THE PRISONERS HAVE TO WORK--THE CHASE--THE MERCHANT SHIP IS TAKEN--THE
BOYS FIND THEIR FRIEND CAPTAIN RYMER AND MARY--THE HURRICANE.
Next morning, as soon as the boys appeared on deck, the captain again
called them aft.
"Aloft with you, lads, and black down the main-rigging," he exclaimed as
they approached him, looking more humble even than they felt. Knowing,
however, that there was no use in refusing to do what they were ordered,
Harry and David took up the buckets to which the captain pointed, and
ascended as before.
"We must look out not to drop any tar on deck," said Harry, "he will
make it an excuse to give us a rope's-ending if we do; I'm sure he means
mischief."
The boys soon gained the masthead, and began their very disagreeable
task. The sun was extremely hot; the ship rolled slowly from side to
side as she glided on before the wind. Poor David felt very sick and
wretched; more than once he thought he must give in, but Harry cheered
him by exclaiming--
"Let us show that we are Englishmen, and at all events that we are not
to be daunted by any work these Frenchmen can give us."
Thus encouraged, David, who really had as much spirit as Harry,
determined to persevere. The work, however, progressed more slowly than
on the previous day. Several times the captain came on deck and watched
them; they continued their work as it they did not observe him. By the
time it was completed, as may be supposed, their clothing was entirely
spoiled. As they stepped on deck he grinned at them maliciously.
"Ah! now you look what you must in future expect to be," he remarked;
"go forward and stow away those buckets, and then come aft to me."
"I wonder what he is going to make us do next?" said Harry, as they
handed the buckets over to the boatswain. Poor David, overcome with the
heat, scarcely answered. A cup of water which he had obtained from a
cask on deck somewhat revived him.
"Well, we must go aft, and face it out as best we can," he answered;
"come along, I'm ready."
The captain ordered them into his cabin.
"Now, lads, I want that furniture cleaned; the brass has not been
burnished for some time." He put some leather into their hands. The
difficulty of the work was not so great, but it was evidently given to
insult them on account of its menial character. Harry especially felt
this. Still they had no resource but to obey, and scrubbed away with
might and main. At last the captain came below.
"Now, you young English midshipman, I've some special work for you to
do. See that locker; there are several pairs of boots and shoes--you'll
find a blacking-bottle and brushes. I want them cleaned." Harry's
proud spirit rose within him. Should he defy the tyrannical captain,
and declare that he would die sooner than so employ himself? The
captain seemed to divine his thoughts.
"As you please, youngster," he observed; "no one disobeys me on board
this vessel."
Harry remembered the shark, and the captain's threat on the previous
day.
"Oh! I will help you," said David, looking at him.
"No, it is his work," said the captain.
Poor Harry saw there was no use in offering any resistance, and taking
out the brushes began to clean the shoes. It was a work which a
midshipman in those days often had to perform for himself; but then it
was very different doing it for another, and that other a Frenchman. At
length, however, the boys were dismissed, having performed all the tasks
given to them. They hurried forward and dived below. The first person
they met was Pierre, who looked with commiseration on their tarred
dresses.
"I came on board with a nice clean suit, and had to spoil it just as you
have had to spoil yours," he observed; "and now he abuses me when I go
into his cabin, for not looking clean."
After this the boys were regularly sent aft to help wash down decks, and
to keep the stanchions and other parts about the ship bright. This gave
them abundant occupation. However, when they could manage to get below,
they were treated even more kindly than before by the crew.
They had been for some weeks cruising up and down without even sighting
a sail, when one morning, on Harry and David coming on deck, they found
the captain and officers in a considerable state of excitement. The
captain himself went aloft with his glass, and on his return ordered the
ship's course to be altered, and all sail to be set.
"We are in chase of some vessel or other," observed Harry; "depend upon
it the Frenchmen expect to make a prize of her."
All hands were called on deck. Now one sail and now another was
added,--some rigged out so as just to skim the surface of the water,
while with buckets and scoops the sails were wetted as high as they
could be reached. Harry and David could see in the far distance a large
ship, which from her narrow yards and the cut of her sails Harry said he
thought was really a merchantman, which of course the Frenchman took her
to be.
"But suppose she is not," said David.
"Then they will find out that they have caught a Tartar, and we shall
get out of the power of this Monsieur Sourcrout," answered Harry;
"however, we mustn't raise our hopes too high."
"The ship ahead has shown English colours," the boys heard from some of
the crew, for they could not get a glass to look through. She, it
seemed, did not like the appearance of the stranger, for she now set all
sail and went off also directly before the wind. A stern chase is a
long chase, but if the chaser is a faster vessel than the chased, she
will come up with her at last. As the day drew on it was very evident
that the schooner had gained very considerably on the chase. She was
seen to be an old-fashioned merchant vessel, a regular West India
trader, probably, which would afford a rich prize to the captors.
The excitement of the captain and officers was extreme. Already they
anticipated the rich booty which would soon be theirs.
