Captain Woodward's kindness towards him and the good news he received
from his wife, effected a wonderful alteration in Clare's appearance,
and the little doctor congratulated him on his returning health.
"I'm better, thankee, sir--wonderfully better--but at times my heart
beats so that I can hardly breathe. I think it's better, though, since
I've been coxswain."
"You see how foolish you were to worry yourself about what has proved to
be an idle fear, as all your surmises have turned out to be incorrect."
"I'm well enough now, doctor. Don't you think so?"
"Yes, you are well; but you must take care of yourself, and not get
excited."
"I mean, don't you think I'm in my senses?"
"Certainly I do, Clare."
"Well, doctor, I saw my wife's spirit on the 16th of last August--this
month is July. I've heard from her, and know she is alive as far as I
can tell at this moment. I consider the 16th of August to be her day,
and if she visits me agin, I'm sure she will die before I see her."
"I shall have to put you upon the sick list if you talk like that. Why,
you are as superstitious as ever."
Tom smiled sadly, but assured the doctor that it was not superstition,
but faith on his part, adding, "in my country a fetch sometimes comes
every year for fifty years, but the person it represents always dies on
that day."
The doctor looked at his patient for a few moments, and told him that he
would engage to cure the worst cases of fetch that Tom might bring to
him; and as his own was a pretty decided one, he should put him under
treatment for it at once, although he was not to be considered upon the
sick list.
The doctor's plan was effectual, for in a short time the seaman
renounced his delusion, and became quite convinced that it had proceeded
from disordered digestion: and before they left for Japan he penned the
following letter to his wife, from which it will be seen that his
orthography had improved under Lieutenant Russell's instructions.
_"H. M. S. Stinger,
"Hong-Kong, 23 July_, ----
"MY DEAR WIFE,
"Your two last letters were written by a strange hand, please tell
me who it is. I was greatly delighted to hear from you, and to know
you are well and hearty, and the baby well--he must cheer you a
good deal. I have had all manner of fullish thoughts about you,
thinking you was dead, but the doctor, who is a perfect samaryatan,
has given me a lot of stuff, which has taken away all my visions.
Now, I have a wish. I want you to write me upon getting this, and
say that on the 16th of August you were well and hearty, and it
will give me great joy, as I had a foolish idea on that point. I
have also a wish to know how you look. Can't you send me a sun
picture? I'd give anything for a sun picture of you. Lieutenant
Russell takes them, and has promised me one for you. I am very
comfortable in this ship, the captain is a perfect gentleman. If
all was like him the service would be perfect heaven for sailors. I
was truly sorry to hear of the death of your old missis. I hope she
is now with him in heaven who was so good on earth. Almost his last
words was 'Florence,' and he died a thinking of her. Our first
lieutenant is like poor Lieutenant Ford in many things, but he is
more grander in his words; he is wonderful clever, and it's a
pleasure to hear him lecture. He teaches us to read and write, and
is more like a father than anything else. He is the
best-dispositioned officer I ever saw, and would make a first-class
captain. Our captain is noble in everything, A 1, and as brave as a
lion. I am his coxswain now for good. In my last letter I told you
all about Jerry Thompson; he is now a petty officer, and as good a
fellow as ever, although he is a little touched in his head about a
Chinee girl, named Hay-toy, that was killed for his sake. I think
he was very fond of her. He is a reg'lar chum of mine, and we
messes together. Mr. Cravan has left the ship promoted; he was
nobody after our old tyrant and that wretch Crushe had left, as he
daren't show his feelings afore our present captain; he went off
without a sign of a cheer from any of us, and nobody missed him. We
are going to Jaypan, and I hope afterwards, when we have took
Canton, to send you word we are coming home. I think with what we
have now, and my prize money and pay, we shall be able to live very
comfortable. When you goes into Deal call at Mr. Masposlis, and say
his son is in our ship, and is a very nice young man; he is our
captain's servant, and we now and then has a chat about his father.
I must now conclude, with love to father and mother, and a hundred
kisses for dear little Tom, and my undying love for you, dear
Polly.
