CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.
"TO BE, OR NOT TO BE," THAT IS THE QUESTION--SPLINTERS ON BOARD OF AMAN-OF-WAR VERY DIFFERENT FROM SPLINTERS IN THE FINGER ON SHORE--TOMPREVENTS THIS NARRATIVE FROM BEING WOUND UP BY MY GOING DOWN--I RECEIVEA LAWYER'S LETTER, AND INSTEAD OF BEING ANNOYED, AM DELIGHTED WITH IT.
In the meantime, Tom had gone up to the fore-royal arm, and was lookinground for the five guineas, and just as the conversation was going on,cried out, "Sail ho!"
"Strange sail reported."
"Where," cried the first lieutenant, going forward.
"Right under the sun."
"Mast-head there--do you make her out?"
"Yes, sir; I think she's a schooner; but I can only see down to hermainyard."
"That's one of them, depend upon it," said the captain.
"Up there, Mr Wilson, and see what you make of her. Who is the man whoreported it?"
"Tom Beazeley, sir."
"Confound that fellow, he makes all my ship's company jump overboard,and now I must give him five guineas. What do you make of her, MrWilson?"
"A low schooner, sir, very rakish indeed, black sides. I cannot makeout her ports; but I should think she can show a very pretty set ofteeth. She is becalmed as well as we."
"Well, then, we must whistle for a breeze. In the meantime, Mr Knight,we will have the boats all ready."
If you whistle long enough the wind is certain to come. In about anhour the breeze did come, and we took it down with us; but it was toodark to distinguish the schooner, which we had lost sight of as soon asthe sun had set. About midnight the breeze failed us, and it was againcalm. The captain and most of the officers were up all night, and thewatch were employed preparing the boats for service. It was my morningwatch, and at break of day I saw the schooner from the foresail-yardabout four miles to the North West. I ran down on deck and reportedher.
"Very good, my lad. I have her, Mr Knight," said the captain, who haddirected his glass to where I pointed; "and I will have her too, one wayor the other. No signs of wind. Lower down the cutters. Get the yardsand stays hooked all ready. We'll wait a little, and see a little moreof her when it's broad daylight."
At broad daylight the schooner, with her appointments, was distinctly tobe made out. She was pierced for sixteen guns, and was a formidablevessel to encounter with the boats. The calm still continuing, thelaunch, yawl, and pinnace were hoisted out, manned, and armed. Theschooner got out her sweeps, and was evidently preparing for theirreception. Still the captain appeared unwilling to risk the lives ofhis men in such a dangerous conflict, and there we all lay alongside,each man sitting in his place with his oar raised on end. Cat's-paws ofwind, as they call them, flew across the water here and there, rufflingits smooth surface, portending that a breeze would soon spring up, andthe hopes of this chance rendered the captain undecided. Thus did weremain alongside, for Tom and I were stationed in the first and secondcutters until twelve o'clock, when we were ordered out to take a hastydinner, and the allowance of spirits was served out. At one it wasstill calm. Had we started when the boats were first hoisted out theaffair would have been long before decided. At last, the captain,perceiving that the chance of a breeze was still smaller then than inthe forenoon, ordered the boats to shove off. We were still about thesame distance from the privateer, from three-and-a-half to four miles.In less than half-an-hour we were within gun-shot; the privateer swepther broadside to us, and commenced firing guns with single round shot,and with great precision. They _ricochetted_ over the boats, and atevery shot we made sure of our being struck. At this time a slightbreeze swept along the water. It reached the schooner, filled hersails, and she increased her distance. Again it died away, and weneared her fast. She swept round again, and recommenced firing, and oneof her shot passed through the second cutter, in which I was stationed,ripping open three of her planks, and wounding two men beside me. Theboat, heavy with the gun, ammunition chests, etcetera, immediatelyfilled and turned over with us, and it was with difficulty that we couldescape from the weighty hamper that was poured out of her. One of thepoor fellows, who had not been wounded, remained entangled under theboat, and never rose again. The remainder of the crew rose to thesurface and clung to the side of the boat. The first cutter hauled toour assistance, for we had separated to render the shot less effectual;but it was three or four minutes before she was able to render us anyassistance, during which time the other two wounded men, who had beenapparently injured in the legs or body, exhausted with loss of blood,gradually unloosed their holds and disappeared under the calm, bluewater. I had received a splinter in my left arm, and held on longerthan the others who had been maimed, but I could not hold on till thecutter came. I lost my recollection, and sank. Tom, who was in the bowof the cutter, perceiving me go down, dived after me, brought me upagain to the surface, and we were both hauled in. The other five menwere also saved. As soon as we were picked up, the cutter followed theother boats, which continued to advance towards the privateer. Irecovered my senses, and found that a piece of one of the thwarts of theboat, broken off by the shot, had been forced through the fleshy part ofmy arm below the elbow, where it still remained. It was a verydangerous as well as a painful wound. The officer of the boat, withoutasking me, laid hold of the splinter and tore it out; but the pain wasso great, from its jagged form, and the effusion of blood so excessiveafter this operation, that I again fainted. Fortunately no artery waswounded, or I must have lost my arm. They bound it up, and laid me atthe bottom of the boat. The firing from the schooner was now very warm;and we were within a quarter of a mile of her, when the breeze sprangup, and she increased her distance a mile. There was a prospect of windfrom the appearance of the sky, although, for a time, it again diedaway. We were within less than half-a-mile of the privateer, when weperceived that the frigate was bringing up a smart breeze, and rapidlyapproached the scene of conflict.
