seem, the behaviour of the seamen
towards their officers, with a few exceptions, was perfectly respectful.
One, however, was tarred and feathered. Two midshipmen were ducked, and
some few officers who were especially obnoxious to the mutineers were
sent on shore. Four seamen also were severely flogged for speaking
disrespectfully of the delegates.