"I am your affectionate husband,
"THOMAS CLARE."
"Address Hong-Kong or elsewhere, as usual."
Before the memorable day upon which he was carried off by the Tartars
Thompson had given a parcel, containing a crape shawl and several
articles of loot, into the boatswain's care, with instructions to
deliver the same to Mary Ann if any accident occurred to him; so when
Jerry's clothes and other effects were sold before the mast, the things
were kept back by the boatswain. Upon Thompson falling out with Mr.
Shever the latter sent him the parcel, the existence of which was
forgotten by the sailor; and as Jerry, like most of his class, never
kept anything long, he made up his mind to send it home to Mrs. Clare,
by the first man invalided.
"She'll find it a helligant thing for weddings or the circus," he
observed to his friend.
"She don't go to none, leastways, she never says anything about it;
besides, keep it yourself, or send it to Mary Ann."
"What for? I'm going to try if Mary Ann has forgotten me, like you all
did." (Jerry always felt a little tender upon that point). "You're my
chum. Missis C. is a lady I think a deal about. Young Tom is my nevvy,
although a unlawful one, and puttin' that altogether, I'm determined to
send her the shawl, or to chuck it overheard."
The next man invalided proved to be Private Silas Bowler, Royal Marine
Light Infantry, who, after receiving a liberal present, took charge of
the shawl; and having successfully evaded the lynx-eyed custom-house
officials, upon his arrival at Portsmouth proceeded to deliver it, not
according to his agreement, but to his own wife, who wore it at Utah
chapel, and quoted the gift to her brothers and sisters in faith, as a
proof of good Silas's generosity. The worthy marine ultimately emigrated
to Salt Lake, where he became a deacon, and, for aught we know to the
contrary, one of Brigham Young's most efficient assistants. It is
probable that by this time the crape shawl has changed owners several
times.
The Stinger proceeded towards Japan, and in due time came to anchor in
the harbour of Chickodadi, where the hospitable inhabitants received
them with open arms, the officers and men taking a cruise on shore,
finding entertainment in all the free exhibitions then running in the
place, including the public bath-rooms, where young and old, bachelors
and spinsters, men and women, maids, wives, children and widows,
together disported themselves in a most primitive manner, much to the
astonishment of the gaping blue-jackets, who swarmed round those
institutions and made the most amusing remarks.
"Well, I _am_ blowed!" observed an old quarter-master. "If these here
Jappanknees ain't a rum set of fellers. Them ere bath houses beats me;
and my opinion is, they are either as hinnocent as babbies or a jolly
deal ahead of us in cheek. Vy, I ain't been as near blushin' as I was
to-day since I was a little kid."
No doubt the old fellow's delicate nerves were immensely shocked by the
custom of the country, he being one of those weather-beaten patriarchs
whom no one but a very-far-in-landsman would imagine possessed of any
greater sensibility than a milestone.
After having spent a very pleasant tune in Chickodadi, the Stinger
proceeded to Hiko-saki, where they fell in with H.M.S. Blowfly, the
commander of which being Woodward's senior, exercised them at all the
evolutions known in the service, from shifting topsails to changing
cooks of messes by signal, until Woodward began to wish his worthy
senior elsewhere. However, the cholera breaking out in the ships, they
were compelled to put to sea, where they lost one pest, but had a
terrible struggle against another.
It was a sore trial for them; and men who had laughed at and risked
death in a hundred forms were taken ill, and carried off before their
shipmates knew they were down. Some, who had for many years been in the
habit of drinking any ardent spirit which came within their reach, now,
through fear of the terrible disease, suddenly renounced liquor, and
swore, if spared, to lead sober lives in future, but they were cut off
as quickly as the drunkards. For seventeen days the ship was like a
hospital, and ere the epidemic had run its course the bodies of
thirty-five men and boys, including the assistant surgeon and third
engineer, were consigned to the deep. There was no escape, and many men,
who might have recovered on shore, upon seeing their shipmates die
around them gave up all hope for themselves, and succumbed to the
disease through fear.