The breeze swept along the water and caught the sails of the privateer,and she was again, in spite of all the exertions of our wearied men, outof gun-shot; and the first lieutenant very properly decided upon makingfor the frigate, which was now within a mile of us. In less than tenminutes the boats were hoisted in; and the wind now rising fast, we wereunder all sail, going at the rate of seven miles an hour; the privateerhaving also gained the breeze, and gallantly holding her own.
I was taken down into the cockpit, the only wounded man brought onboard. The surgeon examined my arm, and at first shook his head, and Iexpected immediate amputation; but on re-examination he gave his opinionthat the limb might be saved. My wound was dressed, and I was put intomy hammock, in a screened bulk under the half-deck, where the coolingbreeze from the ports fanned my feverish cheeks. But I must return tothe chase.
In less than an hour the wind had increased, so that we could withdifficulty carry our royals; the privateer was holding her own aboutthree miles right a-head, keeping our three masts in one. At sunsetthey were forced to take in the royals, and the sky gave every prospectof a rough gale. Still we carried on every stitch of canvas which thefrigate could bear; keeping the chase in sight with our night-glasses,and watching all her motions.
The breeze increased; before morning there was a heavy sea, and thefrigate could only carry top-gallant sails over double-reefed top-sails.At daylight we had neared the schooner, by the sextants, about aquarter of a mile, and the captain and officers went down to take somerepose and refreshment, not having quitted the deck for twenty-fourhours. All that day did we chase the privateer, without gaining morethan a mile upon her, and it now blew up a furious gale: the topgallantsails had been before taken in; the top-sails were close reefed, and wewere running at the speed of nearly twelve miles an hour; still so welldid the privateer sail, that she was barely within gunshot when the sunwent down below the horizon, angry and fiery red. There was now greatfear that she would escape, from the difficulty of keeping the glassesupon her during the night, in a heavy sea, and the expectation that shewould f
url all sail and allow us to pass her. It appeared, however,that this manoeuvre did not enter into the head of the captain of theprivateer; he stood on under a press of sail, which even in day-timewould have been considered alarming; and at daylight, owing to thesteerage during the night never being so correct as during the day, shehad recovered her distance, and was about four miles from us. The gale,if anything, had increased, and Captain Maclean determined,notwithstanding, to shake a reef out of the topsails.
In the morning, as usual, Tom came to my cot, and asked me how I was? Itold him I was better and in less pain, and that the surgeon hadpromised to dress my wound after breakfast, for the bandages had notbeen removed since I had first come on board. "And the privateer, Tom,I hope we shall take her; it will be some comfort to me that she iscaptured."
"I think we shall, if the masts stand, Jacob; but we have an enormouspress of sail, as you may guess by the way in which the frigate jumps;there is no standing on the forecastle, and there is a regular waterfalldown in the waist from forward. We are nearing her now. It isbeautiful to see how she behaves: when she heels over, we can perceivethat all her men are lashed on deck, and she takes whole seas into herfore and aft mainsail, and pours them out again as she rises from thelurch. She deserves to escape, at all events."
She did not, however, obtain her deserts, for about twelve o'clock inthe day we were within a mile of her. At two, the marines were firingsmall arms at her, for we would not yaw to fire at her a gun, althoughshe was right under our bows. When within a cable's length we shortenedsail, so as to keep at that distance astern, and the chase, after havinglost several men by musketry, the captain of her waved his hat in tokenof surrender. We immediately shortened sail to keep the weather-gage,pelting her until every sail was lowered down: we then rounded to,keeping her under our lee, and firing at every man who made hisappearance on deck. Taking possession of her was a difficult task: aboat could hardly live in such a sea and when the captain called aloudfor volunteers, and I heard Tom's voice in the cutter as it was loweringdown, my heart misgave me lest he should meet with some accident. Atlast I knew, from the conversation on deck, that the cutter had got safeon board, and my mind was relieved. The surgeon came up and dressed myarm, and I then received comparative bodily as well as mental relief.