"Oh! do you think those people on board that vessel will give in without
fighting?" asked David.
"I think very likely not," said Harry; "we shall soon know; in less than
an hour we shall be alongside."
"What had we better do?" asked David.
"Stay on deck and see what takes place," said Harry.
"What, and run the chance of being shot?" said David; "I don't think
that would be wise."
"Well, let us wait and see till the time comes," said Harry, who was
evidently very unwilling to go below while any fighting was taking
place.
In the meantime the Frenchmen were very active in preparing the ship for
action. Arm-chests were thrown open, and arms were handed to each of
the crew. The cutlasses were secured to their waists, and the pistols
they stuck in their belts. The guns were cast loose and loaded, and the
French ensign run up at the peak. The magazine was opened, and Harry
and David were called aft by the captain, and told to go below.
"I knew that's what we should have to do," said Harry.
"Stand by, and hand up the powder as it is wanted," said the captain, in
an authoritative tone, which there was no disobeying. Pierre and the
other boys were employed in the same way.
"We shall have to carry the powder on deck in these tubs, and sit on it
till it is wanted," said Harry.
"And run as great a risk of being shot as any of the crew?" asked David.
"There's no help for it," said Harry. "If we refuse, the French skipper
is just as likely to shoot us through the head as not. He's been
waiting for this opportunity to have his revenge on us."
As soon as the guns were loaded, a fresh supply of powder was called
for, and Harry and the other boys were ordered to carry it up on deck.
There they sat in a row on the tubs which contained the bags of powder,
looking anything but contented with their lot. The schooner now rapidly
came up with the merchant vessel,--for such there seemed no doubt was
the character of the chase. Whether or not she would fight seemed a
question. As they drew nearer, a considerable number of men were seen
on deck, and she gave no signs of yielding. As soon as the Frenchman's
bow-chaser could be brought to bear, a shot was fired, but no reply was
given. Another and another followed in rapid succession. Neither of
the shots took effect. At length the schooner got near enough to fire a
whole broadside. As she was about to do so, the ship hauled up her
courses, and, standing across the Frenchman's bows, gave her a raking
broadside which struck down several of her crew, and caused some little
damage to her masts and spars. Harry and David looked anxiously towards
each other. Neither of them was hurt, nor was Pierre, in whom they took
a warm interest. This opposition, however, seemed to excite the captain
to the utmost pitch of fury. He stamped and swore, and ordered a
broadside to be immediately poured into the English ship. The two
vessels now ran on alongside each other. It was clear if the English
vessel was to be taken, she would not be captured without a severe
struggle. The Frenchman's guns were heavier and more numerous than
hers, and the crew were better trained to their use. This soon began to
tell. Several of her spars were soon shot away, and from the faintness
of her fire it seemed too probable that many of her crew had been killed
or wounded. As long as the Frenchman's spars remained standing, to
escape was hopeless, and her guns were therefore directed rather to
knock away the Frenchman's masts than to kill the crew. In this,
however, she was not successful, and several of her own spars were shot
away instead. At length the French captain, delivering another
broadside, ranged up alongside with the intention of boarding. An
attempt was made to avoid this, and boarding nettings were seen triced
up above the bulwarks of the English ship. Again the Frenchman ran
alongside.
"They shall not foil us a second time," exclaimed the French captain;
"no quarter if they do not yield."
Harry and David trembled for the fate of their unfortunate countrymen on
board the merchantman. Just then the English ensign was seen to descend
from the peak. Those on board the English vessel thought that further
resistance was hopeless. The Frenchmen swarmed up the sides, and were
quickly in possession of the English ship.
"We'll follow, and see what takes place," said Harry; "we may perhaps
help some of the poor people."
As there was no one to interfere with them, they were soon on the
merchantman's deck. Some five or six of the crew lay dead, while three
or four others, badly wounded, were being conveyed below. The French
captain, by his gestures, seemed disappointed at not having his expected
revenge, and he was abusing the English captain for having attempted to
oppose him. A man stood by, receiving the swords of the captain and
several other persons, who seemed to be gentlemen. Harry and David
observed one whose face had been turned away from them at first.
"Harry," exclaimed David, "I'm sure that's Captain Rymer. If Mary is on
board, how dreadful for her!"
"It's very like him," said Harry; "I'm afraid it must be him. But how
could he have come on board the ship? We shall soon know, at all
events--I will try and speak to him."
As may be supposed, even their dearest friends would not have known the
two lads in their tarry clothes, and their faces begrimed with powder.
As soon as the French captain and his followers went below to examine
the cargo of the ship, Harry and David stole up to the gentleman whom
they supposed to be Captain Rymer. He was indeed their friend.
"What, lads!" he exclaimed, looking at them, "are you really alive? I
am thankful to find you so, even in this plight."
Harry rapidly explained how they came to be on board the French vessel.
"And is Mary with you?" asked Harry, eagerly.