The little doctor did wonders, working day and night, until he was
completely knocked up; then Captain Woodward took his place to the best
of his ability, and set a noble example to all in the ship. Although he
keenly felt the loss of every one of his officers and crew, he preserved
a calm demeanour; and had not his every action shown how fully he
understood and sympathized with the sufferers, he might have been
regarded as indifferent to the awful ravages that death was making
around him. Tom Clare and Thompson were his right-hand men, and bravely
they performed their work, taking watch and watch in the sick bay, and
attending the sick and dying with unremitting zeal. Clare, calm and
collected, moved about like a good spirit, and many a poor fellow gave
his last charge to him, knowing that, if Tom survived, his wishes would
be respected,--while Thompson, chaffing the would-be sick out of their
whims, was indefatigable in his attentions to those who were ill, and
was the life and soul of the convalescents; for, in spite of their sad
condition, Jerry's spirits rose while others' sank, and he would often,
by some droll remark, be of more service in helping their recovery than
all the medical comforts freely issued to them.
It must not be imagined that during such a time there is no joking and
fun on board, as after the first shock those who are well, or
recovering, often indulge in a display of merriment that to an observer
might savour of levity, but which is merely assumed to prevent their
dwelling upon the melancholy scenes taking place around them. Sailors
are very mercurial fellows, and Jack has often told yarns and sung songs
in the fore part of the ship while his messmates were writhing in their
last agony in the sick bay abaft.
Thompson felt the loss of his shipmates very keenly; and, as he
afterwards expressed it, never had harder work than when he pretended to
be merry upon that occasion, and, no doubt, he did much towards keeping
many of the men who were well from thinking of their awful position.
Having run northward until the disease began to decrease, Captain
Woodward determined to visit one of the uninhabited islands off the
coast of Tartary, and one evening came to anchor in a little bay where
he determined to land his men and put them under canvas, knowing he
could do so there with safety.
Some misunderstanding having occurred upon letting go the anchor, the
commander sent forward to inform the boatswain that he wished to speak
to him when the yards were squared, but the quartermaster who bore the
message returned with the information that the boatswain had just been
seized, and was gone down below. As soon as circumstances permitted,
Woodward left the deck and proceeded to the warrant-officer's cabin,
where he found Mr. Shever coiled up and evidently suffering great agony.
Having administered the usual remedy, he left him in charge of Thompson
and Clare, who were chafing his limbs with warm turpentine, that being
one of the methods then prescribed in such cases. Shever endured great
torture until midnight, when, just as the sentry struck eight bells, he
suddenly started up, seized his beloved pipe, which he insisted should
not be taken from his neck, placed it to his lips, blew a loud blast,
and, shrieking, "Hands, witness punishment," writhed in pain for a few
moments, than became rigid and expired.
Thompson brushed away a tear as he gazed upon the distorted countenance
of his former friend, then covered the still form with a sheet,
observing as he did so, "Ah, poor Mr. Shever, you'd a good heart afore
that devil Crushe got hold of you," when he became aware that Clare was
in the cabin; and turning round, saw the latter with his face pale and
scared, moving his lips, as if praying for the man who had during life
been his enemy; noticing which Jerry exclaimed, "Tom, you are a good
feller to pray for him wot swore agin you and injured you. I couldn't do
it."
Clare looked at his friend for a moment, then replied in a voice broken
with emotion, "I'm only a mortal man, Jerry, and him wot is under that
has been my enemy; but I can't stand by his body and say I'm glad to see
him a-lying there. I forgive him all he has done to me, and hope he will
be forgiven by _Him_ who knows more about his heart than we does. Poor
woman! I heartily pity his wife."
"So do I, Tom. I always have done that. But what makes you so white and
haggard, Tom?"
Clare sunk into a chair, and covering his face with his hands, sobbed
like a child.
"Tom, Tom, don't give way. You, of all others, who is braver than any of
us, you ain't afraid now, are you?"