It was not until the next day, when we lay to, with the schooner closeto us, that the weather became sufficiently moderate to enable us toreceive the prisoners, and put our own men and officers on board. Theprize proved to be an American-built schooner, fitted out as a Frenchprivateer. She was called the _Cerf Agile_, mounting fourteen guns, ofnearly three hundred tons measurement, and with a crew of one hundredand seventy men, of which forty-eight were away in prizes. It wasperhaps fortunate that the boats were not able to attack her, as theywould have received a very warm reception. Thus did we succeed incapturing this mischievous vessel, after a chase of two hundred andseventy miles. As soon as all the arrangements were made, we shaped ourcourse, with the privateer in company, for Halifax, where we arrived inabout five weeks. My wound was now nearly healed, but my arm had wastedaway, and I was unable to return to my duty. It was well known that Iwrote a good hand, and I volunteered, as I could do nothing else, toassist the purser and the clerk with the ship's books, etcetera.
The admiral was at Bermuda, and the frigate which we were to relievehad, from the exigence of the service, been despatched down to theHonduras, and was not expected back for some months. We sailed fromHalifax to Bermuda, and joined the admiral, and after three weeks wewere ordered on a cruise. My arm was now perfectly recovered, but I hadbecome so useful in the clerk's office that I was retained, much againstmy own wishes: but the captain _liked_ it, as Tom said and after thatthere was no more said about the matter.
America was not the seat of war at that period; and, with the exceptionof chasing French runners, there was nothing to be done on the NorthAmerican station. I have, therefore, little to narrate during theremainder of the time that I was on board the frigate. Tom did his dutyin the foretop, and never was in any disgrace; on the contrary, he was agreat favourite both with officers and men, and took more liberties withthe captain than any one else dared to have done; but Captain Macleanknew that Tom was one of his foremost and best men, always active,zealous, and indifferent as to danger, and Tom knew exactly how far hecould venture to play with him. I remained in the clerk's office, andas it was soon discovered that I had received an excellent education,and always behaved myself respectfully to my superiors, I was kindlytreated, and had no reason to complain of a man-of-war.
Such was the state of affairs when the other frigate arrived from theHonduras, and we, who had been cruising for the last four months inBoston Bay, were ordered in by a cutter, to join the admiral at Halifax.We had now been nearly a year from England without receiving anyletters. The reader may, therefore, judge of my impatience when, afterthe anchor had been let go and the sails furled, the admiral's boat cameon board with several bags of letters for the officers and ship'scompany. They were handed down into the gun-room, and I waited withimpatience for the sorting and distribution.
"Faithful," said the purser, "here are two letters for you."
I thanked him, and hastened into the clerk's office, that I might readthem without interruption. The first was addressed in a formal handquite unknown to me. I opened it with some degree of wonderment as towho could possibly write to so humble an individual! It was from alawyer, and the contents were as follows:--
Sir--We hasten to advise you of the death of your good friend Mr Alexander Turnbull. By his will, which has been opened and read, and of which you are the executor, he has made you his sole heir, bequeathing you, at the present, the sum of 30,000 pounds, with the remainder of his fortune at the demise of his wife. With the exception of 5000 pounds left to Mrs Turnbull for her own disposal, the legacies do not amount to more than 800 pounds. The jointure arising from the interest of the money secured to Mrs Turnbull during her life is 1080 pounds per annum, upon the three per cent, consols, so that at her demise you will come into 36,000 pounds consols, which at 76, will be equal to 27,360 pounds sterling. I beg to congratulate you upon your good fortune, and, with Mr Drummond, have made application to the Admiralty for your discharge. This application, I am happy to say, has been immediately attended to, and by the same mail that conveys this letter is forwarded an order for your discharge and a passage home. Should you think proper to treat our firm as your legal advisers, we shall be most happy to enrol you among our clients.
I am, sir, yours very respectfully, JOHN FLETCHER.
I must leave the reader to judge of this unexpected and welcomecommunication. At first I was so stunned that I appeared as a statue,with the letter in my hand, and in this condition I remained untilroused by the first lieutenant, who had come to the office to desire meto pass the word for "letters for England," and to desire the sail-makerto make a bag.
"Faithful--why what's the matter? Are you ill, or--?" I could notreply, but I put the letter into his hand. He read the contents,expressed his astonishment by occasional exclamations. "I wish you joy,my lad, and may it be my turn next time. No wonder you looked like astuck pig. Had I received such news the captain might have hallooedtill he was hoarse, and the ship might have tumbled overboard before Ishould have roused myself. Well, I suppose we shall get no more workout of you--"
"The captain wants you, Mr Knight," said one of the midshipmen,touching his hat.
Mr Knight went into the cabin, and in a few minutes returned, holdingthe order for my discharge in his hand.