"Yes, and there are several other ladies in the cabin below. They have
shut themselves in, and I trust will receive no annoyance from the
Frenchmen."
"I don't think we should be seen talking with you," said Harry, "because
we may hope to be of some assistance, although we don't see clearly how
that is to be just yet."
The Frenchmen seemed highly elated at finding they had captured an
unusually rich prize, and were in a very good humour, in spite of the
loss of a few of their number. The dead were soon thrown overboard, and
the wounded placed in the doctor's hands out of sight, the decks washed
down, and most of the traces of the combat done away with. A picked
crew of the Frenchmen was sent on board the English merchantman, which
it seemed the intention of the captain to carry into the nearest port in
the West Indies belonging to France. Harry and David could not bear the
thoughts of being separated from Captain Rymer, and resolved to stow
themselves away on board the English vessel, hoping they might not be
missed. Among the prize crew were, to their great satisfaction, their
good-natured friends Jacques Rossillion and Pierre Lamont. The first
lieutenant came to take the command. The Frenchmen more than doubled
the remainder of the English crew, who, however, were expected to assist
in working the ship. Scarcely had these arrangements been made when a
strong breeze sprang up. The boats were hoisted in, and the two vessels
separated. The wind increased very rapidly, and so heavy a sea got up
that it would have been dangerous for a boat to pass from one vessel to
the other. Before long, however, the schooner ranged up near the ship.
"You have got those two English boys on board; give them the
rope's-end," shouted the French captain, who, apparently, had only just
then discovered that Harry and David had escaped him.
The French lieutenant replied that he would see to it, and again the
vessels separated. He, however, had never looked at them in the same
surly way the other officers had done, and as they took good care to
keep out of his sight, he seemed to forget the orders he had received.
The wind went on increasing till it seemed likely to become a regular
hurricane. The management of the ship completely occupied the French
crew, so that they had but little time to look after their prisoners.
The English captain and his officers were ordered to remain as prisoners
in one of the cabins with a sentinel placed over them, but the rest of
the crew were allowed to go about at liberty.
"Don't you think it would be possible to get back the ship?" said Harry
to David. "Shall I propose to make the attempt to Captain Rymer?"
"If it was not for Mary and the other ladies," said David, "he might
consent; but the risk to them would be too fearful were we to fail."
Hitherto they had not had the opportunity of seeing Mary. Finding,
however, that the Frenchmen as well as the English crew were engaged in
making the ship snug, they stole aft and found their way to the cabin
door.
"May we come in?" said Harry.
"Yes, yes," answered a voice, which they thought was Mary's.
When, however, they opened the door and presented themselves, for a
minute Mary could scarcely recognise them, so changed were they since
the day they had parted from her after the picnic--Harry in his bright
new uniform, and David in his trim yachtsman's attire. Now their hair
was long, their cheeks were sunken, at least so far as could be seen
through the powder which begrimed them, and their dresses were covered
from head to foot with tar; still, the moment they spoke, she sprang
forward and took them warmly by the hands.
"Oh, I am so thankful that you have not been lost, as we thought you
were," she exclaimed, and the tears came into her eyes; "this is a very
sad way of meeting, but still I hope God will protect us all, and I am
thankful to see you both."
Most of the ladies, who were all passengers, were eager to hear of the
boys' adventures. These they briefly gave. Some, however, were too
frightened by the sound of the hurricane, and the tossing and rolling of
the ship, to listen to them.
"Do you think there is any danger?" at last asked Mary of Harry.
"I hope not," said Harry, "but Captain Rymer knows more about it than I
do."
Captain Rymer, who at this moment entered the cabin, looked somewhat
anxious, though he endeavoured to speak in a cheerful voice, and began
to express his satisfaction at the escape of his young friends from the
numerous dangers to which they had been exposed. Night was now coming
on, and it was evident that the ship was in the midst of a regular West
Indian hurricane. The French officer was evidently a good seaman, and
did all that could be done under the circumstances for the safety of the
ship. The topgallant-masts were struck, and every sail was furled
except a closely reefed fore-topsail, with which the ship ran before the
gale. Night had now come on; the wind, as is generally the case during
a hurricane, shifted so much that it was difficult to ascertain in what
direction she was driving. Captain Rymer several times went on deck,
but had a not very satisfactory report to give on his return.
"As long as the ship does not spring a leak we have nothing to fear,
however," he observed.
Still the ship rolled and pitched so much that it seemed scarcely
possible that a structure of wood and iron could hold together. The
poor ladies had to sit on the deck of the cabin and hold on by the legs
of the table, while the lamp swung backwards and forwards in a way that
threatened every instant to cause its fracture. Harry and David, though
they had seen enough of storms, agreed to go up on deck and see what was
taking place. One glance satisfied them. The mountain seas, covered
with white foam, were rolling up on either side of the ship, and
threatened every instant to come down upon her deck. They gladly
descended again.
"I don't at all like the look of things, I confess," said David. "As
long, however, as Captain Rymer is satisfied that all is right, so
should we be."