Clare took his hands away, and mastering his emotion, assisted his
friend to prepare the body for interment; but before the few offices
were performed he was obliged to retire, evidently totally unmanned from
some cause which he could not sufficiently master his feelings to
explain. However, after a time he became more calm, when he sought for
Thompson and told him the reason of his agitation.
"Jerry, don't laugh at me, or think lightly of what I tell you."
"Did ever I laugh at a real sorrer in all my born days? Did ever you see
me make fun of trouble in others, Tom?"
Clare shook his head.
"Then, old mate, tell me your trouble, and if it's in my power I'll help
you through with my best advice."
"I've just seen poor Polly. She's dead, Jerry; she ain't alive. It's the
16th of August, and she's been dead a year. O merciful God, I think I
shall go mad!"
"Come, my poor old chap, you're upset with this sad work, you mustn't
worrit. Why, gracious goodness, ain't she a-writ to you a dozen times,
a-tellin' you about the babby, little Tom? and ain't I sent her a crape
shawl by that feller Bowler? and ain't we soon a-goin home to see her,
hey, old chap?"
"_Jerry, there she is again_," said the unfortunate fellow, pointing to
the doorway. "_There she is. I'm coming Polly! I'm_----"
Thompson seized his friend and secured him from jumping overboard, as he
might probably have done, and for three days watched by his bedside,
Clare being down with a raging fever; but he got through, and was out of
danger before the crew re-embarked.
Jerry did not go on shore with the others, but devoted himself entirely
to his friend and it was no doubt partly owing to his untiring care that
Clare recovered. He, however, never reverted to the hallucination, which
appeared to have passed away, although he often spoke to his nurse about
his wife and child.
Mr. Shever was, with others, buried upon the lonely island; and before
the Stinger left, the ship's painter prepared a tablet bearing the
following inscription, which was nailed against a tree growing near the
graves.
Near here lies the body of
Mr. Henry Shever,
Late Boatswain in H.M. Navy,
Aged 38 years,
who died of cholera off this island on
16th August, 185--,
while serving on board
H.M.S. Stinger,
24 guns.
Commander, Paul Woodward, R.N.
Three fathoms to the left of his grave lie the
bodies of the following, late crew of H. M. S. Stinger.
James Shaw, A. B., aged 32 years.
Thomas Simpson, A. B., aged 27 years,
Henry Rowe, A. B., aged 29 years.
Samuel Tyron, O. S., aged 20 years.
James Dove, Boy of 1st Class, aged 17 years.
All these seamen died of the fatal effects of cholera
while camped on shore near the beach below, much
regretted by their surviving shipmates, who
erected this monument
WM. BROWN, PAINTER.
When they had been under canvas a few weeks the cholera disappeared,
and Captain Woodward quitted the island, and ran down to Shanghae, where
he received orders to proceed at once to Hong-Kong, which he reached
after a quick passage, and there found, thanks to his immense
popularity, no difficulty in filling up the vacancies in his crew.
Clare, who had by this time recovered, was offered the post of
boatswain, but declined, saying he could not fill the rate. The
commander then strongly recommended Thompson for the appointment,
whereupon the admiral directed him to be made acting warrant-officer
until he was confirmed by the admiralty, and within a month after Mr.
Shever's death Jerry, who was thoroughly competent, piped, and bellowed
orders as naturally as though he had always owned the silver call and
chain.
Mrs. Shever was duly notified of her husband's decease, and received the
balance of his pay, and a pension from the government, and we must say,
that considering the nature of her bereavement, she bore up remarkably
well. "He were a good man for many things," she observed, "but a woman
might as well be a widder as to have her husband at sea all the time,"
so after wearing very deep mourning for six months, the boatswain's
relict moderated her grief and crape at the same time, and came out in
such killing costume, that three ardent admirers offered her their hands
and hearts within as many weeks of the change. Strange to say, she
refused them, and informed the world about her that it would have to be
a remarkably bright fellow who would be taken into Mr. Shever's place in
her heart. She held undoubted sway as belle of Crumpton Street, until
one unlucky day, the widow of a "retired dustman" took lodgings in the
opposite house, and, as Mrs. Shever expressed it, laid herself out to
angle for her lovers. Much to the disgust of the late boatswain's widow,
the new arrival managed to captivate a young hairdresser, who finding
the dustman's widow had more money than his first flame, not only cut
the acquaintance of the latter, but irritated her by sitting at her
rival's parlour window and playing upon a concertina such airs as "All's
Well," "The Girl I left behind me," and several others strongly
suggestive of her forlorn state.