"It's all right, Faithful, here is your discharge, and an order for yourpassage home."
He laid it on the table, and then went away, for a first lieutenant inharbour has no time to lose. The next person who came was Tom, holdingin his hand a letter from Mary, with a postscript from his mother.
"Well, Jacob," said he, "I have news to tell you. Mary says that MrTurnbull is dead, and
has left her father 200 pounds, and that she hasbeen told that he has left you something handsome."
"He has indeed, Tom," replied I; "read this letter."
While Tom was reading, I perceived the letter from Mr Drummond, which Ihad forgotten. I opened it. It communicated the same intelligence asthat of the lawyer, in fewer words; recommended my immediate return, andenclosed a bill upon his house for 100 pounds, to enable me to appear ina manner corresponding to my present condition.
"Well," said Tom, "this is, indeed, good news, Jacob. You are agentleman at last, as you deserve to be. It has made me so happy; whatdo you mean to do?"
"I have my discharge here," replied I, "and am ordered a passage home."
"Better still. I am so happy, Jacob; so happy. But what _is_ to becomeof me?" And Tom passed the back of his hand across his eyes to brushaway a tear.
"You shall soon follow me, Tom, if I can manage it either by money orany influence."
"I will manage it, if you don't, Jacob. I won't stay here without you,that I am determined."
"Do nothing rashly, Tom. I am sure I can buy your discharge, and on myarrival in England I will not think of anything else until it is done."
"You must be quick, then, Jacob, for I'm sure I can't stay here long."
"Trust to me, Tom; you'll still find me Jacob Faithful," said I,extending my hand. Tom squeezed it earnestly, and with moistened eyes,turned away, and walked forward.
The news had spread through the ship, and many of the officers, as wellas the men, came to congratulate me. What would I have given to havebeen allowed only one half-hour to myself--one half-hour in which Imight be permitted to compose my excited feelings--to have returnedthanks for such unexpected happiness, and paid a tribute to the memoryof so sincere a friend? But in a ship this is almost impossible,unless, as an officer, you can retreat to your own cabin; and thosegushings from the heart, arising from grief or pleasure, the tears sosweet in solitude, must be prostituted before the crowd, or altogetherrepressed. At last the wished-for opportunity did come. Mr Wilson,who had been away on service, came to congratulate me as soon as heheard the news, and with an instinctive perception of what might be myfeelings, asked me whether I would not like to write my letters in hiscabin, which, for a few hours, was at my service. I thankfully acceptedthe offer; and, when summoned by the captain, had relieved myovercharged heart, and had composed my excited feelings.
"Jacob Faithful, you are aware there is an order for your discharge,"said he, kindly. "You will be discharged this afternoon into the_Astrea_; she is ordered home, and will sail with despatches in a fewdays. You have conducted yourself well since you have been under mycommand; and, although you are now in a situation not to require a goodcertificate, still you will have the satisfaction of feeling that youhave done your duty in the station of life to which you have, for acertain portion of it, been called--I wish you well."
Although Captain Maclean, in what he said, never lost sight of therelative situations in which we had been placed, there was a kindness ofmanner, especially in the last words, "I wish you well," which went tomy heart. I replied that I had been very happy during the time I hadbeen under his command, and thanked him for his good wishes. I thenbowed and left the cabin. But the captain did not send me on board the_Astrea_, although I was discharged into her. He told the firstlieutenant that I had better go on shore, and equip myself in a propermanner; and as I afterwards found out, spoke of me in very favourableterms to the captain of the _Astrea_, acknowledging that I had receivedthe education of a gentleman, and had been illegally impressed; so that,when I made my appearance on board the _Astrea_, the officers of thegun-room requested that I would mess with them during the passage home.
I went on shore, obtained the money for my bill, hastened to a tailor,and with his exertions, and other fitting-out people, procured all thatwas requisite for the outward appearance of a gentleman. I thenreturned to the _Immortalite_, and bade farewell to the officers andseamen with whom I had been most intimate. My parting with Tom waspainful. Even the few days which I had been away, I perceived, had madean alteration in his appearance.
"Jacob," said he, "don't think I envy you; on the contrary, I am asgrateful, even more grateful than if such good fortune had fallen to myown lot; but I cannot help fretting at the thought of being left herewithout you: and I shall fret until I am with you again."
I renewed my promises to procure his discharge, and forcing upon him allthe money I thought that I could spare, I went over the side as muchaffected as poor Tom. Our passage home was rapid. We had a continuanceof North West winds, and we flew before them, and in less than threeweeks we dropped our anchor at Spithead. Happy in the change of mysituation, and happier still in anticipation, I shall only say that Inever was in better spirits, or in company with more agreeable young menthan were the officers of the _Astrea_; and although we were so short atime together, we separated with mutual regret.