It was very aggravating to her when she saw this, and heard what she
denominated his "setarical" tunes, but the boatswain's widow was
revenged. The perfidious ones billed and cooed for a few months, then
got married, went to live in a fashionable street, lost money, fell out,
she scolded, he beat her and took to drink, she drove the concern, he
eloped with the young girl who sold cosmetics in the front shop, she
bolted with the foreman hairdresser by the back door--and--the concern
was sold out, and turned into a dressmaking establishment, over the door
of which was this name in letters of gold:
MRS. SHEVER,
Dressmaker.
Ladies own materials made up.
It was a better situation than her former one, and the business
prospered in it; but, poor thing, she was lonely, and was on the point
of despairing, when one morning she heard the wonderful news of Jerry's
return to his ship, and from that moment was an altered woman. Mary Ann
was duly informed of the state of affairs, and congratulated her sister
upon the same.
"He was always fond of you, you know, 'Melia."
"Me? Mr. Thompson fond of me? Oh lor, Mary Ann, how silly you do talk.
Why, I don't know if I would accept him if he was to offer this moment."
"Oh nonsense, 'Melia. He ain't here. You knows that, or you'd not go on
in that way."
"What way?"
"Saying you don't love him."
"Gracious, Mary Ann, can't I speak of a gentleman of my acquaintance
without you being jealous of me, and flying at me like that?" Here Mrs.
Shever burst into tears. "You know you've a sneaking regard for him, and
don't want to see him marry me."
"However you can say that of me, Mrs. Shever, I can't think. I'm the
lawful wife of Mr. Joseph Jenkins, and I don't cast no sheep's eyes at
old lovers, who don't think much of one, as they let them as loved them
marry, and never wrote nobody until it was too late," cried the girl,
also shedding tears, whether of regret or of anger we know not.
Now, the boatswain's widow was a good-hearted woman, and loved her
sister very much; so upon seeing her weep she embraced her, and declared
that she was a brute to make any one cry who had been so good to her as
her own sister Mary Ann. After which they cried in concert, and then
became more loving than ever.
"Then you mean to marry Mr. Thompson, 'Melia?"
Mrs. Shever blushed, looked confused, hesitated, stammered and laughed,
but at last confessed to her sister that it wouldn't be her fault if she
did not hook Mr. Thompson as soon as he landed.
"But you'll have to wait ever so long, dear. The ship ain't ordered home
yet."
"Wait! Who wouldn't wait for such a man as that? Why, I'd wait for ten
years."
"You'd be grey before then, 'Melia dear, wouldn't you?" exclaimed Mary
Ann with a touch of mischief; "and perhaps Mr. Thompson wouldn't have
you. Besides, maybe he has fallen in with one of them black gals in
Chinee, and won't come back at all. I don't want to dishearten you, but
you mustn't be too sure."
"Fiddle. He ain't married no Chinee gal,--he's a deal too smart for
that; and if I'm grey when he comes back, I'll dye."
"Hadn't you better write him and say you're well?"
"Oh dear me, no. Why, no lady ever makes the first advances. Gracious
me! what would people think if they heered I had wrote to a gentleman
who were not my intended?"
"Well," observed her sister as she tied her bonnet strings preparatory
to leaving the house, "'Melia dear, I wish you every success, but my
opinion is that Jerry Thompson has been and splashed his affections
somewhere else, and you'd better not wait for him. I didn't, and I'm
thankful for it."
"And so am I, dear--heartily!" added Mrs. Shever as the buxom form of
Mary Ann vanished through the doorway. "Very heartily indeed, I may say,
as my chances would have been mighty small had you not been disposed
of."